This'n'That; April 19th[Investing;obamaPolls]

More Investing Websites:
Here's more investing websites that I check periodically; some daily; some I get daily email updates.

• http://www.fundadvice.com/
• http://www.investorplace.com/
• http://www.forbes.com/
• http://www.smallcapinvestor.com/
• http://www.dailyreconing.com/
• http://www.thestockadvisors.com/
• http://www.stockwire.com/
• http://www.stockegg.com/ ***
• http://www.marketwatch.com/ ***
• http://www.money.cnn.com/
• http://www.thestockpick.com/
• http://www.finance.yahoo.com/
• http://www.growthstockwire.com/
• http://www.bigcharts.marketwatch.com/
• [***=Daily Email Updates]

~~Educational Websites~~

• http://www.investopedia.com/
• http://www.shaefferresearch.com/
• http://www.investorwords.com/
• http://www.reiclub.com/

Amazing: Shouldn't It Be Higher??

   Public confidence in government is at one of the lowest points in a half century, according to a survey from the Pew Research Center, who found that nearly 80% of Americans say they don't trust the federal government and have little faith it can solve America's ills.  The survey found that just 22 percent of those questioned say they can trust Washington almost always or most of the time and just 19 percent say they are basically content with it. Nearly half say the government negatively effects their daily lives, a sentiment that's grown over the past dozen years.

   This anti-government feeling has driven the tea party movement, reflected in fierce protests this past week.  "The government's been lying to people for years. Politicians make promises to get elected, and when they get elected, they don't follow through," says Cindy Wanto, 57, a registered democRAT from Nemacolin, Pa., who joined several thousand for a rally in Washington on April 15 — the tax filing deadline. "There's too much government in my business. It was a problem before obama, but he's certainly not helping fix it."
   Majorities in the survey call Washington too big and too powerful, and say it's interfering too much in state and local matters.  About half say they want a smaller government with fewer services, compared with roughly 40 percent who want a bigger government providing more. The public was evenly divided on those questions long before obama was elected. .
   "Trust in government rarely gets this low," said Andrew Kohut, director of the nonpartisan center that conducted the survey. "Some of it's backlash against obama. But there are a lot of other things going on."  The survey found that obama's policies were partly to blame for a rise in distrustful, anti-government views.

In his first year in office, the "Clown Prince" orchestrated a government takeover of Detroit automakers, secured a $787 billion stimulus package and pushed to overhaul the health care system against the wishes of a majority of Americans.

But the poll also identified a combination of factors that contributed to the electorate's hostility: the recession that obama inherited from President George W. Bush; a dispirited public; and anger with Congress and politicians of all political leanings.  "I want an honest government. This isn't an honest government. It hasn't been for some time," said self-described independent David Willms, 54, of Sarasota, Fla. He faulted the White House and Congress under both parties.
   In the short term, the deepening distrust is politically troubling for obama and democRATs. Analysts say out-of-power republicRATs could well benefit from the bitterness toward Washington come November, even though voters blame them, too, for partisan gridlock that hinders progress.  In a democracy built on the notion that citizens have a voice and a right to exercise it, the long-term consequences could prove to be simply unhealthy — or truly debilitating. Distrust could lead people to refuse to vote or get involved in their own communities. Apathy could set in, or worse — violence.
   "This should be a wake-up call. Both sides are guilty," said Sen. Claire McCaskill, d-Mo. She pointed to "nonsense" that goes on during campaigns that leads to "promises made but not promises kept." Still, she added: "Distrust of government is an all-American activity. It's something we do as Americans and there's nothing wrong with it."  Sen. Scott Brown, a republicRAT  said: "It's clear Washington is broken. There's too much partisan bickering to be able to solve the problems people want us to solve."
   But Matthew Dowd, a top strategist on Bush's re-election campaign who now shuns the GOP label, says both republicRATs and democRATs are missing the mark.  "What the country wants is a community solution to the problems but not necessarily a federal government solution," Dowd said. democRATs are emphasizing the federal government, while republicRATs are saying it's about the individual; neither is emphasizing the right combination to satisfy Americans, he said.

Some Rasmussen Poll Findings:
Here's some findings from Scott Rasmussen's polls of last week.  They seem "not to coincide" with the Pew Surveys; well, ....Duh...!!!!

Unhappiness with the "Clown Prince’s" agenda:

 24% of voters now consider themselves a part of the Tea Party movement.

That’s an eight-point increase over the past month, a period in which congressional democRATs most notably passed their national health care plan.

The Tea Party Movement:

National telephone surveys tells us among other things that 89% disapprove of the way that obama is handling his job as president.
That figure includes 82% who Strongly Disapprove.

