Jack & Jill Politics

McCain adviser files lawsuit against Ohio
http://www.coshoctontribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...

COLUMBUS (AP) — An adviser to John McCain's presidential bid is suing Ohio's elections chief, saying requests to vote by mail are not being honored.
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William Todd, a lawyer helping the Republican campaign on ballot issues, filed suit in Columbus today. He argues that Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (BROO'-nur) has been unfairly rejecting voters' applications for absentee ballots.

In the lawsuit, voters Paul Doucher and Deloris Eagle say they wanted to vote by mail, as allowed by law. But they did not check a box that indicated they are qualified voters.

Brunner has said without a check mark, the applications are unacceptable.

Republicans printed the applications and say the box was not required.

Brunner's office had no immediate comment on the suit.

Palin, dominionist intimidation, and *actual* witch-hunters
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/22/112455/...

..May the gods save us from religion

Colin Powell Disses McCain on Georgia Russia Conflict
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=u224oMuAEr8

rikyrah: Brought this back from "Field Trippin'" to Mudflats.

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/09/21/obama-...
Obama Rallies In Opposite Corners

Mudflatters from the ‘upper left’ corner of the U.S. and the ‘lower right’ corner of the U.S. had similar missions this weekend. They turned out, each in their own way, to support the Obama campaign.

The small gathering of about 24 Valley residents that gathered last week decided to meet again. This time their numbers grew to more than 70!

Meanwhile, in Florida, Barack Obama himself wowed a packed house of thousands. Now how can we get Barack Obama to come to Alaska?? He could gather a crowd that would dwarf the Pro-Palin rally easily. I’m just saying…

So, here’s to AnnieNygmaAK in Wasilla, Alaska, and Lynore in Miami, Florida, and thanks for being out there in the trenches, and sharing your pictures with the rest of your Mudbuddies!

Thanks Mudflatters!! Fired Up! Ready To Go!!

rikyrah: Ummmm, cain't "they" speak with one voice??

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/21/former...
McCain Economic Surrogate: We Shouldn't Fire SEC Chair

The former director of the Office of Management and Budget and one-time John McCain vice presidential hopeful Rob Portman said on Sunday that he disagreed with McCain's call to fire SEC chairman Chris Cox in the wake of horrendous financial news.

"Well, first of all," Portman said, "the SEC does have jurisdiction over the financial markets and therefore some accountability ought to go to the SEC. Chris Cox is a smart, competent guy, he's a former colleague of mine. I think he's doing a descent job in a very tough situation. I do not share the fact that Chris Cox ought to go. I do think the SEC has been lax. And if you look at what they could have done, including valuing some of these mortgage-backed securities so there weren't some of the runs we have seen over the last two weeks, they could have been more proactive and more aggressive."

Appearing on CNN's Late Edition, Portman, whose good standing among Republicans on economic matters catapulted him high on the V.P. list, generally echoed McCain's talking points this past week: that the SEC has accountability in the current crisis, that more streamlined regulatory measures are needed, and so on.

But Cox's firing (which, it should be noted, a President can't perform in the first place) was a step too far for him.

"MAncient" is C-O-N-F-U-S-I-N-G all a- dem!! :>)

Obama-Biden '08

rikyrah: O-Man Ad - Hitting hard!! :>)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/21/obama-...
Obama Ad; McCain Camp Sleazy, Extreme On Abortion

WASHINGTON — Democrat Barack Obama is airing a new ad in New Mexico and Ohio that defends his abortion rights record and says Republican rival John McCain backs a party platform that would deny abortions to victims of rape and incest.

Obama's ad answers an independent ad campaign, financed by an anti-abortion philanthropist, that singles out Obama's efforts in the Illinois Senate to defeat the Born Alive Infants Protection Act.

"Now votes taken out of context, accusing Obama of letting infants die? It's a despicable lie," Obama's ad states.


Obama-Biden '08!

rikyrah: this comes under the heading: KEEP THINKING!!

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/art...
One Thought Pushes Fence-Sitters To The Left: Palin

By Adam C. Smith, Times Political Editor
In print: Saturday, September 20, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG — Five weeks ago, the St. Petersburg Times convened a group of Tampa Bay voters who were undecided about the presidential election. Their strong distrust of Barack Obama suggested it was a group ripe for John McCain to win over.

Not anymore. The group has swung dramatically, if unenthusiastically, toward Democrat Obama. Most of them this week cited the same reason: Sarah Palin.

The comments are supportive! :>)

Obama-Biden '08!

rikyrah: What?? "They" jes keep pickin' at Rangel!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/19/polit...
Rep. Rangel's Benz Towed From Capitol Lot

(CBS/AP) A vintage car that Rep. Charles Rangel has stored in a congressional parking lot in violation of rules has been towed away.

The New York Post reported Friday that the 1972 silver Mercedes-Benz, whose registration expired four years ago and which was being kept in a House of Representatives indoor lot without plates, was towed.

House rules require cars to display proper identification including plates and forbid use of the garage for storage.

Rangel has so far declined to answer questions about the car. The House Web site says anyone with a reserved indoor space incurs taxable income currently calculated at $100 per month.

An employee of the Falls Church, Va., towing company said the car was taken to a dealership for service.

O.K. He admitted his errors! He paid back $5000 & %10,000 to the IRS! He promised to fulfill the responsibilities of his job to the continuing [following 28 yrs.] best of his ability so help him God! And they do THIS to him??

I'm looking for a precedence! Hope his attorneys are 2.

Yet, I continue to ask, Did you think that you could do/act like the white boys?

Whew! LAWD Ha'Mercy Deep Breaths!! :>)


Obama-Biden '08!

In a controversial move sure to upset millions of people, Barack Obama’s campaign has decided to forgo the traditional time-wasting distribution of chum (yard signs, bumper stickers, etc.) to try and win the election.

Settling on what they call a “get voters to register by approaching them on the phone and at the door with an army of volunteers” strategy, Obama’s senior staff has directed state, regional, and local field organizers to use their finite time to make tangible progress toward winning. ....

Read the rest here:

BREAKING: Obama Campaign Organizers Trying To Win Election Instead of Get You Yard Signs

LOL! And it has links to some dailykos OMG Yard Signs! OMG! madness right in there.

Glenn Greenwald who blogs over at Salon.com makes a strong case for some interesting parallels between the behavior of the Democrats on the run-up to the invasion of Iraq and how they are acting now in the face of the crisis in the American economy and the alleged bailout bill being promoted by Henry Paulson and the Bush Administration.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/

Good Evening JJP,

Tonight, I went to a call party for moveon.org. We had a simple task. We were asked to existing members to get them to volunteer and canvass at their local office in battleground states. I got my script and made the calls. Many people didn’t answer but I was glad to get involved.

I talked to some people who were already volunteering, several who were excited that someone called them directly and signed up to go to a meeting in their office, some who chose not volunteer, one lady who just had a baby, another one on best rest due to surgery and others who said they could not spare the time.

I thanked those who were already volunteering and shared the importance of volunteering to those who signed up for an event.

One lady had bought into the MSM’s story about race. I was able to talk her (sounded like a middle aged white woman) down with information I got on the site that noted the curiousness that this was being brought up this week. The very week he regained the lead. I explained how nothing was noted last week when McCain was in the lead. I was able to point out the meme being sold to us. I felt like being here on JJP helped me get at least one person back into the fight. Side note, JJP for helping catch these discrepancies…

One of my last calls was to what sounded like a middle aged white man. He wanted to engage me into a conversation about Obama. I gave him a quick rundown about why I was supporting Obama. He started making points similar to the call I noted about with concerns about race or so I thought. He then brought up the issue of polls. I gave him examples of civil rights and etc. that wouldn’t allow me to believe that the efforts of people could not produce change. I also told him that Bradley Effect hadn’t been proven in the primaries then he tried to get me to believe that the general election would be different.

He couldn’t get me to buy into the fear; so then he asked me when I thought life began. At this point, I realized he was trying to game me, an Obama supporter. These fear peddlers are fearless. Isn’t that something? When he couldn’t get his point across with logic he informed me he thought I was more stupid than I sounded. He helped me realize just how fearless we need to be, too and the importance of knowledge. Fear and ignorance will be our downfall. Makes me think of scripture that notes that “people perish for a lack of knowledge”…..

