Saturday, October 11, 2008
Palin Gets Booed At Hockey Game
St Louis Post Dispatch Latest Paper to Endorse Obama
- The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- The San Jose Mercury News
- The Santa Fe New Mexican
Palin Lies To Reporter - Can't Seem To Stop Lying?
Read the story here on Jack Trapper's blog on ABC News.
McCain Supporters Hatred Caught On Video
Friday, October 10, 2008
McCain Finally Denounces Angry Supporters
According to a Time Magazine reporter,:
Indeed, he just snatched the microphone out the hands of a woman who began her question with, "I'm scared of Barack Obama... he's an Arab terrorist..."
"No, no ma'am," he interrupted. "He's a decent family man with whom I happen to have some disagreements."
Troopergate Report - Sarah Palin Broke The Law!
Investigator Stephen Branchflower said Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Lawmakers don't have the authority to sanction her for such a violation, and they gave no indication they would take any action against her.
The much anticipated report was subject to a lot of legal maneuvering my the McCain campaign to try to delay it's release until after the election. That action failed and now the McCain PR staff is calling the report partisan and biased.
Here's my take. In a majority Republican state, for a bipartisan panel to find she was in violation of ethics laws seems pretty clear. Palin used her influence to settle a family grudge, and that is the plain truth. Now, will the state's personnel board take action against her? She could face impeachment and that would play poorly for the McCain campaign.
If you ever needed a reason NOT to vote for McCain/Palin, this is a pretty good one!
Republicans At Rally Call For Terrorist Tactics!
From the AP:
Thursday's debate took place in front of a highly partisan crowd in the GOP stronghold of Middle Georgia.
Chambliss supporters waved "Saxby" signs and offered up a sustained "boos" when Martin mentioned Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
"Bomb Obama," one woman hollered.
It's time McCain and Palin stop their angry rhetoric and remind their supporters we still live in what might pass for a civilized country.
Sally Kerns Won't Shut Up
“While terrorism has killed more than 3,000 people in the continental United States in the last 15 years, homosexual behavior has killed more than 100,000,” she said again. “It's a danger to life. It is a danger to health.”
At the time I figured she was just making one last growl before she and the rest of the homophobic dinosaurs sank into the tar pit of history, but I was wrong. Even after the firestorm of controversy she caused, which brought derision to the state and her office by both the press and politicians, Kerns is unrepentant.
The debate even erupted into a shouting match at one point when her challenger’s wife stood up in the audience and called Kerns a liar. I wish I could have been there to watch.
Connecticut Supreme Court OKs Gay Marriage!
In a 4-3 decision released this morning, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality, stating that same-sex couples have the right to wed. Citing the equal protection clause of the state constitution, the justices ruled that civil unions were discriminatory. From the ruling:
Interpreting our state constitutional provisions in accordance with firmly established equal protection principles leads inevitably to the conclusion that gay persons are entitled to marry the otherwise qualified same sex partner of their choice. […]To decide otherwise would require us to apply one set of constitutional principles to gay persons and another to all others.”
The Hartford Courant notes that “the court’s ruling today will likely be the final judicial judgment in the case because it it based on the state constitution, rather then the U.S. constitution.”
Wall Street Panick Feeds Itself - Time To Slow Down And Think
The Dow dropping below 8000 for a few minutes today may have given people a sobering vision. The problem with the market is that it seems to be governed more by fear and emotion than sound decision. Yes, GM doesn't look real good right now, but that could change, or perhaps there will be no more major car makers in America. Both scenarios could happen and it would be based on fear not logic. A bigger crash is possible but only as a self-fullfilling prophecy. It's time someone quelled the panick and started talking some sense into the freightened traders before it is too late.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Whisper Campaigns - "Is McCain A Secret Irishman?"
Well that may seem silly but it's true. Now the problem is first, Muslim does not equal terrorist. Secondly, Obama is Christian. To drive home their point they harp on his middle name, Hussein, a family name on his father's side. So to many Americans, "funny name" = "terrorist".
Sad state our country is in, but that's the way it is. To combat this crap I propose a whisper campaign of our own. John McCain's middle name is "Sidney". How the hell can you trust a guy named Sidney? And worse, he is Irish! He hides this fact well, but we all know how dangerous the Irish are. They cam over here in the 1800's stealing American's jobs and polluting our cities with their music and drinking. Their gangs ruled New York for a while and how can you trust a guy whose native land drinks warm beer?
See how silly that sounds? Back in the1800's it would sound pretty scary, but it was silly then too.
Now, if you want to start a real whisper campaign, what about McCain's early onset dementia, losing his way onstage, forgetting Obama's name in the debates and calling an audience "my fellow prisoners"?
