READ ABOUT DETROIT AND SOLUTIONS TO ITS PROBLEMS. CLICK HERE.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Supreme Confusion

SEARCH BLOG: GOVERNMENT

Do the articles about President Obama's choice for a new Supreme Court justice seem a little surreal? To wit: “I [Obama] view that quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with people’s hopes and struggles, as an essential ingredient for arriving at just decisions and outcomes.”

L.A. Latinos savor Supreme Court choice

It's about time, some say, as President Obama nominates federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor. She would be the court's first Latina.
By Alexandra Zavis and Hector Becerra
4:44 PM PDT, May 26, 2009
From a popular eatery in East L.A. to the corridors of political power, Latinos relished the nomination today of one of their own to the U.S. Supreme Court, a choice they said would bring fresh perspective to the nation's highest court.

If confirmed, federal Judge Sonia Sotomayor of New York would be the Supreme Court's first Latina.

"I think it's about time," said Antonio Hernandez, 37, who owns Teresitas Restaurant in East L.A. with his parents. "Latinos are making a prominent impact on all levels of government as we grow more into the American way of life."

Hernandez is acquainted with high-flying Latinas nominated by President Obama. Hilda Solis, who became his Labor secretary, was a regular customer.

"I think Obama is trying to include everybody," Hernandez said as he ate cereal at a counter this morning. "That's how he ran his campaign."

Latino and other civil rights advocates have long argued that the nation's highest court should better reflect the makeup of U.S. society. The court has one female justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and one black justice, Clarence Thomas.
Let's try that again with just a very, very minor adjustment:
Texas white supremacists savor Supreme Court choice

It's about time, some say, as President Obama nominates Brody Joe Ghent. He would be the court's first white supremacist .
By Bo Davis and Hanl Barron
4:44 PM PDT, May 26, 2009
From a popular eatery in Lubbock to the corridors of political power, Texans relished the nomination today of one of their own to the U.S. Supreme Court, a choice they said would bring fresh perspective to the nation's highest court.

If confirmed, Brody Joe Ghent of Dimmitt would be the Supreme Court's first motorcycle riding white supremacist.

"I think it's about time," said Wil "Tiny" Hellracker, 37, who owns Devil's Vengeance Bar in Amarillo with his girl friend and three children and four great grandchildren. "Aryans are making a prominent impact on all levels of government as we grow more into the American way of life."

Hellracker is acquainted with low-rider Aryans nominated by President Obama. Rhett "Neck" Breaker, who became his model for education reform, was a regular customer.

"I think Obama is trying to include everybody," Hellracker said as he ate grits at a counter this morning. "That's how he ran his campaign."

Supremacists and other law minimizing advocates have long argued that the nation's highest court should better reflect the makeup of U.S. society. The court has no Supremacist Supremes, but does have a woman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and one black justice, Clarence Thomas.
You gotta have representation, dude. And Brody Joe can decide what's what with his personal experience and feelings, too. He doesn't need a lot of legal crap.

..

Labels: , , , ,

Can"t Find It?

Use the SEARCH BLOG feature at the upper left. For example, try "Global Warming".

You can also use the "LABELS" below or at the end of each post to find related posts.

Blog Archive

Cost of Gasoline - Enter Your Zipcode or Click on Map

Detroit Gas Prices provided by GasBuddy.com
Click here to add this map to your website.

CO2 Cap and Trade

There is always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible, and wrong.
Henry Louis Mencken (1880–1956)
“The Divine Afflatus,” A Mencken Chrestomathy, chapter 25, p. 443 (1949)
... and one could add "not all human problems really are."
It was beautiful and simple, as truly great swindles are.
- O. Henry
... The Government is on course for an embarrassing showdown with the European Union, business groups and environmental charities after refusing to guarantee that billions of pounds of revenue it stands to earn from carbon-permit trading will be spent on combating climate change.
The Independent (UK)

Tracking Interest Rates

Tracking Interest Rates

FEDERAL RESERVE & HOUSING

SEARCH BLOG: FEDERAL RESERVE for full versions... or use the Blog Archive pulldown menu.

