wikistan

They say it’s not a cult, but I’m not too sure.

Media, Politics cult, obama

I know, some lawmakers will be working behind the scenes through Thursday, but Congress as a whole will be taking the day off ‘thinking about the mess.’   Meanwhile the majority of Americans, stuck at work, try to figure out where they wrote down their 401k account password.

Economy, Politics bailout, Politics

“After a lackluster performance this past Thursday night, Sarah Palin has scheduled a press conference for 4pm EST, where most believe she will announce her withdrawal as VP candidate”.

I anticipate that we have a very good chance of seeing such a headline in a week, if this week’s debate goes as poorly for SP as many expect. She’s had three public interviews to Biden’s 100 during the same amount of time?!? If that doesn’t speak to an unpreparedness, then I don’t know what does. I kinda feel sorry for her.

I guess we’ll know soon enough.

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Obama seems to have found the sweet spot of demagoguery, spin, and polling.

Now, it’s McCain’s Katrina all of a sudden.

Plus, ABC provides another uncritical platform for getting the O’s message out.

Media, Politics katrin, mccain, obama

Reading this blog for the last few days you would think that regulating business is a much cherished cornerstone of Republican political philosophy and that Democrats are always stifling their efforts to keep tabs on industry. We apparently misheard them at the Republican National Convention; they were chanting “regulate, baby, regulate!”

Barney Frank is the anti-Christ in this fledgling alternate universe and solely responsible for the financial meltdown.

What isn’t mentioned around here is that the bill that Frank voted against for whatever stated reason, PASSED. The White House intended to veto it. The author of the bill, Republican Mike Oxley put it like this:

[Oxley] fumes about the criticism of his House colleagues. “All the handwringing and bedwetting is going on without remembering how the House stepped up on this,” he says. “What did we get from the White House? We got a one-finger salute.”

The House bill, the 2005 Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, would have created a stronger regulator with new powers to increase capital at Fannie and Freddie, to limit their portfolios and to deal with the possibility of receivership.

Of course, the White House argued that the bill wasn’t strong enough.

Bottom line: six years of a Republican dominated House, Senate, and White House couldn’t bring about the regulatory changes necessary to avoid Fannie and Freddie’s near-collapse.

When the Democrats took control of the House in 2007, what was Barney Frank’s top priority as Chairman of the Financial Services Committee? H.R. 1427: Federal Housing Finance Reform Act of 2007. The summary is here.

Now back to the real world where McCain’s campaign managers and economic heroes make their fortunes fighting tooth and nail to deregulate everything with blatant disregard for future consequences (financial meltdowns for example). More on that later…

Politics

Did liberals and conservatives watch two separate debates last Friday night?  Apparently the amount of spin a candidate receives after the debate is worth more than his actual debate performance.

During his primary debates, Obama “could be hesitant, wordy and thrown off his stride”.  During Friday’s debate, Obama was hesitant, wordy, and thrown off his stride.  Repeatedly.  He begged Jim Lehrer to move on at least twice. But I guess the peeps were too busy turning their CNN debate dials and missed that.

McCain corrects Obama but that’s ‘condescending’ according to the .  Obama wins.

McCain’s able to recount specific and relevant foreign policy experiences.  Obama wins.

McCain looks trollish. Obama wins.

McCain misses an opportunity. Obama wins.

McCain doesn’t mention middle class in debate.  Obama wins.

Obama’s delivery stumbles. Obama wins.

Obama’s got a bracelet too.  Obama wins.

McCain camp fails to spin after debate as much as Obama.  Obama wins.

But Dionne gets it right at the end:  “However one judges the first debate, it did nothing to block Obama’s progress.”

You don’t say.

Politics mccain, obama, Politics

Daft.

Obama this morning: McCain Gets no credit for Wall Street Bailout

Asked if McCain deserves the credit, Obama said no.

“I was on the phone every day with Secretary Paulson and the congressional leaders, making sure that the principles that have ultimately been adopted were incorporated into the bill,” Obama told CBS’s Bob Schieffer, explaining, “I think, [that] is an indication of the degree to which, when it comes to protecting taxpayers, I was pushing very hard and involved in shaping those provisions.”

McCain this morning:

“I’m never going to not get engaged when the taxpayers and middle class of America are in danger of losing everything, literally, that they’ve worked all their lives for,” McCain told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. Adding, “I won’t claim a bit of credit.“

Also enjoyable:

“We have to remember how we got here, not so much to allocate blame as to understand the choices that are going to face the next president,”

Of course we shouldn’t be throwing around any blame at my close allies in Congress, who protected the status quo at all costs. We’re above blame.   Blame is so 20th century.

