They cannot say either.

Witnesses.

Secretary Clinton cannot remember the exact moment she was watching, nor can she or others speak about it.

It is a national security issue.  Gossiping about the success of the mission would endanger American lives, especially those in the miliary; so why 'go there?'

"Those were 38 of the most intense minutes. I have no idea what any of us were looking at that particular millisecond when the picture was taken," Clinton said of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. "I am somewhat sheepishly concerned that it was my preventing one of my early spring allergic coughs. So, it may have no great meaning whatsoever."

 

I'd like to see the troops come home. 

There is a debate about Waterboarding and Torture? Why? Political fodder?

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Senate Intelligence Committee chair, may conduct hearings.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, (click title to entry - thank you) chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Tuesday that none of the information that led to the killing of terrorist Osama bin Laden came from torture or harsh detention policies practiced under the Bush administration....

I remind the credentials of Senator Feinstein are quite unremarkable.  This is the lady that was in front of the cameras the day after the attacks of September 11, 2001 to state the USA intelligence community had issued a warning regarding "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US."  (click here)

She stated she had written two memos to then Vice President Dick Cheney regarding the notification from the FBI.  The FBI was also tracking Moussaoui at the time. 

When she didn't get a reply to her memos she then called the Vice President and Mr. Cheney stated, "Dianne, we won't be able to address that for the next six months."  Her reply was, "Dick, the notification states three months." 

Now.  In the exchange of memos and phone calls someone was CORRECT and someone was INCORRECT.  I believe it is obvious whom those parties are.

Additionally, the nation has heard expert after expert regarding how torture actually taints information as the detainee seeks relief from the torture by complying with the information demanded in order to end the torture. 

As a nation we have also witnessed Jose' Padilla practically brain dead as he was taken to trial. 

Where is the ambivalence regarding torture ane its application to obtain information?

That doesn't even begin to address the topic of 'Rendition' and the innocent people excoriated by that mess.

I can't believe what I am reading or hearing in regard to the death of Osama bin Laden.

He was listed with the FBI as "Wanted Dead or Alive." 

There isn't anything else to say. 

The Navy Seals lives came first and if they felt any threat from a prolonged encounter then they had EVERY RIGHT to shoot him.  They were engaged in gunfire when they entered the building.  What?  They were suppose to ask bin Laden to 'please' come with them? 

He was a dead man walking when they encountered him.  I don't believe how self-righteous Americans can be regarding a man that had no regard for human life. 

Get over it.

The people complaining are the same crackpots that complain the Justice Department reads arrested terrorist their Miranda Rights.  Maybe that is what is missing in the Navy Seal Operation, a cop on the beat to rean bin Laden his Miranda Rights.  Right?  Or perhaps they should have waited for Mullah Omar to arrive to give bin Laden his last rights. 

What next?

I must say, I appreciate the praise Rush Limbaugh paid to President Obama.  I thought that was nice.  Very decent.  Unexpected, but, appreciated.  I listened to the entire eight minutes and could not believe what I heard.  In a rare moment, I thank him for his appreciation of President Obama.  It would be nice if we always stated issues in a civil and well prepared manner. 

As far as our young people rejoicing.  That was simply a way for them to find relief from the ten years of fear from the point of September 11, 2001.  I don't blame them at all.  I find it youthful happiness to realize what a great moment it was for our military and our President.  Their behavior is not at fault.  I hope their expression of 'relief' helped.  They were young when those attacks occurred.  Only they know the trauma of that event and its aftermath from young hearts and minds.  I'm on their side.

The downfall of the Middle East Peace Process post bin Laden death and the Arab Spring.

I believe there has been diminished support for al Qaeda in the Arab world and the two events are not linked.


Are we seeing a transformation of the Islamic community to be empowered in a way they have used violence to be heard?  That is obvious.

Will the Arab Spring result in a Peaceful Middle East?  Don't know yet and it will be an ongoing process that will have to be measured through intelligence.  I believe Israel has a right to be cautious.

