I believe this was from an Irish Newspaper article. It is probably one of the easiest methods of explaining the stock market. Enjoy !!!
Once upon a time in a village, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each. The villagers, seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the forest, and started catching them.
The man bought thousands at $10, but as supply started to diminish, the villagers stopped their efforts. At this point the man announced that he would now buy them at $20 each. This renewed the efforts of the villagers, and they started catching monkeys again.
Soon the supply diminished even further so people started going back to their farms.Then the offer increased to $25 each, whereupon the supply of monkeys became so limited that it was an effort to even see a monkey, let alone catch it!The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at $50 each!
However, he had to go to the city on some business so his assistant would now buy on his behalf for him.
In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers, 'Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has collected. I will sell them to you at $35 each and when the man returns from the city, you can sell them to him for $50 each.'
So the villagers rounded up all their savings and bought all the monkeys. They never saw the man nor his assistant again, but there were monkeys everywhere!
And now you have a better understanding of how the stock market works.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Want to go to a SPA ?
I'm beginning to think that the ATAA Blog needs an award. Something befitting the enormous "Cajones" we see swinging so prevalently in these "Winds of Fall".
We have come to expect "pork barrel spending" and all sorts of wonderful exotic "learning junkets" that our esteemed politicians engage in. But this, oh this is a classic..... Your money, hard at work people!!!
Days after AIG received $85 BILLION in loans from the government (a.k.a. US) to save their proverbial "asses", Executives went to the St. Regis Monarch Beach, a coastal location just south of Los Angeles. It really is a nice place, looks very relaxing. The Tuscan-inspired resort is described as "............Situated high on a bluff overlooking the majestic Pacific Ocean, stands a landmark resort of legendary proportions."
Legendary is a good word here.
When the smoke cleared, they racked up a tab of almost half a million dollars ($443,344 to be exact) and guess who got the bill !!!!
I guess in today's economic market, that total wasn't so bad. I just wish they had sent us taxpayers a postcard so we would know they were having a good time. But I guess at $.27 X 200,000,000.00 I don't think we could have afforded it.
Since we are bailing out everyone and their brother lately, can WE claim this on our tax return ?
Here are the line item amounts for this little R&R session:
$147,302 for banquets
$139,375 on rooms
$23,380 for spa services
$6,939 for golf
$5,016 at the Stonehill Tavern
$3,065 for in-room dining and the lobby lounge
$2,949 for gratuities
$1,901 at the Monarch Bayclub
$1,488 at the resort’s Vogue Salon
The best part is they are asking now for $37.8 billion.
Legendary..................
BREAKING NEWS: 10/09/08 Washington D.C. - Evoking its emergency powers to combat financial market stress, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday said it was lending $37.8 billion in additional cash troubled American International Group Inc.
As of last week, AIG had already used $60 billion of the original $85 billion.
Ask and ye shall receive........... pack your bags kids, next stop a week of Aqua-Aerobics in Venice,...... Italy
Andrew,
The Angry American
We have come to expect "pork barrel spending" and all sorts of wonderful exotic "learning junkets" that our esteemed politicians engage in. But this, oh this is a classic..... Your money, hard at work people!!!
Days after AIG received $85 BILLION in loans from the government (a.k.a. US) to save their proverbial "asses", Executives went to the St. Regis Monarch Beach, a coastal location just south of Los Angeles. It really is a nice place, looks very relaxing. The Tuscan-inspired resort is described as "............Situated high on a bluff overlooking the majestic Pacific Ocean, stands a landmark resort of legendary proportions."
Legendary is a good word here.
When the smoke cleared, they racked up a tab of almost half a million dollars ($443,344 to be exact) and guess who got the bill !!!!
I guess in today's economic market, that total wasn't so bad. I just wish they had sent us taxpayers a postcard so we would know they were having a good time. But I guess at $.27 X 200,000,000.00 I don't think we could have afforded it.
Since we are bailing out everyone and their brother lately, can WE claim this on our tax return ?
Here are the line item amounts for this little R&R session:
$147,302 for banquets
$139,375 on rooms
$23,380 for spa services
$6,939 for golf
$5,016 at the Stonehill Tavern
$3,065 for in-room dining and the lobby lounge
$2,949 for gratuities
$1,901 at the Monarch Bayclub
$1,488 at the resort’s Vogue Salon
The best part is they are asking now for $37.8 billion.
Legendary..................
BREAKING NEWS: 10/09/08 Washington D.C. - Evoking its emergency powers to combat financial market stress, the Federal Reserve on Wednesday said it was lending $37.8 billion in additional cash troubled American International Group Inc.
As of last week, AIG had already used $60 billion of the original $85 billion.
Ask and ye shall receive........... pack your bags kids, next stop a week of Aqua-Aerobics in Venice,...... Italy
Andrew,
The Angry American
Monday, October 6, 2008
Obama Youth - Scary
Is it just me, or does this scare any of you just a little bit?
The Obama Youth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvMI_3CCCfM
The Obama Junior Fraternity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSvBCBnulLs
The last time the world saw this type of political oriented activity by the national youth, they were called “Hitler Jugend.”
And then you have a new poll from Readers Digest:
Global Poll Finds Obama Preferred in All Countries But U.S.
