Should You Read This or Visit Internet Addicts Anonymous?

Many readers of this post are addicts. They are Internet addicts, according to Medill Reports from Northwest University. Today we have all grown some what dependent on the Internet. It is one of our primary communication sources via email, it tells us what movies are on at our local theaters and whether or not they are worth viewing, and it communicates information we want to convey about our business or gives the information about businesses we are interested in. but it is more, so much more.

According go the Medill Reports: "Kimberly Young, clinical director of the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery and author of the book 'Caught in the Net,' said that about 5 percent to 10 percent of Americans --15 to 30 million people -- may suffer from Internet addiction. And the problem may be even greater elsewhere. Young said 18 to 30 percent of the populations of China, Korea and Taiwan, where the Internet is even more popular than in the U.S., may be addicted."

Addiction, according to the study is defined as "online-related compulsive behavior that interferes with normal living and causes severe stress on family, friends, loved ones and work -- is a psychological and behavioral problem." Smart phones have made the feeding of this addiction even easier to maintain. We should be talking business over lunch, but we are reading email. We should be watching our child's soccer game and instead are looking at our up coming schedule. Instead of being "there," wherever that is suppose to be, people are roaming around the World Wide Web.

What do these addicts find themselves doing? According to the report, "the main types of Internet addiction are cybersex, online affairs, online gambling, online gaming, compulsive surfing and even eBay addiction, Young added." The situation has gotten so bad, people spend 30 to 90 days at recovery centers to seek help about the Web.

The Internet is tougher than some more commonly known addictions to break. First of all, the Internet itself is completely culturally acceptable. Virtually everyone does it. That leads to the next problem, complete abandonment is very difficult because most of us need it to function in the modern world of business. But how does one go from 10 or more hours a day to a mere one or two? I'm sure someone will develop a web site to help people with such. Oh, the irony of it all!

To find out if you are an Internet Addict, visit the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

The Real Reason the Europeans Like Obama

Barack Obama was received in Europe like a rock store with thousands of fans showing up to greet him and heads of state were acting like swooning teenagers. Is it because he is young? African American? Handsome? Articulate? Those might all be contributing factors but the most likely reason of all may have been revealed in an interview I had with Steve Moore, Senior Economic Editor of the Wall Street Journal.

On my show today Moore jumped into the discussion many are having through out the country and around the world -- why is Obama so popular. Maybe, instead of the conventional wisdom listed in the examples above, it is actually good old fashion competition. The Europeans believe that Barack Obama could be good for their businesses.

Much of Europe is moving away from excessive taxation that had been so pervasive and crippling on the continent and they are moving towards tax systems that attract businesses. In fact, the only Industrialized country that has more excessive taxes on corporations is Japan. According to the Tax Foundation, the United States has a combined federal and state tax rate that hovers close to 40 percent. While Ireland's is only 12.5 percent (which is why it is also one of the fastest growing economies in the world).

The European governments understand that business owners are their customers. The developing countries, like China and India, haven't attracted business because of the sophistication of their legal systems or better technology, but through cheap labor. Europe is rapidly moving towards lower taxes on wealth creation through flat tax and other predictable and low tax approaches as a way of bringing companies to them. Obama has made it clear, he plans on raising taxes on corporations, that only makes the European countries more attractive.

Obama is popular with Europeans because his policies will benefit them. Maybe he should run for office over there.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Remember Bennigan's?

Back in the 1980s there were certain restaurants that I seemed to hit with frequency. Steak and Ale and Bennigan's were among the favorites. Great for quick and easy lunch with the latter guaranteeing their meals will be at your table within five minutes of the order (regardless if your food was fully cooked) or it was free.

Somewhere along the way I stopped going. In fact, I can't remember the last time I visited either of these restaurants. To me, their decline was evident and has been chronic for quite some time. The quality of the food was in decline, the restaurants were not very clean, service was slow and inconsistent, and they simply weren't what they use to be.

The Associated Press today revealed the following today: "Restaurant chains Bennigan's and Steak & Ale have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection and will shut their doors. The companies filed for bankruptcy protection in the Eastern District of Texas. Their parent company — privately held Metromedia Restaurant Group — is based in Plano, Texas.
In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, a company seeks to liquidate its assets and shut down.
In the filing, the company indicated that it has up to 49 creditors. It said it will have no funds left after administrative expenses are paid to repay its creditors. Neither Bennigan's nor the Metromedia Restaurant Group returned calls for comment. "

Their decline could be attributed to several factors. People may have grown to desire "real" neighborhood restaurants instead of chains that try to resemble such. It could be because of the difficult time restaurants are facing in general with rising prices due to the high price of fuel and the reluctance many people have to spend money or gas on such places.

Whatever the causes, it appears clear to me that these restaurants died long before the Associated Press wrote the above obituary.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

New York Times is Worth How Much?

The New York Times, which is really a national newspaper with a comparable circulation to USA Today, has been reported to have a remarkably low value, according to Business Week. How low did the New York Times go? On Wall Street, its trading value has plummeted to half of what it enjoyed from just a year ago to $12.48 per share. That means it only has a market cap of less than $1.8 billion.

Business Week states, to "put this in perspective, CBS recently acquired tech publisher CNET, a much weaker media brand, for $1.8 billion. Add in the company's $1.1 billion of debt, subtract $42 million for its cash on hand, and the company's total enterprise value—a valuation measure that totals up those items in such a fashion—is just $2.85 billion."

