John wrote on Aug 17, 2008 1:27 AM:And if Prop A wins , we pay for others medical treatments and extra high administrator's.salaries.

chuck wrote on Aug 17, 2008 5:13 AM:Hussein must have waved his staff last night. I woke up the AM and had an uncontrllable urge to check the tire pressure in my car. Are we energy independent yet?

Through the Past Darkly wrote on Aug 17, 2008 5:42 AM:Jean Carroll, another sufferer of Battered Conservative Syndrome. The symptoms of BCS are quite intriguing. In Jean’s case it seems to be short-term memory loss.
She says she doesn’t want a President who can’t speak or think on his feet. Has she seen any of Bush’s press conferences in the past eight years? To say that Bush is the most inarticulate President in our history would not be a stretch.
She says that Obama is proposing trillions of dollars in handouts and government spending. Under Bush and the Republican controlled Congress (the Party of fiscal discipline, mind you) we had record spending, record deficits, and increased the national debt in six years by almost as much as it took all previous Presidents and Congresses to do in 230 years.
At least the Democrats are honest in proposing taxing and spending. As opposed to the Republican’s shameful borrowing and spending, which was not exactly conservative long-term strategic thinking.

Through the Looking Glass wrote on Aug 17, 2008 6:06 AM:I’m sure the NCT was quite happy today to be able to print two letters complaining about their perceived bias in covering the Presidential candidates.
Sarah Turitto, an Obama supporter, complaining about photo choices, and Arlan Brown, a McCain supporter, complaining about poll inclusions.
One threatens to cut her subscription; the other makes demands on a newspaper he does not own. Interesting to note that the Democrat is using market forces to bring influence while the Republican sees some sort of civil rights abridgement.
Truly a world upside down.

Through the Fog wrote on Aug 17, 2008 6:38 AM:Somehow, momentarily coming out of her BCS stupor, Jean Carroll has accidentally stumbled onto the best rationale to vote for McCain. That being divided government.
If McCain can bring himself to say to the American people, “The Democrats are going to retain control of Congress, you remember what it was like when one Party (the Republicans) controlled the government in the first six years of the Bush Administration, do you really want one Party (the Democrats) to do the same for the foreseeable future?”, he could induce ticket splitting on a massive scale.
It is my opinion that this one issue will indeed sway the undecided voters away from Obama, handing the election to McCain, and maintaining the gridlock we love to hate but is actually in the best interest of all of us.
As I’ve said before, a day when the President and Congress do nothing is, on the whole, a good day for America.

Through the Eyes of the Beholder wrote on Aug 17, 2008 7:07 AM:Junious Montgomery writes, "[Offensive words] are not a part of my language..."
I wonder what Junious actually wrote that was so offensive that the editors had to bracket it out?
In fact, most of Mr. Montgomery's letters are quite offensive to some people. Today's, however, on comparision, seems downright civil.
Must be taking his anti-BCS meds.

Paul wrote on Aug 17, 2008 7:17 AM:Dear Jean Carroll

Go ahead and pray that obama doesn't win, but at least learn some facts about him. according to the wall st journal his tax plan would tax americans less as a % than reagan's and anyone making less than $250 k per year would get a tax cut

strange to criticize obama's speaking when mccain repeatedly proves he doesn't know anything about the world

after 8 years of right-wing incompetence, it is insulting to read that obama won't cut it. are we supposed to take people seriously who voted for bush/cheney? i don't have to pray about that
one last point-hollywood isn't a rich liberal, it's a city in california

Paul wrote on Aug 17, 2008 7:23 AM:Dolores Wiener's statement, "Anyone who supports Iran over the U.S. and Israel had better examine their motives"

way to go Mel Crawford for calling Ms Wiener out. Have you noticed that if you present facts that can't be refuted, these reactionary types always question you personally: either you're not a patriot or whatever. That's how you know you've won the argument! Way to go!

Pluto wrote on Aug 17, 2008 7:25 AM:Typical of the Obama bashers that Jean Carroll didn't mention any issues. McBush supporters have so little to say it's pathetic.

Paul wrote on Aug 17, 2008 7:30 AM:Ah, Junius, there you go again

one thing that all the pro-mccain/anti-obama letters have in common is they never tell you a good reason to vote for mccain. or against obama. junius m's latest is an example:

we're supposed to vote for mccain because ?

we're supposed to vote against obama because...he like's the music of Ludacris?

The bloom is off the corrupt, incompetent gop's rose, and this fall should be proof.

