LETTERS: NCT, Oct. 9, 2008
By Readers of the North County Times | ∞
Nancy Pelosi has got to go
Ninety-five Democrats voted "no" to the first bailout bill. The bill only needed 12 more votes to pass. Nancy Pelosi then proceeded to blame the Republicans. She stood in front of Congress and gave a disgraceful partisan speech.
Pelosi told all the Democrats who were facing re-election that they did not have to vote for it, including five members of Barney Frank's group. The heads of several panels voted "no" –– they too were facing re-election. This was a stunt on her part so she could blame the Republicans. She put the country at risk so she could do the blame game. ...
Franks and Dodd were the two leaders in blocking legislation –– Fannie and Freddie donated a lot to them. Nancy Pelosi is bad for America.
Marie Rench
Escondido
Lehrer for president?
Taking into consideration the possible implosion of the U.S. economy and lack of commitment and proactivity on this subject by the presidential candidates in the Sept. 25 debate, I think Jim Lehrer would be the best candidate for president.
Tim O'Connor
Carlsbad
We don't need laws to punish cheaters
I would like to rebut the letter of James Jonaitis of Sept. 25. James doesn't really want another law to punish mortgage cheaters. The lender should require a sufficient down payment to provide a commitment by the borrower. The lender should also investigate the house buyer as to his ability to make payments. Under those circumstances, the property is sufficient collateral to protect the lender. If the bank lends 100 percent or more of a property's value and/or doesn't ascertain that the home buyer can make the payments, it opens itself up to be swindled.
Robert "Zeb" Zbornak
Oceanside
Main Street created Wall Street
The basic Republican stance has always been to privatize profit and socialize loss. Under Bush, McCain voted three times to privatize Social Security (turn Social Security over to Wall Street). I was born in Oklahoma in 1931 with Jewish/Cherokee Indian heritage, raised in a holy-roller society.
Scarcely a Republican in the state during the '30s. I quickly decided to align myself with the poor, huddling, perhaps unwashed, but intelligent masses. I've never regretted it. FDR's social programs, such as the Water Reclamation Act, TVA, WPA, CCC, Social Security, Hoover Dam, Federal placement of the FFA, military bases, all were based on the good of the people: ergo, socialization. Main Street created Wall Street. It was socialization: working hard together in a common cause.
The word "Communism" was feared. Now it's "Socialism." We won righteous wars because we were socialized, truly dedicated to saving humanity.
The Iraq war is an unjust war. Let our statesmen/scientists/humanitarians negotiate our withdrawal. China can outbid us on Iraqi oil anyway. As for the bailout, let's bail out Main Street. Magnanimity pays great dividends. I trust Obama and the Clintons.
Betty Reichenbach
Escondido
Bailout: Prolonging the addiction
Why is the global economy in a mess? Credit. What is the bailout? Credit. So I'm to believe that the best way to detox a heroin addict is through the administration of more heroin?
I'm aware that certain components of our economic system need to be greased with JIT (just-in-time) financing/borrowing, but due to the fact that Washington no longer has any political capital left (with me) and seems to be out of control with spending, I can't help but think the bailout bill makes bacon look lean.
The bailout will only prolong the inevitable –– an overhaul of the financial sector –– and given today's social weakness of wanting it all, wanting it now, somehow I see a portion of the proposed bailout used to line people's pockets. If we weren't so morally bankrupt, we wouldn't be so financially bankrupt –– and that's why I can't get behind what otherwise would make sense.
Robert Salvi
Rancho Bernardo
Taxes for firefighting equipment
Money for programs like this or school improvements should never be added to property tax bills. Property tax bills have become a free ride for just about anything that comes along. How about taxing all of the people who live in apartments? Makes sense, as they are not paying property taxes.
Ed Larsen
Fallbrook
One looks to the future, the other lives in the past
The clear distinction between the two presidential candidates came alive during the debate. Obama kept harping on the Bush administration's mistakes. McCain told us how he would govern as president and why he would win the war on terror and lead this country once again to economic prosperity.
Obama was full of doom and gloom. McCain showed why the best days of America were ahead. Obama was petty and childish. McCain was presidential. Obama wasted time arguing the position on negotiation with terrorists of Secretary Kissinger, a friend of McCain for 35 years!
Obama failed miserably trying to mock the bracelet that McCain wears as a mark of a soldier's ultimate sacrifice. Obama was visibly embarrassed at the mention of $937 million worth of earmarks he requested during his short stay in the Senate as opposed to McCain's zero earmarks.
A dumbfounded Obama looked on when McCain displayed his grasp of matters of national security whether it was Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, North Korea or Russia. National security being the focus, McCain was credible and Obama sounded weak, agreeing with McCain more often than not. Obama is not ready to lead this nation. McCain is not just ready, but raring to go!
Keshava Prasad
Escondido
Plenty of room on the 'blame Bush' bus
Ruben Fierro (Letters, Oct. 1) is not just a passenger on the "blame Bush" bus, he's driving it while under the influence of liberal Kool-Aid. Ruben claims we the taxpayers "will end up buying tons of paper worth nothing, thanks to eight years of unfettered regulation," insinuating the alleged financial crisis is all Bush's fault.
Unfortunately for Ruben, there are video and audio recordings clearly demonstrating that congressional Democrats refused to heed warnings from the Bush administration regarding the potential failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
In 2004, Democrats Barney Frank, Maxine Waters and Chris Dodd were urged to provide more oversight for these institutions, but chose not to. Why? Well, they are the very people who pushed the legislation designed to punish mortgage lenders who would not give risky loans to unqualified buyers. These loans were intended to make liberals feel good because more minorities would be able to buy homes, whether or not they could actually pay for them. How could such a deed possibly go wrong? It did. Of course you won't see this on the nightly news. But, if you believe Ruben, stay on the bus. There's plenty of room (and Kool-Aid).
Mike Kania
Carlsbad
With Dems, it's my way or the highway
Antagonists say vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin should stay home. Why? Because they are Democrats and know what is best for everyone. Or is it that the Democrats feel threatened by this person who has made extraordinary decisions without their help?
With California having an increase of 600 percent in autism in 2007, this may be the choice of the century for vice president, rather than robot career politicians who vote as the Democratic or Republican parties tells them. They are all overpaid. Any 2-year-old child can do as they are told.
