Archive for August, 2011

The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index Craters: 59.2 In July To 44.5 In August–Lowest Since April 2009!

Posted on August 31, 2011. Filed under: American History, Banking, Business, Communications, Demographics, Economics, Employment, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, government, government spending, history, Homes, Inflation, Investments, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, People, Philosophy, Politics, Rants, Raves, Resources, Unemployment, Video, War, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Consumer Confidence Index, Jonathan Spector, Lynn Franco, National Debt Ceiling, The Conference Board, University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index |

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http://econintersect.com/wordpress/?p=12471

The Conference Board Reported Consumer Confidence Fell In August

“…The Conference Board reported that consumer confidence fell in August as expectations dived, and as views on future business conditions worsened, as well as jobs and income.

The organization’s consumer-confidence index fell to 44.5 in August, which is the lowest level since April 2009, from a slightly downwardly revised 59.2 in July. Economists had expected an August reading of 51.9.

According to the director of Consumer Board’s consumer research center, Lynn Franco, “A contributing factor may have been the debt ceiling discussions since the decline in confidence was well underway before the S&P
downgrade.” …”

Spector Says Consumer Confidence Reflects Leadership

Aug. 30 (Bloomberg) — Jonathan Spector, chief executive officer of the Conference Board, talks about the group’s consumer confidence survey for August and the outlook for the U.S. economy. The Conference Board’s index slumped to 44.5, the weakest since April 2009, from a revised 59.2 reading in July. Spector speaks with Matt Miller on Bloomberg Television’s “Street Smart.” (Source: Bloomberg)

Consumer Confidence Lowest in 2 Years

Morning Market Alert for August 30, 2011

August 12th 2011 CNBC Stock Market Squawk on the Street (Consumer Sentiment)

“…Retail sales may be solid but you’d never know it judging by consumer sentiment. The Reuters/University of Michigan index fell nearly nine
points to 54.9 which is just below levels during the worst of the 2008 meltdown. This is nearly a record low, next only to the Iranian hostage
crisis and oil embargo of the late 70s and early 80s. The expectations component, which is the leading component, fell more than 10 points to
45.7, again very severely depressed and near a record low. The current conditions component fell less severely, down more than six points to
69.3.

The debt-ceiling crisis and wild movements in the financial markets are very clearly not helping the consumer’s faith in the economic outlook. Hopefully, the extension of the ceiling and recent rallies for the Dow will give a boost to this report’s month-end readings. One positive is that inflation is not a risk to the outlook with one-year expectations steady for the last month at 3.4 percent with the five-year even more firmly steady at 2.9 percent. Stocks are coming off opening gains in reaction to today’s report. …”

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® Declines

“… The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had improved slightly in July, plummeted in August. The Index now stands at 44.5 (1985=100), down from 59.2 in July. The Present Situation Index decreased to 33.3 from 35.7. The Expectations Index decreased to 51.9 from 74.9 last month.

The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey®, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The
Conference Board by The Nielsen Company, a leading global provider of information and analytics around what consumers buy and watch. The cutoff date for the preliminary results was August 18th.

Says Lynn Franco, Director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center: “Consumer confidence deteriorated sharply in August, as consumers grew significantly more pessimistic about the short-term outlook. The index is now at its lowest level in more than two years (April 2009, 40.8). A contributing factor may have been the debt ceiling discussions since the decline in confidence was well underway before the S&P downgrade. Consumers’ assessment of current conditions, on the other hand, posted only a modest decline as employment conditions continue to suppress confidence.”

Consumers’ appraisal of present-day conditions weakened further in August. Consumers claiming business conditions are “bad” increased to 40.6 percent from 38.7 percent, while those claiming business conditions are “good” inched up to 13.7 percent from 13.5 percent. Consumers’ assessment of employment conditions was more pessimistic than last month. Those claiming jobs are “hard to get” increased to 49.1 percent from 44.8 percent, while those stating jobs are “plentiful” declined to 4.7 percent from 5.1 percent.

Consumers’ short-term outlook deteriorated sharply in August. Those expecting business conditions to improve over the next six months decreased to 11.8 percent from 17.9 percent, while those expecting business conditions to worsen surged to 24.6 percent from 16.1 percent. Consumers were also more pessimistic about the outlook for the job market. Those anticipating more jobs in the months ahead decreased to 11.4 percent from 16.9 percent, while those expecting fewer jobs increased to 31.5
percent from 22.2 percent. The proportion of consumers anticipating an increase in their incomes declined to 14.3 percent from 15.9 percent.

http://www.conference-board.org/data/consumerconfidence.cfm

U.S. Consumer Confidence Index (CCI

The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) is an indicator designed to measure consumer confidence, which is defined as the degree of optimism on the state of the economy that consumers are expressing through their activities of savings and spending. Global consumer confidence is not measured. Country by country analysis indicates huge variance around the globe. In an interconnected global economy, tracking international consumer confidence is a lead indicator of economic trends.^[1]

In the United States consumer confidence is issued monthly by The Conference Board, an independent economic research organization, and is based on 5,000 households. Such measurement is indicative of consumption component level of the gross domestic product. The Federal Reserve looks at the CCI when determining interest rate changes, and it also affects stock market prices.

The Consumer Confidence Index was started in 1967 and is benchmarked to 1985=100. This year was chosen because it was neither a peak nor a trough. The Index is calculated each month on the basis of a household survey of consumers’ opinions on current conditions and future expectations of the economy. Opinions on current conditions make up 40% of the index, with expectations of future conditions comprising the remaining 60%. In the glossary on its website, The Conference Board
defines the Consumer Confidence Survey as “a monthly report detailing consumer attitudes and buying intentions, with data available by age, income and region”.

Another well-established index that measures consumer confidence is the University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, run by University of Michigan‘s Institute for Social Research. …”

Calculation

In simple terms, increased consumer confidence indicates economic growth in which consumers are spending money, indicating higher consumption. Decreasing consumer confidence implies slowing economic growth, and so consumers are likely to decrease their spending. The idea is that the more confident people feel about the economy and their jobs and incomes, the more likely they are to make purchases. Declining consumer confidence is a sign of slowing economic growth and may indicate that the economy is headed into trouble.

Each month The Conference Board surveys 5,000 U.S. households. The survey consists of five questions that ask the respondents’ opinions about the following:^[2]

Current business conditions
Business conditions for the next six months
Current employment conditions
Employment conditions for the next six months
Total family income for the next six months

Survey participants are asked to answer each question as “positive”, “negative” or “neutral”. The preliminary results from the Consumer Confidence Survey are released on the last Tuesday of each month at 10am EST.

Once the data have been gathered, a proportion known as the “relative value” is calculated for each question separately. Each question’s positive responses are divided by the sum of its positive and negative responses. The relative value for each question is then compared against each relative value from 1985. This comparison of the relative values results in an “index value” for each question.

The index values for all five questions are then averaged together to form the Consumer Confidence Index; the average of index values for questions one and three form the Present Situation Index, and the average of index values for questions two, four and five form the Expectations Index. The data are calculated for the United States as a whole and for each of the country’s nine census regions.

How it is used

Manufacturers, retailers, banks and the government monitor changes in the CCI in order to factor in the data in their decision-making processes. While index changes of less than 5% are often dismissed as inconsequential, moves of 5% or more often indicate a change in the direction of the economy.

A month-on-month decreasing trend suggests consumers have a negative outlook on their ability to secure and retain good jobs. Thus, manufacturers may expect consumers to avoid retail purchases, particularly large-ticket items that require financing. Manufacturers may pare down inventories to reduce overhead and/or delay investing in new projects and facilities. Likewise, banks can anticipate a decrease in lending activity, mortgage applications and credit card use. When faced with a down-trending index, the government has a variety of options, such as issuing a tax rebate or taking other fiscal or monetary action to stimulate the economy.

Conversely, a rising trend in consumer confidence indicates improvements in consumer buying patterns. Manufacturers can increase production and hiring. Banks can expect increased demand for credit. Builders can prepare for a rise in home construction and government can anticipate improved tax revenues based on the increase in consumer spending.

Consumer Confidence Index in the United States

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consumer_Confidence_Index

University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index

The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers is a consumer confidence index published monthly by the University of Michigan and Thomson Reuters. The index is normalized to have a value of 100 in December 1964. At least 500 telephone interviews are conducted each month of a United
States sample which excludes Alaska and Hawaii. 50 core questions are asked.^[1]

The consumer confidence measures were devised in the late 1940’s by George Katona at the University of Michigan. They have now developed into an ongoing, nationally representative survey based on telephonic household interviews. The Index of Consumer Sentiment (ICS) is developed from these interviews. The Index of Consumer Expectations (a sub-index of
ICS) is included in the Leading Indicator Composite Index published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Objectives

The Index was created and still is published with the following objectives:

To assess near-time consumer attitudes on the business climate, personal finance, and spending;
To promote an understanding of, and to forecast changes in, the national economy;
To provide a means of incorporating empirical measures of consumer expectations into models of spending and saving behavior;
To gauge the economic expectations and probable future spending behavior of the consumer; and
To judge the consumer’s level of optimism/pessimism.

Inputs

The Index of Consumer Expectations seeks to find how consumers view three things:

Their own financial situation.
The short-term general economy.
The long-term general economy.

Implications

This Index has implications which can influence the following:

Stocks
Bonds
Dollar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Michigan_Consumer_Sentiment_Index

Univeristy of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index

Michigan Consumer Sentiment 4th Worst on Record

Posted on 26 August 2011 by Doug Short

“…The University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index final report for
August came in at 55.7, a slight improvement over the 54.9 preliminary
reading August 12, but this is the 4th lowest monthly final since the
inception on the series in 1798. The Briefing.com consensus expectation
was for 55.8. The two lowest months (52.7 and 51.7) were at the depths
of the 1980 recession, and the third lowest was in November 2008 during
somes of the darkest days of the Financial Crisis.

See the chart below for a long-term
perspective on this widely watched index. Because the sentiment index
has trended upward since its inception in 1978, I’ve added a linear
regression to help understand the pattern of reversion to the trend.
I’ve also highlighted recessions and included real GDP to help evaluate
the correlation between the Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index and the
broader economy. …”

http://econintersect.com/wordpress/?p=12471

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Ron Paul Gaining Momentum–Videos

Posted on August 30, 2011. Filed under: American History, Banking, Blogroll, Business, Communications, Crime, Culture, Demographics, Diasters, Economics, Education, Energy, Farming, Federal Government, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, history, Inflation, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, Natural Gas, Nuclear, Nuclear Power, Oil, People, Philosophy, Politics, Raves, Security, Strategy, Taxes, Technology, Unemployment, War, Wealth, Weapons, Wisdom | Tags: American people, Barack Obama, Debasing The Currency, Deficit Financing, Dollar Devaluation, economic policy, FEMA, fiscal policy, Gallup Poll, gold, Government Reguations, Insurance, Iran, Momentum, monetary policy, national debt, Nuclear weapons, QE3, Risk, Ron Paul, subsidies, Taxies, Time Magazine |

Ron Paul Slams FEMA & Explains Austrian Economics

Ron Paul on CNBC 08/30/11

Ron Paul: Bernanke Keeps Printing Money

Full Interview: Ron Paul on 2012, Media Blackout, Moneybomb, Income Tax, Libya & Perry

Ron Paul’s 1st Day in the White House: What Will He Do?

Ron Paul on US Foreign Policy and Relationship with Gaddafi

Ron Paul Can’t Get Any Respect

By Alex Altman

“…Texas Congressman Ron Paul is running within
2 points of Barack Obama in this week’s Gallup poll. In a Rasmussen survey,
he trails by 1 point. He’s rising against his primary rivals and raking in money, netting
$1.8 million in a trademark “money bomb” last weekend to mark his 76th birthday.
And yet, as I write in a story for the Sept. 5 issue of TIME (available to subscribers on tablets and the Web), his
candidacy isn’t earning plaudits from the pundit class, whose virtual coverage
blackout of Paul’s second-place finish in the straw poll in Ames, Iowa, prompted
Jon Stewart to wonder why the media was treating Paul’s campaign like “the 13th
floor of a hotel.”

On the campaign trail in New Hampshire, Paul harvests these slights as fuel
for his revolution. “The media coverage on Sunday morning was less than perfect
for us,” he told the crowd last week at the opening of his campaign headquarters
in Concord, griping about how he was stonewalled from speaking slots on morning
news shows after the straw poll. “But you know what? In this day and age, they
just aren’t as relevant as they think they are.” The Rodney Dangerfield routine
is a crowd pleaser; the media makes a reliable target. And in some ways, he has
a valid complaint.

TIME Magazine Pens Five Page Spread To Convince America Ron Paul Can’t Win

Writer states “Paul isn’t really running for President, at least not entirely.”

Steve Watson

“…So Paul’s ideas do not resonate? One commenter puts Altman’s claims into perspective:

Ron Paul can’t win because he appeals to traditional conservatives who believe in small government, to leftists who believe in personal liberty, to ‘blue’ democrats who believe Obama has betrayed the party, to independents who voted for Obama but are disgusted with the Hopey-Changy that never happened, by gays who don’t want government dictating marriage rules, by straights who don’t want to be forced to live by a ‘gay agenda’. Gee…left, right, young, old, conservative, liberal, gay, straight…with all that support, he doesn’t have a chance!

Altman then takes a leap into Orwellian territory by suggesting that “Paul isn’t really running for President, at least not entirely.”

Last time I checked, Paul was placed third in Gallup’s national presidential preference poll, and is running at an almost dead heat with Obama in the popularity stakes.

It has been an average week as far as Ron Paul appearances on the news networks are concerned. He’s been on CNN a couple of times, Fox News a couple of times and appeared on CNBC also. There have also been more print media stories this week, primarily, and rather paradoxically, reporting the fact that the media is not covering Ron Paul.

So the fact is that Ron Paul is no longer being completely ignored by the media. However, as Time has made it all too obvious, he is still being marginalized and ridiculed.

When the time is right for them, the media will simply ignore Paul again – this is the stark reality that the Congressman’s campaign and his followers have to deal with and overcome. …”

http://www.prisonplanet.com/time-magazine-pens-five-page-spread-to-convince-america-ron-paul-cant-win.html

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Remembering The 9/11 First Responders–Videos

Posted on August 29, 2011. Filed under: Blogroll, Communications, Education, government, government spending, Language, Law, liberty, Life, media, People, Philosophy, Quotations, Raves, Video, War, Wisdom | Tags: 9/11, Emergency Medical Technician, EMT, FDNY, Firemen, First Responders, Hook and Ladder 8, Ladder 8, LIEUTENANT VINCENT G. HALLORAN, New York Fire Department, Policemen, Project 2996, Remembering The 9/11 First Reponders, September 11 2001, Twin Towers, Vincent Halloran, world trade center |

North Moore and Varick co-named LIEUTENANT VINCENT G. HALLORAN STREET

Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sheenachi/3270140277/

November 11, 2001

“I live near Union Square, the site of so many posters in the wake of the WTC tragedy. All of them quickly became a blur in my mind, all except one attached to a fence near East 16th Street. It read, “Lt. Vincent Halloran, NYFD. Hang On, Vinny.” That was it. No photograph, no decorations, just a simple handdrawn poster that will remain in my memory forever. I never knowingly met Lt. Halloran, of blessed memory, but from now on whenever I need some self-encouragement, his name and “Hang On, Vinny” will get me focused on the task at hand. May his memory be a blessing for his entire family and fellow firemen.”

~ Alan Forman, nyc, New York

Source: Guest Book, http://www.legacy.com/guestbook/guestbook-entry-print.aspx?n=vincent-halloran&pid=128619

There is a street in lower Manhattan next to the Hook and Ladder 8 firehouse at 14 North Moore and Varick co-named after Lieutenant Vincent G. Halloran–a first responder.

First responders are emergency service personnel whose job requires them being one of the first on the scene of fires, medical emergencies or large-scale disasters. They are responsible for the protection and preservation of life and property. First responders include firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical technicians or ambulance technicians.

When thousands were fleeing from the burning Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, the first responders were running toward the fires to help people evacuate from the buildings and extinguish the fires.

The street named after one of 9/11′s first responders honors his supreme sacrifice and that of 343 New York City Fire Department (FDNY) firemen, 23 New York City Police Department officers, 37 Port of Authority Police officers and 15 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who died on September 11, 2011. In addition it honors the service of all the 9/11 first responders including about 2,000 who were injured that day.

On Sept. 5, 2011 Lieutenant Halloran had completed his twentieth year of service with the New York City Fire Department.

FDNY Hook & Ladder 8 Firehouse at 14 North Moore

A few days later on Sept. 11 Halloran led Ladder 8 into the North Tower of the World Trade Center to assist with the evacuation of the building.

After the South Tower collapsed, the order was given to evacuate the North Tower and the Ladder 8 firemen were ordered out.

“When the order came for Ladder 8 to get out of the building, he was on the 30th floor,” said Lt. Larry Mack. “Ladder 8 made it out, but he probably stopped to help someone.” It was a tragic “last act of compassion” for a man known around the firehouse as someone who would go the extra mile, even for a stranger, Mack said.

Source: http://www.tribecatrib.com/newsmay04/street-naming.htm

Lt. Vincent G. Halloran

Credit: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/images/full-size/halloran.vincent.jpg

FDNY Hook & Ladder 8 Firehouse DedicationFDNY Hook & Ladder Engine 8 Dedication

Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/flickr4jazz/4060792844/

Credit: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/images/full-size/halloran.vincent.jpg

Lieutenant Halloran was 43 and the father of five boys Jake, Connor, Aidan, Kieran and Declan.

A sixth child, Phaelan, his only daughter, was born to his wife, Marie Halloran, on what would have been the couple’s sixteenth wedding anniversary in May 2002.

In a New York Times Dec. 29, 2001 profile of Lt. Halloran, his wife Marie reflecting on Vinnie said it best, “What can I say, he just loved kids.”

In a Sept. 2006 online story posted at http://www.LoHud.com entitled Firefighter’s family learns to keep going, Marie Halloran said, “We try to dwell on what we have, not what we lost. I really do believe you have to live your life so you don’t have regrets. Be kind to others, help others, give back. Be a good person. If I knew what was going to happen, I would not remake any decision.”

On the tenth anniversary of 9/11 we honor the memory of all the 9/11 first responders as well as those who tragically died that day.

Two years ago I learned of Lieutenant Halloran and his family by participating in Project 2,996.

I encourage others to become involved with Project 2,996 on this the ten-year anniversary of 9/11:

“We Remember…

On September 11, 2001 almost 3,000 of the world’s citizens were brutally, and publicly, murdered. We all cried,
and we all swore that we’d never forget. But a few years later I realized that I knew nothing about those people who were doing nothing more than living their lives. In 2006 I asked other bloggers if they thought it would be a good idea
to take the time to learn about the victims and try to keep their individual memories alive. The response I got was overwhelming. And Project 2,996 is the result. …”

Source: http://project2996.wordpress.com/

FDNY Ladder 8

FDNY – Hook & Ladder 8 In The House – 5/9/11

Ten Conservative Principles

By Russell Kirk

First, the conservative believes that there exists an enduring moral order.

Second, the conservative adheres to custom, convention, and continuity.

Third, conservatives believe in what may be called the principle of prescription.

Fourth, conservatives are guided by their principle of prudence.

Fifth, conservatives pay attention to the principle of variety.

Sixth, conservatives are chastened by their principle of imperfectability

Seventh, conservatives are persuaded that freedom and property are closely linked.

Eighth, conservatives uphold voluntary community, quite as they oppose involuntary collectivism.

Ninth, the conservative perceives the need for prudent restraints upon power and upon human passions.

Tenth, the thinking conservative understands that permanence and change must be recognized and reconciled in a vigorous society.

http://www.kirkcenter.org/index.php/detail/ten-conservative-principles/

“One must bear in mind that the expansion of federal activity is a form of eating for politicians.”

~William F. Buckley, Jr.

Background Articles and Videos

Firing Line: Ron Paul and William F. Buckley (1988) – Part 1 of 4

Firing Line: Ron Paul and William F. Buckley (1988) – Part 2 of 4

Firing Line: Ron Paul and William F. Buckley (1988) – Part 3 of 4

Firing Line: Ron Paul and William F. Buckley (1988) – Part 4 of 4

Jack Hunter responds to American Spectator smears: Ron Paul and Conservatism

“…In a recent column, Jeffrey Lord warned that Ron Paul’s presidential bid was secretly a “Neoliberal Reeducation Campaign.” Writes Lord: “the Paul campaign is not just a campaign for president. This is a campaign — a serious campaign — to re-educate the American people…” For Lord, Paul’s alleged reeducation mission means passing off liberal ideas as conservative. This is amusing — because this is precisely what self-described conservatives of Lord’s ilk have been doing for years.

Imagine that there never was a President George W. Bush, and when Bill Clinton left the White House he was immediately replaced with Barack Obama. Now imagine Obama carried out the exact same agenda as Bush — Medicare Plan D, No Child Left Behind, the Iraq and Afghanistan wars — the whole works. Would conservatives have generally supported Obama as they did Bush — or would they have rightly criticized the most big government president in our history at that time?

Despite his glaringly statist record, did Lord ever consider Bush a “neo-liberal”? …”

http://www.dailypaul.com/176098/jack-hunters-responds-to-american-spectator-smears-ron-paul-and-conservatism-an-exchange

Ron Paul and Conservatism: An Exchange

“…Arguably the loudest conservative critic of Bush was Ron Paul, and this was certainly true during the 2008 election. Yet, as we head toward 2012, many presidential candidates are sounding a lot like Paul. Would Rick Perry and Newt Gingrich be attacking the Federal Reserve if running in 2008? Would Michele Bachmann be questioning the Libyan intervention if carried out by Bush? Would Mitt Romney now be saying it is not the United States military’s role to fight for the independence of other nations — the exact opposite of what he said about our role in Iraq in 2008?

Which brings us to Lord’s main beef with Paul: foreign policy.

Woodrow Wilson is the president most associated with early 20th century liberalism, second only to Franklin Roosevelt. During the Bush years, every self-described conservative who believed, as Wilson did, that it was America’s mission to “make the world safe for democracy” spoke the language, however unknowingly, of an earlier left-wing liberalism. William F. Buckley and George Will explained in a 2005 interview:

WILL: Today, we have a very different kind of foreign policy. It’s called Wilsonian. And the premise of the Bush doctrine is that America must spread democracy, because our national security depends upon it. And America can spread democracy. It knows how. It can engage in national building. This is conservative or not?

BUCKLEY: It’s not at all conservative. It’s anything but conservative…

In 2006, The American Spectator‘s Neal Freeman also described the Bush administration’s post 9/11 liberalism: “the Bush administration began to rumble about ‘regime change’ and ‘going it alone,’ and ‘building a democratic Iraq.’ Call this 9/12 approach whatever you will — utopian, neoconservative, Wilsonian — it could not fairly be characterized as ‘conservative.”

Reflecting a more conventional Republican view likely in line with Lord’s, talk host Sean Hannity said in 2009: “You can’t deny that George Bush was conservative on national security issues.” Well, at varying times, Bill Buckley, George Will, Robert Novak, Jack Kemp, Pat Buchanan, Paul Weyrich and many other conservatives did indeed deny that Bush’s foreign policy was conservative.

So did Ron Paul.

So did some of the most prominent figures in the history of American conservatism — and that’s even leaving out the libertarians. Traditionalists such as Russell Kirk, Richard Weaver and Robert Nisbet were some of the heaviest intellectual hitters at early National Review and each held foreign policy views far closer to what Paul believes than what today’s Republican hawks try to portray as conservatism.

Ronald Reagan even won the Cold War with a foreign policy marginally closer to Paul’s cautious approach than what Bush represented, or as former chairman of the American Conservative Union David Keene notes: “Reagan resorted to military force far less often than many of those who came before him or who have since occupied the Oval Office. . . . After the (1983) assault on the Marine barracks in Lebanon, it was questioning the wisdom of U.S. involvement that led Reagan to withdraw our troops rather than dig in. He found no good strategic reason to give our regional enemies inviting U.S. targets. Can one imagine one of today’s neoconservative absolutists backing away from any fight anywhere?”

No, one can’t imagine it. In fact, if using the definition of 2008 Republican presidential nominee and hardline neoconservative John McCain — Reagan would be considered an “isolationist.”

Ah, but Lord thinks anyone who uses the term “neoconservative” must be anti-Semitic. Is David Keene anti-Semitic? When Ann Coulter asks “Didn’t liberals warn us that neoconservatives want permanent war” is she being anti-Semitic? Is George Will anti-Semitic for writing that the “most magnificently misnamed neoconservatives are the most radical people in this town.”…”

http://spectator.org/archives/2011/08/24/ron-paul-and-conservative-reed#

Ron Paul and the Neoliberal Reeducation Campaign

By Jeffrey Lord on 8.23.11 @ 6:09AM

“…Neoliberals and Quasi-Cons:

When it comes to foreign policy, Ron Paul and his supporters are not conservatives.

This is important to understand when one realizes that Paul’s views are, self-described, “non-interventionist.”

The fact that he has been allowed to get away with pretending to conservatism on this score is merely reflective of journalists who, for whatever reason, are simply unfamiliar with American history. Ironically, it is precisely because the Paul campaign has not been thoroughly covered that no one pays attention to the historical paternity of what the candidate is saying.

There is no great sin in Paul’s non-interventionist stance (or “isolationist” stance as his critics would have it). There have been American politicians aplenty throughout American history, particularly in the 20th century, who believed precisely as Paul and his enthusiasts do right now. (Paul touts his admiration for the Founding Fathers, but even that is very selective. James Monroe of Monroe Doctrine fame was a considerable interventionist, Washington as a general invaded Canada, and Alexander Hamilton gave rise to Paul’s idea of evil spawn — the Federal Reserve. Interventionists of all types have been with us right from the start.)

The deception — and it is a considerable deception — is that almost to a person those prominent pre-Ron Paul non-interventionist “Paulist” politicians of the 20th century were overwhelmingly not conservatives at all. They were men of the left. The far left.

From three-time Democratic presidential nominee and Woodrow Wilson Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan to powerful Montana Democratic Senator Burton K. Wheeler to FDR’s ex-vice presidential nominee Henry Wallace to the 1968 anti-war presidential candidacy of Minnesota Democratic Senator Eugene McCarthy to 1972 Democratic presidential nominee (and Henry Wallace delegate in 1948) George McGovern, non-interventionists have held prominent positions in the American Left that was and is the Democratic Party.

But of particular interest, and here is where the deception by Paulists is so considerable, the Ron Paul view of foreign policy has been the cornerstone of Republican liberals and progressives. Those who, using current political terminology, would be called the RINOs (Republican In Name Only) of their day.

Specifically this included the following prominent leaders of the non-interventionist/isolationist camp:

• Liberal Republican William Borah, the Senator from Idaho
• Liberal Republican George Norris, the Congressman and Senator from Nebraska
• Liberal Republican Gerald Nye, the Senator from North Dakota
• Liberal Republican Robert LaFollette Sr., the Senator from Wisconsin
• Liberal Republican Robert LaFollette Jr., the Senator from Wisconsin

To go back and re-read the arguments of these prominent GOP liberals as to why America should not intervene in World War I or World War II, striking dated references, and one would think one were reading the latest Ron Paul press release. George Norris and LaFollette Sr. were both vocal opponents of World War I, for instance, blaming “greed” (LaFollette) and “munition” makers, the early 20th century version of Paul’s attacks on “neoconservatives” or the military-industrial complex. …”

http://spectator.org/archives/2011/08/23/ron-paul-and-the-neoliberal-re

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U.S. Economy On The Verge Of A Recession–Second Quarter GDP Growth Rate Revised Down From 1.3% to 1.0%–Bernanke Advocates Fiscal Stimulus–No QE3 For Now–Consumer Confidence Craters–Videos

Posted on August 26, 2011. Filed under: American History, Banking, Blogroll, Communications, Demographics, Economics, Education, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, government, history, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, People, Philosophy, Politics, Public Sector, Raves, Unemployment, Unions, Video, War, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Ben Bernanke, Bernanke, Consumer confidence, depression, Double Dip Recession, Economists, Economy, Gross Domestic Product, Growth of GDP, Hassett, Jackson Hole Speech, Joe Stiglitz, Judge Napolitano, Mark Zandi, monetary policy, No QE3, Peter Schiff, QE3, QE4, Recession, Schiff, Semmens, Spence, Stapley, Stigliz, The Conference Board, The Fed, The Federal Reserve System |

Consumer Confidence Lowest in 2 Years

Morning Market Alert for August 30, 2011

Goodfriend the Monetarist – QE3 will destroy the Fed’s balance sheet

Ron Paul Slams FEMA & Explains Austrian Economics

Judge Napolitano: I Still Want Ron Paul

Ron Paul: Bernanke Keeps Printing Money

Fed should target longer-term debt, QE3: Moody’s Zandi

Stiglitz says we need 3% to 4% growth to get out of jobs deficit, not happening any time soon.

Double-Dip Recession a Greater Risk Than Inflation?