Anyway, the idiot tried to get me off my game and be a victim to this unfounded fear being espoused by the MSM. When that didn’t work he pretended that his opposition was issue based. It was crazy talking to just the sort of evil folks that we are up against. Fear peddlers will do anything to front their racism. I have got to send in complaints to CNN and MSNBC before folks fall right into McCain and the MSM’s lies about race in this race.

Ugh! I just had to get that off my chest.

looks like a poodle. nice hair. arf! arf! arf!

rikyrah: hope this is not a duplicate. Been away all day.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/21/even-f...
Even Fox News Admits McCain's Missteps

There are some things that even Fox News has to admit, and apparently among those things is the fact that Barack Obama had a better week than John McCain.

After showing Obama's strong numbers in Gallup's tracking poll, Chris Wallace asked Mara Liasson whether the numbers were a consequence of the Democratic Party's traditional advantage on economic issues. Liasson said she thought much of Obama's surge was related to that advantage, but that McCain had also "flailed" and displayed "shoot from the hip" tendencies that had hurt his campaign.

O.K. I've posted this B4 - but. . . .

I'm getting out my boots [even though I'm NOT going there! :>)] 'cause Hell must be freezing over, again!; I'm turning up my TV 'cause The fat lady is singing on it; and I'm getting out my binoculars 'cause Pigs are flying[lipsticked or not!!

Whew! Faux Spews Deep Breaths!! :>)

Obama-Biden '08!

From TPMCafe

Not That They Can Vote, But Israelis Are For Obama Too

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/09/21...

Israel has joined the rest of the world and is now supporting Obama. I say that based on the conversations I had over the past week with all kinds of people, across the political spectrum here in Jerusalem.

Two reasons. The first is Palin. Israelis think she's a moron. One put it to me this way. "Look, we have crazy rightwingers too. Many. But the rightwingers who get involved in politics are not stupid. They are articulate and wrong. She seems stupid and that we don't elect here. Mc Cain chose her and that made Israelis think that he is not qualified to be your President."




Another said: "Jews have access to Democrats. Rightwing Republicans don't know Jews. They think we are from the Bible. With Obama and Biden, we have people who know us and know Israel."

More important is that Israelis are terrified that America is going down the tubes. "We are tied to you whether we like it or not. If America fails, we fail. Obama can rejuvenate you and that means all your allies are rejuvenated too. If you go down, so do we. McCain will lead America to be a second rate nation with China and the EU on top. Not good for us or for you."

rikyrah: "Whycome" I just LOVE reading this? 'cause it SUPPORTS Mr. Obama!. :>)

Obama-Biden '08!!

This gave me pause:

ABC's Sunlen Miller reports: Since yesterday, Sen. Barack Obama has spoken on the phone with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Banking Committee chairman Chris Dodd, Rep. Barney Frank, Sen. Chuck Schumer, Rep. Ralph Emmanuel, former President Bill Clinton and Sen. Hillary Clinton about the economic situation and the plan for dealing with it.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/09...

And speaking of Chris Dodd who was on that phone call --

Mr. Dodd said he expected that Treasury would not be particularly interested in any of the Democratic proposals. But he said he had already warned Mr. Paulson to keep an open mind.

“I suggested strongly to him that he leave this door open, or he is going to find himself facing some significant problems,” Mr. Dodd said at a briefing with reporters on Sunday at the Capitol. Mr. Dodd, who met on Sunday with several of his Democratic colleagues, said that reaching a deal could keep Congress in session past this week, when leaders had hoped to adjourn for the fall elections. “This is of such import that if it takes a little longer to get it right, so be it,” he said.

O ..... kay!!

Source: Democrats Begin to Set Own Bailout Terms

Wow, just wow. This article is so great and reassuring. It has really helped me to keep hope alive (this latest debacle really sucked the life out of me). I couldn't really ask for more. I hope the politicians will get behind this plan. To not do so is to be an enemy to America and her people.

This gave me pause:

Pause in what way, Craig?

(I myself took it as a good sign ...)

Just pause. Not sure in what way.

It certainly looks like a good sign.

Ooh, that's infectious, not infections in the last post.

I just finished a MoveOn houseparty, calling Jacksonville, FL Obama supporters to encourage them volunteer locally and get out the vote. Several enthusiastic Jacksonville folks told me about a rally at Met Park, where Obama drew 20,000 supporters. They way overflowed the park.

Their enthusiasm was infections. Apparently, Obama really motivated and inspired people.

Good for you!
Liza, I had fun at calling party tonight, too! We are calling again on the 5th!

The sleeping giant is finally waking up. We finally got the big MO back. I hope it grows over the next 44 days. I hope we crush McWarmonger. That will be the only way to remind politicians that they are public servants. It is the only way they will get on board with changes that we desperately need in our country. Their last chance at winning is to fix the voting machines. We need a plan to prevent this. I'm sure O is already on it.

What I'd like to know is how the hell you can run a bank into the ground, get bailed out by the Feds, essentially fail to do your job, and as you head out the door, you get a multi-million dollar severance package for screwing UP.

All the times I got shown the door for being competent, and I see shyt like this....

Here is Robert Reich on how the make the bill better:
http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2008/09/coming-...

I'm still working on my view.

60 Minutes tonight.....both candidates.

"I don't mind if I have to work harder than the other guy."

Did you catch it when Barack had to reel him in with that "surge" questioning?? LOL.....Barack wasn't going for it....we're not getting into hypotheticals tonight dude!!

Yes, yes.

It was a deft performance.

He means business right about now.

Allow me to step outside the politics game for a moment (just a moment, that's all)

The Patriots got stomped!! BOO-YAH!!! Take That!! In Yo Face!! How Ya Like Me Now!!! Ronnie Brown ran all over the great Bill Belicheat's team!!! HA HA!!! 38-13!! Thought he could coach ANYBODY!! WHATEVERRRRRR!!!

OK...now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

LOL! You gotta forgive me folks, but I LUV football!! And I cant stand the Pats!! (well, except crazy azz Randy Moss, like him). Gooooooo Dolphins!

I feel you. I hate those cheatin-azz Patriots, too.

My Bills are 3-0 . . . Life is good!

Darn you, B-Serious, darn you to heck!*
*(I am a Raiders fan!)

hee hee hee ... u a trip.

lol

Someone posted this over at huffington
McCain and Palin muppets...
http://static1.firedoglake.com/30/files//2008/0...

Nice Obama picture....

Obama and Baby

awwww

Good article by William Grieder on the proposed bailout.

http://www.alternet.org/story/99660/wall_street...

Poulson's plan at this point does nothing more than privatize financial gains and socialize financial losses. Poulson and his cronies are resisting any efforts to help out American households.

Did you read the comment sections?

One of the comments has a link to an article in a German newspaper that states that a German bank gave Lehman brothers $500M right before they declared bankruptcy!

20.09.2008
Germany's "Dumbest Bank" to Press Charges Against Own Staff

A German bank that handed over 350 million euros this week to bankrupt Lehman Brothers and got nothing in exchange may pursue criminal charges against its own executives, a report said Saturday, Sept. 20.

KfW, a government bank that administers federal shareholdings and passes out soft loans to home-owners, was dubbed "Germany's dumbest bank" by the mass-circulation newspaper Bild when the scandal broke.

The automated payment on Monday went out just hours before Lehman declared itself insolvent. Lehman did not settle the swap with the equivalent in US currency, 500 million dollars, leaving KfW in the queue as a creditor.

Quoting banking sources, the German weekly magazine Focus said KfW had asked a Frankfurt law firm, Clifford, to study if it could sack or bring a prosecution against executives responsible for the blunder.

Asked to confirm the story, a KfW spokeswoman told the DPA news agency only that a law firm was reviewing "all relevant aspects of the matter."

KfW suspended two of its seven-member executive board, Detlef Leinberger and Peter Fleischer. They remain on full pay, Focus said.

KfW said its exposure to the Lehman failure totalled 536 million euros.

