ThinkFast: October 24, 2008
ThinkFast: October 24, 2008
Despite being sidelined with a brain tumor, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) has been “orchestrating meetings with lobbyists and lawmakers from both parties to craft legislation that would greet the new president with a plan to provide affordable medical coverage to all Americans, a measure he has called ‘the cause of my life.’” Kennedy’s goal is to introduce the bill as soon as the new Congress convenes in 2009.
35 percent: The share of Americans who are “now ‘very concerned’ that they or someone else in their household will be out of work and looking for a job within the next twelve months,” according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll. The percentage is a 12 point increase from last week.
Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) said President Bush should consider nominating his successor’s Treasury secretary to facilitate a “seamless transition” during the financial crisis. Dodd said Bush should send the nomination to the Senate in time for a “lame-duck” session in mid-November.
According to Los Angeles Times, Gov. Sarah Palin’s “approach to government was business as usual.” One quarter of state posts went to campaign donors or relatives — “without regard to qualifications.” Leading donors “received state-subsidized industrial development loans” and an ethics complaint is pending against Palin “for allegedly helping another donor and fundraiser land a state job.”
11 days to go: John McCain talks to voters in the Colorado towns of Denver and Durango, while Sarah Palin is in Pittsburgh. Barack Obama is in Hawaii with his ailing grandmother, and Joe Biden is campaigning in Charleston, WV.
Gov. Sarah Palin will give a policy speech in Pittsburgh today “highlighting her commitment to families with special needs, according to campaign officials.” It will be Palin’s first policy speech.
“After the White House intervened, the Environmental Protection Agency last week weakened a rule on airborne lead standards at the last minute so that fewer polluters would have their emissions monitored,” McClatchy reports today. The White House Office of Management and Budget forced the EPA to slash they number of sites it would regulate by 60 percent.
In its final weeks, the Bush administration will try to “revive a stalled crackdown on U.S. companies that hire illegal immigrants.” If a federal court agrees, the government “could begin mailing notices to 140,000 employers regarding suspect Social Security numbers used by an estimated 8.7 million workers, pressuring businesses to either resolve discrepancies or fire workers within 90 days.”
“The U.S. is the only industrialized country where youths are less likely than their parents to earn a [high school] diploma,” a new report from the Education Trust finds. Nationally, one in four children drop out of school before graduating, according to the report.
And finally: Will Ferrell reprised his role as President Bush and joined Tina Fey as Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) for a “Saturday Night Live” election special yesterday. In the segment, Bush offered an unwanted endorsement of the McCain-Palin ticket and declared the White House a “bummer-free zone.” Todd Palin was also dispatched to find Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who was hiding in the Adirondacks to avoid being photographed with Bush. Watch it here.
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Despite being sidelined with a brain tumor, Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) has been “orchestrating meetings with lobbyists and lawmakers from both parties to craft legislation that would greet the new president with a plan to provide affordable medical coverage to all Americans, a measure he has called ‘the cause of my life.’”
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Does anybody else find it telling that Senator Kennedy considers "the cause of (his) life" to be getting affordable health care for all, when he is receiving the best health care in the land for free?
He could easily say "I got mine" and turn his back on everyone else. In fact, because of his illness, nobody would blame him if he did.
This should shame all the able-bodied lawmakers who still believe that the problem with our health care system is a lack of "personal responsibility" on the part of those Americans who "choose" to be poor.
Bravo, Ted. You're definitely one of the good guys, and you will be remembered.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:11 amJust what we need: more pollution in the air!
October 24th, 2008 at 9:12 amNationally, one in four children drop out of school before graduating, according to the report.
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Sounds like a LOT of children are getting left behind. How's that program working out?
October 24th, 2008 at 9:13 am35 percent: The share of Americans who are “now ‘very concerned’ that they or someone else in their household will be out of work and looking for a job within the next twelve months”
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I'm surprised the figure isn't higher. These days, nobody is immune. Even senators and representatives who thought they had "safe seats" are getting nervous.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:16 amIn the American system, only a few government officials and prisoners get adequate health care.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYxqSipov5E
October 24th, 2008 at 9:16 amAnd Rush says Obama headed to Hawaii not to visit his grandmother, but to patch up his birth certificate.