Barack Obama's proclamation last July to being a "citizen of the world" was affirmed Monday as a new poll -- taken before the August conventions -- showed that in 16 out of 17 countries surveyed he was the overwhelming choice to be the next president of the United States.
The poll also found that, counter to Obama's claims that America's reputation abroad is taking a beating, half of the 16 countries surveyed offered strong "pro-American" sentiments.
Andrew,
The Angry American
The Obama Youth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvMI_3CCCfM
The Obama Junior Fraternity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSvBCBnulLs
The last time the world saw this type of political oriented activity by the national youth, they were called “Hitler Jugend.”
And then you have a new poll from Readers Digest:
Global Poll Finds Obama Preferred in All Countries But U.S.
Barack Obama's proclamation last July to being a "citizen of the world" was affirmed Monday as a new poll -- taken before the August conventions -- showed that in 16 out of 17 countries surveyed he was the overwhelming choice to be the next president of the United States.
The poll also found that, counter to Obama's claims that America's reputation abroad is taking a beating, half of the 16 countries surveyed offered strong "pro-American" sentiments.
Andrew,
The Angry American
Democrat or Republican
I thought I would post this for everyone to see. It had originally gone out as an email because two people close to me actually asked me "who" I was voting for. I thought with all the "anti-Dem / anti-Rep" emails floating around that it was a great question and deserved an honest answer. If you plan on praising one candidate while lambasting another you should stand for something and go on the record. So take this for what it is worth, my choice & my name, and not some anonymous diatribe.
First let me say that I'm voting for John McCain. Although I will preface that statement with this note: it is not because I truly believe him to be the best candidate, sadly I think he is the lesser of the two evils. I respect him for his service to this country and I am humbled by what he endured. To his patriotism there is no question. The man is a hero, but I am not blinded by that.
I do disagree with John McCain on many issues:
1. McCain - Feingold (Finance Reform)
2. McCain - Kennedy (Immigration)
3. McCain - Lieberman (2nd Amendment)
And that's not even touching on: McCain - Kerry, McCain - Edwards, McCain - Bayh. As a matter of fact, I've often felt that he is sometimes a better Democrat, than most Democrats are. Let's face it, compared to McCain, Obama has not done much. A reporter once remarked "[McCain] has become the most hyphenated name in Washington."
But if that's not enough to scare the crap out of me, along comes the alternative with a quote like this:
"You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them,... And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Barack Obama, April 2008.
Hmmmm let's see Senator, maybe the antipathy and anti-immigration sentiment is based on all of us folks watching the government (that would be you folks) once again failing to do your job. Perhaps people are just sick and tired of watching people, who in many instances aren't even supposed to be here, playing the system and collecting money & benefits. While politicians sit back in their plush offices in D.C. slapping each others back on a job well done protecting those poor wretches. I certainly understand where the money that pays for all this comes from. By the way, I'm also a Christian, I own guns, live in the mid-west and have a deep aversion to anyone who believes that something is owed to them without having to do any thing to earn it. I guess that makes me one of the "Bitter" people in your eyes.
Why I will not vote for Barack Obama.
1st - I do not believe Obama has the credentials to be President. We are supposed to believe that he is an agent of change. Someone who is outside the realm of politics as usual. That he will be a "leader who takes on the hard issues" even when it means telling people what they don't want to hear. Yet as a Illinois State Senator (1997-2004), he chose neither to vote for or against some sensitive bills. As a matter of fact, he voted nearly 130 times “present,” which allowed him to avoid taking a stand. I'm sorry, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Or as a Professor of Political Studies in Illinois commented “If you are worried about your next election, the "present" vote gives you political cover.”
2nd - Nothing Obama is saying is new. It is the same "talking points" that everyone else has been spewing forth. There hasn't been an original idea in Washington in decades. Don't tell me what you are going to do "for me", tell me who is going to pay the bill. It's like those damn tax rebate checks. You want to jump start the economy, reach into your own damn wallet and send me some money.
3rd - Gun Control. In this case it is deeds my friend, not words. Obama says he has "never favored an all-out ban on handguns." Yet his record supporting state legislation says something different. Ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns. Ban assault weapons. Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons. Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms. Mandatory waiting periods and background checks. He say's "I have no intention of taking away folks' guns." Yet he supported the D.C. Gun ban. He voted for a bill in the Illinois senate that allowed retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed weapons. Yet he was the most consistent anti-gun candidate when it came to enforcing and expanding gun control laws for average citizens. I guess when you are battling against your (Republican) opponent to win the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police you make exceptions to your position. But it begs the question "what else is he willing to make exceptions on to get votes?"
This is the deal breaker for me. I have been shooting and a gun owner for 25 years. I have never misplaced a gun, shot anyone accidentally, nor been involved in a drive-by. My idea of gun control is a proper sight picture coupled with trigger control. I will be damned if I am going to allow someone to dictate to me what I can and cannot have, simply because they do not believe in it. I don't tell you what to drive, where to eat, who to like or dislike or where you can live. I'm an adult & I don't need a keeper. Don't try to argue with me about protecting me from crime. I lived & worked in that fantasy world for the better part of my adult life. Go to every urban area where there are major gun problems and you will find that guns are already banned up the wazoo. News flash, your gun bans don't work because criminals don't care about breaking the law. I live my life by the old adage made famous by President Theodore Roosevelt: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."
