LETTERS: NCT, Oct. 10, 2008
By Readers of the North County Times | ∞
Civil freedoms separate from religious ones
Re: "State religious leaders push for gay marriage ban," Sept. 25: Since when does California have "state religious leaders"? Your gaffe points, though, to the crux of the debate regarding separation of church and state.
Also, I am dismayed to read of the amounts of money being spent to prevent "those" people from having the same civil rights and responsibilities afforded me. If a gay couple want to enter into a legally recognized union, that in no way diminishes the sanctity of my own relationship. How does one person's right to marry somehow cheapen, threaten or nullify the existing union of another couple?
With the financial struggles our community faces, why not put your money and effort into providing decent housing for the homeless; into cleaning up homes of elderly folks ... ? Don't spend your money on fear and negative action to prevent someone else from having the same legal rights as you have.
If your church wants to set rules for whose marriage they sanctify, by all means! That is religious freedom –– your right and mine. It is separate, however, and must remain so from the civil, legal partnerships recognized by the state, aka we the people.
Peggy Watson
Vista
Liberal media bias again
It was no surprise to see another conservative complaining about the liberal media bias in the North County Times letters page (Oct. 2). The only surprise was that Rex Geivett didn't threaten to cancel his subscription unless the editors shape up.
It's true that the letters have been running way pro-Obama lately. That doesn't mean the editors have thrown up the white flag of surrender, however. (Surge is working, victory is in sight, drill, baby, drill.) If you look at the page on the left, where the professionals show up, you'll note a distinguished succession of right-wing luminaries, including the convicted criminal Ollie North, McCain lobbyist Dick Morris, cheerleader Michelle Malkin and ball peen Krauthammer. They're getting paid to tell you what to think. Those letter writers are just amateurs.
Rest easy, Rex. It's only the people who are pro-Obama. Mere citizens. ... Hardly the sort to throw out a corrupt cabal of neo-GOP war criminals. Surge is working, victory is in sight, drill, baby, drill. These aren't the 'droids you're looking for.
Gerold Firl
Poway
Rewarding the wrong behavior
So it looks like our government is going to loan the big automakers $25 billion for their incompetence. They have had decades of profit and chose to reward their fat-cat CEOs with big salaries and bonuses, and for what? They have no foresight and do not even have 20/20 hindsight.
It was in the late '70s (after the Arab oil embargo) that they said, "Oh, please help us, Mr. President, 'cause the Japanese are making more fuel-efficient cars and we just can't compete."
Where is it written that our government has the right to make these bailout decisions? Personally, I would rather see our government give progressive and forward-thinking companies money than loan it to those whom have proven to be foolish with money they have had. Think companies such as Aptera could create a few jobs if we gave them a hundred million? It won't happen, so I can only hope that these little startups don't sell out to but will engulf and devour the big four. Stay your course and I hope you each become the next Richard Branson.
Glenn Zajic
Fallbrook
Time to fire everyone
In a time of a national economic crisis, our Congress passed a bill that could possibly save this country's economic future ... The guts of the bill included over $111 billion of pork for the various senators' treasure chests. This includes Sen. Ron Wyden's (D-Ore.) amendment to help the wooden arrow industry in the state of Oregon. What does all of this have to do with the financial crisis this country is facing? We have an election coming up. It is time to fire everyone.
Jeff Lassle
San Marcos
Heyneman will protect our quality of life
Fallbrook's quality of life is under constant assault by developers, whose aim is to convert Fallbrook's rural lifestyle to high-density urban. They are currently processing high-density development amendments to the county's general plan update in progress, even before it is adopted! ...
This is why you need to elect members to the Fallbrook Planning Group who will fight to protect your quality of life. Jackie Heyneman is such a person. She has her fingerprints on numerous Fallbrook endeavors over the years, which have enhanced Fallbrook's quality of life. Jackie has been attending FCPG meetings for years and is serving appointments on the Planning and Land Use and Design Review committees. Jackie will fight to ensure that planning decisions in Fallbrook are consistent with your community plan and will benefit your rural lifestyle.
Proposed developer plans for the area northeast of Interstate 15 and Highway 76 will create a future ghetto –– which flouts our community character, results in gridlock traffic, increased crime, pollution and a degradation of your quality of life. Your future depends upon you electing people like Jackie.
Gerald Walson
Bonsall
The cheerleader and the professor
Sarah Palin and Joe Biden debate as we watch the cheerleader and the professor. It seems a shame this is what our presidential election has become.
If you read the comments and letters, you can judge who votes for whom. I have a lot of jokes about the cheerleader, but there is nothing funny about where Dick Cheney now sits. The facts of his (and Bush's) lies and deceit are not funny. There is no joke in the Marines coming home in body bags. Remember, we went to Iraq to find the weapons of mass destruction, and there were none. Lies and deceit have led this great country to war and now economic ruin.
You voted for Bush and Cheney. If you vote for McCain and Palin, you qualify those lies and the body bags for 100 more years. Bless the Marines and soldiers who were courageous enough to volunteer, but the lies and deceit have to stop. Do not kill another with your vote.
Alonzo Hall
Vista
We need someone who looks ahead
Want to learn more about the economic problems? Watch this video, or do nothing and vote for who looks good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxgSubmiGt8. Do it soon before it gets taken off.
John McCain warned that Freddie and Fannie were in trouble as early as 2001 and again in 2003 and 2006. He tried to pass legislation on two occasions, which was turned down by the Democrats. The Democrats have been in power and are a do-nothing Congress. ... Obama encouraged affordable housing and look what happened. They all made loads of money.
Look into the past and how Greenspan warned in 2005 that we would have a disaster and how the Democrats said all was OK. The only one who acted was McCain on many occasions.
We need someone who looks ahead, uses his head and experience, and that is John McCain. He is someone we all can trust, who has devoted his lifetime to public service, not just for 173 days. McCain associates with people who love America and has picked a running mate with great moral values, Sarah Palin. His experience, concern and contacts can save this country and keep us safe.
Ruth Smith
Escondido
What the bailout will show
The bailout was passed, not because the bill was improved with safeguards for the taxpayers, but because the bill was loaded with bribes, lawmakers call them earmarks, totaling over a hundred billion dollars, to get our representatives to vote for it.
This gives every registered voter an excellent opportunity to identify the lawmakers of both parties who are so self-serving that they take their own personal interests above what is best for the citizens who they have sworn to represent. These politicians were bought and paid for with money we the taxpayers will be paying for through the next generation.
Now that this giveaway of our money has allowed us to identify those lawmakers who are not honestly representing us, it is our responsibility to vote them out of office.
