Pelosi Urging Bailout of Auto Industry

Speaker of the house, Nancy Pelosi is urging Congress and President Bush to bail out the ailing auto industry. She is quoted as saying:
"In order to prevent the failure of one or more of the major American automobile manufacturers, which would have a devastating impact on our economy, particularly on the men and women who work in that industry, Congress and the Bush Administration must take immediate action."
So, where does this stop? We, the American taxpayers are already shouldering the 700 plus billion dollar bailout of the financial institutions that through greed and stupidity very nearly bankrupted this country. We will be paying for that one for a very long time, but of course for the Democrats, it is simply business as usual. Tax the people, make them pay for the stupidity of the big guns in this country.
And then, let's bailout some other incompetents, greedy slugs, like the auto industry.
Come on folks, these guys have known for at least a decade, and likely much longer that our oil supply was going to dry up eventually, but did they make any effort to find alternative fuels? Did they make any effort to come up with more fuel efficient cars? No, they came up with Excursions, Suburbans, Hummers, huge tanks of vehicles that guzzled gas like a camel on it's monthly fill up of water.
They gave no thought to the future, not only of this country's energy supply, but to the thousands of people who work for them. Nope, their only thought was money, money and more money. Their only concern was for the huge, fat bonus and compensation packages they could hand over to their executives. There was no thought for the guy who bolts on those fenders, and his family.
And Pelosi and the Democrats are no better. NOW they want to cry about the plight of the American auto worker, now that GM is looking at failure, they are so concerned about the workers. Where was this phony concern when GM, Ford and Chrysler were churning out huge gas guzzling trucks and SUVs. They made no effort to slow down the manufacturers, gave no word of warning that if they didn't stop they would likely go under.
Why would they? The Democrats simply shake their heads, like a doting parent only slightly exasperated by a mischievous child, and look the other way.
No worries, hey the Feds can bail the auto industry out. The American taxpayer can foot the bill.
So when does this stop? We have bailed out the banks, we've bailed out the airlines, we're certainly going to bail out the auto industry,so what's next?
Hey, through my own carelessness, my credit cards are all over the limit, so does this mean I can count on the Feds to bail me out? Why not? Is my bad judgment any less deserving of a handout than Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or GM?
Let's see, we tossed the tea into that Boston Harbor for what reason? Oh yeah, to protest taxation. Maybe a better plan would have been to toss the politicians.


GM bailout
Nancy Pelosi
federal bailout
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readingrucker

"mutts like me." Three little, ordinary words that carried far more weight than President elect Obama might imagine.
I was a bit miffed when my favorite soap was interrupted by a press conference by our new President elect. We are definitely NOT going to get along well, I huffed as Vicki, Charile, Natalie, Jarrod and Tina were rudely preempted by this new kid on the block, just three short days after winning the single most historic election this country has ever seen. But, there he was, grinning from ear to ear, telling all and sundry about the puppy he was going to get for his girls.
Now, I can pretty much swallow those tiresome Presidential interruptions of my soaps when they are about , well, really just national security, but a puppy? Not a good start, my friends, not a good way to win this voters admiration, I can tell you.
But then he uttered those three little words, and my ears perked up and I began to really listen to the guy.
By the end of his conference, I was somewhat mollified by his interruption.
Here we have this tall, handsome, young man calling himself a mutt. I know he was referring to his racial heritage, but coming from Obama, the word mutt sounded almost complimentary.
This is the next President of United States of America and here he is, standing in front of dozens of cameras, calling himself a mutt in front of millions of people, indeed in front of the world, and I actually felt a lump, a tiny one mind you, but a lump nonetheless, of pride in this country and in this man.
And then I began to think about mutts. Mutts, as a rule are by far more intelligent, more loyal, more fiercely protective of their people than any purebred out there, and I got the message President Obama was trying, oh so subtly, to convey to the world.
We have a man in the White House now who will put America first; a man who will do whatever is necessary to protect his country and his people and one who is intelligent enough to understand that sometimes force is necessary to protect his own, but he will try reasoning first. He will try conversation, and will try to convince anyone who would think to undermine this country that it would be in their best interest to stop and re-think their position. Kind of like that old mutt, giving a warning growl before snapping at the would be intruder. Smart man, Obama. I wonder how many others came away from that press conference with the same notion that I did?
I think, most likely for the vast majority of folks out there, President Obama's reference to mutts was taken as a racial reference, and from the news reports I read this morning, I see I'm right.
Everyone has stayed on that old bi-racial bandwagon. Here is a man who had a white mother and an African father, a bi-racial man who is now President of the United States. And everyone is calling him the first African-American President, everyone but me apparently.
When I look at President Obama, I see a man, just a man and I have to wonder why he has to have that label. Why does he have to be either or? Why does he have to be labeled as half white or half black? Why can't he just be an American?
We have elected a mutt to the highest office in the country and for that we need to be applauded. We chose intelligence, loyalty, and a fierce protectiveness over the weakened bloodlines of a purebred. And just as most American's love and care for their mutts, let us love and support our new President, regardless of his lack of pedigree.
Oh, and for the record, I didn't vote for him. Did I make the wrong choice? Only time will tell.

