This should quiet the skeptics: The $1 Billion Armageddon Trade Placed Against The United States

Jack Barnes: Someone dropped a bomb on the bond market Thursday – a $1 billion Armageddon trade betting the United States will lose its AAA credit rating.

In one moment, an invisible trader placed a single trade that moved the most liquid debt market in the world.

The massive trade wasn’t placed in bonds themselves; it was placed in the futures market.

The trade was for block trades of 5,370 10-year Treasury futures executed at 124-03 and 3,100 Treasury bond futures executed at 125-01.

The value of the trade was about $850 million dollars. In simple terms, if that was a direct bond buy, no one would be talking about it.

However, with the use of futures, you have to have margin capacity behind the trade. That means with a single push of a button someone was willing to commit more than $1 billion of real capital to this trade with expectations of a 10-to-1 return ratio.

You only do this if you see an edge.

This means someone is confident that the United States is either going to default or is going to lose its AAA rating. That someone is willing to bet the proverbial farm that U.S. interest rates will be going up.

I believe what happened is a debt-ceiling deal was done in Washington and leaked to a major proprietary trader. Everyone knows the debt negotiations in Washington have been an extreme game of brinksmanship between political parties, but now someone knows how that game played out.

This had the hallmarks of one of the largest bond shops in the world knowing something the rest of the market didn’t.

The number of shops or even central banks that can take on this level of market risk is extremely small. Some that come to mind are hedge fund manager John Paulson, Bill Gross’s PIMCO, and the U.S. and Chinese central banks.

Paulson already scored big – about $6 billion big – on a similar trade years ago when he bet against subprime mortgages, the investments that helped bring down Lehman Bros. and many other investors.

Whoever was behind it wanted a trade on ASAP, and didn’t care about the ripples they would cause.

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The Rank Dishonesty In the Boehner Bill

The Market Ticker
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Remember folks, these are draconian cuts according to the Democrats, and yet they're also substantial spending reductions according to Republicans.

Just a couple of quick questions.

• Is there any year in which the spending in either discretionary or Social Security goes down? No. Therefore, in my view any such claim of "cuts" is an act of public corruption for which Boehner should be indicted and imprisoned.
  
  
• Is the alleged "spending reduction" backloaded? Yes. Social Security spending increases an average of 10% (compounded) in the first three years, thereby guaranteeing that two House elections and two Senatorial Class elections will have been held before any decrease in entitlement spending rate occurs. This too is a fraud upon the public, albeit entirely expected from the Goebbels Ministry of Truth, otherwise known as Boehner's office.
  
  
• Is the cumulative spending increase anything approaching reasonable? NO. Social Security spending over the 10 years will approximately double and the size of government as measured by discretionary and Social Security spending (combined) will increase by 53% over the ten years. Where's the cut, Boehner?

In short this is yet another Goebbels Media Lie Parade out of the Speaker's office, and not one mainstream media outlet, to the best of my knowledge, has pointed these facts out.

What's worse is that the Democrat's "ideas" for "cutting spending" and "closing the budget gap" actually add even more spending!

Oh yeah, one more thing: Medicare and Medicaid are not included. Yet they're growing faster than any other category. Gee, I wonder why they were excluded?

If you're wondering why I am absolutely certain that whatever comes out of this process will garner an immediate downgrade from S&P (and perhaps Moody's), this is the reason. They can do the math too, and it's clear, convincing, obvious and inescapable.

This entire plan, along with the Democrats "plan", are in fact bald, pernicious lies.

Gov. Haley Rejects $NAACP$ Request to Remove Confederate Flag

Via Southern Nationalist Network

Nikki Haley is South Carolina's first female governor.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is not retreating from her decision to keep the Confederate flag atop the north end of the Statehouse despite complaints from the NAACP, whose president this week said the ethnic minority governor is a "contradiction" for allowing the flag to fly, FOXNews.com reported Friday.

Speaking to a crowd at an NAACP national conference in Los Angeles on Monday, NAACP President Benjamin Jealous attempted to shame Haley into removing the flag by comparing African American slavery to oppression Haley's ancestors in India faced under British rule.

