The American Car Industry, sob
Somewhere in the late 2006 range, I had a post about Ford Motor Company pinning their hopes and dreams and profitability on their soon-to-be-successful marketing of SUVs and F250s. Yup, the American public wants huge penis (substitute) mobiles. As an aside, I am amazed the diesel F-250s don't come with a lifetime supply of magnums. Yes, they unveiled the master plan, stating unequivocally that profitability would return by 2009. Yessirree bob!
The great prognosticators that they were, they forgot that gas prices really would impact 12-15 mpg vehicles. In full disclosure, I just bought a Honda Civic Hybrid and bitch when I get less than 38 mpg. and know I will need to rent pickups or vans occasionally. Heck. to drive to CA when we moved from CO we rented a Ford Excursion to contain our bags, some knickknacks, some plants 2 cats and 2 dogs and a litter box. There is nothing wrong with trucks when needed.
But to stake the profits on gas prices staying as they were or rolling back was just stupid. Today in an Associated Press story Ford stated that they will cut production of trucks and SUVs because they are not being bought. Let me get this straight. You are being paid millions per year as executives and thought gas prices would go down. Then you gambled the jobs of thousands of line workers on your good judgment. Let's see, your current stock price is $7.16. I am too lazy to do research this morning (they were $60 in 1977) , but I bet in the hey-day of Ford, stock was near $100. GM's sure was and it now at about $18. So the company is still continuing to go down the tubes, workers are losing their jobs. I wonder how many Board members and executive management team members are going to lose their jobs. Will the Golden Parachutes be comparable?
Management is not inherently evil. It is easy to criticize. It is a dangerous position. And whether or not it is taken seriously, a manager holds the livelihood of many families in their hands! You would think that they could make better market predictions at the American auto industry. But betting your company and the lives of all your workers on trucks that get crappy mileage and not seeing the writing on the wall for gas prices? Let's just say I would not give them my family nest egg to bet on the Super Bowl. Or maybe in their minds it is time to bring back the Edsel or the Crown Vic.
rojo
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Today's Paper
In today's Sacramento Bee, there was a very good article on conservative versus progressive talk radio. It is worth the read.
In today's Sacramento Bee, there was a very good article on conservative versus progressive talk radio. It is worth the read.
I had the dubious distinction of having the drive of Denver, CO to Cactus, TX routinely for a period of 6 months about 5 years ago. I often played radio roulette to see what the rest of the country was thinking. On that trip, there was the choice of the American Family Network and the American Freedom Network on AM radio. That was it. 300 miles covered only by conservative and biblical conservative conversation. NPR existed when you got closer to Amarillo. Kansas is much the same, Nebraska a little better. Iowa has had enough NPR on AM radio to break up the conservative monopoly. Colorado Springs now can get KKZN out of Denver during the day, but at night it is an endless stream of Hugh Hewitt, Glenn Beck, Doctor Michael Savage and Bill Cunningham. O yes, Focus on the Family, too.
If this is your only cultural and political reference and major source of information, it is a very narrow band of filtered information you can get. It limits your conscious choices as there is so much you do not hear. If you are not at all affluent, XM or Sirius radio are not there for you. Yes, people in rural areas, or even even urban areas, may have access to the internets, but will they check politico.com or digbysblog.blogspot.com. Not if they are told over and over again that these are at best "feminazis" or "the devil's minion."
Reagan did a disservice when the fairness doctrine disappeared. I am afraid that is out of the bottle forever, particularly with any first amendment challenge to this Supreme Court. Clinton did not help when he opened up ownership. CNN and Fox helped clinch the deal when the news division became a profit leader.
When my wife and I moved to Sacto recently, we wondered how 1240 could stay on the air given the lack of commercials. To this day, I do not understand why tattoo parlors, massage therapists, the Sacramento Food Coop, etc. were not hit up for small commercials at a reduced rate just to get some money coming in. Harlow's rock and roll venue, local organic wineries, many others have to have progressives coming there. Buying advertising on a progressive talk radio station should not alienate their primary target audience. I don't get it. UC Davis is right near by (and yes, you could hear it there). There had to be places to buy advertising.
I have often wondered if the Sacramento Coop could sponsor an ownership group through their mailing list and owners to get a radio station started to carry liberal or progressive broadcasting. Why not? Won't restaurants that believe in local food advertise? It probably is time for progressives in marginal markets to think of ways to get their message of hope out and the airwaves are the most accessible.
rojo
rojo
Monday, May 05, 2008
There is a good string about Kent State, May 4th, on www.crooksandliars.com. But I am amazed at how few people even have the energy to look up the event on wikipedia. or Jackson State.
We have been here before and have learned little. Getting a tax rebate to help buy a big screen TV is more important, I guess.
Yesterday was the anniversary of May 4th. My wife lived next to Allison in the dorm. She lost her head going to math class. People were shot over a damned invasion that made no sense. as she stated on her blog, there was no reason to shot to kill, except that Governor Jimmy Rhoades, public opinion and Richard Nixon wanted to make a point. You have to remember that the county seat, Ravenna, had the Voice of America radio blaring down the downtown street sound system. The modern day equivalent would be having a town broadcast America Freedom Network, where Rush would be the liberal host. This is the atmosphere those protests were under. It is no wonder that there was meaningless spilling of blood. Nothing like armored personnel carriers on the campus to make you feel wanted.
