BoomerChicks

Mitt, the Dog Whisperer?

It is being reported that Mitt Romney, back in 1983, strapped a dog kennel to the top of his station wagon, known as the White Whale, as a means to transport his beautiful Irish Setter, Seamus to a family vacation on the Canadian shores of Lake Huron.  Whew, a lot said in that long run-on sentence!  So, what's the big deal about this report, you say.

Well, it was a twelve hour drive to reach their destination.  That's a long time for a dog to ride on the top of a car.  Mitt claims Seamus often jumped up on top of the car and "loved" being up there.  I get that, but did Seamus really dig the idea of being up there for a twelve hour long drive at say, 65 miles per hour?  I don't think so, despite the fact that Mitt built a wind barrier to shelter Seamus against the "hurricane" of the drive.  

Apparently during the trip a brown substance began dripping from the top of the car to the point where one of Mitt's sons used the term "gross" to describe the scene.  Not to worry though.  Mitt pulled over at a gas station and hosed the dog and the car down before venturing on to the shores of Lake Huron.

Now to some, this may present as no big deal, but to an animal lover, this creates a problem.  My first thought upon hearing this report was why was the luggage not strapped to the top of the car leaving room for Seamus to travel inside the vehicle.  I honestly don't think it takes rocket science to figure that one out.  My second thought was how often during that trip was Seamus let out of the kennel on top of the White Whale to relieve himself.  I know we stop every two hours to let our dogs out of the car when we are traveling.  Even if they don't relieve themselves, they get the opportunity to stretch their legs and sniff out new territory.  

Obviously Mitt doesn't share our philosphy in pet travels, but this disturbs me in another way too.  It is just plain insensitive.  While Seamus isn't human, he is (or was) a living, breathing being.  But...I guess this is just the way that Mitt rolls because despite the fact he lacked a caring, sensitive attitude toward his dog, he doesn't seem to have much in the way of sensitivity for the thousands of people who were canned at their jobs when he worked for Bain Capital.  After all, is cruelty to animals not a criteria that profilers and psychiatrists evaluate when summing up the problems of the deranged?

May be I have made a flawed analogy, but the whole sensitivity issue disturbs me along with his quick uncaring way of solving the brown substance problem dripping down the passenger windows.  I can't help but think how he would have treated Seamus if he pooped greenbacks instead.  Perhaps the wife and kids would have been stuffed into the kennel strapped to the White Whale while Seamus rode up front in style and comfort.  May be he would even have fought to grant Seamus personhood if he could have performed such a feat as spinning waste into gold. 

While Mitt's policies are not my cup of tea, his reaction to pets and employees are far more alarming to me.  One never knows though with Mitt.  Tomorrow he could flip flop and grant health care to animals.  

Sway to the Left, Sway to the Right

Lately, I have heard comments like "We are going to wish the Bush administration were back in power!"  Really, I say!  Now I am no aficionado of the current Washington crowd, but let me say this.

George W. Bush and company got us into this mess.  You can spin that any way you want, but that is the truth.  Mistakes, in my opinion, have been made in trying to dig us out such as bailing out the banks, but that was not "just" an Obama action.  That was a two party solution because Rome was burning.  One year is not long enough to turn the tide on the destruction caused by the previous administration. 

So, now it appears that the corrective action that the American public has decided to pursue is to vote the Republicans back into office ala Scott Brown.  I call it the old pendulum maneuver or dosi-do to the left, swing to the right!  I am stuck in head banger land!  That's what we need the good old Republican party, the party of "no" and "give it all to those who indeed have it all."  The party of small government, who has grown our government by leaps and bounds.  The party who believes that fewer taxes stimulates the economy while jobs disappear and raises have become a thing of the past.  Oh, ain't Capitalism wonderful?  The party that makes up a motive to justify a preemptive war when the real culprits are in an entirely different country.   Oh yes, you just have to want to wish these guys back in office! 