"Perhaps one of the most perplexing examples of the contradictions of this moment in history is that Nikki Haley, South Carolina's first governor of color, continues to fly the Confederate flag in front of her state's capitol ... my question to Governor Haley is one that Dr. King often asked himself: 'What would Gandhi do?'" Jealous said.

The flag has been at the north end of the Statehouse in Columbia since 2000. It was moved there after legislation passed to remove it from atop the dome of the Statehouse, where it was placed in 1962 by an all-white South Carolina Legislature.

Haley, who was born in South Carolina, and her spokesman said the decision lies with the people of the Palmetto State.

"More than a decade ago, under the leadership of a Democratic governor, South Carolinians Republican and Democrat, black and white, came to a compromise position on the Confederate flag," said Haley's press secretary, Rob Godfrey.

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Brady Campaign

OLEG VOLK
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Brady Campaign’s stated goal is to disarm American civilians, making them defenseless from criminals. When danger visits, it is never the disarmers who stand between us and the violence, but Bradies and their ilk are the first to complain about successful defense against evil. It’s almost as if their constituency is made up of violent criminals of government and freelance varieties. My friend Alany, a civil rights activist from Northern California, outlines what Brady Campaign has in common with other terrorists. Brady Campaign, in turn, have tried to physically intimidate her and other pro-RKBA people in California

The problems of being too Christian

Sarah Maid of Albion
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A poem by Mike Wilson

For two millennia Western man, has formed as only he can,
A mind aware of nature’s laws, her sciences and all her flaws.
And in this time has fought the fight for justice and for what is right
Because his creed is Christian based and tolerates the other race.

But now the tide has slowly turned and Western man is surely spurned
By every other race on earth because our laws have given birth
To the meek inheriting this our land because we offered out of hand
A place where they could all feel safe despite the differences in race.

Now over the course of time we see the effects of becoming a minority
In our own land, our place of birth, our country that was best on earth.
Now all around a rainbow culture, no finer feelings, nothing ultra
Just “give me, give me, more and more and we’ll make babies by the score.”

Such thinking really grieves us all when these invaders just stand tall
And keep demanding all their rights and we stand by without a fight,
And instead of saying this is wrong the government just helps it along.
No wonder that the common man perceives a wild and devious plan.

This plan has been in place for years and carries on despite the tears
Of those who see behind the scheme, to make us toe the line.
The native Britain born and bred is being to the slaughter led
By those who need to close us down so their own lies will wear the crown.

The newcomers help to dilute the mix of native Britons and that’s the fix,
Because new laws will simply pass and the rainbow mass will never grasp
The full intent behind the deed to which any normal man would heed.
The future’s not looking very bright if we give in to Europe without a fight.

By swamping us with foreign drones they think they’ll make us into clones
Until all indigenous traits are gone and we’ll end up dancing to their song.
Miscegenation is their key and if we allow it we’ll never be free
To be the people we used to be, a strong healthy nation, the land of the free.

Be Christian, be healthy, be strong and be wise, don’t listen to Europe’s invidious lies.
Don’t surrender your birthright to Europe’s advances,
But fight for Britain to be Britain again.

OC supervisor asks DOJ investigate death of homeless man in fight with Fullerton PD

Via MENTAL PINPICKS

Shawn Nelson, Supervisor of the 4th District.

An Orange County supervisor has asked the Department of Justice to investigate the death of a homeless man who died after a fight with Fullerton police. In a letter sent to the Department of Justice's civil-rights division Thursday, Orange County Supervisor Shawn Nelson made a "formal request to commence an investigation of the facts and circumstances surrounding the death of Kelly Thomas at the hands of the Fullerton Police Department."

Officers confronted Thomas, 37, a transient known to frequent downtown Fullerton, while investigating reports of a man burglarizing cars in the parking lot adjacent to a bus depot on July 5.

