jvc wrote on Sep 20, 2008 2:13 AM:Some estimate that the Fed bailout of Wall Street could cost as much as three trillion dollars! And the real issue here is not so much that the taxpayer is paying for
this bailout as much as it is that we are bailing out
the wealthy of out country!How do you
morally justify helping the wealthy
with charity?We are essentially helping the privilege to maintain their privilege! With this action, we are telling the American worker that there
is no such thing as a work ethic!

Ron wrote on Sep 20, 2008 6:04 AM:Yup! The American public gets it, Robert Kirby.
Not only did Joe "prevent sick middle-class people from filing bankruptcy" Biden said he would be proud to run with or against Sen. John McCain.

He also said being President now was NOT the time for "on-the-job-training."
Refering to Barack NObama.

Now he'll say anything he has to, because the Dem's twice rejected him for their presidential nominee, and this is the only way he'll ever get into the White House.

O'Biden "just doesn't get it", Americans are smarter than that.

Glenn Chappell is right wrote on Sep 20, 2008 6:06 AM:Although Mr Chappell seems a bit easy-to-please by saying that we need "A" woman (like, ANY woman), he does at least stipulate that a "decent, good woman" deserves the chance. So why, then, does he talk about Sarah Palin? Has Mr Chappell been reading about her record as mayor and governor? The earmarks? The investigation into abuse of power? The cronyism? The lying about herself and her opponents? So, yes, I agree with Mr Chappell that a "decent, good woman" might be just what we need. Sadly, none are involved in this year's election. Mr Chappell and I will just have to wait, I guess.

Ron wrote on Sep 20, 2008 6:10 AM:Like I said yesterday, I'm growing bored with people like Zoltan Lucas.

He says: "McCain's character seems like empty words."

Well... at least they are his own words.
The two #1 & #3 liberal Dem's running against him, aka NObama & O'Biden, they steal other people's words.
"Just words.."
Right?

Oh Maurice wrote on Sep 20, 2008 6:41 AM:Democratic rule is Marxism? Hmmm, seems to me that just 8 years ago we had a Democrat for a president and I don't recall that we were a communist state during his tenure in office, do you? No, my recollection was that we had a flourishing economy, a budgetary surplus, and a leader with a high approval rating even as the opposition was impeaching him. Looking back, except for the Monica absurdity, that looks like a golden age compared to what the last 8 "non-communist" years have been like. The Bush tax plan certainly seems to have created jobs alright, in every nation in the world except this one. We are going to pass on a deficit, the largest in our history, to future generations. But, hey!, Maurice has been happy with all this. He says "stay the course". Uh, thanks but no thanks, Maurice.

Cannot get a break wrote on Sep 20, 2008 6:43 AM:In 2006 voters punished Republicans for the war while giving them no credit for the economy. In 2008 voters will punish Republicans for the economy while giving them no credit for the war.
Almost makes me feel sorry for ‘em. Almost.

Marlowe wrote on Sep 20, 2008 6:49 AM:Boy, is John McCain a reform-minded maverick or what? From the Nation (I know, it's a very liberal paper, but the only issue is whether this is true: you can check that out for yourself) QUOTE John McCain is making a big show of criticizing the government "bailout" of insurance giant AIG. But it turns out that AIG, which received $85 billion in US tax dollars earlier this week, is one of the largest donors to McCain's pet think tank, the comically named "Reform Institute," which he co-founded in 2001 "in direct response to the millions of Americans who, during the 2000 presidential campaign, expressed profound disillusionment with corrupt fundraising activities."
Apparently, AIG was so troubled over the issue of corrupt fundraising activities that they loaded in as one of the top VIP donors in McCain's nonprofit think-tank, whose website lists AIG in the "over $50,000" donor category--although exactly how much over that $50,000 is still unclear. Nor is it clear why AIG had any business donating so much money to a think tank whose work in no way overlapped with the insurance company's--unless, of course, that money was just meant to gain access to McCain. ENDQUOTE Although McCain formally stepped down from his post at the Reform Institute in 2005, he's still very involved and close to it...he did co-found it, after all. So once again, McCain's claims and his behavior are as far apart as, well, as far as the "Reform" institute is from "reform". This is the guy who is going to clean up Washington? Can you trust ANYTHING he or Palin say? ANYTHING? Me either!

Been there done that wrote on Sep 20, 2008 6:59 AM:Maurice Chambers decries the Democrat's plan of higher taxes for the wealthy and more regulation, which in the 90's produced the largest peacetime economic expansion in history.
I suppose that means he favors the Republican's 180 degree continuing plan for lower taxes for the wealthy and less regulation.
How's that been working out for ya, Maurice?

Greed is good wrote on Sep 20, 2008 7:07 AM:Gordon Gekko would be proud.

The Party of ideas wrote on Sep 20, 2008 7:20 AM:Since Republicans have already borrowed Hoover's plan for creating a worldwide depression, is their plan, if McCain is elected, to create a world war to bring us out of it?

