Re Outraged, September 20 at 10:01 pm

Outraged,

Fine, stay pure, but the price is political impotence. If Nader ever did get anywhere near the Presidency which is much less likely than being struck by lightning he would probably start compromising like Obama and you would have to repudiate him too.

Thank “god” for “ABSOLUTE PURITY”, what we do without that.  Well, for one we might endorse a candidate, who wants to BOMB Pakistan, strategically of course, but let’s not be sentimental.... c’mon folks...these are only “terrorists”, the fact that they are children has “nothing to do with it”.

Thank “god” for the fact that I, yes *I*, am soooo pure that I think, voting away the RIGHTS guaranteed to the CITIZENS OF AMERICA, passe.... thank “god” for that.

Thank “god” for the fact that I feel, undermining the separation of church and state, MINOR.... cause otherwise..., I just might… you know BE PISSED!

Thank “god” for the fact that I am in fact SO PURE as to ACTUALLY BELIEVE that FELONS, should be in jail.  In fact, I AM SO PURE, that I believe that those whose SUPPORT and help to aggrandize the position that this was minor infraction.... are...well...only “leaning” right.

I am SO PURE, that I think laissez faire capitalism AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT IT wonderful, since otherwise, I “might” feel that this undermines the sovereignty of the America as a nation, and AGAINST her people as a whole.

“GOD”, I’m just soooo PURE.  I’m damn near a VIRGIN.  My purity is without measure..... and my candidate the “AUDACITY OF HOPE” ..... yep...he sure is… That’s me the epitome of purity.  Not like those NADER yokels, who ACTUALLY “happen” to “think” there’s such a thing as law and order...or RIDICULOUSLY call for justice.

What a bunch of dumb-asses.  Let’s attempt to ridicule the hell out of them.  So WHAT if our pick fucked us over… WHO CARES...?  We need to save face...WE need to win....Didn’t I give the “Audacity of Facts” money...?

By cyrena, September 18 at 8:23 pm #

Nope, nope, nope. We’ve got our eyes wide open here, (it’s a by-product of being terrorized for nearly 8 years) so we know what we need, and we know that Obama can do it. Since you and I aren’t running, then Obama/Biden is the next best choice. 
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cyrena,

We could always do what the Green/Nader/Peace and Freedom folks do, and write ourselves in on November in the spirit of absolute purity. This is the only way to refuse to compromise in any way. 

Come to think of it, I change my mind and compromise with myself all the time, so that won’t work either!

truthreader,

Why continue to live in a delusional state when reality really is the only hope?

It’s the partisan-cult mentality that has us where we are now. That’s why I’ve always voted person rather than party.

You’re wasting your time trying to compare Obama with Bill Clinton, especially since 8 years of Dick Cheney’s neocons have a way of making some folks look back on the Clinton days with fond nostalgia. (I don’t but many do).

Sorry truthreader. Barack Obama is NOT Bill Clinton, and most of us can figure that out easily enough. We don’t have to be rocket scientists for that. We don’t have to be geniuses to see that so far, the Greens have nothing to offer. It’s not anymore complicated than that.

Maybe the Greens will use the time to actually organize a movement that can put some accomplished and promising leaders on their ticket.

Good Luck.

