Archive for January, 2010

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Still Sucking

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

The economy, that is!

Jobless claims remain well above 450,000/week. That number needs to fall by at least 100,000 just to return to population replacement unemployment. It’s a grim picture that no one is doing much about.

Durable goods orders, outside of Boeing, remain lackluster. We all can’t buy jet planes, and goods orders are off 20% year on year. That’s depression level territory. There’s no evidence that anything other than inventory replacement is driving demand.

Gorilla says: “It’s the stupid economy and the stupid leaders!”

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Which Year Do We Win?

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

In London at yet another “What Can We Do For Afghanistan?” conference, the British Prime Minister says we have to turn the tide against the Taliban by the middle of next year.

Meanwhile, Afghan President Karzai says it will take 5-10 years to train Afghan forces sufficiently so that they might take full responsibility for national security.

Oh, and it’ll take 10-15 years before Afghanistan’s able to pay its own way for these sufficiently trained forces.

Gorilla says: “Let’s see 2011, 2015, 2020, 2025, it’s like watching health care reform with warlords who aren’t Senators!”

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RDF With Steve: DOA

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

The iPad, time to fire up the Steve Jobs Reality Distortion Field:

1) All the cool features of an iPhone without the portability!

2) None of the features of a portable computer but cheaper!

3) All the dazzling iPhone apps without a proper operating system!

4) All the pointlessness of a Kindle with more features!

5) Blazing 1GhZ chip with equally blazing 3G network, party again like it’s 1999!

It’s not quite a jump the shark moment for Apple, or a reprise of the Newton, but it does remind Gorilla of the Toll Brothers CEO on the cover of the NY Times Magazine, extolling the virtues of tract mansions literally moments before the market topped.

Gorilla says: “Veni, vici, iPadded cell!”

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State Of The Union

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Unemployment: 10% (real unemployment closer to 17%)

Economy: Growing anemically, not enough to create new jobs. Real estate will continue tanking, the consumer’s on the sidelines.

Leadership: Nonexistent, the country’s basically ungovernable.

Solutions: Nothing serious on offer, we must cut the deficit and stop inflation or face eternal damnation from minor gods named Pete Peterson and Ben Bernanke. Health care reform would help a lot, but is stuck. Cutting defense would help a lot, but is untouchable politically. Inflation’s not a serious threat, but deflation remains a possibility. Public works spending would help, but Pete won’t be pleased; gutting social programs is his agenda. The Fed could do more QE, but that conflicts with cultivating a bogus reputation.

Gorilla: “Who’s President again?”

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The Rising Sun Deflates

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

S&P downgrades the Japanese economic outlook to negative…

The Finance Minister isn’t pleased, he thinks the central bank could do a lot more:

“Mr Kan did say that the bank and the government agreed at least on the direction of policy and added, “I think we’ll be able to see an end in sight for deflation within two or three years.”

This from the country that spent a lost decade in deflation, mainly because its policymakers and central bank were too worried about inflation and unwilling to take strong measures to get the country growing again.

Gorilla asks: “Sound familiar? America seems to have the same yen!”

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Why Vote When You Can Run?

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

In which two countries are candidates for important public offices also people who have either never registered to vote or haven’t bothered to vote in years?

Why the United States and Sri Lanka, of course!

In the US, it’s former eBay exec Meg Whitman, currently running for Governor of California.

In Sri Lanka, it’s retired General Sarath Fonseka, currently running for President.

Gorilla thinks: “I’m a fictional character who hasn’t registered to vote or voted in years, therefore as qualified for high office as any CEO or General, so I’m throwing my hat in the ring!”

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On Payroll, Off Message

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

The US Ambassador to Afghanistan!

He doesn’t think the strategy of surging, Afghanization and propping up the government will work because: 1) the government’s basically corrupt, 2) the Afghan Army and police are hopeless and untrainable, and 3) there’s no real political class to govern the country.

Gorilla thinks: “He could also be describing America, but let’s give him the benefit of the doubt!”

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Off Payroll, Off Message

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

It’s bombs away again in Iraq!

Elections are scheduled for March, and there’s little doubt that some coalition of Shiites will win.

Whether the Sunnis accept this is of course another story.

As they’re weaned off the US payroll, and the ethnic cleansing continues, Sunni leaders may decide to give civil war another go.

The numbers are against them, but suicidal nationalism has never been a deal breaker in Iraq.

The Administration naturally wants out by 2011. Iraq has been a disaster from the beginning and has zero strategic signficance.

Whether they also get a civil war in the midst of Obama’s reelection campaign is a bit less predictable.

Gorilla says: “It won’t be Sunni delight!”

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Official: The Shark Is Now Jumped

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Farewell, Obama!

Fonz, can you believe it?

A 3-year freeze on discretionary spending, other than the wasteful Pentagon, Homeland Security, Veteran’s spending, guess that’s why they call it the blues…

What’s it all about, Barry?

Trying to be a deficit hawk, trying to be a middle class champion, trying to be anything other than a leader?

It’s certainly not about economics, it’s certainly not about being bold, it’s all about panic, polls, and pandering!

Last week was the worst of this Presidency, followed this week by the beginning of the end of this Presidency…

Reviewing the situation:

1) Republicans will not do anything other than sit back, vote no, and relax.

2) Democrats remain divided, the governing party of the ungovernable.

3) Obama, who’s run a campaign from day one, now starts another one, and he is toast.

Gorilla says: “It’s all over but the shouting, and nobody’s listening!”

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Pastichin’ The Night Away

Monday, January 25th, 2010

    A Bozo Pastiche Song

I heard a young man speaking out just the other day;
I stopped just to listen to what he had to say;
He spoke straight and simple-but I was depressed.
He said, “Once and for all, why not regress?”

He said his name was Barack Obama and he is for now our President
And he laid out a plan of action-which had no past tense!

He talked about the government, but not how it could be for you and me
That’s the way it just isn’t right now:
Once and for all, why not regress?

He spoke like a lawyer and I began to understand
I was listening to the latest polls, talking to me
I began to see…

He’s our Jimmy Carter
He always seems to settle for less
America: Once and for all
Why not depress?

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