Thursday, April 30, 2009

How to lose 7.4 Billion in two years and 6 other fun facts

Fun Fact #1
http://www.cerberuscapital.com/news_press_release_07132007.html
Buy a US automaker at the top of a market.

Fun Fact #2
They are also a secured Bondholder, who will take a major loss of somewhere around .50 - .70 on the dollar.

Fun Fact #3
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/a-roadmap-to-a-chrysler-bankruptcy/
The people of broke the government deal will likely drag out the bankruptcy costing more money from the government in DIP financing then proposed or in a worse case force liquidation. Since the are in the front of the line it will get ugly.

Fun Fact #5
http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/30/autos/chrysler_dead_or_alive.fortune/index.htm?section=magazines_fortune
One of the worlds weakest automakers is taking over.

Fun Fact #6
The unions will be in charge, which in the past has almost never worked out as the cut themselves sweetheart deals.

Chrysler Talks Seen on the Rocks as Deadline Looms

http://www.cnbc.com/id/30488685

So we are preparing to go over the edge we did not in the 80's. Hold on tight.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Busting the Torture Myths

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-04-27/myth-and-reality-about-torture/full/

In the end we have always held some measures to be war crimes. Specifically Water boarding which was prosecuted after WWII. I find it sad we need to talk about this.
Torture does not work and dirties everyone involved.

100 Days and Hope is fading

100 Days since he became president.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/25/AR2009042501870.html

A view from a Support in SC

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/26/pub-obamas-social-policy-shift/
A view from the Right.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/obamas-first-100-days-the_b_191831.html
From the left.

My Take
The stimulus package, Wasteful, untargeted and adding a trillion dollars to the debt of the US.

Reversing course on stem cells. A great Call, Bush made a big mistake and cost science in this country a lot of time.

The Budget. Way too conservative in cuts, way too much spending, way too much in things that will not help the economy.

Foreign Relations. We are letting relatives go to Cuba, that is great, now lift the full sanctions. At least that will generate Jobs. We are talking to Iran and Venezuela. You should always talk to people so at least they get your. Pakistan is falling apart and will need some serious help. Mexico is in free fall. We need to come up with something there.

Pirate response. We shot some. A good start.

The bank bailout. Bush II. Awful. We should hope someone comes to their senses before the hole thing collapses.

Torture accountability. We released the memos. Now where is the investigation. This is a clear violation of the law. Torture does not work, it is Hollywood fiction it does any good.

Gun Control. Everyone with a felony record should carry a gun, it will permit law abiding citizens to stop the massacre from happening. Enforce the current laws before adding more.

In short, Some good things, some bad things. and Some world changing things.

Let hope it works out for the best.