He does on to say that Obama was elected on hope, and apparently his qualifications, public personality, and ability to hold his own in debate (not to mention Sarah Palin is an idiot) had nothing to do with it.

“I’m blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived,” Blagojevich said. “I saw it all growing up.”

The blubbering idiot continued along while trying – too late – to cement his point, but the damage has been done. I’m not sure when this fools twenty-minutes of fame are going to be up, but I think that time has passed and it is definitely time for him to move on and accept that the people have seen enough – shut up and move along.

Ranter

After listening to people like Shanneen Barron, as she talked with CNN Affiliate KMGH-TV in Denver, I was forced to question what America has come to.  Barron was quoted as saying, about President Obama’s desire to speak to American school children, that “thinking about my kids in school having to listen to that [President Obama talking about education] just really upsets me. I’m an American. They are Americans, and I don’t feel that’s OK. I feel very scared to be in this country with our leadership right now.”

I’d be willing to bet that Barron considers herself a patriot, while parents like me sit back and wonder, even though I may not agree with what Obama is saying, doesn’t he deserve the right to address and share the ideas he believes will make this country better?  If you’re truly scared to be in this country I would encourage you to leave.  Maybe you’d be more comfortable in China or Korea?  Maybe your kids would value their education more if they had to worry about war and genocide while living in Darfur?  No, I suspect that there is a reason you will continue living in your comfortable home in comfortable America where you don’t really have to be afraid that one day you will lose the freedom that you value so much.

Frankly, the US, as a country, has lost many of the things that I value as an American, which includes our integrity, and Barron, I encourage you to sit down and examine what you value in this world and make sure that you’re willing to sacrifice the freedoms that we Americans hold so dear as you continue to press your conservative beliefs on your family while shutting out any ideas that don’t mirror your own.

When people like Barron and Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer start preaching their own conservative agendas I’m forced to ask, what happened to respect and personal dignity – if you don’t like what he’s saying, fine, help your children understand differently or put them in a private school that supports your ideals, but don’t use your 15 minutes on the soapbox as a way to disparage someone that is making an effort to improve a country that needs a lot of improving.  America’s education system is lacking and we’re losing our competitive edge at an alarming rate.  If that bothers you as much as it does me, take your 15 minutes and talk about ways to improve the system – not why you’re afraid.  Your fear, to me, makes you sound stupid, and this talk is about education.

Greer’s comments, especially coming from a party chairman, were so disrespectful that I’m forced to directly question his patriotism, too.  He said, “As the father of four children, I am absolutely appalled that taxpayer dollars are being used to spread President Obama’s socialist ideology.  The idea that schoolchildren across our nation will be forced to watch the president justify his plans … is not only infuriating but goes against beliefs of the majority of Americans, while bypassing American parents through an invasive abuse of power.”  (Didn’t the majority of Americans vote for President Obama and his beliefs?)

First, Mr. Greer, your children are not being forced to watch the President do or say anything – they’re being given the opportunity.  They have this opportunity because this is a free country.  You obviously know and value that freedom as it is the same freedom that allows you to voice your personal dissent without risk of punishment.  If you choose to shelter your children and share with them only your own conservative agenda, (because obviously Bush’s agenda was so successful) you have that right, but you’re not the President, and until you are I encourage you to present your own personal agenda on its merits and not by disparaging Obama.  If you have something better, start there, or run for president yourself and then you can say whatever the hell you want.  And, you know what, I’m an American, I will listen and be respectful, even if I don’t like it.

Finally, so that it’s not missed, the president of the National Parent Teacher Association (an organization that I normally don’t agree with), Charles Saylors, seems to agree with my view that “The president of the United States, regardless of political affiliation, should be able to have a presentation and have a pep talk, if you will, to America’s students.”

And with Saylors’ thought I will get off my own personal soapbox and ask only that every American consider what they value most in this country.  Because, frankly, it is those personal freedoms that make America unique and without them the choice of president and education would be lost completely.

Ranter

Even with the bailout of Citi on the books now, it doesn’t appear that the auto-makers are any closer to getting their due share, which seems odd to me.  I hope this proves to simply be posturing by the government as this to me still seems bigger and more important than the likes of AIG.  The only difference, of course, being that most politicians don’t care who is in Detroit, but their buddies on Wall Street are a whole different story.

