Karl wrote on Sep 16, 2008 2:18 AM:The letter today from Keshava Prasad is rather bizzare and highlights the problem with blind partisan followers. Where do I start?

1) "The party". Nice start. Let me guess, we are about to hear a bunch of talking points
2) "An impeached president for indiscretions with an intern" That's history and has nothing to do with the current candidate.
3) "resignations of two governors for similar transgressions" Oh really? Which ones?
4) "a sitting governor and spouse both boasting of infidelities" Again, who?
5) "a mayor sentenced to a jail term"
Marion Barry? What's this got to do with Barack Obama or Joe Biden?
6) etc., etc., etc.

I really like the line "What is the common denominator? The modern Democrat Party!" Uh Mr. Prasad, have you noticed what the Republicans are up to or do you only see the Democrats making trouble with your blinders on?

I continue
7) "The presidential nominee: U.S. citizenship challenged in court" anyone can make an accusation. Let's see it proven before claiming it so.
8) "friendly with home-grown terrorists" That would be terrorist as in one, not terrorists. William Ayers is the only one I have heard about and I am a little concerned about this character.

Now here is the topper ". Experience claimed: 1. 143 days in the U.S. Senate with the highest liberal voting record; 2. a few years as a state senator with a questionable voting record" Which is it 143 days or a few years. I can't believe that this letter writer put those 2 "facts" back to back. This letter had to be copied/pasted from two different right wing blogs. Keshava, I suggest that you proof read your letters so that you catch blatant errors like this one.

Boy the Presidential race sure brings out the best in the extremists doesn't it? Why doesn't Keshava just state that he detests all that is Democrats and leave it at that? At least that would be honest.

The letter from Fred Zilliox, right or wrong, appears to be an honest opinion to me.

Chuck wrote on Sep 16, 2008 3:42 AM:>>>The vacant 99 Cent Store on the corner of Santa Fe and Escondido Avenue in Vista would be a perfect spot for a permanent farmers market>>>

I guess I look at it this way. If you wont pay .99 for something, what makes us think you'll pay $1 for an avocado or $2.99 for tomatoes. ...

Chuck wrote on Sep 16, 2008 3:47 AM:Is Pulse feeding stories to Richard McKenzie?? or are they just soul mates in their seething hate for America

Been there done that. wrote on Sep 16, 2008 3:53 AM:Marriage is a wonderful and sentimental idea. At least 50% of us no longer buy into this. Any two consenting adults should be legally able to enter into a civil union. Anything beyond this is in the realm of religion and can be called anything you want. Let's get real and ditch the baloney.

Alf wrote on Sep 16, 2008 5:45 AM:The letter from Thomas Godwin says what I feel but with more eloquence than I have yet been able to muster when he says -
"America ... remains blinded by her slavery to the certainty of her own unquestionable virtue.".
I do submit that it is not America, rather some Americans, who are blinded thusly.
Regards, Alf.

Alf wrote on Sep 16, 2008 5:59 AM:While Bettie Heldring may be correct that Palin is "beautiful" on the outside by conventional standards,
Bettie Heldring's assertion that Palin is "beautiful" on the inside (as in beliefs and philosophy),
is wrong.
As a matter of fact, it is the philosophy espoused by Palin that has created more problems than it has solved.
Iraq.
Virtual economic ruin.
If you want more of the same, or worse, then I suggest you vote for McGWB/Palin.
If not, vote for someone else.
I'm voting for Ron Paul.
Regards, Alf.

Oh my God wrote on Sep 16, 2008 6:06 AM:For Linne Marsh's education, her "free exercise of religion" does not include imposing her "religious practices" on anyone else. Talk about "dangerous territory".
When Prop. 8 fails, I don't expect much talk from this crowd about the people having spoken and the issue settled.

Yokozuna wrote on Sep 16, 2008 6:13 AM:Karl, the insomniac, @2:18: Great post. Pretty much says it all. But, it will still keep coming as people have little self restraint in exposing their ridiculous meaningless talking points. Get some sleep before the 18 today.

For the record wrote on Sep 16, 2008 6:17 AM:I agree the letter from Keshava Prasad is absurd but to be fair, he wrote 143 days (before he started his presidential run) as a UNITED STATES Senator and a few years as a STATE Senator, as in State legislator.
His (4) refers to Governor Patterson of New York.
But all in all, bravo Karl.

Chuck wrote on Sep 16, 2008 6:35 AM:Lehman gone, Bear gone, Merrill gone.

Maybe Limbaugh was right when he said:
"I think it's safe to say, ladies and gentlemen, that houses for people who cannot afford to pay for houses is now officially a failed experiment."

