How Do You Feel About Palin's Latest Interviews?

After all the controversy that has been stirred up by the political posts I’ve made recently, I’d really like to give it a break.  The problem is that I have enough time on my hands to actually listen to the candidates speak, and Sarah Palin is really baffling to me.   I can’t help but write about her.

When she was first introduced I thought she was a good choice for McCain.  Her first speech was fiery.  She had a list of “accomplishments” and was said to have fought the “good ol’ boy network”.  But it turns out those accomplishments aren’t what they were portrayed to be.  She didn’t, for example, oppose the “Bridge to Nowhere” until after it was a dead issue.  She had, in fact, been in favor of it at the beginning.

After seeing her latest interviews I’m baffled that she’s even considered a candidate for Vice President.  Sure, she’s a “good person”.  Sure, she’s “one of us”.  And I’m positive she was great in the PTA.  But she doesn’t belong in this country’s second most powerful office.

Did you see her interview with Katie Couric?  She is in WAY OVER HER HEAD.  She tries to sound intelligent on issues, but instead makes herself look very foolish.

When asked how living in the state closest to Russia gave her foreign-policy experience, Palin responded thus:

“It’s very important when you consider even national-security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America. Where—where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to—to our state.”

Sarah publicly stated that being sandwiched between Russia and Canada gave her foreign policy experience.  The exact quote was, “Our next door neighbors are foreign countries”.  Puhleeze!  Tell me you’re joking, Sarah!  Unfortunately, she wasn’t joking.  If you don’t believe me, click here to watch for yourself (you’ll have to watch a 15 second commercial first).

I think John McCain needs to apologize to her for bringing her into this race.  The woman who would have been known as a decent Governor of the State of Alaska will now be forever remembered as the butt of “stupid politician” jokes.

Even conservatives are starting to publicly state she isn’t the right person for the job.  Read Kathleen Parker’s column:  Kathleen Parker:  The Palin Problem

Some quotes from this article:

Prominent conservative columnist Kathleen Parker, an early supporter of Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin, said Friday recent interviews have shown the Alaska governor is “out of her league” and should leave the GOP presidential ticket for the good of the party.

It was fun while it lasted,” Parker writes. “Palin’s recent interviews with Charles Gibson, Sean Hannity, and now Katie Couric have all revealed an attractive, earnest, confident candidate. Who is clearly out of her league.

“If BS were currency, Palin could bail out Wall Street herself,” Parker also writes. “If Palin were a man, we’d all be guffawing, just as we do every time Joe Biden tickles the back of his throat with his toes. But because she’s a woman — and the first ever on a Republican presidential ticket — we are reluctant to say what is painfully true.”

Parker’s comments follow those by prominent conservatives David Brooks, George Will, and David Frum who have all publicly questioned Palin’s readiness to be vice president.

“Sarah Palin has many virtues,” Brooks wrote in a recent column. “If you wanted someone to destroy a corrupt establishment, she’d be your woman. But the constructive act of governance is another matter. She has not been engaged in national issues, does not have a repertoire of historic patterns and, like President Bush, she seems to compensate for her lack of experience with brashness and excessive decisiveness.”

Palin filibusters. She repeats words, filling space with deadwood. Cut the verbiage and there’s not much content there.

Saturday Night Live, as you know, often pokes fun at candidates.  I get a laugh at such skits.  Have you seen the last skit poking fun at Sarah Palin?  At one point, instead of making up amusing dialogue, Sarah is quoted word for word because what she said was so absurd a writer wasn’t needed to make it funny.

A few more stories on the Palin interviews (PLEASE do yourself a favor and read them):

How can anyone defend this decision?  Stubborn allegiance to the Republican Party, perhaps?  Please enlighten me.

  • DS
  • DS
  • http://www.donnysramblings.com/ Donny Pauling

    DS,

    The author was rather crude in the second half of his second paragraph, and I’m sure some readers will not like that, but I appreciated his bluntness in the rest of the article and posted a link to it on a message board where we’ve been discussing Sarah Palin.

    Thanks.

