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Monday, September 29, 2008

Rove Fixing 2008 Election!

Carl Rove fixed the 2004 election! Greg Palast has 500 of Rove's lost secret emails. he has the caging lists that Rove said did not exist because such actions were not done. The Bush Plan was to keep black and hispanic voters from casting their votes, even if they were fighting the Bush War in Baghdad. Palast, a BBC reporter, explains that in spite of the evacuation plan goal for New York City is to save lives, the FEMA evacuation plan for New Orleans when drowning was not to be implemented in that same way!

There is a war in America and it is between Wall Street and Main and Side Street. Greg Palast explains it.

This is the Wall Street-Republicon Party. This is John McCain's political party. Remember, Bush was celebrating McCain's birthday as New Orleans was drowning and McCain did not say a word.

This video is a must see. View it on our video blog page. It will blow your mind!
Thanks, Jerry

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Toxic Banking Bailout- The September Surprise!

The political system is once again, creating a new quandary for our nation due to its failure to build a transparent government. Without appropriate supervision of its operations, and a necessary level of regulation to make sure the system responds to its own best interests and practices, and not for a select few, our democracy cannot work effectively.

This is how the derailment occurred under the direction of Alan Greenspan, the former chairman of the Federal Reserve, our nation's central bank dating back to 1913. Along with a capitulating series of presidents, who followed the prescribed philosophy of unbridled and secretive capitalism under a trickle-down theory through a pyramid-style economic methodology. Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke, Hank Paulson, Phil Gramm, and many within the Republican and Democratic Parties have presented us with the unbelievable meltdown we are all witnessing.

The late John Kenneth Galbreith, claimed that the trickle-down theory was responsible for the Panic of 1896. It was called by the elites of the time "The Horse and Sparrow Theory", meaning that if you fed the horse enough oats, the horse would pass on its good fortune to the sparrows hanging out along the road. No Sh*t! There is absolutely no example of trickle-down theory working anywhere in the world, as far as I have found, that would justify continuing it, beyond this point in time. It is only an idealistic, pie-in-the-sky theory.

I am no economist, but only a lay person intrigued by the crime story that has surrounded the privileged elite controlling the credit markets starting with the most powerful on top and moving on down to those who wanted to buy a piece of the wealth-accumulating dessert. 

This 30-year run has led us to where we are today. 30 years ago this crime story began establishing its foothold, building its operations and soldiers creating a cyber-wealth empire, which has amounted to somewhere between $450-500 trillion in worldwide toxic derivatives now woven throughout the fabric of foreign central banks, financial institutions, private equity funds, hedge funds, pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. Now this cyber-wealth is on the verge of melting down exposing deceptive, secretive, greedy, and extremely under-capitalized practices. 

What has been uncovered is that President Reagan's free market, trickle-down economic express-train policy, driven by his senior engineer Alan Greenspan, has finally hit the inevitable wall. Its theory was to let those at the top of the pyramid acquire all the wealth they could, and through its basic fundamentals trickle-down as a stimulus to those "sparrows" hanging along the roads of Main and Side Street. We just saw that it failed. Those 10% at the top have acquired massive amounts of wealth, while the economy has failed leaving the middle class to suffer with foreclosures and the shrinking of real wages. What we also witnessed was the top of the pyramid collapse, and and the top-tier wealth accumulators seeing their lending financial institutions fall into conservership, insolvency or bankruptcy because of their trickle-down principles. These institutions have ended up holding toxic debt that was virtually worth-less requiring them to activate their distress calls to congress and the White House. "Help, help. Save our wealth."

Now the Treasury, Fed, and President have decided to create a new Pyramid Scheme but not molded out of private free market theory, but from a socialistic, unitary executive model, which would allow the Federal Reserve, a private entity, to use taxpayer funds to buy private corporations, as they consolidate power over the private economy. 

