Live Stream || Obama Statement on Ukraine

[Gazoo]

Live Stream || Obama Statement on Ukraine

by KEITH KOFFLER on MARCH 20, 2014, 10:35 AM

Expected to speak at 11AM

http://www.whitehousedossier.com/2014/03/20/live-stream-obama-statement-ukraine-2/

Not that anybody wants to watch the usurper; but more as a warning that the MSM will go ga-ga reporting what stupid thing their Comrade said.

Maybe -just listening- will be bearable?

[Oceander]

I bet he's frozen Putin's Netflix and eBay accounts now.

[Gazoo]

You know it will be a brief statement, he has a Miami fundraiser.

I am crossing my fingers hoping one reporter pipes in and asks what the admin will do about Putin calling Obama a prankster comrade? Or why he is not having security briefings, or why the FLOTUS is going to a communist country for vacay?

I can day-dream...

[Gazoo]

He is late what a shocker.

[musiclady]

He is late what a shocker.

Has he ever been on time for anything?

[Gazoo]

I had the speakers turned up to LISTEN and it is over and I heard nothing.

Did he speak?

[andy58-in-nh]

Has he ever been on time for anything?

Classic passive-aggressive behavior.

He's always late because whatever he has to say is so damned important that you absolutely be made to wait for him.

[mystery-ak]

[musiclady]

Empty words on his way to another vacation.

Bet he golfs while he's in FL.

[Gazoo]

[EC]

There is a law I would like to see enacted by the House. It is one line.

"The President and Vice President, during their terms in office, are banned from fundraising, paid speaking engagements and paid dinners with supporters, on penalty of immediate removal from office."

If you are President - be so.

[mystery-ak]

[Gazoo]

Empty words on his way to another vacation.

Bet he golfs while he's in FL.

I am shocked the media reported this in this way. I had not read this part...

Obama spoke from the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One for a trip to Florida that includes an economic speech and a fundraiser.

Maybe even the media, speaking out today of Obama's control of the press and MO's China trip. Are even perplexed?

[Oceander]

Those sanctioned on Thursday include a longtime Putin aide who has worked for the Russian leader since 1993, the chairman of the state-owned Russian Railways and the founder of a large commodity trading company. According to senior administration officials, the 20 targets will see their assets frozen and be barred from doing business with American companies or financial institutions.

The sanctions will also affect Bank Rossiya, which the administration said was Russia's 17th largest bank and Putin's personal financial institution.

Ok, this is more in line with what people have been suggesting, so now we get to see if they really work.  This is my guess:  it's too late and Putin will simply never leave Crimea - that is a done deal, that ship has sailed - however, these sanctions should start to have bite, and might have some deterrent effect and keep Putin from going after more of Ukraine or some of the other ex-SSRs.

[Gazoo]

Ok, this is more in line with what people have been suggesting, so now we get to see if they really work.  This is my guess:  it's too late and Putin will simply never leave Crimea - that is a done deal, that ship has sailed - however, these sanctions should start to have bite, and might have some deterrent effect and keep Putin from going after more of Ukraine or some of the other ex-SSRs.

The sanctions will also affect Bank Rossiya

Obama's pen screws with Russia's economy...Putin's next move will be this

http://www.altheadlines.com/russia-threatens-to-abandon-the-us-dollar-and-start-dumping-us-debt-13254571/

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-04/putin-advisor-threatens-dumping-us-treasurys-abandoning-dollar-if-us-proceeds-sancti

Can we cut to the chase? Our economy crashing.

Insanity.

It is like a cold war of economical chess playing. Who can crash the world economy first?

[Oceander]

Obama's pen screws with Russia's economy...Putin's next move will be this

http://www.altheadlines.com/russia-threatens-to-abandon-the-us-dollar-and-start-dumping-us-debt-13254571/

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-04/putin-advisor-threatens-dumping-us-treasurys-abandoning-dollar-if-us-proceeds-sancti

Can we cut to the chase? Our economy crashing.

Insanity.

It is like a cold war of economical chess playing. Who can crash the world economy first?

