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Scary scenes indeed.....
For the second time is as many months, California is up in flames yet again. All the major "mainstream" online media and local television has had nonstop coverage of the fires in Southern California. One of my friends sent a few of the images from the frontlines late on Saturday:
What should we do?
Geese!!!
There has been hardly any rain or snow. We seem to have no relief in sight. The fires will eventually be put out, people will overcome and rebuild their lives. Yet, the fundemental problems of our environment remains. What scares me is that the focus on the environment will simply not be there because of the economic Tsunami we are dealing with.
Senator Clinton "supposedly" saw President-Elect Obama in Chicago. The mainstream blogs Politico & Huffington Post are saying that Mr. Obama has offered her the job. I don't know if it is true or not. To me, it is speculation. Everyone is trying to be "first". I do wish that he puts together a true "Team of Rivals" that will rival what Abraham Linclon's Cabinet in 1860. The work by Doris Kearns Goodwin, to me, is a great blueprint for Senator Obama. I think Senator Clinton will have a major role. I am sure that Mr. Obama will make the right choice. To me, the choice of Joe Biden and Rahm Emmanuel have been right on. I would imagine that the Cabinet selections will also be just as onpointe. I wish the "mainstream" media would have just focused on the future and stop this speculation. It is probably wishful thinking.
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I couldn't help myself!!!
As the Bush Adminstration rides into the sunset, I could not help but report on this Bushism, courtesy of MSNBC's the Rachel Maddow Show:
This is quite funny, BUT there is a serious side to it that we should never forget. We have to remember that George W. Bush was a Harvard MBA. I don't believe that you can't go through Harvard without some sort of a reasonable way of expressing yourself. This "stance" was part of his appeal to the ordinary folks. That's why a lot of folks voted for him.
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let's focus on the future...
Although I think Keith Oberdman of MSNBC's Countdown sometimes goes a bit overboard at times, I found this he had quite interesting. It seems to me that the Bush Adminstration should simply just focus on holding the fort and get the new Adminstration ready for a smooth handover. The Congressional Review Act of 1996, which Jonathan Turley talks about in this segment, is another "great" check on the excesses of Executive Power. The Bushies are trying to push a lot of things through. The worst one is the Presidential Signing Statements which is the worst atrocity of it all.
Obama's team is already on the case, though. With Obama's view of the Constitution and having served as a Constitutional Law Professor, there should be no issues with getting this right. I have no doubt.
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An Ordinary Man's Perspective
Just like "ordinary folks", I was out on committments for the day. Although I don't every think that those of us who think and take the time to write about our world are necessarily ordinary. But, I wanted to once again be witness to history. So, I popped into a place where I could watch CNN as I worked on some paperwork and happened to call in to a conference call I needed to be in. It was just another ordinary day for an "ordinary guy".
Today was the day Mr. Obama went to Washington. As I watched this on CNN, I again was in awe as to the peaceful and seamless transfer of power that has begun in the United States. There was a new poll that came out about how unpopular President Bush is. As I heard that, my reaction was "so what". I see the role of the President right now is one thing: to insure a smooth, seamless transfer of power. There is one President, that's for sure. But, let's focus on the future while being mindful of the world around us. I am gratified and frankly proud to be an observer as this transfer is going on. The signifcance of a man of color visiting a house built by Slaves shows how far America has come. I caught this image as CNN was showing the two men walking down the corridor to the Oval Office
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Is he a fool or does he think we are?
Sean Hannity was on a roll today. I was listening to his radio show. I think he is one hell of an advcoate for all things conservative. I think if he was not there, he would have to be created. But, I think we went way over the top in his comments today.
I found his comments frankly disgusting. He went on and on about how this election was going to be stolen. He went on and on as to how "liberal" Senator Obama's record was. He went on about how McCain will surge to a win. He went on to remind everyone that America owns everything to Ronald Reagan. I think when he was ranting and raving about ballott stuffing and election fraud, he forgot 2000 and 2004. It was right then when Kathryn Harris and Ken Blackwell did what they needed to do. What bothered me more than anything was the god-like stature that these guys have elevated Ronald Reagan to. Reagan was a regular guy who became President. He is to be respected for his 8 years of service as President. But, an analysis of his policies shows his utter disdain and total lack of regard for the institution of government. Yet, it was the same Government that helped to save the financial markets during the crash of 1987. It was the same Government that oversaw disaster relief. But, the eight years of Reagan caused a massive deficit that took four years of disciplined spending by the Clinton Adminstration to bring things into balance. I also am worried when the conservatives claim that Reagan "won" the cold war. It was the sacrifice and investment of the American People over the course of some 50 years that ultimately led to the collapse of the Iron Curtain and the dissolution of the Soviet Union
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No one is above the law
CNN is right now reporting that Ted Stevens, the Senior Senator from Alaska, has been found guilty of ALL charges. This is a slam dunk!!!! The government got him. This is what America is about. The law is supreme no matter what. We ought to be proud of that. I am just amazed that Senator Stevens allowed himself to be subjected to this. I am sorry for him and his family. But this is a reaffirmation of America and it should be a cause for celebration.
On a side note, I just read quite an obiturary on the Bush II years by Ed Rollins. He once again reminds us what a historic election this is and what a colossal failure Bush Jr. Is. I think the only guy that truly does not recognize it is W himself. He destroyed his party, almost destroyed the country in the name of power. At least towards the end he has had enough sense to put grown-ups back in charge. The question in my mind is how big the win is going to be? Senator Obama will need all the help he can get!!!
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Doesn't he have anything better to talk about ?
