Steve Wilson's Blog

Palin abuses power!

Steve Wilson — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:27:26 EDT

Is the report public yet? What did I just hear on MSNBC?

McCain's mortgage plan

Steve Wilson — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:17:53 EDT

McCain Adviser Offers Details on Mortgage Plan

By Michael Abramowitz

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/08/mccain_adviser_offers_details.html

In a conference call with reporters this morning, Holtz-Eakin offered a few more details of the so-called American Homeownership Resurgence Plan, unveiled at the Tuesday night debate, in which a homeowner having difficulty making payments or facing foreclosure would be eligible for an FHA-insured mortgage. He said that some of the money for the new program, which could cost $300 billion, could come from the new $700 billion authority granted the Treasury Secretary to buy distressed assets; he also said some of the funds could also come from existing authority in the Federal Housing Administration.

Sorry, not enough details, John. Does anybody believe that $300 billion is enough to cover all of the 'underwater' mortgages in the country? And why didn't he get this mandated in to the bailout bill?

One sure bet, the right-wing Republican base is livid about this.

"That One" is already a commercial success?

Steve Wilson — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:35:15 EDT

http://www.cafepress.com/darthstar/6055140

Buy in bulk!

Who won the second presidential debate in Nashville?

Steve Wilson — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:46:53 EDT

Fox News online poll is showing Obama 69% McLame 31%

Please vote!

http://elections.foxnews.com/

And vote in the other online polls!

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/stevewilson/CGL9

Let's hit the online polls

Steve Wilson — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:09:34 EDT

Who won the debate? Vote at CNN and post a comment providing a link to another poll.

http://www.cnn.com/

McCain says we went into Afghanistan why?

Steve Wilson — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:16:01 EDT

He didn't mention 9-11. He says that it was because we didn't stay there after the freedom fighters threw the Soviets out.

I think he watched Charlie Wilson's war too many times.

Hey snakelips, your man is toast!

How dirty will it get tonight?

Steve Wilson — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:23:19 EDT

The Debates Obama Team Ready for Mud By Anne E. Kornblut

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/07/obama_team_ready_for_mud.html

NASHVILLE -- Barack Obama's advisers are usually cautious about managing expectations -- never predicting a landslide, always downplaying how well their candidate will do in the debates. But with just a few hours until the second presidential debate here on Tuesday night, some of them let a little confidence slip.

Robert Gibbs, wandering the media filing tent, described McCain as "generally very cranky" these days. Then he asked: "Which John McCain are we going to get tonight? Are we going to get the guy who yells at the kids to get off his lawn?" Alternately, Gibbs said, a sunnier version of the Republican candidate could show.

But that was not the McCain he was most excited to talk about. "He looks angry and desperate, so I assume we'll get angry and desperate," Gibbs said, adding that if he wants to go negative -- presumably more difficult in the town hall setting, in front of several dozen undecided and soft-leaning voters -- Obama is ready to match him. "If people want to get down in the mud, we're prepared to get dirty," he said.

Rules for Tonight's Debate

Steve Wilson — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:00:11 EDT

McCain, Obama deal puts limits on "town hall" debateBy Lynn Sweet on October 6, 2008 7:54 AM

http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2008/10/mccain_obama_deal_puts_limits.html

Brokaw selects the questions to ask from written queries submitted prior to the debate, according to the "contract."
An audience member will not be allowed to switch questions. Under the deal, the moderator may not ask followups or make comments. The person who asks the question will not be allowed a follow-up either, and his or her microphone will be turned off after the question is read. A camera shot will only be shown of the person asking -- not reacting.

While there will be director's chairs (with backs and foot rests), McCain and Obama will be allowed to stand -- but they can't roam past their "designated area" to be marked on the stage. McCain and Obama are not supposed to ask each other direct questions. As in all the debates, the contenders cannot bring in notes, though they can take them once at the lectern.

Will McShame bring up Ayers? Does he have an advantage in this ‘townhall’ format?

I’ll be watching.

Did Palin cheat on her taxes? - Revisited

Steve Wilson — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 08:16:31 EDT

Now, the Wall Street Journal has picked up the story. The McCain campaign is blaming the State of Alaska and H&R Block! http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122334021713509963.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

The McCain-Palin campaign released an opinion letter from Washington, D.C., criminal tax lawyer Roger M. Olsen, concluding that Gov. Palin complied with Alaska law in not reporting the reimbursements and meal payments as income.
A spokesman for the McCain campaign said Gov. Palin relied on the W2 wages form from the state of Alaska in filing her tax return, which was prepared by H&R Block. The W2 did not include the travel reimbursements as income.
"The state believes it is interpreting IRS policy correctly. It has no indication to believe that it is misinterpreting that policy," said Brian Jones, a McCain campaign spokesman.
Gov. Palin "has every right to assume the state of Alaska knows how to handle her W2," said Alan D. Westheimer, a certified public accountant in Houston. "These people [the Palins] are not tax lawyers. They went to H&R Block" to prepare their taxes.

