This'n'That; October 17th

William "Bill" Ayers: Bill Ayers was born in 1944 to a childhood of wealth and prvilege. His father, Thomas, was the Chairman and CEO of Commonwealth Edison. The family lived in Glen Ellyn, Il., an upscale suburb of Chicago. Ayers attended Lake Forest Academy, a private boarding and day school for grades 9-12. The school is located on the North Shore in Lake Forest, Il. After his stint at the University of Michigan, Ayers became involved in the New Left and the SDS. This became his indoctrination to radical political activity. Ayers was forced "underground" when a bomb accidently detonated, destroying a Greenwich Village and killing three other members of the Weather Underground. While "underground" he traveled extensively. During these travels, he along with other members of the Weather Underground, bombed the United States Capitol building, The Pentagon and the Harry S. Truman Building [at the time, home of the State Department]. He and longtime lover, Bernardine Dohrn surrendered in 1981, when most charges were dropped due to prosectorial misconduct during the long search for the fugitives. Arguably his most famous [or infamous, depending on your point of view]: "I don't regret setting bombs; I feel we didn't do enough." I can't believe this man teaches!!! With his radical past, it must be an ultra-liberal institution that employs him!! Yup, I was right...... He currently teaches at the University of Illinois, Chicago. His educational accomplishments: 1968-B.A., University of Michigan [American Studies] 1984-M.Ed., Bank Street College [Early Childhood Education] 1987-M.Ed., Teachers College, Columbia University [Early Childhood Education] 1987-Ed.D., Columbia University [Curriculum & Instruction] How did he go so far....?? Particularly in education and employment??? Throughout his adult life, William Ayers has continually poked "a finger in the eye" of the very country that provided the opportunities he so freely took advantage of!!! National Welfare Rights Organization [NWRO]: ACORN's roots are in the National Welfare Rights Organization [NWRO]. NWRO's early leader, George Wiley, believed he could use poor, unwed mothers to foment a revolution. NWRO agitated for unlimited welfare benefits for those mothers and persuaded many urban politicians to loosen welfare eligibility requirements. Mr Wiley's aim was to flood the welfare system with so many clients that it would burst. The bursting he hoped, would create a crisis which would force a radical restructuring of America's unjust capitalist economy. This loosening more than doubled the welfare roles and strapped already tight local budgets. Between 1965 and 1974 the number of single-parent households on welfare soared from 4.3 to 10.8 MILLION people. [In the early 1070s in NYC alone, one person was on welfare for each two workers in the city's private economy.] The primary affects of this explosion of the welfare rolls only served to create a culture of family disintegration and dependency in inner-city neighborhoods with rampant illegitimacy, crime, school failure, drug abuse, non-employment and poverty among a fast growing underclass. When the federal government didn't come to the rescue with massive aid, the NWRO's strategy caused a backlash against "welfare mothers" and politicians in free-spending cities like New York. This welfare strategy eventually collapsed and Mr Wiley moved on. He formed an equally radical new community organization in Little Rock, Arkansas. The "a" in ACORN originally stood for "Arkansas." It was later changed to Association to give the organization a national scope. This was about the same time that congressional Republicans made the regressive decision to fund local community groups with billions in federal funds and state aid. The federal incorrectly reasoned that it was better to fund nonprofits than create giant federal bureaucracies to run burgeoning antipoverty programs. Little did the Republicans realize that these funds would finance a nationwide network of organizations that have mobilized urban residents against the party's candidates and their agenda. Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now [ACORN] ACORN's bedrock assumption remains the ultra-Left's familiar anti-capitalist redistributionism. A portion of ACORN's "People's Platform" **"We are the majority, forged from all the minorites." **"We will continue our fight....until we have shared the wealth, until we have won our freedom....We have nothing to show for the work of our hand, then tax of our labor." [What a load of CRAP: These statements not only falsify the relative comfort of the poor in Ameria but are a classic example of chutzpah....what with ACORN's roots in a movement that undermined the very work ethic of the poor. They also make the self-aggrandizing claim that ACORN "stands virtually alone it it's dedication to organizing the poor and powerless."] ACORN organizes it's subjects to push for more and more government control over the economy, having not learned the oft-repeated lessons of the free-market reality that made American cities unequaled eingines of job creation, opportunity which moved millions out of poverty and misery. Til nex'time.......

