Today the headlines read something like:  Government Stands to Reap $7.5 Billion Profit from Sale of Citi Stock.  This was reported in both the Wall Street Journal and our local rag, the Des Moines Register, and while estimates vary as to the extent of this transaction, the range of the government’s take is somewhere between $7 [...]

There’s something just a little, how do I put it, smarmy about our soon-to-be new Secretary of the Treasury.  Here he is, applying for the job that oversees the IRS, and somehow a few years back he came up about $30,000 short on various taxes. Where I grew up, we called that a double-standard.  President [...]

The Dow had it’s record highest point gain today up almost 940. Although it was up a bit today, Oil prices have been retreating and have been steadily below $90/bbl for several days. And have you noticed the price of gasoline has also been declining?

Of course, we all know it’s not over yet, but it’s good to see some positive signs. Unfortunately, the price of diesel fuel has not come down with trhe price of gasoline, apparently due to supply issues worldwide. And this will keep the price of consumer goods general higher. Seems like[...]

I’m tired of everyone dumping on George Bush.  I’m the first to admit that he has some serious leadership deficiencies, but he is the President and won the job fair and square twice, despite what the Libs think.  As President, he deserves our respect, just like Nixon and Clinton did.  For eight years, I had [...]

Talking Heads: No visible means of support and you have not seen nuthin yet ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The House of Representatives today passed the Senate version of the $700 Billion Bail-out.  For now, it’s over.  Bush signed the bill shortly after the vote, and we have not seen nuthin yet. In case you [...]

Our US Senators have approved a version of the $700 Billion Bail-out Bill that provides some new features: New tax breaks for businesses Raising the FDIC deposit insurance limit from $100,000 to $250,000 Normally, I am all about tax breaks for businesses.  I think that is one of the best ways to stimulate growth. And [...]

My cohort DJ is going to disagree with me.  Just you wait and see. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Today did not scare me.  It did surprise me, because I didn’t think that Congress had the ability to face down the President, Treasury Secretary and their own part leaders all at the same time.  (For [...]

This is Part 2 of the analysis of Friday night’s Presidential Debate.  Part 1 was posted on Saturday. Iran Lehrer asked for a “reading” of Iran by the candidates.  Are they a threat?  Both candidates made it very clear that nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran was not acceptable. McCain did a good job [...]

From the New York Times late last night: WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders and the Bush administration reached a tentative agreement early Sunday on what may become the largest financial bailout in American history, authorizing the Treasury to purchase $700 billion in troubled debt from ailing firms in an extraordinary intervention to prevent widespread economic collapse. [...]

Here’s Part 1 of my assessment of Friday night’s Presidential Debate.  Part 2 will come on Sunday. All I can say is, I was wrong.  Jim Lehrer does want to be the next Tim Russert. I will say, I did not sense any partisanship on Lehrer’s part, but he sure dug into follow up questions, [...]