Mike Muttoni
Escondido
Discomfort no reason to take away rights
I am straight, happily married, with a small child, and I'll be voting with a resounding no on Proposition 8. I have been reading the letters in support of Prop. 8, and they seem to be from people who dislike gay people "just because" and are hiding behind religion to validate their argument.
It's been a while since my Catholic catechism days, but my recollection is that Jesus taught a message of kindness, tolerance and non-judgment. I have a number of friends who are gay, and they are just people, no better or worse than anyone else. It isn't anyone's place to judge them and say that they don't deserve basic freedoms just because they weird you out.
Churches aren't required to marry same-sex couples, so you can rest easy in that regard. Prop. 8 would change our Constitution to take away rights from a group of citizens. Maybe you aren't comfortable with the idea of a same-sex couple who love each other, but is your discomfort really a valid reason to take away their rights?
Rachel Rott
Vista
Depression message is phony
The whole corporate media message of "be afraid" of a depression is just phony. They cite facts that have nothing to do with a credit crunch, like car dealers failing because of gas prices and their huge inventories of gas-guzzling pickups and SUVs.
Dick Blom
Oceanside
The many lives of a plastic bag
Christina Williams (Letters, Sept. 21) might want to think a little bit more about the plastic bags used by the North County Times.
In my experience, they have several post-delivery uses: 1. Occasionally, the delivery person accidentally throws the paper on my lawn, which is often damp from early watering. 2. I slip my portable phone into the bag and place it on the edge of my bath tub/shower during my morning ablution. Makes this elderly lady feel safer. Afterward, I drape it over the faucets to drip dry, then put it in the recycle bin. 3. The Sunday edition bag is large enough to hold a pair of shoes. I save them for packing my footgear when I travel.
Some of your creative readers can probably think of many other reuses.
Pat McDonald
Oceanside
Big government already controls us
In the Sept. 23 letters, Marcy Young starts her letter by saying, "Barack Obama's 'change' policies would mean a bigger and bigger government –– not the conservative, limited government our country was founded on. ... "
Does she actually believe that our government seizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, buying 80 percent of AIG, and approving $700 billion to bailout the financial industry will make our government smaller? She also states that Obama's "change policies" means "big regulations on our liberties." Has she never heard of the Patriot Act?
Bill Homann
San Marcos
Overcrowding needs our attention now
One good thing about the problem with the Carlsbad High School football field is that our kids get to visit some nice schools for the home football games. Shame on Carlsbad Unified School District for extremely poor management. It is a travesty that Carlsbad High School campus is a mess compared to Oceanside, El Camino, LCC or any other school in the area. ... The new school is still years away and further delayed due to the gnat catcher bird or whatever.
What to do: How about addressing the overcrowding problem, at least for the next school year? It is very simple. It makes no sense to have several elementary schools and three middle schools channeled to one four-year high school.
In a wrong-way decision for our kids, the school board moved sixth grade to the middle schools a few years back instead of addressing a very crowded high school campus. What they should have done, and should initiate in the fall, is to move sixth grade back to elementary and move ninth grade to the middle schools. This helps CHS, keeps populations similar at the middle schools and has minimal impact on several elementary schools. Inaction to improve the situation as much as possible is not an option we should accept.
Robert Watson
Carlsbad
U.S. still a great place
None of the commentary of pundits I heard expressed surprise that Barack Obama expressed such nostalgia for the 1960s when his father came to the United States. He inferred those were the days the United States was respected.
Those were also the days of terrible turbulence, when three prominent leaders were assassinated, racial intolerance pervasive and a climate of unease existed as college students rioted.
Sen. Obama is seemingly unaware that people continue to clamor to enter the United States, even risking their lives in some instances. We do have problems, but I can't think of anyplace I'd rather live. If Obama is our president, we'll have cradle-to-grave government supervision. What a shame!
Gerrie Ryan
Escondido
Who's to blame?
The bailout passed muster in Congress. The blame game now begins. For those really interested, regardless of party affiliation, check out Jeff Jacoby's Boston Globe column of Sept 28. But that's one man's opinion you say. OK, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPSDnGMzIdo. You can hear it right from the horse's mouth at about 1:03/1:26 in the segment.
And finally, ultimately, who is responsible? Look in the mirror. Too often we buy on credit to satisfy the desire to have something now. Feeling guilty, we encourage lending institutions to lower their credit standards for others. We send people off to Washington and pay no attention to what they are doing. As Walt Kelly said: "We have met the enemy, and he is us."
Dan Shapiro
Oceanside
Irish eyes smiling on Nov. 4?
Will Irish eyes be smiling on Election Day? Joe Biden's mother's grandfather came from Ireland. Barack Obama's grandmother's grandfather came from Ireland. Barack is Scotch-Irish on his mother's side. It looks like Irish eyes will be smiling on Nov. 4.
Daniel Lynch
Vista
A dermatologist's misdiagnosis
Ruth Larson's letter (Oct.3) characterizing John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as vice president as irresponsible was published a day late. We just watched Gov. Palin blow Joe Biden off the stage during the vice presidential debate. This is a man with 30 years in the Senate and an experienced debater who, with a sour demeanor, filled the air with falsehoods regarding McCain's record (www.Factcheck.org).
Palin proved she is the fastest study on the block, articulate, authentic and in touch with the American people. As a physician, I love her pro-life stance. As a believer that science matters, I also recognize there are a multitude of objective scientists who are uncertain to the degree man is responsible for global warming. I have no problem with hospitals attempting to get insurance companies to pay for rape kits. ...
As far as Larsen labeling Palin as a fanatic, she forgets Obama was an acolyte for 20 years to his spiritual mentor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. I would bet the terrific dermatologist, Dr. Larsen, the price of a skin biopsy that Palin could beat the slow, hesitant, analysis-paralysis Obama in a debate, anywhere, anytime.
Charles Smith
Pauma Valley
Deregulation has cost the consumer dearly
Re: "Blaming the real culprits," Oct. 7: Mr. Richard Kirk asserts that deregulation is not the cause of the present financial crisis on Wall Street. His long-winded diatribe states the Democrats precipitated the crisis. The facts are that on Oct. 22, 1999, the Clinton administration and congressional Republicans reached an agreement that set the stage for the most sweeping banking deregulation bill in American history, and a decade of abuse, including the Keating S&L scandal.
The Financial Services Modernization act of 1999 did away with the restrictions on the integration of banking, insurance and trading, imposed by the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 (brought about by the 1929 crash and bank failures).