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com Donny Pauling

    DS,

    The author was rather crude in the second half of his second paragraph, and I’m sure some readers will not like that, but I appreciated his bluntness in the rest of the article and posted a link to it on a message board where we’ve been discussing Sarah Palin.

    Thanks.

  • Val

    Was she a good choice?

    On day one I thought so.

    Do I truly think so now?

    No, I don’t. But I don’t like Obama either.

    So where does that leave me?

    I will say Obama was wise in choosing someone with experience, esp foreign policy experience, as his running mate.

  • Val

    Was she a good choice?

    On day one I thought so.

    Do I truly think so now?

    No, I don’t. But I don’t like Obama either.

    So where does that leave me?

    I will say Obama was wise in choosing someone with experience, esp foreign policy experience, as his running mate.

  • http://www.myspace.com/angelpiecookiesandcakes Celeste

    I feel just like Val does (in her comment above mine). I also noticed that Palin was quoted word for word in sections of the SNL interview when I watched it Sat. night. That was really kind of interesting. And hilarious.

    FIne.

    I may just have to write in my candidate when I vote. It’s gonna be Hillary. Or maybe I just won’t vote this time. And not feel bad about it.

    I couldn’t get past the 2nd paragraph of the article link posted in the first comment. I clicked on it before I read your comment, Donny. After his crudeness, anything else–even remotely intelligent–he may have said would have been easily discredited in my mind.

  • http://www.myspace.com/angelpiecookiesandcakes Celeste

    I feel just like Val does (in her comment above mine). I also noticed that Palin was quoted word for word in sections of the SNL interview when I watched it Sat. night. That was really kind of interesting. And hilarious.

    FIne.

    I may just have to write in my candidate when I vote. It’s gonna be Hillary. Or maybe I just won’t vote this time. And not feel bad about it.

    I couldn’t get past the 2nd paragraph of the article link posted in the first comment. I clicked on it before I read your comment, Donny. After his crudeness, anything else–even remotely intelligent–he may have said would have been easily discredited in my mind.

  • Jean

    Amen! Celeste. The author claimed to be such an intellegent fella and was as crude as a scum bag….go figure – but I didn’t think he had much to say of worth after that explosion of filth!

  • Jean

    Amen! Celeste. The author claimed to be such an intellegent fella and was as crude as a scum bag….go figure – but I didn’t think he had much to say of worth after that explosion of filth!

  • Jean

    sorry to have misspelled intelligent….duh….

  • Jean

    sorry to have misspelled intelligent….duh….

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com/ Donny Pauling

    He was very crude, Jean. There was no reason to go to that level. I do, however, think he makes some good points with the rest of his column, albeit very bluntly (I like blunt):

    Now, I want to be clear and speak directly to those of you who LOVED that Palin interview. You’re an idiot. I mean that. This is not one of those cases where we’re going to agree to disagree. This isn’t one of those situations where we debate it passionately and then walk away thinking that the other guy is wrong but argued well. I’m not going to think of you as a thoughtful but misguided person with different ideas who still really cares about the country and the world. No, sorry, not this time. This time, if you watched that interview and weren’t scared out of your freakin’ mind, then you’re mentally ill, mentally disabled, or mentally disturbed. What you are NOT is responsible, informed, curious, thoughtful, mature, educated, empathetic, or remotely serious. I mean it.

    But I like to think that anyone can change.

    Stop voting for people you want to have a beer with. Stop voting for folksy. Stop voting for people who remind you of your neighbor. Stop voting for the ideologically intransigent, the staggeringly ignorant, and the blazingly incompetent.

    Vote for someone smarter than you. Vote for someone who inspires you. Vote for someone who has not only traveled the world but who has also shown a deep understanding and compassion for it. The stakes are real and they’re terrifyingly high. This election matters. It matters. It really matters. Let me say that one more time. This. Really. Matters.