I don't think we have any idea what it'd be like to go about our day with Limbaugh on the radio all afternoon, every day. I think it must be like having your common decency sucked out of the top of your head with a straw.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:21 amObama says his grandmother may not make it to November 4:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27357561/
It would be a shame if this woman didn't get to see her grandson elected president. I pray she can hang in there.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:28 am“The U.S. is the only industrialized country where youths are less likely than their parents to earn a [high school] diploma,” a new report from the Education Trust finds. Nationally, one in four children drop out of school before graduating, according to the report.
THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A MOMENT.
25% of the voting public won't have a high school education. another 35% (about half of what's left) won't have anything higher than a C average. That's over half the voting public.
NOW do you begin to understand why Republican tactics work? Why a C student can become President? Why the Republican Party can put forward as his successor one who barely graduated from college and Miss Congeniality?
It's easy to run a country by "majority rules" if the majority is uneducated.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:28 ampbg Says
October 24th, 2008 at 9:21 am
And Rush says Obama headed to Hawaii not to visit his grandmother, but to patch up his birth certificate.
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Just when you think vulgarity could not possibly reach new lows, along comes Limbaugh to prove us wrong.
Aside from the utter tastelessness of his accusation, doesn't Rush realize that if Obama's birth certificate needed "patching up" that somebody else could probably do that, and it wouldn't necessitate Obama taking two valuable days off the campaign trail?
October 24th, 2008 at 9:30 amRepublicans believe that education is a liberal political tactic.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:33 amwatch out folks....the false flags are starting...I dare not give details or a link because I dont to encourage these things...some white trash from texas convenienty was in a swing state where some alleged criminal/obama fan did some nasty things to her not because he wantd money but because of her mccain sticker... conveniently she happened to be in a swing state at the time of the occurence...
and THANK YOU CNN for reporting this even though it says in the article that the police were "UNABLE TO COOBERATE THE ALLEGATION" and that the woman refused medical attention.
looks to me like this piece of trash got beat up by her boyfriend and decided to blame it on a darkie who also happened to be an obama fan..
October 24th, 2008 at 9:35 amWhile Greedspan & Paulson stall, excuse & pander, Rome is burning & Nero is fiddling around cutting pollution standards.
We could very well see the Dow index go below 8K this morning.
It's also Friday, so expect the Fed to take a dump somewhere.
Leave it to Limpballs to turn an honorable duty by Obama, (seeing his Grandmother), into a racial witch hunt. Hate Radio's extremism has no bounds, and now McCain & Palin are playing the same damn game. But...it's backfiring. Americans are sick & tired of the hate game and are ready to begin rebuilding our wonderful Country after having been economically, philosophically and morally raped by NeoCONS & self serving politicians.
Here's hoping Barak's grandmother is able to see him win the Presidency.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:37 amLimbaugh defines vulgarity. He, like all the other republican talk bots, simply want to state anything negative that they can think of about anyone "not-republican". The word they have coined for this group ("not-republican") is "liberal". Note the usage. But honesty or integrity is not in their capacity. Demonize the "lberals" at every opportunity -- espescially since many of the "base" will believe whatever these bots spew. I guaruntee that red blogs will have many posters repeating this as if it were fact.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:38 amThe blame game has started at McCain HQ and Palin - and her 250k in designer clothes and hairstylists - is kicking off her 2012 run.
http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog/
October 24th, 2008 at 9:38 amdoes anyone have a workign email for CNN that will actually reach a live person??.. I'm f@cking pisssed thay even they would stoop to airing ridiculous unsubstantiated crap...and oh, guess what... conveniently, mccain and palin has spoken to this lady.......hmmmm
October 24th, 2008 at 9:39 amthe police were “UNABLE TO COOBERATE THE ALLEGATION” and that the woman refused medical attention
This should invalidate the accusation. Is the woman pressing the police to investigate, seeking criminal charges? If she is not, then this really should not have even made the news at all becasue the whole matter is suspect. Of course, criminal charges may me difficult if she is claiming she was physically assulted, yet denied medical attention. You need that immediate medical attention to have verifiable and admissable proof that you were assaulted.
