tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22625993133425494322024-03-12T22:06:20.849-07:00Postcards from the BackbenchDispatches from the loyal opposition in the Era of Obama.Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.comBlogger372125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-12409642442892399302009-04-16T04:43:00.000-07:002009-04-16T04:50:53.780-07:00Time To Say Goodbye<p>In one of the best scenes in the movie Heat, Robert DeNiro tells Al Pacino: “Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner.” And while the “heat” isn’t exactly on, I have come to the decision that it is time that I fold this little experiment in social and political punditry, at least temporarily.<br /><br />That fact of the matter is that while initially a fun and intellectually stimulating hobby, <em>Postcards</em> has become a tremendous draw on my time. I find increasingly that I come home from 10 hour days of staring at a 17-inch computer monitor at an office only to trade it for another two or three hours at night and early the next morning staring at a 13-inch laptop.<br /><br />Please don’t misunderstand me, it has been a labor of love, but it is a labor nonetheless. I’ve just come to the conclusion that these hours could be better spent elsewhere – exercise, for one, Mrs. Goldwater and the children for another. To use a tired cliché, I guess you could say I’m stepping down to spend more time with my family.<br /><br />To all forty or so of you who have taken the time to stop by and comment over the past five months, you have my undying gratitude. Your input and comments have been truly inspiring.<br /><br />But for now at least, it is time to say goodbye…<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QbN0g8-zbdY&hl=" fs="1" width="320" height="265" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></p>Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-38413774855929355072009-04-14T05:20:00.000-07:002009-04-14T05:24:07.814-07:00A Geek's DreamIf George Lucas had only written this into Episode I instead of Jar-Jar Binks:<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JXB-moHRKFc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JXB-moHRKFc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />ht: TigerHawkGoldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-71445052752435000182009-04-14T04:53:00.000-07:002009-04-14T05:06:56.154-07:00Enough Already - Declare Franken WinnerLook, I'm not any more ecstatic about the prospect of a Senator Al Franken any more than most of the folks who peruse this site are. But the fact of the matter is that after all of the legal remedies were exhausted, <a href="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090414/D97I1BU00.html">Franken won</a>. He won by the slimmest of margins, but he won nonetheless. <br /><br />It is time for Norm Coleman to accept the hand dealt him, acknowledge his disastrous campaign, and move on.<br /><br />The citizens of Minnesota deserve it. Boy, do they deserve it.Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-61672844845831313032009-04-14T04:48:00.000-07:002009-04-14T04:51:54.545-07:00US Ready To Ease Preconditions On IranThe US is set to drop a key <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/world/middleeast/14diplo.html?_r=2">precondition</a> for continued nuclear negotiations with Iran, Obama Administration officials are hinting. The US has long insisted that it will not conduct diplomatic discussions with Iran unless Tehran shuts down its nuclear facilities during the early stages of discussions.<br /><br />With Tehran recently announcing that it has installed 7,000 centrifuges in its Natanz uranium enrichment facility, the precondition would appear to be without teeth anyway.<br /><br />As the Administration debuts its new-sheriff-in-town routine with Western Europe and Turkey, Tehran and <a href="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090414/D97I7ADO0.html">Pyongyang</a> continue work on their nuclear ambitions unimpressed. As years of useless UN sanctions and resolutions will attest, carrot-and-stick diplomacy won’t go very far. And if we are not willing or unable to go on the offensive, we may at least want to reconsider our position on the <a href="http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/13/Cornyn-Missile-defense-spending-needed/UPI-26341239647803/">defensive</a>…Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-62850875503169537262009-04-14T04:01:00.000-07:002009-04-14T04:06:34.557-07:00Jailhouse Rock<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nuIcySA1lc8LQjMgqfIFtt5B4REFOkBjFJdvcykWlnrnHzogwIGNIf1-6YsvEIszAGq52ovswx_lXlIV-25iaBf2UAUl0kP9wl6fvvZMK7z32XJcMaSYDelLDcvzoD0_V2AZ7ozpbOvM/s1600-h/specter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324500932474646994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 199px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 245px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nuIcySA1lc8LQjMgqfIFtt5B4REFOkBjFJdvcykWlnrnHzogwIGNIf1-6YsvEIszAGq52ovswx_lXlIV-25iaBf2UAUl0kP9wl6fvvZMK7z32XJcMaSYDelLDcvzoD0_V2AZ7ozpbOvM/s400/specter.