Police say Thomas became violent as two officers tried to search him, kicking off a fight in which six officers were needed to subdue him. Thomas suffered severe head and neck injuries, while two officers suffered moderate injuries.

Thomas' family has accused officers of using excessive force during what they described as a "brutal beating." Witnesses claimed Thomas was shot with a Taser and struck with a flashlight.

Thomas was taken off life support several days after the incident. An autopsy was inconclusive, with Orange County Coroner's Office officials saying they need to carry out further tests to determine the cause of Thomas' death.

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The Parting Shift: An 8-Minute Gear Bangin' Symphony From Inside a 1969 Camaro

There are Parting Shift videos, and then there are PARTING SHIFT videos. This is one of the latter! Featuring the 1969 Camaro of Billy Miller Racing, this video shows multiple runs from multiple angles inside the car. It is basic and raw and the sound is enough to make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

Miller runs a 5-speed full-boogie race transmission in this car and what seem to be some el-steepo gears. Judging by the fact that the Camaro sounds like Satan's chainsaw at the top end, there's certainly a little small block in here. We don't know any specifics on the car, other than we'd give up an apendage to own it.

We'll stop blabbing and tell you to hit play and crank the noise up to 11!!!

LINK

On Lexington's proposed banning of Confederate flags

Introduction

The article below was written in response to an attempt—which will be doubtless be successful—by the Mayor and City Council of Lexington, Virginia, to adopt a “banner and flag regulations ordinance.” This ordinance is said to respond to “a need” of that City to “regulate” the banners, flags and other such symbols displayed on City property during civic and historical celebrations. Despite its generic title, it is common knowledge that the ordinance is directed at the Confederate national flags displayed during memorial celebrations to Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson that take place every year in Lexington. A petition was allegedly received by the City government complaining of the offensive nature of these symbols. This legislative dictum is the result.

Efforts to reach a compromise by exchanging one of the national flags with a less recognizable symbol offered by the Sons of Confederate Veterans has been rejected out of hand by the Mayor and the Council—and why not? This ordinance will allow them to get rid of every such symbol despite the fact that a countering petition bearing far more signatures than the first has already been taken. Of course, the signatories of the second petition are by the very nature of their viewpoint, quite without influence upon the government of Lexington. They are (obviously), not part of the special interest assembly demanding the First Amendment rights of the majority be stricken from the Public Square. This blatant disregard for We the People—which has become standard fare from government and the bureaucracy—has resulted in a loss of our guaranteed constitutional rights and has in fact turned the public forum into

The Private Square

The late comedian George Carlin was heard to say that the power brokers in this country were a club—and We, the People, were not invited. Mr. Carlin was far more right than he knew. For not only are we not in “the club,” We the People have even been banned from what used to be called, “The Public Square.”

Drawing on images of ancient Athens, the Public Square was a place in which We the People were able to tell our stories, display our symbols and generally speak up and about various issues that concerned us. Oh, sometimes it is contentious as when speakers shout their messages in public demonstrations. And sometimes it is ennobling as those who came together with candles in the gathering gloom of September 11^th, 2001 to mourn the deaths of people that most did not even know. And sometimes it is inspiring with parades and bands and fireworks! And sometimes it is peaceful as neighbor greets neighbor after worship services. But whether contentious or ennobling or inspiring or anything else, the Public Square has always been for the public—for We the People to express ourselves rightly and sometimes even wrongly, because it is our right to do so in accordance with the Will of God and the Constitution.

But no more. Now, there is a hedge about the Public Square, a fence of political correctness created by the offended sensibilities of various special interest groups, erected by the courts and politicians who are either in agreement with or terrified of those same groups and maintained by the force of government even against the very dictates of that document which is supposed to be the Law of the Land, the Constitution. As a result, We the People find ourselves outside looking in. We find ourselves legislated and regulated out of it entirely or, in the alternative, allowed to participate only insofar as our “rulers” permit. We can do this, but we cannot do that. We can post this symbol, but not that. We can express this sentiment, but not that. We can advocate this policy or viewpoint, but not that. And who decides what we can—and, more importantly, cannot do? Why those same special interest groups who created the fence in the first place. They are permitted to do and say as they please because it is now their square. It is now a Private Square and We the People are no longer welcome save as supplicants asking for a few moments exposure to what was once ours in its entirety.

