Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Riots in Athens?
The headlines for ATHENS are terrifying tales of masked youths and looters running wild through the streets. The violence, triggered by the police shooting of a teenager, has now entered it's fourth night. Media outlets have reported that the violence has escalated to the point it threatens to topple the Greek Government.
Shortly after reading reports and watching clips on-line I received this letter from a woman visiting Athens. Her report puts a different perspective on the extent of the riots.
From: Carole Heiman Kezios
[mailto:carole@athenspenthouses.com]
Subject: Those "riots" in Athens ....
I don’t know if you have seen the news reports about what is happening in Athens – but I thought I would send you this update and my take on things in case you have been watching the news – for those of my friends who have been involved in political campaigns and the like, the way stories get “altered” by the press, the way reporting gets distorted, accounts twisted and exaggerated and / or minimized won’t be anything new to you:
We arrived back in Athens on Sunday afternoon, learning about the “riots” from Yannis, the driver who often picks up our guests and usually meets us when we arrive at the airport as well.
Yannis told us that earlier in the day and the night before there had been chaos around the Polytechnio (The Technical University of Athens) over the fatal shooting by a police officer of a 15 year old boy. He did not know at that time the details surrounding the shooting, but he did know that there were groups of teens burning things, smashing windows and in general causing mayhem in this particular area, as well as in an area a Ministry building around Panormou (neither of which are near our neighborhood). Since we had returned to Athens for my mother in law’s funeral, we left Athens early Monday morning to go to Tripolis. We traveled through the city and traffic (and everything else) seemed pretty normal (there was the usual morning traffic, a bit of a jam on the highway, nothing out of the ordinary).
Protests and demonstrations are a familiar part of Greek life, we are used to them, people staying in hotels or working around Syntagma Square (the Square across from the Greek Parliament building) are used to them, and the Athens police force has “moveable” precincts, which they frequently deploy to close off streets as marches move through the city. I’ve witnessed many over the years, and though I’ve found them annoying if I was in a hurry, I’ve always sort of admired the way they are here: In the US demonstrators are often given a “square” area to march in circles. In Greece the people take to the streets, marching from one part of the city to a particular government building depending on what they are protesting. To me it is the ultimate in democracy – lovely to me since I witness this in the birthplace of democracy. (Some of our guests have even taken their kids to see them, to illustrate democracy in action!) I also find them somewhat entertaining, as Greeks, being the passionate people they are, lovers of drama and exaggeration, will latch on to a government proposal or recently passed piece of legislation, and ultimately someone will have a beef with is, opening up the excuse for either a protest march or a strike or both. I’ve often wondered if they just planned these strikes and demonstrations to accumulate extra vacation time or days off, since these “events” are so well scheduled, planned far in advance, and often coupled with a holiday or even a long weekend. So it was with these thoughts that we took Yannis’ report somewhat with a grain of salt.
But, while in Tripolis on Monday we finally had the chance to watch the news. What we saw left us shocked, and honestly a little bit scared. Every channel showed clips of fires burning, reports of rioters roaming the streets, starting fires and destroying everything on their route, from the Polytechnio campus on the north, down through Omonia Square (a popular centrally located square) and to Syntagma Square. We flipped stations and saw the same scene: fires, fires and more fires – Athens is burning the announcers kept saying. But as we continued to watch, we noticed the same clips running over and over and over again on different stations. And in these clips we would see only a handful of people on the streets, followed by interviews where we learned the police were commanded to have no interactions, no confrontations, no involvement at all, with the “rioters”. After the funeral we had a chance to speak with some of Basil’s relatives who had also driven in from Athens. I asked several of them why the police did not stop these people, and the answer was the same from them all: In the 70’s Greece had a military junta, and during this time the students took over the Polytechnio to protest the military junta, and the government brought in tanks and troops to overcome them, killing 24 people in the process. It is a very sad time in Greece’s history, and most politicians are very sensitive to ordering police crackdowns when youth are involved in protests and demonstrations, for fear of looking like the military junta in 1973. And thus, police were ordered to avoid any confrontations.
We heard conflicting reports as to whether the boy who had been shot and killed was participating in a protest demonstration in which students were throwing rocks at the police who were there to keep them in line, or that he was merely a passerby, in the wrong place at the wrong time. One policeman fired 3 shots, two in the air and one straight ahead – and this boy was struck, apparently by one of the upward fired bullets on its way back down, perhaps. No one seems to know for sure if the shots were aimed at the boy or if he was caught in the crossfire (as I’ve said, there are conflicting reports) – but the policeman was arrested and jailed, as it is not the custom to use real bullets ever during demonstrations (they do use a lot of tear gas and also rubber bullets, perhaps water hoses as well, but never anything that could result in death, for the reasons I listed above).
Late Monday night we returned to Athens, and on Tuesday we again watched the television coverage and read news reports. Hotels evacuated on Syntagma Square, the metro was being shut down, “the city braces for a night worse than any so far” said the newscaster reporting on the funeral of the boy who was killed. The funeral would be at 3 pm, in a southern suburb, and by 4 pm they were reporting that while the funeral was peaceful, in Syntagma protesters tried to “storm the Parliament building” and elsewhere more fires were burning.
We also had a chance to speak with guests in our Beta penthouse – a family with 2 toddlers – they reported walking through Syntagma without anyone bothering them on Monday early in the day, while another guest reported taking the trolley through Syntagma on Monday afternoon, there were some broken windows and burned garbage cans, but nothing that she thought looked like the remains of what she had seen on television the night before.
By this time we decided we needed to get an idea of what was going on, so around 5 PM we set out for the historical center, Plaka and Thissio and then we drove around Omonia Square and through Syntagma Square, down Vasilis Sophias street, with its elegant mansions and museums and through the “Rigillis” area, where the diplomats live and which borders our neighborhood along with the Old Olympic Stadium before we returned home. The streets in the historical center were quiet, many stores and restaurants were closed, but those that were open did have some people eating or drinking coffee, but other than how quiet it was, nothing in this area seemed out of the ordinary, and we didn’t see any damage or destruction. In Thissio, we visited our newly arrived guest at the Heritage House, and again, the streets were quiet, but we saw nothing that could have been attributed to fires, riots or protests. We had dinner at one of our favorite Thissio favorites, giant plates piled with lamb chops, and then wandered back along the Ancient Agora to our favorite dessert place, climbed up to the glass enclosed rooftop of Chocolate Café for coffee, loukoumades and to survey the area from this vantage point. Things looked normal from here – we saw no fires or smoke, there were certainly fewer people below on Apostolou Pavlou, but in general, things seemed normal.
Now for us the real test was to drive through Omonia, Kolonaki and Syntagma – when we reached the intersection where the choice had to be made, a right turn would send us right into the two squares, a left turn would take us in a circle around the historical center, up Sygrou and completely avoid the two “riot zones”. Since I was the only “non Greek” in the car, the Greek obsession with drama won out: we turned right and headed past Gazi (quiet, nothing looked damaged from the street we could see) and into Omonia. As we got about 2 blocks from the square two fire trucks pulled in front of us, lights flashing. There was a collective deep breath, as we could no longer turn around to avoid the Square. The trucks turned into a parking lot a block down, and began hosing down a dilapidated Neo-Classical building that was smoking from the top.
As we continued we saw the streets littered with papers, and the remains of several garbage dumpsters, two or three burned “kiosks”, the corner newsstands which supply Athenians with newspapers, magazine, cigarettes and candy. In the square itself, as in the restaurants and souvlaki stands around the square, people milled about, ate or drank coffee. No one seemed to be “en masse” and it was basically quiet. On the far side of the square we saw one building with the ground floor burned out. From Omonia we drove down Stadiou street, a commercial street with lots of retail, which the news had been reporting to be “devastated and completely destroyed”. Other than the previously mentioned building on the far side of the square, we found no burned buildings, a couple of storefronts had metal covering the windows – we don’t know if this was preventative or a Greek style board up service, although there was no sign of fire on the walls surrounding the windows.
From Stadiou we headed to Akadamias, on the way we saw the remains of a torched BMW. There was one block where 3 storefronts in a row were burned, and 2 blocks before we arrived at Syntagma, across from the University, a corner storefront had been gutted by fire.
In Syntagma Square the 3 luxury hotels, the Grand Bretagne, the King George and the Plaza were all boarded up – they seemed closed to the public and we had heard that all guests had been evacuated. The Square itself was basically quiet, though there were some tourists watching the changing of the guard, some younger people wandering around, some papers littered the street corner and there were the remains of burned garbage cans in front of the Parliament building. The banks lining one side of the Square all had broken windows. We also saw a burned out Eurobank, but now we can’t recall if that was on Syntagma or near Omonia.
Our drive around the square was pretty uneventful. McDonald’s appeared to have applied protective plastic to their windows, as did some of the other stores that appeared unharmed.
So, while the whole country is certainly in mourning over the death of the 15 year old boy, I would say that the media coverage has been greatly exaggerated. Having just returned from the historical center, Syntagma and Omonia squares, I would say that there’s no danger violence or “riots” will impact your stay in Athens. Although I cannot figure out what is behind this, there was a lot of talk on morning TV and radio that the left would like to force new elections, and that in some way they “encouraged” the disappointment in young people which lead to the demonstrations which lead to the shooting which lead to the mayhem. These commentators also said that those in the left who did this certainly never imagined it would go so far. I have another take on things, and though I’m no political commentator, I’ve lived here long enough to have an opinion about it: In reality there were not the “mass riots” described in the news – there were groups of a 6 – 10 angry people, perhaps a couple hundred in all, roaming around Athens, intent on causing destruction. These people have always existed, but the police in the past have been able to control them. The circumstances of the shooting and the order not to get into confrontations meant the police could not act as they would normally have, and things got out of hand, not only on the streets, but in the press as well, until we expected to find the entire central area burned down when we returned to Athens, only to find some pockets of random destruction. (Which I am not saying makes it ok – but really, it was nothing like the 5 of us imagined it would be – and our guests who are here now reported the same thing. Watching the news one would think the world had ended for Athens!)
Unfortunately the mass media in Greece, in its overzealous attempt to make headlines and increase their viewership by creating drama, has made the situation seem far worse than it really is. I’m pretty certain that just as last week’s sensationalized media
Shortly after reading reports and watching clips on-line I received this letter from a woman visiting Athens. Her report puts a different perspective on the extent of the riots.
From: Carole Heiman Kezios
[mailto:carole@athenspenthouses.com]
Subject: Those "riots" in Athens ....
I don’t know if you have seen the news reports about what is happening in Athens – but I thought I would send you this update and my take on things in case you have been watching the news – for those of my friends who have been involved in political campaigns and the like, the way stories get “altered” by the press, the way reporting gets distorted, accounts twisted and exaggerated and / or minimized won’t be anything new to you:
We arrived back in Athens on Sunday afternoon, learning about the “riots” from Yannis, the driver who often picks up our guests and usually meets us when we arrive at the airport as well.
Yannis told us that earlier in the day and the night before there had been chaos around the Polytechnio (The Technical University of Athens) over the fatal shooting by a police officer of a 15 year old boy. He did not know at that time the details surrounding the shooting, but he did know that there were groups of teens burning things, smashing windows and in general causing mayhem in this particular area, as well as in an area a Ministry building around Panormou (neither of which are near our neighborhood). Since we had returned to Athens for my mother in law’s funeral, we left Athens early Monday morning to go to Tripolis. We traveled through the city and traffic (and everything else) seemed pretty normal (there was the usual morning traffic, a bit of a jam on the highway, nothing out of the ordinary).
Protests and demonstrations are a familiar part of Greek life, we are used to them, people staying in hotels or working around Syntagma Square (the Square across from the Greek Parliament building) are used to them, and the Athens police force has “moveable” precincts, which they frequently deploy to close off streets as marches move through the city. I’ve witnessed many over the years, and though I’ve found them annoying if I was in a hurry, I’ve always sort of admired the way they are here: In the US demonstrators are often given a “square” area to march in circles. In Greece the people take to the streets, marching from one part of the city to a particular government building depending on what they are protesting. To me it is the ultimate in democracy – lovely to me since I witness this in the birthplace of democracy. (Some of our guests have even taken their kids to see them, to illustrate democracy in action!) I also find them somewhat entertaining, as Greeks, being the passionate people they are, lovers of drama and exaggeration, will latch on to a government proposal or recently passed piece of legislation, and ultimately someone will have a beef with is, opening up the excuse for either a protest march or a strike or both. I’ve often wondered if they just planned these strikes and demonstrations to accumulate extra vacation time or days off, since these “events” are so well scheduled, planned far in advance, and often coupled with a holiday or even a long weekend. So it was with these thoughts that we took Yannis’ report somewhat with a grain of salt.
