Alf wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:53 AM:The letter from Monica Terrazas mis-states science.
Science says that it takes male sperm to fertilize a female ovum and implant itself on the wall of a uterus to make a fetus which, if carried to full term without incident, will usually result in a baby.
That is the process for human reproduction.
Science says nothing about the gender makeup of a marriage.
Regards, Alf.

To Charlie Harp wrote on Sep 24, 2008 5:14 AM:Its percisely the "thin" resume we Obama supporters like about him. On the other hand, you have John McCain with decades of being just another one of "them" who has done little to change anything, despite his self-proclaimed title of "maverick".

Alf wrote on Sep 24, 2008 5:38 AM:In her letter, Rachel Rott asks an excellent question -
"Do you really want to trust John McCain with the critical task of righting the ship that he helped capsize?"
Well, do you?
Regards, Alf.

Ron wrote on Sep 24, 2008 7:03 AM:Freshly back from her trip to the Barackopolis, in Denver.
Rachel Rott pretends to tell us how this fiscal mess began.
I wrote about this the otherday, but it's worth repeating, because it seems certain people are not serious about facts, nor truly cleaning-up the swamp, that is, Washington D.C.
This push for homeownership actually began in 1977 under Jimmy Carter, it was called Community Reinvestments. Low interest loans to try and bring back failing urnban areas, usually occupied by minorities. Good idea, good intentions, but it's always the details that "get you" later.
Throughout the 80's we heard "Enterprise Zones", same concept. It was an attempt to lower tax rates, fee's, etc., to attract investors to rebuild inside these failing urban areas.
Bring the 90's, and the Stalinist show trials by Democrats of mortage Exec's because of so-called: "Red-Lining" of mortages in minority areas.
Mortage companies had a dilemma. Do they resist the poltical & potential legal pressue being applied to them, or do they "invent" creative solutions?
Everyone knew whythey weren't laoning to low income people, no matter what their color was, but politically it was bad for business to be labeled racist by the Democrat's in Congress. Plus, Janet Reno was promising legal action is she found any such evidence.
In step's FDR II, Franklin Delano Raines. Raines speciality at Lazard was "securitizing mortages." Raines moves over to Fannie Mae, Fannie begins securitizing bad paper from mortage companies trying to escape the political, and possible legal persecution by Democrats, Problem solved. Fannie Mae will buy all this bad paper. Everyone's happy. Right?
Well, it's a cooking time bomb for the taxpayer. Everyone & their brother in the lending industry knows that IF Fannie Mae fails, the government will step in and save it. No risk, right?
So let's all sell some paper!!!!!!!!!
Raines, Mudd, Johnson, and Gorelick all got huge bonuses on this bad paper, and everyone knew it was bad paper.

And here's the important part, and something totally misdirected by Rachel Rott.
All of this, ALL of this happened before Glass-Steagall Act was repealed.
The current liberal talking point is that all of this IS because of the repeal of Glass-Steagall, by Sen. Phil Gramm in the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, signed by Bill Clinton in Nov. of 1999.

Folks, Franklin Delano Raines had been switching between Fannie & OMB since 1991!!!
I'm telling you, HE is the eye of this hurricane. He brought over to Fannie this idea of securitizing mortages from Lazard, and Fannie Mae under his direction bought up these bad paper loans LONG BEFORE any regulations were repealed. And that's the big lie of the day.
No doubt, Gramm-Leach-Bliley piled on top of this stink ball, but the ball was already in motion! It all started many years ago, sped up in the 90's under Raines, piled up bad loan after bad loan, securitized, and bonuses paid on bad paper.
Good intentions, run amouck.

Ron wrote on Sep 24, 2008 7:19 AM:I agree, Ann Nunes. Some Liberals are a miserable bunch. Especially those who decry about the poor, yet do nothing personally to help them.

I love bringing up the fact that VP Dick Cheney annually gives away most of his income to charitable causes. Usually it's in the 70 percentile range.
And he is THE most hated man by the Left, and Liberals.

Then study Barack Millhouse NObama's charitable giving. After stating "We are our brother's keeper" the guy is cheap with his own money.
Not to mention his half-brother living on $12 bucks a year in Africa. Is not NObama is own half-brother's keeper?
Guess not?

Then you got Old Joe out there, old Joe O'Biden now, saying it's patriotic to give more for the "poor." Old Joe made $2 million bucks, and gave a paltry $3700.
Hey Old Joe! Practise what you preach!

And one more thing....

Stand Up for Chuck!!

VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 7:27 AM:It's beginning to look alot like Christmas, everywhere you look!!!

Washington Post/ABC News Poll:
Obama 52%
McBush 43%

A whopping 9% difference!!

Same poll: 86% say that the Conservative/Republican Administration has taken the country in the wrong direction. Only 14% including Ron, Reardon and Sdraoul think America is just fine.

Ron's statement a few days ago were that Democrats were panicking because of the RNC convention bounce.

