Mann to Man

Just when I thought narcissism ruled all actions of a person imbued with that personality trait, the "president" proves me wrong and lets stupidity trump narcissism. Scheduling his speech at same time as a long-scheduled Republican debate and letting his spokesman lie about it is unconscionable. On second thought, this is narcissistic.... just laced with stupidity!

As Obama's performance defines him, his diehard acolytes stoop more and more to the false claim of racism by those who analyze his performance and judge it for what it is vs. what they expected. Local people here have written such ridiculous claims. Then there are syndicated columnists, such as Leonard Pitts, whose column anchors one of our local papers, who would have nothing to write about if he didn't have the race issue. These people, rather typically, ignore facts and details and report only from their prejudices or talking points provided for them. They ignore the fact that, in 2008, 53% of voters voted for Obama, in good faith and hope, when there was nothing positive to define him. He was black! Months after his election, even more, 69% of voters, supported him .... still in good faith. He was still black. Now, nearly three years of essentially fiddling while America burns, his support has diminished to near half of that.......and he is still black. Where's the ...

Look for the characterization. "FEDERAL FAMILY" to replace GOVERNMENT in discussions from our folks in Washington. Heard it twice today by administration talking heads. This will take it's "rightful" place alongside "INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY" and will have about as much meaning. I'm considering offering a prize to the person who can list the most word or phase changes to deflect or conceal real meaning in the past few decades... mostly by the progressives. Older folks will want to think back to the 60s, some should think back to 1973. Some of the newer ones --- problem to issue, taxes to revenue, government spending to "investment" (without determining ROI, of course), a critic of government excesses to "terrorist," holding politicians accountable to "holding hostage," trying to reign in government excesses as "obstructionism," more......

I don't intend to make a career out of exposing Warren Buffett's hypocrisy because I realize many people don't care....but they should. He is now using himself as a shill for Obama's taxing initiatives while not paying his own. I have observed Buffett for many years, since he used Berkshire Hathaway, once a prominent textile company in an industry where I spent many professional years, for their tax losses to benefit his insurance business. Some years ago, USA Today exposed him as a piker, relative to many others, in charitable giving until his estranged wife died leaving $3+ Billion in BH stock and he began putting billions of dollars into selected foundations....Gates' primarily, but also one for his wife and each of his children. It's all legal, of course. Now he is exposed for corporate tax problems over many years, and most will still say ho-hum since he admits it and vows to have it all settled.....back to 2002. Corporations' disputes with IRS are no...

We just came back on line after hurricane Irene blew through here and what is the first I hear as Carol turns on the TV? Obama, of course! He's praising veterans, though. At least he gets something right. Some who read these notes will wonder why I speak as I do of the "president" and some will be downright angered. I gave him nearly 3 years and tried to find substance, depth of thinking, at least rudimentary understanding of how America works, how our economy works, even the intellect that he was said to have, and more......but I haven't found it. I will write more specifically about these points now that we have power again focusing first on the economy, unions, and jobs (the mantra of the times). It's interesting that the WSJ recently got a couple of things correct.....a bit about how the economy works and finally a detailed article on what our national debt really is as a % of GDP....finally someone will print it.....Oh yes, they even focused on Buffett'...

BUFFETT'S BANK OF AMERICA DEAL, THE “BAILOUTS” – and OBAMA? Let's examine Warren Buffett's latest investment in B of A (BAC). As reported in the WSJ today, he virtually forced CEO Bryan Moynihan into an agreement for him to invest $5 Billion in the bank. To understand this deal, it is informative (even necessary) to look back at the bank “bailout” by taxpayers, although taxpayers had no voice in the matter. Conditions of the bailout required BAC to suspend dividends on common shares to near zero, a token amount. Many people, especially seniors who had all their lives depended upon the stability and safety of bank stocks, as well as utilities, took a hard financial hit. BAC shareholders lost both their capital and their income. I know some of these people. It has been devastating! BAC shares currently yield 0.6% dividends! Now comes Buffett, the “consummate wise investor.” He cuts a deal for a special preferred stock that will pay him 6% dividends when MONEY IS DIRT CHEAP....

Although I've mentioned it in other publications, this is a short special note to put the national debt into real perspective vs. the way government and sycophantic journalists report it. Reports typically put the debt at 60-70% of GDP. This figure is only what the government calls "outside debt." In fact, what we owe to the "outside" creditors (China, Japan, Sovereign gov't funds etc) plus over $5 Trillion on internal balance sheets, mostly social security trust fund bonds, is 100% of GDP -- $14 trillion debt and $14 Trillion GDP. Now the really bad news....If we add to these debts already entered onto our "balance sheets" $60 Trillion in unfunded entitlements committed by statute, but not included in any reported statistics, the debt is more than 400% of current GDP. Given the nature of the economy now, with major structural problems and government pressure there is no way GDP can grow to meet commitments already made, much less satisfy the vora...

August 25, 2011 To: Barack Obama, President of the United States of America Mr. President, you were elected with no record of achievements to define you as qualified. Even your academic records were sealed from scrutiny, and still are. A majority of voters supported you in good faith with hope that you would be the leader needed to solve America's problems. After three years, hope has vanished. Rather than being the transformational president hoped for, you have practiced class warfare and partisan politics that render you a most divisive president. You and your advisers have not demonstrated adequate understanding of the economy. Your “stimulus” spending has been a failure, as expected by all but the most ardent adherents to failed Keynesian economic theory. Your flippant comment and laughter after failure of nearly $1 Trillion on “shovel ready... ,” tha...

