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When no one’s around to appreciate bad news

By Rick Ackerman Posted on December 28, 2011, 6:18 am EST Last Updated December 28, 2011, 3:13 pm EST

If there’s no one around to hear bad news, is it bad news?  Apparently not.  Amidst some less-than-believable sightings of green shoots come reports of a drop in home prices at a time when mortgage rates are at record lows.  Somewhat more credible, although perhaps only slightly so, is an Iranian threat to block the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.  The Iranian president says the threat is in reaction to a piece of U.S. legislation that, once signed by Obama, would reduce Iran’s oil revenues. The intent is to deter Iran from making a nuclear bomb, but who actually believes the mullahs will be so easily deterred? In any event, NYMEX crude rallied $2 intraday but has risen only a further six cents Tuesday evening.  Through it all, Rick’s Picks has experienced a drop-off in holiday-week traffic that suggests its subscribers will not be the ones moving markets in the remaining days of 2011 no matter what the news. Still to come, on Thursday, is what will have to pass for economic news this week: initial claims for jobless benefits, the index of November pending home sales, and December’s Chicago purchasing managers index. Will we be able to stand the suspense?

  • JosephC December 31, 2011, 3:08 pm

    Steve, can you elaborate re. your “December 28, 2011 at 6:37 pm”, what bill was that? thanks.

    “I wonder, did everyone miss that the senate voted 93-7 a little over a week ago to destroy Liberty absolutely? 93 senators got caught red handed in treasonous designs. But, how much can I make trading XYZ next week?”

  • ricecake December 29, 2011, 1:40 am

    Great news! Now the home is cheap and mortgage rate is low. Good time to buy if you want to buy a house and can afford it. Even Mar Fabre, the Doomest of All Dooms said recently that U.S is a still better place than, like Asia because in the U.S at least, you can criticize the leaders freely. But you can’t in Asia. In Thailand, for example, you will be put in jail if you dare to say bad things to the King and the Royal family.

    p.s. don’t be fooled by all that noisy crying sad N. Koreans who moan so hard for their “dear god leader Kim Jun-IL. Most of them are not crying for Kim Jun-but are crying for their own endless misery and hopeless terrible life to live under Kim family.

  • Tom December 28, 2011, 10:23 pm

    What really is making me sad is that we will likely have to listen to DO cackling about how he has been right 5 out of 5 times with his gold predictions if Gold drops another $50. Mava you are correct that IRAN and North Korea and any other country has the right to build nuclear weapons.What no one has the right to do is force their beliefs upon another individual or country through terror,threats or coercion.Unfortunately as was stated here, radical Christians, Muslims and Jews think their beliefs are the only true and righteous way and that they have the right,nay obligation, to destroy anyone opposed to their views. Tolerance and compassion are not to be tolerated. The silent majority needs not to be silent anymore and let all radicals know that killing in the name of religion is not the way to gain heaven, only the dark place.

  • Brian December 28, 2011, 8:11 pm

    I’d rather be trading.

    • Steve December 28, 2011, 10:14 pm

      Don’t wurry be happy.

  • Steve December 28, 2011, 6:37 pm

    I wonder, did everyone miss that the senate voted 93-7 a little over a week ago to destroy Liberty absolutely? 93 senators got caught red handed in treasonous designs. But, how much can I make trading XYZ next week?

    • bigtom December 28, 2011, 11:54 pm

      Steve – The people in the state of Montana are now in the process of trying to get both of their senators ‘impeached’ for voting for this gestapo legislation!

  • Martin C December 28, 2011, 6:31 pm

    Larry, I take your point and hope you are right.

    The immediacy of the islamic threat is one thing, the size and potential impact of the Christian threat is another and it comes in two flavours – an established dislike of “the Saracen” by hard line Christians in mainstream American politics and military which breeds distrust and antagonism. Also, there is a sizeable fundamentalist Christian movement in the US looking to get one of their own elected to the WhiteHouse and these guys would really be a risk, delighted to usher in the last days with a bit of help from the red button

    Maybe I’m worrying about nothing but to think Christians are any less prone to zealotry than muslims is not true, many millions of muslims are peace loving and you don’t have to look back too many centuries to see a time when Christians were only too delighted to go on blood fuelled crusades on a slightest pretext of defending the faith. And guess what, muslims have long memories and don’t take kindly to white westerners with guns on their territory “keeping the peace” hence some of the violent reaction

    Still, I’m not criticising either religion of itself, but like government, if we’re going to have it I prefer my religion to be small, unobtrusive and non violent. No luck so far!