Newspapers are taking a beating every where. In 1993 the Boston Globe sold for over $1 billion. Last year it was being marketed for around half that ($500 to $600 million). Most newspapers have faced a crushing blow because of the Internet and the rise of the new media. The Wall Street Journal, which was sold by the Bancroft family to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp for $5 billion (roughly twice its value on the stock market) is a happy exception to what is going on in old media. The fact the Bancroft family -- which seemed very connected to its publication -- sold it at all, demonstrates how concerned they were about the future of their holding.

Increasingly newspapers are trying to make the shift to the web as their primary media vehicle. New York Times has even gone so far to say that it could be exclusively online in a few years. Unfortunately, many newer companies are well ahead of them in this game and brand loyalty simply isn't what it use to be. The only newspapers that have enjoyed an increase in advertising dollars in recent years are those that are free. Be the writing in the newspaper or on the Internet, the writing on the wall isn't very positive for many of the strongest names in print media.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Who Does the Media "Like" for President?

I know, I know, it is a silly question. After all, the media support for Barack Obama has been nothing short of breathtaking. Seasoned journalists look at Obama and they sigh like teenagers over their favorite Hollywood star. He "looks so Presidential." He is "brilliant and capable." He is the new Messiah. Okay, I might be exaggerating a little, but you get my point.

By Republican standards, McCain has always largely received a fair shake by the media and that may have been due to the liberal friends he spends so much time with. There is Senator Russ Feingold whom McCain worked with to curtail free speech in the name of campaign finance reform. Than there is Senator Ted Kennedy, whom he partnered with in the passing of an immigration bill that did little to insure US security. Furthermore, McCain's candor and often folksy style resonated with journalists. But he has nothing on Obama.

McCain is old, fatherly, and moderate. Obama, on the other hand, is young, charismatic, and liberal. I mean really liberal. So much so the media swoons. The media isn't giving Obama love with words alone or in merely censuring McCain (like the New York Times recently did when he was to write an editorial about the war in Iraq), but also with money. According to Investors Business Daily's William Tate, the media favors Obama at a rate of 100 to 1 in donations. Tate notes that "An analysis of federal records shows that the amount of money journalists contributed so far this election cycle favors Democrats by a 15:1 ratio over Republicans, with $225,563 going to Democrats, only $16,298 to Republicans."

Tate continues, "Two-hundred thirty-five journalists donated to Democrats, just 20 gave to Republicans — a margin greater than 10-to-1. An even greater disparity, 20-to-1, exists between the number of journalists who donated to Barack Obama and John McCain." But the enthusiasm isn't only in the number of journalists who are donating to Democrats in general and Obama in particular, but in the amount of those donations. "The contributions add up to $315,533 to Democrats and $22,656 to Republicans — most of that to Ron Paul, who was supported by many liberals as a stalking horse to John McCain," according to Tate. If one goes further and subtracts the dollars that went to New York favorite (where most of the media survey are from) Rudy Giuliani and liberal's favorite Republican, Ron Paul, GOP contributions add up to a mere $3.150.

$315,533 to $3,150, that is 100 to 1. I suggest keeping those numbers in mind when you watch or read the news. If you sense a bias, it is likely there.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Conservatives Fear of Obama Gives McCain Room for a Bold VP Choice

The choice of who will be the Republican Vice President nominee will likely be unusually important this election cycle. Typically the mantra is "do no harm." This year, because of the incredible move of the Democrats with Obama and the very boring presence of McCain, Republicans better go bold. The question is, how bold? Will that be measured by ethnicity? Gender? Skin color? Religion? Those are the questions Republican strategists should be asking. However, the list of most commonly mentioned candidates for the VP post makes me wonder.

My favorite choice, Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, has largely taken himself out of consideration. It is too bad, because he did so much for McCain. He is charismatic, young, being the first Vice President born in the 1970s, very conservative (shoring up an area McCain has proven to be weak), he would make history as the first Indian American and Asian American elected to Vice President. In spite of his young age, he actually has a more substantial career than Barack Obama. I do believe he can be persuaded. I hope that happens.

Another often mentioned choice is Mitt Romney, who knows how to spend money for votes, but doesn't appear to know how to collect them. I don't think I have ever see a candidate spend more per vote and have less to show for it. Romney is charismatic and financially very successful, but he has "matured" in his political thinking too late for most conservatives. In his first Senate race against Ted Kennedy he was a liberal Republican. When he ran for Governor, it was as a moderate. Now, he tries to position himself as a conservative. The reality is, Romney brings very little to the ticket. Conservatives and Evangelicals seem as suspicious of him as they are McCain because of his Mormon beliefs and shifting philosophy. The only conservatives that seem passionate about Romney are the same ones who wanted McCain to lose if he received the Republican nomination. The choice of Romney would essentially guarantee that.

Many conservatives look at McCain in a similar way as they did Bob Dole in 1996. Not a person to get excited about. However, Dole was running against a moderate Democrat in Bill Clinton. A person who "ended poverty as we know it" and in that policy achievement found at least a small spot in the hearts of hardened conservatives. Barack Obama, on the other hand, brings absolute fear in the heart of most rank and file Republicans. It isn't because of his race, his questionable religious background, or even his age and inexperience that they worry. Instead, it his "embarrassment" of the way the US is viewed by the rest of the world and his wife's view that the US is simply mean and for the first time now deserves her being proud of it.