Peggy's not the only one who thinks your letters lack "facts and meat" but i'll leave it up to you. should i reject barack obama because he likes Ludacris? THAT is ludicrous

that goes for bill ficere's letters, and darrell beck's letters for sure-his haven't made any sense in at least ten years

Clear as can be wrote on Aug 17, 2008 7:57 AM:In their discussion aimed at the evangelicals, Obama and McCain made one thing perfectly clear for anyone who didn't already know. Obama supports Roe, McCain opposes it. Their records on this matter show that this is not talk, it's what they have acted on consistently. A vote for McCain will likely mean the end of Roe as Supreme Court Justices are replaced.

Alf wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:04 AM:Well, "Karl" at 10:44AM on the 16th,
we went to Knott's for Mrs. Alf's company summer to-do, it was hot.
Palm Springs in August a few years ago, when it was 113, with her sister for our nephews' "last fling before school starts" was another exercise in masochism whose only redemptions were the sunrises, pool and the air conditioned rooms.
Sanding of the 200 sq ft kitchen balcony is about 1/2 done, slow but thorough.
The worst day golfing is better than the best day doing most other things (at least, for you).
The worst day photographing Mount Shasta (or Brian Head or Zion or Bryce or Kauai or Moonlight Beach or, or ......) is better than the best day doing most other things (at least, for me).
The "Taste of Encinitas" coincides with the Rods and Woodies, I'd better wear the expando-pants.
Regards, Alf.

Paul wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:19 AM:Dear Checkpoint fans

sure it's good to have safe vehicles, but it has to be balanced. it would probably make us safer if the police could enter our homes at will and look for explosives, but it wouldn't be America (it would be bush/cheney/mccain's Amerika)

Chuck wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:26 AM:Hot Hollywood news: Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi wed at Beverly Hills estate. How precious. And do you notice how the Hollywood liberals are spewing forth Bush hate for the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, and take the side of Russia, in their invasion of tiny Georigia, and they praise thugs like Chavez for socializing Venezuela

Paul wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:26 AM:open question to the righties

you claim that obama liking Ludacris is significant

mccain's lobbyist associates seem more important to me. for example, mccain's guy davis lobbied to allow the sale of airborne express to dhl (a foreign owned company) in 2003. now dhl is trying to sub out its work to ups, which will cause around 10,000 job losses in ohio

q: what's more important? to claim that obama's musical taste is a reason not to vote for him while ignoring mccain's corporate connections is either ignorant, dishonest, or both

Ron wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:28 AM:Apparently, Sarah Turitto is not getting what she wants.. "all Messiah, all of the time."
What have I told you about a certain group of people who only want to read good things about their particular candidate, or their point of view?

And then she further bolsters my point by stating, that if she does not get "what she wants", she will then cancel her subscription to the newspaper. These people on the Left are some of THE most closed minded, intolerant people I know.

The Ron rule on this? READ EVERYTHING!
Even if you violently disagree with it, you can always learn something.

One suggestion for Ms. Turitto, if this is the kind of softball reading she really wants, then maybe she should cancel her subscription to the NC Times, and subscribe to some San Diego County Democrat fluff piece. I'm more than sure she'll get all the Messiah she can stand.

chuck wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:38 AM:The news is reporting that Tropical Storm Fay is nearing Cuba, and Florida has declared emergency. Imagine that, Florida gives their people 36 hours advance notice through their actions. Unlike Mayor Nagin, who was given 36 hours advance notice of Katrina to order the suggested evacuation, told Bush to shove it because he's in charge, and then he waits til after breakfast on that fateful day to give those living in New Orleans an 8 hour evacuation notice.

Paul wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:38 AM:more selective memory from j montgomery

the company mccain keeps:

charles keating
george bush
dick cheney
pastor john hagee
pastor parsley (forgot his 1st name)
phil "americans are whiners" gramm
cindy 'soon to be' mccain (while still married to another woman

right wingers seem to have selective memory, and lack any sense of fair play

No more BOND BOND BONDs wrote on Aug 17, 2008 8:55 AM:Where do you get your facts. Last year alone I paid over 1000 in bonds before I even got to my base line property tax. And I'm not paying FOR ANYMORE bonds.

Tri-City Hospital made an 11.4 million dollars profit. They don't need tax payer money to fund this hospital when they are profiting.

This is a double tax. You pay 10 times more as an insured patient, illegals and uninsured pay 0. So why the heck do I want to pay for a bond too?!

Many Oceanside residence are retire military and use Camp Pandleton and Most Carlsbad residents us Scripps in Encinitas which leaves east O'side and Vista using Tri-city. Let them pay for it.

Paul wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:03 AM:chuck
the responsibility to protect citizens in a disaster falls on local, state, and federal government. if, as you say, nagin blew it, then the state and feds (with far greater resources) are supposed to be there as well

what you're saying is that bush/cheney were as incompetent as nagin. good luck trying to rehab the gop's image on katrina!