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Not the kind of <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Jury-Reaches-Verdict-in-Spector-Case.html">publicity</a> I think the President is going for. Perhaps he's looking for one of them there presidential pardons...</div>Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-61042630666973984662009-04-13T17:54:00.000-07:002009-04-13T17:56:07.242-07:00A Candle In The Wind…OK, I probably should have ended my posting for the day with the Harry Kalas obit, but news today of the passing of another legend of sorts – adult film star Marilyn Chambers.<br /><br />If there was ever a starlet to capture the euphoric highs and monotonous lows of pornogra…oh forget it, just read the news <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/entertainment/Marilyn-Chambers-Dead-at-56.html?nbc=12321">here</a>.Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-88691143500036512622009-04-13T17:34:00.000-07:002009-04-13T17:40:35.409-07:00Heeeeeeeeeeeee’s Outta Here!There. I said it. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate lead-in than that. Harry Kalas, a <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hxpKqgRemfV-yDDPhnXItvv6IpSgD97HREFG1">legend</a> in Philadelphia sports broadcasting for over four decades, has died today at the age of 73. Reports are that Kalas collapsed in the broadcast booth before the start of the Phillies game in Washington, DC earlier this afternoon.<br /><br />If there was ever a voice to capture the euphoric highs and monotonous lows of the game of baseball, Harry Kalas’ baritone was it. Together with former Phillie Richie Ashburn, the pair called Phillies games for both radio and television broadcasts throughout the 70’s, 80s, and most of the 90s, ending only with Ashburn’s death in 1997. Kalas continued to broadcast with other commentators following Ashburn’s death, culminating with his dramatic call of the Phillies World Championship in October of last year. I’m glad he got to see his beloved team reach that pinnacle, and share in the city’s pride during the ensuing celebration.<br /><br />For many, including me, Harry Kalas <em>was</em> Philadelphia baseball, but he was so much more. The sound of his voice year after year was a soothing reminder of the hope and promise the start of each season brought after a cold and dreary Philadelphia winter.<br /><br />Now his absence will only remind me of the passage of time.Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-53341741356914431052009-04-13T05:04:00.000-07:002009-04-13T05:09:23.905-07:00WSJ On Private v. Public Health InsuranceThe <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123958544583612437.html">Wall Street Journal </a>editors have posted a rather ominous-sounding editorial on their site: <em>The End of Private Health Insurance</em>. The opinion that follows is as sobering; namely, that this middle class entitlement will neither encourage competition nor ultimately allow the public to choose how they receive health care services.Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-84723615912837516232009-04-13T04:40:00.000-07:002009-04-13T04:49:29.382-07:00If You Vilify Them, They Will Leave…The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/business/12wall.html?_r=1&partner=MYWAY&ei=5065">New York Times </a>puts a curious spin on the current trend of mega bankers leaving the confines of their Wall Street palaces (by force or otherwise) for the greener pastures of smaller investment houses. The reasons, the Times asserts, vary: joining banks that do not face tightening regulations, including foreign banks; opting to go with start-up companies with the potential for a future payout; or, leaving simply because of culture clashes at merging companies.<br /><br />One other possible explanation - how about that these guys simply looked across the street at the AIG building and the witch hunts their financial counterparts were subjected to over compensation and said, “Not me”.