ThinkFast: September 29, 2008
ThinkFast: September 29, 2008
“Former attorney general Alberto R. Gonzales will not be referred to a federal grand jury for his role in the 2006 firings of nine U.S. attorneys,” but a new report released today by the Office of Professional Responsibility and the Justice Department Inspector General does recommend that “a prosecutor continue to probe the involvement of lawmakers and White House officials in the episode.”
33 percent: Number of Americans who believe the economy is already in a depression. Just 12% said that 10 months ago.
Five bomb attacks stuck Baghdad yesterday, killing at least 27 people and wounding 84. “The bombings reinforced fears among a growing number of residents that the security situation in Baghdad was deteriorating, even though over all it remained at the most stable level since the American-led invasion in 2003.”
59 percent: People who believe that the Bush administration’s “war on terror” has either made al Qaeda stronger or had no effect, according to a new BBC poll of 23 nations. Forty-nine percent of those polled said neither side is winning “the conflict between al-Qaeda and the US.”
On the trail today: Barack Obama will speak on the economy in Denver, CO. John McCain and Sarah Palin will be at Capital University in Columbus for a rally beginning at 9 a.m.
Though Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) has presented herself as a reformer, during her years as the mayor of Wasilla “she and her friends received special benefits more typical of small-town politics as usual,” according to the AP. In one example, when Palin needed to sell her house, “she got the city to sign off on a special zoning exception – and did so without keeping a promise to remove a potential fire hazard.”
Last Friday, John McCain chided Barack Obama for “saying publicly he supports striking terrorist targets inside Pakistan if the Pakistani government is unable or unwilling to do so.” But McCain was forced to defend Sarah Palin after she endorsed the same policy a day later. “I don’t think most Americans think that that’s a definitive policy statement,” McCain said of Palin’s support for striking terrorists in Pakistan.
On Saturday, the Senate voted to give $25 billion in loan guarantees to the auto industry in Detroit, the largest federal aid package ever offered to the industry. The money “amounts to a subsidy for such products as hybrid vehicles and plug-in electric cars.”
A new organization — the World Institute for Nuclear Security — is being unveiled today in Vienna that “seeks to bolster security at thousands of nuclear sites around the world in an effort to block atomic theft and terrorism.” Its goal “is to promote the best security practices, eliminate weak links in the global security chain and, ultimately, keep terrorists from getting the bomb.”
Lawmakers are seeking to “penalize excessive executive pay at many companies seeking aid from the federal government’s $700 billion bank-rescue plan.” But the penalties are likely to be ineffective, as they rely the loophole-ridden tax code. Dean Baker, co-director for the Center on Economic and Policy Research commented, “Any executive who can’t figure out a way around these restrictions should be fired.”
And finally: On Sunday, Rainn Wilson of “The Office” spoke at George Washington University, joking that he was there because “Steve Carrell was unavailable this weekend.” Wilson was actually there to benefit the Tahirih Justice Center. When asked who his character, Dwight Schrutte, would pick in the upcoming election, Wilson replied, “Early on in the campaign, John McCain picked Dwight Schrutte as his running mate. He didn’t actually follow through.” “Dwight for V.P.” t-shirts were still up for grabs at a silent auction over the weekend.
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Muslim Women & Children Gassed In Dayton After “Obsession” DVD Hits Ohio
You may have heard that millions of copies of a right-wing, terror propaganda DVD have been mailed or bundled in newspaper deliveries to voters in swing states. This 60-minute DVD, titled Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West, landed on Ohio doorsteps last weekend. Funding for this hate-based DVD is coming from a New York-based group called the Clarion Fund. Huffington Post has some background on the Obsession DVD.
On Friday, two men according to a child eye witness, gassed a Dayton Mosque. These men sprayed a “chemical irritant” into a window of the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton, where 300 people were gathered for a Ramadan prayer service. From a Daily Kos entry, the room that the chemical was released is where babies and children stay while their parents participate in prayer services.
This is the report from the Dayton Daily News on the incident.
Chris at the Daily Kos received an email from a friend of the victims that tells an even scarier story of the incident compared to the unfeeling one that the Dayton Daily put out.
Huffington Post has the complete state-by-state list of most of the 70 newspapers in swing states that have agreed to deliver this garbage to their subscribers. My suggestion would be to email and make phone calls if your newspaper is on the list.
This hate filled DVD was put out with one goal in mind and that is to instill fear and hatred against the Muslim community. I can’t even put into words how horrified I am that this happened at all and in my own state. I am ashamed and appalled that the southern part of my state listens to hate filled “religious” services-given by pro-McCain evangelists-and embraces this form of propaganda. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families that were terrorized by these men.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:01 amThe report of the Dayton gassing of Muslim children is horror beyond belief. The hatred propagated by the so-called christians in our country is appalling.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:10 amFreedom Rebel Says
September 29th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Muslim Women & Children Gassed In Dayton After “Obsession” DVD Hits Ohio
_________________________________________________________
The “Obsession” DVD hit our local paper here in NC (another battleground state) a couple of weeks ago. Thank heaven that no local mosques were gassed. But the paper received a great deal of mail and phone calls from outraged subscribers and at least 50 people canceled their subscriptions because the newspaper accepted this advertising.
Anyone who would gas babies and children while their parents are praying (or under ANY circumstances) is seriously disturbed.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:12 amNazi Christian Terrorists, the far right’s bestest friends.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:14 amFinancial markets aren’t happy about the fall of Wachovia Bank. They landed in CitiGroup’s hands.