It is a well-known fact that deregulation has cost the consumer dearly. Perhaps if Mr. Kirk had stuck to straight talk, and avoided innuendoes such as "K Street cronyism," his message might have been more effective. I don't understand how he can claim that the Democrats and Barack Obama are completely responsible for this fiasco. The real culprits are Congress and lobbyists representing special interests. ...
John Naranjo
Oceanside
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Alf wrote on Oct 10, 2008 2:46 AM:The letter from Peggy Watson cuts to the chase -
religious zealots and bigots want to make their RELIGIOUS AND PERSONAL BIASES into law.
Our U.S. Constitution is designed to prevent such interference into state matters by religion.
Regards, Alf.
Alf wrote on Oct 10, 2008 2:55 AM:In her letter, Ruth Smith points out that
"Greenspan warned in 2005 that we would have a disaster and how the Democrats said all was OK".
She conveniently forgets to mention that in 2005, REPUBLICANS controlled Congress.
In other words, she is blaming Democrats for the failure of Republicans to act.
Her "logic" escapes me.
Regards, Alf.
Alf wrote on Oct 10, 2008 3:01 AM:My answer to the question posed in the letter from Rachel Rott is NO.
I do not, however, suffer any discomfort by homosexuals being able to marry.
Regards, Alf.
VOR wrote on Oct 10, 2008 5:57 AM:Lie after lie. Stretch the truth. Misleading facts. Racism. Prejudice. Discrimination. Bigotry. Failure. Corruption.
All above reasons that the Democrats will steamroll across America to a landslide victory.
Conservatives are running scared as their ideology is crushed. Now all they have left is to say Barak Hussian Obama. America isn't afraid anymore. We're mad!!! America is saying ENOUGH! We're done with more of the same. We want change to something better. Finally the truth.
The proof is the direction America is going. Look at the polls. Obama leads in states that haven't voted Democrat in years. Gallup poll- Obama 51% McBush 43%
Look at the quality of the candidates. John McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time. Does America agree with Bush 90% of the time. NO!
McCain is Bush, just older. Palin couldn't get a job as Mayor of Oceanside. Her attraction is her fundamentalism and prejudice that only attracts the bigoted conservative base and no more. The other 80% of America is laughing their backsides off at her ignorance each week on SNL. It means they are laughing at the conservative ideology. But inside we are crying at what it has done to the American way.
But who cares right RON? You can sit back and read the transcripts from the wire tapping of Americans overseas talking to their wives and loved ones at home. America needs change, even McBush is calling for change and its his party and ideology that has been in control.
VOR wrote on Oct 10, 2008 6:08 AM:Angry Granpa McBush said "Sarah Palin knows more about energy than probably anyone in the United States of America".
WHAT?? This comes from a man that said the economy was basically just fine a few weeks ago. REMEMBER??
At a townhall event in Wisconsin on Thursday, Palin was asked by a concerned questioner whether it was true that the United States was shipping 75 percent of its Alaskan oil overseas. She responded by proclaiming it impossible, since Congress had put strict bans on the amount of oil and gas that America could export.
We know how Palin hates fact checkers BUT....
No Alaska oil has been exported since 2004, and little if any since 2000, according to the Energy Information Administration and the Congressional Research Service.
And Congress has never imposed outright bans on oil exports. Congress prohibited exports of Alaska oil in 1973 when the Alaska oil pipeline was built. But that ban was lifted in 1996 when there were large volumes of Alaska oil coming down from the North Slope and U.S. demand was soft.
The Alaska ban has never been reinstated.
Unfortunately, for Palin, this was not merely an inconsequential misstatement but rather another in a series of errors when it comes to discussing what is supposed to be her policy strength. For a while on the trail, the Alaska Governor was fond of declaring that her job - as head of state - "has been to oversee nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of oil and gas."
Alaska is the ninth largest energy supplier in the United States, accounting for a modest 3.5 percent share of the nation's total energy production.
Anyone who can use google knows more about energy then Sarah Palin. Well, I guess Grandpa McBush thinks anyone that can use a computer is an expert on energy.
VOR wrote on Oct 10, 2008 6:15 AM:Since Conservos care so much about relationships between the candidates years ago. Lets examine probably the strongest relationship any man can have except to his faith. FAMILY.
What McBush's first wife was in an auto accident he left her as she lay disabled for a younger, more attractive, wealthy heiress. What a man!! This is the type of man I want to stand behind, don't you? A man who would leave his invalid wife for someone younger and richer. If he would sell out his family, what would he do to you?
Mike wrote on Oct 10, 2008 6:38 AM:Seems to me that a lot of you are still drinking the cool aide from both parties. You all need to wake up. The Dems and the repub's got us into this mess. On both sides people are more concerned with party loyalty than loyalty to the Constitution. This year lets throw them all out and bring in some folks who arent beholden to a party or the unions or any others except us, the people and if they fail we will fire them. Too many of you sheep out there only see blue or red try opening your eyes and thinking for yourselves for once. Remember you get what you pay for on election day! If you think any dem or repub gives a damn about anything other than attaining power then you are wrong!
Roger wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:02 AM:Had some trouble with John Naranjo's letter, particularly with whatever those folks did on Oct. 22, 1999 "...that set the stage for...the Keating Savings and Loan Scandal."
The Keating Savings and Loan Scandal was about 12 years prior to this (back when Charles Keating was palling around with John McCain).
Ron wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:11 AM:Hey Dude... your guy voted for it.
"VOR" @5:57 AM...
"Lie after lie. Stretch the truth. Misleading facts. Racism. Prejudice. Discrimination. Bigotry. Failure. Corruption." Sounds like the Democrat party to me.
>>>But who cares right RON? You can sit back and read the transcripts from the wire tapping of Americans overseas talking to their wives and loved ones at home.>>>
NObama said he fillibuster the bill if it contained telecom immunity, he didn't. Just as he has changed his mind on every single issue ever put in front of him.
So, in your wishful thinking of "tax cuts for the 95%"....
more wishful thinking.
Cause he also said: "Shared sacrifice"... get your waders Dude..
and think Rice Paddies.
Charles wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:13 AM:Mike at 6:38 AM quips: "Remember you get what you pay for on election day!"
Mrs. Keating and I have known John McCain for years and can testify that with John "you get what you pay for".
Vote for McCain, the finest politician that money can buy!
Yes On 8 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:31 AM:Maintain the traditional definition of marriage: between a man and a woman.
Vote No on T wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:34 AM:$98M Bond
In This Economy?
Roger wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:34 AM:Have to disagree with VOR at 5:57 AM who, right in the middle of an otherwise reasonable post, comes up with: "Palin couldn't get a job as Mayor of Oceanside. Her attraction is her fundamentalism and prejudice that only attracts the bigoted conservative base and no more."