Paul wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:07 AM:Dear Ron,

The Ron rule on this? READ EVERYTHING!
Even if you violently disagree with it, you can always learn something.

hilarious! on more than one occasion i've demonstrated that you don't read the letters you criticize
the last one i wrote that tax cuts for the rich don't stimulate the economy, and you fired back that rebate checks (for the poor and middle class) had an effect.

like many right wingers, you make up rules for others to follow that you don't follow yourself-it's called hypocrite

Paul wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:09 AM:chuck
[-] wrote on Aug 17, 2008 5:13 AM:
Hussein must have waved his staff last night. I woke up the AM and had an uncontrllable urge to check the tire pressure in my car. Are we energy independent yet?

yeah, chuck, much smarter to ignore your tires and stick a drill in the ground

On bended knee wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:33 AM:Jean Carroll is asking for divine intervention in the coming election. She must be praying to the mean, vengeful, Republican God from the Old Testament before He became the kind, forgiving, Democrat God in the New Testament.

Reardon wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:37 AM:Great article in the NCTimes on the huge increase in electric bicycles in Europe. That is the plan DD and Greenergy have for America – BICYCLES NOW!

The Green movement has this in mind for America, despite a County in California equals a State in New England equals a Nation in Europe.

The environmental movement will continue to obstruct the generation of power, however it is generated. They will obstruct drilling, they hate nuclear, they "support solar" but oppose transmission lines to transmit that energy, they think wind energy destroys birds, they want water but only if no fish are displaced…there is absolutely no limit to their obstructionism.

Better get your electric bicycle -- or stop the environmentalists. (I vote for the second item.)

Ron wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:41 AM:Given his "education", and I'm not talking about his degrees from certain universities, but his street education, his street cred. Jean Carroll does have a point in regards to "Obama's political roots are mired in left-wing socialism."
Frank Marshall Davis, known communist mentor, spoken by Obama in his own book: "Dreams From My Father."

The wrong Rev. Wright, who himself adopted Black Liberation Theology as taught by James Cone.
According to Cone: "If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him." Very similar to Wright's own statement: US of KKK-A.
After several controversal statements by Rev. Wright came to light, Obama first said he ad never heard any such statements, only to later confirm that he had sat through "a couple", and that he was uncomfortable. But, Obama was "taught" in this Black Liberation church for 20 years.

Then you have his "friendship" with known American terrorist William "Bill" Ayers. And according to Larry C. Johnson writing for the Huffington Post said: "Bill Ayers will be Barack Obama's Willie Horton." The Left knows how explosive this long term relationship will be. And contrary to what Obama has said: I was 7 or 8 at the time these things happened. The fact remains, William Ayers is an unrepentant terrorist, and a longstanding friend, who on the very day of the 9/11 attacks, told the New York Times: "I don't regret setting bombs...I feel we didn't do enough."
Ayers is so toxic to Obama, because his own written record of equating U.S. Marines with terrorists. We see that almost daily with our buddy "Chris" here.
And then we still have 20 year friend,
supporter, and bag-man "Big Tony" Resko. Rashid Khalidi founder of the Arab American Action Network (AAAN), a group associated with confrontational statements of support for Palestinians and antagonism toward Israel. In 2001 and again in 2002, the Woods Fund of Chicago, with directors Ayers and Obama, made grants of $40,000 and $35,000 to the AAAN. Mr. Khalidi also served Yasser Arafat's PLO at the Madrid conference in 1991.
Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi-born billionaire investor, connected to Obama through Resko, and the buying of his $1.65 million estate. Auchi is also connected to Saddam Hussein & "Oil for Food."

Focal Point wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:41 AM:Through the Fog[-] wrote on Aug 17, 2008 6:38 AM:Yes, i really do want the Democrats to control the Congress and the Executive for 8 years. It will take that long to get this country going again and to restore the Constitution.

Ron wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:51 AM:Dear "Paul" @9:07 AM,

I specifically said: If you only believe in partial economic stimulation, then by all means, only give money to those in the lower classes.
However, if you want stimulation at ALL levels, then tax cuts all around!

Lastly, you appear to not understand who these supposed "Big Oil" people are, from which you will steal this so-called "Rebate?"
Like me enlighten you.
Most of all oil company stock is owned by 99% private investors, like me, like my parent's, perhaps even you may have some money tied up in stock should you own a 401K or an IRA?
So be careful what you wish for.
Should the Obamaman take the profits of those private investors, he will be taking not from millionaires alone, but from regular Americans trying to offset a failing Social Security system.
A little research on your part would be very helpful, to understand that your not attacking a big, bad corporation, but all of those people who have worked hard, played by the rules, and have done exactly what this government has asked them to do, SAVE.
And now you want to punish them.
How noble of you.

