Tidbits from the 100 Days Debacle/Join the W.A.M. ACTION Against the Mainstream Media

W.A.M (Wake Up America) has put together a review of the insults that the Obama Administration has been heaping on the country during their first 100 days.  More at: http://www.wamaction.org/NewsRoom.html

Via W.A.M. Press Release:

If it seems to you that the “Change Administration” continues to expend its primary energies to campaigning rather than governing, you’re on the right track. With scores of Executive Branch positions still left vacant, the spectacle unveiled for Obama’s 100 Day mark apparently took most of the Administration’s energy. This included erroneous polling by supportive Mainstream Media.

In a glaring example, an absurb AP poll, headlined on Time Warner and other outlets with this caption: “AP Poll: After Obama’s 100 days, U.S. on right track.”

One fly in the ointment of this much publicized poll is that it included a mere 21% Republican sampling – with a whopping 38% now identified as “Independent.” As one blogger remarked, it seems that ‘the communist state has arrived. AP is Pravda.” What happened to the rest of the GOP? Applying the ongoing “New Party” strategy, the swiftest means to alter political reality is to use the Media to tell the public what you want to be true. This  involves considerable attention and time – but if it keeps your “candidate”s popularity afloat, well, then it’s worth it. And let’s not leave out the new First Lady, who is also reported this week, in another fallacious poll, to be approved of by 87% of Americans – leaving many of US wondering just who did they call?!

In an astonishing report, Politico substantiates the fact that the  “Obama campaign still funds operations.” Its review indicates that, having entered the new year with $18 Million dollars, it’s now down to a mere $10 Million.”Last month alone, it paid $74,000 in payroll, $23,000 for rent, $10,000 for polling and $6,400 for travel. Other interesting payments during the first three months of the year, the period covered by Wednesday’s report, included $688,000 in legal fees to the firm of Bob Bauer — the top lawyer for the campaign, the Democratic National Committee, the Obama political group Organizing for America, and the Obama family — and $6,400 to a firm founded by Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.” For more fascinating facts on the Obama- Axelrod ongoing campaign, go here:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/21304.html

Pulling out all the stops for his 100 Day marker not only included biased poll reports but a pointless hour of prime time coverage. Having already leveraged more prime time coverage than President Clinton was given his entire term in office – millions of viewers were coerced to sit politely through Obama’s tele-prompter guided Talking Points – unchallenged by reporters. In a full hour only 13 questions were permitted, including one riveting query about what has most “enchanted” the new Commander-in-Chief since January. The rest of US may be relieved to note that, while the economy continues to sink and Barney Frank’s housing fix law has qualified one homeowner for salvation over a full 3 months, Obama has plenty of “perks” to boost his spirits. These include a bombshell of unintended “bad press” – at extravagant expense – but too inept and careless not to be criticized. The Defense Department terrorizing of New York City, when a “photo shoot” of Air Force One, accompanied by fighter jets, swooped over the downtown area spoke volumes of this adminstration’s contempt  for both protocol and public safety. Turns out this thoughtless fiasco was created on behalf of – what else but the Change Administrations’ latest marketing video.  (See W.A.M. News Room for video.

The worst debacle of thinly disguised brainwashing, however, was GOP Senator Arlen Specter’s carefully timed announcement of his withdrawal from the Republican party to join the un-Democratic majority with which he has been voting all year anyway! Seems his rival for the 2010 PA race, Conservative Pat Tooney is so far ahead in the polls, the Senator has no other option for defending his re-election than to switch labels (but not gears) to bring forth more bundles of questionably sourced New Party capital by running under the Democratic banner. The price he paid? No more than his massively televised participation in this week’s 100 Day marketing blitz!

It’s amusing to note that Sen. Tom Harkin, who was scheduled to speak on FOX News about this political ‘upset’ bowed out abruptly,  without explanation. This after Specter made publicly clear that his deal with Senate Majority Leader Reid provides full rights to DEM seniority – since his 1st 1980 GOP election. Specter proudly stated that he now holds party seniority over most others, including IA Sen. Harkin himself!

If this most recent and most glaring example of Washington’s abusive pattern of ignoring We the People insults you, SIGN IN to Wake Up America movement to participate in MAINSTREAM MEDIA BOYCOTT –  this Grass Roots Media Reform campaign launches with  MAJOR TELEVENT – WEDNESDAY PM – MAY 6!

