Tuesday, September 30, 2008
When Madmen Reign
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/opinion/30herbert.html?em
I’m not holding my breath, but I would like to see the self-proclaimed conservative, small government, anti-regulation, free-market zealots step up and take responsibility for wrecking the American economy and bringing about the worst financial crisis since the Depression.
These were the reckless clowns who led us into the foolish multitrillion-dollar debacle in Iraq and who crafted tax policies that enormously benefited millionaires and billionaires while at the same time ran up staggering amounts of government debt. This is the crowd that contributed mightily to the greatest disparities in wealth in the U.S. since the gilded age. This was the crowd that cut the cords of corporate and financial regulations and in myriad other ways gleefully hacked away at the best interests of the United States.
Voters have to shoulder a great deal of the blame for the economic mess the country is in. Too many were willing, for whatever reasons, to support politicians who spat in the eye of economic common sense. Now the voodoo that permeated conservative economic policies for so many years has come back to haunt us big-time.
The question voters should be asking John McCain is whether he has stopped serving his party’s economic Kool-Aid, which has taken such a toll on working families, and is ready to change his ways. Is his sudden populist transformation the real thing or just a mirage?
I’m not holding my breath, but I would like to see the self-proclaimed conservative, small government, anti-regulation, free-market zealots step up and take responsibility for wrecking the American economy and bringing about the worst financial crisis since the Depression.
These were the reckless clowns who led us into the foolish multitrillion-dollar debacle in Iraq and who crafted tax policies that enormously benefited millionaires and billionaires while at the same time ran up staggering amounts of government debt. This is the crowd that contributed mightily to the greatest disparities in wealth in the U.S. since the gilded age. This was the crowd that cut the cords of corporate and financial regulations and in myriad other ways gleefully hacked away at the best interests of the United States.
Voters have to shoulder a great deal of the blame for the economic mess the country is in. Too many were willing, for whatever reasons, to support politicians who spat in the eye of economic common sense. Now the voodoo that permeated conservative economic policies for so many years has come back to haunt us big-time.
The question voters should be asking John McCain is whether he has stopped serving his party’s economic Kool-Aid, which has taken such a toll on working families, and is ready to change his ways. Is his sudden populist transformation the real thing or just a mirage?
Anti-Bailout Protesters
A sign outside of the NYSE yesterday from a person clearly against the $700B bailout.
http://godlessliberalhomo.blogspot.com/2008/09/bailout-is-bullshit.html
Need I say anything?
Loves it! Need I say more? Too bad she doesn't magically turn into a pit bull so she can be shot by a family member's rifle or someone from the NRA!
Monday, September 29, 2008
Mad Dog Palin selections from Taibbi's piece
Palin's charge that "government is too big" and that Obama "wants to grow it" was similarly preposterous. Not only did her party just preside over the largest government expansion since LBJ, but Palin herself has been a typical Bush-era Republican, borrowing and spending beyond her means. Her great legacy as mayor of Wasilla was the construction of a $14.7 million hockey arena in a city with an annual budget of $20 million; Palin OK'd a bond issue for the project before the land had been secured, leading to a protracted legal mess that ultimately forced taxpayers to pay more than six times the original market price for property the city ended up having to seize from a private citizen using eminent domain. Better yet, Palin ended up paying for the fucking thing with a 25 percent increase in the city sales tax. But in her speech, of course, Palin presented herself as the enemy of tax increases, righteously bemoaning that "taxes are too high," and Obama "wants to raise them."
Palin hasn't been too worried about federal taxes as governor of a state that ranks number one in the nation in federal spending per resident ($13,950), even as it sits just 18th in federal taxes paid per resident ($5,434). That means all us taxpaying non-Alaskans spend $8,500 a year on each and every resident of Palin's paradise of rugged self-sufficiency. Not that this sworn enemy of taxes doesn't collect from her own: Alaska currently collects the most taxes per resident of any state in the nation.
After eight years of unprecedented corruption, incompetence, waste and greed, the party of Karl Rove understood that 50 million Americans would not demand solutions to any of these problems so long as they were given a new, new thing to beat their meat over.
Pretty much anyone with an Internet connection knows by now that Palin was originally for the "Bridge to Nowhere" before she opposed it (she actually endorsed the plan in her 2006 gubernatorial campaign), that even after the project was defeated she kept the money, that she didn't actually sell the Alaska governor's state luxury jet on eBay but instead sold it at a $600,000 loss to a campaign contributor (who is now seeking $50,000 in taxpayer money to pay maintenance costs).
In addition to being ensconced in a messy ethics investigation over her firing of the chief of the Alaska state troopers (dismissed after refusing to sack her sister's ex-husband), Palin also reportedly fired a key campaign aide for having an affair with a friend's wife. More ominously, as mayor of Wasilla, Palin tried to fire the town librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, after Emmons resisted pressure to censor books Palin found objectionable.
Then there's the God stuff: Palin belongs to a church whose pastor, Ed Kalnins, believes that all criticisms of George Bush "come from hell," and wondered aloud if people who voted for John Kerry could be saved. Kalnins, looming as the answer to Obama's Jeremiah Wright, claims that Alaska is going to be a "refuge state" for Christians in the last days, last days which he sometimes speaks of in the present tense. Palin herself has been captured on video mouthing the inevitable born-again idiocies, such as the idea that a recent oilpipeline deal was "God's will." She also described the Iraq War as a "task that is from God" and part of a heavenly "plan." She supports teaching creationism and "abstinence only" in public schools, opposes abortion even for victims of rape, denies the science behind global warming and attends a church that seeks to convert Jews and cure homosexuals.
As governor of Alaska, Palin presides over a state whose entire population is barely the size of Memphis. This kind of thing might matter in a country that actually worried about whether its leader was prepared for his job -but not in America.
The Obama image represents tolerance, intelligence, education, patience with the notion of compromise and negotiation, and a willingness to stare ugly facts right in the face, all qualities we're actually going to need in government if we're going to get out of this huge mess we're in.
Here's what Sarah Palin represents: being a fat fucking pig who pins "Country First" buttons on his man titties and chants "U-S-A! U-S-A!" at the top of his lungs while his kids live off credit cards and Saudis buy up all the mortgages in Kansas.
Here's what Sarah Palin represents: being a fat fucking pig who pins "Country First" buttons on his man titties and chants "U-S-A! U-S-A!" at the top of his lungs while his kids live off credit cards and Saudis buy up all the mortgages in Kansas.
The truly disgusting thing about Sarah Palin isn't that she's totally unqualified, or a religious zealot, or married to a secessionist, or unable to educate her own daughter about sex, or a fake conservative who raised taxes and horked up earmark millions every chance she got. No, the most disgusting thing about her is what she says about us: that you can ram us in the ass for eight solid years, and we'll not only thank you for your trouble, we'll sign you up for eight more years, if only you promise to stroke us in the right spot for a few hours around election time.
Here's the thing about Americans. You can send their kids off by the thousands to get their balls blown off in foreign lands for no reason at all, saddle them with billions in debt year after congressional year while they spend their winters cheerfully watching game shows and football, pull the rug out from under their mortgages, and leave them living off their credit cards and their Wal-Mart salaries while you move their jobs to China and Bangalore.
And none of it matters, so long as you remember a few months before Election Day to offer them a two-bit caricature culled from some cutting-room-floor episode of Roseanne as part of your presidential ticket. And if she's a good enough likeness of a loudmouthed middle-American archetype, as Sarah Palin is, John Q. Public will drop his giant-size bag of Doritos in gratitude, wipe the Sizzlin' Picante dust from his lips and rush to the booth to vote for her. Not because it makes sense, or because it has a chance of improving his life or anyone else's, but simply because it appeals to the low-humming narcissism that substitutes for his personality, because the image on TV reminds him of the mean, brainless slob he sees in the mirror every morning.
