WAHM Diary

Mid Term Elections: No Choices for NW Indiana?

2010-10-20T20:52:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it sucks to be stuck in Jasper County come election time, particularly when you're lumped in with Lake County which some describe "to be one of the nation's most corrupt" ...because you know, no matter how frustrated Washington has made you feel, the same old dumba**es will smile and wave as they zip back to Washington after a token race here.

This year it is only mildly different in that Evan Bayh has stepped down, but who are the candidates vying for his position?

There's the Pelosi butt-kisser Brad Ellsworth (D) who I feel is sure to jump to her every command should he get the seat. I'm guessing that even Cap and Trap ...errr... Trade will be on his "Yes, Ms. Pelosi" list even tho he rejected the Markey Bill in June of 2009 (along with several other Dems as I recall). Ellsworth has voted with a majority of his Democratic colleagues 88.7% of the time during the current Congress... including the much-hated Health Care Bill.

Don'tcha just HATE "deem and pass"? That sneaky little play by the Democrats in Washington still leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many people across the country. It's a bitter pill to swallow, to be sure, but even worse was their Stimulus spending spree which, it appears to me at least, they used more as a vehicle to thank (read payback) those who voted them into the Oval Office than anything to do with actual job creation. Yes, our buddy Brad voted in favor of both of those monsters. You think he read them? I wonder...

To be fair, he was one of the so-called Blue Dog Dems that first said they wouldn't sign the Health Care Bill, and then in the ninth hour did their silly little dog-and-pony show to flip over to the other side and vote yes because either, a) they were stupid enough to believe the Executive Order on the abortion issue actually meant something, or b) they were stupid enough to believe that we were stupid enough to believe it actually meant something.

IMHO, that was the most PATHETIC display of politics I had seen in a long time. However, since these mid-term elections have started heating up across the country I've been seeing plenty more.

Now, in the other corner vying for Bayh's seat...

Here we find the fly-by-night Dan Coats who quickly moved back to Indiana when he saw an opening after Bayh announced his pending retirement. Yeppers... Dan Coats sure would love to return to Washington as an insider again... he has a string of exes on his resume that leaves no doubt where his ambitions lay (Ex-US Senator, Ex-Congressman, Ex-US Ambassador to Germany, Attorney & Lobbyist)... if that don't SCREAM Washington politician at you ...well then... you probably haven't been observing how things work at that end of the country.

To be fair, maybe that kind of experience would be a good thing. Maybe he would go down there and kick butt. Maybe, just maybe, he actually WANTS to be a voice in Washington for us. Ya think? Frankly, in my very personal and humble opinion, I just can't stand people who only have an eye on opportunity and not on serving the people without whom the opportunity would not even exist... and his whole move-back-in-the-nick-of-time thingy strikes me as so... I dunno.... poser-like? Does he see us as HIS boss? Or does he see us as minions he needs to use as stepping stones to go where he really wants to go - namely Washington? I wonder...

Evan Bayh's seat isn't the only position up for election come November. Visclosky faces the voters once again, too. For those of us who have had to go up against his buddies in this region, we weren't at all surprised about the Murtha whispers and following Federal investigation (still ongoing). We've had the advantage of seeing first hand how he plants his seeds in the front yards of his powerful cronies... and turns his back on the small, weak and/or middle-class working man in this region. But I'm guessing there are enough clueless voters still left in this region that this election (like all others he has been in going back almost 30 years) will be a walk in the park for him... just my humble opinion.

He won't get my vote -- but I sincerely doubt that will keep him awake at night. The way I see it, he's part of that oh-so-powerful Democratic machine that has a strangle-hold on this region. IMHO, they need to be completely ripped apart and rebuilt, tossing everyone out starting at the very top and working their way down to just above the local level. The machine couldn't care less about Indiana... but they do appear to love their Washington weight. Again, just my humble opinion. Or is it?

"Voters overwhelmingly believe that most members of Congress are for sale, and over half think it’s at least somewhat likely that their own representative has been bought with cash or a campaign contribution." (link to Rasmussen Reports)

Here's another quote for ya...

"Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott, the Lake County Democratic chairman, said Democrats with political aspirations know better than to run against Visclosky." (link to full story)

What's that tell ya? Is that where the so-called corruption starts?

I've seen Visclosky signs perched in various yards around the area... however... I notice there aren't nearly so many as there have been in previous elections. In fact, by my estimate just in our area, there are only about 1 tenth of them this go-around. Is this a signal that maybe, just maybe, the walk in the park might not be so pleasant for him after all?

Sadly, I have yet to see any signs for his opponents, the first of whom is Mark Leyva (R). He is going up against Pete for the fourth time. Mark, Mark, Mark... What can I say about Mark? Not much, but here is someone who has plenty to say about him.

And then there is Jon Morris, the Libertarian candidate for this region... the only other alternative left for Viscolosky's seat.

Seriously? These are all we have to choose from? Well... there are more. Click here for a bigger list of political candidates/seats up for grab in less than 2 weeks.

Regardless which side of the fence you're on -- get out and vote. Okay?

A sign of things to come?

2010-09-27T14:21:00.000-05:00

On September 23, 2010, a fax memo went out to all coin dealers from the Dept. of the Treasury U.S. Mint... "The United States Mint has depleted its inventory of 2010 American Buffalo One Ounce Gold Bullian Coins. No additional inventory will be made available."

A sign of things to come... ?

Meanwhile, on other shores, on September 15, 2010, Japan intervened to keep its currency from rising more than it already has. Reuters estimates the single day intervention could be as high as $20 Billion. It's common knowledge that China has been moving away from US Treasuries and trading more and more with Japan, which may have been part of their reasoning for the intervention, but....

Could this be another sign of things to come... ?

A quick trip up to Russia leads to the discovery (according to an AFP story) that 45 Russian regions saw prices for certain foods rise by more than 30% in a 30-day period ending August 23, 2010. Surprisingly, this time the Russian Government has chosen not to intervene...

To look at how well stocks have performed this month here in the USA one might think things are actually going well over here. After all, the recession is over... was over as of June 2009... according to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Yes sirree. Crack open the bubbly.

Unless... ?

Go ahead and party. I'll be back tomorrow with some updates you might have been missing.

Economy - Crunching the Numbers

2010-05-07T11:23:00.000-05:00

Take 231,000 and add 66,000 and you should get 297,000... right? Well, according to this story in Bloomberg.com it's only 290,000. Had my 9 year old son responded with their answer, he would have received an F on his math paper -- and that's what is driving me NUTS right now -- the deliberate fudging of the numbers going on in the economic headlines these days, and the deliberate "spin" in political circles.

For example... unemployment WENT UP to 9.9% and yet most everyone is celebrating the "story" that payrolls jumped 290,000 last month, supposedly "indicating the recovery is becoming self-sustaining."

Say WHAT?!?

Here are the numbers I'm seeing...

Unemployment Up: now 9.9%
Dow Down: ended down 347.8 points yesterday (after near disaster-level plunge)
Foreclosures Up: 1 in every 138 homes received foreclosure notices in the first quarter 2010
Freddie Mac: Going for another $10.6 Billion in Fed dollars
Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Delinquencies: rose 69 basis points in March
GM: gets an additional $3.3 Billion in Govt funds (say what?)

Let's crunch a few numbers...

Approximately 920,000 Govt. temporary workers will be hired for Census taking from April through June. I'm thinking, "Watch out July." What about the new graduates coming into the workforce pool? Has anyone even taken a count?

A few astute economists that I've been following have predicted a dramatic pull-back in home-building/home sales come July as well... which leads me to guesstimate we'll be seeing unemployment skyrocketing yet again as home building contractors struggle to find work (and speculators come out to short the home builders market again) and related support industries begin another pull back. Worse yet - "Bank of America is projecting a 600% increase in its already large number of monthly foreclosures." (link)

Now... with the glut of foreclosed homes on the market adding to the new homes inventory, what effect do you see this having on property taxes? Watch out education budgets.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You really gotta read this article on the Irvine Housing Blog to appreciate how much of the mess is being deliberately shoved into 2012. You think Obama cares whether or not he gets re-elected? He'll probably step down with a big grin of relief. Too bad we can't hold him and his Administration accountable... but that's another story for another day.

Sidenote: It comes as no surprise to me that Bank of America's CEO plans to vote for Barney Frank this fall. Maybe he thinks they'll get the same protections Fannie and Freddie have received from Frank over the past decade?

But I digress...

Now let's talk about the GM number crunching lie.

GM actually increased the size of their bailout but hid under a veil of accounting chicanery IMHO... here is how it worked. They took $6.7 Billion from their Working Capital loan (part of the Equity bailout money) to pay off their $6.7 Billion straight loan (not the entire $49.5 Billion they actually got) so they could get a $10 Billion loan from the DOE... which essentially increased the total they owe the govt by $3.3 Billion but reduced the interest rate on that new $10 Billion dollar candy they snatched.

I guess it wouldn't have been so bad if they had at least been honest about it... but noooooo... they go and spend a small fortune (of whose money, exactly?) on an advertising campaign saying they paid off their Government loan in full. (Considering they're 72.5% Govt. owned now, which Govt. Administrator/Overseer approved this ad?)

The reason I bring it up here isn't just because of the fuzzy "accounting" terminology they used to essentially lie to us. No. I bring it up because of the fact that they went for even more money than they initially received in bailout dollars. Another $3.3 Billion. To retool to meet new Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards (aka CAFE)... Didn't the initial bailout have them covered for retooling to meet this glorious new future? Anyone else besides me thinking they're having financial problems already?

Back to what I mentioned with respect to Fannie and Freddie...

Freddie Mac is tapping the Treasury for another $10.6 billion. Together, the two giants (Fannie and Freddie) have drawn $136.5 billion from Treasury's unlimited equity line since they were seized in September 2008... and here we are, still going up, up and up... but not too many are talking about it today. With the DOW teetering back and forth so much this morning, I don't find that surprising.

The PPT will step in before the end of the day. Just a guess.

Obama's little "pep talk" this morning did little to comfort me, but there are those who are still drinking at the hopium cooler. God Bless them...

(Compare the F&F financing to the Greek tragedy -- the European/IMF rescue amount for Greece is in the neighborhood of $139 billion. Combined, Fannie and Freddie rescues will now amount to more than rescuing a small country. -- Think about it.)

Add salt to the wounds... with the Gulf Coast mess and traditional summer gas price goose mixed together this year, I'm guessing hefty price increases at the pumps (which will probably be due more to the sneaky EPA strong arming being attempted right now to bypass voters yet again).

As grim as all of the above might look, that's not even the worst of it... the way I see it.

No sirree...

This Admin has scraped so much under the carpet, there's no carpet left under which to hide some to the dirt showing up with respect to their new Health Care Bill and the Stimulack numbers. It's no wonder people are jumping nervously over the supposed "Financial Reform Bill" ...trust has all but evaporated among steamed citizens.

In a vain attempt to hang onto as many Democrat seats as they (Democrats) possibly can; come the mid-term elections, I am betting we're about to see spin like we've never seen spin before... I'll liken it to a carnival ride known as the Twister. IMHO, it will be near impossible to separate the lies from the facts as facts become more and more distorted to suit political agendas on all sides. Better have plenty of gravel pills on hand. The ride isn't going to be pretty over the next few months.

Heck, it isn't going to be pretty at all over the next few years.

PS: Notice how one computer generated trade can send the entire market into a tail spin? I shudder to think what hackers around the world might be contemplating over that little fiasco!

What Does Reform Mean To You?

2010-04-28T11:50:00.000-05:00

As more and more details surface on what is really buried in the Health Reform Bill (squashed through Congress using every trick in the book), the word CON in CONfidence is leaping out for those who previously had complete CONfidence in Government.

Meanwhile, whispers of "I told you so" are just beginning for those who had absolutely no CONfidence from the beginning of this whole dog and pony show.

CONsidering the distress that Health Care Reform has already begun to stir (with far worse to come), it's not surprising that many voters have a bitter taste in their mouth when the word REFORM drips from the lips of Democrats and/or the White House elite.

What gets under my skin, and under the skin of others who think like me, is how the White House and all those in the Senate and House are hiding behind the "Reform" debate rather than stepping up to the plate on accountability enforcing laws already present. So sad.

Rumored to be some 1408 pages long (some say more than 1500 pages long?), the Financial Reform Bill will cast a giant Government shadow over all businesses -- yet, according to some, it will do little to reign in the sources and root causes (notice the plural?) that shoved world economies into Cat. 5 Economic Hurricane status.... IMHO. In fact, I dare say we now sit in the eye of that Cat-5 financial storm, and the eye will soon pass to bring on the backside of this hurricane.

Trend watchers of historical economic data tend to agree that the next "recession" is due in another 2 to 3 years. We're far from over this one thanks to positively terrible handling (read mishandling) by this Admin. Just my humble opinion.

The thought of them "reforming" anything further sends a shudder down my spine.

Let's take a break from this gloom and doom path.

Here is an experiment Christian readers of my blog can try...

Take the "Reform" bills passed by this Administration to date and find out how many times one of our Ten Commandments was broken. While you're at it, take a look at some of the few details we've seen regarding the current so-called "financial reform bill" winding it's way through Washington and refer to this particular commandment:

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's." Exodus 20:17

Envy, even today, is a dirty word by many standards and/or interpretations... but it seems, at least to me, that this Administration is hell bent on redefining the word, raising it to some kind of "social justice" platform. It's like they're saying it's okay to hate (read envy) the rich. Notice... in the above quoted Commandment... being the rich neighbour isn't bad... being the jealous neighbour is bad.

But...

I'm certainly no religious zealot here... nor am I a pastor or preacher of the Word. Those far more experienced than I in interpreting God's laws would in all likelihood be better equipped to define the word "covet" as it exists within this commandment.

Those who kneel before the President's speeches and let him lead them into a "bash the rich" marathon can look inside their own hearts and decide whether it is actually their own envy that spurs them on this path... or not. They'll meet their maker some day. We all do. Some of us will have more 'splainin' to do than others.

Personally, I just want to see those who actually broke the law, face legal justice.

And I most CERTAINLY don't want to see a permanent slush fund set up to bail a single one of them out, ever again!

Toodle-loo... I'm off to see if I can buy some "reform" insurance. Maybe AIG is selling it. Heheheh.

Tear Down This Wall

2010-03-24T05:32:00.000-05:00

I was going to make this a quick one today.

Watch this video:

"Why Aren't These Guys In Handcuffs Yet?"

Since we are now fast approaching the 2 year mark of the official Nov. 2008 election results when the much-touted transition team were being fully debriefed in preparation for taking over the White House, I'm quite surprised that the super-majority (read all-powerful) Democrats have built so many walls behind which to hide the ugly truth of the financial mess they kept using as their "blame the previous administration" excuse gavel in order to "pound" their way through their first year.

It's year 2 now...

Democrats have used the "previous administration" excuse and the "financial crisis" excuse: to cram through a $410 Billion omnibus budget, to dump a MASSIVE $787 Billion dollar stimulus (read - stimulack) Bill on our backs (which has grown since then), to drive up our debt ceiling several trillion dollars, to jam thru a heavily flawed Health Care Pill... errrr, Bill... using deceptive reconciliation rules in order to avoid a true debate following the shout that came from Massachusetts voters... a Bill which, in my very humble opinion, will drive up our deficits trillions more while completely collapsing both Medicare and Social Security (regardless what they claim to the contrary)... etc., etc., etc.

...and yet...

...here we are...

...nearly 2 years later...

And no one is behind bars yet?

Even worse -- no one knows for certain how many other banks out there were using the same deceptive -- read: illegal -- accounting practices? Well... maybe Larry Summers knows, maybe Paul Volker knows, maybe Hank Paulson knows, maybe Gheitner knows, maybe Bernanke knows ...and just maybe even Barney Frank (among others in the current Admin) knows... ...but the taxpayers who had to foot the bill to save all their asses... what do we know?

In the very beginning... even before... this new Democrat era, I recall how quick the new Administration was to demonize Wall Street Fat Cats, Fannie/Freddie and AIG... remember? Here are a couple quotes to help refresh your memory:

"Tomorrow you can turn the page on policies that put the greed and irresponsibility of Wall Street before the hard work and sacrifice of men and women all across main street." (President Elect Brack Obama - Nov. 3, 2008)

"Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers." (President Elect Barack Obama Nov. 4, 2008)

Bottom line, the accounting "shell games" played by Lehman were illegal.

Plain and simple.

The individuals playing the game could have been stopped and put behind bars at any time.

Truth is, there are plenty of regulations at the SEC and Fed's disposal that could have been enforced to reign in the mess, and plenty of things that could have been done to STOP the Fannie/Freddie catastrophe for which we're still paying (and Dems are hiding, deliberately keeping $1.6 Trillion dollars OFF the books and OUT of the Budget) ...the repeated cries for clampdowns rang out (from Republicans)... but were ignored (by Democrats)... even deliberately shoved aside by House Democrats in power at the time, as this unforgettable video clearly reveals when an investigation was requested by Republicans:

Fannie/Freddie were practically the biggest crime of the whole mess IMHO, and a close look at the timeline shows the callous disregard by Barney Frank in this video.

And I quote from Barney Frank himself the part where he says with respect to Fannie and Freddie: "I think we see entities that are fundamentally sound financially and withstand some of the disaster scenarios; even if there were a problem, the Federal Government doesn't bail them out."

Ahem!

What about the Housing Bubble? Here's another priceless video starring Barney Frank.

And what about the $90 Million in bonus money that Franklin Raines walked away with while he practically "cooked the books" for Fannie and Freddie? He gets promoted to a position on the Obama staff instead of penalized for being a party to the entire mess??
The way I see it, Republicans have been trying for years to reign in Freddie and Fannie. Democrats have been blocking Republicans from doing anything about it for years.

Think about this...

In the Enron accounting scandals, people went to jail. Accounting firms were held accountable. Justice was served on people who broke the law.

This Admin's answer to the Lehman accounting crimes?

Let's rewrite all the laws, overhaul the regulations... we'll hog tie all those left standing so they can never do this again. Really? Really!?! Have you Dems lost your freakin' marbles? You never once stepped in to enforce the rules and regulations you already had at your disposal... ...indeed, you fought against a clampdown... ...you rewrote laws in previous eras of Democratic power that helped enable the mess... ...your ACORN bully buddies forced things even further... ...and now you claim you want more power to control the "bad" guys in the apple barrel? Even worse, you want to grant those powers to yet another shadow body under the Federal Reserve's umbrella -- the very freakin' people who also helped put us here in the first freakin' place?

It goes to prove how far out of touch the Dems are with the people.

Let's start with Lehmans...

We don't want reforms.

We want justice served.

We want those who -- did the crime -- serve the time.

Then let's move on to Freddie and Fannie...

We want all of those who were responsible, including politicians, regulators and more... held accountable.

We are sick and tired of the innocent being hammered with the debt, financially punished for crimes they did not commit, while the guilty go free complete with the millions and billions they pocketed in the process.

DEMOCRATS!! Do they get it?!?

Here is a little something extra to get your heart racing without doing any exercise... check this out.

Bloomberg BusinessWeek: The 50 Most Powerful People in U.S. Real Estate

Go through the list and find out who warned you about what was coming with respect to the housing crisis... and who didn't.

Who were the "enablers" on that list?

For the record, Barney Frank is not stupid. Far from it. The fact is, he is extremely sharp, sly, and cunning... learn more about Barnett "Barney" Frank here.

Will he be able to complete his image makeover so Massachusetts voters can forget his part in the entire financial mess? They claim voters have very short memories. We shall soon see...

Meanwhile, here's what I predict.

Dems will use all of this as an excuse to further hammer away at capitalism and further entrench the country in socialistic reforms which will NOT address the perpetrators of the crimes that occurred. They will try to harness the outrage still simmering from when the "crisis" first hit, and use it as a tool to further their own agenda while making the "stupid voters" believe they're actually punishing the guilty.

Sadly... there are plenty of voters still out there that are dumbed down enough to believe them, IMHO.

"Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down."

Take Cover: Here It Comes

2010-03-22T00:16:00.000-05:00

In the previous 48 hours I've watched more than 18 hours of CSPAN. How about you? Did you want to bear witness to what was actually taking place -- live -- while it happened -- or did you opt to get your information via sound bites, pundits and blogs?

The Dems had a few things right:

1. It was an historic vote, but not for the reasons they gave.

2. It is a bad bill, as many have admitted, which is the reason for the massive ammendments yet to be placed before the Senate.

3. It will provide access to health care insurance for some of the uninsured (not all) but at huge costs to States, businesses and individual tax payers.

You see, the Bill will not only penalize businesses who do not offer a government approved level of health care to workers, it will also penalize individuals who do not have health care... businesses are mandated to offer it, individuals are madated to purchase it... see a flaw in this? Let's see if the "experts" find it.

Here are 3 points they did NOT want to emphasize:

1. It adds 17,000 NEW IRS Agents to the Fed payroll to police the new Bill.

2. It adds 20 NEW TAXES

3. The States are now on the hook for Medicaid expansion included in the Bill... whether they can afford it or not.

One of those new taxes is a tax on investment income. I haven't had a chance to read the CBO scored Bill yet, so I'm wondering... this tax on investment income... ...it surely wouldn't be retirement investment income... would it? Or is it merely penalizing those who have saved their money over the years by investing it, prudently preparing themselves for their childrens' future education, or their retirement, or.... fill in the blank... ?? Is ownership of property considered an investment under the definition? What is this new tax... exactly?

Hmmm... 20 new taxes... aren't you wondering what they are?

