I absolutely agree with you Mr. Thompson. My long time association with the GOP is embarrassaing! I bought the whole "limited government" agenda believing that the Republicans were the party of honest and great men. Gingrich often used the words of the founders in his classes and speeches. I borrowed the video tapes of his lectures in the 80's and it renewed my faith in the GOP.

The Party lost its glow during the Clinton impeachment and it all came away as a dirty witch hunt. In my world, the GOP sank below the horizon of integrity. If anyone had a continuing respect for the GOP, it should be erased by now.

Your words ring true and should inspire your readers to clean up and promote a third party based on truth and honesty. But, would the American voters even want it?

Malcolm

You're right that there are uncertainties about Obama. But at this point, it seems to me that those uncertainties are far outweighed by the ominous certainties of what a McCain-Palin administration would be like.

Obama may have some weaknesses that might be revealed if he becomes President. But my guess is that he also has some strengths that haven't been fully on display during the campaign. Those strengths could come into play if he becomes President. And I think he has the capacity to grow into the office.

That certainly cannot be said for John McCain, whose behavior is becoming more and more creepy as the campaign progresses -- the obviously simmering anger during the first debate, the "that one" comment at the second debate, the "my fellow prisoners" comment at a campaign stop. Something is going on with the man. As they used to say back home where I grew up, "Bless his heart, he needs to sit down and take it easy for a while."

As for the people who think that voting for a third-party candidate during this election is a legitimate solution, they're letting their high-minded ideals get in the way of common sense. A vote for a third-party candidate is an indirect vote for McCain-Palin. Obama isn't perfect, but neither is the world, and sometimes in order to improve things for everyone, you have to accept a few things that you don't like. That's just the way that it is.

If Obama does win, he's going to have one godawful mess to deal with, but maybe, just maybe, he can steer us through this and at least start putting the ancient culture wars behind us, and maybe things will look a little better after his first term. I certainly can't personally guarantee that Obama will be able to guide us through this. But I'm absolutely convinced that he is much more likely to do it than his opponent.

I do not think any rationally and logically thinking person can support the republicans in this election - or in any other until they find their lost morality and fiscal values again. However, I work with two people who are doing just that. One thinks everyone in Washington needs to get the boot (and I don't disagree with him) and one is all ga-ga about Palin - need I say any more?

So, I have a couple of friends who have read this - Make-Believe Maverick. I haven't read this yet, but my husband says it's a must read.

Doug, for the record, I totally agree with you on this rant. We have two choices, and by process of elimination, McCain is not an option.

Southerner, you are absolutely correct. You and Doug have nailed every legitimate and prevailing reason why not to vote for the Republican Party ticket, starting at the very top. Voting for a Third Party ticket is the worst thing you can do at this point. That would be guaranteeing that the McCain/Palin ticket would 'win', by default to be sure, but win just the same. The Republican Party is on it's way out, it must reform itself, or die. Voting for it's dead head would only give it just enough strength to continue on, muddying the water and further destroying America. Vote every Republican out on Nov.3rd. and I guarantee that you will have a good chance of strengthening a Third Party ticket by 2012. At this time, all you would do is help elect McCain/Palin and throw away a golden opportunity to make the Republican Party a Third Party. Obama may be untried and young, but look what 'experience' and age has gotten us ! It is time for a Change and Obama has the potential of making sure that happens..and for the better. Don't throw your vote away. Otherwise, you will only be assisting the further stealing of another election. You will be adding to the Scrubbing of the voter rolls that is clandestinely being perpetrated as we speak.
Give the Democrats the Majority of at least 61 in the Senate and give Obama at least a fighting chance to clean up the messes that Bush and all the Republicans have caused. Otherwise, the stalemate will continue and the USA will slide even further into a Third World category, here at home and in the eyes of the world. Vote Obama/Biden.

For someone that castigates others for using cutesy nicknames, I would think you would follow your own standards more closely. But it is your Rant.

It's all part of the show, Doug. The big mean Republicans versus the innocent lambs in the "Party of the People".

