allen, clinton is in place to provide LEADERSHIP. he represents LEADERSHIP. i'm not saying that clinton "pulled the trigger," so to speak, however, i am saying that his "leadership" led to this result.
bill clinton taught america a few lessons:
1. tell people what they want to hear and do whatever you want. "my administration will be the most ethical ever," etc...
2. self interest is the only real interest (few have monetized public service better than bill and company).
3. manipulate whatever you want to get what you pleases your self interest over the SHORT TERM.
IF bill clinton had represented TRUTH and INTEGRITY through his leadership, i believe the fed would have had opposition to
1. finagling productivity numbers through hedonic pricing.
2. increasing money supply near double digit rates.
3. making debt so cheap as to EXPLODE debt.
so, no, bill clinton didn't pull the trigger. however, his lack of a value system leadership led to the powers that be pulling the trigger with IMPUNITY AND AGAINST NO OPPOSITION.
you had al gore and bush both lying about a budget surplus in 1998 (i think that was the date). we only recently have had a surplus as i understand, not when they were claiming. back to the shell game. count this loss there and we'll pretend it doesn't exist! btw, many dot com and other companies are allowed to lie, for all practical purposes, on their financial statements with impunity! why? the govt won't go after them b/c they DON'T CARE ABOUT TRUTH.
would i be surprised if bill had a say in lowering interest rate 15 minutes before options expirations? nope, though he probably didn't. however, the threat of an ethical president investigating market manipulation by the fed might cause a few folks to chose the straight and narrow vs the short term gain / screw everyone in the future game being played out on the nat'l scene today.
allen, the economic expansion is absurdly over exaggerated. if you've been following this thread then you know that gdp growth has been beat down so badly it is no longer an economic measure (though nobody has made an official effort to get the word out).
economic growth isn't bad, but it is within historical ranges and shouldn't be termed "great." if people weren't misled into thinking this economy was "new" and they were not lied to by GOVERMENT AGENCIES, then i wouldn't have a beef.
this boon came at a terrible price, allen. a terrible price. just b/c we haven't felt it yet, doesn't mean it is coming. clinton pushed america out of an economic airplane. the views are tremendous and the exhileration is profound. problem is, he didn't give us a parachute and we WILL hit the ground - as sure as the sun rises tomorrow.
i don't support piss poor economic policy and so i can't defend reagan's failed policy. is clinton better than reagan? is dying by electric chair better than dying by hanging (hint, you're still dead!).
allen, i'm no supporter of bush. he has the thinnest resume of just about any governor around. heck, at least jesse ventura worked for a living! yes, lying and manipulating is the WAY and the PATH. clinton PROVED this. there is no SHAME now.
this is why he makes me sick as a human being. not b/c he is outwardly bad. he comes off incredibly sincere. however, he is a master manipulator and incredibly selfish.
watch actions, not words. i do and the guy is emotionally ill. very smart. very intelligent. very selfish and very manipulative.
jmho. |