Cindy McCain Insults Vietnam Vets!
Q: You met your husband after his POW days. To what extent is that still with you - or is it a part of history?McCAIN: My husband will be the first one to tell you that that’s in the past. Certainly it’s a part of who he is, but he doesn’t dwell on it. It’s not part of a daily experience that we experience or anything like that. But it has shaped him. It has made him the leader that he is.
Q: But no cold sweats in the middle of the night?
McCAIN: Oh, no, no, no, no, no. My husband, he’d be the first one to tell you that he was trained to do what he was doing. The guys who had the trouble were the 18-year-olds who were drafted. He was trained, he went to the Naval Academy, he was a trained United States naval officer, and so he knew what he was doing.
As Dow Drops Below 9000 - What To Do?
If you are holding good companies why sacrifice them for pennies on the dollar? Financial stocks are a real problem, but major companies who are doing well should be good in the long run.
It's times like this I am almost glad I am poor. My portfolio is filled with moths.
We also need a strong President who can calm peoples fears. Bush should be on the radio and TV trying to calm people but considering his record for truth telling it might not work. I sincerely hope Barack Obama can be the kind of leader we need. Another Roosevelt would be a good thing right now.
Now about those execs at AIG (the company we bailed out) who threw the $500,000 party for their managers and salespeople, well they can sell apples on the corner for all I care.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Secret Service Investigates "Kill Him" Threat At Palin Speech
Shouts like that are considered credible threats, especially when the crowd was so riled up. If Palin did hear it and didn't say anything, she is complicit and should step down. That kind of hate in a campaign is far too dangerous to "pal around" with.
McCain Has Vietnam Flashback At Rally Today
Can we afford a person who is having serious lapses in memory to be president? I don't think so.
Who Backs McCain? Must See Video!
Thanks to the folks at Dumbutt, Texas blog for this one! I suspect beer had a lot to do with their reactions on the video.
McCain's 17 Lies During Debate
1. MCCAIN PROPOSING NEW HOUSING PLAN. McCain today said he had a new plan to allow the Treasury to purchase and restructure mortgages. The truth is that this is not a new proposal and is already part of the rescue plan that was signed into law. It was Obama, not McCain who called for this move two weeks ago.
2. MCCAIN TAX PLAN IS BETTER. McCain said, “It is my proposal not Senator Obama’s” that will “take care of working families.” The reality is that even the Heritage Foundation agrees Obama will provide a middle class tax cut that studies have found is three times larger than under McCain’s plan. In contrast, the McCain plan’s benefits would overwhelmingly go to the wealthiest Americans and would leave out 101 million middle class households.
3. MCCAIN’S PLAN FOR HOUSING CRISIS. McCain said, “We have got to give some trust and confidence back to America” to solve the housing crisis. But Politifact agrees that McCain was taken by surprise by the mortgage crisis and was “a latecomer” to the debate. He even said “I don’t claim to be smart enough” to solve the housing crisis and newspapers have found that McCain “overstates” his past actions on housing regulation.
4. TIES TO FANNIE/FREDDIE. McCain talked about “Senator Obama and his cronies and friends in Washington” and blamed them for Fannie and Freddie, while news accounts have pointed out his “deeper” ties to the companies. His campaign manager Rick Davis fought against greater regulation for years, and then his firm was revealed to be taking $15,000 a month until this summer from Freddie Mac, after denying any recent ties.
5. MCCAIN WILL MAKE HEALTH CARE AFFORDABLE AND AVAILABLE. McCain said “We can do them all at once,” talking about affordability and availability of health care, but he failed to mention that experts say his plan may require some to pay more or get less coverage, that millions would lose their employer-based coverage, and that even he has admitted that his plan will raise taxes on some.
6. SMALL BUSINESS TAXES. McCain said Obama’s plan “will increase taxes on 50% of small business revenue,” when the Washington Post found similar attacks “untrue,” and studies show 97% of small business owners wouldn’t see higher taxes under Obama’s plan. Factcheck.org said the attack used “a false and preposterously inflated figure.”
7. TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY. McCain said “I am not in favor of tax cuts for the wealthy.” While he once said that the Bush tax cuts were “too tilted to the wealthy,” now he wants to make them permanent.
8. 2005 ENERGY BILL. McCain attacked Obama for his vote for the 2005 energy bill, saying it had “billions for oil companies.” The truth is that FactCheck.org called this “an old canard” and a “false attack.” The non-partisan Congressional Research Service said the bill actually raised taxes on the oil and gas industry.