The morons lied on their applications saying they could pay, and would pay, but they headed for hills when their mortgage exceeded the value of their house. And now, they are the ones screaming the loudest against the government helping out those who held their mortgage

Chuck wrote on Sep 16, 2008 6:38 AM:>>>If you wont pay .99 for something, what makes us think you'll pay $1 for an avocado or $2.99 for tomatoes. ... >>> Awe come on Mr editor, put the rest in there

Ron wrote on Sep 16, 2008 6:39 AM:Whoa!!! Edgar Towers!
"The Associated Press insulted American democracy...", Let me interpret.
He ticked off the Lib's.
Charles Babington's crime? He "wrote an article mirroring Fox News reporting on Obama's speech..."
And his "article... stifled the hope of more than 50 million Americans..."

In other words, they told the truth about Obama, the messiah without clothes.

Now, I will predict to you, that our dear friend Edgar Towers, from this point forward will cease reading the AP because they ticked him off. Now, think about all the Lib's right here on this page, think of all the times they say they skip, or (-), or they scroll past all of the critical posts by conservatives.
I'm telling ya folks, these guy's can't take critcism, they love the echo chamber, where their feelings are bolstered, and they walk away feeling better about themselves, instead of being well imformed. They Choose the
"Liberal Ghetto", and I have a lot more to say about this ghetto in which they live. More to follow...

James wrote on Sep 16, 2008 6:52 AM:Who is to blame for the housing crisis? Bush,Cheney,Rumsfeld, Pelosi,Ried,Mcain,Obama NO NO NO NO. The people who LIED on the loan apps, the people who failed to pay their bills. The People who wanted to live far beyond their means are the reason we are in this made up crisis. Stop all the tears and face reality, we are all responsible for our own actions and government is not resposible for bailing us out when we make damn stupid choices or decisions!

History as a guide wrote on Sep 16, 2008 6:54 AM:I watched numerous McCain spokespeople on TV yesterday talking about the economy. One particular talking point was “you don’t raise taxes in an economic downturn”. Isn’t that what George H. W. Bush did in 1991 setting the stage for the 90’s boom?
The Clinton budget in 1993 also raised taxes and passed without a single Republican vote. They said it would bring recession and other terrible things. What it brought was the largest and longest peacetime expansion in history.
So what the Republicans would have us believe today is that Democratic policies that made that boom are bad and the Republican policies that have failed miserably since 2001 are good.
I know I’m setting myself up for another fabled “teaching moment” from our resident GOP apologist but am I missing something here?

Ron wrote on Sep 16, 2008 6:57 AM:Well said, "Chuck" @6:35 AM.
Let me amplify those thoughts.

This failure is the result of decades of Liberal Insitutionalism. Began under the guise of a new deal for Americans, is nw being shown for what it truly was, and predicted way, way back when FDR first proposed them, a RAW DEAL for Americans.
Folks, we are living in the no-fault society. Where liberals try to prevent anyone from being harmed by their own stupidity. Laying pillows down everywhere but using taxpayers money as the pillow. One thing our Founders understood, in America you have to right to pursue your own happiness, even if it's stupid. The right to pursue a successful happiness, and the right to be stupid about your pursuit.
Along comes FDR, ushers in the raw deal, followed by LBJ and his war on poverty, and you get a no-fault society.
Today, you can go and sign for a house your can not afford, and Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae will buy your mortgage.
As I've written before Fannie & Freddie are know as the "spine" of the mortgage industry, in other words, the private firms take their signals from this government run mortgage giant.
Oh, Yes! Government run! Was anyone aware that the President appoints boards members to this so-called "private" enterprise? Can the President equally install onto the board of Country-Wide? B of A? Or any other? NO....
And speaking of Country-Wide & Fannie/Freddie... Were you aware that Chris Dodd, who received a sweetheart deal on his country-wide loan, also got more PAC money from Fannie & Freddie than any other person in congress? He was first, Obama was second. Obama was second, even though he was the newcomer.
Interesting fact, eh?
More point being, this is the Liberal legacy. All these failed dinosaur programs, Fannie, Freddie, Social Security, MediCare, MediCaid...
All belly up.
Folks, this is the true legacy of FDR, LBJ, and Obama if elected.
You know how they are talking about John McCain being another 4 years of Bush.
The real question that needs to be asked is: Do you want another 75 years of failed Liberal Institutionalism?
As brought to you by Barack Millhouse Obama & Joe "Credit Card" O'Biden.

Ron wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:08 AM:"Gov. Sarah Palin has more executive experience than Barack Obama and Joe Biden put together."
Now, let's be fair.. Bob Ference.
She even has more executive experience than John McCain, which is probably why he chose her.

Some interesting polling out there about experience. Apparently, Palin is running about 47% in experience. Whereas Obama is running 36%.
Obviously a huge gap there from likely voters.
I look at it this way. With Palin running 47%, she is losing only about 3% of Republicans, if you believe we have a 50/50 country.
But Barack Obama loses 14% of Democrats who do not believe he has the necessary experience to be President. Now, we know we have the 24%'ers, those no-drill at any time people, who are so far in the liberal tank, it ain't funny.
But the most center Democrats, the more conservative one's, he's losing big time. These are your PUMA's, and Joe Liberman type Democrats. And these are the one's who think the loons have taken over their party. They are right.

