LABOR DAY HOLIDAY?
August 31, 2003
Sounds like an oxymoron doesn’t it. But alas, it’s simple. It’s time to take that last extended weekend holiday- from our labors.
The Labor Day weekend is the sirens call for us to get back to the basics. The kids are back in school and the weather in Houston will begin to slowly smile upon us again. It also begins that long stretch of time between holidays. Thanksgiving is a long ways off.
The stock market junkies should be back in time to assess what 9-11 meant and means. What shall our economic fate be? Congress comes back for more bickering. Bush heads back to the White House that he coveted so much. Football returns to Houston and baseball will really get to have another World Series.
Hopefully in the midst of it all, we’ll take a few moments out of the weekend to look at where we are in relationship to where we wanted to be when this year began. The world has it’s own way of sorting things out and determining just how our destinies will work themselves out.
Holiday? I hope so. I plan on it. However, it’s back to our labors come Tuesday as we march ever forward to conquer and complete those goals that looked so sensible and logical back in January.
A DEAL YOU CAN’T REFUSE?
August 29, 2003
Hey, need some new wheels? How about a 100% loan on a new car: even including tax, title, and tags. Nothing down? Maybe a little short on the monthly? Then no problem, make no payments for one year! How can you refuse? It’s a new car! And, you get a 5 year warranty to boot.
How about a house! Don’t worry about the financing. We can get you a 100% loan, no credit check, and inerest only payments for five years, and then we’ll convert it to a low rate ARM (adjustable rate mortgage). You say you can’t pay the closing costs? Not a problem dude! We’ll add it to the purchase price, mark up the appraisal to include the closing costs, and you get in for nothing down at all. How can you refuse?
Oh, so you need new furniture too? Most stores offer nothing down, no interest and no payments for 1-2 years. Oh better yet, let’s do a package deal. Let’s make you a 125% loan on your house (by way of a second mortgage). If you don’t really need furniture, finance the home for 125% anyway and take the extra and invest in the stock market. Put the extra in a mutual fund (so what if they are down 26% for the year). It’s the excitement!
Come on guys and gals this is America. We need to fight terrorism. We can’t let UBL stop us from shopping, cool down our economy, or step on capitalism! Have we got DEALS for you, or what? If you think I’m kidding or stretching the point, you’ve not been in the market recently.
PS. I can even get you a couple of credit cards with no payments for a year. The only thing I can’t do for you is get you OUT OF DEBT! You’ll have to declare bankruptcy to do that. But, this IS America so call an attorney and get that debt handled.
FATHER & SON (#41 & #43)
August 28, 2003
Sometimes I think the the press is scraped from the bottom of the IQ box. Then other times, I just think it’s the 24 hour news channels that cause them to have to think up dumb questions hour after hour. But, I really don’t know what excuse the newspapers have.
Let me get to my example that’s been bugging me for weeks now. The press is making a big FLAP over what Bush #41’s advisors are saying about the potential for a war with Iraq. Ever since Scowcroft came out against the war, everyone wants to know if #43 is getting the message. Well, after James Baker came out against the war, it’s very obvious to the press that #41 is sending a message to #43 that he should BACK OFF!
Of course when Dick Cheney comes out in support of the war, that’s a message from #43 to #41 that he really knows what he’s doing. Such nonsense makes me want to, well, I won’t go there!
Let me give you my “read” on it all. We’re talking Father-Son here and I’m sure that’s a concept that escapes the press. If dad wanted to get a message to son, he’d call him or better yet, bend his ear the next time they play golf. And, if #43 was really messing up, #41 would send #43’s mother to his front step, and you know how convincing Barbara can be. Number #43 has always said that it’s good to obey your mother! Put him to the test!
So, come on guys, get a life: in fact get a story that has something to do with reality. Better yet, bring us some real news or some sensible OPINIONS have match with what is REALLY going on in the world.
PS. The press might want to know that Scowcroft and friends were against attacking Iraq when they were advising #41 also. They’re just being consistent: consistently wrong! 
SOME COLD, HARD FACTS!
August 27, 2003
The government gives us the “data” each month about how the economy is doing. We get the PPI, CPI, LLI, GDP, unemployment numbers, consumer confidence, housing sales, and a host of other pieces of information. Then the government revises those figures a month later, a quarter later, or a year later. In other words, you can’t trust the Fed’s “data” whether it’s a Democrat or Republican administration.