At this point, I guess it doesn't really matter. They passed the Bill. Two hundred and nineteen Democratic House Reps voted in favor... 212 House Reps voted against the Bill. A party-like atmosphere seemed to erupt for those 219 Democrats. I wonder if their constituents are partying it up with them back home?

Doesn't matter.

It passed.

We're all screwed now...

So, let's go back to what I was warning everyone about, have been warning for the past 18 months... by starting with an article published in "the Atalantic" this month.

This is an IMPORTANT READ!

It will take about 30 minutes to read through. And although I disagree with the author's personal unsupported contention that what is now needed is even more Government spending, which is the core cause of the crisis we now face, the remainder of the article is well researched.

Take 30 minutes to read this now: "How a New Jobless Era Will Transform America"

Go ahead... read it... I'll wait.

Now, a quote from the article: "A large and long-standing body of research shows that physical health tends to deteriorate during unemployment, most likely through a combination of fewer financial resources and a higher stress level."

Now, go back and read my blog post from yesterday.

We have work to do if we are to prepare ourselves for what is now coming from this tax and spend Administration. I want you, dear readers, to be prepared for the lost decade in which we now find ourselves. We can choose to curl up and hide under our blankets hoping our Government will save us from the tough times ahead... or we can ignore them (like they apparently ignore us), roll up our sleeves and get ready to think our way out of this box they're squishing us into.

I have some ideas...

Stay tuned.

PS: Thank you for listening, Mr. Mike Pence. And thank you for standing up and letting them know how many of us feel here in Indiana.

He Blew It On Health Care

2010-03-21T05:38:00.000-05:00

Don't say I didn't warn you. Way back on March 6, 2009, I told you he was going to blow it... and as we race towards the dawn of a new day, the sky is darkening with the threat of a health care Bill passage that has kept the entire nation on pins and needles...

And I can finally say... HE BLEW IT!

Every single politician that votes YES today -- shame on you. Some of you even admit it's a bad Bill, but you're voting in favor because it's a start. A start? A START?!?? Good Heavens -- EDUCATION in this country must really SUCK bigtime if these are the brightest bulbs we can find to light the way to our future.

I bet you think this post is all about the Health Care Bill about to be voted on, right?

Wrong!

I warned you last March.

I warned you last May.

I warned you last June.

I warned you yet again last July...

If you listened, you've stockpiled your cash.

Keep doing it.... but do MORE of it... and FASTER!!

You see, the REAL numbers are out with respect to GDP, Unemployment and more; and they're very, very ugly!

Companies are, RIGHT NOW, in a state of contraction. Real unemployment touched within a hair of the 22% mark, followed by a slight dip, and is again on the rise. Taking out the Government gimmicks, February inflation was actually estimated to be 9.4% (not the 2.1% CPI-U). Take inflation out of the mix and those small increases in Retail Sales don't look like the picture they've been trying to paint, do they? The fact is, Retail Sales have been bottom-bouncing for quite a while now. If the REAL numbers are important to you, then you will want to pay for a subscription to this newsletter. No, I don't make a cent for referring you to it.

And all of that is the BRIGHT side.

Here is the DARK side.

It's Defcon 4 for some of the largest States with respect to deficits gone wild. Liquidity is a growing problem for many banks as well... with several more banks at or near being closed in the months ahead.

Foreclosure numbers in residential Real Estate appear on the surface to be leveling off... but if you think something is out of sync since Default numbers appear to be climbing, you might be in agreement with this brave reporter. Can you even trust the foreclosure numbers?

And what is really happening in Commercial Real Estate? It was projected in May of 2009 that... "...the most dangerous time for banks will be 2010 to 2013 when $1 trillion in commercial real estate loans will mature..." What? No follow-up? Why are the media so silent on what's going on in commercial real estate this year?

Take a quick glance at the global picture for a moment if you dare. Remember that global summit where newly elected Obama made the plea for other countries to join him in pushing more money into the system? Well, the impact in the form of a credit bubble has formed in Canada... but that's the least of the problems out there. Here is a quick snapshot of the Greece, China, etc. "global recovery" at the moment. I guess that sorta proves you can't "just throw money at it." Interestingly, it seems Germany doesn't agree with the redistribution of wealth thingy.... at least, not when it comes to their country having to bail out some other country.

There's more... much darker... we're already entering the edge of that valley.

But let's go back to the Health Care Bill...

I was watching C-Span between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. with respect to process and the additional amendments that were brought forth to discuss on the floor during the big VOTE coming today, and I gotta tell 'ya, the Party of NO was all Democrats with respect to fairness in the process, transparency in the voting process itself, and common sense additions, removals, and/or repeals in the Amendments put forward.

Examples...

Amendment suggested (paraphrased): "...that all revenues generated for social security via payroll tax increases be kept in Social Security and not used for other purposes." All Dems voted NO and all Republicans voted YES.

Amendment suggested (paraphrased): "...that all revenues and or savings generated with respect to Medicare be kept in the Medicare budget to offset deficits." All Dems voted NO and all Republicans voted YES.

Amendment suggested (paraphrased): "...that small businesses and minority-owned businesses generating under $500,000 per year be exempt from the employer mandated health insurance clause." All Dems voted NO and all Republicans voted YES.

And it went on and on and on...

In fact, the Democrats have been the Party of NO ever since Mr. Yes-We-Can moved into the Whitehouse. They said NO to having any Republican involvement at the beginning of drafting the Health Care Bill, they said NO to having any Republican representation in the "behind closed doors" discussions and bartering, they said NO to having C-Span cover the debates, they have been saying NO quite a bit, don't you think?

And now they're getting ready to push this country off a very steep cliff.

It's already too late to save the economy.

We're about to go through some excruciating pain in the months and years ahead.

He BLEW it!

They BLEW it!

He could have been a hero. What an incredible missed opportunity!!

The freaking nimrods wasted an entire year playing patty-cake with a piece of legislation that will be the final straw on the limping economy's back. What could have been a molehill is now a mountain, and thanks to this junk legislation, the peak of the mountain is now higher than the highest on this planet.

Think it's not going to happen?

That's fine.

You're entitled to your own opinion.... and good luck with that.

But, consider this...

If you ran an independent FULL audit of the Federal Reserve -- right now -- today -- don't you wonder how much money has been funneled into the Pump and Dump scheme in order to get enough "Stupid Money" back into Wall Street? How many key players have set themselves up to rule the world that will come out of the destruction we surely face right now?

It's beginning to look like the main reason Obama doesn't want you to go to Vegas is because, in my very humble opinion, it most likely will be the only long shot left for rags to riches stories in this country...

On Shaky Ground

2010-03-03T20:57:00.000-06:00

The Bay Area experienced its second earthquake of the year this afternoon, a 3.4 magnitude which struck in San Jose shortly after midday. Meanwhile, scientists at NASA say the Chilean earthquake -- a magnitude 8.8 -- may have shortened the length of an Earth Day by 1.26 microseconds (1.26 millionths of a second) and might have moved Earth's figure axis by about 8 centimeters (3 inches). Not to be confused with our north-south axis, the figure axis is the axis about which Earth's mass is balanced.

I mention this for 2 reasons...

First, as many of you know, I'm a science buff. I love trying to understand how intricately interconnected everything in our universe appears to be... how simple yet totally complex life is... and the unlimited possibilities that exist because of how little we actually know -- about our planet, about life, about our universe. After all, did you even consider that a quake so far away could have an impact around the world?

Second, in a truly bizarre way, it reminds me of the health care bill being currently jammed through in Washington... a bill so unpopular that it could not be passed when the Dems had a super majority... and now being sandwiched through under the threat of "reconciliation" ...what some on the Hill call the "nuclear" option.

Polls keep swinging back and forth on the issue. The best results in favor tend to use very vague questioning... something along the lines of "should something be done to lower the costs of health care in this country -- yes -- or -- no" ....d'oh? Yes, let's clutch at that straw shall we? That seems to be the ONLY major issue everyone agrees on so it's not surprising that a large number would answer yes. No brainer, right?

The real question should be: Will the current bill being pushed through now lower costs of health care both for individuals and the industry as a whole -- yes -- or -- no?

The way I read it, the millions currently without health care are now going to be forced to buy it whether they want to (or can afford to) or not.... so I'm guessing that's one group for which it will raise costs. Not so fast. Supposedly there will be millions of people that can now get it free. Or do they? Jeepers. I'm not really sure. Are you as confused as I am on that point?

Those who are currently uninsured preferring to use "pay as you go" (meaning, pay the doctor when you see him/her for your check up, pay for tests as and when they are needed, etc. etc.) will now be forced to buy insurance. I'm assuming costs will go up for many in that group.

Our family used that method when we didn't have coverage and it was FAR LESS expensive than any family plan I've seen to date. We didn't burden the emergency room... nor did we ever get free health care... and frankly, the doctors and specialists seemed to like seeing that instant cash. Just imagine the paperwork they didn't have to file to collect from some insurance company or govt agency. I'm guessing it would be far less expensive from an administration point of view and probably increase cash flow since there would be no waiting for accounts receivables to roll in. I'm guessing when insurance is mandatory, costs both for purchasing it (where it wasn't purchased before) and administering it ...and the new cost of REGULATING it... are all going to increase... but I could be wrong?

Then there will come the day when our son reaches the age where he is forced to buy health insurance. I wonder how he (and his generation) are going to perceive this Administration? Or will the bill be repealed by then?

Canadians might complain about their health care, but I'm guessing you would be very hard pressed to find them jumping at a chance to have this mess and the related expense. I can just see my Canadian friends going to the doctor and having to fork over a cheque first to cover their deductable before the doctor will see them. Ha! They have no idea how terrible things truly are if you actually live down here.

If the Dems use the "reconciliation" option, going forward with a 51 vote in lieu of the standard 60 votes required for passing legislation of this size, I see it as Obama's first major earthquake... and the days for his party being shortened considerably.

A new gallup poll out says that just 37% want their member of Congress to vote for the bill.

But this Whitehouse doesn't listen to the polls. They keep chiming that they won the 2008 election, and therefor they have the people behind them. Have they turned around to look? I'm guessing they don't watch approval ratings either. Congress approval ratings have been in the toilet for a long time now and Obama is steadily sliding down.

If he pulls the same stunt with Cap and Trade... I see a major opening for a third party to rise up quickly.... because it will be the Dems who shove this country off a cliff into a double-dip recession... or worse, the next Great Depression. Think it can't happen? Stay tuned.

Stunning Silence on GM Recalls

2010-03-02T09:41:00.004-06:00

The airwaves were burning up during the Toyota recalls... and yet, when "GM Recalls 1.3 Million Cars" the silence is almost deafening by comparison. Not total silence. A blurb here... another small mention (video/bloomberg -- you'll love the way Toyota was blamed for the malfunctioning part used by GM) here... so the word is out...

Quoted from Daily Finance:

According to The Washington Post, GM will recall 1.3 million compact cars to replace a motor in the power steering system. When the motor fails, the car becomes harder to steer at lower speeds, according to GM. The affected models are:

•The 2005-10 Chevrolet Cobalt;
•The 2007-10 Pontiac G5, which has been discontinued;
•The 2005-06 Pontiac Pursuit, which is the Canadian version of the G5; and
•The 2004-05 Pontiac G4, which is the Mexican version of the G5.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began its own probe of 905,000 Cobalts after getting more than 1,100 complaints about a loss of power steering -- including 14 crashes and one injury.

The Daily Finance article goes on to note that uncontrolled acceleration is "Not Just a Toyota Problem" ...Ford is also mentioned.

Just for the heck of it, I'm going to tick Robert off by suggesting the negative publicity for GM would probably not be in the best interests of the current Administration. Could this be the reason for so little reporting on this massive recall? Just kidding... LOL!! But Rob seems to love painting me as some kind of nutjob conspiracy theorist... so I'd hate to disappoint him.

In all seriousness, vehicular safety is no laughing matter. Even though the flawed vehicles were a relatively small portion of overall sales for any of the manufacturers mentioned, Daily Finance is right to point out that "...human emotion does not care about statistics."

To be fair, Toyota is recalling 8 million vehicles, whereas this GM recall numbers only 1.3 million... there was a time when a recall number in the thousands would get attention... but I guess the times have changed.

Even soo... personally... I am rather curious to see how much longer the media hammers on Toyota... and whether or not they'll even pick up on the GM recall story to hammer it with equal passion and enthusiasm. I'm guessing it won't happen with equal vigor until some politician or other wants some face time in front of the cameras... and I'm guessing that person will not be a Democrat. (That last part was added for you, Rob.)

Want to make a small wager?

FDIC Fridays Update and Unemployment

2010-02-26T08:31:00.011-06:00

It's been ages since I brought you an update on FDIC bank closings, so I'll do a quick month-by-month here today. Plus, let's take a look at the so-called "lagging indicator" ...job gains/losses.

FDIC Closings (Bank Failings) 2009 and 2010 (as of Feb. 26, 2010):

Jan 2009 - 6
Feb 2009 - 10
Mar 2009 - 5
Apr 2009 - 8
May 2009 - 7
Jun 2009 - 9
Jul 2009 - 24 (Yes... 24 in a single month!!!)
Aug 2009 - 15
Sep 2009 - 11
Oct 2009 - 20
Nov 2009 - 9
Dec 2009 - 16
Jan 2010 - 15
Feb 2010 - 7

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 in 2009: 172
Total Bank failures in 2010 (as of Feb 26/2010): 22

Rumor has it that the number of bank closings by the FDIC are about to rise as several new Federal FDIC employees have been added of late... just a rumor so far?

Hmmmm...

Is it really "credit drying up" that is causing the problems for small businesses in the USA? Or is it the disappearing bank phenomenom that's causing the problem? Kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Let's see...

How do we compare with other countries in bank closings? Well, I'm going to stick to Canada and the USA for this one because I don't have time to dig up the stats for all the other countries. Plus, I'm only taking a look at the year 2009... the bank closings that have happened on Obama's watch.

Are you sitting down?

Here we go....

Total banks closed in USA for 2009: 172
Total banks closed in CAN for 2009: 0

There are several reasons Canadian banks have faired so well, including the regulations placed upon them by their Federal Government... regulations which are strictly enforced.

But there is a dark side. Talk to any Canadian business owner and most will tell you that "the only way we can get a business loan, any loan, is if we don't need the money."

Yes, the banks up north are definitely risk averse. None can deny it. And their accounting practices and related regulations are strongly enforced... something that helped them avoid the fallout most of the rest of the world's financial institutions felt.

In Canada, liabilities (read mortgages) were kept on their books... not repackaged and sold as "securities" (and resold and resold and resold, magically converting liabilities into assets) which is the TRUE root cause of the Wall Street collapse. When a default occurred, no one was certain who actually owned it because repackaging and selling had become so rampant here in the USA and elsewhere.

One truly has to wonder, though, with all the small banks being closed across the USA right now... is there another agenda afoot by the current Administration? I'm guessing this op-ed article published a year ago (in Feb. 2009) probably has it spot on:

"The Great Solvent North"

There is a certain stupidity in this bank-envy if, in fact, the Obama Administration is trying to emulate the Canadian banking system here in the USA. I refer to "fuzzy accounting practices" and "lax regulation enforcement" to mention just two of many things that will bring about the downfall of any such bull-headed attempt... or should I call it a "bear"-headed attempt?

If this is indeed the path the Administration is following, buckle up America. This Administration has already proven to lack vision with respect to seeing the BIG Picture along with the SMALL Picture, IMHO. You think jobs are tough to find now? You have absolutely no idea how truly bad it's going to get.

Speaking of which...

Let's move on to that "lagging indicator" everyone is talking about, shall we? Here's how the cookie crumbles as far as national unemployment...

Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Numbers
Bureau of Labor Statistics (pdf)

Jan 2009: 7.7 <---- Obama steps in and 2nd 1/2 of TARP released
Feb 2009: 8.2 <---- ARRA (Stimulus) forced thru
Mar 2009: 8.6 <---- ARRA (Stimulus) starts
Apr 2009: 8.9
May 2009: 9.4
Jun 2009: 9.5
Jul 2009: 9.4
Aug 2009: 9.7
Sep 2009: 9.8
Oct 2009: 10.1
Nov 2009: 10.0
Dec 2009: 10.0
Jan 2010: 9.7

How do we look when compared with other countries out there with respect to annual (adjusted) average unemployment going up? Let's take a quick look by Quarters (Source - USA BLS):

............. USA ... CAN .. AUS .. JAP .. FRA .. GER .. ITA .. NLD .. SWE .. UK
Q 1/09 __8.2____6.7___5.3___4.5___8.7___7.7___7.4___3.1___7.4___7.1
Q 2/09 __9.3____7.5___5.7___5.3___9.2___8.0___7.6___3.3___8.2___7.8
Q 3/09 __9.7____7.8___5.8___5.5___9.3___8.0___7.9___3.5___8.5___7.9
Q 4/09 _10.0____7.6___5.7___5.2___9.6___7.9___8.4___8.8___ na ___ na

Sidenote: NLD=Netherlands

Fourth Quarter figures were not available for Sweden or United Kingdom at the time of writing this article... but if we look at the "trend" here, I'd guess we're #1 in unemployment.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

So... how's that Stimulus working for you?

You can't fudge the numbers. This is all happening on Obama's watch. As much as we know Dems love to blame everyone and anyone else for their sloppy -- dare I say stupid? -- administration skills... history will show them at the helm. The buck stops right on the doorstep of the White House itself.

Today... January 28, 2010

2010-01-28T14:41:00.003-06:00

As I watch PBO take the campaign stump yet again in Florida to grab some limelight on sticking that first shovel in for the high speed rail project about to get underway, I'm also hopping around to see what's going on behind the scenes on this day.

Before I go into the crime against the people Dems are about to make, I also want to predict -- here and now -- what I believe will be a MASSIVE OVERRUN in costs for the high speed rail project. How much over budget will it be in the end? That's anybody's guess... I'm just saying it will be MASSIVE!!! Just my humble opinion based on all this Administration has accomplished in the way of gross spending to date.

Which brings me to the "what else was happening today" subject of this blog.

But first, a history lesson from Sen. Judd Gregg.

"It took 200 years to build the federal debt to a total of $1.9 trillion," Sen. Judd Gregg, a Republican, said. "Now the majority wants to increase the current limit ... by $1.9 trillion so that we can finance the government's borrowing binge long enough to get us past the November 2010 elections."

Well today, the Senate used every Democratic vote they had... every single one of them... to pass a $1.9 Trillion (yes, that's Trillion with a "T") increase in the nation's debt ceiling.

For the record, that puts our debt ceiling at $14.3 Trillion (according to Associated Press & Bloomberg).

The way I see it, here is the threat they used to get it passed:

"But a losing vote — the tally was scheduled for around noo (1700 GMT), when financial markets are open — could unnerve the stock market. Lawmakers in both parties have promised they will not permit a market-rattling, first-ever default on U.S. obligations."

So what happened shortly after the vote as far as the stock market? Well, I checked it shortly after the vote and the DOW was down by more than 130 points... after which it struggled for hours to creep back up.

The AP story on the subject said it was a 60 to 40 vote, but a Bloomberg story indicated it was a 60 to 39 vote.

DOES IT REALLY MATTER HOW MANY "NO" VOTES??

The glaring picture here is that there were 60 VOTES IN FAVOR... ALL OF WHOM WERE DEMOCRATS!!!

And those so-called blue dogs were tossed a bone which they ate up -- a "debt commission" -- a little task force put together that would look at ways to reduce the nation's debt. Notice they are to "look" at "ways to reduce the debt" ...not actually do it ...nor actually implement anything. Nosirreee... they're just supposed to look at it.

Yeppers.

Not a whole lotta meat on that bone, is there?

But apparently that is enough meat for these supposedly conservative blue dog democrats.

Aw-w-w-we, for crying out loud, don't crap with your BS on my front steps. There isn't a fiscally responsible one among the lot of you! You're just as drunk on spending the peoples' money as the freaking Executive branch is... but just as with alcoholism, you have to first admit you have a problem before you can deal with it and fix it.

In my personal humble opinion, they're all acting like a bunch of teens drunk on power and feeling flush with our cash... spending us all into bankruptcy.

I say we take their freaking Platinum embossed Federal Credit Card away from them until they learn how to be fiscally responsible with our money.

What say you?

Sources:

Bloomberg: Senate Votes to Increase Federal Debt Limit by $1.9 Trillion

AP Story (via Yahoo!): Senate permits gov't to borrow an additional $1.9T

And for a little history, here is a story on last month's increase on December 24, 2010 -- Congress raises debt ceiling to $12.4 trillion

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PS: Did you miss me?

I Still Don't Get It

2009-08-04T13:37:00.002-05:00

You know, I've been trying really really hard to see what the supposed majority see in Obama... trying really hard.

I still don't get it.

If any other President had posted on the White House website the following quote, there would probably be calls for impeachment. Talk about trying to make people afraid to speak their own minds and/or express their own opinions. This is outright intimidation:

There is a lot of disinformation about health insurance reform out there, spanning from control of personal finances to end of life care. These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain emails or through casual conversation. Since we can’t keep track of all of them here at the White House, we’re asking for your help. If you get an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy, send it to flag@whitehouse.gov. [link to full story]

If anyone were going for their Toastmaster goals and delivered speeches the way he does, drowning in ummms, ahhs, errrs... they'd be the laughingstock of the entire Association, and yet he gets praised for being such a brilliant speaker... a man who demands that his teleprompters go everywhere he goes. It's not only pathetic, it's truly sad, IMHO.

But I'm in the minority, according to polls, pundits and others following him en masse.

