Lindsay Lohan Links to Zennie, Reveals Sexism and Racism of Some McCain - Palin Supporters

Lindsay Lohan en "Chicas malas", originally uploaded by pedrotbm.

Earlier today Zennie's Zeitgeist blog had one of those nice little traffic spikes that was unexpected but I always wondered what caused it, and so I'd go off on a research mission.

In this case, what caused it was a blog post written by none other than Lindsay Lohan herself and is a rant against the McCain Palin ticket and for the upcoming Church-based rally against gays, which Lohan saw on my blog and linked to it...

Here:

http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-palins-church-hosts-anti-gay.html

But in the Celebrity blog section of MySpace, the sexist and racist comments came at a rapid pace, with a few people calling Lohan names I will not repeat here.

And yes, they say they're McCain Palin supporters. Just the kind of racist and sexist people I work to avoid like the plague.

Meanwhile, this is the full text of Lindsay's blog with her friend Samantha:

I really cannot bite my tongue anymore when it comes to Sarah Palin.

I couldn't be more supportive of a woman in office, but let's face it, it comes down to the person, and their beliefs, male or female.

Is it a sin to be gay? Should it be a sin to be straight? Or to use birth control? Or to have sex before marriage? Or even to have a child out of wedlock?

I find it quite interesting that a woman who now is running to be second in command of the United States, only 4 years ago had aspirations to be a television anchor. Which is probably all she is qualified to be... Also interesting that she got her passport in 2006.. And that she is not fond of environmental protection considering she's FOR drilling for oil in some of our protected land.... Well hey, if she wants to drill for oil, she should DO IT IN HER OWN backyard. This really shows me her complete lack of real preparation to become the second most powerful person in this country.

Hmmmm-All of this gets me going-Fear, Anxiety, Concern, Disappointment, and Stress come into play...

Is our country so divided that the Republicans best hope is a narrow minded, media obsessed homophobe?

I know that the most important thing about this election is that people need to exercise their right to vote, regardless of their choice... I would have liked to have remained impartial, however I am afraid that the "lipstick on a pig" comments will overshadow the issues and the fact that I believe Barack Obama is the best choice, in this election, for president...

Palin's Desire to "save and convert the gays"-really??

According to this Associated Press story, the church of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is hosting a kind of conference devoted to the "conversion of Gays" -- no kidding.

Here's the AP text:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) ? Gov. Sarah Palin's church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.

You'll be encouraged by the power of God's love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality," according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has prayed since she was a child.

Palin's conservative Christian views have energized that part of the GOP electorate, which was lukewarm to John McCain's candidacy before he named her as his vice presidential choice. She is staunchly anti-abortion, opposing exceptions for rape and incest, and opposes gay marriage and spousal rights for gay couples.

http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah-palins-church-hosts-anti-gay.html

I feel it's necessary for me to clarify that I am not against Sarah Palin as a mother or woman.

Women have come a long way in the fight to have the choice over what we do with our bodies... And its frightening to see that a woman in 2008 would negate all of that.

Oh, and...Hint Hint Pali Pal- Don't pose for anymore tabloid covers, you're not a celebrity, you're running for office to represent our, your, my COUNTRY!

And in the words of Pamela Anderson, "She can suck it"..


Lindsay- "I have faith that this country will be all that it can be with the proper guidance. I really hope that all of you make your decisions based on the facts and what feels right to you in your heart-vote for obama!"

Samantha- "I love this country- however i wasn't born here and don't have the right to vote- so i beg of you all to really do your research and be educated when you cast your vote this coming november.... and if you're in doubt- vote for obama! Mainly because if she gets elected my green card probably won't get renewed!!!"


xoxo
Lindsay and Samantha

Cindy McCain Whines About Being Hammered On "The View"

SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN CAMPAIGNS WITH WIFE CINDY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, originally uploaded by j_soudant.

According to CNN, Cindy McCain, wife of GOP Presidential Nominee John McCain, whined about having their "bones picked clean" or words to that effect as reported in that article.

Here's what was written:

"In spite of what you see …in the newspapers, and on shows like The View — I don't know if any of you saw The View yesterday, they picked our bones clean — in spite of what you see, that's not what the American people are saying and what they are believing," said McCain, in a recording obtained by ABC News. "They are now seeing a clear difference with these candidates, and they are seeing who is going to make the best president, and that's why we're pulling ahead."

Wow, if Mrs. McCain thinks that's hard, she'd faint under the pressure Michelle Obama has had to deal with. Oh, brother!

Kevin Is Not The Father OF Bristol Palin's Kid..Or???

Last Tuesday I issued a video which broke a promise I made that I would not cover Governor Palin's family. But "Kevin", who claimed to be the real father of Bristol Palin's still unborn child, had a story I felt should see the light of day, even if it was proved wrong. Kevin wrote to me and others that he had evidence to support his claim and that he would present it on September 11th.

Well, he did not.

Instead Kevin created a video on that Friday which essentially said it was all a joke. So, I hold two views: 1) Kevin should be charged for defamation of character because he points the finger at the Palin family and implies they have racist intentions, and 2) he may have been paid to squash the whole claim, indeed, Kevin wrote that he was offered money for his original story. It may have been worth it for a third party to match or beat that offer, just to keep the whole matter quiet. Regardless, Kevin started a fine mess; I can't help but think he got paid in some kind of way.

"Obama Works" partners with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to the simple idea that shelter from rain, wind and sun is a basic human need. Obama Works is a national grassroots organization comprised of volunteers dedicated to implementing Senator Barack Obama's message of positive change through public service.

This is what COMMUNITY ORGANIZING is all about!

On September 13th, 2008, the Obama Works Twin Cities group partnered with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity to apply some elbow grease to two projects in Minneapolis. Hearty volunteers under the guidance of Master Gardeners who volunteer with HFHI helped a family beautify their home, and neighborhood. They may not be entirely comfortable with operating the lawnmower, but they've got curb appeal.

Read the full story at Actualizers, and please pass along this example of how Obama's history inspires acts of community service.

Pictures and video amplify the story of volunteers beautifying a Habitat Home in south Minneapolis on behalf the the new homeowners, immigrants from Somalia who have only been in the house since mid-summer. A cool, rainy September day, but the result was sunshine in the Twin Cities.

I'm not going to suggest McCain volunteers can't or won't do such selfless work; I'm absolutely certain some of them do even though I don't see much evidence of it. I'd rather read about how working together we can make a difference in our community than hear more dishonorable old-school attack politics out of the McCain~Palin~Rove campaign. Until the mainstream media has the spine showed by the ladies hosting "The View" we obviously can't let them dictate the narrative of this election - it's just too important to continue tolerating their conflicts of interest. From taxes and the economy to health care, they're letting lies stand unchallenged - and such uncritical, lazy "reporting" is not good professional journalism.

