House rejects Bailout Plan; Dow drops record 777 points

Unbelievable. That's all I have to say about today. The House votes against the Bailout Plan and the Dow drops 777 points. Why did this happen, let me list the reasons why:

- Obama's fault

- Democrats couldn't get the votes

- Pelosi hurt republicans feelings

- Obama's fault

- Screw Wall Street

- Did I mention it was Obama's fault?

I can't stand the Republicans anymore. There were enough votes on the Republican side, but 15 changed their mind. Which is fine, but what caused them to change their mind? If they just have a change of heart? Oh no...they were pissed about Pelosi's speech. That's right. If Pelosi never said anything, they would've voted for the same bill they voted against...

Right. It's not about Politics and it's all the Democrats fault.

Here's the vote breakdown:

Democrats: 140 Yes, 95 No
Republicans: 65 Yes, 133 No

1st Debate: Draw

The first presidential debate just ended and considering it was McCain's ground, I thought that Obama drew it. At the very least, he did not hurt himself.

Their styles were completely different with McCain being more direct and Obama giving these philosophical type answers, which I personally prefer, but which would play to undecided voters?

I'll post more later on specific points I thought were best for both...

McCain wins debate!

Or at least thats what an internet ad states from this morning. Chris Cillizza from the Washington Post points it out today

Here is the ad:










The ad was from this morning so McCain always had in mind to come to the debate.

I expect the polls to really open up after this last McCain stunt that failed miserably and this debate tonight. Already RealClearPoilitics has an average lead of 4.2 points for Obama.

Enough already

I've had enough with McCain's pandering and political ploys. This latests one with "suspending" his campaign to go to Washington so he can help with the financial crisis is a complete joke.

He admits to not having read the Paulson Plan on Tuesday of this week despite the fact that it came out the previous Friday. I could understand not being able to read 2 1/2 pages in five days.

He states he's suspending his campaign though he has pundits out ripping into Obama that morning. According to this AP story, the Huffington Post, "said it had called 15 McCain campaign offices in battleground states, and none said it was suspending operations."

At what point to voters, specifically undecideds, realize that McCain just wants to distract from the issues of the campaign? That this guy takes this HUGE political risks in the name of changing poll numbers. That his real motto is campaign before country.

First Palin, in the whole lipstick on a pig and now this. Every time it happens, he's done 4-8 pts in the polls. And yet some people eat it up. Drives me nuts. Sarah Palin can barely have a coherent thought when discussion various political issues and people love her??

I just want this election season to end already...

Ron Paul: Real Man of Genius

In 2003, Ron Paul addressed the House Financial Service Committee concerning Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Here's part of what he said.

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

If real change is what this country REALLY wants than Ron Paul should be the next president of the United States. Sadly though, he will not be. What a shame.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul128.html

Road to Nowhere

Alaskans may not have a Bridge to Nowhere, but at least they have a Road to Nowhere. That's right. Construction was completed on the road that would have lead to that Bridge.

So why build the road? Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein said that it will serve, "road races and hunting and possibly some commercial development." The project cost $25 million to complete.

I wish Sarah Palin brings the same kind of reform to Washington that she brought Alaska! Reformer my ass.

Harry Reid on leadership...

Harry Reid response to the financial crisis the last few days:

"No one knows what to do," Reid said. "This is a different game. We are not playing soccer, basketball or football. This is new game, and we're going to have to figure out how to [handle] it. You could ask Bernanke, you could ask Paulson — they don't know what to do. But they are trying to come up with ideas."

Leadership you can believe in...

Putin = old style commie

There are no words to describe Vladimir Putin. This quote from an article stating that Russia is trying to claim part of the Artic for oil and gas serves says it all:

Vladimir Putin, now Russia's prime minister, has said global warming is good for Russia – melting its vast icy territories to reveal previously inaccessible oil and gas reserves.

With the Georgia move and that comment, we are looking at Time's Man of the Year. Or douche bag..either or.

Six women's rights groups endorse Obama

Women's rights groups endorse Obama for president.

