President Barack Obama had a very successful press conference today. He is a populist who is also eloquent, a potent combination in any leader! During black history month, it is really wonderful to have a black/Irish president, the first African American one, giving a press conference. It was historic and really fun to watch.

On the stimulus package, it was obviously a democratic bill and it shall emerge a democratic bill when it emerges from congress. For all the talk of bi-partisanship, only three republicans voted in favor of it. I really wish the president would have told congress to knock off the unnecessary spending and just put things in that are shovel ready, and that will actually result in increasing jobs. He could have put forth his own suggestions instead of simply letting the democrats spend our children and grand children's future. The worst part is, it is far more socialism than capitalism, and will actually keep money from reaching the buisness community by using up all the available capitol, and inflating the economy by overspending to a ridiculous amount. On the other hand, people are calling youth projects to help children after school pork! The President has the votes to pass this almost totally along party lines. His values will color it and his administration will execute it. Perhaps spending more money on young people, and the middle class will turn out far better than the grudging opponents of the President suggest?

All that having been said, we all with President Obama success, and hope his plan works. If it does, you will be approved of and hailed as a hero. If you fail, the Republicans can claim no part of this trip to the government trough and will hammer him when he runs for re-election. Let's all hope this works to get us on our way to a new day of economic prosperity. I guess in the meantime I'll just have to "Keep HOPE alive"! Change I can believe in? The juries still out! Pastor Tom Hughes