Political Punch

Does no one remember that we have had a Democrat majority Congress for the last 2 years and that when that Congress came into being that our gas prices at the pump were $2.78 a gallon? Does no one know that the deregulation of the required Mortgage insurance for mortgages on any mortgage with less than 20% down happened during the Clinton administration? Does anyone listen to the economists and understand that what has happened to our economy is not a product of the Republican's but a product of Wall Street Greed and the majority vote of Democrate's on bad Bills? Look into the facts don't just repeat Main Street Media. Vote with your Head not your Heart. Obama wants to take care of everyone by setting up all sorts of programs that that we as tax payers will all be paying for. If you have done your homework you will understand that that is how we got into this economic crisis. By making it a priority that people who could not afford it purchased homes that they had to walk away from. Is this how you manage your own financial priorities and make sure that your children are cared for? We each one of us need to accept responsibility for our decisions and set our priorities based within our economic means. There is nothing wrong with renting until your Budget can move into a House. Millions of Americans do it everyday and understand that it just is a matter of a step at a time. We don't have to have it all Right Now.

We're going to spend 700 Billion dollars and our friends and neighbors (Stupid as they may be) still get evicted. Is this BIZARRO world ?

Howard

It makes so much sense. Measure twice, cut once!

Theses people telling us it has to be done quick. Remember the two wars that were started, over 4000 dead.

Haste make waste! Smart people got us in this let them figure a way out without taxpayer money.

Another transfer of wealth.

Right on Emily. No only did McCain recommend reigning in Freddie and Fannie in 2005, Bush tried to in 2003 (see the new york times archive for sept. of 2003). In 20 years worth of cumulative contributions record keeping by Freddie & Fannie, Obama ranks THIRD after only THREE years in the senate!!!!!
Unbeleivable Democrat Hypocrites!!

Obama 2008.
2012, no more 2 party system. Let's get smarter.

Good for MCCain, did anyone know that Paulson is a Liberal Democract. HaHa, you probably thought he was a Republican. Hello...Maybe he is telling the truth. Most Dem-wits love to bury their heads in the sand. I have more confidence in MCCAin, Than Nobama...Maybe Obama should debate Obiden, they disagree alot....

McCain is part of the stone age, 76 is to old! He's already using the same advisors bush had ,and don't think for a second thay won't try scarying the dum public into another 4 years of republican leadership. Don't be dum we need real change. and for those that think Obama spends to much time testing the political waters before he decides how to comment on any issue, your right he is lessoning the voice of the people ! now wouldn't that be nice a president that cares what the people think. McCain is old school, old way, old Politics and lets not forget really old

THE BAILOUT?
Why not bring Alan Greenspan into the mix. He's the one who warned about this meltdown back in April. Remember, when the democrats voted against his advised legislation to prevent this mess. And, how about Newt, who suggested that we consider a plan B, and consult with the advisers who successfully turned the economy around before, during the Reagan administration. Why are we looking to Paulson and Bernecke? Aren't they the ones at the helm when this mess took place? An independent panel should determine who will benefit from this bailout ... and, who's asses will be saved by it ... and, if any of those people are the ones pushing it through? Let's not be rushed by foxes, who might be guarding the chicken coup ... AGAIN !!!

REGARDING OUR ECONOMY ...
What's the rush? There always seems to be time to fix things, but never enough time to do it right the first time around. Remember ... "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". The consequences of whatever is decided will dramatically affect Americans for decades ... so, why not take the proper time and steps to properly explore all alternatives. Newt suggested taking a step back and creating a plan B ... perhaps calling upon the people who advised Ronald Reagan, and turned the economy around back then. Besides, we should let the FBI investigation play out, before we decide to make a permanent decision. Like all good carpenters ... going back to Jesus ... I say: "Measure twice, cut once".

