Lost in the shuffle of their befuddlement with the selection of Sarah Palin and the details of their objections to her, it is clearer than ever that some on the left (and in the media) have lost touch with average Americans.
From today's LA Times (h/t: Mark Halperin):
But some Democrats are now worried about the perils of Obama's strategy, saying that his campaign, instead of engaging the Alaska governor, should avoid any move that draws more attention to her and could enhance her appeal among the white, blue-collar voters who remain cool to Obama's candidacy.[snip]
Still, Democrats expressed anxiety about the new challenge suggested by recent surveys showing McCain has gained ground among independent voters and women, who could decide the race in states such as Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
[snip]
Moreover, some said, attacking a charismatic woman too harshly could backfire. They worry that it would play directly into the Republican strategy of courting female voters and portraying Palin as a middle-class mom under fire from the left and the establishment media. At the same time, they fear it could cloud Obama's carefully honed image as a post-partisan politician.
This is exactly the issue. So many Americans identify directly or indirectly with key elements of Sarah Palin's life. When Democrats and some journalists unload with attacks on her background and lifesteyle that smack of cultural arrogance and belittling of that life, people react defensively. Many of the attacks against her feel like attacks on the lives of typical Americans...at least those living outside of urban, liberal cocoons.
Will Palin's popularity and resulting impact on the McCain campaign last? I don't know. But if the tone of many - though not all - of the attacks launched against her thus far continue, it will have the effect of fortifying her strength, not weakening it.
Exit Question: Still to be answered, but what exactly will the down-ballot effect of Palin on the ticket be? Huge benefit for Republicans or minor? Very good arguments can be made for both. Only time will tell on a race-by-race basis.
Posted by Eric Earling at September 10, 2008 07:39 AM | Email ThisAttacks on Sarah by subhumans like the MSNBC's Air American lesbian Rachel Maddow and the mentally ill Keith Olbermann, along with CNN's sneering Pharisees Blitzer and Campbell Brown, I take personally. It's like they're assaulting a family member, and I have to break their noses. And it feels sooo good to finally be able to say that about a political candidate; but Sarah is much more than a candidate -- she's hope and change, from the Lord.
Posted by: The Pirate on September 10, 2008 08:03 AMWith Obama's luck, Biden would drop out from getting into a car accident with McCain, elevating Palin to the top of the ticket and we'll get our very own Margaret Thatcher.
Posted by: Doug on September 10, 2008 08:20 AMAll is not lost though - he could move to Europe and run for president of the EU, wtf he could probably move to Europe and have them name him ruler of the EU for life.
Posted by: JDH on September 10, 2008 08:35 AMAfter Hillary and after Palin, I believe he is on record as being for McCain (or should I say Palin).
He does seem to one who wants to talk issues, but President is all about the human being or the man. It is about leadership and connecting with the voter.
I could be wrong, but that has been my read of the Dufus.
Posted by: swatter on September 10, 2008 08:35 AMPlus they could say, see she (billary) is just a second class pick)
Like it of not GW has done a great job with helping this country. Granted he followed the lib way on spending and we can see what that has done. Which Obama wants to increase to even a larger role (taxes & spending) Remember the country was going down when Clinton left and then 911 hit. Yet GW and his staff was able to get this country back on top.
But please bring Billay back into the game.
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on September 10, 2008 08:40 AMObama and his 'BROs BEFORE HOs' campaign has been maligning women from the beginning. Hillary should have fought back sooner. Letting Obama get away with his misogyny just made him feel it was ok. Electing Obama would set women back 200 years.
Obama is a sexist pig.
Posted by: julia on September 10, 2008 08:45 AMGovernor Palin may appeal to small town people (although I grew up in a small town and yet...) but keep in mind that the majority of Americans live in cities. Many live in large urban cities. What can she offer them in terms of understanding their lives? What does she offer African-Americans, Hispanics and other groups? She's a very narrow candidate in those terms.
Look at the convention, look at the rallies. It's a sea of white faces. That may be who will vote for McCain/Palin but that's not America today.
Posted by: westello on September 10, 2008 08:50 AMhttp://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/elizabethberry/Cgsq
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on September 10, 2008 08:57 AMAll I have to say is keep it up - Obama is off message and off balance. Full implosion is not far away.
Keep up the attacks!
Posted by: Kato on September 10, 2008 08:58 AMOhDrama doesn't know any more about the world then he does brain surgery. His non-telepromptered remarks make him look like an elitist scumbag... much like your moronic post.