No QE3 from Bernanke

Money and Markets TV – August 26, 2011

Stapley Says Bernanke Signaling Limits to Fed Policy

U.S. Economy Grew at 1% Annual Pace in Second Quarter

Nobel Laureate Spence Sees 50% Chance of Global Slump

Bernanke Says Fed Has Stimulus Tools, Doesn’t Signal Use

Hassett Says Fed’s Bernanke `Crying for Help’ in Speech

Analysis: No QE3 from Bernanke at Jackson Hole

The Bernanke Speech: 2010 vs 2011 and Market Impact

Morning Market Alert for August 26, 2011

Semmens Doesn’t Expect Bernanke to Announce QE3 Today

Inside the News: Greek debt, Bernanke speech cap sentiment

Peter Schiff “Bernanke Is Gonna Keep Printing Money! That’s All He Knows!”

A U.S. Double-dip Recession Not Likely…Fed’s Hoenig Says!

Background Articles and Videos

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® Declines

30 Aug. 2011

“…The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index®, which had improved slightly in July, plummeted in August. The Index now stands at 44.5 (1985=100), down from 59.2 in July. The Present Situation Index decreased to 33.3 from 35.7. The Expectations Index decreased to 51.9 from 74.9 last month.

The monthly Consumer Confidence Survey®, based on a probability-design random sample, is conducted for The Conference Board by The Nielsen Company, a leading global provider of information and analytics around what consumers buy and watch. The cutoff date for the preliminary results was August 18th.

http://www.conference-board.org/data/consumerconfidence.cfm

Consumer confidence plunges to lowest level since Great Recession

By Annalyn Censky

“…Americans are now as pessimistic about the U.S. economy as they were in the middle of the Great Recession.

A key reading on consumer confidence plunged in August, to its lowest level since April 2009. The Conference Board, a New York-based business research group, said its Consumer Confidence Index for August fell to 44.5, down from 59.2 in July.

The gloomy outlook came as Congress allowed its debt ceiling debates to drag on until nearly the last minute and Standard & Poor’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating earlier in the month. At the same time, consumers were also being weighed down by 9.1% unemployment, a roller-coaster month for stocks and a still-distressed real estate market.

According to the latest index, consumers grew more pessimistic not only about the present-day economy, but also about their future prospects.

The so-called Expectations Index took a 23-point dive, falling to 51.9 from 74.9 in July. It marked the largest point drop since the Great Recession’s heyday.

About 49% of consumers said jobs were “hard to get.” Only 11.8% said they expect business conditions to improve over the next six months, and 24.6% said they expect conditions to worsen.

The Consumer Confidence numbers are based on a survey of 5,000 U.S. households and are closely watched because consumer spending makes up 70% of the nation’s economic activity. …”

http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/30/news/economy/consumer_confidence/

Chairman Ben S. Bernanke

At the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Economic Symposium, Jackson Hole, Wyoming

August 26, 2011

The Near- and Longer-Term Prospects for the U.S. Economy

Good morning. As always, thanks are due to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City for organizing this conference. This year’s topic, long-term economic growth, is indeed pertinent–as has so often been the case at this symposium in past years. In particular, the financial crisis and the subsequent slow recovery have caused some to question whether the United States, notwithstanding its long-term record of vigorous economic growth, might not now be facing a prolonged period of stagnation, regardless of its public policy choices. Might not the very slow pace of economic expansion of the past few years, not only in the United States but also in a number of other advanced economies, morph into something far more long-lasting?

I can certainly appreciate these concerns and am fully aware of the challenges that we face in restoring economic and financial conditions conducive to healthy growth, some of which I will comment on today. With respect to longer-run prospects, however, my own view is more optimistic. As I will discuss, although important problems certainly exist, the growth fundamentals of the United States do not appear to have been permanently altered by the shocks of the past four years. It may take some time, but we can reasonably expect to see a return to growth rates and employment levels consistent with those underlying fundamentals. In the interim, however, the challenges for U.S. economic policymakers are twofold: first, to help our economy further recover from the crisis and the ensuing recession, and second, to do so in a way that will allow the economy to realize its longer-term growth potential. Economic policies should be evaluated in light of both of those objectives.

This morning I will offer some thoughts on why the pace of recovery in the United States has, for the most part, proved disappointing thus far, and I will discuss the Federal Reserve’s policy response. I will then turn briefly to the longer-term prospects of our economy and the need for our country’s economic policies to be effective from both a shorter-term and longer-term perspective.

Near-Term Prospects for the Economy and Policy
In discussing the prospects for the economy and for policy in the near term, it bears recalling briefly how we got here. The financial crisis that gripped global markets in 2008 and 2009 was more severe than any since the Great Depression. Economic policymakers around the world saw the mounting risks of a global financial meltdown in the fall of 2008 and understood the extraordinarily dire economic consequences that such an event could have. As I have described in previous remarks at this forum, governments and central banks worked forcefully and in close coordination to avert the looming collapse. The actions to stabilize the financial system were accompanied, both in the United States and abroad, by substantial monetary and fiscal stimulus. But notwithstanding these strong and concerted efforts, severe damage to the global economy could not be avoided. The freezing of credit, the sharp drops in asset prices, dysfunction in financial markets, and the resulting blows to confidence sent global production and trade into free fall in late 2008 and early 2009.

We meet here today almost exactly three years since the beginning of the most intense phase of the financial crisis and a bit more than two years since the National Bureau of Economic Research’s date for the start of the economic recovery. Where do we stand?

There have been some positive developments over the past few years, particularly when considered in the light of economic prospects as viewed at the depth of the crisis. Overall, the global economy has seen significant growth, led by the emerging-market economies. In the United States, a cyclical recovery, though a modest one by historical standards, is in its ninth quarter. In the financial sphere, the U.S. banking system is generally much healthier now, with banks holding substantially more capital. Credit availability from banks has improved, though it remains tight in categories–such as small business lending–in which the balance sheets of potential borrowers remain impaired. Companies with access to the public bond markets have had no difficulty obtaining credit on favorable terms. Importantly, structural reform is moving forward in the financial sector, with ambitious domestic and international efforts underway to enhance the capital and liquidity of banks, especially the most systemically important banks; to improve risk management and transparency; to strengthen market infrastructure; and to introduce a more systemic, or macroprudential, approach to financial regulation and supervision.

In the broader economy, manufacturing production in the United States has risen nearly 15 percent since its trough, driven substantially by growth in exports. Indeed, the U.S. trade deficit has been notably lower recently than it was before the crisis, reflecting in part the improved competitiveness of U.S. goods and services. Business investment in equipment and software has continued to expand, and productivity gains in some industries have been impressive, though new data have reduced estimates of overall productivity improvement in recent years. Households also have made some progress in repairing their balance sheets–saving more, borrowing less, and reducing their burdens of interest payments and debt. Commodity prices have come off their highs, which will reduce the cost pressures facing businesses and help increase household purchasing power.

Notwithstanding these more positive developments, however, it is clear that the recovery from the crisis has been much less robust than we had hoped. From the latest comprehensive revisions to the national accounts as well as the most recent estimates of growth in the first half of this year, we have learned that the recession was even deeper and the recovery even weaker than we had thought; indeed, aggregate output in the United States still has not returned to the level that it attained before the crisis. Importantly, economic growth has for the most part been at rates insufficient to achieve sustained reductions in unemployment, which has recently been fluctuating a bit above 9 percent. Temporary factors, including the effects of the run-up in commodity prices on consumer and business budgets and the effect of the Japanese disaster on global supply chains and production, were part of the reason for the weak performance of the economy in the first half of 2011; accordingly, growth in the second half looks likely to improve as their influence recedes. However, the incoming data suggest that other, more persistent factors also have been at work.

Why has the recovery from the crisis been so slow and erratic? Historically, recessions have typically sowed the seeds of their own recoveries as reduced spending on investment, housing, and consumer durables generates pent-up demand. As the business cycle bottoms out and confidence returns, this pent-up demand, often augmented by the effects of stimulative monetary and fiscal policies, is met through increased production and hiring. Increased production in turn boosts business revenues and household incomes and provides further impetus to business and household spending. Improving income prospects and balance sheets also make households and businesses more creditworthy, and financial institutions become more willing to lend. Normally, these developments create a virtuous circle of rising incomes and profits, more supportive financial and credit conditions, and lower uncertainty, allowing the process of recovery to develop momentum.

These restorative forces are at work today, and they will continue to promote recovery over time. Unfortunately, the recession, besides being extraordinarily severe as well as global in scope, was also unusual in being associated with both a very deep slump in the housing market and a historic financial crisis. These two features of the downturn, individually and in combination, have acted to slow the natural recovery process.

Notably, the housing sector has been a significant driver of recovery from most recessions in the United States since World War II, but this time–with an overhang of distressed and foreclosed properties, tight credit conditions for builders and potential homebuyers, and ongoing concerns by both potential borrowers and lenders about continued house price declines–the rate of new home construction has remained at less than one-third of its pre-crisis level. The low level of construction has implications not only for builders but for providers of a wide range of goods and services related to housing and homebuilding. Moreover, even as tight credit for some borrowers has been one of the factors restraining housing recovery, the weakness of the housing sector has in turn had adverse effects on financial markets and on the flow of credit. For example, the sharp declines in house prices in some areas have left many homeowners “underwater” on their mortgages, creating financial hardship for households and, through their effects on rates of mortgage delinquency and default, stress for financial institutions as well. Financial pressures on financial institutions and households have contributed, in turn, to greater caution in the extension of credit and to slower growth in consumer spending.

I have already noted the central role of the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 in sparking the recession. As I also noted, a great deal has been done and is being done to address the causes and effects of the crisis, including a substantial program of financial reform, and conditions in the U.S. banking system and financial markets have improved significantly overall. Nevertheless, financial stress has been and continues to be a significant drag on the recovery, both here and abroad. Bouts of sharp volatility and risk aversion in markets have recently re-emerged in reaction to concerns about both European sovereign debts and developments related to the U.S. fiscal situation, including the recent downgrade of the U.S. long-term credit rating by one of the major rating agencies and the controversy concerning the raising of the U.S. federal debt ceiling. It is difficult to judge by how much these developments have affected economic activity thus far, but there seems little doubt that they have hurt household and business confidence and that they pose ongoing risks to growth. The Federal Reserve continues to monitor developments in financial markets and institutions closely and is in frequent contact with policymakers in Europe and elsewhere.

Monetary policy must be responsive to changes in the economy and, in particular, to the outlook for growth and inflation. As I mentioned earlier, the recent data have indicated that economic growth during the first half of this year was considerably slower than the Federal Open Market Committee had been expecting, and that temporary factors can account for only a portion of the economic weakness that we have observed. Consequently, although we expect a moderate recovery to continue and indeed to strengthen over time, the Committee has marked down its outlook for the likely pace of growth over coming quarters. With commodity prices and other import prices moderating and with longer-term inflation expectations remaining stable, we expect inflation to settle, over coming quarters, at levels at or below the rate of 2 percent, or a bit less, that most Committee participants view as being consistent with our dual mandate.

In light of its current outlook, the Committee recently decided to provide more specific forward guidance about its expectations for the future path of the federal funds rate. In particular, in the statement following our meeting earlier this month, we indicated that economic conditions–including low rates of resource utilization and a subdued outlook for inflation over the medium run–are likely to warrant exceptionally low levels for the federal funds rate at least through mid-2013. That is, in what the Committee judges to be the most likely scenarios for resource utilization and inflation in the medium term, the target for the federal funds rate would be held at its current low levels for at least two more years.

In addition to refining our forward guidance, the Federal Reserve has a range of tools that could be used to provide additional monetary stimulus. We discussed the relative merits and costs of such tools at our August meeting. We will continue to consider those and other pertinent issues, including of course economic and financial developments, at our meeting in September, which has been scheduled for two days (the 20th and the 21st) instead of one to allow a fuller discussion. The Committee will continue to assess the economic outlook in light of incoming information and is prepared to employ its tools as appropriate to promote a stronger economic recovery in a context of price stability.

Economic Policy and Longer-Term Growth in the United States
The financial crisis and its aftermath have posed severe challenges around the globe, particularly in the advanced industrial economies. Thus far I have reviewed some of those challenges, offered some diagnoses for the slow economic recovery in the United States, and briefly discussed the policy response by the Federal Reserve. However, this conference is focused on longer-run economic growth, and appropriately so, given the fundamental importance of long-term growth rates in the determination of living standards. In that spirit, let me turn now to a brief discussion of the longer-run prospects for the U.S. economy and the role of economic policy in shaping those prospects.

Notwithstanding the severe difficulties we currently face, I do not expect the long-run growth potential of the U.S. economy to be materially affected by the crisis and the recession if–and I stress if–our country takes the necessary steps to secure that outcome. Over the medium term, housing activity will stabilize and begin to grow again, if for no other reason than that ongoing population growth and household formation will ultimately demand it. Good, proactive housing policies could help speed that process. Financial markets and institutions have already made considerable progress toward normalization, and I anticipate that the financial sector will continue to adapt to ongoing reforms while still performing its vital intermediation functions. Households will continue to strengthen their balance sheets, a process that will be sped up considerably if the recovery accelerates but that will move forward in any case. Businesses will continue to invest in new capital, adopt new technologies, and build on the productivity gains of the past several years. I have confidence that our European colleagues fully appreciate what is at stake in the difficult issues they are now confronting and that, over time, they will take all necessary and appropriate steps to address those issues effectively and comprehensively.

This economic healing will take a while, and there may be setbacks along the way. Moreover, we will need to remain alert to risks to the recovery, including financial risks. However, with one possible exception on which I will elaborate in a moment, the healing process should not leave major scars. Notwithstanding the trauma of the crisis and the recession, the U.S. economy remains the largest in the world, with a highly diverse mix of industries and a degree of international competitiveness that, if anything, has improved in recent years. Our economy retains its traditional advantages of a strong market orientation, a robust entrepreneurial culture, and flexible capital and labor markets. And our country remains a technological leader, with many of the world’s leading research universities and the highest spending on research and development of any nation.

Of course, the United States faces many growth challenges. Our population is aging, like those of many other advanced economies, and our society will have to adapt over time to an older workforce. Our K-12 educational system, despite considerable strengths, poorly serves a substantial portion of our population. The costs of health care in the United States are the highest in the world, without fully commensurate results in terms of health outcomes. But all of these long-term issues were well known before the crisis; efforts to address these problems have been ongoing, and these efforts will continue and, I hope, intensify.

The quality of economic policymaking in the United States will heavily influence the nation’s longer-term prospects. To allow the economy to grow at its full potential, policymakers must work to promote macroeconomic and financial stability; adopt effective tax, trade, and regulatory policies; foster the development of a skilled workforce; encourage productive investment, both private and public; and provide appropriate support for research and development and for the adoption of new technologies.

The Federal Reserve has a role in promoting the longer-term performance of the economy. Most importantly, monetary policy that ensures that inflation remains low and stable over time contributes to long-run macroeconomic and financial stability. Low and stable inflation improves the functioning of markets, making them more effective at allocating resources; and it allows households and businesses to plan for the future without having to be unduly concerned with unpredictable movements in the general level of prices. The Federal Reserve also fosters macroeconomic and financial stability in its role as a financial regulator, a monitor of overall financial stability, and a liquidity provider of last resort.

Normally, monetary or fiscal policies aimed primarily at promoting a faster pace of economic recovery in the near term would not be expected to significantly affect the longer-term performance of the economy. However, current circumstances may be an exception to that standard view–the exception to which I alluded earlier. Our economy is suffering today from an extraordinarily high level of long-term unemployment, with nearly half of the unemployed having been out of work for more than six months. Under these unusual circumstances, policies that promote a stronger recovery in the near term may serve longer-term objectives as well. In the short term, putting people back to work reduces the hardships inflicted by difficult economic times and helps ensure that our economy is producing at its full potential rather than leaving productive resources fallow. In the longer term, minimizing the duration of unemployment supports a healthy economy by avoiding some of the erosion of skills and loss of attachment to the labor force that is often associated with long-term unemployment.

Notwithstanding this observation, which adds urgency to the need to achieve a cyclical recovery in employment, most of the economic policies that support robust economic growth in the long run are outside the province of the central bank. We have heard a great deal lately about federal fiscal policy in the United States, so I will close with some thoughts on that topic, focusing on the role of fiscal policy in promoting stability and growth.

To achieve economic and financial stability, U.S. fiscal policy must be placed on a sustainable path that ensures that debt relative to national income is at least stable or, preferably, declining over time. As I have emphasized on previous occasions, without significant policy changes, the finances of the federal government will inevitably spiral out of control, risking severe economic and financial damage.¹ The increasing fiscal burden that will be associated with the aging of the population and the ongoing rise in the costs of health care make prompt and decisive action in this area all the more critical.

Although the issue of fiscal sustainability must urgently be addressed, fiscal policymakers should not, as a consequence, disregard the fragility of the current economic recovery. Fortunately, the two goals of achieving fiscal sustainability–which is the result of responsible policies set in place for the longer term–and avoiding the creation of fiscal headwinds for the current recovery are not incompatible. Acting now to put in place a credible plan for reducing future deficits over the longer term, while being attentive to the implications of fiscal choices for the recovery in the near term, can help serve both objectives.

Fiscal policymakers can also promote stronger economic performance through the design of tax policies and spending programs. To the fullest extent possible, our nation’s tax and spending policies should increase incentives to work and to save, encourage investments in the skills of our workforce, stimulate private capital formation, promote research and development, and provide necessary public infrastructure. We cannot expect our economy to grow its way out of our fiscal imbalances, but a more productive economy will ease the tradeoffs that we face.

Finally, and perhaps most challenging, the country would be well served by a better process for making fiscal decisions. The negotiations that took place over the summer disrupted financial markets and probably the economy as well, and similar events in the future could, over time, seriously jeopardize the willingness of investors around the world to hold U.S. financial assets or to make direct investments in job-creating U.S. businesses. Although details would have to be negotiated, fiscal policymakers could consider developing a more effective process that sets clear and transparent budget goals, together with budget mechanisms to establish the credibility of those goals. Of course, formal budget goals and mechanisms do not replace the need for fiscal policymakers to make the difficult choices that are needed to put the country’s fiscal house in order, which means that public understanding of and support for the goals of fiscal policy are crucial.

Economic policymakers face a range of difficult decisions, relating to both the short-run and long-run challenges we face. I have no doubt, however, that those challenges can be met, and that the fundamental strengths of our economy will ultimately reassert themselves. The Federal Reserve will certainly do all that it can to help restore high rates of growth and employment in a context of price stability.

1. See Ben S. Bernanke (2011), “Fiscal Sustainability,” speech delivered at the Annual Conference of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Washington, June 14.

http://federalreserve.gov/newsevents/speech/bernanke20110826a.htm

Economic Growth Slows to Crawl, GDP Increase at 1%

By: Reuters

“…Gross domestic product growth rose at annual rate of 1.0 percent the Commerce Department said, a downward revision of its prior estimate of 1.3 percent. It also said after-tax corporate profits rose at the fastest pace in a year.

Economists had expected output growth to be revised down to 1.1 percent. In the first quarter, the economy advanced just 0.4 percent. The government’s second GDP estimate for the quarter confirmed growth almost stalled in the first six months of this year.

The United States is on a recession watch after a massive sell-off in the stock market knocked down consumer and business sentiment. The plunge in share prices followed Standard & Poor’s decision to strip the nation of its top notch AAA credit rating and a spreading sovereign debt crisis in Europe.

While sentiment has deteriorated, data such as industrial production, retail sales and employment suggest the economy could avoid an outright contraction. …”

http://www.cnbc.com/id/44285105

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The Japanese Attack On Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941–Videos

Posted on August 25, 2011. Filed under: American History, Blogroll, Books, Business, Comedy, Communications, Computers, Crime, Diasters, Employment, Federal Government, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, history, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, People, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Public Sector, Rants, Raves, Unions, Video, War, Wealth, Weapons, Wisdom | Tags: December 7 1941, Pearl Harbor, Surprise Attack |

This authoritative and suspenseful documentary takes you inside the secret activities of the Americans, the British and the Japanese as each nation moved fatefully toward the “date that will live in infamy.” For nearly 50 years, the world has believed President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s declaration that the Pearl Harbor attack was a completely unexpected assault on a neutral nation. Sacrifice at Pearl Harbor tells another, hidden story – using actual recording of intercepted diplomatic communications, declassified government documents, archival footage and interviews with diplomats and spies from around the world. We now know that intelligence operatives from the US and three Allied nations monitored the Japanese fleet’s progress on its deadly mission to Oahu in late 1941. Yet neither Admiral Kimmel nor General Short received a word of warning that might have allowed them to avert the sacrifice of 4,000 American casualties in less than 90 minutes.

Links to informative news articles by The New American magazine and other sources:

Pearl Harbor: The Facts Behind the Fiction
The raid on Pearl Harbor took the U.S. Pacific Fleet by surprise, but back in Washington, the Roosevelt administration was fully aware of the coming onslaught.

Sacrifice at Pearl Harbor (Part 1 of 7)

Sacrifice at Pearl Harbor (Part 2 of 7)

Sacrifice at Pearl Harbor (Part 3 of 7)

Sacrifice at Pearl Harbor (Part 4 of 7)

Sacrifice at Pearl Harbor (Part 5 of 7)

Sacrifice at Pearl Harbor (Part 6 of 7)

Sacrifice at Pearl Harbor (Part 7 of 7)

Conspiracy? FDR And Pearl Harbor Part 1/3

Conspiracy? FDR And Pearl Harbor Part 2/3

Conspiracy? FDR And Pearl Harbor Part 3/3

(1/5) Pacific Lost Evidence Pearl Harbor Episode 1 World War II

(2/5) Pacific Lost Evidence Pearl Harbor Episode 1 World War II

(3/5) Pacific Lost Evidence Pearl Harbor Episode 1 World War II

(4/5) Pacific Lost Evidence Pearl Harbor Episode 1 World War II

(5/5) Pacific Lost Evidence Pearl Harbor Episode 1 World War II

Background Articles and Videos

Japan – United States relations

“…Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese American relations had been constricted for years. Reasons for this include the belief that Western powers were hostile to Japan. America knew this and it led to problems arising within their relationship. The Japanese believed they were looked at as inferior. The relationship was also strained because the US opposed Japanese expansion and Japan’s demands were not being achieved by diplomacy. “… the American’s believe they are better than us. We are unable to keep a steady relationship with them as long as they hold these opinions. … The American’s are not complying with our demands… For these reasons our relationship is constricted, shall remain that way and will not be able to grow.” translated Masakazu Nanba 5 March 1938. These situations within their relationship all contributed to the attack on Pearl Harbor. The attack on Pearl Harbor was seen from a public eye as a surprise, however in analyzing Japanese-American relations over the years leading to the attack, one can see an erosion in communications between the two countries. Japan being an energy scarce country, expansion was seen as the only viable source of securing their energy needs. The attack can only be seen as a culmination point in regards to Japanese-American interests in the Pacific region. Under the Washington Naval treaty and the London Naval treaty, the American navy was to be equal to the Japanese army by a ratio of 10:7.^[9] However, as of 1934, the Japanese ended their disarmament policies and enabled rearmament policy with no limitations.^[9] The government in Tokyo was well informed of its military weakness in the Pacific in regards to the American fleet. The foremost important factor in realigning their military policies was the need by Japan to move away from U.S oil dependence, securing new oil and energy sources.^[10]

Through the 1930s, Japan’s oil consumption was dependent at 90% on imports, 80% of it coming from the United States.^[10] Furthermore, the vast majority of this oil import was oriented towards the Navy and the military.^[11] America opposed Tokyo’s expansionist policies in China, the East Indies and the Pacific Islands. On July 26, 1940 the U.S. government passed the Export Control Act, cutting oil, iron and steel exports to Japan.^[10] This containment policy was seen by Washington as a warning to Japan that any further military expansion would result in further sanctions. However, Tokyo saw it as a blockade to counter Japanese military and economic strength. Accordingly, by the time the United States enforced the Export Act, Japan had stockpiled around 54 million barrels of oil.^[12] America exported oil to Japan until 1940, long after the invasion of Manchuria. Sanctions were too weak and not focused enough to stop the Japanese military at an early stage of expansion. By 1940, the American share of export of oil on the Japanese market dropped to 60%.^[13]

These various actions taken by Washington were nothing compared to the full embargo imposed on Japan in July 1941.^[12] All oil shipments were held back and Japanese assets in the United States were to be frozen. Since only 4.5 million barrels of oil were coming in from the Dutch East Indies, Japan’s reaction was to organize an attack of the United States on the Pacific front.^[10] The attacks on Pearl Harbor were strongly influenced by the energy insecurity which the embargo created.

Japan attacked the American navy base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. In response, the United States declared war on Japan, starting a four year war between the United States and Japan. Japan’s Axis allies, including Nazi Germany, declared war on the United States shortly after the attack, bringing the United States into World War II. By producing materials, island-hopping, and heavy bombing of Japanese cities and conquering Japanese-held areas (and after two uses of nuclear weapons and Russia’s official entry into war against Japan), the United States and its allies forced Japan to surrender, thus ending the hostilities. …”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_%E2%80%93_United_States_relations

Export Control Act

“…The Export Control Act of 1940 was one in a series of legislative efforts by the United States government and initially the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt to accomplish two tasks: to avoid scarcity of critical commodities in a likely pre-war environment^[1] and, more notably, to limit the exportation of materiel to pre-World War II Imperial Japan. The act originated as a presidential proclamation by Roosevelt forbidding the exporting of aircraft parts, chemicals, and minerals without a license, and was intended to induce Japan to curtail its occupation of the Indo-Chinese coast.^[2]

The text of the Act stated that whenever the President deemed it “necessary in the interest of national defense,” he could prohibit or curtail the exportation of military equipment, munitions, tools and materials.^[3]^[4]

Although controls were first authorized in 1940 in regard to munitions and similar materials essential to the defense effort, its coverage was extended in 1942 to all commodities, and broader geographic coverage, following America’s entry into World War II. The law was extended, with modifications through 1948, and it was envisioned that remaining controls would soon disappear at the time of re-enactment in 1949. The scarcity of certain goods in the world markets however, made continuance of controls necessary in order to prevent a drain on such goods from plentiful American supplies with its consequential inflationary effects. National security and foreign policy concerns, especially following the outbreak of the Korean War, were new and compelling reasons for passing the Export Control Act of 1949, and in extending it until (at least) 1958. The law included both domestic policies aimed primarily at conditions within the United States, as well as controls directed at conditions outside the country, as an instrument of American foreign policy. This is exemplified by the restrictions on export of certain strategic or military items to the Soviet bloc or to other countries which it felt, if permitted, would be detrimental to the foreign policy program of the US during the Cold War. The foreign policy motive became so strong that it brought legislation directing the President to enlist the cooperation of other nations in enacting controls on trade with the Soviet block to parallel those of the United States. The benefits of the various economic and military aid programs were to be withheld from non-cooperating nations, as in the Mutual Defense Assistance Control Act of 1951. …”

Background

“Moral embargo”

The Act was seen as a codified “moral embargo”, in that it was an expression of moral outrage,^[5] in this instance, stemming from the Japanese bombing of civilians in mainland China in the late 1930s. In June 1938, the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Secretary_of_State”>U.S. Secretary of State, Cordell Hull on June, 1938 condemned the slaughter and its “material encouragement”. A month later, the Department of State notified aircraft manufacturers and exporters that the United States Government was “strongly opposed”^[5] to the sale of airplanes and related materiel to those nations using airplanes to attack civilian populations.

In 1939, the non-binding embargo was extended to materials essential to airplane manufacture and to plans, plants, and technical information for the production of high-quality aviation gasoline. These measures resulted in the suspension of the export to Japan of aircraft, aeronautical equipment, and other materials within the scope of the moral embargoes. As Japanese purchases of items other than aircraft and aeronautical equipment were minuscule, the moral embargo ultimately stopped the exportation of arms to Japan.

End of commercial treaties

Following the failure of diplomatic efforts to protect endangered American lives, rights and economic interests in China, America considered commercial retaliation against Japan. by Japanese authorities or Japanese-sponsored agents in China. The American government felt that its 1911 commercial treaty with Japan was not affording an appropriate level of protection to U.S. commerce in areas within or occupied by Japan. Simultaneously, Japan’s position under the treaty as a most favoured nation legally prevented the adoption of retaliatory measures against Japanese commerce. When the United States gave six-month notice of its withdrawal from the treaty in July, 1939, it removed the primary legal obstacle for embargo.^[5]^[6]

Effects

The embargo, which halted the shipment of material such as airplanes, parts, machine tools, and aviation gasoline, was designed to be an unfriendly act, but expanding it to include oil was specifically avoided. Japan was dependent on U.S. oil, and it was thought at the time that such would be a provocative step.^[7]

The Act was expanded in September of that year to include iron and steel scrap,^[8] an act that Japanese Ambassador Horinouchi warned Secretary Hull on October 8, 1940 might be considered an “unfriendly act”.^[9]

Controls were first authorized in 1940 in regard to munitions and similar materials essential to the defense effort, and extended in 1942 to all commodities.^[10] Always intended to be only temporary, the 1940 act was successfully extended in 1944, 1945, 1946 and 1947.^[11]

Retaliation

The United States was not alone in its concern. Great Britain, which maintained colonies in the Far East also feared an aggressive Japan. Immediately following the enactment of the Act, the British ambassador would be asked by Japan to close the Burma Road, a key supply route of arms for China. Britain initially refused the request, but for a short period of time closed the road.^[2] The British and the Dutch followed suit in embargoing trade to Japan from their colonies in southeast Asia.^[12]

The ending of the commercial trade treaties further eroded the possibilities for dialogue between the two nations.^[13] Noted political economist Robert Higgs points out:

“

Roosevelt and his subordinates knew they were putting Japan in an untenable position and…that the Japanese government might well try to escape the stranglehold by going to war.^[12]

”

Robert Stinnett notes in his book, Day Of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor, that America had broken the Japanese diplomatic code and knew that due to the pressure exerted by the Export Control Act, war was quickly becoming an inevitable outcome. He points to a deciphered communiqué between Foreign Minister Teijiro Toyoda and Ambassador Kichisaburō Nomura on July 31: “Commercial and economic relations between Japan and third countries, led by England and the United States, are gradually becoming so horribly strained that we cannot endure it much longer. Consequently, our Empire, to save its very life, must take measures to secure the raw materials of the South Seas.”^[12]^[14]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Export_Control_Act

attack on Pearl Harbor

“…The attack on Pearl Harbor (called Hawaii Operation or Operation AI^[6]^[7] by the Japanese Imperial General Headquarters (Operation Z in planning)^[8] and the Battle of Pearl Harbor^[9]) was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941 (December 8 in Japan). The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States.