When the attacks of September 11, 2001 occurred Palestine was praising the attacks.  To say the oppressed appreciated the hatred bin Laden had regarding the USA is an understatement.  Will that diminish as those without 'clout' gain a voice in government?  That is always the hope.  Will that happen?  Don't know.  If Lebanon is a 'test' of such a process, then there is hope, but, that hope comes with danger from extremists that do not see empowerment as the 'end result.'  Some in communities, such as Hamas, see only the world as perfect if it is not shared.  They are backed in their extremist view by a nation named Iran. 

Extremism never has a place in a civilized world where tolerance and 'diversity' is valued to achieve a propersous and peaceful world.  Defeating extremism is a dangerous game and that is never more so than in the Middle East.

I am not surprised Hamas has opposed the death of bin Laden, they praised him when he murdered Americans within their own borders.

 

Seems 'status quo' so far.

Tue May 3, 2011 6:13am EDT

By Jeffrey Heller
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to use a visit to Britain and France to portray Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's unity deal with Hamas Islamists as a blow to already dim prospects for peace.
Netanyahu is due to hold talks in London with British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday and see French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris on Thursday.
It will be the Israeli leader's first trip abroad since the surprise announcement last week that Abbas and his long-time rival Hamas had agreed to a unity pact that envisages formation of an interim government and Palestinian elections this year.
"This is a major problem and raises all sorts of questions, and that issue will be very much on the table," an Israeli government official said on Tuesday.
"If the (Palestinians) are going for a unity government with Hamas, there's no doubt that's a step in the wrong direction -- a very negative step."...

It is simply outrageous how the Financial Markets 'play' with tragedy.

This is Moody's Price Index of Commerical Property right up to the crash of 2008.  Today Commerical Property has lost move value than Residential Property.

I mean do these people have a clue and what are we valuing them for?

...While economic costs (click title to entry - thank you) for disaster relief and reconstruction following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami are likely to be about 3 to 5 percent of Japan's gross domestic product (GDP), "there is uncertainty attached to that," Senior Vice-President Tom Byrne said on Tuesday.

"A big source of uncertainty is from the power supply situation and that has not stabilized. There could be further costs," he told Reuters in an interview in Hanoi....

Get over it !  Even a tragedy of this enormity doesn't shut down a global market.  Even the Christmas Tsunami of 2004 didn't cause large disruptions of markets in that country, if anything it increases commerce.

Though Japan appears to be set on a short-term course that includes a significant role for nuclear power, the future is geared toward a revolution in renewables, say advocates. (click here)

A protester holds a placard during an antinuclear rally in Tokyo on March 27 weeks after Japan's worst nuclear crisis began to unfold at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in the northeast. The sign reads: "Don't spread radioactive substance."

Itsuo Inouye, AP

...But a growing number of Japanese are concerned about the cost of continued investment in nuclear power and are attempting to push Japan toward replacing nuclear energy with renewables....

Japan has to rethink its energy sources.  Its capacity for alternative energy is significant and given its 'logistics' on the globe it is only prudent Japan move away from CONTINUED RISK of their citizens.

Hello?

Wall Streeters are jerks.  I don't believe their is another word that best describes them.  They have a real God Complex.  Enough is never enough and where they see 'pennies' falling out of their control they go ballistic.  They should be that good and they wouldn't be crashing markets.  How many of them on a given day are snorting something or chasing tail?  I mean do they ever really FOCUS on the issues at hand or simply indulge is lavish lifestyles for the sake of it because they are so lousy at what they do they can lose it all the next day?  I mean seriously.  Moody's is not 'evaluating' anything here, they are completely shooting from the hip.

I sincerely do not believe there is much QUALITY in these folks.  They make hideous statements without fact or insight to back them up.


Geithner secures more time to break US budget stalemate (click here)

3 May 2011
Last updated at 04:59 ET

...Stalemate over the talks means the US risks defaulting on its debts because it will be unable to borrow beyond its $14.3 trillion (£8.6tn) limit.
Mr Geithner had previously said the deadline for a deal was 8 July.
But in a letter to Congress he said that better tax receipts meant the deadline could be extended to 2 August....

Thank you, Tim.  You manage to stay just the other side of the 'most dreaded financial expert' on the planet.  Secretary Geithner seems to working overtime to be sure the 'fiscal' viability of the USA remains intact in a completely hostile House of Representatives. 

The march of the Republican Governors is becoming more and more threatening to the USA Middle Class.

