Thinking Right

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 7, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this

Good morning all. Excellent argument by Mr. Wooten, I have little to add. I voted against the amendment when I recognized it as an effort to reverse one of those rare meritorious state supreme court rulings. My analysis was simpler – the proposed amendment does nothing to enhance individual freedom, but rather obviously adds power to overlords. I could not think of an intelligent reason to support it after reading it, so I voted against it. I suppose my bias is ultimately the same as that which led me to oppose the national bailout bills – too much potential for abuse and waste, and too little potential for useful correction.

By T

October 7, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Unlike Mr Wooten, I am convinced TADs can work, but only in cases where they are well conceived and managed. SOme points: 1) The Georgia State Legislature removed the “blighted” language from it’s TAD legislation in 2007, so TADs can be more widely proposed across Georgia. 2) Every TAD can be set up differently. The school board and municipality governing any Georgia TAD can set their own conditions. The Atlanta Beltline TAD is set up so that substantial portions of the increased tax revenue is committed to the Atlanta School Board during the 25 year active TAD period as the TAD-contained property is developed. Atlanta schools don’t have to wait 25 years to start receiving it. (see chart here http://www.beltline.org/Funding/TaxAllocationDistrictTAD/tabid/1731/Default.aspx) 3) Atlanta’s Beltline Project and it’s associated TAD are the result of extraordinary support by private individuals, public groups and companies. Although a “YES” vote on Amendment 2 is, I believe, a good vote and a responsible vote for Atlanta’s Beltline Project, other Georgia municipalities and school boards will have neither the expertise nor the funding to evaluate proposed developments to a similar extent. They will instead have to rely on a “less-than-robust” analysis or worse, the developer’s sales pitch, to decide on whether or not a TAD proposal has a chance to succeed. Thoughtful Joe Citizens, especially those who’ve come in contact with many an unscrupulous developer over the years, can envision developers having a field day pressuring Georgia’s municipal bodies and school board members into setting up TADs in support of their projects without sufficient oversight or protection of local taxpayer interests. If Amendment 2 passes in its current form, communities of all compositions ranging from Norcross to Waycross will be fair game for high-pressure tactics from developers who will smell “free money” for their projects.

By Ga Values

October 7, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

I have been voting for 40 years and have never voted for an amendment and never will. Georgia is in desperate need of a new constitution but who would trust the Georgia Legislation if they wrote one.

By Jim The Conservative

October 7, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

Todays conservative colume from the Athens Paper

Do you have a sense of your pocket being picked? You should. According to a recent Reuters news service story, the Wall Street bailout caps a series of U.S. government-backed financial and housing measures during the past 30 days that could have a total tab of more than $1.8 trillion. This comes to a debt of more than $17,000 for each of the slightly more than 105 million households in the United States.

In the future, each of our households - and it will roll on to those of our children, grandchildren and probably our great-grandchildren - will have to pay back this debt. Of course, this is just added to the more than $10 trillion in debt already owed, or about $95,000 per household. So each household now is the proud owner of more than $112,000 of our nation’s debt.

One of the things that really should get our dander up are the earmarks - best translated as “pork” - that were added to the Wall Street bailout bill by our illustrious senators in order for it to gather enough support to pass. What do tax breaks for wooden arrow manufacturers, NASCAR tracks, film and television production and Caribbean manufacturers have to do with the central issue of the financial crisis? You are correct - it’s absolutely nothing. Yet these are just some of the items used to buy votes, and add to the debt load of each American household.

You may think Big Oil, or Big Pharmaceuticals or another Big will come in and help pay down our debt, but this is only an illusion. The cost of goods and services offered by any company of any size has the tax liability embedded within that cost. Whenever you buy that next tank of gas, get a refill on a prescription or purchase the next item at your local big-box discount store, you pay a price that includes the income taxes that company pays annually to the government.

We have become a debtor nation. As our government has accrued unfathomable amounts of debt, so have many Americans succumbed to the allure of easy money through no-documentation mortgages, consumer loans, credit cards and equity lines of credit.

Democrats and Republicans are culpable for the mess in which we find ourselves. The free-market system for housing loans was encroached upon by government regulations and erroneous influences. These were the first undercurrents that eventually would give rise to the financial tsunami with which some of our financial markets have been devastated. However, just like a tsunami does not hit all coastlines on the globe, not every financial institution, insurance company or commercial bank found itself within the rising floodwaters of the subprime mortgage wave surge. Unfortunately, our politicians have decided those institutions that built their houses upon the sand needed to be bailed out by U.S. taxpayers. This goes against the free-market principles of our great republic.

Irresponsible lending is just as wrong as irresponsible borrowing. While few can live a debt-free life, especially if they desire to own a home, many use debt to purchase depreciating or disappearing assets. Some will bristle when Congress votes to raise the debt ceiling - now at more than $10 trillion. Many of those same people, however, subsequently will run out to purchase for themselves, on credit, the latest gadget.

Excesses in consumerism lead to the same problems as excesses in government spending. At the end of the day, someone must pay the bills when they come due. Why should we expect our elected officials to have any different mindset than those they represent? In fact, if we vote them into office, don’t we expect them to represent the way we think?

In just a few weeks, we will be electing many local, state and national leaders who will have the responsibility to spend our money. Will the person who gets your vote have a track record of spending that matches the way you handle your finances? And is the way you handle your finances enabling you to live within your means? If so, your support for that candidate will be well-placed. If not, now is the time to change your ways, and decide to vote for the person who will be the best steward of our dollars.

As I looked at the roll call vote for the Wall Street bailout bill last week, I couldn’t help but notice that Congressman Paul Broun’s “no” vote reflected the overwhelming feedback he had received from his constituents in Georgia’s 10th Congressional District. Unfortunately, a majority of our senators and representatives decided they would take a bad deal rather than no deal. And for this, we now have a national debt burden - in addition to the ongoing annual spending of our government - of more than $112,000 per household.

• Jerry Haas, a local Banner-Herald columnist

By Churchill's Mom

October 7, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

I am still mad about Auburn’s loss to a school without athletic dorms but since Jim won’t do his job here’s today’s Palin. She’s a hockey mom Fer sure.

By Richard Cohen Tuesday, October 7, 2008; Page A21

Reading William Kristol’s column in yesterday’s New York Times, I discover that Sarah Palin and I have something in common. Kristol, who was once Dan Quayle’s chief of staff and therefore, shall we say, has a Mister Rogers approach to certain politicians, got Palin on the phone and reported that “she doesn’t have a very high opinion of the mainstream media.” This is where we are in agreement. On account of Palin, neither do I.

In her debate against Joe Biden last week, she mischaracterized Barack Obama’s tax plan and his offer to meet with foreign adversaries of the United States. She found whole new powers for the vice president by misreading the Constitution, if she ever read it at all. She called one moment for the federal government to virtually disappear and a moment later lamented the lack of its oversight of the financial markets. She asserted that she “may not answer the questions the way that either the moderator or you [Biden] want to hear” because, apparently, the rules don’t apply to her on account of her being a hockey mom. Fer sure.

Not enough? Okay. Palin also said that she “and others in the legislature” had called for the state of Alaska to divest itself of investments in companies that do business with Sudan. But, as the indefatigable truth-hunter at The Post found out, the divestiture effort was not led by Palin. In fact, her administration opposed the initiative, and Palin herself only came around to it after the bill had died.

In spite of it all, much of the media saw a credible performance. I could quote the hosannas of some of my colleagues, but I spare them the infamy that will surely follow them to their graves. (The debate’s moderator, Gwen Ifill, used the occasion to catch up on some sleep.) Many of my colleagues judged Palin simply as a performer and inferred that her performance would go over well in homes with aboveground swimming pools.

A perfect example is the Wall Street Journal, whose (conservative) editorial page has been absolutely fixated on a strict (Scalian) reading of the Constitution. Did it wonder what in the world Palin meant by the authority she found in the Constitution to increase the role of “the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate”? What? Oh, never mind. The Journal chivalrously ignored the matter. Palin is excused from knowing the limits of the office she seeks.

In effect, columnists, bloggers, talk-show hosts and digital lamplighters have adopted the ethic of the political consultant: what works, works. It did not matter what Palin said. It only mattered how she said it — all those doggones, references to her working-class status (net worth in excess of $2 million), promiscuous use of the word “maverick,” repeated mentions of “greed and corruption on Wall Street” (Who? Be specific. Give examples. Didn’t anyone here go to school?) and, of course, that manic good cheer. Palin knows that the standard is not right or wrong, truth or lie, but the graph that ran under both debaters on CNN, measuring approval, disapproval or, maybe, the blood sugar levels of certain people in their focus group. Things have changed. Might used to make right. Now a wink does.

Since I began with the Times’ conservative columnist of the moment, I will end with its conservative columnist of years past — the estimable William Safire. In 1996, he called Hillary Clinton “a congenital liar.” It was a head-snapping characterization that, alas for Clinton, has defined her for the ages and that she stubbornly vindicates from time to time.

But what about Palin? Can you imagine the reaction of the press corps if Clinton had given the audience a “hiya, sailor” wink? Can you imagine the feverish blogging across the political spectrum if Clinton had claimed credit for stopping a bridge that, in fact, had set her heart aflutter? What if she had shown that she didn’t know squat about the Constitution, if she could not tell Katie Couric what newspapers or magazines she read or if she had claimed an intimacy with foreign affairs based on sighting Russia through binoculars?

Ah, but the scorn, approbation and ridicule that would have descended on Clinton — I can just imagine the Journal editorial — have been withheld from Palin. Much of the mainstream media, grading on a curve suitable for a parrot — “greed and corruption, greed and corruption, greed and corruption” — gave her a passing grade or better. I agree with Palin. It’s the mainstream media that flunked.

By Ga Values

October 7, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

Saw Saxby Chambliss(Socialist/RINO,Ga) solution to the “Gas Crisis” on the TV last night, what is he smoking?? Here is a description of his Gang of 10 Traitors solution from the WSJ:

“Their enthusiasm has given conservative candidates a boost in tough races. And Mr. McCain has pressured Barack Obama into an energy debate, where the Democrat has struggled to explain shifting and confused policy proposals.

Still, it was probably too much to assume every Republican would work out that their side was winning this issue. And so, last Friday, in stumbled Sens. Lindsey Graham, John Thune, Saxby Chambliss, Bob Corker and Johnny Isakson — alongside five Senate Democrats. This “Gang of 10” announced a “sweeping” and “bipartisan” energy plan to break Washington’s energy “stalemate.” What they did was throw every vulnerable Democrat, and Mr. Obama, a life preserver.

That’s because the plan is a Democratic giveaway. New production on offshore federal lands is left to state legislatures, and then in only four coastal states. The regulatory hurdles are huge. And the bill bars drilling within 50 miles of the coast — putting off limits some of the most productive areas. Alaska’s oil-rich Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is still a no-go.

The highlight is instead $84 billion in tax credits, subsidies and federal handouts for alternative fuels and renewables. The Gang of 10 intends to pay for all this in part by raising taxes on … oil companies! The Sierra Club couldn’t have penned it better. And so the Republican Five has potentially given antidrilling Democrats the political cover they need to neutralize energy through November.

Sen. Obama was thrilled. He quickly praised the Gang’s bipartisan spirit, and warmed up to a possible compromise. Of course, he means removing even the token drilling provisions now in the bill. But he’s only too happy for the focus to remain on the Gang’s efforts, and in particular on the five Republicans providing his party its fig leaf.” this text will be bolded
WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE SAXBY OR THE WSJ?