Sarah Palin is a symbol of everything that is wrong with the modern United States. As a representative of our political system, she's a new low in reptilian villainy, the ultimate cynical masterwork of puppeteers like Karl Rove. But more than that, she is a horrifying symbol of how little we ask for in return for the total surrender of our political power.
And none of it matters, so long as you remember a few months before Election Day to offer them a two-bit caricature culled from some cutting-room-floor episode of Roseanne as part of your presidential ticket. And if she's a good enough likeness of a loudmouthed middle-American archetype, as Sarah Palin is, John Q. Public will drop his giant-size bag of Doritos in gratitude, wipe the Sizzlin' Picante dust from his lips and rush to the booth to vote for her. Not because it makes sense, or because it has a chance of improving his life or anyone else's, but simply because it appeals to the low-humming narcissism that substitutes for his personality, because the image on TV reminds him of the mean, brainless slob he sees in the mirror every morning.
Sarah Palin is a symbol of everything that is wrong with the modern United States. As a representative of our political system, she's a new low in reptilian villainy, the ultimate cynical masterwork of puppeteers like Karl Rove. But more than that, she is a horrifying symbol of how little we ask for in return for the total surrender of our political power.
(Piece by Matt Taibbi, from the current Rolling Stone, yet not posted on their site. I found it via google, see link below.)
Palin: Fact vs Fiction
Alaska governor Sarah Palin calls those who expose her lies "Spinmeisters." Well, here many of her lies have been exposed. See source link below:
FICTION: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
FACT: As governor, sought travel reimbursement for 312 nights she spent in her own home.
FICTION: "She's been to Kuwait. She's been over there. She has been with her troops. The National Guard that she commands, who have been over there and had the experience." — John McCain, highlighting Palin's national-security credentials
FACT: Never had a passport before 2007, when she made a brief photo-op trip to visit troops in Germany and Kuwait. Has never been to Iraq, and has not met a single foreign head of state.
FICTION: "She's fought oil companies." — John McCain, introducing Palin
FACT: Collected $13,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas lobbyists, including Exxon, BP, Shell and Chevron. BP was a sponsor of her inaugural ball.
FICTION: "She's from a small town with small-town values." — Fred Thompson, convention speech
FACT: Wasilla and the surrounding valley recently named the meth capital of Alaska, with 42 meth labs busted in a single year. (At least 3 per month, almost 1 per week.)
FICTION: "We began a nearly $40 billion natural-gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
FACT: With federal approval years away, not a single section of the pipeline has been laid. State could end up paying the pipeline's contractor $500 million — even if it never breaks ground on the project.
FICTION: "Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America's energy problems — as if we didn't know that already." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
FACT: "I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can't drill our way out of our problem." — Sarah Palin, July 2008
FICTION: "I found ... someone who stopped government from wasting taxpayers' money." — John McCain, introducing Palin
FACT: Signature accomplishment as mayor: building a $15 million hockey arena that plunged the city into debt. Broke ground on the project without finalizing the city's purchase of the land; the resulting fiasco cost Wasilla $1.3 million — roughly $200 per resident.
FICTION: "We ... championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
FACT: As mayor, employed a lobbyist who also worked for Jack Abramoff to secure $27 million in pork spending for Wasilla — more than $4,000 per resident. In her two years as governor, requested $453 million in earmarks. Alaska ranks first in the nation for pork, raking in seven times the national average.
FICTION:"I told the Congress 'Thanks, but no thanks' on that Bridge to Nowhere." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
FACT: Supported the infamous pork project in her 2006 run for governor, even after Congress had killed the bridge; derided its opponents as "spinmeisters." Reversed her stance a year later — but kept the money, doling out the $223 million in federal funds to other pork projects throughout the state.
FICTION: "She took the luxury jet that was acquired by her predecessor and sold it on eBay. And made a profit!" — John McCain, at a campaign stop in Wisconsin
FACT: No one bought the jet online. It was eventually sold through an aircraft broker — at a loss to taxpayers of nearly $600,000.
I know what the Republicans who read this post are going to say, "Oh, like the Democrats don't lie. All politicians lie." And to that, I would like to say while all politicians do lie, the past 8 years of Bush have been a nightmare, from the war, to the financial crisis, to the eroding of civil rights from here to Guantanamo Bay. We can't afford to have anyone as far to the right as Palin in the Federal government. In 2000 Bush ran as a compassionate Conservative, center-right, and instead once in office turned into a far-right wing religious monster. Can we take Palin at her word? Can we afford to do that?
FICTION: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
FACT: As governor, sought travel reimbursement for 312 nights she spent in her own home.
FICTION: "She's been to Kuwait. She's been over there. She has been with her troops. The National Guard that she commands, who have been over there and had the experience." — John McCain, highlighting Palin's national-security credentials
FACT: Never had a passport before 2007, when she made a brief photo-op trip to visit troops in Germany and Kuwait. Has never been to Iraq, and has not met a single foreign head of state.
FICTION: "She's fought oil companies." — John McCain, introducing Palin
FACT: Collected $13,000 in campaign contributions from oil and gas lobbyists, including Exxon, BP, Shell and Chevron. BP was a sponsor of her inaugural ball.
FICTION: "She's from a small town with small-town values." — Fred Thompson, convention speech
FACT: Wasilla and the surrounding valley recently named the meth capital of Alaska, with 42 meth labs busted in a single year. (At least 3 per month, almost 1 per week.)
FICTION: "We began a nearly $40 billion natural-gas pipeline to help lead America to energy independence." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
FACT: With federal approval years away, not a single section of the pipeline has been laid. State could end up paying the pipeline's contractor $500 million — even if it never breaks ground on the project.
FICTION: "Our opponents say, again and again, that drilling will not solve all of America's energy problems — as if we didn't know that already." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
FACT: "I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can't drill our way out of our problem." — Sarah Palin, July 2008
FICTION: "I found ... someone who stopped government from wasting taxpayers' money." — John McCain, introducing Palin
FACT: Signature accomplishment as mayor: building a $15 million hockey arena that plunged the city into debt. Broke ground on the project without finalizing the city's purchase of the land; the resulting fiasco cost Wasilla $1.3 million — roughly $200 per resident.
FICTION: "We ... championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
FACT: As mayor, employed a lobbyist who also worked for Jack Abramoff to secure $27 million in pork spending for Wasilla — more than $4,000 per resident. In her two years as governor, requested $453 million in earmarks. Alaska ranks first in the nation for pork, raking in seven times the national average.
FICTION:"I told the Congress 'Thanks, but no thanks' on that Bridge to Nowhere." — Sarah Palin, convention speech
FACT: Supported the infamous pork project in her 2006 run for governor, even after Congress had killed the bridge; derided its opponents as "spinmeisters." Reversed her stance a year later — but kept the money, doling out the $223 million in federal funds to other pork projects throughout the state.
FICTION: "She took the luxury jet that was acquired by her predecessor and sold it on eBay. And made a profit!" — John McCain, at a campaign stop in Wisconsin
FACT: No one bought the jet online. It was eventually sold through an aircraft broker — at a loss to taxpayers of nearly $600,000.
I know what the Republicans who read this post are going to say, "Oh, like the Democrats don't lie. All politicians lie." And to that, I would like to say while all politicians do lie, the past 8 years of Bush have been a nightmare, from the war, to the financial crisis, to the eroding of civil rights from here to Guantanamo Bay. We can't afford to have anyone as far to the right as Palin in the Federal government. In 2000 Bush ran as a compassionate Conservative, center-right, and instead once in office turned into a far-right wing religious monster. Can we take Palin at her word? Can we afford to do that?
Monday, September 22, 2008
Our Shit is Falling Apart!
For those of you who are familiar with James Howard Kunstler, he has been predicting various problems for America on his blog and in his books. His blog, Clusterfuck Nation, is a great read each Monday and often gets me thinking about where America is and where America is going. In The Long Emergency, the collapse of America is foreshadowed as a result of our dependence on foreign oil, as the ability to cheaply bring the commodity out of the ground runs into trouble worldwide.
