fearless leadership (less)

So… You can read more details here, in one of my earlier posts (over 300,000 hits on that one): healthcare is not for You. Do it!

But, let’s focus on a key point that isn’t getting nearly enough press by the Obamacratic-oriented media.

Did you know that Obama refers to high-end health plans as “cadillac plans”?

Its true!

…indirectly, anyway.

It’s also an over-broad and general shot at a very complicated and deeply-trenched problem that may create more problems than solutions – especially for the affluent (but, that is part of the Democrats mission statement, after all). Remember, Democrats like to secure cushy government jobs that offer better (under publicized) benefits, and then bring in friends and family while insisting that strangers (entrepreneurs) foot the bill.

However, what is absolutely true is that Obama positions the cadillac plans as economically unfair and unpatriotic. However, he’ll manage to side step any confirmation that he, along with his executive staff and members of the House and Senate, have access to that very level of plan – and, for only $503.00 a month.

That’s your fearless leader.

Peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

Brian Patrick Cork

extortion: credit card companies caught in the Act

There’s a story floating around, and it’s a true one, that credit card companies are racing to raise interest rates before a new law designed to protect us from that very thing goes into effect February 22nd. You can read more about it here, for more ugly details.

Congress had actually been moving quickly themselves to form probably insipid meaningful legislation around the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act, or CARD Act. But, and I have to add the word oddly, and should also add disappointingly, let’s also consider outrageously, allowed themselves to be lobbied by the credit card companies and approve a “grace period” that would enable the credit card companies to “prepare” for the change in predatory practices.

So, they’re using that grace period to gouge credit card users as hard, deep and quickly as they can.

Thank you, our ever vigilant, inspiring representatives.

The same representatives, mind you, that are voting in a healthcare package that they, themselves, are not required to participate in. Read about that in my post: healthcare is not for You.

The Act actually offers some fairly meaningful protection for credit card users. You can or should research those details elsewhere; it’s worth the time and effort. A meaningful issue at hand, however, is this grace period is going to create a lot of harm and financial chaos in the interim. It’s also going to cause, in many cases the very thing the Act was meant to forestall, if not eliminate.

I’m skeptical Congress could not have seen this coming. And, so, I feel set-up by them again.

We don’t use credit cards much in our household, or in my businesses. We prefer American Express (I certainly have issues with American Express), but when we need to use a credit card we prefer to pay it off. Apparently most Americans can’t or aren’t doing that, for the moment.

Nonetheless, I have a letter from Citibank informing me that they are doubling the interest rate on cards.

Right there in my hands I had written proof that the credit card companies; certainly Citibank, were attempting to extort the American people – and, Congress are their unwitting accomplice. /1

Where’s Aaron Burr when we really need him?

This is all a lot more insidious than the media are letting on, Congress will own up to, and, what most people might understand.

The letter I received from Citibank said, in effect, that I had an option to decline the higher interest rate. But, if I do so, they will cancel the credit card. For me, that’s not an issue. But, apparently for 63% of Americans, it just might be. If the credit card companies cancel the credit card, you are still, obviously, responsible for paying down the balance. Maybe that, unto itself, is not such a big deal, but the fact that your credit score will drop precipitously, is. Your credit score is driven by many factors (I suspect many of them subjective). But, an obvious factor is amount of credit card balance against available credit (your credit limit on the card). If you’ve maxed out your card, but are paying, at least the minimum required each month, your credit score will likely stay intact. But, if you have a credit ratio where your balances outweigh the available or potential available credit, your score drops up to 99 points in only one reporting cycle. NOTE: It comes down to algorithms (more profiling) designed by the credit industry exist to punish users if they tried to cancel their own cards.

It’s true; and, you better get pissed! I don’t mean inebriated here, but, that might help some of you that continue to numb yourselves against being bent over your own “American dreams” as they collapse around you.

I wish I had good news today. Maybe a fun story. And, I am trying to come up with a solution – if not a course of action. I honestly don’t know if writing, calling or visiting your Congressman does any good. We could go to Oprah, I suppose. But, she won’t make any move that might shed unfavorable light on Barack Obama. I don’t know if she’s his bitch, or the other way around.

