Patterico's Pontifications

9/24/2008

What Is Senator Obama’s Job? (Updated)

Filed under: 2008 Election — DRJ @ 3:07 pm



[Guest post by DRJ]

Following up on WLS’s post regarding John McCain’s offer to suspend the campaign and debate to consider the bailout package, the Politico reports that Obama’s response included this shot at McCain:

“Presidents are going to have to deal with more than one thing at a time,” Obama said. “It’s not necessary for us to think that we can do only one thing, and suspend everything else.”

WLS is exactly right that Obama’s response was tone deaf. Maybe spending $700B is all in a day’s work for President Obama but this seems like an unusual situation to me. But even if Obama has no problem sitting out the bailout debate and his chance to vote “Present,” voters might not agree that his job is running for President. Some might wonder why he isn’t doing his job as a Senator — the job he was elected to do and is getting paid for.

Not surprisingly, Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid agrees with Obama that the bailout isn’t important enough to return to the Senate or change the scheduled debate:

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nv.) said Wednesday there is no need for Barack Obama and John McCain to rush back to Congress to work on the stalled bailout package and certainly no need to delay the first presidential debate, as McCain is urging. Obama is expected to call for the debate to go on as planned.

Reid said both men returning to their Senate jobs will “risk injecting presidential politics into this process. ….We need leadership, not a campaign photo op,” Reid said. McCain is suspending his campaign–as of Thursday afternoon–until Congress works out a plan. Congress is resisting approving the $700 billion package sent by the White House.”

So if Obama shows up in the Senate it will only be for a photo op? I’ll take Majority Leader Reid’s word for it. After all, he knows Obama’s Senate record better than anyone.

UPDATE: Allahpundit at Hot Air notes it was only yesterday that Harry Reid told McCain to drop everything and come back to the Senate to deal with the bailout.

Read the whole thing.

H/T voiceofreason2.

— DRJ

173 Responses to “What Is Senator Obama’s Job? (Updated)”

  1. Far be it from me to suggest that McCain is a brilliant statistician, but perhaps the idea is to give McCain another high-profile opportunity to reach out to the left side of the aisle and get legislation passed — something that Obama has never done.

    Remember that Obama has been protected from being forced to return to Washington and get his hands dirty by Pelosi — she shut down the House rather than risk a bipartisan plan would pass, thus throwing it to the Senate where B.O. would be forced to take his stand for the record against the oil-hungry electorate.

    It also could be that they want to throw a monkey wrench into Obama’s splashy nationwide micro-community organizing around the debate.

    L.N. Smithee (e1f2bf)

  2. The sentence before that is telling, too:

    With respect to the debates, it’s my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess. And I think that it is going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once.

    No wonder he has to get the coins made now!

    htom (412a17)

  3. The ironic thing for Obama and the Democrats is that if this mess is not addressed adequately they will not be able to tax and spend as they would like to.

    voiceofreason2 (4df500)

  4. This is ALL about having the issue, instead of fixing the problem. BHO’s polling numbers have shot up since the crisis manifested last week. Ya think he’s gonna easily give that up? The first real traction he has enjoyed in almost a month?

    This is the quintessential politics as usual.

    Ed (f35a20)

  5. It figures that Obama would think that running for President is akin to trying to fix a potential economic disaster – after all, he also thinks it’s an excellent primer for his executive abilities.

    Dmac (e639cc)

  6. 40 days: I thought the next president took office in January, not November.

    ROA (bea1d3)

  7. SENATOR Obama has already said that running for office is his job.

    Icy Truth (7b38bb)

  8. One action by McCain that might work, if Obama insists on debating an empty chair, is to change the debate to economics. Obama doesn’t do these quick changes well. They can debate in Washington.

    Mike K (f89cb3)

  9. It has been mentioned already, but I would lay odds that Obama would change his tune pretty quickly if Mc Cain suggested sending Palin to debate Obama

    ian (381e2c)

  10. Most of us can detect a publicity stunt when we see on. Another photo shot much like Sarah Palin had this week. Committees are working on this and McCain will do nothing but get in the way of future progress.

    Obama has talked with Washington constantly during this time, has told them he will be then as soon as needed and he has been told this is not the time for political posturing. Too bad McCain has to stoop so low (again.)

    CarolO MI (24b981)

  11. There is a hilarious series of SNL skits there, with BHO trying to get to see McCain, and SP in the way, a super-competent friendly secretary always diverting him away because the Senator is busy. She could take him shooting, fishing, butchering, talking with foreign leaders in her own country, ….

    htom (412a17)

  12. Let me see.

    Obama/Biden surges to 6 – 9 point lead over McBush/McBarbie in most recent polls.

    The lead is ~13 points for who is better to deal with the economy.

    What does McBush/McBarbie do?

    Let’s try a thinly-veiled, political hack approach.

    McBush will appear to be a great leader if he suspends his moribund campaign. At the same time he can avoid a debate where he is likely to get thrashed.

    David R (69d23c)

  13. he has been told this is not the time for political posturing.

    Its a shame that Obama and his handlers miss the obvious fact that being a Senator is indeed Obama’s job.

    Its also a shame that Obama’s handlers apparently don’t recognize this but have such a low opinion of being a pro-active Senator that they consider it political posturing if he were to return to DC to hash this out.

    If they and Obama are so confused about the role of a Senator, why on earth would we ever think he actually has a serious handle on what the job of POTUS really is?

    Dana (4d3ea0)

  14. Hey David R,

    If your dude is such a “uniter,” why isn’t he heading to Washington on the next plane out to part the waters, lower the seas, and put the heavenly spheres into harmonic convergence?

    Hmmmmmm?

    MarkJ (42fe5b)

  15. 4:29,

    Carol O, if you ‘ detected a publicity stunt’ you would recognize Obama’s entire bag of tricks so far. Vero Possamus… or gold coins for the king… whatever it takes to mitigate your white guilt. Sad.

    Vermont Neighbor (a066ed)

  16. Whether McBush shows up, or not, Obama will likely be debating an empty chair in any event.

    And, McBarbie vs Obama. That’s laughable. At the risk of be condemned as sexist, McBarbie would be toast.

    Don’t worry though, McBush is working hard to make sure that McBarbie never has to debate anyone. He is trying to postpone the VP debates. I think the proposed new date is November 5, 200X.

    David R (69d23c)

  17. Come on guys, you don’t need to spin McCain’s buffoonery. In your own personal business I’ll bet you wouldn’t tolerate this kind of erratic behavior. Obama is a leftist, I want an intelligent and competent conservative, how did we get stuck with McCain/Palin?

    Jack (a9896a)

  18. CarolO MI:

    Obama has talked with Washington constantly during this time, has told them he will be then as soon as needed and he has been told this is not the time for political posturing.

    You seem to have a lot of knowledge about Obama’s conversations. Care to share what your role in the campaign is?

    DRJ (c953ab)

  19. ” he has been told this is not the time for political posturing.”

    For God’s sake. Someone needs to kick Obama’s ass. I mean other than McCain and Michelle. Always positioning himself as the do-good Eddie Haskell with the fake honorable statements.

    That’s another one of Obama’s problems: He has no honor. Get your ass back to Washington, loser, and be a damn Senator. Worthless, bitter, clinging victim card-holder.

    Vermont Neighbor (a066ed)

  20. Mark J

    I guess Obama isn’t on a plane to Washington DC because he isn’t a political opportunist who is way behind in the polls.

    He has offered to go there when and if he is needed.

    At some point. McBush will have to get past photo ops and debate the issues.

    David R (69d23c)

  21. CarolO MI:

    Did you listen to Obama’s press conference today?

    It’s information available to all.

    David R (69d23c)

  22. I need one of those jobs that I don’t have to go to except when everyone tells me it’s absolutely necessary.

    DRJ (c953ab)

  23. #19, gosh I’ve missed you VN!

    Dana (4d3ea0)

  24. When Obama is president, he will act as a president.
    At this time, the responsibility that you speak of is hand the hands of another Republican. Mr. Bush.

    Osiris Brandly (3c14a4)

  25. CarolO MI,

    I think David R has given you a hint on how to answer my question. Good job backing her up, David R.

    So, David R, same question. Are you a paid Obama spammer or are you doing this on your own time?

    DRJ (c953ab)

  26. CarolO MI – My apologies.

    My comment was directed at DRJ, who apparently didn’t listen to Obama or reah his comments.

    David R (69d23c)

  27. CarolO MI – My apologies.

    My comment was directed at DRJ, who apparently didn’t listen to Obama or read Obama’s comments.

    David R (69d23c)

  28. Osiris Brandly,

    So you think Congress should ignore the Constitution and give Bush the power to pass legislation? Confidentially, Osiris, I think that’s a non-starter.

    DRJ (c953ab)

  29. David R,

    I’m doing my best to keep up. Now, want to answer my question?

