The Video Professor is the company that is notoriously litigious over critics of its marketing practices — and just a few months ago even sent us a threatening email after we wrote a post about some of the company’s actions. After a quick discussion between lawyers, the company agreed that it would not take action against us. But its lawyers have still been busy elsewhere — though, the company also seems to lose a lot of lawsuits. This particular one involved Amazon.com, and The Video Professor’s annoyance that Amazon had bid on the keywords “video professor” on various ad platforms. Of course, given that Amazon might be selling either products from The Video Professor or some of its competitors, that’s a perfectly reasonable (and lawful) use of keyword advertising. The trademark does not give the trademark holder complete control over the mark.
Either way, it looks like the Video Professor has lost again on this one, even if the trademark analysis didn’t even come into play. It turns out that way back whenever the company had signed an earlier deal with Amazon to be a vendor on Amazon, it had also signed a vendor agreement that included a “perpetual trademark license.” Summary judgment, case closed.
Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) is pressing her betting-bookie analogy again, which she launched with two hours ago.
“You all are the house, you’re the bookie,” she said. Clients “are booking their bets with you. I don’t know why we need to dress it up. It’s a bet.”
McCaskill, who copped to betting on college sports, asked the Goldman execs: “What’s your vig?” In other words, what was Goldman’s fee for setting up these bets?
Well, Lindsey Graham recently demanded immigration reform be taken up ASAP. In fact he had a fit. Then eventually it looked like it might get taken up soon. So he had a fit.
Allegedly the fit was because immigration would come up before the climate change bill he was working on with John Kerry and Joe Lieberman (so you know that bill would be awesome, right?).
Well, we can’t have that. So eventually, the climate bill would come up before the immigration bill, just like President Tantrum wanted — though he said he wanted both bills. Well, apparently not.
Tonight, Graham told me that he will filibuster his own climate change bill, unless Reid drops all plans to turn to immigration this Congress.
I’m sensing a pattern.
Nice to know that Graham will undoubtedly be personally stroked and caressed on this Sunday’s chat shows as a “statesman” while Carl Levin gets the Marcy Wheeler treatment because of Sally Quinn’s virginal ear (the one on the left only).
Senators Grill Goldman Execs About Their ‘Shitty Deal’ Tuesday was not a fun day to be a top executive at Goldman Sachs. Sen. Carl Levin and his posse from the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations made sure of that during a lengthy interrogation session, which included quite a zinger from Sen. Levin to Daniel Sparks, who used to run Goldman’s mortgage department. Meanwhile, the company’s stock rose a dollar and a penny. —KA Bloomberg Businessweek: “How about the fact that you sold hundreds of millions of that deal after your people knew it was a shitty deal?” the Michigan Democrat asked Daniel Sparks, who ran the bank’s mortgage unit at the time. “Does that bother you at all?” … In his comments to Sparks, Levin was referring to a June 2007 e-mail to Sparks from Thomas Montag, the former head of sales and trading in the Americas at Goldman Sachs. The message described a set of mortgage-linked investments that his bank had been trying to sell as part of “one shitty deal.” “I don’t recall selling hundreds of millions of that deal after that,” Sparks replied, adding that he believed the e-mail referred to his performance, not the security itself. “If you can’t give a clear answer to that one, Mr. Sparks, I don’t think we’re going to get too many clear answers from you,” Levin said. Shares Rise As the executives testified, Goldman Sachs was the only stock among 79 financial companies that gained in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. The stock rose $1.01 to $153.04 as of 5:04 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. Read more
Tuesday was not a fun day to be a top executive at Goldman Sachs. Sen. Carl Levin and his posse from the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations made sure of that during a lengthy interrogation session, which included quite a zinger from Sen. Levin to Daniel Sparks, who used to run Goldman’s mortgage department. Meanwhile, the company’s stock rose a dollar and a penny.? —KA
Bloomberg Businessweek:
“How about the fact that you sold hundreds of millions of that deal after your people knew it was a shitty deal?” the Michigan Democrat asked Daniel Sparks, who ran the bank’s mortgage unit at the time. “Does that bother you at all?”
… In his comments to Sparks, Levin was referring to a June 2007 e-mail to Sparks from Thomas Montag, the former head of sales and trading in the Americas at Goldman Sachs. The message described a set of mortgage-linked investments that his bank had been trying to sell as part of “one shitty deal.”
“I don’t recall selling hundreds of millions of that deal after that,” Sparks replied, adding that he believed the e-mail referred to his performance, not the security itself.
“If you can’t give a clear answer to that one, Mr. Sparks, I don’t think we’re going to get too many clear answers from you,” Levin said.
Shares Rise
As the executives testified, Goldman Sachs was the only stock among 79 financial companies that gained in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. The stock rose $1.01 to $153.04 as of 5:04 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading.
Microsoft has announced a broad licensing agreement with HTC for its mobile phone patents. The agreement gives HTC access to “broad coverage” under Microsoft’s patent portfolio. HTC will pay Microsoft royalties for Android phones it sells. This agreement comes in the shadow of Apple suing HTC for patent infringement, a move widely believed to be aimed at Google and Android. Analysts are already stating that this deal between HTC and Microsoft is aimed at defusing the Apple suit, but a statement by the Microsoft legal team implies it is merely HTC avoiding a similar infringement claim by Microsoft.
No details have been provided by Microsoft nor HTC mentioning which technologies are covered under this agreement. A look at Microsoft’s IP licensing program sheds some light over likely technologies covered:
Exchange ActiveSync: HTC was the first Android phone maker including full support for interacting with Exchange Servers. This is almost certainly included in this licensing deal.
ClearType: Technology yielding crisper display of text on LCD screens.
