Political Punch

David! David Brooks! Wake up! You're having a nightmare!

Obama isn't going to 'give in' to anyone. He'll listen to his advisors, and then do what he thinks is right. Nobody owns him.

"Even if he’s so inclined, it’s difficult for a president to overrule the committee chairmen of his own party."

For Obama it's easy. It's what he does.

Pelosi stated in a televised interview after the Democrats gained control early 2007 that they would do NOTHING for until a new administration was sworn in....

Hmmmmmm.....about the only thing she hasn't lied about.

Take out Pelosi, Dodd, Reid and Franks and with replace them with Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dumb, Pappa Smurf and Jokie Smurf.......Congress will be a hell of-a-lot better off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HP Boston
re: your 'silent revolution'

- actually your not too far off the mark, Obama will be elected and the 'Reagan Revolution' will finally be put to rest...

this Obama revolution will be televised..
and he will win with a very substantial electoral and popular vote.

indy_voter, and even if the mood of the country changes "real quick" you will still have to suffer the full four-year term to make the change. Why take that chance at all?

According to Obama's tax returns:
YEAR AGI----- Charity/gifts % of agi
2006 $983,826---> $277,481--> 6.1%
2005 $1,655,106--> $77,315--> 4.7%
2004 $207,647-----> $2,500--> 1.2%
2003 $283,327-----> $3,400--> 1.4%

Obama needs to put his money where his mouth is. WAY WAY LESS THAN 10% to charity.

"Democrats will need to be on notice because the mood of the country will change real quick if "help for the middle class" turns into "giveaways"..."

The giveaways by Democrats are what got us here in the fist place.

PEOPLE, LISTEN UP.

Why do you think Democrats are refusing to hold oversight hearings on Fannie and Freddie as they did on Enron and Tyco?

They know the truth would kill them.

A more liberal approach is what is needed in this government to get this country on track. So, Democrats in control of Congress and the White House is not a bad thing and will expedite needed changes. However, Democrats will need to be on notice because the mood of the country will change real quick if "help for the middle class" turns into "giveaways"...

Why isn’t the MSM investigating BO stealing this election through Acorn? Why isn’t the MSM investigating Obama’s ties to Ayers, Rezko, and Wright beyond a superficial level? Why hasn’t the media taken Obama’s statement apart “about the distribution of wealth?”

Think about it, BO is attempting to steal this election with individuals that do not pay taxes. If he’s elected, he’s going to distribute our wealth to the same voters that might tip the scales in this election. This is insane.

I believe that there is a “silent revolution” taking place among the voters. The false and dangerous charge of racism against all voters speaking out against Obama will backfire. I come from a family of Democrats and with the exception of one person, we are all voting for McCain.

Scott Levenson of Acorn — liar, liar, pants on fire…….

Very interesting, I just received a phone call from a young woman conducting a political survey for GSI. When I asked her who GSI was, she hung up. I wonder why????????????

People tend to not want to deal with problems and they stick their heads in the sand. If it makes you feel slightly better, many of the people I’ve been speaking to are deciding to vote for McCain. These are Hispanic voters. TX isn’t a swing state though. It will go Republican. OH, PA, FL, and MO voters need to think long and hard about what kind of America they want to live in. As someone said earlier, Cuban Americans know what BO is about and I can’t imagine they like what they are seeing (economic policies). Castro’s endorsement of BO also didn’t help him in FL either.

Dare Nigeria, so you want to just hand over absolute total control to the Socialist Democrats without any checks and balances? To the very same people who talk about tolerance but who are themselves intolerant of individuals who criticism them? To the very same people who refused to adhere to the warnings of the abuses of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? To the very same people who want to give citizenship to the 20 million illegal immigrants? To the very same people--many of whom--dispise the oil companies and Corporate America in general? To the very same people--many of whom--want to treat our enemy at a time of war as a common criminal (with Maranda warnings and writ of habeas corpus even when captured on the battlefield)? To the very same people--many of whom-- despise the American military? To the very same people--many of whom--believe that America is the root of all the evil in the world? And to the very same people--many of whom--do not believe in Capitalism?

