Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2009 > January > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTime to get to work, President Obama
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Lest anyone underestimate the seriousness of the situation, bad financial news from major banks overwhelmed whatever optimism might have been generated by inauguration of a new president Tuesday.
Markets fell around the world by 2 percent or more, and Wall Street had its single worst Inauguration Day in history. In London, Lloyds Banking stock fell by 31 percent, and the pound fell by 5 percent against the yen.
Here at home, Bank of America, once considered the strong among the weak, fell by 29 percent. Regions Financial fell by 24 percent. State Street, also considered relatively strong until now, fell more than 50 percent.
“Problems with overseas banks contributed to weakness in U.S. stocks, said Alan Valdes, a floor trader with Hilliard Lyons. “It’s an aberration — I think we’re going to get an Obama honeymoon rally,” he said.
Traders see few banks that can survive without more government intervention. After performing as one of the best large banking stocks in 2008, Wells Fargo declined 24%. …
“At this time, a retest of the November lows appears inevitable,” said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer’s Investment Research. “We had the false breakout on the S&P 500 above 920 two weeks ago, and since then the bears have been in complete control. Couple that with the fear that no bank is safe, no matter how much money the government throws at them, and we are once again in a ‘sell first, ask questions later’ environment,” Mr. Detrick said.
Comments
By AJC/DNC Management
January 21, 2009 8:02 AM | Link to this
So how you like all your new US attorneys, Mr. president?
Remember, you can’t fire them.
Gitmo empty yet?
Where’s bin Laden at?
Huh?
huh?
By Goldie
January 21, 2009 8:03 AM | Link to this
And this morning I’m wondering what happened to the AJC front page editor last night and why he/she decided to print a photo of Dubya on the top of the page? Have you guys lost your marbles, or did you just allow Jim Wooten to choose the headline and photo for this morning’s paper???
By Tom
January 21, 2009 8:06 AM | Link to this
Shades of 911 with Bush at the school. Obama looked like a deer caught in the head lights of an on comming 18 wheeler at the start of the oath of office. The justice should have said “HELLO”. They NEVER let Bush forget that flub up.
By NightTrain
January 21, 2009 8:09 AM | Link to this
Looking at the pictures from around the world that show the reactions to the new President and Commander In Chief, I find the 12th photo in this series says a lot about what our most important citizens think of their new CIC!
I sure don’t see any celebrating going on, or smiles of joy and happiness, only the look of grim realization that they got the short end of the draw with this new CIC.
By Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
January 21, 2009 8:13 AM | Link to this
Jay - what a great and inspiring day for our great Nation. I pray for POTUS’ success and hope he lives up to the hype.
That said, howzabout you poke your head around the corner and axes Sindy Tucker how that “grand benediction” by Rev. Lowry worked out. Granted, around here most folks know that he and JEC are sort of like retarded aunt Mildred in that they toil quietly in the background most of the time and, even though we all just smile an uneasy, cringing smile whenever these loons open the old pie holes, we have to accept and love ‘em cause they are family. It should be noted that responsible people of good will around the country do no necessarily feel that way.
Can one imagine in four years, the uproar if the benediction at President Palin’s inauguration goes something like, “…work for that day when black will move all the way to the back, when brown will stand down, when yellow will be become a quiet and subservient fellow, when the cause of the red man will be put to bed , man, and when white will take that which is their G-d given right?”
Do you and Sindy plan to public chastize Rev Lowry for his divisive and uinsulting rhetoric?
By AJC/DNC Management
January 21, 2009 8:19 AM | Link to this
Pardon me, I forgot to read the column-
{{{{bad financial news from major banks overwhelmed whatever optimism might have been generated by inauguration of a new president Tuesday.}}}}
Deflecting blame on day one 1, who’d would have guessed?
It seems to me that the ushering in of hopeandchange didn’t bring much hope to the capitalists, especially with yesterday.s revelation that whitey needs to tighten up and get with the program, whatever the program is, details to follow.
