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It's Deja Vu All Over Again

Posted by halthouse1 on Friday, February 06, 2009 6:00:00 AM
From The Political and Financial Markets Commentator at http://politicsandfinance.blogspot.com
 

Friday, February 6, 2009

It's Deja Vu All Over Again

Political Gamesmanship With The Future Of Our Country

The rhetoric in the clip below is typical of what goes on in Washington. This is a Democrat, but Republicans do it as well. It's about the show, not about what we need. In this case nobody actually knows what we need, but this crap certainly won't get us there, wherever it is that there actually is.



TARP Flashback

I went back to a September 21, 2008 blog I wrote to see what it was that I was thinking at the time. This is about 6 months ago, 6 months into what they call "the worst economic crisis since the great depression." There is a new administration in place, a new Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner, who had a big hand in creating this crisis or at least in exasperating it as the head of the New York Fed, and our economic future in the hands of politicians that I am afraid have no idea about what it is they are doing. Or more importantly, the potential dire ramifications of what they are doing. Or not doing?

As a concerned outsider it looks as though they are behind closed doors throwing darts at a board to figure out the next proposal with no real idea of the effect that it will have. The common stock of some major financial institutions like Citigroup and Bank of America may disappear, and the decision on the status of preferred stock and the whole capital structure of institutions receiving more TARP funds is anyones guess.

Unemployment and plummeting consumer confidence creates a feeling of despair. The Bank of England cut it's key rate 50 bp to 1%, and our rates are approaching zero. The employment numbers will be out by the time you read this, and there is no expectation for anything other than dismal numbers.

Thinks it's a problem? I found a website that seems to allow you to write a letter to any politician around the country. Check it out, and voice your concerns and let them know that they are playing a game with the future of the country, and so far have not been doing a very good job.

FreedomSpeaks.com

On the bright side, it's the weekend. Party on! Sphere: Related Content
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Caroline Kennedy: Common Sense Prevails

Posted by halthouse1 on Friday, January 23, 2009 8:00:00 AM

Friday, January 23, 2009

Caroline Kennedy: Common Sense Prevails

Caroline Kennedy Withdraws Name From The Pot For Senate Seat of Clinton

Was it a sudden realization that this was not the right job at the right time? Was it the health of her uncle as the New York Times reported? Was it a tax problem, nanny problem or marriage problem as was also reported?

To give her the benefit of the doubt, and credit for common sense, I will say that it was the former. That after the initial adrenalin rush from the thought of being the junior Senator from New York, the reality of the magnitude of the job set in. I would have to say that at this point Andrew Cuomo is the front runner for the job.

From The AP


"I believe she's made a prudent and wise decision," said Robert McClure, a political science professor at Syracuse University. "This is a person, from all accounts, of talent, dedication and character. But I saw no evidence that she was prepared for the public life that the high office of U.S. senator requires."

But don't count her out of politics.

"She's got an aura that, it seems to me, can be polished up better than most of us," he said. "She could still be a formidable political opponent."

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The Great Non-Debate: Kennedy/Palin

Posted by halthouse1 on Saturday, January 17, 2009 9:56:22 AM

From The Political and Financial Markets Commentator at http://politicsandfinance.blogspot.com

Monday, January 12, 2009

The Great Non-Debate: Kennedy/Palin

An Irrelevant Debate, But Let's Look At It Anyway

The Answer May Surprise You

Sarah Palin for Vice President or Caroline Kennedy for Junior Senator from New York

Each position has its' own skill set, job requirements, responsibilities and constituencies that are answered to. Some might say that the requirements to be Vice President are greater than that of Senator, and others might think the other way.

Each job in its' own right is of great importance:

The Vice President will be next in line to the most powerful position in the world as well as being tasked by the president to work on what are typically under the radar projects.

A Senator from one of the largest and some might say most important states (there will be disagreement on this), must work to have the needs of the whole State met while crawling through the maze of Senatorial politics, diversity of the population, partisan politics etc.

As discussed in this blog the other day, Caroline Kennedy brings what can only be kindly called a slim resume to the process, while Sarah Palin, whatever the feeling over her public persona which definitely rubbed this Republican the wrong way, has been a mayor and is governor of a state, albeit a small state.

What's In A Name Or Nickname: Hockey Mom vs. Political Royalty

Let's get down to the brass tacks of politics. If Caroline Kennedy were Mary Smith, we would not be having this debate, because she would not be at the top of the short list, or anywhere near the short list that only one man, Governor Paterson will be voting on (although he has recently voiced some thoughts about her resume).

Names and voices and verbal phraseology aside, is it possible, or more than that a fact, that perhaps neither of these women should have been, or to now be, under consideration for the offices that are in question? I think any sane thinker would have to say yes.

Not to say that one day each may not be, but please, not now!!!

For an interesting comaprison of the media and its' treatment of Hilary Clinton, Sarah Palin, Caroline Kennedy and Tina Fey, visit RenewAmerica.
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Attorney General Confirmation Hearings: What Is Torture?

Posted by halthouse1 on Saturday, January 17, 2009 9:42:22 AM
This is reprinted from my blog, The Political and Financial Markets Commentator at http://politicsandfinance.blogspot.com
Friday, January 16, 2009

Attorney General Confirmation Hearings: What Is Torture?

First, forgetting about the business, I wish the best to Steve Jobs of Apple whose medical problems are more serious than originally reported.

Do As I Say, Not As I Do

This is a common phrase parents use when explaining why something they are doing is OK, when they tell their kids not to do it.

In the case of Attorney General designate Eric Holder, I am hoping the opposite is true when it comes to his stated opinion on water boarding, and by extension, I would assume any other technique that would have the potential to get us the information we need to save innocent lives. His stated testimony is that water boarding is torture.

As I wrote in my blog on December 4, 2008, what torture is varies depending on the culture that is doing the torturing. Whereas some in the U.S. shudder at dogs barking at prisoners (intimidation), or them having to walk around in some stage of undress (humiliation), other cultures consider torture the cutting off of hands, beatings until death is the result and any other methods that you can think of.

These brutal techniques are not only sanctioned, but are business as usual. Not in all cultures, but in some that happen to be our enemies.

I know the common argument: to participate in similar activity brings us down to their level and makes us no better than they are.

This is my argument: When innocent lives are at stake, and one of our captures has information that can help us prevent tragedy, then methods that would typically not be acceptable become acceptable. Water boarding is a technique that has worked in the past, and will work in the future. It is not maiming, it is not murder, it is a technique that will potentially get us the actionable information that we need.

Testimony versus Fact

I am not naive, and I know the statements made during testimony are not necessarily what goes on in practice, and I am hoping that if and when Eric Holder is confirmed as our Attorney General, that is the case. We unfortunately need to have a siege mentality.

This confirmation is no layup by the way, as there are questions regarding the Marc Rich pardon among other things in Holders' background.

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