the end of the ???

My oh my what a crisis. Or is it? My diagnosis:




One columnist penned this mess correctly...a charge into chaos.
Who to blame? Bush, Frank, Pelosi? My pick of the day...



Let me be "Frank." This zealot refuses to admit to his own blame to the meltdown of the Fannie and Freddie show. I quote “in 2003, nobody that I knew of foresaw the crisis of subprime lending” please...........
The b.s. of lenders being "subprime" back in the early 90's was there...and there sure were predatory in many vulnerable communities.

Both parties have their "spin.." Conservatives don't seem to give a hoot about the man on "Main Street" (like that catch all phrase of late)...and how the market doesn't seem to want to police itself...Liberals just can't face the rhetoric b.s about covering up their own greed, ignorance of basic economics (Thomas Sewell where are you?) and the drive for power.

Then we top off the event with Madam Pelosi's partisan b.s. rant denying what is looking her in the face (but with her liberal San Fran blinders), she can't see.

Now we have a two day break for the Jewish Holiday and then back to the b.s.

Oh..and then the debate between Sarah and Joey....(or did we forget about them?)

liberal actor passes away

Yes, Paul Newman was a major liberal activist and contributor. He died on Friday at the age of 83. Mr. Newman was known for many things, his philanthropy and his politics. He turned into this "mega-liberal" back in the Vietnam era days.
His support for wanna be winning candidates such as McCarthy and McGovern was legendary. He was a major player in trying to get Ned Lamont to defeat Joe Lieberman. His final political act was to give the maximum contribution to the Hussein-Obama campaign. He was for gay rights, civil rights, women's rights and committed to ending the nuclear arms race. Yes, he saw the world through rose colored glasses. Perhaps now that he with his "Creator" he can look down on the world and see in horror where some of his beliefs would of taken this World.

a great rendition and must listen

http://patriotfiles.org/Pledge.htm

here is a different post...

Introducing the National Black Republican Association.....
their website: http://www.nbra.info./

Unhappy Americans

This is a little time consuming but well worth the read!!!!...

Just some mind searching thoughts!!!

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?’

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so unhappy about?''

A.. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

B.. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

C.. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

D.. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E.. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

F.. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G.. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

I.. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

J... You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

K.. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss .

L.. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M... How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it......are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the 'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, and “other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner?

The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by 'justifying' them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O. J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way......Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.'

With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, we have survived and the least among us lives better than the best in many countries. This didn't happen by accident.

I recall a story Ronald Reagan used to tell to capture the essence of being an American. He said there was a Cuban fellow who described what happened to his family after Fidel Castro took over Cuba, how his fasmily lost their business, fortune and home. He spoke of how they sailed from Cuba to Florida on a raft. One of the Americans listening to the Cuban fellow turned to another American and commented we don't know how lucky we are as Americans. The Cuban fellow interrupted and said he and his family were the lucky ones, they had some place to go.

In that line, Reagan said, the Cuban fellow captured the importance of our role in the world. We have been for more than two hundred years the last best hope for freedom for people the world over. Other nations needed walls and fences to keep people in while we need them to keep people out.

first thoughts on Debate 1

That's right John. You're right John. McCain should of turned and said "young man please go back to your seat..."
McCain wins this one.
Obama has one admirable quality...the infamous Ted Kennedy stumble lines. Oh my no teleprompter and look what happens.

the collapse

The blog is back after a short late Summer, early Fall Cape Cod get-away. We play tourists and visit many wonderful towns...Hyannis, Falmouth, Dennis, Chatham and Provincetown. Always a great time. And now to the blog desk.......



Many articles have been written about our current economic mess. Let's go back to November 12, 1999 when President Bill Clinton repealed the Glass-Steagll act of 1933.
The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and included banking reforms, some of which were designed to control speculation.(Recall the recent term "speculators?" Some provisions such as Regulation Q that allowed the Federal Reserve to regulate interest rates in savings accounts were repealed by the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980. Provisions that prohibit a bank holding company from owning other financial companies were repealed on November 12, 1999 by the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act signed by President Bill Clinton. the Glass-Steagall Act, opening up competition among banks, securities companies and insurance companies. The Glass-Steagall Act prohibited a bank from offering investment, commercial banking, and insurance services.

