History Repeating

Ron Paul: The IRS’s Job Is To Violate Our Liberties

"'What do you expect when you target the President?' This is what an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agent allegedly said to the head of a conservative organization that was being audited after calling for the impeachment of then-President Clinton. Recent revelations that IRS agents gave 'special scrutiny' to organizations opposed to the current administration's policies suggest that many in the IRS still believe harassing the president's opponents is part of their job. As troubling as these recent reports are, it would be a grave mistake to think that IRS harassment of opponents of the incumbent president is a modern, or a partisan, phenomenon." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul: The IRS’s Job Is To Violate Our Liberties

How long can this rally last?

"Is today’s rally in stocks something you can count on and invest in with profitable results? Or is it likely to end soon — most likely, just as you put YOUR money on the table? Among the thousands of investors flocking to Las Vegas for the Money Show this week — in workshops, during cocktails and around the hotel’s gambling tables — this is the big question being asked over and over again. It’s the same question debated on Yahoo! Finance, CNBC, and in the halls of big Wall Street firms. Everyone wants to know. Many venture to guess. But we do know that most stocks are going up for all the wrong reasons." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHow long can this rally last?

Michael Scheuer: As scandals deepen, Obama and Republicans will intervene in Syria

"Obama’s diversionary campaign — obscure impeachable offenses by launching an unnecessary war — will be abetted by Senators McCain, Graham, Lieberman, and dozens of other U.S. Senators and Congressman intent on war with Syria. Obama will use these useful idiots to convince the American people of three bipartisan lies: that (a) genuine U.S. interests are at risk in Syria; (b) Americans 'owe' the Syrian people U.S. dollars and blood to stop their suffering in a war they started; and that (c) Americans 'must' expend their dollars and kids to staunch the anarchy spreading in the Levant in order to protect our 'loyal and indispensable ally Israel.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMichael Scheuer: As scandals deepen, Obama and Republicans will intervene in Syria

China housing inflation quickens to two year high

"China's housing inflation accelerated to its fastest pace in April in two years, driven by a jump in prices in Beijing and Shanghai, complicating the task of policymakers trying to cool the property sector while supporting economic expansion. Average new home prices rose 4.9 percent last month from a year ago, after a year-on-year increase of 3.6 percent in March, according to Reuters calculations from data released by the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) on Saturday. The rise was the sharpest since April 2011. New home prices in Beijing rose 10.3 percent in April from a year earlier and Shanghai's prices were up 8.5 percent in April from a year ago." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina housing inflation quickens to two year high

Japan stocks and consumer spending storm back on weak yen

"Growth jumped to a 3.5pc rate in the first quarter, vindicating the government’s efforts to break Japan’s deflation psychology and lift the country out of its 20-year ice age. 'Abe’s kickstart appears to have succeeded,' said Flemming Nielsen from Danske Bank. Retail sales are soaring as a 'wealth shock' electrifies the economy. The Nikkei index has risen has 70pc since November, with foreign hedge funds among the first to jump on the bandwagon. The weaker yen is already delivering a powerful punch, accounting for almost half the growth. The currency has dropped 30pc against the dollar and China’s yuan since August, and 37pc against the euro." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJapan stocks and consumer spending storm back on weak yen

Prohibition Caused the Greatness of Gatsby

"Gatsby comes from a dirt-poor family and is a big dreamer, as well as a big risk taker. He keeps his past shrouded in a web of lies and half-truths as he sets out to remake himself into a person of wealth and prominence. This is the ideal personality for making it big in black markets. The mysterious Jay Gatsby indeed does become 'filthy' rich by selling illegal booze. During Prohibition doctors could prescribe 'medicinal liquor' for their patients for literally dozens of ailments, including alcoholism. Gatsby sees this as an opportunity and establishes a chain of drugstores with the help of organized crime and corrupt politicians." Continue reading →

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How to Spot a Market Top

"The wide array of optimistic extremes in sentiment measures includes several readings that exceed the extremes of 2007, when the Dow made its previous high. With a finishing structure that Elliott Wave Principle describes as occurring at 'the termination points of larger patterns,' the market is ripe for a decline of historic magnitude. The sudden, loud chorus of market bulls, which has grown to a full-blown crescendo, fits perfectly with the terminal stages of a major advance. This chart shows the stunning breadth of optimism extending to every class of investor." Continue reading →

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Bankers: College debt bubble mimics housing bubble

"A group of bankers have just dumped two more problems on the Federal Reserve's plate. The Federal Advisory Council, made up of 12 bankers who meet quarterly to advise the central bank, warned that farmland prices are inflating 'a bubble' and growth in student-loan debt has 'parallels to the housing crisis,' which was the primary cause of the Great Recession in the U.S. Bernanke has dismissed parallels between student lending and the subprime mortgage crisis." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBankers: College debt bubble mimics housing bubble

What About Karzai Cash Before 9-11?

"The entry below at History Commons (www.historycommons.com) includes a reference to a Vanity Fair article and the note that 'Blee hands Massoud a briefcase full of cash.' That would be before 9/11, given that Massoud was assassinated a couple days before 9/11. I've also seen references to Karzai being aligned with / working with Massoud in the years before 9/11. Did cash payments to people like this accelerate in July/August 2001, amidst intensified covert operations in Afghanistan or elsewhere in Central Asia?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWhat About Karzai Cash Before 9-11?

‘Flaky’ Syrian Chemical Weapons Evidence Does Not Deter Neo-Cons

"Case in point is today's NY Times op-ed by Bill Keller -- the same Bill Keller who cheered for the 2003 US war on Iraq, defended the lies of media-Goebbels Judith Miller, and wrote a love note to neo-con prince Paul Wolfowitz, calling him the 'Sunshine Warrior'. In today's piece, Keller tells us to ignore the fact that he helped lie us into war with Iraq, blithely calling it 'our ill-fated adventure,' as if it were some sort of Sunday drive gone wrong. Best to forget the millions whose lives have been destroyed in the war he pushed -- because he is back without shame to promote the next one." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Flaky’ Syrian Chemical Weapons Evidence Does Not Deter Neo-Cons