This'n'That; October, 14th[obama;Scruffy;Stocks;Midtown]

Intentional Falsehoods: I have as little use for Barack Obama as any naysayer on the planet. I also have no desire to promote or spread intentional false or misleading information about him or any other politician on the current landscape. To that end I must comment on an email I received about Mr Obama which is roughly 95% FALSE!! This email, entitled "Obama Truths" speaks of his Muslim faith; refusing to place his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance; drug use at Occidental College; funding his education, buying his house through alleged "loans" from Tony Rezko... need I go on.......?? The confirmation of these falshoods/misleading information is available at: http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp ....and John McCain?: [This is Rush Limbaugh's opinion as expressed on last Friday's or yesterday's show. After considerable thought, I'm inclined to agree.] It's well known that while John McCain was a prisoner at the "Hanoi Hilton," he was subjected to many beatings, interrogations and other forms of mistreatment. Rush believes that during those horrible times, McCain developed a kind of "go-along-to-get-along" attitude... compromising with his captors without divulging any sensitive information or putting his fellow prisoners at further risk. This attitude is evident throughout his presidental campaign. McCain is considered by the Republican Party heavyweights to be a "throw-away" candidate; while Mitt Romney is to be groomed to run against Obama or Mrs Clinton in 2012. I'm still hoping that the voters will see through all the fluff [on both sides] and elect common sense, fiscal sense and experience. Not Poor Timing-Just No Cash: As some may know, I'm not a "value investor" in any sense of the phrase!! Mostly, I buy pennystocks and hope that I made a good choice based on the research I've done. The only "drum I can beat" on this issue is when I bought Siris Satellite Radio for sixty-cents and sold it for $7.75 [+1,291.6667%] after holding it for a couple of years. I live in the Rochester, N.Y., area where PAETEC Holdings Corp [Ticker: PAET] is a big player, locally. They hold the naming rights to PAETEC Park [soccer, I think]. They've cooked a deal with the city of Rochester to knock down Midtown Plaza [America's FIRST indoor shopping mall]. The plan was that PAETEC would build a 30-something floor office building on the Midtown site. The point of all this is that I wasn't able to participate in their stock run-up!! I cudda bought the stock around noon last Friday at it's recent low of $0.72/share. I cudda sold the stock at about 10:30AM today [Tuesday] at it's recent high of $1.65/share!!! That's abouta 229.1667% GAIN!!!! [Shudda, Cudda, Wudda!!!] Meaning that a $720.00 investment [1k shares] would have yielded $1,650.00!!! Oh.............. due to it's recent stock freefall, PAETEC has scaled it's headquarters office building back to a paltry 7 stories. My question is "will it EVER be built??" [The State of New York, which has been deficit spending for years, has committed $65,ooo,000 JUST TO KNOCK DOWN Midtown Plaza!!!] ...On A Sad Note: For several years, "Scruffy" has been a loved and loving member of the family. Scruffy is a black 'n' white long haired male cat. For the last several months he's had kidney, bladder and stomach problems. His recent weight was around nine pounds, down from a norm of 14 pounds. He's been on several oral medications and for the last three weeks, IV hydration at home-every other day. For the last several days, he's eaten little and became very lethargic; losing most of the "spring in his step." Late last week, the decision was made that there was very little hope for his recovery; his condition would only deteriorate further. Today, October 14, 2008, was chosen as his last. At about 8:50AM, Scruffy passed away quietly, comfortably at the Irondequoit Animal Hospital. He came into our world, our hearts as a scrawny, skinny, stray.... having just won one of many "street fights" that day. After a vet check, he kinda moved in and took over!! He was definitely the "Alpha Male" in every sense of the phrase!!! As cats go, I could take'em or leave'em-BUT NOT AFTER knowing, loving and living with Scruffy. Some dog breeds are known to be protective of others in their environment. Scruffy must have been part Shepard.... More than once he kept the other cat [a de-clawed female] from escaping out the front door!!! Scruff' was a most loving individual himself..... a "real ladies man!!" When the ladies would pick him up... he'd put his paws around their necks and nuzzle under their chins..... Good-bye, my friend..... You CANNOT and WILL NOT ever be replaced!!! Til Nex'time.....

