RSS Feed for This PostCurrent Article

Barack Obama, Wall Street’s Go to Guy?

By Larry Johnson on September 17, 2008 at 7:48 AM in Current Affairs

The turmoil in the capital markets is bad news and is forcing each candidate to reassess their current pronouncements on the economy. So, let’s ask some questions. Of the two candidates for President, who got the most money from the two financial giants now in the news–Lehman Brothers and AIG?

McCain received $117,500 from Lehman Bros.
Obama received $370,524 from Lehman Bros.

How about AIG?

John McCain got $36,875 from AIG
Barack Obama raked in $75,899 (+205%)

Got that? Barack Obama, the guy who supposedly is not beholden to special interests, took three times as much money from Lehman Brothers and more than twice as much from AIG.

Gee, and who did the now Government financed mortgage broker Fannie Mae give its money to when it wanted to influence a politician?

OpenSecrets lists the top three politicians in which FNMA “invested” from 1989 to 2008.

Top Recipients of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Campaign Contributions, 1989-2008Name Office State Party Grand Total

Dodd, Christopher S CT D $165,400
Obama, Barack S IL D $126,349 ($6000 came from the PAC)
Kerry, John S MA D $111,000

What about McCain?

The folks at Fannie Mae didn’t show him a lot of love. According to Open Secrets:

McCain, John S AZ R $21,550 (all from individuals).

Oh yeah, and who tabbed the former head of Fannie Mae to head up his Vice Presidential search team? OBAMA, that’s who. Back in May Barack turned to Jim Johnson, former CEO of Fannie Mae. Who is Johnson?

Johnson served as Fannie Mae CEO from 1991 to 1998 and has a long history in both Washington politics and business. He served on the boards of numerous companies, including The Goldman Sachs Group, KB Home, and Target Corporation, and has been Vice Chairman of Perseus LLC. He also was a corporate finance managing director for Lehman Brothers. He was an executive assistant for Vice President Walter Mondale (1977-1981) and a U.S. Senate staff member. Johnson also helped screen running mates for Democratic presidential nominees Walter Mondale in 1984 and John Kerry in 2004.

When it came time for a tough decision who did Barack turn to? A former community organizer per chance? Hell no! He went with the inside the beltway uber lobbyist.

So, Obama bots, save your sanctimonious bullshit. When it comes to cozying up to big players and wealthy Wall Street types smack in the middle of the lastest scandals and crises, Barack Obama is in a league of his own. That is “change” you want to believe in? What a goddamned joke!!

Deal with reality, John McCain wisely was not in bed with these guys. Will the media ask Barack to explain? Probably not.

And to further drive home the point (hat tip to ivet for the link) here is John McCain back in 2006 railing against the power of lobbyists like Fannie Mae:

The OFHEO report also states that Fannie Mae used its political power to lobby Congress in an effort to interfere with the regulator’s examination of the company’s accounting problems. This report comes some weeks after Freddie Mac paid a record $3.8 million fine in a settlement with the Federal Election Commission and restated lobbying disclosure reports from 2004 to 2005. These are entities that have demonstrated over and over again that they are deeply in need of reform.

For years I have been concerned about the regulatory structure that governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac–known as Government-sponsored entities or GSEs–and the sheer magnitude of these companies and the role they play in the housing market. OFHEO’s report this week does nothing to ease these concerns. In fact, the report does quite the contrary. OFHEO’s report solidifies my view that the GSEs need to be reformed without delay.

I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.

McCain’s last comment should lead his next batch of Presidential ads. Where was Barack? He was taking Fannie Mae money. Any questions?

  • ford

    I am hoping the the Pub’s make wall paper up with these FACTS on it…

    the loss of the shareholders is to the benefit of a few …MAC is right we need a commission to call out all the people involved in this teenage fowl up on Wall Street.

    You need to invest your money yourself, these young whippersnappers are not looking out for you. A commission will reveal this true fact.

    • Denise

      From a curious poster on

      Quote: “who cares what a democrat economist thinks: here are FACTS…
      What do the top ten cities with the highest poverty rate “all” have in
      > common? Answer: Democrat leadership.
      >
      > Detroit, MI (1st on the poverty rate list) hasn’t elected a Republican
      > mayor since 1961;
      >
      > Buffalo, NY (2nd) hasn’t elected one since 1954;
      >
      > Cincinnati, OH (3rd)… since 1984;
      >
      > Cleveland, OH, (4th)… since 1989;
      >
      > Miami, FL (5th) has never had a Republican Mayor;
      >
      > St. Louis, MO (6th)…. since 1949;
      >
      > El Paso, TX (7th) Has never had a Republican Mayor;
      >
      > Milwaukee, WI (8th)… since 1908;
      >
      > Philadelphia, PA (9th)… since 1952;
      >
      > Newark, NJ (10th)… since 1907.
      >
      > It is the disadvantaged who habitually elect Democrats,
      > yet are still disadvantaged … hmmm…make you wonder?
      >

      Originally Posted by: chris | September 17, 2008 9:05 AM

      PS I think he should have included Chicago but I’m not sure about New York.

      • Jess Terr

        I keep going back to Chicago, where nObambi was supposed to have done SOMETHING for community. The conditions have only worsened,(over a hundred died in public housing due to no heat) and nObambi’s friends are heading to prison or trial. The smallest improvement is yet to be seen, and nObambi STILL does nothing. Obama Sidesteps Reform in Illinos. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/obama_sidesteps_reform_in_illi.html
        If you want to know what a person is going to do, look at what they have done.

      • Above My Pay Grade

        I’d be willing to be those 10 cities have some of the highest numbers of “community organizers” per capita, as well.

      • tek

        Chicago had a Republican after Daley senior. They’ve had their share of Republicans through the years although it is basically a blue city. Chicago has poverty but also has some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the country. It’s hard to call Chicago a poverty-stricken city because the city has done a pretty good job of sharing the wealth and re-vitalizing bad neighborhoods. Unlike, say, San Francisco where poor neighborhoods are redeveloped and the poor people are pushed out. There’s some of that in Chicago, but not on the same scale.

        I used to think Daley, Jr. was doing a good job until Roddo got into the Governor’s office. His father-in-law is in the Daley machine (like BO’s father-in-law) and it’s really hit the fan since Rod took over.

        Americans should cast an eye to IL. George Ryan, the last IL gov, is now in the slammer, so Illinoisans got out and voted for Dems in droves, had to have a Dem, and now Rod is more corrupt than Ryan ever thought about being. That’s what’s cooking with the Obama camp, but it won’t be one state, it will be the whole country.

        • mcpalin hill

          tek–sorry there hasn’t been a Republican mayor of Chicago since 1931.

          • Creature of Chicago

            that’s funny, it’s like so many people in Philadelphia thought Ed Rendell was Republican because of the way he governed.

            There was even a recall movement against him by some union or other. But it failed, and before long, Fast Eddie was known as “America’s Mayor.”

          • tek

            Yes, there was. During the great blizzard. Because he couldn’t get the snow cleared out, he was voted out and Daley, Jr. was elected.

            • Chelsea Patriot

              Michael Bilandic was Chicago’s most recent GOP mayor. Heather was his wife.

              Although, I was living in Chicago at the time, I can’t remember the order of Jane Byrne, Harold Washington and Micheal Bilandic.

        • http://deleted OBSP

          Chicago never had a Republican Mayor, IL had several Govonors that were Republican.

      • http://! Clinton Fan

        Detroit could elect a fucking MARTIAN and it wouldn’t make a difference–it’s economically depressed, and a wasteland.

        I don’t go for that “DemocRAT leadership” type of bullshit (and you know you got that from some moron friend who emailed it to you) because it doesn’t advance the conversation. It also makes you look like a deliberately partisan asshole.

        Here, read and learn:

        Hillary Clinton is a GREAT DEMOCRAT. Barack Obama is NOT.

        That’s the point to be taken away, here.

        And speaking of taking, take your broad brush and stuff it up your ass, thanks much.

    • Liz B

      BREAKING NEWS!!!

      No Quarter bloggers I need your help, stat!

      I am on the Today show …today!

      I got a call from a Producer yesterday, and they are coming to my home @2pm est today to interview me, my husband, and our kids, and they are following us for about 7 hours to talk to us about being Democrats who have crossed over for McCain. There is a battleground state series next week, and each day will feature families of crossover voters. We have been chosen to represent Virginia!

      What I need from you guys is this, talking points. I need what is important to you guys.
      I am letting them know I am a PUMA, and I intend to blast Obama and the DNC.

      So please respond to this post, I need you and i intend to let the country know that BHO and the DNC are the biggest reason I went for JSM and the GOP!

      Thanks PUMAs, look for this to air on Wednesday of next week.

      • obamaphobe

        One thing that I think needs to re-entered in this race is Obama’s “change” from everything he said in the primaries, to what is politically expeditious to him in the general election. I think that alot of voters wait until after the conventions to start paying attention. Voters have either not heard of his flip-flops, or have forgotten them by now. Nailing down his policy positions, as McCain said, is like trying to nail jello to the wall.

      • Disgusted

        Voter fraud
        Rezko,Wright,Ayers
        Obamas senate district-crime, housing problems
        Trying to delay troop withdrawal
        Flips on FISA, Public finance, Nafta, gun control
        Chicago Machine-corruption
        Infant Born Alive vote
        These are just a few maybe others will chime in. Good luck with the interview. Remind us when it is to air so we can watch, tape or TIVO it.

        • Zee

          Leave the fetuses out of this and the rest is a good list.

          • You Wish

            They aren’t fetuses when they’re outside of the womb struggling for breath. The technically correct term is INFANT.

            • http://! Clinton Fan

              UNIMPORTANT, FAKE-ANGST, WEDGE ISSUE…and you are either STUPID to keep flogging it…or a closeted Obot.

              Flog that shit in the evangelical church, not on TODAY where the soccer/security/arugula moms and the Young Working Professionals Who Are Worried Falsely About Roe are tuned in.

              Bring that shit up and you simply harden the positions of Idiots Who Vote who don’t understand how laws are made in this nation.

          • msindy

            Agree, there are definitely misnamed “pro-life” Republicans on this blog trying to throw the misnamed “partial birth abortion” issue in here.

            Earth to religious zealots who choose to disregard a woman’s health and life – we have plenty of reasons to not like Obama without you coming here with your anti-woman nonsense.

            Show you actually care about women and families. Educate yourselves like we have:

            Unlike many American voters, Watts knows that “partial-birth abortion” does not exist. Coined by anti-choice activists, this term cannot be found in any medical dictionary. Its imprecision, according to defenders of choice, could target a whole host of procedures.

            When Congress first considered the ban in 1995, Watts testified on Capitol Hill. So did Viki Wilson of Fresno, Calif., who had a late-term abortion because the brain of the fetus she was carrying had developed outside the skull. So did Vikki Stella of Naperville, Ill., whose fetus had no brain tissue and seven other major abnormalities.

            Watts, Stella and Wilson point out that in virtually all cases, late-term abortions are the only way to respond to unanticipated complications: the death of the fetus inside the womb, problems that mean the fetus can’t live outside the womb, or serious threats to the mother’s health.

            “No women has these procedures for frivolous reasons,” says Stella. “They have them because it’s their only choice.”

            http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/2046/

            • msindy

              By on this blog I mean in the comments section. I keep seeing these anti-choicer Republicans pop up in the comments and bringing up the abortion issue again and again.

              If only they could show some genuine religious compassion and stop harassing these women who are trying to do what is best in the most difficult situation anyone could ever imagine. A situation I pray to God these self-rightous people who so easily disregard women and their families will never face. All they ask is to CHOOSE what is the best medical decision in peace. Government has no business making these decisions, nor do other people who have not walked a mile in their shoes.

            • Marie

              any way you want to put it, it is still murder, and murder is againt the laws of God and our Nation.

        • Karen

          I disagree with taking Repub talking pts. I would focus on it strictly from a Dem standpoint… too inexperienced (we’re in two wars, the economy is struggling and the Dem establishment picked Obama? What were they thinking), no record in Chicago… flip-flops, etc… be humble, express Repub talking points as ‘there are additional issues relating to character that have me very concerned’

          Stay calm. Stay rational. Act concerned NEVER angry. Act disappointed in the Dems. Do not overreact and give them anything to smear Dems with.

          People are more interested in listening to a rational debate rather than an emotional plea.

          State … here are my 3 most important issues (party failure to represent the people/elitism), flip-flops (list 3) and experience (list major issues Obama is not qualified to address.

          • http://! Clinton Fan

            Good advice.

            The behavior of the DNC and the refusal to fairly count the votes is an issue for me, too, though. As is the shenanigans at caucuses.

            The vote was “gamed” and we know it.

          • TA

            Great points Karen

      • beebop

        My personal split from anything having to do with the current DNC came when the 0bama campaign refused to allow for revoting to take place in Michigan and Florida. This was it for me. Why these two states — and these alone — were penalized when their primaries were moved up is significant. They are the only two that leaned heavily pro Clinton.

      • vinnie

        Liz, talk about this stuff that larry just laid out above. Barry keeps on talking about how he’s not the same ol’ same ol’ but the fact is, he’s worse! Mention Biden and the MNBA (credit card interest).

        Good luck, I’m sure you’ll make us all proud. 7 hours, lordie, is that enough time to point out all these talking points?