President Obama
bi-racial
mutts
linda l rucker
President Obama

With the election only four short days away, I still haven't made up my mind.
As a member of the G.O.P., I am of course inclined to vote for my candidate, but I am not sure if that is the correct choice. Of course Dems so no, and Reps say of course it is, but I don't know.
I like and respect John Mccain. He has a proven track record, he is well versed in the ways of Washington and most of all, he has the experience to see this country through any threat to our security. But, on the other hand, I'm not sure I like his thoughts on the economy. And, I question his choice of running mates. I really like Sara Palin, she's quirky, cute and funny, but is she ready to lead this country if the worst should happen to Mccain? I don't think so.
Which brings me to Obama. I like him. I was almost as drawn into the Obama-mania as millions of others have been, but managed to stop just short of blind adoration. There is something just the least bit off about Obama. I don't know what it is, can't really put my finger on it. Perhaps it is his Jim Jones ability to work his followers up into a blind and rabid frenzy, or maybe it's his smooth, enticing speech that draws people in. But, one has to wonder if that smoothness hides something inherently evil? Is he the anti-Christ as has been said? Not being a believer in such nonsense, I doubt it very much. But, you have to admit there is something that has caused normally stoic and intelligent people to go absolutely ga-ga over this man. His rallies put me in mind of the Beattle's concerts back in the 60's, with the screaming and the swooning and the crying.
Question now is, do we want a president that is a rock star, and the target of hate mongering, redneck lunatics or do we want one that is subject to kicking off before the end of his term leaving us in the "capable" hands of a soccer mom?
Decisions, decisions.

Obama
Macain

Nice looking couple, huh? My oldest daughter and her husband, a match made in Hell and finally she sees that.
After five long, painful years of beatings, betrayals, isolation, control and emotional torment, she has finally seen the light, but at what price did this eureka moment come?
Three years ago, he came home one night drunker than Cooter Brown after spending the weekend with his "kids" in South Georgia, leaving my daughter and her children alone. He brought a hand made hickory club with him and my daughter was awakened by him beating her with the club. He nearly killed her. Thankfully, my granddaughter called 911 while hiding in her closet, terrified.
He was arrested, tried and placed on three years felony probation, with a warning from the judge that if he ever came before his bench again for beating my daughter, he would spend five years in prison.
Why do women insist that their love and understanding will change a violent, abusive controll freak?
Over the last three years, my daughter has been repeatedly beaten, slapped, kicked, punched, been tossed around like a rag doll and held a virtual prisoner in her home- make that HIS home, as he is so quick to remind her daily.
She began drinking to ease her pain and to endure the isolation from her family and friends. Not a good choice. She is now a raging alcoholic, and still a punching bag for him.
A few months ago he moved his son down to their house, and after a fight he started, my daughter left, drunk, got arrested for a DUI and he left her sitting in jail. Her friend bailed out after three days. She came to my house, stayed a few days, moved in with her brother for a couple of weeks, and in the meantime, he kicked my daughter's oldest son (19) out of his house because my grandson dared to call him on bringing his girlfriends home and laying up with them in his mother's bed.
Two weeks after that, she went back to him. I don't get it. But, it gets better. Over the next month, she was beaten a total of fifteen times, in front of her kids, and his. My grandchildren are so selfish that they begged their mother not to leave this animal just so they could stay around their friends. Never mind the lessons those kids were learning, never mind the beatings their mother was taking.
A month later, he moves his ex wife into their home. Supposedly, she and their son would be moving into their own place in a couple of weeks.
Oh, but the insanity gets better. He began hitting the bar every night, most nights not even bothering to come home. He quit buying groceries, telling my daughter those were her kids and her responsibility, not his. Nice guy, huh?
Last Friday night it all came to a head. He'd been gone for about a week straight, staying with his ex and their son. His ex came to the house, told my daughter that she needed to get out for awhile and took her to a bar. Yeah, an alcoholic in a bar, smart move, but she went.
After all this time my daughter has zero self-respect, self esteem or the will to do the right thing.
The ex introduced her to a 'friend' of hers and then after a few hours of drinking, took my daughter and the 'friend' back to my daughter's house.
Now, one thing my daughter isn't is promiscuous. She doesn't sleep around; fear of AIDS stops that, and hopefully she still has at least a shred of self-respect.
So her and the 'friend sat in the den with two of my grandkids and their friends and listened to music.
Not suprising to me at least, the husband comes raging in and pounds on the 'friend' runnning him off and then starts on my daughter.
He beats her savagely, then leaves after my grand daughter THREATENS to call the cops.
Forty-five minutes later he comes back and starts in on her again. When he is through, she has two cracked ribs, two black eyes, multiple contusions and a handful of her hair is lying on the carpet.
And my granddaughter, finally calls the cops. Unbeknownst to him, his ex or even my daughter, my granddaughter has videoed the second beating and when the cops arrive, she shows it to them.
Mr. Mister now has a warrant for his arrest for felony domestic battery, violation of probation and he's staring hard at five years in prison, which to me isn't nearly long enough.
Am I happy that finally she will be away from him? I wish I could be, but I know that if my grand daughter hadn't videoed that last beating, my daughter would go back to that bastard.
I don't understand. I will never understand. Do you?