But, while in Tripolis on Monday we finally had the chance to watch the news. What we saw left us shocked, and honestly a little bit scared. Every channel showed clips of fires burning, reports of rioters roaming the streets, starting fires and destroying everything on their route, from the Polytechnio campus on the north, down through Omonia Square (a popular centrally located square) and to Syntagma Square. We flipped stations and saw the same scene: fires, fires and more fires – Athens is burning the announcers kept saying. But as we continued to watch, we noticed the same clips running over and over and over again on different stations. And in these clips we would see only a handful of people on the streets, followed by interviews where we learned the police were commanded to have no interactions, no confrontations, no involvement at all, with the “rioters”. After the funeral we had a chance to speak with some of Basil’s relatives who had also driven in from Athens. I asked several of them why the police did not stop these people, and the answer was the same from them all: In the 70’s Greece had a military junta, and during this time the students took over the Polytechnio to protest the military junta, and the government brought in tanks and troops to overcome them, killing 24 people in the process. It is a very sad time in Greece’s history, and most politicians are very sensitive to ordering police crackdowns when youth are involved in protests and demonstrations, for fear of looking like the military junta in 1973. And thus, police were ordered to avoid any confrontations.
We heard conflicting reports as to whether the boy who had been shot and killed was participating in a protest demonstration in which students were throwing rocks at the police who were there to keep them in line, or that he was merely a passerby, in the wrong place at the wrong time. One policeman fired 3 shots, two in the air and one straight ahead – and this boy was struck, apparently by one of the upward fired bullets on its way back down, perhaps. No one seems to know for sure if the shots were aimed at the boy or if he was caught in the crossfire (as I’ve said, there are conflicting reports) – but the policeman was arrested and jailed, as it is not the custom to use real bullets ever during demonstrations (they do use a lot of tear gas and also rubber bullets, perhaps water hoses as well, but never anything that could result in death, for the reasons I listed above).
Late Monday night we returned to Athens, and on Tuesday we again watched the television coverage and read news reports. Hotels evacuated on Syntagma Square, the metro was being shut down, “the city braces for a night worse than any so far” said the newscaster reporting on the funeral of the boy who was killed. The funeral would be at 3 pm, in a southern suburb, and by 4 pm they were reporting that while the funeral was peaceful, in Syntagma protesters tried to “storm the Parliament building” and elsewhere more fires were burning.
We also had a chance to speak with guests in our Beta penthouse – a family with 2 toddlers – they reported walking through Syntagma without anyone bothering them on Monday early in the day, while another guest reported taking the trolley through Syntagma on Monday afternoon, there were some broken windows and burned garbage cans, but nothing that she thought looked like the remains of what she had seen on television the night before.
By this time we decided we needed to get an idea of what was going on, so around 5 PM we set out for the historical center, Plaka and Thissio and then we drove around Omonia Square and through Syntagma Square, down Vasilis Sophias street, with its elegant mansions and museums and through the “Rigillis” area, where the diplomats live and which borders our neighborhood along with the Old Olympic Stadium before we returned home. The streets in the historical center were quiet, many stores and restaurants were closed, but those that were open did have some people eating or drinking coffee, but other than how quiet it was, nothing in this area seemed out of the ordinary, and we didn’t see any damage or destruction. In Thissio, we visited our newly arrived guest at the Heritage House, and again, the streets were quiet, but we saw nothing that could have been attributed to fires, riots or protests. We had dinner at one of our favorite Thissio favorites, giant plates piled with lamb chops, and then wandered back along the Ancient Agora to our favorite dessert place, climbed up to the glass enclosed rooftop of Chocolate Café for coffee, loukoumades and to survey the area from this vantage point. Things looked normal from here – we saw no fires or smoke, there were certainly fewer people below on Apostolou Pavlou, but in general, things seemed normal.
Now for us the real test was to drive through Omonia, Kolonaki and Syntagma – when we reached the intersection where the choice had to be made, a right turn would send us right into the two squares, a left turn would take us in a circle around the historical center, up Sygrou and completely avoid the two “riot zones”. Since I was the only “non Greek” in the car, the Greek obsession with drama won out: we turned right and headed past Gazi (quiet, nothing looked damaged from the street we could see) and into Omonia. As we got about 2 blocks from the square two fire trucks pulled in front of us, lights flashing. There was a collective deep breath, as we could no longer turn around to avoid the Square. The trucks turned into a parking lot a block down, and began hosing down a dilapidated Neo-Classical building that was smoking from the top.
As we continued we saw the streets littered with papers, and the remains of several garbage dumpsters, two or three burned “kiosks”, the corner newsstands which supply Athenians with newspapers, magazine, cigarettes and candy. In the square itself, as in the restaurants and souvlaki stands around the square, people milled about, ate or drank coffee. No one seemed to be “en masse” and it was basically quiet. On the far side of the square we saw one building with the ground floor burned out. From Omonia we drove down Stadiou street, a commercial street with lots of retail, which the news had been reporting to be “devastated and completely destroyed”. Other than the previously mentioned building on the far side of the square, we found no burned buildings, a couple of storefronts had metal covering the windows – we don’t know if this was preventative or a Greek style board up service, although there was no sign of fire on the walls surrounding the windows.
From Stadiou we headed to Akadamias, on the way we saw the remains of a torched BMW. There was one block where 3 storefronts in a row were burned, and 2 blocks before we arrived at Syntagma, across from the University, a corner storefront had been gutted by fire.
In Syntagma Square the 3 luxury hotels, the Grand Bretagne, the King George and the Plaza were all boarded up – they seemed closed to the public and we had heard that all guests had been evacuated. The Square itself was basically quiet, though there were some tourists watching the changing of the guard, some younger people wandering around, some papers littered the street corner and there were the remains of burned garbage cans in front of the Parliament building. The banks lining one side of the Square all had broken windows. We also saw a burned out Eurobank, but now we can’t recall if that was on Syntagma or near Omonia.
Our drive around the square was pretty uneventful. McDonald’s appeared to have applied protective plastic to their windows, as did some of the other stores that appeared unharmed.
So, while the whole country is certainly in mourning over the death of the 15 year old boy, I would say that the media coverage has been greatly exaggerated. Having just returned from the historical center, Syntagma and Omonia squares, I would say that there’s no danger violence or “riots” will impact your stay in Athens. Although I cannot figure out what is behind this, there was a lot of talk on morning TV and radio that the left would like to force new elections, and that in some way they “encouraged” the disappointment in young people which lead to the demonstrations which lead to the shooting which lead to the mayhem. These commentators also said that those in the left who did this certainly never imagined it would go so far. I have another take on things, and though I’m no political commentator, I’ve lived here long enough to have an opinion about it: In reality there were not the “mass riots” described in the news – there were groups of a 6 – 10 angry people, perhaps a couple hundred in all, roaming around Athens, intent on causing destruction. These people have always existed, but the police in the past have been able to control them. The circumstances of the shooting and the order not to get into confrontations meant the police could not act as they would normally have, and things got out of hand, not only on the streets, but in the press as well, until we expected to find the entire central area burned down when we returned to Athens, only to find some pockets of random destruction. (Which I am not saying makes it ok – but really, it was nothing like the 5 of us imagined it would be – and our guests who are here now reported the same thing. Watching the news one would think the world had ended for Athens!)
Unfortunately the mass media in Greece, in its overzealous attempt to make headlines and increase their viewership by creating drama, has made the situation seem far worse than it really is. I’m pretty certain that just as last week’s sensationalized media
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Urban Insurance Agency has been helping customers save money on their car insurance for more than 45 years. We represent 20 different companies in order to find you the lowest price on your Auto Insurance.
We feature SR22 Filings at the Lowest Rates in Chicago!
Poor Credit or No Credit is Never a Problem!
More than 45 Years Experience!
Call Urban Insurance Agency for a Free Car Insurance Quote. 1-800-680-0707
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Rod Blagojevich Arrested
Sure, any state can have a corrupt governor, But it seems as if Illinois is poised to go for a new record by having two former governors in prison at the same time.
Today, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald announced that Illinois's current seated top executive was being arrested on charges that he was actively engaged in trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder. Federal prosecutor Fitzgerald, described the actions of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich as a "corruption crime spree." This announcement follows months of a steady drip of information and indictments making today's statement almost anticlimactic. For most people following the daily headlines across the Chicago papers, it was clear where the investigation was heading.
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald made it clear at today's news conference, that there were "no allegations" Obama was aware of any alleged scheming.
It was also Fitzgerald who was heading the case against the former Governor George Ryan that led to his arrest and incarceration. At that time he called Ryan's sabotaging of investigations into bribes in exchange for commercial licenses "a low-water mark for public service." Which brings to mind the phrase " How Low Can You Go"!
Today, U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald announced that Illinois's current seated top executive was being arrested on charges that he was actively engaged in trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama vacant Senate seat to the highest bidder. Federal prosecutor Fitzgerald, described the actions of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich as a "corruption crime spree." This announcement follows months of a steady drip of information and indictments making today's statement almost anticlimactic. For most people following the daily headlines across the Chicago papers, it was clear where the investigation was heading.
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald made it clear at today's news conference, that there were "no allegations" Obama was aware of any alleged scheming.
It was also Fitzgerald who was heading the case against the former Governor George Ryan that led to his arrest and incarceration. At that time he called Ryan's sabotaging of investigations into bribes in exchange for commercial licenses "a low-water mark for public service." Which brings to mind the phrase " How Low Can You Go"!
Do you notice any pattern?
Otto Kerner
Dan Walker
George Ryan
Rod Blagojevich
Monday, December 8, 2008
Jim Kirsch
12/08/2008
With our nation in a deep recession, suburbs coast to coast are experiencing the same fiscal pressures that impacting Big cities and small towns alike. As more people loose there jobs, the need for "Social Services" increase, while the tax base decreases. This reality places elected officials in the position of needing to make very difficult choices, and with a very small room for error.
A city must balance the immediate needs of it's citizens while not selling out the long term goals and values that keep current, as well as attract new residents to call that city home.
It is for that reason that UrbanNewsBlog.com endorses Jim Kirsch for the Highland Park City Council.
Jim Kirsch in his role as Chairman of the “Finance Committee” was a driving force in Maintaining Highland Park's AAA bond rating. Jim worked closely with local businesses searching for ways to help keep them, and their jobs in Highland Park. These actions helped to build, and grow the sales tax base. As a result of the fiscal responsibility, and restraint shown by Jim Kirsch, Highland Park enters these trying economic times on solid ground.
We are also happy to hear that Mr. Kirsch continues to push for providing affordable housing for retired residents of Highland Park who want to remain in our community but cannot afford the tremendous tax increases.
In a resent interview Councilman Kirsch stated " As a life-long resident of Highland Park, It upsets me to hear of seniors that after decades of being a critical part of our town's success, find them- selves unable to afford to remain"
It is Jim Kirsch's balance between practicality and compassion that makes him such an obvious choice for reelection.
Urban News Blog
With our nation in a deep recession, suburbs coast to coast are experiencing the same fiscal pressures that impacting Big cities and small towns alike. As more people loose there jobs, the need for "Social Services" increase, while the tax base decreases. This reality places elected officials in the position of needing to make very difficult choices, and with a very small room for error.
A city must balance the immediate needs of it's citizens while not selling out the long term goals and values that keep current, as well as attract new residents to call that city home.
It is for that reason that UrbanNewsBlog.com endorses Jim Kirsch for the Highland Park City Council.
Jim Kirsch in his role as Chairman of the “Finance Committee” was a driving force in Maintaining Highland Park's AAA bond rating. Jim worked closely with local businesses searching for ways to help keep them, and their jobs in Highland Park. These actions helped to build, and grow the sales tax base. As a result of the fiscal responsibility, and restraint shown by Jim Kirsch, Highland Park enters these trying economic times on solid ground.
We are also happy to hear that Mr. Kirsch continues to push for providing affordable housing for retired residents of Highland Park who want to remain in our community but cannot afford the tremendous tax increases.
In a resent interview Councilman Kirsch stated " As a life-long resident of Highland Park, It upsets me to hear of seniors that after decades of being a critical part of our town's success, find them- selves unable to afford to remain"
It is Jim Kirsch's balance between practicality and compassion that makes him such an obvious choice for reelection.
Urban News Blog
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Too Big To Fail?
KEN THOMAS wrote about U.S.. automakers drawing fresh skepticism from lawmakers Thursday, over their pleas for an expanded $34 billion rescue package they say they need to survive.. Congressional analysts said one bailout plan under consideration would fall short of what the car-makers want.
I know opposition to the bailout is strong by many in congress, But the truth is we have no choice !
Yes it will cost us a lot of money to bail out Detroit's Big Three auto makers, but less than it will cost not to, and loose those jobs.
If those 1,000,000 jobs disappear, the tax payers end up with a $10 Billion bill for Unemployment insurance. The US government gets stuck with paying all of the pensions- and another $20 Billion.Then you have the loss of income tax, state taxes, sales tax, I did not do that math but at would clearly again come in at billions of dollars.
