Woah. Synchronized Presidential Debating.

It amazes me how these people can keep saying these same things over and over without going insane. They must hear their talking points in their sleep.

Now you know why the dude from Flock of Seagulls gets so pissed singing "And I Ran" over and over and over.

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

Elizabeth Dole has lost all sense of common decency in attempt to save job.

While Obama is giving thoughtful missives on how to rebuild the American power grid for clean power, we have some others so desperate to save their political skins they will go to any length of character assassination to keep their power.

No, I'm not talking about McCain. Geesh.

North Carolina's Senator Elizabeth Dole is on the ropes and may lose her seat to a Democrat challenger. So, as expected, goes negative. And not just plain negative, but "YOU ARE A GODLESS SCUM NEGATIVE." In late October, Dole released a television ad calling Democratic challenger Kay Hagan, a Sunday school teacher and an elder at her Presbyterian Church, "godless." The ad also included a voice impersonating Hagan saying, "There is no God."



I guess years of marriage to super-prick/fossil Bob Dole teaches you some stuff about putting yourself above the greater good... oh, wait... "greater good"... that sounds like Godless socialism! I take it all back, Senator Dole.

I really do hope you lose, for no other reason than to show that any good done in your career will be squandered by turning to these vile tactics.

Informational Obama interview with Rachel Maddow

Some good conversation with the snarky Maddow, who seems to be the new rising sate of the the liberal media. And when I say liberal media, I mean media that thinks Bush is whack and can't avoid showing it.

He's giving some informed, straight answers here. Very light on rhetoric. You got to admit the man knows his shit cold.

Bipartisanship Happens

Former President Bill Clinton (left) kicks the sand as former President George H.W. Bush walks on the beach in Galveston, Texas, during their tour of areas hit in September by Hurricane Ike, on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Bush is obviously trying to assess the damage of this tragedy, while Bill is thinking how cool he looks in the pointy boots.

Palin to Alaska: Piss off, suckers!

Palin appears to be saying that regardless of the election, she's got some bigger fish to fry than being a Governor...

Here's the quote:

"Absolutely not," Sarah Palin says. "I think that, if I were to give up and wave a white flag of surrender against some of the political shots that we've taken, that ... that would ... bring this whole ... I'm not doin' this for naught."

So does this mean she's blowing off Alaska permanently? Doesn't she, like, have a job to do there? Ah screw it. They can get by.

Thanks http://www.bobcesca.com/

VOTE DAMMIT

It's the Great Obama, Charlie Brown!!!!

Tonight we get to experience one half hour of seasonal fun. Campaign season, I mean. Obama makes his big media buy with a TV special. What will he say? What will he do? Will he declare he is a Socialist/Communist/Terrorist? Will he suspend his campaign and say he is parting the Red Sea? Will he fire Joe Biden and select Osama Bin Laden as his VP? Will he appear in silk panties and a a corset and show the world "The real Barack hidden deep inside?"

We will know the answers to all of this soon. I do hope this isn't overkill. I was starting to think his strategy was "run down the clock." That said, his strategy sure seems to be working so far.

Don't fuck it up, dude.

Fox's Shep Smith gets bummed out by Joe the Plumber

When FoxNews starts to get depressed by the McCain/Palin fear machine, it's getting bad. Shep Smith here speaking with Joe (yeah, that Joe) who is now on the read spreading the love for McCain. Joe the Plumber was also eyeing a Congressional run, which does start to make his celebrity more open to general speculation. It was one thing when he was a poor citizen getting bombarded by reporters, but once he starts suggests tossing his hat in the ring or using his celebrity to help form political opinion. He is now open for scrutiny. And he makes Palin sound like a fucking genius.

A Marxist view on the economic crisis

Richard Wolff a professor of economics at UMass Amherst talks on the current "financial" crisis and capitialism in general. A form of socialism is presented as a possible alternative. This talk was presented by the Asociation for Economic and Social Analysis and the journal Rethinking Marxism.



