Now It Is Serious

One more BIG FAT LIE is headed your way courtesy of Washington and Wall Street, but I'm not going to talk about that today. You will see it -- and YOU WILL recognize it -- when it comes.

First...

There are three other stories I've been following that are more urgent today. Not sure I have time to fit them in because I'm expecting a lumber delivery in about 45 minutes. (Long story.)

UPDATE: The lumber came and the delivery guys went -- and I never had the chance to post this yesterday, so I'm updating it a bit to post it today.

Back on point, here are the 3 urgent stories that I'm following.

First Story - Swine Flu

With confirmed cases in the USA now up to 68 (and rising as test results come in) there was an important stat that I missed yesterday when I was quickly collecting info on this story.

The majority of deaths caused by this flu strain -- H1N1 -- range in ages between 22 and 45. Now THAT IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL.

With reports surfacing of 2 (possible) deaths in California traced to this flu, there's more to this story than meets the eye. California has declared a state of emergency.

Now that it has been officially reported here in my hometown state of Indiana, I'll be keeping a very close eye on what happens next. I also heard today that Kilmer Elementary School in Chicago (Illinois) is being closed because of a 'probable case' of swine flu. Other cases are also suspected in Illinois.

Fox Business put out a brief report that there is now officially one confirmed death, a 23-month-old baby in Texas.

Not sure of the full story, but will post more on this when I have time to dig much deeper into it.

What doesn't surprise me is the source for the virus that is currently being investigated by the UN. If the power of the CAFO industry holds up, chances are high that the results of the investigation will not be conclusive. The CAFO-style BIG-AG industry has been covering things like this up for decades.

Why would a little swine flu outbreak stop 'em?

I'm talking about the "industrial farm" (for those that don't know -- here in the USA it's called a CAFO) in Mexico, owned by Smithfield Farms (the same guys that own a bunch of them in North Carolina). Quote:

United Nations food inspectors are going to Mexico to investigate reports that industrial pig farms were the source of the swine flu outbreak, the BBC reports.

As I wrote yesterday, based on some excellent reporting in Grist and elsewhere, local residents in La Gloria, Mexico, where the swine flu outbreak may have originated, suspect that the source is the Granjas Carroll industrial pig farm. The facility is half-owned by U.S.-based Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork processor. [link]

Long time readers of my blog know very well my stance on CAFOs.

I've warned before that CAFOs could very well lead to the next pandemic... but nobody is listening. And, as I've said before, nobody will listen. I suspect there will be a massive cover-up even if proof is found. There are just too many CAFOs spread around our planet these days to clean things up.

From what I understand, a young 5-year-old boy, Edgar Hernandez, has been identified as "patient zero" in the swine flu outbreak, the first person infected by the disease once it made the pig to human leap. [link]

Even there, the poor little child's family is being vilified while the CAFO gets to walk.

I've also received one unconfirmed report that a municipal health official from the area of the outbreak has stated that preliminary investigations indicate that the disease vector was a type of fly that reproduces in pig waste and that the outbreak was linked to the pig farms. [link]

So, eventually, they'll probably blame it all on the flies, right?

One way or another, IMHO, you can bet your bottom dollar that the factory farms will walk away from this unscathed other than for a short term drop in sales for their pork.

For more on what is happening in Mexico regarding this strain (H1N1) of swine flu, you can check out this link -- Swine flu: Doctors' diary

On a different note, I see that the crisis has resulted in a quick installation for Kathleen Sebelius who was sworn in last night as the Health and Human Services Secretary, the final Cabinet member for the Obama Administration.

Second Story - The Specter Spectacle

A friend of mine was on the phone with me when this story was breaking and he was surprised that the news didn't shock me one bit. Having followed the bailouts and spending madness going on, and Specter's part in it, it was a given that he would have to switch parties. There is no way in h&## that he would be allowed to remain much longer in his own party.

The proof of this is in his own words. Quote from the New York Times:

Mr. Specter said that while Democrats had been urging him for years to switch parties, he had “never started talking seriously until yesterday.” His decision came after polls, including one conducted by his own campaign, showed a precipitous drop in his approval ratings among Republicans because of his vote in favor of President Obama’s stimulus package.

As recently as the November election, he recalled, he had received standing ovations from conservative audiences as he traveled the state with Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee. But his stimulus vote in February was “a watershed.”

“It all turned on that,” he said. “The pollsters have never seen that kind of precipitous drop. It’s stark.”

He did not provide specific numbers but said the drop was on the order of 30 percentage points over a few months. He had maintained as recently as two weeks ago that he would not switch, but he said his own poll, finished late last week, convinced him to do so. He spoke with his family over the weekend about it and “slept on it” on Sunday night. [link to full story]

No, it is not surprising to me at all that he would want to switch to a stronger party with more political clout. Although he denies this is about saving his own political arse, methinks he doth protest too much.

Now the big question on this one is whether or not the voters in his area will recognize the emperor in his new clothes.

There's one critical piece missing to his argument to jump ship into a Democratic Party lifeboat. The tea parties, as much as the Administration would like to believe differently, were NOT just REPUBLICANS protesting about the outrageous spending in Washington. There were plenty of Independents (like me) and Democrats on that side of the ocean too. Mr. Specter might find himself up the creek without a paddle come election time when the voters remember he does, indeed, have a price. (See this link to a previous post to know what I mean.)

What is the reaction in PA? Here's one side of the reaction.

On the other side, I understand that Obama is thrilled. Guess his Stimulack bribe worked. I picture a cartoon of Specter being asked to vote for the spending bill and him saying he will, but only if they'll bail him out when he needs it most.

Just another Washington bailout. he-he-he

I'm wondering if Snowe and Collins will be joining him in his new life raft?

We're in for some interesting Politics ahead.

I wonder... Does mud still stick?

In related news, while all the above was going on to take your attention off of what REALLY MATTERS, here is what Washington was up to:

The House approved a $3.5 trillion federal budget on Wednesday as Democrats raced to cap President Obama’s first 100 days in office by adopting a fiscal blueprint laying out the path for his chief policy initiatives.

The vote of 233 to 193, closely following party lines, demonstrated again the deep ideological divisions in the House, as Republicans rejected the spending plan en masse, joined by 17 Democrats. [link]

During the 2008 Presendential Election campaigns, the Republicans adopted the slogan -- "Drill, Baby, Drill"

Now, reaching his 100th day in office, based on his decisions and actions of his party, we can officially change the Democratic slogan to read -- "Spend, Baby, Spend"

It's insane! (IMHO)

Our lenders in other parts of the world probably won't take too kindly to the new slogan... nor the actions that have created it. (More on that in a future article I'm working on.)