The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers.^[10] Four U.S. Navy battleships were sunk (two of which were raised and returned to service later in the war) and the four others present were damaged. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship,^{[nb 2]} and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,402 men were killed^[12] and 1,282 wounded. The power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not attacked. Japanese losses were light: 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor was captured.

The attack came as a profound shock to the American people and led directly to the American entry into World War II in both the Pacific and European theaters. The following day (December 8) the United States declared war on Japan. Domestic support for isolationism, which had been strong, disappeared. Clandestine support of Britain (for example the Neutrality Patrol) was replaced by active alliance. Subsequent operations by the U.S. prompted Germany and Italy to declare war on the U.S. on December 11, which was reciprocated by the U.S. the same day.

Despite numerous historical precedents for unannounced military action by Japan, the lack of any formal warning, particularly while negotiations were still apparently ongoing, led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy”. …”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor_attack

Pearl Harbor History: Why Did Japan Attack? Eyewitness Accounts, Casualty List, Background

What Happened?

What led up to that Day in Infamy?

“…War itself generally makes little sense, but the attack on Pearl Harbor has always sparked the imagination.
3,500 Americans were killed or wounded in the attack on December 7, 1941.

Before The Attack

September 1940. The U.S. placed an embargo on Japan by prohibiting exports of steel, scrap iron, and aviation fuel to Japan, due to Japan’s takeover of northern French Indochina.

April 1941. The Japanese signed a neutrality treaty with the Soviet Union to help prevent an attack from that direction if they were to go to war with Britain or the U.S. while taking a bigger bite out of Southeast Asia.

June 1941 through the end of July 1941. Japan occupied southern Indochina. Two days later, the U.S., Britain, and the Netherlands froze Japanese assets. This prevented Japan from buying oil, which would, in time, cripple its army and make its navy and air force completely useless.

Toward the end of 1941. With the Soviets seemingly on the verge of defeat by the Axis powers, Japan seized the opportunity to try to take the oil resources of Southeast Asia. The U.S. wanted to stop Japanese expansion but the American people were not willing to go to war to stop it. The U.S. demanded that Japan withdraw from China and Indochina, but would have settled for a token withdrawal and a promise not to take more territory.

Prior to December 1941, Japan pursued two simultaneous courses: try to get the oil embargo lifted on terms that would still let them take the territory they wanted, and … to prepare for war.

After becoming Japan’s premier in mid-October, General Tojo Hideki See Books about Tojo secretly set November 29 as the last day on which Japan would accept a settlement without war.

The Japanese military was asked to devise a war plan. They proposed to sweep into Burma, Malaya, the East Indies, and the Philippines, in addition to establishing a defensive perimeter in the central and southwest Pacific. They expected the U.S. to declare war but not to be willing to fight long or hard enough to win. Their greatest concern was that the U.S. Pacific Fleet, based in Pearl Harbor could foil their plans. As insurance, the Japanese navy undertook to cripple the Pacific Fleet by a surprise air attack. See Books about Japanese Plans

The Warnings

The U.S. had broken the Japanese diplomatic code and knew an attack was imminent. A warning had been sent from Washington, but it arrived too late.

Early warning radar was new technology. Japanese planes were spotted by radar before the attack, but they were assumed to be a flight of American B-17s due in from the West Coast. Read the eyewitness account

The Attack

On December 7th 1941, on an otherwise peaceful Sunday morning on a beautiful Hawaiian island, the first wave of Japanese airplanes left 6 aircraft carriers and struck Pearl Harbor a few minutes before 8 AM local time. See Map of Pearl Harbor

In two waves of terror lasting two long hours, they killed or wounded over 3,500 Americans and sank or badly damaged 18 ships – including all 8 battleships of the Pacific Fleet – and over 350 destroyed or damaged aircraft. At least 1,177 lives were lost when the Battleship U.S.S. Arizona More about the Arizona exploded and subsequently sank.

http://www.pearlharbor.org/history-of-pearl-harbor.asp

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Rick Perry Illegal Immigration and Dream Act Supporter–RINO–Unprincipled Prevaricator a.k.a–Slick Liar–Videos

Posted on August 25, 2011. Filed under: Agriculture, American History, Babies, Blogroll, Business, Communications, Demographics, Economics, Employment, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, government, government spending, history, Homes, Immigration, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Monetary Policy, People, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Rants, Raves, Regulations, Talk Radio, Taxes, Unemployment, Video, War, Wisdom | Tags: Crime, Dream Act, Guest Worker Program, Illegal Aliens, illegal immigration, Immigration, Law and Order, Law Enforcement, Open borders, Rick Perry, RINO, rule of law, Worker Program |

Texas Gov. Rick Perry on border security

Former Mexico President Fox Endorses Rick Perry 2012

Rick Perry AGREES with Obama: Open Borders for America!

Perry Supports Guest Worker Program

Rick Perry Caught Lying In Video Debate

14 Reasons Why Rick Perry Would Be A Really, Really Bad President

Rick Perry Is The Bankers Answer To Ron Paul!

Background Articles and Videos

Glenn Beck to Gov. Rick Perry: You Could Be a Real Problem for America

Infowars TV Interviews Rick Perry Sex Scandal Accuser 1/2

Infowars TV Interviews Rick Perry Sex Scandal Accuser 2/2

Rick Perry slammed by Libertarian Director

Rick Perry In A Cheerleader Outfit (Pics)

Rick Perry Blames God for Recession

Texas Gov. Rick Perry Endorses Rudy For President

Gov. Rick Perry on Ron Paul

Cut-Throat Opportunist Rick Perry Used To Be a Democrat; Supported Al-Gore in 1989

Background Articles and Videos

Obama Issues ‘Dream Act’ by Executive Order & Bypasses Constitution, Again.

Lou Dobbs On DREAM ACT – Sept. 20, 2010

Mark Levin – Obama Has Just Granted Amnesty For Two Hundred Thousand Illegal Immigrants

Obama Administration Pledges to Reduce Deportations

Thursday, August 18, 2011,

“…The Obama Administration announced on Thursday that it will individually review the 300,000 cases of illegal aliens currently holding deportation orders in an effort to appease his pro-amnesty critics and last year’s record number of deportations.

The Administration deported 400,000 illegal aliens last year — less than half had been convicted for other crimes. Pres. Obama is pledging to halt deportations of non-criminal illegal aliens. Illegal aliens that are considered low-priority deportations will no longer be the focus, including young people who were brought to the U.S. as children, military veterans and spouses of military personnel.

“They will be applying common sense guidelines to make these decisions, like a person’s ties and contributions to the community, their family relationships and military service record,” White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Cecilia Muñoz wrote on the White House blog. “In the end, this means more immigration enforcement pressure where it counts the most, and less where it doesn’t – that’s the smartest way to follow the law while we stay focused on working with the Congress to fix it.”

http://www.numbersusa.com/content/news/august-18-2011/obama-administration-pledges-reduce-deportations.html

Obama Amnesty Begins: Halts Deportations for 300,000 Illegal Aliens; Offers ‘Work Permits’

by John Hill

“…The Obama Administration today announced a virtual amnesty-by-decree for hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens, whose deportations will be “indefinitely delayed”. In addition, Obama finally announced a jobs program – but for ILLEGAL ALIENS, not citizens – as those 300,000 illegals will also become eligible for “work permits“.

This action represents an administrative end-run around Congress, which twice rejected the ‘DREAM Act’ in 2010. As disgraceful as is this usurpation of Congressional authority, this announcement is even worse than is being reported.

Our analysis reveals that – despite media focus of this action limited to so-called “Dreamer” illegal students, this new policy, coupled with the criteria established by the June 2011 “Morton Memos” which set up a joint “DHS and DOJ working group” could expand this “indefinite delay” of deportation to potentially MILLIONS of illegals – creating a new, massive amnesty entirely by fiat, bypassing Congress. …”

“…Under the new process, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) “working group” will develop specific criteria to identify “low-priority removal cases” that should be considered for prosecutorial discretion. These criteria will be based on “positive factors” from the Morton Memo (PDF), which include…

individuals present in the U.S. since childhood (like ‘DREAM Act’ students)
minors
the elderly
pregnant and nursing women
victims of serious crimes
veterans and members of the armed services
and individuals with serious disabilities or health problems

The breadth of the above list makes it less a matter of which illegal aliens are excluded than which ones are NOT. Minors, elderly, pregnant and nursing (could cover more than half of all childbearing-age illegal alien women!), victims of “serious” crimes (what defines “serious”?), disabilities/health problems(does diabetes count? depression?).

The Morton Guidelines above, coupled with today’s announcement suspending deportations equals a potential amnesty for MILLIONS of illegal aliens – all without ANY Congressional action or authorization. …”

http://standwitharizona.com/blog/2011/08/18/obama-amnesty-begins-halts-deportations-for-300000-illegal-aliens-offers-work-permits/

Obama to deport illegals by ‘priority’

Case-by-case plan will curb numbers

“…The new rules apply to those who have been apprehended and are in deportation proceedings, but have not been officially ordered out of the country by a judge.

Ms. Napolitano said a working group will try to come up with “guidance on how to provide for appropriate discretionary consideration” for “compelling cases” in instances where someone already has been ordered deported.

Administration officials made the announcement just before Mr. Obama left for a long vacation out of Washington, and as members of Congress are back in their home districts.

The top House Republican on the Judiciary Committee said the move is part of a White House plan “to grant backdoor amnesty to illegal immigrants.”

“The Obama administration should enforce immigration laws, not look for ways to ignore them,” said Rep. Lamar Smith, Texas Republican. “The Obama administration should not pick and choose which laws to enforce. Administration officials should remember the oath of office they took to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the land.”

Immigration legislation has been stalled in Congress for years as the two parties have sparred over what to include.

Republicans generally favor stricter enforcement and a temporary program that would allow workers in the country for some time, but eventually return to their home countries. Democrats want the legislation to include legalization of the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants now in the country, and want the future guest-worker program to also include a path to citizenship so those workers can stay permanently. …”

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/18/new-dhs-rules-cancel-deportations/

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Obama’s Approval Rating On Economy Hits New Gallup Poll Low Of 26%–Republican Presidential Candidates Romney, Perry, Paul and Bachmann Attack Obama’s Job Creation Record–Videos

Posted on August 22, 2011. Filed under: Banking, Blogroll, Business, Communications, Demographics, Economics, Employment, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, Inflation, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, People, Philosophy, Politics, Rants, Raves, Taxes, Unemployment, Video, War, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Economics, Economy, Gallup Poll, George W. Bush, inflation, Jimmy Carter, Michele Bachmann, Misery Index, Mitt Romney, Obama's Job Plan, Obama's Misery Indes, Presidential Approval Index, Rasmussen Reports, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, stimulus package, unemployment |

OBAMA´S APPROVAL RATING ON ECONOMY HITS LOW

Peter Schiff, John Lonski, Dennis Berman – on Inflation, Deflation & Recession

Mitt Romney Presidential Announcement

Obama Isn’t Working: Chicago

Obama Isn’t Working: Allentown, PA

Obama Isn’t Working: New Hampshire

Obama Isn’t Working: Where are the Jobs?

Gov. Rick Perry Blasts Obama’s Record on Jobs as an “Economic Disaster”

Rick Perry announces he will run for President (Part 1 of 2) — August 13, 2011

Rick Perry announces he will run for President (Part 2 of 2) — August 13, 2011

Ron Paul Ad – “The one who can beat Obama”

Ron Paul on America Live with Megyn Kelly

Ron Paul: Perry Makes Me Look Like a Moderate

Ron Paul – the Most Untalked About Top Tier Presidential Candidate

Ron Paul Ignored By The Media

Editor-in-Chief Insights: Intense Favorites

Face The Nation with B…: Michele Bachmann wins straw poll, lays out

Face The Nation with B…: GOP presidential race picks up the pace

Newt Gingrich Releases 2012 Presidential Candidacy Announcement Video

A new job’s plan

Obama Plans Major Jobs/Debt Speech

Obama’s jobs plan – What’s the holdup [CNN 8-18-2011]

Obama says new job creating plan on the way 8/17/2011

SR Allstars – August 17 – Part 1: Obama Jobs Plan?

SR Allstars – August 17 – Part 2: 2012, Perry, Ryan, Paul

Fox’s Andrew Napolitano Predicts Obama’s Jobs Plan Will Be A ‘Giveaway To Select Groups That He And

The Triumph of Human Freedom: THE PLAIN TRUTH by Judge Napolitano 8/18/11

Obama’s approval rating on economy hits new Gallup Poll low of 26 percent

Republican presidential candidates Romney, Perry, Paul and Bachmann attack Obama’s job creation record

By Raymond Thomas Pronk

In Feb. 2009 President Barack Obama’s Gallup Poll approval rating on the economy was at its highest at 59 percent and his disapproval rating was at its lowest of 30 percent. The official unemployment rate was 7.8 percent in Jan 2009. In Aug. 2011 Obama’s Gallup Poll approval rating on the economy was 26%, a new low, and his disapproval rating was 71%, a new high. The July 2011 unemployment rate was 9.1%. The unemployment rate has been over 8% for the last 31 months. Obama’s overall job approval rating according to the Gallup’s daily three-day rolling average tracking poll of Aug. 11-13 dipped below 40 percent for the first time when it hit a new low of 39 percent. It fell again on Aug. 20 to 38 percent.

Unemployment Rate Percent from Jan. 2001-Aug. 2011

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor

In the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Aug. 23, 2011 President Obama also hit a new low on the Presidential Approval Index of -26 with 45 percent strongly disapproving and 19 percent strongly approving. Rasmussen Reports on Aug. 23, 2011 that among likely voters Obama is at 39 percent and Paul at 38 percent. In a matchup between Obama and a generic Republican candidate among likely voters, Obama is at 43 percent and the generic Republican at 48 percent.

The Misery Index is an economic indicator that is the sum of the unemployment and inflation rates. When President Obama entered office, his Misery Index stood at 7.73 percent. Today it is over 12.7 percent. Obama’s average Misery index is 10.52 which is greater than George W. Bush’s average Misery Index of 8.11 and Bill Clinton’s average misery index of 7.8 percent.

Should the U.S. economy enter another recession, the unemployment rate will most likely again exceed 10 percent. Obama’s approval rating on the economy will most likely fall even lower and his Misery Index will be even higher. However, it is unlikely that Obama’s Misery Index will beat President Jimmy Carter’s June 1980 record Misery Index of 21.98. Ronald Reagan beat Jimmy Carter in the 1980 presidential election with 489 electoral votes and 43,903,230 popular votes to Jimmy Carter’s 49 electoral votes and 35,480,115 popular votes—a landslide Republican victory over an incumbent Democratic president.

Jobs and the economy will be the number one political issue in the 2012 Presidential election. The leading Republican candidates, former Massachusetts’s Governor Mitt Romney, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Texas Congressman Ron Paul and Minnesotan Congresswoman Michele Bachmann have been very critical of President Obama’s performance in terms of job creation and the growth in the economy measured by the Gross Domestic Product.

A television attack ad paid for by Romney ends with the tagline, “Obama isn’t working”, with a photo of an unemployment office with a long twisting line of Americans looking for jobs. This is one of a series of one minute attacks ads where the phrase, “Obama isn’t working” is repeated and the employment situation prior to the Obama administration is compared with the employment situation today in a particular city or state. Another attack ad in the series is directed at college students and begins with Obama promising students at the University of Maryland a better future in 2009 and ends with the questions, “Where is the opportunity? Where are the jobs?”

Perry recently entered the presidential race and does not have any Obama attack ads to date. However, Perry in a recent speech to the South Carolina GOP blasted Obama’s record on job creation comparing it to his record on job creation in Texas. Perry stated “The fact is one in six work eligible Americans cannot find a full time job. That is not a recovery, it is an economic disaster.” Perry continued that “we tried for two and half years government trying to create jobs. It is time for the private sector to be given the chance to create jobs.” Perry is proud of his job creation record in Texas and pointed out that “since June of 2009 my home state has created 40 percent of all new jobs created in America.”

Paul has a one minute TV attack ad which asserts that he was the one “voting against every tax increase, every unbalanced budget, every time, standing up to the Washington machine, guiding by principle, Ron Paul who will stop the spending, save the dollar, create jobs, bring peace, the one who will restore liberty. Ron Paul the one who can beat Obama and restore America now.”

Bachmann in an interview on Face the Nation emphasized that she is the chief author of two bills that would repeal Obamacare (the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) and the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Companies are telling her “that those bills are leading them not to be able to create jobs.” Bachmann also favors “repeal of the existing tax code in its current form, it is 3.8 million words”; “we need a tax code that is job friendly, this is not a job friendly tax code. When you have one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world at 34 percent that is not going to incentivize people to start new businesses.”

President Obama announced that he will release his new jobs plan after Labor Day. He said “I will be putting forward when they come back in September a very specific plan to boost the economy, to create jobs, and control our deficit.” Two of the specifics of Obama’s plan that have leaked to the press include an extension of unemployment benefits and extension of the payroll tax cut. The Romney and Paul ads, Perry speech, Bachmann interview and Obama announcement can be viewed in their entirety on YouTube.com with links to them on www.pronkpops.wordpress.com .

In a recent Gallup Poll released on Aug. 22, President Obama is running neck and neck with the top four Republican candidates. Romney leads Obama 48 percent to 46 percent. Perry and Obama are tied in the poll at 47 percent each. Obama leads Republican candidates Paul, 47 percent to 45 percent and Bachmann, 48 percent to 44 percent.

Among independents Romney and Paul lead Obama by 3 percent and Perry leads Obama by 2 percent. Obama beats Bachmann by 6 percent among independents. The Gallup Poll was conducted on Aug. 16 and 17 and has a margin of error of 3.3 percent. For the American people, jobs and the economy are the leading issues of the 2012 presidential election.

[Raymond Thomas Pronk is host of the Pronk Pops Show on KDUX web radio from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday and author of the companion www.pronkpops.wordpress.com blog with links to online videos and articles and past radio show podcasts and downloads—Give It A Listen!]

Background Articles and Videos

Gallup poll: GOP contenders neck-and-neck with Obama

Republicans line up behind candidates to a greater extent than Dems behind president

By Steven Shepard

“…The poll, conducted last week as Obama’s approval rating cratered around 40 percent, shows Obama leading Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., 48 to 44 percent, and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Tex., 47 to 45 percent.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry ties the president at 47 percent each, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads Obama, 48 to 46 percent.

At this early stage of the campaign, Republicans are largely lined up behind their candidates to a greater extent than Democrats are behind the incumbent president.

Republicans are firmly behind Perry (92 percent) and Romney (91 percent). Bachmann (86 percent) and Paul (82 percent) perform slightly worse among members of their own party. …”

“…Independents are split: Romney and Paul lead among that group by three points, Perry by two, but Obama leads Bachmann among independents by six points. …”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44235036/ns/politics-decision_2012/t/gallup-poll-gop-contenders-neck-and-neck-obama/

Gallup Daily: Obama Job Approval

Each result is based on a three-day rolling average

http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx

Rasmussen Reports

Daily Presidential Tracking Poll

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

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“…The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Tuesday shows that 19% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-five percent (45%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -26 (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/obama_approval_index_history

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_cont” href=”http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/obama_approval_index_history” target=”_blank”>see trends).

This is the lowest Approval Index rating yet measured for President Obama. The previous low was -24 reached yesterday and also in September 2010. Additionally, the level of Strong Approval matches the lowest yet recorded. By way of comparison, President Bush had ratings near the end of his second term in the minus 30s. …”

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Obama 39%, Paul 38%

“…The president and the maverick are running almost dead even in a hypothetical 2012 election matchup.Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul earns 38% of the vote to President Obama’s 39% in the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters. Fourteen percent (14%) like some other candidate, and eight percent (8%) remain undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

Just a month ago, Obama posted a 41% to 37% lead over Paul, who ran second to Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in the recent high-profile Ames Straw Poll in Iowa.

Paul, whose long run afoul of the GOP establishment with his libertarian policy prescriptions, picks up 61% of the Republican vote, while 78% of Democrats fall in behind the president. Voters not affiliated with either of the major political parties prefer the longtime congressman by 10 points – 43% to 33%. …”

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/obama_39_paul_38

Election 2012: Generic Presidential Ballot

Election 2012: Generic Republican 48%, Obama 43%

“… A generic Republican candidate now holds a five-point advantage over President Obama in a hypothetical 2012 election match-up for the week ending Sunday, August 21. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely U.S. Voters finds the generic Republican earning 48% of the vote, while the president picks up support from 43%. Two percent (2%) prefer some other candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. ,,,”

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2012/election_2012_presidential_election/generic_presidential_ballot/election_2012_generic_presidential_ballot

The US Misery Index
January 1948 to July 2011

Misery Index = Unemployment rate + Inflation rate

http://www.miseryindex.us/customindexbymonth.asp

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Thomas Barnett–The Evolution of The Middle East and The Rise of The Global Middle Class–Videos

Posted on August 22, 2011. Filed under: Banking, Blogroll, Business, Communications, Economics, Employment, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, government, government spending, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, People, Philosophy, Politics, Rants, Raves, Security, Taxes, Technology, Transportation, Unemployment, Video, War, Wealth, Weapons, Wisdom | Tags: economic growth, Economics, Evolution of the Middle East, Foreign Policy, Middle Class, Middle East, Security, Thomas Barnett |

Thomas Barnett: The Evolution of the Middle East

Thomas Barnett Deconstructs the Rise of the Global Middle Class

Background Articles and Videos

Unrestricted Warfare

Unrestricted Warfare

“…Unrestricted Warfare (超限战, literally “warfare beyond bounds”) is a book on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_strategy”>military strategy written in 1999 by two colonels in the People’s Liberation Army, Qiao Liang (乔良) and Wang Xiangsui (王湘穗). Its primary concern is how a nation such as China can defeat a technologically superior opponent (such as the United States) through a variety of means. Rather than focusing on direct military confrontation, this book instead examines a variety of other means. Such means include using International Law (see Lawfare) and a variety of economic means to place one’s opponent in a bad position and circumvent the need for direct military action.^[1]

The English translation of the book was made available by the Foreign Broadcast Information Service on the internet in 1999. Reportedly, the United States Naval Academy wrote to the authors to ask for permission to use this book as their official textbook.^{[citation needed]} The book was then published in English by a previously unknown Panamanian publisher, with the subtitle “China’s Master Plan to Destroy America” and a picture of the burning http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center”>World Trade Center on the cover. These additions were thought to be misinterpretations of the text, not intended by the original authors. A French translation was published in 2003.^[2]

The text has been cited by the U.S. government, e.g. on a military website by James Perry^[3] who states:

In February 1999, the PLA Literature and Arts Publishing House issued Unrestricted Warfare, a book written by two PLA air force political officers, Senior Col Qiao Liang and Senior Col Wang Xiangsui. The venue for publication and the laudatory reviews of the book in official publications suggested that Unrestricted Warfare enjoyed the support of some elements of the PLA leadership. The Western press quoted various sensational passages from the book and described it in terms that verged on hyperbole. The book was not a blueprint for a “dirty war” against the West but a call for innovative thinking on future warfare.

Weaknesses of the United States

The book argues that the primary weakness of the United States in military matters is that the US views revolution in military thought solely in terms of technology. The book further argues that to the US, military doctrine evolves because new technology allows new capabilities. As such, the book argues that the United States does not consider the wider picture of military strategy, which includes legal and economic factors. The book proceeds to argue that the United States is vulnerable to attack along these lines.^[4]

Alternative methods of attack

Reducing one’s opponent, the book notes, can be accomplished in a number of ways other than direct military confrontation. The book notes that these alternative methods “have the same and even greater destructive force than military warfare, and they have already produced serious threats different from the past and in many directions for…national security.”

Lawfare

Lawfare, or political action through transnational or non-governmental organizations can effect a policy change that would be impossible otherwise. Because of the international nature of the modern world and activism, it is much easier for nation-states to affect policy in other nation-states through a proxy.

Economic warfare

Owing to the interconnected nature of global economics, nations can inflict grievous harm on the economies of other nations without taking any offensive action.

Network warfare

see iWar

One of the better-known alternatives in this book is the idea of attacking networks. Networks are increasingly important in not only data exchange but also transportation, financial institutions, and communication. Attacks that disable networks can easily hamstring large areas of life that are dependent on them for coordination. One example of network warfare would be shutting down a network that supplies power. If there is a significant failure in the power grid caused by the attack, massive power outages could result, crippling industry, defense, medicine, and all other areas of life.

Terrorism

Another famous instance of Unrestricted Warfare policy is terrorism. Terrorism is used by a group to gain satisfaction for certain demands. Even if these demands are not satisfied, a terrorist attack can have vastly disproportionate effects on national welfare. One only has to look at the economic crisis that followed the terrorist attacks against the United States, or the extensive security measures put in place after those same attacks. Terrorism erodes a nation’s sense of security and well being, even if the direct effects of the attacks only concern a minute percentage of the population.

Defense against unrestricted warfare

The authors note that an old-fashioned mentality that considers military action the only offensive action is inadequate given the new range of threats. Instead, the authors advocate forming a “composite force in all aspects related to national interest. Moreover, given this type of composite force, it is also necessary to have this type of composite force to become the means which can be utilized for actual operations. This should be a “grand warfare method” which combines all of the dimensions and methods in the two major areas of military and non-military affairs so as to carry out warfare. This is opposite of the formula for warfare methods brought forth in past wars.”

Implications

As the authors state, the new range of options combined with the rising cost (both political and financial) of waging traditional warfare results in the rising dominance of the new alternatives to traditional military action. A state that does not heed these warnings is in dire shape.

…”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unrestricted_Warfare

The Significance of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army White Paper

S.J. Noumoff

“…n December 2004 the People’s Liberation Army issued its status report, the White Paper, summarising its view of the global configuration of forces and projecting its response. The operating assumptions are: (1) while the international situation is stable, there are factors present of instability, uncertainty and insecurity, which are increasing, at the same time that hegemonism and unilateralism are gaining; (2) the tendency towards multi-polarisation is deepening; (3) new changes are altering the existing balance of power; (4) while the developing world is increasing global democratisation with a more vocal say, the gap between the North and the South is ever widening; (5) the world wide revolution in Military Affairs requires both new technology and new doctrines; (6) localised wars of a geopolitical, ethnic and religious nature are a constant threat; (7) any attempt by Taiwan to separate will be crushed; and (8) non-traditional threats are on the increase.

To properly position the White Paper in perspective, it is essential to examine the 1999 study by two senior PLA Colonels, Unrestricted Warfare, which was characterised by the US as the doctrine of a technologically weaker China as it confronts the superior US power. A careful examination of this study reveals a thoroughly thought-out evaluation of both US and Chinese strengths and weaknesses in technology, strategy and doctrine. There is little doubt that the wake-up call for the PLA was triggered by the Gulf War—Operation Desert Storm.

China’s response, it is argued, is multiple—ranging from altering force levels to increasing its educational/technical levels; developing a seamless strategy for a transition from a peacetime to a wartime economy; seeking a leapfrog strategy in military technology; not falling into the trap of seeking superiority in all areas of military technology; and constructing and reinforcing an alliance structure of both multilateral institutional nature as well as on the bilateral level.

http://chr.sagepub.com/content/41/3/299.abstract

Unrestricted Warfare

Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui

(Beijing: PLA Literature and Arts Publishing House, February 1999)

Unrestricted Warfare, by Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui (Beijing: PLA Literature and Arts Publishing House, February 1999)

[FBIS Editor's Note: The following selections are taken from "Unrestricted Warfare," a book published in China in February 1999 which proposes tactics for developing countries, in particular China, to compensate for their military inferiority vis-à-vis the United States during a high-tech war. The selections include the table of contents, preface, afterword, and biographical information about the authors printed on the cover. The book was written by two PLA senior colonels from the younger generation of Chinese military officers and was published by the PLA Literature and Arts Publishing House in Beijing, suggesting that its release was endorsed by at least some elements of the PLA leadership. This impression was reinforced by an interview with Qiao and laudatory review of the book carried by the party youth league's official daily Zhongguo Qingnian Bao on 28 June.

