Something Despicable This Way Comes

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Sunday September 28, 2008 · 3:20 PM PDT

2008/09/28 · 15:20

The elections of 2010 and 2012 will feature perhaps the most egregious example of party-before-country politicking we've seen in modern times.

Today, the $700 billion bailout legislation (hereafter referred to as the Mother of All Bailouts, or MOAB) was announced. It was clearly a compromise that neither side -- the Bush legislature and the Democratic Congressional leadership -- felt any pride in. It was, as several said, a sad day in American history.

But, I think we all expect the legislation to be passed on party lines and signed by Bush. The Republicans will vote "no" for many reasons: to distance themselves from Bush, as an attempt to recapture the mantle of "the party of economic responsibility," and to attain some semblance of moral outrage over what is effectively a disaster of their own making.

The economy will feel the aftershocks of this financial earthquake for many years, perhaps decades. At best, our economy will be "soft." At worst, well, I hope everyone has been stockpiling potable water (j/k).

craigf

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Friday September 26, 2008 · 10:02 PM PDT

2008/09/26 · 22:02

Barack Obama showed everyone tonight how collected, knowledgeable, and thoughtful he is on every issue from the mortgage crisis to international relations to health care.

He MUST be our next President, for the sake of our country's future.

Please help me help Barack continue this campaign by pledging any small amount right now.

craigf

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Thursday September 25, 2008 · 7:42 PM PDT

2008/09/25 · 19:42

The financial meltdown has a multitude of effects on Americans.

Most are worse off in one or more ways. Their mortgages are underwater. Their jobs have been lost due to corporate budget-cutting. Their businesses are struggling to make ends meet.

A few, however, are doing just fine. Political and financial pundits are in demand like never before. Headhunter firms and employee counseling services are seeing increasing business. And locksmiths are burning the midnight oil to keep up with requests from banks on new foreclosures.

But what about you, dear DK reader?

Poll

72 votes Show Results

How is the downturn/crisis/meltdown/adjustment affecting you?

72 votes Vote Now!

How is the downturn/crisis/meltdown/adjustment affecting you?

Great! I finally got motivated to get that third job I've been considering.

10 votes

Not bad. I only had to sell one kidney to pay off my credit card debt.

2 votes

Bad. Both my home equity and my stock portfolio have gone negative.

20 votes

Really bad. My credit card company has begun declining my purchases in advance.

1 vote

Awful. I'd end my life by inhaling from my car's tailpipe, but I can't afford the gas.

6 votes

Terrible. I haven't slept in four days because the garbage men keep making me move.

3 votes

Horrible. My orthopedist just sent two guys to my house to undo the work he did that I can't pay for.

2 votes

Miserable. I can't even afford to pay attention!

21 votes

Abominable. I just saw my kids' pictures in a UNICEF ad.

7 votes

Outing the Corrupt: John Boehner (R-OH)

craigf

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Sunday September 21, 2008 · 9:11 PM PDT

2008/09/21 · 21:11

I loathe John Boehner, House Minority Leader, for more reasons than a single diary can contain. That's why I particularly enjoy it when we get a peek at the inky blackness that is his true self.

Yesterday (9/21/08), this article discussed the Democrats' intention to make the bailout legislation more consumer-friendly. Boehner made the following statement about his desire to see a "blank check" written for the Treasury (part of the Executive Branch, for those who might not realize it) to do with as they please:

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Sunday that fellow lawmakers should not try to load up the bill with amendments. "This is not a time for people to be playing games - we need to keep it clean and simple."

Now, why is this a problem? Keep reading...

craigf

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Sunday September 21, 2008 · 7:37 PM PDT

2008/09/21 · 19:37

There have been a couple other diaries about the Ohio Newspaper Poll (PDF) that was introduced in Ohio papers today, but I want to highlight some of the items that accompanied the main "who do you prefer" question.

Mainly, I find the pattern of responses confusing, as there seems to be little consistency.

Some may explain this as "Ohioans are stupid" or "Ohioans are racist," but I'm not convinced those characterizations, while accurate for some segment of the population (of which I'm one), explain it.

Overall, in this poll, McCain and Obama were within the MoE of each other: McCain = 48%, Obama = 42% (margin of error = 3.3%, N = 869 likely voters, collected Sept. 12-16).

But that's not the most interesting part...at least not to me...

craigf

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Saturday September 20, 2008 · 12:08 PM PDT

2008/09/20 · 12:08

Actually, the number is just 21.7% of the popular vote. Don't believe it? This diary is how I calculated that number.

Every day, most of us here check out the national polls, such as the one on DK's home page. Some days we fret, some days we celebrate. But you know what? An advantage of 10%, 20%, even 30% in the national polls doesn't guarantee a victory.

