Public Policy - General
About the Author
Kuklin and Stempel note that, “Every society must decide, explicitly or implicitly, how its resources and wealth are to be deployed. The matter has two aspects: efficiency and equity… Efficiency is based on cost and benefits of assignment of particular resources†(Kuklin, Stempel 1994:29), Emmanuel Kant emphasizes individual goodness and pursue of happiness. To an economist, it is better to encourage a free market system to increase productivity. Competition leads to individualism. However, there are exceptions to the rule when it comes to the National Defence, Education, Highway roads and other aspects of human life that are indivisible. In terms of cost benefits to the society, few at the top reap the fruits of the working class. May be our society works best with such stratified class structure. When more emphasis is put on individual happiness and pursue of things that make the individual happy, there is a breakdown of behaviours such as sympathy, generosity and benevolence. US healthcare encourages competition and as a result there is efficiency and improved quality of care. On the flip side, access to medical care is restricted to about 47 million Americans. Elitist and Marxist theories have different interpretations of cost benefit outcomes. I support free market if checked because we are all inter-dependent. The lack of treatment of a plague can disrupt a free market economy. The disadvantages of not encouraging individuals to produce more can slow the economy as well. There must be a balance between free market and helping the poor move into the working class. Cost benefit is therefore context driven.
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McCain/Bush? Republican Party Conspiracy? National Debt, Iraq war borrow/spent, print new greens & Housing crunch! - All coming home to us in big time!
The Outstanding Public Debt as of 20 Sep 2008 at 09:17:33 AM GMT is:
$ 9 , 6 6 7 , 3 4 5 , 5 6 8 , 6 2 3 . 7 6
What the Media is hiding about Housing/Economic Crunch?
John McCain and George Bush continue the path of destruction as proven by the National debt figures
$ 9 , 6 6 7 , 3 3 7 , 9 6 4 , 7 0 6 . 7 4 Today
7/11/08 - $9.50 trillion
9/30/07 - $9.00 trillion
9/30/06 - $8.51 trillion
9/30/05 - $7.93 trillion
9/30/04 - $7.38 trillion
9/30/03 - $6.78 trillion
9/30/02 - $6.23 trillion
9/28/01 - $5.81 trillion
9/28/00 - $5.67 trillion
Surplus By Democratic Administration
Massive bailout loaming â' I call it CAPITALISM/FREE MARKETS REBOOT. In my previous blogs I echoed Senator Barack Obama's economic plan of backwards mapping also called bottom-up. The theme I use very often is that "free markets need rules to play the game". McCain this week showed the world that he is no leader and is clueless. Free markets work under rules. Free markets is just a slogan McCain? This is what we get when we give power to McCain and his cloonies to run the country - financial collapse, high unemployment, hardship and slumps in all areas of productivity.
Do Americans ever learn? Elderly retirement savings are gone. If we didn't block social security, we would be in a hole today. Can someone tell Americans over 65 that McCain is not for their interest? It is sad to see these folks still supporting McCain and Wacky Palin don't just get it.
Every analyst wants us to believe that fine prints by banks and not fully telling homebuyers the nature of loans is the cause of the many foreclosures we have today. Wrong! If you havent followed the policy questions and this problem from day one, you would think that these folks have it correct. They are all liars!
In late 2006 or so, Senator Barack Obama wrote a letter to George Bush cautioning a loaming housing problem. Many have circulated this letter on the net. He had the foresight to see that the GOP's modification of banking laws shifted responsibility for securing loans from lenders to consumers. As a result, banks no longer made background financial checks done in previous years. Given that businesses always exploit deficiencies to make profits, this was a give away to banks. The dismantling of red zones was to make it easier for businesses to meet their goals. GWB and McCain would go on TV announcing how many minorities have purchased homes under GOP Administration. It is where McCain got the following: "The fundamentals of our economy are strong". He is ashamed now to tell how many minorities have lost homes under GOP. And some losses extend to secured homes that were purchased before the banking mess. It is not a minority issue. The is a small picture of Globalization. If you want to succeed, no prejudices, balance and use your intellect when to protect and when to open. It is a 27/7 job that needs thinking on your feet. McCain is old and we are suffering because of his old policies and clueless about 21st century challenges.
As a result of the banking modif law by the Republicans, Lenders gave interest only loans without financial background checks hoping that borrowers would handle defaults. Well, this worked as planned except that banks didn't see the perverse incentives coming. Banks packaged these loans and sold to investors on Wall Street.
During Iraq war, any slight shift in the economy sent any vulnerable market sector to a spiral with shockwaves to other areas. Remember that George Bush had printed a lot of greens to support his Iraq life style. The greens ended up on our streets. We had more greens, less jobs and inflation setting in. The Feds brutally try to put out the fire by manipulating interest rates. We dug deeper!
Individual reactions sent shockwaves to Wall Street. Most homeowners with the bad mortgages simply took keys to the bank and rented apartments. One home wouldn't dent a bank. But thousands of homes crippled banks. No one was buying the homes and so investors started feeling the pinch. All organs began collapsing and shutting down as a patient nearing dead. Now it is a MORAL HARAZARD that need bailout by taxpayers. How did we get here? Who caused the problem? John McCain and Phil Gram, his economic adviser and Bust and a few clueless GOPs
If the Administration had taken Senator Barack Obama's letter seriously and acted upon it, we wouldn't be this deep in the hole. Look at the National Debt and tell us how we get out of the hole with McCain when this old man tells us that economic recession is all mental? Won't you be comfortable with someone who understands market systems such as Senator Barack Obama? The trolls should rethink seriously about joinin us.
The Outstanding Public Debt as of 20 Sep 2008 at 09:17:33 AM GMT is:
$ 9 , 6 6 7 , 3 4 5 , 5 6 8 , 6 2 3 . 7 6
What the Media is hiding about Housing/Economic Crunch?
John McCain and George Bush continue the path of destruction as proven by the National debt figures
$ 9 , 6 6 7 , 3 3 7 , 9 6 4 , 7 0 6 . 7 4 Today
7/11/08 - $9.50 trillion
9/30/07 - $9.00 trillion
9/30/06 - $8.51 trillion
9/30/05 - $7.93 trillion
9/30/04 - $7.38 trillion
9/30/03 - $6.78 trillion
9/30/02 - $6.23 trillion
9/28/01 - $5.81 trillion
9/28/00 - $5.67 trillion
Surplus By Democratic Administration
Massive bailout loaming â' I call it CAPITALISM/FREE MARKETS REBOOT. In my previous blogs I echoed Senator Barack Obama's economic plan of backwards mapping also called bottom-up. The theme I use very often is that "free markets need rules to play the game". McCain this week showed the world that he is no leader and is clueless. Free markets work under rules. Free markets is just a slogan McCain? This is what we get when we give power to McCain and his cloonies to run the country - financial collapse, high unemployment, hardship and slumps in all areas of productivity.
Do Americans ever learn? Elderly retirement savings are gone. If we didn't block social security, we would be in a hole today. Can someone tell Americans over 65 that McCain is not for their interest? It is sad to see these folks still supporting McCain and Wacky Palin don't just get it.
Every analyst wants us to believe that fine prints by banks and not fully telling homebuyers the nature of loans is the cause of the many foreclosures we have today. Wrong! If you havent followed the policy questions and this problem from day one, you would think that these folks have it correct. They are all liars!
In late 2006 or so, Senator Barack Obama wrote a letter to George Bush cautioning a loaming housing problem. Many have circulated this letter on the net. He had the foresight to see that the GOP's modification of banking laws shifted responsibility for securing loans from lenders to consumers. As a result, banks no longer made background financial checks done in previous years. Given that businesses always exploit deficiencies to make profits, this was a give away to banks. The dismantling of red zones was to make it easier for businesses to meet their goals. GWB and McCain would go on TV announcing how many minorities have purchased homes under GOP Administration. It is where McCain got the following: "The fundamentals of our economy are strong". He is ashamed now to tell how many minorities have lost homes under GOP. And some losses extend to secured homes that were purchased before the banking mess. It is not a minority issue. The is a small picture of Globalization. If you want to succeed, no prejudices, balance and use your intellect when to protect and when to open. It is a 27/7 job that needs thinking on your feet. McCain is old and we are suffering because of his old policies and clueless about 21st century challenges.
As a result of the banking modif law by the Republicans, Lenders gave interest only loans without financial background checks hoping that borrowers would handle defaults. Well, this worked as planned except that banks didn't see the perverse incentives coming. Banks packaged these loans and sold to investors on Wall Street.
During Iraq war, any slight shift in the economy sent any vulnerable market sector to a spiral with shockwaves to other areas. Remember that George Bush had printed a lot of greens to support his Iraq life style. The greens ended up on our streets. We had more greens, less jobs and inflation setting in. The Feds brutally try to put out the fire by manipulating interest rates. We dug deeper!
