Central Park, NYC.

By apminnyc.

Jupiter Island, FL.

By Alidaphotos.

Build America.

It seems like the message machine for Obama is getting better oiling these days.

From the Hill:

And even the Laffer Curve, which is in part the whole basis for this “tax cut” mantra – postulates that too low or too high taxes are equally hurtful for the economy.

It's mine.

Just a reminder – these new Super PACs are not really a property of any one specific candidate, but an independent toy of some arbitrary moneyperson who wants to heavily influence an election.

As is shown in the Massachusetts Senate race just now – where the candidates signed a pact to keep super PACs out of it – but Karl Rove sits on the sidelines with his own little assault machine and says so what. This is Karl Rove’s own campaign, and he’s out to destroy anyone with whom he disagrees or feels threatened by.

Full story.

Better, slowly.

With some time to digest; the speech was good, a bit more substantive than earlier years, the economy and general mood seems to be blowing in Obama’s favor, and he’s a bit more trustworthy after the shifts in his third year.

And will he accomplish this “building a stronger economy” drive he sets out for? We’re slowly leaning towards yes.

US safe, then doubled. 1800-1803.

Towards the end of the McCullough book now – it seems that the distinctive and momentous achievement of John Adams really was making peace with France while President.

Disregarding constant warfare and ships sunk by the French, as well as world stage humiliation of American Envoys in Paris by Talleyrand and the Directorate – Adams kept cool – resisted warmongers and hawks at home – and requested peace while building a strong navy.

In the end Paris stepped down and offered peace, in 1800.

A few years later Emperor Napoleon dismissed the whole squabble as a “family feud”, and offered the massive territory of Lousiana to President Thomas Jefferson – thereby famously doubling US with a pen stroke.

If,

Adams had declared war on France in 1798-99, US might not even have existed today.

It would probably have been crushed, opening for an establishment of a French Empire in the north-east, and very likely a lasting chaos and warfare between Britain, France and Spain on the whole continent.

If there ever was a point were the fragile young US could’ve become history, it was during those years.

And to some dismay for Adams – the news of the French Peace Treaty was delayed some months due to postal delivery – possibly costing him the general election in 1800.

Original Slide from 1966. NYC.

More sizes.

Twilight in Chicago. From May 2010.

More.