schnickelfritz's Comments

Dispelling the Hype Behind Cash for Clunkers

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:06:39 -0400

You're looking at the world in the typical upsidedown mode. We, who have made the appropriate choices 5, 7, and 10 years ago to purchase fuel efficient cars, are now subsidizing with our tax money those who chose to purchase gas guzzlers. My 1997 Honda Civic with 295,000 miles is certainly a clunker. Maybe I don't understand the new Obama administration definition of "clunker" as you and the beltway elitists do.
Re-name the entitlement program more appropriately, "Taxpayer Cash For Making Bad Choices."

On Aug 11 02:02 PM User 467580 wrote:

> I love this comment. It perfectly demonstrates the American attitude:
> "What's in it for me?"
>
> First of all, the program is called "Cash for Clunkers," not "Cash
> for Fuel Efficient Cars" program. Be happy that you don't have to
> pay for a gas guzzler nor needed to for the last few years. Your
> cars are getting older, but it may make more sense for you to maintain
> them.
>
> I just recently bought a used car myself. I did not want to trade
> in my paid for car (2002 Ford Escape -- not eligible anyhow), but
> I'm not upset that others can utilize this program. Let's be honest,
> I'm clearly a liberal because I believe in the greater good even
> when it doesn't benefit me DIRECTLY. There are indirect benefits
> here for everyone.
>
> As I see it, this program is designed for two purposes:
> 1. Improve fuel efficiency for outstanding vehicles, thereby reducing
> demand on oil/gas. Will this have a large impact? Who knows? But
> it's a step in the right direction.
> 2. Help car companies move languishing inventory.
>
> Not to mention, this may help many families obtain reliable, fuel
> efficient transportation without breaking the family budget. Also,
> for all the conservative (haters), as far as I know, this was not
> an income restricted program, so it provides equal access to this
> stimulative program provided you meet the requirements.
>
> Other points:
> - Mechanics will always be in demand because they have a skill.
-
> Dealerships can fill out 17 pages to get their money. Working with
> contracts and filling forms is part of their business.
> - Yes, dealerships may need to float the up front savings, but they
> are better equipped to handle this then the consumer.
>
> On Aug 11 11:44 AM rps wrote:

Cramer's Mad Money - Paul Krugman Is Wrong (8/10/09)

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:40:27 -0400

Might we also add Jimmy Carter to the Nobel Prize list of fools?

On Aug 12 01:07 AM Robert Intriago wrote:

> For the same reason we did not pay attention to Arafat, another Nobel
> winner.

Health Care Bill: Prescription for Disaster

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:18:43 -0400

Since Obamacare is supported by most Democrats in Congress and includes "all Americans," does the term "all Americans" include the 20 million or more illegal aliens residing in the US? And if Obamacare includes illegal aliens, what will discourage an anticipated human sunami of more illegal aliens from entering the country pushing healthcare costs even higher?

Why Are Employment Numbers So Bad?

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:03:15 -0400

REALITY CHECK NEWS FLASH

"Any consumer credit card debt over three years of age should have all additional interest charges waived if the consumer is paying the debt down, that would be a real stimulus plan."

If you have credit card debt this old, you need to better manage your money and quit spending money you don't have!!!

Freddie Mac Is Trying to Sell Some Kool-Aid

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:54:55 -0400

Famous last words......

"These two entities—Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—are not facing any kind of financial crisis," said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee.

The fox in the henhouse continues to maintain he has the solution to the problem he was instrumental in creating and fostering.

Still Believe in the Downside

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:17:09 -0400

This guy needs to learn how to use spell check.

