Caro Hussein Cogitatus wrote on Sep 23, 2008 6:42 AM:I call Gerald Austin's attention to the first words of the First Amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"

I direct your attention to the 1796 Treaty of Tripoli as well:

"Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion;"

This nation was explicitly not built around the belief in God. This nation was built around the belief in freedom.

And Gerald, if you don't believe in that freedom, you also have the right to leave.

To Gerald Austin wrote on Sep 23, 2008 6:57 AM:Gerald: Our nation was not built on religious freedom, not on a belief in God. Go read our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The word God is intentionally not mentioned. The first Amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.

Go back to where I came from you say? How rude and un-American of you. Have you been to the statue of liberty, where it is engraved with: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." Why do you seek to change our way of life?

To much gay is not a good thing wrote on Sep 23, 2008 6:59 AM:OMG, great letter. I just heard about this Harvey Milk day thing. What is going on? Tolerance is one thing, but keep your sexual preference to yourself. Good golly, No amount of sex should be taught at school. And if Sally has 2 Daddies or 2 Mommies, can't we just like Sally for who she is or do we have to give her a special feel good girl pill.

Give me a break, society is giving the gay community to much credence when frankly nobody cares. Its when you cram it down other peoples throats is when they start to get angry!

OBAMACAN wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:12 AM:James Ciriello's letter uses few words to get it really, really wrong. He says Rev Wright uttered the phrase, "God damn America" "time after time." False! He used that expression in one sermon.
In fact, desperate right-wing slime researches had to comb through 20 years of Wright videos to find four statements that, when taken out of context, could be considered controversial, and then, still out of context, edited them all together into a quickie sound-bite that they repeated over and over or, in Ciriello's words, "time after time."
In fact, the expression about "God damn America" was about redemption and repentence, that God would damn America for her wrongs, BUT that God loved America enough to provide a path to redemption. He ended the sermon as a message of HOPE that America can and will adopt that path to redemption and reconciliation with God.
Ciriello further implies that Obama heard him say it and did not speak up. Wrong again! Despite early right-wing hate radio LIES that Obama was in the pews that day, the Obama people provided proof from his travel schedule that he was not even in the state that day.
And when he did hear it, later, he did denounce that expression as being inappropriately "over the top," even taking into consideration the context.

The right-wing slime machine has nothing positive of its own to run on, so they will lie, scam and distort and say anything to try to smear a decent, god-fearing candidate who terrifies them, but brings HOPE to the rest of this nation.

Apollo wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:19 AM:Re: Gerald Austin (letters)
Gerald does not understand the difference between majority decision making in a Constitutional republic and mob rule.
No, Gerald, if gazillions of Moslems all moved to the U.S. and took a vote and the MAJORITY decided that YOUR faith should be outlawed, you would be very happy that our Constitutional protections of minority rights limit freedom and democracy so as to protect minority rights against the tyranny of the majority.
There is a realm of public policy matters in which the majority (and in some cases, a super-majority) can make choices that affect the public as a whole.
Public policy is not allowed to encroach into purely personal choices.
Religion is one such private area.
You have the right to worship who, what or how you will.
You do not have the right to mandate that others follow in the observance of your religious rituals.

Foresight wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:30 AM:David Ditri's letter shows he doesn't get it any more than McCain. Yes, in 2005 McCain saw there was a problem with the financial markets. Yes, McCain knew we needed "reform" (CHANGE). The problem is that McCain lacks judgment. His "reform" meant more deregulation. More of what caused the problem.
McCain voted FOR the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (to deregulate the financial markets), authored by Phil Gramm, who was his chief economic advisor and who called the suffering middle-class Americans a "nation of whiners" when they criticized his policies that caused the current crisis. McCain has still not ruled out hiring Gramm as Treasury Secretary if elected. On "60 Minutes" just this Sunday, McCain said that he still supported Gramm's 1999 deregulatory bill, saying that it helped stimulate the economy, which actually began to go downhill after the law took effect.
In contrast, Obama, even as a freshman senator, did more than just talk, as McCain did. Obama actually introduced legislation to re-regulate the financial markets, but at that time the Republicans still had clear majorities, and they quickly killed his bill.

It is kind of like the war on terror. Everyone could see we had a problem. Seeing problems is not enough. There needs to be judgment in finding solutions. Obama spoke out against the war in Iraq and supported going after the terrorists in Afghanistan who actually attacked us.
McCain supported diverting the troops away from the real terrorists, toward a nation that was no threat to us.
McCain suffers from a dangerous lack of judgment.

VOR wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:33 AM:George Will, fiscal ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE in his column today took on John McBush and virtually endorsed Barak Obama after McBush's performance at the start of last weeks economic crisis.

His column in some sense was patriotic in the fact that this conservative would look at the needs of his country over his ideology, something few conservatives are able to do. Will, is a day late and dollar short because the same column could have been written considering Sarah Palin and the ethics and beliefs she brings to the table.