I can recall on the 20th anniversary NBC news did a story that the only person photographed with a gun pointed at the National Guard was identified as an FBI agent (provocateur). The story soon disappeared. Infiltration of radical peace-loving groups was a regular occurence. Now we have wiretapping by the folks who tried to quell the last social revolution. How fast we forget and how public outrage disappears. many of the rights we take for granted and those which are rapidly stripping away were earned by the death of students in the 70s. God, what a shame. and waste of lives.
I was on a plane on Saturday and I spoke with the people I shared the row with and no one had ever heard of Jackson State or Kent State. and the May 4th Memorial at Kent is tucked away in the corner. Like no one wants to remember.
sad.
rojo
We have been here before and have learned little. Getting a tax rebate to help buy a big screen TV is more important, I guess.
Yesterday was the anniversary of May 4th. My wife lived next to Allison in the dorm. She lost her head going to math class. People were shot over a damned invasion that made no sense. as she stated on her blog, there was no reason to shot to kill, except that Governor Jimmy Rhoades, public opinion and Richard Nixon wanted to make a point. You have to remember that the county seat, Ravenna, had the Voice of America radio blaring down the downtown street sound system. The modern day equivalent would be having a town broadcast America Freedom Network, where Rush would be the liberal host. This is the atmosphere those protests were under. It is no wonder that there was meaningless spilling of blood. Nothing like armored personnel carriers on the campus to make you feel wanted.
I can recall on the 20th anniversary NBC news did a story that the only person photographed with a gun pointed at the National Guard was identified as an FBI agent (provocateur). The story soon disappeared. Infiltration of radical peace-loving groups was a regular occurence. Now we have wiretapping by the folks who tried to quell the last social revolution. How fast we forget and how public outrage disappears. many of the rights we take for granted and those which are rapidly stripping away were earned by the death of students in the 70s. God, what a shame. and waste of lives.
I was on a plane on Saturday and I spoke with the people I shared the row with and no one had ever heard of Jackson State or Kent State. and the May 4th Memorial at Kent is tucked away in the corner. Like no one wants to remember.
sad.
rojo
Friday, April 11, 2008
White House invloved in torture at a high level--
from AP and ABC news--
"Not all of the principals who attended were fully comfortable with the White House meetings.
The ABC News report portrayed Ashcroft as troubled by the discussions, despite agreeing that the interrogations methods were legal.
'Why are we talking about this in the White House?' the network quoted Ashcroft as saying during one meeting. 'History will not judge this kindly."' "
History will not judge this kindly? What? How about indignation that torture is immoral? Maybe they should have had the meetings at Jo's Strip and Tease Club. Oh, I forgot. Ethical John Ashcroft can't see titties, but hey--torture a guy and dehumanize him until he shits his pants and dies--no problem. Let's give him the Mr. Ethics-in-Action award.
We shouldn't do this in the White House because it can be linked to the President. Hell of an answer. It's kind of like asking your kid why he has ten bags of weed on his desk. Area you dealing? No, I smoke a lot.
What is the matter with these people? Geneva Convention? International laws? We don't need no stinking badges! tough guys making tough choices. Oh, what? The international community both aids us and abhors us. What, are we the world dominatrix? Lady Freedom in Leather? And no, I am not cutting Clinton slack as extraordinary extradition started under his watch.
Or am I that naive thinking that in order to be the world moral authority we should be willing to do things ethically?
rojo
from AP and ABC news--
"Not all of the principals who attended were fully comfortable with the White House meetings.
The ABC News report portrayed Ashcroft as troubled by the discussions, despite agreeing that the interrogations methods were legal.
'Why are we talking about this in the White House?' the network quoted Ashcroft as saying during one meeting. 'History will not judge this kindly."' "
History will not judge this kindly? What? How about indignation that torture is immoral? Maybe they should have had the meetings at Jo's Strip and Tease Club. Oh, I forgot. Ethical John Ashcroft can't see titties, but hey--torture a guy and dehumanize him until he shits his pants and dies--no problem. Let's give him the Mr. Ethics-in-Action award.
We shouldn't do this in the White House because it can be linked to the President. Hell of an answer. It's kind of like asking your kid why he has ten bags of weed on his desk. Area you dealing? No, I smoke a lot.
What is the matter with these people? Geneva Convention? International laws? We don't need no stinking badges! tough guys making tough choices. Oh, what? The international community both aids us and abhors us. What, are we the world dominatrix? Lady Freedom in Leather? And no, I am not cutting Clinton slack as extraordinary extradition started under his watch.
Or am I that naive thinking that in order to be the world moral authority we should be willing to do things ethically?
rojo
Monday, March 31, 2008
Ah, well. He should get to his sister's today.
In the news--
Iran brokers Iraq cease fire. That should drive our current administration nuts (remember the evil trilogy) and really drives home that the war cannot end as long as the "what's left of the coalition of the willing stays there. and the Iraqi police surrender to Sadr. What a mess. They really aren't standing up too well.
And Andrew Sullivan wants Cheney and Bush charged with war crimes.
Has he changed his tune.
rojo
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
And They Will Honor Us As Liberators--
Offered without comment. IPS:
Iraqi doctors in al-Anbar province warn of a new disease they call “Blackwater” that threatens the lives of thousands. The disease is named after Blackwater Worldwide, the U.S. mercenary company operating in Iraq.
