Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Good Morning

I really expected more fireworks last night..

Ye Ha !!
If the McCain pattern holds, look for him to win the race.

Julie,
Morning - we have got to stop meeting like this !!

All have a good day - off to work for Free Enterprise and the Fundamentals of the American way.

Be careful not to let politics get in the way of sound fiscal policy.

PS- McCain improves in Fl Polls

WOW.

I have just spent at least an hour reading the last three - or is it four - blogs re the debate, and found your comments so much more telling and informative than any politician could dare to produce.

Craig - Your post about the future and the past said almost all I've been thinking in the last 6 months or so.
It was your most insightful comment I've heard.

All I can add is that I noted a few comments where people seemed to feel they had been insulted - that bothered me because I saw nothing there. I hope those who felt put down have re-thought their reactions because there was a lot of dis-agreement and free- associating going on in those last few blogs. I have learned to forget the debates and listen to you while you're listening to them. What an array of ideas and interpretations. Maybe it helps that I've decided definitely for Obama, but am not enamored of him.
David - don't be put off. I think you mis-understood.

Jamie - that recipe for pecan butter sounds heavenly.
Also, the links for old music!!!!! I have just been thinking of asking Sturge about old music...

Sturge - have you ever heard of Too Much Mustard?
It's an old 20's & 30's song my mom played. It was also called Trop Moutarde.

Also, on a re-run on Law & Order tonight, the story was about a Lee Atwater type - weird to see it among the posts tonight.

To be or not to be, that is the question - interesting how relevant the question seems to be. Last night I posted asking if in the "homosexual community" (that sounds so wrong) it was accepted that "it" was a choice for some, if not all. Then I see that the subject had also reared its head before I asked, I guess.

Call me an ass, as some do, but I think these are more compelling 'topics' or 'issues' for my brain to spend time on. I think we would all benefit if we could agree on some definitions, including nazi, fascist, communist, socialist, liberal, conservative - obfuscators hide behind these terms because their definitions have been allowed to turn onto compost.

Guess I've made up for my days of near-silence.

http://www.magnatune.com/artists/albums/armchair-octopants/

digital version of "Tres Moutarde", among others......no vocals......

From after my bedtime last night:

"http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/obama-wins-another-draw.html#comment-156199

Flatus, i must defend Brokaw -- this format was what the campaigns wanted. This is the problem with media figures agreeing to moderate these debates -- and why i wish they wouldn't do it under these conditions. The moderator gets blamed for trying to enforce the rules that the campaigns had insisted upon, even though it's the candidates who try to break their own rules. An impossible situation for the moderator. When this happens, the moderator ought to say, "OK guys, you don't want to follow the rules that your aides forced upon me? Fine. From here on there are no rules. Start debating."

Posted by: Craig Crawford Author Profile Page | October 7, 2008 11:17 PM"

Craig, I was under the impression that Brokaw chose which questions would be asked. I think the choices he made converted the format from a potentially acceptable one to just another ho-hum evening at the debates.

That's assuming, unless they were lobotomized, the audience participants would have focused on issues more close to home than what finally emerged.

And, it would have been wonderful having subsequent questioners ask the follow-up questions when the candidates started equivocating. (That may well have been out of Brokaw's control.)

I totally agree with your suggestion as to what the moderator should say when then participants are uncooperative.

Las vegas offices of Acorn was raided - due to voter fraud. Ther had been instances of multiple voter registrations..
Acorn is also being investigated in several other states as well. Sorry I canot find the story again to give the link.. Guess not awake as yet..

Sturge - I found that link as well. I notice that it is entitled Tres Moutarde instead of Trop Moutarde and wonder if that is relevant. I suspect we have the sheet music for it in my mother's things. I was curious as to whether or not your had ever heard of it. I always thought it would fare well on those stump the band type gigs.

By the way, I don't recall ever noticing Bear getting crude or vulgar. That may speak to my own standards of crudeness and vulgarity, or to possible incipient alzheimer's, but I felt honor-bound to mention it.

That's all from the mount-aynes. Good night.

found while fishing around......one of my favorite Noel Coward songs......

20th Century Blues
Written by noel coward

Blues, Twentieth century blues are getting me down
Who's escaped those dreary twentieth century blues
Why, if there’s a God in the sky, why shouldn’t he grin
High above this dreary twentieth century din

In this strange illusion, chaos and confusion
People seem to lose their way
What is there to strive for, love or keep alive for
Say, hey hey, call it a day

Blues, nothing to win or to lose, it’s getting me down
Who's escaped those weary twentieth century blues

Why is it that civilized humanity can make this world so wrong
In this hurly-burly of insanity, our dreams cannot last long
We’ve reached a deadline, a press headline, every sorrow
Blues value is news value tomorrow

Julie, here's an article on it:
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/10/acorn-office-ra.html

too much mustard woulda stumped me......had not heard of it ......

the final stanza in the Coward song above is actually the intro.....

Noel Coward "Twentieth Century Blues" with strange Video accompaniment.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOJ7zBcBDRE

Here's the name of the Sheriff at the Palinsaurus Racist, bigoted rally in Clearwater, Florida where a death threat was yelled out by a supporter in the crowd.

I could not believe that I just saw a Lee County Sheriff, Mike Scott, in full uniform behave in such a bigotted & racist manner. He was inciting the crowd & so is Sarah Palin. Mike Scott should be fired (hopefully the Government will take action because of violation of the Hatch act) & Sarah Palin should be muzzled. She has shown her true character & her actions show that this IS what happened with those in Alaska who did not agree with her. The Republicans are going WAY too far and it will hurt them in the end! Obama has shown much more class!

Posted by: INDem | October 7, 2008 3:55 PM | Report
abuse

Link to story below.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/06/in_fla_palin_goes_for_the_roug.html

It's ALWAYS a case of "It's the economy, stupid." after a republican administration.........whuffo dat? Ever notice?

AP, Clearwater is in Pinellas County. Lee County is the area around Ft Myers--many miles away.

