Ethics

Indiana does not permit robo-calls.

When a call center was given a script declaring that Obama was soft on crime, some 40 employees walked off the job rather than read the material to voters.

Yes, people left work and sacrificed their pay rather than read McCain's attacks.

We all wish that slime didn't pay -- and these patriotic and decent people walked out rather than spread poison. Good for them. I am personally grateful that there are people like that in our country.

Accident?

Or October Surprise?

Is the US Army's navigation that bad?

Will George bluster and foam? Will he make excuses and generally add insult to injury?

Tune in tomorrow.

Excuses, Excuses

You know, no matter how the immoral candidate team tries to spin it, clinic bombers are terrorists as much as the Weather Underground ever was -- or perhaps more so, since their object is to terrify women who are trying to do responsible family planning as well as those who are doing something these immoral candidates dislike.

Have they no shame?

Nope, not a bit.

The Right Stuff

I understand that I am fortunate that I do not watch television. The ads are making all sorts of folks crazy.

As another blog said, "I know what I have to do November 4. I figure I can skip listening to all the noise between now and then." Good call.

This morning, Obama drew a crowd of 100,000 in St. Louis. This afternoon he will draw another in Kansas City. If I could stand crowds I would go, but I just cannot imagine getting into the middle of 100,000 people. I expect, however, that the hill around Liberty Memorial will be packed solid. And I expect the county I live in will go heavily for Obama even though it is in Kansas. The county I live in now, and the one I was in for 12 years, are both solidly Democratic, and they are not going to switch this time.

"If This Goes on --"

The title above is a quote from Robert Heinlein, and also one of the three basic premises of Science Fiction.

Today, they are also a warning to John McCain, Sarah Palin, and those people at their rallies who scream and cheer at suggestions of hate and violence. The Baltimore Sun has an editorial warning those candidates that they are walking a line that they need to cut short -- a line that is encouraging venom, hatred, and violence. This country does not need to have candidates going around acting as if their opponents are terrorists.

If this goes on, and the hate fest escalates, it could mean lives lost and mob actions. We do not need that. If this goes on, for generations the name "Republican" could become a stink in the nostrils of decent folk.

The candidates must put a stop to their craven techniques, and disassociate themselves from nascent mob behavior.

This must be stopped ... it must not go on.

Budgeting

If states and counties and local government were to release every prisoner in jail on marijuana possession charges, I'll just bet it would free up a whole lot of money. And if all of them who could afford it paid a small fine, I'll just bet that the money would come out to the good.

You know, this might be a good time to legalize pot -- and tax it, of course.

Aha!

The Republican vice presidential candidate is much like a self-propelled Furby. Someone says a slanderous thing in her hearing and she just repeats it mechanically until she gets another input. Do you know, someone mentioned reading the New York Times in her presence, and even though she clearly hasn't made a habit of doing this, she now repeatedly speaks of whatever article that person perused?

Considering the company she keeps, the things she says are not that great a surprise.

Oh What a Bad Idea

The Washington Post was reporting that the McCain campaign is going to attack Obama's character.

Uh-huh. And since Obama is gracious and decent, he'll take it? That is what committees are for, and a committee in favor of Obama has a rich tapestry of this to fight back on.

Judgement? Palin. Honesty? His continuous votes against veterans and serving personnel. Connections? How bout those gambling establishments, eh? Integrity? Cheated on his first wife and dumped her handicapped self for Blondie the Heiress. That will also serve for family values. Steadfastness? Selling the vice-presidency to the Fundies. Health care? Feeds from the Federal trough while advocating tax on the health benefits others get.

Do I need to go on?

It might be better if he were gracious. But no, not McCain.

A Mystery

Via Avedon Carol at The Sideshow comes a pointer to cupojoe's discussion of bailing out the rich folks.

To me, it is a mystery that so many Democrats have voted in favor of the so-called bailout. Why -- WHY? -- would so many of them vote for a scheme that does not have stringent oversight and definitions of what is being bought for this price tag? We already know that the banks and brokerages cannot be trusted to regulate themselves. It's worse than giving more candy to screaming, hyper children.

And if we permit these incompetents to declare what they shall sell and what they shall not, we are just asking to be stiffed again at a later date as they fail once more. So why are Democrats getting in line to help screw us over?

It's insane.

On the Second Day

It Arose From the Dead.

Today the Senate will vote on the bailout. The differences? An increase in FDIC amount, tax breaks for middle-class and small buisness groups -- enough to make it parade as different legislation.

Both Presidential candidates plan to be there for the vote.

I really wish that they would consider making more provision to renegotiate loans so that the ARMS were eliminated in favor of fixed loans. ARMS are just a way to shark people and feed the banks.As a matter of fact, cleaning out ARMS should be a prerequisite to either getting a loan or selling off interest in the banks. This crap of money with no strings stinks.