9. 94 VOTES FOR HIGHER TAXES…AGAIN. McCain once again repeated the attack that Obama voted 94 times for higher taxes, calling it “his record.” This attack has been debunked by the Associated Press, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, CNN, the New York Times and FactCheck.org, among others.
10. OBAMA RECORD ON NUCLEAR POWER. McCain said, “Obama is opposed to that,” when the reality is that this attack is “false” according to FactCheck.org. Obama supports nuclear as long as it’s “clean and safe.”
11. HEALTH COVERAGE FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS. McCain said his health care plan would let people cross state lines to get plans, suggesting it would improve care and not telling Americans that it would weaken patient protections and does nothing to require insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions. McCain’s plan would create a situation the GOP chair of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners said would cause a “race to the bottom.”
12. HIGHER HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES. McCain attacked Obama’s health care plan, suggesting that Obama will fine small businesses and make health care more expensive for them. ABC pointed out that he was “omitting key details about Obama’s plan to mitigate costs” for health care for small businesses. McCain also omitted his record of voting repeatedly against tax credits for small businesses to help with health care costs and that the majority of members of the National Federation of Independent Businesses oppose his plan.
13. JUDGMENT ON IRAQ. McCain said that he had “the judgment” to make national security decisions, ignoring his record of misguided statements during the course of the Iraq war. In 2005 he said the war would be over within 18 months. In 2003 he said “we will be welcomed as liberators,” and that “we will win it easily.”
14. RUSSIA AND GEORGIA. McCain said Obama “was wrong about Russia when they committed aggression against Georgia” when Obama had condemned Russia’s actions and called for an immediate ceasefire.
15. SURGE IN IRAQ. McCain again attacked Obama on the surge, when news accounts show that Obama “said at the time” that the increase “could improve security in certain neighborhoods but that it would not solve the long-term political strife.” Meanwhile McCain said only 10,000 troops would do the job.
16. NEGOTIATIONS. McCain attacked Obama on diplomatic engagement, but the Washington Post has said McCain is “distorting history when he suggests that Barack Obama is bucking American presidential tradition in expressing a willingness to meet with the leaders of countries hostile to the United States” and that McCain is “incorrect.”
17. SOMALIA. McCain held up Somalia as an example of failed American foreign policy, saying “we ended up having to withdraw in humiliation.” McCain ignored the amendment he introduced in 1993 to cut off funding for troops in Somalia.
McCain's "That One" Really A "Senior Moment "
McCain was cranked up as he answered. He was trying his best to look fiery and feisty and when he came to the punch line, where he pointed at Obama and should have said, "You know who voted for it? Senator Obama." He could not remember Barack's name.
McCain had a big time senior moment right on national TV and most people thought it was a racial slur. McCain looked erratic and crotchety. He jerked and weaved across the stage having moments where he looked like the old John McCain who once was called a "maverick" and at other times he just looked like an angry old codger. Meanwhile Senator Obama looked poised and cool. He was comfortable and answered clearly and calmly and that looked presidential.
The choice seemed pretty clear. Do you want an erratic forgetful crumudgeon as president?
Obama On Health Care - The Debate
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
McCain Refuses to Shake Hands With Obama
Sarah Palin - Post Turtle
Eventually the topic got around to Sarah Palin and her bid to be a heartbeat away from being President.
The old rancher said, 'Well, ya know, Sarah Palin is a post turtle.'
Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked him what a post turtle was.
The old rancher said, 'When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle.'
The old rancher saw a puzzled look on the doctor's face, so he continued to explain. 'You know she didn't get up there by herself, she doesn't belong up there, she doesn't know what to do while she is up there, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put her up there to begin with.'
White House Denies Recession
AIG Uses Bailout Funds For Party!
Time to fire them all without golden parachutes!
In case you are not upset enough, here is the bill from the resort courtesy of "The Gavel".
McCain Linked To Nazi Collaborators & Ultra-Right-Wing Death Squads
According to the Associated Press, the group was part of an international organization linked to former Nazi collaborators and ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America.
The council's founder, retired Army Maj. Gen. John Singlaub, said McCain became associated with the organization in the early 1980s as McCain was launching his political career in Arizona.
Look for more on this connection as McCain continues to throw mud. He may lie about Obama's connection with William Ayers, but he can't deny he was a member of this bunch who operated as a front to facilitate the governments illegal Iran-Contra activities. The group has also been accused of anti-semitic leanings.
Palin Charging Rape Victims For Their Own Exams - Documentary Evidence!
McCain/Palin Hate Mongering!
Palin meanwhile is whipping up hatred with her lies and half truths. Her audiences are getting almost violent. This is a very dangerous game they are playing and the Secret Service needs to stop it.
