tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-184671772009-01-29T17:33:24.370-05:00A discussion of various thought on issues and subects that cross my mind. This can include: Politics, Economics, Race Relations, Stock Markets, Investing, Music, Poetry, Current Events and probably more. Comments, whether disenting or in agreement, are welcomed.M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.comBlogger670125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-54235624219346076152009-01-29T16:48:00.002-05:002009-01-29T16:55:05.325-05:00

I just figured out a secret that I don’t think most people in America have noticed. The fact is it’s not much of a secret, it’s more like the elephant in the room. And Democrats have successfully avoided mentioning it for a while now. Looking at the supposed “stimulus” package that is trying to be shoved through Congress before the public realizes what’s in the package I noticed something. Now

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-28892484545836521652009-01-29T02:19:00.003-05:002009-01-29T02:25:34.705-05:00

I had a friend ask me why the Republicans are causing trouble. The reference was to why all the House Republicans (and 11 Democrats) voted against the Stimulus Package. And when I mentioned some of the things I have long written, I was asked for more details. Now I imagine others are wondering about details as well. How can I claim this is a horrible plan that will bankrupt America if there are

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-71031446001992921112009-01-28T15:57:00.003-05:002009-01-28T16:10:52.171-05:00

The more I hear about the Obama stimulus package, the less I like it. Yet it is the most “urgent” piece of legislation that his Administration is working on passing, immediately. Just as the $800 billion for the credit crisis had to be immediate. And just as with the mortgage/credit bailout quick action without forethought provides for mistakes, waste and a few political amendments that no one

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-84006547382473842472009-01-27T13:18:00.002-05:002009-01-27T13:43:35.464-05:00

It’s a real shame that American politics is so filled with polispeak and soundbites that most don’t know how ineffective our Government can be. One of the most glaring failures of our Government can be seen in the Child Soldier Prevention Act. This was introduced to Congress in 2006, then again in 2007, and again in 2008. It has never become law. In fact it has yet to make it out of committee.

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-33527980571274374732009-01-27T03:13:00.002-05:002009-01-27T03:16:36.909-05:00

Democrats are really something. I don't say this because I favor Democrats. Nor because they are special in any way. And let me clarify this - I am speaking about politicians and not people. Democrats are just as prone to polispeak. They break campaign promises just as often. They have scandals, ignore constituents, and promote special interests as much as any other political group. But the

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-69924815298748233032009-01-23T17:11:00.003-05:002009-01-23T17:17:14.854-05:00

January 2nd of this year Jacqueline Caron made a comment to my post about rapper TI and his charity on Thanksgiving. It was not directly related to TI, or charity, but to the plight of ex-convicts. The comment went verbatim as follows: It is wonderful to hear possitve for a change. Lets not forget about people who have made mistakes but turned their lide around. They are a forgotten population

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-60181580711190339502009-01-23T14:33:00.004-05:002009-01-23T14:40:49.168-05:00

Well I read something that was quite interesting the other day. It dealt with the questions of what we can expect from an Obama Administration. The article by Jim VandeHei and John F. Harris titled What we don't know about Obama points to some interesting thoughts. So far we know that President Obama has ordered the detainee prison in Guantanamo Bay closed. He expects this to take one year,

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-24794495835437420172009-01-22T18:00:00.003-05:002009-01-22T18:09:28.190-05:00

In the best news since President Obama was elected, Caroline Kennedy has removed herself from consideration for the Senate seat of now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The people of New York State should rejoice. The news now ends the highly probable appointment that Kennedy was expected to receive. “Kennedy discussed withdrawing from the race with Gov. David Paterson on Wednesday, and

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-90773274238539027692009-01-22T14:17:00.005-05:002009-01-22T14:35:40.914-05:00

This is a response I made to a comment recieved from Logan Calder on my post America is still America. I felt this deserved to be heard on it own as well. Logan, I love involved comments that reflect when someone has read what I have written. Thank you. I will try to respond as clearly as I can. The question of why so many, including myself, have said “I never thought I would see a black

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-70551570641448387252009-01-20T19:05:00.003-05:002009-01-20T19:09:58.080-05:00

Sometimes you almost feel like Congress can get something right. Then you realize it’s Congress – the worst Congress ever, that has accomplished the least ever – and then you know how bad you’re screwed. Case in point. Senator Hillary Clinton is about to become the Secretary of State. Such an abomination should never happen outside of a nightmare. But the reality is that the wicked witch of

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-2351850006937082912009-01-20T18:14:00.002-05:002009-01-20T18:19:43.397-05:00

I have been talking about the economy and what would happen if a Democrat would win since late 2007. When it became clear that President Obama was the Democratic nominee I discussed how the stock market would react to his win. And after the election I forecasted what would likely happen to the Dow Jones Index on inauguration day. I hit the nail on the head. Well close enough to that anyway. I

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-70942663308838662782009-01-20T12:55:00.004-05:002009-01-20T13:08:17.335-05:00

Well it has to be said by someone. I know the hate mail will flow. I understand, and am gleeful, about the history being made as President Obama becomes the first Black man that is President of the United States. It is a moment that I never expected in my lifetime. That said, I have to wonder and comment on the way the media and many people are treating this as if the world has instantly

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-17223643597526081722009-01-15T17:13:00.001-05:002009-01-15T17:15:49.631-05:00

