ThinkFast: October 14, 2008
ThinkFast: October 14, 2008
Rep. Tim Mahoney (D-FL) – who replaced former congressman Mark Foley (R) – “is facing scandalous allegations of his own.” ABC News reports Mahoney paid $121,000 to “a former mistress who worked on his staff and was threatening to sue him.” He has called on the House ethics committee to investigate his own behavior.
President Bush announced this morning that the Treasury Department will “invest up to $250 billion in banks, receiving an equity stake in return.” Under the proposal, which is similar to those initiated by European governments on Monday, the U.S. will “also guarantee new debt issued by banks for three years” in order to encourage banks to resume lending to one another and to customers.
A record 91 percent of Americans are “dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States,” according to a new USA Today/Gallup poll. Another 84 percent of those polled “predict the economy is going to get worse.” Thirty-one percent are confident that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) “would be able to turn things around,” compared to 44 percent who express confidence in Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL).
Iraqi Vice President Tariq al Hashimi said “it’s questionable whether the U.S. will have a legitimate right to maintain its troops in Iraq” if no security agreement is reached before the UN mandate expires on Dec. 31. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also said Saturday that absent an agreement or UN mandate renewal, “the U.S. forces will be confined to their bases and have to withdraw from Iraq.”
21 days to go: John McCain plans to make a midday speech at Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania, while Sarah Palin will make a campaign stop in Scranton. Barack Obama is in Toledo preparing for tomorrow night’s debate, and Joe Biden will hold rallies in eastern Ohio.
Aaron Zelinsky writes that the “secret memo” that controls the rules of presidential debates should be released. “The memorandum of understanding is a vital part of the 2008 election and the democratic process. However, both campaigns have refused to divulge the memorandum’s contents. Such a stance is antithetical to the fundamental American notion of transparency in government.”
“House Democrats are contemplating a huge infusion of public cash — as much as $300 billion — to stoke economic growth by creating public jobs and padding the wallets of struggling consumers.” The spending package “would be nearly twice as big as the stimulus measure President Bush signed in February.”
During a speech in Singapore today, former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker said, “The economy, I believe, is in recession.” He added, “The first priority is to stabilize the financial system. It is necessary even though the cost involved is heavy government intrusion in markets that should be private.”
Despite conservatives claiming otherwise, federal records show that the subprime lending boom which led to the current financial crisis was initiated by “the private sector, not the government or government-backed companies” like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The subprime lending crisis was enhanced “by a dramatic weakening of underwriting standards for U.S. subprime mortgages” a federal report found Friday.
And finally: In May, Sgt. Gwen Beberg and another soldier rescued a puppy from a burning pile of trash in Iraq. Beberg has been taking care of the dog, Ratchet, ever since, but the Army won’t let her take him home with her when she returns to the United States next month. More than 10,000 people have now “signed an online petition urging the Army to let an Iraqi puppy come home,” and Beberg’s congressman, Keith Ellison (D-MN), has written to the Army. Berberg fears that if Ratchet is left in Iraq, he could be killed.
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During a speech in Singapore today, former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker said, “The economy, I believe, is in recession.”
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This is a little bit like saying, "the ship, I believe, is sinking" -- as the bow goes under water. Still, I applaud Volcker for being unafraid to state the obvious. Now if only we could get our current leaders to do so.
Why is it that "crisis" is an acceptable word and "recession" is not?
October 14th, 2008 at 9:06 amJohn Kerry Says
October 14th, 2008 at 9:06 am
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Raving a bit early this morning? Once again, you strike with everything you've got, only proving you've got nothing.
It's not bad news that the Dow is rebounding -- that's good news for all. But we're not home free yet. The economy has quite a way to go to recover.
Iraq isn't a success just because you claim it to be. If we were really successful in Iraq, our troops would be coming home, and Iraq would be taking care of itself.
The only "lib ACORN scandal" is the one your side invented.
Tim Mahoney is being investigated (at his own request, in fact), as he should be. If he is found to have violated the ethics code, he will be dealt with. Whatever happens will reflect on Tim Mahoney, not the entire Democratic Party.
Does "see you in 2012" mean we won't have to see you for another four years?
October 14th, 2008 at 9:13 amI seem to remember seeing a picture of John McCain at an ACORN rally... hmmm...