February 3, 2006 Go back to 1999-2000 and see what the Fed did. They are following the same pattern for 2005-06. If it ain't broke, the Fed will fix it... and good!
August 29, 2006 The Federal Reserve always acts on old information... and is the only cause of U.S. recessions.
December 5, 2006 Last spring I wrote about what I saw to be a sharp downturn in the economy in the "rustbelt" states, particularly Michigan.
March 28, 2007
The Federal Reserve sees no need to cut interest rates in the light of adverse recent economic data, Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday.
The Fed chairman said ”to date, the incoming data have supported the view that the current stance of policy is likely to foster sustainable economic growth and a gradual ebbing in core inflation”.

July 21, 2007 My guess is that if there is an interest rate change, a cut is more likely than an increase. The key variables to be watching at this point are real estate prices and the inventory of unsold homes.
August 11, 2007 I suspect that within 6 months the Federal Reserve will be forced to lower interest rates before housing becomes a black hole.
September 11, 2007 It only means that the overall process has flaws guaranteeing it will be slow in responding to changes in the economy... and tend to over-react as a result.
September 18, 2007 I think a 4% rate is really what is needed to turn the economy back on the right course. The rate may not get there, but more cuts will be needed with employment rates down and foreclosure rates up.
October 25, 2007 How long will it be before I will be able to write: "The Federal Reserve lowered its lending rate to 4% in response to the collapse of the U.S. housing market and massive numbers of foreclosures that threaten the banking and mortgage sectors."
November 28, 2007 FED VICE CHAIRMAN DONALD KOHN
"Should the elevated turbulence persist, it would increase the possibility of further tightening in financial conditions for households and businesses," he said.

"Uncertainties about the economic outlook are unusually high right now," he said. "These uncertainties require flexible and pragmatic policymaking -- nimble is the adjective I used a few weeks ago."
http://www.reuters.com/

December 11, 2007 Somehow the Fed misses the obvious.
fed_rate_moves_425_small.gif
[Image from: CNNMoney.com]
December 13, 2007 [from The Christian Science Monitor]
"The odds of a recession are now above 50 percent," says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. "We are right on the edge of a recession in part because of the Fed's reluctance to reduce interest rates more aggressively." [see my comments of September 11]
January 7, 2008 The real problem now is that consumers can't rescue the economy and manufacturing, which is already weakening, will continue to weaken. We've gutted the forces that could avoid a downturn. The question is not whether there will be a recession, but can it be dampened sufficiently so that it is very short.
January 11, 2008 This is death by a thousand cuts.
January 13, 2008 [N.Y. Times]
“The question is not whether we will have a recession, but how deep and prolonged it will be,” said David Rosenberg, the chief North American economist at Merrill Lynch. “Even if the Fed’s moves are going to work, it will not show up until the later part of 2008 or 2009.”
January 17, 2008 A few days ago, Anna Schwartz, nonagenarian economist, implicated the Federal Reserve as the cause of the present lending crisis [from the Telegraph - UK]:
The high priestess of US monetarism - a revered figure at the Fed - says the central bank is itself the chief cause of the credit bubble, and now seems stunned as the consequences of its own actions engulf the financial system. "The new group at the Fed is not equal to the problem that faces it," she says, daring to utter a thought that fellow critics mostly utter sotto voce.
January 22, 2008 The cut has become infected and a limb is in danger. Ben Bernanke is panicking and the Fed has its emergency triage team cutting rates... this time by 3/4%. ...

What should the Federal Reserve do now? Step back... and don't be so anxious to raise rates at the first sign of economic improvement.
Individuals and businesses need stability in their financial cost structures so that they can plan effectively and keep their ships afloat. Wildly fluctuating rates... regardless of what the absolute levels are... create problems. Either too much spending or too much fear. It's just not that difficult to comprehend. Why has it been so difficult for the Fed?

About Me

My photo
Michigan, United States
Air Force (SAC) captain 1968-72. Retired after 35 years of business and logistical planning, including running a small business. Two sons with advanced degrees; one with a business and pre-law degree. Beautiful wife who has put up with me for 4 decades. Education: B.A. (Sociology major; minors in philosopy, English literature, and German) M.S. Operations Management (like a mixture of an MBA with logistical planning)