America will end up with maybe 2,000,000 more people without medical insurance, the government will again have to step in and pick-up those costs. Just because a family finds it's self with out insurance, does not mean they will not end up in a hospital receiving expensive medical care. Unable to pay for insurance or the resulting bills, the states and the federal government will need to address those bills; shot of that help; hospitals all across Michigan, Indiana and Illinois will be forced to close.
Not only does the auto industry directly and indirectly account for more than 2,000,000 US. jobs, but those jobs are disproportionately concentrated in Midwestern states. Detroit's economy, already in deep recession, will find it's self in a "Death spiral". Illinois and Indiana each have close ties to the auto industry and will see greatly increased unemployment. While home values have taken a hit coast to coast, concentrated job loss will result in drastic drops in home prices in those areas. How many banks will fail because ex GM workers will not be able to pay their mortgages? Does Congress turn down the big three, only to then bail out the banks that got stuck with the mortgages that the auto workers could no longer pay.
GM is not too big to fail - it is just too big for it to be in our interest to let it fail.
www.urbaninsuranceagency.com
I know opposition to the bailout is strong by many in congress, But the truth is we have no choice !
Yes it will cost us a lot of money to bail out Detroit's Big Three auto makers, but less than it will cost not to, and loose those jobs.
If those 1,000,000 jobs disappear, the tax payers end up with a $10 Billion bill for Unemployment insurance. The US government gets stuck with paying all of the pensions- and another $20 Billion.Then you have the loss of income tax, state taxes, sales tax, I did not do that math but at would clearly again come in at billions of dollars.
America will end up with maybe 2,000,000 more people without medical insurance, the government will again have to step in and pick-up those costs. Just because a family finds it's self with out insurance, does not mean they will not end up in a hospital receiving expensive medical care. Unable to pay for insurance or the resulting bills, the states and the federal government will need to address those bills; shot of that help; hospitals all across Michigan, Indiana and Illinois will be forced to close.
Not only does the auto industry directly and indirectly account for more than 2,000,000 US. jobs, but those jobs are disproportionately concentrated in Midwestern states. Detroit's economy, already in deep recession, will find it's self in a "Death spiral". Illinois and Indiana each have close ties to the auto industry and will see greatly increased unemployment. While home values have taken a hit coast to coast, concentrated job loss will result in drastic drops in home prices in those areas. How many banks will fail because ex GM workers will not be able to pay their mortgages? Does Congress turn down the big three, only to then bail out the banks that got stuck with the mortgages that the auto workers could no longer pay.
GM is not too big to fail - it is just too big for it to be in our interest to let it fail.
www.urbaninsuranceagency.com
Monday, December 1, 2008
Pirates Riding the Seas in 2008
Larry Lubell
Close your eyes as someone mentions pirates, and your likely to have your head filled with images of gallant, swashbuckling men with a parrot on their shoulder and a cutlass in hand. The "Bad-boys" of the sea, in a Robin Hood meets Keith Richard hybrid. Our image has forever been shaped by Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, as well as by Disney, Fairbanks and Halloween costumes.
Time creates legends, mixing one part truth, with two parts fantasy, then laying levels of artistic license. The end product, an icon "Blackbeard" might embrace, although one he is unlikely to recognize. A metamorphosis from a murderous bands of thugs terrorizing the seas, raping woman, setting ships ablaze; to a capped-toothed Johnny Depp and his waif super-model girlfriend/hostage. The classic era of piracy in the Caribbean began in the 1560's with the period from 1700 until the 1730s as the zenith of the pirates reign. We no longer see events through the eyes of the Spanish or Portuguese Empires protecting their ships and the wealth the they carried.
Today the news is filled with stories of a new batch of Pirates, yet we don't see them through the fog of time. These bands we view with the pain of 9/11 clear and fresh. When one of their leaders known only as Boyah, issued a statement to the press, the world listened; but did not like what it heard.
"The pirates are living between life and death," said the pirate leader, . "Who can stop them? Americans and British all put together cannot do anything."
Boyah said that the piracy began when large foreign fishing trawlers depleted local fish stocks, and fuel prices soared making difficult traditional coastal fishing unprofitable. At first their attacks were against the trawlers, but soon the trawler's crews began fighting back with heavy artillery. The fishermen in their smaller boats were no match; so the sought out "Softer Targets"
"We went into the deep ocean and hijacked the unarmed cargo ships," Boyah said.
Far from isolated insistences, the past year has seen the number of attacks has increase both in number as well as scale. The International Maritime Bureau recognizes more than 90 pirate attacks off the East Africa coast thus far in 2008.
When attacks are successful, The pirates take there captured ships into Somali waters, where the crew, ships and cargo are held until a ransom demand is met. In the past weeks the ante has been raised again with the capture of a Saudi supertanker carrying more than $100 million of crude oil, and a cargo-ship loaded with Russian-built tanks. Moses Wetangula, Kenya's foreign minister put the ransoms paid at more than $150 million.
The reality is the pirates realize the hijackings have been profitable, and the world has been unsuccessful in stopping the attacks. Until recently,many of the shippers looked at these attacks as just a part of the cost of doing business; there seems to have been a turn in the way nations are perceiving the threat. It appears the very level of success of the Somali bands might bring about their undoing. The very scale of their criminal acts have brought world powers to the brink of deploying armies to address the growing threat. If the Somali fisherman pirates were foiled by armed crews of trawlers, one must assume that jet fighters and nuclear subs can have similar success.
Who knows, maybe in a hundred years Boyah and his followers names will be spoken of along-side famous Caribbean pirates like Edward Teach or "Blackbeard" or Henry Morgan. Maybe the Disneyland that's part of a future space station, will create a ride in their honor, but in 2008 they are a bunch of criminals that need to be stopped.
Larry Lubell
www.UrbanNewsBlog.com
Close your eyes as someone mentions pirates, and your likely to have your head filled with images of gallant, swashbuckling men with a parrot on their shoulder and a cutlass in hand. The "Bad-boys" of the sea, in a Robin Hood meets Keith Richard hybrid. Our image has forever been shaped by Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, as well as by Disney, Fairbanks and Halloween costumes.
Time creates legends, mixing one part truth, with two parts fantasy, then laying levels of artistic license. The end product, an icon "Blackbeard" might embrace, although one he is unlikely to recognize. A metamorphosis from a murderous bands of thugs terrorizing the seas, raping woman, setting ships ablaze; to a capped-toothed Johnny Depp and his waif super-model girlfriend/hostage. The classic era of piracy in the Caribbean began in the 1560's with the period from 1700 until the 1730s as the zenith of the pirates reign. We no longer see events through the eyes of the Spanish or Portuguese Empires protecting their ships and the wealth the they carried.
Today the news is filled with stories of a new batch of Pirates, yet we don't see them through the fog of time. These bands we view with the pain of 9/11 clear and fresh. When one of their leaders known only as Boyah, issued a statement to the press, the world listened; but did not like what it heard.
"The pirates are living between life and death," said the pirate leader, . "Who can stop them? Americans and British all put together cannot do anything."
Boyah said that the piracy began when large foreign fishing trawlers depleted local fish stocks, and fuel prices soared making difficult traditional coastal fishing unprofitable. At first their attacks were against the trawlers, but soon the trawler's crews began fighting back with heavy artillery. The fishermen in their smaller boats were no match; so the sought out "Softer Targets"
"We went into the deep ocean and hijacked the unarmed cargo ships," Boyah said.
Far from isolated insistences, the past year has seen the number of attacks has increase both in number as well as scale. The International Maritime Bureau recognizes more than 90 pirate attacks off the East Africa coast thus far in 2008.
When attacks are successful, The pirates take there captured ships into Somali waters, where the crew, ships and cargo are held until a ransom demand is met. In the past weeks the ante has been raised again with the capture of a Saudi supertanker carrying more than $100 million of crude oil, and a cargo-ship loaded with Russian-built tanks. Moses Wetangula, Kenya's foreign minister put the ransoms paid at more than $150 million.
The reality is the pirates realize the hijackings have been profitable, and the world has been unsuccessful in stopping the attacks. Until recently,many of the shippers looked at these attacks as just a part of the cost of doing business; there seems to have been a turn in the way nations are perceiving the threat. It appears the very level of success of the Somali bands might bring about their undoing. The very scale of their criminal acts have brought world powers to the brink of deploying armies to address the growing threat. If the Somali fisherman pirates were foiled by armed crews of trawlers, one must assume that jet fighters and nuclear subs can have similar success.
Who knows, maybe in a hundred years Boyah and his followers names will be spoken of along-side famous Caribbean pirates like Edward Teach or "Blackbeard" or Henry Morgan. Maybe the Disneyland that's part of a future space station, will create a ride in their honor, but in 2008 they are a bunch of criminals that need to be stopped.
Larry Lubell
www.UrbanNewsBlog.com
Friday, November 28, 2008
Loch Ness Monster Found
At the opening of the 21st century, we find mankind living in a great age of science. Even in the “Reddest- area” of the “Reddest State”, people look to meteorologists to tell them the path of the hurricane. We expect scientists to make accurate predictions, rather than burn them at the stake, as a witch. If we see a flying car, we are more likely to call a stockbroker to try to “Get in on the ground floor of a hot new product” than to call an exorcist assuming the car is possessed. This leads me to the question,” Why are There are some Conspiracy theories that refuse to die. Be it the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, UFO’s,Kennedy Lone Gunman Theory,or the Templar Knights.
It was CNN in Scotland that yesterday aired video of what Nessie watchers say is possible footage of the supposed mythical creature beneath Scotland»s most mysterious lake.
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this jet black thing, about 45 feet long, moving fairly fast in the water," said Gordon Holmes, the 55-year-old a lab technician from Shipley, Yorkshire, who took the video Saturday.
No matter how many studies are done,without finding any evidence for a 45 foot Mesozoic reptile, who’s demise, evidence shows, was at the K-T extinction, at the end of the Cretaceous Period – there will always be those that will believe it’s is hiding at the bottom off the Loch.
The Loch Ness monster is back - and there's video. A man has captured him.
I have been to Loch Ness,I must say it is a place that certainly deserves a visit. My wife and I toured the "Museum" and visitor center; stocking up on all sorts of gift items. We also rented a Land Rover Defender and went "Off-road-driving", It is difficult to explain just how green and tranquil the landscape appeared. The Loch is deep and often has a sort of silvery-glow, the product of reflections of a cloud-filled sky. The fact that every store, restaurant or tavern is stocked to the rafters with Scotch, is a part of the culture, and just perhaps, a factor in the number of sightings.
I would LOVE to find out that Nessie is real, but I tend to be one of those people that find the likelihood of a PLESIOSAUR Alive and well and living in Scotland a bit on the remote side.
Yet the sightings keep occurring.
Larry Lubell
It was CNN in Scotland that yesterday aired video of what Nessie watchers say is possible footage of the supposed mythical creature beneath Scotland»s most mysterious lake.
"I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this jet black thing, about 45 feet long, moving fairly fast in the water," said Gordon Holmes, the 55-year-old a lab technician from Shipley, Yorkshire, who took the video Saturday.
No matter how many studies are done,without finding any evidence for a 45 foot Mesozoic reptile, who’s demise, evidence shows, was at the K-T extinction, at the end of the Cretaceous Period – there will always be those that will believe it’s is hiding at the bottom off the Loch.
The Loch Ness monster is back - and there's video. A man has captured him.
I have been to Loch Ness,I must say it is a place that certainly deserves a visit. My wife and I toured the "Museum" and visitor center; stocking up on all sorts of gift items. We also rented a Land Rover Defender and went "Off-road-driving", It is difficult to explain just how green and tranquil the landscape appeared. The Loch is deep and often has a sort of silvery-glow, the product of reflections of a cloud-filled sky. The fact that every store, restaurant or tavern is stocked to the rafters with Scotch, is a part of the culture, and just perhaps, a factor in the number of sightings.
I would LOVE to find out that Nessie is real, but I tend to be one of those people that find the likelihood of a PLESIOSAUR Alive and well and living in Scotland a bit on the remote side.
Yet the sightings keep occurring.
Larry Lubell
Friday, November 21, 2008
A Third Clinton Term?
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will quit her Senate seat and accept the Secretary of State position, according to press reports. She will join Eric Holder, the former deputy attorney general under her husband, now in his new Position of Attorney general.
Obama seems to be going through bill Clinton's old Rolodex, searching for a cabinet. In part he is pulling people that were a part of the Clinton administration, but he is also going beyond, and reaching out to assemble a team of smart people that will follow his lead and start solving problems.
If you come downstairs in your home and you see a water pipe has broken, and your basement is filling up with water - Just off the water! It's not about ideology, or proving a point- It's about taking logical steps to address a problem. Shut off the water, get what ever you can off the floor and onto higher ground, call your insurance agent to report the claim, start cleaning up the mess.