“This disease is a severe form of malarial infection caused by the parasite plasmodium falciparum, which is considered the worst type of malarial infection,” Dr. Ali Hakki from Fallujah told IPS. “It is one of the complications of that infection, and not the ordinary picture of the disease. Because of its frequent and severe complications, such as Blackwater fever, and its resistance to treatment, P. falciparum can cause death within 24 hours.”
rojo
Friday, March 21, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
It Always Is Worth Reading the Source
With Bush claiming that all Democrats want the end of the country as seen in the fact that they do not want to grant retroactive immunity to telecom companies, it is good to read the letter sent to him by Congressman Silvestre Reyes, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In it, he clears up many of the untrue claims of the Administration. The biggest of these are the Patriot Act wiretapping of known organizations still is in force for one year and FISA courts can approve any new wiretaps needed.
You know, just like they could always do, but the Bush Administration decided to bypass the rule of law.
I am proud of the Dems for finally standing up to White House pressure and making laws important again.
And congartulations to Kosovo for becoming independent!
rojo
With Bush claiming that all Democrats want the end of the country as seen in the fact that they do not want to grant retroactive immunity to telecom companies, it is good to read the letter sent to him by Congressman Silvestre Reyes, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. In it, he clears up many of the untrue claims of the Administration. The biggest of these are the Patriot Act wiretapping of known organizations still is in force for one year and FISA courts can approve any new wiretaps needed.
You know, just like they could always do, but the Bush Administration decided to bypass the rule of law.
I am proud of the Dems for finally standing up to White House pressure and making laws important again.
And congartulations to Kosovo for becoming independent!
rojo
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
A Loving Deacon
Erick Erickson, editor of the popular conservative megablog RedState, conceded that progressives currently enjoy an advantage over conservatives online — though he attributed it to an asymmetry in free time, since conservatives “have families because we don’t abort our kids, and we have jobs because we believe in capitalism.”
I am so glad I have so much free time on my hands. After all, protecting the environment and making drinking water safe takes so little time. Things he forgot that progressives do in their spare time, aside from blogging, as they don't work hard--
1) eat their children
2) rock and roll
3) illegal sex (otherwise why would animal/human hybrids be such a big issue)
4) drink and drugs to excess (that is probably why there is so little blogging and reading, even though we must be unemployed, our brains are spaced out)
Is this man straight out of 1964-1968 and where did they find the time capsule with him in it? I haven't heard that venal of an accusation since the "dirty hippies" were excoriated for having no drive and principles. and wanting only to mooch off of the hard-working regular folk. I am in shock that people could be so misinformed. I have a Cadillac driven only by a welfare queen to sell him. Low miles, she could not afford the gas.
He categorizes himself as a normal person living in middle Georgia. He was a lawyer and is a deacon. Not uneducated, nor inexperienced. It is not often you find someone as judgmental and venal and hate-filled and still be a deacon. I bet his congregation members are a lovely bunch. Actually, I have no idea.
That may be the difference between me and him. I do not know how he lives and even though I say some mean things after not meeting him, only reading his writing, I really don't know him. I have formulated a few yucks at his expense, but I don't really know him.
It is no more fair of me to condemn him without knowing him than for him to condemn liberal and progressive bloggers as non-child bearing, do nothings--willing to live off of the efforts of the "Hard workers" of the capitalist society.
Judgment is easy. Love is not.
rojo
Erick Erickson, editor of the popular conservative megablog RedState, conceded that progressives currently enjoy an advantage over conservatives online — though he attributed it to an asymmetry in free time, since conservatives “have families because we don’t abort our kids, and we have jobs because we believe in capitalism.”
I am so glad I have so much free time on my hands. After all, protecting the environment and making drinking water safe takes so little time. Things he forgot that progressives do in their spare time, aside from blogging, as they don't work hard--
1) eat their children
2) rock and roll
3) illegal sex (otherwise why would animal/human hybrids be such a big issue)
4) drink and drugs to excess (that is probably why there is so little blogging and reading, even though we must be unemployed, our brains are spaced out)
Is this man straight out of 1964-1968 and where did they find the time capsule with him in it? I haven't heard that venal of an accusation since the "dirty hippies" were excoriated for having no drive and principles. and wanting only to mooch off of the hard-working regular folk. I am in shock that people could be so misinformed. I have a Cadillac driven only by a welfare queen to sell him. Low miles, she could not afford the gas.
He categorizes himself as a normal person living in middle Georgia. He was a lawyer and is a deacon. Not uneducated, nor inexperienced. It is not often you find someone as judgmental and venal and hate-filled and still be a deacon. I bet his congregation members are a lovely bunch. Actually, I have no idea.
That may be the difference between me and him. I do not know how he lives and even though I say some mean things after not meeting him, only reading his writing, I really don't know him. I have formulated a few yucks at his expense, but I don't really know him.
It is no more fair of me to condemn him without knowing him than for him to condemn liberal and progressive bloggers as non-child bearing, do nothings--willing to live off of the efforts of the "Hard workers" of the capitalist society.