Senator Barack Obama's example might not have come to the attention of so many of us if he'd not become a candidate for president -- but community service is ALWAYS a postive action.

Read the whole article | DIGG it!

Twitter Plus Digg Makes Dwigger, and it Tastes Great!

It’s name is Dwigger. And while it doesn’t quite roll of the tongue, it is for sure an interesting bit of kit. Twitter feeds plus threaded replies plus voting. It’s Twitter, Diggnified. You can paste a pre-published Twitter message URL and submit it to Dwigger, to be voted and commented on. You can also write a fresh post directly within Dwigger.

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McCain/Palin - Unstable and Unable

That slogan "McCain/Palin - Unstable and Unable" came from this sign at the Anchorage, Alaska rally of women against Sarah Palin as Vice President; an event that drew over 1,400 people.

T.O.: McNabb made me a better WR; I made him a better QB

Terrell Owens -- wearing one of his custom T-shirts that said "iLove" on the front and "Me some me" on the back -- spoke in the Cowboys' locker room Thursday, often about Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and the reasons for their failed relationship.

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Brigham Young blowout of UCLA is one for the books

Just about everything that can go wrong for the Bruins does as BYU quarterback Max Hall passes for seven touchdowns in UCLA's worst loss since 1929.The last time UCLA took such a beating, Herbert Hoover was president.

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Apple Now Sixth Among Worldwide PC Manufacturers

Riding the wave of good news about Apple's explosive growth over the past years, market research firm Gartner now says that Apple is the sixth largest PC manufacturer in the world.

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MITT ROMNEY NUKES JOHN MCCAIN - SAYS McCAIN WRONG, REPREHENSIBLE !! VIDEO

With a mic and a camera to him, former Governor Mitt Romney, who perhaps is feeling the sting of not being picked as McCain's Number Two, and thus able to see with clarity the dishonest presidential campaign Senator McCain is running, went nuclear on Senator McCain in this video from the Republican Debates:

Record rains drench Chicagoland; Ike sending more

After the rainiest day in recorded Chicago history, residents across the area faced more storms, closed roads and flooded basements Sunday as the remnants of Hurricane Ike were expected to arrive. Saturday's rainfall, as measured at O'Hare Int'l Airport, was at least 6.63 inches, breaking the city calendar-day record of 6.49 on Aug. 14, 1987

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Barack Obama - Concord, New Hampshire - Here's What Change Really Means

If you've been looking for something to get you fired up, here it is: Barack Obama earlier today in Concord, New Hampshire, laying out the foundations of what change really means -- from energy to education to foreign policy to the economy.

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Hyperinflation Here We Come:Last Gasp of a Doomed Currency

Rather than solving the problems, the government’s bailouts merely confirm my worst fears, and increase the chances for a hyper-inflationary outcome. By nationalizing Freddie and Fannie, the government has merely delayed the crisis. The borrowed time will cost us dearly, as the day of reckoning will now likely involve much steeper losses.

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Anti-Palin Rally Draws 1,483 in Alaska - USA Today

As the nation learns more about Palin and how she is like George Bush, more people chant for Barack Obama as the real agent of change. Alaska Women lead the charge at this rally:

ANCHORAGE (AP) — 1,483 people protesting the policies of Republican vice presidential candidate and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin lined a busy street on Saturday, waving signs and chanting "Obama!"
The protest came about two hours after Palin delivered a rousing speech at Anchorage's new convention center before leaving the state to return to the campaign trail. Palin was named John McCain's running mate on Aug. 29. This was her first return since then to her home state.

The protesters, including supporters of presidential candidate Barack Obama and those who don't agree with Palin's positions on abortion, polar bears, Iraq and other issues, lined one side of the street near Anchorage's main library building.

A much smaller number of mostly pro-Palin supporters were on the other side of the street, chanting "Sarah! Sarah!"

Police were at the scene, but there were no immediate reports of clashes.

Angie Doroff, 46, helped organize the rally. The wildlife biologist, yoga teacher and artist said she was pleased and surprised at how many people showed up.

"We're not alone. A lot of people are worried about the nomination of Sarah Palin," Doroff said, as cars drove by honking their horns in support.

Barbara Norton, a 56-year-old midwife, stood near a sign that read, "Alaskan Women for Choice."

"I think America does not understand how absolutely extreme her positions are — even to the right of George Bush and John McCain," Norton said. "She is frightening."

Obama Has A Plan To Reduce Oil Prices And Manage Our Oil Reserve

In the face of still high oil prices Senator Barack Obama has a plan to reduce them and via the use of a "swap" of components of our Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The Wall Street Journal covers this idea:

Obama Has A Plan To Manage Our Oil Reserve

By JOHN D. SHAGES
September 8, 2008; Page A17
Energy is playing a pivotal role in this year's presidential election. And a crucial aspect of America's energy security not widely discussed is how to best use America's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

Sen. Barack Obama is proposing a simple maneuver -- called an exchange, or swap -- that will help lower the price of oil for consumers, increase the amount of oil in the SPR, increase energy security, and leave taxpayers better off by about $1 billion. His proposal deserves to be adopted.

In 1975, after the Arab oil embargo, the U.S. created the SPR to protect against oil supply disruptions. That reserve now consists of 706 million barrels of crude oil, the largest stockpile in the world.

As the steward of that stockpile, the Department of Energy plays an important role in oil markets. Merely announcing oil acquisitions or sales from the SPR moves oil prices. The SPR's drawdown capability of 4.4 million barrels of oil per day surpasses the daily production capacity of Iran, Iraq or Venezuela.

The authority to sell oil from the SPR is contingent on a presidential finding of a "severe energy supply interruption." In the past 33 years, there have only been two sales from the SPR: in 1991 to support Operation Desert Storm, criticized for being too late; and a widely applauded 2005 post-Katrina sale.

There is also another, little understood statutory authority that allows the Energy secretary to "exchange" oil from the SPR. This authority was created to allow the secretary to periodically change the SPR's composition to ensure that it remains useful to refiners and consumers.

The Clinton administration used this authority in 2000, exchanging crude for heating oil. Later that year, facing a possible heating-oil shortage, the administration loaned 30 million barrels of oil to the market, which was repaid with interest in the form of additional oil at a later date.

This met two objectives. The swap added oil to the SPR at no cost to taxpayers and it put downward pressure on prices.

The Bush administration has used the exchange option extensively. As a matter of policy, however, it has used this option only for minor supply disruptions, and not to intervene in markets due to high prices.