It's an eery feeling, like watching a movie that you feel is going to end soon so everyone can get back to reality and go back to work on building their lives, hopes and dreams.

But it's not a movie.

It's real.

And for some strange reason I can't quite explain, I find that just a bit frightening considering the USA's position in world affairs. The most powerful nation in the world being run by a bunch of school ground bullies? Say it isn't so.

A Total Eclipse of the Sun

2009-07-21T06:36:00.003-05:00

Wednesday, July 22, 2009 will bring the longest total eclipse of the sun of the 21st century. It won't be visible on our side of the globe ...maximum totality will occur over uninhabited North Iwo Jima island.

While skies darken on that side of the globe, let's try to focus on bright spots on on this side of the globe. For example, let's try hard to ignore yet another Goldman Sachs (vice chairman of the board) being named to an important Federal Govt. post in the State Dept. namely, undersecretary of state for economic, energy and agricultural affairs. [link]

Surprised? Then maybe you didn't see it coming when this article came out back in March 2009. In writing, we call this "foreshadowing."

Mr. Hormats has been a visiting lecturer at Princeton University and is a member of the Board of Visitors of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and the Dean's Council of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Mr. Hormats' publications include;

Abraham Lincoln and the Global Economy
American Albatross: The Foreign Debt Dilemma
Reforming the International Monetary System: From Roosevelt to Reagan
The Price of Liberty: Paying for America's Wars from the Revolution to the War on Terror

Mr. Hormats earned a B.A. from Tufts University with a concentration in economics and political science; an M.A. and a Ph.D. in international economics from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

He is also;
Trustee, vice chairman of the Economic Club of New York, although I'm wondering if, with his new State Dept. appointment, he will have to step down? After all, they claim to be:

...nonpolitical, nonpartisan and nonprofit. Its membership (individual, not corporate) of about 700 is drawn primarily from the senior leadership ranks of the business and financial communities and the associated professions. Its individual members represent a wide diversity of opinion. [link]

Trustee of Freedom House, yet another he might have to step down from?

Freedom House, a non-profit, nonpartisan organization, is a clear voice for democracy and freedom around the world. Through a vast array of international programs and publications, Freedom House is working to advance the remarkable worldwide expansion of political and economic freedom. [link]

And finally...

He is a council member of Securing America's Future Energy (SAFE), a group that spent a massive amount of lobbying money ($715,000 per the "Open Secrets" website) in 2007 and 2008, while the years prior and after they've spent next to nothing by comparison. I'm guessing they got what they wanted??

It's kind of strange that SAFE submitted a plan back in Sept/08 to dramatically change the transportation industry (the transformation of our transportation sector from one dependent on petroleum to one largely powered by electricity), while at the same time, one of their co-chair members, namely John F. Lehman, was a fundraiser for the John McCain camp whose slogan "Drill, Baby, Drill" still rings out in some sectors today.

But let's not speculate. (pun intended)

His past relationships include;

National Security Council - senior staff member
Pacific Council on International Policy - director
Rockefeller Center Club - member
U.S. Department of State - assistant secretary

THE BOTTOM LINE: It would appear that the incestuous relationship between GS and Big Gov is alive and doing well. At this rate, there will be more Goldman Sachs and Google execs in our Government than Democrats... hahaha, my bad. It's a total eclipse of our Government, wouldn't you agree?

You Can't Handle the Truth!

2009-07-20T10:15:00.003-05:00

In the movie "A Few Good Men," JAG lawyer Kaffee (played by Tom Cruise) demands, "I want the truth."

In response, Col. Jessup (played by Jack Nicholson) shouts back, "You can't handle the truth!"

Little bits and pieces of the truth are floating around in a huge vat of speculation, innuendo and fiction with respect to;

the initial bank bailouts
the Freddie/Fanny bailouts
the AIG bailout
the GM/Chrysler bailouts, and
the subsequent mainstream bailout (ie. Stimulus Plan)

The actions of our Federal Government redirected extraordinarily massive amounts of taxpayer dollars into the hands of a few "privileged" entities in all instances.

What was the tipping point that led our Government on the largest spending spree in our country's (in any country's) history?

By now we know that there are some dirty tracks leading directly to Paulson's doorstep, as this article clearly points out.

But that only excuses the first round of TARP... an explanation that "we can't handle the truth" ...quote:

Making his first appearance on Capitol Hill since leaving office, the former Treasury secretary Hank Paulson said it was important at the time not to reveal the extent of officials' concerns, for fear it would "terrify the American people and lead to an even bigger problem".

So, I'm guessing there is some truth to the rumors that Martial Law would have been declared if the first TARP had not been signed? And possibly there is a glimmer of truth to the idea that so-called leaders in Washington truly believe this nation is so weak, it can't handle the truth?

For some reason, I just can't shake that picture of Jack Nicholson as Col. Jessup out of my head.

In the many catastrophes that have hit this nation, from Pearl Harbor to 9/11 to Katrina and more, it would appear to me that this country draws more closely together to help its fellow citizens when facing great adversity. And, in most instances, they did not stand around waiting for their Government to act... many from all across the land came in droves to help out where ever they best could.

Can we, the American people, handle the truth?

You tell me...

The better question might be, what would the American people do if the truth revealed that they had been swindled... that some in high places had orchestrated the entire financial mess. Well, then, I'm guessing the Federal Government might have cause for concern.

I ask again, "Can we, the American people, handle the truth?"

Must see video

2009-07-17T13:16:00.002-05:00

Not much time to blog today, so I'm leaving you with this short video. A MUST see!

Will be back tomorrow with some HOT info for all of you!

While We Were Sleeping a Tea Party was Brewing

2009-07-15T00:29:00.003-05:00

Practically everyone remembers the first round of large tea parties held earlier this year on tax filing day -- right? I posted pics from twitpic here for all of you to see the crowds gathering in cities and towns across the nation.

Fox News was about the only major network to cover them in detail.

Most all other major networks (if we can call them that today) either dismissed them and/or derided them -- some outright calling them "turf" roots instead of "grassroots" -- something even Pontificating Pelosi claimed when asked about them. They would love people to believe this is some kind of Republican thing, not grassroots at all.

So, I grew really curious... methinks they (networks and WH crowd) doth protest too much.

Curiosity is at once a curse and a blessing. (I'll explain that another time.)

I searched on the map for all the July 4th tea parties, compared the map with the 2008 election map and noticed a very interesting pattern. It seems the majority of the tea parties were happening in BLUE zones -- you know -- those are the zones where the Dems supposedly won by a landslide.

Not all of the tea parties, grant it... there were a few Republican strongholds holding tea parties as well, but some of the BIGGEST TURNOUTS seemed to be occurring in MAJOR "landslide" DEM cities.

Since many in attendance for most of these tea parties are from local and surrounding areas, if one has a curious mind such as mine, one might be thinking something isn't quite right here. If those so-called-big-networks were right, and this is turf-roots, not grassroots, either the voting machines got something wrong, or there is something similar to "buyers remorse" happening in these largely Dem territories... wouldn't you think?

But I digress.

There are bigger things going on.

I've been following twitter A LOT these past few weeks. Even watched/participated in the Twitter Tea Party that happened last weekend. It was kinda fun, and enlightening, all at the same time.

But here's what has been happening while we were sleeping...

Another MASSIVE Tea Party is Brewing.

I'm talking MASSIVE!!!!

But for this tea party, it will require travel -- because they're taking right to Washington DC.

Seriously. Check this out.

To all the national networks who avoided reporting anything about the tea parties and/or derided them and tried to paint them as ruffians, hoodlums, whatever ...man-oh-man are you in for a surprise. Bet you're wishing you tried to cover them honestly now, right? Nah. You could care less. You'd probably far prefer covering Obama's date nights and their cute doggy or the little organic garden thingy.

Meanwhile...

While the major news networks were tuned into the Sotomayor confirmation hearings all day yesterday, here's what happened while they were sleeping.

A massive twitter campaign sprang up organizing petitioning and/or calls to Reps to Read the Bill (referring to Obomacare).

Another massive grassroots push is supporting the Ron "Skywalker" Paul Bill. Read this for a truly entertaining perspective on this bill (I LOVED it! Reminded me of Czar Trek all over again!) -- and read this for a more serious look at it.

And on a completely different story, looks like the birth certificate thingy might soon be resolved. (It will be nice to put this puppy to rest once and for all.)

The resolution is coming from a truly unlikely source and a case that I have not yet heard any mainstream (or otherwise) news report on, so I'm not even sure if this case filed by U.S. Army Reserve Major Stefan Frederick Cook is true -- or if the many other U.S. Army soldiers said to be joining on with the case is a fact. Still, it would be nice to put this issue behind us. I'm looking forward to the confirmation that a vault copy certificate has been brought forth and authenticated in a court of law.

It's driving my curiosity nuts!

Kind of like a mosquito in your bedroom at night that simply won't let you sleep.

Annoying.

There are a ton of other HOT stories (particularly in the financial sector) that went unnoticed by mainstream media as they kept covering the Sotomayor confirmation hearings. But, it's late, and I have work to complete before I can go to sleep tonight.

See you tomorrow... time permitting.

PS: Hey Indiana! How are you liking them new Fire Safe Cigarettes? Not sure what I'm talking about? Check your pack and look for the FSC on the package. If your cigarettes keep going out on you, welcome to the new law that went into effect here as of July 1/09.

The Most Incredible Financial Story Ever

2009-07-12T13:38:00.004-05:00

John Crudele from the New York Post writes, "...here's where the conspiracy starts to unfold -- for the government."

Apparently, "...a couple weeks ago the NYSE suddenly announced that brokerage firms would no longer have to report their program trades. The new rule takes effect next week."

If you're wondering what all of this is about, it leads back to a previous post I made here at WAHM DIARY, called "Czar Trek and Pump & Dump" ...read the Pump and Dump section carefully. (link opens in new window)

Think markets are NOT being manipulated? Then you need to learn more about the secret, rapid-fire, stock- and commodities-trading software that has supposedly been stolen (and sold?).

Grab a cup of coffee, then take your time and read through these latest articles from the mainstream media (all links open in new window):

New York Post: "Influence is all in the bag for Government Sachs"

Bloomberg: "Goldman Sachs Loses Grip on Its Doomsday Machine"

Reuters: "A Goldman Trading Scandal?"

There was a quote in the above Reuters story that I found particularly interesting:

Federal authorities say the platform quickly processes rapid developments in the markets and uses top secret mathematical formulas to allow the firm to make highly-profitable automated trades.

Which "Federal" authorities knew about it, I wonder...???

This leads me to ask the following two-fold question:

When our hard earned wages are invested into pension funds, do our pension fund administrators use their own secret, black-box trading software?

...or are they simply the stooges that Wall Street firms rely on so they can use their black-box trading programs to fleece us all?

If the latter is true, which Federal Authorities have allowed Wall Street to fleece us?

Ah, heck, it's all just speculation on my part. Who said pun?

I'm guessing, however, based on the news above, that it is absolutely no surprise to hear that Goldman Sachs are "poised to report the largest profit since it set earnings records in 2007."

Another commentary on this entire subject that is well worth reading comes from Zero Hedge: "Is A Case Of Quant Trading Sabotage About To Destroy Goldman Sachs?"

You're still day trading?

Ahem.

Good luck with that.

Tax Withholding for Independent Contractors?

2009-07-10T10:37:00.002-05:00

Got this in my email inbox today...

You should be worried if you...
(a) live in California AND/OR if you
(b) are an Independent Contractor AND/OR
(c) if you know that "Whatever happens in the 'land of fruits 'n nuts' (that would be CA) gets copied everywhere else"...

Apparently, the California Assembly just passed SB 17 on a majority vote which contains a provision for a 3% withholding tax on independent contractors.

If this bill becomes law, all who contract with IC's will be required to withhold 3% of the monthly check of every IC and remit this amount to the state, just like a payroll withholding tax.

Throughout history, across the country, Independent Contractors have been exempt from withholding taxes because many of their expenses are deductable. Independent Contractors make up a LARGE proportion of small businesses throughout the country. A fair percentage of them are part time contractors, most are family owned businesses. An up front 3% withholding could result in shortages of much needed operating capital that helps keep them running through the year during "down" months. Although they could potentially receive most (if not all) of the 3% tax back after filing year-end returns, the long wait for the return of those funds may force many of them out of business.

This legislation sets a dangerous precedent that other states, and even the Federal Government, could follow.

Beyond the hardship this places on Independent Contractors, and the extra paperwork burden it places on those who hire them, I see this as an attack on the entrepreneurial spirit as well.

Many entrepreneurs will think twice about hanging that "Open for Business" shingle on their lawn and/or posting it on their website. And... I'm guessing... far many more Independent Contractors will think twice about doing business with California firms.

As I recall, it was the small Mom and Pop businesses that helped California stay afloat at one point during their crisis.

This is the thanks they get?

I could be wrong -- but I wonder -- what percentage of those tea party goers are Independent Contractors? Sounds to me like their numbers are about to grow. I'm guessing grassroots instead of green shoots are about to carpet California.

If you are an Independent Contractor in California... or if you hire Independent Contractors for your business... here is the contact info for the CA Governor and Senate President. You might want to contact them to try to stop this freight train from steam rolling its way through your business...

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160

Senate President Pro tem Darrell Steinberg
State Capitol, Room 205
Sacramento, CA 95814

It's your struggle now, California.

It might be our struggle next...

Cap And Trap

2009-07-08T18:06:00.004-05:00

Those who know me well, know that I truly believe in respecting the planet, wildlife and our natural resources. When and where possible, I reduce my own "carbon footprint" ...and I'm a strong supporter of the Cub Scout "leave no trace behind" training that I'm happy to see my son learning.

One dear friend used to tease me, saying, "You don't even litter!"

Furthermore, I think CAFOs are NOT farms and should be regulated as the industrial entities that they are, complete with related industrial waste, OSHA and zoning laws. (You want cheap milk, cheese and burgers, go raise your own dang cow and don't force us to pay for your desire to be a cheapskate.)

And I believe there are far more ways all of us can work together to live in sync with nature and create a beautiful, healthier planet in the process.

For this, I've been "labelled" an environmentalist.

Well... I'm firmly against millions of people being forced to screw in billions of mercury-filled bulbs into sockets across the land. I think, quite frankly, it is asinine... regardless how minuscule the amount of mercury is contained in each bulb. And I think the so-called "green" movement is off its rocker for supporting such absurd policies to supposedly "save" power consumption.

The stupidity of the plan, quite frankly, boggles my mind.

I also think coal sequestration is one of the all-out-stupidest ideas I've EVER heard with respect to so-called "clean coal" and that scientists supporting it should be forced to undergo sanity tests if they can actually claim with 100% certainty that it will never turn water into acid years from now. (Yeah, sure. I wonder what the archaeologists of the future are going to think about us when they dig those sites up?)

And even further, I believe power is absolutely necessary to our way of life in this century... that it is needed, new sources need to be created and existing sources should be supported and assisted to become as efficient as they can be -- and that, yes, we should be energy independent -- and that we have (and should use) the resources to make it happen far faster than most people might think.

For this, I've been "labelled" an anti-environmentalist.

Finally, I also think it's positively hypocritical on the part of some countries to posture about reducing green-house gases to benefit the planet when so many other countries are not participating in the same plan. Further, I think the plan is nothing more than a power grab (pun and sarcasm intended) that will not benefit the planet near as much as it will fill certain pockets with bucket-loads of money. And if you choose to look closely at some of those pockets, I'm betting you'll find more than one or two individuals that are some of the worst polluters in the history of this planet.

Which brings me to the "Cap & Trap" legislation moving through Washington.

Don't think the Cap & Trade legislation is a power grab?

Then grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and read this brief article:

"If You Don't Hate the Cap and Trade Bill, Let Me Show You Section 304."

What happened to the Constitution?

Where -- oh where -- shall freedom reign?

Hello Sarah Palin... or Good-Bye?

2009-07-03T18:25:00.002-05:00

At 4:00 p.m. EST in front of a small gathering of press, Sarah Palin announced she was stepping down as Governor of Alaska... and that she would not be running in the next election.

Gone for good?

I, for one, hope not and her parting speech leads me to believe this is not an end, but rather, a new beginning...

If I have learned one thing: LIFE is about choices!

And one chooses how to react to circumstances. You can choose to engage in things that tear down, or build up. I choose to work very hard on a path for fruitfulness and productivity. I choose NOT to tear down and waste precious time; but to build UP this state and our country, and her industrious, generous, patriotic, free people!

Life is too short to compromise time and resources... it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: "Sit down and shut up", but that's the worthless, easy path; that's a quitter's way out. And a problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just hunker down and “go with the flow”.

...Productive, fulfilled people determine where to put their efforts, choosing to wisely utilize precious time... to BUILD UP.

And there is such a need to BUILD up and FIGHT for our state and our country. I choose to FIGHT for it! And I'll work hard for others who still believe in free enterprise and smaller government; strong national security for our country and support for our troops; energy independence; and for those who will protect freedom and equality and LIFE... I'll work for and campaign for those PROUD to be American, and those who are INSPIRED by our ideals and won't deride them.

I WILL support others who seek to serve, in or out of office, for the RIGHT reasons, and I don't care what party they're in or no party at all. Inside Alaska – or Outside Alaska.

But I won't do it from the Governor’s desk. [link to Sarah Palin's website]

IMHO, this has all the appearances of the Democrats acting like the papparazi acted towards Lady Di. Love for Diana grew far and wide, by leaps and bounds, and distaste and dislike for the papparazi grew to staggering heights. The Democratic Party would do well to remember that.

Tea Parties Brewing Again

2009-07-01T11:03:00.003-05:00

Some thought they would disappear following most of the mainstream media attacks... but not so fast. July 4th - Independence Day here in the USA - is shaping up to be another show of unity, but this time with a message.

T = Taxed
E = Enough
A = Already

Now, you can look at this new message in several ways, but if you're a political pundit, you're probably noticing two important ingredients to the tea being brewed...

FIRST: the solidification and unification of the message means some marketing savvy is now in play which can spell trouble for any politician. It becomes far more difficult to derail.

SECOND: it's not going away. With a unified message, it now has the potential to turn into a wildfire, building into ever bigger momentum over time. In fact, I dare say, it has the potential to become bigger than ACORN. (Yeah, couldn't resist the jab there.)

Will it rage into ever larger wildfire proportions?

Or will it be snuffed out like a candle in the wind?

We shall see...

Washington is the New Wall Street

On another important story -- in case you missed it -- a very short video on CNBC is worth watching. "The New Wall Street is Washington" is the theme and Rick Santelli is one of three guest speakers discussing the Washington manipulations of the stock market that are interfering with the healing process. Don't miss this video.

It might help you understand how, against all the depressing numbers and facts coming out with respect to the economy, the stock markets can still be moderately coasting along -- when you would think they would have already crashed and burned, right?

Take today, for example...

Bloomburg has 2 stories out.

The first story -- "Banks Falling 23% Since May Foreshadow S&P 500 Slump"

Which is quickly followed by this story -- "U.S. Stocks Rise Following S&P 500’s Best Quarter Since 1998"

Confused?

Watch the brief video clip and you will probably nod your head in agreement on how this could possibly happen.

Personally, I believe they're still playing the "Pump and Dump" game.

Happy Canada Day!

To all my Canadian friends and family, Happy Canada Day!

I hope you are enjoying your extra-long weekend (those of you who get one) and taking time out to celebrate your sovereignty. I'm guessing, the way things are going down here south of your border, you will have more freedoms than we do in the not too distant future. In time, you might become the only model of freedom left. Hang onto it.

(Oh... and ignore those ACORN reps that are crawling all over Ottawa right now trying to mess up your country next. I heard they're desperately trying to find some kind of issue they can use to herd your masses on their path to social unrest. Keep that healthy Canadian skepticism going. You're going to need it!)

Jobless Numbers rise yet Cap and Trade vote still going

2009-06-26T12:39:00.004-05:00

The Labor Department reported that the number of U.S. workers filing new claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly rose for the week ended June 20 by 15,000, to 627,000.

Continuing claims -- those drawn by workers for more than one week -- climbed by 29,000 to 6,738,000. Both numbers had fallen the previous week.

While they try to cram through "Cap and Trade" today... if successful, you'll see those jobless numbers climbing at an accelerated pace once the energy prices begin an inflation spiral, IMHO.

Catch up to date on this vote on the floor today:
- A tooth-and-nail fight in House over climate bill

If passed, the bill would represent the most profound government intervention in America’s energy use since Washington began regulating the fuel economy of vehicles in 1975.

- Cap and Trade Facts Every Minnesotan Should Know

Today the U.S. House of Representatives will likely approve one of the most crushing tax increases to American consumers in history – a hidden energy tax called "Cap and Trade."

- Environmental Capital

“Without a resounding House endorsement, I think the Senate is going to view this as too risky to take up in any significant way,” says Bill Durbin, head of carbon research for the consulting firm Wood Mackenzie.

Hmmm... the vote to advance the legislation to the House floor was close -- 217 to 205 -- does that make it "too risky" to take on right now?

Personally, I think it will be another nail in the "economic green shoots" coffin and help propel those jobless figures upward -- not good.

But I'm guessing the Fed has a different take on the rising jobless numbers. They probably still see higher jobless figures as a good thing for the country right now.

Why in the world would I say this?

Well...

According to minutes of a Fed meeting back in 2003, Bernanke cited studies that essentially said the declining dollar doesn't matter, commodities prices don't matter, and "weak labor markets would keep inflation tame."

Speaking of this...

