Eliot Spitzer: Bush Shielded Subprime Predators

Eliot Spitzer had a deep understanding of the corruption on Wall Street, and he wasn't afraid to take on corrupt fat cats and politicians. Early on he warned that predatory lenders were gauging the little guy, and if left unchallenged, their greed explode our financial system.

Spitzer--along with the country's attorneys general--sought permission to do what the Bush administration refused to do: prosecute mortgage industry lawbreakers. They were flatly denied.

Shortly before Spitzer's fall from grace, he penned a letter to the editor of the Washington Post which included this warning:

When history tells the story of the subprime lending crisis and recounts its devastating effects on the lives of so many innocent homeowners, the Bush administration will not be judged favorably. The tale is still unfolding, but when the dust settles, it will be judged as a willing accomplice to the lenders who went to any lengths in their quest for profits. So willing, in fact, that it used the power of the federal government in an unprecedented assault on state legislatures, as well as on state attorneys general and anyone else on the side of consumers.

It's clear that Bush and his cronies just don't care about average Americans. Think about it. The Bush regime not only didn't do their job but they actively worked to bar states from seeking to protect the people.

Now, the Bush regime proposes to bailout Wall Street and nothing for the subprime victims. A modified version of that bailout bill was just defeated -- ironically, by the Republicans egged on by the kings of chaos on rightwing radio. These racists blame the Wall Street meltdown on minority victims of subprime predator lenders.

Link: Predatory Lenders' Partner in Crime: How the Bush Administration Stopped the States From Stepping In to Help Consumers

Eliot's Mess: The $200 billion bail-out for predator banks and Spitzer charges intimately linked

McCain The Reckless Gambler Is No Maverick

McCain says he's a Maverick, but what he really is is a Gambler. And gambling for many is a desease --and McCain's addicted.

Of course, addicts are about themselves and their next rush, the next fix, the next high. Addicts are con artists...they'll say whatever they need to in order to get what they want - even if it means destroying others in the process.

Sound familiar?

The record:

McCain has a well documented history of Casino gambling, blowing away thousands of dollars at his favorite game: Craps.

McCain is also a major friend of gambling interests and their lobbyists, including Ralph Reed - the former head of the Christian Coalition. Actually, gambling interests are well represented on John McCain's presidential campaign with over 40 gambling lobbyists on his payroll.

McCain has a deep connection to the biggest and most corrupt gambling lobbyists of all -- the notorious Jack Abramoff.

McCain has used his position as chair of the Senate's Indian Affairs Committee to facilitate gambling interests as well as to shield fellow Republicans from prosecution for corruption.

John McCain transformed the once-sleepy Indian gambling business into a $26-billion-a-year behemoth with 423 casinos across the country.

McCain has helped gamble away the future of the American people by pushing for trillion wars that benefit defense contractors and oil interests.

McCain has opposed domestic investments such as Head Start, alternative energy, and health insurance for children.McCain picks Sarah Palin and claims that it was a Maverick move. It was no such thing. A maverick move would have been to pick Ridge or Lieberman against the wishes on the GOP hard right, or to pick a qualified woman such as Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell or Texas' Kay Bailey Hutchinson. Instead, McCain made a reckless choice in Sarah Palin.

McCain is no Maverick -- and he certainly is no reformer. He's a self-absorbed and over aged military brat who takes foolish chances. He ditched 5 multi-million dollar jets as an irresponsible Navy pilot. He gladly joined the corrupt Keating 5 and virtually destroyed the nation's savings and loan banking system. He's Bush's main promoter for war and more war regardless of the cost in terms of lives and treasure. And he's front and center in aiding corporate lobbyists in gaming the system.

Given his political influence, longevity in Congress and inoculation from accountability due to his cover as a Maverick and War Hero, John McCain may be the person in Congress most responsible for helping ditch the financial system, break the social compact and distort the nation's defenses.

For McCain and Team, a Host of Ties to Gambling
McCain wagers on gaming industry

THE McCAIN GAMBLE



McCain and His Gambling Problem



John McCain's Craps Addiction



McCain took $100,000 from the notorious casino lobbyist Jack Abramoff and then used his position as chairmen of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee to shield fellow Republicans from prosecution.

McCain Withheld Controversial Abramoff Email
McCain Received $100,000 From Firm Of Abramoff Notoriety
McCain's Abramoff Linked Fundraiser Nets $1.75 Million

Countdown - McCain's Abramoff Connections



As Feds Draft Bailout, Obama Casts McCain as Free-Market Gambler

Marcy Kaptur warns “there are domestic enemies to the Republic”

Rep. Marcy Kaptur's declares from the floor of the U.S. Congress that domestic enemies of the Republic are the ones pulling the strings in pushing through the unprecedented $700 billion bailout of Wall Street.

"My message to the American people don’t let Congress seal this deal. High financial crimes have been committed."

"The normal legislative process has been shelved. Only a few insiders are doing the dealing, sounds like insider trading to me. These criminals have so much political power than can shut down the normal legislative process of the highest law making body of this land."

"We are Constitutionally sworn to protect and defend this Republic against all enemies foreign and domestic. And my friends there are enemies."

"The people pushing this deal are the very ones who are responsible for the implosion on Wall Street. They were fraudulent then and they are fraudulent now."

Lots of Americans smell a rat in the rush to bailout of Wall Street -- and concerned folks are raising questions about the rescue plan and who's responsible for the financial mess.

Kaptur suggests that she knows who the people are and that they are criminal enemies of the nation. As an elected representative of the people and an official who has promised to protect the nation, it seems to me that Kaptur must let the people know what's really going on.

Related: Rep. Marcy Kaptur's New Rules for Wall Street

MADtv's Sarah Palin does a Q&A

MAD-tv's Sarah Palin takes audience questions. It's funny but my heart is with Fey.

Debating to Salvage Palin's Political Viability

Sarah Palin has been skewered, ridiculed and mocked on everything from her far right views, love of the half truths, Northern Exposure quirks, and Q&A handicaps.

As a result, Palin's favorability has taken a hit. Some now view her as a drag on the ticket -- and a few well-placed conservatives question her readiness. One has asked that she step down.

Palin stepping down is about as likely as McCain doing so -- zippo. Really, what's the benefit to McCain or Palin at this point? A change in VP undermines McCain as the steady hand needed during troubled times. And quitting now cements Palin's image as a political (and intellectual) nonplayer.

Plain has no choice but to soldier on and hope to convince people (particularly her base) that she's for real -- even if a bit green.

Q: Can she do it? Or was the RNC Palin a myth -- the product of teleprompter skills and the delusions of a desperate party? We'll soon find out.

What we do know is that Palin was widely praised for her RNC performance. (I thought she did well, and she certainly outperformed McCain by a mile.) Additionally, she does well on the stump -- bringing out big crowds and getting people excited. Where she has stumbled badly is in interviews with national media. Why? It appears that she's rattled because she's not fluent in national domestic and foreign policy issues. It's a fatal flaw and why John McCain's poor judgement is an issue.

While Palin can't become a national policy expert overnight, she does have an opportunity at the Thursday VP debate to regain some of her lost RNC glow.

Contrary to the views of some, Sarah Palin is a good debater -- and she's not dumb. After all, she won the Alaska governorship by out debating her two male rivals. A decent debate -- especially in light of McCain's less than sterling performance -- will go along way towards reducing Republican concerns.

My advice is for Palin to prepare well. She should be tutored on key financial and foreign policy issues, and become familiar with McCain's domestic and foreign policy proposals and how they differ from Obama's. Be authentic yet quietly confident.

Of course, readiness to assume the big job on day one, issues of national security and the economy, will be front and center. Frankly, Palin should not try to out-point Biden on any of these. It's better to respond like Obama did to McCain by agreeing when warranted and then adding McCain-Palin variants as needed.

However, since the single VP debate covers a wide range of topics, Palin will have opportunities to speak to her strengths: the impact of federal policies--domestic and foreign policy--on real families, towns and states. She should talk about pocket book issues, her Alaskan policy successes and challenges, and McCain-Palin national prescriptions.

Palin can save -- and even enhance -- her political viability with a good debate performance. I'm giving her a better than 50/50 chance of coming out ahead -- not as a victor over Biden, but as the undiminished darling of the social conservative wing of the Republican Party.

Illustration by Andre Carrilho

Conservative Writer Asks Palin to Withdraw

Conservative writer Kathleen Parker -- an early Sarah Palin supporter -- now believes that the Alaska governor and VP nominee ought to step aside for the good of the McCain campaign and the Republican Party.

Parker is publicly expressing what many Republicans and McCain supporters have been whispering for the last few weeks.

Palin's poor performance with the media was horrendous -- a clear indication that she's in way over her head. The stark reality of it is too much for Parker and others to ignore. Palin flubbed and BS'd her way through a series of softball interviews with ABC's Charlie Gibson and CBS' Katie Couric. She even screwed up her sessions with FOX's Sean Hannity -- who was clearly sent by Rove and Ailes to help Palin repair her image.

Parker's assessment? If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself.Ouch!

Unfortunately, says Parker, social conservatives (i.e., Dominionists) would riot if McCain dumped Palin. The answer, she suggests, is for Palin to come up with a "mom has to be with the baby" excuse and bench herself.

Only Palin can save McCain, her party and the country she loves. She can bow out for personal reasons, perhaps because she wants to spend more time with her newborn. No one would criticize a mother who puts her family first.

Referencing McCain's call for a cause that's greater than oneself, Parker adds: Do it for your country.

Link: The Palin Problem

Wanda Sykes on Leno Rips RNC & Palin

Comedienne Wanda Sykes on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno goes off on the Republican convention and Palin. For example, she says that while the DNC looked like America and was filled with hope, the RNC looked like a board meeting of evil people. Very partisan, but funny.