By Redneck Convert

October 7, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

Well, why don’t they let me just hand the 50 bucks a year on the trailer to a developer and cut out the middle man?

Anyway, I’m against paying taxes for schools. It don’t help me and hunderds of Those People are just doing You Know What to beat the band to have more lunkheads and expect me to pay for the schooling.

Besides, me and the missus plan to send our grandson little Sonny Zell George to the Academy for the Christian Way and Light down in Cumming so he can learn good GA values and not have to go to school with a bunch of Those People and illegals and Jews and libruls. We don’t want him growing up to be a godless librul the way so many kids do that go to public schools. I could use that 50 bucks to help pay the tuition.

Yesterday I saw about a 1,000 of Those People lined up at the courthouse for early voting. I sure hope Wooten is right that GA ain’t in play. It looks like the libruls and rabble-rousers are doing their best to get everybody they can to vote against old Saxby and old man McCain.

Have a good day everybody.

By GMAN

October 7, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this

It’s the ECONOMY stupid!!!

Bush/McCain - Gambling with your children’s futures!

By Ga Values

October 7, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE SAXBY OR THE WSJ?

By Ga Values

October 7, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

Redneck Convert

I have really bad news for you, I sent my childeren to privite school & they have turned out to be Liberals. Even the 2 that are now paying their own way are voting for Obama and are mad at me for not doing the same.

I have figured out how to use bold, WOW

By Ga Values

October 7, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

Good quick read for the Lawyers & Accountants

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/the-streets-emergency-responders/

By ron

October 7, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

Good morning Jim,I don’t see anything to argue with you about today.Vote no.Use taxes only for what they’re intended for.

Massachusetts has an initiative on it’s ballot to scrap the entire state incometax system.That’ll be wild if that passes.

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

Yeah it’s the economy stupid. Any fool who thinks that the current situation has zero to do with poor people and other slackers who got to buy a home for little to nothing down because Barney Frank socialist Democrats wanted to “help” them with the American Dream is just that: a fool. This nation will get what it deserves with a full Democrat socialist congress and a quasi Marxist at 1600 Pennsylvania. You morons on the left and other various ignoramuses think 6.5% unemployment is bad? Ladies, you haven’t seen anything yet with a full fledged socialist US federal government. For the rest of you productive and working Americans and small biz owners who create and maintain jobs in this nation, start making arrangements to take whatever steps necessary to ensure your money is safe and secure away from the socialist Democrats. A mattress or hold in the ground in the back yard is starting to look pretty damn good.

If you want another barometer of where this nation is headed, take a look at the losers who the Obamagoons are trotting out to vote:

CLEVELAND - Volunteers supporting Barack Obama picked up hundreds of people at homeless shelters, soup kitchens and drug-rehab centers and drove them to a polling place yesterday on the last day that Ohioans could register and vote on the same day, almost no questions asked.

The huge effort by a pro-Obama group, Vote Today Ohio, takes advantage of a quirk in the state’s elections laws that allows people to register and cast ballots at the same time without having to prove residency.

Republicans have argued that the window could lead to widespread voter fraud because officials wouldn’t have an opportunity to verify registration information before ballots were cast.

Remember, voter fraud is a neocon myth and if you dare question a voter’s validity, you will be deemed a racist just like if you say anything negative about Obama’s socialist policies or do not vote for Barack - even if you have voted Republican all your life, you will be deemed a racist. Get ready folks, a storm is brewing on the horizon, and it’s not going to be pretty. But, America ultimately gets what it deserves. Fortunately, there’s still a lot of us who are not dependent on government for the answers to life’s ills or at best, attempting to make life “better” like that joke called Social Security. Finally, any of you pinheads who are going to vote Obama because of the economy stupid who think that we are headed to another Great Depression, pick up a book and learn about what one really was like - or better yet, speak with someone who actually lived through it. Speaking of voting and the economy, how come we haven’t heard much from Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid lately?

By John

October 7, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

Jim;

I am not a fan, but you have nailed this issue. Where are all the conservative Geogians when you need them? These are the same people who cry for lower taxes and less government. It takes a lot of nerve to take money from a broke education system and give it to developers. That being said, these nuckleheads in GA will probably vote Yes.

By Just Checking

October 7, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

“…the people who get rich by getting government in debt…”

You mean THE REPUBLICANS and their friends? Is this discussion limited to Georgia and the good-buddy contracts here, or can we bring up the Federal government and track the flow of money from our national treasury into the pockets of people who demand (and receive) NO accountability for the work they allegedly perform in a country where no one dares to audit them?

BTW, how much IS our debt right now, and how much of it was spent on “private contractors” for things we’ll never see?

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

For once I agree with the Idiot of the AJC, little Jimmy Woodenhead: I am forced to pay bloated property taxes to support the worthless schools, and I GD well do not want one red cent of that money going to other purposes, like into the pockets of lying thieving developers. This diversion of school tax money reminds me of that lying, thieving former governor of Georgia, Royie (Sure I am a Crook, but a well connected Crook) BarnesHole, who stole Georgia 400 toll money for his equally crooked pals developing the worthless Atlantie Stationie. Roy the crook was not done, he also gave 100 million dollars in Medicaid money to a fellow crooked lawyer for advising the State on how to cheat the Feds out of the State Medicaid cost share. My only question is why that crook is still free to walk the streets of Marietta? He still gits to practice law, because all lawyers are lying thieving crooked scum bags, but have you noticed our little Idoit of the AJC is just too chicken livered to attack them in print. Speaking of scum bag lawyers, where is that other idiot, jmblaw? Hiding out with Roy the Crook? Well, come the revolution, we will hang them all….imho

By JW

October 7, 2008 10:10 AM | Link to this

By Ga Values wote and wrote and wrote…..(get your own column!)

Blame the democrats for making the GOP do “bad” things. Ignore the fact that it is a GOP administration that asked for a$700B bailout. Forget about the fact that it is the GOP that wants to drill all over the place. Do your GA values allow you to have any common sense? Keep is short, simple.

By Ga Values

October 7, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

Looks like The Hartford was the name insurance company that Reid said was insolvent, the market took care of it not a government bailout. That’s a I hope because no one knows what was in the 437 pages.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/business/07insure.html?dlbk

By Johnny Maverick

October 7, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Today I would like to clarify that the following statements I made in the past are no longer operative. I apologize for having ever said I was guilty of wrongdoing in the Keating affair, for such admission was false and is not in keeping with 100% factual truthfulness of everything I have ever said or will ever say in the future.

I created the appearance of impropriety so it was my — I was guilty, and therefore did not represent the people of my state in the manner which they expected of me. — CNN, Larry King, 10/12/02

Despite my recovery, the Keating Five experience was not one that I have walked away from as easily as I have other bad times. Twelve years after its conclusion, I still wince thinking about it and find that if I do not repress the memory, its recollection still provokes a vague but real feeling that I had lost something very important, something that was sacrificed in the pursuit of gratifying ambitions, my own and others’, and that I might never possess again as assuredly as I once had. — McCain, Worth the Fighting For Page 204

Because as my spokesmen stated yesterday, the whole Keating thing was a big liberal smear job that had no basis in any facts whatsoever. I was completely innocent, and regret giving the impression that I ever accepted the reprimand of the ba5t@rds that persecuted me.

Sincerely and 100& Truthfully,

John McCain, ex-POW and Man of Honor and Integrity

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 7, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this

Dear Crooks @ 10:07, “all lawyers are lying thieving crooked scum bags,” I resent you noticing my alleged resemblance to a sack.

By GOPs got to go

October 7, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

Oh my God, I actually agree with Wooten.

Is it snowing somewhere really hot?

Have pigs sprouted odd appendages?

Is there a guy in the Vatican who is reading the Koran?

Is George W Bush voting for Obama?

Is Wooten voting for Obama?

Should I “duck and cover”?

I’m scared………

By Frost

October 7, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

McCain linked to private group in Iran-Contra case AP…

McCain revisiting Keating 5 banking scandal again AP

those in glass houses must not throw stones…….More coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

The Really Good News is that law students are going deep into debt to pay for being educated as lying, thieving scum bags, and now cannot find jobs as lying thieving scum bags with which to repay those loans. Even better, those education loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy court…ha ha ha, suffer scum, suffer…We need debtors prison for lawyers…make it so…Give em hard labor, like making little rocks out of bigger rocks….fer like 12 hours per day, seven days per week….

By GOPs got to go

October 7, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

Some sacks pay for their off spring’s education into the sack business.

I prefer to visualize the sacks asking “Paper or Plastic?”

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Frost 10:46

Are you a paid Dem volunteer or you just can’t concentrate on the subject de jour?

THE KEATING 5 BANKING FIASCO HAS ALREADY BEEN INVESTIGATED. McCain was found to have no involvement. Bad judgment was the worst thing said about McCain in connection with this investigation. There was NO CRIMINAL ACTIVITY involving McCain. Your insinuations are pure propaganda.

Would you not take up space here with misleading information? How about some real Chicago crook involvment like Obama’s buddy and supporter Rezko??

Back to amendments. I have already voted NO on this one.

By GaLiberal

October 7, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

Moron Jim said: It’s there because the people who get rich by getting government in debt came up with a neat new way to make long-term debt attractive to local politicians.

While I agree with Moron Jim on this point, his ditribe is unsupported. There are many success stories (as there are many failures) where TADs have reviatilitzed areas. Clevelands Flats is a perfect example. A deteroiating bunch of old shipping warehouses was successfully turned into a great waterfront shopping and dining area. Yes, it took a big infusion of city and county money, but it paided off in the long run. Of course, one can point all kinds of fingers at the disaster of Underground. Underground was not a viable project and dumping more money into it was not prudent. There was nothing to attract the bigoted, snobs who work within Atlanta city limits into staying. They wanted to race back to their white gated enclaves in their gas guzzling SUVs and trucks and wash off the stench. But let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. People just need to be selective about how this money is spent.

That’s the problem with Moron Jim and his Rethuglicon knee-jerk buddies. They take the short view that personally benefits them vs the long view that benefits everyone including their children.

When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And Moron Jim’s screed against TADs is living proof.

By ron

October 7, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

Richard Fuld had his moment in the sun,answering pointy questions from Congress,where he took all credit for the demise of Lehman Bros.He also agreed with himself that he was worth every bit of the $350 million plus,plus that he was paid while doing all the damage.Some others digressed.

He something to the affect that he was counting his bunuses or boni,whatever is the case,and he looked up and the company was gone.Possibly stolen by short sellers.

He did ask one rather pertinent question for which everyone is awaiting the answer.

“How come you bailed out everyone else and left Lehman to sink’?

That’s a question that I think everyone deserves an answer to.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

Lying Lehman was left hanging because they were the biggest lying scum on lying scumbag street….Someone should slap Fuld silly…ah volunteer,,,slap, pig, slap….have a heart attack Dick….

By Just Checking

October 7, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

Dusty, why do the Palins pal around with people who hate America?

Alaska Independence Party founder Joe Vogler: “I’m an Alaskan, not an American. I’ve got no use for America or her d-mned institutions. The fires of Hell are glaciers compared to my hate for the American government.”

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

GaLiberal,11:22

Your ignorance is so TIRESOME. Can’t you post ANYTHING without all the stupidity?

Over used ignorance: Rethuglicon, moron, ditribe,bigoted snobs, white gated enclaves, stench, kneejerk buddies, screed

Try to enlarge your decency vocabulary. No one is impressed by a lack of intelligence. Try something else for a change.

By getalife

October 7, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this

If Jim says vote no then vote yes.

A depression where our government throws trillions at it and keeps the market at 9000 is incredibile.