      • snosandy

        Let them know how disgusted PUMAs are that the media has vetted Sarah Palin more in 19 days than they have Obama in 19 months. Ask why have they have ignored Obama’s connection to Acorn and Ayers. Why have they not asked him if Ayers hired him to Chair the Chicago Annenberg Challenge and why has he not admitted to have known Ayers for that long. Also why don’t they question that he embellished his job at Business International according to former co-workers. The media is spreading serious rumors about Sarah Palin, but they are not reporting factual information about Baracks radical associations.

        We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!

      • Astra14

        What I think is important – and obviously doesn’t really need to be restated here on NQ – was Obama was never properly vetted by the DNC or the media. His background has shady characters and lots of open questions.

        What else is important is that we need bi-partisanship now to help heal our country.

        Also, racism, sexism, ageism, etc. etc. have no place in politics as whom we should or should not vote for. Ex. Biden saying we should all vote for Obama since he is black. Tearing Sarah down because she’s a working mom.

        And don’t forget the voter fraud!!!! My vote got stolen and given to some inexperienced twit crying racism left and right! So much for uniting the party!

        Hope that helps, but I’m sure they are probably already on your list.

        MCCAIN/PALIN 08
        HILLARY 2012

        WAKE UP MEDIA!!!

        • yourallrepubs

          Who cares if Palin is a working Mom?
          Most of us are. What about the issues? Oh wait who cares? As long as Obama loses, a muppet can be President. Nobody has said vote for Obama because he’s black. The GOP has said vote for Palin so we can get the pissed off Hillary voters.

      • tek

        Liz B: Please emphasize that we are not voting McCain out of revenge, but because we want a democracy and we watched the DNC and Dem leaders trample all over the democratic process during the primaries and as a result, we can’t trust them. This is my biggest reason for turning away from the Democrats this year. They say it’s a critical election, yet they forced an unprepared candidate on the ticket, they divided the party along generational and socio-economic lines, they refused to put the most qualified candidate on the ticket and then refused to name her as VP. It just looks like a lack of political acumen to me. And I suspect there may be something even more sinister behind all this. It’s the neoconservative playbook from 2000.

        I will not vote for a candidate who trashed his own party and extolled Reagan and Bush I.

        I will not vote for a black man who said in his Great Race Speech that blacks don’t like labels, but he has labeled a great Democratic First Lady a bitch, he has labeled white liberals over sixty as unenlightened, latently racist people, he has labeled blue collar Democrats “bitter people, clinging to their guns, their Bibles, and their racism.”

        He has labeled everyrone who isn’t supporting him a racist, but he says his people don’t like labels.

      • Boxer Mum 06

        Liz – best of luck!

        With all the Wall Street stuff that is in the news right now, I would make a point of stating as Larry mentions below:

        Lehman Brothers and AIG?

        McCain received $117,500 from Lehman Bros.
        Obama received $370,524 from Lehman Bros.

        How about AIG?

        John McCain got $36,875 from AIG
        Barack Obama raked in $75,899 (+205%)

        Top Recipients of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Campaign Contributions, 1989-2008Name Office State Party Grand Total

        Dodd, Christopher S CT D $165,400
        Obama, Barack S IL D $126,349 ($6000 came from the PAC)
        Kerry, John S MA D $111,000

        I don’t think the MSM has even touched this yet and it shows in fact how he is not an agent of change but wants to collect as much as he can :)

      • mcpalin hill

        liz b — congratulations. I am so proud of you. The reason I changed parties is because I found that the party I believed in and loved for over 40 years had no respect for women. They talked the talk but the first chance they got they shafted the more competent woman in favor of the man. At first I thought that it was Clinton hate but when they began the most vile attacks against Sarah Palin I knew what frauds they were all these years.

        Tell em for all of us Hill Dems who had finally had enough.

        • Liz B

          Thanks all, Go PUMAs Go! :)

          Please keep the comments coming because I will be reading some to my interviewer.

          • Boxer Mum 06

            Oh – and has anyone mentioned all of his international ties?

            His connection to Nigeria (Odinga) – did he help get him elected???

            The fundraising drives in Hamas, Nigeria – where is the investigation on where he is getting all of this record breaking $$??

      • NoBO

        Liz, I’m in VA, too. I went over to McCain’s HQ in Crystal City with Will Bower, Paulie Abeles, and Harriet Christian to meet McCain and Carly Fiorina. Last night, Paulie finally endorsed Sarah Palin. We Dems don’t agree with McCain or Palin on some social issues but we agree on a great deal.

        The reason PUMAs look to McCain is because of what the DNC pulled in the primaries to make sure Obama won and Hillary lost. Hillary got the most votes but the DNC skewed the primary calendar, changed its rules, broke its own rules, and stole votes from Hillary. We cannot condone such practices and we cannot tolerate the sexism and misogyny that was used against Hillary or the use of the race card to unfairly attack Bill Clinton.

        None of us are voting for McCain out of spite or for revenge. We just know that our party deserted us and went against the ideals we have always fought for. Obama and the gang violated Democratic values and acted worse than any Republican.

        Obama is inexperienced and we don’t need a president who needs on the job training in these dangerous times.

        McCain would be much better for our economy because he isn’t as beholding to the special interests that caused the problem. See Larry’s post, above.

        Good luck, Liz!

      • Jensen T

        I am very objective about this. Like someone who posted. We dont support JM just out of spite. I oppose BO because:

        1) Caucus Fraud :
        He cheated in the caucus; there are many eyewitnesses on this: repeated signing, stealing of ballots; forcing voters to turn away from the caucus site, etc.

        2) MI+FL disenfrenchisment.
        Its a setup i’m convinceed.
        DNC deliberately disenfrenchised MI+FL in the beginning to give BO the false lead in delegates and during that time planted many politicians (eg Kerry, Pelosi, Richardson etc) to force Hillary to get out of the primaries race. Then on 29-May DNC convened a meeting an hurriedly handed to BO for FREE MI delegates so he can be crowned on June-3

        3) MSM Bias
        - CNN, CBS, NBC etc refused to cover storie on BO’s dirty laundries (eg Ayers, Chicago corruption, Wright etc). Instead they falsify smears on Hillary Clinton and BILL.

        In a nutshell; the primaries were NOT DEMOCRATIC. And to add insult to this undemocratic election, the DNC, MSM, BO camp (+ his minions) term us as bitter and racist if we dont support the anointed BO.

        • Zee

          Yes, the caucus fraud and the fix is the #1 problem, altho there is plenty else wrong with BO. You might mention he gamed the system every time he ran…but this time the DNC helped put the fix in. Besides the outright thuggery in the caucuses (made the most transparent in TX where we had a vote to compare it to, plus the evidence the TX poll workers uncovered, as shown in the film “We Will not be Silenced”) the DNC stacked the deck.

          It is their involvement that most helps PUMA voters to cast a protest vote for McCain/Palin. The DNC knew ahead of time they were going to install Obama. That is why, in 2003, they moved the Convention date from the traditional July to August, so Obama could accept the “nomination” on the anniversary of MLK’s I have a dream speech.

          They also moved the Party Headquarters to Chicago.

          Anyone think this was decided and executed on the spur of the moment?

          It was planned…so they had to stack the deck, to stop Hillary’s momentum, call nonstop for her to quit, declare it was “inevitable” that Obama would “win” — and in the end they still had to take delegates from Hillary and simple ASSIGN them to Obama—when his name was not even on the ballot in MI.

          Yes, Obama is a horror scene all by himself, who beds down with slum lords while his poorest constituents freeze and die in condemned buildings, but the DNC is the one needing the biggest smackdown, thus the need for our protest votes.

      • Nader rox!

        the vile nastiness of Obama supporters. I still remember the shock of my first “encounter” with one who learned I was a Hillary supporter.

        The sheer hypocrisy of his campaign: hope! love! anti-war! Meanwhile the venom pouring forth…

        The uneven scrutiny of his record.

        The uneasy sense that he is a media/marketing creation: that there is little in his actual record, background, accomplishments to justify the image.

      • JoseyJ

        The Great Bamboozler – at it again!

        Obama Inflates Role in Creation of Stimulus Package

        September 16, 2008 7:04 PM – ABC News

        In Golden, Colo., today, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., took credit for the stimulus package that passed earlier this year.

        “In January, I outlined a plan to help revive our faltering economy,” Obama said, “which formed the basis for a bipartisan stimulus package that passed the Congress.”

        Is that true?

        Democrats on Capitol Hill who support Obama say no.
        Wanting Obama to win, however, none will say so on the record.

        http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/obama-inflates.html

        COWARDS!

        • You Wish

          McCain called him out on this at his Ohio rally and probably will everywhere he stumps.

      • drbala

        Liz: wow, 7 hours. I’m sure the NBC shills would edit the hell out of whatever that you say and show those parts that fit their world view.

        Others have pointed out several talking points and all of it are valid. Please consider choosing two or three of them and keep hammering on them throughout the interview. Here are my favorites:

        1. No executive experience, no accomplishments, lack of understanding of the issues (kept copying Hillary)–the main reason we were against him during the primaries. Even now he doesn’t get it and that’s why he takes his teleprompter to diners and rodeo shows.

        2. Sexism and playing the racist card. He or the DNC never once spoke against numerous instances of sexism by the media or “iron my shirt” caricatures during the primary. Now they are pulling the same thing against Palin.

        3. Connections to unrepentent terrorist William Ayers and then lying about it. He launched his 1996 political career at Ayers’ house. Connections to convicted criminal Tony Rezko and black liberation theology preacher Reverend Wright.

        4. Even after all these, one would consider siding with him because he is a democrat. However, he doesn’t care for democratic core values. If Iraq was defining moment for Hillary, then FISA was a defining moment for him. He said he would filibuster it, but then _actively_ worked to give immunity to telecom companies (by “coincidence” AT&T was the biggest sponsor of the Greek Columns). His flipflop on campaign finance. In essence, we cannot trust him to carry out any democratic agenda of his. He’ll only do things that are politically expedient, at least that all he has shows so far.

        And, btw, good luck with your interview.

      • 58states

        Some thoughts, in no particular order

        Obama the hypocrite: case in point all his talk about lobbyists and special interests and attacks on McCain versus the reality of his funding, and who he’s sought counsel from (this post is a great clear example) Playing connect the dots with his staff and supporters is like a who’s who of politics.

        Obama’s connections. He is now a washington insider, on top of a cog in the Chicago machine. And given his associations he either 1) is a really bad judge of character 2) is a shrewd political opportunist focused on self-advancement. Which one makes him sound like a great president?

        Re: Palin/Clinton – if we really truly were angry about what was done to Hillary, how she was treated unfairly … how can we NOT defend another woman against the same? What kind of principles do we have if we *only* defend the rights of those who agree with us politically?…

        The partisan rhetoric. The country isn’t so polarized that we can nearly all be sorted into two categories. The “platform” of either party is not all we are voting for even if we are one of the folks who agree with one or the other wholly. We are voting for individual representatives who may or may not agree with various planks of it, may or may not be qualified or capable of doing anything, may or may not be able to work with those who don’t agree. Suggesting that one “has” to vote for any member of a party regardless of any of this… that’s the ultimate divisiveness.

        Which leads to another critical point. An elected official represents everyone, not just the people who voted for him/her. How well can a candidate do that? What have we seen and heard? Can they put pettiness aside and remember that they represent their constituents first and foremost? That is playing a CRUCIAL role in this election, as we have seen McCain willing to alienate his own party, and compared to most politicians, he actually plays reasonably well with others. I have seen nothing whatsoever from the Obama camp that indicates he is able to achieve the “post partisan” status he espouses, that he can work willingly, cooperatively, and with the slightest degree of respect alongside those he disagrees with. MHO is it would require a level of humility and respect he’s incapable of.

        Another aspect of this is that the POTUS is going to be dealing with a lot of leaders who disagree. And likely be involved in some intense negotiations at times. For all of the talk of McCain’s “temper” hasn’t it been Obama who loses his cool when attacked? When someone has the um audacity to disagree? Hasn’t he been the one more likely to shoot first and issue an apology later? If he can get this emotional over political opponents… doesn’t the prospect of his negotiating with foreign leaders worry anyone? After all, he is the one saying we should meet and talk with our enemies right?

        From a fellow Virginian– good luck ! :)

      • Country First

        Liz Make a list and I hope you don’t get too much left on the editing floor. As concerns today’s issues:

        The economy – Financial, Housing, Jobs

        Financial & Mortgage Larry’s post about Wall Street connections and FannieMae and Freddie Mac.
        Also, point out the speech McCain made when he co-sponsored the bill (which didn’t get passed) Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, http://tinyurl.com/5t3jts
        in which McCain predicted: “If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.”

        Jobs – Obama’s flip-flopping stances on NAFTA and his current rhetoric on how much he cares about workers. When he had the opportunity to help the workers he did not:
        “Putting aside campaign rhetoric, when actually given an opportunity to protect workers from unfair trade agreements, Obama cast the deciding vote against an amendment to a September 2005 Commerce Appropriations Bill, proposed by North Dakota Senator Byron Dorgan, that would have prohibited US trade negotiators from weakening US laws that provide safeguards from unfair foreign trade practices. The bill would have been a vital tool to combat the outsourcing of jobs to foreign workers and would have ended a common corporate practice known as “pole-vaulting” over regulations, which allows companies doing foreign business to avoid “right to organize,” “minimum wage,” and other worker protections.” (The Obama Craze: Count Me Out by Matt Gonzalez‚ Feb. 27‚ 2008, a former president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.) http://tinyurl.com/2h3zs3

        Obama’s real record of actions. If you want to know what a person is going to do, look at what they have done. The Gonzales article is a good source on his record since you don’t have time to do the research yourself.

