newsfirestorm

Romney's Tax Returns: Class Warfare?

2012-01-24T10:22:00.000-08:00

I think what's most damning about Mitt Romney's tax returns is not just his investments but how much money he made over the last tax years as a percentage of his overall wealth.

Look, it's no secret that the rich just keep getting richer; most of us have been on the shorter end of that concept. But an American taxpayer making as much as a quarter of his multi-million dollar fortune during a time when most citizens are losing their shirts, houses, jobs and health insurance, well, that's a horse of a different color.

Romney estimates his wealth at between $190-million to a quarter billion dollars thereby putting him in the elite class of the top one percent of Americans. His combined adjusted gross income for tax years 2010 and 2011 is estimated to be $42-million dollars ($21.9 million actual in 2010 and $20.9 million estimated for 2011).

Do the math: that means, he earned one-sixth of his overall wealth at the high-end of his estimated income during the the last 2 tax years; and, a WHOPPING quarter of that same wealth, if the low end proves to be the accurate number! And he hasn't worked since leaving the Massachusetts governor's office in 2007. Now, I don't know about you, but I like those odds! If only the bottom 99% of income earners in America could do the same!!!

Also, without going into most of his dizzying number of individual investments, trusts, blind trusts, offshore accounts and multiple foreign country lower tax havens, how do you make these huge amounts in years when the United States is still in a deep recession?

Here's one example of how: Being part of the super rich, private companies that may go public one day offer their important preferred clients (translation: High Networth Income clients) stock in their company dirt cheap while the company is still in private hands. Those HNI clients DO NOT include the bottom 99%. So, when that company goes public months and years later and the value of its individual shares skyrocket, an HNI client can cash in that stock for a nice tidy HUGE profit, and, in turn, add to his or her overall wealth.

Such was the case with Romney and Goldman Sachs. Goldman allowed its HNI client, Mitt Romney to purchase 1-thousand shares of stock in the investment company for $53 a share, while Goldman Sachs was still a private entity. Years later, after Goldman went public and it's shares rose to $161.44 a piece in 2010, Romney sold his stock earning a amazing $161,440 dollars.

So there you have it. You have to have money to make money.

But, money buys private and political access. Those who have lots of greenbacks have that access. Those who do not, don't.

And herein, is the rub. Money is access. Access is power. Power shapes the lives of the rest of us.

So, when you hear Romney saying there's a class warfare going on against rich people in this 2012 presidential election. He's kind of missing the point. Class war has, indeed, been declared. But, it's not the bottom 99% who declared it, it's the top one-percent, as they continually shape this country into a reality that allows them to stay the top one-percent at the expense of the rest of us.

I'm just calling it like I see it!!!

2012 Republican Primary: "Not-So-Stunner" in Iowa

2012-01-03T20:08:00.000-08:00

2012 Iowa Primary: Game One, of this 2012 World Series Republican Presidential primary has gone into overtime. Surging candidate Rick Santorum dealt a body blow to presumptive front-runner Mitt Romney, placing the latter in the position of catch-up, with Romney, the former Governor of Massachusetts, at bat, in the bottom of the ninth, with 2 outs, 3 balls and 2 strikes and down by a slim margin. A feat especially when you consider Romney should have been the clear winner.

Romney should not scratch his head in dismay, though. He had the big bucks and the political machinery to battle and win Iowa outright but he didn't exercise them in a timely fashion. Unlike other Republican Presidential primary candidates who did laps around the 99-Iowa voting counties for months, the Governor waited until just 30-days ago to hit the ground of America's political heartland.

The reasons he finally did: Former U.S. Speaker of the House and primary contender, Newt Gingrich was hitting grand slams in National and Iowa state polls as the republican voter candidate-of-choice a month before today's primary. Gingrich's lead coincided exactly with the time Iowa voters started paying serious attention to all the players.

Gingrich's candidacy exploded after a string of johnny-come-lately negative ads by SuperPacs that supported Romney. Iowa voters didn't like the former Governor's ad tones or the use of his big money politics to destroy a candidate (though, destroy Gingrich's chances, they nonetheless did). This opened the door for Santorum.

And, secondly, the media and other republican primary candidates accused Romney of not taking Iowa voters seriously and, thereby, questioned whether his absence in the state should be rewarded with primary votes. Once again, Santorum benefitted.

So, regardless of the final outcome, Romney has no one to blame but himself for not bringing his big MITT to a ball game where every candidate's fully-equipped A-game was required from day one.

Calling It Like I See It!!!

TORTURE MEMO: EXTERMINATE THE TERMITES

2009-04-21T13:27:00.000-07:00

It should come as no surprise to anyone that President Obama reversed himself and left open the door to prosecuting those who designed and approved the torture of 9/11 terror suspects. Here's why? Termites eat away at the foundation of your house unless you exterminate them. And, this country has yet to exterminate its GOP termites.

In the years following 9/11, our erstwhile President, Bush 43, and his darth vader sub-commander, Vice President Dick Cheney, insisted that that the intelligence community was not engaging in the practic of torturing detainees. Well, we now know categorically, that they both LIED.

On August 1, 2002, the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel in response to a CIA request to the White House submitted the famed Torture Memo to Alberto R. Gonzales, Counsel to the President, listing torture methods as part of "Standards of Conduct for Interrogation under 18 U.S.C sections 2340-2340A. The memo was the first of four memos between 2002 to 2005 which described in paintstaking detail how detainees could be tortured, including:

1. waterboarding and nude shackling
2. slamming a prisoner into a wall
3. putting insects in a prisoner cell
4. 11-day limits on sleep deprivation
5. slapping prisoners in the face and abdomen
6. confining prisoners in small boxes for up to 2-hours
7. putting prisoners in painful positions that they must hold

In fact, CIA interrogators waterboarded 2 Al-Qaeda suspects a total of 266 times; 183 times for suspected 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed; 83 times for Abu Zubaydah.

To be clear, waterboarding is very graphic. The subject is immobilized on his back with his head inclined downwards. Interrogators, then, pour water over the subject's face and into the breathing passages. Forced suffocation and the inhalation of water causes the subject to experience drowning and believe they are about to die. In addition to simulated drowning, the technique can cause damage to the lungs and brain from oxygen deprivation and other physical injuries including broken bones due to struggling against restraints and years of psychological damage. Not so amazing war veterans, intelligence officials, legal experts and politicians consider waterboarding to be a form of torture. Not so with the Bush Administration.

So, when Obama first announced in the wake of releasing the Torture Memo that he was going to look forward and not backward and give Bush intelligence officials a free pass, my heart sank. And, it sank not because I have any empathy for these Al-Qaeda terrorits but because the memo proved to be yet another example of how Bush and his chronies deliberately ran rough-shod over not only our laws but international law as well.

You see, the U.S. is party to the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Under that Convention, torture is considered a crime and those committing it are to be prosecuted.

In comes Dick Cheney. He vigorously defended torture and waterboarding in his last days of office and recently on Fox News by saying release the memos showing the intel we gained in the process: in other words, the good it did. BULL CRAP.

First, the U.S. lost credibility with every government and person around the world because we lowered our high moral values during these torture episodes as we sought to bring Al-Qaeda suspects to justice. Second, by torturing, we inspired a whole new breed and generation of terrorists whom this country will have to battle for years to come. And, third, by torturing, there is now very little hope that our soldiers who may one day become prisoners of war won't suffer the same. Or can't you see that Mr. Cheney?!

I find it laughable that Mr. Secrecy (Cheney) is now calling for the release of all CIA intelligence memos relating to torture now that his butt is on the line for domestic and international prosecution. You see he's not taking to the airwaves idlly. No way.

Cheney is worried that the international courts want a piece of him and Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee investigating Bush era torture, may also want his butt in a sling. So I say go ahead and release the additional "exonerating" memos. The end still does not justify the means no matter what the other memos reveal.

In fact, it was pressure from Feinstein and the ACLU that pushed Obama to reopen the door to possible prosecution and I say, AMEN.

The world wants its pound of flesh. We watched the Bush chronies bully, plunder and blunder their way into world insanity and justify their every move by saying we need to keep America safe from another terrorist attack. But what they don't say is they failed to keep us safe on the one that counted, 9/11.

You see, here's the deal you little incipient Bush insects, if the Bush Administration had paid attention to the August 2001 "Presidential Daily Briefing" we could have possibly stopped the 9/11 attacks. Oh, but, Bush was loathe to read anything put before him before AND after the attacks: Camp David was calling, remember? So, that was the first big clue you missed Mr. Cheney and Mr. Bush.

And then there was that FBI alert stating two guys of Arabic origin were taking flight lessons in Florida and only learning how to take off and fly planes, NOT LAND THEM. Can you say CLUE again!!! And the list goes on.

So, I'm pretty sure that if the Bush Administration had paid attention to the regular intelligence information we had in place pre-9/11, 9/11 most likely would never have happened. Thus, there was no need for the War in Iraq (a lie), no need for the Patriot Act (a lie), no need for the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (useless) and no need for Guantanamo Bay and its torture tactics (lies). In fact, there was no need for increased intelligence and security if only 43's administration had but paid attention to the evidence then before them.

As for Cheney, man, he sounds like that little squirming termite trying to get a perch and eat his way out of the crap pile he created for himself and the rest of us in this country. Our house called the United States is riddled with the many bite marks Bush and Cheney took out of it's once solid foundation. Obama wants to shore things up. So munch away Darth Vader, the exterminator is coming.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

Frack the Republican Flak

2009-04-08T08:42:00.000-07:00

As I watched CNN Lou Dobb's show last night, my blood pressure rose, steam spilled out my ears and I couldn't help but say out loud "FRACK THAT REPUBLICAN FLAK."

Here's why.

The Republican Flak on Dobb's show, who's name is not worth mentioning because all the GOP flaks now sound alike, actually berated President Obama for not sticking it to our G-20 allies in his recent European tour, and dictating to and demanding of them obeyance to a NEW WORLD ORDER under our leadership.

The enraged flak went on to say that the United States is "THE ONLY WORLD SUPER POWER" and that Obama should have approached our allies from a "POSITION OF STRENGTH" as opposed to his chosen method of partnership. Well, isn't that just peachy.

Doesn't this flak know that her befuddled God and King, the FORMER President George W. Bush, used that holier than thou art method of divine right from September 12, 2001 forward and in the process squandered all good-will this nation gained in the wake of 9/11?

Doesn't she know that the world came to see the U.S. as evil incarnate and hypocrites with respect to defense (Oh, I'm sorry our defense policy became one of "PREMPTIVE STRIKES", SHOOT FIRST ASK QUESTIONS LATER, invent evidence of justification for war, damn this nation and the rest of the world if Bush 43's adminstration is found to be the lying weasels we came to know) and human rights abuses (ah yes, our American piece of land in Cuba called Guantanamo Bay, not to mention all the Iraqi's we killed when Saddam had nothing to do with those fateful attacks on us)?

What made me nervously chuckle was the steam that shot out of the ears of THIS GOP mouthpiece. Dobb's rolled out the latest opinion poll of how Americans viewed Obama's foray into Europe: 95% of Democrats thought he did a good job, 67% of Independents believed the same and nearly a third of Republicans have 44's back. In response to viewing this poll, I could see red and black flashes of anger in the flak's eyes for a perceived national repudiation of her suggested Rambo style leadership.

I have this advice for this Republican flak and those like her: just as "no man is an island," no nation can stand alone. It is not enough to be a Super Power (remember the fall of Rome, Germany and the Soviet Union). You must woo and sit at the table with all nation's on this globe if for no other reason than to "keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

So , I say, frack the GOP flak and have Obama's back.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

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THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMM !!!

Late last month, the Obama administration raised fuel efficiency standards starting with new cars rolling off the assembly line in 2011. Fuel economy for cars will jump from it's CURRENT 27.5 mpg to 30.2 mpg. Light trucks and SUV's will increase 1 mpg from its CURRENT 23.1 to 24.1 mpg. Overall the fleet average will increase by 2 mpg to 27.3 mpg.