readingrucker
domestic violence
spousal abuse

Should Fox News Apologize?

During my wandering down the information super highway yesterday, I came across the entire 'sermon' by Jeremiah Wright that has created a firestorm of controversy around Barack Obama and scored a damaging( but not fatal) hit to his campaign.
What I read was not only shocking, but infuriating and once again places the media in a bad light.
While Fox News was quick to bring us the 'news' of Jeremiah Wrights' apparent racist remarks, what they failed to do, and I can only assume it was by design, (whose though is another question) was to report the ENTIRE sermon, portions of which came directly from the Bible.
The quotes that caused the most ire with the voting public : "God Bless America, no God DAMN America" and "America's Chicken's have come home to roost" were not even Jeremiah Wright's but those of US Ambassador Edward Peck, a white man who served as US Ambassador to Iraq under Jimmy Carter. Peck spent 32 years in the US Foreign Service.
Another part of the sermon that was not reported: "I heard Ambassador Peck on an interview yesterday," Wright declared. "He was on Fox News. This is a white man and he was upsetting the Fox News commentators to no end. He pointed out, a white man, an ambassador, that what Malcolm X said when he got silenced by Elijah Muhammad was in fact true: America's chickens are coming home to roost."
Wright went on to list other American endeavors that he found particularly unsettling, namely the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
On further investigation, I discovered that many PROMINENT Americans: Dwight Eisenhower, Herbert Hoover, and Albert Einstien to name a few, were horrified by the idea that American's would result to such drastic measures to end a war that by all reports was already won.
The surrender of Japan was all but a fait accompli when the decision to drop the bombs was made.
Wright's commented that the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki "killed far more people than the few thousand that died on 9-11, and we never batted an eye", and in that he was correct.
Wright went on to say: " Violence begets violence; hatred begets hatred, and terrorism begets terrorism." And he ended his 'faith footnote" by attributing his comments to the man who made them, Edward Peck, "A white ambassador said that yall, not a black militant, not a reverend who preaches about racism, an ambassador whose eyes are wide open and is trying to get us to wake up and move away from this dangerous precipice... the ambassador said that the people we have wounded don't have the military capability we have, but they do have individuals who are willing to die and take thousands with them... let me stop my faith footnote right there."
Now taken out of context as these quotes most certainly were by Fox News, it is easy to see how Jeremiah Wright's words have inspired such passion and aroused such anger in the American public. But, when you take the time to read the entire sermon, then the 'clear' cut picture of Wright as a racist and anti-American becomes a bit cloudy.
Fox News knew the entire truth, they had the whole sermon and yet they chose to present only the most damaging portions and failed to attribute those quotes to the man who actually made them, a white man no less.
As to the other comment about the US of KKKA, still digging around on that one. But given the sin of omission committed by Fox News, nothing would surprise me there.
This biased reporting against Obama had one Fox News anchor man get up and walk off the set. Brian Kilmeade walked off the set after a dispute with co-hosts Gretchen Carlson and Steve Doocy. and "Fox News Sunday" host CHris Wallace railed against "Fox and Friends" for what he termed "Obama Bashing." This was reported on the Huffington Post.
One has to wonder who's pocket Fox has snuggled down in. If you're going to report the news, report it accurately, and without bias. Let the American public make their own decisions about controversial reports, don't make it for us.
We want factual reporting, not sensational journalism. We don't care about your ratings and we certainly don't care about your personal political preferences. You are supposed to be un-biased, but Fox has proven themselves to be anything but.
Does Fox owe Wright and Obama an apology? I don't know and it's not my decision to make, but I do think they owe the rest of America one. Stop lying, and start doing your job, which is to report the news accurately and truthfully, with the emphasis on 'fully'.