No one MADE you idiots pick this empty-suited, anti-American racist bigot, who has the political tone-deafness of a board fence; to tell us that ANY particular race "isn't America today" shows what a scumbag YOU are, as far as that goes.
Posted by: hinton on September 10, 2008 09:03 AMWOW... Ok, what does Obama offer. He's not really black (term) It's appears he's never really suffered (as the saying goes) What he has done with Rezco and the poor neighbor hoods is a complete mess in non-liveable homes. So he can offer what?
The fringe left nutters infesting us here have proven themselves incapable of either.
Posted by: hinton on September 10, 2008 09:08 AMThe wheels are coming off the Obama-mobile faster than a set of hub caps taken off a Cadillac parked in Chicago's south side slum district.
Posted by: Rick D. on September 10, 2008 09:26 AMUmmm he's not the candidate wearing $500 shoes or has a wife who wore an outfit the convention whose total cost is around 5x what an average middle class American family makes in a year.
Want to see an elitist look no farther than the GOP who's running a candidate who's never held a job in the private sector and practically bankrupted his Presidential campaign during primary...he was in so much debt he used his wife's private jet to shuttle him to political events.
I personally think you have the wrong candidate labeled as elitist.
Palin is just another lying, corrupt, two faced Republiconvict sleaze. Of course their base loves her!
BTW Pirate. You hate MSNBC because their hosts dont have to lie to give opinions? Rachel and Keith dont have to lie. Ever. Lucky for them to be reality based......
BTW where is the article on the trillion (plus) dollar bailout for fannie and freddie Eric? Flat world de regulated banking slimeballs strike again!!!! Itll cost ya!!!
Posted by: All Facts Support My Positions on September 10, 2008 09:36 AMWhy? So we can return to the Obama phenomenon?
If you have even a smidgen of intellectual honesty, you'll realize that the Palin phenomenon is only a tiny sliver of what Obamamania was. The most ardent fans of Palin only say that they see her as a roll model, not, say, "A lightworker who will introduce a better way of being on our planet," as the SFGate so famously called him.
Posted by: Cliff on September 10, 2008 09:39 AMHow dare you compare Mrs. Thatcher with a political novice like Mrs. Palin. Unlike Gov. Paliln, Mrs. Thatcher had 21 years of REAL experience (Member of Parliament - 11 years | Sec of Education - 4 years | Leader of her Party - 4 years) before becoming PM and didn't raise taxes or increase the size of the Govt. under her watch.
I think any British citizen would be offended to make such a comparison with someone fought her way to the top via a long and distinguished career to a political novice from Alaska who was picked because she appealed to the Evangelical wing of the party.
They both may be conservative and share the same gender but the comparison should end there. Sarah Palin is no Margret Thatcher.
Truth be told, Tom Brokaw finally broke up the love fest with the 3 Obam-amigo's (Madcow,Slobberman & Mattspews). He realized that MSNBC can't afford any further credibility hits while the network is sinking faster than Michael Moore in the deep end of the pool. It is fast becoming Air America of the cable television, which means it's living on borrowed time as it is.
Fortunately, the break up of the Slobberman/Mattspews team finally put some light on the "furrowing up my leg" comment by Matthews.
...Turns out that it was actually Olbermann's sock encased foot.
Posted by: Rick D. on September 10, 2008 09:51 AMWell at least he held a job in the private sector...before becoming a career politician like McCain.
Well except them slums he and Rezco help to build.
So you are saying that people with low incomes should live on the street? How very compassionate conservative of you.
Cato-
Another pathetic "Look at the clothes" talking point? Since you bring it up, I have to ask have you really looked at Obama's suits and clothing? Have you looked at his wifes?
I absolutely hate it, but am forced to dress well for my job. Obama certainly isn't wearing off the rack suits. I don't think I've ever seen Obama in a suit that with tailoring wouldn't cost close to a thousand before considering tie and shoes. There's more money on that guy during an average campaign stop than most of the people in the audience make in a week.
And Mrs Obama's clothes and jewelry aren't exactly Sears Roebuck material either. (She's even on record as saying that the $500 price cut wouldn't buy a set of her earrings.)
If you're looking to use clothing as a way to show how "in touch" the Obama are, man are you barking up the wrong tree.
Posted by: johnny on September 10, 2008 10:04 AMObama's own half brother George is living in a shack making $10 a month back in Kenya... I guess Barack isn't exactly the "compassionate liberal" he claims he is. But he has enough of his cultists convinced otherwise contrary to the facts.