But there is something that’s tangible that we can say is truly a FACT and that’s how many BILLS the Treasury Department prints each day, month, and year. Alan Greenspan gave a historic speech in 1996 about the lunacy of the stock market’s
valuations (irrational exuberance he called it). But then he did nothing about it and in fact, he’s the primary reason that American will face disasterous financial trials in the next few years.
I deem him the WORST Fed governor and chairman ever in the history of the Federal Reserve. So, the British are knighting him for his great deeds. Seriously!
But the COLD, HARD FACTS as I see them are two fold. In his 42 months as the Fed chairman, he hs printed-created more money than ALL previous Fed chairmen put together- going back to 1913.
Secondly, during his fifteen year tenure (that includes the 3.5 as chairman) at the Fed, he’s overseen the creation of more money since George Washington: 1788!
So, in the face of those cold, hard facts, what’s the point? Over the next 2-5 years we will see massive inflation, devastation of the U.S. Dollar, and with it the lifestyle of many Americans.
As detective Friday would say, “Just the facts mam”.
Ahhh…..WHAT MONEY CAN BUY!
August 26, 2003
No one knows for sure but the estimate is that you can buy “protection” from the Mafia in New York for 10% of your gross. Along the border with Mexico the price is somewhere around $5-$10,000 depending upon how many miles along the border you want protected- from the U.S. government.
Now, should your tastes be a little more expensive and arrogant: and, should you want to get on the international scene, then the price goes up big time. And I am talking hundreds of millions here.
The recently filed $1 TRILLION dollar lawsuit on behalf of the 9-11 victims alleges that the Saudis have paid off UBL (that’s bin Laden of course) and his al-Qaeda network some $200 MILLION for protection. In other words, the Saudi royalty forked over $200 MILLION to not be attacked. Hey, what’s a hundred mil here or there when you’re a member of the Saudi royalty?
I’m not sure of all the evidence, but the 400 new pick up trucks that went to Kandahar (with Saudi license plates on them) in care of al-Qaeda might be hard to explain away. Follow the MONEY trail!
Ahh, what money can buy. And lest we get too prideful- what OIL can buy, is America’s silence towards the atrocities that the Saudi royalty engage in every day. So, before we get too sanctimonious, what’s been keeping us off the Saudi’s backs? I think the figure is too large to estimate.
GANGING UP OR…………?
August 25, 2003
The voices are increasing and the volume is getting louder from the choir! The only thing left would be for us to hear from the choir director. That would be #41- Daddy Bush!
James Baker, who oversaw the State Department for three years under #41 is the latest person to come out against a war with Iraq. It all began when #41’s national security advisor, Brent Scowcroft said that a war with Iraq was not advisable. With Baker and Scowcroft acting as “book-ends”, many other #41 advisors have taken to the airways with their anti-war opinions as well.
So, have we gotten the message or are we getting a “head-fake”?. While the rhetoric is taking center stage, why isn’t anyone mentioning that we are calling up more and more reservists- very quietly?
My take on it all is that #43 knows precisely what he’s going to do- take out Saddam, and soon. If daddy isn’t helping him with a “head-fake” and an appearance that they are all ganging-up on #43, he’s sure helping son do what he likes to best, quiety and secretly take out the terrorists and that “axis of evil”!
THE NEXT WAR FRONT
August 23, 2003
For almost a year now America has been pursuing what we call a “War On Terrorism”. Many in the Mideast call it a war on Islam. Others say it is simply a war of America vs. the rest of the world. While that may stretch the truth a little, the stretch is getting smaller each week.
It’s hard to find a nation that is supporting the USA against Saddam. And, as the polls show, it’s getting harder to find a majority here in America that are for it. Barely 52% of the people are now for any kind of war with Iraq.
The recent meeting in Crawford, Texas of Bush’s defense team didn’t even talk about Saddam (so they say). When Bush did come out of his ranch house he said that he was a patient man. So, with all of these denials, war must be right around the corner. I’ve said for four months now (it’s back there in the archives that I can’t run from) that we would go to war before the month of September came to an end. So, there’s only 40 more days to go.
So, what IF my scenario does come to pass? What would that mean? I could write a novel in trying to answer that question. But, let me just throw out a few things that seem rather obvious- silly as they may seem.
The stock market completes it’s crash, the consumer quits buying and starts saving (death for the economy), Republicans hold on to the House and gain the Senate, attacks against American interests world-wide increase, the federal budget deficit goes wild, we move from a deflationary mode to a highly inflationary one, the housing bubble bursts, the price of oil goes wild, there are minor and spotty gasoline shortages, interest rates begin a sharp increase, personal bankruptcies double, and the list goes on.
