McCain Lies Again - Claims He Does Not Want Privatized Social Security

After being slapped by Obama's speech that laid out McCain's plan to privatize Social Security the McCain camp cried foul. They say McCain has never been for privatizing Social Security. Problem is in 2004 he made an impassioned speech calling for the privatization of Social Security.

McCain lied again! What he said was, "Without privatization, I don't see how you can possibly, over time, make sure that young Americans are able to receive Social Security benefits," at a December 2004 event in New Hampshire.

McCain has been studying at the feet of Karl Rove and apparently really learning that telling the truth is a liability when you are a Republican. The Straight Talk Express left the station long ago.

Obama Slams McCain! Great Video!

Let the video speak for itself. Obama is right on message and right on target.

Groundbreaking Transgender Case!

A transgendered woman who was offered a job and later lost it after her employer found she was transgendered has won her discrimination case in Federal Court. A court ruled today that the Library of Congress discriminated against Diane Schroer when it first offered her a job and then withdrew it after finding she was transgendered.

From a news release on the ACLU website:

In reaching its decision, the court ruled: "The evidence established that the Library was enthusiastic about hiring David Schroer – until she disclosed her transsexuality. The Library revoked the offer when it learned that a man named David intended to become, legally, culturally, and physically, a woman named Diane. This was discrimination 'because of . . . sex.'"

The court compares the discrimination faced by Schroer to religious-based discrimination, saying, "Imagine that an employee is fired because she converts from Christianity to Judaism. Imagine too that her employer testified that he harbors no bias toward either Christians or Jews but only 'converts.' That would be a clear case of discrimination 'because of religion.' No court would take seriously the notion that 'converts' are not covered by the statute."

Take A Break, The Bad News Will Still Be There.

In the midst of the financial mess and the election craziness, sometimes it's nice to just take a break. In that spirit I offer a clip of my favorite dancers, the Nicholas Brothers, performing in the 1940 Technicolor musical, Down Argentine Way. Not only do they dance better than anyone I ave ever witnessed, they sing in Spanish as well. Who could ask for more?

These two talented performers kept dancing right p into the 1970's when they even teamed with Michael Jackson on a TV special. They have been called the Jedi of tap dance. Enjoy.

McCain Wants Deregulation Of Health Care - Just Like Banking!

It wasn't bad enough when McCain pronounced the economy strong as Wall Street crashed and burned, now he wants to apply the same disastrous logic to the nation's health care . Don't believe me, here is a quote from the old fuddy dud himself.

"Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation."

Is this man living in a cave somewhere? Deregulation led to the mess in the financial markets and now he wants to screw up our health care even worse. Someone please lead him to a wheelchair and roll him out of the public spotlight.

McCain Advisor Lobbies Against Regulation For Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac

Just in case you have been living under a rock, the whole who advised who thing is silly. Read this letter to the NY Times, published first at Politico.com. It clearly shows that McCain and his cronies are lying bastards. But you probably already knew that.

To The Editor:

Yesterday, Senator John McCain released a television commercial attacking Barack Obama for allegedly receiving advice on the economy from former Fannie Mae CEO Franklin Raines. From the stump, he has recently tried tying Senator Obama to Fannie Mae, as if there is some guilt in the association with Fannie Mae's former executives.

It is an interesting card for Senator McCain to play, given that his campaign manager, Rick Davis, was paid by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac several hundred thousand dollars early in this decade to head up an organization to lobby in their behalf called The Homeownership Alliance. ...

I worked in government relations for Fannie Mae for more than 20 years, leading the group for most of those years. When I see photographs of Sen. McCain's staff, it looks to me like the team of lobbyists who used to report to me. Senator McCain's attack on Senator Obama is a cheap shot, and hypocritical.

Sincerely,

William Maloni
Fannie Mae Senior Vice President for Government and Industry Relations (1983-2004)

Obama Ahead In Ohio & Michigan

Barack Obama has pulled ahead in the polls in two battleground states. Michigan and Ohio now show leads for the Illinois Senator over John McCain. I can't help thinking the sour economy has a lot to do with it.

According to AP reports Obama is at 47 while John McCain is at 45% in Ohio.That is a very close margin, but Obama has pulled from behind in this state. In Michigan the lead is much larger with 52% for Obama over McCain's 43%.

