The ACORN Abomination

ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform), the advocacy group that Obama used to be associated with, is basically a front for a criminal activity that involves falsifying voter registrations on behalf of Democrats. The Democrats are trying to include in the bailout a slush fund for this organization.

From Sen. John Boehner office:

- “Seven ACORN workers were charged with ‘committing the biggest voter-registration fraud in [Washington] state history.’’ (The Seattle Times, 7/26/07)

- ACORN workers submitted “just over 1,800 new voter registration forms, but there was a problem. The names were made up – all but six of the 1,800 submissions were fakes… The ACORN workers told state investigators that they went to the Seattle public library, sat at a table and filled out the voter registration forms. They made up names, addresses, and Social Security numbers and in some cases plucked names from the phone book. One worker said it was a lot of hard work making up all those names and another said he would sit at home, smoke marijuana and fill out the forms.” (Fox News Channel, 5/02/08)

- “Late last year, a handful of Acorn canvassers in Washington state admitted that they had falsified voter registrations by illegally filling out hundreds of forms with names such as Dennis Hastert, Leon Spinks and Fruito Boy Crispila.” (Wall Street Journal, 7/31/08)

- “Eight workers for a get-out-the-vote effort in St. Louis city and county have pleaded guilty to federal election fraud for submitting false registration cards for the 2006 election, authorities said today. The workers were employed by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), gathering voter registrations.” (Associated Press, 4/02/08)

From the The Wall Street Journal:

“What we have here essentially are a pair of government slush funds created in July as part of the Economic Recovery Act that pump tax dollars into the coffers of low-income housing advocacy groups, such as Acorn.”

“Acorn, one of America’s most militant left-wing ‘community activist groups,’ is spending $16 million this year to register Democrats to vote in November. In the past several years, Acorn’s voter registration programs have come under investigation in Ohio, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri and Washington, while several of their employees have been convicted of voter fraud…”

For this alone we taxpayers should be grateful to those stubborn wonderful Republicans who are fighting this typical Washington garbage. It just makes me sick that Democrats are using this crisis to insert some sweet money to an organization that is not only only advocating voting for Democrats alone, but perverting the very essence of our freedom to vote with criminal activity while they do it.

Debate Stuff

In the beginning I was so bored I thought I might nod off. Then it got better. It was enjoyable seeing Obama getting ticked, although he dare not show it in his answers. But I'll just start by pointing how strange it was that Obama agreeing so much with McCain. Sure Obama was trying to sound moderate as he always does, but to state over and over how right McCain is?

* "I think Senator McCain's absolutely right that we need more responsibility…"

* "Senator McCain is absolutely right that the earmarks process has been abused…"

* "He's also right that oftentimes lobbyists and special interests are the ones that are introducing these…requests…"

* "John mentioned the fact that business taxes on paper are high in this country, and he's absolutely right…"

* "John is right we have to make cuts…"

* "Senator McCain is absolutely right that the violence has been reduced as a consequence of the extraordinary sacrifice of our troops and our military families…"

* "John — you're absolutely right that presidents have to be prudent in what they say…"* "Senator McCain is absolutely right, we cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran…"

(quotes via NRO)

If Obama aim was to come off as a moderate, which he is not, then he accomplished that. Obama is intelligent and smooth and this kind of forum is what he does best. I had to laugh though when he kept raising his hand to Lehrer like they were in a classroom, but I do realize that was part of being polite and civil and you all know how I love that.

I've said this before, McCain needs to stop using the same lines he uses on the campaign trail. In fact, he needs to stop using them on the campaign trail. Just about all of us have heard them. So could someone in his campaign come up with some new lines?

The worst moment for Obama was after John McCain talks about the bracelet he wears with a soldier's name on it that died in combat and Obama says "I have a bracelet too" and he looks down and pauses a moment while he has to read the name.

Naturally McCain came across as more experienced, but to give Obama his due, considering how inexperienced he is, he certainly is a quick study and well informed.

A friend of mine said this to me the other day, and it is true. She said, "you know, Obama may not be President this time, but he will be one day."

So, if this all goes as I hope it does, you people who admire Obama so much could take solace in that. What I hope is that because Obama does seem open to listening to the other side, that he will mold his views in the next few years and actually become the moderate that he professes to be today. I hope also that he will begin to love this country for more for than what it has accomplished with his candidacy. I know Obama loves his country, but not in the same way McCain does. McCain loves this country for all it gives us. Obama loves this country despite it's injustices. There is a difference.

Lastly, I wondered how Kissinger reacted to Obama's statement about him. I got that answer this morning:

Henry Kissinger believes Barack Obama misstated his views on diplomacy with US adversaries and is not happy about being mischaracterized. He says: "Senator McCain is right. I would not recommend the next President of the United States engage in talks with Iran at the Presidential level. My views on this issue are entirely compatible with the views of my friend Senator John McCain. We do not agree on everything, but we do agree that any negotiations with Iran must be geared to reality." (via Stephen Hayes at the Weekly Standard)

I admit I can't be objective. Of course I think McCain won the debate, but Obama certainly held his own.

