Interesting take on Obamas

[mikein 0]

By Thomas Sowell

Published: 10-06-08

 

 

Abraham Lincoln said, "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time."

 

Unfortunately, the future of this country, as well as the fate of the Western world, depends on how many people can be fooled on election day, just a few weeks from now.

 

Right now, the polls indicate that a whole lot of the people are being fooled a whole lot of the time.

 

The current financial bailout crisis has propelled Barack Obama back into a substantial lead over John McCain-- which is astonishing in view of which man and which party has had the most to do with bringing on this crisis.

 

It raises the question: Do facts matter? Or is Obama's rhetoric and the media's spin enough to make facts irrelevant?

 

Fact Number One: It was liberal Democrats, led by Senator Christopher Dodd and Congressman Barney Frank, who for years-- including the present year-- denied that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were taking big risks that could lead to a financial crisis.

 

It was Senator Dodd, Congressman Frank and other liberal Democrats who for years refused requests from the Bush administration to set up an agency to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

 

It was liberal Democrats, again led by Dodd and Frank, who for years pushed for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to go even further in promoting subprime mortgage loans, which are at the heart of today's financial crisis.

 

Alan Greenspan warned them four years ago. So did the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers to the President. So did Bush's Secretary of the Treasury, five years ago.

 

Yet, today, what are we hearing? That it was the Bush administration "right-wing ideology" of "de-regulation" that set the stage for the financial crisis. Do facts matter?

 

We also hear that it is the free market that is to blame. But the facts show that it was the government that pressured financial institutions in general to lend to subprime borrowers, with such things as the Community Reinvestment Act and, later, threats of legal action by then Attorney General Janet Reno if the feds did not like the statistics on who was getting loans and who wasn't.

 

Is that the free market? Or do facts not matter?

 

Then there is the question of being against the "greed" of CEOs and for "the people." Franklin Raines made $90 million while he was head of Fannie Mae and mismanaging that institution into crisis.

 

Who in Congress defended Franklin Raines? Liberal Democrats, including Maxine Waters and the Congressional Black Caucus, at least one of whom referred to the "lynching" of Raines, as if it was racist to hold him to the same standard as white CEOs.

 

Even after he was deposed as head of Fannie Mae, Franklin Raines was consulted this year by the Obama campaign for his advice on housing!

 

The Washington Post criticized the McCain campaign for calling Raines an adviser to Obama, even though that fact was reported in the Washington Post itself on July 16th. The technicality and the spin here is that Raines is not officially listed as an adviser. But someone who advises is an adviser, whether or not his name appears on a letterhead.

 

The tie between Barack Obama and Franklin Raines is not all one-way. Obama has been the second-largest recipient of Fannie Mae's financial contributions, right after Senator Christopher Dodd.

 

But ties between Obama and Raines? Not if you read the mainstream media.

 

Facts don't matter much politically if they are not reported.

 

The media alone are not alone in keeping the facts from the public. Republicans, for reasons unknown, don't seem to know what it is to counter-attack. They deserve to lose.

 

But the country does not deserve to be put in the hands of a glib and cocky know-it-all, who has accomplished absolutely nothing beyond the advancement of his own career with rhetoric, and who has for years allied himself with a succession of people who have openly expressed their hatred of America.

 

Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute and author of Basic Economics: A Citizen's Guide to the Economy.

[elvis christ 451]

Facts about Obama are inconsequential, and anything about Obama ending in a question mark is racist, unless it's something like "Can Barack Obama be anymore perfect?"

[saigaboy 0]

We live is scary times.

 

The American public is looking to the government to fix ALL of its problems, not free market capitalism or personal responsibility.

 

This is not the American attitude that made itself great.

 

If we are not careful we will get what many currently wish in the Left with Obama as it leader, nationalized/socialized financial and medical systems.

 

I personally can't remember much that the government has done better or more efficiently than the free market. One only needs to look at such fine programs as Medicare, Social Security, the VA system, and our IRS for past and current experience.