Alf wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:55 AM:Well, "Clear as can be" at 7:57AM,
I'm sure that however many votes McGWB may have gained by saying a baby's human rights begin "at conception",
McGWB lost several times that by his stance.
Or does McGWB simply not care?
Up until THE FETUS is 13 or 14 weeks old, THE FETUS, which IS NOT A BABY, does not have brain waves and is, therefore, brain-dead.
Unless I am mistaken, the lack of brain activity is one of the criteria for determining whether death has occurred.
Regards, Alf.

Could this be true wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:56 AM:Frank Rich (I know, I know) reports that the press' access to McCain on the "Straight Talk Express" has now been cut off: seems that when McCain chats, he gets so many things wrong, forgets what he's talking about so often, that his people no longer will allow the press to have easy access to the great man. Rich is Rich, but beyond how much he must relish reporting this, the real question is only this: can this be true? If it is, regardless of the messenger's politics, I'd say we have one candidate who should be one.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:57 AM:No more BOND BOND BONDs" Tri City is not a for profit hospital as far as I know.
$11.4 million does not even pay for the up keep for a hospital as large as Tri City and the amount of patient that it services. I, do, however, understand and appreciate your frustration. It does seem that every one and any one desires to get into our pockets.

Reliable Sources This A. M. wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:04 AM:Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post and CNN this morning said that the Georgia situation was actually caused by 400 Russian troops invading South Ossetia under the ruse of “repairing a railroad track.”

Both Obama and McCain have condemned the Russian move from South Ossetia into Georgia proper, regardless of whatever may have been the case for protecting whatever they thought they were protecting in South Ossetia.

NATO has previously unanimously invited Georgia and Ukraine to join, and that is still on the table, and Poland and the Ukraine have now offered to accept defensive missiles because of the Russian Georgian aggression.

And now, the Russian apologist and spokesman. Focal Point, will provide the Russian position and explain how Russia instantly got thousands of tanks and planes over the Caucasus Mountains...

Ron wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:05 AM:I think John McCain is sending the exact right message, Alice Kelley.

I've had the priveledge to "work with" public school administrators, teachers, and unions. I was basically told that this is OUR area of operation, you go over there and man the Halloween booth, like a nice little parent.

You see, there is a certain group of education professionals who view the school system as "Their's." And as a parent, you are completely welcome to come and "help", as long as that "help" does not include telling them how to teach, what to teach, or how to run "THEIR" schools. Oh, sure.. you can bake cookies, man the Halloween booth, carpool children, and other real educational stuff like that.

But the minute you have an opinion about teaching or adminstrating, your then known as a trouble-maker. A person to be ignored, slighted, and pushed out.

And this is why removing children from a failing system is important, because the cancer within the system, is running the system. It will not be until you stop feeding the cancer, that it will fall, it will lose money thereby losing staff, forcing those staff to change.
Hey, what a novel idea. Change?
Yes, I think I've read that somewhere before? Where was that?

Paul wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:07 AM:what happened to the ron rule? where did you read this from me? also, i'll let the readers decide who actually does the 'research' the idea that little people control and own the oil companies is a joke

Ron [-] wrote on Aug 17, 2008 9:51 AM:
Dear "Paul" @9:07 AM,

I specifically said: If you only believe in partial economic stimulation, then by all means, only give money to those in the lower classes.
However, if you want stimulation at ALL levels, then tax cuts all around!

Lastly, you appear to not understand who these supposed "Big Oil" people are, from which you will steal this so-called "Rebate?"
Like me enlighten you.
Most of all oil company stock is owned by 99% private investors, like me, like my parent's, perhaps even you may have some money tied up in stock should you own a 401K or an IRA?
So be careful what you wish for.
Should the Obamaman take the profits of those private investors, he will be taking not from millionaires alone, but from regular Americans trying to offset a failing Social Security system.
A little research on your part would be very helpful, to understand that your not attacking a big, bad corporation, but all of those people who have worked hard, played by the rules, and have done exactly what this government has asked them to do, SAVE.
And now you want to punish them.
How noble of you.