The Dems are doubting if they chose the right candidate. It is evident their pick was superficially based on looks and sound bites. As the Dem campaign progressed, its strength and breadth has shown to be only 'skin-deep'. Unfortunately for them, the weakness of the ticket will adversely affect their Congressional base. The election will be a combination of 1984 and 1994 results.

Sure Kitty, that's why even Karl Rove said that McCain had gone too far with his lying ads. Like your candidate, you're full of it!

midwestlady -

Yes, I have heard of of affirmative action and lawyers. Please enlighten us as to what is has to do with anything I mentioned. I guess you assume that by using multi-syllabic words that I must a be an attorney.

Voters haven't conveniently forgotten who runs McCain's campaign two of the meanest political operatives that sold the American People two Bush terms. Notice they are big on names they even nick name themselves 'Bullet', 'Pit Bull' and they use fear in branding everyone else – 'Wolves' etc. Now a lot of us are posting on these comment sections for the first time during a Presidential elections we don't scare easy and we will hit back through our postings. Now McCains been around a long time with a track record on Wall Street that anyone can look up online.
Anyone can also see online that McCain's Campaign manager Davis accepted over 2 million dollars from the very same companies that helped cause the problems on wall street.

Hmm. It seems Obama conveniently forgets Biden's 32 years in the Senate.

And ignores McCain's attempts in 2005 to rein in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which failed because Democrats were making too much money off them. He also forgets taking the second highest amount of money from them of anyone in Congress.

And he forgets everything he said about running a clean 'new politics' positive campaign.

He's just a typical Chicago politician.

Frankie, I want to personally thank you for your service, and say God Bless You for your committment to rational thought and inquiry. Seriously. Thanks for helping to raise the standard of this debate.

Frankie: All of the candidates have something to prove. All of the candidates will be watched intensly to see what they will do. All of them will be trying to do and say the right things. So how does any of that make someone more attractive to vote for? your generalizations are confounding. You don't vote for someone because they "have something to prove." You vote for him/her because they seem like the person who will get things done. For me that person is John McCain, but that criteria applies to all candidates at all levels.

But then again, according to his campaign masterminds, the chosen Sen. Obama does have 300+ political advisors to make up for his lack of experience.
That said, maybe the reason that Obama looks like a deer in headlights when asked non-scripted political questions is because his 300 political advisors haven't all agreed as to what he should say at that particular moment.
The Democrats must be as proud as [Political]Punch with their choice of Obama for President of the United States. (BTW, has Obama saluted the flag yet??)

jhop,

Have you ever heard of affirmative action?

Uh-huh. I thought so.

Besides, even if the whole thing is all it's cracked up to be, there are a lot of lawyers out there with paper for brains. A law degree doesn't particularly mean squat outside the office. I'll bet there are 10 lawyers in this little country town where I am right now, and I wouldn't vote for a damn one of them for anything. So much for a law degree.

Well Frankie, as you say, "I am voting for Obama because he, out of everyone, has the most to prove." You certainly are 100% absolutely correct there, my man. To paraphrase Frankie: Sen. Obama, out of everyone, has the least experience and has the longest way to prove that being a community coordinator in southside Chicago is the best experience needed to lead the most complex nation in the world through national and world crises for the next four years. Yeah, that sounds logical to me. NOT!

Obama only chose Joe Biden so that the ticket would appear beefed up. His advisors must've made him do it. They don't agree on anything. Hell, they probably don't even talk. CAn't you tell???

Ms. Pepitone -

Please keep up the good work. Your non-sensical, semi-literate ramblings are too good to be true.

I too live in Chicago. Your revisionist view of Daley the First is comical. Do the words "restrictive covenants" ring a bell? Does the word "patronage" mean anything to you? And, boy, elections certainly were on the up and up with King Richard in office. Yes, ma'am, Ol' Man Daley was a smooth politician. Well, at least he fooled you.