    DRJ (c953ab)

  30. Thanks Dana. I’m busy getting all my Obama merchandise this week so I can be ready for retraining camp.
    : )

    Vermont Neighbor (a066ed)

  31. The Honorable Majority Leader, Mr. Reid, called out JSM yesterday. He said nothing would move without his direct approval. Why, was his own caucus member, Mr. Obama not similarly called out?

    Today, Mr. Reid insists that JSM is not needed to move legislation.

    Tell me again who is playing politics, David R. and Jack?

    Ed (f35a20)

  32. I believe that we are in a national crysis and everybody better be back in washington doing their job. Thats what hollywood got elected to do and he better do it. As for hairy reeds comments being from Nevada I think that hairy is nuts and he should move back to searchlight and do what he is qualified to do, wash dishes

    johna (a4ef8b)

  33. Maybe spending $700B is all in a day’s work for President Obama but this seems like an unusual situation to me.

    Ya know, I was thinking today . . . right about now, it sure would be nice to have that $1 trillion we spent on the Iraq war, wouldn’t it?

    Phil (3b1633)

  34. As far as I’m concerned, McCain is taking the spotlight from Bush who must lead us through this crisis. Why today? Why not earlier this week? McCain. Pathetic.

    David (05fc03)

  35. David axelRod – 4:46pm – At some point. McBush will have to get past photo ops and debate the issues.

    McBush? Debate?

    With your obvious skill at debate, would you recommend Obama start, or end the debate by addressing Senator McCain as “McBush”? Your comments highlight your deep concern regarding the ‘issues’.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  36. Obama must be wondering…What would Bill Ayers do?

    Perfect Sense (9d1b08)

  37. No.

    I am not a paid Obama spammer.

    I can recognize a political opportunist (McBush) all be myself and happily do it for free.

    David R (69d23c)

  38. Phil – 4:57pm – it sure would be nice to have that $1 trillion we spent on the Iraq war, wouldn’t it?

    Your knowledge of government accounting is obviously vast.

    Tell us, in which duffel bag did they keep the trillion?

    Apogee (366e8b)

  39. David axelRod

    McBush is fine, although it now appears that it might have to be “Empty Chair”, “Mr. Empty Chair”, or “Senator Empty Chair.”

    Any preferences?

    David R (69d23c)

  40. David axelRod – 5:04pm – I can recognize a political opportunist (McBush)

    Thanks for pointing out the subject of your talking point, as you most reasonably assumed anyone reading it would immediately think of Barack Obama.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  41. I think Sen. Obama is right on this. He is a junior Senator who has accomplished nothing and has no specific influence in the Congress. He is not needed in Washington.

    Since the debate is on foreign policy, McCain has lived it anyway. McCain should offer to do the debate from Washington when he steps out of the working meetings.

    “The President should be able to do two things at once.” Well, then why can’t Obama be bothered to fulfill his responsibilities as a US Senator along with campaigning?

    “It’s important for the people to hear…”

    Some of us think it’s time for the people to see… as in put-up or shut up. Obama the great uniter who brings people together is needed, why won’t he show up?

    MD in Philly (3d3f72)

  42. The spin on this is easy. After a plan is passed (whichever one it is) McCain takes out a huge adversing buy and says:

    “I once said that I would rather lose a campaign than lose a war, this last week a crisis presented itself and I decided that I would rather lose a campaign than see the American economy completely melt down, so I suspended my campaign for X days.

    I invited my opponent Senator Obama to join with me in working in a bipartisan manner, putting aside campaigning and campaign rhetoric, in working to help resolve this crisis.

    He refused.

    When push came to shove and our country needed leadership where was Senator Obama? Pursuing his own personal gain.

    Is this the type of leader America needs?”

    I would blanket the market. Especially NYC and CA.

    chad (719bfa)

  43. Tell us, in which duffel bag did they keep the trillion?

    In the one they’re now looking in for the $700 Billion.

    Phil (3b1633)

  44. As for hairy reeds comments being from Nevada I think that hairy is nuts

    Love it. Hairy Reed. Like some character on a smelly couch on Ventura Blvd.

    Vermont Neighbor (a066ed)

  45. I’ve been searching through the news coverage of the bailout hearings, and for the life of me I can’t find the part where Paulson and Bernake say “What we really need is a senator from Arizona here to help us figure this stuff out. If only he weren’t campaigning for president, we could get this terrible crisis fixed.”

    It’s probably the fault of those damn MSM leaving stuff out again.

    Phil (3b1633)

  46. David axelRod – 5:07pm – Any preferences?

    Well, since Mr. Empty Suit is taken already…

    How about “Work first, then play?” or, maybe “I’ll give you a little more time to study, Mr. B.O.” or “B.O. won’t leave until you turn off the teleprompter”

    Apogee (366e8b)

  47. David axelRod

    No.

    Actually, I specifically identified McBush for your benefit.

    David R (69d23c)

  48. Phil – In the one they’re now looking in for the $700 Billion.

    So you’re saying they had the money, but they spent it?

    So then there’s no possibility of a bail-out?

    You’re missing the point, again, Phil. Your statements are leading you down a pathway that won’t be comfortable for you.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  49. #45 wrote: ..I can’t find the part where Paulson and Bernake say: “What we really need is a senator from Arizona here to help us figure this stuff out…”

    Would that be the same Senator who did figure it out three years ago but the Democrats blocked his reforms?

    Perfect Sense (9d1b08)

  50. Not Paulson or Bernake, but Harry Reid:

    Reid Seeks McCain Pledge

    Senate majority leader tells White House it must serve up support from the Republican nominee if it hopes to win bipartisan bailout backing.

    ROA (bea1d3)

  51. David axelRod

    I would think that with his superior knowledge of foreign affairs, McBush would be jumping at the chance to debate Obama – yet, this does not appear to be the case. What’s up with that?

    And, now that McBarbie has had a tightly controlled field trip to the U.N., she should also be raring to go. But, McBush/McBarbie are now suggesting that Friday’s debate be rescheduled into McBarbie’s time slot and McBarbie rescheduled to ??? (Soon? Never?)

    David R (69d23c)

  52. “Far be it from me to suggest that McCain is a brilliant statistician, but perhaps the idea is to give McCain another high-profile opportunity to reach out to the left side of the aisle and get legislation passed — something that Obama has never done. ”

    This is false and has been debunked a while back. Regurgitating old talking points is just lazy.

    Paul Jones (cc5b14)

  53. You will all be pleased to know that Bush has invited McBush and Obama to a meeting at in Washington, DC and Obama has agreed to go.

    I just hope that this doesn’t adversely impact McBush’s photo ops.

    David R (69d23c)

  54. Zerobama is so far left, he doesn’t even know there is an aisle to reach across.

    Perfect Sense (9d1b08)

  55. Funny that McShame has missed somewhere around 64% of the votes during his campaign but know he wants to go back to help fix the problem he helped create. I think he’s done enough. Heck, there were even debates held during WWII.

    Paul Jones (cc5b14)

  56. Obama wants to be able to vote present in the US Senate like he did in the Illinois legislature. That’s why he’s not going back to DC. He’s also probably afraid to show up on the Senate floor to debate the issue with out a teleprompter. Is the walking gaff going to show up in the Senate or is he AWOL as well?

    airedale (3a341b)

  57. David axelRod – Actually, I specifically identified McBush for your benefit.

    There is no benefit to a lefty talking point. Other than to reveal the nursery-school level of discussion that forms the basis of the Democratic Party’s platform. Would you care to call out any other names, or make any other hapless assertions? You’ve spent years crafting a narrative about GWB, and now its on the verge of unraveling because he’s not running.

    But be careful, your particular brand of illogic doesn’t shut off like you imagine, and you may find that your success in playing this game ultimately backfires in ways that you couldn’t imagine. Without the hatred and irrationality, you have nothing. Better pray that it’s just close again.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  58. Well I am a Democrat and I smell some serious BS. I am amazed at how obvious the contradiction is and leaning so far to the republican side my brother won’t even talk to me, lol.
    Obama says, and I quote CNN as well as this site, “Presidents are going to have to deal with more than one thing at a time” he also says, “Obama said it’s unacceptable to expect the American people to “hand this administration or any administration a $700 billion check with no conditions and no oversight when a lack of oversight in Washington and on Wall Street is exactly what got us into this mess,” and yet he does not choose to go to Washington to “deal” with a nationwide financial crisis that could send this country into a depression. The John McCain I have watched my entire life has finally shown his face again and I am really quite proud of the move he has made, he has proven which candidate really gives a damn about the American people and which one just wants to make a good speech.

    SingleMomVoting! (06a085)

  59. Beginning January 20, 2009 – Obama’s job will be Commander in Chief.

    Daniel (910f86)

  60. This is false and has been debunked a while back.

    Link?

    Lots of lying trolls tonight.

    Patterico must be getting to them. Another Axelrod email?

