RichC | July 7, 2016
Every public official who has spent decades under the bright lights of public scrutiny are in one way of the other connected to the political machinery, but few are protected as much as the Clintons. The deep Arkansas doo-doo surrounding Hillary and Bill Clinton never goes away and whether you support their political philosophies or […]
RichC | June 24, 2016
Financial markets around the globe are reeling Friday morning from yesterday’s historic BREXIT vote in the UK as the people have chosen to exit the EU. Big picture is that life has not improved for citizens of Britain under the real or perceived central control — some suggesting it is "their" Independence Day. Even though […]
RichC | May 19, 2016
When consuming the news and information, whether on the Television or any other news media, it is important to pay attention to the biases of who is “painting the picture.” Off the top of my head, I’m thinking about how Facebook priorities their newsfeed.
RichC | May 16, 2016
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RichC | May 13, 2016
Sharing a post as it was written back in August of 2008 then edited with shaming political commentary many times after. It is still as poignant as ever. For me it is worth sharing again not only to remember Captain Ed Freeman, but as a reminder to Americans of those who served our country heroically […]
RichC | April 19, 2016
Recorded a bit of audio off the television this week as the intellectual thinker Charles Krauthammer summarized in about a minute and a half just how and why our country move from its independent founding to the dependent populous we see today. Krauthammer’s best comment in the exchange was “the big debate between left and […]
RichC | April 7, 2016
Here’s a personal "what I’m doing" post after spending an evening with my son Taylor finishing up his taxes. We of course used this excuse to have dinner together too. I think we have both always enjoyed our time together, but the older (and more mature) he gets, the more I really do enjoy talking […]
RichC | March 18, 2016
On Friday morning, Doug Wead a presidential historian, talked with Maria Bartiromo on Mornings with Maria about the confusion most of us have regarding contested, brokered or open political convention. Personally, I only semi-understood the "courting of delegates" process that goes on behind the scenes in party politics. The "sausage making" and cronyism that goes […]
RichC | March 14, 2016
If you are voting for another Repubican candidate … I get it … but if you are voting in Ohio, be sure you weigh your selection carefully. A wrong vote for the right reason could very well mean Obama’s policies, SOTUS picks and a weak economy for another 4 years. I have #NoRegrets casting […]
RichC | March 13, 2016
First off, I'm “pro” 2nd Amendment and am concealed carry licensed in a couple states … but seeing this new Ideal Conceal handgun “disguised like a smartphone” just after watching the violent protests happening at campaign rallies has me nervous. Almost every rally attender holds up a cellphones to take video or phones. How much […]
RichC | March 9, 2016
As we continue to drill down to select the best candidates to represent both the Republicans and Democrats in November’s presidential election, the process has been pretty disgusting … perhaps not the process, but the candidates ugliness. Here’s how I am coming to a conclusion before voting next Tuesday. As a long time Republican, I […]
RichC | March 6, 2016
The Republican party continues to narrow after a Donald Trump and Ted Cruz split the four states and their deligates up for grab on Saturday. Cruz won in Kansas and Maine, while Trump picked up wins in Louisiana and Kentucky. The big “winner take all” states are yet to come. Interestingly during the Donald Trump […]
RichC | March 3, 2016
Yes … it probably can and will IF “friends” like Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton go at it. On the otherhand, they still have some mud to sling to reach the level of the John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson campaign as highlighted in the WSJ. Political Mudslinging, 1828 If you think this presidential campaign […]
RichC | February 26, 2016
The Republicans are going through a slugfest this year in part due to having such a large field of candidates to whittle down. Just a few months ago, the debates had 16 GOP hopefully, and yet according to pundits, five is still three too many (probably true if you are supporting any other candidate but […]
RichC | February 24, 2016
See: Silvertoons.com
RichC | February 18, 2016
All is fair in love and war … AND POLITICS … or is it? In the campaign for president this year, candidates have pulled out all the stops and are turning to deceit. In the above Ted Cruz ad, his campaign put together an ad that portrays Sen. Marco Rubio shaking hands with President Obama […]
RichC | February 18, 2016
Great monologue on the Tonight Show … Jay Leno tag teams with Jimmy Fallon.