But the CURRENT OVERALL European, Japanese and Chinese fuel economy standards are, respectively, 43.3 mpg, 42.6 mpg and 35.8 mpg. Their fuel efficiency standards in today's market are significantly higher than those proposed for the U.S. market in 2011. AND, in the case of Japan, it plans to increase its overall fuel efficiency standards by nearly 24% in 2015.

The response from the crumbling U.S. auto industry to this huge mpg disparity: "we can do that too for the American market but we'd have to charge the auto consumer $7-thousand to $10-thousand more per car."

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"CURIOUS-ER AND CURIOUS-ER"

In response to whether City Counsel in Washington, DC would push for Gay Marriage in the District of Columbia, a city councilman said it's better to wait for 2 or 3 more states to give the right before we do it. That way, in the end, a longer wait will achieve a better result and not threaten DC's bid for voter representation in Congress.

My Response: THERE'S NO BETTER TIME THAN THE PRESENT TO PUSH FOR CIVIL RIGHTS EQUALITY.

I'm just saying !!!

OBAMA TO CRITICS: TAKE THAT !!!

2009-04-02T14:08:00.000-07:00

With style and grace, President Obama gave his U.S. Republican G-20 critics a direct-in your face-message: TAKE THAT !!! Hailing his first international summit as a "turning point" in the world's economic recovery, Obama received most of what he wanted out of the London based summit.

In a post-summit, news conference, the President stated that G-20 members pledged to pump an additional $1.1 trillion into the International Monetary Fund and other world instititutions to help developing nation's weather the current global meltdown. Also, welcomed by most is a pledged crackdown on hedge funds and tax havens, largely unregulated and responsible for this economic disaster. And, look for the creation of an international superivisory body to red flag future problems with global financial markets.

Obama accomplished these results by building partnerships with allies and forging compromises. His compromise: he did receive a sought after additional stimulus infusion from other economic leaders into the economies of their respective countries.

Obama will tell you it's a start towards full economic recovery. Indeed it is. But, it's also an international achievement in stark contrast to the last 8 years of the Bush Administration. Where W. carried a big stick and lectured to world leaders, Obama brought his Hawaiian style of listening to everyone at the table and recognizing that each nation had individual concerns that needed to have been met.

Absent in the wake of his success is Republican criticism. I mean, what can you say, when the whole world comes together and says YES, WE BELIEVE IN OBAMA AND MUST DO SOMETHING INNOVATIVE. Oh, that's right, the Republicans did offer an alternative budget plan, when Obama left for London. That plan, presented by Rep Paul D Ryan (R-Wisc), ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee: reduce taxes to 25%, cut or freeze spending on most entitlements and not the military or veteran's assistance and avoid additional regulations. Now that plan has out-of-the box thinking we need to recover. NOT !!!

Maybe the Republicans need to go to Hawaii and learn the definition and graceful practice of Mahalo, otherwise known as respect, which brings peace and compromise. Then, and only then, may the GOP have a strong future in politics. Now, TAKE THAT !!!

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

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NEWS YOU CAN USE: As shown on Oprah, financial advisor Suzie Orman gives her top five way to weather this recession.

SUZIE ORMAN'S RECESSION ADVICE: TAKE ACTION IN THE FACE OF FEAR

1. LIVE ON HALF: Live on half of your monthly income.
a. If you're single, bank half.
b. If you're partnered, bank the full salary of one partner

2. STASH YOUR CASH: Cash is king
a. Do not pay off your credit cards
b. Only pay the minimum on your credit cards
c. Why? In this economy, when credit is being canceled or lowered by credit card companies, if you pay off your credit card, you will be out of that money and a card when the issuer closes your account.

3. MAKE THE FEDERAL STIMULUS PACKAGE WORK FOR YOU

a. COBRA HEALTH INSURANCE:
1. Those laid off on or after September 9, 2008, have until May 1, 2009 to go to their former Human Resources office and apply for COBRA STIMULUS BENEFITS.
2. Under the COBRA STIMULUS BENEFIT PLAN, instead of you, the recipient, paying 100% of your Cobra montly payments, now you pay just 35% and the government pays 65%

b. TAX CREDIT FOR HOMEBUYERS: requirements
1. Must be a first time home buyer
2. Home must have been purchased in 2009
3. a single person must not make more than $75 thousand per year
4. married couples, filing joint, must not make more than $150 thousand per year

c. MAKE YOUR HOME AFFORDABLE:
1. check out the HOME LOAN MODIFICTION PROGRAM, enact March 4, 2009, website, http://www.homeaffordable.gov/, to see if you qualify for refinancing under a lower home loan interest rate.
2. also, the home loan must be Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac issued.
a. check the following website for additional requirements: http://www.realtor.org/government_affairs/gapublic/hr_3221_key_provisions and,
b. H.R. 3221, the “Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008,” passed the House on July 23, 2008, by a vote of 272-152. On Saturday, July 26, 2008, the Senate passed the bill by a vote of 72-13. The President signed the bill on July 30, 2008, and has been modified by the Obama Administration.

4. UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
a. Set your pride aside and get it. You paid for it with every paycheck. It's yours. Get it.
b. Features
1. you must be laid off
2. you get 26 weeks of benefit checks, and, in states hard hit by job losses, it can be extended not to exceed 46 weeks
3. with the stimuls, you now get an extra $25 per week ($100/month)
4. no deadline to apply for benefits

5. LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE AND NOT WHAT YOU HAD
a. You'll be stronger and be able to take positive action to advance yourself

AS WITH EVERYTHING YOU DO, DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND TAKE ACTION. MAHALO :-)

OBAMA: GEE, GOP G-20 CRITICISM

2009-03-31T19:27:00.000-07:00

While watching the coverage of President Obama's arrival in London for the G-20 economic summit, I heard the funniest negative comment stated : "He's in the big leagues now" and can't hang. Needless to say, a Republican made this comment and the double standard was not lost on me.

This Republican criticized Obama for NOT having presidential executive experience BEFORE the commencement of the summit. Well , correct me if I'm wrong did not Obama partially grow up overseas? Isn't Obama still within his first 100 days in office? Hasn't he met with Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom and Canada, 2 of the strongest ecomonic members of the G-20 outside of the U.S.? Doesn't this Republican think that Mr. Obama spent hours on the phone talking with EACH AND EVERY member of the G-20 BEFORE wheels went up on Air Force One in it's flight across the pond?

Maybe this Republican, and the GOP in general, think we and the world have forgotten the buffoon we had for U.S. President during the last 8-years. Maybe they think we forgot that up until Bush's first trip overseas he had NEVER been outside America. Maybe they think we've forgotten that the way he charmed and persuaded our G-20 allies was to use COWBOY DIPLOMACY (Preemptive strikes (both in one sided debates and militarily) of shoot first, ask questions later and alienate every country that was ever our friend and ally).

I think we can recieve many more positive outcomes from Obama. He actually earned his Ivy league school education with good grades, unlike W., who got through as a legacy member, and skated by with an average grade point average of a C, or was it a C-. hmmmmmm.

Obama has character and personality and believes in bringing everyone to the table. Bush beat our allies down with a big stick and told them to move out of our way.

The world loves Obama and the hope for change and a better tomorrow that he embodies. On the other hand, the world, with the exception of Republicans in this country, couldn't wait for Bush to exit the White House.

So, where is all of what I've written here going, simply this: Where was all this Republican criticism and concern when their man, Bush, was tearing this nation apart? Where was the GOP when the Bush Administration destroyed America's reputation around the world to the exclusion of not a single nation? Answer: NO WHERE. They loved it.

So, Mr. Republican and your GOP cohorts remember this, Obama is on his way to healing this nation's economic woes and world image. When he leaves office, he plans on leaving the U.S. in a much better financial and world position so that, in case, the GOP takes over the White House again, they can have a second chance at building on the successes of a Democrat in the White House (aka Clinton) rather than destroying golden opportunities.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!!

GOP LEADER STARSTRUCK, FORGETS NATION

2009-03-26T18:32:00.000-07:00

The leading House Republican chose to go to a Britney Spears' concert over paying attention to the White House's plan for pulling the nation out of this devastating recession by its frailed economic bootstraps.

That's right, giving a great insight into how the Republicans view efforts by our Democratic President to rectify this economic disaster the GOP caused, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) chose to attend Spear's concert in D.C. Well, Mr. Cantor, 40-million Americans thought Tuesday night's prime time press conference important enough to tune into and listen to how the President plans to save the collapsing Big Top we live in called America.

I'm sure some of these viewers were from you're State of Virginia. But, you chose the Britney Circus tour instead, a tour that only enriched the pockets of a once troubled pop idol and had nothing to do with financially saving our nation (Then too, Spears is part of that 2% top income elite the Republican led Bush Administration gave tax breaks to for the last 8 years while the rest of us suffered).

But, then why should any of us be surprised, Mr. Cantor? Obama intelligently and deftly faced the music of a full court press when presenting his plans. You obviously are afraid to do the same. Why? Because you and your GOP cohorts have no plan for America's economic revival.

Your strategy is transparent: Offer nothing, criticize everything, hope you regain Republican seats in the 2010 mid-term elections. Well, here's to calling you out on that 20-year-old failed Republican playbook. NOW, is the time for solutions and honest debate between rival political parties as our founding fathers intended.

But, since you miss the point of this intent, let me explain: IT'S TO ACHIEVE A VIABLE, WORKABLE COMPROMISE SO THAT THE NATION CAN MOVE FORWARD AS ONE. Did you hear that Mr. Cantor, so we can MOVE FORWARD AS ONE.

SO, ERIC, STOP WITH THE CRITICISM AND COME UP WITH YOUR OWN ECONOMIC PLAN. Face the press with it. Face your GOP comrades with it. Face the Democrats with it. And, face the American people with it. Only then will we stop looking at you as a clown in Britney's Circus as opposed to a legitimate political party leader in our U.S. House of Representatives.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

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THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMM:

Click on the links regarding CNN Ed Henry's "TESTY EXCHANGE" with President Obama in Tuesday's prime time presser conference.

a. The full video exchange. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE QUESTIONING? AND, IS THIS A TESTY EXCHANGE or MEDIA HYPE OF AN EXCHANGE?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1mGz154_Ok

b. Ed Henry's own blog regarding the exchange. Pay particular attention to this line in Henry's blog:

"I was heading into this event with the same strategy: make news on something unexpected (I won't tell you which topics I was working on cause it would ruin the surprise for a future presser or interview with the president)."

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/25/henry.obama/?iref=mpstoryview

Does anyone notice anything wrong with this line or Henry's attitude?

OBAMA: HONEYMOON OVER?

2009-03-25T16:16:00.000-07:00

The first 100 days for the 44th President of the United States has been anything but a honeymoon.

Let's just look at yesterday's hourlong prime time presidential press conference, by way of example. President Obama has been juggling the enormous mess handed to him by the previous administration of former President Bush.

W. spent everything in our financial coffers. He gave the rich tax breaks they didn't need to create U.S. jobs which they promptly outsourced overseas (can you say India). He allowed investment houses and banks to double their debt load. And, he allowed unregulated subprime mortgages to flourish across the country.

W. also waged 2 unnecessary and fiscally costly wars (Iraq and Afghanistan) when only one could have done the job of killing or capturing Osama Bin Laden (In fact, our troops had Bin Laden trapped in a cave in Tora Bora, Afghanistan 3 months after 9/11. They requested bunker buster bombs to kill him or 800 infantrymen to take him alive by force. Washington let Pakistan handle it and you know the outcome. It's my belief that a captured Osama Bin Laden so early on would have made it difficult for the Bush Administration to justify going to war with Iraq 14 months later, in March 2003).