Maybe we should try something like a “Don’t use your credit card for a week” campaign. What do you think?

Peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

Brian Patrick Cork

1/ From: West’s Law:

1. The act or an instance of extorting.
2. Illegal use of one’s official position or powers to obtain property, funds, or patronage.
3. An excessive or exorbitant charge.
4. Something extorted.

extortionary ex·tor‘tion·ar’y (-shə-nĕr’ē) adj.
extortionist ex·tor‘tion·ist or ex·tor‘tion·er n.

or,

From the Columbia Dictionary:

“extortion, in law, unlawful demanding or receiving by an officer, in his official capacity, of any property or money not legally due to him. Examples include requesting and accepting fees in excess of those allowed to him by statute or arresting a person and, with corrupt motives, demanding money or property unlawfully under pretense of duty. The taking of money or property is generally an essential element of the crime. In most states of the United States, extortion is more widely defined to include the obtaining of money or property of another by inducing his consent through wrongful use of fear, force, or authority of office; blackmail, ransom, and threat of force are included under this definition.”

rumblings of the rebellion

Flat-out and open derision rumbling from the White House press corps.

This must be drawing near a record in terms of a president of the United States losing face publicly.

This is a terrific lesson for school children. Or, hell anyone, for that matter. You lie, you get laughed at.

At what point does Bill and Hilary advise him not to run for a second term in the hopes the Democrats have a prayer of holding down the oval office?

Regular readers of this Blog (and you are many, and certainly legion) know I promised to stop taking the mickey out of our Commander-in-Chief. But, in this instance, I lied. However, no one is laughing.

Peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

Brian Patrick Cork

pieces of the nobel prize puzzle

I’ve found myself in a bruehah (always happy to oblige) over my recent post regarding Barack Obama and his Nobel Prize. You can refer to that here: let’s compromise on the nobel peace Prize.

Far from from here, and engaged in a titanic struggle through the comments section of another blog, there arose a comparison of Obama to Henry Kissinger, Yasser Arafat, Le Duc Tho and the Dali Lama.

For me, Henry Kissinger was a no brainer. The terms “sheer genius” and “inspiring” would never due him enough credit. His complex thinking and ability to understand all sides of both an argument and solution enabled him to serve both a number of U.S. Presidents, and numerous foreign leaders (many of whom sent their own children to learn from him at Georgetown University – so, there’s an interesting perspective). His views and efforts around Diplomacy were harsh, but effective. If respect from one’s global peers is a gauge for the Nobel Prize, then it’s possible Kissinger established the bar.

Yasser Arafat gives me pause. I’ve researched this a bit. The best I can come up with is he was indirectly rewarded for not being an asshole as much as he could have been.

Seriously.

In a way, this might put him in the same category as Obama… This notion of being rewarded for not being George Bush has merit if you squint your eyes and stand on one foot. Those silly little men under big hats in Oslo are sending a message that they are relieved Obama is simply taking the U.S. in another direction. Our country is (I know this is obvious) such a world driver, that such an effort needs to be acknowledged.

So… Having just written this, it makes me feel no better, but, I can almost grasp the odd thinking behind Obama’s award – but, only if my theories around Arafat are correct, and his award, then, represents a kind of awkward precedent.

On another hand, I might try to argue later (after more investigation) that Arafat set the stage for his prize during the Battle of Karameh where he generated international pattention by standing up to Israel in a very bloody twenty four hour battle fought for what appears to have been more for pride, and less so prejudice. Thirty years later he found himself at the Oslo Accords hosted by then U.S. President Bill Clinton (so… this raises a question around why didn’t Clinton get a Nobel Prize?).

Le Duc Tho still has me scratching my head. I know he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Kissinger over the Paris Peace Accords. I’m told he declined the Prize because his country was still divided at the time – and, the fighting was bitter and ugly by any historical standard. This has me thinking he probably earned a prize more for taking this position, and not being a hypocrite, than any work leading up to the Accords. So… This actually puts a LOT of pressure on Obama, because his name and hypocrisy could well become synonymous. Could those fellows in Oslo be that smart?