Today, with historically high oil prices, it is time to debate using the SPR. Some argue that the reserve should only be used in emergencies. Others say that we should use all the tools at our disposal to help consumers.

Fortunately, we do not have to resolve these philosophical differences. Instead, we can improve the management of the SPR and maximize its value to the taxpayer. The oil in the reserve now is all light crude, which is easier and cheaper to refine into gasoline, a reflection of refining capability at the time the SPR was created. Over the past three decades, however, U.S. refining capacity has become increasingly sophisticated and complex, because the world's oil is increasingly heavy and harder to refine. Today, about 40% of our refining capacity is configured to handle heavier crude oil.

We now confront a mismatch between U.S. refining capacity and the oil mix in the SPR. In a 2007 report, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that in an emergency this mismatch could reduce U.S. refinery capacity by 5% or over 735,000 barrels per day in total as some refineries scale back production to accommodate the SPR oil. The GAO recommended that the Energy Department change the reserve's oil mix to at least 10% heavy oil, roughly 70 million barrels.

This could be accomplished through a swap. From a policy perspective, this would enhance the utility of the reserve, aligning its oil with U.S. refining capacity, while also putting short-term downward pressure on oil prices. From a business perspective, the DOE could craft an exchange to either increase the oil in the reserve, yield a cash bonus, or both. Light crude is more valuable than heavy crude (by about $12 to $18 a barrel), so swapping one for the other could bring in about $1 billion at today's prices.

The House and Senate are considering legislation to mandate such a swap, and Mr. Obama has adopted the concept as part of his energy plan. The public benefits are compelling. Swaps that help energy security, refiners and consumers should be a routine part of managing the SPR.

Mr. Shages is a former deputy assistant secretary for petroleum reserves at the Department of Energy.

The Fans Corner#2-The PSL Commentary

The Fans Corner#2-The PSL Commentary
By Willie “The Pizzaman” Mariano for Football Reporters Online

As another opening day approached for my football team. The only football team I have faithfully rooted for since my birth. Check that, since the womb. Whether it be the two and twelve seasons of my youth gone bye. (and there were more of those then I care to remember) or as defending Super Bowl Champions yet again. (The third in my 46 years) I found myself missing something. I had a feeling that I have never experienced in my life. You have to understand one thing folks. My Dad, like almost all Big Blue diehards has had season tickets for years and years. Dear ol' dad since 1954. My brother and myself, since 1976.That is five decades and three decades respectively, and then some that we have bled blue. It was taught to us right along side of always being proud to be an Italian American or a God fearing man who is morally sound and respectful to all of mankind. Like bathing. Like eating. Like drinking water. Like breathing. It was a necessity of life. It was even more important then religion. Only because God did not give Dad his season tickets way back when. No way. God gives to all freely and there was nothing free about being a New York Football Giants season ticket holder. You either renewed your seats every April or May or lost them to the next NYG fan on the list of a hundred thousand strong.
What was also a given of being a season ticket holder, was that you were expected to always be respectful to all fellow fans on football Sundays. This was not a written rule by the Giants organization. It was one ingrained in you by the name on the account who paid the bill season after season. Only then, were you allowed to earn the right to have them passed down to you. Generation after generation. I might be wrong but that sure sounds like ownership to me. Don't get me wrong folks. I totally understand the economics of a now billion dollar industry called the, "National Football League." What I fail to understand is without "us" the fans filling the seats and buying the products endorsed by each and every team, there would be no National Football League. So what do we get for our unwavering loyalty for all these years? Something called, Personal Seat Licenses or "PSL's."
As we all know by now, this is a mandatory one time fee that will allow us to continue being a season ticket holder. To own our seat that we have already owned since forever, in the brand new stadium slated to open in 2010. A stadium that when planned was estimated to cost almost seven hundred million dollars. Then we get, opps we mis-calculated a little. The cost is now 1.4 billion and we the multi millionaire owners of the Giants and Jets can not afford to build it without the help of our faithful fans. What a crock! First of all, who ever was in charge of figuring out the cost of building the new stadium should have been fired on the spot. We are talking double the original estimate. A seven hundred million dollar mistake for a stadium that will not even have a dome? Are they serious?

Evidently they are and we the "fans" are being forced to make up the difference. Not the sponsors, who in one short season will most likely generate enough money to build two stadiums. In closing all I can say with all due respect is that, Mr Wellington Mara is not turning over in his grave, he's doing cartwheels. By meeting him more then a few times and even having the honor to feed him and his wife at my tailgate parties through the years. I can venture to say he would not be to pleased with what his son's and Tish's sons are doing to what he humbly called, "The Greatest and Most Passionate Fans In Sports." I think he would tell them he pays them darn good money to go out and get the sponsors to pay for the new stadium and leave his "friends/fans" alone. Unfortunately this will not happen so we are stuck in the new world of PSL's. "Professional Shylock Licenses!" So in a few short months the money hungry owners of NFL teams have succeeded in making my "Passion Suddenly Lost" for what was always regarded in my family as a given right. You either bleed blue or your an outcast. What a travesty!

NFLPA Needs Assistance for Successor to the late Gene Upshaw

NFLPA Needs Assistance for Successor to the late Gene Upshaw

September 11, 2008

By Slavica Milosevska for Football Reporters Online
The NFL Players' Association have some big shoes to fill after executive director Gene Upshaw's death in August and will be hiring a national search firm to help after consulting with all 32 teams. The union's board will take potential firms into consideration in the few weeks to come. Additionally, the actual NFL players are being questioned on the qualifications of the ideal successor.
NFLPA 's Interim executive director is uncertain regarding the time it will take to find Upshaw's replacement. “The choice of an executive director would not change the players’ bargaining agenda,” he stated. Berthelsen says that the executive board and himself are working with hiring procedures should not affect labor issues and that they are also discussing terms with the NFL.
When asked about taking Upshaw's old position, Berthelsen says he doesn't want that commitment. There are many headaches at this level. For instance, before Upshaw's passing, he had a concern that if the NFL opted out of the CBA that it would never return. This is the current status, making 2010 an uncapped season if no new agreement is settled. There is yet time until the spring of 2009 to make a deal. Only time will tell who and what will happen.

Hurricane Ike May Dwarf Katrina In Wreaking Havoc

Hurricane Ike May Dwarf Katrina In Wreaking Havoc. Hurricane Ike's storm surge flooded the historic district of Galveston, Texas, with 7 feet of water and knocked out power, officials said. Heavy winds continue to pummel coast

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Big Media: Just Say No! We've had Enough Lies & Distractions

There is something sinister about the press's complicity in allowing campaign coverage to feed hungrily on endless lies. It smacks of McCarthyism. Stop repeating stuff that isn't true. It's time for news organizations to stop being shills and for serious political reporters to stop being hacks. Mark Halperin and Campbell Brown have showed the way.

