Dick commented that President Obama was “transparent” as he is constantly out there making speeches.  Visibility is not transparency in my book, and I encouraged Dick to watch the President’s left hand when his right hand is moving.

We talked a bit aboutthe abortion issue and how it isn’t an issue in MA, and hasn’t been an issue in MA for a decade at least, but nearly every democrat runs on that issue in order to scare people into voting for them.  My inner libertarian snuck out as I suggested that people could make any decision they want as long as the government doesn’t pay for it.

Now on a roll I proposed that we immediately replace the legislature with non-paid volunteers who work only when needed.  I also proposed that we immediately suspend all government programs except police and fire, and start again.  And I was only half kidding.

We had a good discussion about the information emerging about ACORN and particularly the latest revelation that the NY Times had information about illegal campaign activity between the Obama campaign and ACORN and refused to publish it, lest it be an “election changer.”  Dick wanted to know why I didn’t file a lawsuit.  When I explained that the government had to investigate that violation and specifically the attorney general who President Obama appointed Dick understood my frustration.

There is more, but you will have to listen.

My concerns have to do with the constitutionality of the firing and the ongoing encroachment of the Executive branch of the government on private industry.

We also talked about the UAW and their role in the GM debacle including the legacy costs of health care and the salaries paid.

Dick was outraged at Wagoner’s retirement package and I reminding him that if Wagoner had been demoted rather than fired or the company was allowed to go into bankruptcy instead of being taken over by the president, the retirement package could have been renegotiated.

Once again Chris Dodd crept into the discussion. This time it was in connection with the $160k ponied up by AIG executives when they learned that he would be the chairman of the banking committee.

We talked about the NY Times spiking a story adverse to candidate Obama because they felt it might be a “game changer”. Dick thinks all media is biased, and I maintain some biases are worse than others.

We talked about the boon of lobbyists accompanying the administration’s increased federal spending as well as the MA MBTA costs to the Commonwealth. I was able to avert a retelling of Dick’s favorite MBTA story about the men driving the train on the tracks for too much money.

Enjoy!