Comment: Good article by Pegala and Carville on Republican missteps and who will get the blame. There is a lot of blame to go around: the candidate, his vp pick, his advisors, the republican message. Our guess is that Limbaugh and Hannity will blame the candidate and his lack of a coherent “conservative” message. But it goes much deeper than that. The world (and the US) are changing and if the Republican message doesn’t change with it, they won’t do much better in 2012.
As Barack Obama and the Democrats appear poised for an historic sweep, we have a message for our Republican friends: It is time to point fingers.
Continue reading ‘Let the Blame Game Begin’
The latest polls for the presidential race show Obama continuing his lead. The 3 big tracking polls still show an average leade of 9 pts: Gallup – Obama by 9 pts, Zogby – Obama by 12 pts and Rasmussen by 7 pts.
Intro: The RNC reports that Sarah Palin and her family have spent $150,000 in clothes, including $49,000 from Saks Fifth Avenue, and $4,900 for hair and make-up. That’s a lot of lipstick.
The Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since her surprise pick by John McCain in late August.
According to financial disclosure records, the accessorizing began in early September and included bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York for a combined $49,425.74.
The records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree in early September.
The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on hair and makeup through September after reporting no such costs in August.
The cash expenditures immediately raised questions among campaign finance experts about their legality under the Federal Election Commission’s long-standing advisory opinions on using campaign cash to purchase items for personal use.
Politico asked the McCain campaign for comment, explicitly noting the $150,000 in expenses for department store shopping and makeup consultation that were incurred immediately after Palin’s announcement. Pre-September reports do not include similar costs.
Intro: Good article on staying happy. Readers will find useful tips on staying mentally healthy like: Connect with people, Stay active, Be curious, Keep learning, Give to others.
Simple activities such as gardening or mending a bicycle can protect mental health and help people to lead more fulfilled and productive lives, a panel of scientists has found.
A “five-a-day” programme of social and personal activities can improve mental wellbeing, much as eating fruit and vegetables enhances physical health, according to Foresight, the government think-tank. Its Mental Capital and Wellbeing report, which was compiled by more than 400 scientists, proposes a campaign modelled on the nutrition initiative, to encourage behaviour that will make people feel better about themselves.
Do you have suggestions to add? Please send them on.
Continue reading ‘Do five simple things a day to stay sane, say scientists’
Summary:
Earlier this month, Thomas Montag began working at the firm as head of sales and trading. Merrill granted him stock and options valued at about $40 million, on top of a nearly $40 million bonus it previously agreed to pay him.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Merrill Lynch & Co Inc, reeling from billions of dollars of writedowns, has frozen hiring until year end, according to a memo sent to employees.
The company said it will not replace employees that have left, nor will it hire for positions that were previously budgeted for. The freeze does not apply to retail brokers, who numbered 16,690 at the end of the second quarter.
Continue reading ‘Nice work if you can get it’