Mariann Pepitone: First off, you say Biden is soo much smarter than Obama. . . what brings you to that conclusion? Obama has a B.A. from Columbia (Ivy League. . incase you didn't know) and a J.D. (Juris Doctor) from Harvard where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He was also the first black president of the Harvard Law Review. Oh-yeah, Harvard is also Ivy League! Will you people please stop making crap up and regurgitating all of that Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly make believe dribble and do your home work.
Also, to answer your question: I am voting for Obama because he, out of everyone, has the most to prove. Not just to himself, but to people like you. He has to get it right and he has to deliver what he says because if he doesn't America will crucify him. The entire world will be watching to see what he does. That, along with his character, and his intelligence is how I know he is the best person for the job. I just wish he would've picked Hillary Clinton as his running mate because her and Bill are politcal geniuses. The republicans have wrecked this country and John McCain is only going to continue that legacy.

Just FYI, unfortunately (or in this case - fortunately) the first time I watched this video of Obama about AIG's bailout, my DSL was acting up and was sloowww. So, I watched it in slow motion and.. ..would you believe Obama's body language??? Check out his facial expressions! With a smirk, his expression was totally defensive, as if expecting Matt to fart. ..or as if he didn't know what the hell he was talking about. Wow, what an impressive leader the dems have chosen! This guy is an economic genius.. I surely hope the libs are proud of him.

Re: "voting for a black guy for president"

Ummm...it's not really a black/white thing in my eyes. It's more of a ideology thing. I respect your opinion but I think Obama needs a few more years of governing experience and also needs to shift to center-right a bit before he is electable. I'm of the opinion that he jumped into the Presidential fray four years too soon but only time will tell. If he loses and MSM plays the post-election race card he will be unelectable thereafter because of the "what if he was white" baggage he'd be left holding (actually he'd only be holding it because the media handed it off to him). Micheal Steele, Colin Powell, etc....no problem there. But Obama is known as a far left liberal and did not take enough time to cultivate a more centrist base (like Hillary did). Winning the Democratic nomination is one thing but the general election usually leans toward the more centrist candidate.

Mariann,

I'm guessing that the corrupt environment has also carried over to Obama's campaign and maybe that's why Biden is talking himself out of the VP slot? It's only conjecture at this point but Biden is all of a sudden sounding very disinterested! He must have changed his mind after getting to know Obama and his corrupt Chicagoland cronies. Sounds like you're seeing typical gansta-style politics up there in Chicago and Obama no doubt has his hand in the cookie jar. It's only a matter of time before he gets caught.

Ralph: You are so right. McCain is right about his ties to City Hall where all the democratic crooks have their meetings. I live in Chicago, born and raised here. I voted many times for Daley's father who ran this city like a fine tooth comb. Chicago was great in those days and Daley, Sr. was a smooth politician. Now City Hall is a mess. They need to lay off about 3500 people working for the city that they don't need. I was waiting for the bus two weeks ago when this streets and sanitation truck stopped there to take care of three small pot holes. There was the driver, and three extra worker's to fill three small potholes when the driver could have done that job himself. And its who you know not what you know to get a job at city hall today without taking an exam. Obama was in Chicago feeding his face at a fundraiser collecting one million dollars. What happened to his 66 million? Did he pocket some of that money?

A BOLD PREDICTION:

For this year's election --- McCain/Palin by 6% of the popular vote. You may be asking...why so? Because the media and college-type kids that are usually hired to do polls are all Pro-Obama and will do anything to get "their" candidate elected. The MSM will be utterly shamed by their ineptitude come the day after the election. Chris Matthews will probably go into seclusion as will his cronies at MSNBC.

Frankie: Give one reason why you would vote for Obama who missed the senate over 130 times, was against the war but wasn't in his seat when the voting was going on which means he wasn't present. And how many times did he vote present? Obama doesn't like being a senator he want's to be big time. President of this country and only in the senate three years? Let me state that Biden is ten times smarter than Obama and Biden is right. Don't bail them out let them claim chapter 11. Cut the executives salaries in half and vacation without pay. The taxpayer's money should be used for other purposes. Even Ron Paul stated that we shouldn't bail them out. Its not the president's fault that they made wrong decisions which cost them the disaster.Obama should listen to Biden and McCain shouldn't vote to bail them out either.

