Obama Staffers Sexually Assault Hillary Clinton!!

[MJZiggy]

Sheesh, I didn't even think of Circuit City.

Perhaps the businesses are going under because all the people who overextended themselves in mortgages had their arm adjustments and couldn't afford to go shopping because the mortgage payments went up. People whose rates rose no longer have the disposable income they thought they did when banks were wooing them with $500 mortgage payments or 3% rates that have since doubled.

I think many businesses like the automakers are failing because they refused to see the trends in the market and adjust, thereby causing their own downfall. Honda and Toyota aren't suffering and not only are many of their cars built here, but they have to pay import taxes on the ones that are manufactured overseas (which is why they built plants here--cheaper to produce them here than do it in Japan and pay taxes and shipping.

And GM is STILL pushing trucks in an economy car market...

[GrnBay007]

And why do you think people aren't buying as much? I refer you to 007's post above.

And why do you think so many people are so worried when they, themselves, are NOT feeling the effects of economic problems? I say it's the media pushing off a bunch of bogus crap on the public. Do you have a better idea?

I never said anything about NOT feeling the effects. You asked me if I was suffering. Big difference. And yeah, I can easily say I've been feeling it for almost a year. How I know it will be worse in 2009? I work for the State and we've already been told there will be somewhere in the range of 44-70 million cut in spending. I already know my family health insurance will jump Jan. 1st from $10 per month to $230 per month. This is not media or bogus crap. These are facts and that's why I'm concerned and not spending as much.

Like I said before....take me to your bubble.

[texaspackerbacker]

Sheesh, I didn't even think of Circuit City.

Perhaps the businesses are going under because all the people who overextended themselves in mortgages had their arm adjustments and couldn't afford to go shopping because the mortgage payments went up. People whose rates rose no longer have the disposable income they thought they did when banks were wooing them with $500 mortgage payments or 3% rates that have since doubled.

I think many businesses like the automakers are failing because they refused to see the trends in the market and adjust, thereby causing their own downfall. Honda and Toyota aren't suffering and not only are many of their cars built here, but they have to pay import taxes on the ones that are manufactured overseas (which is why they built plants here--cheaper to produce them here than do it in Japan and pay taxes and shipping.

And GM is STILL pushing trucks in an economy car market...

Did you by chance read that mortgage interest rates last week dropped to the lowest level since the sixties--in the 4% range? That not only benefits home buyers. It also means that those dreaded ARMs are not going to adjust upward--and even if they did, the homeowners could get a fixed rate mortgage for a wonderfully low rate. I was in the real estate business for 16 years when rates were as high as 17.5%, and never lower than 8.5%.

Actually, Honda and Toyota ARE experiencing decreased sales too--not as much as the American companies, but some. Part of the bullshit spread by the media and America-haters in general is that Jap and Euro cars are better quality than American made. I bet YOU even believe that.

Not recognizing market trends? I saw a Toyota commercial still pushing that "economy car market" you are talking about because of "high gas prices". I doubt many people are thinking we are still in that "economy car market". Alot of them, however, are probably avoiding buying American because of the media generated negativity about the American companies.

007, I merely referred to what you said in your post you intended to do--spend half as much on Christmas shopping. As for the other paragraph, "And why do you think so many people are so worried when they, themselves, are NOT feeling the effects of economic problems? I say it's the media pushing off a bunch of bogus crap on the public. Do you have a better idea?", clearly, it's true--a very common reaction that is serving to fulfill the exact crap the media is spewing.

[GrnBay007]

"And why do you think so many people are so worried when they, themselves, are NOT feeling the effects of economic problems?

I don't know Tex. Are there people out there not feeling any effects of what's going on?

[MJZiggy]

Did you by chance read that mortgage interest rates last week dropped to the lowest level since the sixties--in the 4% range? That not only benefits home buyers. It also means that those dreaded ARMs are not going to adjust upward--and even if they did, the homeowners could get a fixed rate mortgage for a wonderfully low rate. I was in the real estate business for 16 years when rates were as high as 17.5%, and never lower than 8.5%.

Actually, Honda and Toyota ARE experiencing decreased sales too--not as much as the American companies, but some. Part of the bullshit spread by the media and America-haters in general is that Jap and Euro cars are better quality than American made. I bet YOU even believe that.

Not recognizing market trends? I saw a Toyota commercial still pushing that "economy car market" you are talking about because of "high gas prices". I doubt many people are thinking we are still in that "economy car market". Alot of them, however, are probably avoiding buying American because of the media generated negativity about the American companies.