The Republican party, in my opinion, is the party of the "lost weekend"!  They have very short memories and the huevos of a herd of stud bulls, a very dangerous combination.  What they are good at though is staying on message.  They will take a small piece of the picture and turn it into a campaign and relentlessly repeat it over and over until you believe it to be true.  A few come to mind; trickle down economics, the blue dress, wag the dog, pro-life, and terrorism, thus creating a multitude of one issue voters. 

This is by no means an endorsement for the Democrats, the party of....well....how should I say this?  Spineless comes to mind, as does whiny, schoolyard blabbers.  This is the party that just wants you to like them.  They put forth an idea without looking at the big picture but they want us to know they are fighting for us.  Their ideas often times do not materialize before they are on the defensive and crying that some bully pushed them down and gave them a boo boo!  Yes, they have ideas but they cannot implement.  They are in constant fear of losing the popularity contest so they will say anything so you will like them. 

I offer this piece of advice for the upcoming mid-term election -- buyer beware.  You aren't going to get the perfect candidate to vote for, but you better judge them on more than a flawed repetitive one issue message or the "love means never having to say you're sorry" tactic.  This two-step dance between the left and right is not winning us any trophies.  If our government can't step up or grow a pair, we must!

Teabags and Kicking the Dog

I received an email this morning from a good friend who just happens to be another Baby Boomer without a job!  She too is trying to keep her head above water while she searches for employment, as well as making every effort to keep her financial house in order.

She wrote:

"I think it is being addressed in Washington tomorrow, but I am livid about the interest rate increases I have had to take on credit cards...no lates, fico over 700...but increases in some cases of 20%.  Then the opt out options will screw you by either canceling the account (thus affecting your score by % of credit utilized) or cutting your credit limit right to the amount you owe at the point of opting out even though you haven't canceled your account. ( again affecting your FICO score).  I find this to be a modern version of loan sharking.  If the economy is supposed to be better with responsible credit, then why are the people who are responsible for their payments taking it in the shorts.  You being debt free don't have to deal with this any more but alot of us who are trying to be good citizens are tired of this.  I don't know who to write."

She's right about this being addressed tomorrow, as Obama meets with the heads of major banks.  You can read the whole story here (from-- clears throat-- the Canadian Press).  

This is another one of those kicking a dog when it's down scenarios.  

I find it rather incredible that some do not understand the anger that is rising among the populous and going so far as calling tea parties and such, "class warfare" or "hatred of the rich".  From my perspective, the objection is not against making money or becoming/being rich, it is breaking the backs of the middle class to solve problems for the rich when they are in trouble.  Who always pays?

Further this is not a Republican or Democrat issue, both parties carry responsibility for where we have arrived today from elected officials to corporations to consumers who lived above their means.  However, the party is over and those who did not drink from the greed keg are being forced to suffer the hangover.  If you honestly believe that taxing those who make over $250K per year is going to pay for this mess, I say beware.  There are lots of other ways to suck your livelihood up in the vacuum!

So to those folks who want to bitch about a "teabag", just be thankful it wasn't a pitchfork.  Write, call, email, blog, twitter, protest, and stay focused on those who are making decisions for you!  They answer to us, we don't answer to them -- that's democracy!

You can find and contact your congresspeople and Senators by going here.  Type your zip code in the window available to get your representatives' contact information.  This website will also keep you up-to-date on the shenanigans, oops, I meant the actions of Congress. 

If you want to write to President Obama, this is the contact page I use. 

 

Bill's Advice for Barack

I meant to post this on Friday, but as you can see that didn't happen.  I've been working on some very important things that could REALLY impact my life so for now, I have an excuse! 

From today's AP (February 20, 2009):

Clinton to Obama: Talk optimistically on economy

WASHINGTON – It used to be gospel in the nation's power center: Presidents didn't talk publicly about what the markets were doing. The notion was that anything a president said on this subject could be too easily misinterpreted, sending Wall Street into a dive.

Now, former President Clinton says he thinks President Barack Obama should talk more optimistically about the prospects that the nation will recover from its current deep economic woes.

Clinton said he wants Obama to assure the people that America will surmount this problem. But at the same time, the former president said in an interview broadcast Friday on ABC's "Good Morning America" that "I like the fact that he didn't come in and give us a bunch of happy talk."