By infusing the largest failing financial institutions with the previous recipients of the Fed's 2% open window, we will witness over one trillion dollars of taxpayer-treasury funds being given out to the Bush "Haves and Have-Mores". In addition, the Fed has provided foreign sovereign wealth funds, and foreign central banks with taxpayer-treasury funds because they're angry over their losses resulting from the Pyramid Scheme, since they ended up buying leveraged-out, AIG insured (through credit default swaps that are worth-less), and collateralized debt obligations made mostly out of mortgage debt. YIKES! Those countries took a major wealth-loss hit and want the U.S. government to bail them out, too. They seem to have forgotten that such investments are NOT safe, nor guaranteed by the U.S.  government, but risky. This has been the Great Unwinding for those at the top, or close to the top of the Pyramid Scheme. If you were not such a big player, you ended up drowning. As with the Titanic, only the elite and privileged got to the lifeboats in time leaving those in steerage to meet their fate. Remember, they all were told that the Titanic was unsinkable. That was what Greenspan and the financial institutions told their trickle-down investors, as well. SOL, as they say.

The new trickle-down fundamental is to privatize the earnings and socialize the losses. This is what McCain means when he says the fundamentals are good. They are good for the wealthiest 10% of Americans, not the many who have seen a $300 per year loss in real wages.

So how will it all unwrap over the next month, three months, 12 months? If I knew, I would be a rich guy, too. I'd be on Letterman, Oprah, Leno, and Larry King. O'Reilly would be begging me to go on his show, but I would refuse and call him a jerk on the phone. I'd be on a big-time tour, with Bono, and Krugman, and Roubini, giving out advice and selling my book and Internet newsletter. I'd have a cottage by the lake, and a loft in the city. I'd be sitting pretty during the Great Unwinding. There would be groupies wanting me to analyze their investment portfolios. You know the schtick.

But based upon my gut intuition, the Bush Bailout Plan is unsustainable. The Bush Crime Family Conspiratorial Mothership has one goal in mind, and that is to retain power for their constituents at the top of the Pyramid. The only way to do this is to get McCon elected. If and once elected, the Bush/Cheney crime bosses will hop off the White House grand cruise ship and onto their exiting water craft for safer ground. McCon and McPalin will be left to drift in the dangerous economic waters for 4 years as they so desperately campaigned for.

What the McCons don't realize is that the U.S. does not have any money of its own left to spend, therefore, they must print more for the Grand Infusion. They rely on foreigners to supply us with funds to shore up and patch up a leaking dyke. Will there be a time they will curtail their generosity toward a nation who has squandered it for "more wars, my friends", or the Halliburton/Blackwater/etc war machine, or the huge spying enterprise, or the aggression and hostility directed toward others? There is a strong possibility of it ended up backfiring into their faces affecting their own self-interests. Can the dollar improve under this new socialized economy? Or will we see that these emperors, in fact, have no clothes, as the credit market fails to loosen up out fear as cash-strapped consumers put up the duct tape and plastic around their lives waiting for the economic fallout to pass further freezing up the economy. Does this sound like 1931?

Deflation is not to be disregarded. Nor is inflation, for that matter, as it impacts upon many life-sustaining essentials. A value-less dollar is a possibility. Can banks go under while holding on to their government/taxpayer-paid-for and issued treasury life preservers? Yes! How can the U.S. repair and rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan while we, too, crumble under the tribulations of war right here at home? I don't see much time left.

The top-tier banksta gangstas wanted a guarantee that no "economic insurgents" would fire upon their financial institution's value, which remains weak, rotten, and vulnerable. Plus, these CEO administrators want to make a ton more money by wagering on themselves without the threat of the big, bad "economic insurgents" betting against them. This is how neo-fascism works. The government protects its own and, in this case, it's the big political party supporters and holders of the oligarchy's wealth. It all comes at a price! The Republicon Party and those making up the Demo-Con sub-party capitulators, such as Lieberman, will see bigger and fatter contributions fill their purses unless congress stands up to the Paulson/Bernanke/Bush/Banksta criminals.

The Bush administration responded to those he refers to as "my base" who wanted to protect themselves form the "economic insurgents", who are also known as "short sellers". These are investor/traders who bet that the stock price would fall because the company's fundamentals are not strong. Short selling has now been declared illegal for 800 chosen stocks, including G.E., allowing the "haves" to bet on themselves without the fear of the "insurgents" coming after their unbridled speculation.

