Why the "Bailout" Failed

This financial crisis has not been adequately explained to the American public and the "bailout" is not an actual "bailout of Wall Street." Wall Street is already pretty well screwed. Banks will continue to close, investment bankers are going to lose their jobs, a lot of rich people will become substantially less rich. What the more aptly named "rescue plan" is about is trying to stop the Wall Street financial crisis-- fueled by greed and deregulation-- from crashing down on Main Street in the form of a credit crisis.

Here is what people need to know-- most companies and small businesses rely on credit to make payroll. Some businesses NEED credit for people to buy their products-- car sales, real estate (residential and commerical), student loans, etc. If credit dries up for a long period of time we're looking at widespread layoffs as businesses contract-- many businesses will close altogether. We have a economy that is driven by consumerism-- if the money dries up so does the economy in general. If the stock market tanks it will hurt the average person, either directly by shrinking their 401k or pension, or indirectly by harming the economy in general.

This could lead to systemic failure that will hurt A LOT of people in the short-term and be hard to get out of in the mid and long-term. A "rescue" from the government is intended to keep credit available so that much of this won't happen-- it won't stop the pain completely but it's the difference between a kick in the head or someone chopping your legs off at the knees.

As I see it those who are supporting the bill as a necessary evil have not done enough to educate the public. The Bush Administration royally screwed up when they introduced the "bailout" in the first place-- they failed to educate everyone about why this is needed and they completely underestimated how little trust the American public has in Bush and his administration. It goes way beyond the fact that Bush is a lame duck-- he's the least popular lame duck evah.

Palin's Couric Interview

In a word-- scary. Some other words come to mind as well, like mindbogglingly ignorant. Palin actually believes that she's qualified and ready to be VP so that makes her kneenockingly arrogant as well. Palin's interview was like watching a 7th grader do a book report and they haven't read the book. They stand there, visibly frustrated, trying to bs their way through it and failing miserably. She wasn't even coherent in most of her answers. She doesn't even have the most rudimentary political skills-- if you don't know the answer STOP TALKING. Say something vague and change the subject to something you do know something about.

If Obama doesn't win I am prepared to secede individually. I will declare my house and its land a foreign, independent nation. Seriously.

Bailout = Ransom?

Why do I feel like the Bush-Paulson "bailout" plan is nothing more than a 3-page ransom note for $700,000,000,000 from the very people who helped to kidnap the economy-- and if we don't pay up they're going to kill it for good? Can they be believed or trusted? Is it overly hyperbolic to call what is going on "economic terrorism"?

So much more needs to be done to make sure that this isn't just a totally INSANE power grab by the Bush Administration. It's the most arrogant request by a lame duck president in the history of lame duck presidents.

Simply McCain

Whenever I turn on the teevee and see McCain or one of his minions one word instantly and incessantly pops into my mind:

McDouchebag.

McCain has NO credibility left whatsoever. It's as if he has electrodes attached to his private man parts that shock him every time he tells the truth or says anything based on reality. His surrogates know this as well. That's really the only explanation left.

The Most Dishonest Presidential Campaign EVAH

McCain is blatantly lying REPEATEDLY right out of the gate. He lies about his own record, Sarah Palin's, and he lies about Obama's. Not to mention that Palin is lying as well. But not regular stretch-the-truth kind of lies. BIG BOLD-FACED ONES. The MSM is actually talking about some of them and Dems are talking about them. Writers in newspapers-- both editorial and on the AP-- are writing about the lies. Does it matter?

It's a pretty amazing strategy, actually, because it's much harder to argue with someone who is completely and shamelessly making shit up. It leaves your oppoenent bewildered and slackjawed and stuttering-- "but, but, none of that is true!" It's much harder to forumulate your own argument because you're standing their in a sort of stunned righteous anger.

What the campaign is betting on is that McCain has the whole honorable POW thing to innoculate him. They seem to think that convincing others that he is lying will be especially difficult-- especially after 8 years of Bush we all expect some level of distortion and spin.

I fully expect that McCain's next stage of his strategy will be to spend a lot of time talking about the importance of truth and honesty in government-- because that means he's truthful and honest, right?