By a 94%-to-one-percent (1%) margin, those in the Tea Party movement trust the judgment of the American people more than America’s political leaders.


58% of voters favor repeal of the health care plan just passed by democRATs in Congress and signed into law by obama.
Most voters remain convinced that the health care plan will require an increase in taxes on the middle class at a time when 66% of voters believe America is already overtaxed.

47% of voters believe repeal of obamaCare will be good for the economy.

A real bafflement is the "Clown Prince's" approval ratings among various segments of Americans:    Journalists are scratching their heads trying to figure out why the president is so popular in Washington, D.C., and so unpopular in much of the rest of the country.

• In a hypothetical 2012 presidential election between the "Clown Prince" and Ron Paul, it was a statistical 'dead heat.'  The breakout:

58% of Mainstream voters favored Paul.

95% of the Political Class [DC Insiders] voted for obama.

At week’s end, the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll showed that 42% of the nation's voters Strongly Disapprove of the way that obama is performing.

 Fluffy's next test will be finding a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) of voters believe the Supreme Court is already too liberal.

Voters strongly believe that the federal government has become a special interest group that looks out primarily for its own interests.  Now that the government has a majority stake in General Motors:

48% of Americans believe that the government has a conflict-of-interest when it comes to regulating competing automakers like Toyota.

25% think top government officials have been criticizing Toyota just to help GM.


Despite Toyota’s problems, current owners of its cars are still more loyal than GM owners.

Til Nex'Time....

This'n'That; April 17th[Pioneer;Goldman-Sachs;Buffett]

The American Pioneer
[I found this on a site which fielded comments on an editorial written by Stu Burguiere, Executive Producer, The Glenn Beck Program]

• The American Pioneer
• Two hundred years ago you walked across this land
• You held a small child by the hand.
• No one caught you when you fell,
• Or wept to see you fail.
• You broke the soil, and lifted up the grain,
• And left a trail to follow.
• You shouldered a forest to build a cabin,
• Log by Log by Log.
• You had it done by winter so you made it through the cold.
• When you lost your corn to Summer,
• And you lost your child to Fall,
• With no place to go for turning back
• You stood, and took it tall.
• Then another came, and then another,
• Strong like you, then more,
• To build a thousand cities
• Where no city stood before.
• You ached, and farmed the valley.
• You strained, and mined the hill.
• When hope died in your bosom,
• It hardened into will.
• You hammered a true nail.
• You drew a straight plan.
• You flew with the eagle.
• And you bowed to no man.

 by A. B. Curtiss  (from the poetry book "Dragons Guard the Zoo")

As one can tell by the poem above: Americans were a hearty group, no problem was too difficult.   The morals and ethics of the era were rarely spoken of, but adhered to reverently!! 

The "Clown Prince" vs Goldman-Sachs "Game"
Via The Reformed Blogger:

Now you're angry? Now you're outraged?

Here's how it will all end for those unfamiliar with the process:

• 1. Goldman will hire the best lawyers in the history of the universe, making OJ's Dream Team look like Ally McBeal.
• 2. They will make public statements about their "vigorous defense" while negotiating a settlement that will involve a large check and quite possibly the sacrifice of "Fabulous" Fabrice Tourre.
• 3. Upon the writing of this check, Goldman will admit no wrongdoing and the White House will claim victory.
• 4. Not one of you will be safer, more employed or in better shape as a result of any of this.
• 5. The lawyers and PR reps involved in the case will buy Maseratis and vacation homes. Lots of them.
• 6. Fabrice Tourre will be running his own hedge fund within 3 years.
• 7. Everyone connected to this case will still have more money in the bank, in real estate and in investments than you could ever dream of.
• 8. The sun will come up the next day, you will go to work, then pick up your kid at Karate, then pay the utility bill.

 That's it, folks. Let's not pretend otherwise.

 

How It Affects Buffett; Goldman-Sachs Big Supporter? 

    [Written by Vahan Janjigian, an editor at Forbes Magazine]   Goldman's executives seem to exist in a world of their own. They have little in common with the ordinary "man on the street." These are people who think nothing of getting paid several million dollars each year. No doubt, some of them think they are entitled to more. In comparison, Buffett is one of the most underpaid executives. He gets just $100,000 per year to run Berkshire Hathaway. Despite Goldman's excesses, I defended Buffett's investment in the bank. Buffett felt he was getting a great deal, so he took it.

