Dominant Reality

Obama, Libya and White House Communications

2011-03-23T19:31:00.002-06:00

I supported the war in Afghanistan when we began it soon after the attacks on our country by Al Queda September 11, 2001.I believe that our country was justified in taking action to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya to protect the people of Libya.

Problem is that in the real world of politics, even the brightest among us seem to not be able to understand intentionally or just because they can't the differentiate between the President declaring it is the policy of this Nation that we want Colonel Qaddafi removed from power and the actions taken to enforce a no-fly zone. While the distinction seems fairly self-evident to me, even Keith Olbermann has expressed confusion.

But this brings me back to a subject that I am continually frustrated with since Barack Obama was elected President. There is a portion of the Democratic Party that seems hell bent on being pissed off at him. Often it seems clear to me they are just as disingenuous about the facts as the Republican Party in their efforts to attack him. Is it really that hard to understand the difference between attacks on a country in which we are targeting people and attacks in which we are targeting air defense munitions? Or, do they really not understand that it can be the policy of the country that we want Qaddafi removed without the actions to enforce the no-fly zone having the goal of removal?

For me to believe they truly don't understand these points calls me to doubt the collective intelligence of the far left of this country. While these are fine points for citizens who are otherwise distracted by their daily lives, that doesn't seem to be an adequate excuse for the so-called "professional left."

Since I don't doubt the intelligence of the left, I am left believing it is simply cynical politics from them as they wage political war for the hearts and minds of American citizens. That I'm afraid isn't a much better excuse than ignorance.

At the same time, the White House has to continually be engaged in public relations. Over the last 4-5 days they have made it far too easy for demagogues on the left and right to make it sound like the White House doesn't have a plan here.

I'm totally in support of the actual plan. And, the doctrine seems fairly obvious to me. When a dictatorial leader of a country is killing its citizens randomly and we can get the support of the United Nations to take actions militarily that will protect the citizens threatened by that dictator, and we can do so relatively safely, then we will indeed take such action. This is what happened in Libya. It did not happen in Egypt. And, it did not happen in Bahrain. Given that we cannot afford to unilaterally be the world's policeman this makes sense.

I don't know why this doctrine is hard for pundits on the left and right to discern from the actions of the Obama Administration but apparently these folks need President Obama to draw them a picture. And, since it is my belief that is incumbent upon a President to communicate his message on issues such a war and peace as clear as day, it has been a mistake for the President not to draw the picture.

It is apparently not enough that the Arab League supports the action, that those fighting the Qaddafi regime seem genuinely thankful for the actions we have taken, and not even that it is pretty clear our intervention prevented significant slaughter of citizens in Benghazi. President Obama needs to draw the picture not only for those to slow to figure out some rather obvious distinctions but so that those who clearly want him to fail on both the left and right cannot play on the minds of those who don't have the time or passion to know better.

Yellow Triangle - Christy Moore [8/23[

2011-03-09T23:37:00.000-07:00

This is posted tonight for our country. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!

YELLOW TRIANGLE
by Christy Moore
(Inspired by a famous statement by Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power and the purging of their chosen targets, group after group)

The black triangle
The pink triangle
The green triangle
The red triangle
The blue triangle
The black triangle

And they wore the yellow triangle

When first they came for the criminals I did not speak
Then they began to take the jews
When they fetched the people who were member s of trades unions
I did not speak

Then they took the bible students
Round they took the homosexuals
Then they gathered up the students and the gypsies

I did not speak
I did not speak

Eventually they came for me there was no one left to speak

The black triangle
The pink triangle
The green triangle
The red triangle
The blue triangle
The black triangle

And they wore the yellow triangle
And they wore the yellow triangle
And they wore the yellow triangle
And they wore the yellow triangle

And the winner is...

2011-02-27T10:16:00.002-07:00

Well, certainly this blog isn't going to be winning any awards soon. My renewed pledge to blog more has not gone well. I've been fairly busy but I think I need to figure out how to blog from my phone. But, enough of that. Today, is the Academy Awards and I am ready for the show.

Unlike previous years, my wife and I have actually seen a good number of the movies nominated for awards. For example, we have seen 5 of the 10 movies nominated for best picture, including: The Fighter, The Kids Are All Right, The King's Speech, The Social Network, and Winter's Bone.

I want to separate my predictions from my feelings. For each of the big categories, I will give my own personal feelings and then make a prediction.

My favorite movie of the 5 best picture nominees that I saw this year is The Social Network. I actually really liked all 5 of the nominees that I watched. But, I am a sucker for Aaron Sorkin's writing and dramatic style. The Social Network was simply terrific. My guess from the press around this is that The King's Speech will win.

I actually think the supporting actor/actress categories are more interesting this year than the leading category. Looking at the nominees it appears to me that the line is getting awfully thin between leading and supporting work in a movie. I will start with the Leading category. It's clear that Colin Firth is going to win the Leading Actor award. The only other performance I saw this year was that of Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network. Frankly, Eisenberg was so good that I think most of the country thinks he is Mark Zuckerberg. But, Colin Firth was magical in his portrayal of King George VI. He gets the nod for preference and prediction.

I strongly feel the best performance by a woman in a leading role this year was that of Julianne Moore in The Kids Are All Right. Of course, she's not nominated... her co-star, Annette Bening is. Jennifer Lawrence was awfully good in the Winter's Bone but while I really enjoyed that movie I wasn't overwhelmed by Ms. Lawrence's performance. She was good, I'm just not sure it was a tough enough role to get the win. I'm thus giving it to Annette Bening as my preference. I did not see Natalie Portman's performance in Black Swan. I don't have any interest in seeing the movie. I'm going to guess that Annette Bening wins the award.

I did see 4 of the 5 performances which garnered Supporting Actor nominees. All 4 of them were just absolutely terrific. I'm picking Christian Bale. I frankly don't know how you can call his character a supporting character in The Fighter movie. Afterwards, my wife asked me so who was the movie about Dicky or Micky. It seems to me it was about Micky, the character played by Mark Wahlberg but this was a movie dominated by Christian Bale's character. He should have been nominated for best actor. Honestly, I wouldn't be unhappy if John Hawkes was given the award as well. He too was terrific. His role in Winter's Bone though was not nearly as substantial as Christian Bale's in The Fighter. My prediction: I'm going to guess that the Academy gives the award to Geoffrey Rush. He is a great actor and he did a magnificent job in The King's Speech. His role like that of Christian Bale's was hardly just a supporting role. And, I must give a shout out to Mark Ruffalo who did an excellent job in The Kids Are All Right.

That leaves, Supporting Actress. I saw 3 of these 5 nominees. Two of them were in The Fighter and the other is Helena Bonham Carter from The King's Speech. I really liked Helena Bonham Carter's character but I just can't compare her work in the movie to that put in by Amy Adams and Melissa Leo in The Fighter. I'd be happy to see either Amy Adams or Melissa Leo win. I'm going to root for Melissa Leo because the role was so different from what I've seen her do before. She was also a star in Treme which gives her some bonus props from me. I actually am clueless about who will win this one. I will predict Helena Bonham Carter.

I'll be interested to see who wins the writing categories. There are some wonderfully written, intelligent movies nominated. Adapted screenplay seems like a tough battle between Aaron Sorkin and the folks that wrote Winter's Bone. The original screenplay category has The Fighter, The Kids Are All Right, and The King's Speech. It seems like The King's Speech will win given the accolades but I would be thrilled to see The Kids Are All Right win.

My predictions have The King's Speech just about running the table. Somehow, that seems unlikely but it does seem like the sort of movie with the sort of performances and performers that the Academy tends to like.

We will see. It should be a good show made much more enjoyable because I've seen many of the movies.

Egypt: The World Watches

2011-01-29T15:17:00.005-07:00

I feel like I'm supposed to write something about the events we are watching in Egypt the last few days. I found it quite astonishing how slow the American media was to covering the upheaval. Seems Jon Stewart on the Daily Show and Rick Sanchez via his twitter account seemed to be the only ones actually covering what has come to be known as #Jan25. Suddenly, on Friday it finally became all Egypt, all the time on CNN and MSNBC.

It is fairly fascinating television and at least in visuals reminds me of the Tiananmen Square protests from 1989. It appears to be similar on some levels to the Tiananmen Square protests in that these seem to also being led by young people who are pretty pissed off about the state of affairs in their country. Honestly, I know very little about how the people of Egypt live, but CNN tells me these young people are pissed off because even though many of them are well-educated they have very little prospect for jobs. Combine this economic frustration with limiting their ability to speak freely on the internet and you have a powder keg.

From an American perspective politically this is a very delicate situation. While I'm sure many could give me details of Mubarak mistreatment of the people over the last 30 years, he has played an immensely important role to the United States in that region. I can't help but worry about who would replace Mubarak in a real democratic election. Shouldn't it concern us that the people of Egypt may not only elect someone who isn't as friendly with the United States but could also be even more restrictive on the people of Egypt who happen to be women or non-Muslim believers? Some suggest the Muslim Brotherhood may not be as bad an option as many in this country would expect. Many have expressed concerns that the Muslim Brotherhood does not include women in its leadership.

Admittedly, I speak from a great deal of ignorance here. But, it is my hope that smart people are advising are very smart President on this thing. While it is my instinct to be supportive of the people in the streets I have to say I'm not sure we as a country would be very helpful to their cause if we appeared to be totally supportive. This is a struggle that needs to be resolved by the people of Egypt. The most we can do as a nation is strongly encourage restraint by the government in how it deals with the protests.

If you're not happy with the coverage on CNN, you can watch Al Jazeera in English here. I encourage those of you on twitter to follow SA Cosgrove and Sharif Kouddous.

I must say that it is quite amazing to see people take to the streets to claim their freedom.

Olbermann signs off with Thurber -- The Scotty Who Knew Too Much.

2011-01-22T07:42:00.002-07:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

You can read Thurber yourself here.

Friday Poetry

2011-01-21T22:08:00.002-07:00

I came home tonight late from work having negotiated a very difficult settlement for a client of mine. As settlements go, it was bittersweet... enough money that I recommended my client accept the offer but not nearly what she deserved or what she needed.

Soon after walking in the door to my home, my proud wife told asked me if I had heard the news. I told her the obvious... 10 hour settlement conference no outside news had reached me. She then let me know that Keith Olbermann had announced that tonight was his last show on MSNBC.

It's no secret that Keith wears his heart on his sleeve and in recent months his criticism of our President has often irritated the crap out of me. But, here's the deal... in my lifetime no single human being has had a more positive impact on how the news is delivered to this country than Keith Olbermann. While a ridiculous wealthy man by the name of Rupert Murdoch has been able to corrupt the delivery of television and newspaper news in this country in a way that nearly irreparably harmed everything that this country was founded upon, one man stood up and said no. He said no in a way that captured the hearts and minds of a huge portion of our country.

My conservative friends are strutting around tonight likely branding Keith Olbermann a pariah they are glad to be done with. And, my response is oh, if only you were so lucky. I do not have to wait for word from Keith himself that he will eventually be back bigger than ever and now likely with an event more strident and devoted following. But, here's the deal. At a time when our media had folded up it's tent and totally sold out on its responsibility to report the truth to the America regarding things like the Iraq war, the Patriot Act, Habeas Corpus, and other horrific political garbage that the Bush administration cast upon all of us. Quite literally, one man stood up and called "BULLSHIT!" He did it nightly and he did it even when his bosses wanted him to stop.

As a result, he quite literally created a following so large that MSNBC has become the answer to the absolute garbage being cast upon this country by Fox News and everything else owned by Rupert Murdoch. Someone this good will not just go away. When I discover where he returns to and how, I will be there listening and so will millions of other Americans who care so deeply about who we are as a nation.

Today, in honor of Keith Olbermann I am glad I am late to posting my Friday Poetry. For his father, for him... it has to be James Thurber. Somehow this one even fits the mood.

The Last Flower - Cycle of Civilization

World War XII, as everyone knows, brought about the collapse of civilization. Towns cities, and villages disappeared. All the groves and forest were destroyed, and all the gardens, and all the works of art. Men, women, and children became lower than the animals. Discouraged and disillusioned, dogs deserted their fallen masters. Books Paintings, and music disappeared from the earth, and human beings just sat around doing nothing. Years and years went by. Even the few generals who were left forgot what the last war had decided. Boys and girls grew up to stare at each other blankly. Love had passed from earth.

One day, a young girl who had never seen a flower chanced to come upon the last one in the world. She told the other human beings that the last flower was dying. The only one who paid attention to her was a young man. Together, the young man and the girl nurtured the flower and it began to live again. One day, a bee visited the flower, and a humming bird. Before long, there were two flowers, and then a great many. Groves and forests flourished again. The young girl began to take interest in how she looked. The young man discovered that touching the girl was pleasurable. Love was reborn into the world.

The children of the young man and the girl grew up strong and healthy. They learned to run and laugh. Dogs came out of their exile. The young man discovered how to build a shelter. Pretty soon everybody was building shelters. Towns, cities, and villages sprung up. Song came back into the world, and troubadours and jugglers, tailors and cobblers, painters and poets, and sculptors, and soldiers and Lieutenants and Captains, and Generals and Major-Generals, and liberators. Some people went to one place to live, and some to another. Before long, those who went to live in the valleys wished they had gone to live in the hills. And those who had to live in the hills wished they had gone down to live in valleys. The liberators, under the guidance of God, set fire to the discontented. So presently, the world was at war again. This time, the destruction was so complete that nothing at all was left in the world, except one man, one woman, and a flower.

This week's Friday Poetry is hosted by Tara at A Teaching Life.

Football Friday

2011-01-21T08:22:00.002-07:00

I'll post some poetry later, probably football related but for now I'm just pumped for this weekend's epic battle between the Bears and Packers. They tell me that the American Football Conference (whatever the tell that is) is also having it's championship game. That one appears to be Pittsburgh vs. New York Jets. I despise every sports team from New York so I'm not unbiased in this prediction but let's just say this Pittsburgh's defense is better than the Jets and Mark Sanchez isn't on the same planet as Ben Roethlisberger as a quarterback. Unless Pittsburgh's offensive line screws this up I suspect the Steelers will take that game by 7 points or more.