Here is how it works here in Milwaukee. First, we have ACORN volunteers registering fake names (no, not Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck, but names like Tom Smith and Lisa Jones)with fake addresses (vacant lots, church buildings, underpasses)that are handed in to City of Milwaukee “Election Commission” (and I use that word very lightly). The names are added to the voter rolls and then comes the fun time of “Early Voting in Wisconsin!” Absentee ballots are requested by the Obama campaign, thousand upon thousands (we know this because the return address on these requests have Obama’s Milwaukee election headquarters). All the City of Milwaukee “Election Commission” does then is verify that Tom Smith or Lisa Jones have “registered” (are on the voter rolls) and the ballots are sent out. What a nice way to have imaginary people with imaginary addresses voting for the canidate of your choice! Who is being disinfranchised in this senario?? Election fraud … Wisconsin Style!
#9 Lara08 on 10.13.08 at 10:53 pm

"Fear Mongers! Here they go again."

Nigeria.

Now there's a well run country.

And you want the US to be like Nigeria.

Fabulous.

"the goal of having everyone in home

is the goal of having them paty for it."

Democrats forced a program in which those people could NOT AFFORD to pay for those houses.

It was a scam. A scam that enabled Democrats to socialize housing, and make BILLIONS of dollars (literally) for those who stuck Goldman, Lehman and Merrill with that useless investment.

Democrats made all that money.

That is why, my friends, Democrats will not have oversight hearing on Fannie and Freddie.

They are protecting the guilty.

Fear Mongers! Here they go again.

These are trying times in American history and any president that would lead us out of this recession will need a filibuster-proof congress.

Time is of the essense.

dl wrote: "...one more thing to be clear your numbers are typical ...they DO NOT include 'tax expenditures.'"

Actually they do include tax expenditures. They were the bottom line numbers...after exemptions and after taking advantage of any tax loopholes. The top 5% of the nation's wage earners still paid 60% of the total income tax revenue in 2005. This is up from 44% just 15 years earlier--a 16-point increase in tax burden. Again, in spite of any tax breaks they received.

The top 50% of the nation's wage earners actually pay 97% of the total federal income tax. And the bottom 40% don't pay any income tax at all. That means the middle 10% (those in the 40%-50% of income range) are the ones who pay just 3% of the total federal income tax.

And you don't believe that is "fair" enough?

The thought of the Democrat Socialists of America taking control of the Congress and the White House is truly scary.

You know, folks, you don't have to roll over for columnists like David Brooks...as always, much ado about nothing.

Dr John

the goal of having everyone in home

is the goal of having them paty for it.

not give it to them

it is a good goal

and a basic building block of what made our nation great...

it is only a bad thing when the market regulatory architecture is dismantled.

that is clearly what we have learned

the world downfall be clear has to do with the deregulation of that architecture (thank you grammmLeachey coming into play after the Fannie and freddie push all in 1999...isn't is convenient that Gramm deregulated wall street and opened risk...so these CEO's and the people he lobbied for could walk away with billions...the same year they had just pushed for Fannie and freddie to open their standards)

don't believe the bull this was corporate greed trying to deregulate and take advantage of America's best qualities and a system that with regulatory architecture could have strengthened outr economy not weakened it.

James danley

one more time ...40 years...

it's not hard

that means starting in and around 1968.

can you look at the real numbers please.