This'n'That; Oct 13th

It Ain't A "Tax Cut!!!" All the politicians, both parties, aren't really giving the American people a tax cut!!! All they're doing is re-assigning the source of the government income: For instance if the politician promises a $10 Billion tax cut for a particular segment of the population, they will just increase taxes on another segment/area; increase federal fees, etc. The only way there can be a true tax cut is to have a corresponding and EQUAL cut in federal spending.... i.e., in defense, education, housing, commerce, medical/medicines, etc. All of which are SACRED COWS!!!! and thus "untouchable" by those hoping for re-election. You notice that NONE OF THE CAMPAIGNING POLITICIANS ever mentions any cuts in federal spending. They just want to increase the size of government as a method of "buying" votes via their lofty financial promises, hopefully enough to get elected. Once elected most of their schemes and bullshit will fall by the wayside.... They got what they wanted.... TO HELL with the commoner that fell for all the "fluff" that put them in office!!! The Bail-out Scheme: After the congress wrote the blank check to the Treasury Department, who's watching the purse strings? We know who "HOLDS" the purse strings-Henry Paulson, Secretary of the Treasury..... .....BUT....... Who's "watching" the purse strings?? Who is auditing the expenditures, determining who/what is worthy of all this "free money??" Bail-Out Basics: $810 Billion [the added pork notwithstanding] into the hands of the Treasury Secretary, exclusively!! The Secretary has UNPRECENDENTED powers to draw on public entities with NO GROUND RULES, WHATSOEVER!!! The Secretary can waive "specific provisions" of our contracting laws, the Federal Acquisition Regulation [FAR] if he determines that "urgent and compelling circumstances make compliance with such 'provisions' contrary to the public interest." The Bail-Out Bill does not define "PROVISIONS." The Bail-Out Bill does not stipulate who will be charged with drafting and monitoring the contracts. The Secretary does not have to inform governmental watchdog agencies concerning bail-out activities. These agencies will have access to the information, but will only be able to report on the contracts after they have been issued and paid. So....... We'll know who's screwing us; how badly we're being screwed........... BUT only after WE'VE BEEN SCREWED!!! This is a "history rerun.... We've been here before!!! Anyone remember the S&L bailout of the late 1980s? The Resolution Trust Corporation was founded in 1989 to dispose of loans and other assets from the Savings and Loan debacle. With predictable results, the taxpayer "took it in the shorts" as we did during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. In both instances, a multitude of contracts were issued, seemingly to line someone's pockets. Although the participants are different, the end result will probably be the same. No one seems to study and learn from history. Til nextime.....

This'n'That; October 8th

Giving Credit Where Credit's Due: This time I have to "hold my nose" and Give Representative Louise Slaughter her due. Mrs Slaughter, Thanks for your support of HR6630 which called for the cessation of cross-border trucking activities by Mexican national trucking companies. Your "Yea" vote essentially halted the cross-border pilot program which was called for in the ill-conceived NAFTA Agreement. As a LIFETIME Member of "Owner Operator Independent Drivers Ass'n [OOIDA]" I and my nearly 161,000 fellow members thank you for your support of America's trucking industry. In future legislation, please consider that EVERYTHING except newborn babies travels by truck at one time or another!!! [A letter to this affect, will go out in tomorrow's mail to Mrs Slaughter in Washington.] Can He Be "For Real??" Did anyone MISS the presidential debates last evening. I was only able to see a small portion of it... I gotta tellya..... I was not that impressed with Obama [and NEVER HAVE BEEN]!!! Seems to me MOST OF AMERICA's younger set is mesmerized by all the "fluff".... and not considering that it takes more than appearance and a good line of "bullshit" to run the most powerful country on the planet!! The Obama supporters are setting their sights too high !!! ..... and Obama, while basking in all the adulation, is setting himself up to "fall on his face" either after the election or after the inauguration!!! How can he be expected to control the vast US governmental structure with only 142 days of federal experience?? How can he be expected to advise and support an economic engine without at least a basic, working knowledge of Econ101?? How can he be expected to formulate and administer a multi-trillion dollar budget, having never "worked for wages," made a payroll, etc?? How can he be expected to win the confidence of foreign leaders [other than the Taliban, of course!!] when he takes such "liberties with the truth"?? How can he be expected to "follow the rules" when he both ignores them and renigs on his promises? How can he be expected to assemble a formidable cabinet when his current advisors are the likes of Jeremiah Wright and William Ayres?? Hopefully, the voting public will do some research and soul searching...... Anybody Hear About "Doodad Pro??" The Village of Nunda [NoneDAY], N.Y. is a small burg south and a little west of Rochester, N.Y. His listed address is shared with "Lloyd and Lynn's Liquor Store" in the village. His $17,130.oo in campaign contributions flagrantly violated the federal $2,300 per-person limit. "Mr Pro" made several hundred donations in the two amounts of $10 and $25. Would the Obama Campaign have discovered this "error" on their own if it had not been pointed out in the national media??.....by the Federal Election Commission?? Anyone Hear About "Good Will??" The nonprofit Goodwill Industries shares the address-1015 Norwood Park Boulevard, Austin, Tx.-with "Mr Good Will." "Mr Good Will" made more than $11,000.00 in campaign contributions, again far exceeding the federal $2,300 limit. Would the Obama Campaign have discovered this "error" on their own if it had not bee pointed out in the national media??....by the Federal Election Commission?? Your "BIAS" Is Showing: The Democrat and Chronicle, a member of the Gannett Media people, is one of the primary print outlets in western New York. It's home delivery system reaches nearly to the Pennsylvania border!! Nunda, N.Y., is approximately 55 miles from their "front door" at 55 Exchange Blvd., Rochester, N.Y., 14614. Yet ABSOLUTELY NO information about "Doodad Pro" was in their publication despite the fact that the village is well within their delivery range!!! THE PAPER DID REPORT that Obama had received 70% more contributions than McCain in the "local" area. The part that they left out: McCain adhered to his promise to live by the federal donations restrictions to receive federal funds, while Obama renigged on his promise to do the same!!! Looks like the McCain Campaign has had to refuse/return lotsa contributions to stay within the federal limits. Til nex'time.......