RichC | February 18, 2016
The field of GOP candidates is still pretty full (six candidates) yet the election looks a little more challenging according to the polls IF the Republicans put up the wrong candidate. I’m still hoping some commonsense arrives and voters pick someone who can win … and not just nominate someone who expresses their anger and […]
RichC | February 14, 2016
Politics and the upcoming presidential election seem to be dominating the discussion in my online social networking circles … at least on my Twitter feed. The news of Justice Antonin Scalia’s death on the afternoon of the South Carolina GOP Debate Saturday left most who appreciated his 30 years of conservative jurisprudence in a very […]
RichC | February 13, 2016
It has been a rough week for “establishment” candidates …both for Democrats and the Republicans. Donald Trump continues to dominate the headlines and is capitalizing on the anger from those caught between the “new upper class and the new lower class” as the WSJ’s Saturday Essay commented, “in the plight of the working class” as […]
RichC | February 11, 2016
As a frustrated political watcher, I'm starting to think I may have hitched my wagon behind the wrong GOP horse, although it is still a bit early. I haven't jumped in with both feet or anything, but I thought I was supporting a Republican with “acceptable” values and ability to grow the party … and […]
RichC | February 3, 2016
We may be proud to be living in a representative democracy, but watching the political sausage being made is probably as disgusting as going to a slaughter house to see the production of real sausage. This past week kicked off the 2016 primaries with the Iowa caucus. After months of political speeches from the large field of […]
RichC | February 1, 2016
For those concerned over the direction of our country, following the strategy needed to win the Whitehouse is enough to drive you crazy. Click the map to create your own at 270toWin.com If you are an ordinary voter and political follower, it is easy to get caught up in the primaries and “thinking” your candidate can […]
RichC | January 30, 2016
I had an interesting text exchange with my son Taylor who is smack dab in the middle of finding his political “sense.” Thankfully he is far more rational, a questioner, independent thinker and a lover of history to be snookered into “herding” blindly with the crowd who are “Feeling the Bern.” He has been closely […]
RichC | January 25, 2016
After an opinion piece was published last week in the National Review, the battle among Republicans for an appropriate presidential candidate became even more aggressive. It was already contentious between many in the large field of candidates, but a few high profile Republican voices made their concerns know against the vocal, attention getting poll leader, […]
RichC | January 20, 2016
Americans are flooding the government with appeals to have their student loans forgiven on the grounds that schools deceived them with false promises of a well-paying career. Source: Thousands Apply to U.S. to Forgive Their Student Loans, Saying Schools Defrauded Them
RichC | December 23, 2015
Imagine this editorial cartoon being published by a right-leaning newspaper during a previous presidential campaign … let’s say to a “then” Senator Obama rather than a “now” Senator Cruz? Something tells me Democrats on the political left would have settled for nothing less than a full apology from the publisher and possible firing of those […]
RichC | December 16, 2015
The relatively flat year for stocks reflects the sentiment of many Americans who instinctively know the long and slow economic recovery has been unnecessarily hindered by politicians. The United States is certainly capable of stronger grow overall and in my opinion the blame lands heavily on the burdensome regulation, high corporate taxes and bloated government […]
RichC | November 13, 2015
It has been a rough day … week … for the financial markets. One has to wonder if the Fed will ever be able to move lending rates back to traditional levels? Sure doesn’t look like the economy here or abroad is able to support itself without the easy money policies. (charts and heatmap: www.finviz.com)
RichC | November 10, 2015
As a big fan of the Wall Street Journal and the FoxBusiness network, I’m looking forward to the next GOP debate tonight (9PM Tuesday 11/10/2015) and am hoping the moderators do a better job than last months CNBC hosted debate. I suspect Maria Bartiromo, Neil Cavuto and Gerard Baker will work particularly hard to avoid […]
RichC | November 3, 2015
TransCanada requested a suspension of the U.S. permit on the Keystone XL Pipeline and one of my favorite “short take” email headlines did an appropriate refresher: Keystone XL Pipeline: not a beer. It’s a major oil pipeline project that would carry a LOT of crude oil from Canada to Texas. It’s also a major political […]
RichC | October 21, 2015
