Intro and Housekeeping
Before we go into detail on our topic, I wanted to mention a couple of things.
First, on our last post, we received a comment. Its author is a long-time friend. As you'll see from the comment (about which I'll comment in a second), he's a very bright guy. What you won't see he's that he's even more intelligent than the comment suggests. He's got a great sense of humor and is someone you could talk to for hours. All-in-all a terrific guy.
And of course I think you should read his comment.
Now I'll say why I disagree with part of what he said.
To compare Reagan's situation with Obama's really isn't fair, in my view. Reagan had Tip O'Neill to deal with. Obama has John Boehner. That difference is important. If O'Neill made a deal with Reagan, O'Neill's caucus went along with him. Boehner's tried to make several deals and his caucus doesn't go along.
Also, O'Neill didn't refuse to bring something to the full House unless a majority of his party was in favor of it, as Boehner has largely done until it's obvious they have to cave to Obama and the Democratic party in the Senate.
In the present situation, we have a GOP that sponsors legislation, and when it turns out Obama favors that legislation, they turn against it. That didn't happen in Reagan's era.
Also, to give Reagan his due, he was a lot more effective than Obama because of his social skills which Obama doesn't appear to have.
But he was primarily more effective because there was someone to deal with.
Also, I agree with Steve that when there's a problem, there are usually two players both of whom share some of the blame.
Usually.
But not in this instance as I see it. First the majority of the House was in favor of a resolution to fund the government. Boehner, as is his right, chose not to bring it to the House. Had he done so, all of the costs and aggravation caused by the shutdown wouldn't have happened. That aside, they were making a demand that everyone knew wouldn't be acceded to by the Democrats - the dismantling or delay of Obamacare.
Karl Rove said it wouldn't fly. The Wall Street Journal said it was dumb. The Koch brothers distanced themselves from it. Finally, the House Republicans changed strategy, but by then it was clear that the Democrats were united and felt they'd already given something up by only seeking funding at the "sequestration" levels.
Still the House delayed.
If there's a Democratic Party action here that puts some blame on them for the shutdown, I don't see it.
Are the Democrats responsible for other problems in legislation and inaction? Hell yes. But I just don't see it on this one.
Radio
Tonight, we'd scheduled a guest who had to beg off due to pneumonia. We wish her a speedy recovery. Meanwhile, we'll talk about romantic matches based on astrological signs with the lovely Alicia Bushman who happens to be my bride. She's really knowledgeable on the subject and if you listen live, you can call in and tell her your sign and that of your would-be mate, and she can give you an idea of whether you'd make as good a match as you believe.
Next week, JT Sather who's written what's called a "short" about an experience he had a number of years ago that almost resulted in him being charged with a federal crime. It's actually very funny and entertaining reading. The following week we'll be joined by assassination author Larry Hancock.
Immigration
Speaking of legislation where a Republican sponsors it and then withdraws support when Obama's for it, we come to immigration.
The law that's been passed by a bipartisan majority in the Senate would reform immigration law and border security. It was written and offered by Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who everyone expects to contend for the GOP nomination for president in 2016. He's now withdrawn his support.
He hasn't said why and the only changes to the legislation since he introduced it are those that strengthen border security.
Congress only has about 19 working days left in the session, so the prospects of the House passing this legislation are slim to the point of anorexic.
Trivia
No time for trivia this week, so tune in next time.
Commercializing
If you wish to help the radio program and this blog, when you want to shop at Amazon, please come back here and click on the Amazon banner at the top. Anything you buy, while costing you nothing more, will put a few coins toward the show.
Also, if you look at our immediately prior post, there are links to take you to our books on Amazon which you can look at and buy if you wish.
Conclusion
That's it for this time. Don't go away mad, please. We'll see you on the radio.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Was I Right? Also Big Guest In A Few Weeks and Trivia Questions Again
Was I Right?
In our last post, I talked about how if the federal government were to default on its debts, among other concerns was the worry that gas prices would go up (see immediately preceding post for the reasoning).
