• Mitt Romney,  President 2012

    President 2012: After Christie Opts Out Romney Picks Up Donors

    October 6, 2011 /

    Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney speaks at a town hall meeting at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College in Goffstown, New Hampshire September 28, 2011

    Looks like the GOP establishment donors are settling on Mitt Romney as the GOP nominee.

    Gov. Chris Christie’s decision not to seek the Republican nomination for president is turning out to be quite the boon to Mitt Romney’s campaign coffers.

    Late Wednesday, Mr. Romney won the support of uber GOP donor Paul Singer, who was considered to be one of the most sought-after undecided Republican fund-raisers. In the 2010 election season, Mr. Singer and his employees at Elliott Management donated $2.6 million to the Republican Governors Association, making the hedge fund’s employees the second-largest corporate donor of the campaign cycle.

    In a letter, Mr. Singer called Mr. Romney “the best choice” among Republican candidates. He said his debate performances have been “impressive–fluid and at times commanding.”

    Mr. Singer added, “of supreme importance–Mitt Romney can defeat the incumbent president, a task that is a matter of urgency to me and of keen importance to the country.”

    Mr. Singer moved to Mr. Romney’s camp on the same day that a number of other top Republican fund-raisers came off the fence and pledged their support.

    Mr. Singer’s support of Mr. Romney isn’t surprising, given that some on Wall Street have had trouble connecting with rival Rick Perry, the Texas governor.

    Prominent hedge-fund manager Daniel Loeb has decided to back Mr. Romney, according to people familiar with the matter, while a number of other key figures in the hedge-fund world are said to be making up their minds about who they will support. That list includes fund managers such as Cliff Asness, Steven Cohen, Ken Griffin, and Leon Cooperman. Anthony Scaramucci, who is raising money for Mr. Romney on Wall Street, said he expects many of the key financiers to support his candidate, “whether it’s today, two months from today, or nine months from today.

    This is not really surprising since Mitt Romney is the safe, “do no harm” Republican candidate. America and the GOP desperately need a “WIN” in November 2012 and with the field settled, it looks like the BIG money is following Mitt Romney.

  • Methamphetamine

    Methamphetamine Making Chemicals Seized at Los Angeles International Airport

    October 6, 2011 /

    Methamorphosis as a result of chronic Methamphetamine abuse

    No, it was NOT ephedrine or pseudoephedrine but other chemicals.

    Federal agents have seized a 1 1/2-ton shipment of methamphetamine-making chemicals at Los Angeles International Airport.

    Customs and Border Protection spokesman Jaime Ruiz said Thursday that 40 drums of methylamine hydrochloride and two barrels of ethyl phenyl acetate shipped from China were intercepted at the airport on Sept. 29.

    The chemicals are used to make methamphetamine and the party drug Ecstasy.

    The shipment, described as one of the largest meth precursor seizures at the airport, was destined for a company in Illinois. There are no further details.

    Ruiz says special permission is needed to import the controlled substances.

    There are no arrests.

    On Aug. 12, federal agents at the airport seized a quarter-ton of methylamine hydrochloride in eight drums that was being shipped from China to a company in central Mexico.

    Although Meth use has declined recently, there is ongoing pressure to manufacture this highly addictive and very ruinous drug.

    Congrats to the DEA for their intelligence and execution of the seizure.

    Now, as to that company in illinois…….

  • American Economy,  Polling,  Unemployment Rate

    Poll Watch: U.S. Unemployment Rate Falls to 8.7% and Underemployment Rate Down Slightly – But…..

    October 6, 2011 /


    According to the latest Gallup Poll.

    U.S. unemployment, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, fell to 8.7% at the end of September, significantly improved from 9.2% at the end of August. Unemployment is also significantly lower than the 10.1% rate recorded at the end of September of last year, and among the lowest 30-day averages Gallup has measured since January 2010.

    The Underemployment rate falls.

    U.S. underemployment, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, improved to 18.3% at the end of September from 18.5% at the end of August, as a decline in unemployment more than offset a slight increase in part-time workers seeking full-time employment. At the same time, the percentage of workers working full time for an employer decreased slightly to 64.9% from 65.3% at the end of August.

    The chart:

    But, there is a big BUT:

    Fewer Are Employed Full Time for Employers

    While fewer U.S. workers were underemployed and unemployed at the end of September compared with the end of August, fewer also had full-time jobs with employers. The 64.9% who reported having full-time jobs with employers is down from 65.3% at the end of August. This percentage is up slightly from 64.3% a year ago, but that was one of the lowest percentages of 2010.

    The chart:

    So, what does this all mean?

    Even with the better on the surface numbers, there are negative rumblings under the surface. Plus, Gallup expects the government’s numbers to not be as good wen they report later, since they calculate the unemployment rate differently.

    Gallup now finds more part-time workers seeking full-time work, suggesting that some workers are finding jobs but not the full-time positions they seek. Gallup also finds fewer workers employed full-time for employers at the end of September than was true a month ago. Combined with declining job creation in recent months, the U.S. employment situation remains challenging for job seekers and for the economy in general.

  • Twitter

    @Flap Twitter Updates for 2011-10-06

    October 6, 2011 /

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