It is interesting that Warren Buffett has been coming more to the fore, to the light, as George Soros retreats more to the darkness. It'll be interesting to see what Buffett does as more and more truth is told about his disingenuous position on taxes. Even MoveOn.org is using Buffett to raise funds -- Facebook ad for one. It'll be interesting to see if the light hurts Buffett as much as it has Soros. Note that, for the first time, some of the media are suddenly finding out who and what Buffett is..... a master at playing the tax code to minimize his taxes while proclaiming that he wants to pay more. Yes, that's the way it is!

CARMA INVOCATION – 21 APRIL 2011 I AM NOT A MEMBER OF THE CLERGY AND I DON'T WEAR RELIGION ON MY SLEEVE. BUT, I VALUE PRAYER AND I CONSIDER FAITH A STATE OF MIND DRIVEN BY FEELINGS FROM THE HEART. THE ASSAULT ON OUR JUDEO-CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES AND ON THOSE OF FAITH CAUSES ME TO ASK THE FOLLOWING: HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME TO YOU WITH HEADS BOWED IN GRATITUDE FOR THE MANY BLESSING YOU’VE BESTOWED UPON US. AS WE ASSEMBLE HERE IN FELLOWSHIP AND WITH THE INTENT TO BE INFLUENTIAL IN THE WAY WE ARE GOVERNED, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FREEDOM TO DO SO AS WE ARE FOR ALL THE FREEDOMS WE HAVE ENJOYED AS AMERICANS, FREEDOMS ENDOWED BY YOU. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE DEDICATED AMERICANS WHO HAVE PROTECTED OUR FREEDOMS AND EVEN HELPED BRING LIBERTY TO MILLIONS OF OTHERS IN THE WORLD …..MANY HAVE PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE WITH THEIR LIVES. WE ARE GRATEFUL AND PROUD THAT TRADITIONAL AMERICA HAS BEEN AN “EXCEPTIONAL NATION” WITH A CULTURE BOUND BY ABSOLUTES OF MORALS AND ETHICS – A ROLE MODEL FOR MA...

As I try to write a piece about the structure of economy as it is today vs. what it was years past, I am encouraged to read an editorial on the economy in The Daily Press, of Newport News, Virginia. Surprisingly, it didn't focus on the "virtues" of Keynesian economic theory so prevalent in most editorials, rather it addressed some real fundamentals for capital formation and against increased taxation, the thrust of Obama and the political left. The DP actually looked back to JFK and Reagan and what they did to stimulate long-term economic growth. I applaud them. But, the atmosphere is shattered by some new, y0ung, fast-talking, mindless administration sycophant called a "strategist" using the Clinton administration's tax increase as an example of tax increases fueling economic expansion and assetting it as a model for solving today's economic problems. This reminds me of an article I published in 2004 re the "Economy of the 90's." I will re...

How often do you hear the political left refer to their candidates, or those in office, as "brilliant?" I first observed this in 1965 when I met Jimmy Carter at GA Tech. As a 24-year old, newly minted junior faculty member, I was assigned to accompany Mr. and Ms. Carter as they toured the campus and spoke to students and faculty. One of my first thoughts was, "how can he hope to be Governor of Georgia?" He was unfriendly, self-focused and mediocrity seemed an apt descriptor. But, not only did he become governor, lo and behold, he became President of the USA. But, you know that....and you know that he has often been described by his fans as "brilliant." If he were brilliant, we would not have the ethanol-in-gasoline mandate (expensive and of no value). We wouldn't have the CRA (1977) although to be fair to Carter, he couldn't have expected Robert Rubin and President Clinton to use it as a vehicle for fraud by the banks (SIVs, CDOs, credit default...

More disturbing than the national job deficit is the president's promise to "solve the problem" with a program to create more jobs (now a mantra). The federal government cannot "create" meaningful lasting jobs and, in fact, is in no position (nor should they be) even to do economic development as states can, and must, do. The feds can only create government jobs, which we need no more of, and, in fact, must reduce by diminishing or eliminating unproductive agencies. Even if it were the charter of the federal government to "create jobs," who can legitimately expect a president who has no employment record, a cabinet and advisers of similar credentials (including radical czars) who have never been in the productive world either, to know about job creation. A scant few (reported as ~8%) have had productive jobs with the majority from academia and activist organizations, including unions. There is no evidence that either the president or his "adviser...

From: Joe Mann For 12 years, I stayed out of political activity being content to write and speak about selected issues, especially from personal experiences working in many countries. I tried to learn how each nation's people viewed the United States. The most repeated comment about the USA was “the world needs America” and they wanted us to be “strong.” There is much respect and admiration for America. In 2008 Barack Obama's candidacy for President caused me to exit political “retirement.” Soon, I heard more anti-American rhetoric from Obama and his associates than I heard outside the USA in 20 years. Little was known about Obama. There was less to define him than any presidential candidate in history. He had no accomplishments to qualify him to lead the world's greatest nation. However, I soon learned he didn't view America in that light. In hiring for any job, records of accomplishments, including academic records, are first considerations. To be a top executive...