On the Heels of Joe the Plumber

Here’s a letter I sent to The Oregonian yesterday:
Trying to convince an infatuated Obama supporter to vote for McCain is like trying to convince a twelve year old she isn’t really in love. So this is for depressed conservatives and the many undecided:
Vote.
Not long ago the headlines were all about four dollar gas. […]

May we please unbail the Bailout?

On September 29, having been down over 400 points early in the day, the DOW sank 777 points - to 10,365 - after the House failed to pass the bailout bill.  The next day The Oregonian announced the fact in an hysterical 90 point headline, part of concerted effort among many to foster a “We […]

September Yawn

Almost entirely as expected.  Sales down (roughly) 20%; median price now down 10% from peak to $270k, lowest since October, 2006; MSI staying at 9.9 months.  Biggest surprise to me:  Homes going under contract were only down 2%.

I still think we’ll need to get to ~ $250k to see an uptick in sales.

As always: click on […]

A Farewell to Farms

Contrary to Bubbler fantasy, it’s impossible to do an adequate job for clients as a part time broker.  There’s simply too much involved. 
So, for now, I’m sending my license back to Salem.  I’ve turned my clients over to my brother John - he’s just closed one, another is in escrow - and will come back only when […]

Surrounded by Insanity

I always try to check myself when I’m thinking everyone around me is insane.  Maybe I’m the insane one?
But…damn.  There are the every day inconsequentials wherein, for instance, a friend - gay and pathologically liberal - tells me with a straight face and passionate conviction that he’s sure Sarah Palin wore her hair down in the […]

Saving the Credit Markets: Exempting the excise tax on wooden arrows.

A four page bailout bill becomes a four hundred page tome stuffed with fat, and it’s done to attract recalcitrant House members to vote for it.  It passes the Senate, and the Dow is down 262 points as I write.
When members of congress wonder why 90% of the American public holds them in contempt: see […]