As we reflect on the year in the markets just ended, what comes to mind for me is a well-known catchy refrain: "Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right." (Some readers may recognize the 1972 Stealers Wheel song “Stuck in the Middle.”) Once again, a spectacular performance in the US stock markets -- in the S&P 500 (INDEXSP:.INX), Dow Jones (INDEXDJX:.DJI) and Nasdaq (INDEXNASDAQ:.IXIC) -- was overshadowed throughout most of the year (and almost blown to bits) by the complete, ridiculous ineptitude and selfishness on both sides of the aisle in our government. Despite the almost criminal malpractice of the jokers ... (full story)