    Apogee (366e8b)

  61. I’ve been searching through the news coverage of the bailout hearings, and for the life of me I can’t find the part where Paulson and Bernake say “What we really need is a senator from Arizona here to help us figure this stuff out. If only he weren’t campaigning for president, we could get this terrible crisis fixed.”

    How disingenuous of you. Is it your position that it’s acceptable for a Senator to be absent for what is arguably the most important issue they’ve worked on this year?

    I would think that with his superior knowledge of foreign affairs, McBush would be jumping at the chance to debate Obama – yet, this does not appear to be the case. What’s up with that?

    Perhaps because Senator McCain senses there’s more important work to do and there’s a duty he’s sworn to perform.

    Steverino (db5760)

  62. I thought this was a forum, not a chat room!

    Brooke (6aa064)

  63. #59 – Beginning January 20, 2009 – Obama’s job will be Commander in Chief.
    …and so he should do “nothing” now.

    Obama’s used that excuse to accomplish nothing his entire life. It’s the very reason he’s unfit for the job.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  64. Politics..hmm! Why didnt McCain ” suspend” the republican convention when southern usa was in disarray over the hurricane? That would have been appropriate and president like! Now that republcans are in a negative sporlight and lipstick is wiped off he wants to back off? lol

    CynthiaM (21b385)

  65. Obama: No Judgment, No Leadership, No Change.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  66. CynthiaM, He did.

    So much for your smart aleck comment.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  67. Trolls, trolls, trolls!

    Apogee (366e8b)

  68. David axelRod

    You’re a hoot. I enjoyed reading your delightful posts and responses, especially the last one.

    If McBush is elected (a long shot, I’ll admit), I will be able to continue to use my GWB spiel again and again.

    McBush voted with Bush more than 90% of the time. Ergo, McBush = Bush (Maybe now you get the McBush reference – probably not).

    Bush may not be running, but his older clone is.

    David R (69d23c)

  69. Why didnt McCain ” suspend” the republican convention when southern usa was in disarray over the hurricane?

    So you don’t really pay attention to the news, do you? Or maybe you just have a really bad memory. Because he did exactly that.

    Rob Crawford (b5d1c2)

  70. When the hurricane and after effects occurred, MCain was basking in a very shortlived spotlight. When LA and TX were in devastation, the convention was still happening…..shouldnt they have cancelled the convention to deal with the crisis?????

    CynthiaM (21b385)

  71. Seems like we have a golden opportunity here. Since the campaigning is already suspended, let two bailout strategy camps form in D.C.; McCain’s and Obama’s. McCain and Obama each get a chance to debate their bailout plans on live TV. We’ll have a live fire debate. Last one standing gets elected.

    Wes (050556)

  72. CarolO MI wrote:

    Most of us can detect a publicity stunt when we see on. Another photo shot much like Sarah Palin had this week.

    Are you Millicent Fenwick kidding me? What was Obama’s Excellent European Adventure but a photo op? Oh, there’s Barack with Karzai! With Merkel! With

    Committees are working on this and McCain will do nothing but get in the way of future progress.

    Yeah, it’s not like he works there or somethin’.

    Obama has talked with Washington constantly during this time, has told them he will be then as soon as needed and he has been told this is not the time for political posturing. Too bad McCain has to stoop so low (again.)

    You’re out of your mind, if you’ve got one. What he is saying he can do is lead WHILE political posturing! Isn’t that “Rovian politics” is all about? The “never-ending campaign” that Scott McClellan whined about?

    Anyhow, get off the computer and get back to getting Jared Liu-Klein his cappuchino.

    L.N. Smithee (e1f2bf)

  73. CynthiaM,

    Sen. McCain doesn’t have full use of his shoulders, remember? His being in a disaster area with flooding would just be a hazard for those who would need to help him out. Besides, it isn’t exactly in the job description of “US Senator”.

    Going to DC to discuss and vote on a crucial economic bill, I think that’s what Senators were supposed to do.

    But then again, the junior Senator from Illinois has accomplished nothing while in the Senate (the days he was there). Senior members of the Senate with a long track record only need to show up.

    Oh, shucks, Obama is actually going to go to DC at Bush’s invitation.

    MD in Philly (3d3f72)

  74. Now that it has been announced that BHO will be at the White house tomorrow, I await retractions from all of his defenders who said he didn’t need to be in DC.

    Just because your opponent has a better idea is not a reason to reject the idea. BHO is no leader. he isn’t even a follower. He doesn’t know if he is afoot or horseback. This is the guy we need to go up against Putin, the PRC, and Iran?

    Ed (f35a20)

  75. David R. hunted and pecked: McBush voted with Bush more than 90% of the time. Ergo, McBush = Bush (Maybe now you get the McBush reference – probably not).

    Wake up, pal — just because Bush isn’t popular doesn’t mean America thinks the answer is someone whose votes are more liberal than America’s sole socialist legislator, Bernie Sanders.

    BTW, nice use of Roget’s to dig out “ergo.” You must be the manager of the Obamatrolls’ night shift.

    L.N. Smithee (e1f2bf)

  76. (Maybe now you get the McBush reference – probably not)

    Another intellectual lefty – according to himself, that is.

    Yes, axelRod, I can grasp your tired talking point about clinging to your hatred, no matter what kind of leap of logic you have to make to stay comfy.

    And you’re actually proud of using a ‘spiel’ again and again. What’s the matter, originality out of the question?

    Just like all intellectuals on the left.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  77. There’s some quality trolls on this one. DavidR notices a thin layer on the bottom of the stupid barrel and keeps turning it over to dump on his own head. Whoa, “McBush”! Holy shit dude, did you come up with that yourself or did your award-winning team of political consultants brainstorm that one all night at the student union over a severe case of the munchies?

    Jack Klompus (b0e238)

  78. So now that Obama’s going to DC, is that still political posturing?

    Apogee (366e8b)

  79. I guess no matter what your job is that you’re being paid to do, when you actually show up to work it’s “political posturing.” I’ll run that one by the boss tomorrow.

    Jack Klompus (b0e238)

  80. Cythnia, once again, McCain did suspend the RNC convention in light of the hurricane.

    Pay attention to the real news before spewing discredited false points.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  81. Wow. I can almost see the steam coming out of some of the neocons’ ears.

    This is fun.

    By the way, I just saw a McBarbie being exorcised by her pastor to chase out the witches.

    Check it out. It’s on MSNBC.

    David R (69d23c)

  82. and McCain will do nothing but get in the way of future progress.

    I love this – “McCain should quit immediately for the benefit of the country (because it’s the democratic thing to do!).

    shouldnt they have cancelled the convention to deal with the crisis?????

    Well, that settles it, then. He should’ve quit the election, right then and there.

    If McBush is elected

    Wow, you thought of that moniker, all by yourself?!! Comedy gold! I wonder what monstrous witticisms you’ll come up with next – something along the lines of Rethuglicans, or perhaps an homage to Swift?

    Do you write episodes for The Office?

    Dmac (e639cc)

  83. So now that Obama’s going to DC, is that still political posturing?

    Absolutely. Talk about a waste of everyone’s time.

    On the bright side, I’m a lot less scared about the economy now that I see that the whole crisis thing is really just a chance for political posturing in the presidential campaign. Those Fed guys had me kinda worried for a while.

    Phil (3b1633)

  84. Stop playing around with this site and watch GW.

    He is on right now.

    David R (69d23c)

  85. Wow. I can almost see the steam coming out of some of the neocons’ ears.

    OMG! Stop it, you’re killing me! Let’s wait until his next comedic missive of brilliance, perhaps something out of the Henny Youngman catalog?

    Dmac (e639cc)

  86. McCain likes to use that tired line about voting present. Someone please remind the peevish pouty child that you have to actually BE PRESENT to vote in Congress, something McFraud hasn’t done in 166 days, since April. He is the most ABSENT member of the SENATE.

    What changed today to make McCain suddenly decide that he just HAD to be at his day job after 166 days? Not the bailout. Not the crisis. Not the amount of money. Oh, wait…. wait for it… Oh yeah… the polls turned even more negative for UnStable/UnAble and let’s see… that mean old nasty media is still wanting to ask questions, especially about Rick Davis the lobbyist and the $15K “money for nothing”….

    And if you can’t handle the economy and foreign policy at the same time, you don’t deserve to be President.

    There ARE no time-outs in the White House, Johnny.

    MissouriMom (ce73bf)

  87. Oh we have given our orders by the one who crafted such top-notch witticisms as “McBush” and “McBarbie.” From whence does such Wildean satire and cutting edge wordplay originate???

    Jack Klompus (b0e238)

  88. Stop playing around with this site and watch GW.

    Trolly, don’t go away, we were just getting to know you!

    Dmac (e639cc)

  89. “And if you can’t handle the economy and foreign policy at the same time, you don’t deserve to be President.”
    Thanks for reiterating what everyone has been saying about the laughable lightweight that is Obama who has yet to stir confidence that he has the ability to handle anything of substance with regard to either of these, let alone both.

