From 24/7 Wall Street:

“Black Friday sales showed a very slight increase over last year despite record spending for the day 0.3 percent increase versus the same period in 2009.”

This translated into disappointing revenue growth:

“retail sales increased a very slight 0.3 percent versus last year with consumers spending $10.69 billion in various retail locations.”

Sales per purchase appear to have dropped because total “U.S. foot traffic increased 2.2 percent on Black Friday which points to a shopper driven by various sales and promotions.” The increases in store visits is larger than overall sales growth..

Which is about what I expected to happen. People are zeroing in on the best deals and not indulging in impulse buying. And who really can? Honestly, how many of you out there feeling like spending a lot of money? More importantly, since consumer credit was such a large part of the boom before the bust, how many of you want to rack up the credit cards for Christmas? I do expect that 2010 will be better than 2009 because people, I think, have de-leveraged a lot and saved some money (those that are employed, at any rate)…so, now they can do a bit of shopping. But the days of shop till you drop and buy everything in sight on credit cards are over. And I don’t think they’re coming back.

Ultimately, this is a good thing. It is a sign of sanity – a sign of sobriety and thrift building up in the American people. First, earn; then, spend, but only after some is set aside for savings. Its how we did things for a long time and it was when we forgot about it that we got in to trouble.

The short term effect, though, is not good – as Big Corporation lives by continually increasing profits (as opposed to a more healthy make-smaller-but-very-steady-profits), the fact that there won’t be a big increase in profits off of holiday sales will prove another drag on economic recovery (if we’re even in one right now). The only reason we even got the sales we had this black Friday was because of steep discounts – meaning, less profits. Corporations will resume being gun shy about hiring and investment – and if Congress refuses to extend the Bush era tax cuts, then we’ll have this even more.

More interesting times coming, boys and girls.

HAT TIP: Mish’s

Just thought I’d put some timely reminders out there for everyone as we head in to Christmas. It isn’t about retail mark downs.

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. For those of Christian background, this is where we start to prepare for the birth of Jesus. While this is a season of joy, it is also a penitential season – in other words, we’re supposed to, among all the shopping and parties, take heed for the fact that we are not altogether good people and that we do, indeed, need someone to come in to the world to save us.

And, Christian or not, all of us can surely afford to pause for a moment and consider what we’ve done this past year. There was that time when you didn’t suffer a fool gladly. There was that time you resented a family member for doing something. There was that friend you didn’t help. You passed a stranger in need, and didn’t do anything. ‘Tis the season to be jolly – but also the season to start consider how we will try to do better in the coming year.

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz,

saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come,

the mountain of the LORD’s house

shall be established as the highest mountain

and raised above the hills.

All nations shall stream toward it;

many peoples shall come and say:

“Come, let us climb the LORD’s mountain,

to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may instruct us in his ways,

and we may walk in his paths.”

For from Zion shall go forth instruction,

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

He shall judge between the nations,

and impose terms on many peoples.

They shall beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks;

one nation shall not raise the sword against another,

nor shall they train for war again.

O house of Jacob, come,

let us walk in the light of the Lord! – Isaiah 2:1-5

From Oregon Live – and example of our twin plagues of Islamic terrorism and political correctness:

FBI thwarts terrorist bombing attempt at Portland holiday tree lighting, authorities say

Uh, guys, it is a Christmas Tree – and it was being targeted because the Christmas Tree is iconic of the Judeo-Christian West. In other words, we might not be at war with Islam, but at least a part of Islam is at war with us…and not because of what we do, but because of what we are.

Until we start being rational and insisting upon the hard truth of the matter, we’ll never get anywhere.