Have you noticed how "cozy" things are getting between the White House and the Federal Reserve? Check this out...

Beyond the grim jobless numbers, I've also heard that there is a serious backlog in mortgage foreclosures. Quote:

During the first quarter of this year, the share of all homeowners seriously delinquent on their mortgage but not yet facing foreclosure more than doubled to 3.04 percent, or about $227 billion in loans. [link to full story]

Back to cap and trade -- House Majority Whip, Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), says "We're getting there."

The question is: Getting where?!??

I'm thinking this will drive a stake into the heart of the Democratic party deeper than any they've already driven in.

There won't be any "dancin' in the streets" over this one in the Midwest. If the Dems keep it up, the only dancin' will be in the dark, in my humble opinion.

Who is running for an Independent or Libertarian seat in Indiana come 2010?

Introduce yourself in the comments here, please.

I have some people that might want to meet you -- if your ethics, values and morals match those we're looking for in a leader to send to Washington.

Ode to Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T17:39:00.003-05:00

Michael Jackson passed away just over 50 minutes ago at ACLU Medical Center. Farrah Fawcett slipped away early this morning.

It is a sad day in the Entertainment world; a sad day in Hollywood, California.

I think, to sum up the mix of emotions, it would be a good day for me to share with visitors to this blog, my favorite poem as a tribute to both Farrah and Michael. May they both rest in peace. My sincere condolences to family, friends and fans.

How Angels Are Born

Whose heart deserves to glow?
Whose soul deserves to shine?
Have I been good enough
For this soul of mine?

Have I helped as many
From all the souls I've met,
To earn a pair of wings
And a halo yet?

Have I touched the hearts
Of those who need it most?
Have I helped inspire...
From coast to coast to coast?

Each day I shall work harder
For this is my job on earth...
And I'm told it is the secret
To give an angel birth.

Copyright 1998, Karen August
(Posted here with permission.)

I leave you with this quote by Albert Schweitzer, knowing how many people have been touched by both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson...
"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lit the flame within us."

Farewell Farrah.

Farewell Michael.

For all you have inspired through your talents, may you both find the Peace and joy you seek. You will be missed.

Nano-Technology Hurdles to Come

2009-06-19T08:11:00.002-05:00

I see technology stocks on the rise... and I'm wondering -- how much of this growth is being driven by nano-technology?

With current worldwide annual investment in nano-technology research and development at $9.6 Billion and set to grow to $1 Trillion by 2015, investors and the financial industry might well be excited.

BUT...

Actually, let's make that a...

BIG BUT...

There might be a few things that investors aren't being told.

Older investors will most likely recall how asbestos turned into a financial catastrophe for firms around the globe. Well, a new report on nano-technologies put out by Investor Environmental Health Network (IEHN) claims:

"...some of these technologies are showing signs of posing serious hazards to human health and the environment, including the same kind of grave threats resulting from exposure to asbestos." [link to pdf]

Nanotechnologies are now commonly found in sunscreen, cosmetics, food, clothing, sporting goods and packaging. In fact, you might be surprised to find the wide range of applications for nanotechnologies that are already in use.

Companies like Avon, RBC Life Sciences, Cadbury, Miller Lite, The Sharper Image, Procter & Gamble and many more are embracing nanotechnology, already deploying nanotechnologies in either their products and/or their packaging. Even Japanese toothpaste firms are running with it. But many of these companies have not disclosed the risk potential (read very expensive law suits) that could be hiding on the horizon once science and long-term effects catches up with them.

Other companies blazing the trail on nanotechnologies include Nestle, Altria, H.J. Heinz and Unilever... it's not known for certain if they are already deploying the technology in their products and/or packaging.

To be fair, some of them aren't even fully aware of the potential risk to human health and/or the environment.

Let's take one type of nano-technology already showing alarming results under scientific scrutiny: the use of nanosilver as an antimicrobial agent.

The use of nanosilver as an antimicrobial agent is now widespread, with a wide variety of products now on market shelves. The petitioners discovered no fewer than 260 self identified nano-silver consumer products. A recent study reported that nano-silver could harm the immune system, and other researchers have suggested that if nanoparticles from disinfectants get loose and into the body, they might wreak havoc with the human immune system. [link to pdf]

Interestingly, even though firms currently using nanosilver in their products are now aware of the potential risk associated with it, they step around the risk/danger by removing -- not the nanosilver (at least, not that we know of) -- but instead, they simply remove the term "antimicrobial" from their ads and labels and product descriptions.

There.

Problem solved.

Right?

Yeah, right. (sarcasm intended)

Who's looking out for you, the end user, on this one?

Who is looking out for the workers in the plants handling this material?

And who is looking out for the investors who probably have absolutely no clue about the bad news/potential risk.

Here's another nanotechnology causing great concern in the scientific community: carbon nanotubes.

Quote:

A particular group of nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes, raises special concerns because they are similar in shape and rigidity to asbestos fibers. Carbon nanotubes are "seamless cylinders of hexagonal carbon networks and are 10,000 times thinner than a human hair. They are a hundred times stronger and six times lighter than steel and are used in adhesives, coatings and polymers and as electrically conductive fillers in plastics to make polymers more resistant against temperatures, harsh chemicals, corrosive environments, extreme pressures and abrasion."
Multiple laboratories have already independently found that certain carbon nanotubes can cause progressive, irreversible lung damage in test rodents. Two 2003 studies conclusively showed lung damage from exposure to certain carbon nanotubes. Further studies on this topic have increasingly strengthened the link between certain carbon nanotubes and pulmonary damage. [link to pdf]

When it hits the fan, you better believe that investors will find out right quick.

You see... unlike asbestos, which was used commonly across many industries spreading the risk, nanotechnologies can actually be traced directly back to the source -- faster and easier than most any other "ingredient" or application.

If you want to learn more about the "Eight Corporate Liability Accounting Loopholes that Regulators Must Close" to prevent another asbestos-like catastrophe from working its way through the entire globe...

Or if, like me, you're curious as to just how safe all this nanotechnology stuff really is...

Then you want to grab a cup of coffee and sit down to read this eye-opening report. You won't regret it. But you might regret it if you just pass it on by.

Here is the link.

And here are a few more little excerpts from the report for your reading pleasure.

Excerpt #1:

"As a result of weak regulations, companies do not assess, quantify or disclose potential and pending liabilities on a timely basis... Today, as potentially ultrahazardous nanotechnologies enter the market, the same regulatory weaknesses that allowed asbestos manufacturers to conceal information from investors are being abused once again to conceal information regarding the newer technologies. Regulators must act now to prevent a repeat of past financial disasters, and to ensure that investors' expectations of forthright accounting are met. Although our report focuses on product-related liabilities, many of our findings are equally applicable to the broader array of contingent liabilities that appear in disclosure reports and financial statements."

Excerpt #2:

Nanomaterials can represent a special threat to health and safety because the unprecedented manipulation of particles at the molecular scale brings with it unprecedented toxicity expectations - as the particle size decreases so dramatically, materials are able to penetrate the body much more aggressively. In addition, the molecular scale causes reactivity to increase so that harmful effects can be intensified. Previously harmless substances may even take on hazardous characteristics.

Excerpt #3:

Laboratory studies indicate that some nanoparticles ingested from food or water, or breathed in, can pass through the intestinal walls or lungs and reach the bloodstream, allowing them almost unrestricted access to the human body. Some inhaled nanomaterials can access the brain, as they can pass the blood-brain barrier via the olfactory nerve.

Excerpt #4:

Despite the growing number of nanotech food products on the market, consumers have no way of knowing which products contain nanotechnology. Other proposed uses of nano in food include: "interactive" drinks that contain nanocapsules that change color and flavor, spreads and ice creams with nanoparticle emulsions that improve texture, and nanocapsules that carry nutrients and flavors into the body, increasing their bioavailability.

The complete report (52 pages) can be read on the IEHN website through this link.

(And you can watch a video interview with the author of the report.)

Inspector General Firing

2009-06-13T08:30:00.003-05:00

An important story that should not go away:

Probe launched into suspicious firing of inspector general ...and related story,
Grassley wants more details on fired AmeriCorps IG (possible First Lady involvement?)

Here is a bit of background (YouTube video):

After Obama "smeared" Gerald Walpin (the Inspector General he fired), George had a few things to say about it:

BO's iron fist is completely clasped now. He now takes actions without fear of retribution. By now, he is truly feeling invincible... and the majority who put him in power are reaping the rewards.

Future generations will not pay for his misdeeds. However, they will be awfully busy cleaning up the mess he's making.

My late grandmother was always fond of saying, "What goes around, comes around." She truly believed that God works in mysterious ways... that He restores balance when there is none... and that time will fairly deliver His justice. All we have to do is sit back and wait for it.

Strange.

I haven't thought about her in many years. Some day I'll have to share her story with you. She was an amazing woman.

How to Lie With Statistics

2009-06-10T13:00:00.006-05:00

"There is terror in numbers," writes Darrell Huff in How to Lie with Statistics. [get it from Amazon through this link]

The book was (still is?) required reading for the Statistics course in the CGA program in Canada. (A CGA would be similar to a CPA here in the USA.)

You know, every time we hear the latest reports out of Washington, you have to wonder just what the economic numbers really represent. Are they telling us everything? Is the picture really as rosy (or gloomy) as the numbers indicate?

Take, for instance, the latest economic numbers coming out of Washington.

At last count, 9.4% of the workforce is jobless. Compared with a year ago, the goods and services we produce are worth 5.7% less while the ones we buy are 0.7% cheaper. [link]

John Williams, a semi-retired grandfather of five living in Oakland, Calif., consults for corporations, recalculating government economic data to arrive at what he says were more reliable measures, and with them, truer forecasts.

Here is the picture his numbers paint:

If Williams is right, unemployment is over 20%, gross domestic product is shrinking by 8% and consumer prices are jumping by nearly 7%. [link]

Now, looking at the two pictures above, having just completed a wee bit of shopping at my local area stores, I'm thinking John's numbers with respect to inflation are far more accurate.

Having read a great deal in recent months regarding bankruptcies, business and bank closings and major corporation cutbacks... I also have a strong feeling John's picture regarding GDP and unemployment are far closer to reality.

So ...if one were to compare the two styles for collecting and disseminating data... in a way similar to art, one might say that John Williams style uses "realism" and Washington's style uses "impressionism" in their approach to paint the final picture.

Either way, in art at least, both approaches can result in a great masterpiece.

The quickest definition of a great work of art was probably given by Leonardo DaVinci. It was DaVinci who said that an artist must be able to paint the thing represented, i.e. if an artist clearly wants to paint a squirrel and the resulting representation is an embarrassment ... then the artist is a failure. Of course this will not grade the fundamental attribute of complexity of subject matter.

To contrast between realism and impressionism in art you could say everything is equally important (realism) or equally unimportant (impressionism).

In art, it's all about "controlling the viewer."

In marketing, the same could be said to be true.

In copywriting, it most definitely is true.

Whether you choose to believe the numbers according to Washington, or the numbers according to John Williams... the picture is far from good.

In fact, according to the Administration's reasoning behind the Stimulack, you can now officially say it failed. Unemployment was to be kept below 8% according to that grand plan, wasn't it?

I leave you today with one final quote by Darrel Huff:

"The fact is that, despite its mathematical base, statistics is as much an art as it is a science."

Have a super day.

I'm back tomorrow with a real whopper that will have your head spinning!

PS: Did you hear about the latest on-air media confrontation: Contessa Brewer vs John Ziegler? Just for fun, you can learn more here. Draw your own conclusions there. LOL!

2 Liars Whoopi and Walters

2009-06-08T14:00:00.002-05:00

I'm super busy today, but couldn't help posting this link to an excellent investigation performed by Breitbart tv regarding those two twits from the View. (Yeah, I have little to no respect for either of them.)

If you have about 8 minutes to spare, you might want to check this excellent video out.

Honesty.

What a refreshing change in this chaotic world.

It proves to me yet again how ABC, and indeed, most of the ladies on The View, have a fierce agenda to bash all things conservative, IMHO. Not republican -- but conservative. If you are a conservative independent, then you better watch out for their catty claws because they don't even care if they're telling the truth or not... they'll slice you any way they can.

Catty? Hmmmm...

Female dogs might be more apt to describe the pair.

I'm somewhat surprised jumping Joy didn't join in. She usually likes to slam conservatives, too, from the clips I've seen; although, to be fair, she usually goes after all things Republican.

Any way you slice and dice it, those 3 ladies ain't no ladies.

But in particular, Whoopi and Walters must be feeling their ANCIENT years creeping up on them because it seems, at least for the episode referenced in the link above, they are experiencing a wee bit of dimentia.

It's a shame when the memory plays tricks on you, isn't it?

If you watch The View maybe it's time to tune out and turn off because they're obviously just playing tricks with your mind, too. Unless you like having your thoughts shaped by lies and innuendo...

Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

And I used to actually admire Barbara. That was eons ago before she lost her morals... and her mind, it would appear.

Tsar Trek and Pump and Dump

2009-06-03T09:37:00.004-05:00

Two new unreal reality shows are in motion now ...but they're not reality tv shows ...they're playing out on the Hill and spreading through every nook and cranny of our country.

Enter unreal reality show #1...

Tsar Trek

You remember the intro to those first Star Trek shows?

Well, this new show, "Tsar Trek," goes something like this:

States. --- The final frontier. --- These are the voyages of the U.S. Federal Government.

Its four-year mission; to explore deranged, new ways to control its industry, to shape industry policies and force other businesses to follow their lead, without fear of House or Senate intervention. To boldly go where no Administration has ever gone before.

Ha-ha-ha-ha...

Sorry. I just couldn't resist the above.

I'll bring you more on that unreal reality show in future posts as the drama unfolds.

Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha...

Ahem.

Enter unreal reality show #2...

Pump and Dump

In "Pump and Dump" we have the most extraordinary market interventions ever seen in the history of the stock markets -- not hidden -- but instead, playing out in plain sight.

If you invest in stocks (through a pension plan or directly), this might be the most important article you read today... "Manipulation: How Markets Really Work"

In the article you will learn a little bit about:

the Working Group on Financial Markets (WGFM), also more commonly and often referred to as the Plunge Protection Team (PPT) which could easily be renamed as the Plunge Protection/Destruction Team (PPDT)
the Exchange Stabilization Fund (ESF)
the Countyparty Risk Management Group (CRMG)

And the curtain is drawn back a wee bit to reveal how other entities interact to intervene (and/or how they are intertwined) ...like the IMF, SEC, CFTC, etc., etc.

Look.

You simply won't find the mainstream media covering the "Pump and Dump" show -- happening LIVE, right now, real time.

Not even Fox News.

You have to remember that Newscorp owns the DJIA, so even Fox News will NOT be able to cover the "pump and dump" show... at least, not transparently.

But you will notice -- people reporting in the financial industry are nervous.

They see "The Visible Hand of Uncle Sam."

Read the article.

Know how "Pump and Dump" works.

That's when other stories start making so much sense... how you can tie seemingly unrelated stories together to get the full picture being painted so carefully -- and strategically -- to suck the wealth out of American citizens as boomers approach retirement age and the boomer echo generation steadfastly marches toward their destiny.

You see... "triggering market collapses can be a very profitable undertaking."

Just as Morgan (J.P. Morgan) understood very well before his death:

Morgan died early that year but profited hugely from the 1907 Panic. It let him expand his steel empire by buying the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company for about $45 million, an asset thought to be worth around $700 million. Today, similar schemes are more than ever common in the wake of the global economic crisis creating opportunities to buy assets cheap by bankers flush with bailout cash. Aided by PPT market rigging, it's simpler than ever.

Goldman Sachs knows it very well, too. As I mentioned in one of my previous posts. If you didn't read the article then, now is a good time.

"Did Goldman Goose Oil? - How Goldman Sachs was at the center of the oil trading fiasco that bankrupted pipeline giant Semgroup."

I wonder who Goldman are gunning for next? It has to be someone key in the great scheme of gas, oil and pipelines as I notice the same play on oil happening these past few weeks as the fiasco that occurred last summer during the primaries.

They're getting ready to do yet another BS hike through market manipulation.

Gotta be careful this time, or they could crush those "green shoots" that the Admin is pretending are signs of economic recovery.

Sheesh. Green shoots, indeed. Where even bad news is good news in the revisionist reporting zones. Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? Watch the news and you will see.

IMHO, the major players pulling the strings on the American economy know full well how to fleece the market to their own ends. They're probably fleecing markets to rake in enough coin to cover their shorts on gold before it cuts loose and skyrockets out of their manipulative control ... heh-heh ...oh, yeah. Like that's not happening, right?

Some funds will do quite well. Others are about to be fleeced. None, in my humble opinion, are safe right now because, quite frankly, I truly believe the worst is yet to come. It's all part of the Big Fat Lie they told us. (You're better off to invest in a slot machine about now. LOL)

But glimmers of truth are coming out.

Let's see how long it takes before the full picture is revealed.

One thing is for certain... we'll probably never know the truth behind the Federal Reserve's actions in all of this, as this Bloomberg story states -- quite clearly.

About Peter G Peterson

2009-06-02T09:50:00.004-05:00

What do Barrack Obama and Peter G. Peterson have in common?

One is the President of the USA.

The other is a retired Wall Street "Tycoon" turned philanthropist.

One likes to spend like money grows on trees.

The other likes to spend his money towards his chosen cause, which he claims is to: "focus on America's key fiscal-sustainability challenges."

One likes to talk about fiscal responsibility.

The other likes to take definite steps and precise actions in dealing with fiscal responsibility.

Now, one might think that the second gentleman is being very honorable... In fact, upon reading this quote from a brief article about him in News Week titled, "Why I’m Giving Away $1 Billion," one might think the gentleman is quite honorable, indeed:

For years, I have been saying that the American government, and America itself, has to change its spending and borrowing policies: the tens of trillions of dollars in unfunded entitlements and promises, the dangerous dependence on foreign capital, our pitiful level of savings, the metastasizing health-care costs, our energy gluttony. These structural deficits are unsustainable.

Later on in the same article he expands on this theme:

Underlying these challenges is our broken political system. Our representatives, unlike our Founding Fathers, see politics as a career. As a result, they are focused not on the next generation, but on the next election. When the long-term problems are large and real, they anesthetize us, mislead us, divert us—anything to keep us from giving up something or having to pay for it. Too often, our political leaders are just enablers, co-conspirators in a disingenuous and greedy silence. Our children are unrepresented. The future is unrepresented. The moment is long overdue for us to become moral and worthy ancestors.

Three cheers!! ...and then, some more!!! Right?

Not so fast...

Let's pause and go back to the original question -- what could Barrack Obama and Peter G. Peterson possibly have in common when you look at their seemingly contrasting view points and/or actions?

FIRST, what they both have in common is attendance at a summit to be held this week hosted by Barrack Obama. You can read about it in this article posted to 'A Pakistan News' titled, "Peter G. Peterson Foundation"

SECOND, their agenda's match on one very important issue: entitlements, particularly with respect to health care.

You see, the "unspoken" word is that the honorable gentleman, Mr. Peter G. Peterson, appears to have another agenda quite dear to his philanthropist heart:

"Mr. Peterson has never been shy about using his Wall Street wealth to try to cut Social Security and Medicare, and he recently stepped up his efforts. Last
year he spent $1 billion to endow the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, which seems to have destroying these programs at the top of its agenda." [emphasis added by me]

So now I'm thinking we are about to get an earful on how the so-called "entitlements" for the above two programs are the greatest threat to our financial stability (yeah, even greater than Wall Street bankers, Fannie, Freddie and the too-big-to-fail-lot -- imagine that).

The spin will be -- and is already shaping up to be -- that if we can fix the health care system, we can also fix the entitlement program... two birds -- one stone.

Don't believe me?

Check out this quote from another article over at The Jamestown Sun:

If President Barack Obama sincerely wants to expand health care access with a broad, bipartisan vote, here's how he can do it:
Tackle entitlement spending first.

Hey, I'm all for fiscal responsibility in Government.

In fact, I think this Administration is quickly bankrupting all citizens of this great nation with its outrageous spending policies and expensive agendas.

But when it comes to entitlements in the form of Medicare and Social Security... I have a bone to pick with this Government... indeed, even the honorable gentleman himself.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Social Security the one thing all working adults and businesses pay into... over a lifetime of working?

Is it your fault -- you the taxpayer -- you the business owner -- your fault that those funds have been so sorely abused, misappropriated, and worse over the years?!

I think not.

In Canada it's called Social Insurance -- and their Government is not allowed to touch those funds for other Government programs. Guess what? They LOWERED the age to file/retire there.

The retirement age there is 55.

Here, in the USA, they are considering raising the age to 67 ...possibly higher.

As for health care... don't make me stand on that soap box again.

It's your insurance industry that needs a thorough cleaning in this country -- top to bottom -- inside and out. They are hammering away at the wealth of this nation every minute of every single day.

Look, it's so easy to find an example of someone discontent and/or misdiagnosed when it comes to health care -- in BOTH countries.

One of our uncle's died just a few short months ago because they "pulled the plug" on him after 4 days. You see, after a certain age in this country, that's it. Your health care system isn't run by the medical community. It's run by your insurance industry. The insurance industry dictates just how much health care you get, when where and how.

For everything you hear about how supposedly-lousy the Canadian health care system is, you probably haven't even heard a word about this important study comparing both health care systems -- the first joint survey of the USA and Canadian health care systems (2004).

My parents, both in their upper 70s, receive phenomenal care in Canada.

