Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac: Another Government Bailout

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson recently announced the take over of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by the federal government.  The move was done, said Paulson, in a bid to help reverse a prolonged housing and credit crisis with the idea being to keep owners in their homes.

 

It has been estimated that the bailout will cost at least $250 billion, but Paulson said he could not say for sure.  Regardless, it is another bill the tax payers will be saddled with, and once again it happened on the Republican watch.  While speaking about the financial crisis a few weeks ago, President Bush who thought the mic were off said, "Wall Street got drunk."  What he failed to say was Wall Street got drunk because of his own policies --- no oversight and a lack of regulation by the regulators charged with that responsibility.

 

We have the Wall Street scandal of manipulating the market, the mortgage scandal, and the federal bail out of Bear Stearns along with the infamous Enron scandal --- all on Mr. Bush's watch.  I have mentioned in previous articles how Republican administrations seduce the public with tax cuts that benefit the wealthy and then get into the tax payers pockets a hundred different ways. If the voters took time and examined the fiscal and economic record of the last three Republican presidents, Reagan, Bush 41, and Bush 43, which covers a 20 year period, they would be shocked to find how badly they performed compared to the Democratic administration of Bill Clinton.

 

Bottom line: a vote for John McCain in November is a vote for the continuation of this Republican pattern with its reckless policies.

Rachel Maddow: The Smartest Voice on Cable

Take a look at two of her segments from tonight's show:

The Rachel Maddow Show airs weeknights on MSNBC following Countdown w/ Keith Olbermann. I would recommend everyone watches it.

Fair is Fair

Republicans have had and will in the future have no problem bringing up Rev. Wright in an effort to damage Obama's candidacy.  Now we find out that Sarah Palin's church and personal religious statements are less than conventional, to say the least.  For all that talk of the "liberal media" there sure hasn't been much talk on Palin's religious views even though that "liberal media" had no problem talking about Rev. Wright non-stop, so why is Palin's similar situation off limits?  It shouldn't be, and kudos to Rachel Maddow for bringing it up on her inaugural show tonight --- more shows and networks need to take notice.

It's not that religion should play any role in politics, because it should not, in any way.  The problem is that it appears Sarah Palin thinks religion does have a role, a huge role at that, to play in politics, and scarier still, in policy decisions.  The governor as recently as June of this year has stated that the Iraq War is God's will and that members of her congregation should pray for her oil pipeline proposal to succeed.  

Then, of course, there is the pastor who visited her church who claimed that the Jews being killed in Israel are being killed as a punishment from God since Jews do not believe Jesus is the Messiah.  And what about her church teaching that one can "pray away the gays".  Or how about the idea that the rapture is ever approaching, and that, get this, Alaska is the promised refuge during that supposed great time of peril.  

Please, give me a break.  This is not just religious right wacky (although Palin has that covered with her stances on abortion and creationism), this is frightening, radical thinking.  And the idea that one candidate can have their church's dirty laundry, a church which they didn't even attend consistently, aired for weeks straight and another candidate, who is, by the way, on record as being in church on days when that harsh rhetoric was spewed, can get the proverbial "get-out-of-jail-free card" throws out any claims of "objective journalism".  Fair is fair, or at least should be, but that is not how the media is acting.  Hopefully, they will pick up this story and make Sarah Palin answer those same tough questions that Barack Obama had to.  

Joe Biden Meets the Press

Senator Joe Biden, Vice Presidential nominee for the Democratic party, appeared on Meet the Press yesterday.  Moderator Tom Brokaw started the program off and showed his Republican colors immediately by talking about the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Sarah Palin. 

 

Brokaw then questioned Senator Biden about the surge in Iraq and the full situation there and tried to get Senator Biden to admit the surge was working.  Biden proved to be an expert on foreign affairs and pointed out how Sen. Obama and his original position is turning out to have been the correct one concerning the Iraq War and the surge.  Senator Biden pointed out John McCain had no plan concerning Iraq on withdrawal or how to end the war there.  In short, Biden made Brokaw look like the ill informed reporter he has become.  As a matter of fact, Brokaw had a problem reading his own notes on the questions he wanted to ask --- Tim never had that problem. 

