The Paulson logic is stunningly idiotic.

He seems to think the US Government needs to convince banks to sell their bad debts at premium prices.

He keeps saying that the plan needs to be good enough to give incentive to the banks to participate.

From the excerpts I saw of Clinton on the View and on Letterman, he's no help at all. Chris Rock, who followed him even went into a rant about the fact that Hillary lost. Sad.

Hey New Hampshire...WTF?!?

Also, for some reason I can't post here when I use my home computer...it's says something about my being banned or something to that effect.

Anybody have any ideas about how I can fix that?

cheers!

"Live Free or Die" NH appears to be going with the second option.

I think the bigger WTF is Ohio. Seriously - what the heck is wrong with people in that state?

OT: Steve, did you hear Palin's attempt to keep the press in line blew up in her face?

If Obama can't secure Biden's and Bill Clinton's enthusiastic support, how will he lead the country? I say this somewhat sarcastically, but WTF is up with Democrats in this country? Biden is turning out to be only slightly better than Palin as a vp choice.

* Bill Clinton made his first appearance on "The View" yesterday, and sounded very much like a neutral political analyst when describing his take(s) on the presidential campaign.

I saw a clip of it, and couldn't believe how mushy he came off in his support of Obama. For someone who said he'd back Obama 100%, he's doing a crappy job of it. He is, however, doing a damn fine job of pissing off a bunch of us on the left with his tepid performances.

* Joe Biden told Katie Couric he didn't like the recent campaign ad mocking John McCain for his lack of familiarity with modern technology, calling it "terrible." Biden has since walked back his criticism a bit.

I'm actually going to have to agree with Biden -- that ad was stupid.

Other than that, what the holy hell is wrong with the fine folks in N.H.?

Re: WTF/Ohio. The problem is racism and religion.
People so narrow minded and stupid that they are ready to vote for the same people who screwed them all along. Christians and bigots who think that Dems will force abortion on their daughters and take their guns away while forcing gay sex on their sons and daughters and requiring social interaction with blacks and Mexicans.
Why is this so? Lack of civics education? Constant exposure to Drudge and O'Reilly and Limbaugh and the myriad other right wing screamers? TV in general?
Any other opinions? What can we do about it?

Bill Clinton cares only about looking good. I'm disgusted with him.

Such a lackluster, reluctant endorsement at this stage of the game is akin to none at all--or worse yet, could undermine Obama's favor enough to tip undecideds and bigoted (closet or otherwise) Democrats and Republicans into the McCain category.

It's reckless to assume such a wishy-washy, passive-aggressive stance and to continue to praise McCain and even Palin at this late stage of the game.

He had the gall to go on and rationalize/justify his words of praise (by elevating himself and saying he's 'one of those' that doesn't believe it's necessary to put another candidate down in order to promote another). What B.S. self-promoting garbage--as if he never engaged negative campaigning.

The point is with racism as a real barrier, we can't afford to give others who are ambivalent a reason to not vote for Obama. But what does Clinton care?

I'm actually going to have to agree with Biden -- that ad was stupid.

And if you were Obama's running mate, would you have the sense to keep that to yourself?

everyone needs to read one of the top reports on counterpunch today from a lady who spent a vacation in a resort with the McCain family. The bully in Figi.

This is the scariest thing I've ever read.

http://www.counterpunch.org/dubey09232008.html

"Joe Biden told Katie Couric he didn't like the recent campaign ad mocking John McCain for his lack of familiarity with modern technology, calling it "terrible." Biden has since walked back his criticism a bit."

You know, I have no problem with that. It was as snide ad that wasn't very good or effective. I appreciate his honesty. That's a very good trait, considering... Biden certainly didn't undermine any position. It says alot about his character.

I'm glad to see those poll numbers. I had seen some in recent days that didn't look so promising.

I think Ohio, unfortunately, is a distillation of the hurdles Obama faces: lower and middle class whites who will vote against their own interestes for whatever reason: Obama is black, Kerry was a snob...the Republicans depend on the short-sightedness of those people. Hopefully this time they'll be overcome by a large turnout of voters from other demographics.

I used to think it laughable that the Clintons wanted Obama to lose. But the evidence mounts...

I slightly contrarion view of Clinton's behavior. While I agree that Clinton is lukewarm on Obama, I think Clinton truly believes Obama is going to win. Maybe Clinton's smart to start reaching across the gulf and humanize the otherside. Rather than demonizing Republicans, I think he's trying to dampen down partisan rhetoric in the face of the reality that Obama is going to have to govern after the election.

