Cynthia McKinney Knows The Economic Score

Green Party presidential candidate, Cynthia McKinney didn't get to debate the boys last week.

But she knows the economic score, and her plan makes a lot more sense than the stupid bailout bill.

Here's a snippet, but read the rest:

In my reading over the course of the last few years, I had to become somewhat conversant with the language of the new economy: bundled mortgages, securitization, SPEs, SIVs, derivatives. But in addition to the old concepts that always seemed to be with us--predatory lending, redlining, no affordable housing amid "the housing bubble,"-- it soon became clear that basically folks had figured out a way to make money off of a ticking time bomb. Kind of like prisons for profit. And even though the Enron scandal was supposed to have cleaned up a lot of this, unfortunately, even Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac regularly engaged in some of these practices and that's why you and I own them today. I believe it is true that the very foundations of the U.S. economy and conventional political behavior have been shaken. Now is not the time for business as usual. And although this is by no ways exhaustive, here are a few things that I think the Democratic-led Congress could work on now instead of adjourning:

1. enactment of a foreclosure moratorium now before the next phase of ARM interest rate increases take effect;
2. elimination of all ARM mortgages and their renegotiation into 30- or 40-year loans;
3. establishment of new mortgage lending practices to end predatory and discriminatory practices;
4. establishment of criteria and construction goals for affordable housing;
5. redefinition of credit and regulation of the credit industry so that discriminatory practices are completely eliminated;
6. full funding for initiatives that eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in home ownership;
7. recognition of shelter as a right according to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights to which the U.S. is a signatory so that no one sleeps on U.S. streets;
8. full funding of a fund designed to cushion the job loss and provide for retraining of those at the bottom of the income scale as the economy transitions;
9. close all tax loopholes and repeal of the Bush tax cuts for the top 1% of income earners;
10. fairly tax corporations, denying federal subsidies to those who relocate jobs overseas, repeal NAFTA.

And since the Congress plans to adjourn early and leave these problems to The Federal Reserve, The Federal Reserve should operate in the interests of the U.S. taxpayer and not the interests of the private, international bankers that it currently represents. This, of course means that The Federal Reserve, too, must undergo a fundamental ownership and mission change.

Refreshing!

A politician who actually champions the America people.




Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

The Bailout Explained

This is the best analogy I've read, which explains this bailout mess:

The Crisis Explained - Really

Joe goes to the track and bets $2 on a horse.

Two guys standing nearby get into a discussion and Fred says to Sam, "I'll bet you $5 that Joe wins his bet."

Next to them are Bill and Bob. Bill says: "I'll bet you $10 that Fred welshes on his bet if he loses."

Next to them is Sally. Sally says: "For $3 I'll guarantee to Bill that if Bob fails to pay off, I'll make good on the bet."

Sally then goes to Mary and borrows the $7 needed in case she has to ever pay off and promises to pay back $8. She doesn't expect to every have to pay since she believes Bob will always make good. So she expects to net $2 no matter what happens to Joe.

A quick calculation indicates that there is now 2+5+10+3+7 = $27 riding on the outcome of the horse race.

Question how much has been "invested" in the horse race?

Answer:

$50,000 by the owner of the horse who is expecting to recoup his investment from the winnings of the horse and other future deals. Everyone else is gambling, not investing.

The issue with the home market is that the only "investor" was the person who bought the home. All those engaged in the meaningless derivatives spun off from this are gambling. You can see how quickly the face value of all these side bets can exceed the underlying investment. Who is holding these side bets - not the homeowner? It is the people at the failing investment banks, hedge funds and similar enterprises. Notice that the bailout is being directed at them not the homeowners.

The real world is, of course, even more complicated. Over the last 30 years people have been allowed to place bets on everything starting with the value of stock averages. They might as well bet on the temperature in Newark at 8:00 AM.

So when you hear everybody saying this is a crisis caused by the housing collapse, be skeptical. We are in the midst of a classic pyramid or Ponzi scheme and there is no way out except for people to lose a lot of money. All that is different this time is that it is the taxpayers who are being asked for the cash.

The Ponzi Scheme effect: Joe (the home buyer) has had to pay more and more with each ARM reset, in order to keep the side betters afloat. It's only when Joe can no longer meet those ballooning payments --and has to move to Hooverville-- that the side betters declare "a crisis."

There are millions of Joes who've already faced the ARM resets, and 3 million more to come. And the side betters just keep gambling.

Truly heavy sigh.





Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Today's Sermon: When You Deal With The Devil...

... Don't be surprised when the Devil screws you.

Barack Obama Faith Tour Flops With Pro-Life Voters in Jerry Falwell's Backyard

September 22, 2008

Lynchburg, VA-- For the new Barack Obama "faith tour" to have any success, it needs to be able to draw young and evangelical voters. Yet, at its first stop in the Virginia back yard of well-known pastor Jerry Falwell, just 15 people showed up for the event.

The Obama campaign has signed up evangelical author Donald Miller, Pepperdine University professor Doug Kmiec and former Indiana Congressman Tim Roemer, for the "Barack Obama: Faith, Family and Values Tour."

The trio made a stop at Liberty University, which is home to over 10,000 evangelical students from across the county and a conservative bastion in a state Obama is targeting heavily in this election.

Yet, his "faith tour" failed to resonate with people there.

Trusting Jerry Falwell's people to show up and wave their Obama Messiah Banners high, high, high... is infinitely dumber than trusting the likes of Rev. Wright and Rev. Meeks and Fr. Pfleger and... well, you get my drift.

Thus endeth today's sermon.

Go forth today, aware that deals with the Devil never go your way...

Unless you're Daniel Webster.

And you're a fictional portrait of Daniel Webster, at that.

Created by Stephen Vincent Benét.

Just think about it.

I mean it, damn it!




Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Silly Saturday

Look what you can do with paper money...





Since I live in DC, I might try that.

If the rain ever stops.

It's one of those annoying little spitting rains.

Oh, well. Rainy Saturdays are excellent for napping.

Have a Silly Saturday, and try something silly with paper money.






Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Senator Clinton Has The Economic Crisis Solution; Obama Has A Cheeseburger

Read this from Senator Clinton:

“This is not just a financial crisis; it's an economic crisis. Therefore, the solutions we pursue cannot simply stabilize the markets. We must also deal with the interconnected economic challenges that set the stage for this crisis -- and reverse the failed policies that allowed a potential crisis to become a real one.

“First, we must address the skyrocketing rates of mortgage defaults and foreclosures that have buffeted the economy and ignited the credit crisis. Two million homeowners carry mortgages worth more than their homes. They hold $3 trillion in mortgage debt. Nearly three million adjustable-rate mortgages are scheduled for a rate increase in the next two years. Another wave of foreclosures looms.

“I've proposed a new Home Owners' Loan Corporation (HOLC), to launch a national effort to help homeowners refinance their mortgages. The original HOLC, launched in 1933, bought mortgages from failed banks and modified the terms so families could make affordable payments while keeping their homes. The original HOLC returned a profit to the Treasury and saved one million homes. We can save roughly three times that many today. We should also put in place a temporary moratorium on foreclosures and freeze rate hikes in adjustable-rate mortgages. We've got to stem the tide of failing mortgages and give the markets time to recover.

“The time for ideological, partisan arguments against these actions is over. For years, the calls to provide borrowers an affordable opportunity to avoid foreclosure as a means of preventing wider turmoil were dismissed as government intrusion into the private marketplace. My proposals over the past two years were derided as too much, too soon. Now we are forced to reckon with too little, too late.”

Meanwhile, 146-Day Senator Obama had a cheesburger in Clearwater, FL, where he practiced for his possible solo debate tonight.

Truly heavy sigh.




Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

President Clinton Explains It All For You

Watch and understand, then pass it along.




And remember how GWBush talked down the US economy during the 2000 election (which he then proceeded to steal) so much... that it came to pass.

And in order to prop up the scary pending BushCo economic collapse, the real estate bubble was created.

And lots and lots of otherwise savvy people, like some friends of mine, were actually called stupid by brokers for not taking advantage of low, low monthly payment options with adjustable rate mortgages... so they did, and now the alligators (insanely rising monthly payments) are causing some of them to give up. Completely. 'Cause $8000 per month on a house that's lost half of its resale value seems even dumber than the dirt it was built on.

Truly heavy sigh.





Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Dems Bend Over For Hank "Watergate" Paulson

This has got to be the most embarrassing display of cowardice since... well, since the Dems caved on FISA.

What is it with this bunch of Pelosi/Reid people? They promised to fight BushCo tooth and nail, and all they've done is take dives on crucial legislation.

Now, they say they've reached a deal with Republicans on The Great Corporate Bailout of 2008.

