Ohio Votes

Indications are that early voting in Ohio would help Obama.

Its the same old story, increasing voter registration helps Democrats, restricting registration helps Republicans. In this case the benefit goes to the Democrats.

BBC: Voting begins in US state of Ohio

Early voting is getting under way in the US battleground state of Ohio, five weeks exactly before the 4 November presidential election.

The ruling was welcomed by state Democrats, who hope to encourage college students and other groups such as minorities, the poor and the homeless to make use of the same-day voting period

TPMtv

Light Touch

Are you looking forward to this debate as much as I am.

Steve Carell's character in The Office is so politically incorrect that its almost painful to watch him work. You are cringing constantly.

This could be good preparation for watching the debate, watch episodes of The Office and desensitize yourself to the involuntary action of cringing in disbelief.

It actually may be vary humorous. Palin can read a prepared speech written by Republican hacks with the best of them, but getting her off the script could be serious real time comedy.

One thing you can presume, Sean Hannity will be bubbling with venom for Biden and weepy with contentment for Palin.

In case Palin can't make it, Republican operatives are out shopping for a substitute in the form of a potted plant with flag pin.

Politico: Biden's strategy: Go easy on Palin

“If she makes a gaffe, he underplays it..."

...Biden does not want to look condescending.

“He is going to keep the focus on John McCain.”

While he does not expect to make much of any gaffes Palin might commit, he is preparing his own lines of attack on her record.

Bush on the Economy

According to Gallup, Bush's popularity rating is at 27%. Remarkably so far the market is responding favorably to this speech given at 8:45AM just prior to the opening bell at 9AM.

Irresponsible

Succinct read on McCain's failure for picking Palin, and Palin's complete lack of knowledge making her unqualified to be V.P.

CNN: Zakaria: McCain's VP decision is 'fundamentally irresponsible'

Gov. Palin has been given a set of talking points by campaign advisers, simple ideological mantras that she repeats and repeats as long as she can. But if forced off those rehearsed lines, what she has to say is often, quite frankly -- nonsense. Just listen to her response to Katie Couric's question about the bailout. It's gibberish -- an emptying out of catchphrases about economics that have nothing to do with the question or the topic. It's scary to think that this person could be running the country.

More Silver Lining

There's always a silver lining.

Republicans are going to be experiencing a good deal of resentment accumulated over 8 years of horrendously bad policy from George W Bush.

That resentment translates into time to look for a new job other than the Senate or Congress.

This is good news.

The Republican Party is no longer the party of your dad. It is something far less. This has been an ongoing transformation.

We have the ultra right fundamentalist flat earthers like Palin, the titanic neocons like Cheney, and its still all orchestrated under the divisive shield of Rove. Sadly the middle ground, the moderate centrist Republicans like Hegel are faced with extinction. We all hope the Republicans can recapture their center.

Had McCain selected a moderate and capable Republican like Maine's Senator Olympia J. Snowe his candidacy would be far more viable.

Reuters: Republicans in Congress see election odds worsening

Republicans' hopes for only modest losses in November's congressional election appeared to be fading as fears of an economic collapse and panic on Wall Street fuel U.S. voters' wrath, political analysts and lawmakers said on Monday.

"Democrats have actually gained momentum because of the economic crisis in the past few weeks..."

And is it any wonder. Has McCain demonstrated a steady, realistic presidential grace while under fire, no. Obama has. We get the sense that McCain needs anger management and that Palin needs to go back to college, her depth of knowledge is frighteningly thin to non existent.

We also see Republican leadership like Paulson and Bush as ineffective. This is not good. At present the ship does not seem to have a rudder.

Japanese Cars

More information on the worldwide economic downturn.

I was trying to find info on the sale of the Toyota Prius during the same period of time in the article but couldn't find it. I suspect the sales of the Prius are strong but not as high as 2007. Also I suspect Prius sales are not down as much as the average sale of Japanese vehicles.

Breitbart.com: Japan automobile output slumps 10.9% in August

Output of cars, trucks and buses in Japan in August fell 10.9 percent from a year earlier to 769,829 vehicles for the first decline in 13 months due to sluggish demand amid soaring fuel prices and declining exports to the United States and Europe hit by the economic slowdown, an industry body said Tuesday.

Wild About You Baby

Hound Dog Taylor

Spoonamore

This man's clips are making the rounds. Spoonamre is an expert on digital authentication. This would surround the issue of digital voting.

His allegation, the election is fixed. McCain wins 51.2%.

Now This Is Uppity

This is from c-span. A caller suggests the harshest of treatment for Bush and Cheney.

There have been tipping points in last 8 years, but this is a new tipping point. People are not "restraining" their opinions of the administration in a climate that is dissecting their retirement, investment, and or asset plans.

Going to war is one thing, but when the net worth disappears, then the people get really angry.

Bankruptcy Not Bail Out

I am beginning to side with the no bail out crowd.

This article by Jeffrey A. Miron is an understandable, working man's description of why we do not need the bail out.

I am in a curious dilemma. On one hand the bail out failed as a result of Republicans voting nay and voting against McCain's wishes that they vote yes.

McCain comes off looking bad because he can't corral his side of the aisle. So he loses points as a leader.

Its a double bonus day, no bail out, McCain sinks. Yet we are faced with another problem. Obama was for the bail out. Hm.

I am reminded of Democrats voting for Kerry in 2004 because he was going to manage the war in Iraq better than Bush. Kerry was superior to Bush and was the right choice, but Kerry needed to stick with a get out of Iraq policy.

There is compromise that we assume with every candidate. Voting for McCain is an extremely bad choice, voting for Obama is still the superior choice.

Addendum: Is it possible that the Democrats have actually pulled off a political jujitsu? They side with Bush, they know Republicans in the House are opposed, they know McCain is claiming leadership rights and wants a yes, the bill tanks, America blames McCain. Nah, that would be too clever.

CNN: Bankruptcy, not bailout, is the right answer

The obvious alternative to a bailout is letting troubled financial institutions declare bankruptcy. Bankruptcy means that shareholders typically get wiped out and the creditors own the company.

In contrast, a bailout transfers enormous wealth from taxpayers to those who knowingly engaged in risky subprime lending. Thus, the bailout encourages companies to take large, imprudent risks and count on getting bailed out by government. This "moral hazard" generates enormous distortions in an economy's allocation of its financial resources.

Talk of Armageddon, however, is ridiculous scare-mongering. If financial institutions cannot make productive loans, a profit opportunity exists for someone else. This might not happen instantly, but it will happen.