Meanwhile in Pennsylvania Obama also has a lead of 49% to McCain's 44%. All good signs for the Obama campaign!

McCain Uses Racist Ad! Steps Into Scum Bag Territory

McCain is lying again! I don't think he can help himself but this time he has added the racist overtones worthy of someone like Lester Maddox, not John McCain.

In his latest ad, he tries to assert that the former CEO of Fannie Mae is an advisor to the Obama campaign. This is a patent lie! Both Obama and former Fannie Mae Chairman Frank Raines say it is not true. Meanwhile McCain has pictured both together (Raines is African American) and the shows a cowering old white woman as the victim of the alleged policies of Barack Obama.

It doesn't take an expert in psycho-graphics to get the gist of the ad. "Scary black guys take advantage of poor white woman".

Oh please! This is the kind of pandering and racist crap even a scumb bag like Frank Luntz would be appalled at. McCain is better than this, or at least the "old McCain". The "new McCain" is just the same as the rest of the good old boys in Washington. Willing to do anything to win, even lie and defame. Welcome to scum bag territory John!

"McCain is a Little Panicked Right Now"

Truer words have rarely been spoken. Obama comments on John McCain's lack of principals.

John McCain - Dazed And Confused Again

McCain just keeps getting worse. Yesterday he insisted he would fire the chairman of the SEC as president. Problem is, he couldn't do that constitutionally. Perhaps one of his folks should have checked the paper shredder for a copt of the Constitution.

Now today, in a speech in Wisconsin, where he looks about as frail as I have ever seen him look, McCain called for the chairman of the FEC to resign. Last time I checked, the Federal Election Commission had nothing to do with Wall Street bail outs.

McCain is making gaffs so often now that I really have to wonder if he hasn't had a stroke or is just getting senile. His campaign appearances make him look more and more like a doddering little old man.

If We Bail Out Wall Street, Then Kick Out The CEOs

As Congress plans to bail out Wall Street, we as the future owners of a whole bunch of bad debt need to insist on some changes to the companies we are bailing out. Any company who receives a cash infusion from the Federal Government needs to promise to fire it's board of directors and top executives as incompetent and corrupt. Here's why.

With managements approval Wall Street finagled and cobbled together exotic investments in order to increase firms bottom line without actually increasing their assets. These paper versions of "smoke and mirrors" were at their root, frauds. The practice of "naked short selling" is just fraud. Representing that you have an asset before you actually do would be illegal in any other business. Why is the Wall Street Casino any different.

Pushing through mortgages for buyers who have no way to pay or even qualify for a mortgage is just bad management. Call it "sub prime" or whatever, it's bad business and the management who approved and created that racket needs to be on the street, no golden parachute, no severance. Consider it a plea bargain. In any other business they would be in jail.

Write or call your Congressperson and insist on good governance of the companies we are going to soon own majority stakes in. AIG's entire top management needs to be fired, and as 80% shareholders, we the people can insist on it!

As Election Nears, Cue The RNC DIrty Tricks

The Republican National Committee has started playing its dirty tricks already. They sent a mailer to senior citizens in Florida that tells voters it is seeking to double-check their "unconfirmed" party affiliations while asking for money. A letter signed by McCain tells the Democrats: "We have you registered as a Republican."

Though the RNC claims it's just a fund raising piece, most political observers feel it is a direct attempt to confuse voters and make them question their registration. Also, letters returned as undeliverable can be challenged at the polls for accurate addresses, a favorite GOP "vote caging" trick. Another possibility would be to have voters re-register, and in many cases too late to be eligible to vote.

Eitehr way, it's the same old tricks the RNC tries in every battleground state to dissenfranchise potential Democratic voters. Word to the wise, if you recieved a mailing from the RNC, consider it a fake and full of lies.

Palin Ditches California Campaign Swing

People in California are wondering what happened. Sarah Palin was scheduled to appear at two fund raising rallies in the state and ticket sales were so brisk one event had to move to a larger venue. Now, poof, the moose hunter has bailed.

The McCain Palin ticket is far behind in the California polls and perhaps that is the reason. Maybe the GOP has ceeded California to Obama?

