The second thing that makes me very worried is the obstinacy of Republicans and Bush over the mortgage crisis

and it is a crisis, even if it hasnt hit everywhere with the same intensity.

Delinquencies of 22% are very high and it seems like Barney Frank's bill is the right one.

It is too late now to start debating who is being rewarded, it is headed in the right direction with modest upfront outlays to save homes.

the point is preventing foreclosures prevents neighborhood breakdown, keeps families in place, where they can continue education and work pursuits and keeps the fabric of the country safe.

That is a main priority.

Focus on that, at all times, focus on keeping the fabric of the country intact and strengthened, whatever country we are talking about.

We will tweak the details later.

And one more thing, lemme tell ya, lenders have had too free a hand, by the time the market has reacted, it is too late and not just that, but the reaction is so bad, it is ruining the economy.

so this is what we should tell the market worshippers, by the time the bad guys get even some comeuppance, millions have suffered, many few have made out like bandits and the economy takes a huge hit.

this is the case whether it is robber baron oligarchs in russia, or unscrupulous lenders and derivative traders in America and overseas.

It all sucks and the job of governments and NGOs is to control markets to protect the little guy, becoz markets punish the little guys and help the bandits and thas the truth.

and now the problem is the Dems dont know how to say that and Republicans and Bush are still talking their forked tongue talk about mortgage relief.

It really sucks.

So I was worried about 2 things in America and their more of the same choice

First of all, there was Robert Downey Jr. on Jay Leno after we found out that Ironman was making tons of money on the opening weekend.

And his character turned out to be a classic weapons provider in the old mold, all bravado and free liquor and stuff like that and the audience just went ballistic in joy.

this was very scary, becoz although I am a big supporter of American military strength and also of India and the constant struggle against extremist infiltrators and hostiles, being madly in love with missiles and hardware is not a good idea.

For one, the problem is asymmetric warfare, for second, whatever you say, keeping dialog open is needed.

We may be wrong, but just now mad Pakistan government is planning some kind of rapprochement with the militants, which will backfire IMHO. But Manmohan Singh is determined not to lose his cool. We will see how that works out.

Third and most important, being madly in love with hardware suppliers is the wrong plan, when the United States is getting rooked by a trillion dollar war and all manner of defense expenditure excesses are occuring whether with Cheney's Halliburton and private army buddies or with people like Bush buddy Bollinger from Louisiana who sold the United States a bunch of boats with a bunch of problems.

I would like to see an exercise in caution on all counts and definitely an opening of dialog. It is scary to think what more could happen otherwise, it could be just the lull before the storm.

so Barry Obama wins NC and Hillary squeaks out Indiana

this shows 2 things, black folks are solidly behind their guy and white folks are not that intimidated or appalled by Reverend Wright.

There is nothing there that folks havent heard before and some of it folks might even want to talk about.

On the other hand, I am disappointed with the media demagoging the gas tax holiday, just becoz McCain set it up in a wrong way, dont make it wrong. Hillary's idea of getting the $ 8 billion from the oil companies is a beautiful idea, oil is at $122 a barrel but anything that is soak the oil companies get slammed by media. Thomas Friedman should be ashamed of himself.

so should Barack Obama, he just can't admit Hillary is right any time and just becoz she is losing is no reason to quit.

She dont have to do a scorched earth policy or anything, but now she is in for the stretch, she is in.

she mentioned like she has lived the American dream, this is true, the American dream is also that now she is successful and the millionaire wife of a millionaire ex president and a twice elected Senator, American voters can still choose to elect someone with much less experience and some but a lot less wealth and influence.

so that part of the American dream is good and we cant say all the motivations of the Barack Obama supporters, but they are making their choices, just as Hillary supporters are making theirs.

And I feel pretty sure McCain will be the President come November, but Democrats will have their first black nominee and he is not 10th generation African, but 2nd generation and still has relations in the old country.

So that much is all good, but I will be surprised if he lands in the White House, that's all.

But that's no reason for Hillary to quit.

Just like Jesse Jackson supporters made it a point to cast their delegate votes for him and place his name in nomination at the convention, it is now paramount all voters have their say.

It will not be fine for scorched earth or screeching to seat Florida and Michigan, unless of course, it ends up being a 50 50 split, which IMHO it is, and primary voters should have decided that long ago. But if you want to avoid disenfranchisement, then go ahead with a compromise and do a split.

Barry is ahead and let him get the nomination.

I think it will be pretty awful if McCain wins, although folks dont think so, but it will be more of the same.