Obama/Biden 08

By Tony Wincher

truthreader,

I do not know anyone who equates Obama with the second coming - although, compared with what we have had for eight years, you can almost see the aura.

~~~~~~~

Thanks Tony, I was about to respond the very same way, except for almost seeing the aura. (nice touch though).

No, we don’t see Obama as any seconding coming, and for those who’ve never witnessed a FIRST coming, (I haven’t) it wouldn’t be the least bit appropriate to consider a second, now would it?

Nope, nope, nope. We’ve got our eyes wide open here, (it’s a by-product of being terrorized for nearly 8 years) so we know what we need, and we know that Obama can do it. Since you and I aren’t running, then Obama/Biden is the next best choice.

Speaking of which...where is Louise? I miss her. I wanna make sure she didn’t have some sort of an emergency anywhere near a Wal-Mart. If anybody has heard from her, please let me know.

By truthreader3, September 18 at 1:04 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

A lot of people equate Obama with the second comming.
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truthreader,

I do not know anyone who equates Obama with the second coming - although, compared with what we have had for eight years, you can almost see the aura. Here’s the way I see him: Obama is a practical politician, like Bill Clinton, who will do what is politically practical. I think he is both more progressive and more principled than Clinton, will compromise less and do more to move the country forward. Also, the time is right - Clinton had to deal with a Republican congress. With luck, Obama will have a filibuster-proof Democratic majority to work with. Still, I’m sure he’s going to disappoint a lot of purists on the Left.

It seems the Bush administration has just finished hobbling the next administration.  The next president will come into office crippled with debt, war, and a nation of unemployed leaving little room for reform.  The republicans have effectively guaranteed there will be no health care plan.  It will be a decade, maybe never, before this country will recover from this rolling disaster.  I wonder if we will ever stop behaving like victims?

I see now that you were being sarcastic, troublesum. I agree. Too bad there is no inflection in email. And I dont mean “emoti-cons”.

Sure the “crisis” is over for the rich. They always knew it wouldnt hit them. The govt always protects them.

But they have an “entity” which is going to take over their bad debts.  The entity is the American taxpayer.  The one’s making less than $250,000 a year.  Problem solved.

troublesum--"The Dow went up 400 points”?? S t f what. And it will go down again, probably about 400 points , within the next week. This is not REALLy a ‘crisis”. It is more hte expected outcome of “capitalism GONE WILD!”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3683270

The crisis is over.  Numbers were shifted around on a page.  The government will take over the bad debt of the banks.  The dow went up 400 points.

Deb--anyone who blames just one of the “great variety of parties” that we can choose from, is delusional. The de-regulation started (with great gusto) under Reagan. It accelerated from there.

I dont think, too many people would defend Clinton (you guys didnt do a thing to stop that stuff--you were just concerned about his sex life. While Gingrich et al did not bother to mind their own). Anyone who stil defends McCain or Bush on this one (who have become on in the same) is delusional.

Why demand an investigation, since yu already “know” its all Dems?? Lets HAVE an investigation. Also into Minerals Mgmt. I dont give a damn if they throw everyone in both houses (as long as they takeht epresidem)out of DC.

And when the “Contract with Am” came into power--it made it al better, huh?

Jackpine Savage

You’re right that they’re intertwined, but then they always have been, and that much is my area of particular interest. (note I didn’t say ‘expertise’ because I’m not an expert – at least not yet).

There are thousands of examples of constitutional crises throughout history, because the economy has always been directly connected to the constitution and again, from the beginning. Slavery was about economics, because the economy depended on it. So, some of the major CC’s have been centered on that. One excellent, (yet complicated) example was the Missouri Compromise.

Anyway, it’s a fascinating field, (if one is actually interested in how this stuff connects) and I’ve put a couple of ‘simple’ links here from Wikipedia, just as a general sort of connection…There is even better stuff in my files and on line, but I’d have to dig for it. Still, for just a matter of general knowledge, and as a starting point, these can kind of kick things off.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_Compromise

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dred_Scott

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_crisis

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?pid=49140

We’ve offered some excellent courses in Constitutional Law here at my institution, and I say excellent because they do more than just regurgitate case law and decisions, but delve into the politics of it, as well as the repercussions that most of us don’t really have any reason to consider.

