BloggeRhythms 4/7/2012

Not much going on in the news, except for Boom Boom leading the Masters at age 52. It's only half way through the event and the odds are huge against his actually prevailing, but still, for the moment I think it's great.

I've been a Freddy Couples fan since he arrived on the Pro tour and find him to be one of a very small group of athletes who actually relates to folks because he wants and likes to, not because his sponsors and agent tell him he has to, or else. Freddy lives in his own zone, unperturbed by much else than hitting a  shot, finding his ball and then hitting it again, which is what real golfers are all about. And as for the tournament in Augusta this week, slim odds or not, you never know...with his boatload of talent and a little good luck, maybe he'll beat the most important adversary he has...Father Time.

On the political front, I keep reading about the incumbent's incessant appearances and his remarks to whatever group his handlers have stacked the room with while he bombast's and browbeats his listeners. And, as I read about his manipulation of yesterday's unemployment numbers and his attempt to convince whoever he was addressing that they were good, I got to thinking about what I believe is his immense underestimation of voter's intellects.

Because while it's true that the trend in employment is up, it's nowhere near where it should be. And as far as the statistics go one of the major reasons for the appearance of a shrinking number of those unemployed is that so many have stopped looking for work altogether, they've greatly reduced the base upon which the calculation's performed.

So, what I really think matters most isn't what politicians say, preach or promise, it's what's really happening that counts. And in category upon category around the nation, almost without exception, things have gotten progressively worse for all under this administration. From the economy, to health care, to the Middle-East, to fewer jobs, union proliferation, deteriorating education and practically anything else you can think of.

So, when it comes to next November I don't think it will matter very much what the incumbent says in speeches, because I don't think you can change facts with words. And if it were me running for re-election, I don't think I'd say anything much. I'd focus instead on really trying to fix the problems instead of yapping my brains out while actually doing less than nothing at all. 

That's it for today folks.

Adios

BloggeRhythms 4/6/2012

As regular readers know, one of my favorite subjects is exposing underlying data that completely refutes the misleading or patently false claims from government, almost all politicians, and especially the POTUS himself on a whole host of issues. I also have to think that over the past three years especially, I've likely written more about the horrendous fiscal damage done to the nation and it's population by the administration's efforts to keep the price of oil at it's highest possible level, than any other topic. 

Today however, I came across an article by Nevin Batwalla,  Staff Reporter at the Nashville Business Journal that not only supports my beliefs about the president's biased agenda regarding oil, but also blows huge holes in his ridiculous claims about the benefits and economies of moving away from fossil fuel.

According to the article, "If you're thinking about buying a fuel-efficient hybrid, electric or otherwise eco-friendly vehicle as a way to save money over time, do your homework -or be prepared to wait." Those choosing the Nissan all-electric Leaf costing $28,421 over the gas-powered equivalent, Versa at $18,640, will likely wait nearly 9 years until they break even. As for the Chevy Volt costing $31,767, the wait is even longer -26.6 years. The data comes from a recent New York Times report examining the cost of fuel efficiency.

In comparison some vehicles begin paying off relatively sooner, such as two hybrids, Toyota's Prius, $23,537, Lincoln's MKZ $33,887 and Volkswagen's diesel-powered Jetta TDI  at $25,242. All three of these cars take less than two years before starting to save owners money.

So here once again we have evidence from reliable sources clearly illustrating the administration's total disregard for the economic damage done while it panders to the goals set by special interests.  But above all else, what I really don't comprehend at all is that despite the continuing massing of evidence that the population's being virtually stolen from via the cost of fuel, why do they sit there with their mouths shut and let the administration continue to do it ? It just doesn't make any sense to me at all.

That's it for today folks.

Adios

BloggeRhythms 4/5/2012

According to Paul Bedard of The Examiner in Washington, DC, Democratic officials launched a two-pronged attack Wednesday on states with new laws requiring identification before voting, and I simply don't understand their objection.

It seems that the group complained that some states want to limit the time allotted for early voting, bar ex-felons from voting and require government identification to vote. Beyond that, Congressional Representative, James Clyburn, D-S.C. compared the legislation to segregation era "Jim Crow" laws and said he's “very, very anxious” that the conservative Supreme Court “as it is presently constituted” will support the new anti-voter fraud laws.