Obama's choice of Joe Biden as Vice President shows a total lack of executive leadership. Biden was picked to give Obama some "foreign policy" credentials...something Obama completely lacks. So far, Biden hasn't done much except to make contrary statements regarding his own candidates' campaign...the media calls them "gaffes".

Obama's poor pick of Biden will correlate directly to the type of people he would have in his cabinet and advisors. Scary, eh?

Matt, that was the dumbest thing I ever read. First of all, who is running around saying America is bad? Doesn't being an American mean you speak up for yourself. America was founded by men that didn't just go along with the masses and accept whatever the government tells them to accept. Read the constitution dude. According to you and your little buddy Camp50, this is supposed to be just like Russia or Cuba.....you follow the state and keep your mouth shut! So according to you two geniuses, the Iraq war is justified and the thousands of our troops that have given their lives for a lie is justified? The mistreatment of those soldiers and Marines when they are wounded is justified. The military families suffering through the many difficult situations they have been thrown into because of an unjust war is justified. I guess having republicans call for more deregulation of the financial sector, only to have us on verge of plunging the world into a depression is justified. I guess bringing this up makes me unpatriotic. You two are idiots. I served proudly in the Marine Corps and I too love this country. But I am smart enough to realize that loving my country doesn't mean I have to agree with everything the government does or says. This is why we have term limits in government, as well as checks and balances. If you don't agree with the officials in power you vote them out. You don't go along with the heard like a couple of balls of meat with eyes. . . you both have brains and eyes - use them!

How can a Presidential candidate for the United States of America have sooooo many risky behaviour type of friends....domestic terrorists, real estate swindlers, CEO's of Fannie Mae, etc., and not get absolutely skewered both day and night by the US news media? I just don't get it. It gives one the impression that the media are outright afraid to criticize him because he's black. They have no problem belittling the Clintons, McCain, Biden, or Palin but Obama is treated like a Golden Calf that no one dares to even look at let alone criticize. This guy has had some very shady friends over the years (Farrakan, Wright, Ayers, Rezko, etc.) yet the media just sits there whistling Dixie without even a single investigation. It took the National Enquirer, the ultimate tabloid rag if there ever was one, to break the John Edwards wife cheating scandal. Wow, looks like they should get their suits pressed for when the time comes to accept the Pultizer Prize for Investigative Reporting because the MSM have been total wimps -- especially during an election year.

There goes Joe Biden again..putting his foot in his mouth! He told CBSNews, "When the stock market crashed, Franklin D Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about, you know, the princes of greed. He said 'Look, here's what happened'".

The only problem is...Herbert Hoover was president in 1929!!!!! FDR wasn't elected until 3 years later! In addition, TV's weren't widely used then, radios were. Joe forgot about the "fireside chats".

Obama sure picked a winner with Joe! And no one worries that Biden could be president?

Robin: You are so right. Obama says what the media wants to hear and all the networks are pro-Obama. And many of the media are also. Plus the networks have Obama leading when it is just the opposite. They do that to make the public think that McCain is not worth voting for because he will lose. That's a gimmick their using. I know that McCain is leading in FL, OH and VA. Palin was in Lady Lake FL the other day and the total crowd was 60,000. McCain was in Wisc. last week and the total crowd was 11,000, when Obama went to the same area as McCain his total was 6,000 short of 5,000. Palin has about four world leader's to meet tomorrow with McCain then she will be campaigning.

