home

Tuesday Night Open Thread

I'm still drowning in wiretaps -- motions are due tomorrow. There are 20 plus defendants, 33 phones tapped, innumerable pen registers, trash searches, residence searches, computer searches, controlled buys and snitches -- and companion cases in two California districts. The TL kid's firm is also in the case so he's awash in them as well. But, he had time to win a trial today. He and another lawyer in his firm tried a double refusal DUI and the jury convicted only of careless driving, sparing their hero of a mandatory jail term due to priors. The TL kid did voir dire, opening and the direct examination of their hero. His associate cross-examined the cop and did the closing. The jury was out two hours. So, while even I don't have sympathy for their hero, congrats to the TL kid.

I'm going to take an hour off to watch American Idol and then get back to motions.

What are you watching or thinking about tonight?

< Yves Smith on Credit Risk Study | Not Cutting The Defense Budget Is Good Stimulus Policy >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Today I took a screwdriver and (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 07:58:28 PM EST
    pried the @#&$*%! insert key and caps lock key off my keyboard.

    I feel so empowered!

    Would you please come do mine? They drive me (none / 0) (#16)
    by Angel on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:31:32 PM EST
    loco.

    Parent
    What does the insert key do? (none / 0) (#68)
    by samtaylor2 on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 07:41:38 AM EST
    I don't think I have ever used it.

    Parent
    Luddite explanation... (none / 0) (#69)
    by kdog on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 08:03:45 AM EST
    The Insert key allows you to either type over existing text, or "insert" text in between existing text...if that makes any sense.

    Parent
    Yep, I've never used in on purpose either. (none / 0) (#71)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 08:50:46 AM EST
    On my keyboard it (was) right next to my delete key and I (used to) hit it unintentionally, like, 50x/day.

    After I unknowingly hit it, everything I then typed in would overwrite the stuff I had already typed in, instead of "inserting" inbetween the stuff I had already typed in.

    Huge pita!

    Parent

    I'm very sad this morning... (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 09:04:05 AM EST
    ...as I just found out that a very good friend of mine going back to my Junior High days has passed away from pancreatic cancer.  

    So sad, so tragic.  

    RIP Sig, you are missed.

    I'm sorry about your friend. (5.00 / 2) (#75)
    by Anne on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 09:37:36 AM EST
    My dad had pancreatic cancer.

    The only saving grace for him was that three months after he was diagnosed and given maybe 6 months, he had a massive heart attack that took him instantly; he was just shy of his 64th birthday.

    While that three months saw him experience some pain, and complications from the cancer that sent him to the ER more than a couple of times, he was spared the worst of it; he told me he wasn't afraid of death, he was afraid of dying.

    As awful as it was to have him taken so unexpectedly, I will be forever grateful that he went the way he wanted to. Makes me think there was a reason those three severely blocked arteries were never discovered...even though he saw his doc on a regular basis.


    Parent

    Thanks Anne. (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 09:48:16 AM EST
    Sig was a true friend--one of the few that wasn't afraid to befriend the skinny, sick and shy kid in school.  Quick with a laugh and would do anything for you.

    He made that very rough time in my life more bearable.  

    Parent

    And my sympathies for the loss... (5.00 / 2) (#77)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 10:01:21 AM EST
    ...of your Dad.  I lost mine a year ago this last February and it still doesn't take much to get me choked up about his passing.  I guess the grief and sadness never really leaves us.  

    Parent
    Hard for us to believe that in (5.00 / 2) (#82)
    by Anne on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 11:51:20 AM EST
    January, we marked the 20th anniversary of my Dad's death.  Twenty years - it just seems impossible that it has been that long, but then I look around at my family and so easily see what has transpired in those 20 years.

    I still think about him pretty much every day - might only be for a moment, but he's still in my thoughts.

    Losing a friend is hard, especially one that is more like family than "just" a friend;  I think when we lose anyone we care about so much, it always takes us back to the other losses we've suffered, and we grieve for all of them.  

    We just found out yesterday that a woman we had all worked with for a number of years, who left 2 years ago to go back to school, shot and killed herself on Sunday night/Monday morning.  Am still horrified and can't seem to stop thinking about her last moments here on earth.  She clearly had her problems, but she had the brightest, most bubbly personality, with a huge laugh and a terrific sense of humor - she just lit up whatever room she entered.  I can only hope that she is in a better place, finally free of whatever pain caused her to do this, and that her family, who are devastated, can find something good to hold onto.

