Political Posts

[cubsfan]

1 hour ago, whiskybravo said:

Seeing ole Dealraker as Cubs says has me feeling nostalgic.  I remember the old yahoo boards with BabyB.  Even then Dealraker was this wise old crotchety source of wisdom.  I assumed pre 9/11 he was already in his 70’s.

 

My oldest brother dropped out of Northwestern business school MBA to make pottery, wife and two kids.  My next brother got his Northwestern degree in math and quickly secured his teaching job to avoid Vietnam.  My third brother dropped out of UCLA a confirmed hippy and move to Mexico City with regular visits to Cuba to immerse himself in his hero Fidel’s ideal society.  Now he’s right wing.  The older two still leftists.

 

Me? I attended a Big Ten university.  Was shocked when I scored the highest freshman midterm chemistry score out of 200 students.  Got an Ivy League medical degree.  Moved to NYC and married a lifelong New Yorker.

 

1998 was an annus horribilus.  Lost both parents.  Did get a 400k inheritance.  I have turned that into 20M by investing in small companies with reasonable prospects of getting bigger, always concentrated positions.  
 

Latched onto International Assets from Leucadia.  Now StoneX.  Used to attend their annual meetings every year, Orlando or New York.  In 2009 my wife and I walked into applause.  Sean O’Connor and Scott Branch came over and told me they were all taking bets as to whether, after the global financial crisis, we would return.

 

Now it’s Joe and Prot.ol and it’s still a lot of fun.  Mid sixties and I wish it could go on forever.

 

That's a great story of hard work and achievement - you actually did well in the rotten Ivy League when it meant something!

 

And I imagine with your lefty siblings and you get along just fine!

[whiskybravo]

4 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

 

That's a great story of hard work and achievement - you actually did well in the rotten Ivy League when it meant something!

 

And I imagine with your lefty siblings and you get along just fine!

Oh yes, shared history is pretty powerful 

[whiskybravo]

56 minutes ago, dealraker said:

Ahh...whiskybravo you know I have a soft spot for connections, as my wife says, "you live for connections."   I walk out of the house today daily to 80% Trumpers where we pretty much see eye-to-eye on things...'cept Trump!   The old Yahoo Berk board.  I seemed old way back then in the 90's because I'd mention I'd owned Berkshire for over 20 years.  Got called fake and phony more times than I can remember.  Amazingly no matter what the Berk/Buffett investing site - they nearly all become short term in thought and speculative in choices.

 

Have a good day, nice story.  I like stories...you know the older you get...

 

I'm just 71 but I inherited Berk in a trust Jan 10, 1975.  Was worth what a Jeep cost back then when the trust began.  How do I know?  Because I wanted a Jeep and often thought "If I could get my hands on that trust I'd sell that damn nobody-knows-a-thing-about Berkshire stock and get me one."  In the late 70's I even went to work for a man who widely followed Berk/Buffett and STILL - I was a real brainiac for sure back then - was clueless for another few years.

 

 

Salute, you’ve lived the good life 

[DooDiligence]

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/20/politics/witkoff-delivered-medal-from-putin-family-american-killed

 

What an epic troll.

[cubsfan]

https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/news/joint-statement-united-states-european-union-framework-agreement-reciprocal-fair-and-balanced-trade-2025-08-21_en

 

 

[cubsfan]

Oh my gosh -- what a bad day for the TDS infected crowd. LOL

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/21/trump-fraud-new-york-appeals.html

 

Trump half-billion-dollar civil fraud penalty thrown out by appeals court

[John Hjorth]

Reuters - Ukrainian-Russian War [August 21^st 2025] : Exclusive: Putin's demand to Ukraine: give up Donbas, no NATO and no Western troops, sources say.

 

It's not even funny. Yesterday, I posted about what Lavrov said yesterday. Down the drain the whole peace thing goes.

[cubsfan]

5 minutes ago, John Hjorth said:

Reuters - Ukrainian-Russian War [August 21^st 2025] : Exclusive: Putin's demand to Ukraine: give up Donbas, no NATO and no Western troops, sources say.

 

It's not even funny. Yesterday, I posted about what Lavrov said yesterday. Down the drain the whole peace thing goes.

 

In that case - war in Europe it will be !

[John Hjorth]

1 hour ago, cubsfan said:

In that case - war in Europe it will be !

 

Mike [ @cubsfan ],

 

I think personally that the seriousity of this situation actually can only be underestimated.

