New and Improved 3-ply election thread...

[kwall]

Certainly since Reagan no conservatives have been fiscally responsible.

you're talking about Republicans, not conservatives.

[Good Old Neon]

From Salon:

 

Bailout bill might need a bailout

 

WASHINGTON -- And now we know John McCain does not have the magic ability to fly into D.C., snap his fingers and fix the nation's economic crisis.

 

A meeting at the White House this afternoon with McCain, Barack Obama and leaders from both parties in Congress didn't yield much progress. ("It did not go well," one senior House Republican aide said.) Reportedly, McCain showed up with alternative proposals for the bailout, apparently trying to start the negotiating process all over again instead of tweaking a proposal that Senate Democrats and Republicans said they had reached an agreement over this morning. That plan, according to a memo circulating on Capitol Hill, would have doled out $250 billion immediately for Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to buy toxic securities with, giving him another $100 billion if he certified he needed it. Congress would have to authorize the additional $350 billion the Bush administration says it wants. The plan would also have given the government some equity stake in companies that participate.

 

But by early evening, the situation was totally in flux. Aides on Capitol Hill said they didn't know exactly what was going on. House Republicans appear to be pushing an alternative proposal by Rep. Eric Cantor, which would have the government insure companies with bad loans on their books, rather than buying them.

 

Now Republicans seem to be getting ready to blame Democrats -- and by extension, Obama -- if they don't go along with the new scheme. Which would be a pretty nifty flip, given that the White House and Senate Republicans were ready to go along with changes pushed by Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chris Dodd, until this afternoon; instead of being the problem, the House GOP will try to set itself up as the solution. No doubt with an assist from McCain (who hadn't read the original bailout proposal earlier this week). But of course, this isn't a time for politics.

 

source - http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/

[viatroy]

The liberal media isn't, what a myth. The conservative bias in our media is obvious. Even the New York Times isn't the liberal paper that some claim it to be. William Safire and David Brooks as editorial columnists. C'mon. Rupert Murdoch is winning, isn't he?

 

The NYT lost any liberal cred when they added Bill Kristol to the lineup.

[Good Old Neon]

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse - I give you.....

 

http://news.spreadit.org/palin-witchcrafts...ee-witch-video/

[bjorn_skurj]

There's a part of me.......that very wrong part of me stares at a car wreck hoping to see a detached head or that secretly hoped David Blaine would somehow fall to his death on live TV last night.....that hopes Obama wins and the Democrats hold COMPLETE control of everything.

 

 

And we'll all get to see how a Socialist society works, or doesn't work.

With the nationalization of the financial sector, we are seeing that already.

 

[viatroy]

Just in case anyone needs a refresher on the results of Bush pushing emergency actions

(from thinkprogress.org)

 

 

Bush is demanding unprecedented control over billions of dollars

[SeattleC]

and for the last several years, we've gotten our little taste of how facism works as well with Bush/Cheney (where did that guy Cheny disappear to anyway?). Fortunately, most of us didn't get to experience the direct effects first hand, having not been whisked off somewhere for torture, so we are, as a country, mostly oblivious. So were most Germans in the '30s.

[Good Old Neon]

With the nationalization of the financial sector, we are seeing that already.

 

 

All insinuations aside, that is one darkly gorgeous photograph.

[LouieB]

(where did that guy Cheny disappear to anyway?).

Georgia..the country, not the state....

 

LouieB

[bjorn_skurj]

All insinuations aside, that is one darkly gorgeous photograph.

Yes - I find it inspiring, the defeat of the Third Reich and all.

[mountain bed]

Why would you pull the Republican lever any year if these things are important to you?? Fiscal conservatives haven't been fiscally conservitive since Barry Goldwater and I am betting you weren't old enough to vote that year, because neither was I. Certainly since Reagan no conservatives have been fiscally responsible.

 

LouieB

Thank you Lou. I just about shit myself at the "Ray-Gun cleaning up the mess" post. Good God that sunsabitch put us the road we're now on.