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com Donny Pauling

    He was very crude, Jean. There was no reason to go to that level. I do, however, think he makes some good points with the rest of his column, albeit very bluntly (I like blunt):

    Now, I want to be clear and speak directly to those of you who LOVED that Palin interview. You’re an idiot. I mean that. This is not one of those cases where we’re going to agree to disagree. This isn’t one of those situations where we debate it passionately and then walk away thinking that the other guy is wrong but argued well. I’m not going to think of you as a thoughtful but misguided person with different ideas who still really cares about the country and the world. No, sorry, not this time. This time, if you watched that interview and weren’t scared out of your freakin’ mind, then you’re mentally ill, mentally disabled, or mentally disturbed. What you are NOT is responsible, informed, curious, thoughtful, mature, educated, empathetic, or remotely serious. I mean it.

    But I like to think that anyone can change.

    Stop voting for people you want to have a beer with. Stop voting for folksy. Stop voting for people who remind you of your neighbor. Stop voting for the ideologically intransigent, the staggeringly ignorant, and the blazingly incompetent.

    Vote for someone smarter than you. Vote for someone who inspires you. Vote for someone who has not only traveled the world but who has also shown a deep understanding and compassion for it. The stakes are real and they’re terrifyingly high. This election matters. It matters. It really matters. Let me say that one more time. This. Really. Matters.

  • Tonya

    I am a deeply committed Christian. I am sure Sarah Pallin is a person whose beliefs and accomplishments I would respect, were I to meet her in church or even need a mayor for my town. But the thought of her possibly becoming leader of the free world scares me to death.

    I am amazed at the logic my evangelical brothers and sisters are willing to suspend when it comes to Pallin. Have we lost our minds, people? I am afraid that some of us evangelicals are too in love with the idea of having someone in the white house that sounds like us. Once we hear someone loves Jesus (in a conservative language we relate to), nothing else matters.

    My pastor used to say that if he was going to have brain surgery, he’d love to have a Christian doctor, but if he had to choose between an lousy surgeon who was a believer and an excellent surgeon, he’d take the excellent surgeon. You would not ask a premed student to perform a brain operation, no matter how much he loved Jesus.

    The truth is Sarah Pallin is just a small-town girl who rose up to become a local leader. She may be feisty and have strong conservative opinions, but that does not qualify her to be the leader of the third world. (Have we not learned anything these last 8 years?) Her lack of education, political experience, and world exposure simply leave her unqualified for the job.

    Please, conservative evangelical Christians of American — let’s have enough humility and intellectual integrity to admit when a mistake has been made. Those Katie Couric interviews stand alone. (It’s true — most of that SNL skit came DIRECTLY from the real interview!!!). Let us not pretend that this “naked emperor” is wearing clothes when she clearly is not!!!

  • Tonya

    I am a deeply committed Christian. I am sure Sarah Pallin is a person whose beliefs and accomplishments I would respect, were I to meet her in church or even need a mayor for my town. But the thought of her possibly becoming leader of the free world scares me to death.

    I am amazed at the logic my evangelical brothers and sisters are willing to suspend when it comes to Pallin. Have we lost our minds, people? I am afraid that some of us evangelicals are too in love with the idea of having someone in the white house that sounds like us. Once we hear someone loves Jesus (in a conservative language we relate to), nothing else matters.

    My pastor used to say that if he was going to have brain surgery, he’d love to have a Christian doctor, but if he had to choose between an lousy surgeon who was a believer and an excellent surgeon, he’d take the excellent surgeon. You would not ask a premed student to perform a brain operation, no matter how much he loved Jesus.

    The truth is Sarah Pallin is just a small-town girl who rose up to become a local leader. She may be feisty and have strong conservative opinions, but that does not qualify her to be the leader of the third world. (Have we not learned anything these last 8 years?) Her lack of education, political experience, and world exposure simply leave her unqualified for the job.

    Please, conservative evangelical Christians of American — let’s have enough humility and intellectual integrity to admit when a mistake has been made. Those Katie Couric interviews stand alone. (It’s true — most of that SNL skit came DIRECTLY from the real interview!!!). Let us not pretend that this “naked emperor” is wearing clothes when she clearly is not!!!

  • Jean

    Donny, I can’t help but believe absolutely totally that the “wisdom” of this age is foolishness in God’s eyes. I’d rather have His wisdom than anything the world has to offer. It’s a discernment issue rather than where the person was educated.

