I don't support the bailout

And I'm glad there are Republicans who not only share my position on this issue but also my concerns. I have yet to find any Democrats that oppose this bailout. However, they are all very quick to blame McCain and the House GOP.

Is there truly no Dem out there that is against this?

A Bet

I'm sure that now the constant hammering of Palin "she was for it before she was against it" on that Bridge to Nowhere will die a silent death: Both Obama and Biden, and 80 other dems voted for the earmark.

I'm not surprised they voted for this; what I am surprised is that they voted against diverting the funds to Louisiana for some post-Katrina reconstruction.

Abortion

One of the biggest reasons I oppose abortion is because it is implicitly used as a form of birth control. What about teenage pregnancies? People always counterargue.

Well, it so happens that teenagers are the ones having the least amount of abortions. So what's the plan, sex ed for women?

Astroturfing?

If true, this could potentially be very damaging if direct links can be evidenced. But not surprising considering Axelrod used FOIA to get California to release sealed child-custody hearings on Jack Ryan (R) to aid Obama's 2004 Illinois Senate campaign.

A shorter version available here and here

I'm sure bloggers from the right will push the MSM to investigate this story much like they did with Memogate in 2004.

We'll see what if anything results from this.

H/T: Dean's World, Hotair

Heh

Who's stretching the truth now? Don't get me wrong; I don't have a problem with stretching the truth in politics it's pretty much what campaigns are all about. But please, at least practice what you preach.

So, who's really responsible?

Obama camp says Bush's policies are responsible for the DOW diving 500 points yesterday due to Lehman's bankruptcy, BoA purchase of Merril Lynch and the overtake of Freddie and Fannie.

Others say that Bush actually tried five years ago to avoid this mess altogether yet it was Democrats who blocked the legislation for fear it would hinder minority's chances of owning a home.

Personally, responsibility lies on both parties for this mess and I really do not enjoy them talking about economic disaster when they host fundraisers upwards of $20k per person and when Biden who makes 6 times my husband's and I salaries gives less to charity than I do.

Did Obama Meddle in Iraq?

Update: Amir Taheri responds to Obama

Yesterday the New York Post reported Obama had interfered with the US foreign policy, when asking Iraq to delay any troop withdrawal agreement until after the new administration was in place. The exact text read:

According to Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Obama made his demand for delay a key theme of his discussions with Iraqi leaders in Baghdad in July.

"He asked why we were not prepared to delay an agreement until after the US elections and the formation of a new administration in Washington," Zebari said in an interview

I held off on the news, for two reasons. One it was the Post and two it was the Iraqi Foreign Minister so I thought something could've been lost in translation.

The Obama camp responded today to the article, but I'm not entirely convinced he didn't meddle, and actually after his response believe that this was not lost in translation:

In fact, Obama had told the Iraqis that they should not rush through a "Strategic Framework Agreement" governing the future of US forces until after President George W. Bush leaves office, she said.

He did not say "delay" but he did say "don't rush". Aside from the possibility of meddling in foreign policy affairs, what strikes me most is the possibility of personal gain out of this incident. I'd like to hear less about Palin, and a more thorough investigation into what he said. It would be quite telling about his character.

After all he is a politician and they all stretch the truth.

Oops Indeed

Yesterday Obama announced they would fight back and released a new ad to portray McCain as old and out of touch. A very cheesy ad, but within the norms of your regular political attack.

But....Ooops! It seems there is a reason why McCain does not know how to send emails, due to war injuries he cannot type.

I don't think that was what they had in mind, and we'll surely see that portion edited out of the commercial soon enough.

Palin on ABC

Although the interview questions were a bit loaded and out of context, I'll watch 20/20 today to get the full picture. However, the segment presented yesterday in ABC - which was taken out of the 20/20 full interview - is already creating buzz.

Personally I thought Palin held her own, and answered the questions quite well and truthfully. The media today has created all sort of distortions, even headline distortions (mainly WaPo). Ironically, a paper in Australia has been the one with the fairest coverage comparing Palin's answers to those of Obama to similar questions.

It is quite revealing. While the headline is loaded, the article goes to show that what the Palin criticism coming out of some media outlets is completely biased since Obama seems to hold the same beliefs.