Chuck wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:09 AM:>>>It will take that long to get this country going again and to restore the Constitution.>>> Why dont you tell us the specifics of Hussein's plans to do it. So far, all I've heard is much higher taxes on the employers, much higher taxes on earnings of savings accouts and stocks and bonds, universal healthcare, brought to you by the same people who have bankrupted Medicare & SocSecurity, a tire pressure guage to become energy independent, gas prices that are the same as Europe, etc,

Paul wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:10 AM:Dear Ron,

?for you

is obama's relationship with his ex-preacher more of an issue than the lobbyists who currently run mccain's campaign?
back in june mcain was against offshore drilling, then pulled in $200k plus from Hess oil and flipped his position-that's called bribery where i come from

any chance you will actually address mccain's associations, or is this a one way street? i personally don't care which invisible man the candidates believe in

Alf wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:11 AM:While Jean Carroll does have a nice idea with her "Let's put wind turbines on the acres belonging to rich liberals. Al Gore first, Hollywood second.", I suggest that we also place them on the acres owned by or leased by OIL companies that ARE NOT being pumped.
If Jean had not noticed, we are in hock way above the tops of our heads due to GWB's folly in Iraq.
If Jean had not noticed, it was GWB who championed a bill to give more illegals amnesty.
If Jean had not noticed, GWB has dragged his feet, figuratively kicking and screaming, to keep from putting up a border fence.
Finally, if Jean had not noticed, GWB is a Republican, not one of them Hollywood liberals.
If there is to be a prayer for this country, we had better put someone into the office of President who is not advocating more of what GWB has subjected us to for the last 7 and change years,
OR there will be no country for which to pray,
only a bankrupt remnant of a "used to be a nation".
Regards, Alf.

Reardon wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:12 AM:I can't believe that I find two posts, one from Alf at 9:55 and one from Focal Point at 9:57 with which I am in agreement. I can't agree with either once a month.

I am taking two Tylonol and going back to bed.

(At least as Reardon)

Nick wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:20 AM:I still can't believe that some folks think that the only choice is empty Obama or McIdiot....lol.
You can still write in anyone you choose.
Neither is a GOOD choice for American, they BOTH suck. As usual it's chooing the better of the 2 lousy choices.
The Liberal Dems keep saying that the Neo-Cons don't have any arguments, well neither do the Lefties.
They keep clinging to their weak argument that McIdiot is GWB because they share the same Party.
Ummmmm....they're 2 different people.
Using these Liberal Dems argument, that would make Obama a lousy President just like Jimmy Carter and the cowardly Bill Clinton.
During Carter's administration, the economy suffered double-digit inflation, coupled with very high interest rates, oil shortages, high unemployment and slow economic growth. Productivity growth in the United States had declined to an average annual rate of 1 percent, compared to 3.2 percent of the 1960s. There was also a growing federal budget deficit which increased to 66 billion dollars.
Don't even get me started on Clinton.

You see, just as the Liberal Dems whine about Con's not having anything of substance to say, they themselves are guilty of the very same thing.
Cheers, Nick.

Alf wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:22 AM:Wouldn't it be a hoot, "Focal Point" at 9:57AM,
IF bond money went where it was supposed to go,
IF we, the people, did not keep getting more requests for more bond money from the same places,
IF gas taxes went where they were supposed to go,
IF California Congress didn't TAKE AWAY from the education budget about the same as Lottery proceeds GIVES TO the education budget
AND IF politicians did not lie?
I know, that's ALL just a dream.
Regards, Alf.

OBAMACAN wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:23 AM:There goes Ron again, at 9:41 a.m., in his utter frustration and desperation, with the cheap labels, baseless name calling and attacking everyone but the candidate himself.
1. You repeat the false and baseless charge that Obama promotes socialist policies, but you never actually cite specific examples rooted in the economics of socialism, which I doubt you even understand.
2. You claim ties to Frank Marshall Davis, a man who was a friend of Obama's World War II vet (white) grandfather, who Obama knew in Hawaii during his youth. THE MAN HAS BEEN DEAD FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. He was a poet and something of a colorful character and, yes, like many from the 1930's era, he had been a member of the Communist Party, but he was just a lowly poet and writer. His association with young Barack was social, in the waning days of a beach bum poet.
3. Yet again, in your desperation, you continue to list names of people who had some problems, NONE OF WHICH INVOLVED OBAMA. By the time someone becomes a presidential candidate, they have met a lot of people, and some of them will have turned out to have a few skeletons in their closet. The only thing that matters is if some of those skeletons belong to the candidate. None belong to Obama. But let's see how Ron's favored Candidate, McSame, measures up to the Ron standard: McBlame was at the center the scandals involving Charles Keating and Lincoln Savings, trading influences for financial support and writing letters for Keating directly related to his corrupt operations. Unlike Obama's NON-POLITICAL involvement with his own pastor, which was purely religious, McPain's involvement with preachers Rod Parsley, John Hagee, and of course Robertson and Falwell, all of whom made anti-American and bigoted statements far worse than anything Obama's pastor ever said, was 100% political as McStain sought them out ONLY for POLITICAL support.
Ron will do anything to try to avoid discussing the corrupt Washington insider status of McSenile's tainted public life, and when it comes to his personal infidelities and betrayals of sacred oaths (and lying about it THIS YEAR), Ron hems and haws and squirms and wiggles and points his finger at the other guy.
Want to talk about the economy? The failed war in Iraq? How Big Oil used their own guys in the White House to squeeze and gouge American consumers? Same with Big Pharma and Big Healthcare?
Only those who have profiteered off the billions in defense spending and the transfer of wealth from working people to fat cats would want to push for more of the McSame.