And the polls keep spinning him up, and up, and up.

All Topics election, mccain, obama, Politics

Statistics would probably tell you that a pick-up driving, hair-dressing, white woman in her 40s from Hamilton, Ohio would be solidly in McCain’s column. Yesterday, one such woman showed up at our Bakesale for Barack ($450 raised) having seen our sign from the road while scoping out the parking situation in Oxford for today’s walk-a-thon. Not only is she solidly for Barack and terrified of the possibility of Palin ending up as President but she sees the same fear eroding McCain’s support among her Republican friends and clients. As a hair-dresser at a nursing home for women, she’s finding that the staunchest of Republican grannies are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with Palin’s presence on the ticket (can you blame them?), and are beginning to see Obama as a viable alternative to lead the country. Post-debate polls seem to confirm that this view of Obama is taking hold.

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Truth squad? I saw this several days ago, and thought no way it was real. But now Missouri’s governor has officially commented on it. Is he just getting duped too, or is this what it’s come to?

The response will be that these folks, they just get a little over-enthusiastic during this highly charged election season. Let’s forgive ‘em and move on and talk about the issues important to American citizens.

Politics gateway, missouri, obama, truth squad

Takeaway #1: Maxine Waters really, really, really liked Franklin Raines!

Takeaway #2: Bill Clinton washing his hands of the situation.

Politics congress, democrat, dems, fannie mae, frank, meeks, Politics, waters

One of the leading carcinogens of the epic failure of the housing crisis is now tasked with its resuscitation. Barney Frank says a housing deal can be reached by Sunday if that meddling John McCain would just stay away.

The congressman has repeatedly blamed House republicans for failing the prevent the crisis he fomented; his most frequent CYA attack is that republicans didn’t sponsor enough regulations that would aid solvency. But when the GOP did suggest some tougher rules for lending, he claims he would have been on board with them, except for a last minute provision that didn’t sit well with him

In addition, the author points to the fact that I voted against GSE reform in 2005, but does not tell readers why. The Republican majority inserted language at the last minute that would prohibit religious organizations from participating. The Catholic and Lutheran churches, and many others, sponsor some of the best not- for-profit housing development organizations in the country. It is only because of this ridiculous action by arch-conservative Republicans that I cast my vote “no”. It was not because I was opposed to tougher regulations and oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Oh, yeah, the Champion of Religious Housing loves him some Catholic and Lutheran votes, to be sure! Gotta keep them votes! Maybe it was actually to win back some local faith-based votes, because just a couple of years earlier he had a much different tone. When dismissing Bush’s idea of funding building projects for religious groups already engaged in delivering government-approved social services, Frank said that

“in addition to religious discrimination, the measure would support de facto and racial discrimination, even instigating segregation among denominations. Federal grants dedicated to building parts of houses of worship complicate the issue, putting a burden on the government to ensure that the space is dedicated to secular activities, according to Frank.

It’s a nutty idea to have the government in that sort of position,” he said. “It’s outrageous to have it financed by federal money.”

Which way does he want it? He dismissed a chance for a compromise vote because of something that could have easily been negotiated at the time. Do you think he’s doing it differently this time?

Politics congress, frank, housing

This morning while I was running some errands, I tuned into some AM hate talk radio and caught an Obama ad attacking McCain’s position on stem cell research.  McCain’s against stem cell research, you say?  Traitorous, Bible thumpin’ bastard!   He’ll drive us all back into the Stone Age!  (listen to the ad here).

Popular factcheck websites redflagged this ad weeks ago as being completely false.  I can maybe see how the Obama Ohio media campaign is a few hours or even days behind, but running this ad weeks later is libelous and intentionally misleading.  Somebody in Ohio could also have checked McCain’s website:

Addressing the Moral Concerns of Advanced Technology

As president, John McCain will strongly support funding for promising research programs, including amniotic fluid and adult stem cell research and other types of scientific study that do not involve the use of human embryos.

Where federal funds are used for stem cell research, Senator McCain believes clear lines should be drawn that reflect a refusal to sacrifice moral values and ethical principles for the sake of scientific progress, and that any such research should be subject to strict federal guidelines.

Not only does the ad lie about McCain’s position, IIRC McCain actually broke ranks with the President and took the opposite position of many congressional Republicans.  Today, all we hear is McSame this, McSame that, but his voting record clearly shows 1) no such automatic party loyalty and 2) his commitment to continuing the different types of stem cell research.   Where has Obama broken ranks with his party?