One of the best quotes I've seen recently in dealing with this election:

"We don't think it's much to break a glass ceiling for one woman and leave millions of women behind," - Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority Foundation

Capital gains tax

With the recent "Wall Street meltdown", I wouldn't be surprised to see the McCain camp hit Obama on whether or not he's going to stay with the increase in Captain gains tax. It keeps looking more and more likely that if Obama wins, he'll need to follow the lead of two former Democratic Presidents of the past: Kennedy and Clinton. Both cut capital gains during their presidency, with Clinton cutting it from 28% to 20% in 1997.

Should be interesting..

Financial news

With the recent financial crisis dealing with Banks and the 500 point drop on the Dow, here are some news stories from the past few days:

Fed bails out AIG lending the insurance giant $85 billion loan for 2 years. Fed gets 79% equity stake in AIG.

Barclays buys some of the core assests of Lehman Brothers for $1.75 billion. Move could save as many as 8-10 k jobs in the U.S. Sounds like a steal to me.

Russian stock market dropped 17% yesterday and then suspends selling. It dropped 6.4% today and has already been suspended for a second straight day. Wow.

Samsung makes a $5.85 billion bid on SanDisk.

Rome is burning!

From the mouth of a man who's childhood heroes were William F. Buckley and economist Friedrich Hayek:

About the election - "blackberries, lipstick, pigs and teleprompters...rome burns as these 2 fiddle"

Btw, he put together the picture of Obama and McCain. Good job dan! :)

McCain invented the Blackberry!

Jonathan Martin from the Politico has a post on his blog stating that John McCain helped create the Blackberry. Here is what he said.

Asked what work John McCain did as Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee that helped him understand the financial markets, the candidate's top economic adviser wielded visual evidence: his BlackBerry.

"He did this," Douglas Holtz-Eakin told reporters this morning, holding up his BlackBerry. "Telecommunications of the United States is a premier innovation in the past 15 years, comes right through the Commerce committee so you're looking at the miracle John McCain helped create and that's what he did."

Hmmm. And here I thought it was a Canadian company called Research in Motion that actually created the device. Who knew that a person who doesn't even know how to use a Computer, or send email, could be so innovative! :)

Props to you John McCain!!

DailyKos

Just a quick post. I thought since I was on the subject of God, I'd vent a bit about the DailyKos. I realize that it's a pretty liberal blog site, but here is where being an Evangelical christian democrat is difficult. There are people on there, and I'd imagine quite a bit, that just ridicule people who believe in God, especially Christians. One of their Google ads is a DVD about Christ never existing.

Perhaps they are just as sick of the religious right, and their infusion with Politics, as I am. Or perhaps not..

Leo Tolstoy

I was over my parents house and my father brought the whole Palin "it's God's plan" when it comes to Iraq (I hope I quoted that right). She stated she was just referring to a quote by Lincoln during the Civil War. Anyway, my dad and I got into this debate about "God's plan" or "God's will". Being a Christian myself, I have always hated when someone invoked God into the discussion of war. I found it to be contradictory.

There are a few verses, specifically in the New Testament, that point to a non-resistance position, Matthew 5:39, or self defense, Luke 22:36-38. I recall a co-worker of mine even stated the Bible supports "preemptive war" though I can't recall the verse he used to support it. Self-defense is as far as I would go and even that is a bite much from the teachings of Christ.

Back to the issue at hand. Here is the quote Palin referred to with Lincoln:

"No nobler reply ever fell from the lips of a ruler, than that uttered by President Lincoln in response to the clergyman who ventured to say, in his presence, that he hoped 'the Lord was on our side.'

"I am not at all concerned about that,' replied Mr. Lincoln, 'for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side.'"

I find his words to be not as sure of the path he, and the country during the Civil War, had taken on being on the side of God. Sounds like he was hoping, where people today are so sure that God is on our side with this war in Iraq.

Enter Leo Tolstoy. To my shock, I did not realize that he believed in Jesus and Christianity. I'm still not sure how much he believed in what the Bible teaches, but he did follow Jesus teachings, specifically the Sermon on the Mount. Tolstoy thought that the main theme in his teachings was Matthew 5:39, which he considered a call to " nonviolent resistance to evil". I picked up his book titled "The Kingdom of God is Within You". Here is a passage from that book from a man which he quotes named William Lloyd Garrison

"The dogma that all the governments of the world are approvingly ordained of God, and that the powers that be in the United States, in Russia, in Turkey, are in accordance with his will, is no less absurd than impious. It makes the impartial Author of our existence unequal and tyrannical. It cannot be affirmed that the powers that be in any nation are actuated by the spirit or guided by the example of Christ in the treatment of enemies;there they cannot be agreeable to the will of God, and therefore their overthrow by a spiritual regeneration of their subjects is inevitable."

