Blogcritics Author: Baritone

The Appraisal: One Source of Our Economic Woes

Baritone — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:10:54 EDT

The current mess this country finds itself in regarding the entire financial industry has many culprits. Appraisals are one.
Out of all the cacophony caused by the current meltdown of this country's financial industry, one of the sources in the grass roots mechanics of how all this housing mess came about has been largely ignored: The appraisal.In the past, until a few years ago, FHA maintained a list of approved appraisers who were given assignments by FHA, not the...

Yet Another Look At John McCain's VP Choice

Baritone — Wed, 3 Sep 2008 22:34:08 EDT

Sarah Palin's selection as John McCain's running mate was a "Madison Avenue" style stroke of brilliance.
Senator John McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate was smart, perhaps brilliant, from the standpoint that it was totally unexpected and has obviously shaken things up in both parties, perhaps even more so in the media. The announcement and its timing took the air out of Barack Obama's acceptance speech and...

Hillary Hits a Home Run, Right Where She Aims It

Baritone — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:44:43 EDT

Hillary Clinton's speech accomplished what was needed to unite the Democratic Party. Now, the Democrats must go after McCain with gusto!
Well, I watched Hillary's speech, as I'm sure most of those who show up here at BC Politics did as well, and it was a damn good one! She touched all the bases, even stomped on a few of them. It was the best speech she has ever given.No doubt the McCain people and conservative pundits will go to great lengths to find cracks in it, but they...

Beijing Olympics: Grand Theatre Despite Human Rights Problems

Baritone — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:22:09 EDT

Human rights issues and the limits on the press in China placed a cloud over the Beijing Olympic Games. Regardless, they were wonderful to behold.
I'm a sap. I admit it. I watched much of the Beijing Olympics and loved it - starting with the utterly amazing opening ceremonies through this evening's closing which had its own flabbergasting moments. In between were several fantastic competitions; incredible team and individual performances. Dave Nalle's recent article about the...

Where Do They Get These Clowns Who Run For President?

Baritone — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 14:40:48 EDT

Who are the idiots who nominate these idiots?
I can't recall a presidential campaign in which all of the candidates were not considered by the majority of citizens to be no better than dolts, with voters lamenting the necessity of either casting their ballots for whom they consider to be the lesser of two evils, or not voting at all. Some have gathered around a "third party"...

Left Wing Tax-and-Spenders and the Rose-Colored Dream of John McCain

Baritone — Mon, 4 Aug 2008 21:15:05 EDT

With McCain pulling even in the polls, the Conservative dream of a perfect world is at hand.
I hear the old crap about liberals loving to tax and spend - as if that, in and of itself, is their goal, just for the hell of it. And now, some say that Obama creams his Armani slacks just thinking about it. Boy, you righties sure have all of us lefties figured out. We all fit snugly into a nice neat, if elite, little box.Given our rather...

Barack Obama: Rock Star!

Baritone — Tue, 6 May 2008 10:26:29 EDT

If the scene of Monday night's rally in Indy is any indication, Barack Obama has achieved rock star status.
I witnessed something fairly phenomenal earlier this evening. My wife Jo and I drove into downtown Indianapolis to attend an Obama rally, the last prior to Tuesday's primary election. We hemmed and hawed about whether to stop someplace for dinner on the way, but decided to drive by the venue - the American Legion Mall - to see how things...

Fun At The Airport

Baritone — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:57:18 EDT

�Tis a far different world we now find ourselves in.
Yes, we're back. We hit Indy at around six on Thursday evening, after bidding farewell to our son and Berlin some twenty hours earlier. It seemed almost fitting that it was raining about as hard as it could as I dashed the thirty or so feet to my car from the shuttle bus I'd caught at the terminal out to the long-term lot, where I'd parked.I...

To Deutschland We Have Come: The Jewish Museum in Berlin

Baritone — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 01:03:17 EDT

Containing in one handy package, the joy of flying tourist across the great ocean, and the sobering effect of mass murder.
We made it to Berlin Tuesday morning after what, as I had anticipated, was a wonderfully pleasurable flight, relaxing in the sauna, playing a couple of rousing games of ping pong down on the recreation deck, sipping mai-tais with the crew, and singing karaoke in the lounge. In my dreams.Actually, as I really predicted, we were stuffed into our...

Flying Over The Ocean and Doing Touristy Things in Germany

Baritone — Sun, 9 Mar 2008 11:51:03 EDT

In anticipation of our fun flights to and from Europe which will be akin to spending eight hours flying in a coffin.
My wife and I are beginning to put things together for a trip to Germany in what is just over a week from now. We have flown overseas a couple of times; the first time to Vienna the week prior to the millenium and then to Germany a couple of years ago, also around the Christmas/New Year holidays.We're making this trip to visit our older son,...