The government, as you know, didn't default, so the theory may be just that. However, the government came close to defaulting, the non-funding of the fed agencies lasted two weeks, and investor confidence in the country may have been reduced, all because of the GOP nonsense.
Today, the dollar went down to a 2-year low against other currencies, and what's called Brent North Sea Crude oil went up in price. Coincidence? I think not.
A Word From Our Sponsor: Me
In earlier posts, I made reference to our first post on this blog as an access point to get to our books. To make such access easier (and to make it simpler for you to buy those books, should you wish to do so), I decided to give you the list of links to get to those books, so you can preview them and make a decision. The work on curing acne is an inexpensive pamphlet.
Mobile Millionaire is a guide book to mobile home investment. Amusing Sex, Funny Sex is a compilation of some of the columns I've written for Scottsdale Health Magazine, and Bobby's Been Shot is a mystery novel.
In our last post, I talked about how if the federal government were to default on its debts, among other concerns was the worry that gas prices would go up (see immediately preceding post for the reasoning).
The government, as you know, didn't default, so the theory may be just that. However, the government came close to defaulting, the non-funding of the fed agencies lasted two weeks, and investor confidence in the country may have been reduced, all because of the GOP nonsense.
Today, the dollar went down to a 2-year low against other currencies, and what's called Brent North Sea Crude oil went up in price. Coincidence? I think not.
A Word From Our Sponsor: Me
In earlier posts, I made reference to our first post on this blog as an access point to get to our books. To make such access easier (and to make it simpler for you to buy those books, should you wish to do so), I decided to give you the list of links to get to those books, so you can preview them and make a decision. The work on curing acne is an inexpensive pamphlet.
Mobile Millionaire is a guide book to mobile home investment. Amusing Sex, Funny Sex is a compilation of some of the columns I've written for Scottsdale Health Magazine, and Bobby's Been Shot is a mystery novel.
Mobile Millionaire: http://www.amazon.com/The-Mobile-Millionaire-ebook/dp/B003Y3BQCG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1335109195&sr=8-4
Amusing Sex: http://www.amazon.com/Amusing-Sex-Funny-ebook/dp/B007UJ665C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1335109195&sr=8-3
Bobby's Been Shot!: http://www.amazon.com/Bobbys-Been-Shot-ebook/dp/B008V5NIGE/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1344916520&sr=1-2
Bobby's Been Shot!: http://www.amazon.com/Bobbys-Been-Shot-ebook/dp/B008V5NIGE/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1344916520&sr=1-2
Acne Cure: http://www.amazon.com/The-Cure-For-Acne-ebook/dp/B007QI4YLK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335109195&sr=8-1
All of these are e-books in Kindle format. You can - but don't have to - buy a Kindle reader. Or, you can download a free Kindle reader for your computer or smart phone. See the note in the far right column of this blog to find out more.
Trivia Questions:
More questions follow on the subject of presidential elections, etc. I hope you like this stuff. If you do, or don't and want to let us know, or contact us about something else, our new e-mail address appears below. Or, you could listen to the radio show and call in. Info on that below as well. So do the trivia answers.
1. What was Thomas Jefferson's middle name?
2. Who was Lincoln's Vice-President in Abe's first term?
3. JFK and another president each had a secretary whose last name was the same as the last name of the other president. In case that's not clear, if the other president were Johnson, Kennedy would have a secretary named Johnson and Johnson would have a secretary named Kennedy. It wasn't Johnson, so which president was it?
4. Who was president when Hawaii became our 50th state?
5. Who was the only president born in New Hampshire.
How To Reach Us:
The new e-mail address that works is: tjbRadio@gmail.com The "R" doesn't need to be capitalized. I just did that to make it clearer. Also, the second letter in the address is a "j" in the event that's not clear, i.e. tjb radio.
