Here is an open letter and 10 cents worth to Timothy Geithner, President of the New York Federal Reserve. Just don’t tell me we are not a corrupt financial bunch.
The amount of money our banks are required to keep in reserve, relative to the amount they are able to loan out, have increased dramatically from 1:15 per actual monetary value to 1:30, and in some cases, even more. Who makes up these rules?
The day before the 9/11/2001 Donald Rumsfeld declared a war on the money waste at the Pentagon and proclaimed it “War on Waste”, armed with stacks of paper work questioning $2.3 trillion, according to Vince Gonzales on a CBS’s “Eye on America” expose. Gonzales said that 2.3 trillion was equivalent to $8,000 for every man, woman and child in America.
Visit this site: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xU4GdHLUHwU
The video will tell you that Jim Minnery of the Defense Department was reassigned when he tried to expose the path of financial allegations at the Pentagon; Franklin C. Spinney, a Dept of Defense analyst, claimed that the numbers for various budgets were “pie in the sky” and never added up. Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan (ret) U.S. Navy asked for oversight in the Pentagon Budget while question $48 billion spent by Pentagon officials. Rumsfeld’s War was interrupted and we have never heard anything more about the escaping billions in the Pentagon’s war chest. Could these same individuals or tactics be what we are witnessing on Wall Street and now affecting Main Street USA?
We have been masking financial chicanery by calling it “derivates”, “subprimes” and “swaps”. In the late 1989’s we called them “junk bonds”. Bush’s new Christian politicians had a baptismal and are calling it them in 2008 “derivatives and swaps”. Neal Bush, his brother, was involved in the savings and loans debacle and so was Jeb of Florida, but the media doesn’t seem to mention this and did Bush before he starts pointing fingers forget the family connection. Dress it up and you call it “Platinum Plungers”, look at the DOW members who are affected by these “pieces of paper”, “High yields” or “risk instruments”,
Bush said unequivocally, the lower middle and poor income Americans are the blame for the catastrophic financial situation affecting the world. Homeowners who exaggerated their incomes, bank accounts, job and credit history purchased brand new homes with escalating interest rates but no money down for the first three to five years (depending on the offering). Mortgage brokers wrote the loans that exaggerated the income, job, bank accounts and credit history of the homeowners. Banks officials accepted the loans that the mortgage brokers wrote that exaggerated the income, job, bank accounts and credit history of the homeowners. Loan bankers took the paper and sold to larger American and foreign banks. These banks in turn bundled these papers as derivatives that the bank officers bundled that were the mortgages of the homeowners. Didn’t anyone notice the sudden rush of individuals and families moving into these brand new developments at unheard of numbers, suspect that something was either “on fire” or “slightly unsual activity” during an economic time that was otherwise relatively flat? Don’t tell me we are not a corrupt financial bunch.
So if these homeowners didn’t have the opportunity to purchase these brand new homes at these extra ordinary rates then, who would have purchased them? Why did the developers build so many units during the time in question and not question how they were going to be able to sell the units? Is there something that the developers knew that the homeowners didn’t know? And didn’t the developers have to find the line of credit to build these huge developments unless they knew that the market was prime for such buyers? So everyone always points their fingers to “the other guy”?
The rest of the world is weaning away from us. We say look north, and the rest of the world knows to look south. We scorched South America and Russia this way which is why they pay attention to our game playing and these people know because we have demoralized their economies and have harmed their financial outlooks. We are not to be trusted.
Using the example of the Philippines, under the guises of spiritually we robbed them materially. We go over to the Islands with the missionaries and ministers and give the natives a few pieces of silver. With the intelligence and knowledge gathered of the area we then send in the business negotiators. We went in demonizing their people, demanding their land and capital resources, militarizing some of their people by providing clothing, shelter, transportation and ensuring that those that we had embraced did in fact deserve more, although the morality and control we held on these chosen few did our bidding and were compensated. This division caused many Filipinos to become jealous, greedy and to fight over market shares.
Don’t tell me we are not a corrupt financial bunch.