Further, the current credit freeze is likely due to Wall Street's hope of a bailout; bankers will not sell their lousy assets for 20 cents on the dollar if the government might pay 30, 50, or 80 cents.

The costs of the bailout, moreover, are almost certainly being understated.

McCain's Ludicrous Blame Game

Republicans decide they can't vote for the bail out because Nancy Pelosi made an alleged partisan speech.

Frank goes on TV and rips that notion up, he handily turns the Republicans into a laughing stock.

Setting aside the validity or non validity of the bail out for a moment, both Obama and McCain were going to vote in favor of the bail out.

Obama delivered a majority of the Democrats to vote yes for the bail out.

McCain delivered nada.

Now McCain is blaming Obama for McCain's failure to bring the Republicans to the "yes" table.

The anger and frustration that McCain is experiencing surrounds his inability to summon his side, the Republicans, to the table to vote yes.

The episode shows that McCain is lacking in leadership because he did not bring the Republicans in to approve the bail out bill.

Tough times for McCain, he is looking rather ineffective just like his role model Bush.

Now all of this runs alongside the bail out which many of us were finding to be quite lacking and questioned its necessity.

So there appears to be a political shortfall benefit to the failure of the bail out bill to pass - McCain appears like he is unable to deliver the goods, Obama can deliver the goods.

There's always a silver lining.

Reuters: McCain's camp blames Obama on bailout failure

A majority of House Democrats supported the proposal and the majority of House Republicans opposed it. A total of 133 House Republicans voted against it, with 95 Democrats opposing the plan.

This is a very amusing statement. It implies that Obama is responsible for Republicans voting against the bill. John, Obama is a Democrat.

Gulp

Excuse me, I'm hyperventilating.

Hey, let the cards fall where they may. Its gong to be a tight holiday season.

With the market tumbling over 700 points, each point seems linked to about a billion dollars. Where on earth will the market be by weeks end. Does every stock have to become a penny stock.

Breitbart.com: Stocks tumble as bailout plan fails in House

...with the Dow Jones industrials plunging more than 735 points—their largest point drop ever

Out

Is anyone else getting a tad creeped out here.

The stock market is dropping like a bomb coming out of a flaming plane.

Its unfortunate that the alleged point of this crisis comes now. Bush is useless, he's just there to cash his friends and himself in. He's the most disliked president in history. His leadership value is lower than a tech stock.

We will have to wait till hopefully Obama gets in, to work towards turning the boat around.

Breitbart.com: House defeats $700B financial industry bailout

Stocks plummeted on Wall Street even before the 228-205 vote to reject the bill was announced on the House floor.

Despite pressure from supporters, not enough members were willing to take the political risk just five weeks before an election.

Ample no votes came from both the Democratic and Republican sides of the aisle. More than two-thirds of Republicans and 40 percent of Democrats opposed the bill.

Money

Investor discusses where to put money.

Kucinich - Not Going To Happen

Its going to be an "edgy" kind of week. Our financial institutions are collapsing, the government is broke, the war rages on, we need to find solace in what we value the most.

The Hill: Kucinich says not enough votes for bailout

“I will tell you right now I don’t know if they have votes,” said Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio). “If the votes were there, this would be on the floor. The votes aren’t there.”

Krugman on the Bail Out

Paul Krugman always gets our attention. He is a strong critic of Bush and Bush policy.

Here he lays out his thoughts on the bail out.

NY Times: The 3 A.M. Call

The bailout plan released yesterday is a lot better than the proposal Henry Paulson first put out — sufficiently so to be worth passing. But it’s not what you’d actually call a good plan, and it won’t end the crisis. The odds are that the next president will have to deal with some major financial emergencies.

Stocks Do The Limbo

Anyone care to explain how Wall Street reacts to its $700Billion bail out plan, with stock value continuing to plummet.

This is a little creepy, not only will our publicly held assets as in the US Treasury be decimated, but so will our own individual assets as well.


CNN: Big drop seen on Wall Street

Stocks were poised to fall Monday, after a series of major bank bailouts in Europe, as Congress gets ready to vote on its own bailout plan for the finance industry and banks engaged in a bidding war over Wachovia.

Key Elements

As we look at the bail out plan, issues and questions immediately come to mind, simple easy questions -

Reuters: Key elements of Congress' bailout plan

-- Eligible assets include residential or commercial mortgages and related instruments which were originated or issued on or before March 14, 2008. Other financial instruments can be included in consultation with the Federal Reserve if Congress is notified.

On or before March 14, 2008, wow.

Following the stock market we know that the merde hit the fan in January. It was very clear up to and prior to January 2008 that the bad mortgage credit had thrown sludge on Wall Street. So why does the bail out go as far as March.

Its saying to the banks and investment houses, you knew that the merde hit the fan, you continued with a disastrous lending practice anyhow knowing full well that it was bad, but you know what, that's ok we'll give you money anyhow.

- Treasury secretary given broad discretion to determine the methods for buying assets.

Excuse me for a moment, there's oversight, but the treasury secretary also is given broad discretion in using the bail out money. This is like telling the teenager to do exactly what she wants to do, but you are going to watch her and make sure she doesn't do exactly what she wants to do. Is there a problem here?

- If the government has taken losses five years into the program, the Treasury Department will draft a plan to tax the companies that took part to recoup taxpayer losses.

Five years from now! That would be the end of Obama's first term in office, how convenient. When the economy tanks even further in an Obama administration because Bush and company completely decimated the treasury and all of our collective assets are gone, a new president will start seeing revenue flow from the bail out in 2012. Now that is something Democrats in their endless stupidity need to sign onto.

Reuters News Clips

Not Inspiring

Investors are not placing confidence in the bail out plan passing Congress and the Senate.

Congress is expected to vote on it today, the Senate on Wednesday.

Breibart.com: Stocks head for lower open ahead of bailout vote

Financial markets headed for another difficult session Monday ahead of a planned House vote on an unpopular $700 billion plan to rescue troubled financial companies. Stock futures fell sharply as investors feared the measure won't pass and that credit markets will remain nearly frozen.

Demand for safe-haven buying in government debt remained high ahead of the vote.

Turkey In The Straw

1942

Palin-tology

We are reading about Palin's popularity numbers falling steadily.

One would hope so. Among her more unimpressive absurd views is her belief that the universe was created six thousand years ago, that dinosaurs and man coexisted, and that this so called "intelligent design" should be taught along side evolution in science class.