    • ful_karboy December 29, 2011, 5:05 am

      “Maybe I’m worrying about nothing ”

      I’ll buy that…

      “you don’t have to look back too many centuries to see a time when Christians were only too delighted to go on blood fuelled crusades

      After centuries of islamic attacks, comrade. While you slept in History class, they brought up things like the siege of Jerusalem in 637 and the Battle of Tours in 732. Of course Spain was invaded by islamics in 711 and they ruled for centuries there.
      What’s generally considered the 1st Crusade began in 1095. I’ll let you do your own math there…

      “muslims have long memories and don’t take kindly to white westerners with guns on their territory ”

      Many muslims still think Spain IS their “territory” and are conquering europe this time much easier, if slower, since Leftists have disarmed the “white westerners” and opened the decaying welfare state up to muslims with 2-3 times the birth rate.

      Many Arab Sunni muslims would secretly LOVE to see someone takedown Persian Iran just like a LOT of Shias were overjoyed that saddam got deposed for them.

  • robert kuester December 28, 2011, 6:07 pm

    I become sad to hear all the nonchalant talk over who has the greater capability or intention to nuke their enemies.. like ” my dad can beat up your dad”… only as adults, irreparable damage will ensue for mankind…. water , animal skin & food crops perhaps the most vulnerable. not only are adjacent countries at risk, the whole damned world is “downwind” of any such folly. Is no one thinking in terms of diplomacy or reconciliation for the worlds grave troubles? Are nukes our manifest destiny? I pray NOT.

    • Steve December 28, 2011, 6:27 pm

      The practice of democracy, or mobocracy more correctly, does not allow individualism, or different views by individual states. Democracy demands the will of a social mass be considered absolute as one body united. Those who control, like the office of secretary of State Clinton, for the chief executive CEO, ofc. pres. in succession, demand lawlessness by destruction of the foundational, or Immutable Law, in favor of creation of ordinances by men to engage in legislatively legalized outlawry.

      Obama and Clinton keep declaring they intend to shove democracy down the throat of all people in all nations. Obama and Clinton keep telling everyone they intend to destroy the Immutable Law and replace that Law with the opposite governing form.

      What is coming is going to be absolutely free, and it ain’t Liberty.

  • Mike December 28, 2011, 6:01 pm

    One must remember that the entirety of the basis for getting the sheep to lead themselves to slaughter is “fear”. As long as the sheep fear for their well being….they can be coerced into doing anything. Everything today is fear induction of the highest magnitude. Fear this…fear that…fear something else. And, thereby, give up everything that actually means anything.

    Every war is waged due to fear of this, that or the other. The whole war on terror piece is merely a means to an end. The only way to see through their manipulated fear mongering is to realize there is actually nothing to fear but fear itself. We all end the same way regardless. DEAD.

  • mava December 28, 2011, 5:24 pm

    We all know that this is a big fat lie. Iran has a right to build a nuclear weapon, without having to ask any international bodies for any permissions.

    Dos US have a nuclear weapon?
    Did it ask for any international permissions to get it?
    What is the only country in the world that can not be trusted with nuclear weapons as it is the only country that had used them on civilians? Is it Iran?

    So, we all know that it is none of our business what Iran is doing with their weapons, Salafists or not. We need to worry about our own homeland. Besides, Israel does have nukes, again, without ANY permissions. But, it’s OK. Because “they need it”. So, why this talk about Iran? How come we don’t discuss the fact that Iran, in fact, does need it, having an enemy being armed to the teeth, including illegal nuclear weapons arsenal?

    Like I said, 99% of people are liars. They lie every second of their life. Because they have very bad intentions that they could not possibly talk about.

    • John Jay December 28, 2011, 5:43 pm

      Mava,
      Regardless of political considerations an Iran attack would be a strategic blunder of biblical proportions. If we flatten Iran and kill tens of thousands of Muslims, the reaction in the Mid East and North Africa will be volcanic to say the least. It would be a catastrophe for Israel which is surrounded by Muslims. That is why it is insane to even consider attacking Iran. The regime in KSA would very likely be toppled and a super oil embargo would be the result. Even the US military would be powerless in such a situation, unless they just kill everybody, everywhere. Why look for trouble?