    Jack Klompus (b0e238)

  90. BE PRESENT to vote in Congress, something McFraud hasn’t done in 166 days, since April. He is the most ABSENT member of the SENATE.

    It may interest you to know that one of the classic “tells” of all Trolls is the incessant illogical use of ALL CAPS to prove IRRELEVANT AND MORONIC POINTS that only exist in YOUR FEVERED AND CLUTTERED MIND.

    Dmac (e639cc)

  91. “Trolly, don’t go away, we were just getting to know you!”
    I’m sure he’ll be at the next meeting of Progressive University Students Stopping Injustice Everywhere in Society trying to impress that hippie chick in his poli sci class with lines like “Yeah I take activism and social justice like way serious…”

    Jack Klompus (b0e238)

  92. The postponement of part of the RNC event “because of Gustav” was another perfect example of the same BS being perpetrated right now.

    That was done ONLY to spare McCain the political embarassment of having to actually visually associate with Bush/Cheney at the RNC event.

    Note that McCain didn’t suspend anything when Ike came in an pretty much wiped Galveston off the face of the map. Bush didn’t do much either, and he’s a Texan.

    So spare me the self-congratulatory acts of kindness, your hypocrisy is showing… this is just another grandstand play to avoid anything real, like a discussion of issues.

    You know when George Will says you are unsuited to be President, it’s all over but the cryin’

    MissouriMom (ce73bf)

  93. Bold and CAPS make your point even more valid.

    Jack Klompus (b0e238)

  94. Either that, or he’s trying some new stand – up routines in his mother’s basement. She thinks he’s hilarious, but still wants him to empty the litter box first.

    Dmac (e639cc)

  95. #59~

    Commander in Chief.

    Well, at least you got the date right…something the O!ne seems to be having trouble with.

    And no, the O!ne wouldn’t really be “Commander in Chief” even if elected.

    Not to worry, the Armed Forces do have enough adult supervision that they would manage to stumble through with a sockpuppet as a figurehead…after all, they managed to survive the Clinton years.

    And I thought about trying to explain why the O!ne (or Shillary, for that matter) would be CINC in name only…but given that you even chose to bring up the subject shows that you wouldn’t ever be able to understand.

    EW1(SG) (aebf24)

  96. “this is just another grandstand play to avoid anything real, like a discussion of issues.”
    LOL. He’s going back to his actual job to discuss the most REAL ISSUE facing the country but the Obamatards repeat the mantra of “not discussing the issues” so many fucking times that I don’t even know what exactly is considered a “real issue” anymore. Pretty much anything and everything that anyone opposed to Obama brings up for debate, criticism, or discussion is immediately written off as not a “real issue” because god forbid the Almighty One might be faced with having to craft and articulate a substantive position. Hilarious.

    Jack Klompus (b0e238)

  97. Jack Klompus

    “… I don’t even know what exactly is considered a “real issue” anymore.”

    I see that.

    David R (69d23c)

  98. Tell George Will, Wick Allison, Colin Powell and the other conservatives who are jumping the Republican ship how wonderful your childish little tantrum-throwing hypocrite is… I’m not buying.

    Seems to me that the clay feet of that actor/celebrity Ronnie Reagan are finally being exposed. Isn’t it funny how the corporatist libertarians always want to subsidize the risk, while privatizing the wealth?

    I bet McCain’s purseholders are quaking in the collective feather beds thinking that the pig in the poke they bought is claiming to have had a populist epiphany!

    I guess the laugh’s on them.

    MissouriMom (ce73bf)

  99. What are you, like 12?

    MissouriMom (ce73bf)

  100. We’re screwed. I can’t believe what I just heard our idiot in chief utter.

    “We’ve gotten ourselves in a catastrophic situation by recklessly loaning money”

    “The solution is to pass the worthless paper on to the taxpayers so we can go out and loan more money”

    God help the U.S.A.

    jharp (f4bed7)

  101. I really hate to leave this very intellectually stimulating conversation, but mom is calling and I have to change the cat litter. Then I have a poli-sci class with some really hot chicks.

    David R (69d23c)

  102. Lots of trolls today. I wonder about their source. The posts are all from the talking points.

    When Obama is president, he will act as a president.
    At this time, the responsibility that you speak of is hand the hands of another Republican. Mr. Bush.

    Comment by Osiris Brandly

    I especially like the trolls with the fake link signatures.

    McCain had a huge gamble. There is talk tonight about the deal almost struck. That is not what I was reading this morning. We’ll see. They can debate in Washington if the deal is truck.

    Mike K (2cf494)

  103. “Then I have a poli-sci class with some really hot chicks.”
    And if you wish really really hard the genie might actually convince one to talk to you!

    Jack Klompus (b0e238)

  104. “Then I have a poli-sci class with some really hot chicks.”
    Are you Napolean Dynamite’s older brother?

    Anyway, I see Obama has come at Bush’s bidding.
    Boy did Bush just play Obama or what?
    Played Reid too.
    Not bad for a fool…

    McCain acts Presidential (they always have to show up at a disaster) while Obama has to be reminded how to act by BushHitler.
    Look for tales of “tough talk” from Obama to come out, but Obama will be the lightweight in the room. No matter how his handlers spin it.
    When reporters ask Bush about Obama’s contributions Bush should say that “Obama had an awful lot to say….”

    SteveG (71dc6f)

  105. Then I have a poli-sci class with some really hot chicks.

    Oh, we’re being too hard on you – just kidding, really. I mean, the idea that you’re actually in school is a insult to public educators everywhere.

    Why can’t Johnny read?

    Dmac (e639cc)

  106. We’re screwed. I can’t believe what I just heard our idiot in chief utter.

    STOP HIJACKING THIS THREAD. EITHER DISCUSS THE ISSUE AT PRESENT OR DON’T POST.

    Dmac (e639cc)

  107. Mike K,

    I think they are coming from a CNN link.

    DRJ (c953ab)

  108. I bet McCain’s purseholders are quaking in the collective feather beds

    What are you, like 12?

    “Quaking in the collective feather beds…?”

    What are you, like 90? By cracky, she’s going to get her buggy whip and give that McCain feller a good piece of her mind, she will!

    Dmac (e639cc)

  109. Does that mean they’re Wolf Blitzer groupies?

    Dmac (e639cc)

  110. MissouriMom, it is pretty hilarious that you whine about McCain being absent for “166” days, when that is about how many days that Obama has actually been present in the Senate.

    It is pretty hilarious how the troll talking points backfire on them.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  111. MizzuMom,

    Yeah, capitalism is a failure. Where should I book you to – China, Cuba or North Korea?

    Mizzu Travel (e59286)

  112. One can always tell the Major Lefty Kool Aid Drinkers and Parrots… they use terms like Mc Bush and McBarbie

    J (d923a5)

  113. You know #33 I was thinking just today how great it would be to have that 700 Billion dollars we spent ont other countries OIL when we could have had our own..however the trillion spent on the war would have left a deranged mass murderer and genocidal dictator and his two deranged/rapists sons to ravage what has turned out to be a fine country of people to a lifetime of devastation….BUT you wouldn’t care about that now would you?

    Jaded (0d4930)

  114. Mizzu Travel @ 7:17 pm

    Where should I book you to – China, Cuba or North Korea?

    Look. Her Obama boy, citizen of the world, hater of America, will bring the very worst of these suppressed dumps right to her front door. Let her sit tight in Mizzulla and vote for the guy who put American troops in harm’s way. BHO. Those delay tactics of his, and begging to stall their departure just for his political goals. Sad times we’re in… rolling out the red carpet for an unqualified, certified-Socialist 1/2 black AA candidate. Only in 2008 could a teleprompter moron like this have a chance.

    At least Bill Clinton, God love him, is providing rich comic relief right now to the Obama story.

    Vermont Neighbor (a066ed)

  115. “This is false and has been debunked a while back.

    Link?

    Lots of lying trolls tonight.

    Patterico must be getting to them. Another Axelrod email?

    Comment by Apogee — 9/24/2008 @ 5:32 pm”

    well apogee I will give you one quick example!

    On April 6, 2006, S.2590, the “Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006,” was introduced into the 109th Congress. The bill was eventually passed by Congress and signed by George W. Bush on September 26, 2006. It is now Public Law 109-282.

    So what does this bill do? It mandates the creation of a single, publicly accessible website where anyone can see every Federal award (meaning grants, contracts, and other transactions where the federal government pays out money to someone). In other words, it puts the federal checkbook online for everyone to see.

    Turns out the bill was introduced jointly by four Senators, two Republicans and two Democrats. The two Democrats were Tom Carper (of Delaware) and Barack Obama. The lead Republican was Tom Coburn (of Oklahoma).

    The other Republican was … John McCain.

    So I will give credit where credit is due.