Go to www.wamaction.org home page link – Get Involved – to join this ACTION.  See the upcoming plans for EXPANSION of the W.A.M. site including:

Expanded Newsroom

Watch Washington Forum

Private Chat Room for Bloggers & Broadcasters’

Research Archives On Critical Issues

State-by-State Vision-in-Action Board

T.A.R.P, Recovery Plan, Term Limits Action…All Obscured Under the Cover of Media Hoopla

~~By InsightAnalytical-GRL

What’s been going on under cover of the media’s endless coverage of an airline incident in NY and the Inauguration hoopla?

While the plane floated in the Hudson River,  the Senate passed the remaining $350 billion in T.A.R.P. expenditures.  Since it would have been necessary for both House and Senate to vote down this measure, the funding is now assured and already in process.

Just to be certain their tight vote passed,  Roland Burris was sworn in early that day and Joe Biden withheld his own resignation from the Senate until day’s end, after the vote. You won’t see reports of such maneuvers in the MSM, but we’ve have to expect them to continue as this Administration gets into gear.

Speaker Pelosi, for instance, appears to be planning a re-interpretation of House Rules to serve the purpose of “dead of night” measures to circumvent opposition. Rumors indicates she hopes to start taxing Americans’ retirement funds, while evidence is clear she remains a strong backer of ACORN, according to the Center for Individual Freedom. Founded in 1998, this organization tends to focus on Republican and libertarian values and is part of the Townhall.com consortium.  These days, however, we find ourselves having to at least look at information sources other than the MSM, even if they are in the “other” camp.

From CFIF.org:

On the very first day of Congress, Pelosi pushed through a change to a House rule known as the “motion to recommit,” a rule that was implemented a CENTURY AGO specifically to PROHIBIT the leadership of the majority party from railroading horrendous legislation through Congress under the cover of darkness.

(SNIP)

Nancy Pelosi changed her tune on a great many things once she assumed the position of Speaker of the House.

Two years ago, she said; “Bills should generally come to the floor under a procedure that allows open, full and fair debate consisting of a full amendment process that grants the minority the right to offer its alternatives, including a substitute.”

Even the liberal Washington Post could not help but comment on Pelosi’s blatant hypocrisy and her apparent rush to change the rules when it comes to transparency and openness:

“When they took over in 2007, Democrats set aside their pledge in order to muscle through their agenda during the first 100 hours; their promises continued to prove hollow in the ensuing months…. Democrats brought more measures to the House floor under closed rules – permitting no amendments – than any of the six previous Republican-controlled congresses.”

Check out this post at The Swine Line, the blog  of  Citizens Against Government Waste,  for more detailed discussion.  I’ve extracted the links to the House Appropriations Committee documents from the post:

Spending package/Recovery Bill http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryBill01-15-09.pdf

Report language http://appropriations.house.gov/pdf/RecoveryReport01-15-09.pdf

The question that remains related to T.A.R.P. is what will the House of Representatives do to regulate its distribution and oversight. Barney Frank, Democratic Chair of the Banking Committee has presented a bill which claims to serve that purpose. This bill is subject to a vote as early as this week, following the Inauguration.

H.R.384
Title: To reform the Troubled Assets Relief Program of the Secretary of the Treasury and ensure accountability under such Program.

Additional information on the bill, including cost estimates, text, amendments, etc: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d111:HR00384:@@@

Of even greater concern, however,are the currently nebulous contents of the “Obama Recovery Plan.” Expected to multiply the initial costs of T.A.R.P., this package of ten bills is currently a mere shell for the insertion of who knows just what. Apparently, all the Obama rhetoric has yet to be magically transformed into substance. By contrast, another bill also introduced on January 7, to discourage teen pregnancy is four pages long – offering an amount of detail greater than the 10 sketchy Recovery bills combined! Yet the headers of this package portend sweeping changes in almost every aspect of American life. One, for instance, with a header related to “Fairness” for the middle class (?) includes, on its short list of potential laws, a brief reference to CardCheck (Pelosi and ACORN’s approach to storming small businesses with mandated unions, initiated with the peer pressure of no secret ballot.) Note that this is  just one  item on a longer list on one bill of ten! For a review of the massive scope but lack of content of this “Recovery Plan” see here:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/d?d111:0:./list/bss/d111SN.lst TOM:/bss/111search.html|

There’s every indication the Democratic power-party is preparing for diverse back room deals and dead of night maneuvers to turn our country’s standards and laws upside down as quickly as possible – all with the blessings of a co-operative Mass Media which is committed to informing citizens about as little as possible of what is going on.