This election has made emotional wrecks of the majority of Americans. It's time to flush both parties and return this government to the People.

When the race gets personal and crosses the the line, the name Karl Rove comes to mind like a blazing neon sign on a Las Vegas casino.

Is Rove behind all of the sleaziness practiced in the political campaigns of of recent years? No, he is not the first nor will he be the last perpetrator of lies and deception.. but I do believe his success in the rampant use of reprehensible smear tactics, has caused sleaze in politics to thrive and proliferate, to sink the levels being used today. However, this time, I don't think these tactics will get McCain elected...the economic situation we are in too serious and most Americans know it.

FYI: One of the first reasons I had for not trusting the judgement of John McCain, was his hiring Steve Schmidt as his campaign strategist and advisor...the second was his asking Sarah Palin to run as his vice president Schmidt is a protege of Karl Rove) and Palin an inexperienced power hungry loose canon. So..."damned the issues full mud slinging ahead" ENUFF SAID!

Does the average Jane and Joe Doe on the streets really know what is causing our markets to crash? I mean, can you walk up to somebody on the street and ask them to articulate what's happened to our financial institutions in everyday language?

How about the following (and I apologize, I am repeating myself from another posting on Front Page):

Both Dems and Repubs are keenly aware as to why the markets are crashing, but they are not speaking out because they partnered with the financial institutions in every arena. They both sold out this nation for personal gain. They allowed the market place to open up a giant casino for special market institution players only...and when the smoke began to clear...the chips were lost by all of the players. The American public paid for those chips.

McCain and Obama are both screaming about "What" we need to do...but not "How" it needs to be done in any sensible details.

Both know damn well what happened...and they don't want disclosure of the fact that Congress and the Executive Branch allowed legislation for lending institutions to convert debt into securities and then sell, buy, and swap those securities to the point that there is no determinable values...and this will never spill from the politicians' mouths. Our government allowed for every type of loan much like pension funds, IRA, etc., etc. to be traded like a stock or bond, but in a more profound way...it allows debt securities to be bundled and sold in lots that lose their individual note identities.

Then...the massive gambling began by the market place. They were rolling in the dough because securities are, for all practical purposes the same as cash. But all of our collateral that backed up those securities were discounted repeatedly, manipulated, and laid on the craps table of the Wall St. Casino. Then the insurance companies that insured loses against those securities took a big hit.

Then...to make matters worse...the Banks who were playing the game started crashing and FDIC had to jump in and virtually all of their funds were exhausted.

I know a lot support McCain, and most won't accept that Republican Party wrote (created) and strongly support most of the legislation that has led to this momentus time in history...but I urge all to look that the Congressional Records and spend some examination time...start adding up the realities of what's happened.

The claims that Bush in 2003 begged Congress to do something about Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae...and his solution had everything to do with shifting control of those companies from Congress to the Executive branch (Treasury Dept)...which in the end, would have laid the total budren entirely on the taxpayers. But even worse...Bush would have had 100% control over them...as he is the supreme boss of the Treasury Dept. Gezzzzz, makes me shutter to think.

The Dems said, "No way." for all the wrong reasons. They said that it would stop their constituents from freely getting the loans they needed for housing. In other words..."don't screw with my getting re-elected."

McCains Act of 2005 would have shift the power in the same way, but all he did was soup us a bill written by Elizabeth Dole in the House...and it didn't fly. But, McCain would have shutdown the auditing department that found out about FM and FM's misreporting of profits...and also deregulated the lending industry even more.

Yes...both times the Dems wouldnt play ball on either of these attempts....and they clearly knew there were problems...and turned the other way and did not take any kind of action because they were fearful of the political cost to them.

Neither the 2003 or 2005 attempts to deal with FM and FM would have stopped what is happening today, because they were attempting to initiate legislation for entirely different reasons that are mostly not related to the Market crash.

But also remember..that the Repubs held the gavel in both houses until 2007. The Dems were being asses...for sure, but they didn't hold of of the vote power.

