Guard Dog

That's going back to the BIS days. I was late coming here.

Just to start off, Obamacare is now the unstoppable, irreversible law of the land. Plus Obama's promise to drive the coal energy industry out of business now looks to become reality. To set the tone the following companies have announced large scale layoffs and business consolidations immediately following the election. Some even came right out and said the results of the election were the reason why. http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Company-lays-off-workers-in-Pikeville-177766221.html http://news.providencejournal.com/business/2012/11/providence-journal-lays-off-23-full-time-employees.html http://www.kwch.com/news/aviationwatch/kwch-kah-hawker-announces-more-layoffs-20121107,0,4377101.story http://www.marketwatch.com/story/boeing-cutting-30-of-executives-at-defense-unit-2012-11-07 http://pressrepublican.com/0100_news/x1499660097/CVPH-lays-off-17 http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20121107/NEWS08/121109803/u-s-cellular-drops-chicago-cuts-640-local-jobs#ixzz2BYqD5a7V http://www.tylerstarnews.com/page/content.detail/id/508789/Momentive-Inc--plans-temporary-layoffs-for-150.html?nav=5008 http://www.spacenews.com/article/rocketdyne-lays-off-100-ahead-of-aerojet-merger#.UJ_hP4awX5O http://www.kentucky.com/2012/11/07/2398967/brake-company-in-stanford-laying.html http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-11-07/vestas-to-cut-headcount-to-16-000-by-end-of-2013-from-22-721 http://www.fiercepharma.com/story/bristol-myers-slash-480-sales-related-jobs-nj/2012-11-06 http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/restaurant-chain-considering-elimination-of-full-time-jobs-to-save-on-obamacare-costs/ http://www.ksl.com/?sid=22890041&nid=148&title=utah-company-blames-president-obama-for-102-workers-laid-off&s_cid=queue-1 http://www.kare11.com/news/article/997577/396/Caterpillar-to-close-Owatonna-plant-move-100-jobs http://www.journaltimes.com/news/local/mount-pleasant-sentry-foods-closing-in-january/article_f6505b48-29e4-11e2-ab4d-0019bb2963f4.html http://mansfield.patch.com/articles/grand-union-to-close-its-storrs-location http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/09/banks-disappear-obama/?iid=HP_LN http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/state/john-schnatter-papa-johns-ceo-obamacare-likely-to-raise-costs-employees-hours-being-cut http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/db84a27628aa40d3bc863933eeaf2173/NC--Parachute-Layoffs http://www.wtvq.com/content/statenews/story/TECO-laying-off-90-in-coalfields/3K4pI851aE6XFjO8fnYSDQ.cspx http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=426179 http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/2012/nov/10/tdbiz01-dupont-to-cut-64-local-jobs-ar-2350703/ http://wnep.com/2012/11/09/layoffs-at-a-luzerne-county-business/ http://citizensvoice.com/news/harpercollins-to-close-down-area-warehouse-1.1400303 http://www.wbbjtv.com/news/local/McKenzie-Plant-Announces-Its-Closing-178259021.html http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2012/11/09/mike-sells-closing-3-distribution.html http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2012/11/09/standard-bank-to-lay-off-up-to-15-staff-in-london/ I could post a dozen or so more. Now layoff and closing announcements are not unusual in this economy unfortunately but there have been an unprecedented number in the last four days. Most of the articles cite increased "increased regulatory costs" and "challenging economic environment" as the reasons. Some have flat out stated the President's re-election is the reason.

There was a good discussion going on in the last thread. Lets keep it going but more with a focus on the cause and effect of the election and what comes next. Plus I'd be very interested to hear what everyone thinks on what investment prospects are going to be like in the next four years both in the US and around the world.