Video Link

Tina Fey as Palin Week 2: Even Funnier!

I didn't think SNL could top last week's hilarious Tina Fey-as-Palin inaugural skit, but I was wrong. Last night's sit down with Katie Couric was even funnier -- and, because we're talking about a very serious possibility--a McCain/Palin Regime--even scarier.

However, as political comedy it was great.

NBC/SNL Video Link

Paraguay's Lugo -- No Palin Photo Prop

Last week, John McCain sought to bolster Sarah Palin's nonexistent foreign policy credentials by having her sit for photographs with willing heads of state.

As expected, Palin scored photo-ops with Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai, Colombia's Alvaro Uribe, Georgia's Mikheil Saakashvili, Ukrainian's Viktor Yushchenko, Pakistan's Asif Ali Zardari, Iraq's Jalal Talabani and India's Manmohan Singh as these leaders gathered in NYC for the annual UN General Assembly.

However, it appears some dignitaries shunned the political sideshow, declining the photo prop pleas of McCain-Palin. One such person is the newly elected President of Paraguay - Fernando Lugo. He is said to have confided to friends in NYC that he turned down an invitation to take pictures with Palin.

Who is Fernando Lugo?

He's a former Roman Catholic bishop, progressive and champion of the poor who broke the 62-year rule of the country's repressive rightwing regime.

Very interesting considering the cozy relationship between the U.S. government and the Paraguayan regime defeated by Lugo.

BTW: The U.S. established an airbase in strategically located Mariscal Estigarribia in Northern Paraguay -- an area with access to the Guarani Aquifer, the world's largest source of fresh drinking water; close to Bolivia's natural gas reserves, the second largest in Latin America; and within aerial reach of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and the rest of the continent. Additionally, Rev. Sun Myung Moon owns (1,482,600 acres), and George W. Bush is rumored to have recently purchased (100,000 acres), land atop the aquifer in Chaco.

Q: So, why was Lugo invited to sit with Palin? After all, Lugo is a left of center leader whose family members were persecuted by fascist Paraguayan regimes in league with the U.S. government--and who has not been an ally of the U.S. rightwing.

Links:
President of Paraguay Turns Down Meeting with Sarah Palin
Bush's Paraguay Land Grab
Where in South America is Sun Myung Moon?
The Bushes and the Moons
'Bishop of the poor' is winner in Paraguay poll
Fernando Lugo: Paraguay's 'Bishop of the Poor' Seeks Presidency
U.S. Military Eyes Paraguay
PARAGUAY-US: ‘Base’ story revived, with twists
U.S. military presence in Paraguay

Hillary Clinton sums up the 9/26 Presidential Debate

"Tonight Barack Obama displayed beyond a doubt that he understands both the gravity of the financial crisis facing America, and the challenges we face in Iraq and around the world.

John McCain offered only more of the same failed policies of the Bush Administration. America deserves better.

I stood next to Barack Obama in 22 debates and tonight epitomized why millions are joining me in standing with him and working hard to ensure he is the next President of the United States.”

U.S. Senator Hillary R. Clinton

Jon Stewart on Bush: Wall Street Bailout Speech = Iraq War Speech

Jon Stewart of The Daily Show finds an eerie similarity between President Bush's Wall Street bailout speech and his Iraq invasion speech five years ago. "Those who do not study the past get an exciting opportunity to repeat it." Funny scary!!!!

Biden: McCain Lost and It'll Be Fatal

Biden obliterates McCain's fatal debate performance. I especially like how he takes McCain to task on the difference between strategy and tactics. Shocking that McCain believes the "surge" is the war strategy. There's a reason 99.44% of his class at the Naval Academy got better grades.

Who Won the 9/25 Presidential Debate? Obama

Video Clip of the Debate's Defining Exchange

Senator Barack Obama won this evening's first presidential debate at Ole Miss for these reasons:

- Obama more than held his own against a 26 year political veteran.
- Obama offered superior judgement in pursuit of national security interests.
- Obama was gracious, respectful and likable.
- Obama offered proposals that benefit middle Americans - tax cuts, smarter foreign policy, energy diversification, affordable college, etc.
- Obama looked and sounded like a commander-in-chief.
- Obama displayed a command of domestic and foreign policy.

In comparison, McCain was overly aggressive, condescending and repeatedly misrepresented Obama's positions. Additionally....

- McCain had surprisingly little to offer Americans on economics.
- McCain came off like an stubborn old man on the issue of the Iraq War.
- McCain was ungracious, condescending, and dismissive. He never looked at Obama.
- McCain became visibly angry when challenged.
- McCain repeatedly threw his political ally George W. Bush under the bus.
- McCain seemed too desperate, repeatedly pleading for support.

McCain-Palin: Failed Gambits, Oil Gifts, Lobbyists and A Beauty Queen

Fifteen minutes to the beginning of the Obama-McCain debate in Oxford, Mississippi.

The pre-debate story is that the McCain camp is in total disarray. His "mavericky" move in DC backfired and he's been incoherent in terms of his response to the financial crisis. Additionally, Palin's Couric interview exposed her as a pleasant, attractive, yet intellectually limited VP candidate.

Also, a story that McCain's campaign manager, uber lobbyist Rick Davis, is still inexplicably receiving payments from FannieMae even though he's doing no work has surfaced. And it's been uncovered that Palin received all sorts of gifts from Big Oil.

Then there's the video that surfaced of Palin in swimsuit at the 1984 Miss Alaska.

There's one thing sensible people can agree on: McCain, Palin and the Republicans are getting increasingly weird.

Brent Budowsky: Enough of Bush, McCain and the Banana Republicans!

Brent Budowsky of The Hill's Pundit Blog rips McCain, Bush and Republicans for running the country into the ground with their corrupt "Banana Republic" politics and economic policies.

Bravo!!!

The Bush-Cheney-McCain-Palin Banana Republicans
Bush, Cheney, McCain and Palin embody a banana-republic style that is unworthy of the United States of America in 2008 or any other year. Enough is enough. It’s time for real change, big change, and the time is here, and now. It is time to throw the bums out, and the bums are the banana Republicans.

McCain: The Gambler in an Age of Gamblers, Bankruptcies & War
The market is corrupted by gamblers, and John McCain is the biggest gambler of all. The market is corrupted by dishonesty and John McCain is one of the most dishonest candidates in years, reduced to cheap political stunts, erratic extremes on policy, claiming economic strength one day and promoting fears of depression the next, and phony bipartisanship, refusing to talk to Obama for half a day, then running to the cameras.

Do Americans want another reckless gambler in the White House? I think not.

Related:
Banana Republicans: How The Rightwing Is Turning America Into A One Party State

BANANA REPUBLICAN

Banana Republican America

Banana Republicans

Banana Republicans

My "America First" Bail Out Plan: Help The People; Prosecute Wall Street Executives, Corporate Lobbyists and Corrupt Politicians

I agree with Kaptur, Kucinch and Obama, so I offer my own complementary plan:

My plan also focuses on preserving home ownership; however, I'll do it by aligning mortgage payments with the market value of their properties. Lenders would be mandated to refinance existing mortgages to sub prime borrowers (exclusive of investors) at risk of foreclosure.

The refinancing packages would come with a subsidy of between 5% and 30% of principal; long-term, fixed rates; transferability; and default insurance.

The result is greater affordability, stability as well as liquidity.

I figure such a package costs upwards of $360 billion, or about half of what Bush wants to give to Wall Street. However, the the cost to the public diminishes over time as the housing market stabilizes and homes begin selling at appreciated values.

I would add repayment clauses to reclaim all or partial payment on the subsidies for homes selling at appreciated values. Additionally, I would add a transaction surcharge on exotic and large Wall Street transactions, and on executive pay, bonuses and dividends in order to re-coup the public investment.

I would also institute tighter oversight and enhanced regulation over the credit markets; outlaw certain Wall Street practices which do nothing but generate huge fees; prosecute Wall Street executives, mortgage brokers, real estate brokers and others involved in deceptive practices and/or shirking their fiduciary responsibilities; and I would only license the selling and packaging of mortgages and mortgage products to insured, bonded and regulated institutions, banks and consumer credit unions.

What say you?

Rep. Marcy Kaptur's New Rules for Wall Street

U.S. Representive Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) skewers the Bush regime and Wall Street fat cats on their rush to bail out the greedy. In addition, Kaptur proposes a series of reforms focused on securing the finances of the people while prosecuting Wall Street criminals.

Her rallying cry - Real Reform Now or Nothing!

McCain Blinks - Debate at Ole Miss Is On!

Having once again failed at his mission -- this time, ditching in the theatre of war that is Washington, DC -- John McCain is mounting his unsuspended campaign and heading for the University of Mississippi.

Yes, McCain blinked.

He and Gucci Gulch are high-tailing to the Mississippi bayou to what is supposed to be a serious presidential debate on the issues. Of course, Americans have come to know that The Straight Talk Express is anything but. McCain's reckless posse now gamble that Ole Miss is a better setting for projecting their double talk, fog, blinks and flips.

It should be interesting. Expect McCain to repeat himself endlessly--a la Palin, and to unveil yet another "mavericky" gimmick.

Personally, I'd love to see McCain swagger on stage spitting tobacco, sporting spurs and a ten gallon hat. That would at least make the slow speech, odd grin, eye tic and patronizing tone seem more appropriate.

McCain Puts Gucci Gulch GOP 1st

John McCain and his greedy band of unregulated casino capitalism lobbyists and Wall Street predators, aided by Bush's immoral trillion dollar Oil War extravaganzas, are singularly responsible for blasting a gargantuan hole in the American economy.

