Subject: Expotera, LLC v. Implex.net, Inc.
From: Sharon Piseski sharon.piseski@fmjlaw.com
Date: Thu, July 19, 2007 12:27 pm
To: br-redd@usfamily.net, tony@sierra-bravo.com
Cc: Pat Shriver Pat.Shriver@fmjlaw.com
Brad and Tony:
On behalf of Pat Shriver, please find attached correspondence faxed and mailed to Ronald Weikers today regarding the above-referenced matter.
Thanks.
Sharon Piseski
Legal Assistant
Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A.
775 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 400
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(952) 995-9500 (Main)
(952) 995-9577 (Fax)
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Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A.
Attorneys At Law
Flagship Corporate Center
775 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 400
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Telephone: 952-995-9500
Facsimile: 952-995-9577
Website: www.fmjlaw.com
July 19, 2007
VIA U.S. MAIL AND FACSIMILE-(603) 663-1000
Ronald N. Weikers
Weikers & Company
41 North Acres Road
Manchester, NH 03104
Re: Expotera, LLC v. Implex.net, Inc.
FMJ File No.: 61068-5
Dear Mr. Weikers:
I have received and am responding to your letter dated July 16, 2007.
I understand your request to preserve all documents relating to the relationship between our clients and have directed my clients to so preserve all of these documents.
However, the great majority of these documents including substancially all of the communication between Tony Whitcomb, Expotera's President, and Implex are contained in Mr. Whitcomb's, email account with Implex, to which Implex has shut off all access.
This email account includes an estimated 4,000 emails, most of which relate to Expotera's operations and a number of which are privileged attorney/client communications.
Since Mr. Whitcomb has never granted Implex the right to access or deny access to the account and had a reasonable expectation of privacy in his email account, we demand Implex either restore Mr. Whitcomb's access to this account or transfer all of the emails to Mr. Whitcomb in electronic format which may be accessed using commercially-available email clients (i.e. Micosoft Outlook).
In addition, given that the information in the account is personal to Mr. Whitcomb and Expotera and includes privileged attorney/client communications, we expect that Implex will not retain copies of Mr. Whitcomb's emails nor review those emails prior to turning them over to Mr. Whitcomb.
Lastly, you should be aware Expotera needs access to this email account to free up approximately $165,000 in credit card revenues derived from Expotera.com subscriptions since the website's launch.
Any delay in restoring access to this account could cause Expotera irreparable harm, as Expotera requires these funds to continue to operate it's business.
Given that Expotera has not received invoices for the services described in your letter (except possibly June and July 2007 colocation fees) and that Expotera has not yet terminated any agreements or relationships with Implex, I will reserve comment on your clients claim for any fees.
However, we request that your client provide Expotera with copies of all invoices relating to the services in question, as well as all supporting documents associated with such invoices.
In addition we request that Implex provide Expotera with any evidence of Expotera's pre-approval of the out-of-scope website development claimed to have been done by Implex.
Ronald N. Weikers
July 19, 2007
Page 2
Regarding the numerous contacts between Expotera's subscribers and Implex, I have two comments.
First, when Implex made Mr. Whitcomb's email account inaccessible, subscribers to the services offered through Expotera.com were unable to obtain requested technical support because support emails were directed (and may still be directed) to Mr. Whitcomb's email account, a fact of which Implex is undoubtedly aware.
Because these users were unable to contact Mr. Whitcomb directly and because Expotera was unable to directly remedy these technical issues, Expotera.com users were directed to contact Implex directly.
Secondly, I understand that Brad Reddick of Expotera and Steve Pampuch of Implex discussed this issue last week (prior to the date of your letter), and Mr. Reddick diligently contacted Expotera.com members and Expotera.com investors and passed on Implex' request that it not be contacted direclty.
I understand in the last twenty-four hours that either the Expotera.com website has gone down, that certain functionality has been temporarily suspended, or both. It appears that Implex is making changes to the Expotera.com website.
In addition, Expotera has received emails between Implex and Wildfire indicating that Implex may be instructing Wildfire to perform additional programming services, at additional expense, without Expotera's prior consent.
Given the current relationship between our clients and the possibility that our clients will disagree on whatever fees are due, we request that Implex cease doing any work on the Expotera.com website or contacting any Expotera vendors except as necessary to maintain the availability of the website to users.
I'm sure that we will be in touch shortly to discuss the relationship between our clients.
Very truly yours,
Ernest P. Shriver
EPS:skp
cc: Tony Whitcomb
cc: Brad Reddick
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Intel CEO: U.S. faces looming tech decline
Intel CEO: U.S. faces looming tech decline
by Declan McCullagh
August 24, 2010 10:59 AM PDT
Intel chief executive Paul Otellini offered a depressing set of observations about the economy and the Obama administration Monday evening, coupled with a dark commentary on the future of the technology industry if nothing changes.
Otellini's remarks during dinner at the Technology Policy Institute's Aspen Forum here amounted to a warning to the administration officials and assorted Capitol Hill aides in the audience:
Unless government policies are altered, he predicted, "the next big thing will not be invented here. Jobs will not be created here."
The U.S. legal environment has become so hostile to business, Otellini said, that there is likely to be "an inevitable erosion and shift of wealth, much like we're seeing today in Europe--this is the bitter truth."
Not long ago, Otellini said, "our research centers were without peer. No country was more attractive for start-up capital... We seemed a generation ahead of the rest of the world in information technology. That simply is no longer the case."
The phenomenon of technology executives advancing dismal predictions and offering pointed critiques of Washington politicking isn't new, of course.
For instance: In 2005, midway through the Bush administration, Microsoft's Bill Gates told a Washington audience that curbs on immigration and guest workers would provide a boost to research institutions in China and India.
A year earlier, then-Intel CEO Craig Barrett warned that the U.S. must dramatically improve its education system.
That never happened. Nor did politicians follow Gates' advice to rethink laws that led to foreign engineers being kicked out of the country as soon as they finish their degrees.
And now, six years later with no significant reforms, it should come as no surprise that the predictions have become more dire.
Deep in a 'Do' loop
Otellini singled out the political state of affairs in Democrat-dominated Washington, saying:
"I think this group does not understand what it takes to create jobs. And I think they're flummoxed by their experiment in Keynesian economics not working."
Since an unusually sharp downturn accelerated in late 2008, the Obama administration and its allies in the U.S. Congress have enacted trillions in deficit spending they say will create an economic stimulus -- but have not extended the Bush tax cuts and have pushed to levy extensive new health care and carbon regulations on businesses.
"They're in a 'Do' loop right now trying to figure out what the answer is," Otellini said.
As a result, he said, "every business in America has a list of more variables than I've ever seen in my career." If variables like capital gains taxes and the R&D tax credit are resolved correctly, jobs will stay here, but if politicians make decisions "the wrong way, people will not invest in the United States. They'll invest elsewhere."
Take factories. "I can tell you definitively that it costs $1 billion more per factory for me to build, equip, and operate a semiconductor manufacturing facility in the United States," Otellini said.
The rub: Ninety percent of that additional cost of a $4 billion factory is not labor but the cost to comply with taxes and regulations that other nations don't impose.
Cypress Semiconductor CEO T.J. Rodgers elaborated on this in an interview with CNET, saying the problem is not higher U.S. wages but anti-business laws:
"The killer factor in California for a manufacturer to create, say, a thousand blue-collar jobs is a hostile government that doesn't want you there and demonstrates it in thousands of ways."
"If our tax rate approached that of the rest of the world, corporations would have an incentive to invest here," Otellini said.
But instead, it's the second highest in the industrialized world, making the United States a less attractive place to invest--and create jobs--than places in Europe and Asia that are "clamoring" for Intel's business.
The comments from Intel's chief executive echoed statements made a day earlier by Carly Fiorina, the former HP CEO turned Republican Senate candidate.
America's skilled-worker visa system is so badly broken and anti-immigration that "we have to start from scratch," Fiorina said, adding that too many government policies push jobs overseas instead of making U.S. companies competitive against international rivals.
"Our corporate tax rates are the second highest in the world," and Congress has repeatedly failed to make an R&D tax credit permanent, Fiorina told the Aspen audience.
It's time to start "acknowledging the reality that companies go where they're welcome," she said. (The effective U.S. corporate income tax is 35 percent, far over the industrialized-nation average of 18.2 percent.)
Chris Marangi, associate portfolio manager at Gamco Investors in Rye, N.Y., said Tuesday: "Capital is agnostic. It doesn't have a religion. It doesn't have a philosophy. It goes where it finds the highest returns."
The problem, Marangi said, is that many other "countries have a more friendly regulatory regime than we do."
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-20014563-38.html?tag=mncol
;1n
by Declan McCullagh
August 24, 2010 10:59 AM PDT
Intel chief executive Paul Otellini offered a depressing set of observations about the economy and the Obama administration Monday evening, coupled with a dark commentary on the future of the technology industry if nothing changes.
Otellini's remarks during dinner at the Technology Policy Institute's Aspen Forum here amounted to a warning to the administration officials and assorted Capitol Hill aides in the audience:
Unless government policies are altered, he predicted, "the next big thing will not be invented here. Jobs will not be created here."
The U.S. legal environment has become so hostile to business, Otellini said, that there is likely to be "an inevitable erosion and shift of wealth, much like we're seeing today in Europe--this is the bitter truth."
Not long ago, Otellini said, "our research centers were without peer. No country was more attractive for start-up capital... We seemed a generation ahead of the rest of the world in information technology. That simply is no longer the case."
The phenomenon of technology executives advancing dismal predictions and offering pointed critiques of Washington politicking isn't new, of course.
For instance: In 2005, midway through the Bush administration, Microsoft's Bill Gates told a Washington audience that curbs on immigration and guest workers would provide a boost to research institutions in China and India.
A year earlier, then-Intel CEO Craig Barrett warned that the U.S. must dramatically improve its education system.
That never happened. Nor did politicians follow Gates' advice to rethink laws that led to foreign engineers being kicked out of the country as soon as they finish their degrees.
And now, six years later with no significant reforms, it should come as no surprise that the predictions have become more dire.
Deep in a 'Do' loop
Otellini singled out the political state of affairs in Democrat-dominated Washington, saying:
"I think this group does not understand what it takes to create jobs. And I think they're flummoxed by their experiment in Keynesian economics not working."
Since an unusually sharp downturn accelerated in late 2008, the Obama administration and its allies in the U.S. Congress have enacted trillions in deficit spending they say will create an economic stimulus -- but have not extended the Bush tax cuts and have pushed to levy extensive new health care and carbon regulations on businesses.
"They're in a 'Do' loop right now trying to figure out what the answer is," Otellini said.
As a result, he said, "every business in America has a list of more variables than I've ever seen in my career." If variables like capital gains taxes and the R&D tax credit are resolved correctly, jobs will stay here, but if politicians make decisions "the wrong way, people will not invest in the United States. They'll invest elsewhere."
Take factories. "I can tell you definitively that it costs $1 billion more per factory for me to build, equip, and operate a semiconductor manufacturing facility in the United States," Otellini said.
The rub: Ninety percent of that additional cost of a $4 billion factory is not labor but the cost to comply with taxes and regulations that other nations don't impose.
Cypress Semiconductor CEO T.J. Rodgers elaborated on this in an interview with CNET, saying the problem is not higher U.S. wages but anti-business laws:
"The killer factor in California for a manufacturer to create, say, a thousand blue-collar jobs is a hostile government that doesn't want you there and demonstrates it in thousands of ways."
"If our tax rate approached that of the rest of the world, corporations would have an incentive to invest here," Otellini said.
But instead, it's the second highest in the industrialized world, making the United States a less attractive place to invest--and create jobs--than places in Europe and Asia that are "clamoring" for Intel's business.
The comments from Intel's chief executive echoed statements made a day earlier by Carly Fiorina, the former HP CEO turned Republican Senate candidate.
America's skilled-worker visa system is so badly broken and anti-immigration that "we have to start from scratch," Fiorina said, adding that too many government policies push jobs overseas instead of making U.S. companies competitive against international rivals.
"Our corporate tax rates are the second highest in the world," and Congress has repeatedly failed to make an R&D tax credit permanent, Fiorina told the Aspen audience.
It's time to start "acknowledging the reality that companies go where they're welcome," she said. (The effective U.S. corporate income tax is 35 percent, far over the industrialized-nation average of 18.2 percent.)
Chris Marangi, associate portfolio manager at Gamco Investors in Rye, N.Y., said Tuesday: "Capital is agnostic. It doesn't have a religion. It doesn't have a philosophy. It goes where it finds the highest returns."
The problem, Marangi said, is that many other "countries have a more friendly regulatory regime than we do."
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-20014563-38.html?tag=mncol
;1n
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
The Law of Contradiction
Subject: Expotera
From: Pat Shriver Pat.Shriver@fmjlaw.com
Date: Fri, July 13, 2007 12:34 pm
To: stuart@implex.net
Cc: tony@sierra-bravo.com, br-redd@usfamily.net
mailed-by fmjlaw.com
Mr. DeVaan, attached please find correspondence regarding Expotera.
Pat Shriver
Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A.
Flagship Corporate Center
775 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 400
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: 952-224-7285
Fax: 952-995-9577
pat.shriver@fmjlaw.com
www.fmjlaw.com
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Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A.
Attorneys At Law
Flagship Corporate Center
775 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 400
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Telephone: 952-995-9500
Facsimile: 952-995-9577
Website: www.fmjlaw.com
July 13, 2007
Via Email and U.S. Mail
Mr. Stuart DeVaan
Implex.net, Inc.
109 South 7th Street, Suite 255
Roanoke Building
Minneapolis, MN 55402
stuart@implex.net
Re: Expotera, LLC v. Implex.net, Inc.
FMJ File No.: 61068-4
Dear Mr. DeVaan:
Expotera, LLC ("Expotera") is in the process of determining whether to commence litigation against Implex.net, Inc.
Please accept this letter as formal notice of our request that you will maintain all electronic and hard copy documents that refer, relate or pertain, to Expotera, Mr. Tony Whitcomb and Mr. Brad Reddick.
These electronic and hard copy documents may be subject to future discovery request after litigation commences.
Under both state and federal law, parties have a duty to preserve documents when litigation is foreseeable.
Patton v. Newmar Corp., 538 N.W.2d 116, 118 (Minn. 1995); Zubulake v. UBS Warburg, LLC, 220 F.R.D. 212, 216 (S.D.N.Y. 2003).
This includes all documents, including electronic documents stroed or located in computers or other electronic storage systems.
Accordingly, please disable any automatic delete functions on your compters systems to preserve information relevant to the litigation.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Very truly yours,
Ernest P. Shriver
EPS:cau
cc: Tony Whitcomb
cc: Brad Reddick
From: Pat Shriver Pat.Shriver@fmjlaw.com
Date: Fri, July 13, 2007 12:34 pm
To: stuart@implex.net
Cc: tony@sierra-bravo.com, br-redd@usfamily.net
mailed-by fmjlaw.com
Mr. DeVaan, attached please find correspondence regarding Expotera.
Pat Shriver
Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A.
Flagship Corporate Center
775 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 400
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: 952-224-7285
Fax: 952-995-9577
pat.shriver@fmjlaw.com
www.fmjlaw.com
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Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A.
Attorneys At Law
Flagship Corporate Center
775 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 400
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Telephone: 952-995-9500
Facsimile: 952-995-9577
Website: www.fmjlaw.com
July 13, 2007
Via Email and U.S. Mail
Mr. Stuart DeVaan
Implex.net, Inc.
109 South 7th Street, Suite 255
Roanoke Building
Minneapolis, MN 55402
stuart@implex.net
Re: Expotera, LLC v. Implex.net, Inc.
FMJ File No.: 61068-4
Dear Mr. DeVaan:
Expotera, LLC ("Expotera") is in the process of determining whether to commence litigation against Implex.net, Inc.
Please accept this letter as formal notice of our request that you will maintain all electronic and hard copy documents that refer, relate or pertain, to Expotera, Mr. Tony Whitcomb and Mr. Brad Reddick.
These electronic and hard copy documents may be subject to future discovery request after litigation commences.
Under both state and federal law, parties have a duty to preserve documents when litigation is foreseeable.
Patton v. Newmar Corp., 538 N.W.2d 116, 118 (Minn. 1995); Zubulake v. UBS Warburg, LLC, 220 F.R.D. 212, 216 (S.D.N.Y. 2003).
This includes all documents, including electronic documents stroed or located in computers or other electronic storage systems.
Accordingly, please disable any automatic delete functions on your compters systems to preserve information relevant to the litigation.
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Very truly yours,
Ernest P. Shriver
EPS:cau
cc: Tony Whitcomb
cc: Brad Reddick
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Does Barack Obama want to be re-elected in 2012?
Few Americans consider themselves bigger than the presidency but Obama might be one of them.
The man in the Oval Office, argues Toby Harnden, may already be preparing for a role as a post-president in a post-American world.
Published: 9:00PM BST 21 Aug 2010
When David Plouffe, President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign manager, wrote recently that his former boss was "not concerned with his re-election", there was predictable scepticism.
After all, it has long been a truism that every politician wants to cling to power and a reality that presidential campaigns are planned years in advance.
Pronouncements about not looking at polls and concentrating on getting things done are, moreover, standard fare from poll-driven, election-obsessed politicians and their apparatchiks.
In this case, however, Plouffe may inadvertently be onto something.
Almost everything Obama does these days suggests that he doesn't care much about being re-elected. Strange as it might seem, perhaps he wants to be a one-term president.
Obama was elected in 2008 at an extraordinary moment in American politics. Suddenly, this charismatic figure, elected to the Senate without serious opposition in 2004 and without any executive experience, was catapulted into the White House.
His presidential bid had been based on the power of his life story and his ability with the spoken word. Doubtless he was as surprised as anyone else that he pulled it off. Governing has been altogether more difficult for him and there are signs he is already tiring of it.