Insane times.

By Captain Freedom

October 7, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

THE Captain appreciates the feeble attempts at hecklement that exude from the wafting Dusty, not for the quality of the heckle (which ranks very low indeed), but rather for the role she serves as straight man (no offense, Hellenic Homo!), as parry, as Dino to my Jerry. (ahhhhaaaaaahhhhh, niiiiice laaaaaay-dee)

No, check that. Dusty rather brings to mind the thespian stylings of Margaret Dumont, favorite foil of the Marxist Groucho. Asked why he so enjoyed working with Dumont, Groucho replied, “Because she never knows what the hell is going on around her, but she always acts like she does.” And twas ever thus with Sister D.

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this

Just checkin,(from Dem hdqrts)@11:35

Why do the Obamas pal around with jailbirds, bigots and anti-Americans?

Joe Vogler has nothing to do with Sarah Palin. Her husband dropped all connections with Bogler’s group long ago.

Are you a member of the Communist Party?

By Hillbilly Deluxe

October 7, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

Amendment 2: Not no but Hell No

This bailout thing doesn’t seem to be going the way it was planned. Anybody know what Plan B is?

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

getalife 11:41

Getalife stays depressed.

Insanity??

By GayGrayGeek

October 7, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

Dusty - AFEES, dear. AFEES, or STFU.

One acronym, or the other. Your choice.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

Hey dirt bag, ya forgot me on your list of most honored….Palin is trailer trash, just like dusty and her ilk….dirty ball has a slightly larger vocab than palin, but lacks the MILF body….

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this

Captain Freedom @11:46

It wasn’t funny THE FIRST TIME.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

Dusty: R U a gay porn star?

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

GayGrayGeek @11:52

You are beset with senility and repetition.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

Hey Dusty: On Sunday, do ya muff dive fer Jesus?

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

11:53

More trash from Dem locals.

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

11:59

POFO posturing!!!

By Just Checking

October 7, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

(note the “g” on the end of the gerund)

Dusty, actually Sarah Palin expanded the definition of “pal around with” when she repeated it over and over regarding the relationship between two people on the same charitable, anti-poverty board, referencing activities that one engaged in during the 60’s while the other was a small child. Therefore, HER use of this example as a fear-mongering tactic justifies the question:

Why did Todd Palin JOIN the AIP in the first place, when the views of the founder and the party were clearly stated?

Do we let bygones be bygones or not? YOU DECIDE, but you can’t have it both ways, Dear.

By Devastator

October 7, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

John McCain wants you to forget about his role in our country’s last major financial crisis and costly bailout: the savings and loan crisis of the late ’80s and early ’90s.

But voters deserve to know that the failed philosophy and culture of corruption that created the savings and loan crisis then are alive in the current crisis — and in John McCain’s plans for our economic future.

We just released a short documentary about John McCain’s role in that financial crisis — watch it now and share it with your friends:

http://my.barackobama.com/keatingvideo

Voters should know the facts about John McCain’s poor judgment — judgment that has twice placed him on the wrong side of history.

Please forward this email to everyone you know.

Thanks,

David

David Plouffe Campaign Manager Obama for America

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

John (Keating Five Crook) wants controll of your tax money….Guess why?

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

Just chicken 12:03

Excuses! Excuses for Obama!!

Rezko, bigots galore, criminal contributions, anti-Americanism..OBAMA

YOU DECIDE, dear Godzie..

By Devastator

October 7, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

Over the weekend, John McCain’s top adviser announced their plan to stop engaging in a debate over the economy and “turn the page” to more direct, personal attacks on Barack Obama.

In the middle of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, they want to change the subject from the central question of this election. Perhaps because the policies McCain supported these past eight years and wants to continue are pretty hard to defend.

But it’s not just McCain’s role in the current crisis that they’re avoiding. The backward economic philosophy and culture of corruption that helped create the current crisis are looking more and more like the other major financial crisis of our time.

During the savings and loan crisis of the late ’80s and early ’90s, McCain’s political favors and aggressive support for deregulation put him at the center of the fall of Lincoln Savings and Loan, one of the largest in the country. More than 23,000 investors lost their savings. Overall, the savings and loan crisis required the federal government to bail out the savings of hundreds of thousands of families and ultimately cost American taxpayers $124 billion.

Sound familiar?

In that crisis, John McCain and his political patron, Charles Keating, played central roles that ultimately landed Keating in jail for fraud and McCain in front of the Senate Ethics Committee. The McCain campaign has tried to avoid talking about the scandal, but with so many parallels to the current crisis, McCain’s Keating history is relevant and voters deserve to know the facts — and see for themselves the pattern of poor judgment by John McCain.

So , we’re releasing a 13-minute documentary about the scandal called “Keating Economics: John McCain and the Making of a Financial Crisis” — it is available at KeatingEconomics.com, along with background information that every voter should know.

Watch a preview right now and share it with your friends.

The point of the film and the web site is that John McCain still hasn’t learned his lesson.

And this time, McCain’s bankrupt economic philosophy has put our economy at the brink of collapse and put millions of Americans at risk of losing their homes.

By ButtHead

October 7, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

This is a very bad idea, betting on future earnings, have we learned nothing? How about we do it the old fashion way, we balance the check book and if we don’t have it you don’t spend it. Learn to say no to all the special interest groups.

By GayGrayGeek

October 7, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

Dusty - if one is to judge a man by the far-in-the-past actions of others, then either it’s

a) Obama is bad due to Ayers AND McCain is bad due to Keating

or

b) neither one matters.

I know that Republican’ts like yourself want to have your cake and eat it too, but this time there’s no $700 billion bailout for you. It’s one standard, for all. Even for Those People.

And, anyway - AFEES or STFU.

By Just Checking

October 7, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

Dusty, why no response to the question? Are you pulling a Sarah P and talking directly to the people instead? (Darn right, we don’t answer questions!) And hey, I’m only asking about the Palins right now…. (there are skeletons in McCain’s closet too, wanna see?) Do we leave the past in the past, or don’t we? We have many hours left to discuss character if you’d prefer that to issues.

Here’s my next question. I know you love America, because you say so. Does your HUSBAND hate America? If so, you could explain to us how Sarah Palin could love America and be married to a man who hates America, or at least “pals around with” people who hate their own country? We’d all welcome the insight on that one.

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

12:12 Dem Headquarters volunteer

Obama wants ALL YOUR MONEY. Calls it tax cut.

CHANGE means SMALL CHANGE left for YOU… so saith OBAMA!

By Devastator

October 7, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Voters’ concerns over the U.S. economic crisis have helped lift Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama to a clear lead over Republican rival John McCain, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

The survey, conducted just one month before election day, shows Mr. Obama and running mate Joe Biden with 49% of the vote to 43% for Mr. McCain and Sarah Palin. Eight percent of voters say they support neither man or haven’t decided.

The poll shows that advantage is driven partly by the economy. Fully six in 10 Americans say economic issues are most important to their vote. And by 46% to 29%, voters say they believe Mr. Obama would handle the economy better than Mr. McCain. The poll of 658 registered voters carries a margin for error of 3.8 percentage points.

By 34% to 29%, voters say Mr. Obama’s handling of the financial crisis has left them more reassured about his candidacy rather than less reassured. But Mr. McCain has lost ground during the crisis, with voters saying they’re less reassured about him by a 38% to 25% margin.

The recent presidential debates have also hurt the Republican ticket. By 50% to 29%, voters say Messrs. Obama and Biden have done a better job than Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin in debates so far.

By getalife

October 7, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this

McPalin are the faces of white powder. There are shouts of terrorists, kill him and treason. Sieg Heil Hitler.

Americans are on the edge of insanity and the gun-ammo business is booming.

Somewhere, obl is LOL.

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

12:16 Dem Headquarters

BARNEY FRANK (DEMOCRAT) blocked all efforts by McCain to control gigantic mortgage firms in previous years. Barney Frank(DEMOCRAT) said no controls were needed and nothing was passed.

Quit lying, Devastator.

By MrLiberty

October 7, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

In California, blighted meant any piece of property not generating enough tax revenue for the scumbags in government to waste. Often it meant empty fields in prime consumer locations.

Yes, this bill is nothing more than a subsidy for developers who wish to take no risk with their own money but who wish to reap all the rewards privately.

Nobody ever asks why an area becomes blighted. Sometimes it is because poor people have been luered by the Community Redevelopment act into loans they cannot afford on houses they will not be able to maintain. Once the maintenance is forgotten, the area begins to look blighted. Then we have the older folks who can no longer affored the rising property taxes. A fixed income cannot compete with these.

If government wants to end blight and encourage revitalization, they need only look at how much they are stealing from the community and the individuals living there.

By Captain Freedom

October 7, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this

THE Captain today re-posted his comparison of Sister Dusty to the late Margaret Dumont for the benefit of those who missed it earlier. For unlike the pifflings of Dusty, which are unworthy of even a first cursory read, THE Captain’s ruminations are acknowledged World Wide as the ne plus ultra of Online Internet Tube prosidy and metaphoric poesy. And THE Captain sheds tears of empathic compasssionate conservatism at the thought that somewhere a starving child might be denied the opportunity to nourish himself at the teat of THE Captain’s mighty pen.

But THE Captain, unlike His Bible, is not inerrant, and would like to confess to a minor error, much as St Johnny Maverick did @10:18 on Wooten’s blog. (And aren’t we blessed that someone like the Former POW and Next President of the USA would stop by and visit Wooten’s blog…talk about your influential journamalists! Betcha Bookman never gets juice like that!)

For indeed, THE Captain did compare Dusty to the great Margaret Dumont, but there are two flaws in the comparison. First, Margaret Dumont was a svelte 185 pounds soaking wet, as compared to Dusty’s inestimable girth. (NASA is at work on a device capable of measuring such.)

Second, Dame Dumont died in 1965. THE Captain regrets that this aspect of the simile is untrue. Deeply.

THE Captain regrets any errors He might make, but still posits that everything He says is 100% truthful and Honorable, just like the Godly Abe McCain.

By Reaity Check

October 7, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

Dusty @ 11:28

Why do you dimiss the Palin connection Vogler, But try so hard to connect Obama to Ayers? Obamas association with Ayers was when he first started in politics, The “first dude was as recent as 2002. What about the balance here?

Just asking…..

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

Just chicken12:21

Obama’s BIG FLAWS are more interesting, doncha think??

Why are YOU interested in my husband? MYOB! He’s not a politician, just a veteran.

Do you have a husband? R U a socialist? Why are you promoting one? Obama resembles one. REZKO IS TALKING!!!!

See ya later, Chicken!! Can’t play the ol’ propaganda ploy with you any more. More important things to do…

By Devastator

October 7, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

Dusty,

That doesn’t disavow McCain’s role in the S&L scandal nor does it explain his collaboration with the man responsible for it.

By BS Aplenty

October 7, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this

Why Barack Obama Should Not be President

Barack Obama attended the Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois, for almost twenty years. Attended, taught, learned, worshipped and sang along with his wife and children until his abrupt resignation in May 2008. That resignation was brought about due to heightened national awareness of the “nature” of Obama’s congregation. A nature that was further brought into focus by unsavory sermon tapes of former TUCC minister, Jeremiah Wright. But for all the bluster and ignorance reflected in his sermons, Wright’s ranting from the pulpit only hinted at a deeper, more troubling truth about TUCC and Obama.