It is that same approach that we need towards the problems our country faces (and there are many) I'm glad to see that Obama is not afraid to surround himself with strong, smart, talented people.
Obama seems to be going through bill Clinton's old Rolodex, searching for a cabinet. In part he is pulling people that were a part of the Clinton administration, but he is also going beyond, and reaching out to assemble a team of smart people that will follow his lead and start solving problems.
If you come downstairs in your home and you see a water pipe has broken, and your basement is filling up with water - Just off the water! It's not about ideology, or proving a point- It's about taking logical steps to address a problem. Shut off the water, get what ever you can off the floor and onto higher ground, call your insurance agent to report the claim, start cleaning up the mess.
It is that same approach that we need towards the problems our country faces (and there are many) I'm glad to see that Obama is not afraid to surround himself with strong, smart, talented people.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
A little PR advice for the Big 3
I don't work for a Public Relations firm, I do not send press releases all day long; but I still feel qualified to give the CEO's at Ford, GM and Chrysler a small piece of advice.
If you are going to Congress, crying about how you are running out of money- don't go there in a private jet!
I've got an idea; drive there. After all, you work for companies that make cars!
Wouldn't this be an opportunity to show off your new lines of fuel-efficient autos. I know in the scale of the problem is such that even if the top management of these companies agreed to work for minimum wage, the savings would be inconsequential; but it would change peoples perceptions, and perhaps their willingness to help.
If you are going to Congress, crying about how you are running out of money- don't go there in a private jet!
I've got an idea; drive there. After all, you work for companies that make cars!
Wouldn't this be an opportunity to show off your new lines of fuel-efficient autos. I know in the scale of the problem is such that even if the top management of these companies agreed to work for minimum wage, the savings would be inconsequential; but it would change peoples perceptions, and perhaps their willingness to help.
Larry Lubell http://.www.urbannewsblog.com
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Help for Detroit's big 3 ?
Executives of Detroit's Big Three automakers marched over to Washington to plead for a $25 billion bridge loan from Congress. This was a long way fro the days when GM was the worlds largest company, and the saying went- "What is good for GM, is what's good for the nation. Today they came- hat-in-hand; with smell of blood in the water, sharks were swimming in tight circles- but showed little interest in biting. It was as if they knew this meal would leave a bad taste in their mouths. Yet there was Rick Wagoner, and his counter parts at Ford and Chrysler; desperate to save their once-proud companies from collapse.
"Our industry ... needs a bridge to span the financial chasm that has opened up before us," General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner read to Senate Banking Committee from a prepared test.
He explained how the "Dark- days" that the US Car Industry finds it's self, not the fault of management, but is the product of the convergence of factors, most beyond their control. All three explained that the combination of first $140 dollar oil killed demand for their "Hottest" and most profitable products. Just as the cost of fuel started to drop, setting up conditions for renewed interest in SUVs, the deepening global financial crisis, turned consumers into scared squirrels, stocking away nuts for a coming winter.
House and Senate Democrats unveiled competing plans, everyone recognizing the seriousness of the situation, however lawmakers from both parties and the Bush administration showed extreme reluctance to start funneling $25 billion in support, especially with-out demanding tough conditions be a part of any rescue. It seem clear that Congress was looking for assurances that they were not "Throwing good money after bad". Republicans and the Bush administration don't want to dip into the Treasury Department's $700 billion financial bailout program to come up with the $25 billion, If any help is given they want the industry to use the $25 billions that had previously been committed for the purpose of retooling. Many in the Democratic party, have expressed concern that if the original funds, designed to help the US Auto industry shift to produce more high-mileage and Hybrid cars, are used as a bridge loan, that we are "Stalling the problem- not solving it".
Ilene Lubell, an advertising executive stated " It's hard, I'm watching dealers I represent, that are doing everything right, but it's like they are being asked to swim up-stream with a boat anchor wrapped around their legs."
Many on the hill made it clear that their sympathy for the industry was tepid at best. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn, the current Banking Committee Chairman, told Wagoner and his fellow leaders at Ford and Chrysler that the industry was "seeking treatment for wounds that were largely self-inflicted." At the same time he realized that "Hundreds of thousands would lose their jobs if the companies were allowed to collapse".
Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., made it clear he felt that the current financial crisis "is not the only reason why the domestic auto industry is in trouble."
He brought up, what was clearly the 800 lbs gorilla in the room; that much of the problem lies with the "costly labor agreements" caused by The Big 3 allowing the unions to get too powerful, plus the high cost to fund pensions, that put the U.S. automakers at a disadvantage with their foreign competitors.
Wagoner said that despite some public perceptions that General Motors was not keeping pace with the times and technological changes, "We've moved aggressively in recent years to position GM for long-term success. And we were well on the road to turning our North American business around."
"What exposes us to failure now is the global financial crisis, which has severely restricted credit availability and reduced industry sales to the lowest per-capita level since World War II."
Failure of the auto industry "would be catastrophic," he said, resulting in three million jobs lost within the first year and "economic devastation (that) would far exceed the government support that our industry needs to weather the current crisis."
Auto industry facts:*3 million jobs lost in the first year*U.S. personal income reduced by 150.7 billion*Government tax loss over 3 years 156 billion*The level of economic devastation far exceeds the 25 billion of government support the US Auto industry is asking from Congress.
.
Paulson, testifying on the House side, defended the administration's handling of the massive $700 billion bailout for the financial industry and said it should remain off-limits for Detroit, no matter how badly the automakers need help.
In an e-mail marked "urgent" and sent to owners of GM vehicles, Troy A. Clarke, president of GM North America, pleaded with them to e-mail their representatives in the House and Senate in support of a "bridge loan" for the industry - and ask their friends and family to do the same. http://gmfactsandfiction.com/
"Despite what you may be hearing, we are not asking Congress for a bailout but rather a loan that will be repaid," Clarke said in the message.
But the prospect now of millions of unemployed workers is not pretty.
Congressional leaders were working behind the scenes in reach a compromise, but the new rescue plan,opposed by President Bush, appears stalled on Capitol Hill,
"My sense is that nothing's going to happen this week," Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said at the opening of the hearing
With a $2,000./ vehicle legacy cost, it is difficult to call this a level playing field, something needs to be done to keep America's manufacturing industries viable.
Larry Lubell
Urban News Blog
"Our industry ... needs a bridge to span the financial chasm that has opened up before us," General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner read to Senate Banking Committee from a prepared test.
He explained how the "Dark- days" that the US Car Industry finds it's self, not the fault of management, but is the product of the convergence of factors, most beyond their control. All three explained that the combination of first $140 dollar oil killed demand for their "Hottest" and most profitable products. Just as the cost of fuel started to drop, setting up conditions for renewed interest in SUVs, the deepening global financial crisis, turned consumers into scared squirrels, stocking away nuts for a coming winter.
House and Senate Democrats unveiled competing plans, everyone recognizing the seriousness of the situation, however lawmakers from both parties and the Bush administration showed extreme reluctance to start funneling $25 billion in support, especially with-out demanding tough conditions be a part of any rescue. It seem clear that Congress was looking for assurances that they were not "Throwing good money after bad". Republicans and the Bush administration don't want to dip into the Treasury Department's $700 billion financial bailout program to come up with the $25 billion, If any help is given they want the industry to use the $25 billions that had previously been committed for the purpose of retooling. Many in the Democratic party, have expressed concern that if the original funds, designed to help the US Auto industry shift to produce more high-mileage and Hybrid cars, are used as a bridge loan, that we are "Stalling the problem- not solving it".
Ilene Lubell, an advertising executive stated " It's hard, I'm watching dealers I represent, that are doing everything right, but it's like they are being asked to swim up-stream with a boat anchor wrapped around their legs."
Many on the hill made it clear that their sympathy for the industry was tepid at best. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn, the current Banking Committee Chairman, told Wagoner and his fellow leaders at Ford and Chrysler that the industry was "seeking treatment for wounds that were largely self-inflicted." At the same time he realized that "Hundreds of thousands would lose their jobs if the companies were allowed to collapse".
Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., made it clear he felt that the current financial crisis "is not the only reason why the domestic auto industry is in trouble."
He brought up, what was clearly the 800 lbs gorilla in the room; that much of the problem lies with the "costly labor agreements" caused by The Big 3 allowing the unions to get too powerful, plus the high cost to fund pensions, that put the U.S. automakers at a disadvantage with their foreign competitors.
Wagoner said that despite some public perceptions that General Motors was not keeping pace with the times and technological changes, "We've moved aggressively in recent years to position GM for long-term success. And we were well on the road to turning our North American business around."
"What exposes us to failure now is the global financial crisis, which has severely restricted credit availability and reduced industry sales to the lowest per-capita level since World War II."
Failure of the auto industry "would be catastrophic," he said, resulting in three million jobs lost within the first year and "economic devastation (that) would far exceed the government support that our industry needs to weather the current crisis."
Auto industry facts:*3 million jobs lost in the first year*U.S. personal income reduced by 150.7 billion*Government tax loss over 3 years 156 billion*The level of economic devastation far exceeds the 25 billion of government support the US Auto industry is asking from Congress.
.
Paulson, testifying on the House side, defended the administration's handling of the massive $700 billion bailout for the financial industry and said it should remain off-limits for Detroit, no matter how badly the automakers need help.
In an e-mail marked "urgent" and sent to owners of GM vehicles, Troy A. Clarke, president of GM North America, pleaded with them to e-mail their representatives in the House and Senate in support of a "bridge loan" for the industry - and ask their friends and family to do the same. http://gmfactsandfiction.com/
"Despite what you may be hearing, we are not asking Congress for a bailout but rather a loan that will be repaid," Clarke said in the message.
But the prospect now of millions of unemployed workers is not pretty.
Congressional leaders were working behind the scenes in reach a compromise, but the new rescue plan,opposed by President Bush, appears stalled on Capitol Hill,
"My sense is that nothing's going to happen this week," Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said at the opening of the hearing
With a $2,000./ vehicle legacy cost, it is difficult to call this a level playing field, something needs to be done to keep America's manufacturing industries viable.
Larry Lubell
Urban News Blog
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Republican Party is Dead
by Larry Lubell
It is true that the GOP took a beating the other night. Despite two years of concerted effort to paint Obama as the personification of evil; some sort of "Left-wing radical, socialist,elitist, Muslim that attends a Christian church run by a nutty minister", the American people rejected the scare tactics and gave him a mandate to lead.. The simple truth is the electorate got to know Barack Obama, and man they saw, they information they got from trusted sources, just did not jive with the fear mongering being spewed from much of Talk radio and Fox.
The GOP lost seats in the House, the Senate as well as the White House, that said; anyone that thinks the Republican Party is Dead is a fool!
After each election, there are no shortage of "Talking Heads" telling us how the party that lost is somehow been thrown onto the garbage heap of history. I have a clear memory of being told The Democratic party was dead or dying after Reagan won, only to be told that the Republican party days were numbered after Clinton won the presidency. I did not believe any of that nonsense then, nor do I find it credible now. That is not to say that the Republicans are in a "Comfortable position" at the moment. Yes they will need to reexamine some strategies, positions and players going forward; but they are very far from Dead.
"I feel like Republicans dodged a bullet last night,' said Republican pollster Whit Ayres, who said the climate now looked strikingly similar to the early days of the Clinton administration.
"After that election, Democrats held 57 Senate and 258 House seats," Ayres said. "Two years later, we took both houses back."
Barack Obama not only won a clear mandate Tuesday night, but he won with a coalition that dramatically altered the Electoral College map.This rethinking of "Red and Blue states" creates opportunities for Democrats after a long period of electoral victories for Republicans .While it is folly for the Democrats to write them off, to be sure, the "Right" has some serious problems to overcome. Their three clearest problems are the loss of Latino voters, young voters and lack of a strong "Bullpen" of candidates.
The power of the Latino vote is ever increasing in the US. Exit polling suggests that approximately 10 million Latino voters went to the polls this election. That represents an increase of nearly two million more voters or an increase near 24% over 2004.Obama's success among Latino voters in general, and young Latino's in particular, has many Republican strategists troubled over their party's long-term health.
"As the U.S. Latino population surges, we are seeing increases in registration and voter turnout due to increased naturalization numbers by Latino immigrants beginning in the 1990s and Latino youth coming of voting age" said Harry Pachon, Ph.D., President of TRPI.
"We've got to get a handle on these voters before they turn completely. They have become increasingly the key to a number of critical swing states."said one leading GOP strategist close to the McCain campaign, in response to Obama's 67 percent to 31 percent edge over McCain among Latino voters. Event the Florida Cuban-American population, typically seen as dependable block of Republican votes in the critical swing state, turned and supported Obama. It is going to be very difficult for any party to be a major national player without Hispanic support.