Obama has crossed the line from insulting to ridiculous. How stupid does he believe the voting public to be? It has become quite apparent that he will say whatever is politcally expedient regardless of the facts. His attack tactics against Palin have backfired so now they are positioning the failure and removal of Joe Biden to be replaced by Hillary. As someone who admires Hillary's strength I hope she says no and headlines the ticket in 2012...Obama has become even a characature of the Eddie Murphy character from "Distinguished Gentleman". Actually the Eddie Murphy character had more depth...

sp: Palin doesn't talk to the press because she is smarter than the democrats who like to be in the limelight talking away while the press prints the opposite of what they say. The press can make you or break you and Palin isn't going to let that happen right now. The press is good at twisting stories and disrupting people's lives. You know that as well as anyone else.

How long will it be before Obama dumps Joe "foot-in-mouth" Biden and asks Hillary to come aboard???
Biden keeps making contrary comments about his own candidate's campaign like when he called the ad about McCain's inability to use a computer, "terrible...I would never have run that ad". In addition, Biden states that Obama "will never take my guns from me" while trying to quell the question of Obama's support of the 2nd amendment. Keep it up Joe! You're making Obama even more laughable.

t: Yes, go Obama back to the senate seat where you belong. And thank god you have that seat after you lied against a woman to win.

I think the question of the hour is whether Biden, McCain, Palin, or Obama has ever said anything during their many speeches that actually added to the voter's education. When you listen to them, are you wanting to be better informed about issues, or are you just happy with vague promises not knowing fact from fiction. For me I have listened to all many times and have yet to hear a morsel of information that I can add to my education. Instead I have to do all my own hunting in order to wade through the bull.

Frankie: I don't think so. You must be an avid Obama supporter. Not so about McCain and Obama didn't have a comeback when McCain stated that Obama was involved with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Leave it to Obama he's always involved with scandals.

Scott. . . WOW!!!! Can any republican tell the truth. Why do you'll lie, stretch the truth, and just completely remove yourselves from reality just to try and make a point. THE TRUTH IS THAT JOHN McCAIN AND BARACK OBAMA RESEVED MONEY FROM FANNIE AND FREDDIE, AND THE FACT IS THAT McCAIN ACTUALLY RESEVED A LITTLE BIT MORE. PLEASE DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND STOP LISTENING TO SHAWN HANNITY and RUSH.

The ignorance displayed in this blog astounds me. Any normal thinking truthful person can look at the past 8 years and see what caused the problems this country is suffering through, and who caused them. I cannot believe that people are so racist or dumb that they would give those republican clowns another shot at the presidency. I cannot believe their are people stupid enough to keep trying to label Obama a muslim. No one in this country can give me one legitimate reason to vote for John McCain. Check his true voting record and things he has said out of his own mouth, and remove all make believe excuses. This country is on the verge of financial collapse, our military is bogged down in an illegal war, and Russia is flexing muscle all over the globe - also in our backyard. And you'll want to give another Republican a chance. . . . LMAO! This is crazy. John McCain is a political hack. He claims to be this maverick of change, yet he has been in lock step with the repubs for 26 years. . . .just with a little more sarcasm and flair than the rest. John McCain and his cute little pick for running mate are a joke that this country cannot afford.

McCain was trying to fix the mortgage issue back in 2006 but was stopped. Obama gets massive donations from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac personnel. Who's really the voice of change?
Plus the B.O.'s top economics advisor was the head of Fannie Mae and made 90 million dollars in salary while he cooked the books and ran it into the ground.
Yep, sign me up for some of that "change".

The Chosen One has had great clarity the past few days on the economic crisis. His response has been to sit back, wait for John McCain to come up with a recovery plan, and then criticize it. That's certainly not leadership worthy of a President, but it fits a con man like Obama to a tee.

The big story coming up, though, might be Joe Biden. Joe and TCO have sure been making a big show of getting on each others' nerves the past few days. So don't be surprised if Old Joe develops a serious health problem during the next week or so and bows out of the Vice-Presidential race. This will open up the VP slot for Hillary so TCO can fix his "woman problem" before Election Day, and preferably before the VP debate. But be careful what you wish for, Barry -- anyone who gets between the Clintons and their political aspirations tends to have a very short life expectancy!

