Afternoon Open Thread
Chat away...
Comments (151) «
e-gads! mccain representative just stated that Obama supporters/staffers are just as bad as those who blast racism and murderous slurs at she-beasts rallies by saying that mccain is "old."
say it ain't so!
NorthHartford* on October 13, 2008 at 01:12 PM
NorthFart,
You just keep on trying the same old debunked smears that haven't work and won't work. The only people that still believe the crap you post are people who would vote for Hitler if he was a republican.
Barack Obama Never Organized with ACORN
Discredited Republican voter-suppression guru Ken Blackwell is attacking Barack Obama with naked lies about his supposed connection to ACORN.
• Fact: Barack was never an ACORN community organizer.
• Fact: ACORN never hired Obama as a trainer, organizer, or any type of employee.
• Fact: ACORN was not part of Project Vote, the successful voter registration drive Barack ran in 1992.
In his capacity as an attorney, Barack represented ACORN in a successful lawsuit alongside the U.S. Department of Justice against the state of Illinois to force state compliance with a federal voting access law. For his work helping enforce the law, called “Motor Voter,” Barack received the IVI-IPO Legal Eagle Award in 1995. (For more about Barack’s career, check out our Obama bio.)
Ken Blackwell is best known today for disenfranchising Democratic voters in his dual role as Ohio Secretary of State and chair of George Bush’s Ohio campaign in 2004. To see him shed crocodile tears for the integrity of the vote while making accusations about Barack and ACORN with absolutely no basis in fact is disturbing.
Blackwell’s attacks against ACORN and community organizers continue a vile Republican pattern of mockery and viciousness against this noble profession. Community organizers are the very individuals Republicans should be celebrating for helping people to help themselves rather than depending on the government.
NorthFart,
We can trade insults back and forth all day. I don't mind it. But this country deserves better. I assume you love this country as I do. So let's get past the insults and talk about what is good for this country. Pick a subject; tell us your position on the issue and why you have taken that position. Let's see if you have anything to offer besides insults.
oh bother! more nuts and dead people.
even if registration goes through for underage/deceased, election officials aren't going to permit them to vote.
you can't even use a creative moniker. you are such a wipe.
Take the day off?
You need to be out there passing out money for votes.
Obama is depending on you.
6NorthHartford* on October 13, 2008 at 01:18 PM
It's a paid holiday for me. You know, someone who has held a full time job for over 25 years and pays taxes.
My laundry has been washed and hung out to line dry, my house is spotlessly clean, I've organinized the party items for my Necee's baby shower and I've designed a door decoration for my office to be a part of a just for fun contest we are having to show our patriotism and the importance of voting.
What I plan on doing within the next hour, is go get groceries so I can put food on my family. I'll have my Obama/Biden and Zack Space for Congress buttons on my jacket for all to see. When the carpenter gets home from work, he'll have a delicious home cooked meal.
What have you done productive today?
NorthHartford* on October 13, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Simplistic.
The article you offer does not indicate Obama is part of ACORN. It simply provides a quote from someone who is. The classes Obama taught were not part of ACORN. ACORN sent people to those classes. Other groups also sent people to those classes. Did you read the entire article? If you did, what do you think of it. It shows what a great leader Obama is and how he puts people first. So please let us know what you think of the article and what it says about Obama.
Esme,
"oh bother! more nuts and dead people.
even if registration goes through for underage/deceased, election officials aren't going to permit them to vote"
Danny of AZ is SOOOOOO stupid, that he does not grasp it! WHO CARES who is registered. When they show up at the polls, needing ID, THEN they will be discovered as fraudulent!
Danny is a one trick monkey ! this is all he has. I have NEVER seen him saw one good word about McCain. IN Fact, Like Stevie, he probably HATES the fact that McCain got the nomination.
Remember Danny! If McCain should win---the first day in office he will give amnesty to all those illegals who have crossed over, and guest worker privileges to their cousins, so be prepared for a big onslaught in your little state of AZ !
The next day, Al Gore will be invited and named Global Warming Czar and start to work on this mess the Republicans got us into!
So be careful what you wish for, you dumb old fool!
NorthFart,
We can trade insults back and forth all day. I don't mind it. But this country deserves better. I assume you love this country as I do. So let's get past the insults and talk about what is good for this country. Pick a subject; tell us your position on the issue and why you have taken that position. Let's see if you have anything to offer besides insults.
Well? What say you? Are you up to the challenge? I think you will find people on this blog treat you better if you provide some sort of argument other than smears. Or is that all your capable of???
It's not Sen. Obama who is depending on me, it's the American people...actually, it's the whole world.
I don't have to pay off anybody, I have to walk the talk.
McCain had to back down on his attacks. Some strength, huh??? He IS an old, old man! Look at AZ Danny - he is the same age and has dementia too!
The Moment
Senator McCain. Was this the moment? The epiphany? The realization that stoking the flames of bigotry and fear had come home to roost?
As I watched your town hall gathering, I wondered what was going through your mind when you came face to face with the incendiary results of your campaign tactics. What did you see and feel when that elderly woman said Obama was an Arab? Or the man who said he feared an Obama presidency? And all the others?
I saw your face. I watched your body language as you took the microphone and quickly distanced yourself from that one.
At that moment, did you see your reflection in the mirror of her eyes? A reflection, not of a maverick, but a pariah? Did you see the decades of American scar tissue? Birmingham? Burning crosses? The noose? Did you see that awful year in American history when Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated, cut down in the prime of their dreams for a better America?
Did you hear the echo of Dr. King's words about being "judged not by the color of their skin, but the content of their character," and suddenly realize that it was not your opponent's character in question - but yours
The Dems were completely opposed to 2005 Fannie/Freddie bill that would have given even more power to the administration. Dems aren’t against regulation, they’re just against letting THIS administration have the chance to mangle our country any more than they already have. Of course, Bush and his cronies wouldn’t have actually exercised their authority, just would have kept it so that Congress wouldn’t be able to interfere.
On another note, I was looking up the definition of fascism today, and found this:
A social and political ideology with the primary guiding principle that the state or nation is the highest priority, rather than personal or individual freedoms.
I suppose one could sum it up in two words: “Country First”. Look familiar to anyone?
For security reasons, do not bring bags or umbrellas. Please limit personal belongings. No signs or banners permitted.Thank you,
Obama for America
POSTED BY ESMERALDA ON OCTOBER 13, 2008 AT 08:42 AM
What if it’s raining?
From Politco:As part of a plan to reinvigorate his flagging campaign, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is considering additional economic measures aimed directly at the middle class that are likely to be rolled out this week, campaign officials said.
Among the measures being considered are tax cuts – perhaps temporary – for capital gains and dividends, the officials said.
Huh? Which middle class families does McCain know that would benefit from this? Seriously, what the FUCK is his definition of middle class?
The troll above is an angry disenfranchised extreme right republican......has no agenda and has no new ideas.
So he attacks me.
But I'm not running for public office.
Posted by Benji on October 13, 2008 at 01:13 PM
As opposed to you with your insults about the physical appearance of Sarah Palin. Because that is so much more mature.
PamB,
Hey, good to see you.
So NorthFart is acutally Dufus Dan???
Gosh, why do you suppose he felt the need to change his name?
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH
I love how Sen. Obama just told those in the crowd when they booed the mention of mccain, "no, we don't need that."
A man of character. That's what Sen. Obama is.
5 million jobs for renewable energy, 2 million new jobs for infrastructure.
That's putting the American people first. When a person has a job that they take pride in, they do it to the best of their ability.
That's how America will be the greatest nation on Earth again!
New American Tax Credit!
What if it’s raining?
GregL on October 13, 2008 at 01:37 PM
Wear a rain coat, my dear man. Or get wet.
;)
A man of character. That's what Sen. Obama is.
Esmeralda on October 13, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Esmeralda,
You are so right. Obama is a leader. He seeks to unite this country. McCain, on the other hand proclaims to be a Maverick. Mavericks are not leaders. They charge off and do their own thing. They go their own direction regardless. Kind of like George Bush and Iraq. If only we had sought to lead a broad coalition as we did in 1991. But Bush could not lead the world. He could not even lead this country. He led his party, and they are sorry for that today. We all are.
People don't follow mavericks. If people followed them, they would be leaders, not mavericks.
Obama/Biden 2008
"Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing."