The same eye problem I have, my mother had fixed within one week of getting it diagnosed!!! Here in the USA, I'm told it's natural... comes with aging... learn to live with it.

So don't sell me that bill of goods about the poor health care in Canada!

Frankly, I've seen and lived the difference, and the care down here is a far cry from what I used to get... and I used to get it for nothing... now I pay a small fortune!

Ask someone here in the USA how long they wait, if they rely on their insurance, to get any kind of non-life-threatening procedure completed. One acquaintance of ours had to wait 9 months for back surgery here in the USA! My uncle (in Canada) had to wait 3 weeks for a hip replacement. My other uncle had a quadruple bypass 6 years ago -- no waiting -- alive and doing quite well, even for his advanced years, in Canada.

Shucks... I didn't mean to go down this path.

Back on point here.

You're about to get a plethora of propaganda supporting many different agendas for many many different reasons.

Always look beneath the surface, because there are people in this world that don't have your best interests at heart. They have their own agenda, and chances are very high that it won't benefit you in the long term or the short term in my humble opinion based on what I'm hearing and witnessing lately. And lately, it seems to me at least, most of "them" are in politics or from the Wall Street jungle.

Yes... this is just my humble and personal opinion.

But still...

Keep your eyes open...

Cars of the Future and the Prediction

2009-05-26T12:21:00.004-05:00

We've all heard the Obama speeches regarding his policies to push car companies to build "greener" cars... the cars of the future.

When I saw this Brit's review of one of those so-called green cars, I couldn't stop laughing. It was hilarious. Here are just a few of the descriptive details:

1. "It's the first car I’ve ever considered crashing into a tree, on purpose, so I didn’t have to drive it any more."

2. "The biggest problem, and it’s taken me a while to work this out, because all the other problems are so vast and so cancerous, is the gearbox."

3. "It feels like the clutch is slipping. It feels horrid."

4. "And the sound is worse. ...at full chat, makes a noise worse than someone else's crying baby on an airliner. It's worse than the sound of your parachute failing to open. Really, to get an idea of how awful it is, you'd have to sit a dog on a ham slicer."

5. "So you're sitting there with the engine screaming its head off, and your ears bleeding, and you're doing only 23mph because that's about the top speed, and you're thinking things can't get any worse, and then they do because you run over a small piece of grit."

6. "Normally, Hondas feel as though they have been screwed together by eye surgeons. This one, however, feels as if it's been made from steel so thin, you could read through it. And the seats, finished in pleblon, are designed specifically, it seems, to ruin your skeleton."

The entire review is well worth the read. Here's the link.

Deep in the review is this quote:

Car makers, then, have had nearly a century to develop and hone the principles of suck, squeeze, bang, blow. And they have become very good at it.

But now comes the need to throw away the heart of the beast, the internal combustion engine, and start again. And, critically, the first of the new cars with their new power systems must be better than the last of the old ones. Or no one will buy them.

Now that's a message all auto makers need to pay close attention to if they plan to stay in bailouts... errrrr, I mean business.

Speaking of Bailouts

Watch for news coming out soon on Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. Here's a snapshot:

In an ominous setback, the government agency that insures the pensions of 44 million Americans has amassed a record $33.5 billion deficit -- triple what it was just six months ago. [link]

Interestingly enough, "Investment losses from the stock market were only the third contributing factor."

The Prediction

Awhile back, I made a prediction right after the election results were in.

I posted it online a few months later.

In case you missed it, here it is again:

I remember telling a friend of mine to "get out of stocks" immediately after the election results were announced. He listened. Saved a small fortune.

I told him this is what was going to happen...

The DOW would fall to between 6500 to 6200. Then there will be a brief rally. Everyone will think we've finally hit the bottom. And it will look like everything is finally shoring up, that the crisis is over.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Dems crowing, hootin' and hollarin' that they fixed everything... that it will be because of the massive amounts of money they've thrown at the problems. They'll be strutting about, gleefully exclaiming, "I told you so."

That's when the "stupid money" will start pouring in.

The rally will be brief.

It will be a relief to millions of people.

But it will be short-lived.

Then everything will fall off a cliff. It will slide to about 3800, plus or minus a few hundred.

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT an investment adviser. I am NOT a tax advisor. Everything in this post is simply my personal and humble opinion/analysis. If you want investment advice and/or tax advice, talk to a professional, if you can find one you trust.

I'm repeating it all here because some of you have seen this video.

And also, because it looks like the stupid money is now being skimmed out, just as I knew it would be...

"...in the last couple weeks, company chief executives and chief financial officers have gone from big buyers to heavy sellers. According to InsiderScore.com, two weeks ago there was a slight bias towards selling, while last week turned in the biggest disparity of sellers to buyers — more than 1.2 sellers for every buyer — since September." (Excerpt from "Insider Selling Adds to Cautious Tone" - WSJ)

Watch carefully over the next few short months.

If you haven't already done so already, start building up your cash reserves. I'm talking CASH... not bank balance. How much? Ask yourself this question: "If you were to lose all sources of your income for the next 12 to 18 months, do you have enough cash on hand to see your family through?"

Maybe I'm just being paranoid.

Maybe not.

You will either need it (and thank me for telling you this)... or at the very least, be able to have a nice party 5 - 9 years from now once the dust settles and rebuilding our battered economy really begins.

In Memory for Memorial Day

2009-05-25T17:20:00.002-05:00

Today, we remember...

" I want all of you to be safe. And please don't feel bad for us. We are warriors. And as warriors have done before us, we joined this organization and are following orders because we believe that what we are doing is right. Many of us have volunteered to do this a second time due to our deep desire to finish the job we started. We fight and sometimes die so that our families don't have to. Stand beside us. Because we would do it for you. Because it is our unity that has enabled us to prosper as a nation." - Staff Sergeant Marcus Golczynski, written a week before he was killed in action in Iraq.

The picture below shows Christian Golczynski, 8, receiving the flag from his father's casket from Lt. Col. Ric Thompson during the graveside service at Wheeler Cemetery in Bedford County. [link]

Photo Credit: DNJ photo by Aaron Thompson

Please remember those who serve and their families this day. Take time to read "Blackfive's Blog" with respect for Staff Sergeant Marcus Golczynski... and meet the Warrior Legacy Foundation.

Protect and preserve the memories of all who have fought so bravely for this nation.

FDIC Friday Bank Closings Update

2009-05-23T09:30:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was FDIC Friday and since it's been awhile, I thought I'd post a new update on bank closings racing across the nation.

In our last update (April ) there were a total of 29...

We are now up to a whopping 36!!

Yesterday, our unofficially nicknamed FDIC Friday, two Illinois banks with combined assets of almost $1 billion were closed, their assets taken over/bought by other banks:

Strategic Capital Bank in Champaign, and

Citizens National Bank in Macomb

The above 2 bank failures brings the total bank closings in Illinois to FIVE for this year. Bloomberg reports, "The FDIC estimates the seizures will cost the federal government's deposit insurance fund a combined $279 million."

In an unusual twist, the largest bank closed this month -- namely BankUnited Financial Corp. in Florida -- was closed on a Thursday.

Bloomberg reports:

Regulators are closing banks at the fastest pace in 15 years, including BankUnited Financial Corp. in Florida yesterday, and pumped $200 billion into the biggest banks in a Treasury rescue program. Costs from closing banks in the second quarter climbed to more than $8 billion, including $4.9 billion for BankUnited, from $2.28 billion in the first, FDIC data show. [link]

So, let's update our 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 May 22) in 2009: 36 BANK CLOSURES!

(As of April 24, 2009, the total was a whopping 29 bank closures... and we thought that was a high number. Whew!!)

Since we are not even half way through the year yet, I'm guessing our total for the year will more than double last year's bank seizures/closings (possibly triple?).

If you are sitting back watching all of this unfold, just as a casual observer, do you see the "glimmers" and "green shoots" of recovery happening here?

Hmmmm... Let's see if we can add a few facts up:

1. Personal incomes fell in March for the fifth time in the past six months. (According to a report on April 30 by the U.S. Commerce Dept.)

2. Bank closures/seizures are at an all time high for the year, not seen since the 1930s.

3. Home prices in 20 major U.S. cities dropped in yet again February. (According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Index.)

4. Another 539,000 jobs were dropped in April, extending the decline to 5.7 million jobs since December 2007. (According to the Labor Department's May 8 report.)

5. On the foreclosure front "April was a Shocker!" Foreclosures in April exceeded even March's blistering pace with a record 342,000 homes receiving notices of default, auction notices or undergoing bank repossessions. (According to a Realty Trac.) But I'm guessing the numbers are higher with the new trend in both commercial and residential real estate -- the increase in deed for mortgage swaps to avoid the foreclosure process. [See this on the subject.]

6. Housing starts and the industry in general remains in a state of near total collapse.

7. As for the "bank stress tests" released this month, some experts are saying "the stress tests will go down in history as the world's most elaborate effort to paint lipstick on a pig." It's a cornucopia of deceit that, once the general public wakes up to the real facts, could demolish the Dems in future elections. [link]

There are 11 more points I could add to this list, but I have to dash.

Got things to do.

On a brighter note, here are some unique ways a few industries and entrepreneurs are adapting to the tough economic climate:

Downsizing is Cool in Farming: Farms downsize with miniature cows

Recycling huge Space is another Gamble Underway: A Casino Rises in the Place of a Steel Giant

Innovative ways to Save Gas: 'Termite' Truck on Cross-Country Journey Burning Wood Chips for Fuel

And even Teens are Finding NEW WAYS to help Clean Up: Here's the scoop on skimming trash from waterways

As always, it won't be our Government who bails us out of the financial quagmire we find ourselves in (in most part, through no fault of our own). It will be the unique thinking and risk taking of individuals... the true strength of America... its awesome and highly creative people!

Let's just hope the Government doesn't try to screw that up, too.

This is NOT How to Create Abundance

2009-05-19T08:14:00.007-05:00

The squeeze is on in about 47 of the 50 States right now. How many bailouts are on the way?

Where does the money come from?

Where does it actually go?

Who pays for it in the end?

Who said this?

"Great expansion of currency and credit have depreciated the dollar just as expansion and inflation have discredited the coins of the world. We inflate it in haste; we must deflate in deliberation. We debase the dollar in reckless finance. We must restore an honesty. Deflation on the one hand and restoration of the 100 cent dollar on the other ought to have begun the day after the Armistice, but plans were lacking or courage failed."

The exact opposite of what we are being told now...

"We gotta blow eight hundred billion dollars that doesn't even exist on a whole bunch of money losing projects to keep the economy going. Yeah. I gotta bash the patient in the head with a hammer to keep him conscious, too." (link to video)

It was Harding who said the first quote above during his acceptance speech for the Republican nomination back in 1920. In the same speech, he also said this:

"Let us call to all the people for thrift and economy, for denial and sacrifice if need be, for a nationwide drive against extravagance and luxury, to a recommittal to simplicity of living, to that prudent and normal plan of life which is the health of the republic. There hasn't been a recovery from the waste and abnormalities of war since the story of mankind was first written except -- through work and saving, through industry and denial -- while needless spending and heedless extravagance have marked every decay in the history of nations."

For the benefit of California, I add that it was also Harding who said:

"I would be blind to the responsibilities that mark this fateful hour if I did not caution the wage earners of America that mounting wages and decreased production can lead only to industrial and economic ruin."

Misallocation of Resources...

I'm paraphrasing here on a very (VERY) brief introduction into how interest rates work (or don't work) in a capitalist economic system.

Interest rates actually play a role in society... they aren't just arbitrary numbers... they play a coordinating function. And when they are permitted to play this coordinating function, what they do is coordinate production across time.

People save more today for spending more in the future. When they save, interest rates go down. Businesses take loans when interest rates are down to invest and make changes to gear up for production to capitalize on that future spending.

By saving, my deferral of consumption (ie not spending) leaves resources out there for businesses to draw from to increase production. It increases the supply of resources into the overall economy which industry can draw from.

When you tamper with interest rates as the market sets them, you are introducing dis coordination into this coordinating structure.

So now, if the central bank, like the Federal Reserve, tries to artificially lower interest rates -- forcing them down in an open economy -- but the public has not indicated they want to save for future consumption (instead, they want to consume now) then businesses are still being encouraged to invest right now for future consumption (long range production) which creates a timing mismatch.

Just because the Federal Reserve wants to force interest rates down, that does not force more resources into the economy.

What it does is create an unchanged resource pool in a market-driven economy.

The Bust is Inevitable

Without all the needed resources, many long term projects cannot be completed. This will create a bust that comes in the future.

While things are "booming" you don't notice it... until you run out of the needed resources. In a timing mismatch, you will run out. History has proven this. And when you run out, that's when the real crash comes.

That's why falsely pumping money into the economy (like the Administration is doing right now) is not a solution to a "depression" ...it's actually the cause of a "depression."

Even worse, by snatching resources from that pool and putting them towards non-producing projects (ie take resources and/or capital out of the hands of industry) at a time when you are trying to "stimulate" production, you are creating a gaping hole that becomes larger, and larger (and larger) to fill, the longer you keep doing it.

It's a mismatch of time, resources and demand.

That is NOT a capitalist system, dear readers.

One thing you have to do in a situation like we are now in is STOP THE MONEY CREATION.
Learn more in this 49 minute video: "Why You've Never Heard of the Great Depression of 1920"

Yes, it's a long video, just over 49 minutes long, but I promise you, it is well worth the time you invest in exchange for the education you will get from it. You will walk away from it with a far clearer picture of how integrated and interrelated interest rates and money creation are in a capitalist economy.

Don't Blame Capitalism

There are people in Europe screaming against capitalism right now.

There are people right here at home silently agreeing with those very same Europeans.

There are some in Government in agreement, as well.

Their ignorance to the natural laws of capital economies has led them down the path of believing they actually have a capitalist economy. Theirs' is nothing but a farce, a managed economy teetering on the edge of socialism... so far from true capitalism that they cannot even see the forest for the trees, IMHO.

I wonder how they would react if they actually found out how "managed" their economy truly is?

You see... when you Lord it over natural laws of supply and demand, then it is YOU who is to blame for all the pain, poverty and lack of abundance you see. You've actually created your own lack of abundance. And worse, you've actually created the inequalities in your society.

You've created a FALSE abundance along with a FALSE abundance mentality.

What would your people think of that if they ever found out?

You can try to misdirect them -- tell them it's capitalism's fault.

If you can live with that lie.

Sooner or later, the truth comes out.

They should heed these words:

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

This mini lesson on interest rates and abundance all ties into the BIG FAT LIE that I will be expanding on very soon. I have not revealed all the lies behind the BIG FAT LIE yet because it's important, in my very humble opinion, that you understand at least the basics of how a capitalistic economy works.

Watch the video... and I'll see you again soon with some VERY IMPORTANT information I've uncovered regarding how some books are being cooked in the most extraordinary of places to create money that does not exist.

Until then, keep the faith.

Americans are strong. Once they understand the truth, they will adjust their direction and find their inner compass. I truly believe this!

South Bend Hotbed

2009-05-17T10:07:00.003-05:00

By now, you've probably heard all about the hotbed of activities going on in South Bend, Indiana, over the President's pending commencement speech at Notre Dame today.

Personally, I don't see a problem with the speech part of the visit since Presidents are often guests to such events at major Universities in this country ... but... I have to admit I share the belief that the Honorary Degree crossed a line, honoring someone who most obviously does not share Catholic beliefs on some very important subjects.

I'm guessing there are more than a few people who wish the Honorary Degree was not part of the event. I wonder what the spin will be on this when everyone moves forward?

Over 400 people have been arrested in riots to date regarding this commencement speech.

The Administration is probably, in one way at least, thankful for the attention being drawn away from the Pelosi pickle barrel they've landed in.

There are a growing number of people believing she should voluntarily step down from the Speaker's Chair and/or resign. If the Dems throw her to the wolves, I wonder who their next "scapegoat" will be to deflect attention from the economy when yet another shoe drops. (Oh yeah. It's coming. I'll tell you more next week.)

But I digress...

Back to the commencement speech. By the way things are being portrayed in far left media, I see a bit of "underdog" like marketing in play... that's kind of bizarre, actually.

You see, it's pretty hard to paint the "victim" picture when your "hero" has made it so clear he likes his superpowers so much. (Are you picturing tights and a cape? LOL)

I'm still reading The 5000 Year Leap. In fact, as chance would have it, I'm on the "4th Principle: The Role of Religion" right at the section where Justice Joseph Story of the Supreme Court pointed out why the Founders as well as the states themselves felt the federal government should be absolutely excluded from any authority in the field of settling questions on religion.

In an excerpt from Justice Story's now-famous "Commentaries on the Constitution" he stated clearly and unequivocally:

THUS, THE WHOLE POWER OVER THE SUBJECT OF RELIGION IS LEFT EXCLUSIVELY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENTS, TO BE ACTED UPON ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN SENSE OF JUSTICE, AND THE STATE CONSTITUTIONS.

Following the speech excerpt above, the book goes on to say...

This is why the First Amendment of the Constitution provides that "Congress shall make NO law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

I wonder what the Founders would be thinking now if they were to witness Obama giving his commencement speech when, from what I'm given to understand, he will be meeting the controversy head-on with respect to his beliefs which are so contrary to Catholic beliefs regarding stem cell research and abortion.

Contrary to what some people think, the Founders truly wanted to encourage religions in this country. A lot of people have a completely mistaken interpretation of the term "Separation of Church and State" which is so often used to boycott religions in schools and public properties/institutions.

Even with the many, many safeguards they put into the Constitution and other important documents to help religions flourish in the USA, it's obvious, to me at least, that in this important area that originally defined the fabric of America the Founders failed.

It's not their fault, however, as it failed more as a result of "statesmen" who rose to power long after they left.

There is a powerful reason the words -- "In God We Trust" -- were so intertwined with so many facets of this country.

But those who wish to abolish the words (and the ideals and beliefs behind them) have little concept of what this can (and most likely will) lead to, if successful, within a nation such as ours.

Those are the very people who truly need to read The 5000 Year Leap. But I haven't met any of them that are open minded enough to see beyond their own definition of "separation of Church and State" which they cling to so tightly.

Chrysler Dealerships Closing List Is Here

2009-05-14T23:08:00.003-05:00

After some searching, I found the Chrysler Dealerships Closing List posted on the Baltimore Business Journal website. Here is a link to the full list of Chrysler Dealership Closings on their site.

Just right-click the link and choose "Save Target As..." to save it to your computer. It's 41 pages long. (It's a pdf document. You will need Adobe, most computers have it, to read it.) Or you can click to open it now.

I've also downloaded a copy. If the link above doesn't work, let me know in the comments below and I'll load it to one of my servers so you can grab a copy.

After a very quick search, it looks like 21 of the 789 dealerships are located in Indiana.

There might be more. I just used the quick text-search tool... didn't have time tonight to read through the list line-by-line.

From what I understand, GM hasn't yet compiled the list of dealerships they plan to close. They are said to be closing 3,600 franchises from their 6,200 franchise network. I have a feeling the impact of the GM Dealership closings will be felt much deeper considering the numbers... but still, I imagine there are quite a few unhappy Chrysler dealership/personnel upset right now.

I don't blame them.

My hearts go out to each and every one of them.

Imagine, if you dare, that ...say... McDonald's decided to close over 50% of their franchises here in the USA. Can you imagine how many people would be impacted?

You all know my stand on the wasteful Government spending by this Administration since it took over the reigns of governing. And yet, I am shocked and appalled by what they did to Chrysler -- and how they did it.

Look for the story behind the story.

Don't take the 30-second sound-bites from mainstream media as the only story on this. Look deeper, my friends... if you can stomach the ugly truth of what really happened here.

I owned a Chrysler Newport once.

It lasted more than 10 years, was still running even after I pulled it off the road... and was still in great condition with wide front bucket seats that you could snuggle deep into and feel totally safe.

I remember the longest trip I took with it driving 2 days and 2 nights non-stop with the exception of getting gas and a burger at a few truck stops on the way. It was my all time most awesome car.

I once hit black ice on a long hill doing about 70 miles an hour (errrr, probably faster)... As it slid close to out of control, I had a choice. Choose the ditch (beyond which was a mountain side) or the lake (frozen solid beyond the highway barricade).

I chose the ditch and gunned it, because I knew that Chrysler would take me into the ditch and right back out again... it was that solid.

I was right.

Unfortunately, it pulled a 360 degree on me once back on the highway and I ended up slamming right back into that 10 foot snow-drifted-in ditch.

Even so, after being towed out, that car still ran like a dream and there wasn't even a scratch on it.

And then there is another unrelated story about the baby moose that hit my passenger mirror. That was a different place, different time... and the car fared better than the moose, considering there was just a slight dent in the backside of the mirror whereas the baby moose stood stunned for several minutes before ambling off after its mother into the forest.

Those were good times.

Good times.

The story isn't over yet. The article over at the BBJ indicated, "It's expected that the dealers will have a right to appeal Chrysler's decision." [link to full story]

Stay tuned to this one. It ties into my post the other day.

Yes It Is My Birthday

2009-05-12T13:15:00.003-05:00

Soon I will be able to say that I witnessed half a century go by on this planet... but not today. I'm one year shy of the big five oh.

Strangely, I don't feel that old.

Even my Wii Fit said I don't seem that old... it gave me a "Fitness" age of only 39 this morning. Of course, that was before I completed the 30 minute workout in Strength and Yoga exercises that I've been working on.

Now I feel my age in every aching joint and tendon!

So, I'm taking it a bit easy today. I'm reading "The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle That Changed the World" that my husband and son got me for my birthday. I'm only 59 pages into it and I've already marked 4 quotes that resonate with me.

