POTUS electioneering of his American Jobs Act is a slow-motion fail, and we can see in POTUS strident repetition that he does not have an audience in Washington or in the critical Electoral College states for his tardy palaver. Spoke to Larry Kudlow, Joseph Brusuelas, Jon Hilsenrath, Michael Boskin, Steve Moore re the slowdown in the US economy and what emerged was the theme that the US does not grow again as long as POTUS is running or election -- that all hiring and expansions decisions will be put off until 2013 and the new 113th Congress, that there is a jobs strike against Washington. If POTUS Obama is returned, then the companies will make accommodations for the anti-growth and centralized government of the second term. Until then, there is no confidence in the regulatory overhang and the regime uncertainty. The major struggles for corporate planning are domestic healthcare and the worldwide slowdown of demand. The major problems for banks are a spreading credit strike and the absence of confidence in Europe and the US. The European banking crisis is a follow-on to the failure of the banks too big to fail in 2008. POTUS Obama did not cause this freezing up; but he didn't help matters when he heaved borrowed Federal money into state jobs programs; and the administration of later-day-Keynesians doesn't improve the economy now when it proposes more make-work (stimulus) jobs programs with Federal dollars for state workers (teachers) and contractors (shovel-ready construction). POTUS American Jobs Act is so inapt and ill-timed that it is not even wrong. It is the WPA of 1933 that failed in 2009 and is now reawakened in a dream of campaigning. What does the NY9 loss mean for the Democrats? That the Obama administration has lost the argument with its own party, on foreign policy (Israel) and on domestic policy (stimulus). Sauve qui peut. Save what you can. Like the WPA days, every man for himself on the way to CCC camps.
Obama plan poor substitute for growth: Boehner reut.rs/ozH7Gs
The Liberal Illusion . . .
September 21, 2010
Dear Mr. Obama,
As I’ve said before I’m a born and bred capitalist. Born, because I was fortunate enough to be born an American, and bred because I was fortunate enough to have parents that worked hard to make sure I could survive, and if at all possible thrive. Not so with you, but that is another story. Regardless, one of the false notions that you seem to labor under is that business and entrepreneurs will not respond to asinine regulatory or tax policy. Speaking from my own local experience you are absolutely wrong.
Case in point. My local GM dealer is gone. Washed away by CAFE standards, lucrative Union contracts, and the hold up by your administration accomplished against the bond holders. To add insult to injury you used the public treasury to buy used cars that still had useful life, with a treasury I remind you that has no money, other than what hostile foreign powers will lend us. Also, I’ve got lots of houses near me I’d like to buy and fix up, maybe sell them, and make a profit. I’m a handy guy. The fly in the ointment here is that I can’t predict what I’ll be forced to do at point of sale or the point of a government gun - so I do nothing. In addition, there is piece of property near me that is a prime spot for a home style burger joint, it is near a school, alcohol license is not an issue for me, but the law is. First, the liability of opening those doors to even serve my first burger is insurmountable. Then, there are the employees, and the burden that the state of New York and Federal government puts on the business owner. Again before I’ve even invested a dime my idea is dust.
You see people are smart. That is why you construct these laws so that small business can’t be started in the first place unless they are visible enough to tax, track, and abuse through never ending attack of regulatory agencies, such that they don’t want to hire anyone even if they can get more profit out of the choice; essentially the unknown risk of government far exceeds any benefit reaching for that next piece of business is worth. So my money sits, and my pile shrinks due to inflation, and no reward for saving other then survival. This is what creates the “beans and hot dog” environment that that government worker was eluding to at the CNBC town hall. (remember Velma?)
I understand a socialist like your self thinks that one day I’ll wake up and forget all of this and go pursue my dreams, but keep dreaming. I’m rational and so is anyone with money. “A fool and his money are soon parted” and there is nothing more foolish than Big Government with a printing press in charge of a welfare state with open borders! You see, I know that a government agent, a tax authority, a regulator, union official, or “obamacare” is just waiting to destroy me. So why open my doors, on an individual basis, in the first place? Someone once asked me why do corporations give to both parties - I told them straight out - protection money. Who do they need protection from? The government. Who do they pay? The government. Do you understand now why I’m writing more now than ever? I’m tried of the racket and so are the American people.
On November 2, 2010 we will, at least for a time, put it to a stop. If those newly elected join with you in the government mafia, well, we will just have to do this all over again in 2012, 2014, 2016 . . . again, you may own the clocks, but we’ve got the time.
Respectfully,
Joe Doakes
ps. We stopped you. Now we have to win in 2012. "We The People" will.
