Random Thoughts on Markets and Elections

It has been difficult to feel like posting anything the last few days. All we hear from the national media is how the economy is falling apart and the Presidential candidates are calling each other names.

It is virtually impossible to pick out the tidbits of truth in the various political advertisements (which includes "debates") because they are hidden in a fog of nothingness. We hear vague statements with little substance.

It is sad that the political process has devolved to mudslinging, but it's been that way since George Washington left the job to his successor. We don't have true debates, just positioning and one-liners designed to get media coverage. Let's talk about the merits of the plans that each candidate offers. Give us some substance instead of smoke for a change. We're big kids now, we can handle it.

Senator McCain is somewhat left of where I'd like him to be on many issues. If it wasn't for Governor Palin's presence on the ticket, he would really be struggling with the conservative voters. The trouble is, there really isn't an alternative. Obama is so far left-of-left (in spite of what he says) that he makes McCain look conservative.

As to the economy, I'm optimistic. Where there is turmoil, there is opportunity. I feel fortunate to live in Texas. We have a little different view of the world here than the folks on either coast. In fact, I expect any day for California and Massachusetts to be asking the State of Texas for a loan. The U.S. government is bound to be running pretty low -- they've given so much away lately. But, hey, what's a few hundred billion here or there anyway? Oh, wait! That's our money! I wish they'd stop doing that!!

Folks panicked this afternoon on the stock market. Maybe after they sleep on it they'll decide it's time to buy back. I'll bet the market opens up in the morning.

Locally our banks are strong and our economy is chugging along steadily. We've been in a bit of a boom -- and still are -- it does appear to be slowing a little bit but not much. We're building windmills and ethanol plants, digging new oil and gas wells, and the traffic on the highways is getting worse all the time. The farmers are harvesting their crops and the cattlemen are turning cattle out for fall grazing. It seems pretty normal around here -- except the old guys in the coffee shop have a little something extra to talk about.

I hate that I missed it, but Senator Cornyn was debating his opponent for his Senate seat tonight in Houston. I'm sure he was attacked over the economic mess but I think if the voters will look around and take stock of what's going on in this state they will recognize that the Senator has done a pretty good job representing their interests. The Senator's opponent -- I keep forgetting his name, but I know it's the same as some Central American Dictator from a few years back -- is clueless. He keeps preaching the same old socialistic theme as the Clintons and Obama/Biden. I guess it has a certain appeal to the deadbeats, but people around here are mostly hard-working, clean-living folks with strong family values. That's the kind of values Senator Cornyn represents. If the people are thinking come election day, instead of listening to the liberal media, the Senator will be going back to Washington to represent us again. Hopefully he will be in a position to start cleaning up the mess they have up there. He can't do it alone though. We need a few more like him. It's too bad some of the other states won't wake up and follow Texas' example on how they are represented in Washington. That's the kind of change we need. I wonder if Senator Cornyn would consider running for President in the future?