Obama's intervention on the so-called "Ground Zero mosque" issue is a case in point. There was no need for him to get involved - the Islamic community centre two blocks from the 9/11 site is unlikely to get built and there was no political advantage in his making a statement.
What he said about religious freedom was typically Obama - high-minded, principled and legalistic. He is, after all, a former constitutional law professor.
What his words lacked were any real empathy with what Americans felt and practical considerations about resolving the issue - never mind the political downside for him.
Doubtless he has been advised to prove he is "connected" to ordinary Americans by doing things like be seen attending church and taking "regular" holidays.
But Obama seems happy to act as a European-style secularist, vacation in Martha's Vineyard and send his daughters to one of America's most exclusive private schools.
Obama does not suffer from self doubt.
He has long seemed so convinced of his own virtue that to question his motives is illogical. Increasingly, his pronouncements carry the tone of one who believes those who disagree are stupid or bigoted.
Before departing for Martha's Vineyard last week, Obama spent three days on the campaign trail raising money and support for Democratic mid-term election candidates. Don't give in to fear," he said in Milwaukee. "Let's reach for hope."
It was a message that worked once but is unlikely to appeal this time, with America in the grip of a recession, unemployment still stubbornly close to 10 percent and blame-it-on-Bush rhetoric wearing very thin.
Obama is, however, at his best in these settings. He has the crowd hanging on his every word and he is not dealing with grubby political realities or objectionable opponents. Perhaps they are a reminder for him of simpler times.
They might also be a glimpse of the future.
For Obama, the crowning moment of his presidency have been speeches abroad - the statement in Strasbourg that America had been "dismissive and arrogant", the address to the Muslim world from Cairo, the acceptance in Oslo of the Nobel Peace Prize.
In Berlin in 2008, Obama cast himself as a "citizen of the world". He has dismissed the bedrock notion of American exceptionalism by describing it, also in Strasbourg, as little more than narrow patriotism.
Elite opinion among liberal Ivy League types - of which Obama is the embodiment - holds that we are already living in a post-American world.
There are few Americans who see themselves as bigger than the presidency but Obama could well be one of them. In 2008, Obama showed little appetite for the down-and-dirty aspects of political campaigning.
When things got tough against Hillary Clinton, he all but conceded the final Democratic primaries and let the clock run out.
Against John McCain, he developed a campaign plan and refused to deviate from it. McCain was level in the polls when the US economy imploded, handing Obama a relatively comfortable victory.
Obama is the first black American president, an established author, multi-millionaire and acclaimed figure beyond American shores.
It seems highly unlikely that Obama will decide not to run in 2012.
But he might well be calculating that a embarking post-presidential role as the leading global thinker in the post-American world as a Republican successor enters office is more attractive than being sullied by the political compromises and manoeuvrings necessary to win.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/bar
ackobama/7958031/Does-Barack-Obama-want-to-be-re-elected-in-
2012.html
The man in the Oval Office, argues Toby Harnden, may already be preparing for a role as a post-president in a post-American world.
Published: 9:00PM BST 21 Aug 2010
When David Plouffe, President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign manager, wrote recently that his former boss was "not concerned with his re-election", there was predictable scepticism.
After all, it has long been a truism that every politician wants to cling to power and a reality that presidential campaigns are planned years in advance.
Pronouncements about not looking at polls and concentrating on getting things done are, moreover, standard fare from poll-driven, election-obsessed politicians and their apparatchiks.
In this case, however, Plouffe may inadvertently be onto something.
Almost everything Obama does these days suggests that he doesn't care much about being re-elected. Strange as it might seem, perhaps he wants to be a one-term president.
Obama was elected in 2008 at an extraordinary moment in American politics. Suddenly, this charismatic figure, elected to the Senate without serious opposition in 2004 and without any executive experience, was catapulted into the White House.
His presidential bid had been based on the power of his life story and his ability with the spoken word. Doubtless he was as surprised as anyone else that he pulled it off. Governing has been altogether more difficult for him and there are signs he is already tiring of it.
Obama's intervention on the so-called "Ground Zero mosque" issue is a case in point. There was no need for him to get involved - the Islamic community centre two blocks from the 9/11 site is unlikely to get built and there was no political advantage in his making a statement.
What he said about religious freedom was typically Obama - high-minded, principled and legalistic. He is, after all, a former constitutional law professor.
What his words lacked were any real empathy with what Americans felt and practical considerations about resolving the issue - never mind the political downside for him.
Doubtless he has been advised to prove he is "connected" to ordinary Americans by doing things like be seen attending church and taking "regular" holidays.
But Obama seems happy to act as a European-style secularist, vacation in Martha's Vineyard and send his daughters to one of America's most exclusive private schools.
Obama does not suffer from self doubt.
He has long seemed so convinced of his own virtue that to question his motives is illogical. Increasingly, his pronouncements carry the tone of one who believes those who disagree are stupid or bigoted.
Before departing for Martha's Vineyard last week, Obama spent three days on the campaign trail raising money and support for Democratic mid-term election candidates. Don't give in to fear," he said in Milwaukee. "Let's reach for hope."
It was a message that worked once but is unlikely to appeal this time, with America in the grip of a recession, unemployment still stubbornly close to 10 percent and blame-it-on-Bush rhetoric wearing very thin.
Obama is, however, at his best in these settings. He has the crowd hanging on his every word and he is not dealing with grubby political realities or objectionable opponents. Perhaps they are a reminder for him of simpler times.
They might also be a glimpse of the future.
For Obama, the crowning moment of his presidency have been speeches abroad - the statement in Strasbourg that America had been "dismissive and arrogant", the address to the Muslim world from Cairo, the acceptance in Oslo of the Nobel Peace Prize.
In Berlin in 2008, Obama cast himself as a "citizen of the world". He has dismissed the bedrock notion of American exceptionalism by describing it, also in Strasbourg, as little more than narrow patriotism.
Elite opinion among liberal Ivy League types - of which Obama is the embodiment - holds that we are already living in a post-American world.
There are few Americans who see themselves as bigger than the presidency but Obama could well be one of them. In 2008, Obama showed little appetite for the down-and-dirty aspects of political campaigning.
When things got tough against Hillary Clinton, he all but conceded the final Democratic primaries and let the clock run out.
Against John McCain, he developed a campaign plan and refused to deviate from it. McCain was level in the polls when the US economy imploded, handing Obama a relatively comfortable victory.
Obama is the first black American president, an established author, multi-millionaire and acclaimed figure beyond American shores.
It seems highly unlikely that Obama will decide not to run in 2012.
But he might well be calculating that a embarking post-presidential role as the leading global thinker in the post-American world as a Republican successor enters office is more attractive than being sullied by the political compromises and manoeuvrings necessary to win.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/bar
ackobama/7958031/Does-Barack-Obama-want-to-be-re-elected-in-
2012.html
Saturday, August 21, 2010
The Devil's Advocate(s)
from Pat Shriver Pat.Shriver@fmjlaw.com
to tony whitcomb expotera.ceo@gmail.com
date Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 9:41 AM
subject RE: FW: [Fwd: Re: Expotera resolution - Revised]
mailed-by fmjlaw.com
Tony, I honestly have no idea what you mean.
As you know, we've suspended providing any services on behalf of Expotera because of the outstanding amounts due my firm, and even if Expotera's account was brought current, we have not committed to commencing any litigation on Expotera's behalf, and whether our firm agrees to represent Expotera with regard to any litigation claims in the future will depend on Expotera's ability to pay the costs of such litigation (part or all of which would have to be paid in advance), our litigation attorneys' evaluation of the merits and likelihood of success of any such case, and our firm's ability and willingness to take on the case.
We would reserve the right in any case to decline such representation for any reason or no reason, and I can tell you that based upon my conversations with our litigation attorneys to date it is unlikely that we would agree to represent Expotera in any litigation with Implex or Sierra Bravo.
Because we have not agreed to represent you with regard to any claims Expotera may have, you may not rely upon us to take any actions on your behalf.
I am bound by the ethics of my profession to tell you that there may be time limitations that could impact your ability to assert claims against Implex, Sierro Bravo or anyone else, and because our firm is not currently able to advise you regarding any potential claims you may want to contact separate counsel to help you determine the time limits applicable to your case(s) and whether you should prosecute such claims in the near future.
Pat Shriver
Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A.
Flagship Corporate Center
775 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 400
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: 952-224-7285
Fax: 952-995-9577
pat.shriver@fmjlaw.com
www.fmjlaw.com
-----Original Message-----
From: tony whitcomb [mailto:expotera.ceo@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 6:11 PM
To: Pat Shriver
Subject: Re: FW: [Fwd: Re: Expotera resolution - Revised]
mailed-by gmail.com
from Barnett, Robert RBarnett@wc.com
to Stac Ming stacy.ming@gmail.com
cc Tony Whitcomb expotera.ceo@gmail.com
date Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 6:32 PM
subject RE: Expotera
mailed-by wc.com
Thanks for contacting me. I now understand what you are seeking. Unfortunately, because I represent the President on various matters, I cannot intermediate in any way on behalf of third-parties. I hope you understand.
-----Original Message-----
From: Stac Ming mailto:stacy.ming@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 4:40 PM
To: Barnett, Robert
Cc: Tony Whitcomb
Subject: Expotera
mailed-by gmail.com
from Barnett, Robert RBarnett@wc.com
to tony whitcomb expotera.ceo@gmail.com
cc stacy.ming@gmail.com
date Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 6:19 PM
subject RE: Obama Top Contributors
mailed-by wc.com
Mr. Whitcomb:
As I have told your colleagues, I am not involved in these matters
and am not able to help you with this matter.
-----Original Message-----
from tony whitcomb expotera.ceo@gmail.com
to Barnett, Robert rbarnett@wc.com
cc stacy.ming@gmail.com
date Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 2:00 PM
subject Fwd: Obama Top Contributors
mailed-by gmail.com
from Schutz, Ronald J. RJSchutz@rkmc.com
to tony whitcomb expotera.ceo@gmail.com
cc Stac Ming stacy.ming@gmail.com
date Sat, May 1, 2010 at 4:04 PM
subject RE: Expotera/Canada
mailed-by rkmc.com
Tony:
We admire your passion and intensity. It has obviously served you well over the years.
But as we said in our meeting, although we think you were wronged by Mr. Devaan and his group we are not willing to take on that battle for you for all of the reasons we stated in the meeting (e.g., the inherent difficulty in proving the claim and the likelihood that there would be no money to collect).
I hope you appreciate that we have limited resources and that we have an obligation on behalf of the firm and its employees to invest those resources wisely.
We do not think pursuing this claim on any type of incentive fee arrangement would be a wise use of our resources.
And, even if you had the money to pay us we would advise you to
use the money toward developing your business.
Again, we hope you take your passion and intensity and apply it toward developing your business.
Regards,
Ron
Ronald J. Schutz
Attorney
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.
2800 LaSalle Plaza
800 LaSalle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Direct: (612) 349-8435
Fax: (612) 339-4181
Email: rjschutz@rkmc.com
www.rkmc.com
-----Original Message-----
From: tony whitcomb mailto:expotera.ceo@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 6:41 AM
To: Schutz, Ronald J. RJSchutz@rkmc.com
Cc: Stac Ming stacy.ming@gmail.com
Subject: Fwd: Expotera/Canada
mailed-by gmail.com
to tony whitcomb expotera.ceo@gmail.com
date Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 9:41 AM
subject RE: FW: [Fwd: Re: Expotera resolution - Revised]
mailed-by fmjlaw.com
Tony, I honestly have no idea what you mean.
As you know, we've suspended providing any services on behalf of Expotera because of the outstanding amounts due my firm, and even if Expotera's account was brought current, we have not committed to commencing any litigation on Expotera's behalf, and whether our firm agrees to represent Expotera with regard to any litigation claims in the future will depend on Expotera's ability to pay the costs of such litigation (part or all of which would have to be paid in advance), our litigation attorneys' evaluation of the merits and likelihood of success of any such case, and our firm's ability and willingness to take on the case.
We would reserve the right in any case to decline such representation for any reason or no reason, and I can tell you that based upon my conversations with our litigation attorneys to date it is unlikely that we would agree to represent Expotera in any litigation with Implex or Sierra Bravo.
Because we have not agreed to represent you with regard to any claims Expotera may have, you may not rely upon us to take any actions on your behalf.
I am bound by the ethics of my profession to tell you that there may be time limitations that could impact your ability to assert claims against Implex, Sierro Bravo or anyone else, and because our firm is not currently able to advise you regarding any potential claims you may want to contact separate counsel to help you determine the time limits applicable to your case(s) and whether you should prosecute such claims in the near future.
Pat Shriver
Fafinski Mark & Johnson, P.A.
Flagship Corporate Center
775 Prairie Center Drive, Suite 400
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: 952-224-7285
Fax: 952-995-9577
pat.shriver@fmjlaw.com
www.fmjlaw.com
-----Original Message-----
From: tony whitcomb [mailto:expotera.ceo@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 6:11 PM
To: Pat Shriver
Subject: Re: FW: [Fwd: Re: Expotera resolution - Revised]
mailed-by gmail.com
from Barnett, Robert RBarnett@wc.com
to Stac Ming stacy.ming@gmail.com
cc Tony Whitcomb expotera.ceo@gmail.com
date Fri, Jan 22, 2010 at 6:32 PM
subject RE: Expotera
mailed-by wc.com
Thanks for contacting me. I now understand what you are seeking. Unfortunately, because I represent the President on various matters, I cannot intermediate in any way on behalf of third-parties. I hope you understand.
-----Original Message-----
From: Stac Ming mailto:stacy.ming@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 4:40 PM
To: Barnett, Robert
Cc: Tony Whitcomb
Subject: Expotera
mailed-by gmail.com
from Barnett, Robert RBarnett@wc.com
to tony whitcomb expotera.ceo@gmail.com
cc stacy.ming@gmail.com
date Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 6:19 PM
subject RE: Obama Top Contributors
mailed-by wc.com
Mr. Whitcomb:
As I have told your colleagues, I am not involved in these matters
and am not able to help you with this matter.
-----Original Message-----
from tony whitcomb expotera.ceo@gmail.com
to Barnett, Robert rbarnett@wc.com
cc stacy.ming@gmail.com
date Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 2:00 PM
subject Fwd: Obama Top Contributors
mailed-by gmail.com
from Schutz, Ronald J. RJSchutz@rkmc.com
to tony whitcomb expotera.ceo@gmail.com
cc Stac Ming stacy.ming@gmail.com
date Sat, May 1, 2010 at 4:04 PM
subject RE: Expotera/Canada
mailed-by rkmc.com
Tony:
We admire your passion and intensity. It has obviously served you well over the years.
But as we said in our meeting, although we think you were wronged by Mr. Devaan and his group we are not willing to take on that battle for you for all of the reasons we stated in the meeting (e.g., the inherent difficulty in proving the claim and the likelihood that there would be no money to collect).
I hope you appreciate that we have limited resources and that we have an obligation on behalf of the firm and its employees to invest those resources wisely.
We do not think pursuing this claim on any type of incentive fee arrangement would be a wise use of our resources.
And, even if you had the money to pay us we would advise you to
use the money toward developing your business.
Again, we hope you take your passion and intensity and apply it toward developing your business.
Regards,
Ron
Ronald J. Schutz
Attorney
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.
2800 LaSalle Plaza
800 LaSalle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Direct: (612) 349-8435
Fax: (612) 339-4181
Email: rjschutz@rkmc.com
www.rkmc.com
-----Original Message-----
From: tony whitcomb mailto:expotera.ceo@gmail.com
Sent: Friday, April 30, 2010 6:41 AM
To: Schutz, Ronald J. RJSchutz@rkmc.com
Cc: Stac Ming stacy.ming@gmail.com
Subject: Fwd: Expotera/Canada
mailed-by gmail.com
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Obamas to begin sixth holiday of the year
The Obama family will begin their sixth holiday of the year today, an 11-day sojourn in Martha’s Vineyard, the island destination of the wealthy and well-connected American elite.
By Toby Harnden, Washington
Published: 8:18PM BST 18 Aug 2010
President Barack Obama will be accompanied by his wife Michelle and daughters Malia, 12, and Sasha, nine, and are expected to stay at the historic Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark.
Bill Burton, the deputy White House press secretary, said that the US president was “going to spend a little time recharging his batteries” at the Massachusetts island ahead of the November midterm elections.
“There will be some hiking, some time at the beach, some time at the ice cream store - all the sort of things you do when you’re at Martha’s Vineyard. You enjoy the people and the good food.”
He is also expected to work on his swing at Mink Meadows golf club in Vineyard Haven and to work out every day, as he did when the First Family visited Martha’s Vineyard last year.
The tally of vacation days for an American president has become a contentious issue in recent years.
President Bill Clinton conducted a poll about where best to holiday. President George W. Bush spent a total of 879 days on holiday in his eight years in office, according to Mark Knoller of CBS, the unofficial statistician of the presidency.
Mr Bush was usually working at his Prairie Chapel ranch in Texas, which was named the “Western White House” during his long summers there when he was accompanied by dozens of staff.
Mr Obama’s holidays have been particularly scrutinised in the last year, as he has come under fire for his handling of the US economy as well as the Louisiana oil spill.
A poll released this week found that only four in 10 approve of his handling of the economy.
He was questioned last year for choosing to stay on the elitist Martha’s Vineyard during a severe recession, while in July he was criticised for taking his family to Maine rather than visit the Gulf of Mexico coast line. He subsequently took his family to Florida last weekend.
Although he appears to take more holidays than his predecessors, they have usually been very short.
His five this year will total just 20 days - he did not accompany his wife and youngest daughter to Marbella, Spain. As well as Florida, Maine, and an 11-day stay in Hawaii over Christmas and New Year, he and his wife spent two days in Asheville, North Carolina in April.