The New York Post calls ABC on its mistakes and biases in the interview and calls for the media to ask real questions.

In turn, Beck exposes the lies in the media regarding Palin.

In Memoriam

September 11, 2001 was an all around horrible day for me, and one I have no intentions of reliving. The whole day is too painful and numbing at the same time. It's hard to believe it's been seven years.

Rather than an extensive essay I will leave you with the revised version of Proud to be an American embedded with the happenings of that fateful day. It was one of my great solaces that day, and on the days that followed. For me, it is one of the most beautiful songs about this great country of ours.

About Civil Rights

Talk about profiling of any kind. I wonder what would happen if that would be attempted here; yet there are those who believe Europe to be a "freer" society more respecting of civil rights than the US. U-huh.

Now I really don't care what the BBC poll says.

On Creationism

I honestly do not understand what the big deal is - whether people want to believe that God created the world in seven days or the big bang did in millions of years is a personal thing - and most surprisingly, not mutually exclusive.

First, the time concept is a human thing. Far as I know, God has a very different concept of time.

Second, who's to say that the Big Bang was not caused by God?

Third, pesky Darwin and his evolution theory. From monkey to human because some jumped off the tree and decided to walk. And we all came from a one cell organism that lived in the water. Can anyone deny this wasn't God's plan after all?

I have no theories about how the world came about; don't subscribe to either creationism or big bang/evolution or the newly created intelligent design. Frankly I couldn't care less how we came to be; the fact is we are here now. Do I believe God made us? Yes I do, but I don't care how that happened either.

Being a doctoral student you learn two things: one is to challenge everything and the second is to adopt an epistemology - you know, a way of thinking. In my case I tend to be a Popperian - falsification theory - as well as Kantenian - subjective knowledge. But what I really pride myself in is that I read everything, learn everything. I strive to not be one-sided.

Some people apparently want to bring this to schools - creationism and intelligent design. The left jumps in uproar. Why? Isn't part of being a liberal and a progressive to challenge the establishment? to ask questions? to look at both sides? How come being inclusive of other mindsets, beliefs or theories is all of a sudden wrong?

Creationism and Intelligent Design are not science - on that I will agree. But they are theories after all. Including them in a curriculum could do no harm; it would allow everyone to learn what they are, stimulate debate and allow students to reach their own conclusions. I'd be all for adding a Philosophy class to the curriculum or at least discussing them as counter theories to the established big bang/evolution theory. Why not?

One of my psych professors one said something that was very true:

We in the left value and strive for diversity. The problem is we want diversity in the left.

So true. Yet the left can find nothing better than to belittle or ridicule people who go against the grain and believe in Creationism or Intelligent Design.

No he didn't!

Are you kidding me? I cannot believe he would give the following as an excuse for not paying taxes:

that “cultural and language barriers” prevented him from understanding the finances of his Dominican Republic beach house, and vowed to repay several thousand dollars in federal taxes he owes after failing to report $75,000 in rental income from the villa.

Honestly, do politicians think we are that stupid? Even worse, how is it that the media is not calling him on this cheap ass excuse?

Hmmmm

First, ObamaCamp dismissed Palin but know they've noticed they need some help.

Second, I don't think many people saw McCain getting such a bump out of the convention.

If this keeps up, this will definitely be one of the closest presidential races.

To All You Lawyers

What is the difference between Mariano Rivera and the Yankees using "Sandman" when he comes out to pitch and this?

I understand you need an author's permission for commercial use such as in advertising, but at a convention, which is like a party? Do the Yanks have Metallica's permission?

What to make of this?

Last week Obama garnered a record 38.3 (38.4 depending who you read) million viewers tuning in to watch his acceptance speech.

This week Sarah Palin garnered 37 million viewers tuning in to watch her acceptance speech.

Pretty impressive numbers for political conventions don't you think? But still not surprising since both Obama and Palin are great speakers.

But was McCain supposed to beat them both with 38.9 viewers tuning in to watch his acceptance speech?

