"I've looked this up, and in the 133-year history of Major League Baseball, never has a president been an owner except President Bush," Rangers owner Tom Hicks told MLB.com. "I'm glad he's home and can reconnect with this place. We thought it would be fitting to have the suite named after him."

"I was actually thinking of my time in baseball driving up here on the turnpike," Bush said. "Baseball is a great sport, and the Rangers are a great organization. Tom is a wonderful owner and has built this team up, hopefully guiding it to an American League pennant."

"I'm thrilled to accept it," Bush said. "I used to [sit in the crowd during the game], but my life changed in January 2001. I have a little less anonymity now."

I would love to see President Bush come to Fenway Park and try to take in a game from the bleachers.

Texas Rangers name owner's suite after George W. Bush originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading From gold standard to no standard: 'Lightspeed inflation'

From gold standard to no standard: 'Lightspeed inflation' originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"I want people to understand the environment in which I was making decisions. I want people to get a sense of how decisions were made and I want people to understand the options that were placed before me," he told the Associated Press.

Continue reading Will you be buying George W. Bush's book?

Will you be buying George W. Bush's book? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Flying shoe-dodger, President George W. Bush, has a track record of rewarding the guilty. After the faked intelligence that gave him the ammunition he needed to invade Iraq in 2004, Bush awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom to CIA Director George "Slam Dunk" Tenet. And to reward the banks that got us into the current financial catastrophe, Bush rammed through Congress a bill that uses $700 billion of our tax dollars to pay bonuses to the executives who run those banks.

How did he do that? As usual, he did it secretively. The law that created the bailout bill includes provisions that limit executive compensation for banks that get bailout money. Specifically, the bill requires that banks report to the IRS any compensation above $500,000 paid to their top five executives. If that reporting does not occur, the IRS can impose tax penalties. Not only that, but there is no limit to what people below the top five can get paid -- so there never was any way to keep taxpayer money from paying millions to the traders and investment bankers who often get more than the CEO.

Continue reading Bush rewards the guilty with our tax dollars

Bush rewards the guilty with our tax dollars originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Toast: The Bush legacy

Toast: The Bush legacy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Fog clearing - maybe. Clear skies - no! GE, JNJ, MRK, PG, RTN, WFC

Fog clearing - maybe. Clear skies - no! GE, JNJ, MRK, PG, RTN, WFC originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This is my 800th post, so I thought I would have to mark the occasion with something very serious, and R. P. Overmyer once again supplied the kindling for my fire.

Many comments we receive ask why George W. Bush should be blamed for the dire state of the economy; that the President is just one more victim of circumstance. Others think the legislature should take the blame, or that it's a Democratic vs. Republican dilemma.

As I have tried to do in each of my posts that stray into politics, I will try my best to focus on the financial issues. If anyone cares, I tend to vote independent of party affiliation and tend to follow a moderate path. Interestingly each party tries to paint the other as more extremist in an attempt to get my vote.

The easy things first; the Republicans controlled the executive and legislative branches of government for the majority of GWB's term. It is true that the Democrats were less than cooperative these last 20 months and all too eager to watch Bush boil in his own stew, but for half that time everyone has been cooperating to make sure the financial markets do not collapse. All the blame should not fall on Bush or the Republicans, but I think it is not a hard case to make that the leadership and opportunity was theirs this go round and they screwed up -- he screwed up!

Continue reading The George W. Bush economic plan?

The George W. Bush economic plan? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Sep 2008 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Will Bush throw a change-up at Yankee Stadium?

Will Bush throw a change-up at Yankee Stadium? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Despite excellent earnings from Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) yesterday, a bit of a shadow still hangs over the company. That's because in February the Air Force awarded a $100 billion contract for in-flight refueling craft -- known as tankers -- to EADS's Airbus and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC). Boeing is currently challenging this award. But an interview I did for my book on Boeing suggests that Boeing will not win this contract because George W. Bush and John McCain want to award the contract to Bush's new friends: France's Nicolas Sarkozy and Germany's Angela Merkel.

I got this theory from a veteran Wall Street analyst who covers the aircraft industry. He suggested that Boeing lost the Tanker bid because John McCain -- who is ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee -- had the Air Force change the specifications for the tanker bid so Airbus and Northrop would be able to field a competitive bid. My source noted that the one problem with the change was that the Air Force did not inform Boeing about it.

After the bid was awarded to Airbus, it became clear that the original specifications had changed from a small, 767-sized craft to a medium-sized 777 one. During the review process, my source contends that Boeing asked the Air Force if the 767-sized craft was what it wanted. Boeing also told the Air Force that it would be happy to bid with a different model if the Air Force wanted. But the Air Force told Boeing that it still wanted the 767-sized craft.

Continue reading Did Bush and McCain give the $100 billion tanker project to Airbus?

Did Bush and McCain give the $100 billion tanker project to Airbus? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Media World: Huckabee, Obama victories leave pundits speechless

Media World: Huckabee, Obama victories leave pundits speechless originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I have been wondering lately if the sagging value of the dollar is actually going down through economic gyrations or being pushed down by design.