His holidays also tend to be interrupted by major events.
During the President’s first holiday of the year in his native Hawaii he spent much of his time grappling with the fallout from the failed terrorist attack by the Christmas Day “underpants bomber”.
His last break in Martha’s Vineyard was interrupted by the death of Senator Edward Kennedy.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/bar
ackobama/7952796/Obamas-to-begin-sixth-holiday-of-the-year.html
The Obama family will begin their sixth holiday of the year today, an 11-day sojourn in Martha’s Vineyard, the island destination of the wealthy and well-connected American elite.
By Toby Harnden, Washington
Published: 8:18PM BST 18 Aug 2010
President Barack Obama will be accompanied by his wife Michelle and daughters Malia, 12, and Sasha, nine, and are expected to stay at the historic Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark.
Bill Burton, the deputy White House press secretary, said that the US president was “going to spend a little time recharging his batteries” at the Massachusetts island ahead of the November midterm elections.
“There will be some hiking, some time at the beach, some time at the ice cream store - all the sort of things you do when you’re at Martha’s Vineyard. You enjoy the people and the good food.”
He is also expected to work on his swing at Mink Meadows golf club in Vineyard Haven and to work out every day, as he did when the First Family visited Martha’s Vineyard last year.
The tally of vacation days for an American president has become a contentious issue in recent years.
President Bill Clinton conducted a poll about where best to holiday. President George W. Bush spent a total of 879 days on holiday in his eight years in office, according to Mark Knoller of CBS, the unofficial statistician of the presidency.
Mr Bush was usually working at his Prairie Chapel ranch in Texas, which was named the “Western White House” during his long summers there when he was accompanied by dozens of staff.
Mr Obama’s holidays have been particularly scrutinised in the last year, as he has come under fire for his handling of the US economy as well as the Louisiana oil spill.
A poll released this week found that only four in 10 approve of his handling of the economy.
He was questioned last year for choosing to stay on the elitist Martha’s Vineyard during a severe recession, while in July he was criticised for taking his family to Maine rather than visit the Gulf of Mexico coast line. He subsequently took his family to Florida last weekend.
Although he appears to take more holidays than his predecessors, they have usually been very short.
His five this year will total just 20 days - he did not accompany his wife and youngest daughter to Marbella, Spain. As well as Florida, Maine, and an 11-day stay in Hawaii over Christmas and New Year, he and his wife spent two days in Asheville, North Carolina in April.
His holidays also tend to be interrupted by major events.
During the President’s first holiday of the year in his native Hawaii he spent much of his time grappling with the fallout from the failed terrorist attack by the Christmas Day “underpants bomber”.
His last break in Martha’s Vineyard was interrupted by the death of Senator Edward Kennedy.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/bar
ackobama/7952796/Obamas-to-begin-sixth-holiday-of-the-year.html
Friday, August 20, 2010
Barack, it's time to commit to Justice
from tony whitcomb
to info@barackobama.com
cc "Barnett, Robert" democraticparty@democrats.org,
ofaminnesota@dnc.org, info@catholiccharitiesusa.org,
info@skollfoundation.org, impact@newprofit.com,
info@sharingandcaringhands.org,
info@nationalactionnetwork.net, jjackson@rainbowpush.org,
cromer@econ.berkeley.edu, rreich@berkeley.edu,
stuart@implex.net, steve@implex.net,
thomas@bluestatedigital.com, bizdev@google.com
date Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 1:14 PM
subject Barack, it's time to commit to Justice
mailed-by gmail.com
An Open Letter To The American People
My Dear Fellow American Citizens:
My name is Tony Whitcomb. I am a 44 year old Social Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of an Internet startup currently based in Minneapolis, Minnesota called Expotera.
Expotera is a new small business/social networking concept that is seizing financial opportunities that others like MySpace and Facebook have missed or have simply ignored, because it was far easier to continue exploiting and taking full advantage of the web's, "Free Labor Economy" versus financially empowering and taking full advantage of the web's, "Paid Labor Economy."
Expotera is an innovative and systematic approach for meeting the finanacial needs of the marginalized, the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised populations that lack the financial means or political clout to achieve any lasting benefit on their own which at this point, pretty much represents all of us who make up the bottom 99% of the American and Global Population.
In February of 2007 I put together a $10,000,000.00 Confidential Private Placement Memorandum for my Intellectual Property with, http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/devaan/ who is one of my former bosses.
Our original legal and binding agreement called for me to maintain a 51% majority ownership stake in the company and a private technology/investment group led by Mr. Devaan, would maintain a 49% minority ownership stake in the company.
In April of 2008 after a very successfully proof of concept, this private technology/investment group led by Mr. Devaan suddenly realized that Expotera was going to eventually be worth Billions of dollars annually out in the global marketplace and the initial $10,000,000.00 market evaluation had been extremely conservative.
So in keeping in the tradition of doing business here in good old, "Corporate America" this private technology/investment group led by Mr. Devaan decided they now wanted to own a 80% majority ownership stake in Expotera and they also wanted to replace me as the CEO of Expotera with one of their fellow, "Conniver's" as well.
They wanted me to agree to do all of this after I had basically worked for, "FREE" on this project for two years and had given these gentlemen $500,000.00 of my Private Investors money and my entire Intellectual Property, for my originally agreed upon 51% majority ownership stake in the company.
When I refused to sign 80% majority control of the company over to these gentlemen for oh by the way, "$1" to be paid back to the company, they decided to close down all of the company's offices, shut down the company's web site and closed all of the company's bank accounts to try to bully and force me and my investors into finally accepting their illegal inside hostile takeover of the company.
When I still refused to sign 80% majority control of the company over to these gentlemen, they basically then dared me and my group of investors, to legally try to come after them simply because they are Microsoft and they can pretty much intimidate and/or, "Bribe" anyone in a reasonable position to help us at this present time as clearly illustrated below.
In May of 2008 while President Obama was still running for president, we began to naively reach out to him and to his campaign for help with our unfortunate situation because we honestly believed him when he said things were going to, "CHANGE" under him as President and when he became President in 2009, we continued to reach out to him and to his Administration for help and assistance.
But now after 2 years of not receiving any type of acknowledgement or response to the numerous e-mails we have sent to President Obama and to his Administration in regards to these matters, we believe we have now discovered the real reasons why President Obama and his Administration do not wish to acknowledge and/or deal with any of us at this time.
You see my fellow Americans, we live in the land of the Golden Rule, "He who owns the most gold makes and gets to break all of the rules" and in 2008 Microsoft contributed well over $800,000.00 to President Obama's presidential campaign placing Microsoft at number 4 on President Obama's top contributors list for 2008.
And of course included in this total amount above is the $28,500.00 campaign contribution made by Mr. Devaan to the, "Obama Victory Fund" on July 25, 2008 under the slightly different spelling of his last name, "Devann."
And of course this highly questionable large campaign contribution to President Obama's 2008 presidential campaign came only 3 months after, "We The People" had started contacting him and his campaign for help in regards to these matters as well.
But in 2008 President Obama had been given over 800,000 reasons to continue looking the other way and pretending he is completely unaware and totally oblivious to this huge social economic injustice that has now occurred on his watch as Commander and Chief.
So for over 2 years now Mr. Devaan and his group of, "Somali Software Pirates" have been able to successfully, "HIGHJACK" Expotera and hold me, my investors and founding members in Expotera, "HOSTAGE" simply because our entire financial, political and legal systems here in America are constantly being put up for sale to the highest bidder by some of the most dishonest, unethical, immoral and corrupt Politicians in our Nation's 233 year history.
Our Country now sits on the verge of a 21st century depression all because of the continued dishonesty and greed of a few, have now resulted into the sufferings of the many.
This is why I now say to all of you my dear fellow American Citizens, it is simply time for a major political and economic Revolution in this country and I have a grassroots business/technology plan called Expotera that we can use here in the beginning to get this process started because I can't honestly speak for all of you but, "I Am Mad As Hell And I Am Not Going To Take It Anymore!"
I would personally like to thank each and everyone of you for taking the time to read this open letter to the American People and for checking out my new Blog.
Instead of being a Blogger and Corporate Whistleblower these days, I would much rather be back running and growing my company and helping people to become their own, "Moses" and create their own, "Promised Lands."
But until then, I am going to continue using this Blog to try to bring plenty out of lack, justice out of injustice and function out of dsyfunction and if any of you would care to join with me, please feel free to send me an e-mail to the e-mail address listed below.
God Bless You and God Bless America!
Sincerely,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO Expotera
expotera.ceo@gmail.com
3 attachments — Download all attachments
Expotera_-_Form_of_PPM_v6_-_2.28.07.doc
228K View Download
Expotera_Concept_Card_051607.pdf
50K View Download
Resolution,_Amended_and_Restated_Bylaws_and_Election_of_Governors.doc_-_430323_1.DOC
68K View Download
to info@barackobama.com
cc "Barnett, Robert" democraticparty@democrats.org,
ofaminnesota@dnc.org, info@catholiccharitiesusa.org,
info@skollfoundation.org, impact@newprofit.com,
info@sharingandcaringhands.org,
info@nationalactionnetwork.net, jjackson@rainbowpush.org,
cromer@econ.berkeley.edu, rreich@berkeley.edu,
stuart@implex.net, steve@implex.net,
thomas@bluestatedigital.com, bizdev@google.com
date Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 1:14 PM
subject Barack, it's time to commit to Justice
mailed-by gmail.com
An Open Letter To The American People
My Dear Fellow American Citizens:
My name is Tony Whitcomb. I am a 44 year old Social Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of an Internet startup currently based in Minneapolis, Minnesota called Expotera.
Expotera is a new small business/social networking concept that is seizing financial opportunities that others like MySpace and Facebook have missed or have simply ignored, because it was far easier to continue exploiting and taking full advantage of the web's, "Free Labor Economy" versus financially empowering and taking full advantage of the web's, "Paid Labor Economy."
Expotera is an innovative and systematic approach for meeting the finanacial needs of the marginalized, the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised populations that lack the financial means or political clout to achieve any lasting benefit on their own which at this point, pretty much represents all of us who make up the bottom 99% of the American and Global Population.
In February of 2007 I put together a $10,000,000.00 Confidential Private Placement Memorandum for my Intellectual Property with, http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/devaan/ who is one of my former bosses.
Our original legal and binding agreement called for me to maintain a 51% majority ownership stake in the company and a private technology/investment group led by Mr. Devaan, would maintain a 49% minority ownership stake in the company.
In April of 2008 after a very successfully proof of concept, this private technology/investment group led by Mr. Devaan suddenly realized that Expotera was going to eventually be worth Billions of dollars annually out in the global marketplace and the initial $10,000,000.00 market evaluation had been extremely conservative.
So in keeping in the tradition of doing business here in good old, "Corporate America" this private technology/investment group led by Mr. Devaan decided they now wanted to own a 80% majority ownership stake in Expotera and they also wanted to replace me as the CEO of Expotera with one of their fellow, "Conniver's" as well.
They wanted me to agree to do all of this after I had basically worked for, "FREE" on this project for two years and had given these gentlemen $500,000.00 of my Private Investors money and my entire Intellectual Property, for my originally agreed upon 51% majority ownership stake in the company.
When I refused to sign 80% majority control of the company over to these gentlemen for oh by the way, "$1" to be paid back to the company, they decided to close down all of the company's offices, shut down the company's web site and closed all of the company's bank accounts to try to bully and force me and my investors into finally accepting their illegal inside hostile takeover of the company.
When I still refused to sign 80% majority control of the company over to these gentlemen, they basically then dared me and my group of investors, to legally try to come after them simply because they are Microsoft and they can pretty much intimidate and/or, "Bribe" anyone in a reasonable position to help us at this present time as clearly illustrated below.
In May of 2008 while President Obama was still running for president, we began to naively reach out to him and to his campaign for help with our unfortunate situation because we honestly believed him when he said things were going to, "CHANGE" under him as President and when he became President in 2009, we continued to reach out to him and to his Administration for help and assistance.
But now after 2 years of not receiving any type of acknowledgement or response to the numerous e-mails we have sent to President Obama and to his Administration in regards to these matters, we believe we have now discovered the real reasons why President Obama and his Administration do not wish to acknowledge and/or deal with any of us at this time.
You see my fellow Americans, we live in the land of the Golden Rule, "He who owns the most gold makes and gets to break all of the rules" and in 2008 Microsoft contributed well over $800,000.00 to President Obama's presidential campaign placing Microsoft at number 4 on President Obama's top contributors list for 2008.
And of course included in this total amount above is the $28,500.00 campaign contribution made by Mr. Devaan to the, "Obama Victory Fund" on July 25, 2008 under the slightly different spelling of his last name, "Devann."
And of course this highly questionable large campaign contribution to President Obama's 2008 presidential campaign came only 3 months after, "We The People" had started contacting him and his campaign for help in regards to these matters as well.
But in 2008 President Obama had been given over 800,000 reasons to continue looking the other way and pretending he is completely unaware and totally oblivious to this huge social economic injustice that has now occurred on his watch as Commander and Chief.
So for over 2 years now Mr. Devaan and his group of, "Somali Software Pirates" have been able to successfully, "HIGHJACK" Expotera and hold me, my investors and founding members in Expotera, "HOSTAGE" simply because our entire financial, political and legal systems here in America are constantly being put up for sale to the highest bidder by some of the most dishonest, unethical, immoral and corrupt Politicians in our Nation's 233 year history.
Our Country now sits on the verge of a 21st century depression all because of the continued dishonesty and greed of a few, have now resulted into the sufferings of the many.
This is why I now say to all of you my dear fellow American Citizens, it is simply time for a major political and economic Revolution in this country and I have a grassroots business/technology plan called Expotera that we can use here in the beginning to get this process started because I can't honestly speak for all of you but, "I Am Mad As Hell And I Am Not Going To Take It Anymore!"
I would personally like to thank each and everyone of you for taking the time to read this open letter to the American People and for checking out my new Blog.
Instead of being a Blogger and Corporate Whistleblower these days, I would much rather be back running and growing my company and helping people to become their own, "Moses" and create their own, "Promised Lands."
But until then, I am going to continue using this Blog to try to bring plenty out of lack, justice out of injustice and function out of dsyfunction and if any of you would care to join with me, please feel free to send me an e-mail to the e-mail address listed below.
God Bless You and God Bless America!
Sincerely,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO Expotera
expotera.ceo@gmail.com
3 attachments — Download all attachments
Expotera_-_Form_of_PPM_v6_-_2.28.07.doc
228K View Download
Expotera_Concept_Card_051607.pdf
50K View Download
Resolution,_Amended_and_Restated_Bylaws_and_Election_of_Governors.doc_-_430323_1.DOC
68K View Download
Thursday, August 19, 2010
The Ecstasy of The Evil Empire
There's A Coup Brewing At Microsoft
Peter Lauria, The Daily Beast | Jul. 22, 2010, 9:28 AM
Senior Microsoft executives, disenchanted with the company's stagnant stock, have been secretly discussing how to kick chief Steve Ballmer, and maybe the board, to the curb.
An emotional tribute to his 30 years of service nearly brought Microsoft's testosterone-fueled CEO Steve Ballmer to tears yesterday in front of more than 10,000 employees gathered in Atlanta for the software giant's annual global sales meeting.
"He was rendered completely speechless," a tweet from one of the conference's attendees reported. "Incredibly intense and moving experience."
According another Microsoft executive at the conference, there may be a reason for the drama other than gratitude: Ballmer may not be at Microsoft when next year's event rolls around.
"It felt like it could have been a sign of his last mgx [Microsoft Global Experience]," wrote this insider in a text message to me. "A farewell?"
Indeed, this executive and several other sources close to Microsoft say that there is a growing resentment among a faction of certain executives inside the company who blame Ballmer for the years-long stagnation in Microsoft's stock price.
Their argument, according to these sources, is that Microsoft's overall financial performance has been solid—analysts expect the company to show continued earnings improvement when it reports second-quarter results today—it has scored some strategic wins with the Yahoo search deal, Xbox, and Windows 7 release, and is sitting on a cash pile of more than $20 billion.
But instead of a steadily rising stock price, Microsoft shares have fluctuated wildly over the last few yers, seemingly unable to break out of the mid-$20s for any significant length of time.
After what Citigroup analyst Walter Pritchard dubbed an "inline or better" first quarter, for instance, Microsoft shares traded down 9 percent. The company's shares started the year at $30.67 and have since dipped to $25.12 to close trading yesterday.
Sources say the talk around Microsoft's Redmond, Washington, headquarters—which has grown increasingly louder ever since Apple surpassed Microsoft in market capitalization--is that the company's stock suffers from a "Ballmer discount" and that the CEO is on the clock to significantly move the needle on its share price over the next two or three quarters or face a potential move to oust him.
"Ballmer is on the list of mega-executives under pressure," says a banker who has negotiated deals for Microsoft. "If he was asked to leave the building, I suspect there would be more happy than unhappy people."
A representative for Microsoft, citing a quiet period ahead of today's earnings call, declined comment for this story.
Ballmer still enjoys strong support from many executives inside Microsoft and among those who do business with the company, and several sources dismissed the notion of his ouster as little more than wishful thinking among a disenchanted but vocal minority within an organization that employees nearly 100,000 people.
Under Ballmer's watch, Microsoft's revenue swelled from $23 billion when he took over in 2000 to $54 billion today. Earnings have grown to $14.6 billion from $9.4 billion.
The company still dominates the PC market, consumers have sided with the Xbox in the console gaming wars, and its Bing search engine is slowly gaining traction with users. And Ballmer has managed costs aggressively, particularly during the recession, which Wall Street analysts love to see.
