Thursday, July 30, 2009

The Fig Leaf

Let's rename the so-called "Blue Dog" Democrats as the Fig Leaf Democrats. As a label, it fits better. Most of them have no principles except their selfish priority to get re-elected in a conservative district. In the latest example, they are grabbing onto some minor fake "cost cuts" to find a way to keep negotiating with Obama's capos to find a fig leaf for themselves to survive a vote for his national health insurance scheme.

The first fig leave is a switch in the small business mandate from requiring them to pay for health care - i. e., act as workers' mothers - to "require that payments to health-care providers under a new public health plan not be pegged to Medicare ... " Huh ? What's the difference ?

Then we see the "cost cuts" that purport to be $100 billion over ten years. Gosh, that less than Congress spends every year in earmarks to pay off supporters. And is even that pittance a "cut" ? No. "The cuts would be achieved in part by asking states to share in a planned expansion of Medicaid, which offers health insurance for the poor ... " So the states pay, not the Feds. Some "cut".

I guess lying and fooling the public is so ingrained in DC that they can't see how silly these claims look. Or perhaps they expect the Obama propaganda machine to provide good concealment for their betrayal of promises to their voters.

Perhaps they should talk to the voters, as more and more don't trust Obama's health care scheme.

Actions

I re-bought MT and a bit of FCX yesterday in Obama Fund. I have a couple more names that might give me the targeted profit potential. The US and European markets seem to have a bid to them almost every morning. It could be overseas money. I'm cautious as I have a lot invested in Krypto Fund and Fido Fund already. Until and if Obama re-appoints Ben, I'll probably stay just lightly invested in Obama Fund.

Word of the Day

"Yawp" - noun and verb [$10]
Yawp means (noun) 1. a) a harsh or course cry; b) loud raucous cry; 2. (US) foolish talk; (verb, intransitive) 1. utter a yawp; 2. (US) talk foolishly; 3. talk continuously and noisily.
Sentence: The Fig Leaf Democrats yawp incessantly to fool voters in their districts. I think they will betray their districts, but will fail to fool the people.

Latin Word of the Week

"Cognito" - verb
Cognito means to think, reflect
Sentence: Cognito ergo sum. I think, therefore I am.

[My Latin is just beginning to be re-learned so I don't know the words for 'sentence' or 'word of the week' yet. Soon ...]

27 comments:

Bud said...

Bman must be havin wet dreams these days


this stupid scapegoating soviet style CFTC interrogation.......ummmm........commisiion on 'excessive speculation'



position limits ?? physically holding the commodity ??? disclosing positions ??? all garbage


they are going to remove liquidity from our markets.........what a joke

Bud said...

does gary gensler read this blog ??

Bunkerman said...

liquidity ... lolol

funny how all those markets worked fine in the 1970s and 1980s before the beefers made them playgrounds.

the screeches of "liquidity" are just the beefers & Street wanting their vig.

Bunkerman said...

they need to include swaps in the position limits, too.

Bunkerman said...

I wrote about this in Spring & summer of 2008 when the beefers and pension funds were buying every free barrel of oil in the world.

It's long overdue.

Bunkerman said...

According to a draft copy of the joint agreement seen by The Wall Street Journal, it calls for standard contracts to be cleared and traded on exchanges, and proposes increasing capital and margin requirements for custom contracts. It also proposes two different approaches aimed at reining in speculation, including a controversial ban on a certain type of contract. The guts of the lawmakers' outline are largely in line with what the administration wants, but their plan leaves open the possibility that so-called naked credit-default swaps -- those that aren't used to hedge against an underlying credit risk -- could be banned. Under their plan, credit-default swaps would be allowed when used to hedge against risk or done by bona fide market makers.

Bunkerman said...

credit default swap sshould be banned, period.

Bond markets worked fine to 100 years before them.

mfl59 said...

Bunkerman did you get your SPX 1000 mesh cap out of closet yet?

Frosty said...

good to see my BFF back in the bunker yamping away...a true friend of the beefer...may I have another jim, oh brother.

mfl59 said...

Bunkerman would you ever consider putting money with Ron Insana? he seems to have a very hot hand....

Bunkerman said...

If I ever put money with anyone, please direct Mrs. B to have me committed.

Bunkerman said...

No re S&P 1000; I've got the Dow 15,000 helmets ready.

Bunkerman said...

hmmm I guess my second shot wasn't in the dirt ...

And first shot eventually hit, too.

[re FCX]

Frosty said...

bullseye...switching from brush to roller today....buy the rips indeed, GS commands you.

Bunkerman said...

no buying for me today.

Frosty said...

cliff lee, you gotta be kidding me Bunky...fold up the teepee and hit the trail of tears indeed...I think charlie sheen is a free agent.

Bunkerman said...

anyone have a translation for frosty's metaphors ?

I do think I'll get oout of this office to go read awhile & finish my Polish lesson. Gotta hit German tomorrow.

Also need to finish cleaning the '60. Works perfectly IFF one keeps it clean.

Frosty said...

oh nononono...not the Bunky mush...all in short sounds right.

Frosty said...

Bunky your blue dog heros dug in deep...looks like we have a fine health care bill coming...as I read it you will do very well.

as I see it...you will be waiting 15 deep to see the witch doctor down at druker's general store for the same cost as a visit to the mayo clinic today.

Bunkerman said...

yeah, I saw a huge amount of restrictions on people ...

Bunkerman said...

once gov't starts paying, they'll start controlling people's behavior, too.

Frosty said...

who knows what's best for the common man better than nancy pelosi

Bunkerman said...

NEW YORK (AP) -- David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were among the more than 100 Major League Baseball players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, according to a report in The New York Times.

The article posted on the newspaper’s Web site Thursday cited lawyers involved in pending litigation over the testing results who spoke anonymously because the information is under seal by a court order.

Ortiz declined comment to the paper. In 2004, he and Ramirez led the Boston Red Sox to their first World Series championship since 1918.

The results from the 2003 tests were supposed to remain anonymous, but they later were seized by federal agents. Alex Rodriguez admitted using performance-enhancing drugs after he was linked to the 2003 list.


The entire sport is smeared until the mandate testing of every player. And that's true for every pro sport.

Bunkerman said...

yeah, isn't it wonderful the rich & powerful will get more power.

Frosty said...

Bunky your heros at GS out of the gate this moring with the roller, brush finish...just in time to scoop up all the month end contributions...at least jim has something to do friday, visa skim day u know.

Bunkerman said...

yeah for that skim ... funny, I didn't here any "danke vielmals" for Jim that 3 pt swing on FCX ... maybe they just can't handle more than 50 cent moves ... premature .. uh ... selling.

hehe ;)

Bunkerman said...

I guess that was a bit unfair ... I'm holding out for my 40 pts.