The Bears and Packers essentially invented the game of football. Technically, it was a Bear, one George Halas, who founded the National Football League. A tweet has been going around this week noting that the Bears and Packers are playing each other for the Halas Trophy, the winner gets to play for the Lombardi Trophy. Even this little tweet recognizes that for real football fans, the real championship game is the NFC game. No way something named after Lombardi could be considered more important than something named after George Halas.

Listening to the national media this week, one would wonder why the Bears will even bother to show up and play against the Packers this weekend on their own field off the shores of Lake Michigan. But, somehow I am reminded that the Bears beat the Packers in the only game that mattered for the Bears between the two of them this year and shut Rodgers and company down to 10 points on Lambeau field a mere 3 weeks ago in a game that meant nothing to the Bears. And, by the way, the Chicago Bears won the division that the Packers still inhabit.

Aaron Rodgers is good. But so far this year, the Bears defense has managed to hold him pretty damn well. It looks to me like the Bears defense is actually playing as well as it has all year. The big surprise to me is that Tommie Harris is suddenly playing like the young, healthy Tommie Harris. If Tommie keeps that up the Bears 4 man pass rush with Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije is the best in the league. And, oh by the way, we still have Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs playing linebacker. I don't see the Packers scoring 20 points in this game.

The Bears offense is the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL and given the way the line was backing up until the bye week, it's not hard to understand why. But, this line has found itself. The Packers defense is very good but they do not stop the run very well. In fact, last I checked they were 18th in the NFL in run defense. When the Bears are able to run the ball, they score points because defenses are then forced to back off the pass rush enough that Jay Cutler becomes a real threat.

Jay Cutler has a ridiculous arm. I expect at least one touchdown pass of more than 40 yards in this game. I expect Matt Forte to run for more than 100 yards. I see the Bears crossing that magic 20 point threshold.

Bears win this game 21-17. Lookout Dallas, here comes the President and his team!

Friday Poetry

2011-01-14T08:36:00.003-07:00

I was so moved by the Memorial Service held for the victims of last weekend's tragedy in Tucson, Arizona. As soon as I heard the poetry selection read at the ceremony, I new I'd be posting it today for Friday Poetry. I must thank Joshua Robbins for having posted the poem earlier this week. The poem was written by W.S. Merwin. W.S. Merwin is the seventeenth United States Poet Laureate. The poem can be found in a collection of poems by W.S. Merwin in Present Company.

To the New Year

With what stillness at last
you appear in the valley
your first sunlight reaching down
to touch the tips of a few
high leaves that do not stir
as though they had not noticed
and did not know you at all
then the voice of a dove calls
from far away in itself
to the hush of the morning

so this is the sound of you
here and now whether or not
anyone hears it this is
where we have come with our age
our knowledge such as it is
and our hopes such as they are
invisible before us
untouched and still possible

This week's roundup of Poetry Friday can be found with Laura Salas.

Weapons, words, and the impressionable youth

2011-01-08T16:57:00.004-07:00

Words matter and so does access to violent weapons. So much garbage gets said in our political discourse in recent years. Today, a few things ring very true.

(1) A young man had access to an extremely efficient, deadly automatic weapon that allowed him to kill and maim numerous people in seconds.

(2) That young man shot a congresswoman who was one of only 2 remaining elected officials still in Congress who had been literally put in the crosshairs by Sarah Palin.

(3) The citizens of Arizona all have the right to carry a concealed weapon and that fact made none of them safer and saved zero lives at the Safeway store in Tucson.

(4) The young man who was responsible for this senseless violence seems to have been a very unstable individual who believed our government was our greatest enemy -- where do you think he'd get that idea?

There is a message in here for all of us. The more we stoke the flames of hatred against each other with outrageous claims about each others motives the more this will happen. It was wrong and completely outrageous for people to compare George W. Bush to Hitler and/or suggest he and Dick Cheney may have had some role in 911. It is at least as morally reprehensible for people to carry around signs with Obama depicted in clown faces or with a Hitler mustache.

Politics has more and more become all about totally scaring the crap out of people. It doesn't take much imagination to see that when 30% of our population can be convinced that Barack Obama is an illegal immigrant, radical Muslim that we may end up with some young folks who find a reason to take up arms against their government.

Truth is no one needs access to the kinds of weapons this young man brought to the Safeway in Tucson today. And, the irresponsible language and discourse of our politics will cause young impressionable people to do outrageous, unspeakable things.

Friday Poetry

2011-01-07T13:02:00.002-07:00

When this blog was going great guns I tried to post poetry every Friday. Today, being my first Friday back on the blog I am doing it again. For years, people have been participating in a group Friday Poetry effort. This long pre-dates the now infamous Follower Friday that goes on with Twitter posters. And, technically, if you track my blog back to its beginning I believe I may have been amongst the first to make a weekly effort to post poetry on Friday.

So, today's poetry comes from another blog's recent posting. Thank you to The Best American Poetry for sharing this one with me. And, now I share it with you.

"In the Last Forty-Five Days" [by Stephanie Paterik]

I have shaken raw sugar packets
stolen wireless Internet
made love in the morning
measured vanilla extract
watched apple spice cake go brown around the edges

and you are still where I left you in the Arizona sun.

I have drawn flowers for your headstone
selected thank you cards with a white bird on the cover
wondered why we imagine the dead to be flying rodents
stared directly at the sun
curled my hair for a passport photo

and you are still where I left you.

I have sliced bananas for the Cheerios
started signing e-mails “Warm Regards”
gained five pounds
completed one thousand downward dogs
scrubbed my yoga mat and thanked the Buddha-beaded guru

and you are still.

I have met with a tall accountant
worn black wide-brimmed hats
dreamt of a riverboat on the south of France
bought local blueberries
framed a photograph of an orange blossom

and you.

-- October 2010

The Poetry Friday Roundup is at Live. Love. Explore! this week.

Freedom

2011-01-06T10:57:00.003-07:00

I thought I was done for the morning but this whole charade in the House of Representatives has me needing to vent. They are reading the Constitution supposedly because the Tea Party cares about freedom and personal liberty. Well, I've given up trying to figure out what the Tea Party cares about but I know what the Republican Party has stood for my entire life -- under the guise of protecting States' rights they repeatedly argue the Constitution never envisioned such a large role for the Federal government.

First of all, this is a crock of spit. The folks who wrote the Constitution we're as divided as we are on the role of the government and thus the Constitution itself was a series of political agreements which plainly left these decisions for future generations to debate as society progressed, as they knew it would. The Constitution was clearly intended to be a living document. No need to look any further then how they resolved the slavery issue. They took a pass on it and wrote in a rather obvious political agreement which made millions of Americans only 3/5 a person.

Second, the Republican Party wants to limit the role of the Federal government precisely so States can have more freedom to limit the personal freedoms of the citizens of this country. The Republican Party wants states to decide the the boundaries of civil liberties. The Republican Party doesn't want the Federal government protecting your rights over the objection of conservative (red) states. It's that simple.

That's not protecting freedom. That's limiting freedom. We have a Federal government set up as it is so that we all have a certain level playing field of rights no matter what state we happen to inhabit. Those rights protected by our Constitution make this the greatest nation on earth. The Republicans don't want to expand and protect those rights. They want to allow individual states' to dismantle those liberties.

Progress

2011-01-06T10:35:00.002-07:00

According to the rickety old scale in my bathroom, after 3 days of dieting today I weight 15 pounds less than I did on Monday morning. I have no idea how accurate the scale is but I assume its noteworthy that the number was 15 smaller than what it said on Monday morning. This dieting thing is a breeze.

On the political front, I was glad to hear the Obama Administration has officially named Bill Daley Chief of Staff to the President. Those on the left are unhappy because they think Mr. Daley is too business friendly and those on the right are unhappy because Mr. Daley comes from the Chicago machine. That means I think the pick is perfect. More and more, my bell weather is that the best Presidential decisions piss off both sides.

I'm also biased. The City of Chicago is the most organized, cleanest, best working big city I have ever spent time in. Thus, I am happy to have a member of the Daley family helping the President manage things in the Oval Office.

Meanwhile, I am very busy at work making the diet thing that much easier. I have a deposition this afternoon to prepare for so I am off.

The Mayor and I

2011-01-04T09:10:00.003-07:00

I am a big fan of Cory Booker, the current mayor of Newark, New Jersey. While Governor Christie was vacationing in Florida, Mayor Booker was shoveling snow and doing whatever else was necessary to get the streets of Newark safe for public travel again.

Today, I noticed that Mayor Booker is an Honorary Co-Vice Chair of the Partnership for a Healthier America as part of Michelle Obama's larger national campaign against obesity called Let's Move! As part of his involvement in that campaign, Mayor Booker has pledged to lose 40 pounds by April 27, 2011.

Booker writes:

On Christmas Day I weighed in at 295 lbs. It was the heaviest I have been in my life -- even when I played tight end at Stanford I was just 265 lbs., and 18 months ago in 2009 I was 230 lbs.

As I write this on January 4, 2011, I am down to 287 lbs. (and that was achieved by simply reviving a long-lost moderate exercise regime on my stationary bike, and by stopping my compulsive late night stress eating). I am making a public commitment today that by my birthday on April 27th I will be below 240 lbs. and still making progress towards my healthy goal weight of 230 lbs.

Those who read this blog will wonder how my weight loss has anything to do with my political beliefs. The truth is it is about living and being what I preach. While I am certain, Mayor Booker is in better shape than I, I start my weight loss campaign at 265 pounds. In this case, less is actually more. While Mayor Booker may only need to lose 40 pounds, I believe I need to ultimately lose at least 60. But, I too am committing to dropping 40 pounds by April 27. And, I plan to post on this blog my progress as a way of holding myself accountable. Beyond that my goal is to have dropped 60 pounds by my birthday next December 22, 2011.

As Mayor Booker concluded:

Oh, and this isn't about dieting; it is about lifestyle. It isn't about getting skinny; it is about getting healthy. It isn't about denial; it is about living a more abundant life.

Here is to integrity, here is to health, here is to having life and having it more abundantly.

Someone shout Amen!

Getting things done...

2011-01-03T16:40:00.004-07:00

Congressman Darrell Issa thinks the Obama Administration is the most corrupt ever. Representative Cantor pledges that House will vote to repeal health care next week. Surprise, surprise the Republicans are who we thought they were. Looks to me like they plan to waste a whole lot of time and money on matters that will do nothing to make the lives of Americans better.

On the other hand, President Obama is considering hiring a tough guy like Bill Daley to be his Chief of Staff and liberal Democrats are whining. Maybe it's my Chicago roots, but I love the idea of hiring Daley. He knows Washington. He's blue collar-tough, smart and not blinded by ideology. Seems like a clear signal that President Obama is most interested in getting things done that will improve the lives of Americans.

Speaking of getting things done...

I've started my weight loss program. For breakfast, I had 2 fried eggs over a couple pieces of ham (no toast). For lunch, a wonderful tuna salad my wife pre-made for me. I only ate half the salad, saving the other half for tomorrow. During the day I snacked on Macadamia nuts. Upon my arrival home from work, I snacked on some broccoli and cauliflower with blue cheese. I've managed to drink a boatload of water as well. For dinner, it looks like grilled chicken with rice.

For those of you who have done this before, you will recognize it as the old Atkins diet. I'm mixing it with my wife's experience with the South Beach diet, which explains the rice tonight. I'm making no bones about this. I'm in it to lose a bunch of weight. I will deal with the long term when I get my weight down to a more reasonable level. My diet is about making my life better.

Not Enough To Do

2011-01-02T19:44:00.003-07:00

As is evident from the posts below I pretty much stopped blogging in 2010. One of my resolutions for the new year is to once again put some effort into sharing my thoughts on a blog. Facebook limits me to 420 character posts. Twitter limits me to 140. These limits make posting rather vague and often uninspired. Since I'm a lawyer these limits are almost impossible to live by.

I suspect the subject matter will be as wide as my posts on twitter and faceboook from random thoughts about whatever Chicago sports event I am watching to diatribes on my political beliefs I have always had much to say. As I start this new year, I have much to accomplish, a very busy trial schedule, another season of coaching girls fastpitch softball, my excursions to local pubs and other locales with my wife, my latest diet attempt, my budding musical career as the lead singer in an as yet unnamed rock band, and the ongoing soap opera of a life that includes my wife, 2 grandchildren, 2 children, 4 step-children, 9 brothers and sisters, 2 amazing parents, and more than a dozen nieces and nephews.

So, let's do this again. Because as you can tell... I do not have enough to do.

Invictus!

2010-06-04T22:32:00.001-06:00

Invictus
by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Freedom

2010-04-30T07:28:00.003-06:00

The 4th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution reads:

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Together, these Amendments provide protection to every single person born in this Country. Every single one. The idea that we could refuse services to children born in the U.S. to illegal immigrants is flatly unconstitutional on its face. The idea that we would send out of the country children born here because their parents are illegal is also ridiculous under the Constitution.

In the name of capturing those who are violating the law, you cannot violate the rights guaranteed to all citizens in the 4th and 14th Amendments. Thus, a police officer cannot even briefly detain a dark-skinned individual who he overheard speaking Spanish because he thinks that gives him reasonable suspicion that the person may not be here in this country legally. These are not close calls given the language contained in these Amendments.

In Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386, 109 S.Ct. 1865, 104 L.Ed.2d 443 (1989), the Supreme Court held that all claims of excessive-force by police officers in the course of an arrest, investigatory stop, or other seizure should be analyzed under the rubric of the Fourth Amendment. Id., 490 U.S. at 395. The definition of “seizure” of a person within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment requires some meaningful interference, however brief, with an individual’s freedom of movement. See Michigan v. Summers, 452 U.S. 692, 696, 101 S.Ct. 2587, 2590, 69 L.Ed.2d 340 (1981); Brower v. County of Inyo, 489 U.S. 593, 596-97, 109 S.Ct. 1378, 103 L.Ed.2d 628 (1989) (emphasis in original); see also Ciminillo v. Streicher, 434 F.3d 461, 465 (6th Cir. 2006).