Constitutional legal scholars and historians of the next hundred years or so (if we last that long) will have TONS of material to wrap themselves around, just from the past 8 years. It’s been one never ending Constitutional Crisis, beginning with the appointment of the Gangster Cabal back in Dec of 2000, to the highest office(s) in the land.

Truly, this is the silly season: The election, the economy, the crashing economy, unemployment, hurricane Ike/Katrina, Iraq, Iran, Georgia, and so many other distractions.  It seems to me we can do nothing about any of these things, but, we can make decisions about our own lives.  Isn’t this what we need to concentrate on?  This corrupt, beyond belief government, would keep us believing we make a difference!  Do you really believe you matter at all?  You are not a bazillionaire, so who really gives a shit what you/we think?  Sorry, rhetorical question; but the answer is...no one!

Or as We say in MI - Bag ‘em Tag ‘em and gut ‘em.
This economic ‘Drain circling’ has been happening since the Repugs took over Congress in ‘94.
did ya miss the Sucker lure of ‘Day Trading’ which conned people into thinking they could invest and control their futures- What a ‘Get Rich Quick Scheme’ that was. About as ethical as telling Granny to send in her Pension check to Cornerstone Church!
Who did not recognize the ‘Too Good to be True’ Pay Only Interest Home mortages? who did not recognize that the equity in a home should not double in a few short years? How hasn’t figured out the Surplus we had after Clinton was squandered and our subsequential loans have been from Foreign Countries ( China & Saudi Arabia) Who hasn’t figured out 9/11 was an atttack on the MIC and not US. Who hasn’t deducted such actions in the M.E. Only benefits the Multinational Oil Corps and their Foreign Sponsors?
Who hasn’t recognized that every conflict being instigated is within the range of Oil Deposits?
Who hasn’t reconginzed the FACT We Will NEVER be Energy Independent Until WE Own Our Own Energy Resources? Nor will wil have a FREE Market until Corp Control is elimiated?
What Dumbasses Still think this Organized Crime Syndicate care a Damn about American Patriotism or Her viablity in the future?
TREAON, WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY!!!
FYI Benedict Arnold was also a Military man, but his crimes Pale next to McCains Complicity! Anthrax came from Iraq- Lying SOB, HE Helped facilitate this Illegal War and the resulting Gutting of America!
I don’t want ot see McCain running a campaign, unless it is to save his ass from Hanging for his part in these High Crimes!

Cyrena,

I didn’t agree with everything in the piece either, but it did really make me think...and that’s what i’m looking for.

One question that i found myself asking is whether Newberry, when using the phrase “constitutional crises”, was referring to the document or our constitution...i.e. our make up.  Obviously, the two overlap.

His analysis of the underlying, economic mechanisms was what really got me.  That, and the way that those mechanisms tie our politics, economics, and environmental issues together.

Glad you enjoyed it…

If you’re in need of some entertainment, may I suggest trying to get a video of Meredith Vieira’s interview with one of my favorite right wing self-righteous knowitall neocon “virtues” spewing propagandists, the very Dr. Bill Bennett, on the Today Show this morning.

It must be a drag affiliating yourself with the repug debacle and then being questioned about it on national TV and having to fabricate yet more lies and bridge-to-nowhere-rationalizations to support your candidate, who underneath it all, you probably think is an idiot.

Guys like Bennett make me very glad, flawed as I am, that I’m me.  Maybe he should try a little lipstick.

Jackpine,

Thanks so much for the link. This is an excellent piece. I’ve zapped it into a PDF with my handy little pdf tool, which will allow for me to go though it again more completely, and mark it accordingly. I don’t agree with all of it, not even close. BUT, this much of it is very true, and it’s at the foundation of everything…

“..This is why our present crisis is a constitutional crisis. It is not a crisis of finance as such, but a crisis of the governing mandate...”

It IS a CONSTITUTIONAL crisis!!!! But, it’s not the first Constitutional crises, and we’ve failed, (or the politicians have failed) because of the failure to govern, based on the principles embodied in the Constitution.

Tony Wincher points to this in some of his recent posts as well, just in terms of regulation. I’m willing to put 99% of the blame for current CRASH conditions on the heads of those who have failed to govern according to the Constitution.

The undermining of regulatory control is absolutely the same as the trashing of the rule of law. And, deregulation marked the beginning of the end. We’re at the end.

Anyway, it’s late now, but I’d like to talk about some of this after I’ve had a chance to go through it another time or two, and combine it with other stuff that I’ve already worked though. So, more then.

Meantime, thanks again.

Janic P writes:

• “…When Obama is president, I will get to blame you and all the other supporters for the mess he creates….”

For the mess HE creates????????????????????????

You’re kidding right? Pay much attention to what’s been going on these passed 7 or so years Janic P? Like, every time we think Dick Bush and the Gangster Cabal couldn’t do anything worse or even MORE insane….they DO!!!

So, you’ll actually be able to blame us for the mess HE creates??????? What type ‘mess’ might that be? We’re already in worse shape than we were in the Great Depression. Think he can beat that?

“The fundamentals of our economy are strong,”

WTF is a fundamental of an economy anyway? Is this something the Large Hadron Collider will be trying to answer?

Cyrena,

I’m no economic guru either...i only know enough to scare me.  But i do know that i’m a “capitalist”, if only because there isn’t much else to be.  As i can’t find the will to believe that humans are more good than bad. (I figure us to be roughly equal of both out of the necessity of binary opposition...or you can’t have one without the other.) Ideas like true socialism require more evolution than i think we have attained.

Capitalism and free markets do not, however, have to be fueled by untrammeled greed and blind avarice.  Yes, fair trade...which doesn’t mean equal, but to create the most benefit for the most people.

I believe strongly in the market, but when i say market, i mean the one where you buy your groceries.  Tangible goods produced by people; debt as debt; and long-term thinking regarding profit and sustainability.

Chasing quarterly profits and leveraging debt to make a bet cannot be the foundation of capitalism.  But the move from production to financial services is indicative of imperial decline, historically speaking.

There most certainly are very good economists, but i’d hardly put Ralph Nader to the task.  Numerian Rubelieni or even Amory Lovins come more to my mind.  My worry is that Obama suckles at the same teet as McCain out of political necessity.  Better, by far but still tied to the fundamental problem.

If you’re in for some thinking, i read this tonight and found it profound:

http://agonist.org/stirling_newberry/20080917/a_nation al_commonwealth

This, by all measure, should be the last nail in the coffin of capitalism; but greed knows no bounds and there is still meat on the bones.

By Janic P., September 17 at 12:22 pm #

“Rest assured that they will remain as incapable today as tomorrow. They have a very long track record to back that up!”
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Yeah? Strange, I remember the last time the Democrats were in power, the Clinton Administration, as eight years of peace and prosperity, relatively speaking at least. It is you Republicans, led by your drunken moron fratboy George W. Bush that have driven this country into the ditch. The people are about to punish you bigtime.

Did anyone hear Sen. Sanders tonight? I tuned in to hear what they were saying about the impending collapse.

I simply do not understand why we cannot indict Gramm. WHY will the Copngress do nothing?? WHY does Phil Gramm get to leave the McCain campaign and , just go back to one of his many houses with his billions.

The is just an unjust oligarchy.

Re Xntrk, September 17 at 1:46 pm #

re: Tony Wicher

I’ll give it to you that regulated capitalism works well as an economic system (from a socialist that’s a big give).  However, “It is not called ‘greed’ unless it is somehow excessive” rather leaves the door open for individual assessment of what constitutes excessive, thus making greed a matter of opinion.

Capitalism as an economic system sucks. It was effective in an expanding universe that believed in White Supremacy at the cost of genocide and enslavement for Blacks, Browns, Reds, Yellows, and impoverished whites like the Irish and Italians.
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Xntrick,

This reminds me a bit about what Churchill said about democracy - that it was a horrible system, but still better than any other system that man has been able to devise. The same thing can be said about capitalism.

Unregulated capitalism has all the defects that you attribute to it - sweatshops, imperialism, etc. But as capitalism evolves, it gets regulated to ameliorate or prevent all these problems. To regulate capitalism is to make it more socialist. Capitalism regulated by an honest democratic government in the interest of the people as a whole IS socialism. There is no other socialism and never will be.

By Janic P., September 17 at 12:22 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

“Economists Favor Obama”

You forgot to mention that the majority of the “economists” in that report are Obama supporters! It’s called a biased report in case you didn’t know.

And Mr. Tony Wicher,
It does not matter who was in charge of congress before they were. The fact is that they are in charge NOW and they are incapable of getting anything done.
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Janic,

Actully, the Democratic congress has not been able to accomplish much since November 2006 because Republicans have blocked everything and Bush has wielded the veto pen. What we Democrats need besides the Presidency is a filibuster-proof majority in both houses. With you Republicans out of the way, we can get get something done. If things don’t improve after four years, THEN you can blame us.

