Panic? Ain't Seen Nottin'

Think this Presidential Campaign season has been hot and noisy? We ain't seen nottin' yet.

After a nice post-Convention bounce, McCain had a little edge in the polls nationally. That, plus a possible Bradley Effect election-day tip and he'd be smiling all the way to January (where he'd head-crash hard dealing with the crap that awaits our next President).

Then, reality struck, again. No, not the hurricanes (which found McCain attempting a Presidential-looking Perch somewhere in Missouri to be 'kept advised' about Gustav). No.

It's the Economy (yup, the one Obama has been talking about since whenever). Wall Street finally lost two wheels over the Banking Deregulation railroaded into law by John McCain's very tight buddy Phil Gramm (as the Nation held its breath in 1999 over the outcome of the first Bush election). Fittingly, when someone authors such legislation, it usually bears their name. This deregulatory piece of work bears Gramm's name :). You like?

Then McCain's camp accidentally let be published this week an article in "Contingencies" magazine which bears McCain's name as author - and a wonderful FULL-PAGE (did I say FULL-PAGE) picture of him as a lead-in. The big Whoops arose from the fact that the author of this piece put in McCain's mouth these words -

"Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation."

- John McCain - September, 2008

As I've lamented here before - how do these guys get it SO WRONG!?!

To my point, the polls are tipping in Obama's favor - starting with a 9-point lead today for Obama in Michigan (home to a couple automotive firms who's losses recently have rivalled the banking industry - with consequence jobs impact).

Now earlier this week Obama correctly observed that McCain was acting a little panicked -

“This morning, Senator McCain gave a speech in which his big solution to this world wide economic crisis was to blame me for it,” Obama said to boos from the crowd of about 8,000 people at a South Florida rally. “This is the guy who spent nearly three decades in Washington and after spending the entire campaign saying I haven’t been in Washington long enough he apparently now is willing to assign me the responsibility for all of Washington’s failures.”

“I think it’s pretty clear that Sen. McCain is a little panicked right now,” he added. “At this point he seems to be willing to say anything or do anything or change any position or violate any principle to try and win this election.”

I'd have to agree with Obama. What does Panic look like for McCain?

So, next comes the Race Card from McCain (silly me - I thought all along that it would be easier for McCain to smear Clinton as a Woman than Obama as a Black Man ... and maybe it would have been but McCain has tossed out his Honor and Integrity now making anything possible). The Race Card is juxtaposing Obama with 'scary' Black men and following with elderly females.

Shezzz. This McCain stuff will be playing in Poli Sci classrooms around the world for 50 years.

But, we ain't seen nottin' yet. How, and When, will it get worse?

'When' is Easy

The first National Debate is this coming Friday night (11/26/2008). Obama's intellect and clarity, and calm sincerity will swamp McCain - whose presentation skills are poorer, yes, but more importantly whose tired rhetoric and stereotypical generalizations will be laid bare against the razor-sharp recitation of case-history Obama can recall in the moment, and his genuine intent to lift Americans out of these depths in which we find ourselves.

The challenge for Obama will be to avoid the situation Gore faced in 2000. In citing abundant facts and figures to support his superior points of debate, Gore was rebutted by a lost and fuzzy-headed George Bush who merely retorted "You're using Fuzzy Math!" And that was all it took - America went with the put-down and we got what we deserved - a Village Idiot in Washington, more unqualified Federal Appointees nationally, hundreds of deaths as evidence of it all in Katrina, thousands more in Iraq, and now a Trillion dollars more in bailouts on Wall Street.

At the risk of redundancy, HOW can these guys get it SO WRONG?

So, that will be Obama's challenge on Friday - to present an accessible story based on facts. (Fortunately, this time, the Media are not going to be as willing as in 2000 to let a dumbed-down presentation stand as "A Helluva Job!" for America's future - oh, silly me - they might. We'll have to see.)

So that's WHEN it begins - after McCain gets Gustav'd on Friday night.

'How'?

Not sure how but you, me, and Dupree can see it coming - more Lies, more Race Baiting, more blaming Obama, more feigned Outrage at whatever. Oh, and more trying to deny Americans their right to vote. My friend Rich thinks that should be Treason and vows to work for this after the election settles (either way!). Contact me to get aligned with this Patriotic Goal.

Look, everyone knows McCain cannot compete with Obama as a Candidate - it is that lost Republication Ideology, fickle as it may be in McCain (and only lent some direction by Palin's "You bet your six-shooter I'm certain" views), that moves anyone to admit to agreement with McCain. He is a Dyed-in-the-Wool Deregulator in today's reality-show of a woefully under-regulated world (about a Trillion Dollars Short and a Decade Late).

McCain's backed the wrong policies for 95 of the last 96 months.

He's always been a World War III RISK! (Says McCain - "I know how to win wars!" - having never won one, it might be noted.) His Republican colleagues, our Retired Admirals and Generals, and the Media all agree - he does NOT have the temperament for the Oval Office. Sarah Palin-Bush makes it worse.

America is waking up to this. Even people that dislike Obama recognize the RISKS of McCain. Like Bush there will be -

• Lobbyists running our White House,
• Nudging us toward War from Day One,
• More "Make the Wealthy Wealthier and we'll all be better off" policy,
• Continued lying in office (didn't they Used To Impeach for that offense?),
• Squads of lawyers advising McCain/Palin to refuse to obey the rule of law.

America, we are not Slow Learners - Eight Years is Long Enough to figure this out. But it'll get worse before it's over.

JT

How to say "Liar"

The News Media has been wrestling with a new problem in 2008 - how to call someone a "Liar."

See, there's a time-honored tradition that the Press does not cast this sort of judgment toward anyone. Say there's a criminal with a line like "I wasn't committing a burglary, I was attempting to disarm a nuclear warhead", well, they can just cite that quote, and then say that "the authorities have him in custody."

The point about the lie is clear.