Eighteen year olds won the right to vote in time for the presidential election of 1972. Ever since, some pundits and politicians have declared each election cycle that this is going to be the year the youth vote flexes it's muscle; yet seldom is that the case. this year, however, the youth vote was a factor. One of the things worth noting is not just the vote totals, but the enthusiasm, and the numbers willing to not just vote, but to do the heavy lifting of working the polls and the get out the vote drive. The Democrats are in possession of a priceless list of dedicated "True-Believer's" email addresses. The Conservative movement is increasingly seen as a group of Middle-aged -white suburban voters, overwhelmingly dominated by men. This "Base" holds less and less appeal with 18-30 voters.
Part of the success of the Rove machine, was the ability to tarnish each young promising up and coming democrat, while maintaining their own stable of well known contenders. Today they seem to be short of viable candidates. Governor Schwarzenegger, is ineligible due to being a naturalized citizen, and is too liberal to appeal to the conservative base. Sarah Palin has proved she has a populist and liked by the conservative base, but has largely been cast as the scapegoat by the McCain campaign, and a joke by much of the center. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney might have the clearest path to the nomination is 2012, in part due to his massive personal wealth, but he has never really gathered much excitement. Gingrich also seems to have plans for a higher profile again, and perhaps seeking the nomination next time around. But he has been a polarizing figure in a country that seems to be looking for compromise.
If Obama, and the Democrats interpret the Mandate from this election to be " The nation wants to go back to the days of "Big Government" and or that the nation want's to adapt a "Liberal agenda" next election, the voters will toss the democrats out on their asses. The electorate was just sick a tired of Bush, the whole Karl Rove ideology, and world of divisive politics. That said, there is no indication that they want to switch "Right- Wing dogma for "Left-wing" dogma- they just want a government that puts solving the problems of real people over any sort of ideological agenda. After year of Americans wanting a divided government, the people now are looking for a government that actually gets things done, and puts the people needs first. If an Obama administration does that, the people will give them their support, if they put their agenda ahead of the people's; they will give the Republicans another shot.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Obama, and the day America Changed
By Larry Lubell
Some events really do change the world. Often we don't recognize their gravity till years later. Last night history was made, and I do believe most people watching understood they were witnessing a critical turning point in American history.
America is the greatest country earth has yet to produce, not because our history is not filled with mistakes; but because we learn from, and correct those mistakes. We don't burn "Witches" any longer, and collectively we have come to view our westward expansion in the context of the horrors perpetrated against the indigenous population. Truth is, the list of errors, missteps and injustices that are part of our nations history is long, and often, painful to admit. Large segments of our society turned a blind eye to the suffering and mistreatment that made up the daily lives of other Americans. But of all of those evils, slavery stands out as the darkest chapter in our nations history.
Even before we were a nation we were already deep in to the horrors of slavery. In 1663 the Maryland legislature enacted a law that stated " all Negroes and other slaves within the province, and all Negroes and other slaves to be thereafter imported into the province, should serve during life; and all children born of any Negro should be slaves, as their fathers were, for the term of their lives."
There were approximately 645,000 black African shipped to what is now the United States and by the time of the 1860 Census, The slave population in the United States had grown to over four million. It is hard to imagine the nightmare of being kidnapped form your home, brought around the world to be sold, then forced to work 14 hour days or to be whipped and tortured at the whim of a man whose position was determined by the color of his skin. It was not unusual for enslaved black women to be raped by their "owners", or for children to be sold and permanently separated from their families.
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 was a turning point for our nation. Lincoln explained his disgust towards slavery, and justification for emancipation by declaring
"If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong"!
But the end to slavery, while a step, was followed by the Jim Crow laws that legalized segregation between blacks and whites. In 1896 in Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court ruled that separate facilities for whites and blacks were constitutional, resulting in generations of African American Americans growing up in an America who's laws designated that they should be forced into separate schools, required by law to sit in the back of the bus, or a few segregated tables at the lunch counter. It was not till 58 years later that Thurgood Marshall took the case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kans. and gto the Supreme Court to declare separate facilities by race to be unconstitutional.
While the official laws of this nation slowly started to turn, often the unofficial practices moved at a slower pace. Groups like the KKK, terrorized, and killed blacks in an attempt to keep them from obtaining justice or equality.In fact, between 1880 and 1951, the Tuskegee Institute recorded 3,437 lynchings of African-Americans. It was into this reality that Martin Luther King was born, and it was this world that he sought to, and succeeded in changing.The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 finally ended the legal sanctions, but the gap in opportunity, and discrimination still continued. Time, and the work of so many people have brought our country closer to King's dream, yet some of the legacies still remain.
It was into that present day America that last night Obama stepped on to a stage in Chicago, with his wife and his two young daughters and before a crowd of 125,000 thanked all America for making him The president-elect. As the cameras paned out across the tens of thousands of faces, Kings "Dream" seemed in part realized. The sea of faces really did look like America. And I have to say as a "White American" it made me proud.
America is a great place, because we have learned from,our past, and while still flawed we took another important step at building a more perfect union.
Larry Lubell
Urban News Blog
Some events really do change the world. Often we don't recognize their gravity till years later. Last night history was made, and I do believe most people watching understood they were witnessing a critical turning point in American history.
America is the greatest country earth has yet to produce, not because our history is not filled with mistakes; but because we learn from, and correct those mistakes. We don't burn "Witches" any longer, and collectively we have come to view our westward expansion in the context of the horrors perpetrated against the indigenous population. Truth is, the list of errors, missteps and injustices that are part of our nations history is long, and often, painful to admit. Large segments of our society turned a blind eye to the suffering and mistreatment that made up the daily lives of other Americans. But of all of those evils, slavery stands out as the darkest chapter in our nations history.
Even before we were a nation we were already deep in to the horrors of slavery. In 1663 the Maryland legislature enacted a law that stated " all Negroes and other slaves within the province, and all Negroes and other slaves to be thereafter imported into the province, should serve during life; and all children born of any Negro should be slaves, as their fathers were, for the term of their lives."
There were approximately 645,000 black African shipped to what is now the United States and by the time of the 1860 Census, The slave population in the United States had grown to over four million. It is hard to imagine the nightmare of being kidnapped form your home, brought around the world to be sold, then forced to work 14 hour days or to be whipped and tortured at the whim of a man whose position was determined by the color of his skin. It was not unusual for enslaved black women to be raped by their "owners", or for children to be sold and permanently separated from their families.
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 was a turning point for our nation. Lincoln explained his disgust towards slavery, and justification for emancipation by declaring
"If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong"!
But the end to slavery, while a step, was followed by the Jim Crow laws that legalized segregation between blacks and whites. In 1896 in Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court ruled that separate facilities for whites and blacks were constitutional, resulting in generations of African American Americans growing up in an America who's laws designated that they should be forced into separate schools, required by law to sit in the back of the bus, or a few segregated tables at the lunch counter. It was not till 58 years later that Thurgood Marshall took the case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kans. and gto the Supreme Court to declare separate facilities by race to be unconstitutional.
While the official laws of this nation slowly started to turn, often the unofficial practices moved at a slower pace. Groups like the KKK, terrorized, and killed blacks in an attempt to keep them from obtaining justice or equality.In fact, between 1880 and 1951, the Tuskegee Institute recorded 3,437 lynchings of African-Americans. It was into this reality that Martin Luther King was born, and it was this world that he sought to, and succeeded in changing.The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 finally ended the legal sanctions, but the gap in opportunity, and discrimination still continued. Time, and the work of so many people have brought our country closer to King's dream, yet some of the legacies still remain.
It was into that present day America that last night Obama stepped on to a stage in Chicago, with his wife and his two young daughters and before a crowd of 125,000 thanked all America for making him The president-elect. As the cameras paned out across the tens of thousands of faces, Kings "Dream" seemed in part realized. The sea of faces really did look like America. And I have to say as a "White American" it made me proud.
America is a great place, because we have learned from,our past, and while still flawed we took another important step at building a more perfect union.
Larry Lubell
Urban News Blog
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Can you "Trust" the polls?
Larry Lubell
With the election just a few days away, polls show Senator Barack Obama has a built considerable lead over John McCain, but just how reliable are those figures.
The Bradley effect is named after former Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, an African-American who ran for California governor in 1982. All of the California news papers had Bradley out in front of his Republican George Deukmejian.
On the day of the election, Exit polls confirmed Bradley wide lead; But Bradley and his supporters were surprised to find were wrong. After the contest pundits declared he lost due to "White voters" telling the pollsters "Sure I'll vote for a "Black man" but when they got behind the curtain, they just could not pull the lever.
ill CNN's senior political analyst,Schneider, said that if there is racism in this year's election, it's probably already showing up in the polls. And CNN's polling director,Keating Holland, pointed out another important fact
"We've never had a black presidential candidate as a major nominee, so the polls don't have any history at all when it comes to national elections," he said.
I think this is a very difference contest, not just because maybe we "Grew-up" a bit in the last 15 years, but also because these to candidates are polar opposites.
I have a number of close friends that I can say with total confidence:
1. Will not vote for Obama
2. Are not even slightly racist.
McCain and Obama have very different agendas and plan on setting distinct paths towards their vision.Anyone that would not want to vote for Obama do to race, could easily list a number of very credible reasons for casting their vote for McCain. This greatly reduces the "Need" for one to lie.
AVERAGE: Obama 50, McCain 43. (Obama +7%)
Method......................Latest Poll Per State
Obama...........................362
McCain..........................166
Poll of Polls
Obama...........................347
McCain...........................166
Rasmussen Reports
Obama...........................344
McCain...........................194
Quinnipiac
Obama...........................269
McCaine.........................128
Obama...........................362
McCain..........................166
Poll of Polls
Obama...........................347
McCain...........................166
Rasmussen Reports
Obama...........................344
McCain...........................194
Quinnipiac
Obama...........................269
McCaine.........................128
There is however a very different factor effecting the reliability of the numbers. More and more people are dropping their "Landlines". When faced with the cost of both holding onto traditional phones plugged into a wall jack, as well as their cell phones; many choose just the cell. Fourteen percent of Americans now do not have landline phones and Pollsters normally don't call cell phones
Scott Keeter, who conducted a study for the Pew Research Center,says non-landline users are like others in their young demographic on political matters, but may differ on other issues
Scott Keeter, who conducted a study for the Pew Research Center,says non-landline users are like others in their young demographic on political matters, but may differ on other issues
They are most likely to be under 30, unmarried, renters, making less than $30,000 a year, and are slightly more likely to be black or Hispanic, says Keeter.
"The fact that they are very different is the potential problem for polling," Keeter says.
Pollsters have learned. a lot from the small number of cell users they have been able to reach.. "It suggests that if there are enough of them, and you are missing them in your landline surveys, then your polls will have a bias because of that."
Pollsters have learned. a lot from the small number of cell users they have been able to reach.. "It suggests that if there are enough of them, and you are missing them in your landline surveys, then your polls will have a bias because of that."
"It's not just cell phones, it is also VOIP" (Voice over Internet Provider), said Alan Craine, a telecommunications executive.. Vonage, Skype and all of the other I. P. based connections are often invisible to pollsters, you also have the "Do not Call List" out there today.
Telecommunications are forever changing said Mr. Craine.
With the election just over two weeks away, poll numbers showing Obama leading over John McCain, can switch quickly. Events change, candidates make mistakes, skeletons pop-up, and they are not always just Halloween decorations. All of this leaves us questioning, just how reliable are these figures.
This Stock Market is making me Nauseous
Wall Street had one of it's best days ever, the Dow Jones industrials we sent soaring almost 900 points. That would be fantastic if it was not coming after week of disaster and investors did not have the feeling that the market could turn on them in an instant.
Friday, October 10, 2008
McCain, I expected more from you
Larry Lubell
John McCain has a long history of serving America, In October 1967 he was shot down, badly injured, and captured by the North Vietnamese. there he remained a prisoner of war until 1973. He was subjected to unimaginable torture yet re refused to say or do those things that could have ended his suffering. To this day he still carries the scars of those days. He left the military and moved into politics being elected to the house in 1982, then elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 where he still serves today.
John McCain has a long history of being a "Right of center" senator, yet he also has a record of working across party aisles with Republicans and Democrats alike to reform campaign finance system and Immigration .
While he was well known for having a temper, there was a feeling that he was a fair and decent guy, that could rise above partisanship and "put the country first"
It is with that in mind that I express my disappointment over the direction and tone that his campaign has taken. Rather that a discussion between two intelligent, informed candidates with different views on the direction forward; McCain has allowed his campaign managers, Running mate, and crowds to lower the race to base name calling and hate speech.
Activists at McCain / Palin rallies talk openly about Obama being linked to terrorists, or being a terrorist, claiming he has ties to Islam, and that he has some kind of "Secret evil agenda". Followers have been sending viral emails that have worked their way around the Internet for over a year now. To McCain's credit, in the early days of the campaign, he made several statements separating himself from those comments. But As he falls in the polls he has stopped making such corrections, and now seems to be encouraging such inaccurate statements, while keeping just enough distance.