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Hurricane Ike Hits Houston - Power Outage In Houston

Hurricane Ike VIDEO (Power Outage In Houston):- Devastating Hurricane Ike hits Houston - Hurricane at FSN Houston 3 - Hurricane Ike Downtown Houston Tornado- The IKE hurricane attacks Texas. [...]

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Andrew Sullivan Says's Karl Rove Is "Playing" Netroots Who Cover Palin - He's Sorta Right

Blogger Andrew Sullivan advances the idea that we liberal bloggers are being "played" by Karl Rove in that we're giving too much coverage to McCain Palin gaffes and not enough to the good deeds of Barack Obama.

There's a good point and I think it's a byproduct of the newness of the addition of Palin, but we've also got to get back in to the habit of telling Barack and Joe Biden news. I have worked to do this myself, but we have to counter the online effort of the GOP, which is spamming YouTube of late with these Palin videos.

Someone on a video channel is working to pump up views artifically and dump Palin videos. What's good about this is that we all will get sick of her that much faster.

Barack Obama's Change Ad - Obama Talks About Changing Washington

Senator Obama's latest ad features him talking to America, which I think is the best approach. He's telling what he brings to the White House.

Charles Krauthhammer Wrong On Obama Again. Forgot About Iraq War

In his latest column, conservative columnist Charles Krauthhammer writes that Senator Barack Obama's rise was not based on any policy position but on this...

Obama's meteoric rise was based not on issues -- there was not a dime's worth of difference between him and Hillary on issues -- but on narrative, on eloquence, on charisma.

Charles, I'm chuckling.  You forgot that the many issue Barack Obama gained notice for was his opposition to the war in Iraq.   If you need a reminder, here's a 2002 interview on the war on Iraq:





In fact, Obama, who was then in the Illinois Legislature, showed a great grasp of the issues surrounding the Iraq War at that time.

Todd Palin, Gov. Sarah Palin's Husband, Subpoena By Alaska's Legislature

In a stunning move that points to the number of political enemies Alaska's Governor Sarah Palin may have created for herself in her less-than-two-years as Governor of that state, the Alaska Legislature voted to Subpoena her husband Todd in the ongoing investigation of her possible abuse of power in the firing of the public safety director of the State of Alaska. The event was not without its colorful events:

Sen. Charlie Huggins, a Republican from Palin's hometown of Wasilla, appeared in camouflage pants on a short break from moose hunting to cast his vote. He lamented the political maneuvering that he saw as trying to interfere with the investigation.

"I see all this duck-foot action under the water," Huggins said. "Let's just get the facts on the table.

The Palin Administration is threatening to block the Subpoena, which can only bring more scrutiny to this entire story. It also calls into question Governor Palin's own claims of supporting open government because of this apparent attempt to block the flow of information on this matter of the abuse of power. But Palin's staff writes they will make themselves available if there's no subpoena:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Gov. Sarah Palin's administration is threatening legal action to block any subpoenas by the Alaska Legislature as part of its investigation into whether she abused her authority in trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper.

In a letter to lawmakers, an assistant attorney general on wrote that the administration was prepared to go to court to quash the subpoenas of Department of Administration staff if they're issued as expected Friday. The investigation, known as "Troopergate," took on new significance after Sen. John McCain, the GOP presidential nominee, selected Palin as his running mate.

However, the letter also suggested that if lawmakers agree that the governor has legal authority to designate staff to review confidential personnel files, the staff members will voluntarily speak with the Legislature's investigator—no subpoenas necessary.

Palin is Wrong on Former VP Credentials - Fact Check

During her interview with ABC News Thursday, Sarah Palin attempted to deflect a question about the fact she has never met head of state by saying that "many" other vice presidential nominees in history hadn't met a head of state either. She was mistaken. Every vice presidential nominee over the last 30 years had met a foreign head of state.

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John McCain and his Blizzard of LIES

This year, the McCain campaign keeps making assertions that anyone with an Internet connection can disprove in a minute. These stories have two things in common: they ’re all claims recently made by the McCain campaign — and they’re all out-and-out lies.

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U.S. Government Helping to Arrange Sale of Lehman Brothers

The Federal Reserve and Treasury are actively helping Lehman Brothers put itself up for sale, and officials are hoping a deal will be in place this weekend before Asian markets open on Monday, according to sources familiar with the matter.

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McCain On The View, Grilled On Roe v Wade

He was grilled on Sarah Palin, his Obama sex-ed for kids attack ads, his view on Roe v. Wade, the separation of church and state and more.

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Personal Attacks

If you took the Republican party at its word, you'd have to believe that they have no sense of reality. In politics, of course, it seems that folks rarely speak the truth. Spin rules and reality luks somewhere under the couch cushions with the pennies and popcorn kernels.

Today, the Obama campaign released a spot emphasizing that McCain is out of touch, but speaking nothing but the facts: he can't use a computer (completely relevant in the Internet age and world of cyber-terrorism), doesn't know much about the economy, and puts a heavier emphasis on corporate tax cuts than helping the middle class. I'm having a problem seeing how these attacks are "personal." Personal attacks are the ones like the despicable recent attack levied against Obama by the McCain camp; the attack which digustingly distorted his record on education reform to make it seem as though he wanted to teach Kindergarteners about sex instead of how to protect themselves against predators. That's personal.

Obama's response to McCain's nasty ad was also personal. In the response, the Obama camp questioned McCain's honor, saying, "Last week, John McCain told Time magazine he couldn’t define what honor was. Now we know why." While the Obama camp may have interpreted that truth (McCain actually told the interviewer to go read the five books he wrote to get his answer), it was essentially the truth. Stating it the way they did, though, does seem a bit personal. The Obama camp, however, had every right to be outraged.

According to the AP, "A spokesman for the Republican National Committee, Alex Conant, accused Obama of 'trying to destroy' McCain and running mate Sarah Palin with personal attacks." How this ad does anything to Sarah Palin is beyond me. And how speaking the truth about McCain is a personal attack stretches the definition. But this is politics, spin is spin. It's going to be a long 52 days.

Cross posted to AshPolitics

California Unemployment Insurance Fund Going Broke - Economy Failing

It's one thing to have people out of work and drawing unemployment, but it's more terrible to be in a position where that unemployment insurance fund is running out of money.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle today the California unemployment insurance fund is running out of money and will have to borrow from the Federal Government for the first time since the 1930s.  The projected deficit for 2009 is $1.6 billion.  