    Paul Jones (d69711)

  116. “certified-Socialist 1/2 black AA candidate. ”

    Pretty much says it all for you. Hiel Hitler biatch.

    Paul Jones (d69711)

  117. I personally want my next president to SHOW UP and VOTE. I want my next president to be someone who can be counted on to DO HIS JOB. I want my next president to ACT when my future is on the table. This event is unprecedented in the economic history of the US.

    Should I take this all to mean that the “Change we need” is code for more talk and less walk? Because I was under the impression that a qualified presidential candidate would have respect for the american people that surpassed his own self-love. I don’t think that a dedication to the democratic/legislative process is too much to ask.

    How exactly will Obama and Biden be the leaders that “bring the change our country needs” as the Obama campaign site claims? In Obama’s own empty words: “we need to act swiftly” [except me, I have a debate!] “This cannot fall victim to the usual partisan politics” [oh, except if it interferes with my debate], “I intend to everything that’s required to be helpful, and we should all do everything that’s necessary to get a bill passed” [except me, I have a campaign going on here!].

    mel (171ed9)

  118. Heil Hitler… well that ends the debate..
    invoke an alter ego..

    SteveG (71dc6f)

  119. Yes Paul, you’re right. Obama was one of the 47 co-sponsors.

    Impressive bipartisanship. Hopefully he was near the front of the group photo.

    Technically, you’re right, so we’ll give this to you.

    What I want to know is, who were those other two assholes?

    Apogee (366e8b)

  120. Good for Obama. What is McCain going to do if he does become President and there are two (or more) things that demand his attention at once? Is he going to flake on one commitment to attend exclusively to another? I truly think this is an avoidance ploy because it’s a low time in his campaign and the Republicans need to re-group and come up with more negative, mud-slinging bull-crap rather than defining themselves before going head-to-head with Obama in a debate.

    And I can’t express how irritating it is to hear McCain say that he is suspending his campaign and setting “politics” aside so he can go back to Washington DC to work on the bill to bail out over-leveraged multi-billion dollar corporations (btw, I’d appreciate some debt relief on my student loans, too, while they’re at it)–what the heck does he think that is, if not politics???? When did politics (i.e., the conduct of government: the process by which groups of people make decisions) become a dirty word? Senators such as McCain and Obama get PAID to practice politics, that’s their job, they’re POLITICIANS!!! Hello?!?!

    Besides, I specifically set Friday evening aside to watch the debate. It’s hard enough to get people engaged enough to turn off “reality” TV and pay attention to real events that actually impact their lives, and playing these little games may make it even more difficult… Or maybe that’s what McCain’s camp is banking on (?).

    DIA (05e3c5)

  121. DOA – In a way as one of Obama’s constituents I’m kind of pissed off he’s not going to Washington to help shape a bill that will have huge ramifications for the recovery of the financial sector in this country, the expenditure of my tax dollars, and future regulations on all sorts of matters. On the other hand, I recognize his limitations. He’s a junior senator who wouldn’y contribute any leadership to the process plus he doesn’t know shit about the financial sector or financial products. So overall, maybe it’s better if he looks selfish instead of looking after my interests.

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  122. Neither Obama or McCain are on the Finance Committee. Are ALL the other 98 senators now in Washington to work this out?

    The real advantage Obama has over McCain in all this is that he has Biden to support him in Washington. Biden, a 36 year vet of the Senate can monitor and suggest as well as anyone else.

    Having an experienced and capable #2 man, sorry, person, is a luxury McCain just does not have.

    Having this capability in your VP should be vitally important to a President. Someone he, and the rest of the country, can trust to make sound recommendations to our President.

    Will (2e2e19)

  123. Having an experienced and capable #2 man, sorry, person, is a luxury McCain just does not have.

    Unnecessary, as McCain has the experience needed for the job of President.

    Palin has less experience in Washington, but more executive experience than all 3 others combined.

    The only one with no experience? Obama.

    Apogee (366e8b)

  124. America’s 1st Reaction — Friday’s McCain-Obama Debate Should Still Be Held On Friday, But Perhaps with New Focus: Immediately after John McCain’s announcement at 3 pm ET today, Wednesday 09/24/08, that he was suspending his campaign and seeking to postpone Friday’s scheduled presidential debate, SurveyUSA interviewed 1,000 adults nationwide. Key findings:

    A majority of Americans say the debate should be held on Friday. Just 10% say the debate should be postponed. A sizable percentage of Americans, 36%, think the focus of the debate should be modified to focus more on the economy. 3 of 4 Americans say the presidential campaigns should continue. Just 14% say the presidential campaigns should be suspended. If Friday’s debate does not take place, 46% of Americans say that would be bad for America.

    David R (69d23c)

  125. Will —

    Neither Obama or McCain are on the Finance Committee. Are ALL the other 98 senators now in Washington to work this out?
    — No. Let’s allow the 21 members of the Finance Committee to work it all out; we’ll forego having the full Senate vote on what they come up with. Who needs representative government anyway? I mean, I’m represented; Arizona’s junior Senator, John Kyl, is a minority member of the committee; and to it’s credit, two-fifths of the states are represented on the committee. Why don’t YOU tell the other 30 states they’re on a bye-week this time around?

    The real advantage Obama has over McCain in all this is that he has Biden to support him in Washington. Biden, a 36 year vet of the Senate can monitor and suggest as well as anyone else.
    — All that talk about Washington being the problem fades a little bit more each day, doesn’t it.

    Having an experienced and capable #2 man, sorry, person, is a luxury McCain just does not have.
    — McCain doesn’t have anyone (Graham) supporting (Lieberman) him (Kyl) in (Hutchison) Washington?

    Having this capability in your VP should be vitally important to a President.
    — Only members of the Senate should be VP?

    Someone he, and the rest of the country, can trust to make sound recommendations to our President.
    — And only a Senator is capable of doing that?

    Icy Truth (7b38bb)

  126. With years of neglect and irresponsibility after the deregulation of the banking industry Congress is being extorted into bailing out such a massive mistake that it could destabilize the entire American economy with an ultimate consequence where the value of the dollar could plummet into a peso.

    Within the past eight years the republican leadership of Congress removed regulations over the banking industry that were placed there after the Great Depression to prevent profiteering by huge oligopoly business sectors such as the banking industry, which we no know has undue control to influence over the credit industry of the world market.

    Once these regulations were successfully removed over the banking industry the door was open for white-collar organized crime to begin an operation of such magnitude that the world has never seen. We are but entering the wake of repercussions and consequence that irresponsible leadership has manifested from the decisions of the past two terms.

    Republicans love to tout getting government out of the peoples’ business and promote doing so by deregulation. But some of the most critical areas affecting the masses simply must be regulated so that the greed of a few can not absolutely devastate the future of the many where generations must serve as slaves until they rise up in revolution and over throw their oppressors.

    We have seen the deregulation of oil ultimately move the world away from any semblance of the gold standard and replaced it by the oil standard. Only a handful of oil barons can dictate the value of this commodity because they have been given this power through deregulation without tariffs.

    An unprecedented inflation will immediately follow inherently touching the price of everything because of transportation costs. Coupled with the greed that historically begins in such a feeding frenzy the economy is headed toward the tank.

    This time there is an even more significant time bomb ticking because of the deregulation of the banking industry. Under the Bush administration credit has become the largest business in America of which the republican leadership removed virtually all governmental oversight. Bush also took America from a $4.6 TRILLION debt to over $12 TRILLION not counting the cost of getting out of Iraq and the final cost of all upcoming bailouts.

    For at least four years the administration has gone overboard to keep a false economy going. They have promoted rock bottom interest rates long after rates should have risen to slow down the inflationary prices within the housing industry and prevent a massive bubble of inflated houses from being purchased. This bubble will always bust and when it does the economy will slow down. But it is the check and balance over exaggerated housing costs. Today a person can buy three homes in the Midwest for the money it takes for an average price house in many places like California or Florida. This is run away inflation.

    During the last eight years the banking industry was deregulated by a republican controlled White House and Congress. Opening the back door to the banks fueled the already overextended period of an excited housing market until trillions of dollars in mortgages were originated.

    Many unscrupulous people rushed into the mortgage lending business to make the quick buck where they could charge points on both the front and back of loans. An example is where an originator charges a point on the front and two on the back of a loan which usually doesn’t have to be disclosed. On a million dollar loan that person makes $30,000. It is often easier to get approved than a $100,000 loan where they might only make $3,000.

    Profiteering immediately began by an unregulated industry through a multitude of creative financing schemes designed by lending institutions to bait homeowners into their web of debt deception. One of the best known is the Adjustable Rate Mortgage where payments on a loan begin based on a lower interest rate but several years later graduate up to a higher rate that is based on the Prime Interest Rate. This allows a family to qualify for more house than they could at a fixed rate or to have lower payments initially. But when fixed interest rates are at 6% and under historic lows there is absolutely no reason for anyone to fall for this kind of deception unless they are being led into it by a mortgage originator or the people are being greedy and trying to live beyond their means. Either should be a violation of law where the mortgage company is at fault for letting the loan through. Now we are left to bail out these lending predators so that the American economy does not crash.

