Global STPN

[Mr. Perfect]

US to underwrite EU bailouts? Hope you all have an adequate armory. I would recommend a couple of 18.5 inch pump shotguns (less prone to jamming than autoloaders), a 30-06/308 20-24 inch barreled bolt gun (for hunting, long range defense), an AR for every able bodied adult/trained teen and a bevy of 40 cal semi-auto handguns (I favor the new Beretta 96 but I'm big on style over substance), Rugers being the best value. I believe the Berzer is big on 1911 45s but to each his own. Also getting a good load for each of these is worth the effort.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/40454469

The United States would be ready to support the extension of the European Financial Stability Facility via an extra commitment of money from the International Monetary Fund, a U.S. official told Reuters on Wednesday.

"There are a lot of people talking about that. I think the European Commission has talked about that," said the U.S. official, commenting on enlarging the 750 billion euro ($980 billion) EU/IMF European stability fund. "It is up to the Europeans. We will certainly support using the IMF in these circumstances."

"There are obviously some severe market problems," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. "In May, it was Greece. This is Ireland and Portugal. If there is contagion that's a huge problem for the global economy."

The remarks foreshadow a visit to Europe this week by a U.S. Treasury envoy who is expected to visit Berlin, Madrid and Paris to hold talks on the ramifications of the debt crisis.

(Another news report, however, raised questions about the true extent of the US commitment. Read more here).

The developments have echoes of the pressure applied by Washington on European capitals last May to create the near $1 trillion EFSF safety net that was last week used to rescue Ireland after its banking crisis spiraled out of control.

The IMF, whose biggest single shareholder is the United States, has committed 250 billion euros to the EFSF.

While reluctant to dictate to Europe how it should address the unfolding debt crisis, the U.S. government is growing concerned about the global fallout of Europe's predicament.

U.S. Treasurys' prices fell and the euro strengthened against the dollar on Wednesday after the news that the United States would be prepared to support an enlarged EFSF.

Germany, whose leaders have expressed frustration at the market backlash against their plans to solve the euro zone's debt problems, does not want to make the stability fund larger.

[Mr. Perfect]

One has to wonder why they keep doing this. All the bailouts were supposed to end well over a year ago, but they keep happening. Why? Is it just ideology? Is it stubborness? Denial?

Maybe they are afraid if they default then all previous allotments would be in vain and they would have to own up to that. Maybe they can't face that yet.

[Milo]

[Mr. Perfect]

There is just such a surreal feeling to it all these days.

[Tinker]

LOL, $ 10k in firearms purchases for everyone!

[Tinker]

[Tinker]

[Mr. Perfect]

[Milo]

[Mr. Perfect]

[Tinker]

[Milo]

[Mr. Perfect]

[Caskhades]

Looks like our world leaders are doing the financial equivalent of trying to:
a) stem a black death epidemic by distributing flea-infested rags.
b) save the sinking ship by ripping pieces of wood from one side of the hull to patch the other side.

[Tinker]

[Milo]

[Mr. Perfect]

I would pay money for that essay (unless I actually had to pay money), the title alone would be worth it.

[Rhapsody]

[Colonel Sun]

[Colonel Sun]

[Colonel Sun]

[Mr. Perfect]

We have all these Democrats to worry about. Orpheus used to long for the day that roving hispanic games would liquidate GOP households in suburbs and rural areas. There was a whole thread about it, something like "Shots to the head" or something, I'm sure somebody could look it up.

[Colonel Sun]

[Demon of Undoing]

[Tinker]