According to the SFGate:

"The Palin events were aimed to benefit the Republican National Committee, and the California Republican Party (chairs and hosts were being told they could give as much as $40,800 a person for those causes). The latest: It's unclear if the fundraisers will go on without her, or if they'll be rescheduled."

Palin Puts Herself At The Top Of The Ticket!

Just got this from Americablog. Apparently now, Sarah Palin is putting herself at the top of the ticket, watch it and be afraid!

Whispers About McCain - Is He All There?

Apparently it's not just me who has noticed that John McCain has seemed more out of touch than usual lately. The latest gaff, with him not understanding or not knowing that Spain was even part of Europe and his rant about only willing to meet with leaders "who want to work with us cooperatively", implying Spain might be some sort of terrorist state have everyone wondering. Is McCain still of sound mind?

The NY Times wondered aloud why he had so much trouble speaking about the economy, especially his "the fundamentals of our economy are string" line. Then the story went on to enumerate the many times he supported deregulation and insisted that the economy was strong even though only hours later he denied it.

Time magazine's Joe Klein went so far as to ponder why increasing numbers of people are calling McCain a liar. His voice was not alone.

McCain's campaign seems to be in disarray, and his thinking is as well. He seems muddled and often befuddled when he is questioned and I have to wonder if he would be mentally up to the job of president. After all, every president ages precipitously once in office, and can we afford a doddering swiftly aging McCain as president when his successor is an unqualified hockey-mom with absolutely no foreign policy experience or for that matter knowledge?

FEMA Can't Even Deliver Ice To Devastated Coastal Cities

I had lunch with a dear friend from the Texas coast who retreated to Dallas to find a cool hotel room and electricity. The stories she told me about the lack of coordination of FEMA in the area reminded me of Katrina.

She said ice was in short supply and the only broadcasting radio station said FEMA could not find any ice in the area and was sending out of state for ice. The rumor that ice was available persisted and yet nobody could figure out where it was being handed out.

Sadly she found a Wal Mart that was open and selling ice, but their supplies were depleated by the time she got through the line. I guess this is part of the Bush plan to privatize the country. FEMA can't find ice, but WalMart can manufacture it and sell it locally!

Are we actually living under a government run bythe Feregni ?

Sign Of The End Times? Bill O'Reilly Criticized Bush

I am looking for the four horsemen any moment, even Bill O'Reilly, once the cheerleader for the Bush White House has openly said on his radio show, the current economic crisis spells “the end of President Bush’s legacy".

He went on to say:

"He’s done. He’s through. … He will now go down in history…as an ineffectual leader. And I’ll tell you the reason why, it’s poor leadership on his part. The people that he picked to run certain things have been disastrous. And no leadership and now Americans are getting hurt."

ThinkProgress has the audio clip!

McCain Speech Becomes Obama Rally!

So funny story. John McCain went to Detroit and spoke to auto workers. This audience was not screened and hand picked as most of McCain's are, and guess what? Turned into an Obama rally!

GOP Senator Says Palin Not Ready To Lead

Anyone who has read my blog more than once knows I have little respect for most Republicans. I feel that they have become a party of "privateers" intent on a gangster-like takeover of our government and country.

That said, I have always admired a couple of them. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) is one. He has a genuine conservative outlook and has not been blinded by the neocon ideology. Unfortunately, Hagel is retiring this year and will no longer be a voice of moderation in the Senate.

I guess that leaves him able to really speak truth to power. In an interview he was asked about Sarah Palin's credentials to become Vice President. Hagel said of Palin, “I think it’s a stretch to, in any way, to say that she’s got the experience to be president of the United States."

When asked about her foreign policiy experience he responded with a damning indictment of McCain's campaign strategy.

“I think they ought to be just honest about it and stop the nonsense about, ‘I look out my window and I see Russia and so therefore I know something about Russia,’” he said. “That kind of thing is insulting to the American people.”

Finally, someone who can look at this situation and really call it what it is, an insult!

Cholera In Baghdad

Listening to all the bragging about stability in Iraq, I decided to check in with my fellow blogger Dr. Mohammed who blogs from Baghdad. It seems things there are not all candy and flowers. A cholera epidemic has broken out. The district health office apparently cannot or will not give his clinic sufficient supplies and materials. Dr. Mohammed is a dentist and today his anesthesia ran out, so he had to do tooth extractions without it. Not a pretty picture.

