Senate to Vote Wednesday on Bailout Plan

That's right I said the Senate.


Senate leaders scheduled a Wednesday vote on a $700 billion financial bailout package after agreeing to add tax breaks and a higher limit for insured bank deposits in a bid to attract enough votes to reverse a shocking defeat in the House and send legislation to President Bush by the end of the week.

After a day of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, top lawmakers said the Senate proposal would include a tax package as well as a plan endorsed on Tuesday by both major presidential candidates and the Bush administration to raise government coverage for bank deposits.

“It has been determined, in our judgment, this is the best thing to move forward,” said Senator Harry Reid, Democrat of Nevada and the majority leader, in announcing the surprise move. “This is good for the country.”



We are being told. It doesn't matter what we think as citizens or how much we object. In the news tonite I noticed several Senators sheepishly saying that they were going to have to ignore our phone calls and letters directing them over the matter. "We ere after all elected by the people to make difficult decisions." said Diana Degette of Colorado. We don't have to listen to all the phone calls."

The senators issued no details of their proposal and said none would be available until Wednesday. The lawmakers were gambling that the tax breaks for businesses and alternative energy would appeal to lawmakers who helped sink the measure in the House on Monday, without driving off Democrats who have opposed extending the tax incentives without offsetting spending cuts elsewhere.

Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut and chairman of the Senate banking committee, said the Senate decided to move quickly, citing signs from some House members that they regretted their initial vote after the markets plunged in response.

“I think their will is coming back having heard from their constituents,” Mr. Dodd said.

WTF? No it's going to take more than that to get re-elected Mr. Dodd. The American people have spoken. If you do not listen to them. You do so knowing that when your term is up. You may be like the rest of us....OUT OF A JOB!



So proceed. . . .remember we are going to the polls in a few weeks.

President Bush who is calling for such quick unvetted action to stabilize the markets and avoid what Mr. Bush characterized as the threat of “painful and lasting” damage to the economy will not be there in January.

Isn't anyone seriously asking why we are in this situation? Taking names?


“I started hearing from a lot of people who lost money on their investments thanks to the big drop on Wall Street yesterday,” said Representative Steven C. LaTourette, Republican of Ohio, who voted against the plan.

As they explored ways to tinker with the proposal in consultation with the Bush administration, all sides agreed any revisions would not change the underlying concept of granting the Treasury Department access to up to $700 billion to purchase — and eventually resell — troubled securities that were clogging the financial system.

It was a delicate balancing act for the architects of the proposal who had to be careful that in adding elements to entice new support they did not lose the support they already had.

“Obviously you don’t want to do something to lose votes,” said Senator Kent Conrad, Democrat of North Dakota, who was among Senate Democrats who huddled Tuesday to discuss possible alterations in the proposal.

House leaders were reviewing the new Senate approach and had no immediate reaction on whether they thought it could prevail. The Senate left the door open slightly to other additions to the bill, but other revisions would have to get the agreement of the full Senate, meaning major provisions such as new homeowner tax credits sought by the House would not be considered.

Hey I know let's do what you guys ususally do and throw in the kitchen sink. It will pass for sure that way.




“Opening this up all over again to other things may doom it,” Mr. Dodd cautioned


The Senate tax bill would cost more than $100 billion and extend and expand many individual and business tax breaks, including tax credits for the production and use of renewable energy sources, like solar energy and wind power. The bill would also extend the business tax credit for research and development, expand the child tax credit, protect millions of families from the alternative minimum tax and provide tax relief to victims of recent floods, tornadoes and severe storms.

Members of the House and the Senate say the bill say this new version would create tens of thousands of jobs and reduce the nations’ dependence on foreign oil. But the two chambers have been at odds over whether and how to offset the cost of extending the many tax breaks covered by the legislation. The major obstacle has been Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, and other centrist Democrats.

Senate and House leaders had been debating whether the Senate, where support for the proposal runs deep, should vote first to provide some momentum for a second vote across the Capital Rotunda. Some senators were leery of going on the record if the legislation could not prevail in the House, but others backed the idea of the Senate taking the lead.

“I would support the Senate going first, which we would be willing to do as early as tomorrow if that would make this process successful,” Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democrat of New York, said in a conference call on Tuesday.

Go Ahead Punk, Make Our Day!

Republican presidential nominee John McCain is urging the Treasury Department to intervene "aggressively" to limit damage from the financial meltdown, action that McCain says...

"President Bush can take with the stroke of a pen."

Oh really.

That's code speak for "Do it without the approval of the American public." A bad habit Senator McCain has had in the past and one that will make for a lot of unhappy voters. But what the hell does he care? In McCain's mind, it's just like the decisions he makes all the time without consulting the electorate. Go asked the families of former Veterans.

Opening a business round-table Tuesday in Des Moines, Iowa, McCain said he has urged the Treasury to use its exchange stabilization fund "as creatively as possible" to backstop the market crisis. He says officials also should use the authority granted in a housing bill to purchase up to a trillion dollars in mortgages.

Do you see how dangerous this man really is?

McCain decried the defeat of the financial bailout measure in the House, and he warned that the nation's political leaders will have to take risks even though solutions to the crisis may be unpopular.

How about the risk of not becoming our Next President John? Go ahead do it, and we the American public will make sure you are not elected. Do you "love" your country so much that you would trade being president for a backdoor bailout?

Do it, and we will make it so.

May Blessings Flow

May you listen to your longing to be free.
May the frames of your belonging be large enough for the dreams of your soul.
May you arise each day with a voice of blessing whispering in your heart
...something good is going to happen to you.
May you find harmony between your soul and your life.
May the mansion of your soul never become a haunted place.
May you know the eternal longing that lies at the heart of time.
May there be kindness in your gaze when you look within.
May you never place walls between the light and yourself.
May you be set free from the prisons of guilt, fear, disappointment and despair.
May you allow the wild beauty of the invisible world to gather you,
mind you, and embrace you in belonging. -
John O'Donahoe

ASIAN STOCK MARKETS FALLING

The historic carnage on Wall Street spread to Asia Tuesday, with stocks across the region plunging after Congress rejected a rescue plan that investors had hoped would bolster volatile financial markets.
All major stock markets in the region tumbled sharply, succumbing to heightened fears of a broader global credit crisis.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 index shed more than 544 points, or 4.6 percent, to 11,199.07 after losing 1.3 percent Monday.

Key indices in Australia and New Zealand were both down about 4 percent, Seoul's Kospi lost 3.5 percent, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index declined 5.5 percent.

