Cknolls

QUOTE(iamshack @ Feb 13, 2008 -> 10:41 AM) I don't, and never did believe, that the Kyoto Protocol was the best idea we could come up with. Rather than dumping money into trying to comply with artificial restrictions assigned by the Protocol, or purchasing GHG emission reductions elsewhere (which accomplishes absolutely nothing), I believe the best solution still involves pouring that money into federal and state subsidies to give private corporations the opportunities to further develop and perfect green technologies. Let capitalism work for us here, because it isn't exactly working for us in some other areas. The second thing we must do, in my humble opinion, is begin placing very large tariffs on goods coming in from China, and any other countries that are blatantly violating human rights principles- I'm tired of allowing them to participate in our free market but not playing by the rules everyone else has to play by. We must make it more of a decision for not only corporations based elsewhere, but American companies, to manufacture in nations where the citizenry and the workforce is abused or taken advantage of. There's no way we can ever compete for those jobs otherwise. And yes, the prices at Wal-Mart will get much higher. Finally, we've got to attract any high-tech industries to the United States that we can. We need to get over some of he moral hesitancies we have regarding stem-cell research as well as other bio-industries that are either on the cusp now or in the near future. These are the industries we can best attract through our combination of infrastructure, facilities, and education. Lower the business tax rates and you will attract a boatload of business to this country, and you will find multi-nationals re-patriating earnings from overseas.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Feb 13, 2008 -> 09:54 AM) You know what will do wonders for the economy, forcing US companies to comply with the Kyoto accord. That should kill the economy with one quick and violent blow. Do you know why the US ranks 24th in broadband penetration. Because there are so many telephone/cable companies who have local access, and dont want to cooperate with upstream vendors who will be using their network. Over in other countries there is one local carrier who supplies both local access and upstream access and can VAT the living crap out of any carrier that uses their network. But dont worry, this will change when the WiMax and more of the Cellular based broadband takes foothold. That will help with penetration. Becky and Jimmy homeowner want broadband, but they dont want Verizon digging up their yard to drop fiber as well. In other countries you dont have a choice. Here we have referendums and environmental studies of how the fiber optics will affect the indigenous swamp fly population. The subprime loans are the fault of morons who took them. If you sign a contract that has your house as collateral I suggest you take the few minutes and gloss over the wording. The rate, and term of any mortgage is pretty much spelled out for you. I blame the banks as well, for giving credit out to those who dont deserve it and giving too much of a ratio for what a person can afford over what they should afford. But in the end, the moron who signed the contract is the one to blame. No one forced that person to sign it. We are adults. You are responsible as an adult to pay your bills, and for your financial stability. If you make foolish decisions and dont read contracts you sign then you are asking for a world of trouble. ^^^^^^^^^^^ AMEN!^^^^^^^^^

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=...mp;pageId=56276 If true, this is a huge kill. One of the hardest targets to nail and one of the worst terrorists in modern history. Bravo to whoever did the deed.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1202778190...in_commentaries Should BILLARY be asked about this travesty? Has Hill-Billy ever answered, WHY?

MSNBC "Pimping to be last in cable". Twice in a year, a member of the "news channel" has uttered the word in a broadcast. But somehow the latest culprit did not make Olbermann's worst person in the world. Nothing more need be said.

There are unconfirmed rumors out there that the airstrike by the predator drone last week may have killed the scumbag "American Taliban". Supposedly his phone was found in the rubble. We can only hope its true. Ashes to Ashes baby!!

Wait till the mkt closes. How many bullets are left in the Fed's gun?

Rasmussen: McCain 48% Clinton 40% McCain 47% Obama 41%

Can anyone tell me how any of these monolines have AAA ratings without some manipulation by the ratings agencies? Are Hanky and BOOM BOOM twisting arms?

After all the hullabaloo and 75 bps we are only a few points from last friday's close. Seems like wasted Ammo from the Fed.

The latest I read was $600/indiv $1200/couple 75k/150k. Plus $300/child. Also partial rebates for those exceeding 75k/150k limits, I believe up to 87k/174k.

BAC's preferred offering now up to $13 billion. So it started at $2 bil. went to $6 bil. by the end of yesterday, and is now $13 bil.

This is the same type of rebate as the previous one in 2003? (I believe). Remember when people were filing their taxes the following year and were b****ing they had to claim the rebate as income on their taxes. This is feelgood politics at its best!! The dollar index loves the stimulus package. Hyperinflation here we come.

Why would BAC be issuing convertible prefferred today? A) Because they have to. B) Because they would be stupid not to. You make the call.

The sharpest rallies occur during bear mkts.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 22, 2008 -> 02:52 PM) How do you get that they are "actively reducing it" from that quote? That quotes says, to me, that 5/3 will only see benefit if more borrowers come to them because of decreased rates. Which is of course the whole point. And your definition of a bear market is not the same as the one I've been taught - a 20% drop from a high. We aren't there yet. According to the Dow Theory, we have been in a BEAR MKT since July. Tomato Tamahto.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jan 22, 2008 -> 02:24 PM) 12000 is a big big number for the Dow. If they break that, they might end up at 20% down from the highs, which is official bear market territory. Bear mkt started last July and was confirmed when we closed below the weekly, monthly and yearly closes on the SPX. Also, what tricks does BIG BEN have up his sleeve when these cuts do nothing. The Fed is trying to stimulate credit growth while banks are trying to protect themselves by actively reducing it. Example, Fifth Third CC this morning, "The impact of the Fed's rate cut is muted because e bank hedges its income for changes in rates, and so the effectiveness of the rate cut largely depends on whether the cut spurs economic activity in our base."

Any thoughts on this boondoggle they are calling a stimulus package? What does everyone think? Shouldn't the gov't just lower tax rates across the board and let us keep more of our money instead of giving us a rebate? The interest saved amounts to a nice chunk of change.

I will say this. There is finally some edge back in the pits for traders. Spreads are wider and p/l 's are greener. My take right now is we go back to test 1293 on futures on the downside. Or we test 1327.50 on the upside.

This is a solvency issue not a liquidity issue.

Keep talking BOOM BOOM, the more you talk the higher gold goes. Up $100 dollars on gold futes in 2 1/2 weeks. Keep cutting rates baby.

Only 77 stocks are up YTD in the S&P 500. 173 stocks are down MORE THAN 10%. 50 DMA broke 200 DMA. Another confirmation we are in a bear mkt.

I think Gold will breakout to the upside shortly, and even more so if the dollar happens to fall against the Euro again.

Ryland Group's shares falling; Moody's cut rating to junk status.