Bush once said, "we fight them there, so we don't have to fight them here." But the war is right here in America and most people don't realize it, although it has been very clear to many more of us this week. The war in Iraq and Afghanistan was partly created as a distraction from the economic war right here in America brought to us by the Wall-Street Gangstas, and their crime bosses. There is a war between Wall-Street, and those living on Main and Side Street. Protect Wall-Street first. They get the U.S. backed Protection Service. March forward and manipulate the heck out of the markets. Give protection money to foreign central banks and sovereign wealth funds to keep them from dumping their U.S. Treasury bills and bonds, or dollars on the open market. By showering them with bailout funds, Hank "The Paulie" Paulson, and "Bada Bing" Bernanke, along with the White House crime bosses, have encouraged those international bankers to continue to fund our debt, USING OUR GOVERNMENT ISSUED BAILOUT MONEY. WOW! What a deal!

I believe if the government wants to socialize these financial institutions, then take them over. Cut the investors out. Let them take their hits. Replace the greedy CEOs. Remove their golden parachutes, bonuses, salaries, stock options and send them home. Raise taxes on the top-tier wage earners. Carve up these mega-financial institutions into smaller, more controllable, transparent and regulated entities. These corporate thieves, foot soldiers and "benefactors" must feel the pain and not the middle class who were victimized by their rise and fall.

In addition, we need to realize our hegemonic failure in the Middle East and shut the wars down. Leave the bases and stop the human and economic losses. Orchestrate a massive industrial rebuilding movement that would focus on alternative energy and re-engineer an alternative energy grid. And finally, provide single-payer health care allowing workers to move between employers, or start their own businesses without the fear of losing coverage,  and remove the heavy health care burden experienced by businesses, which drains valuable capital needed for expansion. 

You have just read my views from only one set of eyes and one mind.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

The Final Stage Of The Bushes Coup




If you must break the law, do it to seize power: in all other cases observe it. ~ Julius Caesar

In 2000, the long fought for and long admired democracy of the United States of America began a slow and steady decline toward fascism - a Bush family tradition - with the installment of a president - a man the citizens overwhelmingly rejected (although the funny math told a still believed myth) - by a few corrupt judges on the US Supreme Court. That coup is now nearly complete and checkmate is all but unavoidable.

Let me first point you to the Bush administration's so-called Wall Street bailout bill, here, so that you can see for yourself that this treachery is being conducted in the light of day. Fascism is finally and formally out of the right-wing closet even if the F word is not yet openly being used (although it should be, and often).

Now, if you do not yet understand that the Wall Street crisis is a man-made disaster done through intentional deregulation and corruption, I have a bridge in Alaska to sell to you (or Sara Palin does anyway). This manufactured crisis is now to be remedied, if the fiscal fascists get their way, with the total transfer of Congressional powers (the few that still remain) to the Executive Branch and the total transfer of public funds into corporate (via government as intermediary) hands.

Adam Davidson of NPR blogs about the so-called bailout bill as follows:

I would guess that this has to be one of the biggest peacetime transfers of power from Congress to the Administration in history. (Anyone know?). Certainly one of the most concise.

The Treasury Secretary can buy broadly defined assets, on any terms he wants, he can hire anyone he wants to do it and can appoint private sector companies as financial deputies of the US government. And he can write whatever regulation he thinks are needed.

Most importantly, Davidson points to this passage in the bill:

Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.

The Bush family, in the form of Prescott Bush, has tried a more aggressive coup before in order to install fascism in this country. This treasonous plot was called "the Business Plot," because the high-level plotters - including Prescott Bush - were Wall Street men who openly supported fascism.

It seems this time around, the Bush family is trying the more subtle approach to open bloodshed: first create a crisis, then under the guise of addressing that crisis, overthrow democracy. Yes, it does sound terribly conspiracy-theory-esque when explained just this way. But what else does one call a criminal conspiracy to destroy Congressional powers permanently, alter Judicial powers permanently, and steal public funds?