What is it that made TUCC such a political liability to the first African-American nominated by a major political party? The answer to that question lies in the doctrine and teachings of TUCC. In short, this congregation, unlike ANY other United Church of Christ church in the United States, adopted, endorsed and promotes the doctrine and teachings of one James H. Cone. Cone systematized what has been called black liberation theology as outlined in his two books, the first entitled, Black Theology and Black Power and a follow-on, A Black Theology of Liberation. These are the only two books sold by the Trinity United Church of Christ on its website. TUCC doesn’t sell or give away the BIBLE on its website – a circumstance I find very telling.

The two books mentioned are, to say the least, “interesting” reads. Black Theology and Black Power is the seminal work on black liberation theology and A Black Theology of Liberation is a follow-on. Cone viewed his theology as, “…complete emancipation of black people from white oppression by whatever means black people deem necessary. So-called (white) Christianity, as commonly practiced in the United States, is actually the racist Antichrist.” “Theologically,” Cone affirms, “Malcolm X was not far wrong when he called the white man ‘the devil’.” And, there’s more – much more - but you get the picture.

So there you have it, the principal doctrine endorsed and promoted by the Trinity United Church of Christ teaches the overtly racist sentiments of James H. Cone. The preaching and “ignorance”, as some say, of Wright is shown to be symptomatic of that larger racism and neglects to see that the entire TUCC congregation accepts the doctrine of Cone under the guise of a Christian church. Wright was just a mouthpiece, it’s the congregation, including Obama, which endorsed and promotes this racist doctrine.

ANY person or group that attempts to systematically demonize another group because of race is, by definition, RACIST.

Needless to say for Obama and his presidential campaign by May 2008 the ‘cat was out of the bag’. And, after twenty years of commitment to TUCC, Barack Obama finally, cynically made a decision to leave. A decision his avid campaign supporter, Oprah Winfrey, made several years earlier as she cynically managed a business agenda of her own. One would have to be patently naïve not to understand the motivation behind both departures. Nor is it much of a political stretch to acknowledge the release of these sermon tapes focused attention on the fall-guy, Wright, while diverting a direct, and potentially, campaign-ending blow to Obama.

What one is left after all the media lights have dimmed is this unsettling fact. For twenty years Barack Obama accepted the racist doctrine of his church – twenty years. And, only when this inconvenient truth was brought to national light did he decide that maybe that doctrine was no longer acceptable.

I give you the Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama.

By Frost

October 7, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

Bad judgment was the worst thing said about McCain in connection with this investigation.

say that again Dust to Dust

DO U SEE THE CONNECTION BOY??????????

By Palin Pal

October 7, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this

“I’m an Alaskan, not an American. I’ve got no use for America or her d-mned institutions. The fires of Hell are glaciers compared to my hate for the American government.”

—The preceeding message will be reposted automatically every time a Republican hand job repeats the word Ayers, Rezko, or some other nonsense in an attempt to divert your attention from the very real issues facing Americans today.—

By Dusty

October 7, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this

Oh please, I am laughing all the way out the door.

Captain is well known, truthful and honorable, loves a lady who died in 1965 (the last time he looked at a woman.)!!!

OhOh wa haha ooohooohh Captain is almost better than POFO! Soooo long….

By Devastator

October 7, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this

Talk to your family about why you’re voting Obama. There is no more important voice than your own. Check out My.BarackObama.com/TheTalkfor suggestions, resources, and more information.

Sincerely,

Scott & Martha at Obama HQ

By Devastator

October 7, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

John McCain wants you to forget about his role in our country’s last major financial crisis and costly bailout: the savings and loan crisis of the late ’80s and early ’90s.

But voters deserve to know that the failed philosophy and culture of corruption that created the savings and loan crisis then are alive in the current crisis — and in John McCain’s plans for our economic future.

We just released a short documentary about John McCain’s role in that financial crisis — watch it now and share it with your friends:

http://my.barackobama.com/keatingvideo

Voters should know the facts about John McCain’s poor judgment — judgment that has twice placed him on the wrong side of history.

Please forward this email to everyone you know.

Thanks,

David

David Plouffe Campaign Manager Obama for America

By GayGrayGeek

October 7, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this

I find it amazing, amusing, and amazingly amusing that the right-wingers, paleocons and Republican’ts on this blog consider church-going to be such a Bad Thing.

By hillbilly ragger

October 7, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

To see how “BS Aplenty” lives up to its name @ 12.42 I give you — an actual link to the Trinity UCC website’s books for sale.

Try to find the one that’s got his panties in a twist. Good luck!

By Captain Freedom

October 7, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this

While THE Captain in His near-inerrancy considers the “writing” “style” of BS Aplenty would be an embarrasment to any rider of a grade school short bus, He applauds the bull slinger’s diligence in trying to alert America to the fact that Obamandingo is a boogety boogety blackity black scary negro person.

How deftly sneaky of Obamandingo and Oprahmandingo to actually CUT TIES with their Church. It is not only suspicious, but it also proves that they are cut-n’runners. Not like Our Gal Sarah, who maintains close ties with her fellow congregant snake handlers and faith healers.

Nothing sneaky there…Sarah Plain does not care if you know that she attends a church where black “preachers” are encouraged to put their hands all over Our White Women in an attempt to cast the witchery away and guarantee electoral triumph. And she has never tried to hide that fact that her First Dude is an Alaska First Patriot who supported secession from the USA. Why, she was so forthrightly upfront about this that she has appeared before this proto-terrorist cabal several times as governor. She doesn’t sneak around like Obama Hussein. (Notice THE Captain quit talking about Oprah. He is no fool, and has no wish to wake up with a horse’s head in his bed.)

Now some Islamatheistoliberals would suggest that quitting a church and renouncing a preacher is a sign of burgeoning reason and independent intelligence, but THE Captain says horse hockey mom to that claptrap and says HE does not trust any man or not-man person who is not willing to give his or not-his life over to a bundle of insupportable superstition and shy fairy woo. And neither does Sarah Plain, who said today, “those who believe that yes, it is man’s actions that sometimes give what the climate does from God’s hand with the airspace above Alaska and also our beautiful coastline, where Putin, whose names kind of rhymes with Satan didja ever notice that Katie Couric, also instead of filtered through the filter also which is a natural process. Thank you, Jacksonville, and also the State of Florida which God has blessed with a whole buncha those electoral vote thingies, godblessya.”

Perhaps Dusty can translate?

By Carbon F.

October 7, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Is Wooten suggesting that there are faceless nameless crooks who use government to enrich themselves? I’m mortified! Hell, if they weren’t crooks, they wouldn’t let them run for office. It’s only because of honor among thieves that nobody gets caught.

What is the mission in Afghanistan now?

Afghanistan demonstrates nearly as clearly as Iraq why a mission needs to be defined succinctly. The mission in Afghanistan was to capture or kill Bin Laden, destroy AL Queda, (starting to get vague here), and neutralize the Taliban, (starting to get very vague). Then we’d install a friendly government, (starting to get impossible here), and hopefully stick around long enough to ensure that the government we install can long endure, (starting to get stupid here).

What is the mission of US troops in Afghanistan?

Similarly,

What is the mission of the Bailout? To prevent the impossibly bleak scenario that “experts” badgered congress with?

It seems Republican Administrations do things for no good reason. Republicans. If I hear one more person say that it’s good the surge is working….or what? What does the surge’s success imply about the planning for future offensive campaigns in Iraq? What does it mean in terms of what stage of the war we’re in? What is the mission of US troops in Iraq?

It’s America’s 4 second attention span that allows the polls to be as close as they are.

Is there no consequence for foolhardiness?

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this

Ignorant SL*T Dusty: I never, ever volunteer fer anything, I act alone and with wanton disregard for all….so shove it up there with the rest of your brains…the exit only chute….

By Bo Chambliss LOBBYIST

October 7, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

This is a cut & paste from the insider where everyone is jumping on Saxby about a commercial that is to put it delicately not the truth.

By JAY

October 7, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

IF HE CAN FORCAST THE FUTURE BY SAYING A YES VOTE WOULD BEAT A DEPRESSION, THEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP FANNIE & MAC FROM THEIR MELT DOWN.CHAMBLISS HAS BECOME JUST ANOTHER CLOSET SOCIALIST.HE ALSO SAID HE VOTED YES TO SAVE WALL STREET, I HAD NO IDEA THAT WALL STREET PUT HIM IN OFFICE. HE & JOE [STAND UO CHUCK] BIDEN MUST HAVE THE SAME DNA——-

By getalife

October 7, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

McPalin rallies are turning into Hitler like, white powder, rallies.

When their kooks shout out terrorist, kill him, treason and McPalin say nothing,that is unAmerican and unpatriotic leadership.

They want to kill the next President of our country. The Secret Service should arrest these failed leaders for inciting violence on our next President.

Send them and their kooks to Gitmo. I told you they are dangerous and insane.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

The only chance Captain has of not being rejected as a dork is to luv a dead lady….but wait, she is turning over in her grave, screaming “NO, git that dork away from my dead body.” Rejected again, Dork Cap…..

By Johnny Maverick

October 7, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

McCain on the Keating Five smear job:

I created the appearance of impropriety so it was my — I was guilty, and therefore did not represent the people of my state in the manner which they expected of me. — CNN, Larry King, 10/12/02

Despite my recovery, the Keating Five experience was not one that I have walked away from as easily as I have other bad times. Twelve years after its conclusion, I still wince thinking about it and find that if I do not repress the memory, its recollection still provokes a vague but real feeling that I had lost something very important, something that was sacrificed in the pursuit of gratifying ambitions, my own and others’, and that I might never possess again as assuredly as I once had. — McCain, Worth the Fighting For Page 204

By tcoach

October 7, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

Devastator must not have been that big of a deal with the S&L thing. Obama had one of McCains codefendants from teh mess speaking at a rally for Obama yesterday. Guess Obama and friends don’t think its that big of a deal after all.

last check still no domestic terrorist in McCains Camp.

What about Obama? not so much

By Do the Math

October 7, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

Jim: How can you sell a bond on a cash transaction? You can’t.

The cash does not go to developers but to pay for infrastructure to improve the public and private land related to development.

The argument for schools goes, that without the new development, your tax take is static over the same period. May or may not be true but do you have an alternative plan?

By Churchill's Mom

October 7, 2008 1:17 PM | Link to this

Will President Bush set a new record?

Paul Steinhauser writes for CNN: “Only 24 percent of those polled approve of President Bush’s job performance, an all-time low for a CNN survey.” The poll also found that only 26 percent of Americans are confident in Bush’s ability to handle the financial crisis.

Gallup reports: “President Bush’s job approval rating is at 25% in the latest Oct. 3-5 Gallup Poll, the lowest of the Bush administration, and only three percentage points above the lowest presidential approval rating in Gallup Poll history… .

“The 25% approval rating is one point higher than Richard Nixon’s lowest job approval rating of 24% measured in the summer of 1974, and it is just three points higher than Harry Truman’s all-time Gallup low job approval rating of 22% measured in 1952. No other presidents have had job approval ratings of 27% or lower in Gallup Poll history.

“The current poll recording Bush’s low job approval rating was conducted after Congress passed the economic rescue bill on Oct. 3. Americans recognize the economy as the nation’s top problem, but apparently, the passage of this bill — which the Bush administration had heavily advocated — did nothing to affect Bush’s approval ratings. Indeed, only 55% of members of Bush’s own party approve of him in the poll, perhaps a reflection of some pushback from conservatives who do not strongly support the economic bill. Nineteen percent of independents and 5% of Democrats approve of the way Bush is handling his job as president.”