Additionally, roadside bombs are still a problem and he recounts the explosion of one nearby. It is always a sobering thing to read his blog and I encourage you to do so.

FEMA Having Another "Brownie" Moment?

I keep hearing stories from my friends in Houston, TX about the slow and often chaotic response of FEMA to hurricane Ike. Apparently FEMA delivered several pods of ice for emergency distribution but failed to deliver refrigeration and the ice melted. The locations of the distribution points remains a mystery to most folks, and in general Houstonians are not very pleased.

According to a UPI press report:

"Harris County's two top officials say they knew something had to be done when thousands of hurricane victims went away empty-handed after waiting in line all day to receive food, water, ice and tarps to cover their damaged roofs."

The press would be all over this but the crash on Wall Street has dominated the media.

Obama Smacks Down McCain Again!

I rarely like campaign jokes, but this line is a doozy!

Shades of 1929! Dow Plunges Again.

As American citizens we now own a big chunk of a failing insurance company and a couple of corrupt mortgage firms, meanwhile the stock market continues its death spiral. Gee, looks like the greed and averice of the GOP is coming home to roost. Too bad we all have to pick up the tab for this mess.

The Dow fell again today 449 points! The breathtaking drop of the past three days wiped out gains for the past year. Sometimes I am glad I am broke, this way I can't lose any more money!

White House Refuses To Answer Economy Question

White House refuses to answer question about the strength of the economy. Dana Perino gets real testy with reporters who are finally doing their job and asking questions.

Obama Leads In Polls - Wipes Out McCain Lead

Barack Obama picked up considerable traction this week. His poll numbers from a variety of sources show him ahead of McCain erasing a 5+ point lead. The Gallup Poll has the race at 47 for Obama to 45 for McCain. As the Gallup pollsters said: "There is thus a correlation between the bad financial news and Obama's gains..."

Overall voters have consistently shown Obama favored when it comes to matters of the economy, and this weeks Wall Street meltdown really tips the scale.

Obama On The Economy

This new 2 minute ad really addresses the problem evident in the Wall Street meltdown. It's inspiring and full of facts.

McCain Can't Keep His Acronyms Straight - Dazed and Confused Again!

John McCain's grasp of the economy seems to be tenuous at best. As pointed out by Rachael Maddow on her show last night, McCain kept referring to the SPIC as a regulatory agency. Well funny thing, it's really the SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation ) and it is not a regulatory agency.

McCain campaign people have removed these references from their website and from his transcripts. Apparently, they like rewriting history as much as Bush/Cheney.

Carly Fiorina Has A Big Mouth! Buh-Bye

Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett Packard who has been the talking head for the McCain campaign on economic issues put her Prada shod foot in her mouth. Ms. Fiorina made the statement that both John McCain and Sarah Palin were not capable of running a major corporation like HP. Apparently, that is not the kind of message the McCain campaign wants to send.

Ms. Fiorina forgets that she was unable to run a major corporation like HP as well. She was booted from the position after HP merged with Compac and share values plummeted. Taking her golden parachute Carly moved into politics and punditry on Fox News.

According to the McCain campaign, she will dissappear from our airwaves as well. ThinkProgress reports an undisclosed source in the campaign told them:

“Carly will now disappear,” this source said. “Senator McCain was furious.” Asked to define “disappear,” this source said, adding that she would be off TV for a while – but remain at the Republican National Committee and keep her role as head of the party’s joint fundraising committee with the McCain campaign.

Fiorina was booked for several TV interviews over the next few days, including one on CNN. Those interviews have been canceled.

Ninja Kitty - Viral Video

Sometimes the viral videos are just too appealing to ignore. Here is Ninja Kitty, who stealthy moves while you aren't looking. Watch it.

McCain Is Dazed And Confused Again

Today McCain stated that, "I understand the economy. I was chairman of the Commerce Committee that oversights every part of our economy..." Well, that might be very well and good , but according to the Washington Post that committee doesn’t oversee “every part of our economy,” let alone “the very areas now in crisis“.