Rep. Lamar Smith notes in the Washington Post:

…Exit polls reported by CNN and updated this week reveal that a historically robust 38 percent of Hispanic voters cast ballots for House Republican candidates in 2010 – more than in 2006 (30 percent) and 2008 (29 percent). In fact, since 1984, Republican House candidates have only won a higher percentage of the Hispanic vote in one election: 2004. This level of Hispanic support for Republican candidates came despite widespread pre-election claims by advocates for illegal immigration that the Arizona law and a pro-rule-of-law stand would undercut Hispanic support for Republicans…

The fundamental flaw with both the liberal and the RINO narrative about the GOP and Hispanics (ie, that we GOPers have to become more pro-amnesty, etc, or we’ll lose the votes of Hispanics for ever, and thus become a permanent minority party) is that it is based upon a racist assumption that people of Hispanic ancestry all think alike – in this case, that all of them want illegal immigration and amnesty and all that rot. I’m sure a lot of Hispanics do, but I’m betting that the strong support Hispanics show for Democrats at election time isn’t based upon the possibility of amnesty (Hispanic voters don’t need that), but on the fact that Hispanics tend to be poor, and Democrats promise poor people a lot of stuff (and always fail to deliver, but that is another story).

As it turns out, of course, Hispanics don’t all think alike. Seems that some of them – and probably those who are second or third generation, or who came here legally, are not necessarily enthused about open borders. And, perhaps, not offended by the concept of the American government – or even a State government – enforcing American law. Who would have thought this?

Well, it turns out that we on the right did. People want laws to be enforced and obeyed. Its the only way a rational society can function. I’m de-facto for amnesty – but not until the border is secured. No sense in having laws if we’re just going to forever flout them…and then look at what happens when we do flout: the border region of Mexico is a war zone where thousands of people are murdered every year. You think some Hispanic man in El Paso wants to continue a policy where his cousins in Mexico remain prey to drug lords?

2010 was an eye-opener in a lot of ways, but not at all for our Ruling Class. They seem to have armored themselves from head to toe and ear to ear against any message getting through from the voters. Well, that is fine – it’ll make beating them in 2012 all the more fun.

From The Hill:

The investigative arm of the Homeland Security Department appears to be shutting down websites that facilitate copyright infringement.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has seized dozens of domain names over the past few days, according to TorrentFreak.

ICE appears to be targeting sites that help Internet users download copyrighted music, as well as sites that sell bootleg goods, such as fake designer handbags.

The sites are replaced with a note from the government: “This domain named has been seized by ICE, Homeland Security Investigations.”…

It appears that ICE is acting under authority of a “seizure warrant” – which power, if the government really has it, I want taken away. Yesterday. Except when the possession of something puts others at risk of life and limb, I don’t want the government seizing anything until, at the very least, the owner of the property has been convicted in a court of law. There is absolutely no way that a web site for downloading music – even if it is copyright infringement – is a danger to anyone. So, while I’m ok with criminal investigation; ok with the site owners being arrested and ok with them going to jail if convicted…I don’t want any of their property taken by the government until they are convicted.

To me, this is a matter of personal liberty – this action by government is clearly impelled by well heeled lobbyists putting pressure on law enforcement to go after what is likely, at any rate, a matter for the civil courts. And you liberals out there should step back a moment – this is your liberal government under your liberal President doing this. Talk about being beholden to corporate bosses! Hollywood says “jump!” and Obama’s DHS says “how high?”.

UPDATE: Don Surber notes that DHS isn’t protecting the border, but is protecting rap musicians. Your tax dollars at work, good people.

Missed this poll a few days ago from Rasmussen:

…A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 39% of Likely U.S. Voters believe the federal government currently operates within the limits established by the Constitution of the United States.

Forty-four percent (44%) disagree and say it is not functioning within those limits, while another 17% aren’t sure…

There is a growing conviction among the American people that the government is not at all in tune with American attitudes. You can see it just about everywhere – people who wonder where the common sense has gone. And while this is stronger on the right than on the left, it does cut across partisan lines a great deal.

Why are we bailing out GM? Why are banks continually being bailed out? Why is the Federal Reserve printing money? Why is there even an argument about keeping the lower tax rates? Why are unemployment benefits continued indefinitely? Everyone with any sense at all can see that we’re doing stupid, counter-productive things…but here comes the Ruling Class in government and big business, all telling us that we must do all this or we’ll all die, or whatever scare tactic they’re using at the moment.

While many on the left and almost all in the Ruling Class are trying to talk themselves in to believing that the TEA Party is a flash in the pan, the reality is otherwise. People are still furious – and they are now watching the GOP like a hawk to ensure they do what they are supposed to do. The warnings that the GOP may go “too far” in hammering Big Government is just Ruling Class propaganda – they are trying to scare off the weak sisters in the GOP and convince them to knuckle under. As far as most people are concerned, when it comes to controlling government, you can’t go “too far”.