4th - Attacking the Great Beast (Oil Companies). Tell me and the American people why you (or Democrats in General for that matter) have such an aversion to "big oil." Is it because it is politically expedient to do so right now? George W. is in Oil so I guess I already know the answer. Politicians love to point out how Exxon / Mobil made Forty Billion dollars in profit in 2007. What they are less inclined to tell you is that they also paid Thirty Billion dollars in taxes.
My curiosity stems from the fact that when you look at "profit / revenue" there are some other companies that make a much nicer target, like say GE, McDonalds, Disney, or how about good old Microsoft. All of these firms make more profit off the dollar than Exxon. As a matter of fact Microsoft has a gross profit margin double that of Exxon. But what about this food for thought: Taxes (that's you Government folks again) on gas account for about 20% of the price, which about double the profit oil companies make. I don't buy into all the hype. I will admit it does appeal to me on an emotional level when I am gassing up my car, but I'm not buying this argument. Confused, good take an aspirin. As a collective group pharmaceutical companies make double the profits oil companies make.
By the way, it might not concern some wealthy Senator, but I rely on a pension and personal investments to allow me to "live" day to day. I wonder if they ever considered what impact their "tax the wealthy" schemes will have on the markets. I have little "hope", "trust", "faith" or whatever other "catch phrase" they are using today to believe they won't make more of mess with Social Security than they already have. I've paid into that little "Political Trust Fund" for well over twenty years. Yet each year that I get closer to being able to collect it, it keeps dropping further and further. To me, SS is little more than a government sponsored scam at this point. I keep paying into something that loses me money! Here's a news flash my friends, that fund you keep pumping money into is Twelve Trillion Dollars in debt. I "Hope" that by the time I reach the age to collect it, God Willing, I "Trust" that I should be able to purchase enough cat food for the month. But to tell you the truth I don't have much "Faith."
5th - Right, Wrong or Indifferent I do tend to judge people by the quality and character of their "friends" and the people they associate with. This list is not a "positive" endorsement of the mans character, but rather an indictment. Do a search on any and formulate your own opinions.
Bill Ayers (Weatherman Underground / Explosives) - Terrorist Group - This ones near and dear to NYPD & Capitol Police Cops.
Bernadine Dohrn (Students for a Democratic Society / SDS) - Terrorist Group
Mike Klonsky (Students for a Democratic Society / SDS) & (Communist Party USA Chairman (Marxist-Leninist)
Frank Marshall Davis (Communist Party USA (Marxist-Leninist)
Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright (and I mean Rev. in the loosest of terms)
Father Michael Pfleger (disgraced Chicago Catholic priest)
Tony Rezko (Chicago Political Insider) - Convicted of 16 felony corruption counts including fraud, money laundering and abetting bribery.
Khalid Al-Mansour - Anti White / Christian Racist (petitioned on behalf of Obama for admission to Harvard)
Trinity United Church of Christ (see Rev. Jeremiah Wright) - 2007 awarded Louis Farrakhan it's Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award and said of him "truly epitomized greatness."
Obama spends more time distancing, and disassociating, himself from his friends and their statements: "(I decry) racism and anti-Semitism in every form." But have you noticed that he only does it AFTER the facts surface. Are we to believe that a man who wants to be elected President of the United States of America has these lapses in judgment?
6th - Global Upheaval. Let's face it, we live in a very uncertain world these days. The Middle East isn't very pretty, Russia is taking a trip down military memory lane, China seems to be preparing to consume everything in it's path and that Daffy Duck loving psychopath in North Korea is not giving me the warm fuzzies. Obama says he was "anti-War" from the very beginning, even when he was an Illinois State Senator. Is anyone shocked by this? As a state senator he represented one of the most liberal districts in the state of Illinois. It encompasses Chicago's lake front, Hyde Park, the University of Chicago & African American neighborhoods in the southern half of the district. What choice did he have but to be anti-war? That's not being a "strong leader willing to take a stand on hard issues", that's just being politically expedient. Yet, when he did get elected to the US Senate, where was his political cajones? What has he actually done to show his anti-war stance. Not said, done. At least John Kerry stood by his position.
I personally do not believe that in this day and age Barack Obama has the experience, or the backbone, to lead this country. Back in May he made the comment that Iran was a "tiny" nation that didn't pose a threat. In the sake of full disclosure he further said "They don't pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us. You know, Iran, they spend one-100th of what we spend on the military. If Iran ever tried to pose a serious threat to us, they wouldn't stand a chance." Yes, I do know Iran. They are a state sponsor of terrorist groups who have led attacks on our soldiers. I also remember that in 1979 this "tiny" nation took our Embassy hostage and held 52 Americans from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981. I also remember who was the US President then, and I am pretty sure that some of the former hostages remember who the Iranian President is now. Small world. By the way, when Congress voted to identify the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terror group, not only was Obama conveniently absent from the vote, but he subsequently attacked his political opponents for voting to designate the Guards as a terror group. Obama stated that it was just "justification for attacking Iran."
So Mr. Obama does not see the threat posed by a terrorist nation. OK, what does he think of our allies? Back in 2007 in a speech he said "It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al-Qaeda leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will." OK, wait a second. This is the anti-War candidate saying he would take independent military action within the borders of a sovereign (nuclear) nation that happens to also be our ally? Are you serious? Please, someone spin this for me. Are there more politically expedient terrorist groups to target? al-Qaeda is more "badder" than Hamas? Hezbollah ?
