Isaac Garcia's Blog

Politics of Fear

""A failure to act, and act now, will turn crisis into a catastrophe and guarantee a longer recession," Obama warned Wednesday at the White House."  (source)

I thought we were putting aside childish things and the politics of fear? 

I thought we all despised Bush because of his fear-mongering?

I feel strongly that we should hold any President to the same level of ridicule and standards that we've held prior Presidents (read:  Bush, Clinton).  So we all hated Bush because he used "fear" as a tactic and he was "obsessive" about working out.  Yet, Obama can use the same words, this time about the economy, and instead of questioning his workout schedule we take his pictures and admire his health.

Oh, and he is a smoker.  Isn't that supposed to be bad?

I just want us to be fair and consistent.

Obam-Iran

US President Barack Obama's offer to talk to Iran shows that America's policy of "domination" has failed, the government spokesman said on Saturday.

"This request means Western ideology has become passive, that capitalist thought and the system of domination have failed," Gholam Hossein Elham was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency.

"Negotiation is secondary, the main issue is that there is no way but for (the United States) to change," he added. 

(Click here for Source)

Looks like the new strategy is already working.  hahaha  What a joke.

Stimulus Is A Joke - A Total Joke

This stimulus bill is a joke.

"Add the roughly $20 billion for business tax cuts, and by our estimate only $90 billion out of $825 billion, or about 12 cents of every $1, is for something that can plausibly be considered a growth stimulus."

Congress should be dismantled.  Obama is already failing in his first 8 days.  There is nothing to be "proud of" in this travesty of a bill.   Yes, Obama should be working harder to prove that he is bringing change to Washington.  So far, both sides of the aisle are ignoring him.  Fail. 

And, no, I don't want more tax cuts either!

I want incentives for business (particularly small businesses across America) and investment in hard science, technology and meaningful projects - not road repair.

U2 Obama

Today U2 performed at the Obama Inaugural Pre-concert, er, at the U2 Album Launch Party.

First of all, it looks freezing cold. I love U2 - but not in sub-zero weather.

During the performance there are a couple of funny moments:

While U2 is wrapping up their first song "Pride: In The Name of Love" the camera pans to Obama. 
He looks totally confused.

Secondly, towards the beginning of their second song, "City of Blinding Lights" Bono sings: 

"They are advertising in the skies for people like you...(pause)....Joe Biden!...."
(he sings this while pointing at Joe Biden) 

I rewinded it 4 or 5 times because it was so hilarious to me.  I really can't tell if Bono is mocking Joe Biden - or if he just feels awkward and doesn't know what else to sing.  It is hilarious to me.

 

What Global Warming?

Thanks to a rapid rebound in recent months, global sea ice levels now equal those seen 29 years ago, when the year 1979 also drew to a close," says the University of Illinois's Arctic Climate Research Center.  Read more here.

(apologies in advance to all of you who are appalled that I don't believe in Global Warming)

2009 Economic Prophecies

A list of 2009 Prophecies. 

1. Iranian Revolution

2. Crude Oil to $25

3. S&P 500 to 500

4. Italy Could Drop the Euro

5. Australian Dollar to Slump vs Yen

6. Dollar to Outstrip the Euro

(Read them all here)

Economic Ponzi Scheme

The entire economy is one giant Ponzi scheme.

Makes you feel good, eh?           

I Love Contrarian Views

The Sin in Doing Good Deeds, by Nicholas D. Kristof

“We allow people to make huge profits doing any number of things that will hurt the poor, but we want to crucify anyone who wants to make money helping them,” Mr. Pallotta says. “Want to make a million selling violent video games to kids? Go for it. Want to make a million helping cure kids of cancer? You’re labeled a parasite.”

(Source NYT)

Reboot America

Somedays I think Thomas Friedman is a big, fat idiot.  Other days I don't.

Today, he is a mensch.

Read it here.

CitiBail

"Even as they assured employees and investors last week that the company was on sound financial footing..."

Makes you feel good, doesn't it?

What a mess.

What a joke.