Uncle Sam tries to put off the Reaper. The Ghost of Credit Past visited Wall Street and Uncle Sam is doing his best to swoosh him away.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:14 amAlthough palin has so many problems that are being uncovered, the dems would do well to let her alone. Tina Fey has done the best political commenting on palin. As the skits that Fey has done make the internet rounds, it becomes harder and harder for anyone to take palin seriously. Any attacks by dems will simply make her a sympathetic figure and give the dem an aura of being a sexist bully no matter how correct the comments.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:15 amThis campaign is going to get uglier than Joe Liebeman’s wife.
McCain can’t win on logic or leadership, so he’s buying in to the same people who defeated him in ‘00.
What did he do when he ’suspended’ his campaign to play Mighty Mouse in D.C? Nothing.
Claiming ‘this is an issue you can’t phone in’, he went to D.C., sat on his ass, & ‘phoned it in’. The one meeting he did make, at the WH, he sat silently for over 40 minutes. Most likely, he didn’t even understand the entire issue, let alone have any insight or new input to offer.
McCain just may be dumber than the dumbest President to date.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:19 amThe bailout plan should have a requirement that CEO’s only receive a fair salary, no incentive compensation in any form. Benefits would be the same as non-executive employees.
The salary should be pegged to the pay of the lowest paid worker, with a maximum multiple.
Then the big boys can run the numbers and decide whether to participate. CEO’s are paid to do what’s best for the company, not for their personal compensation.
That this is a sticking point shows how incentive pay distorts.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:19 am…
September 29th, 2008 at 9:20 am“Activate Your Mind”? Great Image Choice!!!
“Former attorney general Alberto R. Gonzales will not be referred to a federal grand jury for his role in the 2006 firings of nine U.S. attorneys,”
One hopes that this is a case of keeping the door open for Gonzales to roll over on the true criminals in this… Cheney and Bush.
But, I’m not holding out much hope….
September 29th, 2008 at 9:21 amre photo of Gonzo:
Barney the dinosaur without makeup?
September 29th, 2008 at 9:23 amSo Hank ‘Col. Klink’ Paulson says executive compensation has been ‘reined in’ on the bailout to Wall St.
Is this a fact?
I’ve heard it only applies to ‘new’ CEO’s from here on.
Anyone been able to sort out the truth of the matter?
September 29th, 2008 at 9:23 amBearCountry Says:
Although palin has so many problems that are being uncovered, the dems would do well to let her alone. Tina Fey has done the best political commenting on palin. As the skits that Fey has done make the internet rounds, it becomes harder and harder for anyone to take palin seriously. Any attacks by dems will simply make her a sympathetic figure and give the dem an aura of being a sexist bully no matter how correct the comments
I agree — even Sen. Biden should refrain from addressing her shortcomings while they debate; just letting her spread that fingernails-on-a-chalkboard reaction all by herself will do plenty to convince voters of her shortcomings.
Plus, she’s an attack-mode type, it seems, so if Biden suggests in any way that she lacks qualifications, she’ll respond sarcastically, which — for some reason — endured her to millions in her nomination speech.
She’s already got the shovel — her mouth; let her keep on diggin’ that hole.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:25 amMarie Says: The report of the Dayton gassing of Muslim children is horror beyond belief. The hatred propagated by the so-called christians in our country is appalling.
And then they go and blame those of us who do not believe in their invisible sky wizard, or his half-human zombie offspring, for what’s wrong with this country… Truly astounding.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:25 amBut McCain was forced to defend Sarah Palin after she endorsed the same policy a day later. “I don’t think most Americans think that that’s a definitive policy statement,” McCain said of Palin’s support for striking terrorists in Pakistan.
Oh, right John. Should you win, this bimbo could be our president as early as January 21, 2009, but her statements shouldn’t be considered “definitive policy.”
McStain also defended Palin by saying “Sticking a microphone while conversations are being held, and then all of a sudden that’s — that’s a person’s position.”
Well, yes, John, listening to how someone answers a direct question is exactly how one determines someone’s position.
Idiot. Dangerous idiot.
PEACE
September 29th, 2008 at 9:26 amI’m concerned at how much the financial crisis is resulting in the consolidation in the financial industry. Could City Group purchase Wachovia at any other time without huge worries about anti-trust issues?
September 29th, 2008 at 9:26 amFriends,
Let me cut to the chase. The biggest robbery in the history of this country is taking place as you read this. Though no guns are being used, 300 million hostages are being taken. Make no mistake about it: After stealing a half trillion dollars to line the pockets of their war-profiteering backers for the past five years, after lining the pockets of their fellow oilmen to the tune of over a hundred billion dollars in just the last two years, Bush and his cronies — who must soon vacate the White House — are looting the U.S. Treasury of every dollar they can grab. They are swiping as much of the silverware as they can on their way out the door.
No matter what they say, no matter how many scare words they use, they are up to their old tricks of creating fear and confusion in order to make and keep themselves and the upper one percent filthy rich. Just read the first four paragraphs of the lead story in last Monday’s New York Times and you can see what the real deal is:
“Even as policy makers worked on details of a $700 billion bailout of the financial industry, Wall Street began looking for ways to profit from it.
“Financial firms were lobbying to have all manner of troubled investments covered, not just those related to mortgages.