Having a grandchild born with part of her brain missing and given 30 days to live, six years later she passed away. Did her mother and father stop and quit? No. It was a tough six years, but two sisters and a mother and father gave her their unconditional love and care. What changed? Nothing! All continued as if Sydney were normal. They did not give up their lives and jobs, and both parents could handle the position of vice president.
Check out www.sydneygranfoundation.org all in her memory and to help others through Birmingham Alabama's Childrens Hospital.
Buddie Gran
Escondido
Congressional group-think
Imagine, if you will, that it's Oct. 21, 2007, and the Witch Creek Fire has erupted. The emergency management professionals leap into action and spend the next two weeks, except for a two-day Jewish holiday, trying to decide whether it's an emergency, whose fault it is and whether they are going to do anything about it.
Now imagine it's the middle of September 2008, and the whole United States financial system is on the verge of collapse. The emergency management professionals leap into action and spend the next two weeks trying to decide whether it's an emergency, whose fault it is and whether they are going to do anything about it. Oh, in the middle of the emergency, nothing is done for two days because it's a Jewish holiday.
Most would scoff at the first scenario and say it wouldn't happen. The second scenario, most would say, oh, it's Congress, that's normal. Sorry folks, Congress can't help it. They suffer from ... group-think, a phenomenon that occurs in a group when members let their need to agree with each other interfere with their ability to think about any decision critically. Not their fault; it's the nature of the beast.
Don Peck
San Marcos
Lack of leadership created mess
Once again, the government's standard policy rears its ugly head. Ignore a problem, blame someone else for the problem, then throw millions of dollars, but in this case, billions of dollars, at the problem.
There has been a void of strong and decent leadership in our government for years. Our political leaders mutate to an alien life form when they arrive in Washington. Despite all their promises when they are campaigning for our vote, our federal representatives are basically the dregs of society. There is no crime that officials in our government seem incapable of committing.
Every time the American people lower their expectations of our government's ability to do the right and honorable thing, our political representatives fail to meet those lowered expectations. I know there must be someone in the political sector who possesses some minimum amount of integrity, but until they are willing to stand up to their political cronies and good old boys and protect America, then I will criticize them all. After all, all it takes for evil to prevail is for good men and women to do nothing. And our political leaders are either violating the law or doing nothing.
Thomas Calabrese
Oceanside
Time for changes in redistricting
It is time to make some long-needed changes to the way California's legislative district areas are created, both in the Senate and Assembly. For years our state legislators have been allowed to draw their own district lines, so –– guess what? They draw them in incredibly confusing ways to ensure the most votes for themselves, even to the point of dividing up cities into two or even more districts. This must stop –– and now is the time.
By law, California must redistrict in 2011, just three years from now. If voters, whether Republican, Democratic, or decline to state, vote for Proposition 11 this November, a nonpartisan, 14-member Independent Citizens Commission would be set up to do the redistricting. This commission will not allow as members any politician, lobbyist or political insider of any kind as a member. Best of all, the list of organizations endorsing this initiative covers many different groups, from California Chamber of Commerce, AARP, California Police Chiefs Association, League of Women Voters, California Taxpayers Association, to name just a few.
I think we have all had enough of California's government gridlock and backroom deals between legislators to redraw their own districts. Please vote "yes" on Prop. 11.
Lenore Bouras
Carlsbad
Let the rich pay
Why not let the richest 1 percent of the country, who own more than 50 percent of our wealth, pay for the bailout?
Buck Miller
Fallbrook
Tri-City needs new direction
Have you seen the relentless half-page ads, "Tri-City is here for you," in local papers? Haven't we all received dozens of direct pamphlets and fliers in the last three years telling us just that? Weren't the three failed bonds all about too many patients, not enough facilities?
Millions of dollars could have been invested in upgrading its facility or for employee benefits, yet the one-trick pony board and its administration continue their wasteful spending as usual. The shock and trauma of the third failed bond just a month ago did not trigger much-needed change at the top. Three failed bonds have made Tri-City Hospital a notorious symbol.
We need to install new board members who are open to all opportunities and vow to never divide the community with more bailout bonds. New board members should be committed to serve the community, not the failed administration or their own job security. The entrenched board members Tweedy and Rodriguez, who voted time and again for bailout bonds, must be replaced to allow new direction, new possibilities at Tri-City.
Kathy Lord
Carlsbad
High-speed rail, lawyers dream come true
Environmental lawyers cannot wait for Proposition A to pass. This will guarantee their fat paychecks forever.
Just look at the recent protests of the 6-mile toll road linking San Diego to Orange County. It has been years and not a single inch of the road has been built. The Carlsbad water desalination processing plant has been tied up in court and the California Coastal Commission for over 10 years. Still, not a single drop of water has been used for our drought. Millions have been invested for necessities and growth but are all tied up in years of lawsuits and endless court battles. Even the border fence for national security was tied up in years of lawsuits until finally the Bush administration had to use its executive powers to intervene.
With residents opposing the Sunrise power line proposed by SDG&E, the "not in my backyard" attitude, combined with the tougher eminent domain law just passed, mean the costs and time-frame of construction are beyond estimate. The only guarantee of Prop. A is 30 years of no-way-out tax, deeper state budget deficits and filthy-rich environmental lawyers.
Maria Correa
Carlsbad
Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air
It seems to me that the nastiness in letters against Sarah Palin shows a fear of change from some of the old-guard males, and rigid obstinacy from some females. How dare some unknown seek to accomplish what they were unable to do themselves.
I believe that, unlike some of the letter writers, Sarah is unafraid of looking in the mirror, or of saying what she believes. She is also unafraid of disapproval from those who are too timid to lead.
I have only been to Alaska once, and that was shortly after the earthquake in 1964. I am not a member of her party, or her religion, and don't necessarily agree with every position she has taken, but I like her style and tenacity, and I like the potential difference of her being the vice president versus some of those in the past, or the old-guard Democrat who now covets the job.
Glen Chappell
Oceanside
A better idea on financial quagmire
Because of space constraints, I'll be brief with my idea of how to get us out of this financial quagmire. Instead of our well-heeled congressmen once again bailing out their buddies on Wall Street, I propose the Bail Out Main Street Resolution. It would have all the pertinent restrictions on moneymen, etc., but it would benefit us, and their money would trickle up to Wall Street.