Some are more concerned about the war that is to begin next Friday though. You know, the war between the owners and the baseball players. I mean, after all, we need to talk about and be concerned about the more serious matters of life, right? How could we live without a 2002 World Series?
WHEN THE LAW IS NOT!
August 22, 2003
The assumption (by some) is that our police, judges, and the entire court systems are honest and fair. We establish laws, in part, to protect people, but mostly to control them. All of the above though are subject to the weaknesses of the people involved in them. In other words, we all still have to deal with our humanity and our “fallen nature”.
Men still do mean things. Cops still lie, judges are still prejudiced, and FBI agents still get power hungry from time to time. So, we have to be very cautious in times such as now that we don’t over react and institute some laws that will be hard to get off the books later. It’s a proven fact that once you give a power to the government, taking it away is something short of a miracle.
The secretive court that oversees foreign intelligence surveillance has just ruled against Ashcroft citing abuses by the Justice Department and allegations that the FBI has been somewhat disingenious, as they say. They LIED!
As it turns out some 5 dozen applications for search warrants were misrepresented. This is just enough powder to make proper laws to keep us safe from being promulgated. When you can’t trust the law or those that enforce them, society begins to break down.Could I go even further and say that when the man at the top (the president of the U.S.) displays a character that is out of character for the position, it affects all phases of our government. What William Jefferson Clinton did to adversely affect our psyche cannot be measured. And may I say what the Catholic priests have done to undermine our spirituality is no less impacted.
When the law does not do what the law is meant to do because of those who carry the law out, we all suffer- for a long time!
ROYALTY OR JUST REBELS?
August 21, 2003
I wonder when we will begin to tell it like IT IS- in Saudia Arabia. Here’s a country that has a ruling class that does NOT WORK! They sit around in pompous robes and decide how much oil they will sell for how much money. They also sponsor some of the most radical brands of Islam in the world. Why were almost all of the 9-11 terrorists from Saudi Arabia?
Why are we friends with a nation that demonizes and marginalizes women? I could really say that they treat them as dogs, semi-humans. Where’s the NOW (National Organization of Women) statement on Saudi Arabia’s treatment of women who can’t drive a car and are nothing more than slaves to men?
I know the answer to the next question and it grieves me that I do. Would we be treating Saudi Arabia with the kid gloves that we are if they had no oil to sell? And what’s that tell us about US?
In many ways, the Saudi government is no different than the religious government was in Afghanistan except for the financial lifestyle. Give the Taleban leaders billions of dollars and you’d have a Saudi look-alike. One day we will fess up to the fact that America hs been accomodating the Saudis for our own comfort. One day we will be sorry for all the money we sent them. One day we’ll admit that it was a mistake allowing the environmentalists to keep us from becoming oil independent. One day, we’ll change our view of the Saudi royalty and we’ll recognize them as the rebels and terrorists that they really are. I just hope that one day won’t be too late.
FOLLOW THE MONEY!
August 20, 2003
The most popular phrase is “Show Me The Money”. But, if you really want insight to what’s going on in the world and particularly politics, the phrase is “Follow The Money”.
Money leaves a trail. Just ask Martha Stewart.
So much of the success of the stock market in the 90’s came from foreign money being pumped into the US of A. Yesterday was more proof of the concept as the trade deficit was reported. Were it not for the fact that the world (currently) thinks the US Dollar is so great, we’d be in massive trouble. But then, we are anyway.
Hundreds of billions of dollars, maybe a trillion or so, has been propping up our stock market. What 9-11 showed us was that the terrorists were mainly from Saudi Arabia. When the US started freezing accounts, Saudi Arabia started pulling it’s money out of the market. It is estimated that some $200 billion has been withdrawn from America’s shores by Saudi Arabia alone, since 9-11.
Now that a law suit has been filed on behalf of 9-11 victims, more money will leave the Dow, Nasdaq, and U.S interests. Follow the money and you will see it’s leaving America and headed to Muslim protectorates.
YO-YO OR WHIPLASH?
August 19, 2003
As I look at the BIG picture on our economy, two images come to mind as I’ve posted above. I am not sure there’s that much of a difference except that a whiplash might break our necks whereas the yo-yo seems to have a more natural affect.
I am talking about deflation-inflation. There is no doubt that we’ve been in a deflationary spiral and China is doing all they can to keep it that way. Our productivity (above anything we could use) started things off by driving prices lower and lower. It’s amazing what you can buy a Pentium 4 computer for today comapred to what a Pentium 1 cost a few years back.
PS. The July trade deficit was released 5 hours after I wrote the above and guess what. The USA’s biggest deficit was with China!