    And, yes, I read the rest of his dialog; and I agree this election really matters….

    And I DON’T like being called an idiot even if I just might happed to be one! It’s childish to name call like that. I can’t imagine who is impressed with it.

  • Jean

    Donny, I can’t help but believe absolutely totally that the “wisdom” of this age is foolishness in God’s eyes. I’d rather have His wisdom than anything the world has to offer. It’s a discernment issue rather than where the person was educated.

    And, yes, I read the rest of his dialog; and I agree this election really matters….

    And I DON’T like being called an idiot even if I just might happed to be one! It’s childish to name call like that. I can’t imagine who is impressed with it.

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com/ Donny Pauling

    Tonya,

    Great comment! :)

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com Donny Pauling

    Tonya,

    Great comment! :)

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com/ Donny Pauling

    Jean,

    Are you even paying attention to the things Sarah Palin has been saying? Seriously!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRpmC9GXa-I

    Please tell me that your “discernment” isn’t telling you she’s ready for this job…

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com Donny Pauling

    Jean,

    Are you even paying attention to the things Sarah Palin has been saying? Seriously!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRpmC9GXa-I

    Please tell me that your “discernment” isn’t telling you she’s ready for this job…

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com/ Donny Pauling

    For a bit of comic relief, check out the latest SNL skit:

    http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/couric-palin-open/704042/

    As I mentioned before, the sad thing is that parts of this video aren’t made up… they actually quote Palin word for word (hint: pay attention to the part where she talks about the $700 billion bailout and then compare it to what Sarah actually said – and also the part about her foreign policy experience).

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com Donny Pauling

    For a bit of comic relief, check out the latest SNL skit:

    http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/couric-palin-open/704042/

    As I mentioned before, the sad thing is that parts of this video aren’t made up… they actually quote Palin word for word (hint: pay attention to the part where she talks about the $700 billion bailout and then compare it to what Sarah actually said – and also the part about her foreign policy experience).

  • Jean

    Donny, SNL, I’m sure, made fun of Obama and his many stupidities too. And yes, I am listening. I don’t know why you’re so worried about a VP candidate when the Presidential one is just an unqualified.

    All in the perception, isn’t it.

  • Jean

    Donny, SNL, I’m sure, made fun of Obama and his many stupidities too. And yes, I am listening. I don’t know why you’re so worried about a VP candidate when the Presidential one is just an unqualified.

    All in the perception, isn’t it.

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com/ Donny Pauling

    Jean,

    Yes, let’s look at Barack Obama:

    * His days as a “community organizer” were in the late 80s. That’s not a bad place for a young 20-something man to start.

    * Obama’s undergraduate degree comes from Columbia University and his graduate degree from Harvard Law School. Ivy league!

    * He taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School for 12 years.

    * He worked for a 12-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development for 11 years.

    * Even from his 20s, Obama’s goal was to work in Politics. He’s been preparing for this job most of his life.

    * He was a state Senator for almost 8 years

    * He has been a US Senator for almost 4 years now, where he held assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works and Veterans’ Affairs.

    His resumé shows me a man who has enough experience to know what he’s doing, yet without being a jaded politician. He’s a breath of fresh air, yet as capable as his opponent to lead the country.

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com Donny Pauling

    Jean,

    Yes, let’s look at Barack Obama:

    * His days as a “community organizer” were in the late 80s. That’s not a bad place for a young 20-something man to start.

    * Obama’s undergraduate degree comes from Columbia University and his graduate degree from Harvard Law School. Ivy league!

    * He taught Constitutional Law at the University of Chicago Law School for 12 years.

    * He worked for a 12-attorney law firm specializing in civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development for 11 years.

    * Even from his 20s, Obama’s goal was to work in Politics. He’s been preparing for this job most of his life.

    * He was a state Senator for almost 8 years

    * He has been a US Senator for almost 4 years now, where he held assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works and Veterans’ Affairs.

    His resumé shows me a man who has enough experience to know what he’s doing, yet without being a jaded politician. He’s a breath of fresh air, yet as capable as his opponent to lead the country.