There are no doubt many other patented technologies that are included under the HTC/Microsoft agreement, given the “broad coverage” claimed by both companies.
The statement by Microsoft that Android was infringing on its patents, and the subsequent deal with HTC may spell big trouble for Google and the platform. Other Android phone makers now must make a determination if handsets produced likely infringe on either Microsoft or Apple technology. This may turn the semi-open platform into one as full of potential holes as swiss cheese.
Over the past year, Dick Morris has repeatedly used anti-Obama rhetoric and stoked fears about the economy on Fox News, in his latest book, and in videos for the right-wing website Newsmax. Newsmax has used those videos to the promote financial-services products it sells, which the website has pushed by playing on similar anti-Obama fears. Morris has been paid by Newsmax to use his email list to plug such products; he builds his email list through his website, which he often promotes on Fox News.
In this report:
Newsmax drives sales of its financial products by using anti-Obama rhetoric and stoking fear of hyperinflation.
Newsmax has paid Morris to use his email list to promote those products.
Through his email list and in appearances on Newsmax webcasts, Morris has explicitly endorsed Newsmax’s financial-services products.
Morris builds his email list through his website, which is frequently promoted during his Fox News appearances.
In his Newsmax appearances, on Fox, and in his latest book, Morris has echoed the anti-Obama rhetoric and predictions of hyperinflation Newsmax uses to promote its products.
Morris has repeatedly used his Fox platform to shill for groups he is affiliated with.
Newsmax uses anti-Obama rhetoric to drive sales of its financial products
As Media Matters for America has email by Newsmax Media CEO Christopher Ruddy sent to Newsmax’s mailing list announced Newsmax’s Aftershock offer, which included a “free” (after spending $4.95 for “shipping and handling”) copy of the book Aftershock: Protect Yourself and Profit in the Next Global Financial Meltdownby David Wiedemer, Robert A. Wiedemer, and Cindy Spitzer (John Wiley & Sons, 2010). The offer also included free trial subscriptions to three Newsmax financial newsletters, each of whichmust be individually canceled during their respective trial periods to avoid being charged a full year’s subscription to them. According to Ruddy’s email, readers who ordered the book were provided access to “an exclusive Internet broadcast I’m filming with Fox News analyst Dick Morris along with an esteemed panel of experts.”
Aftershock webcast promotes Newsmax’s “Money Matrix Insider.” Newsmax created a special, password-protected website, AftershockProfits.com, which hosted a February 25 webcast. The ultimate goal of the webcast was to promote what it called the “Money Matrix Insider” — a method of investing in foreign currency exchange markets. Newsmax is charging $1,495 for the package (PDF) — described as a $1,000 discount off the regular “membership price” — which includes instructional DVDs, tips and alerts, and access to a “vast, password-protected Web site [where] you will be delivered members-only articles, weekly videos and audio commentary, the track record, and the ability to ask questions or suggest topics to be discussed in weekly commentaries.” The web page touted the importance of being “one of the first 1,000 to order today” at the discounted price.The page touted a “Potential Reward” of “$137,000 (or more) Legally in Your Pocket in the Next Year Alone!”
The “Call to Arms” scheme: $1,295 to get stock tips from Ruddy’s “private financial weapon.” On May 7, 2009, Newsmax hosted “A Call to Arms,” a “national internet webcast” which invited viewers to pay $1,295 for a package including a year’s worth of stock tips from Ruddy’s “chief financial adviser.” Ruddy wrote (PDF) that the “Million Dollar Secret Code” he promoted in the “Call to Arms” is based on the stock-picking of analyst David Frazier, whom Ruddy called his “private financial weapon.” Ruddy stated that he was investing $1 million of Newsmax’s money in the promotion, adding, “David believes he can bring a 50% to 70%-plus return over the next 12 months to this $1 million.” The promotion would provide “About 36 Massive Profit/Minimum Risk Plays,” in which “[y]ou will be given guidance about exactly what to buy, at what price, and how much. David Frazier will provide you with all of the research and analysis behind each recommendation. And you will get a 48-hour head start on me, before I can buy the exact same stock recommendations.”
Newsmax’s Aftershock promotion deal featured Morris’ seal of approval
Ruddy: “Dick Morris agrees that every American investor should read this book to secure their financial freedom.” In his January 26 email, Ruddy wrote in large, bold type: “Dick Morris agrees that every American investor should read this book to secure their financial freedom.” Ruddy wrote that responding to his email would put the responder on a “VIP Waiting List” in order to “claim your copy of this book and reserve a spot to view an exclusive Internet broadcast I’m filming with Fox News analyst Dick Morris along with an esteemed panel of experts.”
Morris urged email list to sign up for Newsmax’s Aftershock book promotion in order to access webcast. In a February 10 email to his list, after suggesting that “major inflation” was likely, Morris wrote:
Newsmax has asked me to team up with them in a financial webinar to elaborate my views and answer questions concerning the serious issues presented in Aftershock.
To view this important internet broadcast all you need to do is secure one of the copies of Aftershock that my friend, Christopher Ruddy, the CEO and Editor in Chief of Newsmax, has secured.
He believes this book is so important to your financial well-being that he is giving it away for free. I suggest you claim one of these quickly fleeting copies – you can do so by clicking here.
Newsmax promoted scheme on Morris’ mailing list. Subscribers to Morris’ mailing list received emails from Newsmax about the Aftershock promotion, including on March 4 and March 11. Newsmax was described as a “paid sponsor.”
TV ad for promotion highlights Morris blurb. In April, Newsmax began offering the initial promotion — a copy of Aftershock, plus the trial newsletter subscriptions — in TV ads airing on Fox Business. Among the blurbs for the book included in the ad is one from Morris: “Aftershock … is a must read!”
