Mixed Messages

The McCain campaign seems to be taking responsibility for the bailout while simultaneously evading responsibility for it. Here is McCain's senior economic adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin attempting to sell this strange contradiction.



And here is an update on the polls courtesy of FiveThirtyEight.
Also of particular note is the trend which has yet to taper off, indicating Obama is opening up a wider lead:

Freddie Mac and McCain

Newsweek has an article highlighting the troubles the McCain campaign is facing over his campaign managers money ties to Freddie Mac. As a McCain aid put it, this wouldn't even be an issue if McCain's campaign hadn't tried erroneously to connect Barack Obama to Freddie Mac. Click here for the full text of the article.

"One senior McCain adviser said the entire flap could have been avoided if the campaign had resisted attacking Barack Obama for his ties to two former Fannie Mae executives, which prompted the media to take a second look at Davis. "It was stupid," the adviser said. "A serious miscalculation and an amateurish move." Still, this adviser said, McCain's faith in his campaign manager remains unswerving."

This is basically earth shattering for the McCain campaign. McCain can't even run his own campaign and he wants to lead the United States? The glaring ineptitude within his campaign might do a little toward explaining McCain's sudden nosedive in the polls.



For the full analysis of polling data check FiveThirtyEight.

Airspace

Anyone that would like to try is welcome to defend Sarah Palin's CBS interview.

Is Ignorance Contagious?

What follows is the text from one of those anti-Obama chainmails. If people believe in such easily debunked lies, then perhaps there is a wave of mental illness going around.

Subject: NEW PRESIDENT? - According to Revelations

Lengthy, but read to the end!

Hope I don't offend anyone but this is the truth.

A lot of Americans have become so insulated from reality that they imagine that America can suffer defeat without any inconvenience to themselves.

Pause a moment, reflect back.

These events are actual events from history..

They really happened!!!

Do you remember?

1. 1968 Bobby Kennedy was shot and killed by Muslim male extremist between the ages of 17 and 40.

2. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.

3. In 1979, the US embassy in Iran was taken over by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.

4. During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.

5. In 1983, the US Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.

6. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.

7. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a US Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.

8. In 1988 , Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.

9. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.

10. In 1998, the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.

11. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take down the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by Muslim extremists between the of 17 and 40.

12. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against Muslim extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.

13. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by-- you guessed it-- Muslim male extremists between the ages of 17 and 40.

No, I really don't see a pattern here to justify profiling, do you? So, to ensure we Americans never offend anyone, particularly fanatics intent on killing us, airport security screeners will no longer be allowed to profile certain people... Absolutely No Profiling!

They must conduct random searches, but leave Muslim Males between the ages 17 and 40 alone lest they be guilty of profiling.

According to The Book of Revelations:

The Anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40's, of MUSLIM descent, who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal....the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, he will destroy everything.

And Now:
For the award winning Act of Stupidity Of all times the People of America want to elect, to the most Powerful position on the face of the Planet -- The Presidency of the United states of America ... A Muslim Male Extremist Between the ages of 17 and 40.

Have the American People completely lost their Minds, or just their Power of Reason ???

I'm sorry but I refuse to take a chance on the 'unknown' candidate Obama...

Let's send this to as many people as we can .

As the writer of the award winning story 'Forrest Gump' so aptly put it,
'Stupid Is As Stupid Does'

Each opportunity that you have to send it to a friend or media outlet...do it!
or again. . . just delete if you disagree.

Campaign is Languishing!

Well folks, it seems as though McCain has finally fiugred out a way to get out of a reace he is going to lose: He wants to suspend campaigning to work on the economy. Correct me if I'm wrong, but in a campaign, aren't the two contenders supposed to debate and argue to points of the economy and other very important issues? I see McCain sees himself as trying to take the 'high road,' but clearly, he is taking a road less traveled.

The McCain/Palin ticket does not have a clear and concise message for the American people. None at all. He figures that since he doesn't have a message, he can get Obama off of his message of hope and presperity. Well, folks, unless Obama is an idiot, and I don't believe he is...he won't agree to cancel Friday's debate.

More news later.

Rick and Freddie

I'm just going to briefly mention something which I've known for a while that has only recently been elevated to national prominence due to the current economic situation. John McCain's campaign chair, Rick Davis, has a lobbying firm. His firm Davis, Manafort has taken payments from Freddie Mac to the tune of $30,000 a month until 2006 when Davis said they severed ties. Now the facts have emerged that in actuality Davis' firm has been receiving $15,000 a month up until last month. It wouldn't even be a big deal except McCain's campaign falsely claimed that Obama had strong ties to Freddie Mac.

