BloggeRhythms

Today’s first item isn’t about Archie Bunker, but is an “All in the Family” story, nonetheless.

Last Tuesday, Zach Despart, Free Press Staff Writer @burlingtonfreepress.com, titled his column: “Burlington College to close under weight of debt”

Burlington College will close later this month, the school announced Monday, citing the "crushing weight of debt" as the reason.

“Founded in 1972 as an informal gathering of students, Burlington College grew into a small, regionally accredited liberal arts college. But financial strain and academic probation created by an ambitious but ill-fated expansion under then-President Jane Sanders onto a new campus on prime waterfront land led to the school's demise, officials said. 

“[Officials] Holm and Moore declined to criticize Sanders, who served as president from 2004 to 2011. But in a statement Monday morning, the college blamed debt from the land deal as a primary reason for the school's closure. 

"Holm suggested the college’s plan to pay for the waterfront campus was unachievable. 

“I believe the vision was enrollment would grow, which it did, but not at the level that would have allowed us to manage the financial debt we had incurred,” Holm said. “So here we are.” 

What’s most interesting about the situation is that former college president, Jane Sanders, is Bernie Sanders’ wife. A spokesman for the Sanders presidential campaign, did not respond to the newspaper’s request for comment, however, the situation speaks volumes about the Sanders platform which can do nothing but increase the nation’s debt. 

In the college's case, the land purchase made was huge, particularly for a school whose annual budget was less than $4 million. Betting big, nonetheless, Jane Sanders plan for financing included Burlington issuing tax-free bonds, taking a $3.5 million loan from the Roman Catholic Diocese that formerly owned the property, and a $500,000 bridge loan from Tony Pomerleau, a wealthy local real-estate developer and close friend of the Sanders’. 

And that is Democrat financial theory in a nutshell. Borrow to cover revenue shortfalls with no proof of ability for repayment. Then, when the borrower fails, add the amount to unpaid debt. Just like the POTUS currently runs the whole nation, which is now $17 trillion in the hole with debt still growing  rapidly, while GDP shrinks to less than 2%. 

Which means that, unless the debt situation is corrected, it’s obvious what the result will be for the entire nation, as illustrated crystal clearly by Mrs. Sanders and her bankrupt college.  

On another issue, Mark Cuban owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks says he is willing to work with either side of the aisle if approached for a possible vice presidential run. 

On NBC's "Meet the Press" yesterday he said he would "absolutely" listen to the Hillary Clinton campaign, adding that he would give the same time to presumptive Republican candidate Donald Trump. 

"You know, I'm an independent. And I'm fiercely independent and think for myself. And I'd have the same conversation for Donald," Cuban said. "I think Donald has a real chance to win, and that's scary to a lot of people." 

Finding Cuban’s comments amusing, they led to further thoughts of how an “independent thinking” VP would function after taking office, or in the event that he somehow actually became president. Beginning with the effect that individual would have on the president’s party, whereas its supporters would have no idea whatsoever of what kind of decisions would be made, or how or when. And it doesn’t require much thought to imagine what the nation would look like if its leader was an independent, liberal, conservative democrat.   

Knowing nothing about Cuban or his history, a quick Wikipedia search revealed that his Mavericks are 25 games behind the San Antonio team. After 36 seasons, from 1980-81 to 2015-16, their overall won-lost record is 1482-1422 equating to .510%. Which is pretty much what one would expect, 50-50, for someone who sees himself as continually being on the fence.  

Then, this one was sent by a friend this morning.

 

Which brings us to today’s update on Bill Clinton’s wife.

An article by Michael Walsh @nypost.com, today has likely given Trump enough ammunition to take him all the way to November with suspicions about Bill’s wife’s continual influence peddling to major political and commercial entities.   

Mr. Walsh writes: “First off, there’s Wall Street and the financial-services industry. Democratic champions of the Little Guy are always in bed with the Street — they don’t call Barack Obama “President Goldman Sachs” for nothing, but Mrs. Clinton has room for Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice and their 10 best friends. Multiple trips to Goldman Sachs. Morgan Stanley. Deutsche Bank. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts. UBS Wealth Management. 

