Conservative Movement Admits Defeat

Now That the Conservative Movement Has Shown Defeat in the economic argument between free markets and regulation, it’s time for their economists to work on something new. Despite America’s high respect for former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, the weakness of economic ideals based on the free-market theories of Ayn Rand and Atlas Shrugged should have been apparent long-ago.

The Failure of These Policies Shows Clearly in the current economic crisis:

Free-Market Policies Only Benefit CEOs and Upper-Level Management, as blue-collar industrial jobs go overseas to cheaper foreign-labor markets. Corporate profits go up and up and up, as good-paying American jobs go down, down, down. Meanwhile, the financial institutions and markets play fast and loose with the facts of prudent economic reality.

The Lack of Good-Paying Jobs means that more and more Americans can’t afford their mortgages. And more and more the American consumer—who fuels the economy to a substantial extent—can’t get any more credit to go out again and buy, buy, buy. "Trickle-down" theory is putting the brakes on the reality of "trickle-up" bankruptcy and defeat.

From These Failed “Free-Market” Economic Theories, America now races headlong toward a frightening recession.

This Is No-Longer Some Half-Baked Liberal Argument. It has now become a Conservative-acknowledged fact.

America’s Only Legitimate Choice, following on Chairman Greenspan’s admission of the failure of these policies, is to follow the reasoned direction that a Barack Obama presidency offers us.

During the Next Few Years, the Free-Market Economists of the Right will spend time developing a new economic model. Informed by the recent failure, the new model may conceivably be more-realistic than the last one.

And If History Is Any Example, once this new Colnservative model is developed, the weight will once again fall on the shoulders of the American middle-class, to test out the new-and-improved Republican economic model.

And Once Again, the American Worker, the blue-collar and white-collar middle-class, will get to pay the costs of learning the next expensive errors of the theory-blinded Conservative elite.



Early Voting Has Started Almost Everywhere. The only legitimate choice in this time of crisis is Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

But No Matter Who You Decide to Vote For, it's time to go out and vote.


Thank you for your support.

PROPOSED: A Party of Thinking Americans

Here's an Idea for Improving the Political Conversation and the Governance of the United States:

A New Political Party of “United Democratic Republicans” could bring together thoughtful Americans from both sides of the Left/Right political divide to debate all national issues, in mutual respect, with both sides seeking compromises that rise above ideology and serve the American people as one nation, indivisible.

Such Compromises Are Well-Within Our Reach, if instead of dividing the country by political orientation, we divide it by the attitude of shared spirit and good manners.

One Example of Such Cooperation Exists in the “Welfare-to-Work” Program of the Clinton Administration. “Responsible compassion” combined with “individual responsibility” worked to get participants off the welfare merry-go-round.

Other Such Liberal-Conservative Solutions must exist, once both sides put their minds to it.


POTENTIAL RESULTS:

No More Big Government masquerading as small government, as we've seen over the past twenty-eight years.

No More New Deal Great Society that puts government ahead of individual responsibility, as we've seen off and on since 1932.

The Thinking Americans from “Both Sides of the Aisle” could work together in earnest sincerity, absent the rancor and mistrust of motive that has permeated American political discourse for so long.

Meanwhile, the Know-Nothing Americans Must Either Work with One Another or else fracture into dozens of small parties that can never elect anybody to anything.


Is This Just Another Naïve Idea by some washed-up old terrorists?

Or Is It a Legitimate Way to re-configure the country?

If American Truly Can Do Anything, We Can Do This. If we can put a man on the moon, we can do this.

If Americans from Both Sides of the Aisle can elect an African-American as President just 44 years after passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, we can do this.


As for the Know-Nothing Americans? First, they might nominate Governor Sarah Palin to run against Barack Obama in 2012.

And Then Next, If They Lose Enough Elections, maybe they’ll decide to stop shooting first and questioning later. Maybe they'll decide to put down their slogans and start to think.

Republicans for Obama Are Still Republicans

Back in the 1860s, a New Kind of “Know-Nothing” American turned against Lincoln’s Anti-slavery Republican Party because of the Civil War. Instead of thinking seriously about political issues, these people categorically voted against Republicans. And thus, they voted for Democrats.

About Republicans, the Know-Nothing Americans Said:
“We ain’t gonna vote for that party never again!”

