YouTube.com has again produced a gem in explaining a big mess in this country, and it proves that the American people really do understand the outrageous behavior on Wall Street.
The fella on this video does a better job of explaining the home mortgage and Wall Street mess than any TV talking head or expert I've seen. It's also proof that the bailout to be considered tomorrow by the Senate should not be passed.
Take a look at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT2Wg7lVYAs
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Senate to vote tomorrow on bailout; Alexander and Corker will vote "aye" to protect fortunes
Congressional leaders and the Bush administration have set on a new strategy to pass a bailout of Wall Street fatcats: let the rich boys and girls club of the U.S. Senate vote first on it.
And it will tomorrow. The bailout will pass by a wide margin because the Senate has a lot of rich members, including Tennessee senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. They're going to vote to protect their stock portfolios over your pocketbooks. They're the 22nd and 15th richest people in Congress.
The New York Times reports tonight that the bailout legislation remains little changed from the one that failed Monday in the House. But a few extras -- that you will pay for -- have been added to the legislation to swing the needed 12 votes in the House.
The extras include tax breaks for businesses and the developers of alternative energy. But leaders won't reveal all the goodies ahead of time, so the people of this nation won't rise up again in righteous anger.
I don't know about you, but I'm still angry. The only hope for taxpayers and people against bailing out the rich is to keep pressure on your House members to keep those 12 votes against this unneccesary plan.
To read more, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/business/01bailout.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
And it will tomorrow. The bailout will pass by a wide margin because the Senate has a lot of rich members, including Tennessee senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker. They're going to vote to protect their stock portfolios over your pocketbooks. They're the 22nd and 15th richest people in Congress.
The New York Times reports tonight that the bailout legislation remains little changed from the one that failed Monday in the House. But a few extras -- that you will pay for -- have been added to the legislation to swing the needed 12 votes in the House.
The extras include tax breaks for businesses and the developers of alternative energy. But leaders won't reveal all the goodies ahead of time, so the people of this nation won't rise up again in righteous anger.
I don't know about you, but I'm still angry. The only hope for taxpayers and people against bailing out the rich is to keep pressure on your House members to keep those 12 votes against this unneccesary plan.
To read more, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/business/01bailout.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Dave Ramsey is at it again, giving bad stock advice
FOXNEWS' Bill O'Reilly had Dave Ramsey on his show tonight to give investment advice to viewers.
That's dangerous, and Ramsey should be ashamed of himself for giving a one-size-fits-all direction on investing.
To show how far behind Ramsey is in his advice, he still recommends investment in growth mutual funds for five to 10 years. That's despite reporting earlier this year by the Wall Street Journal showing that mutual funds have not recouped their losses since 2001's great stock market fall.
After recommending mutual funds, Ramsey told people to invest in real estate. He said it is a great time to buy a house.
Sure it is. But first you have to be able to sell your own besides qualify for a loan. Home values will continue to tumble this year and next.
The economy will not rebound until late 2009 to 2010. Yet Ramsey says everything in the economy is going along as usual. If you buy a house now, you'll be investing in something that will continue to lose value for the next 18 months.
He admitted not knowing or investing in individual stocks, which is a needed hedge in a bear market. He also does not invest in municipal bonds, which can be insured and deliver tax-free income each month. Their annual return can be 4 to 5 percent. Teresa Heinz Kerry keeps her fortune in Munis. Always look at how rich people protect their money to learn how to protect yours.
Ramsey is really wrong in his advice. But don't believe me. Get a certified financial planner and avoid taking any of Ramsey's advice on investing.
That's dangerous, and Ramsey should be ashamed of himself for giving a one-size-fits-all direction on investing.
To show how far behind Ramsey is in his advice, he still recommends investment in growth mutual funds for five to 10 years. That's despite reporting earlier this year by the Wall Street Journal showing that mutual funds have not recouped their losses since 2001's great stock market fall.
After recommending mutual funds, Ramsey told people to invest in real estate. He said it is a great time to buy a house.
Sure it is. But first you have to be able to sell your own besides qualify for a loan. Home values will continue to tumble this year and next.
The economy will not rebound until late 2009 to 2010. Yet Ramsey says everything in the economy is going along as usual. If you buy a house now, you'll be investing in something that will continue to lose value for the next 18 months.
He admitted not knowing or investing in individual stocks, which is a needed hedge in a bear market. He also does not invest in municipal bonds, which can be insured and deliver tax-free income each month. Their annual return can be 4 to 5 percent. Teresa Heinz Kerry keeps her fortune in Munis. Always look at how rich people protect their money to learn how to protect yours.
Ramsey is really wrong in his advice. But don't believe me. Get a certified financial planner and avoid taking any of Ramsey's advice on investing.
ESPN's Game Day brings the big time to Vandy
ESPN's College Game Day is coming to Nashville as Vanderbilt football emerges into the big time this Saturday.
It will be a great day for 'Dores fans. Watch out for the old 'ball coach Lee Corso as he gets the crowd going with his pre-game prediction.
This day at Vanderbilt University is well-deserved. The image of an institution known first for academics also succeeding on the gridiron should send an important message across college football.
The Auburn Tigers will be tough in this game of highly ranked teams. But look for a Vandy victory on and off the field Saturday at this city on a hill.
It will be a great day for 'Dores fans. Watch out for the old 'ball coach Lee Corso as he gets the crowd going with his pre-game prediction.
This day at Vanderbilt University is well-deserved. The image of an institution known first for academics also succeeding on the gridiron should send an important message across college football.
The Auburn Tigers will be tough in this game of highly ranked teams. But look for a Vandy victory on and off the field Saturday at this city on a hill.
CNBC is trying to sell Wall Street bailout package
CNBC's talking head anchors are desperately trying to sell viewers on the need for Congress to pass a bailout package of Wall Street fatcats.
Don't buy their propaganda and keep calling your representatives and senators to oppose the plan that is being tweaked ever so slightly by negotiators for a Thursday vote.
This afternoon, CNBC's Maria Bartiromo conducted an interview with the biggest auto dealer in America. The poor fella in Fort Lauderdale said he was having 20 percent of his buyers turned down by banks for loans to purchase cars -- supposedly new ones.
The auto dealer -- whose profession ranks right up there in credibility with being a member of Congress or the news media -- said the rejection of 20 percent of his buyers for new car loans was representative of a tightening credit market affecting Wall Street. The guy says he hates to tell people "no". The remedy: pass the bailout.
But his reasoning and the bailout advocacy of Bartiromo fail on several counts.
First, like most Americans, I don't own a brand new car. I don't buy one because it immediately depreciates in value once you drive off the lot. It is not a good investment.
Second, more Americans over the past 25 years should have been told "no" when it came to cars they could not afford or homes that were beyond their income. That's one reason why we're in the current financial mess with $4.4 trillion in personal debt. And you don't correct that kind of conduct by bailing people out.
Third, auto dealers and home builders and financial institutions are going to have to adjust to a new world just like the rest of us. That means saying "no" to things you can't afford or should not do. That's what we do in my household.
Fourth, if the nation's largest auto dealer feels so bad for these potential buyers, why doesn't he loan them the money himself? I'm sure as the largest auto dealer that he has made a ton of money. If these buyers are so credit worthy, then he'll make his money back with interest and more sales. Why introduce taxpayers into the equation?
Finally, Bartiromo dug deep into her scare tactics today by warning that retailers will be laying off floor employees during the Christmas season because of a lack of a bailout. Retailers already were headed in that direction with forecasts projecting the worst holiday buying season in 15 years. Do some research, Maria.
CNBC should label all its anchors on the TV screen with "pro-bailout" under their names. Their advocacy for this unnecessary bailout of Wall Street is shameless. While it may impress their friends on Wall Street who they meet for dinner and martinis, their bias doesn't sell on Main Street.
Here, we know the truth and how to say "no", first in our own households. Wall Street and Congress need to learn the same.
If you'd like to tell Bartiromo and CNBC to just report the news and leave the bailout advoacy to the Bush administration and House Democrats, send a comment at https://register.cnbc.com/email/EmailSupport.jsp
Don't buy their propaganda and keep calling your representatives and senators to oppose the plan that is being tweaked ever so slightly by negotiators for a Thursday vote.
This afternoon, CNBC's Maria Bartiromo conducted an interview with the biggest auto dealer in America. The poor fella in Fort Lauderdale said he was having 20 percent of his buyers turned down by banks for loans to purchase cars -- supposedly new ones.
The auto dealer -- whose profession ranks right up there in credibility with being a member of Congress or the news media -- said the rejection of 20 percent of his buyers for new car loans was representative of a tightening credit market affecting Wall Street. The guy says he hates to tell people "no". The remedy: pass the bailout.
But his reasoning and the bailout advocacy of Bartiromo fail on several counts.
First, like most Americans, I don't own a brand new car. I don't buy one because it immediately depreciates in value once you drive off the lot. It is not a good investment.
Second, more Americans over the past 25 years should have been told "no" when it came to cars they could not afford or homes that were beyond their income. That's one reason why we're in the current financial mess with $4.4 trillion in personal debt. And you don't correct that kind of conduct by bailing people out.
Third, auto dealers and home builders and financial institutions are going to have to adjust to a new world just like the rest of us. That means saying "no" to things you can't afford or should not do. That's what we do in my household.
Fourth, if the nation's largest auto dealer feels so bad for these potential buyers, why doesn't he loan them the money himself? I'm sure as the largest auto dealer that he has made a ton of money. If these buyers are so credit worthy, then he'll make his money back with interest and more sales. Why introduce taxpayers into the equation?
Finally, Bartiromo dug deep into her scare tactics today by warning that retailers will be laying off floor employees during the Christmas season because of a lack of a bailout. Retailers already were headed in that direction with forecasts projecting the worst holiday buying season in 15 years. Do some research, Maria.
CNBC should label all its anchors on the TV screen with "pro-bailout" under their names. Their advocacy for this unnecessary bailout of Wall Street is shameless. While it may impress their friends on Wall Street who they meet for dinner and martinis, their bias doesn't sell on Main Street.
Here, we know the truth and how to say "no", first in our own households. Wall Street and Congress need to learn the same.
If you'd like to tell Bartiromo and CNBC to just report the news and leave the bailout advoacy to the Bush administration and House Democrats, send a comment at https://register.cnbc.com/email/EmailSupport.jsp
Don't let Nashville say it's progressive to nation
Today I unveil a new logo for Nashville in anticipation of next week's presidential debate at Belmont University.
Nashville's elected and chamber of commerce officials are intent on selling Music City to the nation as a progressive place. But people who live here know better. It's just not everyone is willing to admit the truth.
Take this logo and e-mail it to your friends, fellow bloggers, blog sites and contacts in the news media. Make sure when the nation's focus is applied to Nashville, the full truth is seen -- particularly for the most vulnerable and voiceless.
Here are some talking points for the logo to make more people aware of Nashville's gross failures to treat every human being with dignity:
1) TORTURING PREGNANT WOMEN: The 287g deportation program was sold on a lie to the people here by Sheriff Daron Hall. The program has focused on undocumented immigrants and their families who have no criminal record. Crime has not fallen because of the program, which was its original intent.
Instead, there have been human rights outrages. The most prominent one was the arrest of a pregnant woman of Hispanic descent three days before her due date. What was her crime against humanity? She illegally passed another vehicle in the slow lane. She was jailed and her children handed over to a member of her family without her approval despite having written and photo ID of her residency in Nashville.
She was shackled during and after labor. Her newborn, American citizen son was taken from her. He was denied his mother's milk to build his immunity system. She was not allowed to express her milk, resulting in severe pain and an inability to sleep back in her jail cell. Mrs. Juana Villegas (DeLaPaz) was ultimately cleared of her traffic offenses.
Yet the deportation program continues in effect. And that's despite Nashville being governed by Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper and Mayor Karl Dean. Cooper is a big backer of Sen. Barack Obama. The New York Times has reported on the outrage and The Boston Globe has editorialized against the program.
2) FAILED PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Nashville public schools are one year from being under state control for failure to meet standards under the No Child Left Behind Act. The city's nickname of the Athens of the South is a cruel joke for poor and minority children. The school district is under the control of the local chamber of commerce, which pushed and gained a rezoning plan that resegregates Nashville's public schools. A chamber member heads the school board.
3) RACIAL PROFILING/POLICE MISCONDUCT: The 287g program has resulted in the racial profiling of people of Hispanic descent in Nashville. That fact was proved by the recent arrest of a man waiting to go to work at a local laundromat. A Metro police officer approached him and asked for his ID. The man handed him a document that allowed him to get paid. That was not enough for the officer, who arrested the man and sent him on the path toward deportation.
Continuing reports have emerged of misconduct by Metro Police. One recent incident involved a young man who gave himself up to his church pastor and handed his belongings to his mother. The pastor took the young man to the police HQ for processing. Two weeks later, the pastor received a summons. He was called to be a witness for the young man who was accused on having drugs on him when processed. The pastor said that was ridiculous. Why would someone giving himself up still carry drugs with him? The pastor has many more stories of such incidents. The police department needs to be investigated by a permanent, civilian review board.
4) HARRASSING THE HOMELESS: Image, not action, is everything in Nashville. So that's why Metro is demolising a tent city set up the homeless. Where are these people to go? Out of sight, if they are going to stay in Nashville. In a city of more than 1,000 places of worship, this response to homelessnesss is shameful. If this outrage is allowed to continue, these places of worship should be turned into bowling alleys. That way, they would at least serve some visible purpose.
5) VANISHING HEALTH CARE: While a state issue, vanishing health care for the state's vulnerable citizens hits hard in Nashville. The state Capitol is located here, and Tennessee's governor is a former Nashville mayor. Yet the governor -- ironically also a Democratic -- has gutted the state's Medicaid program called TennCare. His latest cut was of 24-hour home nursing care for the permanently disabled. Their choice: either have a family member quit their job and stay home to provide care or go to a nursing home.
Meanwhile, the governor just gave $577 billion in corporate welfare to bring an auto plant to Chattanooga. What do fellow Democrats Mayor Karl Dean and Congressman Jim Cooper say about this outrage? Nothing.
So that's a starting list for the discussion with others and the media. There are more issues of unaddressed wrongs in Nashville.
Only a boycott can start efforts to address the gross abuse of the dignity of human beings in this city. Don't visit Nashville and spend your tourist dollars. Don't let your organizations bring their conventions here. And don't spend money on country music products.
Get Nashville's attention by getting out the word about its human rights abuses.
Karl Marx would be proud of the bailout effort
That's at least what one columnist appearing in the Canadian National Post newspaper wrote today.
He matches the bailout with Karl Marx's principles for establishing Communism over a nation. It is an educational read and takes a broader look at what is happening here beyond frantic TV talking heads and massive newspaper headlines.
One thing already has proved the talking heads wrong. The Dow is up almost 300 points in recovering from yesterday's 777-point drop. Some activity is ongoing in the credit markets. The nation has survived.
For a broader look at this crisis, go to: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2008/09/29/bailout-marks-karl-marx-s-comeback.aspx
He matches the bailout with Karl Marx's principles for establishing Communism over a nation. It is an educational read and takes a broader look at what is happening here beyond frantic TV talking heads and massive newspaper headlines.
One thing already has proved the talking heads wrong. The Dow is up almost 300 points in recovering from yesterday's 777-point drop. Some activity is ongoing in the credit markets. The nation has survived.
For a broader look at this crisis, go to: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2008/09/29/bailout-marks-karl-marx-s-comeback.aspx
Monday, September 29, 2008
Democrats, not Republicans, made big difference
While many political pundits want to concentrate on House Republicans for defeating the bailout of Wall Street fatcats, I believe 94 Democratic House members of integrity made the difference today for the people of this nation.
They voted against their party's leadership and against believing the Bush administration's manufacturing of another falsehood. These members will pay a political price enforced by the leadership. But they still stood for the people.
The best quote of the day -- as distributed by AP -- came from an Indiana congressman:
"We are now in the golden age of thieves. And where I come from we put thieves in jail, we don't bail them out." — Rep. Pete Visclosky, Democrat.
Well said. Bobby Kennedy would be proud. That's the Democratic Party I once loved.
They voted against their party's leadership and against believing the Bush administration's manufacturing of another falsehood. These members will pay a political price enforced by the leadership. But they still stood for the people.
The best quote of the day -- as distributed by AP -- came from an Indiana congressman:
"We are now in the golden age of thieves. And where I come from we put thieves in jail, we don't bail them out." — Rep. Pete Visclosky, Democrat.
Well said. Bobby Kennedy would be proud. That's the Democratic Party I once loved.
Don't believe all the hype on financial crisis
Financial TV talking heads like Suze Orman tonight are peddling the propaganda to the American public that they will pay for the failure of the bailout of Wall Street fatcats.
They cry that the credit markets are frozen. What are small and middle-sized firms going to do to meet payroll and pay utilities? You're going to lose your job, they warn.
Answer their question with a question. What do you think real people do when they can't make ends meet?
They go into their savings, 401ks and even have fish frys and garage sales to pay for things; or they do without. Do these companies have cash on hand on their balance sheets? Do their owners have holdings they can draw from until things resolve themselves?
The talking heads say we Americans do not understand. We do. It's time for everyone to live like Main Street and quit acting like Wall Street can operate by different rules.
The same accountability demanded of us in our daily lives must now be applied to Wall Street. If there must be pain, let it be shared. And for a change, let any bailout be applied directly to the American people and not the fatcats.
They cry that the credit markets are frozen. What are small and middle-sized firms going to do to meet payroll and pay utilities? You're going to lose your job, they warn.
Answer their question with a question. What do you think real people do when they can't make ends meet?
They go into their savings, 401ks and even have fish frys and garage sales to pay for things; or they do without. Do these companies have cash on hand on their balance sheets? Do their owners have holdings they can draw from until things resolve themselves?
The talking heads say we Americans do not understand. We do. It's time for everyone to live like Main Street and quit acting like Wall Street can operate by different rules.
The same accountability demanded of us in our daily lives must now be applied to Wall Street. If there must be pain, let it be shared. And for a change, let any bailout be applied directly to the American people and not the fatcats.
Tennessee Supreme Court now majority women
Gov. Phil Bredesen has now created a female majority of justices on the Tennessee State Supreme Court -- a first for the court with today's appointment.
I've got to give Bredesen credit for the appointment and the distinction. It is a sign of progress. And I know from personal experience in the court system -- when my father was tried for an offense -- that women on juries are seen as more open, more apt to listen.
I hope that will be the same with the state supreme court, particularly when it comes to capital cases.
To read more from the state's best newspaper, The Knoxville News Sentinel, go to:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/29/bredesen-names-lee-state-supreme-court/
I've got to give Bredesen credit for the appointment and the distinction. It is a sign of progress. And I know from personal experience in the court system -- when my father was tried for an offense -- that women on juries are seen as more open, more apt to listen.
I hope that will be the same with the state supreme court, particularly when it comes to capital cases.
To read more from the state's best newspaper, The Knoxville News Sentinel, go to:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/29/bredesen-names-lee-state-supreme-court/
Tennessean raises its newsstand price 50 percent
The Tennessean at the newsstand -- other than on Sundays -- now costs 75 cents effective today.
That's a 50-percent increase over the usual price. I don't subscribe after reading Ms. Cheap's advice to save money by canceling my subscription and only buying the newspaper for 99 cents at Walgreens on Sundays. It has worked out well.
What extras are you going to get for paying more amid a recession that's turning deeper after today's 777-point drop in the Dow?
Let me know what extras you see in the days to come, and I'll publicize them so we can feel better about the price-hike at the newsstand.
That's a 50-percent increase over the usual price. I don't subscribe after reading Ms. Cheap's advice to save money by canceling my subscription and only buying the newspaper for 99 cents at Walgreens on Sundays. It has worked out well.
What extras are you going to get for paying more amid a recession that's turning deeper after today's 777-point drop in the Dow?
Let me know what extras you see in the days to come, and I'll publicize them so we can feel better about the price-hike at the newsstand.
What should you do with your money? First, don't listen to anyone on TV; get a financial planner
The cable TV networks are being dominated by people giving financial advice for viewers on what to do with their money in the wake of the 777-point drop in the Dow Jones Industrual Average.
Turn the channel.
Never take financial advice from someone on television.
First, everyone's situation is different. That's why you need a certified financial adviser. You need someone to talk to at length. It took five meetings before I re-invested our household's money. And I talked it over last Friday with my financial adviser when I decided to sell out of a big stock holding due to the bailout problems and generally poor economic data.
The market took its biggest hit today. It will drift down below 10,000 by the end of the year. Sen. Obama's election would drop things a bit further down.
If you took Dave Ramsey's advice 10 days ago on NewsChannel 5, you're not in good position financially when it comes to your investment in the market. I repeated Ramsey's advice to one of the principles in the financial brokerage firm I invest with.
He said Ramsey is good at telling people how to reduce debt, but the market is not his speciality. It's like fighting a disease, he said. You can't just give an antibiotic to one person and then prescribe it for another person who may have an entirely different ailment. That's where Ramsey went wrong with his advice 10 days ago that I blogged about. And NewsChannel 5 was wrong to allow him to air to offer such advice.
So turn off the TV and call for an appointment with a certified financial planner, NOT A BROKERAGE HOUSE. Don't act until you meet with someone with whom you can talk at length with and seek diversity in your investments in and out of the market.
Turn the channel.
Never take financial advice from someone on television.
First, everyone's situation is different. That's why you need a certified financial adviser. You need someone to talk to at length. It took five meetings before I re-invested our household's money. And I talked it over last Friday with my financial adviser when I decided to sell out of a big stock holding due to the bailout problems and generally poor economic data.
The market took its biggest hit today. It will drift down below 10,000 by the end of the year. Sen. Obama's election would drop things a bit further down.
If you took Dave Ramsey's advice 10 days ago on NewsChannel 5, you're not in good position financially when it comes to your investment in the market. I repeated Ramsey's advice to one of the principles in the financial brokerage firm I invest with.
He said Ramsey is good at telling people how to reduce debt, but the market is not his speciality. It's like fighting a disease, he said. You can't just give an antibiotic to one person and then prescribe it for another person who may have an entirely different ailment. That's where Ramsey went wrong with his advice 10 days ago that I blogged about. And NewsChannel 5 was wrong to allow him to air to offer such advice.
So turn off the TV and call for an appointment with a certified financial planner, NOT A BROKERAGE HOUSE. Don't act until you meet with someone with whom you can talk at length with and seek diversity in your investments in and out of the market.
Whining from Wall Street and Congress annoying, but Pelosi's political stock falls the farthest
I've never heard as many crybabies as this afternoon from Wall Street and Washington.
All the pitiful financial analysts on CNBC looked and sounded like a bride left at the altar. What happened to the groom with his big bailout check?
Wall Street is whining because there are no more easy commissions for brokerage houses as people take their money out of mutual funds and put their funds in cash. Brokerage houses are used to making money off your hard-earned funds whether you make money or not.
Now these folks in pinstripes and dress suits won't be able to go out to lunch as often, or dinner. They may have to live from paycheck to paycheck, just like people on Main Street. At least that's the assessment of my favorite checkout person at the local Publix. We talked about all the crying on Wall Street. And there was no sympathetic tone in our voices.
Economists now predict a deep recession since the bailout was not approved. Folks, we were headed to a deep recession anyway. You can't cheat economic cycles. This nation has been living high off the hog for a quarter century. Debt has risen from $1.1 trillion to $4.4 trillion. A day of reckoning was going to come. And it is now. That's the assessment of author Kevin Phillips, in a bravado analysis of this mess last week on Bill Moyers' PBS show.
Congressional leaders will try and push a new bailout plan or the same one on Thursday. They believe the big drop in the stock market proves their point. It doesn't. The Dow was headed down below 10,000 anyway.
Remember the biggest political mistake in modern times when President Gerald Ford said that Poland was free during a 1976 presidential debate? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today outdid him. In the closing remarks of the three hours of debate on the bailout, she blamed the nation's financial woes on right-wing ideology and eight years of the Bush presidency.
She was wrong in her assessment, generally and historically. Both parties and ideologies are to blame, particularly the Clinton administration. And when a politician as a supposed leader is trying to sell a bipartisan plan, he or she shouldn't go running down the other side moments before a vote. Neither should he or she bring legislation up for a vote when you don't have the votes. Pelosi made a big fool out of herself.
Pelosi's performance bodes ill for Sen. Barack Obama and his legislative agenda if he gets elected president. Almost 100 Democrats voted against her plan and leadership.
Congressional members on the far left did not vote for the package because -- among other things -- it incredibly put the secretary of the treasury beyond judicial oversight or correction in some of his decision with $700 billion in taxpayer money. My goodness, Congress was about to crown a king in America. On the far right, they objected to spending without any guarantee that the plan would work. Who will bail out America with $11.3 trillion in debt?
The American people won in today's House vote. And if they have to pay for it on Main Street, they'll suck it up as they always have -- and have been for the past several years.
This time, at least, there will be some Wall Street fatcats sharing the pain. Rep. Jim Cooper was the only Tennessee rep to vote for the bailout. Be sure to e-mail or call Cooper and your House member and tell them to vote against the next bailout plan.
All the pitiful financial analysts on CNBC looked and sounded like a bride left at the altar. What happened to the groom with his big bailout check?
Wall Street is whining because there are no more easy commissions for brokerage houses as people take their money out of mutual funds and put their funds in cash. Brokerage houses are used to making money off your hard-earned funds whether you make money or not.
Now these folks in pinstripes and dress suits won't be able to go out to lunch as often, or dinner. They may have to live from paycheck to paycheck, just like people on Main Street. At least that's the assessment of my favorite checkout person at the local Publix. We talked about all the crying on Wall Street. And there was no sympathetic tone in our voices.
Economists now predict a deep recession since the bailout was not approved. Folks, we were headed to a deep recession anyway. You can't cheat economic cycles. This nation has been living high off the hog for a quarter century. Debt has risen from $1.1 trillion to $4.4 trillion. A day of reckoning was going to come. And it is now. That's the assessment of author Kevin Phillips, in a bravado analysis of this mess last week on Bill Moyers' PBS show.
Congressional leaders will try and push a new bailout plan or the same one on Thursday. They believe the big drop in the stock market proves their point. It doesn't. The Dow was headed down below 10,000 anyway.
Remember the biggest political mistake in modern times when President Gerald Ford said that Poland was free during a 1976 presidential debate? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi today outdid him. In the closing remarks of the three hours of debate on the bailout, she blamed the nation's financial woes on right-wing ideology and eight years of the Bush presidency.
She was wrong in her assessment, generally and historically. Both parties and ideologies are to blame, particularly the Clinton administration. And when a politician as a supposed leader is trying to sell a bipartisan plan, he or she shouldn't go running down the other side moments before a vote. Neither should he or she bring legislation up for a vote when you don't have the votes. Pelosi made a big fool out of herself.
Pelosi's performance bodes ill for Sen. Barack Obama and his legislative agenda if he gets elected president. Almost 100 Democrats voted against her plan and leadership.
Congressional members on the far left did not vote for the package because -- among other things -- it incredibly put the secretary of the treasury beyond judicial oversight or correction in some of his decision with $700 billion in taxpayer money. My goodness, Congress was about to crown a king in America. On the far right, they objected to spending without any guarantee that the plan would work. Who will bail out America with $11.3 trillion in debt?
The American people won in today's House vote. And if they have to pay for it on Main Street, they'll suck it up as they always have -- and have been for the past several years.
This time, at least, there will be some Wall Street fatcats sharing the pain. Rep. Jim Cooper was the only Tennessee rep to vote for the bailout. Be sure to e-mail or call Cooper and your House member and tell them to vote against the next bailout plan.
Obama wrong about education of Latino children
The New York Times' education writers continue to do a stellar job in examining the education proposals of both major presidential candidates.
In its latest installement, it takes Sen. Barack Obama to task for his proposal for introductory bilingual education to Hispanic immigrant children. But the facts show, however, that bilingual education is not the way to boost achievement scores of these young ones.
I agree. I was involved with English language education in Metro Nashville schools for three years in effecting change in funding and class sizes. We were successful, thanks the Bush administration.
Contrary to what Tennessean columnist Phil Valentine wrote and did not correct, nearly all of the nation and Nashville does not offer bilingual education. And English as Second Language education is English immersion, not bilingual education as Valentine contended.
The Times points out that educators in a very successful California school district use English immersion for immigrant children. My cousin, when she taught religious education in California, only spoke English to her classes. When it was founded in 1929, one of the founding principles of LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens, stressed that people learn English for empowerment.
Throughout the presidential campaign, Obama has been less interested and educated in the matters that face Americans of Hispanic descent and non-citizen immigrants. If this nation gets it wrong in the education of immigrant children, then their futures are doomed. Obama should read and heed The Times' article.
To read more, go to: http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/the-bilingual-debate-english-immersion/
In its latest installement, it takes Sen. Barack Obama to task for his proposal for introductory bilingual education to Hispanic immigrant children. But the facts show, however, that bilingual education is not the way to boost achievement scores of these young ones.
I agree. I was involved with English language education in Metro Nashville schools for three years in effecting change in funding and class sizes. We were successful, thanks the Bush administration.
Contrary to what Tennessean columnist Phil Valentine wrote and did not correct, nearly all of the nation and Nashville does not offer bilingual education. And English as Second Language education is English immersion, not bilingual education as Valentine contended.
The Times points out that educators in a very successful California school district use English immersion for immigrant children. My cousin, when she taught religious education in California, only spoke English to her classes. When it was founded in 1929, one of the founding principles of LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens, stressed that people learn English for empowerment.
Throughout the presidential campaign, Obama has been less interested and educated in the matters that face Americans of Hispanic descent and non-citizen immigrants. If this nation gets it wrong in the education of immigrant children, then their futures are doomed. Obama should read and heed The Times' article.
To read more, go to: http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/the-bilingual-debate-english-immersion/
Bailout of Wall Street fails on first try as nearly 100 Dems in House defy their own leadership
The U.S. House of Representatives has initially rejected a bailout of Wall Street fatcats as congressional leaders of both parties failed to sway enough members to defy the will of the people.
The vote is now being held open beyond the 15-minute limit. The vote was not gavelled to count. It remains on the floor as the House goes to other business as leaders go behind the scenes to turn nine members on the "no" side to support the bailout. Stay tuned.
It was a sad, hypocritical moment in American politics for the bailout supporters. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blamed eight years of the Bush administration for the nation's financial and economic troubles. That was a terribly wrong, partisan remark to make at such a critical moment. Besides, it was the Clinton administration that unleashed the greatest deregulation of Wall Street, something for which Pelosi supported.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer claimed that the American people had asked Congress to act today for the bailout. I guess he hasn't been answering his phone or reading his e-mails.
This kind of selective memory and damning denial are reasons why this 110-page piece of legislation initially failed. No supporter could definitely say this bailout would work. They only used the word "maybe".
This nation faces an even deeper recession, one that will produce the most severe economic conditions many of us have ever seen. No bailout plan can stop that. It would be better that the $700 billion in the bailout be given back to the taxpayers to survive the coming days that will stretch throughout 2009 and into 2010.
Congratulations, America! Stay on guard, however. This plan will be resurrected in some fashion, perhaps today, or maybe later this week.
The vote is now being held open beyond the 15-minute limit. The vote was not gavelled to count. It remains on the floor as the House goes to other business as leaders go behind the scenes to turn nine members on the "no" side to support the bailout. Stay tuned.
It was a sad, hypocritical moment in American politics for the bailout supporters. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blamed eight years of the Bush administration for the nation's financial and economic troubles. That was a terribly wrong, partisan remark to make at such a critical moment. Besides, it was the Clinton administration that unleashed the greatest deregulation of Wall Street, something for which Pelosi supported.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer claimed that the American people had asked Congress to act today for the bailout. I guess he hasn't been answering his phone or reading his e-mails.
This kind of selective memory and damning denial are reasons why this 110-page piece of legislation initially failed. No supporter could definitely say this bailout would work. They only used the word "maybe".
This nation faces an even deeper recession, one that will produce the most severe economic conditions many of us have ever seen. No bailout plan can stop that. It would be better that the $700 billion in the bailout be given back to the taxpayers to survive the coming days that will stretch throughout 2009 and into 2010.
Congratulations, America! Stay on guard, however. This plan will be resurrected in some fashion, perhaps today, or maybe later this week.
Chamber symposium on poverty just another dodge by powers that be to effect change
My mentor, the Rev. Enoch Fuzz of Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church, was speaking to a small group of us earlier this month and cited the philosophy of teaching a person to fish instead of giving him or her a fish to lift their fortunes.
Fuzz said teaching a person to fish was a worthy philosophy. But what is that person supposed to do when there are fewer lakes and ponds from which to fish?
Indeed, one can see that truth in Nashville and in Tennessee, which has an unemployment rate of more than 6 percent.
Fuzz mentioned he had been invited to a chamber of commerce symposium on poverty. My mentor declined the invitation, saying he had been to a gathering about poverty the previous year, and the previous year and the previous year. What more is there to learn about poverty? he asked.
Nothing. LBJ told us more than four decades ago that the only effective way to fight the cycle of poverty destroying families is through education. Yet education locally has been under the grip of the chamber of commerce since at least when Phil Bredesen became mayor in 1992. Now the chamber has a member as head of the school board.
Can we expect change in the sorry state of Metro education for those innocents and their parents most at risk to poverty? Of course not.
The chamber's symposium on poverty last week was just a dodge, an effort to take attention away from where the real solution awaits effective action. The answer to poverty must come from public policy, not charitable organizations. Government is of the people, the human response to need.
Any meaningful symposium on poverty must address education, specifically more funding to effect change. Nashville needs Impact Fees on all new residential construction for single and multi-family homes. Williamson County, which attracts many Nashville residents for its schools, has raised more than $93 million for public education since 1987.
The chamber here does not want that levy in Nashville. So it holds symposiums restating the obvious and pointing to charitable organizations for their response. And enough African-American politicos buy into this dodge as long they can get titles and jobs from the powers that be.
I've been in Nashville housing projects since 1997. I've also been in its struggling schools, raising resources and building computer labs and instruments for a school band. I've been in the prisons and on death row. I've been in the courtrooms. I've been to the neighborhoods at night that black politicos and journalists will only visit briefly when they want something.
A symposium did not help or spur me. And a symposium each year will just provide cover for those who should be doing something.
That continuing wrong brings me back to the what's right, of my mentor Rev. Fuzz. He is a walking and talking symposium on poverty and injustice in our legal system. More importantly, he is someone who acts.
Fuzz said teaching a person to fish was a worthy philosophy. But what is that person supposed to do when there are fewer lakes and ponds from which to fish?
Indeed, one can see that truth in Nashville and in Tennessee, which has an unemployment rate of more than 6 percent.
Fuzz mentioned he had been invited to a chamber of commerce symposium on poverty. My mentor declined the invitation, saying he had been to a gathering about poverty the previous year, and the previous year and the previous year. What more is there to learn about poverty? he asked.
Nothing. LBJ told us more than four decades ago that the only effective way to fight the cycle of poverty destroying families is through education. Yet education locally has been under the grip of the chamber of commerce since at least when Phil Bredesen became mayor in 1992. Now the chamber has a member as head of the school board.
Can we expect change in the sorry state of Metro education for those innocents and their parents most at risk to poverty? Of course not.
The chamber's symposium on poverty last week was just a dodge, an effort to take attention away from where the real solution awaits effective action. The answer to poverty must come from public policy, not charitable organizations. Government is of the people, the human response to need.
Any meaningful symposium on poverty must address education, specifically more funding to effect change. Nashville needs Impact Fees on all new residential construction for single and multi-family homes. Williamson County, which attracts many Nashville residents for its schools, has raised more than $93 million for public education since 1987.
The chamber here does not want that levy in Nashville. So it holds symposiums restating the obvious and pointing to charitable organizations for their response. And enough African-American politicos buy into this dodge as long they can get titles and jobs from the powers that be.
I've been in Nashville housing projects since 1997. I've also been in its struggling schools, raising resources and building computer labs and instruments for a school band. I've been in the prisons and on death row. I've been in the courtrooms. I've been to the neighborhoods at night that black politicos and journalists will only visit briefly when they want something.
A symposium did not help or spur me. And a symposium each year will just provide cover for those who should be doing something.
That continuing wrong brings me back to the what's right, of my mentor Rev. Fuzz. He is a walking and talking symposium on poverty and injustice in our legal system. More importantly, he is someone who acts.
House to take up bailout of Wall Street at noon
The bailout of Wall Street fatcats will be taken up by the House of Representatives at noon CDT today.
Watch and see who is for the fatcats over the taxpayers. Congressional leaders are ridiculously claiming taxpayers are not on the hook here. And the supposedly new package still provides for a bailout of foreign banks.
Proponents cannot claim that the bailout package will work. They just claim a psychological benefit. Who knew that taxpayers were supposed to be the psychiatrist for the financial markets?