When it comes to Politics, people are used to a little twisting of the arm and stretching of the truth. In these cases, the Press has another technique that has worked pretty well until recently. That was to recite the questionable statement, and then to say that the 'opposing party' disputes that remark.

In that way, the Press doesn't assume any risk of getting in between the parties, nor have to try to discern where the truth actually lies (pun intended).

Trouble is, the lies flying around in this year's campaign are posing a new challenge for the Press. It seems innumerable statements have been made which are so obviously false that the Press itself is now taking hits for failing to state the obvious (it's a lie), as well as hits in its reporting and presenting 'the opposing party's point of view' as merely a differing position.

Keith Olbermann (MS-NBC) has finally hit upon a way to tell a Liar that they appear to be lying. Here it is: in citing conflicting remarks VP Candidate Sarah Palin made between her first and second press interviews he said:

"Sarah, you're coming across like an out-of-control liar!"

Clever, Keith! You DIDN'T call her a liar (yet). You merely warned her, in a very friendly gesture, that she may be soiling her own integrity! Clever.

That will work for now.

JT

Tagged and Bagged a Dead Moose

BB-Gun for Christmas at five. Fiberglass recurve bow the next summer. Touched off my first deer rifle at seven. Poured molten-lead into hand-held bullet molds in the basement, and reloaded brass there at the bench.

So I know a little bit about hunting. I know you better have your permit. You'd better have your tag. You'd better have your dates right. And you'd better NOT touch off a round before that early morning season start opening day.

I know something else you NEVER do - you DON'T represent a trophy as yours WHEN IT'S NOT.

And that's what Sarah Palin has done. She Tagged and Bagged a Dead Moose (shot by someone else), threw it in the back, and hauled it home. She mounted a BIG RACK and now she continues to call it her shot.

Bull Moose!

That's lying to the American people. Time Magazine thinks so; CNN thinks so. In fact, nearly every major journalistic outlet is entirely baffled by what has been thoroughly debunked as a bald-faced lie.

Yet she keeps shooting off her mouth, and her foot, with this story.

Sarah's made a huge mistake with this Bridge to Nowhere - the Bridge she was FOR before she was AGAINST. You see, this Bridge was a DEAD MOOSE long before she turned against it. By the time her "No Thanks" came out, the flies where thick around its rotten corpse.

The only thing that she shot, and she hit this one square on, is her own integrity.

Sarah Palin - now, about that cute Corp Jet eBay Lie that Johnnie is telling ... please tell me he did NOT hear that from you!?!

JT

Pssst. John! "What She Said"

When reporters pressed McCain in November, 2007, whether the government should provide contraceptives or counseling on contraceptives, he replied,

"You've stumped me."

More inquiry, and, "Ahhh, I think I support the president's policy," McCain said.

His agony is over. Now he can drop "What the President said" and just go with "What she said."

- JT


About Sarah Palin
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

A Woman Who Knows Her Job

A woman who knows her job, and a man who can't quite do his.

In her own words "I'm gonna just give it to ya, baby. We'll leave it there."

Never did get what she asked for; never really got anything for her time.

JT

Winning on a Hail Mary Bad Call

There's a BIG difference between Winning on a Hail Mary and Winning on a Bad Call.

In a play dubbed "The Miracle at Michigan" on September 24, 1994, in a game between Colorado and Michigan, 100,000 stunned fans watched CU QB Kordell Stewart (later of Pittsburgh Steelers 'Slash' fame) fling a no-time-left ball 70 yards to Michael Westbrook in the Michigan end zone for the winning score. (What's more, the ball was tipped in the end zone.)

Years later, my Dad (from Big 10 Country) and I (CU Alum) were watching Colorado play and I realized he was silently rooting for the other team.

"Why?" I asked him (I'd left Madison, WI - aka Big-10 Country - 30 years prior for Colorado).

He responded "I guess because I'm still mad about that CU Hail Mary pass that beat Michigan."

He was mad. And I understood (though what skin he had in that game with Michigan I wasn't sure, being a UW Badger, himself). But really, you have to let go of a Hail Mary that works.

Bad calls are something else. The Blogosphere is rich with rants over NFL Bad Calls. The Seattle-Pittsburgh Superbowl XL (2006) seems to be a lightning rod for such posts.

And, though bad to lose on a bad call, no one but NO ONE wants to be defending their win ad infinitum due to an officiating gaff. Yet, they'll cling to that win. A Bad Call is all "Gotta' go with the call on the field." "It's just part of the game."

So, how does this tie in to our November Election? Couple ways:

First, hats off to Sarah Palin for netting the VP call.

"To serve as vice president beside such a man [McCain] would be the privilege of a lifetime, and it's fitting that this trust has been given to me 88 years almost to the day after the women of America first gained the right to vote," Palin said.

An aside: I'm not sure why it's so 'Fitting' (a) after 88 years, or, for that matter, (b) that it took the GOP 24 years to catch up to the Democrats with their nomination of Ferraro in '84. But, okay, she says 'Fitting'.

What's troubling me is more than the choice of words she uses. It's the Bad Call in her win. See, for her, this is a "Privilege of a Lifetime" - like winning a big game. So, who lost this time?

Folks, it's not Hillary. No, McCain (and Limbaugh, and Hannity, and Savage) worked hard to see Mrs. Clinton was not in the game at all. So, who lost because Palin won? How about:

Jodi Rell (R), Governor of Connecticut - (honorary law degree, U of Hartford 2001)

Like Obama, Rell served in the State Legislature (but in the lesser House, not Senate as did Obama), then she served as Leutenient Governor for three terms, THEN became Governor. Then was RE-ELECTED Governor.

Rell received more votes in that re-election than there are PEOPLE (plus Polar Bears) in all of Alaska.

Olene Smith Walker (R), Former Governor of Utah - (Bachelors, Masters - Stanford!, and PhD)

Walker also served in the State Legislature including a term as Majority Whip. Unfortunately, her party trashed her re-election bid and she was not on the ballot for the next election.