And These Know-Nothing Americans did not vote for Republicans for the next one-hundred years....

Then Came 1964, and the Civil Rights Act. Putting aside what the Republicans had done in the War of Northern Aggression, the Know-Nothing Americans now turned against the Democrats. And by 1972, the Know-Nothing Americans had all moved back over to the Republican Party. They did not vote for Democrats for at least the next thirty-six years.

About the Democratic Party, the Know-Nothing Americans Said:
“We ain’t gonna vote for that party never again!”

And Since That Time, the Republican Party has had to cater to the Know-Nothing Americans in order to win elections. It has been a high price to pay.....

In the Current Election, We See the Extent of That Cost: A good man, John McCain, has been sucked too far into the maelstrom of Know-Nothingness, in an effort which we hope will ultimately prove to be in vain.

Meanwhile, Some of the Nation’s Leading Conservatives and Leading Republicans have come over to the Barack Obama side to vote.

Rest Assured, These Good Republicans Remain Republicans. Or at least, they remain Conservatives.

Once this Current Anti-American Situation Passes, these good people will get back to fighting “the good fight” for their Conservative ideals.

The Great National Debate between Conservative ideals of responsible opportunity and Liberal ideals of responsible compassion will get back underway.

As for the Know-Nothing Americans? If they lose enough elections, maybe they’ll decide to stop shooting first and asking questions later. Maybe they'll learn to put down their slogans and start to think.

Taxpayer “Spread the Wealth” Questions of the Day

Question No. 1: How much is $700,000,000,000 per American citizen?

[Please check one box]
□ A: 5¢

□ B: 13¢

□ C: $2,333.33


Question No. 2: Where does the Republican Party think the money comes from to pay for the Wall Street rescue?

[Please check one box]
□ A: It grows on trees

□ B: If we cut taxes down to zero, we won’t have to pay for anything

□ C: The next Democratic presidential administration

□ D: Any or none of the above


Question No. 3: How does the McCain-Palin ticket propose to pay for government—including the next Wall Street rescue—if they have the honor of being elected?

[Write your answer in the box. Please be specific:]
□


Question No. 4: Which is better for the American citizen?

[Please check one box]
□ A: SHARE THE WEALTH, Democratic-style: People making more than a quarter of a million dollars a year pay a bit more in taxes.

□ B: SHARE THE WEALTH, Republican-style: Everybody in America contributes to a $700,000,000,000 bailout of Wall Street.


Labels Such as “Spread the Wealth” and “Socialism” Are an Easy Excuse for not having any real answers. “Let the other guy do it” may be an easy way to win an election. But it's a lousy way to run a great nation.

______________________________________________
______________________________________________
Answers:

1: C (Based on an estimated 300,000,000 American citizens. $9,333.32 per family of four. )
2: D (It's never mentioned)
3: Wrong
4: A or B (Voters' Choice)

Style Over Substance: The Republican “Spread the Wealth” Plan

The Wall Street Rescue Plan Is the Republican Version of “Spread the Wealth.” The effects of the past twenty-eight years of Republican deregulation and Liberal-bashing have led to the greatest spreading of wealth in the Nation’s history. All 300,000,000 of us must “spread” our “wealth” to protect the McCain-named “greed and corruption on Wall Street.”

If “Spread the Wealth” Is Really the Republican Program, how can Senator McCain and Governor Palin get away with accusing Barack Obama? The answer is simple: it depends on John McCain’s sarcastic tone and Sarah Palin’s humorous barbs about “Joe the Plumber” and “Ed the Dairyman.” By pushing these false examples—of people who would actually gain in the wealth of Wall Street CEOs under an Obama plan—the Republican candidates exercise their own right to “Style Over Substance.”

“Style Over Substance” Is What the Republican Party Has Given Us for the Past Eight Years. Meanwhile, they have “spread the wealth” of middle-class American, to bailout the multimillionaires on Wall Street. $700,000,000,000 and counting: that’s how much taxpayer money the Republican “Spread the Wealth” plan has spread to rescue Wall Street. Where is the “trickle down” in that?

