BloggeRhythms 8/7/2012

 

A couple of days ago I mentioned that close analysis of good operating performance results for many top American businesses shows significant improvement in controlling costs, rather than from increasing sales. Consequently, the fact seems to be that the overall economy remains quite weak. 

 

Additionally, much of the spurt in the three major stock markets is being attributed by pundits to be based on expectations of further bailout or stimulus actions by  the Fed, which is presumed as a positive step by major investors, despite the fact that over the long term, previous efforts have not performed as hoped.

 

Therefore, a reasonable assumption is that the administration, which has been deemed “anti-business” by many, is still pursuing the same path. And so much so, that steps normally as negative actions are actually deemed positive by some investors whereas, without those steps they’d have no hope at all.  

 

In summary then, there’s really nothing favorable the current administration can point to regarding the nation’s economic woes they’ve caused, among other poorly handled responsibilities such as taxes, health care, education and immigration. So consequently, all they can do at present is try to degrade and smear their competition.  And that’s why I brought the forgoing up today whereas on Fox News on-line I read the following.      

 

“The Obama campaign launched a pre-emptive strike Tuesday on Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, attempting to gather dirt on the potential vice presidential pick by asking Floridians to share with the campaign “the good, bad and ugly” about him.

 

Ashley Walker, director of Obama for America in Florida, blasted out the email Tuesday soliciting unflattering information on Rubio. 

 

“Share what you think the rest of the country should know about what Rubio’s really done in Florida,” Walker wrote, “the good, bad and ugly. And why he’d be a disaster as our next vice president.”

 

So here we have a group of failed politicos who’ve done such a miserable job in total, they’ve got absolutely nothing positive to rely on. And they’ve reached such a point of pathetic desperation they have to search for ways to disparage their competition in an attempt to drag them down to an even lower level.

 

However, they’ve got one hurdle it’s unlikely they’ll overcome. Because the one’s that won’t buy their slandering style again amount to about sixty percent of the U.S. population. 

 

That's it for today folks. 

 

Adios  

BloggeRhythms 8/6/2012

Daniel Halper of the weekly Standard on-line writes that “According to the official White House schedule, The Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden will be in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware for the week.”

 

Halper notes that it’s the second week-long vacation for the VP in two months and likely to fuel ideas that the incumbent’s considering dropping him from the ticket. He goes on to report that “Biden's frequent errors and gaffes in office and on the campaign trail have been the source of much consternation for the Obama administration, and have resulted in strong calls for Biden to be dropped from the ticket.” 

I mention this because I predicted that this was going to happen the very day it was announced that Bill Clinton would play a major role in the upcoming Dem convention, which I believe could only happen if his cooperation was bought by offering Biden’s job to Hillary. And I believe that to be the only case that makes sense, whereas I think the incumbent and Willy hate each other quite openly. So, I just wanted to go on record again as to having seen this coming from day one.

Another happening that’s worth some keystrokes is the surging of all three major stock markets, which I find interesting because the general economic news isn’t really very good. In fact, some guru’s think it’s actually quite the reverse. 

Unemployment increased a tick in July over June, oil prices are increasing, many major employers are planning future layoffs due to flat sales and increasing health care costs caused by the new taxes are causing businesses to trim or drop expansion plans. What's more is that many with higher profits are achieving them through improved efficiency, not from growth in domestic sales. 

And what all of that says to me is that major players in the markets are anticipating some kind of stimulus or additional money-printing plan from the Fed. However, at almost $16 trillion in the hole already, how much can there be left to throw away? 

So, although I’m no economic expert by any means whatsoever, simple common sense says that this time around those investors are really playing with fire, and unfortunately like always, little guys who roll with the tide are very likely going to get burned again.

That’s it for today folks.

Adios

BloggeRhythms 8/5/2012

I’ve mentioned Chick-fil-A several times in the past few days because of the way in which their president’s position on freedom of opinion has stimulated significant numbers of people to support his business. 

And I believe that the support that’s been shown is a very strong indication of the mood of an extremely large segment of the general population regarding the political bias in the press, the attempts of politicians to alter or stifle free thought, and the heavy-handed manner in which special interest groups insist on ramming their causes down the throats of any whom disagree with them.