This is the law in this great country. If you truly are concerned with the power of government, you would not upset this great protection given to our citizens for any reason.

Learn

2010-04-27T14:49:00.000-06:00

From The Once and Future King:

“The best thing for being sad,” replied Merlyn to a young King Arthur, beginning to puff and blow, “is to learn something. That is the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting."”

-- Theodore H. White

Andrew Romanoff for U.S. Senate (D-CO)

2009-11-18T22:09:00.004-07:00

I am asking all of my friends to donate $$$ to the campaign of Andrew Romanoff. He is running for the U.S. Senate here in Colorado.

I've known Andrew Romanoff for the last 14 years. During the time that I have known him, Andrew has worked harder than anyone I know in Colorado to make progressive changes in the state of Colorado. Fourteen years ago, the Dems in Colorado appeared to be a permanent minority party. Thanks to leadership of Andrew Romanoff we control both houses in the state legislature and the governor's office. As Speaker of the State House from 2005 to 2009, he led Democrats to their first back-to-back majorities here in 40 years. Andrew has visited every nook and cranny of this state fighting for progressive change.

If elected, I know that U.S. Senator Andrew Romanoff will be a progressive leader for us. I cannot say that about any other candidate for the U.S. Senate in this state.

Plug in a number you are willing to contribute to his campaign below and you will be taken directly to a secure web page to make your donation. Thank you!!!

Honoring this generation of heroes

2009-11-10T14:45:00.002-07:00

At today's Memorial service for those who were murdered at Ft. Hood, our President honored our current generation of heroes. His words were soaring:

We need not look to the past for greatness, because it is before our very eyes.

This generation of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have volunteered in a time of certain danger. They are part of the finest fighting force that the world has ever known. They have served tour after tour of duty in distant, different and difficult places. They have stood watch in blinding deserts and on snowy mountains. They have extended the opportunity of self-government to peoples that have suffered tyranny and war. They are man and woman; white, black, and brown; of all faiths and stations - all Americans, serving together to protect our people, while giving others half a world away the chance to lead a better life.

In today's wars, there is not always a simple ceremony that signals our troops' success - no surrender papers to be signed, or capital to be claimed. But the measure of their impact is no less great - in a world of threats that no know borders, it will be marked in the safety of our cities and towns, and the security and opportunity that is extended abroad. And it will serve as testimony to the character of those who serve, and the example that you set for America and for the world.

Here, at Fort Hood, we pay tribute to thirteen men and women who were not able to escape the horror of war, even in the comfort of home. Later today, at Fort Lewis, one community will gather to remember so many in one Stryker Brigade who have fallen in Afghanistan.

Long after they are laid to rest - when the fighting has finished, and our nation has endured; when today's servicemen and women are veterans, and their children have grown - it will be said of this generation that they believed under the most trying of tests; that they persevered not just when it was easy, but when it was hard; and that they paid the price and bore the burden to secure this nation, and stood up for the values that live in the hearts of all free peoples.

So we say goodbye to those who now belong to eternity. We press ahead in pursuit of the peace that guided their service. May God bless the memory of those we lost. And may God bless the United States of America.

Andy Irvine Donal Lunny The West Coast Of Clare

2009-10-10T23:01:00.001-06:00

I am without words. This is as good as it gets.

R.I.P. Senator Edward M. Kennedy

2009-08-28T12:17:00.002-06:00

Congressman Ed Permutter (D-CO) Town Hall Meeting, part II

2009-08-08T19:00:00.006-06:00

Here's some more photos...

Congressman Ed Permutter (D-CO) holds Town Hall Meeting at local grocer

2009-08-08T18:34:00.007-06:00

Congressman Perlmutter's staff did a remarkable job organizing this terrific event. They managed to hold an event which allowed protesters to protest and people who actually wanted to talk to the Congressman were given that opportunity.

They pulled this off by holding the event completely outdoors in front of a King Soopers on Bromley Street in Brighton, Colorado. While folks gathered in large numbers in the parking lot people lined up for an opportunity to talk face-to-face with the Congressman. In groups of 5 people were given five minutes of sit down time with the Congressman.

I managed to catch some photos of some of the more interesting signs in the crowd. The pro-insurance reform crowd vastly outnumbered the anti-reform crowd. Here's some photos...

House For Sale. Craughwell, Co. Galway

2009-08-05T22:40:00.001-06:00

If I were to disappear, you know where to find me.

Christy Moore - Does This Train Stop On Merseyside? - Live Performance

2009-07-07T23:50:00.001-06:00

Sunday Morning News

2009-06-07T09:44:00.003-06:00

I thought the discussion on the morning shows of Obama's Cairo speech was rather shallow. Often I feel like we are incapable of talking intelligently of the issues raised in Obama's speech. Is American Exceptionalism really something we want to push as our message to the world? We didn't become a beacon of freedom to the world via some stupid PR stunt. We became a beacon of freedom to the world by being a beacon of freedom to the world. Now, some would question whether we ever really were that great. But, truly, the idealism of this country made us great.

What Obama accomplished this week is that the world now sees us attempting to practice that idealism again. The main opposition to Obama's message in this country seems to be that Obama is too idealistic. The problem with what is left of the Republican Party in this country is that it's view of America is in many respects the polar opposite of what made us great.

Enough rambling... I highly recommend everyone read a piece written by Jim Sleeper over at TPM. Read the discussion in comments that follows as Mr. Sleeper has some great follow up discussion with other readers there.

Back Again!

2009-06-06T11:50:00.002-06:00

I have been on hiatus for a while. Tweeting has me inspired again though. So, I will rejoin blog roll. Given my full schedule, I suspect tweeting will continue to occur more often than blogging.

I really thought I'd never write anything as silly sounding as that last sentence during my lifetime.

Bruce Springsteen: The River

2009-04-26T19:16:00.001-06:00

One of the best live performances I have seen of this song.

Nothing short of brilliant.

Luke Kelly The Auld Triangle

2009-04-18T04:35:00.001-06:00

My great friends the Irish Chancers did a fabulous version of this song, Here is the legendary Luke Kelly singing it as only he could.

Luke Kelly - Song For Ireland

2009-04-18T04:29:00.001-06:00

If I could get just a few more people to understand the beauty of Ireland, its people, its music, this blog would be worthwhile.

This is the legendary Luke Kelly singing a song I sang on the banks of Dingle. Pure magic.

Recovery

2009-04-13T17:15:00.004-06:00

Recovery from my laminectomy is going tremendous. I actually made it into my office briefly today. For the record, I made a settlement demand hours after surgery from my Motorola Q phone. The first of these photos was taken in the hospital minutes before I was taken away for surgery. The other two the morning after surgery showing off my brand new Jay Cutler jersey.

Thank you, Dr. Roberts. Thank you, Josh McDaniels.

Laminectomy

2009-04-08T22:39:00.004-06:00

Tomorrow, Dr. Warren Roberts fixes me.

I will be having a laminectomy to fix damage I likely caused to my back as an over-exuberant teenager who for some reason insisted on jumping from distances at least 20 feet high and landing on my feet, most of the time. It was the brilliant way I concluded my guitar solos for the song, "Iron Man." Ironic, isn't it?

You can see the procedure here.

I don't think Ozzy Osbourne ever had a song titled, "Laminectomy."

2 1/2 days!

2009-04-08T11:26:00.002-06:00

I didn't spring for the $30+ fee that the Ticketmaster/Pepsi Center was asking for concert parking. Any suggestions where to park?

Opening Day!

2009-04-07T07:11:00.002-06:00

For fans of the Chicago White Sox baseball team, today is opening day. And, the reason I will have a perpetual smile on my face today is that from now until October 1 I will be able to watch White Sox baseball nearly every night.

For those of you who will jump to criticize me as being a lazy couch potato, I thought I might have some brilliant explanation of all that I do while I am watching White Sox games or that I don't actually get to see every inning of every game but I would rather just say kiss my ass. I like watching baseball and I especially like watching White Sox baseball.

There is something magical about opening day. For us baseball fans it does make us remember those hundreds of hours tossing a ball around with Dad dreaming of being a big league ball player some day, or the thousands of hours I spent throwing a tennis ball against my garage imagining I was pitching in the seventh game of the world series, but mostly it makes me think of taking my son and daughter to their first ball game and holding them on my lap attempting to explain this game to them.

Baseball is and has always been my favorite sport. There is really nothing like opening day, the beginning of the season, the end of winter, the eternal optimism of even Cubs' fans. So, despite how busy I am getting things done before my back surgery on Thursday, I will pause to watch White Sox baseball at noon today.

Go White Sox!

Springsteen is in Denver on Friday

2009-04-05T14:33:00.002-06:00

An excerpt from "The Wrestler," taken from Friday's searing, barn burner of a show at the Jobing.com, Arena, in Glendale, Arizona.

New Bears Jersey

2009-04-03T09:15:00.003-06:00

Buy now here.

Today is Jay Cutler Day in Chicago!

2009-04-03T08:52:00.004-06:00

The Chicago Bears have had 23 starting quarterbacks since Jim McMahon last took a snap wearing the orange and blue. Prior to Jim McMahon, things were at least as bad as we watched folks like Bobby Douglas, Bob Avellini, and an assortment of other terrible quarterbacks. Quite literally, the Bears have not a quarterback like Jay Cutler since Sid Luckman.

So, tune in The Score and here what pure joy sounds like. They have literally decreed today Jay Cutler Day in Chicago. Eat your hearts out Denver sports fans.

Jay Cutler is the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears.

P.S. Check out this great photo essay.

Barack Obama Speaks to Facing History Students

2009-04-02T01:03:00.001-06:00

The President of the United States. Listening to this never have I been so proud to be an American... never have I been so proud that we have done what is hard in electing a man who will and is changing the world.

History doesn't belong to the timid. We are changing the world. We are witnessing one of the greatest leaders who has ever lived and like Jesus, Ghandi, King, Biko, and Mandela Barack Obama is changing the world.

And the band played Waltzing Mathilda

2009-04-02T00:13:00.001-06:00

I suppose maybe I have passed from giving a crap about being an American to caring more about the human race. This song by The Pogues is a wakeup anthem for life. For surviving in hell. We should all stand up and be proud that our new American President is a man we can be proud of... that the world can be proud of.

And, the band played Waltzing Matilda.

The Pogues - If I Should Fall from Grace with God

2009-04-02T00:04:00.001-06:00

Rock on people.

How did I miss this?

2009-04-01T08:02:00.004-06:00

Bruce Springsteen kicks off his Working on a Dream Tour tonight in San Jose, CA at the HP Pavilion. Here is his interview and performance from his March 19th appearance on The Daily Show with John Stewart.

Interview

Performance of Working on a Dream

I have tickets to see him in Denver on the 10th. Can't wait.

Priorities: Not blogging

2009-03-23T21:36:00.002-06:00

So, in the last week my daughter and two grandsons have moved into my house, my son fell off a mountain breaking one ankle and seriously hurting the other, I have had 5 different depositions, one in Houston, Texas and one in Alamosa, Colorado (guess which took longer to get to), four fastpitch softball practices that I have coached, and a 26 page Motion written.

I don't say this to brag but merely to explain my writer's block on this website. Sometimes it is easier to tweet than to blog. Now, is one of those times.

By the way, both my kids are OK... my son will struggle walking for a while but luckily no long lasting damage. My daughter's trauma probably a little more complicated and less predictable in its prognosis.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2009-03-17T07:24:00.002-06:00

I hope everyone has a safe and fun St. Patrick's Day. I somewhat pretensiously will say that I wish folks would listen to great Irish folks artists like Christy Moore and Planxty and enjoy a wonderful Irish breakfast than turn today into a drunken fest that represents Ireland only in stereotypically poor fashion. In my minds eye, the Irish are the most beautiful, friendly people on earth. Their culture so much deeper than a Guinness and a shamrock. But, it is grand to see so many recognizing this day either way.

Cilante!

I am off to work.

Iron and Wine with Calexico - He Lays in the Reins

2009-03-11T14:32:00.001-06:00

Two of the best bands on the planet performing together. Enjoy.

Stewart beats the crap out of Jim Cramer, again...

2009-03-10T15:53:00.001-06:00

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

In Cramer We Trust

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Economic Crisis

And, this morning Jim Cramer cried to his mommy...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Things. And other things.

2009-03-09T15:58:00.000-06:00

Hello. I've been good. How have you been? Nothing much. What have you been up to? What's that? You didn't ask what I've been up to? Oh... you don't even care.

So be it.

While it may not have been noticed, my musings haven't graced these pages for some time. Which is funny, cause I've always had a lot to say. I actually have become more opinionated than ever. So much so that you could argue that I'm only posting now because I need to find a new outlet for my opinions with my fiance no longer wanting to listen to me.

So much has happened since my last post. For one, I now have to buy my own beer. Tragedy, I know. On the other hand, I don't have my own money any more. Now it's "our" money. Hell, there isn't even a "me" anymore. "Me" has now been strangely replaced with "We". And where I once worked for a flourishing newspaper; I now work for one who's fighting to maintain it's existence.

Then again, we have a different President who is of the same race as 1% of the community I live in. Crazy times, I tell ya. And Crispus Attucks is now known as Mike Thomson. Funny, I have a brother of the same name. And whatever happened to Atticus Finch?

Yes, things have changed. I even have an account now on this thing called "Facebook", where people who I'm kind of friends with tell me what they are doing without me even asking. If this means that the world has become more socially advanced, I don't know.

What I do know is that I don't care about what Rush Limbaugh has to say. And I don't think Barack Obama should either. It wasn't hard for me to come to this conclusion. While many deem it politically smart to publicly certify Limbaugh as the spokesman and symbol of the republican party, it simply makes little sense to me that they waste the energy. Yes, anyone who says that they hope Obama and his administration will fail is ultimately not interested in the best interests of this nation... and anybody who says such a thing shouldn't be taken seriously.