This bailout plan still stinks. You have until noon to call your representative and tell them that in no way should he or she vote for this bailout.
Watch and see who is for the fatcats over the taxpayers. Congressional leaders are ridiculously claiming taxpayers are not on the hook here. And the supposedly new package still provides for a bailout of foreign banks.
Proponents cannot claim that the bailout package will work. They just claim a psychological benefit. Who knew that taxpayers were supposed to be the psychiatrist for the financial markets?
This bailout plan still stinks. You have until noon to call your representative and tell them that in no way should he or she vote for this bailout.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Bailout supporters now claim plan won't cost you
In reaching another purported agreement to bail out Wall Street fatcats, GOP House leaders this afternoon have now joined Democratic congressional bigwigs in trying to sell out taxpayers.
The House will vote on the plan tomorrow. It probably will pass with Republicans on the far right and Democrats on the far left voting against the bailout. The big question mark will remain in the Senate, where the minority party has the power to filibuster. That takes 60 votes to stop. The Dems don't have the votes to stop it.
Sen. John McCain, however, said this morning that he would support the bailout but needed to look at the language. He probably could bring over enough Republicans to stop a filibuster, particularly Tennessee Sens. Corker and Alexander. They are the 15th and 22nd richest members of the Congress. So they'll be most interested in protecting their stock portfolios from a large loss of value due to the lack of a bailout.
As it now stands, legislation that the American people overwhelming oppose will be passed into law ... unless perhaps you turn up the heat on your representatives once more.
The House will vote on the plan tomorrow. It probably will pass with Republicans on the far right and Democrats on the far left voting against the bailout. The big question mark will remain in the Senate, where the minority party has the power to filibuster. That takes 60 votes to stop. The Dems don't have the votes to stop it.
Sen. John McCain, however, said this morning that he would support the bailout but needed to look at the language. He probably could bring over enough Republicans to stop a filibuster, particularly Tennessee Sens. Corker and Alexander. They are the 15th and 22nd richest members of the Congress. So they'll be most interested in protecting their stock portfolios from a large loss of value due to the lack of a bailout.
As it now stands, legislation that the American people overwhelming oppose will be passed into law ... unless perhaps you turn up the heat on your representatives once more.
McCain cites Marsha, Marsha, Marsha on This Week; will he side with haters in White House?
Everytime I start liking Sen. John McCain, he goes and says something that sets me back to square one.
This morning on This Week, he thanked GOP House members who had educated him on their objections to the bailout of Wall Street hogdogs. He mentioned several reps and ended with the name "Blackburn" as in Marsha, Marsha, Marsha.
Blackburn is a hater when it comes to people who look like me. And unfortunately, McCain is surrounded by a lot of haters in his political party and of his ideology.
Conversely, I'm not a great fan of Sen. Barack Obama as an experienced leader. He is much more of a politican with substanital rhetoric, and he stooped to great lows to stop Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign.
I like a lot of the people who support Obama. But some Democrats like Rep. Jim Cooper have remained silent during the heinous 287g deportation program in his congressional district that includes Nashville. He and others who lack simple integrity are a disgrace to the Democratic Party of Bobby Kennedy. And he would have let them know it, too.
So making an endorsement in this presidential race is quite difficult. Will McCain separate himself from the haters like Marsha, Marsha, Marsha if he makes the White House? Will he tell Rush Limbaugh to go jump?
Will Obama call out frauds like Cooper if he gets into the White House? Will he have any more interest in the nation's failed immigration policy than he has woefully shown during the campaign?
There may be no answers before it is time to vote Nov. 4. For many of us, this presidential election will present a difficult choice.
This morning on This Week, he thanked GOP House members who had educated him on their objections to the bailout of Wall Street hogdogs. He mentioned several reps and ended with the name "Blackburn" as in Marsha, Marsha, Marsha.
Blackburn is a hater when it comes to people who look like me. And unfortunately, McCain is surrounded by a lot of haters in his political party and of his ideology.
Conversely, I'm not a great fan of Sen. Barack Obama as an experienced leader. He is much more of a politican with substanital rhetoric, and he stooped to great lows to stop Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign.
I like a lot of the people who support Obama. But some Democrats like Rep. Jim Cooper have remained silent during the heinous 287g deportation program in his congressional district that includes Nashville. He and others who lack simple integrity are a disgrace to the Democratic Party of Bobby Kennedy. And he would have let them know it, too.
So making an endorsement in this presidential race is quite difficult. Will McCain separate himself from the haters like Marsha, Marsha, Marsha if he makes the White House? Will he tell Rush Limbaugh to go jump?
Will Obama call out frauds like Cooper if he gets into the White House? Will he have any more interest in the nation's failed immigration policy than he has woefully shown during the campaign?
There may be no answers before it is time to vote Nov. 4. For many of us, this presidential election will present a difficult choice.
An interesting endorsement of Sen. John McCain
YouTube is an amazing vehicle of communication for this very visually-oriented world.
And one of the most watched presentations today is the following video endorsement of Sen. John McCain for president. It is not unique because of the race of the person in the video. It is interesting for its rant against liberalism and its impact upon black families.
I don't agree with everything the man is saying. But I find it provocative in terms of stimulating needed political discussion.
I haven't decided on whom I will endorse for president. Still, I am open to being swayed.
See what you think about this man's rant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxhYampIl7A
And one of the most watched presentations today is the following video endorsement of Sen. John McCain for president. It is not unique because of the race of the person in the video. It is interesting for its rant against liberalism and its impact upon black families.
I don't agree with everything the man is saying. But I find it provocative in terms of stimulating needed political discussion.
I haven't decided on whom I will endorse for president. Still, I am open to being swayed.
See what you think about this man's rant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxhYampIl7A
Vanderbilt rises to 19th in nation; biggest game in a long time looms Saturday with No. 13 Auburn
The Vanderbilt Commodores made good use of a weekend off, rising in the polls to 19th in the nation and getting a close look at what appears to be a very beatable Auburn Tiger team.
Auburn was given a gift of a victory by UT yesterday, as its offense was shut down for almost all the second half. Its only first down came with less than two minutes in the game and sealed the victory over the struggling Volunteers.
This Saturday's game between the No. 19 'Dores and No. 13 Tigers should be a featured game nationally, significantly boosting the image of the Vandy program. Ole Miss' upset of Florida in Gainsville throws the whole SEC race wide open and a Vandy win Saturday would start talk of conference title hopes, not just a bowl appearance.
The 'Dores may be the best kept secret in the SEC and the nation. But after Saturday, Vandy football may well become the biggest gridiron discovery since Gatorade.
Recruiting wise, the game could have a significant, local impact. A lot of Brentwood's best athletes go to Auburn. A 'Dores victory could keep some of these athletes home to play for a contending college program while receiving one of the nation's best educations at this city of a hill.
Put some new shock absorbers on the band wagon, and let the hype begin!
Auburn was given a gift of a victory by UT yesterday, as its offense was shut down for almost all the second half. Its only first down came with less than two minutes in the game and sealed the victory over the struggling Volunteers.
This Saturday's game between the No. 19 'Dores and No. 13 Tigers should be a featured game nationally, significantly boosting the image of the Vandy program. Ole Miss' upset of Florida in Gainsville throws the whole SEC race wide open and a Vandy win Saturday would start talk of conference title hopes, not just a bowl appearance.
The 'Dores may be the best kept secret in the SEC and the nation. But after Saturday, Vandy football may well become the biggest gridiron discovery since Gatorade.
Recruiting wise, the game could have a significant, local impact. A lot of Brentwood's best athletes go to Auburn. A 'Dores victory could keep some of these athletes home to play for a contending college program while receiving one of the nation's best educations at this city of a hill.
Put some new shock absorbers on the band wagon, and let the hype begin!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Nashville area ranks poorly as safe place to live; numbers show Sheriff Hall continues to lie
A new report issued today by Farmers Insurance Companies Group showed the Nashville area as the 307th most secure place to live out of 379 Metro areas across the United States.
Nashville's ranking is a drop of 54 places from last year's study and ironically comes from examination of crime data from over the same period as Davidson County's heinous 287g deportation program.
Sheriff Daron Hall claimed the 287g program was going to make Nashville a safer place. It was implemented more than a year and a half ago. Instead, the Farmers Insurance report shows Nashville is less safe. And that data matches long-term research of immigrant conduct released earlier this year by Robert J. Sampson, chairman of the Department of Sociology at Harvard University.
His work, examining crime data in Chicago from 1990 to 2004, showed Hispanic immigrants had lower crime rates than native born individuals. Why? They had to stay out of trouble and not draw attention to themselves to stay in the country.
http://contexts.org/articles/files/2008/01/contexts_winter08_sampson.pdf
Metro Nashville even ranks below Philadelphia in terms of safety for residents. Knoxville ranked 276th.
The numbers of this new study don't lie, even if Sheriff Daron Hall does.
Go to http://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/secure_list.aspx
Nashville's ranking is a drop of 54 places from last year's study and ironically comes from examination of crime data from over the same period as Davidson County's heinous 287g deportation program.
Sheriff Daron Hall claimed the 287g program was going to make Nashville a safer place. It was implemented more than a year and a half ago. Instead, the Farmers Insurance report shows Nashville is less safe. And that data matches long-term research of immigrant conduct released earlier this year by Robert J. Sampson, chairman of the Department of Sociology at Harvard University.
His work, examining crime data in Chicago from 1990 to 2004, showed Hispanic immigrants had lower crime rates than native born individuals. Why? They had to stay out of trouble and not draw attention to themselves to stay in the country.
http://contexts.org/articles/files/2008/01/contexts_winter08_sampson.pdf
Metro Nashville even ranks below Philadelphia in terms of safety for residents. Knoxville ranked 276th.
The numbers of this new study don't lie, even if Sheriff Daron Hall does.
Go to http://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/secure_list.aspx
Newman followed scripture command in life
The death of actor Paul Newman removes not only a great talent from this world but also a marvelous role model for people who have been blessed with much.
Newman through his career earnings and grocery products supported so many charitable and good public policy causes across the country for decades. He followed the scripture exhortation that from those given much, much is expected.
From just looking at him, he was blessed with great looks. But he was also blessed with a mate for life, fellow actor Joanne Woodward. One can only imagine the pain she now feels in having someone so integral to her life temporarly removed. Our prayers should be with her for consolation and strength.
Paul Newman was a massive figure on and off the screen. He did not wear his faith on his sleeve or try to convince people with words. He was an actor, and he acted in making life better for those less fortunate.
This world will miss his philantrophic leadership and his example of faith that should be modeled by everyone.
May God now send his angels to greet this great man's soul and usher him into paradise where Lazarus suffers no more and the Lord's perpetual light shines forever and ever, amen.
Newman through his career earnings and grocery products supported so many charitable and good public policy causes across the country for decades. He followed the scripture exhortation that from those given much, much is expected.
From just looking at him, he was blessed with great looks. But he was also blessed with a mate for life, fellow actor Joanne Woodward. One can only imagine the pain she now feels in having someone so integral to her life temporarly removed. Our prayers should be with her for consolation and strength.
Paul Newman was a massive figure on and off the screen. He did not wear his faith on his sleeve or try to convince people with words. He was an actor, and he acted in making life better for those less fortunate.
This world will miss his philantrophic leadership and his example of faith that should be modeled by everyone.
May God now send his angels to greet this great man's soul and usher him into paradise where Lazarus suffers no more and the Lord's perpetual light shines forever and ever, amen.
McCain the clear winner in last night's debate
Sen. John McCain was dazzling last night with more than a quarter century of experience in foreign policy and global travelling, making Sen. Barack Obama look and sound like Gov. Sarah Palin's more knowledgeable brother in the presidential debate.
McCain routed Obama in foreign policy questions, offering answers of been there and done that to Obama's rhetoric from think tanks.
On the economy, McCain was surprisingly strong and Obama unsurprisingly evasive. Obama refused to endorse any bailout plan because he had not seen the language of the legislation. Yet earlier in the day, Senate Majority Harry Reid was touting the bailout plan as based on Obama's four principles for any bailout.
McCain struck a chord with voters in touting the need to cut spending and for Washington to operate on the same standard of living as the American people. Obama danced around the question of what programs -- that he has been offering the American people the past year -- he would have to cut or delay.
Later in the debate, Obama tried to turn to his strength over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in that he did not favor going into the Iraq war as McCain and she did. But the Republican presidential nominee effectively turned that point on Obama, saying that the proposition before the next president is not who supported what back when but how will U.S. policy in Iraq be conducted in the future.
As for Afghanistan, Obama tried to take McCain to task for pointing to Iraq instead of that country where action has heated up. But McCain again used his experience of being there in Afghanistan and assessing the situation himself. Obama has just been to the country. And Obama heads a subcommittee that has Afghanistan in its oversight.
Again, Obama is just a bit more knowledgeable on foreign policy than Palin. But she has the advantage of learning from McCain. I don't know who is instructing Obama, but he or she is doing a poor job.
On the Russian invasion of Georgia, McCain scored points on Obama's initial weak response to the invasion that sought to score political points by citing a McCain campaign official as a former lobbyist for victim nation. And McCain, who has met Vladamir Putin, showed how he differed from the president in his assessment of the Russian leader.
"When I looked into his eyes, I saw KGB," McCain said.
I am convinced from listening to McCain that he would not commit U.S. troops to any theater without a plan for withdrawl as well as attack. He has served and he knows the risks. And he knew enough to oppose the president and his strategy in Iraq, resulting in the surge that has successfully lessened the violence and deaths in the nation.
Even though he was the clear winner last night, McCain's campaign still is not going to surge ahead of Obama. McCain still is the underdog. But his campaign is on the move. He returns to Washington to work on the bailout plan. And what happens in the next few days from there could well determine the election.
All that Obama can do is sit and wait.
McCain routed Obama in foreign policy questions, offering answers of been there and done that to Obama's rhetoric from think tanks.
On the economy, McCain was surprisingly strong and Obama unsurprisingly evasive. Obama refused to endorse any bailout plan because he had not seen the language of the legislation. Yet earlier in the day, Senate Majority Harry Reid was touting the bailout plan as based on Obama's four principles for any bailout.
McCain struck a chord with voters in touting the need to cut spending and for Washington to operate on the same standard of living as the American people. Obama danced around the question of what programs -- that he has been offering the American people the past year -- he would have to cut or delay.
Later in the debate, Obama tried to turn to his strength over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in that he did not favor going into the Iraq war as McCain and she did. But the Republican presidential nominee effectively turned that point on Obama, saying that the proposition before the next president is not who supported what back when but how will U.S. policy in Iraq be conducted in the future.
As for Afghanistan, Obama tried to take McCain to task for pointing to Iraq instead of that country where action has heated up. But McCain again used his experience of being there in Afghanistan and assessing the situation himself. Obama has just been to the country. And Obama heads a subcommittee that has Afghanistan in its oversight.
Again, Obama is just a bit more knowledgeable on foreign policy than Palin. But she has the advantage of learning from McCain. I don't know who is instructing Obama, but he or she is doing a poor job.
On the Russian invasion of Georgia, McCain scored points on Obama's initial weak response to the invasion that sought to score political points by citing a McCain campaign official as a former lobbyist for victim nation. And McCain, who has met Vladamir Putin, showed how he differed from the president in his assessment of the Russian leader.
"When I looked into his eyes, I saw KGB," McCain said.
I am convinced from listening to McCain that he would not commit U.S. troops to any theater without a plan for withdrawl as well as attack. He has served and he knows the risks. And he knew enough to oppose the president and his strategy in Iraq, resulting in the surge that has successfully lessened the violence and deaths in the nation.
Even though he was the clear winner last night, McCain's campaign still is not going to surge ahead of Obama. McCain still is the underdog. But his campaign is on the move. He returns to Washington to work on the bailout plan. And what happens in the next few days from there could well determine the election.
All that Obama can do is sit and wait.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Why didn't House Dems pass bailout when they had votes on Monday? It's sickeningly political
House Democratic leaders had the votes last Monday to pass their generous $700 billion bailout plan for Wall Street hogdogs, but they didn't. Why?
Because Dems wanting to pick up seats in the general election did not want to be stuck as solely backing a Bush administration plan that had no guarantee of correcting what was wrong. They wanted GOP House members also on the hook. And now they have balked, because their constituents along with those of the Dems are dead set against this bailout.
Now Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., says he expects a deal by Sunday. Good luck. I don't believe he is going to get it. GOP House members know the bailout is a loser at the polls in November. Economic data this week has been very weak on home prices and GDP growth, showing that once a bailout would be passed, the economy would still go into the tank. Earnings worries will grip the market next week and push stock prices down regardless.
A private bailout of Wall Street is being pushed by House GOP members. But this group of politicos is not the most virtuous bunch. I'm equally suspicious of their efforts.
Some financial-types now are talking about how the markets could get along without a bailout. That's good. There are going to be big layoffs -- plan or not. Twenty-five years of excess and deregulation will not be corrected by any plan.
America will have to tough it out.
Because Dems wanting to pick up seats in the general election did not want to be stuck as solely backing a Bush administration plan that had no guarantee of correcting what was wrong. They wanted GOP House members also on the hook. And now they have balked, because their constituents along with those of the Dems are dead set against this bailout.
Now Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., says he expects a deal by Sunday. Good luck. I don't believe he is going to get it. GOP House members know the bailout is a loser at the polls in November. Economic data this week has been very weak on home prices and GDP growth, showing that once a bailout would be passed, the economy would still go into the tank. Earnings worries will grip the market next week and push stock prices down regardless.
A private bailout of Wall Street is being pushed by House GOP members. But this group of politicos is not the most virtuous bunch. I'm equally suspicious of their efforts.
Some financial-types now are talking about how the markets could get along without a bailout. That's good. There are going to be big layoffs -- plan or not. Twenty-five years of excess and deregulation will not be corrected by any plan.
America will have to tough it out.
Palin should explain herself on cutting rape kits
Even hockey moms get raped.
But if they lived in Wasilla, Alaska, when Sarah Palin was mayor, they would have had to pay for their own rape kits and forensic examinations.
That's difficult to believe of any female elected official, to be so uncaring of her own gender. But that is the truth about the GOP's vice presidential nominee.
Someone in the news media needs to question Palin about this matter instead of trying to trip her up like Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson on the Bush Doctrine or Sen. John McCain's lack of a record in regulating the financial industry. Her budget cuts of rape kits and forensic examins are representative of a shockingly incompassionate side.
Without further explanation, Palin does not represent progress for women. She represents regression of a most savage kind that may pass where you shoot and skin a moose but not across a nation that should show the utmost compassion to victims of rape.
To read more, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/opinion/26fri4.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin
But if they lived in Wasilla, Alaska, when Sarah Palin was mayor, they would have had to pay for their own rape kits and forensic examinations.
That's difficult to believe of any female elected official, to be so uncaring of her own gender. But that is the truth about the GOP's vice presidential nominee.
Someone in the news media needs to question Palin about this matter instead of trying to trip her up like Katie Couric and Charlie Gibson on the Bush Doctrine or Sen. John McCain's lack of a record in regulating the financial industry. Her budget cuts of rape kits and forensic examins are representative of a shockingly incompassionate side.
Without further explanation, Palin does not represent progress for women. She represents regression of a most savage kind that may pass where you shoot and skin a moose but not across a nation that should show the utmost compassion to victims of rape.
To read more, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/opinion/26fri4.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin
McCain to debate but why; he looks unfocused
Sen. John McCain will debate tonight at Ole Miss despite the failure of all sides in the negotiations for a bailout of Wall Street fatcats to reach any consensus.
McCain's decision kind of makes him look scatter-brained and unfocused. There is no deal in Washington, and it's not even close. So why did he announce Thursday that he was suspending his campaign and going to Washington to forge a compromise? He said he would not debate without a deal.
McCain should remain in Washington. But perhaps he sees a political advantage in debating tonight because it is on his strength of foreign policy.
Both candidates have been most disappointing amid this economic crisis. Is there not a real leader in this nation whom the people can turn to and find consensus in shared values and principles?
McCain's decision kind of makes him look scatter-brained and unfocused. There is no deal in Washington, and it's not even close. So why did he announce Thursday that he was suspending his campaign and going to Washington to forge a compromise? He said he would not debate without a deal.
McCain should remain in Washington. But perhaps he sees a political advantage in debating tonight because it is on his strength of foreign policy.
Both candidates have been most disappointing amid this economic crisis. Is there not a real leader in this nation whom the people can turn to and find consensus in shared values and principles?
Putin/Chavez partnership is big trouble for us
The reach across 5,000 miles by Russian Prime Minister Putin to Venezuelan President Chavez to provide nuclear help has the makings of big foreign policy trouble for our nation.
Chavez has been a frequent critic of this nation under the leadership of George W. Bush while offering a hand of help to our nation's poor with low-cost heating oil.
El presidente also has a lot of clout in Latin America. He is the new Castro as far as a destabilizing force. His retention of his office was made possible by fraud in the election process, despite the results being sadly stamped with approval by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
Putin is pissed by the missile shield for NATO nations surrounding the western side of his nation. So with Chavez, he is making trouble for us in our backyard.
Should our nation's leaders be talking tough with Putin, instead of Bush's "I have looked into his soul" and he is a good guy approach? Should our nation's leaders be talking with Chavez, instead of ignoring and stonewalling him?
Something must change in our approach to both nation's leaders, or we'll face a growing threat on our shores.
Chavez has been a frequent critic of this nation under the leadership of George W. Bush while offering a hand of help to our nation's poor with low-cost heating oil.
El presidente also has a lot of clout in Latin America. He is the new Castro as far as a destabilizing force. His retention of his office was made possible by fraud in the election process, despite the results being sadly stamped with approval by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
Putin is pissed by the missile shield for NATO nations surrounding the western side of his nation. So with Chavez, he is making trouble for us in our backyard.
Should our nation's leaders be talking tough with Putin, instead of Bush's "I have looked into his soul" and he is a good guy approach? Should our nation's leaders be talking with Chavez, instead of ignoring and stonewalling him?
Something must change in our approach to both nation's leaders, or we'll face a growing threat on our shores.
Memphis Schools talk of progress and changes
While Nashville public schools continue to wander aimlessly ahead of state control, education and business leaders in Memphis are working toward further progress -- now starting with making sure employees are doing their best.
Again, if Metro Nashville officials want to know what to do about the sorry state of public education for all children here, they should simply drive three hours west to Memphis and look and listen.
To read about a progressive city and how it educates its children, go to:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/26/mcs-chief-claims-progress/
Again, if Metro Nashville officials want to know what to do about the sorry state of public education for all children here, they should simply drive three hours west to Memphis and look and listen.
To read about a progressive city and how it educates its children, go to:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/26/mcs-chief-claims-progress/
Corker and Alexander protecting portfolios first
Members of Tennessee's congressional delegation are clueless about the degree of anger many folks here have about Washington passing any kind of bailout plan of Wall Street fatcats.
Today's story in the state's best newspaper -- The Knoxville News Sentinel -- is espcecially telling when it comes to the disconnet of Tennessee's two U.S. senators. They want a bailout by the end of the weekend.
And why shouldn't they. Bob Coker and Lamar Alexander are the 15th and 22nd richest members of Congress. A bailout plan would personally enrich them and their stock portfolios. If there is a not a deal by the market's open on Monday, my financial adviser says the Dow, S&P and NASDAQ could fall like after 9/11. And that would make our two senators a little poorer.
So now you know why Congress is so urgent to act, along with Democratic leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- who is richer than Corker and Alexander.
To read more of the Tennessee congressional disconnect, go to: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/26/some-tennessee-have-big-concerns-about-bailout-pla/
Today's story in the state's best newspaper -- The Knoxville News Sentinel -- is espcecially telling when it comes to the disconnet of Tennessee's two U.S. senators. They want a bailout by the end of the weekend.
And why shouldn't they. Bob Coker and Lamar Alexander are the 15th and 22nd richest members of Congress. A bailout plan would personally enrich them and their stock portfolios. If there is a not a deal by the market's open on Monday, my financial adviser says the Dow, S&P and NASDAQ could fall like after 9/11. And that would make our two senators a little poorer.
So now you know why Congress is so urgent to act, along with Democratic leaders like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi -- who is richer than Corker and Alexander.
To read more of the Tennessee congressional disconnect, go to: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/26/some-tennessee-have-big-concerns-about-bailout-pla/
Besides $700 billion bailout, Dems want another $56 billion for auto industry and your household
Before even going to the White House yesterday with their purported compromise Wall Street bailout plan, Democratic leaders in Congress unveiled another $56 billion boost in the federal deficit.
This milking of the taxpayers included $7.5 billion in a $30 billion bailout plan for the auto industry. The rest would come in small economic stimilus checks for your home before Christmas -- a buying season that's predicted to be the worst in 15 years.
The Bush administration already proposes to raise the nation's debt ceiling to $11.3 trillion with its dead bailout plan. Adding just another $56 billion for the Dems is no big deal, they think.
CBSNews and Katie Couric asked a great question 10 days ago. After our government finishes bailing out every industry, who is going to bail out our government?
Perhaps the Chinese will buy up America, and Communism -- thought dead after the Berlin Wall fell -- will have ultimately triumphed over capitalism and our way of life. Can you hear Castro laughing?
History's a bitch, ain't it?
This milking of the taxpayers included $7.5 billion in a $30 billion bailout plan for the auto industry. The rest would come in small economic stimilus checks for your home before Christmas -- a buying season that's predicted to be the worst in 15 years.
The Bush administration already proposes to raise the nation's debt ceiling to $11.3 trillion with its dead bailout plan. Adding just another $56 billion for the Dems is no big deal, they think.
CBSNews and Katie Couric asked a great question 10 days ago. After our government finishes bailing out every industry, who is going to bail out our government?
Perhaps the Chinese will buy up America, and Communism -- thought dead after the Berlin Wall fell -- will have ultimately triumphed over capitalism and our way of life. Can you hear Castro laughing?
History's a bitch, ain't it?
Two things you can count on today; get involved
Amid all the uncertainties of the financial and political markets today, here are a two things you can count on:
1) There will be no bailout deal reached for Wall Street fatcats. All sides are very far apart. There will be no vote on any legislation.
2) Sen. John McCain will not be at tonight's presidential debate; he will be leading in Washington and fulflling his responsibilities as a senator.
After that, it's all too difficult to tell. Live in the moment.
The very good news in all of this mess is that it leaves time for you to get involved. You and your university classmates should be marching. You should protest this bailout and recommend your own ideas that come from real lives.
Consider your role. There is still time. If you are going to form a protest, let me know and I'll publicize it and forward it to the city's media outlets.
This is your country; fight for it.
It's your future.
1) There will be no bailout deal reached for Wall Street fatcats. All sides are very far apart. There will be no vote on any legislation.
2) Sen. John McCain will not be at tonight's presidential debate; he will be leading in Washington and fulflling his responsibilities as a senator.
After that, it's all too difficult to tell. Live in the moment.
The very good news in all of this mess is that it leaves time for you to get involved. You and your university classmates should be marching. You should protest this bailout and recommend your own ideas that come from real lives.
Consider your role. There is still time. If you are going to form a protest, let me know and I'll publicize it and forward it to the city's media outlets.
This is your country; fight for it.
It's your future.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Leno finds a laugh in bailout mess
In describing the current bailout mess, Jay Leno tonight says it's like one of those fast and loud talking TV ads for a bad product:
"Act now! Just 10 easy payments of $70 billion each. But you have to act now!"
"Act now! Just 10 easy payments of $70 billion each. But you have to act now!"
Leave it to O'Reilly to come to wrong conclusion
Conservatives led by TV entertainer Bill O'Reilly are trying to sell a revisionist history of why this nation is in a financial crisis.
They blame the Democrats for pushing more home lending to areas of communities filled with people redlined by banks to avoid making home mortgages.
O'Reilly, aided by Laura Ingraham, said the policy was aimed at poor people making $20,000 a year who had no skills and no education. The FOXNEWS darling, who has tried to sell himself as a person who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, made his insulting analysis on tonight's program.
If you have no skills and education, you're not going to be making $20,000 a year. Minimum wage is only going to guarantee you about $12,000 a year. That banks redlined communities of people of color from receiving any kind of lending is fact. That something was needed to force banks to finally consider these people for the American Dream is fact, too.
The change in federal policy did not require banks to make loans that were not properly collateralized, nor offer adjustable rate mortgages that consumers did not realize would ultimately cost their household incomes more than they could afford.
Yes, Democrats do have big blame to accept in the current financial crisis. Clinton administration deregulation allowed financial institutions on Wall Street and Main Street to get together in creative, fast-profit deals.
But favoring the financial industry with top-down socialism began with the Reagan administration and the huge bailout of the savings and loan associations. And Sen. John McCain was involved in those bailouts.
O'Reilly, who supports the mother of all bailouts, is just peddling the same propaganda -- not only about his own upbringing but good people struggling to climb up the economic ladder.
They blame the Democrats for pushing more home lending to areas of communities filled with people redlined by banks to avoid making home mortgages.
O'Reilly, aided by Laura Ingraham, said the policy was aimed at poor people making $20,000 a year who had no skills and no education. The FOXNEWS darling, who has tried to sell himself as a person who pulled himself up by his own bootstraps, made his insulting analysis on tonight's program.
If you have no skills and education, you're not going to be making $20,000 a year. Minimum wage is only going to guarantee you about $12,000 a year. That banks redlined communities of people of color from receiving any kind of lending is fact. That something was needed to force banks to finally consider these people for the American Dream is fact, too.
The change in federal policy did not require banks to make loans that were not properly collateralized, nor offer adjustable rate mortgages that consumers did not realize would ultimately cost their household incomes more than they could afford.
Yes, Democrats do have big blame to accept in the current financial crisis. Clinton administration deregulation allowed financial institutions on Wall Street and Main Street to get together in creative, fast-profit deals.
But favoring the financial industry with top-down socialism began with the Reagan administration and the huge bailout of the savings and loan associations. And Sen. John McCain was involved in those bailouts.
O'Reilly, who supports the mother of all bailouts, is just peddling the same propaganda -- not only about his own upbringing but good people struggling to climb up the economic ladder.
Inside White House meeting: Drama and Obama
Politico.com has a great blow-by-blow account of the afternoon meeting in the White House that left the supposed compromise bailout deal for Wall Street all but dead.
The account includes a strong moment of intervention by Sen. Barack Obama, who has accused Sen. John McCain of introducing presidential politics into the bailout negotiations. The account, however, shows McCain to have been mostly silent in the meeting and also supporting a recitation of facts by bailout booster, Rep. Barney Frank.
The account is a worthy read for all the weaknesses and personalities involved in the negotiations in Washington -- and the lameness of a very lame duck president. With these dynamics, tomorrow promises to be one of the most memorable days in American political history.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13918.html
The account includes a strong moment of intervention by Sen. Barack Obama, who has accused Sen. John McCain of introducing presidential politics into the bailout negotiations. The account, however, shows McCain to have been mostly silent in the meeting and also supporting a recitation of facts by bailout booster, Rep. Barney Frank.
The account is a worthy read for all the weaknesses and personalities involved in the negotiations in Washington -- and the lameness of a very lame duck president. With these dynamics, tomorrow promises to be one of the most memorable days in American political history.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13918.html
Deal dead; there never was one, McCain says
Congressional Democratic leaders had their purported, compromise bailout deal for Wall Street fatcats blow up in their faces this afternoon after an angry meeting with GOP representatives before the president in the White House.
Crazily, Dems are siding with George W. Bush, just as they did with his bogus Iraq invasion plan. Don't they ever learn? No.
Sen. John McCain said this evening that there never was a deal. So we can only guess who House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have been talking to the past several days. Wall Street fatcats had been expecting a favorable vote tomorrow morning. Now there is no legislation.
Democrats and Sen. Barack Obama call McCain's presence in Washington as a political stunt. Today's daily Gallup poll shows some voters think differently. McCain was tied with Sen. Barack Obama in the poll at 46 percent. Earlier this week, a Washington Post/ABC News poll showed Obama up by nine percentage points.
There will be no deal reached tomorrow. There will be no deal over the weekend. And both parties will leave Washington pointing fingers at the other.
Then, the free markets will be left to their own devices, which is what free markets are supposed to do. And guess what happened tonight? The faltering Washington Mutual savings and loan -- which has been dragging down the financial markets for the past three weeks -- was acquired by JP Morgan. That's what free markets should do.
Crazily, Dems are siding with George W. Bush, just as they did with his bogus Iraq invasion plan. Don't they ever learn? No.
Sen. John McCain said this evening that there never was a deal. So we can only guess who House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have been talking to the past several days. Wall Street fatcats had been expecting a favorable vote tomorrow morning. Now there is no legislation.
Democrats and Sen. Barack Obama call McCain's presence in Washington as a political stunt. Today's daily Gallup poll shows some voters think differently. McCain was tied with Sen. Barack Obama in the poll at 46 percent. Earlier this week, a Washington Post/ABC News poll showed Obama up by nine percentage points.
There will be no deal reached tomorrow. There will be no deal over the weekend. And both parties will leave Washington pointing fingers at the other.
Then, the free markets will be left to their own devices, which is what free markets are supposed to do. And guess what happened tonight? The faltering Washington Mutual savings and loan -- which has been dragging down the financial markets for the past three weeks -- was acquired by JP Morgan. That's what free markets should do.
Congressional debate over weekend will show moral bankruptcy of federal bailout legislation
Congress -- not the gridiron -- will hold the most dramatics this weekend.
House Republicans are not going to vote for supposed compromise bailout legislation for Wall Street fatcats, but that doesn't matter since they are in the minority. But the Senate will hold the package at hostage, as Republican senators led by Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning and Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby will filibuster this legislation.
Thank goodness.
There also may be nothing to debate. Congressional leaders who met with the president refused to talk to reporters. Sen. Richard Shelby said 20 minutes ago that there is no deal, according to CNBC.
This situation seems to be going from extreme to extreme. If there finally is a deal, Democrats don't have the 60 votes to stop a filibuster by Senate rules. And Sen. Harry Reid is a weak Senate leader.
Enter Sen. John McCain. He will face a big decision -- support the filibuster or round up the needed GOP votes to help the Democrats stop the delaying tactic.
The truth that has most of the American people outraged by this plan is its foundation. It is not based on any moral principles -- those behind the founding of this country.
The American people are right. I hope that Sens. Bunning and Shelby and their colleagues will prevail. And I hope Sen. McCain will put America first and not oppose their actions.
House Republicans are not going to vote for supposed compromise bailout legislation for Wall Street fatcats, but that doesn't matter since they are in the minority. But the Senate will hold the package at hostage, as Republican senators led by Kentucky Sen. Jim Bunning and Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby will filibuster this legislation.
Thank goodness.
There also may be nothing to debate. Congressional leaders who met with the president refused to talk to reporters. Sen. Richard Shelby said 20 minutes ago that there is no deal, according to CNBC.
This situation seems to be going from extreme to extreme. If there finally is a deal, Democrats don't have the 60 votes to stop a filibuster by Senate rules. And Sen. Harry Reid is a weak Senate leader.
Enter Sen. John McCain. He will face a big decision -- support the filibuster or round up the needed GOP votes to help the Democrats stop the delaying tactic.
The truth that has most of the American people outraged by this plan is its foundation. It is not based on any moral principles -- those behind the founding of this country.
The American people are right. I hope that Sens. Bunning and Shelby and their colleagues will prevail. And I hope Sen. McCain will put America first and not oppose their actions.
BREAKING NEWS: Compromise reached on bailout plan, but it won't do a thing to stop recession
Congressional leaders have reached a compromise on the bailout of Wall Street fatcats that would deliver corporate welfare in three stages to see whether the plan is working than immediately fulling funding it.
In addition, Democrats are taking an economic stimulus plan to Wall Street to make the medicine of the bailout go down easier in the throats of taxpayers. That will just add to the already mushrooming deficit, which now is set to a debt ceiling of $11.3 trillion.
Any bailout plan must not be pasesd. The economy -- which has been bolstered by riotous living of the the past quarter century -- must go through a deep recession that will border a depression. You can't buy your way out of economic cycles. Any bailout plan will severely weaken the dollar, forcing this economy further into retreat and Wall Street into more volatility.
Even the Great Depression did not end because of FDR's programs. It ended because of WWII and the demand for armanents from the manufacturing industry.
The president last night finally acknowledged the nation is in an a recession, something he denied most recently in the summer. So why should anyone trust what he says now.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leading the Democrats. That fact still does not make the bailout right. Democrats get the most campaign contributions from Wall Street fatcats. So Pelosi is just protecting the goose that lays the golden egg for her party.
There is no reason to have any confidence in any bailout plan that will come from Washington. Economic cycles cannot be avoided. We are in a deep recession, and it is going to stay that way for the next 12 months or longer.