The weighted price index of the Taiwan Stock market, which was closed Monday due to a typhoon, fell 6.1 percent, even after Taiwanese Vice Premier Paul Chiu urged investors to have confidence in the island's export-driven economy and its financial markets

We are officially in a free fall until something is done that makes everyone happy.

Voodoo Economic To Be Replaced

The White House, House Democrats, and recalcitrant Republicans searched vainly this weekend for a meme to replace voodoo economics, the Ronald Reagan policy which has ravaged the American economy, bringing on the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression. Democrats and the Treasury Department, along with reluctant rank-and-file Republicans, settled on a plan hastily sketched out on a cocktail party napkin at 3:00 a.m. Saturday night as an adequate substitute.

"We did it with virtually no thought," said Secretary Paulson and Barney Frank, who said that reaching an agreement was more important than vetting the plan upon which everyone was agreeing. "We have to restore confidence in the markets," they said.

John McCain parachuted into the talks on Thursday, where he sat, unable to free himself from his canopy, as GOP Republicans floated a new plan.

"Initially, we were intent on switching from voodoo to witch doctor economics," said House Minority Leader John Boehner, explaining the thinking of some Republicans. "But some thought that too similar an economic philosophy."

Another Republican explained GOP reticence to sign onto a bailout plan. "We're really uncomfortable with giving away taxpayer money unless it's to prescription drug companies or the oil industry," said Rep. Wayne Tasso.

"The fact is, this shows that 'voodoo economics' is a disaster, just like I said," said George H.W. Bush, who coined the phrase to describe Reagonomics, economics based on Reagan's belief that giving everything to the rich would fill the coffers of the poor.

"I knew Reagonomics was bad in 1978, but it took my son to prove how much it really sucks." said Bush, Sr.

Trust us we know.

HOUSE FAILS TO DELIVER McCAIN PROMISE

Chris Matthews points to John McCain's failure to provide the leadership that he promised -- and took credit for:
McCain said he was going to lead the Republican charge, he was going to make sure that this was a bipartisan success...he called charge, and the Republican retreated. That's what happened here...not
Here's what McCain staff and surrogates were saying before the vote:

"This bill would not have been agreed to had it not been for John McCain... This is a bipartisan accomplishment, a bipartisan success. And if people want to get something done in Washington, they just watch John McCain. He's been the guy whose name is at the top of major pieces of legislation for a long time."-- Mitt Romney, NBC's Today show, 9/29/08

"What Senator McCain was able to do was to help bring all of the parties to the table, including the House Republicans, whose votes were needed to pass this" -- Steve Schmidt, NBC's Meet the Press, 9/28/08"

"We're optimistic that Senator McCain will bring House Republicans on board without driving other parties away, resulting in a successful deal for the American taxpayer." -- McCain spokeswoman Kimmie Lipscomb, 9/26/08

John McCain was supposed to deliver 100 House Republican votes. He only delivered 65.. Democrats were supposed to deliver 120 House Democratic votes, they delivered 140.

"We're optimistic that Senator McCain will bring House Republicans on board without driving other parties away, resulting in a successful deal for the American taxpayer," said McCain spokeswoman Kimmie Lipscomb. - TIME

"What Senator McCain was able to do was to help bring all of the parties to the table, including the House Republicans, whose votes were needed to pass this" - McCain campaign top aide Steve Schmidt, Meet the Press, September 28, 2009

ANYWAY YOU DRESS IT...BUSH AND McCAIN LOST TODAY!

The House of Representatives Fires Back

The House of Representatives is "Under Martial Law!"

As Declared By The Speaker Last Night says Rep Burgess

Yes he says it at 1:20



But it's not the Martial Law we talk about

Seesh!!!

It's this kind of Martial Law
The Leadership apparently intends to use a process known as “martial law” to allow these bills to be brought to the floor very shortly after negotiations are completed, with the result that Members of the House are likely to have virtually no time to examine and consider the details of the legislation before they will be required to vote on it.



The Leadership apparently intends to use a process known as “martial law” to allow these bills to be brought to the floor very shortly after negotiations are completed, with the result that Members of the House are likely to have virtually no time to examine and consider the details of the legislation before they will be required to vote on it.
Under the martial law procedure, longstanding House rules that require at least one day between the unveiling of significant legislation and the House floor vote on that legislation — so that Members can learn what they are being asked to vote on — are swept away. Instead, under “martial law,” the Leadership can file legislation with tens or hundreds of pages of fine print and move immediately to debate and votes on it, before Members of Congress, the media, or the public have an opportunity to understand fully what provisions have been altered or inserted into the legislation behind closed doors....

Bailout Fails in House of Representatives

For Good or Ill ... On passage, House Resolution 3997:

Yes = 206
No = 228
Not Voting = 1
The Financial Bailout Bill has failed to pass the House of Representatives. Rep. Frank told a reporter for CNBC that the Banking Committee will wait to assess the impact this has on the financial sector before bringing the bill back and reopening negotiations.

I was watching CNBC while flipping back and forth from it to C-SPAN; when the outcome was no longer in doubt the Dow Jones tanked 700 points; it's since come back and is now about 500 points down. Crude oil on the NYMEX actually fell 9 dollars.

So, I guess we wait and see what happens next

WAKE UP AMERICA - This is not a dream sequence!

This should scare the hell out of you.

In Memory of Paul Newman

What a fantastic actor and handsome man! Rest in Peace!

In Memory



















Addio Paul

Chinese Compromised Dairy Products - It's not just in the baby's formula!

Snackers, beware: Your favorite chocolate or creamy treats might contain milk contaminated with melamine from China.

The list of companies facing potential recalls grew Friday as reports of foods tainted with the industrial chemical melamine, which has been blamed in the deaths of four Chinese infants and the illness of over 54,000 children seems to have spread to a widening range of products.

Yes, really,

Food companies around the globe are rushing to assess their products and in some cases setting new strategies to prevent problems. Manufacturers who use milk powder made in China have been warned to check their products, this includes includes biscuits, cake mix, energy bars, anything that should have protein in it.

Many food companies already were taking special precautions before Chinese milk suppliers were found to be adding melamine to watered-down milk to boost its apparent protein content. The chemical, which is high in nitrogen, can fool tests aimed at verifying protein levels.

Some companies learned the need for extra diligence in China the hard way, during a spate of scandals last year from unsafe foods and toothpaste to melamine-laced ingredients in pet food. But many continued to disregard the risks, said Jeremy Haft, a businessman who runs factories in China in a variety of industries, including medical products, clothing and building supplies.

"I don't think much was learned from the recalls of a year ago," said Haft, who has written of his experiences in a book, "All the Tea in China."

"We will look deeply into all the details of the manufacturing process," said Kayh Kim, manager of Lotte China Food's planning department in Beijing. "We really don't want to lose our customers' confidence."