Linda Lingle (R), Governor of Hawaii - (Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude)

Since Lingle is only sitting Governor (for two terms) of the state of Hawaii - just twice the population of Alaska - I'll move along.

There's Judy Martz - former Lieutenant Governor, and Governor of Montana (and former Olympic Speed Skater).

And then, there's Christine Todd Whitman - former Governor of New Jersey, and former Administrator of the EPA under George Bush (2001-2003). While at the EPA, she produced a report, later dismissed by President Bush, itemizing the anticipated effects of Global Warming on the United States. This puts her more in line, we're told, with McCain than Palin (who disclaims the scientific consensus of man's influence in Global Warming). Whitman is also a Director of Texas Instruments and of United Technologies. She is deeply involved in Energy Consulting and is a Nuclear Power advocate (now that's not Big Oil, John!). She even worked on Nelson Rockefeller's campaign. Can you say Blue Blood (or Red Blood, as the state may be)?

I'll leave it as an exercise to the reader to look at our nation's fine female Senators and Representatives, present and past, and those women who may be past or present mayors of the 16 cities in the US bigger than the state of Alaska.

Some of these women have an "issue" hanging in their closet (as do many public figures).

To their detriment, these issues were not played out in a Jed Clampit-sized political arena as were Palin's 'Trooper-gate', her 'Bridge-to-nowhere support flip-flop', her 'with Stevens before I was against him' plays, and her mini-Pork Barrel funded Hockey Arena as Mayor of a town a little bigger than my High School.

So, if this "Lifetime Privilege" is her big win, Sarah Palin has won by Bad Call. And I'm not referring to her decision to leave for Washington with the nagging family responsibilities of a 4-month old Downs Syndrome baby, and her pregnant, unwed 17-yr old daughter. (Apart from those details) this Bad Call was not her decision. Really, it's "Just part of the Game", a "Call made on the field." And she's clinging to her victory.

Enough about the Bad Call - it's still McCain's Hail Mary. And that's something that's NOT been duplicated in Sports, or ranted upon in the Blogosphere - a Bad Call on a Hail Mary.

JT

Introducing Her To America

Hi. I just watched Fox News running (at top-of-hour) a news story including a video clip of Sarah Palin being "Introduced to America."

No Kidding! Her National experience is, oh, about 0.0. Her International experience, ah, less? Oh, wait, she lives near Russia.

This individual has been hiding in a state the size (pop.) of Memphis, Tennessee. So, forgive her anonymity. And, welcome to the National and World stage. She HAS been out of the country before. However, her political experience is, limited. Mayor of a city of 6000. Well that's a lot - bigger than my High School ! ! !

The state that she has represented since last year (inaugurated in 2007), is the size in population of Memphis, TN. I guess there are 15 or so Mayors of cities bigger than Memphis that are wondering if they should toss their name in the ring - does not seem that late, considering.

All this to try to scoop the respect the nation had bestowed upon a clear contributor for decades - Hillary??? Tell me: do you feel gamed?

Meanwhile, the Focus on the Family had some technical difficulties - their prayer for 'Biblical Proportion' rain in Denver on Thursday seems to have resulted in 'Biblical Proportion' rain on New Orleans for this week. Only Technical Difficulties, I'm sure. McCain is talking about postponing the RNC Convention - lucky for him, considering they had their hat handed to them last week.

Maybe there's a good Fire Works vendor in MN that could, you know, help out with the drama for them. Got to do something, I'm sure they're thinking.

Meanwhile, Palin is being hailed as the LEAST EXPERIENCED individual on a major ticket (including Spiro, Dannie [Quayle], Geraldine, et al).

Talk about Hail Mary!?!

You GOT TO LOVE a Go-For-Broke Gambler [McCain], but, did you also want to put him in the White House? He's more suited to a late-night cable show - don't you think?

JT

Posers and Suckers

What's going on here? It Takes A Village, genuine concern for the uninsured, overwhelmingly successful Mother in protecting and raising Chelsea - these are some of the attributes of Hillary Clinton along with the rest of her political life. Yes, it would have been great to have her as our Candidate. And as our President. But she's not. And won't be this time.

So, to Honor Her Historic Heroism, you want to spit on her core beliefs and her LIFE'S WORK? You're a POSER. You are a party dog sic'd out on the attack and posing as a Hillary fan. For example -

Hillary was out campaigning for BO while he was body surfing.....next he'll ask her to wash his windows! She has done more than any Dem opponent in any election ever! No one can throw it up her face! HILLARY SUPPORTER FOR McCAIN, EVEN AFTER THE CONVENTION.

LOL

As I've said, this is about as disingenuous it gets. Almost. What's more so is the present McCain ads that lead with Hillary and implore the brainless to turn against the honor of the Democratic Party in school-girl-like respite. Or, school-boy-like? You pick - it's equally pathetic.

Tell you what, that right there should offend you enough - how the McCain camp is using Hillary. Talk about washing windows! How about campaigning for a never-led-anything (and still not ready), nothing-new-to-offer, WWIII risk (!) like McCain?

So, you who post on blogs comments like the above, you're nothing but Posers - (maybe even loser guys!) with nothing but the desperate, empty feeling of nothing to lose.

Posers.

Now, who are the Suckers? Who's believing you? Dunno - maybe the Press? Not me. No one I know.

JT

Still Failing Economics

John McCain (August 2008 on Phil Gramm): "Thank you Phil, for all your friendship and support."

Phil Gramm (Summer 2008): Called Americans a nation of "whiners"; said we're in a "Mental Recession"; more than any other politician, he caused the Enron implosion and the credit crunch.

The billionaire Warren Buffet: Phil Gramm has twice tossed "financial weapons of mass destruction" into the US economy.

McCain (On 'Economics'): "I rely on the circle I have developed over many years -- people like Phil Gramm."

Who is Phil Gramm? On healthcare for 80-year-olds facing poverty, he said: "Most of us don't have the luxury of living to be 80 years-old, so it's hard for me to feel sorry for them."

