PLEASE READ THIS

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Posted by brunbarb

Enter George W. Bush. His age of 'Business First' changed all that. Bush's economic advisor Phil Graham wrote the deregulation bill that allowed banks to take huge risks with all of our future. This is the bill Democrats fought against. They lost. Now, Phil Graham is the head of McCain's economic policy. He is also McCain's choice for the next secretary of the treasury. THIS is what opened the doors for these mortgage companies to give mortgages to everyone and their destitute brother.

It was George W. Bush who used that legislation originally intended to help people starting out, and INSTEAD piled additional legislation on top of it to kick open the doors to benefit business.

The last time Bush met with his economic advosirs was in March. He either didn't care or didn't realize that anything was wrong. Phil Graham said that 'Americans are in a mental recession' after he helped create the worst economic meltdown in our lifetime.

We are here also because Bush lowered taxes on the top earners in this country. When he came into office, he inherited a surplus the likes of which this country had never seen. He is leaving with a tanking economy, and a deficit of 11.6 TRILLION dollars.

Why? A tax cut + the most expensive war in american history. You have to have money to pay for these things. Add to that this bailout. Add to that the new bailout announced yesterday to US Automakers. $25 billion. Why do they need to be bailed out? Because Republicans and auto industry lobbyists fought tooth and nail to resist increasing mileage standards in this country, because it would be too 'expensive and restrictive to american business' to force them to make a better product. This technology is availale everywhere else in the world. Ford is introducing a 65 mpg car in europe next year, Not here, though. Now they have rendered American automaking completely obsolete, because we haven't kept up with the rest of the world. Americans will buy Japanese, because in this time of sky high oil, we can't afford the Navigators and Behemoths we love to drive for some reason.

Don't be fooled by Mc Cain's move. On Monday morning he says the economy is sound. On Monday afternoon he says it is at risk. His poll numbers fall. He's coming up on a debate with a guy who's known as a skilled orator. He has admitted, in his own words, that he doesn't know much about the economy.

This was the perfect time to call a time out.

If McCain can't handle this crisis and a 90 minute debate, he's got a problem.

The debates are when the lies are challenged. The debates are where their plans are articulated (albeit briefly- it still hurts to remember Kerry saying over and over 'in MY plan', and he never articulated exactly what HIS plan was). We need to know NOW what they are thinking.

And you better believe that I think CEO compensation is important. These golden parachutes are sometimes worth numbers in the hundreds of millions. Those are homes and jobs for thousands of people. Let it go to the right people.

I think it important to state that I rent an apartment, because I too was unable to comfortably pay off a mortgage at this time. I do not use credit. And I am angry at those people who put us iin this position. But it's the wrong people who are going to suffer if it all falls apart.

It's us.

I just ask you to think long and hard about why you make your decision. Your anger at the current situation could put someone in office who will change the makeup of the Supreme Court. Who will bring this country backwards. Who will make us even more isolationist than we already have become.

It is a different world today. We are no longer the Superpower we were. That is the reality, and everything is different.

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these are just some of the highlights that i really loved, so for hitting the nail on the head.

please do not blame democrats for what's happening. bush did everything in his power to move in the direction of deregulation, so without oversight, the banking industry dug a hole for itself in a short-sighted wave of shocking greed. now we get to clean up the mess. thank you to everyone who put him into office TWICE, btw. THAT, my friends, is what makes me angry. that's what makes the entire free world outside of this immature, arrogant nation angry.

MCCAIN'S VOTING RECORD MATCHES BUSH'S 90% OF THE TIME!!! i cannot for the life of me understand people who slam bush in one breath and champion mccain in the next. they have agreed on issue after issue, including the war. looking at the polls, in a nation where 2 out of 3 people hate bush and want to see an end to this war, he should be tanking. he's not because it's never about issues, is it now?

this crisis is the result of a republican congress with the support of a republican administration setting the wheels in motion to benefit the rich bastards they wh0red themselves out to for funding. i want this debate. i want to hear mccain answer for his party as we hurdle toward the brink of disaster.