I Changed My Mind

I'm not going to do a chat room, I'm going to direct you guys to Conservative Belle, my Cotillion sister who is chatting it tonight. You remember my desire for Margarita's tonight after my hard day? Well, I indulged and I thought I might be a silly host. But I'm going over there to chat too, so come along!!!!

Wow

The AP actually reports that Biden was pretty much lying on the campaign trail. I haven't been posting on the many and hilarious Biden gaffes because it seems kind of childish to do so, but since the media reports critically of Palin every day and she makes no gaffs, I might start doing it.

Biden misleads with accusation of tax increase

Here is what I have been trying to say..

Dick Morris, who I don't particulary like at all, lays out what I've been trying to say about this mess:

McCain has transformed a minority in both houses of Congress and a losing position in the polls into the key role in the bailout package, the main man around whom the final package will take shape. He arrived in Washington to find the Democrats working with the Bush Administration to pass an unpopular $700 billion bailout. The Democrats had already cut their deal with Bush. The Dems agreed to the price tag while Bush agreed to special aid to families facing foreclosure, equity for the taxpayers, and limits on executive compensation. But no sooner had McCain arrived than he derailed the deal.

Knowing how unpopular the bailout is with the American people, the Democrats are not about to pass anything without broad Republican support even though their majorities permit them to act alone. Instead of signing on with the Democratic/Bush package, the House Republicans are insisting on replacing the purchase of corporate debt with loans to companies and insurance paid for by the companies, not by the taxpayers. That, of course, is a popular position. McCain would be comfortable to debate this issue division all day. And, if the Dems don’t cave into the Republican position, that’s probably exactly what he’ll do on Friday night’s scheduled debate in Mississippi.

I've been asking my lefty friends why Pelosi doesn't just pass the bill as she very well can with Democratic support. But they don't answer exactly because of the reason Morris gives.

Read the rest and hope to God that his time Morris is right.

According to Rich Lowry at NRO, things are moving along in the right direction:

I have a mole participating in staff-level negotiations. He says the ACORN slush fund has been taken out. The "proxy access" provisions and government equity stake in banks —two of the more contentious issues that will be Member-level issues, to be discussed tonight. House Republicans want to limit cost of the initial tranche and add the Cantor mortgage-backed security insuranceprovision.Overall, sounds like they are moving toward a deal.

Just the fact that the ACORN slush fund has been taken out is a victory for every decent American. I am so proud of those Republicans for standing strong, I can't stand it.

Yearbook Fun

Pretty funny. You know those yearbook pics you see in the advertisements on the web everywhere? Well, you can go put your face in them.

Why am I doing this? Because between blogging about the bailout, I have been cleaning out 7 rooms to be recarpeted today. Do you have any idea how much stuff 4 kids have in their rooms? Then I had to clean out my bedroom, the office, and the guest room. Now, as they are carpeting each room, I have to go put everything back.

I'm exhausted, sore, and desperately need margaritas.

When I sat back down to the computer to check my e-mail, I felt the need to do something silly before I finish my work and then cover this debate tonight. So putting my face on 60's or 70's hairdos was it.

Go on. Do it. You know you want to.

It will be fun and I'll link the pics here (or download them here)

What caused our crisis?

You gotta love how there is a YouTube video out there to explain just about everything for a nation that has a 5 minute attention span. It doesn't hurt to have some cool music playing in the background.

via Ace

Statement By McCain Campaign On Negotiations

John McCain’s decision to suspend his campaign was made in the hopes that politics could be set aside to address our economic crisis.

In response, Americans saw a familiar spectacle in Washington. At a moment of crisis that threatened the economic security of American families, Washington played the blame game rather than work together to find a solution that would avert a collapse of financial markets without squandering hundreds of billions of taxpayers’ money to bailout bankers and brokers who bet their fortunes on unsafe lending practices.

Both parties in both houses of Congress and the administration needed to come together to find a solution that would deserve the trust of the American people. And while there were attempts to do that, much of yesterday was spent fighting over who would get the credit for a deal and who would get the blame for failure. There was no deal or offer yesterday that had a majority of support in Congress. There was no deal yesterday that included adequate protections for the taxpayers. It is not enough to cut deals behind closed doors and then try to force it on the rest of Congress -- especially when it amounts to thousands of dollars for every American family.

The difference between Barack Obama and John McCain was apparent during the White House meeting yesterday where Barack Obama’s priority was political posturing in his opening monologue defending the package as it stands. John McCain listened to all sides so he could help focus the debate on finding a bipartisan resolution that is in the interest of taxpayers and homeowners. The Democratic interests stood together in opposition to an agreement that would accommodate additional taxpayer protections.


Senator McCain has spent the morning talking to members of the Administration, members of the Senate, and members of the House. He is optimistic that there has been significant progress toward a bipartisan agreement now that there is a framework for all parties to be represented in negotiations, including Representative Blunt as a designated negotiator for House Republicans. The McCain campaign is resuming all activities and the Senator will travel to the debate this afternoon. Following the debate, he will return to Washington to ensure that all voices and interests are represented in the final agreement, especially those of taxpayers and homeowners.

McCain will be at the debate tonight

I'll have a chat room up tonight. So please come!

Here is what I see...

The American people haven't paid near enough attention to this bailout thing (including me) UNTIL John McCain suspended his campaign and went to Washington.