Gramm championed the law freeing Enron from both regulation and disclosure, on the grounds these were "unacceptable fetters on the free market." Enron was his biggest campaign contributor, and paid his wife one million dollars. Cozy.

Enron took over the electricity market in California; engineered power blackouts to drive up the price for power. They ended up in bankruptcy themselves (creditors lost over $50 Billion), and bankrupt California's public budgets. In a surreal move, Gramm blamed "environmental extremists" even after it was proven Enron execs had paid the power plants to "get creative" in turning out the lights.

Gramm's next dozy Legislative effort in the US Senate was to spearhead a Congressional Act bearing his own name (described in a recent Legal Text): "a stunning departure from normal legislative practice" - regulated banks went to unregulated financial institutions called the "shadow banking system" offering wildly unsustainable mortgages to the poor, then bundled into exotic packages of derivative commodities.

Gramm moved on to a megabucks job at banker UBS, one bank raking in billions from his changes. UBS subsequently lost an estimated $37 Billion in the credit meltdown caused by Gramm's legislation which scuttled Banking System regulation. (This figure is estimated because, how do you get an exact figure when you're losing that much money? And, how can you get this SO WRONG?)

Within a few years, the entire system began to collapse without the support beams of state regulation, bringing down the entire US Stock Market. Sub-prime mortgages predictably fell apart, with 2 million Americans facing repossession. The state has had to step in with a much heavier hand than before - and even that will not prevent a recession now. So much for the Free Market - let's bail ourselves out with our Kids' future taxes.

Next, McCain made Gramm the co-chair of his presidential campaign, and hinted he might make him Treasury Secretary.

John McCain (August 2008 on Phil Gramm): "Thank you Phil, for all your friendship and support."

Want more?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/would-you-really-buy-a-mo_b_119440.html

(Thanks to Johann Hari for assembling these facts in his recent post - see link above.)

JT

Able to Lead the Free World?

This one will scare you half to death. I'm not sure if he's dazed and confused, or if this is our new Shock and Awe plan for the World Stage. Check out the part about 3:40 into it - huh?

Is this man really able to lead the free world? Finger on the Red Button?

Finally, Vladimir Putin was President of Russia, not Germany (yikes!), and is now the Prime Minister (of Russia ... where he was born!). Maybe you and I don't need to know that, but I think the President of the United States should. What to you think?

How do you think Bush would feel if Putin referred to him as the President of Mexico, or Canada? Would that help our World Relations some?

JT

A Windmill on Every Corner? Ha!

I have heard Conservatives say that Progressives want "a Windmill on every corner! Ha!"

So? Maybe you've noticed that in some parts of town we have a Gas Station on every corner. Is that some how better? But, windmills? On every block? Don't know?

You'd have to be a jingo imperialist to dismiss out-of-hand efforts at energy conservation by other nations, right? Especially the poor, "can't afford to pay up" third-world economies or, say, economies like China?

Here's how China is dealing with energy costs and availability: a windmill on every street lamp. Scroll down on that page if you missed it - picture after picture of real, live Chinese technology - free energy and improved standard of living for the Citizens of the People's Republic. In these photos is home-grown Chinese technology locally engineered and produced just like, well, like the Model-T.

Why can't America seem to "get" the advantage of this? Are we just too proud to use free fuel, or what? How does that last paragraph make you feel? I'll share how it makes me feel - like we'd better get CAUGHT UP over here!

Toyota Motors can't build the Prius Hybrid fast enough; is moving production to the US to try to meet demand. Ford and GM lose Billions and Billions every year; lay off tens of thousands; close plants; advertise "very limited" quantities of their brand of hybrid electrics that get 2 mpg better fuel economy than their gas models (source: Saturn website). Are we, as Americans, proud of that astonishing record by our grossly overpaid and over-rated Automotive Executive Heads of American Industry?

I, for one, am tired of America looking The Fool in the worlds of Industry and Technology. Are you?

Why do Conservatives ridicule the notion of wind power? [Try this - say it laughingly for the proper effect: "a windmill on every corner?".]

Even T. Boone Pickens is into it now.

Who has the Leadership skills and Vision to go to Washington and catch this country up with the rest of the world?

- JT

To The Highest Bidder - BusinessWeek

Free Markets.

Long revered as the single best way to grow jobs, profits, wealth for all (trickle down), and to insure the enduring success of corporations (and consequently, you) - free markets.

Less regulation with hands-off policies yields benefits for all.

And where could this be MORE obvious than in the struggle today over new oil drilling on our coastal shelves and Alaska? So, all the more SURPRISE that BusinessWeek would come out with an Emperor Wearing No Clothes piece this week on that very topic.

BusinessWeek cites reports that opening disputed areas to new drilling today would take until 2025 to impact world production BY ONE PERCENT! I'm no Macro-Economist, but I got a hunch that a 1% increase in production, especially 17 years out, would be like well, a drop in the bucket. Plus, I don't really have 17 years to wait for an impact on my fuel bills.

Do you?

What else did BusinessWeek report? Well, how about:

But while companies and their lobbyists are gunning for access, there's no guarantee they'd ultimately produce more fossil fuels. First, seismic exploration data have not been updated for more than a quarter century, and extensive testing would be required before companies made decisions on capital allocations. And any oil that is recovered would go into the global marketplace — not directly into U.S. consumers' cars.”

OUCH - oil would go into global markets?

That seems wrong. (Of course, John McCain thinks that's OK - he voted against retaining new US Oil Production for US Consumers.)

So, let's recap - BusinessWeek says a 1% improvement is 17 years away, the new oil would go to the highest bidder (like, oh, China?). What else?

Well, how about why this would take so long? They said it would "require years of extensive seismic research before a single rig could operate".