Shameless rightwingers in the Congress and FOX can blame the victims of sub prime mortgage lenders, but Americans are not falling for this bit of race-based scapegoating and diversion.

A primary structural element of the U.S. economy is the housing market. You crash the housing market, you crash the U.S. economy. Additionally, a collapsing credit market directly results in the lose of trillions of dollars in American wealth tied to their homes. It reasons that if you blow out the girders in a skyscraper, the building will fall.

So, something really does have to be done to prevent further lose of wealth and to begin rebuilding the integrity of our economic house.

President Bush's plan clearly favors the rich and powerful on Wall Street. It bails out the casino gamblers and scammers while doing nothing for their victims and the taxpayers who'll are left with a $trillion+ bill.

The proposal was improved by the Democrats to include: oversight, re-regulation, slowing down of the money handed over with progress assessments, something in it for those who are assuming the risk (the taxpayers) like sharing profit when/if it comes, limiting CEO golden parachutes and compensation and some safeguards for Americans so they don't lose their homes.

However, the plan is still flawed as its primary focus is still on bailing out Wall Street billionaires.
Enter John McCain and his posse.

McCain had the opportunity of siding with the American people and helping forge a real reform package. Instead, he acts in a reckless manner by giving support to the "Casino Capitalism" Wing of the Republican Party and their Gucci Gulch money men.

Their solution? A gimmick to 1) lay blame on others for their failed policies; and a scheme to 2) forestall reform and do more of the same -- more unregulated casino capitalism and more blame the victims.

Way to go, Sidney! Oh -- and nice loafers!

Related:
A bad day for the GOP on politics, bailout plan
Once in a century rip-off
GOP Strategist: House GOP-ers Putting Party Before Country
McCain's Economic Plan: Blurt Out Random Crap
John McCain: I haven't read the Paulson plan

Sarah Silverman & The Great Schelp (for Obama)

This video features comedian Sarah Silverman encouraging Jews to go visit their grandparents in Florida and get them to vote for Obama. (Caution: Silverman uses crude language, sexual innuendo and racial/ethnic stereotype in her act.)

The video is part of The Great Schelp campaign to reach out to Jewish elders in the battleground state of Florida. Participants can do The Great Schlep (visit) or The Mini Schelp (telephone call), receive talking points, join The Great Schelp on Facebook, and purchase campaign merchandise.

Head of Skate: The Sarah Palin Disney Trailer

This may be the funniest video of this improbable yet politically humorous presidential campaign.

It's a "movie trailer" about a suburban hockey mom who finds herself President and C.I.C. of the USA. She's plucked from her hockey mom to become VP. The old geezer POTUS croaks -- elevating the mom to commander-in-chief of the world's sole superpower.

Looking to take advantage of the novice national leader's inexperience, Russia's Putin makes his move. The president must respond. Relying on her hockey instincts, she challenges the would-be Czar to a face-off.

Yes, an actual one-on-one face off on ice in pads, helmet, mouth guard and stick.I think you can figure out how the story ends. Very funny. And scary!

Craig Ferguson to McCain: It's Democracy First

Craig Ferguson, Late Late Show (CBS) host and newly minted American, chastised John McCain for "suspending" his campaign. (BTW: Like so much else about the McCain Campaign, it's another bold-faced lie to the American people that it was suspended.)

"You can't suspend the democratic process because we're facing problems. At what point do you think, maybe we should suspend the election? We'll have the elections later.

Some people have done that before: Castro did it, Napoleon did it, Julius Caesar did it. You can't do that. If you like it or not, the campaign is part of the democratic process....

You wanna take your time off, that's fine, but you don't say we're suspending the campaign. You can't say that. It's the democratic process.

We didn't suspend it for 9/11, we didn't suspend it for Pearl Harbor, we didn't suspend it for the Nazis, we didn't suspend it for the damn British.

We don't do that in America!"

Interesting how it's an immigrant reminding McCain that the democratic process is ever critical, particularly in times of national crisis.

Couric: Impaling The Palin

CBS's Katie Couric impales Palin's vapor thin credibility with a simple question about McCain's vaunted economic reform record. Warning: It's painful to watch.

Here's the exchange:

Couric: Can you give us any more examples of [John McCain] leading the charge for more oversight?

Palin: blah, blah, blah....that's paramount....blah, blah, blah....reform....blah, blah, blah....The Maverick....blah, blah, blah....taking shots....blah, blah, blah....Also.

Couric: I'll just ask you one more time - not to belabor the point: Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulations?

Palin: IIIII'll, try and find yaa some and bring it to yaa.

McCain Ditches Letterman -- Reports to Gucci Gulch

John "I love being on TV" McCain cancelled his visit to the Tonight Show yesterday. The reason? McCain had to rush to back to Washington to "save the economy from cratering."

Mr. Wheeler-Dealer (aka, Commerce Committee kingpin and "lobbyists are good people") to the recue! Now that's funny.

Of course, McCain first stopped by CBS to chat with Katie Couric for broadcast last night, and today he took part in Bill Clinton's talkfest with millionaires in New York City. Perhaps Lady de Rothschild was on hand to tutor McCain on "red-neck" economic policies.

Q: But who woke McCain up from his 26 year Laize-faire slumber? And, is he really awake?

This is the same John McCain who has been campaigning on the idea that Bush economics have worked and that the is economy fundamentally sound. He's also the guy with 26 years of experience in the Congress promoting "casino" capitalism, that is, less regulation and oversight of the financial markets. He and his corporate lobbyists believe that unregulated markets are so terrific that Social Security should be turned over to the very people that have crashed the mortgage and credit markets.

So McCain flies back to the place he knows best--Gucci Gulch. His assignment? Posture, huff and puff. Pose. Say words like 'reform', 'save' and 'fix' alot. Ensure that the corporate interests he and his team's 126 lobbyists receive the larger share of the $700 billion corporate welfare giveaway. And he'll do so in his $520 Ferragamo Loafers.

In a likely Rovian gambit to come, McCain will probably threaten to stall or vote against the bailout package in an attempt to pin the political costs of the deal on Obama and Bush. It'll make good theatre--and he'll still gets what he wants for his posse.

Needless-to-say, David Letterman wasn't pleased with McCain antics. Letterman repaid the favor by skewering McCain in his monologue and throughout the show.

Latinos: Americans All

It's Hispanic Heritage Month and Columnist Miguel Perez offers timely and helpful advice to U.S. Latinos:

When they ask you how long you and "your people" have been in this country, tell them, "Several hundred years."

And when they ask you how long you have been an American, even if you arrived in the United States last week, there is only one accurate answer: "All my life."

It's true, and the advice sound. Click here to learn why.

A Racist Vote is Cowardly and Unpatriotic

There's much media buzz re: White voters who will not vote for Barack Obama because of his race.

It's hardly news that American racists are, well, racists.

Of course, since the story was written and promoted by rightwingers supporting McCain, it's easy to see that the message is really directed to racially motivated white voters in the swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Florida, et al, that race voting is OK.

It's the same sort of garbage the Clintons and their friends at FOX (led by Hannity, O'Reilly, Rove, Ferraro and Van Susteren) have already been using to gin-up the anti-Obama vote.

The truth is that racist voting is despicable, harmful, and immoral (as well as unChristian). Additionally, blogger Mary MacElveen rightly tags racist voting as a cowardly and unpatriotic.

For those who would not vote for Barack Obama based entirely on the color of his skin, you must not believe in America. You must not believe in the 'Pledge of Allegiance' and I invite you to read it in its entirety.

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one Nation under God, indivisible...With Liberty and Justice for all."

What part of that pledge do you not get? We are one nation, who are supposed to be a united people, who cherish our liberties and most of all justice for all.

MacElveen's right -- although that won't stop the racists (overts and coverts alike) from doing their evil deeds.

Dennis Kucinich: Profits Are Theirs; Losses Are Ours

Dear Friend,

The U.S. government has been turned into an engine that accelerates the wealth upwards into the hands of a few. The Wall Street bailout, the Iraq War, military spending, tax cuts to the rich, and a for-profit health care system are all about the acceleration of wealth upwards. And now, the American people are about to pay the price of the collapse of the $513 trillion Ponzi scheme of derivatives. Yes, that’s half a quadrillion dollars. Our first trillion dollar compression bandage will hardly stem the hemorrhaging of an unsustainable Ponzi scheme built on debt "de-leverages."

Does anyone seriously think that our public and private debts of some $45 trillion will be paid? That the administration's growth of the federal debt from $5.6 trillion to $9.8 trillion while borrowing another trillion dollars from Social Security has nothing to do with this? Does anyone not see that when we spend nearly $16,000 for every family of four in our society for the military each year that we are heading over the cliff?

This is a debt crisis, not a credit crisis. Just as FDR had to save capitalism after Wall Street excesses, we have to re-invigorate our economy with real - not imaginary - growth. It does not address the never-ending war on the middle class.

The same corporate interests that profited from the closing of U.S. factories, the movement of millions of jobs out of America, the off-shoring of profits, the out-sourcing of workers, the crushing of pension funds, the knocking down of wages, the cancellation of health care benefits, the sub-prime lending are now rushing to Washington to get money to protect themselves.

The double standard is stunning: their profits are their profits, but their losses are our losses.

This bailout will not bring real jobs back to America. It will not bring back jobs that make things. It does not rebuild our schools, streets, neighborhoods, parks or bridges. The major product of this financial economy is now debt. Industrial capitalism has been destroyed.

In the next few days I will push for a plan that includes equity for every American in any taxpayer investment in this so-called bail-out plan. Since the bailout will cost each and every American about $2,300, I have proposed the creation of a United States Mutual Trust Fund, which will take control of $700 billion in stock assets, convert those assets to shares, and distribute $2,300 worth of shares to new individual savings accounts in the name of each and every American.