Now that the people have started listening to what this bailout is really about they are starting to say to themselves, "Why should I bail out fat cats on Wall Street and irresponsible people???"

Now there is intense pressure for this particular bill not to go through. The problem is time. This has to be done quickly.

If McCain can come up with either an alternative or change some fundamentals on the bill and get Republicans on board, we can just forget the debates, because we will be looking at our next President.

Because not only will he have stood up the majority (Democrats), but President Bush as well.

Does anyone in Washington have the b*lls that McCain has? Anyone?

That would be....no.

I think you guys are seeing why I have always loved this man.

Here is what we need...

Jim Geraghty at NRO has this perfect scenerio:

'Man, These Negotiations Could Use a Community Organizer Right About Now.'

If there is not a deal by late this afternoon, and the time to depart for the debate is approaching, McCain should emerge from negotiations, hold a five-minute availability in the Senate Press Gallery to declare:
"You know, there's a lot of disorganization here as we try to build a consensus in the community of the Senate. We really could use a community organizer right about now, but there's never one around when you need one."

That would be delicious.

From The McCain Campaign

To address our current financial crisis, John McCain suspended his campaign and returned to Washington, D.C., today to help build a bipartisan consensus for a proposal that would protect the American taxpayer.

Despite today's news reports, there never existed a "deal," but merely a proposal offered by a small, select group of Members of Congress. As of right now, there exists only a series of principles, including greater oversight and measures to address CEO pay. However, these principles do not enjoy a consensus in Congress.

At today's cabinet meeting, John McCain did not attack any proposal or endorse any plan. John McCain simply urged that for any proposal to enjoy the confidence of the American people, stressing that all sides would have to cooperate and build a bipartisan consensus for a solution that protects taxpayers.

However, the Democrats allowed Senator Obama to run their side of the meeting. That did not work as the meeting quickly devolved into a contentious shouting match that did not seek to craft a bipartisan solution.

At this moment, the plan that has been put forth by the Administration does not enjoy the confidence of the American people as it will not protect that taxpayers and will sacrifice Main Street in favor of Wall Street.

The bottom line is that as of tonight, there are not enough Republican or Democrat votes for the current plan. However, we are still optimistic that a bipartisan solution will be found. Republicans and Democrats want a deal that will protect the taxpayers.

Tomorrow, John McCain will return to Capitol Hill where he will work with all sides to build a bipartisan solution that protects taxpayers and keeps Americans in their homes.

I absolutely think that McCain should not return for the debate. I also can't imagine that Obama will leave Washington at this point to sit alone on a stage in Oxford Mississippi. The Democrats were so determined to prevent McCain from getting credit for helping to craft a way for this bill to pass, that even the thought of it turned them into shouting partisans.

At this point I don't want this particular bill to pass, but I think Congress has wasted too much time already on a bill that Republicans clearly didn't think was best or fair for the American people. Something must be done. Democrats are in a corner though. Because if they agree to anything that Republicans in general agree to, it will look like McCain did save the day.

We shall see if the Democrats can put away their partisanship and pass something before it is too late.

Update: If you want to get an idea of one of the many reasons why Republicans are standing against this bill, read this. Dispicable.

I wish someone could explain to me how the two biggest crooks/idiots who were a big part of getting us in this mess, Chris Dodd and Barney Frank, are now in charge of fixing it????

Where it all began

If you are like me and wondered how all this Freddie Mac and Fanny Mae stuff started, NRO put up a link to a 1999 NYT article that spells it out pretty well:

In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders.

The action, which will begin as a pilot program involving 24 banks in 15 markets -- including the New York metropolitan region -- will encourage those banks to extend home mortgages to individuals whose credit is generally not good enough to qualify for conventional loans. Fannie Mae officials say they hope to make it a nationwide program by next spring.
Fannie Mae, the nation's biggest underwriter of home mortgages, has been under increasing pressure from the Clinton Administration to expand mortgage loans among low and moderate income people and felt pressure from stock holders to maintain its phenomenal growth in profits.

In addition, banks, thrift institutions and mortgage companies have been pressing Fannie Mae to help them make more loans to so-called subprime borrowers. These borrowers whose incomes, credit ratings and savings are not good enough to qualify for conventional loans, can only get loans from finance companies that charge much higher interest rates -- anywhere from three to four percentage points higher than conventional loans.

In other words, once again the Democrat's road to hell was paved with good intentions. In theory it sounds generous and nice to allow people who could not get loans before to be able to, forgetting that there is a reason they could not get loan. There is a reason they have bad credit. And guess what, they defaulted. Good grief. The more I learn about this mess the sicker it makes me.

We are even warned in the article:

In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's.

''From the perspective of many people, including me, this is another thrift industry growing up around us,'' said Peter Wallison a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. ''If they fail, the government will have to step up and bail them out the way it stepped up and bailed out the thrift industry.''

And here we are almost 10 yrs later and that is exactly what is happening.

McCain: Crazy Like A Fox (bumped for udates)

This is just too crazy.

Day before yesterday Reid was saying that they needed McCain to help bring Republicans on board for this economic bill. Chris Dodd, the chairman of the committee, comes out the same day and says that there is no progress being made and they can't come even close to an agreement.

