Blessed are the Peacemakers

Barack does mean blessed.

Now I got to say this about the many things that I’m learning from watching President Obama operate as President is that I like his tactics, demeanor, intellect, style and substance. I’ve always regarding the peacemaker as the one with the most power, because he/she is liked by the parties at war or disagreement.

I’m sure those who want President Obama to fail are simply beside themselves as this bit of news broke during the G-20 Summit in London last week.

In typical peacemaker fashion President Obama personally intervened to help achieve consensus between the dispute between France President (President Nicolas Sarkozy) and China’s President (President Hu Jintao).

Obama proposed that the G-20 merely “take note” of the OECD list, thus opening the door to implicit but not direct endorsement of that list. So President Obama sent a message to the Chinese and then met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Sarkozy in a corner of the summit meeting room, as the other world leaders waited.

Upon the trio’s reaching agreement, the G-20 summit then agreed to note the list of tax havens. President Sarkozy, who’d threatened days earlier to walk out of the summit if he didn’t get his way, said the final agreement represented “great progress.”

So I guess peace and diplomacy defeated conflict and dictatorship once again.

This leads me to ask a few questions of those who continue to hate on the President and the group of people who want President Obama to fail. What was that about not being up to the Commander-In-Chief test, he pals around with terrorist, he’s unfit to be President, He’s a socialist, He’s a fascist, He’s not ready?

(I can’t believe I’m about to use this quote) To quote the great urban philosopher Kool Moe Dee, “How Ya Like Me Now”.

I’m sorry I couldn’t resist it. Yes, I know humility. Forgive me. J

References & Inspirations

The Holy Bible (NIV) – “Matthew 5:9”

BabyNames.com – “Definition of Barack”

The Miami Herald – 04/02/09 “Obama Brokers Crucial Compromise with China & France”

*Now when you look at the banner you see the humor in it*

Stuff Happens?

For those who have followed this blog for any measurable length of time can conclude that I have a strong aversion to Dick Cheney to phrase it in a polite manner. On many occasions when referencing this Dick – Cheney I have worked very hard to tone my outrage down a few levels. I honestly strive to give people the benefit of my doubts and consider their point-of-view or the context for which they are speaking. This one may seem a bit partisan to some, but to reference the original name of this blog ‘someone has to say it’.

During an interview with CNN’s John King recently this Dick – Cheney said this in his response to President Obama’s policy agenda.

“Stuff happens. And the administration has to be able to respond to that, and we did.“

“Mr. Obama is making some choices, that, in my mind, will, in fact raise the risk to the American people of another attack.” – FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY

What the Hell? Stuff Happens. Stuff does happen and you and your friends left your sh– stuff for someone else to clean up.

I really am trying not to curse or suggest any ill to Mr. Cheney, but I just can’t see how his bad heart continues to function when it’s so cold.

So Dick, you don’t like the fact that the President is keeping his campaign promise of closing Guantanamo Bay, ensuring that the U.S. follows the Geneva Convention, CIA Officers abide by the Army Field Manual’s rules on interrogations and promoting democracy by being diplomatic?

Well, you know what Dick. I Guess That’s Just Too Bad Isn’t It. Why don’t you take your lumps of coal, pitch fork and walk your delusional, narrow-minded, hateful ass on back to the dark side from which you came. The only benefit you bring to the conversation is to remind everyone why we’re in the mess we’re in. I guess I should thank you for raising the approval ratings of Democrats each time you speak.

“The best possible outcome for Americans is to ignore the former vice president’s advice… I guess Rush Limbaugh was busy so they trotted out the next most popular member of the Republican cabal.” – PRESS SECRETARY ROBERT GIBBS

Well this is why I’m not the Press Secretary, because I would address Dick Cheney with a very clear response of what I thought of him for the record.

Mr. Cheney, I swear I hope you and others pay for what you’ve done to so many with your soul.

I apologize for not being close to professional on this one and letting this fool annoy me, but I simply can’t stand this dude. Please feel free to chime in with your thoughts, ideas and suggestions for Dick Cheney and his latest contribution to society. And if there are any conservatives who agree with Dick Cheney fell free to chime in too. I may disagree with you, but I’m not going to verbally beat you up over it. I just want to hear the rational for anything Dick Cheney says.