No panicked Ron, the American steamroller is coming and its rolling over conservatism. Lying and misleading the American people will be over. Less corruption, less indicted and convicted felons among our Congress and Administration.

The American people want truth!! Republicans continue to lie and stonewall. They won't appear under subpeonas. They disregard the law. America is tired of them. Democrats are proud of their candidate. Can Republicans say the same?

Pluto wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:00 AM:Rachel Rott's letters is right-on. And today's NCTimes reports on A-3 that McSame's campaign manager's lobbying firm got $15k/month from Freddie Mac until last month. (Lobbyists helped them avoid regulation.) On Sunday McCain denied the original NYTimes report, saying Rick Davis hadn't done any lobbying for Freddie Mac since 2006. If that's true, Freddie Mac has been paying for nothing but access and influence with McSame. This is exactly the kind of corruption that got us into this damned-if-we-do, damned-if-we-don't mess.

Miserable wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:05 AM:Ann Nunes has a point. Us patriotic liberals have been miserable since Bush & Co have been running our country into the ground in every possible way. Ann "would rather be a happy conservative". Ah, yes, ignorance IS bliss. Have a nice day!

Jesus did say care for the poor.. wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:11 AM:He did not say create bloated welfare systems and bureaucracy. This is why I donate to my church. My church helps the poor more efficiently than government.

God did say to protect the enviroonment wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:15 AM:But, he also said man has dominion over the animals and plants. I applaud efforts to save energy and cut waste, but when we block off large areas of land to goverment and have environmentalists say what we can and can't do on our own property, this goes too far. He also says worship Him, not His creation.

Isonomy wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:37 AM:Gee Ann Nunes, I see you have liberals all figured out. Every single one out of the millions out there. And your letter did not sound hateful at all, no, it's the liberals who are hateful. I guess I could conclude from your letter that all conservatives are judgmental, yet as there are millions of conservatives, that would also be unfairly stereotyping.

OBAMACAN wrote on Sep 24, 2008 9:07 AM:Charlie Harp's letter reflect the utter hatefulness and factual ignorance of the anti-Obama crowd.
Again, pure distoritions of his record, showing a complete lack of understanding to a strategic procedural mechanism unique to the Illinois legislature that Obama employed by voting "present" at the request of legislators in competitive districts, as the first step toward ultimate passage of legislation.
In contrast, Obama has not voted "present" in the U.S. Senate.
In fact, during his time there, he has a better record of voting and attendance than McCain.
And while McCain was talking about "reform" of Wall Street in 2005, suggesting even more deregulation such as Phil "nation of whiner" Gramm's 1999 deregulation bill (referenced in Rachel Rott's excellent letter), Obama did more than just talk. Even as a freshman senator, he actually introduced legislation to re-regulate the financial markets. Of course the Republicans, including McCain, who were still in charge of committees, quickly quashed real change from Obama.
Read George Will's column in today's paper.
He joins the ranks of thoughtful, intelligent conservatives who, despite fundamental philosophical and policy differences with Obama, recognize him to be far more mature and emotionally stable than "Queen of Hearts" McCain.
Of course, we're talking about conservatism here.
George Will should have called it the "Queen of Heartless."

Ron wrote on Sep 24, 2008 9:15 AM:Don't ya just love them lib's?
I mean.. here we got Bill Parks giving us all the what's and therefore's about
Wasilla, Alaska. Making fun of the place some Americans choose to call home.
I also see he had the time to insult the fine people of Julian, Bonsall, Valley Center, Fallbrook, and Barstow. Refering to them as "transportation node"'s,.. I mean.. Come on Bill!

But I'm telling ya folks, they all feel like this. These Leftists & Liberals can not help themselves, it just oozes out of every pore of their body. This smug superiorist thinking.. It just comes out, they can't help, holding back all this pent up rage and anger cause no one will acknowledge their greatness. Cause... THEY truly believe, with every fiber of their being, THEY are THE smart one's, THEY are THE one's who's intelligence they think you need to run your life, THEY are THE one's who really do believe, deep, deep, way down inside, that your just a tree branch away from being a family stick.

And that's why they can't stand Sarah Palin, cause that's what she represents to them. Hicksville.

Along that same line, you got Barack NObama talking to all teh social elite in San Francisco about all the bitter clingers back in Pennsylvania.

Bucky wrote on Sep 24, 2008 9:44 AM:Chuck Lowery is no conservative in any form. He is a radical left wing tax and spend liberal. If you want more wasted spending and higher taxes vote for Lowery. It's that simple.

To Mobile Home Parks wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:04 AM:Candidates may come into your parks. It's guaranteed free political speech and is supported by Court rulings. Rather than complain about this exercise of free speech, perhaps you'd learn something about local issues and become more well informed. Don't throw away candidates' materials. They come to your parks because they care.

Focal Point wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:06 AM:Alf[-] wrote on Sep 24, 2008 5:38 AM: No. In fact, should not the good Capt, "go down with the ship?"