Blackspeare:

Thanks for that.  You know, I detest plagiarists.  And I detest commie plagiarists even more.  I used to respect Gorby. I’m looking up his e-mail even as I write.

Seriously, isn’t this a remarkable, exciting time in our history?

unbelievable. McCain talk about the economic crisis in this video blog released by his campaign.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvZ1xgphalc

or go to thedailymccain dot com

Dr. Knowitall…

Your post reminds me of a saying that has been attributed to Gorbachev during his run to reform the USSR; “If not us then who?” “If not now then when?”

“So, yes, there is a world of difference between Obama and McCain on the main issue that now challenges the American way of life, in which people’s homes, retirement, kids’ college education and all other dreams are threatened by a mindless deregulation led by the Republicans but which too many influential Democrats supported . . . .”

Bob, enough with the ideological rants.  Not only has Obama turned to Rubin and Summers for advice, his current full-time economic adviser is another Rubin disciple, Jason Furman, who among other things thinks that WalMart has been a net boon to low income folks, despite overwhelming evidence that, among other things, it drives down the wages of working people. 

Sorry, but when the self-declared change agent is drinking the same radical free market kool-aid of guys like Rubin, Summers, and Furman, the evidence for a “world of difference” is pretty thin.

And what’s with your half-hearted suggestion that Bill Clinton needed to be convinced by Rubin and Summers to sign Gramm-Leach-Bliley, and thereby authorize banks to play dice with the single-most valuable asset that most people own, their homes?  During his administration, Clinton, like a lot of Congressional Dems, was in thrall to Wall Street.  The man hardy needed to be convinced of what he was predisposed to do, namely, cough up whatever his corporate sponsors demanded of him, be it affirmative enactments (e.g., NAFTA; tax breaks for the rich and super-rich) or rollbacks (the aforementioned G/L/B, which repealed Glass-Steagall; eviscerating FDA, NHTSA, OSHA, and other federal agencies; cutting fuel efficiency standards; etc.).

As for Obama, please name one thing that he will actually do that would demonstrate that he holds the interests of working people higher than those of the multi-millionaires and billionaires who own and run the finance, insurance, and real estate sectors of our economy, and whose high priests are among his closest advisers.  If you can’t do that, might it be because the values you ascribe to the candidate say more about you (and your Rorschach tendencies) than they do about him?

• “Cyrena, i’m not sure that who else Obama could have advising him on economic matters...though there must be someone.  It sure seems like the Chicago school has a stranglehold on both political parties.”

Jackpine,

Since posting last night, I see there have been several suggestions. Felicity suggests Robert Reich. I don’t know of him myself, but that isn’t a surprise at all. As I’ve said many times, my own knowledge of economic systems is very much limited to basic theory, and the fundamentals. In other words, it is NOT an area where I would claim any advanced knowledge. (But I bet I know more than McCain or Palin).

But, I trust Felicity’s judgment on this, and I’m sure there are probably others as well. That’s the whole thing about administrative leadership. One person can never know all of this stuff in-depth, so it means having the extensive judgment and intelligence to choose the right people for the right functions.

Troublesum mentioned Nader, Naomi Klein, and somebody named Doug Hernwood. I don’t know of Hernwood either, but Naomi is a brilliant sociologist, (which does involved extensive knowledge of economic systems) and Nader is an attorney, as well as a social activist like Naomi. Both would be great additions, (except that Nader can’t work with anybody unless he’s calling all of the shots and everyone accepts his ‘way’ without compromise) but there must be many others.

In fact, there’s a recent Nobel Peace Prize winner whose name temporarily escapes me, who is brilliant in microeconomics, which is not unlike what Obama’s mother’s work involved. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to include such subcategories in any over all advisory board.

What I’ve discovered from reading these forums, (and Felicity points this out as well) is that many people seem to miss the fact that while capitalism and this culture of greed are intricately related, capitalism as a stand alone system can and has worked, when others have failed. “Trade” is fundamental to any system, but it’s the FREE (unregulated) trade as opposed to FAIR trade, (and specifically in terms of a global economy) that has crushed the society at large, and created the free fall that we are currently experiencing. The complaints against the capitalist system are centuries old. The truth is that this country was founded on a capitalist system, and there has yet to be another system proven to work.