October 14th, 2008 at 9:17 amI'm pretty sure this JK entity is an RNC bot, and a rather unsophisticated bot at that. Some bots are able to make rudimentary replies, rather like actual wingnut trolls, but this just makes one stupid post and moves on.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:17 amDespite conservatives claiming otherwise, federal records show that the subprime lending boom which led to the current financial crisis was initiated by “the private sector, not the government or government-backed companies” like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Mark Levin's nasal voice: Whaa!? WHAAA?? Noooooooo!!!!!
October 14th, 2008 at 9:18 amAaron Zelinsky writes that the “secret memo” that controls the rules of presidential debates should be released.
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This makes no sense. Why in the world is it necessary to keep the rules of the debates a secret? Are we giving the candidates handicaps that would be embarrassing if they were known? And if one candidate was given some sort of secret advantage by the rules, wouldn't the other candidate want that advantage released?
Curious.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:19 amBush is now irrelevant.
The Republican Party is now irrelevant.
John McFriends is now irrelevant.
Bill Kristol, Sean Hannity & Rush Limbaugh are now irrelevant.
America is waking up. Their will be Hell to pay for some.
All of you are going to pay for what you did to our Country.
We have a lot of hard work to do, & we can't wait to start.
3 weeks until the Vote. Let's make this an election year to remember. All of you who practiced obstructionism, lying, stacking the deck and lining your own pockets via lobbyists and corporations are going to be held accountable.
Obama. It's time for America to be led into the 21st century, & Barak Obama is just the man to do it.
Suck on that, Troll Kerry.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:20 amI think the fact that Bush's disapproval rating is 71% will reflect on Nov.4th. McBush is just another Bush term and people overwhelming do not want that.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:21 amNobody's mentioning that Mahoney is an ex-Republican, who was recruited to run as a Democrat by idiots in the DCCC and the state party, forcing out two good progressive candidates.
And as for this:
Berberg fears that if Ratchet is left in Iraq, he could be killed.
The same is true for thousands of American human beings in Iraq. Could we let Beberg take them all home too?
October 14th, 2008 at 9:22 amSo if there's a outcry about ACORN and its liberal voting fraud, why was McCain a featured speaker at a rally co-sponsored by ACORN? Link here
Senator John McCain and many others to speak at the rally at
Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus
Miami, Florida – February 20, 2006 ? Leaders from a diverse array of sectors will hold a rally in Miami on Thursday, February 23, 2006...
The rally will feature Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) as the headline speaker The rally in Miami is being sponsored by the New American Opportunity campaign (NAOC) in partnership with ACORN, Catholic Legal Services - Archdiocese of Miami, Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Miami Dade College, People for the American Way/Mi Familia Vota en Acción, Service Employees International Union, and UNITE HERE.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:22 amWhy haven't we seen any 'ECONOMIC MISSION ACCOMPLISHED' signs in the backround of Bush's speeches?
October 14th, 2008 at 9:22 amWell, that bit of brilliant rhetoric certainly has me switching my support.
Four more years!
October 14th, 2008 at 9:23 amJohn Kerry Says:
So, is Iraq a "victory" because a soldier saved a dog? Or is it because the Iraqis outmanuvered old Bushie and pals in a political game? Sounds like when they said they wanted us out a couple years ago they weren't kidding. So, we don't honor our word to them ("We'll leave when they want us to"), so they outmanuver Bush/Cheney and the clock is ticking, but you're going to claim that as a "victory". How dishonest of you.
Yes, the DOW is rebounding. The financial brains SAID that it would with the Wall Street Welfare money, AND they said that the rebound will most likely NOT be sustainable -- collapsing back on itself in a few months.
As for your inflammatory introductory comment: want some cheese to go with that whine?
October 14th, 2008 at 9:24 amSigh... someone please remove the troll's (John Kerry) comment so the rest of us grown-ups can get back to actually talking about the real issues and actually state facts to back up our points, please?
Thank you.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:24 amBeberg has been taking care of the dog, Ratchet, ever since, but the Army won’t let her take him home with her when she returns to the United States next month.
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What -- are they afraid this might be an evil Muslim terrorist dog?
Seriously, I know there are a number of issues when bringing animals into our country -- usually having to do with disease or illness. Surely our great and powerful government can overcome these obstacles. Especially when they have a nice human interest story in the midst of what's usually nothing but bad news. Can't our DoD use the positive PR?
October 14th, 2008 at 9:25 amAt the risk of appearing a heartless bastard, how 'bout letting the Americans come home?