That is more bluff and bluster than real bite.  The amount of treasuries Russia holds is small compared to, for example, the amount of treasuries the federal reserve holds, which is somewhere around $2.3 trillion.  Japan holds around $1 trillion as well.  Heck, Luxembourg holds $135 billion, which is apparently slightly more than Russia's holdings.  If Russia dumped every penny of treasuries it holds in one day, it would cause a bit of a dip in the price, but that dip would most likely be smoothed out within a few days.

[Gazoo]

That is more bluff and bluster than real bite.  The amount of treasuries Russia holds is small compared to, for example, the amount of treasuries the federal reserve holds, which is somewhere around $2.3 trillion.  Japan holds around $1 trillion as well.  Heck, Luxembourg holds $135 billion, which is apparently slightly more than Russia's holdings.  If Russia dumped every penny of treasuries it holds in one day, it would cause a bit of a dip in the price, but that dip would most likely be smoothed out within a few days.

No smooth over in a few days; if Russia's BFF-China gets involved. And something tells me Putin has other means of punishing us economically he is not stupid enough to show his commie hand.

[Gazoo]

http://news.yahoo.com/russia-hits-back-own-sanctions-u-hostile-thrust-160038686.html;_ylt=AwrBJR.1FStT0i0AfvrQtDMD

[Oceander]

No smooth over in a few days; if Russia's BFF-China gets involved. And something tells me Putin has other means of punishing us economically he is not stupid enough to show his commie hand.

China isn't Russia's BFF - the Chinese and the Russians have a relationship of convenience and I've no doubt that China would be perfectly happy egging Russia on with promises that it would also sell off treasuries, and then reneg at the last minute, after Russia had already sold.

Also, the Chinese reputedly hold about $1 trillion US treasuries, which is about the same as Japan's holdings.  Don't forget that the size of the US debt represents US treasuries held by someone; the debt is about $16 trillion, and the Fed holds about $2.3 Trillion right now, so that leaves about $13.7 trillion in someone else's hands. 

There's a list of all major foreign holders of US treasuries here:  http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/tic/Documents/mfh.txt

                                        MAJOR FOREIGN HOLDERS OF TREASURY SECURITIES
                                                  (in billions of dollars)
                                                HOLDINGS 1/ AT END OF PERIOD


                        Jan     Dec     Nov     Oct     Sep     Aug     Jul     Jun     May     Apr     Mar     Feb     Jan
Country                 2014    2013    2013    2013    2013    2013    2013    2013    2013    2013    2013    2013    2013
                      ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------  ------