In other good news, President Elect Barack Obama appointed New York Fed President Timothy Geithner as Treasury secretary and Lawrence Summers, who has previously held the Treasury post, as director of the National Economic Council.  The reason that I personally consider this good news is that it represents an early decision which gives the markets time to accept and adapt to these decisions.  Thus, everyone knows what to expect.

At the same time, leaving mixed feelings, Obama has promised to jolt the faltering economy with a new stimulus package.  Another purchase, spending today for our children to repay in the future and ultimately creating new opportunities for India and China to increase their global financial strength relative to the United States.  If it doesn’t work, the additional millions of people that will be out of work may turn this recession into one of the longest yet, although at this time I think that another depression is nearly impossible.

So there are my market thoughts for today – more in a bit as I try to make sense of so much muck in the media today.

Ranter

Not to mention, the only reason that Hillary would accept any position offered by Obama is to advance her own political career.  She’s already showed with her wavering suppot of Obama after the primaries that she believes she should be the president.  What makes anyone think that she feels any differently now or that she would put the office, the party and the President before her own personal agenda?  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Hillary Clinton is in it for herself and she has an agenda – her agenda is to help herself.  It’s that simple.

Ranter

Shoring Up the Economy

Experts are predicting that there will be somewhere between 3 and 5 million foreclosures next year alone. These figures amount to somewhere between 8,000 and 14,000 people evicted from their home every day. This is obviously not a small problem and with the continued acceleration of foreclosures it is very unlikely that it’s going to get better any time soon.  Something has to be done; the situation has gone from bad to worse and the world economy is now free-falling into a global recession unlike anything imagined before.

I’ve already expressed that Henry Paulsen is not able to help the economy and I believe that time will show he prolonged and worsened the problems that he/Goldman Sachs helped create.  I’m hopeful about Barack Obama coming into office because I believe that the world needs change and hope to empower the average citizen to help with improving the economy – to help the consumer believe.  Unfortunately, I don’t think that Barack Obama will be enough and that’s where I believe the United States (and the world as an extension of the US) needs a bailout/stimulus plan that helps stabilize the markets while simultaneously improving consumer confidence.  Some components should include:

• Clear, sustainable leadership. The Treasury Secretary of the United States will make a great point position for the foundation of these improvements, but ultimately I believe that the solutions will include a multi-faceted approach to solving this problem.  What we’ve learned from Paulsen is that one person is not enough – a team of experts with real world experience should be brought in to help resolve these problems.  This team should include citizens to articulate the problem, experts to analyze the information, and businesspeople that have shown they have the experience, perseverance and strength to enact and stick with their policies.  This team may or may include international members, because we’ve already shown this is a world problem, it’s going to take the world to correct and rebound.  This team will need have the power to act and consistently provide a uniform front.  This team must not put the interests of the banks and financial institutions ahead of the interests of the country and its citizens.
• The ability to let companies fail. I believe that many of the problems we are facing today stem from the fact that we, as Americans, believed were told that AIG was too big to fail.  The world has to accept that no company is too big to fail, and some companies should fail.  Those failures will bring pain, discomfort and financial losses, but, they will be controllable, calculable losses of investor’s dollars and not carried on the shoulders of the American public.  If AIG had filed for bankruptcy when this all began, would the situation be better or worse today?  I sincerely doubt they would be worse.
• The ability to succeed. One of the issues that keeps playing into this bailout/stimulus package is an unjustified urgency.  The original $700 billion was decided on virtually overnight – obviously without any foresight and based on the numbe of times Paulsen has changed his plan – without a real plan, either.  A plan needs to be created, enacted and allowed to succeed.  It took a long time to get into this mess, it’s going to take a long time to get out.  Let the experts and people selected to do this job do their job and then give their solutions time to work.  Too many people are looking/hoping for an overnight answer, some sign of the bottom, or an explaination – that’s not going to come without a plan and some time.
• Help for the consumer/homeowner. It’s obvious that many of the problems that exist today started with what are being called toxic investment or sub-prime home loans.  This is a small part of the problem – a very small part actually – but they show that the market didn’t deteriorate on its own – it had help.  Some of that help can in the form of fraud, but the majority came from greed, ignorance, and deceipt.  To change this, we are going to have to back up, start over and solve the problems within the foundation first.  This may mean letting some sub-prime borrowers who really can’t afford their home under any revised plan know the truth – they shouldn’t own their home.  At the same time help those people that are able to pay their home but can’t because they’ve lost their job, can’t refinance their loan, or are in a situation that was partially caused by the very banks that are now looking to take their home.  Let these owners recoup some of their losses from depressed home values from the companies that helped create the sub-prime mess.  Start there, do something quickly and shore up the foundation.
• A New Deal. The government is spending a lot of money, but unlike in previous times of crisis the money is only going to reduce the financial exposure some companies have created by making risky investments that they didn’t understand.  Some of that money needs to go to infrastructure projects, state projects, and other places that will create new opportunities, money and jobs.  This will include putting some money back into the states, propping up education nationally, and making sure that our cities and states aren’t going in bankruptcy in this volatile and unforgiving.
• Reduce government spending on frivolous projects and start reducing the deficit. At some point even the United States is going to feel the pinch of trillions of dollars in outstanding loans.  The consumers and  “average Americans” are already feeling that pinch as social services continue to decline nationwide.  If the government looked closely at “pork barrel spending” and reduced the unnecessary projects, the savings would be immense.  Even working through normal business efficiencies it’s obvious the government could save tens of millions.  I’d encourage our new administration to really look to business leaders to help so that it’s not simply politicians guessing what needs to be done.  Find someone that knows what it’s like to hit rock bottom and dig their way out and put that person on the team – they’ll tell you what’s frivolous, unnecessary or unlike to improve the situation.
• Stop the war. While reducing waste and frivolous spending is important, it’s also time to start looking at the two wars that we’re fighting and consider reducing our exposure to something more manageable, both logistically and financially.  It’s not up to America alone to defend democracy and at some point it’s time our country and government starts seeing the facts.  It costs approximately $341.4 million dollars each day we are at war in Iraq.  To put that into perspective – we’ve spent enough money on this war to provide health-care to 289,177,337 children for a year.  Where would you rather see that money go?  These costs do not include the 4,196 casualties that have been suffered since the war began – an incalculable cost by any measure.
• Pursue renewable energy and a reduction in global warming at all costs. I’m constantly amazed at how much talk goes into the arguments surrounding global warming and renewable energy while preaching “drill baby drill” comes from politicians looking to get into office.  Drilling for new oil is not the answer for anything other than how to deplete the worlds natural resources.  These things aren’t coming back and if we as a country and humans as a species don’t join together to protect our fragile ecology, it will not be their for our future.  Too many people seem to think that because this happens so slowly it doesn’t impact them or there’s nothing that they can do about it.  Absolutely untrue.  It does impact you.  It affects your life, your health, and your children.  The future is not about tomorrow, the future is about what we do today.

Obviously, I am not an economist.  I am not a statistician.  I’m barely an environmentalist.  I do not govern, fight wars, or influence great number of people.  I am a father.  I am an American.  I am concerned.  I want to know what’s going to be left for my children and theirs.  I want to know that the country and freedoms that I believe in so strongly will sustain in spite of the disregard that we have given them.  I want to know that people will care – about their rights, their country, and their future.

These words aren’t an answer to the ails of this world or even the problems that we’re facing today.  There is little more than my business and life experience to tell me that these ideas might have a hope of changing the economy or world for anyone.  These ideas are simply a starting point – an open dialogue for the readers of this blog and anyone who cares to share them with others.  It’s also my expression that we, as a country and through our government need to start somewhere.  We need to act.  Henry Paulsen’s 15 minutes of fame are up – it’s time to get moving – do something.  Now is a time for action.  From Paulsen, Obama and us as Citizens of this country.  Now is the time to act.

Ranter

Every time Sarah Palin opens her mouth I cringe and now looking back I am thankful that the masses of America made the decision to elect Barack Obama President of the United States.  What’s frightening to me, though, is how many Americans were willing to vote for a ticket that includes someone this unqualified, evangelical, and unable to articulate a cogent thought.  My hypothesis… Americans saw an attractive woman in a skirt and voted for the person they wanted to see on television.

I know, that’s probably a wee bit unfair, but ask yourself – if you couldn’t see Sarah Palin on television, would you even consider voting for her?  Would the country consider a vice-presidential candidate that doesn’t know what a VP does, can’t name a periodical, didn’t have a passport until the year of their running for office, and considers being able to see Russia from a small island off the coast of Alaska foreign policy?  I don’t think they would, even looking at whatever good they wanted to find in her voice, American’s aren’t that stupid.

So where does it stand now?  There is talk that Sarah Palin will be running on the Republican ticket in 2012, virtually assuring Barack Obama another term in office.  There’s also talk that when Alaska loser Senator and convicted felon Ted Stevens is booted from office that she’ll make a run for that seat.  In a state that would re-elect a convicted felon, it’s quite likely she could stand a chance of winning that run, too.  On that, though, I may be beating a dead horse.  I’m just tired of hearing her voice and hope you are, too.

Ranter

The son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, Barack Obama has, to date, had a very short political career as the junior senator from Illinois. But, today, he has defeated the more experienced John McCain in what many are calling a landslide victory, including wins in the battleground states of Ohio, Florida, Virginia, and Iowa, offering proof that Amerca is ready for change.  This alone is a great victory for the United States.

In my eyes, though, the bigger win is what I saw over the last ten days everywhere I looked.  I saw people articulately voicing arguments for both sides.  I saw people young and old extolling their right to vote and claiming that they had or would vote in this election – many for the first time.  Democracy and the American flag were held proudly as what would make America strong in the years to come.  This, for me, was the bigger victory and the one that I am most proud of today.

Today is the first day of the rest of Obama’s career, and I am hopeful that he will prove himself worthy of the trust Americans have put in him.  Regardless, though, I can rest easy knowing that Americans are prepared to rally and speak for what they believe in.  This is a great country and I am proud to be a citizen.

Ranter

Ranter

In addition to the hotly contested presidental election, every state has a set of laws that they are looking to pass or repeal and this is also your chance to help decide the fate of those policies.  In California the big one this year is Proposition 8, which is written to repeal the right of same sex couples to marry.  You can tell my opinions from the other articles here, but my opinions are my own – whatever yours are you need to get out there and vote or they will never be heard.

This is your public service announcement for today!

Ranter

Their article, and other like it, go on to suggest that perhaps McCain is using the electoral college and campaigning to win in the places that would matter enough to allow him a chance of taking the 270 electoral votes necessary.  Fortunately, the mathematical experts are suggesting that it’s very unlikely that a split vote could happen, while at the same time admitting that the polls are only so accurate.

The National Journal’s Mark Blumenthal, a former Democratic consultant and founder of Pollster.com, said:

“The idea that somehow you can focus on six states and only move them while the rest of the nation stays frozen – that’s not very realistic,” he said. “All of this is sort of interesting, and we talk about it like it is moving pieces on a chessboard, but the reality is, and this is my main point, if the national margin doesn’t close, none of that is going to happen.”

That this thought, in this day and age, is even something that the people of this country have to question is somewhat indicative of why there are problems in government today.  We urge people to come out to vote only to inject at the end – well, your vote really doesn’t matter.  At least not four times in the past – and possibly not this time either.  That’s rediculous and the people need to rally behind their vote.

Every November over 90 million Americans exercise their right to vote.  They think they’re voting for President, but what they’re really voting for is to instruct the electors on how they want them to vote.  For example, if you vote for a Republican candidate you’re really voting for an elector who will be “pledged” to vote for the Republican candidate.  This system was established in Article II of the Constitution and amended by the 12th Amendment in 1804.  What’s important to know is this – while the state electors are “pledged” to vote for the candidate of the party that chose them, nothing in the constitution requires them to do so.

Using a little math, it’s possible to see that the Electoral College system makes it possible for a candidate ti actually lose the popular vote and be elected president.  In fact, using the numbers, it is possible for a candidate to be off the ballot in 39 states and still be elected president by winning the vote in just 11 of these 12 states: New York, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Georgia or Virginia.

Obviously, this is difficult for Americans to swallow, and without raising the cause flag, this author would suggest that it’s time to look more closely at a system that allows the popular vote to fall behind the opinions of a few.  Our Founding Fathers, when creating this system, were looking at a different time, different communication tools, and different voters.  It’s time to look again, with a modern eye, and give the people a chance to be heard without allowing unjust mathematics to potentially take away the wishes of the majority.

Ranter

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