The Register: 'I can see dinosaurs from my back porch' - Palin-tology and the threat to science teaching

GOP Veep candidate Sarah Palin's belief in creationism brings the evolution of a crank's outlook into an asset in US public life into plain view. It's simply the rock-like belief that if science isn't convenient to a very personal value or notion, then it constitutes an attack on such and is to be set aside.

Rescued and Ravaged

OK, another bail out bill is readied for Congressional approval. We've heard warnings that if nothing is done, we go back into the dark ages.

We are skeptics and we tend to doubt this possibility. We tend to think we are getting skewered.

The provision that would make it ok with us is that it goes down but Bush and Cheney must be publicly tarred and feathered.

Breitbart.com: $700B rescue plan finalized; House to vote Monday

Congressional leaders and the White House agreed Sunday to a $700 billion rescue of the ailing financial industry after lawmakers insisted on sharing spending controls with the Bush administration. The biggest U.S. bailout in history won the tentative support of both presidential candidates and goes to the House for a vote Monday.

SNL Skewers The First Debate

Iraq Violence 9-28-08

Breitbart.com: Spate of Baghdad bombings kills 29

Harry Reid on McCain's Economic Savior Stunt

Tina Fey as Palin on SNL #2

Gallup: Obama 50% - McCain 42%

In my opinion, three large errors by McCain compared to a presidential, steady, and consistent Obama has opened up a larger Obama lead.

McCain's three most recent errors:

- Accepting the CNP's recommendation to put Palin on the ticket.
- Riding into Washington DC to save the free world from economic Godzilla.
- Being condescending, snippy, irritable, and scary throughout his debate with Obama.

Gallup Daily: Obama Moves to 50% to 42% Lead

Rasmussen - Obama 50% - McCain 44%

On Sunday Rasmussen still has Obama up by 6 points.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

I was poking around Rasmussen's site because I wanted to see his polling results for the 2004 race between Kerry and Bush -

Election 2004 Bush-Kerry Tracking Poll

President George W. Bush won the popular vote on November 2 by a 50.7% to 48.2% margin over Senator John Kerry. The final Rasmussen Reports projection had shown the President winning 50.2% to 48.5%.

Rasmussen was dead on in 2004.

Scarlatti

Ivo Pogorelich

TPMtv on McCain and the Economy

Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran

McCain's tough talking bomb first attitude is starting to take more and more heat.

If we have learned anything from the Iraq debacle, its that war is not the answer. This isn't simply pacifist type of talk. This is reality in the modern world. Al Qaeda is not a sovereign country. It is an amorphous organization best dealt with through amped up local authorities and specialized pin point efforts, not large scale wars on a country.

McCain is clearly prone to bombing and opening up more war. Its one thing to need to be viewed as tough and willing to defend America, but McCain is appearing more and more to be way over the top, too bellicose, to open and willing to go to war.

If McCain should win, the prediction is in right now. We will be involved in a new war and probably with Iran.

NY Times: Impulsive, Impetuous, Impatient

...Mr. McCain denounces Barack Obama’s call for direct talks with Iranian leaders and speaks openly about the possibility of bombing Iranian nuclear sites.

“There’s only one thing worse than military action against Iran, and that is a nuclear-armed Iran..."

Hurricane Kyle

Kyle is headed towards Nova Scotia and Maine.

Breitbart.com: Hurricane races toward Nova Scotia; Maine on alert

With top sustained winds of almost 75 mph, the Category 1 hurricane was moving over the open Atlantic at 24 mph. A turn toward the north-northeast was expected later Sunday.

Double Talk

Maverick, Authoritarian, and Gambler

There is a brand new New York Times article that is going to throw a lot of cold water on the McCain campaign.

The merde storm will hit the waves shortly with a strong rebuttal from the McCain camp that the NY Times is attempting to discredit the long time public servant and war hero. Charges of partisanship, cronyism, lying, and scoundrel behavior will also be leveled at the paper.

I suspect this story will have some legs. It won't be the sort of thing that puts the McCain campaign in jeopardy, but it will create a gash especially to those in the religious right that would find this story scandalous. The good news for McCain is that group does not read the NY Times and the newspaper itself is loathed by that faction.

NY Times: McCain and Team Have Many Ties to Gambling Industry

A lifelong gambler, Mr. McCain takes risks, both on and off the craps table.

Mr. McCain portrays himself as a Washington maverick unswayed by special interests, referring recently to lobbyists as “birds of prey.” Yet in his current campaign, more than 40 fund-raisers and top advisers have lobbied or worked for an array of gambling interests — including tribal and Las Vegas casinos, lottery companies and online poker purveyors.

Cafferty: "Palin...Should Scare The Hell Out Of You."

Cafferty points to an excerpt from Palin's interview with Couric. The Palin-Couric clip is included and it is astonishing to listen to. Palin talks without any coherency and tries to include a series of talking points in a chaotic assemblage.

Now You Do It

I hate football, but I like commitment and effort. This catch is poetic, painful, and singularly outstanding.

Don't Look

John McCain could not even look at Barack Obama. This is sad.

A Week Of Numbers

Its been a week of numbers - $700Billion, a 6% Obama advantage, and now a new prime number.

There was a time when I enjoyed the study of mathematics.

So as geeky as it may be, this is a cool story.

If I remember correctly, a prime number is only cleanly divisible by itself and 1, such as 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, etc.

Breitbart.com: UCLA group discovers humungous prime number

Mathematicians at UCLA have discovered a 13-million-digit prime number, a long-sought milestone that makes them eligible for a $100,000 prize.

Rasmussen - Obama 50% - McCain 44%

Conservative pollster Rasmussen shows Obama increasing his lead over McCain. Obama is now up by 6 points on the day after the debate.

One would suspect that the Obama camp was pleased with his debate performance. During the debate Obama maintained his poise in the face of an angry appearing, condescending, and contentious opponent.

Rasmussen: Barack Obama attracting 50% of the vote while John McCain earns 44%

After Debate - Biden on MSNBC, Palin MIA

China's Spacewalk

The debate was interesting but take a look at this. China is out there with a significant space program.

The only candidate who mentioned the need for America to remain technologically adept through programs in alternative energy advancement, infrastructure revitalization, and affordable education was Obama.

If we take a look at China's rapid advancement and now their initiatives in space, we need to get on the stick.

Its interesting to point out that as the debate occurs, this equally significant event simultaneously occurs for the Chinese.