[SeattleC]

Don't anyone think I voted for Ray-Gun. Didn't happen. I voted for several losers for president over the years, but look Bushies, you voted, and in theory won (especially 'in theory' the first term), and got a loser instead.

 

only problem is, the country has lost alot as well.

[Atticus]

Let's see.

 

The government with an equity stake in private (that's a laugh) companies. Sounds like an idea I read about once in a history class.

 

Politics aside, does any of you truly not believe in the power of free markets?

 

Just curious.

 

I'll assume most responses will have something to do with obama being the solution. Another "not bush" voting year.

 

It harkens back to one of my favorite south park episodes with the vote between a giant douche and a turd sandwich. I should have never read this thread.

[Party @ the Moontower]

Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse - I give you.....

 

http://news.spreadit.org/palin-witchcrafts...ee-witch-video/

 

 

Freaking scary! That shit he pulled in Africa got women killed. Not only did some of them lose their family, home, and limbs...they ended up being mudered in the name of God. WTF! I saw this last night on MSNBC and my jaw was hanging for about a minute.

[bjorn_skurj]

I will agree to the bailout, but only if it comes with strong safeguards so as to make a sustainable finance system based on reasonable growth. A guillotining or two on the steps of the NYSE of some of the worst offenders would be good, but I am willing to relent on that. I would also ban the sale of mortgages. The institution which issues the mortgage has to keep it until it is paid off. That will end bad lending practices.

[Mrs. Peel]

Back to the comedic genius of Palin for a sec:

 

reducing taxes ... has got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans

which was obviously(?) part of her response to a question about the bailout. Her entire response makes even less sense than the excerpt in relation to the question.

 

She has been given short scripted answers to memorize, and when the question she is asked doesn't fall in line with any of the answers she's learned, she just gives the scripted response anyway, even though it doesn't have anything to do with the question.

[SeattleC]

Let's see.

 

Politics aside, does any of you truly not believe in the power of free markets?

 

Just curious.

 

I'll assume most responses will have something to do with obama being the solution. Another "not bush" voting year.

 

It harkens back to one of my favorite south park episodes with the vote between a giant douche and a turd sandwich. I should have never read this thread.

 

 

Oh, there is alot of power there in the free markets, no doubt. It is not a black and white issue though. Too many or too few regulatory constraints are problematic.

 

Obama may not be the solution, but he certainly isn't the problem. I hope for my children's sake he is part of the solution. I truly believe McCain will continue 'the problem'. I'm very willing to take the chance on Obama, and trust that he has the wisdom to get smart people to help him. McCain has certainly shown his cards in that respect, given his VP selection. I hope I never get a chance to see his cabinet.

[viatroy]

Politics aside, does any of you truly not believe in the power of free markets?

 

 

Power, yes. Wisdom, no.

[tugmoose]

COURIC: Why isn

[Atticus]

The institution which issues the mortgage has to keep it until it is paid off. That will end bad lending practices.

 

That is a powerful statement there. Hits the nail on why we can't value any of these "bundled" loans. You sir, are a thinker.

[Good Old Neon]

That is a powerful statement there. Hits the nail on why we can't value any of these "bundled" loans. You sir, are a thinker.

 

 

I always genuinely appreciate Bjorn's ability to step into a thread, cut through all the bullshit, and lay down some truth.

[Party @ the Moontower]

COURIC: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries? Allow them to spend more, and put more money into the economy, instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?

 

PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, we're ill about this position that we have been put in. Where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy. Um, helping, oh, it's got to be about job creation, too. Shoring up our economy, and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans, and trade

[watch me fall]

That's Miss Teen SC, thankyouverymuch.

[Sweet Papa Crimbo]

Regardless of how anyone feels about Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin isnn't this just about the weirdest couple of days on the campaign trail that anyone has ever seen in a presidential campaign?

 

 

This entire campaing season from the first caucus to right now has been ridiculously rich in political drama.

[fatheadfred]

Fuck the heck are you talking about, dude?

Not on wikipedia yet. Not true