Tuesday, September 30. 2008
...then why not ruin your day and creep yourself out by watching this political horror video (which feels like something from North Korea). I have no reason to believe that this was intended as satire:
 A newsman spills the beans - but we knew it anyway
Mankiw: Warren Buffett has said, "you should get greedy when others are fearful and fearful when others are greedy." If he is right, then this is the time to get greedy. There is no doubt that most everyone else is fearful.
Rick Moran on Palin etc: ...the left has jumped all over her with their tried and true personal attack, calling Palin ignorant” and “stupid.” If I had a dollar every time a liberal called a Republican candidate “stupid” I would be wealthy beyond the dreams of avarice. Eisenhower (dumb, incoherent), Goldwater (crazy and stupid), Ford (dumb jock and a stumblebum), Reagan (dumb actor), Quayle (can’t spell potato), Jack Kemp (dumb jock), George Bush (dumb playboy). The harsh truth is, the personal attack works when you have the press and other media (think Saturday Night Live riffing off liberal talking points for Ford, Reagan, Quayle, Kemp, and Bush 43), buttressing and playing to that exact same argument. It is a potent combination and only the basic good sense of the American voter has saved the GOP from being shut out entirely over the last 50 years.
Health care's new entrepreneurs. City Journal Banks and markets: It's about confidence, not capital. And yes, Pelosi showed terrible judgement.You don't sandbag colleagues like that. Pennies from Heaven and other songs by Johnny Burke. Steyn For students: Vanderleun's Cornell Note Form. I like it. The electoral map looking ugly for McCain right now. Related: From which of these guys would you buy a used car? Related: Alien Obama at Confederate Yankee
Yes, they joked and giggled. The "bailout plan" was, for them, all about politics and nothing about the country - and only an illusion of bipartisan concern to fool us. These people are not leaders - they are calculating connivers and manipulators of their lap-dog press. It isn't funny. This quote from Sowell today: The roots of this problem go back many years, but since the crisis to which all this led happened on George W. Bush's watch, that is enough for those who think in terms of talking points, without wanting to be confused by the facts. In reality, President Bush tried unsuccessfully, years ago, to get Congress to create some regulatory agency to oversee Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. N. Gregory Mankiw, his Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, warned in February 2004 that expecting a government bailout if things go wrong "creates an incentive for a company to take on risk and enjoy the associated increase in return."
The Dems, with ACORN, adamantly opposed those efforts.
Monday, September 29. 2008
 Remembering Japan's banking crisis
The House Bill was a bust. Forget Pelosi: Go with Bush. I know it's Washington, but this is no time for games. WaPo: The power shift from NYC to DC. NY Sun: It's a wealth transfer. Related: VDH on McCain running out of time. A quote: Did the McCain debate victory matter? Yes, it helped, but time is running out and the economy is trumping the campaign battlefield. It matters little that Chris Dodd in disgraceful fashion took $165,000 from the miscreants at Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, or that Barney Frank’s vehement opposition to reform of those institutions empowered their near-criminal leveraging. Instead, the incumbent administration and its party in general get blamed or credited for the current economy. Moreover Wall Street as right-wing free-market sewer is a far better known talking point than the more complex corruption of hyper-liberal legislators legitimizing their own dishonesty and graft through calls to help the poor and minorities get loans and be relieved of their debts.
Confessions of a Palin Hater. Seen a lot of that. Mostly women. I don't get it. Chavez and China Tort reform and W. VA docs You just don't say things like this: "We don't want (Hispanics) to become the new African-American community," Lima told The Associated Press. "And that's what the Democratic Party is going to do to them, create more programs and give them handouts, food stamps and checks for this and checks for that. We don't want that."
Kristol: How McCain wins Via Insty: NEW YORK POST: DOCS DETAIL BARACK TIES TO RADICAL. While Barack Obama has long downplayed his connection to Bill Ayers, a co-founder of the violent Weather Underground radical group, new documents show the two worked much more closely together in starting an educational foundation than has been previously known.
The press has been trying to avoid covering this for months. Will they be able to keep it up until November? If not, it won't be for lack of trying . . . . UPDATE: Much more here. "Radicalism disguised by a claim to be postideological."
From Synthstuff: 
One thing community organizers do: Here's a big part of the answer: Community organizers intimidate banks into making high-risk loans to customers with poor credit. More on Acorn here. And below: Via Anchoress from Okie on the Lam, Barack Obama — The Most Radical Leftist To Ever Get This Close To Occupying The White House? who includes this ACORN network: 
When asked what the stock market would do in the future, J.P. Morgan famously replied "It will fluctuate." Indeed. This Theo farm lassie might cheer up some of us: 
 Why isn't this a bailout too?
How's this for a wedding invitation? The stench from Missouri What's a POSSLQ? National elections build characters. LA Times Obama in Leftland. Gelernter in Wkly Std Global warming has paused. Why not say "stopped and has begun to reverse itself"? How the NYT blames Bush for the banking problems. Amazing. Related: Mankiw on distorting history Rick Moran answers your questions about the debate. Related: Fact-checking the debate. But what do facts matter? This election is about feelings, not facts.