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Posted by beram63

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Posted by brunbarb

Enter George W. Bush. His age of 'Business First' changed all that. Bush's economic advisor Phil Graham wrote the deregulation bill that allowed banks to take huge risks with all of our future. This is the bill Democrats fought against. They lost. Now, Phil Graham is the head of McCain's economic policy. He is also McCain's choice for the next secretary of the treasury. THIS is what opened the doors for these mortgage companies to give mortgages to everyone and their destitute brother.

It was George W. Bush who used that legislation originally intended to help people starting out, and INSTEAD piled additional legislation on top of it to kick open the doors to benefit business.

The last time Bush met with his economic advosirs was in March. He either didn't care or didn't realize that anything was wrong. Phil Graham said that 'Americans are in a mental recession' after he helped create the worst economic meltdown in our lifetime.

We are here also because Bush lowered taxes on the top earners in this country. When he came into office, he inherited a surplus the likes of which this country had never seen. He is leaving with a tanking economy, and a deficit of 11.6 TRILLION dollars.

Why? A tax cut + the most expensive war in american history. You have to have money to pay for these things. Add to that this bailout. Add to that the new bailout announced yesterday to US Automakers. $25 billion. Why do they need to be bailed out? Because Republicans and auto industry lobbyists fought tooth and nail to resist increasing mileage standards in this country, because it would be too 'expensive and restrictive to american business' to force them to make a better product. This technology is availale everywhere else in the world. Ford is introducing a 65 mpg car in europe next year, Not here, though. Now they have rendered American automaking completely obsolete, because we haven't kept up with the rest of the world. Americans will buy Japanese, because in this time of sky high oil, we can't afford the Navigators and Behemoths we love to drive for some reason.

Don't be fooled by Mc Cain's move. On Monday morning he says the economy is sound. On Monday afternoon he says it is at risk. His poll numbers fall. He's coming up on a debate with a guy who's known as a skilled orator. He has admitted, in his own words, that he doesn't know much about the economy.

This was the perfect time to call a time out.

If McCain can't handle this crisis and a 90 minute debate, he's got a problem.

The debates are when the lies are challenged. The debates are where their plans are articulated (albeit briefly- it still hurts to remember Kerry saying over and over 'in MY plan', and he never articulated exactly what HIS plan was). We need to know NOW what they are thinking.

And you better believe that I think CEO compensation is important. These golden parachutes are sometimes worth numbers in the hundreds of millions. Those are homes and jobs for thousands of people. Let it go to the right people.

I think it important to state that I rent an apartment, because I too was unable to comfortably pay off a mortgage at this time. I do not use credit. And I am angry at those people who put us iin this position. But it's the wrong people who are going to suffer if it all falls apart.

It's us.

I just ask you to think long and hard about why you make your decision. Your anger at the current situation could put someone in office who will change the makeup of the Supreme Court. Who will bring this country backwards. Who will make us even more isolationist than we already have become.

It is a different world today. We are no longer the Superpower we were. That is the reality, and everything is different.

---

these are just some of the highlights that i really loved, so for hitting the nail on the head.

please do not blame democrats for what's happening. bush did everything in his power to move in the direction of deregulation, so without oversight, the banking industry dug a hole for itself in a short-sighted wave of shocking greed. now we get to clean up the mess. thank you to everyone who put him into office TWICE, btw. THAT, my friends, is what makes me angry. that's what makes the entire free world outside of this immature, arrogant nation angry.

MCCAIN'S VOTING RECORD MATCHES BUSH'S 90% OF THE TIME!!! i cannot for the life of me understand people who slam bush in one breath and champion mccain in the next. they have agreed on issue after issue, including the war. looking at the polls, in a nation where 2 out of 3 people hate bush and want to see an end to this war, he should be tanking. he's not because it's never about issues, is it now?

this crisis is the result of a republican congress with the support of a republican administration setting the wheels in motion to benefit the rich bastards they wh0red themselves out to for funding. i want this debate. i want to hear mccain answer for his party as we hurdle toward the brink of disaster.

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Another AMEN!

This is an awesome thread!!!!!!

