Originally posted by Jerry Glenn Hartwig:

Overall, you're blaming one group of people for problems that have existed throughout various leaderships.

No, Jerry, I just said that historically the economy fairs better under Democratic administrations. It's not a huge difference, but it belies the Republican pitch that the Dems are tax and spend, a myth that let's them fleece the innocent.

You can argue economic indicators all you wish, I'm looking at the track record of my investments. Rather than take out a "low interest student" loan at 8 - 8.5% for Ben's college, I watched adjustable 2nd mortgage rates drop to 4.5%. Works well for me - with an average $40K balance for four years that will save me about $8000. Of course, I don't expect to maintain those low rates should Obabma get into office.

Why not?

I was invested in juicy 8-9.5% bonds during Bush 41's administration. When he was trying to get re-elected, he had Greenspan dropping interest rates almost weekly until my bonds got called. Made me feel grim about my retirement and Bush lost anyway.

However, this personal specific leads to no general history. It's been writ.

If they have to announce the fact they're an 'idealist',

Is there a requirement, some kind of club?

"Beware the man who stands on the street corner praising God in a loud voice..." Or praising himself.

It's interesting to see what scares you. I should think McCain, who trades on his POW status ad infinitum, would make you wary.

You have a different definition of the term grunt than I do, and obviously less respect for them.

None of the grunts I served with were sons of admirals or legacies at military colleges. They were mostly poor country boys or urban toughs. I respected them because we all had to shoulder the load with good spirit.

On most committees I serve, I'm frequently heard to plead for less bullshit and more willingness to do the grunt work. It gets stuff done. You can have your third-generation legacies who need to pump themselves up to the size of their dads.

Onward!

Shameless

edited to correct "Bush 43's"

In the UK I think we don't quite know whether to be amused or appalled by Palin. Amused is probably the majority reaction until we consider the possibility that she might actually get into office. Whimsical but still quite pertinent article in today's Times at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle4685516.ece drawing an extraordinary reaction from one American contributor to 'Have your say' at the bottom, who clearly takes whimsy very seriously indeed.

Christopher,
I especially loved this:
I love that David Cameron's idea of all-out war would be shouting, “You've really got my dander up, you grotty little man” as he cycled past his enemy's house.

Amen.
Janet

Christopher -

Thank you so much for posting this. It is sooooo hilarious. I printed it out for my daughter to take to her European History teacher. That's the best laugh I've had in over a week. We're going to need plenty of comic relief to get through this election.

Best,
Anne

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/07/op...h.html?ei=5070

Excerpt (full of hyperlinks):

The Times had it right. The McCain campaign’s claims of a “full vetting process” for Palin were as much a lie as the biographical details they’ve invented for her. There was no F.B.I. background check. The Times found no evidence that a McCain representative spoke to anyone in the State Legislature or business community. Nor did anyone talk to the fired state public safety commissioner at the center of the Palin ethics investigation. No McCain researcher even bothered to consult the relevant back issues of the Wasilla paper. Apparently when McCain said in June that his vice presidential vetting process was basically “a Google,” he wasn’t joking.

That's a great article, Terese. I'm obsessing over this, I know. (As are millions of others). I feel like I'm watching a bottle of expensive wine fall in slow motion toward a ceramic floor while everyone, upon seeing it with me, runs in slow motion trying to catch it before it hits the ground and shatters into a million tiny pieces. I can't say if the bottle will be caught in time to keep it from breaking and pouring out all the wine.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...da/#more-17733

So, ok, it doesn't matter what anyone else wants, if Sarah Barracuda wants it, Sarah Barracuda gets it.

The McCain campaign says they paid the licensing fee - they got the song. It's theirs and they're playin' it.

The band's former guitarist says that's fine - he's donating the royalities to Obama's campaign.

I have to tell you about the latest cry inducing mass forwarded e-mail a distant relative sent me today. Lately, I hit delete immediately upon seeing FW FW in the heading because of the few I'd read in the past. Today's was titled FW FW ELITIST. I opened the damn thing despite knowing better. Decent people prepare yourselves this is horrendous.

A photo of a smiling Obama receiving his diploma from Yale--captioned with

"Elitist" "because we can't say uppity negro in polite company anymore."

This the kind of Republican leftist voter that McCain and Palin are drawing.

It's vomit inducing!

I have some bigoted relatives (not extreme) and they know better than to send me a disgusting email like that. What is next, KKK for Palin/McCain bumper stickers? I despise these racist bigots. They are such an embarrassment to the human race.

Anne

Donna - it's not fair to compare all Republicans to your relatives.

Just because the Republicans in your family are bigots, doesn't meant they all are. *wink*