You know it's bad when they trod out Jim Cramer

[CoffeeCat]

Anyone else watching the mouthpieces for the mucky mucks--on CNBC-- do damage control--during this volatile week in the stock market?

There's Jimmy Cramer--putting a silver lining on the big house of cards. I've noticed that they always roll out Jim Cramer when
the market is in serious trouble. When the foundation starts to slip--he's the guy who is supposed to placate the peasants and
convince them to keep their money in the market.

Last week, when Europe was a big concern, Jim was all over CNBC during the day. Then, when the concern about Europe quelled, he
went away.

Now he's returned big and bad. I guess the focus groups must indicate that he's the guy to calm everyone down. He's the guy people
trust. Cramer is a best friend to the multinational conglomerates--the friendly goof who can convince the sheeple to keep their money in the stock market.

They cut away to an interview with someone who discussed how problematic the markets were, and how many investors were concerned
about "the black box"--the notion that when you put your money in the market, there is some dark uncertainty. And that we "don't know
what we don't know" and that makes for risky investing.

Rational points right? No! Cramer had to tear him down and he even attacked him personally. I'm sure he'll spend all day doing this.

I don't portend to understand what will happen with the stock market. These bastards who are running everything--and simultaneously
destroying it--could manage to prop it up for a few more months--or even years. Who the hell knows. I'm through trying to figure it out.

I question the market daily. How can the DOW be at 12,000+ when our economy is crumbling and the middle class is evaporating? Have
the rich and the powerful figured out how to rally the markets without us?

I'd like to know who is still in the stock market--compared to six years ago. Many people have cashed out their 401ks, just trying to
survive. Many are out, due to volatility and the realization that the people running things are charlatans. Who knows.

Today should be a wild ride--and we'll get to listen to Cramer narrate the happy talk, silver linings and damage control. It's interesting, if nothing else.

[peace frog]

1. Cramer lost all credibility after the debacle of 2008

The can trot him out all they like, anyone not living in a cave these past three years will pay him no heed whatsoever.

See this video of Jon Stewart eviscerating Cramer, and rightly so:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/12/jim-cramer-on-daily-show-_n_174503.html

[CoffeeCat]

7. So true...

Cramer looked like a punk back then. He is nothing but a PR machine for corporate America. He
does not speak the truth or give news. He props up corporations run by his buddies. He is way
too involved with the key players. Instead of giving information, he does favors and kisses ass.

But...Americans have very short memories. They forget that Cramer was discredited.

[socialist_n_TN]

2. The stock market has never had much connection to the

wider economy, IMO. They've had to learn to make money off of money (true capitalism) without the need for buyers for real goods manufactured by real people. Add in a worldwide market and they have enough to support stocks for a while, even if the general economy goes totally bust.

[CoffeeCat]

8. I agree...

...and how they do it remains a mystery to me. They seem to have figured out how to
make the market work without the lower-, middle- (and to some extent) the upper-middle
class.

I don't get how most of the stocks can thrive amid horrible economic times--when people
are not spending as much.

Don't most of companies--that aren't in the financial sector--rely on consumer spending
and consumption?

How can Home Depot, Proctor & Gamble, Hershey, Target, and PepsiCo soar while we are tanking?

Frankly, I don't comprehend on companies that sell brand-name groceries do well in these times.
Wouldn't most consumers switch to cheaper brands or generic? How does Kraft, ConAgra or Kellogg's
survive? How are there stocks rising? If I can buy generic cheddar cheese for $2.50, why would I
spend $4.00 for Kraft cheese? Same for ready-to-eat cereals, coffee, peanut butter, etc.

Does the stock price of Kraft, ConAgra, Unilever or Kellogg's depend on something other than consumer
spending and sales/profits?

I'll be the first to admit that I don't have the answer to these questions!

[NRaleighLiberal]

3. If I ever wanted to punish my pets, I'd put Cramer's Mad Money on TV,close them into the room.

[JoePhilly]

4. If you look at the DOW over the last 10 years ...

You'll see that it tends to run in a average range between ~10,500 and ~12,500. We had the ridiculous spike to 14k, which lasted 12 minutes, and then the drop to 6,500 which also didn't last very long.

After the crash to 6500, the DOW returned to ~11,000 in less than 1 year.

And since that initial return to 11k, the DOW is again running in a range between about ~10,500 and ~12,500.

What seems to be happening is that anytime the DOW starts to approach one of the ends of this range people start to either buy in some more, or they cash out some more. So say you have 10k in the market and you bought in at 10,900. Then when the DOW hits 11,900, you sold it. You now have 11k. When the DOW drops to 10,900, you buy back in, and then you sell again when the DOW hits 11,900 ... and then you do it again. And you keep doing it so long as you believe that we'll be moving horizontally.

Basically, we're moving horizontally. And with the obstructionist GOP, we'll probably continue to do so. And so investors are going to cash in some when the DOW goes to the upper bound, and then buy back in when it approaches the lower bound.

I should mention that you never totally "cash out", or move everything "in". You change the ratio of cash to stock holdings ... so you have more cash as the DOW goes up (because you are taking gains off the table), and less cash as it goes down (because you are moving cash back in). You can also set multiple trigger points on both ends. So say the dow is going UP, you might sell some at 11,500, a little more at 12k, a little more at 12.5k ... so on ... same on the lower end.

[Atman]

5. It's because he looks like Louis CK and talks like an uneducated buffoon.

That is what makes America feel comfortable. Some dude in a $2000 suit and $200 haircut never calms anyone.

.

[CoffeeCat]

6. Market down 300+

Just saw the charts and numbers on Italy. Looks like Italy is next.

This is far from over.

[Odin2005]

9. Always do the exact opposite of what Jim Cramer says.