Bill Clinton made his first appearance on 'The View' yesterday, and sounded very much like a neutral political analyst when describing his take(s) on the presidential campaign.

I watched Clinton on David Letterman last night, and I came away with the exact same impression of that appearance.

One example, is when Letterman was expressing his fear about the future. In response, Clinton said to "never bet against America". This would have been an opportune time for Clinton to make the case for Obama and against McCain, but Clinton chose the Bob Marley "every little thing's gonna be all right" approach...regardless of who we elect.

I waited and waited for Clinton to make the case for the millions of Letterman viewers why Obama would be a great president and McCain would be a disaster, but he never did. I can't overstate how much I was disappointed with this wasted opportunity.

"Steve, did you hear Palin's attempt to keep the press in line blew up in her face?"

Good for them! Really, that's the way the media should treat her: ignore her.

re: Clinton.

Devil's Advocate response: you don't really hear any other former presidents pushing hard for either candidate. Maybe he's just keeping the standard "above the fray" tone that ex president's often take.

Real Response: I cannot wait until Obama wins and we can finally push the Clinton psycho-drama to the furthest reaches of our collective interests.

Last week the hidden race-based anti-Obama was discussed and some suggested he needed to have about a 7 point lead in national polls pre-election to barely win on election day)i.e., some of his 'poll lead' will likely disappear due to racism on election day). If this is accurate, and it will work similarly on the state level, these otherwise hopeful small leads in the state polls may not be enough. If racism ends up giving us McCain/Palin, America will deserve it. (And surely the script will require McCain die by March so we will have to fight two wars and an economic crisis with a dingbat as bad as George Bush at the controls.)

I seem to recall that we "paused" the campaigns during recent hurricanes.

I suggest that John and Obama do the same until Wealthcare is finished blowing through Washington.

After all, with 25% of the federal budget (.700/2.9 trillion dollars) earmarked (wink wink) towards the financial swindler sector, there isn't going to be much money to play with come January.

This year has been all about "fixing" the economy with bail outs and stimulus packages.

Once Wealthcare gets going I'd say the "fix" will be in alright!

"Joe Biden told Katie Couric he didn't like the recent campaign ad mocking John McCain for his lack of familiarity with modern technology, calling it "terrible."

not only was it terrible it was elitist. it probably alienated many blue collar voters (who also don't use a PC) the dems so desperately need this election

Bill Clinton has lost my respect. He's a sore loser, that and nothing more.

also, re: Bill -- the rumors that he and Hillary are going to hit the trail for Obama -- based on performances like that I'd say with friends like that who needs enemies?

This is the scariest thing I've ever read.

Holy cow! I wonder if it's true.

Not that I don't believe John McCain is an asshole. But that much of an asshole? Yikes.

'The View' women today discuss Bill Clinton's words and behavior from yesterday's show which seemed to surprise them as well.

Barbara Walters diplomatically referred to Clinton's gesture of putting his hand on her knee as surprising but 'charming'. Joy Behar (who does not feel compelled to be so diplomatic) told it like it was: she indicated this was a clear effort on Clinton's part to control the conversation (shut, up and let me finish).

I concur. He was very controlling throughout that interview yesterday--he definitely had an image of himself he wanted to get out there, and this was his priority over campaigning for Obama.

And this whole bit of people shouldn't be blamed for voting on the basis of who 'feels right' for them shouldn't be questioned is absurd. It again feeds right into the rationale folks use for voting McCain/Palin in the face of so many critically important reasons not to.

And if you were Obama's running mate, would you have the sense to keep that to yourself?

--shortstop

Honestly?

I'm both honest and stupid enough that, in all probability, as a VP candidate, I would've pulled a Biden.

**shrugs shoulders**

:-)

1) Re Biden and the ad, I totally agree with shortstop (of course). Sure it makes Biden look honorable - at the expense of Obama. And his claim that while Obama "says" on the ad that he approves it, Obama likely never saw it - that lets McCain off the hook for all the ads we'd like to pin to him as well.

2) re Bill Clinton, please do not confuse him with Hillary. After Bill was quoted saying Obama would be way ahead if he'd picked HRC, John Roberts pushed Hillary every which way to get her to take the bait. She didn't. She was effusive in her praise of Biden, kept coming back to why it was so important to elect Obama, and all but dismissed her husband. She is doing right by Obama; don't tar her with her husbands ignoble performance(s).