Limbaugh interests include two things: entertaining his listeners and pissing off liberals. And he has managed to do that in recent weeks. Worried about the message that he is sending? Well, an overwhelming majority of this country doesn't agree with him, and the ones who do were never going to support Obama anyways.

And here I go dedicating three paragraphs of my earthshattering comeback to his newscycle. So I am just as stupid as all the other overly sensitive liberals. Be that as it may, I will now move on.

I also know that I am not lucky to have my job. Yes, we are living in terrifying economic times. And my deepest sympathies to anyone currently out of work. I feel terrible for you. But I still have my job. I've had this job for around nine years now, and I'm quite good at it. And if by some chance I were to get laid-off tomorrow, that wouldn't make me unlucky. That would simply mean that I lost my job because my employers decided that they couldn't afford to keep me.

Now, if I really sucked at my job, and somehow managed to keep it for nine years? Then yes, I'd be lucky to have my job. And if anyone continues to use this montra as a silver lining to these economic times... well, don't be so hard on yourself. If the company you work for is struggling so hard to stay above water and you have been loyal enough to stay on board, I think that makes THEM lucky to have you.

I also know that Opening Day for the White Sox is less than a month away! In my previous life, this would mean that we are less than a month away from my productivity shutting down till October. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your perspective), I've got nest to tend to now, which has altered the scale of things a little bit for me. And I'll just cut to the chase hear... the fiance is a Cubs fan. This is fine. I've come to terms with this a while ago. This is not changing. And if she can tolerate my body odor and inability to fix anything in the house, then I can certainly be diplomatic about her undying support of the evil empire. And she's hot, so you don't want to mess with that.

Nonetheless, my excitement for the upcoming season has got me wondering how much wedding money I can sacrifice to get the MLB channel up and running on our cable box. My buddy Cecil introduced me to this godsend of a network, and I haven't been able to get it out of my mind. Surely, the subscription would mean sacrificing some harmony between me and the lady... we only have one smoothly working TV and Sex and the City reruns are not to be messed with. Also; and this comes as a real shocker; weddings cost a friggin' s!@$load of money!

Crispy, you've done this twice! Why didn't you tell me this? Nonetheless, I know I want the MLB network. I want it really bad.

Other things I know...

Harry Reid is a terd.
I am not the father of the octuplets.
You can get lasagna in a box from Pizza Hut, and it looks surprisingly dilicious!
Alyssa Milano is no longer #1 on my "Top Ten Hot List". Feel free to guess who is... and open up the discussion by providing your own list. We already know who Mike's #1 is...
Mad Med is the best show currently on the tube. It's not even close. If you disagree, I will fight you.
The three hours of The Bachelor that I was subjected to will forever haunt me. And if you are somehow reading this Mr. Jason Mesnick, let me tell you now that if our paths ever cross, yes, I will fight you.
My right thumb nail is strangely shaped drastically different from my left thumb nail.
I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure Sean Hannity tortures puppies. I haven't yet come up with the evidence, but I'm certain it's out there.
I want a dog. A friendly one that thinks I'm cool.
The town I live in is ranked 44th in the state of Illinois in DUI's. Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States. He is from Illinois. I'm from Illinois. I've gained 44 pounds this past year. I once saw Barack Obama at my work. Bill Clinton and George W. Bush were born 44 days apart. See what connection I'm trying to make? Neither do I.
My bachelor party is supposedly going to be held here. I guess this is ok.
I am not a creep, despite going to a theater to watch teenage girls, none of which I'm related to, ballet dance. You know, when the theater advertises "Irish Dancing", I expect Michael Friggin' Flattley. I feel so misled.

Good talk. It's been fun.

Obama: Doing too much at once?

2009-03-08T19:43:00.004-06:00

So, the new talking point is that Team Obama is trying to do to many things at once. The complaint here being that Obama should focus on repairing the economy before he tackles health care, before he deals with the energy issues we have, and before he reinvigorates public education.

Well, news flash folks. The Obama Plan is that fixing our economy requires action in these areas.

Is there anything more pompous than watching stock market goons telling us the Obama needs to pay attention to the market and fix the banks before he takes on these other issues? Folks, this is plan thievery. This is Wall Street con artists arguing that we should save them from the grave they dug for themselves. These folks are literally saying give the money to us and don't waste it on reforming health care or investing in a new technology industry. Seriously, the real losers in this country are Santelli and his gang.

The crazy thing is that Team Obama by trying to make our country the leading innovator for a new green economy, by tackling the astronomical growth in health care costs, by prioritizing investing in public education is actually doing what is necessary to fix our economy for the long haul.

We got ourselves into this mess because of the nitwits on Wall Street who can't see beyond tomorrow in their decisionmaking. This country has been guided by a bunch of Attention Deficit Disorder teenagers for the last decade. They literally can only contemplate what puts more money in their pocket today. They will make decisions that guarantee future financial ruin if it will get them a little cash on the front end.

If we are going to actually dig ourselves out of this mess we will do so with growth in industries that need to hire American workers. We will do so by making decisions in some cases that will cost money now in order to save money and become more efficient in the long haul.

Example: It costs money to buy energy efficient light bulbs and properly insulate your home. That money pays off in the long run with cheaper electric bills. The same thing on a much larger scope is required of our country as a whole. And, the positive side includes that the short term investment will put people to work as we do things like build an electric grid across the country.

And, people, are our country's business leaders so stupid that they don't realize health care reform will hopefully help us reduce labor costs? Health care reform helps small business. Health care reform is about much more than universal coverage. It is about reduce costs to businesses and middle class workers who are paying more and more in premiums every year for less and less actual health care services. And, meanwhile, health insurance companies are treatment decisions for us. Let's not even get into how much the pharmaceutical companies are paying off our doctors to push prescription drugs to us. Should I ask how many people are paying $50 for prescriptions even though they have insurance?

Seriously, I listen to conservatives on talk shows and I wonder if they live in the same world as I do. I am beginning to believe we are witnessing the Whig-like collapse of a political party.

Barack Obama has approval ratings hovering around 70% not because he is enjoying a honeymoon, not because people think he is cool, but because regular Americans are smarter than Republicans. The American people realize Barack Obama is taking the steps we need to take at this time.

Obama Happy Hour

2009-03-06T16:05:00.006-07:00

I'm working late tonight but it's Friday and I hope our President is enjoying a nice cold one. Is there anything cooler than having a President who enjoys beer again?

Friday Poetry

2009-03-06T13:05:00.002-07:00

This week's Friday Poetry is brought to you by the band Calexico. They have been around awhile but I have just recently become fascinated by their music. I highly recommend their stuff. This song is about the connection between finding a space in the sprawling urbanization of Tucson, Arizona and finding a more metaphorical space in life. Carpenter Mike is an actual person Joey Burns of Calexico knew growing up. Carpenter Mike built and lived in a treehouse outside of the city of Tucson.

Sunken Waltz
Washed my face in the rivers of empire
Made my bed from a cardboard crate
Down in the city of quartz
No news, no new regrets
Tossed a susan b. over my shoulder
And prayed it would rain and rain
Submerge the whole western states
Call it a last fair deal
With an american seal
And corporate hand shake
Take the story of carpenter mike
Dropped his tools and his keys and left
And headed out as far as he could
Past the cities and gated neighborhoods
He slept 'neath the stars
Wrote down what he dreamt
And he built a machine
For no one to see
Then took flight, first light

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Anastasia at Picture Book of the Day.

Jon Stewart skewers CNBC

2009-03-05T07:48:00.002-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

Skewers does not capture completely what Jon Stewart accomplished last night. I am not someone who watches CNBC. But, if it is possible, the folks at CNBC had a worse year then Wall Street. You have to watch this entire clip. It ends in grand fashion.

White Sox!!!

2009-03-03T23:20:00.000-07:00

For so many reasons, I truly believe our White Sox are the greatest organization in all of sports: (1) Barack Obama; (2) Kenny Williams; (3) Ozzie Guillen; and (4) Jerry Reinsdorf being at the top of the list.

But, read this article by Jerry Crasnick at ESPN and smile...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2009/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3948072

We have the making of a ridiculously good team coming together. The competition between young and old. The naive of young players like Quentin, Ramirez, Danks, and Gavin combined with veterans like Thome, Konerko, Dye, Pyerzinski, Buerhle, and Jenks. Throw in the competition at 2B, 3B, and CF and this team is literally exactly where I'd want my favorite team to be.

To make it even better, the young talent in this organization is phenomenal with Gordon Beckham and Dayan Vinciedo soon to claim their spots as perennial all stars.

I am so proud of this organization. Ten years ago we literally had no personality, hardly even a proud history, Now, with some of our favorite former players leading and coaching the team we have personality, we have history, we are cool like no other sports franchise in the world. And, the President of the World is one of our biggest fans.

Seriously. Can it get any better? Bring on the 2009 baseball season. I am ready. I love this game!

I love the Chicago White Sox!!!

Limbaugh is a dumbass

2009-03-02T09:09:00.002-07:00

This weekend's gathering of conservative nitwits in Washington, DC at the annual CPAC convention is probably best summed up by the fact that Rush Limbaugh was recognized for his efforts in protecting the U.S. Constitution on Saturday evening. Limbaugh proceeded to give a 90 minute diatribe in which he misquoted, you guessed it... the U.S. Constitution. Limbaugh said:

We believe that the preamble to the Constitution contains an inarguable truth that we are all endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life. [Applause] Liberty, Freedom. [Applause] And the pursuit of happiness. [Applause] Those of you watching at home may wonder why this is being applauded. We conservatives think all three are under assault. [Applause] Thank you. Thank you.

The Constitution's Preamble says this: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

The Declaration of Independence says: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

Limbaugh is a moron. And, anyone who would award him for his efforts to protect the Constitution even dumber.

President Obama at Chicago Bulls Game 2.27.09

2009-02-28T08:39:00.001-07:00

It is fairly common for politicians to be roundly booed at sporting events. Anyone remember Sarah Palin dropping the puck at at Flyers game last fall. Or, anyone of the times that Bush threw the opening pitch out at a baseball game.

Check out the reaction last night to President Obama as he came into the building to watch the Bulls vs. Wizards game.

Obama Announces Iraq Troop Withdrawal Plan

2009-02-28T08:34:00.001-07:00

Obama details the plan and it is almost, if not completely identical, to the plan he campaigned on.

Krugman: "This budget looks very, very good."

2009-02-27T08:15:00.003-07:00

President Obama may have finally won over New York Times Op-Ed writer and economist, Paul Krugman. Krugman has taken a look at Obama's budget overview and he likes what he sees. Krugman writes:

The stimulus bill that Congress passed may have been too weak and too focused on tax cuts. The administration’s refusal to get tough on the banks may be deeply disappointing. But fears that Mr. Obama would sacrifice progressive priorities in his budget plans, and satisfy himself with fiddling around the edges of the tax system, have now been banished.

For this budget allocates $634 billion over the next decade for health reform. That’s not enough to pay for universal coverage, but it’s an impressive start. And Mr. Obama plans to pay for health reform, not just with higher taxes on the affluent, but by putting a halt to the creeping privatization of Medicare, eliminating overpayments to insurance companies.

On another front, it’s also heartening to see that the budget projects $645 billion in revenues from the sale of emission allowances. After years of denial and delay by its predecessor, the Obama administration is signaling that it’s ready to take on climate change.

And these new priorities are laid out in a document whose clarity and plausibility seem almost incredible to those of us who grew accustomed to reading Bush-era budgets, which insulted our intelligence on every page. This is budgeting we can believe in.

During the debate around the stimulus package I explained on this site that the President's real priorities would show up in the budget that he submitted. Go back and read my Working around the Filibuster post. For some reason, the fact that Obama doesn't need 60 votes in the Senate to get his budget passed has escaped the discerning minds of people like Paul Krugman. Otherwise, he would have understood why the Stimulus Bill looked the way it did.

Credit to Krugman though, today's piece is a good one.

Rocky Goodbye

2009-02-27T07:06:00.001-07:00

Today's front page of the Rocky Mountain News.

The Opposition Party

2009-02-26T15:18:00.003-07:00

In Washington, DC this weekend the annual gathering of CPAC is bringing together the opposition party. All you need to know about this convention is that on Saturday night the following event is on the agenda:

5:30
Presentation of Defender of the Constitution Award
Presenter: Brad O’Leary, PM-Direct Marketing
Recipient: Rush Limbaugh

No, I am not kidding.

Rocky Mountain News: Done

2009-02-26T14:42:00.002-07:00

It's finally official.

The Rocky Mountain News publishes its last paper tomorrow.

Rich Boehne, chief executive officer of Scripps, broke the news to the Rocky staff at noon today, ending nearly three months of speculation over the paper's future. He called the paper a victim of a terrible economy and an upheaval in the newspaper industry.

"Denver can't support two newspapers any longer," Boehne told staffers, some of whom cried at the news. "It's certainly not good news for you, and it's certainly not good news for Denver."

There is something sad about this news. At the same time, there is no shortage of news sources in the world. The lesson here is that the printed news business has to sell itself now. People don't just automatically grab their hometown paper anymore. Hell, I read the morning news on my phone every day. The only paper delivered to my driveway is the Erie News and that's given to everyone in my hometown whether you want it or not.

Obama: Budget Overview is Here

2009-02-26T12:03:00.002-07:00

And, here is President Obama's Budget Overview as submitted to Congress today.

Obama's FY 2010 Budget Overview

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Reports Periodicals & Report

Hate, part II (James Madison on religion in government)

2009-02-26T09:00:00.005-07:00

To follow up on the previous post, I suppose many could argue that Thomas Jefferson may have been concerned about the role of religion in government, but the rest of our founders were intent on creating a Christian nation. This would be wrong.

So, let's look at the guy who essentially wrote our Constitution, James Madison.