James Danley

one more thing to be clear your numbers are typical ...they DO NOT include "tax expenditures"

the wealthiest Americans'
save on the tax code by using their "tax expenditures"

as Warren Buffet called them "food stamps for the rich"

we saw about 4 trillion I believe in tax expenditure savings for those rich... from 95 to 2002 alone...

so stop...

there are numerous studies that show clearly the bush tax cuts favored the wealthy and depressed the middle class.

but that is nothing compared to the growth rate of tax burden on the middle class over the last (republican trickle down economics believing... predominantly controlled)

last 40 years.

wealth redistribution and national burden of the opportunities this country affords us has been going on for 40 years...

only it has been redistributed up...

to MIMSNJ....yeah, yeah, Obama has risen to the occasion all those times you mention......but, not because he has risen to the occasion......his "handlers" have....he only gets a treat if their bidding is successfully carried out by Cuddles.

dl, I agree that home ownership is good. Yes, even for poor and low income families. But instead of forcing the banks to lower their lending standards and pushing flexible subprime mortgage rates to give loans to poor and low income families (causing great harm to everyone), WHY DIDN'T these same organizations (i.e., ACORN and even Congress) pressure developers to donate 1% of every home they build to a poor or low income family?

"opening wall street to abusing the system with this made up empty programs just like Enron..."

Glad you brought up Enron. Didn't Lay go to jail for that? Wasn't it Bush's guys who put him there?

When are Johnson, Raines and the rest going to jail?

Oh wait- how can they, when Democrats won't even include Fannie and Freddie in their oversight hearings?

Democrats protected Fannie and Fredie from regulation and reform. And now they protect them from jail.

dl, from 1931-1994 the Democrats controlled the U. S. House of Representatives for all but four years (1947-1949 and 1953-1955).

During that same time frame (1931-1994) the Democrats controlled the U. S. Senate for all but 12 years (1931-1933; 1947-1949; 1953-1955; and 1981-1987).

"the goal of having more Americans in homes is a goal that speaks to the basic premise of achievement and a middle class society

it is good for the economy (and not to mention morally) and a capitalist society."

How is making everyone else pay for that good for capitalism?

How is that capitalism?

How is giving it away an "achievement"?

What about giving everyone a Rolls Royce?

Is that capitalistic? Is it an achievement?

It's not.

It's Marxism.

Dude, you need to study more history.

DrJohn

the goal of having more Americans in homes is a goal that speaks to the basic premise of achievement and a middle class society

it is good for the economy (and not to mention morally) and a capitalist society.

It would be fine in a market with architecture...

let us remember that gramm's Gramm Leachey bill deregulating wall street occurred after the push for Fannie and freddie to include more potential homeowners...

opening wall street to abusing the system with this made up empty programs just like Enron...

numbers based on conjecture and 50 to 1 finances.

That is why bthis didn't work

because Gramm was focused on the wealthy and dems were focused on the middle class.

I have another question. If Obama is so into the Robin Hood Plan, how come he only gave 1% of his money to charities, as evidenced on his tax returns? How come he lives in a 1.65million dollar home while others in his city suffer? He can sure talk up the redistribution of wealth though.

Someone mentioned here mentioned that Obama is not a fool. I agree, he is far, far from a fool. The fools are the ones that are fooled by him. He believes that everyone should be dependent on the government. What do you think happens with us, when that happens? How do we have any leverage? What happens to our voice? I can't believe people really want to be beggars of the almighty government and believe that in their 'infinite wisdom' that this is a good thing for all people. Of course it is, because then they've got us by the balls.

Dr. John a democratic capitalist society only works when it is curbed with humanity...

otherwise that is chaos

and the deregulation and dismantling of protections that we have seen are what caused our present financial destruction...

not just a percentage of bad mortgages...

those would have been an injury if they had simply failed

but the injury occurred because the market architecture

that any market needs was dismantled...

and the subsequent blled out of our economy was because that safety net was dismantled.

we became a great country because we had the drive for success and opportunity...

the value and grasp of architecture in a free market..

and because the money trickled up from a focus on the middle class and subsequently their retail...

and not from the weight on the wealthiest infusing the middle class with opportunity from their "greatning" (if I can create a word) success continuing to grow even greater...