I will also insist that all of the following issues be considered in whatever Congress passes:

1) Reinstatement of the provisions of Glass-Steagall, which forbade speculation

2) Re-regulation of the finance, insurance, and real estate industries

3) Accountability on the part of those who took the companies down:
a) resignations of management
b) givebacks of executive compensation packages
c) limitations on executive compensation
d) admission by CEO's of what went wrong and how, prior to any government bailout

4) Demands for transparencey
a) with respect to analyzing the transactions which took the companies down
b) with respect to Treasury's dealings with the companies pre and post-bailout

5) An equity position for the taxpayers
a) some form of ownership of assets

6) Some credible formula for evaluating the price of the assets that the government is buying.

7) A sunset clause on the legislation

8) Full public disclosure by members of Congress of assets held, with possible conflicts put in blind trust.

9) A ban on political campaign contributions from officers of corporations receiving bailouts

10) A requirement that 2008 cycle candidates return political contributions to officers and representatives of corporations receiving bailouts

11) And, most importantly, some mechanism for direct assistance to homeowners saddled with unreasonable or unmanageable mortgages, as well as protection for renters who have lived up to their obligation but fall victim to financial tragedy when the property they live in undergoes foreclosure.

These are just some thoughts on the run. You will hear more from me tomorrow.

Dennis J Kucinich
www.Kucinich.us
216-252-9000
877-933-6647

Croaking McCain

Here's John McCain in 2002 croaking out Barbara Streisand tunes. The point of the skit is that McCain can't sing and Streisand can't govern, so each should stay out of each other's business.

However, the joke may be on McCain. (Or, it may be McCain!)

Fact: Barbara can sing. Fact: She's never claimed to know how to run a country.

Fact: McCain can't sing. Fact: McCain's retrograde economic and military policies are bankrupting his country financially and morally.

(BTW: Notice the discomfort, anger and hate McCain emotes in what is supposed to be a comedy skit.)

Instead, McCain and his understudy, Queen of Alaska, should consider careers as Vaudeville Act on the FOX Dominionist Channel.

Les Misbarack - The Musical

The cast of the Ultimate Improv perform Les Misbarack -- a fun version of Broadway's Les Miserables. Very funny. Bravo!

The Case for John McCain

Republican presidential nominee John McCain makes the case for why he is best suited to follow George W. Bush as president. The excitement builds for more years. Woo Hoo!!

Obama Slams McCain Gambling Social Security on Wall Street

Obama rips McCain for a campaign based on deception. Obama tags the McCain campaign as a tool of special interests, run by an army of 159 corporate lobbyists. And Obama slams McCain for irresponsibly proposing to gamble Social Security on Wall Street.

McCain on Spain is Mainly Insane

Bateman's McCain on Spain is Mainly Insane is hysterical (as in comical and mad). Again, enlarge by clicking here to read the commentary.

Stump the Palin (w/a simple q)

Bateman's animated capture of a stumped Alaska Queen. She talks, but says nothing. It's hysterical. Enlarge by clicking here to read the commentary.

John McCain: He's Got Nothing!

An indictment of McCain in video montage and synched to the ditty, "He's Got Nothing". It's humorous, scary and devastatingly true.

Principled Conservatives for Obama

Yes, there are thoughtful and principled conservatives in America, and a growing number are voting for Barack Obama.

A Conservative for Obama
Wick Allison, former editor, The National Review

But I now see that Obama is almost the ideal candidate for this moment in American history. I disagree with him on many issues. But those don’t matter as much as what Obama offers, which is a deeply conservative view of the world. Nobody can read Obama’s books (which, it is worth noting, he wrote himself) or listen to him speak without realizing that this is a thoughtful, pragmatic, and prudent man. It gives me comfort just to think that after eight years of George W. Bush we will have a president who has actually read the Federalist Papers.

Endorsing Obama
Douglas W. Kmiec, Slate

This endorsement may be of little note or consequence, except perhaps that it comes from an unlikely source: namely, a former constitutional legal counsel to two Republican presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush).

Conservatives For Obama
Andrew Sullivan, The Atlantic

[Obama] is a "progressive" liberal - but his liberalism contains more conservative elements of reason and prudence and restraint than the current Republican party.

The conservative case for Barack Obama
Andrew J. Bacevich, The American Conservative

Barack Obama is no conservative. Yet if he wins the Democratic nomination, come November principled conservatives may well find themselves voting for the senator from Illinois. Given the alternatives—and the state of the conservative movement—they could do worse. For conservatives, Obama represents a sliver of hope. McCain represents none at all. The choice turns out to be an easy one.

Mr. Right? The rise of the Obamacons.
Bruce Bartlett, The New Republic

Conservatives of almost all ideological flavors (even, gasp, some supply-siders) have been drawn to Obama--out of a genuine affection and a belief that he may actually better embody movement ideals than McCain.

Growing parade of conservatives backing Obama
Nick Juliano, The Raw Story

Among the reformed righties now hoping for an Obama victory are free-market economist David Friedman, former Reagan aide Douglas Kmiec, Contract With America co-author Larry Hunter and Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of the former president.

Conservatives for Obama?
Christopher Manion, Lew Rockwell Blog

Andrew Bacevich is an unusual man. A brilliant professor at Boston University, a former distinguished army officer, and a profound Catholic, he uses Obama's candidacy to render a stirring critique of the current morass. His only son was killed in action in Iraq last May.

'Fiscal Conservative Case for Barack Obama'
Dennis Egan, Republicans For Obama Journal

Barack Obama is the only voice of reason this election: His platform offers PAYGO Balanced Budget philosophies, pro growth tax cutting to the middle class, and a repeal of the cuts to the wealthiest Americans (top 1%), Cutting Pork Barrel Spending, offering greater accountability and examination of existing programs, and reel in tax loopholes. Obama offers for the first time, a campaign for and funded by the people, without the impropriety of special interest money.

Laura Barto: Pro-Life Advocate
Republicans For Obama Journal

I must say I am passionately pro-life. But I think ironically, Obama's policies will save more lives in the end.

Obamacons: Conservatives That Support Obama
NPR

Some prominent conservatives are hailing Barack Obama as the candidate of small government and reduced spending. Madeleine Brand talks to Bruce Bartlett of The New Republic about the strange phenomenon of "Obamacons" — conservatives who support Obama for president.

Even Conservative Media Chorus Sings Obama's Praises
Howard Kurtz, Washington Post

The Weekly Standard called Obama "the classiest candidate on the Democratic side." Peggy Noonan, the former Ronald Reagan speechwriter, wrote in the Wall Street Journal that Obama had won "with a classy campaign, an unruffled manner, and an appeal on the stump that said every day, through the lines: Look at who I am and see me, the change that you desire is right here, move on with me and we will bring it forward together."

Obama, McCain and How Racism Works

How racism works

What if John McCain were a former president of the Harvard Law Review? What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class? What if McCain were still married to the first woman he said "I do" to? What if Obama were the candidate who left his first wife after she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Michelle Obama were a wife who not only became addicted to pain killers, but acquired them illegally through her charitable organization? What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard? What if Obama were a member of the Keating 5? What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

Kelvin LaFond
Fort Worth
Letters to the Editors @ Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Addendum:

I would add the following to Kelvin's list:

What if Obama was the head cheerleader for a $3-$7 trillion war based on lies, and McCain was the one for focusing the military on pursuing and prosecuting Osama bin Laden?

What if McCain was the one insisting on straight talk about the lack of accountability on the part of government agencies and Wall Street firms, and Obama was the one who spent two decades receiving funds from corporate lobbyists, deregulating and looking the other way?

What if Obama's campaign was funded and managed by the well-connected and lobbyists, and McCain's was funded by the people and led by himself?

What is it were McCain who picked a VP with unquestioned expertise economic and foreign affair and ready serve as president, and Obama's pick was purely a political tactic and roundly viewed--even by serious Republicans--to be unprepared?

What if it were Obama who ran a chaotic campaign, unfocused campaign, and McCain's was a smooth, smart operation that'll be studied in management schools for decades to come?

Think about it.

Lady, Carly, Sidney, The Heiress and Miss Alaska

If Lady de Rothschild is representative of the so-called "Hillraisers", Hillary and Bill Clinton really need to find new, less snobby friends. Unbelievable!

Nonetheless, I'm thrilled that de Rothschild is such a public supporter of homeboy McCain.

I'd love to see Lady, Carly Fiorina, John Sidney McCain III, heiress Hensley and Miss Alaska, campaigning together. FOX could make it into a gaudy, silly and self-centered "reality" television show with weekly up to the November 4th election. LOL

Blinking McCain: Expertise in Economy Oversights

7:18 minutes of McCain's expertise in economy "oversights". McCain's right, it's all mental.

Give Oil Wars A Chance/Yes We Can

Give Oil Wars A Chance / Yes We Can
Copyright - Words and Music by Rick McLean

Intro: You... cannot change the world. - Yes we can, yes we can [repeat]

1.
(Come on) All they're really saying is give oil wars a chance
Feed your kids this toxic garbage - keep your thinking to yourself
Take a pill if you want 'happy.' Take a hike if you dissent.
Come on. Anybody here wonderin' ... where the human people went?

2.
If we make bombs we've got to use them or our business falls to zero
We make wars we just excuse with phony politician heroes.
Go along to get along and do not speak if you dissent.
Come on! Anybody here wonderin .. where the human people went?

Chorus
All they're really saying is give oil wars a chance
All they're really saying is give oil wars a chance
You can't change the world (yes we can yes we can)
You can't change the world (yes we can yes we can)

3.
As they're lying through the t.v. about why they go to war
and why the wealthy can't pay taxes while they sucker you for more
Facing all these scams is such a tortuous event
You wonder... where the human people went.