According to historian Robert Morgan, James Madison called for a strict separation of church and state because he distrusted appeals to the "irrational sources of authority in the American Republic" (James Madison on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, p. 150). When you think about who the "irrational sources of authority in the American Republic" are, I think you can safely guess people like Colorado State Senators Scott Renfroe and Dave Schultheis.

In 1792, James Madison authored a famous article in the National Gazette in which he contrasted his republican views with those who argued that the role of the people is merely to submit to the dictates of its leadership. In the process of arguing that the people themselves are the best guardians of the people's liberty, James Madison denies that there is any special religious sanction for American Government.

In this article, James Madison creates an imaginary argument with two individuals he calls the anti-republican and the republican. Ironically, Madison's Republican is himself. As Robert Morgan explains, "With this ironical allusion to the Platonic cave filled with the mysterious shadows of a divine order, Madison rejected a religious sanction for the authority of government in the American republic." (James Madison on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, p. 150)

In the article, Madison wrote:

Republican--Although all men are born free, and all nations might be so, yet too true it is, that slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised; divided--the yoke has been forced upon them. But what is the lesson? That because the people may betray themselves, they ought to give themselves up, blindfold, to those who have an interest in betraying them? Rather conclude that the people ought to be enlightened, to be awakened, to be united, that after establishing a government they should watch over it, as well as obey it.

Anti-republican--You look at the surface only, where errors float, instead of fathoming the depths where truth lies hid. It is not the government that is disposed to fly off from the people; but the people that are ever ready to fly off from the government. Rather say then, enlighten the government, warn it to be vigilant, enrich it with influence, arm it with force, and to the people never pronounce but two words--Submission and Confidence.

Republican--The centrifugal tendency then is in the people, not in the government, and the secret art lies in restraining the tendency, by augmenting the attractive principle of the government with all the weight that can be added to it. What a perversion of the natural order of things! To make power the primary and central object of the social system, and Liberty but its satellite.

Anti-republican-The science of the stars can never instruct you in the mysteries of government. Wonderful as it may seem, the more you increase the attractive force of power, the more you enlarge the sphere of liberty; the more you make government independent and hostile towards the people, the better security you provide for their rights and interests. Hence the wisdom of the theory, which, after limiting the share of the people to a third of the government ... establishes two grand hereditary orders ... inveterately hostile to the rights and interests of the people, yet by a mysterious operation all combining to fortify the people in both.

Republican--Mysterious indeed! But mysteries belong to religion, not to government; to the ways of the Almighty, not to the works of man. And in religion itself there is nothing mysterious to its author; the mystery lies in the dimness of the human sight. So in the institutions of man let there be no mystery, unless for those inferior beings endowed with a ray perhaps of the twilight vouchsafed to the first order of terrestrial creation.

Anti-republican--You are destitute, I perceive, of every quality of a good citizen, or rather of a good subject. You have neither the light of faith nor the spirit of obedience. I denounce you to the government as an accomplice of atheism and anarchy.

Republican--And I forbear to denounce you to the people, though a blasphemer of their rights and an idolater of tyranny. Liberty disdains to persecute.

HATE

2009-02-26T07:20:00.002-07:00

The other day I was struck by a comment I heard on one of the evening news shows and I'm not sure the commentator meant to create the thought that passed through my head. Over and over again these times are being compared to the 1930s and over and over again it is mentioned that it took a war to get us out of that depression. What I have not heard anyone specifically talk about though is that the world wide depression of the 1930s led to the election of a hate mongers in Germany. I think its worth noting that times like these are ripe for the worst among us to take advantage of the situation. Thankfully, our country like we did in the 1930s reached out for a candidate who was not guided by hate.

But, with news today that new jobless numbers have exploded. Here in Colorado the news is filled with hated being spewed in our state legislature.

On Monday, State Senator Scott Renfroe compared homosexuality to murder when he spoke against a bill that would merely extend health benefits to same-sex domestic partners of state employees. The Colorado Independent writes:

After quoting Scripture to call homosexual behavior a “detestable act,” the Greeley Republican said it would be “an abomination according to Scripture” for the Legislature to “(take) sins and (make) them to be legally OK.”

He continued: “I’m not saying (homosexuality) is the only sin that is out there. Obviously we have sin — we have murder, we have, we have all sorts of sin, we have adultery, and we don’t make laws making those legal, and we would never think to make murder legal.”

Renfro added: "I’m not saying (homosexuality) is the only sin that is out there. Obviously we have sin — we have murder, we have, we have all sorts of sin, we have adultery, and we don’t make laws making those legal, and we would never think to make murder legal. But what I’m saying that for is that all sin is equal."

You can watch Mr. Renfro's hateful rant here.

Then, yesterday:

Democrats were outraged Wednesday morning when Republican state Sen. Dave Schultheis said he planned to vote against a bill to require HIV tests for pregnant women because the disease “stems from sexual promiscuity” and he didn’t think the Legislature should “remove the negative consequences that take place from poor behavior and unacceptable behavior.” The Colorado Springs lawmaker then proceeded to cast the lone vote against SB 179, which passed 32-1 and moves on to the House.

A couple things...

Hate is hate. I don't care if you claim your religion as a defense to your hatred. It is still hatred. And, it is unacceptable. The opinions expressed by Schultheis and Renfro are despicable. Absolutely despicable. How are the opinions expressed by these jokers different than what the Taliban professes?

Let me also say, the one argument that makes my head explode the most on this issue is the claim that our country was founded by Christians. I have always found these arguments to be so filled with ignorance that its almost funny. There are hundreds of examples I could come up with that destroy this argument. Here's one...

In 1800 Thomas Jefferson wrote: "The clergy, by getting themselves established by law and ingrafted into the machine of government, have been a very formidable engine against the civil and religious rights of man."

President Jefferson was right, and still is.

Obama: We Will Rebuild

2009-02-25T07:23:00.002-07:00

There is something about his ability to deliver a line that makes you want to go out and join the Marine Corp or sign up to build a house for Habitat for Humanity. Last night, I sat watching my President thinking this is what greatness looks like. My favorite line of the night wasn't remotely partisan or idealogical, it could have been said by George W. Bush. But, when President Obama said it I jumped out of my chair.

It is our responsibility as lawmakers and educators to make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it. And so tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It's not just quitting on yourself, it's quitting on your country - and this country needs and values the talents of every American. That is why we will provide the support necessary for you to complete college and meet a new goal: by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.

For some reason, I felt like millions of young Americans will hear these lines and be called to do something bigger, not for themselves, but yes, for their country. It has taken us almost fifty years to be inspired by our President. But, yes, we are back.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

2009-02-25T01:30:00.001-07:00

Billy Jack .........mannnnnnnnnnn!

2009-02-25T00:57:00.001-07:00

Holy hell!

2009-02-25T00:49:00.002-07:00

I try. I really try. I am open to what other people think.

But, this...

this...

this...

is fucked up!

Jindal's response

2009-02-24T21:10:00.004-07:00

This was a gift from the God of Snark! I think we just saw the set up for this week's Saturday Night Live skit.

Setting the obvious snarkable material aside, I have to ask, how can someone from Louisiana be against government spending?

Monday Deep Thoughts

2009-02-23T11:34:00.001-07:00

Did I miss the weekend?

Howlin' Wolf - How Many More Years

2009-02-20T22:43:00.001-07:00

A song for the times...

Lightnin' hopkins - lonesome road

2009-02-20T22:36:00.001-07:00

This is the stuff friends.

Gibbs Smacks Down Dumbass at CNBC

2009-02-20T14:36:00.001-07:00

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Nice work, Mr. Press Secretary.

Friday Poetry

2009-02-20T08:39:00.003-07:00

Today's Friday Poetry is from Regie Gibson and it is titled "When They Speak of Our Time."

This week's poetry will have to be heard, not read. And, when it comes to the poetry of Regie Gibson that is the way it is meant to be.

Regie's biography is pretty impressive:

Poet, songwriter, author, workshop facilitator, and educator Regie Gibson has performed, taught, and lectured at schools, universities, theaters and various other venues on two continents and in seven countries. Most recently in Havana, Cuba. Regie and his work appear in the New Line Cinema film Love Jones, based largely on events in his life. The poem entitled "Brother to the Night (A Blues for Nina)" appears on the movie soundtrack and is performed by the film's star, Larenz Tate. Regie performed "Hey Nappyhead" in the film with world-renowned percussionist and composer Kahil El Zabar, composer of the score for the musical The Lion King.

Regie has performed at: The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago Cultural Center, Elgin Symphony Orchestra Hall with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall with the members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the Day of Art Festival, Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater's award-winning Traffic Series with David Amram (Composed music & collaborated with Jack Kerouac & Allen Ginsberg.), Harvard Universities Longfellow Hall for the Cambridge Poetry Festival, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH.

This week's Poetry Friday is hosted by The Holly and the Ivy.

People feel Stimulated

2009-02-19T16:31:00.004-07:00

While the nattering naybobs of negativity that dominate the radio and television airwaves continue to blather on about whether how the Obama Administration has stumbled out of the gate, the country is actually coming out of the recession doldrums.

According to Julie Haviv at Reuters:

The announcement of help for homeowners by President Obama yesterday has the phones ringing off the hook today at mortgage lending companies.

The telephones have been ringing off the hook at U.S. mortgage lenders since President Barack Obama pledged $275 billion on Wednesday to help stem a wave of home foreclosures.

"Yesterday, LendingTree.com had the highest loan request volume day for the month showing that borrowers did indeed feel encouraged by Obama's housing plan," said Cameron Findlay, chief economist for the online loan broker in Charlotte, North Carolina.

In the strongest government action yet to aid homeowners since the housing market's meltdown began, President Obama said his plan would give 9 million families the chance to refinance their mortgages.

Refinancing volume at mortgage broker LendingTree.com was up 88 percent week-over-week on Wednesday, while applications for new home purchases were up 30 percent during this time.

Traffic to real estate website Zillow.com soared as well with loan requests up 56 percent on Wednesday versus the average daily number of loan requests so far in February.

And, in case you haven't heard the stimulus package money has already kicked into action in Missouri:

Meeting at the foot of a crumbling, 76-year-old bridge, members of the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission monitored Obama's bill signing by video and voted just seconds later to approve the bridge replacement and three other projects.

Within a minute, transportation commissioners handed a check for more than $200,000 to a contractor who had workers standing by. Gov. Jay Nixon sounded a horn, and a backhoe operator began digging a hole for a support beam of the new bridge while others began working on the old bridge.

Missouri Department of Transportation Director Pete Rahn said the rush was intended to show that spending money on infrastructure projects can quickly help spur the economy. "This is a great project," Rahn said. "It's something desperately needed, and there is no question it would not be addressed without stimulus money."

And, let me remind folks, with the evidence of our economy's collapse so evident last September, the Republican Party had months of time to attempt to put into action its own recovery plan while they had a Republican President sitting in the oval office. The Republican Party chose to do nothing. While Rome was burning, they sat on their thumbs.

It has taken President Obama three weeks to take major action. Three weeks.

Obama: Help for Homeowners

2009-02-18T11:07:00.003-07:00

The Obama Administration has prepared a Fact Sheet with three examples of how their housing mortgage plan will help homeowners. Two of the examples explain how the plan will help homeowner's refinance and the other example shows how a homeowner could possibly get access to a government sponsored modification.

This is good stuff.

Check it out.

If you are homeowner, you should most definitely check it out.

And, on the White House website there is another very helpful page with more details regarding the plan. Go to the Help for Homeowners page here.

Obama's Mortgage Rescue Plan

2009-02-18T09:05:00.003-07:00

According to Congressional Quarterly, Obama's plan will do the following:

(1) Allow up to 5 million individuals to refinance their mortgages through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The federal government will increase the portfolios of the two companies to $900 billion — from $850 billion. Using money that will come exclusively from a law Congress passed last summer placing the companies under federal control, the Treasury Department will increase its preferred stock purchase agreements to $200 billion in each company, from the original $100 billion, in an effort to promote stability in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

(2) Provide $75 billion from the bailout fund to help three to four million homeowners modify their current loans to a more affordable monthly payment level.

The plan will provide servicers with an up-front fee of $1,000 for each eligible modification. Servicers also will be eligible for monthly fees of up to $1,000 per year, as long as a modified loan borrower stays current on their loan.

The plan will require all financial institutions on the receiving end of future capital injections from the second half of the TARP to implement the same loan modification guidelines.

The government will provide subsidies to help reduce monthly payments, provided the lender was willing to realize a loss as well. To qualify for government modification, a lender must reduce the monthly mortgage payment to 38 percent of a borrower’s monthly income. The government would then step in and cover the cost of further reducing the loan payment down to 31 percent of monthly income.

Modifications will be available not just to homeowners who already behind on their mortgage payments but also "at risk loans". The Treasury Department will provide an incentive payment of $500 to servicers if they modify at-risk loans before a borrower falls behind. Mortgage holders would be paid an incentive of $1,500.

The administration also will provide $1.5 billion in relocation assistance to renters coming off of a foreclosure and $2 billion to Neighborhood Stabilization Funds.

(3) The plan also includes allowing homeowners to pursue judicial modifications to home mortgages in the midst of bankruptcy.

Burris: Put a fork in him, he's done.

2009-02-17T11:22:00.003-07:00

It was fairly damaging to Senator Burris (D-IL) that he had not disclosed conversations he had with Blagojevich's brother. Today's revelations that Burris actually was attempting to raise money for Blagojevich at the same he was being considered for the appointment means it's time to start the countdown to Senator Burris' resignation.

The Chicago Tribune is reporting:

U.S. Sen. Roland Burris has acknowledged he sought to raise campaign funds for then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich at the request of the governor’s brother at the same time he was making a pitch to be appointed to the Senate seat previously held by President Barack Obama.

Burris' latest comments in Peoria Monday night were the first time he has publicly said he was actively trying to raise money for Blagojevich. Previously Burris has left the impression that he always balked at the issue of raising money for the governor because of his interest in the Senate appointment.