    Let me make my position perfectly clear. I want a bunch of people who were responsible for creating this mess to go to jail for a very long time and I don’t want any of them to be returned to Congress!

    So let’s look at the list of culprits who need to be investigated, prosecuted and incarcerated if the American taxpayers must now bail out what can be called nothing less than an act of white-collar crime that could never have happened under the system in place only ten years ago.

    First we must look at the elected officials who promoted this deregulation of the credit industry. Let’s see which of our Washington leaders served best the banking lobbyist while violating their oath of office and fiduciary duty with which the American voters entrusted them?

    If an elected official that is running right now participated in this fiasco then they must be exposed and replaced in the upcoming election!

    Note to the media: We need this information out in the public ASAP so American voters can make an informed decision at the polls.

    Second, who were these powerful lobbyists and how were they able to perpetrate such a crime without being detected before the dam is about to break? Whose influence did they buy and how much money was paid for the influence of elected officials on Capitol Hill?

    Third, what specific changes were made that allowed such a closely regulated industry to take our economy to the brink of disaster while at the same time making unprecedented profits?

    Fourth, who were the Professionals within these huge banking investment conglomerates that perpetrated such a failure mechanism within the industry they were supposed to know best? Shouldn’t the government immediately seize all of their assets until an investigation of such a historical case of fraud is reconciled?

    Fifth, if the government is going to bail out the non-conforming loans originated by these institutions that were never intended to have federal insurance, it creates a value in that paper that was never expected. After becoming federally insured by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac this paper is worth ten times what it was about to be worth in a bankruptcy. Shouldn’t the taxpayer share in the massive amount of profit once these investments reach solid ground since we are being forced to bail out their sinking boat?

    Sixth, how many members of Congress have even read, much less can discuss, the Legislative Act for this bailout? If these leaders are not attentive to something so massive that only our Great Great Grandchildren can pay, then they need to be voted out in the upcoming election.

    My point is that many Congress members have clearly demonstrated that once elected they quickly lose any sense of responsibility or conscience for the representation of their constituents. For a democracy to truly work, voters simply must have a report card that provides them a clear picture of the voting record of an incumbent. Then a voter can compare the promises made by the challengers who hope to dethrone those who have had their opportunity to show their dedication as public servants.

    Even with all of the potential within the information age, the media continues to fail the American people simply by not presenting all of the facts as they are.

    The Republican Party has gained control over both TV and radio where their agenda is to brainwash the American people. Their organized oppression of the middle class and poor through this carefully controlled method must be exposed at all costs or the dreams this country promises are forever doomed.

    Over the past decade the republican machine has used a military tactic from WW II known as Tokyo Rose, where a soothing woman’s was voice used over the radio airwaves infiltrating our troops in an attempt to break their spirit.

    Republicans have pumped propaganda into the minds of the masses using people like Rush Limbaugh targeting the blue collar sector while Jerry Faldwell, Pat Robertson and other religious affiliates have been used to target the Bible belt.

    They have distorted the facts confusing listeners by reframing issues so that the focus of a debate is conveniently redirected to something totally different. Often they have created moral issues to redirect the attention of the American public to something totally away from an important issue that was under debate so the listener is left more informed about the new issue than the original one that will ultimately affect him. This ruthless and calculated method of brainwashing has been effective and has motivated long standing democrats to change parties. Many others, who have been successfully confused by these tactics, end up voting against the very people who would actually represent them the foremost on the issues they hold most dear.

    In my fifty five years on this earth and thirty years of attention to political folly I have yet to witness anything in the history of this country that rivals what is happening in America today.

    The greatest country in the world is being corrupted by only 1% who now own and control 90% of the wealth. Through their scam dreams and hopes of our grandchildren have been mortgaged beyond any chance of us repaying this travesty within our lifetime. The irresponsibility and greed of a few are destroying any opportunity for liberty and freedom for the many. The middle class and poor have been placed into shackles of bondage to retire a debt as but slaves to the creditors if the world who helped the few to commit this act of financial folly.

    To further complicate things in addition to the deregulation of the credit industry and mortgages, over the past eight years our leaders also enacted a virtual insurance policy for the credit card companies who are an industry larger than Wal Mart, McDonalds and Microsoft. Now while these loan sharks continue to charge customers exorbitant interest rates some exceeding 30% Congress made it almost impossible to dismiss that debt through bankruptcy. One can still lose their shelter and transportation to work but they will find it difficult to rid themselves of the radical interest and credit card debt that often was the catalyst causing bankruptcy.

    Congress made it where credit card companies can now sell bad debt paper to collectors who will pursue these people to the end and now those collectors have a much better chance of finally collecting the debt so that the credit card companies do not have to discount their bad debt paper so low. However credit card companies, whose risk has been significantly reduced, have no regulation over the exorbitant interest rates they can charge or of the methods they use to determine rates, leaving customers at the mercy of one of the most ruthless industries in the world.

    George W. Bush and his control of a Congressional republican majority will undoubtedly be remembered as the most devastating period in this Country’s history where political fascism destroyed “The American Dream and The Freedoms We Hold Dear.”, Now what is in serious peril is our memories of a better time before Americans were oppressed into submission like abroad where our forefathers fought and died to set those free from ruthless dictatorships. The American dream, like the all powerful dollar, is in danger of being dissolved like dust in the wind if we fail to rise up against the greedy and power hungry big businesses taking over our world.

    This is the fundamental reason why the Founding Fathers provided within the First Amendment of our Constitution a protector over of our liberties by creating Freedom of the Press.

    Yet they could not foresee an information age where people are so busy in their own little lives that they don’t care enough to learn. Nor could they envision that the Republican Party could become so corrupted and powerful to buy control of most TV and Radio News so Americans could be sold a Bill of Goods without conscience.

    I think this is probably why most reporters and journalists vote Democrat. They actually know what deception and fraud is being perpetrated on the American people. But their bosses prevent them from reporting the truth. This is the time for Patriots within the news to get to the facts and get those facts out. Otherwise they need to find another place to tout their worth.

    I’m sick and tired of being jerked around by the most ignorant and corrupt President I could ever imagine getting into the White House!!! I am tired of the continued cover up of such mismanagement and corruption that has gotten us to a point of crisis that dwarfs anything in the history of this country.

    It is time to investigate who is causing these disasters! Reporters please do not take thank you or no comment for an answer! I want the facts and I want accountability with the high paid professionals who were hired to keep these institutions portfolios safe and in secure to investors. If they did not do their job this is not a bad business decision. It is deception and fraud and these professionals must be investigated and prosecuted when found to be negligent or involved in criminal activity. I want to see some high paid professional hides hanging throughout the Halls of Congress!!!

    I want to see someone in the news make their mark in history by some genuine investigative reporting that exposes the interaction of both Bush and Cheney with these Big Businesses so it is clear how these two crooks helped line their own pockets at an extreme expense to the American taxpayer.

    This tragedy did not happen overnight. I have been watching it get nearer for the past several years. It’s time to see who will expose these big business white-collar crooks and take down this circuit of organized crime. Send the crooks who are stealing Our American Dream to prison!!!

    Congressman Conyers the American people want a Congressional Investigation into the Bush Administration and we want some evidence about how this condition suddenly exploded into such an economic meltdown that could cost us everything many of us have work our entire life for…. The republicans have played ignorant Americans just like a fiddle. Bush and Cheney needs to be held criminally liable with no hope of immunity from prosecution.

    This is worse that anything even their scum bag NIXON did!!! It should be obvious to all by now…. that the republican gimmick of promising tax cuts and delivering exploding debt while only the rich see those tax cuts…. just won’t work. The republican controlled Legislature has created more debt than this country has ever seen in just eight short years!!!! This is going to be worse than the Great Depression where only a responsible Democrat could possibly lead us out.

    It’s time for the republicans who stole the 2000 election to be held liable. They helped to plug into the White House an absolute idiot, who was little more than a drunk, a drug addict and a spoiled rotten, life failure out of an oil baron family that covered his every stupid and illegal mistake. It should not take much effort to expose the evidence of this whopper and have both Bush and Cheney behind bars, charged with a list of crimes as massive as the unconscionable amount of debt they have created. Just start with conspiracy against America to begin with and hold them responsible for CRIMES AGAINST AMERICA!!! Then we can name them in their individual capacity and rip every dime they and their families will ever have away to help repay this nightmare….

    I think we could guarantee that whoever the reporter is who busts this story out might have a statue on the Washington Mall to Memorializes the power of the media to keep government honest and the First Amendment that protects that power that our Founding Fathers’ knew could protect America even against fascism and despotism 232 years later!