<br /><br />But some feel this exodus is a good thing; that this marks the beginning of a “broad and necessary” reshaping of Wall Street. “If risk-taking spreads out to these smaller institutions, it is no longer a systematic threat,” says Matthew Richardson, professor of economics at New York University.<br /><br />Huh? But I thought that the current financial conflagration occurred <em>because</em> the toxic assets of the big guys were whacked up, bundled and repackaged to the smaller guys. It became a systematic threat when the smaller institutions assumed this risk. I'm not sure how hiring on some of the braintrust that made some bad decisions on Wall Street will reduce this risk on Main Street.Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-49148128658029668052009-04-11T10:12:00.000-07:002009-04-13T05:15:09.226-07:00Check...matey!Arrghh!! Somali pirates have <a href="http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20090411/Piracy/">raised the stakes </a>in their continuing game of high seas chicken, this time seizing an Italian tugboat with sixteen Italian crewmen on board. Earlier, French <a href="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090410/D97FRPHG1.html">commandos</a> stormed a sailboat held by different Somali bandits, freeing four captives. However, one captive died in the operation. Gotta admire the French for trying though; hope similar operations are on the drawing board over on the American side.<br /><br />The Obama team is said to be continually monitoring the situation and weighing options in between bites of their <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2372287.ece">deep dish pizzas</a>.<br /><br />I'll leave the planning to the professionals, but is it unrealistic to send a group of Navy frogmen in under the cover of night to cause slow leaks in the lifeboat? You can't plug leaks and guard a captain at the same time...<br /><br />Update:<br />Checkmate, matey! - Of course, Navy SEALs <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/piracy">snipers</a> under the cover of night are also effective. Good call by the President to authorize it and God bless the US Navy for carrying it out.Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-84516450140686157162009-04-11T06:47:00.000-07:002009-04-11T08:12:04.897-07:00Saturday Morning BlogrollWhat others from around the blogosphere were saying this week...<br /><br />CENTER LEFT:<br />Crooked Timber - a <a href="http://crookedtimber.org/2009/04/04/republican-courts/">remedy</a> to counter conservative Supreme Court decisions...<br />Donkeylicious - the solution to social security? Bring in more <a href="http://http://www.donkeylicious.com/2009/04/my-cousins-will-happily-pay-your.html">immigrants</a>!...<br />Huffington Post - in defense of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/catherine-powell/in-defense-of-harold-koh_b_185817.html">Harold Koh</a>...<br />Glenn Greenwald - Noting <a href="http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/">contradictions</a> between candidate Obama and President Obama on habeas corpus...<br />Anonymous Liberal - Reconsidering the <a href="http://www.anonymousliberal.com/2009/04/reconsidering-geithner-plan.html">Geithner</a> plan...<br /><br />CENTER RIGHT:<br />Exurban League - Obama <a href="http://exurbanleague.com/2009/04/09/obama-issues-statement-on-the-pirate-attack.aspx?ref=rss#">reaches out </a>to "moderate" pirate community...<br />Argghhh!! - One experience with life under a <a href="http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/04/the_road_to_hel.html">national health care </a>system...<br />Keith Hennessey - Does the President's <a href="http://keithhennessey.com/2009/04/08/halve-the-deficit/">budget</a> cut the deficit in half?<br />Neo Neocon - Mistaking America's <a href="http://neoneocon.com/2009/04/09/americas-arrogance-and-obamas/">arrogance</a> for Obama's?<br />RedState - The New York Times:<a href="http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2009/04/11/the-new-york-times-doomed-and-deservedly-so/"> doomed </a>and deservedly so?...Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-31470417222649214872009-04-11T06:34:00.000-07:002009-04-11T06:37:15.360-07:00Giving Polar Bears Their Due ProcessThe Washington Times is <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/10/report-climate-provision-allow-global-warming-victims-sue/">reporting</a> that new global warming legislation under construction in Congress contains (at the moment, anyway) a provision allowing global warming victims to sue the federal government for damages stemming from government or corporate inaction on climate change.<br /><br />The Trial Lawyers Association has voiced opposition against the measure, saying they are “just too darn busy” litigating pharmaceutical and tobacco product liability cases.Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-31440763438084438062009-04-11T06:22:00.000-07:002009-04-11T06:23:45.502-07:00Hillary To Sell Bill To Pay DebtSo many ways to go with <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/04/10/clinton-tries-pay-debt-raffling-day-husband/">this one</a>...Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-39286187197583174882009-04-11T05:32:00.000-07:002009-04-11T05:45:01.963-07:00Barney DiplomacyApparently, strong foreign policy will not be a hallmark of the Obama Administration, so says Sen. Chuck Schumer:<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8JQpKeyN39c&color1=" width="320" height="265" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" color2="0xcfcfcf&hl=" feature="player_embedded&fs=" allowfullscreen="true"></embed><br /><br />Then again, strong foreign policy is <em>sooo</em> 1980’s.<br /><br />ht: TownhallGoldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-86350774999942289132009-04-10T05:38:00.000-07:002009-04-10T05:41:52.426-07:00Obama And War FundingIn a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, President Obama framed his request for an additional $83.4 billion in funds for <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0930196920090409">Afghanistan</a> along familiar themes: “the Taliban is resurgent and <em><strong>al Qaeda threatens America</strong></em> (emphasis mine) from its safe haven along the Afghan-Pakistan border.”<br /><br />It will be interesting to watch this drama unfold. Not only from the standpoint of watching Pelosi and her gang of thugs twist and contort at the thought of providing additional war funding, but also for the reaction of congressional republicans who slogged it out with President Bush during similar funding battles. I agree with the President on this issue, and hope republicans of similar mind will stand with Obama as well.<br /><br />But one teensy wrinkle I think the administration may need to reconcile – do you recall the stink raised by democrats (including Obama himself) concerning the “imminent threat” justification they claimed Bush used for the invasion of Iraq? If we are to hold President Obama to the same standard, does Afghanistan pass this muster? If the Office of Homeland Security is to be believed, the answer is no. “We maintain there is no credible information to suggest there’s an imminent threat against the homeland at this time”, according to an agency statement released in November 2008. <br /><br />So if al Qaeda’s danger isn’t imminent (and by extension, Afghanistan’s), why all the fuss?Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-74957270401794786632009-04-10T04:45:00.000-07:002009-04-10T04:48:12.391-07:00Pirate Plot Thickens…Somali pirates holding a freighter captain hostage are receiving <a href="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090410/D97FI4D00.html">reinforcements</a> by way of other pirated ships rushing to the scene with a cargo of human shields of their own. This, as the USS Bainbridge surrounds the drifting lifeboat in an attempt to force the bandits to give up the standoff.<br /><br />General Petraeus has indicated that other US warships will be arriving on the scene shortly, including the guided missile frigate USS Halyburton. <em>Halyburton?!</em> I knew Dick Cheney’s bloody hands were all over this somehow!!Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-64207519370479200242009-04-10T04:25:00.000-07:002009-04-10T04:28:56.079-07:00Rebuilding The Brand<p>But reconnecting with a younger generation of voters doesn’t mean conservatives should attempt to emulate Britain’s Conservative Party, writes <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123932431194107313.html">Kimberly Strassel </a>in today's Wall Street Journal. </p><p>In fact, what’s happening in Britain should seem vaguely familiar, albeit with the roles reversed…</p>Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-89627162899657641382009-04-10T03:00:00.000-07:002009-04-10T03:47:31.724-07:00And 41% Think Communism's Bitchin'...When Barack Obama was elected last November, I chalked it up to an electorate that was: battle weary after seven years of fighting a war on terror; frustrated with eight years of Republican management (or mismanagement as it were) of the executive office; and, frightened at the sight of their life savings and other investments evaporate overnight. But I was comforted somewhat by the thought that democrats, emboldened with a spark of political relevancy, would inevitably overextend themselves leading to swift retribution at the ballot box.