The Radio Show And Our Special Guest
Many of you have listened to our radio program. Thanks. While I'm inclined to ask why the rest of you haven't, I'll restrain myself. But if you'd like to hear the program, please go to http://GoingBeyondRadio.com
If you'd like to hear the show live, we do that at 9:00 P.M. Eastern time on Wednesday nights. We have great guests coming up on this Wednesday and the following one (two scientists who are part of Popular Science magazine's "Brilliant Ten"), and on the second Wednesday in November, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of JFK's murder, we have a return of Larry Hancock, the author of several books having to do with political assassinations and U.S. government dirty tricks in our history. Larry will be speaking at a convention of assassination historians in Dallas the week after our show, but you get to hear him first.
If you'd like to hear some of our past shows (with Larry and others), go to the same site with the addition of my name after a slash, i.e., http://GoingBeyondRadio.com/JeffBushman
The Next Time You Order From Amazon
Ordering from Amazon is easy, right? You go to Amazon.com, sign in, search for what you want and order it with your credit card and await delivery.
BUT WAIT!!!!!
You could help us and not cost yourself an extra nickel. At the top of this page is a banner from our friends at Amazon. It doesn't matter what you want. You can click on any of the categories on that banner, then when you're at Amazon.com, you can search for what you want (and sign in of course) and when you buy it for whatever you'd normally pay for it, we get a small commission, which helps support the radio show, this blog and the insatiable appetite of Autumn, our chihuahua.
And for what it's worth, you'll have my appreciation.
Trivia Answers
1. Thomas Jefferson had no middle name. Most people didn't in those days.
2. You may have thought this was a trick question. It isn't. I know you know that his Veep in his second term, the man who took over when Lincoln was killed, was Andrew Johnson. But in his first term, Abe's VP was Hannibal Hamlin. Yes, that's quite obscure. But if it ever comes up again, and that's awfully unlikely, you can at least remember his last name. The last syllable of Abraham and the first syllable of Lincoln equal HAM LIN.
3. Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy. Kennedy had a secretary named Evelyn Lincoln.
4. This one actually was a semi-trick question. If someone looked up Hawaii's admission date, they'd see it was 1960. Some people associate Jack Kennedy's presidency with that year, but that was the year he was elected. All presidents are inaugurated in odd-numbered years - in this case 1961. Dwight Eisenhower was still president in July, 1960 when Hawaii came in.
5. New Hampshire's claim to presidential fame was Franklin Pierce who's really not famous for anything else. He was our 14th president.
Ciao
That's it for now. I hope you enjoyed this and I'll see you on the radio.
All of these are e-books in Kindle format. You can - but don't have to - buy a Kindle reader. Or, you can download a free Kindle reader for your computer or smart phone. See the note in the far right column of this blog to find out more.
Trivia Questions:
More questions follow on the subject of presidential elections, etc. I hope you like this stuff. If you do, or don't and want to let us know, or contact us about something else, our new e-mail address appears below. Or, you could listen to the radio show and call in. Info on that below as well. So do the trivia answers.
1. What was Thomas Jefferson's middle name?
2. Who was Lincoln's Vice-President in Abe's first term?
3. JFK and another president each had a secretary whose last name was the same as the last name of the other president. In case that's not clear, if the other president were Johnson, Kennedy would have a secretary named Johnson and Johnson would have a secretary named Kennedy. It wasn't Johnson, so which president was it?
4. Who was president when Hawaii became our 50th state?
5. Who was the only president born in New Hampshire.
How To Reach Us:
The new e-mail address that works is: tjbRadio@gmail.com The "R" doesn't need to be capitalized. I just did that to make it clearer. Also, the second letter in the address is a "j" in the event that's not clear, i.e. tjb radio.