Another German state bank, Bayern LB, reportedly has exposure of 300 million euros ($432 million), while a newspaper, Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger, said Saturday a third bank, NRW Bank, was owed 60 million euros by Lehman.

thanks, PT. Greider's solid. Here's an oldie but goodie worth reading to get some perspective going back to the 81 reagan recession to his "morning again in america": http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Temple-Federal-Re...
back then the premise was true, fed controlling mkts with moves in short term rates, but the fed's interest rate moves in recent times were fleas on king kong. the trend comes clear though as we see the evolution from then to now. this bill is gangsta...

Paul Volcker, head of the fed back then says today "heavily “engineered” financial markets, using sophisticated mathematical models, led to “enormous complexity” and “opaqueness” in markets."

Opaqueness is classic as he will forever have fedspeak in his vocab, but this is equivalent of a yell from him, saying, "look at what them fools doin in the dark with our money!"

some useful articles: http://tinyurl.com/3zt27m

thx again.
h&f

I am convinced that our over-reaction to FISA, right or wrong, cut into Obama's momentum significantly pre-summer(especially among fence-sitters) even moreso than his actual position or reposition(I guess this is where I differ with Poblano over 538).

I am supporting Obama but not at the loss of memory or revising history. If his momentum was slowed down then it was entirely due to him reversing his position on FISA. It was not due to those of us who felt that he was half-stepping. Right. Yeah, we're fanatics and he is a beleaguered office seeker who we have no right to hold accountable. Give me a break!

Obama is sounding really feisty! Damn!

He and Biden talked about what McCain said about making health care like the banking system. Hah!

Folks, the crisis is bad, but keep your eyes on the prize.

I've got good news. Take it in. Enjoy it. Celebrate it.

Barack talked about a six-point plan for a bailout today in North Carolina.

NORTH CAROLINA.

That means North Carolina is very much in play. Barack won't be wasting resources in a state unless his internals tell him he can WIN IT.

So, take both his location and his words as proof that the man is feeling pretty good about things right now.

Barack made it clear that a BLANK CHECK isn't want he wants. That a bailout MUST PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF FAMILIES IN CRISIS.

Even if the democrats surrender, Barack has made his desires known.

CELEBRATE THEM.

Now for the really good news:

In all of my canvassing and phonebanking this week - all of it to small-town America - people are simply fed up. They can't afford to go to their town fairs this fall. Folks that don't trust Barack for whatever reason are now going to vote for him anyway. They can't take anymore. Some of them even said that no matter what happens in the next 44 days, NO MATTER WHAT SMEARS THE REPUBLICANS TRY, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS ON THE "TERRORIST" FRONT, they're going to hold their noses and vote for Barack anyway.

No matter what.

That's how much folks are hurting. Fuck the racist AP polls and all the rest. Talk to the people who vote and get their stories.

The rest is bullshit.

Get on your phones and make calls to the battlegrounds states and get a picture of what's REAL.

Barack is surging in the polls in Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Nevada, Iowa, New Mexico, and North Carolina. I've talked to at last 20 voters since Monday in all those states and 90% of them are on board.

NINETY PERCENT.

Let's make it 100.

Go to Barack's site, get your telephone numbers, and get on the phone, people.

Let's do this.

Good job, Craig, but Obama's is a 7-point plan; he calls Paulson's bail-out an "idea."

The Senate Banking Committee is inviting comments from taxpayers; please send yours by clicking this link: http://banking.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuse.... Comments I sent today:

We can tell that this isn't for the American people because it doesn't directly address the root cause of the crisis - EXCESSIVE LEVERAGE AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IN THE DERIVATIVES MARKET.

This plan is just an authoritarian corporatist power grab and crony giveaway; the last hurrah of a failed administration seeking to leave our cupboards totally bare while they live on their ill-gotten gains in the lap of luxury at the expense of the poor and middle class, such as it is.

You must not even consider this "plan" that Paulson and Bernanke, with Bush's wholehearted approval, seemingly thrown together at the last minute in a serious attempt to continue to dupe the people, and to leave our coffers totally bare, since they and their corporatist friends have already run a huge confidence game, with politicians on both sides of the aisles' total approval, robbing us blind.

NO! You must not grant complete authority to the Treasury Secretary without any checks and balances.

NO! We must not be rushed into a package that does nothing to alleviate the economic pain and strain on We the People. Paulson's proposal is written to protect his thieving cronies' personal wealth of hundreds of millions of dollars. We should not be rushed into accepting whatever Bush and Paulson throws out there, like we did during the Iraq invasion.

NO! Unless there are dramatic changes, there will be no upside participation in the financial companies for taxpayers, and the taxpayers will recapitalize the banks by paying premium prices for lousy assets.

I say most emphatically NO! I do not want a bailout of any kind for anyone.

There must be NO dictatorial power for Paulson or Bernanke.

NO! Taxpayers should not have to bail out banks making bad loans, nor banks doing good business, nor businesses like Berkshire and others that suddenly appeared on the list last Friday.

NO! Both the federal treasury and Paulson are systemic risks.

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

It is time for elected officials to step up and finally show some backbone and some loyalty to the people who elected you rather than to the administration and your corporatist buddies.

Dems' Bailout Wish List includes: Bankruptcy relief for homeowners; foreclosure relief; CEO Pay limits; and, more accountability.

YES WE CAN !!!

This falling over funny.

Enjoy!

T.

T -- Hahahahaha!!

That was great.

Yes, that was hilarious. I especially liked McCain's oneupmanship verbage at the end ...absolutely comical...how he is going to oneup him on 'gettin the hell up out of here'...as it was his idea long before..hahahahahahah

Wow, Colin Powell really sounded good the CNN forum. Bush is still trying to pass the Columbian free trade agreement when he should be focused on this national economic crisis. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Charlotte, I need you...North Carolina, I need you..." This was Obama at the NC rally just now. How can we not answer this call on 11/4? Tell me?

T.

So, the truth is starting to come out. Now, why would Paulson be opposed to helping households?

Paulson resists calls for added help in bailout
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/21/paulso...

....Who does this guy Paulson represent???

Paulson represents Wall Street, he is the former chair of Goldman Sachs. Paulson doesn't want to help the little guy at all. He wants them to remain prey for the bankers.
I am especially worried that part of the written contract sent to Congress contains language that nothing Paulson does is reviewable by any court or agency. His words are edicts and his actions will be fiat!

He has been giving his marching papers by his crony corporatist friends to save their wealth, no matter the price to the taxpayers. He and Bush intend to leave the federal treasury totally bare.

IF WE LET THEM . . . . The urgency to ram this bill through is just like the urgency to invade Iraq. We must not allow them to rush into Paulson's 'idea' just to save their corporatist friends' multi-million dollar wealth.

Has anyone mentioned that this move to internationalize this crisis by purchasing these bonds has EVERYTHING to do with shoring up the value of the US dollar?

If the dollar plunges, look for oil prices to rise considerably--and it seems that there is upward pressure on oil at this moment.

This ride is not over yet. And, remember, Obama has to appear presidential--the financial capital wing of the US ruling class backs Obama, and McCain is already being attacked for being too 'populist'.

There will be time for Obama to craft an economic policy and shift the macro-direction of the US economy--when he wins and is in office.

If Obama were to panic the markets with any incindiary rhetoric, the establishment will destory him.

Things are moving fast--but the economic meltdown will take much, much longer.

We are only half-way through this mess so far.

IT"S OFFICAL. This is a bad bill. I will go into detail later
The first thing to do is call your congressman and both Senators and tell them to vote NO.
Why? The tresuary is asking for authority to do this without any recourse to the court system. In doing so the administration is putting the whole country into GITMO.

FOREIGN banks are now being allowed to send assets for the treasury to buy. Let us ignore how these bonds are going to be priced as the treasury buys them. This will allow every foreign bank to dump EVERY piece of American debt back into the treasury and reliquify those banks w/ dollars. this will expand the money supply, cause inflation and decrease the value of the dollar simultaneously without doing a damn thing for the hoomeowner./ economy. They do not have to lend money back in this country Worse, as they dump their dollars for hard assets-gold, oil and other commodites they will send the US economy down the skids w/ no recourse.

It only gets worse.

Any CBC Member voting for this bill will be graded accordingly. This wouldn't be the first time we slammed members for voting for bills that write blank checks and they know it.

