BACK UP!
June 29, 2003
Oh what fun the internet is! We did an UPGRADE Thursday evening and it turned out to be a DOWN-grade- or at least it took our site down until noon Saturday.So, let’s hit the highlights briefly of what’s been going on recently.
1-It seems that Arthur Anderson and others who allow the Enron’s Dynergy’s, Worldcon’s, and Xerox’s are really not AUDITORS. It seems as though all they do is LISTEN! They are just LISTENERS! I mean how can they miss BILLIONS of dollars of misappropriated or mis-labelled monies? What’s an auditor supposed to do?
2-Ernest Sheldon Carter should have never been driving the bus that crashed outside of Dallas last week killing himself and four other teenagers. Have you seen his rap sheet? Theft, assault, escape, weapons possession, driving with a suspended license, three misdemeanor violence charges, and EIGHT other moving violations of which there were overdue fines on many. And he was hired to drive school and church kids?
3-Columbian rebels now say that they will kill any mayors who do not step down in the rural cities. Public service really takes on a new meaning.
4-Immigration is completely changing this nation and it’s not always for the good. It seems today that we have the tail wagging the dog. Step on my rights- no matter how crazy and out of step with 95% of the majority, and some liberal judge will grant you relief. So, no more “under God” in the pledge? Do we take it off our money? Do we totally repudiate any kind of God and forsake our heritage? Not over my dead body!!!
5-And just when I thought California attorney Gloria Allred had grabbed the last spotlight, alas she finds another. She’s now taking on the State of Florida wherein they are demanding that a Muslim woman take off her veil for a driver’s license picture. She says it goes against her religion. I say take yolur religion back to your home country then.
What next? Don’t ask! So much for the “news”? I don’t think we’ve missed a thing in the last two days our server was down.
WORLDcon & POLITICALLY DUMB!
June 26, 2003
Okay, so it’s out in the open. Bernie Ebbers and company have been pulling a fast, one on everyone- until now. Just when we thought Enron was the largest ever bankruptcy, here comes another candidate for that title. It’s one thing to cook the books a little but to fudge on $3.8 BILLION says there are some really serious systemic problems with our whole corporate, accounting, and Wall Street operations. And what’s the logic in giving the ousted Ebbers $1.5 million a year for the rest of his life when he owes the corporation $370 MILLION? Let’s get real!
The new image of WorldCON is almost as bad as that other common denominator that keeps showing up. It seems as though ever time we hear of a corporate scandal that Arthur Anderson is or was the accounting firm that audited the books- or is that manipulated and cooked the books? This is a story that will last for the balance of the summer so let me move on to more serious things.
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - -
We have gone from a nation of being politically correct to one of being politically DUMB! I appreciate the fact that the U.S. Senate signed a statement of disgust with the California court’s decision. I was even moved watching several House members walk out on the steps of Congress and recite the pledge of allegiance. But, what will be the follow up?
Are we now becoming a nation wherein all minority opinions are to become the law of the land? Our constitution was fashioned to prohibit the tyranny of the minority as much as the tyranny of the majority. Do we change our currency now and take “In God We Trust” off it?
Are we going to take 200+ years of tradition and throw them out the window? Are we going to forsake our heritage and history to please any and all minority groups and opinions? I submit to you that it has been our TRUST IN GOD that has allowed this nation to prosper and if we forsake that principle, the end of prosperity is closer than we know.
It’s time for Americans to stand up with a loud voice and put an END those who would seek to remove us from our heritage and greatness!
HARMFUL TO HEALTH!
June 25, 2003
Let me warn you that if you choose to continue reading today’s commentary that it could be harmful to your health- emotionally speaking.
There are many things that play in to my June 11th warning that was to play out by July 4th. Obviously one of those had to do with the financial markets. While it’s very hard to make any predictions in the short-run, the long term trend is very bearish.
Today was an historical day as the Transportation Index fell nearly 112 points- a staggering drop! Both the Industrial and Transport indexes are now BEARISH. Dow Theory tells us this is an OMINOUS SIGN. And you thought Mel Gibson’s new movie (Signs) was going to be scary! In other words, the market itself is confirming that things are not only BAD but they are going to get WORSE! You haven’t seen anything yet.