Please feel free to wade in.

The Dali Lama? He stood up to the Chinese as a symbol of strength, courage and change. He’s inspired billions of people to stand against anarchy and communism. He confounds evil.

The irony there is that Obama is the first President in decades not to invite the Dali Lama to the White House. And, unfortunately, that raises the ugly specter of some underlying political game being attached to Obama’s prize.

“Tainted” is a word that keeps popping into my head.

Peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

Brian Patrick Cork

if atheists get obama, can the schools have God?

Okay…

A few points (observe as I over use the that word in this post to make my own point).

So… Mr. Glenn Beck is a bit everywhere with one of his most recent diatribes.

You’re either a fan of his, or not. Me? I am sometimes, and sometimes, I’m not.

In any event, here (well… below actually. You’ll need to watch the bloody video. Do it!), according to Beck, apparently when you turn away from God and religion, you put your hope and trust in Barack Obama instead:

“They fill the void with stuff”.

But, he does make, perhaps, one good point. We can’t pray in our public schools (In fact we can’t do much of anything to include enforce physical fitness, competitive grades and drivers education). But, evidently it’s okay to idoltarize idolize Barack Obama.

He also says, but I don’t think he succeeds in making the point, that the United States became a powerful country because we “…acknowledged God…” (unlike, you know, all those other countries), and now it will decline as people turn into evil atheists.

The ramifications could be sinister.

That’s likely a point to ponder.

Meanwhile… I’m hip with God. But, I suspect he’s just watching all this with amusement, and his arm is around Charles Darwin’s shoulders. And, you should wonder, at whom they might point. Natural Selection should be taught in the schools, and it can also be demonstrated and proven there as well.

Peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

Brian Patrick Cork

obama’s Bones

President Barack Obama is blitzing the media, pulling no stops, it would seem, by including David Letterman’s Late Night show (seriously, it’s true, and here’s evidence) in an effort to develop support, let alone understanding (he’s clearly a terrific orator, but something, here, is missing), of his plans for national Healthcare reform.

I’ll offer Obama bones (rather like an “A” for effort) in terms of appearing passionate, and possibly trying, really. I suppose this is a keen way to reach the masses that don’t care to watch the, otherwise, biased news at regular hours. I wonder if he would dare approach Bill Maher?

Peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

Brian Patrick Cork

a little Government action on the side

Recent Headline: SEC defends $33M settlement with Bank of America

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) affirmed in a legal filing its defense of the proposed $33 million settlement over “the bonus affair”, which arose after Bank of America Corporation agreed to buy Merrill Lynch for $50 billion a year ago.

However, the SEC also says there is “…no factual support to charge individual Bank of America executives in the case”.

I am tempted to hold myself speechless.

…but, I could never do that. And, you reader, would have none of that.

So… Why then, did they impose a fine on Bank of America to begin with?

Meanwhile… A federal judge has delayed approving Bank of America’s proposed settlement with the SEC. He asked for filings by Wednesday from the SEC, and the bank, so that he can decide whether to approve the deal.

How is this a deal? Isn’t it, in some reality, a scam?

Let me get this straight… Merrill lynch executives bilk the public by misrepresenting the truth. The company then gets bailed out by our government. The SEC cuts a little deal that puts pocket change back in government coffers – so, they can pretend like they do something. Now the courts FINALLY want to get involved, and also pretend like they are doing something.

I get distracted by shiny things often enough. But, I see a pattern here as well.

I wonder who is going to take credit for any of this once someone sorts it out?

Where the hell is an indignant media?

In other news:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Economic activity is stabilizing or improving in the vast majority of the country, according to a government survey released Wednesday. The findings indicate that the worst recession since the 1930s may be over.

That’s it?

Okay. That’s it then. Everybody back to work (just in time for Labor Day to be over). No more excuses. The media has made a statement (perhaps anticipating my outrage, as outlined above).

I am guessing “the memo” was finally issued by the Obama administration.

Peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

Brian Patrick Cork