By Johnny Maverick

October 7, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

Despite my recovery, the Keating Five experience was not one that I have walked away from as easily as I have other bad times. Twelve years after its conclusion, I still wince thinking about it and find that if I do not repress the memory, its recollection still provokes a vague but real feeling that I had lost something very important, something that was sacrificed in the pursuit of gratifying ambitions, my own and others’, and that I might never possess again as assuredly as I once had. — McCain, Worth the Fighting For Page 204

By GaLiberal

October 7, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

Dusty: Get a life you huge Rethuglicon loving turd. It is your ignorance that you should be worried about. You and your ilk put Bush and his cronies in office - TWICE! Your and your Rethuglicon booklickers put Saxby Shameless in office. If that isn’t proof enough, you stupidly support John McBush to carry on the legacy of reckless and unnecessary wars, massive borrowing, tax cuts for the uberrich and big businesses, and tax increases for everyone else. McBush lies about not increasing taxes, but his “healthcare plan” includes taxes on your health insurance benefits.

Open your eyes and look at all the bullsh!t you and your ilk have been shoveling. You’re a joke and McBush will go down to defeat. I’ll remember in November.

When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And Dusty is living proof.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this

According to a CNN poll released just this morning, fully 60% of the American people are now worried that a full-fledged depression is more than just “possible” — it’s likely!

We know what happened in the last depression: The life savings of millions wiped out in the blink of an eye … most of the nation’s banks a smoking ruin … thousands of companies bankrupt … 25% unemployment rates … millions of formerly middle-class families suddenly bankrupt, struggling day to day just to survive.

Americans have every right to be worried. Just yesterday, Bank of America — one of this country’s “strongest” banks — revealed that its earnings plunged 68% in the third quarter.

Why? Because toxic loans in its portfolio are imploding. Because the bank is having to pay more than $8 billion to modify 400,000 troubled mortgages it bought in its acquisition of Countrywide. And because its customers defaulted on a staggering $1.24 billion in credit card debt in July, August and September alone!

The Fed’s announcement this morning that it will backstop the private short-term credit markets won’t even begin to solve the problem. Mr. Bernanke and his colleagues still suffer from the grandiose illusion that they can save the entire world. But nearly all experts outside of government agree that they’re obviously and patently wrong.

The only solution is to fire the Republican Crooks…and deny John (Keating 5 Crook) McCain your vote….

By See?

October 7, 2008 1:30 PM | Link to this

See? Getalife plays the Hitler card.

The fact that you dont understand Y that doesn’t help, Getalife, is Y you’re a total loser, and not welcome on the left at all.

Moron.

ANd Dusty, STFU! You’re not clever, or funny or anything but pathetic. You were blogging during the exchange of vows of your runts. That’s uber-pathetic and you need to stfu.

Now. You unrinsed, unholy, uncouth and unclean uncle pleaser…..ew.

double-moron.

By Ga Values

October 7, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

Nuts & Bolts from The Washington Post Afternoon edition

Dean Baker writes for Huffingtonpost.com: “According to the Washington Post, after the initial defeat of the bailout package in the House last Monday, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson went to see President Bush in the White House. The Post reports that President Bush asked Paulson about ‘Plan B.’ According to the Washington Post, Paulson told Bush ‘there is no Plan B.’

“Of course this was not true. Paulson could have easily designed a bailout plan that was centered on the direct infusion of capital in the banking system… Virtually every economist who has written on the bailout argued that a direct infusion of capital is a far more effective approach to dealing with the financial crisis than the approach outlined by Paulson… .

“This alternative approach almost certainly would have passed by an overwhelming majority in both houses of Congress since it could easily be structured in a way that ensured that the banks were not being rewarded for their incompetence at the taxpayers’ expense. This was a major factor behind the public’s outrage over the bailout.

“If the Post accurately described the meeting between Paulson and Bush (there is no source given for this account), then Secretary Paulson badly misled President Bush on the most important economic decision of his presidency.”

Tom Frank writes at TPM Cafe: “‘Government should be market-based,’ George W. Bush once said, and from this supremely bad idea has flowed everything from the lobbyist orgy of the last thirteen years to the outsourcing and privatizing of federal operations to the industry-friendly regulatory agencies that let the current financial crisis happen. The error, obviously, is that markets are not democracies; private businesses answer to those with the most shares—the most money—not to we the people.”

By Back to the TAD issue

October 7, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this

A bit more light on the Beltline TAD subject: It was pretty obvious to those opposed to the TAD at the outset for funding the Beltline that it was a bad idea, that no one with any real economic training was making decisions (just realtors who believed that housing prices would always rise - so the TAD is predicated upon a given high rise in property taxes, oops), that Atlanta Public Schools was giving up something like $260M long-term for $80M up front, and that better funding mechanisms were available. The only way they could make the numbers work was to include the huge City Hall East and Lindberg Station developements - both well into the planning stages before the Beltline was ever anyone’s wet dream. When the Atlanta Board of Education voted to pass the TAD, there was one member who directly benefited from it (who recused but still lobbied for it) and another who somehow got strong-armed into it. Shortly after it passed, Supt. Beverly Hall spoke at a Morningside Elem. overcrowding meeting to the parents and stated in NO uncertain terms that the Beltline TAD was BAD for APS. Within a couple of months, APS increased the millage rate - effectively raising everyone’s taxes in the City. The reason was not stated, but was pretty dang clear - they lost a staggering amount of future revenue because of the TAD, and looked to start compensating. Never mind that alot of the land this TAD is being used for is NOT blighted in the least!, nor that now the City’s TAD allotment of 10% of the tax digest has been hit, and how much of it tied up in Ansley Park and Buckhead -?! and so not available for the TRUE wastelands south of I-20 ?? Don’t blame Supt. Hall for this one - it was the business men who got themselves onto the Atlanta Board of Education who brought this mess down upon the rest of us tax payers.

Oh - and what moron really believes there is going to be a train on those tracks!!! They can’t even get the Lovejoy train on track, with more ridership, more need, more government buy-in, etc etc etc. The Beltline goes around in a circle on land the DO NOT OWN, over terraine with SEVERE engineering obstacles, and no financial wearwithall - after this first bond issuance of $100M, only $25M will be left for doing EVERYTHING - park land purchases and development, planning, etc. As the tax base shrinks, how are they going to pay for all those gravy-train jobs at Atlanta Beltline Inc.?

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 7, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

Dear Checking @ 12:03, if I read your post right you say there is no difference between bombing the pentagon and advocating for secession? Leftists advocate for mad bombers, conservatives advocate for freedom. Comtemplate on the difference between you and me, there.

Spamalert @ 12:05 and 12:16 and 12:47 and 12:50. Devastator, do you have to be told what to think on every issue? As to your 12:25, how do you explain Zogby’s 2.4 point difference today? Zogby has the best record for accuracy of all pollsters. As to your brainless 12:40, my note to GGG below addresses whatever argument you seem to be endeavoring to ‘splain.

Dear GGG @ 12:21, I realize you think the four democrats and McCain were equally under the thrall of the crooked Charles Keating, but Glenn and McCain were truly innocents who did nothing but ask to meet with the Thrift Regulator, to learn the nature of the problem. If you are looking for a crook, check into Alan Cranston. As to the moral equivalence of McCain investigating regulatory actions against a constituent one time, and Obama’s extensive and repeated dealings with a known Weatherman, I note that Keating was never associated with an organization that bombed the Pentagon.

Dear Palin Pal @ 12:45, I think it fair to acknowledge that I hold complete contempt for all Federal institutions, other than our noble military. People like you fail to understand that the government can perform only three functions competently:

(1) The government is an efficient machine to kill people. Our American military is the finest institution in the world for that purpose.

(2) The government is an efficient machine to deprive people of freedom. The unlimited budgets, and never-ending legislation, of the Federal government make it possible to ensure every citizen is guilty and something and can be deprived of freedom.

(3) The government is an efficient machine to steal wealth. IRS. As our friend PoFo would say, ‘muff said.

Why you are an apologist for such an entity is beyond me. America is a wonderful place, but only despite its government, not because of its government.

Dear getalife @ 1:03, put your tin hat back on, it will be ok.

Dear do the math @ 1:06, follow the money trail. Who ultimately gets the money from the bond? Hint, it does not stay with the government entity.

I missed Tom Sowell’s argument on the collapse of the mortgage lending market. My assessment is that he forgot the role of the Federal Reserve in generation of the problem, but otherwise he sounds like me.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 7, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

Dear crooks @ 1:27, I disagree. I think it would make more sense to fire the people who caused the panic, primarily Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, and to a lesser extent the biggest recipients of FNMA lobbying money, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Dear Ga Values @ 1:36, great article. Of course, Henry Paulson is a democrat. I don’t think he would maliciously sabotage GWB - I don’t think Paulson is a man of bad character - but I think Paulson truly believes that leftist stuff he pushed. GWB lacks sufficient conservative understanding to know better.

By ButtHead

October 7, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this

I can’t believe that some people are so stupid that they think that we are in this trouble because the republicans are crooks. If you had any brains you would know that they all are crooks and the dimacrats have been in charge of the banking regulations for some time now. What about Barney Frank, dimacrat, in charge of fanny and Freddy oversight. Oh that’s right his boyfriend was in charge of making the regulations of who got what loans, now the republican’s turned a blind eye to what was going on but the dimacrats made sure they got their $$$. They are all crooks and we should vote out all incumbents….

By Jim is a caveman

October 7, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

Dagwood, there you go again. Gosh darn it, you keep saying that Henry Paulson is a democrat. But the facts belie your glibness. Paulson worked in the Nixon White House in ‘72-73, and between 1998 and 2006, before being appointed to Treasury, he made personal donations of $336,000 to mostly Republican candidates. This information can be found at www.newsmeat.com/ceopoliticaldonations/Henry_Paulson.php. He even made a donation to McCain in 1998. He made several donations to the Republican National Committee. So stop misleading people about the secy of treasury, Dagmar.

By Bemused Humanist

October 7, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

I suppose the larger issue is whether or not we are witnessing the end of the GOP.

We are only days from video of greasy, atavistic slack-jaws screaming the n-word when Palin mentions Obama’s name. Of course, these manifestations of GOP class and intellect will be instantly disseminated around the nation and the world, further degrading the corroded brand “ Republican Party.”

The good news is that as McCain and Palin finish off the worse Presidential campaign in history (and Obama/Biden finish the best), the stupid racism of a platform that essentially is “elect me because of William Ayers and Rev Wright” will translate into huge Democratic gains in the House and Senate. And the national joke that is Sarah Palin will become the frontrunner for the GOP nod in 2012 (unless Jesus shows up first, that is).

I wonder if The Old Angry Stupid White Male will be stuffed and displayed in Museum of Natural History in a few years.

God knows, their time has come and gone.

.

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 3:26 PM | Link to this

Why is everyone so upset over an Obama presidency and full fledged Dem congress? That’s just what this nation needs: a serious wake up call. We need to see the side of our fellow Americans who stifle success, punish hard work, and reward sloth and envy. We need to see the side of our fellow Americans who see no threats abroad whatsoever. We need to see how our fellow Americans support unions who will tell companies how much they should pay in wages and benefits irrespective of what the market pays without government interference - and then question why said companies can’t make money or lose MASSIVE investors like Chrysler did with Daimler.

We should see how our kids are taken away from the freedoms of private schools and home schooling and turned into a bunch of goose stepping gov-educated liberal pundits. We should see how our fellow Americans who worship a religion of global warming - but give them credit - at least they have faith in SOMETHING - will control our diet, be it meat or vegetarian because of the farce of man made global warming. We should see how our fellow Americans support our tax dollars going overseas to help the poor and hungry caused by man’s global warming all in the name of evening the evils of inequality - hard work and tenacity be damned by liberalism.