Sounds more like a lie.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:43 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
Just when you think vulgarity could not possibly reach new lows, along comes Limbaugh to prove us wrong.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:30 am
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Unbelievable. He's just inhuman.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:45 amAmy & Juan are interviewing a voting monitoring group now. We know that there are problems occuring at the polling sites. What is Obama's people doing about monitoring or correcting the problems? mccain is going to win by outright, obvious cheating leaving us to cry again.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:46 am**Just read an article that police departments across the country are ramping up their forces - including riot and swat teams - for election day and post election coverage. They predict problems whether Obama wins or loses. Fear is all they have to sell. Like you, I won't link (although numerous articles are out there) but as election day gets closer I am sure THIS will get top corporate coverage. I am so sick of MSM ramping up fear and false flag warnings.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:47 amand THANK YOU CNN for reporting this even though it says in the article that the police were “UNABLE TO COOBERATE THE ALLEGATION” and that the woman refused medical attention.
In a related story NOT covered by mainstream news media, early voters were harassed by McCain supporters.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:49 amSarah Palin is in Pittsburgh.
Must be because there's a Neiman Marcus in the city. It's not they still think they can win PA, right?
October 24th, 2008 at 9:54 amIf Obama's grandmother doesn't make it through election day, we'll just have to remember her as the key inspiration to his upcoming victory.
Makes me feel sorry for Obama. He could be robbed just in time of a picturesque victory, with his grandmother not in tow.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:55 amEvery time I hear about him in the news I am more proud to have Ted Kennedy as one of my Senators. The man is battling cancer and still makes it to the Senate to continue his other battle, the one for the little guy, for the average American, for the RIGHT of health care. GO TEDDY!
October 24th, 2008 at 10:00 amAnd Rush says Obama headed to Hawaii not to visit his grandmother, but to patch up his birth certificate.
Okay! Stop it! We know you don't like the man! Attack his proposed policies. Attack his political affiliation. Attack his race. But stop making $hit up!
October 24th, 2008 at 10:04 amYou would think your listeners would wise up after your unfounded and unsubstantiated claims about Vince Foster, as well as the drug murders in Arkansas.
But then again, they wouldn't be called ditto heads if they actually had to fire neurons in the part of the brain that requires cognitive thinking.
Nationally, one in four children drop out of school before graduating, according to the report.
And how many of those, enlist in the military, because as a drop-out, it's their best option?
And Rush says Obama headed to Hawaii not to visit his grandmother, but to patch up his birth certificate.
Said without a hint of irony. Given that Dan Bartlett was witnessed scrubbing Bush's TANG files, he must know the shoe is firmly placed upon the wrong foot, rhetorically speaking.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:12 amFor more on how the big money boys got us in this mess, Bloomberg has a good piece on the World Economic Forum the last five years:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a5JnfkstutpI&refer=home
Once upon a time, the World Economic Forum was the ultimate Wall Street jamboree.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:14 amlegislation that would greet the new president with a plan to provide affordable medical coverage to all Americans, a measure he has called ‘the cause of my life.’”
I think Ted Kennedy is the cause of our lives. I actually hope that Kennedy's plan beats out Obama's. I'm confident that President Obama will heartily accept his proposal.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:15 amMcWars Says:
If Obama’s grandmother doesn’t make it through election day, we’ll just have to remember her as the key inspiration to his upcoming victory.
Makes me feel sorry for Obama. He could be robbed just in time of a picturesque victory, with his grandmother not in tow.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:55 am
I hope she makes it to election day, but it really doesn't look good. I'm just glad he's gone to be with her.
My mom was so proud of me going back to school, and talked about going to my graduation -- even if they had to carry her in.
Mom died at the end of July, and while I'm still pretty torn up about it, I am grateful that we were able to say our goodbyes, and stay with her until the end.