Is that all? Whew I thought for a moment someone might be concerned about people's health. What is it with these corporations and their profit margins?


Meanwhile, the Shanghai-based maker of White Rabbit, a popular vanilla-flavored toffee, said it stopped domestic sales after the Hong Kong government's Center for Food Safety said the candy contained more than six times the legal limit of melamine.That followed White Rabbit recalls in Britain, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia.

I think we are going to see consumers taking a strong stand against companies who manufacture defective products or produce toxic food.

The First Debate

Here is a small snippet of Friday nights debate between Senators McCain and Obama.

Over all I thought Senator Obama did a excellent job communicating with the American people. Senator McCain however was condescending, rude, arrogant and at times out of control. McCain often repeated himself. (Me thinks he likes to talk to hear his head rattle.) He abused the debate by talking louder and by not showing respect to the moderator, Obama or us the American public. Seriously, he clearly was pandering to the military vote and played that card one too many times.

If Senator McCain cares so much for the military then why did we learn of the deplorable conditions at Walter Reed Hospital a few months back?

Senator Obama gave credit where credit is due and was not afraid to lay fault at the feet of those who were responsible for the Irag war and other problems like the economic meltdown. McCain is clearly a legend in his own mind. I find the mind of John McCain to be a scary neighborhood.

Senator Obama clarified a lot of the half truths and outright lies told by the McCain party machine and even McCain himself. Senator Obama kept his composure and was articulate. Senator McCain behaved like I think he would run his Presidency if we were so misfortunate as to have him elected. Like a ass. There were times I wanted to wipe that damn laughing smirk off his smug face. The only thing he didn't do was call Senator Obama, boy.

I believe the world doesn't like arrogant Americans, and John McCain did certainly fill that bill Friday night. We need to move forward and Senator Obama is a man of the 21st century and the right man for the job. Any other choice would be a disaster for the world and for The United States of America.

BTW, What is McCain's problem with Spain? Oh and where in the hell was his flag pin? Ooops! McCain and I quote you sir, "You've gotta walk the walk, if you're going to talk the talk." Try it yourself Senator


So what did you think?

"Pulpit Freedom Day" - Sunday Sept. 28, 2008

Egged on by the conservative Alliance Defense Fund legal firm, 33 church leaders across the country have vowed to break federal law during their sermons this Sunday, Sept. 28. The so-called “Pulpit Freedom Day” action is a call for pastors to flaunt federal law and deliver full-on endorsements of political candidates.

But some religious leaders — including Richard Cizik of the 30-million-member National Association of Evangelicals, and Catholic Archbishop John Favalora of Miami — have warned pastors not to risk losing the benefits that come from tax-exempt status.

I will be the first to call my Congresscritter and Senators to ask them to revoke their federal tax free status for violating the law.

Where are we going America?

BuyMyShitPile.Com

BRILLIANT!
Do we know how to start a Revolution!

From their website:


With our economy in crisis, the US Government is scrambling to rescue our banks by purchasing their "distressed assets", i.e., assets that no one else wants to buy from them. We figured that instead of protesting this plan, we'd give regular Americans the same opportunity to sell their bad assets to the government. We need your help and you need the Government's help!

Use the form below to submit bad assets you'd like the government to take off your hands. And remember, when estimating the value of your 1997 limited edition Hanson single CD "MMMbop", it's not what you can sell these items for that matters, it's what you think they are worth. The fact that you think they are worth more than anyone will buy them for is what makes them bad assets.

I found the above website via Wired's recent post Online Bailout Outrage Jumps to Streets, and Into Lawmakers' Inboxes

An e-mail that began as a rallying cry from a lone journalist to an influential circle of friends to protest the U.S. government bailout of Wall Street has ignited a national day of street protests. Some demonstrators plan to dump their rubbish in front of the bronze bull sculpture near Wall Street in downtown Manhattan Thursday.

"People are going to bring their own personal junk that they think is worth as much as the junk financial instruments that the government is proposing to buy from the Wall Street banks," says Andrew Boyd, an activist and freelance online-video artist for nonprofit groups in Manhattan. "We're hoping that people show up with their 8-track cassette collections, their old Spice Girl CDs, their surf boards that got bit by sharks and old Enron stock certificates."

Boyd is just one of thousands of Americans from all over the political spectrum who the Bush Administration has angered with its vague proposal to hand $700 billion over to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to restore U.S. financial markets' health. That anger has manifested itself online through e-mail, web sites and other online chatter, with one site, BuyMyShitPile.com, going rapidly viral this week. The site, a parody of the dire financial situation, is what is inspiring the self-organizing group of activists to show up in downtown Manhattan Thursday evening with all their junk. They hope to make their simmering fury palpable to Wall Streeters getting off work.

"Why should people who made financially imprudent decisions be rewarded?" asks Boyd, who is best known for founding the political protest theater group Billionaires For Bush........

America Answers Wall Street

I LOVE N.Y. !!

I knew this was coming. It was all over the blogosphere. The Major News Let Down of course did not report on it's occurrence. So I am...and I would have been there if I could have been.

Way to go NEW YORK!

A Heartbeat Away? God Help Us

This woman is a heartbeat away from being the leader of our country if elected.
She is too ignorant to lead. They cannot even put her out to the general media.


Why? She gives interviews like this one.

We cannot send McCain and Palin to Washington. To do so would be the sum of all our fears and the end of our dreams as Americans.

Barack Obama's September 25th Press Conference

Obama is Ready to Lead



Here is a man is has the guts to get up and talk to the American public, even though things did not go well at the White House today with Bush, McCain and assorted dragon slayers.


Have we heard from McCain or Bush?
NO, and we aren't going to either...so don't hold your breath.

Henry Paulson On His Knees

A Republican rebellion stalled government efforts Thursday to avoid economic meltdown, a chaotic turnaround that disrupted the choreography of an extraordinary White House meeting meant to show joint resolve from the president, the political parties and the presidential candidates. Instead, the summit broke up so bitterly that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson got on one knee before Democratic leaders in a theatrical attempt to salvage talks.

Message From Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except Kansas , which she does not fancy.)

Your new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:
(You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary.

1. Then look up aluminium, and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it.

2. The letter 'U' will be reinstated in words such as "colour", "favour", "labour" and "neighbour." Likewise, you will learn to spell "doughnut" without skipping half the letters, and the suffix '-ize' will be replaced by the suffix '-ise'. Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up "voca bulary").

3. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as US English. We will let M*crosoft know on your behalf. The M*crosoft spell-chec ker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter "u" and the elimination of -ize.

4. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

5. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can't sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not ready to shoot grouse.

6. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

7. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour

8. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $13/US gallon. Get used to it.

9. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

10. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be ref erred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on e arth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth - see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

11. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialogue in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

12. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies). Don't try rugby - the South Africans and Kiwis will thrash you, like they regularly thrash us.

13. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

14. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

15. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776)

16. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 pm with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

God Save the Queen!

McCain Calls Off Debate?

Please!


What he can't multi-task?






John McCain thinks he will ride into Washington in this little stunt and save the day...taking all the credit. He will add to politicized and intricate debates currently going on quite well without him. He is using scare tactics, just like Bush does.


Senator McCain...show up at the debate and tell us what you would do with this mess if you become our President. This is pure political B.S. and most Americans know it. Suspend your campaign? What you can't multitask? You are not ready to lead.

Michael Moore's Film "Slacker Uprising"

Watch Michael Moore's new film "Slacker Uprising" for free here (about 90 minutes)

The F.B.I. to Investigate Financial Collapse

Finally, the Feds are stepping up to the plate.


Tuesday according to reports from Reuters and CNN, The F.B.I. is investigating Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and insurer American International Group Inc. and their senior executives for potential mortgage fraud.


No specifics were provided by The FBI, but said the inquiries were part of a broader probe.


The bureau is trying to determine whether anyone in those financial institutions, including their senior executives, had any responsibility for
providing "misinformation," CNN reported.

A federal law enforcement official confirmed the FBI is now looking at 26 cases of potential corporate fraud related to the collapse of the U.S. mortgage lending industry.

FBI Director Robert Mueller told the U.S. Congress a week ago that 24 cases of potential corporate fraud were under investigation, up from 21 disclosed by the bureau in July.

In testimony before the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, the FBI chief also vowed to pursue corporate executives if necessary in mortgage fraud cases.

Mueller said the FBI was looking at all levels of the mortgage systems. With respect to the corporate probes, which could result in federal charges, "the allegations would be there were misstatements of assets," he said.

Colorado Fifth Grader Suspended

I just read this story that a 5th grader was suspended from school in Colorado for wearing a crudely written homemade t-shirt that read "Obama a terrorist's best friend."

According to the article at Colorado Independent.com, The young boys father Dan Dalton who told Fox 31 News, “It’s the public school system, Let’s be honest, it’s full of liberal loons.”

What amazes me is when a "conservative" does something like this and gets in trouble it is because of all the liberal loons in the system, when a "liberal" does some randon act of expression, conservatives consider it unpatriotic.

Evidently the eleven-year-old young man, Daxx Dalton wore a crudely handwritten shirt the day Aurora Frontier K-8 students were urged to wear red, white and blue to express their patriotism. School officials gave him a choice, he said, “switching the shirt, or wearing it inside out, or getting suspended.”

No big deal. I have heard this argument over the years when raising my children.
-But it seem to be with some people

“They’re taking away my right of freedom of speech,” young Daxx told Fox31 reporter Christin Ayers. “If I have the right to wear this shirt, I’m going to use it. And if the only way to use it is get suspended, then I’m going to get suspended.”

Aurora Public Schools officials declined to comment on Dalton’s suspension but told Ayers it’s district policy to “Respect a student’s right to free speech, such as the right to wear specific clothing.” A letter from the school shown on camera by Fox31 cited “willful disobedience” as a reason for the suspension.

It’s not about politics, Dann Dalton said, but about his son’s First Amendment rights. “The facts are, his rights were violated,” he told Ayers. “Period.”

Okay Mr. Dalton, how about NO.

Why are parent's so stupid? The Supreme's have ruled on this in Bethel Sch. Dist. v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986) and Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503.

The First Amendment did not prevent the School District from disciplining respondent for giving the offensively lewd and indecent speech at the assembly. Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School Dist., 393 U. S. 503, distinguished. Under the First Amendment, the use of an offensive form of expression may not be prohibited to adults making what the speaker considers a political point, but it does not follow that the same latitude must be permitted to children in a public school. It is a highly appropriate function of public school education to prohibit the use of vulgar and offensive terms in public discourse. Nothing in the Constitution prohibits the states from insisting that certain modes of expression are inappropriate and subject to sanctions. The inculcation of these values is truly the work of the school, and the determination of what manner of speech is inappropriate properly rests with the school board.

This applies everything...to T-shirts, those who like to let their kids go to school in gang colors or with incendiary speech displayed on anything the student wears or carries.

This is a resolved First Amendment Issue. One might wonder why his parents took it upon themselves to allow and defend their childs action. What kind of parents does this young man have?

I know, "conservative wingnuts!"

Battle in Seattle - A Movie to See

The first trailer from the new movie Battle in Seattle. The riots took place during a WTO Meeting held November 30, 1999.



This is a video of some of what actually happened. It is entitled: "Is this what democracy looks like? WTO





Makes you wonder if this is the kind of civil disobedience the Bush Administration has been arming our military for.


Do you think riots could break out in the United States if the economy completely collapses?

Henry 'Hank' Paulson, U.S. Treasury Secretary

Henry 'Hank' Paulson -
- The Most Powerful Man in America -


Hank Paulson, U.S. Treasury Secretary
The housing bubble was created by greed, foolishness, and stupidity, yet here comes the government attempting to keep the bubble from deflating using more stupidity.

Paulson's take on Intervention



Here is the Trillion dollar question:
"Where will the money come from?"



Hank Paulson's latest plan to protect homebuyers from their own mistakes is simple: Lenders extend those teaser rates for a few years. It's a win-win, right? What's the harm, especially when there's no bill to pay? You just reset those interest rates to low levels, and everything will be fine, right?

I feel like throwing up here. . .

By rescuing greedy and naive borrowers from their mistakes, our government encourages others to take big, stupid, bankruptcy-inducing risks, secure in the knowledge that the government will bail them out when times get rough. That means trillions of dollars in capital will be ill-invested yet again, something that's much less likely to happen when speculators are MADE to suffer the consequences of their behavior.

Let The Looting Begin

It is on people like "Donkey Kong", as they used to say. What I am referring to is the looting going on this morning on Wall Street. Silent but deadly, these greedy bastards are robbing you and me of our national treasure.

You know the score. The entire financial system risks total collapse if those toxic mortgages aren't taken off their books once and for all. Simply foreclosing on those homes and selling them at auction ISN'T going to stop the bleeding, if the banks take those losses (basically putting housing prices back at 1998 levels, or roughly a 60% markdown) they are bankrupt. Actually, they're bankrupt right now, they're just holding foreclosed houses off the market so they don't have to make it official (if they have a home on their assets list that they say is worth $600K, but manage to sell it for only the $200K that it's worth today, then they have to actually report the $400K loss they've already incurred). That they get to write off.