While the appraisal of Palin is accurate, I hardly see where this disqualifies her from the Mayor of Oceanside position. Just run this through my Euphematic software and we get:
STRONG CHRISTIAN VALUES
TRADITIONAL SMALL TOWN AMERICAN VALUES
Throw in a few "golly, gees", wink and a smile and she could win in a landslide.
But Charles wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:40 AM:If McCain is the finest politician that money can buy, I'd hate to see the worst.
Apollo wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:56 AM:Re: Yes on 8 (7:31 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: vote NO on 8.
Alf wrote on Oct 10, 2008 7:59 AM:Well, "Yes On 8" at 7:31AM,
which "traditional" definition are you talking about -
between a man and a woman,
between two loving, committed adults or
the "traditional" Bible-based marriage consisting 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?
A YES vote on Prop. 8 is a vote to revert to discrimination based on "sexual orientation".
A NO vote on Prop. 8 is a vote against discrimination.
Both Alf and Mrs. Alf and just about everyone we know is
Voting NO on Prop. 8.
Regards, Alf.
Gotta Wonder wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:01 AM:ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Sworn to secrecy, Alaska lawmakers have begun reviewing a lengthy and politically sensitive investigative report focusing on whether Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin abused her authority as governor.
I gotta wonder why this investigation would be kept secret. Is trooper gate a matter of national security?
Gotta Wonder wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:04 AM:If McCain is the finest politician that money can buy, I'd hate to see the worst
GWB has been visible in the White House for eight years.
But Yes on 8 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:04 AM:The current legal definition of marriage in California is between 2 adult human beings.
How do you maintain something that is not there?
OBAMACAN wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:09 AM:Ron at 7:11 a.m. continues to misrepresent the FACTS about Obama's vote on the telecom bill, even though his nose has been rubbed in his stinky lie over and over. Obviously, the truth works against him, so he runs from the truth.
As has been pointed out, the bill on telecom immunity that Obama voted for was NOT the same as the one he had promised to filibuster.
Obama was both authoritative and bipartisan in helping work out significant compromises. As he said, in the end it wasn't the bill he had wanted, but the nature of compromise is that you get some changes, but not everything you want. Different people can draw the line in different places. In this case, I disagreed with Obama and would have drawn the line in a different place, but I don't need to misrepresent his record, and I do at least understand what he did.
The same point applies to several other issues in which he has been falsely accused of "flip-flopping," when in fact the positions he ultimately accepted compromises on were different than the ones he initially objected to.
And as for Obama's tax cuts, or health care plan, he is putting forward what he believes to be the best plan. He has candidly stated that he understands the legislative process and that the final product won't be exactly what he hopes for. But, unlike Dubya, he will be a president, not a dictator.
How refreshing!
How disappointing that this simple concept is so challenging for some to grasp.
But that is how it is with extremists like Ron. You hold out stubbornly like a Bush or a McCain, and they accuse you (falsely) of being the "most liberal" and say (again, falsely) that you never stood up to your own party or reached across the aisle. Then, when you do work in bipartisan efforts at compromises, they call you a flip-flopper.
Oh well, that is what extreme partisan blindness does to ya.
One positive thing in Ron's screed, though: I like the term "NO-Bomb-a."
After McCain's disgusting attempt at making jokes about the deaths of civilians and our brave fighting force by singing his little ditty about "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran," it is refreshing to have someone whose position on boming can best be described as"
"NO-Bomb-a"!
Alf wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:11 AM:Well, "Yes On 8" at 7:31AM,
until California changed it -
it used to be "the traditional definition of marriage: between a man and a woman" OF THE SAME COLOR.
Regards, Alf.
Focal Point wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:14 AM:Alf[-] wrote on Oct 10, 2008 2:46 AM: What is interesting is that one of the organizations pouring money into California in order to pass Prop 8 is Traditional Marriage.... Its like an umbrella organization composed of the Organization of Conservative Women to the Knights of Columbus. And, their home address is in Maryland.
Just one word and a number for Ruth Smith wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:24 AM:Keating 5!!!! Did McCain warn us about the trouble Lincoln Savings and Loan was in? Of course not he was too busy going on trips, and getting campaign contributions to worry about the American people. Hypocrites!!
Bob wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:25 AM:The 8:01 AM poster fails to realize the seriousness of this investigation!
Any leak would embolden our enemies, the Al Canadian terrorists!
VOR wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:25 AM:When you allow big business to set the rules, deregulate industry they will abuse. Capitalists like Ron, will rape the consumer as we see companies like AIG, like Enron, cheat us. They have been fed by the deregulation of politicians like McBush. They will give big business tax breaks where corporate CEO's get big windfalls.
Conservatives are now hated for what they have done to this country and they will be voted out. VOR= VOTE OUT REPUBLICANS.
VOR wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:29 AM:Ron= George W Bush + Dick Cheney + John McBush + Sarah Palin. Add them all up and you get a big zero. This is all the Republicans have to represent our nation? What a joke.
JohnM wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:31 AM:I wonder if Dick Blom ever opens the newspaper. DOW slid below 8,000 earlier.
Nah, these are just media scare tactics!
... right?
To Charles Smith wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:36 AM:May I call you Joe Six Pack?(wink, wink) Golly Gee thank you for defendin' me!(tip head slightly to the right and shrug your shoulder and smile). I don't plan on answerin' the questions you ask because I just spent the last four days bein' trained on what to say and what not to say. I memorized the lines so don't confuse me with the facts!(wink, wink,) I hope you enjoy the wisecracks and at the end of the debate I hope you didn't pay attention to the facts because I really don't know any. But I am a hockey mom, a bull dog, and a Maverick. Please she did not blow anyone out of the water "cept Chuck your average Joe Six pack! I love watching SNL and Tina Fey being Sarah Palin is funny because at the end of the day Sarah Palin is exposed as the joke she really is. Frankly the idea that people are actually might vote for the McCain/Palin show is frightening. Oh there you go again Joe looking to the past!!! Look who's calling the kettle black.
Compassionate wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:36 AM:Thank you Peggy Watson and Rachel Rott.
Why should I care what others do in the bedroom? It's none of my business.
Extending rights to gay people is neither harming nor benefiting me. I find it hypocritical of so-called Christians that obviously waste their efforts fighting so hard against civil unions. Their efforts can truly be put to better use by helping abused women and children, helping the homeless, become a Big Brother/Big Sister, volunteer at an animal shelter etc.
Extent the love and compassion. Think: WWJD?