It's very important that Obama take this time with his grandma.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:17 amAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!
http://www.electoral-vote.com/
October 24th, 2008 at 10:18 am**This issue has been a concern of mine for some time. I think some of these students fail to see the relevance of what they are learning and how it will apply to their lives. For a while now Sacramento high schools have been opening "academies" where students learn specific technical subjects that apply to specific careers. They have successfully partnered businesses with students to give them practical experience as well. These programs have been implemented state-wide but only can serve a low percent of students at this time. These programs need to be expanded nationally and I am betting we will probably see students much more interested in comp;eting high school. A paper (PDF) describing this programs and their outcomes can be found here.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:21 amThe incumbent Republican representatives left high and dry are Marilyn Musgrave (CO-04, PVI R+9), Michele Bachmann (MN-06, PVI R+5), and Tom Feeney (FL-24, PVI R+3).
On Wednesday, my 18 year old son voted for the very first time. It was a very special moment for me to be able to vote along side him (literally). On his very first ballot he was not only able to vote for Barack Obama, but against Tom Feeney. If that isn't the political Daily Double, I don't know what is :)
October 24th, 2008 at 10:28 amZooey Says:
I hope she makes it to election day, but it really doesn’t look good. I’m just glad he’s gone to be with her.
My mom was so proud of me going back to school, and talked about going to my graduation — even if they had to carry her in.
Mom died at the end of July, and while I’m still pretty torn up about it, I am grateful that we were able to say our goodbyes, and stay with her until the end.
Good morning, Zoo. I remember your postings throughout the summer as you ventured with your mother as she was undergoing rehabilitation. I was taken aback as I read through another poster that she didn't make it. Earning an undergraduate degree is in fact a cumbersome task and much to be proud of. It takes the wind out of you to make plans, only to be robbed of them.
Everyone here at TP can't wait for your graduation. Please tell us all about it, that will be a great day for the TP community.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:37 amIn other news, former (R) MN Governor Arnie Carlson had just come out in support of Obama.
Suck on that, Tim Palwenty!
MN = 'Living With Less in the Land of Pawlenty'
October 24th, 2008 at 10:39 am>Sounds more like a lie.
She conveniently took a picture. Someone gave her a black eye, could have been her boyfriend. She looks like trailer trash. I wont say more but theres something very staged looking that supposedly links the alleged attacker to being an obama fan..
October 24th, 2008 at 10:42 amThank fsm the trolls aren't around any longer demonizing Senator Kennedy. Let's hope the Obama administration takes his work and moves it into law.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:54 amGood morning, Zim. Arnie Carlson was reportedly a great governor for your great state. Worthy endorsement. Add to that, Goldwater's granddaughter threw in the hat for Obama. Goldwater raised worries in the 80s that the GOP was becoming a religious organization.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:57 amMcWars Says:
Good morning, Zoo. I remember your postings throughout the summer as you ventured with your mother as she was undergoing rehabilitation. I was taken aback as I read through another poster that she didn’t make it. Earning an undergraduate degree is in fact a cumbersome task and much to be proud of. It takes the wind out of you to make plans, only to be robbed of them.
Everyone here at TP can’t wait for your graduation. Please tell us all about it, that will be a great day for the TP community.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Thanks, McWars. She was a real fighter. I think that's where I got it. :-)
It will be a while, but I certainly will post the saga of the graduation. I've wanted this for so long...
October 24th, 2008 at 10:57 amWe'ze proud of you Z!!!
October 24th, 2008 at 11:00 amI love the fact that Palin is still screeching in PA. Every appearance she makes drives Obama's numbers up a point in that former swing state.
October 24th, 2008 at 11:00 amChocolate J,
October 24th, 2008 at 11:03 amI just read the story at CNN. The very first paragraph mentions she was robbed.
She wasn't robbed because she was a McCain supporter. She was robbed because she happened to be at the wrong place (ATM) at the wrong time.
The rest of the story, in my opinion, is filler.
The other key component is that the police have not recognized this story as true, yet.
It appears this is a "tit for tat" story, to balance the cub bear slaughter with an Obama pic on it.
I'm sorry this woman was mugged. Crime is never warranted, although it does seem to increase during periods of recession.
This is NOT a national news story, in my most humble opinion.
RUCerious Says:
I love the fact that Palin is still screeching in PA. Every appearance she makes drives Obama’s numbers up a point in that former swing state.
It amazes me that the republics think slathering 4 years worth of lipstick on that pig will make her presidential material. I say....BRING IT ON!!