Then yesterday McCain says he is suspending his campaign and coming to Washington to help with the bill. He asks Obama to come as well. Obama says he doesn't think that is necessary, but it ends up both are there now. So McCain clearly led there.

Now, Chris Dodd come out today and says they are close to an agreement. After saying the day before that it wasn't even close.

I wondered what changed? Oh yeah, that's right. McCain was coming to save the day and Dodd could not have that.

But Dodd may have spoken too soon:

House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, just issued a statement on the legislation being hammered out by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, D-Conn

“As I told our Conference this morning, there is no bipartisan deal at this time," Boehner said. "There may be a deal among some Democrats, but House Republicans are not a part of it.”

I guess they may need McCain after all.

But the way I see it McCain wins either way. If they do come out with a deal now, it is obvious that Dodd and the Democrats almost had a cow that McCain was coming, and decided to compromise enough to pass a bill in order not to help McCain in his presidential ambitions.

You gotta love it.

By the way, Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party candidate has offered to debate Obama in McCain's place.

I think that is a delicious idea.

Update: I wanted to add this because I think it's important to illustrate why agreements like this are so difficult for Republicans.

Republican Senator DeMint from South Carolina discovered that Harry Reid tried to to sneak the oil shale ban, which was backed by House Democrats, into legislation while all this bailout controversy continues.
DeMint says this:

"Oil shale in America's West is estimated to hold be between 800 billion and 2 trillion barrels of oil -- that is more than three times the proven oil reserves in Saudi Arabia alone."

And Reid is trying to sneak in language under the cover of the bailout to keep America from attaining this oil during our energy crisis.

Sneaky and wrong.

Good grief.

Update II: Clinton defends McCain's decision to postpone debate. This is getting sorta comical, isn't it? Who is Clinton campaigning for again?

ABC News' Nitya Venkataraman Reports: Former President Bill Clinton defended Sen. John McCain's request to delay the first presidential debate, saying McCain did it in "good faith" and pushed organizers to reserve time for economy talk during the debate if the Friday plans move forward.

Update III: Let's imagine the best case scenerio. Congress comes out with a bill, everyone agrees. The President, McCain, and Obama are there to make it look like one big happy bi-partisan family.

McCain can in good conscience go to the debate and Obama goes because he never said he wouldn't.

The perception is that McCain got Obama to come to Washington to "be helpful," whether that is fair or not.

There is one thing that no one has mentioned. Obama has supposed to have been studying and prepping for the debate on foreign policy. He didn't get the time he would have to prep. Not good. I wonder if Obama will ask for the debate topic to be changed?

Just a thought.

Update IV: Rich Lowery at National Review just put this up:

A friend following it closely says Pelosi wants 110 Republican votes as cover. But the House GOP isn't close to having that kind of support. It's more like 50. If Republicans aren't going along with it, Pelosi will be even more swayed by her most liberal members pulling the package to the left. And the whole thing might end up on the "continuing resolution." What a mess. Meanwhile, apparently Senate Republicans are relatively passive. The whole game is the House Republicans.

Can McCain sway enough Republicans to change their vote? You know, this is politically fascinating. On the one hand Republicans don't want this bail out as it stands because it is too much and unfair to the American Taxpayer. They are very unhappy. On the other hand, if they allow themselves to be swayed by McCain and it gets the deal done, then they will have given McCain a big BIG Presidential boost that may propel him into the White House and they sure as heck want McCain there instead of Obama.

What is a good Republican to do?

Oh boy....

ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: Florida Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings pointed to Sarah Palin on Wednesday to rally Jews to Obama.

If Sarah Palin isn’t enough of a reason for you to get over whatever your problem is with Barack Obama, then you damn well had better pay attention," said Hastings. "Anybody toting guns and stripping moose don’t care too much about what they do with Jews and blacks. So, you just think this through."

We knew it would come to this, didn't we?

Well, I guess we will will have to count on the "cracker community" unless Bill Clinton influences them first.

You gotta love how it has only been the Democrats who bring derogatory language about race into this campaign, yet they always accuse us of being racially insensitive. Hypocrital doesn't even begin to describe it.

h/t Mike

The Cracker Constituency

Many people have been talking about how Bill Clinton has been praising Palin lately and refusing to talk badly about McCain. Clinton is still doing exactly that on Larry King, but here is a line that may have gotten lost in all that is going on:(emphasis mine)

Clinton told King he would be hitting the campaign trail for Obama in Florida, to Ohio, to northeast Pennsylvania, and Nevada “at a minimum" in October, “after the Jewish holidays” are over.

"Are you kind of feeling Jewish that you're waiting until after the Jewish holidays?" asked King."No. But I think it would be — if we're trying to win in Florida, it may be that — you know, they think that because of who I am and where my political base has traditionally been, they may want me to go sort of hustle up what Lawton Chiles used to call the 'cracker vote' there.

The cracker vote? Excuse me? Who says that??? Did he really say that the Obama people (keeping in mind this is a black candidate) wants Clinton to go to Florida to ensure the cracker vote?

You have to know that only Clinton could get away with this.

The Joint Statement

When Obama called McCain yesterday morning, he wanted he and McCain to put out a joint statement about the economy crisis.