“At the same time, investment firms were jockeying to oversee all the assets that Treasury plans to take off the books of financial institutions, a role that could earn them hundreds of millions of dollars a year in fees.
“Nobody wants to be left out of Treasury’s proposal to buy up bad assets of financial institutions.”
Unbelievable. Wall Street and its backers created this mess and now they are going to clean up like bandits. Even Rudy Giuliani is lobbying for his firm to be hired (and paid) to “consult” in the bailout.
The problem is, nobody truly knows what this “collapse” is all about. Even Treasury Secretary Paulson admitted he doesn’t know the exact amount that is needed (he just picked the $700 billion number out of his head!). The head of the congressional budget office said he can’t figure it out nor can he explain it to anyone.
And yet, they are screeching about how the end is near! Panic! Recession! The Great Depression! Y2K! Bird flu! Killer bees! We must pass the bailout bill today!! The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
Falling for whom? NOTHING in this “bailout” package will lower the price of the gas you have to put in your car to get to work. NOTHING in this bill will protect you from losing your home. NOTHING in this bill will give you health insurance.
Health insurance? Mike, why are you bringing this up? What’s this got to do with the Wall Street collapse?
It has everything to do with it. This so-called “collapse” was triggered by the massive defaulting and foreclosures going on with people’s home mortgages. Do you know why so many Americans are losing their homes? To hear the Republicans describe it, it’s because too many working class idiots were given mortgages that they really couldn’t afford. Here’s the truth: The number one cause of people declaring bankruptcy is because of medical bills. Let me state this simply: If we had had universal health coverage, this mortgage “crisis” may never have happened.
This bailout’s mission is to protect the obscene amount of wealth that has been accumulated in the last eight years. It’s to protect the top shareholders who own and control corporate America. It’s to make sure their yachts and mansions and “way of life” go uninterrupted while the rest of America suffers and struggles to pay the bills. Let the rich suffer for once. Let them pay for the bailout. We are spending 400 million dollars a day on the war in Iraq. Let them end the war immediately and save us all another half-trillion dollars!
I have to stop writing this and you have to stop reading it. They are staging a financial coup this morning in our country. They are hoping Congress will act fast before they stop to think, before we have a chance to stop them ourselves. So stop reading this and do something — NOW! Here’s what you can do immediately:
1. Call or e-mail Senator Obama. Tell him he does not need to be sitting there trying to help prop up Bush and Cheney and the mess they’ve made. Tell him we know he has the smarts to slow this thing down and figure out what’s the best route to take. Tell him the rich have to pay for whatever help is offered. Use the leverage we have now to insist on a moratorium on home foreclosures, to insist on a move to universal health coverage, and tell him that we the people need to be in charge of the economic decisions that affect our lives, not the barons of Wall Street.
2. Take to the streets. Participate in one of the hundreds of quickly-called demonstrations that are taking place all over the country (especially those near Wall Street and DC).
3. Call your Representative in Congress and your Senators. (click here to find their phone numbers). Tell them what you told Senator Obama.
When you screw up in life, there is hell to pay. Each and every one of you reading this knows that basic lesson and has paid the consequences of your actions at some point. In this great democracy, we cannot let there be one set of rules for the vast majority of hard-working citizens, and another set of rules for the elite, who, when they screw up, are handed one more gift on a silver platter. No more! Not again!
Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com
P.S. Having read further the details of this bailout bill, you need to know you are being lied to. They talk about how they will prevent golden parachutes. It says NOTHING about what these executives and fat cats will make in SALARY. According to Rep. Brad Sherman of California, these top managers will continue to receive million-dollar-a-month paychecks under this new bill. There is no direct ownership given to the American people for the money being handed over. Foreign banks and investors will be allowed to receive billion-dollar handouts. A large chunk of this $700 billion is going to be given directly to Chinese and Middle Eastern banks. There is NO guarantee of ever seeing that money again.
P.P.S. From talking to people I know in DC, they say the reason so many Dems are behind this is because Wall Street this weekend put a gun to their heads and said either turn over the $700 billion or the first thing we’ll start blowing up are the pension funds and 401(k)s of your middle class constituents. The Dems are scared they may make good on their threat. But this is not the time to back down or act like the typical Democrat we have witnessed for the last eight years. The Dems handed a stolen election over to Bush. The Dems gave Bush the votes he needed to invade a sovereign country. Once they took over Congress in 2007, they refused to pull the plug on the war. And now they have been cowered into being accomplices in the crime of the century. You have to call them now and say “NO!” If we let them do this, just imagine how hard it will be to get anything good done when President Obama is in the White House. THESE DEMOCRATS ARE ONLY AS STRONG AS THE BACKBONE WE GIVE THEM. CALL CONGRESS NOW.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:26 am$231,482 is spent EVERY MINUTE in Iraq.
$10,000,000,000 per month/30/24/60
And the National Debt grows at $1,000,000 per minute.
Just trying to put it ALL in perspective.
Call you Congress Critter and tell them to REPEAL THE FEDERAL RESEVER ACT. It is the only way to break the ties that bind us.
The BEST 3:35 you will EVER spend
September 29th, 2008 at 9:28 am#3 misshusseinmolly Says:
The “Obsession” DVD hit our local paper here in NC (another battleground state) a couple of weeks ago. Thank heaven that no local mosques were gassed. But the paper received a great deal of mail and phone calls from outraged subscribers and at least 50 people canceled their subscriptions because the newspaper accepted this advertising.