Take some time and give this a listen. One point to take away from this is very clear... there is little doubt that we will begin to re-regulate in many economic areas that were one regulated until lobbyists paid off enough politicians. One can assume that the second we re-regulate, those same interests will start figuring out how to erode them again. How do we solve this?

ALERT: PLEASE DO NOT LET BARAK OBAMA SEE THIS. FOXNEWS WILL ACCUSE HIM OF ASSOCIATED WITH COMMUNISTS.

You can't say the dude doesn't want it

Obama in the rain talking to 9,000 of his closest wet supporters. Philly.

Kinda inspiring. Some attendees noted he walked on water.

McCain cancelled his event. Too bad, it would have been a good McCain moment, like an old ship's captain sternly braving the storm.

Paul Krugman is blowing my fucking mind

You may have heard about this guy recently for winning the Nobel Prize in Economics. The stuff he won the prize for is way over my tender head, but he's also written some pretty accessible books for non-economists. The one I'm listening to is The Conscience of a Liberal in which he finds patterns between increases in conservative government and economic disparity between rich and poor.

I'm about 3 chapters in, and my mind is reeling. It seems to explain an awful lot of what we've been seeing, and backs it up with data.

I won't go too far into it, but from what I have gathered, his theory is that the 2000s are economically and governmentally similar to the 1920s, with a severely conservative agenda protecting the interests of a small group, and a vast difference in wealth between the super rich and the poor. The New Deal reversed that in short order, bringing about a 30 year period (roughly 1940-1970) with not only a fairly large and affluent middle class, but also a by-and-large moderate government. This all changed when the conservative movements began anew at trying to dissolve the New Deal, reaching it's zenith with Dubya's attempt to dismantle Social Security in 2004.

Makes a lot of sense. He also seems to give us some good news, as he predicts the pendulum is swinging back, with an even more powerful liberal movement that could be joined by moderate republicans to expand the middle class again.

With the recent attacks on Obama's "redistribute the wealth" sound-bite, this book is particularly interesting. I am wondering if Professor Obama buys into Krugman's theories, and if so if his comments are based on a similar line of thinking.

Oh yeah, he also thinks Alan Greenspan and Phil Gramm helped cause the sub-prime mortgage crisis. No arguments there.

Good read! And here is a except from his book tour.

Angry Obama the pothead is not how we remember him

Here's an old interview with Obama, way back a billion years ago when he was still mixing it up with Hilary. I find it insightful looking back at this very complex election season.

He's not quite as tired looking here, less guarded in responses.

Desperate times and the measures that follow

This woman is chaining herself to her home to avoid foreclosure repossession. What would you do in this situation?

The peaceful demonstration seen here is the first step. Others will defend their homes with shotguns. When the banks are bailed out for bad financial decisions, at what point do we bail out everyone?

Let's lighten up for a sec

A tip of the hat to this fine young lady.

Revenge of the ID: The case of the disappearing Obama yard signs

So this weekend it seems like little elves have come through our lazy Connecticut neighborhood and stolen all the Obama yard signs, including the one in front of my house. Odd, they must really like the Obama logo, cause they didn't take any McCain/Palin ones... those are still all about... dotting the countryside.

Fortunately, I happened to have a spare handy.

So what is this, besides trespassing and theft? Sour grapes? I can see this going on in Ohio, a swing state. But Connecticut is about as safe as you can get for Obama. Are some Republicans so pissed they are being sore losers before they even lose?

Before you ask, I didn't take any McCain/Palin signs in revenge. I wanted to... but I have a super-ego.

Prison Bars Are a Series of Tubes, Part 2

You may remember Ted Stevens, Republican Senator from Alaska. He was mocked for his explaination of the Internet as "a series of tubes." He's got a long voting record... a lot of it shitty.

Anyway... he has been found guilty of corruption in Alaska for kickbacks to improve his mountain cabin.

How much worse can it get for the Republican's this year? Hopefully a little bit worse on Nov 4. It shows the level of corruption in Congress. These are just the ones who get CAUGHT!

I'm hoping the Democrats, now on the verge of landslide wins, will heed these lessons in power and corruption and avoid similar pitfalls... but I doubt it.