On Jun 10 09:50 AM enigmaman wrote:

> IM not getting this three month stycok market climb, I understand
> a certain amount of recovery was due to the overly bearish sentiment,
> panic but it seems irrational to have climed as high as it has in
> sucha short time, normally a forboden of a big decline, I said nomally
> but these are not nomal times and thats the problem. OUr economy
> is being restructured in record time, the affects on US business
> cannot be beneficial to anybody, here opr abroad, yet the marklet
> continues its climb. In 200 crash its was the market, tech bubble
> but the fundamental make up of our economy was changes very little
> , so to expect the economy to return to normalized growth rates was
> not unreansonable. We cant say the same about this economy by any
> means, verything is changing and fast, can anybody predict what normal
> is now, its being called the New Normal and what does that Translate
> into as it relates to S&P earnings?? But thje marklet rises as
> if the market is embracing the change as good, inevitable without
> knowing what tomorrow will bring. They say the market " Climbs a
> wall of Worry" but they also say the " Market doesnt like uncertanty"
> but Worry begets Uncertanty and Uncertanty begets Worry, I dont get
> it at all, its like Happy Days are Hear again, out with the Old Normal
> in with the New Normal, I just dont get it!

The U.S. Housing Market's Very Sobering News

Sun, 31 May 2009 09:08:21 -0400

How do we reconcile the information in Mr. Sullivan's article with Jim Cramer's call that the on going housing catastrophe will bottom in just 30 more days?

There Won't Be a Recovery

Sun, 17 May 2009 10:59:17 -0400

Where were YOU when the marxist Democrats were mandating that common sense and the regulations be overridden and that mortgages via the Community Re-Investment Act, specifically changes made circa 1994 (Fannie, Freddie, Frank, Dodd, and ilk) be given to people who didn't have the means to repay those loans???

On May 17 09:33 AM russ wrote:

> The author calls his column a 'rant' which is of course a more accurate
> description that 'well reasoned essay'. As for the comments by Lex
> as on Obama being a 'communist', where were you when the conservative
> Republicans were allowing the market and the economy to collapse?
> Sorry Lex, but you proved yourself to be an ideological 'squirrel,'
> more at home with your nuts.

Chesapeake Energy Explains, But Ignorant Shareholders Just Don't Get It

Sun, 17 May 2009 09:32:15 -0400

Hey, somebody (obviously the unfortunate and unknowing stockholders) has to make up for that huge margin call and subsequent loss recently.
How outrageous!! And hasn't Cramer been worshiping at the CHK alter, too?

Sharp Drop in Oil Inventories

Fri, 15 May 2009 21:21:32 -0400

Does this guy ever get anything right?

On May 14 09:21 AM Cetin Hakimoglu wrote:

> This is great new because it helps affirm that the economic recovery
> is real.

CNN Misses the Point About Tea Parties

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 22:56:41 -0400

You are unfairly taking advantage of an opportunity to disparage and mock anyone who challenges your self annointed intellectual acumen suggesting they are of lesser intellectual ability. This is evident in your suggestion of the "librul media" meme. I, for one, will not be fooled into submitting to your indignation. I know that you intentionally misspelled "librul," trying to imply many tea party participants are inferior intellectually and that they don't know there is an 'e' at the end of "librul."
Would another example of a meme, this time of a socialist/Marxist Presidential candidate be, "Yes, we can?"
As for the Obama opposition the numbers at one time did say otherwise, but today those numbers are changing.

On Apr 17 04:39 PM heed wrote:

> Right. The "librul media" meme has always been a tactic that the
> right has used to get more favorable coverage. I've always thought
> the idea that these massive corporations like Ge and TWX would push
> a "leftist" agenda, even when that would lead to more taxation and
> regulation for them, is rather silly. As for Obama opposition, the
> numbers say otherwise.
>
> On Apr 17 04:17 PM lbsterling wrote:

Cramer's Stop Trading! Cramer Calls a Bottom (3/26/09)

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:00:39 -0400

How many bottoms has Cramer called in the last few months?
And how many more times in the future is he going to call another bottom?
Oh, the huberis!
BTW, have you noticed how Cramer has had an attitude re-adjustment in his partisan "non-political" drop-ins that he salts his show with regularly? Just a couple of weeks ago Cramer was ranting calling Obama the greatest destroyer of wealth . . . Evidently those rants got the attention of someone of influence especially after Cramer was being defended by Hannity and Limbaugh. How embarassing!!

What Happened to 'The Change We Need'?

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:15:14 -0500

Obama lied.
The economy died.

Change (to socialism/marxism) we can believe in.

It's here, it's happening now!!

Market Death Spiral Continues

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 09:40:10 -0500

Hey wpdragon,

If you have a Hummel collection, you're the moron!!!

On Mar 01 09:31 AM wpdragon wrote:

> Know nothing, your name says it all.
>
> Actually, it falls short - you're a moron.
>
> Obama's been in office 39 days and he's supposed to have cured this
> unmitigated DISASTER that your pals Bush and the 12 year republican
> congress caused? Actually, a disaster that has its roots in Reagan's
> failed economic theories?
>
> Get a life. I wouldn't trust you to manage a hummel collection you
> idiot.
>
> I have to agree with the author on the technicals, unfortunately.

Market Death Spiral Continues

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 09:37:21 -0500

Obama lied.
The economy died.

Change (to socialism/marxism) we can believe in.
Believe it, it's well underway.

Cramer's Lightning Round - There Are No Obama Stocks (2/27/09)

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:48:21 -0500

There are TWO great stock picks that are virtual winners under the Obama administration. Here they are:
Go long on Socialism.
Short Capitalism.

Obama Needs to Do His Math Again

Sat, 28 Feb 2009 22:42:59 -0500

Hey clueless, it's called "common sense," something which you don't have and never will. It doesn't matter how intelligent you think you are, "common sense" is something the left will never be able to grasp.

Obama lied.
The economy died.

On Feb 26 05:18 PM WAKEUP wrote:

> This article states, "If he succeeds in getting universal healthcare,
> the middle class will find themselves eventually saddled with huge
> new tax burdens..." HOW DOES THE AUTHOR "KNOW" THIS? WHERE DID THIS
> COME FROM? THE AUTHOR IS FROM A RIGHT WING BACKGROUND. THIS SOUNDS
> LIKE MORE ELECTION-LOSS SOUR GRAPES; SIMPLY A GEORGE BUSHMAN RANTING
> THAT THE REPUBLICANS SHOULD HAVE BEEN KEPT IN POWER. NO. THAT POWER
> SLIDE IS OVER, AND THE RUNNER IS OUT.

The Great Awakening: Boomers, Your Crisis Has Arrived (Part 3 of 3)

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:37:23 -0500

Yes!!! A thousand times 'yes,' I would not only hire Pelosi but Reid as well....IF I were running a Bernie Maddoff ponzi scheme looking for scheisters to help expand the business.

On Feb 11 01:38 PM ManFromMars wrote:

> I find the article to be highly insightful. As a reasonably successful
> late 50s boomer, who never has utilized debt (save first, buy later),
> I totally concur with the description of the typical boomer as shortsighted.
> Government is at its essence corrupt - reelection is the curse of
> our system. Term limits on politicians is necessary to cure the problem
> - necessary but not sufficient?? To appreciate this just look at
> the current house "leadership" - ancient demagouges from totally
> uncompetitive districts. Polosi is the worst example of this. Would
> you hire this woman - be honest.
>
>

The Great Awakening: Boomers, Your Crisis Has Arrived (Part 3 of 3)

Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:22:34 -0500

The number of negative in proportion to positive responses to this author's comment only serves to re-enforce the accuracy of his opinions.

On Feb 11 10:56 AM User 224899 wrote:

> Boomers never evolved a will to win, and don't embrace the will to
> survive, which is necessary for a nation to adaptively prevail in
> a crisis.
>
> Having never matured enough to make the transition from liberal to
> conservative thinking, Boomers will lead America into a declining
> twilight period like the one "old Europe" is experiencing now: declining
> white atheist populations; expanding ethnic religious populations;
> Islam rising to dominance due to rapid population growth while genderless
> atheist whites don't bother to reproduce.
>
> In contrast to World War II, America will lose the current war (the
> smoldering, largely covert global jihad) because Boomers would rather
> hug and discuss than fight. Boomers cannot support a culturally shared
> love of home and love of national character, which carried the US
> and Britain to victory in WW II.
>
> Nobody will ever call Boomers "gritty" or "determined" or "honorable"
> or "courageous" or "noble" or "loyal" or "proud" or "bold" or "aggressive".
> In fact, Boomers run schools that punish boys for displaying those
> traits, and those are the very traits enable people to win wars and
> prevail during crises.
>
> Boomers cannot allow themselves to believe that it is right to fight
> a war for oil or coal or land, and absolutely refuse to fight a war
> over a religous belief, and will ultimately lose to those who still
> believe that it is right to do so.