Sunday, September 28. 2008
In Charlie Rose's green room, here. That's an American.
Here he is, my fellow voters.
 A holiday gift that is never wrong.
Farewell to the King Salmon. Smithsonian Farewell to Shea Stadium. The end of Yankee Stadium got all the attention. Newt is furious at Paulson, Bush, etc. Related: How over-regulation caused the banking mess. Related: Here's the Dems refusing to reform Fannie and Freddie in 2004 10 towns hardest hit by banking meltdown. Yes, it includes Darien, CT Real affordable housing. h/t, Insty Kirsanow on Obama: Criticizing George Bush or any of our other political leaders is one thing. Contending America's ideals and values are somehow suspect is a breathtaking statement for a prospective commander in chief to make, especially when thousands of Americans have given life and limb, sons and daughters, in brave demonstration of our ideals and values.
Saturday, September 27. 2008
 If you happened to miss the first presidential debate last night, I have some advice for you: If you read any of the analyses out there today, take them with a mountain of salt.
I spent three hours this morning reading so-called analyses and have yet to find one that even remotely borders on objective and impartial. Everybody's a homer. To the Left and the MSM, Obama clearly won with his natural brilliance. To the Right, McCain 'crushed' Obama with ease. And pigs can fly.
Despite what appears to be a deeply-seated human need for a 'winner' in every contest, I don't see debates that way. And, given how the Lefties all saw Obama as the winner and the Righties all saw McCain as the winner, I'd say that feeling is somewhat justified.
However, if you demanded a verdict from me, I'd call it a draw. Here's how I saw them balancing out: - McCain used the phrase "What Senator Obama doesn't understand is..." a number of times to great effect, then launching into a mini-tutorial on just what Big O doesn't understand. This was the primary point the Righties were crowing about this morning, and it was obviously the basic strategy employed by Team McCain. As I said, it was extremely effective. By the third or fourth time, it actually tilted the event from "debate" slightly toward "lecture" in a very subliminal, but powerful, way. In the lexicon of the day, it was downright Rovian.
- On the other hand, Obama has a much better stage presence, stands tall and erect, shows passion when he needs to and has a voice that's ten times more presidential-sounding than McCain's. Yes, yes, I understand that to a pundit these are all 'empty suit' gestures, but I don't care how pundits view it. They're smart enough to nuance the discrepancies; the average American voter is not. Half the people who watched it probably saw a doddering old man past his prime and the energy and passion of the young bull ready to take the lead, and the other half saw a calm and experienced elder statesman lecturing the young pup on the basics, grooming him for his own presidency four years hence. The intricate details of the subject matter that the bloggers blather on about are lost on the average joe.
They both upset their base in (at least) two ways: - McCain reminded us that he's a total wuss when it comes to good old-fashioned torture, and reminded us that the poor polar bears are dying by the thousands and we need to take drastic action immediately. (he didn't actually mention the polar bears by name — I'm just extrapolating)
- Obama made some fairly strong statements regarding the military, something along the lines of "If we have to take military action, we will!" I'm sure that went over big with the anti-war crowd. He then floored the greenies by saying something like "And, yes, we need to develop nuclear power," with the "yes" aimed directly at the anti-nuke crowd, as in, "Yes, you morons, we need to..."
Continue reading "The first debate: a centrist's take"
 Do you feel better informed about the candidates after that debate? Know them better? Here's Mona Charen.
Why the Polar Bear? An animal to save the world Megan: "My position on global warming: a federal program to make sure everyone has an adequate supply of little umbrellas for their tropical drinks!" Except for the most rabidly partisan blogs, most bloggers practice ethical writing. Jay Rosen discusses Why Petrobras is doing well, when other nationalized oil companies aren't Rich doctors? Primary care MDs in CT The state of slavery today. Wilson Quarterly Dems want to direct bailout $ to left-wing groups Six social policy myths. Policy Somalian pirates. Let's postpone that cruise to Somalia this year, dear. Obama's foreign policy naivete. Is it a bailout or an investment? I hate to see the govt taking over businesses (even "temporarily," but the Treasury could make out like Wall St. bandits - for better or worse.
Friday, September 26. 2008
 I am heading out to Montauk for some Striper fishin' this weekend. Tough guy vs. empty suit debate - I am missing it - enjoy. Leaving now. See y'all on Monday.
Turning the First Amendment on its head. Neuhaus Sowell: It's about political maneuvering, not the good of the nation. Tiger agrees: Disgusting Celebrity economics. American Thinker Bill Clinton likes the New Repubs More on the Obama stories the MSM ignores Throwing fish away. EU rules. Insane, top to bottom. Doers vs. intellectuals. neoneo Code Pink and Ahmadinejad. Perfect together. Sarah Palin hates blacks and Jews. No doubt, a wicked lady for sure. Founding Brothers. Who was behind Obama's unusual rise in politics? More Trapped in the 60s.
