I am concerned about the lack of coverage of the details of the economic stimulus package that our elected representatives have voted to give us. From what I have read from the bill and editorials surrounding the subject are misleading. How the bill is being presented via the media to the American public is not exactly in line with the long term effects of this plan. Although the term REBATE is used correctly, the detail that the check that will magically arrive in my mailbox to make life all better is a CASH ADVANCE on my next year’s tax return. This has not even been mentioned in any of the news coverage I have seen. Although the influx of cash will give these officials the gratitude of citizens who don’t know what coming and the economy a minor temporary boost, this only sets many households up for a very difficult and disappointing year next year when they find out they can deduct (for married couples with up to 3 kids) between $1200-$2100 USD from their returns.

What are they thinking???? We all know they will continue to spend and the current rate, housing prices and income show no signs of any substantial increase over the next 12 months and for most of us average taxpayers who depend on a few extra bucks at the end of the year, will now be screwed with either nothing….or a debt to the government. How are these criminals in government making the populous think they are heroes for bailing us out in troubled times. All they are doing is loaning me my own money that I am going to earn next year so they look good next year and doing so in a way that makes me believe they are giving me a free gift.

If that is their solution, and they are in agreement, that is fine. But it needs to be presented that way to the American people and they need to have easy access to a way to choose NOT to receive the refund if they want a normal tax return next year. If that doesn’t work for our economy then maybe the prima donnas in Washington can cut some of their excessive spending on entitlement programs, pork projects in their home states or stop wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars passing legislation that allows banks to charge me more money to transfer funds between my savings and checking account. Their obligation is to find that money somewhere, not borrow it from my income next year. I think your net work needs to make this a top story until it becomes a front line issue like the war in Iraq or the election. This effects citizens far more immediately that either of those situations

This is great…!better late than never!

http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/opinion/walthandelsman/blog/2008/01/animation_super_tuesday_blowou_1.html

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California went to Hillary and McCain and sadly those two are a possible Dem ticket, one Pres, one VP. I think I feel sick.

I am ashamed that my state went to Hillary, oh the shame of it all. whats next cats sleeping with dogs
What the hell were they thinking.

fightingformyrights Huckabee is the man, I hope he creams Romney and McCain.

KT, you aren’t kidding. I was going to suggest to Adam that we have a new one. This one is just too big. Odd that that is a bad thing. -Rod-

It also seems that Gavin Newsome is still in a faint over Obama’s snubbing of him. Or is the article (he cynically asks) merely a reminder to the Sodomites that they should be voting Queen Hillary into office?

************

Seeing Mayor Gavin Newsom on the national stage with former president Bill Clinton on Monday night is a reminder of how political winds can change. On the eve of the biggest night of the presidential primaries, Newsom shared the spotlight during a town hall meeting staged and broadcast on cable TV and satellite radio by the Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign.

–

“I gave a fundraiser, at his (Obama’s) request at the Waterfront restaurant,” said former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. “And he said to me, he would really appreciate it if he didn’t get his photo taken with my mayor. He said he would really not like to have his picture taken with Gavin.”

Today, of course, Obama’s people are backpedaling away from that account like crazy. His deputy campaign director, Steve Hildebrand, who lives with his partner as an openly gay man, calls it “a ridiculous story.”

“Barack Obama gets his picture taken with gay people all the time,” Hildebrand said. “Including me, his deputy campaign manager.”

But insiders at City Hall, both current and former members of Newsom’s staff, recall the incident well. And you can bet that Newsom hasn’t forgotten it either.

“He was p*ssed,” said one former staffer.

More:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/05/BAM5US1B5.DTL

Rod I’ll respond to that in the new thread, this one is too hard to get through.

Adam gave us a new thread for polictics

the posting should be easier in the new thread, this one has too many in it and running slow.

http://housley.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/02/05/american-ballot-box/#comment-23087

Now this is interesting…maybe we should drug test the Presidential candidates. Tomorrow morning would be fine. Let’s see if anyone’s celebrating or drowning his or her sorrows in a cloud of “Chavez Premium Select”:

COLUMBIA, S.C. — People filing for public office would also have to submit to drug testing if legislators concerned about the fallout of former state Treasurer Thomas Ravenel’s admission of cocaine use of have their way.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,328380,00.html

They’re saying Romney got off the plane with bed head. Here’s the headline. Poor guy hahahaha, I feel bad for him, he always had perfect hair.