Those words especially eased my troubled Soul. It was comforting to know that there are people out there that look at the world and not want to make it a "us or them" scenario. Is that really what Jesus wanted? Is that really what he taught? What about, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"? Why is our only solution as a nation more war?

As a nation or as individuals we would be much better served, and a beckon to the rest of the world, if we just listened to Jesus...

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Billo is a pinhead

Ben Smith from the politico brought up the Bill O'Reilly reactions about both Jamie Lynn Spears and Bristol Palin being pregnant. If you recall, he called Spears parents pinheads, but had a much different opinion about the Palins. This was an email from a viewer and O'Reilly's response..

Given your defense of Sarah Palin's judgment on Bristol Palin, do you take back what you said about Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy--that her parents were to blame? Emil Caillaux, LIMA

When I talked about the Spears parents, I said the parents were pinheads because they didn't supervise their young daughters. I stand by that remark. There's no evidence that the Palins did not supervise their daughter or their other children.

Nice. I do believe that Bill O'Reilly is saying that the Palin's watched their daughter have sex. I mean if they were supervising her and she got pregnant...see where I am going. Of course I'm kidding, but unfortunately Billo can never admit he's the pinhead..

" Gee, I wish we had one of them doomsday machines."

Governor Sarah Palin had her first interview since being named the Republican V.P nominee and boy did she had some interesting things to say, especially about Russia/Georgia.

Here is a bit of that:

GIBSON: Would you favor putting Georgia and Ukraine in NATO?
PALIN: Ukraine, definitely, yes. Yes, and Georgia.

GIBSON:: Because Putin has said he would not tolerate NATO incursion into the Caucasus.

PALIN: Well, you know, the Rose Revolution, the Orange Revolution, those actions have showed us that those democratic nations, I believe, deserve to be in NATO.

Putin thinks otherwise. Obviously, he thinks otherwise, but...

GIBSON: And under the NATO treaty, wouldn't we then have to go to war if Russia went into Georgia?

PALIN: Perhaps so. I mean, that is the agreement when you are a NATO ally, is if another country is attacked, you're going to be expected to be called upon and help.

But NATO, I think, should include Ukraine, definitely, at this point and I think that we need to -- especially with new leadership coming in on January 20, being sworn on, on either ticket, we have got to make sure that we strengthen our allies, our ties with each one of those NATO members.

NATO does state that, "The Parties of NATO agreed that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all." However it does that also that, "such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area." They do, however, have the freedom to respond how they feel necessary. So it does not mean sending troops.

Even more of the reason to either deny Georgia membership, democracy be damned, or just delay the matter until relations with Russia cool off, if they were do.

Though Obama doesn't think we should give Georgia membership now, he does believe in giving them a Membership Action Plan, which basically prepares them to become members. Not sure how long that might be, but if it's soon then I have to completely disagree with him on this point. We are FAR too stretched in the world now to even consider an escalation with Russia over, of all things, the country of Georgia. How does that serve our national interest?? Let's try to keep our eye on the ball and try for once de-escalating for a change.

War with Russia over Georgia? Wow...all I can think about is "Dr. Strangelove"..

General Jack D. Ripper: I shouldn't tell you this, Mandrake, but you're a good officer and you've a right to know. It looks like we're in a shooting war.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake: Oh, hell. Are the Russians involved, sir?

Obama response video

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Obama responds...

..and what a great response it was! Here is what he said today in Virigina about this "controversy"


Some of you may have -- I'm assuming you guys have heard this, watching the news. I'm talking about John McCain's economic politics, I say, "This is more of the same, you can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig."
And suddenly they say, "Oh, you must be talking about the governor of Alaska."

[Laughter from audience]

See it would be funny, it would be funny except -- of course the news media all decided that that was the lead story yesterday. They'd much rather have the story -- this is the McCain campaign -- would much rather have the story about phony and foolish diversions than about the future.