As I see it now, we have but two options and I have long alluded to hoping against hope that one of these options would not be the only one left to a peaceful people. The first and frankly most preferable option is for Congress to immediately begin impeachment proceedings against the members of this latest Business Plot.

No time needs to be wasted on hearings as we already now have in writing, formally as presented to Congress, the intentions of this administration to nullify Congressional powers permanently, to alter Judicial powers permanently, and to openly steal public funds using as blackmail the total collapse of the US economy if these powers are not handed over. You do see how this is blackmail, do you not? You do see how this is a manufactured crisis precisely designed to be used as blackmail, do you not?

The other option, the one I have long prayed we would never need to even consider, is a total revolution. But, If Congress won't act in its own self-defense, in the defense of democracy, in defense of us - the people who have elected them to protect us from this very danger - then what is left for us to do? I don't want to see it come down to this, but I fear that it will. Put your party politics aside right now. We are in a crisis so dangerous that should these people succeed in their coup, your party affiliation will no longer matter, your American flag will be a nice collectible item of something that once was, and your version of God will be worshiped in secrecy because your freedoms will be owned by the few.

I think, my friends, this was the end game all along, the final piece of the paper coup started in 2000. And if Congress even considers this Bill, they should be arrested for treason. In fact, if this coup - and it is a coup - is passed by Congress, I advocate total, open revolution (and those of you who know me should know that I do not say this lightly). Forget being a Republican or Democrat for a moment and just realize that you are [thisclose] to becoming slaves.

You are no longer Republicans, Democrats, or any shade of voter. You do not live in a swing state or a solid colored state. You are simply this: an American. That is the only side that matters. So call your members of Congress and demand, no, declare that unless they do their duty to the Constitution and to us, we will move to the streets - not because we want to, but because our founding fathers demanded this duty of each and every citizen in the face of such a domestic enemy. Demand - as is your right - that this bill be voted against and demand - as is your right - that the people plotting this treachery be held to account. We are either a nation of laws or we are no longer a democracy. Pick a side, because there won't be another time, another moment, another chance to be a patriot.

Friday, September 12, 2008

John McCain is a Con Artist!

John the Con and Sarah, the sidekick, are now talking Change, and I don't mean 75 cents worth. McCon, for the last 20 years, has embedded himself in the disaster that has encircled our nation, as it drifts upon the world's prevailing winds. He is telling gullible Americans that HE will Change what is it that HE and the GO-Plunderers have done. McCon loves to hang with out con men. Here is Rachel Maddow breaking the story. McCon Man.

Before I go into exactly what McCon has done to America, I want to post a link to Glen Greenwald's great video.  Bravenewpac films has made McCain's Distortions. Watch it and donate. Here is another one of Greenwald's Bravenewfilms takeing on McCain. I have previously posted this video, but it is worth watching again. Pass them on to your friends. 