And speaking of the 24%'ers... I know you guy's are driving more. Cause the price of gas just went up again.
Or maybe, your not inflating your tires?

Sister can you spare a dime wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:11 AM:I saw McCain say yesterday that he was going to clean up Wall Street. One way was to end Golden Parachutes for executives.
That's funny because his top economic adviser, Carly Fiorina, got $21 million when she was forced out by the board of Hewlett Packard for not delivering on her promises of stockholder returns.
Being rewarded for not producing results. A hallmark of 21st century Republican capitalism and of the Bush Administration in general.

OBAMACAN wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:14 AM:Keshava Prasad's letter repeats the right-wing hate radio lies distorting Obama's record. Here we go again, about the 143 days as senator with the most liberal voting record.
The 143 days is a complete lie. He has been a senator for over 1,000 days (maybe someone's fuzzy math caused them to miss a decimal point). He was sworn in January 4, 2005 and, in that time the official U.S. Senate web page, showing all senators' records, shows a significantly better voting and attendance record than McCain.
Where is the mainstream media doing reality checks on these outrageous lies that are becoming so widespread?
And no, "For the record," Prasad did not say "before he started his presidential run" anywhere in the letter. And the standard is not when you start a run 2 years out, but where you are on "Day One" - January 20, 2009.
And Prashad lies about Obama's experience? Community Organizer? This is a great first job out of undergraduate college, but if that's all you give him credit for then you are missing a lot, which amounts to lies by omission.
Most Liberal? This comes from a highly suspect report from the National Review's annual rankings. In his first two years, Obama was ranked 16th and 11th. Just a coincidence that, when he announces a run for president, he jumps to number ONE - the same thing that happened to John Kerry in the 2004 election cycle? Their claim was based on the fact that his co-sponsorship of sunshine ethics laws and posting of sources of all donations was considered "liberal" even though he worked across party lines with Tom Coburn, one of the Senate's most conservative members.
Well, OK, I'll grant that cleaning up the mess in Washington is liberal.
Don't expect it from insider McCain.

Alf wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:16 AM:Well, "Sister can you spare a dime" at 7:11AM,
AMEN!
Regards, Alf.

HOOVER wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:19 AM:Herbert Hoover: Widespread collapse of banking system.

Ronald Reagan: Widespread collapse of banking and S&L system.
(Note direct involvement in the banking scandal by a young Senator from Arizona, John McCain, funded by one of the worst of the scandal, Arizona banker Charles KEATING. McCain has learned nothing. He still thinks the "fundamentals of our economy remain strong." Yeah, and "prosperity is just around the corner.

George Bush and John McCain economic team headed by Phil "Nation of Whiners" Gramm:
Widespread collapse of banking, investment banking, housing loans, energy - Republican economic failure on steroids.
The funamentals of our economy are strong.
Translation: "don't expect anything fundamental to change with us."

chuck wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:26 AM:The news is reporting that the new pro-terrorist head of Pakistan has troops ordered troops to open fire on U.S. cross-border raids. Bush should now lay waste to the poppy fields in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, the Sudan, the Phillipines and Thailand. But, insead will probably send them billions in cash

He Said wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:34 AM:Obamacan @ 7:14. You just can't help yourself can you. Get that old two cents in! Karl's comment pretty much covered the whole disgusting letter. Nothing you added is new.

Double Standard wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:36 AM:There you go again, PFTC in yesterday's (9/15) blog at 9:07 p.m.
You are confusing policy with personalities, kind of like the Republicans at their convention when they try to make everything about (a distorted caricature of) Obama the person, and completely avoid any discussion of the issues that have caused the current international, domestic and economic fiascoes.
Yes, it is true as you say that, "There are many Republicans, Democrats and Independents that as you say "by working for it (earnied income)". There are also many Republicans, Democrats and Independents that as you say "inherited it from Daddy's beer empire". Neither route guarantee a good or bad individual." You are making it about personalities, not issues.
FDR was rich. Kerry is rich. Warren Buffet, now the richest man in America, is rich, and he is a Democrat. Clinton and Obama, despite humble origins, are rich. No Democrat was to prevent wealth, nor criticize those who are wealthy.
The problem is not the PERSON who has unearned investment income or inherits wealth from a prosperous family. The problem is the POLICY that somehow those who have benefitted the most, who have the most, should pay a LOWER tax rate on their capital gains profits than the hard-working laborer in a factory. Clinton, Kerry and Obama have all explicitly stated that they know their policies will cause their own taxes to go up. THEY KNOW THIS.
Warren Buffet said that it is one of the great absurdities of the universe that the richest man in America pays a lower tax rate than his secretary.
They are Democrats.
It is not about PERSONALITIES, it is about ISSUES!
Do you really not get it or are you, too, trying to change the subject?