October 14th, 2008 at 9:25 amMorning John Kerry. Nice to see you up so early. Normally you just dump your shit and run away later in the day. So about that chitchat? Are you still scared shitless? I have some pirogies and kielbasa from the land of Joe Biden we can snack on while we talk...
October 14th, 2008 at 9:25 amJohn McCain plans to make a midday speech at Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania, while Sarah Palin will make a campaign stop in Scranton.
Is this a joke, or is it just that McCain is ashamed that Obama has a 10 point lead in Penn?
October 14th, 2008 at 9:26 amhenry wallace Says
October 14th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Why haven’t we seen any ‘ECONOMIC MISSION ACCOMPLISHED’ signs in the backround of Bush’s speeches?
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Bush hasn't found a costume to wear to the photo-op that's on a dramatic par with a flight suit yet.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:27 amClassic Keynesian economics. Unfortunately, there's ample evidence that when the nation is up to its neck in debt the last thing one wants to do is deepen the pool. Heckuva job, neocons.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:27 amI truly believe if McBush released his entire medical record his poll numbers would be a lot lower because people DO NOT want Palin for President. Period.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:27 amraynman Says:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I seem to remember seeing a picture of John McCain at an ACORN rally… hmmm…
Sen. McCain Stood With ACORN Rally In 2006
A goldfish's lifetime ago, Sen. John McCain was happy to accept the honors and acclamation of the Service Employees International Union, People for the American Way, UNITE HERE -- and ACORN. Here he is, on Feb. 20, 2006, telling immigration rights activists at a rally in Miami that they "are what makes America special." ACORN co-sponsored the rally, and its volunteers surround McCain, and while there's no evidence that McCain ever formally teamed with the group, the video serves as a reminder that he did not mind being associated with them when the politics of the moment were different.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:28 amBush hasn’t found a costume to wear to the photo-op that’s on a dramatic par with a flight suit yet.
How 'bout a Santa outfit while the bankers and other recipients of this welfare sit on his lap and tell them what they want for Wall St. Welfare Christmas.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:31 amJohn Kerry
Got news for you. You're pulling objects out of your ass like it's 2003. Psss -- the ball is no longer in your court.
Do you intend to circle the drain until election day, then disappear? A 'Yes" would be nice.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:31 amMcPhony wants "relief" for Big Business and "middle-class families" but doesn't want to raise taxes on anyone. Just how does he think he'll pay for this? Taxes are the best thing for this country right now; Biden was right when he implied that its patriotic to pay taxes.
http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog/
October 14th, 2008 at 9:32 amBush could wear a firefighter's uniform and leap from a firetruck, firehose in hand, spraying money all over a scale model of Wall Street, flooding it with cash.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:34 amDumb_Hussein_Fox Says:
John McCain plans to make a midday speech at Montgomery County Community College in Pennsylvania, while Sarah Palin will make a campaign stop in Scranton.
Is this a joke, or is it just that McCain is ashamed that Obama has a 10 point lead in Penn?
According to electoral-vote.com, it's a 13 point lead.
That coward troll masquerading as a real hero is even more panicked than usual, and must have been up all night quaking under the bed.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:35 amThe last troll is the dumbest. The rest have all cut and run.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:35 amI watched the McFriends speech yesterday.
Ms McBudweiser & Ms McMoose were standing behind him in adoration.
Trouble is, Cindy was smiling while he described our Wall St crisis.
It also occurred to me that Palin may be more qualified to be President than my friend John. After all, both her & W were cheerleaders, & everyone knows that cheerleading is one of the most important jobs a President faces.
Give me an S!
October 14th, 2008 at 9:39 amGive me an H!
Give me an I!
Give me a T!
What's that smell?
Despite conservatives claiming otherwise, federal records show that the subprime lending boom which led to the current financial crisis was initiated by “the private sector, not the government..."
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Yes, but that won't prevent conservatives from using this meme as much as possible. Look how much mileage they got from the "China is drilling for oil off the coast of Cuba" long after that was debunked.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:40 amraynman Says:
So if there’s a outcry about ACORN and its liberal voting fraud, why was McCain a featured speaker at a rally co-sponsored by ACORN?
Oh, that's just like John McCain, bein' all mavericky.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:41 amSo we know several things: Neither CRA nor Freddie Mac nor Fannie Mae caused the financial crisis. Also, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) (see how the right loves making even acronyms out to be pejorative) is not engaged in voter fraud. A faulty application (which is not in itself voter fraud) can be attempted anywhere outside of ACORN, and ACORN doesn't sponsor any type of fraudulent activity.