4.
In an oven-roasted future as they're dumbing down your schools
Over-pricing medicines and playing you for fools
Facing all these scams is such a tortuous event
You'll wonder... where the human people went.

Chorus
All they're really saying is give oil wars a chance
All they're really saying is give oil wars a chance
You can't change the world (yes we can yes we can)
You can't change the world (yes we can yes we can)
[repeat]

Snobbish Lady Rothschild To Endorse McCain...LOL - Updated

Update: Lady Lynn Forester de Laughingstock

According to a CNN report, Lynn Forester de Rothschild, a prominent Hillary Clinton fund raiser, will endorse John McCain for president.

Her reason for not supporting Barack Obama?

"This is a hard decision for me personally because frankly I don't like him. I feel like he is an elitist."

Hillraiser Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild whines on Fox News

ROFL

Who is Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild?

Lady Lynn is the former Jersey-girl who married British banking financier Sir Evelyn Robert Adrian de Rothschild. Portfolio labeled her “the flashiest hostess in London.” She’s “mistress” of the Ascott House, the 3,200-acre Rothschild family estate in Buckinghamshire. She’s on the board of Estée Lauder. And she’s friends with Republican Henry Kissinger and big-moneyed Brits, including the utterly corrupt Conrad Black.

Links:
Lynn Forester de Rothschild von Cartier der Wha'?
Elitists, we don’t need no stinking elitists
A Woman Scorned
The Rothschilds
World According to ...Lynn Forester de Rothschild

John McCain in the Twilight Zone

John McCain now thinks he's the candidate of change. It's so sad.

Obama & McCain: Tax Relief for Families vs Breaks for the Rich II

Note: Click the chart to enlarge.

Key aspects of Obama's tax plan include:

- Obama will only raise taxes on the top 1 %, i.e., those making $600,000 or more. He will cut taxes for 95% of Americans: anyone making less than $250,000 will get a tax cut.

- He will not raise any taxes on anyone making less than 250K, not payroll, not income, not capital gains.

- According to the Tax Policy Center, the Obama plan provides three times as much tax relief for middle class families as the McCain plan.

- Families making more than $250,000 will pay either the same or lower tax rates than they paid in the 1990s. No family will pay higher tax rates than they would have paid in the 1990s.

Related: Obama & McCain on Taxes: Relief for Families vs Breaks for the Rich

Obama: The Great Lakes President?

Barack Obama proposed today a $5-billion trust fund to coordinate the restoration of the Great Lakes.

Finally, a presidential candidate that actually cares about The Great Lakes and the Americans that live and work around them.

The plan would focus funding on efforts to stop more invasive species from coming in through ballast water and control species that are already here, clean up toxic chemicals buried in sediments at hotspots around the lakes, and provide funding for sewer system repairs throughout the region (Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Upstate New York, and Wisconsin).

A triple play. The results will be: cleaner lakes; improved infrastructure; and new green jobs.

The plan is to be paid for by rolling back tax cuts and incentives to oil companies.

Link

Related:
Great Lakes Information Network
Great Lakes Commission
Alliance For The Great Lakes
Great Lakes For All
Inland Seas Education Association
The International Joint Commission
The Great Lakes Town Hall
America’s North Coast: A Benefit-Cost Analysis of Restoring the Great Lakes
Healthy Waters, Strong Economy: The Benefits of Restoring the Great Lakes Ecosystem

McCain (and Bush) Fundamentally Wrong!

Bush + McCain = Hoover

"Our economy, I think, is still -- the fundamentals of our economy are strong" John Sidney McCain, 2008

'This economy of ours is on a solid foundation." George Walker Bush, 2008

"With impressive proof on both sides of magnificent progress, no one can rightly deny the fundamental correctness of our economic system." Herbert Clark Hoover, 1928
Shades of Herbert Hoover
Oh, and even as the house of cards collapses one domino institution at a time (Lehman, Bear Stearns, AIG, etc.) , the people behind the whole scam are sending out their mouthpieces to put a happy-talk spin on everything, to the point where they mock those people who've been the first ones smacked around by the bow wave of the coming crash as "whiners".

Bush's and McCain's minders were hoping that Bernanke and Paulson could forestall the collapse until after the election. It looks like that might not be possible. This is one bullet they won't be dodging.

Is McCain the next Herbert Hoover?
History has judged Hoover as the president who led America in to the Great Depression. Are we going to give another Republican, John McCain, the opportunity to do this again? Three consecutive Republican terms have never been good for America. The last time this happened, we had 12 years of the Reagan-Bush Republicans and the economy also headed into a deep recession.

McCain-Palin as Herbert Hoover
Now that John McCain has doubled down on his insistence that the "fundamentals of the economy are strong," and Sarah Palin has announced to Charlie Rose that all that is needed is for the government to get out of the way of the private sector, it's time to remember that this is exactly the ideology of the Republican party in the 20's and the theme of Herbert Hoover's 1932 campaign.

George W. Bush Vs. Herbert Hoover On The Economy
In contrast, income inequality in the Bush years has grown to levels above even those during the Depression era.

The Road to Nowhere
Jack Turduckhen reporting live from the campaign trail. I was unable to score an interview with Rachel Ray Sarah Palin, but I did manage to arrange an interview with The Herbert Hoover Highway. Herbert, how are you doing?

Matthews: McCain Sounds Like Herbert Hoover
Did John McCain really mean to say the "fundamentals of the economy are strong?" Herbert Hoover, who presided over The Great Depression, said quote, "the economy is fundamentally sound." So is it fundamentally good politics to say, with the stock market plunging, that things are hunky-dory?

Paul Krugman says McCain is channeling Herbert Hoover
Hoover, too, insisted that the "fundamentals" were strong. And we know how well that worked out.

Herbert Hoover Revisited
If this sounds familiar, that’s because George W is the Hoover of 2008. In April, for the fourth month in a row, the American economy lost jobs, but Bush insisted that strong action is unnecessary, noting that “only” 20,000 jobs were lost last month and boasting that the unemployment rate was still at five percent.

Hillary Clinton and the Herbert Hoover card
"It sounds remarkably like Herbert Hoover," Clinton said of McCain's assertion that he is not inclined -- and probably never will be -- to embrace aggressive, sweeping government efforts to confront the problem of rising home foreclosures.

Schumer: "Bush Is Herbert Hoover"
In his speech this week, Bush echoed Hoover: “The temptation of Washington is to say that anything short of a massive government intervention in the housing market amounts to inaction. I strongly disagree with that sentiment. … Government actions are — have far-reaching and unintended consequences.”

Lobbyists Will Run McCain White House

His campaign is run by lobbyists.

Now we find out McCain's White House will be lobbyist-run too.

McCain just picked a Washington super lobbyist to plan his administration.

A "consummate insider" who lobbies for oil companies. The credit card industry.

Special interests rigging the system

Pushing Bush economics

Corporate special interests rigging the system against hard working Americans...pushing failed Bush economics. Does that sound like change
to you?

We just can't afford more of the same

True Cost of the Bush-McCain Iraq War? $3 Trillion and a Broken U.S. Economy

The true cost of the Iraq War is $3 trillion—and counting—rather than the $50 billion projected by the Bush White House.

Three trillion dollars for the war in Iraq is an incredible amount, almost beyond comprehension, and certainly far beyond the figures provided by the Bush administration. Yet this total is made both credible and comprehensible through the documentation of Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes.

Compelling alternative uses for the money are numerous. For example, we could have put Social Security on sound financial footing for a fraction of that cost, and avoided the...4,000 American deaths and 100,000 estimated Iraqi deaths - plus an untold number of seriously wounded and their long-term disability and health costs. Alternatively, America's trillion dollar+ infrastructure needs could be met with only half that expense.

Other costs include skyrocketing re-enlistment bonuses, the extra costs of using reserve and guard troops, up to $1,222/day for private security guards to replace servicemen paid less than one-sixth that, lost billions to reconstruct Iraq and spent in non-competitive bidding, and massive equipment replacement costs.

Then there are the opportunity costs associated with spending the money overseas, with no return to the American economy, increased pressure on the dollar, and the likely increased cost of oil. Finally, what about the interest costs of financing this war with debt, and our increased reliance on foreign nations holding that debt?

Supposedly this war is being fought to promote democracy. Yet, as Stiglitz points out, it is being mostly sold and funded through hiding the costs from the public. Continuing our presence in Iraq may, with interest, raise the total to $6-7 trillion. Meanwhile, bin Laden roams free, and even more Islamicists hate us.

Links:
The Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the US Invasion and Occupation of Iraq
The Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict - BookTV C-SPAN
Linda Bilmes on Our 'Three Trillion Dollar War'
The cold price of hot blood
Joseph E. Stiglitz Interview
The Iraq War Will Cost Us $3 Trillion, and Much More by Linda J. Bilmes and Joseph E. Stiglitz

Bush-McCainomics Drilled

Senator Sheldon WHITEHOUSE: Gentlemen, we’re in the middle of a near total mortgage system meltdown in this country. We have a health care system that burns 16 percent of our GDP, in which the Medicare liability alone has been estimated at $34 trillion. We’re burning $10 billion a month in Iraq.

This administration has run up $7.7 trillion in national debt, by our calculation. And there is worsening evidence every day of global warming, with worsening environmental and national security ramifications. In light of those conditions, do any of you seriously contend that drilling for more oil is the number one issue facing the American people today?

(Long silent pause during which nobody answers.)

WHITEHOUSE: No, it doesn’t seem so.

Palin: America's Queen of Pork

John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his VP running because of her "record" as a fierce opponent of pork-barrel spending. However, it turns out that as mayor of mayor of a small town and governor of a small state, Palin is unrivaled in her appetite for pork.

