Jan

31

Very seldom do I watch this channel. When I do, what they are reporting and commenting on does not line up with what is really happening. For instance, they are reporting that the stimulus bill is full of pork.

I just read the summary of this bill released by our government. Stimulus Bill

I am not seeing pork. It certainly is possible at the detail and execution level that there could be pork. But, thus far Obama has been true to his word of transparancy. Until he demonstrates otherwise he deserves our trust. His actions thus far certainly merit it.

177-0 vote from Republican, and the coverage by the conservative media (aka FOX news) proves they are more interested in advancing the Republican agenda than it is in solving problems. There are few left at FOX news that have any credibility left. Brit Hume, Chris Wallace, Glenn Beck (Don’t always agree with his positions but he clearly has an agenda aimed at solving problems and righting wrongs).

As an aside. Mitch McConnell (R) has a good idea regarding refinancing mortgages at lower interest rates that could greatly assist the economic recovery.

Jan

30

From Al Qaeda

“With Obama, al-Qaeda faces an entirely new challenge, experts say: a U.S. president who campaigned to end the Iraq war and to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and who polls show is well liked throughout the Muslim world.

…the change in Washington appears to have rattled al-Qaeda’s leaders, some of whom are scrambling to convince the faithful that Obama and Bush are essentially the same.”

Jan

29

Bush and Hanky Boy Paulson run to congress screaming doom and economic collapse. They seemed okay voting for bailout money way back when, a few months ago. Most of you joker votes for 800 billion without any thought to accountability.

Now, they vote 177-0 against. These people have got to be the most clueless bunch of Stepford wives around. Well, we don’t have the Whigs any longer and it shant be much longer before we have Republicans.

For the few of you left in that party that still have a clue, go start a new party. The rest of you numbskulls, maybe that big fat idiot Limbaugh can put you to work.

 

Jan

28

There is much blame to go around. To really get at the heart of the matter I feel we need to look at certain situations in isolation. None of us are perfect by any stretch. Yet when you lay your head down on the pillow every evening do you sleep with the idea that you are doing
something that helps others?

 

Our government with the best of intentions asked business to make it so housing for more affordable to more Americans. I want to look at how business in general responded. I want to do so by asking a serious of questions that I think we all know the answer to.
 

Did builders start building smaller homes that people could afford?
 

Did lenders come up with mortgage plans that made sense for people the lesser means of income?
 

Did lenders properly screen higher risk candidates?
 

Why did lenders solicit buyers essentially lending them money against the equity in their home?
 

Why did lenders put buyers into homes with mortgages that they knew would adjust to levels that the buyer could not possibly afford based on the income these lenders supposedly reviewed?
 

How is bundling up all this paper and selling it in the stock market as the means to limit the risk (without really telling people how risky the securities they were buying were apart from having to read the fine print on page 7 of the flimsey document printed using 6 point
font) a good idea?
 

When all the evidence is in how could anyone conclude anything other than business was entrusted with coming up with a means to help more people get into houses. What did they come up with? Plans that lined their pockets selling reckless paper that has bankrupted and
put people on the streets, collapsed the housing market, bankrupted our financial institutions requiring billions to try to rescue, caused what will soon be double digit unemployment?
 

Don’t beleive for a minute these organizations were doing anything other than figuring out how they could maximize the bucks they were making. Stupid? No. Greedy and Selfish? Absolutely.
I find it incredible that there is a not a single Republican that even gets that the problem is business screwed us all over. How could anyone in business believe that we could possible trust you folks. What, did you foks all of sudden learn some ethics? Trust me when I tell you if we have seen the beginning of the end of capitalism it will have been because of your greedy, reckless, and stupid decisions and actions. I have that mirror ready anytime you care to look into it. Mark my words, the businesses that will survive this are the ones with standards,  

compassion, and ethics.
 

I saw Dr. Muhammad Yunus, father of micro enonomics. (check them out, give them money
micro economics). A truly inspiring story that we need to look at. Loans to the poorest of the poor. A 99%+ repayment rate. Dr. Yunus is a man that truly embodies the spririt of true capitalism. What we have become is
socialism for the rich. Take a vacation from the sadness in our culture and read what this great man of humble spirit is accomplishing.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jan

26

The American people do not trust our Government. Of all that is wrong in America today, eight years of the Bush administration and the outcome is that the American people do not trust our government. This is the saddest of all his failures. What is more shameful then losing someones trust and confidence in you?

President Obama, Democrats in the House and Senate the leash is very short. Do not screw up. Be transparent. Be for the people, like y’all said you would be.

Business, we trust you even less than we trust government. Every day there are so many stories that just make me think how many more of these before we end up with the modern day version of the French Revolution? Today, listening to that moron Thain, ex CEO at Merrill Lynch try to defend the 1.22 million he spent remodeling his office. HIS OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!! If this was isolated it would be laughable. Shall I mention where the 60 billion we gave to AIG. Where is it? And, what about Madoff. Credit default swaps? Citigroups spending 20 million of the 45 billion we had to give them on a new corporate jet.

We could spend a whole website covering all the corruption and graft that went on.  Why is it that we can’t nail these people under Sarbanes-Oxley? I betcha, conduct government audits of every company that is reponsible for our current economic woes and we will need to create new jobs required by our legislative branch. Think of the construction jobs that could be created for building all the prisons we would need to house these crooks.

Trust. Everything business and government does better be transparent and something we can trust. The American majority has no more patience for any more of this nonsense. This is why we gave an overwhelming nod to Obama, and got rid of even more Republicans.

Get busy and start earning our trust back. It will take you years to do so. But a long journey needs to start with the first steps.

Jan

25

We are watching. We want action that helps us today, but does not screw us tomorrow. I for one only like aspects of the stimulus that creates jobs. Further, cuts to taxes is not a good idea for the long haul. As this bill weaves its way through the congress and senate we will see how it comes out on the other end…or more appropriately, which end it comes out.

I am not sure we even need stimulus as much as business needs a kick in the butt. I will be a broken record again. The banking, credit, financial, housing, and insurance industries have run their businesses like casinos. Companies have become too large and too interdependent with one another to the point where if one is determined to be a “house of cards”, can topple the economy at large.

Clearly the likes of Sarbanes-Oxley is not enough. All the crooks (or idiots, take your pick) do is figure out a way around the laws and accounting standards. Giving money to the crooks/idiots that put us into this mess is flat out stupid. The billions we have already pissed away is the proof in the pudding.

We need some serious reform with respect to our financial sector. We need our financial sector to make loans to people that have the means to pay them back. We need our insurance sector to write insurance that is actually insurance! Insurance based on sound actuarial principles and guidelines and actually takes a portion of the revenue they collect on selling this insurance and puts it away.

Our government needs common sense regulation and ENFORCEMENT in the derivatives market. It should not be used as a leverage to drive companies off the cliff. Derivatives should be used as a hedge against risk. Period, end of story. Credit default swaps need to be unraveled and banned.

In our capitalistic, democracy the role of government must be to hold business and industry accountable. It is to take a leadership role in steering business and industry in the general direction the Republic wants to head (like energy independence, education, dealing witgh global climate change, etc…). This has not happened in some time and needs to start happening.

Jan

25

President Obama announces that lobbyists will not be allowed in his administration. Then he nominates former defense contractor lobbyist William Lynn III for his choice for defense deputy secretary.  

What gives Barrack?

Jan

22

I was listening to Imus (among others) ranting about President Obama letting Rick Warren play a role in his inauguration. Real leadership involves listening to every point of view, weighing every perspective, hearing every voice, including the ones you may not agree with then making what you think is the best decision you can.

I find it amusing how many people are for free speech as long as it reflects their perspective. Our new Presidents inclusive approach is very refreshing.

Jan

20

A New Dawn

January 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment

I had to work and missed everything live. But, the view of all the people gathered was almost overwhelming. If the sea of people, all races, color, creeds, was not enough by itself to send a message to Washington then I do not know what is.

I cannot begin to imagine what this day means to African Americans.

For all Americans this is a time for hope. We place considerable faith in this mans leadership. We must all engage and do our part. One person has no chance of guiding a nation so large and diverse. I hope our new President has what it takes to lead us forward.

 

Jan

19

Tomorrow is a historic day. Our hopes rest in the leadership of President Obama. I hope he is true to his word and does not become another Washington politician. I hope he does not cave in to make decisions that only consider our present circumstances. I hope he can lead us out of this mess into a brighter future. Most of America is ready for change.

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