Posted by: Rick D. on September 10, 2008 10:04 AM++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOL... They can't live anymore! Your slum-lords Obama & Rezco never fixed them. They just got the taxpayers bucks and that was it. The roofs are falling in, rats, no heat.
Yeah you libs care alright.
Fancy Italian cobblers, sure.
I bet the shoe salesmen at Nordstroms and Mario's make a living wage
I'm sure they but they can't afford $500+ loafers because they have to make their rent/mortgage payments, pay their bills, buy groceries, and feed their children.
So what are you wearing today that has provided a living wage for anybody?
I'm sure the Italian's who build Ferrari's make a living wage as well (they even get free healthcare). That doesn't mean an average family or factory worker who builds one can afford one. It's usually reserved for elitists who have private jet's and wear $280k earrings...and spend the money they got from all of Daddy's hard work. Interesting how Teresa Heinz is an elitist but the Cindy McCain is not despite their almost identical financial circumstances.
Personally I got my shoes at Nordstroms on sale for $50, had them for 2.5 years now. I like most American's don't need frivolous expenditures like $500 shoes to make their lives complete.
Obama hasn't suffered? Did you read his books? Is he not (at least visually) a black man in America? Please, you aren't that stupid. His father abandoned his family, his mom died early from breast cancer; have a little sense.
The silence about the faces at the convention and the rallies is deafening. You know it's true; hell, McCain said it was true Sunday morning. Is he a racist?
Also, your assumptions about gender and race are funny. You always assume you are talking to another white male but that's likely because that's who you normally only talk to.
Posted by: westello on September 10, 2008 11:15 AMBarak Obama may appeal to some left leaning radicals and misogynists, but over half the polpulation of the country are women. What can he offer them in terms of understanding their lives? He is a very narrow candidate.
Posted by: pbj on September 10, 2008 11:22 AMThe liberal left hasn't the slightest clue about the people that make up this country. They live in big cities full of other liberals. Many of them don't know a single conservative, and if they do they look down their noses at them as Fox News watching, Wal-Mart shopping rubes. The most popular sports in this country are football and car racing. It isn't liberals that pack those grandstands every weekend.
Democrats always run around shouting that "most Americans" agree with them as if saying it enough times will make it so.
As it becomes clear most Americans don't agree with them they will become increasingly angry to the point of hysteria. That won't help them a bit. Americans hate crybabies, and if nothing else liberals are spoiled crybabies.
What do we need to do they must be screaming amongst themselves, wringing their hands. We indoctrinate children in liberalism from pre-school through college, we control the media establishment, we spread the fear of global warming, and yet once again we are losing.
When they go totally bananas investigating every moment of Sarah's life they only hurt themselves. And as most conservatives know, liberals aren't nearly as smart as they think they are.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 10, 2008 11:29 AMMaybe I missed the media's chivalrous silence about Palin. Thought I was hearing ten days of wall-to-wall bleat and smear, but it was really the sounds of timid silence, of a chastened media too whipped to squeak up.
Ross, earler, had claimed that he thrashed RNS's Duncan by asking him an unanswerable question about Todd Palin's declaration of independence from federal tyranny. Apparently, years ago, Todd wanted Alaska to go native. And apparently -- despite silent media howls to the contrary -- Sarah didn't. And apparently -- despite shrill shrieks from our silent media -- Sarah wasn't exchanging sieg heils with Pat Buchanan, either. Nor did she have an affair with Elvis. Nor have his baby.
So Ross smugly smarmed that he entrapped the RNC into a no-win interview. But the "big" loser (so to speak) was little Ross. In typical Ross spin mode, he tried to slide over the topic of townhall debates. Ross said that Obama chose not to have then. The truth, as RNC's Duncan pointed out, is that Obama was for townhalls with McCain before he was against them. That is, Obama chickened out.
The silent unbiased media today are silently moaning about the slide of this year's campaign into nonsense about kindergarten sex ed and about pigs. Why, they wail silently, has McCain driven his straight-talk express into a dirt-road ditch.
Answer: It's because Obama and his silent media majority are too chicken to meet McCain for real discussion in a venue without a script and a prompter. Easier for chicken Obama to talk about pigs, and then to whine when McCain calls him on it.
Easier for Ross, as usual, to abet the cop-out and the coverup.
Posted by: Rocktober Surprise on September 10, 2008 11:31 AMI own and wear a pair of shoes I bought at FGF when I was 20 years old, I am now 49 years old. I was working at stinking gas station when I bought the things. When I amortize the cost I bet I pay less per day of wear for shoes than most people because I DO NOT destroy my possessions. Same with my wrist watches. Same with my suits. Same with my vehicles. Same with my home. Same with my guns. Same with my fishing tackle.