The bottom line is this-- we have never seen a campaign quite like this so a lot of people don't seem to recognize what is going on. Here's to hoping that they do catch on. My one hope is that at this rate of lying he has to make up a real doozy that could seriously catch up with him. Something so obvious that it doesn't look like spin against him. That's the problem with lying-- you have to keep track of all the lies because eventually you're lying about the lies in a way that increases your chances of exposure.

Palin Pays for Her Popularity in Alaska-- Literally

A lot of republicans have repeated the claim that "she's the most popular governor in the country!" whenever talking about Governor Sarah Palin.

Well, I'd love my governor too if he wrote everyone in my family a check for $3,200! I wish that dems were as half as organized as the GOP when it comes to repeated responses-- it would make a great talking point whenever some GOPer says it like it means Palin is the best governor in the country.

It would also help illuminate just how *differently* Alaska functions from every other state in the country. You know, like the fact that no one there pays income or sales tax. Because they get most of their money from oil company revenues or federal tax dollars from the lower 48. Frankly her experiences as governor might even be less germaine than any other state and makes her especially woefully unprepared to run the country.

How to Undo McCain/Palin

It's all about the "maverick."

McCain/Palin are branding themselves with the SAME BRAND. It is the hollow label they are both using to separate themselves from the GOP and Bush. It's the key to taking them BOTH out with the same attack. They're NOT mavericks, they're both full of crap.

That "maverick" brand is a fake and needs to be shredded-- neither one of them are mavericks. They're just packaging-- like when a product stays the same but calls itself "new and improved" to pretend it's something new. Don't fall for it, Mavericks = Pretenders

Obama needs to push them on that label, something along the lines of this:

A simple McCain v. McCain ad. The Daily Show already did a preview of it last week, showing how McCain has taken polar opposite views between now and 2000. First he was against overturning Roe, now he wants it overturned and so on.

Attack Palin on her bridge to nowhere garbage and her love of pork. The maverick label is meaningless. She's just more of the McSame.

Palin is a Proud Puppy Killer!!!!

Just when I thought I couldn't like Sarah Palin less I read stuff like this.

In early 2007, Palin's administration approved an initiative to pay a $150
bounty to hunters who killed a wolf from an airplane in certain areas, hacked
off the left foreleg, and brought in the appendage. Ruling that the Palin
administration didn't have the authority to offer payments, a state judge
quickly put a halt to them but not to the shooting of wolves from aircraft.
...
The controversy over Palin's promotion of predator control goes beyond animal rights activists recoiling at the thought of picking off wolves from airplanes. A raft of scientists has argued that Palin has provided little evidence that the current program of systematically killing wolves, estimated at a population of 7,000 to 11,000, will result in more moose for hunters. State estimates of moose populations have come under scrutiny. Some wildlife biologists say predator control advocates don't even understand what wolves eat.
...
Last year, 172 scientists signed a letter to Palin, expressing concern about the lack of science behind the state's wolf-killing operation. According to the scientists, state officials set population objectives for moose and caribou based on "unattainable, unsustainable historically high populations." As a result, the "inadequately designed predator control programs" threatened the long-term health of both the ungulate and wolf populations. The scientists concluded with a plea to Palin to consider the conservation of wolves and bears "on an equal basis with the goal of producing more ungulates for hunters."

Apparently Palin wasn't fazed. Earlier this year she introduced state legislation that would further divorce the predator-control program from science. The legislation would transfer authority over the program from the state Department of Fish and Game to Alaska's Board of Game, whose members are appointed by, well, Palin. Even some hunters were astounded by her power play.

Palin-- The GOP Swoons After the First Date

The GOP just had their first date with Sarah Palin and they are SWOONING. So much that they seem to be happy to ignore all the red flags-- you know, like the fact that she's currently under investigation for ethics violations and has not been cleared of them. (Imagine if Obama or Biden had this hanging over their heads?) On top of that she's seriously monkeying around with the investigation, refusing to cooperate while saying that they're happy to do so.