NO BOMB ACAN wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:07 AM:Ron at 7:19 a.m. refers to the Democratic nominee as "NObama."
Hmmm. I like the sound of that.
After McCain insensitively thinking that the deaths of thousands of brave American soldiers is something to joke about and singing, "Bomb bomb bobm, bomb bomb Iran," I think it would be refreshing to have "NO BOMB-a" in the White House.

OBSERVATION wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:20 AM:PALIN AT THE UN:
"Palin came to New York City as the United Nations convened its annual General Assembly so she could acquire foreign policy knowledge and connections - and the pictures of her with foreign leaders - that she needs as GOP presidential candidate John McCain's running mate."

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:21 AM:VOR[-] wrote on Sep 24, 2008 7:27 AM: Yeah. I can hardly wait to see the numbers after the first debate.

Ignatius wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:27 AM:Hey VOR, @7:27 re: the poll you inserted...How does the following NC Times AP story about 18% persuadable voters fit in. I guess it means that those listed figures are good for today but not necessarily for the future, like election day?

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/09/24/ap/headlines/d93d4o3o0.txt

Ms M wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:28 AM:Has anyone seen the report that Bush wanted to extend the withdrawal from Iraq because of the election? It seems that it is more important to loose more lives, spend billions of dollars to help McCain. Incredible!

JLA wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:29 AM:Lets see. Hurricane Gustav cancels first night of RNC heads for where else Lousiana. Hurricane Ike hits Texas (Bush Country). Our economy is in the toilet. What else do we need? A baseball bat to the head?

sdraoul wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:32 AM:To: Some friends and colleagues

From: Raoul Lowery Contreras

Harvard law cost $75,000 during the three years Obama was in Harvard Law. The Chicago Sun Times reports that Obama borrowed $42,753 in student loans during that time (1988-1991). Where did the $32,247 balance come from?

Obama’s tax returns from 2000-2007 do not show any interest paid on student loans nor does his first statement of economic interests in the U.S. Senate show any student loans outstanding.

In April Michelle Obama stated that Barack has just finished paying off his student loans.

Questions: Where did the $32,247 come from? If Michelle Obama is correct and only recently has Barack paid off his student loans, why weren’t they listed on his tax returns from 2000 to 2007? If Michelle Obama is correct, why didn’t Obama list any student loans on his Senate statement of economic interests? How much did Obama borrow to attend Columbia University and when did he pay off those loans?

Is a television interview conducted in March of this year with black former Borough President Percy Sutton in New York accurate?

In that interview he says a Muslim activist named Mansour asked him to help raise money for Obama to attend law school and asked Sutton for a letter of recommendation to Harvard?

Three D wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:33 AM:Marlowe commenting at 8:14 a.m. this morning in yesterday's comments section makes several inaccurate statements:
1. "God IS against abortion." There is no evidence that any god from any organized religion is against abortion. Although abortion was known and practiced in all ancient civiliation, there is no statement in the Torah, Old Testament, New Testament, Koran (Qur'an), or Hindu or Buddhist scriptures that opposes abortion, though some adherents of all these texts individually oppose abortion while others allow choice.

2. "Thou shalt not murder." Though Marlowe fails to cite it, this is from Exodus 20:13, in the Ten Commandments, and other places. What Marlowe fails to note is that the Ten Commandments is kind of like an index to the Law of Moses. Each of these commandments is defined subsequently in extensive detail, with extremely detailed promulgations of rules. Murder is defined as the wanton, intentional and malicious killing of another human person. The Bible does not define anywhere that a pre-born blastocyst, zygote, embryo or fetus is a human person, and there is much basis to say that they are not. The Bible does note that not all KILLING is the same as MURDER. It exempts killing in battle, lawful executions and self-defense, which presumably would include the right of a woman to defend what TFB so aptly calls, the most private part of a woman's body. There is no definition of abortion as being within the scope of the prohibition against murder. Marlowe just made that up.

3. "I knew you from when you were in your mother's womb." Again, Marlowe fails to cite the reference. It is Jeremiah 1:5. This scripture has traditionally been used by Protestants to show god's foreknowledge of long future events, and by Mormons to claim a pre-natal existence. Only recently have very desperate anti-choice extremists interpreted this in the context of abortion. Look at the wording of this scripture, "Before I formed you in the womb." I t is talking about before birth, before viability and, before being formed means before conception! Is that referring to sperms and eggs? It has no relevance to abortion whatsoever; but if it shows reverence to POTENTIAL life, it actually applies as much to sperms and eggs as to embryos, since it is before conception.
Even if this were a reference to embryonic life (it isn't), no one denies the existence of embryonic life with the potential to become a human being - and, once again, it would have been a perfect opportunity to condemn abortion, but they didn't! In context, Jeremiah writes in chapter one specifically about his own calling as a prophet - that it was known by god before he was born or even conceived. He was appointed, chosen, selected, ordained - whatever. He is talking about the fact that God knew of his calling long before he existed as a real or potential human. Prior to Roe v. Wade, most Bible scholars interpreted this as a reference to God's foreknowledge of the future, and not until recently did the scripture ever enter into the abortion debates. And this reference to God's foreknowledge of the future also suggest that He should have been able to foresee the modern controversy about abortion and, if he had any such intent, issue a clear and unambiguous prohibition but he didn't!
Blessings,
3D