Here is that statement:


Today, U.S. Senators John McCain and Barack Obama issued the following statement:

"The American people are facing a moment of economic crisis. No matter how this began, we all have a responsibility to work through it and restore confidence in our economy. The jobs, savings, and prosperity of the American people are at stake.

"Now is a time to come together — Democrats and Republicans — in a spirit of cooperation for the sake of the American people. The plan that has been submitted to Congress by the Bush Administration is flawed, but the effort to protect the American economy must not fail.

"This is a time to rise above politics for the good of the country. We cannot risk an economic catastrophe. Now is our chance to come together to prove that Washington is once again capable of leading this country."

That's it. In Obama's mind his job is done. He told McCain he would come to Washington "if it would be helpful." Well, Obama did go to Washington, along with McCain, to meet with the President. So I'm guessing they told Obama it might be "helpful" if he were there. But I can see why Obama would think that statement was all the candidates/Senators needed to do.

I mean, just reading it made me feel better, didn't it you?

Right.

McCain realized that some feel good statement wasn't going to get this job done. This is what leaders do.

Like many Americans, I don't understand the details of this crisis or the best way to solve it. You might say it's above my paygrade. This is why we elect leaders who we feel can understand and deal with these things.

I don't think Americans want a "statement." They want action and that is exactly what McCain is giving us.

The Maverick surprises again.

McCain does what he thinks he should, politics be damned and sometimes Republicans too and that's that. I think we should all have learned to live with that by now. McCain is known for bringing both parties together in deals like this, so we shall have to see if he can make it work this time. Why did he make this dramatic decision? Well, if you read the reports below it is clear that it was because the Democrats needed him.

Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid would rather play politics. Yesterday he said this:

"We need the Republican nominee for president to let us know where he stands and what we should do.’

And that wasn't all:

Roll Call: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Told The White House That Senator John McCain Was Crucial To Any Bailout Deal. "Fearing a political backlash against Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has told the White House that it must serve up support from Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) if it hopes to ensure bipartisan backing for a massive economic bailout package by week’s end." (Erin P. Billings and John Stanton, "Reid Seeks McCain Pledge," Roll Call, 9/24/08)

Roll Call: "McCain Holds The Key To … A Bipartisan Vote, According To Reid …" "McCain holds the key to such a bipartisan vote, according to Reid, because Republicans are likely to defer to his position on a bill that holds political peril. McCain on Tuesday night joined Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) in lending qualified support for the $700 billion package, but it remains unclear whether his backing is strong enough and timely enough to persuade the Congressional rank and file." (Erin P. Billings and John Stanton, "Reid Seeks McCain Pledge," Roll Call, 9/24/08)

Senator Reid Told Secretary Paulson That Senator McCain Was Necessary For Any Agreement. "According to a Democratic aide familiar with the discussions, Reid told Paulson this week that 'if McCain didn’t come out for this thing and come out for it quickly, it was going to begin bleeding Republican votes.' Democrats 'have a very real concern that opposition [from McCain] is going to drive away potential Republican votes,' this aide said." (Erin P. Billings and John Stanton, "Reid Seeks McCain Pledge," Roll Call, 9/24/08)

ABC News' George Stephanopoulos: White House Has Been Told By Democrats "That There Is No Deal If McCain Doesn't Go Along." "A Democratic leadership source says that White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten has been told that Democratic votes will not be there if McCain votes no – that there is no deal if McCain doesn't go along." (George Stephanopoulos, "McCain; Holds Key To Administration's Bailout Passage On Capitol Hill," ABC News, 9/23/08)

They said they needed McCain and he is coming.

So today Reid reverses himself for the obvious reasons:

“it would not be helpful at this time to have them come back during these negotiations and risk injecting presidential politics into this process or distract important talks about the future of our nation’s economy. … We need leadership; not a campaign photo op.”

So yesterday Reid is begging McCain to come out for this and today, after a phone call from the Obama people I'm sure, he says this.

Did he not think we would remember yesterday?

McCain is suspending his campaign

When Fox News just announced that my heart dropped to my feet. But he is asking Obama to do the same so they can go to Washington to help pass the bill on the economy.

I may kill Carl Cameron for scaring me like that.

The Obama and Ayers connection

I have never written much about this because although Ayers did introduce Obama into Chicago politics at his home, it wasn't a solid connection to Obama. The WSJ points to a more solid connection though:

Despite having authored two autobiographies, Barack Obama has never written about his most important executive experience. From 1995 to 1999, he led an education foundation called the Chicago Annenberg Challenge (CAC), and remained on the board until 2001. The group poured more than $100 million into the hands of community organizers and radical education activists.

The CAC was the brainchild of Bill Ayers, a founder of the Weather Underground in the 1960s. Among other feats, Mr. Ayers and his cohorts bombed the Pentagon, and he has never expressed regret for his actions. Barack Obama's first run for the Illinois State Senate was launched at a 1995 gathering at Mr. Ayers's home.

The Obama campaign has struggled to downplay that association. Last April, Sen. Obama dismissed Mr. Ayers as just "a guy who lives in my neighborhood," and "not somebody who I exchange ideas with on a regular basis." Yet documents in the CAC archives make clear that Mr. Ayers and Mr. Obama were partners in the CAC. Those archives are housed in the Richard J. Daley Library at the University of Illinois at Chicago and I've recently spent days looking through them.