History will judge him and us wrote on Sep 20, 2008 7:29 AM:Bush can now add another gem to his legacy. To list the greatest ones, we have 9-11, Iraq, Katrina, and now the largest bailout since the Great Depression. I'd say these are a shorthand version of Bush's homeland security, defense, domestic welfare, and economic policies and what they have wrought. McCain says, "Stay the course". They are selling the end of the glorious American dream, and we have been buying it. Want more? McCain/Palin's your ticket.

The real race card wrote on Sep 20, 2008 7:42 AM:From the AP QUOTE WASHINGTON (AP) — Deep-seated racial misgivings could cost Barack Obama the White House if the election is close, according to an AP-Yahoo News poll that found one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views toward blacks — many calling them "lazy," "violent," responsible for their own troubles. The poll, conducted with Stanford University, suggests that the percentage of voters who may turn away from Obama because of his race could easily be larger than the final difference between the candidates in 2004 — about two and one-half percentage points. ENDQUOTE I guess I'm surprised it's only 2.5%. The terrible news is that plain old-fashioned racism is still strong enough that it could decide a Presidential election. There's still a lot of work to do, folks. When will we be over this at last?

Ron wrote on Sep 20, 2008 7:52 AM:Glen Chappell says: "Time to see if women can mess up as bad as men."
He continues: "The one thing I love hearing is so many men saying, "She scares the hell out of me," when talking about Sarah Palin."

Now excuse me, but...

We're we all not all told at one time that if women ran the world, it would be a much, much better place?
Oh, pardon me.. they really meant liberal women.

To quote a well known liberal:

“And, let’s face it, if the mothers ruled the (world), there would be no (expletive) wars in the first place.” `Sally Field

Palin is a woman, and a mother.
I don't see the problem.

Ms M wrote on Sep 20, 2008 7:58 AM:This bailout stinks. Did these corporations wake up one day last week and find out they were in trouble? No they new this was coming quite some time ago. Why didn't they take measures to save themselves? They must have known we would save them. If this is about bad home loans then why don't the banks offer a lower interest rate on homes going into foreclosure? This way folks can stay in their homes and we the people would not have to bailout these private companies. In fact a great way to stimulate the economy would be to offer a 4% homeowner interest rate for ALL homeowners. This would take care of main street and wall street. Or maybe the problem is more than homeloans.

Republican Socialist wrote on Sep 20, 2008 8:33 AM:The economy is in meltdown, foreign policy is a travesty, emergency response systems are in total disarray, so what do the Republican apologists do?
Maurice Chambers' letter shows us exactly: name calling and fear tactics.
Call the Democrats Communists.

How many times do we have to set the record straight?

Communism is the government ownership of the "means of production."
The Democrats do not advocate this, only regulatory protection and oversight, similar to how sports rules and traffic rules make sports and driving possible.

It is the REPUBLICAN PARTY only who has advocated and implemented true socialism:

Socialism for the rich (but no protections or bailouts for individual victims who need help the most):
Privatize profits; socialize losses (make the taxpayers pay). What happened to "risk" by capitalists?
Not merely bailouts or loan guarantees, but full Federal takeover (ownership and operation) of private lending corporations Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Not merely bailouts or loan guarantees, but 80% ownership of private insurance company AIG.

In Alaska:
The Republican presidential nominee selects as his running mate the governor of the only true Sociliast economy in the U.S. (Alaska, financed by the commercial oil ventures it owns [and if there was any doubt about that, CSPAN recently rebroadcast a debate from her 2006 gubernatorial campaign in which there was extensive discussion of managing the commercial oil operations THEY OWN - also, I got to actually watch her express support for that "Bridge to Nowhere." The debate obviously occurred while she was still for it before she was against it].
The 9-15-08 issue of Newsweek (page 30) cites REPUBLICAN former governor of Alaska Wally Hickel (who also served as, ironically, Secretary of the INTERIOR under REPUBLICAN Richard Nixon, as advocating an "economy of the commons."
Commons? As in Communism?
Hickel was referring to the state ownership and operation of the communal oil business.

Lowery Lady wrote on Sep 20, 2008 8:44 AM:Chuck Lowery will save our City! Hurray Sally for letting the City know about about him! Vote for Chuck Lowery for City Council.

OBAMACAN wrote on Sep 20, 2008 8:45 AM:Excellent letter from Zoltan Lucas! Clear, specific and fact-based.
And in response, Ron is so flustered, so uncharacteristically tongue-tied, that all he can do his whine and whimper and express the fact that he doesn't like it.
I would rather have a candidate who uses someone else's words with permission (Obama) or someone who had repeatedly used someone else's words with full, appropriate attribution except in one instance where he slipped and failed to do so and promptly apologized and acknowledged the error when it was brought to his attention (Biden).
McCain simply lies, over and over.
No apology.
No correction.
A campaign of lies and misinformation.

Meanwhile, we are still waiting for Ron to explain away his party's overt socialism.
His Republicans have now taken over Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and AIG.
They already owned all the oil in Alaska, Wally Hickel's "economy of the commons."
What is next?
Take over the steel mills?
A Democratic president tried that almost 60 years, and it was Democratic judges and legislators who laid down the law and made it clear that was not the direction the Democrats would be taking our country, and stopped him cold.