So, now before school lets out for the summer, teachers have to scramble to be sure their tenure is safe. Amazing. Where do these Governors want the attention of their teachers, on teaching or on their financial survival?

In Michigan it is even more bizarre.  The State Senate has this 'procedural' process called "Third Reading."  The law was to insure the legislators were reading the legislation, but, it has turned into a joke.  A bill was entered on the Michigan Senate floor yesterday to stop union strikes, it was given 'two readings' within fifteen seconds, but, the Secretary was only required to read the title twice.  Now, it is on its way to its Third Reading by first 'briefly visiting' "The Michigan Senate Reform, Restructuring and Reinvention Committee" (click here).

Scary.

The Third Read process in Michigan is broken.  It is the most bizarre thing I have ever seen.  A well intentioned law is being circumvented with every bill to expedite unwanted changes in the state before there are recall votes there as well.  I doubt the circumvention of the law is constitutional, even at a state level.  What a circus the Republicans are making of our democracy.

Teachers with no tenure by July 1 likely out of luck  (click here)

May 02, 2011

By Leslie Postal, Orlando Sentinel

Florida teachers who do not have tenure on July 1 will be out of luck, if Gov. Rick Scott signs a bill recently approved by state lawmakers.
The sweeping merit pay law that Scott signed in March ends tenure-like job protections for all newly hired teachers.
But some thought the new law allows teachers already "in the pipeline" to be eligible for "professional service contracts," commonly called tenure.
A separate bill finalized by lawmakers last week, however, would make it impossible for anyone who doesn't already have such a contract to get one after July 1. That means rookie and second-year teachers could not earn those contracts, which give them added job security.

Impasse in union contracts are buoyed by local school boards seeking to obstruct LAWFUL conduct by unions as mandated by the State.  The unions need to take the local school boards to court to force contractual compliance with state regulations.  This is not the unions fault, but, the local boards are playing politics to make it appear to be so and break down support by the Middle Class American for their teacher unions.  The local school boards are breaking the law, probably as mentored by Tallahassee and the Republican Governor.  Rick Scott is deliberating creating impasses to break union support.

Broward declares impasse in contract negotiations with teachers  (click title to entry - thank you)

Thursday, April 28th, 2011
Posted by Andrea FreygangFrom the Broward School Board
 After six months of negotiations to reach a mutually acceptable agreement with the Broward Teachers Union (BTU), The School Board of Broward County, Florida, has declared impasse in negotiations for the 2010/11 school year.

On April 7, 2011, the Board presented a comprehensive proposal, which gave the teachers the step increase they were seeking. The step increase (1.86%) would be retroactive to January 2011 with a $250 bonus (FRS contribution) for teachers on step 22. The District can only accomplish the step increase by asking the BTU to work with us and consider cost saving measures in order to fund this proposal....

...Response from Pat Santeramo, Broward Teachers’ Union President
“The BTU finds unfortunate Superintendent Jim Notter’s decision to go to impasse in the ongoing contract negotiations for the 2010-2011 school year as this presents an unnecessary burden for the district’s new superintendent and all of the school system’s employees after Notter’s resignation takes effect in June.

“Sadly, Notter’s proposal that would provide teachers with a salary schedule step increase retroactive to January 2011 was largely contingent upon the union signing off on contract language that would give up the teachers, parents and other community members’ legal right to vote on their respective school’s schedule, which according to Florida statute the union is precluded from doing....

Flooding Fears Force Tough Choice

Big Bang theory to save Cairo, Illinois

Janice Bigham, center, and friends help her sandbag her flooded home in Olive Branch, Ill., near Cairo. Most of Cairo's residents have been evacuated. (Jeff Roberson, AP / May 1, 2011)


Click title for video - thank you

The river level feel two feet so far.

By CHRIS BURY (@ChrisBuryABC) and EMILY FRIEDMAN (@EmilyABC)

May 3, 2011

The Army Corps of Engineers activated the first set of explosions (clickc title to entry - thank you) at the Birds Point, Mo., levee late Monday in an effort to save Cairo, Ill., from disastrous flooding.
Overnight, with a thunderous boom and a brilliant flash against a black sky, the corps set off the charges and turned 130,000 acres of farmland into a muddy lake and lowered the Mississippi River by three to four feet.
"[The Cairo levee] continues to be under enormous and unprecedented pressure," said Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh during a news conference Monday....