"Terrorist!”
At a New Mexico rally, "Terrorist” screamed a follower. At a later rally when againMcCain called out to the crowd “Who is the real Barack Obama? a woman yelled "He's a damn liar!” "Get him. He's bad for our country."
"Obama Osama!" one woman called out at another rally. And it is not just a few in the crowd, twice this week, hand selected local officials have warmed up the crowd with cries of “Barack Hussein Obama.
A McCain aide said they tell individuals speaking before every event not to do so. “Sometimes people just do what they want,” explained the aide.
But that raises the question, If you can't control your supporters, how can you control the nation.
John Weaver, McCain’s former top strategist, said top Republicans have a responsibility to temper this behavior.
“People need to understand, for moral reasons and the protection of our civil society, the differences with Senator Obama are ideological, based on clear differences on policy and a lack of experience compared to Senator McCain,” Weaver said. “And from a purely practical political vantage point, please find me a swing voter, an undecided independent, or a torn female voter that finds an angry mob mentality attractive.”
“Senator Obama is a classic liberal with an outdated economic agenda. We should take that agenda on in a robust manner. As a party we should not and must not stand by as the small amount of haters in our society question whether he is as American as the rest of us. Shame on them and shame on us if we allow this to take hold.”
In Florida, Sarah Palin attacked Obama as someone who "pals around" with terrorists, ( based on an exaggerated account of Obama's relationship with Bill Ayers, a 1960's radical turned college professor) As she spoke their relationship, the crowd booed and one man shouted, "Kill him!"
Palin also repeats "This is not a man who sees America like you and I see America. We see America as a force of good in this world. We see an America of exceptionalism."
I do believe that John McCain loves America, and as a member of government, as a person paid by the people he has an obligation to speak out against that kind of hate speech. It lowers him, it lowers respect in our country, and it is dangerous. It is this kind of "rhetoric that leads to some nut picking up a gun.
I know he wants to win, and I am sure he believes that he is the better candidate. Of course he has no obligation to sing Obama's praises, but he does have a moral obligation to set the record straight, and to take his supporters to task if people are behaving in an offensive and dangerous manner. Ultimately, it reflects badly of McCain, and frankly I have come to expect McCain to exhibit a higher level of discourse.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The rich get richer!
With the stock market in free-fall Banks around the world poised for collapse, and our elected officials talking about a trying to avoid a worldwide depression: I just received an email from Bentley telling me about their new, more deluxe version of the Arnage. 
I'm not sure what is wrong with their marketing team that they believe that I might be a possible customer, but it is fun to pretend.
They begin by telling me how the auto is very exclusive. and that they will limit the edition to just 150 cars worldwide. This is truly good to know, otherwise I would expect to see one of these $275,000 cars parked in every driveway.
"Through a combination of commitment and timeless tradition, the Arnage Final Series is destined to become a true British classic".
"The sumptuously crafted interior of the Arnage Final Series features a waistrail with inset chrome strip and recessed Bentley marque badges, a leather steering wheel that has taken more than 15 hours of hand stitching, along with a burr walnut cocktail cabinet and veneered picnic tables."
When I read the car comes with a "Burr walnut veneered picnic tables", I can't help but find it difficult to picture the passengers actually making their own lunch. I find the image of the "Staff" preparing this "Picnic". Perhaps, the very thought that I would object to someone eating in my new $275,000 car, proves I can't afford to own one of these automotive works of art.
Of course I am not surprised by the fact the car sips gas at a rate of 9.8mpg Urban, clearly, the cost of petrol is beneath concern. That said I am a bit surprised by some of the options that do not come as standard equipment. For example the Silk Curtains to Rear Compartment will set you back an additional $9,490. And what's the use of having the curtain with out having a need for privacy, like maybe when you use the Entertainment Combination system that can be added for just $34,290.
Max. Speed 179mph / 288km/h
Acceleration 0 - 60mph 5.2 seconds
Acceleration 0 - 100km/h 5.5 seconds
Acceleration 0 - 100mph 12.1 seconds
The thing about buying a car like this is that you are buying into a "Lifestyle"
So how can you just skip over the matching luggage (sold separately)
For example this bag can be yours for just $2,500.
Well with all of the forclosures, Pink slips and general hard times that we find ourselves in today, it is nice to know that there will always be those that have a different set of problems; like should I buy the car in black or silver.
Larry Lubell
I'm not sure what is wrong with their marketing team that they believe that I might be a possible customer, but it is fun to pretend.
They begin by telling me how the auto is very exclusive. and that they will limit the edition to just 150 cars worldwide. This is truly good to know, otherwise I would expect to see one of these $275,000 cars parked in every driveway.
"Through a combination of commitment and timeless tradition, the Arnage Final Series is destined to become a true British classic".
"The sumptuously crafted interior of the Arnage Final Series features a waistrail with inset chrome strip and recessed Bentley marque badges, a leather steering wheel that has taken more than 15 hours of hand stitching, along with a burr walnut cocktail cabinet and veneered picnic tables."
When I read the car comes with a "Burr walnut veneered picnic tables", I can't help but find it difficult to picture the passengers actually making their own lunch. I find the image of the "Staff" preparing this "Picnic". Perhaps, the very thought that I would object to someone eating in my new $275,000 car, proves I can't afford to own one of these automotive works of art.
Of course I am not surprised by the fact the car sips gas at a rate of 9.8mpg Urban, clearly, the cost of petrol is beneath concern. That said I am a bit surprised by some of the options that do not come as standard equipment. For example the Silk Curtains to Rear Compartment will set you back an additional $9,490. And what's the use of having the curtain with out having a need for privacy, like maybe when you use the Entertainment Combination system that can be added for just $34,290.
Max. Speed 179mph / 288km/h
Acceleration 0 - 60mph 5.2 seconds
Acceleration 0 - 100km/h 5.5 seconds
Acceleration 0 - 100mph 12.1 seconds
The thing about buying a car like this is that you are buying into a "Lifestyle"
So how can you just skip over the matching luggage (sold separately)
For example this bag can be yours for just $2,500.
Well with all of the forclosures, Pink slips and general hard times that we find ourselves in today, it is nice to know that there will always be those that have a different set of problems; like should I buy the car in black or silver.
Larry Lubell
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Four Confess in Hanging of Obama Effigy
Larry Lubell
UrbanNewsBlog
Just to make sure, I checked my calendar, and confirmed that yes we are indeed in the year 2008, not 1908.
I would love to tell myself that America has moved away from overt racism and the vial hate that flows from those that hold such views. That now questions of "Class" have replaced hard-core racism.
I have been following the story that a effigy of Barack Obama was found hanging from a tree on the campus of George Fox Christian university University in Oregon. Today the Christian university said it has punished four students who confessed to hanging a likeness of Obama from the tree.
This kind of incident could be written off as the outrageous acts of a hand full of extremists. That would be upsetting, but easy to discount as statistical anomalies; the more unnerving part is the response of many of the readers of the article who left comments demonstrating that after reading the piece, they came- away with the idea that the four students were somehow the victims. With a choice of words I can picture coming only from people wearing a "White Hoods"; one of the comments included:
Stevie D
Too bad they didn't get the real Obama and all his stupid liberal views. Take his racist wife too.
SurpriseOctober
How did they know it was an "Obama effigy"? Did it have a tape recorder attached that droned on and on and on about "Hope" and "Change"?
It is clear, that while much of "Main stream" America has moved away from this type of overt racism, there are still those that refuse to abandon their vial hate-filled views. Instead of an overly optimistic conclusion that we Americans have left this garbage in our past, I need to take some solace in the fact that at least the center has moved. With Obama, the likely next president of the United States; this story show simultaneously how far America has come; as well as how much further we still have to travel.
UrbanNewsBlog
Urban Insurance Agency
UrbanNewsBlog
Just to make sure, I checked my calendar, and confirmed that yes we are indeed in the year 2008, not 1908.
I would love to tell myself that America has moved away from overt racism and the vial hate that flows from those that hold such views. That now questions of "Class" have replaced hard-core racism.
I have been following the story that a effigy of Barack Obama was found hanging from a tree on the campus of George Fox Christian university University in Oregon. Today the Christian university said it has punished four students who confessed to hanging a likeness of Obama from the tree.
This kind of incident could be written off as the outrageous acts of a hand full of extremists. That would be upsetting, but easy to discount as statistical anomalies; the more unnerving part is the response of many of the readers of the article who left comments demonstrating that after reading the piece, they came- away with the idea that the four students were somehow the victims. With a choice of words I can picture coming only from people wearing a "White Hoods"; one of the comments included:
Stevie D
Too bad they didn't get the real Obama and all his stupid liberal views. Take his racist wife too.
SurpriseOctober
How did they know it was an "Obama effigy"? Did it have a tape recorder attached that droned on and on and on about "Hope" and "Change"?
It is clear, that while much of "Main stream" America has moved away from this type of overt racism, there are still those that refuse to abandon their vial hate-filled views. Instead of an overly optimistic conclusion that we Americans have left this garbage in our past, I need to take some solace in the fact that at least the center has moved. With Obama, the likely next president of the United States; this story show simultaneously how far America has come; as well as how much further we still have to travel.
UrbanNewsBlog
Urban Insurance Agency
Monday, September 29, 2008
Congress Fails to act - Heaven Help Us !
by Larry Lubell
The House of Representatives, on a 228-205 vote, failed to pass the $700 Billion dollar bill seen by many as our last, best hope at rescuing the financial industry.
Over the weekend, it seemed as if our Law makers would have a moment of clarity. where they put the good of the nation over the easiest campaign slogan to sell. That they would actually "Lead" rather than take a poll; sadly that was not the case.
Too many lawmakers apparently refused to go along with the unpopular legislation with elections just five weeks away.
The compromised plan, which is designed to stabilize U.S. credit markets by freeing up some badly needed capital working and attempting to put a bottom to the crises; needed 218 votes for passage. But it came up 13 votes short. The final vote was 228 to 205 against with about 60% of Democrats voted for the measure, but less than a third of the Republicans backing it.
"We're all worried about losing our jobs," Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., declared in an impassioned speech in support of the bill before the vote.
"Most of us say, 'I want this thing to pass, but I want you to vote for it — not me. "
"We're in this moment, and if we fail to do the right thing, Heaven help us," Ryan added.
After news that the deal had been done; Investors who had been counting on the rescue plan sent the Dow Jones plummeting 700 points as it became clear the measure failed to get the necessary Republican support,
"Our time has run out," said Rep. Spencer Bachus, the ranking Republican on the House Financial Services Committee. "We're going make a decision. There are no other choices, no other alternatives."
Barney Frank, D-Mass.warned: "Today is the decision day. If we defeat this bill today, it will be a very bad day for the financial sector of the American economy and the people who will feel the pain are not the top bankers and top corporate executives but average Americans."
In 1990, Nationwide, 73 percent of whites owned homes, while that number was just 46 percent of African Americans and Hispanics. There was a push, in large part by African American lawmakers, to increase home ownership in minority areas. This was seen as a way out of being a part of the "Working poor". It was also seen as a way to stabilize an area and reduce crime. Fannie Mae was seen as a way to help get loans to those that needed them. But as is often the case, an attempt to help those in need, was seen by some as a license to steal.
There were TV shows promising riches by following others success "Buying then Flipping" homes. We were all sold on the idea that we could by a home, slap on a coat of paint, plant a few flowers, then burn a scented candle furring the open house- and in two weeks clear a $20,000 profit. Suddenly we were all Donald Trump.
All common sense legislation, and reasonable regulation was dismantled. Congress appointed the foxes to guard to henhouse, and then we trusted their monthly count of the number and health of the chickens. Each person whose job it was to check the health of the hens, just passed the responsibility down the line. Wall Street was the place stuck holding the hot potato; therefore, it is there that many will list as the "Personification of evil."
This disaster was caused by greed from the bottom up, and a complete brake-down of any "Adults" standing in the way of what were obviously bad deals.
1. Loans with no money down.
2. People that did not qualify for the loans without short-term temporary interest only ARMS.
3. Stated Income loans (A loan that encouraged lying)
4. Inflated home prices, and loans to large areas filled with new track homes where very few had any equity, and even a small fall in values would lead to collapsing prices.
"We needed it. Without it, the stock market will now reflect a series of assumptions":
1. Worldwide economic collapse;
2. A depression that is a sequel equal to the Great Depression;
3. Many, many more bank collapses than we have had already; and
4. Much more unemployment and many, many foreclosures.
"I don't want to bury the punchline, but when you add these worst-case prices together you get Dow Jones 8378, which, reluctantly, I admit is where we are going if everything fails with the plan and the economies here and worldwide are left to their own devices."
When we see the Dow Fall 770 points in one day, falling to 10,365 and falling nearly 4,000 points from yearly highs we are clearly at the point of crisis.