Ron is against socialism. Except for rich people.

Ron wrote on Sep 20, 2008 8:54 AM:As a person who runs my own business, and all business people will tell you.
It is not the known costs that will cause you to go bankrupt, it's those pesky unknowns.

As Peggy Sloan quotes the list of knowns, notice what Liberals never want to talk about? The Unknowns...
Well.. not quite.

Her list: $357 billion deficit,
& a $9.7 trillion debt. And then she goes on to say Bush is the worst president in history.

I just love how quick to blame these lib's are when things go south. Remember, good news in Iraq, would be bad news for democrats?
Yeah, it's like that.

Anyways...
Let's start speaking some truth here, because the lib's will attempt to blame this latest economic fiasco all on Bush & the Republicans, and as I've so aptly pointed out before, they are as knee-deep in this, and anyone else.
Iraq took democrats to vote Yes, and so did this economic mess.

In the 1970's under Carter were had democrats proposing economic packages for low-income & particular minority communites. They called them community reinvestments. These were low interest loans made to these primarily by Fannie & Freddie.
Come the 90's and redline mortgages. Anyone remember that? I'll bet the dem's can't. LOL Well, I remember certain democrats calling loan underwriters, mortgages companies, and other's racist because of the so-called "red-lined" mortgages. The Liberals thought everyone, no matter whether they could afford them should have a mortgage. Janet Reno was threatening lega action, congressional hearings were called, real slatinist show trials. Much like we saw with the oil exec's. And the screws were turned, politically and potentially legally to those who would not loan money to people who had no way of ever paying it back. Mortgage companies invented "creative" schemes to accomodate, rather than be placed in the legal lurch. And, for awhile, it worked. As long as Fannie & Freddie, the two government run mortgage companies bought up this bad paper, everyone was happy. Accounting schemes, and accounting problems were hatched with ex-Clinton-ites Raines, Mudd, Gorelick. Where the more paper they carried, I need to revise that...
The more BAD paper they carried, showing the face value going up, they all collected huge bonuses, even though the paper wasn't worth squat.
They walked away with millions.
In step the Republicans, the modified free-market seemed to be working, so why not go with it? They repeal several regulations, even though everyone knew the fake, and fraud paper over at Fannie/Freddie were absolute frauds, and worthless. Especially the Democrats, who were using Fannie & Freddie as their own personal campaign piggy banks. By 2001, the bloom was off, and Bush tried to push for stricter reform. He was denied. In 2003, he tried again, again denied by Schumer-D, and Frank-D. At the same time, Chrid Dodd & BO are collecting huge money from these two frauds.
Bush tried again in 2005, again denied by the democrats who wanted to protect their campaign money.
Even though everyone knew, it was a disaster waiting to happen.
This is what happens when Congress, the President, the Government gets involved into the private business world.
The connections between are there to be seen by anyone with an ounce of critical thinking.
Do you know how I know this nexus between Government & Business is deadly?
Because in my own little world, I don't run bad paper. I won't. If I can't balance my books, then I don't risk the capital. Simple. I've never filed a bankruptcy, never been bailed out, never sought a loan from government.
Now, how can I do this successfully, and these clowns in Washington can't?
And one more thing....
You got Washington calling to regulate business? When, their own books are in worse shape? That's funny...
Cause the one thing no democrats, no liberal wants to talk about...
$54 trillion in debt, caused by liberal institutionalism.
And $54 trillion makes $9 trillion look manageable.

TFB wrote on Sep 20, 2008 8:59 AM:Keith Bristow's letter shows him to be another anti-choice bully who thinks he has the right to decide for women how they should control the most private parts of their bodies.
He further shows himself to be scientifically illiterate if he says that LIFE begins at "conception" (actually, fertilization). So, he doesn't believe that the ovum and the sperm that joined together were not alive before that union? Must have slept through that session of his biology class, if he ever even took one.
The question is not about human LIFE, it is when that human LIFE becomes a human PERSON.
We can all probably agree that it is OK not to try to ensure that every single ovum or sperm be preciously granted its "right" to blossom into a born child.
We can all probably agree that once a human BABY has been born, with all of the actual attributes and functions of a human person, though at a primitive level, and no longer demands the 24/7 occupation of a specific female uterus to survive, that it has become a human PERSON.
So somewhere between fertilization and birth occurs the transformation from potential person to actual person. When that occurs is a matter of opinion, often based on religious viewpoint (even if one's stated religious text doesn't actually confirm that).
Does it occur at fertilization?
Does it occur at uterine implantation?
Does it occur when the heart starts to beat?
Does it occur when the woman can detect fetal movement (quickening)?
Does it occur with the onset of measurable EEG brain waves?
That is a matter of opinion and belief.
I respect Keith's right to decide for himself about the pregnancy in his own body (if and when).
I respect every woman's right to make that decision for herself.
And I demand that Keith and everybody else let each woman have that right for herself.

Still waiting wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:02 AM:A couple of days ago, a number of very specific, very obvious, very flat-out lies that were told by McCain and/or Palin were posted. Someone said that it would only be fair to do the same for Obama. That person was challenged to present the very specific, very obvious, very flat-out lies that Obama and/or Biden have told in this campaign. Still waiting. The person's computer probably crashed because there were so many of them. Or none.

