But if the election stays on the current track, we will be calling Barack Obama President Elect in November..
"Mr. McCain has solid leads in states with 160 electoral votes and is well positioned in states with another 40 electoral votes, according to the Times tally, for a total of 200. Just six states representing 78 electoral votes — Colorado, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Virginia — are tossups.
Mr. Obama appears to have significantly more options to reach the 270 threshold, particularly if Mr. McCain fails to win any states that Democrats won in 2004, like Pennsylvania, where the Republican ticket has been competing especially vigorously
The next month will obviously make or break the campaigns. The perpetual stories on the "October surprise" which .. maybe won't happen this year, who knows? But on the pure level of momentum, the Obama campaign has it. Regardless of your opinion on his candidacy, his marketing campaign has been brilliant. He even has his own coding for iPhones. McCain's team is lagging far behind--just as Obama makes history by advertising on satellite TV.
"Of the four Democratic states where Mr. McCain is competing, his aides said he viewed Pennsylvania — the biggest of them — as offering him the best chance. Mr. Obama lost the Democratic primary there to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton."
I just don't see that. I'm from Pennsylvania, too, but I think Obama is safe for Obama..
"That is not a fanciful battle: There are plausible outcomes that would leave the two men with a 269-269 electoral vote tie, forcing the election into the House of Representatives"
As someone who watches too much news on TV, I hope for the 269 to 269 vote. Living history. It would be fun..
The Schmuck of the week: The Drunken Cow Sent to Jail
AP Photo/Middletown Ohio Police department via Dayton Daily News Michelle Allen, 32, was arrested in Ohio for disorderly conduct, which included public urination, chasing children while drunk while wearing a cow suit, and in her rampage screaming obscenities..
She was a theme park employee, which explains the suit. And she wasn't wearing anything under her cow suit, and was forced to wear the suit for her prison mugshot.
And reports (really, I'm not making this up) from the jailhouse: While she was sobering up before her court appearance, she was yelling "suck my udders"..
I have to say I feel bad for Allen a little bit. While I never dressed as a cow and yelled for people to suck my udders, I probably did stupid or weird things when I was drunk.
Even more, Michelle Allen now has this on her record--a now very public record. The story has made it around the world due to the odd nature of the situation. A woman dressed as a cow, urinating in public..
A sad schmuck of the week.
But what I want to know, when she was urinating, was there an opening somewhere? Or did it just flow out of an udder?
"But McCain is in as bad or worse shape in other battleground states. Barring a dramatic change, he is on course to lose Iowa and New Mexico, both states barely won by President Bush four years ago in his narrow victory over Democrat John F. Kerry. And he and the Republican National Committee this week began pouring money into Indiana and North Carolina, reliably Republican states where the Obama campaign has made strong advances and polls indicate the candidates are roughly tied"
Perhaps it's best to do this: Don't eat frozen chicken dinners. That way you can avoid the chemicals, the sodium, and the possibility that your nicely breaded food will be raw. At least if you make it yourself you'll know when it's done.. Right?
Jurors deliberated for 13 hours before the verdict .. Simpson's co-defendant, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, also was found guilty on all charges and taken into custody. Simpson's lawyers are going to appeal the verdict..
90-year-old woman botched suicide; she was killing herself over eviction
The story of 90-year-old Addie Polk is making national news after the events of her life turned tragic. .Polk was facing eviction from her Ohio home over her inability to pay her mortgage--so she chose to shoot herself. However, it was a botched suicide attempt, and she is now being treated for her wounds..
News reports said deputies had tried to serve Polk's eviction notice more than 30 times before Wednesday's shooting.
Reaction to the Biden Palin debate has been fully aired on TV, radio, and Internet all day--plus on factory floors and around office water coolers across America.
Judging from ratings of the event, lots of people got the chance to talk about the debate today. Record setting. The overall rating of BidenPalin: 45.0, which means 45% of all TV households in the country tuned in.
The Neilsons off the charts; 69,989,000 viewers. The most viewed since the PerotBushClinton debate in 1992. The biggest vice presidential debate--of all time. And higher ratings than Obama vs McCain.. Today, the Barracuda from Wasilla has taken the fight against the media--perhaps McCain's last best hope to energize the base .. a base smaller this year as target markets have been registered to vote in record masses by the Obama campaign..
The TRUMAN SHOW was one of my favorite films of all time. During the final scene, when Truman leaves the fake world, two security guards watching on TV ask 'what else is on?' Perhaps Wall Street can understand that anxiety..