        Be sure you ask for an unedited copy of your interview.

      • yourallrepubs

        How about both candidates are liars? Both take money from corps. Try something novel like telling the truth.

      • Will Smith

        Name appearances on ABCNEWS.COM ‘Blotter from Brian Ross and Investigate Team’:

        Palin: 24
        McCain: 2
        Biden: 1
        Obama: 0

      • http://lesstalkmoreactivism.blogspot.com/ whoframedrudy

        Liz B,

        One big point is that, as much as we love Hillary, if Obama were qualified, we’d support him. If Hillary had lost to Al Gore, we’d support the Dem nominee.

        Another point is that Obama played the race card on his own grandmother.

        – If Obama had waited until he had some experience, the Dems could have won 4 straight elections. The DNC showed very poor judgment in rushing Obama. Is 8 years so long to wait? 9/11 was seven years ago and it seems like yesterday.

        — the DNC repeated the same mistake America made in picking Bush over Gore.

        – we would have been better off if the Repubs had nominated McCain in 2000, though I still would have voted for Gore. And McCain is a more attractive candidate today than he was in 2000 — supporting Bush on immigration reform and the surge, opposing Bush on torture and stem cell research. McCain supports Bush the few times he’s right, and opposes Bush when he’s wrong.

        – Clinton vs. McCain would have been a win-win election for America. Gore vs. McCain would have been a win-win election for America.

      • Regina

        I think that you should mention Rezko. People forget how close Obama was to this convicted criminal. They had a close relationship for 17 years…talking to each other on a daily bases. Obama was a community organizer, and the camera crew should go to district 13 of the south side and take pictures of the boarded up houses there. Obama was instrumental in awarding Rezko millions to refurbish low income housing. Instead Rezko abandoned the housing projects and pocketed the money. Why did Obama not hold him accountable? The public has a right to know this. He dumped on his own constituents, the most oppressed in this country. Obama to quote Bill Clinton is nothing but a “Chicago Thug” Every person he ever ran against either in a primary or general election he used “anarachist” tactics. He and his good friend Axelrod and Company would eliminate their opponent by devious means (we saw that with Hillary…black supporters of Hillary were threatened to back Obama along with other superdelagetes…superdelagetes therefore did not waite for the convention to throw their support to a candidate,thus they annointed Obama). He would attack and then play the victim. This country has never been this racially divided.
        Obama is a crook…This is about OBama……

      • hank48188

        I live in Michiganistan, I was for Hillary and against Obama. When the DNC, Michiganistan Dem Party and Obama teamed up to STEAL MY VOTE I lost all faith in that Party. I had voted for DEMS for 40 yearsbut they are NOT DEMOCRATIC, the Primary season was FIXED, it was Decided by Obama winning crooked caucuses in RED States. Dean used his people from his 50 State Program for Obama, they were all in the tank for Obama at the DNC. The DEMS need to get rid of George Soros, he pays for MoveOn and the DEM Party, he is a Internatiobalist, like Obama, and doesn’t have the interests of America in mind.

      • Lexi

        OBAMA EXPOSED: FINANCIAL/HOUSING SCANDAL

        An independent counsel must be appointed to investigate Barack Obama and his closest advisors for their involvement in the Financial/Housing Crisis. The witness list must include:

        BARACK OBAMA: $525,000 of contributions from bankrupt Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and Lehman Brothers. Barack Obama has received more money from this bankrupt and corrupt organization than any other member of Congress. In his very short time as a lawyer, Obama represented clients seeking to force Lenders to provide high-risk, subprime mortgage loans which are now at the center of our nation’s major crisis.

        FRANKLIN RAINES (Obama Top Advisor): former CEO of bankrupt Fannie Mae who was fired for “accounting irregularities” and was given a $90 million Golden Parachute.

        JIM JOHNSON (Obama Top Advisor who chose Joe Biden as V.P.): former CEO of bankrupt Fannie Mae and CEO of bankrupt Lehman Brothers.

        PENNY PRITZKER (Obama National Finance Chair): former Chair of bankrupt subprime lender, Superior Bank of Chicago. Paid $450 Million in fines to avoid potential criminal prosecution.

    • choochoomagoo

      OpenSecrets lists the top three politicians in which FNMA “invested” from 1989 to 2008.

      Top Recipients of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Campaign Contributions, 1989-2008Name Office State Party Grand Total

      Dodd, Christopher S CT D $165,400
      Obama, Barack S IL D $126,349 ($6000 came from the PAC)
      Kerry, John S MA D $111,000

      What about McCain?

      The folks at Fannie Mae didn’t show him a lot of love. According to Open Secrets:

      McCain, John S AZ R $21,550 (all from individuals).

      Wow – And Dodd, Kerry & McCain were in the senate for all ten years. But Barack less than 3 years. So as an annual rate

      Dodd – $16,540
      Kerry – $11,100
      McCain – $2,155

      Barrack – $42,116

      Pretty impressive. Maybe “Change” was a typo and “Charge” (as in I”m going to charge you big $$) is/was Barrack’s real message.

  • Will Smith

    Top Hillraiser, Lynn Forester de Rothschild, endorses McCain!

    This is great news

    • vinnie

      She’s a classy lady, and frankly, she just doesn’t like the guy (barry). Still love that line.

  • Will Smith

    BTW McCain AD “Foundations” out

  • Perry Logan

    We should have realized Obama was a corporate shill when his people kept calling Hillary a corporate shill. As you’ve probably noticed, Obama people always accuse someone else of doing what they’re doing. They no doubt think this is a brilliant strategy.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk_fPi-24Iw

    • snosandy

      I noticed Obama doing this at least 6 months ago.

      • http://investigatebarackobama.wordpress.com/about/ kat in your hat

        ME TOO!

        In fact, I use it as a way to learn more about HIM. Whenever Obama says something, I know it’s really the opposite, and whenever he accuses someone of something, I know it’s true of him.

    • tek

      It’s Dubya’s (i. e., Karl Rove’s) favorite strategy! Totally Orwellian.

    • mcpalin hill

      perry logan — Obama is such a fraud and the DNC are frauds as well for forcing him into the nomination.

  • lark

    Why Hillary Clinton flew away from Palin?

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has canceled an appearance at a New York rally next week after organizers blindsided her by inviting Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, aides to the senator said Tuesday.

    Mrs. Clinton has a personality problem also. Her personality is tied to the Democratic Party and to the DNC. The question is, Is she subservient to them?

    • Kal

      I trust Hillary to make decisions that ensure that she can do as much good for people in the US as possible.

      Hillary for POTUS!!

      PUMA!!

      • lark

        I don’t think you can. She is bound by the Axelrod now and Obama is her boss.

        • Dr. Kate

          Bullshit. She is doing what she has to for the democratic party, and will not put herself in a position to be compared with Palin by the media.

          You’d better get a clue, Lark.

          • mcpalin hill

            Dr. Kate — Obama doesn’t want the picture of Hillary shaking hands with Palin. Hillary has never been afraid to meet anyone. Its Obama who’s intimidate by everyone. Top Dems will breathe a sigh of relief when he goes down.

          • Zee

            Exactly….they are trying to orchestrate a cat fight.

            Hillary WON’T do their bidding on that!

            • You Wish

              Why would it devolve into a “cat fight”? These are two smart, accomplished women with massive national appeal. The Jewish group who organized this even wanted as much attention as possible for their protest against Ahmadinehad’s visit.

              • bemused

                No matter how civil they were to each other the media would find a way to make it look like they were sniping. And on the Jewish group, they have always had Hillary in their corner and know where she stands. But they’re nervous about Obama. He didn’t come, he didn’t send his VP pick, he tried to make the reassuring person come and shill for him so it would reassure the Jewish voters. But she didn’t carry his water, and she didn’t give any opportunity to snipe at either her or Palin.

        • just me

          Remember Hillary did say she was not going to ever be in this to throw dirt at Sarah Palin.
          By them both being invited to this event the press would never of left them alone….

          I think this is one step Hillary needed to take rather than be together & for the press to play Palin & Clinton off against one another! Maybe a Wise move from Hillary…?

          • Hope Floats

            All they had to do was speak about the issues. It was an opportunity to speak to voters who are concerned for Israel’s survival.

    • POdVet

      I think Hillary did the right thing there. I’m guessing McCain will not seek re-election in 2012. So we may be looking forward to an epic battle of woman against woman then. Once we purge the lunatic fringe from the Democratic party, Hillary can run against Palin on issues she (unlike Barack) actually believes in and knows something about. Of course I have no doubt some of the jackals now praising Obama will be praising Palin then…IE:The morally and mentally bankrupt HuffyPuff. But no one with an IQ above 20 listens to her anyhow.

      • lark

        You are feeding your imagination too much now with those thoughts. Four years from now are quite a long way. Being together supporting a protest against the presence of Ahmadinejad at the UN is not going to hurt Hillary.

        • vinnie

          I’m going to have to agree with Lark. There are somethings that we all should unite against, no matter what party we belong to, no matter what our race or gender are. This is about America and voicing what we represent. You can’t tell me that her people, and Palin’s people can’t talk to each other behind the scenes to say “let’s keep our ladies away from each other in front of the cameras”?

        • Karen

          I agree. I was surprised by the refusal to speak. The Pres candidates managed to suck it up and got together on 9/11. Just my opinion, but I thought the event important enough, that politics should have been set aside. It wouldn’t have been inappropriate for Biden to speak, it isn’t inappropriate for Palin to speak. I think the issue should have trumped politics.

          I thought the release weak.. ‘we were blindsided and didn’t know it was going to be a partisan event’… WTH?

      • http://msnGodhelpusall Lee M

        Don’t be so sure McCain will not run for a second term, he comes from stock that lives long fruitful lives. Look at his mother – 96 years young and still as spry as a kitten. He has raised her son well and there is no reason not to believe that he will live to a ripe old age like his mother. BTW she still is as sharp as a tack – more common sense that the Democratic ticket combined. Why do you think she never misses a chance to show the American people from whence John McCain came?

        Don’t sell him short.

        • vinnie

          yet, the msm makes it seems like as soon as his hand is on that bible to be sworn in, he’ll kick the bucket. He released his health record, where’s Barry’s? All we got were three lines from his doctor saying he thinks barry is healthy.

        • mcpalin hill

          lee m — McCain told the party he was going to be a one term president.

          • Hope Floats

            No, he did not. I remember a Peggy Noonan column in the WSJ specifically about this.

            Mr. McCain told Politico on Wednesday that he’s not considering a one-term pledge.

            Why would he not? Such modesty of intent is at odds with the political personality. The thing that makes them want to rule America is the thing that stops them from thinking of prudent limits. This mindset crosses all political categories.

      • VMorris

        I agree that Hillary did the right thing. She wants to keep the focus OFF Palin and ON McCain. Not the mention the fact she was blindsided and didn’t know Palin was going to be there.

        Hillary is NOT afraid to meet anyone but she will have a say in when and where. Not by surprise. The cancellation will be blip on the media radar screen. Had Hillary gone, there would be another media feeding frenzy that would last one or more news cycles with them over analyzing the significance of every single word, eye-blink, hand gesture, yawn, smile, no smile, ….well you get my drift.

    • jrterrier

      i think she did the right thing. it would have been a reenactment of the Saturday Night Live skit. She has been honorable in that she has not attacked Palin as they apparently wanted her to do. Unlike a number of feminists who have been downright irrational in their nasty attacks on Palin, Hillary has not done that. But she is right to stay away from a joint appearance.

      • snosandy

        I think Hillary did the right thing knowing it would turn into a media circus, and the purpose of the whole protest would be ignored.

        • Hope Floats

          You’re rationalizing with hypotheticals. It would have drawn attention to the event but not overshadowed it. The organizers of the event knew what they were doing, and I think the occasion merited the risk.

      • Jackie

        I think a great opportunity was lost here. I think that the 2 very prominent Ladies could have put the campaign aside for one day and made a
        bi-partisan statment on the Iranian leader. I think the example could have also set the tone for a better working relationship between the parties.

        Sarah Palin would have deeply enjoyed meeting Senator Clinton, for whom she has much respect.

        It would have been a great sight to see these 2 different but strong women standing side by side for America. Ultimately both Hillary and Sarah put the country first.

        • morganjane

          I will vote for Hillary anytime, but working for Obama has hurt her for many voters that voted for her in the primaries. They will vote for mcCain and remember that Hillary supported Obama. She has lost a big portion of the voters that think Obama has no experience etc. They see her as just a politician now. I wish she would go on vacation (maybe chelsea could plan a wedding) and quit working for team Obama… I am sure they don’t mind if she goes down in their fight.
          My true thoughts are that Team Obama have played dirtier than we can imagine. Think about Rangell and others that supported Hillary to the end.

          • BevvyJean

            You are absolutely right one the money! This is just the way it is. Hate to say it, but it is true. She needs to lay low.

        • mcpalin hill

          jackie — Palin and Clinton will meet after the election. Of that I am sure. Hillary was the first to congratulate Palin on the nomination. She is the most gratious person ever. I think Bill Clinton inviting McCain to be the first speaker at his forum says it all. Bill Clinton considers John McCain a friend. Last December Bill said this country would benefit by having 2 great Americans leading it together. Hillary and McCain.

