"The queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small. 'Off with his head!' she said without even looking around." — "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"
Under the pressure of the financial crisis, one presidential candidate is behaving like a flustered rookie playing in a league too high. It is not Barack Obama.
Channeling his inner Queen of Hearts, John McCain furiously, and apparently without even looking around at facts, said Chris Cox, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, should be decapitated. This childish reflex provoked the Wall Street Journal to editorialize that "McCain untethered" — disconnected from knowledge and principle — had made a "false and deeply unfair" attack on Cox that was "unpresidential" and demonstrated that McCain "doesn't understand what's happening on Wall Street any better than Barack Obama does."
To read the Journal's details about the depths of McCain's shallowness on the subject of Cox's chairmanship, see "McCain's Scapegoat" (Sept. 19, Page A22). Then consider McCain's characteristic accusation that Cox "has betrayed the public's trust."
Perhaps an old antagonism is involved in McCain's fact-free slander. His most conspicuous economic adviser is Douglas Holtz-Eakin, who previously headed the Congressional Budget Office. There he was an impediment to conservatives, including then-Rep. Cox, who, as chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, persistently tried and generally failed to enlist CBO support for "dynamic scoring" that would estimate the economic growth effects of proposed tax cuts. In any case, McCain's smear — that Cox "betrayed the public's trust" — is a harbinger of a McCain presidency. For McCain, politics is always operatic, pitting people who agree with him against those who are "corrupt" or "betray the public's trust," two categories that seem to be exhaustive — there are no other people. McCain's Manichaean worldview drove him to his signature legislative achievement, the McCain-Feingold law's restrictions on campaigning. Today, his campaign is creatively finding interstices in laws intended to restrict campaign giving and spending. (For details, see The Post of Sept. 17, Page A4; and the New York Times of Sept. 20, Page One.)
By a Gresham's Law of political discourse, McCain's Queen of Hearts intervention in the opaque financial crisis overshadowed a solid conservative complaint from the Republican Study Committee, chaired by Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, the RSC decried the improvised torrent of bailouts as a "dangerous and unmistakable precedent for the federal government both to be looked to and indeed relied upon to save private sector companies from the consequences of their poor economic decisions." This letter, listing just $650 billion of the perhaps more than $1 trillion in new federal exposures to risk, was sent while McCain's campaign, characteristically substituting vehemence for coherence, was airing an ad warning that Obama favors "massive government, billions in spending increases."
The political left always aims to expand the permeation of economic life by politics. Today, the efficient means to that end is government control of capital. So, is not McCain's party now conducting the most leftist administration in American history? The New Deal never acted so precipitously on such a scale. Treasury Secretary Paulson, asked about conservative complaints that his rescue program amounts to socialism, said, essentially: This is not socialism, this is necessary. That non sequitur might be politically necessary, but remember that government control of capital is government control of capitalism. Does McCain have qualms about this, or only quarrels?
On "60 Minutes" Sunday evening, McCain, saying "this may sound a little unusual," said that he would like to replace Cox with Andrew Cuomo, the Democratic attorney general of New York who is the son of former governor Mario Cuomo. McCain explained that Cuomo has "respect" and "prestige" and could "lend some bipartisanship." Conservatives have been warned.
Conservatives who insist that electing McCain is crucial usually start, and increasingly end, by saying he would make excellent judicial selections. But the more one sees of his impulsive, intensely personal reactions to people and events, the less confidence one has that he would select judges by calm reflection and clear principles, having neither patience nor aptitude for either.
It is arguable that, because of his inexperience, Obama is not ready for the presidency. It is arguable that McCain, because of his boiling moralism and bottomless reservoir of certitudes, is not suited to the presidency. Unreadiness can be corrected, although perhaps at great cost, by experience. Can a dismaying temperament be fixed?
Life only goes around once, have fun and love, people. -VicNormal
OK. . . What genius in the Republican Party decided to hoist a several
bout cancer survivor, former POW, senile old man as the party choice
for POTUS? Then endorsed his choice for a rookie politician for VEEP
based upon the fact she is a woman alone? What was this person
thinking? ? ? Or were they? Who in this party decided to hoist a yes
man of the current administration as it's candidate? A puppet for those
entities that seem to be hell bent for leather on running this economy,
the country's citizens, and the country itself toward the brink of
extinction?