General Colin Powell Makes His Case for Barack Obama eloquently. While John McCain and Sarah Palin believe that being an Arab-American or a Muslim-American or a French-American or an American city dweller is a bad thing, Colin Powell points out the essential American point-of-view:

We Are All Americans. While Sarah Palin talks about “pro-America” parts of the country, nothing in the Barack Obama or Joe Biden record shows either leader categorically dismissing any American citizens as second-class.

“Style Over Substance”? “Second-Class Americans”? That’s the McCain-Palin approach, for which un-American positions they should be resolutely denied election to higher national office.

Style and Substance? That’s What Barack Obama Offers America throughout this long campaign and in presidential leadership to come. Now, early voting is begun in many states throughout the nation. One party in this election clearly seeks to represent all of America. We are one nation. United and indivisible.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden Ask for Your Vote. They need it now. America needs your vote now. It is time to show the “Spread the Wealth” Republicans that “Country First” means all the country. And “Hope” and “Change” represent the real American future, to end this long era that has put the failed policies of “Wall Street First” ahead of the safety and security of the greatest nation the world has ever known.


Thank You for Your Support

The Republican Shell Game

[We really try to stay moderate and neutral here, but in the current political and economic situation,
we just can't figure out how to do that. Thus today's post:]

“Nobody ever went broke underestimating
the intelligence of the American people.”

—H.L. Mencken

If the Republicans Really Plan to Help You Get Rich....

.......Why Are They Always Taking You in the Wrong Direction?

It’s Time to Take Another Look at your 401(k) and your bank statement and your credit-card bill.

It’s Time to Take Another Look at your health insurance plan and its exclusions and “disallows,” and whether your lifetime maximum is keeping up with the ballooning cost of healthcare.

It’s Time to Take Another Look at the “For Sale” signs in your neighborhood, and the rising price of your mortgage, while the government is bailing out AIG and the rest of Wall Street.

How Do the Republicans Work Their Magic? Republican never talk about where the money will come from. And they never let a lack of money stop them from spending and spending. After all—it's not their money.

Republicans Make Fun of the Other Guys and joke about "spreading the wealth." They don't want Joe the Plumber's money taken to improve America. They want to "spread the wealth" on Wall Street.

The Facts Speak for Themselves, when you stop to look at it. Herbert Hoover's Great Depression and Richard Nixon's Watergate and Ronald Reagan's budget deficits and George W. Bush's [Insert Disaster Here]. Which shell is your money hiding under?

The Costs Go Up and Up, the Treasury Balance Goes Down and Down, the national debt doubles in the past few years—

The Spend-and-Spend Republicans Make Things Up—like voter fraud out of faulty registration forms that get denied—like "spread the wealth"—like "palling around with terrorists"—to distract you from their angry, losing candidate—

And You Believe that You Would Somehow Be Better Off Voting One More Time for the Republicans?

The Free-Ride Republicans Are No Longer a Laughing Matter:

The Republican Party and the Wrecking of the American Economy

How Are We Going to Pay for It All? Think about this:

Have You Heard John McCain Talk Even Once about how he plans to pay for things? Have you ever heard any Republican talk about how to pay for things? Even Ronald Reagan? Even George Bush?

The Republican Party Never Talks about Paying for Anything. They just “spend and spend,” and then draw on the Treasury to bail them out.

Maybe That’s Why So Many Americans Do the Same: We spend and spend, using all the credit cards the banks will send us, and all of the home-equity lines of credit that they’ll give us.

“Heck, It Works for the Republican Government! Why won’t it work for me?” That’s the Republican-voting American taxpayer.

If the Republican Free Ride Make Good Sense, How Come the Nation Is Suddenly So Broke?

“Lower taxes!” the Republicans say.

“Spend More!” they say.

“Credit Cards?” They Say. “Use ’Em If You Got ’Em. Go out and spend. If you need more cards, why, just ask. We’ll send more!”

The Republican Big-Spending Example Works with Regular Guys like Joe, the Plumber. The regular American guy can’t cover all his bills. He can’t pay his child support. He can’t pay his Red-state income taxes. He can’t put his kids in the good schools. But he would rather vote for the Republican presidential candidate than for a Democrat. Because, after all, the “Spend and Spend” Republicans won’t raise your taxes. No, they leave the dirty work to someone else.

It Is Nonsense to Spend More Than You Make. It's irresponsible. We all know that. But look at the consistent Republican message. Think about if you have ever heard any Republican candidate talk about how to pay for anything.