Individual reactions sent shockwaves to Wall Street. Most homeowners with the bad mortgages simply took keys to the bank and rented apartments. One home wouldn't dent a bank. But thousands of homes crippled banks. No one was buying the homes and so investors started feeling the pinch. All organs began collapsing and shutting down as a patient nearing dead. Now it is a MORAL HARAZARD that need bailout by taxpayers. How did we get here? Who caused the problem? John McCain and Phil Gram, his economic adviser and Bust and a few clueless GOPs
If the Administration had taken Senator Barack Obama's letter seriously and acted upon it, we wouldn't be this deep in the hole. Look at the National Debt and tell us how we get out of the hole with McCain when this old man tells us that economic recession is all mental? Won't you be comfortable with someone who understands market systems such as Senator Barack Obama? The trolls should rethink seriously about joinin us.
March 22, 2007
The Honorable Ben Bernanke
Chairman
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
20th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20551
The Honorable Henry Paulson
Secretary
U.S. Department of Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220
Dear Chairman Bernanke and Secretary Paulson,
There is grave concern in low-income communities about a potential coming wave of foreclosures. Because regulators are partly responsible for creating the environment that is leading to rising rates of home foreclosure in the subprime mortgage market, I urge you immediately to convene a homeownership preservation summit with leading mortgage lenders, investors, loan servicing organizations, consumer advocates, federal regulators and housing-related agencies to assess options for private sector responses to the challenge.
We cannot sit on the sidelines while increasing numbers of American families face the risk of losing their homes. And while neither the government nor the private sector acting alone is capable of quickly balancing the important interests in widespread access to credit and responsible lending, both must act and act quickly.
Working together, the relevant private sector entities and regulators may be best positioned for quick and targeted responses to mitigate the danger. Rampant foreclosures are in nobody's interest, and I believe this is a case where all responsible industry players can share the objective of eliminating deceptive or abusive practices, preserving homeownership, and stabilizing housing markets.
The summit should consider best practice loan marketing, underwriting, and origination practices consistent with the recent (and overdue) regulators' Proposed Statement on Subprime Mortgage Lending. The summit participants should also evaluate options for independent loan counseling, voluntary loan restructuring, limited forbearance, and other possible workout strategies. I would also urge you to facilitate a serious conversation about the following:
* What standards investors should require of lenders, particularly with regard to verification of income and assets and the underwriting of borrowers based on fully indexed and fully amortized rates.
* How to facilitate and encourage appropriate intervention by loan servicing companies at the earliest signs of borrower difficulty.
* How to support independent community-based-organizations to provide counseling and work-out services to prevent foreclosure and preserve homeownership where practical.
* How to provide more effective information disclosure and financial education to ensure that borrowers are treated fairly and that deception is never a source of competitive advantage.
* How to adopt principles of fair competition that promote affordability, transparency, non-discrimination, genuine consumer value, and competitive returns.
* How to ensure adequate liquidity across all mortgage markets without exacerbating consumer and housing market vulnerability.
Of course, the adoption of voluntary industry reforms will not preempt government action to crack down on predatory lending practices, or to style new restrictions on subprime lending or short-term post-purchase interventions in certain cases. My colleagues on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs have held important hearings on mortgage market turmoil and I expect the Committee will develop legislation.
Nevertheless, a consortium of industry-related service providers and public interest advocates may be able to bring quick and efficient relief to millions of at-risk homeowners and neighborhoods, even before Congress has had an opportunity to act. There is an opportunity here to bring different interests together in the best interests of American homeowners and the American economy. Please don't let this opportunity pass us by.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
United States Senator
The Honorable Ben Bernanke
Chairman
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
20th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20551
The Honorable Henry Paulson
Secretary
U.S. Department of Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220
Dear Chairman Bernanke and Secretary Paulson,
There is grave concern in low-income communities about a potential coming wave of foreclosures. Because regulators are partly responsible for creating the environment that is leading to rising rates of home foreclosure in the subprime mortgage market, I urge you immediately to convene a homeownership preservation summit with leading mortgage lenders, investors, loan servicing organizations, consumer advocates, federal regulators and housing-related agencies to assess options for private sector responses to the challenge.
We cannot sit on the sidelines while increasing numbers of American families face the risk of losing their homes. And while neither the government nor the private sector acting alone is capable of quickly balancing the important interests in widespread access to credit and responsible lending, both must act and act quickly.
Working together, the relevant private sector entities and regulators may be best positioned for quick and targeted responses to mitigate the danger. Rampant foreclosures are in nobody's interest, and I believe this is a case where all responsible industry players can share the objective of eliminating deceptive or abusive practices, preserving homeownership, and stabilizing housing markets.
The summit should consider best practice loan marketing, underwriting, and origination practices consistent with the recent (and overdue) regulators' Proposed Statement on Subprime Mortgage Lending. The summit participants should also evaluate options for independent loan counseling, voluntary loan restructuring, limited forbearance, and other possible workout strategies. I would also urge you to facilitate a serious conversation about the following:
* What standards investors should require of lenders, particularly with regard to verification of income and assets and the underwriting of borrowers based on fully indexed and fully amortized rates.
* How to facilitate and encourage appropriate intervention by loan servicing companies at the earliest signs of borrower difficulty.
* How to support independent community-based-organizations to provide counseling and work-out services to prevent foreclosure and preserve homeownership where practical.
* How to provide more effective information disclosure and financial education to ensure that borrowers are treated fairly and that deception is never a source of competitive advantage.
* How to adopt principles of fair competition that promote affordability, transparency, non-discrimination, genuine consumer value, and competitive returns.
* How to ensure adequate liquidity across all mortgage markets without exacerbating consumer and housing market vulnerability.
Of course, the adoption of voluntary industry reforms will not preempt government action to crack down on predatory lending practices, or to style new restrictions on subprime lending or short-term post-purchase interventions in certain cases. My colleagues on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs have held important hearings on mortgage market turmoil and I expect the Committee will develop legislation.
Nevertheless, a consortium of industry-related service providers and public interest advocates may be able to bring quick and efficient relief to millions of at-risk homeowners and neighborhoods, even before Congress has had an opportunity to act. There is an opportunity here to bring different interests together in the best interests of American homeowners and the American economy. Please don't let this opportunity pass us by.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
United States Senator
The New York Times
Week in Review
September 7, 2008
TARGET PRACTICE
Media Bashing 101
By MARK LEIBOVICH
St. Paul
SARAH PALINâS national opening last week was judged an unqualified success by the media elite, even though much of her debut speech Wednesday night was devoted to whacking the media elite.
âIâve learned quickly, these past few days, that if youâre not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone,â Governor Palin of Alaska said, drawing the wildest applause of what would be the raucous night of the Republican convention.
Ms. Palin capped off a succession of speakers, â" Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee â" who took turns pummeling their favorite target, the news media, which in turn gave the news media the chance to talk about its favorite subject all week (the news media).
We have played this video game before. Indeed, the Republican tradition of media-bashing goes back decades, at least to the convention of 1964 when former President Dwight D. Eisenhower called out "sensation-seeking columnists and commentators," and the Cow Palace in San Francisco burst into jeers and catcalls at the reporters there. The sentiment was immortalized in Richard Nixonâs vice president Spiro Agnew who memorably charged that many in the press corps were mere ânattering nabobs of negativismâ â" and for good measure â" âan effete corps of impudent snobs.â
In other words, the bashers and bashees have been through this and know the drill. There was an almost homey familiarity to the ritual. And despite the hot words from the podium, it was hard to find a journalist last week who felt any unusual sense of siege or discomfort.
Tom Brokaw was in the Xcel Energy Center Wednesday night when Ms. Palin was stoking up the media grill, which at one point ignited into a chant of âNBC, NBC, NBCâ from the Alaska delegation and spread through adjacent sections. Mr. Brokaw said he was subjected to some âgood natured ribbing, friendly fist-shaking,â in the hall, but ânothing out of the ordinary,â or, for that matter, nothing that would impede him from discharging his normal celebrity duties.
âIf the number of people who wanted their picture taken with me was any indication, it wasnât a big deal,â Mr. Brokaw said.
Everyone knew their roles, recited their lines, and it was all somewhat reminiscent of the old cartoon in which Sam the sheepdog spends all day trying to thwart Ralph the wolf from stealing the sheep â" and then, at dayâs end, the two adversaries exchange pleasantries, punch a clock and head home.
Still, despite the familiarity of the blood-sport, the media-mashing game has changed considerably over the years, just as the media itself has. For starters, it would be wrong to dismiss the events of last week â" particularly the media hurricane around Ms. Palin and her family, justified or not â" as some fleeting squall of hysteria. This was, in fact, an unusual circumstance, perhaps the first real convention controversy to unfold in the age of real-time blogging, YouTube, Twittering, or whatever it is theyâre calling this age these days. It seemed like no detail of these proceedings was deemed to trivial for dissemination, somewhere. (For what itâs worth, I think I broke the story that Bristol Palinâs fiancĂ©, Levi Johnston, appeared to be chewing gum on the convention stage Wednesday night. Pulitzer letter to come.)