So Obama led a foundation that Ayers created and Obama wants us to believe that Ayers was "just a guy who lives my neighborhood." Kind of like he wanted us to believe he never heard Rev. Wright's racists rants in the 20 years Obama attended his church.

In early 1995, Mr. Obama was appointed the first chairman of the board, which handled fiscal matters. Mr. Ayers co-chaired the foundation's other key body, the "Collaborative," which shaped education policy.
The CAC's basic functioning has long been known, because its annual reports, evaluations and some board minutes were public. But the Daley archive contains additional board minutes, the Collaborative minutes, and documentation on the groups that CAC funded and rejected. The Daley archives show that Mr. Obama and Mr. Ayers worked as a team to advance the CAC agenda.

Just a guy in the neighborhood.

I had a commenter on my Chron blog say that rightwingers seek "to impose" our views on others. You want to see a star stellar example of a political view being "imposed" on others? Then read the entire article about this "education foundation" that sought to do just that. Not to adults, mind you, but impressionable children trapped in a classroom funded by the taxpayers.

The Obama campaign has cried foul when Bill Ayers comes up, claiming "guilt by association." Yet the issue here isn't guilt by association; it's guilt by participation. As CAC chairman, Mr. Obama was lending moral and financial support to Mr. Ayers and his radical circle. That is a story even if Mr. Ayers had never planted a single bomb 40 years ago.

It's time the press stopped ignoring this story. Maybe they could take some time off the nothing story that is "troopergate" and pay attention to the recent past of a man who could be our next President who associated with a homegrown terrorist.

A Texas Reminder

If you are from Texas or wish you were, please visit my blog at Texas Magazine online! It's different than this blog because it's all about Texas.

Also, be sure and subscribe! The first edition is out, you can take a cyber look at it here. You can turn the pages and see the whole magazine. I really think they did a great job.

New Catholic Vote Ad

Excellent.

It's time for Catholics and all Christians to stand up for the values we believe in. Our voice is heard, not when we speak, but when we vote.

via Wizbang h/t Jill

We have our own nuts here...

And this is one of them.

I knew Naomi Wolf had gone off the deep end when I heard her on television say one time that she had seen Jesus in her room. I mean, like standing there in front her. Now, I'm not saying Jesus appearing to someone isn't possible, even a non-believing Jewish person such as Naomi, but I'm really thinking it had more to do with the medication she probably takes than any spiritual awakening.

Almost nothing she says makes sense. She hates Palin because she is the opposite of herself. Sane, to begin with, happily married with five (horrors, gasp!) children, doesn't worship at the shrine of abortion, and hunts. Oh, let's not forget the greatest sin of all...being conservative. Unhappy feminists like Naomi will rant on anything that makes Sarah look bad. She sees Sarah as the "designated muse of the coming American police state." Yeah. Nutty.

I sometimes wonder if flakes like Naomi really believe their hysterical rantings or if they just put that bilge out there to try convince others that there must be some truth to it.

Nah, She believes it. Just like she believes Jesus paid her a visit.

via Protein Wisdom

My, my, my...

Look what we have here. The sound you hear is the Democrats caving:


Democrats to let offshore drilling ban expire

WASHINGTON - House Democrats will allow a quarter-century ban on drilling for oil off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to expire next week.
Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey is telling reporters that language continuing the moratorium will be omitted this year from a spending bill to keep the government in operating funds after Congress recesses for the election.

Republicans have made lifting the ban a key campaign after gasoline prices soared beyond $4 a gallon this summer and public opinion turned in favor of more drilling. President Bush lifted an executive ban on offshore drilling in July.

The Interior Department estimates there are 18 billion barrels of recoverable oil beneath coastal waters now off-limits.

Have the Democrats done anything they promised their supporters? The war thing didn't work out for them at all and now they are lifting a ban on drilling? Is there one concrete thing a Democrat can point out to me that the Democrats have done for them while they have been in control? They let Bush have the surge and they funded the troops. That must have been disappointing. And while this lifting the ban on drilling is welcome news to me, I'm thinking the Democrats in general aren't too happy with it.

Ahmadinejad...Nut

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, The President of Iran is speaking before the U.N. right now. He is a complete religious nut. Now, I don't say that lightly since I have been called a religious nut myself, but for the President of a country to get up in front of a non-religious entity (especially the U.N.) and not be a preacher, priest, rabbi, or other faith cleric and drone on and on about who Allah blesses and who Allah doesn't bless and speak his entire religious philosophy is beyond the ridiculous.

It would be amusing if he weren't so dangerous.

Remember this is the man who said there were no gay people in Iran. Which may have been technically true since he has a tendency to hang those who he believes is gay.

But I digress. Only one thing struck me when listening to IranianNutCase also know as the President of Iran. When he spoke of Iraq and the U.S.A's involvement there, he spoke the exact words that I hear from my friends on the left. I don't mean he referred to it the same way, I mean he used the exact words. It was all about the American people being lied to and not finding WMD's. He might have even said illegal war. We will have to find the transcript. He went on for a good five minutes in which if I had closed my eyes I would have thought it was someone from Kos or Huffington Post speaking or maybe a Democrat Congressman.