Oh and who chided him on that statement, none other than his new best friend forever VP Candidate Joe Biden and the new Democratic darling Hillary Clinton. "BO"'s response: "I find it amusing, that those who helped to authorize and engineer the biggest foreign policy disaster in our generation are now criticizing me for making sure that we are on the right battlefield and not the wrong battlefield in the war against terrorism." Ouch, Love hurts.
Here is what I do know. Iran is an oil wealthy nation seeking Nuclear weapons and with a serious (genocidal) dislike for the United States and their own neighbor Israel. The same Israel who happen to be our only true ally in the region. How does Barack view Israel. Well, it's not really clear. He seems to "protect" himself with non controversial votes which seem to allude towards a positive attitude, but what about his friends & acquaintances? Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, the teachings of the Trinity United Church of Christ, Louis Farrakhan, George Sorros (Obama Fund Raiser). All vehemently anti-Israel. Have you asked yourself who are some of Obama's Foreign Policy Advisors? Zbigniew Brzezinski, Robert Malley, Tony Lake, Ivo Daalder, Scott Lasensky. By and large mostly Carter and Clinton people with a decidely pro-Arab, and in some cases, strong anti-Israel viewpoint. Does this make any of you feel good?
No I'm sorry "Tax the Rich", "Health Care for All" and "End the Illegal War" aren't cutting it for me. I want real answers to real questions and not just the normal political sound bites to make you look insightful without ever answering anything. That doesn't instill "Change We Can Believe In" to me, but it certainly does reek of "Politics As Usual Chump".
Do not be led blindly into the future. I have said this before and I will say it again. Politicians are elected by the people. We are their employers and if we send them to Washington without holding them accountable then we get what we deserve. It is not about looks, nor sound bites, nor empty promises. If that were the case we would elect (TV Pitchman) Billy May's as President and cry away our tears with a Sham-Wow.
Decide for yourself who best fits your needs. But if I wanted to be scammed, I have four kids that will happily provide that service to me and NOT raise my taxes.
Personally, I want a President like Theodore Roosevelt. "The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."
By the way, does anyone know who was the original champion of Universal Health Care & national Health Insurance ? Yeah, TR. 100 years ago and they are still promising us what they can't deliver.
Andrew
The Angry American
First let me say that I'm voting for John McCain. Although I will preface that statement with this note: it is not because I truly believe him to be the best candidate, sadly I think he is the lesser of the two evils. I respect him for his service to this country and I am humbled by what he endured. To his patriotism there is no question. The man is a hero, but I am not blinded by that.
I do disagree with John McCain on many issues:
1. McCain - Feingold (Finance Reform)
2. McCain - Kennedy (Immigration)
3. McCain - Lieberman (2nd Amendment)
And that's not even touching on: McCain - Kerry, McCain - Edwards, McCain - Bayh. As a matter of fact, I've often felt that he is sometimes a better Democrat, than most Democrats are. Let's face it, compared to McCain, Obama has not done much. A reporter once remarked "[McCain] has become the most hyphenated name in Washington."
But if that's not enough to scare the crap out of me, along comes the alternative with a quote like this:
"You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them,... And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Barack Obama, April 2008.
Hmmmm let's see Senator, maybe the antipathy and anti-immigration sentiment is based on all of us folks watching the government (that would be you folks) once again failing to do your job. Perhaps people are just sick and tired of watching people, who in many instances aren't even supposed to be here, playing the system and collecting money & benefits. While politicians sit back in their plush offices in D.C. slapping each others back on a job well done protecting those poor wretches. I certainly understand where the money that pays for all this comes from. By the way, I'm also a Christian, I own guns, live in the mid-west and have a deep aversion to anyone who believes that something is owed to them without having to do any thing to earn it. I guess that makes me one of the "Bitter" people in your eyes.
Why I will not vote for Barack Obama.
1st - I do not believe Obama has the credentials to be President. We are supposed to believe that he is an agent of change. Someone who is outside the realm of politics as usual. That he will be a "leader who takes on the hard issues" even when it means telling people what they don't want to hear. Yet as a Illinois State Senator (1997-2004), he chose neither to vote for or against some sensitive bills. As a matter of fact, he voted nearly 130 times “present,” which allowed him to avoid taking a stand. I'm sorry, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Or as a Professor of Political Studies in Illinois commented “If you are worried about your next election, the "present" vote gives you political cover.”
2nd - Nothing Obama is saying is new. It is the same "talking points" that everyone else has been spewing forth. There hasn't been an original idea in Washington in decades. Don't tell me what you are going to do "for me", tell me who is going to pay the bill. It's like those damn tax rebate checks. You want to jump start the economy, reach into your own damn wallet and send me some money.
3rd - Gun Control. In this case it is deeds my friend, not words. Obama says he has "never favored an all-out ban on handguns." Yet his record supporting state legislation says something different. Ban the manufacture, sale and possession of handguns. Ban assault weapons. Ban the sale or transfer of all forms of semi-automatic weapons. Increase state restrictions on the purchase and possession of firearms. Mandatory waiting periods and background checks. He say's "I have no intention of taking away folks' guns." Yet he supported the D.C. Gun ban. He voted for a bill in the Illinois senate that allowed retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed weapons. Yet he was the most consistent anti-gun candidate when it came to enforcing and expanding gun control laws for average citizens. I guess when you are battling against your (Republican) opponent to win the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police you make exceptions to your position. But it begs the question "what else is he willing to make exceptions on to get votes?"