The last is a quote from Benjamin Franklin who wrote:

"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."

I wonder what he would think of today's America and the fact that some appear to believe we need such a massive Government? Would he think we have become corrupt and vicious and therefore in need of masters? Is that what the Washington crowd believes of the rest of the nation? I wonder...

Random thought -- did you know that every Tuesday at noon the air raid sirens sound off in San Francisco? Apparently, you can set your watch by it.

Seriously. Check it out:

Every Tuesday at noon, San Francisco tests the Outdoor Warning System. During the test the siren emits a 15 second alert tone. In an actual emergency, the siren tone will cycle repeatedly for 5 minutes. [link]

Sorry... my mind is wandering a bit today. Too much on my mind to get back on track.

Did you see this story today? - "Gov't runs April deficit for first time since '83"

Spend, Baby, Spend!

Sheesh!

A friend of mine sent me a link to this video -- a must see: "Is Anyone Minding the Store at the Federal Reserve?"

It is only a little over 5 minutes long, time well spent once you understand the implications for us all.

Actually, it ties into the BIG FAT LIE I've been hinting about since Tuesday, April 28, 2009.

The lie came out. It was neatly and swiftly presented. Most journalists (as I guessed would happen) gave it nothing more than cursory coverage... a mere blip on the radar screen of mass media.

And then... well, then... life went on like nothing happened.

I predict that in about 12 to 16 months everyone is going to start screaming about it. I mean, it was truly quite stunning how deftly they managed to lie with statistics and deliver a completely different painting for the public. They made it look so easy! Seriously. It took my breath away.

If you look at their picture regarding the so-called "stress tests" and then you check around other sites looking at a different point of view regarding total credit exposure, the contrast is really quite stunning.

For one example, here is another stress test result from an independent body that paints an entirely different picture:

Isn't it funny how Goldman Sachs was found to be "healthy" according to the Fed stress tests, and yet, when you look at the above they are the worst of them all?

Look for the story behind the story.

When they scrape more billions from your pockets and don't tell you where they are sliding those billions, keep the above chart in mind.

Hmmmmmm....

You think, maybe, that's where the missing money went from the Federal Reserve?

Nah! That would imply collusion and all sorts of messy legal implications, dontcha think?

You betcha!

SIDENOTE: If you're wondering why I keep using the phrase "you betcha" all the time lately, it's because at my age -- I can wear purple if I want -- and I like getting my little digs in against the mass media that took such glee in steamrolling over Palin and her family. They're still trying to keep her quiet and bashing her every chance they get. I'll have more on that in a future post.

For now, I'm going to wander off humming ..."Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me..."

Mothers Day Humor

2009-05-10T13:18:00.003-05:00

To lighten things up on this special day, here is a little mother's day humor. Mom's you're going to LOVE this video:

If you're getting this by email and the above embed code doesn't work, here is the direct link to watch it on YouTube.

And a little fun from the children...

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2. Mostly to clean the house.
3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3. God made my Mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We're related.
2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3. They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1. His last name.
2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?
3. Does he make at least $800 a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my Mom eats a lot.
2. She got too old to do anything else with him.
3. My grandma says that Mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.
3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms & dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.
3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's.
4. Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. Mothers don't do spare time.
2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside, she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that.
2. I'd make my mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.
3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

And here are a few more thoughts for Moms on Mothers Day...

MOTHERS

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough
doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what
the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
and get their answer when a little
voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth
is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.

18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!

35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,
because that is the doorway to her heart,
the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she
shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

Happy Mothers Day!

Defending American History

2009-05-07T17:33:00.003-05:00

“Local school boards may not remove books from school library shelves simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books …”
— U.S. Supreme Court in Board of Education, Island Trees School District v. Pico (1982)

Well, America -- they've found another way to take away your books.

Hazardous Books to be Removed!!!

America -- whether you choose to believe it or not -- you are being raped of your history.

The loose definition of BOOK BURNING is:

Book burning (a category of biblioclasm, or book destruction) is the practice of destroying, often ceremoniously, one or more copies of a book or other written material. In modern times, other forms of media, such as phonograph records, video tapes, and CDs have also been ceremoniously burned, torched, or shredded. The practice, usually carried out in public, is generally motivated by moral, religious, or political objections to the material.

Some particular cases of book burning are long and traumatically remembered - because the books destroyed were irreplaceable and their loss constituted a severe damage to cultural heritage, and/or because this instance of book burning has become emblematic of a harsh and oppressive regime. Such were the destruction of the Library of Alexandria, the burning of books and burying of scholars under China's Qin Dynasty, the destruction of Mayan codices by Spanish conquistadors and priests, and in more recent times, Nazi book burnings and the destruction of the Sarajevo National Library. [emphasis added - link to more detail]

You might choose to disagree, but in my humble opinion what happened for me today is just as horrific as any book burning held in any country in any of those historical occasions mentioned above.

I'm a writer... so maybe I'm just a wee bit more appalled by the new law slipped quickly and quietly through your Congress than most.

Here is what happened to me today.

A last minute switch had me working at the Elementary school today for my volunteer day (instead of tomorrow)... and by Divine Providence I was present on the very day, at the very time, the order came down.

The order was given, and as the volunteer today, I had the woeful task of going through books in the classroom looking for the dates they were printed and removing all books printed prior to 1985.

My eyes welled with tears as I saw treasured and worn books, obviously well used and loved, like Dr. Seus and The Cat In The Hat, Charlotte's Web, Alice in Wonderland... the list goes on, and on, and on... and place them (albeit gently) into the box for discard/removal from the classroom.

Apparently this is taking place clear across the country.

Any and all books printed prior to 1985 are to be removed from all classrooms and libraries -- historical tombs, many now out of print, might be gone forever, never to be seen, read, or taught from ever again.

And I wonder...

How Many Bibles Were Printed Prior to 1985?

Imagine -- just think -- how many books no longer in print will never be seen by your children ever again?

Do you care?

Do you wonder what your children might miss?

Do you wonder how the many volumes of books built up over the years by teachers everywhere, priceless books that will now have to be replaced somehow, some way?

How many can never be replaced?

Do you care...? ...a bit? ...at all?

New Federal Law Makes It Mandatory!

Here is the reasoning behind the new law:

Writers of new child-safety legislation that sailed through both houses of Democrat-controlled Congress added children's books to the list of "banned hazardous substances," unless they're proved to be lead-free. Let's protect kids, right? Maybe they should have considered this: Kids don't eat books.

The new CPSIA law bans all books printed before 1985 from resale or distribution because they might contain small amounts of lead in the ink. Hundreds of thousands of books have already been destroyed, even though there's no proof that a child could be harmed by them. This law could effectively gut every library and every school in the state, who along with thrift stores are subject to horrendous fines if they sell or distribute pre-1985 copies of books like "Velveteen Rabbit" and "The Little Engine that Could" or "Little Golden Books" that contain lead. [link]

Now, I don't know about you, but I've seen far more lead pencils with chew marks on them in classrooms than I've ever seen kids slurping or chewing on books. In fact, I've never seen one kid yet (except maybe a baby) ever reach to chew on a book.

And yet, after finding out about this ridiculous law today, I went online and found a few blogs/articles on the subject where commenters have actually said that yes, they've seen their kids eat books.

My words to them -- WHY THE HECK DID YOU LET THEM????

Did you not stop to think that you could teach them NOT to EAT the freakin' books??

Just because a few stupid parents are incapable of looking after their kids and/or teaching their kids not to eat freakin' books now the entire country has to suffer because of their pathetic stupid incompetent parenting skills? You are stupid and deserve to suffer ....not push your suffering on the rest of the country. Go get some friggin' help!!!!! IDIOTS!!!! In fact, maybe child services should be taking your kids away from you?

Whew! Sorry about that...

Okay, didn't mean to call a bunch of parents with bookeating kids stupid. Maybe lacking in common sense, but not stupid.

But seriously... the next thing you know, they'll be asking the Feds to outlaw lead pencils. Because, hey, people just can't think for themselves in this country... so, you know, there just has to be a Federal law, dontcha think? (sarcasm intended)

Sheesh!

I'm guessing far more kids chew on their pencils than slurp or eat their books. In fact, I'm guessing when they erase mistakes on their homework they might be tempted to lick their fingers or thumbs and wet the paper to make the eraser work better. Ever seen that happen?

I'm guessing there's far more lead content in a lead pencil than there is in an old book... but I might be wrong.

The Stupidity Behind The New CPSIA Law

Here's some of the stupidity behind the new law:

It requires UNIT testing. The final product must be tested from each batch. It doesn’t matter if all the components going into it are certified and have been tested as having no lead, it still must be tested for lead.

Here’s an example. You publish textbooks for 4th graders. You publish a science textbook. You publish a spelling book. They are printed with all the same materials, on the same day, on the same press, with the same crew manning it. You must test the science book and the spelling book separately because they may contain lead!

This basically seems to imply that somehow alchemy works. Non-lead containing item + non-lead containing item= LEAD! [link]

The freakin' Dems were so eager to concoct a lie saying Palin was banning books from the library in Alaska, and then... once in full and complete power... they choose to add this piece of crap legislation that amounts to nothing more than a book burning! (IMHO)

I am not a partisan voter...

But I gotta tell 'ya...

They are doing absolutely everything in their power to turn me into one.

One more insult on my intelligence after another after another after another...

To be fair, the CPSIA started work on this legislation back in August of 2008 although it wasn't finalized and written into law then. I'm still trying to find out when the hammer came down and books were added. (I'll bring you more on this -- for sure -- along with the NAMES of the PERPETRATORS of this CRIME against humanity!)

I grew up so deep in the bush that even as a 4 year old child I had to learn how to think fast and think on my feet. Common sense gets drilled into your head early when you are in the wilds.

It's a pity that common sense is not a skill taught to children here.

Or at least, that's the way it appears to me...

Think about it. See a baby bear cub in the bush, there has to be a protective mommy bear somewhere near, 'ya think?

When I look at the Constitution and witness first-hand the Fed's overstepping their authority in this way -- dictating to States across the nation -- even authoring laws that amount to book burnings in this country... I shudder to think where you are being led.

Enjoy the rose colored glasses.

Ten years from now, they are going to be way out of fashion and you just might find yourself looking pretty stupid in them.

As far as I'm concerned, Google can add another notch onto the book burning timeline -- and the real shock is that the book burning is taking place this time in the United States of America.

God Bless America -- we need a little Divine Intervention here.

Pray for us.

On another subject...

The BIG FAT LIE Came Today

But I'm too upset about the book burning thing to go into details for you.

Sorry.

I'll be back tomorrow on that.

Related Articles and Stories across the country:
Oregon Education - Lead is feared in children's books
SCtimes - A danger within children's books?
Change.org - Save Small Business from the CPSIA
Lifestyle - Some History on Book Burning
CPSIA - Comments & Observations - Share your viewpoints regarding the recent CPSIA decisions.
The Bookshop Blog - Book burning on Feb. 10th 2009 due to CPSIA

PS: I oh-so-very-much-wish I had known about this sooner. I missed it, like so many others did. Where the heck was the media coverage on this one?!?

Now It Is Serious

2009-04-28T13:30:00.006-05:00

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

2009-04-27T09:40:00.004-05:00

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

2009-04-25T07:14:00.002-05:00

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

2009-04-21T07:32:00.002-05:00

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

2009-04-15T19:21:00.003-05:00

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

2009-04-15T18:00:00.002-05:00

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

2009-04-15T15:22:00.002-05:00

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?

2009-04-15T14:33:00.004-05:00

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

2009-04-15T10:38:00.004-05:00

"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

2009-04-13T12:24:00.002-05:00

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?

2009-04-11T13:11:00.002-05:00

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

2009-04-08T18:13:00.002-05:00

"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

2009-04-02T08:29:00.005-05:00

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?

2009-04-01T08:19:00.002-05:00

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?

Finance Unleashed

2009-03-31T12:09:00.004-05:00

Simon Johnson, professor at MIT and former IMF chief economist (2007 and 2008) writes in "The Quiet Coup":

Looking just at the financial crisis (and leaving aside some problems of the larger economy), we face at least two major, interrelated problems. The first is a desperately ill banking sector that threatens to choke off any incipient recovery that the fiscal stimulus might generate. The second is a political balance of power that gives the financial sector a veto over public policy, even as that sector loses popular support. [link]

The article takes an interesting look at the incest that exists between USA Politics/Politicians and the Wall Street Big Banks we've been bailing out. Even AIG is thrown into the mix of "Big Banks" ...however, it doesn't technically qualify.

I don't entirely agree with Mr. Johnson's "solution" to the crisis. But then, I'm neither an economist nor a professor. And I'm certainly not a former IMF employee. (Unlike Turbo-Tax-Timmy, who ran into his "tax reporting" difficulties owing to his stint at the IMF.)

The 2 parts that bother me most about Mr. Johnson's solution is that:

1. We the taxpayers -- will need to pay for the cleanup -- not the actual creators of the financial toxic mess.

2. The Wall Street Wolves are continuing to play the CDS game (the game that caused a great deal of the AIG mess - to the tune of $400B - not just the approx $176B we've already had to pay for) and at what appears to be a frantic and increased pace. [link]

They're still doing it!!!

Question: Is Mr. Johnson yet another "economist" letting the Wall Street financial eggheads go with a slap on the wrist while USA taxpayers scrape up the toxic goo they leave behind and pay for it all through our own children born over the next 2 to 3 generations? Or is he right -- and it's the only solution left to us?

Read the article (it's a long one) and you will see that even he admits how integrated Wall Street and Education (Professors and Nobel Laureates alike) have grown over recent years.

And we're supposed to trust their solutions?

How many tentacles do the BIG BANKS have stretching out across our globe? How much incest does exist between Washington bureaucrats and Wall Street big wigs? Do the banks rule us? Does Washington rule us (or work for us)? How did AIG manage to slip into the mix and slip away with taxpayer billions? How many of those AIG bailout-billions were laundered through AIG right into big bank pockets?

Here's just a small example of some of the incest going on.

Video One: Reveals the AIG funnel and spout.

Video Two: Connects a few of the dots.

I hate to say it, but based on all the pieces of information I've been reviewing of late, I'm guessing there is but one way to move forward with great speed and put this nasty period of financial rule and corruption forever behind us.

We need to take a sledge hammer to the "too big to bail" financial industries (and fire a great many of their Washington pals).

It's time to shut down their money laundering business.

They need to splinter themselves. They're either a bank or they're an insurance company or they're an iffy hedge fund... or what?

Whatever they are, they need to clean up their mess. Not us. Not our Government. (That's a whole other toxic mess we need to clean up through the voting booths.) They created it -- they need to fix it. Since they think they are so bloody smart, I'm surprised they haven't fixed things already.

Oh, that's right. They did. They held US accountable and raped us and our children and our children's children.

Pathetic morons.

It's time to bring back the regulations that once protected us (following the Great Depression) and outlaw the shadow-banking-off-the-books-hide-it-all financial instruments they've been oh-so-creatively engineering.

And, as I've mentioned before, the entire Insurance industry also needs to be cleaned up here in the USA.

Pray for your 401k if you have one.

Because I'm guessing that's what they plan to take away from you next.

Small businesses -- find a way to get private funding or operate without funding at all if you can. I have a feeling they'll be squeezing you all next to prove to themselves and our Government how powerful they are -- to have us at their mercy.

In about 3 years (maybe less) the lucky few will be those people who managed to stuff their mattresses.

So sad.

And You Shall Know Their Names

2009-03-29T19:37:00.002-05:00

Somewhere in a lavish flat just outside of Harrods in London, one man hides out having managed to scrape millions of dollars off the AIG mess -- and he could be the single most important player that ripped a gaping hole in the financial universe that will take years to heal... if it ever does.

If you have a really strong stomach and want to take an insider's peek into what really happened at AIG, this article from The Rolling Stones is a must read:

"There's this notion that the regulators couldn't do anything to stop AIG," says a government official who was present during the bailout. "That's bullsh*t. What you have to understand is that these regulators have ultimate power. They can send you a letter and say, 'You don't exist anymore,' and that's basically that. They don't even really need due process. The OTS could have said, 'We're going to pull your charter; we're going to pull your license; we're going to sue you.' And getting sued by your primary regulator is the kiss of death."

WARNING -- there is extremely vulgar language in the article referenced below. It is DEFINITELY Triple R rated and NOT for the faint hearted.

It names names.

It points out the one Government body that could have stopped the insanity.

And it explains, in great detail, why other Government bodies COULD NOT stop the eventual explosion (and potential collapse?) of our financial universe.

If you are like me, wanting to know the deeper stories, the stories behind the stories, unravel the mysteries of the universe... then grab a cup of coffee, sit back and be prepared for a VERY LONG READ of this remarkable article exposing more than you could think possible. [LINK]

And after the crash... who was in on the private meetings?

Let's see.... we have a fellow by the name of Geithner. We also have another by the name of Paulson (who looked in from time to time). Oh, and lookey-here... is that Blankfein, the CEO of Goldman Sachs?

Hmmmm... and what do all three of them have in common?

And shucky-darn, the whole "crisis" came to the table at the precise moment in financial history that it was decided to let Lehman fall off a cliff. Coincidence?

This little quote half-way through the article caught my attention:

The bonuses are a nice comic touch highlighting one of the more outrageous tangents of the bailout age, namely the fact that, even with the planet in flames, some members of the Wall Street class can't even get used to the tragedy of having to fly coach. "These people need their trips to Baja, their spa treatments, their hand jobs," says an official involved in the AIG bailout, a serious look on his face, apparently not even half-kidding. "They don't function well without them."

But I digress.

Back on point, namely naming names.

Which politicians do you think might have been lobbied hard (complete with lavish campaign contributions) to allow all of the shenanigans to take place in the first place?

Names practically leap off the page:

In 1997 and 1998, the years leading up to the passage of Phil Gramm's fateful act that gutted Glass-Steagall, the banking, brokerage and insurance industries spent $350 million on political contributions and lobbying. Gramm alone — then the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee — collected $2.6 million in only five years. The law passed 90-8 in the Senate, with the support of 38 Democrats, including some names that might surprise you: Joe Biden, John Kerry, Tom Daschle, Dick Durbin, even John Edwards.

And just wait until you find out which one of the financial behemoths scored a bundle by "shorting" the housing markets. To me, this whole thing smells of insider trading, but I'm neither a lawyer nor a financial wizard. I'm just a hard working, tax paying work at home mom shaking my head and wondering just HOW in the WORLD can they all just walk away with none of the key players getting locked away?

Instead, they all just get a free pass thanks to you and me?

How many "Goldmanites" are involved in this whole AIG thing? For that, you'll have to read the article. You'll be simply amazed at the maze -- and you might think, rightly so, that it really wasn't AIG that we were bailing out.

And for all of you still drinking koolaide thinking we now live in a nation with total Government transparency, I leave you with this "food for thought" from the article:

If you look at the weekly H4 reports going back to the summer of 2007, you start to notice something alarming. At the start of the credit crunch, around August of that year, you see the Fed buying a few more Repos than usual — $33 billion or so. By November, as private-bank reserves were dwindling to alarmingly low levels, the Fed started injecting even more cash than usual into the economy: $48 billion. By late December, the number was up to $58 billion; by the following March, around the time of the Bear Stearns rescue, the Repo number had jumped to $77 billion. In the week of May 1st, 2008, the number was $115 billion — "out of control now," according to one congressional aide. For the rest of 2008, the numbers remained similarly in the stratosphere, the Fed pumping as much as $125 billion of these short-term loans into the economy — until suddenly, at the start of this year, the number drops to nothing. Zero.

The reason the number has dropped to nothing is that the Fed had simply stopped using relatively transparent devices like repurchase agreements to pump its money into the hands of private companies. By early 2009, a whole series of new government operations had been invented to inject cash into the economy, most all of them completely secretive and with names you've never heard of.

I meant to come and tell you about "Lights Out" from yesterday. And I meant to maybe update you on a few tea parties happening across the nation. And I meant to tell you about the big protests gearing up in London. And I meant to tell you about "papering" a room. And I meant to finish researching info for my "made for tv" script that I'm planning to pen in April.

And then I found -- and read -- the article.

Okay, maybe I wouldn't have been quite so disgusted by what I discovered in the article above if I hadn't already discovered this little gem of an article before it: "Did Goldman Goose Oil?"

You'll see some familiar names in that article, too, such as: Citibank, Merrill Lynch and especially Goldman Sachs.

And, like the author of the news article, you might be guessing how the gas prices managed to spike so high just when the elections of 2008 were heating up. If it's true, then we... dear voters and taxpayers ...were "bamboozled" once again, by many of the same players still pulling from our coffers.

If someone, somewhere, doesn't go to jail over that fiasco, then it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt --- well, you decide. You tell me, in the comments, what you think it proves unequivocally.

Tower Loses Freedom

2009-03-27T11:00:00.002-05:00

I missed the headlines screaming yesterday about the "Freedom Tower" being officially named "One World Trade Center" (after one of the twin towers destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks).

Here are a few of the headlines for the day:

"Outcry after new Ground Zero tower loses 'Freedom'" - New York AFP [link]

"No more freedom," read the front page of the Daily News, declaring in an editorial that the site's owner, the New York and New Jersey Port Authority, was "erasing history."

"Freedom is out of fashion at Ground Zero," rival tabloid the New York Post said.

Maybe I'm getting a bit maudlin in my "old age" ...but my heart shed a few tears for America on learning of the name change. Silly sentimentality, right?