Breitbart.com: Chinese astronaut makes nation's first spacewalk

Mission commander Zhai Zhigang floated out of the orbiter module's hatch in the spacewalk, shown live on state broadcaster CCTV. Tethered to handles attached to the Shenzhou 7 ship's orbital module's exterior, Zhai remained outside for about 13 minutes before climbing back inside and closing the hatch behind him

Second Comment Debate 1

There was one continuous quality to McCain's demeanor throughout the debate. He was condescending and irritable.

McCain sent out the message that he was angry to be there, he was angry to be debating a younger candidate, and he was down right angry at the candidate himself.

Now in my book, this is a bad reflection on McCain. There is nothing harmonizing about this type of anger based, war based attitude.

Its quite the opposite. Rather than debate the issue and present one's value or worth or wealth of knowledge, McCain expends energy simply trying to make the other side look bad.

The condescension does not help the country at this point in time.

As the debate proceeded, it became clearer to Obama that McCain was using this dismissive attitude. At that point, Obama returned in kind, and I believe that this was merited and sent McCain a very clear message.

I suspect that Obama will come out attacking even harder in the future because Obama cannot be denied his savy, sophistication, exceptional intelligence, and command of the issues.

I was worried about the debate because I know that Obama has a more facile ability with words than McCain. I feard that he could literally overwhelm McCain with that facility.

At this point, Obama will be more aggressive in shredding McCain's points. The cat is out of the bag.

ABC: Advantage Obama

ABC News: Early Poll Results Suggest More Uncommitted Voters Saw Obama As Debate Winner

Forty percent of uncommitted voters who watched the debate tonight thought Barack Obama was the winner. Twenty-two percent thought John McCain won. Thirty-eight percent saw it as a draw.

Initial Comment Debate 1

Obama did just fine, his delivery needs some adjustment. Content gets an A+, form gets a B-.

McCain did just fine, he channeled Reagan better than we expected. Content gets a D, form gets an A-.

Now when we get down to partisan interests, Obama mops the floor with McCain. Obama sounds realistic on all the issues, McCain sounds stale.

Obama excelled on Iraq, the economy, plain old simple logic linking causes and effects across the board of topics, the reminder that Bush and McCain support the same failed policies. I loved the way Obama reminded the nit wit population that Iraq caused more problems than stopped problems. Obama gets high marks for reminding us that there is a continuity of bad policy from Bush to McCain and what those failures are.

I did not like hearing about nuclear power and biofuel as an option from Obama. I did not like the tough guy talk from Obama on Venezuela.

McCain gets low grades on factual information. He is great at presenting bluster and obfuscation as a way of ducking facts and increasing drama. McCain did his damnedest to sound like Reagan and I found that to be creepy but the Reagan crowd will gobble it up.

There will be McCain supporters claiming victory, and Obama supporters claiming victory.

The only real measure of success will be if more voters drift to one camp over the other.

Debate Date

We will be watching the debate tonight, it starts at 9PM.

CNN provides a live internet news feed.

Watch it here.

Conservative Calls For Palin To Drop Out

Interesting article indeed. Its becoming clear to the conservative base that Palin is seriously under-qualified. Apparently some in the conservative movement are listening to Palin and actually hearing what she is saying. What she is saying, the content of her actual words, is third grade level wonderment.

Let us allow conservatives to make the case against Palin all by themselves.

National Review: Palin Problem - She’s out of her league.

Quick study or not, she doesn’t know enough about economics and foreign policy to make Americans comfortable with a President Palin should conditions warrant her promotion.

If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself.

John Stewart - Bush Freedom Memory

To Bail Or Not To Bail

The bailout is not popular with the American public. This is easy to understand. Look at the poll numbers, 30% approve of the idea. The majority of those approving are Republicans with some Democrats also approving.

It almost bad sportsmanship to point out that Bush is at sub dismal popularity levels. We reap what we sow.

Unfortunately there is one large ingredient missing from the crisis table - leadership.

Breitbart.com: Few in AP poll back Bush market rescue plan

Despite Bush's pleas that economic calamity looms unless Congress quickly enacts his proposal, just 30 percent back his package, according to an Associated Press-Knowledge Networks poll conducted Thursday night. Another 45 percent oppose it while the rest say they don't know.

Bush, whose popularity has approached historic lows for many months, received dismal scores in the poll for his performance during the financial crisis. Just 23 percent said they approve of how he's done, including only 6 percent approving strongly.

McCain - Misstep

Rasmussen - Obama 50% - McCain 45%

What exactly is John McCain doing here. It would appear that he is trying to play president in a situation where the existing president does not have any more power. Is this some kind of revenge on Bush by McCain.

This is very screwy. Something is going here on that we are not privy to. A deal had been worked out, McCain comes in and the deal is broken. What exactly is being represented by McCain's interests, and why is the American public caught in the headlights.

We feel like we are being held hostage by McCain.

Its odd to see Rasmussen, the normally conservative pollster, showing Obama with a 5 point lead over McCain. Of all the polls, Rasmussen's will show the slightest advantage for the democrat. Gallup on the other hand has it tied, while CNN also has Obama up by 5.

Rasmussen: Barack Obama attracting 50% of the vote while John McCain earns 45%.

Letterman Blisters McCain - Day 2

TPMtv (from Thursday)

A Hard Rain Is Gonna Fall

Its hard to imagine that the stock market will react favorably to Washington Mutual crumbling and the news that there is no immediate plan of action to fix the financial crisis.

My guess would be that any gains from Thursday's market will be lost today, but I could be wrong. Some kind of small good news might lightly offset the downward trends.

So here's the good news. It is Friday. The weekend has graciously arrived. Its raining here and its cool so that adds to the distress of the world's shaky condition but rain is an enrichment. I will put on my rain gear and bike to work today and its going to be great, earthy, elemental.

Instead of worrying about how low your mutual funds are heading, this weekend do at least one thing that will save you some dough. Fix that front door, weather strip it, bust out that caulk gun and fix that spot where cold air is going to take away a small fraction of your hard earned money. Turn this economic crap storm into a motivating plan of personal action. Why not......

Reuters: Index futures point to lower Wall Street open

The U.S. authorities shut down Washington Mutual, the largest U.S. savings and loan bank, and sold its assets.

Reuters: WaMu is largest U.S. bank failure

Washington Mutual Inc was closed by the U.S. government in by far the largest failure of a U.S. bank, and its banking assets were sold to JPMorgan Chase & Co for $1.9 billion.