He also said he believes "you will see some good economic news form the stimulus fairly soon."

For his part, Obama has said he thinks the country will get past the recession, but that it will be a long slog.

 

President Obama would be smart to heed these words from the Big Dawg.  I know, I know Obama supporters (and Republicans) are going to spin this into Bill told a big lie while in office or Obama is only speaking in truths or whatever other little gem they can dig up to get off topic.  However, if they were the least bit objective they would agree with the former President.  You see, what Bill Clinton is advocating for here is indicative of one of those little nuances of experience (you know that "thing" that everyone said you don't need to be Prez). 

 

I'll give Obama credit...at least he has been working.  Yes, I know he takes the weekends off and a lot of hard working Americans don't get that privilege, blah, blah, blah, but stay with me here.  He has been in office for only a month and in that month he  has been pushing for a solution. 

 

Here lies the problem.  

 

Obama, the quintessential community organizer, has discovered that it isn't easy bringing his Republican brothers and sisters together.  For that, he is making sure that he reminds us everyday, in a subtle way, our situation is the fault of Republicans.  None of us really knows if his stimulus plan is going to work and since he is running for re-election during this first term, he wants to make sure that he can point the finger at the Republicans if the stimulus bill fails.  Hence, the preaching of doom and gloom. 

 

Instead of running for office in 2012, Obama should be, as Bill Clinton is advising, turning on a little optimism.  He doesn't have to get as hopey dopey as he did during the campaign, but for heaven's sake, a little assurance please.  Instead of speaking in vague generalities, tell us how this plan is going to work and how you are going to measure its successes or failures.  If it is failing, how are you going to tweak the plan?  Tell us how you are going to monitor this plan every inch of the way to ensure that there is oversight and that no one is going to runaway with the farm again.  Don't tell us that you are going to appoint Czars or panels, tell us what these entities are going to measure and when and how often we should expect a progress report.  Tell us how you are going to micromanage a government that failed us, both Republicans and Democrats. 

 

Obama campaigned on hope and change.  That was his promise.  He brought nothing else to the table except these two words, while he reminded us that it was our time and that we would have to work hard.  The voters bought this and he won.  Now the work begins and it begins from the top.  Markets react to words, consumers react to words, employers react to words, and so forth.  If the President is really putting forth an effort in this recovery plan, but still telling the world that we are a loooooooooong way from Tipperary, he is eroding confidence.  No optimism there, just another campaign tactic of talking out both ends; if it works he takes credit, if it doesn't the Republicans are at fault.

 

Obama should take Bill's advice and listen to a voice of experience.  Learn to balance the rhetoric in delivering the message.  Folks are uneasy, as they should be.  Many of us are leery of the billions of tax dollars that have been promised to fix this economy.  All the "rah, rah" stuff only brings a temporary feel of euphoria, of the "yes we can" stuff. 

 

As Desmond Tutu put it, "Optimism requires clear signs that things are changing - meaningful words and unambiguous actions that point to real progress."  This doesn't mean that we are not hopeful.  We just need to know what path we are really on, we need specifics, not from the pundits, but from our President. 

Pack up the Babies, Grab the Old Ladies

Let's head on into Denver today for Brother Love's Travelin Salvation Show aka the signing of the stimulus bill. Hallelujah!

Apparently President Obama is getting out of Dodge Washington to sign the bill, so he can 1) be around folks who may benefit from this bill and 2) emphasize the green elements of the bill.  (Does that "green thing" include the $30M for San Francisco's Salted Marsh Mouse?  Okay, so it is the Wetlands Restoration Project, and yeah, Nancy had nothing to do with that, right?).

Like a good citizen, I have been trying to sift through this bill to find out exactly where the jobs are going to materialize.  Call me an idiot if you will, but I am finding it difficult to get through this 1,100 page document.  It is impressive that our congressional leaders managed to "read" it and "comprehend" it so quickly in order to cast their yeah or nay vote.  Sadly, if I were one of them, I'd still be in my office, reading the damn thing (despite having a gaggle of staff).  But lucky for the country, I am not one of them.  I am just one of your low information, dumb-downed ordinary citizens who is trying to stay informed and understand some of this.  Here's a very short list.