Here's why: our electoral college system radically influences the outcome of any election.

Moreover, while we like to say things like "one person, one vote," that isn't even close to being true.

In fact, as but one example, each voter in Wyoming has roughly 5.2 times more influence over the outcome of an election than each voter in Michigan.

Still don't believe me? Read on for details on the methodology I used and the full analysis.

craigf

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Wednesday September 17, 2008 · 7:34 PM PDT

2008/09/17 · 19:34

Republicans wringing their hands over the possibility of having their ballots nixed? It's like I've been sucked into an alternate dimension.

If you recall, Republicans in Ohio recently mailed out over a million absentee-ballot applications to ~~suspected voters~~ McCain supporters.

The application had a checkbox on it indicating that the applicant was a qualified elector. Many applications were being returned with it unchecked, which made the application invalid. An Ohio judge said so.

Now, however, the gnashing and wailing has begun.

Per the Cincinnati Enquirer:

"This is a historic election and there's likely to be an overwhelming turnout," Hartmann said in a statement. "To refuse people their right to vote by absentee ballot will disenfranchise them."

craigf

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Monday September 15, 2008 · 2:10 PM PDT

2008/09/15 · 14:10

I know, we're all happy that McCain's convention bounce is gone.

But most of us here were probably flabbergasted that McCain made up so much distance on Obama the past couple of months (coming back from as far down as 14 points in June).

So what's the deal? Is the media just now waking up to McCain's sleazy tactics and giving more fair-and-balanced reporting?

Nope...it's all a pretty rational plan...

craigf

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Saturday September 13, 2008 · 6:23 PM PDT

2008/09/13 · 18:23

A few days ago, I asked for suggestions as to how best to convince the unconvinced when appealing to their humanity doesn't work. In other words, what objective data can be brought to bear on the problem of an unconvinced voter's skepticism?

I got a lot of good suggestions, a few "don't bother" white flag comments (sadly), and have started putting together a collection of information that I plan to draw upon when helping combat the myths and informing otherwise uninformed, or misinformed, potential voters.

Here's the link, in case you don't follow below the fold:
http://www.evernote.com/pub/craigfroehle/Election2008

craigf

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Thursday September 11, 2008 · 6:49 AM PDT

2008/09/11 · 06:49

September 11, 2001 was a bad day all around. Planes being flown into two iconic buildings, as well as the Pentagon and the ground, killed just less than 3,000 people. That event has resulted in a massive sociopolitical change in the United States, a change many argue is largely for the worse. But let's look at 9/11 in the context of other recent events:

September 11, 2001 = 2,998 killed ^cite
2008 Sichuan, China Earthquake = 70,000+ killed ^cite
2004 Boxing Day Tsunami = 230,000 killed ^cite

Compared to these two more recent disasters, 9/11 seems pretty tame in terms of casualties.

Some will look at that and counter "but 9/11 happened to people in MY country." Fine...let's take a look at a "disaster" on the magnitude of 9/11 that happens every week in the United States.

craigf

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday September 10, 2008 · 6:09 AM PDT

2008/09/10 · 06:09

Here's the link, in case you don't follow below the fold:
http://www.evernote.com/...

craigf

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Sunday September 07, 2008 · 8:11 PM PDT

2008/09/07 · 20:11

I have to do two things that don't come naturally to a lot of people: ask forgiveness and ask for assistance.

First: I'm sorry. I've been "part of the problem" with Palin. I've stoked the embers of mockery. I've helped analyze the merits of far-fetched rumors. I've informed friends as to her scandal-of-the-minute. And now I realize I was wrong. It is the politics of desperation and pettiness that wallows in personal attacks. It is a shabby defense to say the past eight years has brought me to the point of thinking callow diversions are supposed to be part of our national dialogue, and I won't. For the sake of our country's future, I can't. So, I'm sorry for having participated in the very activity we want to stop. It won't happen again.

Second: I truly need your help. I need guidance in helping me transform friends' differing viewpoints into one that aligns with ours. That is what the rest of this diary is about, if you'll follow it...

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Something Despicable This Way Comes

CELEBRATE the DEBATE...Help me Raise $5,000 for Obama

POLL: How Does the Bailout Crisis Affect You?

Outing the Corrupt: John Boehner (R-OH)

New Insights into the Elusive Ohio Voter

McCain Needs Less than 25% of Popular Vote to Win

Ohio Republicans Fret Over "Being Disenfranchised"

Who's Balancing the Political See-Saw?

WIN THAT DEBATE with these voter education materials

Putting 9/11 Into Perspective

A Collection of Voter Education Materials

I'm Sorry...and I Need Your Help