  • DT

    I think the upcoming vp debate will give us a better idea on how capable she is or isnt. Lets not forget the gaffs that Biden has repeated lately. On another note since the economy seems to be the biggest issue did anyone take a look at the congressional hearings back in 05 or 06 where it is in the congressional record that McCain warned of these problems if congress didnt take action against fannie/freddie? Its interesting to see who blocked those attempts then to regulate it. It was the democrats who were in control, Dodd especially. I fully think Bush was asleep at the wheel and only worried about Iraq and should have stepped in also however when the democrats are blaming Bush only they are just as at fault. It did give me a lot more confidence in McCain and the economy though to learn he saw this coming and spoke out against it long ago.

  • DT

    I think the upcoming vp debate will give us a better idea on how capable she is or isnt. Lets not forget the gaffs that Biden has repeated lately. On another note since the economy seems to be the biggest issue did anyone take a look at the congressional hearings back in 05 or 06 where it is in the congressional record that McCain warned of these problems if congress didnt take action against fannie/freddie? Its interesting to see who blocked those attempts then to regulate it. It was the democrats who were in control, Dodd especially. I fully think Bush was asleep at the wheel and only worried about Iraq and should have stepped in also however when the democrats are blaming Bush only they are just as at fault. It did give me a lot more confidence in McCain and the economy though to learn he saw this coming and spoke out against it long ago.

  • Jean

    Donny, I have eleven very good reasons for voting for McCain this election. Because of these eleven reasons, I am voting to try and stop the downward spiral of this nation into more socialism via not only the Reps, but the Dems more so.

    These eleven reasons are seven of my own grambabies and four of my brothers’ grambabies, all eight and under. The future for them looks sadly dim in the eyes of the world. In the Lord, there’s no worry, but I still will vote for the less socialistic party.

  • Jean

    Donny, I have eleven very good reasons for voting for McCain this election. Because of these eleven reasons, I am voting to try and stop the downward spiral of this nation into more socialism via not only the Reps, but the Dems more so.

    These eleven reasons are seven of my own grambabies and four of my brothers’ grambabies, all eight and under. The future for them looks sadly dim in the eyes of the world. In the Lord, there’s no worry, but I still will vote for the less socialistic party.

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com/ Donny Pauling

    Jean,

    Your eleven reasons are beautiful!

    As for the socialist comment… you don’t think it’s socialist to want to take over $700 billion in bad debt? I can’t think of anything more socialist, and leading the way down that path is the party you’ve decided to vote for, the party I see as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com Donny Pauling

    Jean,

    Your eleven reasons are beautiful!

    As for the socialist comment… you don’t think it’s socialist to want to take over $700 billion in bad debt? I can’t think of anything more socialist, and leading the way down that path is the party you’ve decided to vote for, the party I see as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

  • Jean

    Of course, it’s socialistic to bail out a government entitiy – started by the Dems, I might point out! And as I’ve said numerous times, the Reps are LESS socialistic than the Dems, thus my vote. We are in a mess, no debate!

    I think my eleven reasons are beautiful too! Thanks!!

  • Jean

    Of course, it’s socialistic to bail out a government entitiy – started by the Dems, I might point out! And as I’ve said numerous times, the Reps are LESS socialistic than the Dems, thus my vote. We are in a mess, no debate!

    I think my eleven reasons are beautiful too! Thanks!!

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com/ Donny Pauling

    DT,

    McCain did NOT see this coming. Want proof? Listen to him talk about it in person:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSrRhaUzbaE

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com Donny Pauling

    DT,

    McCain did NOT see this coming. Want proof? Listen to him talk about it in person:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSrRhaUzbaE

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com/ Donny Pauling

    Jean,

    Started by the Dems? Where have you been getting your information?

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com Donny Pauling

    Jean,

    Started by the Dems? Where have you been getting your information?