Take, for instance, the re-introduction of a Resolution of January 6 by Rep. José Serrano (D-NY) to eliminate term limits on the Presidency. The history of its prior introduction (1995 to 2007) has been weak. To grasp the orientation of Rep. Serrano),  just look to some other bills he introduced that day: to provide federal funding for clean needles to drug addicts (with 31 co-sponsors) and to end our trade embargo on Castro. This time around, the threat of ending term limits has meat on its bones – cosponsored, as it is, by Barney Frank. What, may we ask, is the head of the Banking Committee thinking to sponsor a bill extending Obama’s term in office – with no limits?! (Please note; Rep. Frank’s co-sponsorship is dated November 2008 but buried in the record of an earlier record of the measure. Just an error?)

Here’s the bill: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=hj111-5

***

The Wake Up America movement (W.A.M) is enlisting volunteers to “Watch Washington Now”  track legislation and communicate to both Congress and the mainstream media what is acceptable and what is not. (Quick use sample letters and contact information for key figures will be provided.)

To get involved with W.A.M. please click this link (or the logo on the right sidebar). Preserving our democracy needs your support.

http://www.wam08.org/GetInvolved.html

The $700 Billion Bailout Bait and Switch

~~By American Lassie

In an earlier post, on November 4, 2008 before the Presidential race was called, I expressed a worry about where the $700 billion bail-out money was going. It didn’t seem to be going where we were told it was intended to go.

Now Republican Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma is addressing this in same manner.  On Saturday, November 15, he said we should take back the remaining money given to Henry Paulson in that “blank check.”

First we were told it was to buy mortgage-backed securities.  Then Paulson shifted gears and said it was to use $250 billion to buy stakes in banks.  The “Troubled Asset Relief Program” (TARP) would enable ailing banks to start lending money again and thus boost the economy.

-No homeowner has yet been helped and foreclosures are multiplying.
-Senator Chris Dodd said Paulson’s actions are “beyond belief.”
-Paulson told Charlie Rose  – “The driver is to have healthy banks be well capitalized so they can play for our country right now.”
-Paulson diverted $250 billion to buy stakes in healthy banks to spur lending, but they are not doing this with the money.
-Charles Schumer, Democrat-NY, fears the banks might stuff the money “under the proverbial mattress”.  It appears this is exactly what they are doing.
-Treasury hired the Bank of New York Mellon Corp. as “custodian” of the TARP program.  They also picked Mellon to receive a $3 Billion investment as part of the Capital Infusion Program.

Heads should roll !!!  Greed, corruption, and incompetence – where does it end?
Martha Stewart was imprisoned for lying – but then, she is a woman. Administrators’ neglect brought on this crisis.  It has been coming on for some time.  There were ample warnings (Bush and McCain) but Congress did nothing.  Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, is one of the prime culprits.  When warned about Fannie Mae he said there was no problem there.  At the time his live-in partner, Herb Moss, was an administrator at Fannie Mae.  Conflict of interest?  I’d say so, but to paraphrase Katie Couric, “Who am I to judge anyone?”

Now everybody wants a bail-out.  The auto industry appears to be next on the list and Governor Schwarzenegger of California thinks that his state should be bailed out because California has shown discipline. (This has nothing to do with the fire – this is another matter).  Give me a break – when has California shown any discipline?  And why should that entitle them to bail-out money from us tax payers in the rest of the country?  What’s next?  The health industry, the remaining 49 states?  (Except for Alaska which seems to be doing fine, thanks to a smart governor).  Next we will have government-owned 7-11 stores.

I’m with Jim Inhofe.  Let’s demand our money back. It’s our money and we didn’t agree to this giveaway.  In my opinions, bankers can’t be trusted.  Remember Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life”?  Greedy, crooked, conniving piece of scum…

***

Check out BailoutSleuth.com to keep up with the bailout developments and who’s getting what…

The Past Week: November 9-15, Recaps & Random Thoughts (Suddenly Soiled Sarah Gets Advice from Katie Couric, Joke “Journalist”; Gov Luv; Sunday Telegraph, UK Previews More Clinton Trashing?; Major Stray Dog Update (Update 1X–Clinton Trashing in Progress in U.S. via AP)

