I Vote

To eliminate the word "bipartisan" from the political lexicon! McCain just gave a good answer, but I have to cringe every time I hear about "Republicans and Democrats coming together." Who got us into this mess, after all!

Debate Live Blog - Part I

Watching the Fox coverage with Brit Hume presiding over the network coverage.

He hands it over to Jim Lehrer, who quips about taking a deep breath and holding his breath for 90 minutes (I think it was Lehrer).

"Global Financial Crisis" - so that's how he is going to work in the credit crunch.

Lehrer says the questions are his own and are known to no one other than himself. Calls for no noise of any kind.

Eisenhower quote: "We must achieve both security and solvency".

First question to Obama on the financial recovery plan.

Obama: Usual thanks to the usual people. Clearly coached to be direct in his answers and not so theoretical. First mistake: blames Bush and then says McCain has supported it. McCain has the chance now to knock it out of the park. We'll see.

McCain: Expresses thoughts about Ted Kennedy's health. Going for the "bipartisanship is keen" track. He better get back to the Obama assertion (i.e., lie). He whiffs.

Follow up: do you favor this plan?

Obama: Haven't seen the language. Optimistic, blah, blah. Obama now lying about having called for action on the "subprime mess". This must be a lie, as his campaign has never made this claim.

McCain: Responding, but meekly. Warming up with Ike story about D-Day Eve and the two letters - one expressing thanks for a successful operation and the other offering his resignation because of its failure. He goes to the point of the story: accountability. But he deflects credit and doesn't take on the Obama fabrications.

Obama: Making up a story line (not watching out for Main Street), and McCain is letting him get away with it.

McCain: Presents well, but isn't responding to Obama, just stating things that he has said before.

By the way....

What's with Kathleen Parker and La Shawn Barber?

The First Debate

Ok, I'll join Doc Paul in a little live-blogging here in just a bit. Right now, I am live-streaming 102.9 FM in Philly -- the best classic rock station there is! Brit Hume is on, but I am too nervous to listen to all of the preliminaries! So until we get to the meat-and-potatoes, I'll just rock on with Creedence! :)

Happy Petrov Day

I didn't know that today was his day, but on this day, September 26, 25 years ago, a man named Petrov saved the world. Read about it here. Live-blogging of the debate to begin shortly.

The Pure Class of the Palins

meets the pure crass of the New York "elites". James Taranto nails it:

From the New York Times Web site, we learn an interesting detail about Sarah Palin's family:

Her parents had come to New York after 9/11 to help with the recovery effort.

Her parents, Chuck and Sally Heath, worked at Fresh Kills landfill in Staten Island in January and February of 2002 as part of a federal Department of Agriculture program.

In a phone interview this evening, Mr. Heath said that he and his wife worked to keep sea gulls and rats from scavenging. Mr. Heath, who is a retired science teacher and is 70 now, and Mrs. Heath, 68, a retired secretary, have worked for the Agriculture Department for the last 15 years. They travel around the world dealing with "nuisance" animals like rats and bears.

"A lot of people just didn't like the job, it was kind of a morbid thing," he said of the work at the Staten Island landfill. "But I thought it was part of history." He said they worked alongside detectives and firefighters and enjoyed "rubbing elbows" with them and hearing their stories.

While working at Fresh Kills, they stayed in Edison, N.J., about 17 miles away. Mr. Heath said that was the only part of their tour that they did not like, because the traffic was so heavy. "I'm a country boy," he said.

It's hard to be in New York these days without hearing vicious and snobbish comments about Palin and her family. The other night we heard a journalist on an elevator call the Alaska governor "stupid" (he was annoyed because her security had delayed his arrival at an event). Earlier a woman at a cocktail party went on a tear about Palin's pregnant daughter.

It's nice to think that the Palin family does not seem to reciprocate New Yorkers' contempt for them.

Perfect Game

On Father's Day, June 21, 1964, the first Father's Day that my Dad could hold me in his arms (I would have been 5 1/2 months old then), Jim Bunning pitched a perfect game for the Phillies, blanking the Mets 6-0 at Shea Stadium.

After a Hall of Fame career, Jim Bunning became a Senator from Kentucky. This might not be on par with his performance on that long-ago Father's Day, but it's darn near perfect. Thanks, Senator Bunning.