There are serious doubts arising as to whether John McCain is actually in control of his own Presidential campaign.

Political Ad Season

It's crunch time in the 2008 elections and the campaigns (and PACs) can be expected to blanket the airwaves with ads from now on. There's a lot of talk about positive ads and negative ads and the efficacy of each. Here we take a look at one from each group:

A McCain/Palin ad produced by the McCain campaign-


And an Anti-Palin ad by a wildlife conservation group-


Interesting times ahead.

A Conservative for Obama

Wick Allison of the National Review wrote an interesting opinion piece for D-Magazine. I'll provide you with this excerpt:

"Barack Obama is not my ideal candidate for president. (In fact, I made the maximum donation to John McCain during the primaries, when there was still hope he might come to his senses.) But I now see that Obama is almost the ideal candidate for this moment in American history. I disagree with him on many issues. But those don’t matter as much as what Obama offers, which is a deeply conservative view of the world. Nobody can read Obama’s books (which, it is worth noting, he wrote himself) or listen to him speak without realizing that this is a thoughtful, pragmatic, and prudent man. It gives me comfort just to think that after eight years of George W. Bush we will have a president who has actually read the Federalist Papers."

You can read the full article here.

"It's the economy, stupid"

I really have few words. The economy is going to waste. Just think about this: Do you really want to give the Republicans four more years to mess things up even more?!

Selah

Regulars versus Élites

For a good laugh I recommend reading the article My Gal
by George Saunders in The New Yorker.

Here is an excerpt:

Explaining how she felt when John McCain offered her the Vice-Presidential spot, my Vice-Presidential candidate, Governor Sarah Palin, said something very profound: “I answered him ‘Yes’ because I have the confidence in that readiness and knowing that you can’t blink, you have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission, the mission that we’re on, reform of this country and victory in the war, you can’t blink. So I didn’t blink then even when asked to run as his running mate.”

Isn’t that so true? I know that many times, in my life, while living it, someone would come up and, because of I had good readiness, in terms of how I was wired, when they asked that—whatever they asked—I would just not blink, because, knowing that, if I did blink, or even wink, that is weakness, therefore you can’t, you just don’t. You could, but no—you aren’t.

The "Change" Message

It's funny, you see... Well, at least it is to me. McCain and Pain are touting themselves out to be the reform candidates and wanting to change America. How can you run a campaign on change when the message you want to change is essentially your own? Folks, that doesn't add up.

McCain says that when he is president, he is going to take a pen and veto all of the earmarks. He also says he will say "no" to 'special interest.' I am a very optimistic person, and I know you guys are too, but let us not kid ourselves. What will happen if McCain is elected is that he will sell our government off to the highest bidder. How can anyone elect a man who will continue the present administration's ploy to send more American jobs overseas? We will have more and more people in need of assistance that the government will tax the hardworking, tax paying, barely-making-it American to death. That will give new meaning to the 'Death Tax!'

Investment bank after investment bank is going down the drain, thereby causing more Americans to lose their jobs. Is this the kind of America we want to live in, to pay taxes in and have it lay waste? The federal government can help a private bank get out of trouble, but it can't seem to help the people on the coast of Texas and Louisiana! Is this the kind of America we want to live in where there is still much inequality? Well, if so, vote for the "change" candidate and his running mate that "can see Russia from her house!"

On Hypocrisy and the Shallow Media

There is something to be said about the news media in a country where a comedian digs deeper than any major network's journalists. Think about this while you watch the following clip, folks:

First Interview

This Sarah Palin that I saw on ABC with Charles Gibson was horrible. Gosh, she's dumber than I originally thought. This person has no original thought process of her own. Everything she is spouting is coming from the Republican "Book on Politics." She can't even say "nuclear!!!" She knows nothing about National Security, Health Care, not even Oil & Gas, even though she headed a "commission" in Alaska.

Gees, folks, it is high time that we Americans get up and vote on the issues. This "honeymoon" period for McCain's Veep choice has got to be over.

You know, some of you are probably thinking, "gees this guy is an Obama/Biden supporter." Well, I am on the side of right, and right now the Republicans don't seem to be right on anything, especially not the inept choice of Sarah Palin.