007, I merely referred to what you said in your post you intended to do--spend half as much on Christmas shopping. As for the other paragraph, "And why do you think so many people are so worried when they, themselves, are NOT feeling the effects of economic problems? I say it's the media pushing off a bunch of bogus crap on the public. Do you have a better idea?", clearly, it's true--a very common reaction that is serving to fulfill the exact crap the media is spewing.

How nice that the mortgage rates are down. What were they when the banking system collapsed? Interest rates are low now, but how much money is there to lend?

The economy car market is not pushed by today's gas prices, but by recent trends and the possibility or probability of future gas prices.

And I've driven Ford, Chevy, Volvo Toyota and Honda recently and guess what...it's not really a contest. I also saw an accident on the highway Thanksgiving night between a VW Bug and a Ford Escort. Guess which car had the whole back end ripped off and which had the dent.

What reason does the media have to spew economic untruths? I didn't see them doing it the last 8 years. Why now? And don't tell me it's because they're America-hating leftists because leaning left or right has little to do with whether a banking collapse gets reported. Were they not to report it? Are they not to report the economic collapse in Detroit and the carmakers requesting a bailout? Exactly what ARE they allowed to print in the papers these days?

[SkinBasket]

And GM is STILL pushing trucks in an economy car market...

You're right. They should immediately shut down those production lines, send those thousands of workers home, recycle the 10s of thousands of inventory on the lots into plant pots, and never sell another truck again.

You do realize people outside of DC commuters still need trucks, right? Or maybe every contractor, farmer, builder, landscaper, utility, and construction worker should buy a Prius with attached eco-friendly wagon?

The truck market is not what got the auto industry into trouble. Shifting focus and production too heavily to a trendy SUV market, the ever increasing popularity of competitively priced, better produced "foreign" models across the spectrum, and most importantly, running an enormous welfare program for it's UAW retirees is what got them into trouble.

It's been over 20 years. You would think someone in the US auto industry would have watched Gung Ho by now and learned something from it.

[hoosier]

Like I said before....take me to your bubble.

You're arguing with someone who thinks the only reason the Packers finished 4-12 in 2005 was that Javon Walker got hurt. Tex isn't known for having a close relationship with reality.

[MJZiggy]

And GM is STILL pushing trucks in an economy car market...

You're right. They should immediately shut down those production lines, send those thousands of workers home, recycle the 10s of thousands of inventory on the lots into plant pots, and never sell another truck again.

You do realize people outside of DC commuters still need trucks, right? Or maybe every contractor, farmer, builder, landscaper, utility, and construction worker should buy a Prius with attached eco-friendly wagon?

The truck market is not what got the auto industry into trouble. Shifting focus and production too heavily to a trendy SUV market, the ever increasing popularity of competitively priced, better produced "foreign" models across the spectrum, and most importantly, running an enormous welfare program for it's UAW retirees is what got them into trouble.

It's been over 20 years. You would think someone in the US auto industry would have watched Gung Ho by now and learned something from it.

You think the trend toward smaller, more efficient vehicles started last week? They should have been adjusting to smaller vehicles years ago--and by that, I don't mean not making trucks, but like you said not keeping all their eggs in the SUV market. My mention of the truck ads was more a criticism of the fact that trucks were ALL they were offering, particularly since the demographics of the NFL viewer are changing. They're just not changing with them. I agree about the UAW as well. Greedy bastards.

[texaspackerbacker]

Like I said before....take me to your bubble.

You're arguing with someone who thinks the only reason the Packers finished 4-12 in 2005 was that Javon Walker got hurt. Tex isn't known for having a close relationship with reality.

You would actually dispute that the 4-12 '05 season was ruined by injuries?

I suppose, then, that you'd dispute that the injuries, along with other luck factors (see my numerous posts in the Packer forum) are the primary reason for this screwed up season, too.

[texaspackerbacker]

Did you by chance read that mortgage interest rates last week dropped to the lowest level since the sixties--in the 4% range? That not only benefits home buyers. It also means that those dreaded ARMs are not going to adjust upward--and even if they did, the homeowners could get a fixed rate mortgage for a wonderfully low rate. I was in the real estate business for 16 years when rates were as high as 17.5%, and never lower than 8.5%.

Actually, Honda and Toyota ARE experiencing decreased sales too--not as much as the American companies, but some. Part of the bullshit spread by the media and America-haters in general is that Jap and Euro cars are better quality than American made. I bet YOU even believe that.

Not recognizing market trends? I saw a Toyota commercial still pushing that "economy car market" you are talking about because of "high gas prices". I doubt many people are thinking we are still in that "economy car market". Alot of them, however, are probably avoiding buying American because of the media generated negativity about the American companies.