 

Mr. Brokaw then asked about the divisive issue Republicans turn to election after election: abortion.  Senator Biden was sharp as a tact on the issue.  He pointed out his belief and said religion is a private matter and would not try to influence other people belief's on the issue.  Biden also said he does not talk about his religion while campaigning.  The Senator from Delaware made the best response on the issue of abortion I have ever heard from a politician.  To people with common sense and those who wish to return to sanity, it should be the final word concerning abortion. 

 

This was a unfortunately a probable preview of what Tom Brokaw will be like when he moderates one of the Presidential debates.  He will more than likely show his Republican colors there, too.  Hopefully I'm wrong, but after being a journalist for many years, it's a sad fact that Brokaw can not bring himself to be objective.  

Hurricane Evacuation: A Personal Perspective

As a native of a state that sits on the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Gustav caused my family to evacuate 250 plus miles into eastern Alabama and the panhandle of Florida.  This was our third evacuation including Ivan, Katrina, and Gustav.

 

Leaving is a little strange for me since during my teen years and early adulthood we rode the storms out at home.  As a teen it was actually fun --- no school for a couple of days; after the storm passed we played in the water on the streets and actually swam in the ditches that were deep enough.  We did not worry much as teenagers, as we let the adults do the worrying and, for that matter, the work.  When we lost power we did everything inside by candle light, which at the time, was pretty exciting.  I hate to say it, but we actually had fun during those storms.

 

Since I am now a parent and grandparent I know now, mine must not have enjoyed all the work and the un knows.  I say that because now it is not as enjoyable to me --- board up the house windows; make all the preparations; leave town; come back after the storm; clean up, and that's if you even still have a house.  Once you come back, you have to deal with power shortages; not many stores open; phones not working, etc.  I think I definitely liked it more when I was a teenager.

 

Growing up, we had no TV to show the track of the storm and all the possibilities of where it would finally hit like we have today.  All we had was a radio report saying the storm will land tomorrow at such and such a time and location.  Also storms were not named so it was hard to keep track of what storm they were talking about when two were out there. 

 

The upside of being a parent and grandparent is that I am able to pass along my experiences to my children and grandchildren on how to prepare for the storms and the precautions that should be taken.  I hope I can make a difference for them because their safety and well being is the most important thing to me.  I would rather be overly cautious and safe than take a gamble with the unknown. 

The United States and Iraq Security Pact

Over the past several weeks there have been news reports concerning a drafting of a security pact between the U.S. and Iraq.  Most reports were confusing at best and talked about american troop withdrawal; both full withdrawal and partial; training and support forces to stay; full sovereignty and a time line wanted by Iraq but not the U.S. and etc.

 

Lets try to cut through what is happening here.  Bush and Iraqi prime minister al Maliki are using our men and women in uniform for their own political purpose.  Al Maliki would like to see the U.S. continue to pour billions of dollars into his country.  Bush wants to continue this war beyond his presidency to tie the hands of the next president.  Both have made safety the corner stone for American withdrawal. 

 

Lets examine that because it is a chess game to keep america occupied in Iraq.  We are 5 1/2 years into this war and Bush and his military advisers still can't tell the people when Iraq can take over the security of their country and we are the one's training them.  If we don't know how long it takes, who does?  Al Maliki and his people certainly should know.

 

The other point, al Maliki is reported to want a date certain of when all U.S. troops will leave.  Bush does not want a time table.  If al Maliki was serious all he has to do is demand  the U.S. leave and we would have to do so.  Bush and al Maliki are both playing this con game on america.  It is way past time our troops come home from this senseless war and occupation over WMD that did not exist.

 

Get this: the N.Y. Times reported "graffiti can be seen on the walls in Shiite districts of Baghdad saying: 'Iraq for sale, see Maliki'".  It seems the Iraqi people also see what is going on.  What a shame.

The Presidential Debate Moderators

The moderators for the three Presidential debates have been named and are Jim Lehrer of the Lehrer News Hour, Tom Brokaw, former NBC News anchor, and Bob Schieffer of CBS and moderator of Face the Nation.

 

All three have been around for a long time and John McCain is one of their fair head boys and has appeared many times with Schieffer and Brokaw.  In my judgement, all three leave a lot to be desired as debate moderators.

 

Jim Lehrer has appeared as a moderator in past presidential debates and really showed his bias as a moderator in the 2000 debates when he questioned Al Gore's character.  He soft balled questions to Bush and now after almost 8 years of Bush we know whose character he should have questioned.