I watched the dead-bates, I read the messages of
both sides of the issues, and at the end of the day I felt there was
only one choice to make that demonstrates my love for this country, my
concern for this country and its future, my patriotism for this
country, and my desire to see this country reclaim its position as a
world leader of choice, not attrition.
I received an
absentee ballot due to the fact I will be out of town election day, and
I've already placed my vote. I voted for change. Changes in the way
this country conducts itself upon the global stage. Changes that
represent the common man/woman. Changes that make the most sense for
this country and its continued presence within the world. Changes to
improve the environment and drastically reduce the country's dependency
upon oil within my expected lifetime.
Change to ensure our men
and women within the military service are not deployed to areas of the
world where their presence is either taken for granted or not wanted ;
nor to protect the special interests of lobbyists and big business. To
ensure the sacrifices they make are not in vain, but make sense to
everyone.
Change to eliminate the huge sucking sound that is
the departure of the backbone of this economy, manufacturing jobs, and
to make sure those that do are punished where they will feel it the
most; in the pocketbook.
Change that will demonstrate to the
world that the United States of America has grown beyond the petty and
trivial things like skin color or race/sex and religion; and is ready
to stand and deliver to its people that which they need the most, need
desperately, and expect from its leadership; responsibility,
attentiveness, and leadership itself.
Clearly this time around
the republican party has demonstrated it EXPECTS allegiance to the
party line, and it has no concept what so ever of what it is like to
have to worry about whether you are going to have enough money to pay
for your medicine or that of your child. What it is like to have to
decide between paying for 5 dollar a gallon fuel or bread for the
table. What it is like to be faced with a decision between a roof over
your head or a job, and not knowing if there ever will come a day when
you can retire.
Clearly they do not care one bit about anyone
or anything other than those industries or entities that fill their
campaign coffers with more money than most of us will make in a
lifetime; combined!
While the democrats have historically
demonstrated they are not above some of these very same antics, (ala
the vaginal humidor incident in the oval office), they have come close
to balancing the budget historically. They have demonstrated
environmental responsibility and awareness, and they have listened to
"Joe Jones", 66 and unable to retire because GM closed and was absolved
of his health care responsibility while MR Big - CEO left with millions
in cash and stocks to get him through several lifetimes of the Joe
Jones's out there.
I am convinced that without change this
country is doomed to repeat history; with brother pitted against
brother for the sake of the future of this country. The only difference
is that this time a third party will step right in and wield control
over us all and the USA as we know it will cease to exist. That is
unacceptable to me and I could not in good conscience vote for 4 more
years of puppet master control.
It is time for the leadership
of this country to stand and deliver on behalf of the people of this
country! It is not a job I would want under any circumstances. The
POTUS-elect inherits a country on the brink of extinction and his every
move will be watched and analysed by the world; not to mention the very
folks that put him into the office.
It is the toughest job in
the world and this time around it is among the toughest in history. I
pray that he will be successful in leading us to success, prosperity,
and the true freedom each one of us deserves. Anything short of that
will subject him to criticism; deserved or not.
Bullshit Palehouse! The middle class is almost extinct becuase of GM and the former big three's greed for hourly wages. Where else can someone with no skills make 30 per hour, not including benefits? That is what this country based it wage scale on when times were good. You complain that GM retirees lost healthcare benifits, bullshit! The salaried employee got recently got hit but they also got a $300 per month credit to replace the "golden coverage" they received when they were employed. I would venture to say that the $300 per month that they received to make up for their losses exceeds what most people spend or can afford for health insurance.
The simple truth is there is enough blame to go around, dont make it political.
Bull**** Palehouse! The middle class is no extinct becuase of GM and the former big three's greed for hourly wages. Where else can someone with no skills make 30 per hour, not including benefits? That is what this country based it wage scale on when times were good. You complain that GM retirees lost healthcare benifits, bullshit! The salaried employee got recently got hit but they also got a $300 per month credit to replace the "golden coverage" they received when they were employed. I would venture to say that the $300 per month that they received to make up for their losses exceeds what most people spend or can afford for health insurance.