There is quite a bit of language about helping mortgage holders, but it is almost all qualified with words like encourage and request, rather than require. Since the Treasury is bailing mortgage holders out, the idea that the Secretary must "encourage" and "request" is just BS. The correct response is to make help for mortgage holders a requirement of participating in the program at all. If financial institutions don't like that they don't need to participate. Good way to make sure that companies that don't really need help don't swill at the trough.

Encourage?

Request?

You're kidding me, right?

My question: Why would anyone believe a word that John Ehrlichman's Watergate Era assistant says?

Incidentally, Paulson was a partner at Goldman Sachs --and was their co-head of investment banking-- before being put in charge of our national candy store.

Truly pathetic.





Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

I Hate To Say I Told You So, But...

Actually, I don't hate it at all. I've blogged a bunch (over 1700 Google hits) about the housing bubble that Wall ST kept saying didn't exist. Remember?

Well, today:




And that's not all...




Psst! Click the toon to enlarge, and stay tuned.

I'm sure this is just the beginning.




Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

The Question No One Will Ask --Or Answer-- About The Bailout

Surely, I'm not the only one waiting to hear someone... anyone... ask this question about the mortgage bailout...

If this taxpayer money guarantees that payment to the buyers (investment banks) of mortgage loan debt, "wiping the slate clean"...

Why do the original mortgage payers (home buyers who got hosed into those balloon-rate mortgages in the first place) still have to pay for something that taxpayers will already have paid for?

Doesn't that just double the money for the investment banks and still leave the little people screwed?

That's what it sounds like to me.

And why aren't we correcting this financial crisis the same way we did during The Great Depression?

Watch Senator Clinton explain it:




Unless I'm way off base here, this bailout is just another scam.





Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Senator Clinton Explains The Dangers In The Bailout; Obama Blames President Clinton For The Mess

Here's what she says about the Economic Crash/ Housing Bubble bursting/Wall ST-Gone-Wild bailout:

“When the American people, facing a foreclosure crisis and struggling economy, turned to this administration for help, the answer was no. Now, the administration is turning to the American people for help, to rescue the credit markets and take on hundreds of billions in debt and financial obligations as a consequence of that same foreclosure crisis. The truth is, Main Street came to Washington and got little. Now Washington is coming to Main Street and asking for a lot. The American people deserve to know that this isn’t a blank check. While the need to address the current crisis is clear, I will only support steps that will prevent a widening crisis, tackle the worst kinds of abuse tolerated for too long by the Bush Administration, and address the root problems at work.

The proposed intervention outlined today by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson would be a watershed moment for our economy. I believe that such an intervention demands that we fundamentally alter the priorities and policies of our nation under the Bush Administration that allowed this crisis to take place and escalate. Corporations that will benefit must be held accountable not only to large shareholders but also to the American people. And American taxpayers deserve to know that their money will not allow for a continuation of the status quo: short term profit at the expense of long term viability; obscene bonuses and golden parachutes regardless of performance; reckless risk taking that have placed the markets in so much jeopardy; rewards for those who foreclose on middle class families and sell mortgages designed to fail to turn a profit; and outsourcing of good jobs to serve short term stock prices instead of America’s long term economic health. The prevailing dynamic of corporate America, where the sole priority was the dividend, the inflated bonus and the quarterly earnings report, must give way to a new respect for the long term prosperity of the American worker and the well being of the middle class.

After eight years of failed policies – and two years of an absentee administration – our only option left may be an unprecedented government intervention into the private markets. The markets must be stabilized to stave off wider turmoil. Nevertheless, the urgency of this crisis does not mean that we should offer a blank check to financial institutions or the privileged few. Nor can we simply allow the administration to use the taxpayers like a ‘reset button.’ We cannot allow Wall Street to act without oversight by a vigilant SEC and administration – and without regard for the American people, who will now have paid twice: in falling prey to a widening credit crisis, and in paying the bill to hopefully bring it to an end.

I will be examining the administration’s proposal very closely to ensure that we do not approve a policy that may stabilize the markets in the short term without addressing the root problems facing middle class families or the kinds of reckless gambling that was permitted for far too long by the administration. The Bush Administration may have changed its tune once the crisis facing Main Street hit Wall Street. But we need to be sure that the American taxpayers – asked to shoulder yet more risk and responsibility – have a voice.”

And here's what Senator Obama said:

“Under Republican and Democratic administrations, we failed to guard against practices that all too often rewarded financial manipulation instead of productivity and sound business practices,” Mr. Obama said. “The result has been a distorted market that creates bubbles instead of steady sustainable growth, a market that favors Wall Street over Main Street but ends up hurting both.”