There are also two powerful intangibles that will make it difficult for any group, however sizable, to remove Ballmer: Microsoft's board supports him unwaveringly, and there's no obvious successor that could easily slide into his post.
"I can't imagine the board ever going hostile on him," says one former high-ranking Microsoft executive who remains close to the company.
The problem for Ballmer is that Microsoft is essentially an afterthought in technology's hot growth areas of mobile, devices, search, and cloud computing.
The company's smart phone efforts have been feeble—its decision to shut down the KIN offering after 48 days was utterly embarrassing.
On the device side, the Zune has elicited more jokes than sales. And while Bing grew 24 percent over the last year, Google remains the market leader by a dominate margin.
Of Microsoft, one prominent technology CEO who asked to remain anonymous says, "They are irrelevant down in Silicon Valley."
Adds another Silicon Valley entrepreneur who has worked on projects for Microsoft: "They aren't innovating enough, and without innovation where does the growth come from?"
According to the Microsoft insider at yesterday's conference, Ballmer's hard-charging management style has also caused friction in the senior ranks.
"Under Bill [Gates], Ballmer was the clear No. 2, but there were a lot of two-and-a-halves behind him," says this source. "That created an open dialogue and a lot of checks and balances. Now, the place is run more like a dictatorship."
Indeed, while retirement was the official reason given for the recent resignation of longtime entertainment group head Robbie Bach, who is just 48 years old, this source said his leaving had more to do with the fact that Bach and Ballmer differed on the direction of Microsoft's device platform.
Bach did not return several calls for comment.
Taken together, an autocratic leader and a flatlining stock price are powerful motivators for a coup d'etat.
After all, many of Ballmer's minions have their wealth tied up in Microsoft stock options and it is quite disconcerting for them to look at a 10-year chart that shows the company's share price of $48.93 when Ballmer took over in January 2000 now down to $25.12. (for the math-challenged, that's a nearly 50 percent loss in value over the last decade).
"There's not a lot of love for a $25 stock price, and there's a lot of restlessness in the company over it," says a source who advises Microsoft.
Even the Microsoft insider agrees, however, that the company isn't likely to make a rash change at the top. Instead, this source says the process will be more subtle.
One option secretly being discussed among the disenchanted is to add board seats or replace current directors at the end of their term with CEO-ready candidates who could both provide Ballmer with guidance and be there to step into an interim role as CEO if he resigns.
Though bringing in an outsider is completely antithetical to Microsoft's uniquely homegrown culture, there is something to be said about bringing in fresh blood, particularly with regards to a stagnating company.
As the Microsoft adviser says, "At the end of the day, someone needs to be held accountable for the loss in shareholder value."
Usually, that person is the CEO.
Peter Lauria is senior correspondent covering business, media, and entertainment for The Daily Beast. This post originally appeared at The Daily Beast and is republished here with permission.
http://www.businessinsider.com/a-coup-brews-at-microsoft-2010-7
Peter Lauria, The Daily Beast | Jul. 22, 2010, 9:28 AM
Senior Microsoft executives, disenchanted with the company's stagnant stock, have been secretly discussing how to kick chief Steve Ballmer, and maybe the board, to the curb.
An emotional tribute to his 30 years of service nearly brought Microsoft's testosterone-fueled CEO Steve Ballmer to tears yesterday in front of more than 10,000 employees gathered in Atlanta for the software giant's annual global sales meeting.
"He was rendered completely speechless," a tweet from one of the conference's attendees reported. "Incredibly intense and moving experience."
According another Microsoft executive at the conference, there may be a reason for the drama other than gratitude: Ballmer may not be at Microsoft when next year's event rolls around.
"It felt like it could have been a sign of his last mgx [Microsoft Global Experience]," wrote this insider in a text message to me. "A farewell?"
Indeed, this executive and several other sources close to Microsoft say that there is a growing resentment among a faction of certain executives inside the company who blame Ballmer for the years-long stagnation in Microsoft's stock price.
Their argument, according to these sources, is that Microsoft's overall financial performance has been solid—analysts expect the company to show continued earnings improvement when it reports second-quarter results today—it has scored some strategic wins with the Yahoo search deal, Xbox, and Windows 7 release, and is sitting on a cash pile of more than $20 billion.
But instead of a steadily rising stock price, Microsoft shares have fluctuated wildly over the last few yers, seemingly unable to break out of the mid-$20s for any significant length of time.
After what Citigroup analyst Walter Pritchard dubbed an "inline or better" first quarter, for instance, Microsoft shares traded down 9 percent. The company's shares started the year at $30.67 and have since dipped to $25.12 to close trading yesterday.
Sources say the talk around Microsoft's Redmond, Washington, headquarters—which has grown increasingly louder ever since Apple surpassed Microsoft in market capitalization--is that the company's stock suffers from a "Ballmer discount" and that the CEO is on the clock to significantly move the needle on its share price over the next two or three quarters or face a potential move to oust him.
"Ballmer is on the list of mega-executives under pressure," says a banker who has negotiated deals for Microsoft. "If he was asked to leave the building, I suspect there would be more happy than unhappy people."
A representative for Microsoft, citing a quiet period ahead of today's earnings call, declined comment for this story.
Ballmer still enjoys strong support from many executives inside Microsoft and among those who do business with the company, and several sources dismissed the notion of his ouster as little more than wishful thinking among a disenchanted but vocal minority within an organization that employees nearly 100,000 people.
Under Ballmer's watch, Microsoft's revenue swelled from $23 billion when he took over in 2000 to $54 billion today. Earnings have grown to $14.6 billion from $9.4 billion.
The company still dominates the PC market, consumers have sided with the Xbox in the console gaming wars, and its Bing search engine is slowly gaining traction with users. And Ballmer has managed costs aggressively, particularly during the recession, which Wall Street analysts love to see.
There are also two powerful intangibles that will make it difficult for any group, however sizable, to remove Ballmer: Microsoft's board supports him unwaveringly, and there's no obvious successor that could easily slide into his post.
"I can't imagine the board ever going hostile on him," says one former high-ranking Microsoft executive who remains close to the company.
The problem for Ballmer is that Microsoft is essentially an afterthought in technology's hot growth areas of mobile, devices, search, and cloud computing.
The company's smart phone efforts have been feeble—its decision to shut down the KIN offering after 48 days was utterly embarrassing.
On the device side, the Zune has elicited more jokes than sales. And while Bing grew 24 percent over the last year, Google remains the market leader by a dominate margin.
Of Microsoft, one prominent technology CEO who asked to remain anonymous says, "They are irrelevant down in Silicon Valley."
Adds another Silicon Valley entrepreneur who has worked on projects for Microsoft: "They aren't innovating enough, and without innovation where does the growth come from?"
According to the Microsoft insider at yesterday's conference, Ballmer's hard-charging management style has also caused friction in the senior ranks.
"Under Bill [Gates], Ballmer was the clear No. 2, but there were a lot of two-and-a-halves behind him," says this source. "That created an open dialogue and a lot of checks and balances. Now, the place is run more like a dictatorship."
Indeed, while retirement was the official reason given for the recent resignation of longtime entertainment group head Robbie Bach, who is just 48 years old, this source said his leaving had more to do with the fact that Bach and Ballmer differed on the direction of Microsoft's device platform.
Bach did not return several calls for comment.
Taken together, an autocratic leader and a flatlining stock price are powerful motivators for a coup d'etat.
After all, many of Ballmer's minions have their wealth tied up in Microsoft stock options and it is quite disconcerting for them to look at a 10-year chart that shows the company's share price of $48.93 when Ballmer took over in January 2000 now down to $25.12. (for the math-challenged, that's a nearly 50 percent loss in value over the last decade).
"There's not a lot of love for a $25 stock price, and there's a lot of restlessness in the company over it," says a source who advises Microsoft.
Even the Microsoft insider agrees, however, that the company isn't likely to make a rash change at the top. Instead, this source says the process will be more subtle.
One option secretly being discussed among the disenchanted is to add board seats or replace current directors at the end of their term with CEO-ready candidates who could both provide Ballmer with guidance and be there to step into an interim role as CEO if he resigns.
Though bringing in an outsider is completely antithetical to Microsoft's uniquely homegrown culture, there is something to be said about bringing in fresh blood, particularly with regards to a stagnating company.
As the Microsoft adviser says, "At the end of the day, someone needs to be held accountable for the loss in shareholder value."
Usually, that person is the CEO.
Peter Lauria is senior correspondent covering business, media, and entertainment for The Daily Beast. This post originally appeared at The Daily Beast and is republished here with permission.
http://www.businessinsider.com/a-coup-brews-at-microsoft-2010-7
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Barack, it's time to commit to Hope
from tony whitcomb
to info@barackobama.com
cc "Barnett, Robert" democraticparty@democrats.org,
ofaminnesota@dnc.org, cromer@econ.berkeley.edu,
rreich@berkeley.edu, hhigginbottom@barackobama.com,
jjackson@rainbowpush.org, thomas@bluestatedigital.com,
bizdev@google.com
date Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 4:32 PM
subject Barack, it's time to commit to Hope
mailed-by gmail.com
from tony whitcomb
to info@barackobama.com
date Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 5:45 PM
subject Re: Give your ideas directly to the President
mailed-by gmail.com
Dear President-Elect Obama:
Howard Dean collected large contributions via the Internet in his 2004 primary run. In 2008 candidates went even further to reach out to Internet users through their own Web sites and such Web sites as YouTube, MySpace and Facebook.
President-Elect Obama, you created a broad grassroots movement and a new method of campaigning by courting and mobilizing activists, donations and voters, through the Internet.
It was part of a campaign that mobilized grassroots workers in every state and you were able to set fundraising records in more than one month by gaining support from a record-breaking number of individual small donors.
YouTube, MySpace and Facebook, have all become multi-billion dollar corporations by utilizing the Web's, "Free Labor Economy" and by perpetuating an economic system that simply won't work for the long term, because it doesn't believe in, "The Sharing of the Wealth."
I have created a new small business/social networking concept called Expotera, and Expotera, would allow every single American Citizen above the age of 13, a chance to start, "Sharing in the Wealth" by earning a monthly residual income from Expotera, by simply charging a small monthly membership fee to join Expotera, versus allowing our members/co-owners of Expotera, to sign-up for, "Free" and continue working for, "Free."
President-Elect Obama, you recently stated that, "Every American needs to put a little skin into the game" and my idea/business plan, would allow every American Citizen an opportunity to do this, especially the marginalized, the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised populations, that lack the financial means or political clout, to achieve any truly lasting benefits on their own.
Expotera would also help to immediately stimulate the sagging U.S. economy by utilizing technology and the Internet, to build wealth from the bottom up and by creating thousands of new high-tech jobs right here in America and millions of new high-tech independent contractors all around the world.
President-Elect Obama, at this time I would like to partner up with you, your technology and economic development teams, to create the first Public/Government owned, monthly residual commission based, small business/social networking Web site, for the American People.
On behalf of myself and the American People, I sincerely thank you for this truly unique opportunity to present our ideas/business plans, directly to you as our country's newly Elected 44th President, through the Citizens Briefing Book, and may God Bless You, and May God Bless America!
Very Best Regards,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO
Expotera
2 attachments — Download all attachments
Expotera - Form of PPM v6 - 2.28.07.doc
228K View Download
Expotera Concept Card 051607.pdf
50K View Download
to info@barackobama.com
cc "Barnett, Robert" democraticparty@democrats.org,
ofaminnesota@dnc.org, cromer@econ.berkeley.edu,
rreich@berkeley.edu, hhigginbottom@barackobama.com,
jjackson@rainbowpush.org, thomas@bluestatedigital.com,
bizdev@google.com
date Wed, Aug 18, 2010 at 4:32 PM
subject Barack, it's time to commit to Hope
mailed-by gmail.com
from tony whitcomb
to info@barackobama.com
date Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 5:45 PM
subject Re: Give your ideas directly to the President
mailed-by gmail.com
Dear President-Elect Obama:
Howard Dean collected large contributions via the Internet in his 2004 primary run. In 2008 candidates went even further to reach out to Internet users through their own Web sites and such Web sites as YouTube, MySpace and Facebook.
President-Elect Obama, you created a broad grassroots movement and a new method of campaigning by courting and mobilizing activists, donations and voters, through the Internet.
It was part of a campaign that mobilized grassroots workers in every state and you were able to set fundraising records in more than one month by gaining support from a record-breaking number of individual small donors.
YouTube, MySpace and Facebook, have all become multi-billion dollar corporations by utilizing the Web's, "Free Labor Economy" and by perpetuating an economic system that simply won't work for the long term, because it doesn't believe in, "The Sharing of the Wealth."
I have created a new small business/social networking concept called Expotera, and Expotera, would allow every single American Citizen above the age of 13, a chance to start, "Sharing in the Wealth" by earning a monthly residual income from Expotera, by simply charging a small monthly membership fee to join Expotera, versus allowing our members/co-owners of Expotera, to sign-up for, "Free" and continue working for, "Free."
President-Elect Obama, you recently stated that, "Every American needs to put a little skin into the game" and my idea/business plan, would allow every American Citizen an opportunity to do this, especially the marginalized, the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised populations, that lack the financial means or political clout, to achieve any truly lasting benefits on their own.
Expotera would also help to immediately stimulate the sagging U.S. economy by utilizing technology and the Internet, to build wealth from the bottom up and by creating thousands of new high-tech jobs right here in America and millions of new high-tech independent contractors all around the world.
President-Elect Obama, at this time I would like to partner up with you, your technology and economic development teams, to create the first Public/Government owned, monthly residual commission based, small business/social networking Web site, for the American People.
On behalf of myself and the American People, I sincerely thank you for this truly unique opportunity to present our ideas/business plans, directly to you as our country's newly Elected 44th President, through the Citizens Briefing Book, and may God Bless You, and May God Bless America!
Very Best Regards,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO
Expotera
2 attachments — Download all attachments
Expotera - Form of PPM v6 - 2.28.07.doc
228K View Download
Expotera Concept Card 051607.pdf
50K View Download
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
The Ecstasy of Empire
The Ecstasy of Empire
By Paul Craig Roberts
Infowars.com
August 16, 2010
The United States is running out of time to get its budget and trade deficits under control.
Despite the urgency of the situation, 2010 has been wasted in hype about a non-existent recovery.
As recently as August 2 Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner penned a New York Times column, “Welcome to the Recovery.”
As John Williams (shadowstats.com) has made clear on many occasions, an appearance of recovery was created by over-counting employment and undercounting inflation.
Warnings by Williams, Gerald Celente, and myself have gone unheeded, but our warnings recently had echoes from Boston University professor Laurence Kotlikoff and from David Stockman, who excoriated the Republican Party for becoming big-spending Democrats.
It is encouraging to see some realization that, this time, Washington cannot spend the economy out of recession.
The deficits are already too large for the dollar to survive as reserve currency, and deficit spending cannot put Americans back to work in jobs that have been moved offshore.
However, the solutions offered by those who are beginning to recognize that there is a problem are discouraging.
Kotlikoff thinks the solution is savage Social Security and Medicare cuts or equally savage tax increases or hyperinflation to destroy the vast debts.
Perhaps economists lack imagination, or perhaps they don’t want to be cut off from Wall Street and corporate subsidies, but Social Security and Medicare are insufficient at their present levels, especially considering the erosion of private pensions by the dot com, derivative and real estate bubbles.
Cuts in Social Security and Medicare, for which people have paid 15 per cent of their earnings all their lives, would result in starvation and deaths from curable diseases.
Tax increases make even less sense. It is widely acknowledged that the majority of households cannot survive on one job. Both husband and wife work and often one of the partners has two jobs in order to make ends meet.
Raising taxes makes it harder to make ends meet–thus more foreclosures, more food stamps, more homelessness. What kind of economist or humane person thinks this is a solution?
Ah, but we will tax the rich. The rich have enough money. They will simply stop earning.
Let’s get real. Here is what the government is likely to do.
Once Washington realize that the dollar is at risk and that they can no longer finance their wars by borrowing abroad, the government will either levy a tax on private pensions on the grounds that the pensions have accumulated tax-deferred, or the government will require pension fund managers to purchase Treasury debt with our pensions.
This will buy the government a bit more time while pension accounts are loaded up with worthless paper.
The last Bush budget deficit (2008) was in the $400-500 billion range, about the size of the Chinese, Japanese, and OPEC trade surpluses with the US. Traditionally, these trade surpluses have been recycled to the US and finance the federal budget deficit.
In 2009 and 2010 the federal deficit jumped to $1,400 billion, a back-to-back trillion dollar increase. There are not sufficient trade surpluses to finance a deficit this large.
From where comes the money?
The answer is from individuals fleeing the stock market into “safe” Treasury bonds and from the bankster bailout, not so much the TARP money as the Federal Reserve’s exchange of bank reserves for questionable financial paper such as subprime derivatives.
The banks used their excess reserves to purchase Treasury debt.
These financing maneuvers are one-time tricks. Once people have fled stocks, that movement into Treasuries is over. The opposition to the bankster bailout likely precludes another.
So where does the money come from the next time?
The Treasury was able to unload a lot of debt thanks to “the Greek crisis,” which the New York banksters and hedge funds multiplied into “the euro crisis.”
The financial press served as a financing arm for the US Treasury by creating panic about European debt and the euro.
Central banks and individuals who had taken refuge from the dollar in euros were panicked out of their euros, and they rushed into dollars by purchasing US Treasury debt.
This movement from euros to dollars weakened the alternative reserve currency to the dollar, halted the dollar’s decline, and financed the US budget deficit a while longer.
Possibly the game can be replayed with Spanish debt, Irish debt, and whatever unlucky country is eswept in by the thoughtless expansion of the European Union.
But when no countries remain that can be destabilized by Wall Street investment banksters and hedge funds, what then finances the US budget deficit?
The only remaining financier is the Federal Reserve.
