Timothy D. Naegele was counsel to the United States Senate’s Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and chief of staff to Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal recipient and former U.S. Senator Edward W. Brooke (R-Mass). He practices law in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles with his firm, Timothy D. Naegele & Associates, which specializes in Banking and Financial Institutions Law, Internet Law, Litigation and other matters (see www.naegele.com and http://www.naegele.com/naegele_resume.html). He has an undergraduate degree in economics from UCLA, as well as two law degrees from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley, and from Georgetown University. He is a member of the District of Columbia and California bars. He served as a Captain in the U.S. Army, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon, where he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal. Mr. Naegele is an Independent politically; and he is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who in Finance and Business. He has written extensively over the years (see, e.g., www.naegele.com/whats_new.html#articles), and can be contacted directly at tdnaegele.associates@gmail.com; see also Google search: Timothy D. Naegele
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What Is This Blog All About?
The articles and comments set forth at this blog are intentionally provocative, and challenge so-called “sacred cows.” My comments below each article provide my latest thoughts about the subjects discussed in the articles. In a sense, I view my contributions at least in part as a Gadfly: “someone who stimulates or annoys especially by persistent criticism.”
I do not seek to hurt anyone, unless it be the legacies of brutal dictators and corrupt politicians, whose actions (and inactions) have been hidden from public view and adequate scrutiny. Two prominent examples are the former Soviet Union’s Joseph Stalin, who was responsible for tens of millions of deaths; and his heir, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, who is a ruthless killer in his own right.
Also, I try to shed light on the dangers ahead; for example, economically and militarily, with the prime concern being an EMP Attack on America. I try to address the beauty of Life as well, by discussing the majesty of the United States and its wonderful and gifted people—and our Creator.
Some people may take umbrage at what I have written, or certainly disagree. Some might assert that I am cynical; I prefer to believe that I am an idealist, who is repulsed when he encounters something that is less than just or the best. The discussion of various points of view is healthy and intellectually stimulating. I do not have all the answers, by any means. Ours is a learning and growing process, which seemingly never ends.
The views set forth at this blog have not been discussed at my law firm’s Web site, nor is this blog even mentioned there, for very definite reasons. In my professional life, I have not sought to offend anyone—unless it be as an advocate on behalf of our clients—but to take middle-of-the-road, essentially neutral non-partisan positions on most matters. Clients have enlisted my skills to help them, not to pontificate about my political, social or religious beliefs.
Politically, I am an Independent, and have been for more than 20 years. I have been a member of the National Democratic Club and the National Republican Club of Capitol Hill, simultaneously. I felt it was good business to entertain our clients and others at whichever club they preferred, and I felt comfortable at both of them. In fact, when I worked in the U.S. Senate, there was a spirit of bipartisanship in both the Senate and House, which I believed was healthy and beneficial for the country.
Lastly, I sincerely hope you enjoy this blog, and come away feeling that at least you experienced different points of view. After all, this is what our democracy and freedoms are really all about, and what makes the United States unique and great—one nation under God—and why all Americans are truly blessed.
I happened upon your blog—Thus far, I’ve found it to be well informed and reasoned, if possibly deliberately controversial—good thought provoking reading. I (too, I think) am politically Independent, and applaud Thoughtful INDEPENDENT intellectual/political discourse when I run across it. Like here.
I’ll read more of your posts later, and feel sure I’ll find much to disagree with you about. If so, paraphrasing Voltaire, ‘Though I disagree with what you say, I will defend to the death your right to say it’.
Keep up the good work–wm
Thank you so much for your comments.
Yes, you are correct: the blog articles are “deliberately controversial,” “thought provoking,” and “intentionally provocative.” I hope you enjoy—or at least find interesting—what you read, albeit you may not agree with everything.
dear mr. naegele,
i found your blogsite via a post you made on ‘the economist’. you wrote:
“Hold on tight. Things will get very ugly. The chickens are coming home to roost, in the Middle East and elsewhere. In all likelihood, Barack Obama and other politicians will be swept out of office. And yes, “the scent of the jasmine revolution”—as the Tunisians are calling their national upheaval—is in the process of spreading worldwide.”
i’d like you to know that i agree with every word of that and i have a couple of questions.
1. do you think world leaders, both political and economic, can see the upheaval heading their way?
2. what can be done to fix this world-wide mess we are all in?
i haven’t yet read any posts here on this site but am planning on reading every single one. good work and great insight.
regards,
donna carman
Thank you, Donna, for your very nice comments. I appreciate them greatly.
With respect to your first question—whether world leaders, both political and economic, can see the upheaval heading their way—one must keep in mind that most if not all are politicians, at the very least with a small “p.” Even the economists are politicians in a sense; and I have often been critical of them, and have described them as being fully capable of marching in lock step like lemmings, toward the sea or the edge of an abyss.