Here it is in a nutshell: Send checks to the 218 million folks 18 and older in the U.S., $50,000 each. Its cost: "Only" $108 billion. That's only one-seventh of the $700 billion. Just think of the money flow from that, even if they decided on one-half.
Dave Concannon
Escondido
Biden impressed
Joe Biden carried the vice presidential debate. Articulate, knowledgeable, assertive, well-reasoned and well-spoken, Biden made his points clearly and convincingly. He reminded me why his ticket is the better choice for the country.
He showed me, without question, that he would be an excellent and effective vice president, an asset to a Barack Obama administration and to the American people, and ready to serve as president if the need arose.
After all the McCain/Palin histrionics and drama these past few weeks, I was glad to finally get to hear Biden, and he impressed me!
Stephani Stephenson
Encinitas
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Yes on Prop 8 wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:27 AM:We need to deny marriage rights to same sex couples, and use the government to enforce morality in the bedroom.
Mathematician wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:41 AM:Mathematician and Magicians:
How can it be a “better idea” to give $50,000 to each adult, when your math is so terribly wrong? Dave Concannon’s idea is better than Paulson’s, but his math is almost as bad as that of the Treasury department.
The cost of $50,000 X 218,000,000 would be one trillion and ninety billion dollars ($1,090,000,000,000), which is close to what the Treasury has already committed, and we haven’t been able to turn things around yet.
Talented woman wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:46 AM:Yes, Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air, much like Paris Hilton and Dolly Partin. I'm sure they could find a job for her somewhere in Nashville with such charm and talent. And those coquettish winks just melt the men.
What if wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:58 AM:How Racism Works:
What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?
What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said "I do" to?
What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer
measured up to his standards?
What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to pain killers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?
What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?
What if Obama were a member of the Keating-5?
What if McCain were a charismatic, eloquent speaker?
If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election
numbers would be as close as they are?
This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive
qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.
You are The Boss... which team would you hire?
With America facing historic debt, 2 wars, stumbling health care, a weakened
dollar, all-time high prison population, mortgage crises, bank
foreclosures, etc.
Educational Background:
Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in
International Relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude
Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political
Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)
vs.
McCain: United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism
Now, which team are you going to hire ?
PS: What if Barack Obama had an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?
Chuck wrote on Oct 9, 2008 3:12 AM:>>>>Wanda raised a question, Why are Chuck and Ron missing in action today?>>> Gee, I'm sorry that I didnt interrupt my day on the balcony, the beach and the marina to post to morons.
OBAMACAN wrote on Oct 9, 2008 5:25 AM:Keshava Prasad's letter has it completely backward. Obama is looking forward, Old Man McCain is rooted in his failed past. What Prasad fails to understand, and this failure is the root of so many other Republican failures, is that you do have to look to the past long enough to understand what caused mistakes so that, when we do turn back to the future, we don't repeat the mistakes of the past.
Prasad joins McCain and Palin who have each criticized Obama for wanting to understand where we came from so we can chart a better course as we plan for the future.
Palin has said she doesn't care what caused climate change; she just wants to fix it. Well, duh, my neighbor is dying of lung cancer, still smoking 3 packs a day and doesn't care what caused it, just wants it fixed. True conservative thinking!
McCain doesn't care what errors caused the war in Iraq or the economic meltdown (though he hypocrtically tries to go back to successful programs of Carter and even FDR - what a double standard!), he just wants to fix it.
Bottom line: Republicans don't see the connections between causes and cures.
Sure explains a lot, doesn't it.
He Said wrote on Oct 9, 2008 6:28 AM:Marie Rench will have to move to and vote in Northern California to unseat Pelosi. Why even bring it up unless it is just an indirect slam against the Democratic Party. Childish at best.
VOR wrote on Oct 9, 2008 6:44 AM:270 Electoral votes needed to win.
Projected electoral votes 10/9
Obama- 353 49% of the country
McBush- 185 43% of the country
Result- Democratic landslide!!!! LOL
Wanda wrote on Oct 9, 2008 6:48 AM:Glean Chappell seems to think Sarah Palin is a "breath of fresh air", perhaps because she has been packaged and marketed as an "outsider" and a "maverick".
Sarah Palin is another mindless ideologue being sold to you by the same folks who brought you Bush / Cheney. How's that working out for you?
How's that ruinously expensive, counterproductive war working out for you?
How's rampant deregulation working out for you?
How's corporate wellfare working out for you?
How's tax breaks for the top 5% working out for you?
Are you sure you want more of the same? The rest of us have seen how this trickle down economics actually works and are tired of being trickled on. Sarah Palin is not a "breath of fresh air", she's a vacuous bimbo out to sell you more of the same.
Golly gee.
Get a clue.
VOR wrote on Oct 9, 2008 6:49 AM:Great post "what if"!!!
What you forgot is whats most important to conservos--- ideology, hate and prejudice.
Don't you remember? "Youve done a great job Brownie!!" That's how Conservos veiw job qualifications.
How prejudice are you?
Do you hate others that aren't your race?
Do you hate people with different sexual perferences?
Do you hate others having the same rights you do?
Do you hate others that don't believe what you do?
If you say yes.....you can be Vice Presidential material.
Wanda wrote on Oct 9, 2008 6:56 AM:Chuck at 3:12 AM (3:12 AM?) claims he didn't post yesterday because he got a life.
Good for you, Chuck!
Roger wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:03 AM:The 1:46 AM post unfairly compares Sarah Palin to Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton is not a vacuous bimbo, and has affected some major changes in the music industry.
To What If wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:07 AM:To answer your questions from: What if
[-] wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:58 AM:
MCCAIN!! I don't want a socialist that thinks it is your RIGHT and not RESPONSIBILITY for Health care. What else will become a right at the expense of others? Heil you know who!
Cant Decide wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:10 AM:Just received my absentee ballot yesterday. Just can't seem to decide on the Presidential candidate. Keep changing my mind based on the lurid deductions, spins, redundancies, speculations, character assassinations, lies, misinformation, unhealthy obsessions, plus other illegitimate, meaningless talking points found on this blog. Maybe I'll just stick to local and state issues that seem to be flying mostly (except Prop 8) under the radar.