There are many repercussions. No one less than Rodrigo Rato, head of the International Monetary Fund, warned Monday of a potential "abrupt fall" in the US dollar that could roil the global economy. "There are risks that an abrupt fall in the dollar could either be triggered by, or itself trigger, a loss of confidence in dollar assets," Rato said at the close of annual meetings here of the IMF and the World Bank, according to news reports.

Here is what is really on his mind: Europe may take steps to temper the strong appreciation of the Euro, which is weighing on exports from the 13-nation bloc. "There is a risk that exchange rate appreciation in countries with flexible exchange rates -- including the Euro area -- could hurt their growth prospects, and that in these circumstances protectionist pressures could worsen," he said.

From my perspective I have wondered if the Bush administration is at least applauding the weak dollar as it improves U.S. trade imbalances, helps prop up the stock market and worried investment bankers, and strengthens American companies in many regards.

Continue reading Bush administration pushing dollar down or allowing it to fall? IMF chief sounds alarm

Bush administration pushing dollar down or allowing it to fall? IMF chief sounds alarm originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Don't come whining to us with your problems" could be the summary of both President Bush's declaration Friday afternoon basically repeating the commentary of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke earlier in the day. This is not to say that sympathy cannot be found for those home owners caught in the squeeze of rising interest rates and lower home values. However, people who entered the housing market late speculating on continued rising prices hoping for quick flips will be left without a chair because the music has stopped playing. All except the funeral march perhaps.

Big Ben said "It is not the responsibility of the Federal Reserve-nor would it be appropriate- to protect lenders and investors from the consequences of their financial decisions."

Continue reading Sunday Funnies: Bush & Bernanke use same speech writer

Sunday Funnies: Bush & Bernanke use same speech writer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 02 Sep 2007 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The New York Times reports that President George W. Bush is seeking to blame the housing market collapse on excess liquidity and views the current correction as normal. What are his goals? To keep "history" from blaming him for yet another "worst U.S. President ever" accomplishment.

As a "recovering alcoholic," Bush excels at motivating other people to cover up for his inadequacies (this is known as co-dependence). For instance, when his oil company, Spectrum 7, collapsed in 1986, he got Harken Energy to bail him out through his father's political connections. In the case of the current debt-fueled economic reversal, he has gotten his Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson and Fed Chair Ben Bernanke to repeat the talking point that the subprime collapse is "contained" and won't affect the rest of the economy.

I think Bush is responsible for the housing collapse for three reasons:

Continue reading Bush tries to avoid his responsibility for housing collapse

Bush tries to avoid his responsibility for housing collapse originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Oil closes above $70 on gasoline concerns and global tensions

Oil closes above $70 on gasoline concerns and global tensions originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 29 Jun 2007 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I think Crocs Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) wants you to consider the deeper story behind George W. Bush being photographed wearing Crocs beach shoes. Does he think they're stylish? I don't suppose he gives much thought to style. Does he find them comfortable? If he was after strict comfort, a cross trainer from Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) would do a better job on pavement. Is he giving a friendly endorsement opportunity to his buddy Rick Sharp? That's probably the gist of it, but wait, there's more. Think just a little bit deeper to the true message that was sent by President Bush wearing those shoes.

The Crooks and Liars blog reports that President Bush's approval rating is at 29%, its lowest point ever. I don't put much stock in polls, I never did, and I never will. The reason being that no matter how unbiased a polling organization claims to be, poll numbers can be very easily manipulated. Even something as simple as the time of day that opinions are solicited can seriously change outcomes, but that's not what I want to bring to you.

The matter is simply this: If President Bush was as widely disliked as the left-wing, mainstream media would like you to believe he is, do you really think that Rick Sharp would have put those shoes on him? The wearing of Crocs by George W. Bush was as much an endorsement of that man by a hip and young company as it was an endorsement of those shoes. The leftist spin-meisters can tell you all they want about how the nation hates Bush, but the fact of the matter is this: A flourishing retailer doesn't generally present its product with the use of disliked individuals.

You didn't see Crocs on the feet of Jack Kevorkian as he left prison, did you?

President Bush and Crocs thumb their noses at media polls approval rating originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Looks like president Bush is in a negotiating mood and may be preparing for a more "can-do" type conversation with Congress. I was discussing corporate financial reporting with a colleague when I saw this story, which made me wonder whether there was a proper accounting of the war on the part of the government. I know the war is "off budget" and just lurks in the shadows of Washington D.C. while contributing to our national debt and ever increasingly having an inflationary effect. But is there a proper accounting?

This seems eerily familiar. Was it not Enron that in recent years fell from grace (once the 9th largest public company) because, in part, it juggled its books when the numbers did not look favorable? Strangely, it too had many "off budget" items not properly accounted for, hidden from shareholders -- are we not shareholders in our nation?