I believe McCain can safely assume he will get conservative voters no mater who he has as Vice President. This is radical coming from me. I strongly wanted a true believer on the top of the ticket, so giving up both spots shows how desperate the situation has become. But it is just that. McCain needs to make some history of his own. Here are a few people that could help him do just that:

* Colin Powell. The former General and Secretary of State would give the American people a leader who inspires respect and authority, taking away some of Obama's thunder. He is "blamed" for the evidence that led to the war in Iraq, but he is respected by liberals and moderates alike. I believe the biggest concern that potential Obama supporters have is his inexperience. Colin Powell allows voters to have their cake and eat it too. With a respected and experienced black leader like Powell.

* Senator Joseph Lieberman. The American people have grown exhausted over the political division in Washington, DC. Lieberman, who would be America's first Jewish Vice President, is now considered an Independent, but has decades on his biography as a Democrat. I have little doubt that he would jump at the opportunity. On the down side, he is not particularly young or charismatic, but he is well like and would offer an opportunity for national unity (verses mere party unity) that we haven't seen in years.

* Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. For conservatives, Rice is fairly solid on foreign policy and an unknown on domestic policy. She is attractive and articulate. She is black and female and would be a huge attraction for Clinton supporters who believe their standard bearer was mistreated. Meanwhile, blacks who have been concerned about how prepared Obama is would find Rice a safe bet. In fact, Rice could seal the deal for the huge percentage of female voters who say they won't vote for Obama.

If McCain is going to play it safe, he need to consider Mike Huckabee of Arkansas. Huckabee would help shore up conservative voters (although he is no Reagan conservative) and did the best job of any candidate on his vote per dollar ratio. He is an excellent grass roots organizer who would do a great job in the McCain effort.

I hope McCain goes bold and electrifies his ticket with a VP who could mobilize the many independents who are planning on voting for the first time. He needs to go bold and go deep, his electoral success depends upon it.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Time Magazine's 50 Best Websites

Time Magazine is the king of lists. I don't believe any other magazine enjoys ranking things more than this media giant. Recently, I stumbled on their list of the 50 best websites. One of my favorite things to do is to assess the magazine's assessment. Often I have been critical because the magazine is notorious, in my opinion for promoting political agendas. This list, however, has done a solid job of compiling a useful and interesting group of sites. The following is the top ten, but the entire list deserves consideration.

Not surprising, number 1 on the list is GasBuddy.com. 750,000 volunteers notify the website where the best prices for gasoline can be found in almost any part of the country. With gas at over $4 a gallon in most US cities, this is a very helpful service.

Howcast.com is an innovative site that makes it possible to throw away the instruction manual for just about everything. The site is humorous and uses videos instead of mere words to get the message across. This is an excellent resource. It comes in at number 2.

Number 3 brings ILikeTotallyLoveIt.com. The name irritates me, but it is makes sense when you learn about the audience. This is a social shopping website. People post photos of items they like, leave and solicit comments about them, and other wise make shopping more fun. If you like that type of thing.

Omiru.com comes in at number 4. The site's tag line is "real style for real people." Of course, virtually every style publication and site makes similar claims, but this one may be true. It actually strives to make particular (and popular) fashions a good fit for the individual user. Interesting idea.

In our mentally and emotionally challenged culture, it should be no surprise to anyone that a site called PsychCentral.com would come in so high at number 5. This site comes with excellent assessment tools to help the user begin to understand what their needs are. Self-diagnosing can be dangerous, but understanding where to start is, well, a good beginning.

Travel sites for cheap deals are common place and appreciated, but inside information on the quality of a hotel is important. That is exactly what TripKick.com provides, right down to the best floors and rooms to avoid in specific hotels. For the frequent traveler, this is a must see site. It comes in at number 6.

WikiTravel.com provides something greatly missing from most travel sites today -- currency. People want to be kept up to date on the best deals, best rentals, best hotels, etc. They are not interested in last month's or even last week's information. WikiTravel.com comes in at number 7 and may actually solve many travel problems.

Coming in at number 8 is YahooAnswers.com. This may be my only major disagreement with the list. I have always found this site to be a pool of worthless information. However, if you always wanted to casually ask for information from people you do not know, this is the place to do it.

Ever wanted a useful site in the quest for nutritional information? You might want to take a serious look at number nine, Zeer. It has detailed information on food items and, better still, the comments of others on what is worth eating and why. Who would imagine, a user friendly food site.

Another site I had a few issues with is number 10, Afrigadget.com. The site's objective is to raise awareness about "simple, sustainable inventions in Africa." The site is actually quite informative and innovative and offers an enormous amount of practical information, particularly for struggling countries. But the site is also so narrow in focus and lacks daily updates, that I don't see how it deserved to be in the top ten.

So that's Time Magazine's top ten sites. Make sure you look at the other 40 on the list. I think that several others could and should be added to the list (while others are removed). Fortunately, Time Magazine allows me to make suggestions of my own. I suggest you let them know your opinions as well.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

The High Cost of Socialized Banking

I am no fan of welfare. In fact, I take every opportunity to take shots at systems designed to reward laziness, inefficiency, and the subsidizing of poverty. Although there seems to be far more opportunities to write about welfare for the poor, I have even greater disdain for the subsidizing of the rich. So when the stories of banks "on the ropes" and the pending government bailouts hit the news, I was disgusted.

The federal government has announced it was willing to shore up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by purchasing its stock if it proved "necessary." Libertarians and liberals were quick to call this "fascism." Strong word, but since fascism entails government "partnership with" and subsidy to business, the shoe fits. That is exactly what the Bush administration appears to be advocating. I can't stomach an administration that, on the one hand, decries welfare for the poor but is willing to dig deep into the government's coffers for big business.

