How Bush could lose it

OC Register ^ | 1/25/04 | John Hood

[NormsRevenge]

President George W. Bush blew it Tuesday night. He delivered a State of the Union address that downplayed his most promising - and potentially revolutionary - domestic-policy initiatives. Earlier drafts had reportedly contained a lengthy exposition of his vision of an "ownership society," expanded and strengthened by tax changes and Social Security reform.

[arete]

Give me just one example (ONE) in which a bank has called a CD or a corporation has called a bond.

I personally had a CD called. I also had a preferred stock issue called.

Richard W.

[Beck_isright]

Thank you for being honest and not a freakazoid like many others. I vote for principle first.

[MEG33]

Bravo!

[snickeroon]

To no one in particular, and everyone in general. Look, some are NOT going to agree with me on this, but don't waste your time asking if I am a "du." I am simply an American citizen who has never in my entire life (since the age of 18) sat out an election. This one may be a FIRST. I can offer you a HUNDRED reasons, but will just offer the first seven that roll off my mind (in no order). Bear in mind I would DEFINITELY deem myself an independent closer to rep. than lib. and more socially than fiscally conservative, and refuse to vote dem at all, because the current "stars" of the party are off the wall on every single issue. But here's where I am feeling "bush-whacked."

1. Immigration and border issues. Too little, too late. Want illegals GONE.

2. Policies regarding Israel.

3. "Outsourcing" will be a death-knell soon.

4. Say buh-bye to the u.n. Including their many, many, "biodiversity" and area programs that have our nation in a silent stranglehold.

5. If you MUST increase spending, do it for everyone, don't take from the poor to give to the rich.

6. Make good on your plan for education reform and start issuing vouchers.

7. GET RID OF ROVE ----- the president needs to go with his own instincts. Quit pandering to enemies (from Fox to Clinton).

Do I want the dems to win? Hell no, BUT, the reps are JUST NOT GETTING THE MESSAGE!!!!!! They have the solid majority and STILL can't get judges replaced, say NO to Mexico, ad infinitum. Either they are flip sides of a one-world government coin, OR, they don't have what it takes. Either way, it is unacceptable.

That leaves me with only two choices. Find a third party candidate (and it would NOT be green or libertarian) OR, sit this one out.

What bothers me is that instead of learning from and trying to get the message clear to your party, all you card-carrying republicans are spending time running anyone who doesn't see it your way into the "du" basket.

I love this site because I AM conservative, not one of the "party" faithful.

[Salamander]

I'm female.
Does that help?....:))

[Salamander]

Aw, shucks.

( shuffles feet )

[MEG33]

I wish by the time the election comes you will change your mind.I will hope a smarter poster than I can convince you before November.Salamander just posted a nice reasonable post.

[Salamander]

Wow.
Rarely do I see my name and "reasonable" in the same sentence....LOL!

( I am, you see, one of those "irrational Celts" )....;)

[eleni121]

Read this before you assume vast expansion of government...would you be comfortable doing away with homeland security?

http://www.cbpp.org/1-7-04bud.htm

[MEG33]

#210,213,218,219

[MEG33]

You may ruin your image!

[MEG33]

Here FYI

[snickeroon]

Maybe I will....maybe I won't. I TRULY like G.W. Bush, However, I can't stand some of his advisers. Yes. I DO see the point that it is better to have 20% of something than 100% of nothing, and for that reason, I MAY end up on the bandwagon.... however, I am increasingly worried that the two party system has really become a choice of approaching the "one world" model at the speed of light or at the speed of sound. IF that's the case, why vote at all?

I want to live in the nation we were founded to be, not the one that was taken over to serve as a slavemaster for the globalist federation. Where is that nation? Where are those patriots? Who is THAT leader?

[MEG33]

Keep your heart open.

[Starwind]

Give me just one example (ONE) in which a bank has called a CD or a corporation has called a bond.

7-Mar-2003 - Form 10-K for SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES INC

During the second quarter ended June 30, 2000, the Company issued $54.6 million of long-term brokered CDs with one-year call options and additional call options every six months thereafter, until the CDs mature. The average yield on these CDs was 8.19% with an average life of 10.8 years. Obtaining this long-term funding enabled the Bank to take advantage of the higher interest rate environment, primarily through the purchase of securities without incurring significant additional interest rate risk. The higher cost associated with these callable CDs had a negative impact on net interest spread during the five quarters ended June 30, 2001. The options associated with these CDs provided the bank with valuable balance sheet opportunities. In conjunction with the issuance of these long-term brokered CDs, securities were purchased with an overall duration and yield that approximated the brokered CDs.

During March 2001, the Company notified CD holders that $24.6 million of brokered CDs were being called April 12, 2001. The Company recorded $195,000 of additional interest expense associated with the call of the CDs during the first quarter ended March 31, 2001. Gains on sales of securities were used to offset this expense. During April 2001, the Company notified CD holders that the remaining $30.0 million of brokered CDs would be called May 24, 2001. An additional $357,000 of expense was incurred during the second quarter ending June 30, 2001, associated with the call of the brokered CDs. These CDs were replaced with long-term advances from the FHLB Dallas at an average rate of approximately 5.40%. As a result, the Company's interest expense on this $54.6 million declined after the CDs were called. The Company's current policy allows for a maximum of $100 million in brokered CDs. The potential higher interest cost and lack of customer loyalty are risks associated with the use of brokered CDs. At December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, the Company had no brokered CDs and brokered CDs represented zero percent of deposits.

[chance33_98]

Both sitting conservative members of Congress and candidates I've talked to in North Carolina, for example, freely express their disappointment in private and often in public forums.

IE we would like Bush to do a better job - but that does not mean we think a dem could do better. We can creep along in the right direction with some miscues, or we can get someone in who wants to go the entire opposite way.

[4integrity]

re immigration-..all we want is enforcement of existing laws, something Washington has failed to do....

Bush has been in office slightly over 3 yrs. Kerry, Kennedy, Lieberman have been in the Senate for, at least, 11 years. Since they claim to have all the answers and will cure all of our problems, why haven't they done so before? They claim Bush did not do enough to protect us before 9/11, again, they were in the Senate way before Bush, why didn't they take precautions. Was it Kerry that helped deminish the FBI? Kerry was to busy trying to get the fire hydrant removed from the front of his house (and he was successful.)

[Sabertooth]

I really would like you to vote for Bush.I truly believe he is the best for the country at this time in our history.

I'm voting for Bush, but not for the reason you give here.

For a while I saw President Bush was the "best for the country," but now see him like any other politician: as one of two evils. This year he looks like the lesser, so he gets my vote, as he did in 2000.

However, I can't give much in the way of a stirring endorsement for this man; his Illegal Alien Amnesty proposal, though long-anticipated, is actually worse than had been feared. Worse, in fact, at every reexamination.

That the Democrats Amnesty proposals are worse still is shallow consolation.

The President has handled the War on Terror well, though his road map for the dismemberment of Israel is an ongoing disappointment.

The one, truly bright recent development has been the President's willingness to support a Constitutional Marriage Amendment. Otherwise, I can't much argue with snickeroon's reasoning for sitting this one out. I won't, but I can't fault him for it.

[MEG33]

I only wish to change his mind.

[Jorge]

Most of my friends, lifelong conservatives, are ready to sit this one out...

Somehow I doubt those who would help elect a Democrat liberal to the White House just because they are pouting over a few issues they disagree with Bush over, are either lifelong or genuine conservatives.

Guess you guys all regret that Gore didn't win in 2000.