We should see how our fellow Americans treat the threat of radical Islam around the globe when only complaining that GWB never caught Bin Laden, irrespective of the fact that the Clinton administration turned a blind eye. We shall see how a nation deals with racism when a right-wing African American was persecuted for being just that by being called an Uncle Tom. We shall see how this nation will treat detractors and naysayers of Obama who used to have the freedom of speaking out against the government irrespective of what political party was in charge of it.

Finally, we shall see how much the world really gives a damn about the US whether a Dem or Repub is in the White House. Stupid left wing liberal Dem sheep of America: UNITE! You’ll get what you deserve. Eventually, the pendulum will swing the other way. It always does.

By Because Of Obama

October 7, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

Because of Obama, I will not work harder in my life to strive for the success in America that our Founding Fathers laid the foundation for and set up for us. Because of Obama, I will sit on my a$$ and look to the government for answers. Because of Obama, I hate those that drive Mercedes and use private jets - unless they are Democrats of course - then it’s okay.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this

I am tired of being insulted by repukes, robbed by repukes, and talked down to repukes: therefore I propose we EXTERMINATE ALL REPUKES, EVERYWHERE. ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY KICKING THE SHIITE OUT OF A SINKIN REPUKE TODAY…

By Ga Values

October 7, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this

Ragnar Danneskjöld

Please post a link the shows Paulson to be a Democrat, I have done a search but can’t find anything about his political affiliation. He worked in the Nixon Administration so I’d bet he is a Republican.

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this

Bemused unhuman @3:08:

Just so you know, only you pathetic liberals are the ones bringing up race during this election. And the FACT that one of your own, Geraldine Ferraro, said that “Barack would not be where he was if he were white” WITHOUT A PEEP from you pathetic left wing hypocrites, says it all.

In short, ANY comments from you pathetic hypocrites on the disgusting left about race during this election has been flushed down the toilet; where your idiotic ideology of liberalism driven by emotions belongs.

By Bemused Humanist

October 7, 2008 3:43 PM | Link to this

Have you seen the current online AJC headlines?

Paraphrased: “Karen Handel will do anything and everything she can to take away your right to vote.

Folks, if she tries this slimey brown-shirted repression on Nov. 4th, it is your right and your duty to resist. By any means necessary.

How many troops types are you planning on mobilizing to prevent Geogians from voting, Ms Handel?

Do you really think that will be enough?

By Demwhinewell

October 7, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this

Maggot @ 3:33: we need more talk like that on this blog. Good stuff! POS.

By Booncockle;s Conversion

October 7, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this

“Americans who stifle success, punish hard work, and reward sloth and envy.”

Really? So you appreciate that the capital gains tax should be utilized to pay the $TRILLIONS we owe instead of futher burdening Joe Sixpack who lives from paycheck to paycheck then. Debt is bad, after all, and America has racked up a doozy!

And that the CEOs whose “hard work” occurs on golf course, catered meeting rooms, and spa vacations, should indeed pull their fair share when it comes to paying the $TRILLIONS we, the Americans who made their posh lifestyles possible, already owe, (for the war and bailouts they supported), let alone what we’ll spend next year?

And that SITTING ON YOUR BACKSIDE earning interest on money your daddy made, or money you WON in a game of “bet I can fool you into thinking this house is worth $5 mil you stupid ninny” is not the same thing and the hump busting that Joe Sixpack and his white-collar, no-chance-for-advancement, cubicle-bound wife do year after year just to buy less on the same money. Right?

You understand that a tax on inheritance ENCOURAGES the children of the wealthy to actually complete their educations at the fancy schools Daddy can afford, and go on to be pioneers in science, medicine, technology, and so forth, instead of sucking on expensive champaigne, snorting coke, and wrecking their Italian-made sports cars while wearing and consuming absolutely NOTHING that was actually made in America. Right? It’s a good source of revenue, especially considering the kids’ coke dealers don’t pay income taxes.

And you especially want the privileged, lucky few to pay their share while the children of the working people join the military on the promise of an education only to come home and be told the government can’t AFFORD to fully fund their educations, or rescue their families from financial failure incurred when the medical bills from daddy’s altercation with an IED are just too expensive…. Especially since the privileged few own well-performing stocks in the companies that pay their contractors 10 times what the soldiers make and all those salaries come out of the American taxpayers’ national Treasury via the pipeline to Iraq. Right?

By golly, Booncrockie, you just might be a Democrat yet!

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

Bemused unhuman @3:43:

That should be fun to watch. A bunch of extremist liberal Bill Ayers types in Gestapo/Che duds “watching over” the polls where there is always police presence - at least around metro Atlanta. Oh I can’t wait! Time to upgrade my camcorder to HD!

By See?

October 7, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this

I just wanted to add that, well, I’ve thought about it over a couple of beers and a bong hat, and well, you know I’d just like to note that there’s alot a cats out there, man, and these cats think that Obama is, well, he’s the guy that can, you know, what I’m trying to say is that there’s all these cats, man, and the cats are thinking that maybe Obama is the one that…let me start over…There’s alot of cats, man, and these cats are indicating that…no, that’s wrong too, I dont know why I’m having so much trouble saying this, honestly, Look, there’s cats everywhere, man. Cats here, cats there, and cats all around, man. You dont know what it’s like with all these cats, man!

CATS!

By Palin Pal

October 7, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this

“I’m an Alaskan, not an American. I’ve got no use for America or her d-mned institutions. The fires of Hell are glaciers compared to my hate for the American government.”

—The preceeding message will be reposted automatically every time a Republican hand job repeats the word Ayers, Rezko, or some other nonsense in an attempt to divert your attention from the very real issues facing Americans today.—

By Bemused Humanist

October 7, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

Mr booncrocks, Geraldine Ferraro speaks for no one other than herself.

The facts are that Obama is smarter, better suited tempermentally and idealogically, and better attunded to middle class values than McCain, and especially Palin.

But thanks for your eloquent comments.

Tell me, what slurs are you going to scream out at the next Palin rally?

(Just curious … )

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this

Poser:

And that the CEOs whose “hard work” occurs on golf course, catered meeting rooms, and spa vacations

If you don’t have a vested interest in said company, it’s really none of your concern what the boards choose to pay the CEO.

And that SITTING ON YOUR BACKSIDE earning interest on money your daddy made

Not your money, facist. Period. End of story. Communist.

You understand that a tax on inheritance ENCOURAGES the children of the wealthy to actually complete their educations at the fancy schools Daddy can afford

Careful liberal Dem pinko; your skirt is showing… as well as your class envy.

Especially since the privileged few own well-performing stocks in the companies that pay their contractors 10 times what the soldiers make and all those salaries come out of the American taxpayers’ national Treasury via the pipeline to Iraq.

Again, not your money, fascist. Communist liberal. Just how much oil have we stolen from Iraq anyway? That’s the root of it, isn’t it you moronic hyper liberal socialist Dem?

By Gator Joe

October 7, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this

Palin’s mindless attacks on Obama’s character should expose her to more scrutiny of her questionable character. But alas, the gutless media and some of my felow Dems are afraid of attacking this vulnerable character for the fraud she is. And by the way, does anybody else find her shrill, “nails on the blackboard” voice as annoying as I do?

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

Mr booncrocks, Geraldine Ferraro speaks for no one other than herself.

Bemused: if you “brilliant” liberal Dems would have the same level headed fairness and intelligence to say the same about the likes of Bill O’Reilly - or Rush for that matter - when categorizing those of us on the Right, I’d give you a cookie. Unfortunately, when dealing with you people who hyperemotion yourselves into a tizzy on those that disagree with your socialist left wing policies, that horse just won’t get out of the gate. Nice try though; maybe you should start a traveling circus.

By See?

October 7, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

Palette Cleanse.

By See?

October 7, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

Palette Cleanse.

By See?

October 7, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

Palette Cleanse.

By See?

October 7, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

Palette Cleanse.

By Boonsuckle's Conversion

October 7, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

If you don’t have a vested interest in said company, it’s really none of your concern what the boards choose to pay the CEO.

Actually, as an American, it IS my business when my tax money has to “bail out” the company because the CEO gambled with everyone else’s money and lost while making sure he had plenty of his own. Ditto when that company increases their bottom line by cutting thousands of jobs in MY community and shipping them overseas, affecting the local tax base and property values.

Not your money, facist. Period. End of story. Communist.

Pick a false pejorative term ninny. While neither applies, they do contradict each other. Graduate with Palin did you?

Just how much oil have we stolen from Iraq anyway?

I wouldn’t know, as the wells in Iraq were entirely un-metered for years, and now only a fraction of them report the actual output, (guarded by people whose salaries my tax money pays) and the American people are completely in the dark as to where that oil goes, who sells it, and who pockets the cash. I’m absolutely certain, however, it did not wind up in a refinery near ME, lowering MY cost of fuel, or making MY life better in any way whatsoever. (Ask the hardworking Exxon execs about their $6 Bil in record profits last year; maybe they can answer the question.)

BTW, since MY tax money, in the form of cash borrowed from China with interest, is still going to Iraq, I think I’m entitled to know why private contractors are making 10 times what the soldiers make, and what exactly they’re doing over there while our infrastructure crumbles beneath us.

By Captain Freedom

October 7, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

A Captain Kudo to bootiecrack for his lusty takedown of the Islamoeffeminazi pinko who whines about fatcats getting rich, when it is the American Dream in action and God’s Supreme Will made flesh. (The financial New Jesus, if you will.)

Sure, some sob sisters will point to the way Lehman execs voted themselves huge bonuses while driving their company over a cliff, but that’s because these lib pu55ies don’t work hard like these deserving hobnobs. Most libs do candya55 5hit like roofing and laying asphalt and other such like leisure pursuits. Helming a Fortune 500 company is hard work, and the stress of driving it to destruction is hard on a man. They earned every penny.

So too with the grandees of AIG. Whiny libs will point to their half-million dollar retreat hard on the heels of the guv bailout of their robust concern. These men worked long, hard hours to convince the feds to funnel all that money their way, and it is well within their rights to spend it on a long-deserved spa vacation to help them recharge their depleted batteries. You don’t expect some school teacher or factory worker to have the expertise to run the nation’s economy to rack and ruin, do you? Of course not…that is work for highly trained professionals.

Finally, Mr B Crack nails it when he slaps the commie down with this: “Just how much oil have we stolen from Iraq anyway? That’s the root of it, isn’t it you moronic hyper liberal socialist Dem?”

Clearly, we have not stolen enough oil from those camel jockeys. That’s why the Iraq govt. is sitting on an $80 bil surplus while we are spending $10 bil a month on our military assistance program there. Well played sir!!

By Bemused Humanist

October 7, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this

Mr booncrocks:

“fascist Communist liberal”? Wow, intellectually you are right up there with the folks who think Ayn Rand wrote quality fiction!

Are the people going to pee in Karen Handel’s face by voting on Nov 4th.

To quote your intellectual God:

“You betcha (nod,wink).

By Vince

October 7, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

I can think of no better example of why TAD funds SHOULD NOT BE LEGAL than Atlantic Station. Atlantic Station has been making improvements to their property and then using TAD funds to reimburse themselves. Why is a private developer allowed to use public funds to increase the value of his property? VOTE NO!!!!!!!! Unless the current financial mess hasn’t taught you anything…

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

What is wrong with the liberal Dems in congress like Reid? No wonder he, Pelosi, and even Barack’s wife Michelle are being virtually shut out of the public eye for the next four weeks. Open thy mouth, insert thy liberal stupidity. Yeah Mr. Reid, this really helped out our economy:

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Several big life insurance stocks fell sharply Thursday, dragged down by jitters about their role in the credit crisis and fears sparked by a comment from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Wednesday about a potential bankruptcy in the industry.