“Big Pharma and health-care companies also make the list; they want to keep on the good side of the woman who tried to force HillaryCare down our throats in 1993 and who’s sure to morph ObamaCare into the “single-payer” socialized-medicine model so beloved of “progressives.” So say hello to the National Association of Chain Drug Stores ($225,000) and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society ($225,500).

“The entertainment industry has an enormous effect on the popular culture, so no surprise seeing the A&E Networks on the list. American Jews donate lustily to the Democratic Party, so throw in the Beth El Synagogue in Minneapolis and the Jewish United Fund of Chicago. 

“The United Fresh Produce Association. The National Automobile Dealers Association ponied up $325,000. Even eBay forked over protection money, er, an honorarium. Because taking care of constituents is what the Clintons do — as long as the constituents take care of them.” 

And then Mr. Walsh produced a truly incredible list of who paid her, and how much, for her 2013-2015 speeches:

• 4/18/2013, Morgan Stanley Washington, DC: $225,000
• 4/24/2013, Deutsche Bank Washington, DC: $225,000
• 4/24/2013, National Multi Housing Council Dallas, TX: $225,000
• 4/30/2013, Fidelity Investments Naples, FL: $225,000
• 5/8/2013, Gap, Inc. San Francisco, CA: $225,000
• 5/14/2013, Apollo Management Holdings, LP New York, NY: $225,000
• 5/16/2013, Itau BBA USA Securities New York, NY: $225,000
• 5/21/2013, Vexizon Communications, Inc. Washington, DC: $225,000
• 5/29/2013, Sanford C. Bernstein and Co., LLC New York, NY: $225,000
• 6/4/2013, The Goldman Sachs Group Palmetto Bluffs, SC: $225,000
• 6/6/2013, Spencer Stuart New York, NY: $225,000
• 6/16/2013, Society for Human Resource Management Chicago, IL: $285,000
• 6/17/2013, Economic Club of Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, MI: $225,000
• 6/20/2013, Boston Consulting Group, Inc. Boston, MA: $225,000
• 6/20/2013, Let’s Talk Entertainment, Inc. Toronto, Canada: $250,000
• 6/24/2013, American Jewish University Universal City, CA: $225,000
• 6/24/2013, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and Company, LP Palos Verdes, CA: $225,000
• 7/11/2013, UBS Wealth Management New York, NY: $225,000
• 8/7/2013, Global Business Travel Association San Diego, CA: $225,000
• 8/12/2013, National Association of Chain Drug Stores Las Vegas, NV: $225,000
• 9/18/2013, American Society for Clinical Pathology Chicago, IL: $225,000
• 9/19/2013, American Society of Travel Agents, Inc. Miami, FL: $225,000
• 10/4/2013, Long Island Association Long Island, NY: $225,000
• 10/15/2013, National Association of Convenience Stores Atlanta, GA: $265,000
• 10/23/2013, SAP Global Marketing, Inc. New York, NY: $225,000
• 10/24/2013, Accenture New York, NY: $225,000
• 10/24/2013, The Goldman Sachs Group New York, NY: $225,000
• 10/27/2013, Beth El Synagogue Minneapolis, AIN: $225,000
• 10/28/2013, Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Chicago, IL: $400,000
• 10/29/2013, The Goldman Sachs Group Tuscon, AZ: $225,000
• 11/4/2013, Mase Productions, Inc. Orlando, FL: $225,000
• 11/4/2013, London Drugs, Ltd. Mississauga, ON: $225,000
• 11/6/2013, Beaumont Health System Troy, 111: $305,000
• 11/7/2013, Golden Tree Asset Management New York, NY: $275,000
• 11/9/2013, National Association of Realtors San Francisco, CA: $225,000
• 11/13/2013, Mediacorp Canada, Inc. Toronto, Canada: $225,000
• 11/13/2013, Bank of America Bluffton, SC: $225,000
• 11/14/2013, CB Richard Ellis, Inc. New York, NY: $250,000
• 11/18/2013, CIIE Group Naples, FL: $225,000
• 11/18/2013, Press Ganey Orlando, FL: $225,000
• 11/21/2013, U.S. Green Building Council Philadelphia, PA: $225,000
• 01/06/2014, GE Boca Raton, Fl.: $225,500