Convenient huh?

Okay, so now we have a propose to take those toxic mortgages and loans off the books. It has to happen, or we risk the 1930-1932 scenario or worse. But these stupid bastards simply can't help themselves. The current proposal of Paulson and the Bush Administration is to just hand over a friggin' blank check....for looting. The Treasury Secretary is authorized to give out money to anybody for any reason as long as he states that it is "mortgage-related".

What a tick...that makes Paulson the most powerful man in America, a ruler or King of sorts who doesn't have to answer for his decisions, he just makes his gifts.

...kinda like a King.


And there is no proposal to take over management and/or ownership of the institutions holding these toxic mortgages in exchange for taking the bad loans off their books, which is the only way to keep them from writing more toxic mortgages. Instead, it's just money thrown at the same bastards who got us into this situation in the first place.

AMERICA WAKE-UP THIS IS NOT A DREAM SEQUENCE!!!

What we need is a new "Resolution Trust Corporation" that takes over the ownership of troubled institutions and runs them on behalf of the taxpayers who are bailing them out. At some point in the future we can then sell these organizations back to private investors and have them open up under new management, but they're basically bankrupt now, the whole lot of them, and we need to make it official, take the bloodbath of writing down all those toxic loans, and take over ownership of the banks and mortgage that wrote these bad loans. Bad for investors? Oh sorry! You shoulda appointed better managers for your money, huh?

But the important thing is a) to get the toxic mortgages out of the system, and b) make sure that the people who profited from the toxic mortgages are NOT in a position to do it again. The solution is not to throw money at the same goddamned looters who make it possible to write those bad mortgages in the first place -- but sad to say, the first instinct of any Bush Administration official is, "how can I loot the government treasury for the benefit of my cronies in private enterprise?". Sigh. Government of the people, by the people, for the people. It'a a good idea, so let's try it NOW!

We Have Arrived

"All the sugar for the villians, lasting pain for the victims"

-William Grieder

In his article Paulson Bailout Plan a Historic Swindle William Greider speculates that with the Federal Reserve announcement that it's coming to the rescue of American International Group (AIG) to the tune of $85 billion or more, this may be the last nail in the middle-class coffin to blow the lid off this paralyzed economic corpse of a nation fed up with this WMD of an economic crisis that may finally “bring down one or both political parties, take your choice.”

Former head of Goldman Sachs, high-roller Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson’s scheme to save the beast of Wall Street's wooly-mammoth financial institutions is underway. Invoking Job, Paulson breathlessly insisted yesterday "We need this to be clean and quick." Sure we do, Hank! One slight problem: the collective "WE" whom this is “supposed” to help doesn’t include the rest of us!

No, no, not surprisingly, the "WE" instead includes a whole host of wealthy Congressional and insider beltway Democrats and Republicans, too -- the same ones the rest of us are counting on to “just say no” to this colossal corporate welfare plan of mammoth proportions. But who is “we”? Bundlers for McCain/Obama are Among Wall Street's Tumblers. HA! Hank himself (Goldman Sachs is also under the gun) is of course on the list of the Chosen to be rescued. Among them also include Nancy Pelosi who has a quarter-of-a-million-dollars' worth of AIG stock (pin money, I know) and John Kerry's wife, zillionaire ketchup heiress, Teresa Heinz, has more than $2 million (a whopping sum to many -- but quite frankly, that’ll buy you a fixer along the leafy banks of the polluted Potomac).

Anyway, it comes as no shock or awe that lawmakers owned the most stock in AIG:


“Of all the companies making headlines this week, AIG has been the most nonpartisan in its contributions, splitting evenly the $9.7 million it has contributed over time. Sen. Chris Dodd, chair of the Senate banking committee, has racked up the most from AIG, with a total of $281,400, while Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), a member of both the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and the Senate Finance Committee, takes second with $116,400. Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama collected $103,000 and $82,600 from AIG, respectively.”


Of course, none of this bailout would matter if the same bipartisan House of Representatives and two major corporate presidential candidates weren’t ALSO pledging to sell out our jobs. Real estate prices will once again start rising when people have the incomes necessary to buy houses and refinance. But so far, Hank Paulson hasn’t yet explained how Joe Homeowner is supposed to make enough money (or any) to pay for the mortgages while jobs are shipped out. Have any of you noticed all the new real estate commercial on the air this weekend?

William Greider speculates that this bailout may be the spark of angry rebellion from the bottom up, a long overdue “correction”:

You need to be on the phone to your congresscritters in the morning warning them that they too may have their job out sourced when we don't have a country for them to play God in.

Greider adds, “If Wall Street gets away with this, it will represent an historic swindle of the American public--all sugar for the villains, lasting pain and damage for the victims. My advice to Washington politicians: Stop, take a deep breath and examine what you are being told to do by so-called "responsible opinion." If this deal succeeds, I predict it will become a transforming event in American politics--exposing the deep deformities in our democracy and launching a tidal wave of righteous anger and popular rebellion. As I have been saying for several months, this crisis has the potential to bring down one or both political parties or both take your choice.”

Maybe even our country itself, I might add. Doesn't anybody ever worry that the very people who caused this horrific mess are now trying to fix it? Think about that for a moment or even two. Because we are going to be paying for this for a long, long time.

If I ever hear one Republican ever bad mouth FDR's New Deal, as overstepping the role of the Federal Government again, they are going to find themselves at the breakfast table in hell in the morning.

A Colorado Moment For Peace

I hope this makes you feel just as peaceful as it does me.

The Republic of Wall Street

The Bush Administration has presented Congress with a "hurriedly" created, "LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL FOR TREASURY AUTHORITY TO PURCHASE MORTGAGE-RELATED ASSETS", and now expects it to be voted on and passed with all the expedience and passivity. Just like the last two disastrously precipitous carte blanches:

The Iraq War Resolution and the Patriot Act.

Wait a tick . . . Too many fools seem to be rushing in here!

Congress must read the fine print in this deal with the devil, and perhaps refuse, but they won't. No one knows for sure if this bail out is going to work. Oh it will work for Wall Street Investors, giving them time to recoup some of their losses and run for the hills. But seriously this is another Patriot Act, another Iraq War Resolution moment.

A coup de gra against you and me.

We may wake up tomorrow and find out that The United States is now the Republic of Wall Street.

ATTACK! ATTACK! ATTACK!

"So when you hear John McCain talk about taking on the good old boy's network in Washington, know that in the McCain campaign, that's called a staff meeting."





Again,
Thank God Social Security was not privatized!

