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Strategies & Market Trends : John Pitera's Market Laboratory -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ajtj99 who wrote (11411)	1/20/2009 5:24:51 PM
From: Poet	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 33421

What "narcissism scale" are you referring to? Beware of personality tests done on public figures based on speeches, etc., IMO. Other than this, I'm inclined to agree with much of what you said. :-)

To: ajtj99 who wrote (11411)	1/20/2009 5:29:22 PM
From: pogohere	Respond to of 33421

1. Obama and his policies will make little or no difference in the direction of the economy. 2. His ability to inspire will enable him to receive a much longer pass than most anyone else who would be in his position. 3. Obama can't really do jack about the economy. 4. Obama and his policies will make little or no difference in the direction of the economy. 5. Obama can't really do jack about the economy. 6. Obama and his policies will make little or no difference in the direction of the economy.

To: ajtj99 who wrote (11411)	1/20/2009 7:07:23 PM
From: Hawkmoon	1 Recommendation Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 33421

Concur with pretty much everything you wrote, although holding back judgement on 3 and 4. With regard to #3, the Israeli lobby is not so important as the lack of a coherent and credible Palestinian leadership that recognizes that it's time to motivate their people to think about building a productive and legitimate state, rather than continuing to sacrifice their children on the altars of martyrdom. The Palestinians have always been pawns of the various Arab states in the area. Certainly the Hashimites of Jordan have little reason to promote a Palestinian state as it would call their own legitimacy into question (the Hashimites having orginated from the Arabian peninsula, not Palestine). Hamas, also cannot sacrifice their "raison d'etre" by being seen as making peace with Israel. And Israel will not make "truce" (since that's all Hamas will agree to) only to see Hamas use that period of calm as a time for increasing their military capabilities. To "solve" the Palestinian problem, it's going to take a massive international call of "enough's enough" and armed peacekeepers charged with the authority and capability to thwart aggression by either side (and probably calling for Jerusalem to become an open city and capital of both states). The reality is that Palestinians cannot live without Israeli markets and industry and the Israeli economy has a need for the available labor that Palestinians provide. Also the Palestinians represent an untapped market for consumer goods once they decide it's more important to build their own economy than to destroy Israel's. Also, we're going to need to see the international community take action regarding Hizballah. There are existing BINDING resolutions that call for the disbandment of Hizballah's military wing, but what we've seen in the last 3 years is that they are becoming even more powerful (apparently having 45K rockets now, mostly provided by Iran and Syria). Obama needs to be VERY CAREFUL in how he gets himself tangled up in the Mid-East peace process. He cannot afford to put his credibility at stake by forcing the parties into peace talks. Because when they fail, the US (and his administration) will take the blame. ALL SIDES of that conflict need to come to grips that they cannot be seen as a hindrance to achieving a lasting peace and they have to come to Obama with honest proposals and a framework for working out differences. Unfortunately, I don't see this happening so long as Hamas continues to hold the reins of power. Hawk