Does it affect you directly?

If you are in a middle income home, just wait until you see the massive tax hikes coming your way in 2010. It's going to blow your mind! (I'll bring you more details on this later, too.)

Mid sized business and s-corps might want to think about getting ready to pack up and head to nicer business climates by then. Just a thought.

And now, thanks to a cute little filibuster proof legalese inclusion stuffed inside the budget, I get a front row seat to watch how Washington screws up your health care system. (Oh goodie! Sarcasm intended.)

Third Story - What They Are Not Telling You

Patterns. I like watching for and finding patterns.

They can tell you a lot about trends, markets, people, societies, politics, potential problems, potential possibilities... and so much more.

For example, I like using Candlestick Charts for patterns.

And I like following stories that reveal results -- such as the mortgage assistance thing.

And sometimes, through following a sequence of events, other patterns can also emerge. Like, for example, the butterfly effect.

(If you like "connect-the-dots" kind of articles and don't mind a few profanities, you might enjoy this one: 6 Random Coincidences That Created The Modern World)

My point is that sometimes, even things that seem like random events can be a pattern in disguise that leads to a foregone conclusion -- a predictable result.

There's a quiet anger building up in this country. Although it is not quite rage yet, I'm absolutely convinced that the Democratic Machine is going to find a way to channel it to their own advantage. I'm almost positive of it.

And so, I'm watching for patterns that will prove me right.

I could be wrong, you know.

But I could be right.

You don't want to miss my article on this subject.

I've made some alarming discoveries.

Stay tuned.

Swine Flu and Virus Mutations

I've received several emails over the weekend asking me why I haven't brought up the swine flu subject -- ie. "Why aren't you writing about this?!?"

Long time readers of this blog know that I have already written about it...

Or at least, I wrote about what could happen.

Back on May 7, 2006, I wrote:
"How do low pathogenic avian viruses become highly pathogenic?"

And now, 3 years later --- here we are --- with a swine flu virus that CDC Officials say they cannot contain.

According to the WHO and CDC websites, there are 20 official laboratory confirmed cases in the United States of the new mutant virus they call "swine influenza A/H1N1" and they also state "the Government of Mexico has reported 18 laboratory confirmed cases of swine influenza A/H1N1."

The number above is already low, as 20 new cases were just reported today in New York (versus the original 8 that reported when the above WHO/CDC numbers were made public) and an afternoon broadcast has indicated there are a total of 40 confirmed cases in the USA now.

Thus far, the confirmed cases have been found in the following states:

• California
• Kansas
• New York City
• Ohio
• Texas

The numbers of confirmed cases in the USA and Mexico will most likely go up before the end of the day today once lab tests are completed on several suspected cases across both countries.

The WHO website states:

"On Saturday, 25 April, upon the advice of the Emergency Committee called under the rules of the International Health Regulations, the Director-General declared this event a Public Health Emergency of International Concern." [link]

Concern but not Alarm

Meanwhile, according to President Obama, the swine flu situation is a cause for "concern but not alarm."

As of this morning -- "WHO is not recommending any travel or trade restrictions."

Meanwhile, in Europe today -- "The European Union's health chief advised travelers on Monday not to go to areas affected by swine flu." [link]

While here in the USA -- although they had no travel advisory on their site when I was posting this blog item, the CDC was just now on Fox News recommending people avoid non-essential travel to Mexico at this time.

Sixteen deaths from this particular swine flu strain have been reported in Mexico but no deaths at this time have been reported here in the U.S.A. (all of the original 20 diagnosed-case patients have recovered with only one of those infected hospitalized).

UPDATE: Just now Reuters is reporting that the Govt. of Mexico is raising the number of suspected deaths relating to this virus to 149.

One school has been shut down in New York (St. Francis in Queens) where some cases have been reported and they are now scrubbing the school down.

Meanwhile, in Texas, a string of 20 schools have been shut down for the week to hopefully prevent any spread of the virus.

And in Mexico, all schools have been shut down until May 6, 2009.

What Makes This Swine Flu Unique?

For starters, keep in mind that this particular strain spreads from human to human. (You don't need to get it from contact with pigs.) That's a red flag as my previously referenced blog post indicated.

But what truly makes this virus mutation unique is that it was morphed from 4 different virus strains. ANNE SCHUCHAT, MD, Director for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases states:

"We know so far that the viruses contain genetic pieces from four different virus sources. This is unusual. The first is our North American swine influenza viruses. North American avian influenza viruses, human influenza viruses and swine influenza viruses found in Asia and Europe.

That particular genetic combination of swine influenza virus segments has not been recognized before in the U.S. or elsewhere. Of course, we are doing more testing now and looking more aggressively for unusual influenza strains. So we haven't seen this strain before but we haven't been looking as intensively as we are these days.

The viruses are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine anti-viral drugs but they are sensitive or susceptible to oseltamivir and zanamivir, the newer anti-viral drugs for flu. And at this time we don’t know exactly how people got the virus. None of the patients have had direct contact with pigs.

You can get swine influenza without direct contact but it's a bit more unusual. And we believe at this point that human-to-human spread is occurring. That's unusual. We don't know yet how widely it's spreading and we certainly don't know the extent of the problem." [link]

Now if you read my earlier blog items on influenzas and how they can mutate, this quite possibly poses quite a mystery for health officials as the the source -- the original mutation -- from whence this particular strain came.

Was it first mixed through a combination of avian and swine which then morphed in a human that had contact with the animals? Or, was it first in a human which was in contact with swine? Or...

The possibilities are mindboggling -- not because it has morphed and is being spread human to human -- but because it is so scattered, without any apparent concentration to any specific localized source.

When you consider the distances between reported cases, it really is remarkable IMHO that it has stretched so far and wide.

No Cause for Alarm or Something to Fear?

Frankly, based on what I've seen/heard/read thus far, I personally think (my humble opinion only) that the Bird Flu H5N1 was (could still be?) far more serious with a potential for higher devastation (owing to its human kill rate)... BUT ...what does concern me at this point is what if this particular strain of swine flu morphs one more time?

It truly is alarming to me that there are 4 different segments/sources for this strain.

And such a diverse mix of 4... Europe, Asia, North American swine, North American avian... consider the odds of the four segments coming together, mixing and eventually mutating into a human to human spread virus.