I'm not going to speak to that. I'm just putting it out there for thought.

One more thing. Did you know that Ahmadineja had a blog? I kid you not. He hasn't updated it since December, but here it is. Scroll down to the fourth post where he writes to an American mother who apparently secretly wrote to him about her son in Iraq. Again, you might think Huffington Post.

I'm in The Twilight Zone (bumped)

*I bumped this because I wanted everyone to read the addition at the bottom.

Seriously.

I am a political junkie but I spent the eight years of the Clinton Presidency ignoring the T.V. whenever they were on. I couldn't stand the sight of them (I did watch the "I never had sexual relations with that woman" thing, because who could resist that?). But I am not kidding when I say that in those eight years you could count the hours on one hand that I ever watched the news when the Clinton's were on. It helped that I had a baby in 1992 and another in 1996. They were kind of a distraction...;-)

So it was more than surreal when I started almost....ummm...dare I say...liking Hillary during the primary campaign. That scared me. Because I knew if I was having those feelings, then many many other Americans certainly were. Which is why I was so thrilled when Obama defeated her. I knew that she would be difficult to beat. I was also dismayed at the sexism thrown at Hillary. It was downright weird to be feeling sorry for the way the media and Obama treated her.

Now I'm really in the twilight zone, because I watched Bill Clinton on "The View" and smiled. Did you guys see it??? You must click here and watch this portion. I tried to write down the wonderful things things he said about McCain, but it went on too long for me to keep up. Clinton talked about what a truly non-partisan man McCain is and how he helped Clinton in his Presidency. He talks about how much he likes McCain. He talked of McCain's POW years and why he is a hero. At the beginning when they ask him who is going to win.....he pauses. Then he says "Obama," and then he says why Obama will win, NOT why he should win. There is a difference there and don't think Clinton doesn't know it. He also says that McCain is the only Republican that can win.

I was just smiling.

I can't believe I was sitting there smiling at Bill Clinton.

No reasonable person can watch that interview and not honestly say that Clinton is not still ticked at Obama. He even says that he says these things because he is "a loyal Democrat." Obama played the race card on Clinton and Clinton will not soon forget that.

Look, Obama treated Hillary badly. If Obama loses, Hillary can take another shot at it in 2012. Between this and the way Hillary is treating Sarah Palin practically like a little sister, I think we can safely conclude that the Clintons aren't happy with Obama.

It seems to me they are doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. But I'll take it.

I'll take it.

*Update: And the glowing endorsement continues. Here is Bill Clinton Monday:

Bill Clinton said Monday he understands why Sarah Palin is popular in the heartland: because people relate to her.

"I come from Arkansas, I get why she's hot out there," Clinton said. "Why she's doing well."

Speaking to reporters before his Clinton Global Initiative meeting, the former president described Palin's appeal by adding, "People look at her, and they say, 'All those kids. Something that happens in everybody's family. I'm glad she loves her daughter and she's not ashamed of her. Glad that girl's going around with her boyfriend. Glad they're going to get married.'"
Clinton said voters would think, "I like that little Down syndrome kid. One of them lives down the street. They're wonderful children. They're wonderful people. And I like the idea that this guy does those long-distance races. Stayed in the race for 500 miles with a broken arm. My kind of guy."
......................................

"I get this," Clinton said. "My view is ... why say, ever, anything bad about a person? Why don't we like them and celebrate them and be happy for her elevation to the ticket? And just say that she was a good choice for him and we disagree with them?"

Look at me here...I'm smiling again. Clinton mentioned this new "why do we have to bash those against us?" meme on 'Tthe View as well. That's how he is framing it. I can just imagine the phone call from the Obama people:

Obama people: What the hell are you doing?

Clinton: Who me? Well, I just don't see any reason we can't say nice things about Sarah. It makes us look magnanimous. Yeah, that's it. Magnanimous.

Obama people: You *&% &^^% %$%#

NRA coming at ya....

It' an effective ad for whom it is aimed. I am sure that those on the east and west coasts will be appalled at the hunting cap, the long hair, and the Church (ok, I'm kidding about the church...kinda). They will say to their friends that this is a "redneck." And then they will roll their eyes.

But the truth of the matter is that there are as many of these "rednecks" as there are the east/west coast snobs. I grew up around these kind of guys. They are rough around the edges, but as nice as the day is long. They will spend all day helping you haul wood. They are the salt of the earth and they work hard.

To those who look down their nose at people like this, I say maybe they aren't like you, but that doesn't mean you are better than they are. In fact, in many ways they understand things that you will never understand. You call yourselves environmentalists, but they understand the land in ways you never can. They have lived on the land, made a living from the land. They have hunted and fished and understand nature and all that it gives us.

You don't need an ivy league education to get mother earth, you only have to live and work with her.

It's called country living and I've been there and it was the best time of my life.

The elitists will snort at this ad, but the Americans who live this every day without a cinnamon mocha latte in the morning and an arugula salad for dinner. They will get this.

And they will vote.

via HotAir

Bad stuff

Jawa has apparently discovered that David Axelrod, Obama's chief media strategist and a PR firm he uses is behind "viral" videos that spread all the many lies about Sarah Palin.