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
I love how Sen. Obama just told those in the crowd when they booed the mention of mccain, "no, we don't need that."A man of character. That's what Sen. Obama is.
Posted by Esmeralda on October 13, 2008 at 01:40 PM
As opposed to the unabashed grins on McPalin's faces when the same thing happens at their rallies.
Bold is special indeed! She's an outstanding citizen, a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and someone that I consider my friend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Obama speech over, time to get to the grocery store. Miles to go before I sleep...and all that jazz.
Enjoy the afternoon, everyone.
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
Ephesians 6:7-8
NorthHartford* on October 13, 2008 at 01:59 PM
Dufus Dan, is that you? I should have known when you ran from the chance to discuss issues. What are you afraid of? Can't you support your own opinions with your own thoughts backed up with sources???
Chicago are you a muslim?
24Alib on October 13, 2008 at 02:00 PM
Alib,
I'm not a muslim. Are you?
Hey,
Have y'all noticed. The troll droppings are being cleaned from the blog as we go. What a great deal.
The Truth About Barack’s Birth Certificate
Smears claiming Barack Obama doesn’t have a birth certificate aren’t actually about that piece of paper — they’re about manipulating people into thinking Barack is not an American citizen.
The truth is, Barack Obama was born in the state of Hawaii in 1961, a native citizen of the United States of America.
Next time someone talks about Barack’s birth certificate, make sure they see this page.
http://fightthesmears.com/articles/5/birthcertificate
Obama is so smart to have set up that web page for this sort of smear attempt.
If this continues to work, (where the troll droppings are cleaned as we go), then I believe we can truly start ignoring the trolls. Wouldn't that be a great thing? We could again discuss the issues. We could again have civil conversations without being dragged down into name calling. Sally and Dufus will be so sad...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081013/ap_on_el_pr/obama;_ylt=AoyG6QN3dtvCP5ulVKaF2qqs0NUE
OBAMA OFFERS NEW SOLUTIONS
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/us/politics/13plan.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin
No New Economic Proposal Expected From McCain
...
NEW IDEAS = OBAMA
no new ideas = mccain
25Chicago on October 13, 2008 at 02:11 PM
unknown blogger asking questions?
reminds me of neo_con
Do you support Israel?
Are you a Muslim?
TOLEDO, Ohio - Democratic Barack Obama on Monday called for more immediate steps to heal the nation's ailing economy, proposing a 90-day moratorium on home foreclosures at some banks and a two-year tax break for businesses that create new jobs.
The presidential candidate also proposed allowing people to withdraw up to $10,000 from their retirement accounts without any penalty for the remainder of the year and 2009.
Obama said his proposals, with a pricetag of $60 billion over two years, can be enacted quickly, either through the government's regulatory powers or legislation that Congress could pass in a special session after the election.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/13/obama-up-by-10-points-as_n_134137.html
McCain Changes His Message As New Poll Shows Obama Up By 10 Points
John McCain and his vice presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, have introduced a kinder, gentler campaign against Barack Obama as the Republican duo has slipped farther behind in the polls with only three weeks left until Election Day.
The latest Washington Post/ABC News poll indicates that Obama is pulling away from McCain, establishing a 10-point lead in the race for the White House by a commanding 53 percent to 43 percent.
yes, Benji, and there is this:
Allies are calling this "hitting the 'reset' button" on the campaign, with McCain reemerging after a long Sunday strategy session with a feisty tack that uses candor and humor, at a time when his rallies have become known for raucous rage and clumsy attacks.
But it's more like hitting the panic button. McCain is appearing Monday in Virginia and North Carolina - two states that are usually safe for Republicans in presidential races, and that he should have put away long ago. But Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is pouring visits and staff into the former Confederacy, and he has caught McCain in many Southern polls.
McCain had planned to unveil a new economic policy this week, but the plan fell apart amid internal campaign confusion. Insiders won't talk about what happened. "We're locked down," one official told the Politico. "I have no comment on anything, to anybody," policy adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin said to the New York Times.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/13/mccain-hitting-the-panic_n_134092.html
He just keeps coming up with Losing idea after losing idea! The Gods are with us this time !
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/13/campaign.wrap/index.html
Obama details his 'economic rescue plan'
(CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama on Monday detailed what his campaign called a four-part "economic rescue plan" for the middle class.
"I'm proposing a number of steps that we should take immediately to stabilize our financial system, provide relief to families and communities, and help struggling homeowners," Obama said at a campaign event in Toledo, Ohio. "It's a plan that begins with one word that's on everyone's mind, and it's easy to spell: J-O-B-S."
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/13/campaign.wrap/index.html
Obama details his 'economic rescue plan'
(CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama on Monday detailed what his campaign called a four-part "economic rescue plan" for the middle class.
"I'm proposing a number of steps that we should take immediately to stabilize our financial system, provide relief to families and communities, and help struggling homeowners," Obama said at a campaign event in Toledo, Ohio. "It's a plan that begins with one word that's on everyone's mind, and it's easy to spell: J-O-B-S."
You want to know what is REALLY scary?
Todd Palin thinks he has the right to use his wife's office and staff and phones, and computers as though he had an executive privilege to!
JUST THINK if Palin gets elected, as VP, OR if she moves into Presidency if the Republicans get their wish and McCain drops dead, and Todd Palin feels he can to into those offices and sit in on everything going on, use the staff, phones, etc!!
Holy Christ, this country is destroyed if he does ! We cannot allow this pair of misfits to get into office. In fact, we should see if someone can get an impeachment going in Alaska, and all of us contribute to that !
'Lying' About Being Liberal?
October 13, 2008
A McCain-Palin ad twists Obama's words.
Summary
A McCain-Palin ad claims Obama was rated the "most liberal" U.S. senator, which was true only for 2007 but not for his entire Senate career. He was rated 10th and 16th in his two previous years.
The ad also misquotes Obama. It says he defended himself against the "most liberal" rating by saying "they're not telling the truth" and "folks are lying." Actually, Obama said McCain and Palin weren't truthful about the "Bridge to Nowhere," and he was correct. And his "folks are lying" remark referred to anti-abortion groups that accuse him of favoring "infanticide" because of votes he cast in the Illinois state Senate.
After twisting Obama's words, the ad accuses him of being "not presidential."
Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed on our Web site:
www.factcheck.org
Although Fact Check has had a definite right wing bias, they have been doing a pretty good job lately. I wonder if it is all my letters to their editor correcting some of their twisting of facts? :)
Good afternoon, all.
On Saturday, his campaign leaked word to Politico that he would be introducing a bold new economic agenda on Monday.
At that moment, did you see your reflection in the mirror of her eyes? A reflection, not of a maverick, but a pariah?
* * * *
McCain didn't have any epiphany. He just looked into the eyes of those crazed zealots and saw an opportunity to look better than his campaign has been performing.
McCain's bold new strategy is to propose Obama's agenda. Really, that's what he's pushing today in his strange erratic way.
Unfortunately, voters have caught on to the fact that McCain will only use Bush's failed policies. Since McCain's approach to the economy stinks, he can't advertise it. Nor can he discontinue the negative character advertising or reign in Palin because that's the only thing that energizes their supporters.
So I expect McCain to go into full scale attack mode in the last debate. He's lost his reputation as a far minded moderate, so he has nothing left to lose by going ballastic. We're finally going to get a chance to see just how ugly McCain gets with his staff.
Halloween is going to come early this year. If you love slasher movies, pop the popcorn and get ready for the performance of a lifetime. Just don't let the kids watch.
ahhhhh, so there is friction between the two candidates in the Republican Party!!!
PALIN ALREADY POSITIONING HERSELF FOR HER OWN RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE FOUR YEARS FROM NOW
“Sarah Palin is no fool," the consultant said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "She sees the same thing and wants to salvage what she can. She is positioning herself for the future. Her best days could be in front of her. She wants to look as though she was the fighter, the person with the spunk who was out there taking it to the Democrats.”
The 72-year-old McCain has encouraged voters to contrast his character with Obama’s. The campaign launched a tough television commercial last week questioning, “Who is Barack Obama?”
Frank Keating, McCain’s campaign co-chairman, last week called the Democrat a “guy off the street” and said he should admit that he had "used cocaine."
[In fact, Obama did just that -- in his 1995 autobiography, Dreams from My Father, in which he also admitted using marijuana as a teenager. But he writes that he quit using drugs altogether when he entered college in 1979 -- and there is no evidence that he has used drugs since then.]