To Charles wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:37 AM:Since you are a doctor, obviously well educated, I find it very difficult to believe that you think Palin blew Biden away during their debate and that you see her as articulate especially after her interview with Couric. Perhaps you were watching the SNL spoof of their debate.
Keating wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:39 AM:Good point by the blogger at 8:24 a.m.
Good reminder about McCain "palling around" with the biggest economic terrorist of the 1980's. And not just one coffee Keating held for him, or one donation of $200 - we are talking about really palling around - repeated visits to each others' elitist mansions, trips together, and fundraising in the millions over many years.
The Senate report even noted that, of the Keating 5, only McCain actually had a close personal relationship with Keating.
See? Nothing has changed. Hoover/Bush/McCain policies of deregulation and corporate welfare caused the crash of 1029, the financial crisis of the 1980's and the economic meltdown of the 2000's.
And McCain was up to his eyeballs in both of the last two.
Do we really trust the guy who broke it to fix it?
Ron wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:40 AM:YOu know... I gotta say about this Nobama fella. If you knew him before he started running for the Presidency, he surely can't remember you now.
You know what I'm saying?
He knows the wrong Rev Wright for some 20 odd years, was married by the guy, had his kids baptisted by the guy, sat in the guy's pew for 20 years listening to the guy's hate filled sermons.
Then, the guy.. the REv. starts going off the reservation, saying some rather embarassing stuff, when your trying to run for President. I mean, afterall.. your the post-racial candidate, and he's out there talking about the US of KKK-A.
So ya try and work with the Dude, make excuses for the guy, and even go so far as to say, that to disown him, would men having to disown the entire black community. It would be like disowning my white granny.
Well, what happens when your a shadow New Party member running for the Presidency under cover of the Democrat party?
Ya start throwing people under the bus.
They are exposing you, so ya gotta stop the bleeding, so you start chucking them, as soon as they become an embarrassment to you, and your campaign.
Friends, relatives.. it don't matter.
And to explain all this off-loading, you have to do it in a way to allow people to think, to actually fool people into thinking, that.. this is NOT the person you knew before.
That somehwere along the line they changed, and they got kooky, so you had to seperate yourself from them.
Aphrase begins to emerge from your campaign, and it is the phrase:
"That's not the perosn I knew."
So, when the American terrorist Bill Ayers name becomes known, you simply retort.. "That's not the Bill Ayers I knew.
When the wrong Rev. Wright goes off the reservation, you say.. "That's not the wrong Rev Wright I knew.
When Gerald Kellman's name pops up, you say.. That's not the person I knew.
When Frank Marshall Davis's name comes to the fore, you say.. "That's not the Frank I knew.
When asked about Carl Davidson, you say.. That's not the person I knew.
Do you see the pattern here?
Well, now we have a group that Barackous NObamous represented,
And today we hear...
That's "Not The ACORN I Knew."
NObama's "Fight the Smears" campaign website is desperately attempting to recover the bread crumbs, but an article published by an ACORN memeber has now surfaced, which gives another version.
In a 2004 article - Case Study: Chicago-The Barack Obama Campaig, written by Toni Foulkes, a Chicago ACORN Leader, published: Social Policy.
QUOTE:"Obama took the case, known as ACORN vs. Edgar and we won. Obama then went on to run a voter registration project with Project VOTE in 1992 that made it possible for Carol Moseley Braun to win the Senate that year. Project VOTE delivered 50,000 newly registered voters in that campaign.
Since then, we have invited Obama to our leadership training sessions to run the session on power every year, and, as a result, many of our newly developing leaders got to know him before he ever ran for office. Thus it was natural for many of us to be active volunteers in his first campaign for State Senate and then his failed bid for U.S. Congress in 1996. By the time he ran for U.S. Senate, we were old friends." END Quote
Get to know that phrase, cause your gonna hear it.. A LOT.
She Said wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:42 AM:Alf @ 7:59 You ok? Not much sleep last night. Don't lose sleep over Prop 8. It's losing by a considerable amount since Jerry Brown changed the description to one that actually explains the meaning of the proposition (to the consternation of the proponents).
Olaf wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:46 AM:John Naranjo is right on the mark. I have said many times to many people it is everyone in washington's fault for this mess, red or blue. The Glass-Steagall act allowed commercial banks to become investment banks. And yes Clinton signed this deregulation that allowed corruption on wall street. That was just the begining of the mess we are in. And NOBODY on capital hill warned us of this because they were getting re-elected with the money coming from those institutions.
To ALF: I actually liked your tax plan from yesterdays letters. I don't agree with everything you say but that was sharp. Maybe we can get a flat tax passed?
Ron wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:49 AM:Surely it's the Kool-Aid, or the cult of Barackous NObamous that has gotten to "OBAMACAN" @8:09 AM.
Cause hes buying all the revisionist history put out by the NObama-ites.
Clearly, the messiah {small "m"} promised the far, far leftists: move-on, daily kooker's, that he would:
will back a filibuster of any Senate FISA legislation containing telecom immunity.
His campaign, via Bill Burton told Move On and the Daily Kos specifically:
QUOTE: "To be clear: Barack will support a filibuster of any bill that includes retroactive immunity for telecommunications companies.”
END Quote
Now, what did I tell you about these Lib's giving the messiah {small "m"} a break every time the guy Batters them?
That's why it's known as "Battered Liberal Syndrone."
To be clear...
Wanda wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:00 AM:She Said at 8:42 AM is right, Alf. Give it a rest.
These bible thumpers are just wasting a whole lot of time and money on something that is unconstitutional.
If it did pass it would be struck down by the court the same day.
VOR wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:02 AM:Battered??
Landslide Ron! You have no chance. Conservatism is being buried under capitalistic greed. I bet that Ron attended the AIG party.
Yes, we have a Messiah to help lead America out of this mess that George Bush and Conservos brought us.
Your rock star can see Russia from her house. LOL. She's our national joke.
McBush is just a crabby old man who called his crowd- fellow prisoners. Shades of Alzheimer Ronnie.
OBAMACAN wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:03 AM:Thank you, Ron, for proving my point at 8:49 a.m.
You could not find a quote from Obama himself, so you have to quote an aide.
Aides mean well, but they sometimes get it wrong.
Remember when then-spokeswoman Carly Fiorina said McCain supported birth control coverage for women, without realizing he had voted against it?
Remember that long, awkward silence while McCain tried to figure out how to respond without lying about his easily-checked record or alienating female voters?
In case you have forgotten, I've got it on my iPhone.
Boy, the old geezer really looks presidential there.
Bottom line, aides don't always get it exactly right when they speak for their principals.