Here is what McCon has brought America along with the GO-Plunderers. They, nor he, have been the agent of Change, as you will see just how far America has fallen.
  1. The likely disappearance of $2 trillion of household wealth that was converted into debt, which can no longer be transformed into consumer spending.
  2. 29% of all households that purchased homes within the last 5 years owe more than the house is worth.
  3. 40% of Americans are spending more than they earn because their wages lag around 2% behind the government's stated rate of inflation, which is officially nearing 8%, yet according to Shadow Govt Statistics inflation is at 12.5%.
  4. The average American household holds $9,840.00 in credit card debt, at an interest rate of 19%, because they can no longer use their homes as ATM cards and credit cards are their last efforts to get cash to pay bills.
  5. Personal consumption fell to 15% in 2Q08, and could very likely turn negative in the coming quarters.
  6. Current credit card debt exceeds $880 billion.
  7. There are 1.3 million foreclosures, while in 2005 there were 600,000.
  8. There is an excess of 3.5 million homes in the U.S.
  9. This 20 year credit expansion, brought to us by Alan Greenspan and the GO-Plunderers, as well as John the Con, created such a mortgage spending frenzy that if you took that growth out of the GDP, between 2001-2007, we would have shown less than 1% GDP because Greenspan only believed in debt wealth creation and not industrial productivity.
  10. There now is somewhere between $450-516 trillion in toxic derivatives and credit default swaps throughout the world, which originated from the home mortgage debt frenzy.
  11. The world is a $48 trillion economy and the U.S. is $13 trillion of it, yet what will happen when the consumer stops spending? In addition, we have a $10 trillion national debt. The economy and the debt are nearly equal.
  12. 84,000 payroll jobs were lost in August; 60,000 lost in July; 101,000 private sector jobs lost in August, August unemployment rate was up to 6.1%, yet if discouraged job seekers were factored in the rate would have been closer to 8%.
  13. 3Q08 GDP figures will likely be under 2%.
  14. THe U.S. had $10.6 trillion in outstanding home loans, as of March 2008.
  15. Existing home sales fell to a 10 year low.
  16. Bank willingness to loan to consumers was at a 28 year low.
  17. We are only 21% of the world's GDP, but spend 47% of the world's total military expenditures.
  18. There are 537 elected congressional officials, but there are 35,000 lobbyists buying influence. McCain's campaign is ruled by 159 of those lobbyists. 
  19. 8000 construction jobs disappeared in August, as well as 20,000 retail jobs and 1600 financial jobs raising the red flag in regards to future growth.
  20. The July trade deficit reached $68.2 billion; up from $58.8 billion in June.
  21. Since 2001, the annual trade deficit increased more than $300 billion.
  22. Since 2001, 3.8 million manufacturing jobs have been lost.
  23. Americans borrowed from foreigners around $50 billion each month impacting upon our trade deficit.
  24. There is around $37 billion in FDIC, yet Fannie and Freddie hold $8 trillion in mortgage debt, and $4 trillion is FDIC insured.
  25. The nation's biggest banks and investment companies are either going under, or getting taxpayers to bail them out. They cannot survive without taxpayer dollars.
  26. Over 45 million Americans are uninsured, 40 million are under-insured, but the same GO-Plunderers bailout the richest CEO's in the nation, without any sort of penalty or jail time, will not consider a single-payer health care system of working America. Socialism only for the free-marketeers, but not for working people.
  27. The Bush wars are costing over $12 billion per month.
  28. The total cost of war will likely reach over $2 trillion.
  29. Hank Paulson will be throwing $20 billion per month at these financial institutions holding bad mortgage-backed security debt in order to keep them solvent.
  30. Fannie and Freddie were bailed out not because they were drowning but because the foreign sovereign wealth funds (central banks of other countries) told them to bail out the bad mortgage debt they bought from these American institutions, otherwise there will be blood on the tracks.
  31. 1.4 million Americans are working at part-times jobs out of necessity and not by choice.
  32. Median salaries ranging from those with only high school diploma to a master's level degree fell between 3-4%, when adjusted for inflation, therefore, the cost of college may not ever pay for itself with a boost in income.
  33. Inflation-adjusted median household income has declined by $1175.00 since 2000.
  34. Vacancies at community malls hit a 13 year high of 8.2% in 2Q08, while vacancy at regional malls hit 6-year high of 6.3%.
  35. July and August retail sales have dropped by 0.5 -0.7% respectively. 
  36. Part of McCain's legacy while in the congress is that over the last 10 years, the economy is about $1.5 trillion smaller. This comes to $10,000 per worker according to Peter Morici, professor at the U. of Maryland School of Business.
  37. During the 23 years McCain sat in the congress, the U.S. has increased petroleum consumption by about 5 million barrels per day. Now, the 2007 Energy Act could reduce consumption by 4 million barrels per day by 2030, according to Morici.
  38. U.S. imports from China exceed exports by nearly 5 to 1. 
  39. China holds $447 billion, or one-fifth of their currency reserves, in Fannie and Freddie's debt, and will now halt their buying our the dollar in favor of other currencies. That will force the Fed to raise interest rates to attract foreign funds to once again buy the dollar. This could tank the economy in further. McCain and his GO-Plundering Pals, like Phil Gramm, have created this mess by erasing regulation from the financial markets.
  40. Under McCain/Bush/GOPers, we have a $700 billion current accounts deficit, which had been financed by foreigners buy up our financial funny money securities.
  41. The Phil Gramm, John McCain, the the 23 years of GOPer deregulation of the financial markets has been nothing but a full blown failure of monumental proportions.
  42. The national debt is costing every taxpayer $66,666.00.
  43. Soldier suicides, just this year, could surpass the record rate of last year.
Retired Andrew Bacevich, who now teaches at Boston University, has said that expansionism fostering greater power and abundance, and facilitating the pursuit of freedom has become undone. Efforts to pursue expansion in every which way, even including the war on terror, has squandered American power, wasted our wealth as a nation, and compromised our freedoms.