How deep? According to Forbes, "It's going to be a mind-popping $25 billion over fiscal 2009 and 2010, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which released its estimate of the rescue plan Tuesday morning. Let's put that in perspective: $25 billion for two financial institutions compared with $125 billion for the entire S&L industry in 1989-1991? Ouch." By the way, the S&L crisis was another example of government fascism in support of the rich.

There is another concept in economics that irresponsible banks need to learn. Moral hazard. Moral hazard is the possibility or probability that a party insulated from risk may behave differently from the way it would behave if it were fully exposed to the risk. Who knows, the current banking crisis may be linked to the S&L crisis of the 1980s and 1990s. If we allowed S&Ls to face the full brunt of their decisions, who knows, financial institutions may have thought twice before diving so quickly into the sub prime loans they are suffering from today. Lesson NOT learned, since government is strongly entertaining bailing financial institutions again.

Welfare is usually dangerous and harmful. When it is done to benefit big business, it is the adding of insult to injury.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

And The Democrats Vice President Nominee Is....

Talk about the likely choice of Vice President on both the Republican and Democrat side is beginning to dominate the airwaves. On the Republican side, questions of age, gender, race, and ideology are all weighing heavy. Interestingly, those are the exact same questions being asked by the Democrats. I want to focus on what the Democrats are going to need from a Vice President nominee:

* The National Journal has identified Barack Obama as the most liberal member of the US Senate. He needs a running mate with solidly moderate credentials. It is next to impossible to find a national Democrat who is conservative, so we will keep our expectations modest.

* Barack Obama is one of the youngest people to be the nominee of his party for President. Furthermore, he looks younger than his age. Having a running mate that looks more mature would bolster his ticket.

* A huge number of Democrats are furious over the situation with Hillary Clinton. They see her as jilted by the party itself. Some, I'm sure, are entertaining Clinton as VP, but others still are concerned about the field day the Republicans will have using film footage of the two candidates (Obama and Clinton) pounding each other during the primaries. However, does Obama need a woman to help placate the female members of his party?

* One of Obama's biggest weaknesses is foreign policy experience. We live in a dangerous world and people want mature and decisive leadership to face international challenges. Foreign policy experience on the ticket would be very helpful.

* Obama (like McCain among Republican states) found it very difficult to win in states that Democrats must line up in November. In those traditional Democrat strongholds, Hillary often found herself on top. Finding someone strong in these areas could be helpful.

The list of candidates being mentioned most are Sam Nunn (former Senator of Georgia and an established foreign policy leader) and Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, an enthusiastic supporter of Hillary Clinton who could help mend fences there. Both of these are perceived moderates and Nunn can help with the problem of Obama's perceived youthfulness. Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is about the only female mentioned with much frequency and she does nothing to help Obama in some of her biggest weaknesses. There was also much talk of Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico. He has a significant amount of foreign policy experience and he serves as a chief executive in the office of governor. However he has not and is not likely to catch on at this point.

So, who will be the Democrat's nominee for VP? My gut still says Hillary is the only one who can heal the divide in the party. Get ready for a Republican field day!

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Are You Ready For "Estaticide"?

I first thought of this idea while on the Steve Stockman Show in Houston, Texas and recently found myself discussing it with my friend on the Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, Steve Moore. The concept is "Estaticide." Estaticide is the extermination of individuals because of how punishing the tax implications.

This possible phenomenon is spurred on by the best of intentions. In 2001, President Bush wanted to provide relief to families that are devastated by the death of a family member. It is bad enough that mom or dad have passed away, without picking their pockets in the process. This led to the creation of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2001 (which modified a similar act in 1997). This law would lead to a gradual increase in the tax credits associated with estate taxes and a reduction in the maximum rate until 2010 in which the tax would be repealed. The bad news is that the rate would go back to 2002 levels in 2011. That means the rate would go from zero to a maximum rate of 50 percent in one year.

Steve Moore, at a recent RightOnline.com event, pointed out that it would literally make this jump over night from New Years Eve 2010 to the new 2011. In his speech, he paints a morbid picture. You can see a family surrounding a dying love one in December 2009. Loved ones knowing he will pass away, but praying he makes it to January 1 when the maximum rate plummets from 45 percent to zero. Fast forward to one year later and you find a different family whose patriarch is on the death bed with hours being left before the tax rate goes from zero, back to 50 percent and without the credits. You can see them surrounding the bed and looking at their watches.

This leads to the concern about "estaticide." People mysteriously passing just before the tax laws change. Stranger things have happened. A better thing that could happen is if lawmakers would put an end to the insanity of severely penalizing people for dying once and for all. People work hard to provide for their families for both now and for future generations. It is one of the drivers that make people work harder and economies productive.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Meeting the "Dark Prince"

A few decades ago I had the opportunity to meet Robert Novak, AKA the "Dark Prince." I finally got to see him again today at the RightOnline and Americans for Prosperity, "Defending the American Dream Summit." On both occasions I found the nationally known syndicated columnist as anything but "Dark."

I'm not being rude in my reference to Novak, in fact his memoir is actually called "The Prince of Darkness." This nickname was given to him many years ago by reporter John Lindsay because he thought Novak, "for a young man...took a very dim view of the prospects for our civilization."

Novak was a guest today on my radio show and his comfort as either an interviewer or interviewee was evident. We got the opportunity to do a panoramic overview of his career. The writer of the longest continuing running political column in history (over 45 years) has allowed him to sit on the front row of modern political history. We discussed his relationship with Rowland Evans (the other half of Evans & Novak team) and other major highlights of a fascinating career.