John McCain seems to love Bill Ayers. He and his running mate were on NBC Nightly News. John McCain again blasted Senator Obama for the Ayers Ties. For a tired campaign, it seems as if he has nothing better to say. I am sorry for Senator McCain and what the Republican Party has come to. The folks who are fleeing the ship are quite impressive. When Scott McClellan came out for Senator Obama, that should tell the country something extra ordinary. What about the Goldwater family turning on Senator Goldwater's successor?
Senator McCain finally came down to blasting the Bush Administration today in a Washington Times interview. When asked about spending $150,000 on clothes, McCain's comment was "...she needed clothes..". But, it is too little too late. All polls, so far, shows that Barack Obama in a commanding lead. I say, so what? Obama can't be complacent and has to fight all the way to the end. There is still twelve days left. Obama's Prime Time Special is on next week. Obama has to seal the deal next week. We'll see
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I have been watching with horror as the Retail sector has undergone a massive upheavel. Retail as we've known it for the last 30 years will be no more. I view the massive restructing and realignment of Retail as probably the scariest of all the changes we're seeing today. In my own backyard, two major retailers are shutting down and have undertaken massive liquidation sales. I happend to visit my City's local Mervyns' Store last week. I had avoided it for a while simply because I could not bear it. When I walked it, I was simply shocked as to the products being out there and the massive price reductions. I also checked out Linen n' Things as well. Many of the products were way over priced anyway. But, these two stores rode the consumerism of the 90's and now have become the latest victims. All the major players are suffering.
As I walked past Mervyn's today, I wondered about who can replace it. I did not particularly care about the landlord. But I wondered about the revenue loss the State will suffer. I wondered about when the blood-letting will stop. The investors are sure speaking up, though. Markets all around the world are dropping. The Dow lost over 500 points on Wednesday. I only take comfort in one thing right now: the drop in the price of oil. London Brent is at $ 62 per Barrel. New York Light is at $ 66 per Barrel. That price drop scares me. It scares me because it will potentially cause us to lose sight of the effort to rid ourselves of our addiction to Carbon.
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Some Common Sense Advise!!!!
Many may not know who Andrew Lahde is. He ran a hedge fund that made a killing betting against the housing market. He was right..and many of us were wrong!!! Many of us are paying a heavy price for it.
Andrew Lahde wrote to his investors on Friday letting them know he's moving on and shutting down his fund. His letter is funny and yet so pointed in terms of what has happened and what we should be aware of. I wrote about the party being over for Hedge Funds. I was glad to see I was not alone
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Nov. 5 can't come soon enough!!!
I am counting the days becuase I see a country that is right now in a leadership vaccum.
The latest edition of the Washington Post Weekly Edition reported on the evolution of the Justice Department from the advocate for justice to a political enforcer for the edicts of the White House. Of all the mistakes George W. Bush has made, the destruction of the culture of the Justice Department has been the worst tragedy of it all. The fact that the Department was politicized because U.S. Attorneys tried to do their jobs and ended up losing their jobs was the icing on the cake. This was documented in the report on the firings issued by the Justice Department on the firings.
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Haven't they done enough damage?
The daily barrage of polls and analysis continues. History can be a harbinger of things to come. It is important to note that some of the poll analysis noted that in 1980, 2000 & 2004, the Republicans candidates were down in the polls. Yet, the same candidates went on to win. So, who knows frankly what is going to happen. If the Democrats think they have it in the bag, they are frankly smoking crack or something!!??!! They have to work as hard as they can to earn every vote. Because the Republicans will be just as aggressive in their attacks.
Governor Palin continues his "culture war" against the Democrats. As I caught a brief glimpse of her on CNN, she talked about how "unpatrotic" Barack Obama is. I continue to be sickened by the ugly tone of the McCain campaign. John McCain and Sarah Palin have perpetuated a lynch mob mentality that in my view does a profound sense of disservice to the country. They are trying to be able to perpetuate a case of trumped up charges of voter fraud and the supposed alleged ties to ACORN. Interestingly enough, the Atlantic Monthly reports that John McCain spoke at an ACORN rally two years ago. The diversion being done is simply sickening. The fact that even one person is calling for Senator Obama to be killed is absolutely wrong. Senator McCain claimed that the same crap being said at his campaign is being said at Obama rallies. That's an absolute lie. Senator McCain simply makes himself look like an idiot by trying to shift the debate. The McCain campaign is all over the map. One day Senator Obama is a family man. One day Senator Obama is a risk. I am trying to figure out which is it
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No reason to celebrate, yet......
Speaker Pelosi just got done speaking to the American People and the World. They have agreed to a deal!!! It is available at The Bailout Plan. If the link does not work, it is available at http://speaker.house.gov. "Hopefully" there will be a measure of stability so that as Senator Reid just said, "...it gets to get a bad situation from getting worst...". I think this is the sign of things to come: A return to Constitutional Government!!! They made a difference today. I commend them for it. The markets will judge it too starting in about an hour from today.
UPDATE: I have been monitoring the markets in Australia, Korea and Japan. They have risen an average of 1%.....It is a start!!!!
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It should never be allowed...
Whenever a Police Officer dies in the line of duty anywhere in the world, he or she is worthy of praise because of the ultimate sacrifice made in the interest of upholding the law. Such a dedicated public servant lost her life in Afghanistan yesterday. Her name was Lt. Colonel Malalai Kakar.
May her sacrifice not be in Vain.......
Where she was killed, to me, was quite signifcant. She was killed in front of her home and her teenage son was seriously wounded and is in a comma. She lived in Kandahar, the home town of the useless so-called President of Afghanistan Karzai and the hotbed of the resurrgent Taliban. Her children are now left without a mother. She was another victim of . the misguided policy that has caused havoc in Afghanistan and has blown up Pakistan. When will it all end
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Mike Pouraryan
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