To Wanda wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:14 AM:Wanda
[-] wrote on Oct 9, 2008 6:48 AM: Glean Chappell seems to think Sarah Palin is a "breath of fresh air", perhaps because she has been packaged and marketed as an "outsider" and a "maverick". etc...
Roger [-] wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:03 AM:The 1:46 AM post unfairly compares Sarah Palin to Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton is not a vacuous bimbo, and has affected some major changes in the music industry.
Perhaps Wanda should get going on her Candidacy if she is so great instead of living in a blog world. She seems to have all of the answers and bravery. :)
Bob wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:18 AM:"Stay The Course" has been repackaged as "A Breath Of Fresh Air"?
Brings to mind Steve Miller's "...same old story with a new set of words..."
He Said wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:22 AM:To VOR : What about the libs and
Do you hate others that are more successful and have more money, better education, and more toys than you?
Caro Hussein Cogitatus wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:33 AM:Mathematician, it's even worse! My calculator shows 218,000,000 times 50,000 is
$10,900,000,000,000
As in 10.9 trillion dollars. With math skills like that, I'm sure Dave Concannon is on McSame's short list for Treasury Secretary.
Apollo wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:36 AM:Re: Marie Rench (letter)
The wonderful thing about our democratic republic is that we get to choose our leaders and representaitves.
So Marie Rench is welcome to speak out and campaign against Nancy Pelosi.
She can even vote to unseat her, but first she is going to have to move to Pelosi's Northern California district. Funny thing about electing representatives, you have to live in the district being represented.
As for the "disgraceful partisan speech" by Pelosi, I guess the truth hurts.
Before complaining, please identify which specific statements holding the Republicans accountable was in error. And after the nasty partisan rancor fomented by Republicans, complaining that a Democrat was partisan is just laughable.
And as for delaying the bailout bill, the delay allowed time to make it more populist by adding additional benefits for consumers so it wasn't just a bailout for the perpetrators - it had more benefits for Main Street.
To What if wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:46 AM:It's called white privilege!!!
JohnM wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:51 AM:With all due respects to letter writer Dave Concannon and "Mathematician" above, 218M x 50,000 is TEN trillion, nine hundred billion.
Don't you see Escondido? This is what your schools produce -- the inability to do basic multiplication.
Republican Healthcare Socialist wrote on Oct 9, 2008 7:54 AM:Amazing, the response at 7:07 a.m. to the earlier excellent blog from "What If."
This is a perfect example of how Republican partisan hacks want to disregard real qualifications of education, accomplishment, leadership and character, and just call names like SOCIALIST!
Socialist?
Having the government involved in public policies such as public health and safety is socialism?
Are public security guards (police) socialist?
Are public property protectors (firefighters) socialist?
Are public schools (education) socialist?
At one time, all of the above were primarily delivered through private, for-profit businesses.
Health care: Oh yeah, more deregulation will really help. McCain writes in the Sept/Oct 2008 issue of "Contingencies" (professional journal of healthcare actuaries) an article entitled: "Better Care at Lower Cost for Every American" by John McCain. In it, McCain proposes further deregulation of private sector healthcare insurers, and cites as a supporting example the "success" of his efforts in working with Phil "nation of whiners" Gramm in deregulating the financial markets. Now he wants to pretend that his "reform" efforts were more oversight, not removing it as he actually supported.
McCain was asked on "60 Minutes" (9-21-08) if he regretted his 1999 vote for Gramm's bill to reduce oversight of financial institutions and he said he still believes deregulation of financial markets "stimulated" the economy, even though the prosperous economy of the 1990's started to go bad after that law took effect.
Democrats, starting with FDR, have repeatedly saved this country from socialism by showing a model of REGULATED private sector entrepreneurship that engenders broad-based freedom and prosperity.
Republicans swing wildly from unregulated lassiez faire free markets and corporatocracy, then when it implodes - as it always does - THEY become the party of pure socialism. Witness:
Republican socialism:
Socialism for the rich (but no protections or bailouts for individual victims who need help the most):
Privatize profits; socialize losses (make the taxpayers pay). What happened to "risk" by capitalists?
Not merely bailouts or loan guarantees, but full Federal takeover (ownership and operation) of private lending corporations Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and an 80% equity ownership in the nation's largest property-casualty insurance company (but getting involved with merely setting standards for health care delivered through private providers is socialist). Huh? [Scratching head]
Republican Socialism in Alaska:
The Republican presidential nominee selects as his running mate the governor of the only true Sociliast economy in the U.S. (Alaska, financed by the commercial oil ventures it owns [and if there was any doubt about that, CSPAN recently rebroadcast a debate from her 2006 gubernatorial campaign in which there was extensive discussion of managing the commercial oil operations THEY OWN - also, I got to actually watch her express support for that "Bridge to Nowhere." The debate obviously occurred while she was still for it before she was against it].
The 9-15-08 issue of Newsweek (page 30) cites REPUBLICAN former governor of Alaska Wally Hickel (who also served as, ironically, Secretary of the INTERIOR under REPUBLICAN Richard Nixon, as advocating an "economy of the commons."
Commons? As in Communism?
Hickel was referring to the state ownership and operation of the communal oil business.
Greencinitan wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:03 AM:If McCain is such a wise maverick and raised concerns about earmarks and about Fannie and Freddie years ago, what does it say about his leadership abilities that nobody paid any attention and followed? Can you be a leader of change if nobody listens?
Apollo wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:06 AM:Re: Mike Kania (letter)
Yet another example of conservatives trying to rewrite history and make up their own facts.
No, Mike, there was nothing in any of the Democratic proposals or legislation that required anyone to make "risky" loans to people who were unqualified. There were laws passed by Democrats to prohibit redlining (literally drawing red lines on maps to exclude ethnic minority areas - you know, back when maps were on paper instead of MapQuest - for those unlike McCain who know how to log onto the Internet).
To help open up equality of opportunity (not outcomes) Democrats also provided for secondary funding sources to assist in the process. This was a funding mechanism. Nothing in any Democratic proposal, whether subsequently enacted or not, promoted issuing loans to unqualified buyers - unless you are saying that all ethnic minorities are inherently unqualified, in which case we have a substantial change in the topic of discussion.