This has all occurred on John McCain's watch even while purporting that he was a maverick, though such a rebellious badge of honor had been made out of thin air.

Here is a very interesting Youtube video about the current issues around gold. It is in three parts totaling 30 minutes.

Part 1                                                         Part 2                                            Part 3

Here is a Youtube video of Sarah Palin speaking at her church. It is worth watching! Sarah is NOT vice-presidential material. Here is why.

Here is a Youtube video about the Freddie and Fannie bailout, Watch it.

Thanks for reading, Jerry

Postscript:   A must read from the Regressive Antidote called First Country.
It is about McCain and is GOP convention. It is a classic read!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Is Obama the Only Choice for President?

All across the Blogosphere progressive writers, as well as bloggers with undefined political leanings, use their firebrand styles to perforate both McCain and Obama. They fling their pointed daggers at them expressing dislike, disgust, and disappointment with their political policies and positions.

It is important that we criticize Obama's centrist views as he tries to appeal to separatist Republicans instead of solidifying a rallying cry toward progressives, Clinton-disappointees, and Americans wanting real change instead of "Change-lite". And again, we all know, except for those attending and glued to the t.v. special of Monty McCain and his Flying Circus, starring Sarah Palin, that real change is needed if this nation is to rise from the burning flames of our economic meltdown and into a country of windmill and solar panel technologies that would feed our energy needs without the massive tap-in to the oil fields of hostile producers.

During Palin's June 8, 2008 address to graduating students at the Wasilla Assembly of God Church, she told those malleable minds that the U.S. soldiers were carrying out "God's Plan". She framed her belief in a way where those students might think, just as her, that the U.S. has a mission in Iraq directed by God, her Christian God, which apparently has a different mission for those Muslims believing that God has a plan for them in their own country.

She spoke from her bully-pulpit and said, "Pray for our men and women who are striving to do the right thing. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders are sending [our soldiers] out on a task that is from God. That's why we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that plan is God's plan."

I guess, our GO-Plundering circus grand-mistress is directly connected to God's CENTCOM headquarters. How cool! It sounds like oil hegemony, killing, mass destruction, and nation-state occupation are the war plans of the Heavens! 

During that same address, Sarah Palin was pitching for her love of gas, and I don't mean the kind you get from eating too much moose meat, but the $30 billion natural gas pipeline project. She said, "God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built [in our state of Alaska]." Hey Sarah, maybe you should try selling God on toning down those hurricanes hitting the gulf coast; or, how about healing our global warming and drought problems. What's with the pipeline swan song? Did God fix the voting machines to usher in your governorship, too? Did he not realize that you appear to be a dangerous wackjob?

While on the Larry Kudlow CNBC show called "Kudlow and Co." she said in regards to the question about being chosen to be McCain's personal care companion, "As for that V.P. talk all the time, I'll tell you, I still can't answer that question until somebody answers for me what it is exactly that the V.P. does everyday...?" (other than hold McCain's hand when signing his name.)

