Dealing with Pakistan

The call for the US to do more in Pakistan is an ever increasing sentiment on Capitol Hill. CIA Director Leon Panneta has blamed the Pakistani's for harboring terrorists that strike in neighboring Afghanistan , then flee back to Pakistan. China , meanwhile has become a "fast friend" to the Pakistani's and Islamabad. If we are to start holding Islamabad accountable for all their actions, we could definitely lose a valued ally in the global war on terror. Remember, Pakistan is not a backwater like Afghanistan, which by the way, we with our overwhelming military superiority, can't seem to control. How much harder then , would it be for us to control or conquer Pakistan? Remember, Pakistan has a bigger more well=equipped army, and , most importantly, Nuclear weapons from Pakistan's decades old battles with neighboring India, whom they got independence from years ago. But a modern nuclear-equipped army would be disastrous for us to go to war with. Our country(US) is already going broke from 10 years of fighting in the Middle East. We must slow down the rhetoric and take a deep breath and weigh the costs in lives , effort and dollars a war with Pakistan could have. I hope Washington hears us on this one....No More War!!!

Protesters More Organized than You Think

Second Chance For Democrats

This is a second chance for President Obama and the Democrats.  The occupy Wall St. protests continue and have begun to spread. President Obama wasted so much political capitol on "treating" the Wall St bankers so cordially the fist time around. He has a chance to put this protest into its proper and historic perspective. Just give the protesters the due coverage they deserve. Main St. media outlets either completely ignored  the the protesters or said they were nothing but a shamble of hippies protesting nothing.  But now 3 weeks in, they  can't be ignored so easily. Even NPR, that bastion of news coverage completely ignored the protesters for 9 days! Can you imagine?  Any other story that was ignored for that long people would've been surely wondering why. I still am wondering why?  This could be the biggest news story this decade if these protests continue to swell and gain momentum. We could be witnessing an historic event here.  Real change could take place. Or, like civil rights marches of the1960's , police could try to strong-arm the people and REALLY turn violent. Only time can tell. Russian TV was the only network even covering the protests that I saw.

But now President Obama and the Dems have a chance to turn up the heat on the GOP. All the things the protesters are fighting for are things the GOP is against.  Go Mr Obama!  Turn up the heat on those who want it business as usual as that isn't going to work.  We need fundamental change in our banking system immediately. It needs to be more fair for us on the lower end of the financial spectrum.  Lets hope the protests get things evened out!!   

Obama Pushes Jobs Bill

President Obama went back on the offensive today with a broadcast to nation at about Noon today.  Again he is pushing his so-called jobs bill which will immediately put police officers, teachers, and firefighters back to work.  Many of these jobs have been lost as states continue to cut jobs because of budget deficits.  The Republican response was,  to say it bluntly,  typical. Their claim this jobs bill would not have the desired effect of putting many first-responders back to work. I believe the real reasoning behind their negativity is they won't pass anything the President proposes despite the effect it could have on the economy.  They want the 2012 election to be about Obama's failure to help the country.  I only hope voters can see through the bull and see the GOP for what it is presently doing.  Strangling the economy.  This jobs bill even has a proposed way to pay for itself. A paltry tax hike of 5.6% on people making over $1,000,000 a year?  Not unreasonable. But of course , despite the fact the Republicans voted for all these same things before, they won't now.  They say President Obama is campaigning .  But what do the GOP propose? I hear nothing coming from Capitol Hill for a reasonable alternative.Voters wake up!! Hold your congressional representative to explain why he's against this bill. If he has an other theory on what to do, let him or her voice it.  Not just block the President.  The thing Republicans fear the most is an Obama plan that may stimulate the economy and actually work.

Meanwhile the occupy Wall St. protests have continued and are spreading to other cities . Philadelphia in particular. Also Trenton NJ. The protesters claim they will not leave till there is financial equality.  Probably the hardest equality there is to implement. Those in power and wealth are not about to give it up without a fight. President Obama mentioned the protesters for the first time as he says "I feel their pain".  Way to go President Obama.  Continue to stand for what you, and most of us, believe. The rich are getting away with murder and its time to make our voices heard!

Keeping the Protest Message on Point

The recent protest marches in NYC and Wall St have spread to other cities nationwide.  Van Jones, the Green energy Czar, under President Obama , is heading a movement called Take Back the Dream. He lasted only 6 months at the post of Czar, but has found a new , and ,hopefully, better outlet for his talents.  The protesters have to remember 1 thing.  The Tea Party, while representing only a small percentage of American voters, managed to be very effective because they stayed mostly always on point. While the new protesters on Wall St. have momentum on their side, if they don't take a lesson from the Tea Partyers, they are at risk of losing their main message in a convoluted mixed up voice.  Everything from save the Earth,  to LGBT rights, to racial equality and more, will spill over into the protesters message and drown out the main message of financial fairness.  Stick to the message , I say.  The American people will get more and more involved,as we see happening,  now if they think the protests are effective and warrant our involvement.  First , the movement needs a name. . The Tea Party is a perfect example. All great movements need a similarly great name. The 99ers ( for being 99% of the population) to Take Back the Dream, and others have been thrown around.  Secondly a leader would help.  Whether or not Van Jones turns out to be that person remains to be seen.  The recent labor leaders involvement today is great help.  This message needs to be seen as one of the people, not a bunch of hippie , Pie-in-the-sky protesters. What ultimately happens to this protest could impact this country in great and profound way.  We can only hope the message doesn't get lost along the way.

Italy's credit rating dropped to A2

With the global economy continuing to worsen the euro has been particularly hit hard. According to the BBC Italy's credit rating has gone from A2A to A2.  Another drop in the Euro of 0.5% now places the Euro at  precarious low levels.  The drop in the Moody index rating couldn't have come at worse time for the Euro and the EU general financial outlook.  Even though Italy's need for borrowing may be low right now , this is still bad news for a global economy that can't seem to shrug off the stagnation. In the American market the Dow Jones was down around 400 points around 3 pm.  Luckily a late rally ended the Dow up about 180 points. Big late rally for the Dow. Germany in particular should be concerned about Italian downgrades as they , along with the Euro banks , will bear much of brunt of a collapsing Euros.  Germany cannot , however, nor should they be expected to, continue to bail out the European banks, countries and economies. These countries will have to stand on their own accord and give the Germans a break. They are being penalized for keeping their own house in order.

On the lighter side Tommiegriggz Band is going on a major tour starting in January. Lets give a little support to a south Jersey native.

Governer Christie Bows Out

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie officially bowed out of his rumored GOP run for the Presidency.  He said though he was flattered it "just wasn't his time".  Christie also commented on disparaging remarks about his weight.  Saying he's "heard them all before".  The GOP front runners will now have a clear path to the nomination. Mitt Romney has overtaken Gov Perry in some recent polls. Who ends up facing off against President Obama is still very much up in the air.  The Republicans don't seem to be satisfied with any of their own candidates, so it was hoped, by some, that Christie could "save the day".  Despite the Presidents weak approval ratings, the GOP has no "sure thing" to throw against him.
In the meantime we get ever closer the fabled double dip recession.  Someone please tell this writer when the first one officially ended as I've seen no recovery with unemployment still, as its been all along, over 9%.  If some of the poisonous rhetoric could just simmer down , maybe we could get something done.