By Patricia L Johnson

The DJIA closed at 12,266.39 today for a loss of 315.79 points.  Instead of asking why the Dow dropped, the question that should be asked is why did the market increase this week at all with such bleak economic reports?

Wake up out there - February is the fourth straight month that the Dow has closed lower.

If this administration thinks a $168 billion dollar stimulus package is going to help this economy, they'd better go back to the drawing board.  This country is in deep doo doo.

The U.S. National Debt on January 20, 1993 when Bill Clinton took office was 4,188,092,107,183.60 the national debt on February 26, 2008 was 9,326,682,518,402.00 the difference is $5,138,590,041,000 or an increase of 5.1 trillion.  Source:  U.S. Treasury

This administration has added 5.1 TRILLION dollars to the national debt over the past 85 months and we have nothing to show for it, yet they think a $168 stimulus package is going to keep the country from going down the tubes?

Instead of printing everything in both English and Spanish, we'd better forget about those two languages and start printing everything in Chinese.

By Patricia L Johnson and Richard E Walrath

"Stand Up for a New Kind of Politics" is a page on Barack Obama's site where you can take 'take action'. 

At first it appeared to be similar to other Web sites where you can send a letter to your Senators and Member of Congress, all at one time, in the event you come across a problem that needs attention.  Examples - The kid that lives down the street has been back from Afghanistan for six months, but still hasn't been able to get an appointment at the speciality clinic in your local VA.  The single parent across the street cannot find. or afford, adequate after school care for his/her children, the elderly person on the corner cannot afford to pay the rising costs of both medication and energy.

Well, Obama definitely stands for a new kind of politics as you can readily see by his priorities for action.

 http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/factcheckactioncenter

If you encounter an attack on Barack's church:

If you encounter an attack on Barack's faith:

If you encounter an attack on Barack's patriotism:

Senator Clinton has accused Obama of using plays out of Karl Rove's playbook, that that's not the way we see it.  His entire campaign has been a repeat of the student movement organized by Cesar Chavez founder of the United Farm Workers, UFW back in 1965, right down to their slogan.  The following link is to the organizer tool kit - if you're an Obama supporter, it's worth a read.  http://www.ufw.org/pdf/2007CCDOrganizersToolkit%20v.2.pdf

The slogan is shown in the organizer tool kit, as well as in the Library of Congress http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/aug22.html

Source:  Mexican Americans and United Farm Workers of America 

¡SÍ SE PUEDE!
(Yes We Can!)

Slogan used by Cesar Chavez,
First president of the United Farm Workers

Library of Congress http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/aug22.html

Obama consistently has all the right words yet continues to say nothing.  He is quite simply a salesman, and every salesman knows that people buy on emotion.  You have to get the car buyer inside the car, behind the wheel, where he can see and feel himself as an owner.  It's all about feeling, not about thinking.

People aren't very good at thinking about anything, anyway.  According to the 2006 Election Day Advent Calendar Educator's Guide  During the 1956 presidential campaign against David Eisenhower, a woman supporter called out to Adlai E. Stevenson,

“Governor, you have the vote of every thinking person!”   Stevenson called back “That’s not enough, madam, we need a majority!”

The following excerpt is a perfect example of Obama talking yet not saying anything. 

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH   "Democrats turn up heat in flurry of Ohio stops" Monday,  February 25, 2008 11:05 PM

But when panelist Karen Roettele asked whether any of the policies that Obama has been touting will be implemented in time to help her if he's elected, it prompted this convoluted response:   "I think it's going to take…my goal is in my first term to get us on the right track. Now, how that plays out for people individually, is I want to provide them relief as quickly as we can but the only way we're going to do that is by you guys sharing your stories. I mean, I hope members of Congress on both sides of the aisle are listening."

Sounds like his plan for getting anything done in this country is for every citizen to stand before Congress and tell their tales of woe.