China, Mainland       1273.5  1270.0  1316.7  1304.5  1293.8  1268.1  1279.3  1275.8  1297.3  1290.7  1270.3  1251.9  1214.2
Japan                 1201.4  1182.5  1186.4  1174.4  1178.1  1149.1  1135.4  1083.3  1103.7  1112.7  1114.3  1105.5  1103.9
Belgium                310.3   256.8   200.6   180.3   172.5   166.8   167.7   176.2   175.2   185.5   188.4   187.3   185.6
Carib Bkg Ctrs 4/      293.3   294.3   290.9   292.0   300.9   301.9   286.6   286.3   281.3   285.0   286.9   284.2   274.5
Oil Exporters 3/       246.4   238.3   236.2   236.8   245.7   246.5   257.7   256.9   264.5   271.7   265.1   256.8   261.7
Brazil                 246.0   245.4   246.9   246.7   249.2   252.9   256.4   253.7   255.2   253.1   257.9   256.5   254.1
Taiwan                 179.1   182.2   183.7   184.5   185.9   183.6   185.8   186.1   188.8   185.7   188.9   190.0   192.7
Switzerland            173.7   176.7   176.6   174.3   177.2   181.2   178.2   180.3   182.6   185.8   183.6   186.9   190.0
United Kingdom 2/      162.9   163.7   161.5   158.5   158.3   159.2   157.0   162.6   155.8   160.2   159.1   138.6   139.4
Hong Kong              160.3   158.8   141.7   137.3   126.5   126.5   120.0   124.2   136.4   141.2   146.6   144.7   142.9
Luxembourg             135.3   134.4   130.4   133.3   141.1   143.8   146.8   150.5   143.2   149.7   154.5   151.2   147.6
Russia                 131.8   138.6   139.9   149.9   140.5   136.0   131.6   138.0   143.4   149.4   153.0   164.9   164.4
Ireland                108.8   125.4   116.9   110.9   111.3   120.0   117.9   121.2   120.5   120.5   113.5   109.6   108.5
Norway                  88.2    97.2    82.3    78.4    72.2    71.7    74.6    75.7    73.7    74.9    76.4    77.0    76.5
Singapore               85.9    86.2    87.2    86.3    80.3    79.4    81.5    85.4    85.8    92.3    98.0   109.5   103.7
India                   68.1    68.5    63.9    59.9    56.8    57.0    58.9    61.2    59.9    55.8    55.0    56.8    58.5
Mexico                  67.2    65.1    59.5    61.8    63.8    60.4    63.3    61.8    58.4    57.0    57.1    64.3    62.6
Germany                 63.9    67.3    64.3    60.7    61.9    58.7    56.3    58.9    61.9    62.2    64.2    65.1    60.5
France                  57.5    53.8    51.6    57.7    54.5    51.9    49.8    51.8    60.2    50.6    56.4    53.1    52.2
Korea                   55.6    54.0    46.4    50.6    55.5    50.0    51.4    51.2    52.9    53.1    53.1    50.6    48.1
Canada                  55.3    55.8    57.0    58.0    62.4    60.4    65.6    65.0    60.7    66.2    64.4    65.5    61.7
Turkey                  48.9    52.2    53.4    51.5    54.3    58.4    55.0    59.1    60.2    60.4    56.7    55.9    57.7
Thailand                47.8    51.7    49.8    44.5    38.9    40.1    43.7    50.2    54.4    59.3    68.4    65.3    61.6
Philippines             38.7    40.2    40.0    39.2    38.1    38.6    38.9    37.1    39.0    39.3    39.7    39.6    39.6
Sweden                  34.9    33.9    33.6    32.6    32.6    33.4    32.5    32.7    32.4    32.1    32.8    30.2    28.6
Colombia                32.9    33.0    34.0    32.9    33.4    33.0    33.1    32.7    32.0    30.9    31.2    29.5    30.3
Netherlands             32.3    37.0    29.9    30.4    32.2    31.0    30.4    31.4    30.0    27.3    30.4    30.3    31.7
Poland                  31.2    30.9    31.4    31.2    30.8    32.0    32.1    31.4    31.4    31.6    31.2    31.2    31.8
Australia               31.0    33.8    33.7    34.1    34.2    32.9    33.1    35.4    34.6    35.8    29.4    28.9    28.6
Italy                   30.4    30.3    30.2    29.4    28.8    28.8    27.5    28.5    27.2    28.1    28.5    28.8    28.4
Kazakhstan              29.8    29.2    29.1    28.2    27.0    27.8    27.6    25.1    24.9    23.1    23.7    30.0    29.5
Chile                   27.1    26.1    25.9    26.2    26.7    28.0    29.2    29.6    31.1    32.1    31.9    33.6    32.8
Israel                  24.2    23.7    20.0    21.6    21.9    23.1    21.2    24.4    26.6    24.5    23.7    23.1    23.1
Spain                   23.2    23.0    22.8    22.6    21.5    22.1    21.9    22.1    23.0    23.0    23.5    24.5    25.1
Denmark                 14.1    14.5    12.6    11.5    11.6    13.3    13.0    13.5    13.3    13.7    14.0    13.9    14.1
Peru                    13.8    14.8    14.2    14.1    14.5    15.0    15.4    16.2    16.1    15.9    16.0    15.7    15.6
South Africa            11.5    11.3    11.7    10.6    13.8    13.2    13.8    13.7    13.6    13.6    13.4    13.3    13.1
Malaysia                10.8    11.8    11.8    11.8    12.4    13.9    15.9    16.8    17.6    17.6    18.6    18.8    19.3
Vietnam                 10.6    10.2     9.8     9.5     9.4     9.6     9.7     9.7     9.6     9.7     9.8     9.9     9.9
All Other              174.9   179.4   182.2   176.2   182.3   176.4   176.9   179.4   179.9   188.4   195.4   198.5   198.1
Grand Total           5832.7  5802.0  5716.9  5655.2  5652.9  5595.8  5592.8  5595.0  5658.1  5709.7  5725.0  5691.1  5622.1