Finally, they reported:

If the oil ever does flow from U.S. coastal areas, its ultimate destination offers another wrinkle to the issue. Crude oil sloshes around a vast global marketplace, where energy producers aim to secure the best price. That means U.S.-sourced crude could be sold anywhere a consumer is willing to pay more. Former Vice-President Al Gore, who opposes lifting the moratorium [on new off-shore drilling], raised that point at a July 17 news conference on energy policy. "You take an oil deposit right off the coast of California—that's more likely to be sold to China" - said Gore.

So, my final question for you: is Gore really so much smarter than everybody else to see through these things, or, is everybody else too dumb (or too "interested" - read: financially motivated) to report the obvious?

Tell ya, I gotta hand it to BusinessWeek - the Emperor really IS bare-assed.

Other interesting topics:

One Commenter on this story says: "I'd rather we sell oil to China than see them burn more polluting coal." Shezz.

Then, there's the whole refinery thing - that being: there's really no place in the US to refine more oil (into Gasoline) - Oil Companies have been reducing Refinery capacity to "control costs", resulting in less production. Net-net, we import Gasoline as well as Oil into the US.

All of which leads me to conclude that this is a Stinking Mess that needs some better leadership in Washington than we've had in the last 25 years.

- JT

(See entire story.)

Ghost of Enron?

John McCain has a new campaign ad attempting to tie high gas prices to Barack Obama. This is thin ice for McCain - as reported today on MS-NBC, during his three decades of "work" in the US Senate, his Energy Voting record includes voting AGAINST production from new oil wells in the US being earmarked exclusively for US Markets.

Did I lose you? That is, John McCain COULD NOT SUPPORT legislation to save US Oil from US Lands for US People. Hmmm.

Oh, McCain did also have the distinction of voting against numerous alternative energy initiatives. (Now, he didn't bother to vote AT ALL on the latest GI Bill, but that's another blog.)

So, as I say, trying to attribute blame to Obama ... that is a stretch but, well, maybe they think their supports won't really, well ... realize?

So, where can we attribute some blame for this ballooning oil price trend? Well, of course, there is the demand thing - rising ever, rising globally. But, there is also some overhang from legislative action pushed by (yup) Gramm and Co. (see previous post). Here's an overview -



That's all I have time for on this Oil thing today - there's just too much more to talk about. For example, this (77,000 petition signatures and counting as of 7/21/2008).



- JT

One Hundred to One - Once in a Life-Time Chance!

One Hundred to One - What an Opportunity!?!

Some people are making a killing on IMB (IndyMac Bancorp) these days. Your $10,000 invested a year ago could be worth well over $1,000,000 today. Only problem: you had to bet AGAINST IndyMac (go Short) a year ago to make this 100x money.

A year ago, IMB was trading for $31.00. Today it closed at $0.12 (yes, twelve cents) - down another 50+% from Friday's close of $0.28. What an investment (actually 200x)!

Didn't have Failing Financials on your radar a year ago? No problem -

Today, the Financial Sector UltraShort ETF, SKF, was UP over 10% - a nice little one-day return. And that one you might have seen coming! Still more to be made there? Tough to say - but it's clear that some people have done well shorting financial stocks in the past year. A year ago SKF was trading at $71.05. Today it closed at $192.01. Careful - it hasn't been straight up. It was down $41 one day earlier this year.

Tonight, early word from across the globe has foreign markets - Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, So. Korea, all fainting under the exposure they have to US Financials. Can you say World-Wide Do-Do?

Forget for a minute that you have foreign-market exposure in your 401K. Forget that you can't short stocks in your IRA. And set aside that you're not trading your retirement on one-day gains. Forget, too, the 10,000 individuals guilty of trusting IndyMac with more of their money than the $100,000 limit for federally insured funds (your tax dollars at work?).

Then, maybe you can appreciate what Phil Gramm (of Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act fame) must have had in mind when he spearheaded the Financial Deregulation of 1999. He pushed a left-for-dead bill across the finish line late while most of Washington and the Nation were glued to the Supreme Court's commandeering of Florida's Presidential Election results. The regulatory protection of the overturned Glass-Steagall Act had held America's financial institutions out of such trouble since the bank panics of the Great Depression in the 1930's.

I can recall as a youngster my Father, now 88, telling me of those dark days with wide eyes and stern tone - "The money was gone! There was nothing left!" I guess that's how IndyMac's depositors felt this past weekend.

Gramm himself says "I see no evidence whatsoever" that the subprime collapse was caused by this deregulation. Gramm has some strong support for his position. After he set the financial community a twitter with plenty of rope, he left the US Senate and went to USB. USB has since lost a reported $38 Billion (so far) on the subprime collapse. They still like this guy that gave them all that rope.

So does John McCain. I watched in amazement the video on MS-NBC of a McCain rally with McCain handing off the microphone to Phil Gramm - already on stage with McCain. This, so Gramm could explain the economic plan they have in store for us.

Maybe we ain't seen nothin' yet. Perhaps there's still time to place your bets.

How can these guys be so wrong? Gramm with a plan for his company's shareholders to lose $38 Billion of their assets? McCain with no capability to discriminate economic skill from obviously flawed and, now, woefully irresponsible ideology.

But most of all, what about the Voting Public that has this team running nearly dead even with Obama - a man who's main objective is a total change from all this on our behalf?

Oh. That's right. Bush won twice. That explains a lot. That, and, some people just can't get enough of these latest stock market gains, I guess.

JT

Small World, or Small Mind?

Small World, or Small Mind?

You've heard of ABC, NBC and BBC, right?

Go to the ABC or NBC Home Page and search the page for 'language'.

Now, go to BBC's Home Page and see this:

NEWS IN 33 LANGUAGES

It's a link to a page with, well, news in 33 languages (actually, 35 today). Not only are the links there, but each appears in its native language, too. So, even if you can't read English, you can still find your way to, oh, Somali or Uzbek coverage.

Just to catch everybody up,
BBC == British Broadcasting Corporation
ABC == American Broadcasting Company
NBC == National Broadcasting Company

Wikipedia says BBC is the world's largest broadcasting corporation. But ABC and NBC are not chump change. So why does the BBC provide news in 35 languages and ABC and NBC, between them, cover a single language? (There may be other languages there but I could not find them.)