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA) allowed commercial and investment banks to consolidate. An example of this was when Citibank merged with the Travelers Group and in 1998 formed the conglomerate Citigroup, a corporation combining banking and insurance underwriting services. Other major mergers in the financial sector had already taken place such as the Smith-Barney, Shearson, Primerica and Travelers Insurance Corporation combination in the mid-1990s. This combination, announced in 1993 and finalized in 1994, would have violated the Glass-Steagall Act and the Bank Holding Acts by combining insurance and securities companies, if not for a temporary waiver process. The law was passed to legalize these mergers on a permanent basis. Historically, the combined industry has been known as the financial services industry.

Many of the largest banks, brokerages, and insurance companies lusted after this Act at the time. Their reasoning was that most folks usually put more money into investments when the economy is doing well, but they put most of their money into savings accounts when the economy turns bad. With the new Act, they would be able to do both 'savings' and 'investment' at the same financial institution, which would be able to do well in both good and bad economic times.

Prior to the Act, most financial services companies were already offering both saving and investment opportunities to their customers. On the retail/consumer side, a bank called Norwest led the charge in offering all types of financial services products in 1986. American Express attempted to own almost every field of financial business. Things culminated in 1998 when Travelers, a financial services company with everything but a retail/commercial bank, bought out Citibank, creating the largest and the most profitable company in the world. The move was technically illegal and provided impetus for the passage of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

Also prior to the passage of the Act, there were many relaxations to the Glass-Steagall Act. For example, a few years earlier, commercial Banks were allowed to get into investment banking, and before that banks were also allowed to get into stock and insurance brokerage. Insurance underwriting was the only main operation they weren't allowed to do, something rarely done by banks even after the passage of the Act.

Much consolidation occurred in the financial services industry since, but not at the scale some had expected. Retail banks, for example, do not tend to buy insurance underwriters, as they seek to engage in a more profitable business of insurance brokerage by selling products of other insurance companies. Other retail banks were slow to market investments and insurance products and package those products in a convincing way. Brokerage companies had a hard time getting into banking, because they do not have a large branch and backshop footprint. Banks have recently tended to buy other banks, such as the recent Bank of America and Fleet Boston merger, yet they have had less success integrating with investment and insurance companies. Many banks have expanded into investment banking, but have found it hard to package it with their banking services, without resorting to questionable tie-ins which caused scandals at Smith Barney.

Senator Phil Gramm led the Senate Banking Committee which sponsored the Act; he later joined UBS Warburg, at the time the investment banking arm of the largest Swiss bank.

We have never in memory had a situation where at any one time we have a combination of bad challenges, bad politicians and bad policies.

This past Summer the government tried to straighten out our energy mess, get federal spending under control and try to manage our nation's health system.

The feuding, fighting and posturing remain as I file this report on an early Friday morning. It is hoped that by Noon today, there would of been some mutually acceptable agreement. And.....most important, provide restrictions on what can and cannot be done with guidelines. I applaud the Republican's who are cautious.
I would also hope that any changes made in this problem can me amended and changed while in process. I would love to now see a steel cage match between Neil Cavuto and John Bradshaw Layfiend of the WWE. A stockbroker match.
So what if a friend I know lost $459,000 last week. No biggie at all. Nah............
HumanEvents.com have some wonderful articles posted about this. Please take a look.

a pic tells the tale...

from a Denver Post blog.....

Republican Recycling
by David Harsanyi on September 6, 2008


This morning, Republicans tell me that a worker at Invesco Field in Denver saved thousands of unused flags from the Democratic National Convention that were headed for the garbage. Guerrilla campaigning. They will use these flags at their own event today in Colorado Springs with John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Before McCain speaks today, veterans will haul these garbage bags filled with flags out onto the stage — with dramatic effect, no doubt — and tell the story.

“What you see in the picture I sent you is less than half of total flags,” a Republican official emailed. “We estimate the total number to be around 12,000 small flags and one full size 3×5 flag.”