Will said:

"Under the pressure of the financial crisis, one presidential candidate is behaving like a flustered rookie playing in a league too high."

"John McCain furiously, and apparently without even looking around at facts, said Chris Cox, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, should be decapitated. This childish reflex provoked the Wall Street Journal to editorialize that "McCain untethered" -- disconnected from knowledge and principle -- had made a "false and deeply unfair" attack on Cox that was "unpresidential" and demonstrated that McCain "doesn't understand what's happening on Wall Street."

"McCain's Manichaean worldview drove him to his signature legislative achievement, the McCain-Feingold law's restrictions on campaigning. Today, his campaign is creatively finding interstices in laws intended to restrict campaign giving and spending."

"Conservatives who insist that electing McCain is crucial usually start, and increasingly end, by saying he would make excellent judicial selections. But the more one sees of his impulsive, intensely personal reactions to people and events, the less confidence one has that he would select judges by calm reflection and clear principles, having neither patience nor aptitude for either."

"It is arguable that, because of his inexperience, Obama is not ready for the presidency. It is arguable that McCain, because of his boiling moralism and bottomless reservoir of certitudes, is not suited to the presidency. Unreadiness can be corrected, although perhaps at great cost, by experience."

Yes, its time to grow up Republicans. In the places where you open yourself up to real logical and reasonable thinking you have to be thinking...."oh my God, if McCain and Palin are the best we have to offer our party is dead." To vote change, you have to vote Obama. To vote more of the last 8 years, you know Republicans, the 8 years that you now want to change, vote Obama.

VOR wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:36 AM:Two Thirds of Americans get it!! According to CNN, 2/3 of registered voters rightfully blame Republicans. Of that 1/3, more then 89% are Republicans. The real stunning result is that 92% of Independents blame Republicans. Thats a telling sign of unbiased truth.

Vista Granny wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:39 AM:Good Morning everyone! Be happy. Try to forget the mess in Washington and on Wall Street -- just for today.

Gerald Austin! No, majority does NOT rule in the U.S. - if what the majority wants is unconstituional - and what your proposing is. I happen to have ancestors on both sides of my family who came to this continent before there was a USA. They came here running from religion. Unfortunately, most of them established colonies based on their own religious beliefs - bringing the thing the fled from right here to our shores. Due to the pain, suffering and injustice, and devisiveness caused by their attitude and laws, the founding fathers wisely decided that religion was out of the government, period. You are free to pray any time and any where you wish, but not to force others to do so, or to disturb their peace.

VOR wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:41 AM:OBAMACAN great points. Isn't it funny that day after day its the Democrats and Independents pointing out Conservative lies!! It never ends. All they have is what Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity repeat over and over and they are so lazy, so biased that they can't look outside the fundamentalist box.

A poster said yesterday that I, VOR, lump all Republicans into the same bunch as bigoted, discriminating, hatefilled and biased people. Until one of you stands up, like George Will did in his column today and tells the truth, that McBush/Palin is a terrible Presidential candidate team, I have no reason to believe that you are all basically the same. Love of ideology far outranks love of country. Thats telling it like it truely is.

Alf wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:52 AM:Well, "Yokozuna to Alf" at 5:03PM on the 22nd,
if it's the one at one corner of Tahquitz and Fern Valley Road across the street from the office, we used to stay in the cabin facing it, at another corner by their sign at the corner of Tahquitz and Fern Valley Road.
Anyway, Mrs. Alf and I will have to, as you pointed out, start a new tradition for where to stay.
Regards, Alf.

To Ron Larson wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:53 AM:I'm also against privatized Social Security. I became disabled quickly and had not planned on being disabled. Social Security (SS)Disability came in for me promptly. If I had privatized (SS),I would've penniless. I don't have luck with investing on my own and now with the stocks disappearing!! Go Obama.

Alf wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:57 AM:I was going to comment on the letter by Gerald Austin,
but others, notably a very cheery "Vista Granny" did so well that all I can do is wonder how Gerald Austin can believe the garbage that he attempts to feed us.
Regards, Alf.

VOR wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:05 AM:Everyday I laugh at the evangelical right in our country. Let me first state that I am a church going evangelical, a Christian.

So I hear Christians attacking homosexuals as unclean and unworthy of God's kingdom for two scriptures that were written at a different time, in a different world. Lets for argument sake agree that everything written in the Bible is FACT. With that said, how is it some religious leaders don't read about feeding and caring for the poor?? A poll yesterday done by Gallup stated that 68% of Americans are FOR universal health care run by the government in some form BUT, only 53% of evangelicals are for that?? Why? Do they believe more in conservatism then the basic tenent of Christianity?

Evangelicals are the first to raise the American flag in church and celebrate war. Evangelicals are the first to seek out interference with the governments in America by pressuring finances and votes if politicans ignore them.

