WHAT A SHAME!
July 14, 2004
Well, it seems as though nothing new is going on, so I skipped writing a commentary for a day, other than this brief memo.
You know it’s bad when the headlines are all about the Clintons. In this case, the U.S. Appeals Court rejected Bill’s claim to have his legal bills paid. I mean, didn’t he cause them? And what entitles a President to having the taxpayers pick up the tab for his dalliances? So cough up the $3.5 million Bill! I mean after all Hillary gets $8 mil for her book and you get $12 mil for yours. Surely you can handle this petty chump change. What a shame.
Other than that, all we know for sure is that the Federal deficit will be about ONE TRILLION for 2003 and 2004 combined so Greenspan says he might lower rates again.
Whatever.
Back with some real news Wednesday. 
WHEN WEAK IS STRONG!
July 12, 2004
Well, well, well. Is this the week that the bear market rally hits the wall? Is this the week that we see the Wall Street “head-fake” give us the real move? In other words is this the week that the euphoria over the run-up in stocks comes to an end?
I can guess today but come Friday, we’ll know the answers to all of the above questions. But, here’s what I think and more importantly sense.
1-We’re still in a BEAR market and the current rally is just a “bear trap”. 2-The blow-off from the 90’s hyper Bull market has not run it’s course. 3-The public, the states, and the federal government are swimming in debt. 4-The consumer is more than tapped out. 5-And though there are a dozen other signs that show the patient is brain-dead, the most recent sign of trouble is the “currency wars” that are now underway.
Generally a strong currency is a sign of vitality. This is particularly true of boom times or times of inflation. But, the Fed is fighting deflation now (13 rate cuts and printing money as fast as they can) and what they want is to have people BUY: keep spending. It’s also important that our industrial and manufacturing sectors have markets to sell their goods. If they can’t, they lay off more people. If they can sell their goods, they hire more people. Got the picture?
The nation with the lowest currency is attractive to the rest of the world to buy. So, if you want to export goods, you need a cheaper currency. Last week Gerhad Schroeder said he’d let the German mark fall. The U.S. Dollar has been falling for months. The Japanese are pushing the Yen lower. Last week the Bank Of England cut their rates to pull back the Sterling.
Bottom line. We’re beginning to see a “Currency War” and I think that will put an end to all the “economic games”. If not this week, very soon because sometimes weakness (currency) is strength!
UNPRECEDENTED PRECEDENCE!
July 10, 2004
And you thought the crazy decisions that the U.S. Supreme Court made in the 60′ were radical! It was the decade that the Supremes decided to veer from precedence and just venture out on their own as though they were gods and needed no historical precedence to guide them.
Maybe that’s why they made the bonehead decision that they did in the recent Lawrence Vs. Texas case. I am definitely opposed to sodomy, homosexuality, and lesbianism (note I am not against the people but the acts). I do feel that the Texas case went too far and I felt the Supreme Court would side with Lawrence due to the “individual privacy rights” issue.
The court did that but they went way beyond lack of precedence and they began a precedence that bodes ill for this nation. In essence, the court used as part of it’s rationale for supporting Lawrence, the fact that foreign laws and nations take such a position. Since when does what other nations do matter? Isn’t America a sovereign nation and aren’t the Supremes supposed to uphold OUR constitution- not others?
So, since Canada doesn’t like Christmas trees, but holiday trees instead, shouldn’t we also? Since France doesn’t uphold capital punishment, shouldn’t we also? Do we adopt the Muslim mentality and lifestyle just because that’s how Iran does things? I could go on here but you get the point. Is there any wonder the Democrats are stone-walling Bush’s appointees? The liberals are seeking enlightenment in all the wrong places.
I support OUR constitution, our nation! And, I could care less what Iran, China, France, Canada, or Brazil does! Since when does what other nations have anything to do with OUR constitution?
REVISING THE HOLY TRINITY?
July 9, 2004
Oaky, I can put up with a little tinkering here and there with history: who knows exactly, but I’m not taking this new concept. It is time for Americans to take a stand. It’s time for Christians to say enough is enough.