In addition, Democrats are taking an economic stimulus plan to Wall Street to make the medicine of the bailout go down easier in the throats of taxpayers. That will just add to the already mushrooming deficit, which now is set to a debt ceiling of $11.3 trillion.
Any bailout plan must not be pasesd. The economy -- which has been bolstered by riotous living of the the past quarter century -- must go through a deep recession that will border a depression. You can't buy your way out of economic cycles. Any bailout plan will severely weaken the dollar, forcing this economy further into retreat and Wall Street into more volatility.
Even the Great Depression did not end because of FDR's programs. It ended because of WWII and the demand for armanents from the manufacturing industry.
The president last night finally acknowledged the nation is in an a recession, something he denied most recently in the summer. So why should anyone trust what he says now.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leading the Democrats. That fact still does not make the bailout right. Democrats get the most campaign contributions from Wall Street fatcats. So Pelosi is just protecting the goose that lays the golden egg for her party.
There is no reason to have any confidence in any bailout plan that will come from Washington. Economic cycles cannot be avoided. We are in a deep recession, and it is going to stay that way for the next 12 months or longer.
Time to build grassroots opposition to bailout
Robert Lovato, a fine writer, thinker and opponent of the federal bailout of Wall Street fatcats, has sent out the following advice to regular people on Main Street on how to get involved in stopping Congress from adopting top-down socialism for free markets.
Here is his note and direction:
In what many of of us hope will be a historic show of popular force, there will be small and large protests of the Bush Bailout organized throughout the entire country today.
You can find or organize your own event by going here. http://truemajority.wiredforchange.com/event/distributedEventCalendar.jsp You can also see a partial list here. http://truemajority.wiredforchange.com/event/distributedEv And, lastly, you can read more about it at Wired magazine. http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/09/outrage-online.html Hope to see you somewhere!
My sense is that this will be pretty historic, needs our support and will grow-and needs to grow.
Lavato is pointing us in the right direction. It was my honor last night to attend a reception at the home of Vanderbilt professor Bruce Barry for two of the most effective political bloggers in the nation. They have just finished a book on their efforts in how they became political players locally and nationally. I'll blog more on them in the next few days.
As Nelson Mandela once said: "Our greatest fear is not that we are powerless. Our greatest fear is that we are more powerful that we've ever imagined."
Join the protests, form your own, and feel the power.
Here is his note and direction:
In what many of of us hope will be a historic show of popular force, there will be small and large protests of the Bush Bailout organized throughout the entire country today.
You can find or organize your own event by going here. http://truemajority.wiredforchange.com/event/distributedEventCalendar.jsp You can also see a partial list here. http://truemajority.wiredforchange.com/event/distributedEv And, lastly, you can read more about it at Wired magazine. http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/09/outrage-online.html Hope to see you somewhere!
My sense is that this will be pretty historic, needs our support and will grow-and needs to grow.
Lavato is pointing us in the right direction. It was my honor last night to attend a reception at the home of Vanderbilt professor Bruce Barry for two of the most effective political bloggers in the nation. They have just finished a book on their efforts in how they became political players locally and nationally. I'll blog more on them in the next few days.
As Nelson Mandela once said: "Our greatest fear is not that we are powerless. Our greatest fear is that we are more powerful that we've ever imagined."
Join the protests, form your own, and feel the power.
Clinton says McCain acting in good faith
Sen. John McCain's request for a delay in tomorrow's first presidential debate was something done out of good faith since McCain wanted more debates in the first place, former President Bill Clinton said this morning.
Clinton is right. And the only congressional leader asking McCain to stay away from Washington and bailout negotiations is Senate leader Harry Reid, who has been the weakest Senate Majority Leader in my memory.
McCain will stop all his campaigning today to go to Washington to participate in the negotiations. And he is needed. Republicans are balking at the bailout and do not trust the Democratic leaders. The Senate will need 60 votes to pass any bailout over the threat of a filibuster. McCain is going to be needed to get GOP support for any plan.
That's leadership, and Sen. Barack Obama has failed the test by saying tomorrow's debate should go on. And Obama's stay-at-home strategy is representative of his lack of clout on Capitol Hill as a senator in crafting any compromise on any legislation in his few years there.
Clinton's indirect endorsement of McCain's action is going to help the senator's efforts in Washington and overall in the presidential polls. His America First motto holds true.
Clinton is right. And the only congressional leader asking McCain to stay away from Washington and bailout negotiations is Senate leader Harry Reid, who has been the weakest Senate Majority Leader in my memory.
McCain will stop all his campaigning today to go to Washington to participate in the negotiations. And he is needed. Republicans are balking at the bailout and do not trust the Democratic leaders. The Senate will need 60 votes to pass any bailout over the threat of a filibuster. McCain is going to be needed to get GOP support for any plan.
That's leadership, and Sen. Barack Obama has failed the test by saying tomorrow's debate should go on. And Obama's stay-at-home strategy is representative of his lack of clout on Capitol Hill as a senator in crafting any compromise on any legislation in his few years there.
Clinton's indirect endorsement of McCain's action is going to help the senator's efforts in Washington and overall in the presidential polls. His America First motto holds true.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Bush fails to convince;Gingrich calls plan appalling
President George W. Bush tonight failed to make a convincing case to the American people on passage of his bailout plan for Wall Street fatcats, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich called the plan "appalling".
Meanwhile, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee John McCain will meet with Bush and congressional leaders tomorrow morning about the bailout. That meeting, however, will produce no consensus.
McCain has said he will stop campaigning tomorrow and stay in Washington to work with congressional leaders on a compromise. Obama rejected a request from McCain to cancel Friday night's debate on national security and come to Washington to work on the bailout over the weekend.
On Hannity and Colmes tonight on FOXNEWS, Gingrich called Bush's plan "socialism", and said Obama should join McCain in Washington with negotiations.
Obama has benefitted in national polls from the bailout and economic troubles. A Washington Post/ABC News poll show the Democrat with a nine-point lead. So his interests apparently are not with resolution of the nation's financial troubles. That's hard to say. But Obama's rejection of McCain's request is a failure in leadership.
And his polling advantage may not be as big as he believes. A new LA Times/Bloomberg poll shows Obama with only a four-point lead.
McCain will benefit in voters' eyes by being in Washington to work out a compromise across party lines. Obama will be hurt by continuing his campaign.
To read more on the poll, go to:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-poll25-2008sep25,0,2561845.story
Meanwhile, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee John McCain will meet with Bush and congressional leaders tomorrow morning about the bailout. That meeting, however, will produce no consensus.
McCain has said he will stop campaigning tomorrow and stay in Washington to work with congressional leaders on a compromise. Obama rejected a request from McCain to cancel Friday night's debate on national security and come to Washington to work on the bailout over the weekend.
On Hannity and Colmes tonight on FOXNEWS, Gingrich called Bush's plan "socialism", and said Obama should join McCain in Washington with negotiations.
Obama has benefitted in national polls from the bailout and economic troubles. A Washington Post/ABC News poll show the Democrat with a nine-point lead. So his interests apparently are not with resolution of the nation's financial troubles. That's hard to say. But Obama's rejection of McCain's request is a failure in leadership.
And his polling advantage may not be as big as he believes. A new LA Times/Bloomberg poll shows Obama with only a four-point lead.
McCain will benefit in voters' eyes by being in Washington to work out a compromise across party lines. Obama will be hurt by continuing his campaign.
To read more on the poll, go to:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-poll25-2008sep25,0,2561845.story
BREAKING NEWS: Obama says debate goes on
Sen. Barack Obama says that the presidential debate Friday will go on despite Sen. John McCain's request to delay it so both candidates can go to Washington and help craft a deal for Congress to consider about Wall Street's troubles.
"It is my belief that this is time the American people need to hear from someone in 40 days who will be responsible for this mess," Obama said.
Obama said he had contacted McCain first this morning so the two could issue a joint statement of principles about the current crisis.
Obama said he and McCain agreed that taxpayers should be treated as investors in the bailiout legislation and receive full reimbursement at a later date. He also said they agreed on direct help to mortgage holders.
Obama said the risk of doing nothing risks catastrophe. He added that he and McCain agreed on issuing a joint statement of agreed principles to send to Congress.
"It is my belief that this is time the American people need to hear from someone in 40 days who will be responsible for this mess," Obama said.
Obama said he had contacted McCain first this morning so the two could issue a joint statement of principles about the current crisis.
Obama said he and McCain agreed that taxpayers should be treated as investors in the bailiout legislation and receive full reimbursement at a later date. He also said they agreed on direct help to mortgage holders.
Obama said the risk of doing nothing risks catastrophe. He added that he and McCain agreed on issuing a joint statement of agreed principles to send to Congress.
McCain makes new, dramatic move on economy
Sen. John McCain asked this afternoon for a delay in Friday's presidential debate so he can go back to Washington, D.C., to build a consensus on how to address the nation's economic future against the backdrop of Wall Street troubles.
The move is a dramatic and needed one. And it should be a note of assurance to every citizen that perhaps something other than the current bailout plan will finally be considered by Congress. McCain also will suspend his campaigning after an address tomorrow before the Clinton Global Initiativve.
The Obama campaign has not responded to McCain's request to delay the debate which is supposed to address foreign policy. Obama is in Tampa Bay preparing for the debate.
His response will tell voters what kind of leader he will be.
To read more, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/us/politics/25mccain.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
The move is a dramatic and needed one. And it should be a note of assurance to every citizen that perhaps something other than the current bailout plan will finally be considered by Congress. McCain also will suspend his campaigning after an address tomorrow before the Clinton Global Initiativve.
The Obama campaign has not responded to McCain's request to delay the debate which is supposed to address foreign policy. Obama is in Tampa Bay preparing for the debate.
His response will tell voters what kind of leader he will be.
To read more, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/us/politics/25mccain.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Let free market forces resolve market problems
The question of the day from members of Congress for federal financial bigwigs pushing a bailout of Wall Street fatcats was simple:
"If Warren Buffett can investment $10 billion in a struggling financial institution, why not wait on other big money individuals to buy other bad assets at a bargain?"
Buffett -- with his Berkshire Hathaway stock fund -- made the purchase yesterday. At this moment, his stock is up by almost $139 per share. A share of his stock trades at more than $4,000.
There certainly are plenty of other billionaires out there in this nation and around the world who are waiting for all the bad debt on Wall Street to get cheap enough to purchase a big share of these financial institutions. What happened to letting free market forces take care of free markets?
Merryll Lynch was bailed out by another financial institution, and 10,000 ML jobs were saved. The Fed warns that there will be 100 bank failures if Congress does not act soon. When I was an economics reporter in Oklahoma during the energy industry boom and bust times of the 1980s, the state suffered 100 bank failures from oil and gas assets that went bad. I learned how to read bank financial statements like a board of director.
Guess what? Oklahoma's economy survived. Now it is doing well as the price of gas continues to be high. And Oklahoma City just attracted an NBA team, putting the city on the major league map.
The federal hard heads don't have a good answer to the question at the beginning of this post. That makes me think that allowing people like Buffet buy up all these bad assets and shares of these companies is the best route to go for the nation.
"If Warren Buffett can investment $10 billion in a struggling financial institution, why not wait on other big money individuals to buy other bad assets at a bargain?"
Buffett -- with his Berkshire Hathaway stock fund -- made the purchase yesterday. At this moment, his stock is up by almost $139 per share. A share of his stock trades at more than $4,000.
There certainly are plenty of other billionaires out there in this nation and around the world who are waiting for all the bad debt on Wall Street to get cheap enough to purchase a big share of these financial institutions. What happened to letting free market forces take care of free markets?
Merryll Lynch was bailed out by another financial institution, and 10,000 ML jobs were saved. The Fed warns that there will be 100 bank failures if Congress does not act soon. When I was an economics reporter in Oklahoma during the energy industry boom and bust times of the 1980s, the state suffered 100 bank failures from oil and gas assets that went bad. I learned how to read bank financial statements like a board of director.
Guess what? Oklahoma's economy survived. Now it is doing well as the price of gas continues to be high. And Oklahoma City just attracted an NBA team, putting the city on the major league map.
The federal hard heads don't have a good answer to the question at the beginning of this post. That makes me think that allowing people like Buffet buy up all these bad assets and shares of these companies is the best route to go for the nation.
Gas problems easing in Williamson County but there are some very important lessons to learn
The noontime continues to be the salvation time for Williamson County drivers, and now there are no more lines snaking into gas stations in the Cool Springs and Highway 96 areas.
There are, however, some lessons to be learned from the gas shortage, from my interviews of county residents.
* Don't allow vehicles with at least a half of a tank of gas fill up.
* Don't allow drivers to fill up their tanks and then their portable tanks in the beds of their trucks.
* Don't waste taxpayer money by using police to rectify traffic problems around the stations. These businesses should have their own employees out there making matters easier for drivers and enforcing rules on topping tanks and filling portable ones.
Government doesn't need to pass laws. Businesses just need to follow common sense and offer the best service to their customers, particularly in a time of crisis.
There are, however, some lessons to be learned from the gas shortage, from my interviews of county residents.
* Don't allow vehicles with at least a half of a tank of gas fill up.
* Don't allow drivers to fill up their tanks and then their portable tanks in the beds of their trucks.
* Don't waste taxpayer money by using police to rectify traffic problems around the stations. These businesses should have their own employees out there making matters easier for drivers and enforcing rules on topping tanks and filling portable ones.
Government doesn't need to pass laws. Businesses just need to follow common sense and offer the best service to their customers, particularly in a time of crisis.
Obama opens up nine-point lead over McCain
A new Washington Post/ABC News poll shows Sen. Barack Obama's lead over Sen. John McCain growing as confidence in the economy falls.
The nine-point lead is formidable and Obamaa's performance in this Friday's debate could send him into double-digits over McCain with about five weeks to go. The economy is going to struggle for at least the next 12 months, so the issue will not go away.
McCain's only chance is to come out forcefully against any bailout plan in the Friday debate for Wall Street and ask that any money be directed right to the people with the bad mortgages. That populist -- and correct -- push would turn voters and address their anger over this situation. Congress at the earliest will not vote on any plan until a week from today.
McCain had better take a definite side. His record of being in Washington for the past 25 years as lawmakers deregulated the financial industry hurts his credibility.
If he doesn't come out againt the current bailout plan, McCain's chances to win in November will fall. But don't count him out. National security could top voter minds if something happens on the terrorist front or Israel bombs Iran. In addition, North Korea now is no longer cooperating with the world community to dismantle its nuclear program. One missile test could put that nation back in the headlines.
To read more about the poll, go to:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/23/AR2008092303667_pf.html
The nine-point lead is formidable and Obamaa's performance in this Friday's debate could send him into double-digits over McCain with about five weeks to go. The economy is going to struggle for at least the next 12 months, so the issue will not go away.
McCain's only chance is to come out forcefully against any bailout plan in the Friday debate for Wall Street and ask that any money be directed right to the people with the bad mortgages. That populist -- and correct -- push would turn voters and address their anger over this situation. Congress at the earliest will not vote on any plan until a week from today.
McCain had better take a definite side. His record of being in Washington for the past 25 years as lawmakers deregulated the financial industry hurts his credibility.
If he doesn't come out againt the current bailout plan, McCain's chances to win in November will fall. But don't count him out. National security could top voter minds if something happens on the terrorist front or Israel bombs Iran. In addition, North Korea now is no longer cooperating with the world community to dismantle its nuclear program. One missile test could put that nation back in the headlines.
To read more about the poll, go to:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/23/AR2008092303667_pf.html
Why has media not picked up Dobbs' story?
The nation's mainstream news media has extensively reported on two Franklin, TN., men who have created a racist product called Obama Waffles.
The charicatures of Sen. Barack Obama are something out of the Old Jim Crow South. And guess who got caught buying the product on cell phone camera: CNN's super famous anchor Lou Dobbs.
The story has been reported all over the Hispanic blogosphere. It confirms for those of us who are Americans of Hispanic descent that Doobs' anti-immigrant rant is built out of his personal bigotry.
Yet CNN hasn't reported it. It sure doesn't want to hurt its viewership. FOXNEWS hasn't reported it since it agress with Dobbs' anti-immigrant rant. But where is MSNBC? Surely Keith Olbermann can go after someone else on political TV other than Bill O'Reilly.
Perhaps the lack of coverage of Dobbs' bigtory is indicative of a good ol' boy system in the mainstream media, most led by white folks who are more interested in getting invited to dinner parties instead of covering all the news. And this system does not respect this nation's Hispanic presence, evidenced by the lack of Latino voices on TV political show panels.
CNN does feature two Hispanic voices on its secondary political panel. But both experts are Republicans, which is contrary to the continuing trend in Hispanic voting that goes two-thirds to Democrats.
If you've seen anything in mainstream media on Dobbs' and the Waffles, please let me know so I can eat my words -- with syrup or not.
The charicatures of Sen. Barack Obama are something out of the Old Jim Crow South. And guess who got caught buying the product on cell phone camera: CNN's super famous anchor Lou Dobbs.
The story has been reported all over the Hispanic blogosphere. It confirms for those of us who are Americans of Hispanic descent that Doobs' anti-immigrant rant is built out of his personal bigotry.
Yet CNN hasn't reported it. It sure doesn't want to hurt its viewership. FOXNEWS hasn't reported it since it agress with Dobbs' anti-immigrant rant. But where is MSNBC? Surely Keith Olbermann can go after someone else on political TV other than Bill O'Reilly.
Perhaps the lack of coverage of Dobbs' bigtory is indicative of a good ol' boy system in the mainstream media, most led by white folks who are more interested in getting invited to dinner parties instead of covering all the news. And this system does not respect this nation's Hispanic presence, evidenced by the lack of Latino voices on TV political show panels.
CNN does feature two Hispanic voices on its secondary political panel. But both experts are Republicans, which is contrary to the continuing trend in Hispanic voting that goes two-thirds to Democrats.
If you've seen anything in mainstream media on Dobbs' and the Waffles, please let me know so I can eat my words -- with syrup or not.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Marsha, Marsha, Marsha! Blackburn says Sarah Palin qualified in foreign policy because son is in the military; it'd be funny if she wasn't serious
FOXNEWS' Bill O'Reilly made "Congressman" Marsha Blackburn look more foolish than she already is tonight with tough questioning on why Gov. Sarah Palin won't take any questions yet on foreign policy.
O'Reilly pointed out Palin's dog and pony show visit to the United Nations and meetings with the heads of state for Afghanistan and Colombia. O'Reilly said that politicians and candidates usually take questions after their photo opportunities with foreign leaders. Palin was kept away from reporters.
Blackburn was pitted against Carolyn Heldman, who has a PhD in politics and teaches at a California college. And Heldman said that Palin was being kept from reporters -- even now with just six weeks until election day -- because of her gross inexperience in foreign policy.
Here comes Marsha, Marsha, Marsha, who cites -- as part of Palin's foreign policy experience -- that the Alaska governor has a son in the military.
Wow. She actually said that.
So that fact makes Palin qualified to lead the free world if something happens to Sen. John Mcain in the White House?
"Congressman" Blackburn thinks so. Perhaps "thinks" is too kind of a word to attach to Marsha, Marsha, Marsha's comment.
O'Reilly pointed out Palin's dog and pony show visit to the United Nations and meetings with the heads of state for Afghanistan and Colombia. O'Reilly said that politicians and candidates usually take questions after their photo opportunities with foreign leaders. Palin was kept away from reporters.
Blackburn was pitted against Carolyn Heldman, who has a PhD in politics and teaches at a California college. And Heldman said that Palin was being kept from reporters -- even now with just six weeks until election day -- because of her gross inexperience in foreign policy.
Here comes Marsha, Marsha, Marsha, who cites -- as part of Palin's foreign policy experience -- that the Alaska governor has a son in the military.
Wow. She actually said that.
So that fact makes Palin qualified to lead the free world if something happens to Sen. John Mcain in the White House?
"Congressman" Blackburn thinks so. Perhaps "thinks" is too kind of a word to attach to Marsha, Marsha, Marsha's comment.
Secret of gas shortage revealed
I was buying some talapia this evening from the good man behind the seafood counter at Publix when he spoke of his hope of having enough gas to make it home after his shift was over.
We talked about all the craziness. And then he spoke of how he discovered last night in Spring Hill about why gas was in such short supply.
A fella next to him in a pickup truck not only was filling up his tank but three other five-gallon portable tanks in the pickup bed.
So now we know. Gas stations could reduce the shortage problem by forbidding drivers from filling up anything but their own gas tanks -- unless they have a business license requiring fuel for machinery.
We talked about all the craziness. And then he spoke of how he discovered last night in Spring Hill about why gas was in such short supply.
A fella next to him in a pickup truck not only was filling up his tank but three other five-gallon portable tanks in the pickup bed.
So now we know. Gas stations could reduce the shortage problem by forbidding drivers from filling up anything but their own gas tanks -- unless they have a business license requiring fuel for machinery.
Ask presidential candidates to award Sgt. Rafael Peralta the Medal of Honor once in White House
There is precedent for a president to overrule a decision by his secretary of defense and award the Medal of Honor.
And that's what we need to push for -- not from President Bush who has shown a lack of integrity on so many issues -- but from the new president who takes office in January in the case of Marine hero Sgt. Rafael Peralta.
Peralta, already wounded in the head and body, pulled an enemy grenade to his body and saved five members of his team. That's what a team leader is supposed to do -- make sure his comrades get back home alive. And Sgt. Peralta's did.
They testified to his heroism and convinced a military board considering him for the Medal of Honor. Even President Bush cited Peralta's heroism at a Memorial Day event in 2005.
Yet now the secretary of defense has rejected the Medal of Honor for Peralta. It is a travesty. This outrage must not be allowed to stand.
No petition will convince the Bush administration. But if you come across the presidential candidates over the next six and a half weeks in your community, bring up Sgt. Peralta and his heroism and the need to award him the Medal of Honor. Perhap they will commit to do the right thing once in the White House.
To read more, go to:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/09/if-history-is-a.html
And that's what we need to push for -- not from President Bush who has shown a lack of integrity on so many issues -- but from the new president who takes office in January in the case of Marine hero Sgt. Rafael Peralta.
Peralta, already wounded in the head and body, pulled an enemy grenade to his body and saved five members of his team. That's what a team leader is supposed to do -- make sure his comrades get back home alive. And Sgt. Peralta's did.
They testified to his heroism and convinced a military board considering him for the Medal of Honor. Even President Bush cited Peralta's heroism at a Memorial Day event in 2005.
Yet now the secretary of defense has rejected the Medal of Honor for Peralta. It is a travesty. This outrage must not be allowed to stand.
No petition will convince the Bush administration. But if you come across the presidential candidates over the next six and a half weeks in your community, bring up Sgt. Peralta and his heroism and the need to award him the Medal of Honor. Perhap they will commit to do the right thing once in the White House.
To read more, go to:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/09/if-history-is-a.html
It's time to tell lawmakers to consider new plan
The Bush administration is pushing its $700 billion to $1 trillion bailout of Wall Street fatcats as the only thing to do or cry "havoc" and let loose the dogs of economic ruin.
That's a lie; it's Iraq deja vu.
There are other options -- the most promising one that creates a federal entity to direct all this money directly to homeowners in trouble. At least that way, taxpayers can realize some benefit. I also like an idea of an economic stimulus to people holding mortgages and households making, for instance, $130,000 a year or less.
You can read about these viable options from The New York Times. Get educated and call your congressional representatives. Go to:
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/what-are-the-other-bailout-options-an-explainer/
That's a lie; it's Iraq deja vu.
There are other options -- the most promising one that creates a federal entity to direct all this money directly to homeowners in trouble. At least that way, taxpayers can realize some benefit. I also like an idea of an economic stimulus to people holding mortgages and households making, for instance, $130,000 a year or less.
You can read about these viable options from The New York Times. Get educated and call your congressional representatives. Go to:
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/what-are-the-other-bailout-options-an-explainer/
Bernanke kills bailout with failure to apologize
Mark the time and date: 12:07 p.m. CDT, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2008.
That was when Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke showed the American people that he first represents the interests of Wall Street. Taxpayers, homeowners and the nation's most vulnerable be damned.
In questioning by Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown on the Senate Banking Committee, Bernanke was asked if Wall Street should apologize to the American people. The senator's question was prefaced with the fact that the households income of many people around Cleveland -- of $40,000 to $70,000 a year -- was not even enough to cover the country club membership dues of the fatcats being bailed out.
Bernanke stepped around the question, trying to rationalize away who does business on Wall Street and how. The senator asked that his question be answered. Bernanke continued his despicable dance around the obvious.
That moment should be remembered. It showed that the bailout is not to help you and me but to continue a heroin-addicated-like pattern of historically propping up an industry that does not deserve it.
The American people must now allow this bailout plan to pass.
That was when Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke showed the American people that he first represents the interests of Wall Street. Taxpayers, homeowners and the nation's most vulnerable be damned.
In questioning by Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown on the Senate Banking Committee, Bernanke was asked if Wall Street should apologize to the American people. The senator's question was prefaced with the fact that the households income of many people around Cleveland -- of $40,000 to $70,000 a year -- was not even enough to cover the country club membership dues of the fatcats being bailed out.
Bernanke stepped around the question, trying to rationalize away who does business on Wall Street and how. The senator asked that his question be answered. Bernanke continued his despicable dance around the obvious.
That moment should be remembered. It showed that the bailout is not to help you and me but to continue a heroin-addicated-like pattern of historically propping up an industry that does not deserve it.
The American people must now allow this bailout plan to pass.
Bush's quick invasion of Iraq duplicated in bailout
It is a matter of trust, and that's where Bush administration officials testifying now before Congress fail the test.
The president and his officials have no credibility in convincing the representatives of the people of this nation that a $700 billion to $1 trillion bailout of Wall Street fatcats is worth the investment of tax dollars.
I believe the bailout only delays the difficult medicine America must take for gross over-spending and greedy profit-taking of the past quarter century.
For a better case about this matter, go to:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/echoes-iraq-bushs-handling-mortgage/story.aspx?guid=EB54967E-258D-4650-BE95-2203FCA64AAA&dist=SecMostRead
The president and his officials have no credibility in convincing the representatives of the people of this nation that a $700 billion to $1 trillion bailout of Wall Street fatcats is worth the investment of tax dollars.
I believe the bailout only delays the difficult medicine America must take for gross over-spending and greedy profit-taking of the past quarter century.
For a better case about this matter, go to:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/echoes-iraq-bushs-handling-mortgage/story.aspx?guid=EB54967E-258D-4650-BE95-2203FCA64AAA&dist=SecMostRead
Not even Stephen King could write this thriller
The Washington Times makes a plausible case that would make the 2000 contested presidential race look like a clear mandate for George W. Bush.
That's damn scary. But a 269-269 Electoral College tie is mathematically and politically possible. And then a nation already in the throes of a financial market meltdown would face political peril of equal extreme.
The U.S. Supreme Court would not settle this matter as in 2000. It would be Congress. And guess which ticket holds the advantage there? Not so fast. You may be wrong.
Read more, if you dare, at: http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/sep/23/an-electoral-college-doomsday/
That's damn scary. But a 269-269 Electoral College tie is mathematically and politically possible. And then a nation already in the throes of a financial market meltdown would face political peril of equal extreme.
The U.S. Supreme Court would not settle this matter as in 2000. It would be Congress. And guess which ticket holds the advantage there? Not so fast. You may be wrong.
Read more, if you dare, at: http://www.washtimes.com/news/2008/sep/23/an-electoral-college-doomsday/
Doing my part and giving my respect to Al Gore
When I go to the supermarket and go through the self-checkout line, I do not use plastic bags -- even if there are no paper bags available.
Employees look at me strangely as I end up just restacking the items back into the grocery cart. I tell them, "I'm doing it for Al Gore".
And they don't get it.
If I would take additional time to explain, I'd tell them about the mass of plastic the size of the state of Texas that's in the northern Pacific Ocean. Gore has made the world aware of such things and why we should care.
So I remember Gore when I go to the supermarket. And now with the new medical research saying that plastic used for beverages may contribute to diabetes and heart disease, Gore's encouragement has become even more important in my life.
Some folks just want to find a reason to dismiss Gore's contentions. A recent story about his owning a large yacht on a Tennessee lake was just another knee-jerk attempt to undercut his message.
So Mr. Gore, I say "thanks" for making me aware. Our lives and world will be better for your effort to educate.
Employees look at me strangely as I end up just restacking the items back into the grocery cart. I tell them, "I'm doing it for Al Gore".
And they don't get it.
If I would take additional time to explain, I'd tell them about the mass of plastic the size of the state of Texas that's in the northern Pacific Ocean. Gore has made the world aware of such things and why we should care.
So I remember Gore when I go to the supermarket. And now with the new medical research saying that plastic used for beverages may contribute to diabetes and heart disease, Gore's encouragement has become even more important in my life.
Some folks just want to find a reason to dismiss Gore's contentions. A recent story about his owning a large yacht on a Tennessee lake was just another knee-jerk attempt to undercut his message.
So Mr. Gore, I say "thanks" for making me aware. Our lives and world will be better for your effort to educate.
Campaign getting weird as Obama, Biden disagree
Politico.com makes a compelling analysis of a campaign fighting against itself in comments by Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Joe Biden correcting the other.
It is quite bizarre and disturbing for a ticket that wants to run the country.
The only person escaping flip-flops and criticism is GOP VP nominee Sarah Palin. While she is criticized for a lack of foreign policy experience, it seems with the actions of the other three candidates that the best experience is to keep your trap shut.
Palin attracted a crowd of 60,000 people at a speech a few days ago. Obama had a poor turnout for an appearance in Wisconsin.
To read more about this ever-changing presidential campaign, go to:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13779.html
It is quite bizarre and disturbing for a ticket that wants to run the country.
The only person escaping flip-flops and criticism is GOP VP nominee Sarah Palin. While she is criticized for a lack of foreign policy experience, it seems with the actions of the other three candidates that the best experience is to keep your trap shut.
Palin attracted a crowd of 60,000 people at a speech a few days ago. Obama had a poor turnout for an appearance in Wisconsin.
To read more about this ever-changing presidential campaign, go to:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13779.html
Impact Fees make sense as White Flighters return
The New York Times reports that "White Flight" from New York City has reversed for the first time since 1940.
In population pockets, the same thing has been happening in Nashville as older suburbanites sell their large homes to move back to downtown condos to be closer to cultural amenities, sporting events and better health care.
It is this immediate trend that makes it imperative for elected Nashville officials to enact Impact Fees on all residential and multi-family construction to pay for the stress to roads, infrastructure and even schools.
The most striking thing from last night's town hall meeting at Stratford High School was the accounts of "separate but unequal" distribution of resources across Metro public schools. And "White Flight" can be blamed for that, as families of means left Nashville neighborhoods for the suburbs.
Now that some family members are returning to live in Nashville, it is only right that they pay for the privilege of living back in the city and supporting the infrastructure they deserted.
The Chamber of Commerce, which controls decisionmaking in Nashville and the what the news media publishes and broadcasts, does not want any discussion of Impact Fees. Any kind of tax is viewed as discouraging growth. That's wrong. So it is going to take extraordinary effort to get the matter of Impact Fees on the civic agenda.
Meanwhile, Nashville's affluent suburbs have had Impact Fees for two decades now. No wonder their schools are viewed as so much better. Revenue from such fees must go to school construction. So that frees up other school revenue for broader use in the district.
The next time someone complains about the quality of Metro Schools, talk about the need to enact Impact Fees on residential and multi-family construction. It is only fair as "White Flighters" return to the city. And it makes sense for a better future.
To read about New York City's demographic change, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/nyregion/23census.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
In population pockets, the same thing has been happening in Nashville as older suburbanites sell their large homes to move back to downtown condos to be closer to cultural amenities, sporting events and better health care.
It is this immediate trend that makes it imperative for elected Nashville officials to enact Impact Fees on all residential and multi-family construction to pay for the stress to roads, infrastructure and even schools.
The most striking thing from last night's town hall meeting at Stratford High School was the accounts of "separate but unequal" distribution of resources across Metro public schools. And "White Flight" can be blamed for that, as families of means left Nashville neighborhoods for the suburbs.
Now that some family members are returning to live in Nashville, it is only right that they pay for the privilege of living back in the city and supporting the infrastructure they deserted.
The Chamber of Commerce, which controls decisionmaking in Nashville and the what the news media publishes and broadcasts, does not want any discussion of Impact Fees. Any kind of tax is viewed as discouraging growth. That's wrong. So it is going to take extraordinary effort to get the matter of Impact Fees on the civic agenda.
Meanwhile, Nashville's affluent suburbs have had Impact Fees for two decades now. No wonder their schools are viewed as so much better. Revenue from such fees must go to school construction. So that frees up other school revenue for broader use in the district.
The next time someone complains about the quality of Metro Schools, talk about the need to enact Impact Fees on residential and multi-family construction. It is only fair as "White Flighters" return to the city. And it makes sense for a better future.
To read about New York City's demographic change, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/nyregion/23census.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Congressional bailout hearings beginning now
If you are on Comcast Cable, go to either Channel 46 or Channel 98 to catch the Senate Banking Committee hearing on the massive bailout proposal for Wall Street fatcats.
The U.S. Treasury Secretary, Federal Reserve Chairman and the SEC Commissioner are slated to give opening statements and field questions.
If you want to make this bit of reality TV like watching a football game, tune into Channel 46(CNBC) and watch how the financial markets go up and down with each statement and question.
The bailout -- estimated from $700 billion to $1 trillion - is far from nailed down. Your voice still can be heard, so watch the hearings and stay aware.
The U.S. Treasury Secretary, Federal Reserve Chairman and the SEC Commissioner are slated to give opening statements and field questions.
If you want to make this bit of reality TV like watching a football game, tune into Channel 46(CNBC) and watch how the financial markets go up and down with each statement and question.
The bailout -- estimated from $700 billion to $1 trillion - is far from nailed down. Your voice still can be heard, so watch the hearings and stay aware.
Dean not capable of making education decisions
The one major problem with Mayor Karl Dean's town hall meeting tour of areas served by Nashville public schools is that he is part of it.
For the most part in school districts moving forward, such meetings are conducted by educators. They are the most skilled at rescuing children and making the decisions to do so with the resources available. That's what happening in Memphis City Schools where the school district is implementing brave new plans to keep student achievement ahead of No Child Left Behind requirements.
A mayor is not supposed to be involved unless things are going wrong. And they are in Nashville public schools, as the district comes under state control because of failing to meet NCLN standards.
Dean heard last night from Stratford High School patrons and teachers that the school is not even meeting constitutional requirements. Education there is separate and unequal, compared to a prominent south Nashville School. In addition, school district plans to close Cora Howe Elementary School is a tragedy.
I've personally seen the Reading Recovery program there at work with children needing heroic help. And I've seen the immediate difference in the ability of these children to read. There is no greater happiness than in the reaction of a child who finally gets it, who has finally connected to a broad beautiful world of learning.
Yet Dean, in an interview with The Tennessean's Gail Kerr, contended that education was one of his successes for his first year in office. And this man is going to make things right in Nashville public schools? That's like the mother of Britney Spears writing a book on raising children. She has? Wow, things really are bad in this country.
Kerr's column didn't help the local schools' situation. It was a puff piece marveling at how the mayor likes cafeteria food and is willing to sip milk with first graders. But the food is not good enough for him to send his children to public schools.
Dean is a protege of Gov Phil Bredesen. Uncle Breddy -- then Mayor Bredesen -- never sent his child to Nashville public schools either. Yet he implemented a political curriculum that left even more children behind and set the stage for Metro's current troubles with NCLB.
Educators, not chamber officials or mayors, should be about the business of righting schools and the futures of children. They have the expertise and experience. The education bureaucracy, however, must be kept in check. And that's where politicos can come in and set standards of accountability on annual performance to track improvement. That's where they should come in and even shift out entire faculties and administrators of a school failing to meet needed standards.
But education decisions ultimately must be left to those educated to do so, just as surgery is left with the surgeon, not the adminstrator running the hospital.
Again, Nashville should look to Memphis on how to run a successful school district. There, a progressive city is making plans to move from good to excellent in educating children of all skill levels and giving taxpayers their monies' worth.
To read more on last night's town hall meeting, go to:
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=62968
For the most part in school districts moving forward, such meetings are conducted by educators. They are the most skilled at rescuing children and making the decisions to do so with the resources available. That's what happening in Memphis City Schools where the school district is implementing brave new plans to keep student achievement ahead of No Child Left Behind requirements.
A mayor is not supposed to be involved unless things are going wrong. And they are in Nashville public schools, as the district comes under state control because of failing to meet NCLN standards.
Dean heard last night from Stratford High School patrons and teachers that the school is not even meeting constitutional requirements. Education there is separate and unequal, compared to a prominent south Nashville School. In addition, school district plans to close Cora Howe Elementary School is a tragedy.