In Florida, sheriff's are constitutional officers elected directly by the voters. The governor can suspend them for cause. (I hope I'm right on this--someone in Florida please correct me if I'm wrong.)

OMG, Obama has learned to think on his feet. He was spectacular last night. (Maybe I just had Palin-esque low expectations for him, but I thought he was great & wondered if Hil'ry had coached him.)

Had my back to the TV almost until the very end & was surprised at how bad McCain looked. Sorry, be he looked like a doddering, old man who was lost and wandering around the building.

Nasty, too. "That one"? Plus, and more importantly, all of the twisting of words and flat, out lies he told. Perhaps he has gone "maverick" on the truth now.

Tom Brokaw did a great job as candidate wrangler.

Had to laugh at the Palin clip on MoJo. "Tampa Bay Rays." Yes, they are sometimes referred to as "the Rays," but when you preface it with Tampa Bay & leave out the word "devil" it just makes me wonder... Is she afraid to say the word "devil" because she thinks she will conjure "him"? I can smell the sage burning in the Oval Office even now, trying to eradicate the evil spirits left behind by Dem presidents. And the way McCain looked and acted last night, I'm afraid that she would be in the OO shortly.

the debate was boooooring..... I thought Obama not only did better on style points but on answering the questions also...... he gave much more substantive answers than the last debate.....

this whole election has become a snoozer, IMO..... can't we just vote and get it out of the way already......

Blue..... they are now officially The Tampa Bay Rays....... there's no such thing as a "devil ray"..... hence they dropped that moniker......

we've been planning out our ski vacations for this winter...... screw the stock market!... living our lives anyways......

GO RED SOX!

Renee, back in the '90s when Naimoli owned the team he insisted on naming the team the Devil Rays despite many people wanting to go for the simpler Rays. Some of the criticism I recall from the time was that devil rays (they really exist) are wimps in the world of rays.

We had season tickets for the opening season--which I left on the table when we moved to Columbia.

I like the Obama heal plan, but I can not find any answers to the following questions.

Can someone tell me what Obama's Healthcare Plan will cost me?
Is it free, or is it a month fee?
Is it a family plan, or based on each individual?
Will it cover illegal aliens?
If I have a health plan will I have to pay for those who don't in the form of higher taxes?
If that is the case why would I continue to pay for both, why not just drop my coverage and go with the Obama plan?
Will it be the same as the Federal Government employees?
What will be the deductible?
What will be the catastrophic coverage limits?
Will this affect who is my primary care physician?
What hospital I can go to?

Julie here is one article I found about the ACORN raid, there are several others articles.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2008/10/acorn-office-ra.html?csp=34

Heard an excellent comment from a BBC guy discussing the debates on NPR:

"I feel like we're reviewing a play in a theater while the building next door burns down."

Craig's comments are posted on RealityChex.com at http://www.realitychex.com -- a good one-stop shop for news & opinions on the presidential race.

Good Morning All, I know I pop in and out , quess he could be here, but I haven't seen Jack in a while. Does anyone know why? I miss his perspective on things.

"Making sure that Obama's mysterious relations with a 1960's anti-war radical topped the news as the debate started could have placed Obama's slickness in a context that fosters suspicion."

Um, and maybe doing so would have made "John "Keating 5" McCain/my running mate is under investigation in Alaska for actual misdeeds which are also mysterious since she won't meet with the press" look as desperate as he is?

You saw the debate you wanted to see, Craig.

"Barack Obama was so polished in Tuesday night's debate that it might work against the Democratic presidential nominee. John McCain was so awkward by comparison that the Republican standard bearer might come across as more genuine."

You know, I am hearing that constantly too! People just have not gotten enough of a "more genuine" guy who is not too polished a speaker and is frequently inarticulate and inchoate.

That's JUST what voters are looking for this election.

Same old same old. Juvenile bickering and cliche driven "debate" -- McCain's gonna "get" Osama, Obama quotes BombBombBomb Iran and McCain accuses him of announcing an air strike on Pakistan.

No grasp of an economic solution from either one. Somebody mentioned Phil Gramm yesterday. He should be in jail with the rest of the criminals.

Politics and genealogy makes for strange bedfellows. Obama is a distant relative of Dick Cheney. Palin turns out to be a distant cousin on FDR and Princess Di. ROFL.

"You know, I am hearing that constantly too! "

You can hear anything at any time of day, dog. I had lunch yesterday with a very conservative friend who adores McCain and loves Palin. But I'd arrived at the restaurant early and while I was waiting for him to arrive, a left-leaning friend called to say how much he hated them.

Both of these men said almost the same thing -- if the other party wins the country is doomed.

There is finally a yard sign up on my street, my next door neighbors put up an Obama sign.

like the war was timely for Bush,Obama is very lucky this financial melt down is timely for Obama, that is the only change that I can see that is bieng offered. I doubt that he is such a strong debater that he won it all on his own, but here in Il he has always been seen as slick, but also with a lot of teflon

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/mccains-pulledpunch-debate-sty.html#comment-156347

Wiki already has a notation about the Lee County sheriff and possible violation of the Hatch Act. I 'spose it will come down to whose payroll he's on...I doubt there's any legal violation, though on an ethical level, it's still a travesty for a uniformed officer to make slurs against a presidential candidate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatch_Act_of_1939

dog's eye view,

You will note that no one got killed as the result of the Keating 5. That can't be said of Bill Ayers' Weatherman. March 6, 1970, 18 West 11th Street in New York City.

Blue, the Tampa Bay Rays dropped the word "devil" this year. They are now just the Tampa Bay Rays.

The problem with your analysis, Anselm, is that McCain was very much involved In the Keating 5 scandal. Obama had NOTHING to do with the Weathermen. He was only EIGHT YEARS OLD at the time of the bombings. His ONLY relationship with Ayers was as a fellow board member on a board that also had very prominent REPUBLICAN members.

I don't know, Nanny. My friend in Toledo is a cop. Last week, he arrested a 8 year-old boy and a 11 year-old girl.