Obama often touts what he has done for both the State of Illinois, and for veterans, but as Hillary Clinton states on a regular basis - actions speak louder than words.  20 new VA vet centers are now open, and three will open by the end of this year.  FOUR of the 23 vet centers are in the State of New York and Senator Clinton can certainly claim a victory for her veterans.  On the other hand, the State of Illinois is not opening any new vet centers and I can assure you it's not because they're not needed.

Words mean nothing to citizens of this country that need assistance, actions mean everything. 

With Secretary of Commerce and Industrial Development Jaime Serra Puche and President Carlos Salinas of Mexico, U.S. Trade Representative Carla A. Hills, and Minister of International Trade Michael Wilson and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney of Canada at the initialing ceremony for the North American Free Trade Agreement in San Antonio, TX, October 7 [1992].   Source:  National Archives and Records Administration - Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States George H.W. Bush: 1992-93, Book II, Photographic Portfolio

By Patricia L Johnson and Richard E Walrath

When we think about NAFTA, most of us automatically think about two things, Bill Clinton and lost jobs.  Most people when they hear the word NAFTA, think NAFTA, CAFTA, or SHAFTA (as in shafted), but that's because they don't know the history.  Bill Clinton has consistently received both praise and criticism for the North American Free Trade Agreement and little credit for job creation.

The fact is there were 23.1 million jobs created during Bill Clinton's eight years in office, but the increases in payrolls during his tenure have been offset by the loss of jobs in the George W. Bush [Bush 43] presidency due to foreign trade.

Is Bill Clinton responsible for these job losses?  The answer is absolutely not - for two reasons. 

The losses we are experiencing in labor markets are losses due to cheap labor rates in India, China and other overseas countries, not due to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Second, the North American Free Trade Agreement was a twinkle in the eye of Ronald Reagan as can be determined by the following statement made during his speech announcing his candidacy for President in 1979.

"It may take the next 100 years but we can dare to dream that at some future date a map of the world might show the North American continent as one in which the people's commerce of its three strong countries flow more freely across their present borders than they do today."

The Canada-United States free trade agreement, CFTA, went into effect on January 1, 1989 and was eventually incorporated into NAFTA during negotiations by the George H.W. Bush (Bush 41) administration.

Following is an excerpt made by President George H.W. Bush during the initialing ceremony for NAFTA.  This speech was made October 7, 1992 - a month before Bill Clinton was elected to office and three months before he took office.

...Today the United States, Mexico, and Canada embark together on an extraordinary enterprise. We are creating the largest, richest, and most productive market in the entire world, a trillion market of 360 million people that stretches 5,000 miles from Alaska and the Yukon to the Yucatan Peninsula. NAFTA, the North American free trade agreement, is an achievement of three strong and proud nations. This accord expresses our confidence in economic freedom and personal freedom, in our peoples' energy and enterprise. The United States, Mexico, and Canada have already seen the powerful and beneficial impact of freer trade and more open markets. Over the past 5 years, as President Salinas reduced trade barriers under his bold reform program and as Prime Minister Mulroney and I implemented the United States-Canadian Free Trade Agreement, trade between our three countries has soared. In 1992 alone, that trade will reach an estimated 3 billion, up billion just since 1987...

His full speech may be read at the following link at the George Bush Presidential Library.

http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research/public_papers.php?&year=1992&m

The Clinton administration promoted the free trade agreement between Mexico and Canada and NAFTA would never have been passed without the overwhelming support of the Republican members of Congress.

Clinton was for free trade between the three countries, and NAFTA would be good for the US if the price of crude oil hadn't skyrocketed over the past seven years. 

The U.S. International Trade report released February 14, 2008 indicated a 2007 trade deficit with Canada of $64.2 billion, The increase in imports from Canada was primarily due to crude oil and pharmaceuticals. 

We're also running a 2007 trade deficit with Mexico of $74.3 billion, for probably the same reason.  Mexico and Canada are our two biggest non-OPEC oil suppliers.