MUST WATCH VIDEO!

E-mail this link to everyone you know:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5tZc8oH--o

That will send them to YouTube to see the video embedded below. You have to pay attention - a lot of information is packed into 10 minutes of video (with a pleasing soundtrack, I might add). This is what I have been railing about: the Democrats' slick attempt to make this a failure of markets and deregulation when IN FACT it is a failure of oversight and misguided regulation by DC (with a dollop of Wall Street greed to complete the recipe for disaster).

PLEASE watch this carefully and PLEASE spread the word.





H/T Flopping Aces

Also, read this IBD editorial and send it to everyone in your address book.

Credit Crunch Politics

Insight from Jennifer Rubin:

The Democrats need to get their story straight. On one hand, it is beyond dispute at this point that Congressional Republicans were never on board. It is equally clear that the Democratic majority won’t act without the ”cover” of a substantial number of Republican votes–that is they demand that this deal not be done, in Chris Dodd’s words, ”on a three-legged stool.”

So several things follow. First, this is precisely why Hank Paulson and Harry Reid summoned John McCain–to get Republican cover for the Democrats who despite the looming crisis can’t bring themselves to govern (that is, to vote on and pass a bill which they believe is essential). Second, that is why McCain presented but did not endorse the GOP’s wish list of conservative suggestions in the White House meeting. That is how one cajoles and drags along a recalcitrant party–by allowing them to have their say. (From reports it appears that the hyper-empathetic Barack Obama attempted to corner the Republicans, not a comforting sign that he knows how to negotiate with people who are in fundamental disagreement with him.) Third, while it would be nice for the Democrats to drag more Republican votes along, it is highly unlikely that they need as a mathematical matter all 100 Republican votes they have asked for. Whether they get 50 or 100, Democrats almost certainly could pass the Paulson bill in a form acceptable both to the White House and the Senate. But they don’t want to–Chris Dodd told us that.

And finally, if there is no deal, if the stock market drops hundreds more points, if there is no abatement in the short term credit crunch, and if more banks and other institutions fold today, we’ll see if running off to a debate and lifting whatever pressure exists to make a quick deal seems like such a good idea. Having spent over twenty years as a labor negotiator I can tell you: unless you provide contentious parties with a deadline, no matter how artificial, they will never reach a deal.

Another element of the politics of this, which the libs are trying to paint in the worst possible light for McCain and the Republicans, facts be damned (Alan Colmes was particularly guilty of this last night), is that the Congressional Dems just can't help themselves. I have heard that there are upward of 2,000 earmarks attached, with frivolous spending items and completely unrelated matters (e.g., Harry Reid's attempt for GOK what reason to ban oil shale exploration). It was just Sunday on Fox News Sunday that Chuckie Schumer, seated next to John Kyl, stated with all the credibility he could muster that he and his Democratic colleagues would not "Christmas tree this thing". I thought it was an interesting verbing of a noun (I usually think of decorating or trimming a Christmas tree, but I digress), and that made it perhaps more memorable. Yet here they go, at a time of crisis, trying to slip in their pet projects. I think that any lawmaker who tries to slip in an earmark should be publicly humiliated. And not just if he or she is a Republican.

UPDATE: More from KLo at The Corner:

This is what Lindsey Graham said on Greta's show: “And this deal that's on the table now is not a very good deal. Twenty percent of the money that should go to retire debt that will be created to solve this problem winds up in a housing organization called ACORN that is an absolute ill-run enterprise, and I can't believe we would take money away from debt retirement to put it in a housing program that doesn't work.”

ACORN is one of the dirty little secrets of the left that needs to be exposed by more than just Michelle Malkin.

UPDATE 2: I found the transcript of Chuckie Schumer and Jon Kyl being interviewed by Chris Wallace; here's the relevant part:

WALLACE: If you hear some Democrats talk about a stimulus package — infrastructure, you know, a variety — unemployment relief, a variety — even a bailout to the auto companies. Are you going to "Christmas tree" this bill?

SCHUMER: No, we will not "Christmas tree" this bill. The times are too urgent. Everyone has their own desires and needs. It's going to have to wait.