UPDATE 1X

Opened up the Sunday rag and there it is…a full page, 6 col. headline from the AP–“Husband’s foreign deals may pose issue for Clinton.”  Accompanied by a picture of Obama and Clinton together at a rally.  See? The magic has begun…Obamas’ uninvestigated donations from foreign sources, Auchi, etc. go unreported…but always time for the Clintons…and, to repeat, it’s most likely set-up by the Obama crowd….float to “show goodwill,”  big story about all that vetting they will do to avoid being “sullied” by the associations potential nominees to posts (what a joke!), story from the foreign press trashing Clinton appears, the next day picked up here. OOPS!!! Can’t nominate Hillary, she’s got ASSOCIATIONS.  RESULT? Trashed Clintons, Obama looks soooo “ethical”!!!!  Ane he’s dispatched the Clintons to the junk pile… MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!

And they’ll do it to Palin, too…..

****

In the wake of the election, “Suddenly Soiled Sarah” was getting lots of advice, including some from Katie Couric…yes, the same Katie Couric who has ties top Nicolle Wallace, who was supposed to assist Palin during the campaign. (See story in the roundup of posts below for details).  According to ace reporter-analyst Couric, Palin should “keep her head down.”  H/T to Not Your Sweeting for the scoop early this week:

Couric wants Palin to “keep her head down”

November 13, 2008 by edgeoforever

If the glass ceiling is more intact than ever, thank infotainment news bimbos like Katie Couric for that!

Their contribution to the Year of the Penis has been memorable enough, but she wants to make sure that the stench lingers on.

Revealing her real, personal intentions in her edited, propaganda interview Couric had this jarringly smug and patronizing comment:

“I think she should keep her head down, work really hard and learn about governing.”

After which, surrealistically, she tried to appear humble by saying

But I’m not anyone to give advice to anyone about anything,”

And where did she make those profound statements? To Glamour Magazine – one publication that replaced the news reporters kicked off the Obama campaign plane because their newspapers endorsed the other side. In other words, an accepted source for news in this day and age.

MORE excellent commentary…

***

But, oops, she didn’t follow Couric’s advice at all! Palin had a spate of interviews all over the tube, including a two-parter from her home in Alaska with Greta van Susteren and one with Matt Lauer on NBC.  I didn’t keep track to see if there were any others, but she also had an appearance at the Republican Governor’s Association meeting on November 13 (Thursday).

According to Taegan Goddard’s Political Wire, some Repubs were rather miffed about it all:

“It unfortunately sent a message that she was the de facto leader of the party.”

— A Republican governor, quoted by CNN, on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s three minute press conference earlier today.

Oh, perish the thought!

The AP had a full story which reported some more favorable comments…but had to lard it with spin, of course:

Palin urges GOP governors to keep Democrats honest

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON – 2 days ago

MIAMI (AP) — Sarah Palin called on fellow Republican governors to keep the new president and his strengthened Democratic majority in check on issues from taxes to health care as she signaled she’ll take a leadership role in a party searching for a new standard-bearer.

Addressing the Republican Governors Association meeting Thursday, this year’s GOP vice presidential nominee — and an oft-mentioned candidate for 2012 — revisited some aspects of the bitter campaign and talked about the role of the governors in the coming year. After losing the White House and several seats in the Senate and House, the party is engaging in some soul-searching about its direction.

“We are the minority party,” Palin said at a session on “Looking Towards the Future: The GOP in Transition.” “Let us resolve not to be the negative party.”

Still, she took a swipe or two at President-elect Barack Obama. She said with governors, “the buck stops on our desk. … We are not the many voting yea or nay or present.” While an Illinois state lawmaker, Obama often voted “present,” a practice the GOP criticized during the campaign.

Palin noted that Congress is led by the likes of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Rep. Barney Frank, and said it was incumbent upon GOP governors to ensure that the federal government doesn’t take over the health care system. She said if Obama and the new Congress “err on the side of excess taxes, we have to show them the way.”

“Let’s reach out to Barack Obama,” Palin said. “Show him how lower taxes provide opportunity for the private sector to grow.”

Palin also displayed a sense of humor, telling the governors at the beginning of her remarks that she wanted to catch them up on the developments in her life since they last met.

“I had a baby, I did some traveling, I very briefly expanded my wardrobe, I made a few speeches, I met a few VIPs including those who really impact society like Tina Fey,” she said to loud laughter.

(SNIP)

Republican governors acknowledged that Palin would be a party leader.