Today's thread on the BackChannel Blog

Debate Moments? by BrianInNYC

http://clistersbackchannel.wordpress.com/

Flatus.... one of the Red Sox tv announcers said there was no such thing as a devil ray...... guess I should have known better than to believe him....... some things jocks say are too funny!..... one of them said last year that he thought a lunar eclipse happened when the sun orbited between the moon and the earth......

Anselm.... if you go to npr.org, I'm sure you can find a transcript to yesterday's first hour of the Diane Rehm Show...... it was all about the 2 candidates health plans.....

Economic Crisis Doesn't Seem To Dominate McCain's Support Of AIG's $400,000.00 Weekend & McCain Conrtibutors That Own Resort Where AIG Execs Partied, After Taxpayer Bailout.
-------------
AIG Spa Trip Fuels Fury on Hill
Pressing Executives to Concede Mistakes, Lawmakers Blast Them About Bonuses
By Peter Whoriskey, Washington Post Staff Writer
www(dot)washingtonpost(dot)com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/07/AR2008100702604(dot)html
CONNECT THE DOTS: AIG EXEC's $440,000 SPA BILL FROM ST. REGIS, OWNED BY MAKAR PROPERTIES LLC, IRANIAN MAKARECHIAN FAMILY, MCCAIN CONTRIBUTORS & FRIENDS. SEE BELOW:
----------------------
Owner Of St. Regis/McCain Contributor
MAKAR PROPERTIES LLC
www(dot)makarproperties(dot)com
Hadi Makarechian~Chairman Of The Board
Cyrus Makarechian~President & Chief Executive Officer
Paul Makarechian~Executive Vice President
St. Regis Resort www(dot)stregismb(dot)com
-------------
American International Group Inc. spent US$440,000 on a conference at a California resort less than a week after an US$85-billion government takeover, lawmakers said.
The bill from the St. Regis resort in Monarch Beach included US$23,380 for spa services, according to Representative Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Mr. Waxman led questioning Tuesday of former AIG chief executives Martin Sullivan and Robert Willumstad as Congress probes events that led to federal intervention.
--------------
~Paul Makarechian
Political Campaign Contributions
2008 Election Cycle
www(dot)campaignmoney(dot)com/political/contributions/paul-makarechian(dot)asp?cycle=08
-------------------
~Senior McCain Campaign Advisor Steve Schmidt and Orange County
businessman, developer and hotelier Paul Makarechian
www.(dot)lashreport(dot)org/featured-columns-library0b(dot)php?faID=2008032601051291
-------------------
~MAKARECHIAN McCain & GOP Campaign Contributions
www(dot)newsmeat(dot)com/fec/bystate_detail(dot)php?city=CORONA+DEL+MAR++++&st=CA&last=MAKARECHIAN
-----------
~Senator John McCain came through Orange County on day two of a multi- day swing through ... businessman, developer and hotelier Paul Makarechian
www(dot)redcounty(dot)com/magazine/2008/03/publius-the-year-of-the-parabo(dot)php
---------------
~These John McCain Republicans, aren't your father's Republicans.
www(dot)freerepublic(dot)com/focus/f-news/1431396/posts
Paul Makarechian, 31, showed up in jeans to host an event with Assembly GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield. That was at Fashion Island's trendy Ozumo Japanese restaurant. Another of the group's events, this one featuring a congressman, was held at Costa Mesa's hip Sutra Lounge
www(dot)ocregister(dot)com/ocr/sections/news/news/slideshow_575921.php?pos=0
Elite and hip make up new GOP set
OF EVERY STRIPE: Sinan Kanatsiz, left, and Paul Makarechian are two directors on Generation Next’s board, an ethnically diverse body. Members’ heritage includes Iranian, Armenian, Turkish and Hispanic.
-------------------------------
~The man who made Gen-Next possible is Davidson’s boss, 33-year-old Paul Makarechian, Chief Executive Officer
and Owner of Makar Properties. company is a national
diversified real estate development and holding company with
approximately $800 million in assets representing over $3
billion of development.
Chairman: Paul Makarechian
Website: www(dot)gen-next(dot)orgFreeing Hollywood from the Liberal Left, One Film at a Time. A conservative movement is brewing in Hollywood and the
Liberty Film Festival is at the center of it.Enjoy the first-ever Liberty Film Festival event in Orange County with famous conservative filmmakers, renowned cultural commentators, and exclusive
looks at exciting new films about Hillary Clinton,
“Hillary: The Movie”.
www(dot)gen-next(dot)org/filepoolgennext/redcountygnxt(dot)pdf
Political Candidates Receiving Contributions/Support in the '08 Election Cycle from GENERATION NEXT FEDERAL PAC
Candidate Name Office Party State District Primary/General $ Dollar
Amount Date
MCCAIN, JOHN S. President Republican VA -- P $5,000 03/24/2008
www(dot)campaignmoney(dot)com/political/committees/generation-next-federal-pac(dot)asp?cycle=08
Since forming last year, the Orange County-based group has signed up 20 members - by invitation only, with $10,000 in annual dues. Members include Bill Lyons, the son of developer William Lyons, and Jeff Gehl, the son-in-law of developer and former Ambassador to Spain George Argyros.
The group has had audiences with Senator John McCain, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Karl Rove's staff and the political director of the Republican National Committee.
--------------
~Iranians Thrive in Business, Makarechian Embraces Philanthropy, Politics
By Cruz, Sherri Publication: Orange County Business Journal Date: Monday, July 25 2005
www(dot)allbusiness(dot)com/finance/915014-1(dot)html

Flatus...

I know that it's a different county. The person who posted that in the comments section seems to think that he knows this sheriff so even though its a different county means nothing.

If that is whom the commenter said it is than he needs to be let go. We do not need a armed racist bigot in law enforcement helping to incite a crowd to assassinate a Presidential Candidate. And that's what he was doing according to that commenter.