(Lowery couldn’t have made a bigger as-s of himself.)
By you jerk
January 21, 2009 8:26 AM | Link to this
*AJC/DNC Management * the world loves your brilliant and insightful negativity. don’t have something better to do than waiting for the AJC’s next op-ed column. maybe you could go play in the street or read anne colters new book. i’m sure she has some insiring things to say - maybe calling PTSD vets ‘whiners’ or ‘harpies’ will insipre them to get off their butts, the lazy welfare moochers!
By Andy the Welcher
January 21, 2009 8:32 AM | Link to this
Just don’t bet with him because: Andy’s a Welcher
By Earl
January 21, 2009 8:35 AM | Link to this
Loved, loved, loved the poem by Lowery, does anyone know the name of the poem? I googled Ode to the Ghetto which was my first guess but my search came up empty. I am from the projects and I still don’t know what that poem was all about. Here we were electing a black man to the highest office in America and whites still get a slap in the face. Sweet. I suppose class and good breeding escapes some, mainly Lowery. I was about as impressed as the stock market was with the whole overblown show. It is good to see that some folk who have lived off the government for most of their lives can now finally be proud of the hand that fed them for decades. Thats makes me feel so warm. It’s time to see what this administration is all about now; promises are nothing now, it’s all about action and I want to see some. Now, I want to go and find that wonderful poem so I can put it on a tee shirt. Can you imagine what would have happened had Bush had some old racist like Lowery get up and recite the crap that old fool said. You have to be an idiot to be impressed by those words. Totally and utterly void of class and good breeding, totally.
By Barry
January 21, 2009 8:38 AM | Link to this
jerk et al.: Just ignore Andy — he’s still bitter Ronnie isn’t up on Rushmore yet. We all know he contributes nothing beyond what he so skillfully copies and pastes here, and like the crazy uncle in the corner, he is a constant source of amusement. The First Amendment lives! I can hardly wait for his witty retort.
By NightTrain
January 21, 2009 8:44 AM | Link to this
I guess we see the kind of ‘bump’ the new POTUS gave the stock markets yesterday. Same kind of ‘bump’ he gave it when the media gave him the election in November.
A few more ‘bumps’ like this and the loony left will be wishing for a Bush type economy.
By the finger
January 21, 2009 8:44 AM | Link to this
someone please take AJC/DNC Management’s (aka andy the geezer-douchebag)computer. the world is tired of his worthless non-comments. either add something worthwhile to the dialogue or find another place to annoy people.
By Redneck Convert
January 21, 2009 8:45 AM | Link to this
Well, this Obama been in office almost a whole day and he still ain’t fixed the banks. It just goes to show when us Republicans axidently screw up it will take more than one man to fix it. Besides, like Sister Dusty always says, it’s all Clinton’s fault. If he had of left that intern alone God wouldn’t be punishing us this way.
I see this Kennedy is doing alright in the hospitle. I guess he probly don’t recall none of it, just like he don’t recall this woman that he drowned. I still can’t figure out if this Byrd also passed out at that lunch like they first said or if it was all a mistake. The old boy started out his career alright, joining the klan and all, but he went bad wrong someplace along the line and went and become a librul Democrat. Dead is the best place for a librul Democrat.
Have a good day everybody and if a old guy with a big shock of white hair and a big belly stops and offers you a ride, tell him you want to walk for your health. And it will be the truth.
By Mrs. Godzilla
January 21, 2009 8:53 AM | Link to this
la la la la
yes we did.
By NightTrain
January 21, 2009 8:54 AM | Link to this
I guess we see the kind of ‘bump’ the new POTUS gave the stock markets yesterday. Same kind of ‘bump’ he gave it when the media gave him the election in November.
A few more ‘bumps’ like this and the loony left will be wishing for a Bush type economy.
By Dr. R
January 21, 2009 8:57 AM | Link to this
Happy faces by the millions who love their country more than ever before. How can that be a bad thing?