Agreed...what is going on?!!! The American people are already on the hook for the expenses that the Iraq war has created and now we will be on the hook for the mess that was created when the government allowed the lenders and brokers to stop treating consumers like customers and start treating them like prey( thanks to MSNBC guest for that analogy).

Then the government took it a step further by allowing these mammoth corporations to exist and gave them the ability to blur the lines in what type of business they operated(financial, insurance, investment) creating a loop hole of huge risk to the American people by letting them leverage(30/40 to 1) ridiculous sums of money that they did not have to the assets to cover...but yet I'm hearing about homeowners being the ones to blame.

Now...the government wants to be able to have the Treasury Secretary solely responsible for how this situation is handled (governing over possibly $1 trillion+) but he won't be able to be questioned, investigated or held accountable for how things work out in the end. WTF! Isn't that how we got into this situation in the first place.

IMO...there is a complete lack of TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, and INTELLECT in Washington!

Obama/Biden '08!!!!!!!!!

It seems to me that when corporations and entire industries are owned by government that is called FASCISM.

That is what is going on we are nationalizing the financial services industry. This is going to have a ripple effect to the global finance system.

Yep, transparency, accountability, intellect...

T.

There will be none of these things. But there should be. This entire bill is reminiscent of how we passed the Homeland Security Act, Patriot Act and Authorization for Military Force vs. Iraq.

All three were characterized as 'crisises' all three were characterized as 'no time for partisianship' in the interest of national security and all three resulted in the loss of individual civil rights or expansion of executive powers.

so will this action. The President will have wide ranging influence on the financial industry but we will be saddled with humongous debt. Paulsen will be sealing a deal that the next President will have no recourse about..as the language of the bill denies any review whatsoever. That to me is a HUGE red flag. Sounds like domestic economic terrorism to me.

All to bail out the scam artistis, brilliant deviance and boundless profits of Wall street.

The scariest part of this entire financial debacle is that no one truly understands how to measure the debt!! Scores of financial experts and professionals could not figure out the debt of AIG, Bears &Sterns or Fannie/Freddy Mae. The scalawag genius who developed the derivatives market is so diabolical that no one has the expertise to calculate the incalculable debt. Which means there is no way to see bottom!! Imagine, your home finances being such that you cannot calculate how much credit card debt you are in due to the byzantine manner in which the debt was incurred such that their is a random spread of debt on each charge without any consistent measure to determine how deep the random debt goes!!

How can anyone TRULY bail you out? They might estimate you owe $5K and even guesstimate it could be $10K but the reality could just as well be that you owe $100K because there simply is no way to assess the debt based on the financial instruments used to incur it!!!

This bailout at $700trillion is a BAND AID.

Lehman Bros was shafted! A venerable institution which has been around since the Civil War was not bailed out because Paulson is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and today the only 2 investment banks standing are Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley!!

I believe Barr won his case to be put on the ballot here in Pennsy. Let's hope he cuts down on any Mccain't votes here too!

It looks like the paro(paranoid) people on dkos is about to waste Obama's time again. Ya know, like what they did during the FISA vote when they got all self-righteous and literally attacked the Senator en masse about his FISA position BEFORE he even voted. I am convinced that our over-reaction to FISA, right or wrong, cut into Obama's momentum significantly pre-summer(especially among fence-sitters) even moreso than his actual position or reposition(I guess this is where I differ with Poblano over 538).

Anyway, I am digressing. But, here's the thing. These geniuses over at dkos have started to suggest that if, and I quote - if Obama and the democrats cave to the bush administration and the bailout plan, then we are in trouble. I mean, this is even before Obama has made any statement about this. Seriously, these people need to control themselves. And if the Obama campaign needs to be aware of this so that it does not spiral out of control.

Listen, you and I know that this bailout plan does not pass the smell test. I am not in favor of giving Paulson a blank check to do whatever he wants without really understanding what my tax dollars is going to be used to do, and the upside will be for me, the tax payer. For a start, wIll the government just own these bad debts or will they be given some ownership positions in these financial entities? Are foreign owned banks going to benefit from the use of my tax dollars? Are these companies going to be held responsible in any way for bad decision making? And this is just looking at it in a very simplistic way. And yes, the Congress should not allow themselves to be pressured into passing a bill quickly just for pure expediency...remember what happened with Iraq?(The meme that has started coming out of the administration is that Bush is doing this to, get this, save the country...LOL...I could die laughing...)

But, something has to be done, right? And, it certainly won't please everyone, right? So, to have these dkos people start pre-empting Obama's response and creating unnecessary jitters among the base and talking about 'caving to Bush' and 'bad for Obama' just sickens me. 45 days before the election and they seem poised to start a self-righteous damn train trip again. God, I hope I'm wrong. At the very least, though, they certainly seem intent on giving the Repubs some new talking points regardless of where Obama comes down on this.

As the saying goes, with friends like these....

T.

agreeing with ya.

T,

You nailed it. The in-fighting kills us every four years. For no other reason than some of us wish to monopolize the "truth" and label anyone who doesn't agree a "sell-out" or weak, etc.

And it's not just the dkos crowd. I'm starting to see comments from fiscally conservative Democrats that accuse Obama of pandering a populist message. They say Obama can't afford to wait it out because they believe in "trickle down misery" just as much as the dkos crowd believes this is the AUMF all over again.

Personally, I'm comfortable to admit that I'm not an economic expert. And I'd much rather have a President who thinks this through and gathers different perspectives than someone who makes a rushed decision just to "keep it real" with his political base.

The thing that gets me is how some people refuse to differentiate between the primary and the general election. The time for political purity and ultimatums is during the primary when you have other candidates to choose from. People can afford to take an "either/or" hardline position because there are ususally several other candidates and maybe . . . just maybe there's one "ideal" candidate left in the running. Unlike the general election, the consequences of NOT backing the right candidate are far less severe.

But the general election is different. This is about two very different visions for the future of this country. It's not about finding the perfect progressive/Democratic candidate. It's about electing the best of the two viable options in front of us. . . .(AND yes, VIABILITY is a big deal in my book, which is why I don't spend much time on third party candidates unless and until their plan to WIN is as serious as their rhetoric). General elections are about ensuring that the best of two opposing political philosophies wins the White House in November.

Think of it this way . . . REWIND back to October of 2000. I remember people saying "there's no difference between Al Gore and George Bush . . . I'm voting for Nader." Well .. . THEY WERE DEAD WRONG!!!

I'd like to think that if they knew back then what we all know now (that Bush was gonna serve 8 years and do all he did - Iraq, Katrina, trampling the Constitution, etc.) then they would have never pulled a protest vote to "teach the Democrats a lesson."

I'm hoping people think 8 maybe 16 years ahead this time around. What will this country look like after 8-16 years of McCain and Sarah Palin in power? That's not a far-fetched scenario. Let's say McCain's health improves and Palin takes his place after 8 years in office . . . are progressives ready to risk another 16 years of this mess??? I'm a progressive and, based on what I've seen from McCain/Palin, I say HELL NO!

Elections aren't just about convincing people why they should vote for your guy . . . they're also about articulating why undecideds shouldn't vote for the other guy. This election isn't just limited to getting Obama in the White House . . . it's also about making sure we have enough votes to keep McCain OUT of the White House. Because, while we might occasionally disagree on single issues, any progressive should understand that a McCain/Palin administration is a step backward (thus not progressive), not a step forward.

I don't see how any "progressive" voter who's spent the last 8 years lamenting the Bush Administration can not, at the very least, find it his or her duty to use the power of the vote to keep McCain and his policies OUT of power.

Trust. . . all those right-wing activists have their priorities straight. They might not like McCain, but they're careful to make sure that they don't do anything to help elect Obama. They don't form the circular firing squad like we do. That's one of the reasons why they keep winning and we keep losing.

B-Serious: Thank you for your analyses/explanations! :>)

Obama-Biden '08!!

100% on point.

Folks call Obama many things but they have never accused him or being stupid.

"Obama made a number of points about how the government needed to respond to the financial crisis. He began by saying that Washington must recognize "that economic recovery requires that we act, not just to address the crisis on Wall Street, but also the crisis on Main Street and around kitchen tables across America,"
First, there must be no blank check when American taxpayers are on the hook for this much money.


Second, taxpayers shouldn't be spending a dime to reward CEOs on Wall Street.