MCCAIN FORCED TO STARE ANTI-OBAMA BIGOTRY IN THE FACE AT TOWN HALL MEETING
McCain believes the attacks have spun out of control. At a town hall-style meeting Friday in Lakeville, Minnesota, the Arizona senator became visibly angry when he was booed by his supporters for calling Obama "a decent person." He took the microphone from a woman who said she disliked Obama because he was "an Arab," telling her, "No ma’am, no ma’am."
[The woman, identified by the Reuters news agency as Gayle Quinnell, based her remark on a false but still-widely-held belief among many conservative white voters that Obama, the first African-American presidential nominee of a major American political party, is a foreign-born Muslim with ties to Islamic terrorists.
[Right-wing radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh has insisted that Obama is not half-black and half white -- the son of a Kenyan-born black father and a Kansas-born white mother -- but is of Arab descent.
[Obama, who was born in Hawaii in 1961, is actually a Christian -- although he did acknowledge in his autobiography that he attended both Roman Catholic and Muslim schools during his pre-teen years living with his mother in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country.]
When another questioner demanded that McCain "tell the truth about Obama," he said: "I want everybody to be respectful and let’s be sure we are."
DESPITE ARIZONA SENATOR'S PLEDGE, PALIN STEPS UP ATTACKS ON OBAMA
However, his campaign has stepped up its negative advertising against Obama, accusing him of lying about his relationship with William Ayers, the leader of the Weather Underground group responsible for bombing the Capitol and the Pentagon in the early 1970s, who is now a Chicago professor.
Palin has continued to lead the charge against Obama’s alleged lack of candor. At a rally in Wilmington, Ohio, she mocked him for attending a supporters’ meeting in Ayers’s home when he was seeking to become an Illinois state senator in 1995. "He didn’t know he launched his career in the living room of a domestic terrorist until he did know," Palin said.
"Some will say, 'Geez Sarah, it’s getting negative,'" Palin continued. "No, it’s not negativity. It’s truthfulness." The crowd bellowed its appreciation with chants of "Nobama!" and "Go Sarah Go!"
http://www.skeeterbitesreport.com/2008/10/extra-hate-campaign-against-obama.html
This is who should be Sen. Obama (future Pres. Obama)'s head of the Fed. or Sec. Treasury
Krugman wins Nobel economics prize
The New York Times columnist, Princeton professor and Bush administration critic awarded for theory on free trade and globalization.
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -- Paul Krugman, the Princeton University scholar and The New York Times columnist, won the Nobel prize in economics Monday for his analysis of how economies of scale can affect trade patterns and the location of economic activity.
Krugman has been a harsh critic of the Bush administration and the Republican Party in The New York Times, where he writes a regular column and has a blog called "Conscience of a Liberal."
He has come out forcefully against John McCain during the economic meltdown, saying the Republican candidate is "more frightening now than he was a few weeks ago" and earlier that the GOP has become "the party of stupid."
Check out this song by Everclear called, "Jesus was a Democrat." This song in my opinion is the most controversial songs pending the upcoming election. This song will definitely offend some people but should be heard by everyone. It is free to download and you can also just listen to it online. Here is the link, check it:
www.everclearonline.com
Republican Leaders Break Ranks With McCain
»
by: Stephen Foley, The Independent UK
John McCain speaks at an economic roundtable with former presidential candidate Mitt Romney in late September. Romney has recently expressed frustration with McCain's response to the economic crisis. (Photo: AFP / Getty Images)
Senior members of the Republican party are in open mutiny against John McCain's presidential campaign, after a disastrous period which has seen Barack Obama solidify his lead in the opinion polls.
From inside and outside his inner circle, Mr McCain is being told to settle on a coherent economic message and to tone down attacks on his rival which have sometimes whipped up a mob-like atmosphere at Republican rallies.
Two former rivals for the party nomination, Mitt Romney and Tommy Thompson, went on the record over the weekend about the disarray in the Republican camp. And a string of other senior party figures said Mr McCain's erratic performance risks taking the party down to heavy losses not just in the presidential race but also in contests for Congressional seats. Mr Thompson, a former governor of the swing state of Wisconsin, said he thought Mr McCain, on his present trajectory, would lose the state, and he told a New York Times reporter he was not happy with the campaign. "I don't know who is," he added.
Some Republicans seeking election to Congress have begun distancing themselves from Mr McCain. In Nebraska, a Republican representative, Lee Terry, ran a newspaper ad featuring support from a woman who called herself an "Obama-Terry voter".
http://www.truthout.org/article/101308D
McCain helped businessman buy Fort Ord land for a fraction of its market value
JULIA REYNOLDS - MediaNews
MONTEREY -- An Arizona businessman, with help from Sen. John McCain's office, paid the federal government a mere fraction of the market value when he bought a Fort Ord land parcel in 1999, an Army appraisal obtained by The Monterey Herald shows.
Donald R. Diamond, an 80-year-old real estate developer, lobbyist and top fundraiser for McCain's presidential campaign, bought the land for $250,000, though it was valued at $7.2 million, according to Pentagon appraisals made three years before the sale.
He held on to the parcel for a little more than two years before selling it and the buildings on it for an estimated profit of more than $18 million.
When negotiating with the Army over the no-bid sale, Diamond had more than one advantage on other potential buyers. He held a lease on the land that would have made it difficult for the Army to find another buyer. When Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, later criticized the Army for "giving away" Fort Ord land during the 1990s, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Paul "PJ" Johnson said, "That was a very complicated realignment and closure at Ford Ord." Johnson retired later that month.
http://www.mercurynews.com/centralcoast/ci_10703310?nclick_check=1
Hey Pam: Have you ever read Dr. Krugman's book "The Conscience of a Liberal?" If you have not, I recommend it highly. It is an excellent book on economics that is easier than most economics books to read and understand.
Thank you Great Briton for saving my 401k...
PARIS — European financial and political leaders agreed late Sunday to a plan that would inject billions of euros into their banks in a bid to restore confidence to the teetering financial system.
Taking their cue from a rescue plan announced last week by Britain, the European countries led by Germany and France pledged to take equity stakes in distressed banks and vowed to guarantee bank lending for periods up to five years....
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/business/13europe.html?hp
The world followed Gordon Brown not George Bush and his Treasury Secretary. This is not lost on the rest of the world politic.
Well, at least the Europeans understood that the banks were where stimulus needed to be made...not bailing out fraudulent mortgage lenders and hedge fund traders.
So the crash was stopped...but the underlying problem remains. America, the world's largest economy, is a country that rests on debt not capital. We need to create capital inside our borders again to create jobs and spur along consumer confidence. We need funds to pay off that debt.
But the Republicans want to continue a tax policy that does none of that. They want to continue rewarding those that ship our capital assets overseas along with our jobs...mainly to help Communist economies that they have heavily invested in.
Obama wants to find a way for the middle class to rise again in this country, so we will invest in our country since the top 2% will not. We need to take away all the tax breaks and incentives the Republicans gave them. It encouraged this disasterous globalization policy that ended in this economic meltdown.
Country First means just that...trickle up.
It is incredible that the people of this great nation do not see the obvious. Sara Palin's goal is to undermine separation of Church and State. As a major and a governor she has used state money for Religious purposes and she has abused power and seeked to censor books. People (NRA) are concerned with Obama's stance on guns but fail to see that our founding fathers gave us the right to bear arms in the event that the people would have to defend their freedoms, but in the same breath they support the McCain/Palin ticket whom seek to deprive us of those liberties. There is nothing wrong with religion as long as it is a personal choice exercised in a non-state related institution. If the religion Palin was peddling was Islam or Buddism then the public would express themselves differently. Irony or low IQ?
The Fannie/Freddie Flat Earth Theory
Monday 13 October 2008
by: Dean Baker, t r u t h o u t | Perspective
For the last month, most of the world has been watching the Wall Street gang drowning in their own greed as they threaten to pull the rest of us down with them. However, while we have been distracted, the Flat Earth Society has developed its narrative to explain the crisis.
In the Flat Earth version, the real villains in the story were the public/private mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Prominent Congressional Democrats like Senators Charles Schumer and Chris Dodd, and Representative Barney Frank, are cited as accomplices. According to the Flat-Earthers, the problem wasn't sleaze bag bankers pulling down tens of millions a year pushing predatory loans to people who didn't understand them; the real problem was Congressional Democrats, who wanted the government to help the poor and minorities buy homes.