If evangelicals follow God's ultimate command to emulate our Savior, then to emulate him would be to follow the same lines of thinking. What was God's command: " My Kingdom is NOT of this world". Yet evangelicals run from that command. They run from the command to take care of the earth, as well as thou shalt not kill, forgive your enemy 7 time 77 times. They run from the greatest command of all to love and take care of the sick and poor.

But now we have James Dobson and Tony Perkins, two prominent leaders, not pastors, leading the charge representing their so called groups to allow the clergy to sponsor, endorse and talk down politicans running for election by changing the IRS law.

The division of church and state gets thinner and thinner as people like Gerald Austin above try to impose their beliefs on all of us. Conservatives do not believe that others have the right to impose laws upon them but would love to combine church with state changing the laws to support their basic majority in America.

Hopefully the Founding Fathers and their written words in the Constitution and Bill of Rights will stand forever.

VOR wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:08 AM:Great point 7:53am!! Why do Republicans want to privatize Social Security? Because it brings more cash and profit to the corporations. And what is the bottom line to all corporations? Profit no matter how much it hurts America. Didn't we see that last week?

She Said wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:14 AM:Thanks Vista Granny for your post. Right, let's be happy today. It seems that the cons aren't awake yet (how symbolic). It was good to see Hillary on CNBC yesterday bringing some common sense to the issues.

sdraoul wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:29 AM:What a bunch of silly amateurs blog here!

Social Security privatization was never and will never be proposed by McCain or Bush. They advocate a voluntary program where only young workers can dedicate a portion of their own forced taxes into an account similar to a 401k. It is voluntary and would not be available to anyone born before 1950. Such a program of time would produce returns up to ten times wha Social security benefits are under the present formulas. No benefits would be touched to anyone born before 1950 for their entire lives.

To the man that wrote about SSI, he is wrong, he does not collect Social security. SSI is not Social Security it is a seperate program administered by Social Security but it is a welfare program not Social security.

“Gotta Wonder” states that I don’t know anything about Republicans and politics because the republicans denied me a nomination for a congressional seat. I never ran for Congress. I ran for the San Diego City Council in 1971, never ran for any thing else.

Then Apollo suggests I find out who is a congressman and volunteer in an office to find out how “legislators work.” Darren suggests I look up Darrell Issa’s office in Vista to volunteer at so I can learn how a legislator works.

Let’s see…My first paid political job was as Campaign Coordinator for California United States Senator Thomas H. Kuchel ( R ) in 1962. In 1965 I worked for Republican Assembly members in Sacramento writing speeches for them. In 1966 I worked for State Senator Lewis Sherman (R-Oakland). In 1998 I was the official statewide spokesman for No On Prop. 10 and served on the Steering Committee for the Petco Park citywide vote. In 2000 I served Darrell Issa as a paid consultant. Also in 2000 I served on the national Amigos De Bush and as an offical campaign surrogate for Bush. In 2003 I served as an official spokesman for the Recall Gray Davis Committee.

Now, I know an affirmative action baby when I see one. And, I don’t dispatage them for they are lucky to be allowed to climb out of their normal cesspool lives.

But Obama was not from a cesspool; he attended a sleek expensive private high school in Hawaii. He is, in fact, the quintessential middle class “black” who benefits from affirmative action while real inner city black youths get left behind. Colin Powell comes to mind but the difference is, he admits to being an affirmative action beneficiary.

Let me remind you all that Obama never attended a public college or university where his tests scores and class grades are available to the public. And, as we don’t know Obama’s LSAT score and his applicant ranking at Harvard Law, knowledgable people can, in the absence of that information, deduce that he was admitted as an affirmative action beneficiary. As to his grades, or his appointment as editor of the Law Review, we know nothing other than what we are told. There is no publishing record to be found of this brilliant editor, though Nick says he found one article. We can’t demand this information under a Freedom of Information law of any sort because Harvard is private.

All of you who believe may believe in Harvard (or Yale) professors and their truthfulness but I don’t. Look how Yale kept John Kerry’s low SAT scores from us and didn’t inform anyone publicly that Kerry almost flunked out of Yale.

As long as Obama supporters keep trying to beat us over the head with Obama’s brilliance and law school accomplishments we can challenge those background ingredients just as we have successfully challenged his experience as a “community organizer” who stapled flyers on telephone poles.

Now, can anyone tell us about the “Annenberg Project” Obama “managed and implemented” under the direction of William Ayers, terrorist and America hater?

To Gerald Austin wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:31 AM:Our founding fathers created a government based on separation of Church and State.

Founding fathers left the Church of England.

The Church of USA does not exist.

We have a CONSTITUTION.

The majority must protect the minority.

You seemingly lack respect and tolerance of others.

