Saturday, December 27, 2008

PARDON - just teasing now that I have your money

Six donations from the same family to Republicans: sample below:
TOUSSIE, ROBERT
10/15/08 - $2,300Smith, Gordon H (R)
Toussie, Robert I Mr - Self-Employed/Executive - 4/25/08 - $28,500Republican National Cmte (R)
TOUSSIE, ROBERT I MR, - SELF-EMPLOYED 4/30/08 - $2,300McCain, John (R)



The White House said Thursday that when Mr. Bush granted Isaac Toussie, 37, a pardon earlier this week, the president and his advisers were unaware that the elder Mr. Toussie had recently donated $30,800 to Republicans. Mr. Bush took the extraordinary step of rescinding the pardon on Wednesday after reports about the political contributions.

WTPC - You know you're trailer material when... 27 Dec 08

WTPC - You know you're trailer material when the Trooper Says Election Delayed Alaska Drug Case
The mother of Bristol Palin's boyfriend sent text messages discussing drug transactions less than a month after the young woman's mother, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was nominated as the Republican vice presidential candidate, according to court documents filed this week.

An affidavit from an Alaska state trooper, filed Monday, states that Sherry L. Johnston referred in her messages to two police informants to "coffee" as a code for the drug OxyContin.  ... She allegedly sold OxyContin tablets to the informants on three occasions this fall, the affidavit states. Police said two of the meetings were recorded by a hidden camera and a microphone.

Wait, wait a minute OxyContin again.  As I remember another conservative had illegal dealings with Oxy - which is known as hillbilly heroin - Rush Limbaugh.  


WTPC - You know you're trailer material when...

WTPC - You know you're country when 'you visit your in-laws in jail for Christmas.'

Friday, December 26, 2008

What's wrong with Republicans - Haters!

Candidate For RNC Chair Sends Out CD With Song Called "Barack, The Magic Negro"
If one of the Republican Party's challenges is how to effectively oppose the first black president without coming off as racist, one of the candidates for RNC chair is hardly off to a good start -- he is now distributing a CD that includes a racially-charged song called "Barack, The Magic Negro."
... The CD, called “We Hate the USA,” lampoons liberals with such songs as “John Edwards’ Poverty Tour,” “Wright place, wrong pastor,” “Love Client #9,” “Ivory and Ebony” and “The Star Spanglish banner.”

Does anyone think that Republicans have an innate problem Blacks, Liberals, Hispanics, and anyone who is not enveloped in white sheets.  If this is the person, Chip Saltsman, running for RNC head could it (the GOP) really be the party that wants to include all Americans.  This song was and will be seen as funny but only to the distorted.  In the land of pick-up trucks with the number 3 or 8 painted on the hood, Dixie flags, and 'Redneck and proud' stick on the windows this is funny.  This is the way Republicans roll; this is contrary to the promotion of democracy in the U.S..
I suggest that Chip Saltsman should be the RNC head if republicans want to lost another election, and codify the DNC for a generation.  Think about it:  Republicans do not like Blacks 'Barack, The Magic Negro', or Liberals 'John Edwards’ Poverty Tour, ' or Hispanics 'The Star Spanglish banner'.  Respectively think about those voting blocks; 13% Blacks, 35% Liberals, and 15% Hispanics.     

Don't Let the Door Hitchya

Percentage of Americans "glad [President Bush] is leaving": 75%.

Percentage of Americans who say President Bush "is a person you admire": 27%.

... "brought the kind of change the country needed": 13%.

... "say President Bush is the worst president in history": 28%.

From the latest CNN poll.

TPM

New for 2009 - WTPC 2

New Feature for the new year:

 Wasilla Trailer Park Chronicles - 

 King of the Park:  Joe Wuzelbacher

Queen of the Park: Sarah Palin

www.iconarchive.com

Monday, December 22, 2008

안녕하세요 - translation: Oh, crap!

South Korean Lawmakers Clash Over Fate of Trade Deal With U.S.