"On this day congress had a moment do the right thing, and they failed, Heaven help us
Friday, September 26, 2008
$700,000,000,000.00
While President Bush urges lawmakers of his own party in the House to back a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. seized WaMu, one of the nation's largest banks.
Washington Mutual Inc. overnight imploded under the weight of its enormous volume of bad mortgages, the FDIC then sold the assets to JPMorgan Chase & Co. for $1.9 billion
Banks and brokerage houses are falling and merging so fast they look like Gladiators having a bad run of luck against a Colosseum full of hungry lions. It is clear that the whole mortgage industry
is simply in water over it's head and they no longer have the strength to tread water.
The idea that the "Market place" will be able to sort this out by it's self has been abandon by all but a small percentage of the true anti regulation die-hard's. To the vast majority, it is clear that the
federal government has to step in and shore up the banking system. The problem is that some of these anti regulation true believers lawmakers, in the house, have rejected Bush's $700 billion bank bailout and have stalled any
deal coming forward.
While I have a difficult time with the idea of fixing the problem by handing money over to the same people that messed it up in the first place. And I fully understand that it is a grave mistake to expect the U.S. Government to micro manage
the economy. I agree that it is the private sector that creates wealth, jobs and expands the economy. But just as the Democratic party has given up on the discredited idea that the government can solve all of our problems; it is time for the right wing of the Republican party to abandon the notion that deregulation is the silver bullet to all of our problems. An intelligent view of how we got to this current mess, demonstrates that both the public and private both have a role to play.
Larry Lubell
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
McCain / Obama Debate Cancelled ?
Today, John McCain announced he'll suspend his campaign to return to Washington in order to focus on the economic crisis. McCain's campaign also stated that it wanted to push-back Friday's debate with Barack Obama, to an unspecified later date.
I applauded the wisdom of the McCain camp to cancel the first day of their convention; as a result of a category 4 hurricane hitting Texas. Clearly they did not want to be seen as having a "Party", wearing funny hats, and throwing "Red-meat" to the crowd while a split screen showed people's home being washed-away.
Political ploy or not, I like the idea that McCain is going back to Washington to do his job as a Senator at this crises point in our nations economy.I do have a problem with delaying Friday's debate with Obama.
At a time when the Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, is asking for a $700. billion financial bailout, to save America from the worst financial disaster since the Depression, I think we need to hear what Obama and McCain plan to do to correct the mess one of them will inherit. A debate is not a party, a time for merriment, it is a time to hear both candidates stand up before us to explain and defend their ideas. A chance for us to decide who's strategy seems to ring most true, and whom do we trust to transport us from where we are now, to safer ground.
We need to here both men explain why they think the system collapsed, what they did while in government to help prevent the disaster; and most important what specific legislation they will seek to in act in response.
Albert Einstein said " No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it." It seems like the same people that brought America to the point of apocalypse, now want a blank check to fix the problems they caused.
I for one, would like to hear both men face each other directly, not through campaign mud slinging, let them both make the case why their the one to put things right.
Larry Lubell
I applauded the wisdom of the McCain camp to cancel the first day of their convention; as a result of a category 4 hurricane hitting Texas. Clearly they did not want to be seen as having a "Party", wearing funny hats, and throwing "Red-meat" to the crowd while a split screen showed people's home being washed-away.
Political ploy or not, I like the idea that McCain is going back to Washington to do his job as a Senator at this crises point in our nations economy.I do have a problem with delaying Friday's debate with Obama.
At a time when the Federal Reserve chairman, Ben Bernanke, is asking for a $700. billion financial bailout, to save America from the worst financial disaster since the Depression, I think we need to hear what Obama and McCain plan to do to correct the mess one of them will inherit. A debate is not a party, a time for merriment, it is a time to hear both candidates stand up before us to explain and defend their ideas. A chance for us to decide who's strategy seems to ring most true, and whom do we trust to transport us from where we are now, to safer ground.
We need to here both men explain why they think the system collapsed, what they did while in government to help prevent the disaster; and most important what specific legislation they will seek to in act in response.
Albert Einstein said " No problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it." It seems like the same people that brought America to the point of apocalypse, now want a blank check to fix the problems they caused.
I for one, would like to hear both men face each other directly, not through campaign mud slinging, let them both make the case why their the one to put things right.
Larry Lubell
Monday, September 15, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
CERN - Scientific breakthrough or "End of the World".
On Wednesday September 10th, CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) will commission its Large Hadron Collider. The LHC website describes the facility this way.
The LHC, the world's most powerful particle accelerator, measuring 27 kilometres in circumference, will bring advances in our knowledge of matter and the Universe. The LHC will accelerate minute particles and collide them at the centre of four large detectors, ALICE, ATLAS, CMS and LHCb. The LHC is an exceptional scientific tool employing state-of-the-art technology to further fundamental science. It comprises over 1800 superconducting magnet assemblies, for example, and is maintained at a temperature of -271.3°C, just 1.9 degrees above absolute zero. The four experiments that will study the particle collisions are technological triumphs in themselves, the largest of them as tall as a five-storey building.
While some of the worlds greatest physicists have been working for years hand in hand with engineers and scientists from dozens of different disciplines, There are a group of running around, doing their best "Chicken- Little" impersonation screaming "The sky is falling" In fact, scientists behind the world's biggest-ever scientific experiment have received death threats from critics who claim it could cause the end of the world.
Prof Hawking said the £4.4bn machine, in which scientists are about to recreate conditions just after the Big Bang, is "vital if the human race is not to stultify and eventually die out."
And he sought to ease fears that the machine could have apocalyptic effects. "The world will not come to an end when the LHC turns on," Prof Hawking said, adding: "The LHC is absolutely safe."
Scientists at the CERN research centre in Switzerland are aiming to use the machine to gain a better understanding of the birth and structure of the universe, and to fill gaps in our knowledge of physics.
Legal bid to stop CERN atom smasher from `destroying the world`
Hawking, who made his name in the study of Black Holes, sought to assure the public of the particle accelerator safety stated "
"Collisions releasing greater energy occur millions of times a day in the earth's atmosphere and nothing terrible happens. The world will not come to an end when the LHC turns on."
"If the LHC were to produce little black holes, I don't think there is any doubt I would get a Nobel Prize, if they showed the properties I predict.
"However I think the probability that the LHC has enough energy to produce little black holes is less than 1 per cent - so I'm not holding my breath."
Prof Hawking made clear that the LHC project is one of the most important in the history of scientific endeavor. Asked to choose between it and the space program, he said: "That is like asking which of my children I would choose to sacrifice.
"Both the LHC and the Space program are vital if the human race is not to stultify and eventually die out. Together they cost less than one tenth of a per cent of world GDP. If the human race can not afford this, then it doesn't deserve the epithet 'human'."
The LHC, the world's most powerful particle accelerator, measuring 27 kilometres in circumference, will bring advances in our knowledge of matter and the Universe. The LHC will accelerate minute particles and collide them at the centre of four large detectors, ALICE, ATLAS, CMS and LHCb. The LHC is an exceptional scientific tool employing state-of-the-art technology to further fundamental science. It comprises over 1800 superconducting magnet assemblies, for example, and is maintained at a temperature of -271.3°C, just 1.9 degrees above absolute zero. The four experiments that will study the particle collisions are technological triumphs in themselves, the largest of them as tall as a five-storey building.
While some of the worlds greatest physicists have been working for years hand in hand with engineers and scientists from dozens of different disciplines, There are a group of running around, doing their best "Chicken- Little" impersonation screaming "The sky is falling" In fact, scientists behind the world's biggest-ever scientific experiment have received death threats from critics who claim it could cause the end of the world.
Prof Hawking said the £4.4bn machine, in which scientists are about to recreate conditions just after the Big Bang, is "vital if the human race is not to stultify and eventually die out."
And he sought to ease fears that the machine could have apocalyptic effects. "The world will not come to an end when the LHC turns on," Prof Hawking said, adding: "The LHC is absolutely safe."
Scientists at the CERN research centre in Switzerland are aiming to use the machine to gain a better understanding of the birth and structure of the universe, and to fill gaps in our knowledge of physics.
Legal bid to stop CERN atom smasher from `destroying the world`
Hawking, who made his name in the study of Black Holes, sought to assure the public of the particle accelerator safety stated "
"Collisions releasing greater energy occur millions of times a day in the earth's atmosphere and nothing terrible happens. The world will not come to an end when the LHC turns on."
"If the LHC were to produce little black holes, I don't think there is any doubt I would get a Nobel Prize, if they showed the properties I predict.
"However I think the probability that the LHC has enough energy to produce little black holes is less than 1 per cent - so I'm not holding my breath."
Prof Hawking made clear that the LHC project is one of the most important in the history of scientific endeavor. Asked to choose between it and the space program, he said: "That is like asking which of my children I would choose to sacrifice.
"Both the LHC and the Space program are vital if the human race is not to stultify and eventually die out. Together they cost less than one tenth of a per cent of world GDP. If the human race can not afford this, then it doesn't deserve the epithet 'human'."
Monday, September 8, 2008
Youtube/ the #1 place for news (or Rumors)
You do you trust for news and facts?
How can you tell if what you are seeing, reading or hearing is true, or even where it's coming from.
Here are a few to watch and decide for your self.
YouTube - McCain's YouTube Problem Just Became a Nightmare
Who's Trig's Mother?
Bristol Palin, Sarah Palins Out of Control Teen
KTVA, Local CBS Affiliate, Reports On Palin Trooper-Gate Sca
Sen. Barack Obama's Full Speech to the DNC
Barack Obama, Islam, Terrorists & Terrorism Obama is a Terrorist!
Old Man McCain Going Senile Before the Cameras
John McCain -- War Hero
How can you tell if what you are seeing, reading or hearing is true, or even where it's coming from.
Here are a few to watch and decide for your self.
YouTube - McCain's YouTube Problem Just Became a Nightmare
Who's Trig's Mother?
Bristol Palin, Sarah Palins Out of Control Teen
KTVA, Local CBS Affiliate, Reports On Palin Trooper-Gate Sca
Sen. Barack Obama's Full Speech to the DNC
Barack Obama, Islam, Terrorists & Terrorism Obama is a Terrorist!
Old Man McCain Going Senile Before the Cameras
John McCain -- War Hero
Friday, September 5, 2008
Couture Wars
The "Right" bashes "Popular couture every chance they get, but they sure like to use the songs that couture creates.
John McCain's camp again finds it's self trying to defend the use of copyrighted material against the wishes of the creators and performers that brought the music to life.
This is not the first time the McCain team has had this problem, several months back, his campaign received a Cease and Desist from John Mellencamp demanding that they stop using his tunes "Our Country" and "Pink Houses.and again when In August, when Jackson Browne was outraged to find that Ohio Republicans used his song "Running on Empty" in an attack ad against Obama.
It raises two questions:
1. Why do members of the "Right" produce so little music worth listening to.
2. Were they as careful vetting the songs as they were their VP pick.
"I feel completely F#ck@d over," the band's Nancy Wilson told EW on Thursday night after their song was played following McCain's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. According to TMZ -- which broke the scandal, the band has filed a cease and desist order.
Palin has the nick name "Barracuda: so it is easy to see why playing the song had a certain degree of logic. The song was used as a theme for Governor Palin Wednesday night after her speech. The Band "Heart" acted swiftly by issuing a statement asking the campaign to stop use their of copyrighted material music..
"We hope our wishes will be honored," the band said in a written statement.
After three separate artists, and their legal representatives issued formal complaints, you would think the McCain camp would respect both the will of the artists or at least the law- No such luck. After the close of McCain's speech Thursday night, what song came through the PA system? You guessed it ... "Barracuda."
After the speech, Nancy and her sister Ann issued the following statement to EW:
"Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image. The song 'Barracuda' was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The 'barracuda' represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there's irony in Republican strategists' choice to make use of it there."
.
A legal representative of Browne stated "In light of Jackson Browne's lifelong commitment to Democratic ideals and political candidates, the misappropriation of Jackson Browne's endorsement is entirely reprehensible,"
Van Halen was also upset to find that Their song "Right Now" was used against their wishes at a rally announcing Palin as McCain's running mate.
If people were prosecuted for "Uploading" songs from Napster, how could the legal minds behind the convention not understand better than to "Steal"copyrighted intellectual property, and play it on a world stage.
Is this a question of F*ck Y@u, we will do what ever we want, or an example of carelessness Either way it raises questions about the campaign.
John McCain's camp again finds it's self trying to defend the use of copyrighted material against the wishes of the creators and performers that brought the music to life.
This is not the first time the McCain team has had this problem, several months back, his campaign received a Cease and Desist from John Mellencamp demanding that they stop using his tunes "Our Country" and "Pink Houses.and again when In August, when Jackson Browne was outraged to find that Ohio Republicans used his song "Running on Empty" in an attack ad against Obama.