Kania belabors the factually-distorted point that in 2004 several prominent House Democrats could not be persuaded to pass further deregulatory assaults on oversight. What he fails to note is that in 2004, the Republicans controlled the House, Senate, Presidency and a majority of appointees to the Supreme Court. Especially in the House, where straight majority rules, Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank and Maxine Waters had no power whatsoever.
Kania provides another perfect example of those who broke it trying to blame those who want to fix it.
Vista Granny wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:10 AM:I certainly hope "yes on Prop 8" is making some kind of sick joke! Prop 8 -- and the government in our bedrooms are both immoral! I have in my possession a letter written to a prospective bride in 1923. In the letter is a list of ingredients for a concoction which will prevent pregnancy. There was no birth control available for sale. In fact, birth control was not legal!!Is this the world we want to return to? Would this person like to have cameras in everyone's homes to see what they are doing at all times? Believe me, that type of law is only for the "have nots." The very wealthy have always done whatever they please, with whomever they please, where ever they please and always will.
No on Prop 8 wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:27 AM:We need to allow marriage rights to same sex couples, and use the streets and parks and public bath houses to replace morality in the bedroom.
Apollo wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:30 AM:Re: He Said (7:22 a.m.)
I do not hate others that are more successful or have more money or have a better education, nor do I care how many "toys" anyone else has.
I do have a wee bit of a problem with those who wage class warfare against the middle class, who rely on working people to create their wealth, then take a disproportionate share of the wealth created by others, and then expect welfare for the rich elitsts (the real "welfare queens") in the form of lower taxes on UNEARNED investment income (wealth created by the labor of others) and expecting the working class to give corporate welfare to oil companies and financial institutions who cause the economy to implode while they sail gently into the billowing clouds hoisted by the comfort of their golden parachutes.
Cindy McCain, for example, has just about more toys than anyone, yet she never did one damn thing to earn it. She just inherited it all from Daddy and lives off the unearned investment income of wealth created by others.
Sure, Sarah Palin supports "Joe Six Pack" - as long as Joe buys the six-pack from Cindy's beer company.
to Greencinitan wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:31 AM:You can lead a horse to water... Does the lack of smarts on the part of the horse make the leader less important?
Alf wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:32 AM:The letter from Dave Concannon contains the same math error that emails circulating around make -
misplacing decimals.
218 Million people times $50 thousand dollars is
are you ready
NOT 109 Billion dollars
IT IS
10.9 TRILLION dollars!!!
I realize that working with that many digits confuses some.
Regards, Alf.
To Cant Decide wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:39 AM:To "Can't Decide" If you recall every election carries spin and confusion. If you can't see the stark contrast between McCain-Palin and Obama-Biden then perhaps you shouldn't vote. It's a little frightening that the undecided (those who for various reasons are not aware of these stark differences, especially after 2 years of campaigning) are the ones who will probably decide the next president. My suggestion, vote for the intelligent ones. Intelligence is usually easy to spot (even during debates). We just had 8 years of an unintelligent leader and look where that got us. If intelligence isn’t an important issue for you then vote for the party that celebrates mediocre candidates (Joe six-pack folks like you and me). Just close your eyes and imagine the next leaders winking at you while saying such folksy things as my friends, shucks, gosh darn and ain't, as the world falls apart around them. It would be like having your goofy uncle as our leader. If you prefer the later, perhaps all we really need to do is change the constitution so we can keep Bush as our permanent president, this would save the time and money used to replace him with clones (i.e. individuals who favor the same failed policies, the same intolerant social agendas, the same strategy to divide our country and cripple our international reputation, and who rely on the same low level of intelligence (which they don't need anyway because God tells them what to do). This isn't rocket science, it's comon sense.
The real NO on Eight wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:40 AM:Same sex couples who are allowed to marry don't need to use streets or parks or public bath houses.
It always strikes me as odd that the same people who complain about same sex promiscuity are the same folks who don't want to allow them to legitimize their relationships.
Seems like some folks are really insecure about their own relationships or their own sexuality.
Otherwise, why should they feel so threatened by who others are or what they do?
Alf wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:43 AM:I believe that "Mathematician" at 1:41AM may have made a mistake,
my calculator (both the brain type and the computer type) says
$10,900,000,000,000.00 is the result of multiplying 218,000,000 people times $50,000.00 dollars each.
Regards, Alf.
Chuck wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:52 AM:>> unfairly compares Sarah Palin to Dolly Parton>>> I'd like to compare Hussein OStalin to Rosie. They are exactly the same, except one has bigger ears and is a Muslim
to Alf wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:54 AM:It's easy! Just add up the zeros! ;-)
chuck wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:58 AM:>>Seems like some folks are really insecure about their own relationships or their own sexuality>>> LOL, right out of the gay racketeers talking points and agenda. ie if you're against it, you must be one of them. it laughable. I guess, using the gay racketeers logic, Hussein must be a capitalist
Af wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:00 AM:Well, "to Alf" at 8:54AM,
why didn't I think of that?
Regards, Alf.
Wanda wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:09 AM:Chuck is back.
Apparently, that get a life attempt yesterday didn't work out.
Alf wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:10 AM:Well, "chuck" at 8:58AM,
if you're old enough,
did you also say
"black racketeers"
and
"woman racketeers"??
Enquiring Alfs want to know?
Regards, Alf.
Teen Pregnancy wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:27 AM:"What If" at 1:58 a.m. asks us to imagine what the right-wing hate media would be spewing if it were Obama who had the pregnant unwed teen daughter.
We don't have to imagine.
Just watch the video clips of how Bill O'Reilly responded to two unwed teen pregnancies:
Bristol Palin - excoriated anyone who dared to criticize her or her parents.
Jamie Lynn Spears (just a few weeks earlier) - railed against irresponsible teen pregnancy and said it was the parents who should be held completely responsible.
But there's no double standard, is there? IS THERE?
Pluto wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:27 AM:Keshava Prasad has a point. McSame doesn't want to look back because he and his party and their President have screwed absolutely everything up so badly. It's very opportunistic for him to look forward, don't point fingers, let bygones be bygones, don't figure out what went wrong.