You can't please all of the people all of the time. But I guess.. you can fool them?
Wall Street plundered on Monday over 700 points when the United States House of Representatives said 'no' to the $700 billion dollar bailout bill.
Yesterday, when the Senate approved a new improved version, the Dow went down over fears that the House may not pass the bill.
Today, the DOW went DOWN against 150 points--after the HOUSE PASSED THE BAILOUT BILL that Wall Street and banks and businesses sought for!
Wall Street, according to the money experts on TV (the same ones that told us Wall Street desperately needs the bailout, and so did America for its very survival), went down today after the positive news on the $700 bil bailout because of unemployment news: it wasn't good. Employers slashed jobs, but the unemployment rate officially remained at 6.1%.
Grab some popcorn, pick your network, grab a beer, and get ready for what may be one of the most highly rated events on TV: Sarah Palin goes head to head with Joe Biden in a vice presidential grudge match..
Polls have slumped for McCain--some even have Obama with a 10 to 15 point advantage in some swing states.
The McCain campaign has pulled millions of dollars of campaign cash from Michigan.. Some advisors apparently not considering the state lost to Barack Obama.
Can Palin change it all tonight? Can women fall back in love with her stilettos, her miniskirt, her glasses, her hair? Can "Joe Sixpack" (God I hate when people use this term) fall back in love with her for her concern for his well being?
Can Biden tread his fine line between anger and comedy?
Can MSNBC, FOX NEWS, and CNN start acting unbiased?
Answers to at least some of these questions coming tonight..
I had major problems with the Jesus Camps for Bush in 2004.. I have major problems with the bandwagon philosophy.. A people as a whole can, and have, do some bad things when they jump on the bandwagon--even when intentions start out as noble. Which is the exact reason the kids below scared me:
Does anyone else have a problem with this? Kids singing to Obama as opposed to America?
Nothing against Barack.. But believe me, I would have the same trouble with this type of a video if it was for McCain..
This country should not--though it sometimes does--idolize the presidents or leaders that lead it! Instead, it should always proudly wave the flag due to the fact that the Constitution of the United States has set up a system of government that is flawed but still the best in the world.. America should stand up tall for this country.. and not act like Obama is the new king of the world..
I don't care who you're voting for this year.. I don't care who you voted for in past years.. I think this video creeps me out for a number of reasons, and I think we're in a wonderful odd year. I'm enjoying it all, but when I see kids being used in this way, it reminds me a bit of a totalitarian dictatorship. And if they're at the inauguration (presumably if Obama wins) I will be even more fearful..
I find no virtue in worshiping a mortal. He or she is imperfect..
And when that mere mortal gets into office and does the same things that those mere mortals did in the past, where will it leave the kids singing their march for hope song? Will they still bang their drums for Obama? Will they still belt out "yes we can!" ... maybe, if the government makes them.
Everyone needs to chill out a bit. Obama is not God.
Another day on the stock market--this time it was up. While it didn't make $1.2 trillion with a T back that it lost yesterday during it's mini-belch of a crash, it did make back some cool cash for some edgy Wall Street traders that most likely couldn't get enough of the gin and tonics last night at dark Manhattan bars..
All the news unfit to print for Monday, September 29, 2008
And tonight, as America goes to sleep....
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque TONIGHT: A LONELY PRESIDENT.. IN A QUIET WHITE HOUSE.. IN THE AUTUMN.. WATCHES THE ECONOMY FLOUNDER.. AND WONDERS HOW HE LOST THE FAITH
The POLITICO reported earlier today that Obama's speech was prepared before the bill was voted no.. he heralded the "yea" vote. Almost a Dewey Defeats Truman moment..
Suze Orman fears the worst--and makes her rounds. .She appeared tonight on CNN's SITUATION ROOM, CNBC's WALL STREET CRISIS special, Larry King Live, and ANDERSON 360..