    • Diana L. C.

      She serves the populist members of the Democratic Party–who have been messed over royally by the DNC leadership. We’re all wanting her to do whatever it takes to survive through the upcoming upheaval when the elitists all are sent packing.

    • Urban Hillbilly

      This would be the biggest media circus of the entire season. HRC knows it and the focus needs to be on Obama v. McCain right now.

      Hillary does not need to be in a position of overshadowing Barack Obama this fall.

    • tek

      Don’t be crazy! She’s just too smart to fall into this trap. It would ruin her chances to be POTUS in 2012.

      People (political operatives) need to get straight the although lots of liberals like Palin and lots of conservatives like Hillary, Sarah Palin is a (ready?) REPUBLICAN. Hillary Clinton is a (yup) DEMOCRAT.

      Get it?

      • Hope Floats

        Since when do Republicans not care about Israel? All this was was a protest against the Iranian government. This was not a campaign rally or stump speech. Someone else pointed out that Obama and McCain both showed at 911. This was a similarly worthy cause.

    • Mr.Murder

      No, she thought if Palin was there that it would set a bad precedent. She wears a jacket with her power pantsuit does Hillary, and if Palin had hger way coathangers would end up having other uses because doctors would no longer perform certain procedures….

  • Michelle in Philly

    I was listening to Hannitys radio show yesterday and he stated that McCain called out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2005 and wanted a hearing on what he said was going to cause what happened just the other day. But the democrats blocked that investigation

    • txchick57

      Yes, if the media would do its job, such as a simple reading of the Congressional record, they would see this

      http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-s20060525-16

      I know it’s anathema to a lot of you to read this but here it is from the Doctor of Democracy.

      http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_091608/content/01125109.guest.html

      Is it becoming clearer now why Nobama had to get rid of the Fannie Mae guy from his VP vetting committee?

      • jbjd

        Please, post this everywhere you can think BO’s supporters can see it. (I am a teacher, between classes right now.) If you can attract below-the-surface inquiry to just one issue, perhaps, you can incite full-fledged vetting of the candidate.

        • beebop

          Chick:

          The first of the two links doesn’t work …. something about too busy, maintenace, etc …. hmmmmmm.

    • http://www.governuts.us Agust304

      The problem with Hannity is that he always seems to be ahead of the curve. Instead of waiting in line and jumping off the cliff with the rest of the lemming media herd he runs out in front and tries to get their attention by saying: Hey look – a cliff. And for that he is often branded an alarmist.

      I feel sorry for him. He gave us Ayers, ACORN, Wright and all those other things that were obviously not important.

      • tek

        Let’t don’t get too sentimental over Sean Hannity. I hate to tell you that he was pretty vicious and ignorant during Dubya’s two elections. This guy was one of Bush/Cheney’s biggest CHEERLEADERS. Y’know, in other words he helped to bring us this big mess. I know he looks smart in this election year, but I’m just sayin’ let’s not lose our heads.

      • mcpalin hill

        agust 304 the best thing about switching parties is finding Hannity. He is terrific.

        • yourallrepubs

          Yeah a terrific contractor. Another repub hack. You people are useless.

          One of these days he’s going to fall over dead from too much wind! He also hates Hillary. Imagine what they would be saying if she were the nominee. Something like she needs to quit whineing.

      • mcpalin hill

        agust 304 — The best thing about my party switch is finding Hannity. I love the guy. I wish I could get through to him. He does this thing for Dems becoming Repubs — they get to be Hannitized. I feel better when I listen to him.

    • bert

      I read a couple of other blogs today that give more information about McCain, and even Bush, trying to do something about Freddie and Fannie years ago and they were blocked by the Dems. This is devastating stuff that McCain can use for some great ads as well as in debates. I bet his crack ad team are busy making some ads right now.

      BFF Till the End at Savage Politics:

      http://savagepolitics.com/

      Blame the Dems for this Crisis at Smart Girl Politics:

      http://smartgirlpolitics.blogspot.com/2008/09/blame-democrats-for-this-crisis-and-one.html

      • mcpalin hill

        bert — now that I am listening to the other side I am hearing stuff I never thought possible. OMG

    • Mr.Murder

      Yeah, the Dems blocked the 109th COngress from investigating. Teh stupid burns your head doesn’t it?

  • ford

    I think Hillary wants to wait til 2012 to take Palin on…There ‘s nothing but down for her to show up..

    The MSM would have loved it…CAT FIGHT NIGHT is what they would have billed it, and they would have obsessed over what color lipstick they were wearing.

    I’m watching Meecham on MSDNC and it is sad, he was once a good looking man, now his face is struck in a way that looks like he smells something he doesn’t like. It’s hard to sell BO 24/7 and make it look like fun.

    BO is stagnant water.

    • VMorris

      Palin will meet Hillary when Hillary chooses to grant Sarah the honor.

  • http://johnmccain.com Berserk “Dollars I Can Count On” Ohitler is the embodiment of pure evil

    Thanks Larry for this. It inspired the slogan I added to my name. ;)

  • roseeriter

    Obamacrats the real hypocrits about MONEY, WOMEN, Race, Sex and Age.

    Did I miss anything?

    • db

      Sexual orientation!

    • mcpalin hill

      roseeriter — they are also hypocrites about loving this country.

  • iVet

    http://www.govtrack.us/congress/record.xpd?id=109-s20060525-16&bill=s109-190#sMonofilemx003Ammx002Fmmx002Fmmx002Fmhomemx002Fmgovtrackmx002Fmdatamx002Fmusmx002Fm109mx002Fmcrmx002Fms20060525-16.xmlElementm0m0m0m

    Speech from May 25, 2006 (see Franklin Raines getting called out):

    Mr. President, this week Fannie Mae’s regulator reported that the company’s quarterly reports of profit growth over the past few years were “illusions deliberately and systematically created” by the company’s senior management, which resulted in a $10.6 billion accounting scandal.

    The Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight’s report goes on to say that Fannie Mae employees deliberately and intentionally manipulated financial reports to hit earnings targets in order to trigger bonuses for senior executives. In the case of Franklin Raines, Fannie Mae’s former chief executive officer, OFHEO’s report shows that over half of Mr. Raines’ compensation for the 6 years through 2003 was directly tied to meeting earnings targets. The report of financial misconduct at Fannie Mae echoes the deeply troubling $5 billion profit restatement at Freddie Mac.

    The OFHEO report also states that Fannie Mae used its political power to lobby Congress in an effort to interfere with the regulator’s examination of the company’s accounting problems. This report comes some weeks after Freddie Mac paid a record $3.8 million fine in a settlement with the Federal Election Commission and restated lobbying disclosure reports from 2004 to 2005. These are entities that have demonstrated over and over again that they are deeply in need of reform.

    For years I have been concerned about the regulatory structure that governs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac–known as Government-sponsored entities or GSEs–and the sheer magnitude of these companies and the role they play in the housing market. OFHEO’s report this week does nothing to ease these concerns. In fact, the report does quite the contrary. OFHEO’s report solidifies my view that the GSEs need to be reformed without delay.

    I join as a cosponsor of the Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005, S. 190, to underscore my support for quick passage of GSE regulatory reform legislation. If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.

    I urge my colleagues to support swift action on this GSE reform legislation.

    Do you think this speech was given by the great reformer from Chicago?

    • Diana

      Thank you for posting this link.

    • katmandu

      Yes, it is a great link.

      Another link — http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2008/09/the_best_congre.html

      This has a comprehensive write up on reform efforts and how the Democrats profited from Fannie and Freddie excesses. It also talks about our ACORN friends, whose fingers seem to be in lots of pies.

  • katmandu

    Ed Morrissey has a good article about the lack of reform under a Democratic Congress. http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/16/whose-policies-led-to-the-credit-crisis/ Especially worth reading is this finding from the radical right wing rag the New York Times, about the complicity of Democrats in Congress:

    The Bush administration today recommended the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry since the savings and loan crisis a decade ago.

    Under the plan, disclosed at a Congressional hearing today, a new agency would be created within the Treasury Department to assume supervision of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government-sponsored companies that are the two largest players in the mortgage lending industry.

    The new agency would have the authority, which now rests with Congress, to set one of the two capital-reserve requirements for the companies. It would exercise authority over any new lines of business. And it would determine whether the two are adequately managing the risks of their ballooning portfolios.

    The plan is an acknowledgment by the administration that oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — which together have issued more than $1.5 trillion in outstanding debt — is broken. A report by outside investigators in July concluded that Freddie Mac manipulated its accounting to mislead investors, and critics have said Fannie Mae does not adequately hedge against rising interest rates.

    Among the groups denouncing the proposal today were the National Association of Home Builders and Congressional Democrats who fear that tighter regulation of the companies could sharply reduce their commitment to financing low-income and affordable housing.

    ”These two entities — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — are not facing any kind of financial crisis,” said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. ”The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.”

    This is the citation to send to your Obama friends:

    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3D6123BF932A2575AC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

    This is the problem with well meaning folks who do not understand economics. Helping people get affordable housing is a good idea. Allowing them to get loans with improper credit practices hurts them and everyone also. The easy credit also inflated home prices for everyone, as too many dollars chased too few units. Someday I’ll write about how giving college loans to every Tom, Jane and Harry has inflated college prices, loading worthy graduates with years of debt.

    • txchick57

      These issues have been discussed ad nauseam for the past 4 years on the Housing Bubble Blog which is very highly trafficked and popular. Regular participants there anticipated all of this years in advance and some profited greatly from it (betting against the market, mortgage securities, etc.) The groupthink there was more along the lines of supporing third party candidates such as Ron Paul which I disagree with but the roles of Dodd, Frank, Pelosi, etc. in this disaster cannot be ovemphasized enough.

      • Creature of Chicago

        hey girl I know you from that blog!

        The groupthink there was more along the lines of supporing third party candidates such as Ron Paul

        Ron Paul and Bob Barr the faux libertarian.

        • Hope Floats

          I was reading very accurate predictions of the events now coming to pass on Ron Paul blogs in February. It was sometimes a little alarmist, so I could not believe when I started actually seeing these things come to pass.

    • Mr.Murder

      The Boosh tax cuts were built on a card house of low interest loans that should never have been going on.

      The Chimperor wears no clothes.

  • JP

    Media will ask nothing, but I hope McCain will. I am sick of this lying sack of… you know what. Anyway, when will this all come out? MSM? Hello? Talking to you!

    • http://johnmccain.com Berserk “Dollars I Can Count On” Ohitler is the embodiment of pure evil

      We need to add the MSM to the suicide watch list. The DNC and cheetos eaters are already on the list. These shortsighted fools are hellbent on our society committing suicide and they very well may achieve their goal.

  • txchick57

    One thing I can tell you as a person who makes their living trading the financial markets . . . . if Obama wins, watch out. I suspect the markets will descend rapidly, to say the least.

    • steveeboy

      wow, you make your living from the markets?

      well so do I.

      So what the hell is going on right now moron?

      Perhaps the markets are reacting badly to the upswing for McPalin?

      remind me to short every long you recommend and go long on all your shorts.

      you’re obviously a dumb ass that has no business near anyone else’s capital.

      • http://johnmccain.com Berserk “Dollars I Can Count On” Ohitler is the embodiment of pure evil

        So your theory is better than hers because you say so and do so in a nasty condescending manner? You just discredited yourself and your theory with this silly outburst.

      • txchick57

        What’s going on? I’m shooting the lights out. I’ve been shorting this market since last fall.

        Thanks for asking.

        BTW, one of my investors was a Hillary superdelegate. I’ve almost got her voting for McCain, a few more “sessions” will probably do the trick.

        • steveeboy

          right, so the market has been going to shit while Bush is in office and you are shorting it.

          But, you make the bullshit claim that if Obama is elected the market will go bad?

          and every study out there shows that markets do better under a democratic administration–as do workers and citizens in general.

          and of course, what you right-wing whack jobs like to ignore is the fact that McPalin’s chief economic advisor Phil Gramm is the guy that drove all of the deregulation and that ALL of you right-wing nutjobs have been advocating less regulation for the last 30 years.

          for the rest of you concerned about the level of discourse on this shit hole of a blog, I suggest you take a look in the mirror.

          you ain’t running the McNeil-Lehrer report here.

          • txchick57

            Had nothing to do with Bush, dude. Don’t even bother with that line of crap. Making money involves recognizing situations that are unsustainable, whether they be the bear market bottom of 2003 or the insanity of the housing bubble and Wall Street “hedge fund bubble” and speculating in a prudent way using risk control.

            But of course you know that, being a “financial guy” and all. LOL. I’ve only been doing this for 24 years. Are you even 24 years old?

            • Creature of Chicago

              tx -
              If I’d have taken positions according to what you and astute participants on that other blog were discussing, I’d have me a nice little Christmas account right now.

            • Mr.Murder

              You’re pretty stupid to claim deregulation has nothing to do with AWOL.

          • Nader rox!

            can you say: Penny Pritzker?

          • beebop

            Anyone who:

            1. Has to make up a new name by putting together the last names of two individuals is not too bright or independent thinking … I’ll put my portfolio up against yours ANY DAY.