Judgment is easy. Love is not.
rojo
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
What's Good for GM is Good for the Country @ 04:52 pm
Let me see if I have this straight. GM is asking 74,000 to take early retirement becasue they are losing their ass. Granted, what Atrios calls "the Big Shitpile", or the subprime mortgage problem is good for a couple of billion in losses (remember GM is as much of a bank as they are a manufacturer in the US, or why their cars look like they were designed by accountants.) But, 74,000 jobs now going to be lost. Wasn't this close to the amount of new jobs created in each of the last two months? So we need about 100,000 new jobs every month to keep pace with the new workers. Basically, we have been losing jobs regularly and now we will have 74,000 more on SS, manufacturing jobs (do fries come with that shake?) or basically jobless and many in the already hard hit Midwest. Yes, GM's troubles can partially be traced to the health care they have to pay their workers. Another section is the abyssmal designs from 1974-1985 or later. They lost their reputation. Even though many of their new cars have won awards, it is hard to get back that loving feeling from the buying public. When was the last time you heard someone get excited about a Nova. They do have some fun stuff coming out, like the HHRi (I think that is what it is called, but a high performance HHR, it is!) But nothing to get a hold of the public imagination like the Taurus did for Ford in the 80s. Or the Vette of the 60s. I hope the flexible fuel vehicles do them well. The US can ill afford to lose another major manufacturer.
rojo
Let me see if I have this straight. GM is asking 74,000 to take early retirement becasue they are losing their ass. Granted, what Atrios calls "the Big Shitpile", or the subprime mortgage problem is good for a couple of billion in losses (remember GM is as much of a bank as they are a manufacturer in the US, or why their cars look like they were designed by accountants.) But, 74,000 jobs now going to be lost. Wasn't this close to the amount of new jobs created in each of the last two months? So we need about 100,000 new jobs every month to keep pace with the new workers. Basically, we have been losing jobs regularly and now we will have 74,000 more on SS, manufacturing jobs (do fries come with that shake?) or basically jobless and many in the already hard hit Midwest. Yes, GM's troubles can partially be traced to the health care they have to pay their workers. Another section is the abyssmal designs from 1974-1985 or later. They lost their reputation. Even though many of their new cars have won awards, it is hard to get back that loving feeling from the buying public. When was the last time you heard someone get excited about a Nova. They do have some fun stuff coming out, like the HHRi (I think that is what it is called, but a high performance HHR, it is!) But nothing to get a hold of the public imagination like the Taurus did for Ford in the 80s. Or the Vette of the 60s. I hope the flexible fuel vehicles do them well. The US can ill afford to lose another major manufacturer.
rojo
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Well, it has been a while.
I know it is Super Tuesday and everyone is claiming to be the change, but let's all pay homage where it belongs--
Thank you, St. Reagan for making being self-absorbed and greedy holy.
and right-wing asshats talk of being a Christian country. Yes, Christians, who kill over 500,000 Iraqis so we can occupy their country and we can still drive pickups and SUVs that have support our troops stickers on them.
Somewhere reasoning (or irony) has never been taught in schools. You know, like math and economics, where you learn if you consume too much you can't pay for, you go bankrupt. and the Deciderer puts out a budget without funding his war that is $500,000,000 underfunded already and sees no problem with it. More tax cuts please. Has anyone ever explained that war expenses need to go in the budget and that Daddy will not bail out the country.
At least allow media to show the boys coming home in the boxes. Make it real.
rojo
I know it is Super Tuesday and everyone is claiming to be the change, but let's all pay homage where it belongs--
Thank you, St. Reagan for making being self-absorbed and greedy holy.
and right-wing asshats talk of being a Christian country. Yes, Christians, who kill over 500,000 Iraqis so we can occupy their country and we can still drive pickups and SUVs that have support our troops stickers on them.
Somewhere reasoning (or irony) has never been taught in schools. You know, like math and economics, where you learn if you consume too much you can't pay for, you go bankrupt. and the Deciderer puts out a budget without funding his war that is $500,000,000 underfunded already and sees no problem with it. More tax cuts please. Has anyone ever explained that war expenses need to go in the budget and that Daddy will not bail out the country.
At least allow media to show the boys coming home in the boxes. Make it real.
rojo
Friday, January 18, 2008
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Today's post starts with a reference we all should read. 10,000,000 emails disappear against Federal regulation when we start a war, give out the identity of our covert EXPERT on Iranian nukeular policy and start investigations that could lead to impeachment. Either this is the Gang who could not think straight (I wonder if computers were around 6,000 years ago. or did they evolve?) or they think that "if the dog ate their homework" that is okay. At least concoct excuses better than an eight year old.
Being a geek, I called in late to work today when I saw Barnake (I am sorry, I mispelled his name yet another way earlier, no disrespect intended) today at his hearing thingie. Very precise statement of facts, I know.But, he was sweating and his voice was wavering as he stated his case. We need a short-term fix. Not over the next year, within 2-3 months. Period. Tax cuts he would not comment on as he put it "I won't get into politics."
Later he spoke of balancing input and output. You either cut the budget majorly or add taxes. Not rocket science. Anyone who raises kids and pays mortgage knows you have to buy clothes, food, utilities and pay mortgage. You don't have an option. And you only have XXXX amount of dollars. Duh. Unless you are born with a silver spoon and don't have to worry about these things. Ah, dreams of being a kept man float through my head. as do fantasies of winning. Or wiining powerball.
Anyhow, he also mentioned that the mortgage carnage is worth $100,000,000, but may be MULTIPLES of that and maybe as much as $1,000,000,000 or 7.x% of America's annual economy. OW! But no one saw it coming. This is why there is need for a short term stimulus, just so people who have to buy gas, buy food, and pay bills can do it. Or best case so they can buy products. This is a far cry from long-term benfits (if any) from a trickle down (genuflect to St. Reagan) economy. As many times as he said short-term, I got very afraid. very, very afraid of what he is seeing in the tea leaves.