This is the deal breaker for me. I have been shooting and a gun owner for 25 years. I have never misplaced a gun, shot anyone accidentally, nor been involved in a drive-by. My idea of gun control is a proper sight picture coupled with trigger control. I will be damned if I am going to allow someone to dictate to me what I can and cannot have, simply because they do not believe in it. I don't tell you what to drive, where to eat, who to like or dislike or where you can live. I'm an adult & I don't need a keeper. Don't try to argue with me about protecting me from crime. I lived & worked in that fantasy world for the better part of my adult life. Go to every urban area where there are major gun problems and you will find that guns are already banned up the wazoo. News flash, your gun bans don't work because criminals don't care about breaking the law. I live my life by the old adage made famous by President Theodore Roosevelt: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."
4th - Attacking the Great Beast (Oil Companies). Tell me and the American people why you (or Democrats in General for that matter) have such an aversion to "big oil." Is it because it is politically expedient to do so right now? George W. is in Oil so I guess I already know the answer. Politicians love to point out how Exxon / Mobil made Forty Billion dollars in profit in 2007. What they are less inclined to tell you is that they also paid Thirty Billion dollars in taxes.
My curiosity stems from the fact that when you look at "profit / revenue" there are some other companies that make a much nicer target, like say GE, McDonalds, Disney, or how about good old Microsoft. All of these firms make more profit off the dollar than Exxon. As a matter of fact Microsoft has a gross profit margin double that of Exxon. But what about this food for thought: Taxes (that's you Government folks again) on gas account for about 20% of the price, which about double the profit oil companies make. I don't buy into all the hype. I will admit it does appeal to me on an emotional level when I am gassing up my car, but I'm not buying this argument. Confused, good take an aspirin. As a collective group pharmaceutical companies make double the profits oil companies make.
By the way, it might not concern some wealthy Senator, but I rely on a pension and personal investments to allow me to "live" day to day. I wonder if they ever considered what impact their "tax the wealthy" schemes will have on the markets. I have little "hope", "trust", "faith" or whatever other "catch phrase" they are using today to believe they won't make more of mess with Social Security than they already have. I've paid into that little "Political Trust Fund" for well over twenty years. Yet each year that I get closer to being able to collect it, it keeps dropping further and further. To me, SS is little more than a government sponsored scam at this point. I keep paying into something that loses me money! Here's a news flash my friends, that fund you keep pumping money into is Twelve Trillion Dollars in debt. I "Hope" that by the time I reach the age to collect it, God Willing, I "Trust" that I should be able to purchase enough cat food for the month. But to tell you the truth I don't have much "Faith."
5th - Right, Wrong or Indifferent I do tend to judge people by the quality and character of their "friends" and the people they associate with. This list is not a "positive" endorsement of the mans character, but rather an indictment. Do a search on any and formulate your own opinions.
Bill Ayers (Weatherman Underground / Explosives) - Terrorist Group - This ones near and dear to NYPD & Capitol Police Cops.
Bernadine Dohrn (Students for a Democratic Society / SDS) - Terrorist Group
Mike Klonsky (Students for a Democratic Society / SDS) & (Communist Party USA Chairman (Marxist-Leninist)
Frank Marshall Davis (Communist Party USA (Marxist-Leninist)
Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright (and I mean Rev. in the loosest of terms)
Father Michael Pfleger (disgraced Chicago Catholic priest)
Tony Rezko (Chicago Political Insider) - Convicted of 16 felony corruption counts including fraud, money laundering and abetting bribery.
Khalid Al-Mansour - Anti White / Christian Racist (petitioned on behalf of Obama for admission to Harvard)
Trinity United Church of Christ (see Rev. Jeremiah Wright) - 2007 awarded Louis Farrakhan it's Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award and said of him "truly epitomized greatness."
Obama spends more time distancing, and disassociating, himself from his friends and their statements: "(I decry) racism and anti-Semitism in every form." But have you noticed that he only does it AFTER the facts surface. Are we to believe that a man who wants to be elected President of the United States of America has these lapses in judgment?
6th - Global Upheaval. Let's face it, we live in a very uncertain world these days. The Middle East isn't very pretty, Russia is taking a trip down military memory lane, China seems to be preparing to consume everything in it's path and that Daffy Duck loving psychopath in North Korea is not giving me the warm fuzzies. Obama says he was "anti-War" from the very beginning, even when he was an Illinois State Senator. Is anyone shocked by this? As a state senator he represented one of the most liberal districts in the state of Illinois. It encompasses Chicago's lake front, Hyde Park, the University of Chicago & African American neighborhoods in the southern half of the district. What choice did he have but to be anti-war? That's not being a "strong leader willing to take a stand on hard issues", that's just being politically expedient. Yet, when he did get elected to the US Senate, where was his political cajones? What has he actually done to show his anti-war stance. Not said, done. At least John Kerry stood by his position.