When Treasury bonds brought to auction do not sell, the Federal Reserve must purchase them.
The Federal Reserve purchases the bonds by creating new demand deposits, or checking accounts, for the Treasury.
As the Treasury spends the proceeds of the new debt sales, the US money supply expands by the amount of the Federal Reserve’s purchase of Treasury debt.
Do goods and services expand by the same amount?
Imports will increase as US jobs have been offshored and given to foreigners, thus worsening the trade deficit.
When the Federal Reserve purchases the Treasury’s new debt issues, the money supply will increase by more than the supply of domestically produced goods and services. Prices are likely to rise.
How high will they rise?
The longer money is created in order that government can pay its bills, the more likely hyperinflation will be the result.
The economy has not recovered.
By the end of this year it will be obvious that the collapsing economy means a larger than $1.4 trillion budget deficit to finance.
Will it be $2 trillion? Higher?
Whatever the size, the rest of the world will see that the dollar is being printed in such quantities that it cannot serve as reserve currency.
At that point wholesale dumping of dollars will result as foreign central banks try to unload a worthless currency.
The collapse of the dollar will drive up the prices of imports and offshored goods on which Americans are dependent. Wal-Mart shoppers will think they have mistakenly gone into Neiman Marcus.
Domestic prices will also explode as a growing money supply chases the supply of goods and services still made in America by Americans.
The dollar as reserve currency cannot survive the conflagration.
When the dollar goes the US cannot finance its trade deficit.
Therefore, imports will fall sharply, thus adding to domestic inflation and, as the US is energy import-dependent, there will be transportation disruptions that will disrupt work and grocery store deliveries.
Panic will be the order of the day.
Will farms will be raided? Will those trapped in cities resort to riots and looting?
Is this the likely future that “our” government and “our patriotic” corporations have created for us?
To borrow from Lenin, “What can be done?”
Here is what can be done. The wars, which benefit no one but the military-security complex and Israel’s territorial expansion, can be immediately ended. This would reduce the US budget deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars per year.
More hundreds of billions of dollars could be saved by cutting the rest of the military budget which, in its present size, exceeds the budgets of all the serious military powers on earth combined.
US military spending reflects the unaffordable and unattainable crazed neoconservative goal of US Empire and world hegemony.
What fool in Washington thinks that China is going to finance US hegemony over China?
The only way that the US will again have an economy is by bringing back the offshored jobs. The loss of these jobs impoverished Americans while producing oversized gains for Wall Street, shareholders, and corporate executives.
These jobs can be brought home where they belong by taxing corporations according to where value is added to their product.
If value is added to their goods and services in China, corporations would have a high tax rate. If value is added to their goods and services in the US, corporations would have a low tax rate.
This change in corporate taxation would offset the cheap foreign labor that has sucked jobs out of America, and it would rebuild the ladders of upward mobility that made America an opportunity society.
If the wars are not immediately stopped and the jobs brought back to America, the US is relegated to the trash bin of history.
Obviously, the corporations and Wall Street would use their financial power and campaign contributions to block any legislation that would reduce short-term earnings and bonuses by bringing jobs back to America.
Americans have no greater enemies than Wall Street and the corporations and their prostitutes in Congress and the White House.
The neocons allied with Israel, who control both parties and much of the media, are strung out on the ecstasy of Empire.
The United States and the welfare of its 300 million people cannot be restored unless the neocons, Wall Street, the corporations, and their servile slaves in Congress and the White House can be defeated.
Without a revolution, Americans are history.
http://www.infowars.com/the-ecstasy-of-empire/
By Paul Craig Roberts
Infowars.com
August 16, 2010
The United States is running out of time to get its budget and trade deficits under control.
Despite the urgency of the situation, 2010 has been wasted in hype about a non-existent recovery.
As recently as August 2 Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner penned a New York Times column, “Welcome to the Recovery.”
As John Williams (shadowstats.com) has made clear on many occasions, an appearance of recovery was created by over-counting employment and undercounting inflation.
Warnings by Williams, Gerald Celente, and myself have gone unheeded, but our warnings recently had echoes from Boston University professor Laurence Kotlikoff and from David Stockman, who excoriated the Republican Party for becoming big-spending Democrats.
It is encouraging to see some realization that, this time, Washington cannot spend the economy out of recession.
The deficits are already too large for the dollar to survive as reserve currency, and deficit spending cannot put Americans back to work in jobs that have been moved offshore.
However, the solutions offered by those who are beginning to recognize that there is a problem are discouraging.
Kotlikoff thinks the solution is savage Social Security and Medicare cuts or equally savage tax increases or hyperinflation to destroy the vast debts.
Perhaps economists lack imagination, or perhaps they don’t want to be cut off from Wall Street and corporate subsidies, but Social Security and Medicare are insufficient at their present levels, especially considering the erosion of private pensions by the dot com, derivative and real estate bubbles.
Cuts in Social Security and Medicare, for which people have paid 15 per cent of their earnings all their lives, would result in starvation and deaths from curable diseases.
Tax increases make even less sense. It is widely acknowledged that the majority of households cannot survive on one job. Both husband and wife work and often one of the partners has two jobs in order to make ends meet.
Raising taxes makes it harder to make ends meet–thus more foreclosures, more food stamps, more homelessness. What kind of economist or humane person thinks this is a solution?
Ah, but we will tax the rich. The rich have enough money. They will simply stop earning.
Let’s get real. Here is what the government is likely to do.
Once Washington realize that the dollar is at risk and that they can no longer finance their wars by borrowing abroad, the government will either levy a tax on private pensions on the grounds that the pensions have accumulated tax-deferred, or the government will require pension fund managers to purchase Treasury debt with our pensions.
This will buy the government a bit more time while pension accounts are loaded up with worthless paper.
The last Bush budget deficit (2008) was in the $400-500 billion range, about the size of the Chinese, Japanese, and OPEC trade surpluses with the US. Traditionally, these trade surpluses have been recycled to the US and finance the federal budget deficit.
In 2009 and 2010 the federal deficit jumped to $1,400 billion, a back-to-back trillion dollar increase. There are not sufficient trade surpluses to finance a deficit this large.
From where comes the money?
The answer is from individuals fleeing the stock market into “safe” Treasury bonds and from the bankster bailout, not so much the TARP money as the Federal Reserve’s exchange of bank reserves for questionable financial paper such as subprime derivatives.
The banks used their excess reserves to purchase Treasury debt.
These financing maneuvers are one-time tricks. Once people have fled stocks, that movement into Treasuries is over. The opposition to the bankster bailout likely precludes another.
So where does the money come from the next time?
The Treasury was able to unload a lot of debt thanks to “the Greek crisis,” which the New York banksters and hedge funds multiplied into “the euro crisis.”
The financial press served as a financing arm for the US Treasury by creating panic about European debt and the euro.
Central banks and individuals who had taken refuge from the dollar in euros were panicked out of their euros, and they rushed into dollars by purchasing US Treasury debt.
This movement from euros to dollars weakened the alternative reserve currency to the dollar, halted the dollar’s decline, and financed the US budget deficit a while longer.
Possibly the game can be replayed with Spanish debt, Irish debt, and whatever unlucky country is eswept in by the thoughtless expansion of the European Union.
But when no countries remain that can be destabilized by Wall Street investment banksters and hedge funds, what then finances the US budget deficit?
The only remaining financier is the Federal Reserve.
When Treasury bonds brought to auction do not sell, the Federal Reserve must purchase them.
The Federal Reserve purchases the bonds by creating new demand deposits, or checking accounts, for the Treasury.
As the Treasury spends the proceeds of the new debt sales, the US money supply expands by the amount of the Federal Reserve’s purchase of Treasury debt.
Do goods and services expand by the same amount?
Imports will increase as US jobs have been offshored and given to foreigners, thus worsening the trade deficit.
When the Federal Reserve purchases the Treasury’s new debt issues, the money supply will increase by more than the supply of domestically produced goods and services. Prices are likely to rise.
How high will they rise?
The longer money is created in order that government can pay its bills, the more likely hyperinflation will be the result.
The economy has not recovered.
By the end of this year it will be obvious that the collapsing economy means a larger than $1.4 trillion budget deficit to finance.
Will it be $2 trillion? Higher?
Whatever the size, the rest of the world will see that the dollar is being printed in such quantities that it cannot serve as reserve currency.
At that point wholesale dumping of dollars will result as foreign central banks try to unload a worthless currency.
The collapse of the dollar will drive up the prices of imports and offshored goods on which Americans are dependent. Wal-Mart shoppers will think they have mistakenly gone into Neiman Marcus.
Domestic prices will also explode as a growing money supply chases the supply of goods and services still made in America by Americans.
The dollar as reserve currency cannot survive the conflagration.
When the dollar goes the US cannot finance its trade deficit.
Therefore, imports will fall sharply, thus adding to domestic inflation and, as the US is energy import-dependent, there will be transportation disruptions that will disrupt work and grocery store deliveries.
Panic will be the order of the day.
Will farms will be raided? Will those trapped in cities resort to riots and looting?
Is this the likely future that “our” government and “our patriotic” corporations have created for us?
To borrow from Lenin, “What can be done?”
Here is what can be done. The wars, which benefit no one but the military-security complex and Israel’s territorial expansion, can be immediately ended. This would reduce the US budget deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars per year.
More hundreds of billions of dollars could be saved by cutting the rest of the military budget which, in its present size, exceeds the budgets of all the serious military powers on earth combined.
US military spending reflects the unaffordable and unattainable crazed neoconservative goal of US Empire and world hegemony.
What fool in Washington thinks that China is going to finance US hegemony over China?
The only way that the US will again have an economy is by bringing back the offshored jobs. The loss of these jobs impoverished Americans while producing oversized gains for Wall Street, shareholders, and corporate executives.
These jobs can be brought home where they belong by taxing corporations according to where value is added to their product.
If value is added to their goods and services in China, corporations would have a high tax rate. If value is added to their goods and services in the US, corporations would have a low tax rate.
This change in corporate taxation would offset the cheap foreign labor that has sucked jobs out of America, and it would rebuild the ladders of upward mobility that made America an opportunity society.
If the wars are not immediately stopped and the jobs brought back to America, the US is relegated to the trash bin of history.
Obviously, the corporations and Wall Street would use their financial power and campaign contributions to block any legislation that would reduce short-term earnings and bonuses by bringing jobs back to America.
Americans have no greater enemies than Wall Street and the corporations and their prostitutes in Congress and the White House.
The neocons allied with Israel, who control both parties and much of the media, are strung out on the ecstasy of Empire.
The United States and the welfare of its 300 million people cannot be restored unless the neocons, Wall Street, the corporations, and their servile slaves in Congress and the White House can be defeated.
Without a revolution, Americans are history.
http://www.infowars.com/the-ecstasy-of-empire/
Monday, August 16, 2010
Will you commit, David?
from tony whitcomb
to info@barackobama.com
date Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 2:54 PM
subject Re: June Numbers
mailed-by gmail.com
David,
Thank you for your e-mail and I too have some big news that I would like to share with you as well.
I plan on donating the maxium amount to Senator Obama's campaign, but right now I am in the process of raising $1,000,000.00 for my new Internet start-up called Expotera.
I have attached a copy of our Confidential Private Placement Memorandum along with a copy of our Expotera/Visa debit card for your review at this time.
We have created a real economic stimulus package for the U.S. economy and we have developed an easy and duplicatible way to create long term monthly residual income for our fellow poor, middle class and extremely hardworking American citizens, through the power of the Internet.
David, congratulations on the incredible job you have done as Senator Obama's Campaign Manager and I wish you and Senator Obama, nothing but continued success in all of your current and future endeavors!
Very Best Regards,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO
Expotera
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On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 6:31 AM, David Plouffe, BarackObama.com wrote:
Tony --
I have some big news we want to share with you.
In the month of June, supporters like you helped raise $52 million. And together with the DNC, we now have nearly $72 million in the bank. That's a very strong financial position to be in.
But we remain at a massive disadvantage to our opponents.
As I mentioned in my video message earlier in the week, the McCain Campaign and the Republican National Committee finished June with nearly $100 million in the bank.
We can't stop now. It's going to take everything we've got to defeat John McCain and his allies in November.
Can you make a donation of $5 now to strengthen our movement for change?
https://donate.barackobama.com/junenumbers
I know this isn't the first time we've asked you for financial support, and it won't be the last.
We have developed a strategy -- a very aggressive strategy -- that will only work if our millions of supporters continue to contribute their time and their money.
That strategy will work, and it has to. The stakes are too high and the need for change too great.
But victory is only possible with your continued help.
We can't do this without you.
Thanks,
David
David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America
to info@barackobama.com
date Mon, Jul 21, 2008 at 2:54 PM
subject Re: June Numbers
mailed-by gmail.com
David,
Thank you for your e-mail and I too have some big news that I would like to share with you as well.
I plan on donating the maxium amount to Senator Obama's campaign, but right now I am in the process of raising $1,000,000.00 for my new Internet start-up called Expotera.
I have attached a copy of our Confidential Private Placement Memorandum along with a copy of our Expotera/Visa debit card for your review at this time.
We have created a real economic stimulus package for the U.S. economy and we have developed an easy and duplicatible way to create long term monthly residual income for our fellow poor, middle class and extremely hardworking American citizens, through the power of the Internet.
David, congratulations on the incredible job you have done as Senator Obama's Campaign Manager and I wish you and Senator Obama, nothing but continued success in all of your current and future endeavors!
Very Best Regards,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO
Expotera
2 attachments — Download all attachments
Expotera - Form of PPM v6 - 2.28.07.doc
228K View Download
Expotera Concept Card 051607.pdf
50K View Download
On Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 6:31 AM, David Plouffe, BarackObama.com wrote:
Tony --
I have some big news we want to share with you.
In the month of June, supporters like you helped raise $52 million. And together with the DNC, we now have nearly $72 million in the bank. That's a very strong financial position to be in.
But we remain at a massive disadvantage to our opponents.
As I mentioned in my video message earlier in the week, the McCain Campaign and the Republican National Committee finished June with nearly $100 million in the bank.
We can't stop now. It's going to take everything we've got to defeat John McCain and his allies in November.
Can you make a donation of $5 now to strengthen our movement for change?
https://donate.barackobama.com/junenumbers
I know this isn't the first time we've asked you for financial support, and it won't be the last.
We have developed a strategy -- a very aggressive strategy -- that will only work if our millions of supporters continue to contribute their time and their money.
That strategy will work, and it has to. The stakes are too high and the need for change too great.
But victory is only possible with your continued help.
We can't do this without you.
Thanks,
David
David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America
Will you commit, Tony?
from David Plouffe info@barackobama.com
reply-to info@barackobama.com
to Tony Whitcomb
date Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 2:50 PM
subject Will you commit, Tony?
mailed-by bounce.bluestatedigital.com
Tony --
Did you see the President's email?
He's right.
Studies have shown that when people pledge to do something, they're much more likely to follow through.
This simple but powerful concept helped us make history in 2008, when first-time voters who made a commitment played a critical role in the election.
This fall, volunteers are taking this strategy into communities across the country once again.
But it begins with you.
Will you join me in committing to vote in the 2010 elections?
http://my.barackobama.com/Commitment
Thanks,
David Plouffe
reply-to info@barackobama.com
to Tony Whitcomb
date Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 2:50 PM
subject Will you commit, Tony?
mailed-by bounce.bluestatedigital.com
Tony --
Did you see the President's email?
He's right.
Studies have shown that when people pledge to do something, they're much more likely to follow through.
This simple but powerful concept helped us make history in 2008, when first-time voters who made a commitment played a critical role in the election.
This fall, volunteers are taking this strategy into communities across the country once again.
But it begins with you.
Will you join me in committing to vote in the 2010 elections?
http://my.barackobama.com/Commitment
Thanks,
David Plouffe
Barack, it's time to commit to Change
from tony whitcomb
to info@barackobama.com
cc "Barnett, Robert" democraticparty@democrats.org,
ofaminnesota@dnc.org, woodwardb@washpost.com,
stuart@implex.net, thomas@bluestatedigital.com,
NWC Staff whistle@whistleblowers.org
date Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 6:20 AM
subject Barack, it's time to commit to Change
mailed-by gmail.com
From tony whitcomb
Date Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Subject FBI Election Fraud Agent/Illegal Campaign Contributions Microsoft
To washington.field@ic.fbi.gov
Cc stacy ming
mailed-by gmail.com
Dear Federal Bureau of Investigation:
My name is Tony Whitcomb and this is my former boss/business partner, http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/devaan/
Below is a list of Political Campaign Contributions Mr. Devaan has made to the Democratic Party going back to the year 2000 under the correct spelling of his last name, "Devaan."
On this list you will see in 2008, Mr. Devaan donated $28,500.00 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on March 31, 2008.
Below this list is another list of Political Campaign Contributions Mr. Devaan made in 2008 to the, "Obama Victory Fund" on July 25, 2008 for another, $28,500.00.
But you will notice Mr. Devaan made this second large political campaign contribution to the Obama Victory Fund under a slightly different spelling of his last name, "Devann?"
You will also notice, "Mr. Devann" has all of the same address and employment information as, "Mr. Devaan" but, "Mr. Devann" has only donated money in the 2008 election cycle while, "Mr. Devaan" has donated money in every election cycle going back to the year 2000.
I am not an attorney, but is it normal/legal for a private citizen to be able to make multiple large political campaign contributions under two different spellings of their last name?
It is my understanding the following limits apply to contributions from individuals to candidates for all Federal offices:
$2,400 per Election to a Federal candidate -- Each primary, runoff, and general election counts as a separate election.
$30,400 per calendar year to a national party committee -- applies separately to a party's national committee, and House and Senate campaign committee.
$10,000 per calendar year to state, district & local party committees.
$5,000 per calendar year to state, district & local party committee.