In fact, it is the Senate Banking Committee that has oversight of “banks, banking and financial institutions; control of prices of commodities, rents and services; federal monetary policy, including the Federal Reserve System; financial aid to commerce and industry and money and credit, including currency and coinage.”

According to its Web site, the Commerce Committee oversees 13 areas, beginning with the Coast Guard, and continuing through “regulation of consumer products and services … except for credit, financial services, and housing” — the very areas now in crisis.

ThinkProgress has the video clip and more.

As a side note, McCain is blaming the Wall Street melt down on "Fat Cats". Problem is, many of those Fat Cats are funding his campaign. According to Bloomgerg, McCain's "largest campaign donors" were employees of Merrill Lynch, as well as their families, who in total gave the Arizonan $298,413.

Sarah Palin "Is Over" According To WSJ

Wall Street Journal Columnist Jon Friedman has officially declared Sarah Palin Phenomenon, "over". Boy that's a relief.

McCain Invented The Blackberry?

Well at least in part according to his campaign adviser. I hope this claim will get the kind of attention the right-wing media gave to the claim that Al Gore invented the internet.

This boosts the McCain Lie-O-Meter to 54!

Galveston Devestation Worse Than Reported

The story you might have missed is that the destruction ion Galveston was much worse than the news originally reported.Galveston's Mayor is telling folks not to come back. The health conditions in Galveston are deteriorating and services are far from being restored.

Mud cakes streets, houses and businesses. Even the Flagship Hotel, built on concrete pilings and supposedly hurricane resistant may be demolished because of damage to the piers.

Meanwhile the hunt for survivors goes on in a house to house search.

New Obama TV Spot - McCain On Economy

The Obama folks came out with this one really quick. Good hard hitting ad that makes McCain look like what he is....out of touch.

McCain Economic Advisor Could Lead Country Into Next Great Depression

If McCain is elected he will probably have Phil Graham as his Treasury Secretary. The problem is Graham is the WRONG person for that job . Watch this interview with Paul Krugman who says Graham is the guy to lead us into the next Great Depression.

WaMu Looks Shakey. Will Goldman Sachs Be Next?

Today stocks are already sliding again (Dow down 70 points as I write). I suspect the bloodshed on Wall Street is not over yet. WaMu looks like the next victim and Goldman Sachs will be close behind. Both companies have their fingers in the mortgage mess and I suspect they will fall prey to their own greed. The latter had sharp decline in profits.

Rumors are circulating that WaMu might be sold but as to Goldman Sachs, who knows? I am glad I am on the sidelines with only moths in my wallet for once.

New Book Details Cheney's Crimes

Last night's Daily Show was a real eye opener. Jon Stewart's guest was Barton Gellman, author of the book, Angler,The Cheney Vice Presidency. Though The Daily Show is essentially comedy, it often has the best interviews of authors and news makers on television and last night was no exception.

Gellman told of a Vice Presidency that has essentially become "Deputy President". Cheney has expanded the powers of the Vice President well beyond the Constitutional duties of presiding over the Senate. Gellman also told of the egregious lies Cheney fed to his party's leaders to get the US into the Iraq war. Specifically the story of Cheney lying to Dick Armey and telling him Saddam would have "suitcase nukes" ready to deploy to terrorists. He told of Armey, who was against the war weeping on the floor of the Senate during the vote.

I only wish this book had come out a couple of years ago when we could have still ousted this criminal administration from power. Now we can only hope to catch up to them after the fact, that is if Bush doesn't give himself and Cheney preemptive pardons.

New Obama Video - Hope!

Is John McCain The Modern Herbert Hoover?

Considering the quote, " our economy is fundamentally sound" could have come from both John McCain or Herbert Hoover and in fact they made almost identical statements in the face of the nationwide economic meltdown. Hoover was clueless as the Great Depression drove the country into a spiral, and McCain is just as clueless. I guess he won't realize how bad it is until he sees the dust bowl start again and guys selling apples on the street corner.

With global warming on the rise. both scenarios are pretty close to reality too.

Obama Strikes Back Against McCain's Weak Economic Record.

Barack Obama gave a forceful speech in Colorado today as the Wall Street markets were melting down, he pointed to McCain's positions on regulations and the economy to show a clear difference between himself and the GOP nominee.