That’s not to say that another system could NOT work, and I’m a pretty hard-core socialist myself. Still, the reality is that countries where socialism has been attempted, have not proven to fair all that well. (yes, I know there are exceptions to everything).

@ Janice P:

You wrote,"What exactly makes you think that Owama is going to challenge the Democrat status quo? They have had the last several years to do something, change something, hell just put in an honest days work. They have done absolutely nothing.”

We’re looking at the possibility of a Democratic WH, a Democratic Senate and House, filibuster-proof, a perfect storm for liberally-minded people.

Here’s what I believe.  With that perfect storm all being led by Obama, a “closet common man”, there is the possibility that the pendulum which has been swinging far too far and for far too long in the direction of the aristcrats in this country may finally head back in the other direction.  It’s only fair, and-- very American.

Come on board!  History is being written!  Be a part!

This is class warfare and a revolution for egalitarianism!!  If it isn’t today, it’ll be tomorrow. 
And I’m not shi*in’ ya!

Herbie McBlind and his pal Phil Hoover.

The truth is that Senator McCain and his campaign choose their okie doke ads very carefully as in focused negative attacks strictly aimed at turning the national and media focus and discussion away from real issues such as education, energy, foreign policy, and most recently the state of our economy.

The truth is the same old okie doke as in Senator McCain’s chief economic advisor Phil Gramm, the architect of the 1999 Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The Republican Senator Gramm sponsored legislative bill that effectively repealed the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 which had established the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the United States and included banking regulations designed to control speculation. The author of the legislation deregulating the financial investment industry that is now in meltdown due to the lack of regulation.

The same old same old “deregulator” Phil Gramm who earlier this year, as Senator McCain’s chief economic advisor, labeled Americans as “whiners” about the economy just suffering from a “mental recession” and is surely the sad author of Senator McCain’s too often repeated out-of-touch refrain that “the fundamentals of our economy are strong” despite all evidence to the contrary.

The same old same old Senator McCain best friend Phil Gramm still seen today whispering economic policies in Senator McCain’s ear from the sidelines all the while ready to be made Secretary of the Treasury if the American Public buys Senator McCain’s old sick pig with new lipstick.

But sadder yet, it appears the America Public is falling for and may be ready to buy into the old okie doke same pig with new lipstick as in.....A self-professed “Deregulator” who is suddenly calling for government regulation....... A so called “reformer” who will not even reformed his own negative attack campaign........The new found “agent of change” who will bring back to Washington and empower the same old lobbyists currently serving on his campaign ..... and the wannabe “New Populist” claiming he will fight for the American People despite never having voted in favor of an increase in the minimum wage for the American People.

Or are we? Despite the blitz of sad negativity from the McCain campaign, the issues of the economy refuse to be swept from view and thus are refocusing the American Public on the evident fact that Senator McCain indeed does not know “much about the economy” (as evidenced by the fact that he is calling for a 9/11 styled Economic Commission Study likely led by Phil Gramm).

As Senator Obama first stated (and of course since co-opted by Senator McCain as he has co-opted anything that works for Senator Obama), “Enough is Enough!”. Contrary to the McCain campaign sad smoke and mirrors ads and Senator McCain’s own okie doke moment-by-moment self-serving self-contradictory statements of “Change is Coming”, we will see more Americans seeing through them all..........

Looking For Real Change Not The Same Old McCain/Gramm Okie Doke!

Herbert McSame.  For three years after the crash of ‘29 Hoover went around saying everything was fine, no problem here, this is just part of a cycle, the market will rebound.

Financial and economic melt-down.  Anyone think the republicans will take responsibility for their mess?  How about “I don’t know much about economics” McCain?.....Herbert Hoover McCain says the “Fundamentals are strong”.

I think McCain has very little clue about what an economy means much less how one functions. Just like I find it very difficult to see Phil Gramm as a scholar. He’s marginal on his best day. As we sit here and type the taxpayers are being sent to bail out yet another Republican created fiasco by deregulation(s). Banks and Insurers such as AIG. This is like asking NASA what it’s mission really is. To explore space they will say publicly but privately they will, “well its a jobs program for under-employed republicans and their spouses”.

http://www.bccmeteorites.com/misconduct-planetary.html