On Sarah Palin's Speech

On a history making night, Sarah Palin introduced herself to the world yesterday as quite possibly the future of the Republican party. She endured harsh press from her initial presentation last Friday and came out without missing a beat. She showed poise, wit and delivery. And she almost achieved Obama's TV ratings.

In a speech designed to as always promote the presidential candidate, Sarah came off solid and entertaining. I do not believe she was mocking Obama or community organizers per se, but mocking the idea that she was more inexperienced or that she had no experience. She was making her case. Besides, mockery and attacks are not above either party.

Palin did what she had to do, fire the base and unite the party under McCain. While it is true that McCain will need swing voters to win the election it is also true that without the evangelical right, and without the social conservatives - both of which were unexcited with the pick and willing to not vote - without them he didn't stand a chance. So Palin went out and delivered.

Biden came out this morning and said the following regarding Palin's speech:

Biden would only criticize “what was not heard” from Palin, pointing to a void he saw in the Republican’s speech last night.

“I didn't hear the phrase health insurance mentioned once,” he said. “I didn't hear, I didn't hear one time any reference to education. I didn't hear a single syllable about how hard it is for middle class folks to get to their kids to college. I didn't hear anything concrete about jobs and what's going to be done about stopping the export of our jobs.”

I watched Biden's speech. I watched him go through his biography, tell us about how Jane and Joe are financially tight, that Obama was right and McCain was wrong, and that McCain was more of the same. He was very passionate. But since I didn't remember any substance in his speech I went back and looked at the transcript. I found very substantive attacks on McCain, and as for the Democratic stance this is what he said:

Barack Obama will reform our tax code. He’ll cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people who draw a paycheck.

Barack Obama will transform our economy by making alternative energy a genuine national priority, creating 5 million new jobs and finally freeing us from the grip of foreign oil.

He’ll make college more affordable.

Barack Obama will bring down health care costs by $2,500 for the typical family, and, at long last, deliver affordable, accessible health care for all Americans.

Barack Obama will put more cops on the streets, put the “security” back in Social Security and never give up until we achieve equal pay for women. That’s the change we need.

I know that to some of you this may qualify as substance, but not to me. I have very high standards; I was one of the few people disappointed with Obama's speech b/c I thought it lacked "substance" and he missed an incredible opportunity to present his platform.

Here all I'm hearing from Biden are campaign promises. How is he going to approach this tax cut? How will he lower health costs? Do we need more cops in the streets? How do they plan to save social security since they scrapped the idea to allow me to do what I want with some of my funds? How will he make college more affordable when more and more state universities have continuously - including the Clinton years - increases tuition to attract more students and qualified professors?

Palin needed to introduce herself and her experience to all who watched last night. Her speech had a very different purpose than Biden's who we all met during the primaries. Sarah had to let people know how she got to where she was. That was her mission. In addition she did address the financial pinch we are all in by rising oil prices and the fact that we must become energy independent:

And families cannot throw more and more of their paychecks on gas and heating oil. Starting in January, in a McCain-Palin administration, we're going to lay more pipelines and build more nuclear plants and create jobs with clean coal and move forward on solar, wind, geothermal and other alternative sources.

We need -- (cheers, applause) -- we need American sources of resources. We we need American energy brought to you by American ingenuity and produced by American workers.

Now she goes on the trail, now she goes in the debates. It is now that she must bring the substance to the table and prove that she can not only deliver a speech with greatness, but survive unrehearsed.

I don't know what this election will bring, but I know this - it will change the politics of this country for ever. And not because of who is or isn't elected; the campaigns will change the politics. It is a history making election, the first Black major party candidate and the first woman on a Republican ticket.

While I do not look forward to the presidential debates, I have to admit I cannot wait for the Biden-Palin debate to see how "barracuda" or the lipstick wearing pitbull faces Joe Biden.

Stay tuned folks.

Lack of Respect

One of the main reasons why I hate the "fringe" left and groups like Code Ping and MoveOn is their total lack of respect or as we say in Spanish falta de educacion.

These people had the balls to somehow get into the RNC and attempt to disrupt Sarah Palin's history making speech. I may be wrong, but I did not see any press coverage of people trying to disrupt Biden or Obama during their speeches.