No Wonder America Is a Nation of Over-Spenders. A nation in debt. The Republicans and the Republican wannabes use credit cards and home-equity lines of credit—and now the U.S. Treasury—as if there is no tomorrow:

With the Republican Party in Charge, pretty soon there won’t be much of a tomorrow.

What Happens When an Entire Nation Declares Bankruptcy?

Stay Tuned to the Republican Party and we’ll get to see.....

Let’s Give a Tax Moratorium to the Republicans!

Who Do You Think Pays for Government Here in the U.S.? If you’ve ever had any doubt about the taxpayer tab, the current rescue package provides the clear answer.

But No One Really Likes to Pay Taxes. Especially during hard times like these, when many Americans can hardly afford them. National costs are up, our personal expenses are up, our investments are down, and soon we'll likely be out of work. What the heck can we do?

Luckily, the Republican Party Has an Answer Ready. And Republican presidential candidate John McCain says, “Hey! No problem!”

Here’s Something We Can All Try: On next-year’s income tax Form 1040, there will be a check box indicating that the taxpayer is a Republican. Every taxpayer who wants to can check the “Republican” box, and America really will be “the land of the free.”

How It Works:

□1: First, next to "Filing Status," check the box that says “Republican,” using a pen with black or blue ink. (No pencils, please!)

□2: Next, turn to the back of the form and fill in all of the spaces for tax credits.

□3: Then, sign and date the form and mail it to the United States Treasury.

□4: Once the U.S. Treasury receives all of the Republican 1040 forms paying no taxes and claiming all the tax credits, the Treasury will send the Forms 1040 out as bills.

Who Will We Send All These Form 1040 Bills to? Who will pay the bills? The answer is obvious, when you think about it. It’s the way that it has always been under Republican “spend and spend” government.

The Bills Will Be Addressed To:
Taxpayer Joe, the Plumber

“Not to Worry,” Says Senator McCain. “Your Tax-Credit & Refund Check from Taxpayer Joe, the Plumber, will arrive as soon as this pesky little economic thing is over.”

The Essentials of Outstanding Leadership

We Can Disagree about a Lot of Things in Politics. For example, we can argue how John McCain's fine war record stacks up against Barack Obama's calm manner and speaking style. We can argue about which Party got us into the current economic crisis. We can argue whether the "big government" and socialism of the Democrats will ever rise up to match the "big government" and socialism of the Bush Administration

But If Either Side, Democratic or Republican, Had All the Answers, then that side would have consistently been chosen to run the Nation through all time—and would have done a lot better job than what we have so often seen throughout our proud history.

Clearly We Need Both Sides, Republicans and Democrats, to make our country work. At the moment, though, things look better for the Democrats than for the Republicans.

Now We Watch the McCain-Palin Campaign wander in disarray, including an uncharacteristically negative campaign by John McCain. Just as Barack Obama's successful organization derailed the Clinton campaign, so it seems to be doing with John McCain. Meanwhile, the Obama-Biden ticket just keeps plugging away—with calm confidence and an amazing ability to stay on the non-personal side of the debate.

Yes, Barack Obama Is an Impressive Speaker, moving the country to reimagine great possibilities for America going forward.

But in Addition to a Powerful "Style," Barack Obama clearly knows how to surround himself with the right people, to run the right organizations, for the tough times. The persistent success of the Obama-Biden campaign says that Barack Obama brings an impressive amount of substance to the table—at a time when America needs the substance of solid leadership more than it has needed such leadership in a long time.

No Matter What Doubts and Aspersions Anyone Tries to Cast on Barack Obama, these do not stick The combination of outstanding campaign management and the fine manner of this distinguished leader confirms for all, that Barack Obama is truly an outstanding leader.

If Barack Obama Selects Advisors to Run the Country as well as he chooses the people who run his campaigns, with luck we should be in capable hands, come January.

Bridging the American Divide (Part III)

The Tide Will Turn Yet Again

The Tide Will Turn Yet Again. The nation will change course. This transition from Right to Left and back again has already occurred a number of times in our nation’s history, and it will almost certainly happen again.

Sooner or Later, Depending on How Long it Takes Us to Get out of the Current Set of Messes. That is, depending on how long it takes us to reach the next “cave.”