Chuck wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:36 AM:The news is reporting that Ike survivors may wait weeks for hot meals, baths.
So what. Man up. You chose to stay and nowit sounds like you want Chertoff roll the Bar-B-Q grills in and hire Rachel Ray to cook for you. Look at it this way.- Pretend you're on a 2 week backpacking trip

For the record wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:00 AM:Obamacan, I put the "before he started his presidential run" in parentheses as my own insert just for clarification. I think that was clear to everyone except you.
The 143 days refers to how many days the Senate was in session and working prior to the time Obama announced he was forming an exploratory committee. It is misleading but it is an accurate statement.
If I was really trying to start something I could have written (before he started his Quixotic presidential run). But why feed the fire?

The Iceman Cometh wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:06 AM:That's a little cold, Chuck. Maybe some of those survivors did evacuate and came back to nothing.

He Said wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:08 AM:Sister can you spare a dime[-] wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:11 AM: Although you're right about excessive severance packages for inept corporate officers, they really have nothing to do with Golden Parachutes (which is used to protect personnel incomes when a company is purchased by another). It's a good thing you are not running for office since that type of gaffe would probably result in multiple blogs in this milieu.

Vista Granny wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:10 AM:A few years back there were rules concerning mortgages. Let's see,
1. The housing expenses could not exceed 30% of your monthly income.
2. Your total debt payment to income ratio could not be more than 40% of monthly income.
3. You had to have held your present job at least for one year.
4. You needed a 20% down payment, or 10% and mortgage insurance.
5. The house you were buying could not cost more than 3 times your yearly income.

Then came the revolution - house prices leaped from $25,000 to $500,000 -- same house mind you. And everyone thought they could make money by buying and selling homes because house prices would always go up. Even the banks bought into this fairy tale - and away went those guidelines. Who needed good credit or a down payment when the price of the home would double in a few months? Add to that the frosting on the cake -- live in a house for two or three years and keep the money you made, tax free.

Of course the banks couldn't keep lending money they didn't have, so they took the mortgages and bundled them together and sold them to FNMA and FreddieMac, which was the way they had done business all along. Problem was
no one bothered to see if those bundled loans were any good. They weren't. No problem, sell the bundled loans to the gullible public via the stock market. Then scream when people stopped buying the trash. And so the story goes -- and our economy is not sound!

Marlowe wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:13 AM:Passing one along:
-- If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different."


-- Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.


-- If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
-- Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, and you're a maverick.


-- Graduate from Harvard law School and be President of the Law Review, and you are unstable.
-- Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.
-- If you spend 3 years as a community organizer, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.


-- If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.
-- If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian.
-- If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.
-- If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

--If , while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.


-- If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.
-- If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DUI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.



For Bushs Record wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:15 AM:As you say, For the Record at 8:00 a.m., the standard of "143 days" is misleading, though you call it accurate.
If one articulates explicitly the closely-parsed, legalistic definitaroy standard you stated, yes, it is "accurate." But since those who bandy about this absurd number never do that, it is NOT ACCURATE in any reasonable sense of the word. Sometimes, taking something that "can" be defined by a ridiculously obtuse stanard (but isn't actually), and saying it is thus "accurate," is so absurd as not to be accurate at all.
By that definition, excluding record numbers of vacations, birthday parties during hurricanes or meetings survived only by staring blankly into space, the current occupant of the White House has been "president" for about 38 minutes.

He Said Nothing wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:17 AM:He Said at 7:34 a.m. You just can't help yourself can you. Get that old two cents in! Your "comment" did not actually say anything of substance. Nothing you added is new.

Chuck wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:17 AM:>>>Well, "Sister can you spare a dime" at 7:11AM,>>>> Maybe a quarter, for you. But you might be into something here. I need to scope out a nice street corner, put on a wig and dirty clothes and run a racket. The public schools have a racket, the gays are running a racket and Sacramento is certainly running a racket on us, I might as well join in with my own racket

chuck wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:23 AM:the news is reporting Afghanistan deaths are up sharply as Taliban targets civilians. You'll never the types like Pulse say anything about that, other than to celebrate it

to Realist wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:25 AM:Realist late yesterday is still bragging about George Bush's presidency. Realist is more than happy with the state of the economy and with the fact that no terrorist attacks since 911 on our soil proves that security is ducky. I won't comment on the economy because some things are obvious (can Realist say "deficit"?). An independent bipartisan panel recently reported that homelands security under Bush has been quite poor, so that the obvious reason we've not had terrorist incidents since 911 is that terrorists have chosen not to do any. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that if our high school kids can easily get weapons and kill dozens of people, any of the thousands of legal visitors to the US could do the same. But, no matter. As we liberals have been saying with perfect consistency, if you think the Bush years have been a great success, you should certainly vote for McCain and Palin, as I assume "Realist" will.