To make matters worse, not just California but 18 other states may find their unemployment insurance funds in deficit, including New York, Ohio, Michigan and Missouri.   

"We Are Out Here" - Republicans Speak Truth to McCain's Lies

We are out here - the Republicans or ex-Republicans who will no longer tolerate the racist, despicable slime machine that the right wing and the John McCain-Sarah Palin campaign has become.

One such Republican penned an article at Daily KOS - a place I seldom send people to read, because it has been so staunchly partisan. Yet this story merits the visit:

I know, for I am one of them. I am not your typical progressive, being an ex-Air Force officer (9 years), evangelical Christian, card carrying conservative...

Is this election going to be about lies, and distortions, or issues?

It's Obama's tax plan that favors over 90% of this country's families and voters, whereas McCain's tends to give money to the wealthiest.

It's Obama who wants to fix Health Care, whereas McCain says changes Obama proposes will reduce our choices and put bureaucrats in charge of our medical decisions. Has McCain never dealt with insurance company bureaucrats who control our health care already, making decisions based on profit not medical advice?

If McCain's all about choices in health care, why does he want to remove choice when it comes to women's reproductive health, and return us to the dangerous day of back-alley abortions?

Obama and Biden want to keep the government out of religious matters, whereas McCain's selected a rookie governor who wants to be able to ban books, and as a Mayor charged victims for rape kits if they reported the crime. That's not the kind of maverick outlook the Alaska State legislature condoned - in response they passed a law insuring victims weren't charged.

If John McCain really wants to campaign with dignity, what's up with all those ads? Is that conduct becoming of a senior Senator, let alone a candidate for the White House? Let's ask him:

Whatever became of "Do unto others," Senator McCain? Either you're outright lying about your intent, totally out of touch as James Carville suggested, or simply unable to control teh GOP and your lobbyists & campaign staff. Meanwhile Senator, your campaign seeks to divert us and the media from all these issues by manufacturing outrage over lines you've used yourself?

America, our moment is now. It's time to get past Red and Blue states, it's time to reclaim our former greatness, to reform DC, and start coping with the mess Bush has made of our economy, our housing markets, and our international reputation.

Obama for America.

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Palin Would Attack Russia - ABC News Interview

In released text of the interview with ABC's Charlie Gibson, Alaska Governor and GOP Vice Presidential Cadidate Sarah Palin was led into an answer regarding the U.S. involvement in the Russian / Georgian conflict that revealed her lack of gravitas in thinking about and discussing foreign policy issues.  

Palin pointed to the need to attack Russia as an option.  But in fairness, Palin quickly backpedaled to explain that other forms of punish

Give Gibson credit for leading Palin rather than outright challenging her in a way that the McCain camp could consider sexist or bullying.  He showed that he's a real pro.  

Here's the text: 

9/11 - Remembering September 11th Today

This is what I remember about "9-11" -- the day that the World Trade Center was destroyed due to a terrorist attack by what we now know and call the Al Qiada terrorist group. I was living in Oakland, Ca at the time.

NFL Injury report week2

Week 2 Injury Report -- Wednesday
Week 2, 2008, 09/10/2008
FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL 9/10/08

JAMES EDGES CLOSER TO 15,000

Arizona Cardinals running back EDGERRIN JAMES has amassed 14,967 scrimmage yards in his career and needs 33 yards to become the 14th player in NFL history to reach 15,000 scrimmage yards. Since entering the league with the Indianapolis Colts in 1999, James has rushed for 11,707 yards and added 3,260 receiving yards.

Following is a list of injured players for Week 2 Games (September 14-15):

(For updated practice information on Denver, Oakland, San Diego and Seattle please check NFLmedia.com Thursday morning)

ATLANTA FALCONS at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

ATLANTA FALCONS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
C Alex Stepanovich (back)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Coy Wire (ankle)

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Derrick Brooks (hamstring), QB Jeff Garcia (ankle), G Davin Joseph (foot)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
RB Warrick Dunn (not injury related), WR Joey Galloway (not injury related), WR Maurice Stovall (back)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Matt McCoy (groin)



BALTIMORE RAVENS at HOUSTON TEXANS

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Brendon Ayanbadejo (fibula), QB Troy Smith (illness), CB Fabian Washington (neck)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Yamon Figurs (hamstring), DT Kelly Gregg (knee), RB Willis McGahee (knee), S Ed Reed (neck)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
G Jason Brown (ankle), T Jared Gaither (ankle), TE Todd Heap (back), CB Corey Ivy (ankle), CB Chris McAlister (knee), RB Le'Ron McClain (ankle)

HOUSTON TEXANS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
DE Stanley McClover (knee)


DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
RB Ahman Green (foot), DT Travis Johnson (knee)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
TE Mark Bruener (hamstring), WR Jacoby Jones (back), CB Antwaun Molden (hamstring), G Chester Pitts (ankle), T Ephraim Salaam (knee), T Eric Winston (ankle)



BUFFALO BILLS at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

BUFFALO BILLS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
TE Derek Fine (hand)


DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB John DiGiorgio (back), WR Roscoe Parrish (ribs)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
TE Matt Murphy (shoulder)

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
C Brad Meester (biceps)


DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DT John Henderson (not injury related), DT Derek Landri (quadricep), WR Troy Williamson (thigh)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
G Uche Nwaneri (knee), WR Jerry Porter (hamstring), CB Scott Starks (pectoral)



CHICAGO BEARS at CAROLINA PANTHERS

CHICAGO BEARS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
T Chris Williams (back)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Lance Briggs (ankle), DT Tommie Harris (ankle), KR Devin Hester (foot), T John Tait (groin), CB Nathan Vasher (shoulder)

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Na'il Diggs (shoulder), QB Matt Moore (fibula), TE Dante Rosario (foot), T Travelle Wharton (knee)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB Chris Gamble (knee), WR Ryne Robinson (knee)



GREEN BAY PACKERS at DETROIT LIONS

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
G Josh Sitton (knee)


DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
RB Brandon Jackson (concussion), C Scott Wells (back), CB Charles Woodson (toe)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Atari Bigby (bicep), T Chad Clifton (knees), DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee), RB Ryan Grant (hamstring), WR Ruvell Martin (finger)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR James Jones (knee), S Charlie Peprah (hamstring)

DETROIT LIONS

Practice Report

LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Paris Lenon (knee), LB Ernie Sims (ankle), QB Drew Stanton (right thumb)



INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
TE Dallas Clark (knee), DE Dwight Freeney (not injury related), WR Roy Hall (knee), DT Ed Johnson (not injury related), G Mike Pollak (knee)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB Kelvin Hayden (hamstring), DT Daniel Muir (knee), TE Jacob Tamme (ankle)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
C Jeff Saturday (knee)