The only person I'm finding surprisingly honest about his "anxiety" about her selection is none other than David Frum. Although he represents the more wonky wing of the GOP-- not to mention a member of the arugla-eating, latte-drinking "elite" crowd is sounding like someone who feels like his party is officially being taken over by people whom he doesn't admire very much-- namely, the religious right.

I think Palin might actually scare me more than John McCain does. So far what has come out since the annoucement is a lot of pretty bad stuff. Although the more I read the more they do sound like "soul mates." Palin has been described as "brittle" and McCain's temper is infamous. They both seem to define "maverick" the same way-- tough, uncompromising, intolerant of opposing views, and quick to judgement.

Also, just saw an interview with Mike Wooton and Walter Monegan on "Anderson Cooper 360. " At first blush it appears that their stories seem pretty credible and Wooton in particular says he's only granting an interview this time so he can set the record straight.

Playing the Refs?

After watching Palin's speech-- surprise, surprise-- she's taking on the "press" for attacking her and her family.

Nice new strategy there, let's declare a pre-emptive war on the press for asking basic questions about who she is, her background and McCain's vetting process. That also serves an additional purpose --it could work to minimize the negative reports from Alaska about her record of trying to ban books, firing anyone who gets in her way, as well as a reputation for being "brittle." Apparently being a "maverick" means you doing whatever the hell you want and getting pissed when someone questions you about it.

I really hope that is something they keep up-- it makes them look weak and certainly won't help them get them kind treatment from the press. I always worried that the press's deep affection for McCain "the Maverick" would hurt Obama-- looks like they might be getting ready to trash that relationship by playing the "victim card." Ironic, eh?

Well, unless the press then bends over backwards to try and make McCain/Palin feel like they're being treated "fairly" by the "liberal media." Although Chris Matthews-- who usually bugs me-- just had a nice rant about how she's attacking the press for doing its job. Matthews just accused McCain/Palin of "ginning up" this fight to garner sympathy and fight back against questions about Palin.

So not only are they attacking the Dems as elitists but now they're going after the whole "Washington elitist establishment." I know this has worked in the past, let's see if it works again.

Just an aside, it's nothing short of HILARIOUS to see Mittens Romney attack the "east coast elite." I suppose he forgot that he was the governor of MASSACHUSETTS or that he has an MBA/JD from Harvard. I think it's funny that in their attempt to appeal to "regular people" they are attacking the educated, successful republicans in their own party.

Awakening From a Long Slumber

(snort, snort, cough, cough, ahem)

I think this blog just woke up. Or at least I have.

There have been so many things over the past year (and more) that have nearly prompted me to start blogging again. Yet somehow I managed to get through the whole Dem primary without picking it up again. I came close many times but managed to get no futher than just logging in.

Then the Bristol Palin story happened.

I am incredibly pissed off.

I also feel as though I am having a reaction to this story that no one else seems to be expressing. I'm 32 (almost 33) but my inner 17-year old is RAGING on Bristol's behalf.

There is something deeply unsettling about the way the campaign and Palin herself handled the news. I'm pissed on that her mother told the world about this-- why didn't her mother try to protect her a little? Why did they voluntarily put Bristol in the spotlight this way? Why didn't she respect her daughter's privacy and leave her back in Alaska instead of putting her on stage holding her little brother to conceal her "baby bump"? Why not leave her in Alaska to quietly get married ASAP and then announce that she's married and having a kid soon?

To me the answer to these questions are one-- Palin herself appears to be exploiting the young woman's pregnancy to score points with the "pro-life" crowd. The GOP talking heads are already claiming that it makes Sarah Palin seem like a "regular" person. It's all about Sarah Palin and not at all about treating her daughter and her life with a little diginity, with a little respect. I think it makes Sarah Palin seem like a pretty shitty mother, frankly. She seems to treat her kids like political props in ways that are above and beyond the way that most pols do.

The McCain campaign and Sarah Palin propped Bristol up there and put out a press release about her pregnancy and then have the nerve to say that the media is invading their privacy. Seriously? They did it first. They can call it a "pre-emptive strike" against the media all they want but they could have handled it completely differently.

I find the whole thing truly sickening.