Truly heavy sigh.




Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Today's Sermon: Jesus On A Segway

From today's guest minister, JOTW:

As you imagine Jesus cruising through town on a Segway (thanks be to Suuuz), enjoy this little traffic-related e-mail chain letter from "Grandma."

The other day I went up to a local Christian bookstore and saw a "Honk if you love Jesus" bumper sticker. I was feeling particularly sassy that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting, so I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper.

I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in thought about the Lord and how good He is and I didn't notice that the light had changed. It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn't honked, I'd never have noticed.

I found that LOTS of people love Jesus. Why, while I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, "For the love of God, GO! GO!" What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus.

Everyone started honking! I just leaned out of my window and started waving and smiling at all these loving people. I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love. There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a sunny beach...

I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air. When I asked my teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant, he said that it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something. Well, I've never met anyone from Hawaii, so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign back. My grandson burst out laughing. Why, even he was enjoying this religious experience.

A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me. I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed. So, I waved to all my sisters and brothers grinning, and drove on through the intersection. I noticed I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and I felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared, so I slowed the car down, leaned out of the window and gave them all the Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away.

Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!

Thus endeth today's sermon.

Go forth today in your car and listen for the sweet sound of honking.

And know that true believers are right behind you at every stop sign.

And make sure you're prepared for a quick getaway.

I mean it, damn it!




Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Silly Saturday: Jacket Potatoes

Think I'm talking about side dishes?




Click here to see more, and have a Silly Saturday!





Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Michelle Obama's Simple Guide To Voting

Michelle "I'm finally proud of my country" Obama gives you 2 choices:

1. "I like that guy"

2. "She's cute"

Let's watch Michelle:




In typical Michelle Obama fashion, that's all ye need to know.

No wonder women are balking.

And no wonder Obots are still telling Senator Clinton what she should do for Obama.

What a crock.





Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Here's What I Hear Every Time Obama Speaks...

... interpreted by Stephen Fry & Hugh Laurie.





Gee, Stephen Fry reminds me of Senator Hillary Clinton!

Hat tip to HJHOP for the video goodness. Too bad, we don't agree on Obama's inherent worth as a leader.)





Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Obama Reality Check: Bye Bye, VA, MA, TX (and other random campaign weirdness)

Why is Obama sending emails to his Virginia supporters, asking them to campaign for him in Pennsylvania? (Note: in the comment section, one reader notes that Obama is also urging Texas voters to campaign for him in New Mexico.)

Why do Obama supporters waste time creating nonsense websites like the one that tells you what your name would be if Sarah Palin were your mother? (Mine is Blaster Commando Palin.)

Why doesn't someone teach Obama how to say Massachusetts?




Jesus, Mary, Rhoda and Phyllis!

It's not even like anyone asked him to spell Massachusetts. Just pronounce it properly, asshat.

By the way, why won't Obama talk about his 'executive experience' as Chairman of the Board of The Chicago Annenberg Challenge? (Ahem. Because his program was a total failure, that's why.)

Hey, Obama! You're running for prez in a country where 53% of the people believe they're part of the top 1% whose taxes you're planning to raise.

As for those Obots who're wondering why Obama isn't way ahead of McCain in the polls...

What do you expect when you alienate 50% of the Democratic Party?

A landslide?

Can we have Clinton back now?




Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Obama: "My Negative Ads Are Completely Unrelated To The Issues"

Talk about not being ready for prime time... or even Good Morning America!

"If we're going to ask questions about, you know, who has been promulgating negative ads that are completely unrelated to the issues at hand, I think I win that contest pretty handily," Obama said.
ABC Good Morning America, Sept. 15, 2008

Here's Obama actually smiling while he says it:




Jeez, Louise! Even Johnny Weissmuller could've said, "McCain bad; Obama good," without screwing up on national TV.

Hm. He could also say...

"Obama unimpressive; Obama undignified; Obama uninspiring."





Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

And Obama Deletes Yet Another "Friend"

Who is Mike Klonsky, and why has Obama deleted him?

Short answer: One of William Ayers' Communist friends.

Before you pitch a fit, I don't care that Klonsky is a Communist.

I care that Obama is so scared of voters that he'll scrub his own supporters from his website and pretend that: a.) he never knew them; or b.) that "that's not the (fill in the blank) that I knew."