By Taxpayer
January 21, 2009 8:58 AM | Link to this
Good morning, all. Isn’t today just grand. A new administration in charge. What’s his name and his cronies are gone. The party of the ever-dwindling, ever-dwindling and whining all the while. Music to my ears. Keep up the good work. The mere thought of you Republican party faithful in misery every day as you contemplate your failures and plans for more failures is so uplifting. Let’s be honest. I know that everyone is not going to just get along so why pretend otherwise. So, there will be those that work together and then there will be the rest. Now, it’s time to start cleaning up the foul mess that the previous administration left behind and clearing the way for a decent future for we the people. President Obama sure has his hands full.
By Bosch
January 21, 2009 8:58 AM | Link to this
Good morning Mrs. G. and all!
I feel quite content today. Nothing to vent about. Wow, what a great feeling.
By Shorter Wingnuts
January 21, 2009 9:00 AM | Link to this
I pray for President Obama and pledge my full support as a patriotic American, but you liberals all suck and so does everyone who has supported Obama in the past.
By Mrs. Godzilla
January 21, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this
Mornin’ Bosch.
Yes it is good.
There is a huge mess to clean up, but I am not afraid.
I’m fired up and not just ready to go - already going!
By Bosch
January 21, 2009 9:13 AM | Link to this
Mrs. G.,
Well, I’m sitting back eating a fried egg sandwich, I’m gonna enjoy my contentment for a moment.
I’ll bet the Obamas are tired this morning - out til 2:30 I heard on the news this morning. I told you they should have scheduled a nap yesterday.
I liked Luckovich’s cartoon - Obama’s inbox is surely deep - but can be handled.
By Paul
January 21, 2009 9:19 AM | Link to this
Jay
I read where one of the heads of a major bank said no, they hadn’t increased their loans. And they may not with the second phase, either, as they wouldn’t want a repeat of bad loans. Well, maybe the Congress has learned and the new administration will be proactive and we’ll have some conditions on this second go around.
NightTrain 8:09
[[I sure don’t see any celebrating going on, or smiles of joy and happiness, only the look of grim realization that they got the short end of the draw with this new CIC.]]
If you look at Pres Obama, it appears this was taken during the invocation. I believe what the soldiers were expressing is called ‘reverence.’
Bosch
Mrs. G is asking for aspirin, I’m asking her to type more quietly and you’re content….
I want what you were drinking. Are new times upon us? Evidently. I was struck several times during the speech, how if the same phrases would have been spoken by Pres Bush there would have been hoots and incredulity. For example, his challenge to Islamic terrorists, culminating with “we will defeat you.” Response to Bush would have been (would have? Has been!) “Oh yeah, how? Huh? How do you defeat an ideology, Mr President? Huh? Why do you have to sound all militaristic and challenging and provocative?”
It’s rather like what we witnessed in school or at work. Mr. GeekGuy or Mrs. Frump makes a suggestion and it gets ignored. Mr. Popularity or Ms UpandComing says the same thing and everyone oohs and aahs.
Personally, I’m pleased he said what he said. And I’m glad the Left applauded. That’s change I can believe in!
By Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
January 21, 2009 9:24 AM | Link to this
And now, so it is, that the chickens of past Democratic folly have come home to roost in the house of Obama.
How does one hold a serious dialogue when the backbeat is played from then vacuous tom-toms called Rangel, Reid, and Frank?
How does one fix the mortgage mess that Dodd, Frank, et all facilitated?
How does one right the jettison the ineffective and burdensome Democrat sponsored overregulation that is sinking the ship of our major banking companies?
How does one right the death spiral of the auto companies, other unionized industries, and communities in the union belt without off putting the Democrat party’s largest financial backer, organized labor?
How does one shore up a deficit driven by Democrat excessive largesse in all form and types of entitlement programs that stretch for the most remote of our farming regions to the very rotten core of our inner city ghettos?
How does POTUS fix all of the problems when the most obvious solutions are diametrically opposed to the very platform on which he campaigned.
