nutty buddy

Potash Q3: Earnings In-Line, But Down Steeply from '08

Timing these fertilizer plays has made me beaucoup bucks. Keep your powder dry for the next run-up.

O Canada (Part II): There's Gold in Them Thar Hills - and Plains

Canada has vast economic potential, but over the years that promise has been hijacked the Social Credit/NDP/Liberal party juggernaut. As a result, the Canadian government has enthusiastically explored all manner of Leftist philosophies. Many Canadians have grown up as belligerent socialists, believing such nonsense as: an implied social contract exists to nurture poor choices, or the nation’s resources entitle them to muddle through with minimal efforts, or that the rest of the world loves them.

Entities that survive and even thrive within Canada are the large multinational corporations. They alone have the resources to negotiate the regulatory and tax mazes. Where it’s appropriate, special exemptions can be carved out, in the national interest, of course. Canadians who actually try to succeed by starting a small business will quickly feel the pinch of high taxation and over-regulation, and if successful - creeping nationalization. The bottom line is that Canadian society provides a dearth of opportunities for active individuals. The safety valve has always been the Land of Opportunity.

Escaping to the US is often done grudgingly and with an air of inherent superiority. For Canadians, the US is the country that they love to hate. Entertainers are only the most visible strata of Canadian society to seek refuge from unspoken and unacknowledged oppression. Walk down any street in the US and there will be Canadians in the mix, going undetected - from the Ontario executive in Newark, to the Saskatchewan civil engineer in Philadelphia, to the Alberta chemical worker in Houston, to the Quebec exotic dancer in Reno.

Ironically, Canada’s downfall may come about from the US voting public’s fascination with Leftist teachings. Flirting with oppressive social and economic systems may risk choking off opportunities south of the border. Canadians and Canadian culture may end up wallowing in the post-1948 malaise that afflicted Britain between instituting the NHS, up to the election of Thatcher.

The real and present danger for Canada is that Americans will sacrifice future growth opportunity and prosperity to climate change, public medicine, and financial regulation, etc. When this happens, budgets for entitlements balloon out of control and the one item sure to suffer is national defense. The inability to fund credible military services is the price paid by governments that experiment too long with fulfilling comprehensive service to its citizens. When this happens to the US, then Canada will be laid bare.

Canada has long forsaken the anthemic line to “Stand on guard for thee.” Since the early 1950’s, it has left that thankless chore to Americans. The running joke in Canada used to be that there were more submarines in the West Edmonton Mall than in the Canadian navy. It is difficult now to imagine how something similar could happen to the USA, but as the negative reports mount and warnings go unheeded, as the electorate continues to make thoughtless choice, so less is required of any disruptive technology or ideology to precipitate a reversal.

Cramer's Mad Money - Ignore Obama's Healthcare Speech (9/9/09)

Mr. Cramer knows that Mr. Obama does not have the support of the people on this issue, and that if he continues to pursue his original plans with any vigor at all, Mr. Obama risks becoming marginallized completely. Government of the people, by the people!

Cramer's Mad Money- Making the Most of Market Ennui (7/10/09)

I bought AMD as a speculative play, based in part on Cramer's call three weeks ago. It went down down 25% before I pulled out - right after Cramer stopped mentioning it and the Street.com (Cramer's own company) downgraded it to a sell on July 7. Huge dollar loss for me, but look here - Cramer is still pushing AMD.

Rather than Cramer's artificial excitement compelling ignorant masses to disrespect the Creator's Name (Boo_---!), we should all cry Boo-Hoo! and watch Cavuto instead. Someone punish me if I ever read another Cramer diatribe - lesson finally learned.

Should CEOs Sit on Other Companies' Boards?

Actually it's a Nutty-Buddy system.

Understanding Triple Leveraged ETFs

Thanks for the explantation.

I concur with your reasoning, because I went long BGZ triple short and watched a quick 3% the first day evaporate into red for the next 2 months due to sideways action - not even a significant upswing. It took the March plunge to bring me into the green, but by then I was so relieved that I pulled my position and missed the really big move. You would have thought I learned my lesson, but I'm long BGZ again on the expectation of resistance at the 8200 level. I was happy the first day - now I'm steeped into the red el quicko. Hopefully, there's another bottom forming to save me again. (I learned my lesson - honest!)

Five Leadership Lessons From Obama's Second Month

Get your filthy stinking paws off me
You damn dirty Democrat!

Good News, Bad News for Regional Banks

Moody's is still way behind the curve - playing catch-up - and about to over-steer.

Cramer's Stop Trading - Peabody Is in Freefall (3/2/09)

Cramer might be on to something. Goodbye to Bush's War on Terror. Hello to Obama's War on Investments.

Sam Walton Is Rolling in His Grave

We learned 95% of what we needed to know when you said that H. Lee Scott actually appeared on Charlie Rose's show ... good grief! The other 5% was the mildly amusing fact that you watched it. Next time try reading Pavda or Time magazine.

New U.S. Presidents and the Market

Is there a point here, or is there just a blog quota that needs to be met?

Ready To Roar - Cramer's Mad Money (9/12/08)

I am happy for his millions, but his "advice" cost me a lot of $$$.

The Week Ahead: Geopolitical Issues Dominate

You lost me at "shah of iran, who declared himself "king of kings," lost power in iraq". The rest is all blah, blah, blah - paid for by George Soros. Get a life if you candothat.

A Closer Look at 4 Commodities

The commodities up-cycle has just begun.

Jim Cramer's Mad Money In-Depth, 3/28/08: Low Hopes for Earnings

SGP up - another sterling Cramer prediction ... arg