For those in the media business -- writers, radio and TV hosts, bloggers, etc. -- the lesson I learned from Novak is the value of relationships. Relationships are the currency that keeps a media personality current. Novak describes his job as one in which he spends a significant amount of time on the phone to find out what is going on and striving to maintain relevance. Over four decades of a daily column is a tough business. Some how, Robert Novak has made it look easy.

According to recent surveys on marketing, most advertising attracts sellers (others who want you to buy more ads) and not buyers. Do you want to know why? Email info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing audio" in the subject line and we will get it to you.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Is Michelle Obama About to Fade?

Rumor has it, the aspiring First Lady and spouse of Barack Obama will be seen much less on the campaign trail and much more at home raising her young daughters. The question being asked by many isn't "why", but "why did it take so long?" She has tried to position herself in a way very similar to Hillary Clinton when her husband ran for President in 1992. Hillary, too, had to tone it down after promises of getting "two for the price of one" started to turn off voters.

Michelle Obama has, in many respects, been the Republicans best weapon. Here are just a few of the controversies surrounding her:

* Following electoral success of her husband, Michelle declared that she was proud of her country "for the first time." There are things our government does that makes me less than happy, but I have always been proud of this country. This is a sentiment shared by the vast majority of Americans and her statement has continued to haunt her.

* She has actually complained about the high costs of her and Barack Obama's student loans. She has been privileged to go to Princeton University to do her undergraduate work and went on to graduate from Harvard Law School. Meanwhile, her poor husband received his BA from Columbia University and went on to Harvard Law. As a result, they have made millions in salaries, books, and he had relationships that contributed to a successful career in politics. For some reason, I'm not hearing violins.

* Finally there is the statement reported in New Yorker that largely slipped under the radar screen. According to the magazine: "(Michelle) Obama begins with a broad assessment of life in America in 2008, and life is not good: we're a divided country, we're a country that is 'just downright mean,' we are 'guided by fear,' we're a nation of cynics, sloths, and complacents. 'We have become a nation of struggling folks who are barely making it every day,' she said, as heads bobbed in the pews. 'Folks are just jammed up, and it's gotten worse over my lifetime. And, doggone it, I'm young. Forty-four!'"

It will be interesting to see if Michelle Obama attempts to reinvent herself. In the mean time, the above examples begs the question, why didn't they have her "fade" long before today?

According to recent surveys on marketing, most advertising attracts sellers (others who want you to buy more ads) and not buyers. Do you want to know why? Email info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing audio" in the subject line and we will get it to you.

Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

The Screen People Will Watch in the Future is in Your Pocket

The "first screen" we have known and loved for decades has been the television. In recent years our passions have turned to our laptop and PC screen, but the screen of the future is going to have us squinting. At least those my age.

At a recent convention in San Francisco reported in CNET, Marketers discussed the various vehicles they are using to reach today's teens. The overwhelming vehicle choice is the mobile device. What does the future hold for mobile communications? "Mobile phones in the United States will surpass the popularity of desktops for teens. Only an estimated 20 percent of teens currently own a smartphone such as the iPhone, but mobile phone and content companies are counting on the idea that smartphone adoption will spread fast among teens in middle America and other areas."

In the future, there will be more and more ads being sent to mobile devices. This is because they can target the audicence better by interest, age, gender, and geography. Furthermore, text ads get noticed in a way web ads and (in particular) email spam never enjoys.

One definite piece of good news for fans of traditional media is that these devices will actually bolster the health of television, not undermine it. Devices will be able to use more video (20 percent of all young people already have smart telephones such as the iPhone, as stated above) and ads that would normally be on TV will also show up on the small screen.

The future of media looks very interesting and very small.

According to recent surveys on marketing, most advertising attracts sellers (others who want you to buy more ads) and not buyers. Do you want to know why? Email info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing audio" in the subject line and we will get it to you.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

The Message Behind New Yorker's Obama Cover

The recent cover of New Yorker Magazine, a publication noted for a liberal bent and elitist flare, shocked most readers this month with a satarical depiction of Mr. and Mrs. Obama celebrating their victory in the Oval Office of the White House. In the drawing, Barack Obama is wearing a turban and his wife is sporting an Afro and carrying a machine gun. Meanwhile, in the background you see an American flag burning in the fire place and a picture of Osama Bin Laden hanging on the wall.

Both the Obama and McCain campaignd have declared the cover "offensive" and there is an expectation of an apology. It was suppose to be funny, even outrageous, but for some reason it has struck a nerve. New Yorker Editor David Remnick told the Huffington Post that “Obviously I wouldn’t have run a cover just to get attention — I ran the cover because I thought it had something to say. What I think it does is hold up a mirror to the prejudice and dark imaginings about Barack Obama’s — both Obamas’ — past, and their politics, I can’t speak for anyone else’s interpretations, all I can say is that it combines a number of images that have been propagated, not by everyone on the right but by some, about Obama’s supposed ‘lack of patriotism’ or his being ‘soft on terrorism’ or the idiotic notion that somehow Michelle Obama is the second coming of the Weathermen or most violent Black Panthers. That somehow all this is going to come to the Oval Office.”

The same magazine has depicted Bush as a maid serving Dick Cheney (reported by Fox News) and even a "Brokeback Mountain" comparison between the President and Vice President. Bush and Cheney wisely ignored the comparisons because they are laughable. But Obama has been up in arms, almost as though the satire hits a little too close to home. Many are convinced that he is protesting too much for his own good.

Many Americans actually believe Obama is Muslim (12 percent according to Newsweek). Bloomberg was early in reporting Obama's relationship with "William Ayers, a former member of the radical group the Weather Underground who is now a professor of education at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Ayers donated $200 in 2001 to Obama’s Illinois state Senate campaign and served with him from 1999 to 2002 on the board of the Woods Fund, an anti-poverty group."