The net result of all of this the: THE U.S. ECONOMY COLLAPSED

In comes President Obama. The new president committs himself to one term with a second being conditioned, in his words, on his success or failure in dealing with our economy.

The news media marveled at his committment to resolve our deepening economic financial problems even while the then president-elect was in transition to the White House. No other U.S. President-elect has used their transition time this way.

The news media applauded his committment to an open and transparent government. The media was thrilled by his level of confidence and preacher-like inspiring oratory abilities. But, as soon as the rubber hit the road, and Obama unveiled his weaponry for battling the recession (the bail-outs and 2010 budget), the media, in last night's press conference, brought out the tar and feathers ready to drag Obama through the mud.

What day was this in the Obama "honeymoon," day 65, just 35 days short of getting to the magic 100 , the day where taking the media kid-gloves off is standard.

Not looking backward, Obama attempted to forge forward with his plans for slowly turning the huge "oceanliner" called the U.S. economy. But, the media wasn't having it.

Embarrass yourself, they demanded of 44, and tell us how you could not have known about the AIG bailout bonus in a bill you signed?" Obama did not take the bait. Instead, he laid out, in an uncharacteristically somber way, his reasons for his 2010 multi-trillion dollar federal budget. No fanfare. No florid language. No Reagan-esgue colorful language. Not your typical Obama. Just plain, straight talk.

"FLASHES OF ANGER FROM THE PRESIDENT" and "REPORTERS QUESTIONS CUT SHORT" read this mornings headlines. The media wanted red meat but not the kind Obama gave them. They thought they saw a chink in his armor and wanted to skewer him. Sorely disappointed were they when he flecked their questions away like pesky flies. I'm not saying Obama doesn't have to clear the record for signing a bailout bill with bonus loopholes in it, he does (and maybe he needs to dump Geithner in the process).

But, instead of a backward looking manufactured scandal with questions that should have been asked of him long before last night's press conference (I asked those questions in my blog the day AIG'S chairman revealed in his Congressional testimony that Fed Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke approved the bonuses), maybe the press will look forward and pick apart the 2010 budget. That way, the news media can do what they are suppose to do best: inform the public of what it wants to know, needs to know and should know about an oceanliner that is just one iceberg away from sinking.

What is for certain is the news media would not have received cogent, concise and on-point answers to complicated questions on the economy from W if he had been office today. And, to date, not a single elected Republican has come up with THEIR version of how to save this economy.

So go ahead news media, stick it to Obama on his economic rescue plans, keep his feet to the fire. But, do it with forward looking meaningful questions and not manufactured moot scandalous ones. Short of that, give our 44th President his remaining standard 100 honeymoon days. He's earned it where previous U.S. presidents were granted it just by being newly elected.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaH-lGafwtE&feature=channel_page

Click on and watch the link that I provided you above. Afterwards, use the comment section at the end of this post to have a spirited conversation.

AIG: CRAP ASSETS

2009-03-24T13:21:00.000-07:00

In the midst of all the finger pointing concerning who knew what and when regarding the AIG bonus payments, the American public is forgetting one thing: AIG'S assets are nothing but CRAP !

That's right. I said it. At the end of the day, after all the governmental wrangling over how best to get the U.S. economy on the right track and deal with troubled corporate assets like insurance giant AIG, AIG's credit-default swap bundles are not worth the paper they're printed on. WHY, you ask? I will tell you.

The U.S. economy collapsed as the result of a classic domino effect . The U.S Securities and Exchange Commission allowed banks and investment houses to double their debt loads from $15 of debt for every one dollar of capital to $30 for every one. This debt doubling combined with the subprime mortgage debacle that resulted from President Bush's desire of "a house for every American" allowed massive numbers of unqualified buyers to obtain home loans and dream houses they couldn't afford. The banks then bundled that debt in the form of mortage-backed securites and sold these securities around the world.

When the super-inflated housing market bubble burst, the dominos came tumbling down. Homes lost tremendous value and with it, homeowner equity took a big hit. Mortages went upside down. Commercial real estate went the same way. Businesses could not earn money to keep employees. Job losses mounted by the millions. The economy sank. Unemployment rose steeply. Home and business foreclosures hit a post-World War II high.

Today, very few people have the money or credit rating to buy a home or open up a new business. And, even if the government and private investors (the wealthy) do buy up all the toxic assets on bank books , who will eventually buy these toxic assets from them when they attempt to sell them down the road?

China indicated today it wants to buy more than the $1-trillion in American debt than it already owns. Good for China. Bad for America since it means China, an admitted would be enemy of the States would have that much more economic power over the U.S. role in the global body politic. Thus, if China were to call the loans it has made to America, our economy wouldn't just spiral down, but take a steep nosedive.

And, as stated earlier, the average American, in general, cannot buy these investments. We don't have the money. And, even if we did have the money, NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE is going to buy these reformed toxic assets, real estate or commercial property at its pre-bubble burst prices. Which means, the debt being bought up right now is not worth it's stated value. IT'S CRAP!

And, all those billions of dollars shelled out in bailout money is actually going to insure would-be wealthy investors AGAINST FUTURE GOVERNMENT BACKED "REFORMED" TOXIC ASSET INVESTMENT LOSSES. Wouldn't that be nice for the average American to have as well.

So, you can see shifting our crap to Chinese control endangers our economic future. Throwing billions of U.S. taxpayer money at that debt means we will never see a full return on our investments, if much at all, and this endangers our economic future as well.

Therefore, we are in deep, deep doo-doo and the only way out is to write the toxic assets off the books, let the dollar depreciate to reflect the write-off, place tighter regulations on giant global corporations and start building again from the ground-up. Isn't that the American way.

I'M JUST CALLING IT AS I SEE IT !!!

P.S.

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMMM

Have you ever wondered why a bicyclist only rolls up one pant leg when riding his bike instead of both?

(Anyone, with an answer or thought on this question is welcomed to write it in the comment section at the bottom of this post. Also, if you have your own "THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMMM" question, please put that in the comment section and I'll try and get the answer for you :-) )

RECESSION HITS HEAVEN'S SONGS

2009-03-20T04:53:00.000-07:00

Like Zeus from above, Capitol Hill finally thundered down from the heavens a lighting bolt called heavy taxes levied against bailout bonus payments.

Responding to a chorus of anger and betrayal from the American public, on Thursday the U.S. House of Representatives voted 328-93 to levy a 90% tax on millions of dollars paid out in bailout bonuses to employees of insurance giant AIG and other rescued companies.

While I personally expressed satisfied glee over the sin of greed being vanquished by the proposed tax, the devil in the details of the vote demonstrate it is a retroactive levy and, thus, will probably not survive a legal challenge. Still, it would be like manna from heaven feeding an angry mob to watch bonus recipients suing to block the measure. After all, these recipients would have to publicly show their faces and then we'd know their personal identities. So, go ahead. MAKE OUR DAY. SUE !!!

Before, we can arrive at this salivating moment though, the Senate has to pass its on version of a bailout bonus tax (which , does not appear likely), the two houses of Congress will have to reconcile their versions (prognosticators say don't hold your breath) and then the president has to sign it (he's not chomping at the bit to do so).

The damage that the failed credit-default swap system caused the economy still reverberates across this land of milk and honey. The black radio broadcast industry, as a slice of life, is no exception. But, in this case, an ugly underbelly has been exposed.

Last night I attended the 25th gala awards ceremony of the National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters. This grammy of black radio awards honors African-American poineers and entertainers for their contribution to black radio and history. But, in opening remarks to those in attendance, NABOB organizers revealed that the recession and racism are killing black radio.

As everyone knows, advertising dollars are drying up across the country. Unfortunately, NABOB organizers complained, black owned radio stations are the first to feel the pinch and disproportionately so.

It seems when advertisers cut their radio spending budgets, they first balance their financial sheets on the backs of black owned stations. In fact, NABOB says advertising revenue for stations of color are down at least 30% and threatening not just jobs and lifestyles but the very industry of black owned broadcasters.

Why should you care? I'll tell you why. Black owned radio has been the voice of the African-American community for more than a quarter century. And, as Cicely Tyson put it last night, "it tells us who we are and why we're here." Without black radio, a key reminder of black history and culture in this country could be lost. This current financial meltdown could wipe out the industry.

One of Thursday night's honorees once recently intoned to great public scorn that racism is still alive and well in America despite the election of Barack Obama as President. He added "when it comes to racism, we are a nation of cowards."

Whether you agree with this honoree or not, NABOB'S message is clear: those who control the advertising dollars are using race in tough economic times as a divining rod on who fails and who succeeds. And, I don't think this is what God in heaven intended when he put all people on this earth as his co-creators.

Thus, another reason has presented itself for the stimulus package to work: so that (a) banks will not fail, (b) the credit market will eventually loosen up, (c) advertisers will feel flush to - well - advertise, and (d) advertisers will do what they should do even when an economy is down - place ads with businesses in a color blind fashion.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT!!!

P.S.

Those honored at Thursday nights NABOB awards, hosted by the hilarious Steve Harvey, are:
1. Jerry "The Iceman" Butler - Pioneer in Music Award - (his sultry voice melted hearts and made the angels in heaven cry over the last several decades).
2. Keyshia Cole, Entertainer of Year in Music Award - (can you believe this is the first award this celestial R&B powerhouse singer has ever won. You heard it. EVER!!! Not even a grammy. Appropriately so, she cried).
3. Andrae Crouch - Pioneer in Gospel Music. Enough said!
4. U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder - Mickey Leland award recipient for Public Service
5. Chaka Khan - Pioneer in Music Award (her acceptance speech appeared, at first, to be a train wreck ready to happen. But, at the last moment, she pulled herself back on the rails and cruised easily on into the depot).
6. Mo'Nique - Entertainer of the Year in Comedy (who did not show because of a death in her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and yours girlfried)
7. Cicely Tyson - Lifetime Achievement Award ( a petite lady with a giant personality who represents the strong black woman) .
8. La Belle, Pioneer in Music Award - featuring Patti La Belle, Nona Hendricks and Sarah Dash ( and what a FANTASTIC five song mini-concert they gave. They brought everyone to their feet and tore the roof off the house).

And a big THANK YOU to the two people who provided me with the ticket to attend this event. DON'T FORGET ME NEXT YEAR :-) !!!

AIG: BOMBSHELL

2009-03-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

In the financial meltdown saga known as AIG comes the following bombshell: at least one top federal government economic official participated in meetings that approved the much maligned bonus compensation payouts.

That's right, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke knew about the bonuses all along. On the hot seat today, before the House Financial Services Committee, AIG Chairman and CEO Edward Liddy testified that Bernanke has sat in on all the insurance giant's board decisions since Octobor. And that for the last three months, Bernanke haggled with the board over the compensation plan but eventually voted to doll out the $165-million payment. Liddy added, his impression was that Bernanke voted so with great angst over what the Fed Reserve Chair saw as impending taxpayer backlash and anger. Well, he was right!!!

In addition to this bombshell information, Liddy stated he believed representatives of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner knew of the payout plan but could not attest to the chain of command of that information and whether Geithner himself knew of the plan. He did say, though, when Geithner was Chairmen of the New York Federal Reserve, Geithner, himself, participated in all AIG board decisions and recused himself only when President Obama nominated him earlier this year for Treasury Secretary.

Both of these revelations raise several disturbing essential and timeline questions: Did Bernanke share his vote with the President and when? How much did Geithner know about the payouts and when, and did he inform the President? If, neither Bernanke nor Geithner revealed what they knew to the President, what confidendence can he have in his top economic officials? Since, we, the American people own 80% of AIG, who does the insurer report to as our representatives? And, most disturbing of all, if they did not inform the President of the payout vote, how much does Obama have control of his own administration or, conversely, if they did inform the President, why did Obama act surprised?