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Clinton v. Obama

This race is getting tighter and more exciting every day. I love reading all the excuses and nonsense Clinton and her core group keep coming up with for why she is beginning to fall behind in the race.
She's waiting for Texas and Ohio to bail her out. Question is, will they?
Personally, I can't see either Texas or Ohio being drawn in by the 'promises' Hillary is making.
She really won't be able to deliver on her promise of National Healthcare now any more than she could the last time she was in the White House. She has all these grand ideas. Okay, so why didn't she implement them eight or ten years ago? All of these arguments would have been moot by now if she had.
Trouble is, any one of the candidates can promise National Healthcare, but none of them will be able to deliver, and personally, I don't think it's something we really need to get involved with.
Health care in this country isn't the best in the world by any stretch, but it is far superior to that in a lot of other countries, but how would it fare if we had a National Health Care Plan? It would take a lot of tax dollars to get that going, not to mention the drug companies would go ballistic if they were forced into a strict pricing guideline. And how about the doctors? Surely no one in this country is naive enough to honestly beleive that people are spending hundreds of thousands of dolllars for medcial school just to be paid a pittance by the feds for thier knowledge and expertise. Face it, money is the bottom line for most of these doctors, so getting them to go along with this plan is going to be tricky at best, impossible actually if you think about it.
But, the promise of health care for everyone aside, when is this country going to wake up and realize that letting the same politicains with the same greed, corrupt morals and dirty dealings keep runnning the country from different seats is never going to work?
Clinton is so busy slinging mud at Obama for his past misdeeds, she seems to have forgotten hers, but we haven't.
America does not need any more of the Clinton's bullying of the delegates, threats, coercion or empty promises. Hillary is tired and it shows, her politics are worn and outdated and it shows.
Obama is fresh and new and brings a bright ray of hope to this political weary nation.
As a registered Republican I have to say this: If Obama wins the nomination, as he by rights should do, then he will get my vote in Nov. If Clinton gets it, then McCain's my go to guy, and I think a lot of Democrats feel the same way.
Maybe they are as sick of the bullying Clintons as I am. Maybe they are as ready for a change as I am. Let's hope so. And let's hope that Texas and Ohio grow a pair and show Clinton that they are ready for a new direction like the rest of the country.

Hillary Clinton Obama
Barrack Obama election 2008
politics John McCain National Healthcare Plan

Ted Kennedy finally got something right! After years of watching him sit on his fat tookus, eyes bleary, jowls sagging, I was beginning to wonder if the last of the Kennedy wunderkinds was ever going to do something to draw attention to himself.
Looks like he did, when he endorsed Senator Barrack Obama over that Clinton woman.
For Obama, that was quite a coup, for Clinton, mostly a slap in the face.
While Obama is young,and may even be lacking in experience, he is far from lacking in fresh, new ideas. His stance on health care and the economy is a bright star of hope on an other wise dismal horizon for Americans.
While Clinton's on the other hand is more of the same tired old B.S. the Clintons and other hard line Dems have been espousing for years, and doing nothing about.
America is definitely ready for a change. Why elect a woman to the office of President if all she can do is repeat the same failed policies that she tried to implement ten years ago? Electing Clinton simply because she is a woman would be a disaster for this country.
If we, as Americans really want change; want a fresh new approach to politics as usual, then why elect someone who's basically already been there, done that?
A fresh, new appraoch to politics in D.C. really rests on the shoulders of Barrack Obama.
Yes, he is a black man, and yes we still, even in the 21st century still have a lot of idiots out there who are appalled at the very idea of a black man sitting in the oval office.
To them I say, get over it. Your brand of patriotism is, to quote Margaret Mitchell, "gone with the wind" or should be.
If we are entertaning the idea of electing a woman as President, then it makes equal sense to entertain the idea of electing the first blck man as President. Given a choice between the two, I'll take Obama any day.
He is basically untried, so he brings new ideas to the table, unlike Clinton who apparently hasn't a single original idea in her head, but rather is riding her husbands coat tails to the White House.
I think Mitt Romney said it best when he said, "you can't effect change if you keep putting the same people in Washington in different chairs."
Am I an Obama supporter? Certainly. Will I vote for him? Depends on who the Republican candidate turns out to be. I am, after all, a registered Republican, but even I am ready for a change.

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