After 9-11, the markets shut down and regrouped. When they opened ten days later on September 21st, the Nasdaq dived to 1,423. Today the Nasdaq closed at 1,424. Got the picture? The Dow is now 905 points lower than it was when the first trading day ended for the year 2002. Everywhere you LOOK, you see RED. But, tune in to CNBC and everyhting you HEAR will be “buy this stock, buy this sector”. The bull market died three years ago but Wall Street is still selling BULL!
Come to think of it, reading this could be good for your health, if you’re OUT of the market or getting out, because as I said, you’ve not seen anything yet. And, I wish I didn’t have to say it. How I’d love to bring just GOOD NEWS, but in this current environment, it won’t be found on Wall Street. It does exist elsewhere though- mucho GOOD NEWS!
PS. I wrote the above Tuesday evening. This Weds. am, World.com has admitted to the world’s largest fraud- and you thought that was Enron. Markets are falling like a rock, gold is surging, interest rates are tanking, and the Dollar is going bye-bye. What a day this will be! What a day for Greenspan and the FOMC to report- on what a lousy job they’ve done over the last five years.
BUT WHAT ABOUT HATRED?
June 24, 2003
George W. gave a rousing and balanced speech on what should happen between Israel and Palestine. It struck a remarkable balance even though it was one of those “do as I SAY and not as I DO” speeches. Neither America nor Bush would tolerate the terrorism that is put on Israel day-afer-day.
Arafat immediately jumped on it as positive. Why not! It’s not going to fly anyway. So, support that which you know will not come to pass and you look like a hero. Essentially, Bush had six points. Elect a new Palestinian leader, adopt a new constitution, implement financial reforms, have outside security and police supervision, restore freedom of movement to the Palestinains by having Israel move back to the pre 1967 boundaries, and build closer relationships between all Arabic states and Israel.
He left out two important issues. What’s to become of Jerusalem and the right of Palestinian refugees to return home were not addressed.
But, the BIG ISSUE though is none of those. The real issue is the ingrained HATRED of ALL Arabs for Israel and ALL Jews. What was not addressed was the hatred that is being taught to elementary school children for all Jews. What was not addressed was the ultimate goal of all Arabs, and that’s to kill every Jew who lives in the area and then seek and destroy any they find anywhere in the world. THAT is the real issue. and it’s well documented in their literature, school books, constitution, and public pronouncements.
THREE THOUGHTS!
June 23, 2003
The reality of the COST of this war is staring us in the face. If Congress does not raise the debt limit this week, social security payments can’t be certified. The Bush administration is asking for the nation’s debt to be raised to just under SIX TRILLION! Remember when we were running a surplus? Can you remember just 10 months ago? It will be interesting to see what Greeenspan and the FOMC has to say tomorrow.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Bush has probably just put the results of the November election on the line. In a bold move, he has now said that he wants UBL dead by 9-11. Now, we all know that we’ve been after him, but there never was a date set. So, what happens if 9-11 comes and goes without confirmation of his death? How will that impact elections sixty days later? And, even worse, what happens if on 9-11 they carry out yet another anniversary attack? I think we all know what happens in that case. One other thought. What if UBL is already dead? 
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
My third comment has to do with all the hyper-rapture writers that have been “hyping” such an event since 1815. As for me, I prefer Tom Clancy and Stephen King over Hal Lindsey and Tim LaHaye when it comes to FICTION!
Apocalyterature offers nothing positive for living life as I see it, but in fact, does much damage to get people to “check-out” of life and abandon their responsibilities. With the 9-11 tragedy the “end-times” hype increased greatly. And, with the internet, the opportunities for exposure are greatly increased. If you’re so disposed, you can get more than you want to know at www.raptureready.com.
THE ELUSIVE ENEMY!
June 22, 2003
Saturday was one of those days where it seems America could not buy a break- let alone a vowel. Sometimes it seems that nothing you do works out well. The best plans of man and mice are thwarted.
First we have UBL on TV saying that on July 4th he will make a major TV broadcast. Anything to spoil our fun here at home. Why not do it on the day that we proclaim our Independence. How tacky, how ingenious. Of course there are all of those terrorist attacks that are supposed to happen here as well. Anywhere from fuel tankers to Las Vegas. From off shore scuba divers to nuclear plant sky-divers. They will be coming at us from every direction.