The revolutionary ferment in the United States has not only not finished, it hasn’t even peaked. All that it takes to keep stoking these fires is to see government continuing on the path of incompetence – which looks to be the case as, let’s face it, with control of the House, the GOP can’t really stop the insanity. At best, we can slow it down – stopping it will take a complete overturn of government.

And that is what, I think, we’ll get in 2012 – unless there is a completely un-predicted and very massive turn around in the American condition, the American Fury will just continue to grow – and do astounding things in November of 2012.

HAT TIP: Zero Hedge

From the Jerusalem Post:

Canada will not attend Durban III, a United Nations conference on racism next September in South Africa because the event has negatively targeted Israel, the country’s immigration minister said Thursday.

Minister Jason Kenney said Canada has lost faith in the Durban process, a conference that began in 2001 to develop strategies to defeat racism.

“Canada is clearly committed to the fight against racism, but the Durban process commemorates an agenda that actually promotes racism rather than combats it.”…

Canada – land o’political correctness – can’t stomach the anti-Israel, anti-West hate-fest known as Durban III..but it looks like we’ll be there. Its a sad state of affairs when Canada has to lead the charge for human decency while the United States cowers in a corner, Obama’s “smart diplomacy” amounting to nothing more than a weak agreement with those who hate civilization.

Let’s hope someone at State wakes up – but given the sort of cretins Obama has appointed throughout government, I’m not too hopeful.

Going shopping, today? The Mrs will do a bit of her Black Friday shopping, but the “oomph” just isn’t there this year. We just can’t think of much we want – and other than buying for the grand kids, no one else needs much of anything.

So, are you planning a big, materialist Christmas, or is the spiritual aspect of the holiday coming to the forefront? You can’t buy Christmas spirit – you can only get it by giving it, and love is what you’re supposed to give…not a video game.

What is the big plan for Friday?

From AP via Breitbart:

U.S. authorities on Thursday found a sophisticated tunnel used to smuggle drugs between Mexico and San Diego, the second such discovery in the region in less than a month.

The half-mile passage runs from a residence in Tijuana to a warehouse in San Diego’s Otay Mesa area, the San Diego Tunnel Task Force said in a statement…

Half a mile long and the second such tunnel discovered in the past month! Anyone want to bet me there aren’t more of these? All along the border?

Until we get serious about border security we simply will not be able to resolve our immigration issues. As long time readers know, I’m in favor of a path to citizenship for long-time, illegal residents (amnesty, as it were), but however we do this, we can’t do anything until we ensure that no more can come over.

If securing our border takes a 50 foot high fence along ever inch of the border, with its foundations going 50 feet underground to block tunnels, then that is what we’ll have to do. The border must be secured – and do keep in mind, aside from the illegals we must consider that if drug dealers can dig half mile long tunnels, so can terrorists who want to slaughter us.

Any US government which refuses its duty in this task is unworthy of the American people. This is a genuine “must” for our nation.

That is a loose translation:

North Korea has rejected a proposal by the U.S.-led U.N. Command (UNC) to hold general-level military talks on the North’s deadly artillery attack on an inhabited South Korean island, officials said Thursday…

And why should they agree? All we’ve done is call for talks – the North Korean regime committed a brutal and unprovoked act of war against South Korea and did we respond in kind? No. All that tells tyrannical regimes is that we’ll pay any price to avoid war…and now they are working out how much to charge us (in foreign aid) to pretend they won’t do it again (until they figure its time to shake us down, again).

After the 20th century, you’d think that everyone would be on to the scam of tyrants. Cowardly thugs that they are, they can be easily pushed back – but by applications of insane violence, they continually convince people to just go along. For far too many in leadership, peace is sweeter than justice…even if the peace is bought with the blood of others.

Until we set our faces firmly against the tyrants we’ll just get more of this. Those tyrants we can take out, we should – those we can’t at the moment should be isolated and made to understand that their turn will come in the by and by. Free people – people of decency – simply must not play games with the wicked.