Op Ed: 'More of Same': Tax Slashes Fail, Try Housing Bailout

$700 billion for “Bad Paper”. Not enough NOW, so McCain flourishes ANOTHER $300 billion at voters.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - Senator John McCain’s age showed clearly, absolutely unmistakable in this second Presidential debate.

His walk, his talk, even his speaking-tone was revelatory for any and all to see. Expert eyes trained to find the symptoms agree, as national reports make very clear.

Anger-contained bubbled to the surface unmistakably, reflected in his contemptuous language to Obama: “That one...” he said, loud, clear and with that certain tonal emphasis making its coded meaning clear to all.

His proposal to bail out every householder with a rotten mortgage --”bad paper !”-- reflects familiar well known judgment failings, probably from both age (72) and illness. He is the oldest Presidential candidate ever, admittedly suffering from melanoma, life-threatening skin cancer.

Other disabling health elements may be present, since his 1,200pp. record has been artfully obscured.

He was skewered right through his campaign statements by the sharp horn of worldwide financial collapse on all fronts --increasing desperately following this debate.

Feeling the pain already highly evident, he struck back with “more of the same” --”bigger” and therefore “better” -- mortgage bailouts this time for all American households involved nationwide.

McCain stated he would order the Treasury Secretary to immediately “buy up the bad home mortgages in America and renegotiate...at the diminished value of those homes, and let people be able to make those...payments and stay in their homes.”

That’s “a turnabout from an earlier position, would require a radical shift in the government’s position”, states the New York Times report. (Verbatim, Oct. 8)

Neither McCain nor his campaign had any word --or any plan-- for providing the $300 billion this new-departure would demand IMMEDIATELY.

Did he make this desperate promise under stress of the debate ? It certainly appears so on the face of the record.

Was it planned ahead of time, with his campaign advisers, including leading lobbyists and former Sen. Gramm, killer of the Glass-Steagall Act triggering the financial industry collapse?

IF set up in advance, surely the campaign would have immediate and detailed statement(s) ready --and even in print for handout rapidly and widely. None appeared.

IF “off the cuff”, under stress of the “town meeting” format barring unseemly --and unprovable-- character assassination, its emergence proves up precisely the age-driven poor judgment reported here as observed.

McCain’s desperate device is decidedly an old idea now in process of failure around the world: “Buy Up All That Bad Paper! Bail “Em ALL Out!”

It fails because rotten paper is just that: ROTTEN --and thus devoid of whatever dollar-value it ever had. That is unmistakably clear also for those millions of home mortgages in the McCain “New Departure” plan, too.

But that already-demonstrated affront to his own years of “Government IS the problem” bothers him not at all. To the largest financial rescue-raft ever floated in world history, he now wants to add another entire level.

What’s another $300 billion to him? Not much, it is clearly not his money -but that of taxpayers.

After all, he’s “got his” already, with more coming via every bottle of beer sold in his wife’s brand. Then, too, he has all those lavish houses --so many he cannot even keep count.

Each of those factual statements reflect what his obviously failing facilities tell you about his judgment now, and his character-change over the past few years. Both have been degenerating while age took over from that original “maverick” image he worked so hard to build.

You will recall he had to rebuild, after the Keating Five scandal, for which he was disciplined for his part by the Senate itself. That was the savings-and-loan bank debacle across the nation, costing taxpayers more than $100 billion.

It is notorious for setting the pattern within the financial industry for what has now followed with worldwide consequences.

Forced by that necessity, of his own making in his earliest Congressional years, he made sure to make his image that of “the real maverick”. That’s why he has disdained and denyed “earmarks” and anything else reeking of “conflict of interest” --but with close ties all those years to lobbyists for the financial industry, among others.

More than 80 are listed as consultants and major advisers on this, his second Presidential run, especially including Sen. Gramm and Foreign Policy Consultant Randy Schuenemann, who signed the PAMC proposal which was root of the Iraq war, and has lobbied for the world’s worst dictators. McCain was politically assassinated by dirty-trick politics earlier, by George W. Bush.

But now he lovingly embraces George W,, with close adherence also to the Bush-Cheney policies extending and enhancing those of the Reagan-Bush I era. That’s where all of the neo-con/cabal deregulation, privatization, “free trade” and globalization trends were multiplied and magnified.

“More of same” was reflected also in his overconfident “I can do it” declaration that he can deal with three major American crisis-issues simultaneously --while most Americans are engulfed and mightily confused, as well as righteously angered.