[Norseman 0]

It all comes down to the TV, the government wants to keep us fat and happy. We get home from a hard days work at our one, two, or even three jobs. We work just so we can afford the luxuries of gas, food, and heat. We sit down with god forbid a beer or glass of whiskey and waste away some time in front of the box. It relaxes us, makes us feel better. Meanwhile we are bombarded with comercials for all these candidates... Pres, senators, congressmen, etc. The sheeple being the "highly motivated hardworking individuals" that they are, are takin in by the younger more charismatic barry obama, while we the non sheeple listen to the facts, weigh them, and decide who is better. I am not saying that everyone who votes for Obama is stupid it just happens that most of the stupid sheeple would vote for him.

 

I guess when it comes down to it, if we didn't see the candidates, if we only heard them and what there platforms are, would that change alot of peoples votes? I leave you with that.

 

-E

[U.S. Pratorean 1,234]

This is exactly why this POS is going to be elected. Mccain does not have the hollywood scripted moves that barry has and he looks stiff and awkward. That is because he had the shit beat outta him in Hanoi for seven years while barry was in Pakistan smoking dope.(rhetorically speaking). I hope the silent majority can overcome the media free pass this POS is getting. Yeah, Mccain is not the best there is to offer but he is still light-years ahead of barry. It is unconscienable for any US gunownwer to vote for barry. Those that do should turn in their weapons (before they are confiscated) because they are traitors to the cause, hypocrites that say they support the 2nd but really don't care. I am afraid too many ignorant media fed, young people, too many white-guilt assholes and others have fallen for the liberal-democratic steaming pile of horse-shit.

[getitat 609]

Hello

It's not as though Mr. McCain has jumped on his numerous opportunies to ask the hard questions or make the "unpleasant" statements that our (one-time) "news media" might have been expected to. He's pretty much content to just motor along, and let that flap-eared camel-jockey piece of pig shit beat the hell outa him.

Why not ask him about his associations with swindling politicians? Avowed terrorists? Socialists and communists? Where, exactly, was he born, and why is he so elusive about proving it? Who are the foreigners bankrolling his campaign? What are his plans for immigration reform? Gun ownership? Reparations?

 

Anybody heard any of that? Or have I just missed it?

 

Maybe it's time to take the muzzle off the pitbull, err..., I mean, the hockey mom.....

 

guido2 in Houston

[U.S. Pratorean 1,234]

Hello

It's not as though Mr. McCain has jumped on his numerous opportunies to ask the hard questions or make the "unpleasant" statements that our (one-time) "news media" might have been expected to. He's pretty much content to just motor along, and let that flap-eared camel-jockey piece of pig shit beat the hell outa him.

Why not ask him about his associations with swindling politicians? Avowed terrorists? Socialists and communists? Where, exactly, was he born, and why is he so elusive about proving it? Who are the foreigners bankrolling his campaign? What are his plans for immigration reform? Gun ownership? Reparations?

 

Anybody heard any of that? Or have I just missed it?

 

Maybe it's time to take the muzzle off the pitbull, err..., I mean, the hockey mom.....

 

guido2 in Houston

These are the EXACT questions that need to be asked 24/7 but you know they will not be. It will not be allowed in public. Case in point, the 2nd debate. Pure PC, media, mitigated BS. It was a waste of time as will the last debate for the same reasons. The only place barry's past, historical associations and improprieties will be questioned is on the net and on forums like this one, which I gaurantee they are monitoring.

[kg4chm 0]

Hello

It's not as though Mr. McCain has jumped on his numerous opportunies to ask the hard questions or make the "unpleasant" statements that our (one-time) "news media" might have been expected to. He's pretty much content to just motor along, and let that flap-eared camel-jockey piece of pig shit beat the hell outa him.

Why not ask him about his associations with swindling politicians? Avowed terrorists? Socialists and communists? Where, exactly, was he born, and why is he so elusive about proving it? Who are the foreigners bankrolling his campaign? What are his plans for immigration reform? Gun ownership? Reparations?