Nor should this blitz against the news media from the right be dismissed as simply glib and tired lines from the old Republican playbook. âThe mainstream media, which has been holding endless symposia here on the future of media in the 21st century, is in danger of missing a central fact of that future,â wrote Peggy Noonan, the Wall Street Journal columnist and former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan. âIf they appear, once again, as they have in the past, to be people not reporting the battle but engaged in the battle, if they allow themselves to be tagged by that old tag, which so tarnished them in the past, they will do more to imperil their own future than the Internet has.â
Given the amount of time Republicans devoted to slamming the âmainstream,â âelite,â âestablishment,â âleft wingâ âWashington insiderâ members of the fourth estate, itâs worth asking how much the exercise will really advance the party cause.
âItâs a very unifying thing in the world of the Republican base,â said Mike Murphy, the Republican media strategist and former McCain lieutenant. âBut I doubt thereâs any swing voter outside Cleveland who would think the big problem in this country these days is media bias against Republicans.â
Kevin Madden, a former aide to Mr. Romneyâs presidential campaign, said that complaining about press bias can win short-term sympathy for Republicans. âItâs sort of a two-by-four to the mediaâs mouth that we like to wield,â he said. Thereâs a certain comfort to it, he said, âand maybe it results in some self-evaluation from the media that will result in more balanced coverage.â
Or maybe not. Either way, attacking the news media is âa tactic, not a message,â Mr. Madden said, and not the kind of tactic that can swing an election. It can, however, be an escape hatch out of short-term jams. When The New York Times published an explosive story last February about Mr. McCainâs relationship with a lobbyist, for instance, the campaignâs hard push-back against The Times â" and what they called the âliberal mediaâ â" helped rally to his cause many conservatives who had previously not been there.
But media bashing may work better in dashes (like paprika) â" nothing too relentless or overwhelming. It wasnât enough to get Barry Goldwater and Bob Dole elected in 1964 and 1996 and George H. W. Bush re-elected in 1992. They were three of the noisiest in their complaints about bias.
Even on the Democratic side, the presidential campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton became very vocal for a time about cataloging how the press favored Barack Obama â" which might have made the Clinton team feel better, but did nothing to change the end result. (On the other hand, a few years after the Agnew riposte, Nixon won in a landslide in 1972.)
McCainâs campaign provides an interesting test case. He is something of a media Frankenstein in his own right, a creation who has over the years benefited greatly from friendly relations with â" and coverage from â" the press. This coziness has brought Mr. McCain suspicion and derision from some Republican colleagues in the Senate. (Thatâs when theyâre not asking him to put in a good word for them with the Sunday show bookers.)
At the last Republican National Convention, in New York City, Mr. McCain hosted 50-or-so media A-listers to a 68th-birthday party for himself at La Goulue on Madison Avenue. The guest list included network anchors, network news executives, Sunday talk show hosts and a lot of other media types who all qualify as Kind of a Big Deal. Mr. McCain proposed a hearty and gracious toast to his guests that night, raising his glass to âmy base.â
Four years later, Mr. McCain has presided over the most media-hostile convention in recent memory (though he did not partake himself in his acceptance speech Thursday night). His campaign seems to have made a decision to run against âmedia biasâ to burnish the candidate and running matesâ reformer credentials.
They have many more weapons at their disposal than, say, the first President Bush did in 1992 when his supporters produced a bunch of âAnnoy the Media, Elect Bushâ bumper stickers.
Todayâs generation of Republican media bashers have blogs, the Web, YouTube, blast e-mails, BlackBerry-alerts and a whole lot of other tools and outlets their forebears never enjoyed. That list also includes â" some would say â" Fox News, the highest-rated cable news channel and heavily favored by conservatives.
The blur of new media creates fresh opportunities for attack, counterattack, counter-counterattacks, odd alliances, strained allegiances, hidden agendas and, most of all, confusion.
âPeople walk up to me and start complaining about some crawl they just saw on CNBC,â said Mr. Brokaw, referring to the business news channel owned by his network. âAnd I have no idea what theyâre talking about. Itâs like the âStar Warsâ bar.â
On Thursday afternoon, Karl Rove, the former Bush political-swami-turned-Fox News-commentator, was walking out of the Xcel center when a reporter stopped and asked him if he could still bash the media since he is now in the media.
âIâm not in it,â Mr. Rove explained. âIâm around it.â
Itâs not clear what the distinction is, or what he meant, but somehow it felt emblematic of the week in St. Paul.
Week in Review
September 7, 2008
TARGET PRACTICE
Media Bashing 101
By MARK LEIBOVICH
St. Paul
SARAH PALINâS national opening last week was judged an unqualified success by the media elite, even though much of her debut speech Wednesday night was devoted to whacking the media elite.
âIâve learned quickly, these past few days, that if youâre not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone,â Governor Palin of Alaska said, drawing the wildest applause of what would be the raucous night of the Republican convention.
Ms. Palin capped off a succession of speakers, â" Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee â" who took turns pummeling their favorite target, the news media, which in turn gave the news media the chance to talk about its favorite subject all week (the news media).
We have played this video game before. Indeed, the Republican tradition of media-bashing goes back decades, at least to the convention of 1964 when former President Dwight D. Eisenhower called out "sensation-seeking columnists and commentators," and the Cow Palace in San Francisco burst into jeers and catcalls at the reporters there. The sentiment was immortalized in Richard Nixonâs vice president Spiro Agnew who memorably charged that many in the press corps were mere ânattering nabobs of negativismâ â" and for good measure â" âan effete corps of impudent snobs.â
In other words, the bashers and bashees have been through this and know the drill. There was an almost homey familiarity to the ritual. And despite the hot words from the podium, it was hard to find a journalist last week who felt any unusual sense of siege or discomfort.
Tom Brokaw was in the Xcel Energy Center Wednesday night when Ms. Palin was stoking up the media grill, which at one point ignited into a chant of âNBC, NBC, NBCâ from the Alaska delegation and spread through adjacent sections. Mr. Brokaw said he was subjected to some âgood natured ribbing, friendly fist-shaking,â in the hall, but ânothing out of the ordinary,â or, for that matter, nothing that would impede him from discharging his normal celebrity duties.
âIf the number of people who wanted their picture taken with me was any indication, it wasnât a big deal,â Mr. Brokaw said.
Everyone knew their roles, recited their lines, and it was all somewhat reminiscent of the old cartoon in which Sam the sheepdog spends all day trying to thwart Ralph the wolf from stealing the sheep â" and then, at dayâs end, the two adversaries exchange pleasantries, punch a clock and head home.
Still, despite the familiarity of the blood-sport, the media-mashing game has changed considerably over the years, just as the media itself has. For starters, it would be wrong to dismiss the events of last week â" particularly the media hurricane around Ms. Palin and her family, justified or not â" as some fleeting squall of hysteria. This was, in fact, an unusual circumstance, perhaps the first real convention controversy to unfold in the age of real-time blogging, YouTube, Twittering, or whatever it is theyâre calling this age these days. It seemed like no detail of these proceedings was deemed to trivial for dissemination, somewhere. (For what itâs worth, I think I broke the story that Bristol Palinâs fiancĂ©, Levi Johnston, appeared to be chewing gum on the convention stage Wednesday night. Pulitzer letter to come.)
Nor should this blitz against the news media from the right be dismissed as simply glib and tired lines from the old Republican playbook. âThe mainstream media, which has been holding endless symposia here on the future of media in the 21st century, is in danger of missing a central fact of that future,â wrote Peggy Noonan, the Wall Street Journal columnist and former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan. âIf they appear, once again, as they have in the past, to be people not reporting the battle but engaged in the battle, if they allow themselves to be tagged by that old tag, which so tarnished them in the past, they will do more to imperil their own future than the Internet has.â
Given the amount of time Republicans devoted to slamming the âmainstream,â âelite,â âestablishment,â âleft wingâ âWashington insiderâ members of the fourth estate, itâs worth asking how much the exercise will really advance the party cause.
âItâs a very unifying thing in the world of the Republican base,â said Mike Murphy, the Republican media strategist and former McCain lieutenant. âBut I doubt thereâs any swing voter outside Cleveland who would think the big problem in this country these days is media bias against Republicans.â
Kevin Madden, a former aide to Mr. Romneyâs presidential campaign, said that complaining about press bias can win short-term sympathy for Republicans. âItâs sort of a two-by-four to the mediaâs mouth that we like to wield,â he said. Thereâs a certain comfort to it, he said, âand maybe it results in some self-evaluation from the media that will result in more balanced coverage.â
Or maybe not. Either way, attacking the news media is âa tactic, not a message,â Mr. Madden said, and not the kind of tactic that can swing an election. It can, however, be an escape hatch out of short-term jams. When The New York Times published an explosive story last February about Mr. McCainâs relationship with a lobbyist, for instance, the campaignâs hard push-back against The Times â" and what they called the âliberal mediaâ â" helped rally to his cause many conservatives who had previously not been there.
But media bashing may work better in dashes (like paprika) â" nothing too relentless or overwhelming. It wasnât enough to get Barry Goldwater and Bob Dole elected in 1964 and 1996 and George H. W. Bush re-elected in 1992. They were three of the noisiest in their complaints about bias.
