Thinking Right

By Saxby's Got To Go.

September 20, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this

Saxby & his Gang of 10TRAITORS are not going to pass the $84 Billion WINDFALL TAX until after the election.Guess the oil companies paid enough. McCain says COUNTRY FIRST Saxby says LOBBYIST FIRST.

Where Saxby Chambliss gets his money::

Agri Business—-$1,368,000 Banks, Insurance, Real Estate—-$1,332,000 Lawyers & Individual Lobbyist——$641,000 Misc Business —-$679,000 Other ——$606,000..

The Agi Business got a gift of $20 billion waste from Saxby’s Farm Bill. The Banks, Real Estate & Lawyers just got a $2 TRILLION gift from the Bail Out the Banks act which Saxby & Johnny voted for. Not a bad return on your money.Saxby Has Got To Go.

Source:http://www.opensecrets.org/politicia…&cid=N00002685

By Ga Values

September 20, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this

Jim, you might try writting something about Sandra Palin. This is from the Kipplinger Letter.

Washington’s rescue of credit markets will add to another brewing crisis. The federal budget deficit is wildly out of control, with huge implications for government policy and, further down the road, for the nation’s economy. Even before the latest move, the deficit was headed for $600 billion in 2009, a 50% spike over 2008. That means the government will be borrowing at least one of every five dollars it spends. In fact, the deficit would be well over $800 billion if Social Security surpluses weren’t included, a practice that hides the hard truth. And deficits will grow exponentially, now that Washington is on the hook for hundreds of billions in uncertain debt. It’s too early to put a number on the cost to the government, but a body blow, at least in the short term, is virtually certain.

when a new president takes over, almost twice what it was when Bush was sworn in. That means rising interest payments…about a tenth of the budget… that mostly go overseas to pay the coupon on Treasuries held by foreign creditors.

The national debt is getting very close to 70% of GDP and will soon reach levels not seen since the mid-1950s. By comparison, Britain’s national debt is 43% of GDP. France’s, Canada’s and Germany’s hover around 65%. Japan has the biggest debt…a whopping 195% of GDP. The budget crisis will tie the hands of the next president. Instead of a first 100 days filled with new initiatives, it’ll be like 1992, when Bill Clinton faced a big deficit and swapped a planned tax cut for a big tax increase. Neither Obama nor McCain dwells on the deficit now, but whoever wins in Nov. will be forced to next year.

and add more would cost $627 billion over 10 years. Even if it spurred the economy and brought in more revenue, there would be a lag and the deficit would still rise. McCain’s plans to rein in spending…freezing domestic programs at current levels and ending earmarks…would save only $20 billion a year, barely denting the deficit. Obama wouldn’t fare much better. His tax hike on upper-incomers, along with cuts for most others, would add $595 billion in revenue over 10 years. But that wouldn’t go far in fulfilling his promises to spend $15 billion more a year on alternative energy, $18 billion on education and $100 billion on health care. Also at risk: More funding to rebuild the armed forces, expand job training, shore up Medicaid, lend more to small businesses and boost science research.

and Social Security if cutbacks aren’t made or new sources of revenue found. Will big deficits hurt the economy? Yes, if not addressed. At some point, they will lead to higher interest rates, tighter credit and slower economic growth.

By Tommy Lee Maddox

September 20, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this

Hey Jim:

Civil litigants are entitled by statute to file their cases twice. After you dismiss the first time then refile, there’s no dismissing again unless it is done with prejudice or the case is taken to judgment.

Judge Schwall might be able to hammer them for fees if he thinks they did something “bad” during the course of litigation, but I don’t think he’ll have the authority to sanction them with a dismissal with prejudice after they have already dismissed without. That ultimate penalty will rest in the hands of the next Judge to come along.

By Saxby's Got To Go

September 20, 2008 8:22 AM | Link to this

Saxby is waiting until AFTER the election to SHAFT the taxpayers. Strange how Saxby makes a $84 Billion tax increase look like only $30 Billion. Lord knows Saxby would not lie to the GEORGIA TAXPAYER. Guess his LOBBYIST son gave him the wrong numbers. xx

Gang of Ten’ energy bill put on hold until after November Friday, September 19, 2008, 06:34 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

With Washington swamped by the crisis on Wall Street, U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss and his Democratic partner have pulled the plug on their bipartisan “Gang of Ten” energy bill until after the November elections.

Chambliss phoned this evening with the news.

But before the Senate adjourns next week, the Georgia senator said a revised version of the bill will be unveiled — one that will feature expanded territory for offshore oil drilling.

Chambliss, a Republican up for re-election, had formed an alliance with Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) this summer. Support had grown from the original 10 senators to 20.

“When you look at the atmosphere that’s in Washington right now — all of a sudden, the focus is on the financial side rather than energy. Kent and my thought is that this issue is such a critical issue, that it deserves a lot of time, a lot of thought, a lot of debate,” Chambliss said.

A House energy bill passed this week would go nowhere in the Senate, Chambliss predicted.

Republican members of the “Gang of Ten” — who include Georgia’s other senator, Johnny Isakson — had been criticized for working with Democrats on the bill, which mixes increased territory for drilling with incentives for conservation and the development of alternative sources of energy.

The “Gang of Ten” plan expanded offshore drilling into much of the Gulf of Mexico,and the Atlantic coasts of some southeastern states — but not Florida.

Both House Republicans and presidential candidate John McCain had adopted the call for nearly unlimited drilling in American territory, as espoused by former House speaker Newt Gingrich with his slogan of “Drill here, drill now.”

Even so, Chambliss said his “Gang of Ten” approach deserves credit for moving many Democrats, including U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, from a hardened stance against offshore drilling.

“Now you look where everybody is — they’re trying to out-offshore drill one another,” Chambliss said. “We decided that, if the ball has moved down the court, we’re changing our proposal.”

Chambliss skimped when it came to details of a revised “Gang of Ten” bill. But the senator said another reason for the delay was the loss of a means to pay for much of it.

In the original version, the “Gang of Ten” proposal envisioned repealing a 6-year-old, $30 billion tax credit for oil companies. That money would have gone to pay for alternative energy incentives. On talk radio and elsewhere, this was condemned as a tax increase.

The tax credit will in fact be repealed next week, Chambliss said. But now it will be used to help pay for the Wall Street bailout.

“Republicans are going to be voting for that on a wholesale basis,” Chambliss said. “Go figure.”

By Churchill

September 20, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

Our daily Palin Editorial

Why Experience Matters

By DAVID BROOKS Published: September 15, 2008 Philosophical debates arise at the oddest times, and in the heat of this election season, one is now rising in Republican ranks. The narrow question is this: Is Sarah Palin qualified to be vice president? Most conservatives say yes, on the grounds that something that feels so good could not possibly be wrong. But a few commentators, like George Will, Charles Krauthammer, David Frum and Ross Douthat demur, suggesting in different ways that she is unready.

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David Brooks

Related Blogrunner: Reactions From Around the Web

Go to Columnist Page »

The Conversation Times columnists David Brooks and Gail Collins discuss the 2008 presidential race.

All Conversations » Readers’ Comments “I grew up in a small town with Republican values … it never prepared me for the Vice Presidency or even a cabinet position. ” Jack, Portland, Ore. Read Full Comment » The issue starts with an evaluation of Palin, but does not end there. This argument also is over what qualities the country needs in a leader and what are the ultimate sources of wisdom.

There was a time when conservatives did not argue about this. Conservatism was once a frankly elitist movement. Conservatives stood against radical egalitarianism and the destruction of rigorous standards. They stood up for classical education, hard-earned knowledge, experience and prudence. Wisdom was acquired through immersion in the best that has been thought and said.

But, especially in America, there has always been a separate, populist, strain. For those in this school, book knowledge is suspect but practical knowledge is respected. The city is corrupting and the universities are kindergartens for overeducated fools.

The elitists favor sophistication, but the common-sense folk favor simplicity. The elitists favor deliberation, but the populists favor instinct.

This populist tendency produced the term-limits movement based on the belief that time in government destroys character but contact with grass-roots America gives one grounding in real life. And now it has produced Sarah Palin.

Palin is the ultimate small-town renegade rising from the frontier to do battle with the corrupt establishment. Her followers take pride in the way she has aroused fear, hatred and panic in the minds of the liberal elite. The feminists declare that she’s not a real woman because she doesn’t hew to their rigid categories. People who’ve never been in a Wal-Mart think she is parochial because she has never summered in Tuscany.

Look at the condescension and snobbery oozing from elite quarters, her backers say. Look at the endless string of vicious, one-sided attacks in the news media. This is what elites produce. This is why regular people need to take control.

And there’s a serious argument here. In the current Weekly Standard, Steven Hayward argues that the nation’s founders wanted uncertified citizens to hold the highest offices in the land. They did not believe in a separate class of professional executives. They wanted rough and rooted people like Palin.

I would have more sympathy for this view if I hadn’t just lived through the last eight years. For if the Bush administration was anything, it was the anti-establishment attitude put into executive practice.

And the problem with this attitude is that, especially in his first term, it made Bush inept at governance. It turns out that governance, the creation and execution of policy, is hard. It requires acquired skills. Most of all, it requires prudence.

What is prudence? It is the ability to grasp the unique pattern of a specific situation. It is the ability to absorb the vast flow of information and still discern the essential current of events — the things that go together and the things that will never go together. It is the ability to engage in complex deliberations and feel which arguments have the most weight.

How is prudence acquired? Through experience. The prudent leader possesses a repertoire of events, through personal involvement or the study of history, and can apply those models to current circumstances to judge what is important and what is not, who can be persuaded and who can’t, what has worked and what hasn’t.