My Daughter Just Called

She said, "Momma guess where I am standing?"





I did, and we both cried.

She said she knew I would understand.

I do, God Bless America and all my children who live and grow here in this amazing country.

Your Having a Bad Day...When

Your V.P. running mate reverses the ticket - Freudian?








A penny for your thoughts John.

Snark.

McCain's Advisor Explains Economic Crisis

This is about the same B.S. that is being feed to the American people and the world right now. The important thing is, are you buying it?


I'm sure as hell not.

Elephant Walks - A la Jon Stewart

After Serving President Bush for four fear-filled years, Attorney General John Ashcroft announces his resignation





Don't you feel safer?


Oh BTW, Al qaeda attacked our Embassy in Yemen yesterday!

Reform? McCain Doesn't Know the Meaning

Reform? My foot. McCain's "Advisors" Are Lobbyists for the Financial Industry.

David Corn at Mother Jones reports today that out of the 177 lobbyists working for the McCain campaign, 83 of them have recently lobbied for the financial industry. That would be the same financial industry that is going down the drain as we speak.


These are high-paid influence-peddlers who have been working the corridors of the nation's capital to win favors and special treatment for investment banks, securities firms, hedge funds, accounting outfits, and insurance companies. Their clients have included AIG, the newest symbol of corporate excess; Lehman Brothers, which filed for bankruptcy on Monday sending the stock market into a tailspin; Merrill Lynch, which was bought out by Bank of America this week; and Washington Mutual, the banking giant that could be the next to fall. Among these 83 lobbyists are McCain's chief political adviser, Charlie Black (JP Morgan, Washington Mutual Bank, Freddie Mac, Mortgage Bankers Association of America); McCain's national finance co-chairman, Wayne Berman (AIG, Blackstone, Credit Suisse, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac); the campaign's congressional liaison, John Green (Carlyle Group, Citigroup, Icahn Associates, Fannie Mae); McCain's veep vetter, Arthur Culvahouse (Fannie Mae); and McCain's transition planning chief, William Timmons Sr. (Citigroup, Freddie Mac, Vanguard Group).

When cable news shows air footage of McCain railing against greedy execs and the lobbyists who rig the rules for the benefit of Wall Street dealmakers, there ought to be a crawl beneath him listing these lobbyists. (Talk about a fair and balanced presentation.) Short of that, here's the list of the McCain aides and bundlers who have worked for the high-finance greed-mongers McCain has pledged to take on. So far, it seems, none of them have been cast out of the campaign. If McCain were serious about his outrage, he might throw these money-changers out of his own temple.

Comment: So I am sitting here watching the ticker and watching my nest egg go down the toilet while that POS McCain is railing against Wall St. greed. I wonder if he can spell "two faced liar." Oh but the greedy bastards will come out okay while the rest of us who were stupid enough to invest in their mismanaged companies will be working until we drop dead on the job.

And I am thinking about how close we came to Social Security "reform" that Bush and McCain was for and how close millions upon millions of Americans were to being up Shit's Creek without a paddle today. Oh and they knew damn well that privatizing Social Security would be a disaster but they knew that their "base" didn't know shit from shinola about investing in securities... and interestingly even those who do know about the stock market are losing their shirts today.

Meanwhile I am increasingly meeting complete idiots who think Palin is a breath of fresh air who will save them. From what? I don't know. Liberals? And what pray tell have liberals done lately? I can't think of anything. Consider me completely fed up with the lying, corporatist, greedy bastards who own our government and are running their patsies for president.

Presented Without Comment . . .

Youtube censored this for inappropriate content.


YouTube censors viral video documentary on Palin's churches
By Bruce Wilson
Sat Sep 13, 2008 at 03:03:08 PM EST


Sarah Palin's Churches and The Third Wave from Bruce Wilson on Vimeo.

Leadership We Need

Florida Republican Women's Group to Boycott Oprah

Palin not on Oprah Winfrey?
The world must be coming to an end....



The Florida Federations of Republican Women are making a big stink over Palin's "supposed" invitation as a guest on The Oprah Winfrey show.

Isn't it precious, here again we catch more Republicans in what seems is so easy for them to do these days...a bold face lie.

According to a reports, the group made a decision to boycott the Oprah Winfrey Show Saturday, after they contend Oprah denied Palin a guest spot on her show.


Oooh, Oh my Scarlet! These Republican ladies are getting uppity! Gawd that has to be a new experience for them!


Here is the deal ladies... according to all published reports Ms. Palin has never been offered a guest appearance.


The Florida Federation of Republican Women, the largest political organization in Florida is also encouraging women to cancel subscriptions to Oprah's Magazine.

"Women in Florida helped build Oprah into the icon she is today," Linda Ivell, President of the FFRW said in a statement. "We are deeply disappointed in Ms. Winfrey's decision to sit out the greatest political moment in the history of women since suffrage."

Uh, huh...What planet are these ladies from? What Century? !

"We find it to be an abuse of her power -gained on the backs of our patronage of her advertising empire - to use her program to so blatantly support Obama in the face of this historic moment. So, we are tuning out and canceling our subscriptions to O Magazine and encourage other women to do the same," Ms Ivell said.


First off the key word is HER.


PLEASE! Give me a break. Any of you ladies remember Geraldine Feraro? Just because Palin is a woman doesn't give her rights to a privately owned and produced program. You want to break the glass ceiling ladies, you earn it!

Besides, I don't see Palin's media dance card filling up! The McCain people have only been parading her around as of yet. She has to get her "McCain Speak down first." It is starting to look like they are afraid she will open her mouth and make yet another gawf.

Oh wait a tick, they have Ole McCain for that.

In response, the talk show host denied accusations Friday, that she was even considering the vice presidential nominee as a guest.

"At the beginning of this presidential campaign when I decided that I was going to take my first public stance in support of a candidate, I made the decision not to use my show as a plat for any of the candidates," Winfrey wrote in a statement. Winfrey agreed Palin would be a "fantastic interview, but wouldn't invite her on until after the November elections."

The key word again here ladies...is HER, as in Oprah's program. You want to hear her speak then go ask Fox News to have her on. But be sure to first have McCain wind her up in the back so she can speak and talk straight.

Not Ready To Lead

I know many of you want to see a woman in The White House. I agree, it is about time. This election year however, is not the year. So put away your dreams for just a little longer, and wait for a truly qualified woman to run for office.





We owe it to ourselves to our families and to our country. Do you honestly want the first woman in office to be the subject of every joke and innuendo imaginable? Sarah Palin is the wrong woman for the job.

"My Dear John Letter"

Dear John McCain:

We're not that stupid. Sure it would be nice if the women of America believed that everyone with breasts and a vagina believed in equality. But it ain't so. Women have differing views -- just like men.