You know, I always trust my 5 minute impressions when I ask someone to answer the 3 A.M. nuclear button call, even though that trusted stranger has no experience knowing anything about other nations, except when leafing through a desk atlas. I guess, Bush thinking that they speak Latin in Latin America is OK, and he is our president. It may not really matter in the long run. Look, the Boy President glanced into Putin's eyes, and Georgie saw his soul. WOW! I am so glad our foreign policy is based upon what the crystal ball reveals during cabinet meetings. And now, Putin did not like those first impressions of himself. He got all mad and decided to get tough on Georgia, as well as with that safe NATO supply line going through Russia and on into Afghanistan. Don't mess with Putin or else. What's a little rough housing among soul brothers anyway? That is the GO-Plunderers for ya.

Ain't we done with the GOP, yet? Hearing former (at least, we can thank God for his defeat as PA Congressman) Rick Santorum's voice at the GO-Plundering convention made me cringe knowing he has a delegate's vote.

McCain does not speak about a timetable for exiting out of Iraq. He is bent on leaving it up to the commander, General Petraeus. They both support a conditions-based withdrawal. Although, on other days, McForget says, "Withdrawal? No way, man. I wanna stay for 100 years! And, Ya gonna like it!"

Obama has a timetable, although, he becomes the marshmallow center when it comes down to specifying the timeframe. McCain believes in "winning in Iraq". Obama asked Petraeus what his minimum requirement would be for withdrawal. Good question, but not good enough for me and most progressives. We want out ON DAY ONE!

On health care, McCain wants to tax the employee's employer-based contributions. He believes in giving Americans his special brand of choice vouchers so they can go out in the hell-fire called Insurance Land, and attempt to purchase a rat's ass policy, while he, McCain, gets the best health care money can buy, especially for a guy who is considered disabled and would likely be "red-tagged" by any ordinary-middle class-here's-my-vouch insurance company. McCain's definition of choice means to screw you and make those insurance companies even wealthier, while leaving the lone citizen no real chance to negotiate for a lower premium price that would offer a quality benefit. He is all scam. Monty McCain and his Flying Circus. And under the big tent is Sarah Palin, Laura Bush and Cindy. They represent a new line of toy play girl dolls for Republican children.

Obama is still holding on to the greedy private insurance model paid for through employer-employee plans. For those who cannot opt into such a plan, the government would offer Medicare-style coverage.

Obama wants to tax the upper 5-10% of our wealthiest Americans who have gotten very rich off the system and help out the rest of us who have been hurt by such tax shifting policies of the GOP. McCain wants to continue the Bush slash and burn legacy of "Trickle Down".

This  Onion video is a tongue-in-cheek look at how Bush has damaged the country.

McCain's energy plan is to drill, send more troops to countries with oil and pipelines we so want for ourselves, and either kill, or threaten our economy and national security in order to get it. The Republic of Georgia has a pipeline the neo-cons want to protect from Russian control, so let's recreate a cold or hot war with Putin. This is the GO-Plundering energy plan. Obama wants to energize the economy by using alternative and renewable forms of energy, as well as drill realistically and RESPONSIBLY for domestic oil, and not recklessly like Mav-wreck would likely do. 200,000 barrels of oil per day gotten from off-shore drilling, by around 2030, when priced on a global scale, as well, when improving vehicle gas mileage for government fleet and personal vehicles would show better national fuel savings when compared with the 200,000 barrels per day drilling strategy without the risk of environmental damage.

They both like the idea of further plundering in Afghanistan. McCain would not be persuaded against "more wars, my friends." There is not a war McCain would not love. It appears he wants to kill and plunder his way to recovery from his days as a P.O.W. Obama might be persuaded against such a fatal attraction.

A comment made by an anonymous reader of the blog called Obama a communist-the entire word was capitalized. Does Obama sound like a communist? Now, does McCain sound like a neo-con fascist who wants to further the riches of the corporate war and oil elite machine at the expense of our nation's well-being and security? Does his vice presidential choice sound like the female version of George Bush? You each have to decide this for yourselves. I have a bias. Your views may be the total opposite. One thing is for sure, this nation needs help, and one of them better do it for us or we are all in big trouble!

Maybe McCain suffers from an Oedipal Complex and has chosen Sarah because she reminds him of how he sees President Bush, which could be as a mommy figure. Oh boy. It is going to be a long several weeks ahead.