When I first read The Long Emergency back in 2006, I wasn't super knowledgeable about the world oil scene or the housing debacle and as a result of the book I was able to mentally get in front of the trouble currently coming home to roost in America. Since I get asked a lot for my opinions on both situations, here goes.
The crisis in the financials markets first and foremost pisses me off, because the people at the top were/are paid a lot of money for the jobs that they do. I always assumed the primary objective of running an enterprise was to ensure its livelihood; i.e. not wreck it with irresponsible polices, strategies, management, etc. By law, shareholders of American corporations are allowed to sue in the event that the company isn't engaging in money making activities deemed to best represent the interests of said shareholders, yet I am unsure of exactly how that would work. One of the defenses I have heard about the financial crisis when discussing the role of former Citi Group CEO Chuck Prince is, "When the music is on, you've got to dance," implying that since the other financial services companies were making money selling CMOs, CDOs, etc, that therefore Citi had to do it as well. Yes, everyone was doing it. But does that make it right? It reminds me of a conversation between a parent and a child who was caught drinking alcohol at the prom. "But Mom! Everyone else was doing it!" These were supposedly the best financial minds America had to offer, and no one realized that the structure of selling the mortgage debt only worked when the home values were rising? Not one of the highly paid executives said, "Guys, this model doesn't work when home values are declining," or "When the value of the home is less than the value of the mortgage, the value of the CDO declines too, effecting the yield..."? Not one person said that? No one knew?
To me, this is why government regulation exists, and the cries for "deregulation" on the part of the Republicans over the past 15 years were dangerous. Some industries are dominated by the classic "herd mentality" in which the prevalent ways of thinking dominate the culture. The investment banks were smitten with a new way to make money by securitizing debt that it clouded their judgement as to the true definition of risk. Here we are today, without one stand alone investment bank on the shores of the United States of America. Those financial professionals were paid a lot of money to evaluate the risk of what they were doing, and failed, because "everyone else was doing it." Now our country is in deep shit, and they are all still rich, yet the middle income people hurt by all of this aren't too big to fail, so they don't qualify for gov't handouts. It pisses me off. The Republicans who looked the other way are just as responsible for not supervising what the financial institutions were doing. They were just as worried about getting rich too, and most still are. Yet they have the nerve to spend taxpayer money on this mess and talk shit about the Democrats without taking any responsibility. It pisses me off. One thing I hear about is how, "Democrats lie too," as if its ok that the Republicans wrecked this country because the left lies. The left doesn't deregulate so those in the know can get rich at the expense of the rest of us.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Capitalism for The Consumer, Socialism for Industry
Lets review what the "conservatives" are supposed to stand for regarding finance:
1. small gov't
2. low taxes
3. fiscal responsibility
4. deregulation
5. free markets
Now, lets review what they actually stand for
1. US debt at a staggering $11 TRILLION
2. Fiscal irresponsibility, record budget shortfalls
3. Record "pork" in the Federal budget
4. Cutting taxes while waging a $3T war in Iraq
5. Free markets when things are going well, bailouts when deregulation causes shit to hit the fan
I call this, "Capitalism for the consumer, Socialism for Industry"
The typical explanation for this is that the financials are, "too big to fail," and that the "systemic risk is too great" if a major financial firm were to fail and all of the holdings be dumped in the market for liquidation. The increase in selling would cause a market crash like 1987.
In my opinion, this crisis in the financials is caused primarily by deregulation. As usual, the Bush admin was worrying about making themselves rich instead of watching over the country and economy for threats to everyone and the system as a whole. Also, to get campaign contributions, the Bush admin made all kinds of plans about deregulation, so again, more important than every one's financial well-being.
At this time I would like to remind everyone that the productivity gains of the past 8 years were brought about by middle class workers, as acknowledged by Bill Clinton in his interview with Maria Bartiromo on Friday's Closing Bell on CNBC. Yet, those same middle class workers got little to no wage gains, and their earnings buy less due to the weak US$ and high commodity costs. Over the past 8 years, at different times, the following costs have risen substantially:
1. food
2. fuel
3. health care
4. education
5. insurance
6. housing
7. credit
So, the middle class is working harder for the same money that buys less. Now, the top earners in the financials, who paid themselves more for their efforts than any other time in US history, (http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch/paywatch/pay/index.cfm#_ftn1)
have wrecked the middle class's retirement savings if in the form of equities, at the same time when social security and Medicaid/medicare are bankrupt. McCain wants to tax the middle class for their employer based health care costs, to boot. (This would mean that when you declare your annual earnings on your tax forms, you would add in the $3K or more for the health care premiums your employer paid for you to your total earnings. This would likely cause a rise in the middle class tax bill.)
So, what do republicans stand for? They stand for bankrupting the federal gov't; deregulating industry so those at the top can get as rich as possible, along with the Republicans themselves, yet when the shit hits the fan, the gov't comes in to bail out the deregulated industries with tax payer money; waging a $3T war while passing regressive tax cuts; and finally, getting the middle class workers to work harder for the same wages that buy less. Oh yeah, and the right is against unions. I wonder why! Its capitalism for the consumer, socialism for industry. America under the Bush admin is one of the worst periods in our country's history. Very soon, we may longer be world leaders in finance, innovation, technology, science, and medicine. To quote Jim Rogers, "Get out of the US$, buy commodities, and teach your children Chinese." His words get more wise by the day.
1. small gov't
2. low taxes
3. fiscal responsibility
4. deregulation
5. free markets
Now, lets review what they actually stand for
1. US debt at a staggering $11 TRILLION
2. Fiscal irresponsibility, record budget shortfalls
3. Record "pork" in the Federal budget
4. Cutting taxes while waging a $3T war in Iraq
5. Free markets when things are going well, bailouts when deregulation causes shit to hit the fan
I call this, "Capitalism for the consumer, Socialism for Industry"
The typical explanation for this is that the financials are, "too big to fail," and that the "systemic risk is too great" if a major financial firm were to fail and all of the holdings be dumped in the market for liquidation. The increase in selling would cause a market crash like 1987.
In my opinion, this crisis in the financials is caused primarily by deregulation. As usual, the Bush admin was worrying about making themselves rich instead of watching over the country and economy for threats to everyone and the system as a whole. Also, to get campaign contributions, the Bush admin made all kinds of plans about deregulation, so again, more important than every one's financial well-being.
At this time I would like to remind everyone that the productivity gains of the past 8 years were brought about by middle class workers, as acknowledged by Bill Clinton in his interview with Maria Bartiromo on Friday's Closing Bell on CNBC. Yet, those same middle class workers got little to no wage gains, and their earnings buy less due to the weak US$ and high commodity costs. Over the past 8 years, at different times, the following costs have risen substantially:
1. food
2. fuel
3. health care
4. education
5. insurance
6. housing
7. credit
So, the middle class is working harder for the same money that buys less. Now, the top earners in the financials, who paid themselves more for their efforts than any other time in US history, (http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch/paywatch/pay/index.cfm#_ftn1)
have wrecked the middle class's retirement savings if in the form of equities, at the same time when social security and Medicaid/medicare are bankrupt. McCain wants to tax the middle class for their employer based health care costs, to boot. (This would mean that when you declare your annual earnings on your tax forms, you would add in the $3K or more for the health care premiums your employer paid for you to your total earnings. This would likely cause a rise in the middle class tax bill.)
So, what do republicans stand for? They stand for bankrupting the federal gov't; deregulating industry so those at the top can get as rich as possible, along with the Republicans themselves, yet when the shit hits the fan, the gov't comes in to bail out the deregulated industries with tax payer money; waging a $3T war while passing regressive tax cuts; and finally, getting the middle class workers to work harder for the same wages that buy less. Oh yeah, and the right is against unions. I wonder why! Its capitalism for the consumer, socialism for industry. America under the Bush admin is one of the worst periods in our country's history. Very soon, we may longer be world leaders in finance, innovation, technology, science, and medicine. To quote Jim Rogers, "Get out of the US$, buy commodities, and teach your children Chinese." His words get more wise by the day.