This is for Renee! LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtaafSTzcDA

I just found this interesting column on CQ by Madison Powers... I pretty much agreed with what he had to say and wonder what others think.

CQ TODAY ONLINE NEWS
Oct. 8, 2008 – 12:03 a.m.

Political Attacks: Mutually Assured Destruction?
By Madison Powers, CQ Guest Columnist

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002972482

Corey have you accepted my Friend request on Facebook yet? Loved the Betty White thing; thanks for that !!

Posted by: WyattBeck@BowWowTicker | October 8, 2008 10:04 AM

WTF is that all about???

I'll be curious to see how the repug right is going to react to McCain offering up another 300 billion in mortgage bailout. Considering how many from the crowd have condemned the rescue plan it's hard to imagine they are going to be thrilled with their nominee for offering another 300 billion.

I can tell you that fiscal conservatives won't be thrilled with McCain's proposed homeowner bailout, but it's not as if they will vote for Obama because of it. Not that it matters.

Yes and yes, Betty White was funny. Concerning that rally the other day. A friend of mine on-line said that the rally took place about 2 blocks away from where he lives. He was ashamed to hear what was said. Said he feared that people would think that is how everyone who lives there really feels.

Corey....

and I thought Pierce Brosnan couldn't sing........ ROFL!

of course Madame was her usual spectacular......

GO RED SOX!

McSame needs his base to be enthusiastic. His extra 300 billion bailout plan will do nothing to help in that regard, and for him truly every vote matters. His VP candidate can just do so much whipping up her crowds into homicidal rage.

How could you not pull for the team with the Liberty Bell as its logo?! Go Freedom! Go Phillies!

It is a sorry fact of American political life that campaigns get ugly, often in their final weeks. But Senator John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin have been running one of the most appalling campaigns we can remember.

They have gone far beyond the usual fare of quotes taken out of context and distortions of an opponent’s record — into the dark territory of race-baiting and xenophobia. Senator Barack Obama has taken some cheap shots at Mr. McCain, but there is no comparison.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/opinion/08wed1.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&pagewanted=print&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

So being prepared and polished in a debate will work as a negative? Only if the majority of American voters are stupid? Maybe? That McCain stayed away from the harsh charges that he and Palin have succumbed to in the last week is no mystery to me. To do so, would bring out character flaws on him, as to be so crass to suggest that your opponent is a friend of terrorists, offering no solid proof. Why take that chance when he and she can resort to it the next day in their bullet proof republican venues which always make the cable news. Bottom line: Clearly Obama looks more presidential if you go for style and looks more informed and committed if you look at policy. This debate could only have helped Obama; not so much for McCain. Let's see if McCain has enough time left for his sleasy campaign messages to make a difference!!!

nannymm,

You are correct, Obama had nothing to do with the Weatherman, but he decided he would associate with it's unrepentant leader, Bill Ayres. One of the Weatherman objectives, which gets little coverage, was to bomb police stations. The fact that the only people the Weatherman managed to blow-up were themselves is nothing short of a miracle. The Weatherman were nothing less than anarchist. Ask yourself , what is the difference between Bill Ayres, and Ted Kaczynski?

Sturgeone,

Thanks for the "20th Century Blues" link. I didn't know that Elton John had done a whole album of Noel Coward songs.

http://www.amazon.com/Twentieth-Century-Blues-Songs-No%C3%ABl-Coward/dp/B00000ILFD

First of all, McCain's base could do cartwheels to the polls; their enthusiasm alone won't get him elected. You and I both know he needs a lot more than his base, which he's not going to get. The agenda behind every statement you make is unnecessary at this point.

Second of all, McCain contrasted well against Bush last night. He actually sounds like he cares and has some passion, compared to GWB's debate performances where W would have this "F___ you, I don't need to answer your questions, I have better thing to do" attitude.

THE OBAMA-AYERS CONNECTION

The records of the administration of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC), released last week by the University of Illinois, show that the Ayers-Obama connection was, in fact, an intimate collaboration and that it led to the only executive or administrative experience in Obama’s life.

So let’s sum up Obama’s Chicago connections. His chief financial supporter was Tony Rezko, now on his way to federal prison. His spiritual adviser and mentor was the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, of “God damn America” fame. And the guy who got him his only administrative job and put him in charge of doling out $50 million is William Ayers, a terrorist who was a domestic Osama bin Laden in his youth.

http://www.dickmorris.com/blog/2008/10/08/the-obama-ayers-connection/#more-458

conservatives won't be thrilled with McCain's proposed homeowner bailout,

That is already built into the $700 plus billion bill. McCain didn't really clarify it, but it isn't all homeowners after all there are some homeowners who are in homes they will never be able to qualify for, unless the government just gives them the home..

Did he concede yet?

BBL Got a bunch of good articles to read:

Robert Shrum: McCain's Mudslide Continues;

Arianna Huffington: The Winner of Debate II? "That One"

Joseph A. Palermo: "My Friends," It's Over

Bonnie Fuller: "Watch Your Back, Mac: Sarah Wants To Be President!"

Today's Threadboring

Debate the Debate
Your candidate sucks!
Mine Doesn't

I have no personal knowledge about Bill Ayers' history 'cuz I too was a kid at that time...but even then I felt fear and disgust at the multitude of disturbing images I saw and heard on my TV about racist violence, assassinations, campus bombings, weathermen, anarchists, mob-inciters, snarling police dogs, tear gas and full blast fire hoses on citizens...the idea that we may be heading in that direction again is frightening indeed, especially if one or either leading political parties are pulling the strings.

I'll be renewing my membership to SPLC. Member since 1986.

http://www.splcenter.org/index.jsp

You see....if you all lived in Michigan, you wouldn't have to worry. McCain pulled out of Michigan. Obama's got Michigan won already. I don't even sweat this election now.

I hope Palin ~ McCain soon comes up with a new charge to hurl at Obama. I've grown soooooooooooooo bored with the Ayers one.

Sorry folks. This year belongs to my Dodgers!!!!