It looks like Rep Paul Ryan is open to running for Speaker of the House “if” all the political components in the Republican party can unite. In today's divided congress (not just Democrats and Republicans), this will not be a small task. I personally hope that this Miami grad (MU Ohio) will be able to […]
RichC | October 16, 2015
I wrote and email the other day explaining my thoughts to someone commenting that they were impressed with the Democrats and and not so impressed with the Republicans after watching three recent debates by 20+ different candidates. Since I put a little time and thought into my reply, I figured it might be blog-worthy … […]
RichC | October 11, 2015
After an enjoyable polictical conversation with a client this week in Akron, I'm unsure where to come down on the long political practice of gerrymandering verses risking changing it. On the surface, there must be a better way, but with change can come an unbalanced and equally questionable re-alignment. Here is an article forwarded from […]
RichC | October 1, 2015
The world around us is degrading into chaos as Russian “tough guy” President Vladimir Putin sent his militarily into the middle east and has quickly backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against the supposedly the terrorist group ISIL/ISIS who is aggressively building their Caliphate and the American backed pro-western rebels (well, maybe … but who really […]
RichC | October 1, 2015
Marco Rubio and his family in Parade.com from September 2013 Getting to know those running for office is always interesting … but most likely knowing his coffee preference and reasoning isn’t most important factor in supporting a candidate. Early on, we only hear the debate snippets and talking head conversation, but it is also helpful […]
RichC | September 30, 2015
Although government is too big, there is a place and a need for it … especially outside of Washington DC. I’m thinking particularly those elected and hired to keep us safe in the military, law enforcement, as rescue workers and the fire department. When they are under attack, as some in law enforcement have been […]
RichC | September 29, 2015
It was the first day of rain and ugly weather that we’ve had here in Cincinnati for a while as we have had a near perfect end to summer and beginning of fall … so, it was not all that bad of a day for doctor appointments. First, I had my annual physical knowing that […]
RichC | September 23, 2015
No doubt the American Dream is slipping away from the middle class, but a quick look a few graphs below depicts an even more dismal image of a nation in decline. Is it too late to turn our country around? Let’s hope not! Unfortunately too many regulations, thousands of laws, taxes on taxes and […]
RichC | September 22, 2015
It may not be politically correct for Ben Carson or any other American candidate running for political office to say “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation” … yet the reasons are more rational than most Americans who are NOT religiously or ethnically prejudicial think. After hearing Dr. […]
RichC | September 17, 2015
Last night’s second GOP debate on CNN at the Reagan Library wasn’t bad as debates go. The current frontrunner, the attention grabbing Donald Trump did one thing for the Republican brand … he got generated attention. His grade school behavior buffoonery brought far viewers to the stodgy GOP and that alone could help Republicans ideas […]
RichC | August 29, 2015
Maybe it didn’t take much imagination to see where society and our country was heading … but it does give me the chills to listen to radio personality Paul Harvey’s broadcast from 1965 when Democrats embraced their big government solutions and promoted President Johnson’s Great Society program. (and the answer from today’s Liberal Progressives is […]
RichC | August 7, 2015
We may not make it through the debate on Thursday night or if I do, may not feel like posting anything tomorrow. We still have “over a year” to think about politics for 2016 … so no sense getting too focused on which candidate the GOP will run just yet. Good to have a talented […]
RichC | July 27, 2015
Small business owners who regularly collect sales tax on their goods and services might not be quite as enamored with the “economic rebound” being boasted about in Ohio. While I do support Gov John Kasich and realized he does not have direct impact on counties needing to find more tax revenue, the tax shifting in […]
RichC | July 15, 2015
At least it is a “small” field of GOP candidates running for President of the United States in 2016 (sarcasm); who will be invited to the first debate? There are a couple candidates in the race that I can’t get too excited about, but I am trying to remain open minded and definitely could support […]
RichC | June 28, 2015
Read ONLY if you don’t’ mind getting lost in the weeds. I felt bit lost in my own country after the Supreme Court decisions this week and am concerned for the future. As a Christian, I’m trying to looking past my own traditional value and faith-based Biblical beliefs which have long been part of our […]