Shut down wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:33 AM:Gerald - looks like your comments don't exactly sit well with everyone else. Wanna backpedal on your "out there" comments?

Patriot wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:35 AM:A government big enough to give you anything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. Don't believe your government can provide massive bailouts and amnesties for people's bad choices and unlawful actions while providing everyone a strong defense, employment growth, retirement income, quality health care and education, energy independence, price stability, and fiscal responsibility, and without raising taxes on the middle class.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:37 AM:To much gay is not a good thing: Kinda like how Christians always try to shove their religion and heterosexual dominance down the throats of gay people.

Yokozuna wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:38 AM:To Alf: Evidently I may have got some wrong info relative to the cabin and the inn(if the inn was at FV and Tahquitz). The cabin is a couple of blocks up Dickenson where Fern Valley Road begins again to the left. It would not be my intention to intrude on your romantic trip but maybe we'll bump into each other. I'm easy to spot: 4'11" tall, 411 lbs, and I always wear lime green pants, purple shirt, bright yellow shoes, and gray hat. The hat is gray so I don't look too ostentatious.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:39 AM:VOR[-] wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:08 AM: Hit on the head. Republicans are the party of greed and exploitation. We are seeing it first hand on wall street today and the past few days.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:43 AM:Wrong candidate chosen: Is Rev Wright a candidate? When was he chosen as a candidate? It is not Obama's church. He was merely a member of it. You are a tad late. Subject has been discussed so many times. The cows have come home.

sdraoul wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:45 AM:From the Wall Street Journal Op-Eds today on the Annenberg Project, William Ayers, Barack Obama and the $100 million Obama used to radicalizes chicago schools along "Stalinist" lines:

"The Obama campaign has cried foul when Bill Ayers comes up, claiming "guilt by association." Yet the issue here isn't guilt by association; it's guilt by participation. As CAC chairman, Mr. Obama was lending moral and financial support to Mr. Ayers and his radical circle. That is a story even if Mr. Ayers had never planted a single bomb 40 years ago."

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:46 AM:Majority still rules, right? That is why I just detest you conservative type ideologues. Your way or the highway. Sorry, mate. It is not that way in this Republic. We are a nation of laws under the Constitution. And just who determined that you are the majority anyway? And, who gives a tinker's pot in a storm about what
the Australians think or do? You are welcome to stay in your native land. But, if you want to jump on a kangaroo and hop right down to down under. Your choice.

Health Care Socialist wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:00 AM:Amazing! In the current Sept/Oct 2008 issue of the profession journal "Contingencies" of health insurance actuaries (the statistical geeks who calculate mortality, morbidity and rate structures), there is, incredibly, an article under the byline of John McCain which reflects his current thinking. (A simple Google search can easily find the original article online.)

McCain says that the real way to reform health care is to deregulate it, and cites the "success" of his efforts in working with Phil "nation of whiners" Gramm to deregulate the financial markets.
Obviously this must have actually been written more than a week or so ago, and I'm sure McCain would love a do-over, but that shows his core philosophy and how he wants to stick it to healtcare consumers the same as he did to middle-class customers of financial institutions.

Question: why is it that proposals to regulate health care to mandate universal access and non-discrimination based on physical condition, for sevices provided entirely by private providers and even private insurance carriers, is called "socialized medicine," but when the U.S. Government seizes the largest property/casualty insurance company (AIG), which insures (directly and through reinsurance) the financial system, it is considered capitalism?

Do these people understand the meaning of the word "socialism"?

DD Wiz wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:17 AM:The post from "Health Care Socialist" (9:00am) is absolutely correct.
Here is an exact quote from McCain's article, including full reference:
"Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation." [emphasis added]
Citation: McCain, John S. Contingencies (journal of healthcare insurance actuaries) "Better Care at Lower Cost for Every American." September/October 2008, pp. 28-31.
The quote cited is from page 30.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

Apollo wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:26 AM:Re: SDRaoul (8:29 and 8:45 a.m.)
Take a deep breath, Raoul.
I did not say you did not have experience working with legislators.
I said EITHER you had no such experience OR you were lying, since you horribly misrepresented the reality of the legislator and his role.
Gee, with all this experience you claim (which we have no way of verify), I guess you have answered clearly enough which side of the either/or divide you fall on.

Then, Raoul cites a Wall Street Journal OPINION piece trying to link a 1960's flame-throwing (literally) radical with Obama just because they lived in the same neighborhood, taught at the same university and the much-mellowed radical happened to hold a fundraising coffe klatch for Obama, and thousands of local supporters do every day.
Did Raoul say he has experience with legislators?
Does he really not understand how this works?
Oh, Raoul "forgets" to tell us that Obama was about 10 years old on a Hawaiian beach when rebellious Ayers was doing his nasty stuff.
Oh, and Raoul forgot to remind us that the Wall Street Journal has now been gobbled up by the lying, dishonest evil empire of Rupert Murdoch.
Their "facts" are now questionable enough.
Their opinions are utterly worthless.