TFB wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:03 AM:Further response to Keith Bristow's absurd letter, and his discussion of the "life" of vegetable plants and meat animals. People can eat fruits, grains and legumes by harvesting the energy sources of plants without killing the plant.
In fact, the consumption of most plant sources does not kill the plant, but is nature's mechanism for it to spread its seed. In contrast, the consumption of artery-clogging animal fat is wholly unnecessary to human survival, and the killing of vertebrates does kill a sentient, autonomous being who was not harming you.
Again, I am pro-choice on the subject of eating meat, however I could make a much stronger case that "meat is murder" than that "abortion is murder."

TFB hits it out of the park wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:16 AM:TFB continues to be our most intelligent and rational spokesperson for the issue of women's right to choose. Let's put her (his?) point another way. The concept "person" is NOT a biological concept, but a legal and social one. There is nothing in the biology of a human that is a biological marker of personhood. This is something that a society decides without necessary reference to biology whatsoever, though it can choose to. There are few things more obvious in this area than the fact that as a society, we have nothing remotely like unanimity about when personhood arrives. Different people have different ideas and many have no idea at all. Not only that, but even when people have one idea of this, their behavior says they have a different idea than even they say they do. For example, many who assert with confidence that a fertilized egg is a person in no other way than stating that opinion do they act as though this were true: other than wanting it to live, they do not treat an embryo like any other fully living, independent person that they know. If they did, even their friends would suspect they were psychotic. Since this confusion and differing of opinion is so unarguably widespread in the US, arbitrarily choosing some people's view and imposing it on the rest is morally wrong and deeply anti-American. Thanks TFB. The pro-choice people allow others to behave in accord with their beliefs. The so-called "pro-life" people do not. Case closed.

Alf wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:18 AM:In his letter, Glen Chappell states "I didn't consider John McCain real brilliant until he picked Sarah Palin as his running mate. Now I understand. Finally, in the twilight of my life, I get to admit that this woman might be just what we need as a vice president or president.".
He is absolutely correct -
IF
you want this country turned further toward being a theocracy,
IF
you want war that lasts until we are totally ruined,
IF
you want to continue on the same path of losing more of our Constitutional Rights and the complete deconstruction of the United States Constitution.
That is not the direction or end result that I want,
do you?
Regards, Alf.

Alf wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:33 AM:Well, "Ron" at 7:52AM,
your theory would work
IF
all women who are mothers were the same.
Thank goodness that so few are as poor an example as Palin.
I will do my part by voting for someone other than McGWB/Palin.
Regards, Alf.

VOR wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:38 AM:Why do you find the need to continually lie and make up stories trying to mislead people.

Ron's lies:
"The American public gets it, Robert Kirby."

Yes Ron, the Obama has taken a leas that he won't give up and 82% of American think conservatives have taken us in the wrong direction. Conservatism is dying.

"Not only did Joe "prevent sick middle-class people from filing bankruptcy" Biden said he would be proud to run with or against Sen. John McCain.

Republican's led the charge to change bankruptcy laws, with all Republican Congressmen voting to prevent sick middle class people from filing bankruptcy....Ron of course could care less and would lead the charge against anyone from filing bankruptcy.

"Biden doesn't get it"-- well Ron, we shall soon see and when Democrats win this thing going away, your conservatism will be dead and buried.

Latest Poll: Obama 48%- Grunmpy Granpa McBush 42%. Ron is right- Americans do get it.

He Said wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:41 AM:The real race card @7:42: Yes, unfortunately there is still racism in America. But it is not only whites. How many African Americans voted for Obama's opponents in the primaries? Just facts not judgment. You are right though, racism is the mantle for ignorance and I am also surprised at the numbers.

VOR wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:42 AM:Ron@610 says "He says: "McCain's character seems like empty words."

Well... at least they are his own words.
The two #1 & #3 liberal Dem's running against him, aka NObama & O'Biden, they steal other people's words"

Poor Ron, even though he doesn't give us any examples of what Rush Limbaugh told him, at least if Biden and Obama repeat the same theme that McCain and Bush are more of the same as McBush voted 90% of the time with the failed President. At least they don't repeat lies over and over to the American public. Lying is the main theme of conservatives, as Ron is doing in every post. If only he fact checked Rush.

Reardon wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:45 AM:Alf: I see nothing in MY copy of the Constitution that permits a federal government to buy a stake in AIG, or to establish a semi-autonomous Freddie Mac or Fannie May for that matter, so your concerns about the Constitution are overblown. It no longer exists except as a historical icon.

As to a theocracy, I suspect you are again overly concerned. Reagan was a pro-life Christian but did zero to reflect that position. Obama is a Christian of the Black Liberation stripe, and McCain is a prolife type, but neither has shown any interest in governmental enforced theology. Palin is demonstrably devout in her personal life, but in no governmental position has she shown an interest in using the levers of government for her theology.

Why don't we wait for some sign before we raise the theology signal? A theological coup d’état is unlikely on anyone’s part.