The simple truth is there is enough blame to go around, dont make it political.
No need to get your drawers in a wad! My comment surrounding GM is meant as an "example" of what our government and major corporations to date have done to middle class citizens; not meant to imply that General Motors is solely to blame for this mess we are in. It was meant as an example of the rampant abuse of the working class that ALL major corporations have been allowed to exercise through the decades; the little "nod and a wink" negotiations that have taken place between the bargaining units, the companies, and government through the years have sold the farm right out from under the American workers right before our very eyes.
Yes GM management historically carries the blame for selling out the farm for short term gains that have now come due. But they are not the only ones and certainly every major corporation that has provided multi-million dollar golden parachutes to the high level executives of failing companies, while the working man and woman have been left to fend for themselves are to blame as well. Including the government for turning a blind eye to this rampant and abusive practice that is in part responsible for the mess this economy, and to a degree country, is in.
I agree that the rate of wages these industries paid were unreasonable and outlandish; but the blame for that can be evenly divided on both sides of the fence there. But it typically is not.
When was the last time you shopped supplemental health coverage? $300 bucks a month does not even touch the typical rate for an elderly individual that has suffered health challenges prior to this little scheme being pulled. Those folks retired and planned based upon the agreement they had with GM, and failing to uphold that agreement is wrong on so many levels it is not funny.
Have a serious health issue that requires you to endure a long hospital stay, rehab, and expensive medications in order to stay alive and you'll see exactly why retired couples often are forced to sell the homes they worked 40 years to obtain and pay for in full.
I don't begrudge them what they earned via their agreements, despite the fact that in today's world those same agreements appear abusive and outlandish. The fact is they were abusive then and the blame falls squarely upon both sides of the fence. But is it right to punish those that upheld their end of the bargain and worked their entire lives to achieve retirement? Especially when this was accomplished and entered into in good faith? Is it right to reward the major multi-billion dollar corporations that signed these agreements by absolving them of their responsibility because they find themselves in dire financial straights due to decades long practices of financial idiocy? Is it fair that these same companies continue to do business almost as if nothing ever happened; leaving the retirees, the ones who can least afford it, to bar the doors and keep the wolves at bay? NO! (My own inlaws find themselves in this very situation).
The point is the government is quick to step to the plate when a major corporation or entity finds itself in ruin, no matter what the reason. But the everyday worker finds themselves enduring garnished wages over necessary medical bills, run up to keep them alive, or having their homes taken from them because they can no longer afford them due to an unexpected life changing event. Nobody steps up to intervene for them.
We spend BILLIONS every week to help third world countries or to wage war in those countries, and the whole time American citizens are facing life changing events not of their own doing; and they are left to flounder. People are tired of hearing about the plight of other countries when the situation here is rapidly declining; especially for the working class in this country. 4 more years of this will send us over the brink and into the abyss; lost for all time.
Look at the financial district and its in progress implosion. You think if you found yourself personally in these same circumstances any current state or federal entity or program would step up and intervene for you? NO!
If your personal business enterprise were in those circumstances and it was due to questionable business practices such as those the mortgage industry has undertaken over the last 15 years, do you think you would be able to just walk away from it with your home and your freedom? I dare say not, in fact you'd find yourself lucky to keep your freedom in such a case. But not the major corporation!
I'm sorry you mistook my posting as an attack toward GM, which I assure you it was not. I used them because this being an Anderson based forum I believed it was an example that most would understand. Obviously not.
PatriotDan Is procrastinating from giving the dog a bath.
3 hours ago
jacquline we was robed last night. someone took stuff we had loaded in truck to move for my sister, all her clothing and lot other stuff and her bike.. she has 1 pair pants left and pair shorts.
7 hours ago
krolchiha Happy St. Patrick's Day. It is a good day to be Irish..:-)
1 day ago
Zia wonders why adults have to act like children sometimes???? It becomes annoying after a while
1 day ago
C91 “Liars begin by imposing upon others, but end deceiving themselves”
2 days ago
axnjackson You think healthcare is expensive now? Wait tell its free
The other PINK meat!