 

It is really bad.

 

POTUS is and has been perhaps a bit naive here, but the seven European leaders visiting the White House Monday are for sure totally and absolutely naive morons, dumber than any door! [<- @gfp, new thingy for you?] Burning so much fuels and time of on something, that had absolutely no apriori chance of success because of not even the tiniest tangible sign of Russian flexibility and Russia being forthcoming here  in the situation.

 

Mark Rutte is simply the worst of them! Secretary General of NATO [mind you, NATO is actually about a military alliance,  not some club for female seniors sharing their erousing interests for knitting!], and he does not even understand one whit of what he's dealing with here?!

 

Russian warfare at its best : Smoke and mirrors, KGB style, false beards, sunglasses with blue glass, lies and deceptions, propaganda, not expressing things trustworthy, sincere and honestly as they are, long Burberry coats and elegant deflections and evations, all because it's just 'a part of 'the game'' KGB style!

 

... My God!

Edited August 21, 2025 by John Hjorth

[cubsfan]

11 minutes ago, John Hjorth said:

 

Mike [ @cubsfan ],

 

I think personally that the seriousity of this situation actually can only be underestimated.

 

It is really bad.

 

Yes indeed, the situation is extremely bad.

 

The dangerous man, Putin, is still holding a gun to your child's head (Ukraine).

 

Cancelling negotiations a potentially lethal decision for Ukraine

In the end, the decision is yours(Europe & Zelensky) to make.

 

Roll the dice if you like. The United States will have no role in an expanded war.

[73 Reds]

1 hour ago, cubsfan said:

Oh my gosh -- what a bad day for the TDS infected crowd. LOL

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/21/trump-fraud-new-york-appeals.html

 

Trump half-billion-dollar civil fraud penalty thrown out by appeals court

Yep. That case was a crock of sh-t from the get go.  Technical liability - sure.  Damages - none.  Classic case of lawfare against a political opponent using forum shopping in the worst way.  Hopefully those responsible for imposing the ridiculous fine get what they deserve but I won't hold my breath.   This crop of democrats cannot stop embarrassing themselves.   

[gfp]

Sort of ironic that the case was about lying to lenders to obtain better terms on real estate borrowings given the current week's angle against that Fed governor lady

[73 Reds]

5 minutes ago, gfp said:

Sort of ironic that the case was about lying to lenders to obtain better terms on real estate borrowings given the current week's angle against that Fed governor lady

Both she and Adam Schiff will get slaps on the wrist.  But there is no double standard.  

[cubsfan]

6 minutes ago, gfp said:

Sort of ironic that the case was about lying to lenders to obtain better terms on real estate borrowings given the current week's angle against that Fed governor lady

 

Yup, FAFO.  Think of it as justice.

[gfp]

Just now, cubsfan said:

 

Yup, FAFO.  Think of it as justice.

 

Does that lady fed governor represent POTUS's opposition or something?  

[cubsfan]

8 minutes ago, gfp said:

 

Does that lady fed governor represent POTUS's opposition or something?  

 

Yeah, I don't have a clue. Don't know a thing about her. I was shocked frankly.

 

But DC politicians are getting the message - two can play this game.

 

And the American public is noticing.

[gfp]

And I'm sitting here with capital tied up in these 25% down, "investor" mortgages thinking why didn't I think to tell them I was moving in and then just have a change of plans?  How stupid

[cubsfan]

1 minute ago, gfp said:

And I'm sitting here with capital tied up in these 25% down, "investor" mortgages thinking why didn't I think to tell them I was moving in and then just have a change of plans?  How stupid

 

I've owned a second house for 27 years.  I pay higher interest and insurance rates as a result of designation not calling it a primary residence.

 

Obviously, I am a sucker.

[73 Reds]

2 minutes ago, gfp said:

And I'm sitting here with capital tied up in these 25% down, "investor" mortgages thinking why didn't I think to tell them I was moving in and then just have a change of plans?  How stupid

@gfp Borrowers frequently do that to me.  But as a lender I don't care because they've signed paperwork reflecting that the property is an investment property and as owner-occupiers they'll tend to take care of the property better than if it was simply an investment.  The advantage to the borrower is not in the interest rates they will pay but being able to homestead the property.  

[whiskybravo]

3 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

 

Yeah, I don't have a clue. Don't know a thing about her. I was shocked frankly.

 

But DC politicians are getting the message - two can play this game.