Ooops flight is going. maybe more on this later.
rojo
Being a geek, I called in late to work today when I saw Barnake (I am sorry, I mispelled his name yet another way earlier, no disrespect intended) today at his hearing thingie. Very precise statement of facts, I know.But, he was sweating and his voice was wavering as he stated his case. We need a short-term fix. Not over the next year, within 2-3 months. Period. Tax cuts he would not comment on as he put it "I won't get into politics."
Later he spoke of balancing input and output. You either cut the budget majorly or add taxes. Not rocket science. Anyone who raises kids and pays mortgage knows you have to buy clothes, food, utilities and pay mortgage. You don't have an option. And you only have XXXX amount of dollars. Duh. Unless you are born with a silver spoon and don't have to worry about these things. Ah, dreams of being a kept man float through my head. as do fantasies of winning. Or wiining powerball.
Anyhow, he also mentioned that the mortgage carnage is worth $100,000,000, but may be MULTIPLES of that and maybe as much as $1,000,000,000 or 7.x% of America's annual economy. OW! But no one saw it coming. This is why there is need for a short term stimulus, just so people who have to buy gas, buy food, and pay bills can do it. Or best case so they can buy products. This is a far cry from long-term benfits (if any) from a trickle down (genuflect to St. Reagan) economy. As many times as he said short-term, I got very afraid. very, very afraid of what he is seeing in the tea leaves.
Ooops flight is going. maybe more on this later.
rojo
Hey moog, would buy this for a quarter?
from the story The Marching Morons
I have a hard time believing that the media still believes anything that comes out of this administration. The "speedboats going to kill us all" in the Straits of Hormuz story is one fine example. People said the Al Jazeera tapes had to be faked. No, once again, the news was leaked at a specific time to get people all riled up about those damned Iranians just as Middle East "Peace" talks were coming off.
Follow me on this. Bush hisself goes to talk peace, but the US warship is attacked by 3 speedboats. It shows how big a menace those pesky Iranians are and they should be bombed back to the Stone Age. Now, let's talk peace. Does Gulf of Tonkin mean anything to anyone? Here is our esteemed leader trying to provoke a war while at peace talks. and has members of his cabinet "make up" a news story. Just to prove his big his swinging dick is.
Doesn't the media find two or three sources for stories any more, or do we all have to suffer from gossip column reportage. One unnamed source leaked... hmmm. I am sorry. "Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, and we won't be fooled again." Yet the MSM falls for it again and again and again. So, American public opinion is swayed by a fraudulent leak whose inaccuracy will never really be believed. Let me state that more clearly---the lie got out there first, hit the front pages, the 30-second sound byte, and any follow up will not get that big of coverage. Over 30% of the population in some states still believe there were WMDs in Iraq, and at least 10% in the last survey I read believe these were used against American troops. This was about 6 months ago. The state in question was one of the Carolinas.
I had a boss once who lied and covered up his own deficiencies by setting others up to do a lot of his work and then when decisions were wrong he had a fall guy. It was always their fault as they gave him bad information. After a while, you had to learn to cover your ass. Write, print and save all emails. Turn down information hunts that were not part of your responsibility. Be cynical. When will the press and the American public learn these bastards in office lie.??!!Continually.
So far, this administartion has ruined the economy, got us stuck in a Vietnam-like scenario and is trying to start another war, while concommitantly making agreements to tie America to their strategery for another 20 years. People should be screaming.
And yet videos are believed at face value and Iran is the greatest threat to America going. and we sell arms to Suadi Arabia, the country that helped organize the World Trade Center massacre (how many in the plot came from Iraq? from Saudi?) We are being sold down the river. and people just schlump along without rage in their hearts. And wonder how they can buy their next big screen TV.
I have a hard time sleeping at night knowing the country I love has caused over 600,000 needless deaths just so some asshole can play Commander Guy and the oil companies who own his soul profit. And now the right-wing press is saying all the stories by The Lancet giving the death toll in Iraq is payed for by George Soros. and why does he love the terrorists? After all the death toll is only 50,000. You can still sleep at night knowing you caused 50,000 deaths just so democracy in the Middle East will get a chance? Yet you bitch when Hamas gets elected.
I am glad it is early morning or I would reallly be pissed off. No caffeine yet.
rojo
from the story The Marching Morons
I have a hard time believing that the media still believes anything that comes out of this administration. The "speedboats going to kill us all" in the Straits of Hormuz story is one fine example. People said the Al Jazeera tapes had to be faked. No, once again, the news was leaked at a specific time to get people all riled up about those damned Iranians just as Middle East "Peace" talks were coming off.
Follow me on this. Bush hisself goes to talk peace, but the US warship is attacked by 3 speedboats. It shows how big a menace those pesky Iranians are and they should be bombed back to the Stone Age. Now, let's talk peace. Does Gulf of Tonkin mean anything to anyone? Here is our esteemed leader trying to provoke a war while at peace talks. and has members of his cabinet "make up" a news story. Just to prove his big his swinging dick is.
Doesn't the media find two or three sources for stories any more, or do we all have to suffer from gossip column reportage. One unnamed source leaked... hmmm. I am sorry. "Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, and we won't be fooled again." Yet the MSM falls for it again and again and again. So, American public opinion is swayed by a fraudulent leak whose inaccuracy will never really be believed. Let me state that more clearly---the lie got out there first, hit the front pages, the 30-second sound byte, and any follow up will not get that big of coverage. Over 30% of the population in some states still believe there were WMDs in Iraq, and at least 10% in the last survey I read believe these were used against American troops. This was about 6 months ago. The state in question was one of the Carolinas.