Our economic future seems to be unraveling a Ponzi scheme and we may never know the pathetic individuals who started it, because they have liquidated their assets, taken their money out of the situation, and run out of the deal. Meantime, we obviously must know they are the ones who can also afford to buy the economic assets at 10 cents on the dollar, receive tax credits to boot under the guises of “helping to stimulate the economy that they originally destroyed”.
The Byzantine Chronicle leads us to an Asian village where this mad woman is walking the streets. She has in one hand a brassier of burning flaming coals, and on the other hand she has a pale of water. So obviously people are asking her, “What are you doing?” She says that she is burning down heaven and extinguishing hell.
Those that sold the mortgages started toe dancing in 2003 and kept expanding and pretty soon they got to the point that the bankers took the limits off. Now those limits have exponentially raised the bottom line beyond corruption. How do you do this and not arrange security on what you are doing? This is no longer merely just an incident of corruption but has become a deliberate effort to destroy the banking system as we know it. This is a rationalization for privatizing the banking system.
I was reading that in 2004 or right about then, that Obama made a presentation to the owners of the automobile industry. He indicated to them that they should alter their auto planning and reorganize for “green industry”. Industry leaders didn’t listen to the skinny young kid with the dumb name from Chicago Illinois or appreciate him telling them what he recommended that they do. Then 4 years later that same skinny young kid with the funny name is now running the country and they have to come with hat in hand asking for his assistance to keep their companies running. Pride comes before a fall, but they arrived in private Lear jets. So to think that they weren’t paying attention to this guy, they must be putting their heads together now saying,
“It wouldn’t have cost us much to be nice to the kid, who now holds our industry’s future in his hands and the 3.5 million people we represent.” Don’t you believe it was only fair that they should have come with their own plans in their hands instead of expecting to receive a $25 billion dollar check? Yes, you walk into a room with millionaires and billionaires, who hold clout with the industry. They believed they had all the aces and to some extent they do, but they didn’t expect “the no”. They had buffaloed him before and now they have been taken aback. Four years ago he didn’t have the power and permission, but now he is President of the United States. Could Obama, with Pelosi’s help, just be allowing them to stew in their own mess? Well, the odds of Obama at that time having any significant influence were very small and the likelihood of his rising any faster was also unknown. But didn’t anyone tell the industry leaders to pay attention and to set aside their arrogance and down right rudeness. Don’t tell me we are not a corrupt financial bunch.
So, I’d rather see Obama take that $8,000 per every man woman and child and send us a bonus check at tax time and let’s see how fast that kick starts the American economy since no one questioned it in 2001 and then call Rumsfeld back to follow the Pentagon trail and find out who started this financial mess.
Yes, I can ... I can breath deep again. Finally, after so many months, all of us who have supported Obama and Biden can say ... Finally we can say ... Yes We Can.
This victory is not just our personal victory, but a victory for all Americans. Our future finally feels open to newer and brighter changes. Change that you and I can believe in. From Big Island of Hawaii, I saw the victory unfolding from my chair, watching the evens unravelling from my 12-inch colored television at 6 pm, Hawaii time. 338 electoral votes. AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.
Thank you Vermont, New England states, Virginia, Ohio, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, California, Oregon and Washington state, thank you Hawaii. THANK YOU TO THE 42 MILLION PLUS AMERICANS WHO VOTED FOR OBAMA-BIDEN.
I am so happy, so excited, that I prayed to God immediately and thanked him for blessing America with the Obama-Biden leadership team and to protect them always. God Bless Us. God Bless America. Amen.
One day left and the start of a new day. Obama-Biden ticket is on the rise. I have voted by absentee ballot. I hope all of you will vote come Election Day Tuesday. Your vote, my vote is important. Please spread the word and VOTE.
God Bless all of Us. Got Bless the United States of America.
I sent out the Virginia Veterans for Obama youtube video via email to some of my friends ... some who are oriented to the McCain vote. I hope this will make an impact to let them be aware that there is a huge following of veterans who believe in the change that Obama and Biden will bring to our Nation. Hopefully, they vote for Obama-Biden. However, I probably will get back some negative feedback from them ... but it does not matter because I let them know where I stand.