"The Weather Underground carried out a series of bombings in the early 1970s — including the U.S. Capitol and the Pentagon. While Ayers was never prosecuted for those attacks, he told the New York Times in an interview published Sept. 11, 2001, that 'I don’t regret setting bombs.'
Bill Burton, Obama’s spokesman, said Ayers 'does not have a role on the campaign.' Ayers said he had no comment on his relationship with Obama." These are the type of stories that have over shadowed Obama for months and would have likely derailed his campaign if they came out early. I'm sure this will keep Hillary Clinton anxiously waiting in the wings.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

The Ten Fastest Growing Cities Might Surprise You

Lists are always interesting and two of my favorite areas are the growth or decline of cities. I love to know which ones are going which direction and why. CNNMoney has recently listed the ten fastest growing cities. Not surprisingly, the Sun Belt dominated the list. People are going to the places that create jobs and economic opportunity, most of those places are in the South.

That doesn't mean there wasn't surprises. I was shocked by how few of the names I was familiar. Most of these cities are smaller, but they usually are very near large cities and they are all growing very rapidly.

The top ten list:

1) New Orleans. One of the few cities I am familiar with is also the fastest growing. This is no mystery. Short of Hollywood, there is no other city more loved by the celebrity set and it has gotten enormous attention since it became a ghost town after Katrina. It is some what easy to be one of the fastest growing when you start with almost zero. It had a 13.8 percent increase in population in the last year.

2) Victorville, CA. Less than two hours from Los Angeles, this heavily Republican area has grown over 80 percent in the last decade. A favorite for movie production and growing in popularity because of the high cost of living in LA. It has experienced a 9.5 percent increase in the last year.

3) McKinney, TX. This Dallas suburb has enjoyed an 8 percent increase in the last year and is one of three Texas cities on the list. This is no surprise since Texas has been a bastion of economic growth and is a beacon to the rest of the country.

4) N. Las Vegas, NV. In spite stories that the West's city that never sleeps recent decline, North Las Vegas has exploded with a 7.4 percent increase in the last year.

5) Cary, NC. This Raleigh suburb that is in the heart of the deep South has seen a 7.3 percent annual increase.

6) Killeen, TX. The second of three Texas cities is little more than an hour from Austin, but otherwise is in the middle of no where. It has grown 6.5 percent.

7) Port St. Lucie, FL. In beautiful Southern Florida and off the Atlantic coast, Port St. Lucie has enjoyed a 6.3 percent growth.

8) Gilbert, AZ. I have a friend who lives in this growing suburb of Phoenix and he loves it. It has enjoyed a 5.8 percent increase.

9) Clarksville, TN. Just an hour Northwest of Nashville, Clarksville has been another beneficiary of southern prosperity. It has seen a 4.8 percent increase in growth.

10) Denton, TX. This Dallas suburb is the third and final Texas city and rounds off the list with a 4.7 percent increase in population growth.

The common characteristics of these cities is that they are all in the South and West and they are all in states with generally pro-growth economic policies. Also, with very rare exception, they are all heavily Republican (by the way, the cities that have lost the most residents are dominated by Democrats, but we will cover that on a future post).

People continually vote with their feet. Bad policies and bad politics simply drive people to places that are better.

According to recent surveys on marketing, most advertising attracts sellers (others who want you to buy more ads) and not buyers. Do you want to know why? Email info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing audio" in the subject line and we will get it to you.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

NBC's Smart Choice on Meet the Press

Like many other news jukies, I have been curious about the future of Meet the Press. The show had become one of the most respected in the news industry thanks to the leadership of Tim Russert and finding a replacement was quickly becoming a sacred task. However, instead of thoughtful deliberation, it appeared the network had quickly narrowed it down to Chris Matthews as the heir appearent.

Many bloggers, including myself, advocated Tom Brokaw as a transitional candidate to replace Russert. Virtually all the major news stories seemed to dismiss this as a possibility early on in the discussions, but I guess the message finally got through and Brokaw took that spot.

It is clear, however, that Brokaw is an interim host and the future seems unclear. One candidate for the host spot was Ted Koppel, who just recently got taking off of the short list according to Mediabistro. Regarding Meet the Press, Koppel said "That's the kind of thing that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. They need to find somebody younger than Tim, not older than Tim. He was 58. I'm 68. I just don't think it's realistic."

"If I were to do something like that, it could only be for a relatively short period. I don't think that would suit either NBC or me." It isn't like Koppel needs the work, he is now working with Discovery, National Public Radio, and (most recently) BBC America.

So what about the future of Meet the Press? It is hard to say. Many had no idea Koppel was on the list, so the announcement that individuals were on it seems to be stated after they are elininated. Very rude, but it creates a great deal of interest. NBC has stated that it isn't interested in one of the "cable guys," while saying Chris Matthews was a major candidate (who is primarily known for his work with MSNBC). However, I am going to stick my neck out there and say that I think one of the stronger candidates is Anderson Cooper at CNN. Although he is young (which means he can serve in that chair for many years), he is taken seriously by most in the media. We will have to wait and see.

According to recent surveys on marketing, most advertising attracts sellers (others who want you to buy more ads) and not buyers. Do you want to know why? Email info@HoustonBusinessShow.com and put "marketing audio" in the subject line and we will get it to you.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Gramm is Largely Correct

Former Senator Phil Gramm, who had an excellent career in the US Senate fighting for the prosperity of Americans, recently spoke his mind about the economy with candor and intelligence. Sen. Gramm is not only a former member of the House and the Senate with over two decades experience, but also has a PhD in economics from the University of Georgia. He may very well be the "Dr. Phil" of economics.