 

Tom Brokaw is now doing Meet the Press on a temporary basis and his performance with his questions are silly at best.  He is a Republican supporter that comes through when he questions Democrats.  You can count on that showing up during the coming debates.

 

Bob Schieffer is a McCain supporter and his questions on Face the Nation are soft.  Several weeks ago Schieffer used the Republican talking point and asked the question: "Why can't Obama acknowledge the surge in Iraq is working?", as if the Iraqi government has accomplished all the things  the surge was supposed to have them accomplish.

 

The voters are faced with so much propaganda by the news media.  First, on all the regular news programs, journalists interview the same 10 or 12 members of Congress over and over and the people never get the opportunity to hear the thoughts of the other 400 plus members.

 

Then we have moderators for the debates whose questions will favor one candidate over the other, instead of neutral questions that will bring about answers that inform the American people of what the candidate would do if elected.  It is time for the people to stand up and be counted in this election.  The news media, journalists, and moderators offer no help.

Republican Hypocrisy

Sorry that I've been away for so long, but I evacuated this past friday for Hurricane Gustav and am still evacuated.  I have a lot to write and a lot to say on the happenings of the last week.  However, getting to an internet connection is no easy feat here (I am staying in a family member's house in Alabama).  I had to, however, get an internet connection to post this video.  Even though this is from Comedy Central, it should be the headline on every single news program in this country.  The pure hypocrisy of Republicans is clearly exposed in this 5 minute clip:

Senator Joe Biden: The Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama selected his Vice Presidential running mate, fellow Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, last Saturday.  Senator Biden was this writer's choice during the primaries for the presidential nomination.  Senator Clinton was my second choice.  I based my choice on their experience and their accomplishments.

 

Now the Democratic ticket is set and I believe it is important to the country and its people to elect a Democratic administration in November.  Journalists are already promoting the Republican talking point: how can the Biden pick represent change?  The idea being presented is that he has been in Washington too long.  Anyone who has followed what Senator Biden stands for knows that he does indeed represent change: change with regard foreign policy and change in regard to the economy.

 

Senator Clinton and her husband will do their part in the November elections.  No one knows at this point if the majority of her supporters will back the Obama-Biden ticket.  The voters themselves will have to make that decision and it will be Obama-Biden responsibility to make that case.  Journalists are betting the Clintons will upset the convention and divide the party.  It is part of their on going attempt to discredit the Clintons.  (Anyone who saw Hillary's speech last night or President Clinton's speech just a few moments ago know different.  The Clintons are 100% committed to electing Obama and Biden to the White House.)

 

This week, possibly friday, Senator McCain will announce his running mate.  Then, after both conventions and the Presidential and Vice-Presidential debates, the American people will start making their final decision as to who they will vote for come November.  At the present time, 10-12% of voters are still undecided.  Both candidates will try to reach those undecided voters.  The running mates of Obama and McCain might sway some of those undecideds.  We'll have to wait and see who McCain picks, but one thing is sure, whoever it is, he won't be able to match up to Joe Biden, the perfect choice for Vice-President.  

John McCain's Pinocchio Nose: A Republican Symbol

The American people surely remember our inspectors in Iraq who said Iraq had no WMD stockpiled and ready to use against america or transferred to terrorists as George Bush said and in fact gave as the reason for the war and invasion of Iraq.  They also articulated that Iraq had no WMD at any time during Bush's term in office.  It is also easy to remember after our inspectors issued their report Bush and the neocons started to give other reasons for the invasion and occupation.  In other words, they told lies.

 

John McCain continued those lies on 8/26/08 according to a Fox News ticker which quoted McCain in answer to a comment by Obama.  McCain said the war in Iraq was to liberate that country --- just another lie by a neocon on why we went to war.  The neocons believe if they keep repeating the same lie over and over, sooner or later the people will believe the lie as fact.  Pretty soon Mr. McCain's pinocchio nose will be touching the ground.  The so called "straight talking express" has died a tragic death.

 

The past has always been a key to the future.  Over 50 years ago, President Harry Truman said the Republicans were a bunch of damn liars.  Well, 50 years later, they still are.  President Truman was not a seer nor did he have ESP, he just recognized a Republican liar when he saw one.  Some things never change.