 Is Bill Clinton undermining Obama?
Ahmadinejad endorses Obama Stuff men don't need The true story of Che. It's a film Woops. China reports rocket launch before it happens A McCain-Palin march on the Upper West Side. Nice example of "liberal tolerance." h/t, Thompson Is Greenie-ism a fad of the liberal elite? No doubt. Mankiw: In defence of Paulson's plan Photo: That is the Fuji Apple - a darn good apple.
A simple and clear story line from Deal Journal, via SDA. Also, Coulter via View from the Right: In Bush's first year in office, the White House chief economist, N. Gregory Mankiw, warned that the government's "implicit subsidy" of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, combined with loans to unqualified borrowers, was creating a huge risk for the entire financial system. Rep. Barney Frank denounced Mankiw, saying he had no "concern about housing." How dare you oppose suicidal loans to people who can't repay them! The New York Times reported that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were "under heavy assault by the Republicans," but these entities still had "important political allies" in the Democrats. Now, at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars, middle-class taxpayers are going to be forced to bail out the Democrats' two most important constituent groups: rich Wall Street bankers and welfare recipients. Political correctness had already ruined education, sports, science and entertainment. But it took a Democratic president with a Democratic congress for political correctness to wreck the financial industry.
Bill Clinton agrees that the Dems are to blame.
Thursday, September 25. 2008
 Vanderleun made up this Get Out Of Racism Free Card as a public service for the benefit of the 50% of presumably racist Dems who voted against Obama in the primaries. Also useful for those who prefer MCain or doubt whether Obama is up to the job.
The Paulson plan will make money for the taxpayers Why Joe Biden is gaffe-proof McCain's gambit. I agree with Rick. It's more of that old getting inside the other guy's OODA Loop, and messing him up. From Insty: IS SAYING "IF YOU DON'T HAVE SEX WITH ME, I'LL LEAVE YOU" tantamount to rape? Only if you're an idiot. Which means, for some people, the answer is "yes."
The Romans brought the leeks to Wales Vote Here. Jib-Jab Al Gore: Break the law to prevent coal-burning Who's getting abortions these days? From a piece in Newsweek: While the teen abortion rate has declined by nearly 30 percent, the rate for women ages 20-24 is almost 10 points higher than it was in 1974. (In that group, rates hit 30.4 abortions per 1,000 women in 1974, spiking to 53.8 in 1989 and declining to 39.9 in 2004.) Women in the next age group, ages 25-29, follow a similar pattern, with a spike in the '80s and a decline in recent years. So while it's encouraging that abortion rates among 20- to 29-year-olds have been steadily declining since the late 1980s, those decreases have been much smaller than those among teenagers, and they still have not brought the abortion rate down to low levels of the 1970s.
The solar wind is at a low point. What's going wrong in Aghanistan? Maybe there is no "best" strategy; maybe it's just one of those endless messes where the barbarians will keep coming for years and somebody just have to man the walls and gates to keep them away. This sort of thing has happened many times in history.
Rich Lowry discusses why we need something like the Paulson plan. I think people like "Kill the bailout" Michelle are way off base on both economic and political grounds: frozen credit will create a huge slowdown which will hurt everybody and turn Bush, unwillingly, into another Herbert Hoover. Furthermore, I do not believe that the Feds intend to keep these assets forever. We aren't bailing out rich bankers - we're bailing out the US economy. It's a hangover cure for the housing bubble. Buffett: It's an economic Pearl Harbor. Mayor Bloomberg explains how the Dems caused the financial meltdown via a corrupted and politicized Fannie and Freddie.
Wednesday, September 24. 2008
Photo from Michael Yon's Death in the Corn, Part 3. Send him a few bucks. Charter schools, After Milwaukee From the NYT, 1999: In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders.
The Man Who Never Was. Powerline The McCain campaign hits the NYT hard. Rightly so. A must-see ad for the Catholic vote, from McCain
At Commentary. Very simply said, I do not agree with Socialists, because with Socialism nobody feels like working hard or being creative, inventive, or taking risks (unless they are seeking power, and people who seek power are creeps). Why would anybody bother, without the excitement or the possible rewards?
 New perfumes. The beach one sounds good. "Library"? It might smell good on the naughty librarian from Theo, pictured.
The British Sociological Association has come out with their list of banned words. You cannot say "Old Masters" anymore. But how about "Old Mistresses"? Brown may be a tough undergraduate college to get into, but it is widely known that a Brown degree doesn't necessarily mean much of anything. Will they fix it? A bailout in very pot? Related: Kling on An alternative to bailout Obama's record on guns. Case closed on the Rosenbergs Had this been Palin, the election would be over We speculated last week that Buffett was shopping for bargains - and we were right A chemical equator which divides the globe. It's nasty. Cuba: It might be a good idea to give their people a hand, but they are notorious deadbeats. Dems have blocked Fannie/Freddie reform for years Dino reminds us of Krauthammer's piece on the Obama magic from February
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