            2. The old “McSame is Bush” DOESN’T WORK.

            3. People are tired of a negative message.

            4. Your candidate has never accomplished anything.

            I gave you an extra swing at the ball up there and you still strike out.

          • tek

            We are not right wing nutjobs, buddy boy. Most of us are Democrats who are too experienced and too smart (many ivy league educations here) to vote for that worthless baggage Obama. Just because The ONe keeps telling you college kids that you’re smarter than EVERYONE, it ain’t necessarily so.

      • bemused

        You’d have more financial cred, steeveee, if you didn’t have such a long record here of troll cred.

        • Rob in Chicago

          If Steveeboy has been so successful in the financial markets, what’s he doing trolling for Obiwan for minimum wage (or is he a Senior Obiwan Marketing Troll, getting top dollar minimum wage and a half) ?

          • Creature of Chicago

            just add him to the splendiferous list of trolls who show up here:

            UBM is a “millionaire”, there was another guy, he was an IT executive with numerous homes in swank zip codes. Then there was debbie who was a published author as well as Jewish, when it suited the discussion.

            Trolls usually have most excellent bios.

            • Hope Floats

              Oh, don’t forget believe! She was dating a Jew whose family owned Monticello at one time. LOL.

      • JP

        “you’re obviously a dumb ass that has no business near anyone else’s capital”

        It is sentences such as this one that make me go, wow what an intelligent, thoughtful person. I better listen to what this person has to say.

        NOT!

      • Urban Hillbilly

        LARRY

        STEVEBOY SHOULD BE BANNED FOR PROFANITY AND NAME CALLING.

        PLEASE MODERATE THE SITE!

      • Dr. Kate

        here is this little boy again stevie. must have new diapers on.

        ignore this POS.

  • http://www.theindependentview.com Matthew Weaver

    I’d still like to know why Feddie Mac and Fannie Mae were giving ANY money to candidates or doing anything political. There were both quasi-government organizations–chartered specifically by the U.S. government–these were not private, commercial corporations. (I worked with Fannie Mae in 1998-99 as a consultant.)

    • lark

      Corruption tastes like Edy’s ice cream, slow churned, fluffy and easy to swallow. Fat free or fat loaded, is still more air than cream.

    • Urban Hillbilly

      Good question. Reform is needed.

  • lark

    How exactly it is that Hillary gets to compromise her positions?

    How exactly it is that Hillary looses her footing?

    How exactly it is that Hillary binds herself to Axelrod and Obama, and now responds to their directives?

    What exactly is Hillary afraid off?

    • http://johnmccain.com Berserk “Dollars I Can Count On” Ohitler is the embodiment of pure evil

      We’ve been through this over and over again and our attention is on defeating Ohitler now.

    • Kal

      I think Hillary is charting her own course, and that does not include being used as media fodder in the msm misogynist feeding frenzy.

      • lark

        I wanted to see Hillary and Palin together and see what that salad looks like. But I won’t be able to have the pleasure.

    • tek

      lark: screw you for the toll you are.

  • Judy L. NC

    OT: I can’t seem to google results of the Massachusetts primary from yesterday. Wondering how John “Benedict Arnold” Kerry fared, if anyone knows. It was yesterday, wasn’t it?

    • CheatedFLVoter

      Kerry won

      • CheatedFLVoter

        I googled John Kerry primary 2008

      • Jackie

        Uber Bummer

    • http://johnmccain.com Berserk “Dollars I Can Count On” Ohitler is the embodiment of pure evil

      I read last night it was a 70/30 split in favor of the walking cadaver. I bet a good chunk of the 30 points are PUMAs.

    • JP

      http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/general/view/2008_09_17_John_Kerry_cruises_past_Ed_O%E2%80%99Reilly_in_primary_/srvc=home&position=also

      Kerry won.

      “Kerry led with 67 percent to 33 percent with 50 percent of precincts reporting when O’Reilly conceded shortly after 9 p.m.”

      • obamaphobe

        Dang it….Where are all the dead voters when you need them? Oh, yeah, they vote Democrat.

    • Judy L. NC

      Crap. But thanks anyway.

    • ritamary

      Kerry’s opponent spent one tenth of what Kerry spent and got 30% of the vote.

      • Mr.Murder

        The GOP never has opposed Kerry that much, he’s a walking recruitment for poster for them every time his mouth opens and spills out another nuance gaffe.

        WHO AMONG US DOES NOT LOVE GAFFECAR?

  • Sassy

    I don’t see why Obama needs to lift weights. Carrying all those pay-offs in his pockets should be a good “work-out”!
    You have to give the guy credit…as soon as he made his way to the trough, he started “slurping” big time!
    Amazing that he has enough “pucker power” left for all those glorious speeches!

    • Annie Oakley

      I listened to a bit of The One saying that McCain was old for talking about regulation and a commission. The oZero was talking about regulation having to keep up with the innovations of the financial market – which is exactly how we got here in the first place. He is going to be the Wizard of Pork, the Lord of Bamboozlement, a congress critter among critters. Mr. Priceless.

      • Mr Mike

        It should be the Prince of Pork, the Baron of Bamboozlement, and the Wizard of Wankery. :)

        • Mr Mike

          And Michelle, the Rani of Racism.

  • educatedwhitewoman

    And why did these Democratically-appointed executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac want to cook the books? They were giving themselves huge bonuses (milions and millions) tied into “performance” – they had to keep making more and more money, delving into ever-questionable loan practices, etc., to raise the share prices of thes companies and garner these huge bonuses. What a nice racket – give money to your Democratic supporters (Obama, Frank, Dodd, Kerry, et. al.) so they look the other way, while you rip off the citizens of this nation. The democrats ignored John McCain’s warnings and his attempts at reform. Obama did nothing but take the money and look the other way. Now, that’s change you can’t believe in!

    • educatedwhitewoman

      Point of clarification: bonuses were directly tied into the share price, i.e. the higher the share price, the bigger the bonuses.

    • steveeboy

      mccain’s “reforms” and “warnings”?

      you are so full of shit it must pour out of your mouth, nose, and ears.

      mccain pushed the legislation that led to this mess:

      http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/16/AR2008091603732.html?hpid=topnews

      Funny, I bet Hannity and shitty haircut Larry “I’ve got a tape” Johnson never mentions that.

      Or the fact that McCain’s chief economic advisor Phil Gramm SPONSORED the deregulation bill!

      • educatedwhitewoman

        You are misinformed. Democratic appointees at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac dreamed up their swell idea to give huge bonuses to executives if the share price went up – this was not legislated by anyone! And, when the shit hit the fan, they manipulated the books to cover up what was actually happening. There was an investigation, and hence, McCain’s call for reform of these institutions. The Congress refused to act. Those are the facts. And, Obama was one of those who did nothing. He’s part of the problem and now he’s pointing fingers at Washington and Bush. What a hypocrite – and in 3 short years he’s the #2 beneficiary of $$$$ from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. No wonder he looked the other way.

        • tek

          This absolutely answers my question of why were the Dem insiders determined to have Obama and push the Clintons out of the party. These people are absolutely corrupt to the core. I am voting against every one of these Democrats that I possibly can. I’m only sorry we don’t live in IL anymore so I could vote against Durbin, who is up for reelection.

        • Mr.Murder

          Link it up.

          • Hope Floats

            We’re on the link.

      • HARP

        How are those polls looking sparky.

    • Annie Oakley

      They had to give back part of the money. No jail. It is a racket, mostly a legalized racket or a racket in which the people benefitting are thought too important to go to jail.

  • katmandu

    O.T.: read Tapper’s description of the mansion where Obama held the fundraiser last night:

    Many a film scene has been shot at the Greystone Mansion in Los Angeles, Calif., where a 55-room Tudor mansion tonight beckoned Hollywood glitterati to contribute $28,500 per person to the Democratic National Committee/Obama for America joint Victory Fund.

    In “Indecent Proposal,” the tycoon played by Robert Redford was seduced by the real estate agent played by Demi Moore as she showed him through the empty living room of the Greystone Mansion. He didn’t much care for the house, but her he liked.

    Film buffs might also recognize the manse from “What Women Want,” “The Witches of Eastwick,” “The Big Lebowski,” “Death Becomes Her, and “Batman & Robin,” among others.

    And it was here that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. Arrived shortly before 7 pm Pacific for a fund-raising reception and dinner — salad with goat cheese, roasted potatoes, filet of beef and asparagus, apple crisp and chocolate lava cake.

    http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/obama-does-holl.html

    • lark

      Probably he lost some votes just by showing his table manners. Specially that one where he speaks with his mouth full of food.

      • StrawberrybitesBarky

        He didn’t…did he? Bush Redux. Jesus. Where’s Ms. Manners when you need her?

        • beebop

          Remember when he and the lovely Mrs. Senator Soretoes ate breakfast during the primaries with the “folks?” reaching across the table for the syrup? Talking with their mouths full? By the way, was Mrs. Senator Soretoes home tucking the girls in or was she at the event? Was she texting him to make sure he wasn’t flirting?

  • fred

    Obama-Biden Reservations Confirmed
    Washington Prowler

    By The Prowler
    Published 9/17/2008
    York Post report that quoted Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari as saying that Barack Obama during his July visit to Baghdad demanded that Iraq not negotiate with the Bush Administration on the withdrawal of American troops. Instead, he asked that they delay such negotiations until after the presidential handover at the end of January.

    The three problems, according to campaign sources: The report was true, there were at least three other people in the room with Obama and Zebari to confirm the conversation, and there was concern that there were enough aggressive reporters based in Baghdad with the sources to confirm the conversation that to deny the comments would create a bigger problem.
    http://countusout.wordpress.com/

  • Sassy

    I have not even checked my investments…might be upsetting. We try to look at the long term scenario.
    Two of our friends have been heavily invested in the housing market for years, since the wife worked in that industry.
    We are all nervous right now!

    • trails

      Yes. We, the little guys, worry about our pensions, while Barky flies out to Hollywood to collect $9 million from his well-heeled, acting friends.

      • Mr.Murder

        The current S&L crisis is tied to the housing crisis and the GOP played the largest role there.

        That’s the GOP’s challenged baby that was midwifed, stop acting otherwise.

        • JP49

          Although I love the Clintons and have been voting straight democrat for 41 years I must change now to Republican. President Clinton signed the legislation would removed the safeguards for Wall Street and the Housing Industry in 1999. Although I am sure he did not expect them to go crazy as they have done, that legislation led to this crisis. Senator McCain proposed legislation to institute new safeguards which passed the house but died in the Senate at the democrats hands. The republicans are not for once responsible for this crisis.

  • http://insightanalytical.wordpress.com InsightAnalytical-GRL

    I looked a bit further into the news posted yesterday (and hat-tipped Matt Weaver and NQ) about the McCain/Obama appearances at the ClintonGlobal Initiative…and found something interesting involving the DATE of when they are supposed to participate….

    McCain LIVE at the Clinton Global Initiative, Obama by Satellite (Too Busy Cramming for the 1st Presidential Debate the NEXT DAY?)

    http://insightanalytical.wordpress.com/2008/09/17/mccain-live-at-the-clinton-global-initiative-obama-by-satellite-too-busy-cramming-for-the-1st-presidential-debate-the-next-day/

    At first I thought Clinton was possibly snubbing Obama by just having him by satellite feed…or that Obama was snubbing Clinton by not wanting to show up in person…then I looked at the date involved…….

    • StrawberrybitesBarky

      So why isn’t the old guy with the feeble mind worried about cramming for the debate? I’m being snarky of course.

  • http://johnmccain.com Berserk “Dollars I Can Count On” Ohitler is the embodiment of pure evil

    ALERT! This is HUGE!

    For Immediate Release
    September 17, 2008 Contact:

    MEDIA ADVISORY: Member of Democratic Platform Committee to Endorse John McCain

    ARLINGTON, VA — The McCain-Palin campaign announced that a prominent Hillary Clinton supporter who is a member of the Democratic National Committee’s Platform Committee will endorse John McCain at a press conference at the Capitol Hill Club today, September 17th.

    WASHINGTON, D.C.

    WHO: A prominent Hillary Clinton supporter and member of the DNC’s Platform Committee

    WHAT: Press conference to endorse John McCain

    WHEN: Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 12:30 p.m. EDT

    WHERE: Pennsylvania Room, third floor of the Capitol Hill Club
    300 First Street SE
    Washington, DC 20003

    • http://ahillarybmccainamericafirst.com/ gerard “Barracuda” Nedich

      WOOT WOOOT!!!1!1!!!!!11!!!!1!!!1

      a. hillary
      b. mccain

      america first!

  • http://chriss chris

    Wow but OT so sorry. Hillary is either a genius or so beholden to OBama that she has to toe the line. Apparently, Hillary and Sarah were invited by a jewish group to speak at a rally against allowing Iran’s lunatic leader to speak the UN. Both agreed and then Hillary backed out when she learned Sarah was also speaking. This is not good for Obama’s group with the Jewish voters. So is Hillary dissing Obama but looking like she is doing it for him even though it will hurt Obama? Or is she doing it for her own political purposes? Or is she so under the gun from the One that she has to march to his orders? Interesting to think about isn’t it. I feel she’s found a backdoor way to stick a knife in OB’s march to glory all under the guise of helping him. This can’t be good for his campaign. What will the spin be on this be?

