Bill wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:22 AM:William Barbour understands what so many dont.

Debt in the anticipation of future earnings does not equal wealth.

Enough is Enough wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:13 AM:I am as much a stalward supporter of the GOP as anyone here, who daily rattle their swords and make their psuedo-intellectual comments that are often less than even handed.

And, I appreciate your frustration. I, as a long time, mainstream (not johnny-come-lately-foxnews-talk radio neo-con) Republican.

I remember (probably because of my age, and the fact that my alligence to the GOP out dates these new guys who have bought the new lie of the once Grand Old Party that this abomination of the GOP is the gaurdian of"middle America".

Barry Goldwater warned Richard Nixon in 1968 not to sell the party to what Barry called "weirdos". Barry's warning was not heeded. We gave the party away, although it was not plainly apparent until the late 80s to the "weirdos".

As a result, today, we have a "maverick" acting as the standard bearer of the party. And he come on the coat tails of GW Bush, a political retard (no apologies for being "politically incorrect").

And, the maverick exhibits no passion in his quest. He doesn't even excite this long time Republican.

Its over guys. Let it go. Perhaps in four years, we (collectively) will come back to the mainstream Republican Party and beable to nominate someone like Mitt Romney.

For not, I'm convinced, the next President will be Barrack Obama.

And, despite my disdain for the Democratic Party, and my affinity for the GOP, I will support him as President of the United States for the next four years because I am first an American, and second a Republican.

After the smoke settles, we as Republicans, need to sort out the whiners, distance ourselves from them, support (what will be) the current administration, and then organize as the "Loyal Opposition".

If Obama wins, and the malcontents spend the next 4 years undermining him (which is the same as undermining the United States), don't look to me, or people like me who can finacially support the efforts of the GOP to help your cause.

I leave you with one thought, which might mark me as a target to the regular loungelizard who proliferate this venue. It is simply: If (God forbid) either of the candidates are elected and should not beable to finish their term, are we better off with Biden or Palin assuming the highest office in the land?

I won't waste your time with my opinion, but will leave it for your consernation.

As an honest supporter of the GOP, but recognizing first I am a supporter of the United States of America, I'm sorry, but I am taking a bye on this ticket.

And, no, I am not merely sitting out the election, and standing on the sidelines.

I devoted 21 years of my adult life defending democracy while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

I am willing to cast my vote for Obama, and can only hope that my political party can find another candidate 4 years from now.

Condemn me if you will. I don't care.

Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country!

OceansideVoter wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:56 AM:Lowery is NOT what Oceanside needs!!! We need a candidate who is going to kick the gangs and illegal aliens out of our city! A candidate that is not scared of standing up for what is best for our city. I believe that candidate is Jim Gibson, he is BEST for Oceanside! VOTE GIBSON on Nov 4th!!

Wanda wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:58 AM:Gary Myers will be relieved to know McCain / Palin will not be four more years of Bush.

You'll only have about three more weeks of this pathetic, confused old man and Caribou Barbie.

Roger wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:11 AM:Chill out, Jacqueline Cook, it's not as if McCain / Palin are going to get elected.

Suspect their pathetic campaign will become more desperate in these last three weeks, turning off more voters as they do.

At this point, the only open question is the magnitude of the Obama / Biden landslide victory.

Bob wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:20 AM:No, Jacqueline Cook, it's not a matter of McCain resorting to mudslinging tactics now that he's losing ground. He's been doing this right from the start. Where have you been? Suspect it will get worse for the next three weeks, but then McCain / Palin will go away. Forget about Bush's third term.

Ron wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:43 AM:And yet again, the Liberal mythology is in the making.

We have the mantra, the talking points... deregulation by Republicans caused this. It caused it in the 1920's, it caused it in the savings and loans crisis, and it has caused it this time.

Let's start with the 1920's, no doubt banks did some stupid things, as all banks had done since the founding of the country. So, without regulation, without oversight were there ebbs & flows of the economy causing recessions & depressions? Yes, and most were world-wide, ta boot.
Folks, capitalism is not perfect by any means. But it is THE best way of allowing people to make, literally, trillions of decisions each & every day, without the gummint looking over your shoulder.
But I digress...

So, what did Hoover do when the Stock Market crashed? He raised taxes, he raised tariffs. He basically sucked up all the working capital that was needed to again loosen the credit system, allowing it to recover. Did his remedies work? Nah... he worsen the problem.

So, in steps FDR and begins to put in place his "new deal." We go from a country where roughly 8% of the nation's GDP is taking by the Central gummint in taxes, to well over 20% of GDP. Folks, that's 1/5 of the nation's wealth.
Now, there again is a misconception here about how FDR helped America. Did FDR save America from the Great Depression? NO, he didn't. While other countries around the world had long recovered, we were still stuck deep inside. It was not until after FDR's death, and the Truman administration did our national economy really take off. I will give FDR his prop's tho...
he did through this massive wealth redistribution back to the government build much of the modern infrastructure that was needed for America to become an industrial powerhouse.
But his new deal policies had nothing to do with saving individual Americans, in fact, when you read then history, or talk to person's who lived through it, they'll all tell you they suffered, for the benefit of the country. they rationed, they scrimped, they did without. In most cases, they just got by, hoping that by doing the hard work now, by suffering now, the future would be better.

Bob wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:04 AM:Vincent Morrison seems convinced that deregulation is the solution, not the problem. Somehow, someway, the "Obamamobs from ACORN" are to blame for something.

How do you keep from bumping into things with your head stuck where it is, Vince?

Greencinitan wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:06 AM:Douglas Crews: WELL SAID! Your letter was right on, very clear, and very compelling. I, for one, am grateful that at least one candidate for President is intelligent, thoughtful, honest, and has good moral values. McCain got through the military on his family name and not his personal work ethic, accomplishments, or innate capabilities. He almost got thrown out of Annapolis, graduated near the bottom of his class, cheated on his wife, and has a very undistinguished record of accomplishment. You can't be a leader if nobody follows, and his "maverick" status just means nobody else agreed with him!

Ron wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:20 AM:And then let's talk about the Savings and Loan Crisis, which has again been blamed on Republicans and deregulation.

Well, look at the history. As a part of that history is a moment known as the Keating Five. Now, the mythology of total blame is today placed on Republicans, but what does the record show? Well, like today, it shows a combination of blame, and enough to go around to certain politicians who work in government, and their cavorting with the financial power brokers.
Purposely forgotten by partisans, and I believe they were just the "tip of the iceberg" never truly explored, were the following politicians who willfully, and purposely tried to run cover for Charles Keating, the chairman of the failed Lincoln Savings and Loan.
They are: Alan Cranston (D-CA), Dennis DeConcini (D-AZ), John Glenn (D-OH), Donald W. Riegle (D-MI), and John McCain (R-AZ).
The mythology of this history has been dominated by a partisan tact, but for the moment, let's leave the players above as they are. You have 4 of 5 politicians who were involved, that are Democrats. And yet, the total blame is placed upon Republicans. Now, how do you get there, when so clearly you have four Democrat Senator running cover for this criminal? At best, in the above scenario, the republican blame would be 1/5, whereas the Democrat blame is 4/5's. A bipartisan blame, with the majority going towards Democrats.
In a New York Times article published later, they exonerated John McCain, and in that article, they properly pointed out that is was these Democrat Senators {and I suspect many, many more were unnamed} who were the problem, and not just deregulation. For it was not the deregulation that was at fault, it was whatever regulations that were in place, were being purposely diluded by these corrupt politicians running cover, blocking investigation, to benefit their campaign coffers.
And while the focus of the Hal Heflen (D-AL) committee took the spotlight, I tend to believe that those who do these sorts of things, do them rountinely.
For example, those who don't know how to manage money, do so repeatedly, not only in their public service, but in their own private lives, as well.
And unlike many, I notice trends, and linkage, sometimes many years down the road.
One of those "linkages" I feel is relevant is the House Banking Scandal.
Now, it did not come into view until 1992, but we now know 22 House members, 18 Democrats were the worst offenders.
Again, if this is how you run your own personal finances, god help us when your a part of running public finances.
And the politicians had corrupted virtually everyone at the bank, including the Sgt. at Arms, who was convicted of a felony for failing to provide oversight. Think he was paid to look the other way? I do. Just as Democrat Senators were paid for regulators looking at Keating to look the other way. Remember, 4/5's...
That's very key.

GetUrFluShotHere wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:27 AM:I see in this weeks circulars that my favorite grocery store is offering flu shots for $25. I dread the day my doctor offers me cucumbers at $1 each, but I know others dream of the day their doctor offers them a cucumber for $1.
Will Hussein price control cucumbers?

Roger wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:41 AM:It must really suck being McCain.

This association with Bill Ayers nonsense didn't work for Clinton. It's sure not working for McCain, but that's about all he's got.

Pathetic.

Atlas Shrugged wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:41 AM:Funny that Vincent Morrison should direct us to Ayn Rand's novel. As I recall, the hero of that book promoted individual competence and excellence above all things. So let's look at our candidates. McCain, like Bush, had family influence grease the educational and career path for him. At college he was more interested in drinking and schmoozing than in learning, with us taxpayers footing the bill for his tuition at Annapolis. Then he got to be a pilot and crashed several planes before going to Vietnam, napalming villages, and getting shot down. Then as a Senator he was despised by many people in his own party. He turned his back on his own values and became the neocon his handlers insisted he become. Then he selected Sarah Palin out of a desperate need to win the votes of fanatics despite the fact that everyone else sees that she'd be a danger to the nation in high office. He backs Bush's economic policies and war stance, which almost the entire nation sees as incompetent. This is John Galt? Look at Obama's record at Columbia, Harvard, as a Senator, as a community political force, at U of Chicago Law School, and in the debates. This, my friend, is John Galt. Competent. Excellent. Careful. Bright. Thoughtful.

For the Record wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:58 AM:From the Pennsylvania Times Leader: (QUOTE) SCRANTON – The agent in charge of the Secret Service field office in Scranton said allegations that someone yelled “kill him” when presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s name was mentioned during Tuesday’s Sarah Palin rally are unfounded.

The Scranton Times-Tribune first reported the alleged incident on its Web site Tuesday and then again in its print edition Wednesday. The first story, written by reporter David Singleton, appeared with allegations that while congressional candidate Chris Hackett was addressing the crowd and mentioned Obama’s name a man in the audience shouted “kill him."

News organizations including ABC, The Associated Press, The Washington Monthly and MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann reported the claim, with most attributing the allegations to the Times-Tribune story.

Agent Bill Slavoski said he was in the audience, along with an undisclosed number of additional secret service agents and other law enforcement officers and not one heard the comment.

“I was baffled,” he said after reading the report in Wednesday’s Times-Tribune.

He said the agency conducted an investigation Wednesday, after seeing the story, and could not find one person to corroborate the allegation other than Singleton. (UNQUOTE)

hardtack wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:01 AM:Reardon: Re. regulation / deregulation – did you happen to read John Stossel’s online column yesterday titled: The Reregulation Mantra?

In case you and others missed it, here is an excerpt:

“It's intuitive to assume that regulation prevents problems, but it's rarely true. First, how would regulators know what to do? Leaving aside the bias they might have and the brutal fact that regulation is physical force, how can a small group of people understand the workings of a market sufficiently to regulate sensibly? Markets, especially financial markets, are far more complicated than any mind can grasp. They consist of many millions of participants making countless decisions on the basis of unarticulated know-how and intuition. To attempt to regulate such activity requires knowledge no one can possess.

“To seriously regulate those markets you'd have to impose the "precautionary principle," a favorite idea of some environmentalists, especially in Europe. The principle prohibits any product or activity not proven 100 percent safe. It sounds so reasonable. But Ron Bailey of "Reason" points out what it really means: Don't do anything for the first time.

“Bad idea. The world needs innovators and inventors. We need people who try things for the first time.”

Regards, hardtack

Ron wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:02 AM:For those who want to believe, and promote the myth that these things all happen in a vacuum, are simply part of the problem of why we can't seem to correct these problems.
And as a part of this whole history, you can not possibly have a complete history without remembering Democrat
Daniel David "Dan" Rostenkowski, chairman of the powerful Ways & Means Committee, from 1981 to 1994. Another Chicagian, brought down by his own personal greed, via a House Post Office fraud.
My point here is simply, it was not that deregulation was at fault, but the failure through political corruption of emplementing the regulations that were in place. Certainly, if they were willing to corrupt services they personally used inside their own offices, it is not a hard stretch to put 2 & 2 together.

But, finally, I'm watching CSPAN as the Stalinist show trials are beginning, and the new mythology is beginning surrounding this latest so-called "crisis."
It is not a economic crisis, it is a manufactured financial crisis.
Now, how do I know it's a governmental manufactured crisis? Well, look at the votes? 362 House members, and 90 Senators voted for Gramm-Leach-Bliley.
Folks, that's pretty overwhelming support. It is akin to the vote on the Iraq War, where NOW we have Democrats saying they were deceived, they were lied to. NO, the words on that piece of paer were clear, clear to all who voted for it, it was a simple up or down.
Do I agree, or do I not agree.
Same to with Gramm-Leach-Bliley, while part of that compromise was a partial deregulation, the other half of it was amendments to CRA, or the Community Reinvestment Act. They split the baby, they voted to give financial institutions a freer hand, was pushed by Bob Rubin, Clinton Treasury Sec. Chuck Schumer, who's New York constituentcy wanted less regulation, and Chrid Dodd, with his hand deep in the Fannie Mae cookie jar.
After the final passage, Clinton's new Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said, "With this bill, the American financial system takes a major step forward toward the 21st Century -- one that will benefit American consumers, business and the national economy."

This is a history of government interventionism, and it's a history of failures every time they do it.
But, for the partisan, it will always be about party over country, with no real perspective about how these things develop over time. From one Congress to the next, from one President to the next.
And the proof of failed government interventionism is there for anyone with eye's to see it. Social Security, MediCare, MediCaid, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp., Ethanol, Fannie Mae...
etc., etc., etc. The lists go on endlessly. And the real sad point in all this, is this. Once the Government gets in, you'll never get them out.
New Deal programs still survive today,
LBJ's, now a Bush drug bennie, and now..
The Banks.
Folks, it's time to start securing gold, silver, and whatever else you can save, cause we are heading for Zimbabwae.
To be ultra clear here, we have borrowed ever since FDR, and we have accumalated debt's going forward of more than $66 trillion all coming due inside the next 20-30 years. And, regardless of what your liberal friends will tell you, we have borrowed to support our welfare state. And it's all... ALL coming due, and we ain't good for it. And now, the world is catching onto our fraud.

sdraoul wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:03 AM:Without doubt McCain won the debate last night. Obama lied about ACORN, he lied about Ayers and he lies about his "confrontation" with Joe the Plumber.

