Happy New Year for the Scott Sisters!!!

Barbour issued orders indefinitely suspending the sentences for Jamie Scott and Gladys Scott.

Why now??

I tweeted about the problems Haley Barbour had recently and now he needs make a political that first, makes him not look like a racist, and try and keep his 2012 Presidential dreams alive. Fat chance, no pun intended. Several question are being asked about if this is ethical? I love the Press and it's Monday Morning quarterbacking... that's more troubling.

It's the ECONOMY Stupid...

"It's the economy, stupid" was a phrase in American politics widely used during Bill Clinton's successful 1992 presidential campaign against George H. W. Bush. For a time, Bush was considered unbeatable because of foreign policy developments such as the end of the Cold War and the Persian Gulf War. The phrase, made popular by Clinton campaign strategist James Carville, refers to the notion that Clinton was a better choice because Bush had not adequately addressed the economy, which had recently undergone a recession.

In our current political times it seems that we sometimes forget how important that phrase really is. When most of the conversations of late seem to center around taxes, deficit spending and a nice dose of political posturing that takes place in politics of today, it seems like this is the only thing being talked about. However, most of us don't have the option or luxury of having deficit spending in our own personal life, either you have the money or you don't. Wouldn't it be great to spend all the money you want and then when you are "able" you will come up with a plan to take care of that accumulated debit, fat change. And yet this is how we got here.

Despite all appearances President Obama has been working on the economy even before he took office. The implementation of new regulatory laws in the financial industry are ideally in place to prevent what got us here in the first place. You can't really improve the economy unless you have a clear understanding of how we got here. The new healthcare laws will, over time, make millions of Americans life easier and hopefully in the process drive down overall healthcare cost. I am completely amazed that so many are against the implementation of this new law. Yet, years ago many employers were complaining that the reason they were not hiring is because of the increasing healthcare cost. Now, we have the new boogieman theory that it will increase cost. I cannot help but laugh, remember when DVD's first came out everyone was talking about how great it was, but way to expensive to have, now fast-forward to today you can find a DVD player for $25. That's kinda how this will work out, insurance companies will have to compete more for business and this will hopefully drive overall healthcare cost down for all Americans, over time.

Which brings us where we are today, waiting for senators to approve a backdoor stimulus plan disguised behind the notion of tax-cuts, it's still deficit spending. That we will still need to find a way to pay for later. However, to most Americans it means more money on the paycheck, which equates to more household spending, which will hopefully lead to businesses adding jobs and an end to this dreadful recession.

When people quit spending, business have to cut jobs, this slows down the economy and leads to a recession. So we need to spend, spend spend.

This has been so far a good week for President Obama. The economy seems to be on a slow mend. The Associates Press reported that 45% of executives expect their companies plan to hire, this is the highest since 2002. 38% expect no change in current payroll. The executives group consist of 193 companies, 12-million workers and a combine revenue of 6 trillion dollars.

What is Quantitative Easing: [QE1,QE2]

"...what quantitative easing actually means, at least in part, is creating massive amounts of money out of thin air. Economists -at least some economists - believe that when you want to improve the economy, you need to get more money out there, circulating around...."

The Central Bank buys long term government bonds, $600 Billion, which in turn lowers the interest rates and speed-up the economy. Some concerns is that QE when lead to inflation, so far this has not happen. The Federal reserve announced that they will continue to purchase $75 Billion each month to inspire recovery in the economy. This will hopefully lead to banks lending again, people spending and investing and that will grow the economy.

NPR: Quantitative Easing explained: [3min 51sec]

audio clip

Clinton advises President Obama then gives briefing:

My prayers were answered!!

In a recent post I stated that President Obama needed to seek the advice of President Clinton to help navigate him through troubled waters... here is the Briefing after the Obama/Clinton meeting, the clip is long I have added the notes that I took from briefing, but I wanted to attach the whole clip to keep what President Clinton said in context. Enjoy!