Obama: Back Home Again

2009-02-16T20:22:00.003-07:00

My family vacationed in Rocky Mountain National Park almost every year when I was growing up. The 1,000 mile drive from Elk Grove Village, Illinois to Estes Park, Colorado routinely culminated with John Denver singing "Back Home Again" as we drove through the Big Thompson River Canyon on Highway 34.

Our new President who also hails from Chicago has found himself coming back to Colorado over and over again. And, tomorrow he will be "Back Home Again".

According to the Denver Post:

President Barack Obama will tour a solar panel installation atop the Denver Museum of Nature and Science tomorrow before signing his landmark $787 billion economic stimulus bill in front of a crowd of 250 Colorado renewable energy and political leaders.

The White House released a schedule of Obama's Colorado visit this afternoon.

Blake Jones, CEO of Boulder-based Namaste Solar, will lead Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on a walking tour at the museum before the bill signing. A 16-year-old sophomore from Bruce Randolph School will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Rabbi Joel Schwartzman will deliver the invocation.

All but two Democratic members of Colorado's congressional delegation will be there. Sen. Mark Udall had a family commitment and Congressman John Salazar is out of the country.

...

Obama is scheduled to land in Denver at 11:30 a.m. and arrive at the museum, nestled in City Park, around noon. After his three-hour stop in Colorado, Obama will head to Phoenix, where he is expected to address the housing crisis on Wednesday.

Obama Administration Prepares to Tackle Foreclosure Problem

2009-02-15T21:18:00.003-07:00

President Obama will be announcing details of his plan to stem the rising tide of mortgage foreclosures across the country on Wednesday in Phoenix, Arizona.

This is another area of great complexity. You have to reduce the number of foreclosures without rewarding failure and penalizing those who manage to make their payments every week.

The President's top economic advisor, Laurence Summers in an interview on Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital with Al Hunt” yesterday said that the White House is willing to spend more than the $50 billion already pledged to stem home foreclosures. Summers explained that the White House will focus its efforts on reducing monthly mortgage payments, rather than principal.

"We're prepared to do what is necessary,” Summers said in the interview. "Going directly at the problem means addressing affordability by addressing payments."

Forbes is reporting that the plan will likely include a "means test" to determine if people can afford their homes, with qualifying homeowners receiving mortgage help. Government-controlled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could be enlisted to refinance or subsidize loans.

Multiple new outlets are reporting that the Obama plan rather than simply bailing out homeowners who are already months behind on their mortgage payments, would try to cut off foreclosures before people miss mortgage payments.

According the Wall Street Journal:

People familiar with the administration’s discussion of the plan say it would aim to allow more Americans to qualify for reduced home-mortgage payments.

Government officials want to make such modifications available to people who are still current with their payments but in danger of defaulting. At present, government-backed mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are focused on modifying loans for people who are already 90 days or more behind.

The plan is likely to call for holding people’s monthly payments as low as 31% of pretax income, according to some people taking part in the policy making.

The plan may involve government subsidies to help pay for the costs of lowering borrowers’ payments as well as government purchases of troubled loans from lenders or investors.

The discussions also are focusing on ways to create a standard method for lenders to determine whether to proceed with a foreclosure or seek to modify the terms, such as by reducing the interest rate or the principal.

The outlines of a fairly interesting plan seem to be emerging that actually may be about much more than rescuing homeowners who have defaulted on their loans. And, to be honest, it seems more important right now to deal with the big picture, which is stemming the tide of foreclosures in a manner that is fair to all homeowners.

Means testing combined with reducing monthly payments to semi-affordable levels seems like a nice combination of actions. You accomplish a couple of things with such a plan: (1) if someone flat out can't make their payments and is in way over their head, foreclosure might be the only answer which means testing takes care of; (2) there are probably millions of homeowners who are in trouble on their mortgage payment either because their interest rate ballooned on them or their income declined but with reasonable adjustments could avoid foreclosure; and (3) a subsidy to the banks that make adjustments to the monthly payments of homeowners will help those banks stay afloat.

We Love our President

2009-02-14T14:56:00.003-07:00

Whether political pundits across the spectrum from left to right realize it, this country loves its new President.

Ben Smith, over at Politico, has a great story today recognizing the disconnect between beltway insiders and what is really happening in this country. It's worth reading the whole article here. Smith writes:

"It’s eerie — I read the news from the Beltway, and there's this disconnect with the polls from the Midwest that I see all around me," said Ann Seltzer, the authoritative Iowa pollster who works throughout the Midwest.

That’s a perception treasured by Obama's aides, who spent a two-year presidential campaign safeguarding "the brand," as they called it, of a new, post-partisan sort of political figure.

With the stimulus safely passed, they say they're relying on the steady support of a populace that, after a closely watched election, is tuning out the Washington cut and thrust, and views Obama as a high-minded reformer and his Republican rivals as bitter partisans.

"You shouldn't judge his success in reaching out by the vote count in either chamber of Congress — you’ve really got to judge it based more on what people in the country are thinking and saying," said John Del Cecato, a media adviser to Obama's campaign and former partner of Obama aide David Axelrod.

"If you look at any number of public polls, and private polls support this, it's not just Democrats and independents who support the way he's gone about advancing the stimulus plan — it’s a certain amount of Republicans too."

...

There’s another possibility, however: That In opposing en masse a stimulus bill that means instant, massive national spending, the GOP is cast as the Grinch to Obama's Santa Claus. And outside Washington, Obama's aides anticipate, the spending will drown out the chatter about recent White House stumbles.

"Let's be honest: Will the economic recovery or Judd Gregg be a bigger discussion point a week from now?" Obama's chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, asked reporters Thursday.

Pollsters almost universally agreed with Emanuel.

"I don’t think he's lost anything in terms of overall job approval or favorability,” said Andy Smith, a pollster at the University of New Hampshire. "That's just the a perception inside the Beltway that everybody outside Washington pays attention to politics and eats and lives politics the way you guys do down there."

Jared Polis: My Congressman

2009-02-14T08:12:00.001-07:00

Congressman Polis, casting his vote for the Economic Recovery Package, makes us all proud.

John Spillane, Magic Nights in the Lobby Bar

2009-02-13T23:46:00.001-07:00

Some bonus Poetry Friday from Ireland

Friday Poetry

2009-02-13T07:28:00.002-07:00

Edward Byrne wrote yesterday about Walt Whitman's classic poem When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd, "to recognize the pairing of a great political figure and a great poetic moment." Byrne profoundly explains:

By selecting the trio of symbols from nature to represent Lincoln (star), love (lilac), and the elegiac poetry of mourning (birdsong), Walt Whitman behaves the way any true Romantic poet might be expected. He furthers Ralph Waldo Emerson’s perception of natural elements as physical signs pointing toward spiritual understanding, the material as metaphor for the emotional. Whitman also engages readers by extending his elegy for Lincoln into a more encompassing poem, one of national memorial for all who sacrificed during the Civil War to save the nation and maintain its unity. Consequently, the poet enlarges his poem’s scope, as a personal expression of elegy for one man transforms into an assertion of a nation’s gratefulness for the ultimate offering of one’s self made by so many throughout the land. Indeed, he acknowledges not only those wounded or lost in battle but also the pain endured by those who remain and will continue to suffer, longing for absent loved ones.

And, thus, in honor of our greatest President, this President's Day, a poem by Walt Whitman.

WHEN LILACS LAST IN THE DOORYARD BLOOM’D

1

When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom’d,
And the great star early droop’d in the western sky in the night,
I mourn’d, and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.

Ever-returning spring, trinity sure to me you bring,
Lilac blooming perennial and drooping star in the west,
And thought of him I love.

2

O powerful western fallen star!
O shades of night—O moody, tearful night!
O great star disappear’d—O the black murk that hides the star!
O cruel hands that hold me powerless—O helpless soul of me!
O harsh surrounding cloud that will not free my soul.

3

In the dooryard fronting an old farm-house near the white-wash’d palings,
Stands the lilac-bush tall-growing with heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
With many a pointed blossom rising delicate, with the perfume strong I love,
With every leaf a miracle—and from this bush in the dooryard,
With delicate-color’d blossoms and heart-shaped leaves of rich green,
A sprig with its flower I break.

4

In the swamp in secluded recesses,
A shy and hidden bird is warbling a song.

Solitary the thrush,
The hermit withdrawn to himself, avoiding the settlements,
Sings by himself a song.

Song of the bleeding throat,
Death’s outlet song of life (for well dear brother I know,
If thou wast not granted to sing thou would’st surely die).

5

Over the breast of the spring, the land, amid cities,
Amid lanes and through old woods, where lately the violets peep’d from the ground, spotting the gray débris,
Amid the grass in the fields each side of the lanes, passing the endless grass,
Passing the yellow-spear’d wheat, every grain from its shroud in the dark-brown fields uprisen,
Passing the apple-tree blows of white and pink in the orchards,
Carrying a corpse to where it shall rest in the grave,
Night and day journeys a coffin.

6

Coffin that passes through lanes and streets,
Through day and night with the great cloud darkening the land,
With the pomp of the inloop’d flags with the cities draped in black,
With the show of the States themselves as of crape-veil’d women standing,
With processions long and winding and the flambeaus of the night,
With the countless torches lit, with the silent sea of faces and the unbared heads,
With the waiting depot, the arriving coffin, and the sombre faces,
With dirges through the night, with the thousand voices rising strong and solemn,
With all the mournful voices of the dirges pour’d around the coffin,
The dim-lit churches and the shuddering organs—where amid these you journey,
With the tolling tolling bells’ perpetual clang,
Here, coffin that slowly passes,
I give you my sprig of lilac.

7

(Nor for you, for one alone,
Blossoms and branches green to coffins all I bring,
For fresh as the morning, thus would I chant a song for you O sane and sacred death.

All over bouquets of roses,
O death, I cover you over with roses and early lilies,
But mostly and now the lilac that blooms the first,
Copious I break, I break the sprigs from the bushes,
With loaded arms I come, pouring for you,
For you and the coffins all of you O death.)

8

O western orb sailing the heaven,
Now I know what you must have meant as a month since I walk’d,
As I walk’d in silence the transparent shadowy night,
As I saw you had something to tell as you bent to me night after night,
As you droop’d from the sky low down as if to my side (while the other stars all look’d on),
As we wander’d together the solemn night (for something I know not what kept me from sleep),
As the night advanced, and I saw on the rim of the west how full you were of woe,
As I stood on the rising ground in the breeze in the cool transparent night,
As I watch’d where you pass’d and was lost in the netherward black of the night,
As my soul in its trouble dissatisfied sank, as where you sad orb,
Concluded, dropt in the night, and was gone.

9

Sing on there in the swamp,
O singer bashful and tender, I hear your notes, I hear your call,
I hear, I come presently, I understand you,
But a moment I linger, for the lustrous star has detain’d me,
The star my departing comrade holds and detains me.

10

O how shall I warble myself for the dead one there I loved?
And how shall I deck my song for the large sweet soul that has gone?
And what shall my perfume be for the grave of him I love?

Sea-winds blown from east and west,
Blown from the Eastern sea and blown from the Western sea, till there on the prairies meeting,
These and with these and the breath of my chant,
I’ll perfume the grave of him I love.

11

O what shall I hang on the chamber walls?
And what shall the pictures be that I hang on the walls,
To adorn the burial-house of him I love?

Pictures of growing spring and farms and homes,
With the Fourth-month eve at sundown, and the gray smoke lucid and bright,
With floods of the yellow gold of the gorgeous, indolent, sinking sun, burning, expanding the air,
With the fresh sweet herbage under foot, and the pale green leaves of the trees prolific,
In the distance the flowing glaze, the breast of the river, with a wind-dapple here and there,
With ranging hills on the banks, with many a line against the sky, and shadows,
And the city at hand with dwellings so dense, and stacks of chimneys,
And all the scenes of life and the workshops, and the workmen homeward returning.

12

Lo, body and soul—this land,
My own Manhattan with spires, and the sparkling and hurrying tides, and the ships,
The varied and ample land, the South and the North in the light, Ohio’s shores and flashing Missouri,
And ever the far-spreading prairies cover’d with grass and corn.

Lo, the most excellent sun so calm and haughty,
The violet and purple morn with just-felt breezes,
The gentle soft-born measureless light,
The miracle spreading bathing all, the fulfill’d noon,
The coming eve delicious, the welcome night and the stars,
Over my cities shining all, enveloping man and land.

13

Sing on, sing on you gray-brown bird,
Sing from the swamps, the recesses, pour your chant from the bushes,
Limitless out of the dusk, out of the cedars and pines.

Sing on dearest brother, warble your reedy song,
Loud human song, with voice of uttermost woe.

O liquid and free and tender!
O wild and loose to my soul—O wondrous singer!
You only I hear—yet the star holds me (but will soon depart),
Yet the lilac with mastering odor holds me.

14

Now while I sat in the day and look’d forth,
In the close of the day with its light and the fields of spring, and the farmers preparing their crops,
In the large unconscious scenery of my land with its lakes and forests,
In the heavenly aerial beauty (after the perturb’d winds and the storms),
Under the arching heavens of the afternoon swift passing, and the voices of children and women,
The many-moving sea-tides, and I saw the ships how they sail’d,
And the summer approaching with richness, and the fields all busy with labor,
And the infinite separate houses, how they all went on, each with its meals and minutia of daily usages,
And the streets how their throbbings throbb’d, and the cities pent—lo, then and there,
Falling upon them all and among them all, enveloping me with the rest,
Appear’d the cloud, appear’d the long black trail,
And I knew death, its thought, and the sacred knowledge of death.

Then with the knowledge of death as walking one side of me,
And the thought of death close-walking the other side of me,
And I in the middle as with companions, and as holding the hands of companions,

I fled forth to the hiding receiving night that talks not,
Down to the shores of the water, the path by the swamp in the dimness,
To the solemn shadowy cedars and ghostly pines so still.

And the singer so shy to the rest receiv’d me,
The gray-brown bird I know receiv’d us comrades three,
And he sang the carol of death, and a verse for him I love.

From deep secluded recesses,
From the fragrant cedars and the ghostly pines so still,
Came the carol of the bird.