His "spread the wealth" class warfare has no place in the USA.

The problem with Marxists-Leninists is not that they read Marx and Lenin, as Obama obviously has, but that they believe what they read which Obama obviously has.

To that post who wants us to elect Obama because he made good grades in two years at Columbia where he was tight friends with a Palestinian terrorist leader or at Harvard or taught night classes at a law school, please present us with his scholarly articles on the law and the Constitution so we can judge him properly. That is, if you can find any.

Then explain to us why Obama's campaign paid an ACORN affiliates almost a million dollars even as ACORN and its employees are either under indictment, being investigated ... for -- vote fraud.

Like I said, Obama lied about ACORN, to quote a Cox Cable commercial, I wonder what else he is lying about?

Observer wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:04 AM:Well said, Ken Beverly, well said indeed!

Memo23 wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:05 AM:Tina Jillings is from Vista so she shouldn't worry herself about Escondido politics. She is also pro "Anything Latino" so her comments automatically disqualify her from being taken seriously. Abed, Gallo and Waldron have my support!

Joe Six Pack wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:10 AM:Who's this Joe The Plumber guy?

What about me?

Veronica O. wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:28 AM:Your comment shows your level of maturity or shall I say immaturity. An injustice anywhere should affect us all no matter where we live. I know Tina Jillings is Pro Equality regardless of the color of one's skin! As much as you want us to believe you don't take her seriously, you commenting about her screams concern "Nobody believe her"! What are you really worried about? She just made you take at least 30 minutes out of your day to respond you better believe you take her seriously. I have known Tina personally, and I do take her seriously as many others do. Thank you, Tina for all you do.

Richard wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:30 AM:Joe the plumber was interviewed live this morning on the news. He said he wants Social Security to be disbanded and he thinks we liberated Iraq when we borrowed to spend 0.7 trillion there and of course he's voting GOP. The one thing I did agree with though that he said in the interview was that he was against the 840 billion dollar bailout. I too think it was wrong because Bush still wants to claim he's a leader in 'tax cuts'. That may technically be so, but I'd rather have taxes collected up front by the IRS, than to have money taken from me legislatively to give to Wall St., where I don't even get the opportunity to send in a signed form and get a receipt. We all knew something had to give with this endless expense in the Middle East. Yes, freedom isn't free, but how expensive does it have to be, where it becomes a massive burden for others at the expense of perceived freedom for some one else? And why is it only America's responsibility, not our Allies?
By the way, I've met many unethical greedy plumbers who charge two arms and a leg to repair one garbage disposal, so I don't get this idea that Joe Plumber represents the middle working class anyway, so I'm with you Joe 6-pack.

Wanda wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:36 AM:The 8:41 AM poster has his heroes mixed up. "Atlas Shrugged" had Rearden, "Fountainhead" had John Gault.

Wasn't confused about much of anything else, however.

oh raoul wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:44 AM:From the Sofia news agency QUOTE A majority of debate watchers think Senator Barack Obama won the third and final presidential debatein the US, according to a national poll conducted by CNN and Opinion Research Corporation by phone on Wednesday night.

Fifty-eight percent of the watchers questioned said Democratic runner Obama did the best job in the debate, with 31 percent saying Republican Senator John McCain performed best.

The economy was the dominant issue of the debate, and 59 percent of debate watchers polled said Obama would do a better job handling the economy, 24 points ahead of McCain.

During the debate, McCain attacked Obama's stance on taxes, accusing Obama of seeking tax increases that would "spread the wealth around." But by 15 points, 56 percent to 41 percent, debate watchers polled said Obama would do a better job on taxes. By a 2-1 margin, 62 percent to 31 percent, debate watchers said Obama would do a better job on health care.

Sixty-six percent of debate watchers said Obama more clearly expressed his views, with 25 percent saying McCain was more clear about his views.

McCain won in two categories. Eighty percent of debate watchers polled said McCain spent more time attacking his opponent, with seven percent saying Obama was more on the attack. Fifty-four percent said McCain seemed more like a typical politician during the debate, with 35 percent saying Obama acted more like a typical politician. ENDQUOTE Raoul's post and impression of the debate confirms that old adage: "believing is seeing". He's like someone in love, for whom the beloved is the best, most beautiful, most perfect creature on earth...while everyone else is scratching their heads in puzzlement. raoul is irrelevent.

Who cares about Joe the Plumber wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:48 AM:I never got why Joe is the typical American brought up by McCain, when the issue at hand was whether Joe's $250,000 income would be taxed more. That's an income level that most Americans will never see. McCain's average Joe makes more than a quarter of a million dollars in taxable income, believes that the government should leave him alone, and loves the Iraq invasion. Once again, this only shows how completely out of touch with Americans John McCain is. Pathetic. Dishonest.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:49 AM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:03 AM:
Well, I was kinda depressed this week due to the condition of our country. But, as I read the NCT on line and the letter section, I had a great laugh. Thanks for the comedy today.

Atlas Shrugged to Wanda wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:50 AM:Ooops! Thanks for the correction. Mea culpa. (Gosh, you'd think that on this blogspace I'd know perfectly well about Reardon! LOL at myself)

TOVR wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:50 AM:Joe the Plumber doesn't pay taxes. Check out ABC News. He probably isn't even a registered voter. He doesn't want Social Security for this parents. Know wonder the repugs were all over him drooling and wanting to use his as a tool in the debate.

Reader wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:51 AM:Dear Editor,

Please, put a limit on how much and how often these bloggers can post. It has gotten ridiculous.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:54 AM:GetUrFluShotHere: Now, Chuck think of the possability. You can corner that cucumber market, make millions of dollars and retir to a foreign local so Obama can not touch yoor profits. Gotta look for that silver lining.

Carlsbad Voter wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:56 AM:Keith Blackburn is the "class" on this ballot and deserves our votes.

Manifesto wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:57 AM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:03 AM:
Class warfare. Bush should have thought of that prior to destroying the middle class.
Get those ears cleaned out so you can hear the International. It is coming to your street soon.

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:57 AM:BZZZZ...Sorry, Wanda.

Both Hank Rearden and John Galt were Atlas Shrugged.

Believe me, Dagny and I know.

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:03 AM:Hardtack: Missed it, but will catch it.

I posted on the "precautionary principle" several weeks ago.

Government starts fires, then wants credit for fire-fighting.

Alf wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:07 AM:Well, "sdraoul" at 9:03AM,
while everyone is entitled to their opinion, yours is the opposite of just about all other evaluations.
Regards, Alf.

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:09 AM:DD: The reason I asked if you have ever been to Hong Kong is obvious. Those who have not been there usually have NO IDEA of its size (it is much more than an island, but includes Kowloon and the New territories), density, technology, or wealth.

Insofar as wealth in GDP is concerned, the World Bank, the CIA, and the IMF Fund ranks Hong Kong as 36th or 37th.in the WORLD among NATIONS!

620+ square miles it ranks 182 out of 250 nations and territories, about the size of Martinique, but MUCH, MUCH, MUCH more modern. Its population is just under 7 million, making it 97 out of 211 listed countries and territories – more population than Libya, Paraguay, Jordan, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Lebanon,…you get the picture, and Hong Kong is more technological than any of them.

DD mentioned density: Hong Kong is FOURTH out of 211 countries and autonomous territories

In short, Hong Kong was and is a shining light in the economic world, and it was wholly capitalistic under British rule – so successful that China first lusted after it, then took it over, and now models much of its absolute blooming economy after it.

So, I ask again – have you ever been there to see that miracle of capitalism? If not, perhaps the numbers will give you a clue.

You asked if there was an example of a successful unregulated society: The answer is yes, pre-Communist Hong Kong. I understand that acting as Judge, jury and executioner, you will say that I did not answer the question.

I will leave that to others. This post was aimed past you, hoping to educate others who may not know much about Hong Kong -- not that you do, but you are unreachable.

obama wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:13 AM:Sen. Obama, while you say you will hunt down Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, you and he both have friends that bombed the Pentagon. If you do get Osama, will you offer him the same justice that Mr. Ayers and his wife received?

chuck wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:16 AM:>>>said allegations that someone yelled “kill him” when presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s name was mentioned>>>> Hussein is going to put this type of garbage in the AP, Reuters, CNN, NBC and MSNBC just for sympathy votes. Its his way of telling you, "If you dont vote for me, you are a racist"

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:22 AM:DD: In GDP per capita by countries: Hong Kong ranks ABOVE Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Monaco, Italy, Sweden, South Korea...

Alf wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:27 AM:Well, "hardtack" at 9:01AM,
the fix that we're in right now was caused my several factors.
I believe that the combination of deregulation and greed are the primary culprits.
Regulation has its place as long as it does not hinder creativity.
While "We need people who try things for the first time", can we afford NOT to have the safeguards of regulations?
I had to pass many inspections along the way to getting my house final inspected and certified for occupancy, yet house design is not stifled unless it is unsafe.
I could not, by code, have 14 gauge wire providing power to a device that draws 50 amps, but no one said that I could not have the device or run it, only that a minimum 6 gauge wire was required (preferably a 4 gauge in my opinion).
Regards, Alf.

Bob wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:28 AM:sdraoul has hit a new low, in the third paragraph of his 9:03 AM post, where he launches into sensless ad hominem attacks on Groucho Marx and John Lennon!

Lora wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:33 AM:For those of you who are so sure Obama is the right choice for America, I say this; look at his home neighborhood in Chicago, and that's what the rest of the nation will become if he's elected. Look at his voting record, since he's been a Senator, and see how many votes he has missed, or refrained from taking a position on!

His neighborhood in Chicago has had more murders, than the death rate attributed to the war in Iraq, in the same amount of time, and McCain was right, one shouldn't take lessons in honesty from a Chicago Politician, because they are all corrupt!

It is not our government's duty to provide for us, bail us out of trouble, or make our lives easier! That's OUR job! It is not the governments job to take our earnings, tax them, and then give them to those who do not apply themselves to obtaining prosperity! Taxing my income to support social programs, is a Socialist mentality that redistributes the wealth, and I resent it! I've earned everything I have, and I expect the next person to do the same!

This is the main difference between Republicans and Democrats. Democrats seem to think the governments job is to provide for their wants and needs.

Obama says any family earning under $250,000 will get tax breaks, approximately 95% of American households. If that's the case, who is going to be paying the taxes to pay off the debt we have already incurred, and the bills that will come form all the social programs he promises?

Joe Six Pack wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:37 AM:Yea, sdraoul at 9:03 AM, McCain with his rapier wit and enthusiasm, devestated that other guy!

Are you on some sort of medication?

Did you bring enough for the rest of the class?

Lee Tribadeau for PPH Board wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:45 AM:Turn around the new hospital mess by electing Lee Thibadeau to the PPH Board. Lee had the vision to build a state of the art Civic Center in San Marcos with a City Hall, Library and Community Center at no cost to the taxpayer. The Civic Center was under budget, ahead of schedule, and generates an additional $2.2 million annually in lease income.

Jack_D wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:00 AM:Vincent Morrison's letter recycles the right-wing canard that the mortgage crisis was caused by loans to poor people. The facts are otherwise. The Community Reinvestment Act applies to depository banks, while many of the institutions that spurred the massive growth of the subprime market weren't regulated banks. They were outfits such as Argent and American Home Mortgage, which were generally not regulated by the Federal Reserve or other entities that monitored compliance with CRA. These institutions worked hand in glove with Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers, entities to which the CRA likewise didn't apply. The CRA doesn't force mortgage companies to offer loans for no money down, or to throw underwriting standards out the window, or to encourage mortgage brokers to aggressively seek out new markets. Nor did the CRA force the credit-rating agencies to slap high-grade ratings on packages of subprime debt.

But why let the facts get in the way of a rant? Mr.Morrison, turn off Fox News and learn something about what's going on in the real world.

Roger wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:04 AM:Regarding the 9:51 AM post, those of you without Blowhard Blocker software can simply click on the [-] below Ron.

To Enough is Enough wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:09 AM:Great post: It's refreshing to find someone who responds rationally, not emotionally, and who sees us all in on this together (i.e. a country, not two opposing subcountries who are better served by hating one another). Let's hope for the best, whoever wins.

gracchus wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:13 AM:i just read an article in today's NEW YORK TIMES that should make ron, hardtack, and reardon happy. joe the plumber, upon whom mccain and expatiated during last night's debate, has no plumber's license. and he says that he doesn't need one.

it's an outrage that the government should regulate professional organizations and artisan guilds, hindering hard-driving entrepeneurs from making a buck. why should the government show any interest in protecting the u.s. consumer by helping to maintain professional standards for those seeking to earn money, en if their qualifications are questionable?

To Chuck at 1016 wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:14 AM:Chuck: Go back and watch the debate to see why Obama mentioned this. It was because McCain was making sleazy allegations that Obama had nothing to do with. As usual, you are on the wrong side of the truth. Do you have any clue how ridiculous and desparate your false allegations are?

Wanda wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:19 AM:Reardon (9:57 AM) is right. "Fountainhead" had Roark, or some other two dimensional Ayn Rand character.

I'm so ashamed.

Unbelievable Oceanside Voter wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:25 AM:Sure Oceanside Voter - by voting Jim Gibson in to City Council will ensure that gangs and illegals will soon be "kicked" out. He's magical this Jim guy and single handily able to overturn decades long issues like these. Scary that you could believe or espouse this rhetoric. Do us a favor, tone it down, keep the promises simple - maybe then it'll be believable.

Chicagoland wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:26 AM:obama[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:13 AM:
Show the evidence that Obama knew anybody that bombed the Pentagon. Show us the evidence that Ayers bombed the Pentagon.
Assumptions, extrapolations, connect the dot garbage are unacceptable. Let us see your hard and undenialbe evidence????