Published prior to the bombing of China's embassy in Belgrade, the book has recently drawn the attention of both the Chinese and Western press for its advocacy of a multitude of means, both military and particularly non-military, to strike at the United States during times of conflict. Hacking into websites, targeting financial institutions, terrorism, using the media, and conducting urban warfare are among the methods proposed. In the Zhongguo Qingnian Bao interview, Qiao was quoted as stating that "the first rule of unrestricted warfare is that there are no rules, with nothing forbidden." Elaborating on this idea, he asserted that strong countries would not use the same approach against weak countries because "strong countries make the rules while rising ones break them and exploit loopholes . . .The United States breaks [UN rules] and makes new ones when these rules don’t suit [its purposes], but it has to observe its own rules or the whole world will not trust it.” (see FBIS translation of the interview, OW2807114599).

[End FBIS Editor's Note]

Preface 1

Part One: On New Warfare 8

Chapter 1: The Weapons Revolution Which Invariably Comes First 15

Chapter 2: The War God’s Face Has Become Indistinct 36

Chapter 3: A Classic That Deviates From the Classics 61

Chapter 4: What Do Americans Gain By Touching the Elephant? 84

Part Two: A Discussion of New Methods of Operation 114

Chapter 5: New Methodology of War Games 124

Chapter 6: Seeking Rules of Victory: The Force Moves Away From the Point of the Enemy’s Attack 152

Chapter 7: Ten Thousand Methods Combined as One: Combinations That Transcend Boundaries 179

Chapter 8: Essential Principles 204

Conclusion 220

Afterword 225

Authors’ Background 227

Jealous Scot Harvath Part 1:

Jealous Scot Harvath Part 2:

Brad Thor Discusses Terrorism w/ Bob Sirott “Chicago Tonight”

Brad Thor w/ Glenn Beck “Exposed: The Perfect Day” Part 4

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Bachmann, Paul and Perry Make The Federal Reserve System And Monetary Policy A Major Campaign Issue–Videos

Posted on August 19, 2011. Filed under: American History, Banking, Blogroll, Communications, Economics, Employment, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, history, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, People, Philosophy, Politics, Rants, Raves, Video, War, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Ben Bernanke, Michele Bachmann, monetary policy, Money, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, The Federal Reserve System |

Perry threatens Bernanke HD

Rick Perry: Bernanke flirting with treason?

News Wrap: Rick Perry Takes Heat for Criticism of Fed’s Stimulus Effort

Ron Paul — “The Problem Is Not Ben Bernanke. The Problem Is the Federal Reserve System.”

Ron Paul: Rick Perry Is “Politically Astute” on Federal Reserve and Secession

Ron Paul on CSPAN Road To The White House Series

Ron Paul ~ Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve 1

Ron Paul ~ Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve 2

Ron Paul ~ Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve 3

Ron Paul ~ Monetary Policy and the Federal Reserve 4

Rick Perry’s Campaign Strategy: Become Ron Paul – Alex Jones Tv

Audit the Federal Reserve

Ron Paul on Washington Watch – Audit the Federal Reserve HR 1207 03-03-09 1 of 2

Ron Paul on Washington Watch – Audit the Federal Reserve HR 1207 03-03-09 2 of 2

Background Article and Videos

FIAT EMPIRE: Why The Federal Reserve Violates The U.S. Constitution-Full Length

“…FIAT EMPIRE explores why some feel the Federal Reserve System is a “bunch of organized crooks” and others feel some of its practices “are in violation of the U.S. Constitution.” Discover why experts agree the Fed is a banking cartel that benefits mainly bankers, their clients in need of easy money, bailouts and a Congress that would rather go deeper into debt than seek funding from its constituents. Long-term studies indicated the Federal Reserve System encourages war, destabilizes the economy (by causing boom and bust cycles), generates inflation (a hidden tax) and is the supreme instrument of unjust enrichment for a select group of insiders. If you are fed up with an ever expanding state and corporations that are “too-big-to-fail,” look no further than the fiat money printed by the Fed. …”

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Stuxnet Worm Generic Cyber Weapon of Mass Destruction Rationale For Government Control Of The Internet And Social Networking Sites–Videos

Posted on August 19, 2011. Filed under: Banking, Blogroll, Books, Communications, Computers, Crime, Culture, Diasters, Economics, Education, Employment, Energy, Federal Government, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, Inflation, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Money, Nuclear Power, People, Philosophy, Politics, Raves, Security, Strategy, Talk Radio, Taxes, Unemployment, Video, War, Wealth, Weapons, Wisdom | Tags: Alex Jones, Cyber War Debate, Cyber Warfare, False Flag, free speech, Government Control of The Internet, Iran, Nuclear weapons, NWO, Progressives, Stuxnet, WMD |

Stuxnet – Cyber Warfare

Cyber Weapon Of Mass Destruction – Stuxnet

Stuxnet Explained

Stuxnet Virus Worm – Cyber Attack False Flag by Iran

U.S. Govt Has “Kill Switch” plan to Shut Down Internet-NWO

Alex Jones: “London riots as a pretext for an attack on the Internet…”

London Riots: Draconian sentences given out as Judges play Politics….

CYBER ATTACK ON IRAN – Stuxnet Worm Must Have Been A State Funded Operation

Did Israel Launch a Cyber Attack Against Iran? If Yes, Is It Legal?

CNN Iran’s nukes under cyber attack

Alex Jones: Stuxnet False Flag and Mentally ILL Strawmen

The Case For Attacking Iran’s Nuclear Enrichment Facilities

How The US Should Deal With Iran?

Intelligence Squared US: Cyber War Debate 1/10

Intelligence Squared US: Cyber War Debate 2/10

Intelligence Squared US: Cyber War Debate 3/10

Intelligence Squared US: Cyber War Debate 4/10

Intelligence Squared US: Cyber War Debate 5/10

Intelligence Squared US: Cyber War Debate 6/10

Intelligence Squared US: Cyber War Debate 7/10

Intelligence Squared US: Cyber War Debate 8/10

Intelligence Squared US: Cyber War Debate 9/10

Intelligence Squared US: Cyber War Debate 10/10

Background Articles and Videos

Adventures in analyzing Stuxnet

TEHRAN: Iran’s Analysis on Stuxnet Cyber Worm Attack! Part 1/3 Oct 5, 2010

TEHRAN: Iran’s Analysis on Stuxnet Cyber Worm Attack! Part 2/3 Oct 5, 2010

TEHRAN: Iran’s Analysis on Stuxnet Cyber Worm Attack! Part 3/3 Oct 5, 2010

Stuxnet

“…Stuxnet is a computer worm discovered in July 2010. It targets Siemens industrial software and equipment running on Microsoft Windows.^[1] While it is not the first time that crackers have targeted industrial systems,^[2] it is the first discovered malware that spies on and subverts industrial systems,^[3] and the first to include a programmable logic controller (PLC) rootkit.^[4]^[5]

The worm initially spreads indiscriminately, but includes a highly specialized malware payload that is designed to target only Siemens Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems that are configured to control and monitor specific industrial processes.^[6]^[7] Stuxnet infects PLCs by subverting the Step-7 software application that is used to reprogram these devices.^[8]

Different variants of Stuxnet targeted five Iranian organizations,^[9] with the probable target widely suspected to be uranium enrichment infrastructure in Iran;^[10]^[11] Symantec noted in August 2010 that 60% of the infected computers worldwide were in Iran.^[12] Siemens stated on November 29 that the worm has not caused any damage to its customers,^[13] but the Iran nuclear program, which uses embargoed Siemens equipment procured clandestinely, has been damaged by Stuxnet.^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17] Russian computer security firm Kaspersky Lab concluded that the sophisticated attack could only have been conducted “with nation-state support”^[18] and it has been speculated that Israel and the United States may have been involved.^[19]

In May 2011, the PBS program Need To Know cited a statement by Gary Samore, White House Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass Destruction, in which he said, “we’re glad they [the Iranians] are having trouble with their centrifuge machine and that we – the US and its allies – are doing everything we can to make sure that we complicate matters for them” offered “winking acknowledgement” of US involvement in Stuxnet.^[20] According to the British Daily Telegraph, a showreel that was played at a retirement party for the head of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Gabi Ashkenazi, included references to Stuxnet as one of his operational successes as the IDF chief of staff.^{[21] …”}

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuxnet

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Wisconsin Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, House Budget Committee Chairman, To Run For President?

Posted on August 18, 2011. Filed under: American History, Banking, Blogroll, Comedy, Communications, Economics, Employment, Energy, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, history, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, People, Philosophy, Politics, Public Sector, Rants, Raves, Regulations, Talk Radio, Technology, Unions, Video, War, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: conservatives, Karl Rove, Neoconservatives, Paul Ryan, Progressives, Republican Establishment, Rick Perry, RINOS |

Several Republican establishment politicians including Speaker John Boehner, former Secretary of Education and drug czar Bill Bennett, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, among others are urging Congressman Paul Ryan to run for the Republican nomination for president.

If Paul Ryan is wise he will remain in the House of Representatives.

The Bush RINOS (Republicans In Name Only) or country club Republicans have concluded that whoever gets the Republican nomination for president will beat Obama and probably be elected to two terms as president. This would preclude a run for the President by former Florida governor Jeb Bush in 2016. A Paul Ryan/Jeb Bush ticket in 2012 would position Bush for the nomination in 2020.

The neoconservatives and progressives in the Republican establishment are apparently wanting someone other than Mitt Romney or Rick Perry to win.

The libertarians are simply not impressed with Ryan’s unbalanced budget proposal that would run a $995 billion deficit in fiscal year 2012. This is simply not fiscally responsible.

While Ryan may be the chosen establishment candidate for Washington D.C. insiders, he is not really popular with the tea party movement that wants to see significant budget reductions and balanced budgets in the next few years and not in twenty-five years or more as Ryan has proposed.

Stay home and play with your children Congressman Ryan.

Better yet, support Ron Paul for president if you are really serious about balanced budgets.

Unfortunately, the reality is your path way to prosperity leads to twenty-five more years of unbalanced budgets–business as usual.

Rep. Paul Ryan Considering Presidential Run

GOP leaders want Ryan and Christie to run [NBC 8-16-2011]

Rumors Swirl Again About U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan’s Plans

The Laura Ingraham Show – Sen. John Cornyn talks Rick Perry and Paul Ryan

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker wants Paul Ryan to run for President

Cheney ‘Worships’ Congressman Ryan

Will Paul Ryan Be Forced to Join the Race for 2012?

Governor Mitch Daniels (R-IN) on Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)

Background Articles and Videos

Paul Ryan & Charlie Rose on The Path to Prosperity

The Path to Prosperity (Episode 1): America’s two futures, visualized

The Path to Prosperity (Episode 2): Saving Medicare, Visualized

Paul Ryan Path to Prosperity Slide Show

Ryan for President?

Paul Ryan is in the final stages of deciding on a presidential run.

Aug 16, 2011 • By STEPHEN F. HAYES

“…Ryan has been talking to friends and advisers about a run since last spring. Those familiar with his thinking say that he expected that Indiana governor Mitch Daniels would run. Hours before Daniels released a letter he’d sent to supporters informing them of his decision not to run, he called Ryan to give him a heads up. That phone call profoundly changed Ryan’s thinking.

One Ryan confidante used an analogy to make the point. Ryan sees running for president like taking a swan dive off a cliff. In the early stages of the race, when he started getting calls urging him to run, Ryan began walking away from the cliff at a brisk pace. Then, when Daniels announced that he was passing on a bid, Ryan stopped in place and turned around. In the weeks since, he’s slowly made his way back to the cliff and he’s now peering over the side trying to decide if he makes the leap.

There have been many hints of this in recent months. In an early June appearance on Your World with Neil Cavuto, the Fox host asked Ryan if he had changed his mind about a run. Ryan, who had been rather firm in his denials of interest, softened his hard line. “Look, I want to see how this field develops,” he said, surprising even those who had been urging him to run. “I was hoping Mitch Daniels would get into the race. He obviously didn’t do that. But there’s such a long way to go. Obviously, I believe Republicans need to retake the White House.”

When Cavuto asked if this meant he was taking another look, as Ryan’s comments suggested, the congressman said he wasn’t giving it “serious consideration because to do that you really have to get into this thing full throttle.” …”

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/ryan-president_590273.html

New Republic: Paul Ryan? Yeah, Right

by Ed Kilgore

“…Indeed, Democrats (especially those in Congress) have been plotting for monthsto make Paul Ryan’s budget proposal, and particularly its radical treatment of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, the centerpiece of their 2012 campaign. After all, the proposal drew the support of nearly every Republican in Congress, despite abundant public opinion research (and at least one special election) showing the potential for a strong public backlash against its specific provisions. A Ryan candidacy, in other words, would rigidly align the GOP with its least popular ideas at the very moment that all Democrats, from the president to the lowliest House candidate, are desperate to make this a “comparative” election instead of a temperature reading on life in the Obama era. So why would prominent Republicans be interested in making Democrats so very happy?

One explanation is that Paul Ryan may be simply too emblematic of contemporary Republican thinking to be resisted by his own party. As TNR’s Jonathan Chait (one of the few progressive commentators who have consistently predicted Ryan would run) put it, “He is adored by party activists and elites in equal measure and is the embodiment of the party consensus.” Aside from the laurels he has won by putting together a budget proposal that reflects the long-frustrated conservative goal of demolishing the New Deal/Great Society safety net once and for all, Ryan is also beloved of neoconservatives struggling to rebuff resurgent neo-isolationism in the GOP, and he is a faithful ally of social conservatives as well. And what libertarian can’t help but feel good about a congressman who reportedly has made Atlas Shrugged required reading for his staff?

Another theory, meanwhile, holds that Ryan represents an itch that simply hasn’t been scratched by the current GOP field: the desire for a simon-pure fiscal conservative who doesn’t simply thunder against big government or domestic spending, but actually seems to have more than a clue about how, mechanically and strategically, to go about slaying the beast. The people who were very excited and then very disappointed about Mitch Daniels’ stillborn presidential candidacy seem to be the same people pushing Ryan to run.

But my hunch is that the main motivation behind the growing Ryan boom in elite circles is that Republicans have more or less decided they cannot lose the presidential race in 2012 unless their candidate has big personal flaws or comes off as legitimately crazy. As a result, they are beginning to assess the field in terms of capacity to serve as president rather than mere electability. And they don’t like what they see. Tim Pawlenty would have been fine, but he’s gone. Mitt Romney would be fine, as well, but he may struggle to win the nomination, leaving the field (unless someone like Ryan enters) to less-fine candidates like Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry. To be sure, the Texas governor supposedly entered the field as a man acceptable to the GOP Establishment as well as the Tea Party and the Christian Right. But his opening act — an announcement speech that was essentially one long feral roar aimed at Obama, liberals, and tax-evading poor people, followed by an egregious exercise of that hardy populist perennial, Fed-bashing — was surely unsettling to elites trying to imagine this caveman-in-a-necktie in the Oval Office. …”

http://www.npr.org/2011/08/18/139737720/new-republic-paul-ryan-yeah-right

Paul Ryan

“…Paul Davis Ryan^[1] (born January 29, 1970) is the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s 1st congressional district, serving since 1999. He is a member of the Republican Party and has been ranked among the party’s most influential voices on conservative economic policy.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Born and raised in Janesville, Wisconsin, Ryan graduated from Miami University in Ohio and reportedly worked as a marketing consultant to an earth-moving company run by a branch of his family. In the mid-to-late 1990s he worked as an aide to United States Senator Bob Kasten, as legislative director for Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, and also as a speech writer for former U.S. Representative and 1996 Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Jack Kemp of New York. He won a 1998 election to succeed two-term Representative Mark Neumann in the United States House of Representatives.

Ryan is the chairman of the House Budget Committee, where he played a prominent public role in drafting and promoting the Republican Party’s long-term budget proposal. He introduced the plan, The Path to Prosperity, in April 2011 to counter the budget proposal of President Barack Obama. Ryan is one of the three co-founders of the Young Guns Program, an electoral recruitment and campaign effort by House Republicans. …”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ryan

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Pronk Pops Shows 1-41–Podcasts or Download–Give It A Listen–Videos

Posted on August 18, 2011. Filed under: American History, Babies, Banking, Blogroll, Books, Business, College, Communications, Computers, Crime, Cult, Culture, Demographics, Diasters, Drug Cartels, Economics, Education, Employment, Energy, Entertainment, European History, Farming, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, Health Care, history, Homes, Immigration, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Monetary Policy, Movies, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, People, Philosophy, Pistols, Politics, Psychology, Public Sector, Rants, Raves, Regulations, Rifles, Science, Taxes, Technology, Unemployment, Unions, Video, Wealth, Weapons | Tags: Audio, Current Affairs, Current Events, Economics, Give It A Listen, Podocasts, Politics, Pronk Pops Show, Pronk Pops Show 1-41, Talk Radio, Videos |

Pronk Pops Show 41:August 17, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 40:August 10, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 39:August 3, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 38:July 27, 2011

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 41-

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 38-40

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 34-37

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 30-33

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 27-29

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 22 (Part 2)-26

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 16-22 (Part 1)

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 10-15

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 1-9

Give it a listen!

Pronk Pops Show 41

August 17, 2011 04:23 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 41, August 17, 2011

Segment 0: 2011 Iowa Straw Poll: Bachmann knocks off Pawlenty, Paul builds momentum, Perry crashes party—Show me the money!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/pronk-pops-show-41-august-16-2011-segment-0-2011-iowa-straw-poll-bachmann-knocks-off-pawlenty-paul-builds-momentum-perry-crashes-party%E2%80%94show-me-the-money-videos/?preview=true&preview_id=1802&preview_nonce=da6c20c0ed

Segment 1: Beyond Top Tier–First In The Hearts and Minds Of The American People and Founding Fathers–The One–Ron Paul–Restoring Liberty, Peace and Prosperity–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/pronk-pops-show-41-august-17-2011-segment-1-beyond-top-tier-first-in-the-hearts-and-minds-of-the-american-people-and-founding-fathers-the-one-ron-paul-restoring-liberty-peace-and-prosperity/

Segment 2 : It’s Time For A Permanent, Pervasive and Predictable Stimulus Package–The FairTax–Launching A Peace and Prosperity Economy–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/pronk-pops-show-41-august-17-2011-segment-3-it%E2%80%99s-time-for-a-permanent-pervasive-and-predictable-stimulus-package%E2%80%93the-fairtax%E2%80%93launching-a-peace-and-prosperity-economy/

Pronk Pops Show 40

August 10, 2011 03:35 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show, August 10, 2011

Segment 0: The Warfare and Welfare Economy Worsens With 30 Americans Killed and Over 45 Million Americans On Food Stamps–American People Want A Peace and Prosperity Economy–A Paycheck Not Food Stamps–Stop Out Of Control Spending On Government Interventions Abroad and At Home–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/pronk-pops-show-40-august-10-2011-the-warfare-and-welfare-economy-worsens-with-32-americans-killed-and-over-45-million-americans-on-food-stamps%E2%80%93american-people-want-a-peace-and-prosperity-e/?preview=true&preview_id=1702&preview_nonce=c9b76309ce

Segment 1: More GORE–Great Obama Recession Economy–Government Treasury Securities Downgraded From AAA to AA+ With A Negative Outlook By Standard & Poor’s Rating Agency–Too Little Too Late–The Austrian School of Economics Was Right!–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/08/09/pronk-pops-show-40-august-10-2011-segment-1-more-gore-great-obama-recession-economy-government-treasury-securites-downgraded-from-aaa-to-aa-with-a-negative-outlook-by-standard-poors-rat/

Pronk Pops Show 39

August 03, 2011 04:00 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 39, August 3, 2011

Segement 0: Will Tea Party Caucus Vote As A Block Against Democratic and Republican Establishment Compromise Bill On Raising National Debt Ceiling By $900 Billion, Adding Over $7,000 Billion To National Debt In The Next Ten Years Plus A Huge Tax Hike in 2013?–The American People Would Like To Know!–Videos

For Addition Information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/pronk-pops-show-38-august-3-2011-segement-0-will-tea-party-caucus-vote-as-a-block-against-democratic-and-republican-establishment-compromise-bill-on-raising-national-debt-ceiling-by-900-billion/

Segment 1: The Second Obama Recession Starts Or The Great Obama Depression Continues–The Growth Rate of Gross Domestic Product Declines For Four Consecutive Quarters–The Economy Has Peaked And Entered A Period Of Stagflation–Rising Prices, Unemployment And Obama Misery Index!–Ron Paul To The Rescue?–Videos

For Addition Information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/pronk-pops-show-39-august-3-2011-segment-1-the-second-obama-recession-starts-or-the-great-obama-depression-continues%E2%80%93the-growth-rate-of-gross-domestic-product-declines-for-four-consecutive/

Pronk Pops Show 38

July 27, 2011 03:17 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 38, July 27, 2011

Segment 0: Tea Party Democrats, Republicans, and Independents Betrayed–Tell The Democratic and Republican Establishments To Balance The Budget and Cut The Debt Ceiling–Just Say No To Obama, Reid, Boehner and Ryan Unbalanced Budgets–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/pronk-pops-show-38-july-27-2011-segment-0-tea-party-democrats-republicans-and-independents-betrayed-tell-the-democratic-and-republican-establishments-to-balance-the-budget-and-cut-the-debt-ceil/

Segment 1: It’s Time For A Permanent, Prevasive and Predictable Stimulus Package–The FairTax–Launching A Peace and Prosperity Economy–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/pronk-pops-show-38-july-27-2011-segment-1-segment-1-it%E2%80%99s-time-for-a-permanent-prevasive-and-predictable-stimulus-package%E2%80%93the-fairtax%E2%80%93launching-a-peace-and-prosperity-econ/

Pronk Pops Show 37

July 21, 2011 03:44 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 37, July 21, 2011, Part 1

Segment 0: President Obama Lies and Scares People On Social Security–Stop Spending and Balance The Budget!–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/pronk-pops-show-37-july-20-2011-segment-0-president-obama-lies-and-scares-people-on-social-security-stop-spending-and-balance-the-budget-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 37, July 20, 2011: Segment 1: The American People’s Solution To Economic Stagnation: Increase National Debt Ceiling By $2,000 Billion To $16,300 Billion In Exchange For Passage of A Balanced Budget Amendment And The FairTax Bills And Repealing The Income Tax 16th Amendment To U.S. Constitution–A Balanced, Fair And Transparent Approach To Creating Jobs and Growing A Peace and Prosperity Economy–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/pronk-pops-show-37-july-20-2011-segment-1-the-american-people%E2%80%99s-solution-to-economic-stagnation-increase-national-debt-ceiling-by-2000-billion-to-16300-billion-in-exchange-for-passage/

Part 2 Segments 2, 3 and 4 will be broadcast next Wednesday, July 27, 2011 from 3-5pm and posted on Thursday, July 28, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 36

July 13, 2011 04:23 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 36, July 13, 2011

Segment 0: Lipstick On A Pig–Great Obama Depression– Deeper and Longer–Official U-3 Unemployment Rate Hits 9.2% In June 2011 With 14 Million Unemployed and Total Unemployment Rate U-6 Hits 16.2% With Over 24.8 Million Americans Seeking Full Time Job–Obama Is Not Working–2012–End An Error!–Fire Obama–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/pronk-pops-show-36-july-13-2011-segment-0-lipstick-on-a-pig-great-obama-depression-deeper-and-longer-official-u-3-unemployment-rate-hits-9-2-in-june-2011-with-14-million-unemployed-and-total-u/?preview=true&preview_id=1359&preview_nonce=35f48d29ca

Segment 1: Gretchen Morgenson & Joshua Rosner–Reckless Endangerment: How Outsized Ambition, Greed, and Corruption Led To Economic Armageddon–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/pronk-pops-show-36-july-13-2011-segment-1-gretchen-morgenson-joshua-rosner-reckless-endangerment-how-outsized-ambition-greed-and-corruption-led-to-economic-armageddon-videos/?preview=true&preview_id=1370&preview_nonce=a92ff3f2ca

Segment 2: Jim Rogers, Peter Schiff, Marc Farber and Ron Paul On The National Debt Ceiling and Balancing The Budget–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/pronk-pops-show-36-july-3-2011-segment-2-ron-paul-on-the-national-debt-ceiling-and-balancing-the-budget-videos/?preview=true&preview_id=1377&preview_nonce=51b47fd93e

Segment 3: Obama’s Gungate: Operation Fast and Furious–Arming Mexican Drug Cartels and Criminals–Killing American and Mexican Citizens–A Pretext For The Ultimate Aim of Disarming The American People and Repealing the Second Amendment–Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, BATFE, ICE and DEA Coverup and Stonewalling–Call For Special Prosecutor–President Obama and Attorney General Holder Should Be Impeached For Obstruction of Justice–Videos–Updated

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/pronk-pops-show-36-july-13-2011-segment-3-obamas-gungate-operation-fast-and-furious-arming-mexican-drug-cartels-and-criminals-killing-american-and-mexican-citizens-a-pretext-for-the-ultimate/?preview=true&preview_id=1366&preview_nonce=811986bc80

Segment 4: Ron Paul won’t seek re election for Congress–Why? Can You Say–President Ron Paul–Vote For A Committed and Principled Constitutionalist–The Peace and Prosperity Candidate For President–Ron Paul–Videos

For additional information and videos:
http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/pronk-pops-show-36-july-13-2011-segment-4-ron-paul-won%E2%80%99t-seek-re-election-for-congress%E2%80%93why-can-you-say%E2%80%93president-ron-paul%E2%80%93vote-for-a-committed-and-principled-const/?preview=true&preview_id=1406&preview_nonce=16c661faf2

Pronk Pops Show 35

July 06, 2011 03:44 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 35, July 6, 2015

Segment 0: The Meaning of Independence Day–Videos

For additional information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/pronk-pops-show-35-july-6-2011-segment-0-the-meaning-of-independence-day-videos/?preview=true&preview_id=1327&preview_nonce=d099da9d31

Segment 1: The Legal Standard In A Murder Case: Prove It Beyond A Reasonable Doubt–Suspicion And Opinion Is Not Enough–Casey Anthony Murder Case–Not Guilty–Videos

For additional information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/pronk-pops-show-35-july-5-2011-segment-1-the-legal-standard-in-a-murder-case-prove-it-beyond-a-reasonable-doubt-suspicion-and-opinion-is-not-enough-casey-anthony-murder-case-not-quilty-videos/

Segment 2: George Bureau of Investigations Finds Atlanta School Teachers and Principals Cheating Scandal:Raised Students Scores On Tests –Government Corrupt Schools–

For additional information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/pronk-pops-show-35-july-6-2011-segment-2-george-bureau-of-investigations-finds-atlanta-school-teachers-and-principals-cheating-scandalraised-students-scores-on-tests-government-corrupt-schools/

Segment 3: Obama’s Marxist Class Warfare On Millionaires and Billionaires–Tax The Job Creators–President’s Unbalanced Budget Would Result In A Big $1,100 Billion Deficit In Fiscal Year 2012–This Is Obama’s So-Called Balanced Approach–Obama Is Not Working–Fire Obama Right Now!–Videos

For additional information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/pronk-pops-show-35-july-6-2011-segment-3-obamas-marxist-class-warfare-on-millionaires-and-billionaires-tax-the-job-creators-presidents-unbalanced-budget-would-result-in-a-big-1100-billion/

Pronk Pops Show 34

June 29, 2011 03:38 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 34, June 29, 2011

Segment 0: Sexist Elitist Chris Wallace Asks Michele Backmann Are You A Flake?–Chris, Are You A Wimp?–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/pronk-pops-show-34-june-29-2011-segment-0-sexist-elitist-chris-wallace-asks-michele-backmann-are-you-a-flake-chris-are-you-a-wimp-videos/?preview=true&preview_id=1287&preview_nonce=d47e8281df

Segment 1: Is Ron Paul An Isolationist–No–He Is For Free Trade and A Nonterventionist Foreign Policy–Are The NeoCons Warmongers–Yes–Aggressive Interventionist Foreign Policy–Empire or Nation Building!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/pronk-pops-show-34-june-29-2011-segment-1-is-ron-paul-an-isolationist-no-he-is-for-free-trade-and-a-nonterventionist-foreign-policy-are-the-neocons-warmongers-yes-aggressive-interventist-fore/?preview=true&preview_id=1295&preview_nonce=17ff44ad0c

Segment 2: Cut, Cap, And Balance Pledge–The Washington D.C. Howdy Doody Debt Ceiling Show–”Say Kids What Time Is It?”–Howdy Doody Time–Fiscal Year 2020 Balanced Budget Time–Not Serious–Send In The Clowns–There Already There!– Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/29/pronk-pops-show-34-june-29-2011-segment-2-cut-cap-and-balance-pledge-the-washington-d-c-howdy-doody-debt-ceiling-show-say-kids-what-time-is-it-howdy-doody-time-fiscal-year-2020-balance/

Pronk Pops Show 33

June 22, 2011 03:21 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 33, June 22, 2011

Segment 0: Jon Huntsman Launches 2012 Candidacy for President At Liberty Park–Should Become A Democrat Like John V. Lindsay And Run Against President Obama in 2012!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/pronk-pops-show-june-22-2011-segment-0-jon-huntsman-launches-2012-candidacy-for-president-at-liberty-park%e2%80%93should-become-a-democrat-like-john-v-lindsay-and-run-against-president-obama-in-2/

Segment 1: Republican Candidates For President Romney, Cain, and Johnson Refuse To Sign Pro-Life Citizen’s Pledge–While Sarah Palin’s Trig’s Creator E-Mail Moves Millions–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/pronk-pops-show-june-22-2011-segment-1-republican-candidates-for-president-romney-cain-and-johnson-refuse-to-sign-pro-life-citizens-pledge-while-sarah-palins-trigs-creator-e-mail-moves-mi/

Segment 2: Rick Perry/Sarah Palin Republican Establishment Candidate Ticket vs. Ron Paul/Michele Bachmann Republican Constitutional Candidate Ticket for the 2012 Presidential Race–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/pronk-pops-show-33-june-22-2011-segment-2-rick-perrysarah-palin-republican-establishment-candidate-ticket-vs-ron-paulmichele-bachmann-republican-constitutional-candidate-ticket-for-the-2012-pr/

Segment 3: The Next President Of The United States Tells Truth To Power At Republican Leadership Conference–Great Speech!