SUMMARY OF THE EMERGENCY ECONOMIC STABILIZATION ACT OF 2008 I. Stabilizing the Economy The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) provides up to $700 billion to the Secretary of the Treasury to buy mortgages and other assets that are clogging the balance sheets of financial institutions and making it difficult for working families, small businesses, and other companies to access credit, which is vital to a strong and stable economy. EESA also establishes a program that would allow companies to insure their troubled assets. II. Homeownership Preservation EESA requires the Treasury to modify troubled loans – many the result of predatory lending practices – wherever possible to help American families keep their homes. It also directs other federal agencies to modify loans that they own or control. Finally, it improves the HOPE for omeowners program by expanding eligibility and increasing the tools available to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help more families keep their homes. III. Taxpayer Protection Taxpayers should not be expected to pay for Wall Street's mistakes. The legislation requires companies that sell some of their bad assets to the government to provide warrants so that taxpayers will benefit from any future growth these companies may experience as a result of participation in this program. The legislation also requires the President to submit legislation that would cover any losses to taxpayers resulting from this program from financial institutions. IV. No Windfalls for Executives Executives who made bad decisions should not be allowed to dump their bad assets on the government, and then walk away with millions of dollars in bonuses. In order to participate in this program, companies will lose certain tax benefits and, in some cases, must limit executive pay. In addition, the bill limits "golden parachutes" and requires that unearned bonuses be returned. V. Strong Oversight Rather than giving the Treasury all the funds at once, the legislation gives the Treasury $250 billion immediately, then requires the President to certify that additional funds are needed $100 billion, then $350 billion subject to Congressional disapproval). The Treasury must report on the use of the funds and the progress in addressing the crisis. EESA also establishes an oversight Board so that the Treasury cannot act in an arbitrary manner. It also establishes a special inspector general to protect against waste, fraud and abuse
The Bush Administration announced tonight that President George W. Bush will make a public statement tomorrow morning at 7:35 AM before the nation's Stock Exchange opens for business..
Republicans in the House have expressed ongoing concerns over the bailout package -- there is now a chance that the bailout bill may not pass in bi-partisan fashion.. Nancy Pelosi may have to push the bill through with Democrats leading the way, something that she didn't want to do..
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In the early morning hours, Congress and Treasury Secretary Paulson heroically walked to the press and announced that there has been a constructive and tentative agreement made that all can swallow and the White House could like. Aides stayed up all night writing up the plans, printing the plans, and getting the copies ready for consumption by lawmakers and media..
The breakthrough bailout bill will reportedly do a few things: Treasury will be permitted to purchase $700 billion in bad debt.. the bill will include pay limits for executives.. And Congress will make efforts to prevent home foreclosures. According to the New York TIMES this morning, "In some cases, the government would receive an equity stake in companies that seek aid, allowing taxpayers to profit should the rescue plan work and the private firms flourish in the months and years ahead."
The plan still has to be voted on by Congress, though it appears through the leaders' words that passage is presumable.
But when it does pass, the next obvious act will be to watch the results. Will the markets stabilize or will they continue to fall apart? Will more banks fail? Will more people be able to pay mortgages, or just the opposite?
The risky gamble of $700 billion seems to be upon us. And if Congress votes yes (which it looks like they very well may) the results on the economy will be closely watched..
While watching Saturday Night Live last night, desperately interested on whether those Palin cameo rumors would turn out to be true (they didn't), I flipped to the news stations and saw a live 12:30am press conference with Congressional leaders and Secretary Henry Paulson.. They saved us. They came up with a negotiated deal before the market self destruction--one that everyone said was sure to take place.. More on all this in a bit. But first today, the Sunday Morning Sidewalk is lined with links from around the world.. Good, bad, and ugly. It's raining over Schmuckraker home base today. My hope is that your Sunday sidewalk is dry and sunny..
Tina Fey was back on SNL last night for her Palin impression, though Palin didn't make cameo that was rumored. Fey's two appearances this season have been the shining moments of the show.. Perhaps Seth Meyers is going through normal growth as head writer.. no word on whether Al Franken helped with any skits..
The big shift has occurred.. all else this year doesn't matter, no Palin, not the conventions.. Only now the debates and the whatever October surprise may be coming.
O.J. Simpson has been found guilty .. convicted on a dozen charges in relation to the theft of sports memorabilia from a Los Vegas hotel last year.
Grab some popcorn, pick your network, grab a beer, and get ready for what may be one of the most highly rated events on TV: Sarah Palin goes head to head with Joe Biden in a vice presidential grudge match..
Another day on the stock market--this time it was up. While it didn't make $1.2 trillion with a T back that it lost yesterday during it's mini-belch of a crash, it did make back some cool cash for some edgy Wall Street traders that most likely couldn't get enough of the gin and tonics last night at dark Manhattan bars..
While watching Saturday Night Live last night, desperately interested on whether 
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