Aftershock webcast, website tout Morris’ employment by Fox. The front page of AftershockProfits.com features a letter from Ruddy telling readers that on the website, “You also can view a recently filmed, exclusive webinar featuring Fox News analyst Dick Morris.” During the webcast, a caption identified Morris as a “Fox News Analyst & Commentator”:
Morris bashes Obama in Money Matrix video: “[T]he cancer’s dead, now we’re suffering from the chemotherapy.” In the February 25 webcast, Morris was introduced as “the man Time magazine once called the most influential private citizen in America” — a claim that came from a September 1996 Timearticle published shortly before Morris was ousted from Bill Clinton’s re-election campaign after it was revealed that he had a relationship with a prostitute. During the webcast, Morris plugged the Aftershock book and attacked President Obama as promoting economic policies that would result in “more inflation” and “huge increases in interest rates.” From the video:
ROOT: Well, you know, I just finished interviewing Robert Wiedemer, the co-author of Aftershock. I’m sure you’ve read Aftershock. What did you think about its bold predictions?
MORRIS: Well, I thought it was a very good book. I thought that he really makes the point that the events that we’ve experienced over the last year are not going to be isolated occurrences. They stemmed from something and they will lead to something. And you can’t go through the kind of disruption we’ve had in the financial system and, much more importantly, the kind of ill-conceived remedies for dealing with it of the Obama administration without having tremendous consequences. And that’s why the concept of the word “aftershock” I think is a particularly good one because we had the shock of the financial crisis, but then we’re going to have the aftershock.
ROOT: Interestingly enough, you mentioned shock and aftershock, and of course, your famous book is called Catastrophe. What comes after the aftershock? Catastrophe.
MORRIS: Well, I think that the aftershock will be a catastrophe. We have to understand that the disease we had, which was the financial collapse and the recession which it caused, is basically coming to an end. And what we are entering now is the results of the cure, not the results of the disease. You know, the cancer’s dead, now we’re suffering from the chemotherapy. And the therapy that we’ve had of huge budget deficits, massive increases in government spending, soon to be big increases in taxes, and then huge increases in interest rates, all of which are now inevitable, you’re dealing with a situation where the cure will be many times worse than the disease ever was. In fact, it reminds me of the old medieval doctors who used to bleed their patients, you know, to get rid of the evil spirits in their veins. And that would cure them, and when it didn’t and they were worse and worse, they said, ah, we know the solution — take out more blood, get rid of more evil spirits. So finally the poor son of a gun died. And that’s kind of what Obama’s like. He’s saying, well, he’s sick, let’s spend more money and increase the deficit. Ah, he is not recovering. Well, let’s spend more money and increase the deficit even more. And that is going inevitably to lead to inflation.
Morris warned that Obama will raise taxes in an effort to “make things worse.” In a March 5 video posted to the Aftershockprofits.com website, Morris claimed that in the 1990s, “the only way we balanced the budget, the only way we eliminated the deficit, was to cut the capital gains tax from 28 to 20 [percent] and eliminate it on homeowners who sell their homes for [$]250[,000] or less.” By contrast, he said, “Obama is heading in exactly the opposite direction. He’s going to raise the capital gains tax, raise the income tax, raise the dividend tax, raise the inheritance tax, maybe add a value-added tax on top of it, all of which are designed to make things worse, not better.”
Morris: Obama “elbowing aside the small businesses” to borrow money. In a March 15 video posted to the Aftershockprofits.com website, Morris said that, because the Obama administration is financing the recently passed job-creation package out of deficit spending rather than out of tax revenue, Obama is “going to the loan window, elbowing aside the small businesses, borrowing the money himself, and then lending a piece of it to the small businesses and saying, ‘Now go create jobs.’ Whereas if he simply got out of the way and let the small business directly borrow the money, you could create many, many more jobs.”
Morris paid by Newsmax to send anti-Obama email plugging “Call to Arms” promotion, then endorses Newsmax’s product
Morris participated in webcast, was paid to tout it to his mailing list. In a May 4, 2009, “Urgent Message” to his email list, Morris warned that Obama is leading the country toward “socialism,” “rocketing inflation,” and a possible second recession. Morris stated that he had “agreed to participate in a special seminar online called ‘The Call To Arms’ hosted by my friend Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax as well as famed former CNN anchor Bob Losure,” and advised his readers to sign up for the webcast in order to “protect your wealth and investments from the far-reaching hands of Barack Obama and the Democrats in Washington.” Morris explained that “[e]ven though they are paying me to send you this e mail; I have, in fact, invested my own money with them because I think they are onto something”:
I have been warning that President Barack Obama is leading America down a dangerous path to socialism. But, en route, he will take us through an even longer recession than we need to have; rocketing inflation, and perhaps a second downturn to cure the inflation.
All this will have grave implications each of our personal assets and stock portfolios.
Many people are worried — and they have good reason to worry.
I believe it’s extremely important for Americans to take steps now to protect their money and their financial freedom.
So I agreed to participate in a special seminar online called “The Call To Arms” hosted by my friend Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax as well as famed former CNN anchor Bob Losure — scheduled for Thursday, May 7th.
[…]
Even though they are paying me to send you this e mail; I have, in fact, invested my own money with them because I think they are onto something. We expect upwards of 250,000 people to participate.
I want to encourage you to sign up for this “Call to Arms” online meeting. There is no charge to attend. After you sign up, they will give you FREE access to a members-only website. This site will help you protect your wealth and investments from the far-reaching hands of Barack Obama and the Democrats in Washington.