Opposition lawmakers tried to enter a blockaded room in which a committee was discussing a contentious free trade deal with the United States in Seoul on Thursday.

What, now the Koreans don't like the U.S.?



  

Saturday, 5 July 2008


What's next canceling hours at plants in Alabama? What! They have??

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Hyundai Motor Company and the Kia Motors Corporation

... In addition to freezing management pay, the statement also said that beginning this week Hyundai will curtail working hours at two separate production sites, including one that manufactures buses.

... In addition to freezing management pay, the statement also said that beginning this week Hyundai will curtail working hours at two separate production sites, including one that manufactures buses.

... Hyundai earlier this month reduced overtime for the first time since 1998.

So if the big two are canceling hours in Korea than Alabama in next.  I'm waiting for Richard Shelby.



Sunday, December 21, 2008

Go wobbly on Detroit, who Thatcher?

I agree with your assessment, Thatcher would have not done anything in regards to Detroit.  I think Thatcher and Reagan would have sat there and stated their ideological positions, which were apt for that time.  T and R were faced with an Oil crisis, income tax rates at 70%, the Unions had too much power, and money was not moving through the economy.  By contrast this recession, which is on the brink of depression, would have gone over the cliff.  They would have made a firm decision based on principle, just like Hoover.
The theories of T and R and H are the same.  In the '20s the banks failed, people lost confidence and snatched their money out of the banks.  Banks failed every where.  Businesses could not get credit, didn't loan funds and the death spiral began; businesses did not have credit, did not hire or pay wages and jobs were lost - none were created.  With bread lines and shanty towns popping up in the U.S. in the '30s (see below), something had to be done.  Now the replacement for the lack of food lines is a USDA program called Food Stamps, with a current recipient population of 31 million,greater than the population of Australia by 10 million.
What we have learned from history in the '80s is that at times of recession we must spend more, the citizens must spend and the government must spend.  The credit industry was motivated by the Reagan administration to be more relaxed with credit, more Americans spent for supplies (see Supply-side Economics).  Additionally, there was more government spending for  Defense (see Star Wars) and overall government, our National Debt climbed from 2.1 trillion dollars to 5.1 trillion dollars in 10 years.     
    
Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007 Makeshift structures have been erected as shelter for homeless people on a vacant lot in Liberty City, a neighborhood in Miami.

Failed Bank List


The FDIC is often appointed as receiver for failed banks. This page contains useful information for the customers and vendors of these banks. This includes information on the acquiring bank (if applicable), how your accounts and loans are affected, and how vendors can file claims against the receivership. 

This list includes banks which have failed since 2008.
Bank NameClosing DateUpdated Date
Sanderson State Bank, Sanderson, TX
En Español
December 12, 2008December 12, 2008
Haven Trust Bank, Duluth, GADecember 12, 2008December 12, 2008
First Georgia Community Bank, Jackson, GADecember 5, 2008December 5, 2008
PFF Bank and Trust, Pomona, CANovember 21, 2008November 21, 2008
Downey Savings and Loan, Newport Beach, CANovember 21, 2008November 21, 2008
The Community Bank, Loganville, GANovember 21, 2008November 21, 2008
Security Pacific Bank, Los Angeles, CANovember 7, 2008November 7, 2008
Franklin Bank, SSB, Houston, TXNovember 7, 2008November 7, 2008
Freedom Bank, Bradenton, FLOctober 31, 2008October 31, 2008
Alpha Bank & Trust, Alpharetta, GAOctober 24, 2008October 24, 2008
Meridian Bank, Eldred, ILOctober 10, 2008October 10, 2008
Main Street Bank, Northville, MIOctober 10, 2008October 10, 2008
Washington Mutual Bank, Henderson, NV and Washington Mutual Bank FSB, Park City, UTSeptember 25, 2008October 20, 2008
Ameribank, Northfork, WVSeptember 19, 2008October 20, 2008
Silver State Bank, Henderson, NV
En Español
September 5, 2008October 20, 2008
Integrity Bank, Alpharetta, GAAugust 29, 2008October 20, 2008
The Columbian Bank and Trust, Topeka, KSAugust 22, 2008October 20, 2008
First Priority Bank, Bradenton, FLAugust 1, 2008October 27, 2008
First Heritage Bank, NA, Newport Beach, CAJuly 25, 2008October 20, 2008
First National Bank of Nevada, Reno, NVJuly 25, 2008December 9, 2008
IndyMac Bank, Pasadena, CAJuly 11, 2008October 27, 2008
First Integrity Bank, NA, Staples, MNMay 30, 2008October 20, 2008
ANB Financial, NA, Bentonville, ARMay 9, 2008October 27, 2008
Hume Bank, Hume, MOMarch 7, 2008October 27, 2008
Douglass National Bank, Kansas City, MOJanuary 25, 2008October 20, 2008
Miami Valley Bank, Lakeview, OHOctober 4, 2007October 20, 2008
NetBank, Alpharetta, GASeptember 28, 2007October 20, 2008
Metropolitan Savings Bank, Pittsburgh, PAFebruary 2, 2007October 20, 2008

Saturday, December 20, 2008

The awakening begins...

Pawlenty chooses fiscal discipline over tax hikes.

It's beginning. Our leaders are starting to realize that taxation and spending are mutually inclusive; that is, they cannot be dissociated from one another. Tax revenues collected can never exceed 100 percent of gross revenues earned, regardless of how the taxing authorities would like it to. However, spending can and certainly does exceed collected tax revenues. If we spend more than we collect, then we have a deficit.

D'oh!!

An interesting link...

More ruminations on the utter failure of Keynesian economics...

More evidence that a lot of smart people have the facts of economic history on their side, and that many of our current "leaders" not only have not learned those lessons, but are ready, willing, and able to make the same mistakes again.

Fer GAWD'S SAKE!

Friday, December 19, 2008

Bush on economy, Iraq, legacy 12:12

President Bush on Bailing out Auto

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

FRAUD!

Marc Dreier was arrested in New York and accused of selling sham investments to hedge funds.

White-collar crime is about to make a lot more headlines.

The stunning arrests last week of prominent Wall Street trader Bernard Madoff for allegedly running a US$50-billion "Ponzi scheme" and law-firm owner Marc Dreier for allegedly selling US$100-million worth of sham investments probably only mark the beginning of a new wave of corporate chicanery cases, legal experts say.

International Hearld Tribune



Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Springfield has lost all of its clients' money--more than $3 billion

MassMutual entity loses all client funds to Madoff

A hedge fund group owned by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. of Springfield has lost all of its clients' money--more than $3 billion--to Bernard L. Madoff

more:

MassMutual affiliate loses big in Madoff scandal

"...'cause I'm the taxman, yeeaahh, I'm the taxman, and you're working for no one but me!" The Beatles "Taxman" 1966

This is exactly what we discussed earlier this week. As more and more taxes are levied on the things we buy and the things we do, people will eventually reduce or eliminate these purchases, thereby reducing the revenue streams, and causing the taxing authorities to implement even more taxes. Given enough time, municipalities will run out of things to tax.

Without ruthless control of spending, there are never enough dollars to meet all obligations.



The fallacy of Keynesianism once again raises its ugly head. We are attempting to spend our way out of this mess; it didn't work before, and it won't work now. The theory is flawed, and unfortunately too many people have bought into it. And while I am a monetarist and believe in a monetary policy based on the theory of monetarism, the flip side of the coin is, once again, spending.

Madoff scam saps confidence in Wall Street

"I think now it is very difficult for people to invest in things that are meant to be regulated in America, because they have fallen down on the job," said Ms. Horlick, whose firm had 9.5 percent of its assets invested with Mr. Madoff.







Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Connecticut Town Fears Losses on $42 Million Madoff Investment

... Fairfield, Connecticut, thought the 58,000- person town’s pension fund was holding up well amid the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. 

... The town government oversees the pension fund on behalf of about 800 police officers, firefighters and other municipal employees, Flatto said.

There is nothing more awful then hard-working, tax paying Americans getting bilked out of their retirements and investments.  This was the case recently when 58, 000 citizens of Fairfield found their money gone, by someone who has lived the life of the sublime.  With no regard as to how those would fare, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities (YouTube vid) LLC, left a forever impression.  From the Fairfield City Manager to the Fairfield pothole filler and Ms. Jennie at the Fairfield tax collection office, they were robbed by one who transcended a life most people could not begin to dream about. 

 

Managing a fund value at $ 50 billion, investing money from little old ladies (widows), Movie moguls, Holocaust survivors, and an organization like Physicians for Human Rights which deploys to the most dangerous parts of the world (http://physiciansforhumanrights.org/) Bernard Madoff reinforced the growing sentiment that there is an ober-rich class that just does not care.  He represents the effete, globalist\ internationalist class of American individuals who have the ear of the POLs who run the government and the SEC (don’t regulate me bro!).  Madoff, who was deep and influential in the NASDAQ community, was able to avoid the SEC regulators, and pull off a scheme of epic levels.  But he will be just the first, in the next few months this egg might just crack open and we will stand here looking gawkafied at the carnage.   

Sunday, December 14, 2008

"Let's throw down!"

Sooo...a disgruntled Iraqi journalist throws his shoes at President Bush, an insult among insults, for those who understand the reference. Funny thing, though...everyone seems to forget that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the " freely elected" leader of Iraq was next to Bush, and endured the same ignominy of the insult.

Oh, by the way...would that disgruntled Iraqi journalist have thrown his shoes at Saddam Hussein? Nah...don't really think so!


Saddam's statue falls, Iraqis throw shoes.

The Greatest Insult that can be thrown at someone in Iraq!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Tomorrow, the Bailout!

Are we due yet?

It is said that the President has protected us from a terrorist attack since 2001.  The facts say this is possibly one of the greatest promotions of misinformation in recent history.  A travesty it is, a travesty.  Those who said this were either repeating the party line or had little recall of history.

  1. The U.S. was attacked in 2001, the year after the U.S. presidential election.
  2. The U.S. was attacked in 1993, the year after the U.S. presidential election.

 

Typically, the U.S. is not attacked on our soil; we are attack outside of the U.S., think of the bombing on U.S. embassies, and the U.S.S. Cole.  (Below is an expended list of attacks). 

So we might be due for an attack within the next year or two.  This is if the terrorist are inclined to do so, they still have their opportunity targets.  Those targets are any U.S. citizen outside the borders, think Mumbai: the terrorist saying, 'where are the Americans or Brits?'

 MAJOR TERRORIST ATTACKS

 

September 11, 2001 - Terrorists hijack four U.S. commercial airliners taking off from various locations in the United States in a coordinated suicide attack. In separate attacks, two of the airliners crash into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, which catch fire and eventually collapse. A third airliner crashes into the Pentagon in Washington, DC, causing extensive damage. The fourth airliner, also believed to be heading towards Washington, DC, crashes outside Shanksville, PA., killing all 45 people on board. Casualty estimates from New York put the possible death toll close to 5,000, while as many as 200 people may have been lost at the Pentagon crash site.

Oct. 12, 2000 - A terrorist bomb damages the destroyer USS Cole in the port of Aden, Yemen, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39.

July 27, 1996 - A pipe bomb explodes during the Olympic games in Atlanta, killing one person and wounding 111.

June 25, 1996 - A bomb aboard a fuel truck explodes outside a U.S. air force installation in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. 19 U.S. military personnel are killed in the Khubar Towers housing facility, and 515 are wounded, including 240 Americans.

Nov. 13, 1995 - A car-bomb in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia kills seven people, five of them American military and civilian advisers for National Guard training. The "Tigers of the Gulf," "Islamist Movement for Change," and "Fighting Advocates of God" claim responsibility.

February 1993 - A bomb in a van explodes in the underground parking garage in New York's World Trade Center, killing six people and wounding 1,042.

 Dec. 21, 1988 - A bomb destroys Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. All 259 people aboard the Boeing 747 are killed including 189 Americans, as are 11 people on the ground.

December 1985 - Simultaneous suicide attacks are carried out against U.S. and Israeli check-in desks at Rome and Vienna international airports. 20 people are killed in the two attacks, including four terrorists.

November 1985 - Hijackers aboard an Egyptair flight kill one American. Egyptian commandos later storm the aircraft on the isle of Malta, and 60 people are killed.

October 1985 - Palestinian terrorists hijack the cruise liner Achille Lauro (in response to the Israeli attack on PLO headquarters in Tunisia) Leon Klinghoffer, an elderly, wheelchair-bound American, is killed and thrown overboard.

August 1985 - A car bomb at a U.S. military base in Frankfurt, Germany kills two and injures 20. A U.S. soldier murdered for his identity papers is found a day after the explosion.

June 1985 - A TWA airliner is hijacked over the Mediterranean, the start of a two-week hostage ordeal. The last 39 passengers are eventually released in Damascus after being held in various locations in Beirut.

June 1985 - In San Salvador, El Salvador, 13 people are killed in a machine gun attack at an outdoor café, including four U.S. Marines and two American businessmen.

April 1985 - A bomb explodes in a restaurant near a U.S. air base in Madrid, Spain, killing 18, all Spaniards, and wounding 82, including 15 Americans.

 November 1984 - A bomb attack on the U.S. embassy in Bogota, Colombia kills a passer-by. The attack was preceded by death threats against U.S. officials by drug traffickers.

October 1983 - A suicide car bomb attack against the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut kills 241 servicemen. A simultaneous attack on a French base kills 58 paratroopers.

April 1983 - A suicide car bombing against the U.S. embassy in Beirut kills 63, including 17 Americans. 

Nov. 4, 1979 - Tehran, Iran: Iranian radical students seized the U.S. embassy, taking 66 hostages. 14 were later released. The remaining 52 were freed after 444 days on the day of President Reagan's inauguration.

Jan. 24, 1975 - New York City: bomb set off in historic Fraunces Tavern killed 4 and injured more than 50 people. Puerto Rican nationalist group (FALN) claimed responsibility, and police tied 13 other bombings to the group.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Heroes: Joshua Chiarini

Bionics for Vets - Phase One for the Bionic Ectoshell NCO

For soldiers who have lost limbs in Iraq, a prosthetic arm inspired by 'Star Wars' and other bionic ideas.

Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway, is accustomed to being presented with problems people think he should solve. Usually he says no, as he was fully expecting to do when he met with a Department of Defense official in 2005. "This guy visits and basically says, 'Look, we've had 1,600 kids go over [to Iraq] and lose an arm. Two dozen have lost two'," Kamen recalls. " 'At the end of the Civil War, we gave them a hook on a stick. Now we give them a hook at the end of a plastic tube'." His visitor then checked off a list of demands for an improved prosthetic arm: fully articulate, with an opposable thumb and fine motor control, small, lightweight and completely self-contained "He listed all this stuff, and said, 'We want it in two years'," Kamen says with a laugh.rory dunn

Wearing 'almost homeless' sign, ex-executive seeks work

The first step to recovery is admitting that one have a problem

Republicans Protesting the Bailout

Weekly video round-up

President Bush on the ; time: 3:35

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Beggar's Bailout Ball


Forty-eight governors met with President-elect Barack Obama today to press their case for a federal package to help them weather the U.S. recession that began in December 2007.

The state executives want an assistance plan to create jobs through infrastructure projects, such as highways, and to aid with programs such as unemployment benefits, food stamps and health care for the poor, said Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, chairman of the National Governors Association. Rendell said more than $130 billion in infrastructure projects are waiting to go ahead if funding is secured.

Wait, so who were the two not there?  Mr. Perry, a Republican, is the governor of Texas. Mr. Sanford, a Republican, is the governor of South Carolina.  They were off pinning an Opinion piece for the WSJ.
Okay, Texas I understand they have oil.  South Carolina, I do not understand they have an unemployment rate of 8 percent.  Out of the 50 states 40 are in a recession, so 10 should not ask for funds.  No, no, 9 should not ask, Texas remember.  So who are the 9, and why are they asking for my tax money?  Grubby bastards digging in my pocket.




 

Tricky Dicky Nixon

The Nixon Library

The White House belongs to the people. 

Monday, December 1, 2008

Who did what? He endorses Clinton for Obama's cabinet?

At the end of the day we all have to get paid, so let's keep the party going.  Hence, the conservative movement continues its campaign of Clinton-hate (definition: one who hates on a Clinton). Such is the case with the Rush endorsement.  Now that the campaign for President is over attention must returned to more important endeavors: throwing darts at the President.  As one who served I’ll standfast and withhold judgement (less the be judged); it's hard to start hating on the new President so soon.

With January 20, 2008 coming around the corner I'll hold my ammo.  3/5!! 

All the problems with American imperialism will be solved!

What more needs to be said?

Given the current economic climate, and the huge sums of money our government is throwing around, I kinda think the $4B dollars could be spent in better ways.

How and when did we lose the ability to hold our government accountable?

RECESSION!!

It took a year to figure this out?

So what give it away?
  1. The 1.2 million jobs lost.
  2. The deepest decline in manufacturing in 20 years.
  3. The deepest lost in housing value since pre-WWII.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Who gives a s**t about the Constitution? It's only a bunch of stupid old rules!

Obama to nominate Hillary as Secretary of State Monday despite Constitutional prohibition.

Why do we wonder why nothing EVER gets done in Washington when this kind of crap goes on! How do we hold these people accountable when they break the very laws and subvert the very principles they are expected...BY OATH!...to uphold?

Friday, November 28, 2008

Retired Military Officers call Service Members on the Carpet

More than 100 retired generals and admirals are urging President-elect Barack Obama to tackle it early as well.

Don't do it Mr. President it's a trap!  Remember President Clinton in his first year.  The Culture Warriors are awaiting your first slip-up.  Let the generals meet with republicans, religious leaders (Robertson and Dobson), and former military members to come up with a plan and have them present it to republican lawmakers.  It'll be their plan, their responsibility.

Here 's an idea: let them get former Service Members who served in Iraq and were kicked out because of D. ask D. Tell.  Better yet get that Marine who was the first person injured in Iraq -- the gay Marine, Marine Sgt. Eric Alva.  Yeah, that One.  The "Gay One." 


Monday, November 24, 2008

More Drip - Drip!

Fed Pledges Top $7.4 Trillion to Ease Frozen Credit 

 Federal Reserve lending last week was 1,900 times the weekly average for the three years before the crisis.

 I received a bit of profound wisdom today.  ‘Everything changes – what we knew before, will never be again.’  Our economy will never be the same; this sets a new course for our nation.

Never a truer statement has been made.

I suggest this: our nation is paying the bill for a party that started a long time ago.  We took our parent’s credit card and hit every casino, purchased a new car a year, traveled with a few escorts, procured a few weapons, started a couple fights, become Rainmakers in the club, and then we tried to hide the damage.  As we wake up we realize that the credit card has hit the limit (More on Trickle-Down Econ to be posted later). 

National Security Advisor, NSA



New Obama-ite?

Drip - Drip - Drip.

The Administration will give Citibank ® a total of 45 billion dollars in one month; 20 and 25 billion dollars with no conditions.  Isn’t that twice the amount the Big Three asked for last week?  Yet it doesn’t stop there, the kabuki continues, the Administration’s regulators will lift away the bad debt (note: this should sound familiar, Bear Strearns in March) from Citi’s books at a tune of 306 billion dollars. 

MM - J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. is buying battered broker Bear Stearns Cos. for $236 million in a Federal Reserve-backed bailout unprecedented in scope and execution.

BOHICA!

And the hits just keep coming!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

"A time for every purpose, under heaven"...such as this first post!

Returning to a topic of discussion that we had last week...
Here is George Will's latest, on the SCOTUS recent ruling on the 2d Amendment.