“She is somebody who is going to be one of the voices in helping to lead the party in the months and years ahead,” Pawlenty said. “We’re going to need a whole team, but she’s clearly going to be one of the voices that people are going to look to for some perspective on various issues.”

In a series of national television interviews, Palin did not rule out seeking the presidency, saying, “It’s crazy to close a door before you know what’s even open in front of you.”

Before briefly taking questions from reporters Thursday morning, Palin said, “I, like all of our governors, we’re focused on the future. The future for us is not the 2012 presidential race. It’s next year and our next budget, and the next reforms in our states and in 2010 we’re going to have 36 governors’ positions open across the U.S. That’s what we’re focused on.”

INTERRUPTING FOR A BULLSHIT ALERT:

Governors showed their support for Palin, who critics have said was ill-prepared to be vice president and may have cost Republican nominee John McCain support from independent and moderate voters. Undermining Palin’s credibility and hockey mom image was her $150,000 wardrobe bought with GOP dollars and her halting interview performances.

A CNN/Opinion Research poll released Wednesday showed that 43 percent of Americans had an unfavorable opinion of Palin.

END OF BULLSHIT ALERT

Twelve of Palin’s peers joined her for the news conference, and Texas Gov. Rick Perry praised before she made her remarks, describing Palin as “a governor who has led her state boldly, inspired a nation with her optimism, her frank talk, her unashamed embrace of bedrock conservative principles. She represents us, Republican governors, as well. And I can assure you, she’s just getting started.”

If Obama and his background had been scrutinized like Palin, he’d be at about 30%.  And, if the truth had been told about who bought the clothes and the rats “managing” her appearance on with Couric (Nicolle Wallace, former CBS News analyst who worked with Couric), she’d be a lot lower than 43%.  After all she took, it’s amazing she’s only at 43%!

As for her very diplomatic statement about “keeping Democrats honest”–well, it’s VERY diplomatic considering how incredibly dishonest they were during their own primaries…and how the crap continues to unfold as the Obama campers start to reveal their true selves.

A video of presser featuring Palin and the others governors is here.

***

With all the rumors swirling about Hillary Clinton being in the running for Secretary of State, I thought I’d post this story from the Sunday Telegraph in the UK, as a preview to what would transpire if she, indeed, was name and she accepted:

Hillary Clinton would face tough questions about Bill’s finances if chosen for Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton will face awkward questions about her husband’s financial ties with Arab sheikhs and Central Asian oligarchs if Barack Obama nominates her as Secretary of State.

***

The President-Elect has reportedly sounded out his former bitter rival to be the international face for his new administration – just months after she mocked his foreign policy inexperience and criticised his plans to talk to America’s enemies.

But the ex-First Lady would first have to go through a gruelling confirmation process on Capitol Hill at which, The Sunday Telegraph has learned, Republican senators will raise her husband’s secrecy-shrouded business deals and fund-raising for his glitzy presidential library and foundation.

Former President Bill Clinton has consistently refused to provide the names of the donors, but newspaper investigations have identified a slew of foreign contributors, many from oil-rich Gulf states. His lucrative consultancy work for a friend’s investment group has also involved dealings with Arab partners.

Republican strategists are dusting off plans to expose Mr Clinton’s financial ties, which they will argue represent a serious conflict of interest for his wife as the country’s top diplomat.

“Bill’s multi-million dollar deals to fund his foundation and make the family rich were always going to be a profitable source of attack for us if Hillary was the candidate,” said a Republican strategist. “Now it looks like we’re going to get the chance to have a go at her over this, thanks to President-Elect Obama. How can Hillary represent our interests when Bill is Bill is said to have close financial ties with some oil sheikhs?”

Some of their themes will echo persistent lines of attack by the Obama campaign during the tough primary battle.

OK, let’s see if all the speculation about Clinton has been generated by the Obama crowd…a further trashing, once this story makes it to the media here.  It wouldn’t surprise me at all…

Check out the picture with the story…all smiles between the two of them, Obama and Hillary, But is the knife is being sharpened again?

***

STRAY DOG UPDATE–I’ve been feeding the mystery dog steadily for 4 days now…he/she seems to come between 6:30 and 7:45 AM; if the all the food isn’t eaten, there’s a return visit.  I saw a black hair in the food bowl yesterday, so I’m still assuming it’s the little black and white stray I first saw about two weeks ago. I’ve moved the bowls up the driveway and they are now sitting at the lip of the garage, just outside the door. Let’s see if the food is eaten Sunday morning. If it is, the garage door will be opened on Monday morning and the bowls place just INSIDE the garage for a few days. Then I will put up a chair and sit there and see if the dog comes. If he does and seems shy, I will disappear inside….Let’s see how it goes this week!