What if, for example, someone sick with something else entirely contracts the virus and it mutates just one more time?

As it stands right now for this current form of swine influenza A/H1N1, the survival rate is quite high here in the USA as of today.

But what if it morphs...??

Just one more time...??

The bottom line here is this.

I find myself in the very unusual position of being in full agreement with President Obama on this one. I agree with him in that yes, it is a cause for concern but not alarm.

So, don't panic.

At least, not yet.

FDIC Friday Brings Four More Bank Closings

It's time to update the FDIC bank closings list. You might recall me writing about it two weeks ago in "FDIC Friday and Glimmers of Hope?" when the number of banks closed by the FDIC in 2009 was only 23 total.

Well, we have now officially set a new record -- passing the entire year of 2008 -- the number of bank closings by the FDIC has risen to 29 banks closed thus far in 2009.

Four more banks were closed by the FDIC yesterday, as follows:

- First Bank of Idaho, Ketchum, ID
- First Bank of Beverly Hills, Calabasas, CA
- Michigan Heritage Bank, Farmington Hills, MI
- American Southern Bank, Kennesaw, GA

And here is the running "tickertape" on the parade of bank closings:

Total Bank failures in 2005: 0
Total Bank failures in 2006: 0
Total Bank failures in 2007: 3
Total Bank failures in 2008: 25
Total Bank failures (as of April 24) in 2009: a whopping 29 banks

The year isn't over yet, folks. We still have another 8 months to go... that's another 35 FDIC Fridays to go... 34 if you don't count Christmas Day.

Aren't 'ya just super duper relieved that all them thar 18 banks the Feds stress tested turned out so well?

Uh, yeah, okay.

The Federal Governments "chosen few" -- let's call them The Golden Ones -- represent only .002% of all banks here in the USA.

If that isn't enough to make you shudder, new info dug up by Bloomberg might:

April 24 (Bloomberg) -- The Federal Reserve took on more than $74 billion in subprime mortgages, depreciating commercial leases and other assets after Bear Stearns Cos. and American International Group Inc. collapsed.

In its biggest disclosure of the securities accepted to stabilize capital markets, the Fed said yesterday it had unrealized losses of $9.6 billion on the assets as of Dec. 31. The bonds, swaps and notes were taken in from Bear Stearns, once the fifth-biggest Wall Street firm by capitalization, and AIG, which had been the world’s largest insurer. [link to full story]

Bloomberg obtained the details after they sued Nov. 7 under the Freedom of Information Act on behalf of its Bloomberg News unit. QUOTE: The public is an "involuntary investor" in the nation's banks, according to an April 15 court filing by Bloomberg.

Indeed!

Tea Party Backlash

Is the White House trying to give a token response to the Tea Parties held last week (tax day April 15, 2009)? Is the $100 Million expense-cutting target their answer to the protests of wild spending they launched their Administration with?

Maybe.

Maybe not.

Personally, I hope not.

You see, I truly hope they take the situation more seriously than that.

Why do I say this? Because if that is their response to the tens of thousands who showed up in hundreds of cities across the country, it's not only patronising, it also mocks each and every citizen who did show up.

The following graphical representation drawn up by heritage.org might give you a better idea of why I say this...



If that tiny dot at the top vs the massive ballooning circles of Obama Administration spending below it are any indication of the "message" that Washington received from Tax Day Tea Parties, I'm thinking the Administration missed the mark... by a long shot!

I guess we're seeing that little scalpel of his going to work.

While Obama's at it, why not cut out wifey's full-time hair stylist/make-up artist as part of his travelling entourage (another Presidential FIRST):

According to stylists who have worked with presidential wives over the past 16 years, Michelle Obama is the nation's first First Lady to add a full-time makeup artist to her traveling entourage.

"No other first ladies have consistently traveled with a makeup artist," said hairdresser Bernard Portelli, who styled Hillary Rodham Clinton's blond mane in 1993 and tracks trends in first-lady style. [link]

Hah! And the mainstream media had a fit over the Palin wardrobe thingy during the 2008 campaigns.

The Obamas privately paid for the travel expenses of the styling team, according to a spokeswoman for the first lady.

Uh... okey dokey... righty-oh... That makes it all soooooo much better, doesn't it?

Funny how they didn't mention about the Palin '08 campaign clothes going back and/or being auctioned off for charities.

But then, we all know how incredibly unethical most of the mainstream media has become, don't we?

While Katie Couric dances up to get her Walter Cronkite journalism award for her abomination of an interview on Palin, the only journalist to stand up against what amounts to the height of journalistic deceit (in my humble opinion) is handcuffed on the sidewalk leading into the event.

Draw your own conclusions on that one.

To me, it makes a bold statement of how, whether you like it or not, you will bend to your knees and praise their mess-I-Yah, just as they do -- or else they're comin' to get 'ya!

One of the best interviews that sums it up, is the one video that CNN tried so desperately to yank from YouTube. CNN lost the fight on that one owing to "Fair Use" laws. I'm talking about CNN's Susan Roesgen's glaring display of tea party bashing, using the camera and her position of influence on their Network to paint such an obviously flawed report of what was going on. (Check out the backstory on that one here.)

But Susan Roesgen is not alone using the power of the media to sway the minds of the masses to their way of thinking -- and try to cut the growing outrage against the massive wall of debt the current Administration is busy cementing while Obama does his best to tear down and rebuild this nation in his own image.

For example, Vanity Fair's Christopher Bateman chose to select the best of the many far left-wing columnists and bloggers while taking a brief stab at Fox News to draft his brief article on tax day -- while many of the tea parties were still going on. (Fox is one of the few Networks that actually "reported" on what was going on at some of the larger tea parties out there.)

Uh, yeah, there's "Politics and Power" at work for 'ya.

This tea has been brewing for some time in this country. And surprisingly, one of the sparks can be traced back to a possibly not-so-well-known case of Kelo v. New London -- possibly one of the first "wake up" calls that drew protest and alarm from all political backgrounds; Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians alike.

Surprisingly enough, in that little incident, it was the far left-wing elitists again that went against the masses -- and not so surprisingly, got their way.
It's a sad story... you can read about it here.

What the far-left elitists (most of whom are in the "Power" seat now) fail to see is that tea parties are about the silent majority, all of those who have felt disenfranchised, like they have no voice... those who would not normally take to the streets. It takes an awful, awful, awful lot to make many of them "stand up" and join their voices with others.