But then again, see above, the question was between Raoul's experience and integrity and Raoul answered that clearly for us.

ToSDRAUL wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:36 AM:Yes, SSI is Welfare, but SS disability is Social Security. A person needs to be very savy about privatizing their Social Security taxes. Some people don't have the time, money or knowledge to make privatizing Social Security work for them. If you cash it out early, you're taxed heavily. I won't participate in it.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:44 AM:What a bunch of silly amateurs blog here!
sdraul: First, sdraoul was right about the time he ran for political office. I stand corrected. Secondly, I thought all bloggers on this blog were amateurs. Anybody getting paid out there for putting your two cents in on the NCT blog? Are you a professional blogger? What is the compensation?

To CHUCK wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:59 AM:Chuck 22 Sept 2008 writes:

QUOTE "People should be wary of those with a Muslim background who pop up out of nowhere, and then run for president." ENDQUOTE

People need to be very wary of you and others like you that lack respect diversity tolerance.

You purposely write a more than rude message. Your "wiring" needs to be updated to the 21st century.

You insult all Americans of every race, religion; including people from backgrounds Irish, Italian, Jewish, Polish, Asian, Hispanic, German, English, French, Scandinavia, etc.

Isonomy wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:00 AM:To "Too much gay": Honoring a man who campaigned for the equal treatment of gays is not "parading sexual preference." When they teach about marriage in school, and when mommy gives daddy a kiss, is that parading sexuality? Gays are no more overtly sexual than a straight couple.

Ms M wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:00 AM:maybe the cons on this blog can help me out. Why is it McCain has not had a press conference in over 40 days? Why is it that Palin cannot have the press in on the meetings with the foreign leaders? Why has the press not been able to ask Palin questions? Something just isn't right about that. Americans need to hear from the candidates - if not how do they know who/what they are casting their vote for?

If the press is not allowed to be there for the Palin meetings with foreign leaders - the press is talking about a boycott - no access then no photo ops! The media seems to be doing their job this time around.

nate wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:11 AM:to sdraoul:

you are so blind. the same party that you have championed for, talks about you behind you back. If you are of Spanish decent it amazes me you claim Obama got to where he is due to affirmative action. Do you feel people did not say the same about you.I bet the farm they did. Especially back then. regardless if it was true or not. Then you challenge this man intelligence. It is clear he is more intelligent than your man Bush or McCain. You have been a pawn for the republican party to try and obtain votes. I would be upset if I was you too.

gracchus wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:12 AM:sdraoul, i fail to understand your obsession with test scores and and the gpa of various personalities. they indicate academic performance and might give a clue concerning future job performance. having an academic degree from a prestigious university is but a first impression of a person. getting to know him reveals whether he learned anything while he studied.

besides academic degrees and honors, or the lack of them, don't really mean that a distinguished life will follow. george washington was a land surveyor by training and never attended a university. but woodrow wilson had a ph.d. and was president of princeton university and unnecessarily dragged the u.s.a. into the first world war. (see, sdraoul, i actually share your dislike for one democratic president.)

and possessing degrees from prestigious universities really don't indicate much about a person's honor or competence. doesn't salinas de gotari, who sits in comfortable exile in ireland, have a ph.d. from harvard? and doesn't zedillo, under whose administration mexico saw its economy deteriorate, have his ph.d. from yale?

and if anyone needed any proof that an academic degree from a prestigious university doesn't necessarily reflect good job performance, what better example could be found than george w. bush with his ba from yale and his mba from harvard?

i did not vote for obama in february, sdraoul, because he attended prestigious universities. i voted for him, and will vote for him in november, because of all the candidates he presented the best ideas for guiding the country over the next four years. he has a pleasing personality which will enable him to negotiate with the opposition in congress and heads of state whose interests might be different from our own. he has garnered the support of important thinkers in various socio-economic-political fields from whom he can seek counsel. and most important obama shows that he has intellectual curiosity and the discipline to focus on problems confronting the country.

as you know, sdraoul, john mccain admitted the other night that he graduated number 5 from the bottom at the u.s. naval academy. that ranking indicates academic performance, not just disciplinary demerits. but mccain's academic record at the naval academy has as much relevance to his ability to lead the country as doles fdr's dismal record at columbia law school which forced him to transfer to harvard law school. i just don't think that mccain has the best judgement to lead the country, especially when he selects as his running mate a woman whose political career is at best questionable.

rather than seeking lsat scores, behaving like envious graduate students who wonder which of them enjoys professorial favor, and worrying about class ranking at graduation, shouldn't we look at the candidates' ideas about where our country should go?

there goes raoul again wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:39 AM:Raoul reiterates his basic, core claim: that if a black man accomplishes things as Obama did at Harvard, the burden of proof is on that black man to prove to us all that every grads, every exam, every award, and every appointment was not given to him for his color. (Yet raoul will defend Bush's college and military careers and brag about him to us!) Outrageous! Party over country, every time.