Paul wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:34 AM:To all of you who think mccain is better on foreign policy, i think knowing where countries are and what they're called is important, don't you? i'd rather have miss south carolina teach my kids about the world than mccain! haven't we had enough of a president from the bottom of his graduating class? i don't think being one of the very few to be shot down by the vietcong is a qualification to be president-sorry

Ron wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:35 AM:The fact of the matter, "Through the Past Darkly" @5:42 AM, I've already addressed this issue, days ago.

According to a study done recently, the Obama plan will create another $3.4 trillion on top of the $9 we have now, and the McCain plan will create another $5 trillion. I said at the time, pick your deficit.

Obama is proposing trillions of dollars in handouts and government spending, and he, according to his plan, will not have enough revenue just taxing "the Rich." Hence, I always refer back to 93' and a Democrat Congress plus Clinton. What did they do? That's right!!! Taxed all the way down to the $33,000 level. Which is what Obama will do, when it is all said and done. He'll be forced to, by these Old Bull's in the Congress who have been waiting for years now, to make their own mark on history.

And I know how you guy's just love to talk about this $9 trillion debt, as if that is the only concern. I have news for you, it is not. FDR started us down the path of this Ponzi Scheme, this inter-generational ponzi scheme which at the moment rises about $2 trillion each year we fail to act, and at present represents some $54 trillion in out year liabilities.
LBJ added to this coming disaster by his MediCare/MediCaid Great Society morass. And GWB has yet added to it again with his drug benefit.
Now, you can talk about 230 years of fiscal history, but the $9 trillion compared to our current GDP, comparing that with FDR and the debt created by WWII, are very similar. In short, we are able to fund short term expenses, like wars, by borrowing. Long term expenses like SS, MediCare can not be.
that would be like buying your groceries on a credit card. You can do it, but it's not wise. We've not been wise for a very long time, and now the ONLY option Democrats have to "fix" this, it to TAX EVERYTHING that moves.
Raise the cap's, tax it all. It will be the 20th time we will have raised the taxes on these programs. The last 19 times, all done by Democrats.
The true legacy of the Democrat party is these entitlement programs, that year after year, we borrow more & more money with interest.
So, you can talk about this measely $9 trillion for now, when the Big Bill hits, remember I told you al this. OK?

Nick wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:44 AM:More on Obama and Lobbyists for those that think he is Mr. Squeeky clean and the great champion of Campaign reform.....lmao:

Back in 2000, when Obama was a state senator in Illinois, an entrepreneur named Robert Blackwell Jr. hired him to be his lawyer, paying him a monthly retainer of $8,000 — big money for a part-time legislator with an annual salary of just $58,000. A few months later, Obama sent a letter urging state tourism officials to give a grant to one of Blackwell's companies, the amusingly named Killerspin, to fund a table-tennis tournament. Killerspin received $320,000 in public funds; Obama pocketed $112,000 in fees from Blackwell.
So far this year, Blackwell has bundled more than $100,000 for Obama's campaign. Looks like there's going to be a shitload of table-tennis tournaments all across America next year.

Obama also supported the Freddie Mac-Fannie Mae rescue, and that, too, is no surprise, given that he hired one former chairman of Fannie Mae to chair his vice presidential vetting panel and hired another former Fannie Mae chairman to serve as his consultant on housing issues. Most of us will never get within a hundred miles of a single Fannie Mae chairman, but Obama has already hired two — and he isn't even president yet.

You see folks, Obama is just as slimey as the rest of the Politicians.
He's a liar and a weasel. Just take a look at the dirty Chicago Politics he used to get elected back in the day.
Cheers, Nick.

Nick wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:46 AM:"Alf" good buddy, Your 10:22am post is right on the money!
Cheers, Nick.

Chuck wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:47 AM:The news is reporting that China has confiscated 300 Bibles from U.S. visitors. That should have the liberals dancing in the streets.

Alf wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:50 AM:Well, "Reardon" at 10:12AM,
it happens to the best of us.
Regards, Alf.

Guess What wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:59 AM:I have concluded that OBAMACAN supports Obama, and Ron does not.

Alf wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:03 AM:In our continuing effort to support the local economy and to solve all the problems of the world,
Mrs. Alf and I are going to see a group called Raggle Taggle at Quail Botanical Gardens this evening.
It should be fun.
Regards, Alf.