There is one basic problem with the Flat Earth story: Fannie and Freddie jumped into the junk mortgage market because they were trying to keep pace with the private issuers of mortgage-backed securities. Fannie and Freddie made a conscious decision to dive into the junk in order to protect their market share, which was being seriously eroded by the aggressive tactics of private giants like Citigroup and Merrill Lynch.
The market share of Fannie and Freddie. in the years 2004 to 2007, never came close to its level before the junk market took off. According to data from the Federal Reserve Board, Fannie and Freddie securitized $315.2 billion worth of mortgages in 2002, accounting for 50.1 percent of the new mortgage debt that year. In 2006, they securitized $276.0 billion in mortgages, giving them a market share of just 34.8 percent.
Fannie and Freddie's conduct was despicable. Their decision to dive into the junk certainly contributed to the further expansion of the bubble and worsened the pain from its eventual collapse. However, they were followers, not leaders. They didn't cause the bubble and the subprime craziness. This train had already left the station. Fannie and Freddie's crime was going along for the ride.
a few brief observations. i may be wrong, but i don't think mclame is a real mcmean. like all of us, he's a product of his history and, if anything, we should feel sorry for him. we've all had something to say about his continued appeal to his audiences as being "my friends". have you thought that perhaps he's not using the term for rhetorical purposes as would a used car saleman? but rather, he actually wants you to be his friend and that deep within his being, the core motivational factor of his behavior is his intense desire to be liked. i'm not a shrink or a psych type, but this seems to tie into his ability to truely believe what he wants to believe, and what he chooses to believe seems, more often than not, to be those things that will elevate his position as 'friend' and someone to be liked. no wonder he seems so irradict. it's a pity that his admiral father didn't have more time for him and that he spent as much time as he did as a prisoner of war. it would also be a pity if our country were to have as a leader, someone who feels he has to please others to be liked and someone who has no real principles of his own to serve as foundations for his decisions. and forget palin. she doesn't care if anyone likes her or not, she only wants to be the biggest bitch in the house.
PamB on October 13, 2008 at 03:09 PM
Pam,
The other side can say anything they want. The proof is in the performance. The only candidate that conducted himself in a presidential way during this economic crisis was Obama. Not Bush, not McCain, not Palin.
Someone remained calm and strong. He set goals and priorities. He only endorsed an approach that had accountability. He did not change message every day or pull publicity stunts. He only proposed programs that will help the middle class...not the investor class.
But that's the new McCain ploy...saying that the middle class is now those making over $250,000...and they can't be taxed or the economy will die on the vine. One of McCain's staff just asserted that right now on MSNBC. They have gone elitist?
So Palin just lost her adoring audience? They won't ever be able to live the "new" middle class life style defined by the McCain camp? Oh, woe is me. The American Dream starts at $250,000.
They just keep shooting themselves in the foot, don't they?
BoilerMan on October 13, 2008 at 04:20 PM
BoilerMan,
I don't feel sorry for him. He's self-centered and makes no attempt to reach out to others. He expects people to come to him with adoration. That's not the markings of a man who wants my friendship...only my obedience.
I've seen too much of that among men born to privilege where no attempt was made to instill a sense of responsibility or empathy.
Say Anything
Saturday 11 October 2008
So both sides are at each other, hammer and tong. But to suggest there is an equivalency in the attacks, as many in the media have done, is debatable. That McCain has a past history of stumbling into financial poo (although $2.6 billion seems a pittance in comparison to the mega-sums being gambled away now) seems on point, relevant at a time when the economy is the most important issue in the land. Not to mention that he had a far deeper and more personal relationship with Keating than Obama ever had with Ayers - including nine trips on the Keating dime (a few on Keating's private jet), some of which weren't reimbursed until the scandal erupted, and $112,000 in campaign contributions from Keating and his associates - more than any of the other four senators.
And not to mention McCain's relationship with Phil Gramm, his economic guru, the former senior senator from Texas via Wall Street who called us "a nation of whiners" and who manipulated Congress to open the door to many of the excesses that have led to our fiscal downfall - a man who, as American Prospect editor Harold Meyerson wrote, "has diminished American solvency and power beyond the wildest dreams of anti-American terrorists."
By comparison, the charges made by the McCain-Palin camp are scattershot and approach demagoguery, hurled primarily by Palin, who has been cast as designated campaign pit bull, the customary role given to a party's vice-presidential candidate.
But Governor Palin has skated onto the ice with a rare vengeance, not so much fiercely protective hockey mom as a political version of figure skater Tonya Harding, kneecapping the opposition and crying foul when caught in a media mess of her own making.
This leads from bad to worse. In Tuesday's Washington Post, Dana Milbank described a Palin rally in Florida: "In Clearwater, arriving reporters were greeted with shouts and taunts by the crowd of about 3,000. Palin then went on to blame Katie Couric's questions for her 'less-than-successful interview with kinda mainstream media.' At that, Palin supporters turned on reporters in the press area, waving thunder sticks and shouting abuse. Others hurled obscenities at a camera crew. One Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African-American sound man for a network and told him, 'Sit down, boy.'"
Thus, behind the candied incandescence of the Palin phenomena, behind the shoutouts to Joe Six Pack and third graders at the Gladys Wood Elementary School, behind the darn rights and the coy winks is perhaps something scarier - a rank appeal to our baser instincts at a time when nationwide fear can be manipulated to overrule basic common sense and decency.
Hey Pam: Have you ever read Dr. Krugman's book "The Conscience of a Liberal?" If you have not, I recommend it highly. It is an excellent book on economics that is easier than most economics books to read and understand.
45marymac_memphis on October 13, 2008 at 04:11 PM
It is one of the few I have not purchased, Marymac
I have bookshelves filled with political books I have purchased over the last years. That is a lot of what I do when I log out of here at night ---read.
Just reading how Palin's soon-to-be son-in-law dropped out of High School and got a job in the oil fields in anticipation of new child and mariage!
Now didn't I hear Palins promise support of their new grandkid and their wayward daughter?
That will look REAL good , the VP has a High School dropout ! Family values and all that good stuff you know.
Paul Krugman, the Princeton University scholar and The New York Times columnist, won the Nobel prize in economics Monday for his analysis of how economies of scale can affect trade patterns and the location of economic activity.
mary,
They gave him the award because he told the truth.
The Republicans deliberately transferred wealth from their own country to others and in the process weakened all the economies involved. Trading patterns became dependent not on supply and demand but one manipulating the system for personal gain. Greed and corruption does not breed prosperity.
Congratulations, Dr. Krugman.
PamB on October 13, 2008 at 04:46 PM
Maybe the kid just wants to put as much distance between his future mother- and father-in-law as possible. I wouldn't want to be dependent on those who abuse their power to get even with anyone who stands up to them.
I hope the father of that baby tries to stay in its life. It could be a big challenge if he ever tries to divorce. The Palins don't forgive or forget.
BoilerMan on October 13, 2008 at 04:20 PM
I stopped feeling sorry for mccain when he began to show himself as a closet racist willing to campaign on fear and racism.
"Moose Lips" palin is his race baiting lacky who uses her children as political props for a self-serving political career.
mccain has resorted to a political game of the lowest common denominator and doesn't deserve pity.
mccain's political critics are not the "Viet Cong" although he acts as if anyone who opposes him is a communist.
Veterans know the difference between a soldier and a leader.
Soldiers fight battles.
Leaders make peace.
OOPS!
McCain attended ACORN rally (with a picture)
58SandyH on October 13, 2008 at 04:52 PM
"Moose Lips" palin has nothing in her short political career to indicate that she cares about the public she is supposed to serve.
Her short time in the national spotlight has proven to be nothing but an amateurish attempt to pander to extreme right freak fringe emotions.
mccain has been proven that his political views depend on what's good for his individual political career.
what bush would call "flip floping"...
mccain refers to as "maverick".
It's a blatant matter of semantical and political gimmickery.
marymac_memphis on October 13, 2008 at 04:35 PM
Palin rose higher and faster than she has skills to handle. Bush was more prepared for the role that fell to him. But nobody needs to know anything these days?
It used to be "who you knew" that got most people ahead. Now it's just being in the right place at the right time?
And it's OK to abuse your power and taunt others who do not agree with you? Sounds too much like pre-WWII Germany to me...especially with this roller coaster stock market, skyrocketing inflation, and growing unemployment.