Three D wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:37 AM:The comment at 8:15.m. about God and the environment cites the word "dominion."
The word "dominion" as used in the Bible means mastery or leadership - another definition often cited is "stewardship." The same word is used repeatedly in reference to husbands over wives (plural) and parents over children.
If you believe that the Bible grants authority to decimate and destroy the environment in the name of "dominion," do you also believe the same word grants husbands the right to abuse wives (plural) and parents to abuse children?
Do you understand the difference between "dominion" and "domination"?
Blessings,
3D

Apollo wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:40 AM:Submitted at 9:30 a.m. and skipped; resubmitted 10:40 a.m.

Re: Monica Terrazas (letter) and Alf (2:53 a.m.)
Alf gets it absolutely right. There is nothing in "science" that specifies the parameters for the definition of marriage, a wholly human construct. Humans defined marriage, have been redefining it for centuries and will continue to do so.
Like so many anti-science conservatives, Monica just makes stuff up and calls it science.
Actual social and psychological sciences say the opposite, that there is no loss of parenting advantage when the parents are a loving, stable same-sex couple (whose relationship would be enhanced by the legitimacy of marriage).
And the biological sciences, as Alf noted, only address the biology of reproduction. Marriage does not require parenting (many couples have no children), and parenting does not require sexual reporduction (adoption; insemination).

Alf wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:46 AM:Well, "Focal Point" at 10:06AM,
that's the way it's supposed to be,
but
"Modren" thinking by many Republicans precludes such honor and commitment.
Regards, Alf.

Alf wrote on Sep 24, 2008 10:59 AM:Well, "Three D" at 10:33AM,
your response puts my response to shame.
Excellent!
Huzzah!
Regards, Alf.

Reardon wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:13 AM:“Affordable Housing” simply means that housing someone cannot afford will be paid for by someone other than the new owner.

Basically, “Affordable Housing” is the old “third party payer” scheme we see so often from politicians who take your money and gift it to someone else.

On the local level, politicians use extortion (“we will approve your subdivision only if you let 10% of the people who can’t qualify get a REALLY low, below market deal”) but at the national level the politicians can extort the banks that they control.

Its extortion, either way. It distorts the market, either way.

And when the high-risk Buyers eventually tank financially, it brings down the entire market.

So, who has been in Washington for all this time: McCain, Obama, Biden, Cox, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, etc.

And who hasn’t? Sarah Palin.

I feel much like Bill Buckley when he wrote, “I am obliged to confess I should sooner be governed by the first 2,000 names in the Boston directory than in a society governed by the two thousand faculty members of Harvard university.”

Asteroid to VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:28 AM:ECONOMY: Escondido faces another fiscal obstacle: fewer people
Community activists point to anti-immigration policies.
Have you read this NC Times article today. Your opinion? Is Bill Flores correct, is Escondido racist and bigoted?

VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:31 AM:To Marlowe and Alf, youre both right on the money.

Even God designed the female body to abort pregnancies that were not healthy, so that birth cannot take place when the fetus is not in a perfect condition to survive and develop.

If God wanted every pregnancy to survive no matter what, why would he put this human body function inside a women? The body itself naturally aborts.

VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:35 AM:MCBUSH LIES AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.

...On Sunday, in an interview with CNBC and The New York Times, Mr. McCain responded to a question about Mr. Davis's role in the advocacy group through 2005 by saying that his campaign manager "has had nothing to do with it since, and I'll be glad to have his record examined by anybody who wants to look at it."

The real TRUTH:

One of the giant mortgage companies at the heart of the credit crisis paid $15,000 a month to a firm owned by Senator John McCain's campaign manager from the end of 2005 through last month.
Confirmed today through Freddie Mac today by both the WSJ and Newsweek.

Cannot trust this man on little things we cannot trust him on anything.

VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:38 AM:Roid I don't follow the politics of every community, especially those I don't live in.
Thus I am uninformed on whats happening and cannot comment.

God doesnt want us trashing the environment wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:41 AM:I agree there. What I believe the Bible meant by dominion is that people come first, not bugs or wildlife. We must not waste or destroy for sport, but we must not elevate bugs and wildlife above people.

Abortion is wrong wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:45 AM:Proof is shown in the vile and hate liberals spew when someone tries to save the life of an unborn human.

Alf Alf Alf To Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:45 AM:Gotta Wonder
[-] wrote on Sep 23, 2008 4:00 PM: See the anti Alf is back with his sand box routine. Just gotta laugh at you. You sound ever sooooooooooo jealous. Just like a little baby.