Experienced leaders can certainly blunder if their minds have rigidified (see: Rumsfeld, Donald), but the records of leaders without long experience and prudence is not good. As George Will pointed out, the founders used the word “experience” 91 times in the Federalist Papers. Democracy is not average people selecting average leaders. It is average people with the wisdom to select the best prepared.

Sarah Palin has many virtues. If you wanted someone to destroy a corrupt establishment, she’d be your woman. But the constructive act of governance is another matter. She has not been engaged in national issues, does not have a repertoire of historic patterns and, like President Bush, she seems to compensate for her lack of experience with brashness and excessive decisiveness.

The idea that “the people” will take on and destroy “the establishment” is a utopian fantasy that corrupted the left before it corrupted the right. Surely the response to the current crisis of authority is not to throw away standards of experience and prudence, but to select leaders who have those qualities but not the smug condescension that has so marked the reaction to the Palin nomination in the first place.

By Just Nasty and Mean

September 20, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

G’Mornin Jim, et al,

What is black and brown and looks good on a lawyer? ………..

A Doberman!

Where does it say in either the Federal or State constitution that some/any person or group can come along and instigate a claim that costs the State $2m, then just DROP it without renumeration of the expense?

Some states (I am told Tenn.) has laws that inhibit frivolous lawsuits by charging the plaintiff the cost to the defendant for defending against losing claims or charges.

I LIKE IT!! ….but I am sure the lawyers lobby (imagine the stench!) would spend whatever it takes to defeat such a law.

Common sense voters should elect politicians that would nominate ONLY constitutional law interpretive judges, and not attempt to subterfuge the will of the people by nominating activist judges to get laws to go their way. (Obama?).

Let’s see a referendum on the Ga. ballot to charge plaintiffs the costs to defendents if they lose. That would virtually eliminate frivolous cases clogging our court system and lower costs for all.

Have a good weekend!!

By Peter

September 20, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

Jim IS AFRAID to mention REAL ELECTION ISSUES………ECONOMY, EDUCATION, CHILD CARE, COST PLUS CONTRACTS, Medicare, Social Security, Anything that REALLY impacts the Election, and Americans.

Hey JIM how Enormus will the DEFICIT be when King Bush leaves office after RAPING the American Economy, and creating the Largest Deficit, with Drunking Spending ?

MORE “Conservative Economics Jim” ?

It is Amazing the Right will tell ALL the the Democrat’s spend, BUT NEVER in the History of the USA has the Country been as Poorly Run, and MONEY NOT ACCOUNTED FOR !

It all started with Cheney and the Energy Gang that created secret policy for running American Energy,erican Public is not Prevy too……Lies and rape of Americaq is the end result.

The current Republicans in Congress HAVE STOPPED legislation to a Point of almost ZERO getting done, mostly because they are protecting the President, who is MORE THAN WILLING to Veto anything he doesn’t like.

“VOTE NO for Americans” is the BushCheney Mantra ! All the Money should leed to WAR !

JIM your Party has Just about RUINED AMERICA, and the YOU continue to PUSH DUMB AND DUMMER for Office.

Come on Jim when are you going to stand up for Americans ?

America has had it’s DARK TIME with Bush and Cheney…….and Lemmings are still linning up to vote for more Screwing by the Republicans !

By AJMBS

September 20, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

American’s for John McCain getting a Brain Scan has stepped up its efforts this week after hearing of the Senator’s desire not to bail out Wall Street. That Senator McCain would support cutting off the head to save the arm only increases the urgency of our cause.

By Curious Observer

September 20, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

The judge is a recent Republican appointee to the bench. The would-be plaintiff withdraws the suit, presumably to go judge-shopping elsewhere.

So what is all this saying about the sorry state of our judiciary? It’s saying that our judiciary has become the latest battleground on which political parties seek to impose their philosophies, with judges predisposed to rule in certain ways because of their political beliefs.

Whatever happened to objectivity and hearing the evidence?

By dirty harry

September 20, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

Another day another John McCain GAFFE, LAUGH or LIE!

McCain confuses the U.S. Army with the National Guard….

As he tries to build up Palins foreign policty credentials he says this.

“I also know, if I might remind you, that she is commander of the Alaska National Guard. In fact, you may know that on Sept. 11 a large contingent of the Alaska Guard deployed to Iraq and her son happened to be one of them. So I think she understands our national security challenges…”

Unfortunately for McCain, Palins son is in the U.S. Army!

By getalife

September 20, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

Conservatives - They Scare Easily.

Duh, but did not need a study to confirm this obvious fact. Just look at rove’s tactics. They are not the brightest of people.

The legal system was killed by w and his Dept. of justice.

Capitalism was killed by w and his socialism.

We need to change the books in education teach our children this new country because w destroyed the old one.

Let them be taught that their future was sold out for gop greed.

Let them be taught about gop cowardice and lack of accountability.

Let them be taught that they can commit crimes, refuse to cooperate with investigations and hire lawyers to cover it up with loop holes in laws.

Let them taught that conservatism is actually socialism and evil. Greed is a sin.

Let them taught the money they owe for gop greed.

By fearless fosdik

September 20, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

Sarah Palin likes to tell voters around the country about how she “put the government checkbook online” in Alaska. On Thursday, Palin suggested she would take that same proposal to Washington.

“We’re going to do a few new things also,” she said at a rally in Cedar Rapids, which she confused as GRAND RAPIDS. “For instance, as Alaska’s governor, I put the government’s checkbook online so that people can see where their money’s going. We’ll bring that kind of transparency, that responsibility, and accountability back. We’re going to bring that back to D.C.”

There’s just one problem with proposing to put the federal checkbook online – somebody’s already done it. His name is BARAK OBAMA!

By getalife

September 20, 2008 11:12 AM | Link to this

Bush Asking For $700 Billion Bailout

The socialist revolution happened under gop rule without one shot fired.

The only shot the people will use is the upcoming election. If you want more socialism, vote for gop.

By ron

September 20, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

Good morning Jim,It’s just possible they are right about Judge Schwall.Did that ever occour to you?He’s a judge appointed by Sonny,for a reason.Sonny’s Republican,Schwall will be.He’ll make his decisions in a certain way.Happens all the time.Isn’t this how the legal system works?Justice by party affiliation?If I wanted to do something progressive,the last thing I’d want is a conservative judge.Doesn’t conservative mean stay the same,no change to the status quo?It was good enough for Grandpa,it’s good enough for me?

Should one desire to teach Creationism in public schools one would not actively seek a liberal judge now,would one?Judge shopping is as common as grocery shopping.

By Churchill

September 20, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

In the Sean Hannity-Sarah Palin infomercial that aired on Fox’s “Hannity & Colmes” this week, Hannity asked Alaska Gov. Palin who was responsible for the failure of financial institutions. The Republican vice presidential nominee said, “I think the corruption on Wall Street — that is to blame.” If, by that, Palin is suggesting that Wall Street has been induced to do something illegal, I would like to see her evidence.

By Churchill

September 20, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

McCain, campaigning in Wisconsin and Minnesota, did not react specifically to the emerging plan in Washington. Instead, he expanded on his idea for a Treasury entity that would identify and rescue ailing financial institutions before they failed.

But while he, too, said both parties must work together to solve the crisis, he mostly spent the day going after Obama in highly personal terms, saying the senator from Illinois had been “gaming” the system rather than trying to reform it.

McCain has aired and prepared, respectively, two ads that link Obama to former Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae chief executives Jim Johnson and Franklin D. Raines. McCain told a large, loud audience in Blaine, Minn., that Johnson had walked away from the mortgage giants with $21 million “of your money” in severance pay, while Raines received $25 million.

“Let’s tell them to give it back,” McCain said, and the crowd obliged, chanting “Give it back. Give it back.”

By getalife

September 20, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this

“Hillary Sent Me.”

I think they are using the China model of socialism without the accountability part and death sentence. Gramm and McLiar would be history.

If they are, the airlines and car companies will be socialized.

Want more socialism, vote gop.

If not, don’t.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

September 20, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this

Good afternoon all. I cannot argue better than Curious Observer @ 10:03. Tommy Lee Maddox and Ron are also on topic. Everyone else seems to be suffering from wandering minds, perhaps evidence of the truth of the post by Curious. Plaintiffs seeking legislative remedies, who draw a conservative judge, correctly understand that the judge will interpret the law, and will not make law. Thus they seek another judge.

The solution, of course, is appointment of conservative judges. Unfortunately leftist politicians elected to office do not appoint conservative judges, rather they appoint judges who will rule on cases to save the elected legislators from having to vote more substantively than “present” on unpopular law.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

September 20, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

Apologies Nasty and Mean, you were also on topic. Taranto had an item yesterday that may explain the phenomenon:

Barack Obama and Joe Biden are both lawyers. Neither John McCain nor Sarah Palin is a lawyer. Kedwards were both lawyers too, whereas neither George W. Bush nor Dick Cheney is one.

Eugene Volokh, a lawyer, extends the pattern further: Of 12 Democratic presidential and vice presidential nominees since 1980, all but two (Jimmy Carter and Al Gore) were lawyers. Of the nine Republican nominees in the same period, all but two (Dan Quayle and Bob Dole) were nonlawyers.

The Republicans, that is, have not had a lawyer on the ticket since 1996. The Democrats have had two lawyers on each ticket since 2000. The last Republican ticket with two lawyers was Ford-Dole in 1976; the last Democratic ticket without a lawyer was Johnson-Humphrey in 1964.

Do lawyers make good presidents? They can: Abe Lincoln was one. But recent experience is not so encouraging. The last lawyer to be president, Bill Clinton, was impeached. And the last all-lawyer ticket to be elected? That would be Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew. Both resigned in disgrace.

By TeaTime

September 20, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

I liked the phrase, “Stupendously arrogant”. Otherwise more data is needed to form an opinion about Judge Shopping. Like what % of lawsuits are withdrawn and refiled like that. A partisan breakdown of similar ploys in court would be a groove, there’s many ways to look at this, but the complaintants were fools to make any statement at all about their chances in front of this or that judge. Isn’t there any supervision on any front in our educational system?

