There's positive business news on the administration side of things. This is expected to create as many as 75,000 jobs over 10 years!
The Obama administration will authorize the Saudis to buy as many as 84 new F-15 fighters, upgrade 70 more, and purchase three types of helicopters -- 70 Apaches, 72 Black Hawks and 36 Little Birds, The Journal noted, citing unnamed officials.
At 60 Billion dollars, this is the largest arms deal in US history. The package may be combined with a $30 billion package to upgrade Saudi Arabia's naval forces, bringing the total to over 90 Billion dollars.
Never really pegged him as a "Death Dealer," but the transaction may help to strengthen our/world defenses against a nuclear Iran, and well. . .it creates good economic stimulus.
Good job Mr. President!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100913/wl_mideast_afp/ussaudiweaponstrade_20100913060123
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704621204575488361149625050.html?mod=WSJ_World_LeadStory
Wonder why MSNBC isn't covering it? I guess the "Earth's penguins are skating on thin ice" story was more important.
Hmmmm, think how much more carbon will be consumed as a result. Where's Algore?
All that aside - someone gets some big toys to go kill something!! That's always a big stress reducer!
(Kidding, people!!)
Well, he's finally on board with a long line of Presidents in figuring out you have to feed the MIC.
Quote from: Conan71 on September 13, 2010, 12:49:01 PM
Hmmmm, think how much more carbon will be consumed as a result. Where's Algore?
Yeah. . .are these green jobs?
Hey, all kidding aside, you simply have to give him credit for brokering such a huge deal.
We haven't ramped up our arms dealing like this since Regan, and even he never made such a huge deal. This makes President Obama the biggest arms dealer in history, and 75,000 jobs is great for the economy. It's also great for Tulsa, because it means contracts for many of our local aero contractors.
It's unfortunate, but military spending helps drive the economic engine, I agree this is good economic news. Let's just hope these birds are never used against us.
Quote from: heironymouspasparagus on September 13, 2010, 01:08:04 PM
All that aside - someone gets some big toys to go kill something!! That's always a big stress reducer!
(Kidding, people!!)
I wonder how those Nobel Peace Prize voters feel about this deal?
I don't think he actually won the "Peace" prize. I think it was the Nobel "Hey look at you" prize.
No one really knows what he did?
It was a very bizarre scene!
Uber-arming "The Kingdom" will probably not register on their radar.
Quote from: Gaspar on September 13, 2010, 12:26:27 PM
There's positive business news on the administration side of things. This is expected to create as many as 75,000 jobs over 10 years!
And here I thought government could
never create jobs, only private industry could. And yet here's direct proof that stimulus works!
Huzzah! Keynes is once again exonerated!
The best part? Israel will come looking for more arms pretty quick, also. ;)
Guns, bombs and weaponry is what our government does best. The margin generated far exceeds any laps in efficiency. The technology created by trillions of dollars of military spending is without competition. We have the ability to monopolize the world wide arms industry.
The President has been wise to fall back on one of our core competencies. It's a small step, but at least the feet are pointed in the right direction. Tried and tested economics decisions beat "let's give it a try" every time!
Quote from: Gaspar on September 14, 2010, 09:15:44 AM
Guns, bombs and weaponry is what our government does best. The margin generated far exceeds any laps in efficiency. The technology created by trillions of dollars of military spending is without competition. We have the ability to monopolize the world wide arms industry.
The President has been wise to fall back on one of our core competencies. It's a small step, but at least the feet are pointed in the right direction. Tried and tested economics decisions beat "let's give it a try" every time!
Right. Like Keynesian economics.
Quote from: we vs us on September 14, 2010, 08:55:29 AM
And here I thought government could never create jobs, only private industry could. And yet here's direct proof that stimulus works!
Huzzah! Keynes is once again exonerated!
Explain how a large arms sale is an example of Keynesian-style government intervention in the economy? If we gave the Pentagon $70 bln more to go buy planes and weapon systems that would be a more accurate example. President Obama simply acted as the sales agent for a bunch of military contractors. It's a free market transaction, not much different than when a realtor brokers a house from seller to buyer.
Quote from: Conan71 on September 14, 2010, 09:51:58 AM
Explain how a large arms sale is an example of Keynesian-style government intervention in the economy? If we gave the Pentagon $70 bln more to go buy planes and weapon systems that would be a more accurate example. President Obama simply acted as the sales agent for a bunch of military contractors. It's a free market transaction, not much different than when a realtor brokers a house from seller to buyer.
Exactly right. Which is what almost all of the stimulus (minus the boatload of tax cuts) is. Government buys goods and services from the private sector, who in turn take the money and hire workers to produce those goods and services.
That's Keynes, baby, and that's what ARRA is. Again, minus the boatload of tax cuts.
Quote from: Conan71 on September 14, 2010, 09:51:58 AM
Explain how a large arms sale is an example of Keynesian-style government intervention in the economy? If we gave the Pentagon $70 bln more to go buy planes and weapon systems that would be a more accurate example. President Obama simply acted as the sales agent for a bunch of military contractors. It's a free market transaction, not much different than when a realtor brokers a house from seller to buyer.
C'mon man let him have this one. The Keynesians are grasping at anything they can get now, and if arms deals are their foot-hold, so be it!
It's like Castro bragging about Cuba having a strong classic automobile parts market.
There is some truth to all economic models. If Keynesian economics worked all of the time, then Socialism would be a grand success.
Quote from: Gaspar on September 14, 2010, 11:42:16 AM
C'mon man let him have this one. The Keynesians are grasping at anything they can get now, and if arms deals are their foot-hold, so be it!
It's like Castro bragging about Cuba having a strong classic automobile parts market.
There is some truth to all economic models. If Keynesian economics worked all of the time, then Socialism would be a grand success.
Classic auto parts market... I love it! Only from the mouth of Gaspar.