In the Mean Time, Wouldn’t It Be Great if we could somehow lower our shields on this divide and work together? Wouldn’t it be great to put the best tools of the Right together with the best tools of the Left.

Wouldn’t We All like to Stay in the Same “Cave” One More Season, while improving it suit all of us better?

How Do Those Content to Stay and Fearful of Leaving convince the others that staying put is the best course, that it is not just cowardice and selfishness?

How Do Those Boldly Eager to Leave and Fearful of Staying convince the others that moving on is what is needed, and that it is not just some foolhardy willingness to risk everything for some bright future that may not exist?

How Can We Do That? What Would it Take? What would it take for Americans on both sides of the political and cultural divide to see the other side’s point of view, and to pick the best options from both sides, and to go boldly forward, while not risking everything that we already have to lose?

STILL AHEAD: How We Can Actually Work Together

Bridging the American Divide (Part II)

How We Got Here This Time

Back in the Late 1970s, the generally liberal thrust of government from FDR through LBJ to Jimmy Carter had essentially kept us on the move—as if looking for the new “cave” that would solve society’s ills—for too long. After the tumult of the Sixties, the majority of Americans were ready to settle down in one spot, in one “cave.” Ready to get the spending and the taxing under control. Ready to let the constant changes to our morality or immorality settle down.

Thus, Ronald Reagan Was Elected President, and the Nation began its twenty-eight-year tilt to the Right.

Now, Though, We Seem to Have Reached the Limits of the Conservative view. The overall argument of small government and lower taxes has somehow, inexplicably, led us to where we are. Essentially, we sit in a cave that is too small for us. The roof is caving in. It is time for us to move in a different direction. Find a new “cave.”

Back in the 1980s, Liberals insisted that the things that we’d been trying just hadn’t been given enough of a chance, and that we had more things to try.

“We Stop Here,” said Conservatives under Ronald Reagan. That old “Liberal agenda” didn't matter any more. The majority of the nation were fed up. Ronald Reagan cut programs and cut taxes. Then he outspent the Soviet Union to get those "wolves" from the door.

It All Seemed to Work Well-Enough for a While (though there were always many people unhappy—and there always will be). But then, over the past eight years, so many things went wrong. Enron, and September 11, and Katrina, and Iraq, and Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, and more hurricanes, and the price of oil skyrocketing, and the collapse of the housing market, and—

“We Have to Move Now.” Suddenly the weight of the Conservative/Liberal argument seems to have switched to the other side of the scales. (Sure, there are plenty of people who still prefer the arguments of lowering taxes and cutting regulations—and there always will be). But the recent rescues, from Iraq and Katrina, all the way through to the current bailouts, make the arguments for lowering taxes look unrealistic.

STILL AHEAD: The Tide Will Turn Yet Again and How We Can Actually Work Together

Bridging the American Divide (Part I)

The Parable of the American “Cave”

The Choice We Humans Always Face concerns whether to spend the harsh winter in the small, leaky cave that we know—or to strike out before winter reaches us, to seek a new, dry cave, large-enough to hold the whole clan.

If We Get Caught out in the Cold During the Winter, we will starve or be eaten by wolves. That’s a powerful argument for Staying Where We Are.

If We Stay in the Familiar Cave While the Roof Is about to Cave in on Us, and while our enemies march toward us to lay siege, we will be crushed by the rock or starved to death by the siege. That’s a powerful argument for Looking For a New Place Now.

This, in a Nutshell, Describes the Difference between the Conservative and the Liberal view. Either “We need to stay put!” or “Let’s move!”

Neither Side Represents “Evil” nor “Good.” Neither Liberal nor Conservative is inherently better or worse than the other. But both provide different value under different circumstances.

STILL AHEAD: How We Got Here This Time and The Tide Will Turn Yet Again

ASP: The American Shareholder Plan

The News out of Washington, D.C., Today came from Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson. Among other information contained in the Secretary’s report on coming government actions related to the troubled international crisis, one thing stood out:

The American Taxpayer Is about to Become a Major Shareholder in the securities of troubled financial institutions. According to Secretary Paulson, in the appropriate or necessary circumstances, the taxpayers, through the agency of the national government, will receive actual shares of stock in the troubled banks and other institutions.