I've personally seen the Reading Recovery program there at work with children needing heroic help. And I've seen the immediate difference in the ability of these children to read. There is no greater happiness than in the reaction of a child who finally gets it, who has finally connected to a broad beautiful world of learning.
Yet Dean, in an interview with The Tennessean's Gail Kerr, contended that education was one of his successes for his first year in office. And this man is going to make things right in Nashville public schools? That's like the mother of Britney Spears writing a book on raising children. She has? Wow, things really are bad in this country.
Kerr's column didn't help the local schools' situation. It was a puff piece marveling at how the mayor likes cafeteria food and is willing to sip milk with first graders. But the food is not good enough for him to send his children to public schools.
Dean is a protege of Gov Phil Bredesen. Uncle Breddy -- then Mayor Bredesen -- never sent his child to Nashville public schools either. Yet he implemented a political curriculum that left even more children behind and set the stage for Metro's current troubles with NCLB.
Educators, not chamber officials or mayors, should be about the business of righting schools and the futures of children. They have the expertise and experience. The education bureaucracy, however, must be kept in check. And that's where politicos can come in and set standards of accountability on annual performance to track improvement. That's where they should come in and even shift out entire faculties and administrators of a school failing to meet needed standards.
But education decisions ultimately must be left to those educated to do so, just as surgery is left with the surgeon, not the adminstrator running the hospital.
Again, Nashville should look to Memphis on how to run a successful school district. There, a progressive city is making plans to move from good to excellent in educating children of all skill levels and giving taxpayers their monies' worth.
To read more on last night's town hall meeting, go to:
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=62968
Obama says bailout will delay his programs
Just as feared, new programs to help the most vulnerable in our society would have to be delayed if a federal bailout of Wall Street is approved, Sen. Barack Obama has confirmed.
We're talking about more accessible health care, cutting taxes for the non-affluent and other measures Obama has sold to voters as needed change. Still, Obama supports the bailout and Sen. John McCain opposes it.
That truth is another strange aspect to the Obama campaign and brings into question his experience to deal with the major issues facing this nation.
To read more, go to:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/23/obama-bailout-likely-delay-spending-programs/
We're talking about more accessible health care, cutting taxes for the non-affluent and other measures Obama has sold to voters as needed change. Still, Obama supports the bailout and Sen. John McCain opposes it.
That truth is another strange aspect to the Obama campaign and brings into question his experience to deal with the major issues facing this nation.
To read more, go to:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/23/obama-bailout-likely-delay-spending-programs/
'EnglishOnly' vote set for Jan. 22 date at earliest
Councilman Eric Crafton easily gained enough signatures to put his "EnglishOnly" referendum before Metro Nashville voters as early as Jan. 22.
Crafton turns the more than 5,000 signatures into county officials today. His attempt to get the referendum on the November ballot was blocked by politics and a court ruling. A Jan. 22 vote will cost taxpayers $350,000.
I agree with supporters that the fault for the cost belongs to those political forces opposing the referendum.
It will be interesting campaign if the Jan. 22 date holds. That will be near Dr. King's birthday and subsequent celebrations. Will that proximity affect the campaign against the measure and give it ammunition?
We'll have to see.
To read more, go to:
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=62971
Crafton turns the more than 5,000 signatures into county officials today. His attempt to get the referendum on the November ballot was blocked by politics and a court ruling. A Jan. 22 vote will cost taxpayers $350,000.
I agree with supporters that the fault for the cost belongs to those political forces opposing the referendum.
It will be interesting campaign if the Jan. 22 date holds. That will be near Dr. King's birthday and subsequent celebrations. Will that proximity affect the campaign against the measure and give it ammunition?
We'll have to see.
To read more, go to:
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=62971
CityPaper shows ESPN critic to be out of his league
ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hoge has been making his career on being critical of Titans' quarterback Vince Young.
And so when he got really nasty about Vince this season, Hoge got more notice than he wanted. And when put on the spot by the CityPaper, the former Steelers' runningback folded like a paper tiger.
Critics come and go. Hoge had a decent career with the Steelers. But it was nothing close to what Vince has done in only two seasons. When you're down, everyone kicks you. When you're up, everyone is your friend.
And so it is with Hoge. Vince will outlast Hoge in the spotlight as a player, compared to just another harping voice.
To read more, go to:
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=62963
And so when he got really nasty about Vince this season, Hoge got more notice than he wanted. And when put on the spot by the CityPaper, the former Steelers' runningback folded like a paper tiger.
Critics come and go. Hoge had a decent career with the Steelers. But it was nothing close to what Vince has done in only two seasons. When you're down, everyone kicks you. When you're up, everyone is your friend.
And so it is with Hoge. Vince will outlast Hoge in the spotlight as a player, compared to just another harping voice.
To read more, go to:
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=62963
Obama makes no progress with Clinton backers
One reason the polls for the presidency remain so close between Obama and McCain is supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The supporters remain unconvinced by Obama's candidacy on the issue of experience. And it doesn't help that the Obama camp has labeled such people as PUMAs and other things out of a high sense of arrogance.
A prominent Clinton supporter and fundraiser came out in support of McCain last week. I don't see anything that Obama has said or will say to change his failure to win over more Clinton supporters.
To read more, go to:
http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-hillary-s-voters
The supporters remain unconvinced by Obama's candidacy on the issue of experience. And it doesn't help that the Obama camp has labeled such people as PUMAs and other things out of a high sense of arrogance.
A prominent Clinton supporter and fundraiser came out in support of McCain last week. I don't see anything that Obama has said or will say to change his failure to win over more Clinton supporters.
To read more, go to:
http://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-hillary-s-voters
Monday, September 22, 2008
Metro Police Department needs to be investigated
My mentor, the Rev. Enoch Fuzz of Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville, tells the story of a young man who recently stepped up during a church service and made a statement.
He said he was going to quit running from the law and turn himself in. So he handed his personal belongings to his tearful mother in the congregation. And Rev. Fuzz ultimately took him to police headquarters to give himself up.
A week or so later, Rev. Fuzz received a subpoena to appear at the young man's court hearing. Why? Fuzz was told that the police found drugs on the young man.
Drugs? Why would someone who is giving himself up still have drugs on his body? It doesn't make sense. And the suspicion is that Metro Police planted the drugs on the young man.
Fuzz says this matter is not an isolated case. He has talked to Chief Serpas in the past and recently met with the Davidson County attorney general. Yet nothing has changed.
I've had no trouble with Metro Police. But I know Rev. Fuzz. And he doesn't make stuff up. Coupled with attorney Elliott Ozment's column about police racial profiling -- most recently in arresting a Hispanic man for simply sitting in a laundromat waiting to go to work -- Metro Nashville has some serious problems in the conduct of at least some of its police officers.
Awareness is the first step. And Fuzz's and Ozment's statements point to a real problem with Metro Police. Someone in authority should investigate through the composition of an independent board of citizens. And that board should become a permanent fixture to receive complaints from the public.
No one doubts the difficult job all police officers have to handle. Chief Serpas has had a good record of reducing crime with effective policing strategies. He is a student of sociology. And stacked against Sheriff Daron Hall, Serpas is Sherlock Holmes compared to the Keystone Kops.
But a city without justice for all is an affront to America and the sacrifice of our founding fathers. Sure these two outrages are just against people of color. But such wrongs ultimately work up the ladder toward scandal.
Nashville already has a bad reputation when it comes to its treatment of human beings, because of Sheriff Hall. Someone in authority must finally step forward and find out the truth and correct the wrongs before they become the standard and not the exception.
He said he was going to quit running from the law and turn himself in. So he handed his personal belongings to his tearful mother in the congregation. And Rev. Fuzz ultimately took him to police headquarters to give himself up.
A week or so later, Rev. Fuzz received a subpoena to appear at the young man's court hearing. Why? Fuzz was told that the police found drugs on the young man.
Drugs? Why would someone who is giving himself up still have drugs on his body? It doesn't make sense. And the suspicion is that Metro Police planted the drugs on the young man.
Fuzz says this matter is not an isolated case. He has talked to Chief Serpas in the past and recently met with the Davidson County attorney general. Yet nothing has changed.
I've had no trouble with Metro Police. But I know Rev. Fuzz. And he doesn't make stuff up. Coupled with attorney Elliott Ozment's column about police racial profiling -- most recently in arresting a Hispanic man for simply sitting in a laundromat waiting to go to work -- Metro Nashville has some serious problems in the conduct of at least some of its police officers.
Awareness is the first step. And Fuzz's and Ozment's statements point to a real problem with Metro Police. Someone in authority should investigate through the composition of an independent board of citizens. And that board should become a permanent fixture to receive complaints from the public.
No one doubts the difficult job all police officers have to handle. Chief Serpas has had a good record of reducing crime with effective policing strategies. He is a student of sociology. And stacked against Sheriff Daron Hall, Serpas is Sherlock Holmes compared to the Keystone Kops.
But a city without justice for all is an affront to America and the sacrifice of our founding fathers. Sure these two outrages are just against people of color. But such wrongs ultimately work up the ladder toward scandal.
Nashville already has a bad reputation when it comes to its treatment of human beings, because of Sheriff Hall. Someone in authority must finally step forward and find out the truth and correct the wrongs before they become the standard and not the exception.
WSMV shows state's immorality to most vulnerable
Congratulatons to WSMV Channel 4 investigative reporter Nancy Amons for her piece this evening on the TennCare cuts of home nursing for 1,000 human beings.
Amons focused on a woman with heart problems and a broken back that won't heal. So she can barely take two steps on her own. And her nurse came in on her own time to check on her and help her.
This woman cannot work. She is disabled. She has worked, ironically training health care professionals like the ones caring for her now.
We who make up a society that professes to be under God has allowed our state leaders to turn their back on this woman and so many other souls like her. Gov. Phil Bredesen doesn't even have the courage to appear on camera to answer for this immorality. Instead, we get a TennCare spokesperson who has the audacity to say that these cuts are going to provide more care to people in need.
My goodness. Do these people believe God is stupid? Do they believe God does not see?
The alternative for the woman featured in Amons' fine report is to go to a nursing home, where she will surely die soon. If she stays home, she must go 72 hours without nursing care.
Bredesen pushed and passed legislation to provide for home health care. But it doess not take effect until next year. The state has a record rainy day fund. Yet Bredesen won't tap it. Instead, he see worth not in human beings but in a foreign company opening a plant in Chattanooga. For Hitler's people car, Bredesen opened the state pocketbooks for $577 million in corporate welfare.
The governor continues to show his immorality. The question remains if we are going to remain silent and allow this outrage to continue.
Contact your lawmakers and tell them such immorality is unacceptable. The TennCare Legislative Oversight Committee meets at the end of this month. Make sure your lawmaker knows how you feel by that date so something can be done to save the most vulnerable among us.
Amons focused on a woman with heart problems and a broken back that won't heal. So she can barely take two steps on her own. And her nurse came in on her own time to check on her and help her.
This woman cannot work. She is disabled. She has worked, ironically training health care professionals like the ones caring for her now.
We who make up a society that professes to be under God has allowed our state leaders to turn their back on this woman and so many other souls like her. Gov. Phil Bredesen doesn't even have the courage to appear on camera to answer for this immorality. Instead, we get a TennCare spokesperson who has the audacity to say that these cuts are going to provide more care to people in need.
My goodness. Do these people believe God is stupid? Do they believe God does not see?
The alternative for the woman featured in Amons' fine report is to go to a nursing home, where she will surely die soon. If she stays home, she must go 72 hours without nursing care.
Bredesen pushed and passed legislation to provide for home health care. But it doess not take effect until next year. The state has a record rainy day fund. Yet Bredesen won't tap it. Instead, he see worth not in human beings but in a foreign company opening a plant in Chattanooga. For Hitler's people car, Bredesen opened the state pocketbooks for $577 million in corporate welfare.
The governor continues to show his immorality. The question remains if we are going to remain silent and allow this outrage to continue.
Contact your lawmakers and tell them such immorality is unacceptable. The TennCare Legislative Oversight Committee meets at the end of this month. Make sure your lawmaker knows how you feel by that date so something can be done to save the most vulnerable among us.
Criticism of NYTIMES' coverage way off base
The McCain campaign today took out after The New York Times for its coverage of their candidate, crying that the Old Gray Lady is not a legit news source.
The campaign is dead wrong.
The Times is the nation's newspaper of record for a reason -- it provides quality and quantity in its coverage of any issue or candidate. It has even diversified the ideology of its editorial page columnists, something that most newspapers won't do on their staffs.
If more negative stories have been produced about Sen. John McCain, there is a reason. He has more of a record to examine than his opponent, Sen. Barack Obama. So the campaign should take the coverage as a compliment and confirmation of the point it has been trying to make to voters.
Certainly, the campaign still is steaming over the Op-Ed page decision denying McCain space to respond to Obama's column about his trip to Europe earlier this year.
Obama wrote about what he was going to say to the global audience. McCain simply reiterated his past positions, which did not advance the presidential race discussion. Denying McCain space for his column was the right decision. And I base that on my four years as an editorial page editor faced with the same kind of decisions.
But here is the McCain campaign's beef for you to make your own decision on:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13733.html
The campaign is dead wrong.
The Times is the nation's newspaper of record for a reason -- it provides quality and quantity in its coverage of any issue or candidate. It has even diversified the ideology of its editorial page columnists, something that most newspapers won't do on their staffs.
If more negative stories have been produced about Sen. John McCain, there is a reason. He has more of a record to examine than his opponent, Sen. Barack Obama. So the campaign should take the coverage as a compliment and confirmation of the point it has been trying to make to voters.
Certainly, the campaign still is steaming over the Op-Ed page decision denying McCain space to respond to Obama's column about his trip to Europe earlier this year.
Obama wrote about what he was going to say to the global audience. McCain simply reiterated his past positions, which did not advance the presidential race discussion. Denying McCain space for his column was the right decision. And I base that on my four years as an editorial page editor faced with the same kind of decisions.
But here is the McCain campaign's beef for you to make your own decision on:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13733.html
Bad moon may be rising again at The Tennessean
If you want to know what is going on at The Tennessean and Gannett Co. Inc., the place to go is www.gannettblog.blogspot.com
The blog is efficiently and entertaininly run by Jim Hopkins, a former USA Today editor and Gannett employee for two decades. The blog has broken news on Gannett and Tennessean layoffs.
Hopkins' insight is fueled by Gannett employees, who feed him news about their newsrooms and falling morale. A lot of ex-Gannett employees also give him tips. Even though I am a former Gannett-oid, I don't participate in the blog. I don't agree with everything said about the company and its leaders, particularly Craig Moon, publisher of USA Today.
Moon used to be at The Tennessean when I was there. And I found him as publisher to be a man of integrity and the right stuff to turn around the newspaper and the industry as a whole. He had a lot to do with the success of Williamson A.M. He gave me the opportunity to do political writing.
Unfortunately with the downtown newsroom, Moon did not receive the respect of the top editor. And now the newspaper is suffering terribly despite the heroics of the rank-and-file employees.
Moon is publisher of USA Today, and its profitability has not suffered as much as the rest of Gannett properties. Circulation remains strong. I believe those facts to be testament to Moon's good leadership.
Locally, Hopkins' blog reports that something bad as far as employees is going to happen this week at The Tennessean, possibly tomorrow. Here are the comments:
Anonymous said...
Something is definitely up in Nashville. There are a lot of managers walking around with sullen faces.
9/22/2008 1:20 PM
Anonymous said...
Re: Nashville. Of course the managers there have sullen faces: The ones in the newsroom work for Mark Silverman, Gannett corporate's attack chihuahua.
I pray that Hopkins' sources are wrong for my friends and colleagues at The Tennessean. But cutbacks in Gannett have only been about 3 percent of the workforce, compared to two, 10 percent cutbacks at McClatchy newspapers.
Go to Hopkins' blog or stay here at this blog for further updates.
The blog is efficiently and entertaininly run by Jim Hopkins, a former USA Today editor and Gannett employee for two decades. The blog has broken news on Gannett and Tennessean layoffs.
Hopkins' insight is fueled by Gannett employees, who feed him news about their newsrooms and falling morale. A lot of ex-Gannett employees also give him tips. Even though I am a former Gannett-oid, I don't participate in the blog. I don't agree with everything said about the company and its leaders, particularly Craig Moon, publisher of USA Today.
Moon used to be at The Tennessean when I was there. And I found him as publisher to be a man of integrity and the right stuff to turn around the newspaper and the industry as a whole. He had a lot to do with the success of Williamson A.M. He gave me the opportunity to do political writing.
Unfortunately with the downtown newsroom, Moon did not receive the respect of the top editor. And now the newspaper is suffering terribly despite the heroics of the rank-and-file employees.
Moon is publisher of USA Today, and its profitability has not suffered as much as the rest of Gannett properties. Circulation remains strong. I believe those facts to be testament to Moon's good leadership.
Locally, Hopkins' blog reports that something bad as far as employees is going to happen this week at The Tennessean, possibly tomorrow. Here are the comments:
Anonymous said...
Something is definitely up in Nashville. There are a lot of managers walking around with sullen faces.
9/22/2008 1:20 PM
Anonymous said...
Re: Nashville. Of course the managers there have sullen faces: The ones in the newsroom work for Mark Silverman, Gannett corporate's attack chihuahua.
I pray that Hopkins' sources are wrong for my friends and colleagues at The Tennessean. But cutbacks in Gannett have only been about 3 percent of the workforce, compared to two, 10 percent cutbacks at McClatchy newspapers.
Go to Hopkins' blog or stay here at this blog for further updates.
Timing is everyting to finding gas in Cool Springs
Gas? It's available. For needy motorists, it's just a matter of timing.
In the Cool Springs area, the gas trucks arrive between 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. So try and time your gas trips to that schedule.
Some motorists simply park their vehicles next to a bump, turn off their engines and catch a quick nap or do some paperwork.
Motorists at the BP/MAPCO where I fueled up in five minutes were very chatty and friendly. Their scouting report was that there is plenty of gas in Kentucky. There also is plenty of gas in Murfreesboro. The problem is just in the immediate Nashville area.
One motorist compared the panic to the swarming of supermarkets for milk and bread with each threat of snow. She had a big SUV and actually admired my 15-year-old midsized car -- unwashed. That's the first time anyone has admired anything about me in Brentwood. But she is part of the problem with the ongoing shortage. She had a half a tank of gas when she pulled in, and she was still filling up after I had left.
Overall, I give high points to the patience of drivers in the Cool Springs area and how they're working out a system on their own to line up into the roadways. Stay clear-headed everyone. It does not look like this situation is going to get better any time soon.
In the Cool Springs area, the gas trucks arrive between 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. So try and time your gas trips to that schedule.
Some motorists simply park their vehicles next to a bump, turn off their engines and catch a quick nap or do some paperwork.
Motorists at the BP/MAPCO where I fueled up in five minutes were very chatty and friendly. Their scouting report was that there is plenty of gas in Kentucky. There also is plenty of gas in Murfreesboro. The problem is just in the immediate Nashville area.
One motorist compared the panic to the swarming of supermarkets for milk and bread with each threat of snow. She had a big SUV and actually admired my 15-year-old midsized car -- unwashed. That's the first time anyone has admired anything about me in Brentwood. But she is part of the problem with the ongoing shortage. She had a half a tank of gas when she pulled in, and she was still filling up after I had left.
Overall, I give high points to the patience of drivers in the Cool Springs area and how they're working out a system on their own to line up into the roadways. Stay clear-headed everyone. It does not look like this situation is going to get better any time soon.
When it comes to wealth, Tennessee's senators go to the top of the list for Congress' top 50 richest
Tennessee's two U.S. senators made the top 25 list of the richest members of Congress.
Bob Corker is No. 15 in wealth and Lamar Alexander is No. 23.
There is nothing wrong with wealth as long as it is used for the common good as much as the personal good. And Democrats take up most of the slots for the richest lawmakers in the top 25.
For the list of the top 50 richest lawmakers, go to the following web address. Can you guess the richest lawmaker? Wrong. It's Sen. John Kerry.
http://www.rollcall.com/features/Guide-to-Congress_2008/guide/28506-1.html?type=printer_friendly
Bob Corker is No. 15 in wealth and Lamar Alexander is No. 23.
There is nothing wrong with wealth as long as it is used for the common good as much as the personal good. And Democrats take up most of the slots for the richest lawmakers in the top 25.
For the list of the top 50 richest lawmakers, go to the following web address. Can you guess the richest lawmaker? Wrong. It's Sen. John Kerry.
http://www.rollcall.com/features/Guide-to-Congress_2008/guide/28506-1.html?type=printer_friendly
Lehman Brothers paying big bonuses amid crisis
As further evidence of the insanity of bailing out Wall Street, struggling Lehman Brothers will pay $2.5 billion in bonuses to its employees.
For what? Why doesn't Lehman just use the money to cover its own bad loans? Why are taxpayers being asked to do it for the Wall Street giant?
Read the following outrageous story and then get on the phone and call your congressperson's office and demand that the $700 billion bailout plan not be passed.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/fury-at-25bn-bonus-for-lehmans-new-york-staff-937560.html
For what? Why doesn't Lehman just use the money to cover its own bad loans? Why are taxpayers being asked to do it for the Wall Street giant?
Read the following outrageous story and then get on the phone and call your congressperson's office and demand that the $700 billion bailout plan not be passed.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/fury-at-25bn-bonus-for-lehmans-new-york-staff-937560.html
McCain makes appeal for all immigrants today
In an impassioned speech this morning before an Irish-American group in Scranton, PA., Sen. John McCain spoke of his plans to push immigration reform that would put people illegally in this country on the path to citizenship along with the creation of a temporary worker program.
His just-completed speech was the most passionate appeal by either presidential candidate to address the nation's immigration policy mess. For undecided voters like myself, his remarks made a deep impression.
McCain spoke of 50,000 Irish human beings in this nation illegally but working and contributing. He spoke of their desire to emerge from the shadows to become citizens. He promised to meet their needs.
The Republican spoke of how unpopular he was in his party for pushing immigration reform with the great Sen. Ted Kennedy.
"We put a coalition together, and I had to take votes that were not popular," McCain told the enthusiastic crowd. "Sen. Kennedy had to take votes that were not popular. Sen. Obama took a hike.
"Sen. Obama supported an amendment that would have supported a sunset in the temporary worker program. The union bosses told him to do it. I have a record of standing up to my party and my president. You have to stand up for what is right for your country. Sen. Obama does not have a record."
McCain also put border security on his list of things to do on immigration. But he presented it to the crowd as not just a point of keeping people out but stopping the flow of illegal drugs. His speech to the group was a first for a Republican presidential candidate.
The GOP nominee made a strong statement that this nation is stronger for the "infusion of fresh blood" that has come into this country, including its Hispanic citizenry. His stand was so much different from the haters in his party like Reps. Tom Tancredo and Marsha Blackburn.
"That is what our nation is all about," he said. "That is the America we will have if I am president."
His just-completed speech was the most passionate appeal by either presidential candidate to address the nation's immigration policy mess. For undecided voters like myself, his remarks made a deep impression.
McCain spoke of 50,000 Irish human beings in this nation illegally but working and contributing. He spoke of their desire to emerge from the shadows to become citizens. He promised to meet their needs.
The Republican spoke of how unpopular he was in his party for pushing immigration reform with the great Sen. Ted Kennedy.
"We put a coalition together, and I had to take votes that were not popular," McCain told the enthusiastic crowd. "Sen. Kennedy had to take votes that were not popular. Sen. Obama took a hike.
"Sen. Obama supported an amendment that would have supported a sunset in the temporary worker program. The union bosses told him to do it. I have a record of standing up to my party and my president. You have to stand up for what is right for your country. Sen. Obama does not have a record."
McCain also put border security on his list of things to do on immigration. But he presented it to the crowd as not just a point of keeping people out but stopping the flow of illegal drugs. His speech to the group was a first for a Republican presidential candidate.
The GOP nominee made a strong statement that this nation is stronger for the "infusion of fresh blood" that has come into this country, including its Hispanic citizenry. His stand was so much different from the haters in his party like Reps. Tom Tancredo and Marsha Blackburn.
"That is what our nation is all about," he said. "That is the America we will have if I am president."
'Jesus was a community organizer' response has been just plain silly from the nation's far left
The response from the far left that "Jesus was a community organizer" in support of Sen. Barack Obama and in criticism of Sen. John McCain has been really silly.
I speak of it as a community organizer, three times in my career. I organized study circles and local pastors in race relations dialgoue and action in upstate New York. I organized a successful response to force Metro Nashville public schools to educate children needing English language help fairly and legally. I organized an effort from the pews in response to the child sexual scandal in the Catholic Church locally and nationally.
As a journalist, I've also covered community organizers in both places. And they come and go like the latest flavor of Ben & Jerry's. They stick around as long as the grant money is still available to pay their salaries. Then they disappear, leaving the residents wondering what happened. Community organizers are as much the scourge of inner cities as they are the saviors.
Jesus, in turn, stuck it out. And for that, he was crucified by the local authorities.
But that's just my opinion and experience. In more moderate east Tennessee where Republicanism is the same George Will brand as it is in upstate New York, the response to the community organizer nonsense from the far left has been just like mine.
Read the following column from the Knoxville News-Sentinel and how Democrats there are running away from Obama's candidacy. Politics makes hypocrites of us all.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/22/korda-ducking-obama-and-tennessee-congressman-admi/
I speak of it as a community organizer, three times in my career. I organized study circles and local pastors in race relations dialgoue and action in upstate New York. I organized a successful response to force Metro Nashville public schools to educate children needing English language help fairly and legally. I organized an effort from the pews in response to the child sexual scandal in the Catholic Church locally and nationally.
As a journalist, I've also covered community organizers in both places. And they come and go like the latest flavor of Ben & Jerry's. They stick around as long as the grant money is still available to pay their salaries. Then they disappear, leaving the residents wondering what happened. Community organizers are as much the scourge of inner cities as they are the saviors.
Jesus, in turn, stuck it out. And for that, he was crucified by the local authorities.
But that's just my opinion and experience. In more moderate east Tennessee where Republicanism is the same George Will brand as it is in upstate New York, the response to the community organizer nonsense from the far left has been just like mine.
Read the following column from the Knoxville News-Sentinel and how Democrats there are running away from Obama's candidacy. Politics makes hypocrites of us all.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/22/korda-ducking-obama-and-tennessee-congressman-admi/
Bredesen helps himself with leftover campaign funds while past TN governors help others
Long-time political writer Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News Sentinel -- the state's best newspaper -- reports that Gov. Phil Bredesen typically remains most concerned about himself when it comes to the use of old campaign funds.
Meanwhile, former governors Sundquist and McWherter have donated their funds to other candidates and in building a local library.
So why is Bredesen different than other Tennessee governors? Beyond his obvious me-first outlook to public service, Bredesen is repaying multi-million dollar loans he made to his gubernatorial campaigns in 2002 and 2006. His 2006 loan was against the state law, which prohibited such multi-million contributions by candidates to their own campaigns.
Bredesen has never been indicted because a state attorney general's opinion says the state law is illegal. But it remains on the books as the preference of the representatives of the people of Tennessee. That point, however, means nothing to Bredesen.
The governor has contributed a few thousand dollars to Democratic candidates. But his main cause remains himself.
Read more at: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/22/leftover-funds-disclosed/
Meanwhile, former governors Sundquist and McWherter have donated their funds to other candidates and in building a local library.
So why is Bredesen different than other Tennessee governors? Beyond his obvious me-first outlook to public service, Bredesen is repaying multi-million dollar loans he made to his gubernatorial campaigns in 2002 and 2006. His 2006 loan was against the state law, which prohibited such multi-million contributions by candidates to their own campaigns.
Bredesen has never been indicted because a state attorney general's opinion says the state law is illegal. But it remains on the books as the preference of the representatives of the people of Tennessee. That point, however, means nothing to Bredesen.
The governor has contributed a few thousand dollars to Democratic candidates. But his main cause remains himself.
Read more at: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/22/leftover-funds-disclosed/
Memphis City Schools continue to move forward while Nashville schools continue to flounder, fail
While meeting requirements of No Child Left Behind, Memphis City Schools now is embarking on an ambitious plan of achievement of students at risk and students achieving beyond their grade levels.
The new director of the schools there has presented an impressive plan to the board of education, making Memphians hopeful about the education future of their children. And teachers are pushing an innovative four-day school week plan that will save jobs, increase student achivement and give taxpayers more clout for their money.
East on I-40 from Memphis brings a whole different scenario. NCLB requirements are not being met. A new rezoning plan has produced sharp divisions in Nashville. A chamber of commerce official has risen to be school board chairman. And the district stil does not have a director.
Read the following editorial about a city that really is progressive compared to one that is an imposter.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/22/editorials-ambitious-plan-for-city-schools/
The new director of the schools there has presented an impressive plan to the board of education, making Memphians hopeful about the education future of their children. And teachers are pushing an innovative four-day school week plan that will save jobs, increase student achivement and give taxpayers more clout for their money.
East on I-40 from Memphis brings a whole different scenario. NCLB requirements are not being met. A new rezoning plan has produced sharp divisions in Nashville. A chamber of commerce official has risen to be school board chairman. And the district stil does not have a director.
Read the following editorial about a city that really is progressive compared to one that is an imposter.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/22/editorials-ambitious-plan-for-city-schools/
Continuing gas shortage in Nashville makes Music City a laughingstock to the rest of the country
I know a gas station in Williamson County that has never been without fuel and its prices have stayed the same.
I'm not going to disclose its location lest swarms of drivers descend upon it like locusts in desperation to top their tanks or fill them up unnecessarily.
Contrary to Gov. Phil Bredesen's statements last Friday, gas shortages have not gone away. Bredesen's record for inaccuracy when its come to the plight of the common man and woman remains intact.
And the news media has been a big liability. NewsChannel 4's Demetria Kalidimos told viewers last week that Knoxville and east Tennessee were not experiencing the same problems because that area was served by a different gas pipleline. WRONG. Nashville and Knoxville are served by the same major pipeline that runs from Houston to the Northeast.
Continued news media focus in the print and TV media only fuels the crisis.
So the challenge remains the same. Nashvillians have to show some discipline in their habits. Or they can remain a laughingstock to the rest of the nation for their inability to act responsibly.
I'm not going to disclose its location lest swarms of drivers descend upon it like locusts in desperation to top their tanks or fill them up unnecessarily.
Contrary to Gov. Phil Bredesen's statements last Friday, gas shortages have not gone away. Bredesen's record for inaccuracy when its come to the plight of the common man and woman remains intact.
And the news media has been a big liability. NewsChannel 4's Demetria Kalidimos told viewers last week that Knoxville and east Tennessee were not experiencing the same problems because that area was served by a different gas pipleline. WRONG. Nashville and Knoxville are served by the same major pipeline that runs from Houston to the Northeast.
Continued news media focus in the print and TV media only fuels the crisis.
So the challenge remains the same. Nashvillians have to show some discipline in their habits. Or they can remain a laughingstock to the rest of the nation for their inability to act responsibly.
Bush wants to add bad auto loans, credit card debt to bailout; $1 trillion dollars may not be enough
The ridiculousness and sheer insanity of the bailout plan being put together by the Bush administration grew this morning when it was reported that bad auto loans and credit card debt would be added to the plan to be submitted this week to Congress.
And Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama told CNBC that $1 trillion may not be enough for the bailout plan.
Yet the bailout plan has provided a service in drawing distinct lines between the presidential candidates.
Sen. Barack Obama is for the bailout. Sen. John McCain is against it. Democrats want an economic stimulus plan added to the bailout or passed in separate legislation soon after. That will really drive up the nation's growing budget deficit. The Republicans fear more regulation of what were once free markets. They no longer are with all the government interviention.
Instead of being better off, the nation remains on the precipice -- with neither side really knowing whether where they stand is the right position to take let alone serve the best interests of the people of this country.
And Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama told CNBC that $1 trillion may not be enough for the bailout plan.
Yet the bailout plan has provided a service in drawing distinct lines between the presidential candidates.
Sen. Barack Obama is for the bailout. Sen. John McCain is against it. Democrats want an economic stimulus plan added to the bailout or passed in separate legislation soon after. That will really drive up the nation's growing budget deficit. The Republicans fear more regulation of what were once free markets. They no longer are with all the government interviention.
Instead of being better off, the nation remains on the precipice -- with neither side really knowing whether where they stand is the right position to take let alone serve the best interests of the people of this country.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Obama gets it wrong in blaming Republicans
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama was on the campaign trail today blaming Republicans for the financial mess on Wall Street while his party counterparts were on morning political TV shows preaching bipartisanism at this moment of crisis.
Worse, Obama is dead wrong historically in singling out the Republicans. The biggest blame for this mess rests with the Clinton administration and former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan.
Obama's pitch to voters again demonstrates that he will say anything to get elected. And while calling the amount of the proposed federal bailout staggering, he still supports it. His rival John McCain opposes it.
The Democrat will face a populist backlash for his lack of thinking first, then speaking later. And McCain will go into Friday's debate with momentum and an issue to make Obama look as inexperienced as he is.
Read more at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080921/pl_nm/usa_politics_obama_dc_4
Worse, Obama is dead wrong historically in singling out the Republicans. The biggest blame for this mess rests with the Clinton administration and former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan.
Obama's pitch to voters again demonstrates that he will say anything to get elected. And while calling the amount of the proposed federal bailout staggering, he still supports it. His rival John McCain opposes it.
The Democrat will face a populist backlash for his lack of thinking first, then speaking later. And McCain will go into Friday's debate with momentum and an issue to make Obama look as inexperienced as he is.
Read more at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080921/pl_nm/usa_politics_obama_dc_4
Vandy crashes Top 25 for first time in 24 years
Vanderbilt today was ranked the 21st best football team in the nation by Associated Press sports writers -- a first in almost a quarter century.
The ranking certainly is deserved, particularly after last night's comeback win over Ole Miss on the road. At 4-0, the 'Dores are just two wins away from another long-time first -- a bowl berth. They went 8-4 in 1982 and made it to the Hall of Fame Bowl. Should we dream about watching Vandy play on New Year's Day 2009?
These indeed are special times for Tennessee's best college football team -- at least by record and the fervor of their fans.
To read more, including from Vandy's head coach, go to:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3601003
The ranking certainly is deserved, particularly after last night's comeback win over Ole Miss on the road. At 4-0, the 'Dores are just two wins away from another long-time first -- a bowl berth. They went 8-4 in 1982 and made it to the Hall of Fame Bowl. Should we dream about watching Vandy play on New Year's Day 2009?
These indeed are special times for Tennessee's best college football team -- at least by record and the fervor of their fans.
To read more, including from Vandy's head coach, go to:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3601003
Politico.com says America's second president also wants to bail out foreign banks lending here
America's incoming second president -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson -- wants to bail out foreign banks lending in the United States.
Wow.
"President" Paulson believes the American people will accept this expansion of the $700 billion bailout plan. I don't think so. Why can't the governments where these banks are based help their own institutions with billions?
The American people are being led down a road to ruin for an entire generation. And as it stands now, Sen. Barack Obama favors this kind of bailout and Sen. John McCain opposes it. Obama leads McCain by six points in the latest Gallup tracking poll, a dramatic shift from the previous week.
But once the American people learn more about what Pauslon wants and Congress is acquiescing to, that lead will vanish. And Friday's first presidential debate may cost Obama dearly.
Read more here:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13690.html
Wow.
"President" Paulson believes the American people will accept this expansion of the $700 billion bailout plan. I don't think so. Why can't the governments where these banks are based help their own institutions with billions?
The American people are being led down a road to ruin for an entire generation. And as it stands now, Sen. Barack Obama favors this kind of bailout and Sen. John McCain opposes it. Obama leads McCain by six points in the latest Gallup tracking poll, a dramatic shift from the previous week.
But once the American people learn more about what Pauslon wants and Congress is acquiescing to, that lead will vanish. And Friday's first presidential debate may cost Obama dearly.
Read more here:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13690.html
Avoid local news for coverage of financial markets
I was watching NewsChannel 5's 10 p.m. newscast Friday and heard the male anchor lead into a story about the financial bailout of Wall Street with the following -- is your checking account safe?
I couldn't believe it. No one's checking account in a bank is at risk. You are insured up to $100,000 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. If you have more than $100,000 in a checking account, you're a fool. But I know you don't.
So be careful when watching local news and anything about the financial bailout. The talent there is not trained in covering financial and economic issues. Watch CNBC or click on www.marketwatch.com for reliable news and an accurate perspective.
Don't watch local news or you'll end up worrying about nothing.
I couldn't believe it. No one's checking account in a bank is at risk. You are insured up to $100,000 by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. If you have more than $100,000 in a checking account, you're a fool. But I know you don't.
