Black Friday – scary

Black Friday, 2010. I heard the Boise mall was busy, I did not go into the mall lot. The traffic around the mall, however, was not busy at all. Some stores I visited were very, very busy. Some were not as well organized as others. The shoppers I mingled with were very polite, knew what they wanted, got in and got out (as fast as the checkers could accomplish their tasks).

I drove by Walmart. I have been driving by Walmart for the past five years and refuse to step into that store. Their parking lot was crammed full.

Some stores I visited were NOT busy. Some I drove by had very few cars in the lot. This is what is scary for me. I want retailers to have a good Christmas season. That bodes well for our economy and their employees.

Ft. Boise weblog, November, 2009

In Bizarro World, Karl Rove is a pundit offering commentary on elections as if he had never been in politics, saying things about his President’s “record of bipartisanship,” and “sound leadership in the wake of 9/11″ (as we raced to war in Iraq).

“Voters have a tendency to quickly grow tired of pugnacious governance,” Rove tells us. He ought to know.

via Ft. Boise weblog, November, 2009.

Gov Otter asks for assistance

Governor Otter asks for input from citizens. If he listens, that is super! Thank you, Butch.

Here is the new Idaho Efficiency website for our state’s budget information and a form with which we can send the Gov. suggestions.

No abortion money

No federal money to pay for abortions. Zero!

NFL Fines and justice?

Fines assessed last week in the National Football League:

$7,500 for hitting a defenseless receiver.
$5,000 for an illegal chop block.
$10,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct when he went to the ground to celebrate a touchdown.
$5,000 for an illegal chop block.
$5,000 for unnecessary roughness.
$5,000 for unnecessary roughness.
$5,000 for roughing the passer.

All of these offenses could have led to serious injury to another player — except one. That which received the highest penalty.

UAW Rejects Ford Proposal

At the end of October the United Auto Workers rejected a Ford proposal that would, among other things, ban the union from striking for higher pay or benefits until 2015. This strategy may be used in upcoming negotiations among other unions and their employers. If so, I would hope the unions request the favor be returned before they consider accepting this option: Management salaries be frozen and NO bonuses – cash or stock – be issued until the agreed upon year when such strikes can resume.

 

Single-payer Health Care

We just simply need a single-payer health care plan.

Bankers leading Treasury by the nose ring

Who is calling the shots? Treasury or the bankers themselves?

When the bankers called “Help” Treasury threw the rope and pulled them in yet they turn around and jump back into the turbulent water and say to Treasury, “Take your rope, I can’t live the way I want to live with this dang rope attached. As for your silly stress test we are passing with flying colors and we will flaunt that publicly though you don’t want us to. We will accept your increased FDIC guarantee, too, because no rope is attached to that blessing.”

In other words, keep your nose out of our business.

Despite my strong desire to sustain a capitalistic, free market system and keep it alive and well, it would be so tempting — were I in such a position to do so — to kick out the executives and say I will run your stinking bank.

It’s just another demonstration of how these powerful execs care nothing about us on Main Street.

Perqs for the Execs keep on coming

From Michelle Leder:

In office towers across Manhattan, there are more than a few former chief executives whose ex-employers continue to pay for their office space and secretarial services.

Among the better-known examples are Charles O. Prince III, who once led Citigroup, and E. Stanley O’Neal, previously head of Merrill Lynch.

Now, Richard D. Parsons, the former chairman and chief executive of Time Warner, joins this esteemed group. Judging by the company’s recent proxy, Mr. Parsons’ new office appears to be a very nice space.

In the filing, Time Warner disclosed that it would spend $776,000 this year to provide Mr. Parsons with office space, secretarial services and furnishings “comparable to that which he was provided during his employment.”

Michelle’s website that keeps us informed of such attrocities is footnoted.org.

Stimulus bill is easy to criticize

One comment I heard just today from a leading Republican “conservative” was about the inclusion of $600 million in this stimulus bill to purchase “green” vehicles for government officials.

Bad item to pick for criticism. Aside from the “green” aspect, this move is going to purchase vehicles — I seriously doubt Hondas and Toyotas will be selected — from our struggling auto companies. This is a stimulus, for crying out loud. It will keep jobs alive. If these people are still working they are still spending.

Stimulus. See how it works?