Wednesday, November 23, 2011

A Quick Update on the Deficit Destroyer...

It might seem impossible.

I'm not talking about our deficit hawk President blowing up the deficit, but this:
This Administration and Congress has actually increased the annual deficit EVERY YEAR.
We should all have more confidence in our politicians.

President BushPresident Obama
YearDeficit
YearDeficit
2001/02/01 - 2001/09/30$ -53,1292009/02/01 - 2009/09/30$ 1,019,780
2002/09/30$ 158,5202010/09/30$ 1,294,204
2003/09/30$ 374,2192011/09/30$ 1,298,614
2004/09/30$ 412,5532012/09/30
2005/09/30$ 318,6152013/09/30
2006/09/30$ 247,6982014/09/30
2007/09/30$ 162,8332015/09/30
2008/09/30$ 454,8062016/09/30
2008/10/01 - 2009/02/01$ 395,9432016/10/01 - 2017/02/01
Totals:$ 2,472,058Totals:$ 3,612,598

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Black Swan President - Beware the Bunny!!!

Re(1): 'Monthly Treasury Statement', The U.S. Department of Treasury


Our accomplished Presidential Black Swan is still on a roll!!!

But, President Carter's Killer Bunny is back in the water. Watch out President!!!

I was going to post the fact that the Federal Gubmint Leviathan actually cut spending (on the sly. This President cannot state that fact openly;-}) in May and June. But, I had confidence our Presidential Spender would not mend his ways! And, I was right! His administration securitized assets from Federal retirement accounts - and, had to borrow over $240 Billion to pay it back. Oh well, I didn't have much hope.

But, he is doing something even the biggest spenders in history could not do.

<><><><><><><><>
President BushPresident Obama
YearDeficit
YearDeficit
2001/02/01 - 2001/09/30$ -53,1292009/02/01 - 2009/09/30$ 1,019,780
2002/09/30$ 158,5202010/09/30$ 1,294,204
2003/09/30$ 374,2192011/07/31$ 1,099,901
2004/09/30$ 412,5532012/09/30
2005/09/30$ 318,6152013/09/30
2006/09/30$ 247,6982014/09/30
2007/09/30$ 162,8332015/09/30
2008/09/30$ 454,8062016/09/30
2008/10/01 - 2009/02/01$ 395,9432016/10/01 - 2017/02/01
Totals:$ 2,472,058Totals:$ 3,413,885

Jimmy Carter had his Bunny Moment.

Our current President is waiting for his!

Sunday, August 07, 2011

4th Turning Choices...

Re(1): 'The Long-Term Stakes of the Debt-Ceiling Fracas', Forbes, Brink Lindsey
Re(2): 'The Fourth Turning', William Strauss and Neil Howe
HT: RealClearMarkets

The referenced article is probably the best I have read on the debt ceiling and debt management topic.Basically, it comes down to Boomers not paying for their stuff. So, we have a range of options.



  • Pay for the stuff

  • Cut the stuff

  • A Mix
Now, it might be important to remember that all you Boomers are asking the GenXers to pay the bill.



  • On the positive side, GenXers are pragmatic, self-sufficient, practical, perceptive, and savvy.

  • On the negative side, GenXers are tough, uncultured, amoral, and unfeeling.
In a '4th Turning' the Boomers will promote culture changing ideas, the GenXers will fight. We are watching that now.

In my opinion, we will watch much of the welfare state fat get wiped away in the next ten years. Remember, Boomers are of two minds. The Burlap Sack and Birkenstock archetype and the Gingrich archetype. You know where I stand. And, who has been winning the fight these last twenty years?

If I were to guess, this is in the wings:



  • Balanced Budget - not an Amendment, just the hard choices

  • A Flatter, less 'Progressive' Tax System - Everybody Pays for Stuff

  • An increase in Medicare Taxes - Anyone think 2% pays for Medical Stuff

  • A Cut in Social Security - With the Bush Option of investing part in the Market

  • A Cut in Welfare Benefits - Leading off with Wiping out Benefits for Citizens of another Country

  • A Cut in Defense Spending - But, with a Hard Headed Approach to Benefits, Strategy, and Material

  • A Decimation of Federal Departments that Came into Existence During the 1970s 'Doing What Feels Right' Mood
In affect, the contraction of the Nanny State.I know there are other opinions, but how do you fight for a continuation of not funding your largess? Look back at the GenXers. Do you see hope there? Where are your knife fighters?

Saturday, May 07, 2011

Outrunning the Radio - Not So Fast

Re(1): 'Ping', The Belmont Club, Richard Fernandez (Wretchard)
Re(2): 'Delete from TbPerp Where...', The Belmont Club, Richard Fernandez (Wretchard)

The old adage that you can't outrun a radio proved true once again this past weekend.

While folks are justifiably huzzahing our special forces and our intelligence services, a more basic axiom has presented itself.

The value of information, the speed of information, and the exploitation of information.
What Wretchard is postulating is that our military and intelligence services now process data into actionable information faster than the enemy can adjust. We are often inside the enemies OODA Loop. We will be hearing of a rollup soon enough.

And, for those who will soon decry the death of innocent victims at bin Laden’s house, a simple message:

'Don’t Dine With Terror Turds.'
We might be nearing the end of our 4th Turning. One that starts with a war and ends with a financial collapse.

I hope we can say ‘Been there, Done that…’

Saturday, January 01, 2011

Hope, Change - Bring Out the Pretorian Guard!!!

Re(1): 'The Crusade of Innocents', The Belmont Club, Richard Fernandez (Wretchard)
Re(2): 'Anarchy is Back', Instapundit, Glenn Reynolds

So, the Left is dissatisfied...
And, their messaging dupes are hollering...

The Left places their hope for change in a man and the state. Inevitably, they fail to produce. Then either/both the man and the state are castigated. So much hope for so much change - and what is done never works. Thus, since what was wanted obviously works, the fault must lie with the man. Out with the old man, time for a new man. But, never a time for new ideas.

Bring out the Red Guard.
But, the Old Man suppresses the Red Guard.
In the end, all one can say with any accuracy is ‘Oh, well’.