In webcast, Morris attacks Obama for “leading America into socialism,” endorses “Secret Code.” During his appearance on the May 7, 2009, “Call to Arms” webcast, Morris stated, “I think that Obama definitely is leading America into socialism.” He also commented that “of course” Obama’s policies will lead to “huge inflation,” adding, “I don’t see how any expert could disagree with that.” He concluded that “we’re looking here really at the recession prolonged by Obama’s reckless spending and borrowing, which raises interest rates, then a period of inflation when we come out of the recession, and then probably a second recession.”
Later in the interview, the event’s host, former CNN Headline News anchor Bob Losure, asked Morris, “David Frazier is heading ‘Your Secret Million Dollar Code, and I think you know Chris Ruddy. He’s investing a million dollars in his portfolio to track this code. Now is this something you’d recommend to people?” Morris replied, “Well, I’m not putting in a million, but I sure am putting my own money into it.” He also suggested that the “Million Dollar Code” was “a strategy” people could use to “keep yourself safe” from “the kind of offensive Obama is launching against the American economy.”
In identifying Morris, Losure noted that “you’ve seen appear regularly on Fox.” During Morris’ appearance, on-screen text identified him as a Fox News analyst:
Warning of Obama’s “depressflation,” Morris urges readers to buy newsletter that gives him a cut of each subscription
Morris: “I receive a percentage of each subscription sold, but even if I didn’t” I’d recommend it. On March 16, 2009, Morris sent out an email with the subject line, “THE COMING ‘DEPRESSFLATION’…AND YOUR MONEY.” Recommending that his readers subscribe to the Global Stock Investor newsletter published by investment adviser Nicholas Vardy, Morris wrote:
You may recall that, in one of my recent columns, I coined the term “depressflation” to describe the inevitable result of the Democrats’ plans to”rescue” the economy.
A ”depressflation,” I explained, would be like the “stagflation” of the 1970s, only worse: massive inflation, even hyper-inflation, together with Depression-like economic stagnation.
Why is this inevitable? Because with a bi-partisan consensus that deficits are vital in fighting the crisis (or easing the pain) there is no constraint on Obama and his party. The sky is the limit on spending, to the tune of a trillion-plus dollars over the next two years alone.
And there are only two ways to pay for it: (1) printing more money, which causes inflation, and (2) hiking taxes, which kills investment, businesses and jobs.
Then the question will be: When will we realize that government intervention is magnifying, not solving the problems that caused the crisis? When will the patience of the public with Obama’s remedies run out?
My guess is that it won’t be until 2012 — or after.
In the meantime, however, there are ways to protect yourself and your family from the coming “depressflation.”
It’s crucial to understand: Hard times for America does not necessarily mean hard times for you. As a very wise investment expert of my acquaintance, Nicholas Vardy, likes to say, “No matter what the state of financial markets, there is always a strategy out there that can make you money.”
Morris added: “Full disclosure: I receive a percentage of each subscription sold, but even if I didn’t, I’d want you to know about this amazing service. Nicholas’ advice is rock solid. If you check into it, you’ll thank me later.”
Links in the email go to a special page on the Global Stock Investor website which identifies the newsletter as “As Recommended by Dick Morris”:
Morris, Fox News hosts tout Morris’ website, which he uses to boost email list
Morris repeatedly promotes his own website during Fox appearances. According to a Nexis transcript search, Morris’ website, dickmorris.com, was referenced by either Morris or his interviewer in at least 24 separate appearances on Fox News programs between January 1 and April 1.
Intro to Morris website is a prompt to join his mailing list. The first thing visitors see when visiting dickmorris.com is a page asking to join his email list:
Morris’s email list has been specifically promoted on Fox. On the February 22 edition of Fox News’ Hannity, Sean Hannity introduced Morris and told viewers, “be sure to check out his Web site, DickMorris.com. You can get his columns for free. Absolutely free.” Morris replied, “I’ll e-mail them to you,” to which Hannity responded, “And by the way, I get your e-mails.” [Accessed from the Nexis database]
Cross-promotion: Morris uses Fox platform to stoke fear of hyperinflation, skyrocketing interest rates
In promoting Newsmax’s financial-services products, Morris has warned that Obama’s policies will prolong the recession and eventually lead to massive inflation and skyrocketing interest rates – likely followed by another recession. But the Newsmax promotions aren’t the only place Morris has made those claims — he has repeatedly offered a similar analysis in his role as a Fox News analyst.
Morris: “Right now we are in the same position as a country as the subprime borrowers were.” On the February 1 edition of Hannity, Morris stated: “Right now, we are in the same position as a country as the subprime borrowers were. We’re getting a teaser rate of 3 percent because we’re printing the money we’re borrowing — we’re not really borrowing money, we’re printing it — giving it to banks and borrowing it back at 3 percent. The federal government has to stop doing that in the next few months. And then we’re going to have to borrow real money at real interest rates. And this debt service that now is about $300 billion is going to explode to $700 billion.” He later said of Obama:
MORRIS: What he doesn’t understand or he doesn’t want to understand is that when you spend money that you have to borrow, even if you spend it creating jobs, you’re going to lose jobs. Because a private business can’t borrow money to create jobs.
The federal government’s elbowing them aside, and they’re the loan window. Treasury debt has gone up 41 percent, commercial lending has gone down 25 percent. That tells you everything you need to know.
Morris warns of “second dip” to recession, ”humongous inflation.” On the August 24, 2009, edition of Hannity, Morris stated that “in 2010 and ’11, I think it is very, very likely that with this high deficit, you’re going to recover a little bit, and then enter another depression.” He added that “on the second dip that’s going to — that will happen maybe in ’10, you may also have humongous inflation, which means that the Fed cannot stimulate the economy without risk of having the inflation go completely crazy. And you know how a patient dies when you have two things that are — you’re sick with and you can’t treat them both? Something like being unable to be stimulative because of the inflation and have to stimulate because of the recession.”