Washington Mutual, the largest U.S. savings and loan, has been one of the lenders hardest hit by the nation's housing bust and credit crisis, and had already suffered from soaring mortgage losses.

McCain - Best Actor Award In An Economic Crisis

Regarding the economic crisis, Obama is emerging as the person who is placing the interests of the ordinary person over the interests of corporations.

McCain is calling for less oversight of the bail out money. In addition McCain is viewed by the American people as making the interests of the corporations of primary importance. Considering McCain's record, how else could it be.

We are waiting to understand the meaning of or the reasoning for McCain's white horse ride into Washington DC. We are reading accounts of McCain offering virtually nothing except for a disruptive plan that offers considerable advantages for the financial corporations.

Given the minuscule importance that Americans place on at least attempting to understand the issues, McCain's actions appear to have more to do with creating a theatrical display for the media than to actually help craft a valuable and authentic plan of action.

Although I looked forward to the debate, listening to Obama give a town hall is perfectly fine.

NYT: McCain Leaps Into a Thicket

...there was no evidence that he (McCain) was playing a major role in the frantic efforts on Capitol Hill to put a deal back together again.

...the day’s events succeeded most of all in raising questions about precisely why Mr. McCain had called for postponing the first debate and returned to Washington to focus on the bailout plan...

A New York Times/CBS News poll released Thursday found new evidence that the deteriorating economic environment was helping Mr. Obama. Voters who said the economy was the key issue for them were far more likely to support Mr. Obama.

...52 percent of respondents said Mr. McCain cares more about protecting the interests of large corporations, compared with 32 percent who said that he cared most about protecting the interests of ordinary people.

Buffalo Spingfield

Off Limits Because She's An Idiot

If Palin takes questions she sounds like my Limbaugh loving plumber friend, almost.

This is quite a tactic, the Republicans running for office have nothing to say about policy because they don't know anything, and they might very well win.

Palin is the real "Being There" Chance Gardner of our time.

CNN: Palin mingles with media in rare Q&A

After her statement, she answered four questions about the war on terrorism, the re-election bids of Alaska's Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young, and the bailout legislation in front of Congress.

By comparison, Sen. Joe Biden has given 89 national and local interviews...

"I have never seen a presidential or vice presidential nominee, in my lifetime, be so inaccessible to the national media," said Howard Kurtz, a Washington Post and CNN media critic.

Sarah Palin Links 9-11 and Iraq

Truth be damned.

Stalled

Reuters: McCain move upsets Wall St bailout talks: Dems

A group of conservative House Republicans on Thursday offered a mortgage insurance plan as an alternative to the Bush plan, which has encountered criticism on Capitol Hill.

The conservative group's plan calls for the U.S. government to offer insurance coverage for the roughly half of all mortgage-backed securities that it does not already insure.

NYT: Bailout Plan Stalls After Day of Talks; Bernanke and Paulson Head Back to Hill

It has become abundantly clear, that members of Congress are hearing from their constituents, many of whom are furious about the proposed rescue.

Republicans and Democrats said that the legislation would include limits on the pay packages for executives of some firms that seek assistance and a mechanism for the government to take an equity stake in some of the firms, so taxpayers have a chance to profit if the bailout plan works.

Corn Hoed

In her short media enhanced mega star status, Sarah Palin, the newest Joey Buttafucco, is way ahead of any previous competition.

Palin the three step dominionist has already removed 16 acres of prime corn field from the sin stank grasp of Beazel-satan. Now that's corn popping dominionism.

Every Satan-free 16 acres gets its own Palin relief corn sculpture.

Palin Found To Be Witch Free!

I know my feelings about Sarah are improved knowing that she is willing to go the extra mile and insure that she's blessed to be free from witch craft. I hope she also got the herpes inoculation.

Breitbart.com: Palin once blessed to be free from 'witchcraft'

A video on her hometown church Web site shows Sarah Palin being blessed three years ago by a Kenyan pastor who prayed for her protection from "witchcraft" as she prepared to seek higher office.

Dazed and Phased

This whole deal is reeking of Bushism.

We need a detailed blow by blow that leads us from unscrupulous mortgage lenders to the present need for $700Billion.

Reuters: Rep. Frank says bailout funds would be phased in

The chairman of the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee said the $700-billion authority that U.S. officials want for a financial services bailout will be phased in rather than granted all at once.

Reuters: Lawmakers reach bailout deal

Lawmakers declined to provide details of the plan, but it is expected to include limits on executive pay and strong oversight provisions.

...General Electric Co, widely seen as a bellwether of the U.S. economy, issued a profit warning, citing "unprecedented weakness and volatility" in the financial services market.

Palin On Foreign Policy

Boy, I smell president here. Its her facile mind, her executive leadership, the mind boggling ability to juggle numbers, the masterful command of the media - Palin out deciders Bush.


Watch CBS Videos Online

Housing Stumbles

We all know housing is central to the economy of the US. Its just mre evidence of where we are at.

Curious that the article points to the worst housing numbers in 17 years. Who was in office 17 years ago - George H W Bush. Remember the first Bush recession.

Reuters: August new homes prices, sales plummet

Sales of newly constructed U.S. single-family homes in August fell to its lowest point in more than 17 years while prices hit four-year lows...

Sterilize

We suspect that when the US bails out Wall Street with a $700Billion welfare check, that there will be repercussions within our society.

We might see a rise in resentment for the poor. We can you hear Limbaugh now.

The case is already being made, right. It was the poor who got us into this mortgage fiasco. The banks just innocently sat around and lovingly made ARM based mortgages blessed by a history of American enterprise.

WWLTV.Cm: Metairie legislator proposes sterilization for poor women

State Representative John LaBruzzo of Metairie, Louisiana said many of his constituents are tired of paying for children from poor families and that is why he is considering proposing legislation that would pay women on government assistance $1,000 if they choose to be sterilized.

McCain Plays America For The Fool

McCain's suspending his campaign yesterday for his heroic horseback march to Washington DC to save the economy from the tragic strategically planned contempt of his idol, George Bush, was pure nonsense.

Looking around the internet we see he is dutifully being ripped up by the media for dodging his commitment to debate Obama on Friday night.

This is another Karl Rove moment - "Hey John we'll just play on the hero status and make you appear as the non partisan savior of the free world. Nobody will notice the sarcastic twist and spin. You won't have to look all befuddled when you debate the "elitist" Obama. We'll get the noise machine to back you no matter what."