"But here is the probelm...the Republican's DON'T want to spread wealth around, they want it all for themselves!! They set themselves up as some kind of "moral" authority who will do no wrong when it is just a mask for their greed and lust of power. You use lofty speeches like this but when it comes time to actually put the words into action, you do the opposite!"

What the hell are you talking about? It's not a zero sum game.

Maybe you've heard of Bill Gates and then again, maybe not.

Liberals don't want equal opportunity, they want equal outcome.

Once again, Karl Marx.

"Republicans, on the other hand, would like to see wealth spread around by promoting and encouraging individuals to achieve the unfettered American Dream: The belief in the freedom that allows everyone the opportunity to achieve their personal goals through hard work and determination."

But here is the probelm...the Republican's DON'T want to spread wealth around, they want it all for themselves!! They set themselves up as some kind of "moral" authority who will do no wrong when it is just a mask for their greed and lust of power. You use lofty speeches like this but when it comes time to actually put the words into action, you do the opposite!

You keep giving more and more to those that have it, and then you make/change rules and laws so those same people can find ways to take more from those who have less! You dangle the "unfettered American Dream" in front of them, but know full well that they can't jump high enough to grab it.

All these ideas are great on paper or in speeches, but I have seen nothing in the deeds of your "holier than thou" Grand Old Party in the past few years to make me believe you would (or are ever inclined to) give the people below a chance to raise themselves up.

Don't you lecture me on the American dream! Your hollow words hold no weight.

Who screwed this pooch?

DEMOCRATS

They caused this financial crisis.

Andrew Cuomo sued Accubanc for reasons of financial discrimination.

Why should not paying for anything deprive anyone of a house, a boat or a car?

Democrats forced the housing market into socialization. We are all now paying for Democrats' forcing lenders to make bad loans.

The thing is, the Sandlers and the Pritzkers made BILLIONS packaging this junk and selling it to Lehman, Merrill and Godman, who then sold it to investors, who now are on the hook.

Those Sandlers and Pritzkers?

DEMOCRATS all.

James Danley

go do a little research

40 years did not start in 1990 ...first off

and then dig a little into those numbers...

I am accruing all the numbers ...hopefully jake will let me post them...

"HOW IS ANYTHING OBAMA'S OFFERING TEACHING PEOPLE DEPENDENCE ??"

Giving a tax credit to those who don't pay taxes is not "teaching."

It's WELFARE.

YOu guys can't wait until those of you who pay no taxes at all outnumber those of us who pay all the taxes. It's close now.

Then we'll be the new slaves.

Here is another chart, but for the top 1%

In 1990, the top 1% accounted for 14% of the nation's income; and they paid 25% of the total federal income tax.

In 2000, the top 1% accounted for 21% of the nation's income; and they paid 37% of the total federal income tax.

In 2005, the top 1% accounted for 21% of the nation's income; and they paid 39% of the total federal income tax.

(SOURCE: Treasury Department, October 2007)

'Democratic capitalism only works when it is touched and run with "grace"'

Nonsense.

It has survived 200 years without Obama. It might not survive him.

Giving people other people's money is not teaching them anything.

He's buying his votes with my taxes. "Spreading the wealth" as he puts it.

It's MARXISM. It's never worked ANYWHERE long term. It destroys countries just as it's destroying Venezuela right now.

Only those who are the benficiaries of this largesse could approve of it.

If it's such a great idea to spread wealth, why don't the rich liberals do it on their own without the government making them do it?

Sarah Palin gives more to charity than Joe Biden!

Those who forget their history are condemned to repeat it. Does this sound familiar?