I served our Country with pride for the past 15 years. Never have I felt that we are in this war for the right reasons. Palin's quote: "A task from God." PLLease. I would like to see her take a trip to Iraq and see all the people dying. WWJD? I don't think he would go to Iraq and bust a cap in someone innocent's a** for no reason. Whoever wins, this is a sticky situation. I'm putting my money on OBAMA because the Republican's have'nt done anything but get us in some more s***.
GO OBAMA

The economy is just fine, the war is essentially over and Bin Laden should turn himself in to the FBI any day now.

So why is all the screaming coming from the right? You guys have been doing a bang up job.

Good Point Sonya! I will be cashing out the Roth IRA too if McCain is LUCKY enough to win. I am sadly one that was blinded by Bush. Never again.
Vacation in Cabo sounds great.
-Former Republican

I've been out of this country for the past 6 years. Reading these responses to flip-flop accusations, I realize I should have remained in the service of my country outside of America, because you've all cease to be Americans. I wish you luck. I've love America so much that I'll leave whatever this country is and you non-Americans can say good riddance. All the best.

I can't believe Matt Lauer's question asking technique. "If you're LUCKY enough to become president" How dare you Matt Lauer. I used to like Matt Lauer. USED TO. Well, the Mayan calander is ending soon. If McCain becomes president, I'm cashing out the retirement and going on a HELLA vacation because we won't be around for long after that, so no need to save. Open up your eyes everyone!! Do you really want 4 more years of what we already had for the past eight?? HELLLO. I'm not the uneducated one who voted for BUSH, nor will I be voting for McCain, but of course the same people never change, and just when you think our country could not be worse off, here comes McCain. Were hated enough around the world. Isn't it time for a change???? P.S. Bring our Soldiers home!! We love them!!

Obama cannot even run his own ticket?????

Yet he can run all of America??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

This crap about Obama's teaching constitutional law being a big plus for POTUS is so silly. I dare say that I have sat in more Undergraduate, graduate, and post doctoral lectures than nearly anyone on this website and I will state unhesitatingly that the Academics I have known are some of the biggest pinheads in the world. They are not only stupid but many of them were emotionally disturbed and disorganized. I would rather be governed by a randomly selected Kentucky farmer than almost any Academic.

Actually I would add several more qualifications for President which Jose didn't mention from the info he got from wikipedia--McCain had some significant responsibilities in the Navy after he returned from Vietnam, and received numerous military honors before retiring.

A point, however, is that none of this necessarily qualifies anyone to be President.

The qualifications are in the eye of the beholder. As are the disqualifications.

We could recite facts to each other until we turn blue.

Ultimately I think it is easier to point out "deal-breakers" which would disqualify someone from the Presidency.

For me, some of those for McCain are first of all, being a Republican, secondly, repeatedly opposing the MLK holiday, third, appointing a totally unqualifed VP.

For all we can say about Biden's gaffes, he has the intellect and knowledge to serve as President successfully.

In my opinion, Palin never will...