References & Inspirations

CNN – 03/16/09 “Cheney: Obama Policies Raise Risk of Terror Attack”

Detroit Free Press – 03/17/09 “Dick Cheney, Please Go Away”

New York Times – 03/16/09 “Gibbs Responds to Cheney’s Remarks”

Washington Post – 03/16/09 “Cheney to U.S.: Stuff Happens“

Saving the Greenbacks

I guess when you actually have a plan that can not be reduced to the proposal of some that consists of doing nothing and allowing several fortune 500 companies to fail, you begin to feel optimistic.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress in February that the prospects for the recession ending this year and a recovery taking root in 2010 hinges on the difficult task of getting banks to lend more freely again and getting the financial markets to work more normally.

It’s difficult to dispute and for some to accept that the ‘wild west’ environment that was previously in place for years along with the lack of some enforced regulations aimed at protecting the consumer instead of the company the severity of this current crisis may not be so hard. It’s not the fault of on single administration or ideology. The philosophy of government is the problem has landed those who followed that policy to ask the government for help.

Face it, that philosophy along with elected officials on all sides who promoted an ideological agenda of the other side is trying to ruin the country has almost ruin the country. Republicans are as much to blame for this mess as is Democrats.

If the roof is on fire you don’t sit there and argue about who caused the fire or who can best put the fire out. You shut-up and work together to put the fire out. This is one way to look at the recession we’re in. One side is chanting, ‘the roof is on fire’, but the other side is arguing that ‘we don’t need no water let the…burn’. Now how stupid is this?

What President Obama and his administration are working to accomplish is to save the house walk from these failed policies.

In addition to the difficult task of fixing what others broke? The are faced with the task of convincing everyday people that they matter and to believe in the ingenuity, determination and tenacity that America promises. You have to get use to the fact that we now have an Administration that doesn’t think you’re stupid, but we have to act as if we’re not stupid. I know some Republicans are still upset and some Democrats are happy, but let us stop the non-sense campaigning against each other and start campaigning for each other.

When the Fed Chairman was asked about the biggest potential dangers now, Ben Bernanke suggested a lack of “political will” to solve the financial crisis. Now I really could get partisan for a moment, but I really don’t think I need to say anything because it has already been well established and publicized of who doesn’t want the President or his policies to succeed. So why should I beat a dead elephant, I mean horse.

We all have the right to be upset, but let’s stop fighting each other and fight what caused this to happen again.

So as we watch the spin machines rev up on both sides you may wonder who will benefit politically from a recovering recession?

If you are seeking to gain political points in the shadow of the 2010 mid-term elections just think about what you’re doing. If your position prevails doesn’t that mean you are endorsing the worsening of an already bleak situation and failure of the current agenda in order to gain power again? There’s no need to be in a Rush to say that you’re not, if your actions says otherwise.

If you are among those who are in support of the current efforts to walk us out of this mess in hopes that it will benefit your candidate in 2010 I just want to advise you to be careful. Although this is a coalition of liberals and moderate conservatives let’s not be so eager to count our eggs before they’ve hatched. It can still fail. The lack of will of some if not proven ill may prevail.

The difficult task for those who publicly oppose everything to campaign honestly against something when what they opposed may actually help move us towards better days. We may not always agree on the tactics, but when the fire is still raging there is no time to fight each other because the fire will win each time. Once this fire is put out there are many other fires we got to help put out.

I hope the Fed Chairman is correct, not necessarily for political reasons but for reasons that we all may benefit from. At least there’s some in Washington willing to speak and work honestly.

References & Inspirations

Yahoo News – 03/16/09 “Bernanke Says Recession Could End in 2009”

President Obama’s Address to the Joint Session of Congress

Pres. Obama Address to Congress

Republican Response: What speech did Gov. Jindah watch?

Seeking an Economic Higher Ground

As a handful of Governors publicly campaign against the economic stimulus package and say they will not accept the money for their state although their state is facing a budget shortfall this fiscal year. We watch a majority of Republicans in Congress wanting to fight on every single issue regardless of its political expediency in efforts to gain political favor. We even hear the same ole tired failed campaign argument of one Senator from Alabama who is crazy enough to agree with Alan Keys in the questioning the citizenship of The President. I find myself in agreement with what President Obama had to say when he met with the Governors.

If you can not view this video, please Click Here.

This is truly the bottom-line of the whole debate. There’s Democrats who don’t like the deal, but someone has to be done. You can dislike the fact that Barack Obama is the President, you can disagree politically, but at least he’s honestly trying to include both Republicans & Democrats in the mix. I’m not sure if I would be so friendly after all of the chatter and disingenuous smiles of some.