   Over the years, Buffett has strongly criticized the investment banking industry. However, he has also made it clear that Goldman Sachs was the best of the lot. He often praised former Goldman executive Byron Trott. And during the recent financial crisis, Buffett invested $5 billion of Berkshire's money in Goldman Sachs preferred stock. Berkshire also received warrants to buy Goldman's common stock at $115 per share.

   Today, after the SEC made its announcement, shares of Goldman plunged 13% to close at just under $161 per share. Berkshire lost a ton of money on paper. Although its warrants are still well in the money, Buffett's armor looks at least a little bit less shiny.

Til Nex'Time....

"Clown Prince" Weekly Blather; April 17th

A Patriotic Response To The "Clown Prince," 04/17/2010
The White House
April 17, 2010

   There were many causes of the turmoil that ripped through our economy over the past two years. But above all, this crisis was caused by failures in the financial industry. What is clear is that this crisis could have been avoided if Wall Street firms were more accountable, if financial dealings were more transparent, and if consumers and shareholders were given more information and authority to make decisions.  But that did not happen. And that’s because special interests have waged a relentless campaign to thwart even basic, common-sense rules – rules to prevent abuse and protect consumers. In fact, the financial industry and its powerful lobby have opposed modest safeguards against the kinds of reckless risks and bad practices that led to this very crisis.
   The consequences of this failure of responsibility – from Wall Street to Washington – are all around us: 8 million jobs lost, trillions in savings erased, countless dreams diminished or denied. I believe we have to do everything we can to ensure that no crisis like this ever happens again. That’s why I’m fighting so hard to pass a set of Wall Street reforms and consumer protections. A plan for reform is currently moving through Congress.  [What I'm not telling you:  We have to create a victim here-whether actual or perceived.  And who comes to mind?  Those who've lost a considerable amount of their retirement investments during this economic downturn.  Even without my fascist monetary policies, losses would have occurred; albeit, not nearly as severe as has been experienced.    As I keep pointing out, this financial catastrophy was precipitated by the "foot-loose, fancy-free" policies of "Slick-Willie" Clinton, with the help of Andrew Cuomo.  They both tinkered with the mortgage origination policies of Fannie-Mae and Freddy-Mac so as to put more welfareRATs into housing they couldn't and probably wouldn't, pay for.  President Bush followed their policy, when he should have tightened the lending policies {See how well I can shift blame; one of my best qualities!!}.  The financial reform bill currently in the Congress, has been authored by "Crooked-Chris" Dodd; one of my favorite senators, but one of the worst crooks the Senate has ever seen!! You can be sure that any "reform" WILL NOT BENEFIT THE TAXPAYER!!   The legislation has the potential-as with the  obamaCare legislation, forced down your throats-to control more aspects of the American daily lives as well as continuing wealth re-distribution.   Notice how I'm promoting transparency in financial dealings but TOTALLY IGNORE the same policy  that I practically guaranteed during my latest "Campaign of Fluff?!?!"  This legislation is another 1,300++ page document that the taxpayer probably won't see before it's voted on; let alone having been read by the legislators!!] 
Here’s what this plan would do. First, it would enact the strongest consumer financial protections ever. It would put consumers back in the driver’s seat by forcing big banks and credit card companies to provide clear, understandable information so that Americans can make financial decisions that work best for them.   Next, these reforms would bring new transparency to financial dealings. Part of what led to this crisis was firms like AIG and others making huge and risky bets – using things like derivatives – without accountability. Warren Buffett himself once described derivatives bought and sold with little oversight as “financial weapons of mass destruction.” That’s why through reform we’d help ensure that these kinds of complicated financial transactions take place on an open market. Because, ultimately, it is a marketplace that is open, free, and fair that will allow our economy to flourish.  