I’m not sure what the DNC was supposed to do with unused hand-flags, frankly. But the Republicans are obviously questioning someone’s patriotism here.

debates

Here is the schedule for the debates.

September 26, 2008: Presidential debate with domestic policy focus, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS

October 2, 2008: Vice Presidential debate, Washington University, St. Louis, MO

October 7, 2008: Presidential debate in a town hall format, Belmont University, Nashville, TN

October 15, 2008:Presidential debate with foreign policy focus, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

Bristol and Labor (Day)

So we get news that daughter Bristol is pregnant...Is this the bump McCain wanted from the convention?

Happy Labor Day. Otherwise known as Union Extortion Day...

Sarah and Gustav

What a surprise! A homerun too! McCain sure caught everyone, especially "The Big O" off guard. After the "The One's" grand speech Thursday night, McCain sure took over the headlines. So that gives "The One" only 12 hours of headlines when the D&C show should of taken them through to the Sunday TV talk shows.

I don't recall a pending Republican convention with such energy since Reagan in 1976. From what I have read about Sarah, it sure sounds a lot like what Truman went through.

Now with Hurricane Gustav approaching and the cancellation of most of the events of the first day of the Elephant convention, especially not having Bush/Cheney show up, it is a bonus! The association of Bush with McCain and the alleged third Bush term won't be able to be contrasted live.

Let's hope the Hurricane does not hit with such impact. As of this writing, it is still estimated to hit as a Cat. 3. Still bad enough though.

Now to have Sarah show up for her acceptance speech with an M-16 with Arnold introducing her as the new Terminator.

Sarah Palin?

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was seen leaving Alaska in a private plane. Is she the McCain choice for VP?

a speech to the delegates

August 29, 2008
Op-Ed Columnist
A Speech to the Delegates
By DAVID BROOKS

DENVER

My fellow Americans, it is an honor to address the Democratic National Convention at this defining moment in history. We stand at a crossroads at a pivot point, near a fork in the road on the edge of a precipice in the midst of the most consequential election since last year’s “American Idol.”

One path before us leads to the past, and the extinction of the human race. The other path leads to the future, when we will all be dead. We must choose wisely.

We must close the book on the bleeding wounds of the old politics of division and sail our ship up a mountain of hope and plant our flag on the sunrise of a thousand tomorrows with an American promise that will never die! For this election isn’t about the past or the present, or even the pluperfect conditional. It’s about the future, and Barack Obama loves the future because that’s where all his accomplishments are.

We meet today to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans, a generation that came of age amidst iced chais and mocha strawberry Frappuccinos®, a generation with a historical memory that doesn’t extend back past Coke Zero.

We meet today to heal the divisions that have torn this country. For we are all one country and one American family, whether we are caring and thoughtful Democrats or hate-filled and war-crazed Republicans. We must bring together left and right, marinara and carbonara, John and Elizabeth Edwards. On United we stand, on US Airways, there’s a 25-minute delay.

Ladies and gentleman, I never expected to be speaking before you today. Like so many of our speakers at this convention, I come from a hard-working, middle-class family. I was leading a miserable little life, but, nevertheless, overcame great odds to live the American Dream. My great-grandfather fought in Patton’s Army, along with Barack Obama’s great-grand uncles’ fourth cousin once removed.

As a child, I was abandoned by my parents and lived with a colony of ants. We didn’t have much in the way of material possession, but we did have each other and the ability to carry far more than our own body weights. When I was young, I was temporarily paralyzed in a horrible anteater accident, but I never gave up my dream: the dream of speaking at a national political convention so my speech could be talked over by Wolf Blitzer and a gang of pundits.

And today we Democrats meet in Denver, a suburb of Boulder, a city whose motto is, “A Taxi? You Must be Dreaming.”

And in Denver, we Democrats showed America that we have cute daughters who will someday provide us with prestigious car-window stickers. We heard Hillary Clinton’s ringing endorsement of “the weak-looking thin guy who’s bound to lose.”