What is clear today is that at a minimum Bernanke signed off of the bonus compensation which Liddy called retention bonuses, or bonuses for doing a good job at winding down $1.1 trillion in toxic credit-default swap company assets to it's current $1.6 trillion level. BUT, aren't these the very people who caused this financial mess.

Liddy testified the bonus was only paid to company traders after conducting his standard risk assessment: "are these valid contracts, can we afford to break them, and what would happen to the company and the U.S. economy if we do (break them)." The embattled CEO, who volunteered to take on AIG at the behest of our Federal Government, concluded that all "all the good they were trying to do and all the taxpayer money put into the insurance giant could quickly unravel with a devastating impact on the U.S. economy."

One of the many unanswered questions, thus far, is WHY? How would things unravel if the company refused to pay and said to these employees "sue me?" To those questions, there is still no clear answer. What is clear is that Liddy said these bonus receiving employees COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY REPLACED with other talent. SO, Why didn't he? Oh, yeah, that risk assessment analysis, Right !!!

Outraged members of the Financial Services Committee called on AIG executives to give back all of the $165-million bonus payouts. Liddy stated early on in today's testimony that he asked all employees receiving greater than or equal to $100-thousand in bonus payment to return at least half. Some, he says have done so, some have returned all. To put this in perspective, 1 executive at AIG received $6.4 million, 7 received more than $4-million a piece and 73 executives received $1-million.

What is unclear is how this will all end. What we know though is that bombshells can have huge explosions and this has the potential of being a megaton nuclear bang if it is not resolved soon.

I'M JUST CALLING IT AS I SEE IT !!!

AIG: HEARINGS SIDESHOW?

2009-03-18T08:54:00.000-07:00

Is cooking the Christmas Goose of AIG's Chairman and CEO for dolling out $165-
million dollars in bonuses from taxpayer bailout money a sideshow?

Edward Liddy, said Goose, faces off with a supremely angry House Financial Services Committee today for doing what most Americans, including myself, consider this unspeakable act. An MSNBC commentator stated that today's hearing is just a sideshow, theatre if you will, to the larger issue of an investigation into how all the bailout money given to the insurance giant has been spent. I could not disagree more. !!!

HERE'S WHY: Sometimes it takes a "sideshow" of a relatively small picture issue to focus on the enormously big picture issue.

The small picture here is giving bonuses to unworthy employees, the very financial sector people who caused the collapse of the monolithic giant, and with it the U.S. economy. The bigger picture here is BUSINESS AS USUAL is in full swing; and, this is where the anger comes in.

The embattled Liddy did not cause the problem. Congress put him in charge of AIG after his predecessors took everything they could. However, Liddy does not recognize that "times, they have changed."

Bold solutions to resolving disastrous financial issues entrusted to him with taxpayer backing are needed to bring an end to this economic meltdown. Dolling out bonuses with taxpayer money demonstrates that Liddy does not understand this. His lack of understanding has shone a light on what else he may not understand, cast a shadow on the overall bailout plan and immeasurably increased taxpayer angst and anger as to what else he does not get.

We, the American taxpayer, want CHANGE, remember that slogan from the Obama 2008 presidential campaign: the "AUDACITY of HOPE." We have the AUDACITY to HOPE for a brighter economic tomorrow but that hope is dashed everytime we see continued in-the-box actions by financial leaders.

Liddy must pay attention to every single AIG detail and provide out-of-the box solutions for this financial mess. He must provide a shining example of changing the culture of greed in the financial sector. Otherwise, this CEO may ultimately find himself on the receiving end of every taxpayers holiday plate: light or dark meat, stuffing on the side, if you please.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

AIG FOX IN HENHOUSE

2009-03-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

After hearing from fans of my blog, I'm back....

A.I.G. stands for "ASS IN GEAR," as in Mr. President and our elected members of Congress GET YOUR ASS IN GEAR AND STOP LETTING THE FOX GUARD THE HENHOUSE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T HEARD, AIG, you know, that monolithic insurer of anything and everything from home loans to cities and states, gave $165-million in bonuses to employees after receiving nearly $180-billion in taxpayer money bailouts, let me repeat that "THEY GAVE EMPLOYEE BONUSES AFTER RECEIVING" bailout money. What makes matters worse, the money went to the London-based traders who helped bring ruin to the company and the U.S. economy.

First, why would top execs at the company give bonuses to employees who not just failed at their jobs, but woefully failed at them?

The insurer says it's part of their contractual obligation otherwise they would be sued. Well, let them sue. I'd love to watch the media circus surround the employees, as plaintiffs, alleging they are owed money for doing a bad job; now that would be worth the price of admission !!!

Second, top execs say the bonuses needed to be paid out to RETAIN top-tier talent. RIGHT!!! Do they believe for one second that we, the American people, the holders of 80 % of the company stock are really that dumb? Clearly the do.

The noun "talent" should be changed to the adjective "TALENTLESS". These traders who received the bonuses need to be fired. The bonuses need to be paid back. And, AIG top executives need to hire less talented people to do the job that their "talent" clearly could not do. It's worth a shot. In other words, why retain employees who are worth nothing more than the valueless crap they peddled known as bundled mortgage backed securities.

And, until things change, our elected officials should call the insurers bluff. Don't give the foxes another red cent of taxpayer bailout money. Let the henhouse fail and the cards fall where they may. And get a damn "ROOSTER" to pick up the pieces. Only then can we begin to rebuild the henhouse, this economy and stop the greed of people who obviously only care about the good of the one as opposed to the good of the many.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

Republicans stumble and fumble

2008-09-28T07:15:00.000-07:00

The Republicans are fit to be tied and wringing their twisted little hands over Sarah Palin's interview skills, or should I say, lack thereof. And, I personally couldn't be happier.

When Katie Couric interviewed her for the CBS Evening News the "Hot Chick from the Cool State", the Republicans description of her not mine, was positively frozen with fear on how to answer a most basic question one would expect the bottom of a top tier political ticket to answer: "what's your foreign experience?"

Katie threw the pass. Palin tried to catch it, but the question for her was as slippery as Alaskan ice. She ran to catch it with an answer, stumbled, somehow got her hands on it, at least the first word of her response, "Russia", then fumbled, hitting the ice as hard as a hockey player being slammed against a plexiglass barrier.

Maybe instead of wearing high heels on ice (hot chicks do wear their pumps), she should have worn ice skates after all she is a hockey mom. Maybe, as the former Mayor of Wasilla, population 68-hundred at the time of her reign, and the current Governor of Alaska, population 680-thousand, "Pay-lin" should have "Pay-ed Atten-tion" to the realities of being a Big Fish in an Ocean versus a Big Fish in a Little Pond before she accepted the Republican nod as their Vice Presidential Candidate.

But hubris will bite you in the butt every time. And this time the Big Fish in the Little Pond is being swallowed up by the Whale of controversy surrounding her pathetic lack of knowledge for the number two position. Ms Palin, you are right. There is a God !!!

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

Open letter to Barack Obama and Howard Dean

2008-09-09T10:27:00.000-07:00

Howard,

What the hell is Obama doing? I know he believes the campaign is between him and McCain and not Palin, that's the dream. The reality is she's the driving force behind his surge, a surge, I might add that has not only put him behind in the national polls, but is now threatening battleground states like Virginia. TELL HIM HE NEEDS TO PUT A PITBULL ON HER FULL TIME WITH MEDIA COVERAGE.

HERE'S HOW:

1. Get a woman (Hillary would be best) to go mano a mano with Palin in the press,
2. Slam her on all of her flip flops:
a. Restricting wasteful spending in Alaska while she and her family freely spends the state's treasury for their own purposes: see front page Washington Post article, today, Tues, Sept 9, regarding her hotel expenses, her husband's and her daughters, all charged to the Alaskan government.
b. that infamous plane was NOT sold on ebay.
c. her family values... see the hoochie momma leather skirt she likes to wear.
d. calling for Alaska to secede from the union with video from march, 2008, see my blog, http://newsfirestorm.blogspot.com
e. $167 million in earmarks she got for Wasilla, largest per capita of any city in the nation while claiming she's against earmarks
f. cutting Alaskan expenditures for special needs family by 62% while saying those families will have a friend in the White Wouse if she and McCain win
g. trooper gate ethical problems
h. religious fanatic in the white house when she said the iraq war was the will of God

3. CALL A DAMN PRESS CONFERENCE TO FOCUS THE NATION ON THESE FLIP FLOPS, WITH YOUR DESIGNATED PIT BULL LEADING THE CHARGE AND TELL BARACK TO STOP, I REPEAT, STOP WITH HIS FLIP FLOPS (THAT ONLY GIVES THE REPUBLICANS RAPID FIRE AMMUNITION);

4. MAKE IT A SERIES OF PRESS CONFERENCES WITH BARACK POINTING OUT IN STRAIGHT TALK TO THE POINT "BUZZ WORD/PHRASES" LAYMEN'S TERMS ALL THE BUSH-MCCAIN FAILURES.
a. "borrow and spend" republicans (as we discussed on fire island): point out the TOTAL NATIONAL DEBT, ($9.3 TRILLION), BREAK IT DOWN PER CAPITA FOR EVERY AMERICAN. Then analogize it to the cost of the number of average homes a person would need to own, the average mortgage of each with a 20% down payment, and the fact that millions are in foreclosure on one.
b. the national deficit.. and how much the war is costing us.. break this down to something the average american can relate to
c. McCain's proposed tax schedule vs. barack to see who would save more and who would pay more and what the average American can do with that extra money.
d. etc

GET MY POINT!!!! THIS IS RAPID FIRE RESPONSE.. CHANGE MEANS CHANGING WITH THE GAME AND STRIKING BACK AT THE CAUSE OF MCCAINS SURGE. THIS WILL START THE PROCESS OF STAMPING OUT THE MCCAIN PALIN SURGE-

Regards,

Lance Evans

Sarah Palin: Alaska Secession Advocate

2008-09-02T17:43:00.000-07:00

It's clear to me now that John McCain did very little vetting, if at all, of his Republican Vice Presidential running mate, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. And, the political headaches she is causing good-ole Johnny boy are mounting by the minute.

The latest bombshell: Palin recently was a member of a political party whose main goal at one time was to have Alaska secede from the United States; that's right, you heard me, she is sympathetic to the idea of ALASKA LEAVING THE UNION AND BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT NATION-STATE.

If that headline shocked you, you're in good company. My first thought was: "what the f--k???!!!". Then, I started thinking, if the McCain campaign truly vetted her, then they knew that she and her husband, Todd Palin, were both card carrying members of the Alaska Independence Party from 1994-1996, after all, it is a matter of public record.

And, since it is a matter of public record, does John McCain, in his vetting of her, truly want a secessionist as his V.P. candidate, a candidate who, if she manages to become our next Vice President, will be sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution part of which is to keep the nation safe and secure AS ONE?

Or will they both make an exception for Alaska and allow it to secede? I mean FOR GOD'S SAKES, WHAT WAS HE THINKING. Oh, that's right, it's already been shown that he is out of touch with reality (remember, he couldn't tell reporters how many homes he owns ).

And, just in case anyone out there argues that the Palin's made a mistake, a youthful indiscretion if you will, NOT!!! While in her 15 month as Alaska's new governor in March 2008, she taped a 1:22 video which I viewed online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwvPNXYrlyl
welcoming the AIP to their 2008 convention in Fairbanks saying, "We have a great promise to be a self-sufficient state."

Now, here's the historical rub with Palin's position. This nation fought a war, called the CIVIL WAR, to keep the Union as one when the south tried to secede. That war is the costliest ever fought by our country in terms of american lives lost.

Palin is either ignorant of this historical cost to our national unity and freedoms or she doesn't care. Either way, her allegiance with the secessionist views of AIP, in my opinion, TOTALLY and unequivocally disqualifies her as a Vice Presidential candidate for any party in this Great Union.

