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HomeI’ve Got a Bridge To Sell You
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 13th, 2011 6:00 PM |
Have you ever been in a situation in which you needed to quickly identify a vehicle?
I recall getting hit from behind by a speeding vehicle in Bridgeport as we exited from a minor league baseball game. I focused so quickly on the license plate of the car as it screamed through a red light to get away. My adrenaline rushed like a river.
Can you imagine being in a similar situation and telling one of ‘our finest’, well I did not fully get the plate but I know the guy must have liked Rick’s Plumbing or Speedy’s Car Wash? What am I talking about? Why do I raise this topic? Well, with so many states in our nation strapped for cash do not be surprised if you see states selling ads on license plates. Really? Yes sir. Check this out… (more…)
BofA Shareholders, ‘How Long Can You Tread Water?’
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 13th, 2011 9:03 AM |
What did the Lord say to Noah?
The same thing that Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan might now be saying to his shareholders. That is, ‘how long can you tread water?’
Bank of America’s stock is down approximately 25% on the year and close to 35% over the last twelve months. While it has doubled from the Armageddon lows seen in 2008, the stock has fully retraced any moves higher since early 2009. (The graph of Bank of America below is sourced from Market Watch and covers the last three years).
What gives? Will Bank of America need to raise more capital? Will it need another lifeline from Uncle Sam?
Instead of Reviewing Sarah Palin’s E-Mail, The Media Should Investigate…
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 11th, 2011 7:12 AM |
I love America.
I love when our nation rises to the occasion to help each other during times of national crisis. I love when people who would prefer to remain anonymous perform real acts of heroism. I am truly grateful to be a citizen of this great land and to have the freedom to pursue fabulous opportunities and to speak my mind while doing so.
While I love our great land, I cringe when I witness those whom I believe are more concerned with pursuing self-promotion than real national interest. I put Donald Trump in this camp.
I cringe when I witness those in public office or the public arena whom I believe lack the decency and integrity to be upstanding model representatives for our children. I put Anthony Weiner, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and David Vitter amongst many more in this camp. (more…)
Joe Grano Takes On Wall Street and Washington
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 10th, 2011 9:36 AM |
There are few people in our nation today who are willing to stand up and call out both Wall Street and Washington. There are even fewer who have worked within these bastions of power and will subsequently make the hard calls while providing real ‘sense on cents’ in the process.
Yesterday I observed just such an individual. Who was it?
I had heard of Joe but never had the good fortune of listening to him speak. I will now look for him often. During an interview yesterday on Bloomberg, Joe was respectful but not bashful in taking on both Wall Street and Washington. How so? (more…)
Sheila Bair’s Final ‘Sense on Cents’
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 9th, 2011 1:37 PM |
In one corner, we have Jamie Dimon who on behalf of his shareholders would seemingly like to maintain as much of the status quo for the powers that remain in the Wall Street oligopoly.
In another corner, we have Barack Obama grasping at straws that might breathe some lifeblood into the economy and support his prospects for reelection.
Who occupies the center of the ring and is neither compromised by the large money interests on Wall Street nor the pursuit of perpetuating a political career in Washington?
Sheila Bair.
The soon-to-retire head of the FDIC–she steps down in early July–provided perhaps her final dose of ‘sense on cents’ this morning. What did she have to say? (more…)
Can’t Shake That ‘Walking Pneumonia’ Economy
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 9th, 2011 7:49 AM |
Have you ever had walking pneumonia? Not a lot of fun, right?
You might be able to operate but your inability to fully inhale is a real drag. I had a bout of walking pneumonia a few years back but was fortunate to get over it in about a month. If only our ‘walking pneumonia’ economy were just that lucky.
I first described our domestic economy as sufferring from this malady in early 2010 when I wrote U.S. Economy = “Walking Pneumonia”.
Going on 15 months later we continue to languish from a variety of factors that inhibit the flow of economic oxygen critical to a real recovery. While many ‘quacks’ would like to have us believe differently, let’s navigate and listen to those who write the checks which drive the oxygen into our system and propel our economic vitality. How so? (more…)
New Banking Rules Have Not Hurt Jamie Dimon
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 8th, 2011 12:20 PM |
When do you know that somebody is tone deaf?
Those with any measure of ‘sense on cents’ know when an individual is tone deaf. How so?
When said individual racks up compensation in the multiple tens of millions of dollars from an industry that was bailed out by taxpayer funds and then complains about changes in regulatory oversight, you know that individual is tone deaf.
To whom do I refer? Welcome to the world of JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon. (more…)
How Will Your Company Handle Obamacare?
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 8th, 2011 5:57 AM |
What issue in our nation generates the strongest personal reaction?
1. Economy
2. Education
3. Deficit
4. Healthcare
5. Employment
While my poll is entirely unscientific and my answer is my own opinion, I STRONGLY believe that the topic of healthcare generates the strongest reaction of any issue facing our nation. Why? It’s personal nature, that is, “if you do not have your health, then what else really matters”? (more…)
A Chance to Expose the Wall Street-Washington Incest
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 7th, 2011 6:55 AM |
Truth, transparency, and integrity.
The compromising of these virtues may be the cost of doing business in our nation but make no mistake the price we collectively pay is enormous. Whether in Washington or on Wall Street, the ability to compromise our prized virtues has truly been raised to an art form.
From derivative transactions which disguise unprecedented levels of risk to bond indentures which require advanced legal degrees to interpret, our ‘friends’ on Wall Street with assistance from ‘their’ friends in Washington have displayed little regard for the aforementioned virtues which are the foundation for real ‘sense on cents’.
More often than not,though,the violation of our virtues is viewed in an impersonal light. Wall Street and Washington are behemoths. The American public and investors at large are faceless. In my opinion, our financial services industry and government would just as soon keep it this way.
Let’s challenge them. (more…)
The Unknown Costs of Saving the Auto Industry
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 6th, 2011 7:41 AM |
This past Friday’s unemployment report was beyond disappointing. With non-farm payrolls increasing by a token 54,000 and the prior month’s report indicating a downward revision of 12,000 our ‘walking pneumonia’ economy continues to languish under the weight of excessive debts and grave uncertainties. What is an administration to do when faced with such a challenge? Spin, baby, spin.
Where do I witness this spin cycle working in overdrive? The Obama administration’s touting of success in saving our automotive industry. There is little doubt that the Obama team will be ‘driving’ this ‘saving’ of the automotive industry hard as part of his 2012 reelection platform. (more…)