“We don’t have a lot of leeway on time. One of the individuals in the caucus today talked about a major insurance company. A major insurance company — one with a name that everyone knows that’s on the verge of going bankrupt. That’s what this is all about,” Reid said prior to the Senate’s approval of the $700 billion bailout bill.

Steven Schwartz, an analyst who covers insurance companies for Raymond James & Associates, said that even before Reid made his bankruptcy comment, investors were growing worried about life insurers’ exposure to real estate as well as “secondary exposure” via investments in troubled finance firms like Lehman Bros, Wachovia and Washington Mutual.

But the comment from Reid clearly caused even more fear. “Harry Reid didn’t help any,” Schwartz said.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

Stock market is crashing….lets make it worse for woodenhead…cancel all subscriptions to the ajcurinal….NOW

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this

“fascist Communist liberal”? Wow, intellectually you are right up there with the folks who think Ayn Rand wrote quality fiction!

I know, the truth can hurt some times. It’s not like we’ve never seen a comment from you left wing fascists TELLING us to “get over our bigotry and vote Obama:” or anything.

I call it like I see it. If you don’t agree, that’s your problem, socialist liberal (another of my favorites).

And to CF: go smoke another joint, lib.

By Bemused Humanist

October 7, 2008 4:26 PM | Link to this

A Sarah-esque shout-out to Redneck Convert and THE Captain.

You fellows rock.

Our time is coming … no, it’s already here.

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

Stock market is crashing….lets make it worse for woodenhead…cancel all subscriptions to the ajcurinal….NOW

Oh, you socialist Dem libs have NO idea what is coming when Americans start pulling their hard earned money out of a socialist Obama/Pelosi economy. No idea whatsoever. Oh but you will sweet cheeks, you definitely will.

By Concerned Citizen

October 7, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

It should be obvious. Use our school tax dollars for schools. Don’t use our school tax dollars for real estate development. Georgia’s schools are just about the worst in the entire nation. When our schools improve (maybe they can get to average?), if school systems find that they have “excess” dollars, then return the money to the taxpayers. But don’t tax us for one purpose and use the money for something else!

By Bemused Humanist

October 7, 2008 4:41 PM | Link to this

Mr booncrocks:

I certainly don’t want you voting for Obama. Given the vulgar and dull-witted nature of your comments, you would merely sully what will be a great American victory.

But keep on supporting McCain and Palin with your extraordinary analysis of the islamosocialisticNegroCommuinistleftwingwealthdistribuingOSAMAterroist (props to THE Captain) attacks on your fellow citizens. You merely add to the size of our final margin.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this

FIRE Karenthekunt Handlesdogpoop, she is a liar, a thief, and a coward…FIRE THE BBITCH NOW….

By See?

October 7, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this

Okay, time to talk about the biggest idiot on Television: Jim Cramer. this jacka** couldn’t predict a sunrise. He’s all booyah about stocks and has a million call in trolls who worship everything he says and yet he didn’t see this coming, nor the 2000 crash either, yet this clown has a career rec’ing stocks?

He’s knows less than I do. And he’s still saying crud like, “Dont fight the fed, dont catch a falling knife, have a diversified long term view, but I like Cisco here.”

I hate that guy.

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this

I certainly don’t want you voting for Obama

Let me assure you that you don’t have to worry about that, Beboweled Human. I was merely making a point your ilk on the left is making about those who are not going to vote for Obama. It’s out there already.

Given the vulgar and dull-witted nature of your comments,

Yep, and you pathetic liberals have had nothing but love for McCain and Palin, haven’t you cretins on the left?

you would merely sully what will be a great American victory.

I think it will/would be a great failure set up for the future of America, but whatever. I’m only one person.

But keep on supporting McCain and Palin with your extraordinary analysis of the….You merely add to the size of our final margin.

I will, thanks. One minute you liberal sheeple say that whatever is posted on Wooten’s blog is worthless, and the next minute you idiots say that people like me are actually helping the socialist liberal Dem party. Yeah okay, whatever. At least be consistent with your mindless left wing Dem drivel, will you liberals please?

By See?

October 7, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

Yeah, fire karen the k…..I no say that. You Klazy! Me chinese boy who can no say bad thing. you Klazy american foor.

Chinese superior to Amelicans! We no say bad things, like you!

no say bad things!

By getalife

October 7, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

How can you tell the difference between a McCain rally and a K.K.K. rally?

You can’t.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 7, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

See? fetch mah rickshaw, git me some coolies, ah feels like a night on the town….git me some of those kootchiemomma’s too…fetch boy, fetch…ah’m a goin’ ta the opium den fer some fun, two kootchiemomma’s fer every boy…

By BS Aplenty

October 7, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

By hillbilly ragger October 7, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this To see how “BS Aplenty” lives up to its name @ 12.42 I give you — an actual link to the Trinity UCC website’s books for sale.

Ah, feel the power of a political, er, religious death-bed conversion. Hallelujah, and praise the Lawd. Our racist friends at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ have renounced the evilness of their long held Cone-head beliefs. And we are now utterly convinced that they now see the white, er, light just as the Obamamessiah is on the presidential homestretch. Sweet Jasus and verily so.

Yes, verily, I say, three weeks ago the good churched people at Trinity United Church of Christ were preaching the racist gospel of James H. Cone. Singing spirited hymns like “Whitey is the Anti-Christ and I’m Not Lettin’ Him In” and “Jesus Loves the Little Black Children more than Yours”. Singing the gospel of James Cone one day - and the next we’re back right with Jasus. Turning water to wine, healing the blind and TUCC throwing James Cone under the bus.

It’s a miracle only the Ku Klux Klan could love.

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

How can you tell the difference between a McCain rally and a K.K.K. rally?

Only one former Klansmember is a member of Congress. Guess which political party he represents? CLUE: it’s not the party of Lincoln.

By Troll alert

October 7, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this

See? is po fo in drag with lipstick and a training bra.

By AmVet

October 7, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this

Has anyone heard again from that moron Peter that was bragging the other day about buying up all of these “great values” after the market dropped a zillion points?

Guess what Petey Buffett? It’s down another zillion today.

You can thank your plutocrats and their puppets in Washington.

Things are going to get a lot worse int his country before someone in a position of leadership with some integrity can make it better again.

By Bemused Humanist

October 7, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this

Mr booncrocks:

Odds are, you might be able to channel your Old Ugly White Male anger into something constructive. Have you read the novels of Thomas Pynchon? Join a book club!

Seriously, fellow, I undertand this is Jim Wooten’s blog, where intelligence is the exception, not the rule … but you are embarrassing yourself and your cause.

And you are embarrassing your family.

Learn to embrace the defeats you deserve. Your side just produced the worst President in American history, along with an abject traitor to the oath he took to the Constitution, his VP.

To paraphrase the NTY on the Lincoln assaisan’s hangings:

“We want to hear their names no more.”

Including your candidates.

By Churchill's Mom

October 7, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this

McCain??

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14364.html

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 5:19 PM | Link to this

What’s the difference between a Hair Plug and an Air Plug?

One is worn on Biden’s head and the other was used for a political statement by Biden in falsifying why a helicopter with him aboard was “forced down.” Straight out of Hillary “under fire” Clinton.

Fact check: Biden spins a helicopter tale

WASHINGTON (AP) - When Joe Biden tells voters he understands the threat posed by Afghan extremists, he dramatically illustrates one reason why: His helicopter was “forced down” on “the superhighway of terror.” Actually, snow, not the enemy, persuaded the helicopter pilot to land and wait out a storm.

The Democratic vice presidential candidate has repeatedly left that part out, in an episode that Republicans hope will become an echo of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s errant tale during the primaries of landing in Bosnia under sniper fire.

Biden has made a number of questionable statements recently that, viewed in isolation, might not amount to much. But this is a man whose first presidential campaign collapsed 20 years ago after he told a story about coal miners in his family that he lifted without credit from a British politician.

In a recent speech in Virginia coal country, Biden seemed to embellish his background once again. He declared, “I am a hard coal miner,” which he’s not and never has been. His spokesman, David Wade, said Biden was joking.

Ever notice how when a liberal gets caught in a flat out lie it’s “only a joke?” Hahaha. Get it?! Aren’t all these stories by Biden so DAMNED funny?

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 5:24 PM | Link to this

Question: how much background has our beloved NON-BIASED (sarcasm) media done to check into Obama’s background, unlike, say on Palin’s family, or McCain, or Bush during 2000?

One wonders what any of it has to do with World Net Daily’s Jerome Corsi being held against his will in Kenya who was investigating Obama ties there. Gee, you missed that?

NAIROBI, Kenya – The government of Kenya is holding WND senior staff reporter Jerome Corsi incommunicado at the airport until he departs the country after police shut down a scheduled news conference in which he planned to announce the findings of his investigation into Barack Obama’s connections in the country.

Corsi, the author of the No. 1 best-selling book “The Obama Nation,” was picked up by authorities at his hotel at 9:45 a.m. and detained at Nyayo House, the provincial headquarters for Nairobi.

By See?

October 7, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this

There is a danger here because bush had to convince the american people that without a bailout, a economic catastrophe was looming.

Well, American’s believed him.

That’s the problem. Economic cycles are to a large extent self fulfilled intuitive manifestations of expected outcomes.

We may have been hypnotized into a recession that will be as deep as our belief in the warnings Bush gave us.

In other words. We believed the boy who cried wolf. (for the last time?). And we all came running expecting a wolf.

What if we create the wolf by thinking the strange dog is the wolf? See? We are in a dangerous situation where everything has to go perfect from here on out.

WHat R the odds?

Just thought I’d bring all you uber-pudwits up to date on where the think tanks are today……

Booyah!

Troll alert is a moron, and a finger sniffer. He’s tugging double duty today because his sister is home.

bwa

By Churchill

October 7, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this

Look at what Saxby Special Interest Chambliss(Solialist/RINO, Ga/Lobbyist) is for.

Less than a week after the federal government offered an $85 billion bailout to insurance giant AIG, the company held a week-long retreat for its executives at the luxury St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach, Calif., running up a tab of $440,000, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said today at the the opening of a House committee hearing about the near-failure of the insurance giant.

Showing a photograph of the resort, Waxman said the executives spent $200,000 for rooms, $150,000 for meals and $23,000 for the spa.

“Less than a week after the taxpayers rescued AIG, company executives could be found wining and dining at one of the most exclusive resorts in the nation,” Waxman said. “We will ask whether any of this makes sense. “

The committee will ask the company’s executives about their multimillion-dollar pay packages — some of which they continue to receive — as well as who bears responsibility for the company’s high-risk investment portfolio, which led to its near collapse just weeks ago.

By Churchill

October 7, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this

Look at what Saxby Special Interest Chambliss(Solialist/RINO, Ga/Lobbyist) is for.

Less than a week after the federal government offered an $85 billion bailout to insurance giant AIG, the company held a week-long retreat for its executives at the luxury St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach, Calif., running up a tab of $440,000, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said today at the the opening of a House committee hearing about the near-failure of the insurance giant.

Showing a photograph of the resort, Waxman said the executives spent $200,000 for rooms, $150,000 for meals and $23,000 for the spa.