I want someone in the Oval Office who worked to get there and has brains...who has demonstrated that he can engage with people of all persuations to find answers to difficult problems. I want to get something of value out of my tax dollars again.
Her short time in the national spotlight has proven to be nothing but an amateurish attempt to pander to extreme right freak fringe emotions.
Benji,
She's sure accomplished in that respect.
Pam: Family Values my a$$! Palin's judgement is so warped as to be a joke!
If she is so opposed to abortion, why in God's name would she be opposed to complete reproductive health education, not to mention all preventative measures? Abstinence only = Pregnant teens and the spread of STDs.
And now, the high school drop out 'Baby-Daddy!'
With the evidence staring her right in the face every day, she can not even agree to reconsider her stance! What an arrogant, ignorant fool!
mccain brought "Moose Lips" palin into this election because he realized he wanted to secure the extreme right base.
palin is subserviant to mccain because she is an opportunist who knows mccain is way past his prime.
mccain's political gimmicks are acts of narcism and discredit him as a public servant who is doing what's best for this nation.
sandy and benji...hope i didn't imply mclame is any sort of nice guy nor that his obsession with being liked is particularly healthy. lots of people want to be liked, his seems to be more of a compulsive need, expressing itself as anger when his efforts at befriending are unsuccessful. again, this is all conjecture on my part, but the pieces do seem to fit the image.
SandyH on October 13, 2008 at 05:16 PM
You said a mouthful! She has acted irresponsibly from the very beginning, starting with the lie-filled acceptance speech. She has descended further at every opportunity.
Did you see the comments by the head of the GOP in Virginia? If you can believe this, he's actually worse!
If 'shots end up being fired,' they should all be tried for inciting riots! What a bunch of lying hypocrits!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carl-bernstein/ayers-and-the-mccain-g-go_b_134256.html
Does John McCain "pal around with terrorists?"
Certainly McCain's continuing "association" and relationship with the convicted Watergate burglar and domestic terrorist G. Gordon Liddy might suggest that is the case, if we are to apply the standards drawn by the McCain campaign.
In 1998, Liddy gave a fundraiser in his Scottsdale, Arizona home for McCain's senatorial re-election campaign -- the two posed for photographs together; and as recently as May, 2007, as a presidential candidate, McCain was a guest on Liddy's syndicated radio show. Inexplicably, McCain heaped praise on his host's values. During the segment, McCain said he was "proud" of Liddy, and praised Liddy's "adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great." From the program:
LIDDY: Your experience in the Hanoi Hilton is remarkable. I mean, I put in five years in a prison [for masterminding the Watergate burglary, and associated crimes], but it was here in the United States, and they didn't torture - the only torture that I had was being forced to listen to rap music from time to time.
McCAIN: Well, you know, I'm proud of you. I'm proud of your family. I'm proud to know your son, Tom, who's a great and wonderful guy. And it's always a pleasure for me to come on your program, Gordon. And congratulations on your continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great.
Which of Liddy's "principles and philosophies" was McCain referring to? Liddy's advocacy of break-ins? Firebombings? Assassinations? Kidnappings? Taking target practice with figures nicknamed Bill and Hillary?
During the same period that Bill Ayers was a member of the Weather Underground, Gordon Liddy was making plans to firebomb a Washington think tank, assassinate a prominent journalist, undertake the Watergate burglary, break into the office of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist, and kidnap anti-war protesters at the 1972 Republican convention.
Re: Liddy's "continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great:" Did McCain mean to include Liddy's instructions to listeners of his radio show in 1994 (around the time Ayres and Obama were on a board together discussing education programs and other plots) on how to shoot Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents (aim for the head)?
Sarah Palin's husband, Todd, was a fixture at governor's office. The 'first gentleman' also read official correspondence and went to closed Cabinet meetings, records and an investigation indicate.
By Kim Murphy, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
October 12, 2008
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-todd12-2008oct12,0,6624850.story
He sounds like Mao's wife.
Well, at least he doesn't insist on an astrologer to plot the course of all their activities...just his personal vendettas with others?
Hello,
I'm from North Dakota, which is always red state. However, I was just on pollster.com and they have now made ND a toss-up state. Go figure that out! Maybe people up here in this part of the country are finally getting a life and realizing that Democrats are the only ones that can save our country! McCain was quoted as saying, "I'm an American, I choose to fight". You know which way we'd be heading if he was put in office. We can do better than that. Just three weeks left!
67BoilerMan on October 13, 2008 at 05:21 PM
Interesting observation.
But I still think mccain SUCKS and would be a worse president than bush and he's too out of touch and tired and old and hot-tempered and slow and etc., etc., etc.
Feeling sorry for mccain would be an option if he demonstrated genuine compassion instead of reactionary desperation.
I believe his reactionary acts of desperation are born out of a delusion of granduer for becoming the President of the United States of America, a dream he has had since he first started campaigning on idea that his POW experience somehow makes him a qualified civilian leader, more than I believe he has a Freudian deficiency and need to be liked.
67BoilerMan on October 13, 2008 at 05:21 PM
You seem like a good person with an innately compasionate nature.
Now this is downright funny!
On Monday, the Democratic-leaning group ACORN, which has been painted as a criminal enterprise by the GOP for its voter registration and housing policy efforts, pushed back against its critics by producing a photo of John McCain attending its March 2006 rally.
It was a reminder that, for all their electoral histrionics, Republicans have aligned themselves with ACORN in the past.
Indeed, in addition to the McCain photo, there is a host of examples of prominent McCain surrogates attending ACORN events, signing ACORN legislation, or complimenting the group's efforts.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, for example, partnered with ACORN in March 2008 for a "Homeownership Promotes The Economy" taskforce. More recently, Crist declared that -- contrary to GOP outrage -- he was not upset with the group's voter registration efforts in his state. The New York Times reported that ACORN supported a law signed by Governor Crist, which "changed the rules last year to restore the voting rights of about 112,000 former convicts."
In July 2005, meanwhile, another Republican governor, Rick Perry of Texas, signed ACORN's Lending Law Reform Bill that changed the state's homelending practices.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/13/acorn-mccain-and-gop-used_n_134284.html
71America4US on October 13, 2008 at 05:27 PM
That's another thing.
mccain wants to fight.
fight what?
mccain is still suffering from PTSD and is trying to re-live his Vietnam glory days.
America needs problem solvers.
SandyH on October 13, 2008 at 05:19 PM
hiya, sandy.
As our resident charter member trool would say, she's a success
America4US on October 13, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Hi, America4US.
I'm from Missouri. The pundits are calling us a toss up state again, too. I could have sworn Palin would have wrapped up any chance Democrats had downstate in rural areas. But instead McCain seems to be undoing any good she did.
Independents have become comfortable with Obama and uncomfortable with McCain. Who would have thought.
Nobody seem to like McCain any longer. They still respect his military service, but fewer seem to respect him as a person these days.
That first debate No Show Threat will haunt McCain the rest of the campaign. Talk about not taking anything seriously as the banks are losing all their liquidity and a crash of the whole system loomed.
74marymac_memphis on October 13, 2008 at 05:35 PM
This is an example of political gimmicks of last resort.
This political strategy is simple.
republicans blatantly try to find scapegoats to hide their ignorance of a currently unfavorable situation while hoping that the public doesn't have enough time to discern the real facts.
Looks like the angry disenfranchised republican is back.
And with a new and improved posting name.
78Johnnymac on October 13, 2008 at 05:41 PM
It seems the more "haha's" the greater the strength of the trolls argument.
80Johnnymac on October 13, 2008 at 05:45 PM
"defense" is not spelled "defence".
Your anger is a reflection of the recklessness in which your fingers type.
Esmeralda on October 13, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Hi, Essie.
How you holding up? It must be hard trying to anticipate all you have to do between now and January.
Election day is going to have the national media zoning in on your office like a bunch of crows. I suggest keeping a water gun handy to cool them off. Ha.
Well, I assume Palin's going to get that broadcasting career that she so wanted. She certainly will be welcome on Faux News or as a key member of the RNC communications team.
I worry about the baby...and Todd. They could become a burden to her ambition. You get the feeling that she's not going to let anything hold her back now. I was getting sick of seeing Baye Buchanan anyways.
85Johnnymac on October 13, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Let's see if I understand your post.
You don't agree with Sandy.