WASHINGTON — Ted Stevens, a pillar of the Senate for 40 years and the face of Alaska politics almost since statehood, was convicted of a seven-felony string of corruption charges Monday _ found guilty of accepting a bonanza of home renovations and fancy trimmings from an oil executive and then lying about it.

Visibly shaken after the verdicts were read _ the jury foreman declaring "guilty" seven times _ Stevens tried to intertwine his fingers but quickly put his hands down to his side after noticing they were trembling. As he left the courtroom, he got a quick kiss on the cheek from his wife, Catherine, who testified on his behalf during the trial.

Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count when he is sentenced, but under federal guidelines he is likely to receive much less time, if any. The judge did not immediately set a sentencing date.

Stevens said he had no idea he was getting freebies. He said his wife handled the business of the renovation. He said he paid $160,000 for the project and believed that covered everything.

STORY

PREVIOUS POST ON THIS TOPIC

Voting Problems: learn more and protect yourself

Anyone who lived through the 2000 election (dangling chads and partisan cronies, anyone?) will recall that there was an excellent chance that Bush didn't really win. It took the Supreme Court, voting along party lines, to stick Dubbya into the White House and stuck 60 million voters into 8 years of shock and awe.

So that's all behind us, right? Wrong.

You've probably heard some bits on ACORN (not a concern, in my opinion) and may have heard of faulty and easily hacked Touch Screen readers even their makers say suck (be pretty concerned). You may even know that many such machines do not have a paper back-up, so if you press Obama and McCain lights up (or vice-versa) you are screwed. Inexplicably, these machines are in many states now and early voters are using them.

As early voting continues, more issues will come up. There have been reports of tactical voter suppression in certain swing states, for example.

As voters, it's be great if we could just go and do our duty knowing it's all cool. But sadly we need to get involved to make sure our votes count.

BragBlog.com is an excellent resource to learn what is going on out there, where the problems are and what to do if you have any. Check it out, if you can. It will at least get you familiar with the state of voting issues today.

http://www.bradblog.com/

If you can stand getting pissed, here's a full length movie dealing with voter fraud in 2000, 2004 and possible 2008 issues: http://www.stealingamericathemovie.org/

I'm hoping for a win with a large enough margin that it would be impossible to steal.

Environmental Suicides

The ad was created by Quercus, a non-profit that focuses on raising awareness of Portuguese environmental problems and campaigns against nuclear power.



ecorazzi.com

Dance it out

Bush parting gift #1: Big Coal get's to dump shit where ever they want

Sorry, I was hoping not to blog on Bush ever again. Alas....


The Interior Department has advanced a proposal that would ease restrictions on dumping mountaintop mining waste near rivers and streams, modifying protections that have been in place -- though often circumvented by mining companies -- for a quarter-century.

It sets the stage for a final regulation, one of the last major "environmental initiatives" of the Bush administration, after 30 days of additional public comment and interagency review.

The proposed rule would rewrite a regulation enacted in 1983 by the Reagan administration that bars mining companies from dumping huge waste piles -- known as "valley fills" -- from surface mining within 100 feet of any intermittent or perennial stream if the disposal adversely impacts water quality or quantity.

"The new rule will allow coal companies to dump massive waste piles directly into streams, permanently burying them," warned Joan Mulhern of Earthjustice, among the environmental groups that have fought the practice known as mountaintop removal mining widely used in Appalachia, especially in West Virginia, Kentucky and parts of Virginia and Tennessee.

Soft money contributions from the coal mining industry to the Republican National Committee during the
2000 election cycle were $767,825.

Isn't the Interior Department the same fuckers who were having those coke and sex parties? Um.. yeah.

Sex, Drug Use and Graft Cited in Interior Department

ENTIRE STORY HERE

Joe the Plumber grabs for the golden toilet ring

Seems like Joe has gotten a whiff of stardom and found that he likes it.