Well, next I learn who the first "tenant" will be -- the first contract signed:

The spat coincided with the signing on Thursday of the building's first commercial tenant -- a 21-year deal with China's Vantone Industrial Company.

The Chinese company will take up the entire 65th and 69th floors and part of the 64th with a business and cultural facility dubbed the China Center. [link]

I'm puzzled as to why the AFP article describes the company in an almost tourism like tone (adding the words "cultural facility"), and not as the Chinese real estate investment company that they really are.

The Port Authority of New York said Thursday that it signed Vantone to a 190,810-square-foot lease with a 20-year, nine-month term set to commence upon the building’s completion in 2013. The Chinese developer plans to build out the 64th through 69th floors of the 70-story building as a business/cultural space known as the China Center.

The Center will serve as a hub for Chinese companies establishing operations in the United States, as well as U.S. companies seeking to expand into China. Businesses that choose to locate in the China Center will receive assistance in relocation, real estate, finance and investor relations. Chris Ward, executive director for the Port Authority, called the lease a "clear signal that the World Trade Center site will once again be a global capital of commerce." [link]

Pause: Why do the words "eminent domain" keep ringing in my ears?

As I prepare to enter Script Frenzy beginning April 1/09, I guess I'm just a bit more touchy on the "play on words" game that is being played on all political/marketing fronts.

You see, I believe words really do matter.

PS: I have to dash now, but will be back later with more... (including info about Lights Out)

Who Is John Galt?

2009-03-21T18:58:00.003-05:00

Before I answer the question, "Who is John Galt?"

It's not that I'm paranoid, but I want to draw your attention again to "H.R.1388: To reauthorize and reform the national service laws." It passed the House in a vote of 321 (yays) - 105 (nays) [House Roll Call #140 Details].

It goes to the Senate next.

Please LEARN MORE on this site ...read everything on the site.

Please.

Then, learn about "The US President's update of 1404.10 effective immediately on Jan 23 2009."

I'm not going to comment on the above. I'm just shining a flashlight in the forest.

Back to the original topic.

Who is John Galt?

If you know me at all, you know how much I love reading... it's second only to my passion for writing. When a plot and characters are well developed and move the reader forward, when the writer becomes invisible, I truly commend the author.

There are three ways you can get the answer to the question: "Who is John Galt?"

One, you can read the book "Atlas Shrugged" written by Ayn Rand, first published in 1957.

Two, you can google it and check out the Wikipedia information.

Three, you can ask some of the people at the next tea party who might be carrying signs saying simply, "Who is John Galt?"

Needless to say, I Googled first because I kept seeing the question pop up on so many news websites (in the comments sections) ...and I guess it got me curious enough that, well, I just had to know.

Now that I know the answer, I can't wait to read "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand.

Why?

Well, I have a confession to make...

I entered NANO WRIMO last November, but then landed in over my head with a couple writing projects that absorbed ALL MY TIME... so I couldn't do it. And I hated missing it. The previous year I managed to complete NANO WRIMO without any trouble, writing very part time.

So, since I missed NANO, I just signed on to Script Frenzie.

It starts on April 1, 2009 and ends April 30, 2009.

That's just ONE tiny month to write a 1,000 word script (t.v., movie or other).

No, I'm not going to do an adaptation.

But, since script writing contains almost all dialogue, and this particular Ayn Rand book appears to contain a great deal of dialogue and monologue... that's perfect prep reading to get my script-writing mind in gear.

So, who is John Galt?

I'm going to let you google for that one.

Until next time... stay tuned!

PS: Okay, if you don't want to google for the answer, you can find out -- Who is John Galt? -- by reading the description for Atlas Shrugged (Cliffs Notes) over at Amazon.com

The Tangled Web They Weave

2009-03-19T09:19:00.004-05:00

UPDATE: (03/27/09) Apparently, the "language" for Bill H.R.1388 was modified from its original version at the last moment before being approved in the House, striking out the part about setting up a committee to determine minimum manditory service requirements for citizens. But, as we see from what happened with Dodd and the AIG fiasco, does it mean it might not reappear at some later date -- again at the final hour before Presidential signing? Who knows?

Original Article Posted Thursday, March 19, 2009 starts here:

Chris Dodd appears to have been caught in his own web, stating first that he "had absolutely nothing to do" with the modifications in the Stimulus which protected the so-called retention bonuses at AIG...

And then, less than 24 hours(?) later admits that, yes, he did make the last minute changes that the Senate did not see, but he did it at the request of the Treasury Dept.

As the "blame Dodd diversion" is rolled out, and we eventually come to see it was actually the Feds who created the AIG Bonus angst, let's take a time travel trip.

It's reminiscent of the way certain Democrats (Barney Frank among them) fought so hard against investigations and further regulations/restraints being placed on Fannie and Freddie, then turned around to scream out in rage against the Republicans for doing nothing to stop them.

Tiptoe back a bit further when the CRA was modified to encourage the whole mess to take place...

A bit further back when a certain Democrat put the CRA into play in the first place.

Heck, why not go all the way back in history to original sin... NO [EDIT OUT] ...I don't think you're ready for that one yet.

Before I move on here, I want you to NOTE THIS:

You are not responsible for your father's sins. You are only responsible for your own. Don't let them convince you otherwise.

The exception to the rule appears to be in high ranking political bodies and certain campaign contributors deemed "too big to fail" ... where they seem to get away with a multitude of sins and carefully deflect any/all responsibility and/or repercussions onto taxpaying citizens... or at least that's what it appears to be to me.

Charles Schisler from the Buenos Aires Herald wrote on March 7, 2009:

When the great ship Titanic made her maiden voyage across the North Atlantic and its blinded leader struck the iceberg, it would have been absurd to announce: "All hands on deck to man a bucket brigade; this ship is too big to fail!" To require men, women and children to try to bail out the Titanic until its final plunge, while its captain and officers took refuge in the few lifeboats is not unlike what taxpayers are being forced to do in this financial meltdown. Just as then, the correct response would be not "too big to fail," but instead, "Too Big to Bail."

I mention it now, because I believe all of those AIG hearings have managed to deflect attention from some far more serious plans afoot...

The greatest threat to our society is not credit default swaps or mortgage-backed securities. It is the loss of our understanding of limited government, individual liberty, and the economic system which creates a prosperous and free society. [link]

Casey Research, LLC once wrote:

"Accounts Receivable Tax, Building Permit Tax, CDL License Tax, Cigarette Tax, Corporate Income Tax, Dog License Tax, Excise Tax, Federal Income Tax, Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA), Fishing License Tax, Food License Tax, Fuel Permit Tax, Gasoline Tax, Gross Receipts Tax, Hunting License Tax, Inheritance Tax, Inventory Tax, IRS Interest Charges/IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax), Liquor Tax, Luxury Taxes, Marriage License Tax, Medicare Tax, Personal Property Tax, Property Tax, Real Estate Tax, Service Charge Tax, Social Security Tax, Road Usage Tax, Sales Tax, Recreational Vehicle Tax, School Tax, State Income Tax, State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) Telephone Federal Excise Tax, Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax, Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes, Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax, Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax, Telephone State and Local Tax, Telephone Usage Charge Tax, Utility Taxes, Vehicle License Registration Tax, Vehicle Sales Tax, Watercraft Registration Tax, Well Permit Tax, Workers Compensation Tax.

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and our nation was the most prosperous in the world.

We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What happened? Can you spell P-O-L-I-T-I-C-I-A-N-S?"

The "defensive" will cry out by claiming quality of life wasn't exactly great 100 years ago.

And it has improved, how....?

Frankly, the Feds have kind of stuck themselves between a rock and a hard place right now.

Say the economy is too good/too strong and they don't have any excuse to bleed more money out of the taxpayer. Say the economy is too bad, not only does it affect domestic investing perceptions, foreign investors also get nervous and start pulling back from funding our ballooning debt.

Only one thing appears to be certain -- their steadfast refusal to accept any responsibility for any of the things going on in the economy right now.

They'd rather trample all over the Constitution in an attempt to deflect populist anger over the AIG thing -- the great diversion -- ignoring how everything started ballooning out of control.

(Notice how the Fannie and Freddie bonus announcements slipped under the radar?)

Let's go backwards a minute, and examine Obama's economic team, beginning with Geithner:

Debt defines today's crisis, yet under Bush, Geithner, as New York Fed president, helped fuel it and believes more debt, over-consumption, and unaffordable new borrowing will return the economy to sustainable growth which, of course, it can't.

...Investor Jim Rogers never holds back, and, on February 11, was true to form on Bloomberg: Interviewed on Geithner's plan he said:

"Mr. Geithner has been bombing for 15 years. (He) caused the problem. He was head of the New York Fed that was supposed to be supervising banks. (Instead), all last year he came up with TARP. He came up with all these absurd bailouts. Geithner has never known what he's doing. He doesn't know what he's doing now, and pretty soon everyone will know it, including Mr. Obama."

Now I don't know about you, but ever since this whole thing started blowing up I was receiving on average anywhere from 3 to 5 (and sometimes more) calls from various lending institutions that wanted me to borrow money. Not nickels and dimes mind you -- they only wanted to talk to me if they could lend me in large numbers, preferably from $75K and up. Honestly, I've never been pushed so hard to take a loan in my life. Needless to say --- I said no --- to all of them --- still saying no.

But back on track...

Let's not exclude other members on the dream team:

Larry Summers completes the economic troika as head of the National Economic Council (NEC). As Clinton's Treasury Secretary, he engineered Gramm-Leach-Bliley in November 1999. It let commercial and investment banks and insurance companies combine and eased the way for rampant speculation, fraud, abuse, and multiple bubbles that created today's crisis.

And being from farm country -- DO NOT FORGET Mr. Paul Volker:

Paul Volker plays a role as well as special Economic Recovery Advisory Board head, but look at his resume. As Fed chairman in 1979 and the early 1980s, he engineered a deep recession and set in motion a path to neoliberalism. He helped destroy family farms, crush labor, reduce wages, lower living standards, send unemployment soaring, rev up de-industrialization, and supercharge the early years of financialization and casino capitalism under Ronald Reagan.

If you have the patience to read through an extremely large article (source for some of the above) check out: "Toxic Plans for Toxic Assets"

Reading through the article, the Bush-bashing can be read "between the lines" ...so it is with some surprise that I read this interesting quote nearing the end of the same article:

"With this kind of "dream team," Obama may match or exceed "the most incompetent eight years of government in modern times, and (be) a contender" for all time, according to money manager and market strategist Jeremy Grantham. If so, the worst of today's crisis lies ahead. Massive future plunder is coming to make working Americans no better off than millions of global wage slaves, that is if they have any decent employment at all."

And let's take another look at Obama's participation in all this as he desperately tries to distance himself from everything by a string of fireside chats and an appearance on Jay Leno. In case you missed this, Networks appear to be getting a bit tired of all this commandeering of prime time television. [Networks reluctantly shuffle for Obama speech]

...Yeah, I usually turn him off these days, too.

But back to who-knew-what-and-when, check this out:

Jane Hamsher in an article on firedoglake, has documented the media coverage from 6 weeks ago that shows unequivocally that President Obama along with Lawrence Summers and Secretary Geithner pressured Senator Chris Dodd to alter his amendment to the stimulus bill that would have made all future bonus payments made to executives at bailed-out companies subject to strict limits. [link]

Water off a duck's back for Obama, right? Not so fast:

There is outstanding detail in Greenwald's and Hamsher's accounts that readers need to see, but for our purposes, two salient facts emerge. First, that in painful Slick Willy style, the Obama White House is willing to sacrifice the truth and destroy a fellow Democrat (Dodd) in order to preserve it's populist image. And more importantly that Obama, Geithner and Summers all knew about the AIG retention bonuses long before February 28th as postulated by TIME above, and certainly before March 10th, as Geithner testified to Congress under oath earlier this week. [link]

And the above comes from a confessed Obama voter. Do 'ya think he's losing some public support?

"Bracing for a Backlash Over Wall Street Bailouts" (The Obama administration is increasingly concerned about a populist backlash against banks and Wall Street, worried that anger at financial institutions could also end up being directed at Congress and the White House and could complicate President Obama's agenda.)

I guess it's a good time for Obama to escape Washington for a bit. Or, to be more precise, start campaigning again so he can keep his loyal following supporting ever more (and much higher) spending in the months, and years, ahead.

If you think, as I do, that the Feds are going wild with our checkbook... brace yourselves.

We're not nearing the end of their spending spree.

They're just getting warmed up.

Here are just a few headlines you may have missed while the AIG diversion was created to keep your attention off the game:

"Officials: Auto Suppliers to Get $5B Bailout" (Auto suppliers have sought up to $25 billion to stabilize the battered U.S. auto industry.)

"Goldman Takes Risks With Lending Offer" - (To protect its business model, Goldman Sachs is risking "TARP rage," the special wrath that taxpayers and lawmakers reserve for potentially questionable actions by those that receive money under the Troubled Asset Relief Program. The bank is providing loans to up to 1,000 employees so they can meet capital calls related to their investments in funds that Goldman manages. Doing so after taking TARP money, rather than using the government largess to increase lending, sounds like a recipe for a public relations disaster. But it may be essential if Goldman is to make sure that other investors in its funds follow through on their commitments.) Do ya think we'll be seeing another bailout here?

"Fed Announces Plan to Buy More Than $1T in Assets" - Yeah, that's $1 Trillion with a T! (Mark my words, you'll be seeing some inflation backlash on this one.)

"Fed Launches Bold $1.2 Trillion Effort to Revive Economy" - Okay, so it's not a Trillion... it's actually $1.2 Trillion? (To do so, the Fed will spend up to $300 billion to buy long-term government bonds and an additional $750 billion in mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.)

"Whitney: Banking Woes Likely to Get Worse in 2009" - The part about Washington being understaffed is, well, errrr... interesting?

Even the U.N. is taking a page from the Obama/Emmanuel playbook, ready to step in and take advantage of the so-called crisis-opportunity:

$750 billion "green" investment could revive economy: U.N. - (Investments of $750 billion could create a "Green New Deal" to revive the world economy and protect the environment, perhaps aided by a tax on oil, the head of the U.N. environment agency said on Thursday.) Yeah, even the U.N. wants to use the "economic crisis" to tax us even further... now and well into the future!!!

And add insult to injury with this:

"13 Firms Receiving Federal Bailout Funds Owe $220M in Back Taxes" (Neil Barofsky, special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, told the hearing that if an executive signed a contract knowing that information about unpaid taxes was false, "that would potentially be a crime." He said his office will look to see if crimes were committed. The revelation is sure to spark outrage on Capitol Hill, where the House is expected to vote Thursday on a bill that would impose steep taxes on employee bonuses at firms that have received bailout money.)

AND IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE - AT LEAST READ THIS!

And finally, a BILL that seems to have completely slipped under the radar that has the potential to further enslave future generations.

This Bill slated to cost $6 billion over five years should have young people very concerned:

"House Passes Volunteerism Bill Critics Call Pricey, Forced Service" -
The bipartisan commission will be tasked with exploring a number of topics,
including "whether a workable, fair and reasonable mandatory service
requirement for all able young people could be developed and how such a
requirement could be implemented in a manner that would strengthen the social
fabric of the nation."

Imagine that... not only will our children be paying off the massive, uncontrollable debt this Administration insists on growing to massive proportions, they might also be "forced" to work for FREE as and when future Governments see fit.

I go back to original sin.

The sin that Democrats of the time fought so hard to keep.

And the same sin a newly formed Republican party fought so hard to abolish.

Can you guess what it was?

Welcome to the Change he really wants?

Stay calm.

My grandmother always said, "What goes around, comes around."

While the Fed is busy rearranging the chairs on the deck of the Titanic, let's get the buckets and mops out in preparation to clean our House starting in 2010.

Evacuation Day and St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T09:33:00.002-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day to everyone!

And Happy Evacuation Day to those of you living in Boston. For those who don't know, Evacuation Day is an "only-in-Suffolk-County holiday that commemorates when the Continental Army hauled 50 cannons up Dorchester Heights on March 17, 1776, and forced the redcoats out of Boston." [link]

I see the DOW is going a little nuts today... the yo-yo effect.

But I want to step back in time a bit today, to share with you a copy of this New York Times article dating all the way back to September 30, 1999 ...lest we forget the match that struck the flame leading to the economic firestorm we're still getting burnt by. (Thanks to Rick for sending this in!)

Click here for a pdf version of the scanned article and note the underlined paragraphs.

While Barney Frank tries to polish up his tarnished image and ride in like a shining white knight against the big bad black knight (AIG), I find it frankly (pun intended) amazing that the public has any regard left for him.

After all, we all remember how Blustering Barney publicly chastised those who wanted Freddie and Fannie reigned in, cutting into them vociferously by claiming they were wasting taxpayer dollars and time investigating those two entities.

You missed the video? Click below (or here) to see it through YouTube.

While Barney Frank tries to ride the wave of public outrage against AIG, trying to score political points, I'm hoping there are more than a few of us who have longer memories when the next round of elections come up.

Cleaning that part of our House will be up to the Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts. (Sorry, Boston, but again, happy Evacuation Day!)

I wonder if Blustering Barney is out there right now scrambling around searching for his four leaf clover... or taking a secret trip to a certain castle just outside of Cork, Ireland so he can "kiss the Blarney Stone" to boost his blarney in the hopes of salvaging his political career.

Enough about blarney from Barney.

Have a super St. Patrick's Day!

What Really Happened in CINCINNATI Yesterday

2009-03-16T10:13:00.003-05:00

If what really happened in Cincinnati yesterday is any indication, then it's yet more proof that big chain news giants are NOT reporting the news anymore.

Imagine, anywhere between 4,000 to 6,000 people show up (crowds were so large it was difficult to estimate actual numbers) and...

Well, go to the Instapundit to see live pictures that were sent in as the day progressed, as well as eyewitness reports on what the few mainstream reporters who showed up chose to report on.

From what I hear, April 15, 2009 (tax day) will be another HUGE DAY in several States throughout the country.

But I'm betting there will be few (if any) serious journalists reporting the truth about the groundswell of disapproval raising in earnest as the Government squanders Trillions of taxpayer dollars.

When you see the Billions of dollars that were skimmed off of us through AIG to offshore banks... you can't really blame people for standing up to express their discontent.

However, I'm guessing the new Administration and their shadow organizations set up to influence and push their agenda on "the people" will find a way.

After all, their M.O. has already been made quite clear:
- target
- make it personal
- isolate, and
- conquer (destroy all credibility)

Can you guess the names of some of the people they have already targeted with this M.O.?

Yeah... I bet you can.

Word to the wise -- don't believe everything you hear in the months to come. Question everything. And always, always, always dig for the truth. You can do it. I have faith in you.

PS: have you seen the Debt Star yet?

Stand Up and Be Counted

2009-03-15T14:21:00.003-05:00

I posted what I feel is an important article on My Power Tips blog today.

You can read the article through this link: Stand Up and Be Counted America

Contrary to what you may or may not believe about me, I care deeply about North America (and include Canada in this remark).

I read something over the weekend that disturbed me, spurring the post I made above. Here is an excerpt from the post that I want to share with WAHM Diary readers:

We live in interesting times.

We are privileged to be eyewitnesses to a very important time in our planet's history. I’m not talking about politics, the environment, nor the economy... I’m referring to the period of flux that mankind has been steadily marching towards for the past several decades.

Some unfortunate decisions have been made here in the USA this year.

Things are going to get tough... really tough.

It's too late to turn back. We've already been hurtled forward on this crazy rollercoaster for what will surely be the most tumultuous ride of our lives.

Unlike what you infer by your post however, I believe the majority of North Americans (both in Canada and in the USA) are incredibly resourceful. I believe that they have many untapped strengths and talents... and I look forward to seeing them prove to the world how very strong, resilient and passionate they can be.

Admittedly, there are plenty of bad elements that have been allowed to take root and fester within...

But the heart and soul of North America (I include Canada in this as well), the part not reflected in the flyby media of today, still beats at the core of our nations.

Determination, persistence, resilience... it all still exists here at home. Compassion, integrity, faith... still ring true within many hearts across our great lands. Imagination, creativity and the unquenchable thirst for knowledge, truth and justice still beat in the hearts of many.

This might not be the land of the truly free that our forefathers wanted... but I dare say, this is still the land of the bravest in the world!

You can read My Power Tips to find out what spurred me to write the above.

Prepare for the Coming Storm

Why share this with you now?

Because... in the weeks and months ahead, as we enter some of the toughest times in our lifetime, you'll be seeing a great deal of passion pour out in my words. I want to make it very clear, right here and now, how deeply I care about North America and the remarkable people that make this continent truly unique.

'Nuff said for now. Prepare for the coming storm, and stay tuned....

Camden Indiana in the New York Times

2009-03-14T15:00:00.002-05:00

Spend any time at all on my blog and it's not long before you know my personal opinion on the dangers to health, water and wildlife that CAFOs represent. It's not only specualtion on my part. My opinion was formed based on years of researching the subject.

That's why I knew it was just a matter of time before mainstream media finally caught up to what smaller newspapers and rural communities have been talking about for decades.

Check out this Op-Ed piece in the New York Times March 12, 2009:
"Our Pigs, Our Food, Our Health"

I've written elsewhere on this blog about MRSA, as well as the many other viruses, pathogens, and more that could be carried to us through the food supply and through the waste disposal practices of industrial farms.

The article above is worth reading.

Who Said Power Corrupts?

2009-03-11T07:27:00.002-05:00

I love history. I believe it leaves clues...

