Cknolls

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 1, 2007 -> 01:15 PM) Does your source have a total number for the amount of revolving credit outstanding? I see the 8.1% increase, but I'm curious how much unsecured leverage there is out there. Don't have that figure, but here is some historical data: Year Annualized Growth Rate (Credit Cards) 2003 2.3% 2004 3.8% 2005 3.1% 2006 6.3% JUNE 2007 7.1% JULY 2007 7.5% AUG. 2007 8.1%

And this is potentially worse than the mortgage crisis because this debt is all UNSECURED!! Some stats: Consumer credit rose at an annual rate of 5.9% in August, the biggest increase in 3 months. The increase in consumer credit was led by an 8.1% increase in revolving credit, which is the category that includes credit cards. Non-revolving credit, which includes auto loans, also rose at a faster pace, increasing 4.7% annualized, compared with 3.1% in July and 4% in June. Overall, consumer credit rose by $12.2 billion to a record $2.469 trillion.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 1, 2007 -> 08:21 AM) Keep in mind that GDP is a trailing indicator. Let's see where its at in 2008. But I do agree with you in general that the slowing in growth which IMO will occur, will not be massive. But it will happen, because it has to. People simply have much less money to spend. The only way to artificially prop up consumer spending at 2006 levels is if the consumer base decides to stretch themselves thin in their credit cards to the same extremes they did in home equity - and if that happens, we could see a much more precipitous correction further down the line. It is already happened/happening. This is the next BIG shoe to drop. Consumers have already maxed out their home equity and are using their last resource..

QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ Oct 31, 2007 -> 01:32 PM) It means our deposit rates are going to drop...again... the blue hairs are going to go CRAZY when they can't even get 4.5% on a CD. Go to Countyrwide(CFC). They're paying 5.85% on a 6 mo. cd last I heard, because that is the only way they can get deposits. NOT GOOD. Hey BAC how's that $2 billion you put into CFC, convertible @$18 looking? I'll look to buy this crap in the single digits.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 30, 2007 -> 06:58 PM) So, oil hit a significant mark at the end of trading yesterday - $93.53. Why is it significant? Its the highest level... ever. Even adjusted for inflation. Now, interestingly, gas prices are still not overwhelmingly bad. I think its still averaging just under $3. Now, I am sure it will go up into the $3 to $3.50 range soon, but, I think its really surprising that its not a lot higher. Experts are pointing out that demand has been down this fall, keeping prices lower. What is cool about that, to me, is that a couple of the factors involved in that trend are a change in the habits of Americans, along with a slightly more diverse energy base. The use of alternative energy sources, the efforts of people to cut down consumption, etc., may finally be having a positive effect. I think thats fantastic, and its a sign of how much better things could get if we keep pushing new technologies and energy independence. So, I guess I'm saying... nice start, America. Let's dig in and keep it going. Oil has to reach a little over $100/barrel adjusted for inflation to reach all time high.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 26, 2007 -> 02:32 PM) Well, lets get facts straight here. Romney is LEADING the field in IA and NH, Obama is 2nd in those states in his field. Biden is a blip at best. Not really a like-for-like comparison. Kind of like comparing the #2 Democrat in the Senate to a House Rep from Colorado. Oh wait... Beating a dead horse.........priceless. Get over it already..

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 25, 2007 -> 02:55 AM) Why anyone is listening or caring about what Durbin or Tancredo have to say about anything is beyond me. Two of the most shrill, useless voices in politics. Doesn't say much for #2 Dem in Senate then.

THE DEBATE IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Oct 22, 2007 -> 10:41 AM) Perhaps all that oil in Iraq will help us pay for everything. It's paying for the war, right? Nice answer. Democrats are doing a great job running the city, county, and state. I think they need to suck some more union ****. The benefits offered these hard working people is assinine. Tax increases will not cover the expenses. I for one will not shop in Cook county if the sales tax passes. I live on the border of Cook, Will and DuPage, and will be happy to give my tax dollars to them. DuPage Co. is facing the same budget squeeze. But they realize workers must go. Shouldn't there be one pension system these gov't pukes pay into for their pensions? Why can Urkel get a pension from the City of Chicago, Cook CO. and the State of Illinois? UNIONS YES I LOVE MY HONDA....

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Oct 20, 2007 -> 12:01 PM) The majority of climate scientists and astrophysicists have a political agenda across the world? What would that be? Research grants?

And the Winner Is... [Kathryn Jean Lopez] bettyc — Betty Casey. A great charity has over four million dollars coming its way, it would seem.... 10/19 01:07

A short time ago on the Senate floor, Harry Reid encouraging Senators to bid on the letter.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 17, 2007 -> 02:59 PM) And its the same garbage that comes out of conservative talk radio. Seriously, who listens to or reads any of this garbage? Only millions of people every week.