This'n'That: October 6th

The current Housing/Financial Crisis: The current fiasco had it's origins in the first and second "Slick-Willie" administrations as well as George H.W. Bush's [#41] presidential term. The Department of Housing and Urban Destruction's [HUD] 1991 financial statement was so inaccurate and lacking in current financial information that the Auditor, PriceWaterhouse, couldn't file an opinion. For the previous 15 years, the "Contracts for Rent" records HAD NOT been reconciled. That period was included in the Carter, both Reagan and the G.H.W. Bush administrations. Precipitated by the "King" riots of 1992, the following year Sec'y Henry Cisneros [HUD] memoed then President Clinton asking for "a multi-faceted urban policy," with tax and housing credits for the working poor, expanded home-ownership programs, and economic empowerment zones to encourage business investment. Clinton put $5 billion into "Empowerment Zones" which was intended to help communities to develop their own recovery plans and become economically viable. Apparently, Clinton isn't/wasn't a really student of history. If he had been he would have realized that the actions of his predecessors hadn't worked or were only marginally successful. The presidents and their attempts: TRUMAN [Urban Renewal], KENNEDY [War on Poverty], JOHNSON and NIXON [Model Cities], FORD [Community Development Block Grants], CARTER [Urban Development Action Grants], REAGAN, BUSH-41 and CLINTON [Enterprise Zones]. Looks to me like there are two schools of thought at work here; The Democrats doing what they do so well-Pissing away hardworking taxpayers' money through poor/no planning and the Republicans who use crap like this to buy votes. [Continuing on......] A New York Times Magazine article by Nicholas Lemann in January, 1994, stated in part: "Economic revitalization efforts pass every test but one, the reality test. They are popular among all the keys players in antipoverty policy; they sound good; they have bipartisan appeal; they are based on tax breaks rather than on spending so are easier to pass. The only problem is that so far they haven't worked-which creates a larger problem." Poor planning was in evidence when Johnson asked and Congress passed legislation in 1965 to create the Department of Housing and Urban Destruction. The legislation failed to enummerate the responsibilities of the lateral organizations as well as regional, state, county and local organizations. HUD deals with approximately 3,100 public housing agencies that disperse 80%[+/-] of all HUD funds and manage 1.3 million housing units. HUD has such arms as Federal Housing Administration [FHA] and the Government National Mortgage Asssociation [GINNIE MAE] The private Federal National Mortgage Association [FANNIE MAE] is the corporate "sister" of Ginnie Mae and is subject to regulation by HUD. Til nex'time.....