This country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles. You have to think the current generation is deaf, dumb, and blind to try to revise history and make it look like we’re a Judeo-Christian-Islamic nation. This purported trinity isn’t going to fly! The American Muslim Council is trying to rewrite history and claim Muslims led Columbus to America, among other things.
What is there about Islam that America has embraced for these 200+ years? Nothing! We share none of the Islamic nonsense such as: women live to serve men and can’t show their faces, the state is to be a theocracy of Immans, and there can be no criticism of leaders just to name a few. But, if we don’t get a grip on where our Supreme Court, among others, is leading us, we’re in deep yogurt. More on the Supremes tomorrow.
Muslims want to take over not just America but the world and they will not tolerate any other religion. Islam is one of the most intolerant religions in the world. Can you imagine a Hindu sect wanting equal rights in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Jordan or any other Islamic nation? Get real, or you’ll have your head chopped off.
America was not and never will be founded, grounded, or pounded by any Islamic revisionism. We’re one nation under God, and His name is not Allah, and his mouth piece was not Mohammad. His Son was Jesus Christ and He had the last word!
OLD BITTERSWEET “GLORY”
July 8, 2004
Two images from this morning birthed this commentary. On the front page of the Houston Chronicle, was a picture of Thomas & Benancia Sotelo recieving the flag from the coffin of their 20 year old son who was killed in Iraq.
Army Corporal, Thomas Sotelo is just one of dozens who gave their life that you and I might do something worthy of ours. I’m reminded that in peace times, sons bury fathers but in war times, fathers bury sons.
The other image was the flag being raised over Iwo Jima by six brave young men: mostly teenagers (the oldest being 24). It was Feb. 19, 1945 that 6,821 very young, brave, and frightened service men took their last breath on this island no larger than eight sq. miles. More than 100,000 troops battled one another for endless days. It was a battle of flesh and blood against reinforced concrete. More than 20,000 Japanese saw their last sunrise as well.
Not too long ago, my family was handed “Old Glory” as my father was laid to rest. I can but recant the words of Private Ryan (movie) who while visiting the grave yard where the man who had saved his life was buried, asked to anyone who could hear, “Have I led a life worthy of your death?”
May we somehow gather the courage to ask that frequently of ourselves.
JUST SAY………..YES!!!!!
July 7, 2004
When George Bush decided to run for president under the banner of a “Compassionate Conservative”, I wondered how he got that title. I mean I know that he’s compassionate. He’s one of the most moral people we’ve ever had as President. And of course the comparisons between he and the previous president are day and night.
But, tell me about this conservative label. As a student of politics and a college graduate with a major in political science, the term conservative seems far from an apt description. My perspective on conservatives was that they were tight-fisted budget-balancers.
Now, I know that we’re at war, and I am taking 9-11 into consideration; however, long before that, there was this Governor Bush who spent liberally. Could I say his fiscal policies were more liberal, left-wing, Democratic than Republican conservative? So, here we are nearly three years into his presidency and he’s running up DEFICITS that are staggering in size and historic in percentages.
The new Medicare entitlement law is a monster in terms of potential costs. Two massive tax cuts add to the spiraling Federal deficits. Essentially what we have here is a Congress and a President that simply can’t take Nancy Reagan’s advice. It seems neither Bush nor Congress can say NO to any spending bill. When it comes to spending, Bush and Cngress JUST SAY YES!
Did I mention massive INFLATION is just around the corner?
THE ‘EXPERIENCE’ TEACHER!
July 5, 2004
It’s been said that “experience” is the best teacher. Being able to process all the intellectual, emotional, and physical data from an event has a lasting impact on our memory and psyche. It’s also been said with tongue in cheek that learning from another person’s experience is best and less costly.
Yesterday was a reminder for me about how important reading is, but how much more important DOING what you have READ really is. I sat down for a couple of hours of conversation with my 21 year old son who just returned from Iraq. He’d been to boot camp, read the war strategy books, listened to the lectures on combat, and studied the “rules of war”: international laws and regulations.
He was not prepared for the REAL EXPERIENCE of war. Yes, he made it through, but now he KNOWS! Seeing men shot, blown apart from land mines, and witnessing a scud land a few meters away can’t be taught. The nagging and haunting memories of hearing the screams (movies can’t reproduce them) of dying men in ultimate pain live on- in real time.