Nick wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:27 AM:Well "James", your post at 6:52am is right on the money amigo.
As I have pointed out in the past, Dr. Ron Paul predicted this 5 YEARS AGO and adressed the issue in a speech to
House Financial Services Committee back on September 10, 2003.

He told them what needed to be done to prevent this from happenening but they they DID NOT heed his warning.
Even worse, now the Government is taking over.
Not a good thing.

Just another reason I am voting for Ron Paul and The Campaign for Liberty.
Cheers, Nick.

He Said wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:32 AM:to 8:17 post. You got me! Very good.

Oh Chuck wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:33 AM:In your twisted, ... mind, anyone that doesn't want to nuke every nation that does anything we don't like is someone who celebrates American deaths. This all spoken, of course, from your comfy armchair. You never served. You want others to go fight wars and die all over the planet for you. And if they don't, you, in your armchair, call them all pantywaists. As has been suggested before, firms like Blackwater are recruiting people, even older people. Instead of yammering about how all the people of this, that, and the other nation should be vaporized, why don't you walk the talk and sign up? Then you can be the tough guy you wish you were. Good grief.

Jack_D wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:34 AM:To Marlowe 8:13—Greatest post ever on this blog! Awesome!

DD Wiz wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:39 AM:The post from "Vista Granny" (8:10am) hits the target as usual (metaphorically speaking; not everyone is a gun-toting VP wannabee). She says, "Then came the revolution...."
Another name for that, of course, would be "deregulation." A plan authored by Sen Phil "Nation of Whiners" Gramm deregulated the home lending market and oil speculators. The consequence has been the most extensive financial collapse since the S&L crisis (Reagan) or the Great Depression (Hoover).
Hmmm, what do all these economic collapses have in common?
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

He Said what wrote on Sep 16, 2008 8:57 AM:From Wiki:
A golden parachute is a contractual agreement between a company and an employee (usually an upper executive) specifying that the employee will receive certain significant benefits if employment is terminated.
SOMETIMES, certain conditions, typically a change in company ownership, must be met, but often the cause of termination is unspecified. These benefits may include severance pay, cash bonuses, stock options, or other benefits.

I stand by my assertion.

to Oh my God wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:00 AM:Nobody will be denied the right to marry. Anyone can still marry someone of the opposite sex. Of course that will require some people to change their sexual behavior or at least establish a loving relationship with someone of the opposite sex. The Supreme Court's twisted decision arose from a belief that people have no choice in their sexual behavior. If that was truly the case, there would be no bisexual or transgender people engaging in sexual experiments. For those unwilling to conform to society's standard of marriage for thousands of years, society offers civil unions.

SIX McCAIN PALIN LIES wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:01 AM:Here are six provable and repeated LIES from McCain and Palin:
(Copy 'em and send 'em to all your friends - especially Republicans)

1. McCain lie - "Obama supports 'comprehensive' sex education for kindergarteners."
Truth: Obama sponsored a bill in Illinois to teach small children how to avoid and resist inappropriate advances by sexual predators. Does McCain oppose this? Does McCain want to make it easier for sexual predators to have easy access to Sarah's kids? Even Karl Rove called this one "over the top." When Karl Rove calls a Republican a liar, you know it's bad.

2. McCain lie - "Obama called Palin a pig."
Truth: The reference was clear and unambiguous. In a speech that had not even mentioned Palin up to that point, Obama was discussing McCain's economic pork plan and used the same expression McCain had used - twice - to describe Hillary's health care plan. Was that McCain's way of acknowledging he had called Hillary a pig? Is there a double standard here? Not to worry, yesterday McCain backed down and acknowledged that Obama had no such intention. I guess being called a liar by Karl Rove is too much for him.

3. McCain lie - "Sarah sold her state plane on e-Bay for a profit."
Truth: Well, she listed it on e-Bay, but that was a failure, so she sold it through a private broker, at a loss!

4. McCain lie - "Sarah took no earmarks as governor."
Truth: In the two budget years of her 20 months in office, she did indeed take 200 million in earmarks each of those two years. It was the highest per capita taking of earmarks of any governor in the nation, and 20 times the per capita requests by Obama for his large, urban and cosmopolitan state.

5. McCain lie - "Obama will raise taxes on everyone."
Truth: Several independent analyses, including by conservative think tanks, have all agreed that, while Obama would raise taxes on those with incomes over $250,000 (including for himself), for those under $150,000 the amount of his tax reduction is more than 3 times that of McCain's proposal.