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:26 AM:Alf: I have a new bumper sticker for you.

"Libertarians for More Government!"

No need for me to have them reproduced -- you are a Party of One.

To Reader wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:29 AM:Reader
[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:51 AM:Dear Editor,

Please, put a limit on how much and how often these bloggers can post. It has gotten ridiculous.

Oh, so now we have the Gestapo deciding on how much we bloggers can write?! My, my.

Get Real wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:30 AM:Lora[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:33 AM: You conservatives have built your wealth on the sweat of labor and then taken those profits to make more profits. Bush and his cronies lowered the taxes on the rich, transfered them to the the middle class and the poor resulting in the destructing of the middle class. Well, you are making a country of have and have nots. Save the country, restore the middle class or open your ears for the International. By the way, instead of delaying the cost of your Iraqi war for everyone's grand children, why don't you pay for it?

Apollo wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:33 AM:Re: Ron (7:43 a.m.)
Quote from Ron: "no doubt banks did some stupid things, as all banks had done since the founding of the country."
But they do it with other people's money.
Quote from Ron: "capitalism is not perfect by any means."
That is why we need regulation.
Actually, capitalism as described by the economist who first wrote about it, Adam Smith, is pretty close to economic perfection, as long as it is allowed to flourish within the scope of a structure of regulatory protection. I like what Wiz said yesterday about taking away the supporting structure and the house of cards collapsing. Republicans and conservatives only see extremes. They lurch from the extreme of no regulation to the opposite extreme of socialistic government takeovers.
The moderate middle is too nuanced for them.
They need the hard boundaries and desperate security of the edges to cling to, like a child who hasn't learned to swim yet clinging to the sides of the pool, while the experienced swimmer can go to the middle and the depths and enjoy the full range of possibilities.

Alf wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:35 AM:Well, "Lora" at 10:33AM,
right now the ONLY two differences between Republicans and Democrats are -
Republicans borrow and spend while
Democrats tax and spend
AND
Republicans spend the money on war, big business and other countries while
Democrats spend the money on social programs here in the United States.
NEITHER gives a frig about our Constitution.
NEITHER spends within their (OUR) means.
NEITHER will solve the fundamental causes of our problems.
Regards, Alf.

Chicagoland wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:37 AM:Lora[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:33 AM:
McCain needs lessons in honesty regardless of whether he obtains it in Chicago, some other city or out on the farm.
Murders, violence, assaults you name it has increased throughout this nation. We have 2 million men incarcerated. Singly out Chicago is just plain stupid and petty.
I do not care if you deserve every penny that you ever earned. There is something wrong with a system that concentrates wealth in the few, eliminates its middle class and is content to throw crumbs to over 47 fellow Americans in dire poverty. You belly ache about redistribution of wealth? Give us a break. What do you think Bush was doing with his tax structures. While the rich had their taxes reduced, the middle and poor had their raised directly and also indirectly. Who do you think will have to pay for this war being fought on credit? I know that you rich will not.

Chicagoland wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:40 AM:Lora[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:33 AM: You gotta be joking. Obama lives in a million dollar plus house. It is in a wealthy and influential neighborhood. Did you assume that his neighborhood was suffering all the murders because he is a Black man. Google a picture of his house and his neighborhood. Then wipe the egg off your racist fact.

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:41 AM:From today’s Wall Street Journal: ”In February 2004, while Republican colleagues warned of the systemic risks posed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Mr. Dodd pronounced the mortgage market "one of the great success stories of all time."

A year later, the Connecticut Democrat voted against a reform that would have limited the size of Fan and Fred's mortgage portfolios.

Now that Fan and Fred have collapsed at a cost to taxpayers that could run to $200 billion or more, Mr. Dodd is also under fire for accepting sweetheart loans from Countrywide Financial, the subprime mortgage factory.”

DD Wiz wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:41 AM:The Deregulation Mantra
The published letter from Vincent Morrison cites a NOVEL -- a work of FICTION -- as his guide to economic philosophy. And that is what we have gotten from conservatives: economic FICTION collapsing like the unsupported house of cards. Ayn Rand did not understand economcis, and neither does Morrison. Her novel makes it look like the hero of the story, the business owner, is the one who creates wealth and everyone else is parasitic leeches, so when he goes on strike, the economy collapses.
In fact, while investors and owners play an important role in the administration of resources, they are not the ones who put their hands and sweat on raw materials and transform them into goods and services. Business owners (like me) can go on vacations for weeks at a time (with our trusty laptops, of course, so we can keep in touch with our NCT friends), and the busineses can continue to operate. But when WORKERS go on strike, things grind to a halt quickly.

And the post from "hardtack" (9:01am) devolves from citing the writings of monarchists as he has in the past, to quoting television hosts. Sorry, "hardtack," but John Stossel has a very simplistic, narrow view of the world and does not understand how it works. Regulation per se is neither a plus or a minus; it can be either. Kind of like fire -- can keep us warm and cook our food, or burn our houses down.
Regulations passed and implemented by those determined to prove that government doesn't work are usually counterproductive and downright dangerous. Thoughtful, carefully-constructed, appropriate regulations create the protective framework within which sports, driving and markets can optimally thrive.

And the post from "sdraoul" (9:03am) rants about Obama being a liar, when it is McCain who lied by omission by criticizing Obama's long-ago work for ACORN as a client, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, while failing to disclose that he was the KEYNOTE SPEAKER at their February 2006 conference, speaking effusively of them. Video is on YouTube and was recently shown on ABC News and MSNBC. It is also on the ACORN website.
As for "class warfare," it is McCain and the conservatives like "sdraoul" who wage war against the middle class, taking a disproportionate share of the wealth they produce and seeking to shelter those such as illegal immigrants who they can exploit for cheap labor to enrich themselves at others' expense. They have waged war against the middle class long enough, and now Obama and the middle class are going to fight back.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

Posted 10:14am; Re-posted 11:41am

DD Wiz wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:47 AM:Honk for Hong Kong
The post from "Reardon" (10:09am) gives the impression his new role model is Sarah Palin.
Like Sarah, he avoided the real issue and proudly acknowledged doing so -- he did not address my points about Hong Kong not being a self-sufficient economy and that it depends on production from regulated economies for most of its goods.
Also just as Sarah thinks that because some Alaskans can see across the Bering Strait to Russia from a remote corner of Alaska that she has never actually been to that it makes her an "expert" on Russia, so "Reardon" thinks that touring Hong Kong makes him an expert on economies that bear no resemblance to Hong Kong. I trust that we will never, ever see "Reardon" pontificating on the politics or economics of any location he has not personally lived in.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

To Lora wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:52 AM:Chicago had social and economic problems way before Obama came on the scene. I guess we should fault him for spending his time trying to help those people who really need help, as opposed to McCain who hung out at fancy DC patries for the past 30 years, counting his cars and houses. Also, a tax reduction doesn't mean no taxes. Obama is simply saving the average middle class family a couple of thousands of dollars, they will still be paying an obscene amount of their annual imcome on taxes. If the middle class has a little extra money then they will spend a little more money, and businesses do better asa result. It does less good at these times to save millionaires a few thousand dollars. The wealthy can't create jobs if the middle class can't afford their goods. Turn off Fox and take a class in basic economics.

Ms M wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:55 AM:obama
[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:13 AM:...um I think it was Bush's friends the Saudi's that bombed the Pentagon. I don't think that Obama had anything to do with something that took place 40 years ago. Did you not see the debate. Obama is not "friends" with Ayers, he served on a committee with Ayers on a Republican project. Geez - this is getting real tired.

grj wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:59 AM:The extra energy looked like too much, coofee Mc/Bush looked nervous like he forgot to borrow some of his wifes medication(LOL) This whole I earned all my own money is crap. Everybody in low income works hard but the amount of tax is way too much in realtion to cost of living,etc.I agree in taxing the wealthy more they can afford it, Last time I checked corporations and executives pay accts and lawyers to find all the loopholes so they can pay very little. Not to mention all the overseas money they don't have to pay taxes on.This marxist/leninists talk is crazy as John McCain.

Triton wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:04 PM:To Chuck at 1016
[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:14 AM: "...As usual, you are on the wrong side of the truth".

Well To Chuck at 1016, I think it was G.C. Lightenberg who said," The most dangerous of all falsehoods is a slightly distorted truth". That's why of the two, McCain is the right choice.

Bill Too wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:13 PM:(Not to be confused with Bill One or just plain “Bill”)

Playing catch-up again due to my recent surgery. Not running any marathons at the moment so I have a few minutes to write.

I notice the same religious people playing the same old tune about the marriage amendment. In regard to their straying (intentionally changing the subject?) from the basic concept of same sex marriage consider the following.

Regarding marrying close relatives: FYI – in some civilizations (most notably the Egyptians and Incas) it was the NORM for the rulers to marry their sisters or daughters in order to keep the rule in the families. Of course, they were PAGANS so that doesn’t count – even though they existed for many hundreds of years without any recorded history of physical or mental defects. The real stigma came into focus in (Christian) European royalty where the multiple inbreeding of Royalty with physical defects often caused disastrous glitches in the Royal line – as in the Hemophilia problem in the Romanoff line. The Church picked up on this as a restriction to the marriage of the people although it had little effect on the various royal lines.

Multiple marriages has been covered numerous times by those who have quoted the old testament marriage rules – multiple underaged girls in arranged marriages (who are then treated like all of the other livestock) – and lets not forget the concubines - or are those doing the protesting followers of the minor Christian sects who believe that the old testament was replaced by the new testament (except when it is convenient for THEM to quote it?)

And as for people wanting to marry their animals, our laws specifically exclude that possibility – an animal is NOT a person under the law (although I do sometimes think of at least one of my ex-wives as ...)

As far as teaching children about homosexual marriage in grade school – my personal thinking is that our schools – at least the lower grades – should return to teaching the “Three Rs” (Readin, Ritin, and Rithmatic) We have far too much (Federally imposed) politically correct crap being taught in schools as it is - while High School graduates can hardly read or balance their own check books.

More when I get back from my poll workers class. (third one this year)

Funny Raoul wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:14 PM:sdraoul has it all over Baghdad Bob when it comes to denying the obvious.

Alf wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:15 PM:Well, "Reardon" at 11:26AM,
do you advocate deleting the National Electric Code, the one written by fire departments?
I mean, that is regulatory after all.
How about doing away with those disclosure laws for selling a house?
Or mandatory title searches?
Or those restrictive regulations requiring a medical school degree and a medical license and CME to practice medicine?
If not then make it a Party of Two or more.
Regards, Alf.

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:17 PM:SDG&E is being sued for causing some of the 2007 fires -- but if to stop causing the fires they cut power in high wind & low humidity times (a proposal they have placed on ‘hold”), the water pressure to fire hydrants drops as water pumps stop, and people who depend upon electricity for medical purposes, die.

Further, SDG&E will not pay any monetary judgments awarded, the ratepayers will pay through higher rates.

Any thoughts on this mess in a fully regulated utility?

Triton wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:31 PM:Well To Reader at 11:29AM, We need to convert Obamas "tax plan" to blogg time, Here is how it works, We take away blogg time from those who blogg to much, Say over 3 bloggs a day. over that is just excessive and not fair to everyone else. and we will give there blogging time to those who don't bolgg that often, We can also mail out blogg credits to those that don't Blogg at all, so they feel better about not doing anything. We can call it, Blogg redistribution. Fair enough?

Short Bus Raoul wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:33 PM:Bob's 10:28 AM post is stupid!

The presigious Raoul Sinverguenza Institute has irrefutable proof that Obama pals around with Groucho Marx and John Lennon!

That's the truth!

because I say it is!

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:35 PM:It is visible for everyone to see: DD is a fraud!

When faced with specifics from the World bank, the IMF, and the CIA World Factbook, DD claims I only toured Hong Kong and have no real information because I did not live there. (I was there many times, and for long periods – even brought my wife over for an extended visit.)

Believe me, if I had lived there I would have lived on Victoria Hill and would not have known near as much about Hong Kong as I do, which is considerable.

But usually DD demands FACTS.

I gave him FACTS, and he dissembles and wants personal experience. When I give him personal experience, he demands facts.

Karl wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:37 PM:Chris to Karl @ 10:29 PM,

Chris I really appreciate the reasoned response. I would hope that you have a little introspective look at my original blog and think about it. Again thanks for the reasoned response.

Peace

Boat wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:40 PM:I must say that I find all of this "sturm und drang" about taxes somewhat amusing & disingenuous. My late brother was a Notre Dame trained tax attorney. He made a damn good living helping people pay the least amount of taxes legally possible. In our system the wealthy, both individuals & corporations, employ battalions of people like him to legally avoid paying taxes. It is the little guys, like me who pay their taxes, week in, week out who have no access to those kinds of resources who are the ones who dutifully pay the freight. I'm not complaining, I recognize that I have an obligation, as a citizen. What I object to is the people who can afford to avoid paying & then still complain about having to pay what they couldn't get out of.

And, please, please, please, don't tell me about Obama raising my taxes. For one thing, as I keep telling everyone: Section 8, Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution states that taxes are the preserve of the Congress. That aside, I don't make anywhere near $250,000 a year so, under Obama I should save a little bit.

Wanda wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:41 PM:Ms M at 11:55 AM appears to be tired of listening to "Obama pals around with Bill Ayers", which is understandable.

Be patient. They are probably tired of it too, but this is all they've got. In a little less than three weeks McCain and Caribou Barbie will slink back to obscurity.

to Triton wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:44 PM:Might you explain your very cryptic post of 12:04. I get that you're voting for McCain/Palin, but I don't get why. Are you saying that Obama gives us slightly distorted truths while McCain out and out lies, and that the liar is better? I don't understand. Thanks in advance.

Karl wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:47 PM:Enough is Enough @ 2008 3:13 AM is a true American. I salute you "Enough", thank you for your service and your watermelons.