  • DT

    Thats a soundbite that isnt in context. I dont think anybody anticipated things being as bad as they were or as he said thought the dot.com would be like it was. However it is in the congressional record and you can check it where he warned about the need to regulate fannie/freddie that they were out of control. Here is a link to what he said and how his attempts at reform were shot down by Chris Dodd the chair of the banking committee. Also, Keep in mind Raines who is Obama’s advisor was at the helm when the accounting scandals happened.
    http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/17/mccains-attempt-to-fix-fannie-mae-freddie-mac-in-2005/

  • DT

    Thats a soundbite that isnt in context. I dont think anybody anticipated things being as bad as they were or as he said thought the dot.com would be like it was. However it is in the congressional record and you can check it where he warned about the need to regulate fannie/freddie that they were out of control. Here is a link to what he said and how his attempts at reform were shot down by Chris Dodd the chair of the banking committee. Also, Keep in mind Raines who is Obama’s advisor was at the helm when the accounting scandals happened.
    http://hotair.com/archives/2008/09/17/mccains-attempt-to-fix-fannie-mae-freddie-mac-in-2005/

  • Jean

    Looks like DT has found the same info I’ve heard. Thanks, DT!

    You don’t think Clinton would be out there shouting his White House is responsible for Fannie and Freddie now, do you?

  • Jean

    Looks like DT has found the same info I’ve heard. Thanks, DT!

    You don’t think Clinton would be out there shouting his White House is responsible for Fannie and Freddie now, do you?

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com/ Donny Pauling

    Last week at a coffee shop here in town I sat down with a person I greatly respect. Because of his position, I can’t say who he is. But the conversation we had was quite interesting.

    He says Bill Clinton began the path toward this economic crisis (this was before Clinton publicly hinted at responsibility). How did Bill do this? By passing legislation leaning on the banks to finance people who should never have received credit otherwise, the “underprivileged”, etc.

    “So,” I asked, “What you’re saying is that the trillion dollar surplus he left us with was actually inflated value? It wasn’t real money?”

    “Exactly,” he replied. “Housing prices were driven up because of the law of supply and demand. Artificial equity allowed existing homeowners to borrow money they shouldn’t have been able to borrow. The surplus was comprised of fake money, yes.”

    “Interesting. Where can I read more about this?” He promised to send a link via email, which he did, and then in a follow up conversation just last night, I asked via email, “If this current crisis was caused by Clinton, as we discussed, Republicans had a whole lot of years to fix it. But they didn’t. Why is that?”

    His response came quickly, “First, you need to be aware, that no matter which party has a majority, it requires 60% to pass a bill through the Senate. Even when Republicans were in the majority [in the House], they still didn’t control the Senate.

    “Second, even Bill Clinton admits that it was Democrats who blocked reform of Fannie and Freddie.” To confirm this, he sent me to this video on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YHTzi6nRUE

    “Third, check out this video of House hearings years ago; every Democrat is saying, ‘Problems? Fannie ain’t got no problems.’ Every Republican is saying, ‘This is terrible, and we have to fix it, or we’re headed for disaster.’ This was 4 years ago.” The link he sent to me was this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

    “Fourth,” he continued, “John McCain sponsored legislation in 2005 and fought for it in 2006 that would have placed regulation in place. Here’s the detail from the non-partisan Gov Track site,” he replied, sending this link.

    “I will admit that there are probably some liberal Republicans whose hands are dirty with this. But the great bulk is on the other side, and even Bill Clinton admits it,” he continued. “McCain has fought this for years, along with other Repubs. The Dems have blocked reform time and time again. Barney Frank is the chief sinner… and a massive hypocrite on this stuff.”

    It was quite a conversation, and has given me much to investigate…

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com Donny Pauling

    Last week at a coffee shop here in town I sat down with a person I greatly respect. Because of his position, I can’t say who he is. But the conversation we had was quite interesting.

    He says Bill Clinton began the path toward this economic crisis (this was before Clinton publicly hinted at responsibility). How did Bill do this? By passing legislation leaning on the banks to finance people who should never have received credit otherwise, the “underprivileged”, etc.

    “So,” I asked, “What you’re saying is that the trillion dollar surplus he left us with was actually inflated value? It wasn’t real money?”

    “Exactly,” he replied. “Housing prices were driven up because of the law of supply and demand. Artificial equity allowed existing homeowners to borrow money they shouldn’t have been able to borrow. The surplus was comprised of fake money, yes.”