Even on the Democratic side, the presidential campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton became very vocal for a time about cataloging how the press favored Barack Obama â" which might have made the Clinton team feel better, but did nothing to change the end result. (On the other hand, a few years after the Agnew riposte, Nixon won in a landslide in 1972.)
McCainâs campaign provides an interesting test case. He is something of a media Frankenstein in his own right, a creation who has over the years benefited greatly from friendly relations with â" and coverage from â" the press. This coziness has brought Mr. McCain suspicion and derision from some Republican colleagues in the Senate. (Thatâs when theyâre not asking him to put in a good word for them with the Sunday show bookers.)
At the last Republican National Convention, in New York City, Mr. McCain hosted 50-or-so media A-listers to a 68th-birthday party for himself at La Goulue on Madison Avenue. The guest list included network anchors, network news executives, Sunday talk show hosts and a lot of other media types who all qualify as Kind of a Big Deal. Mr. McCain proposed a hearty and gracious toast to his guests that night, raising his glass to âmy base.â
Four years later, Mr. McCain has presided over the most media-hostile convention in recent memory (though he did not partake himself in his acceptance speech Thursday night). His campaign seems to have made a decision to run against âmedia biasâ to burnish the candidate and running matesâ reformer credentials.
They have many more weapons at their disposal than, say, the first President Bush did in 1992 when his supporters produced a bunch of âAnnoy the Media, Elect Bushâ bumper stickers.
Todayâs generation of Republican media bashers have blogs, the Web, YouTube, blast e-mails, BlackBerry-alerts and a whole lot of other tools and outlets their forebears never enjoyed. That list also includes â" some would say â" Fox News, the highest-rated cable news channel and heavily favored by conservatives.
The blur of new media creates fresh opportunities for attack, counterattack, counter-counterattacks, odd alliances, strained allegiances, hidden agendas and, most of all, confusion.
âPeople walk up to me and start complaining about some crawl they just saw on CNBC,â said Mr. Brokaw, referring to the business news channel owned by his network. âAnd I have no idea what theyâre talking about. Itâs like the âStar Warsâ bar.â
On Thursday afternoon, Karl Rove, the former Bush political-swami-turned-Fox News-commentator, was walking out of the Xcel center when a reporter stopped and asked him if he could still bash the media since he is now in the media.
âIâm not in it,â Mr. Rove explained. âIâm around it.â
Itâs not clear what the distinction is, or what he meant, but somehow it felt emblematic of the week in St. Paul.
Palin In '06: I Won't Let "Spinmeisters" Turn Bridge To Nowhere Into "Something Negative"
If Sarah Palin is an all American woman then, I am on the wrong planet. This woman is a cheater and liar!
If Sarah Palin is an all American woman then, I am on the wrong planet. This woman is a cheater and liar!
McCain has an F in the speech. It proves that McCain is a nobody
Today, Senator Barack Obama was asked about insults, psychotic remarks, lies by Sarah Palin. Senator Barack Obama said that, âI expected the attacks. The problem is that I am running against McCain and not Sarah Palin. I take issues with her definition of community organization. About her experience, she is the best to describe her experienceâ. I reflected on this and came to the conclusion that Sarah Palin is a distraction. McCain is using her to hide his short commings. Now let me define why Senator Barack Obama is the leader we want.
I have spent considerable about two years studying change, change culture and leadership. Senator Barack Obamaâs leadership of change is not just in theory but in practical terms. An illustration: General Electric used most of what Senator Barack Obama is talking about leadership and change to be an effective and successful company. Jack Wells can testify to this fact! Most large corporations continue to survive despite the economic situation we have today because of sound strategic planning and change leadership to sustain it during hard times and good times. We have heard Senator Barack Obama talk about coolness and steady in the face of challenges. We have watched him go through those challenges for more than two years. He is humble and respectful. We have seen Mr. John McCain exploded. He lacks temperament. It is not the sign of a leader.
When Senator Barrack Obama talks about bottom-up, he is referring to backward mapping used by policymakers. McCain lacks knowledge, judgment and integrity. His hands are corrupted with lobbyists, affairs, cruelty and lack of human feeling.
A couple a weeks ago, I gave a presentation on economic policy and concentrated on Post Keynesians (relates to fiscal policy, supply, money, production and maintenance of full employment). At the end, I looked at the housing market, price of food items such as milk, and the dining table stuff we have today. George Bush and McCain created this problem, period. Look back at the great depression! We were just coming out of one of the Great Wars! If a country is engaged in protracted war, sooner any upset in an economic sector would send shock-waves across the entire economy. It is true today. Senator Barack Obama was right and McCain was wrong.
If we had a sound economic policy, a slowdown is helpful to revive new industries and stimulate growth. This time, the revival is not possible because of our over extension overseas. We can participate in this global economy but strategically. We can do it in a way that protects our industries, industries that are a source for employment. That is Senator Barack Obamaâs position. If we continue to print more money to send to Iraq (McCainâs polices), the money finds its way back into the US, flood the market. As a result the prices of goods and services rise and incomes are not adjusted to keep up with inflation, so hardship results (Economic 101). Wall-Street felt the effects today.
I have spent considerable about two years studying change, change culture and leadership. Senator Barack Obamaâs leadership of change is not just in theory but in practical terms. An illustration: General Electric used most of what Senator Barack Obama is talking about leadership and change to be an effective and successful company. Jack Wells can testify to this fact! Most large corporations continue to survive despite the economic situation we have today because of sound strategic planning and change leadership to sustain it during hard times and good times. We have heard Senator Barack Obama talk about coolness and steady in the face of challenges. We have watched him go through those challenges for more than two years. He is humble and respectful. We have seen Mr. John McCain exploded. He lacks temperament. It is not the sign of a leader.
When Senator Barrack Obama talks about bottom-up, he is referring to backward mapping used by policymakers. McCain lacks knowledge, judgment and integrity. His hands are corrupted with lobbyists, affairs, cruelty and lack of human feeling.
A couple a weeks ago, I gave a presentation on economic policy and concentrated on Post Keynesians (relates to fiscal policy, supply, money, production and maintenance of full employment). At the end, I looked at the housing market, price of food items such as milk, and the dining table stuff we have today. George Bush and McCain created this problem, period. Look back at the great depression! We were just coming out of one of the Great Wars! If a country is engaged in protracted war, sooner any upset in an economic sector would send shock-waves across the entire economy. It is true today. Senator Barack Obama was right and McCain was wrong.
If we had a sound economic policy, a slowdown is helpful to revive new industries and stimulate growth. This time, the revival is not possible because of our over extension overseas. We can participate in this global economy but strategically. We can do it in a way that protects our industries, industries that are a source for employment. That is Senator Barack Obamaâs position. If we continue to print more money to send to Iraq (McCainâs polices), the money finds its way back into the US, flood the market. As a result the prices of goods and services rise and incomes are not adjusted to keep up with inflation, so hardship results (Economic 101). Wall-Street felt the effects today.
I thought Palin's speech was quite good: well-written, well delivered. And, as I said earlier, I think she's a genuinely engaging person, and comes across very well. There were just a couple of problems. One, which I have seen people notice, but which I suspect won't be a big deal for a lot of voters, is that it had very little substance. The other, which the commenters I saw on TV for some reason neglected to mention, was that she told a lot of lies. A few that stood out for me, or that I spotted in my quick run-through of some blogs:
Palin: "To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."
Sarah Palin might have changed her mind on this one recently. However, a comment here notes that Palin actually slashed funding for schools for special needs kids by 62%. Budgets: FY 2007 (pre-Palin), 2008, 2009 (all pdfs).
Palin: "As for my running mate, you can be certain that wherever he goes, and whoever is listening, John McCain is the same man."
Steve's list of McCain flip-flops is here. See for yourself whether constancy is, in fact, John McCain's middle name.
Palin: "I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves."
Just to reiterate what others have said: Congress' requirement that funds be spent on that bridge (aka the 'earmark') were removed before Sarah Palin became governor. She was therefore in no position to tell Congress anything about the bridge, one way or the other. During her campaign, she said she supported funding for the bridge. Brad Plumer, citing the Anchorage Dialy News via Nexis:
"5. Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?
Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."
Later, she accepted the money -- now not restricted by an earmark -- and used it for other infrastructure projects. Here's her statement about why she wasn't building the bridge (also via Plumer.) Decide for yourselves what role a principled opposition to earmark funding plays in it. Hint: here's what residents of Ketchikan AK said when they heard her recent remarks:
"In the city Ketchikan, the planned site of the so-called "Bridge to Nowhere," political leaders of both parties said the claim was false and a betrayal of their community, because she had supported the bridge and the earmark for it secured by Alaska's Congressional delegation during her run for governor. (..)
"People are learning that she pandered to us by saying, I'm for this' ... and then when she found it was politically advantageous for her nationally, abruptly she starts using the very term that she said was insulting," Weinstein said."
Palin: "But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate."