Being a retired U.S. Army senior noncommissioned officer and disabled veteran, I have the confidence that Obama and Biden will lead us to the changes that we need to upgrade our Nation's status. Eight years of misery, turmoil, financial ruin, international disrespect, and misuse of the military (we need to get Bin Laden ... not stay indefinitely in Iraq) will soon be changed come ELECTION DAY TUESDAY.
VOTE OBAMA-BIDEN (I have voted for them via absentee ballot).
I just reported two youtube smear campaigns by email to watchdog@barackobama.com
Instead of focusing on the most important issues, the economy and finding the terrorist Osama bin Laden, the McCain supporters are becoming desperate enough by sending smear campaign youtube videos by emails and are trying to influence jewish american vote and smearing Obama's name.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE: Democrats will have a big wave of victory throughout the nation come Election Day Tuesday. Supporters like you helped make it happen. Polls today indicate a double digit lead by OBAMA-BIDEN in Pennsylvania, according to CNN.
Tuesday is election day ... Change is coming. Please vote and remind your family, friends, and co-workers to vote for Obama-Biden on ELECTION DAY TUESDAY.
I voted for Obama-Biden and sent out my absentee ballot last week. What a good feeling.
I just sent out a letter to the editor to Victorville California's Daily Press and to the Big Island of Hawaii newspaper Hawaii Tribune Herald today, hopefully it gets published on Sunday's edition of the newspapers, so readers can read what i have to say ... Vote for your Choice ... (PS: my choice is the Obama-Biden ticket).
I am so excited and looking forward to the evening of election day Tuesday. Why? because I am so confident that the American people will know deep down in their heart that Obama and Biden is America's best choice in returning America its greatness. Their inspiration have touched millions, and their impact has inspired millions of new voters, turning undecided voters into believers.
Yes, thanks to the millions of Obama supporters, and endorsers like retired Gen. Colin Powell, governors from various states, we are on the road to a new direction of change. Goodbye Bush. Goodbye McCain. Goodbye Palin. Let's all get with the program of change that's coming.
I received this spam email today asking people for $9.95 for shipping and handling for a free OBAMA CD from an address in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Someone is trying to make a quick buck using Obama's name. PLEASE be careful and share this with everyone.
I just reported a smear campaign in Hawaii by McCain supporters via email. Although McCain support in Hawaii is far fewer, these McCain supporters are real desperate in influencing the people's choice by sending email that depicts negative campaigning. SHAME OF THEM.
THEY NEED TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM WITH THE REST OF HAWAII's OBAMA SUPPORTERS. Change is needed and we don't need someone who supports the Bush administration 92 percent of the time. We don't need someone who chose a vice presidential candidate who does not have any inkling on foreign affairs and nation-level issues.
We need Barack Obama and Joe Biden to make things happen in the next four years. WE NEED THEM TO IMPROVE OUR ECONOMY, TO USE OUR MILITARY DECISIVELY (that is to get Bin Laden first and not linger in Iraq), AND GET US BACK AS A RESPECTABLE NATION LEADER IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
We will be registering voters from 9 a.m til 5 p.m Monday thru Friday at food 4 less location below and also at vallerta's grocery store during the same hours
Food4less 16266
Bear Valley Rd Victorville CA 92392
Store Phone: (760) 951-1140
Vallarta Supermarket #22 12351
Mariposa Rd Victorville, CA 92395
(760) 243-1246
Growing up in Washington, D.C., I became desensitzed to politics at an early age.
John McCain was a breath of fresh air in 2000, and I would've voted for him in 2004 over Bush. Now McCain has become Bush.
When I finally met John McCain in 2007 and interviewed him as a newspaper reporter, I saw in his eyes that McCain is a lion that’s been beaten and tasered by Bush for too long to change anything. Plus he’s 72.