Secondly, we’ve procrastinated so long about going after Saddam that’s he had time to cook up a kooky idea that just might work. He says that he is considering turning over the nation to his thirty-six year old son. Right! As though that’s going to make a difference in their foreign policy. Anyway, it would have a psychological affect to an already not so widely supported idea. So, we just may move from the Son of Sam picture to a Son of Saddam.
So, what’s a nation to do? What will Bush do? Whatever he does it’s obvious Daschel will immediately follow with a “put-down”. Hey, it’s an election year and this off-year election is not one that can be neatly planned. Both houses of Congress are up for grabs and one minor move one way or the other could alter history for the next 2-6 years.
But, knows what state our nation will be in come November, let alone July 4th.
SOMETIMES RITE- IS WRONG!
June 21, 2003
You wonder what’s going on down on Wall Street? Just check the local police rap sheet. It seems as though every week someone is sued, someone is taken to jail, some corporation is being investigated by some agency. And you thought those last three Clinton years were the real deal?
Enron is just the poster-child for the corrupt economic environment we’ve built: otherwise known as an economic house of cards. And, we even tried to enter a woman in the jail sweepstakes this week but Martha doesn’t want to get involved.
Last week it was Imclone and today it was former RITE AID CEO, Martin Glass that was charged with “wide-ranging accounting fraud schemes”. Oh, he wasn’t in it alone. Also charged by the Middle District U.S. Attorney of Pennsylvania were former CFO, Frank Bergonzi, and former Vice Chairman Franklin Brown.
Once upon a time in the peak dot.bomb Clinton-Greenspan era, the stock sold for $51 and today you can buy it for less than $3. Those investors that Wall Street talked into buying the stock so that the hot dogs at the top could live a luxurous lifestyle (and so that they could earn BIG commissions), lost something over $25,000,000,000 (as in BILLION) since January of 1999.
Things just weren’t quite RITE! And, that’s your Wall Street scandal of the day.
PS. The SEC has now launched a formal investigation of Reliant Energy so maybe we can get another black-eye, or do we have that many eyes?
SO FAR- SO BAD! :-(
June 20, 2003
On June 11th in a Tuesday post, I said that I had some ominous feelings about the three weeks ahead- things were going to get UGLY. Well now that we’re about a third of the way into that time-frame…..so FAR- so BAD!
The Dow and Nasdawg have hit new lows for the year with the Nasdawg now into the 1,400 range with 1,000 in it’s sights. The Dollar has tanked to two-year old lows and is now seemingly headed to a par position with the Euro.
The trade deficit is now the worst in the history of record-keeping of that index. Our trade deficit grew from $32.9 to $35.9 billion in April. In other words, America needs to borrow a billion and a half a day from our friends across the oceans to pay for our greed. And, our friends are becoming fewer and fewer.
Every day now there’s a bombing someplace in Israel and Bushie can’t find a day of peace to expound upon his peace proposal for the Mideast. He’s now postponed the talk twice. Sometimes not even the president can catch a break.
Meanwhile back at home, all of our government agencies are bracing themselves for the 4th of July festivities that they feel will be loaded with al Qaeda operatives trying to spoil the party and get some sound bytes on the networks.
Did I mention that trade wars are heating up and that currency devaluations are the unfortunate new “in” thing? The only place that the Dollar is winning seems to be in Latin America where Venezuela’s Bolivar is fading fast at 1,270+. Argentina is out of business with banks closed. Uruguay is now floating it’s Peso. Brazil’s Real has fallen 17% in a little over a month.
Anyway, I think you can get the picture. Since my June 11th commentary, we’re right on track- unfortunately.
TIME TO GO!
June 19, 2003
She’s getting ready to go on-stage. I’m talking about the fat lady! And, she’s singing the Arafat goodbye song.
Seriously, Arafat has been the leader for 35 years, and as I said from an earlier story, he’s the only constant in a land of change. Presidents have come and gone (in America 
and dictators have come and gone (Egypt is a good example). Arafat was made the leader thirty-five years when the world was vastly different. The world changed a decade or so ago in a major way (analog to digital) but he did not.
It’s time for new leadership and sometimes “necessity is the mother of invention”. It’s past time to wait for a leader to arise. The current one needs to go and out of that void (necessity) will come the new leader.
Arafat either cannot control the militants or he is encouraging them, and I personally think it is a little of both. He is a relic trapped in a modern world.