You are an angry disenfranchised republican from the extreme right.
You are now attempting to discredit Sandy.
Biden: McCain attacks attempt to distract voters
ROCHESTER, N.H. - Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden said Monday that Republican John McCain is falsely attacking Barack Obama to distract voters from the economy while lurching from one bad idea to another.
"Every single false charge, every single baseless accusation is a simple attempt to get you to focus on something other than what's affecting your families and your country," Biden told about 500 people at an American Legion hall.
"I've known John McCain for a long, long time," Biden added. "It's disappointing that his campaign, as a recent analysis has shown, literally 100 percent of the McCain campaign's advertisements are negative."
mccain's weak presidential campaign is a barometer for how angry the trolls posts are.
thanks, benji. good to see you back again.
time for supper, later all.
If mccain and palin were running strong campaigns then the trolls would be happy.
But their not.
Hey Benji: You have to excuse the stupid troll. Remember, he voted for the worst President in history not once but twice and is proud of that.
He loves being lied to, having the country taken to war under false pretenses, and having the economy destroyed and wants more!
He can't argue any issues like economics, health care, education or anything else because he doesn't know anything about them and doesn't want to.
He supports his candidate but yet can't find one good thing to say about his candidate. Instead, he comes here trying to discredit our candidate.
In short (probably in more ways than one!), he is an ignorant fool.
91Johnnymac on October 13, 2008 at 06:03 PM
Now the troll is worried about me.
How easy it is to manipulate the weak and gullible mind of a troll.
Johnnymac on October 13, 2008 at 05:55 PM
I'm from the Missouri where Mark Twain used to put people like you in his novels and we all laughed at them.
I'm from Missouri where Harry Truman took the presidency seriously.
I'm from Missouri where a young Navy Seal was laid to rest this weekend after dying in service to his country.
So today Missouri is the scapegoat for your frustration with your own Party. Why not make it Bush? He's the one that the buck is supposed to stop with.
"So both sides are at each other, hammer and tong. But to suggest there is an equivalency in the attacks, as many in the media have done, is debatable"
MaryMac,
I just watched McCain being interviewed on CNN, and when asked about his crowds yelling out filth and terror remarks about Obama, he had the absolute gal to lie in front of the cameras and say "they do the same about me at Obama rallies"!
This old fool is just hearing the voices in his ear, saying 'You are evil, John, you are bad"!
93marymac_memphis on October 13, 2008 at 06:05 PM
He sure is.
The republican party manipulated his loyalty and he is angry because the results aren't tangible.
So he comes to this blog to make attacks on other bloggers as if that would somehow make everything better.
Why does this scare the heck out of me - Foreign ownership of U.S. Financial Institutions!
Morgan Stanley gets lifeline, is ready for deals
By JOE BEL BRUNO and STEPHEN BERNARD, AP Business Writers 39 minutes ago
NEW YORK - Morgan Stanley averted disaster with a $9 billion lifeline from a major Japanese bank, and on Monday declared it will use that money to pick off smaller rivals.
Just a few days ago, some on Wall Street openly questioned if the embattled investment bank would be the next to collapse amid a deepening global credit crisis. Now, Morgan Stanley appears emboldened by the 21 percent stake taken by Japanese lender Mitsubishi UFJ — and, for now, seems to have regained the market's confidence.
I see it takes time for the troll to gather his slow thoughts and retort.
His next post should be a real doosy.
Benji,
One can't discredit what they don't understand. Let the troll drool in his own puddle of hate and frustration.
100Johnnymac on October 13, 2008 at 06:10 PM
Yes that's a real doosy alright.
Boy you sure showed us a thing or two.
Pam: I have never, ever seen one report or heard one remark of that type. Mostly all I ever hear is "Yes, we can!" being chanted. I think that the worst I've ever heard is "No Way, No How, No McCain!"
What about you? Have your heard any or heard about any reference to violence against McCain/Palin being chanted?
HERE’S YOUR OBMAM TAX SAVINGS IN GREEN AND WHITE VS. MCCAIN’S IN RED AND BLACK: From Parade Magazine, www.parade.com, magazine category, Parade Publications, NY, NY, October 12, 2008
How Much Would You Pay in Taxes?
Sense Barack Obama and John McCain both say they’ll cut federal taxes if elected. Here’s what their proposals would mean for you.
Obama McCain
you'd
save... you'd
If you make... save...
less than $19,000 $567 $21
$19,000-$37,600 $892 $118
$37,600-$66,400 $1118 $325
$66,400-$111,600 $1264 $994
$111,600-$161,000 $2135 $2584
$161,000-$227,000 $2796 $4437
If you're in the top 5% of earners...
you'd pay
an extra... you'd
save...
$227,000-$603,400 $121 $8159
$603,400-$2.87 million $93,709 $48,862
more than $2.87 million $542,882$290,708
*Source: Tax Policy Center. Numbers have been rounded. For complete details, go to TaxPolicyCenter.org.
Okay - the trolls always show who they actually are:
JohnnyMac = Dumb A$$ Cactus!
102SandyH on October 13, 2008 at 06:11 PM
I'm sorry.
I can't help it.
It's soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much fun.
(note: the number "o's" in "so" signifies the intensity of the adverb in describing "fun" as being "above average".)
How to undermine the education of our children...the Republican way. Is this any way to instill confidence in the next generation?
Under ‘No Child’ Law, Even Solid Schools Falter
"NCLB ... has replaced the initiative and creativity of faculties with rigidity and paranoia."
By SAM DILLON
Published: October 12, 2008
SACRAMENTO — Prairie Elementary School had not missed a testing target since the federal No Child Left Behind law took effect in 2002. Until now.
The school, perched on a tidy, oak-shaded campus in a working-class neighborhood here, has moved each of its student groups — Hispanics, blacks, Asians, whites, American Indians, Filipinos, Pacific Islanders, English learners, the disabled — toward higher proficiency in recent years.
Over all, the number of its students passing tough statewide tests had increased by more than three percentage points annually, a solid record.
But this year, California schools were required to make what experts call a gigantic leap, increasing the students proficient in every group by 11 percentage points. For the first time, Prairie, and hundreds of other California schools, fell short, a failure that results in probation and, unless reversed, federal sanctions within a year...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/education/13child.html?th&emc=th
This conservative malfeasance needs to be stopped.
"What about you? Have your heard any or heard about any reference to violence against McCain/Palin being chanted?
98marymac_memphis on October 13, 2008 at 06:12 PM
No, never Marymac. Just some boos when his name is mentioned. He is a lying sack of Poop!
marymac_memphis on October 13, 2008 at 06:14 PM
mary,
The German visa worker or the retired short trader? Or the intern who can't find a job in his major?
I am kinda getting a charge out of how excited they are on TV with the stock market going up 936 points today. They are making it seem like we all have our money back! Volume is still only in the 9000's. It was up in the 11's and 12's. Once a little over 14,000.
When my end of Sept reports come in, I plan on not opening them!
Take this advice, Dems.........
"Let’s be honest: most Democrats are beyond being ready for this campaign to be over. We’re up in the polls, but every day brings a twitch this way or that. “Oh my God,” we’re likely to gasp, “McCain’s up a few points in Gallup.” We’ve been burned so many times. We have to wonder: is it all going to turn to crap again this time?
In many ways, this campaign is growing drearier by the day. More negative ads. More bullshit. After all of these months, who could blame us for being sick of it? We want it to be over. We want it in the bag.
But, instead, three excruciatingly weeks like ahead.
So, what do we do?
The only thing we can do: stick with the plan — keep giving (to the extent we can), keep fighting and keep our eye on the ball. The most important days of this campaign lie ahead. Over the next couple of weeks undecided voters will begin to decide and those who already have a preference will either solidify in that position or drift elsewhere. And then, of course, comes the all important war to get out the vote.
For my part, I’ve given money. I plan to give some more. And for whatever little good it does, I’ll keep writing. I’ve also volunteered to be one of a group of lawyers who will be watching the polls on Nov. 4. That’s hardly enough to entitle me to preach to others, but I will anyway.
The next few weeks are likely to be among the most important politically of our lives. So take a deep breath. Then get to work.
The hour is now. The fight is joined. The next few weeks will decide what sort of nation this will be for years to come. And shame on anyone who’s satisfied with being a spectator in such a time, no matter how sick of the campaign we may be.
marymac_memphis on October 13, 2008 at 06:08 PM
mary,
It appears that the financial whiz kids haven't learned a thing. They're quick to acquire entities not knowing what their assets or liabilities are.
