The President and Congress are back to work, and they have been very busy

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs (AP Photoi)

After an August recess that saw support for President Obama’s health care vision drop to 45% and serious popular opposition to the way Republicans and Democrats have grown the size and scope of Government well beyond the Founder’s intention, Congress finally returned to work this month. I think it is time for a quick run down of everything that has happened in just the past two weeks.

1. Some 2 million protesters attended TEA Parties in D.C. and around the country to protest growing Government spending, Government health care and basically what they see as 30 years of growing and intrusive Government and out of control debt. TEA stands for Taxed Enough Already; they are not “anarchists” opposed to all law and Government, rather they generally seem to be “constitutionalists” committed to a Government specifically limited to those realms of public safety and national defense essential to a stable society, the vision of the Founders and the enumerated powers of the Constitution.

2. Representative Joe Wilson, R-SC, was “officially” admonished for shouting “you lie” at President Obama.  His outburst came shortly after President Obama had finished labeling opponents of his health care vision as liars, and as the President was stating his health care plan would not cover illegal immigrants. As American Thinker points out, these were:

“...many of the same people who opposed censure of Rep. Pete Stark for his bizarre comments on the House floor in 2007 (hat tip Gateway Pundit) and there was no admonishment for the Democrats booing during Bush's 2005 state of the union address.”

3. President Obama has imposed huge tariffs against tires made in China. This is most likely payback to his union supporters who want to keep Chinese tires more expensive, so Americans will buy American tires. If your goal is to prop up the domestic tire industry, this is a good policy. Just understand two things, this will mean more expensive tires for U.S. consumers, meaning we have less money to spend on other things. Further, with rising economic nationalism in China, we can expect retaliatory tariffs. There is general agreement that raising taxes and imposing trade restrictions are not good things to do during economic downturns as they tend to restrict economic activity, and in the case of tariffs, lead to higher prices. Again, if your goal is to ensure American’s purchase tires made in the U.S.A. and not made in China, it is a good move, so long as you understand tires will cost more.  There will be also be a rise in “input” costs for any business or industry which purchases or relies on tires, hence hire prices for consumers on the “outputs” as well.

4. The Census bureau decided to end its relationship with ACORN ahead of the 2010 census after video surfaced of ACORN employees offering advice to a couple on how to commit tax fraud and set up a child prostitution ring specializing in illegal immigrant children from South America. After the dustup, the Senate voted 83 to 7 to restrict ACORN from receiving any further federal funds through HUD programs.

5. The President is set to begin a publicity blitz to sell his health care vision, appearing on late night and Sunday morning talk shows in an attempt to regain public support for his plan, which has recently been dropping quickly.

6. The Democrat Party in D.C. is in the midst of two internal battles.

a. The first battle is over health care. On the one hand fiscally conservative Democrats, and those facing angry constituents, are opposed to a Government health care plan, or any bill which contains significantly increased costs and liabilities. On the other side are Liberal Democrats, and President Obama’s core supporters, they want a single payer, Government run health care system, and thought they had already compromised by agreeing to allow private insurance to co-exist next to a “public option”.

b. The second battle has to do with Afghanistan. The Andrew Jackson, Harry Truman, “working class” wing of the party remembers the attacks of 9/11, understands the existential threat we face from a determined enemy and wants to do what has to be done to win in Afghanistan and come home quickly. The “liberal-academic” wing of the party has decided Afghanistan is a political liability, but is concerned a quick withdrawal would make the President appear “weak” on foreign policy, They are counseling the President not to even try to “win”, rather, simply begin a very slow and controlled withdrawal, managing expectations along the way.

7. Democrats appear to be laying the groundwork for using a controversial tactic known as "budget reconciliation" to pass a health care bill over bipartisan opposition.

8. President Obama has indicated he wants Congress to extend three controversial provisions of the Patriot Act. The provisions are set to expire at the end of this year.

It’s hard to believe they have only been back to work for two weeks.