Posted by: JDH on September 10, 2008 11:44 AMWhy didn't the media dig into Obama's failure to have the thoughtful issues-based campaign that McCain proposed? Why was Obama allowed to get away with the dirty trick of agreeing to a high-road campaign before blowing it off?
Maybe it's because the media understood too well that if Obama couldn't even brush back softfalls from Gibson (?) and Snuffleupagus in one of those faux "debates" last winter, he for sure wasn't ready for unscripted prime time against a worthy adversary like McCain.
Posted by: Rocktober Surprise on September 10, 2008 11:45 AMObama and Biden, big as life, flag pins intacta.
Posted by: Rocktober Surprise on September 10, 2008 11:51 AMObama and Biden, big as life, flag pins intacta.
Posted by: Rocktober Surprise on September 10, 2008 11:51 AMFunny how things have gone down hill since 2006.
PS, don't forget the dem's want to save Fanny * Freddy. Watch the deficit really go nuts, But it's FOR the people. (-:
A fundamental flaw with liberal ideology...there really is no such thing as "FREE" healthcare. Or FREE anything for that matter.
Posted by: Rick D. on September 10, 2008 12:20 PMDidn't Robin Williams do a skit on "Good Morning Vietnam" changing that to "We represent the Arvn Army" or something to that effect?
I think that is more fitting.
Posted by: Chris on September 10, 2008 12:24 PMI think the liberals have snapped. It's amazing the lengths they will go to protect their annointed candidate.
What they avoid of course is playing the actual Obama "lipstick on a pig" quote from yesterday which was immediately followed by wild cheering from the faithful. They knew exactly who he was referring to.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 10, 2008 12:28 PMMind you the dem's have been in charge since 2006 and where have we gone?
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on September 10, 2008 12:40 PMYes, the budgets have gotten bigger. Tax burdens have gotten smaller. Businesses have gotten more productive.
It's okay to grow government to meet the needs of a growing population and support economic activity. It's not okay to do it when it's more money to coddle welfare recipients and engage in "jobs" programs that swell the government payroll. That's whe Palin has such a high approval rating.
Its about investment and working with those that produce rather than taking and giving to those that squander. As a liberal you wouldn't understand.
Posted by: johnny on September 10, 2008 12:53 PMPaul, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination, will tell supporters he is not endorsing GOP nominee John McCain or Democratic nominee Barack Obama, and will instead give his seal of approval to four candidates: Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney, Libertarian Party nominee Bob Barr, independent candidate Ralph Nader, and Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin, according to a senior Paul aide.
++++++++++++++++++++++++
LOL Ron Paul has lost it. He support Cynthia McKinney and Ralph Nader. Talk about two losers who are so close to Stalin you can't even measure it. Paul is you guy Lysander.
"You're getting $600 - what can you do with that?" Mrs. Obama said in Pontiac, Michigan last week. "Not to be ungrateful or anything, but maybe it pays down a bill, but it doesn't pay down every bill every month. The short-term quick fix kinda stuff sounds good, and it may even feel good that first month when you get that check, and then you go out and you buy a pair of earrings."
I personally think you have the wrong candidate labeled as elitist. -Posted by Cato at September 10, 2008 09:28 AM
Mrs. Obama sits on the board of University of Chicago Medical Center and is paid her for her work.
The only thing Americans hear about Cindy McCain is she is the chairperson of her father's Anhauser-Bush beer distributorship, Hensley & Company, and her personal net worth is $100 million dollars. Many do not realize Mrs. McCain's father borrowed the money to start his business in 1955; one year after his daughter was born. Cindy McCain was not born to wealth. The media and press never tell her real accomplishments of service to those in need around the world.1988: Mrs. McCain founded the American Voluntary Medical Team (AVNT) and led 55 medical aid missions into war-zones over a seven year period.
1994: Mrs. McCain witnessed the Rwanda genocide first hand when her team risked their lives to help victims of gang rape, murder, hunger and disease. Mrs. McCain says she had to step over dead bodies to find those still alive.
Mrs. McCain serves on the board of Operation Smile, a non-profit organization providing surgery to children born with cleft lips. 100,000 around the world children can smile because of Operation Smile.
Mrs. McCain is a member of the Halo Trust, a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing land-mines. Halo has removed 7,000 land mines in 10 countries around the world.