From the Washington Post:
Worse, Palin's routine attacks on the media have begun to spill into ugliness. In Clearwater, arriving reporters were greeted with shouts and taunts by the crowd of about 3,000. Palin then went on to blame Katie Couric's questions for her "less-than-successful interview with kinda mainstream media." At that, Palin supporters turned on reporters in the press area, waving thunder sticks and shouting abuse. Others hurled obscenities at a camera crew. One Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down, boy."
Monday, October 06, 2008
McCain Erratic Candidate & Erratic Pilot
Palin Supporter Calls For Assassination
Palin & Pals Go Racist
Her crap might be playing with the "base" and I use that word in both connotations, but it won't work with the rest of America.
Wall Street Ruled By Fear - Not A Good Thing.
According to polls, almost 69% of Americans fear another depression could occur. Though I am not that gloomy, I feel sure the recession will be profound. What we need is a leader who can restore confidence in the American markets and confidence in the country. Oh wait! We have one running in the election. Barack Obama!
Portrait of Greed - Lehman's Last Days
Huffington Post reports the following exchange between Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and Richard Fuld, Jr. of Lehman.
Richard S. Fuld Jr., chief executive officer of Lehman Brothers, declared to the committee "I take full responsibility for the decisions that I made and for the actions that I took." He defended his actions as "prudent and appropriate" based on information he had at the time.
"I feel horrible about what happened," he said.
Waxman questioned Fuld on whether it was true he took home some $480 million in compensation since 2000, and asked: "Is that fair?"
Fuld took off his glasses, held them, and looked uncomfortable. He said his compensation was not quite that much.
Waxman then read excerpts from Lehman documents in which a recommendation that top management should forgo bonuses was apparently brushed aside. He also cited a Sept. 11 request to Lehman's compensation board that three executives leaving the company be given $20 million in "special payments."
"In other words, even as Mr. Fuld was pleading with Secretary Paulson for a federal rescue, Lehman continued to squander millions on executive compensation," Waxman said before Fuld appeared as a witness.
Palin Breaks McCain's Promise - Now It's Personal!
Now Sarah Palin, acting as McCain's alter ego will bring it up again. My big question is, does anyone care? This is such old news and so thoroughly discredited it seems futile to try to plow that ground again. Of course when personal attacks all you have left, I guess it makes sense.
"The Boss" On America & Obama - Video
The Keating 5 - John McCain & The Savings & Loan Disaster
John McCain was accused of improperly aiding his political patron, Charles Keating, chairman of the Lincoln Savings and Loan Association. The bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee launched investigations and formally reprimanded Senator McCain for his role in the scandal -- the first such Senator to receive a major party nomination for president.
At the heart of the scandal was Keating's Lincoln Savings and Loan Association, which took advantage of deregulation in the 1980s to make risky investments with its depositors' money. McCain intervened on behalf of Charles Keating with federal regulators tasked with preventing banking fraud, and championed legislation to delay regulation of the savings and loan industry -- actions that allowed Keating to continue his fraud at an incredible cost to taxpayers.
When the savings and loan industry collapsed, Keating's failed company put taxpayers on the hook for $3.4 billion and more than 20,000 Americans lost their savings. John McCain was reprimanded by the bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee, but the ultimate cost of the crisis to American taxpayers reached more than $120 billion.
The Keating scandal is eerily similar to today's credit crisis, where a lack of regulation and cozy relationships between the financial industry and Congress has allowed banks to make risky loans and profit by bending the rules. And in both cases, John McCain's judgment and values have placed him on the wrong side of history.
McCain Proposes Cutting Medicare To Provide Tax Cuts
Sound familiar? It's old style neocon privateering. A way to pull funds from government programs that work and funnel it into the pockets of private companies who will glean the profit from it and deliver less.
At a time when so many American's have no insurance and virtually no health care alternatives, McCain would cut funds to the neediest just to deliver money to his cronies and supporters in big insurance. That is immoral and unconscionable and it shows the complete lack of a moral compass that is needed for these troubled times.
The Wall Street Journal has more.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
John Mellencamp Day In Columbus Indiana
Mellencamp was born in Seymour, Indiana and performed his first concert to promote his first album at the Crump Theater in Columbus. So to give John his props I decided to post this little music video. Enjoy.
McCain Takes The Low Road - Video
Palin's Charming Lies
The New York Times has already explored this alleged connection and found it not true. I guess just because it is a lie doesn't mean Palin can try to sell it. Someone needs toremind Ms. Palin that even in beauty contests telling lies is considered bad form.
Get ready for more lies, it is the only thing the McCain campaign has left.