This is my first chance to get back with you Gotta Wonder, I have a rather busy life. But I Gotta wonder myself Gotta Wonder, Are you telling me that I am the (only) one who really, actually, physically gets ill with Alfs doctrine for humanity? And No, don't bother asking, I don't have the time to define the Alf doctrine for you, but I don't need to, it's all there every day in his own words for all to see. If you can't see it, Congratulations, you have already become, "One with the Alf". Sorry, Sand box humor, Can't help myself. Well Gotta Wonder, Maybe we'll write again, Ya Gotta Wonder? Gotta get going, that's how life is for me right now.

Isonomy wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:54 AM:Ron
[-] wrote on Sep 24, 2008 9:15 AM:
"But I'm telling ya folks, they [liberals] all feel like this."
Goodness, you know all liberals? That's quite an accomplishment, considering there are millions of them. I'm also amazed by your ability to read their minds, as you seem to be able to authoritatively state what they think. The truth is, neither liberals or conservatives only think a certain way, and neither side is immoral, mean, or bad. We just disagree on certain issues, heck that's why I thought people didn't like Palin, because of her stance on policies. Sure there are people out there who are stinkers, but can we please recognize that there is no use in generalizations?

To Nick wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:02 PM:If you truly believe everything that you have been posting, this government takeover must really be freaking you out. This is exactly how the NWO will finish us all off.

PS I would be interested to know what Dr. Paul is saying about how to solve this problem.

Ron wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:02 PM:Hey.. eh.. "Pluto" @8:00 AM...
I got a question maybe you could help me with?

Which came first?

The buying of securitized mortages by Fannie Mae? Under the direction of Franklin Delano Raines?

Or the repeal of Glass-Steagall?

Hmmmmmmmmm?

VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:06 PM:Award winner Reardon's resourceful reasoning is that we should trust someone who hasn't been in Washington before.

First of all, we don't elect Presidents hoping they'll die in office so the Vice President becomes President.

His reasoning goes like this. If youre not happy with your company, to make it more successful, you get your neighbor, the guy sucking down beers while he mows the lawn to be boss and then everything is right with the world.

Of course they won't know a thing about office politics and anyone that doesn't believe in this persons religious beliefs or argues with members of their family will be fired.

Then theres the matter of knowing how to negotiate with suppliers so you dont get ripped off and the customers, you cant lock yourself up in your office and say no phone calls.

Sound familiar? Sarah someone come to mind?

What award did they give you Reardon?

Pledge wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:11 PM:Can someone tell me where I can find a photo of Barack Obama holding his hand over his heart while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance?

VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:23 PM:McCain runs from the debate he will lose. Lets put off the debate to focus on one thing. With 41 days left McCain wants to cancel the debate until after a recovery plan for Wall Street has been signed off.

What!!! This coming from the Concressman that has missed more votes on every other important issue while campaigning? More votes then even the ill Senator Kennedy? Obama has been there to vote on key issues but not McBush.

He can't prepare for the debate and watch the happenings in Washington at the same time?? Is Wall Street more important then votes on spending, health care, care for military families, military spending?

Or is McBush too old to keep up? Is he too old to do two things at once and do them well? What happens when he has to watch many things happening all at once like being President?

McBush is in hiding and he fears being exposed as the weak leader he is at a time when we need to know more.

He knows everytime he has opened his mouth lately it has killed him in the polls. He is a true loser. Grumpy Grandpa McBush.

VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:28 PM:By the way....when is our Republican candidate Grumpy Grandpa McBush going to release his medical records?? Four bouts of cancer, wearing thin and grumpy on the campaign trail. Not remembering what he said the day before, let alone today? Palin as his VP. I'd be thinking oh my God.....WHY HASN'T HE RELEASED HIS MEDICAL RECORDS?

Ms M wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:41 PM:Pledge
[-] wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:11 PM:...try Snopes...better than a photo two videos in living color.

VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:51 PM:What has changed since the weekend concering the financial crisis???

The only thing that's changed in the last 48 hours is the public polling. And George Will pulling his support for McBush.

Obama 52%
McCain 43%

At 830am this morning, doing something Presidential and bi-partisan Obama called McBush and asked if he would like to issue a JOINT statement concerning the crisis.

6 hours later McBush agreed to a Joint STATEMENT and also asked to suspend his campaign.

SOLON wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:06 PM:FLASH NEWS!

John McCain just announced he is backing out of the Friday evening debate in Oxford, Mississippi. This looks bad for McBush. Did he get cold feet? Does he fear being made a fool of by Senator Obama, who has a much better grasp of finance and economics?

Obama has tentatively said he is still in favor of debate and free speech on this bailout. 1:00PM

SOLON wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:12 PM:To NICK:

Dr. Paul spoke this morning at the House hearings with Bernanke and Paulson. He was in his usual savant form. He is way ahead of Bernanke, Paulson and the Congress.

What what I find even more interesting is what Dr. Paul write five years ago. All his forecasts have come to pass in the last two weeks. Too bad Dr. Paul does not have a political party to support him. He and his wisdom make him persona non grata with the Republican crooks.

Global wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:14 PM:Warming is a FARCE!