    • lark

      I am dumbfounded about Hillary’s reaction to withdraw. It is a problem for Obama big time. Why? Because the AARP is banking on advertising the need for bi-partisanship in issues that affect the pocketbooks. They would have loved to see these two together in the same stage. I would have too just to see how they connect. The AARPs are going to take that withdrawal to heart and to the voting booths.

      I am beginning to get confused by Hillary. This would have been one that would have boosted her standing with the AARP and other bi-partisan advocate groups out there.

      • Dr. Kate

        good, POS, I’m glad she’s staying away. And I’m glad if you see this as bad for Barky.

        don’t give me your faux concern about HRC. Get back under the bridge, troll. you are in way over your head.

        • Hope Floats

          lark has posted here before and raises very good points. this was a calculated move on her part, and it came across as petty. whether she wanted to hurt Obama, was following his orders or just didn’t want to share the spotlight, it was childish. especially the statement she released.

    • J. J.. (The P.U.M.A.)

      This makes Hillary look petty. It actually plays into the Saturday Night Live skit.

      I say this as a big time Hillary supporter.

      • snosandy

        Don’t you think with all the media attention on Clinton and Palin that the real message of the protest would be lost?

    • Urban Hillbilly

      It is no reflection on Obama.

      The media attention would be crazy and detract from any serious business. Not Hillary’s style.

    • tek

      chris: give it a rest. We’ve already covered this territory.

      Too bad you ‘bots don’t realize you can’t prop Obione Who’s No D by criticizing Hillary. The more you bash Hillary, the more we DON’T LIKE YOU!

  • C.S.

    Where else would a part-time worker whose last full time job was in New York City in 1985 and who worked as a low paid “community organizer” before spending 3 years at an expensive law school; and yet somehow found time to ingratiated himself with the influential and wealthy of Chicago; get the money to run an election campaign in 1996, a Senate election campaign in 2004 and a presidential campaign in 2008 and still acquire a 6+ million dollar mansion and over a million in declared income.

    As they say when investigating any crime: FOLLOW THE MONEY.

    (Although in Soertoro/Obama’s case we need to follow the papertrail, too.)

    • steveeboy

      well, you’re right, all those campaign ARE expensive.

      maybe obama should have started f*cking around on his wife, divorced her, and then married a trophy-wife heiress worth 100 million dollars like the “honorable” John McPalin?

      I bet that would help with the costs of campaigning!

      • Nader rox!

        losing sucks, no?

      • http://libland Oinkbama

        Oh stevie boy, you’re so funny.

      • http://ahillarybmccainamericafirst.com/ gerard “Barracuda” Nedich

        wow you sound bitter dude…

        a. hillary
        b. mccain

        america first!

      • Donkey Brazziere

        John Kerry did that too! :)

        • Mr Mike

          And remember, Steveebot, Judas was a community organizer and Howard Dean was a governor.

      • http://! Clinton Fan

        Better not go there….because the first Mrs. McCain left HER HUSBAND to marry John. John McCain was HER SECOND HUSBAND.

        You know all those older McCain kids? They aren’t biologically McCain’s–he ADOPTED them, took care of them, stood by them, and regards them as entirely his own. They are the biological product of Carol Shepp McCain and her first husband.

        And if McCain was so AWFUL to his first wife, why does she support all his campaigns? Donate to them? Why does she refuse to say a bad word about him? Why does she defend him when anyone gets out of line, like you are doing, and makes ASSumptions?

        You do NOT know what goes on behind closed doors. Yet you PRESUME to….

        So, if you want to talk about CLOSED DOORS, maybe we need to look into Obama’s NEW YORK life, huh? Back when he was young and restless? And let those chips fall where they may??? And let’s see what Michelle Robinson got up to before she snagged that lightbright fellow who was her subordinate?

        How’s that working for you? You really want to go there? Because the minute you start talking about something that Carol Shepp wants to keep private, you open that door WIDE for Barack AND MICHELLE as well….and who knows what’s behind that door?

        Gee, maybe that IS something we should look into…in, say, OCTOBER???

      • Hope Floats

        Yeah, McCain should have just stayed divorced instead of marrying someone wealthy who loved him. Everyone knows it’s a CRIME to marry someone with money. But get this straight: his first marriage was dead. It was never going to work out.

        He could have:

        Stayed married and been miserable.

        Gotten divorced eventually.

        Or taken the chance when it presented itself and married a beautiful heiress.

        Gee… I don’t know? TOUGH fucking call, man. Oh, but weren’t we supposed to feel sorry for the first wife? Wasn’t it so mean of McCain to adopt her children from her first marriage? THE BASTARD!

        And all of this totally excuses Obama riding the coattails of dirty influence peddlers, unrepentant terrorists, crooked businessmen, felons and Saddam Hussein’s bagman and GOD KNOWS WHO ELSE.

        It’s hard out there for a sexist, biracial, Ivy League educated man raised in Hawaii by his doting white grandparents. How is a guy supposed to get ahead? And all those people in his district, the Rezko slum tenants, the babies who suffocated at Christ Hospital, the teenagers getting shot in the streets, the kids learning about AIDS before they can read… THEY JUST DIDN’T HOPE ENOUGH!!!

        Fuck you and your rotten candidate.

    • Kal

      Think first step Ayers, second step Ayers’ many legal and political connections in Illinois.

      BO probably linked with Ayers while at Columbia, then chose Chicago as the best target for his posing.

  • McHope

    It’s hard to see how the dems would stand up to Achmadenijad when they can’t even face Sarah Palin.
    Gov Palin’s existence somehow causes dems to know even less of their own values. Did they ever really stand for anything?

    • audacity

      before the voting day or after?!

    • Mr.Murder

      Yeah Palin trying to get on Hillary’s coat tails any chance she can.

      Can she take a hint?

      • Hope Floats

        Sarah Palin was not selected as McCain’s VP to get Hillary’s supporters. And Hillary is yesterday’s news. She’s out of the race. Her appearance was as a senator from NY. Sarah Palin is closer to the White House than Hillary may ever be.

        • Mr.Murder

          Palin is the new Colin Powell.

          Figurehead.

    • tek

      They can’t stand Sarah Palin because she represents the stupidity of the Democrats. They should have put Hillary Clinton on the ticket–top or bottom, but they were too venal and stupid. Obie had his supporters worked into frothing at the mouth whenever they heard Hillary’s name so he could hardly disappoint them and put her on his ticket. Then McCain came along and had the balls to put a woman on his ticket. It’s almost stopped Obama/Biden in their tracks. The ‘bots always have to have someone else to blame, so Sarah Palin has become Obama’s whipping boy (er, girl).

      • Hope Floats

        Sarah Palin is nobody’s bitch. Obama can lob attacks, but she is in a presidential race. That is bound to happen.

  • Ms J of FL
    • lark

      I is obvious that Oblahblah does not what is talking about. His first 5 points are explained and conditioned by his last point. Anticipation. He wants to create an Advisory Board to the markets that would provide [anticipatory oversight - an oxymoron in itself] to anticipate risks and put a muzzle on high risks. That my friends is anti-everything capitalism stands for, impossible to achieve [the crystal ball effect] and simply short of sometime of market manipulation all and by itself. It is ridiculous. RIDICULOUS.

      So his first 5 points are things that are well known necessities. But his problem is when he says that “HE” will do them. McCain says that he will see that people get together to discuss the problems and come up with solutions that will eliminate the excesses and control the greedy players. But McCain does not want to re-structure the whole capitalistic market system.

      • Ms J of FL

        excellent synopsis! could you please paste that comment in the video? there are some links on it too, under (more info).

        • lark

          If you want to rephrase what I said and put it in be my guest.

  • http://ahillarybmccainamericafirst.com/ gerard “Barracuda” Nedich

    Can you invest 10 days of your life to make history?

    McCain-Palin 2008 is looking for volunteers who are willing to spend the final ten days of the campaign helping in a nearby state. Deployed volunteers will take an active role and participate in a number of Get-Out-The-Vote activities. These activities will include making phone calls, going door to door, recruiting volunteers, and assisting with additional campaign activities and operations.

    These ten days will be unpaid and participants will be responsible for arranging their own transportation and housing. Unfortunately, the campaign is unable to reimburse any expenses.
    If you can afford the time and expense to serve from October 25th through November 4th please reply to this email with your resume, if available, and your contact information, including city, state and phone number. Please send to Volunteer2@JohnMcCain.com or reply to this email.

    If you have questions, call 703-650-5893.

    Thank you!

    John Cummins, Deputy Director of Volunteers
    Volunteer2@JohnMcCain.com

    a. hillary
    b. mccain

    america first!

    • beebop

      If ANYONE wants to come here to Ohio, you can stay with me. I’ll sleep on the couch, you can have my bed. You just have to like big dogs and not mind old people (my mother). Serious offer. Let me know and I will make sure that SusanUnPC puts you in touch with me.

  • Will Smith

    BREAKING THE BANK
    The woman whom Barack Obama is crediting for organizing the Barbra Streisand fundraiser it held last night in Hollywood is also partially responsible for one of the greater banking collapses in American history.

    Penny Pritzker, Obama’s national finance chair was, with her family, the half owner of Superior Bank, which was shut down in 2001 by the FDIC after it had lost nearly all of its more than $2 billion of assets on bad loans to high-risk borrowers, federal regulators said.

    http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13897
    Pritzker has avoided media attention over the past week as reporters covering the Obama campaign sought comment on the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac debacle.

    Pritzker also served as finance chair for Obama’s Senate run, and supported him during his time in the Illinois state legislature.

    One reason Pritzker may have been enamored with Obama was his willingness to press legislation that loosened state regulatory policies for land developers and multi-family property owners.

    Pritzker is also known to be close to Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett, a former political operative for Mayor Richard M. Daley, and the CEO of a housing and development company based in Chicago with ties to Obama going back to his Illinois legislature days.

    Jarrett, by the way, is now considered to be the top candidate to fill Obama’s Senate seat should he be elected President.

    • Jess Terr

      Is this the same Jarret who is connected to Rezko, Ayers, and Davis, Miner ?

      • Kal

        Yes.

      • Annie Oakley

        Yes, and more.

    • Andy

      Also a potential Secretary of the Treasury in an Obama Adm…..

  • Jess Terr

    I read on another site that HRC sitting this appearance out does not play well to the Jewish vote. If she has not sold out to nO, then it is a clever move to give Palin the exposure and accolades in a critical demographic. My guess is she is sitting it out to give McCain/Palin the limelight, without chance of an SNL shot.

    • Ms J of FL

      she’s taking a bashing for it. i’m tired of seeing her used & humiliated by the asshat. the Jews already know Hillary’s position on Israel. she corrected BO at the AIPAC press conf after the primary, & saved his stupid ass.
      where the hell is Biden anyway? where is Obama?
      the mysogenists are at it again blaming Hillary for losing the Jewish vote.

      • tek

        You couldn’t be more right. In 40 yrs I’ve never seen a presidential candidate blame all his missteps on a candidate who is not on the ticket. If Democrats had a brain, they would see how incredibly telling this behavior is and what it tells us is that Obama has no good character. His camp still seems determined to destroy Hillary.

    • HARP

      I`m thinking the same thing because it does not sound like Hillary.

    • Jackie

      That makes sense in light of her Super Delegate who will come out for McCain today at 12:30.

      I would still like to have seen the unified stance for the sake of the nation. Women have a unique ability to heal deep wounds.

      I can see Hillary and Sarah being very good friends who can engage in fiesty debate and yet respect one another in the end.

      • Hope Floats

        Yeah, well I can’t see it now, because I thought it was pretty graceless.

  • HARP

    According to Zebari, Obama said “some media reports that I want all [American] forces withdrawn are wrong. I want to keep American forces [in Iraq] to train [the Iraqi army] and fight terrorism.” This is precisely what US troops have been doing in Iraq for the last five years.

    Zebari then says that he had the impression that US policy in Iraq wouldn’t change: “The US has permanent strategic interests in our region. A change in the administration would not change realities and priorities and would not mean a change of policy as a whole.” (Full text of the Zebari interview is available on Asharqalawsat.com)

    Contrary to what Obama and his campaign have said, Iraqi officials insist that at no point in his talks in Washington and Baghdad did Obama make a distinction between SOFA and SFA when he advised them to wait for the next American administration.

    http://www.nypost.com/seven/09172008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/obama_objects_129453.htm?page=0

    • educatedwhitewoman

      And, the writer of the article is now asking Obama to tell his supporters to cease and desist, because the writer is getting “death threats and worse” for exposing what Obama did and said in Iraq? That’s the Obamabots for you. Fascists.

      • Jess Terr

        Death Threats? But he didn’t name a Teddybear “mohammad”. Typical muslim response: kill the messenger or anyone nearby.

        • Jess Terr

          Sorry, that didn’t post correctly.
          Bitter sword-totin’, koran-clingin’, typical muslim folk.

      • Jackie

        You can better judge a “leader” by the actions of his followers than by his own actions.

        If we had looked at the Brown Shirts we would have had a better grasp on Adolf Hitler.

    • Mr.Murder

      He wants to replace combat troops with training instructor brigades.

      So if you die there it isn’t in combat and your benefits will be scheduled differently.

      See also, Mission Accomplished.

      War is Peace!

      Glad to know those bullets fired at you are only training bullets. They’re not real war bullets!

  • http://me414.wordpress.com/ Divine Democrat

    Oh man, are you telling me that Obama lied about where his campaign money was coming from? He didn’t get it in small $20 donations from college kids?