Buy, baby, buy...and worry about sorting it out later? I guess Paulson has told his old friends in the financial houses that they have $700 billion to fall back on now?
You wonder if there will be a cent left by the time Bush leaves office. I really doubt it.
HERE’S YOUR OBMAM TAX SAVINGS IN GREEN AND WHITE VS. MCCAIN’S IN RED AND BLACK: From Parade Magazine, www.parade.com, magazine category, Parade Publications, NY, NY, October 12, 2008
How Much Would You Pay in Taxes?
Sense Barack Obama and John McCain both say they’ll cut federal taxes if elected. Here’s what their proposals would mean for you.
If you make...
less than $19,000 Obama $567 McCain $21
$19,000-$37,600 Obama $892 McCain$118
$37,600-$66,400 Obama $1118 McCain$325
$66,400-$111,600 Obama $1264 McCain$994
$111,600-$161,000 Obama $2135 McCain$2584
$161,000-$227,000 Obama $2796 McCain$4437
If you're in the top 5% of earners...
$227,000-$603,400 Obama you'd pay $121 McCain
you'd save $8159
$603,400-$2.87 million Obama you'd pay $93,709 McCain you'd save $48,862
more than $2.87 million Obama you'd pay $542,882 McCain you'd save $290,708
*Source: Tax Policy Center. Numbers have been rounded. For complete details, go to TaxPolicyCenter.org.
(Hope I got that blogging format right this time...!)
PamB on October 13, 2008 at 06:25 PM
Pam,
The good news is that we were brought up to work till the job is done....instead of yell insults at others. I usually don't attend rallies or election night wakes. I would rather talk to voters and celebrate with family or friends.
People are in this to the end. Lots of new people. Nothing changes. The fight goes on.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/13/lashing-out-mccain-flack_n_134228.html
REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES TURNING ON MCCAIN?
Next thing you know dogs will be living in harmony with cats?
Average Joe Scarborough thinks a wild swing in the stock market has restored McCain's reputation and his chances. He thinks the average voter makes more that $250,000 a year and lives off his investments.
He has no idea how hard it is out there in the job market, trying to find health insurance, or pay your bills when one is living pay check to paycheck or on a fixed income. The wild fluctuation in prices of food and gasoline scare the hell out of us.
"What is going to happen next" is what people are saying and thinking. The crisis in confidence has become a way of life.
Joe wants us all to rejoice that the stock market is still open so others can gamble away your 401k. What a frickin idiot most these Republican pundidts are.
So the Europeans propped up our economy today. They aren't going to do it again.
America and its people are now on their own...deeply in debt with stagflation taking its toll on the working man and women.
We need leadership. We still have Bush and he has three more months to cause us even more grief.
bbl.
You wonder if there will be a cent left by the time Bush leaves office. I really doubt it.
108
SandyH on October 13, 2008 at 06:29 PM
Not if Bush, Paulson and Bernanke have anything to say about it!
I think that (Future) President Obama should announce some preliminary cabinet appointments at the debate Wednesday night. Get on board some of the people who started years ago warning about this financial crisis. I think that would be an excellent way to help people to feel even more hopeful about a 'new' economy under an honest administration and win over even more independants!
If you make...
…less than $19,000, with Obama you would save $567 with McCain you would save $21
…$19,000-$37,600, Obama save $892, McCain save $118
…$37,600-$66,400, Obama save $1118, McCain $325
…$66,400-$111,600, Obama $1264, McCain $994
…$111,600-$161,000, Obama $2135, McCain $2584
…$161,000-$227,000, Obama $2796, McCain $4437
If you're in the top 5% of earners...
...$227,000-$603,400, Obama you'd pay $121, McCain
you'd save $8159
....$603,400-$2.87 million, Obama you'd pay $93,709, McCain you'd save $48,862
....more than $2.87 million, Obama you'd pay $542,882, McCain you'd save $290,708
Source: Parade Magazine, www.parade.com
Now see if you make between $227,000 and $603,000 then you would have to pay a measly Federal Income Tax of $121 under an Obama Administration. FeFe the dog would have to go without a pedicure one month, oh my! That amount is tip money to some of these people.
This might be one interesting election for America.
102
SandyH on October 13, 2008 at 06:18 PM
A large part of the faltering of the schools under the Every Child Left Behind Act, aka NCLB, is the rigidity of the teaching curriculum and the foisting of fuzzy math and even fuzzier reading text books on eager to "improve" school systems.
Many of these courses, which are foisted off as making it easier for kids to learn are actually confusing to the kids and do not allow enough time for the kids to nail the basics, while demanding teachers strictly follow the program.
That and the de-emphasis of other curricula such as history and civics, now rolled into rather a rather blurry "social studies" which does NOT teach about American history NOR the US Constitution, at least not as far as fifth grade, where my grand daughter is. I was introduced to those subjects in second grade, and I went to Catholic school.
Sadly lacking or severely curtailed are art and music programs. Since scientific research has proved that music actually helps develop that portion of the brain which is used to solve math problems, I find it disturbing.
My cousin, the prof, has noted that incoming freshmen college students, who have now had 8 years of NCLB and these fuzzy teaching methods are not able to think for themselves and demand the "right" answer rather than drawing their own conclusions.
After polling both her colleagues and high school teachers, who confirm what she has found in her own classes, she is very upset by this trend and feels it bodes ill for the future of our country and our economy.
We need kids who can read, write, do math without depending on a calculator to solve simple problems, and understand the basis of our democracy and its government.
We need to regain our lead as innovators, and developers, especially in this age of global warming when there is so much research and development that needs to be done just to turn our decaying environment around. We also need citizens who understand our democracy, and are knowledgeable enough to stand up and make informed choices in the voting booth.
REAL education reform must be one of the first things accomplished in this new administration, and not just pandering to the fuzzy educators who have made change for the purpose of change and in doing so have short changed our current generation of future citizens, leaders, and innovators!
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Benji on October 13, 2008 at 06:45 PM
LOL! Don't know about anyone else, but our family mutt gets along quite well with our cats. How they feel about him depends on the weather. If it's chilly, they will curl up beside him, the rest of the time, they just condescend to have him around. It's pretty funny.
Evening all good Dems,
I heard some doozies today. The fascist bates brothers who are self professed economic experts, oil executives, religious freaks and experts on politics are so full of shit.
Today they said that that woman who called Obama an arab in front of mccain was probably a Democratic plant. WTF.
Ed Schulz dug into this woman's identity and it seems she was interviewed by the press. She called Obama a terrorist and every other right-wing slam she could remember. She is certainly no plant.
A guy called in today and said he just traveled across the country originating in the west. They wore their Obama t-shirts and were really given a hard time at every stop in rural areas. They were denied rooms in motels. They were denied service in restaurants and they were ordered out of one town by the sheriff in uniform.
The worst reception was in southern indiana and hayes, kansas. These rural people are very obnoxious. They obviously hate minorities and love mccain.
This country is full of aholes.
I think most of these aholes have been stirred up by right-wing talk show jockeys like hannity, parschall (religious freak), hannity, coldsore, cunningham, ad infinitum.
I give up, word processing is not my bag. How do you copy and paste a chart on to a blog anyway?
The amount of money the top 5% would be ‘additional’ tax they would have to pay under an Obama administration, not total tax.
Sorry people. Go to www.parade.com and click on magazine for the tax saving details.
I’m out of here. Have a good night all.
So the republicans are now turning on mccain and palin.
And the trolls are the only ones left desperately trying to convince anyone who'll listen that it's part of the plan.
And everything is going according to plan.
...
Whatever.
116Butte on October 13, 2008 at 08:02 PM
My apologies, my apologies.
I certainly didn't mean to insinuate the stereotype that dogs and cats don't get along.
That was uncalled for and totally unfair to the dogs and cats in the world who have made magnicient efforts in domestic peace negotiations.
My apologies.
Thom Hartman was saying today that mccain is a gambling addict, once lost a million dollars in Vegas, and his c*** wife had to bail him out. No one will talk about it because mccain would most likely have them killed.
If this is true, do we really want a person that has a gambling addiction as president. I don't think so. He would probably be asking himself "If I bomb Iran, will they strike back". He would probably take his own bet.
Ed Schultz was saying that the nra has a video out telling everyone that Obama will take their guns. When will these assholes grow up?