By Dennis

September 20, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten points his finger at “it’s judge shopping preceded by a gratuitous slur directed at Judge Schwall.”

This is the same Mr. Wooten who would be aghast if the first judge had ruled for the Consortium for Adequate School Funding.

By Dusty

September 20, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

Judges!! Haven’t been before one and don’t know any. But if Perdue appointed this Judge Schwall, I don’t doubt that he is ethically sound and dedicated to justice. You may not like Sonny, but he is ‘straight arrow’ as are most conservatives.

Why are liberals so scary? Makes them look downright suspicious. They sound like the hounds of the Baskervilles hot on the trail of WHAT?? Nothing!! Oh well.

Ragnar, now for the biggest ‘judge’ question of all times: Where is Judge Crater??

By Jackie

September 20, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this

A looming financial pandemic is upon us, and there is conversation about “judge shopping?”

It appears there should be thought given to the fact our supposed “Democratic government” has reverted to Social/Communist/Facisit government models to correct the current problems brought about by Ronald Regan and his economic policies.

We are talking about a potential taxpayer bill of $1.5 Trillion dollars for those private companies CURRENTLY identified. What about others that need help?; what about the homeowners being foreclosed?

The conservatives and their policies are disastrous and we are not having an informed discussion about our financial lives.

Will someone please point out the folly of this exercise?

By Tom

September 20, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

Of course Dusty doesn’t doubt that Schwall is ethically sound and dedicated to justice. That is because Dusty, by her own admission, doesn’t know anything at all about him. Check out Schwall’s recent disciplinary history.

Dusty: fact-free and planning to stay that way (cf. Sarah Palin).

By Jackie

September 20, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this

@Ragnar Danneskjöld

You ask about the competence of lawyers in the performance of their political duties pointing out that Bill Clinton was impeached.

Would you make the same call for the ENTIRE current administration to be impeached and REMOVED from office for incompetence instead of having an affair with a White House intern?

I think not!

By TeaTime

September 20, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

Palin/Mccain 08: If politics makes for strange bedfellows, then America just got short-sheeted.

By TeaTime

September 20, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

The SnowWitch.

The snow witch had been planning a real speech for some time; the old fashioned kind, where you say more than one word.

She practiced in front of a mirror. She gesticulated wildly for emphasis. She paused at critical points for drama. She varied her tone and at some parts would yell out at the top of her lungs. She would be ready.

The day of her speech arrived and she stood before the throngs, silent. She didn’t move, or say anything for a few minutes. The tension grew quickly as the seconds passed and she just stood there looking at her audience, who were on pins and needles. More seconds passed, another minute, how long would she wait. The electricity was unbearable. Then, unexpectedly, she took a drink of water. That broke some of the tension and murmurs of remarks could barely be heard, but it was soon as quiet as a tomb again and still the SnowWitch did not flinch or say a word.

The agony of silence was broken anticlimaticly when the SnowWitch uttered in a barely audible, low voice….”Ladies and Gentlemen, Pointy heads, Fellow Pundits, Bloggers, Council Members, members of the army, members of the gentry, and of course, the rabble…..”

She started in such a low volume that the pointy heads were leaning forward in their seats to try to glean some phrase or every other word or something….

The Snow Witch then spoke at times in normal tones at normal volume, and at other times in shrieks of outrage and dissent, and the pointy heads settled back, totally absorbed in the main body of the SnowWitch’s address……and when the speech was finished, the Pointy Heads had their scapegoat, a group who had previously gone under the radar, a group who was most certainly responsible for all that had gone wrong in the past…..it took the SnowWitch to see it, and to point it out to the pointy heads who lived in the land of the pundits…..and they believed…..

By Dusty

September 20, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

Tom @ 2:59

I doubt that you know anything about Judge Schnall other than what you have been fed by liberals. I’m honest about it at least. Why don’t you try that sometimes instead of spouting the “liberal line” and “judging” the judge before the case is presented.

By Hypocritebuster

September 20, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this

Amazing. Our conservative commentator spends all this ink on school systems supposed abuse of the legal system, yet he neglects to mention his pet Veep nominee, Sarah Palin. She and her McCain allies spent the last couple of weeks thwarting a bona fide investigation of Gov. Palin’s possible illegal tactics in Alaska. Then again, as a water carrier for the administration, I doubt he’d mention it or even think it important. And by the way, if memory serves me, our commentator pronounced Obama and the Dems desperate and in a panic last week. Is he of the same opinion now? And since the Repubs basically nationalized AIG this past week, and is bailing out Wall St. to the tune of $700 trillion, is he still railing against socialism and big gummint? Where’s the spirit of Ronnie now?????

By Dusty

September 20, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this

Jackie@3:09

I know you haven’t noticed but presidents get IMPEACHED because there is EVIDENCE against them, like lying to a Grand Jury.

There is no evidence whatsoever that Bush has done anything illegal. Democrats have searched every move and letter and can’t find a thing that would stand up under the law.

In fact, America is safe and Iraq and Afghanistan have been freed of tyranny. I guess all that is beyond your comprehension. Don’t bother to list all the things you do not like. We know.

But..if you really want to continue with your hate—try using it on the Democratic led Congress. They have approved everything the President has done. You want to “impeach” them too?

By CD223

September 20, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this

Jim defines an activist judge as one who is “willing to substitute his or her opinion for that of the executive and legislative branch.” Jim’s definition is incomplete. An activist judge also ignores the Constitution to get the result he wants. Which judge was chided by the Georgia Supreme Court for ignoring both procedure and an individual’s clearly-established constitutional rights to remain silent and consult with counsel? Would you believe that it was Jim’s hero, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall? Just so I’m not accused of making up facts, you can check out the Georgia Supreme Court’s opinion. The case is Cousins v. Macedonia Baptist Church, 283 Ga. 570 (2008).

Jim’s hypocrisy is grating. It’s fine if his buddies manipulate the system for their own benefit, but damned is Jim’s opponent who attempts to do the same. Actually, wait a second, the school coalition had a right to dismiss the complaint without prejudice. Since when is following the rules a manipulation of the system, Jim?

By Tom

September 20, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this

Dusty, although you’ve proven your conservative bona fides time and again by demonstrating that truth and the facts don’t matter at all to you, for your edification, here is the Supreme Court of Georgia raking Schwall over the coals for his improper conduct in the case Cousins et al. v. Macedonia Baptist Church:

http://www.gasupreme.us/pdf/s08a0579.pdf

By Jackie

September 20, 2008 4:29 PM | Link to this

@Dusty,

You still have zest for you position, given the fact that MOST folks that can decipher a complete sentence is of the opinion that Dubya and Cheney have violated the “letter and spirit of the law.”

What do you say about the findings about Albert Gonzalez; David Addington keeping TOP SECRET documents in his office without having an adequate Security Clearance; Dubya’s invasion of Iraq, a sovereign country that had not attacked this country and using false and manipulated “intelligence”; Mukasey’s refusal to follow the law in the determination of Dubya’s own admission of allowing torture against prisoners; Dubya’s arrest of American citizens and keeping them in custody without charges for years (Jose Padilla); violation of the Open Records Act wherein he refuses to release documents about the conduct of the peoples business. You do realize that he works for the USA?

These are just a FEW of the things that I can recall without doing research. I am sure that MANY more items will surface when this man finally leaves office.

Now, if you believe that Iraq and Afghanistan have been “freed from tyranny,” why is the Joint Chiefs saying that Afghanistan is a war that is heating up and Hamid Kharzi is consider the Mayor of Kabul?

Why does Gen. Petraeus say that more work needs to be done in Iraq and the Malaki is saying he wants the US to leave the country immediately? How do you account for the Sunni leadership saying the US should continue to pay those in selected militias $300 per man per month to keep them from fighting, otherwise, the insurrection will rise again with ferocity?

How do you account for the fact that al Qaeda just bombed a hotel in Pakistan, once considered an ally with a unregulated nuclear weapon?

How do you account for the fact that Dubya will spend about $2 Trillion dollars in Iraq to accomplish WHAT?

How do you account for the fact that Dubya disregarded the Constitution when he put you and I in debt for the private bailouts without going to the Congress? You do remember the President proposes and the Congress disposes the allocation of dollars?

Given those set of facts, what say you to your statement about Dubya being our protector?

By Churchill

September 20, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

Here’s another idea, where taxpayers get a return on their bailout investment:

This plan gives the long-suffering taxpayer a way to actually make money on a financial system bailout, rather than all the money just going to the firms themselves.

By TeaTime

September 20, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this

I think I can field that question as Dusty: 911 changed everything. A free and democratic Iraq which can sustain itself, defend itself, and be an ally on the war on terror….We fight them over there so we dont….executive priviledge and Cheney classified everything so we wont know the answer till 2050.

My country right or wrong. Support the troops, and if you dont love America, then go join the Al Ka Ka Gay Man’s Choir.

I think that about sums up Dusty for the last 500 of her foamings.

By Jackie

September 20, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this

@Dusty,

As an afterthought, you purport that Dubya is protecting us from the “terrorist?”

I ask you, who protect us from Dubya?

By CoffeeChat

September 20, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

Churchill’s idea of buying tax credit would end our taxable civilization as we know it and ensure domestic chaos for the next ten thousand years.

By WashingtonState

September 20, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

The free market system has been on life support for nearly a decade. Bush just pulled the plug. Around the world, we are now known as the United Socialist Federation of America. And McCain, a man who spent 50 plus years railing against regulation and government intervention in the free market, is now trying to vie with a Democrat on who will regulate the most in the new administration. Republicans are selling their souls for political power. The world as we know it has ended. Right is left, up is down.