Even if the politicians can see the political, economic, social and potential military upheavals coming, it may not be in their best interests to say so publicly. Let me give you a classic example. More than 20 years ago, I had the then-general counsel (or top lawyer) of one of the key American bank regulatory agencies to dinner at my house outside of Washington, D.C. The person had too much to drink, and was very worried that one of the United States’ largest banks was on the verge of failing. This person and other federal regulators were working hard to make sure it did not happen; and in the final analysis, they were successful in preventing it.
At the time, Americans had no idea about this crisis, or there might have been panics and runs on the bank. Over the years, I have known about lots of very precarious situations involving our banks and other financial institutions, which might have triggered massive withdrawals by depositors. This information was never divulged to the public though.
The issues that you have addressed are much broader than a single banking failure, as large as it might be. The upheavals will affect countries, and economies, and societies; and the human suffering may be unlike anything we have ever seen, certainly during our lifetimes. And yes, I believe the more astute world leaders see it coming, but they are hoping—and yes, praying—that it does not happen.
The upheavals that you have addressed—and I am addressing in these comments—potentially involve “meltdowns” of staggering proportions. Also, always remember that politicians have to give a sense that they are “in charge” and are addressing the worries of others, even if in reality they are doing nothing of the sort. In a very real sense, the best of them are “actors,” and very good ones. Most are narcissists, and they thrive—and yes, lie—in the milieus in which they operate. Those who have consciences and are not totally jaded by their experiences and lives are probably very worried about what they see coming.
With respect to your second question—what can be done to fix this worldwide mess we are all in—one must “dissect” it and break it down into its component parts. As you will find in reading my articles and comments about the American and global economies, I do not believe much if anything can be done that is positive. This conclusion may seem harsh and uncaring and defeatist, but I prefer to characterize it as pragmatic and historically realistic. The history of the world is replete with economic depressions, with the last one being the Great Depression. Despite all of the arguably-Herculean efforts of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration, and all of the programs that were created during those years, the fact is that the Great Depression did not end until the onset of World War II. Most economic historians agree with that conclusion today.
Thus, vast amount of resources were “wasted” in the process of trying to convince the American people that progress was being made. “Green shoots” would appear, giving people hope that the worst was over, and then they would disappear. The same thing has been happening in America these days, certainly since Barack Obama assumed the presidency. Vast resources have been wasted, with little or nothing positive to show for it. Something similar might have been true of a Republican administration, but I doubt the waste would have been as great. And yes, I am an Independent and have been for more than 20 years; and I am critical of both the Democrats and the Republicans.
If, as I believe, an economic tsunami was unleashed that continues to roll worldwide with devastating effects, how can it be stopped and its damage lessened? Like natural tsunamis in the great oceans of the world, I do not believe it can be stopped; and that it must run its course, which is apt to happen sometime around the end of this decade. The human suffering, and economic and social dislocations and upheavals that are occurring and will continue to occur in its wake, can only be described as mind-boggling.
Will there be wars? We are witnessing riots in the Middle East now, and this is only the beginning. One of my recent comments entitled, “The Scent Of Jasmine Spreads,” perhaps sums it up best:
See http://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/09/27/the-economic-tsunami-continues-its-relentless-and-unforgiving-advance-globally/#comment-1344
The stakes are potentially that enormous, or so I believe. Do I believe America will survive? Yes, absent a devastating EMP Attack (see, e.g., http://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/01/19/emp-attack-only-30-million-americans-survive/). I have faith in our nation, and in the collective wisdom of the American people (see, e.g., http://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/america-a-rich-tapestry-of-life).
Most of all, I have great faith in God—although not in the sense of preaching to, or at others.
See http://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/what-and-where-is-god/
As I have written:
See http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/tms/politics/2009/Apr/08/euphoria_or_the_obama_depression_.html
If you have ever seen bull riding or bronc riding, you will realize that the riders have to ride the animals and stay onboard, and not fall off. In a sense, this is what Americans and peoples of other countries will have to do between now and the end of this decade. And it will test their faith and belief in God like never before in their lifetimes, as well as their friendships, capacity for love, and belief in themselves.
I hope these comments at least give you a sense of what I believe is happening and will happen in the months and years to come.
Mr. Naegele,
Having experienced both the chaos and beauty of life, I have learned that Life can never be unjust, only unfathomable.
Thank you, Nate, for your comment.
Yes, Life can be and often is “unfathomable.” Whether it is “unjust” too may be in the eye of the beholder.
See also http://naegeleblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/what-and-where-is-god/