    • ful_karboy December 29, 2011, 4:28 am

      “Iran has a right to build a nuclear weapon”

      Gee, even your euro-socialists disagree and some are even cutting their profit-making trading with Iran, a bit. Of course the russian and chinese communists will arm ANYBODY if they’re a brutal Lefty or islamic whacko and oppose sanctions on them.

      As long as a country hates the US, the Left loves them and winks at their treating women like cattle, hanging gays and supporting terrorist gangs. Not surprising from muddle-headed miscreants that demonstrate to save baby seals and kill baby humans.

  • Martin C December 28, 2011, 5:22 pm

    Which you more scared of? Fundamentalist muslims prepared to seek martyrdom or fundamentalist Christians desperate to bring about the 2nd coming and the end of days?

    Close run thing but the nutter Christians take it from my perspective

    Choose your poison boys, but then this doesn’t fit the consensus view on this site where good old boys rule

    • Larry D December 28, 2011, 6:09 pm

      Only when Baptist and Amish fundamentalists strap bombs around their bellies to blow up commuter trains and nightclubs will I agree with you.

      Ask Salman Rushdie who he is more scared of.

    • Steve December 28, 2011, 6:43 pm

      Who was it who dropped the big “N” in 45? Not once, but; twice. Not once but twice on civilians, not military targets, yes? I’m most afraid of the bigots who think they can offend others and not be held accountable for their crimes against Peace and Dignity. The U.S. and her democracy population does not seek peace, but; seeks conversion by force and elevation of one King be that Obama or Bush.

    • ful_karboy December 29, 2011, 4:17 am

      Another “Hate America Firster”! Still whining about a few nukes?

      Let’s see, the Imperial Japanese troops butchered millions in China and Korea, plus a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor but why bring up facts?
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanking_Massacre

      The bombs gave the Japanese a way of saving face and they surrendered which saved countless lives on both sides. {And more damage to the “environment” from an invasion ;>} Just imagine the mess if the brutal Russian Leftists had attacked from one end, like they did in Germany, and then proceeded to enslave the population under their control like they did for decades in Eastern Europe.

  • Tiburon December 28, 2011, 4:40 pm

    left out ‘but rather’ their religious world view. This doctrine believes only massive worldwide Chaos will be sufficient to satisfy the prerequisites for the emergence of the kid from the well, and they are happy, ensured of eternal reward in their conception of paradise, to facilitate the same.
    What part of ‘death cult’ don’t we understand?

    BTW, I personally believe these Jihadi will get exactly what they imagine when they’ve blown a few innocents into bloody body parts. The whole thing, forever. Exactly 72 Virgins, rivers of wine, etc. Forever.
    In a Universe under His Watch, with the sublime Reality of Creation all around, I can think of no better ‘punishment’ than to be marooned there, fully cognizant of the damage they’ve done to Holy Innocents and His World, Founded on Kindness and Mercy and His Desire to Bestow Good to Another.

    And I wish Ron Paul WOULD get in, and be safe in doing so…I’ve been harping on Israel disconnecting from the corrupt ‘aid’ model with the USA, for years. Total US aid is (roughly) under 2% of Israeli GDP, mostly military required to be spent in American arms factories, and is therefore a needless hobble to Israeli foreign policy decisions. The Israeli economy is more than robust enough to bear this cut-off, and it could stop tomorrow and the average Israeli would notice no change…and there’s lots of folks who’ll be lining up to buy Israeli mil-tech once Washington is off the line – at least until the world takes responsibility for their actions and gives Jews an option to put down their shield and sword. And maybe some of those pushing the ZOG blood libel might recant (doubtful of course) their lie that Israel is massively supported by the US.