I met John McCain after the 2007 State of the Union as a DC Correspondent for the Santa Barbara News-Press. It was a big night for the majority Democrats because George W. Bush had to mention subjects he didn’t like, but the country hadn’t yet realized his presidency was over early. McCain came up to Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and shouted “Climate Change Forever!” and clapped at the newly crowned Chairwoman of the Senate Environmental Committee. “He’s been excited lately,” said Boxer. Bush had finally, admitted there was a problem but kind’ve didn’t want to do anything about it. When I finished interviewing Boxer I went up the big marble halls of the Capitol where I found John McCain next to the statues of some dead guys and reporters with their recorders out. I took mine out and chimed in asking him about how little Bush mentioned the environment. “Well he did mention it,” he said. You seemed pretty excited when you ran into Senator Boxer and I, Do you think the President will cooperate on climate change?” “I can’t say but he answered it tonight.” And then we look at each other not speaking for like 10 seconds and he’s giving me this knowing smile that he wouldn’t give me anything. A sneaky smile, asking me to give him a break so he can go back to giving “A” material to the Washington Times and the eight other reporters. So I turn off my recorder, still looking him dead in the eye. “Thank you for your time Senator. McCain grinned gratefully back at me, “No, thank YOU,” —I saw he was a true yes man, willing to set aside what he believed was best for the people and look after him first. Washington, D.C., was piling mountains of bullshit quotes about bipartisanship, but the guy who invented it by with environmental legislation has lost his cojones since 2000.
McCain will never cross Bush on anything.
The ACLU is introducing a new program titled:
I Am a Constitution Voter
· I believe that no one -- including the President -- is above the law.
· I oppose all forms of torture, and I support both closing the Guantánamo Bay prison and ending indefinite detention.
· I oppose warrantless spying.
· I believe that government officials, no matter how high-ranking, should be held accountable for breaking the law and violating the Constitution.
· I believe that the Constitution protects every person's rights equally -- no matter what they believe, how they live, where or if they worship, and whom they love.
· I reject the notion that we have to tolerate violations of our most fundamental rights in the name of fighting terrorism.
· I am deeply committed to the Constitution and expect our country's leaders to share and act on that commitment -- every day, without fail.
As American veterans who have served with honor, we took an oath 'to protect and defend our Constitution' -- not those who abuse their power under the color of authority in an attempt to prolong their power. They stain Old Glory, our nation, and our Constitution.
"Evil doers" torture suspects and spy on their own. Not Americans.
To get a free bumper sticker and learn more, visit the aclu.org website:
https://secure.aclu.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=bumper_sticker&s_s=email1
Sen. McCain’s slim-ball attacks on Barrack’s patriotism are straight from the Rove Handbook on how to get your political way through character assassination, threats, fear-mongering, and marginalizing your opponents’ loyalty to the country. These are things of the past and things we will continue to see when Congress, judges, and the American people disagree with McCain’s viewpoints. It is classic Carl Rove – Beware. . . Foul play.
McCain is a patriot but his political ideologies are in deep, muddy, water. At issue are his startling responses to Pastor Warren’s questions concerning Supreme Court Justices, his staggering apathy toward American’s privacy, his religious views on abortion that fuels his commitment to overturn the 35 year old Supreme Court ruling, and the mockery of his Congressional cronies (Saddleback Interview, August 16, 2008). His answers to Warren’s questions cause deep concern for his sense and respect for the rule of law, judicial rulings of the court, his peers’ dedication, and an obvious propensity to rule on social issues from the “religious pulpit”.
NEO CONSERVATIVE - ELITIST IDEOLOGIES
Without venturing into the muddy waters of politics ourselves, we can see the facts and hear his candor to Warren’s questions that clearly speak of his level of leadership, moral fiber, clarity, and judgment. It is a viewpoint to be reckoned with and can be clearly subjected to legitimate scrutiny. In retrospect of the “Saddleback Interview”, it is readily apparent that his interpretation of our Constitution is skewed by his neo-conservative, elitist ideologies about the basic constructs of freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. His many responses to these serious issues indicate his willingness to continue the Republican Party’s and current administration’s erosion on United State Constitution as it was originally designed by our Founding Fathers.