However, neither of the countries in NAFTA can even begin to compare with the $256.3 billion trade deficit with China for 2007.  No crude oil was imported from China during 2007.

The question that should  be asked on NAFTA is who would benefit the most from the North American Trade Agreement IF the United States was not so dependent upon crude oil as an energy source? 

Three Presidents, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and William J. Clinton promoted the idea over a period of almost thirty years. 

What has not been taken into consideration is the devastating effect the increased price of oil would have on trade balances between the three countries.  Just over the past 12-month period of time, imported petroleum prices have increased 66.9%.  NAFTA is good, crude oil dependence isn't.

When Bush [43] was interviewed by Lee Hochberg, PBS, he was asked if better coordination and synchronization of immigration policies between Canada and the U.S. were necessary.  President Bush replied "Border relations between Canada and Mexico have never been better".  Although the comment was obviously not what he meant, it does provide us with more of an understanding as to why trade agreements signed during the George W. Bush administration have been such dismal failures.

Richard E Walrath and Patricia L Johnson are co-owners of the Articles and Answers News and Information sites. You may read more by these authors at Articles and Answers or Articles and Answers 2007

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=119581&p=irol-newsArticle_print&ID=1106328&highlight=

Chattem Issues URGENT Voluntary Nationwide Recall of Icy Hot(R) Heat Therapy(TM) Products

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 2008--Chattem, Inc. (NASDAQ: CHTT) announced today that it is initiating a voluntary Nationwide recall of its Icy Hot Heat Therapy products, including consumer "samples" that were included on a limited promotional basis in cartons of its 3 oz. Aspercreme(R) product. This recall is being conducted to the consumer level.

Chattem is recalling these products because it has received some consumer reports of first, second and third degree burns as well as skin irritation resulting from consumer use or possible misuse of these products.

All lots and all sizes of the following Icy Hot Heat Therapy products are affected by this recall:

1. Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat- Back

2. Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat- Arm, Neck, and Leg

3. Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat- Arm, Neck, and Leg single consumer use "samples" included on a limited promotional basis i cartons of 3 oz. Aspercreme Pain Relieving Creme.

NOTE: if products have been removed from their holding cartons the recalled products are packaged in a red colored plastic pouch which states Icy Hot Heat Therapy and either Back or Arm/Neck and Leg. Single consumer use "samples" of Icy Hot Heat Therapy- Arm, Neck and Leg were included on a limited promotional basis in yellow and red cartons of 3 oz. Aspercreme Pain Relieving Creme. The samples were distinct and stand-alone products, clearly labeled as "Icy Hot Heat Therapy Air Activated Heat," with their own internal labeling.

These products are sold over the counter through food, drug and mass merchandisers.

Consumers who have the Icy Hot Heat Therapy products under recall should immediately stop using the products, discard them, and/or return them to Chattem, Inc.

Product may be returned for a full refund (average retail price) by calling Chattem's Consumer Affairs Department at 1-877-742-6275 (M-F from 8am to 4pm EST) or via our website at www.Chattem.com.

Any adverse reactions experienced with the use of the Icy Hot Heat Therapy products should also be reported to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting Program, either online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm, or by fax at 800-FDA-0178, and to Chattem at the below toll-free number.

Chattem is notifying its customers, including distributors and retailers, about this recall, and is arranging for immediate return of all recalled products to Chattem.

This recall only involves the above listed Icy Hot Heat Therapy products including single consumer use "samples" that were included in cartons of 3 oz. Aspercreme Pain Relieving Creme and does not involve any other Icy Hot or Aspercreme products.

Chattem is committed to the integrity and safety of its products and is undertaking this voluntary recall with the full knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

Consumers with questions or concerns about this product may contact Chattem's Consumer Affairs Department at 1-888-442-4464 (M-F 8am to 4pm EST).

CONTACT: Chattem, Inc.
David W. Grob, MS, RAC
Director, Regulatory Affairs & Safety
888-442-4464
SOURCE: Chattem, Inc.