Mrs. McCain volunteered for missions to Morocco, Vietnam, and India. On one trip to India 17 years ago, Mother Teresa handed Mrs. McCain a newborn child born with a cleft lip -- surgery was the only thing that could save the baby's life -- asking her to take the child to a hospital in the U.S. Mrs. McCain, who says she could not part with the baby when she reached the U.S., told Senator McCain: "meet your new daughter." The beautiful young woman named Bridgette McCain stood beside her mother and siblings to introduce her father at the Republican National Convention.
In 2004, Mrs. McCain suffered a stroke from high blood pressure. Once fully recovered, she not only joined her husband's campaign, Mrs. McCain went back to being an aid worker, joining mission's teams around the world.
She travels with the World Food Program: in 2008, Mrs. McCain joined WFP on a trip to Rwanda to deliver food and medicine to famine victims.
2008: On the trip to Rwanda Mrs. McCain met a group called Women For Women International, an organization helping female survivors of war get educations, jobs, start businesses, receive counseling, rights, food, water, shelter, and medicine.
Mrs. Obama is accused of helping to shut down a Colorado pickle factory in 2005, causing 150 Hispanic workers to lose their jobs.
Mrs. McCain also works with Pour Un Sourire d' Enfant (For a Smile of a Child) providing support and education to abused children in third world counties where the basics are not available without the help of volunteers like Cindy McCain who are willing to hike through the most unpleasant situations to help others.
Mrs. McCain is not just another pretty wife of a politician in designer clothes: Cindy McCain doesn't just talk about lending a hand, she acts. Michelle Obama talks about bringing "change," Cindy McCain has, in reality, gone out into the world and made a profound change in thousands of lives for the greater good of mankind.
John McCain, ALONE donated 26% of HIS income to charity. We don't know the dollar amount Cindy gives, but her time, her record, speaks volumes. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, donated just under 6% of their $4.2 million income to charitable causes last year.
You were saying?
South Carolina Democratic chairwoman Carol Fowler sharply attacked Sarah Palin today, saying John McCain had chosen a running mate " whose primary qualification seems to be that she hasn't had an abortion."
___________________
What more can you say after this. 0-:
Why does Fannie and Freddy need bailout in the first place? Could it be no income verification loan policies put in place from previous terms?
There will be lots more to pay for in the future because we've outspent this last 8 years.
The dems were voted in 2006 to change the Republican held congress of 6+ years. And they haven't. Because in the Senate, it requires more than a 51% majority. Which means the other 49% of Republicans are stopping progress.
Posted by: Just asking on September 10, 2008 01:19 PMYa Think!?
Posted by: Jeff B. on September 10, 2008 01:21 PMbHo and the bitter bride donated just under 6% of their $4.2 million income: they donated a whopping $25,200.
McCain donated 4x as much on one tenth the income.
You were saying?
Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on September 10, 2008 01:21 PMYou kidding.. the gov has been pushing banks for years to lend money for homes people should not have.
Look up Chis Dodd. Then get back with me.
This is suppose to mean what? That some GOV people are crooked? Duh!
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on September 10, 2008 01:28 PMThey have quite an interesting post today.
Explaining to Democrats Why They're Doomed
Face it. People who think like you have wildly different opinions, perspectives, life-styles, and values from the great majority of ordinary Americans, whom you don't like very much anyway. ... The people who pick your presidential candidates don't look like America. They look like the crowd at a midnight showing of Rocky Horror Show. Is it any wonder that you keep getting hosed?The democrat minority thinks that people like themselves are wiser and better than everybody else, when the truth is they are still the weirdos, a minority of obnoxious egotistical misfits that nobody liked during high school, and nobody likes now.
I think that just about covers it.
"Well Joan, excuse us for living. We'll be sure to vote on November 4th (for McCain) before we slink back into our cheap houses and stop offending your refined sensibilities with our presence......"
Remember, these are DEMOCRATS saying this, folks....
Posted by: Michele on September 10, 2008 01:51 PMThey are losing it folks - this is really getting fun. I went down to the break-room a few minutes ago and we also have the campaign manager for The One being interviewed on TV today looking a nervous wreck.
Posted by: JDH on September 10, 2008 01:51 PMMy family gave 10+% last year and we didn't earn $4.2 million.