October 24th, 2008 at 11:04 amMcWars says:
Everyone here at TP can’t wait for your graduation. Please tell us all about it, that will be a great day for the TP community.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:37 am
I'll provide the wine!
October 24th, 2008 at 11:04 amBig dates for mutual funds is October 31 and hedge funds is November 15. Redemptions are expected. The question is how much and whether existing cash levels can accomodate.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/business/23hedge.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&em
If not, expect more volatility & possible new lows.
October 24th, 2008 at 11:08 amGod Bless Ted Kennedy.
October 24th, 2008 at 11:50 amQuery: Rush Limbaugh has made it clear that he has never liked McCain as a candidate. So if Rush won't vote for Obama because he is black, what does that make Rush?
October 24th, 2008 at 11:55 amGreenspan Concedes Error on Regulation
But on Thursday, almost three years after stepping down as chairman of the Federal Reserve, a humbled Mr. Greenspan admitted that he had put too much faith in the self-correcting power of free markets and had failed to anticipate the self-destructive power of wanton mortgage lending.
He noted that the immense and largely unregulated business of spreading financial risk widely, through the use of exotic financial instruments called derivatives, had gotten out of control and had added to the havoc of today’s crisis. As far back as 1994, Mr. Greenspan staunchly and successfully opposed tougher regulation on derivatives.
But on Thursday, he agreed that the multitrillion-dollar market for credit default swaps, instruments originally created to insure bond investors against the risk of default, needed to be restrained
Mr. Greenspan, along with most other banking regulators in Washington, also resisted calls for tighter regulation of subprime mortgages and other high-risk exotic mortgages that allowed people to borrow far more than they could afford.
But Mr. Greenspan, who was first appointed by President Ronald Reagan, placed far more blame on the Wall Street companies that bundled subprime mortgages into pools and sold them as mortgage-backed securities. Global demand for the securities was so high, he said, that Wall Street companies pressured lenders to lower their standards and produce more “paper.”
“The evidence strongly suggests that without the excess demand from securitizers, subprime mortgage originations (undeniably the original source of the crisis) would have been far smaller and defaults accordingly far lower,” he said.
LINK
October 24th, 2008 at 12:01 pmLibertyLover Says:
So if Rush won’t vote for Obama because he is black, what does that make Rush?
___________
Uh... is this a trick question, or something?
I'll give it a try... how about... a drug-addled, pedophilic windbag from Hell...
October 24th, 2008 at 12:12 pm> She was robbed because she happened
> to be at the wrong place (ATM)
> at the wrong time.
Yeah and now I'm reading a followup story on the AP about how she keeps changing her story to the police and there was no record of her ever being at, or using the ATM she claims she was mugged at. Also, shes from College Station, texas (home of the "aggies"), which is basically a backward den of inbred hillibillies and hicks whose ignorant, intolerant, racist energy permeatest the air so badly that my girlfriend and I become incredibly cranky and inexplicably irritable just from spending one night in a motel room there, not even venturing out...
October 24th, 2008 at 1:36 pm#McWars Says:
I think Ted Kennedy is the cause of our lives. I actually hope that Kennedy’s plan beats out Obama’s. I’m confident that President Obama will heartily accept his proposal.
I believe he will too. Obama has said that if we were starting from scratch he would have devised a single payer system. But the plan he came up with was a calculated political move because he knew that if he went for a single-payer system, the right would have gone ballistic and accused him of socialist tendencies. Well, they have done it anyway. I predict we will have single-payer universal health coverage by the time Obama leaves office in 2016.
October 24th, 2008 at 1:57 pmOld codgers like me can remember when heath care insurance companies were almost non-existent . When ill one called the doctor or went to the office . The paper work at a hospital amounted to a few sheets of paper and if the ailment was critical they did paper work after the treatment . Some how insurance companies squeezed in between us and our health care providers and the Hippocratic Oath went out the window . No matter what we hear the members of congress say about fixing the health care problems of many Americans that have none it will never get fixed until they get rid of health insurance companies . Universal health care would mean the end of insurance companies so until we get some members of congress that do not depend on the health care insurance company checks and have the cojones there will always be millions of us without health care insurance .
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