And the charm of the carol rapt me,
As I held as if by their hands my comrades in the night,
And the voice of my spirit tallied the song of the bird.

Come lovely and soothing death,
Undulate round the world, serenely arriving, arriving,
In the day, in the night, to all, to each,
Sooner or later delicate death.

Prais’d be the fathomless universe,
For life and joy, and for objects and knowledge curious,
And for love, sweet love—but praise! praise!
For the sure-enwinding arms of cool-enfolding death.

Dark mother always gliding near with soft feet,
Have none chanted for thee a chant of fullest welcome?
Then I chant it for thee, I glorify thee above all,
I bring thee a song that when thou must indeed come, come unfalteringly.

Approach strong deliveress,
When it is so, when thou hast taken them I joyously sing the dead,
Lost in the loving floating ocean of thee,
Laved in the flood of thy bliss O death.

From me to thee glad serenades,
Dances for thee I propose saluting thee, adornments and feastings for thee,
And the sights of the open landscape and the high-spread sky are fitting,
And life and the fields, and the huge and thoughtful night.

The night in silence under many a star,
The ocean shore and the husky whispering wave whose voice I know,
And the soul turning to thee O vast and well-veil’d death,
And the body gratefully nestling close to thee.

Over the tree-tops I float thee a song,
Over the rising and sinking waves, over the myriad fields and the prairies wide,
Over the dense-pack’d cities all and the teeming wharves and ways,
I float this carol with joy, with joy to thee O death.

15

To the tally of my soul,
Loud and strong kept up the gray-brown bird,
With pure deliberate notes spreading filling the night.

Loud in the pines and cedars dim,
Clear in the freshness moist and the swamp-perfume,
And I with my comrades there in the night.

While my sight that was bound in my eyes unclosed,
As to long panoramas of visions.
And I saw askant the armies,
I saw as in noiseless dreams hundreds of battle-flags,
Borne through the smoke of the battles and pierc’d with missiles I saw them,
And carried hither and you through the smoke, and torn and bloody,
And at last but a few shreds left on the staffs (and all in silence),
And the staffs all splinter’d and broken.

I saw battle-corpses, myriads of them,
And the white skeletons of young men, I saw them,
I saw the débris and débris of all the slain soldiers of the war,
But I saw they were not as was thought,
They themselves were fully at rest, they suffer’d not,
The living remain’d and suffer’d, the mother suffer’d,
And the wife and the child and the musing comrade suffer’d,
And the armies that remain’d suffer’d.

16

Passing the visions, passing the night,
Passing, unloosing the hold of my comrades’ hands,
Passing the song of the hermit bird and the tallying song of my soul,
Victorious song, death’s outlet song, yet varying ever-altering song,
As low and wailing, yet clear the notes, rising and falling, flooding the night,
Sadly sinking and fainting, as warning and warning, and yet again bursting with joy,
Covering the earth and filling the spread of the heaven,
As that powerful psalm in the night I heard from recesses,
Passing, I leave thee lilac with heart-shaped leaves,
I leave thee there in the door-yard, blooming, returning with spring.

I cease from my song for thee,
From my gaze on thee in the west, fronting the west, communing with thee,
O comrade lustrous with silver face in the night.

Yet each to keep and all, retrievements out of the night,
The song, the wondrous chant of the gray-brown bird,
And the tallying chant, the echo arous’d in my soul,
With the lustrous and drooping star with the countenance full of woe,
With the holders holding my hand nearing the call of the bird,
Comrades mine and I in the midst, and their memory ever to keep, for the dead I loved so well,
For the sweetest, wisest soul of all my days and lands—and this for his dear sake,
Lilac and star and bird twined with the chant of my soul,
There in the fragrant pines and the cedars dusk and dim.

Poetry Friday is hosted by Kelly at Big A, little a.

On that Commerce post...

2009-02-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

What Markos said.

Axelrod explains the bank bailout roll out

2009-02-12T10:34:00.002-07:00

Axelrod is right on the money here (no pun intended). This is an extremely complex, difficult problem. And, while we all wish a magical answer was available for the Administration to announce. There just isn't.

It's truly worth listening to Axelrod in this interview. Huffington Post transcribed some key parts:

"Well, I think it was a bumpy rollout because Wall Street was hoping for a complete answer to some really complex and expensive problems, and what Secretary Geithner laid out didn't meet those expectations, but he laid out a strategy that we think is going to work," Axelrod said. "In the coming weeks, he'll lay out tactics to support that strategy, and people will know exactly what's expected of them and what our role will be as a government."

[The Washington Post's Lois] Romano brought up the stock market drop that followed Geithner's announcement. "We can't set our clock according to reactions on the market, we take a long-range view" of what's necessary, Axelrod replied. Romano asked whether a "one day drop and a one day story" can drive the White House. "It can drive a White House. It may not drive ours," Axelrod answered.

Patting myself on the back

2009-02-12T10:15:00.002-07:00

One of TPM's readers sent Josh Marshall an email making my point on the problems that Secretary Geithner would have encountered had he announced the governmental take over of many banks. Reader KA writes:

I'm not saying that is what they are doing, but a more bold presentation by Geithner, and a more "pro-Sweedish model" statement by Obama would have been like Lincoln and Grant announcing Sherman's March before he started it. First, I doubt that Geithner would announce it because of its impact on the market and its collateral damage on the shares of banks that are well positioned. Also, it would feel like "nationalization" which sounds like a political no-no. Finally, it might lead the troubled banks to subtly or not so subtly mask their troubles or "stresses".

And, if we agree that such an announcement would have caused even more havoc on the stock market what else is it that Obama and or Geithner could have done that would have made those folks happy?

Obama on Nationalizing the Banks

2009-02-11T21:22:00.006-07:00

There are a number of economists who favor some level of nationalization of the banks that are failing. There is some disappointment apparently that President Obama is not going in that direction right now in bailing out the banks. President Obama discussed his position on the issue earlier today.

The following is from an interview today with ABC's Terry Moran:

MORAN: There are a lot of economists who look at these banks and they say all that garbage that's in them renders them essentially insolvent. Why not just nationalize the banks?

OBAMA:Well, you know, it's interesting. There are two countries who have gone through some big financial crises over the last decade or two. One was Japan, which never really acknowledged the scale and magnitude of the problems in their banking system and that resulted in what's called "The Lost Decade." They kept on trying to paper over the problems. The markets sort of stayed up because the Japanese government kept on pumping money in. But, eventually, nothing happened and they didn't see any growth whatsoever.

Sweden, on the other hand, had a problem like this. They took over the banks, nationalized them, got rid of the bad assets, resold the banks and, a couple years later, they were going again. So you'd think looking at it, Sweden looks like a good model. Here's the problem; Sweden had like five banks. [LAUGHS] We've got thousands of banks. You know, the scale of the U.S. economy and the capital markets are so vast and the problems in terms of managing and overseeing anything of that scale, I think, would -- our assessment was that it wouldn't make sense. And we also have different traditions in this country.

Obviously, Sweden has a different set of cultures in terms of how the government relates to markets and America's different. And we want to retain a strong sense of that private capital fulfilling the core -- core investment needs of this country.

And so, what we've tried to do is to apply some of the tough love that's going to be necessary, but do it in a way that's also recognizing we've got big private capital markets and ultimately that's going to be the key to getting credit flowing again.

There has been an awful lot of criticism of the Treasury Secretary's announcement yesterday. I still haven't heard a good answer as to what he could have said that would have been better and I have a very hard time believing the stock market would have reacted better to an announcement that the government was taking over banks. I am not alone in this concern.

This morning I watched Joe Scarborough and Mike Barnicle acting incomprehensibly childish in their criticism of Secretary Geithner. I am about done with Morning Joe's antics. I don't find Rush Limbaughish type behavior very informative and its even less entertaining.

But, really... the closest I've heard to a substantive criticism is from Paul Krugman concerning the amount of detail in Geithner's plan. But, Krugman's answer is nationalization and I just think he's wrong and I am convinced Wall Street would despise the idea.

While it certainly can be said that the fact Wall Street dislikes an idea might make the idea more credible in this case I don't think so. As former Treasurer Secretary Robert Rubin recently commented, "Nationalization as an alternative has some serious problems. You certainly don't want a bank's lending practices subject to political pressure."

The other problem with nationalization is that it alone does not solve the toxic assets problem. Even if you nationalize the banks, you need to deal with these toxic assets that are crippling the banks. Many argue that the toxic assets issue is the biggest problem facing our banking system.

As I said yesterday, this problem is far more perplexing than the stimulus bill. Given the complexity, I am glad we have someone who can walk, talk, and think at the same time as President.

Obama's Stimulus

2009-02-11T21:13:00.002-07:00

So, it looks like there is a deal between the House and Senate that reconciles the difference between the two bills. It seems to me the process has worked. Since it was first introduced in the House a couple weeks ago a lot of extraneous spending programs have been pulled from it that are probably more meant for the appropriations bill later this year. The bill is very near the $800 billion President Obama has sought.

CNN is reporting that 35% of the $800 billion will be tax cuts. Which is a reduction from the 43% put into the bill in the Senate. Some of that money has been funneled back into money for the states, education, and health care.

Whatever the political pundits think, President Obama has pulled off a major accomplishment here a mere three weeks into his Presidency.

Next.

Obama Bailout, part V

2009-02-10T15:13:00.003-07:00

I'm determined to get sound analysis of this out today. Some thoughts from people smarter than me are below.

Floyd Norris writes:

The most important issue in making this work will be getting private capital to take the dubious assets off the banks’ balance sheets. It appears to me that the lending terms will be generous enough to make that happen, but we don’t know all the details yet.

There is a chicken-and-eggs aspect to this: If they can’t get the financial system going, and produce a sustaining economic recovery, then the value of the assets is likely to keep falling and those who invest in them will lose money, as will the taxpayers. But if they succeed, there is a good chance that many of these securities will end up worth much more than their current value.

Those interested in justice may be looking forward to tomorrow’s House hearing, where, as my colleague Andrew Ross Sorkin notes today, a group of bank chief executives are likely to be publicly flogged. The bankers who produced this mess deserve to suffer. But it is not easy to see how we revive the financial system while executing the people who run it.

Mr. Geithner helped to put into focus the fact that there are plenty of villains — including some of those who will be asking the questions this afternoon. He does not mention the press, but he could have. I did not pay nearly enough attention to the way the securitization markets were being misused.

Paul Krugman opines as follows:

The plan deserves praise for what isn’t in it, at least as far as I can tell. There doesn’t seem to be provision for mass purchases of toxic waste at premium prices; there also doesn’t seem to be a massive “ring-fencing” guarantee against private losses on bad assets. In that sense the plan is better than what the last few weeks of leaks led us to expect.

What is in it, in reverse order:

1. Super-TALF: a big expansion of the Fed’s quantitative easing, with Treasury backing. I’m OK with that.

2. Private-public purchases of questionable assets; as I understand it, private investors would be the junior partners, so this is probably not a big giveaway (unless there’s huge public financing, in which case it amounts to ring-fencing after all). I also suspect it wouldn’t accomplish much, but no harm, no foul.

3. Stress test: everything depends on how this is actually implemented. What happens if, or more likely when, a major money center bank is stress-tested and found to have negative net worth? One possibility is that the auditors are told to come up with a different answer; that’s a big concern. The other is that the bank is effectively nationalized; as I read the language that could be achieved as part of the public capital injection.

So what is the plan? I really don’t know, at least based on what we’ve seen today. But maybe, maybe, it’s a Trojan horse that smuggles the right policy into place.

Obama Bailout, part IV

2009-02-10T14:42:00.002-07:00

So, the reaction to the Geihtner plan is relatively bad. The dow drops 4.6% and financial expert after financial expert seems to be expressing concern or criticism.

The problem I see is that none of these folks has a reasonable alternative to what the administration is proposing to do here. I think the issue is truly that this is scary and complicated. It is scary because I am convinced that the real experts think are banking system is on the bring of disaster. It is complicated because unlike the stimulus bill the solution isn't really an easy answer.

We need the banks to free up credit so that businesses can invest again. But, the banks are reasonably reticent to be freeing up credit since being too free and loose with credit is in large part how we got in this mess.

The real solution to our banking system's problems is to get our economy on track again. The problem at least as I understand it is that our banks are in such dire straights that many if not most will not survive until the economy gets back on track. Thus, the banks need to be kept a float with large amounts of capital in the meantime. Somewhere in this list of problems is the concern over how to free these banks of so-called toxic assets that are weighing them down. Again, the issue here seems to be helping the banks survive until the economy is on track again.

My instinct on the banking issues is fairly conservative. I do not think that we want our government taking over our banks. I believe that banking is the type of business enterprise most efficiently run by private enterprise. I am concerned that government run banks will make decisions based more around social policy than sound fiscal policy. In areas like health care, education, and security making decisions based on social policy rather than fiscal policy makes complete sense to me.

The best response to my conservative opinion on managing the banking system is that the government could hardly do worse then the morons in private industry who got us into this mess. Thus, I think you get to the Geihtner plan which essentially is to via government regulation let the free enterprise system work with much more stringent oversight and accountability.

Obama Bailout, part III

2009-02-10T08:55:00.002-07:00

Here's a must see video in which Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D) (PA-11) responding to an extremely angry caller on CSPAN explains the very dire circumstance legislators were presented with in mid-September of 2008. The really important discussion begins about 2 minutes into the video.

Magnifico over at DailyKos has a good post on this video and the subject matter here.

The Motley Fool in a post about this time period writes:

Fools who read my blogs regularly know I have been fascinated by what may have been included within the dire warnings issued to members of Congress by Paulson and Bernanke behind closed doors on Thursday, September 18, 2008. As the debates lingered on over the week that followed, several members voiced their sense of shock over the severity of the warnings, while refusing to divulge the details to a public that deserves to know. Representative Sherman later revealed that members were warned that Martial Law would result if the $700 bailout plan was not passed, and Iguadland10 posted another video ascribing that particular warning to Paulson. The New York Times quoted Senator Dodd as jumping in when Charles Schumer described the meeting as 'somber': “Somber doesn’t begin to justify the words,” he said. “We have never heard language like this.” Also from NYT: Although Mr. Schumer, Mr. Dodd and other participants declined to repeat precisely what they were told by Mr. Bernanke and Mr. Paulson, they said the two men described the financial system as effectively bound in a knot that was being pulled tighter and tighter by the day.