Anyone who would gas babies and children while their parents are praying (or under ANY circumstances) is seriously disturbed.
Good Morning Miss Molly :) I agree, it broke my heart when I read about this. I know that southern Ohio has many issues, but this is so far out of the normal rhelm I had to read it twice.
Another thing that I found particularly alarming is that gummitch informed me that he received one and he is not in a battleground state. Which means how many other states received this hateful DVD? They are going to have to follow up on this and find out. So far they know of 28 million copies that have been distributed. It could end up being far more than that.
Have a good day….
September 29th, 2008 at 9:29 amZimzone Says: McCain just may be dumber than the dumbest President to date.
McCain has become worse than Bush. Bush is dangerous as a resiult of his ignorance, while McCain is far more dangerous because he is deliberate in his macchinations.
On Friday, one of my new students said that whie he didn’t like either candidate, Obama is a radical Muslim who supports terrorism. We know who is behind keeping that racist lie going.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:31 amFreedom Rebel Says:
This hate filled DVD was put out with one goal in mind and that is to instill fear and hatred against the Muslim community. I can’t even put into words how horrified I am that this happened at all and in my own state. I am ashamed and appalled that the southern part of my state listens to hate filled “religious” services-given by pro-McCain evangelists-and embraces this form of propaganda. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families that were terrorized by these men.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:01 am
_______
The men who committed this act of domestic terrorism need to be prosecuted as terrorists, and the people who run the Clarion Fund should be prosecuted for inciting acts of terror. This is inexcusable.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:33 amMarie Says:
The report of the Dayton gassing of Muslim children is horror beyond belief. The hatred propagated by the so-called christians in our country is appalling.
Marie, I cried when I read this. I just couldn’t believe that this could possibly happen here. They are having trouble investigating the Clarion Fund. Who is supporting John McCain on their website. McCain needs to issue a statement censuring this kind of hate from a Pro-McCain group. But, I’m not holding my breathe waiting to see if he does.
Good to see you Marie !!
September 29th, 2008 at 9:33 amObama is a radical Muslim who supports terrorism.
If this were true, then he’d bomb Israel back into the stone age, therefore, AIPAC would never let Barack near the WH.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:35 amFrom Sunday’s MTP:
(Snip)
MR. BROKAW: You know, we like to keep track of records here on MEET THE PRESS, as you’re well aware of. We looked at this interview that Tim did with you a year ago at the Clinton Initiative–Global Initiative, and at that time you predicted that John McCain would be the Republican nominee, at a time when a lot of people thought he was…
PRES. CLINTON: He was dead.
MR. BROKAW: …toast, in political terms. But you said as well, at that time, “I’ve disagreed with him, but I have admired him.” And then to Maria Bartiromo last week you said, “I have never concealed my admiration and affection for Senator McCain. I think he’s a great man. But I think on the issues, that matter to our future, the Obama-Biden team is more right.”
PRES. CLINTON: I do believe that. I think Senator Obama has shown a remarkable ability to learn and grow in this campaign. He always was highly intelligent and always a very good politician. He, he got the change–the fundamental change in, in the calendar of this Democratic primary process of which we were engaged, his energy program kept getting better through the campaign, his healthcare program kept getting better. I, I, I think what you want in a president at a time like this is somebody with good instincts who generally starts in a right position and then just keeps getting better and that’s what he’s done.
MR. BROKAW: Would you use the same words for him that you have used for Senator McCain, that you admire him and that you think he’s a good…
PRES. CLINTON: I certainly…
MR. BROKAW: …and that he’s a great man?
PRES. CLINTON: Well, I don’t, look, I had my first conversation with him in my entire life in Harlem.
MR. BROKAW: You had never talked to him before that meeting.
PRES. CLINTON: No, I’d talked to him, but always in passing. I did a fundraiser for him when he ran for the Senate in 2004. I saw him briefly at Senator Kennedy’s 75th birthday party. I had always, you know, I always–Hillary’s the one who told me to go help him. She said, “This guy’s got real skills. He’s got almost unlimited potential.” And I–she–so I did and I’ve always thought he was a really commanding presence. What I mean by saying that about McCain is, you know, most people would’ve been broken by what he went through. Oh, we would’ve been happy just to give him an “atta boy” and a medal and let him wander through life. I, I think his greatness is that he keeps trying to come back to service without ever asking people to cut him any slack or feel sorry for him or any of that stuff because he was a POW. But I, I genuinely, you know, I am developing a really good relationship with Senator Obama and I certainly admire him. And I know he saw and imagined the way this thing could develop, this political year and this, and this economic situation in a way that is left him in a position of leadership that he’s in now. And I think that the rest of us should admire that. That’s a big part of leadership, being able to sense, as well as see the future.
(Snip)
Scroll down just past the middle of the page:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26927711/page/4/
**WTF is with this guy? Just reinforce the rethug talking points about experience. Parse any real endorsements. He pretty much implies he will vote democrat not necessarily Obama in Nov. Throw him off the bus. This treatment is the same as McCain never once looking Obama in the eye and patronizing him. With friends like Bill…
September 29th, 2008 at 9:36 amspencers mom Says
September 29th, 2008 at 9:26 am
McStain also defended Palin by saying “Sticking a microphone while conversations are being held, and then all of a sudden that’s — that’s a person’s position.”