SOLON wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:18 PM:To: Pledge

I found two photos within one minutes of Senator Obama holding his hand over his heart while he stood straight and reverently saying the Pledge of Allegiance. (12:11 PM)

Obviously "Pledge" is computer illiterate.

SOLON wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:24 PM:To Monica Terrazas

I agree wholeheartedly with your letter. "Marriage between a man and a woman? Definitely yes."

Personally, I see nothing wrong with a man marrying a woman. I make no moral judgment on this practice. Marriage is a personal decision.

G One Thousand wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:32 PM:VOR
[-] wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:23 PM:"McCain runs from the debate..."

Well VOR, You are so "Old school" and out of date it's not funny, McCain still wants the debate, and it is still on, Try an stay current, and clear of clouds.

Ms M wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:36 PM:More on McCain wanting to suspend his campaign"

Why does John McCain suddenly want to suspend his presidential campaign and postpone Friday's debate? His campaign surrogates are saying it's a typical "maverick" move, that McCain is simply "putting country first." Let's look at the evidence:

1) As Ben Smith notes, McCain's move "is a mark, most of all, that he doesn't like the way this campaign is going. ... The only thing that's changed in the last 48 hours is the public polling."

2) The idea of uniting the campaigns to find a bipartisan solution to the Wall Street crisis wasn't even McCain's idea.....

3) John McCain has skipped more votes during this session than any member of the Senate except for Tim Johnson, who had major brain surgery. All of a sudden, McCain demands that the presidential race shut down so he can return to Washington?

4) A reminder: President Bush was able to debate John Kerry while he was president. For all of his sudden urgency, McCain acknowledged just yesterday that he had not even read the administration's three-page bailout proposal.

5) It's not clear at all that having McCain and Obama back in DC will actually help. "What does seem apparent, though, is that putting the two candidates in the negotiating room is far more likely to distract--and derail--negotiations than having them out on the hustings," Jonathan Cohn writes at the New Republic.

It's impossible to know why McCain chose this course, but it sure seems like more of a political stunt than a maverick moment.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:37 PM:SOLON
[-] wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:18 PM: SOLON, That speech you wrote for your Iranian bud almost put me to sleep.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:38 PM:Pledge[-] wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:11 PM:
Sure can. You can have as much fun as I did by Googling it. Image finder can help you as well. Also, check under Fact Checker for the truth about this subject.

SOLON wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:43 PM:Dr. Ron Paul six years ago . .

... said the following about GSE's (the Govt. Sponosored Entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:

<"However, despite the long-term damage to the economy inflicted by the government’s interference in the housing market, the government’s policies of diverting capital to other uses creates a short-term boom in housing. Like all artificially-created bubbles, the boom in housing prices cannot last forever. When housing prices fall, homeowners will experience difficulty as their equity is wiped out. Furthermore, the holders of the mortgage debt will also have a loss. These losses will be greater than they would have otherwise been had government policy not actively encouraged over-investment in housing.

Perhaps the Federal Reserve can stave off the day of reckoning by purchasing GSE debt and pumping liquidity into the housing market, but this cannot hold off the inevitable drop in the housing market forever. In fact, postponing the necessary but painful market corrections will only deepen the inevitable fall. The more people invested in the market, the greater the effects across the economy when the bubble bursts.

No less an authority than Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has expressed concern that government subsidies provided to the GSEs make investors underestimate the risk of investing in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Mr. Speaker, it is time for Congress to act to remove taxpayer support from the housing GSEs before the bubble bursts and taxpayers are once again forced to bail out investors misled by foolish government interference in the market. I therefore hope my colleagues will stand up for American taxpayers and investors by cosponsoring the Free Housing Market Enhancement Act."
END OF QUOTE.

Ron Paul is too smart for his own good. A man too far ahead of his time can never become a leader because he is regarded as a KOOK.

TFB wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:44 PM:The blog from "Abortion is wrong" at 11:45 a.m. is puzzling.
I'm wondering if you could be so gracious as to cite an example of any instance in which liberals "spewed hate" toward any woman choosing carry her pregnancy to term and not to have an abortion.
On the contrary, it is liberals who have supported prenatal services, children's medical health insurance, education, and all manner of family services that have been consistently opposed by hateful, anti-family conservatives.

Three D wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:50 PM:Alf makes the comment at 10:59 a.m. that mine at 10:33 a.m. puts his "to shame."
Not at all, Alf.
We were making entirely different points.
As I saw it, yours was about the scientific and pragmatic realities and you made your point concisely and effectively, as usual.
My point was about the inconsistencies of the original comment that are incongruent with the stated religious source text the writer claimed to base it on, when no such basis actually exists.

SOLON wrote on Sep 24, 2008 1:57 PM:Breaking news !

McCain is headed to Washington, saying he thinks the Friday presidential debate should be canceled.

Sen. Obama is speaking at this moment, saying he believes the debate is more important than ever because the American people need to know where the leadership is and what the positions are of the candidates. Obama also stated that he is in full contact with Washington leadership and promised to make himself available at any time that would be helpful, but he does not want to fly back to Washington just to inject politics in the delicate negotiations over the Wall St. crisis.