 

Anybody heard any of that? Or have I just missed it?

 

Maybe it's time to take the muzzle off the pitbull, err..., I mean, the hockey mom.....

 

guido2 in Houston

These are the EXACT questions that need to be asked 24/7 but you know they will not be. It will not be allowed in public. Case in point, the 2nd debate. Pure PC, media, mitigated BS. It was a waste of time as will the last debate for the same reasons. The only place barry's past, historical associations and improprieties will be questioned is on the net and on forums like this one, which I gaurantee they are monitoring.

I agree, its all a bunch of BS. It blows my mind how many people actually think Obama is a good choice. Talk about a snow job........he is good at it......or maybe people really are that stupid.

[jrance@iacwds.com 716]

http://www.obamacrimes.com/

http://www.obamacrimes.com/attachments/029...20Discovery.pdf

http://www.obamacrimes.com/index.php/compo...in-berg-v-obama

[moxie1c 3]

http://www.obamacrimes.com/

http://www.obamacrimes.com/attachments/029...20Discovery.pdf

http://www.obamacrimes.com/index.php/compo...in-berg-v-obama

 

My thoughts exactly. I was going to put that link up for everyone here but you beat me to it. Obaminations don't believe it, just like they don't believe that Ayers is or ever was a threat. I mention Ayers and I hear, "so what!" as a response...

[moxie1c 3]

http://www.obamacrimes.com/

http://www.obamacrimes.com/attachments/029...20Discovery.pdf

http://www.obamacrimes.com/index.php/compo...in-berg-v-obama

 

My thoughts exactly. I was going to put that link up for everyone here but you beat me to it. Obaminations don't believe it, just like they don't believe that Ayers is or ever was a threat. I mention Ayers and I hear, "so what!" as a response...

 

What I think frustrates us on the "right" is that this whole charge could be instantly disproved if TeamBHO simply supplied the documents in question. He could even use it as a club to scream racist to anyone including the "right" that disputed his citizenship. IF and only if the document could do just that.

 

Maybe they are just using it as a card up the sleeve, you know, in case things get tight and they need to use it to their perceived advantage to counter any October surprises that may be out there... like...Ayers, Odinga etc.

Edited October 9, 2008 by moxie1c

[getitat 609]

Hello

What's really disgusting (aside from the whole Hussein clan and posse) is that the Free Press used to be one of the obvious distinctions between us and say, North Korea, or China. It was "We, the People's", "early warning system".

Political stances notwithstanding, the press (media) ought to be strung-up in this Country for derelicting one of the absolute Sacred Duties of a free Republic.

By God, we maybe can't realistically overthrow our Government, but we could damn sure overthrow their "official news fabricators".

And that may be one of the few keys available to "We, the People" to regaining "our" Country back.

 

Determinedly posted,

guido2 in Houston

[uzitiger 193]

Hello

What's really disgusting (aside from the whole Hussein clan and posse) is that the Free Press used to be one of the obvious distinctions between us and say, North Korea, or China. It was "We, the People's", "early warning system".

Political stances notwithstanding, the press (media) ought to be strung-up in this Country for derelicting one of the absolute Sacred Duties of a free Republic.

By God, we maybe can't realistically overthrow our Government, but we could damn sure overthrow their "official news fabricators".

And that may be one of the few keys available to "We, the People" to regaining "our" Country back.

 

Determinedly posted,

guido2 in Houston

 

 

The Hussein Klan and other DemocRATs made millions from people like us while turning our Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stock to useless pieces of paper. I lost about $7.900 from Fannie Mae because of these crooks. Trouble is that they won't go to jail for the robbery they committed. In 1993 the DemocRATs foisted the biggest tax increase in history and put me and thousands others out of work and cost me my home. So much for their claim we don't pay our 'fair share'. What is so fair about losing one's house because of the same vermin putting people out of work?