He Said wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:11 AM:to Olaf @ 8:46: Right on about Alf's tax plan. Let's see who would be against it though.... tax advisers, tax preparers, tax attorneys, and irs employees to name a few (actually, a whole bunch). Quite a collection of special interests to overcome.
To Charles Smith wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:13 AM:Golly Gee! Thanks for not looking into my past I need you to forget; 1) Palin believes the war in Iraqi is a task 'from God.' Palin has also stated that the war in Iraq is being fought over oil. 2) Palin believes in teaching creationism in school. Should we also teach about the tooth fairy and Santa Claus? 3) Palin opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest. 4) Palin forced top Wasilla employees to resign as a loyalty test. 5) Palin left Wasilla $20 million in debt. 6) Palin denies man-made global warming, claiming it's a cyclical occurrence. 7) Palin can see Russia from Alaska, but has not said whether she can see the rest of Asia, Europe, Africa and South America from her state. Palin has not taken a clear stand on the following important issues: Good-paying jobs, rising prices, health care, retirement and affordable secondary education. Now, she's on a smear campaign questioning Barack Obama's character and patriotism! Is she serious? (excerpts from a letter written by Roy DiVittorio in the Californian letter section)
Reardon wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:24 AM:Assuming that neither side (at least on this Blog) supports voter fraud, it exists, and there are plenty of cases being made that voter fraud is rampant. There is no clear identification of who is doing what to whom in this story – it appears to be non-partisan:
(From Ch. 2, Houston)
Texas Watchdog compared Harris County's voter registration roll with the Social Security death index and found more than 4,000 matches -- registered voters that, it appears, are already dead.
Some of them, like Henderson Hill's late wife Linda, voted postmortem.
"I would like to know who did it, myself," Hill told Davis.
We don't know who used Linda Hill's or Gloria Guidry's IDs to vote, but we do know if their names had been purged from voter rolls after they died, using their IDs wouldn't have worked.
"This is a red flag. No matter where you are, this should set off alarm bells," Seibert said. "Someone needs to take a look at this."
Local 2 Investigates took the information to the Harris County Voter Registrar.
"We just kind of work with the systems that we're allowed to," explained George Hammerlein, the director of Harris County Voter Registration.
The county's system for culling deceased voters from the roll seems painfully primitive.
We watched employees clip obituaries from the newspaper and sort through probate records for names matching those on the roll. But, Hammerlein says while fraud is a concern, for his office, disenfranchising voters is a bigger one.
"We do all we can, but you know we'd rather err on the side of leaving people on the roll instead of taking them off inadvertently," he said.
But could that cautious "better safe than sorry" standard sway an election some say will be a close one?
Texas Watchdog found 4,462 registered voters who appear to be deceased. (UNQUOTE)
VOR wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:28 AM:Today has passed Conservatives by. They live in the past. All they have is Bill Clinton and things that happened twenty years ago. Obama leads is all polls and in a landslide amounts of electoral votes. Wouldn't it be terrible to be Ron and have Bush and McBush the representatives of your beloved ideology?
sdk wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:32 AM:Mike (6:38 post) has it right. Both parties have sold us out. There is no real concern for the people, its all about them. I'm all for voting them all out. Too bad there are no suitable replacements.
This is without a doubt the most depressing election I've seen in my 50 years. If McCain and Obama are the best we can do, we are in serious trouble.
VOR wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:34 AM:Connecticut Supreme Court rules that gay's have the right to marry.
The conservative ideology continues to crumble as fast as the stock market!!
To Peggy Watson- legal partnership wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:39 AM:Nice term " Legal Partnership," I like that. Lets call Gay Marriage a Legal partnership rather then Marriage. That way Gays get their legal benefits of marriage without calling it marriage and everyone is happy.
The only thing I oppose about Gays being married is calling it marriage.
Gotta Wonder wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:00 AM:Republican Party: I gotta wonder where is Romney and Huckabee. They going to get behind the Republican candidate? I have not heard a peep out of them?
Ron wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:05 AM:Now, see?! This is how you know that whatever the guy does, the Left will protect him. Just like they did Old Billy Bob.
Ain't that the truth?
Eh.. "OBAMACAN" @9:03 AM?
And this is what you really have to keep in mind...
The NObama equation {Yes, I've now termed it, Clinton has triangulation, NObama has Equation}
but please keep in mind, this is like trying to get both your hands around Jello. It's always oozeing out between your fingers, so you really can't quite get a hold of it. You can't even wrap your mind around it, because once you move one direction, his intentional misdirection pushes you the otherway.
It sort of like when the wife-beating husband tells the woman he's sorry, and it'll never happen again.
The Lib's just want to believe him!
So they buy the hype, and get burned.
AKA: Battered Liberal Syndrone.
And whatever failures they guy actually has, they'll conveinently blame it on the republicans. But, that's like the beaten wife blaming the cops for taking the guy away, while she's standing there bleeding from the beaten she's just taken from her hubby.
Anyways...
So, the theory goes, if the Aide says it, it ain't truth...
Well, they speak for somebody. Or maybe it's hard to really know the mind of a messiah? {small "m"}
I mean.. what with no drill, then drill.
Immediate withdrawal to then 16 months, to 2013, and back to 16 months.
To no nuclear power, to now maybe?
To I knew the guy, well... Guy's, plural.. to now "That's not the guy I knew?"
Campaign finance, vowed to meet with various heads of terror states, Iran..
I mean, the guy is a serial flipper, and fibber.
He goes one way, then he goes the other.
He knew the guy til the other guy proves to embarassing, then "That's not the guy I knew."
No wonder you guy's can't connect dots.
VOR wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:06 AM:Most Americans care today about their 401K money. You remember, their retirements. All Grandpa McBush and his lap dog can talk about is the distant past. They can't talk about the economy that they deregulated and let fall apart. They gave Corporations extreme tax breaks and let them have the keys to the hen house and now we have a mess that will take years to recover from. Even as we bail these Capitalists out they party on our dime.
America is rising from its fears of the past and will recover as we trample the conservative ideology of failure and corruption.