As we contemplate the bank bailout proposal from the Obama Administration I think it is important to recognize the delicate situation our banking/financial system is in.

Obama Bailout, part II

2009-02-10T07:59:00.003-07:00

I must admit that the bank bailout issue is tougher for me to understand than the economics regarding the stimulus bill. Thus, I am trying hard to understand the President's bank bailout plan. Stephen Labaton and Edmund Andrews report for the New York Times today the outlines of the plan:

[1] It intends to call for the creation of a joint Treasury and Federal Reserve program, at an initial cost of $250 billion to $500 billion, to encourage investors to acquire soured mortgage-related assets from banks.

The Fed will use its balance sheet to provide the financing, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation might provide guarantees to investors who participate in the program, which some people might call a “bad bank.”

“This program will provide government capital and government financing to help leverage private capital to help get private markets working again for the legacy loans and assets that are now burdening the entire financial system,” Mr. Geithner said in his prepared remarks.

[2] A second component of the plan would broadly expand, to $500 billion to $1 trillion, an existing $200 billion program run by the Federal Reserve to try to unfreeze the market for commercial, student, auto and credit card loans.

[3] A third component would involve a review of the capital levels of all banks, including projections of future losses, to determine how much additional capital each bank should receive.

The capital injections would come out of the remaining $350 billion in the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP.

[4] A separate $50 billion initiative to enable millions of homeowners facing imminent foreclosure to renegotiate the terms of their mortgages is to be announced next week.

Obama Bailout

2009-02-10T06:56:00.002-07:00

At 11am EST today, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will announce the Obama Administration's plan to take $500 billion in bad assets off the books of struggling banks and expand a Federal Reserve program to support up to $1 trillion in asset-backed securities.

According to Reuters the plan includes:

(1) FUNDING FED PROGRAM

The Treasury will use some of the remaining bailout funds to help the Fed expand a program that had been set up to support consumer and small business lending.

Under the program -- the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility -- the Fed had planned to lend up to $200 billion to holders of AAA-rated asset-backed securities collateralized by auto, student, credit card and small business loans, to try to free up credit. The Treasury pledged $20 billion to cover potential losses the Fed might face.

(2) PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ON BAD ASSETS

Sources said Geithner would outline a public-private partnership that would aim to take $500 billion in distressed assets off bank books, with some sources saying the figure could be raised to $1 trillion. This would be akin to setting up a "bad bank" to clean up balance sheets.

...

Details on how the government would lure private investors to buy distressed assets were sketchy. Sources said private investors would be able to buy assets through low-cost funding from the Fed, perhaps obtained through the expanded TALF, or by using a Federal Deposit Insurance Corp guarantee program.

(3) MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE RELIEF

The White House had already promised to dedicate between $50 billion and $100 billion of remaining bailout funds to prevent foreclosures. An aide to the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee said $50 billion would be set aside for this purpose.

Sources said officials are considering a plan to have government-controlled mortgage enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac underwrite failing loans. The government would then give other mortgage companies a subsidy to follow the lead of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, according to the sources.

The evolving plan would be similar to a proposal that Democrats in Congress had favored to fund a mortgage guarantee program hatched by the FDIC under which the government would insure loans against default.

(4) CAPITAL INJECTIONS

Sources said the Treasury would continue tapping bailout funds to make investment in banks, but that the banks would first need to undergo a government review.

Banks deal with different regulators, but sources said those regulators will agree on common standards for rigorous stress-testing so that markets can have confidence they are safe and sound.

Under the investment program, the government has been taking preferred shares and warrants for future common shares at deep discounts.

However, a source said the government would likely begin taking preferred stakes that would eventually convert into common equity. The would buy time for a bank to recover before shareholders are diluted, but the government could eventually end up with large stakes in weak banks.

Banks receiving aid were also expected to have to detail how they were using the funds to increase lending and are likely to face toughened requirements restricting dividends and compensation. The administration was also expected to press them to take steps to reduce mortgage foreclosures.

Pundits wrong again

2009-02-09T09:34:00.003-07:00

So, after a week of hearing pundit after pundit conclude night after night that the Republicans were winning the PR war versus the President with regard to the stimulus package a poll gets released by Gallup showing that all of the pundits were wrong.

The numbers are not even close. According to Gallup, 67% of the country approves of the way President Obama is handling the bill and only 31% of the country approves of the way Republicans are handling the bill. Forty-eight percent of the country approves of the way Democrats in Congress are handling the bill.

What makes this even more amazing is that the American public is supportive of the President's handling of the stimulus bill despite being told repeatedly that they are not.

Sounds to me like Americans are happy that President Obama has at least tried to reach out to Republicans on the bill. And, in fact, though Obama is catching grief from the left over his efforts, the efforts are paying off in high approval numbers. Those high approval numbers will allow President Obama to get more of his agenda passed. And, you have to believe that it will get harder and harder for Republicans to obstruct in mass if these numbers continue.

I know it's hard for the political class to get used too, but Americans are actually paying attention to the substance of these debates.

P.S. The Obama Team is hitting the press hard on this point today. Read about it here.

Senate Compromise: Read the Bill

2009-02-08T17:37:00.002-07:00

For those of you with a lot more free time than me you can read the entire Senate Compromise Bill here.

A press release from the Senate Appropriations Committee summarizes the Bill here.

Working around the Filibuster

2009-02-08T07:36:00.003-07:00

If you are depressed about how the Republicans have been able to kidnap the Economic Recovery Bill working its way through Congress I urge you to remember something very important: the Congressional Budget Resolution and the Reconciliation Bill cannot be filibustered.

Call me crazy but I think the Administration's willingness to deal with Republicans in the current battle is in part due to the fact that they know they can get most of their budget preferences taken care of in the Budget process with Congress. I would be certain that there will be more expensive, progressive spending items in the eventual budget that passes through Congress.

The American Public Health Association has a nice summary of the budget and appropriations process here.

The Library of Congress explains a very important mechanism that I would anticipate being put to use by Congress very soon:

Congress may adopt a later budget resolution that revises the most recently adopted budget resolution. One of the mechanisms Congress uses to implement the constraints on revenue and spending is called the reconciliation process. Reconciliation is a multiple-step process designed to bring existing law in conformity with the most recently adopted concurrent resolution on the budget. The first step in the reconciliation process is the language found in a concurrent resolution on the budget instructing House and Senate committees to determine and recommend changes in laws or bills that will achieve the constraints established in the concurrent resolution on the budget. The instructions to a committee specify the amount of spending reductions or revenue changes a committee must attain and leave to the discretion of the committee the specific changes to laws or bills that must be made. The subsequent steps involve the combination of the various instructed committees' recommendations into an omnibus reconciliation bill or bills which are reported by the Committee on the Budget or by the one committee instructed, if only one committee has been instructed, and considered by the whole House. In the Senate, reconciliation bills reported from committee are entitled to expedited consideration, permitting a majority of Senators, rather than sixty, to assure consideration of the bill with limited time for amendments.

While commentators bloviate about whether or not Obama and the Democratic Party will get its way in Congress you would think somebody would be smart enough to mention this. Especially, when history tells us that the most important act of the Clinton Administration was the 1993 Omnibus Reconciliation Act. That Act is often given credit for playing a major role in the economic boom of the 1990s that increased the wages of most Americans and eventually resulted in budget surpluses.

As Wikipedia recites the history:

Ultimately every Republican in Congress voted against the bill, as did a number of Democrats. Vice President Al Gore broke a tie in the Senate on both the Senate bill and the conference report. The House bill passed 219-213.[1] The House passed the conference report on Thursday, August 5, 1993, by a vote of 218 to 216 (217 Democrats and 1 independent (Sanders (VT-I)) voting in favor; 41 Democrats and 175 Republicans voting against), and the Senate passed the conference report on the last day before their month's vacation, on Friday, August 6, 1993, by a vote of 51 to 50 (50 Democrats plus Vice President Gore voting in favor, 6 Democrats (Lautenberg (D-NJ), Bryan (D-NV), Nunn (D-GA), Johnston (D-LA), Boren (D-OK), and Shelby (D-AL) now (R-AL)) and 44 Republicans voting against). President Clinton signed the bill on August 10, 1993.

If that bill had been subject to the filibuster it never would have passed. History teaches some important lessons.

Friday Poetry

2009-02-06T22:46:00.002-07:00

The thing about the arts is that they live inside our hearts. The man can't take it away from us. Poetry, music, paintings, a story... they make us human. Words and music.

This week's Friday Poetry is Sam Beam and the band Iron & Wine. They are coming to Red Rocks in May and I cannot wait to see them under the stars of the world's greatest outdoor theater.

And, thus, I give you The Trapeze Swinger.

The Trapeze Swinger
by Sam Beam

Please, remember me
Happily
By the rosebush laughing
With bruises on my chin
The time when
We counted every black car passing
Your house beneath the hill
And up until
Someone caught us in the kitchen
With maps, a mountain range,
A piggy bank
A vision too removed to mention
But

Please, remember me
Fondly
I heard from someone you're still pretty
And then
They went on to say
That the pearly gates
Had some eloquent graffiti
Like 'We'll meet again'
And 'Fuck the man'
And 'Tell my mother not to worry'
And angels with their gray
Handshakes
Were always done in such a hurry
And

Please, remember me
At Halloween
Making fools of all the neighbors
Our faces painted white
By midnight
We'd forgotten one another
And when the morning came
I was ashamed
Only now it seems so silly
That season left the world
And then returned
And now you're lit up by the city
So

Please, remember me
Mistakenly
In the window of the tallest tower call
Then pass us by
But much too high
To see the empty road at happy hour
Leave and resonate
Just like the gates
Around the holy kingdom
With words like 'Lost and Found' and 'Don't Look Down'
And 'Someone Save Temptation'
And

Please, remember me
As in the dream
We had as rug-burned babies
Among the fallen trees
And fast asleep
Aside the lions and the ladies
That called you what you like
And even might
Give a gift for your behavior
A fleeting chance to see
A trapeze
Swing as high as any savior
But

Please, remember me
My misery
And how it lost me all I wanted
Those dogs that love the rain
And chasing trains
The colored birds above there running
In circles round the well
And where it spells
On the wall behind St. Peter's
So bright with cinder gray
And spray paint
'Who the hell can see forever?'
And

Please, remember me
Seldomly
In the car behind the carnival
My hand between your knees
You turn from me
And said 'The trapeze act was wonderful
But never meant to last'
The clown that passed
Saw me just come up with anger
When it filled with circus dogs
The parking lot
Had an element of danger
So

Please, remember me
Finally
And all my uphill clawing
My dear
But if i make
The pearly gates
Do my best to make a drawing
Of G-d and Lucifer
A boy and girl
An angel kissin on a sinner
A monkey and a man
A marching band
All around the frightened trapeze swingers

Poetry Friday is hosted today by my absolute favorite host, Elaine at Wild Rose Reader.

Stimulus Package: A deal?

2009-02-06T16:09:00.004-07:00

Multiple reports coming out that the Senate has reached a compromise on the Economic Recovery Package. It sounds like CNN is reporting the total package is around $780 billion. The deal involves cuts to both the spending portion and the tax cut portion.

P.S. According to CNN...

Democratic and Republican senators have reached a tentative agreement for a $780 billion stimulus package, according to two Democratic sources and a GOP negotiator.
Sen. George Voinovich leaves the negotiations, saying he has "philisophical" differences with the Republican approach.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has taken the list of cuts to the nearly $900 billion Senate bill to fellow Democrats, the sources said.

The Senate plans to reconvene at 6:30 p.m.

P.P.S. Word is that Rahm Emanuel, Obama's Chief of Staff, urged Democratic Senators to support the deal negotiated by Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Susan Collins (R-ME).

P.P.P.S. Watching Senate speeches on CSPAN2 and it is clear that Lindsey Graham has gone bye-bye.

Stimulus Package: Not much to cut afterall

2009-02-05T11:03:00.004-07:00

A group of so-called Senate moderates are working to cut about $78 billion dollars from the Economic Recovery Package that passed through the House of Representatives last week. For all of the blow hard talking about excess spending included in the package, these so-called moderates are not finding much to cut. In fact, according to a Memo circulating about of the $78 billion dollars they have identified for cutting, $56 billion is public education spending. Yes, you heard me correctly... $56 billion dollars they would rather not be spent on the education of our children. Apparently, the state's will just have to cut programs in public education. Maybe we should increase student-teacher ratios in red states to 35-to-1.

As TPM notes the education spending proposed for cutting includes:

$24.786 Billion on "State Stabilization Money"
$15 Billion for "State Incentive Grants"
$6.75 Billion for "IDEA", proposed cut 50%
$6.5 Billion for "Title I Funding", proposed cut 50%

If there was so much excessive, meaningless crap in the original bill why is it necessary to cut these programs out? Could it be true that media morons like Joe Scarborough are ignorant to this?

And, what will be said about the 36 Republican Senators who think that our economy requires zero dollars in spending stimulus?

A Rare Find

2009-02-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

Could it really be!?

Video: Rehearsal footage from Prince

Buddy Holly

2009-02-04T13:49:00.000-07:00

I hate how this sounds, but while I was checking out Mike's Shorts [see sidebar] I noticed the mention of Buddy Holly...thus prompting me to share the following interesting article.

Oh boy: Why Buddy Holly still matters today: How is it that a bespectacled youth from Texas, who died aged 22 in a plane crash, is still revered 50 years on? Just listen to the outpouring of perfect rock'n'roll Buddy Holly produced in a career that lasted only 18 months.

Holly's legend lives on in a variety of music.