It is also my understanding that, "No person shall make a contribution in the name of another person or knowingly permit his name to be used to effect such a contribution, and no person shall knowingly accept a contribution made by one person in the name of another person."
And it is also my understanding, "It is a federal crime to evade the following donation limits listed above through a straw donor scheme" which is exactly what I think Mr. Devaan may have been a part of through the 4th largest contributors to President Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign, Microsoft.
Upon your request I can provide the FBI with a copy of a $10,000,000.00 Confidential Private Placement Memorandum that Mr. Devaan and I put together back in 2007 in regards to my Intellectual Property called Expotera to help you verify my relationship to Mr. Devaan and his relationship to me.
Thank you for your time and for your immediate considerations into these matters and if you should need any additional information from me you can feel free to reach me via this e-mail address.
Sincerely,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO Expotera
Jon Devaan Political Campaign Contributions 2008 Election Cycle Contribution Totals
Download all contribution records for this person from 1999 to present To a Spreadsheet or Other File Type
2010 Transaction Count/Amount0/$0
2008 Transaction Count/Amount3/$33,100
2006 Transaction Count/Amount5/$13,300
2004 Transaction Count/Amount12/$50,000
2002 Transaction Count/Amount3/$3,000
2000 Transaction Count/Amount4/$4,000
Download all contribution records for this person from 1999 to present To a Spreadsheet or Other File Type
Jon Devaan Contribution List in 2008
Name & Location Employer/Occupation Dollar Amount Date Primary/General Contributed To
DEVAAN, JON MEDINA, WA 98039 MICROSOFT/SENIOR VP OF ENGINEERING
$28,500 03/31/2008 P DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - Democrat
DEVAAN, JON S MEDINA, WA 98039 MICROSOFT CORP./EXECUTIVE
$2,3000 3/12/2007 P AL FRANKEN FOR SENATE - Democrat Farm Labor
DEVAAN, JON S MEDINA, WA 98039 MICROSOFT CORP./EXECUTIVE
$2,3000 3/12/2007 G AL FRANKEN FOR SENATE - Democrat Farm Labor
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/jon-devaan
.asp?cycle=08
Jon Devann Political Campaign Contributions 2008 Election Cycle Contribution Totals
Download all contribution records for this person from 1999 to present To a Spreadsheet or Other File Type
2010 Transaction Count/Amount0/$0
2008 Transaction Count/Amount2/$30,800
2006 Transaction Count/Amount0/$0
2004 Transaction Count/Amount0/$0
2002 Transaction Count/Amount0/$0
2000 Transaction Count/Amount0/$0
Download all contribution records for this person from 1999 to present To a Spreadsheet or Other File Type
Jon Devann Contribution List in 2008
Name & Location Employer/Occupation Dollar Amount Date Primary/General Contributed To
Devann, Jon S Mr.MEDINA, WA 98039 Microsoft Corp/Executive
$28,5000 7/25/2008 P OBAMA VICTORY FUND - Democrat
DeVann, Jon S MEDINA, WA 98039 Microsoft Corp/Executive
$2,300 12/27/2007 P OBAMA FOR AMERICA - Democrat
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/jon-devann
.asp?cycle=08
Barack Obama (D)Top Contributors this table lists the top donors to this candidate in the 2008 election cycle.
University of California $1,591,395
Goldman Sachs $994,795
Harvard University $854,747
Microsoft Corp $833,617
Google Inc $803,436
Citigroup Inc $701,290
JPMorgan Chase & Co $695,132
Time Warner $590,084
Sidley Austin LLP $588,598
Stanford University $586,557
National Amusements Inc $551,683
UBS AG $543,219
Wilmerhale Llp $542,618
Skadden, Arps et al $530,839
IBM Corp $528,822
Columbia University $528,302
Morgan Stanley $514,881
General Electric $499,130
US Government $494,820
Latham & Watkins $493,835
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=
N00009638
to info@barackobama.com
cc "Barnett, Robert" democraticparty@democrats.org,
ofaminnesota@dnc.org, woodwardb@washpost.com,
stuart@implex.net, thomas@bluestatedigital.com,
NWC Staff whistle@whistleblowers.org
date Mon, Aug 16, 2010 at 6:20 AM
subject Barack, it's time to commit to Change
mailed-by gmail.com
From tony whitcomb
Date Mon, Mar 15, 2010 at 5:59 PM
Subject FBI Election Fraud Agent/Illegal Campaign Contributions Microsoft
To washington.field@ic.fbi.gov
Cc stacy ming
mailed-by gmail.com
Dear Federal Bureau of Investigation:
My name is Tony Whitcomb and this is my former boss/business partner, http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/exec/devaan/
Below is a list of Political Campaign Contributions Mr. Devaan has made to the Democratic Party going back to the year 2000 under the correct spelling of his last name, "Devaan."
On this list you will see in 2008, Mr. Devaan donated $28,500.00 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee on March 31, 2008.
Below this list is another list of Political Campaign Contributions Mr. Devaan made in 2008 to the, "Obama Victory Fund" on July 25, 2008 for another, $28,500.00.
But you will notice Mr. Devaan made this second large political campaign contribution to the Obama Victory Fund under a slightly different spelling of his last name, "Devann?"
You will also notice, "Mr. Devann" has all of the same address and employment information as, "Mr. Devaan" but, "Mr. Devann" has only donated money in the 2008 election cycle while, "Mr. Devaan" has donated money in every election cycle going back to the year 2000.
I am not an attorney, but is it normal/legal for a private citizen to be able to make multiple large political campaign contributions under two different spellings of their last name?
It is my understanding the following limits apply to contributions from individuals to candidates for all Federal offices:
$2,400 per Election to a Federal candidate -- Each primary, runoff, and general election counts as a separate election.
$30,400 per calendar year to a national party committee -- applies separately to a party's national committee, and House and Senate campaign committee.
$10,000 per calendar year to state, district & local party committees.
$5,000 per calendar year to state, district & local party committee.
It is also my understanding that, "No person shall make a contribution in the name of another person or knowingly permit his name to be used to effect such a contribution, and no person shall knowingly accept a contribution made by one person in the name of another person."
And it is also my understanding, "It is a federal crime to evade the following donation limits listed above through a straw donor scheme" which is exactly what I think Mr. Devaan may have been a part of through the 4th largest contributors to President Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign, Microsoft.
Upon your request I can provide the FBI with a copy of a $10,000,000.00 Confidential Private Placement Memorandum that Mr. Devaan and I put together back in 2007 in regards to my Intellectual Property called Expotera to help you verify my relationship to Mr. Devaan and his relationship to me.
Thank you for your time and for your immediate considerations into these matters and if you should need any additional information from me you can feel free to reach me via this e-mail address.
Sincerely,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO Expotera
Jon Devaan Political Campaign Contributions 2008 Election Cycle Contribution Totals
Download all contribution records for this person from 1999 to present To a Spreadsheet or Other File Type
2010 Transaction Count/Amount0/$0
2008 Transaction Count/Amount3/$33,100
2006 Transaction Count/Amount5/$13,300
2004 Transaction Count/Amount12/$50,000
2002 Transaction Count/Amount3/$3,000
2000 Transaction Count/Amount4/$4,000
Download all contribution records for this person from 1999 to present To a Spreadsheet or Other File Type
Jon Devaan Contribution List in 2008
Name & Location Employer/Occupation Dollar Amount Date Primary/General Contributed To
DEVAAN, JON MEDINA, WA 98039 MICROSOFT/SENIOR VP OF ENGINEERING
$28,500 03/31/2008 P DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE - Democrat
DEVAAN, JON S MEDINA, WA 98039 MICROSOFT CORP./EXECUTIVE
$2,3000 3/12/2007 P AL FRANKEN FOR SENATE - Democrat Farm Labor
DEVAAN, JON S MEDINA, WA 98039 MICROSOFT CORP./EXECUTIVE
$2,3000 3/12/2007 G AL FRANKEN FOR SENATE - Democrat Farm Labor
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/jon-devaan
.asp?cycle=08
Jon Devann Political Campaign Contributions 2008 Election Cycle Contribution Totals
Download all contribution records for this person from 1999 to present To a Spreadsheet or Other File Type
2010 Transaction Count/Amount0/$0
2008 Transaction Count/Amount2/$30,800
2006 Transaction Count/Amount0/$0
2004 Transaction Count/Amount0/$0
2002 Transaction Count/Amount0/$0
2000 Transaction Count/Amount0/$0
Download all contribution records for this person from 1999 to present To a Spreadsheet or Other File Type
Jon Devann Contribution List in 2008
Name & Location Employer/Occupation Dollar Amount Date Primary/General Contributed To
Devann, Jon S Mr.MEDINA, WA 98039 Microsoft Corp/Executive
$28,5000 7/25/2008 P OBAMA VICTORY FUND - Democrat
DeVann, Jon S MEDINA, WA 98039 Microsoft Corp/Executive
$2,300 12/27/2007 P OBAMA FOR AMERICA - Democrat
http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/contributions/jon-devann
.asp?cycle=08
Barack Obama (D)Top Contributors this table lists the top donors to this candidate in the 2008 election cycle.
University of California $1,591,395
Goldman Sachs $994,795
Harvard University $854,747
Microsoft Corp $833,617
Google Inc $803,436
Citigroup Inc $701,290
JPMorgan Chase & Co $695,132
Time Warner $590,084
Sidley Austin LLP $588,598
Stanford University $586,557
National Amusements Inc $551,683
UBS AG $543,219
Wilmerhale Llp $542,618
Skadden, Arps et al $530,839
IBM Corp $528,822
Columbia University $528,302
Morgan Stanley $514,881
General Electric $499,130
US Government $494,820
Latham & Watkins $493,835
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=
N00009638
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Jobless millions signal death of the American dream for many
Even the criminals have fallen on hard times in America's poorest city as the long-term unemployed struggle to keep a grasp on normality
By Paul Harris
The Observer, Sunday 15 August 2010
Richard Gaines is one of the best-known faces on Camden's Haddon Avenue.
It is a rough-and-tumble street, lined with cheap businesses and boarded-up houses, and is prey to drug gangs.
Gaines, 50, runs a barbershop, a hair salon and a fitness business.
He works hard and is committed to his community. But Haddon Avenue is not an easy place to make a living in the best of times.
And these are far from the best of times.
Just how badly the great recession has struck this fragile New Jersey city, which is currently the poorest in America, was recently spelled out to Gaines.
In happier times – whatever that might mean for a city as destitute as Camden – local businesses on Haddon Avenue could at least rely
on a bit of trade from those who made their money on the street.
Young men bought flashy clothes and got sharp haircuts and always paid in cash. But no longer.
The economy is now so bad in Camden that even the criminals are struggling and going short. "Even the guys who got money from
illegal means really don't want to spend it," Gaines said.
Such a development, though, is just a snapshot of the deep problems still hitting the wider American economy.
Growth rates are stuttering and a recovery is struggling to take hold. It may even now be showing signs of going backwards again, as countries such as Germany start to power forward.
Joblessness has taken hold in America, with the numbers of long-term unemployed reaching levels not seen since the Depression of the 1930s.
The figures are frightening and illustrate a society that remains in deep trouble.
The headline jobless figure of 9.5% is bad enough but does not begin to convey the problem as it fails to measure those who have stopped looking for work.
Over the past three months alone more than a million Americans have fallen into that category: effectively giving up hope of finding a job and dropping out of the official statistics.
Such cases now number some 5.9 million and their ranks are likely to grow as millions more find their jobless status becoming a permanent state of hopelessness.
Surveys show that with each passing week on the dole their chances of finding a job get slimmer.
Though corporations, especially in the banking sector, are posting healthy profits, they are not hiring new workers.
At the same time, government cuts are sweeping through city and state governments alike, threatening tens of thousands of jobs and slicing away at services once thought vital.
Schools, street lighting, libraries, refuse collection, the police, fire services and public transport networks are all being scaled back.
America appears to be a society splitting down the centre, shattering the middle class that long formed the cultural bedrock of the country and dividing it into a country of haves and have-nots.
"A once unthinkable level of economic distress is in the process of becoming the new normal," warned Nobel-prize winning economist Paul Krugman in a recent New York Times column.
Or, as Steven Green, an economics lecturer at Baylor University,
put it to the Observer: "We are really in a tough spot right now."
There is a new name for those falling down the black hole of joblessness that has opened up in America's economy.
They are the 99ers.
It is a moniker that no one wants. It refers to the 99 weeks of benefits that the jobless can qualify for in America. Government
cash helps those laid off keep a tenuous grip on a normal life.
It keeps a roof over their heads, pays a phone bill, puts food on a table and petrol in a car. But once the 99 weeks are up the payments stop – as is happening now for millions of people – and they are 99ers.
For many, that moment, which America's politicians have refused
to extend, represents the moment of destitution; a sort of modern American version of the old Victorian trip to the workhouse.
There are now more than a million 99ers and the number gets
bigger each week.
But who are they? Despite Republican attempts to paint them as feckless or job-shy, they are usually anything but.
The 99ers are people like Anne Strauss, 58, who spent 35 years working as a PR professional on Long Island. Despite spending
every day hunting for work, she has not had a job since June 2008.
She and her husband are now living on credit cards watching debts mount as they stare into the abyss. "Looking for a job is the hardest I have ever worked," she said with a smile that conveyed no humour or happiness, only the deep stress that is common to many 99ers.
Strauss, along with about 50 other 99ers, protested on Wall Street last week, demanding an extension of the benefits that could keep them out of poverty.
As bankers and financiers strode into the flag-draped Stock Exchange they chanted: "Shame! Shame!" and told their stories. It was a litany of middle-class lives shattered by the recession.
There was Connie Kaplan, a corporate librarian who was desperate
to resume her career. "We are not bums, we are hardworking," she said.
Or Lori Ghavami, a New Jersey financial analyst in her 30s, who had once worked on Wall Street itself and now was staring at landlords' bills she was scared she could not pay.
Or New Yorker Steven Bilarbi, 62, who had worked for the same employer for 37 years, until 2007.
He has not worked since, despite refusing to spend daytime hours
at home and engaging in a permanent job hunt. He is now living off savings and depleting his pension.
"I go to job fairs. I don't feel like staying home. What would I do? Watch game shows and soap operas?" he fumed.
Meeting 99ers is to tap into a deep well of anger at lives that have been knocked off course, shattering the enduring vision of the American dream that many had felt they had achieved.
Just take Donna Faiella, a 53-year-old New Yorker who lives alone
in Queens. She spent 28 years working in film post-production and video-editing. She was successful and had a career.
Now she is desperate for a job, any job. But she cannot find one.
"I will do anything. I will sweep floors. You think I look forward to collecting unemployment? It is fucking degrading," she said, almost quivering with anger.
Faiella is in dire trouble. Joblessness has eaten away at her sense of identity. "I feel like we are worthless. We are lost in the world. I don't know what to call myself. I don't have a title any more. What do we do? What do we do?" she implored.
Faiella has one week of benefits to go. Then her 99 weeks will be up. She will have a title again. But not one she expected. She will be a 99er. "I am petrified. Do I become homeless?" she said, adding that she has begun making inquiries at local shelters.
If the 99ers are coming to symbolise a human segment of society that America is slowly abandoning to its fate, then Camden is the geographic expression of that marginalisation.
Large stretches of the once bustling river port city seem to epitomise urban blight. Vacant lots and burned-out abandoned houses line many of its streets.
Its 79,000 residents have the lowest median household annual income of any city in the US at just $24,000 (£15,000).
In terms of crime rates it was the nation's second-most dangerous city last year. Some estimates reckon that about a third of Camden's houses are empty. A third of its people are in poverty and a fifth are unemployed.
It is a deeply grim picture and it is getting worse.
Camden's city government is facing the prospect of massive cuts as its cash-strapped resources have run out and it has built up huge debts. Services have already been cut and only a last-minute rescue last week saved Camden's three public libraries from being closed.
In a city that has had it tough for decades these are hammer blows
to its residents.
One woman who has watched in dismay as the recession unfolded outside her door is Dorothy Allen, 81, who has lived near Haddon Avenue for almost four decades.
Known by almost everyone as "Mom", she calls herself "the mother
of the block". She has never known anything like the area's current troubles. "I have been here since 1971 and it's the worst it's ever been," she said.
Yet to listen to America's politicians many would think recovery is just a matter of time. Yes, they say, the recession has been hard, but America will pull through and everything will be as it once was.
Last week New Jersey senator Robert Menendez visited Camden, stopping at a local health clinic. He spoke of the achievements of
the Democrats in staving off economic disaster.
Job creation was coming, he told his audience of health executives: "It is not going fast enough to get people back to work but it's a dramatic turnaround."
It does not feel that way for millions of Americans all across the country.
Camden is far from unique in slashing its services. In Colorado Springs more than a third of street lights have been switched off to cut the municipal electricity bill. The city has also sold off its police helicopters.
In Hawaii schoolchildren were told to stay at home for 17 Fridays to save costs. In a suburb of Atlanta local bus routes were closed, at a stroke wiping out public transport for thousands of people who relied on it to get to precious jobs.
Whether it's the poor of Camden or Colorado Springs or Atlanta, or among the growing throngs of the 99ers, millions of Americans are discovering that working hard, doing the right thing and obeying the rules are no longer enough.
Back at the 99er rally on Wall Street, Anne Strauss felt that way.
During her working life she had refused to claim benefits to which she was entitled as she thought she was doing just fine. Now, as a newly minted 99er, she was looking for help from the country that she had always believed in. But the help was not forthcoming.
It is hard to see how the version of the American dream that Menendez described could now ever apply to her.
For Strauss, living on credit, desperate to work, but with no job in sight, that dream looks a thing of the past, not the future. "This is not the country I grew up in," Strauss said.
