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Politics : Ask Michael Burke -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Knighty Tin who wrote (126769)	3/31/2011 12:54:58 PM
From: longnshort	Respond to of 132070

U.S. Gives Obama Donor $500 Mil For “Green” Projects Thu, 03/31/2011 judicialwatch.org One of President Obama’s top fundraisers has been rewarded with more than half a billion dollars in stimulus money for “green” projects and a coveted adviser position at the federal agency that regulates his highly profitable business ventures. It’s the very cycle of money, influence and access that Obama vowed to break when he came to Washington, according to the investigative journalism group that broke the story this week. Not only has the president’s money man benefited from the astounding sums of cash the administration has dedicated to “clean energy” startups, he also has extraordinary access to the White House and serves as an adviser to the cabinet official (Energy Secretary Steven Chu) who regulates his industry. The prolific Democratic fundraiser, Steve Westly, worked in the Jimmy Carter Administration and was once a public official in California where he currently operates a lucrative “green” business (Westly Group) that’s boomed in just a few years. which is doling out around $35 billion to politically-connected businesses that help The Westly Group has raked in more than half a billion dollars in loans, grants or stimulus money from the Department of Energy reduce pollution. A frequent White House visitor Westly is also a member of a government advisory board on energy policy, which means he actually “advises” Energy Secretary Chu, the administration official in charge of distributing the agency’s green startup cash. The money is supposed to help clean technology firms expand in order to meet Obama’s goal of lowering dependence on foreign oil. More than 90% of the companies that apply for the federal dollars are rejected, yet Westly has easily secured the public funding for three of his firms. The government aid is important because it lends companies credibility and helps attract investors. Other Obama donors have also received big chunks of federal dollars for their clean energy endeavors, including another California billionaire who serves on the president’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board and an Oklahoma oil magnet who bundled tens of thousands of dollars for his 2008 campaign. Obama must keep his top fundraisers happy because he will need their services—and cash—in 2012. Westly is one of about 50 “bundlers” who raised more than half a million dollars for Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. Undoubtedly, Westly is expected to step up to the plate in 2012 so Uncle Sam will likely continue filling his coffers with cash for innovative “green” projects.

To: Knighty Tin who wrote (126769)	4/1/2011 2:26:42 PM
From: hdl	Respond to of 132070

i picked $1,000,000 to work with - i might have to multiply by 5 or divide by 10 once i have the formula, i see vix is low. but, you can't buy the vix. and then i see some etfs - short term or long term vix - but they don't track the vix. what's a boy to do who is concerned re jap nukes, mid east, euro sovereigns? sure it would be great to pick stocks that do well no matter what. when i was a sophomore in high school, there were supposedly a handful of girls who did it. when i was a senior in college maybe there were a handful who didn't. eventually, they get almost all the girls. well, in 9/2008- 3/2009 they got almost all the stocks. now, i am switching to lower beta stocks. but, i can go to some cash and some bonds - i should have individual tips - not the etf, - i have the etf. but, it kills me with big ben having rates so low - and tip paying negative. i would buy the vix now if i could.