<br /><br />I still think the former will occur; however, after reading the results of this <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/general_politics/just_53_say_capitalism_better_than_socialism">Rasmussen</a> poll, I'm not sure of any short-term political ramifications benefiting republicans. The phone survey found that 53% of adult respondents believe capitalism is better than socialism, with a quarter apparently not being able to tell the difference between the two. <br /><br />Perhaps more alarming for the Republican Party, only 37% of those surveyed under the age of 30 years old prefer capitalism - almost evenly divided among those who are BFF's with socialism (33%) and those who couldn't focus their attentions away from the Xbox long enough to venture an opinion (30%). <br /><br />As we saw in the election, Obama was able to connect with this voting segment in a manner that made republicans seem stale and out of touch. This survey would seem to further that notion - and signal to the GOP that it has its work cut out for it in terms of outreach programs to the younger generation of voters.Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-55789310198681654722009-04-09T05:05:00.000-07:002009-04-09T16:01:10.319-07:00Behind The NumbersPhilip Klein of the <a href="http://spectator.org/archives/2009/03/20/the-myth-of-the-46-million">American Spectator </a>presents a fairly detailed breakdown of the 46 million uninsured Americans number that is used as the rallying cry by proponents of universal health coverage.<br /><br />Being that we may have over $600 billion for health care reform on the line, I think additional due diligence on this number would be helpful.<br /><br />Update:<br />Came across this op ed piece from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/opinion/09ponnuru.html?_r=1&partner=MYWAY&ei=5065">Ramesh Ponnuru </a>(National Review) in this morning's New York Times. His hook - universal health shouldn't be the goal of health care reform; more affordable and portable health care should.<br /><br />Update, Part II:<br />Keith Hennessey <a href="http://keithhennessey.com/2009/04/09/how-many-uninsured-people-need-additional-help-from-taxpayers/#more-1637">weighs in </a>on the 46million figure as well...Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-10450847058043795632009-04-09T04:56:00.000-07:002009-04-09T07:44:22.394-07:00Yes We Can Go Broke Together!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRYBXyuGNpJxCWWgUN4zJ7r2w2yUWNSDPzeblU_KkMPfexIs2eCw7nYQkWSKaIStNceUdT5qJokrFWALDos1kUQWy7_HYTRxU3-UsTe_WqZmD64zMPkrqsSH0GcbdJZLwNF9bAKHVq7sg/s1600-h/Rosie_product_.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322660045474747106" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 198px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRYBXyuGNpJxCWWgUN4zJ7r2w2yUWNSDPzeblU_KkMPfexIs2eCw7nYQkWSKaIStNceUdT5qJokrFWALDos1kUQWy7_HYTRxU3-UsTe_WqZmD64zMPkrqsSH0GcbdJZLwNF9bAKHVq7sg/s400/Rosie_product_.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/business/09fund.html?_r=1">New York Times </a>this morning is reporting that the Obama Administration is encouraging banks and other large investment houses to create bond instruments very similar to the war bonds sold in both World Wars; but these Bailout Bonds will be used instead to assist in the bailout of the financial industry. I thought bailout bonds are what you posted when your Uncle Manny got in trouble for talking to those painted ladies by the bridge?<br /><br />Anyway, the conventional wisdom here is that banks will create these instruments, or funds, that will buy up other banks’ troubled assets. It is assumed that the bond holder will eventually profit once the funds sell the investments for a profit. Also built into this assumption is that these legacy assets are worth more than currently valued. If the opposite holds true, there are considerable risks for investors.<br /><br />I’m having a hard time understanding how this Ponzi scheme differs from the one that got us into trouble the first time. </div>Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-6978991656782658592009-04-09T04:21:00.000-07:002009-04-09T04:29:30.686-07:00Mortgage Woes Continue<p>Two recent articles on the nation’s mortgage industry would appear to confirm that we haven’t quite hit bottom in this sector of the economy yet.