I personally do not believe that in this day and age Barack Obama has the experience, or the backbone, to lead this country. Back in May he made the comment that Iran was a "tiny" nation that didn't pose a threat. In the sake of full disclosure he further said "They don't pose a serious threat to us the way the Soviet Union posed a threat to us. You know, Iran, they spend one-100th of what we spend on the military. If Iran ever tried to pose a serious threat to us, they wouldn't stand a chance." Yes, I do know Iran. They are a state sponsor of terrorist groups who have led attacks on our soldiers. I also remember that in 1979 this "tiny" nation took our Embassy hostage and held 52 Americans from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981. I also remember who was the US President then, and I am pretty sure that some of the former hostages remember who the Iranian President is now. Small world. By the way, when Congress voted to identify the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terror group, not only was Obama conveniently absent from the vote, but he subsequently attacked his political opponents for voting to designate the Guards as a terror group. Obama stated that it was just "justification for attacking Iran."
So Mr. Obama does not see the threat posed by a terrorist nation. OK, what does he think of our allies? Back in 2007 in a speech he said "It was a terrible mistake to fail to act when we had a chance to take out an al-Qaeda leadership meeting in 2005. If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will." OK, wait a second. This is the anti-War candidate saying he would take independent military action within the borders of a sovereign (nuclear) nation that happens to also be our ally? Are you serious? Please, someone spin this for me. Are there more politically expedient terrorist groups to target? al-Qaeda is more "badder" than Hamas? Hezbollah ?
Oh and who chided him on that statement, none other than his new best friend forever VP Candidate Joe Biden and the new Democratic darling Hillary Clinton. "BO"'s response: "I find it amusing, that those who helped to authorize and engineer the biggest foreign policy disaster in our generation are now criticizing me for making sure that we are on the right battlefield and not the wrong battlefield in the war against terrorism." Ouch, Love hurts.
Here is what I do know. Iran is an oil wealthy nation seeking Nuclear weapons and with a serious (genocidal) dislike for the United States and their own neighbor Israel. The same Israel who happen to be our only true ally in the region. How does Barack view Israel. Well, it's not really clear. He seems to "protect" himself with non controversial votes which seem to allude towards a positive attitude, but what about his friends & acquaintances? Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, the teachings of the Trinity United Church of Christ, Louis Farrakhan, George Sorros (Obama Fund Raiser). All vehemently anti-Israel. Have you asked yourself who are some of Obama's Foreign Policy Advisors? Zbigniew Brzezinski, Robert Malley, Tony Lake, Ivo Daalder, Scott Lasensky. By and large mostly Carter and Clinton people with a decidely pro-Arab, and in some cases, strong anti-Israel viewpoint. Does this make any of you feel good?
No I'm sorry "Tax the Rich", "Health Care for All" and "End the Illegal War" aren't cutting it for me. I want real answers to real questions and not just the normal political sound bites to make you look insightful without ever answering anything. That doesn't instill "Change We Can Believe In" to me, but it certainly does reek of "Politics As Usual Chump".
Do not be led blindly into the future. I have said this before and I will say it again. Politicians are elected by the people. We are their employers and if we send them to Washington without holding them accountable then we get what we deserve. It is not about looks, nor sound bites, nor empty promises. If that were the case we would elect (TV Pitchman) Billy May's as President and cry away our tears with a Sham-Wow.
Decide for yourself who best fits your needs. But if I wanted to be scammed, I have four kids that will happily provide that service to me and NOT raise my taxes.
Personally, I want a President like Theodore Roosevelt. "The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."
By the way, does anyone know who was the original champion of Universal Health Care & national Health Insurance ? Yeah, TR. 100 years ago and they are still promising us what they can't deliver.
Andrew
The Angry American
Saturday, October 4, 2008
What is a Hero?
I figured I would start October out with a respite from the political nonsense that seems to be so prevalent in our country right now.
Coming from New York City, I lived through a lot of police bashing. Every civilian has an opinion of what you should be doing, and when you should be doing it. We got a little relief after 9/11 when everyone was shell shocked. But it never lasts.
There is a great video on YouTube which shows a guy getting a chance to be a "Cop for a Day" in Baltimore. Very Funny Stuff.
But in all seriousness, the photo below shows exactly what it means to be a cop. A Cop in Regina, Canada approaches a High School where there is a hostage situation as students are seen fleeing. That's what it means to be a cop. As others run for safety, you run into harms way. (Thanks to Gregor in Austria for sharing the photo)
General George S. Patton said it best: “Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.”
Andrew
The Angry American
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Fannie, Freddie & Frank (Part Deux)
Previously I wrote about the political shenanigans going on with Democrats pointing both barrels of blame at Republicans for the current Bailout Debacle centered around the malevolent twins, Fannie & Freddie.
My issue is not to give the Republicans a free ride as I find them just as culpable, but to slap the democrats for being so incredibly outrageous as to look the American people in the eye and OUTRIGHT LIE to them.
We live in a world where our every word has the potential for being taped for future posterity. I believe that the problems we are facing today stem from both parties being more responsive to the Lobbyists and not to their employers, the American Taxpayers.
But there is nothing that riles me more than someone getting in front of the TV and having the AUDACITY to lie to me. Either you are trying to cover up your mistakes, or by virtue of your testimony you are INCOMPETENT.