Now, as for a stimulus package, I think that is — the economy is sinking. Unemployment, 6.1 percent. Many of us believe we need a stimulus package. Many of us believe this is the appropriate time to do it before Congress adjourns. We can't wait three months.

WALLACE: As part of the bailout?

SCHUMER: But it doesn't necessarily have to be part of the bailout. That's something that's being decided right now.

And I think our leaders both in the House and Senate are coming to the conclusion it should be alongside the bailout, but not part of it.

WALLACE: Senator Kyle, can you live with the kind of add-ons that Senator Schumer is talking about?

KYL: Well, first of all, I think that he is correct to say that these things should not be added on to this particular bill.

WALLACE: Oh, I think he did say that the mortgage should be added onto the...

KYL: Well, all right. We'll talk about that separately. But with regard to the stimulus package...

WALLACE: Stimulus, right.

KYL: ... look, there is a crisis in our country. And we've got to come together as House and Senate, Democrat and Republican, and deal with this crisis as Americans, for the American people, and not try to bring on all of our political agendas.

And now for a little (more) self-promotion

Sorry, I know this is O/T again, but I just received my copy of Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal today, and I am thrilled to report that Lulu did a fabulous job! I cannot express how exciting it is to finally publish my first of (hopefully) many novels; I even have a publicist -- wow!

We are planning to work the huge South Florida market first, which involves sending out press releases to local print, radio and television media. Of course, I am competing with election news, but perhaps a little escapism every once and a while between now and November will be good for the collective South Florida soul. I know it's good for mine, notwithstanding my political junkie tendencies -- especially this week (oy!).

Anyway, Tina (my PR pro) has some fabulous ideas, so I'm very excited to be working with her.

And since I've lost over 10 pounds on Nutri System and am halfway to my goal, maybe there's a commercial with Dan Marino in my future?? Hey, a girl can dream!

Brief baseball diversion

I watched the Braves telecast of the Phils stinking up the joint, which put me in a bad mood. Then I switched over to the Mets-Cubs in time to see that the Mets had put their first batter in the 9th inning on third base with no one out (not sure if it was a triple or involved stolen bases and/or errors, but whatever). David Wright, whom I would love if he weren't a Met, then K'd swinging. The Cubs intentionally walked two batters to get to Ryan Church, who grounded sharply to the drawn-in second baseman, who threw home to force the lead runner. A strikeout ensued, and the lump in the collective throats of the Mets and their fans was no smaller than that Big Apple prop they have out behind the outfield fence.

I later saw Derek Lee bloop a double over first base to score the go-ahead run in the 10th, and then, while I think I had switched over to some political show, a 2-run blast made the score 9-6. I just had to watch the Mets go meekly in the bottom of the inning, which they did.

Two years in a row, two blown leads. They are in danger of not merely blowing the division again, but are now tied for the wild card - and my money is on the Brewers. If the NY Post hasn't used it already, I think they should dub them the "Melts".

PS: I may be enjoying the schadenfreude of another Met Melt, but the Phillies better get their act in gear too.

The Dog That Didn't Bark

In Mark's last post, he makes an excellent point that deserves amplification: if there was any conceivable way to tie the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac debacle to the GOP, the compliant MSM would have done so. That they haven't speaks volumes, but it's a classic case of the dog that didn't bark: if you aren't paying close attention, you would miss the silent clue as to where the blame lies. In this, it is analogous to the popular internet game of "Guess the Party", where party identification in a story that makes a politician look bad is not stated (or buried toward the end of the story) if that pol is a Democrat. If it's a Republican, it's more than likely in the headline, and never farther away than the first or second line.

As I have been educating myself about this catastrophe, it is pretty clear that the fault lies in a succession of good intentions awry: starting with making the dream of home ownership more readily available (even to the non-creditworthy), then doing things to make it look as if there is no discrimination (the bad kind, not the good kind) in lending practices, and then, having erected an edifice to make this happen with the government as its sponser (FM/FM), buy off the solons who are supposed to be regulating it (#1 - Dodd, #2 - Obama). Then when the feces hits the fan, talk generically about how Republicans don't believe in regulation and that's the root of the problem.

Except the record shows things to be far different from how the Dodds and Franks of the world would like to paint the picture:



PS: Senator Dodd's father was censured for using political money for personal use. Like father, like son. If he had any shame (he doesn't), he would resign, not pretend to be a leader in "fixing" the mess he created.