The once shy but articulate man with a dream to own a plumbing company turned into a McPalin poster boy recently. Now Joe thinks he got something special beyond being used by ideologues. He's considering a run for Congress in 2010 on the Republican ticket. On conservative talk radio host Laura Ingraham's show, Joe announced his interest.

I don't have any problem with the common man getting involved in politics, but I was sorta hoping that Joe and his thoughtful questions of Obama would kinda just fade away.

I actually felt bad for him being dragged out by the media and having his background (tax records and all) put out for show. Now, I can see he was secretly loving it. Like a reality star contestant that got kicked off the island, he's going to stoke it for all it's worth.

Joe the Plumber salad dressing, anyone? I'm sure he'll make an excellent VP for Palin's next run.

Source: CNN

Poor Scott McClellan still trying to claw himself out of Hell...

Poor Scott.

Former George W. Bush press secretary Scott McClellan decided to endorse Obama. You may ask yourself "Who cares? This guy was just a loser mouth-piece and whipping boy for Bush to toss to the reporters." And you'd be right. But it is another high level defection. I will say the guy looks 10 years younger than when he was pitching for Bush.



In case you don't remember poor Scott, here's him in action back in the good ol' days. Gotta admit he's got the kind of face you wanna punch, perfect to stick out in front of an angry mob of reporters trying to get some truth from the most secretive Administration in history.

Can Obama bring back "Happy Days"?

How dare Ron Howard use characters from our childhood to pitch for Obama. As a rebuttal, McCain plans to being back some entertainers from his childhood too... anyone for some Gilbert and Sullivan? Maybe some Magic Lantern action? Sorry.

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

Schwarzenegger's evolution

Did anyone think Schwarzenegger would be this classy of a politician? Keep it up, T-800.

A few things I'm apathetic about...

1) SULU HATES KIRK

"William Shatner has spoken out about George "Sulu" Takei's wedding snub and put a video on YouTube slamming his former "Star Trek" costar. On the video he refers to Takei's recent marriage to partner Brad Altman and the multitude of press stories Takei cooperated with talking about his decision not to invite Shatner to the wedding."

APATHETIC ME SAYS: I think it's wonderful Takei was able to come out and marry his partner. It's too bad it took as long as it did on both counts. That said, Takei — who is excellent, but not a lead actor — would have been just another supporting cast member on Hawaii-5-0 if it wasn't for William Shatner. Sorry George if you think Bill drank your milkshake, but it was kinda HIS milkshake. I love you both, as all trekkies do.

---

2) SARAH PALIN'S EXPENSIVE DUDS

"Since her selection as John McCain's running mate, the Republican National Committee spent more than $150,000 on clothing and make-up for Gov. Sarah Palin, her husband, and even her infant son, it was reported on Tuesday evening."

APATHETIC ME SAYS: She may be selling herself as an equal of the Wal-Mart mom's across the Nation, but of course she is anything but that. Furthermore, her clothes are a huge part of her "brand." and her supporters want to see her all dolled up on high end clothes, even if they don't realize it. As a politician who is more style than substance, the style better look pretty fucking good. $150,000 is a bargain, if you ask me. She is a Republican, after all. For all I dislike about her, the cost of her clothes are the least of my issues.

Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan? Sounds like a terrorist.

For those of you wringing your hands over "a Muslim" getting into the White House. What about this Muslim? Has he paid his dues and proven his loyalty to America? Would you be okay with President Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan? What exactly would it take? Would putting his hands on the Koran while getting sworn in be a deal breaker for you, despite the fact he got blown to pieces defending your right to be a bigot?

Some day I may forgive Colin Powell.

Powell really blew any credibility he had during his infamous U.N. Security Council Presentation on Iraq, but he just did one small thing to help put things right. Well done, sir.

Colin Powell Endorses Obama

Republicans want to get laid too.

Was hanging out at a local museum today with my wife and kid, and as usual we ended it with a trip through the museum shop. In there we found two well dressed middle aged guys trying to talk up a few poor captive young ladies behind the counter. The "conversation", as many these days, was gravitating around politics (using the quotes cause the clerks were not engaged in the discussion, they were just trapped at their stations. The two men were Republicans, and in the modern Republican style, were not as much trying to impress with what their chosen party does so well, it's all about what they dislike about the Democrats.