This is not a red or blue issue. I'm a STAUNCH conservative, and an evangelical no less, and LOVE my country. However, I believe that ALL of us simply need to look in the mirror and can find the blame looking right back at ourselves; not to all of this financial debacle, but to a good portion of this mess. To the individuals that are completely debt free and doing business with actual money "only" BRAVO.
To the rest of you that have bit into the "sub-prime" loan bait... lots of money with no responsibility and no regulation and chokingly HIGH interest rates and took the low road and went for the ARM that MUTATED after 3 years to 15% or to of the others that have borrowed FAR BEYOND their means, SHAME ON YOU!!!!! PEOPLE, KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING BEFORE SIGNING THESE CONTRACTS!!!!
I know that we had foxes watching the money till on Wall Street in this situation, but the beginning of the end started well over a year ago with the sub prime loans going under, then the car loans, and then finally home foreclosures. No $$ to cover when payout came due.
I don't think that either of the main stream candidates really know what to do and one is even more clueless than the other (that would be YOU No-bama) and the only candidate that I have confidence in for this situation specifically is a Libertarian (yes, stand up Ron).
However, when I listen to John McCain, I believe with every fiber of my being that this man will work to the death to improve our country in every facet demanded of him.
No-bama on the other hand is an opportunist just like the rest of the flag stuffing in the trash can after the DNC, leftists.
With No-bama in office we will find a rutterless society desparately trying to find anywhere to drop anchor. We will be adrift for four years with our national security in a death spiral just like our economy.
MCCAIN-PALIN 2008

Jose--
Anyone who considers teaching Constitutional law at one of America's best universities to be elitist is being pretty disrespectful to education and the Constitution in my opinion.

And how exactly does finishing 5th from the bottom of the Naval Academy and fighting in the Vietnam War qualify anyone to be President?

So that leaves being a politician from a very conservative state for a long time.

Whatever. He voted against having a holiday for Martin Luther King. He's been a champion of deregulation for years, and that's what just tanked the economy.

Nice.

Jose--
Anyone who considers teaching Constitutional law at one of America's best universities to be elitist is being pretty disrespectful to education and the Constitution in my opinion.

And how exactly does finishing 5th from the bottom of the Naval Academy and fighting in the Vietnam War qualify anyone to be President?

So that leaves being a politician from a very conservative state for a long time.

Whatever. He voted against having a holiday for Martin Luther King. He's been a champion of deregulation for years, and that's what just tanked the economy.

Nice.

Obama & Biden must not be talking to each other these days...maybe it's time for a change they can believe in.

In the words of the tax dodger, Charlie Rangel, Obama and Biden sound "disabled".

Would love to be a fly on the wall when Hillary votes.

too many differences emerging between obama and biden..something's up!

Justine19675...you are placing the blame on the current problems on the wrong people...we are not having these problems because too many individuals were investing in the market. We are having these problems due to mismanagement and bad bets by large financial institutions. the Trillion dollars we are bailing out is not the money lost by investors, but money needed to make these companies solvant.

Obviously not all municipalities are as fundimentally stromg as others. But being directly backed by a municipality and indirectly backed by the state many muni bonds are considered, aside from federal treasuries, some of the safest places to put your money. and especially during tough times, I think most investors will have more faith in the solvency of state and local governments than in companies. Because as seen in the last week even the biggest companies can quickly turn south.

I work in the finance industry so I have a decent idea of size and scope of the muni and stock markets. but you are missing the point. Muni bonds are just one place investors can turn. My main point was if I am taking on considerable risk to earn a given return, when my return is taxed an extra 10% it may no longer make the risk worth the return. Its not like people are returning 50% on their investments. at 8%-12% return a slight tax increase might make the investment too risky for what its worth. especially when that 8%-12% is not garanteed and it could easily be 2%-3% in many years

The voters need the mainstream media more then ever to ask those important questions that are being discussed at the dinner tables all across this country about Wall Street and about the candidates positions on these issues. More Voters are accessing the Internet now which also helps. Now we know about Palin avoiding the media which in simple terms means she can't handle a brunch of reporters which leads to the conclusion she will never be ready for the White House. The Internet does that makes us more aware of whats happening. Now I know the conservatives have Fox and Drudge but they don't speak to the majority of Americans. Ever try posting on Breitbart? If you ever tried then you all know what I'm talking about. Biden may be a scrappy kid from Scranton, PA but hes our scrappy kid. And this article linked up to Drudge isn't going to change that.

how dare you give him a hard question, matt lauer! how dare you!