This happens every election cycle. Every four years. This is what we do. We've got an energy crisis. We have an education system that is not working for too many of our children and making us less competitive. We have an economy that is creating hardship for families all across America. We've got two wars going on, veterans coming home not being cared for -- and this is what they want to talk about! this is what they want to spend two of the last 55 days talking about.

You know who ends up losing at the end of the day? It's not the Democratic candidate, It's not the republican candidate. It's you, the American people. because then we go another year or another four years or another eight years without addressing the issues that matter to you. Enough.

I don't care what they say about me, but I love this country too much to let them take over another election with lies and phony outrage and swift-boat politics. Enough is enough.

"Lipstick on a pig.."

I've had enough with the sexism charge already. You can't even use a common phrase without people saying this now.

Obama at a rally said the following when referring to how McCain/Palin are now for "change"...


"Obama poked fun of McCain and Palin's new "change" mantra.

"You can put lipstick on a pig," he said as the crowd cheered. "It's still a pig."

"You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It's still gonna stink."

"We've had enough of the same old thing."

Of course here comes the McCain campaign actually charging that Obama called Palin a pig. They have seen how it plays in the polls and now are basically going to charge the Obama campaign with sexism every time the name Palin comes out of his mouth. Clearly he was mocking the whole "change" message these two are starting to use in their campaign. Never mind that McCain used the exact same language to describe Hillary Clinton's health care plan in 2007.

Completely ridiculous and I just hope voters start tuning into this tactic.

Economy

As McCain Campaign Manager Mark Davis stated a few days ago. "This election is not about issues. This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."

Right. It's not about the economy, cause why would it be. A few weeks ago John McCain said on Laura Ingraham's talk show, "the fundamentals of our economy are strong."

Obama slammed him in Scranton PA yesterday using McCain's own words against him. ""What's more fundamental than having a job?" Obama said. "What's more fundamental than seeing your incomes keep pace with inflation so that you can save a little bit and watch your child walk off stage with a college diploma in their hand? What's more fundamental than that? I don't think this is because John McCain is a bad person. I just don't think they get it."

Brillant. Obama and Biden has to make it about issues such as the economy. McCain wants us to believe he's a "reformer" when he basically agrees with all the moves the Bush Administration has made in dealing with the economy (Though at first he did reject Bush's tax cuts until he had to make nice with the conservative base).

Almost forgot some indictors of that "strong" economy:

Unemployment climbs to 5-year high of 6.1 percent

U.S. Mortgage Foreclosures, Delinquencies Reach 29 year high

Remember it's not about the issues...

Israel

Last night I went to Barnes and Noble and saw this book called "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy". I read it a bit and it keeps quite fascinating. I'm only on page 30 right now, but basically its about the unquestionable support (both politically and financially) of Israel from our politicians and government. Rarely do you ever seen an issue where both Democrats and Republicans completely agree, but Israel would be one of those. You are vilified if you show support for both sides, which in my opinion U.S. support should be a lot more balanced then it is with Israel.

Just some thoughts.

Great clip from the Daily show

Found this clip of the Daily Show. Making the point about Rove/Kaine I made and some other really good ones. I'm starting to feel sorry for Hillary Clinton...

Noonan and Murphy on Palin

It gets better and better. Mike Murphy and Peggy Noonan, two conservative commentators were caught on a hot mic telling us exactly what they think of the Palin pick.

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Karl Rove says it best

Mr. Karl Rove proves my point about the inexperience of Sarah Palin by talking about Governor Tim Kaine of Virgina.



So if Tim Kaine would have been a political pick and he has more experience (same time as governor, four years as lieutenant governor, mayor of Richmond, Virginia) than Sarah Palin, what does that speak of McCain's reasons for picking her?

Case closed. Thank you Mr. Rove!

Palin's daughter story

I am sick that this is even a news story. This is such a non-political issue it's sad. I started feeling badly for the Palin's about how the media is going on and on about this and then I read this story.

Palin baby daddy showing up at convention

Nice. They are going to make a show of it at the Convention. No doubt we'll get some good shots of them holding hands and being all lovey together. This will only add fuel to the fire. I find it hard to believe that these two were going to get married BEFORE finding out to be pregnant. This thing just smells of a "lets make it look nice for the cameras" moment.