• The Tax-Cuts would help him greatly-personally.
• Would not approve the Tax cut deal if it was just an extension of the Bush tax cuts.
• Whole agreements helps the MOST Americans:
• a. Unemployment extension; spent funds help economy
• b. Payroll Tax cut
• 1. Lower unemployment rate
• 2. Create More jobs.
• c. Tax Credits for manufacturing; job related to energy
• Net Plus for country/ Bipartisan agreement
• 1.8 Trillion in uncommitted funds needs to be used.
• START agreement needs to be approved!
• Asked if President Obama could have gotten a better deal?- Said No!!
• slippage: said Payroll tax relief was a stimulus...LOL
• What advice did he give the President?- said if President wanted to disclose he could ...
• Asked what needed to happen in Private Credit market to open-up?
• a. Community banks need to lend: for every $1 can lend $10
• b. Business Community is uncertain about financial reform, need to go to banks and make sure they understand what the new laws are. Hopefully a better understanding will result in more lending. Went on to say that they have 2 Trillion could result in 20 Trillion new loans.. not sure why sitting on cash. Need to reinvest in in economy.
• Asked if President Obama Has abandon his core principles and let his party down?-said NO!!
• US suffered severe Financial Collapse!!!
• Asked about Comparisons of Election btw 1994 and 2010?- sidestepped question.
• Haiti Update
• Asked about triangulation? deflation biggest problem and concern we have in-regards to economy.

My only HOPE is that President Obama was taking notes!! I hope he took the time to actually watch the entire briefing Clinton gave and learn how to sell the from the pulpit.

Downside of briefing? Makes President Obama look even more unprepared to deal with problems.

Also, side note talk around town is that President Obama may pull off the political maneuver of 2010... getting Republicans to back slide on deficit spend and approve another stimulus..ops not suppose to use that word.

SNL:12/04/2010-Wikileaked!

As odd as it may sound SNL makes a ggod piont what TMZ does is really no difference than Wikileaks... I'm just sayin'

November 2010: State of Unemployment for Minorities

Black Unemployment: 16.10% [8.90%-Whites]

Black Men: 16.70% [9.20%-Whites]

Black Women: 13.10% [7.60%-Whites]

Latino: 13.2%

Black Teens: 46.50% [20.9o%-Whites]

Any recovery in the national unemployment rate for minorities is usually a year or so behind that!

Data: http://www.nul.org/sites/default/files/November_2010_Jobs_Report.pdf

Obama, Bush Tax Cuts and unemployment insurance...

Note to Obama...

If you don't live under a rock the tide has changed against President Obama. I have been saying this for over a year and everyday it becomes increasingly clear that President Obama is completely clueless. Why clueless? It appears that he understands that he has lost one branch of congress, yet and still he carries on with the same failed strategy that has not worked the first two years of his administration. When holding your ground is the smart thing, he caves in. And when being bipartisan is the smarter route, he digs in.

What kind of negotiation strategy is it to tell the Republicans that you will give them all their Bush tax cut extension provided they extended the unemployment insurance for 2 million Americans. How do you lose this one?? After Eight years of out of control spending from the Bush Administration; all of a sudden the Republican's on going rhetoric now is to control deficit spending, keeping the Bush tax cuts in place does not control the deficit. And then injury to insult one Republican almost made it sound as if those Americans on unemployment want to be, like getting the average of what comes to three hundred and two dollar a week a life-style choice anyone is choosing. For real? Today on Fox news, Juan William went on to say that those on unemployment lack work ethic? How? Like this was their doing, like they asked to be laid off or terminated. This coming from a man who just signed a multi-million dollar contract.

The Republican's do not want to extend unemployment because of deficit spending, they want to end unemployment insurance so that the unemployment rate goes even higher then the current 9.8% and ultimately hurts your re-election bid for 2012. Not to mention 2 million more upset, angry Americans looking for work and wondering why you did not fight harder for them.

President Obama... your current strategy is not working... call Bill, call Bush, call James Carville ... call anyone who is going to help you stop looking like a complete dumb ass.

At best you have six-months to create some kind of up swing.

Who is Julian Assange?

Ted Strickland: Democrats Suffering From 'Intellectual Elitism'

I like this!!!

it's the truth and it needs to be said...

"I mean, if we can't win that argument we might as well just fold up,' he said. 'These people are saying we are going to insist on tax cuts for the richest people in the country and we don't care if they are paid for, and we don't think it is a problem if it contributes to the deficit, but we are not going to vote to extend unemployment benefits to working people if they aren't paid for because they contribute to the deficit. I mean, what is wrong with that? How can it be more clear?'"

Thank you Gov. Strickland

International man of mystery? Who the Heck is Julian Assange?

Julian Assange Vs. Hillary Clinton; USA: EU and Russia....

"How Much of this is about politics?"

CNN's Anderson Cooper took Texas birther and state Rep. Leo Berman (R) down a whole bunch of pegs last night over Berman's birther bill. "You're basing legislation on stuff that's just rumors and stuff that's been proven to be false," Cooper told him.