Tuesday, November 25, 2008

In light of the recent Russian Analysts Opinion

In seems ironic that with the recent post about a Russian Analyst's opinion that the United States will break up based on financial indices.

The USS Ronald Reagan arrives home to San Diego after doing tour in the Arabian Seas and Pacific Ocean.

IS AMERICA HEADING FOR A BREAKUP?

From the Drudge Report:

RUSSIAN ANALYST PREDICTS DECLINE AND BREAKUP OF USA
Tue Nov 25 2008

A leading Russian political analyst has said the economic turmoil in the United States has confirmed his long-held view that the country is heading for collapse, and will divide into separate parts.

Professor Igor Panarin said in an interview with the respected daily IZVESTIA published on Monday: "The dollar is not secured by anything. The country's foreign debt has grown like an avalanche, even though in the early 1980s there was no debt. By 1998, when I first made my prediction, it had exceeded $2 trillion. Now it is more than 11 trillion. This is a pyramid that can only collapse."

The paper said Panarin's dire predictions for the U.S. economy, initially made at an international conference in Australia 10 years ago at a time when the economy appeared strong, have been given more credence by this year's events.

When asked when the U.S. economy would collapse, Panarin said: "It is already collapsing. Due to the financial crisis, three of the largest and oldest five banks on Wall Street have already ceased to exist, and two are barely surviving. Their losses are the biggest in history. Now what we will see is a change in the regulatory system on a global financial scale: America will no longer be the world's financial regulator."

When asked who would replace the U.S. in regulating world markets, he said: "Two countries could assume this role: China, with its vast reserves, and Russia, which could play the role of a regulator in Eurasia."

Asked why he expected the U.S. to break up into separate parts, he said: "A whole range of reasons. Firstly, the financial problems in the U.S. will get worse. Millions of citizens there have lost their savings. Prices and unemployment are on the rise. General Motors and Ford are on the verge of collapse, and this means that whole cities will be left without work. Governors are already insistently demanding money from the federal center. Dissatisfaction is growing, and at the moment it is only being held back by the elections and the hope that Obama can work miracles. But by spring, it will be clear that there are no miracles."

He also cited the "vulnerable political setup", "lack of unified national laws", and "divisions among the elite, which have become clear in these crisis conditions."

He predicted that the U.S. will break up into six parts - the Pacific coast, with its growing Chinese population; the South, with its Hispanics; Texas, where independence movements are on the rise; the Atlantic coast, with its distinct and separate mentality; five of the poorer central states with their large Native American populations; and the northern states, where the influence from Canada is strong.

He even suggested that "we could claim Alaska - it was only granted on lease, after all." Panarin, 60, is a professor at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has authored several books on information warfare.



This almost laughable, perhaps the Russians would know what it feels like to have their own country implode. But, at least we are still a true democracy!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

County Corruption Probe drifting into Lakewood

In Sunday's Plain Dealer it was interesting to see that Council President Micheal Dever's name appear on court documents.

To me this was not surprising, but apparently it was to Dever:

Mike Dever, former head of construction for the county engineer's office, is the deputy to the sanitary engineer. He is not sure why he is named in a subpoena, though he said he once accepted a campaign contribution from Blaze Construction owner Ferris Kleem as a Lakewood councilman.


I guess perhaps I have been in the legal business too long, because I had figured that Dever's name would eventually appear in the legal documents when the initial raids were first announced. Especially, with him so close to the County Engineer on the various construction projects. A position he has mentioned several times during Council hearings on the road and sewer projects and the probe involving sweetheart deals from contractors.

Let me state now that on the face of the information that has been made public, he has done nothing wrong, but, this probe will draw in people that may have nothing to do with the issue.

Friday, November 14, 2008

USS FREEDOM IN CLEVELAND


From 43 stories up and just under a mile away



The line forming to view the ship. The Navy is only allowing a 1000 people a day to view it.




These photos were taken from the floor of my office, I thought I might be able to run over and see up close, but that may not be possible.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

THE 11th HOUR of the THE 11th DAYof the 11th MONTH



As Lakewood dedicates its new Veteran's Memorial at Lakewood Park, let us all take time to honor all the Men and Women who have served in our Armed Forces.

Especially, I would personally to to thank:

2nd. Lt. John P. Bobo USN Medal of Honor Winner, Niagara Falls NY
Lt. Col. Terrence Crowe USA Kenmore, NY; Niagara University Class of '82
Sgt. V. Sumner Carroll USA (Ret) Niagara Falls, NY - My father.

Until Then!

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

President - Elect Obama

After having several hours to contemplate the victory of President - Elect Obama's it is truly amazing. His campaign has shattered every political myth and trend that has been in place since the beginning of the USA.

Today, though reality has begun to creep in as he begins to form his administration and set his priorities.

In listening to snippets of his speech last night he let his supporters know that perhaps that not all the promises he made can be kept during his administration or at least in the first term.

So we Republicans and Conservatives will have to sit back for a few weeks to see the hand that will be dealt by the new administration. We should know with the various Cabinet selections in which direction the administration might lean.

Some of the key positions to look for besides the obvious of Secretaries of State, Defense, Treasury and the Director of the CIA are the Secretaries of Commerce, Transportation and the most telling of all the Director of the EPA.

Those positions could hold sway over the American economy for years to come, perhaps more than the State or Defense Departments.

With the judiciary, it seems that perhaps for the first time since perhaps the Reagan years that all Federal District Court vacancies will be filled with the size of the majority of the Senate.

As to the Supreme Court time will only tell, since no justice as of yet has provided a signal on retirement.

Things are still interesting, but somewhat muted.

Stay tuned!

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

AS MUCH AS IT PAINS ME TO SAY

On this election day, I will manning a poll location as Republican Observer in the City of East Cleveland Ward 2.

While I am there I will seeing first hand the type of ground game that the Democrats will have fielded for this Presidential race.

With just about unlimited funds, the Democrats should have a program in which the Republicans used to have, but this year the GOP was truly bested by the Obama campaign.

Probably by sometime late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning the national media will begin make their calls.

That call will be that Barack Obama and Joseph Biden will become the next President and Vice President of the United States.

Obama as the 44th President, will need to begin to heal the wounds of his own party and be able to reach across the aisle to the remaining Republicans in Congress to continue the business of the United States of America as the being the leader of the Free World.

Once again, America will show the world that we can hold divisive opinions on governing, but still able to provide elections that are beholden to the tenets of our founding fathers ideals some 232 years ago.

What will be made of our electing of Mr. Obama, it will be historic!

The election of Barack Obama will bring to full circle the idea and concept espoused by a fellow Illini on the battlefields of Gettysburg.

As this long campaign comes to a close and America begins again, we must look to the future to determine the paths that must be taken to restore the hope in our economy and set a goal to the next generation to follow.

To Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin, I thank you for fighting the good fight, for withstanding the brutal blows directed at you and your families. We believed that you both would have been good and able stewards of our countries fortunes, but, alas, that bright and shining dream will be dimmed to a faint glow for these next few years.

You both have followed the U. S. Marine Corp credo of DUTY, HONOR and COUNTRY these past few months with that I say job well done.