    Of course I also hope RP, in such a win of Presidency, doesn’t mutate into some populist hitlerite-type – but while I’ve seen most of the docs indicating his currying of favour from the fever-swamp right from earlier years, I just don’t see it. His path would ‘save America’ (well, G-d will Save America – if America remembers their Bible ie “curse those who curse you, bless those who bless you”) in giving everyone an equal chance to dig their way out of the Great Hole – but in process he promises to end the Federal International Outreach and to end multiple domestic outreaches. Will there be trouble for Jews in America? Near certainly, but in his path it would be state by state, not by totalitarian federal dictate as central government could ‘wither away’. Disagree that it’s possible to step away from Iran though…things have gone too far to leave the field of honour for our human freedoms and concede to totalitarian Islam. And unfortunately this go-round is way big enough to precipitate the generation feared Apocalypse…a near thing.
    So yes, vote for the Constitution and Ron Paul, but don’t put down that gun…not just yet, OK? Transitions required lest barbarians rule.

  • Dan December 28, 2011, 4:16 pm

    “Democracy is the theory that the common man knows what he wants, and deserves to get it, good and hard”.
    HL Mencken

  • Tiburon December 28, 2011, 4:11 pm

    Respectfully, John Jay, you need to sit with a few history and religious philosophy books to form a useful opinion on the ME>
    The Salafist muslim sect is more than “…crazy enough to use it on Israel or US forces…”. Yes, we’re being manipulated by the PTB and their MSM acolytes into a war stance, and likely War on big(ger) scale – convenient to reinvigorate our sham 1st world economies thru ‘creative destruction’. But that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing worth fighting over.
    The Salafists are NOT crazy, not in their minds – they certainly think we are, and as a corollary don’t deserve to live more than a dog or camel (or pig or monkey). This isn’t ‘theoretical’ – their religious world view, for which they are more than ready to die, as they’ve be introducted to this military religious doctrine in their mother’s milk, so-to-speak. They have a courage, dedication and patient tenacity in this belief that dwarfs our committment to our effete po-mo, egalitarian world view.

    • John Jay December 28, 2011, 5:02 pm

      Tiburon,
      Come on man, really! The defense budget of Iran is about 1% of the United States spending. Israel and the US have forces in the area on a hair trigger alert, I am sure we have things in orbit that can tell within seconds of a missile launch where the trajectory will be taking it. Everything you talk about would be scary if this were 700 AD and courage and determination meant anything in an all out war fought with calvary armed with swords, bows and arrows. The Iraq/Kuwait/US war showed that massed troops are just target practice for US air power. The recent US/Iraq war showed that US ground forces are just target practice for guerilla warriors. Courage and determination in massed troops has been suicidal since Gettysburg at least, and Verdun for sure. How many countries has Iran invaded since we forced a regime change there back in the 1950s? I think it is none, Iraq was the agressor in their dust up back in the 1980s. How many countries has the US invaded since the 1950s? Plenty of them.
      Iran is no threat to the USA. If we flatten that country we will become even more of a pariah in the world view. Saddam Husein was no prize but he was predictable and contained. The same with Col. Quadaffi. The same with Mubarak. Now we have chaos in the MENA. Those three dictators all kept a lid on the jihaddists I believe. It is always best to let sleeping dogs alone. However, since we are ready to raise the debt ceiling another trillion or so, maybe world chaos is the plan.

    • bigtom December 28, 2011, 6:59 pm

      Tiberon – you are spot on…..

    • roger erickson December 31, 2011, 3:54 pm

      I’d defer to people with actual military experience on this, and they tend to agree with John Jay.

      http://fabiusmaximus.wordpress.com/
      periodic reviews of faux threats here

      Mossad chief: “Nuclear Iran not necessarily existential threat to Israel”
      http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/mossad-chief-nuclear-iran-not-necessarily-existential-threat-to-israel-1.404227

      As usual, it’s politicians/lobbyists calling for pre-emptive strikes. Not soldiers.

  • John Jay December 28, 2011, 3:48 pm

    If Iran has a nuclear weapon or two, I doubt they would be crazy enough to use it on Israel or US forces. Iran would instantly become the old Nevada nuclear weapon test area reborn. Both countries would like nothing better than a chance to road test every warhead and delivery system in their arsenals under combat conditions. I don’t know which way the prevailing winds blow over there but any country downwind would be very unhappy about it. Stateside, it is comforting to know that the trusty minions of “Big Sis” are expanding the operations of their crack troops to protect us at train, subway, and bus stations. It looks like Ron Paul will be the Ross Perot of our Bill of Rights protections, complete with “the giant sucking sound” as they are yanked away from us for good. Another voice crying in the wilderness? We will know in a few months.


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