"I think [Obama] would make Cindy Sheehan the secretary of State," the younger of the two sneered. "You know, that woman who led the protests even though he son enlisted AND chose to fight AND she supported him." Trying to underscore what a hypocrite she is.

I wanted to add "Yeah, well he probably thought he was going to fight a war that was necessary," but I didn't. Partially I didn't want to butt into someone's conversation and partially because I didn't want to get into a debate that may end in someone telling the other to fuck off. Not something I wanted my 6 year-old to witness.

The older of the two guys then decided to explain that he just didn't "find he had anything in common with Obama, generationally, culturally or otherwise. I wouldn't have one thing to say in a conversation to Obama." I took "culturally" as code for "black."

Anyway, when I was cashing out I spoke with the clerks, both of whom were for Obama and thought there two guys were total tools.

It was unclear if the two 40-50 something guys were JUST trying to get laid or get some McCain votes in CT while getting laid, but either way it was clear this wasn't the kind of talk that would get these two 20-something girls hot and bothered.

I just chalk it all up to the fact that I will NEVER understand what drives other people. If after 8 years of Republican rule, if you are still fixed on voting along your red party lines, there is no rational argument that will persuade you.

This isn't uncommon in New England these days. Republicans, feeling very much "on the ropes", are sticking up McCain/Palin signs everywhere. There is desperation in the air.

GOOD. Time to spread the desperation around. I've felt that way since 2000.

TGIF Part 2!

Gotta admit... she's a kook, but with some kickin' calves....

She much have been struttin' her stuff in one of the "Pro-American" states she's been talking about. I don't think I live in one of those. I can't see Russia from my house. ;-)

TGIF!

23/6

Alfred E Smith Dinner was funny and unexpected.

I didn't know about this. It's very funny! I guess they have done this charity dinner for years. What a contrast to the debate yesterday.

McCain in particular has some great comic timing.

Nigger Muslim bums me out.

I was catching up with a family member who lives in Arizona today. We got talking to politics, and if he was following the election. I was surprised to hear an enthusiastic "YES!", and proceeded to tell me that he was watching the debates, reading, etc. He even voted early. I was impressed, cause he never seemed to give a shit before, and have always felt that when people take the time to educate themselves, we'd be a better country for it.

Now I know AZ is McCain's state, so it wouldn't have been odd to hear that he was voting Republican, but when I asked him who he was voting for, he told me: "I aint voting for some Nigger Muslim."

He also told me that Obama was a terrorist, and pals with terrorists, and even invited 'that terrorist leader that wants to destroy Israel' (I assume he meant Ahmadinejad from Iran) to take a personal tour of New York.

I tried to explain that he isn't a Muslim OR a terrorist, and that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad actually belongs to the UN, and comes to NY for the UN meetings. Also, Obama didn't give him a tour.

He didn't believe me, or at least not enough to concede that maybe his information wasn't 100% right.

So here is a fairly decent person, not super smart or educated, about 50, and father of 3. He thinks he's read up and educated on the facts, and voted accordingly.

He's ignorant, racist, and spoon fed by the media and hate mongers, and in my family.

I'm so ashamed by this I want to throw up.

Obama is not a Terrorist... he's a COMMUNIST!!!!!

Palin tossing another shit brick at Joe Six Pack.

Undefinable

The photo was snapped by Reuters when McCain went the wrong way around the desk at the very end of the debate.

Thanks Skakes

I don't give a fuck about Joe the Plumber

I hope this narrative is over with. I'm certain all the networks are running for that guys home and combing his history, and before long he'll have a plumbing bit on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

That said, I don't give a fuck about Joe the Plumber. I have a business that grossed just a hair under 250K last year, and after deductions, much less. If I was making more that 250K, I'll GLADLY pay a few extra percent, because I'd be firmly out of the small business class by most standards. And if that's what it takes to get us out of this mess, so be it.