Face The Nation on the bailout
Face The Nation airs Sunday mornings at 10:30-11am with Bob Schieffer. This morning the discussion was about the Federal bailout, $700B, of the bad mortgage debt lead by Paulson. As of right now, there is no video link to post, so here is the link to the article.When Schieffer asked Paulson how the currently illiquid debt was going to be priced by the federal gov't, Paulson made a vague response about how if there is a bid for it by the gov't, then there may be more bids, possibly private capital bids, which may then allow it to be priced in the market. What private capital is suddenly going to want the very toxic debt clogging the system?
The 2 guests, Senator Shelby (R) from Alabama, and Representative Frank (D) from Massachusetts, both agreed that the bailout is needed. Frank emphasized that the idea is not to bailout the people who caused this problem, at the taxpayers expense, so they can be paid millions to then walk away. Frank also said that to help pay for this bailout, the top earners should be taxed extra money towards this.
Shieffer concludes that this situation is a problem brought about by deregulation. "No game works without an umpire" he says. Shieffer also quotes James Madison, who said, "If men were angels, there would be no need for gov't, or any laws."
Thursday, September 18, 2008
McCain & The Economy
John McCain said it in his own words: He just doesn’t understand the economy. His economic plan would give big tax breaks to corporations and tax workers’ health care benefits. We call on McCain to help turn around America, not choose corporations over working families.McCain: I Never Really Understood Economics. McCain said, “The issue of economics is something that I’ve really never understood as well as I should.” (Boston Globe, 12/18/07)
Yet:
* Median family income has been falling for seven years now, when adjusted for inflation. (“A Feeble Recovery,” Economic Policy Institute, 5/1/08)
McCain Says We’re NOT Headed Into a Recession. McCain said, “I don’t believe we’re headed into a recession. I believe the fundamentals of this economy are strong, and I believe they will remain strong.” (GOP Debate, Myrtle Beach, FNC, 1/10/08)
81 Percent of the Public Says We’re Already There. (NBC/WSJ Survey, 4/24-28/08)
“Even if the economy is the, quote, No. 1 issue, the real issue will remain America’s security,” McCain said. “And if they choose to say, ‘Look, I do not need this guy because he’s not as good on home loan mortgages or whatever it is, I understand about that, I will accept that verdict. I am running because of the transcendental challenge of the 21st century, which is radical Islamic extremism.” (The New York Times, 1/28/08)
But Economic Issues Top Working Family Concerns. According to a Kaiser Family Foundation survey, the price of gasoline is the number one concern for the public. In second and third place are finding a good job and paying for health care and insurance. (Associated Press, 4/29/08)
* Home foreclosure filings have increased by 112 percent over the past year, to 649,917 properties in the first quarter of 2008, representing one of every 194 households. (RealtyTrac Staff, 4/29/08)
* The price of a gallon of gas has increased by 156 percent since January 2001 and is approaching $4. (U.S. Department of Energy, Retail Gasoline Historical Prices)
* Over the past year, the cost of milk increased by 13.3 percent, the cost of bread increased by 14.7 percent and the cost of eggs rose by 29.9 percent. (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 3/08)
McCain’s Economic Plan Helps Corporations, not Working Families. “McCain offered sweeping rhetoric about the economic plight of working-class Americans…even as he spelled out a tax and spending agenda whose benefits are aimed squarely at spurring corporate growth.” (The Washington Post, 4/16/08)
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
How Bush Destroyed The Republican Party
By Sean Wilentz, from the 9/4/08 issue of Rolling Stone magazine. (link at bottom) Before we begin, I'd like to remind us all
of the Republican tickets in the Presidential elections of the past 50 years:
1952: Eisenhower/Nixon
of the Republican tickets in the Presidential elections of the past 50 years:
1952: Eisenhower/Nixon
1956: Eisenhower/Nixon
1960: Nixon/Cabot Lodge
1960: Nixon/Cabot Lodge
1964: Goldwater/Miller
1968: Nixon/Agnew
1972: Nixon/Agnew
1976: Ford/Dole
1980: Reagan/Bush
1984: Reagan/Bush
1988: Bush/Quayle
2000: Bush/Cheney
2004: Bush/Cheney
2008: McCain/Palin
1968: Nixon/Agnew
1972: Nixon/Agnew
1976: Ford/Dole1980: Reagan/Bush
1984: Reagan/Bush
1988: Bush/Quayle
1992: Bush/ Quayle
1996: Dole/Kemp2000: Bush/Cheney
2004: Bush/Cheney
2008: McCain/Palin
I hope you enjoyed the pics of Bush looking like an idiot.
Highlights of the article:
1. In 2000, Bush ran on a platform that he would take action to combat global warming gasses. Before the summer of 2001 was over and Bush had been in office for more than 6 months, he abandoned that pledge.
2. In early 2002, Bush unveils project to "data mine" every Americans phone calls, emails, and medical records. (Joe Nacchio of Qwest refused to cooperate with this plan.)
3. Karl Rove worked as a dirty-trickster in '72 for Nixon, mastered inflammatory, wedge issue politics alongside Lee Atwater, the "Darth Vader" of the Republican party. Bush used these tactics to both get elected and govern.
4. Shortly after 9/11, Rove held a meeting with the RNC telling them that he intended to make the war a partisan issue, that the Democrats could not be trusted to keep the country safe. (Despite the Democrats having fought WW1, WW2, and the first 1/2 of Vietnam.)
5. Under the cover of an undeclared war (undeclared by Congress), Bush disregarded the Constitution, defied Congress, disregarded the law, spied on Americans without warrants, and tortured prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.
6. 2004- Congress passes record $27.3B for 13,997 pork-barrel projects, a record.
7. 2004- White House caught censoring reports by gov't scientist on global warming.
8. Katrina- Bush refused to cut short his vacation when the hurricane hit, praised inept subordinates, ("You're doing a hell of a job, Brownie"), housed survivors in toxic trailers, and provided no meaningful Federal action for rebuilding the city. Years of Republican indifference to the urban poor came home to roost, along with a right-wing, anti-govt' ideology that trashed gov't agencies like FEMA by making them nests of cronyism.
9. Congress- instead of doing their job and showing political Independence as a separate branch of govt', the House and Senate rubber stamped the Bush agenda blindly loyally, free to engage in their own scandals and corruption. House majority whip DeLay's, "K Street Project"designed to enforce absolute deference from Washington lobbying firms to the Republican regime by compelling them to hire party activists in exchange for favorable legislation and loosened regulatory oversight for corporate clients. In attempting to replace the bipartisan lobbying ranks with GOP hardliners, DeLay tried to make the Republicans the only party corporate America would do business with, basically turning American businesses into exclusive ATMs for the Republican party, and turning Congress into a rubber stamp for corporate lobbyists.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Feminists and Palin
From a great Cl Rant & Rave I found in the Alaska section...http://anchorage.craigslist.org/rnr/841410612.html
...I just don't like her politics. I don't like the way she intimidates people and uses her power and authority to get what she wants. I don't like the fact that she is in favor of censorship and tried to fire a woman who defied her. I don't like the fact that she was in favor of making rape victims pay for their own rape kits. I don't like the way she stands on a soap box of being a successful women, wife and mother, "a woman who can break the glass ceiling" yet cries sexism when people demand background and information on someone who could be the most powerful person in the world. I don't like that fact that she hired high school friends to vip positions on her staff with little or no qualifications for the job. I don't like her smug denial of her position on the bridge, ear marks, pork barrel spending, all the while the information is readily available and proven. I don't like her staunch and stubborn denial that abstinence-only education is the only accepted education. It didn't work for her family, how dare she dictate her opinions to the rest of us? I don't like her elitist, religious opinions. She has every right to exercise those opinions with her own family but not the rest of the country who are facing very different realities and situations than hers. I don't like that she continues to support the notion that Iraq was responsible for the attacks of 911.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Selections from a great piece
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/opinion/14rich.html
But the ultimate hypocrisy is that these woebegone, frightened opponents of change, sworn enemies of race-based college-admission initiatives, are now demanding their own affirmative action program for white folks applying to the electoral college. They want the bar for admission to the White House to be placed so low that legitimate scrutiny and criticism of Palin’s qualifications, record and family values can all be placed off limits. Byron York of National Review, a rare conservative who acknowledges the double standard, captured it best: “If the Obamas had a 17-year-old daughter who was unmarried and pregnant by a tough-talking black kid, my guess is if they all appeared onstage at a Democratic convention and the delegates were cheering wildly, a number of conservatives might be discussing the issue of dysfunctional black families.”