Posted by: Michele on September 10, 2008 01:55 PMhttp://www.mccainpalinvictory2008.com/victoryevents.html
Posted by: The Pirate on September 10, 2008 02:20 PMhttp://www.goptrunk.com/category-s/130.htm
Posted by: The Pirate on September 10, 2008 02:29 PMhttp://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/09/10/palin_feminism/
the left is going bonkers. They really do belong in a padded room wearing paper shoes. They are writing articles about Palin refering to her as John McCain's f able sidekick, and sexy librarian and these are in Salon.com supposedly the "centerist" or "mainstream" left.
Posted by: JDH on September 10, 2008 02:31 PMHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Biden said Obama was stupid to choose him instead of Hillary!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Posted by: Gary on September 10, 2008 02:47 PMI suspect Obama's campaign might throw Biden overboard and bring on Hillary.
And if they do that would further prove that they simply don't get it.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 10, 2008 02:53 PMThis is so funny. C'mon libs... even you have to admit this is funny stuff right here.
Jesus wouldn't chosen Biden.
Guess who rose to the #3 money spot in just 3 years in the Senate. Yup: OBAMA.
Same Obama who voted for the Bridge to Nowhere.
Posted by: keb on September 10, 2008 03:22 PMGuess who rose to the #3 money spot in just 3 years in the Senate. Yup: OBAMA.
Same Obama who voted for the Bridge to Nowhere.
Posted by: keb on September 10, 2008 03:23 PMProbably not very funny to them, but to me their panic is extremely funny.
If leftists had a lick of common sense they would beware of waking the sleeping giant. The vast majority of Americans that don't pay attention to politics but do not share liberal values.
They have families, shop at Wal-Mart, and go to their high schools' football games on Friday night. Liberals don't have the slightest idea about these folks. But Sarah does.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 10, 2008 04:15 PMI still don't understand how the Democrats could have passed up Hillary! I really don't like her, but she would have never made so many slipups as Obama. I wonder if Obama will ever get back into the zone....
Posted by: iconoclast on September 10, 2008 04:29 PMyep.
"at least 20 McCain fundraisers have lobbied for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, pocketing at least $12.3 million over the last nine years."
http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/09/9663_mccain_fannie_freddie.html
Posted by: Just asking on September 10, 2008 05:43 PMTwo U.S. senators, two former Cabinet members, and a former ambassador to the United Nations received loans from Countrywide Financial through a little-known program that waived points, lender fees, and company borrowing rules for prominent people.
Senators Christopher Dodd, Democrat from Connecticut and chairman of the Banking Committee, and Kent Conrad, Democrat from North Dakota, chairman of the Budget Committee and a member of the Finance Committee, refinanced properties through Countrywide's "V.I.P." program in 2003 and 2004, according to company documents and emails and a former employee familiar with the loans.
Other participants in the V.I.P. program included former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Alphonso Jackson, former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala, and former U.N. ambassador and assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke. Jackson was deputy H.U.D. secretary in the Bush administration when he received the loans in 2003According to company documents and emails, the V.I.P.'s received better deals than those available to ordinary borrowers. Home-loan customers can reduce their interest rates by paying "points"--one point equals 1 percent of the loan's value. For V.I.P.'s, Countrywide often waived at least half a point and eliminated fees amounting to hundreds of dollars for underwriting, processing and document preparation. If interest rates fell while a V.I.P. loan was pending, Countrywide provided a free "float-down" to the lower rate, eschewing its usual charge of half a point. Some V.I.P.'s who bought or refinanced investment properties were often given the lower interest rate associated with primary residences.
Unless they asked, V.I.P. borrowers weren't told exactly how many points were waived on their loans, the former employee says. However, they were typically assured that they were receiving the "Friends of Angelo" discount, and that Mozilo had personally priced their loans.
The V.I.P. loans to public officials in a position to advance Countrywide's interests raise legal and ethical questions.
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/06/13/more-democrat-cronies-who-received-special-countrywide-loan-deals/
Posted by: Just Sayin on September 10, 2008 08:39 PMIn your secular, moveon.org cardboard cut-out world. Better that you take your world to the Galapagos Islands where it will not be a factor to the rest of us.
Posted by: KS on September 10, 2008 09:20 PMTime Magazine has a new piece entitled "Sarah Palin's Myth of America". The nose holding tone of the article when it talks about rural America says it all.
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1840388,00.html?imw=Y
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 11, 2008 07:51 AMOh..and you should read this Time article "Sarah Palin's Alaskonomics"
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1839724-1,00.html
Pretty much shows her fiscal conservative credentials..LOL!