6. McCain and Palin joint lie - "Sarah refused the money for that 'Bridge to Nowhere'."
Truth: She campaigned vigorously for the infamous bridge during her 2006 campaign for governor, imploring Alaskans to take advantage of the "favorable legislative climate" (meaning corrupt pork-barrel Senator Ted Stevens' chairmanship of Appropriations). She even went to Ketchikan (the actual name of "nowhere") to campaign for it there, where it was wildly popular among the 50 people living on the island. Only after it became the subject of national ridicule did she have a sudden change of heart (flip flop). But she kept the money. Earlier this year, in Minneapolis, discussing the tragic collapse of the bridge there, McCain cited the "Bridge to Nowhere," saying that if the money hadn't gone to Alaska, maybe it could have been used for real infrastructure needs to repair that bridge.
McCain also said he would name names of pork barrel politicians and "make them famous."
Well, he took the "Queen of Pork" (with or without lipstick) and definitely made her famous.

Alf wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:02 AM:Last night, "Realist" at 9:56PM said to "SOLON" -
"Explain to me why we haven't had a terrorist attack in this country for the last SEVEN YEARS.".
GWB kept us safe??
BALDERDASH!
I ask "Realist" to explain to ME why we did not have a terrorist attack on American soil by a foreign national between the end of World War II and 1993 (OVER FORTY YEARS!!), especially because during THAT time we did NOT have Guantanamo torture or our Constitutional Rights being violated with the permission of Congress at the direction of the president.
Knock off the garbage that GWB "kept us safe", he has NOT secured our borders, still our most vulnerable areas where terrorists can gain access with as much ease as the millions of illegal aliens, while U.S. citizens spend time in security lines and have to take off our shoes at airports.
Regards, Alf.

Marlowe wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:12 AM:Remember the days when we'd all argue here about whether Bush was, technically and absolutely, a "proven liar"? It's great to see that McCain and Palin are going to save us all that hassle and confusion as the 9:01 blogger shows all too clearly. And those six are not all. McCain/Palin: proven liars. Glad that "debate" is over. Reminds me of that old joke we used to tell in Alaska: How do you know when a hockey mom who's running for vice president is lying? Answer: Her lips are moving.

Apollo wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:12 AM:Re: to Oh my God (9:00 a.m.)
The blog says: "Nobody will be denied the right to marry. Anyone can still marry someone of the opposite sex."
There, you said it! "someone of the opposite sex."
The California State Constitution, in multiple places, prohibits discrimination based on gender.
This statement MANDATES that a person choose from a specific gender and discriminate against the other, and thus clearly violates the State Constitution, as the court rightly held.
In any case, you have not explained what is so "twisted" about letting other people be who or what they naturally are, or how this affects you or anyone else in any way.

You: "The Supreme Court's twisted decision arose from a belief that people have no choice in their sexual behavior." You have obviously not read the actual decision if you believe this is what it arose from. I have actually gone to the State Supreme Court's own website and read the actual decision.
It does not "arise from" any belief about behavior. It "arises" from the explicit (and repeated) mandates of the State Constitution that people cannot be required to make choices based on gender.
It is unambiguously accurate.
The only thing "twisted" is how 3 judges could bow to policial, social and cultural pressures to say otherwise.

Still waiting wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:14 AM:I just don't know what is taking the Palin kid and her beau so darn long to get married, do you? I mean she's gotta be at least six months pregnant by now. We all heard how in love these two are and how they are going to wed and be a good, heterosexual couple who are wonderful parents. So...what's keeping them? You think they might, just might, be waiting until, say, mid-November...so they can have a spat and call it off? Ya think?

Alf wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:16 AM:You're right, "Vista Granny" at 8:10AM.
I remember those 5 points quite well, although the rule, when I heard it, was -
total debt payments no more than 33% of your gross or 50% of you net, everything else was the same.
Smart guidelines even today, especially today.
Regards, Alf.

To He Said What wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:18 AM:Check out some other definitions by googling golden parachute. In most business circles golden parachute is considered applicable for company buyouts. If the meaning has changed since its inception I will stand somewhat corrected.

David in Carlsbad wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:18 AM:Mr McCain's temper tantrum on MSNBC this morning speaks volumes with regards to his ability to lead this nation with sound, intelligent policies.

If you enjoyed the war in Iraq, the McCain sequel in Iran should really warm your heart.

Chuck wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:22 AM:>>> why don't you walk the talk and sign up? Then you can be the tough guy you wish you were. Good grief.>>> The main differnce between you and me is that you want to give terrorists the run of the planet, whereas, I want them exterminated

You really mean your standard wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:23 AM:"society's standard of marriage for thousands of years" included arranged marriages, multiple wives, and prepubescent girls being sold by their families in exchange for livestock.

Is this the standard to which you refer?

Ms M wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:33 AM:Alf
[-] wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:02 AM:...Alf, the terrorist attach on 9/11 is ongoing. Our country has been on a downhill spiral since. Bin Laden is a happy camper sitting back watching America destroy itself.

The good ole days wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:34 AM:Society's standard of marriage, and in fact by law, used to exclude interracial marriage.
Standards change, society changes. Change with it or get left behind watching 'Leave it to Beaver' reruns on TV Land.