Third, taxpayers should be protected and should be able to recoup this investment.

Fourth, this plan has to help homeowners stay in their homes.

Fifth, this is a global crisis, and the United States must insist that other nations join us in helping secure the financial markets.

Sixth, we need to start putting in place the rules of the road I've been calling for for years to prevent this from ever happening again.

And finally, this plan can't just be a plan for Wall Street, it has to be a plan for Main Street.

val: Right on!! :>)

Obama-Biden '08!!

One of Obama's surrogates* floats this.

T.
*Well, I saw him advocate for Barack last week on Jim Lehrer, I think.

Excellent write up by Reich. Especially number 5

.The Dems cannot afford to not extract concessions for homeowners going into foreclosure. Not to do something for these families would be morally bankrupt and the American public should respond by throwing all their asses out of Congress and waging a wholesale anarchy!!

I found what Reich said about no more campaign donations from Wall Street very interesting becasue it is well known that Obama has huge backing all up and down the street. Including Lehaman, Goldman, Morgan as well as UBS etc and hedgefund managers. I still think it is an excellent idea.

I get that people have fallen on hard times, but it seems like some on this post want to rewrite history. Both homeowners and banks are equally to blame for the shady mortgages that are behind this mess. Many people were well aware of their mortgage terms, but bit off more home then they could afford. Banks, because they were thinking about interest rates instead of good business practices, offered mortgages to people without double checking their work and sometimes credit history and with no money down.

So, as the saying goes, let's not put lipstick on a pig. Personally, I don't want my money going to any of these bozos. That includes irresponsible homeowners, bankers, and Wall Street financiers. I think by giving this bailout to both main street and wall street it is sending the wrong message---basically, the American taxpayer will be your insurance policy for your poor decision making. People need to man up and take some responsibility.

So yes, Wall Street fat cats have certainly been living high off the hog based on questionable deals, but many everyday folks, that knew better, were also gaming the system, and are also at fault. I just think its hypocritical for some to be shaming Wall Street, without recognizing the other issues that are at play. The blame should be spread around.

That's a great article by Reich. Everybody should read this.

Bush, the Repubs and their Wall Street buddies have taken America hostage. Obama said he was fighting for Main Street - did he think Wall Street was going to make that happen without a fight?

As Reich said, it Dems say no...the Repubs will say they're jeopardizing the financial system. They've got the world financial system by the balls. Congress has to be tough and punish them, while protecting average citizens. I so hope they don't cave to this bill...

Hear, hear.

and your point seems to be that Obama must not be attacked for supporting a bill that you, yourself believe, does not pass the smell test. I understand we want Obama to win.....but come on. There's such a thing called principle.

and your point seems to be that Obama must not be attacked for supporting a bill that you, yourself believe, does not pass the smell test. I understand we want Obama to win.....but come on. There's such a thing called principle.

To me the telling part of your comment is the word "attacked" -- why would you advocate an ATTACK on someone who has yet to actually weigh in on the proposal? What good does ATTACK do in such a low-information situation? Why is that the word you choose to describe action?

Michelle, I really agree with you, but PEOPLE ARE AFRAID. Many weird things have happened this year. In a way, it may seem that you have less to lose if you own/have nothing and aren't invested in "the system" but many of us have lived long enough to see many people's pensions, investments and life savings wiped out. like they never existed. And for the DailyKos demographic, if it doesn't it's their pension, it mean's it's their parent's pension, and thus their inheritance. There is a lot of uncertainty and tension in the air. We have watched the dismantling of our country and our very Constitution right before our eyes, and there isn't a darn thing we can do about it. People are shocked, feeling powerless to deal with the enemy within, who is about to vote itself absolute power without oversight or accountability. I'm not saying this to excuse their behavior, but I think we should approach them with some humanity and try to calm them down. Panic doesn't help, even though I also feel it. I emailed Schumer this morning lst thing, even though I'm not from NY. I asked him not to pass the bill with the blank check and no accountability. Thats all I can do for now. People don't like to feel so powerless, and we want to believe that our politicians work for us. We believe that O is going to work for us even if we on't believe it about the others, so they are trying to influence him in their own paranoid, pathetic way.

I hear you. Teacher and thank you. I know I shouldn't be so impatient when fear is such a factor. Though I just get so sick of the drama.

I've been dealing with some of the fear dynamic in my own household. My girlfriend has been really afraid. She doesn't even have any assets or inheritance or anything like that, but has been scared for her job and just -- feeling scared and powerless all week. I even -- admittedly while drinking a large glass of wine -- wrote about it last night on the dailykos

Well, anyway, today's statements by Senator Obama and other members of his party have made her feel much much better. The air is brighter here now.

Teacher you are so right.

It is the blank check with no accountability that is the biggest red flag.
Hopefully folks recall this is how we were lead to war, same exact scenario, crisis, we must pre-emptively strike and their must be carteblanche authority to wage war. that is how the Congress passed the AUMF and what have we hear now?

The same exact variables, the same crisis situation and request for a blank check to PRE-EMTIVELY strike and avert a collapse of the financial market. This is the same as WMD's were the operative fearmongering words ...now it is financial collapse..loss of pension funds, savings and funds for payrolls.

Economic holacaust vs. nuclear holucaust!!

I swear these are all GOP scams ...for the rich to finally turn America into the a fascist state for the capitalists.

Bush is nothing but Mussolini!!

History will record it as such.

Michelle - I see you picked up the same thing I did.

Great response.

Here's what I will do: I will wait to see what the Senator has to say as more information becomes available over the next few days. Does that sound reasonable to you? Or, are you not a reasonable person?

And, like I said, this bill will not please everyone but I'm fucking certain that I'm not going to hand victory to the Republicans just on "principle". No way, no how!

T.

CO-SIGN!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's what I will do: I will wait to see what the Senator has to say as more information becomes available over the next few days. Does that sound reasonable to you?

Stop making sense, T, ok? Information? Reality? It gets in the way of Teh Drama. You are killing the drama-buzz!

I totally agree with what you've said. DKos...ugh!

I think my favorite was all of the DKos diaries that said they wouldn't vote for BHO after his FISA vote. Oh wait, then it was 'he didn't pick Hillary, I'm not voting for him'!
It would be funny if it weren't so annoying.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160091

NEWSWEEK talks about how many cars each candidate has.

McCain has between 12 - 14 cars.

Obama has 1.

The NEWSWEEK article also helpfully points out that Obama's old car was a Chrysler 300C, the preferred car of rapper 50 Cent.

Riddle me this: what the hell does 50 Cent's preference in cars have to do with Obama?

It's just like that SNL skit last night: "Ok Sen. McCain, this next commercial will have Obama, OJ, Michael Vick, Ludacris, Pacman Jones and Kwame Kilpatrick and you come in with your lines."

Town: I stay awake for these skits! :>)

To that last line [Obama, OJ, etc.]: You answered your Riddle!! If I knew any other "characters" [Guess you can tell my age. :>)], I would HOOK them to Mr. Obama in order to add to your answer!! :>)

But, you realize that the RACE CARD is NOT being played by the author! Dontcha? HAH!!

LAWD Ha'Mercy!! Deep Breaths!! :>)


Obama-Biden '08!

Sounds like that skit was a parody on the racemongering McCain ad with Raines and the little old white lady at the end. Two black men who were suppose to be bad scary thieves preying on fragile elderly white women.

Did SNL really say that last night?

Yes...you should watch it!

They certainly did. The skit consisted of McCain making ads for tv and radio.

Town - they are actually making themselves look like complete idiots. I say let them. The light is being turned on all over the country and the roaches don't like it.

Ugh! The 50 cent reference was uncalled for....

I was going to be mad that thy made no random correlations regarding McCain's Cadillac CTS. But, when they have 3 bubble cars which are popular in retirement communities and Cindy's personal car has a personalized tag with the classy "Ms Bud" plate who needs to infer more jokes.

I'm waiting for someone to do an article claiming the Obamas will have plastic on the furniture and a wooden fork and spoon on the wall.

Town: And the picture of Jesus [now Black] and the one of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And the "blue/white" dishes; and the "jelly jar" cups used for the Red Kool-Aid!! :>)

Obama-Biden '08!