37 Hours of Straight Campaigning Means Bad Case of Bed-Head for Romney

The overnight flight left Romney with a bad case of bed-head, but 30 seconds in the forward lavatory with a comb and some water and — Shazam! — he was good as new.

This is a pdf of the delegates up for grabs

http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/SuperTuesdayDelegates.pdf

Were all 3 in the race in W V? Romney Hucka bee and McCain?

I am so outraged by the dirty politics that played out in WV. Mitt Romney should have won and would have if McCain’s people wouldn’t have ran to Huckabee’s side. Huckabee and McCain are working together and playing dirty. For this reason I will not vote for either candadate ever! It is a shame that people have been being fooled by those two and it’s time for America to stand up and show them that we will not be manipulated like that!

Karen T-
She should get her money back.

According to Clinton campaign’s latest federal campaign disclosure report, the Democratic presidential candidate paid $7,500 to voice and drama coach extraordinaire Michael Sheehan in October.

The remaining members of the Grateful Dead — probably the most prolific and enduring psychedelic rock band — have gotten together once again, but this time to endorse Barack Obama for president.

KT - I think 18…..

Do you know how many delegates he got?

West Virginia

Romney won the first round of voting…..

Then McCain supporters threw their votes to Huckabee.

The winner - Huckabee.

(per Martha McCallum on Fox)

Ron Paul’s belief’s are the closest to the Constitution than any other Candidate.

Ron Paul was completely knocked out of one state so far.

http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/02/05/presidential-race-placed-in-the-hands-of-voters-from-coast-to-coast-on-super-tuesday/

Boy oh boy, these Conservatives absolutely do not want McCain in office and they’re willing to jealordize the election to make their point.

Meanwhile, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson blasted McCain on the Laura Ingraham radio show Tuesday morning, saying, “I cannot, and I will not vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience … Should John McCain capture the nomination as many assume, I believe this general election will offer the worst choices for president in my lifetime. If these are the nominees in November, I simply will not cast a ballot for president for the first time in my life.”

Ron Paul has a very good shot at this, I agree Kathy. I heard yesterday that in one state he was actually in the lead in the polls.

44 it all depends out voter turnout. Many young voters have not voted in the past. Ron Paul still has a shot if all the young voters pull his name.

You would think they would know that Ron Paul does not have a chance at this point.

44, I do agree with you on the age factor. The risk of incompetence is certainly higher. McCain may or may not be affected by that. But young voters don’t seem to be a factor in this race. They’re all voting for Ron Paul. Maybe they know something that we all don’t.

Rod, I just clicked on your youtube link. That’s very close to what McCain did yesterday. McCain arrogantly came out suggesting, for 2 days straight, that he was the nominee and he started to immediately focus on the Democrats. Yesterday I posted that what McCain did by that was smart and deceitful. It suggests to voters who do not follow the race that if they voted for Romney or Huckabee it would be a wasted vote because he is already so far in front of them both. Yesterday I picked my sister up from work. She’s registered republican who follows the race somewhat. As soon as she got in the car she said, well I guess I can’t vote for Huckabee now because McCain is far ahead he’s the only one that can win.

Both Mccain and Romney were deceitful in their campaigns. But thing is that they were being Deceitful to us, American Voters. What else are both of those 2 candidates capable of being deceitful to us about?

I do not trust either of them.

Rod, I was being sarcastic out loud. Like I couldn’t believe that was actually published. The left is trying really hard to not let Hillary win the nomination. It seems that the Republican nominee has a better chance of beatring Hillary than Obama.

I heard Sean today say he will vote for the Republican nominee, but yes Ann Coulter is serious. Laura Ingram said she will vote for a Republican.

Happy Super Tuesday!!!!!

Kathy if the average age is 80 that means McCain only has 8 years left to live if he is lucky, I don’t think the young voters will vote for someone who is that old, I don’t dislike the guy, I just think he is to old for this stressful of job, I think we need someone no older than 60 and preferably 50.
How old was Reagan when he got Alzheimer’s, we certainly would not want that to happen to a sitting President.

Interesting what today will bring! Thanks for the link Rod. It has other videos I watched too.

Check out this dirty trick that Romney’s pulling…

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Jk6IJS3QN34

KT,

They did not put that editorial out? I don’t understand what you’re saying. It’s there…

I don’t see how enforcing our immigration laws is inhumane either. Is busting drug dealers inhumane? Burglars? Nope. But this is the hype and tripe that the ‘hispanic lobby’ keeps foisting on us. I’m tired of it. IT’S OUR COUNTRY and IT’S THE LAW. -Rod-

Romney has to win 2/3s of the delegates to catch McCain.