____________________________________________________________
McCain should know — how many times has he said stuff that caused his campaign to claim that “McCain doesn’t speak for the McCain campaign”?
I guess what you say in prepared and rehearsed statements counts as your “position” but what you say in informal conversations (or even formal conversations, such as an interview) is pure BS? And I always thought it was the other way around…
September 29th, 2008 at 9:37 amAnd the beat goes on Says
September 29th, 2008 at 9:36 am
**WTF is with this guy? Just reinforce the rethug talking points about experience. Parse any real endorsements. He pretty much implies he will vote democrat not necessarily Obama in Nov. Throw him off the bus. This treatment is the same as McCain never once looking Obama in the eye and patronizing him. With friends like Bill…
___________________________________________________________
If THIS is how Bill Clinton plans to support Obama, he needs to be muzzled by the Obama campaign, and quickly. If he’s only going to damn with faint praise, he needs to STFU.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:40 amSpin Fast
67% of Americans aren’t depressed
Surge continues to work as only Iraqis are killed in latest Baghdad bomb attack.
49% say Al Qaeda isn’t winning war on terror, ergo 51% say US is winning, so neener neener, librul defeatists!
Sarah Palin’s special zoning exception for her house in Wasilla (pop.5,000) proves that small government “Of the Palin, by the Palin, for the Palin” is more efficient than Big Government.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:40 amRight wing terrorists occupied the front pages of Israel newspapers over the weekend. They set off a pipe bomb, trying to harm a well known peace activist.
Now, I find they’re here as well, gassing people in Ohio. The war on terror now has a strong right wing component. Do you think BushCo will go after these folks with the same zeal as the Convention protesters?
September 29th, 2008 at 9:41 amso much for the claim that ‘no terrorist attacks have occurred on US soil since 9/11′
right wingers ARE terrorists, they use fear to further their political agenda, the VERY DEFINITION of terrorism
September 29th, 2008 at 9:42 amOrange County pastors test the IRS rule against politicking
Los Angeles Times – 6 hours ago
Rev. Wiley S. Drake, shown praying with a parishioner, suggested that those at his First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park vote for him.
Pastors take politics to the pulpit Baltimore Sun
Pastor challenges IRS regulations on endorsements Atlanta Journal Constitution
Stop the ACLU – LifeNews.com – Washington Post
all 13 news articles »
http://news.google.com/?ncl=1252013302&hl=en&topic=n
September 29th, 2008 at 9:43 am#17 unbelievable Says:
——————————————————————————–
Friends,
Let me cut to the chase. The biggest robbery in the history of this country is taking place as you read this. Though no guns are being used, 300 million hostages are being taken. Make no mistake about it: After stealing a half trillion dollars to line the pockets of their war-profiteering backers for the past five years, after lining the pockets of their fellow oilmen to the tune of over a hundred billion dollars in just the last two years, Bush and his cronies — who must soon vacate the White House — are looting the U.S. Treasury of every dollar they can grab. They are swiping as much of the silverware as they can on their way out the door.
**Thank you for posting this. I read my copy this morning in my in basket and, once again, Michael Moore has put words to my thoughts. I really think we need much more debate on this. Did you read the letter that 200 economists signed and sent to Pelosi? I bet she never even glanced at it.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:43 am#21 hussein toasterhead Says:
Freedom Rebel Says:
This hate filled DVD was put out with one goal in mind and that is to instill fear and hatred against the Muslim community. I can’t even put into words how horrified I am that this happened at all and in my own state. I am ashamed and appalled that the southern part of my state listens to hate filled “religious” services-given by pro-McCain evangelists-and embraces this form of propaganda. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families that were terrorized by these men.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:01 am
_______
The men who committed this act of domestic terrorism need to be prosecuted as terrorists, and the people who run the Clarion Fund should be prosecuted for inciting acts of terror. This is inexcusable.
HT, I agree, what I find equally upsetting is that the IRS doesn’t have documentation on this group.. They are missing a form I think it is a 990. This would help identify all the people involved in Clarion. Not only the two men that gassed those babies and children, but I agree with you the men that distributed this also should be prosecuted.
My local newspaper did not distribute this propaganda, to my relief. Though personally I am surprised, because the reason I quit subscribing was the ring-wing propaganda in the editorial section was nauseating.
Have a good day hussein toasterhead ;)
September 29th, 2008 at 9:44 amFreedom Rebel Says:
Muslim Women & Children Gassed In Dayton After “Obsession” DVD Hits Ohio
September 29th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Another terrorist attack on US soil. Why isn’t this all over the Corporate Media?
I’ll give you three guesses…and the first two don’t count.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:44 amDieNowForPeace Says: If this were true, then he’d bomb Israel back into the stone age, therefore, AIPAC would never let Barack near the WH.
It’s funny how the Cons just sorta blink at you for a few moments after you present them with this typr of logic and facts. I genuinely do not think they can compute either.
The same guy then tried to say that the rich pay the most taxes. I told him, maybe they are suposed to pay the most according to the tax code, but they actually hide their money in offshore accounts or find enough loopholes so that 66% of corporations pay ZERO taxes at all. I explained that if they paid just their fair share, like everyone else, we wouldn’t be so far in debt. More blinking…
September 29th, 2008 at 9:45 amCNBC noted how past credit sins are expressing themselves in our economy. A jumbo mortgage applicant could get a loan from Citibank at 11%.
Hold onto to your shorts (the clothing version). It’s going to be a wild ride!