Peace

Chris to Richard wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:48 PM:Your comment on Veitnam being called an American war is beyond absurd. First of all it was an American war. There was an agreement to allow the Veitmanese to have a unification vote hammered out in Geneva and the U.S. helped South vietnam to scuttle it after the new leader decided not to honor it. We had no right to get involved. You just like all the other American patiots don't have a clue to why we were there. I suggest that you reasearch the subject but that would be too much work. Then you say that we have no contact with that culture. Rubbish. I have a shirt made in Vietnam and much of the products made for backpackers is made there. Where have you been? I may seem harsh but I get so tired of people distorting the truth out here in defense of this corrupt warmongering country.

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:48 PM:As we have discussed before, Alf, I favor all of those rules and regulation, and the inspections being imposed by MY INSURANCE company, so if their rule or inspection FAILS, I can sue them to parade rest!

Have you ever tried to sue the government over a failed rule or inspection service?

hardtack wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:55 PM:ALF: I believe you missed Stossel’s point on regulation.

Banks, of course, operate under many regulations incl. accounting practices, client privacy and reporting – which are welcomed and needed regulations . . . .

HOWEVER, when it comes to loaning money, banks are severely “regulated” by their natural fear of losing money – Stossel’s point. It was the regulation of the bank’s lending policy that got banks into trouble – not deregulation of their lending policy.

Our regulation-happy Congress thought they could regulate what no one person or group can regulate; in their failed attempt at social engineering they hurt everyone.

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:57 PM:(Resubmission)
Joe the Plumber has so much right – particularly about the “poor.”

We have the richest poor in the World! Joe the Plumber was talking about people in Iraq having one shirt and one pair of pants – heck, that is not unusual in the world, but most Americans – even those who travel widely know little about poverty.

Americans, because they have discretionary income, fly from Hilton Hotel to Hilton Hotel.

One of the advantages of being a sailor is that port to port we pull into the WORST parts of those ports, and being on a submarine meant that we got to “show the flag” in tiny no-frills ports where big ships would not and could not even fit.

The world is filled with poverty. We are talking about real, wrenching grinding poverty: Families selling their 12 and 13 year old daughters into sex slavery just for enough money for the rest of the family to eat for a few weeks or months. Begging in the streets. Whole families living at the garbage dump to scavenge for food.

In Hong Kong, my submarine (as did ALL other ships, civilian and military) contracted with a group (Mary Sue), to scrape the rotting barnacles off the boat, wire brush and paint it. It was all young females (none older than 17), and their pay – THE FOOD OUR SUBMARINE THREW AWAY AFTER EACH MEAL!

(The stench of dying barnacles on a submarine after 60 days submerged, and then steaming in the Hong Kong sun, is indescribable.)

That reminds me to write an “Incident Report” on Mary Sue for my memoirs.

Alf wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:58 PM:Well, "Reardon" at 12:48PM,
nope.
Regards, Alf.

Fred wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:58 PM:The 12:14 PM post reminds me, whatever happened to Comical Ali?

Is he a political analyst for the prestigious Raoul Sinverguenza Institute?

gracchus wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:00 PM:at 9:02 a.m., ron, you wrote:

"But, finally, I'm watching CSPAN as the Stalinist show trials are beginning...."

this statement indicates to me that you consider the legislative and judiciary bodies of the united states of america inherently corrupt and evil.

can you tell us another country which has a superior legislative body? can you tell us another country where a person accused of a crime will find fairer justice?

finally, ron, where are all those stalinst secret policemen banging on people's doors at two o'clock in the morning, those stalinist execution cellars, and those stalinist slave labor camps in our deserts and artic north?

Caro Hussein Cogitatus wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:03 PM:Reardon (@12:48 pm), have you ever tried to sue an insurance company?

If you do try to take on their phalanxes of lawyers, you're probably gonna need the help of one of them greedy, nasty, ambulance-chasing trial lawyers to help you. Cue the dramatic sting sound effect! Dun-dun-DUNNN!

Ha! A lovely example of defeating your own argument. Thanks for the laugh.

Chris to Karl wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:08 PM:I have though about your blog conserning me being a holier than thou person and I resent it because it is not true. I have been following this war more than anybody and what we did is terrible and all I see are these holier than thou people makeing excusses for it and that is what I am furious about. All those men, women and children dead or missing friends or relatives. How many are maimed for life. Now if I anger people with my denunciation of this corrupt evil country and it's people for just shrugging their shoulders over it then so be it. I just don't give a damn what they think.

Chuck wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:10 PM:McCain had some words for Joe Plumber of Pennsylvania last night. I'd like to leave words with Joe... "I am begging you to stay off of 101 in Encinitas while wearing those spandex shorts. It make me choke on my Starbucks.

chuck wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:15 PM:I see that a girl in Texas with Downs Syndrome has been named Homecoming Queen. What are the odds that a female in SanFrancisco or Sacramento would be named homecoming queen? It seems it would be prohibited under SB777 because it "offends" certain people.

Karl wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:15 PM:As we get nearer to to election day I am deeply saddened. Look at the posts here, a bunch of extreme lunatics calling the other side names. And I thought you all were smart, I guess not. Look at your rage, look at it, take a close look my friends. Your rage is directed at fellow citizens who have no control over events other than one vote. The Democan party has your souls locked in. Think about it, your rage is not with your neighbor voting against your political party, it's the ... running our lives from a pompous position.

Until all of you quit bagging on the Ron's, DD's, Alf's and Reardon's on this post and put your fury into the real problem, we will all slide into the world of mediocrity. Wake up and smell the roses before it is too late.

Peace

Posted 1:15 Pm

Ms M wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:15 PM:Boat
[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:40 PM:...not only do the rich not pay taxes due to write offs - they write off personal items. Just how many of you business owners out there write off that dinner you had with your family. I was on a cruise with about 100 tax preparers. They wrote their cruise/vacation off as a business expense - see they only had to meet a couple of times for a couple of hours during the 2 week cruise to qualify it as business expense.

Ms M wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:18 PM:Enough is Enough
[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:13 AM:...Thank you so very much for the sincere and honest post. It is a reality check that the supporters of Bush/McCain/Palin serously need.

Alf wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:19 PM:BTW, "Reardon" at 12:48PM,
my dad has had well over a decade of experience suing the U.S. over classifying his invention so that a patent could not be issued.
Acting "in pro per" (or "pro se") has kept his retirement from being boring for him, although my ear sometimes gets full.
Regards, Alf.

Alf wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:25 PM:Well, "hardtack" at 12:55PM,
it appears that I had a "filter" in my brain when I read that piece.
Thanks for removing it.
Regards, Alf.

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:28 PM:Ms. M: Your story of all of those tax-preparers writing off the cruise must be invented!

Tax laws are FULLY government regulated, and therefore pure, and perfectly enforced.

Ask Alf. Ask DD.

Poppy wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:32 PM:I guess it’s no wonder John McCain was so happy to use “Joe the Plumber” as a debate prop last night — he’s a partisan Republican who also happens to be a member of McCain’s old friends, the Keating family.

From Martin Eisenstadt:

Turns out that Joe Wurzelbacher from the Toledo event is a close relative of Robert Wurzelbacher of Milford, Ohio. Who’s Robert Wurzelbacher? Only Charles Keating’s son-in-law and the former senior vice president of American Continental, the parent company of the infamous Lincoln Savings and Loan. The now retired elder Wurzelbacher is also a major contributor to Republican causes giving well over $10,000 in the last few years.

Now I guess we know why Joe is telling the press that Obama is a “socialist” and that the Obama tax plan “infuriated” him. After all, it would hit families like the Keatings and their minions the hardest.

Not to mention that Obama’s economic-recovery plan would put the crimps on influence peddlers like McCain’s old friends, the Keating Five.

But he sure made for a good one-day story.

Wanda wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:38 PM:HEY, Karl (1:15 PM), can we still bag on sdraoul?

Triton wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:40 PM:to Triton
[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 12:44 PM

Don't get so down on yourself my witty friend, You do understand much better then you want others to think, You could not have given a more brilliant example of my point, or in other words, explained or given us a better visual of just how the world looks with a slightly distorted truth . Thank you in advance for the assist.

chuck wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:41 PM:>>>not only do the rich not pay taxes due to write offs - they write off personal items>>>
You are poisoned by the class warfare Kool-Aid. You write off your interest and taxes, etc. why cant others? Their other write-offs include losses on funds and investments, write-offs on research companies that fail etc, etc. And, it's your type of person that decries that. Let me ask you, if they cant write off their losses, why should they have to pay taxes on their profits?? And as far as writhing off personal items, you are just slinging envious hate. It is illegal to write off personal items that do not have a business purpose. So, you really have no idea what you're talking about, but we see that you are full of jealousy and envy of those who have more than you. Its your type that want to drag down the successful, instead of efforting to try to join them. Karl Marx would love you.

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:44 PM:Caro Hussein Cogitatus:
I'll just bet you wanted to gove me the opportunity to display my Google prowess:

"sovereign immunity: which the court describes as "The United States, as sovereign, 'is immune from suit save as it consents to be sued . . . and the terms of its consent to be sued in any court define that court's jurisdiction to entertain the suit.'"

As difficult as it may be to sue an insurance company, people do it daily and win!

On the other hand, government at ALL LEVELS, may not be sued without its express permission on a case by case basis!

To Karl wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:45 PM:You are the biggest hypocrite on this blog. Do you really think the Democrats are the haters on this blog? You think Chuck is not a hater? Oh ya, you think Chuck is funny. Perhaps you just don't get Democrat humor, do ya think?

DD Wiz wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:49 PM:Hong Kong Fantasies
The post from "Reardon" (12:35pm) again evades the point that HE raised and changes the subject.
He tried to cite pre-China Hong Kong as an example of a self-sufficient unregulated lassiez faire economy.
He provided some interesting, fascinating, wonderful facts about Hong Kong.
I did not question or dispute his facts which are IRRELEVANT and have NOTHING TO DO WITH the point that I made.
Pre-China Hong Kong was, first of all, not an unregulated economy. It was a British protectorate. It did have special reduced regulatory status, but was not unregulated as "Reardon" had said he favors.
Second, and more important, I made the point that Hong Kong was NOT A SELF-SUFFICIENT ECONOMY.
It does not produce the automobiles, computers, medicines and other highly technological products it consumes. It IMPORTS those from highly-regulated market economies that actually produce them.
Hong Kong was like a financial administrative district, like a business disctrict. Kind of like a world trade or banking center. It is a cog in the economic process, not a stand alone economic system.
So it does appear that "Reardon" is unable to find any example of a successful unregulated lassiez faire economic system.
In his frustration, all poor "Reardon" can do is resort to childish insults that are beneath the dignity "Alf" keeps assuring me he has.
Thank you, "Reardon," for this confirmation.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

Keep It Up wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:06 PM:Hey Chuck, If the other guys are not coming after you, you are not in the game, Pity it's there home turf. Keep it up.

Vista Granny wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:17 PM:To: Reardon -- I've been to Hang Kong. I was there while the British were still in charge. There was poverty in Hong Kong, and neighborhoods you dared not stroll through alone. What we saw mostly, regarding the economic picture, were many, many international banks, where folks could launder money. We also so block after block of retail stores selling rubies and diamonds and gold and elephant ivory, tiger ??'s (for men who couldn't), very expensive clothes, shoes, etc. etc. There were priceless antiques, legal and stolen. And there was heavenly food from around the world. There was a tremendous amount of foreign money spent in Hong Kong -- more than you can imagine. I would suppose it is still the same. It was a great big bargain department store for multi, multi millionaires and billionaires. I would say that world trade was the reason the colony (at that time)thrived. Also, I don't buy your story about the barnicle cleaners, just a bit too much. And, what kind of a navy would employ young women to do filthy work and pay them with garbage? Does not speak well for them, does it?

Chris wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:18 PM:I see that Joe the plumber doesn't have a license and neither does his employer. He say's he doesn't need one but a spoksperson for the Lucas country building regulations says that both of them do need a license. This plumber doesn't have a plan to buy the company and owes back taxes. Oh, but he supports the military and McCain. There is some speculation that he was a McCAin plant when he confronted Obama but I haven't been able to confirm it yet. Onward and upward for the GOP.

chuck wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:25 PM:In the news today, GE capital is experiencing massive bad auto lease problems. You see, thats what happens when people see that nothing happens to them when they bail out of their mortgage, so why not bail from the auto lease. A handshake and signature mean nothing anymore--and cant you hear the rationalization--"Oh, Bush will just bail out GE". Another write off for those evil, rich corporations that pay no taxes, right Ms M???

Richard wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:43 PM:Sorry but I disagree. I was drafted during Vietnam, I lost several freinds in it, and I know a little bit about it. I agree we never had rigthts to g in there. The whole hting to me was a breakdown of commuaiton between our peole and theirs. In my view they the North Vietnamese thought we were trying to conquer them when we weren't. The slaughtered our men when we showed up there. Your opinions don't change that. Second, you misread my posit anyway. I didn't say we are not communicaotng withnam. There are even regular TV shows with Amercians visitng and living there. Some of our miliratyr never left Vientamfd and married women there and stil llive there. Your point done'st mean naytring ot me. What I said was that unfortunately Vietnam textbooks still don't understand why we went there. Big deal, and at least you agree with my that the whole mess was sad.

He Said wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:45 PM:Sadly, to Karl @ 1:45: You misread Karl's Democan to be Democrat. I almost made the same mistake myself but caught it before making a fool of myself with a reply like yours.

Ms M wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:48 PM:chuck
[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:41 PM:....Chuck did you not read the whole post. There are legit write offs; home interest, losses etc. Then there are personal items (say meals with family) that are also written off as a business expense. Once again, let's hear it from the bloggers: how many of you DO NOT, NEVER, EVER write off personal expenses as business expenses?

The American Way wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:54 PM:O'bidan says Joe's business should stay under $250,000 a year, because a plumber does not need any more.

Ms M wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:58 PM:chuck
[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:41 PM:....Let me ask you, if they cant write off their losses, why should they have to pay taxes on their profits?? And as far as writhing off personal items, you are just slinging envious hate. It is illegal to write off personal items that do not have a business purpose. So, you really have no idea what you're talking about, but we see that you are full of jealousy and envy of those who have more than you....Geez Chuck, so much anger. Did you read my post. If you did you would know that I did not question legal write offs. I take them myself. The question was about folkS who take personal expenses and write them off as business. As you stated this IS AGAINST THE LAW. But it is common knowledge that folks who own a business or work as say a consultant they DO write off as much personal stuff as their CPA can get away with. That's what they pay them for. No I'm not jealous, just making a very factual statement: PEOPLE CHEAT ON TAXES!!!