NOW...BOTH DEMS and REPUBS are CROOKED..and don't forget it. They both have been stealing us blind for eons.

By the way...the Derivates Game is world-wide as one might suspect by the crashed in markets in other countries. They all joined in...to the tune of $500 Trillion worth of Derivatives floating around...

The uncertainties about Obama pale in comparison when we consider that much of McCain's military record is missing (617 pages worth), and his medical record is scary which is the size of a Russian novel. There are additional uncertainties about McCain such as his addiction to gambling (crap tables) and his connection with the Mafia. It has also been rumored by Dr. Jack Wheeler (WSJ) that McCain has a girlfriend on the side (that is hard to imagine).

As Doug well knows, the current rep tactic is being used to pick off the "low information voter" or as I call them, the "sheeple"

The best explanation of just who these people are comes from this
http://www.crooksandliars.com/silentpatriot/daily-...
TDS-The Daily Show, a "pretend" news show, is doing a better job of informing the nation than the MSM is doing.

Let's not forget the race factor. I know a lot of otherwise rational people here in south central PA (Harrisburg area), a racist hotbed, who will not vote for Obama simply because he is black. They will be voting against their own interests, but they will vote for McCain because they'll "be damned if I'll vote for a "goddamn n****r". Racism just may elect John McCain. Sad, but true.

-- Kent Shaw

Thanks, Doug! It is an empty day when you do not find compelling reason to Rant for us! I share your sentiments. But even when I disagree with you I always learn somethiing. Nice to both agree and learn!

When a sitting Senator and a sitting Governor stand by and say nothing against supporters of their candidacy who are yelling out for the assassination of a member of Congress, then we are a sick nation. Why this pair of hooligans still draws upwards of 44% support nationally is a question to which I do not want to see the answer. Though it is heartening to see that even West Virgina is joining the increasing number of states in which the margin of lean toward the Old Man and the Pit Bull is declining.

I just hope it is Paulson and not Cheyney who is running the Secret Service these days.

Frankly, I don't see how ANYONE could vote for McCain. Period. But the tenor of his campaign is frightening: the anger he's stoking out there is likely to set one of these nutjobs off to do just what some crowd members have been yelling about "kill him!". How McCain could allow his campaign to continue like this I don't know. You would think McCain would not want to go down this road: with this nation's history towards black people: knowing how many ignorant people there are out there (some of the questions being asked at his town hall meetings are a good indication of that); knowing how many Republicans are racists; and knowing how scared people are and how scared people behave. If anything happens to Obama, and one of McCain's crazies is the cause, McCain and Palin will be the people ultimately responsible for the disaster.

McCain / Palin have absolutely no shame, honor, nor sense of decency. The deserve to go down in flames.

One of these two guys are going to win the presidency. I realize many folks aren't enthused with Obama or McCain.

So let's keep our criteria simple. Who do we want to suffer on our TV screens for the next four years? Do we want to listen to an intelligent, articulate gifted man such as Obama or do we want to hear the likes of John McCain, the stiff, "rusty robot", saying "my friends" over and over for four years all the while screwing us over no differently than the past eight years under the Bushistas?

Based on this simple criteria I'm going for Obama. I have little tolerance for smug, lazy-thoughted dumbsh*ts such as John McCain and company;ie.,Sarah Palin.

Tube appeal is what it's all about...no?!

There will surely be some great deals on HDTV's this holiday season predicated on this "black hole" event concerning the DOW...! : |

Carl Nemo **==

Carl, you defined it in very real terms. I found President Bush's hometown choice of words annoying as he could not even read them correctly. I want a developed brain handling the future decisions of America. I would prefer a man of Ron Paul's character and background and my "ideals" won out and I mailed in my ballot with his name carefully printed. I have not voted for anyone printed on my ballot since the late 80s. Neither party has the ability to furnish the kind of leaders that I want.

But mine is but a single vote and I will be able to sleep well knowing that again I voted intelligently and not emotionally. Shoot me!