We heard from Joe Biden, whose 643 years in the Senate make him uniquely qualified to talk to the middle class, whose family has been riding the Acela and before that the Metroliner for generations, who has been given a lifetime ban from the quiet car and who is himself a verbal train wreck waiting to happen.

We got to know Barack and Michelle Obama, two tall, thin, rich, beautiful people who don’t perspire, but who nonetheless feel compassion for their squatter and smellier fellow citizens. We know that Barack could have gone to a prestigious law firm, like his big donors in the luxury boxes, but he chose to put his ego aside to become a professional politician, president of the United States and redeemer of the human race. We heard about his time as a community organizer, the three most fulfilling months of his life.

We were thrilled by his speech in front of the Greek columns, which were conscientiously recycled from the concert, “Yanni, Live at the Acropolis.” We were honored by his pledge, that if elected president, he will serve at least four months before running for higher office. We were moved by his campaign slogan, “Vote Obama: He’s better than you’ll ever be.” We were inspired by dozens of Democratic senators who declared their lifelong love of John McCain before denouncing him as a reactionary opportunist who would destroy the country.

No, this country cannot afford to elect John Bushmccain. Under Republican rule, locusts have stripped the land, adults wear crocs in public and M&M’s have lost their flavor. We must instead ride to the uplands of hope!

For as Barack Obama suggested Thursday night, wherever there is a president who needs to tap our natural-gas reserves, I’ll be there. Wherever there is a need for a capital-gains readjustment for targeted small businesses, I’ll be there. Wherever there is a president committed to direct diplomacy with nuclear proliferators, I’ll be there, too! God bless the Democrats, and God Bless America!



Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company

behold.........

Obama of Assisi

Obama has arisen!

[


Well he has arisen in Denver of all places. Mile high city and mile high dreams. Last night we heard from the original master bs'er (William Jefferson "I am Impeached" Clinton), now we hear from his protegee. Barack Hussein Obama is truly a remarkable speaker. One of the best. He is a true master in delivering from the political pulpit. But when it comes to one on one debative formats, he tends to sputter and back peddle, as evidenced in the recent Saddleback Church appearances of both the "Big O" and "Juan McAmnesty" who showed a sharp witted performance. It seemed that McCain truly out did Obama at the Saddleback event.
Tonight Obama hit a line drive into the heavens at the stadium. Did the ball go over the wall for a homerun? I think a fan may of intercepted the ball from going out and maybe gave him a ground rule double. The Big O's spending plans will hit a brick wall due to the current budget deficits. The tax proposals he outlines would reduce the tax revenue by $2.95 trillion. (this figure provided by The Tax Policy Center) His windfall profits taxes on the big oil companies, which he proposes, is doomed to fail due to the timetable it would take to enact and the debate as to whether it would even get through Congress. If memory serves me, we actually had such a tax in the 80's, which resulted in the reliance of our use of foreign oil imports to increase. Lord Obama's $150 billion clean energy fund is dependent on uncertain financing. The Tax Policy Center has critiqued his health care plan as it leaves the number of estimated uninsured by 18 million in 2009, down from the current 45 million....but leaves millions still without health care. Better than nothing you say? Still not a universal plan per se. (Again based on data from the Tax Policy Center, a non-partisan group.) The "Big O" promises to end the Iraq war. Wonderful. But rushing the Iraqi forces before they are ready to assume a greater role of responsibility gives the insurgents in Iraq a clear timetable to sit out and wait to go back into Iraq full force.
The education plan sounded great too. (So does extra cheese on my cheeseburger.) There is only just so much money available with the budget he is proposing being onion skin thick. He claims to want to give the U.S. a fresh coat of makeup and repair our image overseas. But the U.S. has already changed many of their prior policies that has seen us chat with Iran and North Korea. Plus there is the Pakistan factor. With the prior President overthrown and forced to resign, the Big O would face certain resistance from the Pakistani authorities and likely cause us to pay a hefty price for violating their sovereignty. The Big O mentions curbing Russian aggression by using "tough, direct diplomacy." This does not offer any great chance of success. And as we have seen, all the promises by Russia...talk is cheap. Did the D&C convention accomplish anything? I think they did and had the party come a tad bit closer, even though both sides (political inlaws) don't love to hug each other in the receiving line. As for Obama's speech...while historic, fell flat in the sense that it promised and preached more than can be delivered, no matter how much you fill the preverbial offering plate. In Obama's case, the offering plate may of sprung a slight leak. Now we hear from that "gray haired dude..." Paris are you ready and on cue? The R&C Convention is next week, sponsored by Cialis and Budweiser.