    Parent

    We lost our dads only months apart (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 11:57:52 PM EST
    so I understand.  We, the sibs, just celebrated via email what would have been his 98th birthday -- swapping dad stories, some we learned about him only at his funeral from his sibs gone now, too.  

    But Anne, I'm so sorry to hear about the most recent shocker for you -- and empathize, too, as I just saw on teevee a friend of many years ago, not even 60 now, who is near death from cancer.  She is a once-beautiful woman well-known in my town who is much like the friend you describe, with the ability to transform a room.  Now she is transformed by her battle now almost beyond recognition.  But she is still beautiful in being very public about her battle to raise funds to help others.  Watching her family trying to be as strong, though, was so hard to see.  I am sorry that your friend's family didn't have the same chance to say goodbye, but it never is easy.

    We know she will live on in their memories, though.

    Parent

    Sorry for your loss Mile... (5.00 / 2) (#79)
    by kdog on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 10:12:10 AM EST
    that really sucks man...my thoughts are with ya brother.

    Parent
    That is so hard. (5.00 / 2) (#80)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 10:13:56 AM EST
    The first funeral I had to attend of a friend from school was a difficult day, and it has made every day since different as well.  So sorry for him, his family, and all his friends including you.

    Parent
    MH, sorry. (5.00 / 2) (#84)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 11:59:12 AM EST
    Watched American Idol (none / 0) (#2)
    by ericinatl on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:10:13 PM EST
    I thought Gay Adam's performance was one of the best on AI I've ever seen.  Wow.

    He's frickin amazing.

    Why is he Gay "Adam" (none / 0) (#3)
    by nycstray on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:12:02 PM EST
    and not "Adam"?

    Parent
    Aww. He wouldn't mind (none / 0) (#4)
    by ericinatl on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:13:50 PM EST
    He practically came out tonight -- his father saying he didn't like sports and him saying he liked to play dress up.  

    Anyway, I'm gay so I'm allowed to call him Gay Adam.  It's in the Gay Handbook.

    Parent

    Hmmm . . . not all boys who play dress up (none / 0) (#7)
    by nycstray on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:17:54 PM EST
    are gay. Art school in SF in the late 70's early 80's taught me that one ;)

    I unfortunately missed his performance :( Hopefully it will be online shortly . . .

    Parent

    Ummm, listen to ericinatl. (none / 0) (#81)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 11:36:56 AM EST
    Adam's a 3-dollar bill. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

    Parent
    I'd rather you didn't (none / 0) (#8)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:18:05 PM EST
    His name is Adam. It's for him to say if he's gay or not.

    Parent
    As a gay man (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by ericinatl on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:23:07 PM EST
    I can assure you that he is telling everyone that he is gay.  

    Anyway, I don't think calling someone gay is an insult.  

    Parent

    Who cares if he's gay? Or not? Irrelevant IMO. (none / 0) (#17)
    by Angel on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:32:32 PM EST
    There's an article about it (none / 0) (#20)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:36:42 PM EST
    here,. I would hope that we could discuss his singing and not his personal life which belongs only to him unless he decides to discuss it. To date, he hasn't.

    Parent
    Adam is the best this year, don't get me wrong (none / 0) (#23)
    by ericinatl on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:43:23 PM EST
    I call him "gay" because to me it's obvious that he is embracing that part of himself and making it part of his identity.  We follow him on some gay message boards and he has changed some lyrics to the songs he has sung to make them gender neutral.

    When Clay Aiken was a contestant, I totally respected his silence on his sexuality because he was a kid and it was obvious he was not ready to deal with it, publicly.

    But to me, Adam is embracing being QUEER and making it part of his performance identity.  And I think it's great.

    Parent

    Here is Adam's performance (none / 0) (#70)
    by ericinatl on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 08:31:03 AM EST
    Thanks. Me too. (none / 0) (#83)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 11:58:00 AM EST
    "Fringe" returns tonight... (none / 0) (#5)
    by Anne on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:13:57 PM EST
    truly one of the strangest, and gripping shows I've seen in a long time.