They will use the dishes to serve grits & chitterling quiche with egg foo young gravy to White House visitors.

Bwaha

Teacher: LOL!! :>)

Apparently Cindy has driven a car with "Ms Bud" plates since high school. How cute.

OMG!!! Did you guys see Goolsbe on late edition?? He invited anyone interested in McCain's economic plan to go look on their website....he said it's literally 10 sentences long, and there's more information on the back of a box of fruit loops.

hahahah

Yesterday, he said it looked like it came out of a fortune cookie.

This guy is amazing! He knew his stuff. He rebutted every point the McCain surrogate had. He was quick and fluent!

Best O surrogate...along with Dr. Rice.

Yeah, I saw Goolsby. I could tell he was on fire. He got burned by HRC during the primaries and he has been ablaze every since!
He takes no crap and no prisoners!

He is smart, succinct and witty!
I looved it.
He made that stupid economist on the mcCain team look 'out of touch' which everyone knew since he claimed McCain invented the blackberry.

I was like GO...go! Goolsby...he ate that guys lunch.

He was on CSPAN 3 weekends ago(When Obama was on This Week and Biden on MTP). If you go to CSPAN.org you will see the hour long video of him discussing Obama's economic plan, including taxes. If you can't find it, se the search feature and type in 'austan goolsbee'...

Yeah, I agree. Dude's fast on his feet...Gene Sperling, another Obama economic adviser was on CSPAN this morning...

These people are first rate.

T.

Thanks..I'm watching now.

This whole financial mess feels like the Repubs know the house in burning down. They're ripping off the gold leaf, and stealing the silverware...while everybody's distracted.

If the Senator keeps having his picture taken with l'il black kids, and JJP keeps posting them, I'm gonna be constantly dehydrated...and I'm a "toughie"...but, man, these images are getting me all 'soft and pink' inside...ya know...

T.

y'all I think this is a really old pic of Malia Obama.

http://bolsonon.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/oba...

I thought that was clear - Yes, that's Malia.

The Anchorage Daily News Editorial Board are sick of the McCain campaign interfering with state business:
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/531725.html


Also, The LA Times looks into why people trying to speak with state officials about state business are being routed to McCain's staff who have no clue what to do:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/...

Excerpt:
A recent call to John Cramer, the head of the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs -- who clashed with Palin during her years as mayor of Wasilla -- was returned by a McCain campaign operative who had just arrived from Washington, D.C. "John who?" she asked.

Alaskans are getting pretty pissed.

Hello friends. I'M ALIVE!!!!!!!

Hopefully, the power is on to stay, especially since I have to report to work tomorrow.

I'm trying to catch up on the news and am pretty unhappy and somewhat depressed. I was without power for a week, I get power back (yesterday) and the nation is experiencing an apocalyptal financial crisis that warrants giving absolute power and a blank check to a former wall street insider without oversight? WTF?!?!

Galveston has been wiped off the planet and the hurricane devstastion went all the way to Ohio? Dang. Wow. I'm practically dumbfounded. I actually watched the huricane out of my window as it hit, and had no idea it was as bad as it was. I still haven't figured out why the water system stopped working or why the power had to be out for a whole week (or longer). The power went out about 11:30 ish, and the hurricane hit about 3 am ish. I'm thinking that something about the infrastructure is obsolete. Yes, there was a lot of wind damage, but this is not the 1st nor last hurricane to hit the TX Gulf Coast/Houston area. There was very widespread flooding in 2002 with hurricane Allison, and the power wasn't off for a whole week. I also live in the same subdivision as my state representative, Sylvester Turner, who had lights 3 days before I did (we're on a different transformer). I can't imagine how things would be without the extra 4000 crews sent from various states and Canada. I don't understand why all the electricity in the whole city-except for the mayor, the news & radio stations and the designated fema centers-was wiped out. Something is strange about this to me.

Other weird stuff: when the water pressure came back up after 2 or 3 days, they told us to boil it. Most stoves in TX are electric and we had no power. Flooding-People called me to ask about flooding. I didn'y know anything about it. I really missed all the coverage and news footage that having access to tv provides. There was high water on a few streets that I drove thru like I always do. I did not see anything being washed down a street. I suspect that most of the flooding was caused by debris clogging up the drain pipes. When I noticed the water coming up my drive way I went to the drains at the end of the street and personally pulled out the leaves & branches. I made my son go with me, just incase of some freak accident (Teacher sucked into sewer while removing hurricane debris-Details @ 11). Another neighbor (female) saw us and came out to help. We cleared our street & a parallel street. The water was right above my knees & it went down fast after we cleared the drains. Much of the time people wait to be saved, even when the solution is a no brainer. I told my son that we are heros because we saved the neighborhood (smirk). I told him that I am his shero and watched his eyes roll skyward. He is 13 and disses me hard sometimes....Ok, I'm going to go read. Please feel free to fill me in on anything I may have missed by having no tv for a week. Thanks in advance.

TEACHER! TEACHER! OMG!! I am sooo glad to hear from you!!

Big virtual hug!

Our church keeps praying for ALL victims!

Just keep well/safe. Hugs to your son! God Bless y'all! :>)

Obama-Biden '08!

GLH!! I hug you back. I really appreciate the prayers and well wishes of you and everyone. It was a weird, surreal and 3rd world experience being without water, power, street lights, stores, etc. To be completely political, I think the infrastructures of cities are suffering because so much $ is going to the war. Anyway, I'm thankful to be back in the mix. I'll be reading you....

Teacher: . . so much $ is going to the war. . .

CO-SIGNING, Big time!!

Oh, and since you've been gone, I've [accidentally] learned how to BOLD and to do ITALICS!! Go on with my bad self!! :>)

Obama-Biden '08!

Watching the news, I guess it is easy to get the impression that Galveston has been wiped off the map. That's really not the case at all. From what I've seen, they've focused on the beach house developments on the west side of the island, most of which are outside the Galveston city limits. I've seen very few images fron the core of the town. That's not to say there wasn't damage- there was very, very severe flooding over a lot of the city from the storm surge - but the most of the town is not completely devastated.

Last Tuesday, I went along with one of my relatives to check on her house in the center of Galveston. From the time we got into town until we got to her house, I saw very few heavily damaged structures. Her own house lost some roof shingles and a storm blind. That's the extent of the damage to her house.

So glad to hear that your relative was spared. Thank goodness. I'm glad things aren't quite as bad as they seem.

Good to hear from you and glad you made it through in one piece. My jaw has been on the floor looking at all the devastation. Yet if you went by the media coverage you would think everything is okay, because it's not front page news anymore.

So glad to hear from you. Now, I need to here from Angie.

Where is Smoothie? He (or she) lives in San Antonio.

Wow...good to see you back. How did you end up boiling water?

We didn't boil any because we couldn't. I somewhat meant it sarcastically because it really was a non-solution.

Yeah...you'd think they'd figure that out, eh?We've been through the boiling thing....use charcoal on a barbeque. I've never tried this, but pull out the element and spill catcher on the electric stove. put 3 or 4 short candles, or tealights in the well, and put the pot of water on top...that might work. You might be able to heat up, or cook a little bit with that too.> Subject: [jackandjillpolitics] Re: Sunday Open Thread> From: > To: maven_haven@hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:50:05 +0000> > Teacher (unregistered) wrote:> > We didn't boil any because we couldn't. I somewhat meant it sarcastically because it really was a non-solution.> > Link: http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/09/sund...> > --> You may reply to this email to post your response. To turn off notifications, go to your Disqus settings at: http://disqus.com/settings/notifications/
_________________________________________________________________
Discover the new Windows Vista
http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=windows+vi...

Well, had I been really desperate to figure it out, I would have. We took lukewarm showers and had plenty of bottled water, which I purchase by the case. We ate out every day. Our neighbor across the street lent us his generator after their lights went back on. There were quite a few deaths here caused by carbon monoxide poisoning from generators. The generator was gassing us and was very noisy, so we had to change it's location. With the generator we had fans at night and the kids had videos. My daughter walked around the house with one of those round push lights that you stick on in the closet. I called her my ghetto fairy because she walked around carrying a ball of light. The cat never got excited, so I don't trust her anymore. We have 10 trees in the front yard and 10 trees still standing. 3 neighbors lost trees in the subdivision.