Pluto wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:38 AM:It's very clear that Prop 8 supporters are motivated by certain (narrow) religious beliefs (so-called "traditional morality") which they want to impose on everyone. This "morality" is left over from an era when sex was not for fun or intimacy, only for procreation. This was enforced by the church for many centuries. Contraception and all forms of non-procreative sex were immoral, sinful, strictly forbidden. That's where this concept of "traditional morality" is from. If you agree and want to prohibit others from non-procreative sex, vote Yes on Prop 8. Then maybe we can prohibit women over 40 from getting married, and we can put cameras in bedrooms to enforce the missionary position, which is best suited for conception, etc. If you think we've evolved beyond that, vote No.
gracchus wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:38 AM:using chuck's logic that obama is a muslim, can we extrapolate that sarah palin sees the vice-presidency as a temporary job while she's waiting to be raptured into heaven, and that the north viet namese brainwashed john mccain, anticipating that they would control him once he reached the white house?
Yes on 8 wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:41 AM:Protect the traditional definition of marriage between a man and a woman.
Vote No on Prop T wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:49 AM:The City of Escondido has an agreement to spend $145 million from redevelopment funds to construct three new high schools and to refurbish the existing high schools. Voting NO on Prop T will insure that the City has to live up to its contract to invest in our schools.
Karl wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:16 AM:He Said @ 6:28 AM:
Pelosi's recklessness crosses party lines. She is bad for all Americans in this Independent's view.
He said, are you happy with her performance?
tjefferson wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:19 AM:"The Bush administration is considering taking over ownership stakes in a number of U. S. banks as one option it might use to deal with a serious credit crisis" an administration official said Wednesday. (AP today) Bush wants to nationalize the banks! Now we know that Reaganomics and unregulated capitalism are really dead. Bush just wrote the obituary. I've waited 26 years for this day.
He Said wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:20 AM:to Apollo @ 8:30. Thanks for answering my question in the first sentence. Quite frankly, I just don't care about the rest of the post. You just can't keep your fingers away from the keyboard can you? Don't waste your time explaining and justifying your beliefs. I already know them and understand the reasons behind them. If fact, I believe everyone else here does also (time after time, time after time,... Reminds me of a Cindy Lauper song. Don't let your mythical god moniker take over your personality. "I knew Apollo and your are not him!" :)
Poppy wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:28 AM:Yesterday Phil Epstein invited us to join his "I told you so club" if Obama is elected.
I just want to say that I have been a member of the "I told you so club" for the last eight years and there is no satisfaction in it.
Good luck to Phil.
Roger wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:29 AM:Still trying to figure out how the 7:14 AM poster ties me in with Wanda's candidacy?
Karl wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:33 AM:VOR @ 6:49 AM:Great post "what if"!!!
Response from a "conservo".
What you forgot is whats most important to conservos--- ideology, hate and prejudice.
Sounds just like liberal prejudice to me.
Don't you remember? "Youve done a great job Brownie!!" That's how Conservos veiw job qualifications.
I'll not even get into bad jobs done by either sides of the Democan Party. The list is very long and includes lots from both party's.
How prejudice are you?
Do you hate others that aren't your race?
No and never. I was very fortunate that my parents moved from St. Louis, MO when I was 2 months old because of racial prejudice and they instilled in me the value of the "Golden Rule".
Do you hate people with different sexual perferences?
No and never. I may disagree with their PAC's occasionally but I disagree with many PAC's occasionally.
Do you hate others having the same rights you do?
Hell no, why would anyone except for a small percentage of pathetic idiots? We should really feel sorry for these losers and hope that education will bring them back from the dark side.
Do you hate others that don't believe what you do?
No, I revel in opposing opinions and learn from them as well. You might try the same attitude sometime, it can be very enlightening.
If you say yes.....you can be Vice Presidential material.
Well, there go my chances. Darn, I was hoping to put myself under the microscope and learn more about myself than I already know.
Peace (and a few birdies today please)
Karl wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:37 AM:Caro Hussein Cogitatus @ 7:33 AM:
I tried to do the math but my 99 cent calculator only goes to 9,999. Oh well, I'll leave the math for people with better calculalators and more time on their hands.
Surfer wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:42 AM:Chuck[-] wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:52 AM:
Dude. Poor Rosey! See ya.
Olaf wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:46 AM:I don't understand the hate for people who make money, work hard, and get an education in something other then basket weaving. The "rich as you all call them pay the same taxes as you just not more. Because we are jealous of their wealth they should pay more for programs for thos who pay none? Is that called trickle down taxing? Tax the ubber rich and they pass that cost down to the middle class? Trickle down economics work if wall street wasn't let loose to do what they will (which was done by both party people- look it up Glass/ Steagall act). So lets go to a flat tax and be done with it? EVERYONE pays 15% of their money and no one can complain? Right?
hardtack wrote on Oct 9, 2008 10:53 AM:Nice try, Dave Concannon – except one thing: If you divide $108,000,000,000 among 218,000,000 folks, they each get $495, not $50,000.
If we each got $50,000 it would cost the taxpayers – us – $10.9 trillion. That’s too big a bucket for us to stand in while we try to lift ourselves up by the handle.
hardtack wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:15 AM:Thomas Calabrese & Robert Salvi both make valid points.
Whereas the bailout made great political sense, it made no moral or economic sense what-so-ever. What do we expect in an election year?
Reardon wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:23 AM:From KFYI Radio Mews, Arizona:
(Quote)One illegal alien was arrested this year in Tucson after allegedly using a stolen social security number to buy two homes and rack up over $780,000 in bad debt.
Some five million fraudulent home mortgages are in the hands of illegal aliens, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
It's not known how many of those have contributed to the subprime housing mortgage meltdown, but it has affected every state, including Arizona.
The problem began years ago when banks were forced to give mortgages without confirming social security numbers or borrower identification. As a result, illegal immigrants were able to obtain home mortgages which they could not afford.
(UNQUOTE)
Same Sex Obsession wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:36 AM:There goes good ol' Chuck again at 8:58 a.m., still obsessed about others' sexuality that has nothing to do with him.
He is truly in BONDIge in his enslavement to bizarre obsessions with others' private lives.
P.S.: correction to Chuckie's 8:52 a.m. - you are wrong, Rosie O'Donnel is not a Muslim either - she is not even a practicing Christian, as Obama is.
And your hatred of a good, god-fearing Christian like Obama shows you to be far more Islamic than the one you accuse.
Bill wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:38 AM:One look at the blogs on this site and its easy to see how we ended up in this mess.