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/pronk-pops-show-33-june-22-2011-segment-3-the-next-president-of-the-united-states-tells-truth-to-power-at-republican-leadership-conference-great-speech/

Segment 4: Bloomberg Poll Bad News For Obama–Only 30% Certain They Will Vote For Obama in 2012!–66% Think Country On The Wrong Track!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/pronk-pops-show-33-june-22-2011-segment-4-bloomberg-poll-bad-news-for-obama-only-30-certain-they-will-vote-for-obama-in-2012-66-think-country-on-the-wrong-track-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 32

June 15, 2011 03:10 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 32, June 15, 2011

Segment 0: Money, Organization, Message, Momentum, Ambition–MOMMA–You Need MOMMA To Win A Presidential Race!–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/pronk-pops-show-32-june-15-2011-segment-0-money-organization-message-momentum-ambition-momma-you-need-momma-to-win-a-presidential-race-videos/?preview=true&preview_id=1173&preview_nonce=d056ccee9f

Segment 1: Republican Presidential Debate In New Hampshire June 13, 2011–American People The Winner–Obama The Loser–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/pronk-pops-show-32-june-15-2011-segment-1-republican-presidential-debate-in-new-hampshire-june-13-2011%E2%80%93american-people-the-winner%E2%80%93obama-the-loser%E2%80%93videos/?preview=true&preview_id=1176&preview_nonce=0196810e90

Segment 2: The Political Issues of 2012 Elections: #1–Unemployment–Jobs, #2–Government Spending–Balanced Budgets, #3-Tax Reform–The FairTax, #4-Inflation–End The Fed, #5-Wars–Bring The Troops Home–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/pronk-pops-show-32-june-15-2011-
segment-2-1-the-issues-unemployment-jobs-2-government-spending-balanced-budgets-3-tax-reform-the-fairtax-4-inflation-end-the-fed-5-wars-bring-the-t/?preview=true&preview_id=1183&preview_nonce=577da72775

Segment 3: Pronk Presidential Prediction–The Winner Is?–The American People!–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/pronk-pops-show-32-june15-2011-segment-3-pronk-presidential-prediction-the-winner-is-the-american-people-videos/?preview=true&preview_id=1169&preview_nonce=52b4648eff

Pronk Pops Show 31

June 08, 2011 03:17 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 31: June 8, 2011

Segment 0: ENTJ–Know Thyself–This above all: to thine own self be true–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/pronk-pops-show-31-segment-0-entj%E2%80%93know-thyself%E2%80%93this-above-all-to-thine-own-self-be-true%E2%80%93videos/?preview=true&preview_id=1122&preview_nonce=938bb3c129

Segment 1: A Breach of Public Trust–Hound Dogs–Clinton, Weiner, and Obama–Notorious Habitual Liars–Wake Up–Start A Revolution–Ron Paul–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/pronk-pops-show-31-segment-1-a-breach-of-public-trust%E2%80%93hound-dogs%E2%80%93clinton-weiner-and-obama%E2%80%93notorious-habitual-liars%E2%80%93wake-up%E2%80%93start-a-revolution%E2%80%93ron-pa/

Segment 2: June 2011–Unemployment Situation Worsens–9.1% Official Unemployment Rate (U-3) with 13,900,000 Unemployed and 15.8% Total Unemployment Rate (U-6) With 24,283,000 Americans Looking For Full Time Jobs!–Great Obama Depression (GOD)!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/08/pronk-pops-show-31-segment-2-june-2011-unemployment-situation-worsens-9-1-official-unemployment-rate-u-3-with-13900000-unemployed-and-15-8-total-unemployment-rate-u-6-with-24283000-america/

Pronk Pops Show 30

June 02, 2011 01:26 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show, June 2, 2011

Segment 0: The Facebook Effect–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/pronk-pops-show-30-june-2-2011-segment-0-the-facebook-effect-videos/

Segment 2: Paul Allen–Idea Man: A Memoir By The Cofounder of Microsoft–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/pronk-pops-show-30-june-6-2011-segment-1-paul-allen%E2%80%93idea-man-a-memoir-by-the-cofounder-of-microsoft%E2%80%93videos/

Segment 3: Last Dance For Love–Congress Blocks Debt Limit Hike–For Now–Who Is The Political Class Fooling–Bring The Troops and Jobs Home and Send The Bureaucrats and Big Spenders Home–Save Medicare and Social Security–Hot Stuff–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/pronk-pops-show-30-june-2-2011-segment-3-last-dance-for-love%E2%80%93congress-blocks-debt-limit-hike%E2%80%93for-now%E2%80%93who-is-the-political-class-fooling%E2%80%93bring-the-troops-and-jobs-ho/

Pronk Pops Show 29

May 26, 2011 01:12 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 29, May 26, 2011

Segment 1: Herman Cain–The Tea Party Movement Candidate–Running On Cutting Spending, Opposing Higher Debt Ceiling, Enforcing Immigration Laws, Defunding Planned Parenthood, Nominating Pro Life Judges, And Passing The FairTax–Common Sense Solutions!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/23/pronk-pops-show-29-may-25-2011-segment-1-herman-cain-the-tea-party-movement-candidate-running-on-cutting-spending-opposing-higher-debt-ceiling-enforcing-immigration-laws-defunding-planned-pa/?preview=true&preview_id=1018&preview_nonce=3fac63d9d6

Segment 2: Taxman Obama’s Hidden Tax Increase On The Rich That Results In Fewer Jobs And Lower Economic Growth vs. Ryan’s Long and Winding Road To Economic Stagnation vs. Senators Lee, DeMint and Paul’s Stairway To Peace and Prosperity With A Balanced Budget!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/pronk-pops-show-29-may-25-2011-segment-2-taxman-obamas-hidden-tax-increase-on-the-rich-that-results-in-fewer-jobs-and-lower-economic-growth-vs-ryans-long-and-winding-road-to-economic-stagnat/

Segment 3: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Addresses Congress–A Lesson In Leadership–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/pronk-pops-show-29-may-25-2011-segment-3-israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-addresses-congress-a-lesson-in-leadership-videos/

Segment 4: Memo To Washington Republican Party Establishment–You Are Not Listening To The American People–Read Our Lips–”Cut Spending and Balance The Budget Starting With Fiscal Year 2012″–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/25/pronk-pops-show-29-may-25-2011-segment-4-memo-to-washington-republican-party-establishment-you-are-not-listening-to-the-american-people-read-our-lips-cut-spending-and-balance-the-budget-start/

Pronk Pops Show 28

May 18, 2011 04:26 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 28, May 18, 2011

Segment 1: Segment 1: Newt Gingrich Running For President As A Big Government Interventionist Republican Progressive aka Green “Compassionate” Conservative?–Favors Individual Health Care Mandates While Attacking Paul Ryan As A Right Wing Radical Social Engineer For Proposing A Premium Support or $15,000 Voucher System To Save Medicare From Bankruptcy!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/pronk-pops-show-28-may-18-2011-segment-1-newt-gingrich-running-for-president-as-a-big-govenment-interventionist-republican-progressive-aka-green-compassionate-conservative-favors-individual/

Segment 2: Leave It To Beaver–Newt Gingrich–The Beaver Puppet of The Republican Washington D.C. Establishment Political Class With It Social Engineered Warfare and Welfare Economy with A $3,500 Billion Unbalanced Budget For Fiscal Year 2012 with Nearly $1,000 Billion In Deficit Spending!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/pronk-pops-show-28-may-18-2011-segment-2leave-it-to-beaver-newt-gingrich-the-beaver-puppet-of-the-republican-washington-d-c-establishment-political-class-with-it-social-engineered-warfare-and-w/

Segment 3: Ron Paul Running For President Of The United States in 2012–It Is Official–The Third Time Is The Charm!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/pronk-pops-show-28-may-28-2011-segment-3-ron-paul-running-for-president-of-the-united-states-in-2012-it-is-official-the-third-time-is-the-charm-videos/

Segment 4: Ron Paul Is Running For President of The United States In 2012!–The Third Time Is The Charm–A Man Of Integrity–A Candidate For Peace and Prosperity–Neither A Big Government Warfare Republican Nor A Massive Government Welfare Democrat–A Man Of And For The American People–A Tea Party Patriot–Ron Paul–Videos

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/pronk-pops-show-28-may-18-2011-segment-4-ron-paul-is-running-for-president-of-the-united-states-in-2012-the-third-time-is-the-charm-a-man-of-integrity-a-candidate-for-peace-and-prosperity-nei/

Pronk Pops Show 27

May 11, 2011 10:13 AM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 27, May 10, 2011

Segment 1: Bureau of Labor Statistics Official Unemployment Rate (U-3) Increased To 9.0% With 13.7 Million Americans Unemployed and Total Unemployment Rate (U-6) Increased To 15.9% With 24.4 Million Americans Seeking Full Time Job–Economy Adds 244,000 Jobs But Initial Unemployment Claims Hit Eight Month High of 474,000!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/pronk-pops-show-27-may-9-2011-segment-1-bureau-of-labor-statistics-offical-unemployment-rate-u-3-increased-to-9-0-with-13-7-million-americans-unemployed-and-total-unemployment-rate-u-6-increas/

Segment 2: OMI-Obama Misery Index–U.S. Misery Index Is Rising As Both The Unemployment Rate and Inflation Rate Increase!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/pronk-pops-show-27-may-10-2011-segment-2-omi-obama-misery-index-u-s-misery-index-is-rising-as-both-the-unemployment-rate-and-inflation-rate-increase-vidoes/

Segment 3: Segment 3: Speaker Boehner’s Address to the Economic Club of New York on Jobs, Debt, Gas Prices–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/pronk-pops-show-27-may-10-2011-segment-3-speaker-boehners-address-to-the-economic-club-of-new-york-on-jobs-debt-gas-prices/

Pronk Pops Show 26

April 27, 2011 11:28 AM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 25, April 26, 2011

Segment 0: Eva Cassidy–A Singer’s Singer

Segment 1: Ron Paul Is Running For President of The United States In 2012!–The Third Time Is The Charm–A Man Of Integrity–A Candidate For Peace and Prosperity–Neither A Big Government Warfare Republican Nor A Massive Government Welfare Democrat–A Man Of And For The American People–A Tea Party Patriot–Ron Paul–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/pronk-pops-show-25-april-26-2011-segment-0-eva-cassidy-a-singers-singer-segment-1-ron-paul-is-running-for-president-of-the-united-states-in-2012%E2%80%93the-third-time-is-the-charm%E2%80%93a/?preview=true&preview_id=808&preview_nonce=d3d9842e9a

Segment 3: President Obama Is The Reason Your Gasoline Prices Are Going Up!–American People Favor Drilling For Oil and Gas!–Drill Baby Drill–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/04/26/pronk-pops-show-25-april-26-2011-segment-3-president-obama-is-the-reason-your-gasoline-prices-are-going-up-american-people-favor-drilling-for-oil-and-gas-drill-baby-drill-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 24

April 20, 2011 12:47 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 24: April 19, 2011

Segment 0: S&P Rating Outlook Changed From “Stable” To “Negative” For U.S. Treasury Debt–Videos

Segment 1: Who is John Galt? Who is Ayn Rand–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/pronk-pops-show-24-april-19-2011-segment-1-who-is-john-galt-who-is-ayn-rand-videos/

Segment 2: President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Speech Of April 13, 2011–Eat The Rich And Killing The American Dream Class Warfare–Cuts National Security Spending and Raise Taxes On The Rich–Produces Massive Deficits, National Debt, and Higher Unemployment For 12 More Years–Progressive Radical Socialist Economic Stagflation–Videos

For additional information and videos:
http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/pronk-pops-show-24-april-18-2011-segment-2-president-obamas-fiscal-year-2012-budget-speech-of-april-13-2011-eat-the-rich-and-killing-the-american-dream-class-warfare-cuts-national-security-sp/

Segment 3: The FairTax (National Consumption Sales Tax) vs. The Flat Tax (One Rate Federal Income Tax)–Who Pays The Most Federal Individual Income Tax? Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/pronk-pops-show-24-april-19-2011-segment-3-the-fairtax-national-consumption-sales-tax-vs-the-flat-tax-one-rate-federal-income-tax-who-pays-the-most-federal-individual-income-tax-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 23

April 13, 2011 10:31 AM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 23: April 12, 2011

Segment 0: Sidney Lumet–Rest In Peace–Videos

Segment 1: Tea Party Movement Demands Passage of Balanced Budget Amendment and The FairTax As The Price For Raising The National Statutory Debt Limit of $ 14,294,000,000 One Last Time By $1,000,000,000,000!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/tea-party-movement-demands-passage-of-balance-budget-amendment-and-balanced-budget-rule-as-the-price-for-raising-the-national-debt-ceiling-one-last-time-by-1000000000000-videos/?preview=true&preview_id=701&preview_nonce=5e679dbc1d

Segment 2: The FairTax (National Consumption Sales Tax) vs. The Flat Tax (One Rate Federal Income Tax)–Who Pays The Most Federal Individual Income Tax? Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/pronk-pops-show-23-april-12-2011-segment-2the-fairtax-national-consumption-sales-tax-vs-the-flat-tax-one-rate-federal-income-tax-who-pays-the-most-federal-individual-income-tax-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 22 (Part 2)

April 08, 2011 11:16 AM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 22, April 7, 2011

Segment 1: 3,500,000 Million Americans Unemployed in March 2011 Still Exceeds Great Depression High of 13,000,000 In March 1933–The Obama Depressions Continues–Bureau of Labor Statistics: 8.8% Official Unemployment Rate (U-3) vs. Gallup Unemployment Rate of 10.0%–Nonfarm Payroll Increased By 216,000–The Government Makes The Depression Worse!–Videos

Segment 2: Obama’s Anti-American, Anti-Capitalist, Anti-Growth, Anti-Jobs, and Anti-Security Energy Policy–Videos

Segment 3: Republican Establishment Will Propose A Ten Year $6,200 Billion Cut In Spending Over Ten Years–The Problem Is It Does Not Balance The Budget For Another Five Years At The Earliest–Tea Party Movement Demands Balanced Budgets Starting In 2012 For The Next Ten Years!–A Jet Plane To Prosperity Not A Path To Prosperity–Videos

Segment 4: Just One More Thing Congressman Ryan: When Does The Republican’s Path To Prosperity Balance The Budget?–The Twelth of Never!–Videos

For additional information and videos on the above segments:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/04/04/pronk-pops-show-22-april-5-2011-segment-113500000-million-americans-unemployed-in-march-2011-still-exceeds-great-depression-high-of-13000000-in-march-1933%E2%80%93the-obama-depressions-contin/

Pronk Pops Show 22 (Part 1)

April 07, 2011 10:41 AM PDT

Pronk Pops: Show 22, April 7, 2011

Segment 0: Glenn Beck Ending His Show At Fox News

Segment 2: Obama’s Anti-American, Anti-Capitalist, Anti-Growth, Anti-Jobs, and Anti-Security Energy Policy–Videos

Segment 4: Just One More Thing Congressman Ryan: When Does The Republican’s Path To Prosperity Balance The Budget?–The Twelth of Never!–Videos

For additional information and videos on the above segments:

Pronk Pops Show 21

March 29, 2011 03:41 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 21, March 29, 2010

Segment 1: The Truth And Consequences About Undeclared Wars–Real Strange Bedfellows–Obama Allies U.S. with Libyan Rebels Including Islamic Jihadists, Moslem Brotherhood, and Al-Qaeda!–Give Peace A Chance–AC-130 Gunship–A-10 Warthogs–F-15E Strike Eagles and Special Operation Smash Squads

For Additional Information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/pronk-pops-show-21-march-29-2011-the-truth-and-consequences-about-undeclared-wars%E2%80%93real-strange-bedfellows%E2%80%93obama-allies-u-s-with-libyan-rebels-including-islamic-jihadists-moslem-b/

Pronk Pops Show 20

March 23, 2011 12:02 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 20: March 22, 2011

Segment 1:F-15 Crashes In Libya

Segment 2ne Unconstitutional and Undeclared War Too Many: The Great Pretender, Peace Candidate And Noble Peace Prize Winner, President Barack Obama Undeclared War On Libya’s Muammar Ghaddafi In Defense Of Libyian Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) Rebels Linked To al-Qaeda and The BP Libyian Oil Deal Linked To Obama Campaign Contributions–A Political Payoff!–Obama Has To Go In 2012–Videos

Segment 3:Earthquake Damages Japanese Nuclear Plant At Fukushima Daiichi, Four Explosions and Four Nuclear Reactors Flooded With Seawater To Contain Release Of Radioactive Material and Plant Released Radioactive Materials To Stop Pressure Buildup–Partial Meltdown Of Nuclear Core Feared–Radioactive Material Escaping From Plant–Over 250,000 Ordered Evacuated From 20 Kilometer (12.4 Miles) Radius From Plant–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/pronk-pops-show-20-march-22-2011-segment-1-f-15-crashes-in-libya-segment-2-videos/?preview=true&preview_id=569&preview_nonce=40500c814b

Pronk Pops Show 19

March 09, 2011 10:57 AM PST

Pronk Pops Show 19: March 8, 2011

Segment 1: The Washington Political Elites of Both Parties Are Not Serious About Balancing The Federal Budget And Funding Entitlement Liabilities–Send In The Clowns–Don’t Bother There Here–Videos

Segment 2, Gallup–U.S. Unemployment Hits 10.3% In February 2011 Vs. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) U.S. Unemployment Rate Declined By .1% To 8.9% in February 2011 With Job Creation of 192,000 In February 2011–Over 13.7 Million Americans Unemployed More Than Worse Month of Great Depression!

For more information and videos related to this show click on links below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/pronk-pops-show-19-march-8-2011segment-1-the-washington-political-elites-of-both-parties-are-not-serious-about-balancing-the-federal-budget-and-funding-entitlement-liabilities-send-in-the-clowns/

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/03/08/pronk-pops-show-19-march-8-2010-segment-2-gallup-u-s-unemployment-hits-10-3-in-february-2011-vs-bureau-of-labor-statistics-bls-u-s-unemployment-rate-declined-by-1-to-8-9-in-february-2011-wi/

Pronk Pops Show 18

March 03, 2011 03:35 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 18: March 3, 2011

Segment 1: Remembering The Brooklyn Dodgers and Duke Snider

Segment 2: The National Debt Will Hit $20,000,000,000,000 By 2020!

Segment 3 Public Sector Unions vs. The America People: Replacing The American Dream With The Socialist Union Nightmare

For additional information and videos on the above segments:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/pronk-pops-show-18-march-1-2011-remembering-the-brooklyn-dodgers-and-duke-snider-the-union-corruption-of-government-delusion-of-the-unconstrained-vision-of-unlimited-government-and-the-2000000/

Pronk Pop Show 17

February 22, 2011 03:47 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 17: February 22, 2011

Black History Month–Progressives–Eugenics–Black Population Control–Abortion–Black Genocide–Planned Parenthood–Barack Obama

For more information and videos relating to the show:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/pronk-pops-show-17-february-22-2011-black-history-month-progressives-eugenics-black-population-control-abortion-black-genocide-planned-parenthood-barack-obama-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 16

February 15, 2011 03:49 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 16: February 15, 2011

Conservative Political Action Conference 2011

President Obama’s Saint Valentine’s Massacre of The American People–Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Buster–Spending $3,729 Billion–Taxes $2,627 Billion–Deficit $1,101 Billion–Dead On Arrival–DOA– 3 Million Tea Party Patriots To March On Washington D.C. On Friday, April 15, 2011 In Protest!

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/pronk-pops-show-16-february-15-2011-conservative-political-action-conference-cpac-2011-and-president-obamas-saint-valentines-massacre-of-the-american-people-fiscal-year-2012-budget-buster-s/

Pronk Pops Show 15: Hour 3

February 10, 2011 03:32 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 15:February 8,2011, Hour 3

Lies, Damn Lies, Statistics, and Obama’s Unbelievable Unemployment Numbers

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/pronk-pops-show-15-february-8-2011-from-texas-snow-storm-to-washington-snow-job-lies-damn-lies-statistics-and-obamas-unbelievable-unemployment-numbers-obama-care-unconstitutional-and-void-pa-2/

Pronk Pops Show 15: Hour 2

February 10, 2011 03:23 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 15: February 8, 2011 Hour 2

Rolling Power Outages in Texas

Obama Care Declared Unconstitutional and Void By Federal Judge

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

Pronk Pops Show 15: Hour 1

February 10, 2011 03:10 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 15: February 8,2011, Hour 1

Super Storm and Super Bowl In Dallas, Texas

Man-Made Carbon Dioxide Emission and Global Warming–Science vs. Politics

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

Pronk Pops Show 14

January 28, 2011 02:10 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 14: January 27, 2011

The Big Lie and Free Speech

President Obama’s State of the Union Campaign Speech

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/pronk-pops-show-14-january-27-2011-the-big-lie-and-free-speech-and-president-obamas-state-of-the-union-campaign-speech-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 13

December 09, 2010 01:22 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 13: December 9, 2010

Pronk Pops Show 12

December 08, 2010 04:18 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 12: December 8, 2010

News Update On WikiLeaks and Julian Assange

The Chairman of The Federal Reserve and Quantitative Easing 2

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/12/08/pronk-pops-show-12-december-8-2010-news-update-on-julian-assange-wikileaks-ben-benanke-the-fed-barack-obama-tax-and-spend-democrats-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 11

December 03, 2010 02:18 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 11: December 3, 2010

News and Commentary On November 2010 Unemployment Rate and Level Statistics

WikiLeaks

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/12/03/pronk-pops-show-11-december-3-2010-news-unemployment-rate-up-to-9-8-with-over-15-million-unemployed-wikileaks-food-prices-rising-the-fairtax-videos-2/?preview=true&preview_id=245&preview_nonce=e49c7ff2d2

Pronk Pops Show 10

December 02, 2010 12:35 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 10: December 1, 2010

Update on new TSA Airport Screening Procedures

Portland, Oregon Terrorist Bomber Arrested by F.B.I.

WikiLeaks Posts Department of State Cables

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:
http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/11/24/pronk-pops-show-10-november-24-2010-food-prices-rising-fairtax-updates-on-tsa-and-quantitative-easing-money-printing-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 9

November 19, 2010 02:23 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 9: November 19, 2010

Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke Responds To Critics of Monetary Policy

Transportation Security Administration or TSA New Screening Procedures:
Full Body Scanners and Extended Pat-Downs

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/pronk-pops-show-9-november-17-2010-quantitative-easing-2-update-g-20-summit-a-bust-tsa-tyrants-scanning-americans-videos/

Pronk Pops Commentary 1

November 11, 2010 03:42 PM PST

Pronk Pops Commentary 1: November 11, 2010

Stop Federal Reserve Quantitative Easing or Money Printing

Pronk Pops Show 8

November 10, 2010 04:24 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 8: November 10, 2010

Tea Party Major Issues: Jobs, Spending, Deficits, Debt, Taxes, Health Care and Illegal Immigration

Tea Party Stars: Senators: Rand Paul and Marco Rubio

Republican Tea Party Test: Cutting Federal Spending By Over $1,000 Billion To Balance The Budget For Fiscal Years 2011, 2012, and 2013.

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/pronk-pops-show-8-november-10-2010-fiscal-policy-cut-spending-balanced-budgets-no-new-taxes-monetary-policy-no-quantitative-easing-or-printing-money-hidden-tax-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 7

November 09, 2010 02:45 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 7: November 9, 2010

Unemployment News

Tea Party Effect On 2010 Elections

Key Issues: Federal Budget Deficits and National Debt

Cutting Federal Government Spending and Balancing The Federal Budget

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/pronk-pops-show-7-november-8-2010-the-tea-party-effect-what-is-next-and-update-on-feds-qe2/

Pronk Pops Show 6

November 03, 2010 03:58 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 6: November 3, 2010

Winning Elections With MOMMA (Money, Organization, Message, Momentum, Ambition) and The Tea Party Movement Effect

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/pronk-pops-show-6-november-3-2010-winning-elections-with-momma-money-organization-message-momentum-ambition-and-the-tea-party-movement-effect-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 5

October 28, 2010 03:49 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 5: October 27, 2010

Democratic Party’s National Attack Ad Campaign on Candidates and the Flat Tax

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/pronk-pops-show-5-october-27-2010-democratic-party-national-attack-ad-campaign-on-fairtax-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 4

October 28, 2010 03:43 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 4: October 20, 2010

Money, Quantitative Easing and Inflation in the United States Economy

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/pronk-pops-number-4-videosquantitive-easying-ii-printing-money-to-finance-federal-govenment/

Pronk Pops Show 3

October 28, 2010 03:32 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 3: October 14, 2010

Unemployment and inflation in the United States economy

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/pronk-pops-show-3-october-14-2010unemployment-and-inflation/

Pronk Pops Show 2

October 28, 2010 03:27 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 2: October 13, 2010

The 10:10 carbon emission ad campaign on climate change

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wliC2Eiwoyw

http://www.1010global.org/uk

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton replacing Vice President Joseph Biden on the 2010 Democratic Party ticket

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/pronk-pops-number-2-october-6-2010-1010-campaign-the-progressive-radical-socialists-method-of-cutting-carbon-emissions-kill-those-who-disagree-with-you-no-pressure-your-choice-the-big-lie-v/

Pronk Pops Show 1

October 28, 2010 03:01 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 1: September 29, 2010

University of Texas at Austin shooting/suicide

The Tea Party Movement in the United States

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/pronk-pops-program-number-1-september-29-2010-clips-and-notes-videos/

Raymond Thomas Pronk’s Podcasts

Pronk Pops Show 40:August 10, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 39:August 3, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 38:July 27, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 37:July 20, 2011

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 38-40

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 34-37

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 30-33

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 27-29

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 22 (Part 2)-26

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 16-22 (Part 1)

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 10-15

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 1-9

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Beyond Top Tier–First In The Hearts and Minds Of The American People and Founding Fathers–The One–Ron Paul–Restoring Liberty, Peace and Prosperity–Videos

Posted on August 16, 2011. Filed under: Agriculture, American History, Banking, Blogroll, Business, Communications, Demographics, Economics, Employment, Farming, Federal Government, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, history, Homes, Immigration, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, Microeconomics, Money, People, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Public Sector, Rants, Raves, Taxes, Technology, Unions, Video, War, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Comedy Central, conservatives, First Tier Candidates, Foreign Aid, Founding Fathers, Hearts and Minds, Ignoring Ron Paul, Jon Stewart, Libertarians, Mainstream Media, Major Media, Media Ignores Ron Paul, Peace and Prosperity, Peace Candidate, Progressives, RINOS, Ron Paul, Rush Limbaugh |

Jon Stewart: Why Is the Media Ignoring Ron Paul?

http://gawker.com/5831167/

Corporate Media Attempts to Marginalize Ron Paul by Ignoring Him

Ron Paul on Neil Cavuto: From Ames Iowa Straw Poll, Great Interview!

Iowa Straw Poll results – Ron Paul 2012 off to great start!

Ron Paul Ad – THE ONE.

Ron Paul to Congress: If Debt Is the Problem, Why Do You Want More of It?

Kristine Frazao from Ames, Iowa

Official: Ron Paul is choice of troops

Glenn Beck Unofficially Endorses Ron Paul For President In 2012

Ron Paul: A New Hope

Don’t tread on me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT2Ut5LHC9Y

Ron Paul: I Can Win in 2012

Ron Paul : Were NOT Threatened Militarily By ANY Country AT ALL! (Part 1/2)

Ron Paul : Were NOT Threatened Militarily By ANY Country AT ALL! (Part 2/2)

More and more American are noticing that the so-called mainstream media are intentionally ignoring Ron Paul.

The political establishment of both parties are running scared of Ron Paul and the word has gone out to either ignore or marginalize Ron Paul.

How scared?