    Obama is such a fraud.

    • yourallrepubs

      You are all so transparent. It’s really to bad. I had a lot of respect for Larry when this site started. I thought this was going to be about our security.

      Now it’s juvenile attacks on Obama.

      You all need to get a life. Do us all a favor and stay home. Don’t bother to vote because you are all in the tank for McCain. Palin is an idiot and you will all deserve what you get once the GOP steals another election. That is what you should be worried about. But no, let’s talk about pigs and the other b.s.

      Obama takes money from the same people McCain takes money from. Of course it’s okay if McCain takes it but if Obama does then he’s corrupt. You people really need to get your stories straight.

      Yeah McCains a reformer. He’s had how many years to stand up and do the right thing? No, he votes with Bush and says he is different? Please how stupid are you people? The GOP all need to be rotting in jail for what they have done to this country and you want more of the same? Thanks God for the electoral college which was invented to adjust for ignorant people like you.
      No way. No how. No John McCain.
      Hillary knows what she is talking about.

      • http://johnmccain.com Berserk “Dollars I Can Count On” Ohitler is the embodiment of pure evil

        I saw yourallrepubs and did not bother to read the comment since the fact is we PUMAs are Republican only for a day on November 4. We demand accuracy in our trolls!

        • yourallrepubs

          Yes be a repub for a day and help take this country into another war.
          What a total hypocrite. I am not a troll. Not voting for Obama or McCain. I have morals which will not allow me to vote for either fraud. You all think McCain is the cats meow? Now who has been drinking the koolaid? You can vote for who you want which is what makes this country great. When McCain finally has to talk issues then what? Him and his little sidekick will be toast. I thought about voting for McCain until he put the bimbo on his ticket. I will not vote for someone just because she is the same gender as I am. You all bought the pandering crap just like the GOP knew you would. One more excuse to vote for McFraud.

          If you think McCain will change anything, think again. Both candidates take money from corporations which is why we are in this mess. McCain has no better morals or values than Obama. Politician are what is wrong with this country. It does not matter what stripe they are. They will say and promise anything to get elected.

          All they care about is getting the money. Obama and McCain both take money from wallstreet. They both have lobbyists running their campaigns. One is not better than the other. They both suck. That is the choice voters have. No choice at all. It’s just too bad some people are to stupid to figure that out and believe the b.s. both campaigns spew.

      • tek

        You wish we’d stay home, but we’re voting McCain!!! We are not the juvies, you Obama “youth” voters are the juvies. Just too inexperienced in the world to know a total fraud when you see one.

      • Hope Floats

        No one’s doing you any favors. That’s the point. You’re scum. You will be defeated.

      • Mr.Murder

        Yes, do us a favor and don’t have your vote count, like Dade Co., all of Florida, or Michigan.

        Is our democracy learning?

  • http://investigatebarackobama.wordpress.com/about/ kat in your hat

    McCain: Obama Sees Economy Woes As Politcal Opportunity
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C-s_1_3Sos

    (This is a really good video going around. McCain calls Obama OUT. Obama is such a fraud!)

    • Andy

      kat in your hat:

      yes, it’s a good video; they should use the clip in a new ad. By the way, McCain’s new Ad “Enough is Enough” is much more effective than Obama’s “Fundamentals”.
      The latter is gloomy and depressing while the former is
      sobering but at the same time reassuring and aims at calming people’s anxiety.

    • Jess Terr

      Just like he sees keeping America’s sons and daughters in harms way as a political opportunity? http://www.nypost.com/seven/09152008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/obama_tried_to_stall_gis_iraq_withdrawal_129150.htm

    • mcpalin hill

      kat in the hat — just like keeping the soldiers in Iraq is another political opportunity. Thank God this stuff is getting out even if the MSM will not cover it.

  • http://investigatebarackobama.wordpress.com/about/ kat in your hat

    Thank you Larry! I’ll spread the word.

    Obama: YOU STINKING FRAUD!!!!!

  • http://investigatebarackobama.wordpress.com/about/ kat in your hat

    I am so angry. I SWEAR.

    “Top Recipients of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Campaign Contributions, 1989-2008Name Office State Party Grand Total

    Dodd, Christopher S CT D $165,400
    Obama, Barack S IL D $126,349 ($6000 came from the PAC)
    Kerry, John S MA D $111,000″

    • http://msnGodhelpusall Lee M

      But he said NO to Harry Reid’s request for help for the down ticket Democrats. More Dems under the bus.

      • mcpalin hill

        lee m — the DNC cannot even meet its payroll because Obama promised to give money to the DNC and he now refuses to do so. Harry Reid asked for money for Down Ticket Dems — it fell on deaf ears. Hello Dems what did you think would happen when you gave your party to Obama?

      • mcpalin hill

        lee m — Why don’t these Democrats speak out? What is all this anonymous crap? Why should they be loyal to him when its obvious that he is destroying the Democratic Party? Something is really odd here.

    • beebop

      http://blip.tv/file/1268421

      Here is a really damaging Fox clip ….

      By the way, John Kerry is number three on the list ….

    • Mr.Murder

      Was Obama taking contribtuions in 1989?

      Shouldn’t the list only start when obama’s actual campaigning days started?

      He’d lead the list then.

  • J. J.. (The P.U.M.A.)

    If you want to understand why Obama is going to lose, Maureen Dowd’s article today explains it perfectly. It perfectly explains the “elitist takeover of the Democratic Party.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/17/opinion/17dowd.html?ref=opinion

    • John Smith

      You must be kidding me. Do you think that we will click on a Obama Times opinion article. You must not be a very smart troll.

    • Creature of Chicago

      I don’t see the reference to the elitist takeover, unless you’re referring to her condescending tone throughout the piece.

      As for Palin not being qualified to run HP: it’s true she didn’t work her way up the corporate ladder, and that’s one of the reasons we like her!

      (The CEO is chosen by a search committee and approved by the board of directors. That entails the collective decision-making of maybe a couple dozen individuals.

      114,697 citzens of Alaska cast their vote for Palin.)

    • mcpalin hill

      jj — Is this what you trolls are touting now, bitter pills like Dowd whose only accomplishment is her hatred against everyone but her lovely self?

      This is why liberals lose elections — because they despise the rest of us. I go to Walmart and I love Sarah Palin. I must be a real anarchist or maybe just a real ordinary American.

  • Andy

    And… we should not forget the time span during which Obama (barely 2.5 years) received that amount of money versus McCain’s.
    That is crucial: do the per annum to get the full picture.

    • mcpalin hill

      Andy — there was an article in one of the Chicago papers just after Obama was elected to the Senate. They were very disappointed in him because the first thing he did was to go to all the lobbiests telling them that if they gave him money he would do their bidding. Mr. Hopey/Changey was only there to enrich his own bank account.

  • http://www.lostinspacetv.com/ The Robot

    Prominent Clinton backer and DNC member to endorse McCain

    WASHINGTON (CNN) — Lynn Forester de Rothschild, a prominent Hillary Clinton supporter and member of the Democratic National Committee’s Platform Committee, will endorse John McCain for president on Wednesday, her spokesman tells CNN.

  • wodiej

    wow…I haven’t been paying attention. Fannie Mae was being scutinized back in 2006? Who in Congress was against action, Dem, Repubs or both? They are probably both at fault and Dem’s were in majority. They haven’t done squat about anything else or impeach Bush so I am not suprised. All I know is, Republican be damned, McCain voted for investigation of Fannie Mae, he’s never went for earmarks for pork spending and his running mate has more guts than alot of men and took on gas and oil lobbyists. If you still can’t figure out who would do a better job than you’re so high on Obama you wouldn’t know logic if it smacked you upside the head.

    OT…a hope ring?? Please!!

  • http://investigatebarackobama.wordpress.com/about/ kat in your hat

    Obama raises 9 million at Beverly Hills Barbara Streisand fundraiser.

    Next time Obama complains about the economy, just imagine him with celebrities in Beverly Hills, like last night, and how they were laughing it up, spending $30,000 on a meal and a Barbara Streisand song.

    PHONIES.

    Like these people give a crap about the economy.

  • Pingback: Regulation…who did what and when? UPDATE « Mcnorman’s Weblog

  • iVet

    Who’s giving money to whom? See how Penny Pritzker, organizer of the Hollywood fundraiser and culprit in a banking disaster, supported Senator Obama with her family’s money (according to the Chicago Tribune and the FEC): http://files.chicagotribune.com/metro/contrib/obama_results.php

    Search for ‘Pritzker’ to see how the family shared the wealth.

    Change we can believe in? Maybe they just need another chance to run some banks? Or maybe they are in real estate development now because they are waiting for the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to open up some new revenue streams?

    Penny’s story is here:
    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9404E5D6163FF932A25751C1A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

    and here:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-ofari-hutchinson/if-obamas-for-real-on-th_b_89159.html

  • ford

    There are MANY obots on the site today…is that a wet spot in your crotch???Brazile says it is “wet pant “time you know…

    There is a GREAT TAPE OF OBAMA on Micheal Graham’s site this am.

    Graham HAS OBAMA ON the tape, IN HIS OWN WORDS TALKING ABOUT HOW KINDERGARTEN SEX ED IS IMPORTANT…HE ALSO STATES THAT THE “AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE BASICALLY DECENT”..taped in 2007 @ a Planned Parenthood Conference…he mocks us though..

    Please check out the tape, I heard it on the radio this am..very damaging and exposes more BO lies, as well as a complicit MSM.

    The Pub’s need to make a spot out of it to shut up the MSM(DNC) who insist that this was just about NOTHING!….LIAR, LIAR,…. pants are wet.

  • ford

    Thanks on the Dowd piece…so the DNC is declaring war on everyone who shops @ WALMART now??

    Very smart. With friends like these we Americans can learn a few things about what the MSM and DNC really think of us…who knew there was such a ruling class in the USA??

  • Amazonia

    McCain/Palin ’08

    Hillary Clinton/Sarah Palin ’12, ’16

    Sarah Palin/Sheila Jackson Lee
    or Heidi Li Feldman ’20

  • Betty

    McCain received $117,500 from Lehman Bros.
    Obama received $370,524 from Lehman Bros.

    You know I just had a thought – why are they receiving any money at all. We pay them a good salary and I know we give them excellent health care and retirement.

    Why is it just accepted as ok for them to take money? It gives them an unfair advantage when running for national office over local candidates who might be far better at governing fairly.

    How many Sarah Palins (ex. Marie Kegelus) are there out there who could fill the void of Democratic Leadership if only they weren’t up against big money self interest?

    • beebop

      Excellent point!

      The real question is this: Why do so many companies think that Barry 0bama is the right candidate for them? ANSWER: They know that a product of the Chicago Machine with do NOTHING to investiagate the fraud that has led to the current situation. And who really lost out here? Not the people who got houses for nothing down. They had lousey credit any way. America. Tax payers. YOU!

    • mcpalin hill

      betty — this lobbiest money must stop. Congress won’t vote to end it because they love having these checks. There should be a National Referendum to stop this money from getting to our lawmakers. When they take this money they stop working for us.

  • doc99

    Ironically, Barry’s Backers in NY stand to lose under Obama’s tax plan. Biting the hand that feeds him?

    OH and re: the Community Organizer meme – Osama was a community organizer. And Pontius Pilate? He voted “Present.”

  • ford

    With the way the MSM is treating Palin , it will stop many women from even trying…

  • Pink Panther

    THE SORO-MOVEON.ORG-HALLIBURTON-OBAMA CONNECTION

    1. George Soro and Associates Give $6.2 million to MoveOn over a 6 month period. (September 2003)
    (Reference: discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6201)

    2. MoveOn.org Pac went after Halliburton for making billions during the Iraq War. Moveon.org overstated their case in ads. (2004)
    (Reference: factcheck.org/anti-bush_ad_overstates_case_against_halliburton.html

    3. MoveOn.org attacks motivated the left to politically attack Halliburton. (2004)
    (Reference theleftcoaster.com/archives/002137.php)

    4. Halilibrton’s stock drops 70 cents in 2006.
    (Reference:charlotteaction.blogspot.com/2006/07/army-to-rebid-halliburton-units.html)

    5. According to papers filed with the SEC, in the fourth quarter of 2006, Soros purchased nearly 2 million shares of Halliburton. This is nearly $62 million, or 2% of his total portfolio, in Halliburton, the major government contractor criticized by his own Open Society Institute and the group he funds, MoveOn.org.

    (Reference: theneweditor.com/index.php?/archives/5332-George-Soros-Buys-Halliburton-Stock.html)

    6. Soro and MoveOn.org support Obama. According to the NYT, Sorro and his family members have given Obama’s campaign $60,000. MoveOn.org is one of Obama’s biggest contributors, giving $347,463.

    (Reference: .nytimes.com/2007/04/03/us/politics/03obama.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

    opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00009638)

    • tek

      You can’t put lipstick on a pig. Halliburton is totally culpable. It may that Soros & MoveOn are complicit, but that does not let Halliburton off the hook. Let’s don’t start believing in fantasies just because Obama is telling a big story.

      • Pink Panther

        Agree about Halliburton but so are Soros, MoveOn.org and Obama.