The other thing I hate about some of these groups is their lack of respect towards private property - case in point those anarchist who are protesting outside the DNC who found nothing better than to attack delegates as they got off the bus. What the hell is wrong with these people?

Tasteless.

Hats Off

I will post later on the Palin speech and the comemnts; I just want to go through it first.

However, hats off to Anderson Cooper for calling bias late last night when he stated that they haven't mentioned speechwriters or that speeches were written for the Democratic candidates in an effort to highlight the fact that they were overmentioning it for Palin's speech.

Amen to that

Finally, some sanity somewhere.

Chris Matthews is an Idiot

And a stupid one at that. One of the worst interviewers and political reporters I've ever seen. Just watched him interview Mike Fineman from Newsweek and someone else and frankly how very disappointing.

I miss Tim Russert.

On Abortion

The pro-choice movement is about there being a choice, so why is it that when women decide to keep their babies it's an all out attack?

Yesterday I had a customer stop short of telling me that Bristol Palin should abort the baby because she wouldn't be taking care of the baby - meaning if Bristol went to college the baby would be in daycare. I was quick to point out that millions of women today leave their kids in daycare while they work.

The customer did not agree with the practice of leaving kids in daycare. Yet older women were not required to abort their babies.

This conversation struck a cord with me because it was illogical in its ideas. All the pro-choice women I've ever met have always been clear that keeping abortion legal is about a woman's right to choose. It is intertwined with women's rights and feminism. For someone to suggest that a baby should be aborted rather than placed in daycare, the latter done by the many women who work today, its just illogical. While I am no fan of daycare, children in daycare are no less loved, or nurtured. It just means parents have to work twice as hard to make up for the "lost" time.

One of my best friends' sister became pregnant at 18 with twins no less. Out of wedlock, from a conservative catholic family. The daughter of a doctor, so fully educated and with information on hand of how to practice safe sex. She finished college and is very happy with her twins. Is she less of a woman because she chose to have her daughters? Because she had to put them in daycare?

According to my customer, those two beautiful angels should not have been born either. I think the choice of having or not having the baby is purely the person's and no one elses. I do not condone abortion; I'm completely against it. To the point I once told a friend of mine I would raise her child. Unfortunately her mother forced her to abort. But if the left is not going to condemn teenagers for having abortions, then they should not condemn them for choosing life either.

That is what being pro-choice should be about.

Stupid is as Stupid Does

Benicio has finally lost the itsy bitsy last spec of a marble he may have had. If I were Obama I'd be insulted.

The butcher (Che) may have been a coherent man, but in no way should he ever be compared to the Civil Rights movement. Mr. Che was a mercenary assassin, who believed in killing anyone in his way.

The Truth - Palin daughter is pregnant

Update: I cannot believe some of the appalling comments this is getting on the abcnews thread; people really need to get over themselves and stop playing two sides.

While the left has spent its time claiming that Palin's baby was really her daughters, and recanting when faced with the evidence, Palin took a head on approach to squash the rumors.

She like many other parents in this country, has heard her daughter say Mom, Dad I made a mistake. Her 17 year old daughter is 5 months pregnant and will of course have the baby. While for many people this may be non-news - after all to how many families does this happen? - it will be interesting to see how both sides address the issue. For starters, this will be the talk of the town for the next couple of days.

My guess is the left will attack her from the abortion perspective - along the lines of she is not looking at the best interest of her daughter and is forcing her to have the baby - an unwanted pregnancy. Of course, I'm betting that the failure of abstinence will somehow make it into the argument.

The right will attack her from a moral perspective - how could she not take better care, or instruct her child better on this.

In the end, I think this will be a non-issue that will in fact end up helping Palin among blue-collar middle Americans - it is a situation they can relate to, it humanizes her and it backs up her beliefs.

Lack of Medication

I'm guessing Sean "diddy" Combs (Puff Daddy) did not take his Lexipro this week.

Not only does he rant against Palin as the VP pick, now he pleads to Saudi Arabia to lower gas prices so he doesn't have to fly commercial. WTF?

Dude, and you are really worried about Black people? You are the one that is F- out. Get back to earth.