September 29th, 2008 at 9:45 am#14 unbelievable
Absolutely.
Their worship fo the spirit in the sky makes them far better people than those who don’t. They’re right. Just ask them.
Evil in this world is fostered in religion.
The churches who defied the IRS yesterday and preached politics from their pulpits, advocating for McCain and Palin and their “christian values of life” must be punished and lose their tax exemption.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:46 amThe land values and income that escape taxation because of the separation of church/state are no longer tax free — not when they stand there as campaign surrogates. They think they can win a SCOTUS challenge.
Spin Fast
Politicians avoid federal grand-jury duty. C-Span viewers relieved they won’t have to endure Alberto Gonzalez’s rhetorical tap-dancing ever again.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:48 amMcCain having to defend Sarah Palin’s statement on attacking terrorists in Pakistan reminds me of all the times when Ronald Reagan’s press secretary would have to say the president “misspoke”. I heard a Republican say this morning that the bar has been lowered so far down by Palin that she’s expected to do well in the upcoming debate. WHAT???!!
September 29th, 2008 at 9:49 am#12 Zimzone:
From an article in the business section of the NYT:
The limits on executive pay in the bill, also added in response to pressure from legislators, appear unlikely to be used very often. The secretary could take such steps if he bought substantial assets “from an individual financial institution where no bidding process or market prices are available.”
Presumably, if there is some kind of bidding process, those limitations, over which the secretary also has considerable discretion, will not apply. However, institutions that receive $300 million or more from the program would face limitations on executive pay.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/business/29bill.html?ref=business
September 29th, 2008 at 9:52 amAs you’ll recall, part of the “rush” to get a bill and have it moving toward being approved by today was the markets in Asia (which open first). Failed objective.
PARIS — European and Asian stocks declined Monday, as the agreement on the $700 billion American plan to rescue Wall Street failed to improve investor confidence or stimulate inter-bank lending.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/business/30markets.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
September 29th, 2008 at 9:53 am#33 Zooey Says:
Freedom Rebel Says:
Muslim Women & Children Gassed In Dayton After “Obsession” DVD Hits Ohio
September 29th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Another terrorist attack on US soil. Why isn’t this all over the Corporate Media?
I’ll give you three guesses…and the first two don’t count.
Zooey, Good Morning :) So much for the liberal biased media that they keep telling us we have… Even more tragic is that the local newstations haven’t covered this either. I haven’t heard one word about it locally…
I’m glad Cats & Shayne brought this to my attention. I had no idea til last night.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:53 amAnd the beat goes on Says: Did you read the letter that 200 economists signed and sent to Pelosi? I bet she never even glanced at it.
No, I had only heard about it. On C-Span and PBS, of course.
I think Moore is right – the Democrats are being scared into this ‘compromise’ (as she called it), because the corporations, who will not suffer one bit, are threatening to crash the economy in order to get their way.
I am truly at the point now that I think this is the end of the United States.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:53 amspencers mom Says:
Oh, right John. Should you win, this bimbo could be our president as early as January 21, 2009, but her statements shouldn’t be considered “definitive policy.”
Actually, sooner than that, should something happen between November 4, 2008 and the swearing-in ceremony. It’s theoretically possible Palin could be sworn in as President.
Does Craig’s list advertise jobs in Europe and Canada?
September 29th, 2008 at 9:54 amI continue to be dismayed, disappointed and disgusted with Bill Clinton. He is having trouble exiting the stage, so it’s time for the hook to come out. Pull him off – with “support” like his, you don’t need enemies.
I don’t think Hillary is as bad as Bill — but this is a tough one for Obama — he needs to keep her support, but he needs to shut Bill up. Imagine if OBama had chosen Hillary — Bill would be the one in the spotlight, speaking as the president, over Obama.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:55 amHillary is the one who has to send Bill away – will she?
She still wants to run in 2012 and therein lies the reason for their two-faced words of “support.”
Great job on the Fast Spin 5th Estate :) I needed a good laugh…
September 29th, 2008 at 9:56 amPARIS — European and Asian stocks declined Monday, as the agreement on the $700 billion American plan to rescue Wall Street failed to improve investor confidence or stimulate inter-bank lending.
This is the cause for the “urgent need to rush” this legislation, before the real world catches on to the utter bullshit.
September 29th, 2008 at 9:56 amMarie Says: The land values and income that escape taxation because of the separation of church/state are no longer tax free — not when they stand there as campaign surrogates. They think they can win a SCOTUS challenge.
They know that they will get away with it. The Supreme Court is packed with religiousnuts now, and the government wouldn’t touch it anyway to let it get that far.
They intentially broke the law yetsreday, while calling it an act of morality. Such hypocrites. I can only hope they will lose attendees who don’t want to hear about politics in their houses of worship. But I won’t hold my breath…
September 29th, 2008 at 10:00 amMarie Says:
I continue to be dismayed, disappointed and disgusted with Bill Clinton. He is having trouble exiting the stage, so it’s time for the hook to come out. Pull him off – with “support” like his, you don’t need enemies.
I don’t think Hillary is as bad as Bill — but this is a tough one for Obama — he needs to keep her support, but he needs to shut Bill up. Imagine if OBama had chosen Hillary — Bill would be the one in the spotlight, speaking as the president, over Obama.
Hillary is the one who has to send Bill away – will she?