What's more, a growing list of states, including Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Kansas and Wisconsin already have such requirements and polls show that most Americans back the laws.

So what we have here, I think, are politicians who want to stir things up for their own sake by making a mountain out of not even a mole hill, but more like completely flat ground. Because voter fraud is a huge problem which goes far beyond any particular demographic group. And I don't see it as an insult or demeaning to simply require that voters identify themselves as being who they claim they are.

In conclusion, there certainly lots of major problems in the nation at present that need tending to by legislators. However, proof of identity to vote isn't one of them. So, what this group's mission says to me is, that if they have the time to waste on drivel like this, things where they live must be pretty darn good over all.

That's it for today folks.

Adios

BloggeRhythms 4/4/2012

Unfortunately, because of the complexity of leading the most successful and powerful  nation in the world on just about all fronts, I suspect the job requirements are quite simply beyond the comprehension of a significant segment number of voters. I don't write that to be demeaning to them, it's just that there's really no way for many, many people to acquire the information and education needed to select the best person for the nation, in regard to the country's overall condition at the time of the vote.

Consequently, I think that quite often, especially since the advent of TV, pleasing personal appearance, charisma and presence have played a huge part in voter's selection of unqualified candidates, although there certainly have been exceptions such as Nixon and "W." Bush, as examples of those unpleasing to many.

But this time around, I think a candidate's persona is going to help an underdog unseat a very popular incumbent.

 Last night I listened to Mitt Romney's speech after his significant wins in Maryland, Wisconsin and D.C. And what impressed me deeply was his matter of fact, been there before, understated control and complete, mature, professionalism. He seems to me be the kind of guy folks will listen to and trust. But, above all, was his mastery of the facts and concise presentation of them. Throughout I saw him use almost no notes as he maintained unbroken contact with his audience.

His approach especially resounded with me because as a businessman myself I understand that no matter how you deliver actual information and hard core results; the data speaks for itself so your personal presentation style isn't going to change them. Therefore, no matter what those facts are, it's always best to deliver them clearly, succinctly and most importantly, in a professional matter.

On the other hand, simply due to the timing, we had the current incumbent trying to intimidate the Supreme Court justices by ranting, raving, threatening, and behaving like a spoiled four year old. And that to me made a significant impression because it so dramatically highlighted the difference between cool, clear, possession of control under stress as compared to outright, unbridled immaturity.

 Now, obviously, I have no clue whatsoever as to who'll wind up in the White House next year but just wanted to make the point that if Mr. Romney can keep conducting himself as he did in last night's presentation, I think he's going to find enough people will be impressed enough to help him get the keys for himself.

That's it for today folks.

Adios

BloggeRhythms 4/3/2012

Yesterday, the nation's citizenry was given a chance to observe the free world's leader react to real pressure, for the first time I'm aware of. Because taking advantage of a huge world-wide audience, he basically advised the Supreme Court members to ignore their beliefs and responsibilities by yielding to his personal needs.

As for me, what came through most clearly was how childish and spoiled the nation's president is, whereas he cracked at the seams due to fear of rejection of his signature legislation -the horrible disaster of health care law that was rammed through a stacked Congress without debate or real thought.

And, while reading the gist of the president's remarks, the first thought that entered my mind was, if this is how he reacts to a still unknown decision which he can address for three more months down the road, what would he do if faced with having to react quickly, such as a terrorist attack, stock market crash or invasion? My guess is he'd go up to his room and break all his toys in frustration, and then go hide under his bed.

Yet, what was even more immature and sounded to me like inane babble were the actual words used in his tantrum. Because according to Jeff Mason of Reuters, the president said: "Ultimately, I am confident that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress. And I'd just remind conservative commentators that, for years, what we have heard is, the biggest problem on the bench was judicial activism, or a lack of judicial restraint, that an unelected group of people would somehow overturn a duly constituted and passed law."

So here we have an incumbent who's done all he could to force acceptance of justices at all levels -up to and including SCOTUS- that agree with his politics first and foremost trying to turn the tables around by suggesting it's his opponents that are wrong by pointing those facts out.

But, beyond that he more blatantly stated that "I think the justices should understand that in the absence of an individual mandate, you cannot have a mechanism to ensure that people with preexisting conditions can actually get health care. So there's not only a economic element to this, and a legal element to this, but there's a human element to this. And I hope that's not forgotten in this political debate."