It raises two questions:
1. Why do members of the "Right" produce so little music worth listening to.
2. Were they as careful vetting the songs as they were their VP pick.
"I feel completely F#ck@d over," the band's Nancy Wilson told EW on Thursday night after their song was played following McCain's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. According to TMZ -- which broke the scandal, the band has filed a cease and desist order.
Palin has the nick name "Barracuda: so it is easy to see why playing the song had a certain degree of logic. The song was used as a theme for Governor Palin Wednesday night after her speech. The Band "Heart" acted swiftly by issuing a statement asking the campaign to stop use their of copyrighted material music..
"We hope our wishes will be honored," the band said in a written statement.
After three separate artists, and their legal representatives issued formal complaints, you would think the McCain camp would respect both the will of the artists or at least the law- No such luck. After the close of McCain's speech Thursday night, what song came through the PA system? You guessed it ... "Barracuda."
After the speech, Nancy and her sister Ann issued the following statement to EW:
"Sarah Palin's views and values in NO WAY represent us as American women. We ask that our song 'Barracuda' no longer be used to promote her image. The song 'Barracuda' was written in the late 70s as a scathing rant against the soulless, corporate nature of the music business, particularly for women. (The 'barracuda' represented the business.) While Heart did not and would not authorize the use of their song at the RNC, there's irony in Republican strategists' choice to make use of it there."
.
A legal representative of Browne stated "In light of Jackson Browne's lifelong commitment to Democratic ideals and political candidates, the misappropriation of Jackson Browne's endorsement is entirely reprehensible,"
Van Halen was also upset to find that Their song "Right Now" was used against their wishes at a rally announcing Palin as McCain's running mate.
If people were prosecuted for "Uploading" songs from Napster, how could the legal minds behind the convention not understand better than to "Steal"copyrighted intellectual property, and play it on a world stage.
Is this a question of F*ck Y@u, we will do what ever we want, or an example of carelessness Either way it raises questions about the campaign.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Bristol Palin's "Shotgun-Wedding"
Sarah and Todd Palin have released the following statement in conjunction with the McCain campaign:
"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned.
We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.
"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."
All parents know that despite our best wishes, and most carefully crafted plans, often life throws you a curve. I am sure that watching their daughter, drop out of school, give up, or put on hold any plan of college; because she got pregnant, was not the film they played in their heads. But as a family they made choices based on their beliefs, values and priorities- and I respect their choices.
What upsets me is Sarah Palin unwillingness to let others have the power to make these tough choices according to their own belief set.
My wife and I discussed the "What if" question of Down Syndrome when she was pregnant, We did not have to face that heart-wrenching choice, but if we did- our decision would have been not to carry to term. If faced with our 17 year old child informing us that she was with child, we would not encourage her to get married; but instead to have an abortion or give the child up for adoption. If I had a 17 year old son that told us how he got his friend pregnant, I would not encourage him to marry the girl. Of course I would not tolerate him just "Walking-away"- but I could not in good conscience let him give up his dreams. He would be selling himself short, and living a life filled with regret, and what ifs that would tear him apart and result in him being an unhappy husband and father, which would make both the mother and child's lives both miserable.
But, maybe I'm wrong?
The point is, while I respect her right to follow her Beliefs and values; she wants to make it illegal for me to follow mine. That is what I object to - that is what gets me angry.
Sure I think we should respect the privacy of candidate's children; however
When you force others to follow your will, People have the right to call you on it.
during Sarah Palin's 2006 gubernatorial race, Palin again stated that she is against abortion unless a doctor determined that a mother's life would end due to the pregnancy. That even in the case of her own daughter being the victim of rape, she would still oppose the right to an abortion. These views are well outside the mainstream. I am sorry to say this, but, I cant help but feel that the impending marriage of her daughter,is less a tale of "Star-Crossed-Lovers" and more an example of old fashion "Shotgun-Wedding".
But that might be popular not just with Anti-Abortion crowd, but the NRA as well.
Larry Lubell
"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned.
We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.
"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."
All parents know that despite our best wishes, and most carefully crafted plans, often life throws you a curve. I am sure that watching their daughter, drop out of school, give up, or put on hold any plan of college; because she got pregnant, was not the film they played in their heads. But as a family they made choices based on their beliefs, values and priorities- and I respect their choices.
What upsets me is Sarah Palin unwillingness to let others have the power to make these tough choices according to their own belief set.
My wife and I discussed the "What if" question of Down Syndrome when she was pregnant, We did not have to face that heart-wrenching choice, but if we did- our decision would have been not to carry to term. If faced with our 17 year old child informing us that she was with child, we would not encourage her to get married; but instead to have an abortion or give the child up for adoption. If I had a 17 year old son that told us how he got his friend pregnant, I would not encourage him to marry the girl. Of course I would not tolerate him just "Walking-away"- but I could not in good conscience let him give up his dreams. He would be selling himself short, and living a life filled with regret, and what ifs that would tear him apart and result in him being an unhappy husband and father, which would make both the mother and child's lives both miserable.
But, maybe I'm wrong?
The point is, while I respect her right to follow her Beliefs and values; she wants to make it illegal for me to follow mine. That is what I object to - that is what gets me angry.
Sure I think we should respect the privacy of candidate's children; however
When you force others to follow your will, People have the right to call you on it.
during Sarah Palin's 2006 gubernatorial race, Palin again stated that she is against abortion unless a doctor determined that a mother's life would end due to the pregnancy. That even in the case of her own daughter being the victim of rape, she would still oppose the right to an abortion. These views are well outside the mainstream. I am sorry to say this, but, I cant help but feel that the impending marriage of her daughter,is less a tale of "Star-Crossed-Lovers" and more an example of old fashion "Shotgun-Wedding".
But that might be popular not just with Anti-Abortion crowd, but the NRA as well.
Larry Lubell
Saturday, August 30, 2008
McCain VS Gustav
The Republicans are all set to begin their convention in St Paul. The halls are decked out the, airline tickets are paid for, hotel rooms are booked.
John McCain has selected Palin, The speeches have been written, the music selected. Nothing stands in their way except a possible category 3 Hurricane named Gustav.
“The Republicans can't seem to get a break when it comes to August and when it comes to the weather,” said Karl Rove, a FOX News analyst. “I know this is being thought a lot about in Washington and at the White House and discussed and I suspect they will monitor it carefully and figure out what to do.”
The Bush administration's slowness in getting life saving supplies to the victims of the Katrina catastrophe, subjected the president to widespread criticism for a lack of concern and incompetency.
John McCain has selected Palin, The speeches have been written, the music selected. Nothing stands in their way except a possible category 3 Hurricane named Gustav.
“The Republicans can't seem to get a break when it comes to August and when it comes to the weather,” said Karl Rove, a FOX News analyst. “I know this is being thought a lot about in Washington and at the White House and discussed and I suspect they will monitor it carefully and figure out what to do.”
The Bush administration's slowness in getting life saving supplies to the victims of the Katrina catastrophe, subjected the president to widespread criticism for a lack of concern and incompetency.
As leading officials in New Orleans, announced possible evacuation plans ,The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it expects a "huge number" of Gulf Coast residents will be told to leave the region this weekend Many of these residents of the gulf coast have already began leaving the city. desperate not to miss their chance.
The image of a lavish Republican Party underway as a damaging storm strikes the Gulf Coast could serve as a painful reminder of the criticism the Bush White House suffered for its handling of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated coastal communities and New Orleans three years ago this weekend.
Gustav hit the heartland of Cuba's cigar industry Saturday as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph. The national Hurricane center projects the storm to intensify and shows Louisiana as the most likely point of landfall.
as it shrieked toward on a track to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast, three years after Hurricane Katrina.As of Saturday am, the potential path still spans several hundred miles, but forecasters said there is a better-than-even chance that New Orleans will get slammed by at least tropical-storm-force winds and possibly take a direct hit.
"As we learned from Katrina, the death toll has a lot to do with the speed with which help can be delivered to those suffering"
Both the president and Vice President Dick Cheney are slated to speak on the opening night - though Bush is scheduled to fly on to the Camp David presidential retreat that night.
The Post notes. "A new major storm along the Gulf Coast would renew memories of one of the low points of the Bush administration, while pulling public attention away from McCain's formal coronation as the GOP presidential nominee.
Clearly this storm can be viewed through the eyes of Karl Rove, and the attitude of "How dare this storm effect our party"; but it could also be used as a means of separating a Mccain Administration from the incompetency and perceived indifference to the suffering and deaths of nearly 2,000 people.
Larry Lubell
The image of a lavish Republican Party underway as a damaging storm strikes the Gulf Coast could serve as a painful reminder of the criticism the Bush White House suffered for its handling of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated coastal communities and New Orleans three years ago this weekend.
Gustav hit the heartland of Cuba's cigar industry Saturday as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph. The national Hurricane center projects the storm to intensify and shows Louisiana as the most likely point of landfall.
as it shrieked toward on a track to hit the U.S. Gulf Coast, three years after Hurricane Katrina.As of Saturday am, the potential path still spans several hundred miles, but forecasters said there is a better-than-even chance that New Orleans will get slammed by at least tropical-storm-force winds and possibly take a direct hit.
"As we learned from Katrina, the death toll has a lot to do with the speed with which help can be delivered to those suffering"
Both the president and Vice President Dick Cheney are slated to speak on the opening night - though Bush is scheduled to fly on to the Camp David presidential retreat that night.
The Post notes. "A new major storm along the Gulf Coast would renew memories of one of the low points of the Bush administration, while pulling public attention away from McCain's formal coronation as the GOP presidential nominee.
Clearly this storm can be viewed through the eyes of Karl Rove, and the attitude of "How dare this storm effect our party"; but it could also be used as a means of separating a Mccain Administration from the incompetency and perceived indifference to the suffering and deaths of nearly 2,000 people.
Larry Lubell
Friday, August 29, 2008
Sarah Palin.... You Have Got To Be Kidding?
This is the Best and Brightest star that the the GOP can find?
I'm sure she's a fine person, but how can anyone say that she is ready to "Step in" to the job of leader of the free world.
The entire state of Alaska has less than one twelfth the population of the Chicago Metro area. She has never met with world leaders, has zero foreign affairs experience, zero Washington experience. She has never ran a company, has no experience in international business.
I respect that other people have views different than my own on the critical issues facing our country. Many of my closest fiends are proud members of the GOP. (Truth be told, many of them would be far better choices than Sarah Palin)
Thanks to Wikipedia, we can learn some interesting biographical information on the presumptive number two:
1. In 1984, Palin was runner-up in the Ms. Alaska beauty pageant.
2. In an earlier pageant, Sarah played the flute and won "Miss Congeniality."
3. She has tried marijuana, but says she didn't like it.
4. She's a lifelong member of the NRA.
5. She eats moose burgers.
6. Her husband works for BP (the oil company).
7. She wants to drill in ANWAR.
8. She's "strongly pro-life."
9. Doesn't want the gays to marry, but likes them just the same.
10. People like her.
11. She is female.
12. She's 43 years old--28 years younger than McCain, 3 years younger than Obama.
13, She's a champion of ethics reform.
14. Her administration is under investigation. Accused of trying to get a former brother-in-law fired from his law enforcement gig.
I'm sure she's a fine person, but how can anyone say that she is ready to "Step in" to the job of leader of the free world.
The entire state of Alaska has less than one twelfth the population of the Chicago Metro area. She has never met with world leaders, has zero foreign affairs experience, zero Washington experience. She has never ran a company, has no experience in international business.
I respect that other people have views different than my own on the critical issues facing our country. Many of my closest fiends are proud members of the GOP. (Truth be told, many of them would be far better choices than Sarah Palin)Thanks to Wikipedia, we can learn some interesting biographical information on the presumptive number two:
1. In 1984, Palin was runner-up in the Ms. Alaska beauty pageant.
2. In an earlier pageant, Sarah played the flute and won "Miss Congeniality."
3. She has tried marijuana, but says she didn't like it.
4. She's a lifelong member of the NRA.
5. She eats moose burgers.
6. Her husband works for BP (the oil company).
7. She wants to drill in ANWAR.
8. She's "strongly pro-life."
9. Doesn't want the gays to marry, but likes them just the same.
10. People like her.
11. She is female.
12. She's 43 years old--28 years younger than McCain, 3 years younger than Obama.
13, She's a champion of ethics reform.
14. Her administration is under investigation. Accused of trying to get a former brother-in-law fired from his law enforcement gig.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Urban Insurance Awarded Honors
Is Proud to list Urban Insurance Agency as a Top MerchantEditor's Review
Established car insurance business helps people in the Chicagoland compare and find deals.
The Extras Fill out an online application on their website. ... read more
Profile
Reviews
Website
Visit Urban Insurance Agency on Citysearch
Established car insurance business helps people in the Chicagoland compare and find deals.
The Extras Fill out an online application on their website. ... read more
Profile
Reviews
Website
Visit Urban Insurance Agency on Citysearch
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