How did this happen, one may well ask. How can what was our God given right now be so thoroughly and absolutely denied us at the stroke of a pen by some bureaucratic bean-counter or political hack? How did we fall so low that now We the People find ourselves on the outside looking in, stripped of every right but that of obedience to the Will of the Government and its Special Interest myrmidons? How is it that those government agencies once sworn “to protect and serve” now consider a failure to exhibit what is deemed a proper amount of respect when a citizen questions being censored from using the Public Square as representing an attack upon their persons often resulting in assault and arrest? Why is it that a common city council of little importance and less competence can vote to simply forbid the majority of We the People from exercising our rights of freedom of speech, expression and association in order to protect the tender sensibilities of people who are a minority of the voices being raised in the issue?

There is an old saying in my family, “Who died and left you king?!”—and truly, that is what we are seeing! Government, large and small, simply taking such power not because they should but because they can! Indeed, we are seeing in this country, the fruition of a very old and very sinister maxim: The good old rule, the simple plan, That he may take who hath the power, and he may keep who can. We have lost the Public Square because we have lost control over government and those who have aligned themselves with it to assure that this new Private Square is theirs and theirs alone while We the People are told what we can do and what we can say and where we can go if we do not agree.

Valerie Protopapas

New York

The Myth of White Privilege

Something must be wrong. My finances are in shambles; mainstream newspapers won't publish my pieces; and, no matter how much I try to convince Fox News that they need male eye candy as well, they just won't give me a show. Then I gaze into the mirror at my alabaster complexion and say, "What's wrong with this picture? I'll have to address this at the next White People's Meeting."

Of course, it isn't really true that all we Caucasians get together in a big conference hall somewhere and, rubbing our hands together with devilish glee, conspire as to how we're gonna get ourselves some'a that there white privilege. Yet you wouldn't know it listening to egghead academics, media mouths, and uncivil rights agitators.

Put "white privilege" into a search engine and no small number of results will be for ".edu" URLs, which means that our mental institutions of higher learning are busy teaching "critical race theory" and ideas such as "Whites are taught not to recognize white privilege" and that, as this University of Dayton site informs, white persons have a "special freedom or immunity from some [liabilities or burdens] to which non-white persons are subject[.]" There is also something called "The White Privilege Conference" and a website devoted to it (I actually had to log on to make sure it wasn't a spoof site, but truth is stranger -- and stupider -- than fiction). And American Thinker recently wrote about an event called "Erasing White Privilege," during which whites sat around in a room confessing their collective oppressor sins while "people of color" discharged rage, "yelling at them" and "preaching." Ain't Obama's post-racial America grand?

Of course, I don't imagine there are many plumbers, supermarket workers, or forklift operators at such meetings -- and not just because they actually have to work. It's also because they know something:

White privilege is a myth.

Let's look at the facts.

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Ron Paul calls on supporters to lobby GOP leadership for no compromise

Rep. Ron Paul has blasted top House Republicans for a lack of leadership, and called on supporters to pressure top GOP officials not to “cut a backroom deal with President Obama.”

In an email sent Thursday evening to supporters of his presidential bid, Paul urged backers to “help [Republican leaders] make up their mind.”

“The Republican congressional leadership is susceptible to our pressure — good old-fashioned grassroots pressure,” Paul wrote. “That’s why I need your help to demand Republican leaders show some backbone and loudly say ‘No!’ to any business as usual, status quo-empowering compromises to raise the debt ceiling.”

“What you and I need is someone who stands for conviction over compromise,” Paul continued.

Paul opposes raising the debt ceiling altogether, voting against the Republican-led Cut, Cap, Balance Act and promising to vote against House Speaker John Boehner’s bill to raise the debt ceiling with spending cuts.

Both he and fellow presidential candidate and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann have promised not to vote to raise the debt ceiling.

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