She still wants to run in 2012 and therein lies the reason for their two-faced words of “support.”
I too always felt it would be too much baggage to pick Hillary for VP. It is like having a know-it-all father-in-law who worked in the same job as you, and now you are running the business…ALWAYS the second guesser, and an uncontrollable moutpiece that the media can get continuous opposing frinedly-fire opinion from. Totally untenable situation.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:00 amHey BILL, SHUT THE FCUK UP!!
this excellent advice appeared in saturday’s Amy Dickinson column:
Dear Amy: My mother is famous for sending negative political e-mails to all of her family members and friends who do not share her political beliefs.
We have asked her for years to stop because we find it offensive. We delete them, but the fact that she doesn’t respect our boundaries wears us down.
Then my cousin came up with a brilliant solution!
She e-mailed my mother to inform her that she was tired of asking her to stop sending the political material she found insulting, and that if she refused to comply, for each one Mom sent, my cousin would make a $25 contribution to the opposing party in Mom’s name!
After receiving a few “Thank You” letters from “those people” at least Mom has quieted down, and the rest of us get a chuckle out of it.
—Laughing to the Elections
Dear Laughing: I vote for this excellent solution.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:06 amMarie Says:
Hillary is the one who has to send Bill away – will she?
She still wants to run in 2012 and therein lies the reason for their two-faced words of “support.”
September 29th, 2008 at 9:55 am
______
She’s also the one who swift-boated Howard Dean in 2004 to ensure that she’d be able to run in 2008. Hillary is a friend to no one.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:07 amTawdry Says
September 29th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I heard a Republican say this morning that the bar has been lowered so far down by Palin that she’s expected to do well in the upcoming debate. WHAT???!!
__________________________________________________________
Well, of course she’s expected to do well in the upcoming debate. The rules and the format have been especially tailored to her memorize-and-regurgitate style of campaigning. The time period for responses is being kept short, there will be no follow-up questions, and definitely no interaction between the debators. Palin will receive a question and she will spit out her memorized response to it. The only thing that could help her further would be if the McCain campaign can get the list of questions in advance (and I’m sure they’re working on that).
Biden’s best hope is that Palin gets asked a question for which she hasn’t learned a response, or that she gets confused and starts nattering on about health care when the question is about whether Iran is a possible nuclear threat.
Expectations are still high for Biden, as he’s competent and everybody knows it. However expectations for Palin are so low that if she’s capable of knowing what office she’s running for, people will point to that as a success.
So in that sense, Palin is expected to “win”. But the event has been so horribly handicapped in her favor, how could she not?
September 29th, 2008 at 10:11 am#42 Unbelievable:
To the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate:
As economists, we want to express to Congress our great concern for the plan proposed by Treasury Secretary Paulson to deal with the financial crisis. We are well aware of the difficulty of the current financial situation and we agree with the need for bold action to ensure that the financial system continues to function. We see three fatal pitfalls in the currently proposed plan:
1) Its fairness. The plan is a subsidy to investors at taxpayers’ expense. Investors who took risks to earn profits must also bear the losses. Not every business failure carries systemic risk. The government can ensure a well-functioning financial industry, able to make new loans to creditworthy borrowers, without bailing out particular investors and institutions whose choices proved unwise.
2) Its ambiguity. Neither the mission of the new agency nor its oversight are clear. If taxpayers are to buy illiquid and opaque assets from troubled sellers, the terms, occasions, and methods of such purchases must be crystal clear ahead of time and carefully monitored afterwards.
3) Its long-term effects. If the plan is enacted, its effects will be with us for a generation. For all their recent troubles, America’s dynamic and innovative private capital markets have brought the nation unparalleled prosperity. Fundamentally weakening those markets in order to calm short-run disruptions is desperately short-sighted.
For these reasons we ask Congress not to rush, to hold appropriate hearings, and to carefully consider the right course of action, and to wisely determine the future of the financial industry and the U.S. economy for years to come.
http://faculty.chicagogsb.edu/john.cochrane/research/Papers/mortgage_protest.htm
**This site includes a list of the signators. Nary a lightweight amongst them!
September 29th, 2008 at 10:15 amAnd the beat goes on Says: To the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate:
Thank you!
It’s nice to see someone who knows what they are talking about speak out. I wish it would make a difference.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:20 amunbelievable Says:
I am truly at the point now that I think this is the end of the United States.
It’s over. We’re done. This is no longer the U.S. of A. that we grew up in. We are so screwed. It is beyond the point of ever getting back to how it once was in this country. I’ll soon be 55. I probably should begin stocking up on dog food so I’ll be able to eat in my golden years.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:22 am“33 percent: Number of Americans who believe the economy is already in a depression. Just 12% said that 10 months ago.”
Its all in their head.
Phil Gramm
September 29th, 2008 at 10:23 amthem_libs Says: (ABC News) The senior senator from Arizona repeatedly told the junior senator from Illinois that his answers and proposals in their first presidential debate showed that he “doesn’t seem to understand”
We tell you all the time that you don’t understand, but that doesn’t seem to count for anything…
So what? Just because McStain offers an opinion doesn’t mean it’s true.
Obama said that McStain was wrong about the Iraq War, which he WAS, but you don’t seem to give that the same weight.
Shoo – you’re not as smart as you think you are.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:23 amthem_libs Says:
Predictably, his link gives no specifics.
