Phony Obamacare Scapegoating

Here's an article from The Street (hardly an Obama apologist website) suggesting that investors be wary of companies that are blaming Obamacare for all their business problems.  Papa John's, for example, seems to have expense issues from management incentives and bonuses rather than hourly workers.  My own attitude is that if you complain that Obamacare is putting you out of business, then you probably aren't a viable business anymore. Most companies seem to be adjusting without whining about it.

As an investor, I will assume that if management is complaining about the Affordable Care Act, it has management issues and is using the ACA as an easy scapegoat to mask its management deficiencies.  There are plenty of other companies to invest in.

Christian Life Resources: An Arm of the Republican Party

The following quote (here's the link to the entire article) appeared on the Christian Life Resources (CLR) website this morning:

In a disappointing night for pro-life advocates, pro-abortion President Barack Obama defeated pro-life candidate Mitt Romney in the race for president.

Through this after-the-fact endorsement of President Obama's opponent, CLR demonstrates once again that it is an active participant in Republican politics.  CLR's feeble protestations to the contrary are meaningless.  Oh yeah...just to accentuate this reality...a few days before the election, Christian Life Resources had as a guest speaker at it's national convention the local Milwaukee right wing talk radio host (and wonderful family man) Charlie Sykes.

Not much doubt about the political affiliation of this WELS-affiliated group.  It's disappointing that the WELS leadership continues to endorse this by its silence.

Paul Ryan's Values

I see that on Sunday Paul Ryan accused Barack Obama of compromising our nation's Judeo-Christian values.  Interesting criticism from a guy whose moral mentor is a proud atheist.

Tuesday Morning Squawk Box

I surfed past Squawk Box on CNBC (aka Fox News Lite) this morning, as well as yesterday (mostly with the 'mute' button pressed).  It looks like a mini Romney campaign rally.  Obama-hater Jack Welch yesterday and Obama-hater Ken Langone today.  I guess it shouldn't come as a surprise.

That three-hour morning time slot from 6 to 9 AM is largely devoid of journalistic integrity.  It actually had some integrity back in the Mark Haines days. (Rest in peace, Mark, we miss you lots.)  Aren't Becky Quick and Andrew Ross Sorkin ever embarrassed?

Re-Elect the President

This editorial (here's the link) in The Nation pretty well sums up how I feel.  Here's an exerpt:

...A victory for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan in November would validate the reactionary extremists who have captured the Republican Party. It would represent the triumph of social Darwinism, the religious right, corporate power and the big money donors who thrive in a new Gilded Age of inequality. It would strike a devastating blow to progressive values and movements, locking us in rear-guard actions on a range of issues—from the rights of women, minorities, immigrants and LGBT people to the preservation of social insurance programs and a progressive tax structure. Inside the Democratic Party, Obama’s defeat would embolden the Blue Dogs and New Dems, who have greased the party’s slide to the right. Whatever disappointments we have with Obama’s first term—and there are many—progressives have a profound interest in the popular rejection of the Romney/Ryan ticket....

This is by no means a prediction of victory.  It's just a good summary of the stakes at hand.

Please Explain

One of the main puzzlements for me over the years of the Obama administration has been the reality disconnect between the commentary on places like CNBC (aka Fox News Lite) about how bad Obama is for business and the markets, and what the actual facts are:  record profits in almost all industries and a stock market that has risen more than 60%.

Okay, so here's my problem.  The stock market has pretty much steadily increased during the Obama presidency.  It was around 8,200 when he took office in January 2009. On the day of the first debate October 3 it was around 13,500.  Well, since then Romney's poll numbers have steadily improved and the Dow has steadily gone down.  I thought it was supposed to go the other way.  Someone let me know if Joe Kernen and the other Obama haters on CNBC have explained this.  Maybe someone else can.

I may have to unretire if Romney's poll numbers keep improving.

Benghazi (and a Few Other Things) in Perspective

This article (see link below) includes a nice calm perspective on Libya and "confirmation bias".  It's worth  a read.


http://www.freedomsphoenix.com/Opinion/Print-Page.htm?EdNo=001&Info=0210323