“Less than a week after the taxpayers rescued AIG, company executives could be found wining and dining at one of the most exclusive resorts in the nation,” Waxman said. “We will ask whether any of this makes sense. “

The committee will ask the company’s executives about their multimillion-dollar pay packages — some of which they continue to receive — as well as who bears responsibility for the company’s high-risk investment portfolio, which led to its near collapse just weeks ago.

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this

Odds are, you might be able to channel your Old Ugly White Male anger into something constructive.

Ms. Inhumane Liberal: Yeah tell me something I don’t know, fascist. MY opinions equate anger to you emotions on the liberal left.

Learn to embrace the defeats you deserve. Your side just produced the worst President in American history,

Bullsqueeze. When we see 21% interest rates, 9% unemployment, and 12% inflation like we did during Carter’s years in the next three months, you’ll have a point. Otherwise, shadaaaaap.

Including your candidates.

Well you will continue to hear them, fascist. And besides, if you really want to go down that route, you jerks on the Ayers left can always take up arms against “us” and be the new separatists. Won’t hurt my feelings any.

By Troll alert

October 7, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this

You can always tell when PO Fo is posting, his drivel is filled will idiot this and moron that. See? You’re not foolong anyone po fo.

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 5:36 PM | Link to this

Aren’t things like this what the Democrats raked the Republicans over the coals for and said they’d bring “integrity” to Washington for again?

You liberals on the Dem left are such hypocrites.

Jennifer Haberkorn (Contact) Wednesday, October 1, 2008

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has directed nearly $100,000 from her political action committee to her husband’s real estate and investment firm over the past decade, a practice of paying a spouse with political donations that she supported banning last year.

Financial Leasing Services Inc. (FLS), owned by Paul F. Pelosi, has received $99,000 in rent, utilities and accounting fees from the speaker’s “PAC to the Future” over the PAC’s nine-year history.

*The payments have quadrupled since Mr. Pelosi took over as treasurer of his wife’s committee in 2007, Federal Election Commission records show. FLS is on track to take in $48,000 in payments this year alone - eight times as much as it received annually from 2000 to 2005, when the committee was run by another treasurer. *

By Jim Jr.

October 7, 2008 5:38 PM | Link to this

Things to look forward to 1st – Democratic President 2nd - Democratic Senate 3rd - Democratic House 4th - Republican Bush tried for war crimes! 5th -Repbulican Bush convicted of war crimes!!! 6th - ummmmm

By AmVet

October 7, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this

Instead of shipping hundreds of thousands of American worker’s job overseas, simply to save a buck, we should listen to Mr. Nader.

He recommends American corporations advertise for CEO jobs in China and India. They could easily attract VERY qualified candidates who would work for MANY times less and probably still do a better job.

In 1965, U.S. CEOs at major companies made 24 times a worker’s pay-by 2004, CEOs earned 431 times the pay of an average worker.

From 1995 to 2005, average CEO pay increased five times faster than that of average workers.

While CEO pay continues to increase at rates far exceeding inflation, wages for the vast majority of American workers have failed to keep up with rising prices.

In fact, real wages for the 90% of Americans who earn under $92,000 a year have actually fallen since 2001.

Way to go Republitools, and not one of you is a CEO!

By Bemused Humanist

October 7, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this

Mr booncrocks:

Carter never lied us into a war that has taken tens of thousands of lives, like Bush/Cheney.

Seriously, start off slow in that book club. Read somebody light, like Harold Robbins. Or maybe Ayn Rand.

By Captain Freedom

October 7, 2008 5:45 PM | Link to this

Yet another Captain Kudo to bootycrack for his important observation about the arrest of Jerome Corsi in Kenya. The arrest of this man is not to be taken lightly, for it means that other equally deranged, cranky and likely alcoholic Real Americans like THE Captain and Mr B Crack are no longer safe to travel the globe. Not that we would ever think to go someplace else, but the idea that losing one’s grip on decency and reality and demonstrating that loss through the publication of books…well, let’s just say that you needn’t wait around for THE Captain’s Compendium of Trenchant Observation and Random Disdain for Colored and Other People Unworthy to Be President. No sirree.

And make no mistake. We of True Belief know that Our Nation is headed to hell in a handbasket if the America Haters elect Obamandingo. And what’s more, we ferevently hope and pray that everything goes badly, so you’ll all be sorry and we can sit in the dark behind our window blinds fondling our guns while we ready our firearms for battle with the Islamunegroidal hordes and their latte liberal loonie lingerers.

THE Captain would offer Mr Crack travel expenses if he wishes to go help the Godly Mr Corsi out of his jam. THE Captain will even throw in a ticket for Dusty.

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this

“Embarrassing my family”

LOL. Funniest line I’ve ever read. That would be true if I vote Obama next month, that’s for damned sure.

Bill Ayers and Obama is one thing:

A little-known relationship in Sen. Barack Obama’s past — one that had been buzzing in mostly conservative circles for months — took a very public turn Wednesday night during a Democratic debate in Philadelphia.

It relates to Obama’s relationship with William C. Ayers, a onetime member of the Weather Underground, a leftist fringe of the 1960s antiwar movement. Known as the Weathermen, the group was responsible for bombings of the New York City police headquarters in 1970, of the Capitol building in 1971 and of the Pentagon in 1972.

During the debate, moderator George Stephanopoulos asked Obama about his relationship with Ayers, as part of a discussion about Obama’s patriotism.

“An early organizing meeting for your state Senate campaign was held at his house and your campaign has said you are ‘friendly,’ ” Stephanopoulos said.

Stephanopoulos quoted a New York Times story, published Sept. 11, 2001, in which Ayers was quoted as saying: “I don’t regret setting bombs. I feel we didn’t do enough.”

But McCain and the Keating Five PRIOR to knowing about their failing of America is another.

Funny how no lib has mentioned Senator John Glenn’s name (Democrat - Ohio) who was actually involved like McCain. But, both men made amends and renounced things. Not like Obama the Messiah though, oh not Him - he can do NO wrong:

McCain received $112,000 in political contributions from Keating and Glenn received $78,250. But unlike Obama, John McCain and John Glenn have both been open and honest about this issue since being completely exonerated.”

Lindsay contrasted McCain and Glenn’s openness with Keating to Obama’s relationship with William Ayres and Tony Rezko, connections which the McCain campaign has been pushing this week as well.

“By contrast, Obama continues to lie to the American people about his relationship with an unrepentant terrorist and his friendship with a convicted felon who helped purchase his home,” he said.

The Obama campaign has not commented, but PolitickerOH.com will report a rebuttal if one is made.

By AmVet

October 7, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this

Instead of shipping hundreds of thousands of American worker’s job overseas, simply to save a buck, we should listen to Mr. Nader.

He recommends American corporations advertise for CEO jobs in China and India. They could easily attract VERY qualified candidates who would work for MANY times less and probably still do a better job.

In 1965, U.S. CEOs at major companies made 24 times a worker’s pay-by 2004, CEOs earned 431 times the pay of an average worker.

From 1995 to 2005, average CEO pay increased five times faster than that of average workers.

While CEO pay continues to increase at rates far exceeding inflation, wages for the vast majority of American workers have failed to keep up with rising prices.

In fact, real wages for the 90% of Americans who earn under $92,000 a year have actually fallen since 2001.

Way to go Republitools, and not one of you is a CEO!

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

Carter never lied us into a war

Ms. Inhumane: I already stated that’s pretty much all you liberals care about. I have you economic FACTS and you ignore them. I’m so not surprised.

BTW liberal goony: the surge worked.

Cap’tn Crunch: it’s about your bedtime now, isn’t it bonzo?

By AmVet

October 7, 2008 5:56 PM | Link to this

Jim Jr, I could not believe the spineless Democrats under Pelosi/Reid took impeachment “off the table” when they came ot the fore in 2006.

They KNEW this imperious buffoon had incredible, unrivaled contempt for the US Constitution and the separation of powers, and yet they gave him carte blanche to do whatever he wanted without fear of ANYONE holding his feet to the fire.

Disgraceful…

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this

In fact, real wages for the 90% of Americans who earn under $92,000 a year have actually fallen since 2001.

I suppose I’m one of those rare individuals who is in that 10% then. I find that data real hard to believe however when I look at the increase in federal private income tax burden since 2001 on the top 50%, let alone the top 25% or higher.

Clue for you “smart” liberal sheeple Dem socialists: it sure didn’t go down.

By Captain Freedom

October 7, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this

Well, THE Captain is a tad embarrassed, but He must issue yet another Captain Kudo to the admirably deranged B Crack for his dogged persistence in trumpeting this story that has tried over and over (and in more capable hands that Crackster) to gain legs. And while BS Aplenty has trudged this trail with deultory duty by block copying the identical post repeatedly, Cracker brings newfound vigor and determination to his labors, almost as though he truly believes what he is saying.

This is what Real American Common Sensers bring to this election, and it gives THE Captain hope. It is this kind of grit and determination to ignore facts and cling to Limburgherian fantasy that will lead St John of Hanoi to victory and a certain early death of antifreeze poisoning at the hands of Our Sarah Plain and Tall.

Vote for the cranky White Guy. He might be crazy and a liar, but at least he’s White. It is the Right Thing to do.

But that’s it for you Crack. THE Captain will not award you any more Kudos today, no matter how you might top the bat5hit insanity of your previous work.

By AmVet

October 7, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this

boonscracks, of course you find it hard to believe.

You just make sh!t up on the fly and then substitute it for the verifiable truth…

By Churchill's Mom

October 7, 2008 6:12 PM | Link to this

booncrocks

Do you consider Saxby Special Interest Chambliss to be a Socialist or a RINO?? Who are you voting for in the US Senate race??

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 booncrocks

October 7, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this

AmVet:

Let’s look at the numbers, shall we kook? From ntu.org:

1999 top 25% paid 83.5% 2003 top 25% paid 83.9% 2007 top 25% paid 86.3%

To help you out a little, the incomes there were $52,965, $57,343, and $64,702 respectively, WELL within the income margin you are referencing.

But go ahead numbnuts, tell me something else I don’t know.

Capt’n Crunch, when is mommie Pelosi going to tuck you in, little tiger?

By booncrocks

October 7, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this

Finally, my thanks today for AmVet, Cap’tn Crunch and a host of other mindless liberals who otherwise would make this blog boring. Wherever would we be in an argument on this blog without bringing up white crackers and Rush Limbaugh?

By catlady

October 7, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this

We stress personal responsibility, right?

Have a baby out of wedlock? You made your bed, so lie in it.

Have a job without benefits? You made your bed, so lie in it.

Buy a house on mostly optimism that it will appreciate in price enough to make some money, then find out you cannot make the payments when they reset? You made your bed, so lie in it.

Your bank or insurance company makes imprudent investments and racks up billions in losses. You whine that not saving you will cause irreparable harm to the universe. You made your bed, but we will take from those mentioned above to bail you out.

Go figure.

This TAD article is actually the third time I have agreed with Mr. Wooten. We have been “taking care” (or should I say “takin’ care”) of the big boys for long enough. No more subsidizing private enterprise.

By concerned citizen

October 8, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

Those who believe that putting taxpayer funds at risk for redevelopment purposes should take a hard look at TAD projects in Marietta, which has effectively spent millions to encourage redevelopment of blighted areas and former public housing project sites. Several large projects with an aggregate total of several hundred future housing units, supported by TAD funding or other financial concessions by the city, are in serious financial jeopardy as a result of declines in the housing market.

Aside from the rampant fraud and abuse that passage of this amendment will undoubtedly encourage, the thought of permitting local politicians and bureaucrats to become real estate development speculators with taxpayer money should frighten voters.

The taxpayer will be best served if redevelopment decisions are made strictly on the basis of their private sector profitability.