I commend the Governors of both parties who are working together with the President to help us all reach an economic higher ground. The handful plus one Governors who are seeking to score political points I ask you politically, “how are you going to look in the face of the voters in your state that are hurting economically?” This is just not the time for all of this foolishness. Save it for later. What will you have to say if you do go along with your Republican Senators hard-line stance and it backfires on you? Don’t you think there will be those of us on the left or apart of the “Big Bad Liberal Media” that won’t have a problem reminding the public about it when it’s time for politics? But if you unclench that ideological fist and embrace the open hand that’s extended, perhaps if it fails you may not be affected politically as much because you tried to do something about it. Neither side likes the thing, but somebody gotta do it.

There will be ample time for political campaigning soon enough; President Obama has only been in there for a month. All we have heard from one side is various versions of No, “I don’t like this”, “I’m not going along with this” or “It’s not going to work”. Well if we continue to say No and do nothing about this like another recent President (that will go unnamed) it will not work, because there will be nothing left. Let the man try to make it better. Quit saying NO and help.

What gets through to you? Perhaps this analogy may resonate with you and place a metaphoric comparison to measure this with.

The state of the American Economy now is the equivalent to a hurricane, let’s name it Katrina. Now “We The People” are like many people who were not able to get out of the path of this economic hurricane. We seek shelter, but many of us are stranded on our economic rooftops, many may not make it. Instead of waiting 4 days to help we ask that you don’t take the ‘flying over looking at the destruction’ position.

We The People, both Republicans & Democrats are on our rooftops and on television pleading for our government to rescue us.

Now as some choose to remain on the sidelines eating cake and flying over the scene we have a President who is trying to help get us off the economic rooftops and do something about the rising economic waters that’s about to overtake the rest of the city.

The bottom-line is that you are the representatives of We The People. We The People are not just Republican, but Democrats, Independent, Libertarian & Green too. If you look closely out of your aerial vantage point you’ll see some red in midst of the blue and green drowning on those economic rooftops. Are you just going to sit there and say “Good Job Brownie” or are you going to learn from past mistakes and pitch in and help?

Stonewalling is not going to hold back these troubled economic waters, nor does the ‘wait and see’ approach. Now is not the time for campaigning and looking for recognition. Now is the time to roll up our political sleeves and help each other get to higher ground.

Let’s get the chips off our shoulders and hurt feelings off our sleeves and roll them up and get to work.

MY GOODNESS. I don’t know if I want to run for Congress or just apply for a position at my son’s pre-school.

References & Inspirations

The Huffington Post – 02/23/09 “Obama Takes Veiled Shot at GOP Governors”

ABC News – 02/23/09 “Obama uses Strong Language With Guvs”

CBS – 02/19/09 “GOP Gov. Bashes Stimulus Plan”

Cullman Times – 02/21/09 “Shelby Discusses Stimulus Bill, Other Issues”

Politico – 02/22/09 “Shelby Dabbles in Citizenship Rumor”

Politico – 02/22/09 “Alabama Paper Stands By Shelby Story”

FactCheck.org – 08/21/08 “Born In The USA”

You Just Don’t Get It Do You?

Now for anyone who is still naïve enough to believe racism and/or racial discrimination is a thing of the past let me introduce you to the latest of a string of incidents that you may not be aware of that continues to happen all around us.

You would think Rush Limbaugh would have done this, but it’s the so-called “Big Bad Liberal Media” that sneak this one in. I speak of the New York Post.

For those who are unfamiliar or oblivious to the racial connotation of a monkey and how it relates to race let me attempt to offer you a very brief history lesson of being Black in America.

This drawing from Josiah Nott and George Gliddon called “Indigenous Races of the Earth” was drawn in 1857. This drawing was the beginning of the ridiculous suggestion that Black People ranked between White People and Chimpanzees in terms of intelligence. The lie was perpetuated throughout America as truth by Whites during a time in the U.S. when racism and bigotry was socially acceptable and common place. Today we still find it, but the lie is more secluded and socially sophisticated.

Now to address why this cartoon is considered to be racist and not just insensitive towards animal rights?

It does show a level of insensitivity towards animals, but it’s the text and the known history of not only the NYPD, but the relationships between Blacks and the police. I’m more than happy to go there, but want to stick to this issue for the moment.

Now to add the text to the cartoon that reads, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill” the day after President Obama signs the Stimulus bill and the fact that he’s Black (which I could go into that for those who want to debate the “One Drop Rule” and how that relates to the President.)