And in that vein, I had a flash-back this morning to a speech by  President Richard Nixon, in November 1969, where he said, "And so tonight-to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans-I ask for your support.”

I mention his plea because I’m quite sure that the same unrest exists among lot’s of folks right now who are totally fed up with those whom are trying to inflict their causes upon them. However, those same folks don’t choose to go public about them. Which is why I think a huge backlash will take place in November when today’s “silent majority” casts its votes at the polls.

What’s more, the strongest indication of that likelihood, and a significant reason for my interest in Chick-fil-A as a benchmark, is that while they’re continuing to set records in sales, the opposing “kiss-in” on Friday was an absolute and total bust because practically no one beyond a hard-core few even bothered to show up. And that, for me, is a very clear indication of future trends.

That’s it for today folks.

Adios

BloggeRhythms 8/4/2012

I often wonder about politicians remarks, and whether they actually think about, understand, or mean what they say. And it was that thought that registered once more when I read comments by the incumbent on Fox News on-line this morning.  
 
Apparently he suggested on Friday, that it’s “patriotic” for well-off Americans to pay more in taxes, which parrot’s an argument Joe Biden first made before the 2008 election.

His comments came after House Republicans knocked down the Democrat tax plan, wherein he called the GOP approach of preserving current tax rates for all “bad for our families” and “upside-down economics.” Then he went on to state: “Instead of the middle class paying more, we should ask the wealthiest Americans to pay a little more, a modest amount, so that we can reduce our deficit and still make investments in things like education that help our economy grow. You know, here's the thing -- there are a lot of well-to-do Americans, patriotic Americans, who understand this and are willing to do the right thing.” 

And that’s the part that got me. Because to date, the only thing that Democrats have proven is that when it comes to earning a dime or how to spend wisely, these dolts are clueless. And what’s worse is, they’re either completely uncaring about their financial inabilities or absolute outright thieves.   

As of this morning, for example, the Solyndra fiasco will cost taxpayers almost the full investment of half a billion dollars, but that doesn’t bother the White House an iota, and is actually less than a drop in the bucket compared to the massive funds they waste. Like how about those $44 million in GSA bashes.

And as far as education goes, and the rip-offs perpetrated by the unions, those inept slugs in education should be forced to give taxpayers their money back. Then, in the meantime, there are trillions of corporate dollars flowing and staying overseas because of what’s truly “upside-down economics” in the U.S. But the incumbent and his cohorts won’t change a thing to incent them to bring those bucks back and invest them at home. Yet meanwhile, we’re all also still paying ridiculously inflated prices to foreigners for oil when we have far more than we’ll ever need right here.

So my question for today is: Why and for how long are any successful folks, such as productive businesspeople, supposed to keep paying for the mistakes, ineptitude, corruption and untruths of politicians? And I think part of the answer is that those who mismanage in government should be made to give their salaries back. And if that was the case, I doubt very much our nation would be $16 trillion in debt, because if their own bucks were at risk, even politicians would attempt to think now and then.

That’s it for today folks.  

Adios

BloggeRhythms 8/3/2012

Yesterday, my subject was Chick-fil-A. That was because of the attention the company received thanks to an endorsement of sorts from former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee.

Huckabee stated that the company has the right to pursue any beliefs they choose, and suggested that those in agreement with that premise visit their establishments on August 1st which he called "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day."

I’m mentioning them again because, not only was the turnout of supporters apparently huge across the nation, but so much so that anti-Chick-fil-A’ers today are holding a march of their own to protest against the company, it’s owners, employees and customers. And frankly, I think that’s naïve, close-minded, immature and very, very far beyond simply stupid.

We fortunately live in a nation where people are absolutely free to do whatever they choose, as well as when and where and however they wish to do it, so long as that what they do remains within the law. And should others object to those activities for any reason, the solution's simple for them…don’t do it yourself.