Now, switch to the economic scene. The best 26 year old PHD’s cannot KNOW what this market will do and yet billions of money are given to men and women who’ve NEVER BEEN THERE. As for me, I listen to Richard Russell & Harry Schultz: men with more than 105 years of EXPERIENCE between them. And they say, the BEAR market is far from over. Invest with caution and pay attention to who you’re paying attention to.
WHAT WILL A MILLION $’S BUY?
July 3, 2004
Once again, I am amazed at how little real news there is on the networks and particularly the 24 hour cables news outlets. I am becoming more disenchanted with Fox. So, where is one to go?
Fox dribbles on for hours when there’s a suspected terror threat like the rifle found in the trunk of a rental car outside of LaGuardia last week. One after another a newscaster droned on about what it might be, interviewing dozens of experts who were being asked to talk about something that was nothing. Talk about getting blood out of a tomato.
Greta has been relegated to debating the Lacy Peterson “who-done-it” ad nauseum. She brings on her fellow lawyers to discuss what might or might not be. It’s become lawyer ego hour with an ex N.Y. investigor who has a fragile grip on the English language thrown in for diversity.
Then there’s the constant rehashing of the potential electoral vote and what the polls say of George Bush: sixteen months before the election. If there is anything that is less news worthy, it’s what the president’s numbers are sixteen months before the election. Sixteen days before the election, yes.
It seems that the millions of dollars that’s being paid to TV executives to provide real news is being wasted. And, next year we will find out what $200 million will do for the Bush presidency. Between now and then though, can we have some fresh insights to life and what’s really going on in the world that might have some lasting impact on our lives. Please!
A Declaration Of Independence!
July 2, 2004
Today America is still declaring it’s independence. We do so with 10,000+ troops in Afghanistan, 150,000 in the Iraq region, and another 100,000 stationed around the world. Did I mention we’re also considering sending a contingency of troops to Liberia: to help France no less!
We will enjoy independence as long as we’re willing to FIGHT for it. While the liberal press harps on each death in Iraq, like it’s murder committed by Bush, a recent poll showed that 75% of the Iraqi citizens want the U.S. there and want us to help rebuild their nation.
Something that seems to be lost on this generation is that LIBERTY is won and preserved by blood of some of our youngest citizens.
It was John Adams, who on July 3, 1776 said in part, “I am apt to believe that Independence Day ought to be commemorated as a Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.” I am sure that the ACLU and many other liberals would cringe at such a statement.
The bottom line is that this nation was founded Christian principles. While the debate rages about removing the Ten Commandments from government buildings, we have young service men and women dying in the streets of Baghdad and the highways of Iraq. This is still a Christian nation and as long it remains so, we will embrace the sentiments of John Adams: we will celebrate our liberty, granted to us by the one and only Almighty God! A true INdependence is a DEpendence upon God!
May your weekend be more than leisure, friends, and hot dogs. May it be a time to reflect upon the freedoms that we have because we still in part, worship Him!
SEPARATION OF CHURCH-STATE?
July 1, 2004
There are a lot of things that America doesn’t have a grasp on: we’re not a perfect nation by a long shot. However, there is an area that I believe our founding fathers nailed perfectly: separation of church and state.
Many on the religious right would like to set up a religious state while many on the left would like to do away with religion altogether: except for their “religion of non-belief” of course. Our nation was set up so that a person could CHOOSE how and what they decided to believe and give their lives to. In other words, our nation chose to be an OPEN system (yesterday’s commentary).
The problem we’re having in Afghanistan and now Iraq is that we’re trying to impose OUR system on one that’s just the opposite- theirs. Muslims believe there is NO separation of church and state because CHURCH is to dictate to STATE! CHURCH is to run STATE. Remember the Taleban? For almost 1,400 years the Muslim custom and life-style has been SHARIA. Sharia is God’s law over man’s law.
Islam does not buy the American system. Democracy is not what the Koran advocates. And if you thought that was bad (and it is), where do you think this concept is headed? Can you say “towards wiping out all other religions”? Can you say, “Islam is at war with Christianity”? For political purposes we say it’s a “war against terrorism”, when in reality it’s a war against the CLOSED SYSTEM of Islam, known as Sharia!
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