The tipping point, the way I see it, came with the Bush bailouts... when the giant snowball was finally finished. The snowball got pushed off the top of the mountain the minute Obama requested the final TARP funds be released before Bush stepped down. And the momentum has been fed by bailout, after bailout... spending bill after spending bill... wads of future cash (in the form of a mushrooming debt and deficit) being stripped from the taxpayers to go for paying off the mistakes of others.

That's KEY here -- "for paying off the mistakes of others."

Permit me to repeat it just one more time.

"For paying off the mistakes of OTHERS!"

Whether the so-called mainstream media like to admit it or not, that snowball is now rolling down the mountain side -- growing in size and speed.

The tax day tea parties were not an end to the outrage being felt by honest, hardworking, tax paying, law-abiding citizens... folks who have spent most of their lives trying to "do the right thing" for their family, their communities, their country.

The tax day tea parties were just a beginning, IMHO.

July 4, 2009 might very well be bringing on a much bigger show that the mainstream media can scoff, laugh at, dismiss and/or mock. It won't matter what they say now. Their credibility has been stripped away. Their agenda now lays naked for all but the most impaired to see. They're already on the wrong side of the story.

In the interest of full disclosure - I'm a registered Independent and my husband is a registered Democrat.

Imagine that!

PS: I mentioned in my last post that I would be back to post the tea party poem I wrote... but I'm holding back for a bit on that. My apologies to those of you who were looking forward to it. The "editor" in me wants to tweak it a bit more before I unveil it here. Hope you can understand. Please forgive the delay.

More tea parties across the nation

Alamo tea party:


Wilmington, DE party moved indoors because of rain:


Denton tea party in distance:


Provo tea party:


Seattle tea party:




Augusta, GA tea party:


Bakersfield, CA:


Santa Fe tea party:


The NYC stage at their tea party:


And how about a few costumes?

From Piscataway, NJ:


From Astoria, OR:


And in Everett, WA:


Back to signs, here's a great Barney sign from Seattle:


And from Augusta, GA:


That's it for the tea party pics today.

I've written a small poem for the day... will post it tomorrow.

Until then.

Be kind to yourself.

Be kind to your neighbor.

God Bless America!

Peace.

Out.

More tea party updates

Apparently someone dumped a box of tea bags over the fence... that's the reason given for the White House tea party evacuation? Will probably find out more on O'Reilly when Laura Ingram is on??

Now on to a few more pics.

Here is St. Paul:


Tuscaloosa:


Knoxville, TN:


Orlando City Hall:


Arlington (with a Politician?):


Bloomington, Indiana:


Richmond, VA:


New Orleans:


Dallas:


Memphis, TN:


Little Rock:


Riverhead:


Portsmouth:


Bay City Rollers at the OC tea party:


Shreveport:


Tulsa:


Charleston:


Birmingham/Shelby Co:


Another great shot of the MI State Capitol tea party (WOW!):


New York City:



Fun, funny and thought provoking signs.

Here's one from the Austin tea party:


Here's a great one from Clayton:


And from Franklin:


Piscataway, NJ:


And from elsewhere...









More coming soon...

Steady stream of tea party pics

More pics from across the nation... Click the pics to see the larger size/full size version at twitpics.

Bellevue, WA (just ended - about 1,000 to 1,500 showed up):


Wow! The Capitol tea party in Michigan has GROWN MASSIVE!


And check out this panaramic shot of the TN Capitol (you have to click the pic to see the panaramic shot):


Sacramento:


Chatanooga:


More from Boise:


Pensacola getting underway:


Dockweiler (I'm not even sure where that is, but there's a thousand so far):


More from Oklahoma City:


Manfiled, OH:


Pleasanton:


Setting up in Houston:


Lydon, KS just starting out:


Setting up news broadcasting in Orlando:


AND more fun and funny (and even thought provoking) signs.

From NE,TN:


And from Jackson, TN:


And more from elsewhere...







And, would you look at this? Houston tea party is now getting underway...



Gotta take a break now. Be back later.

Breaking NEWS - Lafayette Square tea party evacuated?

Apparently, the Lafayette Square tea party in DC was completely evacuated after the White House was evac'd --- BREAKING NEWS!! ????

See scene here (from twitter):


Lafayette Square right before evacuation:


Not sure. I haven't seen confirmation yet... will keep you posted if I find out more. Laura Ingram was at that tea party, so I'm guessing if it happened, it will be on the newswires later?


Meanwhile...

I messed up on the pics for Nashville and CT (cut and pasted the wrong link/pic for one of them)... so, I'm adding more for each here.

Here's one from Nashville:


This is one of the pics from Hartford, CT:


And let's move on to some of the latest pics flooding into twitpics.

Santa Ana, CA:


Greensboro:


Hollidaysburg:


Denver:


Atascadero (good crowd for small town):



What about the signs?

Loved this pic... not sure where this is:


Thought this sign (from Charlotte, NC) was an eyecatcher:


Other funny signs:


From Ft. Lauderdale, FL:


And from the OC party:


More coming soon...

TEA Party Day

"This is not about politics. This is about America. This is a great day." Laura Ingram speaking from one of the DC tea parties.

It's sad that so many wingnuts are trying to pretend the tea parties are something different. Sad that they would want to dismiss so many -- shrug them off -- invalidate their feelings.

Here's an idea of some of the crowds (click the picks for a closer look at each).

The Cincinnatti, Ohio Tea Party:


The Auston Tea Party (when it was just getting underway):


One of the DC Tea Parties:


The Madison Tea Party:


The OKC Tea Party:


Crowd at War Memorial Plaza:


From Nashville (rumors say 5,000 showed up in Nashville):


In Harford, CT:


Collumbia (thousands!!):


From Tulsa:


From Naples:


At Colorado's Capital:


Denver (I think?):


Yep, another from Denver:


Michigan's Capital lawn:


And in Charlotte:


Russellville, AR:


White Plains:


Chicago:


Baton Rouge:


Another view from Baton Rouge:


Sacramento:


San Francisco:


A small retirement community in Bella Vista:


In Boise:


UPDATE - they say the OKC tea party is up to 7,000 people now:


Pictures are streaming in by the hundreds (thousands?) from all over the USA and most tea parties are just getting started.

Check it out through twitter pics (this link).

I'll be back with more later.

Tax Freedom Day Today

Generally speaking, it is Tax Freedom Day (TFD) today... not factoring in State by State adjustments.