And, at a minimum, her AIP stance draws into sharp focus and question good-ole Johnny boys judgment and fitness to be President of the United States. THERE SHOULD BE OUTRAGE AND POINTED QUESTIONS DIRECTED AT BOTH PALIN AND GOOD OLE-JOHNNY BOY DUE TO THIS REVELATION.

And, just as a few footnotes: don't forget that:

(1). the woman who wrapped herself in family values and teaches abstinence ended up with a unmarried 5-month pregnant 17-year-old daughter ( when presented by John McCain to those few but loyal party faithful's in Dayton, Ohio last week, the Palin family tried to hide Bristol's baby bump from the probing eyes of television cameras by having the unwed daughter hold Sarah's newborn son on a blankie covering Bristol's belly. THATS CALLED A NATIONAL LIE BY OMISSION IN MY BOOK),

(2). she is a parent who willingly put her unmarried 17-year-old daughter in the cross-hairs of national and international media scrutiny after the McCain campaign revealed Bristol's pregnancy. (Let me stop here for a second: I just love the Republican twist on this one, saying the Palin family only proved themselves strong by Sarah going ahead with the Veep candidacy despite the daughters pregnancy. WHAT A LOAD OF DOUBLE STANDARD CROCK. ARE THEY ON CRACK?),

(3). There's trooper gate for which Palin hired a lawyer to defend against charges she abused her powers in firing an employee who refused to discharge her ex-brother-in-law, a man she hates, from his job,

(4). The police arrested Sarah Palin 22-years ago on a drunken driving charge, and,

(5). The sum total of her executive "experience" (and I had to put the word experience in quotes when you read the following) is a laughable 4-years as Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, a town of under 8,500 residents, that's right, UNDER 8,500 residents; and, at the time of her Veep candidacy debut, had only served 21 months as Governor of Alaska, a state of just barely over 670,000 people. Now, this is the woman, who would be first in line to a fatal McCain to run our nation of 300-million people and be the leader of the Free World. I think NOT!!! (yes, I guess she has more executive experience than a 36 year, 6 term legislative Democratic Senator from Delaware and a Junior Senator from the State of Illinois, population 12, 831, 970 (let's spell that out 12-million, 831-thousand, 9-hundred, 70- residents... RIGGGHHHTTT !!!

I JUST CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT POLITICAL BOMBSHELL !!! :-)

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

John McCain: Marriage?

2008-08-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

Saddleback church pastor Rick Warren asked both presidential candidates for their definition of marriage and both stated that marriage is between a man and a women. But, in John McCain's case, that equation seems to be insufficient.

Good-ole Johnny boy freely admits to cheating on his first wife several times and he's batted back rumors of the same on at least one ocassion with his current wife, Cindy Lou. So, it seems clear to me, in my opinion, that marriage for him his between a man and woman and HIS SEVERAL MISTRESSES.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT!!!

John McCain: Cheater?

2008-08-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

The first not-so face to face debate between Presidential candidates Barack Obama and rival John McCain is now down in the history books. And, most of the major and local television news networks and stations ate it up. But, here's the problem, what if one candidate cheated?

Get this, John McCain's campaign promised he would be in a soundproof vault on site Saturday night, a "cone of silence if you will". But, low and behold, he was not. He was in his motorcade on his way to the forum.

The reason this is so important is that Saddleback church pastor Rick Warren posed an hour of identical questions to each candidate, separately, with Obama going first. And, so as not to give McCain an unfair advantage, the presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee was to be placed on-site in, you guessed it, THE CONE OF SILENCE.

After the forum, Obama's people suspected that something was wrong, that the fix was in so to speak. And they privately complained about it.

McCain spokesperson, Nicolle Wallace, sniped "The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous."

Ok, here's what's wrong with dear Nicolle's quote, as I see it.

First, that John McCain may cheat is NOT, I repeat, NOT out of the realm of possibility.

Good ole-Johnny boy did CHEAT on his FIRST wife, with his now current wife, Cindy Lou. So what dear Nicolle, or anyone else, think he would not cheat on something as important as the race for the White House. After all, he is a career politician, with, in my opinion, an insecure Bush-like daddy's little boy complex: trying to professionally out do and out-rank, at all cost, his prestigious father and grandfather, both of whom were Navy Admirals.

Second, remember the KEATING 5 scandal (see previous blogs), where after a long investigation, good-ole Johnny-boy was merely slapped on the wrist for, in my opinion, personally doing the bidding of a supporter. That spells cheating in my book.

Third, did anyone else notice, as my mother and I did, that on several
ocassions, good-ole Johnny-boy jumped ahead of Warren answering one or two next in line and, as yet, unspoken questions. This pattern became so patently obvious that Warren exclaimed "well, that takes care of my next two questions, " and, on another ocassion, if you keep answering all the questions I have to ask you in one answer, we'll have time for a few that Mr. Obama didn't get and time for a sudden death round.

But, noooooooo, good-ole Johnny boy didn't cheat. I mean after all, his campaign spokesperson told us he didn't.

Bottom Line: Only those in his motorcade that night know for sure.

And finally,can someone PUH-LEASE explain to me how Johnny boy's time spent as a prisoner of war in Vietnam means that he would not cheat? I mean the man was a prisoner of war, NOT A SAINT. And, in on the Hill, he is legendary for blowing his stack and having a fowl mouth. Yes, this is a man that I want to be President of the United States. NOT!!!

And, his time as a P.O.W. brings me to another point: as I watched this forum with my mother on CNN Saturday night, it seemed quite obvious to both of us that good ole Johnny boy wrapped most of the answers in anecdotes from his P.O.W. experiences.

Ask him about his faith, he responded with personal Vietnam horror stories; ask him about abortion, answer Vietnam; taxes, Vietnam; global warming, Vietnam. Now, admittedly some of this is an exaggeration, but take a look at the tape and you'll get my point. Come on, if he wins the White House will his answer for everything that ails America be the torture he suffered in Viet Nam.

One thing he did answer that rang true: when asked about a big personal moral failure, good-ole Johnny boy stated: the fact that my first marriage failed. Translation, as stated before, he CHEATED on his first wife with Cindy Lou, who, by the way, was sitting in the forum audience, and couldn't have been too happy with that statement.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

World War 3

2008-08-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

I am going to digress from political blogging for a moment to cover a dangerous military situation happening in Eastern Europe that could portend WORLD WAR III.

As you know by now, Russia has invaded the soveriegn state of Georgia claiming territorial rights to the Georgin breakaway Province of South Ossetia. The U.S. and NATO have called for a cease-fire and for Russia and Georgia to return their respective troops to positions held prior to this conflict. Russia refuses. Western military analysts see this as a move by Russia to reassert its military authority over former Soviet terrorities on its borders. Also, they say, Russia knows the West needs its vast natural gas reserves which feeds half of Western Europes energy needs and has enriched Russian treasury coffers.

In response, the U.S. and its Western Allies has threatened Russia's political and economic standing in such venerable world organizations as NATO and the World Trade Organization. The U.S., citing Georgia as a vital U.S. ally, has flown military humanitarian relief supplies into Georgia and has sent Naval vessels to the Caspian Sea east of Georgia.

Additionally, it is reported today that the U.S. and Poland reached a long-stalled deal yesterday to put an American missile base in Poland, staffed initially by U.S. troops and with a U.S. pledge to militarily defend Poland should Poland be attacked. This move, military analyst say, is in direct response to Russians aggression into Georgia. Needless to say, Poland is estactic as it fears another Russian invasion and Russia is furious, suggesting that Poland was making itself a target by reaching this agreement (could that be a nuclear missile target?). "It cannot go unpunished," states Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, a senior Russian defense official.

In addition, the U.S. wants to put an anti-missile defense tracking radar system in the Czech Republic by 2012, a deal now awaiting Czech governmental approval. Once again, Russia has warned of dire consequences if this is done.

What this all boils down to is a very dangerous game of brinksmanship between Russia, still a major nuclear power, and Western nations, including the United States. (It should be pointed out here that Russia and China, yet another rich nuclear power, just this year signed a loose military compact together). One wrong move by either side could ignite a tender box that will be called World War III if anyone survives. If you need a visual of how that will turn out, rent or watch the movie "THE DAY AFTER", a 1983 nuclear holocaust film starring Jason Robards.

I say BOTH SIDES NEED TO TAKE A CHILL PILL AND PEACEFULLY CO-EXIST.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

John McCain: Nuked Out of the Water

2008-08-15T08:10:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have to go back in time eight days for a story that broke just minutes before I was to leave for my beach vacation without taking my laptop. It's a story that NUKED OUT OF THE WATER John McCain's nuclear plant plant proliferation plans as part of the solution to our energy crisis.

If you'll recall, good ole-Johnny boy, who first became familiar with nuclear power while serving in the Navy, had been criss-crossing our great land saying we need to wean ourselves off foreign oil by building 45 more nuclear power plants. And all of this by 2030. He wants to add those plants to our nation's energy grid. "I knew it was safe then. I know it is safe now," McCain stated after touring a Michigan nuclear power plant this summer.

And during other political stumps, he went further stating "Nuclear power is used on Navy ships (with nuclear power plants) which have sailed around the world for 60 years without an accident." Well, not only is that statement patently false, it just recently proved, yet again, to be a BIG TIME ..... OOPS!!!

On Thursday, August 7, 2008, the nation awoke to breaking news that the U.S.S. Houston, a Los Angeles class submarine, first launched on March 21, 1981 and sponsored by Barbara Bush, wife of then Vice President George H.W. Bush, had been leaking radioactive water since June of 2006. But, low and behold, our military, run by, guess who, that good-ole cowboy commander-in-chief named W., hid that fact, only copping to one incident in March of this year.

Not only that, we learned that Thursday that this radioactive water leaked into the waters in the ports of several U.S. allies, friendly nations and a U.S. state and territory: Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hawaii and Guam, respectively. Needless to say, these incidents and the secrecy surrounding them ticked off the political representatives of these areas and all are demanding answers from our government. But good-ole Johnny boy wants more nuclear power plants. Can you say 3-Mile Island?

As for good ole-Johnny-boy, his answer to these politicos was nothing short of deafening silence. I will tell you what he DID NOT DO. The day before this news broke, good-ole Johnny-boy spoke in Jackson, Ohio. About what you ask? Easy. The need for reprocessing our spent nuclear fuel and how Barack Obama opposes this plan. Conspicously absent is any mention of Johnny's oft-stated desire to build these 45 additional nuclear power plants. Hmmmm I wonder if he was tipped off to the impending breaking news? Can you say it came back to BITE HIM IN THE BUTT?!!!

The irony in all of this is that when Congress revised the Energy Act in August 2005 and added 27 MORE nuclear power plants, all to be licensed by 2009, Barack Obama voted FOR the revised act and good-ole-Johnny-boy voted AGAINST it. Hmmmmm. Can you say he's a creature of political expediency and a FLIP-FLOPPER.

Also, why 45 more NPPs? Why not 40 or 50 or 100? And, how will the bill for them be paid for surely it will fun in the Billions of dollars, that's B for BILLIONS. OH, and let's not forget that NPPs are only good for electricity. They WON'T SOLVE our foreign oil energy crisis. But I'm sure good-ole-Johnny-boy knows that, don't you think?

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT!!!

Will the real John McCain please stand up?

2008-08-05T16:27:00.000-07:00

It's only early August and I'm already getting p.o'd at McCain and the Press.
McCain claims he represents what's best for America. Well, let's look at the man himself and see if he stands up to his own hype.

The media, in general, feels that good-ole-Johnny boy's sordid past has been reviewed before therefore it need not be re-engaged. I couldn't disagree more. Here's why? Character is a big issue for any person running for President of the United States.

As I've stated in previous blogs, good-ole-Johnny boy's character needs much to be desired. He married up to a rich heiress and, in the process, divorced his first wife, a woman who faithly waited for him to return home from being a P.O.W. in the Vietnam war and became permanently disabled while doing so.