 

And the American public is noticing.

Don’t forget the one who brought the case Letitia James is being investigated for misrepresenting a Virginia home as her primary residence, misrepresenting a four unit property in Brooklyn as five units, and my favorite listing her and her father as husband and wife on a mortgage.  

[John Hjorth]

45 minutes ago, cubsfan said:

Yes indeed, the situation is extremely bad.

 

The dangerous man, Putin, is still holding a gun to your child's head (Ukraine).

 

Cancelling negotiations a potentially lethal decision for Ukraine

In the end, the decision is yours(Europe & Zelensky) to make.

 

Roll the dice if you like. The United States will have no role in an expanded war.

 

Mike [ @cubsfan ],

 

Right now, I'm sitting in front of a beer glass  500+ centi liters capacity, containing 500 centi liters of nasty stuff, the Lady of the House very vocal blaiming me, why I haven't started taking in the nasty stuff in the glass containing containing the stuff, the 30 minutes count down for that already running, that eventually and with high degree of certainty will cause me to spend the most of the coming night on the toilet, cross-eyed, because what of that nasty stuff does to me and my digestion system. Hospital visit tomorrow, both coloscopy [again], and gastroscopy tomorrow.

 

Peace! -& later! I think I owe you a balanced reply to our exchanges last night, my local time.

 

-Still, life could be better, it could certainly also be worse, despite nasty stuff and the outlook to war in Europe!

Edited August 21, 2025 by John Hjorth

[cubsfan]

5 minutes ago, John Hjorth said:

 

Mike [ @cubsfan ],

 

Right now, I'm sitting in front of a beer glass  500+ centi liters capacity, containing 500 centi liters of nasty stuff, the Lady of the House very vocal blaiming me, why I haven't started taking in the nasty stuff in the glass containing very nasty tasting stuff, the 30 minutes count down for that already running, that eventually and with high degree of certainty will cause me to spend the most of the coming night on the toilet, cross-eyed, because what of that nasty stuff does to me and my digestion system. Hospital visit tomorrow, both coloscopy [again], and gastroscopy tomorrow.

 

Peace! -& later! I think I owe you a balanced reply to our exchanges last night, my local time.

 

-Still, life could be better, it could certainly also be worse, despite nasty stuff and the outlook to war in Europe!

 

No - you don't worry about a damn thing John - just get well and healthy.

You're one of the nicest people around.

 

But, I do not envy you in the least this weekend!

[cubsfan]

31 minutes ago, whiskybravo said:

Don’t forget the one who brought the case Letitia James is being investigated for misrepresenting a Virginia home as her primary residence, misrepresenting a four unit property in Brooklyn as five units, and my favorite listing her and her father as husband and wife on a mortgage.  

 

I forgot that one - oops Letitia.

 

You'd also hate to be Adam Schiff right about now - mortgage fraud is the least of his issues....   now that he may be indicted for leaking classified documents, staging the Trump/Russian collusion impeachment hoax, and lying to Congress.

 

These people never learn.

[gfp]

33 minutes ago, John Hjorth said:

 

Mike [ @cubsfan ],

 

Right now, I'm sitting in front of a beer glass  500+ centi liters capacity, containing 500 centi liters of nasty stuff, the Lady of the House very vocal blaiming me, why I haven't started taking in the nasty stuff in the glass containing containing the stuff, the 30 minutes count down for that already running, that eventually and with high degree of certainty will cause me to spend the most of the coming night on the toilet, cross-eyed, because what of that nasty stuff does to me and my digestion system. Hospital visit tomorrow, both coloscopy [again], and gastroscopy tomorrow.

 

Peace! -& later! I think I owe you a balanced reply to our exchanges last night, my local time.

 

-Still, life could be better, it could certainly also be worse, despite nasty stuff and the outlook to war in Europe!

 

Oh man, John - you gotta ask for the pills next time.  Then you only have to drink water not that nasty stuff.

 

It could be worse, though - Cubs and I are headed to Omaha for Woodstock for masochists -oops- I mean "capitalists"

[cubsfan]

1 hour ago, gfp said:

 

Oh man, John - you gotta ask for the pills next time.  Then you only have to drink water not that nasty stuff.

 

It could be worse, though - Cubs and I are headed to Omaha for Woodstock for masochists -oops- I mean "capitalists"

 

Yeah, haha - the capitalists go the the Berkshire meeting, the masochists go to the BOC meeting!    I want more pain!