Whether or not the State of Alaska gave her a bad W2 only goes to the penalty issue. It is an admission of liablilty. SHE DEFINITELY OWES TAX ON THE REIMBURSEMENTS. THe H&R Block excuse doesn't get you out of paying what you owe.!

For my earlier posts on this topic, see: http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/stevewilson/CClD

and

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/stevewilson/CGZn

As a tax attorney & CPA, I would advise Sarah to AMEND YOUR TAX RETURN AND PAY THE TAX! And quit going to H&R Block.

Someone commented that Congressional approval was only 10%

Steve Wilson — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:48:08 EDT

But what they didn't point out, is that all of the local polls have Democrats picking up seats in Congress, and on the Generic Ballot, Democrats are still favored by over 10% against Republicans.

As usual, the Congressional Approval Rating poll is meaningless, except for water cooler talk.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/generic_congressional_vote-901.html

McCain's brother has a sense of humor

Steve Wilson — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:05:54 EDT

that probably just cost John the state of Virginia.

Joe McCain calls Northern Virginia 'communist' country

Associated Press - October 5, 2008 12:13 PM ET

http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=9126299

Will McCain be pulling out of Minnesota after this poll?

Steve Wilson — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 09:13:45 EDT

Minnesota Poll: Obama leaps ahead of McCain

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/30470234.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aUnOiP3UiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

The poll, conducted last week among 1,084 likely voters, found that 55 percent support Obama, while 37 percent back McCain.That's a huge difference from the last Minnesota Poll, conducted in September, which showed the race dead even, with each candidate backed by 45 percent of likely voters. The new poll shows that Obama's surge in the state can be attributed to voters' belief in his ability to deal with the nation's worsening economy, his performance in the first presidential debate and an increase in the number of Minnesotans who call themselves Democrats.Obama appears comfortably ahead among men, women, and voters of all ages and educational attainment.

Looks like Al Franken will be getting some big coattails from Barack. :)

Is Senator Norm Coleman in trouble?

Steve Wilson — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:54:45 EDT

Franken pulls ahead in new Minn. poll
By HARRY SIEGEL | 10/4/08 12:02 PM EDT

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14274.html

Two trends seem to be contributing Franken's lead in the Star Tribune poll, which also showed Coleman's job-approval rating at a new low of 38 percent. In what's been a fiercely contested campaign, Coleman has taken heat for the tenor of his advertising, with 56 percent of respondents seeing the ads aimed at Franken as “mostly unfair personal attacks,” while just 42 percent said the same about those aimed at Coleman.

The poll also found Democrats have opened a substantial lead in party identification, with 42 percent of likely voters self-identifying as Democrats, compared with just 26 percent identifying as Republicans.

One of SNL's first writers wins a Senate seat? Now that would be a change.

DO'H..Like we didn't see this coming. Obama is ready for it.

Steve Wilson — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:30:38 EDT

McCain Plans Fiercer Strategy Against Obama

By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 4, 2008; Page A01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/03/AR2008100303738.html?hpid=topnews&sub=AR&sid=ST2008100303878&s_pos=

Sen. John McCain and his Republican allies are readying a newly aggressive assault on Sen. Barack Obama's character, believing that to win in November they must shift the conversation back to questions about the Democrat's judgment, honesty and personal associations, several top Republicans said.

Smear and fear is all that the McCain campaign has left. Or do they have an October surprise?

Did Palin cheat on her taxes?

Steve Wilson — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:53:37 EDT

Now that her tax returns have been released, it appears that she didn't include those stinkin per diem payments for sleeping in her own bed.

It does not appear that Gov. Palin reported as income the per diem reimbursement she received for travel, meals, and lodging expenses as governor of Alaska.

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2008/10/palin-releases.html

The bailout bill has just passed

Steve Wilson — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:24:35 EDT

the House.

Cast your vote

Steve Wilson — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:08:22 EDT

Lets go freeping.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/2/205127/601/705/612540

Biden wins CBS Poll

Steve Wilson — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/10/02/politics/horserace/entry4497035.shtml

CNNs focus group gave it to Biden.

McCain is already writing-off Michigan

Steve Wilson — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 16:26:03 EDT

Politico
Jonathan Martin's Blog
October 02, 2008

McCain pulling out of Michigan http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1008/McCain_pulling_out_of_Michigan.html

John McCain is pulling out of Michigan, according to two Republicans, a stunning move a month away from Election Day that indicates the difficulty Republicans are having in finding blue states to put in play.

Michael Moore's fix

Steve Wilson — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:48:34 EDT

Here's How to Fix the Wall Street Mess ...from Michael Moore by Michael Moore Wed Oct 01, 2008 at 01:43:45 PM PDT http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/1/163632/834/411/616918

Friends,
The richest 400 Americans -- that's right, just four hundred people -- own MORE than the bottom 150 million Americans combined. 400 rich Americans have got more stashed away than half the entire country! Their combined net worth is $1.6 trillion. During the eight years of the Bush Administration, their wealth has increased by nearly $700 billion -- the same amount that they are now demanding we give to them for the "bailout." Why don't they just spend the money they made under Bush to bail themselves out? They'd still have nearly a trillion dollars left over to spread amongst themselves!