And, by the way, I'm sure that any small business will be tickled pink to maintain their same profits from last year. Not federal bailout rich, not 400K spa retreat rich, but not too shabby.

PS - I also look a bit like Joe the Plumber. So there is that.

All I need to hear about the debate is right here....

Click to zoom it.



Courtesy 23/6

Tim Mahoney is a jackass.

I have nothing else to say. Oh yeah... DIPSHIT!

Now I'm done.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5997043&page=1

No actually, he's more than a jackass:

Current and former aides for Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL) say he was carrying on an affair with a county official from Florida at the same time he lobbied to help her county receive a $3.4 million federal grant.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=6040580&page=1

Yeah, so Bush did approve the waterboard thing...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration explicitly endorsed the use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods against al Qaeda suspects in a pair of secret memos to the CIA in 2003 and 2004, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

Below is the Bush last Feb taking torture. He wanted to know what terrorist attack we wanted to have instead of him getting the info from torture. I dunno... what are my choices?

And when every captured soldier we have gets waterboarded now because the Geneva Convention is shit, who should we torture to find out where they are?

Obama is a half-breed muslin

This, of course, is a damnable lie. Obama is a wool-poly blend.

Posting and pithy remark above both courtesy of Shakeville

We and our problems are insignificant.

Check this: An animation of the sun, seen by NASA's Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) over the course of 6 days, starting June 27, 2005. (Courtesy of SOHO/EIT consortium).

SOURCE: Boston.com

McCain having a hard time getting the hate-genie back in the bottle

Dear Senator McCain,

Despite your slow slide from year 2000 "straight-talk" to year 2008 pablum, I still like you. I like you for what he used to be. I think you are a good man, who has done many good things in a long career. As someone who voted for you in the Republican primary in 2000, it was hard to see you get maligned and disemboweled by the Karl Rove smear machine, attacking your adopted daughter to let George Bush slither by.

It was even more painful to watch you embrace Bush later to help kick start your 2008 campaign. It was even sadder to see you cynically pick the tragically unprepared Palin as your running mate; a cheap ploy designed at capturing a few zealot votes and perhaps drive a wedge through the democrats in the same stroke.

Finally, it was a shock to see you hook up with Rove and his sith apprentices – the same men who raped you eight years before – to maul Obama in a last ditch effort to brand him a terrorist and anti-American. Sicking your folksie cheesecake pit bull to smear on the lipstick and rile up the crowds with hate and fear, which she was all too willing to do. Unlike you, Palin doesn't have the reputation to kill – she's as ambitious as she is weaponized, and will happily tear down anyone who gets in the way of real power.

The crowds ate up the hate and fear mongering. Before long, they began to yell "Terrorist!" and "Kill him!" at the mention of Barack Hussein Obama (with the emphasis on the 'Hussein' to alert the ignorant) – and you didn't correct them.

And now, because there is some part of you that knows better, you try and stuff the hate-genie back in the bottle. You know it hurts the country you love, and the political process you admire.

But it's too late, Senator. An you can't get that genie back in the bottle. And watching you try is the saddest footnote on an excellent career that turned itself to red meat for the wild pit bulls.

I hope Obama has good bodyguards, cause if someone gets a lucky shot, I hope you'll know that you helped load the gun.

Sincerely,
Jay

Screw it. I'm calling the election.

OBAMA: 321 - MCCAIN - 217

Here's the map. Let's pack it up. When's the new season of Battlestar Galactica start? I'm ready to move on.

3 down. 47 to go. GAY MARRIAGE APPROVED in CT.

My state just made me proud. We're becoming a civilized nation one state at a time. A little bit of good news in the midst of the B.S. Good job, "activist" judges! Boy that McCain Angry Rally Guy is really gonna blow a gasket now.

SOURCE - ABCNEWS

Wait a sec.... REPUBLICANS are angry????

There's been a lot of hay being made about anger at McCain/Palin rallies. People are outraged at the possibility that Obama will be President, calling him a Communist, terrorist, Socialist... lot's of "ists." What's more, Palin and McCain have been doing some of this rabble rousing themselves.

