ElGordo

USL, USO and the Contango Collapse

If USO is pricing oil at $39 when oil is at $50 , this indicates to me one should buy USO.

Stewart vs. Cramer: A Cheap Shot

The only reason Jim Cramer was attacked by Jon Stewart was because Cramer became a vocal critic of Barack Obama not because of stock picks.
Notice that in the Cramer - Stewart confrontation, Cramer's criticism of Obama's economic policy was never brought up by Stewart. Cramer should invite Stewart to his program and make that subject, Obama's economic policy, the centerpiece of the discussion.
I now look at Stewart as a hitman for the Obama team & I wouldn't doubt that Carville, Begala, etc. initially urged Stewart to attack Cramer.

Levitt and Chanos Speak Out on Investor Hot Button Issues

Jim Cramer says the uptick rule should be reinstated. I have greater faith in Cramer's opinion than either Levitt's or short seller Chanos.

Wells Fargo: Hardly a 'Community Bank'

As an acknowledged (by Obama) financial advisor to Obama, does any one believe that Warren Buffett will not argue against the nationalization of banks especially Wells Fargo ?

What’s the Right Price for Oil?

Stop using the perjorative expression "addicted to oil".
It is a necessity and there is nothing on the horizon to replace it.
Ethanol, for example is a government subsidized joke that raises food prices.

Opportunities in Undervalued Stocks

Jeremy Grantham estimates that the odds are 2 to 1 that the market is going lower. Perhaps as low as S&P 600.

He favors Japanese stocks and Hi Quality U.S. stocks.

Let Buffet Do the Buying for You

WE Buffett in his Aug 15 filing reported buying:
NRG @ 35 & Higher, now @ 24.2,
IR @ 37 & Higher now @ 20.

Any comments.

Fannie and Freddie Did Not Cause This Crisis

The people voted for a new Congress in '94 when they found out that Congressmen were using their in house post office as a piggy bank.
Maybe they'll do the same when they realize Congressmen were using Fannie & Freddie as thier private piggy banks

Fannie and Freddie Did Not Cause This Crisis

Ridiculous cop-out by Thoma. Even Barney Frank acknowledges Fannie was the problem but is trying to evade responsibility with a big lie.
On O'Reilly's "The Factor" , Barney Frank claimed he was not responsible for the Fannie, Freddie debacle because from 1995 to 2007 his party was in the minority on the Housing Committee and he had no power until he became Chairman on Jan. 31, 2007.
This is a Big Lie.
For Your Information;
You should be made aware of the following facts that O’Reilly did not have.
During that 1995-2007 period Barney Frank was not powerless but had DE FACTO CONTROL of the Housing Committee on matters concerning Fannie, Freddie and sub-prime mortgages.
Barney Frank was the ranking member and had all the Dems on that committee voting with him as a block and intimidated a few vulnerable Republicans with threats of racism unless they voted with him on matters concerning Fannie and Freddie.
This gave Frank the majority he needed and DE FACTO CONTROL of the Housing Committee.
Unfortunately, O'Reilly's staff didn't equip him with this information.
The bottom line though is Barney Frank, all the Dems on the Housing Committee and Franklin Raines are the prime culprits in the Fannie, Freddie, sub-prime disaster.

Paraphrasing the WSJ Sept 9, 2008 DEMS and BARNEY FRANK USE FANNIE MAE AS THEIR PIGGY BANK
"But the biggest payoff for Mr. Frank is the "affordable housing" trust fund he managed to push through as one political price for the recent Fannie reform bill.
This fund siphons off a portion of Fannie and Freddie profits -- as much as $500 million a year each -- to a fund that politicians can then disburse to their favorite special interests".

Monday Options Update: GE, LEH, C, RIMM, AMD, STI, TLAB, ALO

Are you sure that the "investor" sold GE Sept 20 Puts @ .20 and not Dec 20 Puts ?
If so, exactly when?

How Have 'Traditional Defensive Stocks' Done in This Downturn?

What is the rationale for removing the worst performer when calculating the results?

Majority of Americans Support Ethanol

Ethanol can not exist without substantial government subsidies making it more expensive than gasoline. Further, it gets only 80% or less mileage than gasoline per gallon. 25% of our corn crop has been taken out of the food supply for ethanol causing all food prices to rise.
When taking a poll, the results are affected by the way the question is worded. In this case, I believe the poll's question was worded to favor ethanol.

Boyd Gaming Corp.: Worth a Gamble?

Insider buying of BYD by VP Boyd and CEO Smith at prices between 18.5 and 19.5 in early March '08

SGM