By Dusty

September 20, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this

Jackie,

Go present your facts to the Justice Department. All your “facts” have been in vestigated and not an indictment in sight.

Just because it doesn’t sound “good” to a liberal does not mean it is illegal. It usually means partisan politics.

Open your mind sometimes and see the sunshine.

TeaTime, Snow Witch, PoFo

You want to tell me about POSTING HUNDREDS OF TIMES?? I don’t and I always use ONE ID. Maybe you don’t know WHO you are. Probably!!

But I do SUPPORT THE TROOPS. Why don’t you try it sometimes. You can skip the other stuff. I’m not interested in your musings, SNOW WITCH aka mushie in the head.

Whoopie, Tom, you found one!! At least you stayed on subject. Let me know how this great judge fiasco ends. And yes, I am conservative. Love it! Sorry libs are having such a hard time in Georgia. Even Obama is running away. GOOD!!

Goodnight all!!

By Jackie

September 20, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this

@Dusty,

You did not notice that Alberto and Mukasey were two of the miscreants listed in my post.

It appears the foxes were guarding the proverbial hen-house.

Not to worry, history will judge your political hero very harshly.

By Saxby's Got To Go

September 21, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

Saxby Chambliss has turned a blind eye to hardworking every-day Georgians who are struggling to stay afloat in tough economic times.

This week, we hear from Twiggs County farmer George Rouse. Skyrocketing costs on everything from groceries to gas to health care are making it harder than ever for George, and millions of other Georgians, to get by. Food prices have almost doubled since 2005 [Source: ERS/USDA]. The price of gas has more than tripled since Saxby was elected to the Senate [Source: Energy Information Administration]. But unfortunately, Saxby is just too busy helping out his lobbyist and special interest pals to help out hard-working Georgians who deserve a fair shake from Washington.

We need a Senator in Washington to fight for George Rouse and folks like him, not the special interests and lobbyists.

When it comes to looking out for Georgia’s working families, Saxby looked the other way:

No help for farmers and ranchers. Chambliss voted against assistance to farmers and ranchers making less than $750,000 a year and a program that would have helped train and encourage the next generation of American farmers and ranchers. [Vote #426, 12/13/07].

No help for working families either. And while prices for food, housing, health care and other necessities have gone up, Chambliss voted multiple times against raising the minimum wage [Vote #179, 6/21/06, Vote #26, 3/7/05]

Meanwhile, Saxby has worked hard to get things done for his friends on Wall Street.

Yes to rewarding companies that send American jobs to China, India, and other countries. In 2004, Chambliss voted against closing up $39 billion in tax breaks for companies that outsource their jobs. [Vote 90, 5/11/04] In 2005, Chambliss voted against against repealing tax incentives for domestic companies that move their manufacturing plants out of the U.S. [Vote 63, 3/17/05] He even gave those same companies a tax cut. In 2003, Chambliss voted to cut taxes on U.S. companies’ overseas income from 35% to 5.25%. [Vote 165, 5/15/03]

Won’t hold U.S. companies accountable if they deal with terrorists. Chambliss even voted against an amendment that makes U.S. businesses liable for dealing with foreign businesses that have links to terrorism. [Vote 203, 7/26/05]

By doug271

September 21, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

I saw the title of this article and thought you might be discussing the clowns in Alaska who don’t feel they have to honor a subpoena. How about a column about that?

By Ga Values

September 21, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

Conservative editorial for today

A Bad Bank Rescue

By Sebastian Mallaby Sunday, September 21, 2008; Page B07

With truly extraordinary speed, opinion has swung behind the radical idea that the government should commit hundreds of billions in taxpayer money to purchasing dud loans from banks that aren’t actually insolvent. As recently as a week ago, no public official had even mentioned this option. Now the Treasury, the Fed and congressional leaders are promising its enactment within days. The scheme has gone from invisibility to inevitability in the blink of an eye. This is extremely dangerous.

The plan is being marketed under false pretenses. Supporters have invoked the shining success of the Resolution Trust Corporation as justification and precedent. But the RTC, which was created in 1989 to clean up the wreckage of the savings-and-loan crisis, bears little resemblance to what is being contemplated now. The RTC collected and eventually sold off loans made by thrifts that had gone bust. The administration proposes to buy up bad loans before the lenders go bust. This difference raises several questions.

The first is whether the bailout is necessary. In 1989, there was no choice. The federal government insured the thrifts, so when they failed, the feds were left holding their loans; the RTC’s job was simply to get rid of them. But in buying bad loans before banks fail, the Bush administration would be signing up for a financial war of choice. It would spend billions of dollars on the theory that preemption will avert the mass destruction of banks. There are cheaper ways to stabilize the system.

In the 1980s, the government did not need a strategy to decide which bad loans to take over; it dealt with anything that fell into its lap as a result of a thrift bankruptcy. But under the current proposal, the government would go out and shop for bad loans. These come in all shapes and sizes, so the government would have to judge what type of loans it wants. They are illiquid, so it’s hard to know how to value them. Bad loans are weighing down the financial system precisely because private-sector experts can’t determine their worth. The government would have no better handle on the problem.

In practice this means the government would make subjective choices about which bad loans to buy, and it would pay more than fair value. Billions in taxpayer money would be transferred to the shareholders and creditors of banks, and the banks from which the government bought most loans would be subsidized more than their rivals. If the government bought the most from the sickest institutions, it would be slowing the healthy process in which strong players buy up the weak, delaying an eventual recovery. The haggling over which banks got to unload the most would drag on for months. So the hope that this “systematic” plan can be a near-term substitute for ad hoc AIG-style bailouts is illusory.

Within hours of the Treasury announcement Friday, economists had proposed preferable alternatives. Their core insight is that it is better to boost the banking system by increasing its capital than by reducing its loans. Given a fatter capital cushion, banks would have time to dispose of the bad loans in an orderly fashion. Taxpayers would be spared the experience of wandering into a bad-loan bazaar and being ripped off by every merchant.

Raghuram Rajan and Luigi Zingales of the University of Chicago suggest ways to force the banks to raise capital without tapping the taxpayers. First, the government should tell banks to cancel all dividend payments. Banks don’t do that on their own because it would signal weakness; if everyone knows the dividend has been canceled because of a government rule, the signaling issue would be removed. Second, the government should tell all healthy banks to issue new equity. Again, banks resist doing this because they don’t want to signal weakness and they don’t want to dilute existing shareholders. A government order could cut through these obstacles.

Meanwhile, Charles Calomiris of Columbia University and Douglas Elmendorf of the Brookings Institution have offered versions of another idea. The government should help not by buying banks’ bad loans but by buying equity stakes in the banks themselves. Whereas it’s horribly complicated to value bad loans, banks have share prices you can look up in seconds, so government could inject capital into banks quickly and at a fair level. The share prices of banks that recovered would rise, compensating taxpayers for losses on their stakes in the banks that eventually went under.

Congress and the administration may not like the sound of these ideas. Taking bad loans off the shoulders of the banks seems like a merciful rescue; ordering banks to raise capital or buying equity stakes in them sounds like big-government meddling. But we are in the midst of a crisis, and it shouldn’t matter how things sound. The Treasury plan outlined on Friday involves vast risks to taxpayers, huge complexity and no guarantee of success. There are better ways forward.

By ron

September 21, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this

Ga.Values,I don’t want to see the taxpayer buy bad loans and then watch as the fat cats reward themselves for exemplary performance.I’ve seen enough of that kind of behavior.

I also don’t want to see banks fail and put stakeholders at undue risk.Somewhere between these two I don’t wants, is a medium ground where The taxpayer buys only enough bad debt to keep the bank afloat with some loss to stockholders and an immediate dismissal for the banks officers.Sans reward,naturally.

I will also say that future regulations of the entire system must be put into place to prevent any more incursions into this type of insanity.Any human endeavor has to have regulations simply because there are humans involved.We connot be trusted to run our affairs unregulated.

By Tea Time

September 21, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this

It doesn’t even matter about the trillion dollar bailout anymore.

It’s inconceibable that we could escape an economic downturn in the wake of this kind of turmoil, bailout or no bailout. (greenspan last week on this week)

First, we’ll retest the lows, a few times, in the markets. Then, the other shoes will drop about what else is out there ready to collapse.

At some point, there occurs a tipping. The only way to kill a dream is for people to stop believing in it. The American Dream could be one of those casualties. One millionaire for every hundred slaves is hardly a dream, anyway.

Capitalism only works for warring pirates. For 99%, capitalism and socialism/communism are identical experiences.

America 08: The biggest bunch of fallguys who ever inhabited the face of the earth.

Palin/McCain 08: If Politics makes for strange bedfellows, then America just got short-sheeted.

Obama 08: What’s left of America takes over.

By Peter

September 21, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this

Jim….You amd the entire McCian Campaign lie often and without morals.

I guess since you “Live in the South” you don’t read stuff like the NY Times, where real reporting is done.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/opinion/21rich.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/21/opinion/21kristof.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

You are amazing to me and when looking into the mirror I find it difficult for you to see a TRUE Christian !

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

September 21, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

Dear Ron @ 8:56, “I will also say that future regulations of the entire system must be put into place to prevent any more incursions into this type of insanity.” I disagree - it is statute that cause the problem, Federal interference in the free market. CRA and FNMA and FHLMC are the entire problem. By eliminating FNMA and FHLMC we go a long way toward curing the problem. So long as bank examiners evaluate banks, and withhold privileges, according to their “service to the entire community, including lower- and middle-income” the pressure to make bad loans persists.

I would respectfully wish to receive an argument for any particular regulation that you think could have prevented the mortgage meltdown, but I am comfortable that it is regulation that caused the problem. The free market - capitalism - has a remarkable capacity to expose stupid laws.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

September 21, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

Dear Peter @ 9:21, having read your posts I do not doubt that “when looking into the mirror I find it difficult for you to see a TRUE Christian.”

