Sure fire way to permanently kill the bailout

30 09 2008

Let the Europeans appeal to the house republicans. 

Trichet Says U.S. Must Pass Plan to Rescue `Global Finance’

I have to say that I’m becoming more sceptical about this plan everyday.  The on-again, off-again nature of this drama has really shined a light on many people’s true beliefs.  During the “off” moments I read and hear people screaming about how “Rome is burning” and how we can’t let the “perfect kill the good”.  Then, during the “on again” moments I read the very same people lamenting the curse of “easy credit” and how America will never change its ways.  Come on.  People are sick of being told to jump and being expected to say “how high”.  They are especially tired of this country being turned into a welfare state for the rich.   

The one thing that keeps killing me is the question regarding what would have happened if Paulson got his way right off the bat?  Would the government being buying assets off of WaMu right now?  Would the government be buying toxic debt off of Wachovia, right now?  Good riddance to both of those banks and thank you House Republicans.  You are a stupid bunch, but you did the right thing even though it was for the wrong reason.  Don’t cave in now.  The faster we get to the bottom, the better it will be for all of us.   





This was no crash!

29 09 2008

The more I follow the markets the more I’m convinced that the market is going to find its own low whether we like it or not.  Intervention just delays the inevitable. 

When Paulson came out with his deal we were on our way to a nice market capitulation low, probably around 925.   After the deal announcement and many points higher the bailout has run into some problems.  So today the markets sold off and everyone is calling it a crash.  Why don’t you compare today’s close with the low of the day that Paulson announced his plan?  We are only 27 S&P points below that level!  Not exactly a crash.  It looks to me like the market is just getting back to its original plan after a little Washington meddling.   

If there was never any intervention in the first place, we probably would be climbing back up already. 





Buffett buys the politicians some time

23 09 2008

Warren Buffett just bought our congress and the constitution a little time.   

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE48MB3220080924

Look at what Paulson said today in response to Schumer’s questions about an “instalment plan”.

Paulson replied bluntly, “We need the full authority.”

“What this is about is market confidence,” he said. “It’s a sad story, but the American taxpayer is already on the hook.”

Guess what Hank, ol’ Warren just bought us a little market confidence and a little more time.  Yes I realize that Buffett is not doing this out of the goodness of his heart, but I also know that he wouldn’t be jumping in here if he thought that Goldman was headed for bankruptcy.