I am hopeful that Bush will not shoot himself in the foot Thursday or Friday and make a proposal that accomodates Arafat’s conduct. Yes, he is an elected leader of the people, but when elected leaders act in a reckless fashion and perform and carry out hideous acts of terorism that are well documented, they need to go!
There is no way that Bush would be president or prime minister of Israel and put up with the constant suicide bombings and spout the rhetoric that he has. It all looks so easy on this side of the ocean. If Ted Turner can recant, so can others!
To delay the inevitable is a violation of basic human rights, a promotion of even worse future atrocities, and a violation of Eccl. 8:11- look it up! Did I mention the fat lady is walking on stage?
ISLAM’S HIJACKING!
June 18, 2003
Every religion has their radical group. Every philosophy has it’s hard-liners who take no prisoners. Every belief system gets perverted eventually to some degree; however, what is happening to the Islamic religion is nothing short of a religious hijacking.
Unless the moderates and true worshippers of Mohammed stand up and begin to fight for the true principles of the Koran, Islam is going to allow it’s entire base to be shunned and repulsed by the rest of the world. The 1.2 billion adherents that embrace Islam need to come forth boldly- if they can. Is UBL the symbol of Islam? Is Hamas?
Let me use a case in point. Naima al-Obeid is a hero in Gaza because she sent her son to his death as a suicide bomber. She is fast becoming the poster-child for mothers to be imitated. Her exact words last week after her son, Mahmoud, blew himself up killing two Israelis was nothing short of insane. She said, ” May God give my son martydom, as this is the best day of my life- seeing my son killed!”
And get this statement, “Our land is occupied by Israelis and we’re sacrificing our sons to get our freedom.” Say what? Why don’t the older mothers sacrifice THEIR lives for THEIR sons? I thought sacrifice was something that applies to me- not you.
Finally, she says, “We believe our sons go to heaven when they are martyred. When Israeli sons die they go to hell.” Show me that in the Koran!
Is this going to be the Muslim credo, the Muslim lifestyle? Is this what the Koran really teaches? Obviously the answer is NO. I own two copies of the Koran and it teaches no such nonsense. The real question though is are “real” Muslims around the world going to allow their belief and religion to be HIJKAKCED by such radical and insane thinking? It’s a serious question that needs answering immediately.
GIRLS WITH GLOVES?
June 17, 2003
Having slammed the president for his policy on Palestine and Israel in the last commentary, let me congratulate him a bit on another matter- exercise. Having run with his daddy in Memorial Park when I was a member of the Houstonian Club many eons ago, I know the fitness mania of the Bush clan.
It’s truly admirable to see the president of the U.S. to be so disciplined in the area of physical fitness. After all, our bodies are the temple of many things. What’s even more interesting is to see the number of people in the White House, and government generally, that are now taking up the cause and getting into shape. Why not? After all, some 300,000 people die annually of obesity-related diseases.
Karen Hughes, who is headed back to Texas to be with her family, has spread the gospel of being physically fit also. Many of the White House female corps that moved to D.C. from Texas call themselves the “Dixie Chicks” or the “Girls With Gloves” as they hit the gym to pump some iron!
The White House Athletic Center that used to get little attention is now a favorite hang-out for the non-drinking and non-smoking crowd. By the way, a few who do both drink and smoke work out as well. Trainers have these government workers on fruit and five meals a day. This week Bush highlights the need for Americans to exercise more and what better pitch-man than number #43?
If you think they’re not serious, this quote by Margaret Spellings (Bush’s top domestic policy adviser), “I can do about 95 pounds on the lat pulldown and my latissimi dorsi are looking much better.”
Would someone hand me a dictionary please.
PALESTINE (Part 2)
June 16, 2003
You can click on the “Daily Commentary” tabs at the top left or right hand corner to read PART #1 or previous commentaries. This commentary makes more sense if you read the previous post first.
The Palestine movement could not exist if it were not for Saudi Arabia. I am looking for the day when some politician has the guts to call the Saudis what they are- funders of terrorism. They sponsor 80% of the Mosque’s here in America that are now the breeding ground for terrorists.
Yasser Arafat is the puppet of Saudi Arabia. America has been through EIGHT presidents since Yasser Arafat was made the “battering ram” for the destruction of Israel. While I support 90% of what Bush has done, he speaks out of both sides of his mouth when it comes to calling Saudi Arabia the terrorists they are. He sounds more like Clinton defining what is IS when he explains how Arafat doesn’t fit his “terrorist declaration.”