What I find most incredible about the paragraph above is, the president's actually suggesting that ultimately the justices should ignore the law if they think the mandate's illegal because to him it's far more important that people are forced to acquire health care and socialize the system than is obedience to the Constitution of the United States.

Lastly, and the oddest part of it all considering that these comments come from the POTUS, whom was formerly a professor of law, is that the Founding Fathers were prescient enough to realize that there had to be a check and balance mechanism in governance. And the reason the SCOTUS was devised in the first place was to do exactly what they're charged with now: preventing misuse of power and/or the disregard or overriding of the law of the land.

So, maybe the best thing the president can do for himself now is go back and peruse some of the texts he studied in law school, because maybe he cut classes on the days they taught that Americans are a free people and not a misguided, self-impressed wannabe potentate's pawns.

That's it for today folks.

Adios

BloggeRhythms 4/2/2012

Saying that Mitt Romney's “pragmatism” and “moderate impulses” make him the best candidate ahead of tomorrow's primary election there, the Wisconsin Sentinel Journal wrote that he's the “clear choice in an uninspired -and now dwindling- field.”

The newspaper's comment caught my eye because it made me wonder exactly what is that they want in a presidential candidate. Would they prefer someone who makes lots of noise, rants and raves, and extols about extremes rather than a serious-minded, experienced problem solver who's handled similar responsibility before?

As for me, I think there's little doubt that if the nation's economy isn't put back on solid footing, there's not going to be much left that can be done in any other aspect of  citizen's lives -because all of our resources will have been spent and wasted.  And if that's truly the case, it takes someone with particular business skills to fix the problems. Which means that it's experience that counts, not showmanship. Because folks like Warren Buffet, Bill Gates or Alan Greenspan aren't known for their charisma -which hardly exists- they're respected for their professional capabilities, success and experience.

On the other hand, there are folks like Donald Trump who fits the "inspiring" mold for unknowing, gullible people who buy the hype, noise and smoke. However, in his case, after he lost all his dad's real estate and tanked some casinos and an airline that went belly up -he turned himself into a TV show host with no financial responsibility whatsoever where he delivers tons of BS for entertainment 

So, I think these newspaper folks have to decide what's really important for the nation, and perhaps get themselves some hard information on what it actually takes to spearhead the most successful economy  in the world. And the importance of that premise can be seen very, very clearly right now. Because the all-talk and charisma guy presently at the top having no business acumen whatsoever, has amassed $15 trillion in national debt without an iota of an idea how to fix it.

That's it for today folks.

Adios

BloggeRhythms 4/1/2012

Not a lot going on that's of much interest to me this morning, so I started flipping channels out of boredom. And  as I reached Fox News, a young woman was interviewing a politician from Maryland, but I didn't catch his title or name. However, she was asking about the importance of the recent endorsements of Mitt Romney by a number of Republican leaders including Jeb Bush, his father and Paul Ryan.

As she asked her questions, she mentioned how well Romney seems to be doing in the polls and garnering influential support. Yet, she said, many still claim that he's not "conservative" enough. And that's when I turned off the TV and sat down to type.

Because what really confuses me is that I always thought there were two basic political beliefs within the majority of American voters. Broadly put, one group favored a government that took responsibility for constituents welfare and lives and provided just about everything that people needed to survive. On the other side are those who believe in total free enterprise and self-reliance with as little intervention by government as possible and a minimum of interference.

As for myself, I strongly believe that so long as basic protections are provided, such as police and a fire department, very little else is any of government's business and that folks should simply be left alone to live in any legal manner that suits them. And that's where all this "conservative" BS loses me. Because as far as I'm concerned I couldn't care less about any politicians religious beliefs or thoughts on any kind of personal matters, in fact most of them are too stupid and dense to have any valid opinions in the first place.

So, my question for today is: Why don't these conservatives get off their soap boxes and platforms and just shut up? Because what the country needs at the moment is someone who knows how an economy runs, not a bible thumping, narrow-minded, zealot. And what's more, if one of those self-appointed conservative preachers showed up at my house to tell me how I should live my life, I'd call the cops and have him arrested for trespass.

That's it for today folks.

Adios