Blunt is just bloviating.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:23 amkaty Says:
She e-mailed my mother to inform her that she was tired of asking her to stop sending the political material she found insulting, and that if she refused to comply, for each one Mom sent, my cousin would make a $25 contribution to the opposing party in Mom’s name!
After receiving a few “Thank You” letters from “those people” at least Mom has quieted down, and the rest of us get a chuckle out of it.
Planned Parenthood, who sends out handwritten thank you notes for donations given in someone’s name, has received close to $1 million in the name of Sarah Palin.
Can’t think of a better way to honor Plain’s anit-woman position.
PEACE
September 29th, 2008 at 10:24 amHow Democrats set Sarah Palin up to ‘win’ Thursday’s VP debate
[...]
The upcoming downside for the Obama-Biden campaign is that its supporters became so flustered over Palin’s surprisingly explosive popularity coming out of the GOP convention. They have so successfully mocked, derided and lowered expectations for Palin in Thursday night’s VP debate that if she doesn’t drool or speak in tongues, many millions still open to persuasion will be impressed.
Al Gore’s campaign made the exact same mistake going into the 2000 debates. So all Texas Gov. George W. Bush had to do was not lose.
In that sense Democrats may have played right into a PR cul-de-sac. Biden, for instance, described Palin as merely better-looking than him. A far better communications strategy would have been to insincerely portray Palin with superlatives as a superwoman, make it harder, not easy, for her to impress. Too late now.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:25 am[...]
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/09/sarah-palin-m-5.html
barfly Says:
them_libs Says:
Predictably, his link gives no specifics.
Blunt is just bloviating.
Didn’t take much digging to reveal this as another childish trolling.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:25 am
them_libs chimes in to prove just how rare an occurrence a successful synapse inside his coward’s brain is
September 29th, 2008 at 10:26 amExit Stage Left Says: I’ll soon be 55. I probably should begin stocking up on dog food so I’ll be able to eat in my golden years.
LOL. That would be really funny if it weren’t such a real possiblity…
I’m done investing in the Stock Market. I have been investing since my 20s, and I have lost as much as I have made. Would have been better off with a steady 2% CD for the last 15 years…
September 29th, 2008 at 10:30 amthem_libs, are you so unable to find decent media support for your claim that “McCain took Hussein to the cleaners during the debate!” that you have to resort to citing a characterization of McCain’s tactics to make it look like that’s all that happened?
And you offer the opinion of a Republican governor (who’s father happens to be the House MInority Whip as further support?
I feel sorry for you. I really do. Although, it must be admitted, if your views were more mainstream, I would feel sorry for America.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:30 amWall Street has successfully fooled almost every average citizen that “playing the market” is the way to get ahead.
Stock market investments should never account for more than 10% of your net worth, and that’s if you’re a high roller.
Conning citizens approaching retirement into “privatizing” their money by investing in stocks is a rube which has proven quite lucrative to the investment world.
If you’ve got money to lose, by all means, invest in Wall Street.
It’s a “game” for the super wealthy who can afford to lose.
It’s not for the rest of us.
WAKE UP.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:34 amJust a quiok note to trolls.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:37 amElection projection site 538.com now has Obama projected at 325 electoral votes.
Get your kennels ready for an eight year hibernation, mutts.
And as to the debate, look at the polls over the weekend, plus Obama’s five – eight point lead tell us loud and clear who won.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:38 amShe’s also the one who swift-boated Howard Dean in 2004 to ensure that she’d be able to run in 2008. Hillary is a friend to no one.
This is one of the reasons that I was not a Hillary supporter. I simply do no trust her.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:43 am39, And the Beat Goes On…thanks for CEO update; it is much like I heard it would be.
Re Th night’s debate…Biden is in a delicate position. If he shows off his considerable foreign policy skills, he’ll be accused of ’showboating & endless rhetoric’. If he displays a firm, clear approach to change, he’ll be accused of radicalism.
If he calls Palin on her bullshit, they’ll accuse him of bullying or sexism. If he plays nice & is polite, he’ll be pandering or patronizing.
Repukes have a skill at setting up no-win situations. We’ve seen it occur for years now. I’m not sure the Dems are capable of preventing this, perhaps because they just can’t routinely think that diabolically.
Palin / McCain – 1908
September 29th, 2008 at 10:48 amDieNowForPeace Says: Wall Street has successfully fooled almost every average citizen that “playing the market” is the way to get ahead.
I met a man a few years back who had lost half of his retirement in the Enron debacle. At 70, he was working at McDonald’s to pay for his wife’s prescriptions. Biggest wake-up call I could have gotten.
Fortunately, I’m only 41, and I have little left in the market (I listened to the people a couple years ago who predicted this). Unfortunately, it’s the folks who are close to retirement that are going to be hit the hardest.
September 29th, 2008 at 10:49 amwouldn’t that “Obsession” DVD fall under the label of
religious persecution?
i would think so…
September 29th, 2008 at 11:21 amlibby,
just one comment?
*
September 29th, 2008 at 11:31 amThe people affected by the Dayton mosque gassing should either individually or collectively try and sue the publishers of the newspapers who agreed to distribute the DVD. There will always be hate groups who put together material, but the media need to be taught that it is NOT okay to distribute hate-pieces as paid advertising. The best way to teach a lesson is to hit them right in the wallet.
I think the papers are unwilling to print the story of the gassing because it would implicate them (at least those that distributed the DVD).
September 29th, 2008 at 2:11 pm