 

The best way to fight the press is not to buy their newspapers nor watch them on TV. People are boycotting them, just look at all the newspapers going under or laying off people. Serves them right, they helped put people out of work now it's their turn. This proves that there's a G-d in Heaven who gives these rats measure for measure. They out people out of work now it's their turn. I suffered enough layoffs and job losses thanks to them. I normally don't wish anyone to lose their jobs because I know what it's like to lose mine but when someone robs me or causes me to lose mine they get no sympathy from me.

 

Today what used to be the free press is worse than Pravda (truth) or Isvestia during the Soviet Union days.

[bigj480 203]

Hello

What's really disgusting (aside from the whole Hussein clan and posse) is that the Free Press used to be one of the obvious distinctions between us and say, North Korea, or China. It was "We, the People's", "early warning system".

Political stances notwithstanding, the press (media) ought to be strung-up in this Country for derelicting one of the absolute Sacred Duties of a free Republic.

By God, we maybe can't realistically overthrow our Government, but we could damn sure overthrow their "official news fabricators".

And that may be one of the few keys available to "We, the People" to regaining "our" Country back.

 

Determinedly posted,

guido2 in Houston

 

 

The Hussein Klan and other DemocRATs made millions from people like us while turning our Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stock to useless pieces of paper. I lost about $7.900 from Fannie Mae because of these crooks. Trouble is that they won't go to jail for the robbery they committed. In 1993 the DemocRATs foisted the biggest tax increase in history and put me and thousands others out of work and cost me my home. So much for their claim we don't pay our 'fair share'. What is so fair about losing one's house because of the same vermin putting people out of work?

 

The best way to fight the press is not to buy their newspapers nor watch them on TV. People are boycotting them, just look at all the newspapers going under or laying off people. Serves them right, they helped put people out of work now it's their turn. This proves that there's a G-d in Heaven who gives these rats measure for measure. They out people out of work now it's their turn. I suffered enough layoffs and job losses thanks to them. I normally don't wish anyone to lose their jobs because I know what it's like to lose mine but when someone robs me or causes me to lose mine they get no sympathy from me.

 

Today what used to be the free press is worse than Pravda (truth) or Isvestia during the Soviet Union days.

 

That would be the "Obama Clan", his last name makes his nationality as obvious as his middle name does, which is what you are stressing. What's that? Ohhh, you are trying to insinuate that is like Saddam, I get it. It's ignorant and useless, but I get it. I dislike Obama for many reasons, not one of them is his name or ethnicity. Obama is a semi-christian, not a muslim. He is a socialist, not a terrorist, that is bad enough. Divisiveness is not a wining strategy and, if you are trying to get McCain elected, I suggest you start talking about the future instead of hate.

 

As far as your bad luck, sorry to hear about that. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were semi-governmental and that is where the problems started. Any time the government gets involved in the what should be a free market it distorts things. Yes, democrats encouraged and forced Fannie and Freddie to lend to people who didn't qualify. This was bad for investors and borrowers in the long run, but great for investors for a while. Not only did the lenders convince people that they could afford the loans, but they also pushed people into loans that were not the best they could get in order to turn a higher profit. In short, it was a perfect storm with many people to blame,I haven't even mentioned the fed.

 

Now, to make matter worse, Washington has pushed this this $700b bailout plan and $150b of pork down our throats while claiming to be saving us form the problem they caused! The fed is lowering rates AGAIN in an effort to to create false credit availability, another distortion! All of this and the bailout's only effect has been to shift the debt from lenders to taxpayers, we were fucked! This was championed by the two major candidates and our "republican" president! These are the people we want in office? Don't like taxes? Well,shit, they just made more taxes NECESSARY! Not only for us, but our children and their children! The largest deficit in history! Borrowing more money from foreign governments and banks than the previous 42 U.S. presidents combined? This is the new republican party, the best we have to offer? No thanks, McCain. No thanks, Obama. I want real change, not more government or more of the last 8 years. Oh, and I'll keep my liberties, thanks.

Edited October 11, 2008 by bigj480