Teacher: And your daughter!! :>)

So glad you're ok. I saw some of the video and some pictures.....my goodness, it was just.....just no words to even describe it. My prayers go out to all affected by the hurricanes.

Thanks, Miranda. My mother told me that the hurricane killed 4 people in MO and that they were without power for 24 hours. It was only a category 2 hurricane, which would normally be downgraded to a tropical storm after a few hours on shore. I'm wondering if this is the 1st time in history this has happened, or what. My mother said that it still had an eye wall as far north as MO. Amazing. Thanks for praying. There are quite a few people, especially non-English speakers who are living in buildings with water damage, broken glass and no electricity. It made me stop feeling sorry for myself for sure.

I live in Ohio and we had a windstorm as a result of the hurricane. The winds were 75mph--a first here in Ohio. It was 90 degrees and extremely humid when the windstorm began--no rain whatsoever, just wind. I did not have electricity from Sunday until Friday. A tree fell on my house but fortunately it did not break through. It was quite a mess. Trees and telephone poles down all over the state. Traffic signals not working, grocery stores and gas stations closed. It was very frustrating but not nearly as bad as what you have gone through. I'm glad you are alright.

Jelana, I'm so thankful that you, your family & your house are ok. What we experienced was very similar, except we had much more rain.

This storm has made me reconsider my previous apathetic attitude. I really am going to put an emergency kit together now. It's better than being gouged. There was a gas station in my hood (about 70% Black) with unmarked prices where the gas was $3.99. I (refused to pay it and) drove to a burb (about 80% white) and got the gas for $3.32. I paid $20 for 10 C batteries. I used to think of those survivalists as being interested in something I'm not interested in, but now I think they're on to something. No one really thinks it can or will happen to them, even after Katrina. But the more our country declines, the more likely it is that we all will have to save ourselves. And as far as the fema thing goes, Houston took many, many Katrina survivors thinking that we (our city) would be reimbursed by fema and it didn't happen. There were people being evicted from their apts because fema promised to but had not paid their rent in 6 months. I'll be more prepared next time. I hope Santa will bring me the chainsaw I've been asking for for years. I could have been sawing all week. I'm sure there will be other opportunties.

I have come to the conclusion is this is a bad bill. first and this is strictly an implied thing is that Sec of Tresury Paulson is on CBS, NBS and ABC sunday morning shows simutanelously. I love technology too but I want to see a real time interview to see if he's LYING and his lips moving isn't enough.

This is the best explanation of how we got here I have read so far. It will help hyou make your own decision about this issue:
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2008/09/...

Is Paulson a Bush appointee? I have a bad feeling about this whole thing.

Kristof's latest column

The Push to ‘Otherize’ Obama

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/opinion/21kri...

excellent post Rikyrah

Frank Rich's Latest Column:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/opinion/21ric...

Maureen Dowd's latest:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/opinion/21dow...

Thanks, Rikyrah... This piece had me lmao!

"The people who want English to be the official language of the United States are uncomfortable with their leaders being fluent in it."

Then it also got me to thinking that it's time we put this idea of "the angry Black man" under the microscope. People cite it like it's the 11th commandment (in terms of what Obama must avoid) when, considering Obama is the only one who has gotten this far, we don't really have evidence on our side.

The idea is an artificial/arbitrary straight-jacket. It's the equivalent of the old playing not to lose vs. playing to win. More than anything, what's lacking is nuance. It seems ignorant to me to act like Obama can't be "angry" about anything when the whole idea of avoiding being seen as the "angry Black man" has always been about avoiding those things that make it seem as if that is your/his dominant character trait or disposition.

My point is simply that leaves plenty of room for Barack to be both human and a candidate who can score the political points he needs to... to construct the presidential image of firm but fair, slow to anger but determined once you cross the line.

I continue to see folks like Dowd, calling him soft (especially with that soft caricature - not cartoon - attached to the op-ed) as an arrogance that Obama has accounted for and is built to combat. ...telling him to get mad because: "You’re elite, you can do both." as if he was a stickman all this time.

I don't want a President who gets mad on cue from his followers calling him out in public. If he does, in fact, get mad after that then who would want that puppet (puppy) for a president?

If we look at his strategy and it's effects thus far - getting out of Chicago on top, getting out of primary on top - it is clear that he has smacked some big folks in the mouth.

I think he is being human, black, and angry, in fact in the biggiest way, "don't you know bad boys move in..."

I think some indication is the batch of swole lips in media crying like stuck pigs - supporters saying "you need to get mad!" and enemies still calling him "elitist!" both responses to his signature demeanor. He seems to be content being his own man. I'm pushing my stack on that strategy. It can fail. But that ain't wimp strategy.

Hustleandfloe: Key word - STRATEGY. Obama's GOT IT!! :>)

Obama-Biden '08!

you are so right!

The black protesters/hecklers will indeed help Obama--just as Jesse Jackson's comments did.

This is psychological war people--and Obama knows how to play the game and win. He's two steps ahead of the rightwing.

About the photo---Obama is a natural with kids, they trust his core instincts and it shows.

Kids have natural instincts toward fairness, ecological wisdom, and good will--and it is not until we adults pollute their minds that they start becoming cynical, and losing their natural beauty.

Kids rule! Give kids 8 years old and up the effen vote. If children were decently educated they would make wise decisions--but we accept an education system that is diseased, and props up the power of the ruling classes.

It don't have to be that way folks. Take your country back--and you can start with Barack.

Yes we can.

Slave Revolt, I'll admit to having experienced a whole lot of stress lately, so we can factor that into my comment. Your statement might be true in an ideal world, but we don't live in an ideal world. Kids are the same as everyone else, except in smaller bodies. I can tell by your naive statements that you don't have any. An 8 year old vote can be bought with a bag of cookies. If they were all that, they'd be out on their own, with their apt. ,car note, job, etc. They need us to guide & protect them, which is a good reason to take back our country----And we can start with Barack.

i have two children and i agree with what he (she?) wrote.

thanks calligirl

rikyrah: Went "Field Trippin'" to the Anchorage Daily News.

Background: In my teaching experiences, we referred to some methods of teaching mathematics as "Drill & Kill!" As I read through this article, I looked to this phrase as a way of explaining [to myself -'cause some of this information is way NEW to me :>)] what is being dealt with in the matter of oil exploration.

http://www.adn.com/rural/story/532398.html
Whalers Campaign For Mayor, future of Arctic: Rural Alaska

So here's a SNIPET: :>)

he campaign signs -- tacked to buildings because the permafrost is too mucky in late summer to sink in a yard stake -- may be a better indicator of allegiance than polling. Yet they signal far more than just a vote for the mayoral candidate who will best fix the potholes and chase the polar bears from the high school football field.

Offshore in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, oil companies, chiefly the Dutch oil giant Shell, have paid billions of dollars to explore reserves that could rival the oil and gas discoveries of the Gulf of Mexico. Whoever wins the Oct. 7 election as mayor of the North Slope Borough will help shape the future of offshore drilling in the nation's Arctic waters -- as well as that of a community where ancient whaling traditions still dominate daily life.

"The oil industry, if I don't win this election, I think they'll be jumping up and down for joy," said Edward Itta, 63, the current mayor and opponent of offshore drilling. He faces a challenge from his former boss and the borough's previous five-term mayor, George Ahmaogak. Both men are whaling captains.

"The oil industry has been the lifeblood of the economy up here. The North Slope Borough is pro-development," Itta said. "But offshore ... now that is totally different."

SHELL'S PAYING ATTENTION

Worried that noise from oil exploration and, ultimately, drilling will drive off the bowhead whales hunted by the Inupiat Eskimos of the North Slope, Itta's administration, in concert with several environmental groups, sued the Minerals Management Service. So far, the unresolved lawsuit has succeeded mostly in slowing the company's exploration. Shell has continued to conduct seismic surveys, including offshore work this summer, but the lawsuit has kept the company from drilling exploratory wells.

O.K. Now here's where the 'Drill & Kill" concept comes into play for me. DRILLing for oil - offshore can KILL of the whaling industry, specifically as it relates to driving off the bowhead whales hunted by the Inupiat Eskimos of the North Slope.