Morris predicts ”runaway,” “incredible” inflation. On the March 28, 2009, edition of On the Record with Greta van Susteren, Morris stated:
MORRIS: And the problem is that Obama, while the stimulus package is well intended, he then comes in with a tax-increase proposal that says, “Hey, I am going to take this away from you. Go ahead and spend, but in two years, I am going to be serving you for dinner.”
And that causes people to be more and more afraid. And Obama says it is just the rich, but those are the people that are the employers, who sign paychecks and create jobs.
And I think what is going to happen, Greta, is that in two years or three years, when we begin to come out of this, all that money that is in the parking lot is going to come onto the freeway all at once to buy goods to expand plants and equipment.
And then I think we will have runaway inflation. And the only way to cure that is another recession. Sorry.
[…]
But the problem is that Obama is trying to force the pace with this massive spending, and the money is not being spent. It is being parked. And when it comes in, it will just come in all but once, and we will have incredible inflation. [accessed from Nexis]
Morris: “In ‘10, gradually the depression will end and then hyperinflation will take over.” On the January 28, 2009, edition of TheO’Reilly Factor [accessed from Nexis], Morris said that “[i]n ‘10, gradually the depression will end and then hyperinflation will take over. Hyperinflation. You’re looking at 20 percent inflation a year in ‘11 and in ‘12.” He later added that Obama was “passing a stimulus package to ease the pain” but that the “price of easing the pain is going to be hyperinflation.”
Morris’ Obama-bashing book also stokes hyperinflation fears
Morris warns of ”depressflation,” adds, “Obama’s policies have seen to that!” In his book 2010 Take Back America: A Battle Plan, Morris promoted fears of what he called “depressflation”:
Right now, the Fed is borrowing a lot of money to pay for the deficit. From whom? From those who got the free money in the first place by selling their bonds to the Treasury. This process of printing money and then borrowing it back can go on for only so long. At some point — soon — the Fed and the Treasury will have to stop playing the game. All indications are that it’ll have to come to a stop in 2010. If it doesn’t, the money supply may become so enlarged that we’ll be risking the kind of wallpaper-your-apartment-with-money inflation that killed Weimar Germany and opened the door to Hitler.
And the larger the deficit is, the more we’re risking a massive run of inflation, and the more interest lenders are going to demand in order to part with their money. After all, if they’re stuck with bonds that pay only 3 or 4 percent — and inflation is at 10 or 20 percent — they’ll soon lose all their money. To compensate for the loss, interest rates will have to go up. Very fast and very high.
[…]
If all of this happens — interest rates rising and economic activity falling — businesses will sell fewer products or services but they’ll still have to pay for their interest costs (their fixed costs) out of the products or services they do manage to sell.
That will mean higher prices – much higher prices.
And higher prices will mean higher interest rates, which will mean even higher prices in turn. That’s how we get to depressflation.
With the federal government now having to borrow one-third of each dollar it spends, the need for more and more borrowing will drive interest rates ever higher. Obama’s policies have seen to that!
Already, smart investors see the tsunami of inflation on the horizon. They’re flocking to buy gold and copper as a hedge against rising prices. [pp. 50-51]
Morris: Obama “designed” U.S. economy to turn out like Weimar Germany. Morris wrote:
So if Washington can’t afford to pay the interests on its debts, can’t borrow from foreigners to pay for it, and doesn’t want to edge out private borrowing in the capital markets, how do we pay back the huge debt Obama has foisted on us?
There’s only one answer: huge, rampant, runaway inflation — not inflation because of an artificial psychosis that grips the economy, but inflation that’s deliberately caused by the government as an instrument of policy to get out of its debts.
That’s precisely the kind of inflation that gripped Weimar Germany in the 1920s. Unable to pay the reparations for World War I imposed by the Allies, the government inflated its currency to pay the debt with valueless marks.
Welcome to the future Obama has designed for our economy! [p. 91]
Fox News has repeatedly promoted book. Morris has been introduced as the author of 2010: Take Back America during at least 11 Fox News appearances since March 10. For example, on the April 14 edition of The O’Reilly Factor, O’Reilly introduced Morris as “the author of the big bestseller 2010: Take Back America, very hot read.”
Morris has repeatedly used Fox platform to shill for groups he is affiliated with
Morris repeatedly implored viewers to donate for ads. Morris frequentlyimplored people to “donate for ads” against Democrats and health care reform. In doing so, Morris directed viewers to his website, which contains contribution links for the League of American Voters (LAV); While Morris stated on the September 28, 2009, edition of Hannity that he has no “financial stake in these ads,” Morris is the chief strategist for the LAV and crafts the group’s ad campaigns. In just February and March, Morris solicited donations for ads on Fox at least 10 times.
Morris asked Fox viewers to “give funds to GOPTrust.com” without noting his apparent financial ties to the organization. Between October 27, 2008, and November 17, 2008, Morris mentioned GOPTrust.com during at least 13 Fox News appearances and asked viewers to “give funds to GOPTrust.com,” the website of the National Republican Trust PAC, without disclosing that the organization has paid $24,000 to a company apparently connected to Morris. Through publicly available records with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Media Matters found that GOPTrust.com paid Triangulation Strategies at least $24,000 from the beginning of October 2008 to November 24, 2008, mostly for “Email Communication.” The “Mailing Address” for Triangulation Strategies is listed in one of the National Republican Trust PAC’s FEC filings as “dickmorris.com.”
RNC On ‘Census’ Mailers: It’s Dems’ Fault For Writing An ‘Unclear’ Bill In a shocking display of chutzpah, the RNC — taking heat for sending out misleading fundraising mailers marked “Census,” even after the recent passage of a law aimed at banning such mailers — is blaming Democrats for writing what it calls unclear legislation.