So be careful when watching local news and anything about the financial bailout. The talent there is not trained in covering financial and economic issues. Watch CNBC or click on www.marketwatch.com for reliable news and an accurate perspective.
Don't watch local news or you'll end up worrying about nothing.
The world is rightly blaming Greenspan for mess
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan has been feted as genius on talk shows and in the halls of power since he stepped down from his job earlier this decade.
He is married to NBC News' Andrea Mitchell, so that has made him a darling of the news media, too. A week ago, he said the United States was facing the greatest financial crisis in a century. He should know. He helped make it, as author Kevin Phillips last Friday on Bill Moyers' PBS show.
The Financial Times today elaborates on that point. And the newspaper makes enough of a case that Greenspan should feel obligated to make an apology to the American people.
Read more at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/32b85c72-859b-11dd-a1ac-0000779fd18c.html
He is married to NBC News' Andrea Mitchell, so that has made him a darling of the news media, too. A week ago, he said the United States was facing the greatest financial crisis in a century. He should know. He helped make it, as author Kevin Phillips last Friday on Bill Moyers' PBS show.
The Financial Times today elaborates on that point. And the newspaper makes enough of a case that Greenspan should feel obligated to make an apology to the American people.
Read more at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/32b85c72-859b-11dd-a1ac-0000779fd18c.html
Federal bailout plan running into trouble on Sunday morning talk shows; do you really want a Bush Treasury Secretary without oversight?
The proposed $700 billion bailout plan of the nation's financial institutions ran into trouble Sunday morning, with Democrats and Republicans disagreeing on whether the package should be followed with Christmas-tree gifts of an economic stimulus plan and help to other faltering industries.
One of the biggest problems with the proposed legislation to be submitted to Congress this week is a new entity within the Department of the Treasury that would operate without oversight in buying bad loans from financial firms. Why don't we just issue matches to all children?
Conservative columnist George Will called such a plan the beginning of the (Henry) "Paulson administration".
So you have time this week to make your feelings known to your congressional representatives about this unnecessary bailout. It would raise the nation's debt ceiling to $11.73 trillion. When George W. Bush entered office, the ceiling was half that amount. If not for yourself, think about your children and grandchildren.
It is hard to believe that the American people -- fooled by the Bush adminstration's contentions about the need to invade Irag -- now would accept bringing socialism to free market capitalism.
Read more here: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/business/business-economy-weekahead-outlook.html
One of the biggest problems with the proposed legislation to be submitted to Congress this week is a new entity within the Department of the Treasury that would operate without oversight in buying bad loans from financial firms. Why don't we just issue matches to all children?
Conservative columnist George Will called such a plan the beginning of the (Henry) "Paulson administration".
So you have time this week to make your feelings known to your congressional representatives about this unnecessary bailout. It would raise the nation's debt ceiling to $11.73 trillion. When George W. Bush entered office, the ceiling was half that amount. If not for yourself, think about your children and grandchildren.
It is hard to believe that the American people -- fooled by the Bush adminstration's contentions about the need to invade Irag -- now would accept bringing socialism to free market capitalism.
Read more here: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/business/business-economy-weekahead-outlook.html
Sheriff Hall writes a pack of lies, and Nashville refuses to call him on it to end 287g program
To read the column published a week ago by Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall in The Tennessean, one would think that Metro Nashville is now a idyllic place where daisies grow where crack houses once stood and murdered bodies were outlined with chalk.
Hall does a great job of patting himself on the back for the heinous 287g deportation program he brought here -- Nashville, Music City, a supposedly progressive city.
It's not.
More than 4,000 human being illegally here have been arrested for minor offenses like fishing without a license or passing in the wrong lane with their motor vehicles. Then they've been deported after they could not produce enough documents to convince an arresting officer that would show up for traffic court. That in itself is a whole other issue that I will address in a blog post.
Yet just a few days after Hall's column appeared, two people described as "Hispanic" -- which could mean anyone from India or the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma -- shot and killed a local store owner. So much for Hall's claim of making Nashville safer with his 287g program.
A PACK OF LIES
Sadly, Sheriff Hall's column was simply a pack of lies. That has become his trademark since bringing the program to Nashville under the guise of arresting and deporting human beings illegally here with violent records. Since then, Hall has amended his program's cause to just anyone with a criminal record, which means a misdemeanor offense of jaywalking to littering. That's your tax money at work.
Hall had the arrogance to cite the benefit of a citizen board for 287g. He has chosen to ignore many board recommendations. He didn't even invite board members to his press conference earlier this year citing 287g and what Hall called success. Members serve only to watch Hall and document his close-mindedness. His shouting at members is legendary. Hall is not a professional.
And The Tennessean has bent over backward to appease Hall. The sheriff read the newspaper's top editors and editorial board the riot act for an article that appeared earlier this year showing the lies in Hall's program.
Since Hall's bragging about his aggressive action with The Tennessean in a meeting with some immigrant advocates and Police Chief Serpas, the newspaper has written lukewarm editorials gently rapping the sheriff on the knuckles. The most obvious crusade for The Tennessean would be to call for an end to 287g. But there is no courage or integrity left amid the leadership at 1100 N. Broadway.
In past blogs, I have tried to separate Nashville's police department from the action of Hall and his sheriff's department with 287g. But attorney Elliott Ozment's column details how a human being of Hispanic descent was questioned by police for simply sitting in a laudromat.
The father and working man presented the police the only ID he had, which was a falsified document so he could get paid. He had tried for a Social Security number, but the government denied that even though most undocumented workers have SS taxes taken out of their checks. He would have tried for a driver's license, but the state of Tennessee removed his ability to get such a document a few years ago.
RACIAL PROFILING
Ozment -- an attorney who courageously represents human beings singled out by authorities for their ethnic and racial differences -- accuses police of racial profiling. And since I know Ozment, I do not doubt what he says. So now Chief Serpas and the Metro council have a matter of morality and fairness to answer to.
Will anyone force them to answer? No one has forced an answer from Mayor Karl Dean or Congressman Jim Cooper. Serpas may well get a pass, too.
The Tennessean ignored the story of Mrs. Juana Villegas (DeLaPaz), a very pregnant mother of three American citizens who was arrested three days before her due date by a Berry Hill police officer who refused her IDs that included car registration and a matricula card from the Mexican consulate.
The sheriff's department subsequently shackled her during labor and after. It then took her newborn away from her after his birth when he was needing his mother's milk for the development of his immune system. She was not allowed to express her milk for the child and was sent back to jail in intense pain from breasts swollen with life-enriching liquid.
It took this blog and other media led by WKRN Channel 2 and the Associated Press to spread national attention. A kind and intelligent immigrant advocate in Massachusetts, Shu Ohno, responded to my request for more publicity and contacted a reporter at The New York Times. The nation's paper of record then provided a generous amount of space for a picture and long story about the torture of Mrs. Villegas. Comparatively, The Tennessean ran an AP story on part of the bottom half of page 2 in its Local Section.
And contrary to The Tennessean's inadequate editorial last week, Amnesty International has not been involved in spreading notice about this case. I contacted them and it failed to do anything. I have the e-mails to prove it. But one really can expect The Tennessean to know what has been going on with this case from its gross lack of coverage.
MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN
The bottom line is very simple, and it is something for people who live outside of Nashville and Tennessee to consider when spending their dollars and making their tourism and convention choices:
Nashville is a city of intolerance. If your skin is not white, then you are fair game for whatever bigtory that lurks inside any authority figure. This city is not progressive.
It has a wonderful place on a hill called Vanderbilt University, which is a leader in so many ways in how an American community should be. But Vanderbilt is the exception here. And the current governor of Tennessee often referred to Vanderbilt as an "800-pound gorilla in the room". He didn't like intelligent, educated people differing in opinion from him. So he isolated the university from the rest of the city. And Nashville continues to suffer.
So to visitors and consumers, stay away from Nashville as a place to visit, hold your convention or buy from music products. The only way change will come is if Nashville feels pain in the pocketbook. You can bring about that change that people and newspapers here refuse to address.
Sheriff Hall's political days are numbered. His run for re-election will be aggressively challenged. Oh, I forgot to mention another truth. Hall is a Democrat, like the mayor and the local congressman. So go figure.
The South and Nashville remain the Old South, intolerant as always. The difference now is that the hatred has been placed on a new group of people but with the same dark skin.
Hall does a great job of patting himself on the back for the heinous 287g deportation program he brought here -- Nashville, Music City, a supposedly progressive city.
It's not.
More than 4,000 human being illegally here have been arrested for minor offenses like fishing without a license or passing in the wrong lane with their motor vehicles. Then they've been deported after they could not produce enough documents to convince an arresting officer that would show up for traffic court. That in itself is a whole other issue that I will address in a blog post.
Yet just a few days after Hall's column appeared, two people described as "Hispanic" -- which could mean anyone from India or the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma -- shot and killed a local store owner. So much for Hall's claim of making Nashville safer with his 287g program.
A PACK OF LIES
Sadly, Sheriff Hall's column was simply a pack of lies. That has become his trademark since bringing the program to Nashville under the guise of arresting and deporting human beings illegally here with violent records. Since then, Hall has amended his program's cause to just anyone with a criminal record, which means a misdemeanor offense of jaywalking to littering. That's your tax money at work.
Hall had the arrogance to cite the benefit of a citizen board for 287g. He has chosen to ignore many board recommendations. He didn't even invite board members to his press conference earlier this year citing 287g and what Hall called success. Members serve only to watch Hall and document his close-mindedness. His shouting at members is legendary. Hall is not a professional.
And The Tennessean has bent over backward to appease Hall. The sheriff read the newspaper's top editors and editorial board the riot act for an article that appeared earlier this year showing the lies in Hall's program.
Since Hall's bragging about his aggressive action with The Tennessean in a meeting with some immigrant advocates and Police Chief Serpas, the newspaper has written lukewarm editorials gently rapping the sheriff on the knuckles. The most obvious crusade for The Tennessean would be to call for an end to 287g. But there is no courage or integrity left amid the leadership at 1100 N. Broadway.
In past blogs, I have tried to separate Nashville's police department from the action of Hall and his sheriff's department with 287g. But attorney Elliott Ozment's column details how a human being of Hispanic descent was questioned by police for simply sitting in a laudromat.
The father and working man presented the police the only ID he had, which was a falsified document so he could get paid. He had tried for a Social Security number, but the government denied that even though most undocumented workers have SS taxes taken out of their checks. He would have tried for a driver's license, but the state of Tennessee removed his ability to get such a document a few years ago.
RACIAL PROFILING
Ozment -- an attorney who courageously represents human beings singled out by authorities for their ethnic and racial differences -- accuses police of racial profiling. And since I know Ozment, I do not doubt what he says. So now Chief Serpas and the Metro council have a matter of morality and fairness to answer to.
Will anyone force them to answer? No one has forced an answer from Mayor Karl Dean or Congressman Jim Cooper. Serpas may well get a pass, too.
The Tennessean ignored the story of Mrs. Juana Villegas (DeLaPaz), a very pregnant mother of three American citizens who was arrested three days before her due date by a Berry Hill police officer who refused her IDs that included car registration and a matricula card from the Mexican consulate.
The sheriff's department subsequently shackled her during labor and after. It then took her newborn away from her after his birth when he was needing his mother's milk for the development of his immune system. She was not allowed to express her milk for the child and was sent back to jail in intense pain from breasts swollen with life-enriching liquid.
It took this blog and other media led by WKRN Channel 2 and the Associated Press to spread national attention. A kind and intelligent immigrant advocate in Massachusetts, Shu Ohno, responded to my request for more publicity and contacted a reporter at The New York Times. The nation's paper of record then provided a generous amount of space for a picture and long story about the torture of Mrs. Villegas. Comparatively, The Tennessean ran an AP story on part of the bottom half of page 2 in its Local Section.
And contrary to The Tennessean's inadequate editorial last week, Amnesty International has not been involved in spreading notice about this case. I contacted them and it failed to do anything. I have the e-mails to prove it. But one really can expect The Tennessean to know what has been going on with this case from its gross lack of coverage.
MAKING CHANGE HAPPEN
The bottom line is very simple, and it is something for people who live outside of Nashville and Tennessee to consider when spending their dollars and making their tourism and convention choices:
Nashville is a city of intolerance. If your skin is not white, then you are fair game for whatever bigtory that lurks inside any authority figure. This city is not progressive.
It has a wonderful place on a hill called Vanderbilt University, which is a leader in so many ways in how an American community should be. But Vanderbilt is the exception here. And the current governor of Tennessee often referred to Vanderbilt as an "800-pound gorilla in the room". He didn't like intelligent, educated people differing in opinion from him. So he isolated the university from the rest of the city. And Nashville continues to suffer.
So to visitors and consumers, stay away from Nashville as a place to visit, hold your convention or buy from music products. The only way change will come is if Nashville feels pain in the pocketbook. You can bring about that change that people and newspapers here refuse to address.
Sheriff Hall's political days are numbered. His run for re-election will be aggressively challenged. Oh, I forgot to mention another truth. Hall is a Democrat, like the mayor and the local congressman. So go figure.
The South and Nashville remain the Old South, intolerant as always. The difference now is that the hatred has been placed on a new group of people but with the same dark skin.
We didn't get into Wall Street mess quickly, and we won't exit it quickly either; economic downturn will be a frightfully long one for most
It took 25 years for Wall Street to get into its current mess, and it will take another two decades for this nation and its economy to get out of it.
That's the shocking conclusion of noted author Kevin Phillips, who was interviewed by Bill Moyers for his show broadcast last Friday on PBS.
Former Federal Reserve Chief Alan Greenspan and the Clinton administration come off as the biggest problem-causers in a historical look at this matter. But adminstrations beginning with Ronald Reagan also share some blame.
Reagan bailed out the savings and loan industry in tthe 1980s after its disastrous loan-making. And that set the political precedent that the financial industry was worth rescuing and not the auto industry or other manufacturers. Financial services make up 21 percent of the total Gross National Product.
Greenspan looked the other way on Wall Street wrongs. If a practice made money, then it was all right. The Clinton administration deregulated the financial industries, allowing bank and brojerage firms on Wall Street to do business together.
Other administrations followed with bailouts such as with the Mexican peso.
This decade, brokerage firms and banks started making deals with home mortgages. Loans were made to people who could not afford to buy homes. Adjustable rates were even used to make some buyers qualify for loans from Indy Mac to Feddie Mac to Fannie Mae. Now the federal government, or you, own 80 percent of the bad loan portfoilo of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
If that was not bad enough, Wall Street started buying what are called derivative contracts. These contracts speculate on anything, whether at a future date the cost of a product will be lower or higher. This kind of stuff makes betting on football a sure thing.
So now, Washington is pushing a bailout plan of at least $700 billion.
Phillips said: "Now are are saving capitalism from the capitalits. There is no bailout for laid-off workers."
Shameful. All these supposed free-market capitalists say no to more government, exception when it comes to rescuing their asses and their fortunes.
Capitalism is not supposed to be moral. It just encourages people to buy, buy, buy. Americans now carry $44 trillion in debt. That's up from $11 billion 25 years ago.
So there you have it. What should this nation do? Phillips saw some hope in the Obama campaign for change. But he says that for Obama to do all the things he is promising and keep all the programs his political party wants, then change in the way Wall Street is running will not be possible.
If Washington goes through with the bailout which Obama supports, the Democratic Party will be reduced to civil war within its ranks as each constituency fights to protect its programs from cuts. And Wall Street makes most of its contributions to Democrats.
As for health care reform or universal care, you can forget about it during the Obama presidency.
Sen. John McCain is part of the problem. He was initially involved in the S&L scandal and the bad practices of Mr. Keating. He and four other senators were accused of wrongdoing. But as with anything in Washington, the five were let off the hook.
McCain opposes the bailout. Whether as president he would truly reform Wall Street with more regulation is highly questionable at best.
Our children and grandchildren face a most uncertain future over the next two decades. Home values will have declined by 30 to 40 percent. I wish that were not true. But Phillips' analysis is dead on right and non-partisan.
If we must have pain, then let the pain be where it can do the most good. That means no bailout. And that means keeping the money not to help Wall Street bigwigs but to alleviate the suffering to come of Main Street Americans.
That's the shocking conclusion of noted author Kevin Phillips, who was interviewed by Bill Moyers for his show broadcast last Friday on PBS.
Former Federal Reserve Chief Alan Greenspan and the Clinton administration come off as the biggest problem-causers in a historical look at this matter. But adminstrations beginning with Ronald Reagan also share some blame.
Reagan bailed out the savings and loan industry in tthe 1980s after its disastrous loan-making. And that set the political precedent that the financial industry was worth rescuing and not the auto industry or other manufacturers. Financial services make up 21 percent of the total Gross National Product.
Greenspan looked the other way on Wall Street wrongs. If a practice made money, then it was all right. The Clinton administration deregulated the financial industries, allowing bank and brojerage firms on Wall Street to do business together.
Other administrations followed with bailouts such as with the Mexican peso.
This decade, brokerage firms and banks started making deals with home mortgages. Loans were made to people who could not afford to buy homes. Adjustable rates were even used to make some buyers qualify for loans from Indy Mac to Feddie Mac to Fannie Mae. Now the federal government, or you, own 80 percent of the bad loan portfoilo of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
If that was not bad enough, Wall Street started buying what are called derivative contracts. These contracts speculate on anything, whether at a future date the cost of a product will be lower or higher. This kind of stuff makes betting on football a sure thing.
So now, Washington is pushing a bailout plan of at least $700 billion.
Phillips said: "Now are are saving capitalism from the capitalits. There is no bailout for laid-off workers."
Shameful. All these supposed free-market capitalists say no to more government, exception when it comes to rescuing their asses and their fortunes.
Capitalism is not supposed to be moral. It just encourages people to buy, buy, buy. Americans now carry $44 trillion in debt. That's up from $11 billion 25 years ago.
So there you have it. What should this nation do? Phillips saw some hope in the Obama campaign for change. But he says that for Obama to do all the things he is promising and keep all the programs his political party wants, then change in the way Wall Street is running will not be possible.
If Washington goes through with the bailout which Obama supports, the Democratic Party will be reduced to civil war within its ranks as each constituency fights to protect its programs from cuts. And Wall Street makes most of its contributions to Democrats.
As for health care reform or universal care, you can forget about it during the Obama presidency.
Sen. John McCain is part of the problem. He was initially involved in the S&L scandal and the bad practices of Mr. Keating. He and four other senators were accused of wrongdoing. But as with anything in Washington, the five were let off the hook.
McCain opposes the bailout. Whether as president he would truly reform Wall Street with more regulation is highly questionable at best.
Our children and grandchildren face a most uncertain future over the next two decades. Home values will have declined by 30 to 40 percent. I wish that were not true. But Phillips' analysis is dead on right and non-partisan.
If we must have pain, then let the pain be where it can do the most good. That means no bailout. And that means keeping the money not to help Wall Street bigwigs but to alleviate the suffering to come of Main Street Americans.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
How 'bout dem 'Dores!? Look out Top 25
Vanderbilt finally should be ranked in the Top 25 with tonight's great win over Ole Miss on the road.
The 'Dores had the most votes of non-ranked teams in last week's set of polls. So this road win should finally pushed the 'Dores into the elite of NCAA Division I Football.
Two more wins will take the 'Dores to a bowl game, but the schedule does not have any giveme games. Any more wins, like tonight, will be tough.
But a national ranking will very well bring the 'Dores back to television and more image-building, an essential for a winning program. Enjoy the next six days. They're going to be great ones for the Vanderbilt football program.
The 'Dores had the most votes of non-ranked teams in last week's set of polls. So this road win should finally pushed the 'Dores into the elite of NCAA Division I Football.
Two more wins will take the 'Dores to a bowl game, but the schedule does not have any giveme games. Any more wins, like tonight, will be tough.
But a national ranking will very well bring the 'Dores back to television and more image-building, an essential for a winning program. Enjoy the next six days. They're going to be great ones for the Vanderbilt football program.
Friday, September 19, 2008
For my Uncle Espiridión, I remain American first
Long before Lou Dobbs became the famous Lou Dobbs, there was Espiridión Gutierrez.
The American of Hispanic descent lived in Topeka, KS, in an area along the river called The Bottoms.
Gutierrez fought for his country in World War II -- facing the ferocity of the troops of the Imperial Japanese Empire in the Pacific and the bigotry of his own comrades. Yet the Army infrantryman persevered. He survived, triumphed and returned home, only to face the same bigotry of his same countrymen and women.
Topeka remains a place of too much bigotry toward Americans of Hispanic descent.
I remember my uncle with a smile. When I visited as a boy, Espiridión Gutierrez was always hospitable, often laughing and always someone who put you at ease. He was an incredibly loving man, particularly to the friends of his five children.
But for his country, I could only imagine the furor in his face and actions in vanquishing any enemy. He never spoke of the war. Few Americans of Hispanic descent do so, without much prodding. If you were going to use a word besides his name to call or describe my uncle, it had better be "American" first.
Today(Sept. 20) is my uncle's anniversary of his passing from his beloved country to his reward in heaven. He is dearly missed. But those of us who love him know he is in heaven with other proud Americans and loved ones, most especially his wife, Pauline.
My uncle's passing reminded me of a recent response I received from a local Hispanic advocate. I had written that I saw Hispanic Heritage Month as wrong. The advocate noted that my position on HHM was the same as the infamous, anti-immigrant Lou Dobbs.
The advocate asked what made my position on HHM different from Dobbs.
Last night, I was speaking with my uncle's daughter Ana. I call her my "prima suprema" because she backs down from no one -- just like her Pop.
She spoke of a Cinco de Mayo celebration at her son's school decades ago in California. Ana was asked why she wasn't joining in the celebration.
Prima Suprema replied: "I'm an American. We celebrate the Fourth of July. I don't know if Cinco de Mayo is about Mexican independence from the French or Spanish."
There was not another Cinco de Mayo celebration again at the school during her son's attendance over the years. That's because Salvador was the only American of Hispanic descent in the whole school.
The point my cousin was trying to make was obvious. If you want to celebrate Hispanics, how about recruiting more than one such child in your student body.
It's the same with Hispanic Heritage Month. If you want to recognize such history and the people who made it, do it during all 12 months of the year. Anything less is insulting.
So for my uncle, and my father, and for my eight other uncles who fought in World War II, I will continue to emphasize that you were Americans first whose heroics defied a single month. And I will continue to write against HHM as I have for the past decade.
Rest in peace, Uncle Espiridión. You deserve it, from a grateful country and loved ones.
The American of Hispanic descent lived in Topeka, KS, in an area along the river called The Bottoms.
Gutierrez fought for his country in World War II -- facing the ferocity of the troops of the Imperial Japanese Empire in the Pacific and the bigotry of his own comrades. Yet the Army infrantryman persevered. He survived, triumphed and returned home, only to face the same bigotry of his same countrymen and women.
Topeka remains a place of too much bigotry toward Americans of Hispanic descent.
I remember my uncle with a smile. When I visited as a boy, Espiridión Gutierrez was always hospitable, often laughing and always someone who put you at ease. He was an incredibly loving man, particularly to the friends of his five children.
But for his country, I could only imagine the furor in his face and actions in vanquishing any enemy. He never spoke of the war. Few Americans of Hispanic descent do so, without much prodding. If you were going to use a word besides his name to call or describe my uncle, it had better be "American" first.
Today(Sept. 20) is my uncle's anniversary of his passing from his beloved country to his reward in heaven. He is dearly missed. But those of us who love him know he is in heaven with other proud Americans and loved ones, most especially his wife, Pauline.
My uncle's passing reminded me of a recent response I received from a local Hispanic advocate. I had written that I saw Hispanic Heritage Month as wrong. The advocate noted that my position on HHM was the same as the infamous, anti-immigrant Lou Dobbs.
The advocate asked what made my position on HHM different from Dobbs.
Last night, I was speaking with my uncle's daughter Ana. I call her my "prima suprema" because she backs down from no one -- just like her Pop.
She spoke of a Cinco de Mayo celebration at her son's school decades ago in California. Ana was asked why she wasn't joining in the celebration.
Prima Suprema replied: "I'm an American. We celebrate the Fourth of July. I don't know if Cinco de Mayo is about Mexican independence from the French or Spanish."
There was not another Cinco de Mayo celebration again at the school during her son's attendance over the years. That's because Salvador was the only American of Hispanic descent in the whole school.
The point my cousin was trying to make was obvious. If you want to celebrate Hispanics, how about recruiting more than one such child in your student body.
It's the same with Hispanic Heritage Month. If you want to recognize such history and the people who made it, do it during all 12 months of the year. Anything less is insulting.
So for my uncle, and my father, and for my eight other uncles who fought in World War II, I will continue to emphasize that you were Americans first whose heroics defied a single month. And I will continue to write against HHM as I have for the past decade.
Rest in peace, Uncle Espiridión. You deserve it, from a grateful country and loved ones.
Bush administration shocks Congress with request
The Bush administration will be asking Congress to have $700 billion in play at any time during the next two years to buy the bad debt of mortgage holders on Wall Street.
Politico.com says that amount has shocked lawmakers and raised the debt ceiling for the nation to an unfathomable $11.3 trillion.
Heaven help us if this plan passes Congress. A Democratic Congress that was supposed to stand up to the idiocy of George W. Bush now is going along with him. Voters again have been betrayed. And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is at the center of bringing top-down socialism to the United States of America.
To read more, if you can stand it, go to:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13662.html
Politico.com says that amount has shocked lawmakers and raised the debt ceiling for the nation to an unfathomable $11.3 trillion.
Heaven help us if this plan passes Congress. A Democratic Congress that was supposed to stand up to the idiocy of George W. Bush now is going along with him. Voters again have been betrayed. And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is at the center of bringing top-down socialism to the United States of America.
To read more, if you can stand it, go to:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13662.html
Another cost-saving tip for these difficult times
After reading Ms. Cheap's column in The Tennessean, I decided to cancel my newspaper subscription -- as she advised -- and just went to Walgreens on Sunday's to buy the newspaper on Sundays for the coupons.
The cost is only 99-cents.
But I found out something Ms. Cheap did not even know about. Don't buy the Sunday newspaper on Sunday. Wait until Monday, and you can get it for 50-cents. That's the policy at Walgreens and several other stores like it.
Some people might say that saving 50-cents is not worth the waiting. But multiply that sum by four times in a month and 52 times in a year, and we're talking about $26 a year.
That's a lot of money to me.
The cost is only 99-cents.
But I found out something Ms. Cheap did not even know about. Don't buy the Sunday newspaper on Sunday. Wait until Monday, and you can get it for 50-cents. That's the policy at Walgreens and several other stores like it.
Some people might say that saving 50-cents is not worth the waiting. But multiply that sum by four times in a month and 52 times in a year, and we're talking about $26 a year.
That's a lot of money to me.
For the best grocery shopping, here's where to go
I shop four stores to get the lowest prices possible: Walmart, Publix, Harris-Teeter and Kroger.
My favorite place just for the atmosphere and the person in charge is Publix in Cool Springs. Joe the grocer there has been a part of my community for most of this decade. He does some many things to help local schools and charities. He and his employees currently are wearing United Way t-shirts. The guy is very visible with his customers, and so we talk about prices and other things on a regular basis.
He recently featured a message on a sign in the Publix lobby. It said that Publix understands these are hard times and they are not going to sacrifice the quality of their product and indeed will find more ways to cut prices.
And Joe has been true to his word at the Cool Springs Publix. Gee, if newspapers could adopt the same philosophy, they might be seen as an essential in consumers' lives.
I always buy milk at Joe's. He has kept an incredible price of $3.39 a gallon for non-hormone milk. The best, fresh red meat prices are there, too. Produce is always quality. Soft drink prices are really good. So are cereal prices. Frozen vegetables under the Publix brand are cheapest and of quality. Peanut butter prices are great. Cat food prices are the lowest among the traditional grocers. All in all when it comes to prices and quality of the product, Publix is the place to shop.
As far the lowest prices, no one beats Walmart. Non-hormone milk there, however, is higher. Wheat bread, low-fat butter, canned brand soups, luncheon meat, diet Sunkist Orange Drink, paper towels, wheat bread, dry cat food, tuna, corn and potatoes, watermelon, bunch broccoli, eggs, Quaker Oats oatmeal and dried beans are cheaper on my grocery list. The size of fresh meat packages are too big and costly for our household.
One note on the eggs. Walmart does not feature half-packs with six eggs. Publix and Krogers do. I don't remember about Harris-Teeter.
Be cautious with the Chinese products at Walmart. I bought cinnamon for the incredile low price of about 50-cents for a nice-sized container. Sometimes cheap is not always best. My wife nixed the Chinese cinnamon after I bought it and went for a more expensive but traditional American brand. And it tasted better. Cinnamon helps reduce cholesterol.
Now you can also get a tire changed on your car while you're shopping at Walmart. But I bet if you brought Joe at Publix a new tire, he'd find a way to change it while you were shopping there. He is that kind of guy.
Kroger offers a salad bar for the fast-moving life. Its fresh meats are very competitive. Its produce also is cheap but not the quality of Publix or Harris Tetter. Milk with hormones is cheapest there along with Walmart. Canned vegetable prices are comparable. Specials are frequent on spaghetti sauce and other staples. Kroger also sends out coupons to shoppers on items they've been recorded as buying.
Harris-Teeter has the best samples of all the stores. Yum! It also has a salad bar, prepared foods like Kroger and a nice dining area with a TV. Its produce is quality, but often pricey. Its fresh meat selection is limited and pricey. Along with Publix, it is the best place to buy fresh fish and shrimp. It also has specials, particularly good ones on fresh produce.
Overall, my shopping for price and value is centered on Publix and Walmart. And it sure helps when you have a friendly, conscientious grocer named Joe.
My favorite place just for the atmosphere and the person in charge is Publix in Cool Springs. Joe the grocer there has been a part of my community for most of this decade. He does some many things to help local schools and charities. He and his employees currently are wearing United Way t-shirts. The guy is very visible with his customers, and so we talk about prices and other things on a regular basis.
He recently featured a message on a sign in the Publix lobby. It said that Publix understands these are hard times and they are not going to sacrifice the quality of their product and indeed will find more ways to cut prices.
And Joe has been true to his word at the Cool Springs Publix. Gee, if newspapers could adopt the same philosophy, they might be seen as an essential in consumers' lives.
I always buy milk at Joe's. He has kept an incredible price of $3.39 a gallon for non-hormone milk. The best, fresh red meat prices are there, too. Produce is always quality. Soft drink prices are really good. So are cereal prices. Frozen vegetables under the Publix brand are cheapest and of quality. Peanut butter prices are great. Cat food prices are the lowest among the traditional grocers. All in all when it comes to prices and quality of the product, Publix is the place to shop.
As far the lowest prices, no one beats Walmart. Non-hormone milk there, however, is higher. Wheat bread, low-fat butter, canned brand soups, luncheon meat, diet Sunkist Orange Drink, paper towels, wheat bread, dry cat food, tuna, corn and potatoes, watermelon, bunch broccoli, eggs, Quaker Oats oatmeal and dried beans are cheaper on my grocery list. The size of fresh meat packages are too big and costly for our household.
One note on the eggs. Walmart does not feature half-packs with six eggs. Publix and Krogers do. I don't remember about Harris-Teeter.
Be cautious with the Chinese products at Walmart. I bought cinnamon for the incredile low price of about 50-cents for a nice-sized container. Sometimes cheap is not always best. My wife nixed the Chinese cinnamon after I bought it and went for a more expensive but traditional American brand. And it tasted better. Cinnamon helps reduce cholesterol.
Now you can also get a tire changed on your car while you're shopping at Walmart. But I bet if you brought Joe at Publix a new tire, he'd find a way to change it while you were shopping there. He is that kind of guy.
Kroger offers a salad bar for the fast-moving life. Its fresh meats are very competitive. Its produce also is cheap but not the quality of Publix or Harris Tetter. Milk with hormones is cheapest there along with Walmart. Canned vegetable prices are comparable. Specials are frequent on spaghetti sauce and other staples. Kroger also sends out coupons to shoppers on items they've been recorded as buying.
Harris-Teeter has the best samples of all the stores. Yum! It also has a salad bar, prepared foods like Kroger and a nice dining area with a TV. Its produce is quality, but often pricey. Its fresh meat selection is limited and pricey. Along with Publix, it is the best place to buy fresh fish and shrimp. It also has specials, particularly good ones on fresh produce.
Overall, my shopping for price and value is centered on Publix and Walmart. And it sure helps when you have a friendly, conscientious grocer named Joe.
Dave Ramsey gives some questionable advice that is not going to bring people any financial peace
NewsChannel 5 featured financial expert Dave Ramsey on its 10 p.m. newscast tonight, and he gave some advice that was questionable in the least and darn right dangerous on the extreme.
Ramsey downplayed the existing financial crisis, told viewers not to panic and even counseled on putting money they now have in mutual funds.
Mutual funds that invest in the market are a vehicle of the past in what has become a short-trading Bear market for at least 12 months and more. A Wall Street Journal story earlier this year showed that people who lost money in their mutual funds in the downturn of 2001 still had not regained their investment up to the market's last high in the winter of 2007.
As we all know, 2008 has been a tough year, with most investors losing money in their mutual funds. If they follow Ramsey's advice now for the short term and the long term, they will end up losing even more money.
Only individual stocks geared toward a Bear market, municipal bonds and traditional CDs from banks are going to deliver any kind of positive return in the 12 months. Get a certified financial planner to learn about more defensive investments, because the Dow is going to decline to 10,000 or lower over the next year.
Most of all, don't listen to someone like Ramsey downplaying an era-change in America that will cost the little guy or gal money in the short and long term. You'll get no financial peace from following his advice about the stock market.
Ramsey downplayed the existing financial crisis, told viewers not to panic and even counseled on putting money they now have in mutual funds.
Mutual funds that invest in the market are a vehicle of the past in what has become a short-trading Bear market for at least 12 months and more. A Wall Street Journal story earlier this year showed that people who lost money in their mutual funds in the downturn of 2001 still had not regained their investment up to the market's last high in the winter of 2007.
As we all know, 2008 has been a tough year, with most investors losing money in their mutual funds. If they follow Ramsey's advice now for the short term and the long term, they will end up losing even more money.
Only individual stocks geared toward a Bear market, municipal bonds and traditional CDs from banks are going to deliver any kind of positive return in the 12 months. Get a certified financial planner to learn about more defensive investments, because the Dow is going to decline to 10,000 or lower over the next year.
Most of all, don't listen to someone like Ramsey downplaying an era-change in America that will cost the little guy or gal money in the short and long term. You'll get no financial peace from following his advice about the stock market.
Bad economy is taking a heavy toll on pets
I switch the TV channels whenever there is a news story about the abuse of animals.
I can't stand the thought of such innocent life suffering at the hands of humans. But earlier today, I could not avoid the story as we visited with our local vet who is key player in the local no-kill sanctuary for animals called Happy Tails.
Our good vet told my wife and I of the explosion of animals being dumped on shelters and Happy Tails. In Metro Nashville, officials are putting down 80 animals a shift. And there are three shifts in a day, he said.
Happy Tails is doing its best to take as many animals as possible. But the deluge is too much. At the Williamson County Animal Shelter, cages with animals line the walls. Still, the staff there is so kind to all the animals.
An older small dog they call Granny was brought in by a family that could not afford the vet bill that would be accrued for needed liver surgery. So they brought the animal in to be put down.
But the good staff there -- while not being able to afford the life-saving surgery -- befriended Granny and kept her free behind the front desk. She was happy, wagging her tail, getting treats when she wanted and receiving gentle touches on her head for contentment. It was a wonderful sad story as the staff waited for this gentle dog to die.
Caring for pets in most households is considered discretionary spending. And that kind of spending is going be under more pressure in a difficult economy over the next year or more. Our vet fears the coming winter, when heating bills will probably force families to turn in even more pets.
I hate to know this story. But it can motivate those of us who so love animals to support those institutions trying to make a difference. And perhaps each of us can open our homes to another animal and save an innocent life. You'd be making an investment in a kinder world.
So go by your local animal shelter. And if you can't take in another innocent life, consider giving even a little bit of money to places like Happy Tails so they can take in the innocent life for future adoption when the economy gets better,
Granny sure would appreciate it.
Go to: http://happytaleshumane.com/wordpress/
I can't stand the thought of such innocent life suffering at the hands of humans. But earlier today, I could not avoid the story as we visited with our local vet who is key player in the local no-kill sanctuary for animals called Happy Tails.
Our good vet told my wife and I of the explosion of animals being dumped on shelters and Happy Tails. In Metro Nashville, officials are putting down 80 animals a shift. And there are three shifts in a day, he said.
Happy Tails is doing its best to take as many animals as possible. But the deluge is too much. At the Williamson County Animal Shelter, cages with animals line the walls. Still, the staff there is so kind to all the animals.