- A Republican brand that's mortally wounded

- A strained military

- A poor international reputation

- A Democratic candidate that people know little about

- High fuel costs

- Rising unemployment

- A Democratic majority in the House and Senate, with a strong leader at the helm in the House (Tip O'Neil)

The year was 1976. Does anyone remember how effective Jimmy Carter was domestically? He was a disaster. He was completely schooled and manhandled by Congress. That's exactly what Pelosi and Reid will do. Do anyone honestly believe it will be peace, love and granola between a Democratic controlled Congress and Obama? Mr. Hope N. Change is about to learn some hard lessons in party politics.

Carter's administration was so poor it provided a hard snap-back for the conservative movement and Reagan won easily in 1980. The grass is always greener over the septic tank, and every thirty years or so we seem to feel the need to dip our toes into the socialist pool. If the liberals in D.C aren't careful it's all setting up for a hard reversal in 2012.

dl, your assessment about the wealthy vs middle class tax burden is totally wrong.

In 1990 the top 5% accounted for 27% of the nation's income; and they paid 44% of the total federal income tax.

In 2000, the top 5% accounted for 35% of the nation's income; and they paid 56% of the total federal income tax.

In 2005, the top 5% accounted for 36% of the nation's income; and they paid 60% of the total federal income tax.

(SOURCE: Treasury Department, October 2007)

Obama, Pelosi and Reid believe in the voters being totally dependent on government for everything -- including their mortgage payments.

This means they have POWER....to control the ignorant masses.

The Bill of Rights --- is dead!

Barney Franks had a 9 year affair with an offical at Freddie Mac --- Franks was the one in charge of the Banking commitee and would not address the over site needed for Fannie and Freddie.

Franks - Dodd - they both need to go.

Nancy Pelosi is nutty and so is Hapless Harry Reid.

Obama wants to spread the wealth.

That means take tax money and send it via checks to those who pay no tax. Those folks who pay no tax get representation without taxiation.

Again

Everyone ...yes Everyone pretty much sees the economic catastrophe we are in.

Everyone sees uncontrolled/unchecked spending

and unchecked wall street with a dismantled regulatory system

cost us this

EVERYONE does.

Republican democrtatic independent martian...

the question is do we resolve it the way this country built it's strongest years...

focusing on the middle class...

or do we do it the way the last 40 years of trickle down economists have argued ...

drjohn

HOW IS ANYTHING OBAMA'S OFFERING TEACHING PEOPLE DEPENDENCE ??

DrJohn

Obama is the guy that is pro education and pro a larger healthy society ...

Democratic capitalism only works when it is touched and run with "grace"

we have lost that over the last 40 years...

what made our country as strong and great as it is...is because we got where the engine was...

the middle class

arguments like yours for the last 50 years have been what put us off course.

Total Republican control of the White House and Congress ran our country into the ditch.

Total Democratic control of the White House and Congress will run our country over the cliff.

Any taxpayer who thinks they're going to see a permanent tax cut under Obama is being deceived. When taxing the wealthy isn't enough, he'll come after the rest of us. At all costs, he'll preserve his refundable tax credits to the 40% of us who pay little or no taxes. Under Obama's tax plan, a person owing $200 in tax will pay $0 - and get an $800 check from the government to make up the difference on their "refundable tax credit". A person paying $0 will get a check for $1,000. But it's okay; Obama and Biden will pat taxpayers on the head and assure them that they're being "patriotic" by "helping the people behind them".

"It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they have a chance for success too. When you spread the wealth around it's good for everyone."

Give them fish.

Not teach them to fish.

All Obama is doing is creating more dependence.

James danley

redistribution of wealth is what the republicans and the wealthy have been pushing with trickle down economic policies for 40 years.

The engone of our economy

of the world's economy...

is America's middle class retail.

The redistribution of wealth has been happening subtly in tax policy for 40 years.

see my earlier post.

I truly believe that is why we are now HERE>

AS A LIFE LONG REPUBLICAN WHO IS GOING TO VOTE FOR OBAMA I HAVE TO SAY THIS GUYS A NUT ??