    Ed Crittenden, Tahlequah, OK

    Ed Crittenden (7d8948)

  127. The only thing worse than a leftard is a pseudo-intellectual, verbose leftard.

    Icy Truth (7b38bb)

  128. Obama isn’t even able to buy his house without help from Rezko(and who knows who else) and there are people in America who want this guy working on an economic repair package? This is national insanity.

    Pagar (c8bb12)

  129. Just another political stunt by mccain with support of the republicans. Obama and Mccain will just bring unnecessary distractions – the negotiations are going on and the process is working. There’s no reason to suspend the debate – Obama’s right, the president has to multitask, and the debate should go on.

    Looks like mccain is just running scared.

    Julianne (a7f5ab)

  130. Ed Crittenden – Thank you for using punctuation, paragraph breaks, and minimal use of ALL CAPS.

    JD (41e64f)

  131. This just shows that Obama ran for Senate solely to set up his presidential campaign. How many careers can you have that pays you for 19 months when you don’t show up for work. McCain obviously takes his role as Senator very seriously. Maybe his constiuents want him to represent them. Obama’s probably realize he has never been there for them. It’s all about him.

    Suzanne (2e1f70)

  132. But, Suzanne, Baracky stated, unequivocably, that he was going to serve out his entire term and not run for President.

    JD (41e64f)

  133. Ed, Although I find your exhaustive rant interesting, I believe you are completely way off base about the media being in the pocket of the republicans. Have you been watching TV, or reading newspapers? They distort almost everything said or done by the republicans and never fact check anything a democrat says. I too think we should take a look at the lobbist and the elected officials for the how much each member recieved and how it influenced them. I think you will find this in not a party problem, but a systemic problem for both parties. I think you will find the Democrats may have taken even more than the republicans. Exactly what has this democrat Congress/Senate done the last two years. What proposals have they put forth? Why did they not support MCCain when he said there were problems at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Didn’t the Clinton adminstration set this up to make sure all americans coule afford housing?

    Suzanne (2e1f70)

  134. Obama is the same piece of $%^&**( that he’s been from the get go…. I hope the American people see him for what he really is…..He’s turned down ten debates with McCain and now he’s acting like a fool because McCain wants to postpone. John really cares about our country….Obama doesn’t care about anything but himself….He’s acting like a fool…..Wake up America….

    glenda (31f760)

  135. Obama is a joke and the world knows it! Thats why the rest of the world wants him to be our next president… This will show the American people once and for all that not only does Palin have more experience than he does but that he is not able to run this country nor act in its best interest!

    McCain/Palin ’08

    PA Smith (dda232)

  136. Senator Obama says that a President must be able to multi-task. He forgot that there is a very important part of multi-tasking…prioritize!.

    He is a US Senator and as such he belongs in Washington being a Senator. All three senators running for office should be there. It’s their job, and this is probably one of the most critical issues they may ever face.

    One other thing. Wouldn’t you think as the future president, each of the candidates would want some kind of input into this situation. They are going to have to live it for the next 4 years. Or, is Obama going to say “I didn’t vote for it!”

    Gail (51530b)

  137. Suzanne —

    McCain obviously takes his role as Senator very seriously. Maybe his constiuents want him to represent them.
    — As one of those constituents (lived my entire life in Arizona and voted for him all four times for Senator), I want him there representing me. Obama’s just pissed because McCain keeps dictating the course of the campaign, and he (Obama) is put in the position of being reactive rather than proactive.

    [If anybody cares, the first time McCain ran for the House, I was 17; and, since this is not Illinois, I was not eligible to vote. The second time he ran (both times actually) I did not live within his district.]

    Icy Truth (3a3033)

  138. Gail – Baracky will just vote present.

    JD (41e64f)

  139. Comment by Paul Jones @ 10:05 pm

    “certified-Socialist 1/2 black AA candidate.” Pretty much says it all for you. Hiel Hitler biatch.

    Paul Jones, you are another white guilt voter. It’s YOUR CANDIDATE who has used RACE, SEXISM, AGEISM and LIES at everyone from Bill Clinton to McCain to his own mother and grandmother. You think a white man would be hoisted to the candidacy with absolutely no experience, coupled with a socialist past of working with radicals, siphoning money and aligning himself with anti-American nutcases? THE RACIAL ISSUE IS A COMPONENT OF THIS ELECTION BECAUSE BARACK OBAMA REPEATEDLY PLAYS THE RACE CARD.

    He’s really just taking up valuable space from qualified minorities in politics who would make good leaders.

    Hitler, you mention?? Hahahahahah. Surely, you get the irony that Obama stifles dissent and orders the media to cover/not cover him according to his political agenda (see: WGN Radio)

    You are playing games if you think race isn’t being used by the democrats. Much of the country is on to your reverse racism. Learn to judge a person by their accomplishments and strengths… not by their skin color. That is truly what MLK was preaching. So you’re truly sick, my friend. Not for voting for a lying Socialist, but for the depths to which you will avoid the truth. Barack Hussein Obama is not an example of MLK equality. He is a tool of the Chicago machine, with the dirtiest campaign to come along in our lifetime. Post-race Change and Hope, my ass.

    Vermont Neighbor (a066ed)

  140. Okay Apogee I will give more examples of Obama’s bipartisan record in the senate. Do the name lugar, Hatch, Coburn ring a bell.

    http://audacityoftruth.net/2007/08/19/reaching-across-the-aisle/

    Paul Jones (cc5b14)

  141. If Baracky stays away and wins the election he preserves plausible deniability on the plan that gets adopted. That’s almost as good as voting present. When things go wrong he can point back and say hey, it wasn’t me, I was out campaigning and ignoring the problem while other people were negotiating that shit. Don’t look at me.

    It’s a beautiful strategy. Completely consistent with his past.

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  142. “The only thing worse than a leftard is a pseudo-intellectual, verbose leftard. “

    You sound like some arrogant ellitist snob.

    Paul Jones (cc5b14)

  143. Suzanne – Ed is off of his meds. Paul Jones is just a verbose asshat troll.

    JD (41e64f)

  144. Paul – Is that bill you refer to in #140 that contentious issue that passed by a 90+ vote? If so, that’s really risking his neck and reaching across the aisle to build bridges. Heh!

    daleyrocks (d9ec17)

  145. #142 – Paul Jones

    You sound like some arrogant ellitist snob.
    — By virtue of that one quote? or do you have other examples? If that was a fair description of me I would be correcting you on how you mangled the word ‘elitist’. Of course what’s worse than someone like Ed Crittenden, who couches his silly opinions in organized, well-written prose, is someone that engages in ad hominem attacks and calls it ‘debate’.

    Icy Truth (3a3033)

  146. Ed Crittenden, in the course of blathering endlessly, wrote:

    It’s time for the republicans who stole the 2000 election to be held liable. They helped to plug into the White House an absolute idiot, who was little more than a drunk, a drug addict and a spoiled rotten, life failure out of an oil baron family that covered his every stupid and illegal mistake. It should not take much effort to expose the evidence of this whopper and have both Bush and Cheney behind bars, charged with a list of crimes as massive as the unconscionable amount of debt they have created. Just start with conspiracy against America to begin with and hold them responsible for CRIMES AGAINST AMERICA!!!

    Here’s a battle plan for you, Ed.

    1. Since “it should not take much effort,” find the evidence revealing which Republicans “stole the 2000 election.” Judging from that articulate essay, I’m sure you could succeed where literally hundreds of Democrat lawyers have failed over the past seven and a half years.

    2. “[E]xpose the evidence of [that] whopper,” including Burger King receipts and mustard stains.

    3. Put Bush and Cheney behind bars for “conspiracy against America to begin with [and] CRIMES AGAINST AMERICA!!!”

    4. Actually create a law that would make “conspiracy against America” and “CRIMES AGAINST AMERICA!!!” an offense that wouldn’t land thousands of leftists in prison along with Bush & Cheney (hello, William Ayers).

    L.N. Smithee (e1f2bf)

  147. LN – I tried to read that whole thing, but the pomposity and unadulterated arrogance became boring after a bit. I was even going to fisk it, but the sheer volume of unsupported assertions, opinions stated as facts, and full-on conspiracy theories gave me pause. That, and Ed is crazy.

    JD (41e64f)

  148. Speaking of Whoppers, isn’t that King in the Burger King commericals kind of creepy? And by kind of creepy I mean freakishly creepy. Nightmare creepy.

    JD (41e64f)

  149. I don’t know what Obama’s job is, but speaking as someone who lives in Illinois, it isn’t representing the State of Illinois.

    Rochelle Funderburg (ae9c58)

  150. I wrote:

    Far be it from me to suggest that McCain is a brilliant statistician, but perhaps the idea is to give McCain another high-profile opportunity to reach out to the left side of the aisle and get legislation passed — something that Obama has never done.

    Paul Jones responded:

    This is false and has been debunked a while back. Regurgitating old talking points is just lazy.