Ex-Bush Official Pleads Guilty To Contempt In Geeks On Call Case Former Bush Administration Office of Special Counsel chief Scott Bloch today pleaded guilty to misdemeanor contempt of Congress for withholding information regarding his use of Geeks on Call to scrub computers while he was under investigation for retaliating against employees.
Greenwire: Chinese automaker BYD is hoping to start selling its all-electric minivan in America this year as the first Chinese-made car on the U.S. market. The five-seat e6 would reach the West Coast later this year.
Chinese automakers are working on a series of green vehicles, powered by everything from batteries to small wind turbines. At the Beijing auto show this week, Chinese firms are working hard to show they will not lag behind Western rivals in gas-free cars. The government introduced a series of tax breaks and subsidies in March to promote Chinese technology, but automakers are still waiting on details on how it would affect them.
If the e6 hits the market, BYD would be in the same league as General Motors Co., which is releasing the Chevrolet Volt, and Tesla Motors Inc., with its Roadster. Other Chinese producers have tried to export their cars, but none has met American emission standards, and analysts say the cars simply aren’t good enough to compete. The electric car would clear those standards easily.
Among the other firms hoping to capture the green market was Dongfeng, which displayed its I-Car, an all-electric hatchback with glowing hubcaps and touch-pad buttons. Geely debuted six alternative energy vehicles to be released on the market next year (Chi-Chi Zhang, AP/Houston Chronicle, April 26). – JP
Said Peter Brown: “Although anything can happen in politics, at this point the race appears to be his to lose. The obvious reason for Fisher opening up the race is that in the last weeks he has overwhelmed Ms. Brunner in television and radio advertising. Money may not buy happiness, but it sure can win elections. Of course, a third of likely voters say they remain undecided, but Ms. Brunner would have to win the vast, vast majority of them.”
“Dissatisfaction is widespread, crossing party lines, ideologies and virtually all groups of voters. Less than a quarter of independents and just three in 10 Republicans say they’re leaning toward backing an incumbent this fall. Even among Democrats, who control the House, the Senate and the White House, opinion is evenly divided on the question.”
However, those polled “also say they trust Obama over Republicans in Congress to deal with the economy, health care and, by a large margin, financial regulatory reform. And the president continues to get positive marks on his overall job performance, with, for the first time since the fall, a majority of independents approving.”
How the White House Wins by Losing Senior White House officials tell the Washington Post that they are pleasantly “surprised” that Senate Republicans are still blocking consideration of bank reform legislation.
“Ahead of the first vote on Monday evening, the assumption inside the White House was that Republicans would back down and allow the debate to begin, said one top Obama adviser, who asked for anonymity to discuss White House strategy. The fact that they didn’t plays ‘right into their narrative.’”
“He called it a ‘proof point’ for the American people as they try to assess which party wants to stick it to Wall Street and which party is trying to protect the banks and institutions from new and onerous regulations if the legislation passes.”
Crist Likely to Launch Independent Bid Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to announce Thursday “that he will run as an independent candidate for Florida’s open U.S. Senate seat,” the Miami Herald reports.
Multiple Republican sources tell the Washington Post that Crist “conducted a poll on Monday and Tuesday to test his viability as an independent and got numbers back that encouraged him that there was a path to victory running without any major party affiliation.”
North Korea has adopted a new war invasion strategy and shifted troop reserves accordingly, according to JoongAng Daily.
The new plan calls for the immediate occupation of part of Seoul, followed by negotiations for a cease-fire. It replaces plans for a Sherman’s March-type invasion.
While it could be mere posturing, the plan shows ruthless understanding of the peninsula balance of power. South Korea is too timid to retaliate when attacked. North Korea has a failed economy and wants to move from charity case to parasite.
Donald Kirk makes a similar argument at Asia Times:
South Korea is doing so well economically and living standards are so high that the idea of seeking anything other than rhetorical revenge for the sinking of the Cheonan with a loss of 46 lives on March 26 appears almost unthinkable. Certainly South Korea would get no support for such a venture from its American ally, bogged down in wars in the Middle East and attempting to force South Korean generals reluctantly to believe they should take full command of all forces in the South in the event of a second Korean war.
While South Korea’s economy grows at a pace ahead of that of the rest of the industrial world, South Korean military people worry over what they see as the North’s alarming new strategy. That is, to chip away at the South Koreans with attacks such as that on the hapless navy corvette in the West or Yellow Sea – and maybe bold quick hits on Seoul and Incheon.
There was more evidence of a takeover strategy over the weekend, as North Korea seized a joint-operated hotel near the border.
By Eduardo Barraza, Barriozona Magazine, Race-Talk contributor Phoenix, Arizona. April 27, 2010 – Some people from Arizona, or those who have lived here for quite a while, may be appalled but not surprised about the dramatic turn the volatile issue of immigration has taken in this state during the last […]
Bill Moyers, Giant of Television, Retires He’s been lauded as the Murrow of his generation. With his April 30 retirement from PBS, TV journalism will lose a unique and relentless explorer of American politics and culture.
He's been lauded as the Murrow of his generation. With his April 30 retirement from PBS, TV journalism will lose a unique and relentless explorer of American politics and culture.