IS MY FORMER PARTY NOW SAYING THE WONT CONTEST THE SENATE AND HOUSE CONTESTS ?

ARE THE PSHYCIC AND CAN SEE THEY ARE GOING TO LOSE ALL THOSE SEATS ?

THIS IS JUST AS STUPID AS THE AIRS STUFF!

REPUBLICANS HAVE ALREADY HELPED TO SOCAILISE OUR BANKING AND INSURANCE IDUSTRY!

BUSH IS USING THE BRITISH METHORD TO "FIX: OUR MONEY PROBLEMS!

COME ON NOW!

Let us be clear

everyone sees what massive spending has cost us.

Everyone.

Brooks is being pretty much an idiot.

It is about priorities

do you protect the wealthy (again over the last 40 years of predominantly republican rule and this argument he is putting forwward we have seen the top5% of wealth in this country see their tax burden ratio grow at half of the rate of the rest of America...

and the IRS says they are 90% accurate on the income tax of the bottom 95% the countries income earners...but only 70% accurate on the top 5% ugh)

We need to go back to making the middle class ... the engine of our economy... the priority... not trickle down economics...that have influenced tax policy and deregulation for the last 40 years and have led us to ...HERE.

The other day, Sen. Obama said: "It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they have a chance for success too. When you spread the wealth around it's good for everyone."

Sen. Obama and the other Liberals want to redistribute the wealth. They want to steal from the wealthy in order to enslave the poor and middle class by GIVING to them what they desire; all the while holding onto the attached chains for their own political purposes.

Republicans, on the other hand, would like to see wealth spread around by promoting and encouraging individuals to achieve the unfettered American Dream: The belief in the freedom that allows everyone the opportunity to achieve their personal goals through hard work and determination.

James Truslow Adams wrote: "It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."

Thomas Wolfe said, "...to every man, regardless of his birth, his shining, golden opportunity...the right to live, to work, to be himself, and to become whatever thing his manhood and his vision can combine to make him." (This does apply to women as well.)

THAT is the difference.

And he has a media that would check him.

Posted by: Dan | Oct 14, 2008 9:10:15 AM

Yeah right is this the same "media" that took us to war??
GAG!

Should have gone with Hillary. She could have stood up to Nancy and Harry. Brooks is right, Obama won't. He's a hard core liberal at heart. Hold on to your wallets, folks...

Brooks should also realize that fiscally conservative and socially accepting republicans

have actually moved into the dem column

does he get that?

Now don't panic about liberals banning guns.

Who are they going to go have take your guns?

I know for a fact they won't do it.

I won't do it either. I swore an oath to protect the US Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic.

If they want to take your guns or ban them or make owning illegal, they are an enemy of the US Constitution. It is that simple. The beauty is they probably think they have the military, I should let them think that, but just where do you suppose I took that oath to serve. I am also not alone on this, atleast not with those of us that have a MOS that puts us in direct contact with the enemy. Sure there might be liberals in the military that are in support and logistics, they aren't out here.

Let me make sure I made myself clear to the gun-banning liberals. You can ban or make illegal laws all you want. I want you personally to come get them. That is one order I will not obey, remember I serve to defend the US Constitution.

Brooks can at times totally ignore his own best instincts.

He talks about 60 billion with only 20 billion in increased consumer spending. I ask you how much of the 700 billion is going to be used to increase consumer spending?

Isn't this the crux of the difference between the Republicans and the Democrats, who or what does the government serve, the people or the big business?

If supporting the public, building the middle class is called socialism, what is supoporting the rich and big business?

I am not pleased that David Brooks would take the case that this negative economy, bought on by the Republicans, would make him so happy.

Over the years I thought he was beginning to sound like a normal human being, now he sounds like a normal Republican shrill.

The only argument will be how much and how soon to increase taxes, increase spending, and to return to enriching investment bankers and protecting them once again.

Dan,

If the Democrats do all of those things, you will have the opportunity to throw them out (of the majority) two years from now.