"I don't even sweat this election now."

Over confidence has been the demise of many. Recall John Kerry, election day November 2004. It ain't over till its over.

Ok Craig, I thought you were a bit unfair about the debate, but then I started watching it on NYTimes interactive and it TRULY IS FRICKEN BORING. Obama is impressive yeah, but still it's just boring. I was watching McCain and it suddenly hit me... he makes me think of Napoleon Bonaparte, and how he would have looked at age 72.

The only thing that makes me worried in this election is Robert Shrum at any point saying that Obama has this election "nailed down". May the powers that be protect the Obama campaign from any of Shrum's poor analysis and advice.

Okay, I've heard spin, but to say that McCain might have appeared more genuine is spin personified. Yeesh. What if McCain had just stood there silent for the whole debate? Would you have then written that McCain was "wily" in that he didn't chance a gaffe by speaking?

Less than thirty days left. That one is about to win...

I am saying that as a joke. McCain pulling out of Michigan was him basically admitting that he didn't think he could win Michigan. So, if he doesn't think he can win Michigan, why should I think that? Also, most everyone here thinks Obama is going to slaughter McCain on election day, yet they still seem worried to a small degree.

Anselm your point re: John Kerry is a good one. But again, that was bad management by that overpaid political strategist Robert Shrum, and the shenanigans that Kenneth Blackwell engaged in to make sure that Bush carried Ohio.

Still I think most Americans are sick of the Repugs and want to repudiate them in large measure. If this holds, the national election will be a great victory for social change and democracy.

Hey, I'm McCain's friend. You are, too. He said so last night.

Mr. Democrat, I'd be careful about what you say. People might like to see a debate where both candidates stood there silent for the whole debate! LOL!

Jamie, but the Phillies have the Liberty Bell as their logo. If you hate the Phillies, you hate America! LOL!

McCain's homeowner bailout sounds a lot like the plan Senator Hillary Clinton proposed last March. I support this plan and it is not included in the current bailout.

http://www.banks.com/blogs/mortgages/2008/03/25/hillary-clinton-offers-home-mortgage-relief-plan/

It's also a plan Obama proposed months ago.

McCain Advisers Taking Ayers, Wright Off The Table?

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/mccain_advisers_taking_ayers_w.php

The Homeowners Assistance is not supported by Obama and Clinton was the first one to propose the model which was originally used during the depression.

Obama does not talk about this model at all.

In fact over at talkleft, big tent Democrat is blogging about how Obama will have to be forced to adopt the model

http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/10/8/11457/9871
"A few days ago, I blogged about the progressive pledge:

In 2009 and beyond, I will be part of the movement that pushes Democrats to be bold progressives -- and that helps pass a bold progressive agenda into law."

Bold progressives will push Barack Obama and Democrats to press for help for Main Street, not just Wall Street. Specifically, bold progressives will press Barack Obama to adopt HOLC. Fake Bold Progressives will talk about being bold progressives and not say a word about HOLC."
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2008/10/8/11457/9871

Well perhaps after the inauguration President Obama will ask Senator Clinton to head up a task force on the issue.

McCain looked like an old, fumbling man last night. The hitch in his step, like Walter Brennan in The Real McCoys, is getting worse and from behind he almost looked monk-like. Not a pretty picture and the heavy breathing reminds us all that he could collapse at any moment leaving us with his perky girl who is doing all of the heavy lifting, not thinking for the campaign. He might as well worn his 'loser' t-shirt. Finally, the repugs get what they deserve.

American voters are for the most part downright lazy. Discounting the partisans on both side who will vote only for their team's jersey no matter what they said, did or didn't do, anyone who is really interested in either knowing what McCain and Obama stand for should view their voting records, bills submitted, achievements and successes while in Congress.
It is true this will take some time and energy on the part of the voter, but this way they can compare the rhetoric with deeds. But most Americans would rather be told what to think by a bias entity.

The bailout done right.
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/09/fair_effective_graphic.html

"This fair and effective deployment of $700 billion will only work if Treasury purchases whole mortgages back from financial institutions. Otherwise, this vast amount of taxpayer money will only be for the benefit of Wall Street, not Main Street and not even the U.S. economy because these toxic mortgage-backed securities will remain toxic at Treasury unless the U.S. housing market also benefits. The Center for American Progress has a detailed plan for Congress to consider—a plan that should have been acted upon by the Bush administration in early 2008. But if Congress acts now to rescue the U.S. housing market—not Wall Street—then the U.S. economy and U.S. taxpayers will be the better for it. Our plan is fair and effective. In contrast, the plan put forward by U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is not."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAyK-enrF1g

and one more point about McCain...and I believe this will be viewed as his downfall as he no longer is mavericky....he really thinks the average American is an idiot. In his RADAR interview, he stated "A lot of people have never even heard of Georgia (Russia), and I understand that." And last night when he responded to the gentleman's question about the housing crisis, he told him he probably had never heard of Freddie Mac....at this point, who is Johnnie Mac? He is the original elitist.

Anselm, the MSM is lazy, anselm, not the american peeps. We are too busy working to keep the executives in luxury. Lazy and stupid americans, no more. We are paying attention with the little time we have.

Where is all the Kennedy money? I don't know but I bet they have plenty in tax shelters or off shore.
Where is all the Heinz/ Kerry money?
Where is the Pelosi fortune?
I bet it is well protected from the chance of being redistributed to the "poor"
Posted by: Bowmanc | October 7, 2008 8:33 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
1. I don't know, the Kennedys don't confide in me. Maybe, a lot of it is in Scotch whiskey importation.
2. Prob'ly in ketchup bottles and PA tomato plantations.
3. Vineyards

Ye Ha !!
If the McCain pattern holds, look for him to win the race.

Posted by: Ping Pong | October 8, 2008 6:34 AM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What did you smoke ?