People, can I get a "WTF????" The REPUBLICANS are angry??? After 8 years of reckless spending, wars against the wrong country, corruption, politically based firings, wire tapping, attacks on the bill of rights, and an economic meltdown, $4 gas prices... it's all Obama's fault? The media's fault? Democrat's fault...

DEMOCRAT'S FAULT?? WHAT??? HOW???? HOW CAN YOU PEOPLE CALL YOURSELF VICTIMS????????? You've not only been in power for 8 years, you've been in P O W E R. You ran the table. Now it's Obama's fault?

I don't know about anyone else, but I think it's MY TURN TO BE ANGRY. But rather that do that, I suggest we do what your candidate's slogan says and really put COUNTRY FIRST.

Or is it just a slogan to hide behind and be victims?

Since I'm a part owner in AIG now, can I fire one of these douche bags?

Listen to the prick toward the end saying that spending the $440,000 was probably to keep the poor AIG folks morale up. Poor folks. God has a special place in heaven for 'em...

So don't give me that "No one could have seen this coming bullshit."

Here's a little time capsule action for you: Part of the blame for our recent financial woes has been placed on the 1999 agreement to deregulate the banking industry in the most sweeping banking deregulation bill in American history. It had bipartisan support, and was pushed along by an absolutely MASSIVE lobbying campaign. It did away with the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, one of the central pillars of Roosevelt's New Deal. Under the old law, banks, brokerages and insurance companies were effectively barred from entering each others' industries, and investment banking and commercial banking were separated.

So that worked out good.

I found an article on it on the World Socialist Web Site from 1999, when the bill was passed. Here's what the Martin McLaughlin had to say about it's possible implications:

"Threat to financial stability
The proposed deregulation will increase the degree of monopolization in finance and worsen the position of consumers in relation to creditors. Even more significant is its impact on the overall stability of US and world capitalism. The bill ties the banking system and the insurance industry even more directly to the volatile US stock market, virtually guaranteeing that any significant plunge on Wall Street will have an immediate and catastrophic impact throughout the US financial system."

Of course, who'd trust those commie pinko rat bastards, right?

READ EM AND WEEP

And Bill Clinton, who signed the bill, doesn't think it was a problem. Read what he's saying to help him sleep.

CLINTON: “On the Glass-Steagall thing, like I said, if you could demonstrate to me that it was a mistake, I'd be glad to look at the evidence. I can't blame (the Republicans). This wasn't something they forced me into.”

Sadly, it appears Mr. McLaughlin passed away at the end of last year. I would welcome his insights, as he's obviously one of few who saw this coming.

Thanks for trying, good sir.

There is still beauty in the world(s)...

As we concern ourselves with the DOW, McCain, Obama, Bush, Iraq, Palin, evolution, abortion, and so on... a little probe called Messenger took this amazing image of the planet Mercury.

SOURCE: The Daily Galaxy

It's always good to have an escape plan.

Voting Porn. Is anyone else turned on by this?

I don't know if it's Jessica Alba's leather gloves or Hayden Panettiere in the mask... yeah, definitely turned on.

Probably not the intention. Excuse me, I need private time.

And then therapy.



Go to http://themuzzler.com/ to get your rocks off while pretending to care about the election.

McCain Seeks Joke Advice from Dave Chappelle (Parody)

SOURCE

Palin Misquotes Albright: "Place In Hell Reserved For Women Who Don't Support Other Women"

At a rally on Saturday in California, Sarah Palin offered up a rather jarring argument for supporting the Republican ticket. "There's a place in Hell reserved for women who don't support other women," the Alaska Governor said, claiming she was quoting former Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

The statement came after Palin had recounted a "providential" moment she experienced on Saturday: "I'm reading on my Starbucks mocha cup, okay? The quote of the day... It was Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State [crowd boos] and UN ambassador. ... Now she said it, I didn't. She said, 'There's a place in Hell reserved for women who don't support other women.'"