By The Forgotten Messiah

September 21, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

The Forgotton Sermon

By the Forgotten Messiah

Today’s sermon is about revenge: Don’t. Forgive instead. B quick 2 4give.

B quick 2 4give. You don’t know all the facts. You could be the wronging party.

Look at the AIG bailout. Congress must forgive the corrupt, the bankrupt, and the abruptly inept. They must look past the Liar Loans, the Ninja Loans, the Pirate Loans, and the people at every level of the transaction who committed and then fell victim to fraud, perjury, deception, and greed. Confess, America, and for your penance, you must say “no” to two credit card offers, three no- money-down auto leases, and then drive past 5 ATM machines without withdrawing any cash. Now go and sign no more.

B quick 2 4give. History is full of unnecessary revenge.

Look at the Garden of Eden. The snake could simply have been a grocer trying to market the apple. He going to say whatever it takes to sell that apple. “Oh, you’ll be a genius if you eat this apple, you wont die, au contraire mon frere, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. It’s good for you.” Forgive the snake, even if he offered terms or discount coupons to Eve.

The snake could also have been a student who was trying to impress his teacher, Eve. Eve was the first snake whisperer, perhaps.

Forgive the snake, even though Christian lore has the Virgin Mary crushing the snake with her heel at some point in the ecclesiastical fulfillments of supernatural prophesy… I guess she couldn’t forgive the snake. Perhaps Mary was the first dog(matic) whisperer. (sorry).

No, my brethren, in a word, B quick 2 4give.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

September 21, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this

Just to be sure everyone is aware, Democrats block a resolution praising the surge. “The Lieberman-Graham resolution is a chance for Democrats to show that their support for the troops is more than rhetorical. It changes no policy and in that sense is only symbolic. Yet it is precisely the political symbolism of admitting they were wrong that is stopping the Democratic leadership from letting it come up for a vote before the Senate adjourns. Unfortunately, the last thing that Democrats want to discuss in this election season is success in Iraq.”

By getalife

September 21, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

Pass the bailout bill and work out the details later Paulson spews.

Once again, they are using a disaster for a power grab and no oversight for the Treasury.

Man these people are just greedy and evil.

A depression where the wealthy loses no money and nobody is held accountable.

Incredibile.

This is not end well.

By Commander Guy

September 21, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

The ambulance chaser continues to flog the fiction that the ‘surge’ was a dramatic and effective strategy.

Anyone paying attention knows that violence was on the decrease before the surge began, due in large part to a liberal distibution of US dollars to the various combatants in an effort to buy some peace. (Not unlike the proposed Treasury plan of this past week, but that’s another topic.) The ‘surge’ itself has been shown to have had little appreciable effect.

But jbm is like the farmer plagued by drought who sees gathering storm clouds and falls to his knees, praying for rain. And then, when the droplets fall, pats himself on the back for making it happen.

Jesus, don’t you guys ever get tired of acting like simpleminded fools?

By getalife

September 21, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

“House Republican staffers met with roughly 15 lobbyists Friday afternoon, whose message to lawmakers was clear: Don’t load the legislation up with provisions not directly related to the crisis, or regulatory measures the industry has long opposed. “We’re opposed to adding provisions that will affect [or] undermine the deal substantively,” said Scott Talbott, senior vice president of government affairs at the Financial Services Roundtable, whose members include the nation’s largest banks, securities firms and insurers.

A deal killer for the group: a proposal that would grant bankruptcy judges new powers to lower the principal, interest rate or both on a mortgage as part of a bankruptcy proceeding.”

I am sure the dems will give the lobbyists want they want too .

Americans will continue to lose when lobbyists continue to run Washigton.

Too bad Americans will not stand up and demand to ban lobbyists and will accept businesss as usual.

Oh well.

By Peter

September 21, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

Yes I agree with you………

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

September 21, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this

Dear Peter @ 9:21, having read your posts I do not doubt that “when looking into the mirror I find it difficult for you to see a TRUE Christian.”

I am not the Christian the Right Wing is all about.

Honesty goes 7 days a week…….Not just on SUNDAYS !

Now tell me agin what Paulin did with the PORK Money she got from the Bridge to No Where…….. Did she give it back ? Or did she use it for another Project ?

Tell the Truth for a change…….since you Rights are about “Change” !

Yes More Change…… tell me about the deficit, and how it will be going down for a “Change” !

By getalife

September 21, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this

In the wake of an epic financial meltdown that threatens to derail the U.S. economy for years, Barack Obama announced he was ending his run for President of the United States, declaring to a stunned nation, “Man, this is bullsh-it.”

I feel ya.

Terrorist ] [ fist pound.

You just have to laugh at this insanity or burn one.

By getalife

September 21, 2008 11:21 AM | Link to this

Oops, here is the link

By Silly Me

September 21, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this

The Pope: a Dogma Whisperer?

Editorial stolen from the New York Times and Greenspan’s book: The banning of short selling is dangerous. The only path to clear valuation of securities is short selling, (Greenspan), and without it, then an artificial bubble could occur.(NY times)

The underlying worthlessness (sic) of the bad debt instraments has not changed with this bailout.

Determining the true asset value of each block of bad debt is a pipe dream.

More corruption, more bad money after bad money is like giving a patient a sugar pill instead of the antidote. (sic)

The history of our economy has been a cycle of boom and bust, boom and bust. With this bailout desperation, a natural cycle becomes an unpredictable loose cannon which may have been set into destruct mode by innopportune tampering by corrupt representatives of the frightened gentry and the dumb-founded smart-monied.(sic)

This is more a conspiracy to hoard the wealth in this new war of the haves and the half-wits.

We only have to add BlackWater Mercenaries and we are in H…E…Double Hockey sticks, my friends.

The Death of Reaganism. Oh, did Reagan die? The Death of Conservatism. So what? The death of the America Dream? That died with abraham, martin and john.

But the death of the American Experiment at the hands of foreign owned defense contractors, (the military industrial complex that Ike warned us about), now THAT deserves mourning.

boo hoo

BlackWater Mercenaries will shoot us down in the streets like dogs, you will see that happen, for I have climbed the corporate ladder and I have looked over the glass ceiling, and I have SEEN the market’s top. I’ve SEEN the intrinsic value of our greed, and it has a tail and horns and prances around drunk in a crotchless red body stocking and a cape…..(hic)

By eybir

September 21, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this

“Poor people have been voting for Democrats for the last 50 years …. and they are still poor.” Charles Barkley

By Silly Me

September 21, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

Obama/Biden 08: Even if politics does make for strange bedfellows, it’s kinda nice to have chocolate on the pillows.

By fearless fosdik

September 21, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

WHEN YOU are too big to fail, you are bailed out.

When you are too small to save, you are down and out on the street.

Some aspects of the Wall Street crisis are tough to understand. But one economic principle is pretty clear.

When a really big company goes bust, the little guy pays with his home or job. But those CEOs and money managers who boldly march their corporate empires into bankruptcy just get paid millions and millions of dollars more.

From Washington, inconsistency is the policy order of the day.

President Bush lurched briefly into the spotlight, turning from a repressed memory into a poor excuse for a Harvard MBA.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

September 21, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

Dear Commander @ 10:26, you persist in your denial of reality, that our courageous armed forces won the war in Iraq.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

September 21, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

For the record commander, “The war is lost” according to Harry Reid as of April 7, 2007. And of course Sunni insurgents penetrated the Baghdad security net Wednesday, hitting Shiite targets with four bomb attacks that killed 183 people — the bloodiest day since the U.S. troop surge began nine weeks ago. as of April 17, 2007.

If you cannot argue honestly, I suppose you may as well argue earnestly.

By getalife

September 21, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

Here is Krugman’s take

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

That idiot liberal Dumocrat Biden on paying more in taxes: “It’s time to be patriotic … time to jump in, time to be part of the deal, time to help get America out of the rut.”

So that’s how the DNC Socialist Party wants to play it, huh? Oh the irony in that. First, that idiot liberal isn’t hardly worth a dime after 30+ years in Congress, so as far as I’m concerned he has NO say in my finances. Second, this nation was FOUNDED by escaping high and unfair taxes. Only an absolute IDIOT like Biden would say something so STUPID.

Obviously some others think it’s an asinine statement from an asinine Dumocrat politician too:

A pilot flew a lone message of dissent against Barack Obama’s tax plans as a sea of people turned out here to support the Democratic presidential hopeful at an open-air rally Saturday. The pilot’s small plane trailed a banner reading: *”RAISING TAXES IS NOT PATRIOTIC.” That referred to a call Thursday from Obama’s running mate Joseph Biden for richer Americans to pay more in taxes for the national good. The sign was the only discordant note as the huge crowd gave a rapturous welcome to Obama in a park in Jacksonville, northeastern Florida.*

Priceless.

Yet, more idiocy from the Dumocrat Party, this time from that corrupt Charlie Rangel who is under investigation for ethics violations by not paying mortgage interest on a beach resort property for about 15 years and other issues pertaining to apartments he rents in Harlem:

Rangel: *”I Didn’t Mean To Call Palin ‘Disabled’”

Sure you did, old senile timer. Not that anyone gives a damn what you say anyway. You Dumocrats are getting more toxic as the days to November draw closer. You moonbats are not only off the chain, you are out of touch. Oh, and one other thing: hate and anger win not an election, liberal nut bags.

And to think that nut bag is chairman of the Ways and Means tax-writing committee. This is just too laughable. And SO liberal Dumocrat.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

September 21, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

Dear PETA @ 12:43, I agree that Biden’s rant may be the funniest of the campaign. As Taranto observed Friday, so if paying more taxes is patriotic, does that mean 95% of the people under Obama’s tax plan are unpatriotic?

