Stop The Madness

Well, sorry I have been away. I’ve got a good excuse. I got a job. To make it short, I love it here. I am amazed every day how exceptionally gifted the people I work with are. But that is another story.

I haven’t written much since before the election and have been remiss in commenting on the changing landscape of things. These are trying times and very heady times for everyone involved.  However, I am going to let my absence go till after Thanksgiving and beginning Black Friday I will be back in force to comment on everything.

This is the time of year when everyone will need a dose of “Stop the Madness” as political correctness runs amok over the Christmas holiday.

In the mean time some quick hits -

1. Congratulations to the Democrats and Barrack Obama for soundly trouncing a very disorganized Republican party and candidate for President. John McCain lost this election the day the market went belly up. However, I have to say I am quietly impressed with some of the team members Obama is bringing in. Others, not so much.

2. For a media that up until Nov 4th was trying to crucify Sarah Palin, they seem to be stumbling overthemselves to get an interview with her and wondering about her fortunes and whether she was done a disservice by the RNC. The media never ceases to amaze me.

3. Absolutely stunned by the results for Prop 8 in CA. Why? Because it is CA, the most notoriously liberal state in the nation. If you told me North Carolina passed it - no shock there.  But this has to be said, whether you agree or disagree and regardless of the tactics, it was passed by majority vote. The time for whingeing about it is over.

4. As a Phillies fan I am still on a high that could last me at least 15 years. But here’s to hoping I don’t have to wait that long for the next Phillies World Series Banner.

5. Philadelphia is an awesome city. I have completly rediscovered it and while it isn’t NYC - who cares that’s precisely why I like it.

That’s it for now. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving. Back after the break!!!

SOCIALISM.

At a recent campaign stop a hardworking plumber asked this of Senator Barack Obama:

“Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn’t it?” the blue-collar worker asked.

After Obama responded that it would, the plumber went on continued: “I’ve worked hard . . . I work 10 to 12 hours a day and I’m buying this company and I’m going to continue working that way. I’m getting taxed more and more while fulfilling the American Dream.”

It’s not that I want to punish your success,” Obama told him. “I want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they’ve got a chance for success, too.

Then, Obama explained his trickle-up theory of economics.

“My attitude is that if the economy’s good for folks from the bottom up, it’s gonna be good for everybody. I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.”

The conversation can be seen in this video:

Thank you to the New York Post for the article - which can be read here: OBAMA FIRES A ‘ROBIN HOOD’ WARNING SHOT

So I guess what Obama is saying and by extension the Democratic party - hey work hard so someone else doesn’t have to. Some one needs to tell me whatever happened to work hard ethics of the immigrants who came to this country and made something for themselves and their families? According to the Democrats that isn’t the way they roll. I’m telling ya folks we are on a slow ride to the end of the United States as we know it if this all goes as the Dems plan.

Seems the Democrats aren’t spared from SNL skits. Thanks to the guys from My Pet Jawa for this clip.

I am in the advertising industry. Specifically, I am in the account management side of the business. We’re the ones who interface with the client on a day-to-day basis and in the past we were the key drivers of strategic development.

Today not so much. Ring master better suits what most account management professionals do. Because we have to handle the complex relationships of our clients, internal stake holders and outside vendors.

It really is a thankless job and in this day and age it is getting harder to find, talented and skillfull people to do this job.

My friends over at AgencySpy posted this great piece from the Ad Contrarian that finally gives props to this agency workhorse. What they finally say is, what I think alot of account management folk have known all along - this job ain’t easy.

So here’s what I want to know - why are companies to blame for individuals who got into bad debt situations? Here’s the thing, I am in the middle of a layoff. Things are tight. But I pay my bills including my mortgage on time. My savings is dwindling and there are some anxious moments but the bills are getting paid. Why? My wife and I have tried to keep our debt in the manageable range. Meaning? We knew what we could or couldn’t afford. We could’ve gone out and bought a $650K McMansion but we knew that the payments would be out of our reach.

I get it that the financial sector is complicit too, but why should individuals get off the hook? Barack says they were tricked into getting this mortgages? That is baloney. Barack needs Wall Street and the financial sector to be his bad guy. Unfortunately, the far left everyone is to blame except those who are really to blame. There is no accountability- at all.

Additionally, why is noone scolding the home builders for not making anything that falls into the affordable range? Aren’t they as much to blame as the mortgage companies who supplied the mortgages? Can’t have the mortgages if there isn’t inventory to match against it. Why of course the builders aren’t to blame. They are chock full of blue collar, union workers - a key constituency for the Democrats.

