State of the Union: Clowns to the Left, Jokers to the Right

January 18, 2019

Who'd a thunk it? I've sort of run out of things to write about today, what with the federal government shut down and not all that much going on at the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. 

Funny thing . . . lawyers who make a living crossing swords with the Feds aren't all that happy these days.  Apparently, it's proving really, really tough to pad your bills when there's no one to communicate with at DOJ, SEC, or CFTC. Which might explain why some clients are beginning to note entries on their legal bills for inexplicable telephone calls with FINRA or NFA, or some inquiry to a state securities division. It must be quite challenging to be a former SEC commissioner or Director, or some $1,000 an hour hot-shot white-shoe partner with the huge corner office, and you're trying to figure out the variations on:

20 min. consult with FINRA @ status of SEC appeal 

30 min research: Risks of China-based Cannabis ICO without SEC or CFTC approval

15 min; 15 min; and 15 min. calls to DOJ, SEC, and CFTC: left VMs

3hr travel time to SEC Office, knocked on door, told no one in, 
told to try again, wrote message, slipped msg under locked door

Now I understand that passions are running high as the shutdown drags on. But there are some things that we all should be able to agree on.For starters, Donald Trump likely believes that he started out with nothing, and, he's proud that he's a self-made man and all his family comes calling. Nonetheless, I'm trying to make some sense of it all, but, I can see it makes no sense at all, and, geez, I've got the feeling that something ain't right with Trump and Congress and the Republicans and the Democrats -- and, if you ask me, all I see are clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right, and, here I am, stuck in the middle with you.


Well, I don't know why I came here, tonight
I've got the feeling that something ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs

Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am
Stuck in the middle with you

Yes, I'm stuck in the middle with you
And I'm wondering what it is I should do
It's so hard to keep this smile from my face
Losing control, yeah, I'm all over the place

Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am
Stuck in the middle with you

Well, you started out with nothing
And you're proud that you're a self-made man
And your family all come calling
Slap you on the back and say
Please...
Please...

Trying to make some sense of it all
But I can see it makes no sense at all
Is it cool to go to sleep on the floor
'Cause I don't think that I can take anymore

Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am
Stuck in the middle with you

Well, you started out with nothing
And you're proud that you're a self-made man
And your family all come calling
Slap you on the back and say
Please...
Please...

Well, I don't know why I came here, tonight
I've got the feeling that something ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs

Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am
Stuck in the middle with you
Yes, I'm stuck in the middle with you
Stuck in the middle with you
Here I am
Stuck in the middle with you
Songwriters: Gerald Rafferty, Joe Egan 
Stuck In The Middle lyrics Copyright BMG Rights Management

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