Ms M wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:50 AM:Reports are out that the White House new about this financial disaster for weeks if not months.

Alf wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:56 AM:Well, "Yokozuna" at 8:38AM,
I'm a little more generic at 5'9"(used to be 6' until I smashed L2, L4 in a fall and T9 picking up the front of the lawn tractor), mostly gray hair, mostly gray beard, glasses, blue jeans and Hawaiian shirt.
It's funny, in a strange way, that my time overseas in the early 70s resulted in less damage than at work or home.
Go figure.
Mrs. Alf will be sampling the wines and I'll be sampling the snacks. We have the 2006 and 2007 glasses,so we gotta have a 2008 one.
Regards, Alf.

VOR wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:09 AM:The more I hear from SDRAOUL the more you taste what a model conservative portrays. Racism and bigotry. Instead of discussing the issues of importance today, HE CAN'T. There isn't one conservative poster that can. All they can do, and I have mentioned this more times then not, is talk about ten to twenty years ago-Bill Clinton or racist views bringing in events and people that Obama has talked to in his life, years ago. All the views on this subject have been addressed but not to bigots. William Ayers? Wright? What a joke, of course we don't have to go into the background of a cheater now do we? If a man would cheat on his family, what do you think he would do if he could lie and cheat to his country. Oh...youre right, he is lying isn't he.

SDRAOUL wants to bring Obama's education into play.

Here, this one is for you SDRAOUL. Listen to Obama speak. Don't look at his race, for at least 5 minutes in your life and then listen to McBush stumble along. Now tell me who is educated and who is not. Thats all America really cares about. What someone learned 30 years ago is of far less importance then what a man knows and learns today.

Another example. McBush last week reacting to the Banking crisis and Obama reacting to the Banking crisis. As columnist George Will stated, McBush was unimpressive and unpresidential.

So SD, WOW you were paid as a consultant? Now we can tell why Republcians running the country the last few years have failed. Youre doing a heck of a job Raoulie....

Alf wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:15 AM:Well, "Vista Granny" at 7:39AM or almost any other time,
Mrs. Alf really does like what you have to say. She's a little unhappy that the Comments disappeared from the letters page because she doesn't usually look online.
Ain't no super-stock Dodge in your garage, is there?
Regards, Alf.

Far Left Philosophy wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:15 AM:You keep going Gerald Austin, You know you are doing something right when you have all the regular bloggo, lefty liberals on you! They don't want to believe there is a "Piper" collecting payment at the end of the road for there choices. Yes Boys and Girls, Eat, Drink and be Gay, There is no One God, We are all gods, That's there left wing new age philosophy. OK leftys, I have assumed the position! Your turn.

Marlowe wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:32 AM:Well, now, I think this is pretty much unprecedented in our electoral history. From politico, QUOTE NEW YORK – Journalists, displeased with Sarah Palin’s efforts to restrict their access to her, are threatening not to cover her events surrounding the United Nations conference here unless they're allowed more access. The unfolding boycott is the latest development in a rocky relationship between Palin’s handlers and the press, in which the campaign has sought to tightly control her interactions with the media. The campaign had originally indicated that the print reporters following her campaign would be among the small group of journalists allowed to attend the so-called “pool sprays” before Palin’s meetings with dignitaries on the sidelines of the U.N. meetings. The sprays are basically glorified photo opportunities during which journalists can snap photos and film footage and – if they’re lucky – shout a question or two at Palin and her company before she adjourns for private meetings. [...] But the imbroglio began developing Tuesday morning when Palin’s handlers informed the small print press contingent covering her campaign that the print reporter designated to cover the events, Elizabeth Holmes of the Wall Street Journal, would not be allowed to cover the sprays. The campaign’s reasoning was that there were not going to be questions or statements at the sprays, so they were only appropriate for photographers and cameramen. ENDQUOTE Seriously, folks, when was the last time that shortly before a national election, the candidate for the office of the Vice Presidency was shielded from dealing with the press other than in photo-ops and carefully selected and scripted venues? Her "handlers" (what is she, a prizefighter? a starlet?) will not allow her to converse with the American people who are being asked whether she should be a heartbeat away from the White House. The "handlers" insist that all we get are photos. In other words, Sarah is photogenic but unable to answer questions. Are you kidding me? This is the most embarrassing and shameful candidate selections in history. This is America. Our leaders are not selected in back rooms by "handlers" but by the votes of the people, based on their knowledge of the candidates. And the ideologues will actually defend this! How unamerican can the GOP get?

So What Ms M wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:48 AM:Ms M
[-] wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:50 AM:Reports are out that the White House new about this financial disaster for weeks if not months.