Some like beer; some like chardonnay. And some prefer AA. Some like automatic weapons; some don't. Some think every pregnancy is sanctified; some don't. Some think presidents should be qualified for office; some don't care.

But to take the struggle for equal rights that has gone on for two centuries and embody it in the person of Sarah Palin is not just misleading but abusive. Charging rape victims for rape kits is a travesty of equal rights. Insisting that government impose your own views of abortion on others is anti-equality. Cutting funding for black teenage mothers is anti-feminist and racist. Lying to the electorate about your record is insolent. Do you think we're too stupid or indolent to check?

We have checked. You are lying and so is she. But you must think that a big lie repeated over and over becomes the truth. And it seems that many Americans are with you on that.

You are so good at the bold-faced lie that you even seem to believe it yourself. When Barbara Walters and Joy Behar accused you of lying on "The View," you claimed you weren't.

I guess your handlers have decided that after eight years of Cheney-Bush saying one thing and doing another, truth no longer has any meaning. Say it often enough and we'll believe anything -- like the good commercial-watchers we are. So, prep Sarah to sound like Hillary -- and we'll be fooled.

It remains to be seen how many will.

But one thing is clear. You have reached a new low in your regard for the public. You have blown your credibility. Usually politicians wait to be elected to do that.

It's fascinating to watch you and your party try to co-opt the idea of change, the idea of equal rights after eight years of being in total control and trashing the country for women, for workers, for taxpayers and for anyone who earns dollars.

Do you really think we're that stupid? Apparently you do.

Tax cuts for the rich have produced trickle-down unemployment. You want to try that again? We don't. The private sector has not policed itself. Failing banks and mortgage companies prove that. The deficit has swelled. Insurance rates for health care have swelled. Women are joining the ranks of the poor faster than ever.

Play it again, John?

As Sarah Palin said, lying about her lust for earmarks, "Thanks but no thanks."

Sincerely, An American

LesBarack - The Opera

Regardless of who you're voting for this is pretty entertaining.

China's Latest Product Recall - The merry-go-round which is China

JUST SAY NO TO CHINA


Parents in China and Taiwan are up in arms literally because of a major recall of baby milk powder linked to kidney stones. The dairy according to CNN and AP reports knew the formula contained melamine, which is a chemical added to fraudulently raise the milks volume and increase the nitrogen which is measured to evaluate the nutrition levels of proteins. The baby milk powder is produced by the Chinese company Sanlu Group Company. Which happens to be China's biggest milk powder producer.

My question is simply, when will China finally get touch with it's manufacturing base and regulate it's industries? When countries who import their critically inferior products start a product embargo? For now it seems that it will be up to the Chinese Government to punish those responsible for such a gross lack of judgement.

This incident reflects China's enduring problems with product safety despite a shake-up of its regulatory system after a spate of warnings and recalls about tainted toothpaste, faulty tires and other goods.

The biggest group of victims is in China itself, where shoddy or counterfeit products are common. Infants, hospital patients and others have been killed or injured by tainted or fake milk, medicines, liquor and other products.

In China, one can easily loose more than their jobs over an embarassing product recall. Just go ask the last man who was found guilty of product corruption. Oh wait a tick...he was executed.

John Adams - HBO Series

The series entitled, "John Adams" put out by HBO is an excellent depiction of The American Revolution and of John Adams and his relationship with his wife, Abigail Smith Adams. Historians have written about their unique relationship and how it influenced the happenings of the day. Abigail Smith Adams was a strong woman who greatly supported and influenced her husband. The series is full of noteworthy and refreshing performances by so many actors. I recommend it to everyone.


Here are the opening credits and the beautiful and moving music of the series.



Here is a teaser. . . It is well worth your time.

Wasilla Library - Palin and The Librarian

It is quite obvious that Sarah Palin does not get it on a lot of issues. This is one where she better step back and think about the Constitution of The United States. I don't know...maybe take a few constitutional law classes. It doesn't sound like she took any when obtaining her degree in journalism.






I checked, there is no requested list of books Palin asked to be removed from the Wasilla library. But she did ask, because it is in the minutes of the Wasilla town board meetings. Palin has a pattern of making life hell for those who do not share her particular points of view. Just ask the people of Wasilla, or the Native Indians of Alaska, and the ever growing list of other Alaskans. It is in the small details and track record that Palin has had with the people of Alaska and the lack of respect she shows for other viewpoints or lifestyles which should raise warning flags for us all.

I will give her credit for becoming an overnight celebrity. But...Shouldn't
"Those who live in glass houses not throw rocks?" -snark





~Why she has become the poster mother for the religious right.~

Begin vomiting here. We have had eight terrifying years of this..Do you honestly want more of the same?

People, She is just another pretty face. A woman who has used her Bible and power to manipulate and pressure people to get what she wants. Just go ask her ex-brother-in-law. I feel that story brewing as I write here. I believe the ink isn't even dry on the subpoena for her husband.

The clear and present danger we face as Americans is that this nutjob could get elected.

In Memoriam - September 11th 2001

2,740 Americans died in the September 11 attack.


As of June 2004, the official death count is listed as 2,976, here:

Most 9/11 Families Opt For Fund
http://www. cbsnews. com/stories/2004/06/15/national/main623139. shtml

Wikpedia lists victims by country, and excludes the terrorists, which
references 236 foreigners that died in the attack:

Non-American casualties of the September 11, 2001 Attacks
http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Non-American_casualties_of_the_September_11%2C_2001_Attacks

TOTAL COUNT 2,976
minus foreigners - 236
AMERICANS 2,740

The Empire Strikes Back for Empress Palin

The MSM Gets Rolled Again

The members of the Fourth Estate are such sad creatures. But what should one expect from them. They are not Jedi. Well it seems that Darth McCain and his minions of evil Sith Lords, also known as the Republican Party have cried out that MSNBC has been bias and unfavorable to Empress Palin. Uh oh, that might be bad for business. Can't have the corporate masters getting upset, can we? So today, Mathews and Olbermann were fired. But wait I hear there is more.

So on this gloomy Monday for the Republic. Better check your batteries in your light sabers people.

What shall be the reponse from the Alliance? I'll let you know what Jedi Jon Stewart does and he will be certain to attack back.

Palingate! You knew it was coming!

So here it is Palingate! These reporters had better becareful. Matthews and Obermman of msnbc have been rolled by the Fourth Estate fearful of the criticism sweet Palin has received of late.

Make some popcorn. This is sweet Sarah getting caught in a huge lie.