Green Jobs was a failure, Spain and USA invested heavily in Solar technologies. Bailing out GM pensions, yet letting GM investors swing in the wind send a very strong signal to the investor class that BHO is not looking out for you. Most Americans are investors, in their 401k, and in their house.
Ridiculing Las Vegas and Private Jets may win a few votes in the Bronx and the South Side, but it does not work in NY9. Voters see it as a cheap political tactic.
Voters can be liberal with their franchise when the economy is good, not when they thin they will lose their job and their house.
Mr. Obama, the voters are smarter than you think. Class warfare is tired.
Mr. Obama is also true to his political and social class: Wealthy liberal elites who despise their donors and worship their beneficiaries. He will not change his stripes, he will do what tigers do.
BARRY THE GIANT JOBS KILLER pt 3
re: Solyndra, again
I don't mind the gov't putting money into research for solar technology or other 'green' energy. But to put gov't money into supporting a specific company, whether because of cronyism or to support it because it's dying, is just plain stupid. It shows rigidity and an inability to change when the facts change.
Supporting something 'green' just because it's 'green' puts us all in the 'red'. It's wasteful. And if my understanding of 'green' is correct, it means not being wasteful.
The $500 million in one shot is staggeringly clueless. Corruption? Possibly. Sloppy foolish incompetent waste of other peoples money undoubtedly. Like having a serial killer loose. Stop them before they spend again!
BENG WASTEFUL ISN'T BEING GREEN. IT'S BEING STUPID.
You say mineral deposits and fossil fuels are a limited resource, then be green by conserving them.
You say renewable energy is the way to go, then be green by investing in R&D.
But don't so arrogant as to think you're smarter than the marketplace. You're not.
Don't pick one company, or one technology, over others. Let the market do that.
You want to be a 'green' leader, then lead by example. Don't go on lavish vacations, when everyone else is hurting. Don't take two private jets to your exclusive hideaway, when one will do. It sets a bad example. It makes you look like a petty dictator who has just taken over a third world country and is running amuck.
Being green is not exploiting others. It doing what's right because it is right. Not because it has a political end.
You want to be the leader of the free world. Then act like one.
Being green is being smart. It's using resources wisely.
Money is a scarce resource. Be green by conserving it.
My bumper sticker for the election cycle:
Obama
Worse than Criminal
Stupid
We are on a freight train to stupid . . .
September 15, 2011
Dear Mr. President,
Can polls go into negative numbers? By next year we are going to find out. No matter how much one professes their love for solar panels, electric cars, or even record players - none of those contraptions have the ability to do what liberal democrats say they can do or even hope they can do. In the interest of your continuing education and on the job training please allow me to explain. Recently, a solar panel company folded after receiving a HALF A BILLION DOLLARS that was BORROWED on this nations credit and lent to this company for the purpose of building solar panels. Manufacturing a solar panel is not all that complex, frame, electrodes, filament, glass enclosure, or heat treated film to cover it and you’ve got your self a panel. They come in all shapes sizes and capacities. Please remember that the core reason a company exists is to make a profit. If the capital, labor, and management are not working towards that goal the company fails. This particular industry is fighting against the raw need for at the ready, and a consistent supply of quality energy. The only reason why we waste public money on these ideas is a result of a lie that the world is somehow imperiled and we all must go broke to save it. That’s biggest bunch of malarky I’ve heard in my life, and brother I’ve heard some serious malarky:)
The electric car is also a governmental induced mistake. This contraption comes in many forms none of them good. Most of the time it is plugged in getting recharged from a coal burning power plant other times it is a threat to fire fighters everywhere. It is like a mini toxic dump moving at highway speeds waiting to discharge into some first responder. A battery is not a generator of energy, it is a storage device. It will never be made small enough, light enough, nor enough of them could be made to replace gasoline and diesel powered vehicles. Hybrids also fall into this gimmick category. In the real world they are too expensive to produce in the numbers required to make a difference in gasoline consumption and when driven in a real world conditions, you know, up hills, the gasoline consumption is similar to that of the vehicle that does not have the hybrid. Every time I see the word “hybrid” on a vehicle I think “turbo” and I want to puke. If the most recent half a billion loss at Solyndra doesn’t convince my fellow citizens that the “Green Movement” is more concerned with the color of money, I do not know what will, but I promise to keep trying:)
Finally, when was the last time you bought a record player? I’m betting a long time ago. There’s a reason for this; in three words “capitalistically driven innovation.” From the “reel to reel,” to the “8 track,” to the “cassette tape,” to the “compact disk” and to the “Ipod.” We have all borne witness to the music industry and the storage industry mating up to find better and more convenient ways to store, transport, and play our favorite tunes - lately I’ve been real into the ‘80s, actually most of America would love to live those days again. Wonder why that is? I’ll tell you. In order to have what we have now corporations had to be free to grow, combine, fail, and eat each other in an orgy of capitalistic enterprise. Had that not happened I’d be writing these letters on a stone tablet and paying Fred Flintstone to deliver them.