I had a boss once who lied and covered up his own deficiencies by setting others up to do a lot of his work and then when decisions were wrong he had a fall guy. It was always their fault as they gave him bad information. After a while, you had to learn to cover your ass. Write, print and save all emails. Turn down information hunts that were not part of your responsibility. Be cynical. When will the press and the American public learn these bastards in office lie.??!!Continually.
So far, this administartion has ruined the economy, got us stuck in a Vietnam-like scenario and is trying to start another war, while concommitantly making agreements to tie America to their strategery for another 20 years. People should be screaming.
And yet videos are believed at face value and Iran is the greatest threat to America going. and we sell arms to Suadi Arabia, the country that helped organize the World Trade Center massacre (how many in the plot came from Iraq? from Saudi?) We are being sold down the river. and people just schlump along without rage in their hearts. And wonder how they can buy their next big screen TV.
I have a hard time sleeping at night knowing the country I love has caused over 600,000 needless deaths just so some asshole can play Commander Guy and the oil companies who own his soul profit. And now the right-wing press is saying all the stories by The Lancet giving the death toll in Iraq is payed for by George Soros. and why does he love the terrorists? After all the death toll is only 50,000. You can still sleep at night knowing you caused 50,000 deaths just so democracy in the Middle East will get a chance? Yet you bitch when Hamas gets elected.
I am glad it is early morning or I would reallly be pissed off. No caffeine yet.
rojo
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Too Tired to Really Rant
But a few things need said--
I overheard on the radio yesterday a snarky comment which did make me chuckle. On a sportstalk station they were mentioning that Kucinich was not going to be on the stage at the semi-democratic debate last night. "Why not just let him stand near the corner. He won't take up that much room."
But the seriousness of not covering a candidate and letting him have his say is a problem. He was right on the war, on impeachment and other topics, but he is too far out there to let him speak, b y some standards. (Being correct and having foresight is not a big deal to some.) Actually, in this sense the media is controlling the election. If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there, NO ONE HEARS IT. I do not want to get into the solipsistic argument of the importance of self-consciousness here, other than to say of course the damn tree fell, but no one was there to hear it and therefore knows it fell. Well, if Kucinich can't speak publically, who knows what he says. (I hate it when Bishop Berkeley was right, even in a limited way.) MSM should not be allowed to control our access to information. He's unelectable, but right. If he were heard, at worst he would influence the debate.
Then Mitt "I was born witrh a silver spoon in my mouth" Romney is quoted as saying his victory in Michigan is an inspiration for all the hard-working people (who he embodies.) Huh? Didn't Daddy own Michigan and a car company? How many times did daddy run for President? If I remember my conventions correctly, more than twice he was mentioned by the delegates of the Great State of Meechigan. So Mitt gets to be blue collar by having it rub off on him? WTF and no one questions this--but Kucinich can't catch a break. MSM should have ripped him a new one for his pomposity, if nothing else. Okay, so he looks like a Ken doll. So what?
and Huckabeerry Hound wants to change the constitution to suit his beliefs. You know, he has the right to do that. Women got the right to vote. Blacks got rights. I just don't want to live in that type of country so I hope he keeps being defeated. He si the scariest candidate to me. A populist who is one of God's own. That automatically gets him 25% of the vote. All he needs is a third party candidate and 15% more and he wins. Oy! oops, excuse me--Paraise Jesus.
rojo
But a few things need said--
I overheard on the radio yesterday a snarky comment which did make me chuckle. On a sportstalk station they were mentioning that Kucinich was not going to be on the stage at the semi-democratic debate last night. "Why not just let him stand near the corner. He won't take up that much room."
But the seriousness of not covering a candidate and letting him have his say is a problem. He was right on the war, on impeachment and other topics, but he is too far out there to let him speak, b y some standards. (Being correct and having foresight is not a big deal to some.) Actually, in this sense the media is controlling the election. If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there, NO ONE HEARS IT. I do not want to get into the solipsistic argument of the importance of self-consciousness here, other than to say of course the damn tree fell, but no one was there to hear it and therefore knows it fell. Well, if Kucinich can't speak publically, who knows what he says. (I hate it when Bishop Berkeley was right, even in a limited way.) MSM should not be allowed to control our access to information. He's unelectable, but right. If he were heard, at worst he would influence the debate.
Then Mitt "I was born witrh a silver spoon in my mouth" Romney is quoted as saying his victory in Michigan is an inspiration for all the hard-working people (who he embodies.) Huh? Didn't Daddy own Michigan and a car company? How many times did daddy run for President? If I remember my conventions correctly, more than twice he was mentioned by the delegates of the Great State of Meechigan. So Mitt gets to be blue collar by having it rub off on him? WTF and no one questions this--but Kucinich can't catch a break. MSM should have ripped him a new one for his pomposity, if nothing else. Okay, so he looks like a Ken doll. So what?
and Huckabeerry Hound wants to change the constitution to suit his beliefs. You know, he has the right to do that. Women got the right to vote. Blacks got rights. I just don't want to live in that type of country so I hope he keeps being defeated. He si the scariest candidate to me. A populist who is one of God's own. That automatically gets him 25% of the vote. All he needs is a third party candidate and 15% more and he wins. Oy! oops, excuse me--Paraise Jesus.
rojo
Monday, January 14, 2008
"Citigroup could write down as much as $24 billion due to subprime and credit-related losses, CNBC has learned. In addition, an estimated 20 thousand layoffs will be part of a comprehensive plan to slash costs and raise capital.