This is what we have to look forward too. Politics as ususal. I wish to thank a dear friend, Fee T. for sending this to me.

The Objectification of Sarah Palin

I received this little ditty from a male republicanista on my other site. Seriously, when men measure the qualifications of a candidate by the use of their "little man hoods",we are indeed at great peril in this country.

God help us. . .




Begin vomiting now.

My Papillon

Here is Mimi Bisous, "The Divine Miss M", I call her. I adopted her from her first owner a little over a year and a half ago. Her first owner couldn't manage her and her career. Which was a sorry excuse for... "I bought her and now I am bored with all the training and care she requires." Little Mimi has been an exceptional joy to me. We see to belong together. She is very intelligent and has the sweetest disposition. She is a bit of a bird/snake dog, so she loves our runs in the morning.

Beauty on my morning walk

I ran into this beautiful deer this morning on my walk with my dogs. We just sat down real quite and watched her pass. This was no easy feat since I had two Chihuahuas and a Papillon with me. But they seemed as mesmerized as I was with this Doe.

What McCain Doesn't Know . . .

So just what does McCain know? He knows how to lie, he knows how to degrade women. He also knows how to create a war. Things we all should consider when voting in November.
Here is a bit of what he doesn't know below. You know you are going to be humming this by the end of the day. Go ahead and remember McCain when you do.

Not happy to see Palin as V.P choice?

For those of us people who are going to donate to Obama's campaign, but would like to also make a statement with you donation. Here is a way to let Sarah Palin know you personally are unhappy with her selection as McCain running mate, might I suggest you also make an alternative donation in Sarah Palin's name to Planned Parenthood?

The local chapters would be particularly grateful, I am ever so sure. Plus Sarah Palin will recieve a card mailed directly to her letting her know you made the donation in her name.

Let's put our money where our convictions are ladies and gentlemen!

Grandma Sarah

Grandma Sarah and the hypocrisy of the far right

Governor Palin's 17 year old daughter, Bristol is pregnant. Palin and her husband are very proud that their daughter will have the baby and proud to become grandparents (was she given a choice?) Palin has stated publicly that she wouldn't support abortion even if her daughter was raped. She supports creationism being taught in public schools and doesn't support funding of explicit sex education programs. She believes in fairy tales.


I found an interview with Palin from 2006:

Q: Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?

SP: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.

So there you go. Abstinence only education doesn't work.


AND MAY I ADD
This IS A POLITICAL issue because the right wing has consistently maintained that they only support abstinence only education and they force it on the rest of the country. Lucky for the Palins that they have the resources to welcome this baby into their lives despite their daughter's ignorance of how babies come to be or her lack of willpower.


Let us not forget that the McCain campaign leaked the story about Bristol's pregnancy to Reuters on Monday.


It's always those with good financial resources who support abstinence only education because they don't have a clue what an unwanted pregnancy does to most average middle and working class families. Sure, abstinence education works right until the moment that it doesn't. Let this be a lesson to holier than thou right wing, that your kids are going to have sex if they want to and how irresponsible it is to pretend that they won't. Wouldn't it just be easier to explain to them how to avoid unwanted pregnancies and save having children until they are more mature and financially able to cope with the responsibilities of parenthood.


The tradition of shotgun marriages in this country is not a healthy one or a happy one. In this economic climate, it's not like kids can go out and make enough money to support a family. They could work 2 40 hour jobs a week and still be among the working poor. Why would we want to punish them and their children when we could have educated them about REAL family values.


This example of how abstinence education is a failure must be in the public spotlight during this election cycle and it's just too bad that Bristol Palin has to take the brunt of it. I don't mean her any ill will but it's people like her mother, Sarah Palin who turn a blind eye to teenage hormones and support public policy that do nothing to lessen the frequency of unwanted children.


How lucky is Bristol Palin that the boy will marry her and help her raise the child. How lucky she is that her family is in the position to assure that the child will not be raised in poverty or stuck in some unloving facility during its formative years while Bristol finishes school and has to flip burgers to pay the rent.


The hypocrisy of the far right wing and their pretend family values IS an issue for public discussion.

John McCain's Rape Joke - WTF!

There are times when I will come to the plate and take a full verbal swing at someone. John McCain has brought me to this moment. The swing I take is at a sorry excuse for a man, little alone a human being. This pompous misogynistic PIG of a excuse for a candidate, is worthy only of contempt.


So, I ask you to watch this video on McCain and his famous rape joke. People need to see the man for what he really is. McCain may have chosen Sarah Palin as his V.P., but this will not clear the years of verbal abuse he has been documented as unleashing towards women in government, in business, in person, even in private towards the woman he is married too.


John McCain you are a disgrace to The United States.
(Period!)

We do not want you, you sorry excuse for life as our President. Your choice of V.P. in Sarah Palin actually only confirms how little you think of women.

The GOP - A Double Standard

The GOP double standard illustrated

Jon Stewart nails Republican hypocrisy to the wall in this clip from last night's Daily Show. Watch how Faux's Dick Morris, Bill O and KKKarl Rove along with a clip of Gov. Palin herself illustrate the double standard and the flip flopping rampant in the GOP. This is the kind of journalism you don't get from the lousy old liberal media. It appears to this girl that Faux News invented the gender card.


..


Moment of Zen
..
Sarah Who? Becareful...we are paying attention this time.

Women - The Right to Vote

Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.


The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed
nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking
for the vote.


And by the end of the night, they were barely alive.

Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing
went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of
'obstructing sidewalk traffic.
'

(Lucy Burns)
They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above
her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping
for air.


(Dora Lewis)
They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her
head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold.
Her cellmate,
Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.

Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging,
beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.


Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov.
15, 1917,
when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his
guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because
they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right
to vote.


For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail.
Their
food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.


(Alice Paul)
When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited.
She was tortured like this for weeks
until word was smuggled out to the press.

..http://memory. loc. gov/ammem/collections/suffrage/nwp/prisoners. pdf

So, refresh my memory.
Some women won't vote this year because-
-why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work?
Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining? You are unsure of the candidates?

Last week, a friend I know went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.
' It is a graphic depiction of the battle
these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling
booth and have my say. Some of I am afraid need a reminder..
My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history,
saw the HBO movie, too.
When she stopped by my desk to talk
about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself.
'One thought
kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,' she said.

'What would those women think of the way I use , or don't use,
my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just
younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn.
' The
right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her 'all over again.
'

HBO released the movie on video and DVD .
I wish all history,
social studies and government teachers would include the movie in
their curriculum I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere
else women gather.
I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing,
but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think
a little shock therapy is in order.


It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy.


The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.
'

Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know.


We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so
hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote.


Your voice is important.