Rush Limbaugh stated today on his radio show that Ron Paul is not a Republican.

Really?

SA@TAC – The Great Neo-Con: Libertarianism Isn’t ‘Conservative’

SA@TAC – End All Foreign Aid

Next Rush will be telling us Barry Goldwater was not a Republican and Bill Buckley was a Progressive.

Rush is losing it.

Seems that Rush, Mark and Sean are closet neoconservatives when it comes to Israel and go nuts when either Ron Paul or Rand Paul propose doing away with all foreign aid including that going to Israel.

Both Rush and Levin are disappointing me.

The United States can no longer spend 2 percent of the Federal Budget on foreign aid including foreign aid to Israel.

The majority of the American people want to eliminate all foreign aid and withdraw from the United Nations.

The majority of the American people want to bring all the troops home.

The majority of the American people want defense spending to be cut.

Live with it.

Background Articles and Videos

The Amazingly Accurate Predictions of Ron Paul

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2011 Iowa Straw Poll: Bachmann knocks off Pawlenty, Paul builds momentum, Perry crashes party—Show me the money!–Videos

Posted on August 15, 2011. Filed under: Banking, Blogroll, Communications, Economics, Employment, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, Immigration, Investments, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, People, Philosophy, Politics, Raves, Talk Radio, Uncategorized, War, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Ames Straw Pollll, conservatives, Constitutional Republican, Iowa Straw Poll, Michele Bachmann, Money, Neoconservatives, Organization, Republican Party, Rick Perry, Ron Paul, Social Conservatives, Status Quo, Tea Party, Tim Pawlenty, Videos |

Ron Paul Speech at the Iowa Straw Poll – 2011 Ron Paul Comes in SECOND PLACE!!

Iowa Straw Poll results

Gov. Perry Announces Presidential Bid

Texas Gov. Rick Perry Announces His Candidacy for President of the United States

Bachmann wins Iowa poll, Pawlenty drops out

MSNBC Gov. Tim Pawlenty is quitting the presidential race

The straw poll conducted by the Iowan Republican Party in Ames, Iowa Aug. 13 was the first real political test of the candidates. The poll is an early indicator of which candidates are both well organized and can attract campaign contributions from their supporters.

Minnesotan Congresswoman Michele Bachmann won the 2011 Ames, Iowa straw poll on Aug. 13 with 4,823 votes. She was followed closely by Texas Congressman Ron Paul with 4,671 votes, a gap of only 162 votes. Bachmann and Paul combined received more than 60 percent of the 16,892 total votes cast.

Lagging far behind in 3rd place was former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty with 2,293 votes and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum with 1,657 votes. Atlanta businessman and former talk radio show host Herman Cain received 1,456 votes, for a strong 5th place finish without spending a penny for radio or television advertising.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, the Republican establishment front-runner candidate, received 567 votes with a 6th place finish. Former Speaker of The House of Representatives Newt Gingrich finished 7th and received 385 votes.

Texas Governor Rick Perry officially announced his candidacy for presidency of the United States in a speech in Charleston, South Carolina on Aug. 13. Perry promised that “I’ll work every day to try to make Washington, D.C. as inconsequential in your life as I can.” and unveiled the tag-line for his campaign, “It is time to get America working again”. Perry then flew off to Waterloo, Iowa on Aug. 14 and crashed the Republican Party Black Hawk County’s Lincoln Day dinner and fundraiser, where he and Bachmann were invited speakers.

Pawlenty announced on Aug.14 that he was dropping out of the race due to his 3^rd place finish in the Iowa straw poll and his performance in the debates. Perry’s entry into the race was also a factor.

I am still supporting Paul as the presidential candidate and Bachmann as the vice-president candidate who would unite the fiscally responsible libertarian and social conservative wings of the Republican Party and Tea Party movement.

I consider both Romney and Perry to be closet progressives or RINOS (Republican In Name Only) with Perry also supporting a neoconservative interventionist foreign policy. Neither Romney nor Perry is up to the job of aggressively cutting the size and scope of the federal government, which would require closing 8 to 10 federal departments, cutting defense spending upwards of 25 percent, cutting entitlement spending (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and welfare programs) and comprehensive tax reform–The FairTax.

Paul is the one candidate that truly believes in a limited constitutional republic with balanced budgets and a non-interventionist foreign policy by bringing the troops home, cutting unnecessary defense spending and ending foreign aid. His long voting record in Congress clearly demonstrates this. Paul is the only peace and prosperity candidate of either political party.

While the American people may believe and trust Paul, it is still not clear they will support him. The real question is, will the American people send him enough money to enable him to run against the Republican establishment candidates, Romney and Perry.

Who will win the Republican Party nomination for president in 2012? Which candidates will bring in the most money and use it wisely by building a well-organized campaign with a clear and concise message? Both Romney and Perry are capable of bringing in big Republican establishment money, especially from the military industrial complex and the petroleum industry.

“Show me the money” will be one of the tests all candidates must meet to remain viable. Money is required to pay for television and radio ads both in the primaries and the general election. Without money or campaign contributions, the majority of the American people who do not follow politics simply won’t be familiar enough with the candidates or their position on the issues.

What is interesting to note is Paul leads all the other candidates for president, including Barack Obama by a large margin in terms of campaign contributions from active duty military. It remains to be seen whether he and Bachmann can consistently bring in enough money from the American people. If they cannot, then either Republican Party establishment candidates, Romney or Perry, should win the presidency in 2012.

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1st Place: Ron Paul, 2nd Place: Michele Bachmann, 3rd Place: Mitt Romney–Winners of The 2011 Ames, Iowa Straw Poll–Videos

Posted on August 13, 2011. Filed under: American History, Banking, Blogroll, Business, Communications, Culture, Economics, Education, Employment, Energy, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, Health Care, history, Immigration, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, People, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Public Sector, Rants, Raves, Reviews, Taxes, Unemployment, Unions, Video, War, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Ames, Iowa, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Straw Poll |

Campaign For Liberty, Peace and Prosperity

Ron Paul on Neil Cavuto: From Ames Iowa Straw Poll, Great Interview!

Ron Paul: Rick Perry Offers No Real Change

Ron Paul at Iowa State Fair

Michele Bachmann Iowa State Fair

Michele Bachmann Iowa Straw Poll Kick Off

Michele Bachmann talks dollars and cents

Kristine Frazao from Ames, Iowa

Countdown to Ames: Iowa Republican’s Craig Robinson Predicts Straw Poll Results

Ames Straw Poll: The Complete Guide

Who is participating in this year’s poll?

1. Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann
2. Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain
3. Twitter account-haver Newt Gingrich
4. Former Utah Governor/Ambassador to China/Wizard keyboardist Jon Huntsman
5. Michigan Representative Thad McCotter
6. Texas Representative Ron Paul
7. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty
8. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney
9. Former Pennsylvania Senator/Jelly enthusiast Rick Santorum

So, the non-participants are Gary Johnson, Fred Karger, Buddy Roemer, and presumed future primary candidate Rick Perry.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/12/ames-straw-poll_n_924828.html

My own prediction is Ron Paul will come in first, followed by Michele Backmann and Mitt Romney.

The race is between the Constitutionalist Republicans Ron Paul and Michele Bachmann and the Establishment Republicans Perry and Romney.

I think the final Republican ticket will be either Paul/Bachman or Perry/Pallin.

I support a Paul/Bachmann Republican Party ticket in 2012 for both are fiscally responsible and voted down the increase in the National Debt ceiling.

A Paul/Bachmann ticket would unite the libertarian and social conservatives who are for limited government in terms of size and scope, a constitutional representative republic and a peace and prosperity economy.

Now if Ron Paul would come on out and support the FairTax, he would win in a landside!

Ames straw poll grounds

The FairTax: It’s Time

Background Articles and Videos

Ron Paul Highlights – GOP Debate in Ames, Iowa

Ron Paul: A New Hope

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Obama’s Regime Change Vote of No Confidence–First: S&P Downgrade–Second: Labor Participate Rate Hits 27 Year Low–Third: Consumer Confidence Hits 30 Year Low of 54.9–Obama Is Not Working!

Posted on August 13, 2011. Filed under: Banking, Blogroll, Business, College, Communications, Economics, Education, Employment, Energy, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, People, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Strategy, Talk Radio, Taxes, Video, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Barack Obama, Consumer confidence, economic policy, Economics, Failure, fiscal policy, Incompetent, inflation, Labor Participation Rate, monetary policy, Obama, President Obama, Regime Change, S&P Downgrade, unemployment, Unpopular, Vote of No Confidence, Wrong Track |

August 12th 2011 CNBC Stock Market Squawk on the Street (Consumer Sentiment)

MORE THAN HALF OF AMERICANS SAY ECONOMY IS WORSENING CCTV News

The truth about the unemployment rate

US FED TO KEEP RATES LOW FOR AT LEAST 2 YEARS

Peter Schiff – ‘The world is propping up the Dollar’ (10-Aug-11)(FINANCE & ECONOMICS series)

Peter Schiff telling it like it is!

S&P Explains Rating Downgrade

Ron Paul: I’m Surprised AAA Downgrade Didn’t Happen A Lot Sooner

Economic Data Show U.S. Growth Slowing Considerably

Ryan, Obama Budget Plans Both Fail in Senate

U.S. Consumer Confidence Drops to Three-Decade Low Amid Economic Headwinds

By Jillian Berman -Aug 12, 2011

“…Confidence among U.S. consumers plunged in August to the lowest level since May 1980, adding to concern that weak employment gains and volatility in the stock market will prompt households to retrench.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan preliminary index of consumer sentiment slumped to 54.9 from 63.7 the prior month. The gauge was projected to decline to 62, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey.

The biggest one-week slump in stocks since 2008 and the threat of default on the nation’s debt may have exacerbated consumers’ concerns as unemployment hovers above 9 percent and companies are hesitant to hire. Rising pessimism poses a risk household spending will cool further, hindering a recovery that Federal Reserve policy makers said this week was already advancing “considerably slower” than projected.

“The mood is very depressed,” said Chris Christopher, an economist at IHS Global Insight Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts. “Consumers are very fatigued and very uncertain. In the short term, people are going to pull back on spending.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-12/u-s-consumer-sentiment-falls-more-than-expected-to-54-9-in-michigan-index.html

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Pronk Pops Shows 1-40–Podcasts and Download–Give It A Listen–Videos

Posted on August 12, 2011. Filed under: Agriculture, American History, Art, Babies, Banking, Baseball, Blogroll, Books, Business, Climate, College, Comedy, Communications, Computers, Crime, Culture, Demographics, Diasters, Economics, Education, Employment, Energy, Enivornment, Farming, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, Health Care, history, Homes, Immigration, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Medicine, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, Music, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, People, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Public Sector, Raves, Religion, Resources, Reviews, Science, Security, Sports, Strategy, Talk Radio, Taxes, Technology, Transportation, Unemployment, Unions, Video, War, Wealth, Weapons, Wisdom | Tags: Business, Current Affairs, Economics, KDUX Radio Show, Mass Communications, Politics, Pronk Pops, Raymond Thomas Pronk, Talk Radio, Videos |

Raymond Thomas Pronk’s Podcasts

Pronk Pops Show 40:August 10, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 39:August 3, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 38:July 27, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 37:July 20, 2011

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 38-40

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 34-37

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 30-33

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 27-29

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 22 (Part 2)-26

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 16-22 (Part 1)

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 10-15

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 1-9

Give it a listen!

Pronk Pops Show 40

August 10, 2011 03:35 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show, August 10, 2011

For Additional Information and Videos

Pronk Pops Show 39

August 03, 2011 04:00 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 39, August 3, 2011

For Addition Information and Videos:

Pronk Pops Show 38

July 27, 2011 03:17 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 38, July 27, 2011

For additional information and videos:

Segment 1: It’s Time For A Permanent, Prevasive and Predictable Stimulus Package–The FairTax–Launching A Peace and Prosperity Economy–Videos

For additional information and videos:

Pronk Pops Show 37

July 21, 2011 03:44 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 37, July 21, 2011, Part 1

Segment 0: President Obama Lies and Scares People On Social Security–Stop Spending and Balance The Budget!–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/pronk-pops-show-37-july-20-2011-segment-0-president-obama-lies-and-scares-people-on-social-security-stop-spending-and-balance-the-budget-videos/

For Additional Information and Videos

Part 2 Segments 2, 3 and 4 will be broadcast next Wednesday, July 27, 2011 from 3-5pm and posted on Thursday, July 28, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 36

July 13, 2011 04:23 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 36, July 13, 2011

For additional information and videos:

Segment 1: Gretchen Morgenson & Joshua Rosner–Reckless Endangerment: How Outsized Ambition, Greed, and Corruption Led To Economic Armageddon–Videos

For additional information and videos:

Segment 2: Jim Rogers, Peter Schiff, Marc Farber and Ron Paul On The National Debt Ceiling and Balancing The Budget–Videos

For additional information and videos:

Pronk Pops Show 35

July 06, 2011 03:44 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 35, July 6, 2015

Segment 0: The Meaning of Independence Day–Videos

For additional information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/pronk-pops-show-35-july-6-2011-segment-0-the-meaning-of-independence-day-videos/?preview=true&preview_id=1327&preview_nonce=d099da9d31

Segment 1: The Legal Standard In A Murder Case: Prove It Beyond A Reasonable Doubt–Suspicion And Opinion Is Not Enough–Casey Anthony Murder Case–Not Guilty–Videos

For additional information and Videos:

Segment 2: George Bureau of Investigations Finds Atlanta School Teachers and Principals Cheating Scandal:Raised Students Scores On Tests –Government Corrupt Schools–

For additional information and Videos:

Pronk Pops Show 34

June 29, 2011 03:38 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 34, June 29, 2011

Segment 0: Sexist Elitist Chris Wallace Asks Michele Backmann Are You A Flake?–Chris, Are You A Wimp?–Videos

For additional information and videos:

Pronk Pops Show 33

June 22, 2011 03:21 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 33, June 22, 2011

Segment 0: Jon Huntsman Launches 2012 Candidacy for President At Liberty Park–Should Become A Democrat Like John V. Lindsay And Run Against President Obama in 2012!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

Segment 1: Republican Candidates For President Romney, Cain, and Johnson Refuse To Sign Pro-Life Citizen’s Pledge–While Sarah Palin’s Trig’s Creator E-Mail Moves Millions–Videos

For additional information and videos:

Segment 2: Rick Perry/Sarah Palin Republican Establishment Candidate Ticket vs. Ron Paul/Michele Bachmann Republican Constitutional Candidate Ticket for the 2012 Presidential Race–Videos

For additional information and videos:

Segment 3: The Next President Of The United States Tells Truth To Power At Republican Leadership Conference–Great Speech!

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/pronk-pops-show-33-june-22-2011-segment-3-the-next-president-of-the-united-states-tells-truth-to-power-at-republican-leadership-conference-great-speech/

Segment 4: Bloomberg Poll Bad News For Obama–Only 30% Certain They Will Vote For Obama in 2012!–66% Think Country On The Wrong Track!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

Pronk Pops Show 32

June 15, 2011 03:10 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 32, June 15, 2011

Segment 0: Money, Organization, Message, Momentum, Ambition–MOMMA–You Need MOMMA To Win A Presidential Race!–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos:

Segment 1: Republican Presidential Debate In New Hampshire June 13, 2011–American People The Winner–Obama The Loser–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos:

Segment 3: Pronk Presidential Prediction–The Winner Is?–The American People!–Videos

For Additional Information and Videos:

Pronk Pops Show 31

June 08, 2011 03:17 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 31: June 8, 2011

Segment 0: ENTJ–Know Thyself–This above all: to thine own self be true–Videos

For additional information and videos:

Segment 1: A Breach of Public Trust–Hound Dogs–Clinton, Weiner, and Obama–Notorious Habitual Liars–Wake Up–Start A Revolution–Ron Paul–Videos

For additional information and videos:

Pronk Pops Show 30

June 02, 2011 01:26 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show, June 2, 2011

Segment 0: The Facebook Effect–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/pronk-pops-show-30-june-2-2011-segment-0-the-facebook-effect-videos/

Segment 2: Paul Allen–Idea Man: A Memoir By The Cofounder of Microsoft–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/pronk-pops-show-30-june-6-2011-segment-1-paul-allen%E2%80%93idea-man-a-memoir-by-the-cofounder-of-microsoft%E2%80%93videos/

For additional information and videos:

Pronk Pops Show 29

May 26, 2011 01:12 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 29, May 26, 2011

For additional information and videos:

Segment 3: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Addresses Congress–A Lesson In Leadership–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/pronk-pops-show-29-may-25-2011-segment-3-israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-addresses-congress-a-lesson-in-leadership-videos/

For additional information and videos:

Pronk Pops Show 28

May 18, 2011 04:26 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 28, May 18, 2011

For additional information and videos:

Segment 3: Ron Paul Running For President Of The United States in 2012–It Is Official–The Third Time Is The Charm!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/18/pronk-pops-show-28-may-28-2011-segment-3-ron-paul-running-for-president-of-the-united-states-in-2012-it-is-official-the-third-time-is-the-charm-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 27

May 11, 2011 10:13 AM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 27, May 10, 2011

For additional information and videos:

Segment 2: OMI-Obama Misery Index–U.S. Misery Index Is Rising As Both The Unemployment Rate and Inflation Rate Increase!–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/pronk-pops-show-27-may-10-2011-segment-2-omi-obama-misery-index-u-s-misery-index-is-rising-as-both-the-unemployment-rate-and-inflation-rate-increase-vidoes/

Segment 3: Segment 3: Speaker Boehner’s Address to the Economic Club of New York on Jobs, Debt, Gas Prices–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/pronk-pops-show-27-may-10-2011-segment-3-speaker-boehners-address-to-the-economic-club-of-new-york-on-jobs-debt-gas-prices/

Pronk Pops Show 26

April 27, 2011 11:28 AM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 25, April 26, 2011

Segment 0: Eva Cassidy–A Singer’s Singer

For additional information and videos:

Segment 3: President Obama Is The Reason Your Gasoline Prices Are Going Up!–American People Favor Drilling For Oil and Gas!–Drill Baby Drill–Videos

For additional information and videos:

Pronk Pops Show 24

April 20, 2011 12:47 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 24: April 19, 2011

Segment 0: S&P Rating Outlook Changed From “Stable” To “Negative” For U.S. Treasury Debt–Videos

Segment 1: Who is John Galt? Who is Ayn Rand–Videos

For additional information and videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/pronk-pops-show-24-april-19-2011-segment-1-who-is-john-galt-who-is-ayn-rand-videos/

Segment 3: The FairTax (National Consumption Sales Tax) vs. The Flat Tax (One Rate Federal Income Tax)–Who Pays The Most Federal Individual Income Tax? Videos

For additional information and videos:

Pronk Pops Show 23

April 13, 2011 10:31 AM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 23: April 12, 2011

Segment 0: Sidney Lumet–Rest In Peace–Videos

For additional information and videos:

Segment 2: The FairTax (National Consumption Sales Tax) vs. The Flat Tax (One Rate Federal Income Tax)–Who Pays The Most Federal Individual Income Tax? Videos

For additional information and videos:

Pronk Pops Show 22 (Part 2)

April 08, 2011 11:16 AM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 22, April 7, 2011

Segment 2: Obama’s Anti-American, Anti-Capitalist, Anti-Growth, Anti-Jobs, and Anti-Security Energy Policy–Videos

Segment 4: Just One More Thing Congressman Ryan: When Does The Republican’s Path To Prosperity Balance The Budget?–The Twelth of Never!–Videos

For additional information and videos on the above segments:

Pronk Pops Show 22 (Part 1)

April 07, 2011 10:41 AM PDT

Pronk Pops: Show 22, April 7, 2011

Segment 0: Glenn Beck Ending His Show At Fox News

Segment 2: Obama’s Anti-American, Anti-Capitalist, Anti-Growth, Anti-Jobs, and Anti-Security Energy Policy–Videos

Segment 4: Just One More Thing Congressman Ryan: When Does The Republican’s Path To Prosperity Balance The Budget?–The Twelth of Never!–Videos

For additional information and videos on the above segments:

Pronk Pops Show 21

March 29, 2011 03:41 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 21, March 29, 2010

For Additional Information and Videos:

Pronk Pops Show 20

March 23, 2011 12:02 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 20: March 22, 2011

Segment 1:F-15 Crashes In Libya

For Additional Information and Videos:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/pronk-pops-show-20-march-22-2011-segment-1-f-15-crashes-in-libya-segment-2-videos/?preview=true&preview_id=569&preview_nonce=40500c814b

Pronk Pops Show 19

March 09, 2011 10:57 AM PST

Pronk Pops Show 19: March 8, 2011

For more information and videos related to this show click on links below:

Pronk Pops Show 18

March 03, 2011 03:35 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 18: March 3, 2011

Segment 1: Remembering The Brooklyn Dodgers and Duke Snider

Segment 2: The National Debt Will Hit $20,000,000,000,000 By 2020!

Segment 3 Public Sector Unions vs. The America People: Replacing The American Dream With The Socialist Union Nightmare

For additional information and videos on the above segments:

Pronk Pop Show 17

February 22, 2011 03:47 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 17: February 22, 2011

Black History Month–Progressives–Eugenics–Black Population Control–Abortion–Black Genocide–Planned Parenthood–Barack Obama

For more information and videos relating to the show:

Pronk Pops Show 16

February 15, 2011 03:49 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 16: February 15, 2011

Conservative Political Action Conference 2011

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

Pronk Pops Show 15: Hour 3

February 10, 2011 03:32 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 15:February 8,2011, Hour 3

Lies, Damn Lies, Statistics, and Obama’s Unbelievable Unemployment Numbers

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

Pronk Pops Show 15: Hour 2

February 10, 2011 03:23 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 15: February 8, 2011 Hour 2

Rolling Power Outages in Texas

Obama Care Declared Unconstitutional and Void By Federal Judge

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

Pronk Pops Show 15: Hour 1

February 10, 2011 03:10 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 15: February 8,2011, Hour 1

Super Storm and Super Bowl In Dallas, Texas

Man-Made Carbon Dioxide Emission and Global Warming–Science vs. Politics

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

Pronk Pops Show 14

January 28, 2011 02:10 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 14: January 27, 2011

The Big Lie and Free Speech

President Obama’s State of the Union Campaign Speech

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/pronk-pops-show-14-january-27-2011-the-big-lie-and-free-speech-and-president-obamas-state-of-the-union-campaign-speech-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 13

December 09, 2010 01:22 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 13: December 9, 2010

Pronk Pops Show 12

December 08, 2010 04:18 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 12: December 8, 2010

News Update On WikiLeaks and Julian Assange

The Chairman of The Federal Reserve and Quantitative Easing 2

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/12/08/pronk-pops-show-12-december-8-2010-news-update-on-julian-assange-wikileaks-ben-benanke-the-fed-barack-obama-tax-and-spend-democrats-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 11

December 03, 2010 02:18 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 11: December 3, 2010

News and Commentary On November 2010 Unemployment Rate and Level Statistics

WikiLeaks

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

Pronk Pops Show 10

December 02, 2010 12:35 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 10: December 1, 2010

Update on new TSA Airport Screening Procedures

Portland, Oregon Terrorist Bomber Arrested by F.B.I.

WikiLeaks Posts Department of State Cables

Pronk Pops Show 9

November 19, 2010 02:23 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 9: November 19, 2010

Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke Responds To Critics of Monetary Policy

Transportation Security Administration or TSA New Screening Procedures:
Full Body Scanners and Extended Pat-Downs

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/pronk-pops-show-9-november-17-2010-quantitative-easing-2-update-g-20-summit-a-bust-tsa-tyrants-scanning-americans-videos/

Pronk Pops Commentary 1

November 11, 2010 03:42 PM PST

Pronk Pops Commentary 1: November 11, 2010

Stop Federal Reserve Quantitative Easing or Money Printing

Pronk Pops Show 8

November 10, 2010 04:24 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 8: November 10, 2010

Tea Party Major Issues: Jobs, Spending, Deficits, Debt, Taxes, Health Care and Illegal Immigration

Tea Party Stars: Senators: Rand Paul and Marco Rubio

Republican Tea Party Test: Cutting Federal Spending By Over $1,000 Billion To Balance The Budget For Fiscal Years 2011, 2012, and 2013.

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

Pronk Pops Show 7

November 09, 2010 02:45 PM PST

Pronk Pops Show 7: November 9, 2010

Unemployment News

Tea Party Effect On 2010 Elections

Key Issues: Federal Budget Deficits and National Debt

Cutting Federal Government Spending and Balancing The Federal Budget

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/11/05/pronk-pops-show-7-november-8-2010-the-tea-party-effect-what-is-next-and-update-on-feds-qe2/

Pronk Pops Show 6

November 03, 2010 03:58 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 6: November 3, 2010

Winning Elections With MOMMA (Money, Organization, Message, Momentum, Ambition) and The Tea Party Movement Effect

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/11/03/pronk-pops-show-6-november-3-2010-winning-elections-with-momma-money-organization-message-momentum-ambition-and-the-tea-party-movement-effect-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 5

October 28, 2010 03:49 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 5: October 27, 2010

Democratic Party’s National Attack Ad Campaign on Candidates and the Flat Tax

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/pronk-pops-show-5-october-27-2010-democratic-party-national-attack-ad-campaign-on-fairtax-videos/

Pronk Pops Show 4

October 28, 2010 03:43 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 4: October 20, 2010

Money, Quantitative Easing and Inflation in the United States Economy

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/pronk-pops-number-4-videosquantitive-easying-ii-printing-money-to-finance-federal-govenment/

Pronk Pops Show 3

October 28, 2010 03:32 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 3: October 14, 2010

Unemployment and inflation in the United States economy

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/10/28/pronk-pops-show-3-october-14-2010unemployment-and-inflation/

Pronk Pops Show 2

October 28, 2010 03:27 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 2: October 13, 2010

The 10:10 carbon emission ad campaign on climate change

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wliC2Eiwoyw

http://www.1010global.org/uk

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton replacing Vice President Joseph Biden on the 2010 Democratic Party ticket

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

Pronk Pops Show 1

October 28, 2010 03:01 PM PDT

Pronk Pops Show 1: September 29, 2010

University of Texas at Austin shooting/suicide

The Tea Party Movement in the United States

For more information and videos related to this show click on link below:

http://pronkpops.wordpress.com/2010/09/29/pronk-pops-program-number-1-september-29-2010-clips-and-notes-videos/

Raymond Thomas Pronk’s Podcasts

Pronk Pops Show 40:August 10, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 39:August 3, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 38:July 27, 2011

Pronk Pops Show 37:July 20, 2011

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 38-40

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 34-37

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 30-33

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 27-29

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 22 (Part 2)-26

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 16-22 (Part 1)

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 10-15

Listen To Pronk Pops Podcast or Download Shows 1-9

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Third Republican Debate In Ames, Iowa, August 11, 2011–Show Me The Money!–Videos

Posted on August 12, 2011. Filed under: American History, Banking, Blogroll, Communications, Economics, Education, Employment, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, government, government spending, Health Care, history, Homes, Immigration, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Public Sector, Rants, Raves, Religion, Resources, Science, Security, Strategy, Talk Radio, Taxes, Technology, Transportation, Unemployment, Unions, Video, War, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Ames, August 11 2011, campaign contributions, Economics, Iowa, Michele Bachmann, Politics, Republican Debate, Ron Paul, Videos |

Full GOP Debate in Ames, Iowa – Aug. 11, 2011

3rd GOP Presidential Republican Debate In Iowa on Fox News: Part 1

3rd GOP Presidential Republican Debate In Iowa on Fox News: Part 2

3rd GOP Presidential Republican Debate In Iowa on Fox News: Part 3

3rd GOP Presidential Republican Debate In Iowa on Fox News: Part 4

3rd GOP Presidential Republican Debate In Iowa on Fox News: Part 5

3rd GOP Presidential Republican Debate In Iowa on Fox News: Part 6

3rd GOP Presidential Republican Debate In Iowa on Fox News: Part 7

Tim Pawlenty is the big loser in the third Republican debate in Ames, Iowa.

Pawlenty the former Governor of Minnesota went after Tea Party Republican Michele Bachmann by attacking her record in Congress and her veracity.

Bachmann responded by throwing a knockout punch by revealing to the American people that Pawlenty used to be for cap and trade energy tax and carbon emission controls when he was Governor of Minnesota.

Now that Pawlenty is running for President he has flip-flopped on the issue of the cap and trade energy tax and admits he made a mistake.

Tim Pawlenty: Courage to Stand for Renewable Energy

Pawlenty’s ‘Flip-Flop’ On Cap And Trade, Global Warming

Bachmann was a Republican leader in the Democratic controlled House of Representative against Obamacare, the cap and trade energy tax and raising the national debt ceiling as well as a leader of the Tea Party caucus.

Michele Bachmann CO2 Is A Natural Byproduct of Nature!

Rep. Michele Bachmann Delivers Tea Party Response to State of the Union

As far as I am concerned any candidate that was ever for a cap and trade energy tax on carbon dioxide emissions is not an acceptable candidate for President.

The cap and trade energy tax is a jobs killer that would put the economy into an even worse recession.