But the ultimate hypocrisy is that these woebegone, frightened opponents of change, sworn enemies of race-based college-admission initiatives, are now demanding their own affirmative action program for white folks applying to the electoral college. They want the bar for admission to the White House to be placed so low that legitimate scrutiny and criticism of Palin’s qualifications, record and family values can all be placed off limits. Byron York of National Review, a rare conservative who acknowledges the double standard, captured it best: “If the Obamas had a 17-year-old daughter who was unmarried and pregnant by a tough-talking black kid, my guess is if they all appeared onstage at a Democratic convention and the delegates were cheering wildly, a number of conservatives might be discussing the issue of dysfunctional black families.”
And Then There Were 2
Goldman and Morgan. Its sad. Its being called, "The biggest financial crisis in history," by CNBC.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Worth more than 1000 Words...
To me its hysterical that McCain/Palin 
are attempting to rob Obama of the
campaign slogan he has been using since the Iowa primary against HRC.
Its also fantastic that McCain/Palin received a "cease and desist" letter from the Wilson sisters of "Heart" for using their 1977 song, "Barracuda," a reference to Palin's high school basketball court nickname. Van Halen also sent similar correspondence, for the use of their 1992 song, "Right Now," although unlike the Wilson sisters who are clearly Democrats, as their letter stated they do not share McCain's views, Van Halen doesn't want their music affiliated with politics of any kind.
At this stage of the game, in addition to the apology that I have previously requested from the Republicans, (for wrecking this once great country) I would also like to hear specifics from the McCain/Palin ticket as to what and how specifically they are going to change Washington, as well as a plan as to how the rest of the GOP will go along with said plan. I think its pretty clear that Republicans are in the dog house currently, as each day more news surfaces about the mess this country is in for the failed policies of Bush. Thoughts?
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson make their voices heard!
Lindsay and Samantha's opinions: (from Samantha's MySpace blog)I really cannot bite my tongue anymore when it comes to Sarah Palin.
I couldn't be more supportive of a woman in office, but let's face it, it comes down to the person, and their beliefs, male or female.
Is it a sin to be gay? Should it be a sin to be straight? Or to use birth control? Or to have sex before marriage? Or even to have a child out of wedlock?
I find it quite interesting that a woman who now is running to be second in command of the United States, only 4 years ago had aspirations to be a television anchor. Which is probably all she is qualified to be… Also interesting that she got her passport in 2006.. And that she is not fond of environmental protection considering she's FOR drilling for oil in some of our protected land…. Well hey, if she wants to drill for oil, she should DO IT IN HER OWN backyard. This really shows me her complete lack of real preparation to become the second most powerful person in this country.
Hmmmm-All of this gets me going-Fear, Anxiety, Concern, Disappointment, and Stress come into play…
Is our country so divided that the Republicans best hope is a narrow minded, media obsessed homophobe?
I know that the most important thing about this election is that people need to exercise their right to vote, regardless of their choice… I would have liked to have remained impartial, however I am afraid that the "lipstick on a pig" comments will overshadow the issues and the fact that I believe Barack Obama is the best choice, in this election, for president…
Palin's Desire to "save and convert the gays"-really??
According to this Associated Press story, the church of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is hosting a kind of conference devoted to the "conversion of Gays" — no kidding.
I couldn't be more supportive of a woman in office, but let's face it, it comes down to the person, and their beliefs, male or female.
Is it a sin to be gay? Should it be a sin to be straight? Or to use birth control? Or to have sex before marriage? Or even to have a child out of wedlock?
I find it quite interesting that a woman who now is running to be second in command of the United States, only 4 years ago had aspirations to be a television anchor. Which is probably all she is qualified to be… Also interesting that she got her passport in 2006.. And that she is not fond of environmental protection considering she's FOR drilling for oil in some of our protected land…. Well hey, if she wants to drill for oil, she should DO IT IN HER OWN backyard. This really shows me her complete lack of real preparation to become the second most powerful person in this country.
Hmmmm-All of this gets me going-Fear, Anxiety, Concern, Disappointment, and Stress come into play…
Is our country so divided that the Republicans best hope is a narrow minded, media obsessed homophobe?
I know that the most important thing about this election is that people need to exercise their right to vote, regardless of their choice… I would have liked to have remained impartial, however I am afraid that the "lipstick on a pig" comments will overshadow the issues and the fact that I believe Barack Obama is the best choice, in this election, for president…
Palin's Desire to "save and convert the gays"-really??
According to this Associated Press story, the church of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is hosting a kind of conference devoted to the "conversion of Gays" — no kidding.
(Link to AP story)
Back to Lindsay and Samantha:
I feel it's necessary for me to clarify that I am not against Sarah Palin as a mother or woman.
Women have come a long way in the fight to have the choice over what we do with our bodies… And its frightening to see that a woman in 2008 would negate all of that.
Oh, and…Hint Hint Pali Pal- Don't pose for anymore tabloid covers, you're not a celebrity, you're running for office to represent our, your, my COUNTRY!
And in the words of Pamela Anderson, "She can suck it"..
Lindsay- "I have faith that this country will be all that it can be with the proper guidance. I really hope that all of you make your decisions based on the facts and what feels right to you in your heart-vote for obama!"
Samantha- "I love this country- however i wasn't born here and don't have the right to vote- so i beg of you all to really do your research and be educated when you cast your vote this coming November…. and if you're in doubt- vote for obama! Mainly because if she gets elected my green card probably won't get renewed!!!"
Women have come a long way in the fight to have the choice over what we do with our bodies… And its frightening to see that a woman in 2008 would negate all of that.
Oh, and…Hint Hint Pali Pal- Don't pose for anymore tabloid covers, you're not a celebrity, you're running for office to represent our, your, my COUNTRY!
And in the words of Pamela Anderson, "She can suck it"..
Lindsay- "I have faith that this country will be all that it can be with the proper guidance. I really hope that all of you make your decisions based on the facts and what feels right to you in your heart-vote for obama!"
Samantha- "I love this country- however i wasn't born here and don't have the right to vote- so i beg of you all to really do your research and be educated when you cast your vote this coming November…. and if you're in doubt- vote for obama! Mainly because if she gets elected my green card probably won't get renewed!!!"
Celeb Pink on Palin
In an interview, (link below) singer Pink gives some comments on her feelings about Palin."If I were writing a letter to Sarah Palin," Pink said, "it would be a lot of whys and hows. Who are you? Do you know? Why do you hate animals? Please point out Iraq on a map ..."
What scares Pink are women who consider the Alaska governor's selection a feminist victory. "This woman hates women," the singer said. "She is not a feminist. She is not the woman that's going to come behind Hillary Clinton and do anything that Hillary Clinton would've been capable of ... I can't imagine overturning Roe vs. Wade. She's not of this time. The woman terrifies me."
