After listening to John Gambling on WOR radio this morning, my wife suggested I read an Op-Ed opinion column in today's New York Post, which Gambling quoted excerpts from. It was written by, Leon G. Cooperman, C.F.A. Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Omega Advisors, Inc., a $3.5 billion hedge fund based in New York City.
The reason the column caught her attention was that the author voiced several opinions quite similar to my own regarding the president. And while I found it quite interesting throughout, the last paragraphs pretty much sum up the author's thoughts.
He writes: "When you were a community organizer in Chicago, you learned the art of waging a guerrilla campaign against a far superior force. But you’ve graduated from that milieu and now help to set the agenda for that superior force. You might do well at this point to eschew the polarizing vernacular of political militancy and become the transcendent leader you were elected to be.
You are likely to be far more effective, and history is likely to treat you far more kindly for it."
As for myself, I've written about the president's background in "community organizing" many times in prior blog's myself. Except I used somewhat different vernacular, calling him a baseball bat wielding thug ala typical Chicago political hacks. And when the author states that "you’ve graduated from that milieu and now help to set the agenda for that superior force," I somewhat disagree, because I don't think the president's graduated at all.
While it's true that the president has arrived in a position that's light years above his political origins, I don't think he's grown an iota of an inch in stature, capability or maturity and is still the same old empty suit, except that the fabric's now much more expensive.
And that's where the author perhaps gave the president too much credit, because I think he made an over-assumption based on his own success. Coming from a home where his father was a plumber in the South Bronx who emigrated with his wife from Poland, the author was the first family member to earn a college degree. He credits utilizing a good public education system, attending PS 75, Morris High School and Hunter College (all in The Bronx, NY) and his parents’ constant prodding as the foundation for his later business and personal success.
So, here we have a guy (the author) who grew within the system by taking advantage of the opportunities afforded him (such as free education,) then went out and became a success in a twenty-five year career with Goldman Sachs. He later opened his own firm, which today manages $3.5 billion in assets. He also mentions that he gives back to the community in appreciation of what's been afforded him on a regular basis, although he mentioned no specifics.
As far as the president's concerned though, I don't get the sense that he feels that anyone who has less should strive to fend for themselves, as did the article's author, but instead should resent those who succeed and demand their support, particularly through increased taxes.
But, perhaps, it's all a matter of perspective as far as the author's concerned and maybe he's assuming everyone works as hard as he does to make a success of themselves. And because he accepts hard work and dedication as givens in all of us, maybe he doesn't realize that many people don't even try at all to succeed and gladly take all they can from those who do. And the one's who do the very least and take the very most all seem to be politicians, especially the one at the top of the heap.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
BloggeRhythms 11/29/2011
Read an article on Fox News this morning highlighting many quips, comments and retorts Barney Frank made over the years. According to the author, Chad Pergram, Frank's intelligence and facile wit helped separate him from his colleagues, making him a unique character among them and his image was such that he needed only one name: Barney. Yet, everyone knew who he was.
To prove his point the author's first illustration of Frank's glibness came at a hostile town hall meeting about health care reform in August, 2009. A woman in the audience held up a picture of President Obama depicted as Adolph Hitler, and challenged Frank by asking, "Why do you continue to support a Nazi policy as Obama has expressly supported?"
Frank responded "in kind" according to the author by asking, "On what planet do you spend most of your time?" His response drew both cheers and jeers from the audience, and then he went on: "Trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table!"
Now from my perspective, after reading the exchange, the article's author may think Frank's glib or clever, or perhaps quite amusing, but to me he's a political hack dodging a question from a citizen with an opposing opinion. And I believe it's also much of the story of Frank's political life. He, and many others like him, take iron clad positions on any number of issues and then cut off discussion once their minds made up.
As for me, I have no problem with politicos lining up on any side of an issue they choose, and really don't care about their opinions because I have my own. But, I don't believe disrespecting or insulting dissenters is particularly clever, in fact it's what third graders do in school yards. However, most of those kids eventually grow up.
So I guess we're back to the same old situation where a guy in Congress who has a tenth of a brain is light years smarter than the rest of the members. And the article I highlighted today just provides further confirmation that the vast majority of those holding office (and those who report on them) are dumber than stones.