This is change that I can see

Don't know if there is a connection between gas prices and the amount of tolls that cars and trks are charged on toll roads? when traveling to Indiana from Il. I used to go an extra few miles to avoid tolls there and back. With gas prices so high now, there is no longer a diff. The more cars on the tollway the more money for the state for it's own use. There is more along these lines but why cry about it.

These are not going to CHANGE, and a lot of people are going to suffer.

With winter coming and the city issuing parking tickets to cars on the streets, towed away to city police lots, cars that have boots on them. heating costs that are going to be sky high, there are people that used to have an arrangement with their gas, and light, and telephone co's, that allowed them to make a min, payment, they still owe from last year, will they be cut off from any of these?

What will the homeless eat and where will they sleep if there isn't enough money (extra) for donations from the ones that are working?will the gov take care of them all,is there anything left out--yes, but you get the picture, meanwhile the two party system will posture about how good they are for the country,there will be not change,no change, no change, just some change in the poor people's pockets that the R's (mostly) and the D's created by their selfishness, even my selfish thoughts of why I wanted Obama to win is no change, and I feel like shit rooting for him----I have never felt like this before, because I never voted any of the presidential candidates of the R's or the D's, so I'm not going to change, I will vote for Ron Paul the only honorable man on the scene, and live with myself.

Most news Anchor's,Pundits, papers, people on all blogs, it looks like to me that they have picked sides for the sport of just winning, I told you so,my way is better,it will never change,( until there are more choices to pick from?) I don't see where they will come together to work for all of us. I didn't vote for Pres, Clinton, but for some reason I thought that Sen, C cared ( because of all her proven work for all ) and would have voted for her, and been happy win of lose, just like I have been by voting for a third party choice.

Here is one hail mary pass I would like to see..."McCain gives salary back to US Senate"..."I have married well and I have enough....I do not need 14 cars or 10 homes...I can live with the 13 cars and the 9 homes as my wife will always support me."

Can anyone of the republicans aboard this blog explain how mccain is going to shrink government while buying down 5 - 10 M!LL!ON mortgages ? It looks like yet another $1-2 TR!LL!ON republican government expansion.

Please, show your math.

"And last night when he responded to the gentleman's question about the housing crisis, he told him he probably had never heard of Freddie Mac..."

Obama: "a lot of you remember the tragedy of 9/11" -- who does he think DOESN'T remember?
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/debating-the-debate-lets-blog.html#comment-155892

For the record, I guess Obama was showing how convoluted the Bush admin had made 9/11....lest we forget the tragedy of 9/11 instead of using it as a case to get S. Hussein of Iraq and a phony war.

Champ,

Ya, you're right, and I'm glad you noticed. He called me his friend, and I'm thinking about suing for libel.
I'll need witnesses.

Go Phillies !

"I don't know, Nanny. My friend in Toledo is a cop. Last week, he arrested a 8 year-old boy and a 11 year-old girl."
Posted by Corey

Corey, How does that reflect on Obama? He didn't know Ayers back then. In fact, didn't Obama live in Indonesia when all that was going on? Please, get real here!

Jamie,

Brroklyn doesn't stand a chance against the Phils.

We are paying attention with the little time we have.

Now that is just wishful thinking. 60% of American voters vote for people they know nothing about and only what they have been told by a bias entity. McCain has about as much to do with the falling US economy as Obama has to do with the successes in Iraq.

Surprisingly another thing which receives very little US press coverage, both McCain and Obama plan to increase the American troop presence in Afghanistan. So the troops in Iraq will only be transported over to Afghanistan, there will be no savings. And lets not forget Iraq is no Afghanistan, just ask the Russians.

NYTimes:

The mortgage renewal idea actually originated with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, said Charlie Black, a senior adviser to Mr. McCain. And Mrs. Clinton, who proposed the idea in a recent newspaper column, borrowed it from a Depression-era New Deal agency, the Home Owner’s Loan Corporation.

Obama has come a long way in putting Ayers on the right track. For instance, since Obama took Ayers under his wing, the former weatherman hasn't bombed a single police station !

On the other hand, since mccain voteed for arming osama bin laden in the 1980s, the al queda leader has been killing Americans wholesale.

anselm...you are so very correct about Afganistan. And I think 40% of the electorate paying attention to the issues and character is rather high for this country. Almost impressive.

As I have posted in the past, we need a dirty dozen, the seven samurai, the A team to go to Afganistan...not more men, but a team with the skill set to go after the enemy in mountainous terrain.

On the other hand, since mccain voteed for arming osama bin laden in the 1980s, the al queda leader has been killing Americans wholesale.

Posted by: xrepublican | October 8, 2008 12:07 PM

excellent point!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/mccains-pulledpunch-debate-sty.html#comment-156386
Anselm,
Obama wasn't associating with Ayers in any way that had to do with Ayers Weatherman activities. They served together on a CHARITY board, along with prominent Republicans. There was nothing nefarious about it.
Now, if you want to talk about associations, what about McCain's associations?
"John McCain may have an Iran-Contra connection. In the 1980s, McCain served on the advisory board to the U.S. chapter of an international group linked to ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America.
The U.S. Council for World Freedom aided rebels trying to overthrow the leftist government of Nicaragua. That landed the group in the middle of the Iran-Contra affair and in legal trouble with the Internal Revenue Service, which revoked the charitable organization's tax exemption."
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jzQtw1kATj1xCqPcAmwgCKDtNpDQD93LRD980

KGC.... thanks for keeping the focus on the economy..... been really loving your posts lately...... BTW, Rick and I had our 33rd anniversary this past Saturday.... went to a great restaurant and ordered a bottle of 7 Deadly Zins....
I have found a new favorite.....

hey all you newbies...... Corey likes to joke around..... he knows that to take life too seriously is to ask for heart troubles...... either that or a burning gut.....
hey... take your pick..... enjoy your medications!.....

Thanks Ms Cracker,

And, if Sen Clinton were still in the race, mccain would be calling the mortgage renewal plan a massive government interference in the free market.

Go Phillies!

congrats, RR...what a different world it was in '75 or is really that different? Gas wars and Iran?