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:04 PM:I again ask, DD, were you ever there?
Hong Kong was a tax-free zone! If there were any regulations at all they were unenforced.

My shoes may have been made by a 6 year old -- or an 85 year old -- there were NO labor laws! No Social Security.

(My custom shoes with three fittings, were $7 a pair and I bought like Imelda Marcos! My wife's custom cashmere coat from the finest shop, Haralela's -- By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen and made from the finest London bolts of cashmere, was something like $75. Let's not discuss her silk dresses....you could not have bought a cotton blouse in Paris for the price.)

All "welfare" was private charity. It was a British protectorate -- but so ignored by the British that they gave it up!

If self-sufficiency is the key to your post -- tell me again, how much oil do we import? How many TV sets and audio tuners do we make? TOYOTA may win the Manufacturer's Championship at NASCAR, and tell me how are Ford, GM, and Chrysler doing?

NO ONE IS SELF-SUFFICIENT! Few countries make their own automobiles, and in those days, fewer still did.

Better quit while you are only behind, but I leave that to others.

I beg you to stop digging! I am getting embarrassed.

sdraoul wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:28 PM:"Oh raoul" falls for the Democratic Party propaganda. What was the breakdown of the group the "Sofia" agency reported on? What is the "Sofia" agency?

So, please don't try to argue with a professional. I won my first debate when I was 15 and went on to win the So. Cal Collegiate Debate Championship in 1962.

If my debate judges had all been Democrats I would have lost, not won. They weren't, thus I was judged fairly and won.

Last night any professional speech or debate person would agree that the only segment that Obama won of the 1o was on health issues. He lost every other segment on points.

A reminder unless we have a complete ideological, partisan and education background on the audience there is no way of knowing objectively who won a particular debate.

I recall being interviewed on CBS after the first Bush/Gore debate. I flatly stated that Bush had won and in fact wiped the proverbial floor with Gore. The media whores that otherwise are called pundits disagreed immediately after the debate. But ask anyone today who won that debate and they will recall Gore sneering, sighing loudly and walking up to Bush while Bush as talking and they will state that Gore lost that one just as I said at the time.

McCain won the debate last night on points and it showed immediately in the tracking polls where he picked up half a percentage point in the RCP poll averages.

Surfer wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:30 PM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:03 AM:
Dude, this is getting real good. Please name the Palestinian terrorist leader, verify the context of any relationship, give us some docs. Don't be bogus.Show us the real deal? See ya!

Ms M wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:36 PM:The cons are BEYOND DESPERATE: ...The McCain-Palin campaign and the Republican National Committee launched a massive robocall campaign on Thursday designed to alarm voters about Barack Obama's past association with former radical Bill Ayers....PATHETIC - I wonder just how will McCain be accepted by his fellow senators after his loss. I cannot believe what our elections have turned into. McCain is talking to his base and they would vote for him just because he is a con. He needs more than his base to win this election. The folks that he needs, independent and Clinton females, have turned against him. Does this man have no shame?

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:36 PM:The CPUC has voted 5-0 to place an overlay on the 760 area code.

Congratulations.

sdraoul wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:38 PM:To all those funny posters here who challenged my view of what happened in last night's debate, read the polls and weep. Check the Real Clear Politics poll averages. McCain sliced a full half point off the tracking polls that are taken every night.

That amounts to a 6.5% gain in one night and there are 19 to go.

:Spread the wealth" for "fairness."

hardtack wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:38 PM:One final observation, before I leave the building:

I believe the majority of Americans fear un-regulated capitalism more than they fear terrorism. – That's why every federal regulations is lauded (even the ones that cause bank failures), and every homeland security measure is criticized (even the ones that appear successful).

Richard wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:40 PM:The reason I call it the Vietnam War is because it took place in Vietnam. So what? And I didn't say we had no contact with Vietnam. Where did you get that? I said it is sad that even today their textbooks have a wrong idea about what we were doing there. We as well had a wrong idea of their country, and you're preaching to the choir about starting false wars. Just look at Iraq that I've been denouncing for 5 years now, resulting from Bush's deranged mental hangups.
President Johnson wasn't deranged but he was wrong, I know that. My friends got killed there, as did many others so it might help you to actually read a person's post before you attack it. Everyone knows we communicate with Vietnam and trade with them; some of our military never left there and married girls there and are still there. You missed the point, which was that that war's violence was based on a total communication breakdown, partly theirs thinking they had rights to slaughter any American who landed there as 'conquerors', and partly ours, thinking we had rights to prop up the South over the North. Give it up.

Alf wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:46 PM:Well, "Wanda" at 1:38PM,
you can "bag" on anyone you want.
I try to reserve "bagging" for those who are insulting or present fabrications as facts or try to interject religion and religious beliefs into the Constitution or law.
Most of all I try to learn and have fun.
Were it not for a debate between "Nick" and "sdraoul" (that sprinkled insults on both sides but one of them threw more) I may never have heard of The [American] Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, I might not have been inspired to look things up even if only for the purpose of proving someone wrong.
Have a blast!
Regards, Alf.

jvc wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:47 PM:California is now in the process of
selling short-term notes to pay its bills because of deficits.... this is illegal since by law
a balanced budget must be submitted
annually! Where is Richard Rider on this issue?

Alf wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:50 PM:Ya know, "To Karl" at 1:45PM,
to borrow a one word line from "Reardon",

(Sigh)

Regards, Alf.

OMG wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:50 PM:Just read this article in the NCTimes "'Joe the Plumber' says he has no plumbing license". So it turns out McCain cited a brief conversation Obama had with an admitted conservative unlicensed plumber that is plumbing illegally in his county, and that thought he was going to buy a two-man plumbing company and make 250K a year? It don't get any funnier than this, how much more poop can McCain step in, he even uses liars as examples for his lies?

OBSERVATION wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:52 PM:CINCINNATI, Oct 16 (Reuters) - After Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama made him into the most famous plumber in America, it turns out Joe Wurzelbacher isn't a licensed plumber after all. Oh, and his real name is Sam.

Focal Point wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:57 PM:Karl[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:15 PM: IMHO, I think that your observations apply to both the Democratic and Republican Parties. We need once again to fight a second revolution to establish a true Republic based in a return to the Constitution and an end to debt ridden government and people. Campaign for Liberty. Ron Paul in 2012.

Alf wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:57 PM:Well, "DD Wiz" at 1:49PM,
I have seen many posters resort to "childish insults" once in a while, myself and you included.
And then there's "Chuck", without whom this entire blog would be ignorant of the importance of cucumbers in modern education.
Regards, Alf.

Wanda wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:08 PM:sdraoul's 3:28 PM post validates the 12:14 PM post.

oh raoul wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:21 PM:Who cares who the Sofia group is? The poll was CNN's, which I presume you are familiar with. But please, provide us with the data that showed McCain's bump in the polls, the ones that you like because they agree with you. What tracking polls? What were their results prior to and after the debate? How, generally, is McCain doing in those polls? Thanks in advance. I know we can always count on you for good objective information. While you're at it, dig up some polls about Americans' opinions of Sarah Palin lately. I'm curious about how that other person you are such a fan of is faring. Again, thanks in advance.

Vista Granny wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:25 PM:I guess the ed didn't like my post about Hong Kong. Perhaps he/she didn't believe it. Yes, I was in Hong Kong in 1988. It was British then. All we saw were banks, banks and more banks -- great place to launder money. It was an international financial center. There was little, if any, actual manufacturing or business other than trade and banking. There were block after block of stores selling jewelry, elephant ivory, antiques, gold, coins, elegant shoes, elegant furs, designer clothes. Money everywhere, lots of it. There was also poverty, but I don't believe Reardon's story of young women working for American garbage. It doesn't make out navy sound very good, does it?

to raoul and Ms M wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:25 PM:No, McCain no longer has any shame. Think of the tragic path of his life. Vietnam hero to maverick/principled Senator to neocon yes-man to desperate liar and slimer. Can a man of honor fall any farther? And poor raoul: if he had integrity he would weep over the soul-death of a man he respected, but instead he just insists that anything McCain does remains heroic.

Scotticus wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:35 PM:Got to love the story about Joe Plumber - typical McCain. But truly folks, I'm a small business owner and I've got enough sense to realize that my ultimately, my customers are middle class Americans. If they do better, then it's likely I'll do better. If I'm lucky enough to break the 1/4 million dollar mark, then it's not the end of the world to pay a few more percentage points in taxes. I'd feel that it was a way of giving back on my prosperity.

It gets worse wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:36 PM:It seems that Sam "Joe" Wurzelbacher ALLEGEDLY owes the state of Ohio $1,182.98 in personal income tax, according to Lucas County Court of Common Pleas records.

oh raoul wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:37 PM:Wait, lemme get this straight: you won a debating prize almost 50 years ago, and this makes you a current expert on debating? You think that no other person here or in the polled audience has equivalent knowledge of debating? You think that it's a given that no one who talks here might have more knowledge than you do? What kind of weird egocentric world do you live in? Have you even considered the meaning of the word "humility"? Good grief, you have major problems, my friend.

Sonny wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:38 PM:Everyone please vote yes on prop 8

HARRY wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:53 PM:Hey Tina what does that comment say.Would you exsplain it to me.

Skip wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:12 PM:Why all of the Hysteria over Joe the Plummer. We already know that Obama wants to raise taxes and redistribute the wealth.

How about those immortal words of another famous Democrat Senate pro Tem Don Perata, who said in March 2008, "the only way to close our $16 billion budget deficit is to: "Raise taxes. That clear enough? Raise taxes."

Skip wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:18 PM:After reading the title of the first comment, (Obama is the leader to save America), I immediately thought of Jonestown in Guyana. Not sure exactly why, but I did.

After all California is going through, it always surprises me just how many Democrats there are, and I still cannot figure out why.

I am voting against all most all Democrats in the upcoming election. To me it is just a matter of common sense.

Joe the Plumber wants our borders secured wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:25 PM:Besides being against tax increases, Joe "the Plumber" wants our borders secured. This guy represents blue collar America.

The interview is on YouTube.

Skip wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:27 PM:RE: Joe the Plumber ; Love this guy. Some of the comments are funny. One guy said that the reporters talking to him are asking him harder questions than Obama has been asked in months. SO TRUE.

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:36 PM:OMG: Joe the Plumber is a non-entity -- the subject is what Obama said, and it would have been the same if he had said ut to a fire plug!

tjefferson wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:36 PM:If I didn't know Joe the Plumber didn't live in Ohio I would think he lives in North County and is one of our very prolific posters. Ohio Joe, who isn't a licensed plumber, lives in a fantasy world and thinks he can buy a plumbing company that has taxable income of 250k on his own 40k income. Our local "Joe" lives in a fantasy world where he is an expert on every topic under the sun. Sadly our "Joe," who like Ohio Joe would benefit from Obama's tax breaks and health plan, would perfer to live in his fantasy world and identify with the rich. In the end, using poor delusional Joe the Plumber as a prop for his own election only made McCain look like a fool.

Chicagoland wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:39 PM:chuck[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:41 PM:
Fraid not. The poor have nothing to write off. They do not use a long form. Over 50 million in poverty in this country. Growing by leaps and bounds as the middle class is destroyed. So get real,chuck.

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:41 PM:DD: While you accuse me of name-calling, THIS from ONE post of yours Oct 15, 2008 9:29 PM, directed at me:

“Evasion, Avoidance, Aversion.”

“The dishonesty here is simply beyond amazing.”

“The incredible dishonesty and distortion of liberals' views…”

“all I see is misrepresentations and distortions”

“he is completely tongue-tied”

Let me get this straight – you are accusing me of “childish insults?”

Are your posts written by staff?

Do you actually read your posts?

Oh Please wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:42 PM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 3:28 PM:
Well like John McCain says"I'll let the American people judge..." Your opinion does not coincide with the conclusion reached by the peeps.

Oh Please wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:48 PM:McCain won the debate last night on points and it showed immediately in the tracking polls where he picked up half a percentage point in the RCP poll averages.

Raoul, if that is all that he won, McCain won nothing. You know it too. The evidence that you sighted does not support your contention but destroys it.

News for Raoul wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:53 PM:Raoul, the segment of the population polled is representative of the ideological, partisan and educational background of those who will vote in November...i'm anxiously looking forward to you disputing the results on the basis that the voters weren't professinals..start drafting your Supreme Court challenge.

Chicago Crew wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:53 PM:Chris
[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:18 PM: Great, More examples of lives ruined (Joe and his boss)because they got to close to the Chicago Crew, Be Warned !!

Richard wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:59 PM:The 12:48 PM post suggests I don't have a clue about the cause of the Vietnam war. In reality there is no one on earth who knows the exact reason why we invaded Vietnam. The point is our soldiers, and my friends included, were told it was to prevent the spread of communism into S.E. Asia because the French who actually started the mess in 1954 were leaving. Some probably thought that would create a vacuum and allow communist theories to spread, but I agree, none of that was any of our business anyway. But I'm not going to go so far as to claim that our 60,000 men were killed 'in vain' like Bush likes to use as a current excuse to stay in Iraq. Our men achieved some positives, even though I agree, I opposed our being there, was drafted anyway and lucky for me, but not my friends, was rejected quickly for health reasons. I now know there were lots of false statements that were spread to convince Americans to agree to the war. But the point of my post was that it is sad that the vietnam war we label (because it took place in vietnam) is labeled by them the American war. Of course we now trade and freely visit Vietnam. What's your point? My point was their history books still don't understand what our mistaken reasons were for being there. If you don't think that's sad, and sad also that many of our citizens also don't understand why they were killing our men either, then I don't know what else to say. South vietnam's leaders, however they got there, I believe wanted us there, even though we didn't belong. I lost many friends there and I paid attention to as much of it as possible.

There you go wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:06 PM:Chris to Karl
[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 1:08 PM:"I just don't give a damn what they think".

Well Sir, That just about tells me everything I need to know about you.

u gt it wrong wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:11 PM:in 3 weeks OBAMA will be an ordinary citizen again, if the latest Acorn news does what I think it will. And more fraud was discovered here in Lansing.