That's it for today folks.Adios
To prove his point the author's first illustration of Frank's glibness came at a hostile town hall meeting about health care reform in August, 2009. A woman in the audience held up a picture of President Obama depicted as Adolph Hitler, and challenged Frank by asking, "Why do you continue to support a Nazi policy as Obama has expressly supported?"
Frank responded "in kind" according to the author by asking, "On what planet do you spend most of your time?" His response drew both cheers and jeers from the audience, and then he went on: "Trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table!"
Now from my perspective, after reading the exchange, the article's author may think Frank's glib or clever, or perhaps quite amusing, but to me he's a political hack dodging a question from a citizen with an opposing opinion. And I believe it's also much of the story of Frank's political life. He, and many others like him, take iron clad positions on any number of issues and then cut off discussion once their minds made up.
As for me, I have no problem with politicos lining up on any side of an issue they choose, and really don't care about their opinions because I have my own. But, I don't believe disrespecting or insulting dissenters is particularly clever, in fact it's what third graders do in school yards. However, most of those kids eventually grow up.
So I guess we're back to the same old situation where a guy in Congress who has a tenth of a brain is light years smarter than the rest of the members. And the article I highlighted today just provides further confirmation that the vast majority of those holding office (and those who report on them) are dumber than stones.
That's it for today folks.Adios
Monday, November 28, 2011
BloggeRhythms 11/28/2011
Gee Whiz! Today, Barney Frank who's been in Congress since 1980, said today he's not running for re-election in 2012. His reason is "redistricting has made it too strenuous to continue to campaign."
So, maybe he's the first in what hopefully be a long line of others who see the handwriting on the wall, and rather than lose in a landslide next year, bow out gracefully now. I'd list some of the legislation he's responsible for that's causing our economy to tank, but there's not enough room in this blog to even start typing out the horror show he's either directly or with others created.
But he's another intellectual elitist with a first class educational pedigree who knows what's best for businesspeole and the economy although he's never really had a real job in his life. In fact, if you let he and Dodd alone together long enough regarding financial legislation,the U.S would soon be the largest non-functional parking lot in the world.
So, obviously, I'm not saddened by his coming departure next year but would feel even better if he gave us all a holiday gift and simply left office tomorrow.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
So, maybe he's the first in what hopefully be a long line of others who see the handwriting on the wall, and rather than lose in a landslide next year, bow out gracefully now. I'd list some of the legislation he's responsible for that's causing our economy to tank, but there's not enough room in this blog to even start typing out the horror show he's either directly or with others created.
But he's another intellectual elitist with a first class educational pedigree who knows what's best for businesspeole and the economy although he's never really had a real job in his life. In fact, if you let he and Dodd alone together long enough regarding financial legislation,the U.S would soon be the largest non-functional parking lot in the world.
So, obviously, I'm not saddened by his coming departure next year but would feel even better if he gave us all a holiday gift and simply left office tomorrow.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
Sunday, November 27, 2011
BloggeRhythms 11/27/2011
Still nothing much in the news, but I caught a few minutes of Ed Wallace's show on Fox. And he must read this blog too, because the subect his panel of experts was discussing was the Gingrich/Bachmann flap over illegal immigration.
Kristol said, however the debate winds up, he doubts millions of illegals will ever be deported because they've built lives here, have homes, familys, etc. since they've arrived, which is pretty much in line with the amnesty Gingrich wants to give them.
What interested me though, was not so much the illegals themselves, because I'm sure there are plenty of upstanding folks in their ranks just like any other group in society. But my focus is on the law. Because either we have laws or we don't, and either people obey them at will or not. But, if diobedienece is alright in this case, why not in any other way you can think of?
So, I don't think illegals should be deported because of who the folks are, I think anyone who breaks laws should be subject to whatever consequences are involved. And if that's not the case, but instead people can choose which laws they want to obey, tomorrow I'm parking my car on the sidewalk because it's closer to the front of my favorite store.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
Kristol said, however the debate winds up, he doubts millions of illegals will ever be deported because they've built lives here, have homes, familys, etc. since they've arrived, which is pretty much in line with the amnesty Gingrich wants to give them.
What interested me though, was not so much the illegals themselves, because I'm sure there are plenty of upstanding folks in their ranks just like any other group in society. But my focus is on the law. Because either we have laws or we don't, and either people obey them at will or not. But, if diobedienece is alright in this case, why not in any other way you can think of?