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Madieu Williams (neck)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
G Artis Hicks (elbow), RB Maurice Hicks (foot)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
QB Tarvaris Jackson (knee)



MIAMI DOLPHINS at ARIZONA CARDINALS

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Practice Report
Wednesday No injuries to report

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
TE Jerame Tuman (hamstring)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DT Alan Branch (ankle), DT Gabe Watson (knee)



NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at NEW YORK JETS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Sam Aiken (knee), TE Benjamin Watson (knee)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Jabar Gaffney (knee), WR Randy Moss (back)

NEW YORK JETS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
WR David Clowney (shoulder), K Mike Nugent (right thigh)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
CB David Barrett (shoulder), WR Laveranues Coles (thigh), DE Shaun Ellis (hand), WR Marcus Henry (calf), CB Justin Miller (foot)



NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at WASHINGTON REDSKINS

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Marques Colston (thumb), LB Scott Fujita (knee), CB Randall Gay (illness), S Roman Harper (hamstring), DT Antwan Lake (groin)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Troy Evans (ankle), RB Deuce McAllister (knee), CB Mike McKenzie (knee), LB Mark Simoneau (back), RB Aaron Stecker (hamstring), DT Brian Young (knee)

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Khary Campbell (thigh), TE Chris Cooley (quadricep), LB Marcus Washington (hamstring)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Kareem Moore (hamstring), CB Fred Smoot (hip)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Malcolm Kelly (knee), CB Shawn Springs (calf), LB/DE Jason Taylor (knee)



NEW YORK GIANTS at ST. LOUIS RAMS

NEW YORK GIANTS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Mathias Kiwanuka (ankle), CB Terrell Thomas (hamstring), K Lawrence Tynes (left knee)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Jonathan Goff (back)

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
G Jacob Bell (hamstring), WR Drew Bennett (foot), P Donnie Jones (right knee), DE Leonard Little (hamstring)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Donnie Avery (knee), RB Travis Minor (thigh)



OAKLAND RAIDERS at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

OAKLAND RAIDERS

Practice Report
Wednesday Practice not complete

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Practice Report

OUT (DEFINITELY WILL NOT PLAY)

Wednesday
QB Brodie Croyle (right shoulder)


DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Napoleon Harris (knee), S Jarrad Page (back)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR William Franklin (knee)



SAN DIEGO CHARGERS at DENVER BRONCOS

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Practice Report

Wednesday
Practice not complete



DENVER BRONCOS



Practice Report


Wednesday
Practice not complete



SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
C Eric Heitmann (shoulder), CB Donald Strickland (knee)



SEATTLE SEAHAWKS



Practice Report


Wednesday
Practice not complete



TENNESSEE TITANS at CINCINNATI BENGALS

TENNESSEE TITANS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Jacob Ford (chest), RB Quinton Ganther (hamstring), DT Albert Haynesworth (concussion), QB Vince Young (knee, hamstring)

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
C Kyle Cook (illness), S Dexter Jackson (thumb), CB David Jones (head), S Herana-Daze Jones (hamstring), DE Frostee Rucker (foot)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
LB Brandon Johnson (hamstring), CB Johnathan Joseph (hamstring), S Nedu Ndukwe (knee), DT Jason Shirley (heel), DT Pat Sims (toe)



PITTSBURGH STEELERS at CLEVELAND BROWNS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
QB Ben Roethlisberger (right shoulder), T Marvel Smith (groin), CB Deshea Townsend (foot), WR Hines Ward (not injury related)

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Sean Jones (knee), TE Martin Rucker (knee), WR Donte' Stallworth (quadricep)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Joshua Cribbs (ankle), LB Kris Griffin (elbow), G Rex Hadnot (knee), S Brodney Pool (concussion), T Ryan Tucker (hip)



PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at DALLAS COWBOYS on Monday night

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Practice Report (The Eagles did not practice on Wednesday. The below practice participation designations are an estimation)

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
DE Victor Abiamiri (wrist), WR Reggie Brown (hamstring), WR Kevin Curtis (hernia)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
S Sean Considine (hand)

DALLAS COWBOYS

Practice Report

DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Sam Hurd (ankle), G Kyle Kosier (foot)


LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
WR Miles Austin (knee), CB Terence Newman (groin), LB Anthony Spencer (knee)


FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE

Wednesday
RB Marion Barber (rib), WR Isaiah Stanback (shoulder)


Related Links: PDF Version

49ers Disorganization Injured QB Alex Smith

After four new offensive coordinators in each year of his short NFL career, former Utah and now San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Alex Smith has been place on injured reserve after injuring his shoulder in practice last Friday.  Once a player goes on IR, he can't be taken off until the next season, so that closes the 2008 campaign for Smith.

I was there in 2005 when Smith was drafted amid some controversy by the 49ers, who were trying to decide between Smith and California Quaterback Aaron Rogers, who's now the starter for Green Bay after being there first round pick, 21 positions behind Smith that year.  The talk was that Rogers was not 22 positions worse than Smith, but his equal.  It just depended on what system each signal-caller was in.

Smith never got settled with a single offensive approach, and last year was terrible.  The 49ers insisted on using a kind of deep passing game that called for fast retreats by the offensive line and seven step drops.  The result was a sacked and battered Smith.  The 49ers have continued this approach with the hiring of former Rams Head Coach Mike Martz as offensive coordinator.  The results have been the same; the 49ers QB was sacked three times in the first game against the Arizona Cardinals, last Sunday.

Fortunately that person was not Smith, but J.T. O'Sullivan, who the 49ers brought over from the Detroit Lions because he was familar with Martz and the system he was going to install.  That seemed to spell curtains for Smith even before the injury.

The only question is will the Gold and Scarlet keep Smith next year.  Time and performance this year will tell. My early bet is that 49ers Head Coach Mike Nolan will not be back past this year and Smith will have to deal with the whims of yet another groups of coaches.

Is Bristol Palin's Child's Real Father Black?

 Last week, I uncovered a video where "Kevin" claimed to be the real father of the child Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol Palin is carrying and that the World has been led to believe was the result of the "involvement" of Levi Johnston, Bristol's boyfriend. In my blog post here:

http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/2008/09/kevin-on-youtube-video-claims-to-be.html 

I expressed some credibility concerns. But Kevin just sent this note which caused me to reopen this matter and -- as Anderson Cooper would say -- did deeper:

Re: If this is true, then contact me.