Indeed, Palin is America's Queen of Pork. Just in her 1.5 years as governor of Alaska, Palin sought $453 million in earmarks--and this does not include the $300 million for the Bridge-to-No-Where she and McCain have been lying about.

Believe it or not, Palin sought $9 million for Alaska's mega-rich oil companies. And she sought $4.5 million in U.S. Tax payer dollars for an airport on a Bering Sea island that less than 100 people.

Governor Palin's earmarks total $755 for every man, woman and child living in Alaska. Her earmarks as mayor of Wasilla totaled $4,500 per resident. Now that's a pork hog!

In shocking disregard for the truth, and gross disrespect for the offices they seek and the American people, McCain and Palin continue claiming that no earmarks have been sought.

Question: Why did John McCain pick America's pork queen as his running mate? And why is he claiming that she's a reformer when it's become clear as day that she's not?

(Pork-barrel are those grant funds--gentlemanly referred to as earmarks--included in the passage of federal legislation to support pet projects of politicians. Some of the projects respond to a true public need; most are unnecessary spending benefiting a few well-connected constituents.)

Links:
Palin's Project List Totals $453 Million
Palin Did Support Bridge To Nowhere
Fact Check: McCain misstates Palin earmarks record
Palin's pork requests confound reformer image
Sarah, Sarah, Lipstick and Earmarks and LIES
Lying McCain
McCain criticized Wasilla earmarks in 2001
Is Sarah Palin a True Fiscal Conservative?
Palin Brings Back Debunked Bridge, Ebay Lines She Dropped In Alaska

Why Does John McCain Hate America?

Bush-McCain disastrous economic and military policies have brought the U.S. to the brink of depression.

And what is McCain offering?

A flurry of campaign ads designed to deceive and distract America from his Bush-Rove agenda: more Oil wars; more tax give-aways to the well-connected; more exporting of American jobs; more favors to lobbyists friends; fewer domestic investments in jobs, education and infrastructure; more bluster and saber rattling.

The message of McCain's insulting ads and Bush-Rove policies? Love for America is not what comes to mind.

McCain admits that he once hated America --and his offensive campaign suggests that he still may.

Tina Fey IS Palin on SNL - Update

Update: How Tina Fey May Have Saved Democracy



Sarah Palin & Hillary Clinton on SNL (Tina Fey & Amy Poehler) - video powered by Metacafe

Tina Fey returned to SNL yesterday to play a dead on Sarah Palin. Fey's enormous comedic talents soar as she captures Palin's flat accent, looks, dominionist certitude and Alaska sized vacuousness. Bravo!

McCain Drilling Palin?

Sarah Palin vs Charlie Gibson by Scott Bateman

Sarah Palin's ABC interview is already scary funny, but Scott Bateman makes it even more so.

John McCain's Campaign of Lies

Obama: McCain is Anti-American Worker

There's a strong case to be made that Bush-McCain's economic policies are anything but "Country First". Starting today, Obama has begun attacking McCain for selling out American workers. Tough economic populism versus more of the same?

"Just ask the machinists in Pennsylvania who build Harley-Davidsons. Because John McCain didn’t just oppose the requirement that the government buy American-made motorcycles, he called Buy American provisions 'disgraceful.'

Just ask the workers across this country who have seen their jobs outsourced. The very companies that shipped their jobs overseas have been rewarded with billions of dollars in tax breaks that John McCain supports and plans to continue.

So, when American workers hear John McCain talking about putting 'Country First, it’s fair to ask –- which country?"

James Kotecki's 'Sarah Palin: Eyes Wide Open'

It's clear that Sarah Palin is unqualified to serve as president or vice president of the United States. Not only is she ill-equiped for high office by virtue of her lack of knowledge about vital national issues, but more importantly, she's dishonest (with herself and the country) in believing that she's prepared to be commander-in-chief.

However, the biggest indictment is of John McCain and his flawed judgement for selecting Palin in the first place. He either doesn't understand what it takes to lead this nation, or he's playing a dangerous game with the American people.

As a result, Palin has become fodder for comedians everywhere. Here's James Kotecki's Sarah Palin: Eyes Wide Open. Sad, but funny.

Jessica Alba & the 'Declare Yourself' Voter Campaign

The dramatic image "really resonates" with the issue of voting, according to the 27-year-old star. "If you don't register and vote and make a difference, and hopefully change the bad things that are happening in our country, you are essentially just binding and muzzling yourself."

Register to Vote
Photo Gallery: Only You Can Silence Yourself PSAs

The Palin's Sympathies for Alaska's Anti-American Secessionists

GOP Veep candidate Sarah Palin, and her husband Todd Palin, have ties to the stridently anti-American and secessionist, Alaska Independence Party. Todd Palin was a card-carrying member until recently, and Sarah is a sympathizer and regular speaker at its conferences, including one held just this year.

The Alaskan Independence Party was founded by Joe Vogler to push secession for Alaska from the United States. Vogler's rallying cry? "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions."

Imagine the outcry if Barack Obama or Joe Biden were involved with a secessionist anti-American movement?

Right wing hypocrisy?

Links:
The Alaska Independence Party
Alaska Independence Party Founder Broadcast Hatred Of America

Palin Clueless

Sarah Palin sealed her fate as "not ready" for her disasterous interview with ABC's Charlie Gibson. The rookie governor of Alaska was impolitic and ill-informed. Here are a few of her mistakes:

- agrees with Barack Obama (and not McCain) about pursuing Al Qaeda in Pakistan;

- believes the US is obligated to go to war against Russia over Georgia;

- accuses her own Republican president of "blunders" in Iraq; and

- is clueless re: the controversial Bush Doctrine of preemption.

Here's the exchange on the Bush Doctrine:

Charlie: Do you agree with the Bush Doctrine?
Palin: In what respect, Charlie?
Charlie: What do you interpret it to be?
Palin: His worldview.
Charlie: No, No, the Bush Doctrine. He enunciated it in September 2002, before the Iraq War.
Palin: I believe that what President Bush has attempted to do is to rid this world of Islamic extremism, terrorists who are hellbent on destroying our nation. There have been blunders along the way, though. There have been mistakes made. And with new leadership--and that's the beauty of American elections and democracy--with new leadership comes the opportunity to do things better.
Charlie: The Bush Doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory defense. We have the right to preemptively strike any other country that we believe is going to attack us.

Miss Piggy Enters the Fray

Di'neh-Navajo of Arizona: John McCain is the Anti-Christ

A campaign of greed has led to the forced displacement of Arizona's Di'neh-Navajo, the disfigurement of children, exploding rates of cancer, the deaths of thousands, and the theft and despoilment of sacred lands. In simpler terms -- genocide.

The culprit?

Senator John McCain and his financial benefactor, the Peabody Energy Corp (Peabody Western Coal Company).

To the gentle, matrilineal Di'neh, John McCain is "the Anti-Christ of the Black Mesa".

Links:
John McCain - The Butcher of Big Mt.
McCain, Bennet Freeze & Forced Removal of Navajo: '74 - '96
BLACK MESA INDIGENOUS SUPPORT
A Tragedy- GENOCIDE ! Right here in America!!
VANISHING PRAYER - Media Player - Part 1.
VANISHING PRAYER - Media Player - Part 2.
ABOUT THE Di'neh
Navajo Indians targeted for genocide by Sen. John McCain

Bill Santiago - Latino Nuyorican Comic

Need a comedy break? Watch stand-up Nyuorican comedian Bill Santiago's hysterical Comedy Central Special. It's a 20 minute show about being Latino, Spanglish and discovering that you're not weird, it's that you're Puerto Rican.

BTW: About half way in Santiago tells why he prefers Latino over Hispanic. It's very funny and so true.

Links
Bill Santiago's Website
Bill Santiago - MySpace
Pardon My Spanglish

Sarah Palin Answers Her Critics

See more Gina Gershon videos at Funny or Die

'Pig In Lipstick' Phase of the Presidential Campaign

We're officially into the Pig-In-Lipstick Phase of the 2008 Presidential campaign. It's that time after the conventions and before the first nationally televised joint appearances when silliness prevails.

Consider the following:

• Republicans have decided that they can retain the presidency by NOT discussing the issues confronting the nation --and the media is letting them get away with it.
• The McCain campaign is keeping Sarah Palin from the press for fear that she might answer the questions honestly.
• The Republicans are now running as the party that can bring "change" from the disastrous 8 year rule of the Republicans.
• McCain can run against lobbyists with a campaign run and funded by lobbyists.
• Palin can run as a fighter against big oil by being the darling of big oil.
• Republicans and the media think that the GOP had a great convention.
• Republicans believe that Sarah Palin is qualified.
• Sarah Palin and the Republicans thinks that the governor's extremist views and questionable performance are off limits.
• Obama can stay above the fray an not punch back in an American politics polluted by smear artists, propagandists, FOXNews, rightwing radio and Rove.
• Buchanan Republicans are now "sensitive" to perceived sexist slights.
• McCain is running as a Maverick whose track record and proposals are to keep doing for the economy and foreign policy what Maverick Bush W. is doing.
• Corporate media has lost the courage to do investigative reporting for fear of being attacked by the rightwing.
• Emotional gimmicks are more appealing to the press and the public than are the issues and the direction of the country.
• The micro-examination of every poll by the media and pundits is more important than the discussion of the proposals of the candidates.

Bush, Rove, FOX, Neocons and Haliburton are pleased indeed.

Mavericky McCain & Madonna "Vogue"

Madonna and John are no longer friends. They had a falling out after The Material Girl linked his head shot on stage with "Get Stupid". Rude. The one-time Vogue dancer known "Mavericky" gave Madonna a tongue lashing, which she didn't mind. Yes, Mavericky's doll collection, drill everything and kiss the Bush antics got old real fast. But she's moved on--and he's still doing the same (adding dolls, drilling and kissing). She's now with Obama, and she's happy because he's the one we've been waiting for. Oh, but Mavericky sure could Vogue.