The Distribution of These Shares was not mentioned in the Secretary’s press conference, but we would like to suggest once again the possibility of an actual distribution of these shares into individual accounts for each individual shareholder.

Under the American Shareholder Plan (“ASP”), accounts can be opened for each American citizen and taxpayer, using the information on record with the Social Security Administration. These shares can then grow in the individual’s ASP account, for a wide range of purposes, such as home purchase, college tuition, health care, or retirement.

So Long as the Shares Are Kept in the ASP Account, their value will not be taxed, and nor will any dividends or other distributions be taxed. Just as with IRAs and Health Savings Accounts and other tax-advantaged investment plans, the ASP beomes the individual’s private investment acocunt, to use as he or she sees fit.

Under the Prospects of the ASP, the American taxpayer, currently bailing out Wall Street with tremendous sums of money, at a time of great financial duress, will stand to benefit completely from the eventual recovery of the financial markets. Whether the companies involved are banks or other types of businesses, the variety of income and capital return that each citizen might earn may eventually compensate the American taxpayers for the economic pain and suffering and risk that is currently underway.

Democratic Candidates Barack Obama and Joe Biden ask for your vote on November 4, 2008. Please help make exciting new programs such as the American Shareholders Program become reality.



[DISCLAIMER: The ASP is not currently endorsed by Barack Obama or Joe Biden, who have not yet read this post.]

It Seemed Like Sort of a Good Idea at the Time....

Despite Persistent Evidence to the Contrary throughout the entire history of humanity, Republicans and Libertarians assert the idea that greed somehow controls itself. That people operating always in their own self-interest will generally do the right thing when it comes to dealing with their own resources and with one another.

Separately, Conservative Writer George F. Will as recently as January 4, 2007, wrote that “Labor is a commodity; governments make messes when they decree commodities' prices.” In the sense that one person on an assembly line is about as effective as any other person on an assembly line, Mr. Will is absolutely correct.

But in the Sense That a Society Is about its People, Mr. Will’s assertion is abhorrent. And now we see the practical outcome of such flawed reasoning in the tremendous economic crisis of today. (One wonders what Mr. Will thinks that "government of the people, for the people" actually means?)

We Now Have a Final Assessment: These “self-regulating markets” do not function properly where the "commodity" of actual, real live human beings is concerned.


The Overriding Fact Is that it was the “free market” combination of lessened regulation and diminished oversight and the “deadly sin” of greed that brought us to the edge of this precipice. A deliberate conspiracy of deregulation and incompetence has brought us to the brink.

Now Barack Obama’s Opponent, a self-avowed “Maverick” of deregulation and a twenty-five-year veteran of the the “free-market” crowd, tries desperately to assert his capabilities to serve as President.

But Republican Senator McCain Is the Wrong Person, with the Wrong Philosophy, at the wrong time. It is too late for Senator McCain to fool America into thinking that he is something he is not.

Now Is the Time for a Government for All the People, not just for those who at the top of the heap, drawing seven-figure CEO salaries. The Democratic principles of oversight and fairness and economic equality—for those willing to work for it—now return. The Republican “Free-Market” ideas now follow Elvis out of the building....


Now Is the Time for the Calm, Firm Leadership of Barack Obama. A non-ideological approach that counts all of America, from the "commodity" of labor to the Republican "CEOs" of Wall Street, as one indivisible nation under God, with liberty and justice for all.

Later, with the Nation Once More Restored to a Solid Footing, the deregulation, small-government Republicans will return to power. They always do.

It Always Seems Like a Good Idea at the Time. The economy will bloat again with the ungoverned greed. Somehow it always does.

But Right Now, It Is Time for the Democrats Once Again to roll up their sleeves and get to work, rescuing the American people, while bailing out the Conservatives and the Republicans and the free-market CEOs of Wall Street, as well.


Barack Obama and Joe Biden Are Asking for Your Vote on November 4, 2008. These men represent the party for all the people of these United States, rather than just the silent CEOs of the Fortune 500® and Wall Street.

It Is Time for a Return to Reason and Good Sense. Regardless of how much, “It seemed like sort of a good idea at the time.”

Debate No. 2: Style vs Substance

When Presidential Candidate Barack Obama opens his mouth to speak, what comes out are words and sentences and ideas. Not prepared speeches. This cannot be said about his opponent.