Ron wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:04 AM:Dear "Paul" @10:10 AM:
Of course, a 20 some year friend, mentor, student of the likes of Wright, taught by Cone, smoked & drank with Frank Davis, allied with Bill Ayers, and introduced to Carl Davidson, a former vice president of SDS and longtime Fidelista, bother me. As It should bother you. If it does not, may I ask why it doesn't, that he would purposely associate himself with known socialists, marxists, terrorists?

Did I mention Bill Ayers made to trip to Venezuela?
And during that trip, delivered a speech in front of Hugo Chavez?
In that "speech", he spoke of education as the "motor force of revolution" and his interest in "overcom[ing] the failings of capitalist education" and said he thought Chavez was creating "something truly new and deeply humane."

When you surround yourself, as Obama has done, then Yes, it IS an issue. Because as we all know, we are all products of our environment, and Obama is certainly not exempt from his.

Lobbyist do concern me, it is, however, found in the Constitution, perhaps not the model we find it today. I think we have lobbying on steriods, just one man's opinion.
But, I believe it is so, because there is SOOOOOOO much money lying on the table in Washington. When Washington invloves itself into areas rightly given over to the States, by the Constitution, it will bring about the teat sucklers.
Further, when you have through regulation devolved our market system into a failed form of merchantilism, business's feel they must go to Washington to seek priveledge, and a "one up man-ship" on other's.
And the more regulation & money you apply, the more of this behavior you'll have.
I am glad you brought up Hess oil, I'm not familiar with that particular charge, I promise I will look into it.
but, I do agree with McCain's position, regardless of how he achieved his positioning, in that, it is the right thing to do.
Did you happen to hear his answer about energy security? He said: "We need to do everything." And that his most significant flip on any issue was drilling. and he said he flipped because $4 a gallon gas was killing Americans, economically.
Obama's position on this is quite clear, he's not opposed to higher gas prices, he just wishes they wouldn't have raised so quickly.

snerd wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:07 AM:Good golly, can you imagine those poor educators trying to "work" with Ron, a man whose only opinion he values is his own. I've been on the Board of all of the communities I've lived in and guys like Ron have to be marginalized or absolutely nothing would ever get done. Sorry Ron, but based on your blogs I can certainly understand why you would have to be ignored.

Apollo wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:10 AM:Re: Nick (10:44 a.m.)
Nick, stop salivating, pull your head out of the clouds and put your feet on the ground.
Do you understand that Illinois has a PART-TIME legislature?
Obama was a PART-TIME legislator, with a full-time job as an attorney and also a part-time gig as a PROFESSOR of Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago.
Attoerneys write letters for clients and collect fees for their firms.
Please cite the specific allegation that there was anything improper or illegal of Obama's actions on behalf of a law client.
Did the letter he write contain lies? Misrepresentations? Cover-up of scandal?
Asking a public agency to back off a criminal investigation, as McCain did for Keating?
Please be specific. Your desperation to pull honorable men down into the cesspool is disgusting.

Reardon wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:13 AM:The comment at 9:37 is not Reardon. It is the twit again. How would anyone beleive I could even write such dribble. I will again use other names to express myself.

Ron wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:18 AM:Interesting point by, "Reliable Sources This A. M." @10:04 AM.

Russia used the pretense of “repairing a railroad track” to invade a democratic neighbor.
Rings very familiar to Saddam Hussein's invasion into Kuwait.

And for those who want to make this a "Moral equivalence", they are not equal. We are the good guy's here.
Only in the mind of some wayward, extreme leftist reading the world worker's daily does this remotely ring true.
12 years & 17 UN resolutions
versus
a railroad track.
That's hardly a comparison.

Question for Nick wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:25 AM:I know you are on a campaign to show how both parties are identically awful, but please, be specific. You say that Obama is an equally slimy politician, just like the rest. But all I see you give for evidence is a reference to Chicago politics, as if saying "Chicago politics" stands for prosecution, judgement and sentencing in one phrase. We could look at a Ron Paul and say "Texas politics...'nuf said", too. Meaningless. So Nick, give us facts, particulars, details of all the dirty, sliming dealing Obama did as he clawed his way to the top. But Nick, you have to do better than a few mentions of how he changed his stance on this or that. Your accusations were serious, of the "slime" variety. Give us the scoop on the slime, please. Thanks in advance.

Worth repeating wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:26 AM:If McCain is elected, considering the ages of some of the Supreme Court Justices, Roe will be overturned and we will return to the abortion policies of the 1950s. If Obama is elected, Roe will be upheld for at least another generation. This matter is as clear and simple as it gets. A vote for Obama is a vote for Roe. A vote for McCain ends Roe. Think about it.

Nick wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:28 AM:Hey MR. Ed! Where's my first part on the weasel Obama and his lobbist money?
How about posting it please.