An older small dog they call Granny was brought in by a family that could not afford the vet bill that would be accrued for needed liver surgery. So they brought the animal in to be put down.
But the good staff there -- while not being able to afford the life-saving surgery -- befriended Granny and kept her free behind the front desk. She was happy, wagging her tail, getting treats when she wanted and receiving gentle touches on her head for contentment. It was a wonderful sad story as the staff waited for this gentle dog to die.
Caring for pets in most households is considered discretionary spending. And that kind of spending is going be under more pressure in a difficult economy over the next year or more. Our vet fears the coming winter, when heating bills will probably force families to turn in even more pets.
I hate to know this story. But it can motivate those of us who so love animals to support those institutions trying to make a difference. And perhaps each of us can open our homes to another animal and save an innocent life. You'd be making an investment in a kinder world.
So go by your local animal shelter. And if you can't take in another innocent life, consider giving even a little bit of money to places like Happy Tails so they can take in the innocent life for future adoption when the economy gets better,
Granny sure would appreciate it.
Go to: http://happytaleshumane.com/wordpress/
NYTIMES and bailout cost: $1,000,000,000,000
Outside experts tell The New York Times that the probable cost of the developing federal bailout of Wall Street will reach $1 trillion.
That's an astounding amount. And author Kevin Phillips told Bill Moyers on his PBS show that such an amount will mean prominent Democratic causes will face a de-priorization. It will unleash "civil wars" within the political party.
Causes include things like universal health care. And it's all for bad decisions made by Wall Street bigwigs who have walked away with mega-million-dollar golden parachutes and payouts -- one at $354 million over five years for the head of Lehman Brothers.
I'll provide more in blog posts this weekend on the extraordinary show Moyers featured tonight on PBS. Phillips and two New York Times' reporters covering the Wall Street mess for some time now painted a very bleak picture for American households -- not only in the coming year but for the next two decades. Yes, you read right. The next two decades.
It's shocking. And it's obvious after watching Moyers' show how and why we got to this point of such dramatic economic change that will affect a whole generation. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/20/business/20fed.html?hp
That's an astounding amount. And author Kevin Phillips told Bill Moyers on his PBS show that such an amount will mean prominent Democratic causes will face a de-priorization. It will unleash "civil wars" within the political party.
Causes include things like universal health care. And it's all for bad decisions made by Wall Street bigwigs who have walked away with mega-million-dollar golden parachutes and payouts -- one at $354 million over five years for the head of Lehman Brothers.
I'll provide more in blog posts this weekend on the extraordinary show Moyers featured tonight on PBS. Phillips and two New York Times' reporters covering the Wall Street mess for some time now painted a very bleak picture for American households -- not only in the coming year but for the next two decades. Yes, you read right. The next two decades.
It's shocking. And it's obvious after watching Moyers' show how and why we got to this point of such dramatic economic change that will affect a whole generation. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/20/business/20fed.html?hp
Bill O'Reilly blind to his own shortcomings
FOXNEWS star Bill O'Reilly had an interesting segment tonight pointing out the wrongs in Spanish-language ads put out by the McCain and Obama campaigns.
But O'Reilly did not know enough to stop when he was ahead. He stumbled terribly with the following:
* Spanish-lanugage ads are aimed at voters who do not speak English. That's wrong, Bill. You cannot become a voter unless you are a citizen of the United States. And you cannot become a citizen through the naturalization process unless you pass an English language test. The political ads are in Spanish because the voter is more comfortable in communicating in Spanish, not that he or she cannot speak English.
* What issues matter most to Americans of Hispanic descent who are voters? O'Reilly tried to answer that question with white and black political experts on his show. Hey Bill, how about getting an American of Hispanic descent to discuss what issues are important to him or her and their kin?
Amazing. It's the blind leading the blind in covering the 2008 campaign.
But O'Reilly did not know enough to stop when he was ahead. He stumbled terribly with the following:
* Spanish-lanugage ads are aimed at voters who do not speak English. That's wrong, Bill. You cannot become a voter unless you are a citizen of the United States. And you cannot become a citizen through the naturalization process unless you pass an English language test. The political ads are in Spanish because the voter is more comfortable in communicating in Spanish, not that he or she cannot speak English.
* What issues matter most to Americans of Hispanic descent who are voters? O'Reilly tried to answer that question with white and black political experts on his show. Hey Bill, how about getting an American of Hispanic descent to discuss what issues are important to him or her and their kin?
Amazing. It's the blind leading the blind in covering the 2008 campaign.
Two prominent liberal Dems lose big in market
Bloomberg News reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Sen. John Kerry's wife Teresa Heinz Kerry were big holders of AIG stock that plummeted this week after a federal buyout.
Pelosi now is negotiating a big bailout deal for Wall Street in Washington, D.C.
Bloomberg News says 50 lawmakers were touched by the early week fallout in the stock market.
For more, click on: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aSEtGBXG0C0s&refer=worldwide
Pelosi now is negotiating a big bailout deal for Wall Street in Washington, D.C.
Bloomberg News says 50 lawmakers were touched by the early week fallout in the stock market.
For more, click on: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aSEtGBXG0C0s&refer=worldwide
Stay home this weekend; gas shortage will vanish
The oil companies are laughing all the way to the bank -- again.
We as consumers are fueling this gas shortage in Middle Tennessee by panicking and filling up our tanks when we don't need to do so. And when we can't find gas at a local station, we go searching for another site and end up in long lines ... burning more gas to get gas.
Please, outside of going to church, stay home this weekend. Watch the Vols on TV play Florida. Watch the Titans play the Texans on Sunday. Save gas and save your wits and the gas supply will be back to normal by Monday.
Stop the insanity. And stop the oil companies from laughing at us again.
We as consumers are fueling this gas shortage in Middle Tennessee by panicking and filling up our tanks when we don't need to do so. And when we can't find gas at a local station, we go searching for another site and end up in long lines ... burning more gas to get gas.
Please, outside of going to church, stay home this weekend. Watch the Vols on TV play Florida. Watch the Titans play the Texans on Sunday. Save gas and save your wits and the gas supply will be back to normal by Monday.
Stop the insanity. And stop the oil companies from laughing at us again.
Si se puede? No you can't, says Hispanic politico
A second, prominent supporter of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton this week has endorsed Sen. John McCain for president.
Miguel D. Lausell, a Puerto Rican businessman and bigtime, lifelong Democratic fundraiser, came out for McCain -- saying that Sen. Barack Obama has really not been that interested in Hispanics and their issues.
I agree on the truth of Obama being little interested in issues important to Americans of Hispanic descent. His Spanish language ad to link McCain to entertainer Rush Limbaugh was grossly inaccurate. Limbaugh roasted McCain during the Republican primaries for his position on immigration reform. And McCain continues to stress that undocumented workers and their families are human beings.
The second endorsement from a prominent Clinton supporter represents big trouble for the Obama campaign. And it makes undecided voters like me give McCain a second look and consideration. Polls show Obama with at least 66 percent of the Hispanic vote. But he needs 70 percent to win in November. I do not believe he will get that percentage, even though Lausell does not have the right to vote in November.
Read more at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122179087917055511.html
Miguel D. Lausell, a Puerto Rican businessman and bigtime, lifelong Democratic fundraiser, came out for McCain -- saying that Sen. Barack Obama has really not been that interested in Hispanics and their issues.
I agree on the truth of Obama being little interested in issues important to Americans of Hispanic descent. His Spanish language ad to link McCain to entertainer Rush Limbaugh was grossly inaccurate. Limbaugh roasted McCain during the Republican primaries for his position on immigration reform. And McCain continues to stress that undocumented workers and their families are human beings.
The second endorsement from a prominent Clinton supporter represents big trouble for the Obama campaign. And it makes undecided voters like me give McCain a second look and consideration. Polls show Obama with at least 66 percent of the Hispanic vote. But he needs 70 percent to win in November. I do not believe he will get that percentage, even though Lausell does not have the right to vote in November.
Read more at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122179087917055511.html
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Want a difference in the presidential candidates? Try the federal bailouts of Wall Street fat cats
Sen. Barack Obama says he fully supports the federal government's big bailout plan to spend $1 trillion to rescue Wall Street fat cats and investors.
Sen. John McCain opposes the $1 trillion bailout and wants the SEC chairman fired and a new monitoring department created within the U.S. Department of the Treasury to prevent future crises.
This issue will decide the long-term future of the economy at least through the year 2009. A middle ground of just giving the trillion dollars to the American people in need should be explored by both candidates. But no one in the campaigns or on Capitol Hill is talking about such a logical step.
Here is why Obama supports the bailouts: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13631.html
Sen. John McCain opposes the $1 trillion bailout and wants the SEC chairman fired and a new monitoring department created within the U.S. Department of the Treasury to prevent future crises.
This issue will decide the long-term future of the economy at least through the year 2009. A middle ground of just giving the trillion dollars to the American people in need should be explored by both candidates. But no one in the campaigns or on Capitol Hill is talking about such a logical step.
Here is why Obama supports the bailouts: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13631.html
A warning to women wanting health options
Today's New York Times features an important warning to women who want all the health options available to them at a time of crisis.
The column, written by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and the director of Planned Parenthood of America, is another example of the Bush administration's failure to consider women as full human beings with rights to be protected.
While the matter is abortion in regards to the latest Bush policy, the trend is to take away choice from women on even more matters beyond their womb. No one likes abortion, even people who are pro-choice. Some of the most moral people I know are pro-choice. No one deserves the label of pro-life.
The issue is not about taking life. It is giving women the option to choose what is best for their health. And no one, no government or no religion should interfere in the the almost sacred relationship between doctor and patient. A doctor takes an oath to first do no harm. No government or religious official does the same.
In conversations I have had with some conservative women away from their more vocal conservative husbands, they've quietly expressed a desire that they have all the medical options avialable to them and their doctors at a moment of crisis.
After a baby is born, conservatives have shown themselves as deserters of life, not defenders. When it comes to programs to support this new life, they cry "foul". They tell the mom and baby to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, even though they may not have a boot. They cry "personal accountability" for one's actions, yet their desertion of this life goes unmentioned. The outrageous list goes on and on.
So here is the column. It is a must read,
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/19/opinion/19clinton.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin
The column, written by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and the director of Planned Parenthood of America, is another example of the Bush administration's failure to consider women as full human beings with rights to be protected.
While the matter is abortion in regards to the latest Bush policy, the trend is to take away choice from women on even more matters beyond their womb. No one likes abortion, even people who are pro-choice. Some of the most moral people I know are pro-choice. No one deserves the label of pro-life.
The issue is not about taking life. It is giving women the option to choose what is best for their health. And no one, no government or no religion should interfere in the the almost sacred relationship between doctor and patient. A doctor takes an oath to first do no harm. No government or religious official does the same.
In conversations I have had with some conservative women away from their more vocal conservative husbands, they've quietly expressed a desire that they have all the medical options avialable to them and their doctors at a moment of crisis.
After a baby is born, conservatives have shown themselves as deserters of life, not defenders. When it comes to programs to support this new life, they cry "foul". They tell the mom and baby to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, even though they may not have a boot. They cry "personal accountability" for one's actions, yet their desertion of this life goes unmentioned. The outrageous list goes on and on.
So here is the column. It is a must read,
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/19/opinion/19clinton.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin
Introducing editorial cartooning
I'm trying an experiment to see if editorial cartooning will work on this blog.
The reproduction does not appear to be very good. As for as the talent, well it's mediocre at best.
Nashville really does not have any editorial cartooning on a regular basis on local issues. That's a shame. The Tennessean's Sandy Campbell was the last editorial cartoonist of record.
No one can replace him and his talent. While this experiment may last only one cartoon, hopefully the idea is what counts and the skill level will improve.
Nashville scores high for best performing cities
A real estate think tank ranks Metro Nashville as the 22nd best city for economic performance in 2008.
The Milken Institute's rankings show a giant leap for Nashville from a ranking of 61st a year ago. Knoxville came in at 60th, followed by Bristol/Kingsport at 101, Chattanooga at 128 and Memphis at 144th.
What accounts for this quantum change for Nashville? Read on at: http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/
The Milken Institute's rankings show a giant leap for Nashville from a ranking of 61st a year ago. Knoxville came in at 60th, followed by Bristol/Kingsport at 101, Chattanooga at 128 and Memphis at 144th.
What accounts for this quantum change for Nashville? Read on at: http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/
McCain comes out strongly against Fed bailouts
Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain came out forefully today against the ridiculous government bailout of Wall Street bigwigs, separating himself distinctly from Sen. Barack Obama.
McCain's populist note is going to resound with the people of this nation. And it is dead-on correct in his criticism of the Bush administration and congressional leaders.
To read more, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-usa-politics-mccain.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
McCain's populist note is going to resound with the people of this nation. And it is dead-on correct in his criticism of the Bush administration and congressional leaders.
To read more, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-usa-politics-mccain.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Top-Down Socialism? Federal bailouts of Wall Street are the unthinkable come true
The following column lays out the dangers being encountered with an incredibly new round of corporate welfare coming out of Washington.
Congressional and Bush administration officials met tonight on committing even more money to bail out Wall Street. But they will not finalize a plan for several weeks. That gives you time to make your congressperson know what you think.
But first read the following column for some ammunition:
http://ofamerica.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/finacial-meltdown-ushers-in-new-era-of-socialism-top-down-socialism/
Congressional and Bush administration officials met tonight on committing even more money to bail out Wall Street. But they will not finalize a plan for several weeks. That gives you time to make your congressperson know what you think.
But first read the following column for some ammunition:
http://ofamerica.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/finacial-meltdown-ushers-in-new-era-of-socialism-top-down-socialism/
Leno's best lines of the night
"Jessica Simpson has a new album topping the country charts.
"She asked, 'which country?' "
Second best joke:
"Sarah Palin has written a children's book -- 'Goodnight Moose'.
"She asked, 'which country?' "
Second best joke:
"Sarah Palin has written a children's book -- 'Goodnight Moose'.
Obama going more negative in his campaign ads
CNN reports that the Obama campaign has run the most negative ads the week after the political conventions.
The statistics amassed by the University of Wisconsin Advertising Project show that Obama went after McCain three-fourths of the time in his ads while McCain mentioned Obama 56 percent of the time.
Does going negative mean that much to voters? It sure does. And Obama's campaign has been urged to go negative or bare-fisted. CNN says Obama was the first to go negative in the Democratic primaries against Sen. Hillary Clinton.
So for whatever it means to you, Obama is going more negative.
The statistics amassed by the University of Wisconsin Advertising Project show that Obama went after McCain three-fourths of the time in his ads while McCain mentioned Obama 56 percent of the time.
Does going negative mean that much to voters? It sure does. And Obama's campaign has been urged to go negative or bare-fisted. CNN says Obama was the first to go negative in the Democratic primaries against Sen. Hillary Clinton.
So for whatever it means to you, Obama is going more negative.
Fed bailout is the wrong approach for the nation
The more I watch CNBC's Larry Kudlow smile and Suze Orman gab, the more I get angry about the federal government's bailout of deep-pocketed investors and executives on Wall Street with AIG and now who knows which big financial giant.
Congressional and Bush administration leaders meeting behind closed doors means bad news for taxpayers. Orman claims more than 100,000 jobs were saved around the world with the AIG bailout. She also says the government will make a profit from taking over the bad assets of a worldwide insurance company. I didn't know that the federal government should get in the worldwide insurance business and try to make a profit.
I certainly can see the argument about saving homeowners from more foreclosures with the bailout. But as far as easing credit markets for economic expansion, this nation will not begin to recover in jobs and business activity for at least another 12 months.
Is there not a way to direct all the money in the bailout directly to the homeowners and insurance policyholders instead of the bloated Wall Street financiers?
Do you want your government to buy up trillions of dollars of bad debt on Wall Street?
Is what's going on in Washington really for the good of the American people?
No. And as usual, the Bush administration is asleep at the wheel.
People and financiers with big money should have to pay for their greed that caused this mess in the first place.
Congressional and Bush administration leaders meeting behind closed doors means bad news for taxpayers. Orman claims more than 100,000 jobs were saved around the world with the AIG bailout. She also says the government will make a profit from taking over the bad assets of a worldwide insurance company. I didn't know that the federal government should get in the worldwide insurance business and try to make a profit.
I certainly can see the argument about saving homeowners from more foreclosures with the bailout. But as far as easing credit markets for economic expansion, this nation will not begin to recover in jobs and business activity for at least another 12 months.
Is there not a way to direct all the money in the bailout directly to the homeowners and insurance policyholders instead of the bloated Wall Street financiers?
Do you want your government to buy up trillions of dollars of bad debt on Wall Street?
Is what's going on in Washington really for the good of the American people?
No. And as usual, the Bush administration is asleep at the wheel.
People and financiers with big money should have to pay for their greed that caused this mess in the first place.
Bush administration turns its back on Marine hero
Wounded in the head and body, Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta pulled an enemy grenade under his body and saved members of his unit going through a terrorist hideout in Fallujah.
President Bush was so moved by Sgt. Peralta's heroics that he cited the Marine at a Memorial Day speech in 2005. Peralta's mother was called by the Undersecretary of the Navy and told her son's nomination for the Medal of Honor would be forwarded to the White House.
Yet now Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has removed the nomination for consideration, saying the Marine only deserves the Navy Cross.
That is quite an insult, to any Marine and anyone who has been on the battlefield. The Bush administration continues to reveal how much less of people its members are when it comes to integrity compared to our men and women on the field of battle.
Forty-four Americans of Hispanic descent have received the Medal of Honor, beginning with the Battle of Gettysburg. Marines have always been the first in and the last out, never leaving a comrade on the field of battle.
Semper Fi, always faithful. If only the president and his administration could be the same. Read more at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080919/ap_on_re_us/death_by_grenade;_ylt=AheFyYvm_Z9SO8JYtPxXEpRvzwcF
President Bush was so moved by Sgt. Peralta's heroics that he cited the Marine at a Memorial Day speech in 2005. Peralta's mother was called by the Undersecretary of the Navy and told her son's nomination for the Medal of Honor would be forwarded to the White House.
Yet now Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has removed the nomination for consideration, saying the Marine only deserves the Navy Cross.
That is quite an insult, to any Marine and anyone who has been on the battlefield. The Bush administration continues to reveal how much less of people its members are when it comes to integrity compared to our men and women on the field of battle.
Forty-four Americans of Hispanic descent have received the Medal of Honor, beginning with the Battle of Gettysburg. Marines have always been the first in and the last out, never leaving a comrade on the field of battle.
Semper Fi, always faithful. If only the president and his administration could be the same. Read more at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080919/ap_on_re_us/death_by_grenade;_ylt=AheFyYvm_Z9SO8JYtPxXEpRvzwcF
BREAKING NEWS: Knoxville News-Sentinel reports that son of Tennessee state representative could be focus of investigation of Palin e-mail hacking
The state's best newspaper reports that the son of a Memphis state representative is being investigated for a role in the hacking of Gov. Sarah Palin's personal e-mail account.
State Rep. Mike Kernell, Democrat in Memphis, told the Knoxville News Sentinel that he has heard of the same Internet reports about his son. His son is a student at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Federal officials are investigating the hacking incident. Kernell said he has not been contacted by the Feds. Read more here:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/18/tennessean-state-reps-son-contacted-palin-e-mail-p/
State Rep. Mike Kernell, Democrat in Memphis, told the Knoxville News Sentinel that he has heard of the same Internet reports about his son. His son is a student at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.
Federal officials are investigating the hacking incident. Kernell said he has not been contacted by the Feds. Read more here:
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/18/tennessean-state-reps-son-contacted-palin-e-mail-p/
Poll shows bad news for Democrats in November
Politico.com says a new Pew Research poll shows independents view Republicans slightly more favorably than Democrats.
The difference is one percentage point. But Politico says the difference just a few months ago was 18 percentage points in favor the Dems.
So what's happening? It seems that Sen. John McCain's pick of Gov. Sarah Palin has separated him enough from President Bush and his failures in office. That's bad news for Sen. Barack Obama as he tries to press his case for fixing the economy and tying McCain to the president.
Read more at: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13584.html
The difference is one percentage point. But Politico says the difference just a few months ago was 18 percentage points in favor the Dems.
So what's happening? It seems that Sen. John McCain's pick of Gov. Sarah Palin has separated him enough from President Bush and his failures in office. That's bad news for Sen. Barack Obama as he tries to press his case for fixing the economy and tying McCain to the president.
Read more at: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13584.html
McCain is lying in Spanish, too, says NYTIMES
The New York Times says Sen. John McCain is lying in his Spanish language ad about Sen. Barack Obama and the nation's failed immigration policy.
ABC News has said that Obama is lying in his Spanish language ad and tying McCain to entertainer Rush Limbaugh.
What is a voter to think? The obvious. Both candidates can lie in Spanish just like they do in English. Big deal.
Read what The NYTIMES has to say about McCain's ad:
http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/whats-spanish-for-lies/
ABC News has said that Obama is lying in his Spanish language ad and tying McCain to entertainer Rush Limbaugh.
What is a voter to think? The obvious. Both candidates can lie in Spanish just like they do in English. Big deal.
Read what The NYTIMES has to say about McCain's ad:
http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/whats-spanish-for-lies/
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Kentucky woman's death must be investigated
A petition is being distributed to demand justice and accountability in the case of Ana Romero, a 42-year-old working woman supporting her mother and two sons going to college.
Romero, of Shelbyville, Ky., was detained on immigration charges and placed in solidary confinement in the Franklin County jail. She later was reported dead. The state police are investigating the possibility of a suicide. But Romero's family disputes any contention that she took her life. Romero's family is from El Salvador.
This country has a growing history of human beings dying in detention for immigration charges. And being in this nation illegally is not a felony or violent crime.
So why are these human beings dying? And why are these human beings undergoing torture, like in Nashville with a very pregnant Hispanic woman held by Nashville law enforcement authorities. Mrs. Juana Villegas was shackled during childbirth and aftereward. Her newborn was taken from her.
Your signature on the petition at the Internet address below will put weight behind a call for an independent investigation and justice in Romero's case. It also will send a message nationwide that these wrongs must end.
http://www.immigrantjustice.org/blog/detentionblog/justice-for-ana-romero.html
Romero, of Shelbyville, Ky., was detained on immigration charges and placed in solidary confinement in the Franklin County jail. She later was reported dead. The state police are investigating the possibility of a suicide. But Romero's family disputes any contention that she took her life. Romero's family is from El Salvador.
This country has a growing history of human beings dying in detention for immigration charges. And being in this nation illegally is not a felony or violent crime.
So why are these human beings dying? And why are these human beings undergoing torture, like in Nashville with a very pregnant Hispanic woman held by Nashville law enforcement authorities. Mrs. Juana Villegas was shackled during childbirth and aftereward. Her newborn was taken from her.
Your signature on the petition at the Internet address below will put weight behind a call for an independent investigation and justice in Romero's case. It also will send a message nationwide that these wrongs must end.
http://www.immigrantjustice.org/blog/detentionblog/justice-for-ana-romero.html
Playing race card a big loser for Obama-backers
NPR's Juan Williams says that Sen. Barack Obama will need a five-to-eight point lead going into election day to win the presidency.
Williams, who also serves as a commentator for FOXNEWS, says that kind of polling lead will be needed to offset voters who will not vote for an African-American, no matter what they say to pollsters. FOX calls that the "Bradley Effect", named for LA Mayor Tom Bradley who led in the polls running for California governor but still lost on election day.
Current polls show Obama and Sen. John McCain running neck to neck.
Obama the candidate has made little reference to his two races. That has gained him favor. His supporters, however, are doing him little good in playing the race card now -- no matter if it is truthful or not.
Williams, who also serves as a commentator for FOXNEWS, says that kind of polling lead will be needed to offset voters who will not vote for an African-American, no matter what they say to pollsters. FOX calls that the "Bradley Effect", named for LA Mayor Tom Bradley who led in the polls running for California governor but still lost on election day.
Current polls show Obama and Sen. John McCain running neck to neck.
Obama the candidate has made little reference to his two races. That has gained him favor. His supporters, however, are doing him little good in playing the race card now -- no matter if it is truthful or not.
Obama wrong to tie McCain to Limbaugh, ABC says
ABC News says that a new ad in Spanish by Sen. Barack Obama is wrong in its contentions that Sen. John McCain is against Hispanics.
Composed by political reporter Jake Tapper, the following critique of the Obama ad is long and succinct. It provides a good education on the nation's immigration policy and attempts to pass reform in Congress.
And Rush Limbaugh -- the focal point of the Obama ad -- is examined for his extreme opinion on immigrants and whether McCain should be aligned with the radio entertainer. Obama's new ad is very important to his campaign because Nevada and Colorado are considered toss-up states and critical to the Democrat's election. And of course, there are many Americans of Hispanic descent who vote in those states.
Click on the following and see what you think:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/from-the-fact-1.html
Composed by political reporter Jake Tapper, the following critique of the Obama ad is long and succinct. It provides a good education on the nation's immigration policy and attempts to pass reform in Congress.
And Rush Limbaugh -- the focal point of the Obama ad -- is examined for his extreme opinion on immigrants and whether McCain should be aligned with the radio entertainer. Obama's new ad is very important to his campaign because Nevada and Colorado are considered toss-up states and critical to the Democrat's election. And of course, there are many Americans of Hispanic descent who vote in those states.
Click on the following and see what you think:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09/from-the-fact-1.html
How about a four-day school week? Go Memphis!
While businesses seek to reduce costs by buying out the jobs of longtime employees, teachers with the Memphis City Schools have come up with a great idea to make education more effective and less expensive.
They want to go to a four-day work week. That would mean slightly longer school days, but those two hours would keep children in schools and off the street. History books could actually be finished in a school year.
Parents could save money on child care after school. Cities could save on after-school programs and apply the money directly to help households or put it into the classroom. The list goes on and on.
Just think if businesses could be examining the same advancement instead of continuing the ongoing retreat in quality and service. Such a step would save households one day of driving. That would save the environment from another day of pollution each week. That would give children another day with their parents -- to play, to finish homework and love life besides each other.
School districts would save on one day a week of utilities, one day of cleaning, one day of using scare supplies. That adds up fast, considering that Wilson County Schools just barely passed a tax hike to keep sports and necessary jobs in the district.
Let's hear it for Memphis and better and more efficient government. Read more about the idea and see what benefit such a change could deliver to your community and your children.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/17/mcs-teachers-may-seek-4-day-week/
They want to go to a four-day work week. That would mean slightly longer school days, but those two hours would keep children in schools and off the street. History books could actually be finished in a school year.
Parents could save money on child care after school. Cities could save on after-school programs and apply the money directly to help households or put it into the classroom. The list goes on and on.
Just think if businesses could be examining the same advancement instead of continuing the ongoing retreat in quality and service. Such a step would save households one day of driving. That would save the environment from another day of pollution each week. That would give children another day with their parents -- to play, to finish homework and love life besides each other.
School districts would save on one day a week of utilities, one day of cleaning, one day of using scare supplies. That adds up fast, considering that Wilson County Schools just barely passed a tax hike to keep sports and necessary jobs in the district.
Let's hear it for Memphis and better and more efficient government. Read more about the idea and see what benefit such a change could deliver to your community and your children.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/sep/17/mcs-teachers-may-seek-4-day-week/
Will Obama's race cost him the presidency? No, his choice to ignore Clinton for vice president will
CNN's curmudgeonly commentator Jack Cafferty yesterday tried to re-introduce race into the presidential campaign, claiming Sen. Barack Obama's race could cost him the election.
These kind of statements usually come out when the victim/candidate is not doing as well in the polls as he or she should be. And that's Obama's position right now.
Some commentators claimed Obama's skin color(associated with him being half black and not half white) gave him an advantage in news media coverage. Perhaps the better explanation is that Obama's newness has rubbed off his image as an agent of change and that giving the same speech over and over ultimately puts people to sleep.
The matter of race was going to have to re-emerge some time, after its head briefly broke above ground during primary races in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
But now Cafferty -- who was very pro-Obama and anti-Clinton during the primaries -- has yanked the race card out of the ground and is flashing it before viewers to see who will notice. Afterall, getting noticed is the first responsibility of a commentator. That keeps you on the air and selling new books.
So here is what McCafferty has to say about race, Obama and the presidency:
http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/16/obama-race-a-factor/
These kind of statements usually come out when the victim/candidate is not doing as well in the polls as he or she should be. And that's Obama's position right now.
Some commentators claimed Obama's skin color(associated with him being half black and not half white) gave him an advantage in news media coverage. Perhaps the better explanation is that Obama's newness has rubbed off his image as an agent of change and that giving the same speech over and over ultimately puts people to sleep.
The matter of race was going to have to re-emerge some time, after its head briefly broke above ground during primary races in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
But now Cafferty -- who was very pro-Obama and anti-Clinton during the primaries -- has yanked the race card out of the ground and is flashing it before viewers to see who will notice. Afterall, getting noticed is the first responsibility of a commentator. That keeps you on the air and selling new books.
So here is what McCafferty has to say about race, Obama and the presidency:
http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/16/obama-race-a-factor/
Dow 10,000? That's where we are headed
Everyone is trying to say when the bottom has been reached in the Dow Jones Industrials Average and the S&P 500.
That game has been played since last spring. Some of us were fooled to jump back into the market through mutual funds. And some of us jumped right back out of the funds when the market kept going down. Yes, we paid a little in declined values and commissions.
But eventually, we went short in the market, investing only in individual, Bear Market stocks and municipal bonds. And we're on the plus side for the year in our investments.
Anything tied to a financial institution is not a Bear Market stock. Commodity stock also are not secure. Only a few stocks offer safe harbor. That's why you need to meet with a certified financial planner. Even money market money funds are not as secure as in the past. The future is quite dicey over the next 12-15 months.
One thing is certain. The Dow will descend to 10,000 as a floor, then slowly head up. So get prepared for that future by seeing a certified financial planner now.
That game has been played since last spring. Some of us were fooled to jump back into the market through mutual funds. And some of us jumped right back out of the funds when the market kept going down. Yes, we paid a little in declined values and commissions.
But eventually, we went short in the market, investing only in individual, Bear Market stocks and municipal bonds. And we're on the plus side for the year in our investments.
Anything tied to a financial institution is not a Bear Market stock. Commodity stock also are not secure. Only a few stocks offer safe harbor. That's why you need to meet with a certified financial planner. Even money market money funds are not as secure as in the past. The future is quite dicey over the next 12-15 months.
One thing is certain. The Dow will descend to 10,000 as a floor, then slowly head up. So get prepared for that future by seeing a certified financial planner now.
It's Hispanic Heritage Month; you didn't notice? Good; that's the way it should be in America
I don't care for Hispanic Heritage Month. I don't care for Black Heritage Month. Anything that separates our common American history into a series of special recognitions is wrong.
I am an American first. I also have a Mexican heritage. But America is my country, and that's why I fly our nation's flag out front each month. Sept. 15, Mexican Independence Day, means little to me. American Independence Day was the time of big celebration and fireworks in my childhood home.
It was the same with my cousin Ana in Topeka, Kan., and her mom and dad and brothers and sisters. Her father was a patriotic veteran of the Pacific Theater in WWII. When he came back home and despite the bigotry he faced, he remained an American. And no one had better say anything ill about his country or they'd get a punch in the face. Such is patriotism. Such is my heritage, and I am most proud of Ana's father.
So don't feel like you have to genuflect to Hispanic Heritage Month or whatever heritage month. Our fight must be to get our American history mixed in with everyone else's American history. A heritage month is a sad second prize that only ensures the people it recognizes a secondary spot in the past, present and future of the United States of America.
I am an American first. I also have a Mexican heritage. But America is my country, and that's why I fly our nation's flag out front each month. Sept. 15, Mexican Independence Day, means little to me. American Independence Day was the time of big celebration and fireworks in my childhood home.
It was the same with my cousin Ana in Topeka, Kan., and her mom and dad and brothers and sisters. Her father was a patriotic veteran of the Pacific Theater in WWII. When he came back home and despite the bigotry he faced, he remained an American. And no one had better say anything ill about his country or they'd get a punch in the face. Such is patriotism. Such is my heritage, and I am most proud of Ana's father.
So don't feel like you have to genuflect to Hispanic Heritage Month or whatever heritage month. Our fight must be to get our American history mixed in with everyone else's American history. A heritage month is a sad second prize that only ensures the people it recognizes a secondary spot in the past, present and future of the United States of America.
Want to laugh? Watch this video clip
Amid all the fear and worry over the meltdown on Wall Street, some folks have found something to laugh about.
We need something, too, that is just silly. And any time the news media gets embarrassed is a real gift for the rest of us to cherish.
Take a look at this offering from YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txDWRR5WRFQ
We need something, too, that is just silly. And any time the news media gets embarrassed is a real gift for the rest of us to cherish.
Take a look at this offering from YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txDWRR5WRFQ
McCain/Palin to pick up key Clinton endorsement
CNN reports that a big-time supporter and donor to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campain will endorese the McCain/Palin ticket today.
Wow.
For all the criticism of it, Sen. McCain's strategy in picking Gov. Palin is paying off quite early. And today's announcement carries the danger of becoming a snowball into November.
Indeed, it is McCain/Palin's race to the White House to lose. And they're showing no intent on fumbling away that opportunity.
To read more:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/16/prominent-clinton-backer-and-dnc-member-to-endorse-mccain/
Wow.
For all the criticism of it, Sen. McCain's strategy in picking Gov. Palin is paying off quite early. And today's announcement carries the danger of becoming a snowball into November.
Indeed, it is McCain/Palin's race to the White House to lose. And they're showing no intent on fumbling away that opportunity.
To read more:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/09/16/prominent-clinton-backer-and-dnc-member-to-endorse-mccain/
You're paying for Bredesen's big German vacation
Gov. Phil Bredesen has just announced a massive Tennessee invasion of Germany to sell the Chattanooga area as a place for German suppliers to locate plants.
The delegation, including every person in the Chattanooga who wants to try authentic bratwurst, will spend seven days in Germany at taxpayer expense. Receptions with lavish foods and alcohol -- for German suppliers and their relatives who would like to try MoonPies -- will be paid for by Tennessee taxpayers.
The trip is an emergency one. Bredesen thought he had given the right encouragement to all German companies when he gifted Volkswagen with a whopping $577 million in taxpayer giveways to locate its plant in Chattanooga. Although Tennessee taxpayers are footing that enormous bill, Bredesen's deal did not require Volkswagen to even employ Tennesseans. The states of Georgia and Alabama can get the manufacturing jobs, too, without spending a penny.
Now, there is word that a big German supplier for the VW plant may locate in Huntsville, Ala., and not Tennessee. Bredesen's bad economic arithmetic figured on all German suppliers locating in Tennessee for his mega VW deal to pay off economically in the long run.
So the govenor is panicked. He has to take a bunch of people with him to Germany to beg for location of supply plants in Tennessee.
Again, for his incomptence, Tennesseans are paying. Meanwhile, as Bredesen plans to party in Germany, he is cutting off 1,000 human beings from 24-hour nursing care to stay alive under TennCare. How many of those vulnerable people could have been saved without all the freebies to VW and now a party trip to the real Oktoberfest?
Bredesen indeed has run government like a business ... Lehman Brothers, Enron, Meryll Lynch, AIG, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the list goes on and on.
The delegation, including every person in the Chattanooga who wants to try authentic bratwurst, will spend seven days in Germany at taxpayer expense. Receptions with lavish foods and alcohol -- for German suppliers and their relatives who would like to try MoonPies -- will be paid for by Tennessee taxpayers.
The trip is an emergency one. Bredesen thought he had given the right encouragement to all German companies when he gifted Volkswagen with a whopping $577 million in taxpayer giveways to locate its plant in Chattanooga. Although Tennessee taxpayers are footing that enormous bill, Bredesen's deal did not require Volkswagen to even employ Tennesseans. The states of Georgia and Alabama can get the manufacturing jobs, too, without spending a penny.
Now, there is word that a big German supplier for the VW plant may locate in Huntsville, Ala., and not Tennessee. Bredesen's bad economic arithmetic figured on all German suppliers locating in Tennessee for his mega VW deal to pay off economically in the long run.
So the govenor is panicked. He has to take a bunch of people with him to Germany to beg for location of supply plants in Tennessee.
Again, for his incomptence, Tennesseans are paying. Meanwhile, as Bredesen plans to party in Germany, he is cutting off 1,000 human beings from 24-hour nursing care to stay alive under TennCare. How many of those vulnerable people could have been saved without all the freebies to VW and now a party trip to the real Oktoberfest?
Bredesen indeed has run government like a business ... Lehman Brothers, Enron, Meryll Lynch, AIG, Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and the list goes on and on.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
With seven weeks to go, it's McCain's race to lose
Pollsters are coming to some concrete conclusions about the presidential race, and the obvious one is that the big battleground states are swinging to the McCain/Palin ticket.