In an interview with the Washington Times, Gramm stated:

You've heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession," he said, noting that growth has held up at about 1 percent despite all the publicity over losing jobs to India, China, illegal immigration, housing and credit problems and record oil prices. "We may have a recession; we haven't had one yet."

"We have sort of become a nation of whiners," he said. "You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline" despite a major export boom that is the primary reason that growth continues in the economy, he said.

"We've never been more dominant; we've never had more natural advantages than we have today," he said. "We have benefited greatly" from the globalization of the economy in the last 30 years.

He goes on to point out that "Misery sells newspapers. Thank God the economy is not as bad as you read in the newspaper every day."

These themes have been a part of my mantra, with titles such as Economist on the Media and Recession, Bad News Means Big Business for CNBC, and others with similar titles for the last two years, the criticism against Gramm seems to me to be unfair.

But criticized he has been and practically thrown under the bus by Sen. John McCain for whom he has served as an economic advisor. Threatening to send Gramm to Eastern Europe as an ambassador if elected and if they would have him, McCain is using the harshness he has become famous for in his ability to turn on a friend.

It is true, there are people in this country who are suffering at this time. However, most of those are the same people when are economy was incredibly hot a few years ago. Gramm's statements are largely true but probably too honest in an election cycle. The media lives off of bad news and the people are beginning to buy the headlines.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Socialism in the Ballot Box

Daily I get some bizarre ideas across my desk for show topics and the latest I have found has taken the cake. There is a relatively new site out there called Votesizing.com. The thesis of the site is simple -- the value or power of a vote should be adjusted according to income level.

So if someone is poor, working class, and financially struggling, they would actually have a more "weighted" vote that those who are financially successful. The more you make, the less power you have.

This is a ridiculous proposition on so many levels, it is difficult to begin. The policy is, simply, anti-American. Our political system, built on concepts such as "equal justice under law" simply makes a policy such as this contrary to our core values.

Also, if the poor had more power, America would likely become more poor. They would continue to vote for politicians who would promote distributionist policies that would make the corporations that can fight poverty extinct. As Ronald Reagan liked to say, "the best social program is a job." Businesses create jobs, "Vote sizing' would destroy business

If anything, I get the impression that the most affluent may be under represented. Consider the following breakdown of who pays what in taxes:

* The top 5 percent of wage earners pay over 50 percent of the tax bill.

* The top 10 percent pay over 64 percent of the total tax bill.

* The top 50 percent pay over 96 percent of the tax bill.

That leaves 50 percent paying around 4 percent of the tax burden.

"Vote sizing" will simply make more Americans poor as politicians pander to that group. There are already "poverty pimps" whose political fortunes depend on people being poor and who promote excessive taxation, artificial wage increases, and other irresponsible policies that preserves poverty. "Vote sizing" will make it worse.

John Stuart Mill, the great classical economist, proposed a radical idea. He argued that the only way one could keep government fiscally responsible is to take the vote away from voters who receive government support -- be they rich corporations receiving subsidies or the poor. Now that is the kind of radical idea I would find interesting.

Best selling author Ken Blanchard recently revealed the secrets of entrepreneurship on a Houston Business Show. Receive a free copy of the complete program by emailing Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

What's Up With Oil?

Oil prices are dropping and people are beginning to wonder why. Sure, $136.64 a barrel is still ridiculously high, but it is significantly less than the $150.00 that, a few weeks ago, seemed inevitable. Furthermore, you would be hard pressed to find a period during this time of the year when oil prices dropped. This is, after all, sumer time. Summer, when people go on vacations and consume gas at its highest level during the year. Ironically, that is exactly one of the reasons oil prices have gone down. People are consuming less gas now then they typically do during the summers. Oil prices are driven by speculation -- whether or not people will be buying more or less oil in the future. The decline in summer travel is just such an indicator.

There are other factors that are affecting the price per barrel:

* A major presidential candidate has announced that he supports more domestic drilling in the United States. John McCain has stood against such expansion and his announcement has become a warning shot over the bow of foreign countries.

* McCain's statement may have contributed the to announcement by the Saudis that they may in fact increase production. That too affects the way speculators look at oil.

* Now virtually everyone is embracing alternative energy. I have noticed that even the largest oil producers in the world are now beginning to look into alternatives. Just today I saw an ad by one of America's biggest oilmen, T. Boone Pickens, discussing his company's expansion into wind energy.

* The dollar is seeing an increase in value. A strong dollar leads to lower prices, which is great news for consumers of all products and services.

The drop in prices today is at $6 a barrel. We have yet to see it at the pump as retailiers take a "wait and see" attitude. But, I believe that if the US continues to stay serious about energy independence, we will find ourselves enjoying lower gas prices and other "blessings of liberty."

Best selling author Ken Blanchard recently revealed the secrets of entrepreneurship on a Houston Business Show. Receive a free copy of the complete program by emailing Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

More Changes at Fox News

The last year has been very volatile for the Fox News network. New shows arriving, old shows going, and the reshuffling of various personalities. Just when it appeared the dust may finally have begun to settle, we hear there are more changes coming for the network.

One of my favorite information sources, Mediabistro, reported the following this past week:

"TVNewser has learned America's Election HQ is returning to the Fox News Channel schedule beginning Monday. The 5pm ET show will be anchored by a rotating series of anchors through election day. E.D. Hill will host next week."

