mlyn

Is It Time to Short Bonds?

I'm new to investing so I don't quite see the big picture and all the related elements in the picture. But my questions are: If one buys precious metals, isn't that the same as shorting the Treasuries? If the Fed buys the T-bonds, won't that prevent the U.S. dollar from falling? Can't the Fed and other central banks continue to suppress the gold price?

Economic Outlook: Is It Safe?

Anyone who is anti-government based solely on ideology had better explain the bloated $600 billion pentagon budget, the two wars which are off-balance sheet.

Let's hope we finally get a government budget that "spreads the wealth" to transportation, alternative energy, infrastructure, science and technology, education and health care.

Wachovia Sale to Wells Fargo Is a Better Deal for the U.S. Banking System

I think alersjr is correct.

Since last year when CEOs were being fired, one of them being Citibank, I read from astute analysts how C had a lot of the toxic level 3 OTC derivatives that are over-leveraged 30 to 1. C hasn't been in the news lately, but I wouldn't be surprised that the FDIC is pushing Wachovia to C, hoping two weak banks become one that is "too big to fail." The OTC derivatives have yet to fall. I think the U.S. taxpayers are getting hit by the "economic hitmen" except it's our own government doing it. Go Wells Fargo!

As far as I am concerned, the failed/failing banks represent the banks that do the bidding of the President's Working Group or the "Plunge Protection Team" which includes laundering funds for the CIA, keeping the price of precious metals low, propping up the U.S. stock market and the U.S. dollar. The fundamentals of this country are awful, and President's Working Group's (Treasury, Fed, et al.) smoke-and-mirrors are being revealed. The politicians gave Wall St what it wanted via less regulation. Wall St (banks, hedge funds) earned enormous profits which recycled back into political campaigns. Now the President's Working Group is trying to save them in order to maintain their avenues of international influence.

This bailout, in my opinion, is only a short-term answer, to maintain "stability" during the elections and the rest of 2008. This allows Bush-Cheney Adm and Paulson and Cox and other Wall Streeters time to "bail out."

If you want to learn more about the banks, see solari.com and read, now an outdated commentary, "Where Would Jesus Bank?" by Catherine Austin Fitts. It includes a list of banks, some of which no longer exist, that supports "free market" manipulation. Catherine used to work for Bush I but left because she could not fight against the corruption of the Bush I Adm.

Gold Bulls: Beware

Central Fund of Canada (CEF) is an investment holding company of both gold and silver. It has the metals in a vault. Look it up and the SA articles citing it.

Paulson's Plan is About Marking to Market

I thought Paulson had to sell his GS positions before taking the Treasury office. His friends and family probably have GS stock. But as former CEO of GS, and one of the institutions in which the US launders money, historically, it's better to "save" this institution because it's an important tool, a source of capital.

McCain's Economics

Either we get taxed or we get "taxed" through hyperinflation. Take your pick. Either way, the middle class gets hit.

Tuesday Options Outlook: LEH, WM, AIG, OIH, DOX, TRA, SVNT

Funny . . . I thought it was the neoconservatives, the old wealth who are probably funding their foreign accounts in case Obama wins; While the rest of the 95% are stuck here if McCain wins

High Dividend Stocks and Preferreds Soar

3X taxes? 6X taxes? This is a Republican/neoconserva... recession! Better sell your hummers and motor boats, quit those ski trips to Vail, CO, clean your own mansion--but not the tithing to the church; oh, no, tithing makes up for the greed.

Just start saving like the rest of us, jack---! The middle class has been tightening its belt; it's time you do the same.

Wall Street, R.I.P. Now What?

Me thinks that John Perkins, the author of "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man," should weigh in on this debacle. The urgency of Paulson and Bernanke when they reported to Congress that we need broad powers and and a blank check--right now!--seems suspect. Kinda like the "9/11" of financial hits--except it's the American middle class that's getting hit. The people at the top just need to tighten their belts, sell their ten cars, give up vacations at Vail, CO . . .

Wall Street, R.I.P. Now What?

Me thinks that John Perkins, the author of "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man," should weigh in on this debacle. The urgency of Paulson and Bernanke when they reported to Congress that we need broad powers and and a blank check--right now!--seems suspect. Kinda like the "9/11" of financial hits--except it's the American middle class that's getting hit. The people at the top just need to tighten their belts, sell their ten cars, give vacations at Vail, CO . . .

Solving the Illiquidity Problem Alone Won't Be Enough

JasonC:

Both parties are responsible for this, but the Republicans via the neoconservative base, have wrecked this economy. The wrecking crew has been active since the 1970's when the U.S. went off the gold standard, was supported further in the 1980's when Reagan was in office, demoralized in the 1990's when Clinton was reigning but used social values and Monica to repeal the Glass-Steagall Act, and then the last eight years of the Bush-Cheney regime really, really killed transparency and acountability. (Elliot Spitzer also was taken down.)

The neoconservatives are taking the American public down the road of fear and fascism. Whether or not John McCain wanted this, he went to the "dark side" when he accepted the neoconservative condition of having Sarah Palin as his sidekick. All his advisors are lobbyists for Wall St.

Don't Worry, The Banking System is Sound

www.moderateindependen...

The best and the brightest . . . they are crooks!

Senator Harry Reid: 'No One Knows What To Do'

We are losing the Iraq War be cause it's a sinkhole. Bush and Petraeus have just been playing with the American people about this surge: It's working or it's not working or we need more troops. They are buying time so that they can leave, and leave it for the next president to clean it up, get blamed for it . . . this country is done for.

www.moderateindependen...

Morgan Stanley in Distress

The economist, Nouriel Roubini, stated that both GS and MS should seek buyers immediately. He also stated that the merger between BAC and Merrill was risky and that BAC overpaid. He did a series of interviews with Tech Ticker on Yahoo Finance yesterday.

The Nationalization of AIG

Herbert Greenberg was on the Charlie Rose Show. He was former Chairman and CEO of AIG until he was forced out in 2005 by Eliott Spitzer. His company has a 12% shareholder interest in AIG. He described AIG as a national asset because of its extensive insurance and finance interests around the world. He said risk management under his watch never would have led to a mark down in the rating.