*************************

There are similar gripes coming from the hyperactive left about McCain’s insistence on airing ads that falsely claim Obama will raise taxes on Americans making over $42,000 per year.  Their cried ring true–Obama has never voted on a law that would raise taxes on such people. But this situation (perhaps simplistically) highlights a key difference between liberals and conservatives.   To rationalize support for Obama,  liberal voters are likely concerned more about what a candidate will do versus what they’ve already done on the record. The past is irrelevant–what does the candidate intend to do in the future?  Conversely, conservatives may be interested more in voting records, accomplishments to predict what the candidate will do.  McCain’s tax ad insinuated that Obama would raise taxes on everybody–and many, many Obamabots have cried foul. But the attack ad is based on actual actions Obama had taken in Congress when he voted on specific budget resolutions concerning tax law.  If somebody votes for “A” twice in a row in Congress, one would logically expect that somebody to vote for “A” again when given the opportunity.

Well, unless that somebody flip-flops.

That is not a deceitful and intentionally misleading assertion.  That is simple observation.

Media, Politics ad, campaign, mccain, obama, radio, tv

Mysterious cargo aboard hijacked Iranian ship keeps pirates guessing.  Everyone loves a surprise!

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Man arrested for severe DUI, leans over to the officer, and cuts the “cheese.”

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When he’s not ripping McCain for missing votes, bipolar Harry Reid is ripping McCain for coming to vote!  At least we know today’s reason for wanting McCain away:  Harry wants to slip an extension of the oil shale ban into the current appropriations bill (and was busted by Sen Demint).

Politics

. . . and goes ballistic on “toad” Barney Frank as well as his “cigar smoking, corrupt” detractors on the right.  It’s safe for work, although a little loud.

All Topics o'reilly

Obama still pressing for McCain to join in the debate.

“The American people deserve to hear directly from myself and Sen. McCain about how we intend to lead our country,” Obama said. “The times are too serious to put our campaign on hold, or to ignore the full range of issues that the next president will face.”

And they are witnessing in real time how McCain would lead in a real life crisis.  Fix the problem in Washington, then get back to Ole Miss when there’s a compromise.   Obama’s response: if they “need me, they’ll call me.”

Well, Senator, if they don’t need you now, why would they need you later?

Politics bush, mccain, obama

Reminder to CNN’s iReporters:  The proposed bailout is not about giving $700B straight to greedy Wall Street types.

Economy bailout, bush, credit, fannie mae, freddie mac

Don Surber

the New York Times thinks it is bad because the firm of Republican John McCain’s campaign manager represents Fannie Mae?

Here is the architect of the self-destruction of Fannie Mae constructing the Obama presidency.

Heh.

Politics johnson, obama

Yes, Senator Obama, part of being President requires multitasking–we get that–but Americans are more interested in what you do rather than what you say you’ll do. Go to Washington, negotiate the bill, then have the debate on Monday Tuesday night.

(forgot about the football thing)

Politics debate, mccain, obama, Politics

Money shot from CNN’s belated foray into the Alaskan earmark saga:

CNN asked Biden’s campaign whether it could ask the senator about his earmark requests and his votes on the Bridge to Nowhere.

In response, a staffer e-mailed, “You’ve interviewed Gov. Palin re: her completely made up position on the Bridge to Nowhere right?

Politics biden, cnn, earmark, obama, palin, Politics

Unique problems face Israeli leader-to-be.

Uncategorized

Middle east democracy takes a step forward. Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, Russia, al Qaeda, al Qaeda in Iraq, Syria, and Russia unsure of what to say next.

Not again. Lance Armstrong thinks world needs more Lance Armstrong. By Lance Armstrong.

Foxnews and NYT go at it over McCain's ties to Fannie Mae.

N.Korea perceives American turmoil and decides it can seize an advantage.

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Massive rollout of new government spending put on hold due to, , , another rollout of massive government spending.

Anti-Obama T-shirt? Um, it *is* a little inflamatory.

David Blaine begins his hanging upside down thingy. Any way they can hang him 'real good'?

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According to John McCain, Sarah Palin “knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the US.” Let’s see for ourselves:

Palin Brings It!

“Of course, it’s a fungible commodity and they don’t flag, you know, the molecules, where it’s going and where it’s not. But in the sense of the Congress today, they know that there are very, very hungry domestic markets that need that oil first. So, I believe that what Congress is going to do, also, is not to allow the export bans to such a degree that it’s Americans who get stuck holding the bag without the energy source that is produced here, pumped here. It’s got to flow into our domestic markets first.”

This is why they keep her walled off from the press. And this is why she’s afraid to go toe to toe with Joe Biden.

Politics