$248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

$1 billion for administrative costs and construction of new office buildings for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration buildings.

$300 million for constructing Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office buildings.

160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corp for National & Community Service.

$246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

$75 million for “smoking cessation activities.”

$88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

$50 million for regional economic development commissions.

$300 million for a competitive construction grant program for research science buildings.

$200 million for academic research facilities modernization.

$6.2 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program.

$500 million to improve processing of disability and retirement claims.

$3 billion for “Grants-in-Aid for Airports”.

$1 billion in competitive housing grants.

$5.2 billion for community development block grants and “neighborhood stabilization activities”. 

$90 million to educate “vulnerable populations”.

Does anyone else wonder what some of this REALLY means?  It kind of gives off the scent of pork roasting over an open flame.

What bothers me is that in a time such as now -- Crisis Central -- you know, it's going to get worse before it gets better -- where are the priorities?  I have heard, and it makes sense, that this is just a whole bunch of Democrat projects that have been sitting around until the time is ripe (as in WE WON) to pass this pork.  Not only that, but the Republicans have put on a grand show of making Americans think they care about us.  Please, we just got off an eight year Republican merry-go-round of spend, spend, spend until Daddy took the T-bird away.  This is just more of Washington politics.

Call me simple.  People make money, people spend money.  People don't make money, people don't spend money.  J-O-B-S!

Oh well, we still have the words of Brother Love coming our way.  He'll dose us up with a fix of hope and the country will rejoice.  Hallelujah!

 

Expect Lower Wages

I stumbled upon this article on Yahoo News.  Here's an excerpt. 

"As the economic restructuring takes place, there's no question some people will be taking pay cuts and pretty substantial pay cuts. And that includes those with more education," said Gus Faucher , the director of macroeconomics at Moody's Economy.com in West Chester, Pa. "This is going to be the biggest downturn since the Great Depression and a lot of people are going to take a big hit."

History and common sense suggest pay cuts are the norm in recessionary periods.

From 1981 to 1983, while the economy reeled and recovered from a 17-month recession that lasted from July 1981 to November 1982 , some 3.4 million full-time workers with at least three years in their current positions lost their jobs.

Nearly 1.6 million were rehired during that same period, but 51 percent of these workers wound up making less money. In fact, a whopping 34 percent reported earnings that were at least 20 percent less than their previous job.

Similar results occurred for the nearly two million who found new jobs after and during the 1990-1991 recession.

Lower wages, huh?  Not a problem, but I am wondering does this mean businesses and corporations--utlity companies, insurance companies, health care facilities and all the others will lower their prices?  

Will we see reduced electric bills, car insurance premiums or lower prices at the pump?  I don't think so.  In California, where I live, I read that the sales tax is going to be increased.  I have seen a substantial increase in the price of groceries.  I have also noticed that gas is going back up.  I noted in an earlier post that my Bush stimulus check paid the increase in my property taxes.   

It never ceases to amaze me that the greedy bastards who created this fiasco are unloading the burden (again) on the workers in this country to fix the problem.  This is insanity.  There is no other explanation for this.  It sort of reminds me of a quote by that quirky cowboy, Will Rogers.

“A man can make a million over night and he is on every page in the morning. But it never tells who gave up the million he got. You can’t get money without taking it from somebody.”

   

The Apology

I read a lot of blogs, some I bookmark, others I just move on.  What is interesting about blogs is that you gain a perspective from ordinary people as we have never seen before.  I would think that marketers would be head over heels in love with this new phenomenon, being that they can gain so much knowledge on what folks think. 

As I read through these blogs I am struck with the common thread of many of them regarding Obama's apology in reference to Tom Daschle and his tax problems.  Obama said, "I screwed up" and the crowds are going wild.  "Isn't it refreshing that we have a President who can admit his mistake" seems to be the comment most expressed by the blogosphere, well except for may be Maureen Dowd.  (I am shocked that she fell overboard from the Love Boat so soon!). 