Pink, an animal rights activist, suggests creatures other than humans should be just as scared of Palin: "I can't imagine shooting a wolf out of a helicopter."
http://www.popeater.com/music/article/pink-sarah-palin-hates-women/172323
Friday, September 12, 2008
Highlights from McCain's 65th visit to "Face The Nation"
To read sections of the interview, link to the CBS page is below. Host is Bob Schieffer. (I DVR'd this and just got to it. Sorry!)Highlights:
McCain said many things that give me hope that if he is elected it won't be entirely more of the "McSame." When asked about the GSE conservator- ship news, he took responsibility that his party were the ones that passed the legislation allowing loopholes which were then exploited. McCain recognizes this mess the Bush admin made, and is taking responsibility. He called the GSE mess is .."cronyism, special interests, quasi-government bureaucracies, lobbyists, and a relationship with Congress, ... who passed the laws that allowed the loopholes to be there, its an example of a system where you are so close to the special interests in Washington that somehow the average American is disregarded." When asked if McCain thought the conservatorship was a good idea, he said, "It has to be done, Bob."
McCain said he spoke with (Treasury Secretary Henry) Paulson who said that when the housing market starts back up again, ("which it will, it will start back up again eventually") at which time the homeowners are going to be the ones that are reimbursed (for the implied cost in the question of the conservatorship). McCain didn't provide any details about the reimbursement.
McCain spoke about a national energy policy as something that isn't "partisan." He also spoke about Palin as the "most popular Governor in America." I wonder how he got that idea, and the source of that statistic. Was she the most popular governor in America before this August? Just asking.
The most exciting thing that McCain said about Obama is that he has never "taken on his own party." From what I know about Obama, his voting record in the Senate is as far to the left as possible. I don't think there is any issue among Democrats with his position on the left. In what way do the Democrats need to be "taken on"? They are not the ones that have been in control of all 3 branches of the Federal government for the past 6 of 8 years. McCain saying Obama has never "taken on" his own party shows me that McCain is not entirely taking responsibility that his party wrecked America. He can't ignore the GSE matter because all of the evidence is right in front of him. Yet for him to suggest that Democrats need to be "taken on" by each other; they haven't had enough political power to do anything to make any mistakes to then need to be taken on within their party. Just saying.
Finally, as Republicans go, there are much worse than McCain. That is the good news. Yet, he has Palin on his ticket, who is far to the right, so, the aspects that make McCain tolerable may be negatively influenced by Palin.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/07/ftn/main4423246.shtml
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
7 years since 9/11
Please see below the letter I wrote to the NY Times editor on the 7th anniversary of 9/11.
Dear Editor,
Today is the 7th anniversary of 9/11. Despite billions of taxpayer dollars and thousands of lives lost, there is little meaningful progress on the war on terror. A housing / credit crisis threatens American families and companies, yet Bush continues to spend on Iraq. In Kate Phillips’s “War at home: Bush’s Iraq Troops Drawdown,” (9/9/08) Obama reminds us Bin Laden remains at large and Iraq costs $10 billion / month.
After 8 years of Bush 9/11 victims are without justice, our economy is wrecked, our national debt is $9 trillion, and our international reputation is deplorable. How can McCain and Palin tout “change” without being honest about the harm their party caused America? We deserve an apology from the Republicans for wrecking our great nation that once lead the world. Before Republicans can ever be trusted they must take responsibility for their wrongdoings. America deserves better. We must demand it.
Today is the 7th anniversary of 9/11. Despite billions of taxpayer dollars and thousands of lives lost, there is little meaningful progress on the war on terror. A housing / credit crisis threatens American families and companies, yet Bush continues to spend on Iraq. In Kate Phillips’s “War at home: Bush’s Iraq Troops Drawdown,” (9/9/08) Obama reminds us Bin Laden remains at large and Iraq costs $10 billion / month.
After 8 years of Bush 9/11 victims are without justice, our economy is wrecked, our national debt is $9 trillion, and our international reputation is deplorable. How can McCain and Palin tout “change” without being honest about the harm their party caused America? We deserve an apology from the Republicans for wrecking our great nation that once lead the world. Before Republicans can ever be trusted they must take responsibility for their wrongdoings. America deserves better. We must demand it.
Thoughts? I think it needs to be made clear on the national stage that the Republicans' tutelage wrecked this country. They need to admit that before they can be taken seriously. I wonder how bad the Republicans need to make their constituents suffer before even die hard members of the right start to think about whats important to them. With all of the suffering going on with the housing and credit crises, the 20K people who work at Lehman Brothers who may lose their jobs, the 8K people from Bear Stearns who did lose their jobs, I wonder how many voted for Bush, and how many plan to vote for McCain. At what point are members of the right thinking, "Our shit is falling apart and this is not what I signed on for when I voted for Bush?" When they lose their jobs? Their homes? Their fancy cars get re-possessed? I don't wish those things on anyone. I really don't, even on a far-right picketer of abortion clinics.
Yet what is crazy to me is many Republicans that I hear talking still talk like Bush is doing an alright job. I hear comments like, 
"Obama is going to get credit 3 years from now for a lot of the policies Bush is putting in place now," and I think to myself, at the very best Obama will have cleaned up some of Bush's mess 3 years from now. I wonder what it is going to take for die hard Republicans to admit their boy wrecked this country, and start to demand more. CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera said it best when she said, "The Republicans promised to stay out of our bedrooms and wallets, and did neither."
"Obama is going to get credit 3 years from now for a lot of the policies Bush is putting in place now," and I think to myself, at the very best Obama will have cleaned up some of Bush's mess 3 years from now. I wonder what it is going to take for die hard Republicans to admit their boy wrecked this country, and start to demand more. CNBC's Michelle Caruso-Cabrera said it best when she said, "The Republicans promised to stay out of our bedrooms and wallets, and did neither." Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Not All Bad
Just to even the playing field of all of the anti-GOP chatter, I will admit Republicans aren't all bad. Its not like I think, "Democrats = good, Republicans = bad," although I better be careful because my parents read this blog. Yes, I was raised in a democratic household. Both of my parents are Democrats; my Mom does work for local groups, and my Dad gives money and supports leftist causes. When I asked my Mom as a kid once, "What is the worst thing I could ever do?" just so I knew, she responded with a curt, "Become a registered Republican."My parents talked politics in our family, but not all of the time and not super in-depth. During the Clinton years, there was a lot of talk about health care, and how the Republican controlled Legislature of the early 1990s blocked the Clinton's plans. Since my Dad is an engineer at a hospital, he certainly is at the forefront of what is wrong with our nation's health care system. One of the problems with health insurance is that the company can decide not to cover something, really, if the company decides they don't want to. Also, health insurance companies are in business to make a profit, so there must be occasions where people at the company have to chose between saving money and saving lives. Meanwhile, government is a big problem with the current system. Hospitals are mandated to treat whoever walks through the ER doors, regardless of their ability to pay, yet the State of NJ reimburses the said hospital $0.25-$0.40 of every $1.00 the hospital spends treating the person. Charity care falls short in many lower income communities. Given that social security, medicare, and Medicaid are all bankrupt, it doesn't make sense to increase the health care responsibilities of the Federal gov't, and state gov'ts are also struggling in this area.
If there is something I want to most convey to Republicans, its that the Bush years were truly toxic to America. When Republican administrations do good things, like NYC during the Giuliani and Bloomberg admins, Democrats can acknowledge it and cheer on things/people that work. I am not against goodness when it comes from Republicans. I have said before that I think the first Bush did a great job mending relations with Russia after the fall of the Cold War. The foundation of the Republican party was once about small federal gov't and large state gov'ts. Contemporary America has many issues that should be settled on the state level: from abortion, medical marijuana, guns, gay marriage, etc. Given the large amount of debt the federal gov't has taken on over the past 8 years, perhaps it needs to be much smaller and more authority be left to the states.
Finally, the damage the Bush admin has done to this country is far and wide. I don't want to get started with specifics. I think all of us know the truth. The questions about Iraq aren't relevant, since keeping things going well here at home are just as important as doing a good job overseas. When the GOP talks change, I hope they are serious.