The Obama campaign must stop McCain/Palin in Michigan or Pennsylvania. The Republican ticket will take Ohio. So as Meatloaf sang, two out of three ain't bad for McCain/Palin.
The South is being written off. McCain/Palin has Florida. Virginia is slipping away from Sen. Obama.
The Democratic ticket must win Iowa, New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado to keep its hopes alive -- along with Michigan kept out of the McCain/Palin column.
Strategists who claim that the current financial crisis on Wall Street and Main Street will help Obama are mistaken. McCain has been ranting the populist cry, "throw the rascals out!" Even the financial analysts on CNBC cannot agree on who and what are at fault here. So McCain's definitive cry is going to carry voter emotions.
Gov. Sarah Palin will continue to advance the ticket based on personal history and public record. Troopergate will not hurt the campaign. Her upcoming debate appearance will clinch her spot of credibility in most voter minds. Dem VP nominee Sen. Joe Biden will not know how to respond to her.
These are some of the cold, hard conclusions with seven weeks to go. It's McCain's race to lose.
The Obama campaign must stop McCain/Palin in Michigan or Pennsylvania. The Republican ticket will take Ohio. So as Meatloaf sang, two out of three ain't bad for McCain/Palin.
The South is being written off. McCain/Palin has Florida. Virginia is slipping away from Sen. Obama.
The Democratic ticket must win Iowa, New Mexico, Nevada and Colorado to keep its hopes alive -- along with Michigan kept out of the McCain/Palin column.
Strategists who claim that the current financial crisis on Wall Street and Main Street will help Obama are mistaken. McCain has been ranting the populist cry, "throw the rascals out!" Even the financial analysts on CNBC cannot agree on who and what are at fault here. So McCain's definitive cry is going to carry voter emotions.
Gov. Sarah Palin will continue to advance the ticket based on personal history and public record. Troopergate will not hurt the campaign. Her upcoming debate appearance will clinch her spot of credibility in most voter minds. Dem VP nominee Sen. Joe Biden will not know how to respond to her.
These are some of the cold, hard conclusions with seven weeks to go. It's McCain's race to lose.
Refusal of Rangel to step down from House committee chairmanship will hurt Obama
When Republican presidential nominee John McCain wants to cite the reason why Washington needs to be cleaned up, all he has to do -- beginning today -- is hold up a picture of Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel, who has refused to give up his Ways and Means Committee chairmanship despite his growing ethical scandal.
Rangel made known his intent of staying as committee chair at an afternoon news conference today. While he criticized Republicans for pouncing on his failure to follow the law in rental income and other housing gifts he has received for the past 10 years, Rangel's largest nemesis has been The New Yokr Times. It has uncovered a series of tax filing omissions and oversights that Rangel continues to say were unintentional.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could order him to step down. But that would require integrity. Both parties suffer from a lack of integrity. We know that truth locally through all the excuses Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn has drawn upon for the failure of her office to obey Federal Election Commission law on reporting campaign finances.
Obama's in a tough spot. To affect needed change, he'll have to start with his own party's leadership. Meanwhile, McCain comes off as a bipartisan public servant.
Rangel made known his intent of staying as committee chair at an afternoon news conference today. While he criticized Republicans for pouncing on his failure to follow the law in rental income and other housing gifts he has received for the past 10 years, Rangel's largest nemesis has been The New Yokr Times. It has uncovered a series of tax filing omissions and oversights that Rangel continues to say were unintentional.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could order him to step down. But that would require integrity. Both parties suffer from a lack of integrity. We know that truth locally through all the excuses Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn has drawn upon for the failure of her office to obey Federal Election Commission law on reporting campaign finances.
Obama's in a tough spot. To affect needed change, he'll have to start with his own party's leadership. Meanwhile, McCain comes off as a bipartisan public servant.
Read and learn about lack of truth in McCain ads
I've got to agree that the McCain/Palin campaign has been having a big problem with making room for the truth in its TV ads.
The women on The View almost tore McCain up like crazed Amazons when questioning him about claims in his ads. Honest John has a long way toward catching up with Honest Abe.
A friend of mine sent me the following link to help provide you the truth amid so much of the propaganda.
http://adage.com/garfield/post?article_id=130958
The women on The View almost tore McCain up like crazed Amazons when questioning him about claims in his ads. Honest John has a long way toward catching up with Honest Abe.
A friend of mine sent me the following link to help provide you the truth amid so much of the propaganda.
http://adage.com/garfield/post?article_id=130958
Is Lou Dobbs a racist? You bet he is; here's proof
Two Franklin, TN., men have unwittingly unmasked their anti-immigrant hero for what he really is: a racist, a bigot, a bonehead.
The Obama Waffles' controversy has finally yielded some benefit, but not for the conservative ideology of the products' makers. Instead, they caught CNN's Lou Dobbs with their stupid product. Dobbs loved Sen. Obama being featured as an Old South stereotype of a black man with an Islamic turban on top on his head.
Just think of the money these two Franklin men could have made with other hate products that ridicule all the different people who have made the United States the greatest country on Earth.
In 2004, Bush supporters put out the Kerry flip-flops for his shift in positions on the war in Iraq. But his likeness looked just like him, with nothing to satirize his racial or ethnic characteristics.
Click here to see ol' Lou caught with his bigoted britches down:
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/481
The Obama Waffles' controversy has finally yielded some benefit, but not for the conservative ideology of the products' makers. Instead, they caught CNN's Lou Dobbs with their stupid product. Dobbs loved Sen. Obama being featured as an Old South stereotype of a black man with an Islamic turban on top on his head.
Just think of the money these two Franklin men could have made with other hate products that ridicule all the different people who have made the United States the greatest country on Earth.
In 2004, Bush supporters put out the Kerry flip-flops for his shift in positions on the war in Iraq. But his likeness looked just like him, with nothing to satirize his racial or ethnic characteristics.
Click here to see ol' Lou caught with his bigoted britches down:
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/481
Monday, September 15, 2008
NashvillePost says race for state speaker's job is on
Ken Whitehouse of the NashvillePost.com reports that House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh is in for fight with Nashville Democrat Rep. Gary Odom for the top leadership job.
Rep. Odom has stepped forward recently as a defender of TennCare and the state's most vulnerable. It's nice to have such a leader on Capitol Hill after failures in the governor's, speaker's and Lt. Gov.'s office.
Would Odom actively buck heads with Gov. Phil Bredesen in defense of the many against the needs of the few? We haven't seen as much from leadership on Capitol Hill during Bredesen's almost six years as governor.
Click on Whitehouse's story to read more:
http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2008/9/12/jockeying_for_position_begins_in_state_house
Rep. Odom has stepped forward recently as a defender of TennCare and the state's most vulnerable. It's nice to have such a leader on Capitol Hill after failures in the governor's, speaker's and Lt. Gov.'s office.
Would Odom actively buck heads with Gov. Phil Bredesen in defense of the many against the needs of the few? We haven't seen as much from leadership on Capitol Hill during Bredesen's almost six years as governor.
Click on Whitehouse's story to read more:
http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2008/9/12/jockeying_for_position_begins_in_state_house
Answers amid financial crisis available for you at The New York Times and www.marketwatch.com
The financial markets are taking a beating overseas in reaction to today's 500-point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. This week will be a volatile one for the markets and for investors, particularly folks with 401ks.
You must have a lot of questions. Go to the following Q&A package from The New York Times for some answers. And be sure to make an appointment tomorrow with a certified financial planner to ease your mind and diversify your investments.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/business/yourmoney/15reporterqanda.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Also click on the following financial markets' primer on investments. It is a good, informative read. This crisis will not be over soon. The impact on jobs and communities is going to be widespread. So get empowered by getting informed.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/perspective-not-panic-help-you/story.aspx?guid=%7BAF7E58D3%2D23C6%2D47E4%2DA178%2D9270F6343A46%7D
You must have a lot of questions. Go to the following Q&A package from The New York Times for some answers. And be sure to make an appointment tomorrow with a certified financial planner to ease your mind and diversify your investments.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/business/yourmoney/15reporterqanda.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Also click on the following financial markets' primer on investments. It is a good, informative read. This crisis will not be over soon. The impact on jobs and communities is going to be widespread. So get empowered by getting informed.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/perspective-not-panic-help-you/story.aspx?guid=%7BAF7E58D3%2D23C6%2D47E4%2DA178%2D9270F6343A46%7D
Say It Ain't So; Obama's lead in New York State plummets to 5 points, according to one pollster
In the crayon-color politics of the United States, New York State is supposed to be partisan blue.
But a new Sienna College poll tied to likely voters as of Sept. 8 gives Sen. Barack Obama only a five-point lead as this point in the Empire State. That's hard to believe. But likely voters give McCain the edge in the kind of attributes wanted in the leader of the free world.
It's important to note that this poll was taken before the financial legs of this nation were taken out from under it during the past weekend of turmoil on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 500 points today.
Also, New York voters are prone to large surges in emotion and overreaction, as I witnessed from living and working four years up there. But former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is testament to a Republican who can appeal past the crayons and win.
So believe it or not about Sen. Obama's lead. Here is the poll:
http://www.siena.edu/level2col.aspx?menu_id=562&id=19322
But a new Sienna College poll tied to likely voters as of Sept. 8 gives Sen. Barack Obama only a five-point lead as this point in the Empire State. That's hard to believe. But likely voters give McCain the edge in the kind of attributes wanted in the leader of the free world.
It's important to note that this poll was taken before the financial legs of this nation were taken out from under it during the past weekend of turmoil on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 500 points today.
Also, New York voters are prone to large surges in emotion and overreaction, as I witnessed from living and working four years up there. But former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is testament to a Republican who can appeal past the crayons and win.
So believe it or not about Sen. Obama's lead. Here is the poll:
http://www.siena.edu/level2col.aspx?menu_id=562&id=19322
Sunday, September 14, 2008
A NATION ON THE BRINK: NYTIMES webpage shows Wall Street's big movers in crisis; our economy will not recover for one year or more
Away from the football stadia and Hurricance Ike coverage this weekend, the major financial players in government and on Wall Street have been frantically trying to save the nation from another fiscal crisis.
And it looks like they've failed.
Tomorrow, another major brokerage and financial firm will go under, this time filing under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy code. That provides a filer temporary relief from creditors while it reorganizes in some business entity or makes it more attractive for buyers by selling some assets. Beyond that shocker about Lehman Brothers, the big name of Merrill Lynch has been purchased for $44 billion by Bank of America, reports Marketwatch.com.
The nation's declining home prices have rocked Wall Street financial houses and the mortgage portolios of bank stock they own and other instruments. The crisis soon will threaten more institutions as commercial property values start to decline.
Whomever wins the White House will have a big mess on his hands. It will overshadow Iraq and Afghanistan and cause even more pain in U.S. households.
What should you do? Do not invest any money into the stock market without the advice of a certified financial planner -- NOT A BROKERAGE FIRM/FINANCIAL HOUSE. You can get a free meeting and advice from a planner. You do not necessarily have to have a certain amount of money to see a planner. Ask him or her first.
If you have money in the stock market, ask the planner first what to do. This is a short-trading market. That means profit can only really be made in buying and selling stock in a single day or over a week. Such trading takes big money to pay high commissions in order to make a profit.
For most people, the yearly return on investments during the next 12 months will probably be 2 percent at most in fixed instruments. Municipal bonds can deliver 4 to 5 percent and tax free, but you are buying into a term of 30-years for these instruments. Again, get a financial planner and ask for investments inside and outside of Wall Street. Diversify your holdings to maximize profits and limit risks. And start watching CNBC (Channel 46 Comcast) on weekdays for more awareness about the financial markets.
Sorry for the bad news. But the action outside of football and hurricanes is where the fate of a nation is being decided for the coming year. A friend of mine who is an attorney told me over lunch Friday that his colleagues in bankruptcy law are gearing for a heavy caseload. The state of Tennessee already is among the nation's leaders in the number of personal bankruptcy filings.
As an economics writer, I covered the federal bankrutpcy court in the Western District of Oklahoma for 10 years during the Oil Bust. The hardship was heartbreaking from the banker to the rig worker.
In the coming months, we will need to become more of our brothers and sisters keepers, more than at any other time in our years on this Earth. May God make us courageous, compassionate and heroic.
To read more, click on: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/business/15lehman.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
And it looks like they've failed.
Tomorrow, another major brokerage and financial firm will go under, this time filing under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy code. That provides a filer temporary relief from creditors while it reorganizes in some business entity or makes it more attractive for buyers by selling some assets. Beyond that shocker about Lehman Brothers, the big name of Merrill Lynch has been purchased for $44 billion by Bank of America, reports Marketwatch.com.
The nation's declining home prices have rocked Wall Street financial houses and the mortgage portolios of bank stock they own and other instruments. The crisis soon will threaten more institutions as commercial property values start to decline.
Whomever wins the White House will have a big mess on his hands. It will overshadow Iraq and Afghanistan and cause even more pain in U.S. households.
What should you do? Do not invest any money into the stock market without the advice of a certified financial planner -- NOT A BROKERAGE FIRM/FINANCIAL HOUSE. You can get a free meeting and advice from a planner. You do not necessarily have to have a certain amount of money to see a planner. Ask him or her first.
If you have money in the stock market, ask the planner first what to do. This is a short-trading market. That means profit can only really be made in buying and selling stock in a single day or over a week. Such trading takes big money to pay high commissions in order to make a profit.
For most people, the yearly return on investments during the next 12 months will probably be 2 percent at most in fixed instruments. Municipal bonds can deliver 4 to 5 percent and tax free, but you are buying into a term of 30-years for these instruments. Again, get a financial planner and ask for investments inside and outside of Wall Street. Diversify your holdings to maximize profits and limit risks. And start watching CNBC (Channel 46 Comcast) on weekdays for more awareness about the financial markets.
Sorry for the bad news. But the action outside of football and hurricanes is where the fate of a nation is being decided for the coming year. A friend of mine who is an attorney told me over lunch Friday that his colleagues in bankruptcy law are gearing for a heavy caseload. The state of Tennessee already is among the nation's leaders in the number of personal bankruptcy filings.
As an economics writer, I covered the federal bankrutpcy court in the Western District of Oklahoma for 10 years during the Oil Bust. The hardship was heartbreaking from the banker to the rig worker.
In the coming months, we will need to become more of our brothers and sisters keepers, more than at any other time in our years on this Earth. May God make us courageous, compassionate and heroic.
To read more, click on: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/business/15lehman.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Vanderbilt already ranks high as a big winner in NCAA on the field, in the classroom and in healing
The continued rise of Vanderbilt University football has been the most exciting sports story in the state, but Saturday's big win over Rice just confirmed the championship direction of the institution.
A record of 3-0 in NCAA Division I Football for the 'Dores should be enough to crack into the top 25. Won't that be a heady accomplishment.
But the bigger picture continues to be that football success can go with excellence in the classroom and miracles in the medical center. Vanderbilt continues to be a city on a hill in Nashville. Now its light shines just a bit brighter from the football stadium. And we're all the more excited and satisfied by it.
A record of 3-0 in NCAA Division I Football for the 'Dores should be enough to crack into the top 25. Won't that be a heady accomplishment.
But the bigger picture continues to be that football success can go with excellence in the classroom and miracles in the medical center. Vanderbilt continues to be a city on a hill in Nashville. Now its light shines just a bit brighter from the football stadium. And we're all the more excited and satisfied by it.
Titans' great win points to great season but also to a most uncertain future without Vince Young
One would hope that The Tennessean has now received an answer to its "Is Jeff Fisher Overrated" front page piece on NFL opening day.
The package was silly -- but not as bad as the question. And the Titans 2-0 start thanks to a dissembling of the Bengals 24-7 today in Cincy brings new hope to this season and more uncertainty thereafter.
The Titans are a complete team on both sides of the ball, and they have a rookie runningback who is going to be a star. The QB position has been bolstered this season with the backup of Kerry Collins, who played a perfect game under miserable conditions today. The guy is a tough and ready winner.
Truly, it looks like the Titans could go much further than anyone thought, take the AFC South and go deep into the playoffs. The Super Bowl on the AFC side is up for grabs after the Steelers.
But after this great season we're watching, the Titans could well be left at the quarterback with an aging 36-year-old signal caller and no Vince Young. That means the future is now -- to return to the Super Bowl and pick up that yard from the goal line.
While the Titans' victory was exciting, Vince Young had to be experiencing mixed feelings. Collins' great performance may not have lifted his spirits a lot, and those spirits have to mend for him to return as a confident contributor to the Titans.
Often in the NFL, these situations do not end up well. Young very well might want to leave Nashville and some bad memories. So in the offseason, look for a lot of wheeling and dealing. Young probably won't end up in the AFC, but there are a number of NFC teams that could certainly use him.
This kind of conjecture does not make Young a bad man or an immature young male. Football is a business, as was so poignantly profiled in the great movie North Dallas Forty. The lockeroom conversation between the two North Dallas offensive tackles and their coach after a bitter loss is a classic.
Vince needs to do what is best for him. If he feels that means sticking it out with the Titans after this season, great. If it doesn't, everyone should wish him the best for all the excitement he brought to town.
And the Titans should push on in what could turn out to be a dream season for them and Nashville -- before a future of much uncertainty.
The package was silly -- but not as bad as the question. And the Titans 2-0 start thanks to a dissembling of the Bengals 24-7 today in Cincy brings new hope to this season and more uncertainty thereafter.
The Titans are a complete team on both sides of the ball, and they have a rookie runningback who is going to be a star. The QB position has been bolstered this season with the backup of Kerry Collins, who played a perfect game under miserable conditions today. The guy is a tough and ready winner.
Truly, it looks like the Titans could go much further than anyone thought, take the AFC South and go deep into the playoffs. The Super Bowl on the AFC side is up for grabs after the Steelers.
But after this great season we're watching, the Titans could well be left at the quarterback with an aging 36-year-old signal caller and no Vince Young. That means the future is now -- to return to the Super Bowl and pick up that yard from the goal line.
While the Titans' victory was exciting, Vince Young had to be experiencing mixed feelings. Collins' great performance may not have lifted his spirits a lot, and those spirits have to mend for him to return as a confident contributor to the Titans.
Often in the NFL, these situations do not end up well. Young very well might want to leave Nashville and some bad memories. So in the offseason, look for a lot of wheeling and dealing. Young probably won't end up in the AFC, but there are a number of NFC teams that could certainly use him.
This kind of conjecture does not make Young a bad man or an immature young male. Football is a business, as was so poignantly profiled in the great movie North Dallas Forty. The lockeroom conversation between the two North Dallas offensive tackles and their coach after a bitter loss is a classic.
Vince needs to do what is best for him. If he feels that means sticking it out with the Titans after this season, great. If it doesn't, everyone should wish him the best for all the excitement he brought to town.
And the Titans should push on in what could turn out to be a dream season for them and Nashville -- before a future of much uncertainty.
SNL makes a great debut with too true skit
Saturday Night Live kicked off its new season with a bravado opening piece satirizing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Hillary Rodhan Clinton. The skit was so funny because it was true in the characterizations made. And that also made it somewhat sad.
If you didn't get a chance to see it, click on the address below. If you are still hurting over Sen. Clinton unsuccessful campaign and the sorry failure of Sen. Obama to pick her as his runningmate, then you might want to hold off.
One thing is certain: actress, writer and comedian Tiny Fey has been the shining star of this year's campaign among entertainers making a most important point through humor and simple honesty. How about Tina Fey for President in 2012, if Sen. Clinton doesn't run?
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281/
If you didn't get a chance to see it, click on the address below. If you are still hurting over Sen. Clinton unsuccessful campaign and the sorry failure of Sen. Obama to pick her as his runningmate, then you might want to hold off.
One thing is certain: actress, writer and comedian Tiny Fey has been the shining star of this year's campaign among entertainers making a most important point through humor and simple honesty. How about Tina Fey for President in 2012, if Sen. Clinton doesn't run?
http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281/
Concerns over Habitat development in Nashville are valid ones and need fair examination; it's time to enact 'Impact Fees' for less-crowded schools
Who doesn't love Habitat for Humanity? It allowed former President Jimmy Carter some of the credibility needed to re-enter the public life and win the Nobel Peace Prize for his heroics out of office.
But the one problem in Gail Kerr's Saturday column in The Tennessean is while she knows what people are thinking -- according to newspaper stand placards -- she does not seem to do a lot of original thinking herself to advance the topic.
The protest by a local neighborhood against a new Habitat development nearby is a justified one. Fears of traffic congestion are significant because it robs people of quality of life. It means a commuter trip that takes 10 to 15 minutes longer. Add those time spans over five work days and that's two hours or more from one
s family as father and mother -- putting kids at risk. Add those times over a month, and that's another entire work day from the family.
I've been in a lot of Habitat neighborhoods, too. Affordable housing was one of the topics I targeted most in my column days with The Tennessean. Most of the time, Habitat homes are the only affordable housing plans for cities while their leaders build sports stadia and pro sports arenas and negotiate bad deals to keep the NHL Predators in Nashville.
Crime is a sterotype that must be challenged with all people struggling toward the American Dream, including Habitat homeowners. But in the zeal to shut down that criticism, don't overlook the reality in some of the concerns of protestors.
Traffic congestion puts more drivers at danger. Traffic congestion makes every attempt by children to cross from one area to another a danger. Traffic congestion built up in one area makes the air nastier to breathe and allergies more common.
Habitat homes must be built closer together than non-Habitat neighborhoods because of the cost of the land and the great cause of giving more good people a chance at owning their home. But putting more people more tightly together raises the ecological risk for everyone in the area.
Finally, when it comes to concerns about overcrowded schools, there is a simple solution. It is called "Impact Fees". They are taxes placed on each square foot of a home being built. That money then MUST go to building new schools that would be required from the impact of new people moving into an area.
Williamson County, where everyone supposedly wants to live, has "Impact Fees" on residential construction. And it has raised $93 million since 1987 to build new schools. Has anyone witnessed any decline in the residential traffic heading down I-65?
Meanwhile, Metro Nashville has refused to enact "Impact Fees" or a "Privilege Tax" on residential construction since receiving legislative approval to do so in 1988.
Kerr should have cited that power to alleviate that part of the concerns of protestors living near the proposed Habitat development. But the Metro chamber of commerce -- or any chamber of commerce -- is not going to support such a levy ... just like always opposing any increase in the minimum wage. And Kerr seems to follow the chamber line most of the time in her column, particularly with the horrible Predators' deal for taxpayers.
Obviously, the Habitat development should be closely examined by Metro officials and elected representatives. And concerns should not be so easily dismissed as Kerr did in her column of too-narrow thinking.
But the one problem in Gail Kerr's Saturday column in The Tennessean is while she knows what people are thinking -- according to newspaper stand placards -- she does not seem to do a lot of original thinking herself to advance the topic.
The protest by a local neighborhood against a new Habitat development nearby is a justified one. Fears of traffic congestion are significant because it robs people of quality of life. It means a commuter trip that takes 10 to 15 minutes longer. Add those time spans over five work days and that's two hours or more from one
s family as father and mother -- putting kids at risk. Add those times over a month, and that's another entire work day from the family.
I've been in a lot of Habitat neighborhoods, too. Affordable housing was one of the topics I targeted most in my column days with The Tennessean. Most of the time, Habitat homes are the only affordable housing plans for cities while their leaders build sports stadia and pro sports arenas and negotiate bad deals to keep the NHL Predators in Nashville.
Crime is a sterotype that must be challenged with all people struggling toward the American Dream, including Habitat homeowners. But in the zeal to shut down that criticism, don't overlook the reality in some of the concerns of protestors.
Traffic congestion puts more drivers at danger. Traffic congestion makes every attempt by children to cross from one area to another a danger. Traffic congestion built up in one area makes the air nastier to breathe and allergies more common.
Habitat homes must be built closer together than non-Habitat neighborhoods because of the cost of the land and the great cause of giving more good people a chance at owning their home. But putting more people more tightly together raises the ecological risk for everyone in the area.
Finally, when it comes to concerns about overcrowded schools, there is a simple solution. It is called "Impact Fees". They are taxes placed on each square foot of a home being built. That money then MUST go to building new schools that would be required from the impact of new people moving into an area.
Williamson County, where everyone supposedly wants to live, has "Impact Fees" on residential construction. And it has raised $93 million since 1987 to build new schools. Has anyone witnessed any decline in the residential traffic heading down I-65?
Meanwhile, Metro Nashville has refused to enact "Impact Fees" or a "Privilege Tax" on residential construction since receiving legislative approval to do so in 1988.
Kerr should have cited that power to alleviate that part of the concerns of protestors living near the proposed Habitat development. But the Metro chamber of commerce -- or any chamber of commerce -- is not going to support such a levy ... just like always opposing any increase in the minimum wage. And Kerr seems to follow the chamber line most of the time in her column, particularly with the horrible Predators' deal for taxpayers.
Obviously, the Habitat development should be closely examined by Metro officials and elected representatives. And concerns should not be so easily dismissed as Kerr did in her column of too-narrow thinking.
New scientific report boosts JFK conspiracy
A good friend and colleague of mine who lives in Dallas sent me a newspaper clip about a very prominent group of scientists that claim two different sets of bullet fragments were extracted from Dealy Plaza on Nov. 22, 1963.
That means -- or could mean -- more than one shooter of President John F. Kennedy. For conspiracy buffs, this impressive report adds clout to their contentions.
See what you think. Click on:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/091408dnmetjfkbullets.da2836.html
That means -- or could mean -- more than one shooter of President John F. Kennedy. For conspiracy buffs, this impressive report adds clout to their contentions.
See what you think. Click on:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/091408dnmetjfkbullets.da2836.html
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Salsa quick, but Salsa good and tasty: GOP Chairman needs to apologize now
I'm hitting the ground quickly today with a community speech. So here is Salsa in an abbreviated, early form:
WILLIAMSON COUNTY POLITICO NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE, NOW!: Local TV news reported Thursday night that the website for the Williamson County Republican Party featured a blog post from party chairman Doug Grindstaff claiming Kurdish-Americans were repaying America's hospitality by "robbing us and dealing drugs." A few Kurds do not constitute the largest such ethnic population in the nation. Rightly, Kurdish officials have asked for an apology. Each day that apology is delayed, the insult grows larger. Grindstaff's bigotry was removed from the website. But that is far from enough. One of the several good people I know on the county GOP board including Mayor Rogers Andersen will make sure this wrong is righted quickly.
PALIN GRADES BETTER: GOP VP pick Sarah Palin made no big gaffes or committed no big bobbles in the second night of her interview with ABC's Charlie Gibson. And she got in a great dig in the end about Sen. Obama's failure to pick Sen. Hillary Clinton as his running mate. She was quite explicit on her abortion stance, and Gibson pointed out how it differed from McCain. As for whether she is ready at this moment to be president, no. Are many VP candidates at this point in the campaign ready to be president; no. Remember, Sen. Dan Quayle was almost VP twice, if had not been for Ross Perot in 1992. So does that the Obama ticket the better choice; yes -- if Biden was in the top spot, not second.
TSU'S OUSTER OF STUDENTS GETS CRAZIER: Reports from parents and clergy have produced a picture of a greatly disorganized and unreceptive TSU administration during the fiasco that originally threatened the ouster of 1,400 students who could not pay their bills. A charitable response reduced the ouster to 400. But it sure did not have to be this way. Phone calls were not returned to many parents, who then had to take off work and stand in long lines to try and straighten things out. And several clergy who have been most supportive of the institution did not even get their phone calls returned. An independent investigation by the Board of Regents is needed to get ot the bottom of this mess. Basic and decent levels of communication from the TSU administration could have produced even more of a charitable response from the community to save all these young people and their futures. Now, we really don't know what will happen to them without college in their lives for the next several months and an economic recession bearing down like Hurricane Ike. This outcome is totally unacceptable.
GO 'DORES!!!: A win today over Rice will be a big momentum-builder to finally get our heroes in gold and black into a bowl game. A record of 3-0 to start the season over some good opponents is enough to build faith in fans for good fortune to come.
WILLIAMSON COUNTY POLITICO NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE, NOW!: Local TV news reported Thursday night that the website for the Williamson County Republican Party featured a blog post from party chairman Doug Grindstaff claiming Kurdish-Americans were repaying America's hospitality by "robbing us and dealing drugs." A few Kurds do not constitute the largest such ethnic population in the nation. Rightly, Kurdish officials have asked for an apology. Each day that apology is delayed, the insult grows larger. Grindstaff's bigotry was removed from the website. But that is far from enough. One of the several good people I know on the county GOP board including Mayor Rogers Andersen will make sure this wrong is righted quickly.
PALIN GRADES BETTER: GOP VP pick Sarah Palin made no big gaffes or committed no big bobbles in the second night of her interview with ABC's Charlie Gibson. And she got in a great dig in the end about Sen. Obama's failure to pick Sen. Hillary Clinton as his running mate. She was quite explicit on her abortion stance, and Gibson pointed out how it differed from McCain. As for whether she is ready at this moment to be president, no. Are many VP candidates at this point in the campaign ready to be president; no. Remember, Sen. Dan Quayle was almost VP twice, if had not been for Ross Perot in 1992. So does that the Obama ticket the better choice; yes -- if Biden was in the top spot, not second.
TSU'S OUSTER OF STUDENTS GETS CRAZIER: Reports from parents and clergy have produced a picture of a greatly disorganized and unreceptive TSU administration during the fiasco that originally threatened the ouster of 1,400 students who could not pay their bills. A charitable response reduced the ouster to 400. But it sure did not have to be this way. Phone calls were not returned to many parents, who then had to take off work and stand in long lines to try and straighten things out. And several clergy who have been most supportive of the institution did not even get their phone calls returned. An independent investigation by the Board of Regents is needed to get ot the bottom of this mess. Basic and decent levels of communication from the TSU administration could have produced even more of a charitable response from the community to save all these young people and their futures. Now, we really don't know what will happen to them without college in their lives for the next several months and an economic recession bearing down like Hurricane Ike. This outcome is totally unacceptable.
GO 'DORES!!!: A win today over Rice will be a big momentum-builder to finally get our heroes in gold and black into a bowl game. A record of 3-0 to start the season over some good opponents is enough to build faith in fans for good fortune to come.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The NYTIMES has incredible story on Rosenberg case that provides more proof of Ethel's innocence
The espionage case of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg still reverberates across the decades and today, as the National Archives released new documents on the government's prosecution that leans even more toward Mrs. Rosenberg's innocence.
The Rosenbergs were accused of delivering U.S. atom bomb secrets to the Soviets and were executed in 1953. They left two boys to be raised by relatives.
This era of the Communist scare and the McCarthy hearings provided an uncivil backdrop for this case and a most terrifying time for civil liberties in this nation. The Times's story about the archives and the new confession to espionage by a co-conspirator can be read here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/nyregion/12spy.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
The Rosenbergs were accused of delivering U.S. atom bomb secrets to the Soviets and were executed in 1953. They left two boys to be raised by relatives.
This era of the Communist scare and the McCarthy hearings provided an uncivil backdrop for this case and a most terrifying time for civil liberties in this nation. The Times's story about the archives and the new confession to espionage by a co-conspirator can be read here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/nyregion/12spy.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Hurricane Ike worries advocates about the needed evacuation of undocumented immigrants
TV news talking heads say that the warning that people in the path of Hurricane Ike evacuate or face certain death from the storm surge and flooding in Galveston is a first. People who live in homes in the lower part of Houston also are being told to evacuate or face possible death.
But the worries of advocates of undocumented human beings and their families are nothing new during this Hurricane season. AP has already reported fears that undocumented families will not evacuate for fear of being deported once they're rescued.
This savage situation represents the bitter harvest of the punitive Bush administration policy over immigration. And it is supported by both Republicans and Democrats.
Federal evacuation officials said earlier this year that evacuees of all storms would be subject to inspection of their legal status in this country. Since then, the same officials have been trying to take back those comments. Meanwhile, their agencies continue run roughshod over immigrant families in Nashville and other communities.
Hurricane Ike now has set its sights on a population center of 11 million people from Galveston to Houston. And the area is heavily populated by Hispanics. So now we have the makings of human rights tragedy.
Pray for all the people of this area. Back in 1900, a hurricane wiped out 6,000 lives there. And please pray that federal officials will relent to ensure undocumented human beings that they will not be investigated for legal status in order to save lives, including those of children.
But the worries of advocates of undocumented human beings and their families are nothing new during this Hurricane season. AP has already reported fears that undocumented families will not evacuate for fear of being deported once they're rescued.
This savage situation represents the bitter harvest of the punitive Bush administration policy over immigration. And it is supported by both Republicans and Democrats.
Federal evacuation officials said earlier this year that evacuees of all storms would be subject to inspection of their legal status in this country. Since then, the same officials have been trying to take back those comments. Meanwhile, their agencies continue run roughshod over immigrant families in Nashville and other communities.
Hurricane Ike now has set its sights on a population center of 11 million people from Galveston to Houston. And the area is heavily populated by Hispanics. So now we have the makings of human rights tragedy.
Pray for all the people of this area. Back in 1900, a hurricane wiped out 6,000 lives there. And please pray that federal officials will relent to ensure undocumented human beings that they will not be investigated for legal status in order to save lives, including those of children.
Edge in tonight's anti-forum goes to Sen. McCain
I don't know why they call the non-encounters -- between Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain -- "forums". They're everything a forum is not supposed to be, particularly in separating the main players as Obama wants.
Tonight's CNN telecast was on public service. And the first 45 minutes featured McCain and second went to Obama. The only time the two met was when Obama came on stage and McCain left.
It was sad to devote so much time to an issue that would only need to take eight minutes in a debate or real forum. The moderators stretched their questions to try and cover the war on terror and the economy in recession. But the questions didn't work.
The two high moments of the night went to McCain.
First, the senator said he would make Obama part of his administration to lead public service. And he would meet him daily to talk on the topic, just down from the hall from his office in White House. Obama wouldn't make the same guarantee if he won for McCain, instead choosing to joke around it.
Second, McCain spoke directly to someone like me and my cousins, who learned of how our fathers served proudly and courageously in WWII. Some of our cousins now serve in the war on terror.
McCain said some of the greatest patriots he has met are the newest people to this country. And he noted a Fourth of July event in which soldiers with green cards took the oath of American citizenship in Baghdad.
That comment said a lot about his heart, even though his comments during the campaign to secure his conservative base have been less than charitable to the newest people to this country.
On the matter of energizing the campaign, Obama has seemed to have lost the spark, even though he appeared before a very positive crowd at Columbia University. Something is missing. Tonight's non-forum on public service should have been a home run for him. It wasn't.
Instead, McCain dazzled with talking of the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps and his time in many foreign countries and his service with different people in the military. And a mildly surprised Obama was reminded by one of the moderators that McCain had already given the answer he had just delivered on a specific public service topic.
Perhaps, as supporters of Sen. Hillary claimed in the primary campaign, Obama has really only one speech that he has given since Iowa, then in Berlin and finally in Denver. It's time to bring in a new speech writer at least.
For now, still many days from Nov. 4, McCain remains in a better, more energized position with his campaign. And that's a shocker in itself.
As David Gergen said later on CNN, McCain is going to be very tough in the one-one-debates.
Tonight's CNN telecast was on public service. And the first 45 minutes featured McCain and second went to Obama. The only time the two met was when Obama came on stage and McCain left.
It was sad to devote so much time to an issue that would only need to take eight minutes in a debate or real forum. The moderators stretched their questions to try and cover the war on terror and the economy in recession. But the questions didn't work.
The two high moments of the night went to McCain.
First, the senator said he would make Obama part of his administration to lead public service. And he would meet him daily to talk on the topic, just down from the hall from his office in White House. Obama wouldn't make the same guarantee if he won for McCain, instead choosing to joke around it.
Second, McCain spoke directly to someone like me and my cousins, who learned of how our fathers served proudly and courageously in WWII. Some of our cousins now serve in the war on terror.
McCain said some of the greatest patriots he has met are the newest people to this country. And he noted a Fourth of July event in which soldiers with green cards took the oath of American citizenship in Baghdad.
That comment said a lot about his heart, even though his comments during the campaign to secure his conservative base have been less than charitable to the newest people to this country.
On the matter of energizing the campaign, Obama has seemed to have lost the spark, even though he appeared before a very positive crowd at Columbia University. Something is missing. Tonight's non-forum on public service should have been a home run for him. It wasn't.
Instead, McCain dazzled with talking of the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps and his time in many foreign countries and his service with different people in the military. And a mildly surprised Obama was reminded by one of the moderators that McCain had already given the answer he had just delivered on a specific public service topic.
Perhaps, as supporters of Sen. Hillary claimed in the primary campaign, Obama has really only one speech that he has given since Iowa, then in Berlin and finally in Denver. It's time to bring in a new speech writer at least.