I would suggest Ralph Nader, Doug Henwood, and Naomi Klein as economic advisors for Obama.  He doesn’t have to look far if he wants an economy that works in the interests of ordinary people.
By the way, Frank Zappa’s daughter sang that song about the valley girls and it was “gag me with a fork” not a spoon not that it makes much difference.  It would be nice if Zappa were here today to say something about the political situation we are in.

A short time ago Andrea Crane interviewed Jack Kemp, right-wing extremist and former House Representive from SoCal, about the economy.  He praised, of course, everything regarding McCain and Palin while thoroughly condemning all of Obama’s proposals, saying that they would lead us into a recession.  Now what, in the f*ck, do he and his fellow cockroaches think that we’re in right now with our economy in free fall.  It’s unbelievable how completely divorced from reality these neocons are.

Well like we say down at the farm----"Wait till the chickens come home to roost.” And they have.  The failure over the past several years of large corporations, investments banks, investment houses, and more recently the quasi-governmental agencies of Freddie and Fannie Mac and AIG didn’t happen overnight-----it took years of neglect and mismanagement whether planned or inadvertent.  It is a direct result of laissez-faire/free market thinking coupled with a privatization/deregulation mindset.  This really started in the Reagan years.

The housing melt-down is a result of applying affirmative action to the financial markets whereby people with little resources could acquire large mortgages hoping in the future, with a strong economy, they would improve their lot and be able to meet the increasing payments.  We all know what happened!

McCain tends to blame Wall Street greed, but that’s like blaming a lion for attacking a gazelle-----it’s in their genes!  The fault lies within the federal government for abandoning tried and true rules and regulations to prevent such abuses.  The question remains, was this foreseen with a devil may care pervasive attitude knowing that a shit-load of money will be made in a relatively short time and that all in all, in spite of people being hurt, the government would provide bailouts and the economy would recover in time.

Of course, this comes at a bad time for McCain who incidentally was for deregulation before he was against it!

I wonder how many people were advised by their “Financial Planners” in the last six months to move money out of the “risky” funds and into the “less risky” ones like insurance and banking.

I have the solution.  First, you line ‘em up ....

re: Tony Wicher

I’ll give it to you that regulated capitalism works well as an economic system (from a socialist that’s a big give).  However, “It is not called ‘greed’ unless it is somehow excessive” rather leaves the door open for individual assessment of what constitutes excessive, thus making greed a matter of opinion. (Actually, the old 90 plus percent tax rate on huge incomes was a built-in limit on excessive.)

Adam Smith who started this whole thing depended on human greed to make laissez-faire capitalism work optimally.  (He also recognized potential abuses and warned against letting them happen - cartels, giant trusts and all that stuff.)

What really started me on this ‘greed’ kick was that shot of McCain (and his economic guru Gramm) complaining about greed on Wall Street when for years he’s supported legislation that fosters it - like any proper capitalist would? sorry, I just had to say it.

GW=MCHammered,

Interesting article, do not agree with some of it. What really is interesting and amusing at the same time , is the supposition Republicans are borne this way, sort of like gays are borne to be gay.

“just how dumb do they think we are?”

Well, if the polls are right, there are a good portion of us that do appear to be quite dumb, as one poster pointed out, to have the two in a neck and neck race. Personally, I do not believe the polls are even near right. Thousands, if not millions, of the younger, first time voters, gave up home phones long ago. So, what the polls are digging into are the oldies (like me!), the seldom-leave-homers, stay home moms, etc. So, I believe the polls are wrong. But, as I said, if they are right, there IS a significant percentage of really dumb voters out there!

By Janic P., September 17 at 8:08 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

Oh it gets better. Here is a ling to a MSNBC/ Newsweek story praising Palin in 2007!
http://www.newsweek.com/id/42534/

Some of you keep referring to 4 more years of the same. What exactly makes you think that Owama is going to challenge the Democrat status quo?
--------------------------------------------------
Janic,

OK, you are obviously a Republican who has swallowed copious amounts of Rovian Kool Aid. “The Democrat status quo?????????”. Who has been in power for the last eight years, and 28 of the last 40? Who has ridden this country to ruin? Who has deregulated the banks and every other part of the economy leading to the current massive collapse? Republicans. That’s you I’m talking about.

By felicity, September 17 at 5:51 am #

Cyrena - Robert Reich to replace Rubin.

All this talk abo