Daily Update: "Michelle Obama Not As Satanic As You Were Told She Was" Edition

Interesting article on First Lady Michelle Obama's changing image and high level of public support, and how she plays a big part in crafting that image, with little left to chance (or other people's whims). There will be some wandering restless conservative minds  who will see this as some sort of proof  of manipulation or staging, since the running theory during the campaign was that Michelle was angry at everyone. We still see the riffs on her height, and allusions to a type of manliness that only certain conservatives seem able to confirm.

We have one or two friends who could not put their finger on what was wrong with Ms. Obama, but knew she was really, really angry. One, a Democrat, repeated that propaganda to us, as though her candidate then, Hillary Clinton, was the face of happy delight. The Cain campaign and the Apparatus of the Republican Party helped that mindset immensely and successfully. The weaker the mind, the angrier she looked, and the more it mattered.

By focusing on her domestic persona and harnessing the fascination with her family, the first lady and her communications team have emerged as the key architects of one of the most remarkable political transformations in years. Only 10 months ago, Mrs. Obama was described as an angry black woman by some conservatives and as a liability to her husband. Now, she is widely admired for her warmth, and her vibrant and accessible manner, and her race seems almost an afterthought to many Americans. She has the highest favorability ratings of any incoming first lady since 1980, and is even more popular than the president.

(N.Y. Times)

What this should tell you, aside from reminding everyone of the nonsense of the campaign, is that people can be molded into believing anything. Sometimes it is good that minds can be changed, but such whim-y-ness on the part of the population can also be exploited for bad.

Right now we are looking at the Republicans as originators of the greater amount of thought manipulation as they try to convince the population that repairing the banking system, that stimulus that includes payments for the elderly or extended unemployment benefits, is bad, and the gateway to wanton socialism. Don't be fooled, as manipulation can come from all sides of the political landscape.

*

In our bad news is good news category, and fitting with our thesis that the banking crisis hit bottom back in October, we see three banks failing and seized by regulators in Idaho, Michigan and Georgia. Nice to see all regions suffering equally, but that's not the good news in the bad. The good news is that U.S. Bank, the sixth largest in the nation, is there to take over various branches in Idaho . In all of this panic and concern, we need to remember that we have thousands of banks, and there will be more opening when opportunity or need presents itself. That is capitalism. Banks will continue to fail as we work through their long summer of lending promiscuity, but even now there are banks pulling profits and there to pick up the slack.

In related news--as in pulling profits-- PNC Financial came out with 22% rise in profit . Try not to derive maximum happiness from this news, but settle for gentle comfort, since they are still setting aside cash for increasing loan and lease losses. That will probably continue for a bit, and especially as the new unemployed hit the danger zone and become unable to maintain their mortgages. Most banks should be able to muddle their way through that likelihood.

PNC, based in Pittsburgh and the fifth largest bank in the country, posted net income of $460 million, up from $377 million in the same quarter last year. The results, released yesterday, were reduced by a $47 million preferred stock dividend payment to the federal government on its investment under the bailout program...

"PNC delivered strong financial results, the second highest net income quarter in our history," CEO Jim Rohr said in a statement.

(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)


*

If you are looking for signs that the Republican Party is getting its head together and returning to some core strengths, don't let a so-called re-emergence of Newt Gingrich ignite your enthusiasms. We've been searching for some sensible conservatives, who can balance necessary policies against ideology and come out with sensible solutions, while also being somewhat consistent on social/moral issues. Newt is not that guy, and his attempted self resurrection is worthy of immediate re-crucification, lest he gain some support and more of a platform only to implode due to his own constant moral hypocrisy during an election period when it matters.

*

The other day when jay walking across a light rail track in Phoenix, and headed to work, the police were there in the facing parking lot to threaten or issue tickets. "Do you think you could cross at the light, because the train drivers are complaining, or can you afford a ticket?" said Mr. Officer to me. "Certainly," responded my voice, highly desirous of avoiding a $150 fine or ticket.

Upon recounting my story (and without undue commentary about the justice of it all), one of my least reliable friends said, "Why are you defending them! F*** the police. A judge will throw it out. I've had a jaywalking ticket thrown out." This friend will forever not be able to do an accurate analysis of the cost of her time, so I didn't go there, or suggest that it is the police that keeps me safe from people like her. You know, friendship and all. She is rather liberal, but in ignorant fashion, and holding a chip the size of Mt. Fuji against the police, who keep managing to arrest her for assorted violations that she insists should go unexamined.