21 days to go. May the desperate pivoting of the right continue..
(I got one! Obama is linked to Ayers because they both picked up some bananas at the same Chicago grocery store!)
October 14th, 2008 at 9:43 amFIGHT THE SMEARS
• Fact: Barack was never an ACORN community organizer.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:45 am• Fact: ACORN never hired Obama as a trainer, organizer, or any type of employee.
• Fact: ACORN was not part of Project Vote, the successful voter registration drive Barack ran in 1992.
McWars Says:
(I got one! Obama is linked to Ayers because they both picked up some bananas at the same Chicago grocery store!)
Ohmigod! You're absolutely right! Bananas are grown in South America, where they also make cocaine. Cocaine plantations are run by drug lords who use terrorist tactics. Banana is also where we got the term "Banana Republic" to describe small, petty terroristic nations. By buying bananas, Obama is supporting terrorist!
Not only that, but bananas have been reportedly used in all kinds of perverse acts. Banana purchacers must be perverts as well!
/sarc
October 14th, 2008 at 9:49 am00mpp00 Says
October 14th, 2008 at 9:32 am
McPhony wants “relief” for Big Business and “middle-class families” but doesn’t want to raise taxes on anyone. Just how does he think he’ll pay for this?
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McCain's strategy is to cut taxes for rich people and for corporations. He has touted the "the more you cut taxes, the more revenue the IRS gets" saw for so long, he probably even believes it by now (by that logic, eliminating the IRS completely should cause money to come in like a tsunami).
The other way McCain plans to "pay" for everything is by eliminating earmarks. Just eliminating earmarks all by themselves would save the country a couple billion, but since McCain has vowed to veto EVERY bill with earmarks in it, that means he will be vetoing virtually every spending bill Congress churns out, meaning no money will be spent at all! Brilliant, huh?
October 14th, 2008 at 9:53 amJohn McCain has had more involvement with ACORN than Barack and still hates low-income voters.
The right believes the vote is for the rich. They're looking for scapegoats because the precedent is threatened!
October 14th, 2008 at 9:53 amIolair Says:
Not only that, but bananas have been reportedly used in all kinds of perverse acts. Banana purchacers must be perverts as well!
/sarc
October 14th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Now I can never again buy bananas without blushing. *sigh*
October 14th, 2008 at 9:57 amJohn Kerry Says:
UNBELIEVABLE!! More pessimism from you coward cut and run America hating libs!!!
Bad news for you sickos! The DOW is making a rebound; Iraq is a success; the lib ACORN scandal will bring Obama Carter 2 down as will the (D) Tim Mahoney scandal!!!
See you in 2012!!
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Yeah... The DOW has made a GIANT leap back up to a whopping 9,554, it is impossible to win in Iraq, as General Petraeus will tell you, and the America hating scandals of hockey mom retard already ruined the republican party.
Go post on sites which harbor brainless idiots like yourself.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:59 amIolair -- IT'S OVER! We should have taken the bait and answered the investigator's questions (Detective First Dude). If only we stopped talking about the economy and answered for these past associations (tm).
October 14th, 2008 at 9:59 amKay Says:
I truly believe if McBush released his entire medical record his poll numbers would be a lot lower because people DO NOT want Palin for President. Period.
sane people, at least...
the righties are wishin'n'hopin' for an early bow out by the maverick so that their very own "jane winebox" (h/t joh stewart) gets her chance...
October 14th, 2008 at 10:00 ami was reading this story earlier, all the way to the end, not a word mentioned from the "left" to balance things, not a word about which "side" was correct... but, i guess that's the idea...
Obama’s tax plan and the redistribution of wealth
http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2008/10/14/obamas-tax-plan-and-the-redistribution-of-wealth/
i expected better of the csm...
October 14th, 2008 at 10:06 amI didn't know that a wrong association could be with a college professor. Are they one step above drug dealers in the reich-wing mind?
October 14th, 2008 at 10:06 amI better start pallin' around with better influences like Joseph McCarthy. Wagging a broken bottle around and labeling everything in sight a communist does a body good.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:08 amdid y'all catch rachel maddow last night?