When Barack Obama Has a Point to Correct, he speaks it out. He does not deliver zingers against his opponent, but merely corrects the record. He always speaks his opponent’s name with respect.

When an Obama Speaking Turn Was Completed during the debate, he returned to his seat and listened to his opponent with respect, watchfully. (On the other hand, on some occasions while Senator Obama was speaking, his opponent was seen roaming around the stage in the background.)

Barack Obama Is Running for President of the United States, and he does not refer to everyone in sight as “my friend.” He treats everyone—friend and opponent alike—with respect, with dignity, and with consideration. He rightly plans to talk with foreign friends and enemies alike, as needed to help improve America’s role in the world, and to help all of the world toward peace.

When Moderator Tom Brokaw Asked Both Candidates how they would prioritize certain issues in the first days of their administrations, Barack Obama spoke directly to the question, describing a priority which led from one issue to the next. Senator McCain claimed he would not need to prioritize—as if the economy were not in upheaval, or as if our treasury were a limitless money tree.

Barack Obama Spoke Well on Foreign Affairs in Particular, never delivering a canned speech nor dropping the name of some nation that he could barely pronounce. Senator Obama spoke directly about the need to move decisively in Afghanistan, while addressing those failed policies of the Bush Administration that Senator McCain supports and promises to extend, if the Obama campaign does not prevail.

The Room Lights Up When Barack Obama Stands Up. His poise, his composure, and his sincere smile show that in an Obama Administration, the United States will have an authentic leader as commander-in-chief.

Senator McCain Wants so Badly to Become President. But he lacks the presence and the temperament necessary to serve the Nation well in that capacity. He lacks clear insight into world affairs. He lacks range concerning military affairs and the economy. John McCain lacks both the style and the substance to serve America as our next president.

Barack Obama and Joe Biden Ask for Your Vote on November 4, 2008. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild America will serve us now. It's legacy may well serve us for generations to come.

Please Be Sure to Cast Your Vote. America needs all of us right now.

But Seriously, Folks: Who’s "Really" to Blame for This Mess?

[The following presentation comes from The Open-Eyed Voter™]

Whether We Will Admit it or Not, most Americans don’t know which side is really most-responsible for the current economic meltdown. And most Americans—whether Republican or Democrat—gladly blame the other side—whichever party we each consider “the other side” to be.

But From a Distance, It’s Not Really Possible for the independent voter to tell who is telling more of which truth. Is it the Democrats? The Republicans? Does either really know how it got this way?

The Open-Eyed Voter™ Does Not. But here is our best effort at figuring it out, as objectively as we can manage:

In the First Place, the Democrats insisted that the opportunity of home-ownership be opened up to all Americans, even to those who couldn’t afford it.

Then, the Republicans Took this Mandate of universal home-ownership, and decided that they’d show the Democrats how foolish this idea was. They created mortgages, which almost anybody could qualify for, that were step-up adjustable-rate mortgages. These mortgages would start low to qualify lower-income buyers, but then jump up to high rates that the borrowers could not realistically manage.

The Combined Result: Too Many People bought houses that they couldn’t afford—at interest rates that they couldn’t afford—while lacking the money-management skills necessary to keep up with their payments.

Next, the Glass-Steagall Act Was Removed. This Depression-era provision kept commercial banks and investment banks separate. Into the breach, mortgages brokers set themselves up in the new territory between commercial banks and investment banks. No one noticed that the gap existed. Too many risky mortgages got written. These risky mortgages were then resold as if they were the old-fashioned kind: solid and dependable. And the rest, as they say, is the current economic crisis.

In the De-Regulatory Economic Climate that has prevailed in America over the past 28 years, the path to this disaster was inevitable. Between the Democratic effort to mandate equality of opportunity and the Republican effort to profit from the presumed equality of individual responsibility, the whole financial system was brought to the brink.

It Would Be Constructive to Hear Barack Obama and John McCain each respond to a narrative such as that preceding, and to hear each identify what genuine blame lies within their respective parties. Now, that would be putting “Country First.”

Right Now, No Matter Who Is to Blame, we are ready for the “Hope” and the “Change” necessary to really get us out of this mess

Guilt by Association and the Terrorism of Deregulation (Part II)

The Terrorism of Deregulation:

The Economy of the United States of America has struggled under years and years of the "terrorism" of deregulation. Can our economy continue to support a “deregulation Maverick” like Senator John McCain?