After the VAIO P and VAIO W, it seems Sony isn’t quite done in the “ultra mobile” scene. Sony Japan’s got a teaser page on its site, complete with a worrying paperclip. Will it be pre-loaded with Microsoft Word? More »
The Legal Meme Of Our Era I’m going to repair to the “amen corner” on the quality of Jeff Shesol’s new book. He captures the political climate of the late 1930s brilliantly and by revising conventional wisdom about “the court-packing scheme” (a lazy shorthand that…
Is Sen. Ben Nelson Looking For A New ?Cornhusker Kickback? In Wall Street Reform? Yesterday afternoon, as expected, Senate Republicans voted en masse to block debate on Sen. Chris Dodd’s (D-CT) bill to regulate Wall Street. Surprisingly, however, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) also voted no. Nelson had been “quiet” about the bill in recent weeks, but his “decision to vote no will give Republicans ammunition to charge […]
Yesterday afternoon, as expected, Senate Republicans voted en masse to block debate on Sen. Chris Dodd’s (D-CT) bill to regulate Wall Street. Surprisingly, however, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) also voted no. Nelson had been “quiet” about the bill in recent weeks, but his “decision to vote no will give Republicans ammunition to charge that opposition to the bill as it now stands is bipartisan.”
So why did Nelson help block the measure while 65 percent of Americans support Wall Street reform? Speculationimmediatelyturned to Nelson’s relationship with one of his most important constituents, billionaire investor Warren Buffet and his Nebraska-based company Berkshire Hathaway. Just hours before the vote, Senate Democrats killed a provision “sought by Berkshire and pushed by” Nelson that would have potentially saved the investment firm $8 billion, the Wall Street Journal reports:
Senate Democrats agreed Monday to kill a provision from their derivatives bill pushed by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a change one analyst predicted could force the Nebraska company to set aside up to $8 billion.
The Senate Agriculture Committee inserted language into its derivatives bill last week at the request of Sen. Ben Nelson (D., Neb.) that would have exempted any existing derivatives contracts from new collateral requirements—the money set aside to cover potential losses.
Berkshire has $63 billion in derivatives contracts, and Mr. Buffett has boasted he holds very little collateral against these products. […]
The provision would have helped all companies with existing contracts. Capitol Hill aides said, however, that Berkshire pushed forcefully for the change because of its large book of derivatives.
The White House and Treasury Department had strongly opposed the change sought by Berkshire, “on the grounds that it would weaken the government’s ability to regulate the enormous market for derivatives.”
Berkshire officials “have long supported” Nelson, giving him more money over his political career than those of any other company. A Nelson spokesperson admitted before the vote that Berkshire had lobbied Nelson, but said the senator had always believed the new rules should not apply retroactively. After the vote, Nelson said his opposition was due to concern about how the bill would affect small businesses, such as dentists and auto dealers, saying, “I want to make sure this deals with Wall Street and not Main Street.” An aide said “Berkshire Hathaway was not was a factor.”
But Dodd said the removal of the Buffett carve-out was likely responsible for Nelon’s opposition:
Asked about Nelson’s vote, Dodd said he couldn’t accommodate the Nebraskan’s push to exempt some companies from having to back up their derivative investments with additional collateral. […]
Dodd, who was seen conversing with Nelson and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) before the vote, said the conversation revolved around the derivatives exemption.
“Dentists and auto dealers didn’t come up,” he said when asked.
A Senate aide agreed, “definitively” saying that Nelson switched his voted after Democrats dropped the Buffett carve-out. “He was on board until today and the only thing that changed was the removal of that provision,” the aide said.
“Has Nelson forgotten how the Cornhusker Kickback saga played out? That it became a huge embarrassment for him personally, for his party, and for his state?” Matt Yglesias asks. “It’s groundhog day here,” Dodd said laughing.
Wall Street giants are ?giving most of their campaign donations? to the GOP. Throughout the past year, Republicans in Congress and top Wall Street banks have been working together in a symbiotic relationship in which the GOP works to water-down financial regulatory reform in exchange for campaign cash. The Wall Street Journal reports that the pact seems to be paying off, at least for the GOP: For the […]
Throughout the past year, Republicans in Congress and top Wall Street banks have been working together in a symbiotic relationship in which the GOP works to water-down financial regulatory reform in exchange for campaign cash. The Wall Street Journal reports that the pact seems to be paying off, at least for the GOP:
For the first time since 2004, the biggest Wall Street firms are now giving most of their campaign donations to Republicans.
A Wall Street Journal analysis of 12 large financial services companies, including J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. shows that they have collectively made $1.4 million in political donations, with 52% going to Republicans so far this year. That’s a reversal from last year, according to the most recent round of fund-raising reports covering January, February and March. […]
The change of allegiance comes as Congress closes in on legislation that would overhaul financial services regulations. Democrats back an aggressive bill that has been so far blocked in the Senate by Republicans.
Since 1989, Goldman has never given more to the GOP than it has to Democrats, but this year, the company has given 52 percent of its PAC money to Republicans. Moreover, Wall Street firms “have also begun writing large checks to the Republican Party, while stiffing the Democratic Party,” the Journal writes, noting that “Goldman, KPMG, and FMR Corp. (the owner of Fidelity Investments) each gave $15,000 to the Republican Party in March.”
Garmin-Asus today announced their second Android-powered phone, the A10 (for reasons unknown, they’re seemingly not calling it a nuvifone).
Just like the nuvifone A50, the device aims to be a pedestrian navigation device (as in, for pedestrians, not a boring navigation device), and will come with Garmin’s navigation software and maps pre-loaded.
The benefit of pre-loaded maps is that no matter where you are (reception be damned) you’ll be able to use the navigation features (unlike Google Maps).
The disadvantage here is the you’ll have to manually update the maps every-so-often so that the maps are current (unlike Google Maps). Sadly, there is no word on the process/price for updating the maps.
The screen has the same HVGA (320×240) resolution as the A50, and, just like the A50, it will support Microsoft Exchange (whether this means it’s running Android 2.1, with native Exchange support, or — like the A50 — Android 1.6 with Exchange on top, isn’t clear from the press-release).
The phone includes a 5 megapixel camera, which is pretty standard fare for current Android devices, but still an improvement upon the A50’s 3 megapixels.