Of which:
 For. Official        4067.9  4054.5  4074.2  4052.3  4015.2  3974.5  3996.1  4012.2  4075.9  4080.0  4093.8  4100.4  4048.9
  Treasury Bills       393.9   398.3   384.1   378.6   370.5   373.2   363.0   362.7   379.8   399.2   404.0   385.6   377.1
  T-Bonds & Notes     3674.0  3656.2  3690.1  3673.7  3644.8  3601.3  3633.2  3649.5  3696.1  3680.8  3689.7  3714.9  3671.8

Department of the Treasury/Federal Reserve Board
March 17, 2014

 *   Includes holdings of Treasury bonds and notes as reported on TIC Form SLT, "Aggregate Holdings of Long-Term Securities by U.S.
     and Foreign Residents"
 1/  The data in this table are collected primarily from U.S.-based custodians and broker-dealers. Since U.S. securities held in
     overseas custody accounts may not be attributed to the actual owners, the data may not provide a precise accounting of
     individual country ownership of Treasury securities
     (see TIC FAQ #7 at: http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/tic/Pages/ticfaq1.aspx).
     Estimated foreign holdings of U.S. Treasury marketable and non-marketable bills, bonds, and notes reported under the Treasury
     International Capital (TIC) reporting system are based on annual Surveys of Foreign Holdings of U.S. Securities and on
     monthly data.
 2/  United Kingdom includes Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
 3/  Oil exporters include Ecuador, Venezuela, Indonesia, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar,
     Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Gabon, Libya, and Nigeria.
 4/  Caribbean Banking Centers include Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, former Netherlands Antilles and Panama.
     Beginning with new series for June 2006, also includes British Virgin Islands.

All told, foreign holdings account for about $5.8 trillion in treasuries; that would imply that US holders own about $7.5 trillion in US debt.

I'm not saying that it wouldn't have some short term hurt, but it wouldn't crash the US financial system.  The Federal reserve, on its current course, could buy up treasuries equal to the Russian holdings in about 2 or 3 months.

And even though the Europeans are a bunch of cowards when it comes to actually imposing sanctions themselves, the more shamed ones amongst them may be willing to buy extra treasuries to further dampen any negative effect from a Russian sell-off.

This is part and parcel of the game of chicken Russia and Putin are playing with the West - so far it's worked perfectly, so they have every chance of bluffing the weak Europeans into pressuring the US to leave off sanctioning Russia.

[Gazoo]

The bigger question is if indeed, as some have suggested, China were to ally with Russia, and proceed to follow Russia in its reciprocal isolation of the US, by expanding trade with Russia on non-USD based terms, and also continue selling bonds as it did in December, when as we reported previously it dumped the second largest amount of US paper in history.



... especially when one considers the latest news released by the Kremlin:

PUTIN, XI DISCUSSED UKRAINE BY PHONE, KREMLIN SAYS
RUSSIA, CHINA SHARE SIMILAR POSITIONS ON UKRAINE, KREMLIN SAYS

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-04/putin-advisor-threatens-dumping-us-treasurys-abandoning-dollar-if-us-proceeds-sancti

Putin, China's Xi hold close views on Ukraine, Kremlin says | Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/04/ukraine-crisis-russia-china-idUSL6N0M13JF20140304

[Howie66]

 

There is a law I would like to see enacted by the House. It is one line.

"The President and Vice President, during their terms in office, are banned from fundraising, paid speaking engagements and paid dinners with supporters, on penalty of immediate removal from office."

If you are President - be so.