I believe that there are lessons we were all meant to learn... and when we haven't learnt the lesson, we are doomed to repeat it. I also believe that each time we have to repeat a lesson, the lesson itself will grow steadily more severe each time it must be repeated.

So I want to take you back a bit through time.

Bear with me. I'll explain why this little trip through time is important to this particular time in our history in a minute.

First, let's travel back to the 17-1800's.

In 1887, Bishop Mandell Creighton received a letter from historian and moralist, first Baron, John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, better known as Lord Acton (1834–1902), that contained the following sentence:

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

A little further back, in 1770, in a speech to the UK House of Lords, William Pitt, the Elder, The Earl of Chatham and British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778 stated:

"Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it."

Now let's fall all the way back in time to a period described as the "birth" of "western" philosophy -- the era of Plato whom is estimated to have been born 428 or 427 BC – and whose death is estimated to have been 348 or 347 BC).

The 5 Stages to the Fall of an Empire, as Described by Plato

According to Plato, a state which is made up of different kinds of souls, will overall decline starting first...

from an aristocracy (rule by the best)

to a timocracy (rule by the honorable),

then to an oligarchy (rule by the few),

then to a democracy (rule by the people),

and finally to tyranny (rule by one person, rule by a tyrant).

He (Plato) once asked which is better - a bad democracy or a country reigned by a tyrant? He argued that it is better to be ruled by a bad tyrant (since then there is only one person committing bad deeds) than be a bad democracy (since here all the people are now responsible for such actions.)

Now one more teeny step back in time... to Socrates.

Socrates stressed that "virtue was the most valuable of all possessions; the ideal life was spent in search of the Good. Truth lies beneath the shadows of existence, and it is the job of the philosopher to show the rest how little they really know."

Socrates, often credited with founding western philosophy and who was put to death by the democracy of Athens in May, 399 BC, was Plato's teacher and mentor; Plato, like some of his contemporaries, wrote dialogues about his departed teacher.

Socrates often said his (Socrates') own wisdom was limited to an awareness of his own ignorance.

BUT, and this is important, just like today where current politicians quote former Presidents and rulers, twisting the words to suit their own purpose and/or partisan politics... so, too, has Plato been accused of doing the same with his dialogues quoting Socrates.

Plato (understandably so) seems to have hated democracy. After all, it was the Athens "democracy" that sentenced his mentor, Socrates, to death.

In Plato's 5 stages as described above, what happens when you skip the "aristocracy" rule stage and jump straight to the "democracy" stage...?

Think about it.

The USA is the ONLY NATION in the entire world that has risen (with great speed) into such a powerful nation without beginning from royalty/aristocracy roots.

Flash forward in time to our humble beginnings...

George Washington learned how to survey land at the tender age of 16 and started his own surveying business when only 17 years old, so he was in essence an entrepreneur ...a business man.

George Washington himself rode at the forefront of many battles on the battlefield, escaping injury many times. In one particularly long and fierce battle, four bullets ripped through his coat and two horses were shot from under him. He very much earned his rank as Colonel, and later General. So he can also be described as a military man.

George Washington has long been perceived as an honest man, a common man, a business man, a military man, in one way or another, he can represent each one of us...

Neither philosopher, nor King, George Washington became our first President.

By unanimous vote...

Upon George Washington's death, Henry Lee, who had been with Washington in the Revolutionary War, wrote that Washington was "...first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

General Lee read this eulogy in Congress. Everyone shared his feelings.

Where it took, in many cases, thousands of years for other governments born of aristocracy to rise to a powerful nation among nations ...it took this nation, with a government elected by the people, for the people... a small handful of years by comparison.

There is an important new lesson here for philosphers of the future.

Historians of the future will have a great debate over whether this nation began as either:

A timocracy?
Or a democracy?

And embedded in history dating all the way back to the 3rd century BC, there is an old lesson we might also be doomed to repeat -- today -- in the here and now.

As Obama signs yet another multi-Billion-dollar Bill pounding us all into a debt which MUST be repaid, both in our lifetimes and for generations to come, one has to wonder how close to Plato's final stage are we?

Obama liked to pretend he didn't break any promise with respect to "earmarks" in the GIANT Stimulus Bill (which Pelosi already practically admitted will fail without yet another Stimulus Bill to follow it)...

And now, he admits, yeah, this new "budget" Bill is not perfect... rationalizing and justifying why he will be signing it (stuffed with 8500 earmarks) anyway.

Here is a man who during his campaigning declared he would wipe out "earmarks" and instead, now stands before us declaring what the rules will be to play the "earmarks" game.

There is a lesson mankind forgot to learn in the past.

And it's been repeated...

And repeated...

Getting far more severe with each repitition.

Could it be our destiny to break the cycle? ...to learn the lesson that nations before us ignored?

Before we cross that line -- the line between democracy and tyranny -- it is oh-so-very important that we remember this:

"We surround them."

Watch the Glenn Beck show on Friday, March 13, 2009.

If you can't be home to watch it (at 4 pm Central Time/3 pm Eastern)... be sure to Tivo it or DVR it.

PS: There is another lesson missed, buried all the way back to Socrates time. It was missed by him. It was missed by Plato. It has been missed by nation after nation after nation ever since... taught wrongly in schools since the dawn of western philosophy. And we hold the key to unlocking and learning that lesson now. Do you know what lesson it is?

It begins with doubt and it ends with?

2009-03-10T08:10:00.002-05:00

It's too easy to pick apart bad plans, so I will do my best to avoid talking about Obama today.

Instead, I'm going to switch gears a bit and try to help some of you see that there is light at the end of this dark tunnel we appear to be traversing right now.

Some say that there is significant economic evidence that the Great Depression might have been avoided but for the "panic" that swept over the country (and the world) after the 1929 stock market crash. According to them, what should have been no more than a deep recession altered our world forever because of the prevailing "thoughts of doubt and fear."

Frankly, it's pretty difficult to not be afraid when you see runs on the banks and can't even get to the money -- your money -- that you worked so hard for with your own blood, sweat and tears.

Today, the FDIC "insurance" in place at most banks and many credit unions means you should be able to reach some (if not all) of your money.

I'm not going to go into why that might not mean much in about 2 to 4 years time. I'll leave that to another post.

Instead, I want to share the emotional process that can drag you under the wheels of that eighteen-wheeler bearing down on you called fear... because once you understand the process, you understand how to stop it.

It begins with a thought of doubt,

which causes an emotion of fear,

which manifests itself physically as anxiety.

Anxiety robs us of our power, our energy and our purpose. Severe anxiety can even undermine our health.

And it's all brought on by a thought of doubt.

Now, I'm not going to tell you not to doubt the things you believe have this country heading in the wrong direction. Don't lie to yourself.

What I am going to tell you is simply this -- BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!

A little secret here -- two things can erase fear:
1. Love, and
2. Faith

I'm going to focus on Faith.

Author and personal coaching expert, Vic Johnson once said this on the subject of faith:

Fear and Faith are directly opposite views of the future and they cannot co-exist. My Faith is in a Creator who has given me dominion over all things. Your Faith may be elsewhere, but know this: Faith and fear cannot be present at the same time.

Keep your Faith close to your heart. BELIEVE in YOURSELF! You have inner resources that you might not even realize exist.

You can't control a slot machine. You can't control the stock markets. You can't control what your Government is doing.

But you can control how you think... and you can control how you feel.

Keep the Faith. Believe in yourself.

When you feel like your world is crashing down around you and that you are crashing down with it... believe in yourself... have faith, and get back up. Take a few minutes now to watch this short video and share it with someone you care about today...

BO Health in the Midst of an Urgent Crisis

2009-03-06T14:39:00.005-06:00

No more excuses with wailing violins playing in the background.

It's getting rather pathetic, don't you think?

Seems I'm not alone in thinking Obama needs to "$h*+ or get off the pot."

President Clinton discovered during his first term that The Bond Market in fact controlled his agenda, not the other way around. He was forced to abandon his audacious health care agenda when the bond market threw up all over it.

President Obama is in a much more precarious situation, in that this is not just about whether he can execute his agenda or not - it is about whether we will have an economy (and likely a republic) left in another year or so, and if he does not pull the cotton out of his ears in the very near future the answer will be "no", as we are approaching a point where we will suffer enough damage to the capital markets that a replay[sic] of at least the 1930s - if not the 1870s - will become inevitable.

Be warned Mr. President - we are on the precipice of a tipping point from which you and our economy cannot recover for a decade or more, if at all.

Protecting those who have stolen the wealth of millions of Americans, along with their homes and jobs, is going to become singularly unpopular in very short order.

Yes, George W. Bush was responsible (along with President Clinton before him and the Congress over the last 20 years) for the economic and market conditions that got us here. I've said that repeatedly.

You, however, are personally responsible for refusing to address the issues and continuing to foment and cause what is now turning into an all out economic and market collapse. [link]

We all know he "did a little blow" in his younger days. Kinda makes you think there might be more than a few brain cells fried in that head of his as he continues to ignore the obvious while pushing forward with his health agenda.

Speaking of the dumb, errrr (clears throat) Dem health agenda...

Being legally immigrated here from Canada moving here after marrying the man I love, I'm sitting here scratching my head every time I hear the misinformation being spread about how the Canadian health care system really works.

Like, for example, where in the world did you get the idea that it is run by the Canadian Federal government?!?

Google "OHIP" ...even wikipedia has better info on how it works than most of what you are hearing in the media and from your Federal Government. (Although, since wiki can be changed often by almost any source... who knows if it's still accurate since I last read their page 2 hours ago.)

My point is this -- the province of Ontario runs its own health care plan -- NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. And it is funded by the residents AND businesses AND (small by comparison) transfer payments from the Federal Government.

They are quite explicit as to what the "emergency and preventative" health plan covers (practically all necessary medical attention -- as determined necessary by your doctor, not the government) and what it does NOT cover (like cosmetic surgery such as face lifts, breast enhancements, and the like, ok?) ...and for what it doesn't cover, there are very affordable supplemental insurance plans (like for chiropractic care, eye care, dental, prescription drugs, etc.).

I really get a kick out of all those American media types saying -- "Oh, but you have to go to a participating doctor."

Think about how stupid that sounds.

Really...

Think about it.

I mean it.

Seriously....

Now, I ask you, what doctor in his or her right mind running a clinic and/or working in a hospital in the province of Ontario would choose to NOT participate?

How much business do you think...

Never mind. I'm guessing you know where that question was going, anyway, right?

Sheesh. Stupid stupid stupid reporting, is all I can say.

Then I look at what Obama is trying to do here in America, and I'm ready to vomit. Man oh man oh man... your health care system could become totally trashed if some of his idealism makes it into application.

I already knew he didn't have a clue about business.

It shows -- bright and clear.

Now I'm getting to see how pathetic his (or is it his advisers??) knowledge is with respect to health care.

You wanna start somewhere?

Here's your first step -- CLEAN UP THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY FIRST.

They are the entities currently dictating how long you can stay in a hospital room before you get the boot, regardless of whether or not your pneumonia is healed.

They are the group deciding how long you should be allowed to remain on life support -- and yes, age plays a factor.

If you're over the age of 75 here in the great U S of A, I believe it's around 4 days before your doctor will come up to your family and tell them maybe it's time to pull the plug. I personally know of at least 5 senior citizens here in our region who are scared to death to land in the hospital on any kind of life support -- be it a ventilator, kidney machine or other -- just in case they reach that 4-day time limit ...and possibly get euthanized against their will.

I could be wrong. Maybe the age is lower than 75.

The point is this, the health insurance companies are also the group currently charging hundreds of thousands of dollars to doctors, clinics, etc. for malpractice insurance.

Ask any doctor... any clinic... how much they pay for this INSURANCE.

Before you can make any progress forward with respect to any kind of government health care system in this country -- YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST clean up the health insurance industry.

And another thing.

Health care in Canada is PROVINCIALLY run, and only federally assisted through transfer payments from the federal coffers. Minimum standards are set... naturally. And you have to go through some pretty rigorous education and training before you can practice medicine.

But the care -- and treatment -- is between doctor and patient.

Not dictated by Government.
Not dictated by insurance companies.

How it's paid? Like I said, there are some things not covered under your provincially run health care plan. (see above again) I checked my husband's health plan and notice the similarities.

The waiting list for non-essential surgeries can be quite long. (Just as the same can be said for here in the USA.)

But the KEY WORD is NON-ESSENTIAL.

And, as here, the waiting list for transplants can be long because, just as it can be here, donors can be in short supply.

Now, you might be thinking there is no competition in the health care system, right?

Heh, heh, heh...

Here's a test for you. Search "cancer clinics Canada" in google and see how many results you get. And don't forget how much smaller the population is up there compared with here.

But, back to the INSURANCE issue.

Down here in the USA, insurance companies make out like bandits. They have all kinds of different insurances for the clinics, the hospitals, the doctors, the nurses, etc. (malpractice just being one of them) ...and then they also rake it in from group policies by unions clear across the country ...and they also rake it in from private individuals.

So, they take a HUGE chunk of change from both sides of the industry: the providers and the patients.

And would you look at those "deductables" inching ever higher and higher.

And how much does insurance cover versus how much you have to take out of your own pocket for, say, having a baby down here in the USA?

If I do a straight comparison, preventative health care is FAR BETTER in Canada than in the USA, but I'm sure there are plenty who would disagree with me on that. Go ahead. You won't change my mind. I've lived and seen the difference.

When Obama rolls out the full details of his so-called "nationalized" health care plan, take a really close look at who stands to make some really big bucks off the entire deal -- and who stands to lose.

Where will all the money go?

I'm not going to mention names here. This post is already too long for a Friday post.

But when it comes to dopes of all kinds, I'm scratching my head wondering just how long BO "did a little blow" during his school years.

And I'm wondering what percentage of the population has done the same in this country if they haven't figured any of this out yet.

One thing is for certain, there are a heck of a lot of us who HAVE figured out that BO isn't all that great at prioritizing.

And if he doesn't get his priorities straight -- and FAST -- health care of any kind is going to take a backseat. Most people will be more concerned about putting food on the table.

Did Obama Give China USA Collateral?

2009-03-04T08:58:00.005-06:00

Back on Feb. 11, 2009, there was a brief Bloomberg news story published which emphasized the growing discontent China has been feeling with respect to buying USA Treasuries so we can fund our ballooning debt.

Read: "China Needs U.S. Guarantees for Treasuries, Yu Says"

Indeed, the discontent from China against the USA has been growing since the global economic meltdown first began, and made worse by careless comments tossed out by Geithner.

Read about China's REAL reaction, as reported by the UK Telegraph regarding Geithner's comments:

Turning a corner in the labyrinthine corridors of the Davos nerve-centre, I ran smack into Chinese premier Wen Jiabao - followed by a regiment of retainers and senior offices in full regalia...

...Mr Jiabao smiled at me benignly, but he is not in a good mood. Indeed, he is fuming over the remarks by US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner that China was "manipulating" its currency to gain market share. Reports were circulating this afternoon in Davos that Mr Jiabao erupted into a tirade after lunch at the mere mention of Mr Geithner's name.

Mr Geithner - the first US Treasury chief who can actually speak Chinese, and Japanese, nota bene - is clearly operating under instructions from President Barack Obama. If his resolve fails, Hillary Clinton is there at Foggy Bottom (State Department) to renew the broadside against Beijing - at least judging by her Sinophobe reflexes in the campaign. [link]

So, it probably isn't much of a surprise that Hillary Clinton's first mission in her new appointment by Obama as Secretary of State would be a quick trip to China and other parts of Asia.

The real surprise now, after Obama's Secretary completes her visit, is the new tone with respect to continued purchase of USA Treasuries by China. Watch the video through this link and pay close attention to what is said near the end of the interview: Li Wei Says China to Likely Keep Buying U.S. Treasuries

Now the BIG question -- Did Obama give China some kind of USA collateral in order to change the tone?

There is a rumor flying around the blogosphere referring to "eminent domain" that has alarmists freaking out right now.

On a personal note...

We know one farmer's son who got shoved off his farm (a farm that had been in the family for years) because he complained too much about a certain shooting range that was parked practically on his doorstep by the State Government. It's a traumatic example how the Government can use eminent domain like a knife, slicing into the heartland whenever it pleases in the name of their idea of "the common good" ...and there are several more such heartbreaking stories across this nation.

But would the Federal Government actually mortgage our future in order to bankroll it's pork stuffed spending sprees?

There are some in California who think it's already happening. Check out this video to learn more about what is happening there.

Could this be why the number of States has risen from 4 to 8 (with a possible 20 more to follow soon) who are making moves to reclaim sovereignty based on the Ninth and Tenth Amendments of the Constitution?

Read: Lawmakers in 20 states move to reclaim sovereignty
Obama's $1 trillion deficit-spending 'stimulus plan' seen as last straw

What's up, America? Why are so many States now scrambling to "protect themselves" from their Federal Government?

If it hasn't got you scratching your head, it should.

But here's another little tidbit that hasn't yet made a splash in the mainstream media.

While Obama plans to bloat the Federal Government payroll with his so-called Stimulus and trim back what he considers "unnecessary military spending" ...China has far different plans with their latest stimulus announcement.

Read: China Plans to Boost 2009 Military Spending by 14.9%

The REAL stimulus will not be coming from Governments, however...

Another Bloomberg news story declares today that, "Cheap Oil Beats Obama as Economic Stimulus: Chart of the Day"

March 4 (Bloomberg) -- The cheapest oil in five years, a sign of the global recession, may deliver the biggest boost in purchasing power since at least 1980, Longview Economics said.

The CHART OF THE DAY shows oil spending will be about 2 percent of worldwide gross domestic production in 2009, down from 4.9 percent in 2008, Longview Chief Executive Officer Chris Watling said in March 2 report. Assuming an average price of $41.90 this year, the world is poised to save $1.72 trillion on oil compared with last year, Watling estimates.

“It’s a savings which is approximately three times larger than the entire announced 2009 fiscal stimulus of China and the western economies combined,” Watling said. “The savings from the fall in the price of oil will go straight into consumers’ and businesses’ pockets, will not be impeded by bureaucracy and will happen, unlike parts of the fiscal stimulus, which are likely to be delayed.” [link]

Unfortunately for us here in the USA, Obama's energy policies will make darn sure we don't get a chance to enjoy the low-priced-energy-stimulus that the rest of the world will be taking advantage of in the months (and years?) to come.

In fact, here in Indiana, Obama's attack on the coal industry is about to be a heavy punch to the pocket book when electricity prices skyrocket as the new cap and trade clamps down on all of us.

Our new solar panels will be ordered in May.

When are you ordering yours?

Who is Winning Obama's War?

2009-03-02T14:49:00.003-06:00

Clayton Makepeace, one of the few brilliant copywriters I know whom has the courage to step up and tell you exactly what is on his mind, asks this important question:
What will you say when your kids or grandkids ask, "What did YOU do to fight back when Obama destroyed my chance for a prosperous life?" [link]
Now that Obama has made himself quite clear, declaring class warfare on the nation he now governs, and is working so hard to rebuild this country in his own image... I'm sitting here, sipping my third cold cup of coffee for the day (after working non-stop since 6:30 a.m. today) and watching the DOW tank.

And I ponder this...
Who is winning Obama's war?

Just so you know, I predicted the DOW would be bopped if BO became P. I saw this coming from his campaign trail, and I can pretty much predict where it's going next.

I remember telling a friend of mine to "get out of stocks" immediately after the election results were announced. He listened. Saved a small fortune.

I told him this is what was going to happen...

The DOW would fall to between 6500 to 6200. Then there will be a brief rally. Everyone will think we've finally hit the bottom. And it will look like everything is finally shoring up, that the crisis is over.

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Dems crowing, hootin' and hollarin' that they fixed everything... that it will be because of the massive amounts of money they've thrown at the problems. They'll be strutting about, gleefully exclaiming, "I told you so."

That's when the "stupid money" will start pouring in.

The rally will be brief.

It will be a relief to millions of people.

But it will be short-lived.

Then everything will fall off a cliff. It will slide to about 3800, plus or minus a few hundred.

DISCLAIMER: I am NOT an investment adviser. I am NOT a tax advisor. Everything in this post is simply my personal and humble opinion/analysis. If you want investment advice and/or tax advice, talk to a professional, if you can find one you trust.

With that said, back to what Clayton asked (see above), here are a few things you can do.

1. Tell Obama’s handlers exactly what you think at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

2. Get your senator's e-mail and let him/her know what you think, to:
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

3. And finally, share your opinions with Pelosi and your personal representative by going to:
http://www.house.gov/

HOW ABOUT THAT "STIMULUS?"

And on a final note, to all of you out there thinking you're going to get a super tax break on your paychecks soon thanks to Obama, I got this from a tax expert I trust. Here's the "breakdown" on the so-called stimulus...

If you are a W-2 employee who receives a paycheck that is subject to withholding, you will receive your 'stimulus' in your paychecks -- your employer should begin withholding 6.25% less beginning from your salary on or about April 1, 2009.

Your tax credit will be calculated at a rate of 6.25% of earned income, but it will "phase out" if your adjusted gross income is more than $75,000 (and it's dead-gone if your income is $95,000) and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly (unless you're combined income is over $190,000 - then you're S.O.L.).

Don't expect to get too stimulated. 6.25% means a pay raise of only $62.50 (about 2 bucks a day) per $1,000 in wages. Once those little increases add up to $400 for an individual (or $800 for married couple), it's back to the former wage level.

Taxpayers who do not have taxes withheld by an employer during the year can claim the credit on their 2009 tax return.

Happy Square Root Day!
(3x3=9 03-03-09)