Case study: 'This is my last $260 and barring a miracle I'll be sleeping in my car'
Alexandra Jarrin, 49, worked for a small technology company near New York City, earned $56,000 a year, had petrol in her car and a roof over her head. She was enrolled in a graduate business school. Then, two years ago, she lost her job .
She received her last unemployment payment in March, putting her among the first wave of "99ers" who have come to the end of their 99 weeks of entitlement to benefits.
When interviewed by the New York Times, she was living in a motel in Brattleboro, Vermont, having paid $260 she managed to scrape together from friends and from selling her living-room furniture – enough for a week-long stay.
She said she wept as she left her old life. 'I thought, you know, what if I turned the wheel in my car and wrecked my car?' Her vehicle is now on the verge of being repossessed.
Jarrin has contacted her local shelter, but was told there was a waiting list. "Barring a miracle, I'm going to be [sleeping] in my car," she said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/15/jobless-millions-dea
th-american-dream
By Paul Harris
The Observer, Sunday 15 August 2010
Richard Gaines is one of the best-known faces on Camden's Haddon Avenue.
It is a rough-and-tumble street, lined with cheap businesses and boarded-up houses, and is prey to drug gangs.
Gaines, 50, runs a barbershop, a hair salon and a fitness business.
He works hard and is committed to his community. But Haddon Avenue is not an easy place to make a living in the best of times.
And these are far from the best of times.
Just how badly the great recession has struck this fragile New Jersey city, which is currently the poorest in America, was recently spelled out to Gaines.
In happier times – whatever that might mean for a city as destitute as Camden – local businesses on Haddon Avenue could at least rely
on a bit of trade from those who made their money on the street.
Young men bought flashy clothes and got sharp haircuts and always paid in cash. But no longer.
The economy is now so bad in Camden that even the criminals are struggling and going short. "Even the guys who got money from
illegal means really don't want to spend it," Gaines said.
Such a development, though, is just a snapshot of the deep problems still hitting the wider American economy.
Growth rates are stuttering and a recovery is struggling to take hold. It may even now be showing signs of going backwards again, as countries such as Germany start to power forward.
Joblessness has taken hold in America, with the numbers of long-term unemployed reaching levels not seen since the Depression of the 1930s.
The figures are frightening and illustrate a society that remains in deep trouble.
The headline jobless figure of 9.5% is bad enough but does not begin to convey the problem as it fails to measure those who have stopped looking for work.
Over the past three months alone more than a million Americans have fallen into that category: effectively giving up hope of finding a job and dropping out of the official statistics.
Such cases now number some 5.9 million and their ranks are likely to grow as millions more find their jobless status becoming a permanent state of hopelessness.
Surveys show that with each passing week on the dole their chances of finding a job get slimmer.
Though corporations, especially in the banking sector, are posting healthy profits, they are not hiring new workers.
At the same time, government cuts are sweeping through city and state governments alike, threatening tens of thousands of jobs and slicing away at services once thought vital.
Schools, street lighting, libraries, refuse collection, the police, fire services and public transport networks are all being scaled back.
America appears to be a society splitting down the centre, shattering the middle class that long formed the cultural bedrock of the country and dividing it into a country of haves and have-nots.
"A once unthinkable level of economic distress is in the process of becoming the new normal," warned Nobel-prize winning economist Paul Krugman in a recent New York Times column.
Or, as Steven Green, an economics lecturer at Baylor University,
put it to the Observer: "We are really in a tough spot right now."
There is a new name for those falling down the black hole of joblessness that has opened up in America's economy.
They are the 99ers.
It is a moniker that no one wants. It refers to the 99 weeks of benefits that the jobless can qualify for in America. Government
cash helps those laid off keep a tenuous grip on a normal life.
It keeps a roof over their heads, pays a phone bill, puts food on a table and petrol in a car. But once the 99 weeks are up the payments stop – as is happening now for millions of people – and they are 99ers.
For many, that moment, which America's politicians have refused
to extend, represents the moment of destitution; a sort of modern American version of the old Victorian trip to the workhouse.
There are now more than a million 99ers and the number gets
bigger each week.
But who are they? Despite Republican attempts to paint them as feckless or job-shy, they are usually anything but.
The 99ers are people like Anne Strauss, 58, who spent 35 years working as a PR professional on Long Island. Despite spending
every day hunting for work, she has not had a job since June 2008.
She and her husband are now living on credit cards watching debts mount as they stare into the abyss. "Looking for a job is the hardest I have ever worked," she said with a smile that conveyed no humour or happiness, only the deep stress that is common to many 99ers.
Strauss, along with about 50 other 99ers, protested on Wall Street last week, demanding an extension of the benefits that could keep them out of poverty.
As bankers and financiers strode into the flag-draped Stock Exchange they chanted: "Shame! Shame!" and told their stories. It was a litany of middle-class lives shattered by the recession.
There was Connie Kaplan, a corporate librarian who was desperate
to resume her career. "We are not bums, we are hardworking," she said.
Or Lori Ghavami, a New Jersey financial analyst in her 30s, who had once worked on Wall Street itself and now was staring at landlords' bills she was scared she could not pay.
Or New Yorker Steven Bilarbi, 62, who had worked for the same employer for 37 years, until 2007.
He has not worked since, despite refusing to spend daytime hours
at home and engaging in a permanent job hunt. He is now living off savings and depleting his pension.
"I go to job fairs. I don't feel like staying home. What would I do? Watch game shows and soap operas?" he fumed.
Meeting 99ers is to tap into a deep well of anger at lives that have been knocked off course, shattering the enduring vision of the American dream that many had felt they had achieved.
Just take Donna Faiella, a 53-year-old New Yorker who lives alone
in Queens. She spent 28 years working in film post-production and video-editing. She was successful and had a career.
Now she is desperate for a job, any job. But she cannot find one.
"I will do anything. I will sweep floors. You think I look forward to collecting unemployment? It is fucking degrading," she said, almost quivering with anger.
Faiella is in dire trouble. Joblessness has eaten away at her sense of identity. "I feel like we are worthless. We are lost in the world. I don't know what to call myself. I don't have a title any more. What do we do? What do we do?" she implored.
Faiella has one week of benefits to go. Then her 99 weeks will be up. She will have a title again. But not one she expected. She will be a 99er. "I am petrified. Do I become homeless?" she said, adding that she has begun making inquiries at local shelters.
If the 99ers are coming to symbolise a human segment of society that America is slowly abandoning to its fate, then Camden is the geographic expression of that marginalisation.
Large stretches of the once bustling river port city seem to epitomise urban blight. Vacant lots and burned-out abandoned houses line many of its streets.
Its 79,000 residents have the lowest median household annual income of any city in the US at just $24,000 (£15,000).
In terms of crime rates it was the nation's second-most dangerous city last year. Some estimates reckon that about a third of Camden's houses are empty. A third of its people are in poverty and a fifth are unemployed.
It is a deeply grim picture and it is getting worse.
Camden's city government is facing the prospect of massive cuts as its cash-strapped resources have run out and it has built up huge debts. Services have already been cut and only a last-minute rescue last week saved Camden's three public libraries from being closed.
In a city that has had it tough for decades these are hammer blows
to its residents.
One woman who has watched in dismay as the recession unfolded outside her door is Dorothy Allen, 81, who has lived near Haddon Avenue for almost four decades.
Known by almost everyone as "Mom", she calls herself "the mother
of the block". She has never known anything like the area's current troubles. "I have been here since 1971 and it's the worst it's ever been," she said.
Yet to listen to America's politicians many would think recovery is just a matter of time. Yes, they say, the recession has been hard, but America will pull through and everything will be as it once was.
Last week New Jersey senator Robert Menendez visited Camden, stopping at a local health clinic. He spoke of the achievements of
the Democrats in staving off economic disaster.
Job creation was coming, he told his audience of health executives: "It is not going fast enough to get people back to work but it's a dramatic turnaround."
It does not feel that way for millions of Americans all across the country.
Camden is far from unique in slashing its services. In Colorado Springs more than a third of street lights have been switched off to cut the municipal electricity bill. The city has also sold off its police helicopters.
In Hawaii schoolchildren were told to stay at home for 17 Fridays to save costs. In a suburb of Atlanta local bus routes were closed, at a stroke wiping out public transport for thousands of people who relied on it to get to precious jobs.
Whether it's the poor of Camden or Colorado Springs or Atlanta, or among the growing throngs of the 99ers, millions of Americans are discovering that working hard, doing the right thing and obeying the rules are no longer enough.
Back at the 99er rally on Wall Street, Anne Strauss felt that way.
During her working life she had refused to claim benefits to which she was entitled as she thought she was doing just fine. Now, as a newly minted 99er, she was looking for help from the country that she had always believed in. But the help was not forthcoming.
It is hard to see how the version of the American dream that Menendez described could now ever apply to her.
For Strauss, living on credit, desperate to work, but with no job in sight, that dream looks a thing of the past, not the future. "This is not the country I grew up in," Strauss said.
Case study: 'This is my last $260 and barring a miracle I'll be sleeping in my car'
Alexandra Jarrin, 49, worked for a small technology company near New York City, earned $56,000 a year, had petrol in her car and a roof over her head. She was enrolled in a graduate business school. Then, two years ago, she lost her job .
She received her last unemployment payment in March, putting her among the first wave of "99ers" who have come to the end of their 99 weeks of entitlement to benefits.
When interviewed by the New York Times, she was living in a motel in Brattleboro, Vermont, having paid $260 she managed to scrape together from friends and from selling her living-room furniture – enough for a week-long stay.
She said she wept as she left her old life. 'I thought, you know, what if I turned the wheel in my car and wrecked my car?' Her vehicle is now on the verge of being repossessed.
Jarrin has contacted her local shelter, but was told there was a waiting list. "Barring a miracle, I'm going to be [sleeping] in my car," she said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/15/jobless-millions-dea
th-american-dream
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Barack, it's time to commit to God
from tony whitcomb
to info@barackobama.com
cc "Barnett, Robert"
democraticparty@democrats.org,
ofaminnesota@dnc.org,
thomas@bluestatedigital.com
date Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 8:48 PM
subject Barack, it's time to commit to God
mailed-by gmail.com
President Obama --
On August 12, 2010 I received an e-mail from you which was entitled, "Tony, it's time to commit to vote."
My humble response to you Mr. President is, "Barack, it's time to commit to God" and below is a Psalm of David, to help guide you and your Administration in your times of trouble because, "Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard." Proverbs 21:13
Sincerely,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO Expotera
Psalms 41:1-13 (King James Version)
41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
41:2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
41:3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
41:4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
41:5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
41:6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
41:7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
41:8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
41:10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
41:11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
41:12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
41:13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVer
seID/14544/eVerseID/14546
to info@barackobama.com
cc "Barnett, Robert"
democraticparty@democrats.org,
ofaminnesota@dnc.org,
thomas@bluestatedigital.com
date Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 8:48 PM
subject Barack, it's time to commit to God
mailed-by gmail.com
President Obama --
On August 12, 2010 I received an e-mail from you which was entitled, "Tony, it's time to commit to vote."
My humble response to you Mr. President is, "Barack, it's time to commit to God" and below is a Psalm of David, to help guide you and your Administration in your times of trouble because, "Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard." Proverbs 21:13
Sincerely,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO Expotera
Psalms 41:1-13 (King James Version)
41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
41:2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
41:3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
41:4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee.
41:5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish?
41:6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it.
41:7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.
41:8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more.
41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
41:10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them.
41:11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me.
41:12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever.
41:13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.
http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVer
seID/14544/eVerseID/14546
The stunning decline of Barack Obama
The stunning decline of Barack Obama:
10 key reasons why the Obama presidency is in meltdown
By Nile Gardiner
Last updated: August 12th, 2010
The last few weeks have been a nightmare for President Obama, in a summer of discontent in the United States which has deeply unsettled the ruling liberal elites, so much so that even the Left has begun to turn against the White House.
While the anti-establishment Tea Party movement has gained significant ground and is now a rising and powerful political force to be reckoned with, many of the president’s own supporters as well as independents are rapidly losing faith in Barack Obama, with open warfare breaking out between the White House and the left-wing of the Democratic Party.
While conservatism in America grows stronger by the day, the forces of liberalism are growing increasingly weaker and divided.
Against this backdrop, the president’s approval ratings have been sliding dramatically all summer, with the latest Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking Poll of US voters dropping to minus 22 points, the lowest point so far for Barack Obama since taking office.
While just 24 per cent of American voters strongly approve of the president’s job performance, almost twice that number, 46 per cent, strongly disapprove.
According to Rasmussen, 65 per cent of voters believe the United States is going down the wrong track, including 70 per cent of independents.
The RealClearPolitics average of polls now has President Obama at over 50 per cent disapproval, a remarkably high figure for a president just 18 months into his first term.
Strikingly, the latest USA Today/Gallup survey has the President on just 41 per cent approval, with 53 per cent disapproving.
There are an array of reasons behind the stunning decline and political fall of President Obama, chief among them fears over the current state of the US economy, with widespread concern over high levels of unemployment, the unstable housing market, and above all the towering budget deficit.
Americans are increasingly rejecting President Obama’s big government solutions to America’s economic woes, which many fear will lead to the United States sharing the same fate as Greece.
Growing disillusionment with the Obama administration’s handling of the economy as well as health care and immigration has gone hand in hand with mounting unhappiness with the President’s aloof and imperial style of leadership, and a growing perception that he is out of touch with ordinary Americans, especially at a time of significant economic pain.
Barack Obama’s striking absence of natural leadership ability (and blatant lack of experience) has played a big part in undermining his credibility with the US public, with his lacklustre handling of the Gulf oil spill coming under particularly intense fire.
On the national security and foreign policy front, President Obama has not fared any better.
His leadership on the war in Afghanistan has been confused and at times lacking in conviction, and seemingly dictated by domestic political priorities rather than military and strategic goals.
His overall foreign policy has been an appalling mess, with his flawed strategy of engagement of hostile regimes spectacularly backfiring.
And as for the War on Terror, his administration has not even acknowledged it is fighting one.
Can it get any worse for President Obama? Undoubtedly yes.
Here are 10 key reasons why the Obama presidency is in serious trouble, and why its prospects are unlikely to improve between now and the November mid-terms:
1. The Obama presidency is out of touch with the American people
2. Most Americans don’t have confidence in the president’s leadership
3. Obama fails to inspire
4. The United States is drowning in debt
5. Obama’s Big Government message is falling flat
6. Obama’s support for socialised health care is a huge political mistake
7. Obama’s handling of the Gulf oil spill has been weak-kneed and indecisive
8. US foreign policy is an embarrassing mess under the Obama administration
9. President Obama is muddled and confused on national security
10. Obama doesn’t believe in American greatness
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100050412/the-stun
ning-decline-of-barack-obama-10-key-reasons-why-the-obama-presid
ency-is-in-meltdown/
10 key reasons why the Obama presidency is in meltdown
By Nile Gardiner
Last updated: August 12th, 2010
The last few weeks have been a nightmare for President Obama, in a summer of discontent in the United States which has deeply unsettled the ruling liberal elites, so much so that even the Left has begun to turn against the White House.
While the anti-establishment Tea Party movement has gained significant ground and is now a rising and powerful political force to be reckoned with, many of the president’s own supporters as well as independents are rapidly losing faith in Barack Obama, with open warfare breaking out between the White House and the left-wing of the Democratic Party.
While conservatism in America grows stronger by the day, the forces of liberalism are growing increasingly weaker and divided.
Against this backdrop, the president’s approval ratings have been sliding dramatically all summer, with the latest Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking Poll of US voters dropping to minus 22 points, the lowest point so far for Barack Obama since taking office.
While just 24 per cent of American voters strongly approve of the president’s job performance, almost twice that number, 46 per cent, strongly disapprove.
According to Rasmussen, 65 per cent of voters believe the United States is going down the wrong track, including 70 per cent of independents.
The RealClearPolitics average of polls now has President Obama at over 50 per cent disapproval, a remarkably high figure for a president just 18 months into his first term.
Strikingly, the latest USA Today/Gallup survey has the President on just 41 per cent approval, with 53 per cent disapproving.
There are an array of reasons behind the stunning decline and political fall of President Obama, chief among them fears over the current state of the US economy, with widespread concern over high levels of unemployment, the unstable housing market, and above all the towering budget deficit.
Americans are increasingly rejecting President Obama’s big government solutions to America’s economic woes, which many fear will lead to the United States sharing the same fate as Greece.
Growing disillusionment with the Obama administration’s handling of the economy as well as health care and immigration has gone hand in hand with mounting unhappiness with the President’s aloof and imperial style of leadership, and a growing perception that he is out of touch with ordinary Americans, especially at a time of significant economic pain.
Barack Obama’s striking absence of natural leadership ability (and blatant lack of experience) has played a big part in undermining his credibility with the US public, with his lacklustre handling of the Gulf oil spill coming under particularly intense fire.
On the national security and foreign policy front, President Obama has not fared any better.
His leadership on the war in Afghanistan has been confused and at times lacking in conviction, and seemingly dictated by domestic political priorities rather than military and strategic goals.
His overall foreign policy has been an appalling mess, with his flawed strategy of engagement of hostile regimes spectacularly backfiring.
And as for the War on Terror, his administration has not even acknowledged it is fighting one.
Can it get any worse for President Obama? Undoubtedly yes.