Malcolm

Our nation suffered greatly under Bush. No one disputes that.
One of the reasons we are in this mess is because we had a GOP congress and a GOP president.
Just to prove how utterly ignorant we are, we are about to install a dem POTUS unknown, along with a dem congress who has proven to us they have no spine..
I was a low level volunteer on the Hillary campaign, but the stories regarding the race baiting intimidation of the superdelegates was appalling.
One congressman of color went public with the threates made against him.
Obama is a thug. Period.
McCain is the candidate I have to hold my nose and vote for or I may vote third party. There is no way I am voting for Obama. I would like America to have a little bit of hope.
BTW Doug, when did Ayers pay his debt to society? He never apologized and only escaped conviction due to illegal wiretapping. Wow. How times have changed.

The DemoRebuplicratic party (singular) believes it's in TOTAL control now. They have NO CLUE that God Almighty is still in control. The bogus assumption that the TRUE perpetrators of the fateful 9/11 attack on our beloved Republic are still at large in Afghanistan or Pakistan is a freakin JOKE! Those SAME perpetrators which REALLY attacked us on 9/11 are NOW in the process of perpetrating the even bigger economic ‘terrorist attack’ on our Republic with this ‘IN YOUR FACE’ bogus bailout! Investigate for YOURSELVES the TOTALLY BOGUS NIST report on the WTC7 ‘pulled by deliberate implosion’ five hours later, facts! This mainstream media marginalized ‘false flag attack’ ‘conspiracy theory’ if you ‘think it’s not al-Qaeda you’re not patriotic,’ reasoning is their bogus assumption which justifies their rip off the U.S. taxpayers ‘war on terror.’ This meme is TRULY the LIE OF THE CENTURY! I repeat, it’s the SAME perpetrators who are attacking us now with this corrupt ‘global’ theft ‘Humpty Dumpty’ shell game bailout scheme who attacked us on 9/11. The ONLY difference now is that they have the support of most of Congress and Wall Street. I have no reason to lie to y’all. The evidence has ALWAYS been there! Wake up! When y'all figure out I'm telling the truth it may be too late. Is their next step martial law? Time will tell!

May God have mercy on our once good nation!

Phestif

Doug, and fellow Ranters, I am going to play both Pessimist and Devil's Advocate for a moment and I hope that you will humor me.

There's a lot that I don't like about Barack Obama with regard to his views on the issues.

1) Guns and the 2nd Amendment. I like em, he doesn't.

2) Abortion.

3) A big, brand new shiny lumbering bureaucratic behemoth to be erected as a solution for each and every one of our societal and economic problems, staffed by lazy, ignorant, bottom of the ladder civil service drones the size and temperament of Jabba the Hutt.

4) An even spongier and more porous border, with a whole new set of services and entitlements for illegal aliens. Ay carumba, my only comfort is that the economy is in such dire straits that more illegals are starting to decide that maybe it ain't worth crossing anymore.

5) Political correctness. A tried and true Democrat tradition. Get ready for a whole new thesaurus of verbal windyfoggery and a whole new set of excuses for the seventh century shortcomings of barbaric societies as we are exhorted to embrace the cultural diversity and ignore the live animals being slaughtered and the wives being beaten next door.

6) Taxes. No, not the ones I know we probably need to pay, to account for the wild deficit spending of the last eight years. I am talking about the taxes we will be told to pay to the rest of the world. Obama loves to send our money overseas for causes while our own need languishes. He can't help it because his fellow Democrats won't let him slide when their pet projects come up for renewal.

And there's more, but I think you get the point.
I am not in love with liberalism except in some very rare cases where government helps to do the heavy lifting on projects which benefit mankind (and the marketplace) across the board as a whole.
Think 1960's space race and the tech boom that is still reverberating around the world as a result.