my guess on McCain's choice for VP

Timothy James Pawlenty (born November 27, 1960) is the 39th and current
Governor of Minnesota. In the Minnesota election in 2002 he was the Republican nominee. He was re-elected in 2006.

perhaps Obama should use these ads?

"The One" seems worried.....

Yes folks, after Hilliary's first 2012 campaign speech on Tuesday night, after Biden bit the bullet and praised the glories of "the One", despite his incredible change of mind on the qualifications of Barack Hussein Obama to be his presidential political busboy, there is continued reason for "the One." Is this campaign ready to implode like one of former tank commander Mike Dukakis? One political columnist, Jon Keller sums it up this way. "But every speech I’ve heard or read so far has one thing in common – they offer virtual baby talk on the major issues of the day. What is the right thing to do about soaring energy costs, in the short and long term? With the lone exception of Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, who alluded to something called coal gasification, I haven’t heard a specific fresh idea yet. What is the right way forward on affordable housing? All I’ve heard are vows to make sure every American can own a home to go with the chicken in their pot, even though we’ve just learned the painful lesson that not every American can afford to finance a home. How do we break the stranglehold of reform-averse unions over failing public schools? Apparently, there isn’t a major Democrat in the building willing to risk angering the union delegates by talking about charter schools and choice. It’s pathetic and sad. All we get are self-aggrandizing personal stories designed to show us what saints these power-seekers are, vague, insulting promises of the land of milk and honey that awaits a partisan victory, cheap trash-talking of the opposition. "

Days 2 and 3 of the D&C

The new generation of B.S. artists admiring the old school B.S. artists.









While waiting for the Obama Greek temple is finished being built for the "One" to speak tomorrow night....some thoughts...






As the curtain closes on "the Big C"...or does it? I think we saw the beginning of the "Hil 2012 campaign. It was indeed touching and nauseating to see the Academy Award winning performance of Bill mouthing the "I love you, I love you forever and ever". How many lady friends do you think he has told that line to in the past few years? I did like how she didn't wear the same blue dress that someone named Monica wore.


The expert shoe sales men, formerly known as, Bill "I did not have sexual relations with that woman...Miss.Lewinsky, could not make the case for "the One." He threw some nice change up pitches at the crowd but certainly never got past first base on the kiss up speech.

Now we wait for Mile High Stadium show. Do you think there will be harps?

Day One of the D&C

Mrs. O's speech fell flat. She used the same old Democratic blue print and it was boring. While her passion for her family was touching, it just does not deliver the goods. Chris Wallace from Fox said that it was a "wasted night." James Carville of CNN had this to say....
"Well if this party has a message it has done a hell of a job of hiding it tonight I promise you that," Carville said. He went on to say "...George W. Bush, you haven't heard any of this," said Carville. "I mean we are a country that's borderline recession, 85% 80% wrong track country, people, health care, energy, I haven't heard anything about gas prices, I mean maybe we are going to look better Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday but right now like I say we are playing hide the message pretty good." Anderson Cooper chimed in, "David Gergen said this a short time ago, that in the first two hours what is the message?"
Carville repiled, "And you know what? David didn't get to where he was in life because he's stupid. He was exactly right. I look at this and I am about to jump out of my chair...There's no message coming out of here, there is no sense that the party has a sense of urgency, and we've only got four nights this is 25% of the whole thing."



This was one pic that didn't make the video tribute to the felon, Ted Kennedy. I give him credit for showing up at the convention. I guess poor ole Ted read about the cat fights between the Obama and Clinton parties and thought an ole cougar could calm the waters. But from what I read and hear the backroom is quite chilly.