Maybe we folks in the US spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about ourselves?

Now, we're all pretty anxious about Gas Prices, right? (Well, at least I am, as are most of the people I know.) But our gasoline costs just one quarter of what it costs in Korea. And it's cheaper than in most other industrialized countries. Here are some details from CNN.

Yes, we worry a lot about things in our own little corner of the world.

Presently, we are engaged in some, um, theaters of military action in parts of the world. Mr. Bush is quick to take credit for elevating these regions to a (naggingly persistent) level of armed conflict during his administration. He believes that it will make our little corner, America, safer (and his prodigy, McCain, echos this vision).

Here, and around the world, there are differing views:

In December 2006, a Carnegie Scholar writing for YaleGlobal (of Yale University, George Bush's Alma Mater) stated that the Iraqi war fuels a "Global Jihad." As far back as 2003, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Iraq "will produce 100 Bin Ladens." I don't need to go on.

In my past blogs, I highlighted the global effects of greenhouse gases, of which America is a prime contributor (see my Blog Archives - Global Warming Arrives...).

How are all these things related? Well, either appreciate that it's a Small World, or suffer the consequences of a Small Mind.

JT

Straight Facts

Boy! Don't you hate when people 'go off' spouting feeds and speeds in authoritative tone with bogus numbers!?! It's hard enough to come to consensus without having bogus data confusing everyone.

Here's a Fuel Facts site that has the real numbers (as far as they can be determined with your tax dollars - please, let's not get started on that one) - Basic Petroleum Statistics.

Here's another good one - Gasoline Prices (in case you missed it in an earlier post).

JT

Tell Detroit To Speed It Up For US

Tell Detroit they're hurting you -- NOT the Auto Workers; the Auto Executives!

Let them know you expect more MARKET-DRIVEN BEHAVIOR from them, and more FORWARD-LOOKING BEHAVIOR, too.

Or, go here - http://www.lightbulbstoleadership.org/.

JT

I Don't Know if McCain is Breaking the Law

I don't know if McCain is breaking the law. I wish I did. (John McCain, contact me here when you get this message and wish to comment - I promise I'll publish all your communications.)

The trouble is that I decided not to go to Law School. And these things are complex. I am a Gearhead and only know enough about The Law to understand Technology Licensing Agreements, Patent Declarations, and 'Specific Performance' Agreements. I haven't even read any of the Federal Law surrounding Campaign Financing.

So, I don't know much about this. Consequently, I am NOT accusing McCain myself of any wrong doing. (But, I've heard TALK and I've read THINGS.) SOMEBODY TELL ME! Is McCain Breaking The Law here???

As I have heard it explained, McCain OPTED IN to the Federal Election Commission Funding Program. It seems that he even secured a LOAN on campaign spending by ASSERTING that he was IN on the Public Funding thing. (This, mind you, is just what I've read.) Then, as I have heard, he changed his mind about that Commitment and proceeded to Exceed Spending Limits in apparent violation of Federal Election Commission funding laws by Over-Spending in one or more States in the Union.

Now, like I said, I don't know these laws. But apparently you cannot just 'change your mind' unilaterally and begin to violate the Federal Compaign Finance law's spending limitations. If so, then that, it seems to me, would be a Violation of Federal Law.

Apparently, there needs to be some act on the part of the FEC that releases you from a prior-stated commitment before you can begin to SPEND outside the dictates of those laws. I don't know -- do some Google searches and let me know what you find.

You know, I do know a little bit about borrowing money ... maybe if you ASSERT that you are IN with the Federal Campaign Finance Funding on a Loan App, then, you're (somehow) NOT, then, MAYBE, you have an obligation to report to your Lending Institution that there has been some MATERIAL CHANGE in your Stated Qualifications for that Loan. I don't know. We'd have to ask that Lending Institution how they feel about that - is McCain just another Borrower, or does he get a Pass on that?

Here's the Bottom Line: McCain is reputed to be sort of a 'Golden Boy' when it comes to 'Campaign Finance Reform'. If he WERE to be violating Federal Campaign Finance Law (well, that sounds like a crime, for one, eh?) but, that would be pretty ironic. Right?

Let me know if you can make any sense of this issue because I cannot. In particular, I cannot find ANY reference to either (a) News Agencies that defend McCain's abrupt Flip Flop on his FEC decision (or the apparent material "variance" in his loan profile), or, (b) any mention in print of this apparent Campaign Finance Law-defying behavior (though I have heard it discussed on the radio).

That is, except for THIS which may help in your search.

JT

PS - or THIS.

Kook Fringe?

I DID have a blog here related to Rush Limbaugh, but, frankly, I believe he's marginalized himself so much with what I view as extremely offensive behavior that I decided not to waste your time with it.

JT

On Off-Shore Drilling

YES - we're addicted to Oil. Where else can we get it? How about those EXISTING 31 Million Acres of Leaseholds that the Oil Companies have SITTING IDLE? What? Are they holding out for $200/barrel prices to crank it up?

Folks, there is a crisis going on - I even feel it when I fill up my Prius (ouch!). But the Oil Companies (and, of course Oilman Bush) want to fool you into thinking that the 'quick fix' is to undo what the American Public decided 25 years ago - restart off-shore drilling. This, even as we face the prospect of ever-increasing coastal storms in this uncertain climatic transitionary period.

Now, I think we'll drill there some day. And I hate to see my family and friends (and self) dropping so much cash on gas. But, the FACTS IN THE CASE are that the Oil Companies have LOTS of properties they're ignoring. Why? Well, I'd speculate that it's hording and holding out for higher prices, along with using some good old OPEC-like leverage to create a political shift to their advantage.