Basically, as I understand it, these videos are suppose to look like just "concerned citizens" put up the videos (that look like campaign commercials) and it's a "grassroots effort" when in fact it is professionally done by a PR firm that works for Obama. They post it on places like MyDD or Kos or other leftwing sites and ask them to send it around. The lies are spread, but the campaign looks clean. Only it seems that Obama's campaign is far from clean.

Whether the media picks up on this or not, it is truly a sick and disturbing thing that this media advisor would actually spread what he knows is lies, vicious lies at that. This has to be the most appalling thing I've seen in politics. If true, then we will know without a shadow of a doubt that Obama isn't about a new kind of politics, but the dirtiest kind.

Within minutes of Jawa and Ace putting up their posts, the videos were yanked.

Why do we love Sarah?

Sometimes, but especially now with the media and their lovefest with Obama, you have to go across the pond to read an excellent opinion piece on Sarah Palin.

This brit gets it.

Also, This Canadian gets Obama as well. h/t Bigdog

*note: I have a bunch of new posts up, so keep scrolling.

The Big Picture

The polls are back where they were before the conventions. McCain and Obama are in a statistical tie. Even when the polls show Obama up by 2 or 3 points, I'm not worried. Why? Because all indications should have him up by 15 points at least and he can't break that 50% mark and stay there.

Let's look at the last few months. Obama was the man of change, the man of a new kind of politics. His base is not only enthusiastic about him, they are crazy in love with him. He is running a polished campaign with no big gaffes. He held his own at the Saddleback forum and Europe practically fell at his feet in worship. The media have acted more like groupies than journalists. T.V. Shows like SNL and "The View" and other talk shows have practically kissed his feet in all of his appearances. And let's not forget the endorsement of the richest and most popular personality on TV...Oprah.

Let's be honest here. Obama has had a sweet ride.

In the aftermath of the Democratic National Convention Michael Dukakis took a 17 point lead over George W. Bush in 1988, and he LOST. Obama got a 6 point bump after the convention. Obama's best lead was one Newsweek poll taken in June with a 17 point lead and that was when he was the most exciting thing since i-phones with his base and the Republican base was still trying to summon up something to like about McCain.

Let's not forget the over the top extravaganza that was Obama's convention either. The hundreds of movie stars, TV actors, and musicians that attended and performed. The state of the art video set of patriotic design and finally the move to the stadium performance with the greek columns and a crowd in the throes of ecstasy.

All that and the grand historical speech and he can't beat Dukakis in a post convention bump? You can blame it on his newcomer status, but there was another newcomer in 1992. His name was Bill Clinton and he got 13 point bump from the convention and never looked back.

Add to this that the Republican Convention this year was much less grand, not nearly as celebrity laden, and they had a hurricane to deal with to boot. Yet it still brought McCain a bigger bump than Obama, a 10 point bump.

I think you see what I'm saying here. Obama is running on the Democratic ticket with an unpopular Republican administration in power, gas prices out of control, and the economy in trouble. He should be riding the polls at 17 points at least.

And don't think the Obama people don't know this. That is why they have gotten a bit uglier of late. And that is why it will get uglier still.

This is going to be crazy close and we all know that. It will come down to those who decide at the last minute. It will come down to battleground states. But I just keep thinking that if Obama can't get a substantial lead with ALL he has going for him, and God knows no other candidate has ever had the media support he has enjoyed, then I feel pretty good about a victory on election day.

My Girl Sarah draws 60,000 in Florida

And with no famous band playing beforehand either...;-)

.....................

Wow.

Obama changing along the way....

He's been changing his website to reflect his "evolving" beliefs. Deleting sentences here, adding things there.

Good grief.

Hillary on Sarah

Here is Hillary's first statement put out following McCain's pick of Palin:

“We should all be proud of Governor Sarah Palin's historic nomination, and I congratulate her and Senator McCain. While their policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate.

A nice measured response to say the least.

Then....nothing. Just try and find Hillary speaking about Palin in the news anywhere except for the following examples.

A few weeks ago in Ohio she amended an earlier statment she had used before with McCain in Denver and said:

"No way, no how, no McCain, no Palin."

She went on with a similar statment from before as well, but added Palin's name:

"All that McCain and Palin offer is four more years of the same failed policies."

This is the same Hillary that slammed Obama by saying, "I think that I have a lifetime of experience that I will bring to the White House. Sen. John McCain has a lifetime of experience that he'd bring to the White House. And Sen. Obama has a speech he gave in 2002."

It's interesting to me and it must be incredibly frustrating to the Obama people, that Hillary refuses to say much about Sarah. Even these few comments are not exactly fighting material. And we know from her campaign against Obama that Hillary can punch with the best of them. She took the gloves off with Obama, but she isn't doing that with Palin.

She not only hasn't punched at Sarah, but she has even praised Sarah recently:

"Clinton told a Democratic campaign rally in Florida on Monday that the Alaska governor's candidacy as John McCain's running-mate was a "great accomplishment".

It's my speculation that the reason she has not been hard on Sarah is two fold. It is mostly her hidden, but clear disdain for Obama. Secondly, there is a part of her that doesn't want to bash a woman running on the ticket too badly. There may even be a part of Hillary that is proud of Palin. Who knows?

Politics makes strange bedfellows.