Amateur video: Freak tornado rips off roofs, flips cars in New Zealand

Is this the USA? No. New Zealand. They are calling it a freak tornado. Great Britain had two last year.

Earth is hot.


Everywhere.


That doesn't make it any more safe.

Weather warnings lifted after Albany tornado wreaks havoc; one dead (Click title to entry - thank you)

8:12 PM Tuesday May 3, 2011

 

By Susie Nordqvist, Hayden Donnell, Troy Rawhiti-Forbes, Amelia Wade, Nik Dirga and Robert Smith

 

...A tornado ripped through a busy shopping centre in the north Auckland suburb of Albany this afternoon, leaving a trail of damage and debris.

Weather warnings for Auckland were lifted several hours after the tornado hit but MetService said the bad weather was moving south....

Most people believe this is episodic.  Seasonal.  The truth is this heat isn't finding relief on a global basis.  This is a continual process.  Earth is a 'closed system.'  An envelope of air, if you will. The heat that is trapped below the Greenhouse Gases will seek 'expression' in some form.  The more the ice formations of Earth disappear there will be a steady increase in tropospheric air turbulence.  This isn't going away until humans do something about their pollution of Greenhouse Gases.

Belligerence, through demonstrations, may win in some countries, but, that same stategy will increase resistence in others.

Freedom House, (click here) a U.S.-based group that monitors human rights around the world says the number of people with access to free and independent media has declined to its lowest level in more than a decade. In its newly released annual survey, the group says several key countries saw significant declines last year and that only one-in-six people live in countries with a press designated as free. 

In this year's annual index of global media freedom of 196 countries and territories, Freedom House says it rated 68 as "free" and the remaining two thirds as "partly free" or "not free."...

As a 'peer support' system of journalists, the Extremist Press does considerable damge to political infrastructure.  Other than President Obama, I don't know of any other global leader that would accept being ridiculed over citizenship with such grace and dignity.  In some countries, journalists would be jailed for openly defaming a government leader with such lies.  Seeking the truth is NOT oppression, what is "W"rong with the Press is more the problem than what is right with it.

Journalists and activists participate in a rally calling for press freedom in central Ankara, Turkey, March 19, 2011 (file photo) (click title to entry - thank you)

Poor journalism that seeks to finesse the truth when they should be reporting it is one of the most dangerous elements to any government, including the USA.  So, if the global press wants more freedom they need to work on 'what goes on' in the name of journalism. 

"Infotainment !" 

Really?

I think in 'the real world' it is called 'Quality Control.'

40 passengers and crew died in Shanksville, Pennsylvania and visitors were moved by the news of the death of the perpetrator.

Rain falls on mementos left on the fence in Shanksville, Pennsylvania by visitors who came to look over the crash site of Flight 93 following the announcement that Osama Bin Laden had been killed in Pakistan May 2, 2011. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images

...Carrying American flags and newspapers with headlines (click title to entry - thank you) blazing the news of Bin Laden's death, visitors said they were drawn to the crash site in Shanksville to remember those who are forever buried here and take pride in the fact that the man responsible for 9/11 was gone.

"This is one of the things that started the war on terror," said Joseph Osterman, 24, looking out over the abandoned coal mine where the Boeing 757 plunged into the ground almost ten years ago. "Bin Laden's death should serve as a message to terrorists: it may take time but we will get the job done."

Osterman, who served in the Navy until a serious car accident in Pennsylvania forced his retirement, was among a group of veterans suffering from brain injuries who traveled 30 minutes to the site from a brain trauma treatment center in Johnstown....

The response by the young people in Washington, DC recorded by The Washington Post is somewhat of a surprise.

Reuters noted the 'deceased' decree on the FBI Most Wanted List.  (click here)

The young people of the USA are most moved by this death of a global terrorist and murderer.  I am releaved for them.

The most touching picture I found at The Washington Post site was that or a young man mourning at the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington.  He is deep in thought and I can only begin to imagine his solace at that moment.

President Obama, CIA Director Leon Panetta, The Joint Chiefs, Commander Petraeus and all the soldiers from NATO and the USA that supported the Afghanistan effort for all these years have sincere gratitude from the young Americans that first witnessed the attacks of September 11, 2001 as young teenagers.