Just as the American people have the power to throw the Republicans out of power. Call it accountability for sub-prime preformance.

But the fact is you are full of it. The Democrats have no intention of taking your guns. They want to stay in power and that means respecting gun owners.

Attn. All of Detroit Autoworkrs:
Obama has promised he never let you down. He has said he will save the industry so your jobs are safe. the decision whether you trust his words or suspect his promises are empty-promises are up to you

And now that the stock market is gaining back its ground, im sure that you liberals will say it's because Obama, pelousy, and frank saved us from the downfall. If you would get your facts staight, and not from MSNBC you would know that the entitlements that
thay work so hard for caused the mess to begin with. Bush and paulson are the one's that should get the credit, not the people that caused it.

U guess Brooks hasn't learned that the new "liberal"

is one that can be fiscally conservative and socially liberal...

the new "liberal"

is a lot more moderate and even conservative on spending than the last 40 years wants them to believe.

I will admit that the new "liberal" wants to change/correct the last 40 years that saw the top5% of wealthy wage earners tax ratio ...that over the last 40 years only grew at half of the rate of the rest of us...

should be corrected... somewhat at minimum.

Other than that

Brooks is flying the same paranoid bologne that got us in this mess by taking the focus in a democratic capitalist situation off of it's engine...

which is the middle class.

Trickle down economics (and the idea of rich people taking their toys and going to another country on a massive level is ridiculous if all of this is curbed with pro small business economy)...

Rich people still want to live in the US...

soon that will change... and we will address that when we do.

as we have wasted the opportunity because of these policies when we had a world that was more in our favor...

because of being fooled by the same tactics that the same people are still using

the same team
the same tactics

that gave us the last 8 years.

There's not much point in fretting about how Obama will "take us down the road to socialism."

Thanks to Bush, we're already there. McCain wants to "ease on down that) road" by spending $300 billion to buy up inflated home mortgages. The taxpayers will get to eat the difference between the actual and inflated values.

Privatize profits...socialize losses.

Mak,

In your spewing the name of Fannie Mac to whip up fear, you just show your own ignorance.

I know that your side have started a class war against the poor on this issue, but please get your facts straight.

More than 85% of the sub-prime loans were given by absolute private lenders, and were not of the Fannie and Freddie government-guaranteed type. 24 out of 25 of the banks who really screwed this thing up were private!

The truth is that Fannie and Freddie, being the government-guaranteed institutions they were, had more regulation than the other corporations which were completely deregulated and allowed to tangle themselves into risky real estate thanks to.... Phil "It's a mental recession" Gramm, aka John McCain's go-to guy on economics!

I think the entire US financial system needs to go offline. Once offline a independent auditor can go threw the books to maker sure there isn't any issues.

Yea, that sounds good? yea, sure.

WE TRIED the Republican way for the last 8 years. How do you like the results?

SO GIVE THE DEMOCRATS a chance to try out their ideas -- like it is SIMPLE HUMAN DECENCY for every American to have health insurance regardless of preexisting conditions (IT COULD BE YOU).

That every American should be treated for cancer or heart disease or diabetes.

That no American should become bankrupt because they got sick, OR THEIR SPOUSE got sick.
*****
This is not 'single payer'. This is not 'government run health care.'

Obama, unlike McCain, does not want to force you to give up your employer supplied health insurance.

Obama wants to help businesses that provide health insurance to their employees by paying for the catestrophic care portion of the premium.

Obama wants to make the health insurance provided to every member of Congress, INCLUDING JOHN MCCAIN, available to all Americans, at a decent price.

Jesus said 'heal the sick'.
Republicans say 'Socialist'!