Truth Regardless wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:30 AM:As the e-editor knows from the e-mail address, the 9:37 was from Reardon, but it makes no nevermind from whom it came -- it is the truth regardless.

The Twit is operating a "dirty tricks" campaign for the Liberals, but giving them "deniability." Typical liberals doing what they accuse others of doing, but in this case it is so transparent the Liberals can't escape.

Alf wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:31 AM:Well, "Worth repeating" at 11:26AM,
you just listed E Pluribus Unum (Of Many, One or One of Many) reasons to vote for someone other than McGWB.
There are many, many, many more!
Regards, Alf.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:34 AM:Chuck[-] wrote on Aug 17, 2008 10:09 AM:
If you want to know Obama's plan go on over to his web site. I do know the McCain plan. It is more of the McSame McBush. I prefer Ron Paul. But, I do not think it will this season.

Alf: I have the same dream too.
I have heard of Raggle Taggle. Good group.

Worth repeating[-] wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:26 AM: Too simplistic. The Democratic Congress will not be approving any of McCains candidates if he is President.

Alf wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:38 AM:The question, "Nick" at 10:44AM, is -
Is one born with the slime or
Does one acquire slime while growing up or
Does one acquire slime when one gets into politics?
If the latter,
how long would a clean-sweep newly elected Congress last until a majority of them are slimed?
I guess that may be too cynical, maybe not.
Regards, Alf.

Not a Single Issue Voter wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:38 AM:Worth Repeating: Although I do not want Roe v Wade overturned, I am not a single issue candidate. There are so many other issues to be considered; terrorism, economy, taxes, crime, as examples.

Nick wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:48 AM:Hmmmmmmmm......"Alf". I would have to say that some are born slimey and get slimier with time, and others acquire slime once they get in office and start pandering to the lobbbyists.
A clean sweep of Congress is definitely what we need, and I would hope that by starting fresh they would oppose the same big money lobbyists that were the very reason for a clean sweep in the first place.
Not to cynical amigo, but a realist and a very fair question.
Cheers, Nick.

OBAMACAN wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:48 AM:You are so right, "Not a Single Issue Voter" at 11:38 a.m.
Women's reproductive self-determination is certainly important, but there are also so many other issues to consider:
Terrorism: the one who wants to go after the real terrorists (Al Qaeda) or the one who supports a decoy invasion that diverts defense spending for privateering contractors and oil companies?
Economy & taxes: the one that wants to provide middle class tax relief and provide subsidies to help rust belt auto manufacturers retool for green cars and who understands that economic prosperity does not "trickle down" from the rich but bubbles up from consumers and workers, or the one who can't fix the economy because he does not even know it is broken and whose top economic advisor was the author of both the subprime lending deregulation and the deregulation of oil speculators, and who blamed middle Americans for bein a "nation of whiners"?
Crime: The one who wants to address the causes of crime, or the one whose campaign is supported by criminals?
And don't forget the one who wants to ensure universal VOLUNTARY access to health care and the one who wants to promote alternative energies to break our addiction to oil from terrorists.

Ron wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:51 AM:I like this post from "Through the Fog"
@6:38 AM.

It just warms my own heart to know that in this election year, with the Republican brand being damaged by overspending. Giving way to possible upswing in tax & spend Democrat House & Senate seats.
To know... that divided government has not fallen out of favor with certain knowledgable voters.

My own opinion on this is known, I believe everyday the Congress, Legislature, or even City Council's meet, we lose more & more of our god given freedom and liberties.

Divided Government may not completely stop the incursion into our wallets, and our freeoms, but it does slow it down. I think, we need a little breathing time, to catch our breath.

snerd wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:52 AM:Let's see, we have a decorated war hero who has devoted his life to his country. We have a black man who has climbed to the highest eschelons of his country...and all you bloggers can do is call both of them (and each other) silly names. Slander them both in hopes of winning a point in what you seem to consider a debate, but which is actually no better than schoolyard name calling. This country has some serious, self-inflicted wounds. Wounds that could easily cause us to fail. And yet all you can do is argue about things which have no importance whatsoever. Ludicris, McBush, communist, slimey..what does any of this have to do with solutions. We have to think about what's to be done about imported oil. About how we use our military. About healthcare. We have become a one party country with an imperial presidency, how do we get congress to take back the powers the Founders meant them to have. Stop the grade school sniping at each other and think about what we want done about these things, because until we tell our representatives what we want dealt with nothing will happen.

Alf wrote on Aug 17, 2008 11:56 AM:Courtesy of Frank Zappa,
"I'm the slime oozing out from your TV set.
You will obey me while I lead you
And eat the garbage that I feed you
Until the day that we don't need you
Don't got for help...no one will heed you"
For those interested, google "lyrics to I'm the slime&