The Radio Show And Our Special Guest
Many of you have listened to our radio program. Thanks. While I'm inclined to ask why the rest of you haven't, I'll restrain myself. But if you'd like to hear the program, please go to http://GoingBeyondRadio.com
If you'd like to hear the show live, we do that at 9:00 P.M. Eastern time on Wednesday nights. We have great guests coming up on this Wednesday and the following one (two scientists who are part of Popular Science magazine's "Brilliant Ten"), and on the second Wednesday in November, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of JFK's murder, we have a return of Larry Hancock, the author of several books having to do with political assassinations and U.S. government dirty tricks in our history. Larry will be speaking at a convention of assassination historians in Dallas the week after our show, but you get to hear him first.
If you'd like to hear some of our past shows (with Larry and others), go to the same site with the addition of my name after a slash, i.e., http://GoingBeyondRadio.com/JeffBushman
The Next Time You Order From Amazon
Ordering from Amazon is easy, right? You go to Amazon.com, sign in, search for what you want and order it with your credit card and await delivery.
BUT WAIT!!!!!
You could help us and not cost yourself an extra nickel. At the top of this page is a banner from our friends at Amazon. It doesn't matter what you want. You can click on any of the categories on that banner, then when you're at Amazon.com, you can search for what you want (and sign in of course) and when you buy it for whatever you'd normally pay for it, we get a small commission, which helps support the radio show, this blog and the insatiable appetite of Autumn, our chihuahua.
And for what it's worth, you'll have my appreciation.
Trivia Answers
1. Thomas Jefferson had no middle name. Most people didn't in those days.
2. You may have thought this was a trick question. It isn't. I know you know that his Veep in his second term, the man who took over when Lincoln was killed, was Andrew Johnson. But in his first term, Abe's VP was Hannibal Hamlin. Yes, that's quite obscure. But if it ever comes up again, and that's awfully unlikely, you can at least remember his last name. The last syllable of Abraham and the first syllable of Lincoln equal HAM LIN.
3. Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy. Kennedy had a secretary named Evelyn Lincoln.
4. This one actually was a semi-trick question. If someone looked up Hawaii's admission date, they'd see it was 1960. Some people associate Jack Kennedy's presidency with that year, but that was the year he was elected. All presidents are inaugurated in odd-numbered years - in this case 1961. Dwight Eisenhower was still president in July, 1960 when Hawaii came in.
5. New Hampshire's claim to presidential fame was Franklin Pierce who's really not famous for anything else. He was our 14th president.
Ciao
That's it for now. I hope you enjoyed this and I'll see you on the radio.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
The Country's Debt Default CAN Affect Us
OK, we've all heard a lot of drivel about how the country's debt default - if it occurs - won't be a big deal for most Americans on a day-to-day basis.
Let me point out how that's wrong - probably.
The biggest single way that a debt default could affect everyday folks, every day, is in a way you might not expect. I mention it because I haven't heard anyone else talk about it. That effect? Gas prices.
OK, how can gas prices be effected by the country being unable to pay its debts? Well this gets a little clunky, but let me try.
Investors throughout the world invest their money where they think they'll get the most return, i.e., make the most money on their money. So if you're a big-money person in England and you buy Euros with your Pounds, because you believe Euros will go up in value and it turns out you're right, you've made money. If Euros go down, when compared to Pounds, you've lost money.
If lots of investors buy Euros, the value of the Euro will go up (all currency values go up and down and the value of those currencies are as compared to others). If very few investors buy Euros, the value of the Euro reduces. Currencies are, in this way, like any other commodity. If demand is high the price goes up. As an example if a lot of Americans want to buy Euros and are willing to spend their dollars for them, the Euro (and I'm making up these numbers) might be worth $1.10. If very few Americans buy the Euro, it could be worth 95 cents.
OK, the same thing's true of dollars.
So if the government issuing Dollars, the U.S., defaults on its debt, there's less confidence in that economy in the rest of the world. The result is that the dollar is worth less (not worthless, just worth less) than it would otherwise be.
So what does that have to do with the price of tea in China? A great deal, actually, but we're talking about the price of gas in the U.S., and it has a lot to do with that, as well.