VOR wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:48 AM:Ron wants to label a poster as a Liberal because the poster attacks Palin for being a woman. Well Ron, many conservatives have abandoned Grandpa McBush for Obama and you know the same bigots who attacked Hilary Clinton for being a woman, and I somehow remember you posting over and over about that are most likely the crossovers who are attacking Palin for her sex. Liberals are just that....liberal and open on their views. Not like conservatives, who are all fundamentalists.

Chuck wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:48 AM:The news is reporting that Paul McCartney's ex-wife is donating $1 million in vegan food to Bronx.

The problem is the people want a steak, a burger or some chops. If she wants to donate sprouts and beans, send it to San Francisco

VOR wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:53 AM:Ron wants to blame Democrats for the economy but its all his nightmare. McBush yesterday attacked Obama for taking contributions from the banking industry unethically alluding that taking the money means that they sold out to them.

Well, if we want to use that logic then ALL Republicans have sold out to the Energy industry, pharmacutical companies and take more money from American corporations two to one compared to Democrats. Maybe thats why the connection to people like Abramoff and K Street and the reason 10-1 Republican Congressmen went to jail. LOL. Remember when Ron defended the "Duke".

Alf wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:55 AM:The letter from Darrell McGuire says "Those same hate-mongers launched attacks on Sarah Palin, who is exactly what the founders had in mind when they created a new government for the United States."
The founders had left a country that had a marriage of church and state known as the Church of England.
It is of no wonder at all that the very first words of the First Amendment of the Constitution were to declare that
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof".
Somehow I do not believe that the founders would EVER had ANYONE in mind for President OR Vice Persident who would try to make this country a theocracy, who would openly be an agent for REGRESSION to the very thing from which we revolted.
Regards, Alf.

VOR wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:57 AM:Its all Conservos have now is "remember Bill Clinton and Monica"; "remember Jimmy Carter and Iran? They think that if they say something like Democrats will bring Communism that they can scare Americans into not voting but America learned about the lies of the right last election. They chanted WMD's, WMD's until Americans rejected them and still reject them and voted out Republicans (VOR) in 2006 just as the polls say that they will take over the Presidency and Congress this year.

Chuck wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:57 AM:>>>Ms M wrote on Sep 20, 2008 7:58 AM: This bailout stinks.>>> So do the pukes who, out of total greed, bought a home they could not afford, and when they got upside down on it, they headed for the hills. Thus, they were bailed out of hundreds of billions in mortgages. Its employer hating morons like you who want to see the corporations pay- but you havent figured it out that corporations dont ever pay. It gets passed right back to the employees in the form of lower pay, lower benefits and lower 401-K matching

Ms M wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:03 AM:Chuck
[-] wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:57 AM:...Chuck I would appreciate it if you would stop the unnecessary name calling. You don't need it to make a point it just makes you look like the MORAN that you are so quick to call others.

Alf wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:06 AM:A few quotes -
"He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures."

"He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation."

"In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury."

These words are describing why we declared Independence from King George III of England and from England itself.
Interestingly enough, although Iraq is not a colony of the U.S., these words and more could be used by Iraq to describe how they feel toward the U.S. with only minor changes.
Regards, Alf.

VOR wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:07 AM:LOL!!! Ron brings up campaign reform, but won't tell you whats really happening in the conservative side of the Presidential campaign will he?

Of course I quote facts to back opinion and don't make up opinion and call them facts so in today's NYT a wonderful factual artical tells how unethical McBush and conservatives are. They use and twist laws and bypass regulations just as they believe they are above the law when they are issued a subpoena they just don't appear.

Lets look at the NYT article:
"Now, as Mr. McCain makes his final sprint for the White House, Mr. Potter is again helping Mr. McCain, but this time by maneuvering to wring the maximum out of campaign finance laws in ways that some contend are at odds with the spirit of the reforms they championed." You know the truth express himself.

"But critics point out Mr. McCain is capitalizing on legal loopholes that a watchdog organization headed by Mr. Potter has fought against."

"The centerpiece of McCain-Feingold was its efforts to rein in “soft money,” or unregulated contributions, in national elections. But McCain fund-raisers continue to build much of their efforts around the solicitation of large contributions of up to about $70,000 for a special joint fund-raising account for the Republican National Committee and several state parties, which can spend money on behalf of the campaign, called McCain-Palin Victory 2008."

Lying, cheating, misleading, corruption and lack of ethics are what Republicans are all about. Why else would Republcians be called the culture of corruption.

Ms M wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:12 AM:Chuck
[-] wrote on Sep 20, 2008 9:57 AM:...Chuck I do get it! The lending institutions bent over backwards to help out the little man - nothing in it for them - they made those loans from the kindness of their hearts. And now we look up and the fat cats are whining. I wonder how many of them are going to return the millions that they bilked their shareholders for by doing such a great job.