Yeah a totally inexperienced Chicago machine politician overseeing the democratic hen house. Hmmm no trouble there. Nancy pelosi just keeps wanting to write taxpayer checks to everyone who can't stip shopping and racking up their debt. Lets also make sure people buy overpriced homes they cant pay for with the help of ACORN and force banks to take lower interest rates because a judge wont allow forclosure. That will help a lot. Did I leave out the corruption and kick back that will ensue. how about that 20% kickback to ACORN dems tried to put in the bailoout package, an organisation being brought up on charges for systemic voter registration fraud as we speak, paid for by the obama campiagn by the way.

liberals loves them some Dave Brooks (and they love to quote him). But he's as disconnected from mainstream conservative thought as Maureen Dowd.

This is total democratic control.

The dems always had the filibuster in the senate to stop anything they wanted to stop from Bush making it law.

With the dems having filibuster proof majority in the senate they will remake our gun laws, help out the trial lawyers, and push social issues.

These laws will be permanent forever because the gop will never get 60 senate seats to be able to reverse them.

So you have a filibuster proof senate with reid, pelosi, 6 supreme court seats for Obama to pick and an adoring media.

No oversight in congress.

Obama will have zero checks and balances.

McCain would have many checks and balances. He would have to clear everything through the dem senate and democratic house.

McCain could also work as a check in vetoing Pelosi's big spending. Obama will go along with Pelosi's big spending.

Dems would have oversight on McCain.

They would have to compromise on judges with the dems having such a big majority in the senate.

While Obama will be able to pick far left judges.

And he has a media that would check him.

After more than 50 years as Republicans, my wife and I have changed our registration to Independent and will this year, for the first time in our lives, vote a straight Democrartic ticket.

We see Obama and the Democrats as the last, best hope for our wonderful country.

OBAMA'08

msa123 - I think you're wrong. Obama has proven by the way he has run his campaign that he has very strong control over things and is no pushover. Even the republican pundits and those within the McCain campaign have said that his campaign is the most brilliant they have ever seen. So much for dissing community organizers, Ms. Palin. Obama's community organizer experience is evident in how he's managed things - from the ground workers on up and how he's managed the campaign finances. You may not like him for your own reasons but Obama's no fool. Count on that.

First of all, David Brooks is not "conservative-ish"! That you would write that, Jake, just goes to show how the Republican Party has morphed from the party of true conservatives to just a gang of thugs and demagogues.

But about Democratic Party infighting. Bring it on! So what??

Our system of government, with winner-takes-all elections, non-coalition style legislatures, means that we will always have two, and only two, viable political parties. But there aren't only two points of view. So, it stands to reason that the majority party will have more factions and infighting than the minority party.

But beyond the mere theory of it, Democrats in particular speak their mind, and don't toe the line. That's a good thing! I can't wait for the Democratic infighting, because finally there will be some real, honest debate about issues.

I'll take that over the creepy Republican Party soul-selling lock-stepping blind obedience to a radical, out of control President anyday!!!

Win, baby, win!!
Obama/Biden '08!!

If anybody doubts the horror that may ensue with a Democrat controlled Congress with Obama as President, think Fannie Mae, Barney Franks, Harold Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Charles Rangel, et al.

The very thought of those people controlling the purse strings of this country truly sends shivers down my spine.

Brooks is just doing penance for attacking the clueless McCain-Palin ticket. Poor guy's phone is probably ringing off the hook.

Sam M: My thoughts exactly. No question

This has been the problem with Obama all along. No experience. He was plucked from obscurity and groomed in a very short period to be the voice of his backers. Period. He has the advantage only because of 'when' the economy news came. He also has no backbone. He chirps like a parrot saying the same things over and over, which are only sprinkled with his little cliches. The other Dems and Repubs for that matter are vultures. They will walk all over him. He will be sitting there pondering and reflecting for days on end when decisions will need to be made. We, as a country, are in big trouble if he gets in.

I never in my life thought I would vote a straight anything ticket, but this year I will vote a straight repub ticket, just in case O does win. Got to have something to hold off the throws of socialism, tax and spend liberal dems.