I predict the Democrats are going to pull an October surprise. This Obama/Biden team is just a joke, they plan on revealing the real candidates just a week or two prior to the election. Insiders, however, say the ticket will be Vladamir Putin/Paris Hilton!

There is only one thing that anyone reguardless of party affiliation should be asking. Will America survive with the choice I make. It is clear if you have been researching the foundation of the subprime market mess, the fox has been guarding the hen house. Each of us had better search deep before pulling that lever, pushing, that button, or filling in that black dot because the survival of America as a Nation hangs in the balance. The choice is ours. Who do we want to guard it. Someone whos best experience is...2 years in the Senate or someone who guarded her for 5 1/2 years from a cell. I'm not much for pretty speaches or faces in women or politician's but let me know their heart and I'll know the quality of that man or woman. You make your choice, but make a wise one, remember you will have to live with it.

To quote Victor Davis Hanson, "Obama couldn't lead a Boy Scout troop." But I digress. As for Biden stepping down, why would Hillary want to step aboard the Titanic?

You mean we need more government oversight? This is what got us into this, just do your research and see who's hands are full of the Wall Street blood.

Is this Laur's example of fair and balanced?

"And we listening the person, who is running for crucial position on public office,
To be overconfident untrained rigid and answering with out vacillation
Yes I am ready to be President like that job is similar to a manager position on the local Wall Mart shop."

Well said. and that is why I am not voting for Obama.

He isn't even qualified to be a manager at WalMart

The choice is still clear:

We are not two nations, but one nation....

And senator Obama will win....

NOW THAT IS AN INTERVIEW. Good Job, but do you realize how MANY MANY MANY more tricky subjects you have to cover with him in just a short bit of time. His work with ACORN to fight those nasty banks and their RACISM by making sure they get subprime loans they could never afford, while Joe Biden got in there and made sure to cut these people off after interest rates went up by going all out to change the rules on being able to claim BANKRUPCY. There's some dirty bs going on.

This Bail Out is a Bipartisan Screwing of America.

It is really sad once analyze why McCain select Palin for running mate.
The only criterion was how he could win this election despite the best interest of the country and the American Remember Governor Romney spent the last year campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination and talking to the American people about the importance of strengthening our economy,
And we listening the person, who is running for crucial position on public office,
To be overconfident untrained rigid and answering with out vacillation
Yes I am ready to be President like that job is similar to a manager position on the local Wall Mart shop.
The same person last month was saying if some can explain to me what the Vice President do? Her story is SPIN, LIES and LIPSTICK

To Ralph:

I think we are better off spending our time doing something else then trying to reason with people on this website. It is NOT going to happen man. They aren't going to listen. Instead they are going to say that you should have never existed. It's obvious that we can't have a civil conversation. Go do something else on the web... that's what i am going to do.

"It's clear that the media "seems" to favor Obama but it's not a case of true favoritism just a case of the aforementioned "phoney racism charges against the media by Democrats."

The post and conclusion are pretty close to the mark.

But the media lusts of Obama only partially because of his race. The other elements are Socialism, and their love of appeasement.

Folks, let's have a frank discussion about the news media's fear of reporting the truth about Obama over fears of being labeled racist. It's clear that the media "seems" to favor Obama but it's not a case of true favoritism just a case of the aforementioned "phoney racism charges against the media by Democrats." Okay, so in spite of the obvious advantage Obama holds in the court of public opinion (due to the media "advantage") we still see that the race is virtually tied. Add to that the fact that many African-Americans are voting for Barry based soley on his race (another clear advantage) and we STILL HAVE A TIE. Realistically, if the unfair advantages are taken away McCain would handily win the election.

The "chosen one" can't even control what his running mate says, but he plans to tell us when to get tune-ups, inflate our tires, what to eat, when to send our kids to school, what temperature to set the thermostat at, what kinds of cars to buy, what to do about health insurance, etc., etc., etc.

What an idiot.