VOR wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:14 AM:Reardon, Palin has said over and over in the last few weeks that her intention is to overturn Roe v Wade. McBush has all of a suddent started to bumble, stumble and is following her lead and will vote in Supreme Court Justices who will take away the civil rights of a woman's right to choose and Palin is screaming like a banchee about including incest and rape victims. But remember if youre raped under her theories the victim will have to pay for the test. Unbelieveable. But don't subpoena the "First Dude" because its OK if he doesn't show up, you know what an upstanding Christian he is. Remember Jesus said, give Ceasar's things to Ceasar but I assume that Sarah knows its really not in God's will to find out she abused her office before the election.

Ron wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:14 AM:And then, let's chat.. just a bit about this budget deficit. This $357 billion, or more we will need to borrow this year.
About $157 billion of that is for the wars in Iraq & Afganistan.

The other $200 billion is for on-going welfare state costs. Come on you lib's.. you can name them off..
Dept. of Education, HUD, Health & Human Services, blah., blah., blah.
Money for Katrina, money for hurricanes, money for all this stuff you agree we need, and can not live without.

You know what? If you want all that, you gotta pay for it. If we recinded the Bush tax cuts only on the top 1%, this so-called $250K range, that would only get you about $57 billion.
You gotta pay attention now, cause this is where BO's math get's a little fuzzy.
He says, the lower 95% will get tax cuts. Notice the gap. The Lower 95% leaves open the top 5%, who's income begins at $150K. Like I said, you gotta be paying attention, and quit mouthing the mantra's.
If you did that, that would only get you slightly less than half-way there of closing the budget deficit, or about $178 billion. Amazing, huh? The top 1% will cough up about $57 billion, while those making less between $150K to $250K will make up $121 billion.
Now, he wants to also raise the unearned income tax rate, somewhere between 20-28%. Now, again.. you gotta be careful here with BO, cause he's slipperly on this issue. People naturally assume since he's already talking about the upper incomes coughing up more money, that when he starts talking about unearned income, he's still talking about those making over $250K a year.

He ain't. He's talking across the board.
So, every person who profits from capital gains, dividends, unearned income.. he means YOU!

And, the math simply don't work out neither. Take the last stimulous package passed for the lower incomes, some $150 billion in checks.
If he rolls back the top 1% Bush tax cuts only, he can not possibly pay for it. That only nets you $57 billion, the stimulous checks were $150 billion.

He must be a student of discovery math. anyone remember when public schools were using that? LOL
That's when you don't find the right answer, yet you still get an A. For effort. Cause, he's feeling your pain.
And it just sounds soooo good, it's GOT TO BE TRUE!
Right?
WRONG....

Focal Point wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:15 AM:PALIN AND RELIGION:
"n the video Palin says, "I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas pipeline built. So pray for that ... I can do my job there in developing my natural resources. But all of that doesn't do any good if the people of Alaska's heart is not good with God."

Nick wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:17 AM:I love how Liberal Dems like "VOR" cherry pick a poll to try and make Obama look like he has some big lead...LMAO.
I could cherry pick the one from Texas that shows McCain at 57% & Obama at 36%...see how easy that is.

I prefer to use "Real Clear Politics Poll Averages" which breaks it down. Here is the spread:

Rasmussen Tracking-----------Obama +1
Gallup Tracking--------------Obama +5
Hotline/FD Tracking----------Obama +1
Battleground Tracking-------- Tie
CBS News/NY Times------------Obama +5
Quinnipiac-------------------Obama +4
Pew Research----------------- Tie
Reuters/Zogby----------------Obama +2
Newsweek--------------------- Tie
The averages come out to be
Obama 47.3%
McCain 45.3%

Now most folks no I can't stand Obama, but at least you don't see me skewing the polls to try and prove a point!

Cheers, Nick.

Reardon wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:21 AM:Someone, I assume “Jo” (Jo--Deconstructing Obstructionism) takes me to task for calling the Surfrider Foundation as obstructionists for filing still another lawsuit to derail the desalinization plant in Carlsbad.

The Surfrider Foundation, Sierra Club, Southern California Watershed Alliance and the Desal Response Group have appeared dozens, perhaps HUNDREDS of times before the Carlsbad City Council, the Coastal Commission, The State Land Commission, and the State Health Commission in public hearings. Further they have filed two previous lawsuits.

THEY LOST!

Can’t you get that through your head, Jo.?

LOST! Each and EVERY time!

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit! There is no use making a damn fool of yourself, and that is where the Surfrider Foundation was months and months ago.

Dead Enders, now Vexatious Litigants!

O B S T R U C T I O N I S T S!

Infidelity in perspective wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:21 AM:The only difference between what Bill Clinton and John Edwards did and what John McCain did in their extramarital affairs is that only the latter dumped his wife for the other woman. I guess this is what makes him such a fine, upstanding example of Christian virtue. Much like the Palin kid's decision to go through with the pregnancy, never mind the pre-marital sex before age 18 (and the jury is still out on whether they will marry), is proof that she, too, is a fine, upstanding example of Christian virtue, like her mom was. I hate to bring these kinds of "private" matters up, of course, but the GOP, in their pursuit of Clinton after the Monica fiasco, insists this is important stuff. So, alas, I must.

