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Category: Quote Watch

Consumers don't know squat

"Consumer confidence is an utterly useless statistic."

-- Peter D. Schiff, explaining how federal officials fake a healthy U.S. economy when, in fact, we're skating toward a financial collapse much worse than the bursting of the real estate bubble. In his book, "Crash Proof."

It makes sense the consumer confidence is a nutty statistic. As Schiff notes, a man ice skating a lake may have confidence that the ice is thick. But if, in reality, it is thin, the skater will be "very cold, very wet and very drowned."

Confidence doesn't make the ice any thicker.

Reminds me of the University of Michigan consumer confidence index.

Why bother?

I'd like to see a survey to see if Americans have any confidence in the U. of M. confidence index.

Here's a story about a confidence index, saying it hasn't topped an optimistic score of 100 since 2007. Think about that. All the that bubbly 2007 consumer confidence didn't stop the economic collapse of 2008-09, which forced the feds to provide a $1 trillion plus crutch.

Perhaps consumers don't know squat.

Schiff, by the way, way back in 2006, accurately predicted the real estate collapse we're all living today. So don't dismiss his views lightly.

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Category: Quote Watch

The nude Marge Simpson; you go girl...

"We knew that this would really appeal to the 20-something crowd."

-- Playboy spokeswoman Theresa Hennessey, talking about a supposedly fetching Marge Simpson, the cartoon wench, on the cover of the November issue.

Hennessey is right about the 20-something crowd, which means the country could be in bigger trouble than imagined. That is, if racy cartoon characters is you thing...

However, can't blame Playboy for tapping the youth market. Money is money. And so far, the cover has been a PR bonanza like, back in the 1980s, when Penthouse featured Jimmy Swaggart's paramour, Debra Murphee, showing some skin for the camera.

Here for story.

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Category: Quote Watch

Mich. school boards grub for money with scare tactics

"Schools can't absorb the magnitude of cuts without severe consequences to students."

-- Michigan Association of School Boards.

I don't know why the group says that. There's not a single shred of credible evidence that more money translates into better student scores or better students.

If fact, the evidence is to the contrary. Surveys have shown that districts with low per-pupil spending can outperform districts that spend more. Instead of throwing more money at education, decipher what those certain low-spending districts are doing right. Then copy it.

Nobody thinks public education in Michigan is doing all that good. Officials even toy with dumbing down curriculum so the kiddies can pass, and not be embarrassed. Never mind that they'll pass with a second-rate education.

Why would Michigan lawmakers this year ship more money to public education, throwing good money after bad?

Here for the school board statement.

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Category: Quote Watch

Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton were peace guys, too

"I looked at his face when he was on TV and confirmed that he would receive the prize and would come to Norway, and he didn't look particularly happy."

-- Inger-Marie Ytterhorn, a member of the Nobel panel, referring to President Obama getting this year's Peace Prize.

To Obama's credit, he questioned whether he had done enough to deserve the nod. He wasn't happy on TV because he has work to do proving he's more than political showbiz -- a charge made by his GOP critics..

Others prez types with more peace accomplishments include Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. Too late for Reagan, who led the charge to end (and win) the Cold War and disassemble the crimes against humanity in the Soviet gulag.

Clinton has a number of initiatives under his belt, which even a casual glance says outpoint Obama re peace.

It's been said, and it's true: This was the second anti-Bush slap from the Nobel bunch. First to Al Gore, the guy Bush beat. And now to Obama, the guy who succeeded W. Both liberals and conservatives like to give themselves awards.

Here for story.

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Category: Quote Watch

Comics target Obama's fluffy record

"That's pretty amazing, winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Ironically, his biggest accomplishment as president so far...winning the Nobel Peace Prize."

-- Jay Leno, commenting on giving this year's Nobel Peace Prize to President Obama.

Overall, late night comics might be turning on the president -- a bad sign. Politicians can endure a lot, but being a laughing-stock is not one of the politically pleasant places to be. Ask John Kerry about wind surfing. Or George Bush about malaprops.

Obama's two accomplishments so far are "Jack" and "Squat," chirps "Saturday Night Live."

Outside the beltway, being hip doesn't take kindly to being on the butt end of the new hip. I always thought Johnny Carson retired partly because SNL star Dana Carvey made such wicked fun of Carson, depicting Carson's stuff as cliche. At least Carson had the class to know it was time to go.

Here for story.

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Category: Quote Watch

Failed Warren bank part of sad national story

"People expect companies to go out of business, not banks."

-- Warren Mayor Jim Fouts, quoted in today's New York Times on the fate of Warren Bank, recently targeted by the feds.

Almost 100 small banks have failed around the country this year.

Here for story.

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Category: Quote Watch

Letterman done in by kiss

"David Letterman's alleged blackmailer was motivated by seeing the TV host kiss his girlfriend."

-- Ireland Online, part of the international coverage of the comedian's farrago of women.

The scandal will fade, mostly because Letterman took the offensive.

Here for story.

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Category: Quote Watch

Ex-hubby: Madonna is retarded

"I still love her...but she's retarded..."

-- Hollywood Director Guy Ritchie, talking about his ex-wife, Metro Detroit's own Madonna Louise Ciccone.

Here for the interview, in Esquire.

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Category: Quote Watch

Oh no! Letterman had sex

"I know what you're saying -- 'I'll be darned. Dave had sex.'"

-- David Letterman, in televised comments conceding he had affairs over the years with staffers.

Lots of clucking going on.

But time to lay off Ol' Dave.

There's no time frame when the affairs occurred, and Letterman didn't get married until this year. And judging from all the glory currently heaped on Bill Clinton, office affairs aren't career-killers anymore.

Here for story.

Category: Quote Watch

Obama and Afghanistan

"If Obama asks for more troops, Congress is unlikely to oppose him."

-- Max Boot of the Council on Foreign Relations, writing about the war in Afghanistan..

The far left is irked with President Obama re war. They don't grasp the difference between campaigning and governing.

Here for story.