    “Interesting. Where can I read more about this?” He promised to send a link via email, which he did, and then in a follow up conversation just last night, I asked via email, “If this current crisis was caused by Clinton, as we discussed, Republicans had a whole lot of years to fix it. But they didn’t. Why is that?”

    His response came quickly, “First, you need to be aware, that no matter which party has a majority, it requires 60% to pass a bill through the Senate. Even when Republicans were in the majority [in the House], they still didn’t control the Senate.

    “Second, even Bill Clinton admits that it was Democrats who blocked reform of Fannie and Freddie.” To confirm this, he sent me to this video on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YHTzi6nRUE

    “Third, check out this video of House hearings years ago; every Democrat is saying, ‘Problems? Fannie ain’t got no problems.’ Every Republican is saying, ‘This is terrible, and we have to fix it, or we’re headed for disaster.’ This was 4 years ago.” The link he sent to me was this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

    “Fourth,” he continued, “John McCain sponsored legislation in 2005 and fought for it in 2006 that would have placed regulation in place. Here’s the detail from the non-partisan Gov Track site,” he replied, sending this link.

    “I will admit that there are probably some liberal Republicans whose hands are dirty with this. But the great bulk is on the other side, and even Bill Clinton admits it,” he continued. “McCain has fought this for years, along with other Repubs. The Dems have blocked reform time and time again. Barney Frank is the chief sinner… and a massive hypocrite on this stuff.”

    It was quite a conversation, and has given me much to investigate…

  • Val

    wow, we are all very passionate with our opinions, aren’t we? :)

    here is mine, for what it is worth:

    I do not think Obama has the foreign policy experience or wisdom necessary to be president.

    But I do not think McCain will do much domestically- I was certainly hoping for more during the debate than just cutting spending and going after earmarks.

    I now think both VP candidates are somewhat of a joke, although Biden has more experience and feels much more like a potential Pres than Palin. I am looking forward to the debate tomorrow night.

    I have always voted Republican and even campaigned for Bush in the last election. Yes, you may start throwing rocks at me now…

    I do not really appreciate the socialistic slant of Obama’s economic plans. Is it any more socialistic than the bailout? Socialism is socialism, and I don’t like either of them.

    I admire McCain’s personality, his integrity. I do agree with you Donny that McCain was not doing Palin any favors in choosing her. She IS in over her head.

    But just for the record, Obama says stupid stuff too. There is a video of him talking at a town hall meeting about all the states he has visited during campaigning, and so far he said he has visited 57, but he has not been to Alaska or Hawaii yet. Yes, that was 57 states. Either he was very tired, or Ivy League schools do not teach geography anymore. :)

  • Val

    wow, we are all very passionate with our opinions, aren’t we? :)

    here is mine, for what it is worth:

    I do not think Obama has the foreign policy experience or wisdom necessary to be president.

    But I do not think McCain will do much domestically- I was certainly hoping for more during the debate than just cutting spending and going after earmarks.

    I now think both VP candidates are somewhat of a joke, although Biden has more experience and feels much more like a potential Pres than Palin. I am looking forward to the debate tomorrow night.

    I have always voted Republican and even campaigned for Bush in the last election. Yes, you may start throwing rocks at me now…

    I do not really appreciate the socialistic slant of Obama’s economic plans. Is it any more socialistic than the bailout? Socialism is socialism, and I don’t like either of them.

    I admire McCain’s personality, his integrity. I do agree with you Donny that McCain was not doing Palin any favors in choosing her. She IS in over her head.

    But just for the record, Obama says stupid stuff too. There is a video of him talking at a town hall meeting about all the states he has visited during campaigning, and so far he said he has visited 57, but he has not been to Alaska or Hawaii yet. Yes, that was 57 states. Either he was very tired, or Ivy League schools do not teach geography anymore. :)

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com/ Donny Pauling

    An article relating to the last comment I posted:

    http://newsbusters.org/node/24665/print

  • http://www.donnysramblings.com Donny Pauling

    An article relating to the last comment I posted:

    http://newsbusters.org/node/24665/print