Lehman Brothers Word Press

Sarah’s Resignation Talking Points

brotherthree — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:06:06 +0000

In light of the announcement over this July 4th holiday by Sarah Palin of her decision to resign from her elected post as Governor of Alaska, I have decided that I can no longer keep quite on the Palin daughter / Letterman controversy.

On October 28, 2008 Sarah Palin said, “Yes, use me as the example of why you should, even more admittedly, my daughter, of course she is 18 years old, but has really been forced to grow up very quickly now and starting her own family and you know, life has changed so quickly for her. But if we can use this, and if my daughter Bristol can use her story as a kind of teaching tool for others, then so be it. Let us do that.” Read this quote in context here.

Sarah, you drew the national spotlight to your daughter when you said this. Using your daughter Bristol as a pawn in the 2008 election inevitably opened all of your children to scrutiny, comment, debate, banter, jokes and possible disgrace. You, Sarah, intentionally placed your daughters into both the election and the abortion rings. No one leave these “rings,” Sarah without bruises. That’s why running for office is so often compared to a boxing match, Sarah. If you really thought Bristol or your other children would emerge from that ring unscathed, your decision to leave public office is most welcome.

Sarah, you owe your entire family an apology for putting them in the position to be ridiculed. You also, Sarah, owe David Letterman an apology. Taking your children into the ring with you gave the entire world license to discuss and use them as we see fit. Note, Sarah, that I am quoting you with my use of the word “use”. You offered your daughter up to be “used” in the 2008 election as well as the abortion debate. Sarah, you could have (yes you should have) kept your daughter and the rest of your children off the stage. You might have told reports that your daughter is not running for public office. You might have told the world that you are still so very proud of Bristol and the decisions she’s made since becoming pregnant. You could then have politely changed the subject and told errant reports to leave your family alone.

You didn’t do this Sarah. In offering one of your children as a “tool” for public learning on a hotly debated topic, you Sarah, violated the rules of decency and good parenting.

Leave David Letterman alone. Stop projecting your guilt onto others. Apologize, Sarah, to your family, to David Letterman, to America. Once you’ve offered this apology, Sarah, I will then attack the Republican National Committee for seeking these inordinate sacrifices from you and your family. The Republican party came to you and your daughter Bristol in its time of need. I am truly ashamed of the party and it’s continued abuses of the American conscience. Take this step, Sarah, apologize, then the onus will fall back on the party that asked you to subject your daughter to such extreme posturing.

Republican Party’s Road to Perdition

ajnone — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 16:40:37 +0000

You didn’t do this Sarah. In offering one of your children as a “tool” for public learning on a hotly debated topic, you Sarah, violated the rules of decency and good parenting.

Welcome to podium, Mr. President, welcome!

ajnone — Sat, 16 May 2009 03:18:56 +0000

My brothers disagree with many of my life choices yet we get along and show genuine love and respect for each other’s passions and accomplishments. Isn’t it time that we transcend the call to judgement that tells us to be offended by what’s going to happen in South Bend this weekend? Let’s find the courage to respect and honor this one leader of this one movement in spite of our disagreements with him. If we can’t as a people of conservative values find it in our hearts to welcome President Obama onto the Notre Dame commencement stage, won’t we be forced to accept as inevitable the confrontations we saw in the Middle East this week when a leader of Palestine interrupted the Pope mid-sentence? When we the Catholic people condemn the President this way, don’t we lose the moral footing that might allow us to pass judgement on that one short-sighted man who disrespected the Pope during an international dialogue? Where does this hostility come from? No one is asking us to become pro-choice. Let’s ask ourselves why we believe our condemnation of the President’s views on abortion entitles us to keep him off the podium of one of the greatest institutions of higher learning on the planet. We fancy ourselves peacemakers of the Middle East yet we can’t nod graciously to the freely elected leader of our country who has accepted the invitation of speaking at the Notre Dame commencement ceremony? If we can’t let President Obama speak in peace at Notre Dame, aren’t we saying phooey to respectable international dialogue within our lifetimes? Chill out America. It is time to agree to respectfully disagree. Militant Catholicism is not effective.

Testing email publisher

ajnone — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:34:59 +0000

Anyone recognize the bar?

Jubak Calls Out the Truth — Must read !!!

brotherthree — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:19:04 +0000

What do you want to do America? Let the greedy pricks who caused this continue covering their tracks setting up their continued gang bang of the entire planet?

Democrats, yes, are just as guilty as Republicans.

Or stop them? Yes stop them. It’s time for middle America to read. Read every day. We have much to learn.

Read the Jubak article here.

Remember the oil bubble?

brotherthree — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:56:40 +0000

In the zone and engrossed by a lengthy to-do list, oblivious to gloom, I walked through the front door at work today and nearly walked past a client who’s been with our company for 5 years. After an embarrassing double take that betrayed my inattention, I greeted Jim and learned that he lost his job several months ago. Three managers were let go on the same day. He was one of three. This client is my first intimate contact with the recession.

