ATLBob

Cramer's Mad Money - Buy Bank of America (3/10/09)

Cramer has the same dedication and attention span related to any individual stock as a four year old does when watching a 30-minute cartoon show. This is OK as long as you remember that Cramer (who is a really smart and experienced guy in addition to being a CNBC entertainer) is essentially an 'uber trader' and not a long term investor. Unless you define long-term as one week.

Between all of the emotional, bipolar rants on government policy or pleas to buy/sell a particular position or a particular industry, Cramer often discusses some informative and educational investing and trading concepts that can be helpful to those with limited financial experience.

Watch Cramer for the entertainment value and the occasional financial lesson, but don't base investing decisions on what he says. By the time a particular stock is praised or reviled by Cramer, the time to act has generally already passed and the audience needs to remember 'caveat emptor'.

Accept him for what he is (entertainer, educator and trader) and make your own informed, researched investment decisions and only take the risks that are appropriate for your financial position, goals and timeframe.