Then China stepped in to the mix being able to build an item that would cost $1.00 in America, for a little more than .09 cents in Shanghai. The Chinese are increasing their exports to America. Have you seen the trade deficit for America in the last few years? Have you seen where most of the import increase is coming from: the deflation capital of the world- China!
Just as we get slammed into the black hole of deflation, Greenspan is working hard on the other side to build the greatest inflationary bubble in the history of mankind. The lowest interest rates since 1929 are facing us. The greatest creation of money supply (fiat money) is underway. And, George Bush is doing all he can to run up federal deficits (not entirely within his power to do otherwsie of course). The year-to-year, twelve month increase in our federal budget has grown $1.15 BILLION per day for 365 days now.
So, just as we hit terminal velocity speed in the deflationary category, we’ll be hit just as hard and fast with the inflationary bounce. What’s not known is how we keep this puppy together when our economic world is slammed in reverse! Or, can it possible be stopped?
THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE!
August 18, 2003
In the last decade many world leaders have moved off of center-stage either by choice or not. If a change has not already occured, it’s in the plans. The Chinese are on the verge or a major shift in power from the old to the new, young digital-savvy set.
Two names though stand at the top of the heap for tenure. Two names say they will not be removed but just maybe their day is about to see a sunset. I am talking about Arafat and Saddam. I mean, if Abu Nidal can be taken out, as he just was, why not them?
Arafat is facing major tensions and growing competition within his Palestinian ranks. In fact, most feel he hasn’t had control in three years. Up the road a ways, Saddam keeps up his bluster, but Bush is convening a military summit at the ranch in Crawford Wednesday to see what we might do to end his rule in the near future.
If those two things work out, the only major leadership question that’s left is, has UBL been dealt with? Is he dead or alive? We’ll probably know that answer real soon. Then we’ll take a look at things and ask ourselves the key question: have the changes been good or bad?
DOING IT “HIS WAY”
August 17, 2003
There’s a lot about #43 that I like a lot. Having followed him for over a decade I’ve seen him act as much like a Democrat as a Republican, a liberal as much as a conservative, and a preacher as much as a politician. Of that last comparison I am not sure there’s much distinction.
Bush is about to embark upon a path (I think he already has) that will take him to the steps of downtown Bagdad. Right now it appears that he’ll go there alone- or with just the military who have to do what he says.
His dad’s own advisors are saying that he should not go after Saddam. Many in his own party do not want war. One is hard-pressed to find any nation that’s for a war with Iraq though they dislike Saddam. Now, we get word that Russia is going to sign a five year economic cooperation agreement with a price tag of some $40 billion- U.S. dollars. All of this with Iraq which Bush has labelled as one of three major ‘Axis of Evil” countries.
When asked at the ranch what he thought of all the anti-war talk, he merely said that he appreciated the dialogue. This I am sure about. Bush is his own man. He is one who relies primarily upon his own conscience and spiritual guidance. He’ll make up his own mind. Once he feels he has divine guidance, to go along with the known facts, he will give the orders. He’ll take advice from Rice, Powell, Rumsfeld, and of course daddy. But in the end, I feel certain that Bush will do it Frank’s way: that’s Frank Sinatra of course….doing it HIS WAY!
POLITICS IS- WELL, POLITICS!
August 15, 2003
Men are men and they come in all sizes, shapes, and forms, but they all still play the game. The game I am referring to as the lead title suggests is the political game.
It doesn’t matter what you call them or what they “say” they believe in. Once you are IN the game, you have to play by the rules. You don’t have to go way back in history to get comparisons. Just compare the last time the two major political parties changed addresses in D.C.
Many things that Clinton did, Bush now does. Yes, there’s a major gulf in personalities, belief systems, and even integrity. But, the GAME is still politics and the rules say that you get elected and you protect your turf!
So many Republicans jabbed at Clinton for using the “executive privledge” principle every time he was being investigated. So, how have Bush and Cheney been defending the energy meetings, the past look at their corporate wheeling and dealing? Yep. It’s executive privledge.
Oh, yes. And when your enemy comes at you, you get after him. Governement tormentor and watchdog, Larry Klayman, now says that Cheney is coming at him with the Clinton law firm of Williams & Connolly. Four years ago it was the Clinton IRS investigation of Klayman (Judicial Watch) that made Republicans mad. So, who’s going after him now? Yep!
Politics is politics regardless of who the president or party is. Some men are better than others, but the systems remain corrupt nonetheless. Winston Churchill gets credit for saying, “Politics is more dangerous than war, for in war you are killed only once.”
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