We want those days back. We want our children to have that opportunity. We want an America that is vibrant again. We can’t allow you to continue to threaten that. So we will continue to work towards your political defeat. Besides, I’m not giving up writing these letter until I see a photo of you and Jimmy Carter on a free Palestine flotilla.
:)
Respectfully,
Joe Doakes
You just lost in 2012 . . .
September 14, 2011
Dear President Obama,
I’m jewish by faith, but I am an American. I am intensely proud of that. I try very hard to communicate that in all of these letters. I love the Americans who strive to live good lives no matter their pigmentation or political affiliation. I’m often amazed at the little moments that most seem to let pass with out a second glance. The amount of people of my faith that have done so much to help this nation advance from Uriah P. Levy contribution to a very young United States Navy to Hyman Rickover and his dogged desire to put a safe and reliable miniaturized nuclear reactor into a United States Navy submarine, to my own Grandfather who served with distinction in a B-24 bomber as part of the 15th Air force, 461st bomb group in World War 2, and my father who did his part. I also remember some of those who share my faith that I’m ashamed of like Julius and Ethyl Rosenberg and their traitorous acts that wounded this nation and imperiled the world, and the likes of Bernie Madoff and his violent and fraudulent attack on the wealth of others.
“Act as if the whole effort rests on your shoulders alone” . . . I remember that being in a speech the President Reagan said. I’ve tried to do this. Word after word. Letter after letter. Can’t say that a few nights at a few bars I was perfect, but who can? I wouldn’t trust anyone that was perfect. Anthony Weiner tried to live a perfect life. He went into politics, sought the praise of those in power then when they thought he was ready to prove himself they set him loose to run for office. Which Weiner won handily all the while advocating for the opposite of what his constituents held most dear, the safety and security of Israel, and a strong and vibrant economy. It’s tough being two faced. It’s tough trying to get a few drinks in and acting normal too. But I’m not a representative of the people. I’m just “Joe Doakes” if I foul up I only hurt a handful of people, when Mr. Weiner fouled up he hurt many scores more.
So he resigned and an election was held to replace him. I witnessed many people with the label Democrat step forward and defend the Republican, in broad daylight on video no less, and in the newspapers that circulate in New York city. Then I realized that that connection between what it is to be an American who is jewish was on the mend once again. This makes me happy. This makes me realize that though times are tough and the threats Israel faces such that it has not born in 40 years, that America, a beacon and guardian for liberty and religious freedom will be ready to stand for it once again. God forbid. In that readiness, in that willingness to fight for what we believe in, we will once again find a moment that we can look at ourselves not as Jew and Gentile, and one day when Muslims make that real public turn for peace and assimilation into Western culture . . . we will all see ourselves as Americans. We took a step towards that today.
We will take the final step on November 6, 2012.
Respectfully,
Joe Doakes
Tonight's show:
JB:
Great interview with the space China/military.
Offense even with just kinetic weapons can be devastating at orbital velocities. And not just orbital vs orbital but also obit to surface. Gravity is a big bucket of energy to tap. And if I were Sun Tsu I would see the great black ocean in the sky as where my enemy had chosen not to go. The high ground.
But any threat I can think of can be protected against. Shielding can be made in many ways (self sealing water bags for example - Vernor Vinge) but getting the shielding in place is costly in lift. Also it launches a competitive cycle of offensive and defensive innovation.
However there are already unimaginable sources of material in "orbit". I expect military needs will create demand for space based materials (mining metals and ice, scooping methane) and manufacturing.
The Lagrangian points as discussed the other night seem natural venues for gathering, siting and staging.
Many ships will be built. The solar system belongs to the humans (as far as we know). Why waste it?
Now that's a jobs program.
JB,
I'm sure you've seen the new CGI of the new rocket with Nelson and Bolden in front of it. My concern is having to live with the same launch profile as the shuttle as it relates to having solid rockets, lined with o rings, up against liquid fuel at launch.
I've learned that we have flown the shuttle 80 times since Challenger but I do not have the time to check it we actually flew shuttle in conditions that were the same as Challenger with the newly designed o rings.
JD