Cap and Trade is a Massive Energy Tax

Cap and Trade Will Destroy the Middle Class

Cap and Trade Explained (in plain old English)

The clear winner was the Republican establishment candidate with the most money Mitt Romney.

The clear winners among the Republican constitutional candidates were Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul.

The losers were Pawlenty, Gingrich and Santorium.

The straw poll in Iowa this Saturday will validate the winners and losers of the third Republican debate as well which candidates are both well organized and can attract campaign contributions from their supporters.

Ron Paul Expects To Come In Top 3 In Ames Iowa Straw Poll

Only the top three candidates will be considered still viable and worthy of campaign contributions.

My own prediction is Bachmann, Paul and Romney will finish in the top three with the remaining candidates falling way behind these leaders.

The Pawlenty, Santorium and Gingrich will simply run out of money and not be contenders in 2012 once Governor Rick Perry enters the race.

Herman Cain will run fourth and will keep on running until he too runs out of money in early 2012 if not sooner.

By next week the leaders for the Presidency nomination will be Republican establishment candidates Romney and Perry and Republican Constitutional candidates Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul.

I am still supporting Ron Paul as the Presidential candidate and Michele Bachmann as the Vice-Presidential candidate.

Ron Paul on John Stossel after Debate: I Just Don’t Believe These Wars Are Necessary

Ron Paul on Fox At Iowa State Fair: Philosophy of This Country is Shifting Towards The Constitution

Ron Paul Iowa Debate Highlights Part 1

Ron Paul Iowa Debate Highlights Part 2

I consider Mitt Romney as a closet progressive and Rick Perry has closet neoconservative and simply do not trust either of them.

Neither Romney nor Perry is up to the job to aggressively cut the size or scope of the Federal Government which would require closing eight to ten Federal Departments, cutting Defense spending by about 25%, cutting entitlement spending (Social Security, Medicare, Medicare and welfare programs) and comprehensive tax reform–the FairTax or Flat tax.

Ron Paul is the one candidate that truly believes in a limited constitutional republic with balanced budgets and and bringing the troops home.

His voting record in Congress clearly demonstrates this.

Ron Paul is clearly the only peace candidate of either political party with his bring the troops home and cut military spending positions.

While the American people may believe and trust Ron Paul, it is still not clear they will support him.

The real question is will the American people send him enough money to enable him to run against the Republican establishment candidates Romney and Perry.

Who will win?

The candidates that can bring in the most money and use it wisely by building a well organized campaign.

Both Romney and Perry can bring in the big Republican establishment money especially from the military industrial complex and the petroleum industry.

It remains to be seen if Paul and Bachmann can consistently bring in the money from the American people.

Show me the money will be one of the key tests all candidates must meet to remain viable candidates.

Money is required to pay for television and radio ads both in the primaries and the general election.

Without money the majority of the American people who do not follow politics simply do not know a candidate’s name or position on the issues.

What is interesting to note is Ron Paul leads all the other candidates for President including Barack Obama in terms of campaign contributions from active duty military by a large margin.

Campaign Finance Numbers Out: What Do They Mean For 2012?

Obama’s $86 Million Campaign Haul Leaves GOP Competitors Far Behind

Ron Paul: #1 with the Troops

What do America’s soldiers know about a commander-in-chief that you don’t know?

RESTORE AMERICA NOW! Ron Paul 2012 – Special Message Military Spending

Ron Paul 2012 Who’s Laughing Now! – Join the rEVOLution!

Background Articles and Videos

Judge Napolitano On The Fed Destroying The Economy

Peter Schiff “The Framers Of Our Constitution Warned About The Perils Of Democracy”

Rush Limbaugh – Ron Paul Is Going To Destroy This Party, This Is Nuts On Parade

Ron Paul Vs GOP Warmongers: Congressman Romps To Victory In Iowa Debate – Alex Jones Tv

IOWA GOP CHAIR: Ames Straw Poll ‘Very Vital,’ Despite No-Shows

Ron Paul Mentioned on FOX Ron Paul Winning Ames Could Scare The Establishment

Ron Paul “This Military Spending Doesn’t Defend Us IT MAKES THINGS WORSE!”

Rand Paul Goes to Bat for His Dad

What is the Straw Poll?

The Iowa Straw Poll is simply a presidential poll taken by Iowa Republicans. The Straw Poll has become a huge event, normally held in Ames, IA. There are many “straw polls” around the country, but the Iowa GOP Ames Straw Poll is THE straw poll. In fact, the Ames Straw Poll has become one of the most popular Republican political events in Presidential election cycles.

Started in 1979 and held in the early fall the year before the caucus in contested presidential cycles, the Straw Poll serves as a first indicator of the strength of a candidate’s organization and message. Though the Straw Poll results have no official or legal effect, nearly a thousand media outlets are expected to attend and tens of thousands of Iowans participate. With all the activity during the day, some folks say the Iowa Straw Poll is like the Iowa State Fair – but better because politics is involved.

In order to vote in the Iowa Straw Poll, one must be at least 18 years of age on or before November 2012 and a resident of the state of Iowa. The Iowa Straw Poll is a Republican event – the Democrat Party does not organize a straw poll.

http://theiowastrawpoll.org/strawpoll.php

Pawlenty’s ‘Flip-Flop’ On Cap And Trade, Global Warming

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Ron Paul On The Federal Reserve Board’s Decision To Keep Interest Rates Low For Next Two Years Resulting In The Devaluing And Destruction Of The U.S. Dollar!–Videos

Posted on August 11, 2011. Filed under: American History, Banking, Blogroll, Communications, Economics, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy, government, government spending, history, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Monetary Policy, Money, People, Philosophy, Politics, Raves, Taxes, Unemployment, Video, War, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Ben Bernake, Devaluing The U.S. Dollar, Federal Reserve System, gold, inflation, Marc Faber, Peter Schiff, Ron Paul |

Ron Paul “This Is Probably A Bigger Problem Than The World Has EVER Faced Before!”

Jim Rogers: U.S. Headed for Fiscal Armageddon

Is the Federal Reserve Making Things Worse?

Peter Schiff – ‘You better have some gold’ (10-Aug-11)(FINANCE & ECONOMICS series)

Marc Faber Sees QE3 Ahead, Bubble in Treasury Market

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Fanatic’s Farewell: Al Gore–The Big Liar Rant!

Posted on August 9, 2011. Filed under: American History, Blogroll, Business, Climate, Communications, Economics, Education, Employment, Energy, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, government, government spending, history, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Natural Gas, Nuclear Power, Oil, People, Philosophy, Politics, Public Sector, Rants, Resources, Strategy, Talk Radio, Taxes, Technology, Unemployment, Unions, Video, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Al Gore, climate change, Gore vs. Obama |

“A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”

~Winston Churchill

Al Gore’s Swan Song

Al Gore calls for taking Obama out Egypt style?!?

It is only a matter of time before nobody will care what Al Gore says.

Background Articles and Videos

US Navy Seals Killed in Afghanistan

59% Want Troops Home from Afghanistan

“…A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 59% of Likely Voters nationwide want the troops to come home either immediately or within a year. Twenty-eight percent (28%) oppose any firm timetable and 13% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

At 59%, support for bring the troops home is up from 51% in June, 52% in March, 43% last September, and 39% in September 2009.

Notably, 43% of Republicans now support bringing the troops home within a year while just 42% oppose a firm timetable. As recently as June, most Republicans opposed any firm timetable.

Just 22% now believe the U.S. has a clearly defined mission in Afghanistan.

The survey of 1,000 Likely Voters was conducted on August 9-10, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Seventy-six percent (76%) of Democrats and 58% of unaffiliated voters want the troops home within a year.

Among those aligned with the Tea Party, 47% say it’s time to bring the troops home and 43% oppose any firm timetable.

Support for the U.S. military mission in Libya is down to 24%.

Seventy-five percent (75%) of all voters agree that “the United States should not commit its forces to military action overseas unless the cause is vital to our national interest.”

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/current_events/afghanistan/59_want_troops_home_from_afghanistan

US helicopter crashed in Taliban trap: Afghan official

By Sabawoon Amarkhail | AFP

“…The Taliban lured US forces into an elaborate trap to shoot down their helicopter, killing 30 American troops in the deadliest such incident of the war, an Afghan official said Monday.

US President Barack Obama pledged that the incident — which killed 38 people — would not keep foreign forces from prevailing in Afghanistan, and the Pentagon called the downing of the Chinook a “one-off” that would not alter US strategy.

The late Friday attack marked the biggest single loss of life for American and NATO forces since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan toppled the Taliban in late 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks.

The loss of the Chinook during an anti-Taliban operation southwest of Kabul dealt a blow to elite US special forces, which had 25 members on board — 22 US Navy SEAL commandos and three Air Force Special Operations Forces.

Five US Army personnel, seven Afghan commandos and an interpreter also died.

A senior Afghan government official told AFP on condition of anonymity that Taliban commander Qari Tahir lured US forces to the scene by tipping them off that a Taliban meeting was taking place.

He also said four Pakistanis helped Tahir carry out the strike.

“Now it’s confirmed that the helicopter was shot down and it was a trap that was set by a Taliban commander,” said the official, citing intelligence gathered from the area.

“The Taliban knew which route the helicopter would take,” he continued.

“That’s the only route, so they took position on the either side of the valley on mountains and as the helicopter approached, they attacked it with rockets and other modern weapons. It was brought down by multiple shots.” …”

http://news.yahoo.com/us-helicopter-shot-down-taliban-trap-afghan-official-070456126.html

Photos of the Fallen: Americans shot down in Afghanistan

“Insurgents shot down a U.S. military helicopter during fighting in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 Americans, most of them belonging to the same elite Navy SEALs unit that killed Osama bin Laden.”

http://www.wjla.com/pictures/2011/08/photos-of-the-fallen-30-americans-shot-down-in-afghanistan-/aaron-carson-vaughn-6217-451.html

Arlington Navy SEAL Among Those Killed in Attack

Family members say Chief Petty Officer Matt Mills was on his last mission

“…Family members confirmed that an Arlington man was one of 30 service members killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Saturday.

Chief Petty Officer Matt Mills, 36, was on his last mission when the Chinook helicopter crashed in the restive Wardark province, his family said.

“He’s always loved what he did,” said his sister, Ashley Mills. “He told me he couldn’t believe he could do this for a living because he loved it so much.”

He was a Navy SEAL for 10 years.

“He was very humble about what he did,” said his cousin, J.B. Abbot. “He never bragged about being a Navy SEAL.”

Matt Mills grew up in Arlington and graduated from Martin High School.

He has three children, an 18-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter from a previous marriage.

Mills remarried just a few months prior to his last mission, on April 29. He and his current wife, Keri, who lives in Virginia, have a 1-year-old son together.

Family member said Mills greatly admired his grandfather, a Marine, and when he was younger, often talked about wanting to join the military.

Ashley Mills said she finds comfort in the fact that her brother served in what he saw as his mission in life.

“It would be that he had a lot of love in his heart and he was proud of his country and he was proud to serve,” she said. “He loved his family, his children, and we also loved him very much.”

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Arlington-Navy-SEAL-Among-Those-Killed-in-Attack-127112738.html?dr

Our Next Wars: Yemen and Somalia

America’s clandestine activities in both nations only provoke the conflicts they are meant to prevent.

By Philip Giraldi

“…The U.S. military’s African command, or AFRICOM, is actually located in Stuttgart, Germany, but its principal operational component is located at the large French military base Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. The CIA runs its drone operations targeting Somalia and Yemen out of that same location and has been using its assets on the ground in those countries to help direct predator strikes against suspected terrorist targets. CIA and special ops soldiers have been busy placing sensors and electronic surveillance devices throughout the Horn of Africa and in Yemen to permit greatly expanded operations. Both CIA and Army units in Djibouti have recently been beefed up in expectation that fighting will intensify in 2011.

And what is the nature of the threat justifying major military and intelligence operations in two new countries? Well, according to the State Department’s own recently issued report on global terrorism, the only terrorist incident originating in Yemen that directly threatened U.S. interests was the unsuccessful Nigerian underwear bomber in December, an attack that was carried out in retaliation for a deadly CIA drone strike shortly before. And there have been allegations that U.S.-born cleric Anwar al-Aulaqi might have influenced Major Malik Nadal Hasan’s shooting rampage at Fort Hood last November. Apart from that, terrorism in Yemen is internally directed with some spillover against neighbor Saudi Arabia. In Somalia, al-Shabaab, which the State Department describes as “a disparate group of armed militias, many of whom do not adhere to the ideology of the group’s leaders,” is the target of Washington’s ire. Foggy Bottom concedes that the group is linked to al-Qaeda only by “mutually supportive rhetoric.” It has not targeted the United States at all, though some government officials have expressed concerns that Somali-Americans who travel back to their country of birth to join al-Shabaab might return to the U.S. to commit terrorist acts.

So we are again talking of secret wars conducted in places where we do not understand the local issues or players very well, all part of a massive overreaction directed against low-level troublemakers who do not actually pose any serious threat against the United States. Where it will all lead is anyone’s guess, but it should be noted that the pattern of new terrorism emerging as the response to misdirected and heavy-handed American intervention has been repeated over and over again during the past ten years.”

http://www.amconmag.com/blog/our-next-wars-yemen-and-somalia/

Bush signs landmark Medicare bill into law

“…It is the largest expansion of Medicare since the program was created in 1965, though most of its provisions won’t take effect for several years. The drug benefit, for example, does not take effect until 2006. Before that, seniors will be able to purchase a discount card that could provide a 10 to 25 percent off prescription drugs.

“Our nation has made a promise, a solemn promise, to America’s seniors,” Bush said. “We have pledged to help our citizens find affordable medical care in the later years of life.”

“These reforms are the act of a vibrant and compassionate government,” Bush said.

In 2006, Medicare recipients will pay $35 per month with a $250 deductible for prescriptions. The plan will pay 75 percent of costs up to $2,250. The prescription drug provision left out a proposed guideline the president had originally sought — requiring seniors to join an HMO to be eligible for the benefit.

The law also allows the importation of drugs from Canada — where many are cheaper — but only if the Food and Drug Administration has approved the drugs.

It also provides subsidies to private insurers to compete with traditional Medicare, giving seniors the opportunity to join managed-care plans, which typically cut costs by restricting patient access to specialists. That provision does not take effect until 2010. …”

http://articles.cnn.com/2003-12-08/politics/elec04.medicare_1_prescription-drug-private-insurers-medicare?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

“…The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)^[1]^[2] is a United States federal statute that was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law (along with the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010) is a product of the health care reform agenda of the 111th United States Congress and the Obama administration. The primary aspects of the law are reform of the private health insurance industry and public health insurance programs, to improve coverage for those with pre-existing conditions, expand access to care for over 30 million Americans, and reduce the long term costs of the United States health care system.^[3]^[4]

The PPACA passed the Senate on December 24, 2009, by a filibuster-proof vote of 60–39 with all Democrats and one Independent voting for, and all Republicans voting against. It passed the House of Representatives on March 21, 2010, by a vote of 219–212, with 178 Republicans and 34 Democrats voting against the bill.^[5] The law has received legal challenges regarding its constitutionality. Three cases in federal courts upheld the constitutionality of the bill while two deemed it unconstitutional.^[6] Six other challenges were dismissed on grounds such as plaintiffs being unable to demonstrate sufficient standing.^[6] The Supreme Court could review this law as early as the end of 2011 or the beginning of 2012.^[7]

Overveiw of Provisions

The law includes numerous health-related provisions to take effect over a four-year period beginning in 2010. In order of their assessed impact the primary provisions are as follows:

Guaranteed issue and community rating will be implemented nationally so that insurers must offer the same premium to all applicants of the same age, sex, and geographical location regardless of pre-existing conditions.
Medicaid eligibility is expanded to include all individuals and families with incomes up to 133% of the poverty level.
Health insurance exchanges will commence operation in each state, offering a marketplace where individuals and small businesses can compare policies and premiums, and buy insurance (with a government subsidy if eligible).
Firms employing 50 or more people but not offering health insurance will pay a “shared responsibility payment” if the government has had to subsidize an employee’s health care
A shared responsibility requirement, also referred to as an individual mandate,^[8] requires individuals not covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or other government programs to maintain insurance or pay a penalty. (unless the applicable individual “is a member of a recognized religious sect” exempted by the Internal Revenue Service.)^[9]
Medicare prescription drug payments are to be increased.
Changes are enacted which allow a restructuring of Medicare reimbursement from “fee-for-service” to “bundled payments”.
Establishment of a national voluntary insurance program for purchasing community living assistance services and support.
Low income persons and families above the Medicaid level and up to 400% of the poverty level will receive subsidies on a sliding scale if they choose to purchase insurance via an exchange (persons at 150% of the poverty level would be subsidized such that their premium cost would be of 2% of income or $50 a month for a family of 4).
Very small businesses will be able to get subsidies if they purchase insurance through an exchange.
Additional support is provided for medical research and the National Institutes of Health.
Enrollment into CHIP and Medicaid is simplified with improvements to both programs.
The law will introduce minimum standards for health insurance policies and remove all annual and lifetime coverage caps.
The law mandates that some health care insurance benefits will be essential coverage for which there will be no co-pays.
Policies issued before the law came into effect are grandfathered in and are mostly not affected by the new rules.

Summary of funding

The Act’s provisions are intended to be funded by a variety of taxes and offsets. Major sources of new revenue include a much-broadened Medicare tax on incomes over $200,000 and $250,000, for individual and joint filers respectively, an annual fee on insurance providers, and a 40% tax on “Cadillac” insurance policies. There are also taxes on pharmaceuticals, high-cost diagnostic equipment, and a federal sales tax on indoor tanning services. Offsets are from intended cost savings such as improved fairness in the Medicare Advantage program relative to traditional Medicare.^[10]

Total new tax revenue from the Act will amount to $409.2 billion over the next 10 years. $78 billion will be realized before the end of fiscal 2014.^[11] Summary of revenue sources:

Broaden Medicare tax base for high-income taxpayers: $210.2 billion
Annual fee on health insurance providers: $60 billion
40% excise tax on health coverage in excess of $10,200/$27,500: $32 billion
Impose annual fee on manufacturers and importers of branded drugs: $27 billion
Impose 2.3% excise tax on manufacturers and importers of certain medical devices: $20 billion
Require information reporting on payments to corporations: $17.1 billion
Raise 7.5% Adjusted Gross Income floor on medical expenses deduction to 10%: 15.2 billion
Limit health flexible spending arrangements in cafeteria plans: $13 billion
All other revenue sources: $14.9 billion …”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_Protection_and_Affordable_Care_Act

United States public debt

“…The United States public debt is the money borrowed by the federal government of the United States at any one time through the issue of securities by the Treasury and other federal government agencies. The gross public debt comprises two components:

Debt held by government accounts, also known as intragovernmental holdings, that is, Treasury securities held in accounts that are administered by the federal government, such as the Social Security Trust Fund
Debt held by the public, that is, securities held by investors outside the federal government, including that held by the Federal Reserve System and state and local governments. This is the net public debt.^[1]

The net public debt increases or decreases as a result of the annual unified budget deficit or surplus. The federal government budget deficit or surplus is the cash difference between government receipts and spending, ignoring intra-governmental transfers. However, there is certain spending (supplemental appropriations) that add to the gross debt but are excluded from the deficit. The deficit is presented on a cash rather than an accruals basis, although the accrual deficit provides more information on the longer-term implications of the government’s annual operations.^[2]

Gross debt has increased by over $500 billion each year since fiscal year (FY) 2003, with increases of $1 trillion in FY2008, $1.9 trillion in FY2009, and $1.7 trillion in FY2010.^[3] As of August 3, 2011, the gross debt was $14.34 trillion dollars, of which $9.78 trillion was held by the public and $4.56 trillion was intragovernmental holdings.^[4] The annual gross domestic product (GDP) to the end of June 2011 was $15.003 trillion (July 29, 2011 estimate),^[5] with gross debt at a ratio of 96% of GDP, and debt held by the public at 65% of GDP.

Together with the budget deficit, the political climate was one of the reasons given by Standard & Poor’s to revise the outlook on the US sovereign credit rating down to negative on April 18, 2011.^[6] Standard and Poor’s downgraded the credit rating by one notch from AAA to AA+ on August 5, 2011, for the first time ever. The longterm outlook is negative and it could lower the rating further to AA within the next 2 years.^[7]^[8] The downgrade was met with severe criticism from the Obama administration, commentators, and other political figures.^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12] The US still has a AAA rating from other ratings agencies.

The government budget deficit or surplus should not be confused with the trade deficit or surplus, which is the difference between net imports and net exports.

Currently, the date of December 16, 2009 marks the beginning of the only week long period in the history of the debt limit when the debt ceiling ever exceeded the statutory limit enacted by Congress. It was during this time that the treasury department invoked the use of “extraordinary accounting tools” that it could then use to give the government a range of $150 billion that it then used to pay its outstanding obligations.^[13]

In the United States Congress there are currently a number of disagreements between Democrats and Republicans regarding the United States debt. On August 2, 2011, President Barack Obama signed into law the Budget Control Act of 2011, averting a possible financial default. …”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt

Neo-CONNED! by Congressman Ron Paul – Part 1 of 11

Neo-CONNED! by Congressman Ron Paul – Part 2 of 11

Neo-CONNED! by Congressman Ron Paul – Part 3 of 11

Neo-CONNED! by Congressman Ron Paul – Part 4 of 11

Neo-CONNED! by Congressman Ron Paul – Part 5 of 11

Neo-CONNED! by Congressman Ron Paul – Part 6 of 11

Neo-CONNED! by Congressman Ron Paul – Part 7 of 11

Neo-CONNED! by Congressman Ron Paul – Part 8 of 11

Neo-CONNED! by Congressman Ron Paul – Part 9 of 11

Neo-CONNED! by Congressman Ron Paul – Part 10 of 11

Neo-CONNED! by Congressman Ron Paul – Part 11 of 11

Background Articles and Videos

Treasury Bond Prices and Yields

The Gold Standard Before the Civil War | Murray N. Rothbard

The Case for a 100 Percent Gold Dollar (Part 1 of 2) by Murray N. Rothbard

The Case for a 100 Percent Gold Dollar (Part 2 of 2) by Murray N. Rothbard

Open Market Operations

Open market operations–purchases and sales of U.S. Treasury and federal agency securities–are the Federal Reserve’s principal tool for implementing monetary policy. The short-term objective for open market operations is specified by the Federal Open Market Committee(FOMC). This objective can be a desired quantity of reserves or a desired price (the federal funds rate). The federal funds rate is the interest rate at which depository institutions lend balances at the Federal Reserve to other depository institutions overnight.The Federal Reserve’s objective for open market operations has varied over the years. During the 1980s, the focus gradually shifted toward attaining a specified level of the federal funds rate, a process that was largely complete by the end of the decade. Beginning in 1994, the FOMC began announcing changes in its policy stance, and in 1995 it began to explicitly state its target level for the federal funds rate. Since February 2000, the statement issued by the FOMC shortly after each of its meetings usually has included the Committee’s assessment of the risks to the attainment of its long-run goals of price stability and sustainable economic growth.For more information on open market operations, see the article in the Federal Reserve Bulletin(102 KB PDF).http://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/openmarket.htm

Federal Funds Target Rate
Month/Day	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Jan 1	6.50%	1.75%	1.25%	1.00%	2.25%	4.25%	5.25%	4.25%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%
Feb 1	5.50%	1.75%	1.26%	1.00%	2.25%	4.50%	5.25%	3.00%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%
Mar 1	5.50%	1.75%	1.25%	1.00%	2.50%	4.50%	5.25%	3.00%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%
Apr 1	5.00%	1.75%	1.25%	1.00%	2.75%	4.75%	5.25%	2.25%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%
May 1	4.50%	1.75%	1.25%	1.00%	2.75%	4.75%	5.25%	2.00%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%
Jun 1	4.00%	1.75%	1.25%	1.00%	3.00%	5.00%	5.25%	2.00%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%
Jul 1	3.75%	1.75%	1.00%	1.25%	3.25%	5.25%	5.25%	2.00%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%
Aug 1	3.75%	1.75%	1.00%	1.25%	3.25%	5.25%	5.25%	2.00%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%
Sep 1	3.50%	1.75%	1.00%	1.50%	3.50%	5.25%	5.25%	2.00%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%
Oct 1	3.00%	1.75%	1.00%	1.75%	3.75%	5.25%	4.75%	2.00%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%
Nov 1	2.50%	1.75%	1.00%	1.75%	4.00%	5.25%	4.50%	1.00%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%
Dec 1	2.00%	1.25%	1.00%	2.00%	4.00%	5.25%	4.50%	1.00%	0%-0.25%	0%-0.25%

http://www.moneycafe.com/library/fedfundsrate.htm

United States Treasury security

“…A United States Treasury security is government debt issued by the United States Department of the Treasury through the Bureau of the Public Debt. Treasury securities are the debt financing instruments of the United States Federal government, and they are often referred to simply as Treasuries. There are four types of marketable treasury securities: Treasury bills, Treasury notes, Treasury bonds, and Treasury Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS). There are several types of non-marketable treasury securities including State and Local Government Series (SLGS), Government Account Series debt issued to government-managed trust funds, and savings bonds. All of the marketable Treasury securities are very liquid and are heavily traded on the secondary market. The non-marketable securities (such as savings bonds) are issued to subscribers and cannot be transferred through market sales.

History

The U.S. government knew that the costs of World War I would be great, and the question of how to pay for the war was a matter of intense debate. The resulting decision was to pay for the war with a balance between higher taxes (see the War Tax Act) and government debt. Traditionally, the government borrowed from other countries, but there were no other countries from which to borrow in 1917: U.S. citizens would have to fully finance the war through both higher taxes and purchases of war bonds.^[1]

The Treasury raised funding throughout the war by selling $21.5 billion in ‘Liberty bonds.’ These bonds were sold at subscription where officials created coupon price and then sold it at Par value. At this price, subscriptions could be filled in as little as one day, but usually remained open for several weeks, depending on demand for the bond.^[1]

After the war, the Liberty Bonds were reaching maturity, but the Treasury was unable to pay each down fully with only limited budget surpluses. The resolution to this problem was to refinance the debt with variable short and medium-term maturities. Again the Treasury issued debt through fixed-price subscription, where both the coupon and the price of the debt were dictated by the treasury.^[1]

The problems with debt issuance became apparent in the late-1920′s. The system suffered from chronic oversubscription, where interest rates were so attractive that there were more purchasers of debt than supplied by the government. This indicated that the government was paying too much for debt. As government debt was undervalued, debt purchasers could buy from the government and immediately sell to another market participant at a higher price.^[1]

In 1929, the U.S. Treasury shifted from the fixed-price subscription system to a system of auctioning where ‘Treasury Bills’ would be sold to the highest bidder. Securities were then issued on a pro rata system where securities would be allocated to the highest bidder until their demand was full. If more treasuries were supplied by the government, they would then be allocated to the next highest bidder. This system allowed the market to set the price rather than the government. On December 10, 1929, the Treasury issued its first auction. The result was the issuing of $224 million three-month bills. The highest bid was at 99.310 with the lowest bid accepted at 99.152.^[1]

Foreign countries later started to buy U.S. debt as an investment of their surplus U.S. Dollars. There is fear that foreign countries hold so many bonds that if they stopped buying them, the U.S. economy would collapse; however, the reality is that more bonds are transferred in a single day by the Treasury than are held by any single sovereign state.^[2] The perception of this dependence furthers belief that the U.S. and China economies are so tightly linked that both fear the consequences of a potential slow down in China’s purchase of those bonds. In her 2010 visit to China, the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on authorities in Beijing to continue buying U.S. Treasuries, saying it would help jumpstart the flagging U.S. economy and stimulate imports of Chinese goods.^[3]

As the economic recession continues, more doubts arise over the real value of U.S. treasury securities. Though carefully worded, Chinese premier Wen Jia Bao’s warning about possible devaluation of Chinese held U.S. bonds was taken very seriously by Washington:

“Of course we are concerned about the safety of our assets. To be honest, I’m a little bit worried” … “I would like to call on the United States to honor its words, stay a credible nation and ensure the safety of Chinese assets.”^[4] – Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, said at a news conference after the closing of China’s 2009 legislative session.

However, it is important to note that such comments, while critical, were very likely indicative of Chinese “gesturing” ahead of the April 1st G-20 Economic Summit. As of April 2009, the U.S. dollar had rallied YTD against all other major world currencies. On March 18, 2009, the Federal Reserve used quantitative easing “to help improve conditions in private credit markets, the Committee decided to purchase up to $300 billion of longer-term Treasury securities over the next six months.”^[5]

Marketable securities

Directly issued by the United States Government

Treasury bill

“Treasury bill” redirects here. Note that the Bank of England issues these in the United Kingdom.

Treasury bills (or T-Bills) mature in one year or less. Like zero-coupon bonds, they do not pay interest prior to maturity; instead they are sold at a discount of the par value to create a positive yield to maturity.^[6] Many regard Treasury bills as the least risky investment available to U.S. investors.