He used his second wife's money, Cindy Lou's, to fund his campaigns into Congress, later the Senate, and used her private corporate jet for trips around the country during this presidential run before the white hot glare of the media focused on it (a welcomed but rare moment of focus by the press on his shananigans).

He voted against a Martin Luther King, Jr holiday several times before relenting and supporting one in his state. Of course, at the time, he was up for re-election. And, on that subject, he had the gall this past weekend to tell the press that he had always, let me repeat that, ALWAYS voted for civil rights and a Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Rigggghhht Johnny. When pressed by a savvy reporter on what he said as being in error, Johnny-boy evaded the question by saying look at my voting record. Well, we did Johnny-boy and guest what: YOU HAD NOT ALWAYS SUPPORTED AN MLK, JR HOLIDAY.

Oh, and let's not forget, that this GREAT civil rights advocate now wants to ban affirmative action in his state of Arizona. Why? He says the law should be color blind and apply equally to everyone. Well, Johnny-boy, I know you live in utopia with your wife's money, but guess what, people of color are all too familiar with glass ceilings that inhibit their progress from earnings, to jobs, to management, ownership, housing, etc, etc, etc (hmmmm I think I'm channeling the late great Yule Brenner with all these etc's ).

Then, there's the Keating Five debacle. see my previous blogs. But Johnny at best got a slap on the wrist. And, for those of you who think he's learned his lesson, guess what? NOT SO!!!

BUT LET'S NOT JUST LOOK AT McCAIN'S PAST DEBACLES. LET'S LOOK AT THE MAJOR ISSUES OF THE PRESENT, DURING THIS 2008 PRESIDENTIAL RUN.

ON THE ISSUES OF HOUSING AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST (SHADES OF KEATING FIVE COME BACK TO HAUNT US):

As you know, InBev, that consortium of German breweries and beer conglomerate, wanted to buy the American standard bearer of beer, Anheuser Busch. The end result, the deal is in the offing. Good 0le Johnny boy's wife owns one million shares of A.B. And, if the deal wins governmental approval as is expected, his wife , who is already worth $100 million plus, will add an additional $70 million minimum to her net worth. BUT HERE'S THE RUB. A son of our would-be president and first lady had been lobbying Congress to let the deal go through during his daddy's current presidential run. Hmmmmm, was this a not so well veiled attempt at influence peddling? Unethical? You decide.

But, I'll tell you what it does mean. Johnny-boy and Cindy Lou can buy they're 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th homes if they want to. That's right, this average Republican Joe, named John and his wife own 9 homes, count them: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9-homes. That's what you and I own right? We can identify with this average John, right?

Oh, and let's not forget the cost of Johnny boys shoes. EVERY American family can spend $520 for a pair of shoes like Johnny for each member of their family. Right? ... Hmmmmmmmm.

Like an Average American, Johnny boy is NOT!!! He appears to be an OPPORTUNIST, marrying up, using his wife's money to win his various political seats, spending exorbitant money for a lavish lifestyle that people in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania who have lost tons of manufacturing blue collar jobs can only dream about in their wildest dreams. Hell, most of us can only dream about it. Is this the American dream? Has Johnny boy showed us the way to do it? Marry Up, Use the Money to gain power, reward yourself with expensive things? Damn, I wish I had known that was our American Dream.

ON THE ISSUE OF CAMPAIGN PREPAREDNESS:

First, has anyone else noticed that, unlike Barack Obama, Johnny-boy can't seem to give a speech without reading from and refering to his notes on the podium. Damn, why does he even bother looking up. His spends more time looking down and reading the issues he stands for off of white cue cards and papers than he does looking at the crowd. IS THIS A MAN WHO "KNOWS" THE ISSUES? Barack Obama can talk up a blue streak on the relevant issues of this race by refering only to his memory and experience. HMMMMMM. Who then should be President?

ON INSURANCE COMPANIES FUNDING VIAGRA FOR MEN BUT NOT BIRTH CONTROL FOR WOMEN:

When asked by a member of the Press recently, Johnny-boy couldn't remember how he voted or what his previous position was on the issue. As media cameras rolled, the candidate looked stupified and there was a strong air of uncomfortable silence before he said "I don't know how I voted" or "I don't know enough about the issue." For the record, he voted against issurance companies funding birth control.

ON THE ISSUE OF THE ECOMONY:

Well, he had Phil Gramm, his former chief economic advisor who called us "A NATION OF WHINERS."

ON THE ISSUE OF HIS MIDEAST FOREIGN POLICY ACUMEN:

While in Jordan, and speaking on the subject of Iran and Al Qaeda, good-Johnny boy stated : “Well, it’s common knowledge and has been reported in the media that Al Qaeda is going back into Iran and receiving training and are coming back into Iraq from Iran. That’s well known. And it’s unfortunate.” OOPS... MMMM MAYBE NOT. He corrected himself only after a little former Democrat turned Benedict Arnold named Senator Joseph Lieberman whispered a correction in his ear: “I’m sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not Al Qaeda." Hmmm, he's the one to vote for on the issue of Foreign Policy for sure.

ON THE ISSUE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND A NATIONAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY: see above

ON THE ISSUE OF THE BETTER COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF:

Good ole-Johnny boy has run campaign ads implying that since he gave his all in the military and became a prisoner of war during Vietnam, he would make a great commander-in-chief. Let me see if i get this right: if you get shot down in a war and held captive for several years, that qualifies you to be the person in charge of waging successful conflicts on behalf of our great nation. I THINK NOT!!! To me, if anything, it says, as commander-in-chief, good-ole-Johnny boy would know how to LOSE wars!!!

ON THE ISSUE OF AGE AND RACE:

The next time Johnny-boy accuses Obama of playing the race card, Obama should strike back and say good 0le-Johnny boy is playing the AGE card when he says Barack is new and inexperienced. I mean FOR GOD'S SAKES. THE MAN IS AS OLD AS DIRT AND FALLING APART. How many more face bandages do we need to see before the media starts seriously questioning his health and stops taking his personal health press releases at face value. Jeesh!!!.

Look, when he recently visited Bush Sr, George H.W. ,at Kennebunkport, one couldn't even tell who was older or more infirmed, Johnny boy or the elder Bush. They both walked a bit hunched over and with difficulty (and, by the way, does Johnny boy have a not so early stage of Osteoporosis?). And, Johnny boy, in his early 70's has a head full of whiter hair that the elder Bush, who's in his early 80's. Thus, we need to take a STRONG look at Johnny boys eventual Vice Presidential nomination because, in my most humble opinion, the Constitutional Succession Act will be used at some point should Johnny boy win the White House.

These are just a few of the national and international issues good-ole-Johnny boy fails at, issues that show: 1. he's not ready nor qualified to be President of the United States, and, 2. the media should be scrutinizing McCain as much, if not more so, as they do Obama.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

The REAL next president: a poignant reminder

2008-07-24T15:13:00.001-07:00

Today proved such a stark contrast between Barack Obama and John McCain in their bids to become the next President of the United States.

Get this, while Barack captivated a Berlin audience of not just the 100,000 expected listners, but 250,000, ole Johnny-boy held an audience of 2 in a grocery story in Belthlehem, Pennsylvania.

Obama conducted himself like a future President of the United States. He commanded his audience, wore the scene as well as he wore his suit, very nicely tailored, thank you, and he spoke of and on meaningful WORLD issues such as unity and healing the rifts between the U.S. and our European Allies, a rift caused by the cowboy mentality of the Bush Administration and the Republican party when they rode roughshod over world affairs. For those words, Barack's German and American audience gave him high marks.

On the other hand, ole Johnny-boy felt it necessary to go to the grocery store and learn that, oh no !!!, food prices are high. Really?!? Johnny. Glad you could join the rest of us (although your wife's money means you won't have to budget or select that lesser cut of meat when YOU go to the store. Do you even do you're own grocery shopping? I'm just asking).

While Barack called on NATO and Europe to participate in routing out Al-Qaeda, ending the war in Afghanistan and participate in the rebuilding of Iraq, you know truly meaningful world issues, good ole Johnny-boy watched jars of apple-sauce fall to the floor in that grocery story (I don't know, did he knock them over in, yet, his latest campaign blunder?. Inquiring minds want to know). I guess those jars of apple-sauce falling is his modern day version of George Washington chopping down an apple tree. NOTTTT!!!

Oh, and, eventhough Barack has not spoken of tackling our changing world climate so far during his overseas trip, good ole Johnny-boy has released a campaign ad essentially blaming high gas prices on, you guessed it, Barack. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!!

The ad implies, not so subtley, that Barack's refusal to drill for oil in protected regions of our nation's pristine coastal and wildlife environments amounts to you and me, average Joe's and Jane's, paying more at the pump. WRONG!!!

HERE'S THE MAIN REASON WE'RE PAYING MORE AT THE PUMP: 1. the Republican backed Bush Administration, McCain included, conducted an unprovoked war on Iraq, that at the time, March 2003, Vice President Dick Cheney asserted would only take a month to win and cost we the taxpayers $50 billion dollars. Well, we now know that was pure BS. At the moment we attacked Iraq, the U.S. dollar began it's devastating 5 year downward slide. The falling dollar has wreaked havoc on our economy and because it's the lowest it has ever been, it's low value means we are paying high prices to get oil that other nation's with stronger currencies can buy cheaper.

So, who do you want as the next President of the United States? A man who deals in truth and real issues, Barack Obama, or a man who still believes in smoke and mirrors and thinks we, the Citizens of this great country, can continue to be duped forever, good ole-Johnny-boy.

I'M JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!!

"A Nation of Whiners", PLEASE!!!

2008-07-10T17:15:00.000-07:00

OKAY, so today we have the published reports revealing that former Texas Senator Phil Gramm, presumptive Republican Presidential Candidate John McCain's campaign economic adviser, called Americans "a nation of whiners." Hmmmm. Could it be possible that the "Good Ole Boy" in him is coming out?

The Washington Times, a conservative newspaper by any stretch of the imagination, reported that Gramm stated: "We have become a nation of whiners. You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America is in decline." He continues, "You've heard of mental depression, this is a mental recession." Huh? Has his gray matter gone dull? Does he not know what the average American is now going through economically? CLEARLY, NOT!!!

The Democrats immediately pounced on McCain/Gramm basically stating they are out of touch with the economies of the average American household. And, predictably, McCain tried to distance himself from Gramm by stating "Phil Gramm does not speak for me. I speak for me" (but it should be noted, Gramm did not resign his position as economic adviser to the McCain campaign and, so far, McCain hasn't asked him to). And Gramm tried to say a nation of whiners didn't come out the way he meant, that he meant political leaders on the Hill are whiners.

Okay, let me see if I get this right, Gramm did say "AMERICANS" are a "NATION" of whiners. Now, I don't know about you but "Americans" means Americans in my book and not "POLITICAL LEADERS." ALSO, the leaders aren't the nation, we citizens are the nation. Am I missing something here? Gramm's clarification sounds like fuzzy talk to me (this may be his gray matter dulling again). He should just admit he put his insensitive foot in his unfeeling mouth.

So, who is Phil Gramm that he can be so out of touch with reality (this question reminds me of the now infamous press conference with George W. where a reporter asked Bush about gas prices hitting $4.00 a gallon by the summer. Mr. Bush's response, "Really? I hadn't heard that." Well Mr. Bush can you read the gas pump tea leaves now? I digress. Back to the show ).

Well, Gramm was born in Fort Benning, GA 66 years ago this past tuesday. In, 1967, he did earn a Ph.D in economics from the University of Georgia. And, he did teach economics for 12 years aat Texas A&M University after earning his Ph.D. After that, he opened up an economics consulting firm named Gramm & Associates. So there is reason to believe he has economic experience. I mean after his political career ended in 2002, he did go to work for Swiss banking giant, UBS. But his career does bear a closer inspection.