Adding insult to injury McCain picks someone who isn't allowed in front of a microphone because she doesn't know anything. She might look bad, sound bad, screw it up worse. So he can't even use Palin as a stand in. She's red shirted until next year, she's got to sit this one out til next year.

Right now, the McCain campaign is looking about as presidential as a Macy's Thanksgiving float and that's trying to be kind.

Iraq Violence 9-25-08

Gulf News: US soldier killed by suicide bomber in Diyala

There Goes The Pony

After 8 years of Bush the US is now the noisy belligerent obnoxious neighbor with the wrecked car rusting on his front lawn, terrible dental hygiene, children that roam the streets without supervision, and the eviction and repo notices tacked to the front door.

Its getting ugly out there. The Republicans said we'll get Bush in there at all costs by rigging the election if necessary and by golly they sure did, didn't they.

Now 8 years later, America is frayed. The world didn't want Iraq, but George Bush and his neocon puppet masters knew better. Bush proceeded to dismantle the constitution, wreck the financial integrity of Wall Street, polarize the country with bright boy Rove, rewrite essential laws like Habeas Corpus, and create the nucleus for an American fascist state.

Let's get McCain in there and let him kill it off but good.

Reuters: U.S. will lose financial superpower status: Germany

Germany blamed the United States on Thursday for spawning the global financial crisis with a blind drive for higher profits and said it would now have to accept greater market regulation and a loss of its financial superpower status.

Dems Work Out - Bail Out

Allegedly, sometime on Thursday morning a bail out plan will be announced. We suspect the pre-announcement is being made Wednesday night in order to rev the market for a decent Thursday. We shall see.

The dig on McCain by Frank is humorous. Now that the deal is done will McCain get back on the debate horse. I'll wager he bails out. The winds seem to be blowing that we won't see a Palin - Biden debate either.

Reuters: Democrats claim Wall St. bailout breakthrough

Democratic Rep. Barney Frank said on Wednesday Democrats had reached an agreement to stem one of the worst U.S. financial disasters in decades, and that there would be enough votes to pass the measure and send it to President George W. Bush to sign into law.

These matters involved bankruptcy protections for families on the verge of losing their homes and giving the government a return on its money if the company being helped prospers.

"All of sudden, now that we are on the verge of making a deal, John McCain here drops himself in to help us make a deal, Frank said.

Driving in New York - 1928

Bush Cries Wolf - We Can't Tell

Saddam Hussein has nuclear bombs and is about 5 seconds from blowing up Boise.

The economy is going to disintegrate any second and everyone in the world is going to be broke or you could give me $700Billion.

Breitbart.com: Bush warns of long recession without rescue plan

President Bush on Wednesday warned Americans and lawmakers reluctant to pass a $700 billion financial rescue plan that failing to act fast risks wiping out retirement savings, rising foreclosures, lost jobs, closed businesses and even "a long and painful recession."

Letterman Goes Over McCain

Gassed

I couldnt help myself. Sorry.

You peruse the news and articles, and the news addiction briefly gets satisfied. You shake your head all day long at the lunacy passing as good goverment.

So, when a story like this appears you just have to go with it. To let it all in and in a unconditional and open way, re-post it with integrity.

This is something new. Never seen this one before. Its human, its earthy, its heady, and its easy to imagine.

Breitbart.com: Man charged after allegedly passing gas toward cop

The criminal complaint says that as a patrolman was preparing the machine (breathalyzer), Cruz scooted his chair over, lifted his leg, passed gas and fanned it toward the officer

Bill Maher on Terrorism

TPMtv for September 24

McCain Hides For Cover

John McCain wants to suspend his campaign now so he can head to Washington and save the world from Wall Street. What a trooper.

Along the way, he wants to suspend the debate on Friday, and have Obama help him out of a jam. He wants to cooperate with Obama on a bipartisan bail out.

Is he serious? McCain has snake eyes on the economy and he's holding a miserable jack high in a 5 card poker game. He's got nothing. McCain's history with deregulation shows him off to be in the pockets of the people that designed this massive economic disaster.

McCain dodging the issue here is a political move intended to buy time. He's running scared, and he should be.

Breitbart.com: Barack Obama says that amid financial crisis, it's more important than ever to have debate.

I Will Gladly Pay You Tuesday For 700Billion Today.

150 instead of 700, what the heck, throw in a pair of tickets to the Lakers and wrap it up.

What is this, let's make a deal.

Democrats could take the generous uncle approach - 700, is that enough, look let's make it an even 800. Instead its the tough mom rule - you'll get 50 cents now and if your grades are good, you'll get the pony.

I love the way its being described in the media as Democrats are offering a "fraction." A fraction, $150Billion is a fraction. Why didn't they call it chump change.

Breitbart.com: Democratic leaders ask for a smaller bailout

Under the plan, which is still emerging, Congress would approve a fraction of what President Bush is asking for—perhaps $150 billion or $200 billion—to allow the government to begin rescuing tottering financial companies.

On The Money

Bravo to Rep. Kaptur - Democrat, Ohio!

Obama On The Economy

This is from yesterday.

Fluctuation - Yes, But At The Bottom

Yes there seems to be a slight leveling off today in respect to stocks but let's recall that the market is at a very low point. So it is fluctuating but at the low level.

The patient has lost a quart and a half of blood, the tourniquet is on, blood is still being lost but not so quickly. The point is the patient is still down a quart and a half of blood and is in critical condition. Warren Buffet is not going to save the world.

Breitbart.com: Stocks fluctuate after Buffett-Goldman deal

Financial markets gave mixed signals Wednesday, with stocks stabilizing following investor Warren Buffett's $5 billion bet on Goldman Sachs Group Inc. but the credit markets showing added strain as they await news about the government's plan to rescue banks from crippling debt.

Congress

This is the good news. It will be more difficult for Republicans to fix the elections for Congress when they are losing by 20 points. That's a tricky number to explain away.

A possible Palin-McCain administration may very well face a veto proof Democratic Congress.

CNN: Democrats widen lead in battle for Congress

In a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released Tuesday, 56 percent of those questioned are backing the Democratic candidate for Congress, while 42 percent support the Republicans.

That's a change from immediately after the GOP convention, when the Democrats had only a 3-point lead lead over the Republicans, 49 percent to 46 percent.

Deciders

I cannot vote for McCain. In terms of the economy, simply based on McCain's history of having supported the type of deregulation that caused the mortgage crisis meltdown, he is risky. This long history of supporting financial deregulation indicates his economic principles.