Footnote: I want to add that it’s also interesting how this depiction comes almost a week after Charles Darwin’s 200^th Birthday to and how it can spark the conversation about Social Darwinism. But I’m trying to not overwhelm you with the depth of sophistication of the subtle message this image suggests in form of a cartoon.

The cartoon in today’s New York Post is telling of the silent rise in the sophisticated racial & discriminatory attacks reported since 2008. I’m still amazed of the ignorance of history that some people and institutions continue to exhibit.

Throughout American history the racially motivated reference of Blacks with monkeys has been made, most recently history in Pennsylvania at a McCain/Palin political rally.

One has to question whether the cartoonist is making a less than casual inference to this form of racism when, in the cartoon, the police say after shooting a chimpanzee, “now they will have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill.”

What the Hell is that suppose to mean? You talk about respect for authority or the Office of the President.

But this isn’t the first time a New York Post cartoonist has come under heavy fire in the past for racially tinged cartoons. Does anyone remember the cartoons depicting 2001 NYC Mayoral candidate Freddy Ferrer and Rev. Al Sharpton? And who can forget the magazine cover of the New Yorker Magazine last July.

Some will often try to ignore the racial implications out of being uncomfortable speaking about the subject or fear of being questioned. For those who have read this blog for any length of time I hope you can conclude that I tend to understand where you’re coming from and will question when it isn’t clear or objectionable.

I understand if this is you, but do not be afraid to speak out against racism or discrimination. Now some have tried to use these words against me, but it still doesn’t fit, because whenever I’ve seen discrimination I’ve always spoken up or clarified the intentions of the person accused regardless of politics, race, preferences or religion.

When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that “we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends” he wasn’t just talking about one group of people or a single issue. I invite you to chime in on your sincere thoughts, ideas and suggestions regarding this cartoon. But if I can quote King for the millionth time it would be this principle that I continues to motivate me to even share my opinion about the things I blog about. “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” This may not matter to you, but your silence says more than your words if it doesn’t.

References & Inspirations

New York Post – 02/18/09 “Sean Delonas Cartoon”

Wikipedia “Scientific Racism”

Wikipedia “One Drop Rule”

Wikipedia “Ethnographic”

Wikipedia “Popular Racist Ideology”

A Steele Goose Egg

Perhaps someone can explain this one to me, because like George Stephanopolos I too am stumped by the answer given by the RNC Chairman Michael Steele when he was asked about the President’s Stimulus Plan.

Michael Steele: This stimulus is not going to create jobs. What this administration is talking about is making work. It is creating work.

George Stephanopolos: That’s a job.

Michael Steele: No, it’s not a job. A job is something that a business owner creates. It’s going to be long term.

George Stephanopolos: So a job doesn’t count if it’s a government job?

Michael Steele: That is a contract. It ends at a certain point, George. You know that. These road projects that we’re talking about have an end point.

My Response:

Perahps Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) may be able to help Mr. Steele answer this one.

Well I thank you for confirming that the Obama Administration’s efforts are towards putting people back to work. It may not be a valued or preferred career move for you, but I don’t see the problem in people going back to work. I personally know people who have been out of a job for several months going on a year. They are just like millions of other Americans who want to work, but can not find work. Those who are fortunate enough to find a part-time job still are faced with the financial burdens of supporting a family.

Perhaps you may have money to waste or at least according to your 2006 Senate Finance Campaign Chairman Alan B. Fabian, but many of us do not have $37,262 is campaign funds to a failed company ran by a sibling for services never rendered. Nor do many of us have $75,000 to law firms for services never rendered. Nor do many of us have the testicular fortitude to transfer $500,000 in campaign funds electronically between banks without authorization.

Chairman Steele I honestly will take your word for it because I see more important things to deal with than some inner-party dispute. <<SEE VIDEO>>

Maybe that’s the life of a conservative shot caller, Republican big baler like yourself, but if you don’t have a job and have mouths to feed and bills to pay with no job leads in sight a public works job is welcomed news.

When you think about it, what job is permanent? Regardless if it’s a job in your chosen profession or not, one day it will end. I’m sure I can find someone at Bear-Sterns to testify to that or many others who find themselves unexpectedly unemployed. These are private-sector jobs too.