As Election Time Draws Near and the Economy Sinks, Senator McCain and his “Maverick” running mate will be talking more and more about anything they can get away with, doing their best to distract Americans from the real challenges that face America today.

Is This Any Way to Run an Election? John McCain said that he’d rather lose an election and save the economy, than lose the economy just to win an election.

Guilt by Association Is not New. And it’s no surprise. In fact, a McCain-Palin campaign worker today said,

“If We Keep Talking about the Economy, We’re Going to Lose.”

Small Wonder That the Maverick Deregulator who encouraged decades of "deregulation terrorism"—from the Savings & Loans, all the way to Wall Street—would want to talk about just about anything else.

Terrorism? Deregulation? Savings & Loan Scandal? Which of these things really matter when it comes to feeding your family, filling up your gas tank, paying for college, and saving for retirement?

Barack Obama Needs Your Vote on November 4, 2008. It's time to change America. Senator McCain wants to talk about Barack Obama and Distinguished Educator William Ayers. Why would the McCain-Palin ticket rather talk about that?


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Guilt by Association and the Terrorism of Deregulation (Part I)

Guilt by Association:

While Senator John McCain Actively Participated as a member in the scandal of Charles Keating and the Keating Five, Barack Obama had absolutely nothing to do with America’s war in Vietnam.

When the Vietnam War was Lost, Barack Obama was 13 years old.

Barack Obama Had Nothing to Do with anti-war activities back in the 1960s. When William Ayers committed his anti-Vietnam War activities—for which Distinguished Educator Ayers has since turned himself in and apologized—Barack Obama was 9 years old!

Barack Obama Met Mr. Ayers as a Respected Educator in the 1990s, helping to reform a crumbling Chicago education system. Not as a terrorist, but more than 20 years later, as an educator.

Does the McCain-Palin Campaign Honestly Believe Barack Obama should put politics ahead of Chicago school kids? Should Barack Obama, like John McCain, put politics ahead of the American people?

To Fix the Current Economic Crisis, the Obama team of leaders includes: Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett; former Reagan Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker; and former Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin. Are these the kind of people John McCain would accuse of supporting a former terrorist?

President & Senator Clinton: Is Sarah Palin implying that Senator Clinton would support a terrorist? Does John McCain mean that President Clinton would support a terrorist?

Coming in Part II: "The Terrorism of Deregulation"

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What Difference Does John McCain Make?

What Difference Does John McCain’s Involvement in the Losing Savings & Loan Meltdown back in 1987, and the Keating Five scandal, make in today’s economy?

What Difference Does John McCain’s Involvement in the Losing Vietnam and Iraq Wars make in today’s foreign relations?

What Difference Does John McCain’s Role as a Deregulating Maverick in Today's Losing Economy have to do with the need to bail out Wall Street with 700,000,000,000 of American taxpayer dollars?

What Do 26 Years of Loss and Failure Have to Do with America’s Next President?

On November 4, 2008, We Can Elect Barack Obama President of the United States, and Joe Biden Vice-President to serve at his side. Unless we want more years of deregulation, loss and failure.

It’s Time to Put Someone Who Knows How to Win for the American people in the White House. Not just to fight, but to win....

Can American Survive Four More Years of More of the Same Loss and Failure? Of Course.

But Thrive? No.

It's Time for Real Change with President Barack Obama.



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Getting It Right on "Drill, Baby, Drill"

The Vice-Presidential Debate (Revisited)


Senator Joe Biden:
“Barack Obama Believes that by Investing in Clean Coal and Safe Nuclear, we can not only create jobs in wind and solar here in the United States, we can export it.

“China Is Polluting Not Only the Atmosphere, but also the West Coast of the United States. We should export the technology by investing in clean coal technology.

“We Should Be Creating Jobs. John McCain has voted 20 times against funding alternative energy sources and thinks, I guess, the only answer is “Drill, Drill, Drill....”


Governor Sarah Palin:
“...The Chant Is 'Drill, Baby, Drill,' Joe.”


Channeling Barack Obama:
“Oh.”

Vice-Presidential Candidate Joe Biden Stands Corrected.