In addition, McCain has chosen as an important economic adviser former Senator Gramm. Gramm is an architect of the deregualtion policies.

When you add together McCain's extensive history of support for deregulation on Wall Street and the people in his inner circle that advise him, namely Gramm, we don't see a reasonable and likely way out of the present economic crisis.

Obama on the other hand, does not have a history of supporting Wall Street deregulation. He does support Wall Street oversight so that these major financial institutions with their staffs of exceedingly sharp MBAs and JDs cannot concoct massive swindles. Somebody will be watching to keep it in check. This alone wins our support for Obama.

The scope of Obama's policy is broad and exceedingly more sensible than any McCain proposal. He is talking about benchmarks, attempting to rework bad mortgages so that those facing foreclosure can remain. Obama is not supporting a blank trillion dollar check that will bankrupt the American taxpayer for years to come. This is common sense something that seems missing lately. How could we trust the Bush administration with a trillion dollar check, for another poorly designed rush into giving billions to unscrupulous corporations on Wall Street.

Breitbart.com: Poll finds 18 percent of voters undecided

A large chunk of these voters say they are hurting on a personal level from the country's economic woes, and, like everyone else, they say the economy is the top issue. Most haven't decided who would best solve their problems as president; neither candidate has an advantage on handling the economy.

...Most of these voters are looking for a better life and a leader to help make it happen—and most haven't found what they seek in Obama or McCain.

I Can See Clearly Now

Johnny Nash

TPMtv for September 23 PM

McCain Wants Deregulation

Proof is in the pudding.

Urgent Message

From a deep operative -

Dear Friend:


We have not met, but I urgently need your help. I need to ask you to support an urgent secret business relationship with a transfer of funds of great magnitude.


I am Ministry of the Treasury of the Republic of America. My country has had crisis that has caused the need for large transfer of funds of 800 billion dollars US. If you would assist me in this transfer, it would be most profitable to you.


I am working with Mr. Phil Gram, lobbyist for UBS, who will be my replacement as Ministry of the Treasury in January. As a Senator, you may know him as the leader of the American banking deregulation movement in the 1990s. This transaction is 100% safe.


This is a matter of great urgency. We need a blank check. We need the funds as quickly as possible. We cannot directly transfer these funds in the names of our close friends because we are constantly under surveillance. My family lawyer advised me that I should look for a reliable and trustworthy person who will act as a next of kin so the funds can be transferred.


Please reply with all of your bank account, IRA and college fund account numbers and those of your children and grandchildren to wallstreetbailout@treasury.gov so that we may transfer your commission for this transaction. After I receive that information, I will respond with detailed information about safeguards that will be used to protect the funds.


Yours Faithfully
Minister of Treasury Paulson

Bush Keeps Grim Afghanistan Report Secret Until After The Election

Wouldn't want the American people to know exactly how badly Afghanistan is going now would we. It might help Obama if we did let them know because it would only add to the colossal failure of the Bush administration.

So you think you've seen it all with Bush. Sorry, there's much more to come.

ABC: 'Grim' Afghanistan Report To Be Kept Secret by US

US intelligence analysts are putting the final touches on a secret National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Afghanistan that reportedly describes the situation as "grim", but there are "no plans to declassify" any of it before the election, according to one US official familiar with the process.

Rip Off

Time is allowing the bail out to ripen in its intent. Its over ripe, the whole thing is stinking.

We are being rushed into a $700Billion hijacking of America's economic future. This is like being rushed in Iraq. Let the corporations that wrote the debt sink, good riddance. Redo the ARM based mortgages so that those affected can pay off their loan. Kick Bush's last ditch attempt to screw America off the cliff, good riddance.

We are reading that corporations will profit from the bail out, that CEOs will receive mega million dollar severances, that there is no oversight in how the money is used. This is not acceptable.

Reuters: Resentment grows over Wall Street bailout plan

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch from the conservative state of Utah said reaction to the plan from his constituents was "all negative."

One aspect of the bailout likely to incite most resentment is the possibility that Wall Street firms could profit from the plan...

Bubble

No surprise here. Palin has a third grade understanding of foreign policy. Consequently she is kept to a short script and the press has little access.

The contempt for democracy is outstanding. Here we have the possible next president in Palin and yet we can't hear her discourse with world leaders. This is the new Republican fundamentalism in action. It is disgraceful. Why do we call them the Republicans, they are the Fundamentalists.

The short story is, no one is allowed to hear how grossly incompetent and incapable she is.

Hey I feel much more confident of Palin's abilities now that she's had a tightly controlled meeting with a Bush lackey. This woman is a dream, she can ask anyone what their names are. Now isn't that special.

This is a joke and the joke is on the American public.

Beitbart.com: Palin, in a bubble, meets her first world leaders

It was a tightly controlled crash course on foreign policy for the Republican vice presidential candidate, the mayor-turned-governor who has been outside North America just once.

Palin sat down with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. The conversation was private, the pictures public, meant to pad her resume for voters concerned about her lack of experience in world affairs.

If Dems. Were Reps. - Commercial

No More Head For You ;-)

The column was written by George Will. I'm serious, would not lie to you, I'm bad at lying. Its not that I don't want to but I'm bad at it.

George Will is sounding like an Obama supporter. I would love, literally love to here the right wing smear Will. Can you imagine. I will tune into Limbaugh today. I bet he can't say a thing.

WaPo: McCain Loses His Head

Channeling his inner Queen of Hearts, John McCain furiously, and apparently without even looking around at facts, said Chris Cox, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, should be decapitated. This childish reflex provoked the Wall Street Journal to editorialize that "McCain untethered" -- disconnected from knowledge and principle -- had made a "false and deeply unfair" attack on Cox that was "unpresidential" and demonstrated that McCain "doesn't understand what's happening on Wall Street any better than Barack Obama does."

You read that correctly, written by George F. Will, I can copy and paste with the best.

McCain is losing it folks, is this the year that the Republican self destructs. Now let's be prudent.

TPMtv for September 23

Anticipation

Today Paulson will talk to the Senate Banking Committee. Wall Street and the world's markets will be listening intently. His words will literally affect the Wall Street's closing numbers today. Investors will buy into what he says or not.

My guess, and its just a guess, is that the initial response will be positive and we will see a little boost, but in short time his proposals will be analyzed and its real value will be ascertained. Then we might see another dip.

It needs to be pointed out that in addition to the mortgage bad debt crisis, the world is headed towards recession full bore. There is a slowdown. Where have we read that a $700billion bail out will dissolve the recession.

