Twenty of 'em; I'm dropping the "TRANNIES" gizmo ... corny!Here is a link 50% of you won't go to, 99% of those who do won't take the time to slog through it, even though it's one of the most timely and relevant articles of the day! [Vanity Fair; h/t E!]I wish it were this easy! Believe me it's not! [Yahoo! News]Microcosm of Obama "rule" seen in former New Zealand Labor Party "rule" [American Spectator]Take the Federal Reserve test! [Hermes-Press]African photography like you've never seen before! [Young Gallery]More black and white photography - the article says it was his wife, but the picture sure looks like a boy to me! Regardless, what he did was apparently wrong! [The Right Perspective]Disturbing Baltimore police behavior [YouTube] He's actually a meter maid!View from 1776 quote re automakers bailout:"Why waste time funneling money to socialist labor unions via GM and Ford, thence to the Democratic National Committee as campaign contributions. Why not just transfer the auto bailout money directly from the Treasury into the DNC coffers?" [Thomas Brewton]When in a hurry, be sure to leave the window down. [Maniac World; h/t Spam Richter]The One's new Caddy-One will have a new state-of-the-art search-lite feature that projects the O'Bama Logo into the night sky to call Chopper-One to take his Oneness to Air Force-One! [FOXNews]Al Sharpton's campaign motto has been redacted to "Yes We Did!" Does this mean there is hope for a post-election investigation of Obama's financial improprieties? Nnnaaauuuggghhhttt!!! ) See also Ironic Surrealism's Velvet Hammer) [Yahoo! News]What Mellanie Phillips says! [Spectator; h/t Black Kettle]But can they make tequila out of diamonds. [Blogrunner]I'd wager he was praying for number 33. [FOXNews]
Showing posts with label Economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Economy. Show all posts
Saturday, November 15, 2008
SATURDAY'S EPHEMERA: Linking the transitory (ephemera) every other day!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
MSM: Turned off or turning off?
As Campaign’s Intensity Peaks, Interest in Big 3’s Evening News Continues to Wane | BizzyBlog
Evening News Ratings Decline | Media Bistro
There is a general feeling (here in the heartland) that the MSM cannot be trusted to just "do" the news; especially the Big 3 evening news machines.
The continuous decline in viewers forces us to ask: is the decline due to "turned off" viewers or to viewers turning them off?In the past two weeks, Big 3 evening newscast viewership has actually declined by 360,000, or 1.6%. What's more, in percentage terms, viewership among "The Demo" of ages 25-54 has declined even further (220,000, down 3.1%).My guess is the former; the human mind can only take so much dysfunction before it seeks to protect itself. Perhaps only history will know for sure.
In our home we expect at least the appearance of "fair and balanced."
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
FINANCIAL CRISIS: The link that keeps on linking!
Three weeks ago I posted on Fox News' report that the Dems did it (caused the mortgage banking/US economy meltdown); now a Clinton administration fellow, Arthur Levitt, confirms they did.Thaz 'nuf for this conservative!As the world financial system implodes, Democrats have blamed the Bush administration's lack of regulation for creating the conditions for collapse. But a top Clinton regulator acknowledges that he and his colleagues a decade ago "beat back" regulatory efforts that could have prevented credit markets from becoming so precariously balanced they were “milliseconds” from disaster.
“That was a point in history when perhaps we should have anticipated something like where we are today, at least the possibility,” says Arthur Levitt, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission from 1993 to 2001.
WEALTH REDISTRIBUTION: American voters will not understand this!
Obama's 95% Illusion: It depends on what the meaning of 'tax cut' is | WSJ Online
HT - Cutting taxes for 95% of Americans | Betsy's Page
HT - Election links - Maggie's Farm
More wealth redistribution coming with a BO win ... 56% of all tax filers would support most of the other 44%! See here too!
All taxes are wealth redistribution by their very nature; money we send to any government entity is a tax, no matter what they call it!This is classic socialism (aka Communism of the 30s to 60s before the poison was relabeled); it will, like all entitlement programs, be a disincentive to honest work.Here's the political catch. All but the clean car credit would be "refundable," which is Washington-speak for the fact that you can receive these checks even if you have no income-tax liability. In other words, they are an income transfer -- a federal check -- from taxpayers to nontaxpayers.
Once upon a time we called this "welfare," or in George McGovern's 1972 campaign a "Demogrant." Mr. Obama's genius is to call it a tax cut. [...]