007, I merely referred to what you said in your post you intended to do--spend half as much on Christmas shopping. As for the other paragraph, "And why do you think so many people are so worried when they, themselves, are NOT feeling the effects of economic problems? I say it's the media pushing off a bunch of bogus crap on the public. Do you have a better idea?", clearly, it's true--a very common reaction that is serving to fulfill the exact crap the media is spewing.

How nice that the mortgage rates are down. What were they when the banking system collapsed? Interest rates are low now, but how much money is there to lend?

The economy car market is not pushed by today's gas prices, but by recent trends and the possibility or probability of future gas prices.

And I've driven Ford, Chevy, Volvo Toyota and Honda recently and guess what...it's not really a contest. I also saw an accident on the highway Thanksgiving night between a VW Bug and a Ford Escort. Guess which car had the whole back end ripped off and which had the dent.

What reason does the media have to spew economic untruths? I didn't see them doing it the last 8 years. Why now? And don't tell me it's because they're America-hating leftists because leaning left or right has little to do with whether a banking collapse gets reported. Were they not to report it? Are they not to report the economic collapse in Detroit and the carmakers requesting a bailout? Exactly what ARE they allowed to print in the papers these days?

I mentioned the low mortgage rates because you seemed to be making a big deal about ARMs increasing mortgage payments--which basically is NOT happening. Those ARMs are pegged to various market interest rates--all of which are so low that they are NOT triggering rate increases in the ARMs.

Also, it is a fiction that there is not plenty of mortgage money available for new buyers. Ask any realtor or mortgage provider if you don't believe me.

The same is true for vehicle financing. You can verify that with car dealers around the country--both foreign and domestic. The so-called "credit crunch" was mostly a spiteful and empty threat on the part of the banking industry if the bailout package wasn't passed. I say "empty" because there are many many smaller regional banks that didn't need and indeed, are refusing bailout funds and the attached strings.

As for big versus small and foreign versus domestic, you may prefer small economy cars, but statistically, you are in the minority in most markets--including the one we are back in now that gas prices are back down. As for foreign versus domestic, the fiction of superior foreign automotive engineering and production that has been promoted by certain elements has done wonders toward harming the American carmakers. There used to be an expression, "what's good for General Motors is good for the U.S.A.". Well, then, it follows that "what's bad for General Motors is bad for the U.S.A.". Apparently, you are a true believer in that propaganda.

Why would the media and the entertainment community promote crap like that? I would call it "America-hate". I suppose you don't buy that either. Whatever. As for the banking "crisis", I don't know. You're right, that one did seem to cross party/ideological lines. My theory is that it started as an effort to help Obama--diverting attention from security and all his other vulnerabilities, but somebody in the financial services industry saw an opportunity to cash in like never before. The elitists from both parties backed the bailout, and only House Republicans--in closer touch with the people--opposed it.

Why would the media conjure up an economic crisis now? You don't suppose a presidential election that they wanted to swing had anything to do with it? Actually, the leftist mainstream media DID spew a lot of economic untruth over the last eight years too. It just got lost in the shuffle with all the other horrible insidious crap they spewed in the systematic and highly successful effort to destroy public opinion of the Bush Administration.

[hoosier]

Like I said before....take me to your bubble.

You're arguing with someone who thinks the only reason the Packers finished 4-12 in 2005 was that Javon Walker got hurt. Tex isn't known for having a close relationship with reality.

You would actually dispute that the 4-12 '05 season was ruined by injuries?

I suppose, then, that you'd dispute that the injuries, along with other luck factors (see my numerous posts in the Packer forum) are the primary reason for this screwed up season, too.

Injuries and bad luck can't explain the difference between 13-3 and 5-8, or between 2004 and 2005. Sure, the Packers have had their share of injuries this year, but so have the Giants, who two of their top defenders (one to retirement, one to injury) before the season even started, and then had their best WR and best RB limited by injuries during the season. The injuries the Packers have suffered have hurt, but they haven't lost any irreplaceable players, and good teams have a way of overcoming those kinds of losses whereas bad teams don't. The Packers aren't a good team this year.

[Kiwon]

Re: Obama Staffers Sexually Assault Hillary Clinton!!



The Washington Post helped to "expose" this guy (Jon Favreau, Obama's chief speechwriter) and created a controversy so it makes up for it with a long puff piece on "Favs" to smooth things over with the incoming Obama administration.

Gotta keep that access.

Helping to Write History

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/17/AR2008121703903.html?g=1