Ms M wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:34 AM:While driving to work this morning there was a person on NPR from Forbes magazine. He explained the meldown in one word "GREED".

Karl wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:35 AM:And I this blog got vicious, check out "ESCONDIDO: New zoning aims to keep discount stores out of downtown". The 99 cent stores have some big proponents.

Marlowe wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:35 AM:From the AP QUOTE KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- The commander of international forces in Afghanistan says that in addition to the Army combat brigade that President Bush is sending as a reinforcement in January, there is a need for three additional brigades in 2009. It had previously been known that U.S. commanders in Afghanistan saw a need for a total of three reinforcement brigades -- not four. Gen. David McKiernan told reporters at his headquarters in the Afghan capital that Bush's decision to replace a Marine unit this fall and to send a brigade of the Army's 10th Mountain Division in January is a good start on meeting his troop requirements. But he said he also needs another three Army brigades. That is the first time the general has made clear that such a large additional force is needed to fight the insurgency here. ENDQUOTE Oh, if we'd only listened to people like Obama back in 2002 and kept the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban we wouldn't be in this pickle now. Do we want to be saying the same thing in 4 years? McCain/Palin say: stay the course.

Chuck wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:46 AM:>>> No problem, sell the bundled loans to the gullible public >>> Thats right granny, its always someone else's fault, isnt it. I always knew buyer greed and speculation had nothing to do with it

Asteroid wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:47 AM:Hey chris, you out there? I recently had diner with a friend who has a neighbor who served in Fallujah; a Marine Corp sniper. I wish you could have been there; I had no idea the counts were so high. I’m so proud of those kids. And for the rest of you whiners; God bless America and God bless Olie North, save us from liberalism and return us to reality, amen!

Karl wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:49 AM:Ron @ 6:39 AM:

Echo chamber? That's a great one Ron. Can I use it?

Reardon wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:17 AM:As a 31 year Realtor, I do not know of a single home I have sold that is currently, or in the past in Short Sale or Foreclosure.

There are legitimate reasons for losing your home, including but not limited to losing your job, or huge medical bills, but many (most?) of those currently in foreclosure in the current market are the result of pure fraud.

Those Buyers who listed their income above reality, or Lenders who had an obligation to check those income claims but did not or ignored the results, should be charged with FRAUD. There are Lenders, and homeowners, who should be charged because they are stealing money from the rest of us taxpayers to bail out their problem, while losing equity in our personal homes as well!

For the record wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:18 AM:Of course they don’t tell you the whole truth about the 143 days. Par for the course, I’d say. They know the voters they’re trying to sway with this nonsense won’t bother to check.
As for the 1,000+ days he’s actually been a Senator, any rational person would have to admit that’s not a lot of time in the grand scheme of things. It is a legitimate point of debate.
How many days do you think you’d have to be at your job before they let you run the company, even if you were as accomplished an individual as Obama?
As for Bush, I think he was finished being President the moment he took the oath. He didn't realize it was going to be actual work. He'd never had to do it before.

Alf wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:19 AM:Well, "Marlowe" at 8:13AM,
By George, I think you've got it!
Regards, Alf.

Karl wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:22 AM:According to Edgar Towers the AP is a shill for the right. According to many others the AP is a shill for the left. They must be doing something right to tick of both sides.

Oil and Gas Prices wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:24 AM:The myth of "passing along cost increases" driving up prices:

There is not a direct link between costs and prices.
Price equals supply and demand.

Hurricane fears drive demand or ideas about future prices drive speculation.
They do not affect the supply or cost of oil already produced and now being sold, yet they affect price.

Fears of crisis cause a panic-spike in demand.
Fears that future costs will be higher (or lower) drive demand up (or down) by speculators.

Neither is based on cost.
People sell for what they can get ("what the market will bear").
If they guess wrong, they sell at a loss.
The idea of "passing along costs" is a myth of failed supply-side voodoo economics.

Viva les banques!
All hail Herbert Reagan Walker Bush Hoover!

Alf wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:26 AM:Well, "to Oh my God" at 9:00AM,
methinks that it is you who are living in the past, not in the present.
Wake up!
Regards, Alf.

Reardon wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:29 AM:The Bill and Melinda Foundation and the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors have combined to launch the Strong American Schools project, and that project has just announced their first release, called Diploma to Nowhere.

In general the release tells us what we already know – a high school diploma isn’t worth the paper it is written on – American colleges and universities spend approximately $2.5 BILLION a year remediating basically a third of the students entering college.

"When American public schools do not ensure students receive a quality education, they fail in their mission and in their obligation to taxpayers," says Strong American Schools Chairman Roy Romer. "Our country cannot afford a high school diploma that does not show real student achievement."