The world is a better place today and our youngest citizens have faith returned in the belief their country is great.

That is a New York Times headline no one will ever forget.

...In a dramatic late-night appearance in the East Room of the White House, Mr. Obama declared that “justice has been done” as he disclosed that American military and C.I.A. operatives had finally cornered Bin Laden, the Al Qaeda leader who had eluded them for nearly a decade. American officials said Bin Laden resisted and was shot in the head....

I thought Leon Panetta was there somewhere.  It was curious he was made Secretary of Defense until I heard this.  In some ways, the incident with the helicopter pilot makes sense, too.  Either the pilot was told bin Laden was already dead or was about to be captured.  Osama bin Laden had many devotees, regardless of their affiliation with The West.  I am confident most of the American military, NATO, Russia and China have their militaries on high alert for possible retaliaition. 

President Obama says what he means and means what he says.  I congratulate him.  He is the people's champion.  All the pressure to leave Afghanistan after realizing what occurred with corruption after the USA focus moved to Iraq, but, he persisted.  He brought many, many people in this country justice.  The 911 Families need to express their gratitude for a President that loved them enough to give them peace of mind.

New York and Washington, DC must be feeling a sigh of relief.  I am happy for everyone.  Our military is a mighty military.  This is a victory for them beyond any they had before.  It is a victory for allies and friends and those that stood by us from the beginning.  Many questions remain unanswered, but, none when it came to know where the USA stood in the hearts of the community of countries.  I thank them as well.  This is their victory, too.

...He was hiding in the medium-sized city of Abbottabad, home to a large Pakistani military base and a military academy of the Pakistani Army....

I would not call that hiding.  Musharraf and the Pakistani ISI have many questions to answer.  Mr. Self Righteous speaks.  No surprise.

US has violated our sovereignty:  Musharraf (click here)

London: Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf said on Monday he was surprised Osama bin Laden was in Abbottabad, just a short distance from capital Islamabad. He also termed the US strike against the Al Qaeda leader a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty.

"It does surprise me but I don't know the details. I don't know whether he was staying there or was he coming and going from there," Musharraf told a private news channel, after US President Barack Obama announced in Washington that the world's most wanted terrorist had been killed in a US-led operation.

Calling it a victory of people, Musharraf said: "He had declared war against Pakistan and many of the terrorist attacks in Pakistan had the hand of Al Qaeda and therefore his hand. This is the victory for the people of Pakistan and all the peace loving people of the world."

Musharraf, who was the Pakistani president when the 9/11 strike occurred, said the operation by US forces was a "violation of our sovereignty"....

He is such a snake.  Violating sovereignty when it comes to achieving justice is something the USA is good at with Pakistan evidently.  British Interpol needs to question him and make it count.  In Pakistan, a shake up of the ISI in order.

The United States of America is a civilized country when lead by decent people and to bury the body as sea was the best that could happen.  Even the most hated murderer in the USA is given a proper burial for the benefit of the family.  I am sure there are witnesses to the events reported by President Obama.  For those that need a 'display trophy,' go earn one.

President Obama lived up to his promise. Osama bin Laden is dead. That is why we went back to Afghanistan.

Thank you.

Pakistan.  Musharraf.  I don't know how many times I stated, "He is living in the basement of the Palace."

...Obama will deliver the news to the nation in an address from the White House, almost 10 years after the Sept. 11 attacks that bin Laden orchestrated. Bin Laden was killed by U.S. assets in a mansion outside Islamabad, Pakistan, along with other members of his family, an official said....

He absolutely had to be in a place where he received his dialysis.  How many times did Musharraf state, "HE  IS  NOT  HERE." 

It needs to be investigated.  There is a reason it took this long. 

We did it.  I'll be damned.

Thank you.  Thank you to all the incredible military and their sacrifice to bring the USA justice for what would seem a war without end.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

"Good Night, Moon"

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Waning Cresent Moon

1% of Full Moon or 99% of New Moon

'Endeavour' stays grounded until part is replaced  (click title to entry - thank you)

By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press, in Cape Canaveral

Monday, 2 May 2011

The space shuttle Endeavour's final launch has been delayed until at least the end of the week because technicians need to replace a crucial component, Nasa said yesterday.