Both arguments have VALID points.....and unfortunately, it worries and saddens me that there is SO much underlying B.S. that we do not know about that the reality is, it IS the fault of both parties and we, the taxpayers, are now up sh*ts creek with no paddle!!

I definitely do NOT want McCain/Palin in the White House though--THAT'S FOR SURE!!!

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Posted by brunbarb

I wholeheartedly applaud your passion and conviction- even your anger. All of us should have it these days. Too few of us do.

However, I disagree with many of your points. While there is truth to the majority of what has been written here, I fear that many of the facts can be and have been shaded any way the writer, reporter, or regular American partisan (no offense here- anyone who identifies themselves with a certain party usually is, at least, slightly partisan) is biased towards.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a Democrat. I am also completely nauseated by what has happened in this country over the years, and I blame both parties. What has happened is that the American Politician no longer legislates, or represents constituents.

They campaign.

These are life-long politicians, who have made it their careers to stay in office. Sometimes, I think that they are just people who want to be famous, but lack any discernable talent. In order to stay in office, they will lie at EVERY turn. Even when those lies are discovered, they are always able to spin the story so the lie itself doesn't seem so unconscionable. To their benefit, the typical American voter is so uninterested in politics, and has such a short attention span, that it doesn't matter. If something earth-shattering happens, (JAMIE-LYNN, PREGNANT!!!), we all move our attention to those more pressing matters. And we forget what we just learned.

Anyway, back to this:

Clinton did pass a law to try to help more people get into homes of their own. HOWEVER, what you need to remember about this is that there were still very strict rules about providing mortgages to those people. There may have been 'zero-down allowances', but there was still strict criteria about whom to give those mortgages to. Not just anyone could get a mortgage.

Enter George W. Bush. His age of 'Business First' changed all that. Bush's economic advisor Phil Graham wrote the deregulation bill that allowed banks to take huge risks with all of our future. This is the bill Democrats fought against. They lost. Now, Phil Graham is the head of McCain's economic policy. He is also McCain's choice for the next secretary of the treasury. THIS is what opened the doors for these mortgage companies to give mortgages to everyone and their destitute brother.

Please recognize this distinction, because it is valid. Bill Clinton tried to open doors for people to get homes of their own- people who did not necessarily have the thousands to put down, but who were safe risks for the future.

It was George W. Bush who used that legislation originally intended to help people starting out, and INSTEAD piled additional legislation on top of it to kick open the doors to benefit business.

The last time Bush met with his economic advosirs was in March. He either didn't care or didn't realize that anything was wrong. Phil Graham said that 'Americans are in a mental recession' after he helped create the worst economic meltdown in our lifetime.

I know that taxes are a concern- I don't want to pay more taxes, and I know no one else does either.

HOWEVER, in the current fiscal state we are now in, there is NO WAY we will get out of our current nightmare without raising taxes. When a politician (McCain) tells you he will not raise taxes, run for cover, because it is not possible. Remember, they will say anything to get elected. Remember 'Read My Lips'??

We are here also because Bush lowered taxes on the top earners in this country. When he came into office, he inherited a surplus the likes of which this country had never seen. He is leaving with a tanking economy, and a deficit of 11.6 TRILLION dollars.

Why? A tax cut + the most expensive war in american history. You have to have money to pay for these things. Add to that this bailout. Add to that the new bailout announced yesterday to US Automakers. $25 billion. Why do they need to be bailed out? Because Republicans and auto industry lobbyists fought tooth and nail to resist increasing mileage standards in this country, because it would be too 'expensive and restrictive to american business' to force them to make a better product. This technology is availale everywhere else in the world. Ford is introducing a 65 mpg car in europe next year, Not here, though. Now they have rendered American automaking completely obsolete, because we haven't kept up with the rest of the world. Americans will buy Japanese, because in this time of sky high oil, we can't afford the Navigators and Behemoths we love to drive for some reason.

About the debate, I know this will sound cynical, but I love politics and have studied it quite a bit. When you see examples of government lying to you over the years, you can start to see when something is 'up'. Don't be fooled by Mc Cain's move. On Monday morning he says the economy is sound. On Monday afternoon he says it is at risk. His poll numbers fall. He's coming up on a debate with a guy who's known as a skilled orator. He has admitted, in his own words, that he doesn't know much about the economy.

