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Archives
1Q09 GDP = $14.1 trillion Debt as % of GDP = 81% |
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 - 9:47pm California Budget Crisis The braindead politicians in the State of California cannot seem to balance their budget, even though the deadline was yesterday. Now they have to issue IOU's since they have run out of cash. Please help them out by doing it yourself. It's really not that difficult.
Ah, here's the problem. These California politicos spend money like drunken sailors. Look at the massive increase in spending over the last few years. Talk about irresponsible. Tuesday, June 30, 2009 - 6:19pm Court Rules Unanimously for Franken The Minnesota Supreme Court finally reached a decision that Al Franken (D) won the U.S. Senate election over Norm Coleman (R). Allow me to say...it's about freakin time!!! It only took eight months for the Minnesota courts to realize that Franken had more votes than Coleman. Apparently, they are really bad at math up there. Assuming Governor Pawlenty (R) signs off on the court's decision, Senator Franken could be seated by next week. It will give the Democrats (with two independents) a filibuster-proof majority over the Republicans. Sunday, June 28, 2009 - 10:49pm Sanford Story Not Going Away Not even the death of the King of Pop is helping Governor Mark Sanford of South Carolina. As juicy details of his love triangle unfold, the mainstream media has jumped at the chance to cover this story once again.
When rebukes come from fellow Republicans, you know you're in trouble. Governor Tim Pawlenty (R-MN) suggested that Mark Sanford was a hypocrite and was further damaging the Republican party. To think, a week ago this guy was a leading GOP candidate for President in 2012. Is this the best the Republican party can do??? Thursday, June 25, 2009 - 7:18pm Saving Governor Sanford With the sudden death of Michael Jackson, the 24-hour news channels have completely forgotten about Mark Sanford's affair. The South Carolina Governor's bizarre and irresponsible behavior would've received wall-to-wall coverage for days, but now his story is on the back burner, perhaps never to resurface again. The talking heads will discuss Michael Jackson's passing for days, if not weeks. When they're done, few will remember that some politician was caught cheating on his wife. Governor Sanford's career will be saved, with the intense media coverage lasting only one day. Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - 4:00pm Another Day, Another Republican Affair First it was Senator John Ensign (R-NV) and now it's Governor Mark Sanford (R-SC). The snake-oil politician admitted today that he cheated on his wife with a woman from Argentina. Sanford also lied about his whereabouts for the last five days. He claimed he was hiking, but instead had flown down to South America to get some action. A sitting governor left the country to nail some chick, didn't tell anyone, and refused to transfer power to the lieutenant governor in his absence. Shouldn't he resign immediately? Monday, June 22, 2009 - 5:58pm Why Work? The White House expects the unemployment rate to surpass 10% in the next few months. It projects to stay above that level for quite some time as the incentive to work has disappeared. Look no further than this recent story on cnnmoney.com about getting laid off and loving every minute of it. The last profile is very telling. An unemployed man is in no hurry to find another job since he's receiving $2,000/month in unemployment benefits. His comment about his situation was "I don't want no stinkin' job!" Therein lies the problem. Now that jobless benefits have been extended well beyond a year, nobody is in a rush to find work. Why would they if the government gives them free money every two weeks. Saturday, June 20, 2009 - 11:35pm Is That All You Got? The violent crackdown came today in Iran, but the people will not be deterred. Komeini's goons were out in full force throughout Tehran and other major cities in the country, but they could barely withstand the desire of freedom from the people of Iran Tens of thousands of Iranians hit the streets today, despite the explicit threat of violence and death at the hands of the government of Ahamdinejad and Komeini.
The militia may have won the battle today, but they will not win the war. They are afraid to kill too many protestors as they know the world is watching them closely. The citizens simply needs to keep coming out; continue pressing day after day for a new election, for reform, and for a new government. Eventually, the demonstrators will outlast Khomeini and his military. The only question is whether the people have the resolve to keep it up. We will soon find out. Friday, June 19, 2009 - 10:30pm Tomorrow or Never! The devil incarnate, Ayatollah Khomeini, threatened the citizens of Iran with violence if they dare protest for another day. The "Supreme Leader" gave a speech this morning in Iran that promised bloodshed by his thug militia on peaceful demonstrators. He essentially gave the Basiji the green light to kill anyone they choose in order to keep his corrupt regime in power.
Saturday could mark a turning point for the future of Iran and the world. The Ayatollah and his henchman have their backs against the wall as the populace rises up against them. Come out tomorrow and Iran may be changed forever. Stay home and Khomeini and Ahmadinejad will rule for decades with an iron fist. I must say that the courage and bravery of these Iranian demonstrators is amazing. They are going to war tomorrow without any weapons against those that do. A bloody crackdown is coming and they know it; yet they will risk their lives anyway in defiance of tyranny. They should know that the world is watching and rooting for them. Thursday, June 18, 2009 - 10:30pm Michigan Continues to Lose Jobs The state unemployment numbers for May have been released and it does not look pretty in the State of Michigan. The jobless rate rose to 14.1% as manufacturing, construction, and transportation jobs took another painful hit. Surprisingly, the rate is not the worst the state has experienced. In November 1982, the unemployment rate peaked at 16.9%. Many other states are struggling as well. Oregon's jobless rate climbed to 12.4%, Rhode Island surpassed 12%, and Nevada hit 11.3% in the month of May. The weak economy is pushing these rates higher, but it doesn't helps when federal and state governments extend unemployment benefits indefinitely. Most states will hand out money for at least a year now. As a result, nobody is in a rush to get back to work. Wednesday, June 17, 2009 - 9:30pm Another $1 Trillion That's the amount President Obama and Congress want to spend on healthcare reform. Can someone tell these politicians that they don't have the money? The federal government is taking in about $2 trillion this year while spending $3.8 trillion. Do they seriously want to dig themselves further into debt? How about some Tort reform first, say in the area of medical malpractice? The savings could help fund universal healthcare. Oh, I forgot; President Obama doesn't want to tackle the tort problem because it would upset the unions. What a pity...what was that he said about change? Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - 10:15pm Scenes From the Revolution Massive protests continued today in Iran despite yesterday's killing of seven demonstrators by militia members. Both pro and anti-Ahmadinejad supporters hit the streets in a mostly peaceful protest. Unfortunately, foreign reporters are still being forced to remain in their hotels.
The scene above is from Naqsh-e Jahan Square, or Imam Square, located at the center of Isfahan, Iran. It is Iran's third largest city after Tehran and Masshad. It reveals that protestors are gathering throughout the nation, not just in the capital city of Tehran.
A protestor is wounded near a rally supporting challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi. His condition is unknown. Notice the camera and other cell-phone cameras taking pictures of the scene. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his thug Iranian government doesn't want this story to get out, but they're finding it harder to contain with all the technology that exists in the world. Sunday, June 14, 2009 - 11:00pm Violence Escalates in Iran False Iranian President Ahmadinejad refused to guarantee the safety of his challenger, Hossein Mousavi, who is reportedly under house arrest. Foreign journalists are having their cameras confiscated, domestic journalists are being held without cause, and police are attacking protestors with batons and tear gas.
The situation in Iran has deteriorated markedly from yesterday. However, for any significant change to occur, the protests must continue indefinitely. If Ahamdinejad's militia succeeds in cracking down on the resistance, his oppressive regime will stay in power for many years. The coming days and weeks are crucial to change the culture and the balance of power in Iran. Sunday, June 14, 2009 - 10:18am Mainstream Media Barely Covers Iran The national media in this country is an embarrassment. Massive protests are occurring in Iran, yet CNN, MSNBC and FoxNews are more concerned with David Letterman's feud with Sarah Palin and Bill O'Reilly's battle with Joan Walsh. Apparently, ratings don't increase enough if the mainstream media actually cover real news. Saturday, June 13, 2009 - 10:30am Fraud in Iran? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the landslide winner in Iran's presidential election, despite all evidence that pointed to a close battle or victory for challenger Hossein Mousavi. The final count gave Ahmadinejad 63% of the vote, while Mousavi received only 34%.
Supporters of Mousavi have already hit the streets of Tehran to protest the alleged fraudulent election. They are chanting such things as "the government lied to the people" and "Ahmadi, shame on you". Riot police are out in full force and are currently clashing with protestors. Unfortunately, a violent uprising by the citizens of Iran may be the only way to change course in that country. They need a prolonged and continued protest to stop the maniacal dictatorship run by Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Khamenei. Thursday, June 11, 2009 - 9:15pm Barney Can't Handle the Heat Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), Chairman of House Financial Services Committee, was interviewed this morning on CNBC with regard to executive compensation. Unfortunately, the dim-witted Frank abruptly ended the interview after not being able to handle a logical question from Mark Haines that uncovered major flaws in his proposition.
Mr. Frank wanted to place shareholders on the board of publicly traded companies (which sounds good), but the CNBC reporter accurately noted that most shareholders are large institutions and mutual fund companies. The inference was that Barney's planned action didn't make any sense as you would never get the actual, individual shareholder to sit on the board. When the inept Congressman from Massachusetts realized he was in over his head talking to investment professionals, he feigned outrage and stormed off. Had the interview lasted any longer, Barney Frank's idea would've been revealed as fluffy, political grandstanding that doesn't solve any problems on executive pay. Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 7:05pm Gingrich, Palin, and Romney This is the projected field of GOP contenders for the 2012 Presidential election. If the best Republicans can do are nominate religious zealots and frauds, I'll be voting for BHO yet again, even though I disagree with every single fiscal policy initiative he puts out. Sunday, June 7, 2009 - 10:55pm Chrysler Dealers Dump Inventory If you were wondering why Chrysler cut many of their dealers loose, it's easy to see why this weekend as the targeted dealers fire-sale their inventory. Franchise agreements expire on Tuesday, which means Chrysler corporate will no longer provide dealer incentives on cars that are sold by dealers. This is a painful, but necessary step that helps restructure Chrysler during bankruptcy. If only the government had allowed it to occur six months ago, they would've saved taxpayers billions. Saturday, June 6, 2009 - 7:20pm Remembering D-Day President Obama was in Normandy, France this afternoon to commemorate the anniversary of D-Day. For those of us who weren't alive 65 years ago to witness the historic event, this clip from Saving Private Ryan depicts the American invasion of Normandy at Omaha Beach. Though the scene is graphic, it demonstrates the incredible bravery and heroism of our soldiers.
Friday, June 5, 2009 - 8:05pm Sotomayor's "Poor Choice of Words" Apparently Judge Sonia Sotomayor's controversial remark about how a Latino woman can reach a better decision than a white man has been repeated several times by her. She made similar comments in 1999, 2002, and 2004. Sotomayor's comments are disappointing to say the least. Reverse discrimination is no better than regular discrimination. If a white, male judge asserted that he could reach a better decision than a Latino woman, he would never be considered for the highest court in the land. The standard is high, but it should be to receive a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court. Thursday, June 4, 2009 - 7:55pm Powerful Speech to Muslim World President Obama hit many points today in his speech at Cairo University in Egypt, but the most telling part was his words regarding Israel and Palestine. He re-iterated his opposition to Israeli settlements, empathized with the plight of Palestinian people, and pushed for a two-state solution. In one day, he went further than any American president before him in that regard.
There were other powerful moments in President Obama's speech. He spoke of the tension between the West and Muslims, the need for tolerance, and the American wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Although it was just one speech, it could be the beginning of a new relationship between these vastly different cultures. Perhaps that is too hopeful, but I do believe the possibility exists now. Wednesday, June 3, 2009 - 5:12pm 44 More New Hampshire Governor John Lynch will sign a bill today legalizing same-sex marriage in his state. It will be the fifth state in New England to permit gay marriage and the sixth in the country. Only forty-four states to go... Tuesday, June 2, 2009 - 8:50pm President Taps Another Republican Barack Obama has nominated Congressman John McHugh (R-NY) to be Secretary of the Army. This marks the third member of the Republican party set to join the president's administration. In addition, President Obama selected Governor Jon Huntsman (R-UT) to be the ambassador of China. This brilliant political move will force a special election later this year to replace McHugh's seat in upstate New York. Although the district is conservative, special elections are all about getting out the vote as turnout is generally low. When this calculated nomination goes through, it will give the Democrats a chance to pick up yet another seat in the House. Monday, June 1, 2009 - 5:55pm Market Loves GM Bankruptcy On the day General Motors finally declared bankruptcy, the stock market rallied sharply. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 229 points and GM stock actually climbed, despite the fact that the stock will soon be worthless.
This just shows that the markets and economy can function just fine without career politicians on the Hill pretending they know how to run companies. Of course, the Obama administration is still deeply involved in the auto industry and slowing down further progress. The bankruptcy, however, is the first step to removing government intervention. Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 8:35pm Republicans Praise Sotomayor It looks like the GOP has turned over a new leaf on Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), and Mitch McConnell (R-KY) all made painstaking efforts to tone down the rhetoric of their conservative colleagues. Republican politicians have realized that standing in opposition to the first Hispanic woman to be on the Supreme Court would be a disastrous political move. Hispanic voters are the fastest growing segment of the population in America. The GOP will need them if they ever plan on winning another election. Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 10:15pm GM Bankruptcy Looms The government is finally letting General Motors file for bankruptcy on Monday. This decision should've happened a long time ago, but Congress and the Obama administration have been meddling into the auto industry for months now. Bankruptcy filing is a strategic move that gives American companies the opportunity to terminate existing contracts in order to restructure. In GM's case, they would throw out all their contracts with dealerships and unions. The reason General Motors couldn't execute that strategy is because the Obama government wanted to protect their union cronies. That is why you've seen negotiations with the United Auto Workers (UAW) union ahead of the bankruptcy. None of this was necessary. If the government had stayed out of it, GM and Chrysler would emerge from bankruptcy much stronger in the coming years as they would be able to match the labor costs of their competitors. Thanks to President Obama, the car companies will continue to have with many of the same problems. Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 11:25pm Perfect Political Move President Obama has selected Sonia Sotomayor, a Hispanic woman, to be the next Supreme Court Justice. Although she appears to be a racist here and here, Republicans may do more harm than good if they protest her nomination. If the GOP attempts to block her appointment, they will further anger the Hispanic community, a voting block they desperately need in the future. If Republicans hold their fire, President Obama will have succeeded in appointing the first Hispanic to the highest court in the land, thus solidifying his standing among that very important demographic. This is purely a political move that helps Obama and his fellow Democrats tighten their grip on power. Control all the minority classes and they will continue to win elections. Monday, May 25, 2009 - 1:45am North Korea Conducts Another Nuclear Test The North Koreans conducted a second underground nuclear test today after launching a missile less than two months ago. The regime appears to be ignoring concerns expressed by other developed nations to halt their experiments with nuclear weapons. Sooner or later, North Korea is going to figure out how to develop a functional long-range nuclear weapon. Therefore, we need President Obama and other world leaders to address this issue before it gets much worse.
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Governor
Sanford is not doing himself any favors either. Rather than stay
out of the limelight for a while, the fool is giving speeches comparing
himself to
Any indication that the federal government will stop screwing around in
the private sector is music to the market's ears. The
GM bankruptcy also forced Dow Jones to replace the auto company in their
30-stock
index. Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) rose 6.5% after investors learned it
will take the place of GM in the Dow.