    It is true that Obama has been no stranger to sponsoring and co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation. Every politician does that. That’s not what I was talking about. You need to quote the rest of what I wrote to display the proper context:

    Remember that Obama has been protected from being forced to return to Washington and get his hands dirty by Pelosi — she shut down the House rather than risk a bipartisan plan would pass, thus throwing it to the Senate where B.O. would be forced to take his stand for the record against the oil-hungry electorate.

    McCain has frustrated conservatives for many years because of his overtures to the Democrats. There are some issues that both D’s and R’s flock to that have nothing to do with compromising party principles, like the sunshine law you linked. But McCain has reached not just to the middle, but all the way to the left, to the extent that there was talk of him being John Kerry’s running mate last go-around. Has anyone ever even suggested Obama could someday run with an R next to his name? Get real.

    Despite Obama’s soaring rhetoric about unification and bipartisanship, he’s got nothing in his past to match McCain’s reputation.

    L.N. Smithee (0931d2)

  151. Despite Obama’s soaring rhetoric about unification and bipartisanship, he’s got nothing in his past to match McCain’s reputation.

    Don’t go selling him short, LN. There is absolutely no evidence that Baracky has reached out across the aisle. None. Zero. Zip. Nada. Zilch.

    JD (41e64f)

  152. First, I must say that there are some disturbing retoric used from both Republicans&Democrats/Conservative&Liberals/Right&Left, whatever you title yourself as. The comments on this website displays exactly the social climate of America as it is today. Divided we are! Since there is over 300 million citizens in our wonderful, yet confused, country it seems that it would be impossible to have all agree on every issue at hand. But, how we respond to those who see the issues differently than oneself is what saddens my heart. We call each other nasty names, we offend each other, and we insist on making a point at any costs. Degrading we can be! How can a country so divided achieve anything? Or, at least overcome challenges that face us as one nation and not as many of a nation. We, the average American citizen, can and should express our ideas and opinions. But, at the same time we need to listen and communicate positively to one another. We need to come together to suceed!

    Now, as for the debate, I firmly believe that the debate should take place as scheduled. I think that both Sen. McCain and Sen. Obama, with their staffs, should assist congress with the matters of the financial crisis. However, with todays technology, I do not see why they have to be physically present in Washington, D.C. to keep abreast of the matters taking place. I feel that the Congress and those who pay 28 to 33 percent of their income in taxes are being rushed into this bailout matter by the President and his staff. There have not been any factual information provided by the President or Treasury Department to America on this matter at this point. If I were to apply for a loan today the bank would have to have some factual information from me just to consider if processing the loan is warranted. I feel pressured as a citizen into this bailout matter due to the time frame that is being made by both the President and the Secretary of the Treasury Department. If the failure of one private financial institute can implode the economy of the entire country.

    With that said, I do not see any reason as to why our vastly experienced Senator of 26 years cannot be in Washington, D.C. catch a flight to the debate and immediately return to D.C. and spend the weekend there working on a “bipartisan” resolution/investigation. With 26 years of experience as a senator this should be a simple task to accomplish.

    Honestly, neither presidential candidate needs to be in Washington, D.C. Whomever is voted in as president in 40 days will have a chance beginning at noon on January 20, 2009 to thoroughly investigate and develop a long term plan to prevent the catastrophe we are facing today. This matter was not brought on by either candidate, as far as we know. The problem of the bailout is a direct representation of the lack of prfessional and moral leadership from the current administration.

    I vote for debating this Friday.

    C Jack (fa0fe1)

  153. JD wrote: LN – I tried to read that whole thing, but the pomposity and unadulterated arrogance became boring after a bit. I was even going to fisk it, but the sheer volume of unsupported assertions, opinions stated as facts, and full-on conspiracy theories gave me pause. That, and Ed is crazy.

    It looks like Ed just c&p’d a letter he sent to Drooling John Conyers (D-Messigan), the hilariously way-left Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

    FWIW: I turned on my radio in the car on a late night supermarket run, and on the air was Truther-in-Chief Alex Jones screaming “I toldya so! I toldya so!” spinning his nonsense about the dark overlords of the world who are so bored with their lavish lifestyles, they are just ruining our lives by remote control for fun.

    L.N. Smithee (0931d2)

  154. Whomever is voted in as president in 40 days will have a chance beginning at noon on January 20, 2009 to thoroughly investigate and develop a long term plan to prevent the catastrophe we are facing today.
    — So we are facing a catastrophe TODAY, but we can wait FOUR MORE MONTHS before we deal with it?

    Brilliant!

    Icy Truth (3a3033)

  155. C Jack is a Moby.

    JD (41e64f)

  156. JD, your comment is exactly what I mean. But, I still have respect and love for you.

    C Jack (fa0fe1)

  157. The problem of the bailout is a direct representation of the lack of prfessional and moral leadership from the current administration.

    Clearly, you are not on the Right, nor the Left, with an assertion such as this. Moby.

    JD (41e64f)

  158. With respect to the debates, it’s my belief that this is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who, in approximately 40 days, will be responsible for dealing with this mess. And I think that it is going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once.

    Then they can both be in D.C. on Friday day and in Mississippi by Friday night.

    Michael Ejercito (a757fd)

  159. Answer the question, C Jack. GO!

    Icy Truth (3a3033)

  160. In approximately 40 days, C Jack, we will have an election. They will not take office until January. Baracky made the same verbal gaffe.

    JD (41e64f)

  161. Senator Obama says that a President must be able to multi-task.

    Then he can demonstrate his presidential-ness by flying to D.C. on Friday and going back to Mississippi that same evening to debate.

    Michael Ejercito (a757fd)

  162. If your dude is such a “uniter,” why isn’t he heading to Washington on the next plane out to part the waters, lower the seas, and put the heavenly spheres into harmonic convergence?

    And he could be back in Mississippi to attend the debate.

    It is not that far from D.C.

    Michael Ejercito (a757fd)

  163. Icy Truth, are you attempting to spin what I posted? I never wrote that we should push this matter to the side for any amount of time let alone for 4 months. What I am saying is that first off; we are being rushed into a major decision with the lure that the entire economy will collapse due to one financial agency. Secondly, that the matter is already being handle by our senators who are not running for president. Such as the congressional hearings held YESTERDAY. Finally, our next president should be well aware of this situation, and do their part, so that as they relieve the current administration they can immediately begin to work on long term solutions to prevent this from happening again.

    C Jack (fa0fe1)

  164. We awake today to find out that McCain told O’bumbles how it’s going to be. Kind of interesting.
    A real timeline moment for the narrative of this election.

    Vermont Neighbor (a066ed)

  165. JD wrote: In approximately 40 days, C Jack, we will have an election. They will not take office until January. Baracky made the same verbal gaffe.

    JD, you might not have paid full attention to Sen. Obama or what I posted. Or maybe you did so unconciously. But, here is what I wrote once again.

    “Whomever is voted in as president in 40 days will have a chance beginning at noon on January 20, 2009 to thoroughly investigate and develop a long term plan to prevent the catastrophe we are facing today.

    JD, both Sen. Obama and I are well aware that the Inauguration Ceremony will take place January 19, 2009. And, as stated before, the next presdient actually assumes the duties and responsibility at noon on January 20, 2009. The newly elected Senators and Representatives will assume their duties at noon on January 3, 2009.

    C Jack (fa0fe1)

  166. “Whomever is voted in as president in 40 days… ”

    C Jack. It’s Obama who says words count.

    Vermont Neighbor (a066ed)

  167. C Jack —

    Icy Truth, are you attempting to spin what I posted?
    — NO. I asked you a question based on what I read.

    I never wrote that we should push this matter to the side for any amount of time let alone for 4 months.
    — Hence, my question based on you writing “beginning at noon on January 20, 2009″.

    we are being rushed into a major decision with the lure that the entire economy will collapse due to one financial agency.
    — Really? What “one” agency would that be?

    the matter is already being handle by our senators who are not running for president
    — What is the job for which Obama and McCain are employed right now? Is it “Senator” or “candidate”?

    Such as the congressional hearings held YESTERDAY.
    — Ah ha!

    Finally, our next president should be well aware of this situation, and do their part, so that as they relieve the current administration they can immediately begin to work on long term solutions to prevent this from happening again.
    — What better way to do that than to deal with the short term circumstances right now?

    Icy Truth (3a3033)

  168. Vermont Neighbor, thank you!

    C Jack (fa0fe1)

  169. Moby

    JD (41e64f)

  170. JD, I still respect and have love for you.

    C Jack (fa0fe1)

  171. I feel kind of icky … 😉

    JD (41e64f)

  172. JD, because you are icky. Referring to someone as Moby. Shame on you.

    Just couldn’t pass on that one.

    C Jack (fa0fe1)

  173. C Jack, the words used have intent and meaning. I understand what you’re writing …

    JD is correct, Obama made a verbal gaffe yesterday.

    Vermont Neighbor (a066ed)


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