    Can't miss a minute or you're lost!

    That program is great! (none / 0) (#9)
    by nycstray on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:20:09 PM EST
    most def not dumbed down TeeVee

    Parent
    Love the show...wife can't stand it. (none / 0) (#19)
    by coast on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:34:30 PM EST
    I think Walter is my favorite (none / 0) (#25)
    by Anne on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:46:24 PM EST
    part of the show - some of the things he says just make me laugh out loud.

    Parent
    What doesn't she like about it? (none / 0) (#30)
    by nycstray on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:10:15 PM EST
    As you said it not dumbed down. Wife prefers (none / 0) (#43)
    by coast on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:49:02 PM EST
    Greys, Practice, things like that.  Although we both like Criminal Minds.  I liked the end tonight with the bald guy showing up.

    Parent
    Love Criminal Minds (none / 0) (#55)
    by nycstray on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 10:23:28 PM EST
    Hmm, I should call my mom and see what she thinks of Fringe. We used to send murder/serial killer books back and forth in the mail. We also hoped nobody was tracking our reading habits, lol!~ Not being able to figure out the ending is what gets us, along with the brain twists/mystery.

    I thought the kid was good in his role. Had the subtleness needed to "make it work". {Tim Gunn imitation}

    Parent

    Next week looks good! (none / 0) (#27)
    by nycstray on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:09:13 PM EST
    I like the way tonight ended.

    I'm so glad they brought it back.

    Parent

    I don't recall seeing much advance promo (none / 0) (#51)
    by nycstray on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 10:14:17 PM EST
    for the show's return. Granted I don't watch Fox much, but I have been watching AI. Was a nice surprise seeing it reappear.

    I hope the kid reappears. Since the CIA dude said something about another one . . . .  I wonder . . . The Observer . . . or?

    Parent

    Chris Allen just butchered (none / 0) (#10)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:20:19 PM EST
    the Eagles' All She Wants to Do is Dance. Glad to hear the Judges blast him for it.

    Henley (none / 0) (#37)
    by eric on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:24:45 PM EST
    solo, actually.

    Parent
    yes, you are right (none / 0) (#52)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 10:15:41 PM EST
    and you just gave me the best idea for la ate night thread....Henley has always been in my top five of all time.

    Parent
    Lil Rounds Sounds Off Key (none / 0) (#11)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:20:58 PM EST
    Tina Turner she isn't.

    Lil Rounds and Scott have got to go... (none / 0) (#12)
    by Anne on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:22:56 PM EST
    Kris didn't give his best performance, but he's so likeable.

    Adam was great.

    Adam's not on yet here (none / 0) (#14)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:23:49 PM EST
    They're now telling Lil Rounds she's not doing well.

    Parent
    You're in for a treat - (none / 0) (#15)
    by Anne on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:26:27 PM EST
    Adam will not disappoint!

    Parent
    What was the song that he sang? I could not (none / 0) (#45)
    by coast on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:52:36 PM EST
    figure it out.

    Parent
    Gary Jules (none / 0) (#46)
    by Anne on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 10:03:26 PM EST
    Mad World

    Never knew who actually sang the song until I googled part of the lyrics.

    Parent

    Actually, I think this was (none / 0) (#47)
    by Anne on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 10:04:51 PM EST
    originally a Tears for Fears song.

    Parent
    Thanks (none / 0) (#54)
    by coast on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 10:22:35 PM EST
    I think that my wife knows the words to just about every song.  This one even stumped her.  Watched the TFF video thru the link.  Don't even remember the video.  After watching it though, I see why Simon gave him a standing O.  Possibly better than the orginal.

    Parent
    I still like (none / 0) (#59)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 11:44:35 PM EST
    the Gary Jules version best, but I'll bet some stars from the past will be screaming for Adam to sing their songs.

    He did a nice job.  Glad we recorded Fringe, or I wouldn't have caught it.  I wonder if there will be mention tomorrow night of the fact that they cut off their best song of the night.  I don't think the certified public accounting firm of Simon and Simon (I'm such a cynic when it comes to reality TV) will let him get voted off because he wasn't aired during the AI hour and people forgot about him (maybe), but it will be interesting to see what dialidol.com has as his voting level.