If a democrat wins the election I am going to wait for the dollar to bottom out then I’m going to invest in it.

Both Hunter and Thompson were the best choices. But that’s not what America wants apparently. They want open borders, a messed up economy and amnesty. A true conservative can’t win this election. Society is faultering and the sense of do what ever makes you feel good without regard to the consequences has won.

The best we can hope for now is that McCain beats the democrat and doesn’t let the conseervative base down too much during his term.

I’m convinced that Americans are voting based on who sounds and looks better. When they were asking voters why did they switch to McCain, one said because he is a strong conservative and the other said because of his foreign policies. My blood pressure is up now.

Wow you have been really talking it over. I am not saying that I am caving but what my choices are not the best. A friend of mine called and said yes Rush loved Fred, he wanted Fred more than any candidate. In some of my own research Duncan Hunter looked so good, but he never got any attention.

44 72 is not old. The average age of american is over 80 at death. Look at Cheney.

So I am probably going to vote McCain or Huckabee but I have a whole month before I do.

Oh Rod, they did not put that editorial out. I just read it. I still don’t get the inhumane part of deporting?

Ok. I’ll read the article. But how does that constitute being inhumane? Doesn’t every country have immigration laws? Can you imagine if this was happening in France or Russia? They wouldn’t stand for this, why should we?

I adore Robert Dinero. And, he just went with Obama.

Dick Morris made an interesting point. He thinks that Independents will see that McCain is winning on the Republican side, so they will now think they don’t need to cast a vote for McCain, they can now switch to Obama because their sole purpose is to stop Hillary.

A hispanic newspaper is backing McCain and Obama. The article merits a good read as it claims that enforcing our immigration laws is “inhumane”…

http://laopinion.com/editorial/index_en.html

McCain is on record saying that Hillary would make a good president. Dole is saying that Mitt Romney would make a great candidate because of his business experience. Dole started saying that McCain has always been a good Senator, then he paused and said well, he does have an independent streak. Dole said McCain voted on 2 earmarks from Kansas and told Dole, You know, I’m going to have to vote on this. (So is that more of him contradicting or is he lying when he says cut back on spending?)

Bob Dole did Not do a very good job at defending McCain. He stated in his email to Rush that he couldn’t remember a single time when McCain supported the Republican Party on Critical issues.

You are correct about healthcare being per state. I tried to find where this idea orginated from, maybe it can be solved on this level. But, I would really enjoy if any of us could figure out a good sound policy and have it lobbied. Congress is incapable of figuring this out.

Karen T,

I don’t know. I was never aware of this, as we have employer sponsored health care. But, have found this to be true with my brother, who is retired. He has an insurer in his state that i have never heard of. He is currently a contract worker for his former employer, working on a special project, out of state. His insurer told him he has no coverage for a doctor in the state where he is working!

It is a very complex issue…….i will have to do some research.

The one thing i do know - I do not want universal health care or any government run / sponsored program….. Like we talked about before - it is not in the Constitution!

Who is governing that rule of only being able to get it your own state? Federal or State?

hahahha… Hannity is asking the voters to name just one accomplished they know of for Obama. Not one person could answer. So Hannity says, then why are you voting for him, because you like his personality?

KT,
about reducing premiums….In order to do that, the entire medical insurance plans have to be reworked. Much like automobile insurance.

If I understand the current medical insurance laws - you can only buy policies from companies operating in your state…….This being the case, competition is reduced or eliminated. Why do you have to be competitive, if you have no to little other companies seeking the same clients.

And, purchasing coverage is very confusing. We had to find insurance for our daughter, as she was no longer covered under our policy when she reached age 22. Private policy vs. Group policy (from your employer) is significantly different. It really is catastrophic coverage. Huge deductible. Extra costs so she can see a doc 3 times a year for ‘minor’ health issues!

The one huge difference between employer group coverage and personal coverage, is a lot of employers pay a portion of the employees premiums.

So, I was speculating, if more companies were competing for business and policies came with options for the type of coverage needed, perhaps premiums could go down.

You are correct about drug costs. So much of that is all the research, development, trials, and then the long FDA process. Plus (on my soap box) don’t forget about the cost that has to be included to cover the litigation costs……..

At 72 the odds of something bad happening with your health go way up, if he does win I hope he picks a good vice President

KT
On Health care I don’t know what the answer is but congress will have to come up with something because more and more Americans are finding themselves without health care and it is really bugging them, if congress does not come up with a way to make it affordable, I think we will end up with Universal Health care and we will all be paying for it forcefully.