RichC | June 27, 2015
Read ONLY if you don’t’ mind getting lost in the weeds. I felt bit lost in my own country after the Supreme Court decisions this week and am concerned for the future. As a Christian, I’m trying to looking past my own traditional value and faith-based Biblical beliefs which have long been part of our […]
RichC | May 21, 2015
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie isn’t someone who personally appeals to me … perhaps because I see him as an “in your face east coast loud mouth” (my problem as a mild-mannered Midwesterner). On the other hand, I do appreciate the fact that he is not afraid to speak his mind unlike most flip-flopping, finger […]
RichC | May 8, 2015
The bigger the federal government grows and the longer the tenticles reach into business and personal lives, the slower our country grows. What will it take for Americans to recognize that our country grows and lifts every citizen when the ambitious and innovative are not thwarted by Uncle Sam at every turn? Besides limiting the […]
RichC | April 23, 2015
Just filling space today … but I thought the resemblance between Jeff Durham‘s “dummy” Walter and President Obama‘s Joe Biden was amazing. (it made me chuckle, no offense intended)
RichC | April 21, 2015
If by fate, your last name begins with a letter in the second half of the alphabet, you may be at a disadvantage when it comes to being elected to public office? A unscientific look at a list of past U.S. Presidents one think that there might be more than just a legacy advantage to […]
RichC | April 15, 2015
NPR’s Tom Ashbrook entertained an interesting discussion around the Cadillac plan tax which is part of Obamacare. If you’ve notice changes in your plan (just as colleges have), you will understand the emotions in the discussion. Well worth listening too … and yes, I’m a conservative who sometimes listens to NPR. NPR Tom Ashbrook […]
RichC | April 13, 2015
An article in published in an online story on Medium this past week shared the growing discontent from software developers over Apple’s dominance and authoritative control over “app” reviews. Dave Kushal believes that the slow review process hurts the reliability as well as “impedes the pace of innovation.” While I’m somewhat in agreement with Dave, […]
RichC | April 3, 2015
No matter which side of the political tug-of-war you are on when debating “marriage,” there is something distasteful about using ordinary people as political fodder. Crystal O’Connor was one such naive pawn used for divisive purposes as Indiana’s Governor Mike Pence tiptoed around modifying the Religious Freedom Restoration Act know as Senate Bill 568. The national media and LGBT activists highlighted O’Connor’s Christian opinions regarding “providing […]
RichC | February 27, 2015
A debate over controlling free and open access to the “pipes of the Internet” is not as simple (or probably as inexpensive) as it sounds. While the Federal Communications Commission considered views for and against regulating the Internet on Thursday, called “net neutrality,” the commission voted in favor by 3-2. In comments, FCC chairman Tom […]
RichC | February 24, 2015
CEO Steven Mollenkopf spoke with Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures this past weekend about his company Qualcomm Inc. ($70.94 -0.58 -0.81%) and dealing with taxes and low interest rates impact his business decision making. About taxes, Mollenkopf commented that the high current U.S. corporate tax rates (graph below) encourage investment and job creation overseas […]
RichC | February 21, 2015
CNBC interviewed Gov. Scott Walker on Thursday morning (video below) as America is beginning to talk and take note of him as he makes the media rounds. It is early, but for Walker getting a little better better name recognition is a way to keep dollars growing for a potential (and likely) campaign run to […]
RichC | January 28, 2015
After 6-years of saving $2,500 each year on our “unchanged plan” or greatly improved “21st century” Obamacare health care plan, Democrats in congress and President Obama have made it possible for average Americans to have now amassed $15,000 (6 yrs x $2500) … no thanks to those Republicans voting against it (#sarcasm). And since getting […]
RichC | January 21, 2015
After taking notes during the State of the Union address I went to bed disgusted rather than hopeful … even though I knew in advance the direction President Obama would be saying in his address. Call me sentimental or just hopeful, but I really thought that after the mid-term elections where, “make no mistake, his […]
RichC | January 10, 2015
One would think that a “rising tide lifts all boats” when it comes to gains for financial markets, but that is not the case for conservatively managed U.S. pension funds. The strong stock market returns during 2013 and 2014 have helped most individual investors recover from the 2008 financial collapse, so as long as they […]