Ha, ha, ha. I gave a rundown of Obama's accomplishments in the Senate here. They include the Lugar-Obama bill on nonproliferation, and an ethics reform package that the Washington Post called "the strongest ethics legislation to emerge from Congress yet." Ruth Marcus summarizes his record on reform:
"He helped pass a far-reaching ethics and campaign finance bill in the Illinois state Senate and made the issue a priority on arriving in Washington. Much to the displeasure of his colleagues, Obama promoted an outside commission to handle Senate ethics complaints. He co-authored the lobbying reform bill awaiting President Bush's signature and pushed -- again to the dismay of some colleagues -- to include a provision requiring lawmakers to report the names of their lobbyist-bundlers. He has co-sponsored bills to overhaul the presidential public financing system and public financing of Senate campaigns."
Not a single major law or reform, indeed.
And I wasn't aware that writing memoirs was something to be ashamed of. Obama has, in fact, written only one. McCain (with Mark Salter) has written at least two.
Palin: "America needs more energy ... our opponent is against producing it."
No -- he plans to develop a lot more energy than John McCain does. It's just that a lot of it is renewable, not carbon-based. Moreover, Obama hasn't skipped the last eight votes on renewable energy.
Palin: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes ... raise payroll taxes ... raise investment income taxes ... raise the death tax ... raise business taxes ... and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars. My sister Heather and her husband have just built a service station that's now opened for business - like millions of others who run small businesses. How are they going to be any better off if taxes go up?"
Well, it all depends whose taxes go up, doesn't it? If Heather and her husband make less than $250,000, their taxes will not go up. Most Americans will pay less in taxes under Obama's plan than under McCain's. So they might well be better off.
Those are just the falsehoods that leapt to mind. I'm sure there are others.
Whether or not Sarah Palin's engaging personality matters more than the fact that she tells lies depends a lot on the media, and whether they allow her to say that she opposed the Bridge to Nowhere, or that Obama has neer authored a major law or reform, without calling her on it. I hope they do. But I'm not holding my breath.
***
UPDATE: Mark Kleiman posts an Obama campaign rebuttal, which is more thorough than I was.
Palin: "To the families of special-needs children all across this country, I have a message: For years, you sought to make America a more welcoming place for your sons and daughters. I pledge to you that if we are elected, you will have a friend and advocate in the White House."
Sarah Palin might have changed her mind on this one recently. However, a comment here notes that Palin actually slashed funding for schools for special needs kids by 62%. Budgets: FY 2007 (pre-Palin), 2008, 2009 (all pdfs).
Palin: "As for my running mate, you can be certain that wherever he goes, and whoever is listening, John McCain is the same man."
Steve's list of McCain flip-flops is here. See for yourself whether constancy is, in fact, John McCain's middle name.
Palin: "I told the Congress "thanks, but no thanks," for that Bridge to Nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, we'd build it ourselves."
Just to reiterate what others have said: Congress' requirement that funds be spent on that bridge (aka the 'earmark') were removed before Sarah Palin became governor. She was therefore in no position to tell Congress anything about the bridge, one way or the other. During her campaign, she said she supported funding for the bridge. Brad Plumer, citing the Anchorage Dialy News via Nexis:
"5. Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?
Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."
Later, she accepted the money -- now not restricted by an earmark -- and used it for other infrastructure projects. Here's her statement about why she wasn't building the bridge (also via Plumer.) Decide for yourselves what role a principled opposition to earmark funding plays in it. Hint: here's what residents of Ketchikan AK said when they heard her recent remarks:
"In the city Ketchikan, the planned site of the so-called "Bridge to Nowhere," political leaders of both parties said the claim was false and a betrayal of their community, because she had supported the bridge and the earmark for it secured by Alaska's Congressional delegation during her run for governor. (..)
"People are learning that she pandered to us by saying, I'm for this' ... and then when she found it was politically advantageous for her nationally, abruptly she starts using the very term that she said was insulting," Weinstein said."
Palin: "But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate."
Ha, ha, ha. I gave a rundown of Obama's accomplishments in the Senate here. They include the Lugar-Obama bill on nonproliferation, and an ethics reform package that the Washington Post called "the strongest ethics legislation to emerge from Congress yet." Ruth Marcus summarizes his record on reform:
"He helped pass a far-reaching ethics and campaign finance bill in the Illinois state Senate and made the issue a priority on arriving in Washington. Much to the displeasure of his colleagues, Obama promoted an outside commission to handle Senate ethics complaints. He co-authored the lobbying reform bill awaiting President Bush's signature and pushed -- again to the dismay of some colleagues -- to include a provision requiring lawmakers to report the names of their lobbyist-bundlers. He has co-sponsored bills to overhaul the presidential public financing system and public financing of Senate campaigns."
Not a single major law or reform, indeed.
And I wasn't aware that writing memoirs was something to be ashamed of. Obama has, in fact, written only one. McCain (with Mark Salter) has written at least two.
Palin: "America needs more energy ... our opponent is against producing it."
No -- he plans to develop a lot more energy than John McCain does. It's just that a lot of it is renewable, not carbon-based. Moreover, Obama hasn't skipped the last eight votes on renewable energy.
Palin: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes ... raise payroll taxes ... raise investment income taxes ... raise the death tax ... raise business taxes ... and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars. My sister Heather and her husband have just built a service station that's now opened for business - like millions of others who run small businesses. How are they going to be any better off if taxes go up?"
Well, it all depends whose taxes go up, doesn't it? If Heather and her husband make less than $250,000, their taxes will not go up. Most Americans will pay less in taxes under Obama's plan than under McCain's. So they might well be better off.
Those are just the falsehoods that leapt to mind. I'm sure there are others.
Whether or not Sarah Palin's engaging personality matters more than the fact that she tells lies depends a lot on the media, and whether they allow her to say that she opposed the Bridge to Nowhere, or that Obama has neer authored a major law or reform, without calling her on it. I hope they do. But I'm not holding my breath.
***
UPDATE: Mark Kleiman posts an Obama campaign rebuttal, which is more thorough than I was.
Wall Street Journal columnist and former Reagan speechwriter Peggy Noonan and former John McCain adviser, Time columnist, and MSNBC contributor Mike Murphy were caught on tape disparaging John McCain's selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate.
"It's over," Noonan said.
When Chuck Todd asked her if this was the most qualified woman the Republicans could nominate, Noonan responded, "The most qualified? No. I think they went for this, excuse me, political bullshit about narratives. Every time the Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and that's not what they're good at, they blow it."
Murphy characterized the choices as "cynical" and "gimmicky."
Full Transcript:
Chuck Todd: Mike Murphy, lots of free advice, we'll see if Steve Schmidt and the boys were watching. We'll find out on your blackberry. Tonight voters will get their chance to hear from Sarah Palin and she will get the chance to show voters she's the right woman for the job Up next, one man who's already convinced and he'll us why Gov. Jon Huntsman.
(cut away)
Peggy Noonan: Yeah.
Mike Murphy: You know, because I come out of the blue swing state governor world: Engler, Whitman, Tommy Thompson, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush. I mean, these guys -- this is how you win a Texas race, just run it up. And it's not gonna work. And --
PN: It's over.
MM: Still McCain can give a version of the Lieberman speech to do himself some good.
CT: I also think the Palin pick is insulting to Kay Bailey Hutchinson, too.
PN: Saw Kay this morning.
CT: Yeah, she's never looked comfortable about this --
MM: They're all bummed out.
CT: Yeah, I mean is she really the most qualified woman they could have turned to?
PN: The most qualified? No! I think they went for this -- excuse me-- political bullshit about narratives --
CT: Yeah they went to a narrative.
MM: I totally agree.
PN: Every time the Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and it's not what they're good at, they blow it.
MM: You know what's really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical.
CT: This is cynical, and as you called it, gimmicky.
MM: Yeah.
"It's over," Noonan said.
When Chuck Todd asked her if this was the most qualified woman the Republicans could nominate, Noonan responded, "The most qualified? No. I think they went for this, excuse me, political bullshit about narratives. Every time the Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and that's not what they're good at, they blow it."
Murphy characterized the choices as "cynical" and "gimmicky."
Full Transcript:
Chuck Todd: Mike Murphy, lots of free advice, we'll see if Steve Schmidt and the boys were watching. We'll find out on your blackberry. Tonight voters will get their chance to hear from Sarah Palin and she will get the chance to show voters she's the right woman for the job Up next, one man who's already convinced and he'll us why Gov. Jon Huntsman.
(cut away)
Peggy Noonan: Yeah.
Mike Murphy: You know, because I come out of the blue swing state governor world: Engler, Whitman, Tommy Thompson, Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush. I mean, these guys -- this is how you win a Texas race, just run it up. And it's not gonna work. And --
PN: It's over.
MM: Still McCain can give a version of the Lieberman speech to do himself some good.
CT: I also think the Palin pick is insulting to Kay Bailey Hutchinson, too.
PN: Saw Kay this morning.
CT: Yeah, she's never looked comfortable about this --
MM: They're all bummed out.
CT: Yeah, I mean is she really the most qualified woman they could have turned to?
PN: The most qualified? No! I think they went for this -- excuse me-- political bullshit about narratives --
CT: Yeah they went to a narrative.
MM: I totally agree.
PN: Every time the Republicans do that, because that's not where they live and it's not what they're good at, they blow it.
MM: You know what's really the worst thing about it? The greatness of McCain is no cynicism, and this is cynical.
CT: This is cynical, and as you called it, gimmicky.
MM: Yeah.
John McCain has taken positions that the media finds uncomfortable to discuss in public (very dangerous, and anarchy - like positions) too hot for anyone to discuss except in this forum:
1) McCain wants a United Nations that would eliminate China, France and Russia and give all powers to the United States to carry unchecked military actions anywhere in the world. It is called unilateral US action, which we have now under McCain, Cheney and Bush! McCain, and Bush donât need the UN to commit genocide anywhere in the world. They have abused civil liberties, violated all treaties and laws and made more enemies of the United States for the last 7 years. McCain lost 2000 elections, coming out of the elections as a straight talker but today we see a sheep in furs. A moron and a vicious no mercy military terror that uses American armies like toys. McCain has no soul, no heritage and no family sense! McCain is an old mean racist SOB. If we make a mistake of handing McCain that office, US will be relegated to a third world country because all countries of the will gang on us.
European Union will expand powers and the rest of the world would go against United States interests everywhere in the world. Today, US cannot get China and Russia to agree on sanctions on Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Today we donât have a voice on charging and convicting Sudanâs dictator. George Bush and McCain created an isolated corner for US, unable to be a major voice on major world issues! It is just a matter of time for the entire world to squeeze the air out of the US and relegate this country to a 3rd World country if John McCain and Neo-con Lieberman (âsquealerâ of Animal Farm) prevail. You see our markets collapsing and Euro doubling up on the dollar. We ship over 7 billion dollars monthly to the Middle East and the beneficiary is Iran. Iraq has a surplus we have a deficit! We need an intelligent President to reverse this trend. McCain is clueless how the world really works in the 21st Century. All McCain has to do now is declare to withdraw from the United Nations. The head quarters will be moved to Britain, France or any other European country. European countries have suggested that US is doing no other country a favor by hosting the UN head quarters in New York. Most have suggested moving the head quarters to Europe. If you agree with John McCain, the United Nations can be moved over night to any other region of the world and we loss our influence in shaping world order. US leaders who created League of Nations/UN with head quarters in New York were not stupid McCain!
2) McCain wants Russia out of the G8. McCain is returning to the cold war era in the 21st century. Rather than building alliances, McCain is a destructionist. How can McCain want free trade and is breaking the alliances that we have. What a dumb!
3) Place missiles in Asia. McCain is raising tensions in the Asia and Middle East rather than use the current socioeconomic environment to rebuild alliances
4) McCain finally voiced through his economic strategist what he has tried not to tell the world himself. McCain does not believe people are suffering. He believes that this economic crisis is all mental. He believes we are whiners and should suck it up. The danger with McCain is that he has no clue about economics. He sees demand/supply as an elastic curve for all commodities. The same idea that he is promoting is free markets systems. McCain fails to understand that there are rules for free market systems to exist. He has no clue about social economies. It takes legal rules how to play the game of free markets. John McCain has in his head that markets can exist with no rules: Banks can exploit. Businesses can avoid taxes. McCain hates consumer advocates. McCain old school economists (PhD holders) have not studied anything new since the 30s. This is very dangerous!
5) John McCainâs number one issue is to bomb Iran. He is supported by one of the worst Neo-cons of this century â" Senator Joe Lieberman â" âThe squealerâ of the Animal Farm novel
6) John McCain is practicing anarchy
7) McCain and Bush have finally discovered that Senator Barack Obama has extensive and realistic foreign policy. McCain and Bush have sent an envoy to Iran and want an embassy in Iran. McCain and Bush wants timelines and wants to get out of Iraq based on What Senator Barack said. Bush and McCain want more troops in Afghanistan, copying Senator Barack Obamaâs foreign policy. McCain and Bush are fake leaders.
These positions put McCain in the same rank with Napoleon and Hitler. Thank God McCain is too old to President and may not last long to promote a doctrine of anarchy in the world. We need peace to make it easier for others to breath. We need to lead the world and McCain must be stopped and sent into a retirement home where he belongs at this age. This is my opinion and not the position of Senator Barack Obama in any why!
1) McCain wants a United Nations that would eliminate China, France and Russia and give all powers to the United States to carry unchecked military actions anywhere in the world. It is called unilateral US action, which we have now under McCain, Cheney and Bush! McCain, and Bush donât need the UN to commit genocide anywhere in the world. They have abused civil liberties, violated all treaties and laws and made more enemies of the United States for the last 7 years. McCain lost 2000 elections, coming out of the elections as a straight talker but today we see a sheep in furs. A moron and a vicious no mercy military terror that uses American armies like toys. McCain has no soul, no heritage and no family sense! McCain is an old mean racist SOB. If we make a mistake of handing McCain that office, US will be relegated to a third world country because all countries of the will gang on us.
European Union will expand powers and the rest of the world would go against United States interests everywhere in the world. Today, US cannot get China and Russia to agree on sanctions on Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Today we donât have a voice on charging and convicting Sudanâs dictator. George Bush and McCain created an isolated corner for US, unable to be a major voice on major world issues! It is just a matter of time for the entire world to squeeze the air out of the US and relegate this country to a 3rd World country if John McCain and Neo-con Lieberman (âsquealerâ of Animal Farm) prevail. You see our markets collapsing and Euro doubling up on the dollar. We ship over 7 billion dollars monthly to the Middle East and the beneficiary is Iran. Iraq has a surplus we have a deficit! We need an intelligent President to reverse this trend. McCain is clueless how the world really works in the 21st Century. All McCain has to do now is declare to withdraw from the United Nations. The head quarters will be moved to Britain, France or any other European country. European countries have suggested that US is doing no other country a favor by hosting the UN head quarters in New York. Most have suggested moving the head quarters to Europe. If you agree with John McCain, the United Nations can be moved over night to any other region of the world and we loss our influence in shaping world order. US leaders who created League of Nations/UN with head quarters in New York were not stupid McCain!
2) McCain wants Russia out of the G8. McCain is returning to the cold war era in the 21st century. Rather than building alliances, McCain is a destructionist. How can McCain want free trade and is breaking the alliances that we have. What a dumb!
3) Place missiles in Asia. McCain is raising tensions in the Asia and Middle East rather than use the current socioeconomic environment to rebuild alliances
4) McCain finally voiced through his economic strategist what he has tried not to tell the world himself. McCain does not believe people are suffering. He believes that this economic crisis is all mental. He believes we are whiners and should suck it up. The danger with McCain is that he has no clue about economics. He sees demand/supply as an elastic curve for all commodities. The same idea that he is promoting is free markets systems. McCain fails to understand that there are rules for free market systems to exist. He has no clue about social economies. It takes legal rules how to play the game of free markets. John McCain has in his head that markets can exist with no rules: Banks can exploit. Businesses can avoid taxes. McCain hates consumer advocates. McCain old school economists (PhD holders) have not studied anything new since the 30s. This is very dangerous!
5) John McCainâs number one issue is to bomb Iran. He is supported by one of the worst Neo-cons of this century â" Senator Joe Lieberman â" âThe squealerâ of the Animal Farm novel
6) John McCain is practicing anarchy
7) McCain and Bush have finally discovered that Senator Barack Obama has extensive and realistic foreign policy. McCain and Bush have sent an envoy to Iran and want an embassy in Iran. McCain and Bush wants timelines and wants to get out of Iraq based on What Senator Barack said. Bush and McCain want more troops in Afghanistan, copying Senator Barack Obamaâs foreign policy. McCain and Bush are fake leaders.
These positions put McCain in the same rank with Napoleon and Hitler. Thank God McCain is too old to President and may not last long to promote a doctrine of anarchy in the world. We need peace to make it easier for others to breath. We need to lead the world and McCain must be stopped and sent into a retirement home where he belongs at this age. This is my opinion and not the position of Senator Barack Obama in any why!
Liberalism is an ideology committed to greater freedom for individuals. It has two central ideas: a) opposition to arbitrary authority, whether it is from the President or the Church, and b) desire for greater overall freedom for the individual.
Conservatism is distinguished by fear of change. Conservatives are afraid of those who would plan to work for change to "improve" standards of living. Conservatisms distrustful change to improve the status quo. Conservatism draws its major support from those with the greatest interest in the existing order - the top one percent and Neo-cons.
Where are most Americans?
Ideology refers to a structure of interrelated values, ideas, and beliefs about the nature of people and society. Ideology typically refers to the best way to live, appropriate institutional arrangements, and how to improve society. Political ideology in the United States is fluid. While often describing themselves as liberal or conservative, Americans often thought of themselves as pragmatic moderates who decide issues on their merits rather than through an ideological set of values or beliefs. McCain is an ideologue that subscribes to extremist values of greed, torture, huge ego and selfishness.
Given these two definitions Senator Barack Obama is a pragmatist, a visionary and a strategic leader.
Conservatism is distinguished by fear of change. Conservatives are afraid of those who would plan to work for change to "improve" standards of living. Conservatisms distrustful change to improve the status quo. Conservatism draws its major support from those with the greatest interest in the existing order - the top one percent and Neo-cons.
Where are most Americans?
Ideology refers to a structure of interrelated values, ideas, and beliefs about the nature of people and society. Ideology typically refers to the best way to live, appropriate institutional arrangements, and how to improve society. Political ideology in the United States is fluid. While often describing themselves as liberal or conservative, Americans often thought of themselves as pragmatic moderates who decide issues on their merits rather than through an ideological set of values or beliefs. McCain is an ideologue that subscribes to extremist values of greed, torture, huge ego and selfishness.
Given these two definitions Senator Barack Obama is a pragmatist, a visionary and a strategic leader.
If you spend time reading the Constitution of the United States, some of the articles are ambiguous. This leaves room for vague interpretations by the USJ. The second amendment for example uses militia in the first clause and right for gun ownership in the second clause. Some can read the second clause as further explaining the first clause.
Some see the second amendment as two separate clauses as so the USJ. Whether two clauses or one, we agree that individuals should own guns. The bigger question here is whether the Federal Government can force states not to implement safety laws. People cannot argue against the decision for the death penalty for rapists and embrace the second amendment decision.
The USJ is not final and may be reversed at any time this decision. The argument by most lawyers is that states' constitutions were developed from the US constitution. Unfortunately, the US Constitution was copied from the Massachusetts Constitution. So when Massachusetts declares laws against homosexual marriages, the US constitution cannot override and argue against Massachusetts Supreme Court Justices. We here agree in the second amendment but believe that states can enact laws for safety reasons to ban certain types of weapons. An example is a law banning guns in schools and churches or in public places where there are children. Does this requirement violate the second amendment? You bet!
Don't hold your breath on this decision! You need another liberal judge on the bench to reverse the decision. You need on conservative judge to outlaw abortion and make it a murder for any woman who has an abortion irrespective of whether it is to safe the mother's life. You will see doctors sentenced to jail. All you need is Senator John McCain elected and women will see all women issues reversed. Trust me!
Any woman who wants to vote for Senator John McCain because Hillary Clinton didn't win is making a big mistake. They (women) are the same women who gave us George Bush and should fill guilty for the over 4000 Americans murdered in Iraq. They voted for George Bush and are about to make the same mistake with John McCain. Shame on you for unable to see what is at stake for you and your children.
Some see the second amendment as two separate clauses as so the USJ. Whether two clauses or one, we agree that individuals should own guns. The bigger question here is whether the Federal Government can force states not to implement safety laws. People cannot argue against the decision for the death penalty for rapists and embrace the second amendment decision.
The USJ is not final and may be reversed at any time this decision. The argument by most lawyers is that states' constitutions were developed from the US constitution. Unfortunately, the US Constitution was copied from the Massachusetts Constitution. So when Massachusetts declares laws against homosexual marriages, the US constitution cannot override and argue against Massachusetts Supreme Court Justices. We here agree in the second amendment but believe that states can enact laws for safety reasons to ban certain types of weapons. An example is a law banning guns in schools and churches or in public places where there are children. Does this requirement violate the second amendment? You bet!
Don't hold your breath on this decision! You need another liberal judge on the bench to reverse the decision. You need on conservative judge to outlaw abortion and make it a murder for any woman who has an abortion irrespective of whether it is to safe the mother's life. You will see doctors sentenced to jail. All you need is Senator John McCain elected and women will see all women issues reversed. Trust me!
Any woman who wants to vote for Senator John McCain because Hillary Clinton didn't win is making a big mistake. They (women) are the same women who gave us George Bush and should fill guilty for the over 4000 Americans murdered in Iraq. They voted for George Bush and are about to make the same mistake with John McCain. Shame on you for unable to see what is at stake for you and your children.
John McCain grew up Episcopalian. He went to an Episcopalian high school. For at least 15 years, he has been listed as an Episcopalian in authoritative directories such as the Almanac of American Politics and Congressional Quarterly's Politics in America 2008. He told a reporter from McClatchy News Service in June 2007 that he was an Episcopalian.
Suddenly, in September 2007, he's campaigning in South Carolina, the heavily Baptist state where George W. Bush barely managed to stop McCain's presidential campaign 8 years ago. And guess what? McCain tells a reporter "By the way, I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist.
When pressed, he said he's attended the North Phoenix Baptist Church in Arizona for more than 15 years, though he has never been baptized in that church. Now see, that's exactly the problem. Baptism is kind of a big thing in the Baptist Church. (That's how they got the name.) No baptism, not Baptist.
Suddenly, in September 2007, he's campaigning in South Carolina, the heavily Baptist state where George W. Bush barely managed to stop McCain's presidential campaign 8 years ago. And guess what? McCain tells a reporter "By the way, I'm not Episcopalian. I'm Baptist.
When pressed, he said he's attended the North Phoenix Baptist Church in Arizona for more than 15 years, though he has never been baptized in that church. Now see, that's exactly the problem. Baptism is kind of a big thing in the Baptist Church. (That's how they got the name.) No baptism, not Baptist.
McCain doesnât know!
McCain is not for change and cannot seek conformity with Sarah Falin. It is a false compromise and hypocrisy, and the life without integrity but of patchwork.
No organization survives without a change culture. Do not expect those within to give up easily. If they do, they would try to destroy the system for personal gains. Enron is an example. Enron executives hired entry level MBA students and replaced all old staff to implement their corrupt practices. Enron collapsed. McCain picked Sarah Falin for the same reason.
McCain is not for change. McCain is for crashing the system. Sarah Falin is not a change agent. She is a distraction!
What is the difference between finding distractions and dodging ourselves versus knowing when to change to continue on the journey?
Can we dream and expand our horizons without discomfort? Do we seek comfort at all costs? I mean by failing to change? What is so uncomfortable about being in discomfort? I am puzzled!
"Most people have come to prefer certain of life's experiences and deny and reject others, unaware of the value of the hidden things that may come wrapped in plain and even ugly paper. In avoiding all pain and seeking comfort at all costs, we may be left without intimacy or compassion; in rejecting change and risk we often cheat ourselves of the quest; in denying our suffering we may never know our strength or our greatnessâ(Rachel Remen)
McCain doesnât know!
McCain is not for change and cannot seek conformity with Sarah Falin. It is a false compromise and hypocrisy, and the life without integrity but of patchwork.
No organization survives without a change culture. Do not expect those within to give up easily. If they do, they would try to destroy the system for personal gains. Enron is an example. Enron executives hired entry level MBA students and replaced all old staff to implement their corrupt practices. Enron collapsed. McCain picked Sarah Falin for the same reason.
McCain is not for change. McCain is for crashing the system. Sarah Falin is not a change agent. She is a distraction!
What is the difference between finding distractions and dodging ourselves versus knowing when to change to continue on the journey?
Can we dream and expand our horizons without discomfort? Do we seek comfort at all costs? I mean by failing to change? What is so uncomfortable about being in discomfort? I am puzzled!
"Most people have come to prefer certain of life's experiences and deny and reject others, unaware of the value of the hidden things that may come wrapped in plain and even ugly paper. In avoiding all pain and seeking comfort at all costs, we may be left without intimacy or compassion; in rejecting change and risk we often cheat ourselves of the quest; in denying our suffering we may never know our strength or our greatnessâ(Rachel Remen)
McCain doesnât know!
Thank you all for answering my questions last night! I appreciate!
However, it appears some of us still have more questions than answers (I learned from the âuneasyâ answers âwomenâ provided). Since our candidate has asked us to stay focused, I would respect his wishes, but I am also asking for one promise:
He must hit back harder if McCain or anyone questions his love for this country, his values and his patriotism directly or indirectly. When McCain says, âI am not questioning his love or Patriotism for this countryâ, he is indirectly questioning.
Finally, no! No person in her right mind would board a plane after her water broke from Texas to go give birth in Alaska and return to Texas to give a speech. We can take this topic off the table, but I cannot promise anyone that I will not get vicious if I feel that McCainâs Swift Boat Machine is on. We can take the topic off the table but we cannot pretend that we didnât hear what happened. We can stay on issues or we can talk about who is going out with whom or what are the children doing and parenthood. Maybe we should talk about parenthood because these values define who we are, and the legacy we would like to leave behind.
We should have a debate why women shouldn't have a right to make decisions affecting their lives. If we have to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies and abortions and STDs, we need education and contraceptives and not just insurance for viagra. These are legitimate points that are on the table. They are social values issues, and we must lead by example, and by doing what is right and telling the truth. We must respect rule or law and not use the Governorâs office to intimidate others. This has been a pattern for McCain/Bush and now a pattern for McCain/Bush/SF
It is unacceptable
However, it appears some of us still have more questions than answers (I learned from the âuneasyâ answers âwomenâ provided). Since our candidate has asked us to stay focused, I would respect his wishes, but I am also asking for one promise:
He must hit back harder if McCain or anyone questions his love for this country, his values and his patriotism directly or indirectly. When McCain says, âI am not questioning his love or Patriotism for this countryâ, he is indirectly questioning.
Finally, no! No person in her right mind would board a plane after her water broke from Texas to go give birth in Alaska and return to Texas to give a speech. We can take this topic off the table, but I cannot promise anyone that I will not get vicious if I feel that McCainâs Swift Boat Machine is on. We can take the topic off the table but we cannot pretend that we didnât hear what happened. We can stay on issues or we can talk about who is going out with whom or what are the children doing and parenthood. Maybe we should talk about parenthood because these values define who we are, and the legacy we would like to leave behind.
We should have a debate why women shouldn't have a right to make decisions affecting their lives. If we have to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies and abortions and STDs, we need education and contraceptives and not just insurance for viagra. These are legitimate points that are on the table. They are social values issues, and we must lead by example, and by doing what is right and telling the truth. We must respect rule or law and not use the Governorâs office to intimidate others. This has been a pattern for McCain/Bush and now a pattern for McCain/Bush/SF
It is unacceptable
xxxxx --
Today, the thoughts and prayers of all Americans are with those in the path of Hurricane Gustav -- and many of you are asking what you can do to help.
We do not yet know what the impact of Hurricane Gustav will be, and we hope with all our hearts that the damage will not be as great as it was three years ago.
But we know there will be damage, and there is something you can do right now.
Your financial support will strengthen organizations like the American Red Cross that are evacuating Gulf Coast residents and planning to help communities get back on their feet.
Make a donation to support the American Red Cross today.
At times like this, it is our compassion and resilience that define who we are as a nation.
Please give whatever you can afford, even $10, to make sure the American Red Cross has the resources to help those in the path of this storm:
https://donate.barackobama.com/redcross
Thank you for your generosity, and I hope you will join Michelle and me in praying for the safety of those in the path of the storm and the first responders who are doing all they can to ensure the safety of their communities.
Barack
Donate to the Red Cross
Today, the thoughts and prayers of all Americans are with those in the path of Hurricane Gustav -- and many of you are asking what you can do to help.
We do not yet know what the impact of Hurricane Gustav will be, and we hope with all our hearts that the damage will not be as great as it was three years ago.
But we know there will be damage, and there is something you can do right now.
Your financial support will strengthen organizations like the American Red Cross that are evacuating Gulf Coast residents and planning to help communities get back on their feet.
Make a donation to support the American Red Cross today.
At times like this, it is our compassion and resilience that define who we are as a nation.
Please give whatever you can afford, even $10, to make sure the American Red Cross has the resources to help those in the path of this storm:
https://donate.barackobama.com/redcross
Thank you for your generosity, and I hope you will join Michelle and me in praying for the safety of those in the path of the storm and the first responders who are doing all they can to ensure the safety of their communities.
Barack
Donate to the Red Cross
Alert! News coming in: One of the levees is giving way...
People are asked to leave immediately...
The folks need our prayers!
People are asked to leave immediately...
The folks need our prayers!
The seventeen year old, under age daughter of Sarah Falin is pregnant. How much did John McCain know about Sarah Falin?
We learned that Sarah Falin has a 4 months baby with down syndrome. Would you hire Sarah Falin as an ER/Internsive care doctor of a large hospital? You would be faced with the choice of releasing her to go take care of her son leaving over 50 critically ill patients with no help.
McCain has demonstarted that he lacks experience but judgment
We learned that Sarah Falin has a 4 months baby with down syndrome. Would you hire Sarah Falin as an ER/Internsive care doctor of a large hospital? You would be faced with the choice of releasing her to go take care of her son leaving over 50 critically ill patients with no help.
McCain has demonstarted that he lacks experience but judgment
McCain joked about his age, but deep down, he is scared and worried about how to turn back time or hold it steady.
My grandfather died at 105. When he turned 90, he stretched his hands and asked me to look closer. âWhat do you see son,â he asked. I looked at them - all cracked with wrinkles like the lines you would see on a large sea clam that has survived for decades or a century. As a child, I said they are dirty and filled with wrinkles.
He looked at me with bright eyes and said: âNo son!
The dirt and wrinkles represent the battles I have fought to make our family what it is today. My hands represent our struggles with the Germans and the British and life. They represent my successes and failures.
In all, they capture wisdom and virtues. I have lived this long because God knows that my soul is pure. I cherish each moment of life, but now, I must go. I am happy for the grandchildren. Your world is different than mind but it is time to pass the history because my time is coming soonâ.
It was sad to know that his world was fading before my eyes. But he accepted things as they were without bitterness but sharing wisdom? And so I followed him absorbing every moment of his world until the final call. Grandpa was not afraid of aging or of dying because he was prepared and expected these things to happen. What about McCain?
Deep down, McCain is scared, and it comes out as an un-controllable temperament. And so picking Sarah Palin, is a way of finding solace within himself. She is 44, the age McCain cannot be, a false measuring stick for him. Sarah is a companion for McCain to hangout and play with so as to fit with the Jones. But he cannot hold back time or hold time from moving. It is all so fake!
McCain has no position for any rational man or woman to vote for him, except we can dream of his Vietnam POW status, a story that was never written completely or at least told truthfully in totality. McCain wrote his history and told his story! We all live history and it comes to past. But for us, it is what the future brings!
Bob Dooh aged gracefully. Reagan aged gracefully. But McCain is mentally challenged to accept the reality of aging.
We can see it!
My grandfather died at 105. When he turned 90, he stretched his hands and asked me to look closer. âWhat do you see son,â he asked. I looked at them - all cracked with wrinkles like the lines you would see on a large sea clam that has survived for decades or a century. As a child, I said they are dirty and filled with wrinkles.
He looked at me with bright eyes and said: âNo son!
The dirt and wrinkles represent the battles I have fought to make our family what it is today. My hands represent our struggles with the Germans and the British and life. They represent my successes and failures.
In all, they capture wisdom and virtues. I have lived this long because God knows that my soul is pure. I cherish each moment of life, but now, I must go. I am happy for the grandchildren. Your world is different than mind but it is time to pass the history because my time is coming soonâ.
It was sad to know that his world was fading before my eyes. But he accepted things as they were without bitterness but sharing wisdom? And so I followed him absorbing every moment of his world until the final call. Grandpa was not afraid of aging or of dying because he was prepared and expected these things to happen. What about McCain?
Deep down, McCain is scared, and it comes out as an un-controllable temperament. And so picking Sarah Palin, is a way of finding solace within himself. She is 44, the age McCain cannot be, a false measuring stick for him. Sarah is a companion for McCain to hangout and play with so as to fit with the Jones. But he cannot hold back time or hold time from moving. It is all so fake!
McCain has no position for any rational man or woman to vote for him, except we can dream of his Vietnam POW status, a story that was never written completely or at least told truthfully in totality. McCain wrote his history and told his story! We all live history and it comes to past. But for us, it is what the future brings!
Bob Dooh aged gracefully. Reagan aged gracefully. But McCain is mentally challenged to accept the reality of aging.
We can see it!
Hufftongton Posts recites one of the moments when receptions provides rhymes, rhyme and the effect of heart piecing chills of âit is so true and sounds goodâ
Remember the Lines?
"Now is the time to help families with paid sick days and better family leave, because nobody in America should have to choose between keeping their job and caring for a sick child or an ailing parent.
Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses, and the time to protect Social Security for future generations.
And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work, because I want my daughters to have the exact same opportunities as your sons."
I have one such construction in one of my booksâŠâThe Mysterious Virtues of Paul Abandaâ
Excerpt
â,,, After drinking a few cups of palm wine, they were pumped up for the dance of their life.
The first waves of over one hundred double barrel guns were fired alternatively.
The echo in the valleys bounced back from east to west and from north to south. In the distance, birds were flying for their lives.
The monkeys in the near forest made the forest move by running in haphazard directions.
The soil trembled and it seemed you could feel the world move.
The player on the talking drum hit a couple of notes in preparation for the start of the dance.
âŠâ
The whole chapter was captured in poetic formâŠ
If you want to read more go to Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble, and âask forâ âThe Mysterious Virtues of Paul Abanda:.
Remember the Lines?
"Now is the time to help families with paid sick days and better family leave, because nobody in America should have to choose between keeping their job and caring for a sick child or an ailing parent.
Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses, and the time to protect Social Security for future generations.
And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work, because I want my daughters to have the exact same opportunities as your sons."
I have one such construction in one of my booksâŠâThe Mysterious Virtues of Paul Abandaâ
Excerpt
â,,, After drinking a few cups of palm wine, they were pumped up for the dance of their life.
The first waves of over one hundred double barrel guns were fired alternatively.
The echo in the valleys bounced back from east to west and from north to south. In the distance, birds were flying for their lives.
The monkeys in the near forest made the forest move by running in haphazard directions.
The soil trembled and it seemed you could feel the world move.
The player on the talking drum hit a couple of notes in preparation for the start of the dance.
âŠâ
The whole chapter was captured in poetic formâŠ
If you want to read more go to Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble, and âask forâ âThe Mysterious Virtues of Paul Abanda:.
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