Like Enron, we find ourselves falling from grace. Not to be to bleak about the subject, but it concerns me that if the true figures were known to the public in a way they could relate to, we might lose more people to heart failure and depression than our military has lost to date fighting in Iraq. See: National Priorities Project Cost of Iraq War Notes and Sources for some figures and discussion on the subject.

Continue reading Dow high, Bush low: Questions about the real cost of the Iraq war

Dow high, Bush low: Questions about the real cost of the Iraq war originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 May 2007 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Henry Paulson, former CEO of Goldman Sachs Group (NYSE: GS) and current Treasury Secretary, has been spouting pablum about how he's never seen such a strong global economy. He's just following in the footsteps of cheerleader-in-chief, George W. Bush.

But Paulson is no dummy. He knows that his words have a tremendous impact on investors around the world who are nervous about the recent rapid market break. The key question is whether he knows enough to keep all the economic imbalances in the global markets from making his optimistic comments look foolish.

I'd like to hear how he would keep the massive debt load which the U.S. economy is carrying from creating a sharp economic reversal. Specifically, if the economy is so strong, I'd like to hear Paulson explain away these questions:

Continue reading Parsing Paulson's pablum

Parsing Paulson's pablum originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We heard a lot of nice sentiment from President Bush Tuesday night but, alas, it is another case of too little, too late. (Or... is it never too late?) It would be great if the $18 billion in "pork barrel" spending he mentioned is really cut by restricting the ease with which our legislature can attach its pet projects to entirely unrelated bills under the cover of darkness. This is the equivalent of about seven weeks of spending on the Iraq war, at current levels.

It also begs the question as to what the administration was thinking until now, as we spent perhaps $100 to $120 billion during his watch on an abundance of special projects. If we give the President and his team credit for on-the-job-training the first year, even though every candidate makes cutting government spending a part of his platform, the administration should still have done something earlier, especially with Republicans steering this ship! This is very embarrassing -- and shameful!

It makes me think the attitude in Washington was that 'the Democrats got theirs, now we're going to get ours'.

Continue reading Bush makes his money speech & so does Frank Deford, who's listening?

Bush makes his money speech & so does Frank Deford, who's listening? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

President Bush will deliver his 2007 State of the Union (SOTU) address on January 23rd. My analysis of the impact of these speeches suggests that usually SOTUs have minimal market impact. But two such speeches in the last 57 years have been big market movers.

SOTU addresses seem to me like the governmental version of a human appendix. They made sense during our formative years when transportation and communication were slow. But these days -- with the Internet and cable news -- we don't need an SOTU to tell us how things are going. The fact is that each citizen's experience is so different that the state of each citizen's life varies almost daily. And, as I posted last month, Bush's 2006 SOTU was a laundry list of legislative agenda items -- most of which did not pan out.

Just as most SOTUs don't change laws, most SOTUs don't move stocks. That's the conclusion I reached after analyzing the movement of the S&P 500 a day and a week after each of the last 57 SOTUs. I found that the S&P 500 rose an average of 0.01% the day after these SOTUs and 0.26% a week after.

But this average masks some interesting exceptions. George H. W. Bush's 1991 SOTU drove the S&P 500 up 4.39% in the week after the speech during which he announced the wildly successful Desert Storm which was largely won by the end of the week. By contrast, Richard Nixon's first SOTU in 1970 -- where he announced balanced budget and anti-pollution measures -- stripped 5.08% from the S&P 500 within the week.

George W. Bush's SOTUs rank him seventh out of 11 presidents in their stock market impact. His average SOTU has cut 0.13% from the S&P 500 in the day after the speech and 0.11% in the week after.

Let's see how he does this year.

Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates, a management consulting and venture capital firm, a Professor of Management at Babson College, and editor of The Cohan Letter.

Does the State of the Union move stocks? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is written as part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst of 2006. Vote for President Bush's fall from grace or see other nominees in this category.

U.S. President No. 43 has had a lousy 2006.

One way to judge President Bush's 2006 is to look at how much of what he wanted to achieve at the beginning of the year has actually been accomplished. By that measure, Bush did not fare all that well. Of the 14 agenda items he set out to achieve in his State of the Union address

• one got done,
• three were ongoing but two of these did not receive the increased funding Bush requested,
• on six, legislation was introduced but not passed, and
• four were unsuccessful.

Here are the details.

Although he did not complete his agenda items, the public judged Bush on Iraq and corruption in 2006. Contrary to his stated belief, the Republican party lost both houses of Congress in November. And a mere 31% of the American public approve of Bush's job performance.

Moreover, George W. Bush may not be the best choice in this category because he arguably did not begin 2006 with any "grace" from which to fall. Only 42% of the public approved of his job performance in January, which was eight percentage points below his January 2005 level. Will Bush return to a state of grace in 2007? That depends on how things turn out in Iraq.

Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates, a management consulting and venture capital firm, and a Professor of Management at Babson College.

Best & Worst: George W. Bush lost what little grace he had left in 2006 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 09 Dec 2006 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.