Obama Comes wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:13 AM:General Election: McCain vs. Obama
Poll Date Sample Obama (D) McCain (R) Spread
RCP Average 10/01 - 10/09 -- 49.5 43.3 Obama +6.2
Rasmussen Tracking 10/07 - 10/09 3000 LV 50 45 Obama +5
Hotline/FD Tracking 10/07 - 10/09 838 LV 48 41 Obama +7
Reuters/CSpan/Zogby Tracking 10/07 - 10/09 1203 LV 48 43 Obama +5
GW/Battleground Tracking 10/06 - 10/09 800 LV 51 43 Obama +8
Gallup Tracking 10/06 - 10/08 2761 RV 52 41 Obama +11
Time 10/03 - 10/06 1053 LV 50 44 Obama +6
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl 10/04 - 10/05 658 RV 49 43 Obama +6
CBS News 10/03 - 10/05 616 LV 48 45 Obama +3
CNN 10/03 - 10/05 694 LV 53 45 Obama +8
Ipsos/McClatchy 10/02 - 10/06 858 RV 47 40 Obama +7
Democracy Corps (D) 10/01 - 10/05 1000 LV 49 46 Obama +3
More Polling Data | Chart | News
Generic Congressional Vote
Poll Date Democrats Republicans Spread
RCP Average 09/05 - 10/09 48.3 37.5 Democrats +10.8
GW/Battleground 10/06 - 10/09 49 38 Democrats +11
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl 10/04 - 10/05 49 36 Democrats +13
Democracy Corps (D) 10/01 - 10/05 54 41 Democrats +13
Associated Press-GfK 09/27 - 09/30 49 36 Democrats +13
Time 09/26 - 09/29 46 36 Democrats +10
Hotline/FD Tracking 3-Day Tracking 43 38 Democrats +5
More Polling Data | News
President Bush Job Approval
Poll Date Approve Disapprove Spread
RCP Average 09/22 - 10/06 27.0 68.4 -41.4
Time 10/03 - 10/06 28 68 -40
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl 10/04 - 10/05 29 66 -37
Gallup 10/03 - 10/05 25 70 -45
CNN 10/03 - 10/05 24 74 -50
CBS News 10/03 - 10/05 22 70 -48
Democracy Corps (D) 10/01 - 10/05 32 64 -32
Hotline/FD Tracking 3-Day Tracking 29 67 -38
More Polling Data | News
Congressional Job Approval
Poll Date Approve Disapprove Spread
RCP Average 10/03 - 10/09 16.5 76.3 -59.8
GW/Battleground 10/06 - 10/09 15 78 -63
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl 10/04 - 10/05 13 78 -65
CBS News 10/03 - 10/05 15 73 -58
CNN 10/03 - 10/05 23 76 -53
More Polling Data | News
Direction of Country
Poll Date Right Direction Wrong Track Spread
RCP Average 09/09 - 10/06 11.5 81.0 -69.5
Time 10/03 - 10/06 12 84 -72
NBC News/Wall St. Jrnl 10/04 - 10/05 12 77 -65
Democracy Corps (D) 10/01 - 10/05 13 81 -68
Hotline/FD Tracking 3-Day Tracking 9 82 -73
jvc wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:13 AM:Voting issues and rights should be taken away from the states and be federalized!States offer no uniformity
of voting issues!
She Said wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:14 AM:Another loss for the Bible Thumpers. The Connecticut Supreme Court just legalized same sex marriages.
To Reardon wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:14 AM:You make a valid point, Reardon. Because of the certainty of voter fraud, it is critical that anyone who does not want four more years of the same to vote Obama. A vote for Ron Paul is certainly noble, but this election is too important to take a chance. Obama must win in a landslide so there is no question.
hardtack wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:15 AM:What the bailout showed was America’s “bottom line” – and it’s not pretty.
The bailout should have made one thing clear to all of us: Our federal government controls capital – therefore it controls capitalism – therefore it controls our markets and enterprise. There is a name for that social/economic arrangement; but, we seem reluctant to label it. Sort of like getting a drunkard to finally admit they are an alcoholic.
"Refrain from using the word Bolshevism, or Fascism, Hitlerism, Marxism, Communism and you have no trouble getting acceptance for the principle that underlies them all: [Any perceived need of the state supercedes the rights of the individual.]” – Albert Jay Nock
"Political tags such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth, are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire." – Robert Heinlein
I know that you neo-New Deal people won’t get this – so don’t bother to reply. I wrote only to encourage those who do get it. You are not alone.
Reardon wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:16 AM:Obviously, the data is unconfirmed. Apologies for the poorly confirmed information yesterday.
(QUOTE from the Phoenix Business Journal)The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development says there is no basis to news reports that more than 5 million bad mortgages are held by illegal immigrants.
A HUD spokesman said Thursday his agency has no data showing the number of illegal immigrants holding foreclosed or bad mortgages.
But news reports, including one aired on KFYI-AM 550 in Phoenix, cite HUD as a source for the illegal immigrant mortgage number. The widely read “Drudge Report” posted a link to the KFYI report, but as of Thursday afternoon the link no longer connected to the story.(UNQUOTE)
To Dr. Smith wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:20 AM:My only question to Charles Smith is which debate was he watching? The only thing Palin proved was that she is real good at memorizing! As far as articulate no so much, you know darn' tootin' and by golly is not in the articulate category to me. "Authentic and in touch with the American people" no. She sent a bill to the good people of Alaska for living expenses while she was at her private home. Sarah Palin does not have a pro life stance. I heard her say to Katie Couric "I would counsel a girl to have her baby" yeah that sounds like she has a solid prolife stance, whatever. Also what if the rape victim does has not health insurance? Then who pays, huh? One more thing not even McCain can beat the Eloquent, Intelligent, Articulate, Educated, Barak Obama I doubt if Sarah Palin could. Well she fooled you a supposed physician with her wisecracks and winks maybe she can sucker the rest of the American people, I highly doubt it though.
Gotta Stop Laughing wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:26 AM:Except that this is America's future!
From the Wall Street Journal, today:
ZURICH -- For years, Swiss scientists have blithely created genetically modified rice, corn and apples. But did they ever stop to consider just how humiliating such experiments may be to plants?
That's a question they must now ask. Last spring, this small Alpine nation began mandating that geneticists conduct their research without trampling on a plant's dignity.
"Unfortunately, we have to take it seriously," Beat Keller, a molecular biologist at the University of Zurich. "It's one more constraint on doing genetic research."
Dr. Keller recently sought government permission to do a field trial of genetically modified wheat that has been bred to resist a fungus. He first had to debate the finer points of plant dignity with university ethicists. Then, in a written application to the government, he tried to explain why the planned trial wouldn't "disturb the vital functions or lifestyle" of the plants. He eventually got the green light.
The rule, based on a constitutional amendment, came into being after the Swiss Parliament asked a panel of philosophers, lawyers, geneticists and theologians to establish the meaning of flora's dignity.
"We couldn't start laughing and tell the government we're not going to do anything about it," says Markus Schefer, a member of the ethics panel and a professor of law at the University of Basel. "The constitution requires it."
Read it and weep.
Wanda wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:29 AM:VOR at 9:28 AM brings up a good point: it must really suck being Ron, especially now.