Chuck wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:21 AM:>>>If this is about bad home loans then why don't the banks offer a lower interest rate on homes going into foreclosure?>>> First, banks would still have to write the loan down to market value. If a loan was worth par at 8%, what would it be worth at 3%?? Second, do you really think if someone in Carlsbad was $150,000 upside down on their house, that they'd care about a 3% mortgage?? Most ran to the hills and will have someone buy their home back from the bank $150,000 cheaper. If you were a bank auditor and saw a loan for $500,000 on the books that was only 1 month behind in payments, and the collateral manager told you the house was only worth $350,000, what value would you put on the loan? And after you did that 2000 times, wouldn't you think the bank would have a regulatory capital problem??? The whole thing is a mess

VOR wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:21 AM:So Nick.....first off....where is the linked polls....mine was todays WP poll.

But notice.....McBush isnt on the positive side of any and my poll is the ONLY poll taken after the economy crisis. Nick doesn't get it. All these polls he quotes was before McBush said " the fundamentals of our economy are good" LOL The next day..." he said OH MY GOD....I just lost the election"

Thanks Nick wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:23 AM:Thanks for your giving us the sample of legit polling data. You seem to follow these things. Can you give us the same data for now, one week ago, two weeks ago, three weeks ago? That'd be interesting, to see if there are any trends. Thanks in advance.

Focal Point wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:24 AM:PALIN AND RELIGION:
"ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin told ministry students at her former church that the United States sent troops to fight in the Iraq war on a “task that is from God.”

In an address last June, the Republican vice presidential candidate also urged ministry students to pray for a plan to build a $30 billion natural gas pipeline in the state, calling it “God’s will.”

VOR wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:25 AM:Sorry Nick I meant you didnt link the date of the poll.

McCain: We should deregulate health insurance like we deregulated Wall Street!!!!! Can you believe this moron!

The only thing McBush has said is that has been true for months is -"I don't know a lot about the economy"

Alf wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:28 AM:Well, "Reardon" at 9:45AM,
I doubt that discussing with a librarian about the possibility of banning books was anything less than a prelude to that end.
While a "wait and see" attitude has its place for some things, I do not believe that this (Palin) is one.
But, then again, I suspect anyone and everyone who demonstrates the level of hypocrisy and underhandedness that Palin has already shown,
AND I expect the worst.
The bad part is that "they" usually live down to my worst expectations.
Regards, Alf.

Focal Point wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:29 AM:PALIN ON "GEORGIA:
"“And we’ve got to keep an eye on Russia. For Russia to have exerted such pressure in terms of invading a smaller democratic country, unprovoked, is unacceptable,” she told ABC News’ Charles Gibson."

Reardon wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:33 AM:VOR: I too want Roe v Wade overturned -- but I will gladly change my mind if you will point to that part of the Constitution that uses the word "abortion."

Heck, I'll change my mind instantly if you will point to that part of the Constitution that says "Right of Privacy" on which, theoretically, "abortion" is based!

I favor a woman's right to choose, and under the 10th Amendment that power belongs to the State. I'll support an Amendment to that California State Constitution, writing a Right of a woman to choose into the State Constitution.

Until then, it is a unwritten "right" based on still another unwritten "right," NEITHER of which appears in the Constitution.

What DOES appear in the Constitutio, WRITTEN, is the 10th Amendment.

Chuck wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:34 AM:>>>.Chuck I do get it! >>> LOL. You;re not even close to getting it. You think people bailed on their homes because those evil, rich corpoations made a profit on their loan. The real reason people bailed is, first, because their signature means nothing to them, and second because they owe $500,000 on a home that's now worth $350,000, thereby sticking the bank or the person who bought the loan with a $150K-$200K loss. Your type celebrates the $150K-$200K losses that are being taken, and you spit you hate at any solution that comes down the pike.

Marlowe wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:37 AM:One way to look at the current American near future is like this. Liberals want to develop renewable energy to get us, as much as possible, off fossil fuel. Conservatives want us to own and drill and use as much of the world's oil as possible. Which way means expanding military budgets, wars, dead American kids, enemies abroad, and praying that the scientists are wrong about global warming? Which way means retooling an economy towards incredible growth, clean energy, and freedom from reliance on the Saudis and on international hostility, and working against global warming if it's happening? This doesn't seem like a difficult choice to me.

Chuck wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:39 AM:Hussein says he wants to help the people now that the banks have been helped. LOL. 10 million people were bailed out of their mortgage debt when they ran for the hills. And the rest of us would be fine, except you stick your middle finger at us about drilling, which will cost this country hundreds of thousands of jobs, and huge commodity inflation, while enriching the oil cartels by $800 billion. So, Hussein, we see how much you really want to help us.

jvc wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:39 AM:As to the bailouts.....what would Jesus
do? You know , the guy who battled
the money changers in the temples!

