Post crash.... Day one...

Wall Street is expecting the bailout to pass, so investors got back in. If I were more of an active trader, I'd buy stock after one of these big slides. There is always a bit of a rebound, even if it is only temporary.

What I'm doing is retiring debt. I don't know if the credit behind that debt will remain, but I frankly value making the HOA, electricity, phone and insurance payments before borrowing money. Learn to live on less! Wal-Mart here we come!

Makes me wonder what will happen if the bailout doesn't pass. It could be rough for a while, but I really would be curious how it would all shake out. Certainly, they don't have to pass the bill in a hasty manner - one would only hope that the delay causes it to be drafted more carefully. Yet I have my doubts about Congress can do anything right!

$500,000 ?????????????????????????????

I hear all this glorious talk about eliminating "golden parachutes" for CEO's... Now I hear their "packages" are limited to $500K in companies taken over by the bailout.

Look, I realize that $500K is nothing to these rich bastards, but it IS to most of us. What needs to be done is for these bastards to be taken out in front of the public and FLOGGED!

CEO's should be compensated if they create success within their companies. If they run the damned thing into the ground, well then they should leave with NOTHING !!! I realize the government can't tell private companies what kind of deals to negotiate with CEO's, but once the government takes over, those contracts should become NULL and VOID!

People who are shareholders in those companies should get first shot at the CEO!

The trickle down theory...

As noted by numerous people, when certain people become wealthy, it does not necessarily trickle down to "main street". Granted, when the economy is rolling along, there are jobs for everyone. But let us be honest. The conditions for the middle class and poor were not improving for some time now. But certain fat cats were insulated from all this and rolling right along.

Now, this all comes to a halt. The fat cats are in the stew along with the rest of us. Problem is that most people are not aware that the trickle of despair will actually be a torrent, which runs right through main street. Yes, I can see a need for a bailout, but I also understand the populist revolt against it. In fact, this revolt could deepen.

Yeah, I suppose I can support some kind of a bailout. But I'm not happy about it at all. I can only hope that these idiots that represent us can hash together some kind of a bill. But my belief in them putting together a GOOD bill is very low. Will this torrent sweep us all away?

Things are looking Obama's way...

As I mentioned earlier, the first debate was pretty much of a tie. I give McCain a bit of an edge, but no knockout blows were delivered by either candidate.

As McCain is slipping behind and Sarah Palin is fading, so goes it that Obama's fate is looking up. Still, politics is kind of quirky. Joe Biden definitely has to hold his own and try to keep away form any statements which could be interpreted as patronizing Sarah Palin in the V.P. debate. Biden has made some mis-statements lately and he definitely is not the smoothest candidate. But I really don't think the election will depend on the bottom of the ticket.

So, Kennedy wins out over Eisenhower, I suppose... (I wouldn't say Kennedy over Nixon, because I have a higher opinion of McCain than that.)

Did I hear this right?

I watched last nights debate. It was pretty much of a tie, as far as I'm concerned. I think McCain came into his own on foreign policy, by citing his experience and dropping a few names. Obama did good as well and was strong on economic issues.

I did have one area of concern for BOTH candidates: Iran! Geez, I don't claim to be an expert on Iran, but there was one fairly significant mistake by Obama and McCain. Iraq had the famous, but now defunct, Republican Guard. The candidates both referred to Iran's elite fighting forces as the Republican Guard. In truth, those forces are called the Revolutionary Guard.

Both struggled with Pres A's name. That's understandable, so let us just call him Tommy. To Obama's credit, he did mention that Tommy (Ahmadinejad) is not the top leader of Iran. That would be Iran's second Supreme Leader, Ali Hoseyni Khāmene’i. I also wish that people would realize that Iran will vote for their next President next year. Yes, I know it sounds strange but there is a very limited democratic process in Iran. Not everyone can run for office, but among those who do, we can hope for a more moderate and pragmatic leader.

Just refinance the loans....

O.k. here's the rub: People get credit cards, get in trouble and then can negotiate lower rates through one of these credit counseling services. So, while I hope sub-prime mortgages are gone, rather than a foreclosure, why not negotiate a new loan??? This is only with people whom show readiness to work hard on the new deal. But if the old loan was so ridiculous that there is NO WAY, then maybe a person trying their best deserves a second chance.

Road to nowhere?

I see this road now... T'was to go to the "Bridge to Nowhere" but that was killed. So there is just this damned road... Ha ha!

Well, no Republicans here...

I know some people will vote for McCain just because they don't like Obama... But really, now that this HUGE government takeover is being debated... all talk of free markets and deregulation goes out the window. Both candidates support some kind of a bailout. Both support this form of socialism. Yeah, I guess Ron Paul is still a Republican as he does not want a bailout.

Me, I don't like big government bureaucracy either. But, with no regulation, greed and corruption take over. I like to keep the government in check, but let's be honest: we haven't had total free markets since the wild, wild West. And as you know, things were boom or bust out there.

I would support some form of bailout, I guess. But it had damned well better be thought out carefully. Letting the former CEO's of these wayward institutions escape in golden parachutes will really piss the people off. Better they be publicly hanged as in the old West!!! Yeah, I stand to personally loose a lot. But pushing through a bailout just to save face for the Bush Administration is not acceptable. I'll take my knocks, but they should take a while to hash it out as I said earlier.