Re: If this is true, then contact me.

i have yet to respond to any press at this point. my intentions are not to slander bristol name or mrs palins, john mccain's, or borack obama's campaign.

as you can imagine i have gotten a over whelming response by press, young kids, politicians, racist, and youtubers alike. i am ready for this to all be over!

i made and posted the video's to spark a small interest in the media, forcing this to be a situation the palins would have to deal with. but it is growing out of control, and they have yet to respond. for this reason i am now ready to do press.

i have received the obvious questions such as:

do you have pictures, text messages, phone bills, etc..?

how does the time line match up/ when did you sleep with her?

how can you prove this?

etc...

these are all reasonable questions giving the a ligation.

i have not responded to any of these questions as of yet. but after searching threw old bills, and photos from my trip i have finally found healthy evidence of our relationship. if i do not have a response from the palins after this released ultimatum i will be exposing this to the public thurday sept 11th via youtube.

also....i have have a lot of people asking me if this is a publicity stunt to promote my music. i can understand the logic behind that theory....however...i was a musician before bristol and i will continue my career during and after this ordeal. i express a lot of my emotions threw my music. "Thats Where Ill Be" (posted on youtube titled Father of bristol palins baby speaks pt.2) is a song that a poured the emotion of this situation into. it completely and vividly explains the story of bristol and i.

finally, i will only be doing a limited amount of press with only media outlets with the most respect for the situation. and who will properly promote it and help to get it to the masses where the proper message will be conveyed... which is "you should do what is morally correct no matter your political status. i am standing up for moral standard, and moral value"

i will be taking interviews sept 10 via telephone. if you want an interview please leave your number/email address and i will respond as soon as possible to let you know what time in the day is best to make it happen.

stipulations:

there are questions i will not answer in order to protect innocent people, and images of public figures. i agree with obama when he says "peoples family's are off limits". with that said i will only do the most straight forward answers and will abruptly let you know when you ask a question i feel is out of line. the interview will end ,with me hanging up and refusing further contact, if that conduct persist within the interview.

if you are looking for a printed statement please use this message as my approved statement to the public and the press.

feel free to use the video at your disposal. i hope that is will be shown in the proper light.

thanks you for your time

-kevin

Watch the video. If this is true, it could have a devistating impact on Governor Palin's credibility, and that's just for starters.

Obama & McCain on taxes and the economy.

Will Obama or McCain's proposal tax home sales more? What about capital gains? With “both John McCain and Barack Obama offering tax cuts,” according to the Christian Science Monitor, “the 2008 election promises a boost for the typical family budget” regardless. But the myths require debunking - smears circulate in email misrepresenting the differences - sometimes deliberately. Facts help...

"New Tax" Falsehoods: One e-mail in particular contains a string of made-up taxes that it falsely claims Obama has proposed. He has not proposed a tax on new homes with more than 2,400 square feet, or a new gasoline tax or a tax on retirement accounts. The most laughably false claim is that Obama would tax "water." But it's out there, and in covering it the media echoes it... Want more facts?

• Capital Gains Rate: It's untrue that Obama is proposing a 28 percent capital gains tax rate. He said in an interview on CNBC that he favors raising the top rate on capital gains from its present 15 percent to 20 percent or more, but no higher than 28 percent. And as for a 28 percent rate, he added, "my guess would be it would be significantly lower than that."
• Tax on Dividends: Another false claim is that Obama proposes to raise the tax rate on dividends to 39.6 percent. Dividends currently are taxed at a top rate of 15 percent, and Obama would raise that to the same rate as he would tax capital gains, somewhere between 20 percent and 28 percent but likely "significantly" lower than 28 percent. This higher tax also would fall only on couples making $250,000 or more or singles making more than $200,000.
• Taxing IRAs and 529s: Contrary to email rumors, raising tax rates on capital gains or dividends would not result in higher taxes on any investments held in Individual Retirement Accounts or in popular, tax-deferred "college funds" under section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. The whole point of such tax-deferred plans is that dividends and capital gains are allowed to accumulate and compound tax-free, and neither Obama nor McCain proposes to change that. And as previously mentioned, any capital gains or dividend income from stocks, bonds or mutual funds owned outside of tax-deferred accounts would continue to be taxed at current rates except for couples making over $250,000, or singles making more than $200,000
• Doubled Taxes? The claim that "Under Obama your taxes will more than double!" is also false. Do you really need to ask? The comparative rate tables one e-mail smear provides for McCain and Obama are entirely wrong, as explained in a March 13 article about another false e-mail (from which the tables are copied.) It is supposedly a comparison of tax rates before and after the Bush tax cuts, but it grossly overstates the effect of the Bush cuts. Obama actually proposes to retain the Bush cuts for every single income level shown in the bogus table.
• Estate Tax. The claim that Obama proposes to "restore the inheritance tax" is also false, as are the claims that McCain would impose zero tax and that Bush "repealed" it. McCain and Obama both would retain a reduced version of the estate tax, as it is correctly called, though McCain would reduce it by more.
  
  The tax now falls only on estates valued at more than $2 million (effectively $4 million for couples able to set up the required legal and financial arrangements). It reaches a maximum rate of 45 percent on amounts more than that. It was not repealed, but it is set to expire temporarily in 2010, then return in 2011, when it would apply to estates valued at more than $1 million ($2 million for couples), with the maximum rate rising to 55 percent.
  
  Obama has proposed to apply the tax only to estates valued at more than $3.5 million ($7 million for couples), holding the maximum rate at 45 percent. McCain would apply it to estates worth more than $5 million ($10 million for couples), with a maximum rate of 15 percent. I wonder how that difference relates to the assessed value, or anticipated selling price, of the best of the McCain homes...

Why all the misinformation?

Some of it's based on simple confusion. After all, Obama's not prone to cute sound-bites such as "Read my lips: No new taxes." Some of the emails circulating, however, are so consistently mis-representing the facts - facts that are easy to verify - that one can only conclude a deliberately malicious intent to strike fear in the wallets of middle class voters is behind the lies.

In an ideal setting voters would all have access to reliable, current, accurate information sources. They'd also take the time to examine that information, no matter if it was Obama's stand on taxes, McCain's statements about taxes or his speeches on why health care doesn't need the fixes Obama's proposed, or rookie Governor Palin's changing stand on the pork barrel "Bridge to Nowhere." In practice, time is short, and rumors often get as much (if not more) coverage as facts on the evening TV news or in newspapers. Futhermore it's often hard to tell which part of a story is the truth. The media producers have motives that must be examined, particularly those who profit from selling commercials since they obviously desire to make a profit. When in doubt, follow the money.

Who profits from the election of McCain or Obama -- or your mayor?

Who profits from voters feeling disenfranchised and tuning out?