Disloyalty, political impropriety and untrustworthiness come to my mind when looking at some of his career ministrations.

In 1981, in his third year as a Democratic Congressman from Texas, that's right he used to be a Democrat, all three characterizations apply, in my opinion. Gramm attended a Democratic Caucus budget meeting. Then, the little spy proved to be the ultimate modern day Benedict Arnold, he secretly shared this information with the Republicans and then newly elected President, Ronald Reagan. The information resulted in Reagan and the Republicans being able to pass their budget agenda. Needless to say, the Democrats were ticked off and stripped Gramm of his Caucus seat (they should have tarred and feathered him).

Gramm wasn't done yet. He resigned his Congressional seat, forced a mid-term election, switched parties, ran as a Republican and regained his seat. To any political watcher, he out did Judas, when the fallen apostle betrayed Jesus.

In 2002, he became Vice President of Swiss banking giant UBS in it's U.S. operations. His position some say was that of an adviser to and lobbyist for the company, more ceremonial and light on work. But here's where untrustworthiness might prove to be the rub. To date, UBS has posted losses of nearly $38 billion dollars and its stock value has dropped 70%. The company hadn't seen figures like this since 2002, the year Gramm signed on board.

So, how did it happen? Like lots of big investment houses, UBS' U.S. operations got stung with huge subprime mortgage losses. Throw in, on top of that, major regulatory infractions, where it's alleged the company bilked some of its prime investors of money and you've just now made a once respected international Giant a joke.

Is Gramm responsible for these corporate headaches? No, at least not directly. But if he truly was an adviser to the Swiss titan, then with all of his political experience as a one time Washington insider and all of his economic and financial experience, couldn't one trust that he would have steered UBS away from its Excedrin moments? I'm just saying.

And, get this, while McCain's campaign economic adviser (he joined the campaign in the summer of 2007), UBS, remember the company is a major U.S. mortgage subprime lender, paid Gramm to lobby Congress for UBS interests. The major issue he fought for dealt with attempts by mortgage lenders to roll-back state rules making it harder for the lenders to continue their predatory practices in getting homeowners in high-cost mortgages. At the very least, Gramm lobbying Congress on this issues while on the McCain campaign gave the appearance of political impropriety. Oh, this is someone I want as McCain's possible choice for Treasury Secretary or even running mate. That's right, the rumors inside the Beltway had Gramm as the odd's on favorite for one of these positions. Can you say "NOT HAPPENING NOW!" Just this past April, Gramm deregistered as a lobbyist for UBS.

Finally, why could it be that Gramm appears insensitive to the economic woes of the average American citizen. I mean, look, the evidence of our economic decline is everywhere: an historic low dollar, which pushed gas prices to the highest levels ever seen in this country; gas prices that forced everyone from truckers to manufacturers to raise prices heavily on every conceivable product Americans buy at stores; home heating and energy costs are going through the roof; food prices going up 5% to 50% depending on the item; homeowner home equity falling by as much as 28% in some markets and at least 5% in most; and, the stock market taking a pounding with record weekly losses. But Americans are whining, right?

Gramm is not your average everyday American. He is privileged with money, power and position. He was a Republican U.S. Senator from 1985 to 2002. Starting in 1989, Senators and House Representatives saw their salaries increase from $98,000 annually in 1990 to $150,000 annually by late December 2001. Now, I don't know about you, but in 1998, I made around $98,000. That was good money then. Imagine making that much 8 years earlier when the dollar was stronger and items on the shelf were cheaper to buy.

Coupled with this, Gramm went on to make, what has to be an impressive salary at UBS as its Vice President. So, he's not your average American. He can not empathize financially with your average American. Therefore his foot in mouth moment really shows he has no concept of why the average American is calling for huge changes economically, politically and socially. Gramm just wants to keep the status quo: More for the rich, less for the poor; just like a good ole boy !!!

JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

Cannibalism: Black vs. Black

2008-07-09T17:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, another departure from my traditional role of why John McCain is unfit to be the next President of the United States. This time I'm talking about how some black people will stab other black people in the back when they are afraid they're territory is being taken over. Case in point: Jesse Jackson's hurtful, rude and vulgar comments made about Barack Obama on a Fox news program this past Sunday.

WHAT WAS HE THINKING?

The comment made by Jackson Sr. : Presumptive Democratic Presidential Candidate, and most likely the next President of the United States, Barack Obama is "talking down" to black people with his recent moral speeches on absentee father's in black families, comments made at the podium in front of African-American churches. But the crude, rude, vulgar remark followed this statement. Apparently Jackson also stated "I want to cut his nuts off, " so angry is he with Obama.

Okay, here's the deal:

First, is Jackson Sr. worried that Obama could have been talking about him. Remember, he did get caught in 2000 in an extramarital affair with former staffer Karin Stanford, who had been the executive director of the Washington, D.C. bureau of Jackson's Rainbow/Push Coalition. Not to mention the fact and the media proved he had an out-of-wedlock daughter with her, named Ashley, and that the Coalition paid Stanford $40,000 to move her to Southern California and an additional $365,000 to buy her a home. By the way, Jackson is paying child support to the tune of $3,000 per month

But still, it must have smarted for Jackson to have heard Obama lecturing on subjects of fatherless black families, dads who sire babies and are largely absent from their child's life from that point on (shades of lectures by black actor Bill Cosby). Jackson surely can't speak on the subject with any kind of authority. But, once again, he IS paying child support.

Second, why did he open his mouth in front of a microphone? Mr. Jackson, if nothing else, is a seasoned activist and would-be politician (he did run for President in 1984 and 1988 and became the "Shadow Senator" for the District of Columbia from 1991-1997). He has an overwhelming amount of experience being in front of a camera and miked up and the first rule of law for anyone, and I mean ANYONE, standing or sitting in front of a camera with a microphone around is: DON'T OPEN YOUR MOUTH UNLESS YOU WANT WHAT YOU SAY AIRED!!! He's not new to this game!!!

Mr. Jackson arrived for a Fox and Friend's interview on health care. Any question asked by anyone in a news studio, especially in the denizons of a fang-toothed Fox institution when you're a Democrat, should be answered with judicious caution (even if that quesion is asked by another guest in a whisper before the official interview began as was the case here).

Third, why would Mr. Jackson, Sr. say anything to anyone that could potentially reflect badly on his son, Jesse Jackson, Jr., you know, the man who for the last year and a half has been doing a bang up job as OBAMA'S NATIONAL CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR. Go figure !!! To his credit, Jr immediately blasted his dad's comment as "ugly rhetoric", divisive and demeaning to his father's "inspiring and courageous (civil rights) career." Jackson, Sr. immediately called the Obama campaign to apologize and renew his offer of support.

Finally, I personally think that Jackson, Sr's nerves are rattled by Obama preaching to African-American people when Jackson is used to doing so. Jackson needs to move over a little and let Obama in. Now, I'm not calling for him to step aside as a preeminent leader of American Civil Rights and the Black community, but he does need to make room for Obama. Here's why.

The American Civil Rights movement needs NEW BLOOD; an inspirational person for people of all faiths, creeds and colors to look up to for hope and change. BARACK OBAMA IS THAT NEW BLOOD!!!
This current generation doesn't want to listen to someone who is more identified with the generations of our parents and grandparents. They need someone to call their own. Once again, BARACK OBAMA IS THAT PERSON!!! And, anyway, isn't passing the Civil Rights torch to the next generation to build upon the successes of the older generations exactly what Martin Luther King, Jr. AND Jackson Sr. fought for ???!!!

JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!

Tim Russert, In Memorium

2008-06-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

I was about to do today's blog when I heard from a source at NBC that Tim Russert had died and that his network was holding off reporting it until they could notify his family. So, I too held off writing this blog entry until his family was notified and my colleagues on the national level had ample time to eulogize him the way he deserved. Needless to say, the news of his death came as a shock to me.

My mother and I enjoyed watching his deeply inquisitive, deeply probing style of questioning of his guests on "Meet the Press." Mr. Russert lived larger than I think he even knew in the minds of journalists all across America. In fact, he was THE JOURNALIST'S JOURNALIST, setting the standard by which we all should and, if we are smart, would aspire to every time we question someone for a story.

There's not much more to say except that, at 58, he died much to soon. My deepest sympathies to his family and may he rest in peace in that big fourth estate newsroom in the sky.

Whitey

2008-06-12T15:56:00.000-07:00

Today, I was going to talk about Iraq, briefly how we got there and the positions of the two presumptive presidential nominees. But then "Whitey" came up and now I'm pissed.

Of course, I'm referring to the latest right wing Republican salvo against Barack Obama. And, once again, it's his wife, Michelle, that's being attacked.

Here's the deal, Rush Limbaugh, that conservative political talk show commentator, also known as the "National Precinct Captain for the Republican Party", has been shooting off his big fat mouth once again, this time saying that Michelle Obama had been caught on tape in her former church using a derogatory word for white people known as "Whitey". Well, so far Rush your mouth is proving bigger than your brains because THERE IS NO SUCH TAPE and the Obama campaign has categorically denied Michelle ever uttered the word or that a tape exists proving she did.

So why did Rush and other conservative republican commentators go with this unproven story? And, why haven't we heard from that hero, ole Johnny-boy McCain or his wife condemning his surrogates for promoting such filth. Well, it's because the Obama's are like Teflon, nothing sticks to them (that's what happens when you tell the truth and speak from the heart), and the McCains and Rush are like Velcro, too much dirt in gloms onto them. Let's take a look at the past of all three, shall we.

First, there's Rush. Now, everyone knows that the 57-year-old blow hard was a drug addict, the word addict even came out his own mouth as referring to him. Let's review that period of his addiction.

A national tabloid broke the story in October of 2003 that good ole Rush was being investigated for illegally obtaining the prescription drugs oxycodone and hydrocodone. What he actually did was doctor shopping, which in Florida, where he did the dastardly deeds, is very much against the law. It took this good ole boy seven whole days after word broke of the investigation to publically admit that he was addicted to the painkillers.

And why was he addicted you say? Well, Rushie says it was from several years of taking painkillers for a severe back problem heightened by a botched surgery to fix the problem. And to make everything okay, he voluntarily put himself into a 30-day rehab program right away. Now, let's be clear about this, had he been black, with no money and wasn't a public figure who happened to be the Mouth of the Conservative party... his butt would have been thrown in jail immediately!!! Let me repeat that... IMMEDIATELY.

But noooo, the Florida authorities allowed Rushie to turn himself in voluntarily. Maybe he's angry at the Obama's because unlike them, he had a warrant issued for his arrest (that's part of the record), and unlike them, the police booked him, photographed and fingerprinted him. That's enough to piss off any man who believes he's so high and mighty that he shouldn't have been touched in the first place.

Oh, and let me not forget to say, the charges sullying his good name were dropped (now there's a surprise) (had he been a black man.... well, you get the idea). In exchange, not-so-poor Rushie agreed to defray the cost of investigating him to the tune of $30,000 (yeah, I have that amount of money sitting around somewhere), 18 months of therapy with his physician, and also submit to random drug testing ( is this like his ankle bracelet).

So, given all that happened to him, you can see why he would unfairly try and tear down a woman who has dedicated her life to community service and involvement. Wait a minute: did he get community service? hmmmmmmm.

Next, there's our hero, good ole Johnny-boy. An honest and decent opponent would decry such unfounded trash attributed to their opponent. But wait a minute, I did say honest didn't I. Let's look at his past.

Yes, Yes, Yes, he was shot down in Vietnam, captured and tortured for 5 and 1/2 years and for that I grieve for him. But when he returned to the States, he proved anything but a saint.

Let's see, when he returned to the States in '73 he admittedly had several affairs on his then wife Carol; that's affair with and "s" on the end, and they spell CHEATING. They separated and got back together. But let me not forget to say that while Carol sat waiting for her P.O.W. husband to come home, she suffered major injuries in a December, 1969 car accident that would need treatment well beyond the end of their marriage. And this is the woman Johnny-boy cheated on.