October 14th, 2008 at 10:13 amshe smacked down the smarmy david frum who tried to turn around the facts and equate rachel's sarcasm to mcCRAZY's sickos...
hoping to see that video on C&L soon...
here it is - rachel maddow:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27171025#27171025
October 14th, 2008 at 10:16 amFlorida Representaive Mahoney's story is another one in series of GOP 'family values' stories uncovered.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:18 amPresident Bush announced this morning that the Treasury Department will “invest up to $250 billion in banks,
Now, is this part of the 750 billion>? or another 250 billion?
All these zeroes make me think of Pearl Harbor...
October 14th, 2008 at 10:21 amPrime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also said Saturday that absent an agreement or UN mandate renewal, “the U.S. forces will be confined to their bases and have to withdraw from Iraq.”
Yeah, right! Surge On! Political Reconciliation!!
Huh?
October 14th, 2008 at 10:21 amshoeless Says:
I’m pretty sure this JK entity is an RNC bot, and a rather unsophisticated bot at that. Some bots are able to make rudimentary replies, rather like actual wingnut trolls, but this just makes one stupid post and moves on.
Apparently TP is finally taking care of wingnuts like JK. His post no longer appears.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:49 am#raynman Says:
So if there’s a outcry about ACORN and its liberal voting fraud, why was McCain a featured speaker at a rally co-sponsored by ACORN?
The next time some conservative rants to you about ACORN, ask them "How many times has ACORN been found guilty of perpetuating voter fraud?" The answer, of course, is zero. They did turn in one of their workers to be prosecuted and they testified against the worker.
Then ask the person how many times the Republicans have been found guilt of voter disenfranchisement? The answer to that one is NOT zero!
October 14th, 2008 at 11:54 amMcWars Says:
Do you intend to circle the drain until election day, then disappear? A ‘Yes” would be nice.
We won't have to worry about JK and his ilk after November 4 because all their heads are going to explode simultaneously on November 5. I can't wait.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:01 pmA record 91 percent of Americans are "dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States"
snip
Thirty-one percent are confident that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) "would be able to turn things around..."
So 91% of Americans are "dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States" and yet a third of them are going to vote to keep on going in the same direction. Apparently, a third of Americans are willing to keep on doing the same thing over and over and are expecting different results.
OK, I get it: clearly a third of Americans are INSANE.
This goes a long way toward explaining why Bush's poll numbers stayed at 27% even after it was clear that he was NEVER fit to be president.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:08 pmI've been looking for a Red White & Blue magnet ribbon to put on my car that says, "I support our Wall Street Bankers", but can't find one. I guess the Chinese are letting this fine opportunity pass by. Or maybe the always popular, "God Bless Our Wall Street Bankers". Come on people, show your Patriotism! United we Stand. Freedom certainly isn't free.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:21 pm.
Q U E S T I O N:
If the Speaker of the House, Madam Pelosi can justify ordering an investigation into Florida Rep. Tim Mahoney for having secretly paid his former alleged mistress and campaign staffer to prevent a sexual harassment lawsuit from going forward, then how can she justify NOT ordering an investigation into George W. Bush and the multitude of obvious crimes exposed through the laborious time and effort that Congressman John Conyers has spent penning them?
LOYALTY PERHAPS?
Most certainly NOT priorities!
... NO?
.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:36 pmGotta give Pelosi and Conyers credit where credit is due. They said Impeachment was off the table and they meant it. Nothing Bush & Co. has done has rose to the level of having a mistress, hence was not worth the time and effort to expose to the American Public. As the Clinton investigation and impeachment proved, impeachment is solely for sexual scandals. War Crimes are not impeachable offenses.
Bush & Co. may have bankrupted the country both financially and morally, but it was with Pelosi's blessings.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:25 pmmax -
October 14th, 2008 at 1:33 pmSex Scandal Shakes Race for Congress in Florida
New York Times - 54 minutes ago
By IAN URBINA WASHINGTON - The Florida congressman who succeeded Mark Foley after he resigned because of a sex scandal is now embroiled in a sex scandal of his own, and has requested a Congressional ethics investigation to clear his name.
Max-1
Answer:
The Dems have a lot of embarrassing stuff to hide from the last 7 years. They want to get elected this time around. They do not need scandal. And you know the Republicans. As soon as they impeach the dirty secrets start coming out.
Question:
Does anyone know what John McCain's budget is for pants. I'm just curious since he is burning through them lately. :)
October 14th, 2008 at 3:12 pmBedava Porno izle,
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March 31st, 2009 at 10:17 am