So, I don't think illegals should be deported because of who the folks are, I think anyone who breaks laws should be subject to whatever consequences are involved. And if that's not the case, but instead people can choose which laws they want to obey, tomorrow I'm parking my car on the sidewalk because it's closer to the front of my favorite store.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
Saturday, November 26, 2011
BloggeRhythms 11/26/2011
I think it's pretty amazing that when the holidays arrive, it seems that either nothing important happens anywhere, or nobody cares because they've all got better things to do.
And as I type this, an idea occurred to me. Why not have more holidays declared, perhaps once or twice a week. That way folks would be otherwise occupied, leave each other alone, and the world would be better for it. Simply having Congress shut down makes life far simpler and worthwhile.
But since there's not much going on, I really had to scrounge around to find something to blog about. And what I found isn't really important, but does confirm one of my earlier entry's this week in which I said now that Gingrich's topping some polls I didn't think it would be long before competitors began digging up his less than stellar past.
And just today, Michelle Bachmann stood by her claim that he supports "amnesty" for illegal immigrants, digging up a letter the former House speaker signed nearly eight years ago, after he said she was "misrepresenting."
Gingrich, who said at a Republican presidential primary debate that the U.S. should afford some illegal immigrants a pathway to legal status, has now "clarified" that he only wants to open that door for some illegal immigrants who have been in the country 25 years or more.
In an interview with Fox News, Bachmann cited a 2004 letter Gingrich co-authored supporting then-President George W. Bush's immigration plan. The letter applauded Bush's proposed guest-worker program, while endorsing "paths to permanent residence to enable more workers to stay, assimilate, and become part of America." The letter, published in The Wall Street Journal, praised Bush for recognizing that "those already working here outside the law are unlikely to leave."
Now, I really haven't much interest in what either Bachmann or Gingrich have to say about anything, ever. And frankly, I doubt either either one will win any kind of nomination. My only point in the matter is that the situation is evidence of my original thought, that sooner or later Gingrich's history will be exposed and broadcast, and he'll be shown as the two-bit phony loudmouth political hack he is.
In the meantime though, he'll get another fifteen minutes and Bachmann will keep milking hers. And as for me I'll just sit here waiting for something important to happen somewhere else because neither of today's subjects are worth the keystrokes.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
And as I type this, an idea occurred to me. Why not have more holidays declared, perhaps once or twice a week. That way folks would be otherwise occupied, leave each other alone, and the world would be better for it. Simply having Congress shut down makes life far simpler and worthwhile.
But since there's not much going on, I really had to scrounge around to find something to blog about. And what I found isn't really important, but does confirm one of my earlier entry's this week in which I said now that Gingrich's topping some polls I didn't think it would be long before competitors began digging up his less than stellar past.
And just today, Michelle Bachmann stood by her claim that he supports "amnesty" for illegal immigrants, digging up a letter the former House speaker signed nearly eight years ago, after he said she was "misrepresenting."
Gingrich, who said at a Republican presidential primary debate that the U.S. should afford some illegal immigrants a pathway to legal status, has now "clarified" that he only wants to open that door for some illegal immigrants who have been in the country 25 years or more.
In an interview with Fox News, Bachmann cited a 2004 letter Gingrich co-authored supporting then-President George W. Bush's immigration plan. The letter applauded Bush's proposed guest-worker program, while endorsing "paths to permanent residence to enable more workers to stay, assimilate, and become part of America." The letter, published in The Wall Street Journal, praised Bush for recognizing that "those already working here outside the law are unlikely to leave."
Now, I really haven't much interest in what either Bachmann or Gingrich have to say about anything, ever. And frankly, I doubt either either one will win any kind of nomination. My only point in the matter is that the situation is evidence of my original thought, that sooner or later Gingrich's history will be exposed and broadcast, and he'll be shown as the two-bit phony loudmouth political hack he is.
In the meantime though, he'll get another fifteen minutes and Bachmann will keep milking hers. And as for me I'll just sit here waiting for something important to happen somewhere else because neither of today's subjects are worth the keystrokes.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
Friday, November 25, 2011
BloggeRhythms 11/25/2011
I haven't come across the reason yet, but apparently there was some kind of glitch in the protesters plan to block folks from entering major retailer's stores today.