For now, still many days from Nov. 4, McCain remains in a better, more energized position with his campaign. And that's a shocker in itself.
As David Gergen said later on CNN, McCain is going to be very tough in the one-one-debates.
Palin passes her first night of interview with a "C"
Give GOP VP nominee Sarah Palin a passing grade for the first part of her interview with ABC's Charlie Gibson aired this evening during his newscast.
Palin sounded authorative but missed two big test questions proferred by a persistent Gibson.
First, she could not recall the Bush Doctrine that announces that the United States will pre-emptively atrack anyone who is a terrorism threat. She walked around the doctrine, but Gibson finally had to state it for her for an accurate response.
Second, she did not convincingly explain her remarks to her church's congregation that the invasion of Iraq and Afgahnistan were supported by God. She tried to summon the remarks of Abraham Lincoln, but his words really did not apply to her comments.
Finally, Palin lost a "plus" from her grade for not really explaining if NATO protection of the Ukraine and Georgia would require NATO countries including the United States to respond militarily to Russia.
She did score points by attaching her state's proximity to Russia to following the activities inside the former Soviet Union. She attached the right surnames to right leaders. And she made a good point about oil production in her state and her knowledge of it in applying it to America's national security, besides the future of our economy.
You can see more of the interview tonight on Nightline after the nightly news. Gibson will interview her tomorrow in Alaska. But the excerpts shown by Gibson this evening were enough for me.
Palin sounded authorative but missed two big test questions proferred by a persistent Gibson.
First, she could not recall the Bush Doctrine that announces that the United States will pre-emptively atrack anyone who is a terrorism threat. She walked around the doctrine, but Gibson finally had to state it for her for an accurate response.
Second, she did not convincingly explain her remarks to her church's congregation that the invasion of Iraq and Afgahnistan were supported by God. She tried to summon the remarks of Abraham Lincoln, but his words really did not apply to her comments.
Finally, Palin lost a "plus" from her grade for not really explaining if NATO protection of the Ukraine and Georgia would require NATO countries including the United States to respond militarily to Russia.
She did score points by attaching her state's proximity to Russia to following the activities inside the former Soviet Union. She attached the right surnames to right leaders. And she made a good point about oil production in her state and her knowledge of it in applying it to America's national security, besides the future of our economy.
You can see more of the interview tonight on Nightline after the nightly news. Gibson will interview her tomorrow in Alaska. But the excerpts shown by Gibson this evening were enough for me.
Way to go, Vince; your statements today say it all
Titans QB Vince Young spoke to the news media today and made the kind of statements that showed he is a mature young man and a tough competitor -- two of the best qualities for an NFL player.
I also like that he is a momma's boy. I'm one, too, and proud of it.
His responses also showed he sure didn't deserve the kind of negative comments directed at him by NewsChannel 5 sportscaster Hopes Hines earlier this week.
I do not understand coach Jeff Fisher saying that Young has to earn his job back. But I can tell you that Fisher will be begging for Young to return now that NFL defenses will be preparing all week for Kerry Collins by dropping an extra linebacker or defensive back into pass coverage or on general defense with an extra tackle to stop the run.
Young has required defenses to adjust for his running ability that comes with his formidable arm. Collins didn't get re-signed by the Giants for nothing. Defenses figured out how to stop him. Look for the Bengals to do the same this Sunday, putting more stress on the Titans' great defense.
Hang in there, Vince. We your fans are still rooting for you and have been amazed at your talents. Good things come to all who wait, scripture tells us. I believe it rings true on the football field, too. And with you.
I also like that he is a momma's boy. I'm one, too, and proud of it.
His responses also showed he sure didn't deserve the kind of negative comments directed at him by NewsChannel 5 sportscaster Hopes Hines earlier this week.
I do not understand coach Jeff Fisher saying that Young has to earn his job back. But I can tell you that Fisher will be begging for Young to return now that NFL defenses will be preparing all week for Kerry Collins by dropping an extra linebacker or defensive back into pass coverage or on general defense with an extra tackle to stop the run.
Young has required defenses to adjust for his running ability that comes with his formidable arm. Collins didn't get re-signed by the Giants for nothing. Defenses figured out how to stop him. Look for the Bengals to do the same this Sunday, putting more stress on the Titans' great defense.
Hang in there, Vince. We your fans are still rooting for you and have been amazed at your talents. Good things come to all who wait, scripture tells us. I believe it rings true on the football field, too. And with you.
Tennessee ranks as one of worst states in the treatment of undocumented human beings
A new report on state-by-state policy concerning the treatment of undocumented human beings places the state of Tennessee near the bottom with Mississippi and Utah. Congratulations.
http://www.progressivestates.org/content/903
The report actually is a most positive one for the rest of the nation. It is entitled "The Anti-Immigrant Movement that Failed: Positive Integration Policies by State Governments Still Far Outweigh Punitive Policies Aimed at New Immigrants"
Progressive States Network "aims to transform the political landscape by sparking progressive actions at the state level. Founded in 2005, the group provides coordinated research and strategic advocacy tools to state legislators and their staffs, empowering these decision-makers with everything they need to engineer forward-thinking change. Progressive States also works with non-profits and a variety of constituent groups to build a swath of support for coordinated progressive policy. The overarching goals: to get good policy passed into law and change the way issues are debated in the states."
The study examines legislative records for the states and does not factor in the heinous 287 deportation program now ongoing in Metro Nashville because of the sheriff and soon across the state with the Tennessee Highway Patrol because of the governor. That legal entity(THP) has not even been able to police itself.
So if you look Hispanic and/or American Indian and choose to drive in Tennessee, be warned. And the same goes for Nashville. You would best avoid both places to keep you and your family safe. More than 1,500 people legally in this country have been detained for hours and questioned by Nashville authorities. With the THP, citizenship does not matter. It has a record of stopping more Hispanic-Americans and American Indians for traffic offenses and questioning than white and black Americans.
Below is the ring of shame for bottom states in treating undocumented human beings and their families. Population guesses for each state are woefully inaccurate and on the low side. And if you'll notice, these states with the most punitive public policy share a commonality in the lack of a well-funded public education system.
And notice the absence of Arkansas from the list. Why?
Arkansas has a strong Democratic Party thanks to the Clintons, and they have established a strong value system in the treatment of people of color.
The state also has a strong Catholic bishop, who distinguished himself in the fight against punitive policy in Oklahoma before being installed as the bishop of Little Rock.
Georgia
225,000 undocumented human beings in 2005.
Mississippi
27,500 undocumented human beings in 2005.
Missouri
70,000 undocumented human beings in 2005.
Oklahoma
70,000 undocumented human beings in 2005
South Carolina
27,500 undocumented human beings in 2005
Tennessee
125,000 undocumented human beings in 2005
Utah
70,000 undocumented human beings in 2005
http://www.progressivestates.org/content/903
The report actually is a most positive one for the rest of the nation. It is entitled "The Anti-Immigrant Movement that Failed: Positive Integration Policies by State Governments Still Far Outweigh Punitive Policies Aimed at New Immigrants"
Progressive States Network "aims to transform the political landscape by sparking progressive actions at the state level. Founded in 2005, the group provides coordinated research and strategic advocacy tools to state legislators and their staffs, empowering these decision-makers with everything they need to engineer forward-thinking change. Progressive States also works with non-profits and a variety of constituent groups to build a swath of support for coordinated progressive policy. The overarching goals: to get good policy passed into law and change the way issues are debated in the states."
The study examines legislative records for the states and does not factor in the heinous 287 deportation program now ongoing in Metro Nashville because of the sheriff and soon across the state with the Tennessee Highway Patrol because of the governor. That legal entity(THP) has not even been able to police itself.
So if you look Hispanic and/or American Indian and choose to drive in Tennessee, be warned. And the same goes for Nashville. You would best avoid both places to keep you and your family safe. More than 1,500 people legally in this country have been detained for hours and questioned by Nashville authorities. With the THP, citizenship does not matter. It has a record of stopping more Hispanic-Americans and American Indians for traffic offenses and questioning than white and black Americans.
Below is the ring of shame for bottom states in treating undocumented human beings and their families. Population guesses for each state are woefully inaccurate and on the low side. And if you'll notice, these states with the most punitive public policy share a commonality in the lack of a well-funded public education system.
And notice the absence of Arkansas from the list. Why?
Arkansas has a strong Democratic Party thanks to the Clintons, and they have established a strong value system in the treatment of people of color.
The state also has a strong Catholic bishop, who distinguished himself in the fight against punitive policy in Oklahoma before being installed as the bishop of Little Rock.
Georgia
225,000 undocumented human beings in 2005.
Mississippi
27,500 undocumented human beings in 2005.
Missouri
70,000 undocumented human beings in 2005.
Oklahoma
70,000 undocumented human beings in 2005
South Carolina
27,500 undocumented human beings in 2005
Tennessee
125,000 undocumented human beings in 2005
Utah
70,000 undocumented human beings in 2005
Tortoise-like Catholic bishops finally get around to atrocities against undocumented human beings; what took them so long -- forget the Gospels?
The nation's Catholic bishops finally got around this week to condemning federal raids of workplaces for undocumented human beings because of the disruption of families for months and years.
The bishops, however, failed to address the 287g deportation program which is also devastating the families of undocumented workers in almost 60 U.S. communities, including Nashville. Here, a very pregnant Mrs. Juana Villegas (DeLaPaz) was tortured during childbirth and afterward, including separation from her newborn needing his mother's milk.
The bishops, who are good people but mostly bureaucrats installed in their offices to not make waves, have increasingly fallen behind the times in the challenges facing the people in the pews.
They have been very slow to invite Catholics separated from the flock back into churches. And the sex abuse scandal turned many bishops into obstacles to justice by refusing to acknowledge the awful truth and diocesan misconduct in jurisprudence and priest assignments.
All that too many bishops seem to like doing is calling out Democratic lawmakers for publicly stating their conscience on abortion. This kind of thought police craze -- with the threat of denying Communion to these lawmakers like an Inquisition whip -- is worthy of the Pharisees of old.
So, thanks, your excellencies, for finally speaking up on the ICE raids, but what about 287g and the people needing to be reinvited back into the pews and laying off Catholic lawmakers for speaking their minds.
Click here to read more: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080910233631.oavpohap&show_article=1
The bishops, however, failed to address the 287g deportation program which is also devastating the families of undocumented workers in almost 60 U.S. communities, including Nashville. Here, a very pregnant Mrs. Juana Villegas (DeLaPaz) was tortured during childbirth and afterward, including separation from her newborn needing his mother's milk.
The bishops, who are good people but mostly bureaucrats installed in their offices to not make waves, have increasingly fallen behind the times in the challenges facing the people in the pews.
They have been very slow to invite Catholics separated from the flock back into churches. And the sex abuse scandal turned many bishops into obstacles to justice by refusing to acknowledge the awful truth and diocesan misconduct in jurisprudence and priest assignments.
All that too many bishops seem to like doing is calling out Democratic lawmakers for publicly stating their conscience on abortion. This kind of thought police craze -- with the threat of denying Communion to these lawmakers like an Inquisition whip -- is worthy of the Pharisees of old.
So, thanks, your excellencies, for finally speaking up on the ICE raids, but what about 287g and the people needing to be reinvited back into the pews and laying off Catholic lawmakers for speaking their minds.
Click here to read more: http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=080910233631.oavpohap&show_article=1
Woods' piece on Drew Johnson is a must read -- particularly if you don't recognize his name
Jeff Woods, the last credible reporter left from the Liz Murray Garrigan reign at the NashvilleScene, has written another great political piece -- this one on Drew Johnson, head of the Tennessee Center for Policy Research.
Drew who? Johnson has made a big name for himself for digging up information on the rankest of political hypocrisy from then state Sen. Jim Cooper and his illegalities to First Lady Andrea Conte and her gross misleading of the public in building a political mega-maill under the governor's mansion to entertain people with titles. You pay the bill for the festivities.
Johnson has done the kind of investigate work that the big print media outlets used to do in Tennessee. He is an invaluable part of the machinery ensuring a free republic. He does seem to target more Democrats than Republicans -- but not everyone is perfect.
That certainly includes a senior adviser to Gov. Phil Bredesen. Will Pinkston, whom I worked with at The Tennessean, called Johnson a nitwit and claimed the man was only feeding his "giant-sized ego".
From working with Pinkston, I can tell you that it takes a political adviser with a giant-sized ego to claim someone else has the same. When Bredesen was Nashville mayor and Pinkston was a Tennessean reporter, there was nothing Bredesen ever did wrong in Pinkston's writing -- as far as I could tell.
And when Bredesen made the ill-fated Dell deal -- the one that The Tennessean's top investigative journalist discovered to be a money loser for taxpayers -- Pinkston wrote a glowing tribute(that's the kindest word I can use for it) to Bredesen and how he made the taxpayer-losing deal.
Has Nashville and Middle Tennessee become a high-tech magnet for supppliers and companies? No. Instead, Dell is looking to sell its manufacturing plants in this nation. Buyers in turn don't want the American plants because of the costs. They'd rather take the jobs overseas. And they probably will. Thanks, Mr. Bredesen.
As for who is better serving the people of Tennessee, the choice is easy: Drew Johnson.
So get to know him. Read Woods' great piece at http://www.nashvillescene.com/2008-09-11/news/the-great-gadfly/
Drew who? Johnson has made a big name for himself for digging up information on the rankest of political hypocrisy from then state Sen. Jim Cooper and his illegalities to First Lady Andrea Conte and her gross misleading of the public in building a political mega-maill under the governor's mansion to entertain people with titles. You pay the bill for the festivities.
Johnson has done the kind of investigate work that the big print media outlets used to do in Tennessee. He is an invaluable part of the machinery ensuring a free republic. He does seem to target more Democrats than Republicans -- but not everyone is perfect.
That certainly includes a senior adviser to Gov. Phil Bredesen. Will Pinkston, whom I worked with at The Tennessean, called Johnson a nitwit and claimed the man was only feeding his "giant-sized ego".
From working with Pinkston, I can tell you that it takes a political adviser with a giant-sized ego to claim someone else has the same. When Bredesen was Nashville mayor and Pinkston was a Tennessean reporter, there was nothing Bredesen ever did wrong in Pinkston's writing -- as far as I could tell.
And when Bredesen made the ill-fated Dell deal -- the one that The Tennessean's top investigative journalist discovered to be a money loser for taxpayers -- Pinkston wrote a glowing tribute(that's the kindest word I can use for it) to Bredesen and how he made the taxpayer-losing deal.
Has Nashville and Middle Tennessee become a high-tech magnet for supppliers and companies? No. Instead, Dell is looking to sell its manufacturing plants in this nation. Buyers in turn don't want the American plants because of the costs. They'd rather take the jobs overseas. And they probably will. Thanks, Mr. Bredesen.
As for who is better serving the people of Tennessee, the choice is easy: Drew Johnson.
So get to know him. Read Woods' great piece at http://www.nashvillescene.com/2008-09-11/news/the-great-gadfly/
Bad budget news rising in Tennessee, Nashville
The Nashville CityPaper reports that Metro Nashville government may soon see another $1 million depart its tax coffers, and local officials have to be watching mounting state budget troubles on the horizonz.
Reporter Nate Rau reports that Metro lost a judgment to a program called Teen Challenge for $1 million after jury deliberations. Metro can always appeal and delay paying but all the work coming out of the Metro legal department on this case has to cost something.
Meanwhile, reporter Ken Whitehouse reports that the state of Tennessee again has come up significantly short on tax collections. In August, the state received $56 million less than it had budgeted.
Don't look for that decline to end anytime soon. The national and state economy are going to stay in recession for at least until the beginning of next summer as the fallout in financials continues. And the home price crisis could well spread to the commerciall market as companies close offices and lay off workers across the country.
State lawmakers could well return to session in January facing a budget deficit for the existing budget year of more than $200 million. That's not even considering a deficit for the coming budget year.
A second stimulus check is be proferred by the Democratic-controlled Congress. But Republicans are more interested in drill, drill, drill for oil.
As CCR also sang, "I see a bad moon arisin' "
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=62710
Reporter Nate Rau reports that Metro lost a judgment to a program called Teen Challenge for $1 million after jury deliberations. Metro can always appeal and delay paying but all the work coming out of the Metro legal department on this case has to cost something.
Meanwhile, reporter Ken Whitehouse reports that the state of Tennessee again has come up significantly short on tax collections. In August, the state received $56 million less than it had budgeted.
Don't look for that decline to end anytime soon. The national and state economy are going to stay in recession for at least until the beginning of next summer as the fallout in financials continues. And the home price crisis could well spread to the commerciall market as companies close offices and lay off workers across the country.
State lawmakers could well return to session in January facing a budget deficit for the existing budget year of more than $200 million. That's not even considering a deficit for the coming budget year.
A second stimulus check is be proferred by the Democratic-controlled Congress. But Republicans are more interested in drill, drill, drill for oil.
As CCR also sang, "I see a bad moon arisin' "
http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=62710
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Leno's best political line from tonight
This is what the presidential campaign has come down to -- lipstick on a pig.
In reference to McCain's economic plan, Barack Obama said on the campaign trail something about lipstick on a pig being still just a pig ... at least that's what Bill Clinton has told him.
In reference to McCain's economic plan, Barack Obama said on the campaign trail something about lipstick on a pig being still just a pig ... at least that's what Bill Clinton has told him.
On taxes and savings, here are the numbers from the proposals of candidates Obama and McCain
If your household makes less than $111,700 a year, the tax cuts proposed by Sen. Barack Obama are for you.
If you make even less, the Obama tax cuts are even more for you.
The more you make, the better you do under the McCain tax cuts.
Those are the numbers. Click on this address to see where your household falls, or more precisely rises:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html
If you make even less, the Obama tax cuts are even more for you.
The more you make, the better you do under the McCain tax cuts.
Those are the numbers. Click on this address to see where your household falls, or more precisely rises:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/06/09/ST2008060900950.html
'Democrats in Angst' sounds like bad soap opera
Politico.com reports this evening about depression descending upon Democratic operatives over Republican Sen. John McCain's poll numbers and the excitement caused by Gov. Sarah Palin.
It is a bad situation if you are a Democrat. Palin is going to score big points because of low expectations just as George W. Bush did in the debates in 2000. The first time she associates the right foreign policy issue to the right region of the world in her interview with ABC's Charlie Gibson this week, she is going to move more voters to her ticket.
Obama must adjust and conquer. And he needs to convince Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be his campaign attack dog against Palin. Give her Majority Leader Harry Reid's job in exchange for help. He has been a poor leader in the Senate. Sen. Clinton could be so much more effective, but Obama fears she'll push for universal health care if and when he sends his legislation to Capitol Hill. He is not offering universal care.
Yes, this all sounds like a soap opera.
To read the article, go to: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13357.html
It is a bad situation if you are a Democrat. Palin is going to score big points because of low expectations just as George W. Bush did in the debates in 2000. The first time she associates the right foreign policy issue to the right region of the world in her interview with ABC's Charlie Gibson this week, she is going to move more voters to her ticket.
Obama must adjust and conquer. And he needs to convince Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to be his campaign attack dog against Palin. Give her Majority Leader Harry Reid's job in exchange for help. He has been a poor leader in the Senate. Sen. Clinton could be so much more effective, but Obama fears she'll push for universal health care if and when he sends his legislation to Capitol Hill. He is not offering universal care.
Yes, this all sounds like a soap opera.
To read the article, go to: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13357.html
Conservatives want immigrants to become citizens yet won't make it affordable for them to do so
USA Today and the Associated Press report today that applications for citizenship have plummeted because of higher processing fees.
Even immigration propoent and opponent groups agree on the problem. So there must really be something wrong. The Bush administration again demonstrates why its days in power cannot dwindle fast enough.
Read the story here:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-09-citizenship_N.htm
Even immigration propoent and opponent groups agree on the problem. So there must really be something wrong. The Bush administration again demonstrates why its days in power cannot dwindle fast enough.
Read the story here:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-09-citizenship_N.htm
Instead of "EnglishFirst", why not AmericaFirst?
A reader responds to my blog post on the "EnglishFirst" referendum and claims that its passage is right because you can't find a ballot in English in South American and Latin American countries.
And that's the point I don't under from proponents of English being the official or only language used by government. I would never want to America to be like much lesser countries in terms of greatness and diversity of its peoples. So why would we want to bring this nation down to their standards and have a ballot in only one language?
During the Korean War, soldiers from Puerto Rico would be dying on the battlefields crying for their mothers in their last moments. And they did so in Spanish, according to Rep. Jose Serrano of New York. People dying in the service of their country surely is part of how government operates and is sustained.
I always tried to get some Italian Americans in upstate New York to understand why today's immigrants should be treated as poorly as their ancestors. We as a nation should learn from our history and progress. And a very prominent Italian-American, Father Joe Salerno, read the riot act to his congregation over this matter during a sermon one Sunday at Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Utica, N.Y. God bless Father Joe for his courage and compassion.
Instead of "EnglishFirst", which is stupid, why not AmericaFirst, and extolling its greatness that separates it from countries in Latin and South America where ballots only are in Spanish. And that greatness historically has been different languages in government and the operations of communities for the betterment of all.
I hope the reader would read and understand, instead of fear.
And that's the point I don't under from proponents of English being the official or only language used by government. I would never want to America to be like much lesser countries in terms of greatness and diversity of its peoples. So why would we want to bring this nation down to their standards and have a ballot in only one language?
During the Korean War, soldiers from Puerto Rico would be dying on the battlefields crying for their mothers in their last moments. And they did so in Spanish, according to Rep. Jose Serrano of New York. People dying in the service of their country surely is part of how government operates and is sustained.
I always tried to get some Italian Americans in upstate New York to understand why today's immigrants should be treated as poorly as their ancestors. We as a nation should learn from our history and progress. And a very prominent Italian-American, Father Joe Salerno, read the riot act to his congregation over this matter during a sermon one Sunday at Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Utica, N.Y. God bless Father Joe for his courage and compassion.
Instead of "EnglishFirst", which is stupid, why not AmericaFirst, and extolling its greatness that separates it from countries in Latin and South America where ballots only are in Spanish. And that greatness historically has been different languages in government and the operations of communities for the betterment of all.
I hope the reader would read and understand, instead of fear.
Palin continues to cost the Democrats without saying a thing: was that the strategy all along?
I was talking with a friend who is a checkout cashier at one of the four local supermarkets I shop for the lowest prices.
And I always ask everyone I meet who they are going vote for. She had previously been undecided but to my surprise she responded today with: "What do you think?"
She had decided on Palin/McCain or McCain/Palin. And she noted all the crap that women have to take to get ahead and all that Palin has had to take in her career. It didn't help the Democratic ticket that Sen. Obama had just compared Palin to a pig with lipstick. Then Obama railed at the news media for making his comment into a big story.
But back in the checkout line with my friend, she has made her decision. That should be a warning to Democrats -- in places like Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania, too. Palin doesn't have to say a thing for Dems to lose votes. And if she responds in debates and interviews as the intelligent woman she is, look for a November election result with Obama winning by one million popular votes and still losing the electoral count and the presidency.
That's hard news to swallow, including for me. But it is where the election is turning -- right now.
And I always ask everyone I meet who they are going vote for. She had previously been undecided but to my surprise she responded today with: "What do you think?"
She had decided on Palin/McCain or McCain/Palin. And she noted all the crap that women have to take to get ahead and all that Palin has had to take in her career. It didn't help the Democratic ticket that Sen. Obama had just compared Palin to a pig with lipstick. Then Obama railed at the news media for making his comment into a big story.
But back in the checkout line with my friend, she has made her decision. That should be a warning to Democrats -- in places like Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania, too. Palin doesn't have to say a thing for Dems to lose votes. And if she responds in debates and interviews as the intelligent woman she is, look for a November election result with Obama winning by one million popular votes and still losing the electoral count and the presidency.
That's hard news to swallow, including for me. But it is where the election is turning -- right now.
Nashville voters could consider 'EnglishFirst' referendum later this winter on the ballot
Metro Councilman Eric Crafton is now setting his sights on a vote in the winter on his "EnglishFirst" referedum.
He already has the certified signatures of more than 10,000 Metro voters. And he has a more outraged electorate because of the shenanigans pulled to stop a vote on the referendum in November. I don't like the referendum, but I more strongly dislike trying to stop voters in a democracy with a legal technicality.
Opponents of the referendum will have an even harder time making their case in the marketplace of ideas. It's sad but true when you try and circumvent the final power of the people at the ballot box.
He already has the certified signatures of more than 10,000 Metro voters. And he has a more outraged electorate because of the shenanigans pulled to stop a vote on the referendum in November. I don't like the referendum, but I more strongly dislike trying to stop voters in a democracy with a legal technicality.
Opponents of the referendum will have an even harder time making their case in the marketplace of ideas. It's sad but true when you try and circumvent the final power of the people at the ballot box.
McCain suffers a new political setback
The real maverick Republican in the GOP primary today dealt a big blow to his party's nominee by encouraging voterss to support third party candidates in November.
Former congressman Ron Paul was joined by Ralph Nader at a press conference today making his independent run official and endorsing the campaigns of fellow third party candidates.
McCain figures to be the big loser in all of this since he already faces a challenge by former congressman Bob Barr.
Read the following coverage here:
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-usa-politics-paul.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Former congressman Ron Paul was joined by Ralph Nader at a press conference today making his independent run official and endorsing the campaigns of fellow third party candidates.
McCain figures to be the big loser in all of this since he already faces a challenge by former congressman Bob Barr.
Read the following coverage here:
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-usa-politics-paul.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Take a drive down Nolensville Road and judge for yourself about the contribution of Hispanics
I drive down Nolensville Road in south Nashville near downtown once and twice a week.
My destination is either St. Edward Catholic Church or Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. And I amazed at how the area does not fit the profile delivered by the local news media.
We read and hear constantly about the MS-13 gang. But there is no grafitti associated with gangs on any of the business walls I drive by or on the churches.
The storefront are always clean and bright. New businesses open each week I drive by. When I stop to shop, I have never had a bad experience. And speaking Spanish is not required.
The store owners are bilingual. And they pay business franchise taxes, property taxes and sales taxes to send their children to school and support the general welfare of Nashville.
Yes, some storefront feature the names in Spanish. But that is so all Hispanics can feel comfortable and be aware. When I lived in upstate New York for four years, storefronts in Utica often were only in Italian in more segregated communities. And no one complained about that.
I've neve asked anyone if they are documented or undocumented, citizens or immigrants. It does not seem to matter amid all the positives I continue to see of people pursuing the American Dream and succeeding. As Ronald Reagan always said, a rising tide lifts all boats. He'd be proud of what's happening on Nolensville Road.
So if you get a chance, drive down Nolensville Road near St. Edward's and Our Lady's. Don't depend on the news media. Judge for yourselves and see the incredible contributions being made to sustain and move this area of Nashville forward and toward the better day Reagan saw for us all.
My destination is either St. Edward Catholic Church or Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. And I amazed at how the area does not fit the profile delivered by the local news media.
We read and hear constantly about the MS-13 gang. But there is no grafitti associated with gangs on any of the business walls I drive by or on the churches.
The storefront are always clean and bright. New businesses open each week I drive by. When I stop to shop, I have never had a bad experience. And speaking Spanish is not required.
The store owners are bilingual. And they pay business franchise taxes, property taxes and sales taxes to send their children to school and support the general welfare of Nashville.
Yes, some storefront feature the names in Spanish. But that is so all Hispanics can feel comfortable and be aware. When I lived in upstate New York for four years, storefronts in Utica often were only in Italian in more segregated communities. And no one complained about that.
I've neve asked anyone if they are documented or undocumented, citizens or immigrants. It does not seem to matter amid all the positives I continue to see of people pursuing the American Dream and succeeding. As Ronald Reagan always said, a rising tide lifts all boats. He'd be proud of what's happening on Nolensville Road.
So if you get a chance, drive down Nolensville Road near St. Edward's and Our Lady's. Don't depend on the news media. Judge for yourselves and see the incredible contributions being made to sustain and move this area of Nashville forward and toward the better day Reagan saw for us all.
NYTIMES education watch column delivers an eye-opener on Democrats and public education
The New York Times continues to amaze for its unbiased and accurate examination of this nation on its news pages.
The following education watch column is fantastic, and it challenges Democrats to put their rhetoric where their children are educated. Two of Nashville's most prominent Democrats, Phil Bredesen and Karl Dean, have all kinds of ideas of experimenting with public education. But when it came to their choices of where they put their kids in school, it was affluent private academies all the day.
It was the same for Al Gore, while George W. Bush's kids went to Texas public schools.
I can't reiterate the old Rodney Dangerfield joke when he was looking at a restaurant's front window asking people to come in for the great food: "Hey, if the good is so great, why is the cook going out to eat for lunch. Hey, I don't any respect.
Neither do public school children and their parents from the Democratic Party.
http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/the-rantings-of-a-pta-mom/index.html
The following education watch column is fantastic, and it challenges Democrats to put their rhetoric where their children are educated. Two of Nashville's most prominent Democrats, Phil Bredesen and Karl Dean, have all kinds of ideas of experimenting with public education. But when it came to their choices of where they put their kids in school, it was affluent private academies all the day.
It was the same for Al Gore, while George W. Bush's kids went to Texas public schools.
I can't reiterate the old Rodney Dangerfield joke when he was looking at a restaurant's front window asking people to come in for the great food: "Hey, if the good is so great, why is the cook going out to eat for lunch. Hey, I don't any respect.
Neither do public school children and their parents from the Democratic Party.
http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/the-rantings-of-a-pta-mom/index.html
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
George Jones joins Streisand in prestigious Kennedy Center Honors set for December
The Washington Post reports that Williamson County resident George Jones will receive the nation's highest honor for the arts.
Jones will join Barbra Streisand and other illuminaries of the arts for induction in the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. The ceremony is annually telecast a few days after Christmas.
Here is what The Post had to say:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090901457.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Jones will join Barbra Streisand and other illuminaries of the arts for induction in the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. The ceremony is annually telecast a few days after Christmas.
Here is what The Post had to say:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/09/AR2008090901457.html?hpid=moreheadlines
Leno scores with biggest laugh for the day
Best political joke of the day:
President Bush could not go to the Republican National Convention because of a disaster ... his presidency.
President Bush could not go to the Republican National Convention because of a disaster ... his presidency.
Fighting crime is not the same as deporting undocumented families, police chief says
Federal officials raided an agriproceessor in Postville, IA, earlier this summer and arrested and deported almost 300 undocumented workers -- after some were imprisoned for four months without due process.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement part of the Department of Homeland Security has claimed its raids and 287g deportation program mean reduced crime for communities.
Yet that is not what has happened in Postville, according to its police chief. Read his testimony here:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-postvilleaftermat,0,7578338.story
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement part of the Department of Homeland Security has claimed its raids and 287g deportation program mean reduced crime for communities.
Yet that is not what has happened in Postville, according to its police chief. Read his testimony here:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-postvilleaftermat,0,7578338.story
Feminist group tells news media to 'back 'off'
Politico.com reports on support for GOP VP nominee Gov. Sarah Palin from a prominent feminist group founded by an ardent supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton.
It is not support for her politics but the reality that a woman can raise a family and hold an elected office.
Here is the Internet address. Let me know what you think as Palin's first major interview with the media approaches.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0908/Hillary_backers_come_to_defense_of_Palin.html
It is not support for her politics but the reality that a woman can raise a family and hold an elected office.
Here is the Internet address. Let me know what you think as Palin's first major interview with the media approaches.
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0908/Hillary_backers_come_to_defense_of_Palin.html
Readers make excellent points; here is a response and information on imprisoned children
A reader makes an excellent point about me showing my hypocrisy in criticizing Tennessean columnists Phil Valentine and Gail Kerr in a previous post yet making second-hand claims about this nation's incarceration of children for doing nothing wrong.
Another reader asked for my source for my claim. That was another excellent response.
I use The New York Times for my information, and to a lesser extent lesser prominent media. I believe The Times is the newspaper of record for this nation. Here is one of the stories. I'll provide more in the future, including the ACLU lawsuit and the settlement the federal government made over the treatment of these incarcerated innocents.
One more note, there is a prominent local connection to the incarceration of children at the T. Don Hutto facility in south Texas. It is run by the Nashville-based Corrections Corp. of America. How do you feel about that, Nashville?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/10/us/10detain.html
Another reader asked for my source for my claim. That was another excellent response.
I use The New York Times for my information, and to a lesser extent lesser prominent media. I believe The Times is the newspaper of record for this nation. Here is one of the stories. I'll provide more in the future, including the ACLU lawsuit and the settlement the federal government made over the treatment of these incarcerated innocents.
One more note, there is a prominent local connection to the incarceration of children at the T. Don Hutto facility in south Texas. It is run by the Nashville-based Corrections Corp. of America. How do you feel about that, Nashville?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/10/us/10detain.html
Bishops wrong to take Catholic Democrats to task over statements about abortion, conscience
The Associated Press writes today that American Cathoic bishops have taken Dem VP candidate Joe Biden to task for his comments concerning abortion, the Catholic church and his personal conscience.
This response follows the same feedback to Dem VP Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for comments she made about Catholic teaching and disagreement among the flock over abortion. Her archbishop in San Francisco has asked to speak with her, and the possibility denying her Communion has been floated.
Indeed, the bishops are right that life begins at conception. And yes, all life should be defended. But when it comes to the political arena, the bishops have ignored the truth that those who back their position on abortion are the least progressive defenders of life after conception.
Take for instance when government funding is needed for pre-natal care. Those who oppose abortion say no. Less government and lower taxes, they cry.
When it comes to affordable and accessible health care for that mother and child once the newborn breathes his or her first breath, the political players who are against abortion say no. Less government and lower taxes, they cry.
The same hypocrisy is repeated on each matter of defending life after conception. The bishops ignore this reality. There is no doubt that the Catholic Church does incredibly heroic things -- charitably -- to defend life after conception. But that is no replacement for public policy, which also is of the people, in a nation that claims to be under God.
Labels don't apply. "Pro-life" is inaccurate for those who oppose abortion. "Anti-choice" is the more acccurate description.
My parents, lifelong Catholics, were not publicly aredent about abortion. My father was outspoken about capital punishment and against it from his negative experience with the court system. The legal system is not blind.
For me, the past three years of close relationships with the good doctors at Vanderbilt Medical Center have proved one thing to me: No one, no government, no bishop should interfere with the relationship between a doctor and patient. I expect them to make the best decision. They at least need all options open to them.
In my writing career, when I would interview conservatives, particularly men, they would be ardently against abortion. But some, I repeat some, of their wives would privately say to me that they prefer women had all the medical options open to them.
So that is what I believe. If the bishop here wants to call me in to talk about what I've written and my taking Communion, I have some things about defending life that I'd like to discuss on the record for my readers to review.
Why the lack of diocese support by simple financial donation for Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Nashville? Doesn't that immigrant life of Catholics there need to be defended?
I've yet to see the bishop on TV publicly speakin
This response follows the same feedback to Dem VP Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi for comments she made about Catholic teaching and disagreement among the flock over abortion. Her archbishop in San Francisco has asked to speak with her, and the possibility denying her Communion has been floated.
Indeed, the bishops are right that life begins at conception. And yes, all life should be defended. But when it comes to the political arena, the bishops have ignored the truth that those who back their position on abortion are the least progressive defenders of life after conception.
Take for instance when government funding is needed for pre-natal care. Those who oppose abortion say no. Less government and lower taxes, they cry.
When it comes to affordable and accessible health care for that mother and child once the newborn breathes his or her first breath, the political players who are against abortion say no. Less government and lower taxes, they cry.
The same hypocrisy is repeated on each matter of defending life after conception. The bishops ignore this reality. There is no doubt that the Catholic Church does incredibly heroic things -- charitably -- to defend life after conception. But that is no replacement for public policy, which also is of the people, in a nation that claims to be under God.
Labels don't apply. "Pro-life" is inaccurate for those who oppose abortion. "Anti-choice" is the more acccurate description.
My parents, lifelong Catholics, were not publicly aredent about abortion. My father was outspoken about capital punishment and against it from his negative experience with the court system. The legal system is not blind.
For me, the past three years of close relationships with the good doctors at Vanderbilt Medical Center have proved one thing to me: No one, no government, no bishop should interfere with the relationship between a doctor and patient. I expect them to make the best decision. They at least need all options open to them.
In my writing career, when I would interview conservatives, particularly men, they would be ardently against abortion. But some, I repeat some, of their wives would privately say to me that they prefer women had all the medical options open to them.
So that is what I believe. If the bishop here wants to call me in to talk about what I've written and my taking Communion, I have some things about defending life that I'd like to discuss on the record for my readers to review.
Why the lack of diocese support by simple financial donation for Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Nashville? Doesn't that immigrant life of Catholics there need to be defended?
I've yet to see the bishop on TV publicly speakin