Let’s also call a spade a spade while we are ranting about the $700 Billion handout that went down in flames yesterday. While I am for a bailout or handup - I am not for one that doesn’t a.) reform the institutions that got us into this mess and b.) doesn’t have some sort of oversight and accountability. Those were two components that were missing from the bill. Let’s go you want my support make sure the appropriate checks and balances are in place to keep this from happening.

Also a note to the Democratic controlled House of Represenatives - you are the majority. If this was a bill you really wanted to pass, why then oh why, didn’t you whip the votes together. Could it be that you wanted to hang an unpopular bill on the Republican party? Heck, Barney Fife err, Frank (excuse me) couldn’t even get 12 of his own committeemen and women to vote for it.

The Democratic railed against politics being infused into the bill development and debate but from every look, it seems they are the ones doing it.

Finally, under the headline of Stupidest Comment of the Week - I give you Michael Moore.

Falling for whom? NOTHING in this “bailout” package will lower the price of the gas you have to put in your car to get to work. NOTHING in this bill will protect you from losing your home. NOTHING in this bill will give you health insurance.

It has everything to do with it. This so-called “collapse” was triggered by the massive defaulting and foreclosures going on with people’s home mortgages. Do you know why so many Americans are losing their homes? To hear the Republicans describe it, it’s because too many working class idiots were given mortgages that they really couldn’t afford. Here’s the truth: The number one cause of people declaring bankruptcy is because of medical bills. Let me state this simply: If we had had universal health coverage, this mortgage “crisis” may never have happened. ” (Read his full blog here).

I got nothing for that. It just goes to show you how assinine this blowhard is. It also shows you how uniformed and full of himself he is. People, I cannot make this up, he really is that stupid.

Let the debates begin. Is anyone else excited by this? Finally, it’s put up or shut up time.

I have been in some conversations where people think McCain has to hit a home run with this. I think differently. Remember, we all know this is McCain’s bailiwick. It is Barack Obama who has to prove he has the credentials and knowledge to lead this nation on foreign policy issues.

I personally think that all the impetus lies in Barack’s camp to tell the American public what he is about. A failure to do so, could result in Americans voting whom they know the most about about - John McCain. Additionally, Barack needs to deliver on his theme of change no more can he just talk about it - he has to delivery concrete ideas on what change means to him, to us and to our futures. Again, a failure to articulate this could result in a huge swing of undecideds to McCain.

Finally, I think the first debate plays into the R’s hands because it is on we all remember. Many of the first debates are the most memorable. Watch for Barack to get McCain agitated and watch for McCain to position himself as the elder statesman - presidential and not wanting to be baited by Obama.

Update: 09:20 PM - McCain hit a point I love - we are the highest corporate tax in the world. If we cut their taxes they will be more inclined to keep themselves in the US rather than seeking out lower taxes in other countries. Nice point. One I’ve hoped SOMEONE would say.

Say what you will about Alan Greenspan but in 2005 the former Fed Chair said this:

If Fannie and Freddie “continue to grow, continue to have the low capital that they have, continue to engage in the dynamic hedging of their portfolios, which they need to do for interest rate risk aversion, they potentially create ever-growing potential systemic risk down the road,” he said. “We are placing the total financial system of the future at a substantial risk.”

On Bloomberg today there is an interesting article that describes how partisan politics can be traced back to the failure of Freddie and Fannie Mac and the aftermath of their failure. Seems that this all could have been averted had the Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee approved to bring S.190 to the floor. Sens Hagel, Sununu and Dole (wht McCain as a co-sponsor) introduced the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005 to provide bank like regulation over the mortgage institutions. (full text can be read here)

Bloomberg goes onto state and I agree that the reason for Democratic politics - Senators Obama, Dodd and Clinton received huge campaign contributions from the two organizations. Seantor Obama was second behind Dodd receiving $125,000. In addition to that Senator Obama continues to seek advice from Franklin Raines the former CEO of Fannie. The same Fannie who was embroiled in an accounting mess that could’ve rivaled Enron.

The writing was on the cards for us all to see and the taxpayers are nowing being placed into a position to bail out the banking industry because Democrats played politics with a reform bill.

You can read the full Bloomberg article here: How the Democrats Created the Financial Crisis: Kevin Hassett

Get ready taxpayers of America - we are going to get a nasty little pinch. When the government’s plan to rescue our financial system is approved those of us who bear the tax burden in this country are going to get left with a nasty red mark on our asses.