But wait, there's more. You know he ended up with the former Cindy Lou Hensley, who's father happened to be owner of one of the largest Anheuser-Busch beer distributors, but they had an extramarital affair while Johnny was still married to Carol. And quicker than you can say flash, ole Johnny-boy's divorce from Carol became effective one month (April 1980) and his marriage to Cindy Lou took place the next month (May 17, 1980).

But Johnny's not finished getting his hands dirty. In 1983, while in his first term as a Republican Congressman from Arizona, he opposed the FEDERAL institution of a Martin Luther King, Jr holiday. Seven years later, he saw the light and fully supported a MLK, Jr STATE holiday for Arizona. Hmmm Federal vs. State.. well it was a start. It must have been fear of not getting those few black votes for his 1992 Senate re-election bid, what do you think?

Let's not forget the 1987 Keating Five Scandal. Yes, in 1991, the Senate Ethics Committee essentially exonerated him by saying his actions "were not improper" but they did rebuke him for exercising "poor judgment".

What did he do? Between 1982 and 1987, he received over a hundred thousand dollars from Arizona business man and friend Charles Keating Jr, and Jr's associates at Lincoln Savings and Loan. He also received trips on Keatings jet (remember he's a U.S. congressman right now) that he didn't repay until 2 years later. And when, in 1987, investigators moved in on the now insolvent business of Keating, Jr asked McCain and 4 other U.S. Senators to intervene and prevent the government from seizing Keating's business. McCain met twice with regulators. and though he regretted it and said the appearance of impropriety (known as arm twisting) was wrong, in the end none of the Senators involved in the scandal was charged (LET'S SAY IT ALL TOGETHER NOW: HAD HE BEEN BLACK..... riggghhhttt.).

And finally, let's look at Cindy Lou Hensley McCain. Here's a woman born of privilege and the best education and lauded for her roll in the non-profit arena of moving medical personnel across international borders fast in a MASH style network to help those in need oversees. Yet, she danced with the devil herself and got burned.

Not only did she lack a conscience and have an extramarital affair with a married man in the mid-1970's ( John McCain), she became a drug addict and thief herself. In the late 1980's, Cindy Lou became addicted to the painkillers Perocet an Vicodin. She claims she took them initially to ease the pain from two spinal surgeries for ruptured discs. But here's the rub. She also took them to deal with the stress from her part in the Keating Five scandal

Yes, it appears Cindy Lou did some bookkeeping in the scandal plagued company and for some reason she found it hard to find some of the receipts.. hmmmmmm... I guess with the Feds breathing down my neck, I would need painkillers too. NOT!!!

Also, it seems Cindy Lou stole drugs from the very non-profit medical MASH organization that she set up. This was in 1992. She sought treatment and cleaned up her act that same year but a tip the following year brought the Drug Enforcement Administration in to investigate. Needless to say, with her hands caught in the cookie jar, privilege and weatlth "limited her punishment to financial restitution and an enrollment in a drug diversion program WITHOUT ANY PUBLIC DISCLOSURE" Now, stay with me here, wasn't her husband a first term U.S. Senator running at the time for his second term? hmmmmm (okay.. all together now again... HAD THEY BEEN BLACK... )

Cindy Lou sits and sat on many charitable boards for children and medical relief. Sadly she suffered a near fatal stroke in April 2004 that, while she made a remarkable physical recovery, left her with short-term memory loss and difficulties writing. Could short term memory loss of all the "good" she had done explain why this past February she attacked Michelle Obama's patriotism? Or could it be jealousy that Michelle Obama did just as much as she did for non-profits and community organizations without having Cindy Lou's advantages of wealth and privilege?

I don't know the answers but I do know this one thing, the McCains should control their Republican surrogates and loud mouth-pieces and just stick to the issues. You know another axiom comes to mind: THOSE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULDN'T THROW STONES.

CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!!

Gas Prices and the U.S.

2008-06-11T10:13:00.001-07:00

Ok, so the economy is the number one issue and it should be. But here's the rub, why is McCain being so stupid as to propose that the U.S. stay on course to being an oil dependent nation.

Good ole Johnny boy has proposed the following as a solution to the increasing U.S. demand for oil: drill for oil in the ANWR province of Alaska; drill for oil off the California and Florida Coasts; and, possibly the dumbest of all ideas, a gas tax holiday for the summer.

The problem: it would take years to see any oil come to market even if, barring the invitable environmental concerns of the first two dumb ideas, drilling were to start today. And as for the gas tax summer holiday, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT ( can you say .. not until the summer of 2009.. and that's if McCain wins the presidency .. and if, what will almost certainly be, a Democratically controlled House and Senate approve the plan.. NOT!!!... oh, and not to mention it will only save the typical motorist $18 for the summer.. hmmmm let's see, that's $6.oo a month for 3 months and at current gas prices that's just not even 2 gallons of unregular gas in one fill up for one month... JUST A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE MR. MC Cain.)

How about we do some REAL... LONG TERM solutions towards making this nation energy independent. How you say? Well some axioms work best here. Remember: NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF ALL INVENTIONS.

Keep the gas prices where they are. That's right. I said it!!! Why? Because Americans will search for, push for, and promote gas alternatives to run their daily lives; anything that will lessen our dependence on oil based, fossil fuel based energy.

For example: Corn Ethanol production. The U.S., together with Brazil, accounts for 70% of the world's ethanol production. The problem is the U.S. ethanol production is corn based and Brazil's in sugar cane based. So what you say? Well it's a HUGE difference in energy yield. Sugar cane based ethanol yields 7 times more energy than corn based ethanol ( which energy yield is just better than a one to one ratio of energy needed to produce energy.. .NOT TERRIBLY EFFICIENT)

THE SOLUTION: The Unites States should stop pouring Billions of dollars into corn ethanol production and corn producing subsidies and start pouring it into sugar cane ethanol production and sugar cane subisidies.

THE HARD FACTS: Brazil learned its lessons from the OPEC energy embargo of the 1970's. REMEMBER THOSE LONG GAS LINES IN THE U.S. Well, it proved worse in Brazil. The oil embargo brought that countries economy to its knees. Everything stopped. Oil dependency threatened that nation's very way of life.

IN COME SOME BRILLIANT, PROGRESSIVE MINDS: So, the Brazilian government gave birth to the rise of Sugar Cane Ethanol production. Yes, the 30-year program had some bumps and bruises along the way but here's where Brazil stands now: just two years ago, Brazilian sugar cane ethanol accounted for 40% of the countries fuel consumption (that's because it also created hybrid vehicles over the decades, known there as flex-cars, that utilize as much as a 25% mixture of ethanol (E25) to a gallon of gasoline. And when you consider trucks and diesel powered vehicles, the total fuel consumption for the nation with sugar cane ethanol is 20%. CAN YOU IMAGINE A 20 TO 40% LESS DEPENDENCY ON OPEC OIL HERE IN THE U.S. BINGOOOO!!!!

Now, you'll hear the Republican, protectors of the U.S. oil industry, say it's not feasible to produce large amounts of sugar cane in America because sugar cane best requires tropical and subtropical climates to grow, but I'm telling you: DON'T BUY THE KOOL-AID!!!

In the United States, sugar cane is grown in Florida, Louisiana, Texas and Hawaii. A federal governmental focus on subsidies for more production of sugar cane and sugar cane ethanol than the less energy producing corn and corn based ethanol could bring us closer to the oil independence that Brazil has. Not to mention that our nation has several tropical climate terrorities we can utilize such as Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, HELLLOOOO!!!! So, the argument against sugar based ethanol production in this country is specious at best.

Oh, and then there's JOB CREATION. By the year 2003, Brazil had created nearly 700,000 jobs in the sugar cane ethanol business and today that number in just about one million-- let me say that again, ONE MILLION NEW JOBS CREATED. BEST OF ALL, these are green jobs, as they are called on the presidential trails. Sugar Cane Ethanol burns environmentally clean. In fact, Ethanol usage in cars overall, began to improve big city air quality by the 1980's. BOOYAAA!!!

And Cost: Sugar cane ethanol is CHEAPER TO PRODUCE than corn ethanol. It only costs 22 cents/liter to produce sugar cane ethanol while corn ethanol cost 30-cents per liter to produce.

Ok, THE CONCLUSION: Sugar cane has a proven record of helping a large nation become oil and fossil fuel based energy independent. Sugar cane ethanol has a 7 times greater energy yield than corn ethanol. Sugar cane ethanol is environmentally friendlier than oil or fossil fuel based energy sources. The United States has the necessary tropical and subtropical land mass to produce large quantities of this most energy efficient sugar cane ethanol. And sugar cane ethanol costs less to produce than corn based ethanol. AM I MISSING SOMETHING HERE !!!! DO YOU GET MY POINT!!!! ALL WE NEED IS THE POLITICAL WILL TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS LONG-TERM PROJECT.

JUST CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT, Mr. McCain... Cheers !!!

Taxes and the Presidency

2008-06-10T16:06:00.000-07:00

Today, we heard from the presumed presidential nominees, both democrat and republican on how they would treat taxes during their administration. Obama says McCain will keep $3oo billion in tax cuts for large companies and the wealthiest Americans. McCain says Obama will raise taxes when taxpayers are least able to afford them. So, what's the real deal?

The bottom line: your taxes should go up on the wealthiest of Americans and American Companies while giving tax relief to middle america

Here are some basic things to remember:

The Republicans and McCain accuse the Democrats of being the "Tax and Spend" Party. The reality: the Republicans over the last nearly 30-years have become the "Spend and Borrow" party. Republican presidents with their wars have contributed more to the SHOCK AND AWE of the national debt and declining life styles of American citizens than any Democrat who's been president has. Look up the figures. you'll see.
And the current President, George W. Bush, is the MOTHER OF ALL SPENDING when it comes to emptying the national treasury and borrowing money to pay for a war that he improperly directed towards Iraq and should have more properly been directed towards Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.

During the current Bush administration, the national debt, the total amount of money owed by the federal government, rose from about $5.75 trillion in the beginning of 2001 to $9 trillion today, the largest expansion ever!!! And, as of November 2007, sixty percent of the Debt is privately held by individuals, corporations, states and foreign governments (the largest U.S. debt holders being Japan at $ 580 billion, China at $390 billion and the United Kingdom at $320 billion). THIS IS MONEY BORROWED BY THE REPUBLICANS WHO CONTROLLED THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS UP UNTIL LATE 2006.

So taxes should go up ... on the wealthiest of individuals and companies. For example, it is positively SINFUL that the Republicans blocked a windfall profits tax on U.S. oil companies, especially when you consider that for the first 3-months of 2008, the five largest U.S. oil companies made a combined profit of $36-Billion dollars... that's Billion with a "capitol B"; and that's JUST FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR. By extrapolation, and if oil prices for a barrel of crude remained at March 2008 levels (which we already know they have far exceeded) by years end those profits would be four times $36 billion or $144-BILLION in profits (and remind you, that's a conservative, a VERY CONSERVATIVE estimate).

But McCain doesn't want to see this happen. Why? because his wife, with a fortune estimated around $100-million, is part of that one percent of American companies and individuals earning 75% of the nations newly minted wealth. Translation: her taxes would go up and ole Johnny-boy would have some 'splaining to do.

The middle class needs the Obama tax relief plan. Oil windfall profits need to be taxed on any money not being reinvested into non-fossil fuel energy sources and the country as a whole needs to tighten it's Texas imposed bootstraps while we try and exit the financial mess that W. and his republican chronies put us in. REMEMBER: VOTE OUT "SPEND and BORROW" REPUBLICANS. MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FINANCIAL MESS THEY PUT OUR COUNTRY IN. (p.s. can you say Haliburton?)

CALLING IT LIKE I SEE IT !!!!