Oil prices are - by international agreement and custom - denominated in dollars. The price of anyting, or its value works the same way as currencies. A loaf of bread we buy from France could be worth $3.00, but if a Dollar were only worth half as much as it is, that same loaf would cost $6.00.
As by now you're perceived, the same thing is true of gas. If the Dollar is worth less, as it would be after a default (or after the threat of a default is really serious as it isn't yet, as of this writing) the value of oil - and thus of gas - is worth more against that Dollar, so the price of gas goes up in "dollar terms."
There are other ways that such a default can affect us, but you've probably heard about them already, e.g., increasing interest on home loans, etc.
But I'm not applying for a home loan this week and I suspect you're not either. But my suspicion is just as strong that you'll be buying gas.
Thanks for reading and let me invite you to two other places. First, please check our posting in April of last year to get to our magazine columns and books that are available on Amazon. Also, the radio program that we do on Wednesday nights is available at http://GoingBeyondRadio.com/JeffBushman We won't be on live this Wednesday night, but our archived shows are all there.
If you'd like to write to me, please do so at tjbradio@gmail.com. Thanks again.
Let me point out how that's wrong - probably.
The biggest single way that a debt default could affect everyday folks, every day, is in a way you might not expect. I mention it because I haven't heard anyone else talk about it. That effect? Gas prices.
OK, how can gas prices be effected by the country being unable to pay its debts? Well this gets a little clunky, but let me try.
Investors throughout the world invest their money where they think they'll get the most return, i.e., make the most money on their money. So if you're a big-money person in England and you buy Euros with your Pounds, because you believe Euros will go up in value and it turns out you're right, you've made money. If Euros go down, when compared to Pounds, you've lost money.
If lots of investors buy Euros, the value of the Euro will go up (all currency values go up and down and the value of those currencies are as compared to others). If very few investors buy Euros, the value of the Euro reduces. Currencies are, in this way, like any other commodity. If demand is high the price goes up. As an example if a lot of Americans want to buy Euros and are willing to spend their dollars for them, the Euro (and I'm making up these numbers) might be worth $1.10. If very few Americans buy the Euro, it could be worth 95 cents.
OK, the same thing's true of dollars.
So if the government issuing Dollars, the U.S., defaults on its debt, there's less confidence in that economy in the rest of the world. The result is that the dollar is worth less (not worthless, just worth less) than it would otherwise be.
So what does that have to do with the price of tea in China? A great deal, actually, but we're talking about the price of gas in the U.S., and it has a lot to do with that, as well.
Oil prices are - by international agreement and custom - denominated in dollars. The price of anyting, or its value works the same way as currencies. A loaf of bread we buy from France could be worth $3.00, but if a Dollar were only worth half as much as it is, that same loaf would cost $6.00.
As by now you're perceived, the same thing is true of gas. If the Dollar is worth less, as it would be after a default (or after the threat of a default is really serious as it isn't yet, as of this writing) the value of oil - and thus of gas - is worth more against that Dollar, so the price of gas goes up in "dollar terms."
There are other ways that such a default can affect us, but you've probably heard about them already, e.g., increasing interest on home loans, etc.
But I'm not applying for a home loan this week and I suspect you're not either. But my suspicion is just as strong that you'll be buying gas.
Thanks for reading and let me invite you to two other places. First, please check our posting in April of last year to get to our magazine columns and books that are available on Amazon. Also, the radio program that we do on Wednesday nights is available at http://GoingBeyondRadio.com/JeffBushman We won't be on live this Wednesday night, but our archived shows are all there.
If you'd like to write to me, please do so at tjbradio@gmail.com. Thanks again.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
More Trivia, But Then What Isn't
Another Presidential Trivia Quiz. Are you thrilled? Again, there'll be some space after the questions so you're not required to look at the answers until you want to.