So now President Obama seems to be interested in providing up to $100 billion for those in foreclosure or about to be. It's a really great gesture. It will surely help his approval rating. And it will help guarantee that he receives the full $850 billion he has wanted for the Democrat proposed stimulus plan. But I am opposed to this. Not because I don't want people to keep their homes. But

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-87549463378979889202009-01-15T16:19:00.002-05:002009-01-15T16:27:47.788-05:00

Ah the joy of politics. There is nothing like it. Only in politics can a person give a promise to millions of people, publicly, and then get a promotion when they fail miserably to follow thru. Only in politics can promises on the campaign trail be reversed 180 degrees once elected. Only in politics can a politician accept money that most would call influencing and still become one of the most

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-81669066818801169182009-01-14T12:07:00.004-05:002009-01-14T12:50:38.676-05:00

Perhaps one of the most telling things about why Senator Hillary Clinton should not be Secretary of State, or any other position in the Executive Office, has been raised by Senator Lugar during the confimation hearings the other day. It is simple and direct. Senator Lugar clearly expressed the problem. Senator Clinton is directly tied to the Clinton Foundation. The Foundation is known for having

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-31025377639193427622009-01-12T15:56:00.002-05:002009-01-12T15:59:27.286-05:00

Smoking is a bad habit. I can say that because I am a smoker. To be completely honest I am addicted to smoking. And have been for nearly 2 decades now. That said, I am also an American citizen. Cigarettes are legal and available for purchase across the nation, if you are of legal age. Which I am. I pay corporate taxes, state, local, and extra taxes on my cigarettes that goes to who knows where

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-69895096030477201812009-01-09T17:12:00.003-05:002009-01-09T17:20:35.618-05:00

Let me see if I understand this correctly. "A jump in unemployment sent stocks sharply lower Friday as investors feared that Americans won't soon deviate from their tightened budgets." That means that someone thought consumers would go back to spending money, or realistically increasing debt, because the new year started? Or they thought that the $120 a month less in taxes (for only 4 months)

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-39224845107140421142009-01-09T14:17:00.005-05:002009-01-09T14:27:25.718-05:00

This is letter to those mentioned in my post What can you do to prevent another Grant, Bell, Diallo, or other police murder? This letter will be sent to all those named in that post. If you know of other organizations that should receive this, let me know. If you wish to copy and modify this letter for your own use to these individuals, please do. To whom it may concern, I am Michael Vass,

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-75579041286328034242009-01-06T14:07:00.002-05:002009-01-06T14:15:11.447-05:00

From time to time I have discussed the question of immigration in America. To be direct, I do not like any illegal immigrant being in the nation, and absolutely believe that they deserve nothing from the Government if they are here. That being said, if you want to give up your home for immigrants to stay at and your income for them to live reading further will only anger you. Again I will start

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-19148207482164266682009-01-05T13:26:00.002-05:002009-01-05T13:35:33.562-05:00

Now that we have entered 2009, the time for details has begun. President Obama has now stated that he intends to make 40% of the proposed stimulus plan, that was championed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi from $50 billion to its now $800 billion level, business tax-cuts. That is the first logical and reasonable thing I've heard about this plan since its inception. Some $300 billion dollars

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-23964536837745088932009-01-02T19:56:00.003-05:002009-01-02T20:03:07.543-05:00

It's really a shame that the new year has just started and already the ugly face of prejudice has shown itself. In fact it popped up on New Year's Day. Couldn't we get past the first day without an issue? Obviously not. The whole event happened in Washington D.C. The problem was that someone thought that people dressed in Muslim garb can't speak about airplane safety without something blowing up

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-83883336264785688482009-01-02T18:33:00.005-05:002009-01-02T18:41:30.787-05:00

Last year I was looking at the gold markets and speculated that gold would surge along with several of the gold stocks. On December 6, 2007 I rebuffed the claims of Goldman Sachs when they stated to sell gold. At the time the spot price was $855. In January of 2008 I pointed out a few gold stocks: Streettrack Gold Trust Barrick Gold Corp. Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. Goldcorp Inc Western

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-11242943619941333872008-12-29T18:47:00.001-05:002008-12-29T18:49:51.592-05:00

What do you hope for in 2009? A simple question. Some are making resolutions to lose weight, or quit smoking. Some hope for world peace, a less polluted planet, or just a few less guns on the streets. Some pray for fame, other wish to have their work recognized. And in these troubled times more than a few just want to be able to make ends meet for one more year for their family, friends, and

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-55363684502106724712008-12-22T11:10:00.004-05:002008-12-22T11:39:39.999-05:00

Oh the horror. Now you have your choice of what the horror is. The $188 billion spent on the mortgage/bank bailout so far, the latest news from AP stating that in 2007 banks paid $1.6 billion on salaries and compensation, or the fact that Barney Frank dares to question anyones work ethic. "Most of us sign on to do jobs, and we do them best we can," said Frank. "We're told that some of the most

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18467177.post-38713310648042070152008-12-22T01:56:00.005-05:002008-12-22T02:41:34.094-05:00

I've waited for a while now, just waiting for something from Caroline Kennedy to justify or remove her from consideration in replacing Senator Hillary Clinton. Mind you that I am not sorry to see Senator Clinton gone from office, as I am tired of her excuses on the broken promises that mark her time in New York. Though I am greatly saddened to see her working anywhere near the Executive Branch.

M. Vasshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13950156018638071509noreply@blogger.com0