Romney LEADS - Republican Race

Gallup: Reports in its latest poll in the Republican Race, Governor Romney has overtaken former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to be the front runner by, 27% to 23%. Folks if Romney can take Iowa, win big NH, this race is over, but there are lot of BUTS, Paul could take Iowa, then Romney in NH, Gingrich could return in South Carolina. Then we have a long race, only a few days to go folks before Iowa.

POTUS 50% Disapproval - Gallup

Gallup: Reports on its daily tracking poll on the job approval for President Obama, today the Oval has a 50% Disapproval rating, while 41% of Americans Approve of the Obama record. This is not good for the Chicago Re-Election Committee folks, the latest unemployment figures have shown a ups swing after a decline, the unemployment rate should go up when those hired for the Xmas season are given the chop. Also if Americans think the US economy is going positive, people who had given up looking will start to look, thus they the unemployment rate could go back up to 9%. But and here is the BUT folks, its eight months before the election, miles to go folks, that’s the fun of US politics.

Italy and the Bond Market Part Two

Guardian: Reports on the following on the Italian Government bond selling, “ The auction in Italy divided analysts…at 6.979%, was still within a whisker of the 7% level that has triggered bailouts ”. As the article notes in 2012 Italy has to sell 450 billion worth of Euro bonds to keep it going, lets see what happens after the Italian people start to suffer the consequences of austerity, also how will the Unions react, if Greece is any example it should get quite hot in Rome, Italy. The Euro is not out of the woods folks, the new EU Treaty has gone off the front pages but it will come back in the New Year, the hangover in 2012 folks will last longer and could last well in 2013. Enjoy the New Year Celebrations folks, it could be 1950s austerity in the EU in 2012/13.

Italy and the Bond Market

Telegraph: Reports that Italy barely passed its latest bond test, it sold its 10 year bonds at 6.98%. Thus the austerity package of the new Italian Government and the spending by the ECB has kept Italy from going belly up, but for how long before Italy needs a bailout, it can be expected that Spain will need a bailout in the near future. At the end of the day folks the EU leaders have not dealt with the one main problem, that is the DEBT within the EU. The retraction of the EU economies will push up welfare spending, thus more debt, thus the need for more money from the markets. In less the EU can develop a total GROWTH policy the EU will have a constant crisis on its hands, it can be postulated that either Italy or Spain will push the Euro over a cliff, the question folks will it take the EU with it, and what will be the cost to the UK.

Syrian Violence and the Arab Spring

BBC News: Reports that the violence in Syria is on going, that from demonstrators it is reported that around 40 people were killed today in Damascus. The sad part about this story folks is that the West cant do a dam thing, the Syrian Regime is defence terms is a lot stronger than the Libyan one, also the Assad Regime is supported by Iran, the Tehran Regime can not afford for President Assad to fall, Syria is the gateway for Iran in to Lebanon, thus causing problems for Israel. The Oval under President Obama lead from behind when it came to Libya, when it comes to Syria the President is hiding in Camp David and will be, the left will never support Obama taking on the Assad Regime. In 2012 everything is political folks, the Syrian people will have to win this Civil War without the help of the West.

Afghanistan Front News

MOD: Has announced the names of the two UK Servicemen who died after action in Afghanistan before the Christmas period, the Servicemen were, “ Captain Tom Jennings of the Royal Marines and Squadron Leader Anthony Downing of the RAF ”. Our thoughts are with the families of Captain Jennings and Squadron Leader Downing.