Your gleeful now wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:13 PM:First it's $250,000 a year, then it will be $100,000. then $50,000, then $25,000. That's how it "Always" works. Always!

oilprices dropping bad news for dems wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:15 PM:hehe I love it.

DD Wiz wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:19 PM:Reardon's Non-Sequitur
The post from "Reardon" (3:04pm) closes with "I am getting embarrassed." As well he should be!
"Reardon" says: "My shoes may have been made by a 6 year old -- or an 85 year old -- there were NO labor laws! No Social Security."
Sorry, "Reardon," but if you think a lack of regulations that allows child abuse or elder abuse is a good thing, then your worldview is extremely perverse. Why have any laws? This statement is like bragging because there are no laws against rape or murder.

"Reardon" says of Hong Kong: "the British that gave it up!" And he is supposed to be some kind of "expert" on Hong Kong? The British gave it up because a 99-year lease expired and they honored their agreement. Sheesh!

"Reardon" says: "NO ONE IS SELF-SUFFICIENT!" I didn't say they were. The fact that NO ONE IS SELF-SUFFICIENT is one of the reasons why it is impossible to have a truly unregulated economy. The POINT, "Reardon," is that pre-China Hong Kong was utterly dependent on regulated economic systems. Your analogy is completely bogus!
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

Richard wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:21 PM:Continuing again, I didn't say we don't communicate in any way with Vietntam; the context was that as far as understanding why we were killing each other, there is still no communication with understanding. There just isn't. Mccain for example thinks we never should have left vietnam and I suspect feels the same about Iraq, not planning to leave ever until all violence is at zero and only 'when our heads are high' as though their not high now, a nonsensical viewpoint. But vietnam is also partly wrong because they indiscriminately killed our men there without attempting to discuss or understand anything with our leaders of any substance about why. Wars take two sides or else they don't exist and often (not always) are due completely to lack of understanding between the two parties. Iraq is also a mess because bush/cheney refuse to understand anything about anthrax not being in Iraq, etc. while al qaeda feels it now has 'rights' to slaughter christians in Iraq because they are not members of their cult. sorry, but both sides have a total communication breakdown.

To Karl wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:28 PM:Ya'll are right. I misread Karl's post. I am embarrassed. I am sorry, Karl. I owe you this apology. Sorry.

I second that Sonny wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:34 PM:Yes on 8!

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:39 PM:To Vista Granny; You can Google Mary Sue -- I had to because I had forgotten her name (I am older than you -- hell, I am older than ANYONE), but I used something like "women who painted ships in Hong Knog" and it jumped right up and I remembered her name clearly, then.

The "old salt" in the Google entry remembered paying her crew with old bits of line (we did too) and even scrap metal.

When one is overseas, one comports with the local traditions and Hong Kong was, and is an international port. The price was set long before we arrived, and will exist long after the Chinese kick us out.

(Mary Sue's granddaughter probably has Mary's fleet of sampans.)

We paid, "the going rate" for that and everything else. I'll bet you did too!

(Paying more would have made us international outsiders, not to mention stupid!)

I have this mental picture of Vista Granny saying to a vendor, "Is that all you want? Here, take a hundred dollars more, and my camera, and my shoes, and..."

Yes, there was PLENTY of poverty in Hong Kong. I never said there wasn't, I just said there was no unemployment -- because if you did not work, you died.

It's called "an incentive program."

oh raoul one last thing wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:40 PM:I hate to tell you this, but Presidential debates are not like collegiate debate matches. They are not scored, for example. There are no rules for determining who wins. In fact, there is no declared winner or loser. Nor are the participants trying to "win" in this way. The one and only thing that matters in these debates is how the public is moved, whether for rational or irrational reasons. The public votes and knows diddly squat about how to score debates. By this measure, unless you have other hard data, McCain got creamed, no matter what your little scoresheet says. Maybe you should write a piece for the NC Times explaining how by your collegiate point system, McCain won. As I said before, you are irrelevant, you take trivial meaningless things and try to convince people that these are the real truth, but we all know better. Raoul, you are like one of those satellites that no longer functions, just drifting in orbit, occasionally emitting signals that might once have been meaningful.

DD Wiz wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:50 PM:Reardon Gets One Right
The post from "Reardon" (3:36pm) celebrates a 760 overlay.
We agree this is cause for celebration.
Thank you to the regulators of the CPUC for showing a bit of common sense.
Regulation is the common interface of public interaction, but it does need to be administered judiciously.
This, of course, is the part that confounds Republicans.

As for "Reardon's" complaint at 5:41pm that I engaged in name calling, he needs to brush up on his English. Calling attention to someone's factual misstatements, and backing it up with specific examples, is not name calling.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

TOVR wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:52 PM:Where was McCain's USA flag pin? He wasn't wearing one for last night's debate nor the other two. But Obama wore his all three times. Note: No media has mentioned this. But the one time Obama doesn't wear it, it makes national news. Right winged media, you betcha.

Joe The Setup wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:54 PM:Joe the plumber was used by the repugs and now he is realizing they didn't vet him. Sound familiar? Now all his dirty laundry is out there...none payment of taxes, no plumber license and more trouble forthcoming.

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 6:55 PM:DD: I wonder if we can make an insult truce so you can give some advice on a serious matter that you actually know something about.

Solar Power.

As I have said, I am reluctant to expend capital for something that will never break even during my lifetime, but there is a major solar company offering solar power as a lease with “nothing down” (No, I am not a NINJA Loan.)

The length of the lease is not specified, but it extends beyond my life expectancy.

Their on-line calculator says I can break even with my current payments to SDG&E, and I might be interested – not in saving the Planet, but in diminishing our need for foreign oil and gas.

I would be interested in DD, or anyone discussing what may be a breakthrough in price/performance (nothing down is intriguing) and what would be the downside to a lease?

Stay Small If You Wish wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:09 PM:Scotticus
[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 4:35 PM: I'm a small business owner. it's not the end of the world to pay a few more percentage points in taxes. I'd feel that it was a way of giving back on my prosperity.

You can spot a plant in a croud. No small business owner that I know want's to stay small. The best way to give back to this economy is to grow and hire more people, who intern will pay more in taxes, Not force the small business to pay more and maybe cut back on employees.

Ms M wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:30 PM:The cons should be really proud of themselves showing their true colors. Disgusting! From the net:

The latest newsletter by an Inland Republican women's group depicts Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama surrounded by a watermelon, ribs and a bucket of fried chicken, prompting outrage in political circles.

The October newsletter by the Chaffey Community Republican Women, Federated says if Obama is elected his image will appear on food stamps -- instead of dollar bills like other presidents. The statement is followed by an illustration of "Obama Bucks" -- a phony $10 bill featuring Obama's face on a donkey's body, labeled "United States Food Stamps."...gotta love them cons - you bethca!

Ms M wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:41 PM:Was anyone listening to BillO around 6:45PM this evening? The subject matter was the lies that are told by the media. BillO made a statement - get this - that on Fox News NO ONE HAS EVER TOLD A LIE. ....I almost ran into the car in front of me....

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:46 PM:DD: Get a clue -- neither you nor I get to decide who wins arguments between us.

Neither do we get to decide whose insults are warranted.

Ms M wrote on Oct 16, 2008 7:48 PM:Have the cons no shame. You know once someone starts talking it doesn't stop. McCain has seven or so homes - that's a heck of a lot of glass. The following from the net as McCain defends his relationship with Liddy:

After weeks of hammering Barack Obama for having an association with a former Weather Undergound member, John McCain was asked Thursday afternoon about his own connections to a past felon: G. Gordon Liddy.

The question came, of all places, from late night comedian David Letterman, who pressed the Senator to explain why he was friendly with the man who was convicted in the Watergate scandal of conspiracy, burglary, and illegal wiretapping. McCain - according to an advanced report of the show - initially said that he "met" Liddy before adding, "He paid his debt, he went to prison, he paid his debt."

And yet, important to note in all of this, is that Liddy has been publicly unrepentant for his actions, much like Ayers. In an interview with the UK Independent Liddy said he didn't regret burglarizing the offices of the Democratic National Committee.

In addition to the burglary - for which he served a four-and-a-half year sentence - Liddy broke into the office of Daniel Ellsberg, the military analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers. He also admitted to plotting both the murder of journalist Jack Anderson - a harsh Nixon critic - and the firebombing of the Brookings Institute.

Ron wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:01 PM:Hey..ah.. "Jack_D" @11:00 AM,

"...the mortgage crisis was caused by loans to poor people."
ALL True.
Now before you get yourself all confused by the echo chamber and the talkng points, consider this single fact.

Did Franklin Delano Raines bring with him to Fannie Mae, from Lazard the idea of "securitizing" mortgages?

The answer is Yes, and Fannie was selling loans, thru securitization to unregulated banks. They encouraged these regulated banks, thru fear of prosecution for "redlining", code for racism, not for not loaning to people of color.
In steps Frank Raines, offers them a way out, Fannie will buy then, securitize the mortgage removing it uncreditworthiness from the regulated banks books. Diluting the risk, they believed, thru combining these risky loans with other's in a stock package know as a MBS.
And this started.. way.. way.. before Gramm-Leach-Bliley ever was put to paper.
Those bad loans were already sittin out these festering, waiting to fall in on themselves. And bring the rest of us with em.

Some rather interesting facts about MBS's you might be interested in.
Created in 1938.... Yes! A New Deal program! And we know they always work out, now don't we?
Also, The credit risk of mortgage-backed securities depends on the likelihood of the borrower paying the promised cash flows (principal and interest) on time. The credit rating of MBS is fairly high because:
The mortgage originator will generally research the mortgage taker's ability to repay, and will try to lend only to the credit-worthy.

Imagine that, an MBS is only as good, as when the loan is originated, based on "ability to re-pay."
And what was the goal of Fannie, per Frank Raines: Fannie Mae Foundation singled out Countrywide Financial as a "paragon" of a nondiscriminatory lender who works with community activists, following "the most flexible underwriting criteria permitted." The chief executive of Countrywide is said to have "bragged" that in order to approve minority applications, "lenders have had to stretch the rules a bit."

Ron wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:05 PM:"Reader" @9:51 AM must be a lib, when they can't compete, they then move to shut you down.

Or perhaps, I need to give the special ed class on peer-review?

In any event, have you noticed, as I have...
That when Lib's can't get their stuff posted, they want special rules, and restrictions put up on other's, so they can get a word in edge wise?
Cause I sure have.
Just in buddy, the Water's GREAT!

Wanda wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:12 PM:Thanks, Alf at 3:46 PM, I will.

What's up with this pompous blowhard, sdraoul and his ongoing Comical Ali (Bagdad Bob) impersonation?

Ron wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:14 PM:You know.. "gracchus" @11:13 AM,

You really need to save that question for an educator.

I do a pretty good job on my own plumbing. Got one son who is a plumber.

What I'd like to know is this.
We supposedly have the government regulate teachers. In their professional organizations,
professional standards for those seeking to teach our children.
The government even dictates an individual teachers qualifications.

And yet, sadly. We have nearly 50% of kids not making it out of high school.
Why is that? Does their years of training, as regulated by this government give them this ability to lose 50% of their students?
And then, when a parent wants to take their own child out of this downward spiral, they are then required by this same government that they must receive some of the same training, that caused 50% of kids to lose interest in school?
Can you answer that question? If "regulation" works?

Reardon wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:22 PM:Ms. M: The Republican "brand" is sagging badly, and although I have not seen the flyer you comment upon, it is terrible if true.

My column, published today, is on Bilbray's use of taxpayer funds -- somewhere between $200K and $500K for four flyers that are clearly a campaign political ploy, and not the permitted "newsletter."

Further, he has brought home some $35 million in earmarks.

It is “incumbent fever” and it infects all politicians.

Until the Republicans clean up their act, they are a minority party. Then the same hubris will infect the Democrats, and...

Wanda wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:23 PM:sdraoul, at 3:28 PM, references a debate between Al Gore and George W. Bush, which everybody, except the invincible sdraoul, thought Gore won. I saw that debate. Sure enough, Gore won. He also won the election.

Can't imagine why you take yourself so seriously, raoul. Nobody else does.

Wanda wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:33 PM:McCain pals around with G. Gordon Liddy?

We'll have to get sdraoul to spin this one.

Ron wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:33 PM:Obviously, "Apollo" @11:33 AM needs an education on HOW regulations come to be.

Do you think that it comes from these lawyer politicians who live most of their entire lives in the swamp that is known as our nation's capital?
NO.

It comes from lobbyists, back when lobbying your government was "a good thing." As Alf refered to today, take the electrical codes. Do you actually think a Joe NOBiden sat down with Barackous NObamous and wrote these out?
NO.
They were lobbied by men who represented these skilled trades, merchants who sold electrical goods, and they attempted to convince politicians and bueracrats who were in the position to write such laws/regulations and teach them some common sense about HOW to do it, cause these guy's know nothing.

You quote me saying: "no doubt banks did some stupid things, as all banks had done since the founding of the country."

You then reply with:
"But they do it with other people's money."

I find this line of argument just fascinating, we need those who lost our Social Security money, who can not find more than $29 billion inside the IRS, and those who lost $19 billion inside the Treasury Dept... to regulate, and have oversight of other people's money too. Now, that is just precious.

Can you name for me one, just one...
Federal agency that hasn't lost other people's money?
Hey.. ah.. genius.
In most of your daily transactions, on any given day, can you tell me the Federal, or State regulation that has "saved" you money?
Especially, when you consider that 99% of the time, our system operates on Trust.
I swear, you Lib's love to focus on the small group of people who try to rip people off, when the rest, the 99% of business owners, just want to you to come back, as a return customer.
Burning you, won't bring you back.
You see what I'm saying?

DD Wiz wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:49 PM:Leased Sunshine
The post from "Reardon" (6:55pm) inquires about the feasibility of LEASING a "no money down" solar photovoltaic system. Obviously, it depends on how much electricity you use, how your billing is structured, and the bottom line: how much do you pay for electricity and how much would you pay for the lease, and is it enough to cover the entire amount of electricity usage over the course of a year.
The calculus will be different for every person.
If you save more than you pay, then it's a deal.
If not, then it is only a deal if your desire to save the environment is worth spending a few bucks.