Stop the world I want to get off wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:07 PM:Just saw that McCain wants to postpone the debate because of the economic crisis. Why?? If he wants to be the leader of the United States, he should come out, campaign, face his challenger and explain how he would handle the economy. I think he's ducking for cover.

Roid to VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:07 PM:Thank you, good answer, not the one I expected. I thought you were chris's clone. I guess even I can be fooled once in awhile.

McCOWARD wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:09 PM:After weeks of chiding Obama for not accepting his rather juvenile suggestion of weekly joint town hall meetings, it turns out that, in his old age, the once-heroic maverick has run out of the guts he was known for in younger days.
Now, he is not only avoiding news conferences himself and protecting his poor, helpless little timid VP nominee from actual hard-hitting questions, but he is running scared from a face-to-face encounter in which the two nominees would ask each other direct questions.
McCoward has run out of guts.
He is terrified of having to face Obama on either foreign or economic policy, where the tragic catastrophes he helped create, will be subjected to serious scrutiny and hard-hitting questions.
What a sad end to such a pathetic little man.

He Said wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:15 PM:Our friend VOR needs to change his moniker to Supreme Being. It appears He knows everything about everything: economics, political strategies, the gestation process, mathematics, office politics, running a business, religion, etc. All of this expertise in so many subjects could not possibly have been accumulated during a mere mortal lifespan. Let us pray fervently to Him for continued guidance and revelation of His wisdom. In the name of VOR, Amen.

G One Thousand wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:19 PM:Well VOR, looks like you are right about the debates, and I was wrong as of 2:00pm, I am not toooo proud to admit whan I am wrong, Probably because it is not an everyday event, LOL. We'll see what happens by Friday?

VOR 1 And G One Thousand 0
for now.

SOLON wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:25 PM:Old man on a wire ...

...McCain is walking a tight wire. He announced he is suspending his campaign until the Wall Street crisis is settled. I guess he is going to retire, because this crisis is not going to be settled in McCain's lifetime.

McCain is facing withering fire from his own party, opposed to the Wall St. bailout. McCain suspects a bailout is critical, but just can't bring himself in alignment with Bush and his Wall St. cronies. He's in a tough spot.

Ms M wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:29 PM:Obama's response to McCain wanting to suspend/postpone the campaign:

Barack Obama rejected the proposal -- put forward by John McCain today -- that the two presidential candidates leave the campaign trail, delay Friday's debate, and return to Washington to work on a bailout package for the economy,

"Presidents are going to have to deal with more than one thing at a time," he said, "it is not necessary for us to think we can do only one thing and suspend everything else."

Expressing concern about infusing "Capitol Hill with presidential politics," Obama said it was his desire to see the debate go forward.

"With respect to the debates it is my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who in roughly 40 days will be responsible for this mess," he said. "I think it is going to be part of the president's job to deal with more than one thing at once. I don't see why we can't be constructive in helping with this problem."

Oh my - isn't Barry presedential!!!

Aaron wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:37 PM:So what is John McCain? He wants to suspend his campaign, and cancel the presidential debate on Friday? Is this too much for him?

McCain has not held a press conference in 39 days. And yesterday during Palin's silly little get together to Hamid Karzai, the press was allowed no access to Palin. This is not a Straight Talk Express. This is a Mid-night Secret Express.

John McCain has skipped more votes during this session than any member of the Senate except for Tim Johnson, who had major brain surgery. He has cast only one single vote in five months, since April 9. All of a sudden, McCain is demanding that the presidential race shut down so he can return to Washington?

Looks to me like McCain is not up to the rigors of the office.

Hey Bucky wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:39 PM:Guess you don't know the facts about Lowery. He is very fiscally conservative. That's what allows him to sucessfuly operate a business in town for 20 years and to own multiple properties here. Get real. The old tax/spend liberal mantra really doesn't work anymore coming from you right wingers.

She Said wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:40 PM:Generally the candidate that is behind wants the debate. The front runner has nothing to gain with a debate. Does McBush really think he's ahead?

Chris to Abortion is wrong wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:41 PM:I wonder how many babies were aborted when we masecreded their mothers in Iraq and Afganistan? I guess you anti-abortion people don't care about that.

Realist wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:54 PM:I do believe the abortion debate has been beaten to death on this blog. Everyone's got their own opinion and I doubt anyone's mind will change.
-Realist

sdraoul wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:54 PM:VOR is wrong again. Barack Obama has not released his health and medical records, period (maybe a handful of pages, maybe).

Mcain, on the other hand has released several thousand pages of medical records -- several thousand pages, children.

VOR is laughable.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:56 PM:He Said: So sorry. sdraoul already has that job.

VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 2:58 PM:Its VOTE OUT REPUBLCIANS (VOR) "he said", thanks for the compliment.

I think after all the disasters from greed, failure and corruption on the part of Republicans all conservatives will leave their ideology for the basics of change what is happening today.