I can't believe I've been trading posts on a gaming forum with some of you for over ten years. Heck I seldom even play computer games anymore but still come back here several times a week. Amazing. I still remember half of you as kids, Calax, Krookie, Pixies come to mind. Now they are all college educated adults (at least as far as age goes ). FWIW everyone it has been a pleasue reading and discussing the ups and downs of everyday life, love, politics and other stuff with all of you.

Bruce, I'm forty one years old now. If there is anything I've learned in that time it's that the simple things are always the best. I live just north of Memphis so Mississippi is not to far. The state line is just south of Memphis and Bilioxi is just a four hour drive. There are plenty of nice places on the gulf as long as you stay away from the larger cities. I had the park all to myself (well the campground at least) right up until Friday night. It got a little crowded so I left Saturday morning. If it had stayed empty I might still be there.

I just went on a little camping trip and brought two books with me. Democracy in America by Alexis de Touqueville and Old Man and the Sea by Hemingway. The first was published in 1832 and shocking has never been more relevant than in the age of the Obamanation. The other is the perfect book to read when all you are doing is fishing and pondering futility. Now reading Muck City by Bryan Mealer. It's about the high school football program in Belle Glade FL. One of the poorest and most crime riddled town in America but has somehow produced almost thirty NFL players.

I just got back from an impromptu little vacation. I just spent the last four days camping in Shepard State Park down in Mississippi, fishing every day in Pascogula Bay. I had my cell phone turned off, no TV, no newspaper, and no news of any kind. It was nice. I brought two books and a ipod with nothing but Jimmy Buffet songs. I have to admit, I was really depressed about the election outcome, but I'm ok now. Life does go on after all. I caught a 33" snook on Thursday. And since he was in season I got to keep him. I filleted and grilled it with Cajun seasoning, sage & Mcllhenny's over a camp fire. Served up with fire grilled zucchini and a cold beer, it just doesn't get any better than that. Tommy got a big piece of it (without the seasoning) chopped up in his dog food. I caught a few others, that were either too small, out of season, or undesirable so they got sent back. It was a good time all in all.

Happy Birthday my Brother! I believe you an I are the only ones who frequent these boards who can say that today. So I raise a toast to you, our Corps, and the Marines who have gone before!

That's how it turned out. He was behind when they called the election last night.

I've been in favor of legalizing MJ for a long time. I don't use it but I've never seen the harm in it. Heck it would make for a nice revenue stream if it were legalized and taxed. It's not the governments place to be you goddamned mother and keep you from having things that are bad for you. I suspect we are going to get a double helping of that nonsense anyway so it's nice to see individual states asserting their sovereignty.

I'm still stunned over yesterdays events. I made some investment moves this morning. Made two online purchases and now I think I'm turning off the computer, radio, and TV for a while. Maybe a long while. I think my dog Tommy & I are going to head down to Biloxi or Gulfport or somewhere like that and do some fishing. I don't know.

You Sir are a man of good taste and refinement!

Very disappointing. Bitterly so. I just can not get my head around why anyone would vote for this man. I really try to put myself in the perspective of his supporters and I just can't see it. Even some of you who I've been trading posts with for years and have come to respect after a fashion, I just do not understand why he gets the support he does. For the third time in our history the winner of the popular vote has lost the election. That said I still think the electoral system is essential (rather than a straight popular vote). The upshot is I won't have to change my investment portfolio. Right now I have everything placed so I protect as much as I can from the damage he has and will do, especially here currency devaluation is concerned. Tomorrow I'm buying more gold, more silver and most importantly, more ammunition. I suspect the value of all three is going up tomorrow.

Let's see: Hitler published Mein Kampf The Spanish Civil War began President Warren Harding used army troops to break them big mineworkers strike in 1922 Ted Kennedy drowned his girlfriend and got away scot free There was a tsunami in New Guniea Kobe Bryant raped a woman in a hotel in Colorado Yikes. I was the one bright spot on that day in history!

To be honest I'm not a big fan of Mitt Romney but for me it was no so much a matter of voting for him as against Obama. I don't work for a big company anymore. I own my own business now (with four equal partners and one employee) and that man is making life VERY difficult for us and the worst is yet to come. It seems my entire adult life election choices have been about choosing the lesser of two evils. The only times they haven't been is when I voted for third party candidates for President like in 1996 and 2004. Whatever happens tonight, whomever wins, I hope it is not close. I hope the outcome does not hinge on one closely contested state. I hope there is no disparity between the popular and electoral votes. I don't expect there will be a landslide of any kind but I hope the issue is clearly settled by the time polls close in Hawaii. Both side have armies of lawyers ready to sue everyone in sight if it is close and with the country so polarized nothing good will come of that.

This has to be the most disingenuous thing I've ever read on this board.

Nah I've never been a big fan of a true laissez-faire system. There do need to be some restraints to keep things in balance but it should be a silk rope, not heavy iron chains as our current President believes. And auto insurance does not compare to health care because you are not required to own a car an do not have to pay for auto insurance if you don't. Obamacare is inescapable. But what is so terrifying about it is they do not have the authority to do it, yet is has been done. Do you realize that under the precedent this sets they could require everyone to buy a GM car? And have the IRS come after you if you don't? Oil production in private land and leases is up. That is only because Obama can not do anything about those projects. Yet. And he can certainly not take any credit for that since all he has done is shut down domestic oil drilling and exploration everywhere he was able to. I read in Forbes a few weeks ago that US oil companies are overproducing for fear of interference from him in a second term in their own private leases. As far as how states would behave left to the own devices, I'm sorry Calax, you are just wrong on that one. But that's ok, We are not going to come to any kind of agreement there. I though you'd get a kick out of this. All the gun manufactures must be rooting for Obama to win: http://business.time...ff-the-shelves/ One note on unemployment numbers though. There have been a lot of outcry that the numbers are skewed to make Barry O look better. I doubt that is true but I do know one thing that IS true. If someone is unemployed long enough for their benefits to run out, they are no longer counted as unemployed. That unemployment number is not the number of people who cannot find work, it's the number of people who cannot find for and are still receiving benefits. The real number is a lot higher than what you see in the media. Anyway, the Obama admin has done a lot of truly stupid and frightening things the past four years. But this is the one that made me maddest of all and if they did nothing else, this would still make me vote against them: http://www.infowars....-as-terrorists/ Especially after refusing to call the real terrorists what they are.

Sigmund Freud once wrote “A man with a toothache cannot be in love" Pretty true isn't it?

In all honesty enthusiasm levels are just not quantifiable. From what I read the polling data is weighted to reflect the turn out of the last election which is anywhere from D +7 to D +15 in some places. That's not new, they've been doing that since the 90's. There really is no way to know who is going to vote and who isn't but I suspect a big turn out this time. That's not to say the claims of poll bias are without merit. I really don't know personally but I suspect there are biased and unbiased polls out there. It's all a bunch of hooey actually. The voters are going to do what they are going to do and the polls are really just grist for the media mill while they count down the days to the election. I know no one has called or polled me but them my state is really not in contention.