However, I must dispute "Reardon's" outdated cost-benefit analysis that concludes he will never amortize the value of a purchased solar photovoltaic system in his lifetime. He either has a very outdated view of costs for solar (and electricity from SDG&E) or a very pessimistic estimate of his lifespan. I'm sure there are many ways to spend more than you need to on solar if you are not a smart shopper, but if you are, there are excellent opportunities to save money by producing more electricity than you use.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

Ron wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:51 PM:I gotta say....
This back & forth today between Reardon & my good buddy "The Wizzer" @11:41 AM is most enlightening.

But, I'd like to point out a subject, a line of thought, and talking point my good buddy loves to bring up, all the time.

QUOTE: "In fact, while investors and owners play an important role in the administration of resources, they are not the ones who put their hands and sweat on raw materials and transform them into goods and services. Business owners (like me) can go on vacations for weeks at a time (with our trusty laptops, of course, so we can keep in touch with our NCT friends), and the busineses can continue to operate. But when WORKERS go on strike, things grind to a halt quickly." END Quote

I'm actually quite heartened to read this, it is a long way's away from his usual "sweat of their brows" Marxist resertation. He's actually talking about the synergy I've talked about, as it is exactly the "invisible hand" as spoken of my Adam Smith.

Now, if we could just get him to understand that taxing unearned income inside the tax brackets is so far out, not even any of his liberal hero's ever broached that line.
And, this bothersome line he keeps repeating, "the true costs" of oil. Again, this statement is code for what this kooky NASA scientist James Hansen says: oil company executives should be on trial for "high crimes against humanity and nature."
Glad to see your finally coming around.
And also glad to know, that while your workers are producing by the "sweat of their brows", It's still Your business.
I was glad to read that the otherday.
Do you offer profit sharing?
Just curious...

Hey Ron wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:24 PM:Ron
[-] wrote on Oct 16, 2008 8:05 PM: Was that Waters Great, or Watergate?

Chris to Richard wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:25 PM:On your post for 9:08 AM on yesterday's post you said that "still no contact with that culture" what does that mean. You said that we thought we were defending ourselves. From what. No, there is no misunderstanding why we started the war. What was going on was a civil matter between north and south Vietnam and we had no business there. Yes we efectivly started the war because we are the ones who supplied the arms to the South Vietnamese who's leader violated an agreement reached by the consensus of nine countries in Geneva. Of course the U.S. and Britain were against it but said they wouldn't do anything to inferfere with it being implemented. So much for our credibility. As far as all the service men killed there is conserned that is due to the American people who continually play the fool just like they did when Bush told them we need to go to Iraq. If people play the fool then there are plenty of people who will take advantage of that.

DD Wiz wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:28 PM:Sweaty Marxists
The post from "Ron" (8:51pm) expresses feeling "heartened" by my "synergy" between wealth produced by the "sweat" of workers' brows and the necessityof capitalistic investment. Unfortunately, his glee seems misplaced, since we have discussed this many times before and he knows my position in support of the kind of REGULATED market entrepreneurship espoused by Adam Smith, who "Ron" cites selectively and conveniently. "Ron" can't seem to grasp that it is regulation that makes possible the success of so many human endeavors. It is the standardized establishment of a common social interface, kind of like standardized weights and measures make possible commercial exchange. It is what enables the infinite range of sports strategies or the ability to have rules of the road that enable driving.
"Ron" calls this "Marxist."
But this comes straight out of Adam Smith, who wrote almost 100 years before Marx and is better known as the "father of capitalism." Those who think Adam Smith is a Marxist are so far over the edge that there is not much point in even trying to carry on a reason-based discuss with those who are so far beyond any point of reason.
And he still seems outraged by the idea that income earned by the "sweat of workers' brows" should be considered equal in merit to UNEARNED income from investments, dividends and interest. I have no objection to such income, and have some in each of those catergories myself. But I cannot possibly imagine why that income of mine should be taxed LESS than that of someone who works for me and earns far less.
I do not object to high incomes and aspire to increase my own.
But if I took someone out to lunch who works for me, I would certainly expect to pick up the tab.
And when it comes to a public system that has benefitted me greatly, I can't imagine why I should expect those who have benefitted less to pay more.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

Chris to There you go wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:30 PM:Good. I am glad we understand each other.

Richard wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:31 PM:Optional reading only, not essential! I'm sorry to bore everyone, but when I'm told I don't have a clue, when I do have a clue, then it's time to speak. The vietnam war actually started in 1945 just after WWII ended, when our ally France decided to fight Vietnam who wanted independence from them, to become Communist. This was a few years before I was even born, so to make the claim that it's somehow wrong and bad because I 'don't have a clue' and I'm 'beyond absurd' seems unfair anyway.
I do know that my President during Junior High was John Kennedy who first sent military advisors over there and Kennedy I know for a fact did not want to start a war there or anywhere else. He solved the Cuban missile crisis without hostilities even, for crying out loud. He wasn't looking for a fight and there were reasons he sent our men, probably because France helped us end the Nazi holocaust and were our great friends. When France pulled out after fighting north vietnam for 8 years, North vietnamese didn't understand the intent of Geneva to hold the country peacefully together. They started attacking South vietnam in 1955 and by then we had been friends with the South and sympathized with their desire to break free of the North's rule.
Sadly, the Pentagon Papers revealed the lies and intent to persuade Americans under Johnson to get involved, but it seems to me that he was so sure he was right in defending the South that providing an excuse seemed to him of little significance. Hence we got heavily in it and had the mistaken illusion we couldn't leave either.
We were supposed to have learned from this and yet now we have entered Iraq under the most bizarre set of 935 lies I've ever seen.
But at the end of the day, there is no way for anyone to actually know the whole truth of vietnam. For instance it is possible that the carnage there indeed prevented North Vietnam from expanding even further than Laos and the immediate area that they thought they could get away with. I don't now. It's also possible that whatever dumb cabal here who might have thought of advancing further into the North were discouraged and disbanded too, I don't know. Just like we'll never know why Kennedy was assassinated, no matter how many studies have or will be done, because the murderer is dead, we also will never actually fully understand why 60,000 of our men were slaughtered by the North Vietnamese Army, when Kennedy merely wanted to help spare the Southern half of their people. So in the end if you call me clueless, I'll only agree to that if you also realize you don't know all the answers either, because no one does. People have wars sometimes I think just because they want them and then end wars it seems only when they grow tired of them. What else can I say? And again, sorry for all this talk.

Surfer wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:37 PM:draoul: Did you actually say to sprad the fairness? Now that is comedy. See ya!

Chris to There You go wrote on Oct 16, 2008 9:55 PM:Let's put it this way. I care as much about what others think as they cared about what the Iraqis thought when we started dropping the bombs on them. I think of that 9 year old boy who upon the oppening of the war had his house bombed thanks to our fly boys. He lost his house all of his family and both of his arms. So since I am dealing with people that support that kind of action why should I be conserned with what they think?

Richard wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:05 PM:And by the way, the Vietnam war is over. And as long as someone like McCain is not placed in charge, it hopefully will never start again. But many of my surviving friends never actually mentally recovered, but not in the weird way McCain hasn't recovered. One friend has not had a normal night's sleep, without recurring nightmares, ever since. His family left him over this.
I think electing a man with a one-sided view of Vietnam could divide this country into abject, irreversible disfunctionality.
Anyway, this is not the only country that has had kids sent to false wars and as you say 'played'. Just yesterday a former student stopped by and gave me a hug for all the help he said I gave him years ago. This poor guy from Taiwan was at 20 in their army, when his parachute didn't open properly in excercises. He crashed, went to the hospital where he was pronounced dead and was sent to the back room to go to the morgue. Many others were there covered under sheets. A janitor was sweeping the floor when he woke up and got up. The janitor turned white and ran out of the room. His family moved here to North County to get an education with his somewhat compromised mental acuity. He's now finished his Master's degree and has a good job. Yes, stupid garbage happens incredibly all over the world. It's just more of a wonder how anyone anywhere can live a normal life.

Bill Too wrote on Oct 16, 2008 10:42 PM:(Not to be confused with Bill One or just plain “Bill”)

A number of blogs have been written during the last few months, bashing “entitlements” – primarily Social Security and Medicare. These are worded to sound as if it is something that the Government is giving us for free. The fact is that many of us on Social In-Security really ARE drawing far more out of the pot than we put in. But it must be recognized that the dollars that we paid in were really worth a dollar (We could even get it in silver). In 1956 the top hourly pay for an Electronics Designer at Convair (basically a non-degreed engineer - my job at the time (got my degree later)) was $3.48 and I paid $1800 cash for a new Dodge V8 at Howard Taylor Dodge. In 1965 a roomy 2 BR apartment was $58 per month and premium gas was 20 Cents/gal. A weeks supply of food for me and my two young sons cost $20. Interpolating, that makes today’s dollar worth about 5 cents – and falling.

Some bloggers seem to think that workers should provide for their own retirement in the stock market. These same people should know that less than 10% of the workers have the time, much less the ability to manage investments and that nearly all of them will lose everything that they invest. Most “investors” today would do as well or better at the slots in Vegas. At least they would have a little fun losing their money.

Savings was the reason for the establishment of cash value life insurance policies years ago - so the workers would have a painless way of accumulating a few dollars and have something for their "Golden" years. Few “working class” people were involved in “Investments.” Almost no worker ever bought TERM insurance.

I read somewhere that Old-age benefits were never intended to replace personal savings...that they were meant to insure that no one too old to work would go hungry or lack shelter - nothing more – and that 59% of retirees now rely on Social Security for more than half of their income. Sounds reasonable.

I would like to point out that a VERY large portion of that 59% rely on Social Security for ALL of their income, and that this income is in many cases less than $750 per month. This is far from a "comfort and luxury" income. If this insures that those too old to work will not go hungry or lack shelter I would like to know what part of the country the writer was talking about. It certainly isn't Southern California.

The fact is that only those who DO NOT need Social Security to live on are the ones GUARANTEED that they will receive it. It is possible to have a virtually unlimited income from interest, retirement, property or anything else, as long as the recipient does not have to perform work to receive it, and then the payment will be the maximum amount possible. Anyone who has to work to supplement Social In-Security benefits are limited to such a low allowable income without loss of benefits (at least until they are 70), that it is hardly worth the effort and expense of going to work.

Will they next be advocating that we use Ron’s Jonestown kool-aid on these people who are leeching the money that should rightfully be given to their betters (The super rich?) In most societies around the world the elders are respected – even revered. Here they (we) seem to be considered a burden by the “elite” and should be quietly disposed of.

sdraoul wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:12 PM:Wanda is full of ignorance. Gore won the election? Who says so? Every recount of Florida proved that Bush won, period, end of discussion.

sdraoul wrote on Oct 16, 2008 11:20 PM:What morons populate this page.

I drew my polls from the Realclearpolitics averages that are accepted by all major politicos and parties as to their veracity.

The Wednesday to Thursday change was 6.5% in McCain's favor in the national polls dropping Obama's lead to 6.8% from 7.6%.

And to those who sygegst CNN is objective, LAUGH OUT LOUD!

gracchus wrote on Oct 17, 2008 12:17 AM:your communique at 8:14 p.m., ron, suggests that the current crisis in education in the united states arises from incompetent teachers whom the various states don not effectively oversee. without question incompetent teachers exist. but the fundamental problem lies not with incompetent teachers, but the lack of interest among citizens for good primary and secondary education.

first, rasing revenue to pay for schools through property taxes is not conducive to good education. poorer communities will suffer than more affluent communities in the quality of their schools. i believe that another means of financing public education is necessary to improve public education.

second, class sizes are much too large. no primary teacher should have more than 20 pupils in his class; no secondary teacher should have more than 100 pupils.

third,academic standards must be good. those who want to go to university need to study english, one foreign language, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics. those with no apitude or interest in academic subjects should have the opportunity to enter the workforce after having completed 8th grade and begin learning a trade with an artisan. if after a year or two in the workforce such an individual thinks that he might like to pursue academic courses in high school, he should have the opportunity to change his mind.

and fourth, if we want to attract the best people to the teaching profession, we will need to improve salaries signficantly. if we expect an english teacher to teach clear writing, a history teacher to rely on essay exams, and math and science teachers spend long hours with their pupils, we will need to compensate them well to make the job attractive.

in other words, ron, we as a society will need to pay our taxes and properly fund our schools. anecdotes concerning incompetent teachers does not address the poor qulaity of education in our primary and secondary schools; the problem lies with the citizenry's general lack of interest in public education.

Roberto wrote on Oct 17, 2008 1:34 AM:This is for all you Obama heads....

Tax system explained in terms of beer - to make it more manageable

Suppose that every day, ten men go out for beer and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:

The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing. The fifth would pay $1. The sixth would pay $3. The seventh would pay $7. The eighth would pay $12. The ninth would pay $18. The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59.

So, that's what they decided to do. The ten men drank in the bar every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve. "Since you are all such good customers," he said, "I'm going to reduce the cost of your daily beer by $20. "Drinks for the ten now cost just $80.

The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes, so the first four men were unaffected. They would still drink for free. But what about the other six men - the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his 'fair share?'

They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody's share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to drink his beer. So, the bar owner suggested that it would be fair to reduce each man's bill by roughly the same amount, and he proceeded to work out the amounts each should pay.

And so

The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings). The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33%savings). The seventh now pay $5 instead of $7 (28%savings). The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25% savings). The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 ( 22% savings). The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings).

Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to drink for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings.

"I only got a dollar out of the $20," declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man," but he got $10!"

"Yeah, that's right," exclaimed the fifth man. "I only saved a dollar, too. It's unfair that he got ten times more than I!"

"That's true!!" shouted the seventh man. "Why should he get $10 back w hen I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!"

"Wait a minute," yelled the first four men in unison. "We didn't get anything at all. The system exploits the poor!"

The nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up. The next night the tenth man didn't show up for drinks, so the nine sat down and had beers without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important. They didn't have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!

And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works. The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction. Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore. In fact, they might start drinking overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.

For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not understand, no explanation is possible.

"Government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem."