In fact, aside from the camera spec bump, I don’t really see much of a difference between the this A10 fellow and it’s elder sibling, the A50.
Unfortunately, no price details were mentioned, but the device is set for launch in Europe and Asia-pacific some time around the middle of 2010, and will include a car mount kit — just like the A50. *A50* *A50* (…those were meant to be echoes…)
Beatshapers’ NormalTanks made some waves in this year’s Independent Game Festival. If that has you interested, it’s coming to the PlayStation Store this week as a mini.
Ukraine’s extension of Russian base’s lease may challenge U.S. goals in region MOSCOW — Ukraine’s decision to host a Russian naval base for 25 more years in exchange for cheaper gas, a deal ratified Tuesday despite egg-throwing and a brawl over it in the Ukrainian parliament, does little to alter the immediate military balance in the Black Sea but presents other challenges…
Republican senators again block vote on financial regulation Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked for the second straight day efforts to begin debate on a sweeping overhaul of financial regulations, saying the bill represents an overreach of government power that could harm small businesses.
Reid amends his pledge for fast action on immigration Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid backed off Tuesday from his pledge to fast-track an overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws, after fellow Democrats voiced skepticism and a key Republican supporter abandoned the effort.
House approves measure blocking congressional pay raise The House of Representatives passed a bill Tuesday would block lawmakers from getting their scheduled $1,600 raise for next year, a symbolic measure designed to show Congress understands the angst of voters suffering from the recession.
Greenwire: U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar adopted a conciliatory tone yesterday in a meeting with Utahns, saying he is open to compromise and that he is a Colorado rancher who understands residents’ desires to balance resource protection with their economy and cultural heritage.
In a meeting with Republican Gov. Gary Herbert’s Balanced Resource Council at the state Capitol, Salazar said he is eager to hammer out compromises with the state on roads, national monuments, endangered species and other contentious issues.
“We can agree on so many issues,” Salazar said after the meeting, which brought about 120 people to the table.
The meeting, which is part of what Salazar has called a national listening tour to help advise President Obama on citizens’ ideas for conservation plans, garnered praise from state officials, who applauded Salazar’s approach to the issues.
But one attorney for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance said that Utah is far from progressive when it comes to wilderness designation and other land-use issues. Steve Bloch said his group plans to push for forceful action from Salazar even if it is in conflict with Utah.
Issues for Utah include a decades-old fight over county control of historical roads across federal lands, and a new state law that authorizes the use of eminent domain to take federal lands for access to state lands with coal and other development potential. Salazar said the law’s constitutionality will likely be resolved in court but that if the legislation was an effort to alert him to the need for greater communication about access, then the “message is received.”
In the meeting Salazar also reiterated a pledge to not attempt to designate new national monuments without participation from state and local officials, an issue of concern since a leaked memo surfaced in February that listed San Juan County’s Cedar Mesa and Emery County’s San Rafael Swell as potential monument sites (Brandon Loomis, Salt Lake Tribune, April 26). – DFM
Greece remains the center of attention this morning, with the country’s sovereign CDS indicating increasing uncertainty over the EU-IMF bailout and its long term position as a euro zone member. Greece’s CDS is now the most expensive in the world, at 945 bps.
The Greek crisis is having an impact across the European Union, with Portugal and Poland both showing signs of CDS stress this morning. The euro is also under pressure, approaching the $1.30 EUR/USD value.
The IMF is considering increasing its portion or the size of the bailout for Greece as euro zone members, like Germany, continue to have doubts over the bailout. The president of the European Council tried to reassure markets that the bailout would occur, but said it was likely to be delayed until next month.
Concerns are rising that Britain may too experience a similar situation to Greece, this according to the Liberal Democrats’ finance spokesman. With the election 8 days away, the country’s third party Liberal Democrats continue to gain on the Conservatives and Labour, increasing the likelihood of a hung parliament.
Thai protests in the capital of Bangkok have turned violent today, with reported deaths and injuries. A soldier was killed in a friendly fire incident, as riot police and troops began to fire on the protesters.
Shell has seen its profits grow by 60% in Q1 2010 as a result of higher oil prices. The firm beat estimates for a 30% profit growth.
Honda has returned to profit because of strong growth in the Asian markets of Japan and China, as well as cost cutting measures. The company is expecting an 8.9% growth in sales for 2010.
The oil slick still growing in the Gulf of Mexico is forcing officials into action as they try to prevent the spill from reaching shore. Setting the slick on fire, to burn off the fuel, is now being considered.
The SEC is now investigating hedge funds for a potential illegal use of a strategy known as “side pockets” where managers could prevent clients from removing funds during times of stress, like the 2008 financial crisis. This is one of the first moves by the SEC’s new division focused on the asset management community.
Progress of the financial reform bill through the Senate has stalled as Democratic Sen. Nelson of Nebraska has remained loyal to a key constituent, Warren Buffett, and voted against the progress of the bill. The bill still needs two further votes besides Sen. Nelson to progress.
Bonus: Courtney Love has suggested this morning that Bush lead singer Gavin Rossdale cheated on his wife Gwen Stefani, with her.
Microsoft has 
![Click here to read Sony Promises A New "Ultra Mobile" VAIO](http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/4/2010/04/160x120_sony_umpc-620x197.jpg "Click here to read Sony Promises A New "Ultra Mobile" VAIO")
Yesterday afternoon, 
Throughout the past year, Republicans in Congress and top Wall Street banks have been working together in a symbiotic relationship in which the GOP works to water-down financial regulatory reform in exchange for 
Garmin-Asus today announced their second Android-powered phone, the A10 (for reasons unknown, they’re seemingly not calling it a nuvifone).