We would also close loopholes to stop the kind of recklessness and irresponsibility we’ve seen. It’s these loopholes that allowed executives to take risks that not only endangered their companies, but also our entire economy. And we’re going to put in place new rules so that big banks and financial institutions will pay for the bad decisions they make – not taxpayers. Simply put, this means no more taxpayer bailouts. Never again will taxpayers be on the hook because a financial company is deemed “too big to fail.”   Finally, these reforms hold Wall Street accountable by giving shareholders new power in the financial system. They’ll get a say on pay: a vote on the salaries and bonuses awarded to top executives. And the SEC will ensure that shareholders have more power in corporate elections, so that investors and pension holders have a stronger voice in determining what happens with their life savings.  [What I'm not telling you:   This legislation is just more "nanny-state" blather!!  The American public CAN NOT do anything for itself; CAN NOT protect itself from big banking no more than it can protect itself from the many unscrupulous legislators and my 'slightly less than unscrupulous' administration in Washington!!   I do realize that most of this week's blather makes very little economic sense.  My hope is though, that the taxpayer actually believes that an open, free and fair marketplace will cause our economy to flourish.  What I hope they don't find out is that that is but a small component of a flourishing economy.  A much greater economic segment, with a far greater positive impact, is the current confiscatory tax rates!!   With only one or two exceptions, the U.S. has the highest corporate tax rates in the industrialized world!!  With my out-of-control deficit spending, we're approaching "Europe-like" personal income tax rates of 50++% as well.  As my nemesis, President Ronald Reagan proved beyond a doubt: Tax rate cuts, at all levels, are the greatest economic stimulus!!  The word "bailout" certainly has taken on a negative connotation, hasn't it??  The taxpayer can rest assured that giveaways to certain classes of Americans, supportive corporations and business segments as well as most of the labor unions WILL CONTINUE!!  We just have to come up with a different euphemism to placate the American public!!]
   Now, unsurprisingly, these reforms have not exactly been welcomed by the people who profit from the status quo – as well their allies in Washington. This is probably why the special interests have spent a lot of time and money lobbying to kill or weaken the bill. Just the other day, in fact, the Leader of the Senate Republicans and the Chair of the Republican Senate campaign committee met with two dozen top Wall Street executives to talk about how to block progress on this issue.  Lo and behold, when he returned to Washington, the Senate Republican Leader came out against the common-sense reforms we’ve proposed. In doing so, he made the cynical and deceptive assertion that reform would somehow enable future bailouts – when he knows that it would do just the opposite. Every day we don’t act, the same system that led to bailouts remains in place – with the exact same loopholes and the exact same liabilities. And if we don’t change what led to the crisis, we’ll doom ourselves to repeat it. That’s the truth. Opposing reform will leave taxpayers on the hook if a crisis like this ever happens again.  [What I'm not telling you:  ANYTHING I can do or say that will defame and denigrate the republicRATs is a democRAT plus in my book!!   Of course they are going to oppose any legislation that puts more-and-more control on the lives of their constituents.  Why would the republicRATs NOT meet with 'big-banking?'  Those politicians realize that their constituents do not need continuous 'nannying,' only periodic explanations; they're able to make their own financial decisions.  Any individualism goes against the fascist playbook!!  The republicRATs are right in one aspect, though-that of continuing taxpayer bailouts of my supporters-we just have to use the new euphemism I mentioned earlier.   That   ".....we'll doom ourselves to repeat it...." that only applies to issues that I care about, not to history in general!!]
   So my hope is that we can put this kind of politics aside. My hope is that Democrats and Republicans can find common ground and move forward together. But this is certain: one way or another, we will move forward. This issue is too important. The costs of inaction are too great. We will hold Wall Street accountable. We will protect and empower consumers in our financial system. That’s what reform is all about. That’s what we’re fighting for. And that’s exactly what we’re going to achieve.  [What I'm not telling you:  I really DON'T CARE if republicRATs support democRATs on this or any other issue(s).  If I or other democRATs can carjole republicRATs to support any adminstration-supported issue, that'll provide us with a scapegoat when everything "goes to Hell in a handbasket!!!"]