Wizard of Electoral Politics

Great strip by someone other than Muir, in this case, by the late great Brant Parker and Johnny Hart, whose collections in paperback I devoured as a kid:



Johnny Hart was a big deal in the Southern Tier of New York, where I hung my hat for a decade. More Johnny Harts and fewer Maurice Hincheys would have been good for the region.

Economic Crisis Roll Call

The President while covering some key points in his speech tonight, blew it when he attempted to lay out the history of the problem and the role played by Fannie and Freddie. This is clearly a Democratic mess and it has Barack Obamas's fingerprints all over it. The Democrats used Fannie and Freddie as their own personal piggy bank while forcing lending institutions to make loans to people who couldn't pay them back. This of course was done under the guise of compassion. Let the record reflect that John McCain spoke out about this problem in 2005 as did President Bush who proposed regulatory legislation in 2003 which was shut down by who - our friends across the aisle, that's who. Why the President didn't lay out these facts is perplexing.

I like President Bush and voted for him twice , and I do believe that history will treat him kindly. However, I am frustrated by his continuing reluctance to call out his political enemies when they are wrong. He should have named names in his speech tonight. Because he didn't, I will. The following is a roll call (though clearly not inclusive) of the major culprits:

Jimmy Carter
Bill Clinton
Christoper Dodd
Barney Frank
Hillary Clinton
Franklin Raines

Note any similarities. Here's a hint, Democrats all. You might think it's funny that there haven't been any Congressional hearings on the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, to paraphrase Barack Obama. After all, this Congress has held hearings on everything. Remember the Roger Clemens steroid fiasco? Clearly if they had time to hold hearings on steroids in baseball, surely this Democratic Congress could find the time to hold hearings on this financial crisis. Here's the problem. They can't find any Republicans to pin this one on! You don't think San Fran Nan or Dingy Harry would put any of the transgressors on the above list under oath, do you?

The answer is a resounding no, escpecially in a Presidential election year. Yet if there was even one Republican that could possibly be blamed for this crisis; that person would have been subpoenaed to testify and the dinosuar media would have been salivating to cover it, all the while insinuating (declaring) that the trail led all the way back to the Administration and of course John McCain.

Failing to address the cause of the problem wasn't the President's only failing either. This bill in its current form is terrible. It is pure Socialism, and it is a case of the cure being worse than the disease. This bailout will only encourage more reckless behavior in the future. Besides since it was government which caused the problem in the first place with its "compassionate lending" edict, why would anyone in their right mind think that government could ever solve the problem? The answer is, it won't. The fact is, that even more government will only exacerbate the problem.

I think Newt has the right idea. The plan should call for a government loan to be paid back, and not a bail out. Then we should zero out the capital gains tax and drill here and now, and stop sending $500 billion overseas. That would allow free markets to work and provide a long term solution.

It was a good move for Johnny Mac to suspend his campaign while Obama travels around the country and lets Congress know that he's available by phone if needed. After all he can't be disturbed by trifling events such as this, while he's preparing for a foreign policy debate. It is now clear which candidate truly puts country first.

It is now vital for McCain to go to Washington and work out a compromise solution. He needs to challenge the Adminstration and put some Coonservative checks and balances in the existing bill. This will put Obama in the awkward position of siding with the Administration on the total bail out and against McCain. The political fall out will be dramatic and will show the public that McCain does indeed have a grasp on economic issues. This coupled with his recent reaching out to Mitt Romney will seal the deal and enable him to beat Obama on the issue of the economy.

If McCain is able to pull this off he will again surge into the lead. But he too must name names and I'm not talking Cox and Cuomo either. If he is able to pull it off by Friday and make it to the debate on foreign policy, the election could well be over by the time the candidates leave Oxford,MS.

McCain - Palin Rally in Media PA

What a thrill to attend this event! The atmosphere was electric as the Borough of Media was beseiged by over ten thousand people to see the McCain - Palin team. As impressive as they are on TV, they are that much more impressive in person.
Despite a few protesters with thier vile signs and equally repugnant behavior, it was a tremendous event. It was orderly and well organized.