KT,
You get to waffle and I get to flip-flop. Electability may be it. In looking at current polls, it appears McCain may be a better challenger to the Dems……but, so much can change between now and Nov.

The one downside to McCain’s age - he has been around longer - more opportunity for dirt in his background! I do not worry about his age.

But, lots of dirt in Hill’s background, too.

UGH!

KT
The reason I subscribe to The balance theory is look how many times in history one party has controlled the entire Governement, not very often it is more prevalent that whatever party is in the White House the congress is Majority of the opposite Party, have you not noticed that in the last 20 years ?
why do you think that has happened, I find it hard to believe it is a coincidence, I think Americans are doing it on purpose.
It is just a theory but it does seem offly coincidental.

I don’t know why McCain is so popular, at 72 years old more than likely he will die in office, at best he will be a one term President, we need someone young and vibrant like maybe 46 to 51 years old.
Someone that is open to new ideas, someone that is up to the task of fixing social security and Medicare so that I don’t have to work till I die at 77, that would really suck.
Someone that can fix the health care crisis, someone that loves guns , someone that dislikes war, someone who does not cry every 5 minutes, someone who can simplify taxes, someone that realizes that abortion and gays don’t really matter in the big picture, someone who will close the borders and get tough on Immigration, someone who realizes that Governement does everything poorly therefor we need less of it in our lives, someone who believes in civil rights to Privacy and court orders, someone who does not want to let all our jobs go over seas with gatt and Nafta, someone who will actually move our country away from oil and towards new energy sources that we have available here like hydrogen.

They can’t lower the premiums because healthcare is costing too much and pharmaceutical is costing too much. The pharmaceuticals are saying they’re using their billions in profit for research and healthcare facilities are being charged for equipment, overhead, insurance and so on.

44… I tested out yopur balance theory and it’s not flying. What I am hearing is if they’re a Democrat they want a Dem in power and the Republicans I spoke to said the same. I tried to find something to support your case but came up with nothing.

I thought about it some more k2… I’m going to guess that they (Washington) don’t want to lose the Presidency to the Democrats, no matter what. I’m going to go with it’s coming down to electability rather than the issues. I’m goping to reserve mt right to waffle and guess this is not about an outsider, it is about electability.

Why is Romney disliked by whom? Washington? The logical reason would be for the same reasons that he couldn’t win his own state or his vacationing state or his home newspaper. I really do not have a clue. But what I just said is probably not the answer.

Bob Dole is on now defending McCain.

Any idea why Romney is so disliked?

So the last time a sitting senator was elected president was Kennedy. So, if the Rep. candidate is McCain and we know the Dem candidate is a senator, we will elect a sitting senator.

So far, 15 of our 43 presidents were at one time senators.

Only 2 senators went from the senate directly to the white house.
Kennedy and Harding.

K2
you idea on health care was actually pretty good.
Get the premiums down for all and charge according to how well you take care of your body.

McCain probably will get the nomination and there is a pretty good chance Obama will beat him in the General Election, oh well thats probably for the best, Obama will keep us out of war for a while and therefor we will have lower taxes for a while.
The congress of course will have to change to Republican to keep the social programs under control but that shouldn’t be to hard, Americans like Balance.

here’s the Malkin link

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2007/10/michelle_malkin_quits_oreilly.html

k2, here’s the thing. I don’t trust any of them on defense. What I am saying is inclusive of immigration and border control issues. Each one of them has a negative applied, whether it’s a major negative or minor. Paul wants to get government out of our lives as quickly as possible. This guy just wants a clean slate and give us back our lives. I was very interested in hearing what he had to say at the last debate but they wouldn’t give him the time of day. McCain said yesterday that he wouldn’t raise taxes too much, he never said he wouldn’t raise at all. You can’t give tax cuts then tax to compensate.

I’m also having problems with the general mind set of Washington. The whole government mind set. But how do you fix that without jeapordizing defense? I’m not impressed with what I am hearing about how Romney ran his state. I’m not pleased with some of the Republicans spending bills in Congress either.

I think ultimately it’s Congress that needs the change. We need a fresh batch in there and we need to stop spending on these rediculous programs. I am not happy at all with the choices the Republicans have for candidates. We need some serious campainging done on behalf of Republican ideals. And American voters need to learn about who they are voting into any office.