Palin Revs Up McCain

The selection of perky Sarah Palin for VP electrified the GOP's Dominonist wing, but more incredibly, it revved up John McCain. It's either a miracle, or the little blue pills finally kicked in. Check it out. Funny, funny, funny.

Sarah Palin Prayers

A Scott Bateman cartoon of Sarah Palin mixing Alaaaaaasska politics and church. Does she really pray to the Exxon Oil god? No wonder Exxon McCain, George "Oil War" Bush and Cheney Haliburton love her. (TIP: Click the link to read the scrolling text. Very Funny.)

Jim Hightower: failed conservative values = ethic of greed

James Allen "Jim" Hightower is a populist activist, former Texas Agriculture Commissioner, radio commentator, public speaker, prolific author (including Let's Stop Beating Around the Bush, Swim Against the Current, There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos, Thieves in High Places, and The People Are Revolting!), and truth-teller.

Sarah Palin: Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

Sarah Palin presents herself as a staunch reformer who fought fiercely against pork barrel spending and Alaska's bridge to nowhere project. It turns out that these and many other assertions by the Alaskan governor are patently false. That is, she's lying.

U.S. Latinos by the Numbers '08

U.S. Census Bureau issues Facts for Features in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month 2008: Sept. 15 - Oct. 15

49.4 million
The estimated U.S. Latino population (including the 3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico).

About 1. . .
of every two people added to the nation’s population between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, was Latino. There were 1.4 million Latinos added to the population during the period.

3.3%
Percentage increase in the Latino population between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, making Latinos the fastest-growing "minority" group.

132.8 million
The projected Latino population of the United States on July 1, 2050. According to this projection, Latinos will constitute 30 percent of the nation’s population by that date.

22.4 million
The nation’s Latino population during the 1990 Census — less than half the current total.

3rd
Ranking of the size of the U.S. Latino population worldwide, as of 2007. Only Brazil (184 million) and Mexico (108.7 million) had larger Latino populations than did the United States (45.5 million).

64%
The percentage of Latin American-origin people in the United States who are of Mexican background. Another 9 percent are of Puerto Rican background, with 3.4 percent Cuban, 3.1 percent Salvadoran and 2.8 percent Dominican. The remainder are of some other Central American, South American or other Latino origin.

About 50 percent of the nation’s Dominicans live in New York City and about half of the nation’s and about half of the nation’s Cubans in Miami-Dade County, Fla.

27.6 years
Median age of the Latino population in 2007. This compares with 36.6 years for the population as a whole.

107
Number of Latinos in 2007 per every 100 Latinas. This was in sharp contrast to the overall population, which had 97 males per every 100 females.

States and Counties

48%
The percentage of the Latino/Hispanic-origin population that lives in California or Texas. California is home to 13.2 million Latinos, and Texas is home to 8.6 million.

16
The number of states with at least a half-million Latino-Hispanic residents. They are Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

44%
The percentage of New Mexico’s population that is Latino/Hispanic, the highest of any state. Latinos/Hispanics also make up more than a quarter of the population in California and Texas, at 36 percent each, Arizona (30 percent) and Nevada (25 percent).

4.7 million
The Latino population of Los Angeles County, Calif., in 2007 — the largest of any county in the nation. Maricopa County, Ariz. (home of Phoenix) had the biggest numerical increase in the Latino population (60,700) since July 2006.

97%
Proportion of the population of Starr County, Texas, that was Latino as of 2007, which led the nation. In fact, each of the top 10 counties in this category was in Texas.

308,000
The increase in Texas’ Latino population between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007, which led all states. California (268,000) and Florida (131,000) also recorded large increases.

20
Number of states in which Latinos are the largest "minority" group. These states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Businesses

1.6 million
The number of Latino-owned businesses in 2002.

Triple
The rate of growth of Latino-owned businesses between 1997 and 2002 (31 percent) compared with the national average (10 percent) for all businesses.

$222 billion
Revenue generated byLatino-owned businesses in 2002, up 19 percent from 1997.

44.6%
. . . of all Latino-owned firms were owned by Mexicans, Mexican-Americans and Chicanos.

29,168
Number of Latino-owned firms with receipts of $1 million or more. Counties with the highest number of Latino-owned firms were Los Angeles County (188,422); Miami-Dade County (163,187); and Harris County, Texas (61,934).

Families and Children

9.9 million
The number of Latino family households in the United States in 2006. Of these households, 62 percent included children younger than 18.

67%
The percentage of Latino family households consisting of a married couple.

44%
The percentage of Latino family households consisting of a married couple with children younger than 18.

66%
Percentage of Latino children living with two married parents.

24%
Percentage of total population younger than 5 that was Latino as of July 1, 2007.

Spanish Language

34 million
The number of U.S. residents 5 and older who speak Spanish at home. Spanish speakers constitute 12 percent of U.S. residents.

29%
Percentage of Texas residents 5 and older who speak Spanish at home, which leads all states. This compares with the national average of 12 percent.

78%
Percentage of Latinos 5 and older who speak Spanish at home.

Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

$38,679
The median income of Latino households in 2007, statistically unchanged from the previous year after adjusting for inflation.

21.5%
The poverty rate among Latinos in 2007, up from 20.6 percent in 2006.

32.1%
The percentage of Latinos who lacked health insurance in 2007, down from 34.1 percent in 2006.

Education

60%
The percentage of Latinos 25 and older who had at least a high school education in 2007.

13%
The percentage of the Latino population 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2007.

3.3 million
The number of Latinos 18 and older who had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2007, up from 1.7 million a decade earlier.

811,000
Number of Latinos 25 and older with advanced degrees in 2007 (e.g., master’s, professional, doctorate).

11%
Percentage of all college students in October 2006 who were Latino. Among elementary and high school students combined, the corresponding proportion was 19 percent.

Jobs

68%
Percentage of Latinos 16 and older who are in the civilian labor force.

17%
The percentage of Latinos 16 or older who work in management, professional and related occupations.

82,500
Number of Latino chief executives. In addition, 46,200 physicians and surgeons; 53,600 postsecondary teachers; 43,000 lawyers; and 5,700 news analysts, reporters and correspondents are Latino.

Voting

7.6 million
The number of Latino citizens who reported voting in the 2004 presidential election.

5.6 million
The number of Latino citizens who reported voting in the 2006 congressional elections. The percentage of Latino citizens voting — about 32 percent — did not change statistically from four years earlier.

Serving our Country

1.1 million
The number of Latinos veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

The Republican National Convention in Just One Minute

The puffery, sarcasm, dominionism, hypocrisy, war mongering, issues avoidance, Orwellian doublespeak and Rovian-facism of the Republican Convention in just 1 minute. What a bargain!

Here's the link (http://www.236.com/video/2008/watch_the_rnc_in_a_minute_8773.php) to pass along to friends who missed the original broadcast.

Sarah Palin and the Aerial Killing of Alaskan Wolves

More than 30 years ago, Congress put an end to aerial hunting (Airborne Hunting Act). In Alaska, however, hunters are using aircraft to harass and shoot wolves and other wildlife from the air in clear violation of the letter and spirit of federal law.

Sarah Palin (aka, Pitbull in Lipstick) is America's chief promoter and advocate of this barbaric practice and unrelenting terror against nature. Why?

End Alaska's Aerial Hunting Program! Join over 110,000 citizens in support of the PAW Act.

Related:
Her deadly wolf program
Aerial Hunting of Wolves in Alaska (short version)
TV Ad to Stop Aerial Hunting
This still goes on in America. You can stop it.
Defenders of Wildlife
End Aerial Wolf Hunting

Obama & Ellen Liven Up the RNC

Obama and comedienne Ellen DeGenerous liven things up during McCain's boring speech at the RNC. Very funny.

John McCain: From Maverick Reformer to Reformed Maverick

This Daily Show clip of McCain's bio shows how he went from a maverick reformer to a reformed maverick. It's frightening to see how the mainstream media is failing to call him on his disturbing flip-flops.

The San Juan Star, Puerto Rico's Pulitzer Prize-winning English-language newspaper, has closed

The San Juan Star, Puerto Rico's Pulitzer Prize-winning English-language newspaper, has closed. Founded in 1959, The Star was the island's sole English-language daily.

The newspaper, which once employed Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Kennedy as its managing editor, had 120 employees.

The Star had been losing money for years, but the situation worsened with a recession in Puerto Rico and the broader decline in newspaper readership and advertising.

The Star was the setting for The Rum Diary, a novel by Hunter S. Thompson. The film version starring Johnny Depp is to be released in 2009.

Palin Video: PTA Mom to GOP VP - Only in America!

A musical parody of Sarah Palin's incredible rise from PTA mom to GOP VP candidate and possibly commander-in-chief of the world's most complex and powerful nation. Co-starring Bill Maher. Woo-hoo! Only in America!

Joe Biden Hits McCain on the Economy

Joe Biden just tears John McCain apart for completely ignoring every single major economic issue facing America and for offering nothing but sarcastic personal attacks.

John McCain: Dead Man Walking?

The Republican National Convention is now over...thank goodness!

I watched most of the C-Span coverage and listened to some of the cable network recaps, and I can't honestly recall a more disjointed and confused production. It was sloppy affair throughout with a number of obvious technical problems, an odd speaker line-up, strange back-drops and the presence of protesters, etc.

And whose idea was it to put the speakers in front of a gigantic JumboTron? All it did was further diminish John McCain and his small minded guests.