Mary wrote on Oct 17, 2008 7:13 AM:I have resigned myself that Obama will become the supreme leader and messiah/savior of America because quite frankly it appears that a lot of Americans are ignorant of socialism, American and world history, economics, politics, and have no analytic ability. People for Obama seem to think he is going to "save" America, he is going to return it to what? None of his so called changes relate to the history of America and our past values. His changes, if you actually look at his proposals, are socialist in scope and go against human nature and basic economics. But since most of you don't understand, how could you see the difference? You can't! Therefore the only way you are going to see the disaster of a supermajority of liberal socialist democrats running the government is to see them in action. So I say, elect Obama, (I'm going to vote for him) and watch the decline of America over the next 4 years. If you knew history, and fairy tales, you would know the scary similarity to the crowd mentality that elected Hitler as the supreme leader, and you would be very knowledgeable of "The Emperor Wore No Clothes", when people were so blinded by what they wanted to believe that they couldn't see the truth.

Obama for Supreme Leader 08!!!! Let the games begin.

Short Bus Raoul wrote on Oct 17, 2008 7:14 AM:Following his decisive win in the presidential bebate Wednesday, McCains lead in the polls continues to widen.

Obama, having seen the latest poll figures from the prestigious Raoul Sinverguenza Institute, is on suicide watch.

That's the truth!

Because I say it is!

No Longer wrote on Oct 17, 2008 7:22 AM:McCain is no longer an American. He hasn't worn a USA flag pin on any debate. Interesting that the republicans were all over Obama when he didn't wear one. But Obama wore one each and every debate. How dare McCain not be supporting Old Glory and the Red, White & Blue.

Scotticus wrote on Oct 17, 2008 7:24 AM:Yeah I'm a plant in here. I've been running a successful business in Escondido for the past ten years and have had up to six employees. Staying a manageable size has allowed me to have time for family and community as well as concentrate a providing a high quality service for my customers. This is true of most small business owner's I've met over the years.

Like I wrote earlier, the issue here is not one of business size, but more importantly, about the financial health of our customers. Under the republican administration the middle class has shrunk and has less buying power. For most small businesses, these are our customers. Any policies that help the middle class are going to help small businesses.

Joe the Plant wrote on Oct 17, 2008 7:45 AM:Joe the Plumber was a plant for the McCain campaign. This guy doesn't have enough money to even pay his taxes let only try to buy a business for $250,000. ABC News reported that he would be saving money under Obama's tax plan. But then again this guy [allegedly] is a liar just like the people he is working with (RNC)>

Chris wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:07 AM:Yes we have all these people that talk trash about Social Security but I have no doubt that when they reach retirment and see that they don't have much they will be glad for Social Security. Even though I have saved and bought and paid for my house and the rental property I am glad for Social Security because without it I could not retire. Let's just see how all these hotshots who are going to retire on their own actually end up.

Vista Granny wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:14 AM:To: Reardon - I imagine I have traveled as much as, or more than, anyone in this blog. I do not give away my belongings to poor people in foreign countries. I pay what others do, though it's been a long time since I've traveled looking for bargains. In fact, that's not why I went to Hong Kong. I went to see Hong Kong and China and other places, to eat there, to visit with those I could visit with, to experience a different culture, etc. Yes, a man could probably get a suit custom made for $50 when I was there, don't know. I do know that there were plenty of places to spend thousands -- and if your wife got cheap shoes, they were knock offs. As for paying locals with garbage? Maybe, in 1930, but not recently. And if our navy does such things today, then that only lowers my opinion of the peacetime(?) military farther. Have a good day, Reardon.

Hey, Bill too - I doubt you're that much older than I. The payments on the first home we bought were $85 per month -- and it was VERY nice and built better than what they're building today. Time flies!!

Boat wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:32 AM:Re: Joe the Plumber (who isn't a real person)

He wants the borders secured. He wants his taxes to be lower. But he can't be bothered to register to vote or pay the taxes that he owes now. Who cares what he wants. He is a scofflaw in my book.

Wanda wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:41 AM:Thank you, Mary at 7:13 AM, for letting me know why I'm not voting for Caribou Barbie and that pathetic old influence peddler. My problems seems to be that I:

"...are ignorant..."

"...have no analytic ability."

"...don't understand..."

But, as you so helpfully point out:

"If you knew..."

Thank you so much for trying to help me, but apparently I'm too ignorant to sign up for eight more years of the same old...

Wanda wrote on Oct 17, 2008 8:56 AM:While I never tire of learning more about "Joe the Plumber", I question Joe the Plant's 7:45 AM post. Don't you suppose this guy might have showed up all on his own, without being hired by the GOP? There are a whole lot of people who can't wait to regurgitate whatever Faux News and Rush Limbaugh have spoon fed them for free, with no encouragement whatever (Just look at this board).

Skip wrote on Oct 17, 2008 9:05 AM:Anyone notice besides me that neither candidate has brought up the topic of Illegal Immigration? It is almost like it does not exist, and has never been an issue.

Once all of the 30 Million Illegal Aliens become LEGAL under these two Bozo's, how do you think life will become when the next 30 Million Illegals get here.

There is going to be a lot of wealth that will need to be redistributed.

Skip wrote on Oct 17, 2008 9:07 AM:The city of Pomona (CA) did a driver's license checkpoint this week and they impounded 140 cars in just 6 hours.

YUP Illegal Immigration is no problem at all.

Richard wrote on Oct 17, 2008 9:08 AM:Hey, s it turns out according to today's NCTimes that after all these yeras of people screaming that 30% of a ll CA oil is from the Middle East, and the recent widespread claim, that 700 billion goes directly to the middle east for oil purchases, has never been anything even close to reality.
What the article never did is to calculate the percent of our oil that actually comes form Saudi Arabia. It turns out that 60% of our oil is foreign (mostly form Canada and Mexico neighbors) with 16% of that from the Middle East. That means out of all our oil consuemd that only 9% comes form the Middle East. I say let's boycott that and be done with it, and of course accelerate immediately to solar power without delay.

Roger wrote on Oct 17, 2008 9:24 AM:Well, Skip at 9:05 AM, you can go to Obama's web site, click on issues, click on immigration, and read all you want about where he stands and what he intends to do.

So simple that anybody but McCain can do it :)

Richard wrote on Oct 17, 2008 9:26 AM:Even though I'd vote against Senator McCain, please understand that if Obama could win, contrary to the above assertion, he will not, nor cannot, be savior of the U.S. The U.S. in the first place isn't 'unsaved'. Second, the reason I prefer him in office is not to institute policies, but simply to stop the nonsensical madness we've had for the past two terms of tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts, at the same time we have continuous massive war supplementals over and over again to nation build, with astronomical debts that have no end. Save the U.S.? From what? Ourselves? The tax cut agenda only led to a legislated 840 billion dollars forced onto Wall St. anyway. And since when is it "bad" to pay taxes? We either have taxes and a government, with a Navy and military, police, firemen, courts, etc., or we don't. I've never understood this view that "tax cuts" are what puts country first.
All I want out of a politician is to study and understand something before he does it, flip-flop if it can be proven to have been a mistake, but most of the time, just pick your nose all day for your pay, while at least leaving everyone else alone. Hiding form Obama is infinitely superior to having to flee from Bush/McCain anti flip-flopping agendas.

To Richard wrote on Oct 17, 2008 9:40 AM:That's not all. I just spent an entire 8 month deployment guarding Iraq's two oil platforms. You can just guess who pays for that.

(Forward-deployed Sailors are currently assigned to protect Iraq’s critical two oil platforms, and to train Iraqi Naval Marine Force personnel to take over close-in point defense operations aboard the Al Basrah (ABOT) and Khawr Al Amaya (KAAOT) oil terminals.)

DD Wiz wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:24 AM:Beer Taxes
The post from "Roberto" (1:34am) tries to explain taxes in terms of beer.
Like "Ron" so many times before him, his example only gives one side of the balance sheet.
He talks about the four poorest guys paying nothing and the one richest guy paying $59.00 for a beer.
But he does not tell what there incomes are or quantify just how "rich" or "poor" they are.
Since the wage gap (not even including "unearned" investment income) is such that the typical CEO takes home over 400 times what the front line worker does (and in some corporations even much more than that), in order for the beer example to make any sense, it does not even begin to become equitable until the lowest wage earner pays the one dollar and the rich guy pays more than $400.

The example further ignores reality by trying to equate a luxury item (beer) with a necessity (government to maintain the public order).
The rich guy also gets the most government protection for his taxes, because he has the most to protect and has also benefitted the most from a system of regulated entrepreneurship that allows him to prosper.

It sounds to me like someone should check their facts and do their math instead of sampling the wares.

Purchased from Cindy's beer company, of course.
Peace (and sunshine), along with a few cool ones, to all, DD Wiz

Richard wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:35 AM:I don't known anyhone who thinks Obama will be the 'savior of the U.S.' Why people want him in office is simply the hope that we will be spared from any further downward, massive debt-inducing, nation-building Bush policies.
It's impossible to undo what has already been done. Can't we at least hope our national debt to fund the Iraq mess doesn't spiral even deeper?

Surfer wrote on Oct 17, 2008 10:41 AM:Skip[-] wrote on Oct 17, 2008 9:05 AM: Dude, they are illegal voters now. The illegals will eventually be legal voters.
No politician wants to offend a voter. See ya!

Reardon wrote on Oct 17, 2008 11:11 AM:gracchus:Having already posted an immigration plan that denies automatic citizenship, doubles legal immigration from Lain countries, provides workers and gets the illegal immigration numbers below a million that even SDRAOUL considers worthy of discussion, let me propose an education plan.

1. The starting salary of teachers will be $100,000
2. Tenure will cease
3. All teachers will hold advanced degrees in the specific subject they teach (No “education” degrees.)
4. Until (3) above is satisfied, all incoming teachers will pass the Massachusetts Teacher Literacy Test
5. All sports will be run by private organizations. (Little League, Pop Warner, etc.)
6. High School Graduation tests will be at the 12th Grade Level.(Currently 8th and 9th.)
7. Bussing and food services will not be a school function.

How am I doing?

(Tried this on the 17th, but apparently there is a ribbon cutting at a donut shop this morning.)

Ms M wrote on Oct 17, 2008 12:24 PM:Not sure if this is true or not, but..........:

....Well, this is an interesting turn of events. John McCain has black relatives and they support Barack Obama. I came across an interesting article on South Florida Times. Seems like John McCain has literally disowned them too.

The South Florida Times states in that article that in the rural Teoc community of Carroll County, Miss., where the ancestors of Sen. John McCain owned enslaved Africans on a plantation, black, white and mixed-race family members unite every two years for their Coming Home Reunion, on the land where the plantation operated.

As excerpted from South Florida Times, some of McCain’s black family members say they are not sure exactly where they fall on the family tree, but they do know this: They are either descendants of the McCain family slaves, or of children the McCains fathered with their slaves.

White and black members of the McCain family have met on the plantation several times over the last 15 years, but one invited guest has been conspicuously absent: Sen. John Sidney McCain.

Psst, John McCain, you have black folks in your family! Your family has a history of being slave owners. I bet that's a revelation he didn't want to come out. Talk about roots.....Oh my!

To Madeline wrote on Oct 17, 2008 12:30 PM:You've seen bush lie. Is this the first president that you've ever paid any attention to? If not, then you've seen all other presidents lie. That's what they do.

Why should I be busting anything to have a partial black man lie to me?

From Obamas website On Immigration wrote on Oct 17, 2008 12:35 PM:Obama and Biden support a system that allows undocumented immigrants who are in good standing to pay a fine, learn English, and go to the back of the line for the opportunity to become citizens.

Obama and Biden believe we need to do more to promote economic development in Mexico........

Obama introduced amendments to put greater emphasis on keeping immigrant families together.

They also realize the need to
increase the number of people we allow into the country legally to a level that keeps families together and meets
the demand for jobs that employers cannot fill.

*** I always thought our land and resources were becoming scarce. Pollution is up, water is scarce, gasoline is up, natural gas is expensive, our infrastructure is strained ......... WHY MUST WE CONTINUE WITH UNCONTROLLABLE IMMIGRATION POLICIES? Our country passed 300 Million people and we are well undeer way to reach 400 Million in our lifetimes.

Boat wrote on Oct 17, 2008 1:04 PM:NC Times Blog Editor: Hey, where are the letters for today the 17th of October? It is now 1:03PM. I am already halfway through the "Honey Do" List.
Editor's note: The letters went up this morning shortly before 10. Please see: http://nctimes.com/articles/2008/10/17/opinion/letters/zf6c8a90eb7eae68e882574e4007b1069.txt

Richard wrote on Oct 17, 2008 2:58 PM:To the post at 12:30 PM. Sorry to be the one to inform you, at this stage in your life, but children born from interracial marriages are not only 100% human beings, but when labeling, need to be properly done so, based on the now-understood biology. For example, a child of a black person and white person, when labeled as mulatto, does not indicate a 50/50 black/white person, quite the contrary. It depends on who is the mother and who is the father. For your information, it is incorrect to claim that Obama is a Black person that is partial (i.e. partly Caucasian). In his case, with his Caucasian parent being his mom, he inherited more Caucasian genes and of course all the materials in her egg, including the extra DNA in her mitochondria and all the macromolecules, etc. in the egg from which he grew. If you don't mind, I would prefer if you referred to him as a Caucasian person with partial black inheritance, because that at least would be the truth, which is what this election could sure use.
Remember, when a lion and a tiger mate, the appearance of the offspring is mostly determined by which, the lion or the tiger, was the mom. Their names, ligers verses tigons, always coincide as predicted with their appearance. Please be honest next time. Get the picture?

Richard wrote on Oct 17, 2008 4:39 PM:I just now noticed the post at 9:40. Many of my students are also in Iraq. All servicemen there are citizens who care so much for this country that its' incredible, and I hope this all one day soon turns out as best it can. I hope that the Maliki government gets the support it needs from its own country because my strongest hope is that we exit as quickly as is feasible with as minimum damage and loss as possible, but this opinion of course doesn't actually translate into much. Good luck to you.

Roberto wrote on Oct 17, 2008 6:05 PM:I would suggest DD chill out witha cold one and take a wiz. There is no changing the fact if its beer or unfunded mandates...Vote McCain / Palin