So what are you talking about man? I know you’re just leading the charge to gain whatever ground you can, but the grounds of your argument is a bit shaky on this one. I would love to hear you and those that may agree with you make that argument to someone who is out of work and can’t find a job.

I was fortunate enough to find another job within 2 weeks, but there are many people with far more education and experience than me who are not as fortunate as I was. This is not the time, place or argument for the continuation of partisan politics. If only 3 members of your party understand that then you have a lot of WORK to do in your new JOB.

Like I said previously, I personally think you’re a good guy Chairman Steele. I disagree with some of your political ideology, but I believe you would understand exactly what I’m saying in my criticism. You couldn’t have been gone for that long.

Presidential Press Conference: 02/09/09

If you can not view this video, please click here.

Total Time = 58:42

Side Note: I like the analysis of Chris Matthews of MSNBC had to say about the Press Conference. >>Read More

For Real Dude

I swear that it looks like President-Elect Obama is listening the Geroge W. Bush thinking, “For Real Dude”. This is whatcha leaving me.

President-elect Barack Obama said Thursday the recession could “linger for years” unless Congress pumps unprecedented sums from Washington into the economy, making his highest-profile case yet on an issue certain to define and dominate his early presidency.

“A bad situation could become dramatically worse,” Obama said, painting a dire picture _ including double-digit unemployment and $1 trillion in lost economic activity _ that recalled the days of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Indeed, the economic news is grim.

Consumers and companies are folding under the negative forces of a collapsed housing market, a global credit crunch and the worst financial crisis since the 1930s. The recession, which started in December 2007, already is the longest in a quarter-century.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/08/obama-economic-speech-war_n_156171.html

Porn Industry Comes on Hard Times

Before I begin I’m asking you to not be mad at me for the title or what you’re about to read. I’m just having fun with this one. I’m happy to hear what you have to say about this one. J

<Insert that background music>

The safe word is “bailout”. Well that’s what they want you to believe. You know that the bailout fever has reached its climax when the porn industry is screaming “bailout”.

I guess this economic downturn is spanking everyone’s back pocket, including the porn industry. According to TMZ DVD sales has dropped 22%.

“With all this economic misery and people losing all that money, sex is the farthest thing from their mind” according to Larry Flynt, Hustler Magazine.

They’re asking for a $5 Billion bailout from Congress. I guess they figured that since the American taxpayers has been getting *%$@ for the past 8 years it would hurt to try. Congress already bankrolled the ______s on Wall Street and the Financial Industry, the Auto Industry use to be their bottom girl and they got bailed out so why not porn.

I don’t think they’ll get the money, but either way Bush and that Dick Cheney have already been running a train on the American people for this long why not bailout the porn industry too, we’re already screwed.

Reference & Inspiration

NY Daily News – 01/07/09 “Porn Kings Larry Flint & Joe Francis go Begging for a Bailout”

Miami New Times – 01/07/09 “Porn Kings Want Some Barely Legal Bailout Action, Too”

Better Off…

This picture was sent to me by a reader of this blog and she raises a good question that I would like to share with you all.

Normally do not like quoting Ronald Reagan, but I admit he had some good lines. He was an actor.

I want you to print this picture and/or think about this the next time you are at the gas pump filling up your vehicle with gasoline. It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat or Republican, just ask yourself this question, “Are you better off now than you were eight (8) years ago?”

Unless you have close connections with the two guys at the bottom or own an Oil Company probably not.

You don’t have to answer now, answer November 4th at your voting precinct.

Now Who’s Taxing Who

The Blame it on Obama Strategy

Sen. McCain you should not try to place the blame of the current economic crisis on Sen. Obama, someone you say has not been in Washington long enough, but takes a look in the mirror at your own campaign staff.

1. Top Economic Advisor, Mr. “Nation of Whiners” himself, Phil Gramm wrote the laws that deregulated the markets.

2. Your Campaign Manager, Mr. “This election is not about the issues”, Rick Davis help lobby Fannie Mae & Freddy Mac to stay away from the Federal Regulations.

a. Yes the same place where you are accusing Barack Obama of meeting with Franklin Raines, something Mr. Raines himself has disputed.

Franklin Raines — “I am not an advisor to Barack Obama, nor have I provided his campaign with advice on housing or economic matters.”

Bill Burton; Obama Spokesperson — “This is another flat-out lie from a dishonorable campaign that is increasingly incapable of telling the truth. Frank Raines has never advised Senator Obama about anything — ever. And by the way, someone whose campaign manager and top advisor worked and lobbied for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shouldn’t be throwing stones from his seven glass houses.”