    Allison was great too.  And I really do think she's likeable, myself.  As if Simon is a judge of likeability.  And of course Danny was great too.

    Parent

    I've voted a bunch of times tonight - the first (none / 0) (#18)
    by Angel on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:34:02 PM EST
    time I've done so this season.  Wanted to vote for Allison.  Scott has got to go.  Enjoyed him for a while but he just isn't good enough.

    Congratulations (none / 0) (#21)
    by TChris on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:41:45 PM EST
    TL Kid.  Jurors are so conditioned to hate (alleged) drunk drivers that trial victories are can only be attributed to skill and diligent preparation (although it also helps to have some good facts).  Great win -- keep 'em coming.

    Thanks, TChris (none / 0) (#28)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:09:54 PM EST
    I emailed him your comment. You are so right!

    Parent
    I'm watching (none / 0) (#22)
    by SOS on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:42:07 PM EST
    One Old Guy, One Med Old Guy, One Kind of Younger Guy, and one young lady play music.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMH6WH9gyCc&feature=related


    I'm going (none / 0) (#24)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 08:44:32 PM EST
    to watch the Real Housewives of NYC. I think Bravo is just going to turn itself into a real housewives' channel since they've done Orance County, NYC, Atlanta and coming up New Jersey!

    Me too (none / 0) (#60)
    by Amiss on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 12:20:27 AM EST
    Along with the DWTS voting off tonite, was really disappointed to see David get voted off, he did so much better than Lawrence this week and I genuinely just like him. I was kinda surprised that SteveO wasnt in the bottom w, but he is growing on me sober LOL. Then later to Rescue Me.

    Parent
    Jeralyn, what is a "double DUI"? (none / 0) (#29)
    by oculus on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:10:01 PM EST


    In CO, a suspected (none / 0) (#42)
    by TLK Nic on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:46:21 PM EST
    DUI driver is asked to perform "voluntary" Standard Field Sobriety Tests (first refusal).  The SFST's usually provide an officer with probable cause to believe the driver committed an alcohol-related driving offense.  The officer may then request the driver submit to a chemical test of his or her .BAC (second refusal).  When both tests are refused, it's referred to as a "double refusal."

    Parent
    great job, Nic (2.00 / 0) (#53)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 10:16:58 PM EST
    I'm really proud of you.

    Parent
    Interesting. CA has FSTs and (none / 0) (#49)
    by oculus on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 10:11:18 PM EST
    BA test, but I've only heard the term "refusal" applied to the BA test.  

    Parent
    DWTS and Biggest Loser (none / 0) (#31)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:11:37 PM EST
    are on too, but I have to Tivo them to watch later in the week.

    I think Allison and Adam will be the final two this year, edging out Danny. They are my three favorites, with Adam at the top. I didn't get his song tonight, but he sure is talented.

    I would like to see Allison and Adam at the end (none / 0) (#35)
    by nycstray on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:14:55 PM EST
    I love the way she sang tonight. Blows me away she's only 16.

    let me know who got booted on DWTS . . .  I forgot to flip over, was all wrapped up in Fringe {grin}

    Parent

    The judges were propping her up big-time tonight. (none / 0) (#40)
    by Angel on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:31:48 PM EST
    They want her to go far, too.  Telling her to lighten up a bit, show some personality - try to get people to like her.  Sound advice but also trying to tell the public that she's good and they should vote for her.  Her song choice was perfect.  She does have a similar quality to Bonnie Raitt - and 'I Can't Make You Love Me' is my all-time favorite by Bonnie.

    Parent
    Watching Dodgers v. (none / 0) (#32)
    by oculus on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:12:08 PM EST
    Padres.  Chris Young struck out Furcal and Manny in first inning.  Good show.

    Maybe we can dream (none / 0) (#36)
    by CoralGables on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:19:06 PM EST
    of the Padres and the Marlins playing for the National League Pennant. Being too cheap to pay the extra to see them on TV, I had to settle for listening to the Marlins win tonight on the radio giving them a 2 game winning streak and well on their way to 162-0.