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/gc03/idUSTRE5363EV20090407">This one</a>, from Reuters, reports that seven percent of homeowners with mortgages were at least 30 days late on their loans in February. While on its face this statistic may not appear all that concerning, it represents an increase of 50% from the same period a year earlier. What is perhaps more troubling is the fact that this delinquency rate represents “prime” loans, where the borrowers ostensibly are more “creditworthy”. Additionally, almost 40% of subprime borrowers were at least 30 days delinquent, up from 24% from the same period a year earlier.<br /><br />But the $95 billion we’ve spent on loan modifications helped, right? Er, maybe. This <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-loanmods4-2009apr04,0,4466775.story">second article </a>notes that when loan contracts were actually modified under government-sponsored loan modification plans, just 37% of these loans reduced the monthly payment by more than 10%. And even when monthly payments were reduced by 10% or more, just under a quarter of these loans became seriously delinquent after six months.</p><p>I guess the "good" news in all of this is that at least there appears to be plenty of <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/rbssFinancialServicesAndRealEstateNews/idUKN0640039620090407">apartment space</a> available...</p>Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-84176804235401408422009-04-08T07:26:00.000-07:002009-04-08T07:28:03.375-07:00Winning Hearts And MindsShouldn’t this be working the other way? Shouldn’t a <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/04/congressional-caucus-members-meet-with-the-castro-cousins-in-cuba.html">US congressional delegation </a>meeting with a Marxist dictator with a history of brutal suppression of his nation’s citizenry be extolling the virtues of capitalism, free market and democratic reforms instead of the other way around?<br /><br />“What really surprised me, but also endeared me to him, was his keen sense of humor, his sense of history and his basic human qualities,” said Representative Bobby Rush (D-IL). Oh brother. No doubt this would come as a surprise to Cuban ex-pats currently living in the US and the countless thousands of their friends and relatives who suffered and died as a result of Castro’s “qualities”.<br /><br />He’s a charmer, that Fidel…Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-37319544059495290402009-04-08T07:05:00.000-07:002009-04-08T07:31:30.052-07:00At Least The K-Car Had Pinstripes...<em>This</em> is what we've been sinking billions into GM for??<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322322070585837330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 215px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTkhLEpR_t4yngkd8GT66S9Mk3_Sw-cyp47W78azfvJmN5BMtUDByyN_qdjNQ-9it33NurQVJqfFuAVzX63YZ2Sn1sO-RDAgqIA8ZjjixB5dhjl1J0o2lWWiGi6dWPqQjUmb9nXB1FOtUT/s400/segway.jpg" border="0" />Unveiled as a joint venture between General Motors and Segway (you know, the folks who make those intimidating mall security cruisers), the new PUMA (Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility) can carry two passengers and travel up to 35 miles on one charge of its lithium-ion battery.</p><p>No word yet on whether genuine Corinthian leather will be optional on future versions.</p>Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-45146443804659083252009-04-08T05:18:00.000-07:002009-04-08T05:31:01.027-07:00Israel Tests Missile DefenseWhile President Obama may believe that investment in "unproven" missile defense systems is money not well-spent, the nation of Israel feels a bit differently. Yesterday, Israel successfully tested a <a href="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20090408/D97DV2LO0.html">missile defense system </a>designed to protect it from Iranian attack. In remarks before Israel's parliament last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alluded to a nuclear-capable Iran as the biggest threat to his nation's security.Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2262599313342549432.post-35207620806527329462009-04-08T05:08:00.000-07:002009-04-08T05:16:39.841-07:00But It Was Kobe Beef, Your Honor...<em>Whew</em>... the ranks of eligible candidates for "Father of the Year" were thinned by at least one yesterday with the onset of proceedings against one <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,512994,00.html">Marcelino de Jesus Martinez </a>of Salinas, CA. Martinez is accused of selling his 14 year-old daughter into marriage for $16,000, beer and meat.<br /><br />Police were tipped off to the dowry contract only after Martinez went to authorities to get his daughter back because payment wasn't made.Goldwater's Ghosthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11271493304615296762noreply@blogger.com3