You may recall Roy Romer as the former Democratic Governor of Colorado, and the Superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School System.

esteban wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:36 AM:Alfy @ 9:02 AM...I'll do ya one better. We haven't had many terrorist attacks on our soil(until relatively recently) in the over 200 years of the US's existence!!!!! But guess what, now we do. And the enemy is capable of worse. So I approve of te Dubya's methods to extract info from these lowlifes. My safety (and yours) comes first, so a little tweakin (if you want to call it that) of the Constitution is ok by me. Whether or not torture works, just the thought of those wackos in pain is good enough for me.

gracchus wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:38 AM:your communiques of 6:57 a.m. and 7:08 a.m. contain some substantive mistakes, ron.

social security and medicare are not failed programs, ron. they might fail if they don't receive proper funding. but they haven't failed yet.

if you think that these programs are so horrible, ron, with what would you replace them? nothing? you have never given a straight answer on that question. you have constantly belittled them, but you have never suggested what to do with them.


you should read the lengthy article about sarah palin's record as an alaskan politician that appeared in the sunday NEW YORK TIMES. it shows that she has a record of cronyism, an appetite for prequisites of office, a lack of serious interest in important issues in her state, and more than 300 days absence in juneau.

Focal Point- wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:38 AM:to Oh my God[-] wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:00 AM: The decision is predicated upon equal protection section of the State Constitution. Either everybody is protected or nobody is protected. The state determines the qualifications for marriage in the individual states. That why the license is called a, marriage license. Every civil judge and priest, minister or rabbi will make sure that you have one in order to have a marriage recognized under the law. Otherwise, you can be content with your religious ceramony. But, this is not the real issue. The real issue is the control of this society, indirectly or directly, by Christians. Tha answer is no.

We miss you wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:41 AM:My guess is that Ron's actually having to work this week instead of blogging all day because he had to layoff people due to this great Republican economy.

Karl wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:48 AM:Not to worry Yokozuna @ 6:13 AM: I pulled another "all-weekender" in the salt mines and my schedule is a little off kilter. Not so much however that I would miss my daily walk in the pasture glorifying nature (or trashing it depending on my competency with the sticks).

Peace

Richard wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:48 AM:Thank you Bonnie Sealey. The point is trivial to many people but not to me. I oppose McCain/Pailin's beliefs because I understand Creation and the fixity of species that they claim to believe, but yet abuse anyway. Only one time in my entire life was I fortunate enough to see a creatures living in the wild that is one of the most majestic in biology. It was at Yellowstone where that moose was protected from intentional harm from poachers who kill them for something to brag about. I didn't know then I'd become a biologist later. A person who understands Creation and conservation cannot gun down a wild animal like that unless they were extremely hungry and had little choice, or the animal were attacking a human or charging the hunter. Otherwise, to me it's abject greed, pit bull macho, anti-conservative and useless. Alaskans are supposed to put the culture of the native Eskimo people there first. Period. Hunting for mere sport is a sin to them. Many of their villages even have zero electricity intentionally because they believe in being conservative. Alaskan Eskimos get my full support, Pailin/McCain do not. I support gun rights for legitimate hunting to procure food, but I denounce the actions of poachers and braggart sport hunters, especially those who at the same time call themselves Creationist and conservative while snuffing the lives of innocent wildlife for fun. I also deplored the historical slaughter in the Dakotas of buffalo in mass quantities for the fun of it. This is also why in Anza Borrego State Park years ago it was made illegal to gun down Bighorn Sheep. I've only seen about half a dozen of them in the wild my entire life, partly because people who called themselves great hunters slaughtered a group of those sheep visiting their water hole that prompted the legislation. It's incredible to me that we need to go to the trouble to have laws written to stop people who disregard Creation and conservation and at the same time brag about being 'conservative'. These are not conservatives but they are extremists.
Tomorrow is Constitution day, 221 years since its signing. If these people can't understand conservation unless laws are made to force them to, then how will they uphold the Constitution for all U.S. citizens as it was intended to mean, rather than just their view of it? Can they? Will they? I don't know, but from what I see, my prediction is not a chance. Look no further than for example Duncan Hunter who made a huge deal about hunting 'rights' for Marines to get R&R by forcing Congress to establish one of the Channel Islands to stock with game that could be gunned down. A small island where the game can't even run and hide while Hunters snuff them. This is R&R that's so important to Duncan that he badgered Congress to enact it. Will Pailin enforce this also? Go Eskimos and Aleuts.

Alf wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:53 AM:Interestingly enough, the entire population of Alaska is just over HALF that of San Diego.
San Diego has approximately 1.26 million people (wikipedia).
Regards, Alf.

Richard wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:56 AM:Edgar is right. I didn't catch the spokesman's name on this morning's MSNBC news for McCain who denounced all economic troubles we are having as solely the responsibility of Democrats! Incredible, since for a full 6 years there was total domination of the House, Senate AND White House by the GOP as they went wild starting a war in Iraq and whatever else they wanted to