Ours is an academic economy, we’ve been telling ourselves. We’ve enjoyed this mantra. It’s been with us through many good “closes,” some unforgotten “losses” and most importantly, my own personal discovery of the martini and cabernet sauvignon.

I lost my mantra today. I still have my religion, such as it is, but I lost my mantra.

Let’s talk about the grand summer of 2008 when the price of gas broke the buck. That’s right a 222% change. Percent change is change divided by base, right? True, the price of gas only doubled in 2008. Well, let’s get this right. Prices hit three dollars then dropped for the 2006 mid-terms. They hit four dollars then dropped for the 2008 election. OK, but gas was $1.35 before we invaded Iraq. It went above $4.35 in the summer of 2008. That’s $3 / 1.35 = 222% increase in five years. 222%

Why has the media let off the hook those responsible for the price-fixing that defined 2008? Demand more for your money, America. Demand the truth. Who was responsible for the price fixing? Yes, Wall Street is guilty of mortgage crimes. Bankers are guilty. Consumer borrowers are guilty. There’s plenty of guilt. You and I share in the guilt, reader and writer.

How did the 222% increase in gas prices affect the economy? If this increase was the result of anti-trust violations, we have to hold accountable those who were responsible.

When you get filthy rich by breaking the law, there is a price to pay. No exceptions.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2006-04-27-energy-econ-usat_x.htm

By Barbara Hagenbaugh, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy has digested surging energy costs in the past few years with little more than a hiccup.

In a USA TODAY survey of economists taken April 20 to 25, 40% said higher energy prices are the No. 1 risk for the economy. While other risks were cited, such as a decline in the housing market and terrorism, energy was the top concern.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/09/business/09gas.html

Here in the Mississippi Delta, some farm workers are borrowing money from their bosses so they can fill their tanks and get to work. Some are switching jobs for shorter commutes.

People are giving up meat so they can buy fuel. Gasoline theft is rising. And drivers are running out of gas more often, leaving their cars by the side of the road until they can scrape together gas money.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/04/america/Economy.php

Economists believe the $168 billion stimulus program will continue to lift the economy in the current quarter, but many are worried that the economy could slow significantly in the final three months of this year and early next year as the impact from the one-time checks wears off.

Brian Bethune, senior U.S. economist at Global Insight, a private forecasting firm, said the GDP could post back-to-back declines in those two quarters, meeting the traditional definition of a recession.

“The rebates are not translating into anywhere near the spending impulse that Congress and the administration had hoped for,” he said. “Under these circumstances, the economy remains in very fragile condition.”

I lost my mantra today. I still have my religion, such as it is, but I lost my mantra.

How did the 222% increase in gas prices affect the economy? If this increase was the result of anti-trust violations, we have to hold accountable those who were responsible.

When you get filthy rich by breaking the law, there is a price to pay. No exceptions.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2006-04-27-energy-econ-usat_x.htm

By Barbara Hagenbaugh, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy has digested surging energy costs in the past few years with little more than a hiccup.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/09/business/09gas.html

Here in the Mississippi Delta, some farm workers are borrowing money from their bosses so they can fill their tanks and get to work. Some are switching jobs for shorter commutes.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/04/america/Economy.php

Seven Pictures of Buddha, Prophet’s on my tongue

brotherthree — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:42:54 +0000

Put down your cross America and listen to some Springsteen.

Mary’s Place

The Lies We Trust Cost The Most

brotherthree — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 04:19:53 +0000

The week, no boubt the day before Lehman failed, the Excellence in Broadcasting Network was confidently telling its listeners to ignore the man behind the curtains, this is America, the land of peace, prosperity, wealth.

If you were listening to the man behind the Golden EIB mike, you believed your investments were secure, your mortgage was in equity, your kids were going to college.

Will those who listen to the EIB network hold accountable those who lied the hardest and the longest. It’s the lies of those you trust that cost the most.

I lost my mantra today.

brotherthree — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:53:24 +0000

I lost my mantra today.

I lost my mantra today. I still have my religion, such as it is, but I lost my mantra.

How did the 222% increase in gas prices affect the economy? If this increase was the result of anti-trust violations, we have to hold accountable those who were responsible.

When you get filthy rich by breaking the law, there is a price to pay. No exceptions.

Old headlines, just in case you forgot about gas prices.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2006-04-27-energy-econ-usat_x.htm

By Barbara Hagenbaugh, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy has digested surging energy costs in the past few years with little more than a hiccup.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/09/business/09gas.html

Here in the Mississippi Delta, some farm workers are borrowing money from their bosses so they can fill their tanks and get to work. Some are switching jobs for shorter commutes.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/08/04/america/Economy.php

Republicans may not abstain from participation!

brotherthree — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 04:25:27 +0000

Thousands of bloggers will hold you accountable

Republicans will not be allowed to sit out

You’ve admitted this is your strategy

It is not acceptable

No congressional abstinence, period