I am glad you enjoyed the seven zins...

If you have HBO, you might want to put this on your watch list

The saddest acre in America.

Emmy® winners Jon Alpert and Matthew O'Neill present an emotional, elegiac visit to the Arlington, VA burial grounds of U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Section 60: Arlington National Cemetery premieres Monday, October 13, at 9 pm.

we need a dirty dozen, the seven samurai, the A team to go to Afganistan.

Although I don't have a problem with such tactics, I suspect the ACLU, along with the New York Times might view this differently. In the movie the Dirty Dozen, if I remember correctly, didn't they pretty much incinerate the Nazis, men and women, they had trapped in the castle?

"if Sen Clinton were still in the race"

Yes, only if...

that's the hollywood version, anselm. : ) I get your point, however.

RR

33 very nice --best wishes to the happy couple. I looked up the seven deadly zins sounds good.

Go Phillies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

xrep - Oddly both candidates included homeowner relief when they discussed their bailout plans. As always the devil is in the details. The Bush/Paulson/Pelosi/Reid plan counts on benign neglect to encourage the banks to renegotiate mortgages and provides no disincentive or incentive to do so.

I posted an article yesterday about someone who is in the business of counseling homeowners and her view was the bailout plan works against banks helping homeowners.

McCain talked about direct assistance in his plan but of course did nothing to make it mandatory in the Bushetc Plan.

Obama has spoken in terms of the future and has commited to no specific programs.

I don't care why McCain did what he did. I'm glad he did. I hope this is the beginning of a bi-partisan effort to get it done.

I am a Shrub hater. I hate the loser goopers worse. They enabled him.

Anselm invokes the nazis. It's a new wrinkle on Godwin's 'Law".

What's wrong with incinerating nazis ?

And, increasinly, McCain is looking like he's Palin's sidekick...almost completely superfluous.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081008/ap_on_el_pr/biden

I heart Joe Biden

Ms Cracker,

I can't stand the idea of putting $700 BILLION in the hands of people who have demonstrated that they are either fiscally criminally irresponsible, or wire and postal fraud perpetrators and embezzlers. Don't you think this is insane, too, or is it just me ?

I, too, miss HRC, but will leave you all with C,S &N -- Love the One You're With

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ee_T7kTG1c

It is the reason I will vote for Obama because I really think McCain is stupid enough to take us through the gates of hell instead of going around and taking the easy path just because he likes war. I just cannot vote for a warmonger.

rr & corey - Thanks for the update on Tampa Bay's name change. (I still don't think Palin would've said "devil" if they hadn't.)

Election/Corey's b'day is fast approaching & early voting starts in TX on Oct 20th.

Haha repugs now blaming McCain losing states on his taking public financing.

Congratulations, Rita !

3 weeks from today, Sweetie and I will have completed 25. It is an honorable institution, and I feel honored.

nannymm,

Ayres was a domestic terrorist, similar to Timothy McVey. The only difference, McVey killed well over a hundred in one bombing, and Ayers' Weatherman only managed to kill themselves in numerous bombings. Lets no fool ourselves, Ayer's objective wasn't just to blow up statues and parts of buildings. If that was the case the Weatherman wouldn't have been making anti-personnel bombs in their NYC bomb factory? They are both archaist, both unrepentant domestic terrorist who believed the American government are their enemy.

If you looked a bit deeper you'll discover there was more to the Ayers-Obama relationship than that one activity you sighted. As I pointed out earlier, it is all about the team jersey.

I was looking forward to Nov 4th, but they have postponed the release of Dido's new album back tow weeks to Nov. 18th. LOL!

I'm kidding, Nanny. Listen to RR. She knows. If we were that worried about guilt by association, we wouldn't be blogging here half as much as some of us do! LOL!

Xrep

I agree completely. I am totally opposed to the Paulson/Shrub plan. I think they controlled the process by making it an emergency. I think Shrub was hoping the meltdown would come after the election and after he left office and the plan they picked was the one they felt would give the appearance of doing something instead of actually doing something.

The Democrats were suckered by the "serious chattering class" into thinking it must be done now. Sound familiar.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/mccains-pulledpunch-debate-sty.html#comment-156393

Ivy,

What all the people dredging up Bill Ayers terrorist past is that at the time of the last bombing when Ayers and Dorn went underground. Barack Obama was six years old.

Whatever you think of those activities, that time in American history, or the fact that Ayers received no punishment, the truth is that now he is a respected educator whose work is supported by the City of Chicago.

You don't have to approve of the man, but Obama's relationship to him was strictly in the role of trying to improve Chicago schools.

You can quibble about how they might have spent the Annenburg or Woods money or the educational methods they supported, but to claim Obama is some sort of terrorist because he knows a college professor who used to do bad things is just plain ignorant.

I e-mailed a friend of mine this morning. Just to ask her if she was still working, because I heard they had gotten rid of a lot of people at our technical campus. She said that she was hiding under her desk, assuming that they can't get rid of her if they can't see her.

"plain ignorant." And desperate!

Double digit lead in the Gallup!

Gallup Daily: Obama’s Lead Over McCain Expands to 11
52% share of the vote is Obama’s highest to date

http://www.gallup.com/poll/111040/Gallup-Daily-Obamas-Lead-Over-McCain-Expands.aspx

"I'm kidding, Nanny. Listen to RR. She knows. If we were that worried about guilt by association, we wouldn't be blogging here half as much as some of us do! LOL!"

Glad to hear that, Corey. But Anselm is not. He's beginning to sound like GORDO so I give up. Not worth the time or effort. His mind is made up, FACTS be damned.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/mccains-pulledpunch-debate-sty.html#comment-156353

Anselm,

You already do pay for illegal aliens and those without insurance. You pay for them in property taxes, income taxes, city and county fees and even more important, you pay for them in the spread of disease, decrease in available care in hospitals, increased costs for hospital and overcrowding and slow care in emergency facilities

The only way to stop that is for everyone in the country to have some form of insurance, access to well care clinics, and the use of emergency rooms for true emergencies.