In general, both Biden and Bill Clinton show a terrible Democratic tendency to want to be nice to everyone, including the other side. It is a favor never returned; the ruthlessness and absolute tribalistic tendency to stick together without criticism no matter what has made the Rethugs an electoral powerhouse for most of my voting life. Dems need to learn a little about how to put an election away.

I agree with Biden's criticism of the ad, but that's a BIG no-no for a Veep candidate to disagree with his boss in public like that.

I'm sure Biden was "encouraged" to "walk back" his initial comments.

Zeitgeist - I agree with you, both that Hillary has been much better at promoting Obama, and that Bill Clinton and Biden are too nice. This has always been a flaw of Bill's. Repeatedly he'd reach across the aisle and the Repub's would bite it again. He never learned. But Hillary did.

I would be very very happy with those results in the GE.

Lose Ohio, NH, and Win Florida, Colorado and Virginia and keep all the Kerry states? I'll take that any day.

I also hated the technophobe ad, but it would've been nice if Biden had said--right in the interview, and not as an afterthought--that although he didn't like the ad, it was nothing compared to the nonstop sleazefest of the McCain campaign. It's okay to wing it a bit, Joe, but get back on message while the cameras are still rolling...

i was shocked and outraged by bill clinton's pablum words on letterman last night.

one might get the impression that the clintons have indeed "taken their toys and gone home" as a result of hillary's primary loss to obama.

if this election is lost to mccain, the democratic "leadership" will be the reason why.

People need to get a grip. The Obama campaign controls the message, they decide when surrogates appear and what the message of the day will be. Bill Clinton is a former president. Former presidents do not turn typical public appearances into campaign rallies. HRC has already done more substantive campaigning for Obama than any Democratic runner-up in memory. Bill will campaign when out on the campaign trail. This lingering resentment that the Clintons somehow haven't done enough for Obama is just bizarre. They aren't going to do something that they haven't been asked to do by the Obama campaign.

rk said, "People need to get a grip...This lingering resentment that the Clintons somehow haven't done enough for Obama is just bizarre."

I call bullshit on rk.

First of all, let's be specific. We're discussing Bill Clinton's appearances on two specific televised programs before nationwide audiences. Despite rk's implied expertise in pop psychology, our reviews of his poor performance on those shows has zero to do with "lingering resentments".

Second, the outcome of this election matters tremendously to the future of this country, and the quality of life of our children and grandchildren. Our anger with Mr. Clinton's performance has everything to do with the fact that, at least before two national television audiences, he either didn't seem to realize how important this election is or didn't seem to care.

Graphical trends of state-by-state poll results are available at:

http://www.stottlerhenke.com/datamontage/examples/election_2008/datamontage_example_presidential_election_2008.htm

CJ
If you've got a problem with the way the Obama campaign is using their surrogates you should contact the Obama campaign.

It is to Biden's credit that he said what he did about that ad. It was not a good ad. It was a mistake by the Obama campaign. I like seeing someone on the ticket admit it was bad. Obama is human, the campaign is human, and they can make mistakes - as well as admit to them.

I just got around to reading the Sunday op-ed sections of the Seattle Times and Seattle PI this afternoon. The Times, Seattle's nominally Republican paper, has already endorsed Obama! My guess is we won't get a visit from McCain and/or Palin now. Palin already canceled a fund raiser here. She will be replaced by McCain's life-like wife.

Where can Obama go to win more? East coast!

Maine, New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida

It's like trying to win the Revolution all over again. Where did Cornwall surrender? That's where Obama will bring it to a close.

On the credit crisis:

I don't understand how the anti-Socialist Republicans can be talking about buying up $700B securities. It's a nonsequitor, isn't it?

I don't understand why Democrats wouldn't ask why $700B and why they should okay this, even with oversight & stuff.

The problem is valuation of assets. The commercial people are much better at that than government. It's their business. They should do it.

If they're having difficulties government should help by regulating and getting rid of ARMs by fiat and thereby fixing them, so they can be properly evaluated.

After that there are some other good things, but fixing the mortgages so they can be evaluated is crucial.

Secondarily, I'd like to know about the bankers who simply decided to stop the economy. Who are they? What's their agenda? What do we do in the future if the private interests decide to screw us all again?

Question: why aren't we making more jokes about how McCain refuses to learn how to use the internets because Al Gore invented them? Let's make some lemonade with that one.