“On just about every economic issue, there is not a dime’s worth of difference between John McCain’s proposals and what we have right now. In 19 months, he has not named one thing he would do differently from this administration on the central issue of this election. Not one thing,” Obama said. “So when you walk into that voting booth in 50 days, ask yourself: Can your family afford to take a chance on an economic policy that offers $200 billion in tax breaks to the biggest corporations, including the oil companies, but not one penny of relief to more than 100 million Americans? Because that’s what Sen. McCain is offering.”

Great stuff, especially against the background of the Wall Street meltdown!

Dow Drops Over 500 Points! Where Are The Regulations Now?

Over 500 points! Ouch! The McCain Bush policies of letting the market self-regulate have certainly worked haven't they? Its worst point drop in more than seven years - as widening bank woes scare investors.

If I were an investor holding AIG or WaMu, I would either find a way to bail with what little I had left or try putting the stock certificates up on Ebay as novelty toilet paper. Get ready to see both these firms tank tomorrow.( my prediction)

Palin Met By Thousands Of Protesters In Alaska

Here is the scene as Governor Palin returned to her home state. Looks like they don't love her any more than I do. Protesters lined her route from the airport holding home made signs and Obama posters.

McCain Plays Near Empty Arena Without Palin

While sitting here watching Wall Street tank, I can at least take heart by looking at this photo of the latest public appearance by John McCain. He is campaigning without his eye candy, Sarah Palin and at this appearance in Veteran's Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, hs could draw no more than 3000 people. I a place that seats 16,000 it looks and is pitiful. Now why don't the polls reflect this apathy? Who knows, but if the trend continues they will have him in front of a green wall again to avoid seeing empty seats.

Huffington Post has more.

Treasury Secretary Paulson - Bush Is A Great Boss?

I am watching Secretary Paulson take questions from the press and with each answer the Dow Jones drops more and more. He is defending the Bush administration even though it is some of the Bush policies that have led to this. His worst line was that "the American people can rest assured that their deposits under $100,000 are guaranteed by the FDIC" So tell us something we don't know you idiot!

Meanwhile, McCain claims he can get the economy on track? He is the problem, and all his GOP cronies and now they think we are idiots?

Meanwhile the Dow keeps dropping. Down over 350 points right now. How do those sub-prinme mortgages look now as investments?

Count How Many Times McCain Lies! It's Fun.

Want to know how many times McCain has lied in his campaign? This new site keeps count.

The new McCainpedia site has everything you need to know.

Check it out.

After Claiming Econnomy Is Strong - Now McCain Says It's InTrouble!

So after denying that the economy is in trouble, John McCain has awakened from his slumber and realized the US economy is screwed! I guess it took the crash of Lehman Bros. and the fire sale of Merill Lynch to wake him from his doze.

Now he claims only he can fix it. Where the hell was he for the last 12 years? In the Senate blocking any effort a regulation of the markets. How the hell does he expect to fix it with former lobbyists from AIG, Merill Lynch and Lehman on his campaign staff? His lies are becoming so outrageous they would seem laughable, except that the public is buying some of it.

Well here is the real narrative. McCain is a part of the problem, and Sarah Palin and mooseburgers are not going to change that. McCain is the problem, he represents the GOP strangle hold on Washington that was only broken in 2006. It will take time to undo their disaster, and the chickens have not finished comming home to roost. Wacth for more failures and fire sales in the near future.

Lehman Bros. Flops & Merill Lynch Sells Out!

It's the economy stupid! That should be the new rally cry for Obama and Biden. Tomorrow morning will see the demise of Lehman Brothers, the sale of Merrill Lynch to Bank of America and a few dozen stock brokers jumping out the windows on Wall Street.

The unbridled and unregulated greed that has driven the Republican "greed is good" economic engine has just sputtered to a halt. Alan Greenspan spoke of it today on ABC This Week, and his words seem like prophecy more than ever.

This is the result of the fast-buck mentality that has driven things like the sub-prime mortgage scam and other schemes. It's time we got the foxes out of the regulation hen house and began de-politicising the regulation of our markets and economy. The Bush program of giving away the farm on the alter of the "invisible had of the market" must stop!