Old men and women's issues
Much is made of "old men legislating women's issues" when it comes to abortion. Given Palin's position of being against abortion in cases of rape and incest, as well as being against sex-ed eduation in schools, and cut funding for teen mother's crisis centers in Alaska,, I was wondering what Mrs. McCain felt about all of this. Results are interesting. Selections taken from an interview by Katie Couric with Cindy McCain, from CBS. (link to full article below)
Couric: Some, even Republicans, seemed surprised that Sen. McCain picked a running mate who opposes abortion even in the cases of rape and incest, and believes creationism should be taught in schools. And I'm just curious, do you agree with that?
McCain: What I agree with is the fact that she is a social conservative. She is a reform-minded woman. She is someone that will … shake Washington up, which is exactly what we want to do. We differ on many issues; we differ across the board with people. We don't have to agree on every issue.
Couric: Where do you stand on abortion?
McCain: I'm pro-life. I'm on the record as being pro-life, like my husband.
Couric: So do you oppose it even in cases of rape and incest?
McCain: No.
Couric: So that's where you two differ in terms of your position on that.
McCain: Uh-huh
Couric: And do you believe Roe V. Wade should be overturned?
McCain: No. no.
Couric: No. Why not? Your husband does.
McCain: No. I don't think he does.
Couric: He believes it should be overturned. That's what he told me, and that it should go to the states.
McCain: Well, in that respect. Yes, yeah, I do. I understand what you're saying now. It's a states issue.
Couric: So, you believe it should be overturned or shouldn't be overturned.
McCain: I believe it's a states issue. That I do believe.
Couric: How do you feel about creationism? Do you think it should be taught in schools?
McCain: I think both sides should be taught in schools. I think the more children have a frame of reference and an opportunity to read and know and make better decisions and judgments when they are adults. So, I think you know I don't have any problem with education of any kind.
Ironically, McCain is very smart to say its a state's issue. That would allow Northern progressive states to allow abortion, and southern conservative states could ban it, and everyone could be happy. The federal gov't wouldn't have to spend time dealing with it. What I don't understand is why people want creationism taught in public schools. If parents are that religious, aren't they already sending their kids to catholic schools? Do they really want biology teachers talking about creation? Really? The Republicans are clearly against Science. There is numerous forms of documentation of the ways that the Bush admin has stifled scientific research and innovation. Science is bad, because it proves "climate change" is real. The morning-after pill is a form of abortion and must be banned.
Its interesting to me that either Cindy McCain doesn't want Roe vs. Wade overturned, or she wasn't familiar enough with the case history to know what that meant. Its also great that she thinks John McCain doesn't want Roe vs Wade overturned. Could he be pandering to the Christian right with no intent of following through? In any event, this has to be an issue central to Hillary supporters in which they would never consider voting for McCain/Palin. I just don't see a women who is part of the "center" being willing to vote away womens' rights to abortion because she thinks Palin is "interesting" or whatever. Thoughts?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/03/eveningnews/main4413606.shtml
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/03/eveningnews/main4413606.shtml
Saturday, September 6, 2008
McCain ticket claims to be for "Change"
Back in 2000, when I was in my teens still and campaigned on campus for Gore, I knew in my heart bad things were in store for a (then) potential Bush America. It wasn't just the liberal in me, it was a genuine premonition. In 2004, as I sat watching the map of Ohio broken down into counties on TV, I knew again good things were not in store. All the while I read many accounts of Diebold voting machines, and other "irregularities." I wondered what it was going to take to get the Republicans out of Washington.Although Barak Obama is not my personal first choice to head the Democratic ticket, I stand behind him and my party fully. When I hear on the news about a Colorado Springs McCain/Palin rally in which they claim they are the agents to bring change to Washington, what Obama has been saying all along, I stop and ask myself, "Have either McCain or Palin apologized for the Bush administration and all of the bad things that have happened in this country over the past 8 years? Have they named specific things that they plan to change? Have they shared their vision of what America will be like 4 years from now? How do they plan to really change this country when their party dominated the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the Federal government over the past 6 of 8 years? Have the rest of the GOP signed on for this supposed change?"
I think it would be appropriate here to list Bush's 2000 and 2004 campaign promises, yet I am going to refrain to avoid getting really upset. Could McCain and Palin be better at getting votes than running government? Could this all be a ploy, as they pander to the center and then return to business as usual once (potentially) elected? And, can we, as Americans, as we discuss a bailout of Fannie and Freddie (with preferred stock as part of the bailout since it is held by banks) afford to be mislead and sold a false bill of goods by the GOP for the third Presidential election in a row?
Palin, attractive or not, doesn't have a record of real reform. There has been no talk of overturning the Bankruptcy laws, part of what is stifling innovation and preventing new wealth creation. There has been no talk of Bush's war on science, and how without scientific innovation, America is at a disadvantage. There is a scene in the movie, "Wall Street" in which Bud's boss Lou Manheim tells him that the money he makes for his clients gets invested in science and research, and creates jobs for people. Bud responds that one needs to get rich first, and then they can be a pillar and do good things. Have the Republicans forgoten what they even stand for? Do they exist now to wreck the economy and support the Christian right?
The last legacy of the Bush admin will be the "too big to fail" trend in the financials. First, Bear Stearns. Now, Fannie and Freddie. The CEO's of Fannie and Freddie took home a combined $30M last year in compensation. So, they effectively overpaid themselves instead of appropriately doing their jobs, and now the taxpayers have to clean up the mess. Bearish US$? You bet. Will they be asked to repay their salaries for the past 3 years towards the public liability of saving their enterprises? Or will they retire with their millions unscathed while our tax dollars bail out their companies? This is the kind of change I would like to hear talked about from McCain and Palin. I would like to hear some admission of the GOP's many wrongdoings. Don't you?
Friday, September 5, 2008
The Party that Wrecked America
The John Stewart clip from "The Daily Show" below illustrates how the GOP is clearly without any consistency. Its a way of thinking Kindergartners use, "If my friend does it, its good. If my enemy does it, its bad." Regardless of what "it" is. The proverbial "it" in this case are the qualities needed by the person running the U.S. Kind of sounds like an important job!
The Republicans are currently carrying on in their paper hats as if they have nothing to do with the problems going on in America today. There has been no acknowledgement of what went wrong under Bush, and how they are going to avoid the "pack mentality" in which Congress rubber stamped everything from 2000-'06 instead of using their brains and thinking through the legislation they were passing. The McCain campaign hasn't listed how they are going to clean up Bush's mess, or how their admin will be different. McCain's Tucker can't give any real examples of Palin's foreign policy experience, which means that McCain's "higher standard" of candidates needing foreign policy experience exists only for the Democrats! Certainly not for his Veep!
I am proud of the media for finally starting to have the balls to out the Republicans on this stuff. Fox News gave them a safe haven for long enough to manipulate the facts, selectively pick the issues, disguise their failures, spread their lies, and promote an ideology of thinking instead of actual facts or news. I am glad the mainstream media is now outing them for this.
At one time, America was the best nation in the world. We stood for something, proudly and consistently. Our politicians were praised or critiqued by a truly free media. The public held them accountable for their actions. Looks like we are heading back to being an actual "democracy".
The Republicans are currently carrying on in their paper hats as if they have nothing to do with the problems going on in America today. There has been no acknowledgement of what went wrong under Bush, and how they are going to avoid the "pack mentality" in which Congress rubber stamped everything from 2000-'06 instead of using their brains and thinking through the legislation they were passing. The McCain campaign hasn't listed how they are going to clean up Bush's mess, or how their admin will be different. McCain's Tucker can't give any real examples of Palin's foreign policy experience, which means that McCain's "higher standard" of candidates needing foreign policy experience exists only for the Democrats! Certainly not for his Veep!