I think the endorsements McCain is getting are really not to back up McCain, but a vote against Romney who is an outsider to Washington. McCain came out today talking like he alreay won the nomination. A bit arrogant I thought. I don’t like it when the campaign itself tries to put thoughts into voters heads thinking they should be for McCain or else you’ll be wasting your vote, because only McCain can win. It was a very smart and deceitful tactic.

I agree with the talking heads. O’Reilly, Coulter, Ingraham, Sean, Rush, Levin…all of them. McCain is stealing this election and he’s doing it by getting the majority vote of Independants, not Conservatives.

Even Michael Savage, who will tell you not to vote Democrat, but when a caller asks him which Republican to pick because they no longer know what to do, Savage gently points out McCain’s record. I mean stupid stuff like the gun association rated him a C+. So he is even trying to put things out there that may be an issue with some people who do not care about hot button issues.

Yes he would be viable, but at this point it is too late. Susan did have a great point some thought Rudy would save us (me) then Fred (me). There is only what we have and nothing more.

Karen T,
you are correct.

At this point, I feel like McCain is being pushed on us.
I also read a very dam*ing article about him yesterday.

Like you said several posts ago - Ron Paul is looking better! I wonder if he would have been more viable, if his position on trade and war on terror had not been so ‘out there’.

I didn’t see that second article as being in contrast to Ann Coulters. Susan Estrich is saying the same thing as Ann is. McCain is a liberal and the Democrats know it. If McCain gets the nomination the Democrats win the election. Estrich is flat out saying why the Democrats like him, because he thinks like them.

Here is part what Estrich says in the article…

Of course, there are a host of issues where I part company with John McCain, abortion rights and the war in Iraq being two that jump to mind, front and center. And I still remember some of the moments when I’ve cringed at his idea of humor (joking about Chelsea Clinton’s looks was no doubt the worst) or have been taken aback by reports of his explosive temper.

Everything, McCain is right on board with her.

Karen T and Kathy,

Thanks for all the links….

the MN caucus one was very interesting.

then Ann followed by Susan –What to do? Ann made some very interesting points, as did Susan.

Here is another one in contrast.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,326847,00.html

Oh I was going to share this link.

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/ann_coulter/2008/02/04/69907.html

I don’t see any excuse, I promise you if my child stood in public at any time and did not cross his heart during the national anthem I would come unglued. If I saw it, now if I didn’t see it that would be another story. I did not think he was a muslim but he does belong to a church where the pastor is pretty racial oriented.

Bush’s brain (Karl Rove) is joining Fox, I can hardly wait. He has a way of seeing things in amazing ways.

I had forgotten the pin thing too, I see a pattern. Don’t like it, I do not want to be led by somebody slick as Willy.

Michelle Obama joining the Clinton campaign? yeah right.

http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/02/04/michelle-obama-cool-to-helping-a-would-be-clinton-candidacy/

http://www.foxnews.com/projects/pdf/supertuesday_foxnews.pdf

This was interesting.

I don’t know the answer about health insurance. But, i strongly disagree that it should be a government run / subsidised program.

I do think private enterprise is the best way to go. And am wondering if it should be any different from auto or home insurance.

Most states require car owners to carry insurance. If you don’t you become ’self-insured’. Meaning, you pay for your losses out of your own pocket.

With companies being able to sell policies nationwide, then could individuals / families be able to buy the type of coverage they need?

For example, I no longer need maternity coverage.
Or, I don’t smoke…..we already know smokers pay higher premiums for life insurance. So, as a non-smoker, could I receive some type of lower premium. The same for overweight - a higher premium? Or, healthy weight - a lower premium?

Who knows, maybe it was only on these 2 occasions that he didn’t pledge allegiance. But twice is enough for me.

kathy ..the c*n special that had terri and friends in it, talked about romney’s health in Ma…it isnt working by what gupta said. maybe that special is on his page?

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp
i found this, dont know if they are accurate or not.

Im not voting for him anyway.
I just thought i had heard it was false.
and since this is a caucus thing, not sure im going at all

Yep, see a pattern……

Everyday in school, we stood, placed our hand over our heart and Pledged Allegiance to the Flag.

We stood during the National Anthem - hand over our heart - and sang.

Then there was the time when he refused to wear a Flag Pin.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299439,00.html

See a pattern?

http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/o/obama-salute.htm

This should tells us which is the right version I guess.

Maybe he didn’t know to put his hand over his heart or it’s possible he forgot to do so, he was standing in front of everyone else with his back to them. Maybe if he was at the end and saw people in front of him doing it he would have remembered to do it. I don’t know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU9iCANi02o

I posted some links earlier about Obama but they didn’t show. Hang on a second.