Were politcal life but a football game, I suppose he could just hand the ball to Michelle and let her huge legs bust through the line.
By Midori
January 21, 2009 9:24 AM | Link to this
Yes we can!!
yes we did!!
It’s not too late to come aboard, wingnuts.
By Bosch
January 21, 2009 9:39 AM | Link to this
Paul,
Ugh, now my fried egg sandwich is gone and you’ve ruined my contentment. The notion that the “left” does not want to defend ourselves against al-Qaeda is one of those stereotypes like we want a new Marxist society where we all dance around with daisies in our hair and hold hands and love everyone and watch the unicorns dance by as we drop acid while holding our hands our for our government handouts and watch as our little children run around naked because it’s the way the Supreme Being of the Universe intended everything to be.
Now, I can’t speak for all lefties, but I don’t want to be blown up by a bomb in a terrorist attack anymore than you do.
We just want our military used smart. See? There’s a big difference.
By Ray
January 21, 2009 9:39 AM | Link to this
So, now the work begins. It is time to quit harping about the” cretin” that has just left the White House. Your whipping boy is gone. So is his VP. He is safely in Midland now, never to grace the doors of power again. We now have a resurrected version of all that is good, don’t we? The little cherubs that spread rose petals in his path, however, will not be needed for very long. It will not take long to discover that this South Chicago hack is just a mere mortal, just like the rest of us. All of you who expect their house and car payments will be paid for them are in for a big surprise. If you never believed how a group of people can be misled, just look around. Paraphrasing……. we will fix the schools, we will build new bridges and highways, we will harness biologic discoveries that will change the status of health care, we will stop global warming, we will, we will, we will…… And surprisingly, a lot of very misinformed people believe this political rhetoric. If he does only a tenth of the things that he says he will do, he will be the greatest president in the history of our country. But again, mere mortals are bound by the concept of reality and nothing more. I do, however, wish him all of the best…… he just needs to come down off that pedestal and stop breathing that rarefied air.
By jasper
January 21, 2009 9:39 AM | Link to this
I hope he works fast, but not half fast.
By Mrs. Godzilla
January 21, 2009 9:40 AM | Link to this
Paul
Not a drinking headache, a 4 hours of sleep headache.
Us older 200 ton acrimonious libs need our beauty sleep more than most.
By Davo
January 21, 2009 9:41 AM | Link to this
I’m not a particularly religous man. I did however bow my head and thanked God when W waved goodbye. Of all the threats to our nation over the last eight years, he was the biggest.
By Bosch
January 21, 2009 9:45 AM | Link to this
Mrs. G.,
B vitamins, a brisk walk, and some ibuprofren.
If it were a drinking headache, you’d need to add a gallon of iced tea and a cheeseburger and fries to that formula.
And take a nap! Naps just aren’t for kids, ya’ know.
By RealityKing
January 21, 2009 9:49 AM | Link to this
Time to get to work?? Funny that, calling pork filled liberal spending work..
Obama’s debt, America’s downfall, in the making
By Paul
January 21, 2009 9:53 AM | Link to this
Mrs. Godzilla
Actually, I’m doing pretty well, thank you. Did a toast to our new Pres, a toast to our outgoing, a toast to the bloggers, a toast to…. hmmm, I kinda forget…..
I did hear Pres Obama tell an interviewer at one of the parties that there would be major announcements on domestic and foreign issues today. He’s meeting this morning with the SecDef, Centcom, Joint Chiefs - he had an early intro to Oval Office coffee!
BTW - here’s an interesting story on what this election means to one man:
Link: Butler well served by this election
Talk about witnessing change from the inside!
By GayGrayGeek
January 21, 2009 9:54 AM | Link to this
Someone get the cucumbers. There’s enough capital-b Bitterness from the Wingnuts today that we could make several hundred barrels of pickles…
By Goldie
January 21, 2009 9:59 AM | Link to this
Davo @ 9:41 — amen. The 8-year nightmare is over and now we have to clean up the biggest mess since the great Depression. Maybe historians will call the first decade of this century “the Greatest Depression”?