However, there are those who feel it’s imperative that their particular beliefs be forced upon everyone else, because of some likely deranged sense of self-importance. But, in our kind of democracy, except for brain-dead sheep whom wish to follow them, that doesn’t mean very much to the rest of us.

And, as for myself, I spend my time pursuing activities of my own choice and really couldn’t care less about what anyone else on earth thinks about them. So, for those who agree with me so-be-it, and for those who don’t, so what?

In the last analysis however, I guess what both sides of the chicken debate are demonstrating is that  the unemployment rolls must truly be huge. Because if all these folks have nothing better to do than protest who can buy fast food, and where and when, it’s obvious they haven’t much else to occupy their time.

And that’s the real pity of this whole childish exercise. Because if everyone was gainfully employed and busy, when it comes to ridiculous pursuits like this, no one in the nation would waste their valuable time. 

That’s it for today folks.

Adios

BloggeRhythms 8/2/2012

It seems that mayors from four large American cities, among many others, got a lesson in what free choice is all about yesterday, as well as a reminder regarding the 1st Amendment’s guarantees in that regard. And the whole issue arose because of fried chicken.

Dan Cathy, CEO of a company called Chick-fil-A, came under fire recently in some circles for opposing same-sex marriage. And because of his beliefs, Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, Tom Menino of Boston, Luke Ravenstahl of Pittsburgh as well as Edwin Lee of San Francisco head a long list of mayors claiming they were outraged by Cathy’s position, even indicating that the company be forced out of business. 

 

Then along came Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor, who suggested that Wednesday, August 1st be proclaimed as  "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day."

 

And from today’s news reports, it seems that the results of Huckabee’s idea were absolutely overwhelming, whereas folks lined up in droves at hundreds of Chick-fil-A stores all over the nation, sometimes waiting for hours to be served due to the crowds.

 

So, I think the lesson here to be learned by those in office is that the world’s made up of folks who have differing opinions on almost every subject imaginable. And that the job of those in public office isn’t to impose beliefs of their own, or what particular segments of their voting base tell them, on their constituents. 

 

These '”officials” primary job is to maintain law and order, adhere to a budget, and otherwise get out of productive folks ways. And as far as their, or their special interest groups, issues are concerned they can wrap them up in a tight tube…and then shove them up their own tails.  

 

That’s it for today folks.

 

Adios

BloggeRhythms 8/1/2012

According to Fox News on-line, employees of what they refer to as “the obscure  General Services Administration” are  “quietly gobbling up 10 percent of the entire federal government's bonus checks.” 

 

At a hearing on alleged mismanagement and waste at the GSA, Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica,  a Florida Republican,  called the latest revelations "absolutely outrageous" whereas a preliminary investigation showed bonuses totaled $44 million, many  worth $50,000 apiece with some going to workers now under investigation. One employee, he said, received a $79,000 bonus, adding up to nearly $260,000 in total compensation. Another with an an $84,000 salary received $115,000 in overtime.

As I read the article I was reminded of a company in my business, equipment financing, that many years called itself simply “OPM,” with no further description for the three letters comprising their name. They were an extremely aggressive group in the main-frame computer leasing business, very competitive, hard to beat by others and spent money quite lavishly on themselves and everywhere else.

I don’t recall how long they lasted in total, but were around for quite a while and a competitive thorn in their rivals sides. And then one day it surfaced that they’d allegedly duplicated many contracts they’d signed with household name clients and then “sold” or “discounted” the same agreements to a number of different banks thereby collecting multiple times on singular contracts. And it was only  after they were shut down for their illegalities that we all found out that OPM stood for “Other People's Money.” 

And it was OPM that popped into my head while reading about the GSA, because the major problem with them, and almost all government endeavors no matter, is that they all spend other people’s money and have no responsibility for earning it whatsoever.

What’s more is the fact that no private enterprise on earth could survive, much less even stay in business, were they to operate as incompetently as most government operations. However, no one seems to notice or care.

But perhaps taxpayers might make some headway if a simple adjustment was made to the GSA, as well as many other agencies. A demand to change their name to OPM, along with a definition of what the letters stand for, might wake a few folks up.

That’s it for today folks.

Adios