Focal Point wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:41 AM:Nick[-] wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:17 AM:
Good man that you are!

grachus wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:43 AM:the reason, ron, why no liberal will talk about the $54trillion debt that you promote in your communique of 8:57 A.M. is because it does not exist. the current federal debt is $9.5 trillion. yet you persist in talking about a potential $54 trillion debt.

if we don't get our financial mhouse in order by revising our tax policy, we will have signficant problems. but you are just wrong to write that a potentiality is a current reality.

you have never offered a satisfactory suggestion concerning how we can fix medicare and social security. you have never had the courage to write that both entitlement programs should be abolished.

in the past you have written disparagingly about entitlement programs which benefit the people of the untied states, calling them waste. yet you have called for spending billions of dollars on the fiasco in iraq, and advocated spending more on other military adventures to bring freedom (whatever that means) to people on the other side of the globe. how fiscally conservative is that?

the democrats voted in 2002, just a few weeks before the election, to authorize military action in iraq if it were necessary. but who commenced hositlities? republican gw bush.

who believed that the united states could wage two wars and have tax cuts at the same time? president gw bush and a republican controlled congress. you don't think that this policy might have soemthing to do with our
current economic problems?

the democrats have historically considered accountability far more important the republicans. they have pushed for regulatory agencies that keep business in line. do you think that our food would be safer if the FDA didn't exist? do you think that workers would havea better work environment without OSHA?

i know that businessmen find the various bureaucracies annoying, because the agencies enforce the laws which congress passed at the behest of the people to make the country a better place to live. if businessmen were altruistic and willing on their own initiative to make their money without abusing people and the environment, the bureaucracies would have no reason to exist.

and accountability will never hinder a good businessman. the united states can still produce a bill gates. so i don't think that our country, with its interest in regulating business behavior and its efforts to provide social services for its citizens, is hostile to rational, entrepeneurial activity.

Focal Point wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:51 AM:VOR[-] wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:07 AM:
More over, any information that the Bush and his poltical hacks do not want the American people to know is simply inappropriately classified. We have seen Bush poticizize the Justice department. He filled it with operatives assocaited with Regent University What would Palin be doing behind the scenes if she were Vice President?

VOR wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:54 AM:The economic crisis will be viewed by America exactly the way it should be. We do get it Ron!! Republicans are the party that back big business. The culture that support tax breaks for millionaires while on Main Street foreclosure, bankruptcies, gas prices, unemployment kill the regular midddle class guy. Listen to Ron as he talks against the average American, the ones that depends on the socialist programs of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. These are traditional American programs which you and I, not Ron, will need one day. Ron is wealthy (wealthy businessman according to him) and can only be hurt by Obama when he becomes President. So he doesn't care about you, the average guy, he ONLY cares about his money. McBush will get him more money where Obama will bring stop class warfare.

Why do you think these selfish people attack Global Warming? Because regulations from Global Warming will cost the Coporations that support conservatives. Do you think, Ron the business owner, or Reardon the award winner, or Chuck the whatever, knows anything about the science of Global Warming. Of course not, just as they know nothing about the economy. As you see the state the economy is in, is from the Republican party selling out to the lobbyists of Corporate America. Do you see, that when Republicans set up bankruptcy laws for the poor and hurting they set stringent regulations to protect credit card companies. But as soon as Big Business is in trouble from lack of the same types of regulations (letting the fox guard the hen house) for the greed of selling mortgages to people that can't afford them, the system is structured that if the country doesn't help them out the economy would collapse. Republicans are against you and I and for the wealthy. Under a Conservative President, the wealthy have gotten richer and the middle class have slid backwards. Obama will CHANGE America in the next few months where Grumpy Grandpa McSame will only bring us four more years like we are in today, yet worse. McBush/Palin are Bush/Cheney on conservative steriods. You may get $150 dollars back in taxes but they'll get thousands more from you for energy (gasoline, electricity and natural gas) health care costs (prescription drug costs) and the wealthy get wealthier.

Focal Point wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:57 AM:Both McCain and Obama have taken liberties with the truth in seeking the support of Hispanic-Americans, who are emerging as a crucial voting bloc in the presidential election. McCain had a politically convenient memory lapse in forgetting his vote for a physical wall along long sections of the Mexican border, while Obama incorrectly suggested that his rival shares Limbaugh's ideas on immigration.

VOR wrote on Sep 20, 2008 10:58 AM:Focal point you are right, this is how incredibly crazy people on the religious right are. God said my kingdom is not of this world. Do you trust someone that denies this and says different then the Bible? Now me. And she could be the next President as McBush has had cancer four times now. The next thing she'll stand before us as President and tell us her plans to make us all follow the new "state religion", or the new laws concerning hatred and bigotry.

Focal Point wrote on Sep 20, 2008 11:01 AM:Palin Says Alaska Provides 20% of USA ENERGY. From the Fact Checker:
"While Alaska is a leading producer of crude oil, it produces relatively little natural gas, hardly any coal, and no nuclear power. Its share of oil production has been declining sharply, and now ranks lower than Texas and Louisiana. As the following table shows, Alaska is the ninth largest energy supplier in the United States, accounting for a modest 3.5 percent share of the nation's total energy production."

VOR wrote on Sep 20, 2008 11:06 AM:Sen. John McCain has proposed doubling Bush’s tax cuts, resulting in a deficit of $505 billion. Yesterday, in an interview with Tom Ashbrook, McCain adviser John Taylor said McCain could still balance the budget by 2013 after the bailouts: