McCain Trying to Blow the Comeback?

What in the world is John McCain thinking? He appears to be closing, people are questioning Obama's socialist economic policies and radical connections, so McCain comes out with... this ad that has Obama praising McCain-Lieberman's global warming plan?

Is McCain trying to "go positive" in the final days rather than pointing out Obama's true and very damaging views? If so, he might as well tell his supporters to vote Obama.

Obama: Being Against Higher Taxes is "Selfishness"

Obama believes that if you don't want higher taxes and wealth redistribution, it is simply out of "selfishness." No surprise there.

The Obama Tax Cut Now Down to $120K

The "Obama tax cut threshold" number keeps dropping. According to Obama supporter and NM Governor Bill Richardson, the income level target is now $120,000. Obviously, when the Bush tax cuts expire, everyone's taxes will increase, but the blatant continual reduction of this number before the election is stunning. (At least Clinton had the sense to lie to people until the election was over and he was in office.)

McCain Chances Are Much Better than Reported

A staunch Democrat, Obama staffer and former Hillary supporter spills the beans in a very detailed post. From Israpundit. A fascinating read, here's just one of the many reasons.

The Bradley Effect. Don’t believe these polls for a second. I just went over our numbers and found that we have next to no chance in the following states: Missouri, Indiana, North Carolina, Florida, New Hampshire and Nevada. Ohio leans heavily to McCain, but is too close to call it for him. Virginia, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New Mexico and Iowa are the true “toss up states”. The only two of these the campaign feels “confident” in are Iowa and New Mexico. The reason for such polling discrepancy is the Bradley Effect, and this is a subject of much discussion in the campaign. In general, we tend to take a -10 point percentage in allowing for this, and are not comfortable until the polls give us a spread well over this mark. This is why we are still campaigning in Virginia and Pennsylvania! This is why Ohio is such a desperate hope for us! What truly bothers this campaign is the fact that some pollsters get up to an 80% “refuse to respond” result. You can’t possibly include these into the polls. The truth is, people are afraid to let people know who they are voting for. The vast majority of these respondents are McCain supporters. Obama is the “hip” choice, and we all know it.

Even if this is authentic, she has no true knowledge of the outcome anymore than anyone else, but one thing is certain: Obama does NOT think the election is in the bag and his actions are proving it. This is why the media are trying to get McCain supporters to give up before the election.

McCain Endorsed Papers Tossed from Obama Plane

If you are a reporter, you must either have your paper support Obama or get tossed off his plane. The Washington Times, Dallas Morning News and NY Post just learned that, according to Drudge. Hey, it's better than living in Saddam's Iraq - at least Obama isn't cutting their hands off and feeding them to wild dogs, right? His is a more benevolent dictatorship - plus, he needed to make room for the serious political journalism of Ebony and Essence magazines.

"Cowboy Capitalism" Argument is Hogwash

The WSJ makes a very clear argument that debunks that Obama/Democrat idea that "cowboy capitalism" was responsible for this financial crisis. Let's forget the fact that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two congressional entities overseen closely be Democrats, were at the heart of the matter. Sarbanes-Oxley and Elliott Spitzer were two of the most prominent regulatory disasters that were simply extra burdens that fly in the face of "lack of regulation."

In the second debate, Mr. Obama offered a similarly vague diagnosis: "I believe this is a final verdict on the failed economic policies of the last eight years . . . that essentially said that we should strip away regulations, consumer protections, let the market run wild, and prosperity would rain down on all of us."

Could Mr. Obama really believe that the era of Sarbanes-Oxley was about letting "the market run wild"?

. . . Some lawmakers called it the most sweeping securities legislation since the 1930s." The Times added that "business and accounting industry lobbyists had tried in recent days to soften the measure, but they got nowhere."

Wayne Crews of the Competitive Enterprise Institute tracks regulation across the entire federal government. He reports that the Bush administration set an all-time record in 2004, when it published more than 75,000 pages of proposed and enacted rules in the Federal Register.

Leftists might assume that many of these rules were actually watering down earlier standards -- but where's the evidence of declining compliance costs? Lafayette College economist Mark Crain estimates more than $1.1 trillion in federal regulatory costs for 2004, up an inflation-adjusted 16% from 2000. Overall agency enforcement budgets have increased each year since 2004.

Looking at regulatory spending in percentage terms, Mr. Bush's staggering 2003 increase of more than 24% was the largest in the last 50 years. If Mr. Obama considers this a record of deregulation -- and if current polls hold -- America's economy could be in for a very long four years.

McCain Holds 52-point Edge Among U.S. in Israel

American Israelis have crossed over to vote McCain by a margin of 76-24%. Maybe this is why McCain holds a 20-point margin in Florida absentee polling.

2 Kentucky Men Arrested for Hanging Obama in Effigy

Earlier this week, two Hollywood men hanged Sarah Palin in effigy, saying that it was a joke. Nothing happened. But when two University of Kentucky students did the same to Obama, they were arrested. Go figure.

Obama, Daily Kos and Saul Alinsky

Barack Obama has a diary at Far Left-loon site Daily Kos. In this 2005 post, Obama explained his political strategy perfectly. From Sweetness & Light.

In short, Obama's strategy is directly from Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals. It says that if you want to bring revolutionary change, you need to say the right things that make it appear you are "moderate" (ie. use the term "middle class" often). But Obama says that his real strategy is to move the Democrat Party to the far Left and banish the moderates.

Obama and His Untraceable Contributions

A Democrat can never again mention campaign finance as a problem that needs to be addressed - not after this election. Obama has purposely set up his website to accept contributions that are untraceable and/or fraudulent, which means that any citizen (or foreigner) who wants to contribute more than the maximum allowed may do so undetected. The Washington Post actually did a decent job of reporting after they first tried to bury the story (though they still left out the fact that McCain forbids these contributions on his site). Powerline has the details.

Obama Can't Even Get Top Security Clearance

Former General Jerry Curry said that Obama cannot get top security clearance because of past associations with Bill Ayers. He must be racist; oh, he's also black - never mind.

Did Obama Say Israelis Committed Genocide Against Palestinians?

According to Doug Ross, the tape that the LA Times will not release contains a toast from Obama in which he said that Israelis had "committed genocide against Palestinians" and they had "no God-given right to occupy Palestine."

That would make sense why they don't want the tape released. In fact, Obama folks are probably already in the LA Times offices trying to destroy the tapes.

Obama Deliberately Turned Off Traceable Credit Card Checks

I have to hand it to Team Obama - they turned over all of their Chicago campaign tricks. The campaign deliberately turned off the systems that would catch credit card fraud and trace campaign contributions.

It's as if they wanted illegal contributions from the U.S. and abroad, knowing they couldn't be traced...

Heritage Calls Obama on His Ad Lies

The Heritage Foundation wrote to the Obama campaign to pull its ads that suggested it supported the Obama tax plan. Obviously, nothing could be further from the truth, but it shows the audacity of a campaign that presents a fraudulent view not only of its own plans, but of who supports them.

So far Obama has not pulled the false ad.

Global Warming Watch: Thousands without Power After Snowfall

After an early winter storm in the Northeast, thousands of people are still without power. Where is Al Gore these days anyway?

LA Times Videotape Likely the Downfall of Obama

The Grapevine reported on the Obama-Khalidi tape last night and it appears that the release of the tape would be the downfall of Obama, as it would show he is good friends with a Jew-hating PLO spokesman and revolutionary terrorist, Bill Ayers. At the dinner:

A special tribute came from Khalidi's friend and frequent dinner companion, the young state Senator Barack Obama...... Obama reminisced about meals prepared by Khalidi's wife... and conversations that had challenged his thinking.

...a young Palestinian read a poem accusing the Israeli government of terrorism. Another speaker likened Israeli settlers on the West Bank to Usama bin Laden.

The LA Times will guard this tape with their lives because releasing it would expose a glimpse of the real Barack Obama. Supposedly the tape makes it clear that Ayers is not just "some guy in my neighborhood" and that Obama is much more closely aligned to the Palestinian viewpoint than he is towards Israel. None of this should be surprising, but it is probably very damaging when seen on tape.

So we can't see his birth records, which were sealed this week. We can't see his college work. We can't see this tape. We can't talk about Rev. Wright, which he attended for 20 years. We can't talk about his race. Can't talk about his wife. Can't talk about his position on infanticide. Can't call him Marxist. Can't call him socialist. Can't question his inexperience. Can't talk about his half brother George Hussein in Kenya. Is there anything we are allowed to know?

The Ever Shrinking Obama Tax Cut Threshold

First, families making under $250K would get a "tax cut" under Obama. Then it became $200K. As of yesterday, Biden said it was $150K. From Byron York. (Remember that in 1992 Clinton started with "families making more than $1 million would face a tax hike, then it was $500K, then $200K, and then he ended up going with everyone who paid taxes.)

These numbers are moot anyway because Obama already promised to let the tax cuts expire at the end of next year, which basically means every tax bracket is going up, so whether it's $150K or $250K, he's just deceiving everyone anyway. It's a bit like a recent Democrat proposed overhaul of all 401-K programs - the government takes away the tax deductability and then gives everyone a $600 "tax cut," whether you put in $600 or $10,000 into your 401-k. Once again, it's a plan that works well for people who pay no taxes and is a raw deal for those who actually pay taxes.

The Coming Democrat Bill of Rights

The Democrats are talking up a new coming Second Bill of Rights, in which the government gives all U.S. citizens new freebies (rather than those rights being provided by our Creator). Powerline has a good post and the list includes:

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

Excuse me, but is there anyway for the government to quantify the terms "adequate," "good," or "decent?" Of course not. This is socialism, where the government controls every part of every person's life - there's no other way to say it. The day that this "Second Bill of Rights" gets implemented is the day this country falls. No society can continually take from its productive members and give to its unproductive members and still survive.

Sarkozy: Obama "Empty of All Content"

Not all foreigners are hoping for an Obama win. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that Obama's positions on Iran are "utterly immature" and that they are comprised of formulations "empty of all content." From Haaretz.

Sarkozy needs to watch out: we've already seen what happens to people who dare to tell the truth about the Messiah.

Obama's Union Gift: A New Wagner Act

A great article in the WSJ today explains what the Wagner Act did to help prolong the Great Depression. The measure authorized union officials to act as the exclusive bargaining agent over all union and non-union employees in a unionized workplace. After a job recovery from 1934 to 1936, the Wagner Act helped throw the country back into high unemployment that matched 1931 levels, which added approximately 10 full percentage points to the unemployment rate.

Given the reality of unions in the workplace, the law meant that efficiency and profitability were compromised, by forcing employers to equally reward their most productive and least productive employees. Therefore subsequent wage increases for some workers led to widespread job losses.

Pre-Depression-era growth and prosperity did not return to the private sector until the early 1950s, when the spread of state right-to-work laws prohibiting forced union membership and dues greatly reduced the detrimental effects of the Wagner Act.

The Employee Free Choice Act, which Obama supports, would have a similar impact on the economy as the Wagner Act by eliminating the secret ballot and significantly increase union membership across industries.

"I owe those unions," Mr. Obama explained in his 2006 political memoir, "The Audacity of Hope." "When their leaders call, I do my best to call them back right away. I don't consider this corrupting in any way . . ."

If Obama wins next week, you've all been warned.

Conservatism Still Works When Tried

John Hawkins wrote a good article for Townhall in which he discusses the lunacy coming from the liberal wing of the "conservative" party - folks like David Frum, Peggy Noonan, Chris Buckley, etc. The argument they put forward is that McCain's losing because he is trying to be "too conservative" - and cite Palin as their evidence. Hawkins points out a few important facts. 1) Bush was not a conservative and it was his "compassionate conservatism" (read: massive spending) that disenchanted conservatives. Second, it was policies pushed by people like John McCain and his liberal RINO allies (illegal immigration, No Child Left Behind, the Paulson bailout, etc.) that further alienated Republicans. On the bailout, David Frum spoke glowingly about Barney Frank's leadership. Does Frum really think Americans agree with him about the man who was in Fannie Mae's back pocket?

A couple things I would add that Hawkins missed: conservatism overwhelmingly wins when tried. Why did Democrats win Congress in '06? They found a bunch of Dems who ran as conservatives. They ran on tax cuts, guns and religion, knowing that it wouldn't make a difference if they voted with Pelosi & Co. 95% of the time after the election was over. Why is Obama considered acceptable by non-interested citizens despite his radical associations and redistributionist, big government mentality? Because he says he's really a conservative Democrat who likes guns, religion and tax cuts (never mind the fact that they're all lies or distortions and his "tax cuts" are simply welfare payments). Poll after poll suggests that Americans overwhelmingly want lower taxes and less government regulation. Obama claims that is his platform and the media are only too happy to help him in his fraud. (Why hasn't a single reporter asked Obama why an increase in tax rates across every income bracket, even at the low end, a tax increase? Or capital gains taxes? Or payroll taxes? ...)

The bottom line is obvious - conservative ideas are popular and nearly always win. Even when applied to social issues, most Americans are in favor of traditional marriage, the second Amendment and are opposed to partial birth abortions and infanticide. Most Americans are tolerant, but realize that there are certain family values that allow society to function and do not want to live in a society based on the mores of San Francisco or Berkeley. Democrats are simply a lot better at pretending to be conservative than conservatives are in correcting the record.

And should Democrats sweep power next week, the politicians will quickly change their tune and say that Americans voted for a liberal mandate. And the David Frums and Peggy Noonans of the world will say that conservatism is dead and they need to be more like Democrats.

Huizenga Wants to Sell Dolphins Before Obama Tax

Wayne Huizenga said that he's looking to sell his stake in the Dolphins and would like to do so before Obama doubles the capital gains tax. He said that he'd rather give the excess to charity before "giving it to him [Obama]."

Ignore the Polls: Look at California

Another reason why we should ignore the polls. Obama held an 18% advantage in California, but according to approximately 210,000 early votes in California, the race is basically even among Democrats and Republicans. (The polls all assume about 15% more Democrats than Republicans will vote.)

The results are simply shocking. The polls showed Barack Obama with an 18 point lead in California just a few days ago. The results thus far are the complete opposite. In the most liberal state in the entire country,the results are that 99,000 Republicans have voted and 96,000 Democrats voted. In the mail-in balloting the results so far are that 9,000 Democrats sent in their ballots and that 5,000 Republicans did so. So with nearly 210,000 people having voted, the Democrats have only a 1,000 vote advantage!

I don't expect that California will be this close, but it goes to show that all these polls are completely bogus. We will have an election and the results will prove who wins - not the polls.

Philly Inquirer: White People Shouldn't be Allowed to Vote

Jonathan Valania argues in the Philadelphia Inquirer that white people should be stripped of their ability to vote.

Ah, the post-racial Obama world is upon us. The idiocy of journalists comes up with new ways to prove how irrelevant they are. I think journalism as a career has now been lowered to a notch just under street carcass remover.

(Also, perhaps this is one of the reasons that the Inquirer is headed for imminent bankruptcy.)

Obama a Long-time Advocate of Redistribution Reparations

Drudge has a link on his homepage of a 2001 Obama radio interview with Chicago's WBEZ, in which Obama says that it was a "tragedy" that the courts weren't more radical in providing reparations to African Americans in terms of redistributive wealth (it seems that this was Obama's preferred method to make them whole after the civil rights issues).

He says that he doesn't see the courts doing it themselves, but that the legislature still has the power to do so. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone - and it shouldn't come as a surprise that no news media will ever ask him about it either.

*Update*
Upon listening again, this clip is very disturbing. Obama talks about the Constitution as a "charter of negative liberties" and complains that it tells us what the government "can't do to us." Very troubling indeed that he doesn't understand or agree with the essence of the U.S. Constitution. It's not a surprise that Obama hasn't given a press conference in a month. Don't expect one before election day.

Biden/Murtha SNL Skit: Not Even a Parody

Finally SNL did a skit on the gaffe machines John Murtha and Joe Biden. They could just as easily do one on Obama, but I guess that is just a little too much to ask.

Best Interview Questions of the Campaign

Barbara West of WFTV News, an ABC affiliate based in Florida, finally asked some questions to Joe Biden that deserved to be asked. I just wish any national news reporter dared ask Obama a question like these.

Obama Campaign Workers Trying to Vote Illegally

Obama campaign workers are trying to vote illegally in Ohio. After being told that it would be a felony for non-residents to vote in Ohio, several Obama staffers pulled their voter registrations. Ok - so ACORN fraud is one thing. I wonder if Team Obama attempted fraud will get any press.

State Dem Officials Spy on Joe the Plumber

Everyone understands that politics is a dirty game. But Ohio Democrat officials who have used government access to Joe the Plumber's personal information apparently have never seen the movie The Lives of Others. Based on a true story, The Lives of Others shows how the East German state eavesdropped on its citizens, encouraged neighbors to turn in neighbors and showed the big difference between democratic and communist states. (Btw, a fantastic movie for anyone looking for a weekend rental.) Or so we thought.

The Democrat Party actions of digging up personal information on ordinary citizens shows that maybe we shouldn't make that distinction anymore. When the press is more concerned with highlighting some trivial information on a citizen than it is on reporting government violations of his privacy - or shedding the truth on the likely Presidential nominee, we know we have a serious problem in this country.

The Obama Market Discount Being Priced In

James Pethokoukis at U.S. News makes a convincing argument that the Obama discount is being priced into the stock markets. Although anecdotal, I believe the investor class understands what happens to the U.S. economy and stock prices in the face of huge budget deficits, new regulations and government programs and significantly higher taxes on income and investment.

*Update*
CNBC said today that the market bounced off its lows after rumors that the White House race is getting tighter. There is no question that a potential Obama win is part of the reason the markets are getting hammered.

LA Times Won't Release Obama Jew Bashing Video

It appears that the LA Times has a videotape of an event that Obama attended with Rashid Khalidi (whom Obama denies any association). Obama was on tape praising Khalidi, who is also good friends with Bill Ayers. The event quickly turned into a Jew-bashing. But the LA Times will not release it out of fear that the truth will hurt Obama's election chances.

Never before have we had the media so complicit in elevating this type of fraud perpetrated on the country in the name of Barack Obama. This election will likely turn the country to a permanent state of government welfare if Obama wins.

NY Gov. Aide Claims Disorder Prevented Tax Filings

Charles O'Byrne, NY Democrat Governor Paterson's top aide, didn't file taxes from 2001 through 2005, claiming he had "late filing syndrome."

The lawyer, Richard S. Kestenbaum, said that he believed that the aide, Charles J. O’Byrne, despite an annual income of about $100,000 and an Ivy League education, could not bring himself to undertake the task of filling out his tax forms every year. Mr. O’Byrne and his doctor have described him as clinically depressed during that period.

“Most times, with professionals, these are very high-functioning people who otherwise complete all the other ordinary tasks of their life,” Mr. Kestenbaum said during a news conference in Manhattan...

Mr. O’Byrne has no plans to resign, said a person familiar with his thinking, who spoke on condition of anonymity because conversations about his status were private.

Obama's Social Security Plan: Welfare

Sen. Obama's complex "tax cut" plan involves changing the Social Security system from a retirement plan to a government welfare plan. From the WSJ:

Imagine this: Barack Obama proposes a Social Security payroll tax cut for low earners. Workers earning up to $8,000 per year would receive back the full 6.2% employee share of the 12.4% total payroll tax, up to $500 per year. Workers earning over $8,000 would receive $500 each, with this credit phasing out for individuals earning between $75,000 and $85,000.

Moreover, this payroll tax cut plan would reduce Social Security's tax revenues by around $710 billion over the next 10 years. If made permanent, the Obama tax cut would increase Social Security's long-term deficit by almost 60% and push the program into insolvency in 2034, versus 2041 under current projections.

To fill the hole in Social Security's finances, Mr. Obama would increase income taxes on high earners and pour that money into Social Security. This would be the first time that income tax revenues have been used to finance Social Security, which has always relied on its own dedicated payroll tax to differentiate itself from other government programs. Filling the gap with higher taxes on high earners would further increase Social Security's progressivity, pushing it closer toward a welfare-program approach.

So now young Americans who earn a higher-than-average wage don't just get to throw money down a sinkhole with very low expected returns. They now get to double their tax contributions into SS to pay for those who don't contribute enough.

Barney Frank: Eliminate All Year-end Bonuses!

Democrat/Socialist Barney Frank says that financial firms should be required to eliminate all year-end bonuses, not only for those firms taking government funds, but all private firms.

Are we living in the Soviet Union? How can the head of the House Banking Committee be taken seriously with these ridiculous proposals? I don't believe it's a coincidence that the market downturn gets progressively worse the closer we get to the election.

Iran: We Want Obama!

It's unsurprising that Iran Speaker of the Parliament said that Iran would definitely prefer Barack Obama as President. If the U.S. election were decided by dictators and terrorists, Obama would win in a landslide. (Chavez, Castro, Al Qaeda, Bill Ayers,...)

Every Kid's Nightmare

Politics 101 for kids.

An Obama Plan? Argentina Nationalizes Pensions

In a move that one could practically see occurring in an Obama administration, Argentina's socialist president, Cristina Kirchner, nationalized $30 billion in private pension funds.

Not surprisingly, this had the effect of spooking the markets and tanking the equity markets in Argentina and practically eliminating the debt market altogether. Most investors seem to think the government will raid the funds for its own purposes and then issue IOUs - not a way to build confidence in Argentina. That's why you don't elect socialists.

Don't think it could happen here? Democrats are already floating a plan that would effectively eliminate the 401-k and replace it with a government-run fund.

Biden Foresees a Weak Obama Response to Dictator

Joe Biden claimed that Obama will be "tested" in his first six months in office by some international emergency - i.e. a dictatorship (Russia, Venezuela, Iran, etc.) and his response might appear to be wrong by Americans - ie. he is going to look very weak. Because of this, Biden was pleading for liberals' continued support of Obama. Bill Kristol completes the analysis - from Powerline.

This is pretty stunning. Joe Biden is admitting that Obama's reactions to a crisis are going to be weak - and somehow this is supposed to make the world safer?

Iran to be able to Build Bomb by February

According to Debka, U.S. intelligence now says that Iran will be able to build a nuclear bomb by February 2009. If true, I think we can expect an Israeli attack on Iran by year end, particularly if Obama wins in November.

Dem Senator Agrees Obama Tax Plan will Hurt Businesses

Dem Senator Max Baucus (ND) seems to agree that Bush's plan in 2001 to reduce taxes was good for small businesses and Obama's plan to raise taxes would hurt small businesses. The WSJ reports the following statement from Baucus in 2001:

". . . when the new tax relief law is fully phased in, entrepreneurs and small businesses -- owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, S corporations, and farms -- will receive 80 percent of the tax relief associated with reducing the top income tax rates of 36 percent to 33 percent and 39.6 percent to 35 percent."

"Experts agree that lower taxes increase a business' cash flow, which helps with liquidity constraints during an economic slowdown and could increase the demand for investment and labor."

A total of 12 Democrats agreed with Baucus and voted for those tax cuts. If this is what they believed of those tax cuts, it also stands to reason that by raising those taxes, the reverse would happen. It's nice to know that at least a handful of Democrats understand this, even if they won't admit it publicly today.

Colin Powell the Pretender

Colin Powell has officially endorsed Sen. Obama as President. Despite Powell saying he took time to study the candidates, Obama spoke the truth when he said that Colin Powell has already been advising his campaign. So are we supposed to think that Powell was undecided as he was "advising the Obama campaign?" Of course not.

And as the WSJ points out this morning, if Powell really believes "we have to fix the reputation that we've left with the rest of the world," he should have been forthright in the exact role he played in it. He also should have been asked why he wanted to stay on for a second term if those were his feelings. Finally, as the article mentions, why did he allow that drama of the phony Plame scandal drag on for years when it was his office that created the mess and he knew the entire truth of the matter in the first place?

Yes, Powell is more concerned with propping up his failed legacy and unsterling end of his career than he is with being objective. Sour grapes.

Obama Campaign Wants Investigation into FBI Investigation

Entering the surreal world, the Obama campaign wants to investigate the FBI investigation into ACORN's rampant voter fraud. Not kidding - they don't want to investigate the actual voter fraud allegations, but instead want to investigate how the FBI is investigating ACORN and whether they leaked the story of the investigation to the press.

When was the last time you ever heard complaints about a hig-profile FBI investigation being reported in the press?? Unbelievable and only in Obamaland.

Oh yes, and even ACORN admits that its ties to the Obama campaign are more extensive than Obama leads on.

Obama Vows to "Change the World"

Obama believes he will "change the world." I agree.

If turning the greatest country on Earth from a free market, capitalist country where ordinary citizens can live the American dream into a Marxist, socialist, beggar thy neighbor society happens as promised, this will indeed change the world. Just not the way (non-communist) Americans hope.

Even Sen. Voinovich, a "moderate" from Ohio, calls Obama a socialist. Wow - and Voinovich is one of the Democrat friendly RINOs.

08 Deficit Due Almost Entirely to Higher Spending

This post is instructive. The increase in the 2008 deficit vs. 2007 is almost entirely due to higher spending, which increased over 9% vs. a 2% increase in government revenue.

I think it's more than coincidence that this is the first budget year that Democrats ruled Congress and the government purse strings.

The Obamas' Hotel Meals: How do they Survive?

National Review explains the room service snacks of Michelle Obama. I really don't know how she gets through the days and live to tell about them.

Lefty Obama Supporters Shutting Down Joe the Plumber

Joe the Plumber hasn't learned his lesson. You don't ask Obama a tough or embarrassing question and get away with it. Now, the Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services, is helping Obama shut down Joe the Plumber to make sure he doesn't work again. From Hot Air.

Free speech? Not in Obamaland.

Media Branding Joe the Plumber as Racist

It was only a matter of time. Joe the Plumber, who was mentioned several times during the debate last night because he dared question Obama's "spread the wealth" philosophy, is now being branded a racist by the media.

Destroy your opponents - that's the Chicago way...

Obama Debate Lies

It's almost not worth listing Obama's outright lies during the debate because the media won't call him on any of them. I already mentioned his tax cut whoppers. Right Voices has a few more. View from the Ridge has even more Obama lies.

Michelle Obama's "White Racists" Tape to be Released

As I noted earlier in the week, African Press International has a tape of Michelle Obama saying that her husband's opponents are white racists. API says they will release the tapes and additional information. Gateway Pundit has the story and notes that the media is very quick to jump on a rumor that someone shouted "kill him" at a Palin-McCain rally but even when presented with evidence, won't touch this story.

Obama and the Tax Cut Myth

Philip Klein at The American Spectator explains the tax cut myth of Barack Obama very well by asking Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe and senior strategist David Axelrod the following question:

"What rates would actually go down"?

Neither person could answer. So Klein then asked:

"But which type of tax would go down?" followed by "What taxes would you see go lower under the Obama plan?"

Still neither person could answer the question, except Axelrod said, "You would get a $500 cut in your taxes. If you're a couple, $1,000."

What this means is that NO income tax rates will go down under Obama. And because the 2003 tax rates expire in 2010, all rates will actually increase. The only "tax cut" ANY American will receive is a check from the federal government if they should be so kind as to select you as a person who should receive one. And up until this election, this type of "tax cut" was actually called "welfare."

Elections Not Decided Until Final Week

Just a minor point to keep in mind. Polls had Jimmy Carter ahead of Ronald Reagan by 6-7 points during the last week of October in 1980. I think last night was the beginning of the comeback by McCain - I truly believe he will win the election.

Where's that Global Warming Talk?

There was a question about global warming in the debate last night, but why isn't the media talking about it much anymore? John Hawkins asks the question.

Obama Made Up "Kill Him" Remark

Obama made up the remark that McCain crowds shouted "Kill him." Secret service said that was an outright lie.

Debate Thoughts

We're 10 minutes into the debate. My only thought is this: how in the world did Obama ever become Senator, never mind a candidate for President? (Apart from affirmative action, that is...)

Apparently, Obama thinks it is not possible to reduce spending...at all. Also, Bush inherited a $5 trillion dollar deficit and now we have 1/2 a trillion dollar deficit. Not sure he meant to say that...

This is comical. Obama agreed with Congressman Lewis - McCain and Palin are racists...

Wow - Obama spent several minutes explaining William Ayers and ACORN...don't think he wanted to do that...

Obama thought that George W Bush passed NAFTA. Wrong - McCain should have told him it was Clinton.

Who is this guy McCain tonight? He is absolutely destroying Obama.

Mac slams Obama on his infanticide position! Obama dancing the issue...

*Conclusion*
This debate wasn't even close. If people actually watched (and it's a big 'if' since I was almost not going to watch and let's face it - most already know who they're going to vote for), McCain did himself very well. Obama got very bloodied. His only hope is that the press steps in to stop the fight. The one thing Obama did right was he didn't raise his fist and yell "Allahu Akbar." Ok, he also was able to obfuscate the difference between a tax cut and a welfare check (which to Obama, is the same).

Obama Defends: It was ACORN who was Defrauded!

Barack Obama, without knowing any of the facts (actually, he probably knows all the facts) defended ACORN's tactics:

"My understanding in terms of the voter fraud — because having run a voter registration drive, I know how problems arise — this is typically a situation where ACORN probably paid people to get registrations, and these folks, not wanting to actually register people because that’s actually hard work, just went into a phone book or made up names and submitted false registrations to get paid,” he said.

“So there’s been fraud perpetrated probably on ACORN, if they paid these individuals and they actually didn’t do registrations, but this isn’t a situation where there’s actually people who are going to try to vote, ‘cause these are phony names, and it’s doubtful Tony Romo is gonna show up in Ohio to vote, so this is another one of these distractions that gets stirred up in the course of a campaign."

So according to Obama, it is actually ACORN who has been defrauded. No big deal. Funny that he knows so much about voter fraud despite not having asked a single question or done any investigation. Hmm....

ACORN Fraud in Philly; Where is Justice Dept?

More ACORN. More fraud. This time in Philly. What else is new?

ACORN should be outlawed. They have been caught committing voter fraud in every state in the union. We outlawed the KKK and the Mafia; it's time to outlaw ACORN and indict its top officials. We waste millions of dollars on canards like the Plame story - we might as well start to punish real crimes.

Murtha Says Western PA Racist

Jack Murtha said that "there is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area."

Perhaps he will say he was taken out of context. Hopefully his constituents decide to vote him out so we don't have to listen to him anymore

Obama Campaign Helps Media with Talking Points

As Drudge is reporting, just in case the media weren't already fully in the tank for Obama, Obama's campaign sent out an email with debate "talking points" for all to consider. How thoughtful.

Biden Steered $2 Million in Campaign Cash to Family

Joe Biden appears to be keeping up that great tradition of Democrat politics, following in the footsteps of Harry Reid (to sons), Dianne Feinstein (contract to husband), et. al.

Biden has sent $2 million in campaign cash to family members and their employers.

Michelle Obama Calls Barack's Opponents Racists

Speaking with African Press International (API), Michelle Obama lashed out against the media outlet for helping "to spread rumours created by American bloggers and other racist media outlets in their efforts to damage a black man’s name." Michelle went on to say, ““African press International is supposed to support Africans and African-American view...it is strange that API has chosen to support the racists against my husband. "

It is unclear who these "racist opponents" are, but my guess is that it's anyone who doesn't vote for Obama in November.

ACORN Paying for Signatures

From witness testimony in Cleveland, ACORN has been pressuring and paying people to sign fraudulent voter registrations.

My question is this: if CEOs go to jail for fraud that they may or may not know about at their companies, why shouldn't the entire Board and/or management of ACORN be indicted as well?

Jesse Jackson: Jews to Lose Influence Under Obama

Jesse Jackson said that under an Obama administration, things would be very different. First, America would apologize to the rest of the world for our sins. But more importantly, he says that Jews will almost certainly lose their influence.

"Zionists who have controlled American policy for decades" remain strong, they'll lose a great deal of their clout when Barack Obama enters the White House.

This wasn't the ACORN Obama Knew...

Obama is trying to distance himself from ACORN; it's only a matter of time before he goes Jeremiah Wright on the group...

Schumer Lectures on How to Rescue Banks

Democrat Sen. Charles Schumer penned an editorial in the WSJ today to say that the Treasury plan for direct investment into banks is a good one.

Always good for a little irony, it was Schumer who helped the bank failure train pick up steam when his inappropriate public comments single-handedly brought down Indymac Bank a few weeks back.

Obama to "Spread the Wealth"

In response to a plumber who said that his business earns more than $250K, thus being a target for Obama's tax increases, Obama said that the government needs to "spread the wealth" around so that everyone is better off.

If this doesn't scare the begeezus out of everybody, I don't know what will. This is a pure socialist concept and is why he is generally not allowed to say anything unscripted or people will see him for what he is rather than what his handlers are portraying him to be.

ACORN Continues: More Fraud in Indiana

Obama's favorite organization is at it again. Every single one of the first 2,100 new registrations in Lake County, Indiana were fraudulent, courtesy of ACORN. CNN reports the story, but forgot to mention one important factor - which candidate ACORN is working for...

At least the Obama campaign is leaving no stone (or dead corpse) unturned for the election.

Clinton Campaign: Obama Committing Election Fraud

Lyn Utrecht, Counsel for Hillary's presidential campaign, submitted a letter in January to the Nevada State Democratic Party claiming that Obama's campaign was complicit in committing voter fraud and intimidation. The logical extension is that if it worked during the primaries without challenge, it will certainly work in the general election. From Israpundit.

Was Obama's "Mentor and Father Figure" a Pedophile?

The National Enquirer (yes, the same tabloid that broke the John Edwards affair scandal) is reporting that Frank Marshall Davis, whom Obama referred to as a "mentor and father figure" in Dreams of My Fathers, has admitted to living a secret double life. The Enquirer claims that Davis admits of his sexual deviancy, including pedophilia and sexual perversion.

First, even though the Enquirer was correct about the Edwards story, it's hard to say whether this is truthful or not. Second, the media isn't going to touch this story with a ten-foot pole. Third, even if it were reported, the media will immediately write it off as McCain's smearing lies and personal attacks. Fourth, even if it were determined to be true, it probably wouldn't hurt him with his base.

Dems Covering Up FL Democrat Rep. Mahoney Payment to Mistress

According to ABCNews' Brian Ross, top Democrats are involved in covering up Democrat Rep. Tim Mahoney's $121,000 hush money to silent a mistress. Mahoney took Mark Foley's seat after the high-profile emails he sent to pages, which came to light during the 2006 campaign.

Senior Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives, including Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), the chair of the Democratic Caucus, have been working with Mahoney to keep the matter from hurting his re-election campaign, the Mahoney staffers said.

More Democratic culture of corruption issues? Something tells me it won't get the same media coverage that the Mark Foley scandal did.

Gasparino: An Obama Market Panic

Charles Gasparino, on-air editor at CNBC, thinks that the market has not only been factoring in financial liquidity issues, but as Obama is supposedly was widening his lead in the polls last week, the market was also beginning to discount Obama policies. If that's the case, Gasparino suggests we might still have a long way to go down. He calls it the Obama panic.

When Republicans March in Liberal Cities...

This Youtube video is pretty interesting - it shows what happens when Republicans hold a march supporting McCain-Palin. Reminds me of old films on Nazi Germany when the Jews and outcasts were marched through the city while the citizens jeered them from the sidelines.

And Gateway Pundit has these photos of people jeering McCain-Palin (warning: graphic language). I wonder what would happen if Republicans wore t-shirts that said the same thing about Michelle Obama. Would be no big deal, right?

Iran Sets Preconditions for Meeting with U.S.

Obama will meet with Iran with no preconditions, but Iran isn't even that short-sighted. In fact, Iran has laid down 2 rather substantive pre-conditions for meeting with the U.S.:

1) Stop supporting Israel
2) Pull out of the Middle East altogether

I'm sure Obama would love to meet these two conditions as soon as possible, but although he might not mind alienating Israel, even he might not want to lose two wars at the same time. I'm sure he'll think hard about it though.

North Korea Scores Victory: Off Terror List

The WSJ said it best this morning about the U.S. removal of North Korea from its state sponsors of terrorism list. (How do you say appeasement in Korean?)

Kim Jong Il, despite having broken every disarmament promise he's ever made, has thus managed to persuade another U.S. President that he's serious about giving up his nuclear program. President Bush's agreement sends this message to Iran and other rogue states: Go nuclear and your political leverage increases.

It appears that President Bush is now listening to his Democrat and media critics - and with it, he and Secretary of State Rice will undermine every positive foreign policy initiative undertaken over the last 8 years. It also will virtually guarantee an Israeli attack on Iran later in the year since Israel now knows it can't trust its U.S. allies.

How the Dems Define "Middle Class"

The Democrat-proposed "stimulus package" (read: welfare package) makes it clear what the Democrats mean when they use the term "middle class." Barney Frank summed it up:

The idea is "give the middle class and the average citizen the same kind of relief that we try to give the financial sector."

The vast majority of the money would be used for jobless benefits, food stamps and construction jobs given out by the government. It's pretty clear that what Democrats refer to as "middle class" is the welfare class. Extending this to Obama, it's not hard to see why he says the middle class will do well under his proposals - he's going to increase the size of welfare payments. As for the real middle class that works and pays taxes, you're out of luck.

The Future of Free Speech under Obama

Michael Barone at National Review contemplates the future of the free speech by pointing out several examples by the Obama campaign to suppress any opposition voice against Obama.

Obama supporters who found the campuses congenial and Obama himself, who has chosen to live all his adult life in university communities, seem to find it entirely natural to suppress speech that they don't like and seem utterly oblivious to claims that this violates the letter and spirit of the First Amendment. In this campaign, we have seen the coming of the Obama thugocracy, suppressing free speech, and we may see its flourishing in the four or eight years ahead.

Obama: McCain-Palin Are "Hateful"

After Democrat Rep. John Lewis called McCain and Palin racists, Obama said that they were simply "hateful".

*Update*
Red State has quotes from Obama's Philadelphia speech, with a race-baiting quote taken from the movie Malcom X. I guess this is Obama's version of "bringing everyone together."

2006 McCain Letter Demanded Action on Fannie/Freddie

A 2006 letter from John McCain and signed by 19 other senators demanded action on Fannie and Freddie. Unsurprisingly, Barack Obama did not sign it. In fact, no Democrats signed it.

Once again, it was the Republicans who tried to fix the problem and the Democrats who prevented it.

Thousands more Ohio registrations fraudulent

In Hamilton County, Ohio, 10,000 out of 40,000 new ACORN registrations appear to be fraudulent, while the remaining 30,000 are not cross-checked. Dems strike again, courtesy of Obama's favorite organization - ACORN. From Red State.

Pelosi: Welfare = Stimulus Package

Nancy Pelosi said that the U.S. needs another $150 billion "stimulus package," and then went on to describe dramatic increases in welfare programs. To Democrats, real stimulus that encourages job and capital creation is equivalent to a "boon for the rich" while welfare spending is somehow an economic growth package.

How anyone can trust Democrat instincts on economic issues is beyond me.

CT Ok's Gay Marriage

Connecticut's Supreme Court Ok'd gay marriage. While this should be a positive for McCain, there has yet to be a question on this issue in any debates because it would help to hurt Obama. So I don't expect any discussion of it during the next debate either.

ACORN Files Suit for Imaginary Folks

ACORN is sticking up for all those imaginary people they help register and filed a suit today to protect them.

"We will not be silent when government denies people access to the polls on the basis of color, or sex, or existential status."

Judge Orders Terrorist Suspects Released

Judge Urbina said that several Chinese Muslims picked up in Afghanistan in 2002 need to be released. And because no country will accept them, they will likely be living as one of our neighbors in the very near future.

Be sure to invite them over for dinner and be nice to them. Perhaps Justice Kennedy will take them in and adopt them since it was his swing vote that allowed this to happen.

Greatest Obama Quotes

John Hawkins has a great post on some of the greatest quotes from Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and even a few from his pastor Jeremiah Wright. And he didn't even have to go to Obama's books to find gems like, "White man's greed runs a world in need."

Putin: US Damaged Forever over Economy

This could be the joke of the day. Vladimir Putin declares that the U.S. economic credibility is gone forever. Meanwhile, the Russian stock market is down some 75% because no one dares invest in the country that is returning to its communist roots and receives the vast majority of its income from oil, which bubble has burst.

Capitulation Day?

Well, it's certainly an interesting time to say the least. I can't prognosticate any better than the talking heads (ok, I can, but trying to be modest here), but it sure feels like the capitulation day when everyone throws in the towel on the market.

Virginia To Lay off 500 Employees - It's a Start

VA Democrat Gov. Tim Kaine said that he will lay off 500+ employees immediately to help bridge an expected $1 billion budget deficit.

First, I have no idea how they are in this position - Virginia's state revenues have been growing at 8-10%/year for a decade. They used up this revenue growth by bloating the state's payrolls.

Second, the state has 116,000 employees - a layoff of 500 is a good start, but we're still likely double the number we had about a decade ago.

Here come the tax increase proposals...

Did Bill Ayers Ghost Write Obama's 'Dreams of My Father?'

Jack Cashill at American Thinker poses the question of whether it might have been Bill Ayers who actually helped write - or wrote - Dreams of My Fathers for Obama. While Cashill is quick to note that it's impossible to prove, he presents many similarities between Dreams and Fugitive Days, which was authored by Bill Ayers.

It doesn't really matter since most authors today barely write their own works anyway, but it is an interesting question and the evidence is compelling.

Voter Fraud in Indianapolis?

There are 644,000 people eligible to vote in Indianapolis. But with the help of ACORN and other groups, there are 676,000 people registered. Hmm. Also, Obama's campaign has already paid ACORN over $800,000 to help get out the vote so far this year.

Schumer Complains About U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) complained today that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a "wing of the GOP."

This is rich. How many Left-wing organizations are there that claim to be nonpartisan (ie. NOW, ACLU, Rainbow/Push,...the list is too numerous to mention all of them)? There is a very simple way for the Chamber to support more Democrats - adopt pro-business policies! But until that happens, why would any business want to support a politician that claims businesses are evil and should pay higher taxes and earn fewer profits?

Nobel Prize Winner: Economic Slowdown Good for Climate

For all you folks who are having financial struggles, Nobel Prize winner Paul Crutzen says that our slowdown is good for the planet, which could use a "breather" from those evil greenhouse gases.

Noticeably Absent from Debate

One more quick point on the debate: topics related to abortion, immigration, gun control, judicial nominations and anything to do with religion.

The witness protection program continues for Obama...the first candidate in history where you can't discuss anything.

More ACORN Fraud in Nevada, Missouri

Obama's favorite organization, ACORN, saw its offices in Las Vegas raided. Documents were found that showed more voter fraud in Nevada and Missouri. Shouldn't be a surprise to anyone - I expect more dead people to vote this year than ever before.

Debate Analysis

Hot Air thinks McCain won.

Right Wing News has all of the debate reaction, and most of it is somewhat negative.

All I know is McCain missed so many opportunities to tell the truth about Obama's tax plans (doubling capital gains, dividends and everything else). Also, they both agreed that we needed new huge agencies to rework people's mortgages and handle global warming. Message for anyone who owns a mortgage - miss a few payments, let the government buy it and then renegotiate it down. Free money from the government for everyone!

Brokaw sucked as expected - nothing that might raise Obama's character (Rezko, Wright, Ayers, abortion,...just the same old global warming B.S.) This was the second debate and still not a SINGLE question about all of Obama's radical connections.

Liberals won this election, regardless of who is elected.

McCain Lost Debate After First Question

Barack Obama is terrible, but John McCain is trying to match him. He lost me after the first question. Apparently we have two candidates that want to have the government bailout every single mortgage holder in the country. Wonderful.

Obama was himself - all the money belongs to the government and any tax cut is a "cost" to the "government's money." McCain did his best liberal impersonation.

Let's face it - if McCain wins, we're screwed. If Obama wins, we might as well give all our assets to the government and let them divide them up and distribute them to whom they see fit. It might just pay off to quit your job and go onto welfare.

Dems Draft Climate Change Bill

Just what we need in a time of economic crisis...Dems unveiled a climate change bill that would likely cost trillions of dollars over the next several decades. And since the climate has actually been getting cooler over the past decade, the result is flushing this money down the drain.

Now all we need is Obama's trillion dollar tax increase and we're on our way.

US Keeping Troops in Kosovo Until at Least 2009

The focus of the Left is to pull troops out of Iraq, but U.S. officials have confirmed that we will maintain a military presence at least through 2009. That makes it over a decade and counting for Kosovo.

CNN Admits Obama Lied about Bill Ayers Relationship

From Hot Air. CNN comes out and gives a pretty thorough history of the Obama-Ayers relationship and yes, they say that Obama lied about it. Of course, Anderson Cooper asks the question at the end of the segment about why working together on "improving schools" is a bad thing, but it seems clear that even CNN thinks Ayers was a radical and many of the recipients of the Annenberg Challenge and Woods Foundation, on which both Ayers and Obama worked, were radical as well.

Under Reported Ticket Sales for 'An American Carol?''

It appears that several theaters across the country are under reporting ticket sales for 'An American Carol' in an effort to downplay the popularity of the conservative film. Other theaters may have given it an incorrect 'R' rating instead of 'PG-13.'

Lehman CEO: We Were "Only One" Not Rescued

Lehman CEO Richard Fuld appeared before Congress today and asked a fair question: why was Lehman the only firm that was not bailed out by the government?

The Feds provided deals to Bear Stearns, AIG, Wachovia, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but allowed Lehman to file for bankruptcy. Granted, the other deals weren't great either, but they were much better than bankruptcy.

The problem with government bailouts is that the government seems to be able to pick and choose which firms they help and which ones they do not. And unfortunately for Fuld, the government never has to explain its actions.

McCain Finally Nails Obama for Fannie and Freddie

It's about time. McCain is finally pinning a large part of the blame of this financial mess exactly where it should be - on Fannie and Freddie, aided and abetted for the past decade by Obama and the Democrats.

Hopefully he will repeat it tomorrow at the debate so people know how this crisis began and who prevented the reform of Fannie and Freddie.

Laissez Faire Not to Blame

We keep hearing Obama & Co. say that free market capitalism has failed. But as Cafe Hayek points out, no one with a clean conscience can possibly believe that we haven't had significant government interference (ie. Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac). This quote sums it up best:

To blame laissez faire for today's economic crisis is akin to blaming the human body's natural and normal functioning for the illness suffered by someone who's overdosing on heroin.

Troops Overwhelmingly Support McCain

A military poll shows that McCain is the preferred candidate among our troops by a whopping 45% margin. And it's only that close because Obama is the chosen candidate among black service members by a huge margin.

Obama can claim he "supports the troops," but I think the military knows the truth - and I think they much prefer military victories to surrenders.

59% Want to Replace Congress

Rasmussen reports that 59% of Americans want to replace the entire Congress. With Pelosi and Reid in charge, it's not difficult to see why.

AP Calls Palin Racist

Palin says that Obama has close terrorist connections in Bill Ayers. AP says that the comment is racially motivated.

Still trying to figure that one out but apparently if we all don't bow down to the Messiah's feet, we're all racists.

Biden in First Gulf War: U.S. Will Bear 95% of Casualties

In the run-up to the First Gulf War, to which Joe Biden was adamantly opposed, Saddam used Biden's own words as propaganda against American troops. He replayed Biden's speech on local radio for the U.S. Armed Forces to hear just prior to the attack.

Biden went on for thousands of words about how "big nations cannot bluff . . . this is a serious mistake . . . when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. We are in a bit of a hole here . . . 95% of the casualties in the coalition will be American . . . It is not preposterous to suggest that we may have an occupying force in Baghdad for years. Maybe a month, but it could be years . . . four hundred thousand Americans sit in the desert ready to launch an assault that would be vastly larger than D-Day in its size and scope."

Once again, Biden's judgement was dangerously wrong.

Palin vs. Biden on Charitable Giving

Sarah Palin released her tax forms yesterday - she donates more than 10x the amount to charity than Joe Biden.

More Dead and Underage People Registered in IN

Courtesy of ACORN, hundreds more dead people, fictitious people and underage people have been registered to vote in Indiana. Fortunately, some of these new registrations were discovered.

Dead people voting - it's still the Chicago way.

Biden's Debate Lies

Ace of Spades lists 14 lies of Joe Biden during the debate last night.

Government the Problem Now More than Ever

One other item of importance during the Palin-Biden debate was Sarah Palin's point, which Ronald Reagan articulated so effectively, that government is part of the problem and not the solution to the problem.

This is the starkest difference between Obama and McCain (alhtough on some issues, they sound the same). And regardless of what the liberal media says, Rasmussen polls show that 59% of Americans agree with this fact.

After watching this government rescue package, I think even more people will agree with it. The rescue might help or it might not, but it's sure to cost a ton of money and it's sure to create plenty of moral hazards.

Bill Passes - Homeowners to Be Bailed Out

There's a lot not to like in this pork-laden bill, but section 110 is problematic:

GENERAL.—To the extent that the Federal property manager holds, owns, or controls mortgages, mortgage backed securities, and other assets ecured by residential real estate, including multifamily housing, the Federal property manager shall implement a plan that seeks to maximize assistance for homeowners and use its authority to encourage the servicers of the underlying mortgages, and considering net present value to the taxpayer, to take advantage of the HOPE for Homeowners Program under section 257 of the National Housing Act or other available programs to minimize foreclosures. (2) MODIFICATIONS.—In the case of a residential mortgage loan, modifications made under paragraph (1) may include—

(A) reduction in interest rates;
(B) reduction of loan principal; and
(C) other similar modifications.

I thought Paulson was worried about moral hazards, which is why he allowed shareholders of Fannie, Freddie, Bear Stearns, Lehman, AIG and Wachovia to lose huge amounts of money. But in this bill, the Federal government is going to restructure the mortgage of seemingly anyone who can't afford their existing mortgage. Personal responsibility? Not anymore.

And California Needs a $7 Billion Bailout

This is the problem with this rescue package. Now California needs a bailout - and who has been running California for the past decade? Liberals.

Any swing state who needs a bailout should also ask for it now - with an election 30 days away, they would probably get it.

Ollie North: Iraq War All But Won

While Obama/Biden continue to talk about timetables for withdrawal, the media hasn't noticed that the Iraq War is essentially won, although Gen. Odierno won't admit it because there are still suicide bombings. Ollie North explains what else the media missed this week.

By the time the next President is inaugurated, we will have won the Iraq War and might well be near winning the Afghan War as well. And then the next President will claim it was he who did the winning. (Can't you just see Obama declaring that it was his election that won us the two most crucial wars against Al Qaeda in history?)

Barney Frank: Didn't See Anything Wrong at Fannie

Even the Brits see that the financial crisis is almost entirely due to Democrats' protection of Faniie and Freddie, particularly Rep. Barney Frank. UK's Independent:

Yet Barney Frank and his chums blocked all Bush's attempts to put a rein on Raines. During the House Financial Services Committee hearing following Bush's initiative, Frank declared: "The more people exaggerate a threat of safety and soundness [at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae], the more people conjure up the possibility of serious financial losses to the Treasury which I do not see. I think we see entities that are fundamentally sound financially." His colleague on the committee, the California Democrat Maxine Walters, said: "There were nearly a dozen hearings where we were trying to fix something that wasn't broke. Mr Chairman, we do not have a crisis at Freddie Mac and particularly at Fannie Mae under the outstanding leadership of Mr Franklin Raines."

When Mr Raines himself was challenged by the Republican Christopher Shays, to the effect that his ratio of capital to assets (that is, mortgages) of 3 per cent was dangerously low, the Fannie Mae boss retorted that "our assets are so riskless, we could have a capital ratio of under 2 per cent".

More Biden Debate Gaffes?

From the Corner:

It comes as a surprise to us in Delaware that Joe Biden recently had a meal and talked with patrons at “Katie’s Restaurant” on Union Street in Wilmington.Katie’s Restaurant closed years ago. It was on Scott Street in Little Italy, not on Union Street. To the best of my recollection, it closed in 1990 or thereabouts.Now tell me, who is it that “doesn’t get it” and “is out of touch?”Can you imagine if McCain or Palin had said something equally stupid?

Interesting - but frankly, if Biden didn't have a response, he would just say that McCain voted for the same bill - which are total lies and distortions. My question is, what the heck is a Bosniak?

Quick Thought About American Exceptionalism

Sarah Palin is the first person in a long time who articulated the concept of American exceptionalism and American ideals. I think that was the most important line of the night. She hit Obama pretty hard by saying that America is not always perfect but she is always proud of her country because of the ideals of the country. I can't remember the last time I heard Obama say something like that about his country - either abroad or here in the U.S. Typically the best he can muster is, "everyone knows how I feel about my country."

O'Reilly Slams Barney Frank in Interview

Bill O'Reilly is typically a blowhard on economic issues, but he is the only person that placed blame on the financial crisis where it belongs - with Barney Frank and Fannie Mae. Gateway Pundit has the exchange and video.

Barney Frank had the audacity to suggest that he tried to reform Fannie Mae but he was blocked. Unbelievable how liberals can rewrite history. It would have been nice to also hear O'Reilly ask whether Frank would be in favor of having hearings with Franklin Raines, Jim Johnson, Jamie Gorelick and others.

Biden: Let the Government Buy Everyone's Home

Joe Biden believes the government should be allowed to adjust the mortgage of every American to some level that a judge sees fit. Hmmm...let's give every American $1 million while we're at it.

Overall, I think Biden looked a bit too angry and Palin came across as sharp and frankly, refreshingly conservative.

Obama Supporters Vandalize More Cars

Why is it always the Left who does this stuff? Once again, Obama thugs vandalized vehicles whose owners dared to express their first amendment by showing a McCain bumper sticker.

By now, it shouldn't surprise anyone - this is Chicago thug politics - Obama style.

British Ambassador: Obama an "Aloof Liberal"

Sir Nigel Sheinwald, in a letter to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, says that Obama is "decidedly liberal" and aloof, as well as somewhat of an elitist.

Hey, at least some Brits still have at least a little sense.

Reid Pulls his Best Chuck Schumer Gaffe

Democrat Senate Leader Harry Reid takes notes from his buddy Chuck Schumer. After Schumer forced a run at Indymac Bank recently, Reid said yesterday that a major insurance company is about to fail.

And then they forced insurance companies to provide mental health coverage to policyholders. And this is supposed to help those companies about to go bankrupt?? Of course, all it's going to do is increase health care inflation for consumers and businesses alike. Thanks guys!

Ifill Didn't Tell Commission About Obama Book

Gwen Ifill admits that she never told the Debate Commission about her Obama book. But then she says that it's hardly about Obama anyway.

Uhhh....it just has the term "Age of Obama" in its title. And obviously, if Obama doesn't win, the book will end up on the scrap heap. Do we really think she doesn't want Obama to win?

Election Shenanigans Already Starting in OH

It looks like Ohio's Democrat Secretary of State is encouraging the banning of election monitors and allowing people to register and vote on the same day. I wonder if Albert Einstein and Charlie Brown have cast their votes for Obama yet.

Obama Raising Millions From Foreigners?

It appears that Obama is raising millions of dollars overseas and because only U.S. citizens are legally allowed to donate, the campaign has refused to disclose its overseas donors. Hmm...maybe the imams and Chi-coms are bundlers for him.

Pelosi PAC Pays Off Husband - Will She Resign?

Nancy Pelosi has been siphoning money from her political action committee to pay off her husband Paul Pelosi, according to the Washington Times. The PAC paid him $99,000 since it was formed and $45,000 this year alone.

Last year, Mrs. Pelosi supported a bill that would have banned members of Congress from putting spouses on their campaign staffs. The bill - which passed the House in a voice vote but did not get out of a Senate committee - banned not only direct payments by congressional campaign committees and PACs to spouses for services including consulting and fundraising, but also "indirect compensation," such as payments to companies that employ spouses.

Hmmm...isn't this why Tom DeLay had to resign? Nancy doesn't seem to mind the "culture of corruption" as long as it involves her own corruption.

Ifill Writing Book "Age of Obama"

According to Drudge, Gwen Ifill's "Age of Obama" book is to be released on Inauguration Day. And she is supposed to be a neutral moderator for the VP debate tomorrow?

Michelle Malkin reminds us that it was Ifill who penned a fawning article on the Obamas in Essence magazine. Bias? What bias?

Doesn't the AP Know the Truth About the New Deal Yet?

One of the top AP headlines of the day: "Roosevelt Talk on Unstable Economy Oddly Prescient," which goes on to talk about how he saw that problems in the economy needed to be addressed.

"We have not been brought to our present state by any natural calamity — by drought or floods or earthquakes or by the destruction of our productive machine or our man power," Roosevelt told the crowd. "This is the awful paradox with which we are confronted, a stinging rebuke that challenges our power to operate the economic machine which we have created."

Many of today's issues were around then, including war, globalization and the falling value of the American dollar. And so Roosevelt cautioned against the danger of inaction, a warning also echoed this week in Washington.

"The country needs and — unless I mistake its temper — the country demands bold, persistent experimentation," he said before delivering one of his most-often quoted lines: "It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."

So first, the article compares the Depression with today, however dissimilar. Second, it suggests that the answer to that crisis was the New Deal, when in fact, most economists agree that the New Deal made the economy much worse than it otherwise would have been. I suppose the true point of the article is what FDR really knew: whichever candidate panders the most to the American people, promising them that the government will give them everything they need, will win the election.