If there are Olympics to be had, you will be pardoned!
That’s the story from South Korea, where convicted fraudster and ex-Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-Hee was given a free pass, the better to advance Seoul’s 2018 Winter Olympics bid.
Gorilla is impressed: “I just knew that chaebol would be more than a demonstration sport!!!”
These were the events that mattered in Gorilla’s world this week:
*Health care reform went nowhere in the US Senate. There’ll be a bill of some kind passed, but it won’t be much more than window dressing. Most people will continue being satisfied with their health insurance until they lose their jobs or get sick. Gorilla thinks a golden opportunity has been blown, but remains confident we’ll eventually do something serious when the bill really comes due in 10-15 years.
*The US economy remains dead in the water. In Goingbackwardville, the banks still haven’t come clean and unemployment is approaching 10%. The stimulus is the only thing keeping Movingforwardville slightly upright. There’s a desperate need for more stimulus, but there’s also a total lack of political leadership. Short of the unemployed retraining to become Olympic athletes or bank regulators, Gorilla believes the economy will not begin to come off a non-inventory building bottom until 2011 or 2012. Unemployment will stay high for a decade.
*A new fossil was found that pushes human evolution even further back than originally thought. Gorilla suggests that the evolution away from religion may take a bit longer.
*The US and Iran finally engaged in bilateral negotiations. President Obama played his hand very well. Gorilla thinks the deals will be coming thick and fast over the next 12-18 months, and foresees a time when we will treat the Middle East filling station like we now treat Africa.
*The Chinese celebrated 60 years of the East being Red. Gorilla doubts there will be such a ceremony in 2049.
*Honduras continues the dance of the idiot politicians. These were joined on Friday by a delegation of our idiot politicians, who seem to think that military coups and the suspension of civil liberties are ok. Gorilla believes this will be resolved at the next election, when Honduras will choose a new idiot and Senator DeMint will remain an old idiot.
*General McChrystal submitted his new plan for Afghanistan, which is essentially the old plan with a few more troops and trainers. Gorilla believes we’ll be on the way out within 12 months.
*The Irish voted on the EU Treaty and the 2016 Olympics were awarded to Brazil. Gorilla thinks this would not make any more difference if it was the other way round.
Our President is headed to Denmark to beg the IOC for a Chicago Olympics.
This is the first time in his presidency where the hope is that he will fail. The last thing America needs is another money losing Olympic dog and pony show. One wonders why this is a high political priority when unemployment is approaching 10% and the banking system remains a disaster.
Gorilla thinks: “Big shoulders and the taxpayer are better off remaining unfashionable!”