This is one of those headlines you couldn't make up: As violence falls in Iraq, cemetery workers feel the pinch: At what's believed to be the world's largest cemetery, where Shiite Muslims aspire to be buried and millions already have been, business isn't good. A drop in violence around Iraq has cut burials in the huge Wadi al Salam cemetery here by at least one-third in the past six months, and that's cut the pay of thousands of workers who make their living digging graves, washing corpses or selling burial shrouds. Gotta love the conservative press corps.

Flashback May 18, 2006: CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: Let me ask you Mr. Murtha to give us some details about that. Draw us a picture of what happened at Haditha. REP. JOHN “JACK” MURTHA: Well, I’ll tell you exactly what happened. One Marine was killed and the Marines just said we’re going to take care – they don’t know who the enemy is, the pressure was too much on them, so they went into houses and they actually killed civilians. And, and – MATTHEWS:—was this My Lai? Was this a case of – when you say cold blood Congressman, a lot of people think you’re basically saying you got some civilians sitting in a room around a field and they’re executed. Just on purpose… MURTHA: That’s exactly it. This was not an action…this was troops…they were so stressed out… Present Day Buried in the mountain of exhibits attached to the once secret Haditha, Iraq murder inquiry prepared by US Army Maj. Gen. Eldon A. Bargewell is an obscure Marine Corps intelligence summary (see pdf) that says the deadly encounter was an intentional propaganda ploy planned and paid for by Al Qaeda foreign fighters. Veteran military defense attorney Gary Meyers said he never understood why the Naval Criminal Investigative Service special agents leading the Haditha criminal investigation didn’t “examine the linkage” between Al Qaeda, the local insurgency and the events at Haditha. Meyers was an attorney on the defense team that successfully defended Justin Sharratt, a Marine infantryman accused of multiple murders at Haditha. The report – apparently overlooked by a Washington press corps awash in leaked Bargewell documents and secret Naval Criminal Investigative Service reports – shows that Marine Corps intelligence operatives were advised of the scheme to demonize the Marines by an informant named Muhannad Hassan Hamadi. The informant was snared by 3/1 Marines on December 11 2005 and decided to cooperate. pdf http://warchronicle.com/TheyAreNotKillers/...B1%5D.BATES.pdf

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Sep 27, 2007 -> 08:06 AM) I am as well. I think the government should be as small as possible, and stay out of our lives. Mandated health-care included.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 23, 2007 -> 08:38 AM) The President does when he appoints a Federal Reserve Director who he knows is going to push down bond rates at a time when our currency is already under pressure. The curve has actually steepened since the cuts.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl...icle2512380.ece Very good news. M-O-S-S-A-D! Nice!!!

Well at least the bonds love the rate cuts...30 yr smoked for the 3rd day in a row. Even the 2's and 5's participated in the slaughter today.. NOT GOOD!

Can you say STAGFLATION. Looks like the Fed is trying to inflate the housing bust away. Only sure trade= Buy gold. BERNANKE PUT= BUY STOCKS, SELL DOLLARS

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 17, 2007 -> 05:50 PM) At her cost estimate of $110 billion a year. In government speak that probably means about $200 billion a year. I also wonder if that estimate included the 12 million illegals that she wants to make citizens. Clinton has no answers for undocumented immigrants DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) — At a press briefing after Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's health care rollout Monday, senior policy advisers said the New York senator's plan does not currently include any details on whether illegal immigrants will be covered. Senior policy adviser Laurie Rubiner–while acknowledging that undocumented immigrants are a "huge issue" in this country–said, "That's one we're going to have to think through a little bit." "We have not dealt with every single detail with this plan," Rubiner continued. When asked if it would be safe to assume that the Democratic frontrunner, at this point, has no position on coverage for illegal immigrants advisers answered "yes" and said the plan does not "at this point" deal with that issue. I'll answer for her.. YES IT DOES. Why? Because we're not supposed to ask anyone if they are legal/illegal. That's insensitive.. I'll bet my house that it costs more than 110 billion.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 18, 2007 -> 09:42 AM) In front of what, exactly? They certainly aren't in front of any ratings chases. They are a target because they are really bad at news. Then why does Olbermann bother with Fox Noise as he calls it? IS it because O' Reilly's 3:00 A.M repeat still beats his 8:00 P.M. first showing? He is just as bad as the guys on FOX. I agree Hannity is a big boob and a lot of times I turn that show off because I am embarassed for him.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/worl...icle2461421.ece This will not make Russia happy because they just found out their air defense systems are not that good. And Iran cannot be happy either because they have the same systems and like the article states, their defenses are weaker than Syria's. Israel will not allow a nuclear Syria.

QUOTE(LowerCaseRepublican @ Sep 17, 2007 -> 08:42 PM) You mean that FOX Noise wasn't fair and balanced?! SHOCKED. SHOCKED I TELLS YA. No wonder that Fox News watchers are some of the worst informed people in the world.(source: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press) O.k Olbermann junior. FOX NOISE. They are the target because they are in front. Just like CNN was when they were in front.