THIS WEEK’S POSTS

*By American Lassie

The Scanner-International Edition, 11/14/08 (Insight into Obama’s Background, the Luo of East Africa; The Unrecognized Foreign Policy Work by Bush that Will Help Obama; How the Occupation of Iraq May Look in the Future)

“Project Foreign Policy—Style!” Introducing This Season’s Newest Look–Obama’s Magic Foreign Policy Shoes!

The Scanner–Readers’ Edition:Top Comments/Reader Suggested Links Edition 11/12/08 (Some Choice Words on the “Post-Racial” Atmosphere at Work; Young Women & Misogyny; The Penis Code; George Soros)(UPDATE: Favorite Hate Mail Post Just Arrived!)

*Dollars and Cents, Dirty Hands and Obamanomics

Did You See Sarah Palin Live with Greta? WOW!! In the Kitchen, Meal Prep and Policy…(UPDATE 1X–Video Up)

REMINDER: “Ladies’ Night” on the Radio Tonight! MONDAY, 10/10…FULL LINEUP Starts 8 PM ET

The Scanner-Politics 11/10/08 (FOX Self-Censoring?; OBAMA DAY???; An Upside-Down Flag in My Town)

The Past Week, November 2-8: Recaps & Random Thoughts (Chicago Trib’s “RedEye” Pic of “Royalty”; Frightening Treatment of McCain Supporter in Philly on Election Night; The Price Paid Due to Non-Voters (Deals with Ministers); Help “Free Us Now Mavericks” Hosted by Betty Jean Kling; Stray Dog Update

Shakespeare, Warlocks and Barack Obama…(UPDATE 1X)

~~A Guest Post by American Lassie

Over the weekend in The Past Week roundup,  InsightAnalytical-GRL asked, “Who else out there is ready to find a hole to hide in?”

IA, if you find an extra hole somewhere that I can crawl into I’m about ready for it.

The disgrace in Ohio (and other states) of ACORN getting by with their fraud is mind boggling.

Jennifer Brunner, Secretary of State of Ohio, is telling us that she doesn’t intend to obey an order of the court to verify these many registrations turned in by ACORN. And to make it worse, she is being upheld by the appeals court. In other words, she and many like her, are so determined to see the “one” installed that they will do anything they please to help it happen.*

And now we learn that Barky has already told ACORN that they will play a big part in his plans for America?

We are fast running out of time.

As for Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and Jimmy Carter being the instigators of this financial mess we are in, how about:

Double, Double, toil and trouble
Fire burn and cauldron bubble

Sound familiar? There are male witches (warlocks) as well as female. Although Shakespeare’s witches were female, we have a bunch of males that could fit that bill.

Just as these witches stirred the cauldron of ills to incite Macbeth, so perhaps these three warlocks stirred the pot to cause a calamity that would help Obama get elected. I do not feel that any of the blame for this is going to stick to Obama. Or to Frank or Dodd for that matter. McCain is taking the heat for it.

“Fair is foul and foul is fair
Hover through the fog and filthy air”

Back in 1742 Horace Walpole created a parody whereby three everyday working women manipulated political events in England. He paraphrased Shakespeare using the theme :

“Double, Double, toil and trouble
PARTIES BURN AND NONSENSE BUBBLE

I’d say it aptly applies to the present day situation.

Sorry I got carried away, by my mind is in turmoil these days.

THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.

UPDATE

*The court decision referred to in the post has been overturned….see Court casts doubt on Ohio voter rolls

Late in the day – in a victory for Republicans – the full Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a decision made last week by three of its members. The result: Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner must create computer programs to cross check all new voter registrations so that county boards of elections can doublecheck new registrants.

The Secretary of State will now have to verify new registrations by comparing information on them with data from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles or the Social Security Administration.

“As far as we can tell, the problem with the current system (of cross-checking) is not that it is insufficiently user-friendly, but that it is effectively useless,” wrote Judge Jeffrey Sutton, writing for the majority.

The court split 9-6 along mostly partisan lines. The only appeal would be to the U.S. Supreme Court, and it wasn’t clear Tuesday night if that would happen.