By ghost rider

September 21, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

September 21, 2008 12:29 PM

And at what cost RAGNAR? This was an unneccessry incursion into a soverign nation!

Let me give you a little data…

Remember when The neocons, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz, etc. were just totally unrealistic. “We are dealing with a country that can really finance its own reconstruction, and relatively soon.” – Wolfowitz, March 28, 2003.

Remember prior to the war, White House economic adviser Lawrence Lindsay estimated the cost at $100 to $200 billion. So the White House got rid of him and “re-estimated” the cost at $50 to $60 billion. It’s now over $500 billion.

Remember when General Eric Shinseki said it would take a force of several hundreds of thousands to stabalize Iraq. Then was fired and ignored.

Over 4,000 troops dead, not to mention the mentally and bodily injuries, and the innocent Iraqi men, women and children!

A memorable quote from George W. Bush, Jan. 2001.”If we don’t stop extending our troops all around the world in nation-building missions, then we’re going to have a serious problem.” — George W. Bush, Jan. 2001.

He had it right then…What happened?

By getalife

September 21, 2008 1:08 PM | Link to this

All the sudden, our broken government is going to solve a problem?

Which part of broken do you not understand?

Geez.

By Silly Me

September 21, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

Obama/Biden 08: Even if politics does make strange bedfellows, it’s kinda nice to have a chocolate on the pillows.

By Dusty

September 21, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

Talk about a broken government, let us talk a moment about the Congress now being led by Democrats.

Henry Paulson, our financial leader & secretary, is trying to pull us away from total financial disaster and has a workable plan. In order to carry out his plan, he asks Congress to make haste as there is no time for dilly dallying. He presented a straight forward specific plan only three pages long for their study and approval.

Right away, Democratic leaders in Congress started the old stalling process. Sen Dodd wants an addition to help “low income people get better homes” so he wants CHANGES.

HELPING PEOPLE GET HOMES THEY COULD NOT AFFORD HAS BEEN THE PROBLEM TO START WITH. Once again,we see Democrats ready to block quick needed action, even when they say they know we need to move quickly.

Will Democrats ever recover from Bush hate and work for America? Paulson is a Republican therefore Democrats show they want anything he plans to be CHANGED.

I wouldn’t mind Democrats so much if they EVER acted with intelligence and loyalty. Besides finances, they also block an effort to commend our troops on the successful surge. What is wrong with these people? They cannot even support our troops?

Anybody making excuses for this crowd can hardly say they are working for the benefit of the USA.

By @@

September 21, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

Hard to tell if your frustration is with the consortium’s snubbing of Judge Schwall or the $3 million plus that was willfully placed in their “holey” pockets while shopping Jim.

I’ll go with the waste.

Odd thing about this effort to equalize spending in education is that its roots were put down decades ago in California. Proposition 13 changed all of that.

The goal, a 2% incremental yearly increase in public funding of education, is not an aim that can be achieved when the target is always moving. It’s like nailing jello to a wall.

With all of California’s efforts to reshape the jello, grasp the jello tightly or name the jello, gelatin……..The Golden State still ranks below Georgia in the quality of their education.

Something interesting though! Within the Republic of California, decentralized education, school choice is being advocated in………get this now! SAN FRANCISCO, with positive results. When a school in San Fran fails, it’s closure is encouraged. Where do the funds from that failing school go? To the next rung up the ladder. The school that is making an effort to compete.

Go figure Jim.

By Jackie

September 21, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

It appears that those who do not pay attention to politics and economics have a tendency to misunderstand how the two are intertwined.

Henry Paulson, our current Secretary of the Treasury, was known on Wall Street as “Mr. China.” The current Administration has used China and Asia as a proverbial piggy-bank as they have bought US Treasuries needed to finance our lack of savings and they invested heavily into Fannie and Freddie.

Given those tidbits, why do you think Mr. Paulson is so gung-ho about getting this deal done quickly?

If we do not satisfy our new economic masters, we lose our ability to monetize our debt, consequently, we lose our ability to maintain and/or advance our standard of living.

Our current strategy does not take into account the impact it will have on our children/grandchildren/great grandchildren.

Just think, all of those that supported the investment of Social Security funds into the markets, would have a more immediate and profound economic crisis that is before us currently.

Research shows that GAAP and FASBA accounting standards were virtually eliminated with the Republican controlled Senate, giving rise to Sarbannes-Oxley and other attempts at bringing about accountability to our finances.

How will the so-called conservatives conflate and extrapolate their words and actions to remove culpability from their ledgers.

This list is neither complete or comprehensive, yet, gives one an overview of what damage these folks have laid at our economic doorsteps.

By getalife

September 21, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

It’s a done deal crusty.

Quit whining.

Same ole crap, using a disaster for a power grab and political issue. The lobbyist influence on both sides will write the bill.

When Kyl and Dodd came out of the meeting to scare the people on the corporate media with the same talking points, makes a done deal in the Senate.

It will be over in a week, the economy will keep going bad but they will print more money and stick the future generations with the bill. Then we can get back to rovian distractions like race and lipstick.

Country first right crusty?

Yeah, destroying it. The only thing the gop are good at and idiots like you cheer them on.

Ya’ll should breakaway and form your own wingnut country and stop destroying ours.

Palin can be queen of the wingnuts.

By Silly Me

September 21, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

The Forgotton Sermon

By the Forgotten Messiah

Today’s sermon is about revenge: Don’t. Forgive instead. B quick 2 4give.

B quick 2 4give. You don’t know all the facts. You could be the wronging party.

Look at the AIG bailout. Congress must forgive the corrupt, the bankrupt, and the abruptly inept. They must look past the Liar Loans, the Ninja Loans, the Pirate Loans, and the people at every level of the transaction who committed and then fell victim to their own fraud, perjury, deception, and greed. Confess, America, and for your penance, you must say “no” to two credit card offers, three no- money-down auto leases, and then drive past 5 ATM machines without withdrawing any cash. Now go and sign no more.

B quick 2 4give. History is full of unnecessary revenge.

Look at the Garden of Eden. The snake could simply have been a grocer trying to market the apple. He going to say whatever it takes to sell that apple. “Oh, you’ll be a genius if you eat this apple, you wont die, au contraire mon frere, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. It’s good for you.” Forgive the snake, even if he offered terms or discount coupons to Eve.

The snake could also have been a student who was trying to impress his teacher, Eve. Eve was the first snake whisperer, perhaps.

Forgive the snake, even though Christian lore has the Virgin Mary crushing the snake with her heel at some point in the ecclesiastical fulfillments of supernatural prophesy… I guess she couldn’t forgive the snake. Perhaps Mary was the first dog(ma) whisperer. (sorry).

No, my brethren, in a word, B quick 2 4give.

By Jackie

September 21, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

News reports today indicate that most economists are not in favor on the bailout.

They say it gives enormous unconstitutional power to the President in that he can decide who, when, what and where to finance with taxpayer money to bail a private company out with public money.

I think this is the same thing the Fascists used in their reign of terror.

If one controls the military, finances, food, media and water, one is in total control, don’t you think?

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

does that mean 95% of the people under Obama’s tax plan are unpatriotic?

Ragner, ask the top 5% who pay over SIXTY PERCENT of all federal income tax revenue generated by individual and joint taxpayers that question and get back with me on that one, slick willie.

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this

Research shows that GAAP and FASBA accounting standards were virtually eliminated with the Republican controlled Senate, giving rise to Sarbannes-Oxley and other attempts at bringing about accountability to our finances.

Any liberal moonbat who believes that Sarbanes-Oxley [it’s ONE “n” there moonbats] has done a damn thing other than be a ROYAL P.I.T.A. (not PETA) to corporations has obviously never been on the receiving end of it.

“Sarbanes-Oxley Act fails to address corporate accounting flaws, scholar says”

“CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Far from imposing an unreasonable burden on corporate America, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has not tackled the core accounting conflicts that led to investor losses at Enron, WorldCom and other companies, according to an expert at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.”

Mark Reutter, Business & Law Editor

You don’t say. According to the Obamabats and Biden pinheads, government is the answer to everything, you MORONS at UI.

By BTW

September 21, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

July, 2002 - “I commend the Congress for passing a strong set of reforms. I particularly thank Senator Paul Sarbanes and Congressman Mike Oxley. Both are very thoughtful, and were persistent voices for reform. They are true advocates of corporate integrity. I appreciate their working together to send a signal to the rest of the country that it’s possible in Washington, D.C. to set aside partisan differences and to do what’s right for the American people. I also appreciate the bipartisan leadership in the Congress, and I particularly thank Senator Daschle and Senator Lott who are with us here today. “

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

“I think this is the same thing the Fascists used in their reign of terror. If one controls the military, finances, food, media and water, one is in total control, don’t you think?”

And you liberal Dumocrats want COMPLETE control of the US government because???

By No More Foreign Aid

September 21, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

Another trillion dollars wasted by the lying, thieving chimp and his neo clown pals….GWB will go down in history as the absolute worst president in the history of the WORLD…and woodenhead is still kissing his buttocks….

By CwnBt

September 21, 2008 3:23 PM | Link to this

L.A.Times May, 1999 — “All of this suggests that Clinton’s efforts to increase minority access to loans and capital also have spurred this decade’s gains. Under Clinton, bank regulators have breathed the first real life into enforcement of the Community Reinvestment Act, a 20-year-old statute meant to combat “redlining” by requiring banks to serve their low-income communities. The administration also has sent a clear message by stiffening enforcement of the fair housing and fair lending laws. The bottom line: Between 1993 and 1997, home loans grew by 72% to blacks and by 45% to Latinos, far faster than the total growth rate.”

“Lenders also have opened the door wider to minorities because of new initiatives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac–the giant federally chartered corporations that play critical, if obscure, roles in the home finance system. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy mortgages from lenders and bundle them into securities; that provides lenders the funds to lend more.”