Too many people are concerned with placing blame. Intellectually honest people recognize there is no way to pin this on one party and that there is more than enough blame to go around.
Too bad there arent more intellectually honest people.
People that arent intellectually honest can also rationalize overstating their income on a loan application or defaulting on a credit card.
With his pie in the sky promises, I now expect Obama to clean this mess up at warp speed. Now that Barack has tied all this to Bushs policies, it ought to be easy to fix.
When he fails, I will tie it to his policies.
The truth is that despite all this, weve enjoyed positive GDP and GNP growth so the economy isnt in the shambles were told it is. Only sectors are hurting after years of unprecedented wealth. Thats called a settling market. The markets settle and we call it a crash. Had Amercians saved their money instead of foolishly spending it like they do, they would be in the same position Ms. M and I are in.
Ms. M cried about the economy and then claims shes doing fine.
Why is she crying when Im not?
Im enjoying this ecomnomy and my net worth is going up all because I saved my money during good times. Despite the drop in values of my assets, I am obtaining more assets now at rock bottom prices to make up for it.
Theres a reason for that saying "save for a rainy day".
If Ms. M isnt hurting or isnt in default, then why is she crying when others werent as wise as her and are asking for help?
She wouldnt be saying that if she wasnt in dire straits herself.
She would be saying what I am saying and shes not. It sounds as if Bushs policies didnt effect her if whats shes saying is true.
Why the tears then?
Main St. created this mess but no politician has the guts to say it.
The pander bear Obama is going to find out its a lot easier to campaign than it is to legislate.
Ms M wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:39 AM:Reardon
[-] wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:23 AM:...The problem began years ago when banks were forced to give mortgages without confirming social security numbers or borrower identification...I cannot believe that the government FORCED the banks to give out loans without knowing who they were giving millions to. It seems more like predatory (greed)lending that the financial industry is being investigated for.
Chuck wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:46 AM:The news says Suspected U.S. missile strike in Pakistan kills nine.
Good 9 more filth terrorists have bit the dust. Pulse will need a rittalin as soon as he finished his online class with BillAyres and finds out
Maverick wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:47 AM:to Greencinitan[-] wrote on Oct 9, 2008 8:31 AM: Who selected the horse?
Who You Kiding wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:50 AM:Yes on 8[-] wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:41 AM:
The tradition of marriage was never endangered by same sex marriages. The proponents of Prop 8 do not want the treatment of all citizens equally under the law. The fact, it is these fundamentalist Christians who want their concept and alleged sacrament of marriage to be superior.
chuck wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:51 AM:>>>>if you're old enough,
did you also say
"black racketeers">>>
And would Alfy call the good Revs Jackson and Sharpton?
chuck wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:54 AM:If all they really want is gay marriage, why do they sue the Boy Scouts,? why do they jam SB777 down our throats? why did they remove the words mother and father from textbooks, etc, etc x 1000
Told Ya So Club wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:58 AM:Great blog from Poppy at 10:28 a.m.
I've been an unhappy member of the Told Ya So Club for the last 8 years, too.
The good news is that, after Obama does get elected (if the Repubs don't steal the election), and does turn the economy around (as Clinton did despite all the dire warnings from Republicans who keep getting it WRONG time after time after time - sounds like a Cyndi Lauper song), we will still be saying I told ya so, but the conservatives will complain about looking backward, or they'll find a way to explain how really it was because of Bush.
Told ya so!
Looking Glass wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:03 PM:Bill brings up an excellent point - whatever happened to living within your means? If more people avoided impulse buying and keeping up with the Jones's, the economy would be in much better shape then it is now.
Ms M wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:13 PM:Bill
[-] wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:38 AM:...Bill for some reason you have a thing about me. If you have ever read any of my posts I have NEVER cried about anything. Just because I am doing fine (my house note gets paid by direct deposit each month on the 1st, I have been a homeowner since 1978, have multiple financial accounts), does not mean that I can say to hell with everyone else. America is only as healthy as ALL it's folks not just a few as we have seen in this administration. Just who do you think you are to assume that I am in dire straits. It seems like it's the fat cats that have come crying to our government for bailout. As with AIG, having $500,000 bashes after getting my hard earned money. Why aren't you calling out the fat cats? Your post are getting to be really really DESPERATE!
He Said wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:14 PM:To Karl @ 10:16: I think she's over the top. No common sense, just power hungry. Just can't see how any of us So. Cals could do anything about it.
Alf wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:25 PM:Well, "Reardon" at 11:23AM,
the quote you posted makes no sense in this respect -
no RESPECTABLE lending institution that I know of will give a home loan or just about any other type of loan to someone without verifying their income and the value of the property.
Confirming borrower identification is the key to verifying income, so how can that be forbidden?
Regards, Alf.
Reardon wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:26 PM:Bill: Every stock sold in a dropping market is BOUGHT by someone.
There is a saying in the market: “Bulls make money, Bears make money, but Pigs don't make money!”
I have reported on these pages often that the number of homes being bought in Zip Code 92026 is approximately equal to the number of homes coming on the market on a daily and weekly basis.
Markets, by their nature rise too high on "irrational exuberance" and fall too low on fear.
Those who can keep their heads, make money. I am not making money only because I must retain capital to support family members who were not wise, but congratulations on your perspicacity.
Reardons Rightwing Radio News wrote on Oct 9, 2008 12:50 PM:Give. Me. A. Break., Reardon at 11:23 a.m.
Are you really this desperate to prove your fabricated "facts"?
What a disappointment. I expect that from Ron, Raoul and Chuck, but you at least usually hold to a little higher standard. Must be really desperate.
KFYI (Phoenix, Arizona - 550 on your AM dial) is not a NEWS station
It is a talk radio station. A right-wing hate radio station.
Its lineup includes Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, as well as some local ideologues of the same ilk.
Is this really the best you can do?
They are spewing OPINION, racist OPINION trying to discredit legitimate programs designed to prevent race-based redlining in mortgage lending.
Instead of quoting right-wing hate radio fact fabricators, why don't you cite something authoritative.