1. Who was the only president who was never elected as President or Vice President?
2. Prior to Barry Goldwater's loss to Lyndon Johnson in 1964, who lost by the biggest margin in a presidential election?
3. OK, this isn't presidential, but what was the name of the church in Atlanta from which Martin Luther King Jr (and Sr.) preached?
4. Who was former Vice President Al Gore's father?
5. Who was the only president to serve non-consecutive terms?
Answers
1. Gerald Ford. He was appointed by Nixon as Vice President and approved by the Senate, after Agnew's resignation. He became president, of course, when Nixon resigned.
2. Alf Landon lost to FDR when the latter won his 2nd term. Landon was governor of Kansas. His daughter Nancy Landon Kassebaum later represented their state in the U.S. Senate
3. Ebenezer Baptist Church
4. No points if you said "Mr. Gore." However if you remember that the ex-VP's full name is Albert Gore Jr., part of the answer becomes simple. His father was - naturally Albert Gore Sr., but additionally, he was a Senator from Tennessee, long before his son was.
5. Many of you knew this. It's Grover Cleveland. He was one of a handful of men who have been their party's nominee three times. The first time he ran, he beat Benjamin Harrison. The second time, he lost to Harrison. He then came back and beat Harrison. Harrison also ran three times as did Nixon.
If you'd like to let us know how you did this, let us know at tjbradio@gmail.com. Also, please tune in to our radio program at http://GoingBeyondRadio.com
Thanks.
1. Who was the only president who was never elected as President or Vice President?
2. Prior to Barry Goldwater's loss to Lyndon Johnson in 1964, who lost by the biggest margin in a presidential election?
3. OK, this isn't presidential, but what was the name of the church in Atlanta from which Martin Luther King Jr (and Sr.) preached?
4. Who was former Vice President Al Gore's father?
5. Who was the only president to serve non-consecutive terms?
Answers
1. Gerald Ford. He was appointed by Nixon as Vice President and approved by the Senate, after Agnew's resignation. He became president, of course, when Nixon resigned.
2. Alf Landon lost to FDR when the latter won his 2nd term. Landon was governor of Kansas. His daughter Nancy Landon Kassebaum later represented their state in the U.S. Senate
3. Ebenezer Baptist Church
4. No points if you said "Mr. Gore." However if you remember that the ex-VP's full name is Albert Gore Jr., part of the answer becomes simple. His father was - naturally Albert Gore Sr., but additionally, he was a Senator from Tennessee, long before his son was.
5. Many of you knew this. It's Grover Cleveland. He was one of a handful of men who have been their party's nominee three times. The first time he ran, he beat Benjamin Harrison. The second time, he lost to Harrison. He then came back and beat Harrison. Harrison also ran three times as did Nixon.
If you'd like to let us know how you did this, let us know at tjbradio@gmail.com. Also, please tune in to our radio program at http://GoingBeyondRadio.com
Thanks.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Government Shutdown, Day 7
Sometimes I think that I wish there were some adults in the White House.
Things were looking good. The president had said there wouldn't be any negotiations over the resolution to fund the government at the same level (the CR - continuing resolution) or on raising the debt ceiling. That's the right answer to the Republicans attempting to extort concessions in exchange for the country continuing to run and not causing an international economic crisis.
Then the White House issued a statement today saying that the president might consider it acceptable if the lifting of the debt ceiling were for an amount that would carry borrowing for a period less than a year.
Are you bloody kidding (the word "bloody" by the way is a British usage and is designed to avoid the use of the word we in America commonly know as "f'ing" but with the letters between the "f" and the "i" filled in)?!!!!!!
No negotiations means no negotiations. You don't give stuff away, particularly if you're not getting something in exchange. What are they getting in exchange? Nada, zip, gornisht (look it up). Adults don't negotiate when a child is holding its breath.
Colin Powell used to state the Bull in the China Shop rule: you broke it you own it. The House Republicans have broken the government by shutting it down. They don't own the government, but they do own the shutdown and they should have to pay for it. The democrats don't need to help them.