But a friend brought up a very interesting point.
He said that four years might be enough time for the Republican Party to clear out the neocon detritus and the foaming at the mouth religious whack jobs and begin the search anew for its true identity, and that if we are lucky, they might have a really good candidate for 2012, if they are brave enough to repudiate and rout out the cancer that is metastatizing them to their core right now.
He also said that Obama is going to give us a much needed facelift on the world stage as we lick our wounds.
Some good street cred might be nice for a change.
We're going to need it.
And I am left tonight with the fitful misgivings of Christopher Buckley, son of the legendary conservative William F., who said in a recent column endorsing Obama
(GASP!):

"President Obama will (I pray, secularly) surely understand that traditional left-politics aren't going to get us out of this pit we've dug for ourselves. If he raises taxes and throws up tariff walls and opens the coffers of the DNC to bribe-money from the special interest groups against whom he has (somewhat disingenuously) railed during the campaign trail, then he will almost certainly reap a whirlwind that will make Katrina look like a balmy summer zephyr."

I can only hope that Buckley is right.
He's already burned his ships by vowing to pull the
"D" lever but I think so have many of us at this point.

I don't know if Buckley can claim to be his father's son anymore with an Obama sign in his yard, but I hope that he will be able to give more than a little comfort to me and my friend as we do the same.

Come on, skinny Harvard guy from Chi-town. Show us that you can broaden the scope and create a new breed of Democrat, because the old Republican brand is in the dumper. This is your chance to lead by example.
If you do, your reward will be great, not only in Heaven, but here in the USA as well.

Jeff H in Occupied TX

Jeff H, you are correct and I agree that by 2012, we must weed out the current RNC and get back to the fiscal agenda of the old tried and true GOP. It was not perfect but it balanced the government through some good ideas.

William Buckley Junior was very annoyed at the neoconservatives and often blasted the Bush Administration on many levels.

I don't want to lose this side of the aisle that used to be the GOP with men like Dr. Ron Paul. Do not want anyone to forget his speeches on our liberties and freedoms.

Nice comments Jeff.

Malcolm

I'm voting for Baldwin/Castle because voting for the lesser of two evils is still evil.

When your 401K hits zero will you take your head out of the sand to the fact that we NOW live in perilous times? Truth arrives in its own time and is accepted in your time. Time to accept truth in truth's time.

Check out these two links if you think I'm lying to y'all. I don't write what I write just to sound sensational.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7B4laX1E70

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FVJX79ohyU

Blessings!

Phestif

I'm leaning toward Baldwin/Castle myself.

-- Kent Shaw

Then you can expect a Supreme Court appointments to remove a few more choices that we still have left. Legislating against sins has always brought about a police state and I've had enough of the failed drug wars. Baldwin is against abortions, stem cell research, death with dignity and same sex marriages.

If these choices frighten you Kent, then you chose well.

Malcolm

Baldwin is against . . .same sex marriages.

Why does he care about legal contracts entered into by people he does not even know? Why should anyone care for that matter? Talk about legislating morality should begin on this topic.

And if he doesn't support death with dignity does that mean he supports death without dignity or death with indignity?

I believe that we are in the beginning of the throes of an inevitable police state implementation. I totally disagree with Malibu’s post that legislating against morality is what will bring about this outcome.

It’s a government of fascist corporate globalist bankers, by fascist corporate globalist bankers, and for fascist corporate globalist bankers which is currently doing this.

“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” John Adams

Chuck Baldwin emphasizes his support for Ron Paul's "Sanctity of Life Act" (H.R. 2597) that declares human life "shall be deemed to exist from conception" and bars the Supreme Court from ruling on the matter. Once legally defined as a person, insisted Baldwin, every infant in the womb would thereby be guaranteed the right to life--under the U.S. Constitution. He thundered, "If the Republican Party had been serious about life, it could have already ended legal abortion in America."

I believe that, going through the courts to end Roe v Wade, is something that will take decades of patience.

Chuck believes God alone defines “marriage” in the Bible as between a man and a woman. Who is man to redefine that today? On whose hands is the blood of millions of aborted babies?

May God have mercy on our hedonistic culture!

Phestif