My sources? This is a pretty balanced report - but see the third from last paragraph, reproduced below -

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=15050

"In Washington, Republican lawmakers and oil-industry lobbyists are arguing that opening restricted areas would boost supply and bring down oil prices. Critics contend not enough is being done to encourage alternative fuels and development of already-leased federal lands. Of the more than 45.5 million acres of federal land under lease, oil companies aren't producing oil or gas on 31 million acres."

And this is just the Federal lands (not Private, though I have no idea what that figure would be).

My final point: DON'T become a Single-Issue Voter this year ... ask questions and seek answers. When you hear a 'talking point', don't just parrot it back as a veneer of support for your postion - dig deeper. There are ALWAYS TWO SIDES to the story.

The next time someone says we need to drill off shore, ask them if they can understand why oil companies aren't drilling where we have already approved it.

JT

Global Warming Arrives in the US

You simply have to see the cover art on this publication - I grew up there (born in '52), and I can tell you that I have BICYCLED across these lakes in the Winter. Now look at it!

http://www.cleanwisconsin.org/publications/GlobalWarmingReport_0507.pdf

"In the 1850s Lake Mendota in south central Wisconsin was frozen an average of 122 days per year; in the 2000s it has decreased to a yearly average of 82days, a 31% decrease in ice coverage."

JT

PS - Also, please see my prior post on the Laughing that this issue has been met with - many more astonishing links (back to 1999/1998).

Done Laughing Yet? Time to Flip-Flop to Heroic Stance?

Hey Rush - Was that you laughing about Global Warming for the last 15 years? Or, maybe that was just a self-righteous "Harumpf"? Think some of your listeners in Wisconsin, Iowa, or Ohio have tired of your handling of Global Warming? Do you think your SPONSORS might start asking you to TONE IT DOWN SOME? (What? Muzzle Rush?)

Rush, when you step out of the doors of your EIB Network HQ in Manhattan, and you're ankle deep in water, will you still be laughing? Or, will you just hop in the water taxi and wave to the waders? (See Global Warming to flood NYC? from 1998 - Columbia University, no less! Oh, sorry, probably just some leftover Clinton baggage.)

Global Warming? Do you think these guys hate being right? I bet they do:

The present (June 2008) Wisconsin flooding was predicted in the prior year.

This was this week; as was this. And this.

This was just February, 2008.

This was last year.


And, from 2006.

2005 -A YouTube simulation of London flooding.

And this was 2005, too.

2004.

1999.

What do you say, Rush? Time to show some Leadership on this Global Warming Issue. You could start now and some people would still think you're a hero. You just need to get out in front of this.

After all, that's what a Leader is, right? The guy that finds a crowd and gets in front of it?

JT

Business People Unite!

Are You A Business Person?

Welcome. 98% of all US Businesses have fewer than 100 employees (source: American Small Business League - http://www.asbl.com/). And that's who I want to talk about today.

Turns out that American Small Business is supported by a government organization that you may have heard of - The Small Business Administration (SBA). Here's an interesting point from http://www.asbl.com/:

The Government is trying to close the SBA

According to Inc.com in 2006 the SBA's budget was $456.5 million. In 2005 the budget was $579.5 million. In 2001 -- the final year of the Clinton Administration -- the budget was $1.1 billion.

Why has the Bush Administration been strangling the SBA? Because, the Bush Administration is NOT "Pro-Business" - the Bush Administration is "Pro-Big-Business".

Since Newt Gingrich's 'Contract With America', Republicans have controlled Washington. But, what ASBL would like is some better Legislative Help in meeting the tenets of the Small Business Act of 1953 (Remember? From Eisenhower's Days?) which direct the US Government to spend specific sums of prime contracts with Small Business. It's not getting done. We need help and better oversite (that theme keeps popping up, eh?).

I don't need to recite the whole story here! It's well told at http://www.asbl.com/. Or, if you're short of time, this is the crux of the issue: http://www.asbl.com/theproblems.html.

If you are Pro-Business, please check this out! If you WORK for Small Business, your job and future might depend on the work of ASBL! Check it out.

JT

PS - First heard about this here: http://www.am760.net/pages/mario_solis-marich.html

If you visit their website, don't be surprised to be invited to make a donation to this cause (matter of record: I made a donation - it's a very worthy cause).

Keep the Country I Love Safe

In many states right now John McCain is running an ad wherein he states "I'm running for President to keep the Country I love safe." CanNOT fault his motive.

A very, very dear friend of mine is reading a book right now - "Three Cups of Tea". I'll let you research that in the obvious places. What I know is that I picked up her copy and opened it to a page, random, that included this passage -

A Pakistani man was visiting with the first person (author) of the book and said (and this is a true story - please do your research): "Your President Bush has succeeded in making a Billion Muslims enemies of the US for two hundred years."

First, let's hope this is not true - the American people do not deserve this even if we did put Bush in office time and again. I don't wish this mistake even upon Mr. Incubate (read: Mr. At-Fault).

But, this book passage is not a remark from a street-corner rabblerouser. This is not a political ad. This is a poignant moment of sharing among individuals attempting to span the gap of an age and of a world -- to achieve understanding of world events even within the personal context of respect and admiration for one another.

Now, let's try to bring this back to Mr. McCain and his heartfelt proclamation that he's 'running' to keep us 'safe'.

Look. This is real simple. You tell me - do you think he has a clue? Let's hear from you - McCain: Clueful, or Clueless?

JT

Gas Prices Down By Election Date

I was tracking this - not detailed notes; just scribbles. But, in mid-2006, my friend Nate (who had convinced me to buy a Prius) and I were speculating that the Oil Companies would drop gas prices before the 2006 Congressional Elections. Why? Well, a Republican Congress is good for Big Oil. (Why? Tax breaks! Doh!).

The Oil Companies knew that if the Average Joe was PO'd enough about high gasoline prices in late 2006, he might want a CHANGE in Washington. So, they dropped gasoline from about $3.00/gal on August 7, 2006, to about $2.18 by November's Election Day. Well, two things: one - it didn't work (Joe was still really PO'd and the Republicans lost seats, though not so many), and, two - prices went back up within months.