Regular weekly T-Bills are commonly issued with maturity dates of 28 days (or 4 weeks, about a month), 91 days (or 13 weeks, about 3 months), 182 days (or 26 weeks, about 6 months), and 364 days (or 52 weeks, about 1 year). Treasury bills are sold by single-price auctions held weekly. Offering amounts for 13-week and 26-week bills are announced each Thursday for auction, usually at 11:30 a.m., on the following Monday and settlement, or issuance, on Thursday. Offering amounts for 4-week bills are announced on Monday for auction the next day, Tuesday, usually at 11:30 a.m., and issuance on Thursday. Offering amounts for 52-week bills are announced every fourth Thursday for auction the next Tuesday, usually at 11:30 am, and issuance on Thursday. Purchase orders at TreasuryDirect must be entered before 11:00 on the Monday of the auction. The minimum purchase, effective April 7, 2008, is $100. (This amount formerly had been $1,000.) Mature T-bills are also redeemed on each Thursday. Banks and financial institutions, especially primary dealers, are the largest purchasers of T-bills.

Like other securities, individual issues of T-bills are identified with a unique CUSIP number. The 13-week bill issued three months after a 26-week bill is considered a re-opening of the 26-week bill and is given the same CUSIP number. The 4-week bill issued two months after that and maturing on the same day is also considered a re-opening of the 26-week bill and shares the same CUSIP number. For example, the 26-week bill issued on March 22, 2007, and maturing on September 20, 2007, has the same CUSIP number (912795A27) as the 13-week bill issued on June 21, 2007, and maturing on September 20, 2007, and as the 4-week bill issued on August 23, 2007 that matures on September 20, 2007.

During periods when Treasury cash balances are particularly low, the Treasury may sell cash management bills (or CMBs). These are sold at a discount and by auction just like weekly Treasury bills. They differ in that they are irregular in amount, term (often less than 21 days), and day of the week for auction, issuance, and maturity. When CMBs mature on the same day as a regular weekly bill, usually Thursday, they are said to be on-cycle. The CMB is considered another reopening of the bill and has the same CUSIP. When CMBs mature on any other day, they are off-cycle and have a different CUSIP number.

Treasury bills are quoted for purchase and sale in the secondary market on an annualized discount percentage, or basis.

With the advent of TreasuryDirect, individuals can now purchase T-Bills online and have funds withdrawn from and deposited directly to their personal bank account and earn higher interest rates on their savings.

General calculation for the discount yield for Treasury bills is

$\text{Discount Yield} (%) = \frac{\text{Face Value} - \text{Purchase Price}}{\text{Face Value}} \times \frac{\text{360}}{\text{Days Till Maturity}} \times 100[%]$

Treasury note

This is the modern usage of “Treasury Note” in the U.S., for the earlier meanings see Treasury Note (disambiguation).

Treasury notes (or T-Notes) mature in one to ten years. They have a coupon payment every six months, and are commonly issued with maturities dates between 1 to 10 years, with denominations of $1,000. In the basic transaction, one buys a “$1,000″ T-Note for say, $950, collects interest over 10 years of say, 3% per year, which comes to $30 yearly, and at the end of the 10 years cashes it in for $1000. So, $950 over the course of 10 years becomes $1300.

T-Notes and T-Bonds are quoted on the secondary market at percentage of par in thirty-seconds of a point (n/32 of a point, where n = 1,2,3,…). Thus, for example, a quote of 95:07 on a note indicates that it is trading at a discount: $952.19 (i.e., 95 + 7/32%) for a $1,000 bond. (Several different notations may be used for bond price quotes. The example of 95 and 7/32 points may be written as 95:07, or 95-07, or 95’07, or decimalized as 95.21875.) Other notation includes a +, which indicates 1/64 points and a third digit may be specified to represent 1/256 points. Examples include 95:07+ which equates to (95 + 7/32 + 1/64) and 95:073 which equates to (95 + 7/32 + 3/256). Notation such as 95:073+ is unusual and not typically used.

The 10-year Treasury note has become the security most frequently quoted when discussing the performance of the U.S. government bond market and is used to convey the market’s take on longer-term macroeconomic expectations.

Treasury bond

“U.S. Bonds” redirects here. For the singer/performer, see Gary U.S. Bonds.

Treasury bonds (T-Bonds, or the long bond) have the longest maturity, from twenty years to thirty years. They have a coupon payment every six months like T-Notes, and are commonly issued with maturity of thirty years. The secondary market is highly liquid, so the yield on the most recent T-Bond offering was commonly used as a proxy for long-term interest rates in general.^{[citation needed]} This role has largely been taken over by the 10-year note, as the size and frequency of long-term bond issues declined significantly in the 1990s and early 2000s.^{[citation needed]}

The U.S. Federal government suspended issuing the well-known 30-year Treasury bonds (often called long-bonds) for a four and a half year period starting October 31, 2001 and concluding February 2006.^[7] As the U.S. government used its budget surpluses to pay down the Federal debt in the late 1990s,^[8] the 10-year Treasury note began to replace the 30-year Treasury bond as the general, most-followed metric of the U.S. bond market. However, because of demand from pension funds and large, long-term institutional investors, along with a need to diversify the Treasury’s liabilities – and also because the flatter yield curve meant that the opportunity cost of selling long-dated debt had dropped – the 30-year Treasury bond was re-introduced in February 2006 and is now issued quarterly.^[9] This brought the U.S. in line with Japan and European governments issuing longer-dated maturities amid growing global demand from pension funds.^{[citation needed]}

TIPS

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (or TIPS) are the inflation-indexed bonds issued by the U.S. Treasury. The principal is adjusted to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the commonly used measure of inflation. When the CPI rises, your principal adjusts upward. If the index falls, your principal adjusts downwards.^[10] The coupon rate is constant, but generates a different amount of interest when multiplied by the inflation-adjusted principal, thus protecting the holder against inflation. TIPS are currently offered in 5-year, 10-year and 30-year maturities.^[11]

Federal Reserve holdings of U.S. Treasuries

For the Quantitative easing policy the Feds holding of US treasuries increased from $750 billion in 2007 to over $1.5 trillion by June 2011. Source Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. ^{[12] …”}

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Treasury_security

Understanding the Financial Crisis – very well explanation!

Deconstructing the Subprime Crisis

Jeremy Siegel on the Resilience of American Finance

Franklin Allen on Lessons from the Subprime Crisis

Understanding The Debt Crisis In The U.S.

CNN: Understanding the Crisis

Understanding the Financial Crisis

Stein Says Economy to Accelerate; U.S. Downgrade Likely

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
2000	4.0	4.1	4.0	3.8	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.1	3.9	3.9	3.9	3.9
2001	4.2	4.2	4.3	4.4	4.3	4.5	4.6	4.9	5.0	5.3	5.5	5.7
2002	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.9	5.8	5.8	5.8	5.7	5.7	5.7	5.9	6.0
2003	5.8	5.9	5.9	6.0	6.1	6.3	6.2	6.1	6.1	6.0	5.8	5.7
2004	5.7	5.6	5.8	5.6	5.6	5.6	5.5	5.4	5.4	5.5	5.4	5.4
2005	5.3	5.4	5.2	5.2	5.1	5.0	5.0	4.9	5.0	5.0	5.0	4.9
2006	4.7	4.8	4.7	4.7	4.6	4.6	4.7	4.7	4.5	4.4	4.5	4.4
2007	4.6	4.5	4.4	4.5	4.4	4.6	4.7	4.6	4.7	4.7	4.7	5.0
2008	5.0	4.8	5.1	4.9	5.4	5.6	5.8	6.1	6.2	6.6	6.8	7.3
2009	7.8	8.2	8.6	8.9	9.4	9.5	9.5	9.7	9.8	10.1	9.9	9.9
2010	9.7	9.7	9.7	9.8	9.6	9.5	9.5	9.6	9.6	9.7	9.8	9.4
2011	9.0	8.9	8.8	9.0	9.1	9.2	9.1

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
1980	64.0	64.0	63.7	63.8	63.9	63.7	63.8	63.7	63.6	63.7	63.8	63.6
1981	63.9	63.9	64.1	64.2	64.3	63.7	63.8	63.8	63.5	63.8	63.9	63.6
1982	63.7	63.8	63.8	63.9	64.2	63.9	64.0	64.1	64.1	64.1	64.2	64.1
1983	63.9	63.8	63.7	63.8	63.7	64.3	64.1	64.3	64.3	64.0	64.1	64.1
1984	63.9	64.1	64.1	64.3	64.5	64.6	64.6	64.4	64.4	64.4	64.5	64.6
1985	64.7	64.7	64.9	64.9	64.8	64.6	64.7	64.6	64.9	65.0	64.9	65.0
1986	64.9	65.0	65.1	65.1	65.2	65.4	65.4	65.3	65.4	65.4	65.4	65.3
1987	65.4	65.5	65.5	65.4	65.7	65.5	65.6	65.7	65.5	65.7	65.7	65.7
1988	65.8	65.9	65.7	65.8	65.7	65.8	65.9	66.1	65.9	66.0	66.2	66.1
1989	66.5	66.3	66.3	66.4	66.3	66.5	66.5	66.5	66.4	66.5	66.6	66.5
1990	66.8	66.7	66.7	66.6	66.6	66.4	66.5	66.5	66.4	66.4	66.4	66.4
1991	66.2	66.2	66.3	66.4	66.2	66.2	66.1	66.0	66.2	66.1	66.1	66.0
1992	66.3	66.2	66.4	66.5	66.6	66.7	66.7	66.6	66.5	66.2	66.3	66.3
1993	66.2	66.2	66.2	66.1	66.4	66.5	66.4	66.4	66.2	66.3	66.3	66.4
1994	66.6	66.6	66.5	66.5	66.6	66.4	66.4	66.6	66.6	66.7	66.7	66.7
1995	66.8	66.8	66.7	66.9	66.5	66.5	66.6	66.6	66.6	66.6	66.5	66.4
1996	66.4	66.6	66.6	66.7	66.7	66.7	66.9	66.7	66.9	67.0	67.0	67.0
1997	67.0	66.9	67.1	67.1	67.1	67.1	67.2	67.2	67.1	67.1	67.2	67.2
1998	67.1	67.1	67.1	67.0	67.0	67.0	67.0	67.0	67.2	67.2	67.1	67.2
1999	67.2	67.2	67.0	67.1	67.1	67.1	67.1	67.0	67.0	67.0	67.1	67.1
2000	67.3	67.3	67.3	67.3	67.1	67.1	66.9	66.9	66.9	66.8	66.9	67.0
2001	67.2	67.1	67.2	66.9	66.7	66.7	66.8	66.5	66.8	66.7	66.7	66.7
2002	66.5	66.8	66.6	66.7	66.7	66.6	66.5	66.6	66.7	66.6	66.4	66.3
2003	66.4	66.4	66.3	66.4	66.4	66.5	66.2	66.1	66.1	66.1	66.1	65.9
2004	66.1	66.0	66.0	65.9	66.0	66.1	66.1	66.0	65.8	65.9	66.0	65.9
2005	65.8	65.9	65.9	66.1	66.1	66.1	66.1	66.2	66.1	66.1	66.0	66.0
2006	66.0	66.1	66.2	66.1	66.1	66.2	66.1	66.2	66.1	66.2	66.3	66.4
2007	66.4	66.3	66.2	65.9	66.0	66.0	66.0	65.8	66.0	65.8	66.0	66.0
2008	66.2	66.0	66.1	65.9	66.1	66.1	66.0	66.1	66.0	66.0	65.8	65.8
2009	65.7	65.7	65.6	65.6	65.7	65.7	65.5	65.4	65.1	65.1	65.0	64.7
2010	64.8	64.8	64.9	65.1	64.9	64.7	64.6	64.7	64.7	64.5	64.5	64.3
2011	64.2	64.2	64.2	64.2	64.2	64.1	63.9

Year	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Annual
2000	236	267	258	331	280	309	266	203	253	232	236	269	262
2001	301	287	349	349	328	294	310	337	285	331	328	348	321
2002	328	375	330	320	414	342	405	378	392	359	385	403	369
2003	449	450	474	437	482	478	470	503	388	462	457	433	457
2004	432	484	514	492	476	478	504	534	412	429	392	442	466
2005	515	485	480	393	392	476	499	384	362	392	404	451	436
2006	396	386	451	381	323	481	428	448	325	331	349	274	381
2007	442	375	381	399	368	401	367	392	276	320	349	363	369
2008	467	396	401	412	400	420	461	381	467	484	608	642	462
2009	734	731	685	740	792	793	796	758	706	808	861	929	778
2010	1065	1204	994	1197	1083	1207	1185	1110	1209	1219	1282	1318	1173
2011	993	1020	921	989	822	982	1119

Background Articles and Videos

Why the Meltdown Should Have Surprised No One | Peter Schiff

EAT THE RICH!

What We Believe, Part 1: Small Government and Free Enterprise

What We Believe, Part 2: The Problem with Elitism

What We Believe, Part 3: Wealth Creation

Peter Schiff Was Right 2006 – 2007 (2nd Edition)

Ron Paul Was Right (1983-2008)

Ron Paul was Right

Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )

Tom Woods TV On YouTube–Videos

Posted on August 4, 2011. Filed under: Banking, Blogroll, Communications, Economics, Employment, Energy, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, government, government spending, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, People, Philosophy, Politics, Video, War, Wealth, Weapons, Wisdom | Tags: Nullification, Rollback, Ron Paul, Tom Woods, Tom Woods TV, Videos, YouTube Videos |

Don’t Just Cut the Budget; Cut the Propaganda

The Phony Case for Presidential War Powers

News Alert: People Having Unconventional Thoughts

Nullification, the Media, and Idaho: Message from Tom Woods

The Military Industrial Complex in Five Minutes

War, Ron Paul, and Conservatism

Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )

Tom Woods–The Economic Crisis–Videos

Posted on August 4, 2011. Filed under: Blogroll, Business, College, Communications, Economics, Education, Employment, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, government, government spending, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Microeconomics, Monetary Policy, Money, People, Philosophy, Politics, Public Sector, Raves, Taxes, Unemployment, Unions, Video, War, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Austrian School, The Economic Crisis, Tom Woods |

Tom Woods Speaks @ IU – Intro

Tom Woods speaks on The Economic Crisis @ IU Part 1

Tom Woods speaks on The Economic Crisis @ IU Part 2

Tom Woods speaks on The Economic Crisis @ IU Part 3

Tom Woods speaks on The Economic Crisis @ IU Part 4

Tom Woods speaks on The Economic Crisis @ IU Part 5

Tom Woods speaks on The Economic Crisis @ IU Part 6

Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )

The Money Masters and The Secret of Oz–Videos

Posted on August 4, 2011. Filed under: American History, Blogroll, Communications, Economics, Employment, Federal Government, government, government spending, history, Inflation, Investments, Language, Law, liberty, Life, Links, media, Monetary Policy, Money, People, Philosophy, Politics, Public Sector, Raves, Regulations, Resources, Security, Taxes, Technology, Unemployment, Unions, Video, War, Wealth, Wisdom | Tags: Bankers, Bill Still, Central Bankers, monetary policy, Money, No More National Debt, The Money Masters, The Secret of OZ, Videos |

The Money Masters – Full

The Secret of Oz

Background Articles and Videos

Bill Still Speech Part 1

Bill Still Speech Part 2

Bill Still Speech Part 3

Time Out: Bill Still Part One – 8 July 2011

Time Out: Bill Still Part Two – 8 July 2011

These Days: Bill Still – 8 July 2011

MEET BILL STILL, FIAT-MONEY ADVOCATE
An analysis of the documentaries Money Masters and Capital Crimes

“…The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate three video documentaries on monetary issues that were written and produced by Bill Still. One is The Money Masters, the second is Capital Crimes, and the third is The Secret of Oz. They are excellent productions with a great deal of history and professionally created images. They tell the story of our debauched monetary system based on fractional-reserve banking. There is just one problem. They offer a false solution – which is to say they offer no solution at all. The alleged solution is that we abandon our present fiat money system and adopt another one similar to it. Yes, they actually advocate FIAT money! The proposal is that we should take the power to create money-out-of-nothing away from big, bad bankers and turn it over to nice, trustworthy politicians. In my view, it is naïve to think that politicians are more trustworthy than bankers. The problem with money created out of nothing is not who does it but that it is done at all. …”

“…It is not my intent to attack Bill Still as a person. I have met him on several occasions and, although we are at opposite poles regarding our view of fiat money, I consider him to be well informed and sincere. Nor do I have any desire to become embroiled in endless debate on this topic. The publications and recordings listed below present just about everything I have to say on the topic. If I haven’t made my case by now, it is unlikely that further verbiage would help. My purpose in preparing this analysis is simply to accommodate those who have contacted me and wanted to know my opinion of these documentaries. My short answer is this: Fiat money is the problem, not the solution. …”

http://www.freedomforceinternational.org/freedomcontent.cfm?fuseaction=meetstill

The Money Masters

The Money Masters is a 1996 American documentary film produced by attorney Patrick S. J. Carmack and directed and narrated by William T. Still.^[1] It discusses the concepts of money, debt and taxes, and describes their development from biblical times onward. It covers the history of fractional-reserve banking, central banking, monetary policy, the bond market, and the Federal Reserve System in the United States. The film is widely available online.^[2]^[3]^[4]

The film makers posit that the profit from issuing money is currently being used in the United States to benefit a few wealthy individuals. It further argues that this situation should be remedied, so that the profit benefits the public good, as during four periods in the history of the United States. Finally it presents a proposed piece of legislation, the Monetary Reform Act, to implement such a remedy. As support, the film provides many quotations from notable figures including economists, members of the financial system, kings of England and United States presidents.

The film criticises fractional-reserve banking and the control aspects of both modern banking regulation and centralized banking systems such as the Federal Reserve System. It describes the history of money and banking, how central banks came to be and how they operate.

The film describes how the U.S. Congress gave the power of money creation to private banks through the Federal Reserve Act and how the banks accumulate large amounts of interest using this power. It asserts that wealth is slowly being drawn into the hands of a small banking elite at the expense of the general population. This can be seen through such events as the 1929 stock market crash when a broker’s call was issued, triggering the crash which further solidified the power of the Federal Reserve.

The film argues that there is no publicly owned gold left in Fort Knox because the gold belongs to private banks as collateral against the U.S. national debt. The film argues that since the gold was accumulated by prohibiting its possession, the public’s gold has been stolen by private banks. The film also asserts that this gold was used as collateral against government loans used to escape the Great Depression and that the majority went to overseas banks who used it to fund Nazi Germany.

The film also asserts that the Federal Reserve System enables private banks to force recessions at will by refusing to offer new loans while simultaneously demanding payment on existing loans. It asserts that this power has been used a number of times since the 1913 creation of the Federal Reserve.

The film asserts or implies that bankers have intentionally caused a number of significant events, including John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, the War of 1812, the Battle of Waterloo, the American Civil War, the Russian Revolution, the Great Depression, and the crucifixion of Jesus (who drove out the “money changers” in all four Gospels).

The film asserts that by the end of World War I, private banks owned and controlled much of the United States’ newspaper, news magazine, and film outlets and that they achieved this using consolidated wealth generated by fractional-reserve banking. It argues that these banks have influence over the mainstream media through their ownership and that this influence is used to prevent criticism of the financial monopoly from entering the general public’s consciousness.

The film argues that placing our economy back on a gold standard will not solve the economic crisis. The scarcity of gold means it is one of the easiest commodities to manipulate. Attempts have been made to outlaw silver, such as the Coinage Act of 1873, which caused outrage and was termed the crime of 1873.

By way of conclusion, the film advocates a Monetary Reform Act and suggests that fractional-reserve banking and the Federal Reserve System be abolished in favor of 100% reserve banking, also known as warehouse banking. These reserves would come from the U.S. Treasury, which would issue non-interest generating money to repay the public debt to the banks. This would happen over a period of one year. As the government repaid its debt, the banks would be required to hold the government’s new money as reserves and the reserve rate would slowly be increased to 100%. It is claimed that thus, there would be no inflation or imbalance in the amount of money in circulation. The issuing of new money would then be controlled. In order to prevent inflation, issuance would be according to population statistics. After the public debt was repaid, money that would previously have been interest on the debt would be distributed by the government as a tax refund, leading to the abolition of the Federal income tax.

Distribution, reception, and longevity

According to the producer, 50,000 units of The Money Masters were sold between 1995 and 2001.^[5] An article containing the basic ideas presented in the documentary has appeared in Nexus magazine in several languages.^[6] Even 15 years after its release, the film still has considerable popularity, gaining interest from an audience first introduce to this subject through other documentaries such as Zeitgeist. The film was aired in its entirety by PBS affiliate stations in 2002 and 2008.

In a 2004 review, a VUE Weekly editor wrote: “The fruit of Carmack and Still’s labour is The Money Masters, their notoriously lengthy but captivating 1995 documentary about the history of money and the people who have sought to control it over the past 300 years.”^[7] In a 2006 critique, G. Edward Griffin stated that he found the film worthwhile, but called William’s Still’s approach to monetary reform “naive.”^[8] In a 2009 review, Nomi Prins writing in Cineaste magazine described the documentary as : “…[doing] a superb job of revealing the truth behind the Fed and the powerful global financiers whose self-interest has dictated our banking system from the beginning. One gets the feeling that, had there been a larger budget for this film, the rather drab and grainy production values might have been improved. But if you can get past the low-budget style, you’ll find the content extremely compelling.”^[9] (Prins has been very critical of the banking establishment and the Federal Reserve.)^[10] In 2008, the film was profiled in a review at the conservative WorldNetDaily news site.^[11] As of February, 2010, the film is ranked #15 in the “Top 50 Documentaries” listed at the Movies Found Online web site.^[12] As recently as 2009, a review of the film was presented at an international monetary conference.^{[citation needed]} The film has also been cited by conservative commentators including Patrick J. Buchanan.^[13]^{[dead link]}

The Secret of Oz

Still repackaged some of the material covered in The Money Masters in a 2009 film titled The Secret of Oz. The documentary draws parallels with the classic children novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz written by L. Frank Baum depicting the story hidden in symbolism about monetary reform and the economic scenario during the late 19th century.^[14] The yellow brick road (gold standard), the Scarecrow (farmers), the Tin Man (industrial workers), the Wicked Witch of the West (Cleveland banker J.D. Rockefeller) and the Wicked Witch of the East (NY banker J.P.Morgan), the Emerald City of Oz (greenback money), the illusory power of the Wizard in the capitol city (who monopolized power through deceit), even Dorothy’s silver slippers (changed to ruby slippers for the color movie version -symbols of Baum’s and Bryan’s belief that adding silver coin to gold coin would provide much needed money to a depression-strapped, 1890s America). Oz is a virtual forest of monetary reform symbolism, done by someone extremely well versed in the Populist monetary reform goals of the period (Baum was a newspaperman and author) – goals which have never changed – they are still valid today, they are needed now more than then.^[15]

The Gold Standard representation of the story

See also: Political interpretations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

In 1964, Henry Littlefield claimed that the book contained an allegory of the late 19th-century debate regarding monetary policy^[16] According to this view, the “Yellow Brick Road” represents the gold standard, the silver slippers (ruby in the film version) represent the sixteen to one silver ratio (dancing down the road). The thesis achieved some popular interest and elaboration^[17] but is not taken seriously by literary historians.^[18]^[19]^[20]

^{Related Posts On Pronk Palisades}

S-1 FY2012 President’s Budget (Nominal Dollars in Billions)
Fiscal Year	Outlays	Revenues	Deficits	Debt Held By Public
2011	3,819	2,174	-1,645	10,856
2012	3,729	2,627	-1,101	11,881
2013	3,771	3,003	-768	12,784
2014	3,977	3,333	-646	13,562
2015	4,190	3,583	-607	14,301
2016	4,468	3,819	-649	15,064
2017	4,669	4,042	-627	15,795
2018	4,876	4,257	-619	16,513
2019	5,154	4,473	-681	17,284
2020	5,442	4,686	-735	18,103
2021	5,697	4,923	-774	18,967
2012-2021	45,952	38,747	-7,205	n.a.

S-1 FY2012 Chairman’s Markup (Nominal Dollars in Billions)
Fiscal Year	Outlays	Revenues	Deficits	Debt Held By Public
2011	3,618	2,230	-1,388	10,351
2012	3,529	2,533	-995	11,418
2013	3,559	2,860	-699	12,217
2014	3,586	3,094	-492	12,801
2015	3,671	3,237	-434	13,326
2016	3,858	3,377	-481	13,886
2017	3,998	3,589	-408	14,363
2018	4,123	3,745	-379	14,800
2019	4,352	3,939	-414	15,254
2020	4,544	4,142	-402	15,681
2021	4,739	4,354	-385	16,071
2012-2021	39,958	34,870	-5,088	n.a.

S-1 FY2012 Senator Pat Toomey(Nominal Dollars in Billions)
Fiscal Year	Outlays	Revenues	DeficitsSurplus	Debt Held By Public
2011	3,625	2,230	-1,351	10,351
2012	3,477	2,538	-919	11,418
2013	3,485	2,964	-521	12,217
2014	3,509	3,216	-291	12,801
2015	3,623	3,391	-233	13,326
2016	3,765	3,524	-241	13,886
2017	3,853	3,736	-117	14,363
2018	3,955	3,916	-39	14,800
2019	4,140	4,108	-32	15,254
2020	4,302	4,325	23	15,681
2021	4,493	4,566	73	16,071
2012-2021	38,602	36,304	-2298	n.a.

S-1 FY2012 Senator Rand Paul(Nominal Dollars in Billions)
Fiscal Year	Outlays	Revenues	DeficitsSurpluses	Debt Held By Public
2011	3,708	2,228	-1,480	10,430
2012	3,100	2,547	-553	11,051
2013	3,152	2,755	-397	11,532
2014	3,227	3,088	-139	11,748
2015	3,360	3,244	-116	11,942
2016	3,430	3,349	19	11,997
2012-2016	16,269	15,083	-1,188	n.a.

S-1 FY2012 Tea Party’s Balanced/Surplus Budget(Nominal Dollars in Billions)
Fiscal Year	Outlays	Revenues	Surpluses	Debt Held By Public
2012	2,500	2,500	0	10,900
2013	2,800	2,800	0	10,900
2014	3,000	3,000	0	10,900
2015	3,200	3,200	0	10,900
2016	3,300	3,300	0	10,900
2017	3,400	3,500	100	10,800
2018	3,500	3,700	200	10,600
2019	3,600	3,900	300	10,300
2020	3,700	4,000	300	10,000
2021	3,800	4,300	500	9,500
2012-2021	32,800	34,200	1,400	n.a.

Archive for August, 2011

The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index Craters: 59.2 In July To 44.5 In August–Lowest Since April 2009!

http://econintersect.com/wordpress/?p=12471

The Conference Board Reported Consumer Confidence Fell In August

Spector Says Consumer Confidence Reflects Leadership

Consumer Confidence Lowest in 2 Years

Morning Market Alert for August 30, 2011

August 12th 2011 CNBC Stock Market Squawk on the Street (Consumer Sentiment)

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® Declines

http://www.conference-board.org/data/consumerconfidence.cfm

U.S. Consumer Confidence Index (CCI

Calculation

How it is used

Consumer Confidence Index in the United States

Objectives

Inputs

Implications

Univeristy of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index

Michigan Consumer Sentiment 4th Worst on Record

Posted on 26 August 2011 by Doug Short

Raymond T. Pronk

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President	Time Period	Start	End	Change	Avg.

Richard M. Nixon	1969-01 – 1974-07	7.80	17.01	9.21	10.57
James E. Carter, Jr.	1977-01 – 1980-12	12.72	19.72	7.00	16.26
Barack H. Obama	2009-01 – 2011-06	7.83	12.76	4.93	10.45
Dwight D. Eisenhower	1953-01 – 1960-12	3.28	7.96	4.68	6.26
Lyndon B. Johnson	1963-11 – 1968-12	7.02	8.12	1.10	6.77
George H.W. Bush	1989-01 – 1992-12	10.07	10.30	0.23	10.68
George W. Bush	2001-01 – 2008-12	7.93	7.49	-0.44	8.11
John F. Kennedy	1961-01 – 1963-10	8.31	6.82	-1.49	7.14
William J. Clinton	1993-01 – 2000-12	10.56	7.29	-3.27	7.80
Gerald R. Ford	1974-08 – 1976-12	16.36	12.66	-3.70	16.00
Ronald W. Reagan	1981-01 – 1988-12	19.33	9.72	-9.61	12.19
Harry S. Truman	1948-01 – 1952-12	13.63	3.45	-10.18	7.88

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Archive for August, 2011

The Conference Board Reported Consumer Confidence Fell In August

Spector Says Consumer Confidence Reflects Leadership

Consumer Confidence Lowest in 2 Years

Morning Market Alert for August 30, 2011

August 12th 2011 CNBC Stock Market Squawk on the Street (Consumer Sentiment)

The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® Declines

U.S. Consumer Confidence Index (CCI

Calculation

How it is used

Consumer Confidence Index in the United States

Objectives

Inputs

Implications

Univeristy of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index

Michigan Consumer Sentiment 4th Worst on Record

Posted on 26 August 2011 by Doug Short

Ron Paul Slams FEMA & Explains Austrian Economics

Ron Paul on CNBC 08/30/11

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Ron Paul Slams FEMA & Explains Austrian Economics