So, watch the video and judge for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
Then when your stomach settles, you can listen to Fannie Mae's former CEO Daniel Mudd fawning over the Dem's in 2005. He served at Fannie from 2000 till this month when he was shown the door.
Mr. Mudd (I wonder if his parents knew how perfect that name would be) won't get his "severance package" sadly. But don't feel bad for old Danny Boy. The man's salary was only $900,000.00 but amazingly, he actually received $11.6 million in salary, stock and other compensation for 2007. It unfortunately was a pay-cut over his 2006 "winnings" which was $14.4 million. I wonder, do they list these jobs on "Career Builder"?
Anyway, without further ado, here he is calling calling the Dem's the "Family" and "Conscience" of Fannie Mae. Maybe he should have followed my rule, never loan family money!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usvG-s_Ssb0
Andrew,
The Angry American
My issue is not to give the Republicans a free ride as I find them just as culpable, but to slap the democrats for being so incredibly outrageous as to look the American people in the eye and OUTRIGHT LIE to them.
We live in a world where our every word has the potential for being taped for future posterity. I believe that the problems we are facing today stem from both parties being more responsive to the Lobbyists and not to their employers, the American Taxpayers.
But there is nothing that riles me more than someone getting in front of the TV and having the AUDACITY to lie to me. Either you are trying to cover up your mistakes, or by virtue of your testimony you are INCOMPETENT.
So, watch the video and judge for yourself:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs
Then when your stomach settles, you can listen to Fannie Mae's former CEO Daniel Mudd fawning over the Dem's in 2005. He served at Fannie from 2000 till this month when he was shown the door.
Mr. Mudd (I wonder if his parents knew how perfect that name would be) won't get his "severance package" sadly. But don't feel bad for old Danny Boy. The man's salary was only $900,000.00 but amazingly, he actually received $11.6 million in salary, stock and other compensation for 2007. It unfortunately was a pay-cut over his 2006 "winnings" which was $14.4 million. I wonder, do they list these jobs on "Career Builder"?
Anyway, without further ado, here he is calling calling the Dem's the "Family" and "Conscience" of Fannie Mae. Maybe he should have followed my rule, never loan family money!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usvG-s_Ssb0
Andrew,
The Angry American
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Politicians or Sports Hero's??
I was sitting here reading an article about the Bailout Debacle (Yes, I know... I have way to much free time) and the corresponding "reader comments" and it made me think. What in God's name do these people actually believe in and what the hell fantasy world do they live in?
I swear, for a moment I checked to make sure it was a political article and not some delusional sports magazine. Hello people wake up. These idiots are arguing like the Republicans and Democrats are some revered fantasy “political league” and it’s a week before the DC Porker Bowl.
THEY ARE POLITICANS NOT SPORTS HERO’S!!!!!!!!!!
But honestly, does anyone else see the comparison?
John McCain – Quarterback – The Washington Republicans
Barack Obama – Quarterback – The DC Dem’s
Each is a charming leader, skillfully guiding his team (party) as they via for the top prize.
They have a fine staff. The Republicans have:
Head Coach Mitch McConnell
Offensive Coach John Boehner
Defensive Coach Dick “Crush em All” Cheney
& Waterboy George Dubya'.
The Dem’s are equally represented by:
Head Coach Harry Reid
Offensive, Defensive & Special Teams Coach Nancy “mine, mine, all mine” Pelosi
& Cheerleading Director Barney Frank.
The teams also have the best marketing support money can, and does, buy: Housing, Health, Immigration & Legal Lobbyists.
And then there are you, Da’ Fan’s!!!!........................
You sit in your seat and root them on all season. Primaries in Des Moines, Conventions in Minnesota, Play-Off’s in DC. What a wild ride and here you are!!!
Boy oh Boy-O, You go to the ticket booth and buy your $3,500.00 ticket (your personal share of the $700 Billion bailout) for your seats in the Freddie-Mac Dome and sit back to watch these titans of the political battlefield duke it out.
And you find yourself sitting next to one of THEM……… Opposing Party Fans. AARRGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Let the verbal sparring begin.
Hey news flash zippy, your “team” has about as much concern for you & your opinions as the beer-boy servicing this section.
The latest bailout debacle is equivalent to multiple “flag” penalties on the field for unsportsmanlike conduct. Both sides are arguing and accusing the other of starting it. Hey nim-rod, yeah you in AIG Section 302, sit down and shut up. They are both guilty.
You sit there like YOU are a key component of your party. Not likely sport, unless you routinely slide fifty-large into your representatives pocket. You get a form letter sent with an auto-pen signature and you frame it to impress your equally delusional party buddy. Me and B.O…………… Tight Bay-Bee!!!
Yeah, tight…. like Eli Manning (shameless NY Giants plug here), signing a 12 year olds football card and hoping on the team jet.
I’m not trying to be overly sarcastic…….. (I said not overly) or too condescending, but the point is that you carrying on about your favorite politician is very sad. This type of hero worship has led us to the point we are at. Politicians are not to be idolized; they are supposed to be working for you.
Follow me here for a minute. The people you elected to represent you have failed miserably. They engaged in conduct that was simply wrong, and in many instances probably criminal. Now like the criminals they are they are trying to blame each other. And you, you’re like the rabid dog sports fan that vehemently defends the disgraced football player who was caught doing (Fill in the Blank).