A couple of notes worth noting about books. First, if you'd be kind enough to look at the post I did in April of last year, you'll see a way to get to my books on Amazon. In brief, one's a mystery novel, another's a guide to mobile home investment, and the third is a compilation of my columns on the subject of sex, that I do for a local magazine.
Secondly, there are a couple of books I've read recently I want to share with you. One is called "Six Years" by Harlan Coben. Coben's an amzazingly good mystery/suspense writer who includes humor with his storytelling. Brilliantly done. He has a series of books of which this book is not a part. That series involves a sports and talent agent who solves mysteries. This book is about a man whose true love dumped him to get married to a former sweetheart of hers. He accepts the invitation to the wedding and sees it take place. She asks him not to contact her. Six years later, the groom's obituary appears and the protagonist goes to the funeral and sees the widow from a distance, but it's not the same woman who married the dead man.
Everything happens after that. It's an amazingly compelling story.
The other book I wanted to recommend is "Void Moon" by Michael Connelly. This doesn't involve his series character, Harry Bosch, but it's a great story about a woman who was convicted for manslaughter and is now out of jail. She went to jail for that crime because she was involved in a robbery in Las Vegas in which her lover and co-conspirator died. Most states have a felony-murder doctrine, but whether Nevada's is different (manslaughter rather than murder?) or Connelly used literary license, is unclear. In any event, she's out of jail, selling cars and decides to try one last score, again in Vegas. The title refers to the stage of moon known as Void Of Course. Read the book. If you don't like it, I'll give you twice what you paid ME for it (2 times zero.....hmmm).
Meanwhile, give a listen to our radio program this Wednesday night on GoingBeyondRadio.com. We're live at 9PM Eastern, and you can hear the archived editions anytime. Thanks.
Things were looking good. The president had said there wouldn't be any negotiations over the resolution to fund the government at the same level (the CR - continuing resolution) or on raising the debt ceiling. That's the right answer to the Republicans attempting to extort concessions in exchange for the country continuing to run and not causing an international economic crisis.
Then the White House issued a statement today saying that the president might consider it acceptable if the lifting of the debt ceiling were for an amount that would carry borrowing for a period less than a year.
Are you bloody kidding (the word "bloody" by the way is a British usage and is designed to avoid the use of the word we in America commonly know as "f'ing" but with the letters between the "f" and the "i" filled in)?!!!!!!
No negotiations means no negotiations. You don't give stuff away, particularly if you're not getting something in exchange. What are they getting in exchange? Nada, zip, gornisht (look it up). Adults don't negotiate when a child is holding its breath.
Colin Powell used to state the Bull in the China Shop rule: you broke it you own it. The House Republicans have broken the government by shutting it down. They don't own the government, but they do own the shutdown and they should have to pay for it. The democrats don't need to help them.
A couple of notes worth noting about books. First, if you'd be kind enough to look at the post I did in April of last year, you'll see a way to get to my books on Amazon. In brief, one's a mystery novel, another's a guide to mobile home investment, and the third is a compilation of my columns on the subject of sex, that I do for a local magazine.
Secondly, there are a couple of books I've read recently I want to share with you. One is called "Six Years" by Harlan Coben. Coben's an amzazingly good mystery/suspense writer who includes humor with his storytelling. Brilliantly done. He has a series of books of which this book is not a part. That series involves a sports and talent agent who solves mysteries. This book is about a man whose true love dumped him to get married to a former sweetheart of hers. He accepts the invitation to the wedding and sees it take place. She asks him not to contact her. Six years later, the groom's obituary appears and the protagonist goes to the funeral and sees the widow from a distance, but it's not the same woman who married the dead man.
Everything happens after that. It's an amazingly compelling story.
