Since he was elected, the Dow is down 25%. The week after his election was the worst post-election decline in history. Since, he was inaugurated the Dow is down 13%.

Not saying it's his fault, but markets don't seem to jive with the guy. Atleast not yet. Hopefully, it'll turn around soon.

Thoughts?

The N-word (no, not that N-word) is working wonders on the stock market, no?

I wouldn't worry too much about it, though, what's happening now with the stock market is what should've happened in December. I think that bear rally that started around Thanksgiving was completely irrational. Now that Q4 earnings are in and dividends are officially being slashed, all the blind optomism is deteriorating.

Yeah, be patient.

wouldn't this mean like after Obama is out of office?

Wait 'til Thursday.

Could be epochal, historical.

Nationalization?

Aye. Even conservatives are starting to say it might be necessary, although unpalatable.

Yah. It's not his fault. This is so bigger than him or the administration.

Europe is down 20-25% across the board, year to date. Japan is down 20%.

That being said, he can make the problem marginally worse/better based on his actions. But most of them, unfortunately, are irrelevant. The problem is just too big. The only thing that can solve it is time.

Correct, though it will not stop Obama for taking credit if the economy turns around, or Republicans from blaming him if it does not.

Absolutely.

*self-proclaimed conservatives

You'll all come around, or simply wish for the collapse of American society, one or the other.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123517380343437079.html

This statement reminds me how people were pulling for the collapse of Iraq after the war for political reasons.



I thought you didn't care for the WSJ editorial/opinion page.

Well, although printed on teh opinion page, that wasn't really an op-ed piece. It was a story based on an interview. Besides, it supported my contention.

I'm not sure they're mutually exclusive.

Seriously, though, I don't see how nationalization makes the financial system any more solvent. Can someone explain to me why nationalization is a better option than an orderly bankruptcy?

It is seen as an easier, more comfortable solution. What makes it wrong.

How about the fact that the government will have complete control over the flow of money in this country? Of course, this is taking into account pure bank nationalization. But let's face it, once they get their hands wet, there will be no retreat from more and more nationalization.

As a 3rd worlder, I cant understand why american politicians want to repeat our same mistakes, well, I actually can, but still mesmerizes me.

You knew it was coming.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123543631794154467.html

My biggest gripe with this Administration so far is the complete lack of clarity or detail that it has given to its broader plans. Each announcement by Treasury or the Administration is not only met with skepticism, but it scares Wall Street into thinking that we're much worse off (partly because they can't convey a detailed plan), which causes markets to fall. Take yesterday's announcement. Equity markets were up early in the day after a horrible week last week. Then, by 10 a.m. after the Administration's regulatory team issued its statement (again, with no detail -- just saying that the Government backed the financial system), the markets tumbled again.