Reuters: Stocks, oil fall; eyes on Paulson

Initial exuberance about the plan to buy up toxic mortgage debt has given way to concerns about how the U.S. government would fund it and whether the package would be enough to boost the world's biggest economy, which is facing a recession.

...Germany, the region's biggest economy, edged into contraction in September for the first time since January and manufacturing industry slumped to its weakest performance in over five years.

Tuesday Morning

Investors have realized that the bail out plan is bad booty, its creating uncertainty.

There is one very simple criticism of the bail out plan that seems to ring the bell. Why would we trust the Bush administration with a trillion dollars to fix the economy when they have not demonstrated an ability to fix anything in eight years. In fact its just the opposite. This economy wrecking business is a result of the Bush administration - now they are going to fix - we don't think so.

We turn a trillion over to the Secretary of the Treasury from the Bush administration and without any oversight whatsoever, one person is tasked with saving the US and the world's economic future. Talk about putting lipstick on a pig, this is it. Do not accept this nonsense. Let your congressional leaders know what you think.

NYT: Stocks Fall in Europe and Asia

In London, the FTSE-100 dropped 2.6 percent by midday. The Dow Jones Euro Stoxx 50 Index, a benchmark for the euro region, shed 1.6 percen at midday. The CAC-40 lost 1.8 percent in Paris and the German DAX was off 1 percent in Frankfurt.

Stocks in Asia also fell in Tuesday trading...

Shake Rattle & Roll

Big Joe Turner live 1966

America Blames The Gop For The Economic Crisis

Republicans are having a hard time controlling the narrative. In this case controlling the narrative means spinning their way out of the mess they created.

Limbaugh will have to do double duty, he's clearly slacking on the job.

Trying to blame the mess on poor people isn't sticking. Something else has to be invented - blame it on Clinton or bomb Iran or catch Osama or manufacture a disaster...

CNN Poll: GOP takes brunt of blame for economy, Obama gains

A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll suggests that by a 2-to-1 margin, Americans blame Republicans over Democrats for the financial crisis...

Obama's Economic Adviser

Obama 48% - McPain 44%

I guess McCain's horrendous response to the economic mess and his tacit support for deregulation through the last decade was enough to increase his standing in the polls.

McCain should simply throw away the script, posture for war, give three word answers on his remedy for the economy, and then show images of himself napping. No doubt the American public in their deep wisdom will then and only then drive him into the 55% territory.

Gallup: Obama 48%, McCain 44%

Anti-Palin Alaskan Women Rally

I got this email from a deep operative.

Interesting read on an anti-Palin protest in Alaska.

I attended the Welcome Home rally for Sarah Palin this morning. Hooo. It was an experience. About a thousand (maybe) hard-core Palin supporters showed up to hear her speak at the new Dena'ina Convention Center in downtown Anchorage.

After shaking it off with a good double shot of espresso, and a brisk walk back to my car, it was time to head to the Alaska Women Reject Palin rally. It was to be held outside on the lawn in front of the Loussac Library in midtown Anchorage. Home made signs were encouraged, and the idea was to make a statement that Sarah Palin does not speak for all Alaska women, or men. I had no idea what to expect.

The rally was organized by a small group of women, talking over coffee. It made me wonder what other things have started with small groups of women talking over coffee. It's probably an impressive list. These women hatched the plan, printed up flyers, posted them around town, and sent notices to local media outlets. One of those media outlets was KBYR radio, home of Eddie Burke, a long-time uber-conservative Anchorage talk show host. Turns out that Eddie Burke not only announced the rally, but called the people who planned to attend the rally "a bunch of socialist baby-killing maggots", and read the home phone numbers of the organizers aloud over the air, urging listeners to call and tell them what they thought. The women, of course, received many nasty, harassing and threatening messages.

So, as I jettisoned myself from the jaws of the 'Drill Baby Drill' crowd and toward the mystery rally at the library, I felt a bit apprehensive. I'd been disappointed before by the turnout at other rallies. Basically, in Anchorage, if you can get 25 people to show up at an event, it's a success. So, I thought to myself, if we can actually get 100 people there that aren't sent by Eddie Burke, we'll be doing good. A real statement will have been made. I confess, I still had a mental image of 15 demonstrators surrounded by hundreds of menacing "socialist baby-killing maggot" haters.

It's a good thing I wasn't tailgating when I saw the crowd in front of the library or I would have ended up in somebody's trunk. When I got there, about 20 minutes early, the line of sign wavers stretched the full length of the library grounds, along the edge of the road, 6 or 7 people deep! I could hardly find a place to park. I nabbed one of the last spots in the library lot, and as I got out of the car and started walking, people seemed to join in from every direction, carrying signs.

Never, have I seen anything like it in my 17 and a half years living in Anchorage. The organizers had someone walk the rally with a counter, and they clicked off well over 1400 people (not including the 90 counter-demonstrators). This was the biggest political rally ever, in the history of the state. I was absolutely stunned. The second most amazing thing is how many people honked and gave the thumbs up as they drove by. And even those that didn't honk looked wide-eyed and awe-struck at the huge crowd that was growing by the minute. This just doesn't happen here.

Then, the infamous Eddie Burke showed up. He tried to talk to the media, and was instantly surrounded by a group of 20 people who started shouting O-BA-MA so loud he couldn't be heard. Then passing cars started honking in a rhythmic pattern of 3, like the Obama chant, while the crowd cheered, hooted and waved their signs high.

So, if you've been doing the math. Yes. The Alaska Women Reject Palin rally was significantly bigger than Palin's rally that got all the national media coverage! So take heart, sit back, and enjoy the photo gallery. Feel free to spread the pictures around (links are appreciated) to anyone who needs to know that Sarah Palin most definitely does not speak for all Alaskans. The citizens of Alaska, who know her best, have things to say.

ARMs

Very nice little article over at Truthout that goes through the steps of the mortgage crisis. Ash goes through the steps that led to the unsigned for increase in the ARMs which led to the foreclosures.

Truthout: Roll Back the Interest Rates

What happened next is that the market got ahead of itself, a lot of loans were written very quickly. That left the lenders short of cash. In an attempt to replenish cash supplies the lenders raised the rates on the adjusting ARMs as much as they possibly could. They did so on a wide scale, nationally, and with absolute disregard for the consequences.

Homeowners were saddled overnight with payments dramatically higher that they signed up for and the seeds of a financial crisis were planted.