“In 1992, Congress mandated that Fannie and Freddie increase their purchases of mortgages for low-income and medium-income borrowers. Operating under that requirement, Fannie Mae, in particular, has been aggressive and creative in stimulating minority gains. It has aimed extensive advertising campaigns at minorities that explain how to buy a home and opened three dozen local offices to encourage lenders to serve these markets. Most importantly, Fannie Mae has agreed to buy more loans with very low down payments–or with mortgage payments that represent an unusually high percentage of a buyer’s income. That’s made banks willing to lend to lower-income families they once might have rejected.”

“Barry Zigas, who heads Fannie Mae’s low-income efforts, is undoubtedly correct when he argues, “There is obviously a limit beyond which [we] can’t push [the banks] to produce.” But with the housing market still sizzling, minority unemployment down and Fannie Mae enjoying record profits (over $3.4 billion last year), it doesn’t appear that the limit has been reached.”

“All signs point toward a high-velocity collision this summer between two strong-willed protagonists: HUD’s Cuomo and Fannie Mae CEO Franklin D. Raines, the first African American to hold the post. Better they reach a reasonable agreement that provides more fuel for the extraordinary boom transforming millions of minority families from renters into owners.”

Barney Frank on CNN this morning — “Accounting can’t create a problem if the reality doesn’t exist.”

By Jackie

September 21, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this

@ People Eating Tasty Animals

Just goes to show how much you know about business and economics and how well you spout pejoratives.

It appears your entire argument is that you don’t know what you are talking about!

By Ricardo

September 21, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

“GWB will go down in history as the absolute worst president in the history of the WORLD” — @3:12PM

No, that honor is delegated to Georgia’s own Jimmy Carter. He has a special place in history with 21% interest rates, 7% unemployment, 14% inflation, at least one failed military campaign, and last but certainly not least, an affinity for radical fascist communist dictators like Fidel Castro and Hugo Chevez.

Keep dreaming, windbag.

By Judging Islam

September 21, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

W will be the gr-r-r-reatest president in history if’n the Al Queda come out from their caves with their hands in the international sign of surrender and shout, “Dont shoot, gringos, we give up, we’re sorry for 911 and all the other stuff, we dont know what we were thinking, you’re surge is just too much for us, we will even give you Osama Bin Laden’s location: he’s doing a one man show off broadway, called, “Me, Allah, and a stray B-52”, or, “why I have no peenie no more”.

Osama/Biden 08: Maybe politics does make strange bedfellows, but it’s sure funky having a chocolate on the pillow, blood.

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

It appears your entire argument is that you don’t know what you are talking about!

And Jackie, since you did not refute what was posted, I take it neither do you, moonbat. Obviously, you have never had to deal with the ramifications of what we people in the business world have to go through for S-O compliance. Further, at the VERY least, I certainly know how to spell it. Finally, why don’t you, as a know-it-all typical liberal expert on everything, go tell that UI professor a thing or two about S-O, moonbat.

Otherwise, what you say on the subject is as worthless as the piece of paper it was signed on. In short, stick it!

By Jackie

September 21, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this

@ People Eating Tasty Animals

You should continue to spell-check and cut-and-paste as this indicates that your depth of knowledge and understanding about the subject matter is severely lacking.

I applaud your efforts in that it shows how uninformed you are.

Please impart more of your knowledge?

By Conservative Amusements

September 21, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

It doesn’t even matter about the trillion dollar bailout anymore.

It’s inconceibable that we could escape an economic downturn in the wake of this kind of turmoil, bailout or no bailout. (greenspan last week on this week)

First, we’ll retest the lows, a few times, in the markets. Then, the other shoes will drop about what else is out there ready to collapse.

At some point, there occurs a tipping. The only way to kill a dream is for people to stop believing in it. The American Dream could be one of those casualties. One millionaire for every hundred slaves is hardly a dream, anyway.

Capitalism only works for warring pirates. For 99%, capitalism and socialism/communism are identical experiences.

America 08: The biggest bunch of fallguys who ever inhabited the face of the earth.

Palin/McCain 08: If Politics makes for strange bedfellows, then America just got short-sheeted.

Obama 08: What’s left of America is right for America, and it’s taking over.

Obama/Biden 08: Maybe politics does make strange bedfellows, but it’s cool to find a chocolate on the pillow, ready for that 3am booty call, uh this came out all wrong, dang it, and now it’s too late not to post it, I hate the internet.

By ron

September 21, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

Ragnar——How about for starters we pass a regulation that the mortgage be held only by the origional lender? No more bundling and selling them over and over until the final holder has no idea what he’s holding?

How about regulating some common sense in lending.Only lend to credit worthy people?It’s not Joe Blow’s problem if a bank loans him money he can’t possibly repay.I don’t blame Joe Blow for trying as he has nothing to lose.

Pure capitalism isn’t going to work in today’s world any better than communism.There needs to be a regulated version of capitalism for it to survive.

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

“I applaud your efforts in that it shows how uninformed you are”

Jackie, are you just going to sit there and run your ignorant liberal mouth or are you going to show me (us) just how wonderful S-O has been for American companies? Go ahead sweetheart, we’ve got until what, 6pm to hear your brilliance and personal experience on the subject, oh wise liberal one?

BTW - since you do NOT want to address what a college Prof said on the matter, I surmise you do not really know much about S-O nor have you had to deal with the bureaucratic paper shuffle and time waste involved with maintaining compliance with internal and external qaudits for S-O regulation.

Your turn, moonbat liberal.

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

“I applaud your efforts in that it shows how uninformed you are”

Jackie, are you just going to sit there and run your ignorant liberal mouth or are you going to show me (us) just how wonderful S-O has been for American companies? Go ahead sweetheart, we’ve got until what, 6pm to hear your brilliance and personal experience on the subject, oh wise liberal one?

BTW - since you do NOT want to address what a college Prof said on the matter, I surmise you do not really know much about S-O nor have you had to deal with the bureaucratic paper shuffle and time waste involved with maintaining compliance with internal and external q-audits for S-O regulation.

Your turn, moonbat liberal.

By Conservative Amusements

September 21, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

Palin 08: When that calls come at 3am, and it’s Putin, does that necessarily mean it’s a booty call?

Obama 08: No booty, just duty.

By Ricardo

September 21, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

Pure capitalism isn’t going to work in today’s world any better than communism.There needs to be a regulated version of capitalism for it to survive.

Agreed, Ron. To a point. However, over-regulation is just as damaging as no regulation to Americans. The problem with regulation is that libs and Dems in government do not know when to say enough is enough. Case in point that just about everyone is familiar with, the pharmaceutical industry and why prescription drugs cost so much.

By Jackie

September 21, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

@ People Eating Tasty Animals

Again, you cut-and-paste, pejoratives, deflection, conflation and spell-check skills are impeccable.

Looking at your posts, you still have not addressed one sentence from my original post.

Secondly, I laid out SOME of the things that I know about the situation wherein you choose to show your lack of insight about any of those subject matters as your posting clearly reflect.

Thirdly, NEVER did I say that Sarbanes-Oxley was good for business. I merely pointed out that Sarbanes-Oxley was the attempt by Congress to shore up some the GAAP and FASBA rules set aside by the current administration. I take it that you do know what GAAP and FASBA are?

By the way, if you REALLY want to get into name calling, that can be accommodated.

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this

So, the Dumocrat Socialist Party is asking the “What If?” question on Obamania and if he loses. Good. Goooood. You moonbats need a little dose of reality.

WASHINGTON - For Democratic members of Congress, life will go on after Jan. 20, 2009 — with or without a President Barack Obama. Some House Democrats say Obama’s ticket will help them win their districts, while others are running their own campaigns with plans to survive if he loses. Asked if Obama is a factor in his House race in western Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District, Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., said, “I don’t think the top of the ticket is going to matter.”

BTW, ever notice how the liberal moonbats only whine about cut-n-pasting and posting links here when it’s done by a Conservative? Typical liberal hypocrites; they can serve it out, but they can’t receive it in return. Poor overgrown babies.

By Conservative Amusements

September 21, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

The Pope: a Dogma Whisperer?

Editorial stolen from the New York Times and Greenspan’s book: The banning of short selling is dangerous. The only path to clear valuation of securities is short selling, (Greenspan), and without it, then an artificial bubble could occur.(NY times)

The underlying worthlessness (sic) of the bad debt instraments has not changed with this bailout.

Determining the true asset value of each block of bad debt is nearly impossible.

This is more a conspiracy to hoard the wealth in this new war of the haves and the half-wits. (sic)

I know what’s coming, for I have climbed the corporate ladder and I have looked over the glass ceiling, and I have SEEN the market’s top. I’ve SEEN the intrinsic value of our greed, and it has a tail and horns and prances around drunk in a crotchless red body stocking and a cape…..(hic)

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

September 21, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Dear Ghost @ 12:58, I understand your preoccupation with dollars, but your lack of concern for safety of the population is the same mentality that allowed Al Qaeda to grow throughout the 1990s into a force that could kill 3000 Americans in a single day. By effectively wiping out Al Qaeda - seemingly everywhere except in east Afghanistan and west Pakistan - the US has done what needed to be done, and paid the bills. I think killing all of the Al Qaeda - whom you comically refer to as “civilians,” a true if deceptive statement - was a good move and a smart move. Kumbayah is less effective.

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

More liberal left wing garbage. This time, from a freelance photographer from The Atlantic who doctored up photos of McCain to make him look old and frail.

Like others at the Atlantic, I was appalled to read about the actions of Jill Greenberg, the freelance photographer who took the cover portrait that illustrates my article about John McCain. Greenberg doctored photographs of McCain she took during her Atlantic-arranged shoot, which took place last month in Las Vegas. She has posted these doctored photographs on her website, which you can go find yourself, if you must. Suffice it to say that her “art” is juvenile, and on occasion repulsive. This is not the issue, of course; the issue is that she betrayed this magazine, and disgraced her profession.