    Parent
    My brother is a Marlins fan, but he is (none / 0) (#38)
    by oculus on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:26:52 PM EST
    in CO where the terrain keeps him from watching the games on cable and he can only do dial-up computer.  So, he comes to San Diego every summer for the Marlins/Padres series.  Not many Marlins fans at those games, but they usually win more of them than the Pads.

    Parent
    Is Etta James still angry at Beyonce (none / 0) (#33)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:12:32 PM EST
    for singing "At Last" at Obama's inauguration? She's singing it live on DWTS.

    If she is, then that's okay (none / 0) (#67)
    by DFLer on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 07:29:34 AM EST
    because Etta is the greatest and deserved her props...It was like having Christine A sing Respect when Aretha was still able to do so.

    Parent
    For all the (none / 0) (#34)
    by CoralGables on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:13:26 PM EST
    closeness of the NY-20 election last week, the opposite took place tonight in IL-5 to replace Rahm Emanuel. The Dem Mike Quigley has close to 70% of the vote in a three-way race. Rahm Emanuel received 74% of the vote in a two person race last November.

    This outcome is just about exactly as anticipated with the GOP spending next to nothing on the race.

    As for AI, I am starting to lean towards Allison as the one with the most long term potential.

    Meanwhile, Bobby Rush is in Havana (none / 0) (#39)
    by oculus on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:28:26 PM EST
    mtg. w/the Castro bros.

    Parent
    Turnout in 2008 not up overall (none / 0) (#44)
    by Cream City on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 09:49:56 PM EST
    and actually was lower than before by percentage of the population, per the latest analysis (google The Hill and Report: Turnout Flat -- links not working).  So the question may be whether Dems can do it again, greatly increasing new voters to compensate -- and/or will Repubs get out those voters who stayed home?

    Thinking about elections tonight (none / 0) (#48)
    by Cream City on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 10:06:06 PM EST
    because we're watching returns here.  Good news is that the neocon nutcases didn't win in our big state races, schools superintendent and especially state Supreme Court, where our great chief justice (the first woman on the court more than 30 years ago) won re-election comfortably.  It ought to be no surprise, but the corporate lobby here has been getting lesser lights elected to the high court lately -- justices immediately censured for unethical behaviors on the bench.

    Now we're down to watching a couple of closer races for our local courts and the like, as the flukey behavior of voters here lately is weird.

    Parent

    IMO (none / 0) (#66)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 06:49:14 AM EST
    the key is defeating the fundies and getting them to retreat from politics. Unfortunately, Obama's pander to the evangelicals makes them think that they are still an important voice in politics.

    And Obama may be dealing with a demoralized base. Certainly there's lots more variables than just new voters.

    Parent

    The new voters (none / 0) (#72)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 09:02:13 AM EST
    -- the turnout of the young and African Americans and Hispanic Americans -- was the key, according to the report.  I just link to the data.

    Parent
    Here's the link (none / 0) (#74)
    by jbindc on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 09:33:33 AM EST
    Thanks -- that's right (none / 0) (#78)
    by Cream City on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 10:11:15 AM EST
    I can't link lately here, for some reason.  So I just cite the source. :-)

    Parent
    commercial real estate (none / 0) (#50)
    by Jlvngstn on Tue Apr 07, 2009 at 10:12:44 PM EST
    has started its crash.  Up next hospitality and food service.

    CRE will require another 2 trillion into the market

    Bankruptcies in Northern Fla (none / 0) (#61)
    by Amiss on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 01:22:56 AM EST
    are up 70% I learned today.

    Parent
    Up next? (none / 0) (#62)
    by Fabian on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 04:12:05 AM EST
    It's already happening.

    You should see the number of coupons and online offers I am getting.  Corporate restaurants are already closing marginal stores, apparently tightening their belts for the hard times ahead.

    BTW - I wouldn't eat out on Mother's Day this year.  It's always a mass produced affair except for the very best restaurants and the emphasis on making up lower weekly takes by pushing holiday dining means that they are looking to maximize profits then - by maximizing the number served.  

    Parent

    we are in a slide right now (5.00 / 1) (#85)
    by Jlvngstn on Wed Apr 08, 2009 at 01:35:30 PM EST
    in two months the mudslide will evolve to drowning.  Slow pays are rising dramatically in most industry putting further squeezing on small business forcing them to slow pay as well.  Slow pay started in November and is accelerating rapidly.  