According to Fox News, by early afternoon on Black Friday some retailers are already calling this year one of the best in recent history. Some 152 million shoppers are expected to visit stores seemingly unfazed by the slumped economy.
Additionally, unless I missed it, the protesters had no plan to disrupt on-line sales which are expected to produce another promising season this year, up 39% from last year. Mobile traffic, the number of consumers using a mobile device to visit a retailer’s site, reached a high of 15.2%, up 6.45% year-over-year, while the number of people mobile shopping grew to 11.09%, almost triple from 2010.
IBM said, “Thanksgiving 2011 proved to be a banner shopping day for online retailers.”
So I guess the protesters don't have a lot of technology in their tents, or hand-held devices. And from what I've seen, most of their hand-held devices are signs containing considerable numbers of mis-spelled words and threats to various sectors of society. However, most of the folks that are in those sectors may have missed the admonitions coming from the Wall Street anti-everything squad because they were either out buying stuff from retailers in person, or downloading deals on the net.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
According to Fox News, by early afternoon on Black Friday some retailers are already calling this year one of the best in recent history. Some 152 million shoppers are expected to visit stores seemingly unfazed by the slumped economy.
Additionally, unless I missed it, the protesters had no plan to disrupt on-line sales which are expected to produce another promising season this year, up 39% from last year. Mobile traffic, the number of consumers using a mobile device to visit a retailer’s site, reached a high of 15.2%, up 6.45% year-over-year, while the number of people mobile shopping grew to 11.09%, almost triple from 2010.
IBM said, “Thanksgiving 2011 proved to be a banner shopping day for online retailers.”
So I guess the protesters don't have a lot of technology in their tents, or hand-held devices. And from what I've seen, most of their hand-held devices are signs containing considerable numbers of mis-spelled words and threats to various sectors of society. However, most of the folks that are in those sectors may have missed the admonitions coming from the Wall Street anti-everything squad because they were either out buying stuff from retailers in person, or downloading deals on the net.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
Thursday, November 24, 2011
BloggeRhythms 11/24/2011
To provide reassurance that those protesting on Wall Street are clueless as to how the U.S. economy works they now have a new campaign idea called "Occupy Black Friday."
According to Fox News, their objective is to enlist supporters to boycott just about every major retailer, and quite a few mid-sized ones, the day after Thanksgiving. They're urging folks to demonstrate against the top retail stores,including everything from Wal-Mart to Target to Dick's Sporting Goods and Dollar Tree.
The protesters say "The idea is simple, hit the corporations that corrupt and control American politics where it hurts, their profits," and state that Black Friday is the "one day where the mega-corporations blatantly dictate our actions."
So, if I understand their position, protesters are saying that major retailers have somehow gained control over the minds of the public and are forcing us to line up at their stores whether we choose to or not. And if that's really true, I'm really impressed because I thought it was the price wars, special sales offers and huge selections of merchandise that brought most folks in. However, none of that seems to matter now, because that's not what does it...the answer's actually mass hypnotism.
Consequently, if I was a protester and had nothing at all to do with my time, I'd do some really intensive research and find out how all this mass hypnosis works. And then I'd apply it to get myself hired, whether an employer wanted me or not. And that way, I'd probably be still wasting time and taking up space, but at least I'd be making a couple of bucks.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
According to Fox News, their objective is to enlist supporters to boycott just about every major retailer, and quite a few mid-sized ones, the day after Thanksgiving. They're urging folks to demonstrate against the top retail stores,including everything from Wal-Mart to Target to Dick's Sporting Goods and Dollar Tree.
The protesters say "The idea is simple, hit the corporations that corrupt and control American politics where it hurts, their profits," and state that Black Friday is the "one day where the mega-corporations blatantly dictate our actions."
So, if I understand their position, protesters are saying that major retailers have somehow gained control over the minds of the public and are forcing us to line up at their stores whether we choose to or not. And if that's really true, I'm really impressed because I thought it was the price wars, special sales offers and huge selections of merchandise that brought most folks in. However, none of that seems to matter now, because that's not what does it...the answer's actually mass hypnotism.
Consequently, if I was a protester and had nothing at all to do with my time, I'd do some really intensive research and find out how all this mass hypnosis works. And then I'd apply it to get myself hired, whether an employer wanted me or not. And that way, I'd probably be still wasting time and taking up space, but at least I'd be making a couple of bucks.
That's it for today folks.
Adios
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