The plans will be unveiled Tuesday, when it reports fourth-quarter earnings. At the same time, Citigroup could also announce that it is cutting its dividend payment. "
I wonder how many hourly and middle management disappear and how many executives. Let's see middle management = $60,000-70,000. CEO = $5,000,000 and bonuses minimum. or roughly 10 middle managers whose job it is to follow orders. Just once I want millions for a job where I can run the company into the ground!!!!! Home Depot, I am waiting!
Speaking of which, Ford is making the hopes of future profits (and probably existence) on the production of the new F-150. Yes, make a gas hog that is a high profit margin in case bad gas mileage and high gas prices may have any effect on consumer spending habits. I know I am lining up for a 12 mpg vehicle. How about you? Any wonder why Toyota is now the second highest selling car in America. Yes, Toyota, not Chrysler or Ford! and they have GM in their sites. Remember, GM cut the electric car because there was no market. and remarketed the NOva (no go) in Mexico after the first failure. D'oh. I hate to say it, but amercian car companies earn the stupidest management titles they deserve.
Overheard on the radio today--
1) Huckabee is more dangerous than Al Queda to America. He has the backing of the Teacher's Union and the NEA. He can destroy a generation by teaching them the wrong things and a dirty bomb can only kill at worst 100,000. Another Right Wing WTF moment.
2) It is okay to vote for a pro-life candidate even if he is not approving of the death penalty. Let's see pro-life and pro-death. Hmmm. or pro-life and wanting death. Damned catholic channels confuse me. The death penalty was justified as punishment.
3) We must elect Rudy so he can place more strict constructionist Supreme Court judges. Regardless of his other policies for the greater good of the country. Right Wing idiot Dennis Prager.Enough OMG moments on the radio.
But one more stoopid fact according to Playboy-Thompson supporters have more sex than anyone else with 17% doing it at least once per week. I never knew that much Viagra was consumed by seniors. Damn!!!!!
wow, another great day on I-5. Is it any wonder Americans are dumber than ever?
rojo
The plans will be unveiled Tuesday, when it reports fourth-quarter earnings. At the same time, Citigroup could also announce that it is cutting its dividend payment. "
I wonder how many hourly and middle management disappear and how many executives. Let's see middle management = $60,000-70,000. CEO = $5,000,000 and bonuses minimum. or roughly 10 middle managers whose job it is to follow orders. Just once I want millions for a job where I can run the company into the ground!!!!! Home Depot, I am waiting!
Speaking of which, Ford is making the hopes of future profits (and probably existence) on the production of the new F-150. Yes, make a gas hog that is a high profit margin in case bad gas mileage and high gas prices may have any effect on consumer spending habits. I know I am lining up for a 12 mpg vehicle. How about you? Any wonder why Toyota is now the second highest selling car in America. Yes, Toyota, not Chrysler or Ford! and they have GM in their sites. Remember, GM cut the electric car because there was no market. and remarketed the NOva (no go) in Mexico after the first failure. D'oh. I hate to say it, but amercian car companies earn the stupidest management titles they deserve.
Overheard on the radio today--
1) Huckabee is more dangerous than Al Queda to America. He has the backing of the Teacher's Union and the NEA. He can destroy a generation by teaching them the wrong things and a dirty bomb can only kill at worst 100,000. Another Right Wing WTF moment.
2) It is okay to vote for a pro-life candidate even if he is not approving of the death penalty. Let's see pro-life and pro-death. Hmmm. or pro-life and wanting death. Damned catholic channels confuse me. The death penalty was justified as punishment.
3) We must elect Rudy so he can place more strict constructionist Supreme Court judges. Regardless of his other policies for the greater good of the country. Right Wing idiot Dennis Prager.Enough OMG moments on the radio.
But one more stoopid fact according to Playboy-Thompson supporters have more sex than anyone else with 17% doing it at least once per week. I never knew that much Viagra was consumed by seniors. Damn!!!!!
wow, another great day on I-5. Is it any wonder Americans are dumber than ever?
rojo
Thursday, January 10, 2008
A Day of Surprises
Let's see--US may have misrepresented the Iranian speedboat threat (source ABC news). What a shock!!!! Yeah, right. Peznut Chimpface goes to the Mid East and they have to ratchet up fear. I hope the perpetrators of these atrocities never have to bend over for the soap in the prison shower. Then they shall know what "oops, my mistake." really means. Butt, maybe Rove would like that.
Internal US wiretaps are dropped by the phone companies for lack of payment. How did that happen? Debt getting too much yet? I am glad to know that someone else gets punished for the "Oh, I just forgot line." I wonder if these wiretaps were FISA legal?
Christmas spending hurting the economy. No one had any money to spend if they had to buy gas, heating oil and medical expertise. Just have to love those good paying manufacturing jobs at McDonalds. (Honest, Buerau of labor reclassified making fries as manufacturing years ago in the Bush Presiduncy to make the numbers look better. Look it up.) Of course this means we need more tax cuts for the rich in some god-awful twisted way. Like that money will trickle down. Just ask the steel workers in Cleveland and Pittsburgh how well it trickled down in the 80s until now and how many steel manufacturers there still are in the area by comparison. Or maybe autoworkers in Flint. Hard to buy a plasma big screen on Mickey Dees wages.
rojo
Let's see--US may have misrepresented the Iranian speedboat threat (source ABC news). What a shock!!!! Yeah, right. Peznut Chimpface goes to the Mid East and they have to ratchet up fear. I hope the perpetrators of these atrocities never have to bend over for the soap in the prison shower. Then they shall know what "oops, my mistake." really means. Butt, maybe Rove would like that.