• 01/27/2014, National Automobile Dealers Association New Orleans, La.: $325,500
• 01/27/2014, Premier Health Alliance Miami, Fl.: $225,500
• 02/06/2014, Salesforce.com Las Vegas, Nv.: $225,500
• 02/17/2014, Novo Nordisk A/S Mexico City, Mexico: $125,000
• 02/26/2014, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Orlando, Fl.: $225,500
• 02/27/2014, A&E Television Networks New York, N.Y.: $280,000
• 03/04/2014, Association of Corporate Counsel – Southern California Los Angeles, Ca.: $225,500
• 03/05/2014, The Vancouver Board of Trade Vancouver, Canada: $275,500
• 03/06/2014, tinePublic Inc. Calgary, Canada: $225,500
• 03/13/2014, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association Orlando, Fl.: $225,500
• 03/13/2014, Drug Chemical and Associated Technologies New York, N.Y.: $250,000
• 03/18/2014, Xerox Corporation New York, N.Y.: $225,000
• 03/18/2014, Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal Montreal, Canada: $275,000
• 03/24/2014, Academic Partnerships Dallas, Tx.: $225,500
• 04/08/2014, Market° Inc. San Francisco, Ca.: $225,500
• 04/08/2014, World Affairs Council Portland, Or.: $250,500
• 04/10/2014, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. Las Vegas, Nv.: $225,500
• 04/10/2014, Lees Talk Entertainment San Jose, Ca.: $265,000
• 04/11/2014, California Medical Association (via satellite) San Diego, Ca.: $100,000
• 05/06/2014, National Council for Behavioral Healthcare Washington D.C.: $225,500
• 06/02/2014, International Deli-Dairy-Bakery Association Denver, Co.: $225,500
• 06/02/2014, Lees Talk Entertainment Denver, Co.: $265,000
• 06/10/2014, United Fresh Produce Association Chicago, II.: $225,000
• 06/16/2014, tinePublic Inc. Toronto, Canada: $150,000
• 06/18/2014, tinePublic Inc. Edmonton, Canada: $100,000
• 06/20/2014, Innovation Arts and Entertainment Austin, Tx.: $150,000
• 06/25/2014, Biotechnology Industry Organization San Diego, Ca.: $335,000
• 06/25/2014, Innovation Arts and Entertainment San Francisco, Ca.: $150,000
• 06/26/2014, GTCR Chicago, II.: $280,000
• 07/22/2014, Knewton, Inc. San Francisco, Ca.: $225,500
• 07/26/2014, Ameriprise Boston, Ma.: $225,500
• 07/29/2014, Coming, Inc. Coming, N.Y.: $225,500
• 08/28/2014, Nexenta Systems, Inc. San Francisco, Ca.: $300,000
• 08/28/2014, Cisco Las Vegas, Nv.: $325,000
• 09/04/2014, Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP San Diego, Ca.: $225,500
• 09/15/2014, Caridovascular Research Foundation Washington D.C.: $275,000
• 10/02/2014, Commercial Real Estate Women Network Miami Beach, Fl.: $225,500
• 10/06/2014, Canada 2020 Ottawa, Canada: $215,500
• 10/07/2014, Deutsche Bank AG New York, N.Y.: $280,000
• 10/08/2014, Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) Chicago, II.: $265,000
• 10/13/2014, Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers Colorado Springs, Co.: $225,500
• 10/14/2014, Salesforce.com San Francisco, Ca.: $225,500
• 10/14/2014, Qualcomm Incorporated San Diego, Ca.: $335,000
• 12/04/2014, Massachusetts Conference for Women Boston, Ma.: $205,500
• 01/21/2015, tinePublic Inc. Winnipeg, Canada: $262,000
• 01/21/2015, tinePublic Inc. Saskatoon, Canada: $262,500
• 01/22/2015, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Whistler, Canada: $150,000
• 02/24/2015, Watermark Silicon Valley Conference for Women Santa Clara, Ca.: $225,500
• 03/11/2015, eBay Inc. San Jose, Ca.: $315,000
• 03/19/2015, American Camping Association Atlantic City, NJ.: $260,000

The total comes to an astounding $21,667,000 over 24 months. 

While there's a word for women who sell themselves for money, it isn't suitable for public consumption in this forum. But it still leads to the ongoing question: Joe Biden, Mayor Bloomberg, Jerry Brown, and Starbuck’s chairman and CEO, Howard Schultz, are you guys reading this?  

   

That’s it for today folks.     

Adios