The six astronauts – led by commander Mark Kelly –headed back to Houston. Mr Kelly's wife, the US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, did not join the astronauts in flying back.

Nasa gave up on hopes of a possible launch yesterday once it became clear that extensive repairs would be needed. The trouble prevented the shuttle from blasting off on Friday. The shuttle flight – the second-to-last ever – has attracted intense interest because of Ms Giffords, who was shot in the head nearly four months ago.

Now, don't get me "W"rong. I don't believe Ben Bernanke is a conspirator.

Mr. Bernanke and his spouse.

His words were there for all to hear.  Sometimes it depends on 'what is in the air' between what he states and what others hear that might be an issue, but, I am sure he is sincere.

The problem is that he and The Fed are 'part of the problem' and not part of the solution.  The Fed is a large insitution seeking to 'move mountains' through huge movements of money.  That is missing the mark.  Nearly nothing The Fed has done has improved the circumstances for the average American and I don't care what political party one belongs. 

Movement of huge amounts of money doesn't touch the 'grassroots' of the problem.  Large institutions associate with large institutions.  We already know the large institutions ABANDONED the American citizen as soon as The Fed printed the money for the $700 billion bailout.  And the $1 trillion afterward.  And the Quantitative Easing I and II.

The Fed, up to this news conference, either didn't have a clue, didn't want one or was simply pandering to the Wall Street crowd while ignoring the 'little guy.'  The Fed is hurting our recovery.  It is better to do nothing than to continue to toy with monetary policies that do nothing but provide a 'playground' for the wealthy.  It isn't appreciated and the news conference only validated my opinion of Mr. Bernanke.  He should not have gotten a second term. 

As far as repeating the news conference.  It is more revealing then anyone wants to admit.  Repeat it?  I am not going to answer that.

Is everyone ready for some good news?

The USA is starting to win the 'Alternative Energy' war.

...The rise in conventional hydroelectric generation (click title to entry - thank you) was the largest absolute "fuel-specific" increase as generation was up 3,590 thousand megawatthours, or 16.2 percent. The largest rises were in Washington, California and Oregon. NOAA reports that many locations in the west lost snow during what was a dry January, and the drop in snowpack in California was characterized as "significant." The next largest increase was in wind generation, as it was up 27.6 percent or 1,923 thousand megawatthours. Washington, Wyoming, and Colorado showed the largest increases. The higher total in Wyoming is primarily attributable to the generation from the Top of the World and Dunlap facilities, which came on-line in October 2010....

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided incentives for employing 'Green Energy.'

IT  IS  WORKING !

Duke Energy Gets $231 Financing for Top-of-the-World Development  (click here)

...The power company said it has arranged an 18-year non-recourse term loan and nearly $38 million in letters of credit for the massive project near Casper, which launched commercial operation in October, and features 66 GE 1.5MW wind turbines and 44 Siemens 2.3MW turbines....

Ah, so loans, tax breaks and incentives went to a lot of companies and not just GE. 

I see.

It has to begin somewhere !

Buyer demands for NEW auto sales is increasing and there aren't enough USA automobiles to fill in the Japanese import gap? What?

Sales of new cars and light trucks rose by 4.2 percent in Hawaii (click title to entry - thank you) during the first three months of the year, but dealers are concerned that production issues in Japan could reduce the supply of vehicles later in the year when buyer demand is strengthening here.

Local auto dealers sold 8,573 vehicles during the January-to-March quarter compared with 8,229 in the same period a year earlier, the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association said yesterday in its Hawaii Auto Outlook report.

The first-quarter sales increase was smaller than expected and compared unfavorably with a 27.6 jump nationally in auto sales during the same period, according to the report....

This is what GM and Ford are suppose to be waiting for, a jump in car sales due to these hideous gas prices.  They aren't ready?  Why does anyone think I was screaming about limiting production of the Chevy Volt to the USA?  Hello?  NOW.  Now, is the time !!!!  I have to say these things?  I swear USA auto manufacturers are worse at market predictions than Bernanke.

...AutoNation reported net income of $69.4 million, (click here) or 46 cents per share, in the first three months of 2011, up from $55.2 million, or 32 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue increased almost 17 percent to $3.31 billion from $2.84 billion....

