A Box of Chocolates
Research for Online Investors

01/25/12

I had the pleasure of watching the President’s State of the Union address last night. The night was full of high drama. Not really, I just always wanted to write that. I was prepared to suffer through a populist rant that would continue his campaign for re-election. I saw the results of an online betting service that placed odds on the favorite phrase the President would use.

Life is like a box of Chocolates

Odds makers placed 250 to 1 odds on Forrest Gump’s explanation of life’s travels.  It surprised me it was listed as possibility.  I never thought of the President in terms of Forrest Gump, but on reflection appreciated the expertise of the odds-makers.

It didn’t take long for ‘ol Barry to get fired up and into his cadence.  We all need to play by the rules…work hard…move forward.  It sounded pretty attractive.

About this time I checked out a website and found the movie script for Forrest Gump. It was pretty interesting reading the script.  Being a writer, I always marvel at the craft of other writers.  “Hello, my name is Forrest, Forrest Gump.  My mamma always said Stupid is as stupid does.”

I remembered a feature my TV has, if I mute the sound, the writing is printed across the bottom of the screen.  I tried it.  It worked.  I enjoyed the President’s speech very much.  He has some very good writers.

I tried to make a list of the special interest groups the writers had to include in the speech.  I could just see a poor wretch in a cramped office down in the basement of the White House re-writing and editing the script.  I envisioned a Rupert like character from the movie Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Obama: Rupert….Make sure you get something in the speech about ‘undocumented workers…they are just like us.

Later after revision #12

Obama:  Rupert…We’re going to commit money out of the defense department to buy renewable energy.  Make sure you get that in the speech.  Better than bullets..ya’ know.

After revision #16

Obama:  Rupert…This isn’t very good…Do I need to get out the thumb screws?

After revision #20

Obama:  Rupert….It doesn’t say ‘fair’ enough.  If it’s ‘fair’ I am for it, so make everything ‘fair.’

Obama:  Rupert…I am not happy with the ending of this speech.  Get the cadence going man…a one, a two, a three…do you see what I mean?

Rupert: Yes, yes I feel it now. I can hear it. I can’t stop my leg from tapping! It’s like, like...Lawrence Welk!

Obama:  Remember Israel. Say somethin’ reeeal nice.

Tuesday afternoon on the final draft:

Obama:  Rupert, I think you have it here.  But, where’s the chocolates?

Rupert:  They are in the speech Mr. President.

Is it just me, or did anyone else notice that Hillary Clinton looked pasty?  Kind of like she just ate a bucket of oysters and had been on a three week bender.  Her lipstick was on straight, but I noticed a little ruddiness in her cheeks and nose.  Always a dead give-away.

After the 75-minute speech I listened to the mainstream media guys on ABC, CBS and NBC break it down.  I was waiting for Chris Matthews to pop up and tell us how he got a shiver up his leg…but my hopes were dashed.

Next up was Mitch Daniels to deliver the Republican response.  Who picked this guy?  Boring…oh and remember the average voter does not comprehend three syllable words.  He looked like a high school principal.

Quote:
Capitalism may be the worst form of systems, except for every other system.---David Rubenstein, co-founder of Carlyle Group, at Davos, Switzerland

The information presented in this newsletter is based on generally available news releases, corporate filings, current events, interviews and the editor’s opinions.  It may contain errors and you should not make investment decisions based solely on what you believe you have read here.  Do your own research, it is your money.  If you lose it, it is your responsibility, not ours or your grandmothers!  The editor may or may not have a position in any securities discussed.  The editor may have held a position in a security earlier, or in the future.

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