I watched the dead-bates, I read the messages of both sides of the issues, and at the end of the day I felt there was only one choice to make that demonstrates my love for this country, my concern for this country and its future, my patriotism for this country, and my desire to see this country reclaim its position as a world leader of choice, not attrition.
I received an absentee ballot due to the fact I will be out of town election day, and I've already placed my vote. I voted for change. Changes in the way this country conducts itself upon the global stage. Changes that represent the common man/woman. Changes that make the most sense for this country and its continued presence within the world. Changes to improve the environment and drastically reduce the country's dependency upon oil within my expected lifetime.
Change to ensure our men and women within the military service are not deployed to areas of the world where their presence is either taken for granted or not wanted ; nor to protect the special interests of lobbyists and big business. To ensure the sacrifices they make are not in vain, but make sense to everyone.
Change to eliminate the huge sucking sound that is the departure of the backbone of this economy, manufacturing jobs, and to make sure those that do are punished where they will feel it the most; in the pocketbook.
Change that will demonstrate to the world that the United States of America has grown beyond the petty and trivial things like skin color or race/sex and religion; and is ready to stand and deliver to its people that which they need the most, need desperately, and expect from its leadership; responsibility, attentiveness, and leadership itself.
Clearly this time around the republican party has demonstrated it EXPECTS allegiance to the party line, and it has no concept what so ever of what it is like to have to worry about whether you are going to have enough money to pay for your medicine or that of your child. What it is like to have to decide between paying for 5 dollar a gallon fuel or bread for the table. What it is like to be faced with a decision between a roof over your head or a job, and not knowing if there ever will come a day when you can retire.
Clearly they do not care one bit about anyone or anything other than those industries or entities that fill their campaign coffers with more money than most of us will make in a lifetime; combined!
While the democrats have historically demonstrated they are not above some of these very same antics, (ala the vaginal humidor incident in the oval office), they have come close to balancing the budget historically. They have demonstrated environmental responsibility and awareness, and they have listened to "Joe Jones", 66 and unable to retire because GM closed and was absolved of his health care responsibility while MR Big - CEO left with millions in cash and stocks to get him through several lifetimes of the Joe Jones's out there.
I am convinced that without change this country is doomed to repeat history; with brother pitted against brother for the sake of the future of this country. The only difference is that this time a third party will step right in and wield control over us all and the USA as we know it will cease to exist. That is unacceptable to me and I could not in good conscience vote for 4 more years of puppet master control.
It is time for the leadership of this country to stand and deliver on behalf of the people of this country! It is not a job I would want under any circumstances. The POTUS-elect inherits a country on the brink of extinction and his every move will be watched and analysed by the world; not to mention the very folks that put him into the office.
It is the toughest job in the world and this time around it is among the toughest in history. I pray that he will be successful in leading us to success, prosperity, and the true freedom each one of us deserves. Anything short of that will subject him to criticism; deserved or not.
AFD Heavy Rescue Unit RULES!
The voters in the primary election.
The other PINK meat!
Well said, Palehorse!
http://anythinggoesforum.us/
Official AFP Tourist
Bullshit Palehouse! The middle class is almost extinct becuase of GM and the former big three's greed for hourly wages. Where else can someone with no skills make 30 per hour, not including benefits? That is what this country based it wage scale on when times were good. You complain that GM retirees lost healthcare benifits, bullshit! The salaried employee got recently got hit but they also got a $300 per month credit to replace the "golden coverage" they received when they were employed. I would venture to say that the $300 per month that they received to make up for their losses exceeds what most people spend or can afford for health insurance.
The simple truth is there is enough blame to go around, dont make it political.
The other PINK meat!
Now, now. . . No need to use foul language. You don't have to agree but you do have to support your position!
AFD Heavy Rescue Unit RULES!
TYVM! Darlin!
AFD Heavy Rescue Unit RULES!