"Just In with Laura Ingraham ends its three-week run tomorrow. Ingraham was aware the show was temporary, and she will continue as primary fill-in for Bill O'Reilly."

"As for John Gibson whose show, Big Story, was replaced by America's Election HQ in February, he continues his show on Fox News Radio."

I'm delighted to see E.D. Hill back on a more regular basis and look forward to her having a designated spot daily once again. She is one of the more articulate and intelligent broadcast journalists today.

Laura Ingraham knew going into her recent show, Just In, that the program was intended to be temporary. How long, nobody knew. We have recently found out it was a mere three weeks. Ironically, she is losing this show just as she worked out the negotiations on her radio program and is back on the airwaves for that successful program. Ingraham is fine on TV, but better on the radio. I almost think that she welcomes the changes.

Meanwhile, John Gibson, will remain on the radio. However, if they are rotating hosts for America's Election HQ, we might see him on that program. We will have to wait and see. When it comes to the media, about the only constant you can depend on is change.

Best selling author Ken Blanchard recently revealed the secrets of entrepreneurship on a Houston Business Show. Receive a free copy of the complete program by emailing Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

What Better Thing To Do on the Fourth of July?

I thought, since we tend to take this important day off, that it made sense to remember it's importance. Here is the document that epitomized a revolution that is still alive and well today:

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that...(read more and have a Happy Fourth)"

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

American Express Takes on Capital One

It appears American Express is going after Capital One. This isn't happening in the court system but in the court of public opinion. American Express, which largely has a history of producing high brow or clever, but savvy, ad campaigns is taking more of a "head on" approach as it compares itself to the competition.

The competition in the new campaign is not mentioned by name, but it appears obvious. Recently, Capital One has been boasting about how easy it is to customize the image you want on your platinum credit card. Kittens, mom, the kids, all of these are regular choices of happy card users, according to the ads. You simply upload your images and the next thing you know you are showing off the thing, or person, or whatever you are proud of in each transaction.

American Express is arguing that such cards are not what you want to display when making business purchases. There is the poor guy who has his credit card littered with kittens and he says he is going on a business trip. As a result of the card, he faces interrogation and even cavity expections! Meanwhile, the person who walks up with his American Express Platinum Card gets on board of his flight without incidence. Then there is the poor fool who uses a super hero imaged credit card at a business meal. He thought his guests were impressed by his presentation. That positive impression was wiped a way by a silly credit card.

I'm not use to seeing American Express taking a confrontational stand, it will be interesting to see how good it is for business.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Major Magzine Firm Takes Big Hit

Print publications have taken a pounding in recent years when it comes to advertising revenue. Magazines have largely limped along and newspapers have been pushed to the point of obliteration. Print continues to largely be a victim to the far reaching power of the Internet.

The situation is getting words, according to Mediabistro, which reports "Conde Nast Publications, which last year managed to soar above the general industry malaise by posting a 5.41 percent jump in ad pages, is slumping in the first half of 2008. The three big titles -- Vogue, Glamour, and Vanity Fair -- are all flat to down in the first half, according to Media Industry Newsletter, and the outlook is dim for a second half recovery to bail them out."

Conde Nast has had a reputation as an innovator in the publication industry for years. Since they own numerous titles, all very complimentary and lifestyle oriented, the magazine would introduce subscribers to one publication to complimentary copies of other magazines, or 2 for 1 offers, and other methods to increase readership and advertising revenues. It appeared to be working very well, an exception in a magazine world that was in revenue decline. In 2008, it doesn't seem to be working any longer.

I believe this is happening for several reasons. The web continues to drive readers away from print. There is simply too much quality available "free" and online that it is difficult to get people to buy publications. I have even found myself allowing subscriptions to publications I have long loved lapse because of the Internet. Furthermore, instead of actually increasing advertising revenues, recession talk is beginning to hurt advertising and marketing in general. There was a belief that, with the economy weakening, people would have to work harder to get clients. In the short run it appears that businesses are doing such with fewer dollars being spent. I am sure this too will change.

I'm a huge magazine fan. It is the one form of traditional media that I thought would continue to have legs. However, it appears the future of all traditional media hangs in the balance.

Want to learn more about the twin economic tsunamis of Social Security and Medicare? Get a free audio program featuring Rick Ray of the Wealth Design Group and Kevin Price on this important subject by sending an email to Info@HoustonBusinessShow.com.

Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Dark Reasons Behind the Pro-Romney Crowd?

Many are advocating Mitt Romney for John McCain's choice for Vice President and it seems as though he is the one to beat. We are told that it is due to several factors:

* He is handsome and charismatic

* He proved an ability to get elected in very liberal states (he was, after all, governor of Massachusetts)

* He has an enormous amount of money and knows people with money, which will certainly help a campaign that is limping along financially

* he has done an effective job of marketing himself as a Conservative.

I'm not joining the bandwagon for several reasons of my own:

* Romney had been a liberal for years and "matured" on the issues rather late in his career

* In spite of spending as much as ten times more per vote (or more) than Governor Huckabee and Senator McCain, Romney had little to show for it as far as electoral success

* Romney is particularly weak when it comes to bringing in votes in the crucial Southern states, which have proven imperative in getting Republicans elected

What I find interesting is that the people who are promoting Romney are the media, who have made it clear they are largely supporting Obama in November and Conservative Republicans who implied that they wouldn't support McCain if he got the nomination. It appears with Romney on the ticket, they are guaranteeing the Republican Party's demise.

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Kevin Price is Host of the Houston Business Show (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at HoustonBusinessShow.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.