By RealityKing
January 21, 2009 10:01 AM | Link to this
Yesterday inspired the worse inaugural day drop in the DOW since 1933. Both in percentage -4.1 and in points -338. Congradulations on your first, err.., second historical moment Obama.
By Mrs. Godzilla
January 21, 2009 10:03 AM | Link to this
Bosch
Love a nap, but won’t happen today.
Now that the nation is safely in President Obama’s hands, Mr.G and I are slipping out of the country in the morning to a tropical climate for a few days.
Work to do, ironing and packing….need a fabulous pedicure and a good book too. Suggestions Anyone? Nothing political and nothing all blood and guts.
By Bosch
January 21, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this
Mrs. G.,
If you’re going to the beach, all ya’ need is a swimsuit a couple pair of shorts and four t-shirts, Birkenstocks, a book, and a bottle of tequila (and a couple of limes).
Where’s the ironing in that?
By Bosch
January 21, 2009 10:10 AM | Link to this
Mrs. G.,
Oh, and sunscreen. Don’t forget that.
By RealityKing
January 21, 2009 10:13 AM | Link to this
I’ve been reading up on American history Mrs. Gozilla.., inarticulacy the 1930 and 40’s sections. Of course, seeing as to how you’re flying off to the tropics in our progressively defined “worse economic condition since 1930”.., perhaps Cosmopolitan Magazines are in order.
By ByteMe
January 21, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this
Jay, your assessment of BofA is wrong. When it swallowed Countrywide, it made a bad error. They had to go to the government money tree twice so far and it’s likely they’ll have to go back again. If the money tree stops dropping money, BofA drops like a dead horse. It’s not strong at all, just marking time hoping things don’t get worse and that their trendlines change before all the stock equity is gone.
Which is sad, but they just got too greedy.
And, yes, I’ve been waiting for a re-test of the lows before jumping back into the market. The end of year/beginning of year buying was expected by any serious market watcher, just like the pull-back now is completely expected.
By Mrs. Godzilla
January 21, 2009 10:26 AM | Link to this
Bosch,
Some airy cotton skirts for moonlight dinners and walks on the beach….and for this place I think I’ll put a crease in my khaki’s. Mr. G deserves to have 200 tons of middle aged cute on his arm.
Reality King
Cosmo? Ick.
By getalife
January 21, 2009 10:28 AM | Link to this
President Obama said to grow up and get to work. MTV has taken this call and the O generation is volunteering to help others.
Funny what real leadership can accomplish. The President started geeting down to business in his speech yesterday.
Color me impresssed.
By RealityKing
January 21, 2009 10:37 AM | Link to this
Some never stopped helping others. Funny how much more self motivation accomplishes..
By mm
January 21, 2009 10:38 AM | Link to this
You wingnuts better pace yourselves. There’s 1460 more days of Obama. Make that 2920 after he crushes Sarah Palin in the next election.
By GaLiberal
January 21, 2009 10:39 AM | Link to this
NO MORE BUSH! NO MORE CHENEY! NO MORE TORTURE! NO MORE LIES! NO MORE RELIGONAZIS! NO MORE TAX CUTS FOR THE UBERRICH! Too bad that reporter missed with his shoes. That’s the only way Bush and the Rethuglicons will ever pay for their crimes against humanity. Of course, the Rethuglicons will obstruct and imped the will of the majority. One Rethuglicon senator is blocking the Sec. of State approval over Bill Clinton’s charity fund. Conflict of interest. Like that bothered the Rethuglicons in the past. Filibusters all around for the Rethuglicons. We should look at the nuclear option, too. Just like the Rethuglicons did when they were in control. Real leadership has taken control and will fix what the Rethuglicons have almost destroyed. A new day has arrived and it is beautiful.