  • Paul3triple

    actually Hillary canceling is a clever ploy. With her there, she could possibly take some spotlight away. Or the two of them together could seem like the SNL skit. Also, it angered Jewish voters, so those poeple who are upset get to see palin and she can possibly win them over to her ticket.
    Clintons are playing chess. Look at Bills CGI event with Mac kicking off. And now Clinton bowing out to give all of the spotlight to Sarah.
    I actually think the obama camp is probably mad about this because now they have no prominent supporter speaking.
    Stroke of genius by Hillary, I think. It also allows the non-political junkies to think she snubbed the event because of petty partisan reasons, which again her backing out is a point for mccain/Palin

    • vinnie

      so, are any of the Dems representing Barry going to be there?

    • wodiej

      the Clintons are very smart. I believe there is underlying messages just like wearing orange.

      • mcpalin hill

        wodiej — The Clintons have done everything they could to crimp the Democrats style. Pelosi and Dean wanted Hillary out after Super Tuesday because then it would have all be sweetness and light toward Obama. However, she stayed because she wanted us all to see how far they would go to try to force Obama into the nomination. Even now while she tells Obama she will campaign for him — she said it won’t do any good she cannot get us to support Obama. If Obama loses–its Hillary and her Dems that did him in.

        God Bless Hillary–I trust McCain because Hillary and Bill are his friends.

    • mcpalin hill

      Paul — I agree. Hillary and Bill love this country too much to leave it in the hands of Obama and whoever else is behind him. I trust Bill and Hill. In fact that is all that is left of the Democratic Party that I do trust.

  • ford

    I can’t stand Sean Hannity. At least he is doing SOME VETTING OF OBAMA…the sad thing here, yes?

    I watch him only because I cannot bear “Butch “Maddow or Campbell “the soup” Brown…ugh! What a bunch of Brazile bed wetters.

  • txchick57

    I actually think that no matter who wins, they’re going to wish they hadn’t. These market and economic dislocations are serious and will resist easy answers and serial bottom calling.

    In the case of Obama, there are going to be a lot of people with their hands out if he wins. What if there isn’t anything to give them.

    • http://snunes.blogspot.com Susan Nunes

      Why do you think Democrats are deliberately throwing the race with Obama? They don’t WANT to be saddled with this economic mess.

      They can use this as a weapon against McCain and/or Palin in 2012.

      • mcpalin hill

        susan nunes — when have you ever seen the Media in league with the Dems? No I believe the powers that be have decided the Republican brand is over and they are going with the Dems. Therefore, a full court press for their handpicked boy Obama.

    • tek

      They’ll riot in the streets, take all the white people’s property and money for themselves. Didn’t get the memo?

  • Sassy

    Okay, I get it!
    But what I don’t get is WHY!
    The media, corporations, and money “changers” are all in cahoots to elect Obama!
    So, does that relate to his candidacy, or their fear of the “maverick”?
    I believe they think that there are going to be major crack-downs on the “business as usual” scene, if McCain/Palin are elected!
    But, this started with BO from day one!

    • wodiej

      that’s exactly what it is. both sides are lining their pockets. I think that is also why they didn’t want Hillary in there because she was going to kick ass and take names later. I believe McCain and Palin intend to do the same and ABOUT DAMN TIME.

      • mcpalin hill

        wodiej — Sure Nancy can game the system with the best of them. She wanted Obama because he would keep his mouth shut and do what he was told. She never figured he would want to be a Messiah–however.

    • mcpalin hill

      sassy — the big question is who is footing the bills for Mr. Obama and why is the media on his side? I think its the Saudis–just my opinion. But they see we are weakened and this is their chance to not only own a significant piece of this country but the entire country. Look at how the Democratic Party followed Obama meekly to Chicago. Never an explanation why a political party was so in bed with one candidate that they had to be close enough to kiss him good night.

      Someday the story of this will be written and it won’t be pretty–however, we will finally get the truth. But only if we elect McCain/Palin to stop their plans.

      Otherwise, its Burkas ladies and we do what we’re told.

  • outlawales

    i tell my 6 year old boy/girl twins,

    momma doesn’t like obama because,,,,,

    well it’s like he cut in line,,,

    • wodiej

      haha, very good!!

  • Pingback: Our Economy: “The Foundation” : NO QUARTER

    • mcpalin hill

      Our Economy — Our Foundation — However the Dems answer to the Wall Street debacle is to hold hearing up until the election blaming Republicans. I am so sick of the Washington games–lets get something done for the people. I hope no one falls for this. What has Pelosi and Reid done in these last 2 years? Now the hearings blaming Republicans is supposed to suffice and get them back in. The reason I have been a Dem all my life is because I believed that the Democratic Party didn’t talk down to their voters. Now I see they think we are a bunch of dipshits. DONE DONE DONE

    • mcpalin hill

      Our Economy — Our Foundation — However the Dems answer to the Wall Street debacle is to hold hearings up until the election blaming Republicans. I am so sick of the Washington games–lets get something done for the people. I hope no one falls for this. What has Pelosi and Reid done in these last 2 years? Now the hearings blaming Republicans is supposed to suffice and get them back in. The reason I have been a Dem all my life is because I believed that the Democratic Party didn’t talk down to their voters. Now I see they think we are a bunch of dipshits. DONE DONE DONE

  • mcpalin hill

    One thing that surprised me listening to Republican Talk Radio’s Mark Levin yesterday is that Pelosi and the Dems passed a bill which supposedly favors off shore drilling but is a total scam because the only drilling allowed is 50 miles out to sea.

    I am furious. Is this what we pay them money for? So Fancy Nancy would rather attack Repubs then get something accomplished and she would rather leave these oil prices high then drill. I will never be a Dem again. They go to Washington to play games — I am sick of it.

    • yourallrepubs

      go move to canada.

      • Hope Floats

        Why would someone who hates excessive regulation, censorship and European-style socialism move to Canada? I am in Canada, and I have dual citizenship. Obama supporters would be more than happy here for a while… Until they had to wait five months for an operation or their job wages stagnated or they wanted to start their own business or missed freedom of expression. You move to Canada, you fucking fascist.

  • http://snunes.blogspot.com Susan Nunes

    Both candidates are bought and paid for by the economic elites who will once again shaft the masses.

    It won’t matter if McCain is elected or Obama is. These elites will win.

    Voters were denied the right to choose their candidates. The media, owned by the same economic elites, decreed the contest would be between McCain and Obama.

    • wodiej

      I wonder why you are here then. We all are here to fight against the norm.

    • tek

      Not quite true. McCain was fairly elected by the Republicans. The neocons tried to prevent it, but the way the Republican primary system works, they couldn’t stop the will of the voters.

      Democrats, on the other hand, manipulated their primary season to shove Obama on the ticket.

  • JP49

    Thanks for the article Larry and timely as well. McCain proposed legislation that passed the house regarding the mortgage industry but it was killed in the senate (see Savage Politics today’s article). Its a real shame this inexperienced dirty candidate Obama is our nominee. Just because he has a D behind his name all democrats are supposed to vote for the fraud. Not me, not ever. I vote for McCain and probably will vote republican from now on because of what the democratic party did this year. I don’t trust the democratic party anymore. I thought O’Reilly would really do a good job with his Obama interview and his 25 part show on Obama. NOPE. He is so in the tank for Obama. He skirts over any issue which would put Obama in a bad light. He is a total sellout. We need to tell Hannity and Lou Dobbs to support McCain and bring the truth out. These two are the only two that seem to try and report the truth. The rest of the media suck. They couldn’t report the truth if it was laid out in front of them.

    • wodiej

      I agree

    • tek

      Well, you know Obama would never go on a tv show if he was going to be made to look bad.

  • http://none Jessie Britton

    Liz- talk about the issues. Obama’s lack of experience in a dangerous world, two wars,Iran going atomic, riots and bombing in Pakistan. Obama and his surrogates and supporters vile treatment of women and Hillary in particular. The Democratic roll call vote and the the threats and treatment of the Clinton delegates. August 27th the day that democracy in the Democratic party died. Do not come across radical, be come, be cool, and you will just do fine.

  • http://none Jessie Britton

    Should be “be calm” instead of be come —sorry

  • susan k

    Why a Dem would vote for McCain:

    Because: Wars, economy, internat’l relations, health care. We need someone who can get things done. We have zero proof that Obama can get anything done or handle a crisis or work for reform. We have solid proof that McCain can. No matter how much I disagree with McCain, I think this country will be in better hands with him.

    Also, because Obama has accomplished nothing and has in fact allowed his constituency in S. Chicago to be exploited by the likes Rezko (and many others), I do not trust him. There is evident that he is, in fact, a typical pol who greases the palms of his friends, and will NOT work for reform.

  • JP49

    I read on Savage Politics a comment below:

    “Great article. Who are the two big investment firms left? Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. And who owns Obama? Goldman Sachs. It appears Obama through his owners/handlers are ridding themselves of the competition…sounds familiar…..Alice Palmer. This is BO’s MO only this time on a much grander scale. This guy is laying the groundwork to own us…despicable”

    Sounds just like Obama, get rid of the competition. This guy cannot ever be in our government. He must be taken out of any government office and preferably, straight to jail.

  • Raven

    Sen. Clinton did the right thing. The reason being
    is that the media would be the ones who would be
    responsible for the “fenzy” of attention that would be paid to the fact that they’d both be in attendance. Hillary, wants to keep the focus on McCain and the issues. McCain wants to “raise” Gov. Palin’s profile,on foreign policy and meeting foreign leaders, in these weeks leading to election. That’s this event and the CGI.
    There will be another time and place for Clinton and
    Palin to meet on the issues.

  • Paul

    Pelosi’s comprehensive energy plan omits nuclear energy and clean coal.Why limit exploration for oil and natural gas to 50 miles ! Pelosi shelved the better energy plan and ajourned congress for 5 weeks.She went on a book tour !
    She is an adament believer in Al Gore’s plan of making huge gains in not using oil in 10 years.Her view is “I’m out to save the planet from global warming.” Her and Harry Reid do not have comprehensive plans for energy independence in my book ,and are playing politics.
    Where’s all the extra electricity going to come from Nancy to power our future cars ? If France can have 60% of it’s electricity generated by nuclear why not us?Will we end up like California some years ago with brownouts because not enough power plants were built. Maybe Pelosi needs a car with no engine and a sail on top .
    I believe global warming is an issue but Nancy you can do better than this.As Senator McCain has said this issue is also a national security issue.

  • Pingback: ALERT: Explosive CEO calling Obama, Dems “Family” of Fannie Mae | Right Voices

  • Lexi

    OBAMA EXPOSED: FINANCIAL/HOUSING SCANDAL

    An independent counsel must be appointed to investigate Barack Obama and his closest advisors for their involvement in the Financial/Housing Crisis. The witness list must include:

    BARACK OBAMA: $525,000 of contributions from bankrupt Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac and Lehman Brothers. Barack Obama has received more money from this bankrupt and corrupt organization than any other member of Congress. In his very short time as a lawyer, Obama represented clients seeking to force Lenders to provide high-risk, subprime mortgage loans which are now at the center of our nation’s major crisis.

    FRANKLIN RAINES (Obama Top Advisor): former CEO of bankrupt Fannie Mae who was fired for “accounting irregularities” and was given a $90 million Golden Parachute.

    JIM JOHNSON (Obama Top Advisor who chose Joe Biden as V.P.): former CEO of bankrupt Fannie Mae and CEO of bankrupt Lehman Brothers.

    PENNY PRITZKER (Obama National Finance Chair): former Chair of bankrupt subprime lender, Superior Bank of Chicago. Paid $450 Million in fines to avoid potential criminal prosecution.

    This is a huge scandal and must be exposed.

  • Pingback: Can the MSM Get Over Its Precious Self? : NO QUARTER

  • Comehomenow

  • Pingback: Obama’s ACORN Revisited Once More « Renaissancelady48’s Weblog

  • Pingback: Obama’s ACORN Revisited Once More · THE UNION LABEL

  • buhog

    I know human nature in this world. GREED GREED GREED LIES LIES and more lies. I really dont trust a single one of them all of them democrate and republican.  They all want the money.  It is my dream that everyone is removed from the house and the senate and and the President and start voting for a whole new group of canditates. Canditates that have no investments no condos no mercades. Imagine it .  It’s not hard if you try

  • buhog

    i heard a guy say i dont vote because my vote doesn’t matter.  I haven’t  seen a single politican stand up to the big banks or the little guy.  Why not oh yah that’s where they all get their bonuses from.

  • buhog

    I wish that the Democrates and Republicans would stop fighting they all do the same things steal lie and lie some more. I wish that they would just send all the politicans to Afganistan so they can fight over there

  • buhog

    i think we need more parties so we can really get this three ring circus going.  I say to you all great people of the U.S.A. make a statement to the world and make a statement for your country.   In the words of Nancy Reagan JUST SAY NO  dont go out and vote dont watch the crap on fox or msnbc i would like to see a voter turn out of ZERO.  I think that might make some kind of statement. I can only imagine, but it’s not hard if you try

  • Pingback: Barb’s Blog - Obama and Wall Street Cash

  • msindy

    Larry’s point was pretty clear.

    He’s talking about Obama’s hypocrisy.

    Obama is the one who ran on being Mr. Hope and Mr. Change.

    I take no money from special interests, he said on his commercials.

    I am the change you seek, he said.

    He is running on lies.

  • msindy

    This hope and change business was Obama’s schtick. It’s what he ran on. He certainly didn’t have a legistlative record, experience, achievements to run on. It’s all he had. And it’s a sham.