Actually, Albright didn't say that. The accurate quote is, "There's a place in Hell reserved for women who don't help other women." SOURCE

Here's the actual clip. I love how she pre-blames the media for fucking her quote over, when she's perfectly able to fuck her quote up all by herself.

Debate aftermath

Orthodox Islam and Judaism find common ground: They are both batshit insane

Above: Haredim raising the bar on "holy crazy".

From AMY TEIBEL, AP:

JERUSALEM — In Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, where the rule of law sometimes takes a back seat to the rule of God, zealots are on a campaign to stamp out behavior they consider unchaste. They hurl stones at women for such "sins" as wearing a red blouse, and attack stores selling devices that can access the Internet.

In recent weeks, self-styled "modesty patrols" have been accused of breaking into the apartment of a Jerusalem woman and beating her for allegedly consorting with men. They have torched a store that sells MP4 players, fearing devout Jews would use them to download pornography.

Finally something the jews and arabs have in common. Let's have as totalitarian asshole contest. Whichever set of wackos uses the most violence and abuses women the most gets a prize – to be stoned to death!

I've seen these guys push around documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock while shooting "Where in the World is Osam Bin Laden," where he travel all around the middle east, meeting many well spoken, thoughtful people of all faiths. These people were the only ones to actually threaten him, actually pushing him around to the point he needed to flee.

I have no idea what the Israeli's are doing to battle this, but until they actually address their own brutality-cults, they are no better than the thugs that wish them harm.

Bill O'Reilly is such an asshole.

O'Reilly is so far out of line, it's hard to express in words. He only cares about himself and his image, though he claims to be a defender of the people.

I know people are mad at the government, but this guy is out of line. Listen to this. Frank has a silly voice and is a member of a group of people we don't trust (POLITICIANS), but sticking him with the venom of O'Reily's rant is unfounded, in my opinion. In addition, calling Frank a "coward" without giving him a chance for rebuttal proved classless. Finally, he just cuts him off.

O'Reilly's bully pulpit should be abandoned by any credible source. He's a tool of the right wing and his job is to serve meat to the converted.

Nice job, VP wanna Bs

They both did well. Palin dodged some questions, but dodged them professionally. Biden was a gaffe-less force, powerful and persuasive. Palin learned well during her cramming sessions. Even if she didn't know what she was talking about, she talked a good game.

The moderation was also just fine. No obvious bias.

OK, McCain. OK, Obama. Get down like these two. They raised the bar.

And I think Biden won on issues and skill (and not saying that FDR called anyone on a cell phone), but Palin won just hanging in without passing out or saying something dumb. It's a draw. Get some sleep, VP wanna Bs.

P.S. - If I hear the word "Maverick" one more time, I'm going to throw up.

Casting notice for Sarah Palin porn

Below is the ad from craigslist. Anyone else a little disappointed that "No anal required"?



UPDATE: We have a name. It's called "Nailin' Paylin"

Here's your star: Lisa Ann.



Cameos with a Hilary and a Condi look-a-like are also planned, and will be out before the elections.

So there's that. No Obama? No Bill? No cigars?

Palin wins tomorrow's debate

It's over folks, a day before it happens. And the Obama camp all ready knows it.

With the flurry of critics calling Palin a total lightweight, they are missing the fact that as they critique, they are lowering our expectations. At this point, all she will need to do is hold her own at the debate, and get a few zingers in. They don't even need to be of any real substance. If she can simply avoid making an ass out of herself, which she is certainly capable of doing, she will be the winner.

The burden is on Biden, who by all means is also capable of making an ass of himself, but will be regarded as a bully if he presses too hard. He will also need to dig under the 3 weeks of information provided to her during her crash course and find areas that she hasn't be tutored in.

You can see Obama's camp trying to reverse this trend of making her a living twinkie. They have made several statements saying what a formidable opponent she is and what a skilled debater she is. They see the danger in making her an underdog.

I remember seeing Gore and Kerry go against Bush, both assured that he was a powder puff. But sometimes debates are not about smarts – or the issues – they are about exceeding very low expectations.

RELATED POST