Posted by: Proteus on September 11, 2008 08:57 AMOh..and you should read this Time article "Sarah Palin's Alaskonomics"
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1839724-1,00.html
Pretty much shows her fiscal conservative credentials..LOL!
Posted by: Proteus on September 11, 2008 08:57 AMIf McCain and Palin win in November you'll be stunned because likely no one you know voted for them.
Get out of the big city for a few days and drive to Eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah. Get up early and have breakfast in the local cafes. You might learn something.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 11, 2008 09:15 AMAs usual though, you GOP types love to bypass the actual issues. DId you read the article? It clearly shows Palin is NOT a fiscal conservative. Just as we know Bush led the largest increase in the federal government in history. Do you deny it? Can you deny it?
Oh...and don't forget, the federal government SHRANK under Clinton. Gingrich helped here, but unfortunately his party got hijacked by a bunch of neocons and social conservatives.
Posted by: Proteus on September 11, 2008 09:34 AMYou've made the point of this thread better than I possibly could.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 11, 2008 09:39 AMLOL--this is not an "article", it is a opinion/hit piece by a well known left wing loonie--Michael Kinsley!
THAT is your source for saying Palin is not a fiscal conservative?? That's like a conservative pointing to Sean Hannity to prove that some Democrat is a bad choice. TOO funny. You crack me up!
Posted by: Bill H on September 11, 2008 10:24 AMFYI, the Seattle metropolitan area is in the top 15 largest metropolitan areas in the country according to the US Census. And the city itself is the 23rd largest...
Posted by: Bill H on September 11, 2008 10:33 AMEverytime liberals shriek about "fiscal conservatism" I think it should be fair to ask them just where they would have curtailed spending these past 7 years.
The answer is nowhere, (they'll say military spending and conveniently ignore the fact that their Senators and Congressman authorized the Iraq War).
The minute Republicans propose spending cuts the liberals start their hand-wringing about how Republicans hate children, working people, and senior citizens. As an example look at Gregoire's campaign ads accusing Rossi of that very thing.
We know the dirty little game they play. And that game may be up.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 11, 2008 10:48 AMExactly right and you should also add that they say Republicans are racists, gay-haters and misogynists. Which is why they come out with the vitriol in spades for people like Clarence Thomas and Sarah Palin--they illustrate that lie that Republicans hate blacks and women.
So Clarence Thomas has to be destroyed as an Uncle Tom, as not smart enough for SCOTUS, as a hypocritical user of affirmative action, etc. Obama went out of his way to denigrate Clarence Thomas in the Saddleback interview.
Similarly they are attempting to destroy Sarah Palin. Unfortunately for them, it is backfiring on them..
Posted by: Bill H on September 11, 2008 11:21 AMMy wife and I have both noticed the similarities between the left's total freak-out during the Clarence Thomas nomination and their behavior over Sarah Palin. They are out to destroy Palin much in the same way they tried to destroy Thomas. Palin and Thomas demonstrate that liberalism is a lie that can only exist by dividing the population into angry, dependent sub-groups that believe the country is a hopeless place on the verge of doom,(I wonder what other hell on earth equips nearly every 12-year old with a cell phone).
The Democrats have sent plane loads of lawyers and journalists up to Alaska in a desperate attempt to discredit her. And they are hysterical. Sarah is a "book banner", voted against funds for unwed mothers, supported Alaska secession, wants to teach creationism in schools and on and on. The more lies they tell the deeper the hole they're digging for themselves becomes. It's delicious to watch this. It couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of dishonest creeps.
They just don't get it, do they?
Personally, I don't CARE about Palin's kids, her personal life, or even her personal religious beliefs (Although I am wary of anyone who believes that gas pipelines and critical infrastructure are "G-ds will". I care about two things in this election:
1) Will McCain put competent leadership in our government agencies, who can rebuild our failing infrastructure, reregulate our failed financial system, and restart our economy?
2) Is Sarah Palin, from Wasalia, Alaska, with no significant education, and very limited experience prepared to be POTUS, in the event that McCain, a 72 year old severely wounded vet with a history of melanoma should be unable to complete his term?
Those are really the only two questions that matter.
Posted by: Proteus on September 11, 2008 03:46 PMI'm real curious Proteus, just what do you mean by saying that Palin has "no significant education"?
She isn't a slick Ivy League educated lawyer?
You are an elitist snob, and your comment about McCain being a "severely wounded vet with a history of melanoma" just illustrates what kind of creeps leftist trolls tend to be.
Again, you and your ilk simply don't get it. Most Americans can't stand your type once you show your true colors.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 11, 2008 04:11 PMOh please. You're just mad now that you couldn't pull it off!