Liberals have no shame. When you have an ideology based upon emotion and not real clear thinking, you deal with people who should be left alone and largely ignored; let them fester in their own cesspool.

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this

Looking at your posts, you still have not addressed one sentence from my original post.

You mean this one, moonbat?

Research shows that GAAP and FASBA accounting standards were virtually eliminated with the Republican controlled Senate, giving rise to Sarbannes-Oxley and other attempts at bringing about accountability to our finances.

How will the so-called conservatives conflate and extrapolate their words and actions to remove culpability from their ledgers.

Sounds to me like you damn sure are an S-O apologist. If not, then what did you imply in the above?

I laid out SOME of the things that I know about the situation wherein you choose to show your lack of insight about any of those subject matters as your posting clearly reflect.

As stated, I am DEFINITELY on the receiving end of S-O. It affects my job. Now, you can call that a “lack of insight” or whatever that little liberal moonbat synapse gap is in your head works it out to be, but the fact is that I know how it affects MY job and MY company. What you take away with that not my concern.

Thirdly, NEVER did I say that Sarbanes-Oxley was good for business. I merely pointed out that Sarbanes-Oxley was the attempt by Congress to shore up some the GAAP and FASBA…

You insinuated it WAS good and used Republicans allegedly hating government legislation to further your left wing liberal agenda. We can all read between the lines, moonbat.

By the way, if you REALLY want to get into name calling, that can be accommodated.

I haven’t even STARTED “name calling” here, moonbat (yet). No more than you pathetic hypocritical liberals call Conservatives “neo-cons.”

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

September 21, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

Dear PETA @ 2:57, I think perhaps you misunderstood my mockery of Obama/Biden. I agree with you. I also agree with your SOx argument @ 3:04 - or as we call it the “Accountants’s Full Funding for Retirement Act of 2002.” That was when GWB was acting like a democrat. And just a suggestion, don’t waste your time with Jackie.

Dear Ron @ 3:50, let’s review the likely effect of your proposals. (1) “How about for starters we pass a regulation that the mortgage be held only by the origional lender? No more bundling and selling them over and over until the final holder has no idea what he’s holding?” Just how much do you wish to contract the mortgage market? No rational bank will hold more than 3-4% of its assets in long term fixed rate mortgages. By bundling and securitizing mortgages, we do make liquid an inherently illiquid asset. Let’s not over-react here. Bundling is economically rational - perhaps taxpayer subsidy is the problem link?

(2) “How about regulating some common sense in lending. Only lend to credit worthy people? It’s not Joe Blow’s problem if a bank loans him money he can’t possibly repay. I don’t blame Joe Blow for trying as he has nothing to lose.” The easiest thing on earth is for a banker to tell a borrower that “the government prohibits us from lending to you.” The fact is bank examiners review adverse action notices - Reg B - and punish the banker who turns down a loan that the examiner thinks ought to be made. The better course remains to keep the government fingers out of the formula. Here maybe give some credit here also to CwnBt @ 3:23 - goverment compulsion to lend to marginal credits drove much of the stupidity. A second potential course would be to prohibit selling mortgages without recourse, but I am reluctant to embrace that market limitation.

(3) “Pure capitalism isn’t going to work in today’s world any better than communism.There needs to be a regulated version of capitalism for it to survive.” I disagree, due to the lack of evidence for your argument. If you never try pure capitalism, but rather only a version heavily tainted by Congressional biases, how can you say it is not going to work?

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the advice, Ragnar. I had to re-read your post again before it made sense. I’ll take your advice on Jackie. I think I’ve already wasted enough time…

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this

It was rather interesting to see how the liberals at CNN played out the markets on the headlines and on their website this week. When the markets sank, it was front page top news:

BIGGEST LOSS SINCE GREAT DEPRESSION

When the markets roared back, it was shoved to the sidelines:

[….]

Yeah, you read that correctly; there WAS no mention of the rally on CNN’s main website on Friday - you had to dig for it under the business section.

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this

Newsweek, run by a bunch of liberals, runs a sob story about how boys are falling behind in school titled “Struggling School-Age Boys.”

Well let’s see here - for about a quarter century now (at least) liberals and the left have pushed for getting girls “caught up” to boys in school (whatever that meant); liberals have pushed girls into boy sports and boy clubs to boost their self esteem; liberals have pushed government projects that have helped girls excel in math and science and other venues traditionally dominated by boys; liberals have taken away a boy’s natural urge to be competitive in schools and done idiotic feel good things like ban field days because God forbid someone might be better than someone else and hurt someone’s self esteem; finally, liberals in our pathetic failing government run education system (run by liberals at the NEA mind you) have not paid attention to the intrinsic needs of boys.

Now, liberals are whining that boys are falling behind. This is about as ironic as the stupid liberal sheep JUST NOW complaining about Palin NOT being a stay-at-home mom when for the past FORTY YEARS they have lambasted stay at home moms and lauded “independent” women who get out and join the workforce and be “real” women.

By Jackie

September 21, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this

@ People Eating Tasty Animals

Your not being able to comprehend what was posted and using your cut-and-paste skills to verify that fact only shows how myopic your thought process is.

Secondly, you still have not figured out what those accounting acronyms of FASBA (Financial Account Standards Board) and GAAP(Generally Accepted Accounting Principals) have you?

Didn’t think so!

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this

Paulson voices confidences in U.S. fundamentals

You don’t say:

Asked about the fundamentals of the U.S. economy, US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said, “I won’t bet against the American people … We will work through this.”

Now isn’t that essentially what McCain said a week ago that the Bidenhead and Obamania jumped all over him for?

Oh I think so: “the foundations on this economy are sound…the people make this economy.”

Twill be interesting to see how those two liberal moonbats running for the White House treat Paulson’s words. My money says those blowhard socialist liberals won’t be attacking him.

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this

Give it up, Jackie. I described that my job is affected by S-O and it’s a real hassle to us and my company in general AND costs them money/time for compliance. I could care LESS about what accountants do with it at their end end - as Ragnar so eloquently stated. Finally, any idiot could have Googled your acronyms and responded. I don’t need your little grade school liberal challenges to waste my time, especially considering my wife is a CPA and CFP and I know just a TAD about the financial world and accounting field. And as stated, I’ve wasted enough time with you, moonbat.

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this

Now that we have the blog moonbat out of the way, here’s another moonbat topic. How about that wacko liberal state Vermont and the “Progressive” Party candidate for AG - you just have to love that “progressive” word by liberals:

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Lots of political candidates make campaign promises. But not like Charlotte Dennett’s.

Dennett, 61, the Progressive Party’s candidate for Vermont Attorney General, said Thursday she will prosecute President Bush for murder if she’s elected Nov. 4

Hope that piece of “work” liberal plans on having every congressperson arrested and tried for murder too who voted for war authority. What garbage.

Only liberals can be this blatantly STUPID.

By Jackie

September 21, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

@ People Eating Tasty Animals

If any idiot could have Googled those acronyms, what happened to you?

I promise not to laugh anymore!

Excuse me while I recover.

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this

Now now, liberal children - remember, Obamania says he will bring us all together in harmony. IN YOUR FACE!

I want you to argue with them [Republicans and Independents] and get in their face,”

Get in MY face bubba will be askin’ for a whole lot of trouble.

By People Eating Tasty Animals

September 21, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this

Ah. A nice Sunday evening closing out a nice weekend, and liberals just as angry as hell as ever. I thank my lucky stars I’m not one of them laden with misery, guilt, and despair. God how horrible would a life lived like that be? No wonder liberals never smile.

By Peter

September 22, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this

Hey Lemmings………….The WRONGS just Added 700 Billion to the deficit……..

Now what?

By jack

September 22, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

Jim

And I thought the title about mocking the legal system might refer to Palin (her husband and staff) refusing to answer a subpoena from a unanimous BIPARTISAN Alaska legislature.

But, no, of course, your little pea brain - like many right wingers flip flop according to who is doing what.

If Cheney, Palin or Rove refuse to testify, that’s good. If a Democrat refuses, they’re low lifes.

If Obama has a thin resume, that’s bad. If Palin has almost no resume, that’s good.

Do you right wing kooks REALLY want a VP who never had a passport until last year?

Sorry, I keep thinking that you can think. But no, you can only be sure that you can’t EVER be wrong. Lke when you thought W was going to be a great President and the Republicans would do great things for the country.

The past 7 years proved you wrong but you just can’t accept it can you.

By No Fan of Schwall's

September 23, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this

Regarding your column about judge shopping, you have obviously never been a litigant in Judge Schwall’s courtroom. If you had, you would understand why the Plaintiff’s attorneys decided to dismiss their case and refile it elsewhere. Politics aside, Craig Schwall does not belong in a black robe. His political views are not the reason; it’s his conduct in the courtroom. He simply does not have the temperment to be a judge. The recent decision in which Judge Schwall was rebuked by the appellate court is only one example. The others may have not made it that far. As an attorney, I, too, have done whatever I could to avoid his courtroom. Under certain circumstances, a law suit can be filed in more than one jurisdictions. One such example is a garnishment against a bank. The garnishment can be filed in the court of any county in which the bank has a branch. During the time Judge Schwall was a magistrate judge, unless a bank only had a branch in Fulton County, that is the one county in which I would never file a garnishment because I did not want to take the chance of the case being assigned to Judge Schwall. He has mishandled more than one case of mine and I have seen how he has mishandled other cases that were before him. Unfortunately, the bad judges keep getting re-elected because the majority of voters have no first hand knowledge of what a particular judge is like. Maybe judges should only be elected by the attorneys who practice before them.