I can excuse past presidents from doing the same for they did not make the Bush “statement” which was that anyone who FUNDS terrorists IS a terrorist. Does anyone remember that 17 of the WTC bombers were Saudis? Has everyone forgotten that 90% of the world’s terrorism is funded by our Dollars that go to Saudi Arabia to pay for oil?
Arabic news agencies have reported with pride that Saudi Arabia is Yasser Arafat’s get-out-of-jail-free card. They have backed Arafat and let him do their killing and not just of Jews. Most Americans have forgotten that Arafat was the inventor of sky-jackings. They have forgotten that he had two American diplomats killed in 1973. And, we keep forgetting his words even as recent as April of this year when he said, “I call for millions of martyrs to march to Jerusalem and destroy the nation.”
There has been one constant in the Middle East since Lyndon Johnson was president back back in the late 60′s. Saudi Arabia’s support of their puppet, Yasser Arafat, has been constant year in and year out for 35+ years. When will America and especially George Bush step up to the plate (Bush likes baseball) and take a swing at the real enemy?
Sure, we need to count the cost. No more luxury cars and $10 a gallon gasoline. But then, what price is too high to pay for truth? Or as Barry Goldwater once said, “Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice and moderation in the pursuit of freedom no virtue.” Of course it was that statement that labelled him an extremist and lost him the election.
Maybe therein is why no president or presidential candidate has the guts to call a spade a spade! And, so the war in the Mideast continues until one day Israel is defeated and then maybe, just maybe America will wake up. Hopefully we’ll do it a lot sooner than that.
WHY-WHAT PALESTINE?
June 15, 2003
Most news outlets that cover Palestine today don’t know WHAT they are covering. Most of those who are fighting over Jerusalem have not a clue as to WHAT they are fighting about- except hatred for Jews! Let’s begin with a quick history lesson (after all I was a history major in college).
Palestine has never, ever, in the history of mankind existed as an autonomous state! Got that? When Rome destroyed the Jews with genocide action in 70 AD, Rome set up a region they ruled over that they called Palestine. Ever since then, those who lived in this region were ruled off and on by various Islamic and Christian crusading groups, the Ottoman Empire, and ultimately the British as a result of WWI.
On May 14, 1948, after Britain turned over the area to the newly formed United Nations, two areas were set up: an Arab-ruled nation and Jewish nation. The Arabs immediately declared war and took two areas: Gaza and the West Bank.
In 1964, Arab nations decided to back an Egyptian, Yasser Arafat, and they formed an entity know as the PLO whose purpose it was (and still is) to completely eradicate and destroy Israel and all Jews.
Three years later in what’s called the “Six Day” war, Israel defeated it’s Arabic neighbors and took back Gaza and the West Bank.
Bottom line is that there is no such thing as a true Palestinian! And nowhere does the Koran speak of Jerusalem as a Holy city for Muslims. Mohammed never set foot in Jerusalem. All of this is just made-up propoganda in a Islamic war against anyone who is not Muslim. It might as well be Hindus or Buddhists who occupy Jerusalem.
If a separate Palestinian state is established, that will NOT end the war. Let’s get real. The war is all about Islam removing and killing anyone who does not follow the Koran or Mohammed! And that includes Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Zorastorians, and anyone following Confuscious!
MY, MY , MARTHA!
June 14, 2003
So, what have you gotten yourself into this time Ms. Stewart? I know. A person is innocent until proven guilty but in this age of CEO abuses, smoke is equated with fire!
You see, Martha sold a little less than a quarter million in ImClone stock. It once sold for $75 a share and you can buy it today for $8 and change. So? Well, she did it just a few hours before it was announced that the company was being denied a major benefit- one that would certainly tank the stock. And, it did!
One of her closet friends (Harlan Waksal) was the CEO and founder of the company but of course he didn’t say a word to her. He just did some “insider” trading himself for which he was arrested earlier this week. Then he took the 5th before a Congressional committee this week as well. What a busy week!
Now she’s no novice about how all this stuff takes place having been a stock broker back in the days before Martha Stewart mania took over. She may be innocent but the whole picture does not pass the “smell” test and in this environment it doesn’t pass the integrity test. So, her stock dropped nearly 20% for this past week.
But, don’t cry for Martha, Argentina, or U.S. of A. She’s got multi-millions of dollars and she’s such a sweet lady.
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