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 11, 2008 04:32 PMYou're kidding, right? All of the discussion being generated is being generated by the loony left with all of their scurrilous attacks on Governor Palin and her family. They don't want to discuss issues, they want to DESTROY her. Unfortunately for the Obama/Biden ticket, she is not a woman who is easily cowed and the attacks have been both dishonest and mean spirited.
"Is Sarah Palin, from Wasalia, Alaska, with no significant education, and very limited experience prepared to be POTUS, in the event that McCain, a 72 year old severely wounded vet with a history of melanoma should be unable to complete his term?"
This is exceptionally silly and short sighted when you have a less experienced (yes, I said LESS experienced) nominee in the form of Barack Obama at the TOP of the D ticket. You also make the common mistake of thinking that just because a candidate attended Hawvawrd that somehow they are better prepared to be president. She has tons more COMMON SENSE than Senator Obama has--and AGAIN she is on the BOTTOM of the ticket while he is on the TOP of the ticket.
The condescension you show is palpable and is one reason your side is going to lose---and possibly BIG.
Bill C says "It's delicious to watch this. It couldn't happen to a more deserving bunch of dishonest creeps." I couldn't agree more!
Posted by: Bill H on September 11, 2008 04:32 PMIf lefties had common sense...well, they'd be conservatives.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 11, 2008 04:45 PMYou just get a sense watching her speak that there is nothing that she would be unable to cope with. Obama looks like a lost soul who probably wouldn't be able to change a flat tire, or know how to hook up jumper cables. Sarah could do both and everyone in America knows it.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 11, 2008 05:16 PMClearly Palin was more than his equal and Gibson appeared uneasy as Palin answered his rapid fire liberal talking point questions calmly.
I thought it was particularly amusing that ABC had Gibson's voice amplified at about 3-times the volume Palin's microphone seemed to be able to deliver.
America is watching, lefties.
Posted by: Bill Cruchon on September 11, 2008 05:50 PMThe president needs to be intelligent, and articulate. Bush was neither, and look where that got us.
Don't forget, Obama is uniquely well qualified for the presidency. He is highly intelligent, very well aware of the issues facing, articulate, and well respected internationaly. Obama also has a steller background. State senator, representing MORE people than the entire state of Alaska (Chicago alone has 10x the population of Alaska). Constituional law professor. Important if you actually plan on upholding our Constitution..something that cannot be said for Bush/Cheney. US Senator. Yes, I'd say he's very well qualified indeed. McCain has an equal amount of "executive experience".
Anyway, it doens't matter. Obama is way ahead in the polls in this state, he's ahead nationally, and we're going to win this election and take back this country from the backwards, anti-intellectual, science hating right wing nutjobs!
Posted by: Proteus on September 12, 2008 03:27 PM"Anyway, it doesn't matter. Obama is way ahead in the polls in this state, he's ahead nationally..."
You're just like the cave man playing Billie Jean King in the GEICO commercial. You're sure you're ahead until you look at the scoreboard! You need to see the polls, buddy.
Take a look at the Real Clear Politics polls:
"we're going to win this election and take back this country from the backwards, anti-intellectual, science hating right wing nutjobs!"
That's so cute and so intelligent. Look out everyone, liberal heads are exploding!
Posted by: Bill H on September 12, 2008 07:39 PMObama can barely string a sentence together when he doesn't have a teleprompter. Democrats only have themselves to blame--you picked Obama! We should start a contest to see how many times the guy says "uh" during the debates! I can see why he didn't want to do any townhall debates with McCain--no teleprompter to tell him what to say!
Obama is well prepared...to be a tv news reader...
Posted by: Bill H on September 12, 2008 07:46 PMObama is running for president, what questions did Gibson ask him?
How does it feel to break a glass ceiling?
How does it feel to "win"?
How does your family feel about your "winning" breaking a glass ceiling?
Who will be your VP?
Should you choose Hillary Clinton as VP?
Will you accept public finance?
What issues is your campaign about?
Will you visit Iraq?
Will you debate McCain at a town hall?
What did you think of your competitor's [Clinton] speech?
Yeah, Obama has really been grilled by those liberal interviewers. And if Saddleback is any indications, Obama is toast. I wonder how many of the questions will be above Obama's pay grade.
But of course, this is just Rovian obsfucation BS. Again, the real issue is the economy, and the decline of the middle class. Obama needs to hammer away at that..and take McCain to school in the debates.