Mitt wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:39 AM:Do thank Gotta Wonder at 10:00 AM for his concern. Ever since the nomination, Mike and I have been drinking pretty heavily and laying low.
Trying our best not to be associated with McCain / Palin just in case we might ever want to run for office, or even get seated in respectable restaurants.
Focal Point wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:54 AM:To Peggy Watson- legal partnership I have a better idea. Let us call your marriage, a legal partnership. In fact, let us do away the term, marriage, all together.
Focal Point wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:56 AM:Wanda[-] wrote on Oct 10, 2008 9:00 AM:
Actually, if it passes, it will change the constitution. In California, this proposition is an amendment to the State Constitution. The only way to defeat it then will be to sue in federal court.
Surfer wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:58 AM:To Peggy Watson- legal partnership The only thing that I oppose about heterosexual marriage is calling it marriage. See ya!
Apollo wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:00 AM:Re: Ron (7:11 and 8:49 a.m.)
Do you really want to get into a competition between Obama and McCain on flip-flops?
Here are some from "The Best of McCain":
Voted against the Bush tax cuts for the richest elites, now says they should be made permanent.
Was against torture, before voting to allow it.
Was against offshore drilling before he was for it.
Sponsored the Kennedy-McCain immigration amnesty plan, now opposes it (his own bill)!
Gives lip service to environmental and climate change issues, but missed 22 chances last year to back up that lip service with actual votes.
Called Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell "agents of intolerance" before reversing himself and going hat-in-hand to them begging for their endorsements.
Voted against requiring insurers who cover Viagra to offer contraceptive parity for women, now his spokeswoman Carla Fiorina said he supported it.
Was for deregulation before he was against it.
Then there is the whole thing since the start of the economic meltdown, changing positions and statements by the hour, lurching from left to right to up to down, suspending his campaign, backing out of the debates until there's a deal then going to the debate without a deal. Against buying foreclosed houses. For buying foreclosed houses at reduced value. For buying foreclosed houses at face value (so taxpayers let risky lenders off the hook).
At the debate, McCain twice said we need a "steady" hand at the tiller of the ship of state, yet he fidgeted and rambled and wandered around the stage while Obama looked and sounded cool, and STEADY!
Reardon wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:01 AM:The Wall Street Journal today in its lead editorial is calling for Senator Chris Dodd to be queried by the Senate UNDER OATH.
There is no question that Senator Dodd took a sweetheart deal from Countrywide on his home mortgage as a "Friend of Angelo (FOA)" -- the questions, "What did he know and when did he know it."
The manager who directed the FOA department (yes, they had an entire department dedicated to currying favor with "regulators”) is willing to testify that Dodd knew full well he was getting a "deal' and that it was beneficial to Countrywide to remind those favored that they were getting a deal, and further that documents exist to prove it.
It is time for this "dog who did not bark" to “fess up!"
OMG wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:22 AM:Gotta Wonder [-] wrote on Oct 10, 2008 10:00 AM:
They both still have political futures and don't want to be tied to McCain as he self-destructs during the last shot he has at his ambition to become president. McCain is looking more and more like Dole in '96. The Republican machine is sacrificing a worn-out over-the-hill "Maverick" that they don't especially like to set up the next generation for a run in 2012.
To Daniel Lynch wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:25 AM:We are in the U.S., not Ireland. Those Irish eyes can smile all they want, but do it in Ireland. Obama is a U.S. citizen not running for Irish president!
VOR wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:37 AM:Watch the TV news and listen to the typical conservative at McBush rallies. Then deny my description of the conservative ideology. Hate, Racism, Prejudice and Failure. This is the typical Republican personality traits. Thank goodness this is live. America can see why Republicans need to be thrown out of office and why Grandpa McBush has no idea how to lead. He has no clue what is going on around him. He flip flops whichever way his crowd goes. I am ashamed of him as a candidate in our country.
Alf wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:38 AM:Well, "She Said" at 8:42AM,
when Mrs. Alf stays at her sister's place I stay up late.
Regards, Alf.
Alf wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:41 AM:Well, "Olaf" at 8:46AM,
one can hope.
Regards, Alf.
Chuck wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:42 AM:Oil to $78. Bush has the opportunity, right now, to crush the cartel with an all out drilling program. But, you need cajones to do it, and no one in Washington has cajones.
Gotta Wonder wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:58 AM:VOR[-] wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:37 AM: Think about it for a minute. McCain has gone from an honorable Maverick to a puppet mishandled by Davis and Schmidt.
They are the ones who are pushing the negative ads. McCain is going along with it. So, if he can be controlled and manipulated, is it possible that McCain actually is a Manchurian Candidate. Could he be a puppet of the Communists? Was there a psych report available in his medical records?
mike f. wrote on Oct 10, 2008 11:58 AM:McCain? sorry folks, california will be a slam dunk for Obama. that means your Mccain vote will be wasted. just plain WASTED. the electoral college here is winner take all.
so...if you are voting for McCain as an act AGAINST Obama it will be futile. this means you are open to write in any candidate you REALLY want, and it won't hurt anything.
a vote for the lesser of two evils is still a vote for evil.
behave accordingly.
Wanda wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:00 PM:Ruth Smith's letter was a real hoot. Especially enjoyed: "McCain associates with people who love America..."
Hate to break it to you, Ruth, but McCain "pals around", and accepts bribes from Charles Keating.
Lets skip the "moral values" line of talk.
Don't even mention that vacuous ... loser, Sarah Palin.
sdraoul wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:17 PM:Has anyone noticed that every time Obama's poll numbers go up the stock market goes down. Coincidence?
Yes On 8 wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:20 PM:To Alf. The Prop 22 definition passed by the voters, is the traditional definition, known since the word marriage was used to communicate a concept among humans. Courts and legislatures may corrupt that definition, for a comparatively short time, as with the current situation precipitated by the judiciary, or as with the past situation, as you pointed out, imposed by the state legislature. That past corruption of the definition does not necessitate the current corruption.
Apollo wrote on Oct 10, 2008 12:26 PM:Submitted at 11:00 a.m. and skipped; resubmitted
Re: Ron (7:11 and 8:49 a.m.)
Do you really want to get into a competition between Obama and McCain on flip-flops?
Here are some from "The Best of McCain":
Voted against the Bush tax cuts for the richest elites, now says they should be made permanent.
Was against torture, before voting to allow it.
Was against offshore drilling before he was for it.
Sponsored the Kennedy-McCain immigration amnesty plan, now opposes it (his own bill)!
Gives lip service to environmental and climate change issues, bu