This'n'That; April 16th[PreciousMetals;TaxDayRally]

It Was "Cool".....
   We settled on American Precious Metals Exchange [APMEX] http://www.apmex.com/ as our source for purchasing investment grade silver.
The first order arrived yesterday; ironically-Tax Day, 2010!!
   It was so neat to just hold the one ounce bars of silver; a commodity whose value will survive "Clown Prince" obama's impending complete destruction of the American economy!!

Tax Day Tea Party Protest Rally
   Rochester, New York, is no different than any other city in America-of ANY size!!  Our local media revels in discovering dissention, even if they have to manufacture it themselves.  They relish reporting any gathering of two or more "patriots" as a protest-even those that strive to be peaceful and non-violent.
During Rochester's Tax Day Tea Party, the media's only complaint was that there were only three hyphenated Americans [negros] participating!!
   The participation this year wasn't what was hoped; about 800-1,000 congregated at Genesee Crossroads Park in downtown at noon yesterday to hear local speakers with topics near-and-dear to the partriotic heart:  government intrusion; government growth; infinite taxation; huge dificit spending, incombent malfeasance, etc.
   Here's some photos of the event:

Til Nex'Time....

This'n'That; April 15th[RedSkeltonPledge;SkeltonBio]

The "Red" Skelton "Pledge of Allegiance"

The late "Red" Skelton related a grade school experience on his T.V. show [the first time on January 15, 1969].  One of his teachers, a Mister Laswell, had the class recite the Pledge of Allegiance each day.  They had become bored with the whole thing, so he defined each word of the pledge:

• I -- Me; an individual; a committee of one.
• Pledge -- Dedicate all of my worldly good to give without self-pity.
• Allegiance -- My love and my devotion.
• To the Flag -- Our standard. “Old Glory”; a symbol of courage. And wherever she waves, there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts “Freedom is everybody's job.”
• of the United -- That means we have all come together.
• States -- Individual communities that have united into 48 great states; 48 individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose; all divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common cause, and that’s love of country, of America.
• And to the Republic -- A Republic: a sovereign state in which power is invested into the representatives chosen by the people to govern; and the government is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.
• For which it stands One Nation -- Meaning "so blessed by God."
• Indivisible -- Incapable of being divided.
• With Liberty -- Which is freedom; the right of power for one to live his own life without fears, threats, or any sort of retaliation.
• And Justice -- The principle and qualities of dealing fairly with others.
• For All -- For All. That means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said, "That is a prayer" -- and that be eliminated from our schools, too?

For Those Too Young To  Remember "Red" Skelton:
[THE FOLLOWING WAS RETYPED from the Oct/Nov 97 issue of "Clown Alley"]




   Richard "Red" Skelton was born into a circus family on July 18, 1913 in Vincennes, Indiana two months after the death of his father [Joseph] who had been a clown with the Haggenbach and Wallace travelling shows. Red was raised by his mother [Ida Fields Skelton] in the love of the circus people who were to become his first real family, leaving an imprint on him that he would carry throughout his life, bringing happiness and laughter to millions.
   At age 10, Red joined up with a travelling medicine show. From there, minstrel and tent shows, circuses, burlesques, Mississippi show boats, vaudeville, radio, motion pictures and television were to become his home. It was as a star in in over 48 motion pictures and television that Red was to achieve his greatest public acclaim. His TV career spanned a record twenty consecutive years and his shows were always rated among the top ten in the United Sates.
   Red's lesser known but equally outstanding accomplishments include the writing of nearly 5,000 musical compositions, including 64 symphonies, many of which have been played and recorded by Arthur Fiedler, Van Cliburn, David Rose, the Las Vegas Symphony, the Palm Springs Desert Symphony, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
   Noble Red has authored more than 4,000 short stories and full length books. His  "Pledge of Allegiance" (above) has won 42 awards and has twice been read into the Congressional Record.  In addition to being an accomplished entertainer, Noble Red is acclaimed as one of his century's greatest painters. His original oil paintings are displayed exclusively at Center Art Galleries, Honolulu, Hawaii, where they have been received with great acclaim by art critics and collectors from all over the world.
   Evocative of a bygone era, Red's clowns are welcome guests in homes worldwide, where you are continually reminded that the appeal of these fine character studies knows no bounds. Collectors include the rich and famous and those for whom the ownership of a painting by Red Skelton is the fulfillment of a lifetime dream. Past ISCA President John Whipple has a number of original paintings.
   While all artists attempt to capture emotions in their works, Red has succeeded in doing so to a degree unique in contemporary history. We are all reminded of happier days, no matter which generation of fans we belong to. It hardly matters if we first saw Red perform, in the vaudeville of the thirties, in the films of the forties and fifties, on night club stages in the sixties, college stages of the seventies, or on HBO in the eighties, Red has been part of all of the lives of we ISCA clowns, and his painting and graphics allow us to be sure that he will be our guest in our homes for years to come.
   Picasso once said that he had spent his entire life trying to recapture the innocence and sensitivity of a child.
Red Skelton never lost it.

RED SKELTON'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO ALL OF SHRINEDOM
   Red Skelton has wholeheartedly been behind the Shriner's Hospitals for many, many years. Most of our Hospitals have received his clown artwork and have it displayed for all to enjoy. Through his skits and artwork, the clowns of the International Shrine Clown Association have been inspired. No matter where you go across North America, clowns of the ISCA are doing their version of Red's comedy work.
   Many of us have been fortunate to be invited to entertain at Red's birthday parties and what an inspiration he has been to all of us. Lot of Red's donated artwork, books, memorabilia, music, etc, have been auctioned in some fashion or other, with the proceeds contributing to the ISCA Sneaker Fund of which Noble Red is an Honorary Member. The International Shrine Clown Association has been in the habit of contributing over $250,000 every year to the Shriner's Hospital Research Program through the Sneaker Fund, and we thank Red for his part in our contributions.
   As Mister Skelton said so many times-concluding each week's TV show:
"Good nite, Good bye and God Bless."
Til Nex'Time....