October 1, 2008 – Capitol Hill Blue

Up and Down goes the DOW…!

October 1, 2008

I had to laugh at the 777 down day on the DOW!

People who aren’t aware of how the market works don’t realize that most of the trades are a function of “program trades” on the part of fund managers. Computers directed to make trades do so in massive blocks forcing the market either up or down on any day also within chosen sectors. Meanwhile the little fish who think they can day trade this choppy nightmare get taken out and line the brokers pockets with commissions while the big boys clean out their trading accounts with these endless head fakes.

Capitalism, FDR, Presidential Debates, and the Militarization of Sports

October 1, 2008

http://phillyimc.org/en/node/75577

The Anti-Empire Report
Read this or George W. Bush will be president the rest of your life
October 1, 2008
by William Blum
www.killinghope.org

101 ways to get rich without doing anything socially useful

Save Troy Davis, a message from Amnesty International

October 1, 2008

FROM AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL:
The following letter was written by Troy Davis on September 22. Two hours before he was to be executed, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay of execution to consider his appeal. Their decision is expected soon.

TAKE ACTION!

Mendacious, Manipulating . . . Maverick? Hardly. Today’s real McCain

October 1, 2008

Rear Admiral John S. McCain II must be spinning in his grave, not out of pride that his son is the GOP nominee, but that his son sold his soul, his honor, and his integrity in the process.

Senator, I hope you have written your apology to your father in advance. You owe him, and America, a huge one.

McCain losing on likability, Obama gaining; and some added thoughts on the psychology of John McCain

October 1, 2008

Updated, twice: I’ve rethought my opinion on who won the debate. I think Obama won because John McCain came across as obnoxious to many viewers. Obama remained calm and collected while McCain at the podium presented a version of road rage. Who would you want to inadvertently cut off on the interstate?

Today is our 14th birthday

October 1, 2008

Capitol Hill Blue turns 14 today and the web site continues its place as the oldest, continually-published political news web site on the Internet.

We’ve come a long way since that morning on October 1, 1994, when I took advantage of free web space by my Internet Service Provider and started what was then a few paragraphs of musings about politics.

McCain repeating Keating 5 era mistakes, regulator warns

October 1, 2008

McCain Repeating Keating Era Mistakes, Regulator Warns

As the stock market recovers from its biggest single-day drop since the crash of 1987, a former federal regulator who had a front-row view of John McCain’s role in the Savings and Loan scandal says he is repeating some of the same mistakes.

On second thought…

October 1, 2008

The shifting tide of public anger may yet save the controversial $700 billion financial bailout passage.

When the House of Representative overwhemlingly rejected President Bush’s package Monday, some felt it was a Congressional caving to anger back home at the use of taxpayer dollars to save big financial firms.

But as the reality of Monday’s action sank in, public reaction shifted and reluctant Representives now appear ready to take action, any action, to calm the situation.

Bush’s vanishing clout

October 1, 2008

George W. Bush’s public humiliation at the hands of his own party showcases the lack of clout left for America’s most unpopular President in history as he heads into the waning days of his failed Presidency.

With the White House scrambling to salvage its controversial, $750 billion bailout plan before the nation plunges headlong into a depression, the President finds himself a pariah within his own party.

Meanwhile, his public popularity, already at an all-time low, continues to slide.

Obama takes poll lead in key states

October 1, 2008

New polls suggest Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama is picking up steam in three key states, possibly building momentum as the campaign heads into its final five weeks.

The Democrat now has 50 percent or more in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida — three states that history has shown can make a difference in a Presidential election year.

The bump in the polls comes as Republican John McCain’s campaign is floundering after recent missteps by the GOP nominee in the financial crisis gripping the country and gaffes by his running mate.