Additionally, it seems the Democrats want the taxpayers to bailout those people who are having trouble paying for their mortgages or now in foreclosure hell. Not so fast.

While I like everyone else want to see speculators drawn and quartered, the rescue of the financial markets is paramount to this country not seeing is monetary system fail. Rescuing those who willingly got into a situation that shouldn’t have - not so much.

While mortgage companies that offered Balloon, ARMs, JUMBO and no doc mortgages are partially blame should someone who didn’t have the money to pay for a $600,000 home be to blame as well? Let me make it plainer, I was laid off, it is eating through my savings - but I am paying for my mortgage and am nervous that if I don’t have a job before it runs out, that I won’t. Will the government bail me out?

While saving the finaincial system was needed, why do we need to save those who bit off more than they chewed?

Okay, I love movies. Actually, belay that I really love movies. But I am begining to think that the actors and actresses in the movies I so like are really that vapid and vacuous.

I have to say I am all for anyone, I mean anyone voting. And honestly, I don’t give a rat’s ass who it is you vote for. We all have our reasons. But when celebrities come out with some of the comments they make about political people it absolutely goes to show they really are that stupid.

First let’s examine Whoppi Goldberg’s bating tactics on the View last week:

John McCain does a very good job of explaining his view on having jurists who interpret the constitution as it was meant to be interpreted and not legislate from the bench. Whoopi thinking she is going to get one over on the Senator, asks about Slavery returning. Really Whoopi that is the best you could come up with in regards to that question? I’ve watched the View (while waiting in my Doctor’s office of course) and you don’t strike me as being really that stupid - but that question is about as stupid and assinine as they get. Thankfully you had Barbara there to save your hide. Second thing to point out is this - a jurist who interprets the constitution correctly in their rulings will know - at least I think so - that the thirteenth amendment abolished slavery. Come on Whoopi.

Now let’s take society’s newest lesbian and gay rights activist Lindsay Lohan. First let me say I am glad Lindsay came out. Or has she? Who knows? The crater in Journey to the Centre of the Earth wasn’t as deep as her empty head. This is one girl who shouldn’t speak ever.

Her statements show her how really out of tune she is with the presidential race and the candidates. I simply love this one:

“Is our country so divided that the Republicans’ best hope is a narrow-minded, media-obsessed homophobe?” she added.

Um first let me say, I have yet to see any statement from Sarah Palin denouncing gays or lesbians. Is it a crime that someone believes in the core tenants of their faith? To Sarah Palin and many other christians, marriage or sexual relations for that matter are to be between a man and a woman. Is there anything wrong with Sarah’s religious beliefs? Last I checked, it is still the main stream of thought in the Roman Catholic Church and most protestant denominations - oh hell - a majority of americans still believe it. I have not read anything from Sarah Palin that she has used the bully pulpit of politics to denounce homosexuality. I have only read that her religion tells her it is this way?

For someone being as “open minded” as LiLo she sure has it in for a Christian. Secondly, should the little media monger Lindsay really be calling her media-obssessed? Last I checked it was the media who were all over the Sarah Palin story, not the other way around. Come on LiLo get it right or better yet - Just Shut Up.

She sums up her stupidity with this:

“Oh, and… Hint Hint Pali Pal - Don’t pose for anymore tabloid covers, you’re not a celebrity, you’re running for office to represent our, your, my COUNTRY!” she added.

Because as we all know only celebrity’s like LiLo deserve to be on tabloid covers.

There are many more Celebs out there that have used their position in society in order to be a bullhorn. But can we all agree that nine times out of ten they should just shut up? They show themselves to be horribly misinformed, uneducated and extremly biased. There are those like George Clooney and Bono who make sense when they speak that know how to engage in an open dialogue and know its not about trashing someone because their views or ideas differ from yours - but its about how we discuss and work through the differences that make sense.

Just because you are a celebrity doesn’t mean we want to hear from you. We’d just as soon let you live your lives quietly so we could do the same and not have to look at idiots and say - they are that stupid. Stupidty sunk the Dixie Chicks people. Don’t hear them about anymore.

Americans are middle of the road, hard working people. They read about Celebs because it is an escape. However, with all their issues and carrying on - it is very hard for anyone to identify with them and emulate them. Celebrities would best be served if they remembered where they came from, act humble to the people who got them there through their support of their assinine movies (has LiLo EVER done a good one?)

In closing regardless of political affliations, I think celebrities should just shut up. I am still waiting for Susan Sarandon to poney up to her threat and leave the country if George Bush beat John Kerry. Come on Sue we’re waiting!