Bull**** Palehouse! The middle class is no extinct becuase of GM and the former big three's greed for hourly wages. Where else can someone with no skills make 30 per hour, not including benefits? That is what this country based it wage scale on when times were good. You complain that GM retirees lost healthcare benifits, bullshit! The salaried employee got recently got hit but they also got a $300 per month credit to replace the "golden coverage" they received when they were employed. I would venture to say that the $300 per month that they received to make up for their losses exceeds what most people spend or can afford for health insurance.
The simple truth is there is enough blame to go around, dont make it political.
No need to get your drawers in a wad! My comment surrounding GM is meant as an "example" of what our government and major corporations to date have done to middle class citizens; not meant to imply that General Motors is solely to blame for this mess we are in. It was meant as an example of the rampant abuse of the working class that ALL major corporations have been allowed to exercise through the decades; the little "nod and a wink" negotiations that have taken place between the bargaining units, the companies, and government through the years have sold the farm right out from under the American workers right before our very eyes.
Yes GM management historically carries the blame for selling out the farm for short term gains that have now come due. But they are not the only ones and certainly every major corporation that has provided multi-million dollar golden parachutes to the high level executives of failing companies, while the working man and woman have been left to fend for themselves are to blame as well. Including the government for turning a blind eye to this rampant and abusive practice that is in part responsible for the mess this economy, and to a degree country, is in.
I agree that the rate of wages these industries paid were unreasonable and outlandish; but the blame for that can be evenly divided on both sides of the fence there. But it typically is not.
When was the last time you shopped supplemental health coverage? $300 bucks a month does not even touch the typical rate for an elderly individual that has suffered health challenges prior to this little scheme being pulled. Those folks retired and planned based upon the agreement they had with GM, and failing to uphold that agreement is wrong on so many levels it is not funny.
Have a serious health issue that requires you to endure a long hospital stay, rehab, and expensive medications in order to stay alive and you'll see exactly why retired couples often are forced to sell the homes they worked 40 years to obtain and pay for in full.
I don't begrudge them what they earned via their agreements, despite the fact that in today's world those same agreements appear abusive and outlandish. The fact is they were abusive then and the blame falls squarely upon both sides of the fence. But is it right to punish those that upheld their end of the bargain and worked their entire lives to achieve retirement? Especially when this was accomplished and entered into in good faith? Is it right to reward the major multi-billion dollar corporations that signed these agreements by absolving them of their responsibility because they find themselves in dire financial straights due to decades long practices of financial idiocy? Is it fair that these same companies continue to do business almost as if nothing ever happened; leaving the retirees, the ones who can least afford it, to bar the doors and keep the wolves at bay? NO! (My own inlaws find themselves in this very situation).
The point is the government is quick to step to the plate when a major corporation or entity finds itself in ruin, no matter what the reason. But the everyday worker finds themselves enduring garnished wages over necessary medical bills, run up to keep them alive, or having their homes taken from them because they can no longer afford them due to an unexpected life changing event. Nobody steps up to intervene for them.
We spend BILLIONS every week to help third world countries or to wage war in those countries, and the whole time American citizens are facing life changing events not of their own doing; and they are left to flounder. People are tired of hearing about the plight of other countries when the situation here is rapidly declining; especially for the working class in this country. 4 more years of this will send us over the brink and into the abyss; lost for all time.
Look at the financial district and its in progress implosion. You think if you found yourself personally in these same circumstances any current state or federal entity or program would step up and intervene for you? NO!
If your personal business enterprise were in those circumstances and it was due to questionable business practices such as those the mortgage industry has undertaken over the last 15 years, do you think you would be able to just walk away from it with your home and your freedom? I dare say not, in fact you'd find yourself lucky to keep your freedom in such a case. But not the major corporation!
I'm sorry you mistook my posting as an attack toward GM, which I assure you it was not. I used them because this being an Anderson based forum I believed it was an example that most would understand. Obviously not.
AFD Heavy Rescue Unit RULES!
Anyone could be president if they got the votes or if they were in the right place at the right time, like FORD!
"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the
history of the world. I hope you'll join with me as we
try to change it."
- Barack Obama