Hey Calax. You have never heard me say that government does not have a role to play in the economy. As far as I know the constitutionality of the Sherman Anti Trust Act, the Clayton Act, The FLSA, Robinson-Patman, Glass-Stengal, just to name a few that provide protections against the things you just named and a somewhat level economic playing field has ever been called into question and no one that I have heard has ever called for their repeal. Now what I do have a real problem with is the Federal Government using taxpayer dollars to perform a leveraged buyout of a private company, forcing bond holders of said company to relinquish their shares at 10% of their value or face prosecution. And then turning management of that company over to the union bosses who supported the election of the President whose administration seized the company. I also have a serious issue with a government that passes a law that compels private citizens, on pain of penalty, to enter into a private contract with a third party solely as a condition of being a citizen. To make matters worse the US Constitution does not grant them the power to do any of this. They just do it because who will stop them? I'd also take exception to your notion that state governments are incapable of managing themselves and left to their own devices will become dens of corruption and tax havens. Politicians at the state level face reelection more frequently than at the federal level and with smaller constituencies are far more in tune with the needs of their state and people than the Monster-On-The-Potomac. On top of that, many appointed positions at the federal level are elected offices at the state level. I know you've heard me say this before but my home is in Tennessee. The government of my home should be in Nashville, not Washington. Now I'll grant you that the government is only going to get bigger, more intrusive and more destructive no matter who wins. That is why I believe with complete certainty there will be a break up at some point. Hopefully not in my lifetime but I think it is inevitable. As for the short term, voting pragmatically means picking the guy who will screw you the least and that for me at least is Romney, hands down. Unemployment is way up over the last four years. The value of the dollar is falling. Costs of everything are rising. Obama terminates the off shore oil drilling leases, puts the majority of the gulf coast oil production out of business then sends US tax dollars to Brazil so they can drill for oil off shore. Meanwhile China is building rigs on the oilfields we have abandoned in the gulf and contracting operation of those rigs to Cuba. I assure you neither country gives a damn about environmental concerns in the gulf. For the first time in our history we are importing refined fuels. Canada wants to help build a pipeline to sell us their oil and Obama tells them to bugger off and then blames the rising costs of fuel on a guy whose been out of office for four years. (Yes there is a lot more to fuel prices than that but declining supplies never, ever make anything less expensive.) Anyway I've rambled enough.

Skipping SoU? HotU is definitely the highlight of NWN. The original campaign and SoU are both decent, but HotU is flat out awesome. I've played through HotU probably nearly a dozen times, it's just that much fun. Altogether I've logged somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000 hours in NWN, including the mountains upon mountains of user created content. Did you ever notice the writing between Ch 2 & Ch 3 of HotU was a little disjointed? Like it was written by two different people with very different back grounds? It was. I posted that on the Bioware boards a long time ago, DG responded that I was right, they were written in there entirety by two different guys.

Buy the way, you think the current election is bitter, check this one out: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57544621/tough-campaign-much-worse-in-1800/

I've never understood this rabid hostility some of you harbor towards libertarians. Of all the political philosophies out there it is the only one, and I do mean the ONLY one that actually wants real freedom for everyone. Using myself as an example I personally thin abortion is horrible. But who am I to tell someone they can't have one. I'm not gay so I'd never marry a gay person but who am I to tell them they can't get married? I don't use drugs but what is it to me if someone else wants to and does? Freedom is never more important than when some one is doing something you don't like. Most of you don't own guns, but I don't want you guys telling me I can't. You get the idea. The biggest flaw in the leftist viewpoint in the US is the the government should stay out of their personal lives and be used as a club to suppress religion, capitalism, and other things they don't like. The conservatives think the government should stay out of their economic lives and be used as a club to suppress gay marriage, abortion, and other things they don't like. They are both wrong. Libertarians do not, as a rule, want to destroy all government. What we want is a government that has a clearly defined role and power limited to what is required to fulfill that role. And nothing more. The truth is Ayn Randian objectivisim just is not something that American libertarians embrace. The US really got off track after WWI when politicians began consolidating power in Washington at the federal level. Our country was founded on the federalist concept on the majority of power being kept at the level of government closest to the people. Now the tail really is wagging the dog and we have this all powerful behemoth sitting on the Potomac sucking more and more money and power to itself and imposing it's will on a nation that it is becoming completely alienated from. I know electing Romney will not turn back the tide of that process but it might slow it down. Electing Obama would be like hitting the accelerator. I think he envisions and America where state and local governments are irrelevant. I hope that never happens.

I know I'm way late to the party but I finally tried playing Dragon Age last night. You guys were right, it's pretty good. It's been a hell of a long time since I was hooked on a game.

Meh, fiction is just not my thing. But I have been working on a non-fiction book for a long time now.