Which Black Swan Will Pop the Treasury Bubble?

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:12:48 -0500

Exactly correct as previously expressed, the bubble wil surely pop when foreign governments stop buying US debt and/or the US government can't pay the interest on the balooning debt it's created.
Who's going to buy a ticket to ride the Titanic?

Discount Retailers Thriving in Recession

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 10:05:25 -0500

What the author conveniently omits from the equation is how did the margin grow in comparison with the sales increases?
With discounts ranging to 70% plus another 10% and/or $10 coupon promo, how bad would the economy have to get NOT to notice some uptick in sales?

Better Days in Store for 2009

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:29:45 -0500

It sounds to me like the whole article is pretty much based on "hope," and not any substance other than "hope." Many of you have been led to believe that if you "hope" long and hard enough, some rationalizattion can be made that "hope" will be your economic salvation. " 'Hope' springs eternal."
Based on the most recent election, I find it amusing that approximately half the population sees their life's solutions based purely on "hope." Just check out the previous comment by Aitvaras.
" 'Hope' for the best!"
Any more platitudes of political oratory and dribble based on "hope?"
Here's "hope" for a better 2009!!!

Kohl's: Early Estimates Haunt the Holiday Shopping Season

Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:10:40 -0500

Much of Kohl's 12.5% annual growth rate can be attributed to the fact that Kohl's was experiencing a fantastic expansion nationally over the last decade, and approximately on average 75-95 new stores were being opened each year.
The real growth rate must also heavily consider same store sales comps. How does Kohl's rank in SSS with its competition?
With retailers' markdowns ranging from 60%, 70%, and more, what can be done in the first half of 2009 for an encore? Most retailers in this sector are now conditioning the public to expect markdowns in the 60-80% range. How will that mindset impact future margins?
My overall views are not contrary to Mr. Schiro's analysis. I'm only suggesting a history of Kohl's SSS comps could also add additional support of his assessment.

How to Inspire More Panic in the Economic Crisis

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 21:01:09 -0500

maedchen writes:

A few comments.
1. The Bush-Administration definetely ruined this country and I strognly believe the GOP is done for good.
2. Obama faces a huge challenge, but the good thing is, there is not much he can do wrong, all the mistakes are already made.
3. Here is what he should do:
Get our troops home and end both wars .
Spend that money in the economy.
Nationalize the whole financial system.
Install universal healthcare.

Here's my response to her comments:
Dummkopf!!

Sell Signal of the Day, Greenspan Edition

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:28:03 -0400

This disaster can not come full circle until all participants in both public and private sectors are objectively investigated, prosecuted if necessary, and if found to be guilty of criminal activity, find themselves in orange jump suits for a long, long time and ordered to pay restitution with forfeiture of the wealth they unjustly bestowed upon themselves.

Those in the public sector deemed to be compliciant by demonstrating bad judgement and dereliction of duty need to be replaced or hounded out of office. With the likes of Chris Dodd and Barney Frank at the forefront of fixing the problem when they are a major part of creating the problem (Freddie & Fannie) shows how partisan our political system has become. It's not for the good of the country first, "it's all about me."

Middle Class Retail Sales Point to Continued Weakness

Fri, 08 Aug 2008 15:20:41 -0400

I agree with everything the author reports, but today the market doesn't hear a word.

Mark Cuban, Is the Stock Market Still for Suckers?

Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:31:32 -0500

Funny that Mark Cuban would besmirch the same vehicle that provided him the economic tools to act like a self-indulging idiot. It's difficult for the likes of Mark to accept the facts when the facts don't support their loony political positions.