Internal US wiretaps are dropped by the phone companies for lack of payment. How did that happen? Debt getting too much yet? I am glad to know that someone else gets punished for the "Oh, I just forgot line." I wonder if these wiretaps were FISA legal?
Christmas spending hurting the economy. No one had any money to spend if they had to buy gas, heating oil and medical expertise. Just have to love those good paying manufacturing jobs at McDonalds. (Honest, Buerau of labor reclassified making fries as manufacturing years ago in the Bush Presiduncy to make the numbers look better. Look it up.) Of course this means we need more tax cuts for the rich in some god-awful twisted way. Like that money will trickle down. Just ask the steel workers in Cleveland and Pittsburgh how well it trickled down in the 80s until now and how many steel manufacturers there still are in the area by comparison. Or maybe autoworkers in Flint. Hard to buy a plasma big screen on Mickey Dees wages.
rojo
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Today's TV Fun
I was watching morning hotel TV yesterday and had on CNBC. Almost never watch it, but they had on a segment on business called "Squawk on the Street." It is hosted by the obligatory news babe and an elderly angry white male. No comments necessary on why there are few, if any, angry elderly white women and few news hunks. Probably the same reason strip clubs (excuse me, gentlemen's clubs--like there are a lot of gentlemen asking for lap dances out there--maybe we should ask Miss Manners) advertise in the sports and business sections, aside from the back of alternative newspapers under adult services. BTW, never knew there were so many Asian immigrants offering massage services. So many CMTs, so little time.
But I digress, the news babe reads the story on the gun boats threatening US destroyers yesterday at about 7:30 CA time (funny how this happens when the Preznut, J Fredd Muggs in Chief, is going to the Middle East. Maybe he needs to stay away and keep from fanning the flames. I don't think they like him there.) and all of sudden the fat Angry White Man must have not known his mike was live. "They should just sink them!" comes over the tube. He may know business, the bastion of Fat Angry White Males, but foreign policy expert he is not. Anyhow, the news babe rolls her eyes and looks to the ceiling left as she tries figure out how to cover the gaff. And her career just ticks away.
Today (just can't get enough) they had an on-scene reporter at the Las Vegas High Tech Goo Jaw show. He was talking about electroferric paper as a means of possibly making newspapers that are constantly changing. Except, he called it "really cool" paper. and admitted he might not be able to remember the name of the paper once he was done with the script. He is the "tech expert". Great expert coverage there. The news babe comes back, "just think if they can make this paper it will be like the newspaper in Majority Report and there will never be just one deadline. It will be deadlines 24/7." She is probably correct.
Probably the most incisive comment over the past two days, that.
Remember when we could relax without cell phones and being on line all the time. Bet you tranqs and booze and Ambien are used more than ever. You need to be off line sometimes, just to digest and think. and meditate. and enjoy the simple act of breathing. Even a tweaker needs to crash sometimes. And tweak ain't life and its creative cycles. I need to ask myself, how often do I take a deep breath and relax while at work? Does work ever end? and how do you delineate that in your consciousness? comments, anyone.
rojo
I was watching morning hotel TV yesterday and had on CNBC. Almost never watch it, but they had on a segment on business called "Squawk on the Street." It is hosted by the obligatory news babe and an elderly angry white male. No comments necessary on why there are few, if any, angry elderly white women and few news hunks. Probably the same reason strip clubs (excuse me, gentlemen's clubs--like there are a lot of gentlemen asking for lap dances out there--maybe we should ask Miss Manners) advertise in the sports and business sections, aside from the back of alternative newspapers under adult services. BTW, never knew there were so many Asian immigrants offering massage services. So many CMTs, so little time.
But I digress, the news babe reads the story on the gun boats threatening US destroyers yesterday at about 7:30 CA time (funny how this happens when the Preznut, J Fredd Muggs in Chief, is going to the Middle East. Maybe he needs to stay away and keep from fanning the flames. I don't think they like him there.) and all of sudden the fat Angry White Man must have not known his mike was live. "They should just sink them!" comes over the tube. He may know business, the bastion of Fat Angry White Males, but foreign policy expert he is not. Anyhow, the news babe rolls her eyes and looks to the ceiling left as she tries figure out how to cover the gaff. And her career just ticks away.
Today (just can't get enough) they had an on-scene reporter at the Las Vegas High Tech Goo Jaw show. He was talking about electroferric paper as a means of possibly making newspapers that are constantly changing. Except, he called it "really cool" paper. and admitted he might not be able to remember the name of the paper once he was done with the script. He is the "tech expert". Great expert coverage there. The news babe comes back, "just think if they can make this paper it will be like the newspaper in Majority Report and there will never be just one deadline. It will be deadlines 24/7." She is probably correct.
Probably the most incisive comment over the past two days, that.
Remember when we could relax without cell phones and being on line all the time. Bet you tranqs and booze and Ambien are used more than ever. You need to be off line sometimes, just to digest and think. and meditate. and enjoy the simple act of breathing. Even a tweaker needs to crash sometimes. And tweak ain't life and its creative cycles. I need to ask myself, how often do I take a deep breath and relax while at work? Does work ever end? and how do you delineate that in your consciousness? comments, anyone.
rojo
Monday, January 07, 2008
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