I am proud of the media for finally starting to have the balls to out the Republicans on this stuff. Fox News gave them a safe haven for long enough to manipulate the facts, selectively pick the issues, disguise their failures, spread their lies, and promote an ideology of thinking instead of actual facts or news. I am glad the mainstream media is now outing them for this.
At one time, America was the best nation in the world. We stood for something, proudly and consistently. Our politicians were praised or critiqued by a truly free media. The public held them accountable for their actions. Looks like we are heading back to being an actual "democracy".
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Suprise, Suprise, the GOP is full of lies!
I am not at all surprised that the GOP "stretches the truth" or however it is put politely in the AP article. (Link at bottom.) I would love to read an article about all of the "truth stretching" Pres Bush has done. And, no, its not giving aid to the enemy to criticize the President. Its called accountability and democracy. When Americans speak of the far right polices of Nazi Germany, from the propaganda to the one party political system, its so horrible and terrible. Yet, Americans today are quietly putting up with the private propaganda of Fox News, which is proven not to report facts but to promote an "ideology of thinking," (yet claim to be "fair and balanced") as well as the lack of honesty and critique among the Republican party. People listening to the GOP, as edited in the sections below, who do not have other information sources, may believe the crap that Palin, Romney, Huckabee and McCain are spitting. In all fairne
ss, Bill Clinton is rich too, and I'm sure the Dem's have taken liberties regarding the truth. No politician is totally clean in this arena. But the Democrats don't have the help of an entire news network dedicated to promoting their way of thinking as "fair and balanced" news, when there is no news product whatsoever, that offers to then host the Republican's debate so they can make the Republicans look like idiots! (Fox offered to host the Democratic debate. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3069.html)
ss, Bill Clinton is rich too, and I'm sure the Dem's have taken liberties regarding the truth. No politician is totally clean in this arena. But the Democrats don't have the help of an entire news network dedicated to promoting their way of thinking as "fair and balanced" news, when there is no news product whatsoever, that offers to then host the Republican's debate so they can make the Republicans look like idiots! (Fox offered to host the Democratic debate. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3069.html) Pardon me, but I am so tired of living in Bush America. I am so tired of the Republicans justifying their anti-democratic crap while the price of energy skyrockets, the housing market falls apart, and medicare and social security are bankrupt.
From the AP article:
PALIN: "I have protected the taxpayers by vetoing wasteful spending ... and championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. I told the Congress 'thanks but no thanks' for that Bridge to Nowhere."
THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."
THE FACTS: As mayor of Wasilla, Palin hired a lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for the town totaling $27 million. In her two years as governor, Alaska has requested nearly $750 million in special federal spending, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation. While Palin notes she rejected plans to build a $398 million bridge from Ketchikan to an island with 50 residents and an airport, that opposition came only after the plan was ridiculed nationally as a "bridge to nowhere."
PALIN: "There is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state senate."
THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.
THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.
PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."
THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded. Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.
He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.
MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.
THE FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state — by population.
MCCAIN: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. ... She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.
THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under "federal status," which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska's national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.
FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."
THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.
FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right — change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington — throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."
THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.
THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded. Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.
He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.
MCCAIN: "She's been governor of our largest state, in charge of 20 percent of America's energy supply ... She's responsible for 20 percent of the nation's energy supply. I'm entertained by the comparison and I hope we can keep making that comparison that running a political campaign is somehow comparable to being the executive of the largest state in America," he said in an interview with ABC News' Charles Gibson.
THE FACTS: McCain's phrasing exaggerates both claims. Palin is governor of a state that ranks second nationally in crude oil production, but she's no more "responsible" for that resource than President Bush was when he was governor of Texas, another oil-producing state. In fact, her primary power is the ability to tax oil, which she did in concert with the Alaska Legislature. And where Alaska is the largest state in America, McCain could as easily have called it the 47th largest state — by population.
MCCAIN: "She's the commander of the Alaska National Guard. ... She has been in charge, and she has had national security as one of her primary responsibilities," he said on ABC.
THE FACTS: While governors are in charge of their state guard units, that authority ends whenever those units are called to actual military service. When guard units are deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan, for example, they assume those duties under "federal status," which means they report to the Defense Department, not their governors. Alaska's national guard units have a total of about 4,200 personnel, among the smallest of state guard organizations.
FORMER ARKANSAS GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE: Palin "got more votes running for mayor of Wasilla, Alaska than Joe Biden got running for president of the United States."
THE FACTS: A whopper. Palin got 616 votes in the 1996 mayor's election, and got 909 in her 1999 re-election race, for a total of 1,525. Biden dropped out of the race after the Iowa caucuses, but he still got 76,165 votes in 23 states and the District of Columbia where he was on the ballot during the 2008 presidential primaries.
FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOV. MITT ROMNEY: "We need change, all right — change from a liberal Washington to a conservative Washington! We have a prescription for every American who wants change in Washington — throw out the big-government liberals, and elect John McCain and Sarah Palin."
THE FACTS: A Back-to-the-Future moment. George W. Bush, a conservative Republican, has been president for nearly eight years. And until last year, Republicans controlled Congress. Only since January 2007 have Democrats have been in charge of the House and Senate.
Source:
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Democrats, the Palin choice, and the GOP
When I first heard that John McCain asked Sarah Palin, gov of Alaska since '06, to join his ticket, my gut reaction was that he was trying to attract the female Hillary Clinton supporters who supposedly claim they would rather defect than vote for Obama. Now, this whole thing with the supposed "female Hillary supporters voting for McCain before Obama" sounds to me like a fairy tale wish on the part of the GOP and/or McCain, possibly cooked up by the good people at Fox News, ("fair and balanced" for those who haven't noticed) and generally all around a pipe dream with the exception of possibly a handful of women. I can imagine there are a few women that feel strongly that Hillary was the right candidate to be at the top of the ticket and out of respect will not support her former rival, (current ally) Barak Obama. Yet I doubt this is a large group of women. (I am a former Hillary supporter that while not totally smitten with Obama, surely will not be voting for McCain.) I doubt there is a significant number of women dead set against voting for Obama, and, willing to subsequently vote for McCain. If I am wrong, I would love to see the evidence.
So, with that out of the way, I thought McCain's strategy of picking Sarah Palin to attract those non-existent "female Hillary supporters turned defectors" was pretty silly since I don't think the supposed defectors exist. Yet, once the media began their dirt digging escapades across southern Alaska and turned up Sarah Palin's 17 year old daughter Bristol's pregnancy I began to see other reasons why it wasn't a good pick. ("Should we even be reporting this story?") There is also the issue of Bristol drinking alcohol, (see pics) as well as the issue of Sarah's oldest son Track born 8 months after a "spontaneous" wedding. The so-called Trooper-gate, which I think we will soon know more about, as well as Palin's 1990s era membership in a group called Alaskan Independence Party, which has been pushing since the 1970s for a legal vote for whether Alaska can secede from the nation. Finally, I would like to note that Palin is joining McCain on a reform ticket, and part of that reform includes elimination the "pork barrel projects" in the federal budget. Yet Palin, as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, made trips to Washington to request Federal dollars for the very "pork" projects she is now a reformer of.
Surely many of the above mentioned aspects of Palin, as uncovered by the media, won't fly with the conservative GOP types, although they are masters of sticking together and not airing their dirty laundry. According to a Wall Street trading mechanism, mentioned on the air today by Erin Burnett, there is currently a 15% chance McCain will dump Palin from his ticket. What I think is likely is that McCain will keep Palin on his ticket, and the choosing of her will become fuel for the fire of "McCain makes impulsive decisions" or something like that. This episode, in which McCain had months and months to pick a VP, will show the country that be often makes major decisions without thinking them through. That, my friends, will help a Mr. Barak Obama.
(I take no moral or ethical position on any of the named reasons as to why Palin isn't a good pick, such as teen sex, teen drinking, Federal pork, etc.)
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