Klonsky's Obama campaign webpage now looks like this:




The actual web address for that scrubbed page is:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/freedomteachers

Ahem...

Klonsky is director of the Small Schools Workshop, an outreach program founded in 1991 by Ayers with the stated goal of providing support for teachers who want to create smaller learning environments. Ayers reportedly recruited Klonsky to head the Workshop.

The Small School Workshop was originally associated with the University of Illinois in Chicago, where Klonsky previously taught in the education department alongside Ayers. The group was headquartered for a time inside the university’s department of education building.

In 1995, with Obama as its chairman, the newly formed Chicago Annenberg Challenge, or CAC, a school reform organization, gave the Workshop a grant of $175,000. The CAC provided another $482,662 to the Workshop over the next few years.

Ayers was one of the original grantees of the CAC and was co-chairman of the Chicago School Reform Collaborative, one of the two operational arms of the CAC.

Klonsky served with Ayers and Ayer’s wife, former Weatherman terrorist Bernadine Dohrn (right, 1980), in the Students for a Democratic Society group, a major leftist student organization in the 1960s that later splintered, with Ayers and Dohrn leading a more activist approach with the Weatherman.

Can you think of any other reason for Obama to delete Klonsky?

The burning question: Who's next, Obama?




Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Today's Sermon: 'Contempt Of The Pope' Is A Crime

What year is this? Silly me, I thought it was 2008.


Kinda difficult to imagine that "contempt of the pope" is still a crime in Italy.

Punishable by up to 5 years in prison, no less.

Think I'm kidding?

Comedian who satirised Pope could face prosecution

Italian politicians of right and left, comedians and even some priests yesterday deplored a move by prosecutors in Rome to put a satirist on trial for contempt of the Pope.

Sabina Guzzanti, known for her take-offs of the prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, risks being jailed for up to five years. The prosecutors recommended to the justice ministry that she be indicted because of a speech she made to a leftwing rally in July.

Referring to the attitude to gay people of the Catholic church and Pope Benedict - the former cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - Guzzanti said: "In 20 years Ratzinger will be dead and will end up in hell, tormented by queer demons - not passive ones, but very active ones."

The 1929 Lateran treaty that created the Vatican city state describes the Pope as a "sacred and inviolable person". It makes insulting him an offence in Italy on a par with contempt for Italy's president, punishable by between one and five years in jail. Indictment, however, requires an endorsement from the justice minister.

Not at all difficult to imagine, though: The Vatican has no problem whatsoever covering up kidnapping, murder, and major Vatican banking fraud (complete with Louis Vuitton bags of cash delivered to an Archbishop).

Thus endeth today's sermon.

Go forth today and make no jokes about the pope, but feel free to commit all kinds of heinous crimes condoned by his high... um holiness.

Not really. Don't commit any crimes in the name of the holy father!

I mean it, damn it!




Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Silly Saturday: Be Prepared!

Sunlight and garlic.

What could be better on a Silly Saturday?





Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.

Obama Finally Goes To The Mountain (in Harlem)

If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can't Obama control his body language?

Here's Obama at President Clinton's office in Harlem...

Good start: Both men with hands in pockets translates as extremely casual; however, Obama seems to be cognizant of the former president's height and, therefore, feels compelled to accentuate his own...




Don't you just love President Clinton's bemused smile?

Next, something goes wrong: Suddenly, Obama crosses his arms in defense and pretends to smile (Note: genuine smiles include both the eyes and the mouth; here, Obama's eyes are the giveaway)...




Wouldn't you like to know what President Clinton is saying? It's obviously non-threatening because his thumb is pointing upward, and his hand is wide open.

Finally, Obama mimics the president in this "smile for the formal photo" moment...




And Obama keeps up his "Look at me! I'm tall" body language... while the president remains comfortable in his own skin. If the president stood up straight, Obama would be positively giraffing himself to appear taller.

Here's a hint, Obama: If the mountain doesn't come you, and you finally go to the mountain...

It helps to be fully engaged with said mountain.

Otherwise, what's the freakin' point?




Number of days since Donna Brazile promised to leave the party if superdelegates decided the Dem nominee:






Donna has known for a long time now that superdelegates would be necessary for any Dem candidate to win the nomination this year. Ask Donna when she intends to keep her promise.
Don't hold your breath awaiting a reply.

Here's Donna now...



"For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
-Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527)



Best bar bet in the world: Delilah didn't do it.
Judges 16:19-- And she made him (Samson) sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head.