I wonder, like sports players, do politicians sit there and go “damn, they actually believe me………”
As long as you sit there and continue to support their behavior, you are a key component in the problem. What we need to do is hold people accountable for what they say and what they do. That means if you’re a Republican you stand up when the President does something you feel is wrong, and if you’re a Democrat you call out Barney Frank when he blames the Republicans and yet doesn’t acknowledge his own involvement. If your only political affiliation is standing on the side line and shouting party slogans, you’re a mindless drone who probably doesn’t need to cause a backlog at the voting booth in November.
I believe in electing the best person for the job. Sadly, the Washington Gene Pool is really cloudy and producing some pretty scary off-spring.
Unless “We The People” take back control of our government, it will revert to “We The Politicians” and we will be left with whatever THEY decide is best for us.
That is not what the founding fathers intended. Quite honestly they would be amazed at the amount of damage we have managed to do in such a very short period of time.
If the best you can muster is to cheer like an idiot for your candidate du jour and spew inane talking points, as you yell-over your equally idiotic opposing party opponent. I wish you would turn off C-Span and turn on ESPN2 where your moronic behavior can’t do anymore damage.
Andrew,
The Angry American
I swear, for a moment I checked to make sure it was a political article and not some delusional sports magazine. Hello people wake up. These idiots are arguing like the Republicans and Democrats are some revered fantasy “political league” and it’s a week before the DC Porker Bowl.
THEY ARE POLITICANS NOT SPORTS HERO’S!!!!!!!!!!
But honestly, does anyone else see the comparison?
John McCain – Quarterback – The Washington Republicans
Barack Obama – Quarterback – The DC Dem’s
Each is a charming leader, skillfully guiding his team (party) as they via for the top prize.
They have a fine staff. The Republicans have:
Head Coach Mitch McConnell
Offensive Coach John Boehner
Defensive Coach Dick “Crush em All” Cheney
& Waterboy George Dubya'.
The Dem’s are equally represented by:
Head Coach Harry Reid
Offensive, Defensive & Special Teams Coach Nancy “mine, mine, all mine” Pelosi
& Cheerleading Director Barney Frank.
The teams also have the best marketing support money can, and does, buy: Housing, Health, Immigration & Legal Lobbyists.
And then there are you, Da’ Fan’s!!!!........................
You sit in your seat and root them on all season. Primaries in Des Moines, Conventions in Minnesota, Play-Off’s in DC. What a wild ride and here you are!!!
Boy oh Boy-O, You go to the ticket booth and buy your $3,500.00 ticket (your personal share of the $700 Billion bailout) for your seats in the Freddie-Mac Dome and sit back to watch these titans of the political battlefield duke it out.
And you find yourself sitting next to one of THEM……… Opposing Party Fans. AARRGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!
Let the verbal sparring begin.
Hey news flash zippy, your “team” has about as much concern for you & your opinions as the beer-boy servicing this section.
The latest bailout debacle is equivalent to multiple “flag” penalties on the field for unsportsmanlike conduct. Both sides are arguing and accusing the other of starting it. Hey nim-rod, yeah you in AIG Section 302, sit down and shut up. They are both guilty.
You sit there like YOU are a key component of your party. Not likely sport, unless you routinely slide fifty-large into your representatives pocket. You get a form letter sent with an auto-pen signature and you frame it to impress your equally delusional party buddy. Me and B.O…………… Tight Bay-Bee!!!
Yeah, tight…. like Eli Manning (shameless NY Giants plug here), signing a 12 year olds football card and hoping on the team jet.
I’m not trying to be overly sarcastic…….. (I said not overly) or too condescending, but the point is that you carrying on about your favorite politician is very sad. This type of hero worship has led us to the point we are at. Politicians are not to be idolized; they are supposed to be working for you.
Follow me here for a minute. The people you elected to represent you have failed miserably. They engaged in conduct that was simply wrong, and in many instances probably criminal. Now like the criminals they are they are trying to blame each other. And you, you’re like the rabid dog sports fan that vehemently defends the disgraced football player who was caught doing (Fill in the Blank).
I wonder, like sports players, do politicians sit there and go “damn, they actually believe me………”
As long as you sit there and continue to support their behavior, you are a key component in the problem. What we need to do is hold people accountable for what they say and what they do. That means if you’re a Republican you stand up when the President does something you feel is wrong, and if you’re a Democrat you call out Barney Frank when he blames the Republicans and yet doesn’t acknowledge his own involvement. If your only political affiliation is standing on the side line and shouting party slogans, you’re a mindless drone who probably doesn’t need to cause a backlog at the voting booth in November.
I believe in electing the best person for the job. Sadly, the Washington Gene Pool is really cloudy and producing some pretty scary off-spring.
Unless “We The People” take back control of our government, it will revert to “We The Politicians” and we will be left with whatever THEY decide is best for us.
That is not what the founding fathers intended. Quite honestly they would be amazed at the amount of damage we have managed to do in such a very short period of time.
If the best you can muster is to cheer like an idiot for your candidate du jour and spew inane talking points, as you yell-over your equally idiotic opposing party opponent. I wish you would turn off C-Span and turn on ESPN2 where your moronic behavior can’t do anymore damage.
Andrew,
The Angry American
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