We are the only developed nation on the planet that does not supply adequate medical care for all of its citizens and we should be ashamed of that fact.

The next bailout - Student Loans?

Wall Street Journal article on the fact that starting wages have fallen to the point of not being able to cover the costs of repayment of loans now averaging over $20,000 per student

http://finance.comcast.net/www/news.html?WSJ=1&x=http://www.comcast.net/news/articles/finance/2008/10/08/SB122342389157013377/

Sorry if this has already been linked, but it's wonderfully written and beautifully stated...Friedman on Palin and the patriotism of paying taxes....

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/opinion/08friedman.html?th&emc=th

nannymm

Team jersey, and you are wearing Obama's. So he can do no wrong.

bear, last night you wondered about carville's comment that it's "obvious they [jmc and bho] don't cotton to one another"... maybe the antipathy stems from the time mccain sent a letter to bho in 2006 which started off like this:

"I would like to apologize to you for assuming that your private assurances to me regarding your desire to cooperate in our efforts to negotiate bipartisan lobbying reform legislation were sincere."

you can see entire letter at
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/07/politics/main1289745.shtml

more from the 2/6/06 letter:
"....When you approached me and insisted that despite your leadership’s preference to use the issue to gain a political advantage in the 2006 elections, you were personally committed to achieving a result that would reflect credit on the entire Senate and offer the country a better example of political leadership, I concluded your professed concern for the institution and the public interest was genuine and admirable. Thank you for disabusing me of such notions with your letter to me dated February 2, 2006, which explained your decision to withdraw from our bipartisan discussions. I’m embarrassed to admit that after all these years in politics I failed to interpret your previous assurances as typical rhetorical gloss routinely used in politics to make self-interested partisan posturing appear more noble. Again, sorry for the confusion, but please be assured I won’t make the same mistake again.... "

grudges aren't pretty

thanks for the anniversary wishes......

BW..... yes.... it's a very different world than 1975..... thinking about Rick's and my journey after reading Champ's post about being owned by the banks through mortgages.....

we avoided being slaves to the bank like the plague...... we bought 3 acres of land..... put in a well and septic.... built the cellar hole.... paid for all this with cash..... lived that way for 4 years...then saved enough to build the first floor of our house...... saved some more..... built the second floor..... saved some more..... turned the attic into my weaving studio.....

we made a lot less money than we do now...... but those 3 acres only cost us $4,500..... it was hard work and sacrifice..... but it was doable.....

with 3 acres now going for over $100,000..... and kids coming out of college in debt..... even if they were willing to go through what we did..... I don't see how they could possibly afford it.....

I know a lot of kids want everything now...... but I still feel sorry for them..... their standard of living will definitely be lower than my generation's, IMO...

The only person I hear speaking who is wise enough to allow for people to grow and develop and change as they age is Whoopi Goldberg. It occurs to me that William Ayers and his family may be placed in grave danger as the result of McCain/Palin's rantings, and that - IMO - is wrong. It is certainly not Christian.

As Jamie pointed out, the man is now a respected educator whose work is supported by the city of Chicago. That he is unrepentant for his activities of the 60's only speaks to his conviction that the Vietnam war was the wrong decision and that our government, even then, paid too little attention to the majority and too much to those who held the money (ergo, power). I liken those who cannot forgive him...or let him be the human he is without condemnation...to those who see Jane Fonda through the same lens. Neither are the people today that they were in the 60's, but both are as entitled to their thoughts and beliefs and opinions as you and I are.

My belief is that, as we go through life, we are each trying to life the best life we know how to live...and none of us has the right to deliberately bring harm to the efforts of others, so long as their efforts are within the bounds of the law and are moral.

Craig wondered last night during the debate if his handlers had made any attempt to get McCain to quit saying "My Friends" so much -- apparently not...

"in Tuesday's 90-minute town hall encounter with Barack Obama, the Republican uttered "my friends" or "my friend" (directed at a specific questioner) 24 times."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/10/john-mccain-and.html

No wonder I have such a bad hangover this morning (and I still can't see straight)...

Ye Ha !!
If the McCain pattern holds, look for him to win the race.

Posted by: Ping Pong | October 8, 2008 6:34 AM

Ping Pong, you are delusional

Gallup just out.

Bush down to 25% favorability. How low can he go?

http://www.gallup.com/poll/110980/Bush-Job-Approval-25-Lowest-Yet.aspx

Listening to the McCain rally. That man has a very definite snidely, mean streak.

What's wrong with incinerating nazis ?
http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/mccains-pulledpunch-debate-sty.html#comment-156447

The same as incinerating anyone!

Another belgian bank is in trouble I've heard... And Dexia is still suffering so badly that a former Belgian Prime Minister has taken over the leadership of the bank to try to salvage it. This is way scary. 3 banks in a country the size of Maryland.. make that 3 MAJOR banks.

Jamie I haven't like McInsane since the whole impeachment of President Clinton b.s. and how he supported it.

McInsane is a jerk.

Ahem, Senator McCain... Barack Obama is "The One," not "That one"

Speaking of baseball:

Biden declared Obama the winner of the debate and himself the winner of last week's vice presidential contest.

"If this were a best of five series, it would be over," he declared, implying that Obama had won the first presidential debate as well.

Anselm, I'm sure you've noticed how a unrepentant American terrorist responsible for at least one policeman's death and one prosecutor's maiming is now "respected" because he is a friend of Obam's. It's a sick world.

Animal Control,

Not really. Not everyone makes soap out of children, disects people without anesthetic, gasses whole families, or starves entire towns to death, shoots entire villages.

No, I think there is something qualitatively different about nazis.

"No, I think there is something qualitatively different about nazis. "

See, XR, there're two things we agree about.

Xrep, as a U.S. taxpayer, you provide the same type of material support for genocide in Iraq as rank-and-file Nazis did in WWII.

Tom, you're much less rational than McCain. Sh