The airwaves are as full of misinformation - willfully employed - as the email is. Are you ready to step up and be an Agent of change, to contribute to help spread the truth?

read more: Capital gains and taxing home sales | digg story

Wayne Berman, Top McCain Fundraiser, Also Lobbyist For Big Oil

Wayne Berman's a key fundraiser for the presidential campaign of Senator John McCain and a member of the government relations staff of Oglivy, a PR firm with a Washington office. 

Berman's a prime example of why people say that McCain's in the pocket of Big Oil.  Wayne Berman's serving as a lobbyist for Chevron in their legal battle against the country of Ecuador.

Berman has taken the incredible step of trying to get the Bush Administration to take special trade preferences away from Ecuador if that country doesn't drop its billion dollar lawsuit against Chevron.

I can personally save Wayne Berman the trouble by telling him Chevron's not at fault to anywhere near the levels charged by Ecuador.  But the other side of this story has nothing to do with Chevron and everything to do with Wayne Berman's key involvement in McCain's campaign. 

With ties like Wayne Berman, it's impossible for McCain to claim he's not a friend of Big Oil.

Petroecuador Employees Fight Over Occidential Petroleum's Left Over Luxury Cars

If one needs any evidence of how divided Ecuador's class culture really is, and of how this still-poor country (even with its oil industry) has so little that its citizens scrap for everything, we have this report of Petroecuador employees actually coming to blows over luxury cars left behind after the state forced that American oil company out of the country.


Now, the resulting "wake" has improved the oil sector, if not the messy politics that defines it in this country. Now, Petroecuador controls 50 percent of all oil export production in Ecuador. And while Occidental has approached the Bush Administration for help in re-acquiring the assets seized by Ecuador, the nation's representatives are taking a hard line stance, not allowing a "an arrogant, portentous transnational that doesn’t respect Ecuadoran laws to harm our country,” according to Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa.  

Sen. Joe Biden Rips Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin in Landhorne, PA

Barack Obama picked not only the most experienced person in the Senate to be his running mate, but perhaps the most passionate one as well. In this campaign stop at Landhorne, PA, Biden reminded all Americans of the problems we've faced over the last eight years of the Bush Administration: lost jobs and a lost self-esteem.

RACIST COLLEGE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT ADAM LADUCA STEPS DOWN - CALLED KING A FRAUD

You know, the more I see stories like this, the less faith I have in America.  What bothers me about this story of Adam LaDuca is that he's 21 years old and so this racist view is a reflection of his parents.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The leader of a statewide group of college Republicans has been forced to resign after posting racially insensitive comments about Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on the Internet.

Adam LaDuca, 21, the former executive director of the Pennsylvania Federation of College Republicans, wrote on his Facebook page in late July that Obama has "a pair of lips so large he could float half of Cuba to the shores of Miami (and probably would.)"

LaDuca, who previously had called Martin Luther King Jr. a "pariah" and a "fraud," also wrote: "And man, if sayin' someone has large lips is a racial slur, then we're ALL in trouble."

The College Republicans asked LaDuca to resign after his remarks were publicized by the Pennsylvania Progressive, a blog written by a Democratic committeeman from Berks County. The group announced LaDuca's resignation on its Web site Friday.

Palin Charged Rape Victims For Tests As Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska

Palin Charged Rape Victims For Tests As Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska

This Frontiersman article written while Alaska Governor Sarah Palin was Mayor of Wasilla has to be read to be believed:

Published on Monday, May 22, 2000 9:00 PM 

ANCHORAGE - Gov. Tony Knowles recently signed legislation protecting victims of sexual assault from being billed for tests to collect evidence of the crime, but one local police chief said the new law will further burden taxpayers.

The governor signed House Bill 270, sponsored by Rep. Eric Croft, D-Anchorage, outside the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) exam room at Alaska Regional Hospital. In attendance at the signing were members of victims advocate groups, law enforcement agencies and legislators.

The new law makes it illegal for any law enforcement agency to bill victims or victims insurance companies for the costs of examinations that take place to collect evidence of a sexual assault or determine if a sexual assault did occur.

We would never bill the victim of a burglary for fingerprinting and photographing the crime scene, or for the cost of gathering other evidence, Knowles said. Nor should we bill rape victims just because the crime scene happens to be their bodies.

While the Alaska State Troopers and most municipal police agencies have covered the cost of exams, which cost between $300 to $1,200 apiece, the Wasilla police department does charge the victims of sexual assault for the tests

Wasilla Police Chief Charlie Fannon does not agree with the new legislation, saying the law will require the city and communities to come up with more funds to cover the costs of the forensic exams.

In the past weve charged the cost of exams to the victims insurance company when possible. I just dont want to see any more burden put on the taxpayer, Fannon said.

According to Fannon, the new law will cost the Wasilla Police Department approximately $5,000 to $14,000 a year to collect evidence for sexual assault cases.

Ultimately it is the criminal who should bear the burden of the added costs, Fannon said.

The forensic exam is just one part of the equation. Id like to see the courts make these people pay restitution for these things, Fannon said.

Fannon said he intends to include the cost of exams required to collect evidence in a restitution request as a part of a criminals sentencing.

Palmer police chief Laren Zager said that to his knowledge, no sexual assault victim has ever been billed by the city of Palmer for an exam to collect evidence of a crime. Zager, who has been police chief since January, said he would never expect a victim to be burdened with the cost of a police investigation.

Im prepared to pay every dime in an investigation. As long as I am chief, I would never bill a victim, Zager said.

The new bill would also make law enforcement agencies that are investigating a sexual assault responsible for the costs of testing victims for sexually transmitted diseases and emergency contraception.

Gov. Palin Requested Almost $1 BILLION in Earmarks: AP - No Kidding

Folks, the lies and tall tales told by Alaska Governor and GOP VP Candidate Sarah Palin have grown bigger and bigger.  But this one's huge.  And I mean to the tune of nearly one billion dollars.

According to the Associated Press, Palin has requested $750 million in earmarks during her short terms as Alaska's Governor.  For just 670,000 people in that state, that comes to $1,119 for each Alaska Resident.

Earlier, I looked at this from a "per-day" perspective and came to the number of $853,623 per day.  But that was with just $576 million in requests.  This AP-estimate brings that number to $1,875,000 per day.

That's almost $2 million per day.

 In addition to this news, the Washington Post charges that Palin used state money simply for nights spent at home.  I suspect that money went to the care and feeding of her four kids and I don't write that to be funny at all.  The question is, is a $125,000 salary enough for a family of that size?  Remember, her husband does not work, so Palin's money is the only one coming in to the house.  

That's crazy.  The only question is will Fox News report this fact?