29 September 2008

Great Moments in Political Rhetoric

From the mind of Democrat Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden:

"Part of what a leader does is to instill confidence, is demonstrate that he or she knows what they're talking about, and communicates to people, if you listen to me, and follow what I'm suggesting, we can fix this. When the stock market crashed, Franklin Roosevelt got on television, and didn't just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed, he said, look, here's what happened."

UPDATE: Apparently, it is not obvious to some Obama supporters why this statement is wrong. So, here it goes:

Great Depression - 1929
TV were commercially available - late 1930s.
FDR President - 1933- 194?

Is that clear enough, now?

Profiles in Courage?

Perhaps President Obama will have the hope and courage to say yes we can vote present.

Originally appeared in the New York Times on 20 December 2007

In the end, Mr. Obama chose neither to vote for nor against the bill. He voted 'present,' effectively sidestepping the issue, an option he invoked nearly 130 times as a state senator."

Birds of a Feather

From the Archives:

Originally appeared in the Washington Post on 15 January 2008

"Barack Obama is a member of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ. Its minister, and Obama's spiritual adviser, is the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. In 1982, the church launched Trumpet Newsmagazine; Wright's daughters serve as publisher and executive editor. Every year, the magazine makes awards in various categories. Last year, it gave the Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. Trumpeter Award to a man it said "truly epitomized greatness." That man is Louis Farrakhan."

Click here for the full story.

A Case of Obama Comedown Syndrome Diagnosed by Dr. David Brooks

From the Archives:

Originally appeared in the New York Times on 19 February 2008

"Up until now The Chosen One’s speeches had seemed to them less like stretches of words and more like soul sensations that transcended time and space. But those in the grips of Obama Comedown Syndrome began to wonder if His stuff actually made sense. For example, His Hopeness tells rallies that we are the change we have been waiting for, but if we are the change we have been waiting for then why have we been waiting since we’ve been here all along?"

28 September 2008

Bailout Blame

U.S. Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass.) , chairman of the House committee of jurisdiction over the bailout, points a finger with a bloody hand over the mortgage meltdown on Wall Street.

In 2005, when the House was considering stronger regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) which contributed greatly to the meltdown, Rep. Frank argued that Congress should have greater control over GSEs than the executive branch.

He quoted a latin phrase: "Who is watching the watchers." Who is watching the watchers, indeed.

The Bailout

I intend to post articles and analysis of the U.S. presidential election, but will need time to dig through my files.

In the meantime,
start with this quick and easy primer on the mortgage meltdown, government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) and the bailout.

Now find out how we got here.

Facts are stubborn things indeed.