See, it goes like this.  If the average American can put together a down payment on a new car that has excellant gas mileage or is electric, they can begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel in actually saving for a house.  Simple, but genius.  Americans are wonderful at finding the silver lining of every cloud.

Now, why haven't the USA auto manufacturers prepared for this event.  Granted the earthquake was a surprise.  To some.  But, this was going to happen anyway.  The boom in car sales that is.  So, where the heck are the cars!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, what the government should be doing is offering tax incentives for car manufacturers, any manufacturer for that matter, that sees potential increases in profits coming to increase their capacity to the supply chain by employing AMERICANS and putting the nation back to work at a good wage, with benefits.

There isn't anything difficult about this, EXCEPT, having too many obstructionist Regressive Republicans or 'GOP period' standing in the way of stimulating the economy.  The USA Commerce Department should be tracking these trends in demand for goods while seeking any incentive government can provide to 're-establishing' the labor force in the USA.  The other side of this are domestic supply of goods provided by local economies.  Local economies do not have the transportation costs that would be driving up products.

Example:  A dairy farm with its own milk processing plant 'on site' and its own creamery that churns out handmade ice cream.  A dream you say?  Not so.  "Moomers" of Michigan does exactly that.  A consumer might be slightly offended by the 'barn smell' in the air (the barn is at least a quarter mile away from the commercial enterprise), but, once a taste of 'the goods' is secured all seems worth it.

Local economies are possible, they prosper and residents love it.  The Commerce Department should be assisting in every way possible.  Developing local economies are permanent.  They won't export their jobs or their profits.

Sounds like the definition of The Fed to me.

What Does Monetary Policy Mean?The actions of a central bank, currency board or other regulatory committee that determine the size and rate of growth of the money supply, which in turn affects interest rates. Monetary policy is maintained through actions such as increasing the interest rate, or changing the amount of money banks need to keep in the vault (bank reserves).

One has to wonder why Mr. Bernanke BOTHERED holding a news conference.  Very few of the questions were tough and certainly didn't bring light to the topic of the economy.  In my opinion, the news conference, including the opening statement, was more political than serving any other purpose. 

In support of President Obama, it was obvious from Mr. Bernanke's statements he instilled a sense of prolonged recovery.  But, then that is an excuse for Republicans to have a poor performance record since 2010 elections as well.  I wasn't thrilled with the statements by the Fed Chair and I remain very skeptical regarding the decisions by this institution to actually providing valuable policy for a sagging USA economy.

Monetary policy is made by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), (click title to entry - thank you) which consists of the members of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and five Reserve Bank presidents. The FOMC holds eight regularly scheduled meetings during the year, and other meetings as needed....

Housing. What are all the contractor folks doing for an income?

Home prices in Philadelphia (click title to entry - thank you) continued to decline in the first quarter, but at a slower pace than in any three-month period since 2007, according to an analysis by Econsult Inc....

With home prices falling one would expect Americans to be scoffing them up in order to insure their piece of "The American Dream." 

They aren't.  They can't.  And it has nothing to do with their credit rating either.  The cost of purchasing a home and the American income is not coming together.  The cost of living in regard to transportation is skyrocketing and American incomes, especially disposable income, is shrinking.

There is something very, very "W"rong with this picture. 

Home contractors, such as door and window manufacturers like "Champion," are exploiting every opportunity that walks into the showroom door.  They don't care whom you are or what you do for a living, if you have a home, they will sign a contract to finance work to be done to that home realizing there is probably some kind of equity to insure their business' income.

They are hungry and desperate.  They don't care.  One of the most vulnerable members of society that own their homes, many times, without an existing mortgage are the elderly.  They have equity.  So, roofers and siding contractors are making house calls and pouncing on any person that walks into the showroom for a maximum sale at any cost.  I know.  It happened to my mother, if I hadn't stopped a 76 year old widow.  If these businesses can't survive without exploiting people that can't sincerely pay for their product and sincerely don't need it, then they should not be in business. 

The housing market is grossly diminished in the USA from the sheer fact there are too many houses, not enough qualified buyers and certainly a growing number of Americans unable to even achieve a down payment on shrinking salaries and increasing transportation costs.