    All the more reason any talk about bottom is utterly ridiculous.

    We are also facing last years numbers which included stimulus spending July through October which are going to hit 3rd qtr numbers that seem to be ignored.  No stimulus and more than double the unemployment make for a disaster.

    Last year we had half the UE and we sent a stimulus in the form of cash.  This year we are at record ue and climbing, U6 is climbing and duration at U6 will increase and we are going to create maybe, maybe a quarter of a million jobs.

    Mid Summer the airlines will start to have serious cash flow issues and 3rd qtr will report near death experiences and who is carrying those loans? The banks or the gov't?

    Consumption will continue to decline, although many would have us believe it will stabilize over the summer.  For the 2 million who have been laid off and who will not have jobs by this summer, how much will they be consuming?  For those who have felt "safe" for the past 16 months, how much will they be consuming?

    Pent up demand which is a theory being floated out there which is theoretically reasonably if 4 million americans hadn't lost their jobs in the past year and change.  Rapid deterioration of the job market has not been at this level since the great depression.

    Protecting the banks is a quarter of the solution, there are 3 other parts that are being virtually ignored.  i don't buy the theory that the gov't is saving any mortgages rather they are forcing lower rates from people who have owned for a long time or who put 30-40% down on their home if recently purchased as the depreciation has made it impossible for those without significant equity in their homes.  The 100 bucks a month or so people are saving in refis is not coming back to the market for at least 18 months as people try to boost their anemic savings accounts or pay down debt.

    CRE will be worse than housing because the loans are bigger.  Before the end of the 2nd quarter I will empty out my market holdings almost in entirety.  Come October or November we will see more layoffs as businesses react to an economy that refuses to grow.

    Parent

    The grief is the legal system (none / 0) (#87)
    by joze46 on Thu Apr 09, 2009 at 04:39:56 AM EST
    The political bias perpetrated from the Attorney Generals office during the Bush administration from my view has established a trail of deliberate deception displaying a core of corruption that one could think should never exist in America's balance of power type of government. Please try to endure my rambling, it is not often a citizen has the opportunity to say something that could be read by millions and accepted as some truth.

    I am a rookie at this, but a John Doe matured in the system, now being just sixty one years old, a boomer, a Veteran, a victim of corporate greed, and very much dependent on the Internet for news through commentary in articles like these has aided in a truthful development in a personal opinion. America has found it self somewhere in the spectrum of the culture of corruption and greed that is revealing a total break down of ethics of government in every area.

    Striking, startling, disappointing, America is now caught up in an ethical vortex that is coined as a toxic economy with zombie banks world wide. Likely because of our Jekyll Island banking system called the Federal Reserve which for almost a century is nothing more than a horizontal Ponzi scheme for the rich unknown secret owners that can funnel the electorate tax money secretly with out bound on one end while at the other condemn citizens like Representative Jackson now getting creamed for doing money accumulation some consider that has been routine for decades.    

    Yes by reading through many comments by people who have the intelligence to write even a little clear but with honesty has given me a better impression of what is going on in our country then what is delivered by Mainstream Media, especially MSNBC, CNN, and Fox all embedded in the war and tied into America's economic paradigm. These messengers of the public in the electromagnetic spectrum are finding out they are caught delivering for the most part "Biased Bunk" which is the problem because of their past complicity to insider circle of political money, and power that deliberately contrived deception. They, our media brought us here to this point in time because of deliberate ethical abuse.

    My closing argument, is in the grandstanding that was originally perpetuated by Patrick Fitzgerald is the arrest of Governor Blagojevich, for me, was a deliberate politically motivated action to create what I call " Media Prosecution". Sensational Grandstanding with all the drama and theater glitzy commercial dog and pony show that will as I understand will be dragged out for another year.

    For me it is difficult to recall when I ever saw such thing as the Governor of any state to be arrested for "just a complaint". It is not only irregular, odd, medieval, tyrannical, unconstitutional, it clearly displays how ignorant the majority of Americans are, or worse how clearly the media and politicians manipulate the system for greed and power.

    Why wasn't Blagojevich asked to surrender?

    Hell at least we are giving Osama Bin Laden that opportunity!