Here are 10 key reasons why the Obama presidency is in serious trouble, and why its prospects are unlikely to improve between now and the November mid-terms:
1. The Obama presidency is out of touch with the American people
2. Most Americans don’t have confidence in the president’s leadership
3. Obama fails to inspire
4. The United States is drowning in debt
5. Obama’s Big Government message is falling flat
6. Obama’s support for socialised health care is a huge political mistake
7. Obama’s handling of the Gulf oil spill has been weak-kneed and indecisive
8. US foreign policy is an embarrassing mess under the Obama administration
9. President Obama is muddled and confused on national security
10. Obama doesn’t believe in American greatness
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/nilegardiner/100050412/the-stun
ning-decline-of-barack-obama-10-key-reasons-why-the-obama-presid
ency-is-in-meltdown/
Friday, August 13, 2010
Tony, it's time to commit to vote
from Barack Obama info@barackobama.com
reply-to info@barackobama.com
to Tony Whitcomb
date Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 2:40 PM
subject Tony, it's time to commit to vote
mailed-by bounce.bluestatedigital.com
Tony --
Eighteen years ago, shortly after graduating from law school, I helped lead a voter registration campaign in Chicago that generated record turnout on Election Day.
That experience taught me one of the most important lessons I ever learned as a community organizer: When people promise that they'll do something -- like voting -- they are far more likely to do it.
That's why one key part of our Vote 2010 plan this year is to get folks like you from across the country to commit to vote, to make sure we get as many people as we can to cast their ballots this fall.
But getting the commitments we need starts with your own promise to make it to the polls and cast your ballot.
Will you please commit to vote in the 2010 elections?
Over the next 82 days, volunteers across the country will spend countless hours calling voters and knocking on their doors, asking them the same question.
And you can bet that I am counting on you to join them in talking to voters in your community.
This election offers a stark choice. We Democrats are hard at work trying to move America forward, repairing a decade of damage and growing an economy based on the Main Street values of hard work and responsibility.
We've fought for and won historic reforms to our health care system, a victory 100 years in the making, and to Wall Street, the most sweeping overhaul of the financial system since the Great Depression.
But after years of policies that landed us in the worst recession since the 1930's, the Republicans who got us there have not come up with anything different from the policies of George W. Bush.
We simply cannot afford to go backwards or let them repeal our reforms. And making sure we can continue moving forward starts with your own promise to cast your ballot in these elections.
Please commit to vote this fall:
http://my.barackobama.com/Commitment
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
reply-to info@barackobama.com
to Tony Whitcomb
date Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 2:40 PM
subject Tony, it's time to commit to vote
mailed-by bounce.bluestatedigital.com
Tony --
Eighteen years ago, shortly after graduating from law school, I helped lead a voter registration campaign in Chicago that generated record turnout on Election Day.
That experience taught me one of the most important lessons I ever learned as a community organizer: When people promise that they'll do something -- like voting -- they are far more likely to do it.
That's why one key part of our Vote 2010 plan this year is to get folks like you from across the country to commit to vote, to make sure we get as many people as we can to cast their ballots this fall.
But getting the commitments we need starts with your own promise to make it to the polls and cast your ballot.
Will you please commit to vote in the 2010 elections?
Over the next 82 days, volunteers across the country will spend countless hours calling voters and knocking on their doors, asking them the same question.
And you can bet that I am counting on you to join them in talking to voters in your community.
This election offers a stark choice. We Democrats are hard at work trying to move America forward, repairing a decade of damage and growing an economy based on the Main Street values of hard work and responsibility.
We've fought for and won historic reforms to our health care system, a victory 100 years in the making, and to Wall Street, the most sweeping overhaul of the financial system since the Great Depression.
But after years of policies that landed us in the worst recession since the 1930's, the Republicans who got us there have not come up with anything different from the policies of George W. Bush.
We simply cannot afford to go backwards or let them repeal our reforms. And making sure we can continue moving forward starts with your own promise to cast your ballot in these elections.
Please commit to vote this fall:
http://my.barackobama.com/Commitment
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Notes To a Class Worrier From The Last Boy in Line
from tony whitcomb
to rreich@berkeley.edu,
bob@robertreich.org
date Sat, Jan 24, 2009 at 10:01 PM
subject President Obama for America/Expotera
mailed-by gmail.com
Dear Secretary Reich:
My name is Tony Whitcomb. I am a 43 year old Social Entrepreneur and I would like to congratulate you on the success of your new book, "Supercapatalism."
I would also like to congratulate you on being named a member of President Barack Obama's Economic Team and serving as one of his most trusted and key, Economic Advisers.
Secretary Reich, you and President Obama, are already aware of the fact that our Country is currently facing an economic crisis of historic and global proportions.
I have an idea/business plan that I truly believe in the two of your hands could immediately help stimulate the sagging U.S. economy without adding to our Nations current record debt and it is called, Expotera.
Expotera is a new small business/social networking concept that is seizing financial opportunities that others have missed or have simply ignored, by changing the system and by spreading the enormous wealth that is currently being generated out on the Internet.
Expotera is an innovative and systematic approach for meeting the needs of the marginalized, the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised populations, that lack the financial means or political clout, to achieve any lasting benefits on their own.
Expotera will immediately benefit disadvantaged communities and ultimately society at large, by using the Internet to build wealth from the bottom up with new approaches and advanced sustainable solutions that create social value and economic justice for all.
Expotera will also help to immediately stimulate the U.S. economy by creating thousands of new high-tech jobs here in America, and millions of new high-tech independent contractors around the world.
Secretary Reich, YouTube, MySpace and Facebook, have all become multi-billion dollar corporations by utilizing the web's, "Free Labor Economy" and by perpetuating a system that allows new members to sign up for free, then work for free, for referring new members, versus allowing new members to sign up for a fee, then work for a fee, for reffering new members.
Expotera on the other hand will charge all of our new members a small monthly recurring membership fee which in turn, allows every Expotera member the opportunity to start earning a monthly residual income for referring new members to Expotera which also in turn, makes each Expotera member a co-owner in the company and it's small business/social networking web site.
President Obama recently stated that, "Every American needs to put a little skin into the game."
But until someone creates a legitimate option/way and a legal game for every American, "To put a little skin into" the poor and the middle class are going to continue being completely left out of the, "GAME" or forced to try to play a, "GAME" we have absolutely no chance at ever winning.
Secretary Reich, I am attaching a copy of my business plan in the form of a Confidential Private Placement Memorandum along with a copy of the Expotera/Visa debit card, for your and President Obama's thoughtful, wise and independent reviews at this time.
As a Social Entrepreneur, I believe in the triple bottom line, "People, Planet, Profit."
And as a life long Democrat and American Citizen, I love our Country and I want to partner up with you, President Obama, and your technology and economic development teams, to continue moving Expotera forward from here because, "We are who we have been waiting for."
Secretary Reich, I sincerely thank you for all of your time and considerations and I wish you nothing but continued peace, prosperity and success, in all of your current and future endeavors!
Very Best Regards,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO
Expotera
2 attachments — Download all attachments
Expotera_-_Form_of_PPM_v6_-_2.28.07.doc
228K View Download
Expotera_Concept_Card_051607.pdf
50K View Download
to rreich@berkeley.edu,
bob@robertreich.org
date Sat, Jan 24, 2009 at 10:01 PM
subject President Obama for America/Expotera
mailed-by gmail.com
Dear Secretary Reich:
My name is Tony Whitcomb. I am a 43 year old Social Entrepreneur and I would like to congratulate you on the success of your new book, "Supercapatalism."
I would also like to congratulate you on being named a member of President Barack Obama's Economic Team and serving as one of his most trusted and key, Economic Advisers.
Secretary Reich, you and President Obama, are already aware of the fact that our Country is currently facing an economic crisis of historic and global proportions.
I have an idea/business plan that I truly believe in the two of your hands could immediately help stimulate the sagging U.S. economy without adding to our Nations current record debt and it is called, Expotera.
Expotera is a new small business/social networking concept that is seizing financial opportunities that others have missed or have simply ignored, by changing the system and by spreading the enormous wealth that is currently being generated out on the Internet.
Expotera is an innovative and systematic approach for meeting the needs of the marginalized, the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised populations, that lack the financial means or political clout, to achieve any lasting benefits on their own.
Expotera will immediately benefit disadvantaged communities and ultimately society at large, by using the Internet to build wealth from the bottom up with new approaches and advanced sustainable solutions that create social value and economic justice for all.
Expotera will also help to immediately stimulate the U.S. economy by creating thousands of new high-tech jobs here in America, and millions of new high-tech independent contractors around the world.
Secretary Reich, YouTube, MySpace and Facebook, have all become multi-billion dollar corporations by utilizing the web's, "Free Labor Economy" and by perpetuating a system that allows new members to sign up for free, then work for free, for referring new members, versus allowing new members to sign up for a fee, then work for a fee, for reffering new members.
Expotera on the other hand will charge all of our new members a small monthly recurring membership fee which in turn, allows every Expotera member the opportunity to start earning a monthly residual income for referring new members to Expotera which also in turn, makes each Expotera member a co-owner in the company and it's small business/social networking web site.
President Obama recently stated that, "Every American needs to put a little skin into the game."
But until someone creates a legitimate option/way and a legal game for every American, "To put a little skin into" the poor and the middle class are going to continue being completely left out of the, "GAME" or forced to try to play a, "GAME" we have absolutely no chance at ever winning.
Secretary Reich, I am attaching a copy of my business plan in the form of a Confidential Private Placement Memorandum along with a copy of the Expotera/Visa debit card, for your and President Obama's thoughtful, wise and independent reviews at this time.
As a Social Entrepreneur, I believe in the triple bottom line, "People, Planet, Profit."
And as a life long Democrat and American Citizen, I love our Country and I want to partner up with you, President Obama, and your technology and economic development teams, to continue moving Expotera forward from here because, "We are who we have been waiting for."
Secretary Reich, I sincerely thank you for all of your time and considerations and I wish you nothing but continued peace, prosperity and success, in all of your current and future endeavors!
Very Best Regards,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO
Expotera
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Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Notes From a Class Worrier
Notes From a Class Worrier
by Robert Reich
Former Secretary of Labor, Professor at Berkeley
Posted: August 9, 2010 4:43 PM
The decline of America's middle class can be charted directly.
In the three decades after World War II, the median wage (smack in the middle) grew rapidly, right along with productivity gains.
Even as late as 1980, the richest 1 percent of Americans received only about 9 percent of the nation's total income.
But starting in the 1980s -- and increasingly since then -- the economy has made the rich far richer without doing squat for the vast middle.
The median hourly wage has barely grown, if you take inflation into account. Indeed, it dropped in the last so-called "recovery" between 2001 and 2007.
And health-care and pension benefits have declined; we've gone from defined-benefit pensions to do-it-yourself pensions, while health insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-payments have skyrocketed.
Meanwhile, the rich have been getting a larger and larger portion of total income.
From 9 percent in 1980, the top 1 percent's take has increased to 23.5 percent in 2007. CEOs who in the 1970s took home 40 percent of the compensation of average workers now rake in 350 times.
Financiers who forty years ago made only modest fortunes today, even after the Great Recession they helped bring on, routinely earn seven and eight-figures.
In 2009, when most of the nation's middle class was deep in recession, the 25 best-paid hedge-fund managers took in an average of $1 billion each. (Their marginal income tax, by the way, was barely over 17 percent, while the typical family paid a marginal tax far higher.)
What happened? It wasn't just greed. It was also the systematic and ever cleverer manipulation of laws and rules by those able to pay lobbyists, legislators, lawyers, accountants to do their bidding.
As income and wealth have risen to the top, so has the power to manipulate the system in order to acquire even more money and more influence.
To be sure, globalization and technological change have bestowed gains disproportionately on those with the education and connections to benefit most from them, while burdening Americans without the education and connections most needed.
But instead of enlarging the circle of prosperity so that the vast middle class could come out winners as well -- instead of strengthening trade unions, improving public education, deepening public investments, enlarging safety nets, and making the tax system more progressive -- the nation took direction from those at the top, and did the opposite.
It is not surprising America's middle class is increasingly frustrated and are venting their anger -- at politicians, the leaders of big business and Wall Street, as well as global traders, immigrants, and others who are easy targets of resentment.
A politics of audacious hope has turned into a politics of fear -- meaner spirited than at any time in recent memory.
I am not a class warrior. Call me a class worrier.
Our choice in the years ahead is either demagoguery that turns Americans further against one another and the rest of the world, or genuine reform that enlarges shared prosperity.
It is the responsibility of all of us to fight the former and work toward the latter.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/notes-from-a-class-wor
rie_b_676140.html
by Robert Reich
Former Secretary of Labor, Professor at Berkeley
Posted: August 9, 2010 4:43 PM
The decline of America's middle class can be charted directly.
In the three decades after World War II, the median wage (smack in the middle) grew rapidly, right along with productivity gains.
Even as late as 1980, the richest 1 percent of Americans received only about 9 percent of the nation's total income.
But starting in the 1980s -- and increasingly since then -- the economy has made the rich far richer without doing squat for the vast middle.
The median hourly wage has barely grown, if you take inflation into account. Indeed, it dropped in the last so-called "recovery" between 2001 and 2007.
And health-care and pension benefits have declined; we've gone from defined-benefit pensions to do-it-yourself pensions, while health insurance premiums, deductibles, and co-payments have skyrocketed.
Meanwhile, the rich have been getting a larger and larger portion of total income.
From 9 percent in 1980, the top 1 percent's take has increased to 23.5 percent in 2007. CEOs who in the 1970s took home 40 percent of the compensation of average workers now rake in 350 times.
Financiers who forty years ago made only modest fortunes today, even after the Great Recession they helped bring on, routinely earn seven and eight-figures.
In 2009, when most of the nation's middle class was deep in recession, the 25 best-paid hedge-fund managers took in an average of $1 billion each. (Their marginal income tax, by the way, was barely over 17 percent, while the typical family paid a marginal tax far higher.)
What happened? It wasn't just greed. It was also the systematic and ever cleverer manipulation of laws and rules by those able to pay lobbyists, legislators, lawyers, accountants to do their bidding.
As income and wealth have risen to the top, so has the power to manipulate the system in order to acquire even more money and more influence.
To be sure, globalization and technological change have bestowed gains disproportionately on those with the education and connections to benefit most from them, while burdening Americans without the education and connections most needed.
But instead of enlarging the circle of prosperity so that the vast middle class could come out winners as well -- instead of strengthening trade unions, improving public education, deepening public investments, enlarging safety nets, and making the tax system more progressive -- the nation took direction from those at the top, and did the opposite.
It is not surprising America's middle class is increasingly frustrated and are venting their anger -- at politicians, the leaders of big business and Wall Street, as well as global traders, immigrants, and others who are easy targets of resentment.
A politics of audacious hope has turned into a politics of fear -- meaner spirited than at any time in recent memory.
I am not a class warrior. Call me a class worrier.
Our choice in the years ahead is either demagoguery that turns Americans further against one another and the rest of the world, or genuine reform that enlarges shared prosperity.
It is the responsibility of all of us to fight the former and work toward the latter.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/notes-from-a-class-wor
rie_b_676140.html
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Goodwill Hunting
from tony whitcomb
to cromer@econ.berkeley.edu
date Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 5:08 PM
subject Director of Economic Advisors/Expotera
mailed-by gmail.com
Dear Dr. Romer:
My name is Tony Whitcomb. I am a 42 year old Social Entrepreneur and at this time I would like to congratulate you on being named a key member of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden's economic team serving as, Director of the Council of Economic Advisors.
Dr. Romer, I have an idea/business plan that I have been working on and developing over the past 12 years that I truly believe can immediately help stimulate the sagging U.S. economy at this very critical time and it is called, Expotera.
Expotera is a new social networking concept that is seizing financial opportunities that others have missed or have simply ignored, by changing the system and by spreading the enormous wealth that is currently being generated out on the Internet.
Expotera is an innovative and systemic approach for meeting the needs of the marginalized, the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised populations, that lack the financial means or political clout, to achieve any lasting benefits on their own.
Expotera will immediately benefit disadvantaged communities and ultimately society at large, by using the Internet to build wealth from the bottom up with new approaches and advance sustainable solutions that create social value and economic justice for all.
As a Social Entrepreneur, I believe in the triple bottom line, "People, Planet, Profit" and I don't believe in greed, dishonesty and corruption.
As an American Citizen, I love my Country and I simply want to be able to believe in my Government once again.
Dr. Romer, thank you for all of your time and considerations and I am willing to provide you or any designated member of your staff with a detailed copy of my business plans upon your request and I wish you nothing but continued success in all of your current and future endeavors!
Very Best Regards,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO
Expotera
to cromer@econ.berkeley.edu
date Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 5:08 PM
subject Director of Economic Advisors/Expotera
mailed-by gmail.com
Dear Dr. Romer:
My name is Tony Whitcomb. I am a 42 year old Social Entrepreneur and at this time I would like to congratulate you on being named a key member of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden's economic team serving as, Director of the Council of Economic Advisors.
Dr. Romer, I have an idea/business plan that I have been working on and developing over the past 12 years that I truly believe can immediately help stimulate the sagging U.S. economy at this very critical time and it is called, Expotera.
Expotera is a new social networking concept that is seizing financial opportunities that others have missed or have simply ignored, by changing the system and by spreading the enormous wealth that is currently being generated out on the Internet.
Expotera is an innovative and systemic approach for meeting the needs of the marginalized, the disadvantaged and the disenfranchised populations, that lack the financial means or political clout, to achieve any lasting benefits on their own.
Expotera will immediately benefit disadvantaged communities and ultimately society at large, by using the Internet to build wealth from the bottom up with new approaches and advance sustainable solutions that create social value and economic justice for all.
As a Social Entrepreneur, I believe in the triple bottom line, "People, Planet, Profit" and I don't believe in greed, dishonesty and corruption.
As an American Citizen, I love my Country and I simply want to be able to believe in my Government once again.
Dr. Romer, thank you for all of your time and considerations and I am willing to provide you or any designated member of your staff with a detailed copy of my business plans upon your request and I wish you nothing but continued success in all of your current and future endeavors!
Very Best Regards,
Tony E. Whitcomb
Founder/CEO
Expotera
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