So what Ms M, The rest of us have been talking about this for over three years now! No one on either side of the isle credits Bush, or his staff for much good anyway. And, kicking a dead horse does what for you?

Too bad so sad wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:52 AM:raoul, you are defending a sinking ship. When will you get it? Capitalism is over. The Republican Party is over. Your 15 minutes of fame are over. Won't miss you and your kind. Bye.

Isonomy wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:59 AM:To Far Left Philosophy: So, you're saying that by simply honoring a man who was assassinated for daring to proclaim that gays should be treated as equal human beings, that so called "lefties" are trying to make children gay? And that somehow this involves God? This is a human rights issue, not a "left" or "right" issue.

Alf wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:04 PM:Well, "So What Ms M" at 11:48AM,
the FACT is that up until the situation forced him to do otherwise, GBW consistantly LIED to the American People!
Most people who had ANY life remaining between their ears knew we were in a recession, yet GWB spoke to the American People and said we were not.
More than once!
LIE!
Regards, Alf.

Ms M wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:05 PM:So What Ms M
[-] wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:48 AM:...obviouly the horse isn't dead yet - he's speaking loud and clear - GIVE me $7,000,000,000 of your hard earned money.

Reardon wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:20 PM:I can assure Far Left Philosophy that it is more than the “Far Left” that thinks Mr. Austin is full of it.

The Country was founded initially as a religious colony, but religious egalitarianism failed to the point of starvation and the fever that grew between Jamestown/Plymouth to nationhood some 150 years later was freedom, and that is what was codified via the Constitution.

All of the Jamestown/Plymouth group were indeed very religious, but the Founders of the Nation lived some five generations after the religious fever had waned and the freedom fever had flourished.

There is an evangelical wing in the Republican Party, an economic wing, and a libertarian wing. Each wing vies for leadership, and politicians try to check all three of the boxes so as to get workers, money and votes.

Evangelicals tend to attend a church that represents just their brand of Evangelicals, and further to lump all others, including other Evangelicals and all other Republicans as Devil Worshipers. Other brands of Republicans tend to look on Evangelicals as Tennessee Hollow Snake Handlers who follow the Young Earth Theory.

Be careful where you step in Mr. Austin’s church, and wear sturdy, high-top boots.

Tsk Tsk... wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:33 PM:Vista Granny, how awful for you to call someone stupid. What happened to, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say nothin at all?

Could it have been possibly, that so as to not lose his residence, he could have gotten rid of his cable and internet, two luxuries that he could live without, so as to keep providing for himself and his possible family? In this circumstance, it would be possible that he was not as in tune with the political situation as you are.

My grandparents always said something along these lines..."That person is just doin the best they can, bless their heart" and left it at that. And so should YOU.

TO Far Left Philosophy wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:48 PM:You do not make any sense.

Who are (names, please) people that are "far left philosphy", what is it.

It is the 21st century and you need to be 're-wired' so you can respect and tolerate others.

Our diverse educated population helps make us strong.

There is no Church of America.

We live a full life because our Founding Fathers left the Church of England.

We live a full life because we have a Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Changes continue: Women voting, Black and White can marry, same Sex marriages, Blacks can sit in front of the bus, etc.

It is unfortunate if you are as ignorant as your statement.

Reardon wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:50 PM:If the word “Oversight” means anything at all, Chris Dodd and Barney Frank should resign along with a host of other Democrats and Republicans.

It appears that the government is trying to staunch the hemorrhage of confidence in the housing system by working on the wrong end of the problem. Only 5% of the homes are in economic crises, and those could be addressed more easily (and cheaply) by ending foreclosures for 90 days while each loan is individually restructured.

Some of the loans were obtained fraudulently, and those need to be penalized – not a hard thing to do since a set of signatures exists for every loan. Like sex between a teacher and a 17 year old student, a year in jail is not so much a jail sentence penalty as it is a continuing stigma carried through life – and the same sort of stigma needs to be attached to all who committed fraud to assure the public that they will carry their “A” tattooed on their forehead.

Some of those failures were the result of the fraudulent loans driving the market down to the point where a job transfer or an illness left the Owner upside down. It is unlikely we can do anything retrospective, but we can stop the bleeding now for those who will be the next wave, and the wave after that.

There is time to analyze and punish the political class who whistled by the graveyard for lo these many years, but those at the top should be forced out immediately just as a confidence builder.

Let’s start by the Chairmen of the House and Senate “Oversight” Committees, but that is like a bus full of lawyers going over the cliff, just a good start.