Perhaps I'm just a cynic. Either way, let's talk about issues and enough of this TMZ type garbage.

Another author

I've decided to invite my twin brother, Daniel, to post here on certain issues. He is a true conservative in the way of William F. Buckley and hopefully balances out the blog itself.

Be kind Dan! :)

Politics and family

There are two topics that generally shouldn't be discussed with family: Politics and Religion. I happen to have a very minority position in both with my family. I am the only democrat in my family, thus the lone dem title. Also most of my family are Mormons and I am not. I am a Christian and go to a non-denominational church now for nearly three years. So when these topics come up, fireworks can occur. Most times they don't as I am passive and just try to take the high road.

But lately my father has grown in his hatred of Barack Obama. Here is my father's thoughts on Obama:

- He's a muslim

- He hates America and wants to destroy it.

- He hates Whites and wants to cause a divide between blacks and whites.

- He's a communist

- He's immoral

I can go on and on about it. Every time I visit he starts with some sort of Obama comment. Almost always it's in some laughing, condescending way. I try to explain to my dad that you can disagree with Obama's views but you don't have to demonize the man. He obviously doesn't get it and just goes into his Obama tirade.

I can take most of accusations but the one I can't stand is the Muslim charge. My father thinks because he lived in Indoensia, and one of the reason why he think he hates America so much, he must be a Muslim. Because he has Muslim friends, he is a Muslim. The man is a Christian. He accept Christ and that's it. He could have written the Koran and been a descendant of Muhammed himself, but he has accept Christ as his savor. End of discussion.

Not that I see eye to eye with Obama's Christianity. I am finished his second book and just finished the chapter on Faith. For me, and I'm a big Obama supporter, there wasn't enough about his personal faith or at least him talking about it. Being a new Christian myself, I know the internal struggle that he talks about in his book and I too am reluctant to get into discussions about it. But he has a more liberal view of the Bible, where I, believe it or not, have a much more conservative view of it. Still the man professes his faith in Jesus, so let's just leave it at that please.

I try not to take what my Father says personal. His manner of argument is relentless and very condescending as I stated earlier. We will never see eye to eye and frankly I think he thinks I'm a socialist or something. I am quite moderate in my political views and it gets under my skin when he says that.

I won't even get into the Mormonism part. I'll save that for another day..

War Protesters at RNC

An estimated crowd of 8-10 thousand protested several blocks away from the Xcel Engery Center during the RNC convention today. Five people were arrested as the crowd started smashing cars, puncturing tires and throwing bottles as they clashed with pepper-spray wielding police.

I cringe when I see stories like this dealing with protestors. Morons, you can't be anti-war protestors and be violent!!! It's garbage like this that will sink the Democrats during the election. Add this and bloggers with their attacks on Sarah Palin's pregnant teenage daughter, and we are shooting ourselves in the foot.

It was good to see Obama quickly denounce any attacks on any of the candidate families. Obama tried to remind listeners that his mom was a teenage mom when she had him. Well done Barack! :)

Laura Bush warns Dems

Politico's Jonathan Martin had an article about Laura Bush warning Dems from attacking Sarah Palin.

"Questioned about whether Palin may face sexism from the media in the way Hillary Rodham Clinton supporters claim she did, Bush said: "I think that's a possibility."

I do agree with Laura Bush that this is something Democrats have to watch. I don't agree with attacks because of her gender, but I just hope critism about her lack of experience isn't viewed as a attack because she's a woman. The same would apply for Obama's race. The V.P. debate should be interesting with Joe Biden, who has been known to insert his foot in his mouth. However, Laura Bush's comments bring up some interesting points.

Though attacks against Palin will be viewed as "bullying", I don't think its fair that you have to handle female candidates with kid gloves. A candidates gender, or race, should bring no more attacks or criticism because of it. Everything is fair game in my opinion.

Secondly, when have the Republicans NOT attacked Hillary Clinton?? Go back to when she was the First Lady and how even today they are commentators on the right who suggest that Hillary was involved in the suicide of her good friend Vince Foster. Hillary Clinton is the poster child of the attacks on the right. Look at Palin's first public appearance on the road in the campaign. She said the following to the crowd. Palin praised Hillary for "determination and grace during her presidential run". The crowd responded with boos.

Let's call it both ways.