By AJC/DNC Management
January 21, 2009 10:41 AM | Link to this
Oh, I get it, this is not a personal attack:
{{{{By the ——>finger<—— January 21, 2009 8:44 AM someone please take AJC/DNC Management’s (aka andy the geezer———>douchebag<———)computer. the world is tired of his worthless non-comments. either add something worthwhile to the dialogue or find another place to annoy people.}}}}
but my gfy response to it was and got pulled.
By Davo
January 21, 2009 10:42 AM | Link to this
Anyone know where Sarah Palin was yesterday? I googled but could find nothing.
By Barry
January 21, 2009 10:42 AM | Link to this
We ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!
By getalife
January 21, 2009 10:48 AM | Link to this
RK,
w said to go shopping.
Nuff said.
By Mrs. Godzilla
January 21, 2009 10:51 AM | Link to this
Coporal
You made the letters to the editor page:
Prayers for a new president
To President Barack Obama: You are now my president. I did not vote for you because I had hoped for a conservative as the first African-American president, an event which was overdue. However, as a Christian I am commanded to pray for those in positions of authority. My primary prayer will be for your personal safety in a very dangerous world.
I will also pray that your heart will be softened and changed regarding the plight of unborn children, that you will never appease evil and those who seek to destroy our republic and that you will have the wisdom to appoint Supreme Court justices who will interpret and not usurp our Constitution. May God bless you, Mr. President, and may God bless America.
Good work, John
By RealityKing
January 21, 2009 10:53 AM | Link to this
I’ve been riding the Dow waves for a couple of months now ByteMe…, they’re coming in progressive sets of injected self pity from the left. Just don’t get caught up in the ragging liberal rip current of self infatuation and tossed onto the rocks of financial ruin like most liberals seem to do.
By GMAN
January 21, 2009 11:13 AM | Link to this
The conservative lemonsuckers now must endure 8 years of intelligent decision making by an articulate Commander-in-chief. Oh, what a breath of fresh air the next 8 years will be!
Bush/McCain - Going, going, gone!
By TJ
January 21, 2009 11:38 AM | Link to this
Everything was fine until Joseph Lowery opened his mouth to blame white people for everything. With this inaugeration we have now made MLK’s dream a reality. Dr. Lowery…. you are behind the times.
By Midori
January 21, 2009 11:46 AM | Link to this
about that “flubbed” oath yesterday
By Shorter Wingnuts
January 21, 2009 12:04 PM | Link to this
Midori @ 11.46, your link’s broken. I posted a link to a refutation of the Drudge-induced lunacy from the right about Roberts’ flub, here ya go.
But it doesn’t matter—the “flubbed oath” is surely on its way to becoming Zombie Lie like, oh, the “$70/hr autoworker”; “Thanks, but no thanks to the Bridge to Nowhere”; “The Community Reinvestment Act Made Economy Go Melty” and my personal favorite, “No Terra Attacks after 9/11.”
Mrs G @ 10.51, I saw that LTE this morning too. Looks like our Corporal-who-came-in-from-the-cold also composed this Freeptacular gunnuttery article in 2007.
By DB, Gwinnettian
January 21, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this
@ 12.04 was mine. Sorry about the nym-shift (lame joke upthread, damned cookies!)
By Midori
January 21, 2009 12:21 PM | Link to this
Shorter,
thanks.
and the toon can be found on this page
By asdfgh
January 21, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this
Somebody sanitized my comment. I guess the “Journalists” are a little sensitive about people commenting about their “gratifying” themselves outside the gate of the White House. Poor babies.
By Mrs. Godzilla
January 21, 2009 12:53 PM | Link to this
Shorter wingnuts….
It’s somewhat ironic that a former secret service guy would out himself…..
By Midori
January 21, 2009 1:00 PM | Link to this
Mrs. G.:
LMAO!!!
You come up with the wittiest observations :)
By Mrs. Godzilla
January 21, 2009 1:21 PM | Link to this
Midori
It speaks to credibility don’t ya’ think?
He didn’t need Dick Cheney’s help!