CANOBAMA wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:50 PM:VOR wrote at 8:05, "A poll yesterday done by Gallup stated that 68% of Americans are FOR universal health care run by the government in some form BUT, only 53% of evangelicals are for that?? Why? Do they believe more in conservatism then the basic tenent of Christianity?" The basic tenet of caring for the poor means that government needs to make sure health care is accessible and affordable to the poor. It does NOT mean that government needs to actually RUN the health care system. History has shown us that programs run by the government are typically plagued by inefficiency and waste, excessive paperwork, poor service, and fraud. Obama isn't any more or less of a Christian for wanting the government to run our health care, but he needs to convince the public how this time the government is going to succeed where it has traditionally failed. Waiting in line for a driver's license can inconvenience you, but waiting in line for an operation can kill you.

Ms M wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:56 PM:[-] wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:29 AM:...Now, I know an affirmative action baby when I see one. And, I don’t dispatage them for they are lucky to be allowed to climb out of their normal cesspool lives....SDR you are one disgusting, racist, hateful (yes, Ms M used the "hate" word) individual. Are you saying that Black's live cesspool lives?

Question wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:04 PM:How is it they know they need 700 billion dollars when they don't have a plan yet?

I already know why they don't want legal review, duh.

But I wonder where they came up with that figure exactly?

Far Left Philosophy wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:17 PM:Isonomy
[-] wrote on Sep 23, 2008 11:59 AM:
Take me to task for what I said, But you do NOT get to put (your) words in my mouth, and then argue over something I did not say. Fair enough?

Vote for... wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:21 PM:Aww, shucks, I think I will just vote for all of you in here. Apparently, by the way you write, you have lived the perfect lives and have the answers to all of lifes issues. Also, apparently, if someone doesn't see eye to eye with you concerning your particular views, that person is obviously underpriviledged, under educated, and below you as far as your caste system goes.

And you wonder why we, the citizens of the U.S. of A., are in the state we are in. Oh sure, blame the President. It is so much easier to do that, than to take a little personal time to look at your own life, your own choices, and how you possibly could have done things differently to make this world a better place.

Remember this people. Nobody is perfect. Everyone makes bad decisions from time to time. And the beauty of it is, THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR MIND if the original choice was a mistake. It is called learning. Get off your high horses, like you are so much better than everyone else. Quite the personal attacks and debate the real issues at hand.

And again, EVERY POLITICION LIES!

Prez my ride wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:24 PM:Newsweek this week follows up the report about McCain's 8 homes (compared to Obama's one) with a check on their cars.
McCain has 13.
Obama has 1 - an American-made green Ford Escape Hybrid.

Karl wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:25 PM:VOR @ 7:41 AM:
Twas me yesterday that made the comment VOR. I am political fiscal conservative. Both tickets that are our choices in November suck IMHO. How's that for telling it like it truly is?

As with any group, club or organization there are good and bad. I will stand by my statement and shame on you for labeling an entire group with one huge brush. How can you possibly know that "Republicans are blinded by hate, prejudice and discrimination. Very, very sad lot of people". Most certainly some are as are some Democrats and some Independents.

Your statement is childish and flat out wrong.

My last... wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:25 PM:Was not pointed towards everyone. Those that shoe fits...Wear it!

Chuck wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:31 PM:>>You insult all Americans of every race, religion; including people from backgrounds Irish, Italian, Jewish, Polish, Asian, Hispanic, German, English, French, Scandinavia, etc.>>

I guess I'm an equal opportunity insulter. Which, by the way, is much better than you when you pat yourself on the back after you've talked to a black, and say to yourself "I'm not a racist"

Chuck wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:35 PM:>>Reports are out that the White House new about this financial disaster for weeks if not months.>>> The timing gave all the congressman and senators time to get out of the market, while everyone else got hosed. I think every trading account for every congressman and senator and their staffs should be subpoenaed to look for insider dumping

Karl wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:37 PM:Ms M @ 10:50 AM:

...and reports will soon be out that many legislators both Democrat and Republican were deeply involved in concealing the problems. I for one hope heads role very soon and I am not concerned which party those heads are attached to. Nice long prison sentences and forfiture of millions and millions would be a nice start.

So What Ms M to Alf wrote on Sep 23, 2008 1:55 PM:Alf
[-] wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:04 PM: Well Alf, I don't think you give the average Joe enough credit for what they have upstairs, I think most people had "some" idea of what was going on over the last few years with the Financial and Housing Markets, I think what is questionable was there judgment in taking on loans over there heads(when most knew it). I don't think as many people bought in to "the lie" as were just hoping this would not happen, In other words, a splash of denial mixed with a shot of wishful thinking. But more to my original point, I don't know anyone out there defending Bush, We already know his won't be the straightest Portrait hanging in the halls of the White House, He's a lame duck anyway, Let's move on. My opinion only.

Sorry folks wrote on Sep 23, 2008 2:11 PM:Chris can't be here today; he's busy writing speaches for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

jvc wrote on Sep 23, 2008 2:26 PM:With the Wall Street bailouts, every
Conservative Reaganonmics theory is
dead!How does this state dare to have a three strikes conservative administration of justice of law when the