The good news is, this is the earliest TFD since 1967.

The bad news is, we probably won't see it coming this early for a VERY VERY long time here in the USA.

You can thank the Bush tax cuts (and the poorly designed Stimulus Bill) for TFD happening so early this year... and, likewise, you can thank the Obama Administration next year when it's delayed. How much will it be delayed? This article paints the grim picture of where we are now heading:

However, this year more than most, TFD, average or not, does not adequately reflect the burden borne by taxpayers. Spending, whether financed by taxes or borrowing, is the best measure of government's fiscal impact. This year more than a third of government outlays are borrowed funds. Total government expenditures are at record levels. You have to go back to the last two years of World War II to beat this year's spending burden.

Reports the Tax Foundation:

"Because of the federal government's ability to deficit-finance its operations, Tax Freedom Day moves somewhat independently from an alternative calculation that adds the federal budget deficit to total taxes collected. In 2009, an unprecedented budget deficit over $1.5 trillion produces a date of May 29, fully forty-five days later than Tax Freedom Day." [link]

Now, there are a lot of people attending Tea Parties on tax day this year... and there are some media outlets "snearing" at them, dismissing the Tea Parties as a political gambit using taxes as an excuse. Even, albeit to a smaller degree, FOX News Channel has been emphasizing the tax side of the story.

But, it began with public outrage against massive Government spending... (see the Rick Santelli video).

You know it. We know it. All responsible adults know it.

You can't keep robbing Peter to pay Paul. The more money they borrow to throw at the Recession, the higher the burden will be on taxpayers in the years to come.

How bad, you might be wondering?

Runaway spending ensures that this year's TFD will be dwarfed by future TFDs. Some day someone will have to pay off the debts being run up today. The Obama administration's budget figures are bad enough, but they almost certainly rest upon unrealistic economic expectations. The CBO again offers a sobering analysis: "CBO's estimates of deficits under the President's budget exceed those anticipated by the administration by $2.3 trillion over the 2010-2019 period."

The agency's bottom line is even more astonishing. CBO reports that "the President's proposals would add $4.8 trillion to the baseline deficits over the 2010-2019 period," leading to a deficit of $1.8 trillion in 2009 (compared to the Tax Foundation's $1.5 trillion assumption) and $1.4 trillion next year. Moreover, "The cumulative deficit from 2010 to 2019 under the President's proposals would total $9.3 trillion, compared with a cumulative deficit of $4.4 trillion projected under the current-law assumptions embodied in CBO's baseline. Debt held by the public would rise, from 41 percent of GDP in 2008 to 57 percent in 2009 and then to 82 percent of GDP by 2019." Congress trimmed a bit from the president's proposals when it approved the budget in early April, but actual federal spending almost always ends up far higher than initially projected. [link]

There's more distressing news. Read the full article (particularly page 2) and you will quickly see there is cause for alarm. Better have your blood pressure pills handy before reading it.

The article closes with this food for thought:

In the midst of economic crisis, it is tempting to celebrate the Tax Foundation's report on TFD as a little bit of good news -- sort of the tax quiet before the spending storm. Alas, the bad news is really bad. The best case is a big increase in spending, smaller GDP, and much higher tax burden. The worst case is financial crisis and collapse.

So, as we approach the Tax Day Tea Parties, don't be fooled by media wingnuts claiming this is all about partisan politics. It's possible they haven't got a clue what a trillion dollars really looks like. I recommend they watch this video: Crash Course: Chapter 11 - How Much is a Trillion? by Chris Martenson

Just because the Tea Parties are massive on Tax Day, don't dismiss them as being only about taxes...

To many, they're about "NO MORE BAILOUTS."

To others, they're about "NO MORE FAKE STIMULUS."

To others, they're about "NO MORE TAXES."

To others, they're about "NO MORE DEBTS."

And to the great majority of people that will be attending, both those who voted for Obama and those who did not, it's about feeling disenfranchised, ignored, patronised and unheard.

Personally, I've been watching this Administration with growing horror as they dance around dishing out blank checks in the form of massive Government guarantees and bailouts of astronomical proportion, with budgets and stimulack plans that pile on the pork and worse... they're acting like irresponsible kids with their first gold credit card -- leaving the consequences of their rash actions for the taxpayers of both present and future generations.

'Nuff said.

Happy Tax Freedom Day.

FDIC Friday and Glimmers of Hope?

FDIC Friday is a nickname investors (and financial industry insiders) have given to bank closures and/or forced sales that usually occur late on a Friday after markets have closed and public attention is focused elsewhere.

I don't truly understand why one bank is shut down or allowed to fail while another gets "bailed out" by the Feds. Supposedly, they have some kind of magic formula. They announced last week that the stress tests have been completed. Needless to say, they are keeping those results away from public eyes. (So much for transparency in this Administration. Ha-ha-ha.)

Since I haven't covered the FDIC Friday bank failures of late, I thought maybe I should see where we are at so far this year.

It turns out North regulators closed North Carolina's eight-branch Cape Fear Bank Friday (it will reopen Monday as a First National) and also shut down New Frontier Bank, one of Colorado state's biggest banks, which is the latest casualty. On reading the announcement about them, one alarming statistic leaped out at me...

Bank failures in 2005: 0
Bank failures in 2006: 0
Bank failures in 2007: 3
Bank failures in 2008: 25
Bank failures (as of April 10) in 2009: 23

Sources:
"Colorado bank biggest US bank failure of 2009"
"Banks in North Carolina, Colorado Die on Good Friday"

I hear all the media and Federal Government hype about glimmers of hope -- then I look at the statistics above, and I'm thinking, "Hey, something just isn't adding up here!"

The above numbers tell me bank failures are escalating, not declining.

So, what really has the TARP, TALF and the $7+ Billion-dollar-boondoggle Stimulack really accomplished so far? Why are the Feds, albeit cautiously, prancing around waving "glimmers of hope" banners while quietly plotting a way to bailout the insurance companies (like life insurance companies, etc.) next? What's really up? ...or should I ask, what's really going down?

Yes, I understand why they shut the failing banks down on a Friday. They are trying to prevent a rerun of the run on banks that occurred back in the Great Depression. By shutting the failing banks down (and/or negotiating/forcing their sale) on a Friday, things open up on a Monday almost like it's business as usual -- like nothing happened.

"Nothing to see here, folks. Move along, now, and go about your regular business."

The interesting difference in the New Frontier Bank closure is that this time, they are just shutting the doors on it... and to do so, they're creating a NATIONAL BANK:

Unable to have a rival bank take charge of New Frontier's credits and deposits, the FDIC said it "created the Deposit Insurance National Bank of Greeley (DINB), which will remain open for approximately 30 days to allow depositors time to open accounts at other insured institutions." [link]

There was also this:

“All insured depositors of New Frontier are encouraged to transfer their insured funds to other banks,” the FDIC said in a press release. [link]

Assuming it was toxic debts (supposedly mortgages gone bad) that got most of our banks into trouble in the first place, let's see what the Feds have accomplished with their "Hope for Homeowners" plan (launched last fall)...

I take a walk over to this blog and find:

The score is like something from of a cricket match gone horribly wrong: 3,675,971 to 1.

Sadly, it’s not sports. That is the tally as of April 8th for the number of mortgage modifications performed under competing public and private plans.


Private sector (Hope Now):3,675,971

Government (Hope for Homeowners): 1

The government figure is not a misprint. Exactly one - one - mortgage has been successfully modified and endorsed by the FHA under the Hope for Homeowners plan. While the Hope Now Web site clearly shows the successes, don’t bother looking on the government page, you won’t find the ‘one’ anywhere.

Those numbers - while disputed in an interview I did with HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan - came directly from HUD itself on Wednesday afternoon. I posted the email chain with a HUD official to clearly indicate that those numbers came from the agency itself.

The loneliest number is even more bizarre given the other figures involved: $300 billion, $20 billion, 400,000, and 865. Those are the other figures for the “Hope for Homeowners” government mortgage plan:

$300 billion dollars in loans insured by the FHA
$20 billion dollar credit subsidy to help fund the plan
400,000 is the estimated number of homeowners the program was said to benefit
865 is the number of applications received by the government under the plan

So what’s the problem? [read the rest of the article through this link]

What is the problem, indeed!

It's Not About the Bow

"It's not about the bow... it's about the White House lie, stupid."

If you haven't seen any of the numerous videos of Obama bowing to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, here is a link to one version:

"White House: No bow to Saudi"

The entire episode might have been just a few short hours of outrage from those who perceive potentially negative implications in his actions -- had it not been for the White House lie that followed.

Remember the phrase: "It's the economy, stupid."

Well, this incident has perhaps blown up owing to a new phrase that many have been attaching to the Administration of late: "It's the lies, stupid."

Now, some of the lies might technically be considered half-truths -- but with his bow to the King, even Obama supporters are calling a spade a spade. For example... "Posted by jojo: I'm an Obama supporter and that was definitely a bow. With all that's going on I think we should concentrate on more important things."

Here is yet another example (of many) from Obama supporters: "Posted by Ghost: Wow!! I cant believe he actually bowed. Whoever said that he didn't bow is a dam liar. I did support the president and i will continue to support him, but i have to admit he definitely bowed."

And yet another example... posted by TG Chicago:

I'm an Obama supporter. I think Obama bowed, and I think he was wrong to bow. But I don't think it was all that big of a deal. Lying about it is a big deal. The anonymous Obama aide should be in hot water for telling an obvious lie on the record. Allowing anonymity to administration officials to tell lies is also a big deal. Ben Smith should be in hot water for printing this garbage. If an administration official tells you a baldfaced lie, don't let them do it anonymously. Make them stand behind their BS. Printing this garbage as if it's truth is a disservice to your profession. Already people are saying "Obama is lying!" or "The White House is lying!" So far, all we know is that this one cowardly anonymous aide lied. And Ben Smith is protecting the liar.

To understand why some in the realm of International politics might consider the bow a big deal, one has to understand the culture of the region. A caste system is far different than a democratic rule. In a caste system you are born to your station -- either an Aristocrat or a Peasant.

Can you guess which caste bows to which?

Sidenote: Makes me wonder if the Queen of England has ever bowed (or curtsied?) to King Abdullah.

Back to the story, here. Since the President acts on our behalf (or at least, he's supposed to) ...on which side of the "fence" do you think we've now been relegated? Subservient? On par? In the big picture, maybe it won't be a big deal....

From a more "militant" side of the analysis, the bow implies far more. It has struck a chord of unease among some moderate Muslim communities for what the action implies in their world. Also, the King's misogynistic approach to rule is no secret.

But, I'm not going to go there.

Instead, I'm going to reiterate: It's about the lie, stupid.

And as more and more and more information slowly rises to the surface shining a light on what is really happening to our taxpayer dollars, who is manipulating whom, who is hiding what... something tells me, it ain't gonna be about the economy by then. It's going to be about the lies, stupid.

For example, you've heard statements (which of course they will deny when the *hit hits the fan) that Obama's quick actions have put us on the fast road to recovery. They say, look at the stock market as a leading indicator. Of course, when it was tanking they told us to ignore the stock market.

Want to take just a wee peek into the future of what's coming next?

The IMF said in January that it expected the deterioration in US-originated assets to reach $2.2 trillion by the end of next year, but it is understood to be looking at raising that to $3.1 trillion in its next assessment of the global economy, due to be published on April 21. In addition, it is likely to boost that total by $900 billion for toxic assets originated in Europe and Asia.

Banks and insurers, which so far have owned up to $1.29 trillion in toxic assets, are facing increasing losses as the deepening recession takes a toll, adding to the debts racked up from sub-prime mortgages. The IMF's new forecast, which could be revised again before the end of the month, will come as a blow to governments that have already pumped billions into the banking system. [link]

It's no wonder rumor has it that they're bailing out the insurance industry next.

Time for tea, anyone?

Speaking of tea, the Indiana State Tax Day Tea Parties are listed here.

Script Frenzy - The Day Alaska Separates

Imagine, if you dare...

The date is April 2, 2011, and the official documents have arrived by special envoy to the White House.

Alaska has severed itself from the USA.

As part of the lengthy agreements left in place, Alaska will continue to lease parts of its land to USA military training in exchange for full control of the missile defense systems remaining on its shores.

New negotiations have been entered into for continued supply of energy resources for the lower 48, but the latest referendums held within the former State do not bode well for any "special pricing" of natural gas and/or oil flowing from Alaska. Mr. Ted Stevens heads the board for negotiations with Alaska.

Pipelines originally intended to stretch down to the USA from Alaska have been diverted to a new oil consortium currently located within the province of Alberta, Canada where all energy supply purchases must go through the new Northern Borse Exchange (NBE).

Most non-Alaskan mining companies have obtained leases to continue operations, however a few have been unable to negotiate contracts and have already sold off their assets to Alaskan mining companies. All mining resources are also now traded through the NBE.

New undeveloped deposits of gold, zinc, coal, copper and (surprisingly) uranium have been revealed owing to the receding glaciers, making Alaska the richest country in the world for precious metal resources (next to Canada with its new discoveries in both the Yukon and Northwest Territories).

Fresh water (an increasingly valuable commodity) from remaining Alaskan glacier areas are also being carefully preserved and withheld from trading at this time.

Both Russia and Canada have been in constant talks for Alaska to join their respective countries, however Alaska remains cautious about any union at this time.

Considerable competition has been heating up amongst nations for oil contracts as the Wildlife Reserve preliminary test drills indicate massive deposits, far greater than initial geological surveys had indicated. Oil deposits are estimated to dwarf all oil deposits combined in the Middle East.

A series of former USA federal laws which previously hampered Alaska and its economy have already been abolished by Premiere Palin who has seen her new country through the quickest transition (from State to independent country) in recent history.

Abundant in both fish and game, Alaska has already inked deals with several major companies in the food services industry. Rumor has it that ConAgra has also proposed new winter grains perfect for the perma-frost regions, and have been awarded a contract to set up a massive experimental farm complex outside of Fairbanks to study potential.

Owing to several threats by environmental groups as well as foreign nations wishing to invade and "take" its natural resources, Alaska's military is supplemented by both Russian forces and Canadian forces. Alaska also has entered into a standing contract with Canada's RCMP for additional security and related services.

The USA continues to attempt reconciliation, but with the official papers now in the hands of President Obama it is believed peaceful negotiations are no longer an option to keep Alaska in the Union.

Many reports are claiming that White House staff are blaming the breakup on the fact that former federal government administrations reneged on commitments made when Alaska came into the union.

Other reports suggest it was the "hidden" deals with China that actually fractured the USA/Alaska relationship.

An emergency strategy session has been called to discuss a way forward to force Alaska back into the Union. The strategy session will also deal with China's outrage over broken promises for Alaskan natural resources formerly made in exchange for them to continue funding the astronomical USA debt which has now spiralled completely out of control with the country now officially in a deep depression. With hyperinflation set to hit, further devaluing the USA dollar, China as well as several other backers are furious.

We enter our story with a split screen:

The left shows dignitaries in the USA, including the President, sitting down at the table for their strategy talks. The right shows another meeting taking place between dignitaries from Russia and Canada sitting down for talks with Premiere Palin in Alaska.

And that's where I leave you, dear readers as I enter Script Frenzy for this month.

I have to write 100 pages of script within 30 days.

Needless to say, all of this is completely fiction.

Wish me luck completing Script Frenzy!

Who Framed Senator Ted Stevens?

As the charges against Senator Ted Stevens are dropped, one has to ask the most important questions:

First question: Who framed Senator Ted Stevens?

Second question: What was their purposed in making him a target?

Third question: When did they decide to target him?

Fourth question: Where was the decision to target him made?

Fifth question: Why did mainstream media reporters back away from this pivotal case?

And sixth question: How did "they" manage to get away with removing Sen. Ted Stevens from office without having a single spotlight shining down on "them."

Ah yes, the basic tenets of investigative reporting: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How.

I'm not a reporter. I'm not a lawyer. I'm not a judge. I'm not a private investigator.

But I do have access to the Internet... and I have an intensely curious mind. When the Ted Stevens story hit the mainstream media headlines, I had my suspicions that something was fishy.

What I "tripped across" yesterday in my travels on the information highway investigating a few interesting financial "secrets" being hidden behind the gas price spikes of last year (and the parties involved) shocked me -- because it immediately triggered in my mind that Senator Stevens was FRAMED. He opened his mouth and landed directly in "their" target sights. He had to be removed from the Senate -- as FAST as HUMANLY POSSIBLE. Or at least, that was the "gut feeling" I got.

You see... he was asking some questions -- questions that some very powerful people do NOT want to have answered -- and making some comments that possibly were far too close to the truth for comfort -- at least for one financial giant that protested loud and clear (perhaps their first BIG mistake and everyone missed it).

Stay with me here.

I'll explain shortly.

So, when the headlines came out this morning that the charges against Sen. Stevens were being dropped, a part of me had already expected it.

What disgusts me is the "reasons" they give for dropping the charges.

They cite "his age" and the fact that "he's no longer in office" as being a good reason to let it go.

Uh, yeah, sure...

Amazing how the media choose to ignore the 8-page FBI "whistle-blower" agent complaint officially filed in this case. Names were named. Actions fully described. And almost the entire document red-acted. I'd say there is a bigger story here, wouldn't you?

For the record -- I'm not a registered Republican. I'm not a registered Democrat. I am a seeker of truth... plain and simple.

With that said, I don't think the "sting" was orchestrated solely to help the Democrats and sway undecided votes in favor of Obama (although it most likely helped because Senator Stevens was from Alaska and in the same party as was vice-President-elect Sarah Palin whom they are still attacking and using Internet zombies and mainstream media as weapons against her -- man-oh-man, are the zombies ever getting played -- what morons).

The timing of the targeting and pursuant smear campaign against Senator Ted Stevens was simply convenient ...having it all came down at a critical time during the 2008 elections.

And a critical time for a very well known and powerful financial giant -- one financial giant that is so embedded inside the White House (for decades) that it is often assumed they are a stepping stone into Government positions.

Call me crazy if you want... but with respect to the Ted Stevens case, I sincerely believe something far more sinister was/is going on here.

It involves MONEY.

It involves OIL.

It involves POWER.

Forbes broke the story. "Did Goldman Goose Oil? - How Goldman Sachs was at the center of the oil trading fiasco that bankrupted pipeline giant Semgroup." [LINK]

Now, some of you reading this might be slapping your forehead and going,
"Ah, yes! I remember the gas price spikes at the time."

Remember?

We were still in the heat of the Democratic primaries when gas prices were going through the roof. And now, a few short months later it seems like so many out there have completely forgotten it.

What does this have to do with Ted Stevens and what did he say which would make him an enemy of the "Goldmanite shadow government" that would paint a target on his back?

When oil prices spiked last summer to $147 a barrel, the biggest corporate casualty was oil pipeline giant Semgroup Holdings, ... some of the people involved in cleaning up the financial mess are suggesting that Semgroup's collapse was more than just bad judgment and worse timing. There is evidence of a malevolent hand at work: oil price manipulation by traders orchestrating a short squeeze to push up the price of West Texas Intermediate crude to the point that it would generate fatal losses in Semgroup's accounts.

Speculation? Here's another important quote from the article:

"What transpired at Semgroup was no less than a $500 billion fraud on the people of the world," says John Catsimatidis, the billionaire grocer turned oil refiner who is attempting to reorganize Semgroup in bankruptcy court. The $500 billion is how much the world would have overpaid for crude had a successful scam pushed up oil prices by $50 a barrel for 100 days.

And here is where the sinister hand of Goldman Sachs enters the picture:

What's the evidence of this? Much is circumstantial. Proving oil-trading manipulation is difficult. But numerous people familiar with the events insist that Citibank, Merrill Lynch and especially Goldman Sachs had knowledge about Semgroup's trading positions from their vetting of an ill-fated $1.5 billion private placement deal last spring. "Nothing's been proven, but if somebody has your book and knows every trade, it would not be difficult to bet against that book and put the company into a tremendous liquidity squeeze," says John Tucker, who is representing Kivisto.

What's known for sure is that Goldman Sachs, through J. Aron & Co., its commodities trading arm, was in prime position to use such data--and profited handsomely from Semgroup's fall. J. Aron was Semgroup's biggest counterparty, trading both physical oil flowing through pipelines and paper oil, in the form of options and futures.

So how does Senator Ted Stevens fit into this picture?

Another, separate story that ran back in July 2008 -- at the height of the price spikes -- demanded something be done about speculation in the oil markets by parties that have no intention of taking delivery:

"Americans are being taken advantage of not only by OPEC but by speculators right here in our own country," says Senator Ted Stevens, an Alaska Republican, referring to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. "Historically, this has not been a bad problem. Only recently has speculation reached these unsustainable levels." [link]

Indeed, Senator Ted Stevens was one of 3 Republicans (along with Snowe and Collins) who signed on to proposals backed by Democrats to limit speculation.

What was the response from the financial community?

Surprise, surprise... it came from Goldman Sachs:

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the world's biggest securities firm, said supply and demand, rather than speculators, are responsible for oil's rally. [link]

We all now know that Snowe and Collins are both more Democratic in their leanings. But Ted Stevens... not so. He was a long-standing Republican.

And thus, I believe, he was also the most likely "target" to be removed as quickly as possible.

I somehow doubt he even realizes how close he came to opening the Goldmanite Pandora's box. And I sincerely doubt there is a politician alive, in this country and other countries, with the courage to go after them. The Goldman virus is like mold spores, with fibroids feathering out into every nook and cranny in finance, energy and beurocratic power. They're not "to big to fail"... they're too BIG to STOP!!!

How many current administration officials have ties -- directly and indirectly -- to Goldman Sachs?

Sure, all of this is speculation on my part.

And, as in every single case that others have tried to bring up with respect to securities speculation... most of the evidence can only be circumstancial, right?

Well, considering those running the finances of our country are so well connected to the "Goldmanite shadow government" are also, in many cases, guiding, advising and/or actually making the laws in this country... you decide.

Bottom line, what was the reasoning behind dropping the Ted Stevens charges?

An Alaska FBI agent has accused fellow agents and at least one prosecutor
of misconduct and unethical behavior in the public corruption investigation in
Alaska and the trial of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens.

...The complaint had sharp words about one supervising agent, accused of getting too close to sources, including Allen. It said agents took gifts and accepted favors from
sources and revealed confidential grand jury information and investigative practices to sources and reporters.

And the complaint said that prosecutors deliberately withheld and covered up evidence favorable to Stevens during his month-long trial, contradicting their statements to the judge at the time that their errors in not producing material to Stevens were accidental. [LINK]

Hmmmm... everything from FBI agents (and prosecuters?) possibly "taking bribes" (err, gifts?) to possible "perjury" to hiding evidence favorable to the defendent.

Does it sound like Senator Ted Stevens was framed?

'Ya think?

Keep in mind, Senator Ted Stevens was "convicted" on all 7 counts.

But, even though it appears oh-so-easy to tie this together and paint a picture of voter manipulation against the Democratic party, I still believe it is far deeper, far more sinister ...and far more dangerous to this nation. I'm giving the Democratic machine a walk on this one (but I'm paying very close attention to the Goldmanites in their Administration).

Oil... gold... silver -- POWER -- there's more to this story.

Don't believe everything you watch, hear and read in the news. If the critical questions have not been asked, the full story has not been told. Dig deep. Look for the story behind the story behind the story.

What "short selling" do 'ya think some of those big bailed out financial institutions were (probably still are) trying to cover using taxpayer dollars to do it? Who requested they make those "shorts" in the markets? Who is really manipulating what in this country?

Dig. Dig. Dig.

"In a world without truth, freedom loses its value." Pope John Paul II

Further Reading:
- THE ROLE OF MARKET SPECULATION IN RISING OIL AND GAS PRICES: A NEED TO PUT THE COP BACK ON THE BEAT
- Goldman Says Demand, Not Speculators, Behind Oil Gain
- Goldman Reverses Course, Says Dollar Has 'Bottomed'
- International Policy Aspects...
- The Commodity Conundrum: Securitization and Systemic Concerns (Part III)
- How Banks Can Exploit Geithner's Plan
- Goldman Takes Risks With Lending Offer
- A Senator Whom Colleagues Are Hesitant to Cross (Pay particular attention to this one. IMPORTANT: Ask yourself, why would Goldman want to hamper/prevent drilling in Alaska?)

PS: Some further "food for thought" on all of this.

The 2008 elections for the White House and Congress and state office will cost a staggering $5.3 billion. The presidential race alone, that cost will amount to more than $2.4 billion. The presidential candidates have raised and spent nearly $1.6 billion alone.

That's double the candidate's fund raising just in 2004. It has tripled the fundraising of 2000. This is also the first time the candidates for the White House have raised and spent more than $1 billion in an election campaign. The biggest corporate contributor, by the way, turns out to be Goldman Sachs.

Goldman's political action committee has contributed more than $5 million to the 2008 election campaigns. Citigroup and JPMorgan are close behind contributing more than $4 million each. And you wondered why Wall Street was getting a bailout. [link]

Just wait 'til you find out what REALLY HAPPENED to those pension funds and mutual funds. And wait 'til you see what happens next in the carbon credits markets, too. Think these guys are NOT really pulling our strings?