On the issues: The only way the Democrats can win is if they talk about the issues and not respond to every insignificant whining episode of the Republicans. If Obama continues to let Palin get him off messages, then the Republicans will win in November.

P.S. I know what the Bush Doctrine is. Just saying.

A Pig and Lipstick

Well, it seems that the Republicans have been able to get Obama off message again. They are going to try to do this time after time after time. The whole thing about dressing up a pig in lipstick is hypocrtical because, if I recall, McCain said the same thing during the the primary season.

Listen to me folks, Palin brought this on herself, she is the one who made the comment about a pitbull with lipstick. You see folks, the Republicans don't know what they want, and certainly it seems as if they have no idea what the want for America.

Oh, Joe, Oh Sarah

Good evening. You know, I was sitting back thinking about why Sen. Barack Obama chose Sen. Joe Biden. Was it the fact that some say that Obama has "little to no foreign policy experience?" Or what it something else. We, those of us that watch and keep up with current events, know that Biden can be a little assertive.

What about Biden's comments today? Will he hurt or help the Obama campaign in the end?
Here is Biden in his own words, with respect to special needs children:

"I hear all this talk about how the Republicans are going to work in dealing with parents who have both the joy ... and the difficulty of raising a child who has a developmental disability, who were born with a birth defect." Biden went on to speak about stem cell research, saying essential why not support it if you care for special needs children. (check out the article on CNN.com)

What about Sarah Palin's trip to Texas about a month before the birth of her son to give a speech, knowing that she was "leaking amniotic fluids?" Is this what a responsible person is supposed to be doing? How do you think, if elected, she will care for the issues of Americans is she showed little care for her unborn child? (check out the article on MSNBC.com)

All that to say this...who cares the most?

The Happenings...

Good evening. I have been doing some thinking and I have come up with a few points of discussion about the '08 Race. Who does the electorate elect? The person running for president, or the person running for vice-president? I'm just wondering after all I've seen in the new the past few days. I am almost afraid that those people who are not...

I have heard the pundits say that Sarah Palin was what the Republican party needed. Some say that no one has energized the Republican party since Ronald Reagan. Perhaps. But let me say this: Sarah Palin is no Ronald Reagan!

Let's ask yourselves; who are you voting for? Are you voting for Biden or Palin; Obama or McCain? Are you voting on the issues or are you voting on the little butterflies in your stomach. Now is not the time to vote on feelings, but of something more. This could be, if not already, the most important election in about 40 years.

So, people, let us use our minds and not our hearts. This is too important.

My Friends...

Good evening. Now that the Republican and Democratic Conventions are over...let the 'games' begin! As I said at the beginning, this is an interesting political season. Either way, whomever is elected, history will be made.

We will discuss this more this week.

More of the Same?

Good evening, folks. The Republicans ended their four day convention with a speech from the man himself. Ask yourself this question: Do you want a potential president that makes decisions hastily? Or, rather, do you want someone who will seek the advice of his aides with respect to some of the most pressing issues of the country and the world?

Now folks, I have attempted to try to maintain a fair and balanced debate. But sometimes, one must diverge. Let me say this...I will call the Democrats out as well as the Republicans.

John McCain tonight laid out his plan for America and told the American people that he is basically the epitome of 'change.' Is change when you voted 90 percent with President Bush? Is 'change' when you want to continue to cut taxes, but not for 'mainstream' Americans, but for the wealthiest 1%?

I will let you be the judge. Let us talk!

The Grand Ol' Party!

Tonight we heard a series of speeches from former presidential contenders. But, I'm not here to talk about those...I am here to talk about Sarah Palin. I will certainly say that Palin didn't pull any punches in her attacks of the Democrats' presidential ticket.

I have heard many say, with respect to Joe Biden and the vice presidential debates, that Biden will have to watch what he says and how he says it when he debates Palin. Well, I don't think that should or will be an issue when they actually debate in the coming months.

More on this tomorrow, stay tuned!

The Republican Convention

I will write more on the above topic in later editions. Right now, I wanted to just focus on Gov. Sarah Palin. I welcome any and all to leave comments, questions and thoughts.

It seems that it might just get a little turbulent for the Republicans after the latest news that Gov. Palin's 17 yr old daughter is pregnant. What are the Republicans going to do about this. Palin is a pro-life, Evangelical Republican whose daughter just happens to be pregnant. I am waiting to see how the pundits are going to spin this around. Some think it's a non-issue, and others think that it is a very huge issue, especially since the 'Veep' nominee holds such positions as she does.

We'll see...