Oh. That's. Why.
gracchus wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:01 PM:wrong, olaf, at 10:46 a.m. a 15% flat tax, or any flat income tax is unfair to the less affluent.
an income earner of $30,000 under your plan would $4,500 a year. an income earner of $250,000 would pay $37,500 a year. the richer income earner pays more taxes under your plan in one year than the poorer income earner receives in wages or salary.
no liberal begrudges the rich the amenities which their wealth provides them. we just want them to pay a reasonable price for the privilege of living in the greatest country in the world. the price is a fair contribution in taxes to make the government work for the benefit of all citizens. and inasmuch as they enjoy more benefits lving in the u.s.a., they should pay more to support it.
tom wolfe wrote a hilarious novel in the late 80s about the conspicuous consumption of the super-rich--BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES. the principal character is a wall street money manager who can't support himself and his family on a million dollars a year.
if the super rich who have enjoyed tax cuts from gw bush over the past few years can't handle obama's proposed tax increases, they'll need to learn money management skills on their disposable income. if not, they can always think about emigrating to a country with few taxes where a few families control the nation's economy, the middle class is non-existent, and the vast majority languish in poverty.
Roger wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:08 PM:Bill at 11:38 AM laments the lack of "intellectually honest people" on this board (a valid observation) but then goes on to point out the "positive GDP and GNP growth" as signs that the economy isn't as bad as it obviously is.
When you pay a bunch of monry to a divorce attorney the GDP and GNP goes up, though no product was or wealth created. Same for a bankrupcy attorney or a tow truck. These are pretty bogus indicators.
Reardon wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:10 PM:Alf: Ever hear of "Liar Loans?"
Ever hear of NINJA Loans" (No Income, No Job, No No Assets?)
This is from local Ch. 10 News (Feb. 13, 2007)
(QUOTE)LOS ANGELES -- Bank of America is now offering credit cards to customers without Social Security numbers, reported 10News.
It's an effort to extend credit to illegal immigrants.
In recent years, banks across the country have been offering checking accounts and even mortgages to illegal immigrants, but not major credit cards.
The new Bank of America card is open to people who lack both a Social Security number and a credit history, as long as they have held a checking account with the bank for three months without an overdraft, reported 10News.
The program is now available at 51 Bank of America branches in Los Angeles County.(UNQUOTE)
Apollo wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:15 PM:Resubmission of skipped blog
Re: Yes on 8 (9:41 a.m.)
We witness yet another example of someone not knowing their facts.
As has been pointed out here so many times (thank you 3D), "traditional" Bible-based marriage consists of one man with multiple underage prepubescent females of the same ethnic tribe, in an arranged marriage, maintaining "dominion" over these wives in the same way as his herds, flocks and other livestock.
I'm sure this blogger supports the FLDS (Fundamentalist Latter-day Saints) who want to return us to traditional marriage as defined by the Bible and practiced throughout most of history.
The rest of us will vote to PROTECT FAMILIES and DEFEND MARRIAGE: NO on 8.
Boy Scout wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:21 PM:Chuck at 11:54 a.m. is still obsessing about same sex marriage, Chuck has to go for the Boy Scouts distraction - AGAIN.
How many times do we have to repeat before it gets through that layer of beta amyloid plaques?
AGAIN:
The Bou Scouts can't have it both ways. They cannot claim to be both a religious organization (exempt from discrimination laws) and a public agency (which gets favored treatment and special access).
So, Chuck, I'll let YOU decide:
a - let the Boy Scouts have special low cost or no cost access to public facilities because they are a non-profit quasi-public organization; OR
b - let them declare themselves a private religious organization exempt from discrimination laws and pay full standard fees for access to public facilities.
Your choice, Chuckie. One or the other.
to Reardon wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:31 PM:Thanks for trying but the lemmings will only see and hear what they choose to.
Bob wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:32 PM:Regarding Roger's 1:08 PM post, there was a good article on bogus economic indicators in the May 2008 issue of Harper's Magazine ("Numbers Racket: why the economy is worse than we know" by Kevin P. Philips) which is available on line in their archives.
ORACLE wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:49 PM:BLOOD on Wall Street today
The DOW lost 678 points today, closing down for a loss of 40% from this date last year. Almost every sector was down. There is no where for investors to hide except cash and gold. Black gold dropped to $84 bbl.
Financials continue their slide, but the big news is General Motors, whose cap value is now only about $3 billion, lower than it was in 1928! Shares closed at about $4.75, and were dropping fast at close. Many specialists are saying GM is going to go into bankruptcy, along with GMAC, because (1) sales have plummeted and (2) it acquired loan out too much to new car buyers and may not be able to collect. GM is 20th in size in the world for market capitalization for auto manufacturers. “As GM goes, so goes the nation” is the old saying.
Obamanation wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:50 PM:All VOR has in poker terminology is a J K A repeating J K of hatred and slanted lies in hope that the Socialist tax raising Obama will get elected. It would be the perfect storm to elect a tax increaser at a time like this. Only a person who thought a J K was a great hand would promote the flawed logic of Obama. McCain is far from perfect but at least his mindset is where it needs to be to get us through this mess. The President gets too much public blame in times like this and Congress way too little. I have your A A VOR. You can keep your dumb J K.
Betcha wrote on Oct 9, 2008 1:53 PM:chuck[-] wrote on Oct 9, 2008 11:54 AM: The litigants regarding equal protection of the law for marriage are not the same litigants who sued the Boy Scouts.
Gota Wonder wrote on Oct 9, 2008 2:06 PM:SARAH PALIN AND THE ALASKAN INDEPENCE PARTY; Seems that her husband, Todd, was a member of the AIP. Furthermore, that Sarah Palin has attended AIP functions and conventions and as late of 2008 addressed them as Governor of Alaska. So, is Sarah paling around with traitorous secessionists?
Mathematician wrote on Oct 9, 2008 2:07 PM:Mathematician to Caro H.C. ~
Thank you for your correction (7:33 AM). I am embarrassed. Your comment is even more poignant with your correction.
The NC Times generally refuses to publish a letter when it is libelous, vulgar or factually incorrect. This letter was factually incorrect, but then mathematician was half asleep at 1:41 AM, and got it factually wrong, also. Thanks, Caro.
Ron wrote on Oct 9, 2008 2:07 PM:Wow-wee! lookie all I missed out on today!
LOL
Ya got some poser lib with this Yes on 8 thing. Then, a Mathematician that can't add. Next, What if the former president of the Harvard Law Review couldn't show one piece of legal work product. My buddy OB