Because Mr. Obama's tax credits are phased out as incomes rise, they impose a huge "marginal" tax rate increase on low-income workers. [...]
The tax credits are sold in the name of "making work pay," but in practice they can be a disincentive to working harder, especially if you're a lower-income couple getting raises of $1,000 or $2,000 a year. [WSJ]
Monday, October 13, 2008
OBAMA: Anyone told Democrats "wealth" doesn't belong to the government?
There you go again Barry! Just like taxing those who make more than $250k reveals where you think the American dream should end, here you lay claim to "wealth" ... which I assume you define as other people's money!
What the heck, who says he can't steal from those who work to give to those who don't? He's the president isn't he?
Saturday, October 11, 2008
WEALTH: A prelude to the Last Days!
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Matthew 6:19-21Scripture warns of days like these ... man, vested in this world and not the next, is surprised by the loss of all his wealth, having come to trust in it.
Who is there to blame ... point the finger of blame anywhere but in a mirror! Whose watch is it? Blame him! Or, though they know not God, they blame God!
I have come to believe this financial crisis is being allowed by God, much as He allowed the Tower of Babel to be built. When He tired of man's efforts to reach Him He threw them into global confusion, much like the global confusion we witness today.
And the fact that neither of the two candidates for POTUS are truly acceptable candidates, that neither is qualified to lead in these days of trial and tribulation; neither is like David, a man after God's own heart.
It is so like God to humble the wisdom of man by His ignorance, man's power by His weakness, and man's message by the message!
Wars are being fought that cannot be won (and here); nonsensical ideologies are waxing strong (Soviet resurgence; Amadinajab's nuclear & Israeli foreign policy), while the wisdom of the ages gathers dust on the book shelf; and public ignorance grows like mold under a leaky sink.Yet still the panic continues, still the stock markets suffer record-breaking falls, still the finance ministers and central bank governors scratch their heads to cobble together yet another initiative to avert financial cataclysm.Or so says His Grace, the Archbishop Cranmer. Here, here! Or is it, "Hear, hear"?
And millions of helpless people are left to wander aimlessly in a valley of darkness and insecurity, because they followed their leaders without discernment; they trusted their teachings and respected their learning; they affirmed their experience and submitted to their authority.
Yet all the time those leaders were leading the people astray, for they were placating them with falsehood and lies, leading them to the false god of riches and avarice. They fixed their eyes on the Gold Calf, in worship, love and adoration. And the people mistook this idol for the God of their forefathers, for it brought happiness, material wealth, security, and the people had never had it so good.
But all good things must come to an end, especially those good things which were not actually good, but merely seemed so.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
ENVIRONMENT: Ike mess messes with "drill here, drill now" call!
We can't deny the facts, if indeed the facts are true; both the AP and Yahoo! have been known to shade the facts in favor of a point.Hurricane Ike's winds and massive waves destroyed oil platforms, tossed storage tanks and punctured pipelines. The environmental damage only now is becoming apparent: At least a half million gallons of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and the marshes, bayous and bays of Louisiana and Texas, according to an analysis of federal data by The Associated Press.Clearly we must improve the storm security of our off shore drilling industry if we ever hope to sway the public about drilling for oil while alternate technologies are introduced.
UPDATE: US Government stands to lose $2.576 trillion in royalties due to environmentalists roadblock. In these economic times I wonder why the American people haven't been told this?
BAILOUT: First California, now Massachusetts! Two of the bluest states in Union!
Mass. Asks About Federal Loan Amid Market Worries | FOXNews
California Would Like Some Bailout Billions, Too | Wonkette
For bailout to work, housing market needs to mend - right? | Yahoo!
Did anyone know that this socialist, anti-capitalism program, called a "bailout, (which is really a buyout, which is really a screw up) was to be used to bolster Democratic states in the midst of an election cycle?
Neither did I! Welcome to Paulson's bridge to nowhere!
I was told it was for the credit market! I was told it was for Main Street! Now it's to be used to pay for entitlement programs in "blue" states with socialist legislatures, who redistribute wealth through government largess!
Oh the milking of the public cow ... it feels soooooooooooooooooooooooo good!
Who will be next! Pick the bluest states with the biggest and most liberal socialist programs and there you will find the federal spicket and your hard earned dollars flowing to their empty coffers!Why? Because the system wants to forcibly violate you; this system run by the very liberals who got us into this mess in the first place.
Why? Because they can't violate their own citizens any more, so they've come for you!
Now that captialism has been mugged you can expect more! Buck up me hearty, you are an American taxpayer, it is your "patriotic" duty to pay through the ying yang!
Friday, September 26, 2008
FINANCIAL CRISIS: Let the evidence speak for itself!
News busted by NewsBusters causes sever headache at the paper of record - The New York Times; Congressional Democrats are having sympathy related stress.Fannie Mae Eases Credit To Aid Mortgage Lending - NYT
HT - '99 NYT Article Reveals True Cause of Current Crises | NewsBusters
Surely they knew it would all come out (after Fox traced the affair for us; includes video)? Maybe that's why the Democrats were in such a rush to go on campaign recess?
From the eight year-old Business section article ... [CRIB emphasis]In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders.Then there is this ...The action ... will encourage ... banks to extend home mortgages to individuals whose credit is generally not good enough to qualify for conventional loans.Perhaps that is why they are called conventional loans; perhaps instead of calling them subprime, they should have been called subconventional?Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people ....That's a good idea looking for a crisis!In addition, banks, thrift institutions and mortgage companies have been pressing Fannie Mae to help them make more loans to so-called subprime borrowers. These borrowers whose incomes, credit ratings and savings are not good enough to qualify for conventional loans ....As a friend said, "Pressure is what pressure is!"''Fannie Mae has expanded home ownership for millions of families in the 1990's by reducing down payment requirements,'' said Franklin D. Raines, Fannie Mae's chairman and chief executive officer. ''Yet there remain too many borrowers whose credit is just a notch below what our underwriting has required who have been relegated to paying significantly higher mortgage rates in the so-called subprime market.''More pressure from the guy who walked away with $90 million!
And the author of the article warned ...In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's.And a expert in the field gave this prophetic and dire warning!''From the perspective of many people, including me, this is another thrift industry growing up around us,'' said Peter Wallison a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. ''If they fail, the government will have to step up and bail them out the way it stepped up and bailed out the thrift industry.''Wow! But you know what? Slick Willie and the Democratic choir will skate on this too! Why? Because, I predict, mainstream media won't go after it!
They would rather see the country fail than see their leftist friends have to admit fault! Which is the greater sin: greed or standing by and watching your neighbor or brother suffer when you have the ability to help him?
FINANCIAL CRISIS: German minister gets ahead of the game!
Sometimes we (Americans) deserve criticism; this is one of those times."The world will never be as it was before the crisis," [German Finance Minister Peer] Steinbrueck told the Bundestag lower house of parliament.But sometimes critics get ahead of the game; like leaving the stadium before the game is over.
"The United States will lose its superpower status in the world financial system. The world financial system will become more multi-polar," he said."Give me a U, give me a S, give me an A; give me a USA!"
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
QUIZ: McCain - Bush administration say "fundamentals of the economy are fine"!
I might ask then, why the bailouts? Opie over at Maggie's place shows me why the economy is just fine and really why they shouldn't bail the Wall Street crazies out!
Answer the following quiz, then get the answers from Opie at Maggie's!1. Which of the following countries had the highest economic growth since 2000?Go figure!
1. France2. Which of the following countries has the highest GDP per capita?
2. Japan
3. Germany
4. U.S.A.
1. U.K.3. Which of the following countries had the highest household consumption in 2005?
2. Germany
3. Japan
4. U.S.A.
1. U.K.4. Which country spends the most per capita on health services?
2. Canada
3. France
4. U.S.A.
1. U.K.5. What percentage of the U.S.A.’s population is covered by health insurance?
2. Germany
3. Canada
4. U.S.A.
1. 55%6. In which of the following countries does the richest 20% of households have the highest share of national income?
2. 65%
3. 75%
4. 85%
1. U.S.A.7. Which of the following countries had the highest investment per capita in fixed assets in 2005?
2. U.K.
3. Israel
4. 65 other countries
1. Germany8. Which period had the lowest unemployment rate?
2. U.K.
3. China
4. U.S.A.
1. Euro Zone (2000 – 2008)9. Which period had the lowest debt interest payments as percentage of GDP?
2. Reagan Presidency
3. Clinton Presidency
4. Bush Presidency
1. Euro Zone (2001 – 2008)
2. Reagan Presidency
3. Clinton Presidency
4. Bush Presidency
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