Whew! One of us is so much enjoying learning!! :>) :>)

OBAMA-Biden '08!


p.s. Grabbing my Choir Robe, I'm bouncing!! Also, will be visiting my friend/son most of the day! :>)

Here is the new pitch against Obama people.

Could Senator Barack Obama’s popularity among black voters hurt gay couples in California who want to marry?

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/politics/index.htm...

I had to laugh.

If Obama loses the stick figure vote, it's all over.

but, you have to admit Val, they are creative.

Why Blacks, when Latinos, who outnumber Blacks in California, are also Catholic? Why bring up just Black voters?

I can't get enough of photos like this. Thank you!!! What a marvelous moment we are living in.

So, I don't know if this topic has already come up, but what's up with Obama being heckled by black protesters in Florida last Friday? Could this be one of those crazy things that actually ends up helping Obama or will Fox News have a field day with this? (Here's an account from a Miami bog: http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2008/09/...)

- Claudia

I think it is a good thing for Obama and thought as much when I saw it.

Makes folks more comfortable that Barack is not just about all things "black" and will leave other people out.

So my sense it -- these types of protests elds up helping Obama.

I live in Florida.....I know for a fact..those protesters are a group funded by Coral Ridge Ministries with a big association with Dobson and the fundies. They usually protest as anti-abortion at Obama rallies, they have done it in the past, but this time they jumped the shark, with the KKK nonsense....there is gonna be some real backlash against them now here in So Florida...but make no mistake, Dobson and the reTHUGs are sending them out, and they are well funded.

gaiilonfong: Hey! :>) Thanks for this information. Rest assured that I went STR8 to choich and told on him. God's going ta sit him in the BAD CHAIR is what I heard!! :>)

Obama-Biden '08!!

Dobson?!? Well that explains a lot.

rikyrah: Just took my "Field Trip" to Mudflats and picked this up.

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/09/20/mccain...
McCain Blinks. Palin Not Ready For Prime Time

So, how badly will Sarah Palin lose the Vice Presidential debate? Because, lose she will…but to what degree? Not one to relish in the misfortune of others, I’ve been having a mental battle with myself when thinking about the upcoming VP debate.

SKIP

They’d rather she have more time to spit out the talking points, then have to defend her own qualifications. They just came right out and said it! Our little hothouse flower will be protected. Quick, add another circle of barbed wire, and dig a deeper level in that subterranean, undisclosed location…Sarah’s coming. But is she Ready to Lead?

This article is based on the FORMAT that was chosen for the VP debates. Yes, "shorter questions" favors "The Gov.", IMHO, based on the recent spate of NON-ANSWERS that she has issued!! I'll be listening for the "PAGEANT-type (NON)-ANSWERS, and the PAGEANT-Thank you, followed by the PAGEANT-smile, and the PAGEANT-wave!"

Note to myself: I need to adhere more closely to the advice contained in "Mudflat's" prior post - to NOT quote a whole article in my comments. The advice was, in part, based on copyright laws. For me, these articles are so good that I want to post it ALL. But I'm going to resist as much as I can. :>) "SNIPETS" is the suggestion, so I'll try SNIPETS! :>)

OBAMA-BIDEN '08!

Pic is so INCREDIBLE........

OT....reTHUGlican Palin's office pressured workman's comp to deny Wootens benefits.
and this info from a wingnut journalist in Alaska........Another day another possible criminal act by Palin............She certainly acts like she knows the Bush doctrine.....ya'know, lie, cheat, act liek a criminal.


http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/532372.html

rikyrah: O.K. Just give us something to shed a tear for - this picture is heartwarming!!

Love the "afro puffs"!! You can feel the love! :>)

Obama-Biden '08!!

LOL...I love the afro puffs too.

When I look at a photo like this, it's hard to believe that Barack is not already the president! Amazing.

wow...never been first before.

So, by virtue of my employment at the most underrated hotel in the DFW, I had the uh...pleasure of bumping into the political wunderkind formerly known as the HipHop mayor of Motown.

Ironically enough...he remembered me, although he couldnt place exactly where.

I went ahead and reminded him...Freshman English, FAMU. 1988

The reality was, he was at FAMU preparing himself to step into his political destiny...and I was just getting into squandering the opportunity of a lifetime.

I wanted so badly to talk to him...man to man...but I was completely at a loss for just how to broach the subject.


almost 20 years later, after climbing incredible heights this man was spending a weekend with his family in a random hotel in a strange city, weeks (days?) before serving a prison sentence after a series of misadventures that rivals that of Marion Barry.

The man is a political pariah at the tender age of...Thirty eight?

After we exchanged random friendly but awkward brotha chat I walked away and drove home pondering how life can be.


I remember the disdain i heaped on myself when KK got elected, wondering what the hell I was doing with my life...

not six years later...we cross paths again, him on the way down...me on the way up.


I wonder, could I have resisted the temptations that crossed his path?

Ive been guilty of similar sins....just not near a spotlight of any kind.

The whole experience was sobering to be honest.

I said a prayer for him and his family tonight and I encourage the same from the JJP family.

I feel for him and us - a real setback. I work with people in Det who are in an near the situation. No time to vilify anybody - thx for that "there but for the grace of God" reflection. I think the same of all the folks who make fun of Michael, i.e. if at the age of 5 the world worshiped you nonstop into your adulthood, how would you handle it.

In broad view, I think we have no more room for hip hop mayors or hip hop oriented leaders. Not saying shun hip hop. We couldn't if we tried. Don't want to . But the pied piper has been exposed in the progress of our youth. We should just lead. For all the good that is possible in even an uncorrupted hip hop ethic, even there our priorities have to put other identities ahead of hip hop. Black (just being black and true to the ethic of fighting despite any circumstance) will do. peace...

What good and interesting reading/writing. You might want to develop this essay even more and shop it around to Essence or someplace like that.

Did you experience any hurricane effects in Dallas/Fort Worth?

Inkognegro: Hey! :>) Your narration reminds me of the adage -"there but for the grace of God, go I". Yes, we have choices, but resisting temptations comes differently for each of us! He has children, and I will join you!

Let's hope that he has learned from this experience.

WOW.........FAMU in 88.........................The Patch, The Set, Clyde in the cafeteria, Soul Train - honorary member of the hundred, what was the professor named who walked everywhere because his wife and son died in a car accident? Dr. Richard Flamer, don't care what anybody says, he kept me in school thru "short term loans"many a semester......homecoming vs Southern - you bought back memories!

Wow...it's great to know there are other Rattlers on JJP.

Miranda, you're thinking of Attorney Williams.

Inkognegro....very powerful statement about the Hip Hop Mayor. Don't be too hard on yourself, or on him, for that matter.

Thanks! I've been racking my brain for the last 3 hours! LOL

PPP in North Carolina

A TIE

In NORTH CAROLINA

Saturday, September 20, 2008
Economy drives NC race into tie

Barack Obama 46
John McCain 46
Bob Barr 5

With voter concern over the economy in North Carolina at an all time high, Barack Obama has pulled into a tie with John McCain in the state for the first time in a PPP survey

News Reports: Thousands Turned Away From Jacksonville Obama Rally
http://www.pensitoreview.com/2008/09/20/news-re...

t was only a week ago that John McCain was preparing to roll into Jacksonville, with the radio and TV stations announcing that due to the anticipated large crowds, the venue had been changed. Instead, when McCain, Gov. Charile Crist, Sen. Mel Martinez, Jeb Bush, and other Republican luminaries took the stage at Veterans’ Memorial Arena, the place was embarrassingly empty.

Today Barack Obama came to town.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has just announced that no more people will be allowed into the Barack Obama Rally at Metropolitan Park. Officers say the park is at it’s 10,000 person capacity. Thousands of people are being turned away.

The Gators are playing in Tennessee as we speak. These folks could be dry and comfy in a sports bar somewhere doing 12-ounce curls and watching the game. Instead, they’re standing in the rain listening to Obama.

rikyrah: This is "HOPEful" information! Thanks! :>)

OBAMA-BIDEN "08

Wow, thank God for Bob Barr siphoning some votes away from McCain. (I hadn't paying real close attention to Barr's percentages previously.)

Bob Barr may put Georgia into play as well

We're counting on him too.