The truth is that mccain would destroy their hunting grounds by voiding the farm bill which he says is a waste of money. mccain is a real asshole. The farm bill provides us cheap food, food stamps and a myriad of things that protect our food supply. Another thing about the bill is that it has is an environmental part. Land in the midwest is set aside and people are paid not to farm it. This land was originally set aside to mitigate the dust bowl of the 1930's because so much land was plowed that vegetation was eliminated causing severe erosion and dust storms.
By setting aside these lands all these years, they have returned to their native state and wildlife abounds giving hunters a place to hunt. The nra doesn't seem to be aware that by supporting mcasshole they will be cutting off their noses to spite their faces. The lands were also apparently set aside to control how much food was produced to protect farmers from plummeting food prices.
mccain should keep his greedy, stupid ideas to himself.
Obama has a new stimulus plan for job creation which is bipartisan. It provides companies a tax break for every employee they hire in America and pays them up to $30,000 per employee. The employees must be citizens and living in the U.S.
This is something the repukes could identify with because it does offer at tax break for companies.
He had three other really great points but I can't find them on the blog so far. He will probably introduce them at the debate and make mccain look like an idiot. Oh, I forgot, he already is an idiot.
It's better than being a fascist pig like bush, cheney and mccain. Heil mccain.
undeniable fact that Obama is a socialist.
127MarkLof on October 13, 2008 at 08:42 PM
A fact that you refuse to deny.
But yet you make no mention of your boy, mccain.
And you make no mention of your boy, bush.
You make no mention of the financial crisis created during eight years of republican control.
You make no mention of the Osama Bin Laden, the real terrorist.
You make no mention of the fact that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
You indifference to the real issues is indicative to your inability to stick with the real issues and to reason through the undeniable fact that I am not running for public office and you are clearly fixated on me.
Wealthy capitalists can't afford 4 more years of republican control.
Real Christians know that the republican party is a political organization who worships "false gods" for political purposes.
And the extreme right angry disenfranchised republicans have no new ideas and no agenda.
When the math is done, t's are crossed and the i's are dotted, what do you have?
Katrina,
Ike,
The Wall Street Financial Crisis,
The Iraq occupation,
9/11, a terrorist act on Anerican soil and on the republican watch.
And the bush administration behind it all.
mccain a has been POW with PTSD and dreams of being the President of the United States of America.
and "Moose Lips" palin, a novice small town wanna-be who even though she hides from the national media, thinks she can handle the international community.
Why do the trolls on this blog think that petty attacks against the other bloggers on this blog are more important than the real issues that Americans face?
Why is the extreme right not willing to realize that the republicans have been in control for the last eight years?
Why is the extreme right not willing to realize that the last eight years of republican control has yielded nothing but record deficits, fiscally irresponsible spending, disastrous unprepared readiness for natural catastrophies and terrorist attacks, and incompetent foreign policy decision making?
In order to find solutions...
...you have to know the problems.
The problem is the extreme right and eight years of the republican party.
republican trolls take a long time to respond because their ideas are small minded and underdeveloped.
125
Johne on October 13, 2008 at 08:35 PM
Wayne LaPierre is the scaremonger who has been touting the "They'll take our guns" agenda.
The NRA has totally sold out to the Republicans. It used to be you could find a lot of good articles in the American Rifleman, the NRA's magazine, but anymore it's more political crap than gun articles.
Speaking of the land that was set aside, a lot of it is now being put pack into production, destroying any value it had to either control of wind erosion or aiding wildlife thanks to the Bushiato's promotion of ethanol and the rapidly rising price of corn. Ethanol is proving to be more of a disaster to the environment and to the food supply than it has benefited or ever will benefit the anyone except Big Agra and Big Oil.
BENJI'S GUIDE ON "HOW TO BE A DNC TROLL"
1) Say nice things about conservatives and republicans.
2) Say mean things about Liberals and Democrats.
3) Call the other bloggers "morons".
4) Imply that the other bloggers are "homosexuals".
5) Make insulting comments about PamB.
And voila...
...you are a DNC troll.
I thought Obama was sending out a huncred lawyers to the swing states to see why they are purging tens of thousands of voters.
Some swing states are purging just because a voter didn't vote in the last two elections. I thought they are not supposed to purge 90 days before an election. We'll see, but there isn't much time left to type back in thousands of names.
I know he will handle it, his is the best.
footnote:
BENJI'S GUIDE ON "HOW TO BE A DNC TROLL"
* trolls must at all times avoid speaking about the issues that really matter.
Why is the extreme right not willing to realize that the republicans have been in control for the last eight years?
136
Benji on October 13, 2008 at 09:59 PM
It must be, they get it from their parents or something. Look at the Elizabeth Hasselback on the View, she repeats and believe's everything Hannity or O'reilly say. She doesn't realize she is a misinformed twit. Why barbara doesn't can her stupid ass is beyond me.
I think Elizabeth and republicans like her believe that they are better than other people. They believe that they love their children more than most, that they love their country more than most, that they have better values, more than most. They must do this to feel important and better, because deep down they are the most insecure people that walk in this country.
They have found a home with the republicans who are mostly white. They will never admit to themselves that their whole identity is a sham.
WSJ
"WASHINGTON -- The U.S. government is set to buy preferred equity stakes in nine top financial institutions as part of its new comprehensive plan to tackle the credit crisis, according to people familiar with the situation. It's unclear how much would be invested in each institution. The move is designed to remove any stigma that might come with a government investment. Not all of the banks involved are happy with the move but agreed under pressure from the government..."
i love the smell of nationalization in the evening...
WSJ
"All told, the moves tie the banking sector to the federal government for years to come. The comprehensive approach rivals the breadth of the government's response to the Great Depression. As a result, taxpayers now have a direct stake in the future of American finance. Along with the government's involvement come certain restrictions, such as caps on executive pay..."
now about that privatized energy production industry.....hahahahahaha
144newsjunkie on October 13, 2008 at 10:22 PM
I actually have a contrary opinion about Hasselbeck.
I believe Elizabeth Hasselbeck is a paid palooka.
I believe Elisabeth Hasselbeck is a paid shill.
I believe that her job is to say anything pro-republican to keep the ratings on the "View" high.
When Rosie left or was fired, whatever the case may be, ratings went down. There was no one that anyone can pick on.
So Elizabeth Hasselbeck's job is to fill the controversy gap that Rosie used to own.
144newsjunkie on October 13, 2008 at 10:22 PM
I believe that the producers of "The View" needed a controversial taling head and putting another liberal on the show would not have worked because the clearly changing directions from right to left.
Elizabeth Hasselbeck is the perfect palooka, because the majority of Americans blame the republicans and the majority of Americans are more willing to see someone struggling to justify the conservatives than someone who is just going to go through the same old tired "liberals" are unpatriotic line that America has heard over and over again add nauseum.
144newsjunkie on October 13, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Yes, I believe Elizabeth Hasselbeck is paid to play the "conservative victim" desperately trying to save what's left of the republican party from it's own demise.
47
Benji on October 13, 2008 at 10:31 PM
I think she really is that ditsy and they keep her on because of it. She get's all red faced when they try to reason with her. She really does like to think she is better than everybody else, therefore she is a republican, white, I might ad.
I don't even believe Coulter is really a neo-con.
Coulter is a capitalist.
Coulter is a business woman who wants to sell books...
...and her main sales pitch is that of an over-the-top republican who will do anything and say anything extreme to sell her next book that is conveniently timed for publication and sale shortly after some controversial public appearance.
She has been out of the public eye because she is currently writing another book and planning another scandulous and controversial public appearance.
Hi, everyone.
There is an Evening Open Thread at the top of the blog. Posted there three hours ago thinking it was a subject thread. It's been a long campaign?
152newsjunkie on October 13, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Elizabeth Hasselbeck is a trained actor.
Benji on October 13, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Say what, where. If she's a trained actor then she sucks, she would do a better job. Isn't ABC a republican channel? Is Joy paid by the democrats? I don't think they'd let her be paid by the republican party on top of her pay with the view, the other ladies would cry "foul."
Benji, I've got to go, my daughter wants the computer to load some pics she took.
byl=blog ya later
gregg on October 13, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Couldn't we buy the Cubs instead...before Spunky buys them and begins another curse? Or a NFL team...that would make Elisabeth Hasselbeck happy, maybe.
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