How come people didn't spot this manipulation for political gain? The "Analysts" said "Summer driving was over, and supplies had stablized against demand."

By May of 2007, gas was $3.20/gal nationally - Summer driving hadn't even started up yet.

Download a spreadsheet here: Gasoline Prices.

Wanna see 'em do that again? Just watch: gas prices down by November, back up before Winter's over. (What? You want them to trick this up over night? Even they can't pull that off.)

So, my Friends, you have a choice - vote with Big Oil, or, Vote for a Change.

JT

Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt - FUD

Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt.

EVERY Business Person knows about that. It's a TACTIC. Your best competition may be using it against you. YOU may be using it against them.

But, when you're the CUSTOMER, you can SMELL it (sometimes) and it ain't pretty. 'Cause it's when you DON'T HAVE a CASE, you fall back on FEAR, UNCERTAINTY, and DOUBT. Build fear to block clear thinking, raise uncertainty to dull reason, create doubt to sway opinion.

So, how does this relate to the Fine Senator from Arizona - Mr. McCain?

Well, that's his new tactic against Obama - "Obama is Bad for Business" (as seen on CNN June 10, 2008).

Oh, $4 Gas is GOOD for business? GMC Sales of Trucks and SUVs off 20% or more is GOOD for business? Toyota Sales UP is Good for Business? Executive compensation at 400 times the average worker pay is Good for Business (because, the worker is NOT the consumer, right? No, heck no, trickle down, right?)?

I say "Let's see what Obama can do. We've already seen the alternative and, frankly, we can't take much more of it."

JT

McCain Pushing Pentagon Properties? Huh?

John McCain? Straight-shooting, no shady-crap McCain? Huh? Hey - not my story - read it for yourself - the NYTimes reports this just weeks ago.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/us/politics/22diamond.html

Then, Donny Diamond (!) flips the Pentagon site for a cool $20 Million profit. But what has he done for Donny lately? How about supporting the remapping of Public Lands for this, er, well-positioned Developer?

Hey, McCain's spokesperson assures us this is something he'd do for anyone. What? Anyone? No remorse there.

So, whadaya think? Impeach him? Oh, wait, he's gotta WIN FIRST!

Good luck, Sir.

JT

The Democratic National Committee

I LOVED the ad that the DNC was running a few weeks ago.

You hear McCain, live, sitting in a 'Panel' situation. He's asked: "Senator McCain - do you think people are better off than they were 8 years ago?"

It's such a set up. He launches in (cluelessly) to a spin about how we've got more people employed, we're better off, people believe. WHILE he's talking, the graphics in the margin tell the facts: millions of jobs lost, "real household income" down, etc.

I saw it on MS-NBC. Then, I found it on the Internet.

I've lost my link. PLEASE send it to me. I'll link this post to it.

This is an example of what the DNC can do with proper funding. Consider sending them $10 - 20. http://www.democrats.org/.

Thanks.

JT

Auto Industry Anti-Regulation

When Bush was elected in 2000, he chose Andy Carr as his White House Chief of Staff.

Why is this interesting? As I recall, and I could be wrong, Andy Carr had a seven-year history as a Congressional Lobbyist for THE US AUTO INDUSTRY.

His next gig - run the White House Staff? Shezzz!

This is NOT Auto Industry Deregulation - it's Auto Industry Anti-Regulation.

Why is this important to you?

Because, the Auto Industry has DRAGGED ITS FEET FOR YEARS avoiding improved gas mileage standards. How is that sitting with you now?

Who's responsible?

Well, who put Bush in office? Wanna see the travesty extended? Fine, just stay home in November and let McBush extend our 'better off than eight years ago' ride.

Got Leadership? Find a way for Change to overcome.

JT

From McCain's Blog today:

"John McCain has a proven record of reaching across the aisle and working with both political parties to get things done for the American people."

The TRUTH: It's been reported that McCain voted with President Bush 100% of the votes in the past year and 95% the year before. BOTTOM LINE: If you believe McCain, you are asking for more of what our "Uniter Not a Divider" has brought us for EIGHT years. Thought he was a 'maverick'? Ha! POSER. John, call me and tell me what an independent you are.

News flash: President Carter introduced legislation during his last year in office that would have frozen dependence on Foreign Oil at the preceding year's levels. What happened to that? One Word: "Reagan" -- St. Reagan himself.

Got Leadership?

JT

PS - somebody PLEASE send me a link to the truth about Carter's proposal that got washed away by oil cheapened with tax breaks gifted by the American public -- let's get it posted!

Just Getting Started!

Ya. Some days (bad days) I think 'This Country got what it deserved' ... OK, Really Bad Days. Believe me, I don't harbor grudges so much. But, like I said, some Bad Days it's a chore to fish myself out of those thoughts.

You know what though? It IS true that this Country got what it ASKED FOR -- this Country asked for Bush, then, asked for him again. Some of us are slow learners; some of us are single-issue voters. But now we know - we didn't have THIS in mind.

What? Oh, the worst one-day sell off in the Dow 30 in 15 months, unemployment shooting up by another 0.5 % (to 5.5%) - the greatest one-month rise in, oh, 20-something years, home prices down 14% over last year (that's $35,000 lost on a $250K property). Need more? Stay tuned - there's really no end to what I could relay to you. Heck, even Lou Dobbs is complaining about the White House now - "Were is their response!?!" he repeated over and over last night on CNN.

Enough for now - what we're doing here is several-fold. Here's what's in store -

If you, or an acquaintance, think more of 'this' is what we need in November, stay tuned - I'm just getting started.

If you think McCain is all that's needed to transform Bush/Cheney's White House into the Government you 'had in mind' in 2000 - well hang on - there's plenty coming at cha'.

You'll have plenty to 'take offense at' here soon, to 'defend with' against single-issue, selfish and sold out, armchair war hawk, Big on Miltary Options, SMALL on Military Benefits, Big Spending/Little Government Republicans.

Stay tuned - we're going on the air.

JT