12 straight years of a Republican Congress- 18 months of a one vote advantage Democratic Congress and 7-1/2 years of a Republican President, even McBush is running on change.

Change from Conservatism. Its put us in the condition we are in today.

Here comes the steamroller RON!

sdraoul wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:02 PM:AP: McCain appears cancer-free, healthy
71-year-old three-time cancer survivor in good shape, records indicate
The Associated Press
updated 1:22 p.m. PT, Fri., May. 23, 2008
FOUNTAIN HILLS, Ariz. - Three-time melanoma survivor John McCain appears cancer-free, has a strong heart and is in otherwise general good health, according to eight years of medical records reviewed by The Associated Press.

The Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting remains at risk for developing new skin cancers, and gets a thorough check by a Mayo Clinic dermatologist every few months.

"I do not see any worrisome lesions," Dr. Suzanne Connolly concluded after McCain's most recent exam, on May 12.

The details of McCain's health are contained in 1,173 pages of medical documents spanning 2000 to 2008 that his campaign made available to the AP to make the case that he's healthy enough to serve as president, as well as to counter the notion that he's too old.

Alice wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:03 PM:Hey, McCain should send Sarah Stalin to stand in for him at the debates. After all she is ready and does not blink when asked. This would give us the chance to see how ready she really is.

VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:04 PM:Only a VERY dangerously sick man has several thousands of pages of medical records!!! Im laughing my head off.

Thats my point! McBush is dangerous!

4 bouts of cancer and now Palin is his VP??

Oh My Gosh! WMD's were a safer prospect then Palin being the new President.

Just look at the plumbing wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:06 PM:Man and woman were created to meet in the middle (so to speak). Can't say that for man and man or woman and woman, no matter how hard you spin it. The problem is that mother nature didn't take evil/abnormality into account when calculating how and when these gifts were to be used. Thusly, we have a culture that no longer recognizes it's own shortcomings in dealing with the shortfalls of the union between two (or more) people. So instead of attempting to remedy the underlying problem, we simply deem all actions appropriate and choose to try to eradicate the implications of such symptoms.

VOR wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:07 PM:to G One Thousand, these are all just opinions, hopefully in the end we arent graded on our opinion, just the truth of what we believe. Im glad you stand up when wrong.

Too HOT wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:08 PM:Is he really "suspending" his campaign or "quitting" because the kitchen got to hot?

Concerned wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:13 PM:CRISIS: "McCain is politicizing one of the most serious financial crisis this country has faced in years. Is this truly the man we would want representing our country? The man who has backed these criminals (CEOs) for years by giving them tax breaks, incentives, and deregulation. People OPEN your eyes!"
Is Palin going with him to hold his hand?

Jefferson wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:14 PM:Oh, the War Hero and the Maverick ... running from a fight? Coward. It's fine for him when he is making up lies and manipulating and spinning ... but when it comes time to face the music, he tries to high-tail it back to Washington and hide ... a place he has hidden for the last 26 years, doing nothing but blowing smoke and making deals with lobbyists.

to Chris to Abortion is wrong wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:17 PM:What is it with some of you people and this "I know you are, but what am I?" mentality?

"I wonder how many babies were aborted when we masecreded their mothers in Iraq and Afganistan? I guess you anti-abortion people don't care about that."

While I would love to hear you try to explain the logic in the above comments, I already know you can't. At least pay attention to underlined misspellings next time before posting that nonsense.

Mark wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:18 PM:f this were really a bipartisan attempt by McCain rather than a stunt, he would have he and Obama postpone the debate together. Instead he pulled a dirty trick. Do we really want another president like that. No wonder he graduated in the bottom 5% of his class at the Naval Academy.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:22 PM:Alf Alf Alf To Gotta Wonder No Man/ you are one of the proud and the brave to castigate Alf just based upon your personal jealously. Enjoy your sand box.
All you do is whine. You take time to write your latest blog but you do not have time to address Alf or the subject matter correctly. All you do is whaaaaaaa! I know that the play ground can be busy. So, take care. Play nice.

sdraoul wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:34 PM:AP: McCain appears cancer-free, healthy
71-year-old three-time cancer survivor in good shape, records indicate
The Associated Press
updated 1:22 p.m. PT, Fri., May. 23, 2008
FOUNTAIN HILLS, Ariz. - Three-time melanoma survivor John McCain appears cancer-free, has a strong heart and is in otherwise general good health, according to eight years of medical records reviewed by The Associated Press.

The Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting remains at risk for developing new skin cancers, and gets a thorough check by a Mayo Clinic dermatologist every few months.

"I do not see any worrisome lesions," Dr. Suzanne Connolly concluded after McCain's most recent exam, on May 12.

The details of McCain's health are contained in 1,173 pages of medical documents spanning 2000 to 2008 that his campaign made available to the AP to make the case that he's healthy enough to serve as president, as well as to counter the notion that he's too old. The Arizona senator will turn 72 in August and would be the oldest elected first-term president.

Bill Too wrote on Sep 24, 2008 3:43 PM: