Same old stuff is not a plan

This morning, president Obama released his weekly radio address; the subject was how to get the economy moving again. After a week which saw the resolution of the debt ceiling debate, uncertainty in Europe, crashing stock markets and the first ever downgrade of US debt, president Obama certainly picked the right topic. Here, I thought, would be an outline of a plan by Obama. Finally, the president would stop "leading from behind" and actually propose some sort of solution. At a minimum, I expected that there would be an outline as to how to reach solutions even if no specifics were offered.

Here is what I got: Obama's basic plan is that Republicans and Democrats should work together. He wants them to pass bills to accomplish some specifics.
1) Obama wants the temporary 2% payroll tax cut to be extended for another year. This cut went into effect in January of 2011 as part of the extension of the Bush tax rates.
2) Obama wants unemployment benefits extended for another year.
3) Obama wants the three pending trade treaties passed by the Senate.
4) Obama wants to give loans to construction companies doing work on infrastructure.
5) Obama want to make the process of obtaining patents a bit easier.
6) Obama wants to offer tax credits to those who hire veterans or Iraq and Afghanistan who are looking for a first job after discharge from the military.

This is a plan? Seriously? The first five items are either current policy or just minor changes to the current situation. For example, the trade treaties Obama now wants passed were negotiated under George Bush and then blocked by Democrats. When Obama came in, he let the treaties languish. Suddenly three years later he is pushing them forward. Or how about the payroll tax holiday? Here Obama's plan is let's leave things unchanged! Wow, that should really get the economy moving. It was sooo successful in 2011.

The only thing new is the tax credit to find veterans first time jobs. While this may be a good idea, it is not going to change the economy. All it will do is give veterans a small boost over non-veterans in the search for employment.

America deserves and needs a president with at least the imagination and leadership skills to have a real plan as to how to move forward. Speeches do not get things going. Speeches do not create jobs. Speeches do not bing investments. In short, speeches are just hot air.

Obama has got to go.