Now I know we have just been through eight years of someone tauting, "I'm the man and it is my way or the highway", but good grief have we been left so bruised that one little apology from Obama elicits no real analysis, just a hearty, "hip, hip hooray!"?  Shades of Eddie Haskell. 

No one seems to care that Obama's vetting process is rather flawed as he has had to dump four of his nominees due to transgressions.  You see, I recall Obama's campaign promise that he was going to bring about change and ditch the Washington scene for something new and refreshing.  Am I missing something here? 

Adding to the rather disturbing "Hail to the Chief" scenario sweeping the country, Senators Durbin and Boxer are asking that we all send President Obama a "thank you" card expressing our gratitude for his service.  Just as we have been asked to forego our judgment of Obama this early on into his administration, I find it just a little creepy to be showering him with praise for his what...nineteen days in office!

I believe that somewhere along the line Americans have forgotten that it is our job to hold elected officials accountable.  This over-the-top praise of a three week President reminds me of the over-the-top allowances that were afforded George Bush for his decisions resulting from 911 and the fear they pounded into everyone.  In my opinion, this is the same thing, just different names and faces, and different extremes.  To be honest, I am not ready to go down that path again. 

Excuse My Lack of Enthusiasm

I have been catching a few glimpses of the hoopla going on in Washington now that President-elect Obama is about to be sworn into office.  I am usually so wrapped up in this stuff, but I just can't muster up much enthusiasm at this point. 

In my quest to look at the positive side of things (sort of my belated New Year's resolution), I will say that there are two good things at least that are about to happen.  First, I am not sorry to see Bush leave office.  I don't think this statement needs much explaining.  Second, I admit that I get choked up when I see the happiness within the African American community, especially the older folks who never thought they would live to see this day.  I am truly happy that they will witness an event that is so significant for them, as well as the entire nation to be honest.  Race should never be a barrier to becoming President. 

My non-enthusiastic attitude is a result of my lack of trust in Obama.  He simply has done nothing to earn my trust, in fact he has done quite the opposite.  I am cut from fabric that believes honesty, hard work, humility and integrity earns respect and opportunity.  Obama has used every avenue to reach the point where he is through dicey political moves with assistance from his political Godfather, Emil Jones and numerous questionable relationships. 

During the election all I got from Obama's campaign were roadblocks.  I was never given an explanation for the questions I had and he had no record on which I could cast my vote for him.  Besides the incredible amount of controversy surrounding him, my biggest concern was watching a video revealing the horrible conditions of Chicago's District 13, which was under his watch.  He did nothing to bring meaningful change to his constituents and that was of great concern to me.  He was their community organizer, their State Senator and their U.S. Senator, so it is not like he didn't have an opportunity to bring about more change than handing out Thanksgiving turkeys. 

I have watched as the Fourth Estate in this country showered him with undeserving praise simply to have a historic event to report.  I witnessed some of the most vile misogynist, anti-gay, anti-small town and anti-over 50 rhetoric of any recent election that I remember.  I watched as both the Democratic and Republican parties practically imploded, each party practically eating their own.  And through it all, I saw Obama marketing himself under the shadows of Greek columns, Victory columns and glitzy speeches.  I watched the dumbing down of America, well get even more dumbed down.

Barak and Michelle are no JFK and Jackie.  One can't give that status until we see what transpires over the next four years.  In my eyes, he is a middle-aged baby boomer, typical flip flopping politician, no different than any other political opportunist.  He is being given a huge advantage with the current lovefest going on.  I, however, will wait to see results, and once there is something to judge him on, I will either eat my hat or say "I told you so."  Until then, my pom poms and enthusiam are tucked away to be used at a time of achievement which I truly do hope happens, the sooner the better. 

It was a Size 10!

My father used to say that we would get a size 10 up the rectum if we misbehaved. President Bush found out that pigs may not necessarily fly but size 10's indeed do!

Well Said

My sentiments exactly!