Foot dragging????

Well, we have to take our knocks on wall street while Congress sorts out the bailout bill. Well, that and a spike in oil prices caused Monday's drop in the dow.

One that only cares about nursing the stock market would be insisting that Congress move immediately. Me? I'm not wild over the drop in stocks, but would rather not see a reckless rush to pass the bailout. So for once, on the surface, it appears that the Democrats might be right in holding up this legislation. Of course this depends upon the details and it is (always) unclear to the average Joe what they are.

Heck, take a few days (or weeks?), hash it out with the Bush Administration and the Treasury Dept and come up with a good bill!!! We might need urgent action, but we don't need to worsen the problem. On the other hand, I agree that legislation needs to be clean and uncomplicated. Democrats often have a problem keeping things simple.

Whew... there she goes!

The dire consequences of doing nothing with the economy? During the collapse of the Stock Market of 1929, there was no such bailout. Ah, I hope I don't loose everything! Time to get out some cash and do it soon!

How the hell will this be paid for and how will the payback request come?

Can we believe her?

This is a quote from Guv Palin:

"I've honestly answered the questions on what my personal views are on things like abortion and a lot of controversial issues," Palin told the Associated Press. "I won't hesitate to answer those questions about what my personal views are, but I am not one to be out there preaching and forcing my views on anyone else."

Well, I hope her faith helps her personally, but as I've indicated many many times before, I really want the winners of this election to focus on the big issues. If this is her attitude, well, fine. But I still want to make sure she is genuine about this statement and not just playing the audience.

Editor's note: My gut sense is that there are a lot of good attributes about this lady, but if she is not 100%, she'll sink the ticket.

The public vetting process...

Now that she's bragged so much about the "bridge to nowhere", the questions are beginning to come in about whether or not the Alaska governor really was against it from the beginning. I believe at some point she did cancel the funds going to that grandiose bridge. ("Grandiose" was her word for it.) But was this after she originally supported the project??? Or so they say....

As indicated in the previous post, her resume sounds great... That is IF it all holds true. This does not mean that I will accept all explanations from spinmeisters representing the Obama camp either. One thing I know for sure: McCain has steadfastly refused earmarks and is against porkbarrel spending. You have to give them credit for bringing this issue to the forefront.

Palin more popular than McCain, Obama...

I have to admit I kinda like this gal... But I believe that we all need to get to know her a LOT better. Now for what we already know: pregnant daughter... I could care less. Downs syndrome baby? Ah, I'm sure she'll find someone to help her care for it when she is V.P..

My biggest questions have to do with policy and substance. Frankly, I like the reform credentials, that is IF they hold true. Taking on oil companies and politicians in her own party, priceless! Refusing the bridge to nowhere and getting the natural gas pipeline approved are excellent parts of her resume. That is IF this is really true. Let's assume her credentials hold up under scrutiny... well, then I'd be more inclined to vote the ticket.

Now for the negative... I really don't care if someone is a social conservative, as long as they don't have a big agenda to push forward on that. I know McCain is steadfastly against abortion and I don't have a problem with that. But I'm concerned that these guys focus on the pressing issues of the day. Yes, it is a concern how they might reshape the Supreme Court should one or more justices retire. First and formost, however, are the top issues... put 'em in any order you wish: Economy, War in Iraq, Healthcare, Immigration and the budget. The other "wedge issues" are important, yet in some cases can be handled at the state level. Perhaps even healthcare can, but I need our next President to at least acknowledge this problem.

Well, uh, I sure hope she enjoys her celebrity status. But let me put it this way, I wouldn't want to be in her shoes, with the pregnant daughter and "troopergate" controversies! I feel sorry for that daughter... god, no privacy at all!

Keep it brief...

Let me comment (briefly) on Bush's long distance speech to the RNC: Keep it brief! This may actually be a blessing to them that Bush is not featured in this show. The less association there is, the better. Best to keep Dick Cheney completely away.

Tonight has speakers like Fred Thompson and old Joe Lieberman as well. Whereas the Dems scarcely mentioned 9\11 (a bit of an oversight IMHO), the Repubs are likely to be all over it. Especially Senator Lieberman! Of course Lieberman owes loyalty to Tel Aviv as well as Washington, so he is likely to speak solely on national security. It's been so long since I've heard his stance on domestic issues, I've forgotten what it is. I believe Joe is pro-choice, but I can't be sure any more

I can't watch it here at work, because we've got a bunch of liberal democrats here. I would recommend they don't do too much bragging about how safe we are after 9\11, because that might invite an attack.

Hold tight!

Seeing the water lap over the levees is kind of unnerving. But so far no big gashes in the system that protects New Orleans. Maybe politics plays a role in the rapid response to this storm, but one can do nothing put praise them for doing so. I hope that I am not getting a false sense of security over the fact that the levees held so far.

Also, a bit of praise for the RNC for cancelling most activities and channelling phone banks towards relief fundraising. I hope the Obama camp does likewise. Now we have to wait and see how bad this actually turns out to be. Keep yer fingers crossed!