Most inexcusable was the lack of a coherent message. After all, modern day political conventions are platforms for communicating a winning message to the nation. Instead, McCain and his surrogates ended up dishing out more confusion than enlightenment--although the assembled country clubers sneered and cackled in jiggly delight.

For example:

• The McCain campaign borrowed the Obama "Change" message, but immediately threw it away by offering a continuation of Bush's economic and foreign policies.
• McCain stresses his willingness to work in a bi-partisan way, but all of his surrogates undermine that message with fiercely partisan rhetoric and put downs.
• Republican McCain promises to take Washington back -- even though it's his party that has controlled the White House for the last 8 years, the Senate for 6 years, the House for 7 years, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court.
• McCain criticizes Obama on the question of experience but then picks a rookie governor of a state with 70,000 fewer residents than the city of Columbus, Ohio and less than half the population of Suffolk County, NY.
• All of the speakers boasts that McCain is a political maverick--although the nominee himself boasts that no one has supported George W. Bush more than he has.
• The McCain Camp takes great credit for elevating a "highly qualified" woman to VP nominee but then bars her from direct contact with the press and the public.
• Cindy McCain states that it took quite an effort to get John to use his POW experience to define himself--although it's about the only thing that the campaign and McCain have been talking about.
  

Frankly, I don't see how McCain and the Republicans fully recover--even if they somehow manage to eek out a victory this November. Politically, John McCain is a "dead man walking." The GOP's only hope for holding onto power--already viciously on display in St. Paul--is to try to carpet bomb Barack Obama and the Democrats. Stay tuned.

I Picked A Girl by John McCain and Sarah Palin

Here's another very funny McCain-Palin video. Limitless material. Yippeee!!!

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz Accuse Sarah Palin Of Deceiving Voters

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz spoke to the press today and charged Sarah Palin with deceiving the voters.

Here are some of their points:

Sebelius:

On being a "small town" mayor

"I live in the American heartland, and have been a governor [here] for six years," she said. "I don't know any mayor in any small town in Kansas -- and we have a lot of mayors of small towns -- who hires a lobbyist and goes after earmarks the way Sarah Palin did." On Tuesday, the Washington Post reported that, as mayor of Wasilla, Palin secured more than $27 million in federal earmarks for a town with only 6,700 residents.

On the lack of substance in Palin's speech

Sebelius would have none of it. "What I hear from these folks in the heartland, is that people want to know how they're going to afford health care ... whether they're going to keep their jobs [and manage] the cost of gas and groceries," Sebelius said. "Again last night, what we heard were partisan attacks and no real solutions. ... I work with a Republican legislature every day. And I know what people expect us to do ... is to roll up your sleeves and get the job done."

Wasserman Schultz:

On Palin's habit of lying

Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz hammered a similar theme to Sebelius, saying that Palin "had a real problem with the truth last night" and adding that "even her hometown newspaper said she stretched the truth." (a reference to Thursday's Anchorage Daily News headline: "Some Of Palin's Remarks Stretch The Truth.")

The lack of "authenticity" of her speech

"Whenever I have had to give significant speeches, I've spent a lot of time with the people assisting me in drafting remarks, adding my own voice," Schultz said. "Last night, I only heard Sarah Palin's voice [through] negative partisan attacks, with no substance or vision of where she thinks the country should go."

And the "reformer" label the McCain's camp has been pushing

"Where is the beef? Where is the evidence? Sarah Palin is not a reformer, she is under investigation in her home state for the abuse of power in trying to get a state trooper fired... If her best example of being a reformer was trying to sell a plane on E-Bay, that is not my definition of reform."

Touché!!!

Hilarious Hypocrisy by GOP Propagandists (Hannity, O'Reilly, Rove, Morris, Pfotenhauer)

The Obama Camp's Response to RNC Attacks

David Plouffe, Campaign Manager of Obama for America, responded to last night's attacks on Barack Obama by Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin in an email to supporters.

Plouffe makes an important point that the Republican speakers have been hitting many of the themes that excite their base (small government, war, religion, etc.), they have thus far offered no specific proposals for solving the nation's problems.

Perhaps John McCain will present actual proposals tonight, but don't hold your breath. As campaign manager Rick Davis admitted that this is "not a campaign about issues".

Gee, why not?

Karl Rove and the GOP are betting that they can squeek out a victory this fall by attacking Barack Obama and showcasing McCain and Palin personalities and life stories. The McCain as military hero and Palin as super mom, and both as populist reformers, narratives, they're betting, should keep the masses and the MSM sufficiently distracted. The goal is to win another term without having to rethink the party's failed economic and defense policies.

Here's the meat of his message:

I saw John McCain's attack squad of negative, cynical politicians. They lied about Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and they attacked you for being a part of this campaign.

But worst of all -- and this deserves to be noted -- they insulted the very idea that ordinary people have a role to play in our political process.

You know that despite what John McCain and his attack squad say, everyday people have the power to build something extraordinary when we come together.

Both Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin specifically mocked Barack's experience as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago more than two decades ago, where he worked with people who had lost jobs and been left behind when the local steel plants closed.

Let's clarify something for them right now.

Community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies.

And it's no surprise that, after eight years of George Bush, millions of people have found that by coming together in their local communities they can change the course of history. That promise is what our campaign has been about from the beginning.

Throughout our history, ordinary people have made good on America's promise by organizing for change from the bottom up. Community organizing is the foundation of the civil rights movement, the women's suffrage movement, labor rights, and the 40-hour workweek. And it's happening today in church basements and community centers and living rooms across America.

Meanwhile, we still haven't gotten a single idea during the entire Republican convention about the economy and how to lift a middle class so harmed by the Bush-McCain policies.

It's now clear that John McCain's campaign has decided that desperate lies and personal attacks -- on Barack Obama and on you -- are the only way they can earn a third term for the Bush policies that McCain has supported more than 90 percent of the time.

Sarah Palin: A Republican Star Is Born

Sarah Palin rocked the house tonight! (She did so with a speech written by Bush aide Matthew Scully.)

The 'pitbull with lipstick', hockey mom, Sarah Barracuda or Governor Palin--take your pick--delivered a speech that gave the Elephant Party's conventioneers renewed hope.

The overwhelmingly grey-haired, Christian conservatives were giddy with the prospect of more pro-War, pro-Big Oil, us-first, regressive Republican rule. Hooray!!!

It was quite a performance--even if it answered none of the concerns about her qualifications to serve as commander-in-chief anytime soon.

The 44 year governor of Alaska cast herself as an advocate for special needs children, a reformer of government and a defender of small town America. In her role as attack dog, Palin praised John McCain as the person best suited to lead America, while ridiculing Obama's work as a community organizer and his qualifications for the presidency. And she took a jab at the "liberal" media and Washington elites.

We'll soon learn what the public thinks of Sarah Palin, but my guess is that many working class people, especially women, may have found a new hero.

Additionally, Palin's performance may have just upset Mitt Romney's plans for taking control of a defeated GOP for another run in 2012. Win or lose in '08--and assuming she doesn't fall flat on her face in the next 60 days, the GOP--given McCain's age--is almost immediately inherited by Palin and the conservative Christian wing of the party.

Rich Lowry: Obama offers more middle-class tax relief than McCain

“I think John McCain needs to make a real, substantive case about how he’s going to help average voters with their cost of living, on energy, on health care and on taxes.

Barack Obama is offering more middle-class tax relief than John McCain.”

Remarkably, that statement is from Rich Lowry, editor of the leading conservative monthly National Review and contributor to the FOX News Channel.

How can McCain continue claiming that his tax plan is better for America?

Related: DeLay says Dems better organized

Will Noonan-Murphy Sink McCain-Palin?

The Netroots are abuzz about off camera comments from Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy slamming the McCain campaign on MSNBC for choosing Sarah Palin for VP.

Wow!

Murphy, a former campaign consultant for both Mitt Romney and John McCain, says that "it won't work", while Ronald Reagan's speechwriter and Republican royal, Noonan, doesn't mince words when shes says "it's political bullsh**", and that "It's OVER!"

If the tape proves authentic, Murphy and Noonan's true assessments will hit the McCain campaign like torpedo and possibly sink the old Navy man's already listing ship.

McCain-Palin Inspire Political Humorists

John McCain's pick of Sarah Palin as his running mate has set-off the Netroots and the conservative Christians as never before. The Netroots see Palin as a lightweight ideologue, while conservative Christians see her as the embodiment of their Dominionist beliefs. It's promising to be the wildest two months of national campaign politics in recent memory.

However, the people that are perhaps most pleased by the turn of events may well be American humorists of all kinds: political cartoonists, comedians, satirists and late night talk shows.

Among my favorites (including SNL, The Daily Show, Colbert) are political humor videos -- many of which are distributed via video sharing services such as YouTube and Truveo. I've posted some on this blog, and I expect to be posting many more in the coming weeks and months.

Below is the latest LisaNova creation entitled Is McCain Palin's Bitch? It's a funny (and naughty) portrayal of John McCain's call to Sarah Palin to become his VP.

Latinos Favors Obama 3 to 1 in Key States

Latino voters favor Barrack Obama over John McCain by a 3-1 margin in the key battleground states of New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada. In Florida, Latino preference is split (and within the MOE) for McCain and Obama.

In short, Obama is crushing McCain --and outperforming Kerry '04--by significant percentages:

Colorado________O:69%_____M:24%
New Mexico_____O:70%_____M:21%
Nevada_________O:68%_____M:22%
Florida_________O:45%_____M:48%

The Latino Decisions poll was completed August 27, 2008 -- the week before the DNC's Denver Convention.

Latino Decisions is a joint effort of Pacific Market Research, Dr. Gary Segura, and Dr. Matt Barreto, both of whom are Senior Researchers at Latino Decisions and Professors at Stanford University and the University of Washington, respectively.