3. Let’s not forget Mr. “We need another terrorist attack”, Charlie Black, who was a Washington Lobbyist for Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac for 10 years.

What has happened to you? Would you rather lose your integrity than lose an election? So you’ve dropped the soap in the prison shower of the Dick Cheney political tactics, you don’t have to bend over so far in that Grand Ole Penitentiary you call a Party. Get up off your knees dude and take your so-called “Straight Talk” Express back and get your strategy straight.

You can’t honestly place the blame for the condition of the economy and collapse of the Deregulated Investment firms on Wall Street on Barack Obama. Just take a look at the resume of your advisors, something we see you don’t pay much attention to judging by your running-mate selection history.

It’s Still the Economy, Stupid

You and your minions may like chanting “drill, drill, drill” as an economic strategy. You and your minions may like chanting “kill, kill, kill” as a foreign policy strategy. But as you and your minions are choosing to believe the fundamentals of our economy are strong, the American Worker is chanting “Who’s Going to Help Me Keep My Dollar Dollar Bill”.

To quote past U.S. Presidents…

I ask the simple question, “Are you better off today than you were four years ago?” – President Ronald Reagan

I don’t know how else to get to point across except by screaming, “It’s the Economy, Stupid.” – President Bill Clinton

I’m sure you wish you never uttered these quotes…

“We need to return to the Reagan years. We need to have fiscal conservatism. We need less government. We need less regulation.”

- Sen. John McCain, January 2008 – Washington Week on PBS

“I’m always for less regulation… As far as a need for additional regulations are concerned, I think that depends on the legislative agenda and what the Congress does to some degree, but I am a fundamentally a deregulator.”

- Sen. John McCain, March 3, 2008 – Wall Street Journal

“I don’t think, frankly, someone who wants to increase the burden of government regulation and higher taxes has a real understanding of economics.”

- Sen. John McCain, April 2008 on the Campaign Trail

Even some of your own group of Economic Advisors chimed in with some memorable quotes of their own, like…

“There’s no need for specifics of how John McCain will fix the economy, it’s just a leadership issue.” – Douglas Holtz-Eakin

Well I agree with you, it is a leadership issue. A leader lays out a realistic and descriptive plan of what he plans on doing regarding the economic crisis we’re in today. Creating a 9/11 – like Commission to study what happen doesn’t solve the problem. If my house is on fire I don’t gather people together to figure out if I left the stove or iron on, I call the Fire Department and find a garden hose to help put it out.

Let’s not even go into Phil Gram of “A nation of whiners” fame. I’ll even let you off with the recent “Not qualified to be CEO of a major company” comments from Carly Fiorina. I won’t say anything about Charlie Black’s comments about “another terrorist attack would help the campaign” comment. It seems you have enough to deal with in your own campaign than thinking about something as trivial as the American Economy.

I guess we can ignore the comment by Mitt Romney at the Republican Convention a few weeks ago. You know the one about “John McCain will take a weed-wacker to the regulations”.

Well it seems like Phil Gram may have already started with the trimming of the hedges while in Congress. McCain has long promised voters that he learned the hard lessons provided by his being one of the infamous Keating Five in the nefarious savings and loan scandal that cost taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars. Yet he chose as his campaign co-chair a former senator whose push for government deregulation facilitated the far deeper scandal we now are experiencing. Here is a man whose legislation created what financial guru Warren Buffet termed “financial weapons of mass destruction.”

Why in the world would you designate as your key economic adviser someone who left the Senate to become an officer of the bank that is at the very center of this mess, a former senator who not only secured highly paid employment with a banking giant that benefited from legislation he helped pass, but who then lobbied Congress for even more of the deregulatory breaks that got the bank into such deep trouble?

The answer cannot simply be that McCain doesn’t care much about economics, as he himself has indicated. Perhaps that would explain his having voted for all of the measures pushed through the Senate by Gramm. (Source Link)

So John, do you still want to privatize Social Security? You still think it is wise to put the income that so many retired American Worker’s you referred to as fundamental part of the economy on Wall Street?

Now you’re for regulations. How political expedient. Why don’t you ask Sarah if she has a plan?

To use a phrase you’ve used on many occasions, “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig”. You can try to distract everyone with falsehoods and faux promises, but it’s still the economy, stupid.

Now AIG

Another One Bites The Dust, but John McCain says the fundamentals of our economy are strong.