It was exciting to feel the patriotism in the air and to see the American flags flying. The program was fantastic. The crowd was treated to a number of excellent speakers beginning with the invocation by the clergy, including St. Mary Magdalen's own Fr. Ralph Chieffo. A male singer with a superb voice sang the national anthem and then led the crowd in a stirring rendition of "God Bless the USA". It was thrilling to hear thousands of patriotic Americans sing in unison.

The real highlight though was the stirring performance of the Main Street Miracles, a Downs Syndrome singing group whose motto is " we are people of ability and not disability." The Miracles sang several songs including, Lean on Me. It gave me chills.

I attended the event with my wife and kids, my sister, my mother,and my brother, Ralph who has Downs Syndrome. He suffers from nothing Senator Obama and contrary to what you think he has been an overwhelming blessing to all of us.

The crowd roared when the Straight Talk Expresss finally rolled in. Senator Liebernman spoke eloquently and then both Governor Palin and Senator McCain blew the roof off. While they were on the stage, Senator McCain was presented with a POW/MIA motorcycle, which roared up onto the stage driven by a Viet Nam veteran.

After the speeches the best was yet come. Both Senator McCain and Governor Palin exited right past where we were sitting and I was able to get close up pictures with my cell phone. The greatest moment occurred when Ralph caught Sarah's eye. She looked him in the eye and with a big smile asked him, "what's your name? He was beaming as he answered, "Ralph", to which a smiling Sarah replied. "nice to meet you Ralph", as she shook his hand.It was one of those moments in life that I will cherish forever.

To cap it off we attended a post - rally party at my friend's law office across the street. There was plenty to eat and drink and we made new friends including a woman and her daughter who flew in from California for the event.

There has never been a more important election in our history. We will win Pennsylvania and win a great victory on November 4. Viva McCain - Palin!

About damned time!

I have been talking to the wall, asking why on earth Mitt Romney isn't front and center on this matter, advising the McCain campaign and acting as the spokesman. It looks as if they are finally moving in that direction.

Here Jann goes again!

Words fail me, except to say that the Left in general, and this cretin in particular, never run out of new ways to disgust! Via Michelle Malkin (who is on the job, as usual), read about the latest character assassination attempt by those who wish to destroy America as we know it. Wake up, electorate! Your country needs you. In the meantime, I think I need a brief respite from political blogging -- it's starting to get a little scary. Maybe I should focus on something more pleasant, for a while.

Who's to blame for the Fannie and Freddie Mess?

FOX News goes where other major news outlets fear to tread:



UPDATE: Read this!
UPDATE, Part Two: Michelle exposes the dirty little secret underscoring many of these bad mortgages. Hey Congress, can we enforce our immigration laws now?
UPDATE, Part Three: I am not sure what to make of this, though Richard Miniter thinks it's a brilliant move. I suppose it all depends on what McCain plans to do once in Washington, but why can't he propose a solution AND still participate in the debate on Friday night? In any case, I am hoping his plan precludes imposing unfair burdens on hard-working US taxpayers -- you know, those of us who played by the rules to actually qualify for our mortgages -- and unlike the protected, PC members of our population -- diligently pay them every month?

This whole sordid mess is just one more example of the high price of multi-culturalism.

Kill the Bill!

More from Michelle on the "universally negative" reaction to the proposed bailout -- hit the phones and make your displeasure known to your congressional representatives! If we could defeat amnesty, we can defeat this ridiculous proposal. I vote to make Mr. CRA, 1977, pay for it!

When I have more time, I will relate my banking adventures at Washington Mutual as they relate to Carter's horrible legislation. Alas, for now, it's off to work!

Water Signs Update

I spoke with a representative from the wonderful charity, Soldiers Angels yesterday. If they like the formatted manuscript of Water Signs I emailed to them, my new novel will be the featured book on the Soldiers Angels site for January, 2009 (there's a waiting list). For each copy sold, I will donate back a portion of the proceeds to help supply care packages and other items for our brave Military men and women. Since most of their featured authors are on the NY Times Bestseller List, I'll be in good company! :)

I am very thankful for their openness is giving an unknown an opportunity, and hope to report back here that the book has been accepted, so stay tuned! More importantly, consider heading over to their site and making a donation.