The other book I wanted to recommend is "Void Moon" by Michael Connelly. This doesn't involve his series character, Harry Bosch, but it's a great story about a woman who was convicted for manslaughter and is now out of jail. She went to jail for that crime because she was involved in a robbery in Las Vegas in which her lover and co-conspirator died. Most states have a felony-murder doctrine, but whether Nevada's is different (manslaughter rather than murder?) or Connelly used literary license, is unclear. In any event, she's out of jail, selling cars and decides to try one last score, again in Vegas. The title refers to the stage of moon known as Void Of Course. Read the book. If you don't like it, I'll give you twice what you paid ME for it (2 times zero.....hmmm).
Meanwhile, give a listen to our radio program this Wednesday night on GoingBeyondRadio.com. We're live at 9PM Eastern, and you can hear the archived editions anytime. Thanks.
Presidential Trivia
We've promised this for a while, but here are some questions and answers. I've added some space between the last question and the first answer so you can block your screen and give yourself an honest quiz. But first, if you didn't hear last week's show, we interviewed Scott Collis and you can hear that show (as well as our prior ones) at http://www.GoingBeyondRadio.com/JeffBushman
Also, if you'd like to see our books and other writing, please go to our posting in April of this year. And next week's show brings Alicia Bushman (my lovely bride) to the program (9PM Eastern time is the start time for the program) to discuss how to be a happy, healthy, and wealthy (sort of) consumer.
Questions:
1. From April 13, 1945 until January 20, 1949,who was the VP of the U.S.?
2. We know about the father-son presidents - Bush and Adams. Who were the only presidents who were grandfather and grandson?
3. Who was the only incumbent president to run for re-election and to come in 3rd in the voting? Bonus question - what year was this in?
4. What was Harry Truman's middle name?
5. What was the first name of our president between March (that's when we used to inaugurate presidents), 1913 and March 1921?
OK, here come the answers. COVER UP THE ANSWERS BELOW UNTIL YOU WANT TO CHECK YOUR ANSWERS
Answers: 1. We didn't have a VP. Until the 1960s, there was no constitutional provision for choosing a vice president when the sitting VP took the presidency on a presidential death, as Harry Truman did on April 12, 1945.
2. William Henry and Benjamin Harrison. The latter served between Grover Cleveland's 2 non-consecutive terms
3.William Howard Taft in 1912. Wilson was first, Teddy Roosevelt in an attempted comeback was 2nd, and Taft didn't do too well.
4. Harry didn't have a middle name. His parents only gave him an initial: S
5. Yes, I know you figured out that the president was Wilson, but Woodrow was his middle (and his mom's maiden) name. His actual first name was Thomas.
See you on the radio
Also, if you'd like to see our books and other writing, please go to our posting in April of this year. And next week's show brings Alicia Bushman (my lovely bride) to the program (9PM Eastern time is the start time for the program) to discuss how to be a happy, healthy, and wealthy (sort of) consumer.
Questions:
1. From April 13, 1945 until January 20, 1949,who was the VP of the U.S.?
2. We know about the father-son presidents - Bush and Adams. Who were the only presidents who were grandfather and grandson?
3. Who was the only incumbent president to run for re-election and to come in 3rd in the voting? Bonus question - what year was this in?
4. What was Harry Truman's middle name?
5. What was the first name of our president between March (that's when we used to inaugurate presidents), 1913 and March 1921?
OK, here come the answers. COVER UP THE ANSWERS BELOW UNTIL YOU WANT TO CHECK YOUR ANSWERS
Answers: 1. We didn't have a VP. Until the 1960s, there was no constitutional provision for choosing a vice president when the sitting VP took the presidency on a presidential death, as Harry Truman did on April 12, 1945.
2. William Henry and Benjamin Harrison. The latter served between Grover Cleveland's 2 non-consecutive terms
3.William Howard Taft in 1912. Wilson was first, Teddy Roosevelt in an attempted comeback was 2nd, and Taft didn't do too well.
4. Harry didn't have a middle name. His parents only gave him an initial: S
5. Yes, I know you figured out that the president was Wilson, but Woodrow was his middle (and his mom's maiden) name. His actual first name was Thomas.
See you on the radio
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