WE FORGAVE YOU ONCE
But what is most troubling is to see McCain using compelling and heart wrenching POW stories to bolster his character, judgment, and patriotism. Shame on John McCain. What was he thinking? Many Americans remember a John McCain that they eagerly put away along with all the other bitter discord of the Viet Nam era – another senseless, war debacle ranking right up there with the Iraq War. Now that he has given cause to recount what happened during his imprisonment – it re-opens old wounds that Americans long ago granted reprieves for. As he plays on our emotion it should be fair game to analyze because as McCain takes liberties with our sentiments, Americans that witnessed his well publicized repatriotization are also reminded that his conduct as a prisoner was shrouded with dubious behavior and well documented collaboration with his captors. There are American voters that remember this – witnessed the entire episode. Tired with war and the leaders that got us into it, Americans were empathic to his long tormented imprisonment and wanted to move beyond the divisiveness of the Viet Nam era. We forgave his moments of weakness. Now what – after nearly thirtyfive years, more forgiveness?
HONOR - RESPECT - GRATITUDE
Once was enough for the American people. Americans do think the best in people, especially our people in uniform and only hope not to be betrayed by the honor, respect, and gratitude we have for them – To ask for more compassion, more forgiveness again, after all these years - might be just the time to call him on it and this time let the cards lay where they fall.
In the end I hope we know nothing more of Senator McCain’s gripping personal stories for survival – we must only honor them on face value of a man who suffered many years of being captive. McCain’s POW stories should stand for what it is - service to his country and our respect, honor and gratitude. Nothing more!
LEADERSHIP - JUDGEMENT - ACCOUNTABILITY
We have been Obama supporters for some time now. We have given as much money as we can afford. We have talked to friends, neighbors and family on behalf of Obama. We believe in him but before he can effect any change he has to get elected. Now he's only 3 points ahead in the polls and the Clinton supporters are not behind him. If he really wants to reach across the aisle, why not choose Chuck Hegel as his running mate? If he hopes to get the Clintonistas, why not choose her? As much as we like Senator Biden we don't think he or any of the others frequently mentioned can really help Obama win. If McCain might choose Lieberman why can't Obama choose Hegel? You can play it safe and lose or play it gutsy and win enough independents and disgruntled Republicans to win.
Debate and action about our national energy policy have been long overdue. Our national leaders have largely ignored real energy policy discussions and have ultimately left the nation vulnerable to the whims of foreign oil producers and domestic profiteers. At stake is the largest transfer of wealth in the world's history will go out of this country (Pickens) and as a recent NY Times article states, that wealth is currently being ‘transferred into the coffers of foreign governments that have a bulls eye on our backs’ (Freidman).
The change Pickens and so many others are talking about will be a long term process – both technically and in changing the mind set of U.S. citizens. A new direction in our National Energy Policy is a unique opportunity that is present now, relevant to our national security, to our well being, and to our long term prosperity. It is a wake-up call for all American’s to be part of both fronts – technically and changing our mindset.
Lastly, I think Obama may have ideas of his own on Energy Policy. . .but this "movement" and "call to action" is exactly what our Presidential candidate asks all Americans to do - get involved to make changes in our country happen.
‘. . .even the cats and dogs in our country know “elections matter!” Or words to that effect. . . Gore’s endorsement was as powerful as any of the recent endorsements – but I think Gore’s endorsement brings awareness unlike the others’. We are reminded of the 2000 Florida debacle and all the things that could have been if Gore had won the Presidency. Would there have been a 9/11 attack – perhaps. Would we have had an energy crisis – it has been in the making for the last 40 years. Would we be experiencing a banking and mortgage catastrophe – maybe so? Would there have been unemployment – these things happen from time to time. The real question is how a genuine leader would have dealt with these crises. Leadership in this democracy matters. These are troubled times and from time to time trouble can not be avoided, like Katrina. In the face of misfortune, adversity, failure, ruin, and tragedy the actions of our elected officials can change the course of history.
Gore's loss in 2000 reminds us all of the things that should not have been - Gitmo, the erosion of the Constitution, forfeiture of privacy, Iraq, mockery of due process of law, unsurpassed political elitism, and fear. We are in a time when blind partisan politics rules the many and bully politics marginalizes healthy decent. We need real leadership in the office of the Presidency and we need to make this change happen now. mgs