This was the perfect time to call a time out.

And, just a note, even though he said he was halting his campaign, it did not happen. Business as usual went on. Aides were dispatched to smear democrats and Obama about them not falling into line with his call to postpone the debate. He's not even a member of the banking committee. At some point, get out of the way. I feel that Obama is right. Right now, Bush is (poorly) managing two wars (he created), a disastrous economy, failing american business, and sky high oil (it was $20 a barrell when he became president. It has gone up to $120 under his tenure. Remember he said going to war in Iraq would guarantee stable oil prices? That did not work out as promised).

If McCain can't handle this crisis and a 90 minute debate, he's got a problem.

Add to that the fact that this is an EXTREMELY close race, and that the election is 38 days away, I believe that there is no time in history when a debate was needed more urgently than it is now.

The debates are when the lies are challenged. The debates are where their plans are articulated (albeit briefly- it still hurts to remember Kerry saying over and over 'in MY plan', and he never articulated exactly what HIS plan was). We need to know NOW what they are thinking.

And you better believe that I think CEO compensation is important. These golden parachutes are sometimes worth numbers in the hundreds of millions. Those are homes and jobs for thousands of people. Let it go to the right people.

In the financial sector, there is panic the likes of which I have never seen in my lifetime. I think the unfortunate reality is that a bailout is a distasteful necessity at this time. And just so you are aware, because it gets lost in reporting, Senate Republicans are supporting it- it is the CONGRESSIONAL Republicans who are against it.

Why?

Because they are all up for re-election in November.

It's the answer to why any of these people pick a side. If it's coming up to election time, and something is unpopular, oppose it. Who could possibly be for taxpayers footing the bill for these idiots?? No one. Except that without it, look for dustbowl #2.

And I'm not kidding. If it all falls apart, it's going to be that bad. I DON'T WANT THIS BAILOUT. NO ONE DOES. But I fear that without it, we are looking at a crisis the likes of which we have never seen before.

I think it important to state that I rent an apartment, because I too was unable to comfortably pay off a mortgage at this time. I do not use credit. And I am angry at those people who put us iin this position. But it's the wrong people who are going to suffer if it all falls apart.

It's us.

Finally, I am SO SORRY to ramble like this, but I feel I have to add, as a woman:

I know this is a sensitive subject. I expect the dogpile on here after this is printed. However, whatever your feeling are regarding Right to Life vs. Right to Choose, I truly believe that there are very few of us who would be capable of telling a young girl who is a victim of rape and incest that she has to carry that child to term. I cannot imagine what it must be like to carry a rapists child within me for 9 months. Worse yet, if that racist was a family member. And Sarah Palin has publicly endorsed this position. Perhaps you feel this is an inflammatory example, but it is reality of her position. I feel in my heart that even those who are Right to Life must have some reservations on this (if I am incorrect, please forgive the generalization).

In addition, Sarah Palin, as mayor of Wasilla, billed rape and sexual assault victims for the cost of rape kits and forensic exams. This is 100% true. It is my feeling that this was due to her extreme opposition to abortion. How you make a rape victim pay for her own rape kit is beyond even my wildest and most cynical imagination. This practice was continued after the State Legislature outlawed it. Her response?

'I just don't want to see any more burden put on the taxpayer.'

No one does. But sometimes, as taxpayers, we are responsible for so much more than we know.

I just ask you to think long and hard about why you make your decision. Your anger at the current situation could put someone in office who will change the makeup of the Supreme Court. Who will bring this country backwards. Who will make us even more isolationist than we already have become.

It is a different world today. We are no longer the Superpower we were. That is the reality, and everything is different.

Please consider your vote as much as possible. It is the only weapon we have.

I hope I have offended no one- if I did, it was certainly not my intention. I hope we can all talk about these issues- your letter opened my eyes to things I had not considered, and I hope mine does the same for you guys.

Best of luck to us all.

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BrunBarb -- You are completely wrong on all accounts. Have you even been paying attention?

-TheRealSuzanneR.