Moderator Tom Brokaw asked both candidates, "In what order what you put [energy, health care and entitlement reform] in terms of priorities?"

Energy, health care and entitlement reform happen to be three of the most important and complex issues confronting the next president. The man who couldn't even juggle his campaign and participation in a debate on a bill in its final stages before a US House vote, responded, "I think you can work on all three at once, Tom."

He did not immediately don his gravity-defying Master of The Skies jacket, and fly away into the stratosphere.

But the implication was there, nevertheless, echoed in many other matters throughout this wrecking-point encounter --only now becoming well understood. In all truth, for this one, we really have no choice. There is only one responsible, reasonable --and completely rational-- action we can take as truly responsible citizens of a strong nation.

What YOU DO can offset all those repeated politically-pandering,wild, unstable, immature and irresponsible charges, made in Rovian mode for manipulating minds and thus the decision, otherwise inevitable.

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Henry Ruark October 12, 2008 7:55 pm (Pacific time)

To all: For a most comprehensive, probing and insightful major article re the Presidential campaign, "see with own eyes" the lead-piece by The Editors in the NEW YORKER (10/13). This world-famed magazine's staff, surely among the most knowing in communications, has no problem in making the only rational choice possible. They endorse Obama with unmistakable and unchallengable rational and reasonable detail laid on in depth.

Henry Ruark October 12, 2008 1:29 pm (Pacific time)

Sanchez: Why not go all the way, friend? We can start with pre-Civil War if you wish,
We fought that War once, you seem to want to ignite it again. (See Op Ed upcoming re Racism as weapon in 08 vote.) Irrelevance will earn you nothing here. Character assassination is the name of your game, so b-ball test naturally means little to you.

But I will still offer it as example of realistic action, which is what is now missing very obviously from you and McC, on every level in every sentence and increasingly meaningful the longer you and he continue damaging, nonsensical ongoing public self-exposure. See Ken Ramey's report in this issue for detailed summary very relevant here.

Percy Sanchez October 12, 2008 10:49 am (Pacific time)

Henry et al bottom line Obama did not release his medical records. If we took someone's basketball shooting abilities as a way to measure their Presidential leadership capability we would simply set up a basketball shoot off-- that would sure save big bucks re: campaign costs. Or we could look at how well people hold up under years of torture. Maybe compare candidates "earmark" totals? What is Obama hiding? Do you believe that "truthfulness and veracity" are important traits? We could explore those via the public record very easily. Let's start out with the Selma march back in the 60's and Obama's statement about it and his parents. Public record.

Henry Ruark October 11, 2008 11:19 am (Pacific time)

To all: Many will see in 3-pointer precisely what I did - solid demonstration of physical abilities. Re med/records, published long ago Op Ed calling for full disclosure for every major-office candidate, at every level, via detailed publication in daily media and via tv-news feature report. Yours distorted truth about how McCain "disclosed". I corrected it with fact supported by same person you cited as participant in the same event you described. That's reporting, sir, in case you have problem recognizing reality. Stupidity runs in famiies, too, a fact as relevant as yours here re cancer. Irrelevance gains us nothing, distortion/perversion simply continues damage to good faith honest dialog here. Re FDR, he is valued more for other attributes than for his possible NBA-skills. Also your use of him surely rebuts your own point re health as factor here; if he can win place in history, med/records on either side mean damned little, you must agree.

Percy Sanchez October 11, 2008 8:36 am (Pacific time)

Henry et al the bottom line is Obama did not release his medical records. So let's have the same set-up McCain did with his record release, in comparison, who would have a problem with that? How old was Obama's mother when she died? It was cancer right? Runs in families right? How about his father's side of the family? Sickle cell big in Kenya? Cancer? Mental disease? A 3 point basketball shot is a "swell" bit of medical evidence for you? "I'll stick with that Obama first-shot three-pointer I cited,as practical test which McCain could never match now." You think FDR could have done the same shot out of his wheelchair Henry?

WV October 11, 2008 7:26 am (Pacific time)

"The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything. Joseph Stalin." Because of massive "voter fraud" the election needs to be delayed, if not there will be massive riots. Outfits like "ACORN" have just in Philidelphia alone been responsible for nearlt 25% of all registrations that have also been proven fraudulent. Voter fraud should be considered an act of war. The "vote" is what gives substance to America.

Henry Ruark October 10, 2008 11:58 am (Pacific time)

For the record: Dr. Sanjay Gupta and others protested, in nationally distributed full statements after the review and the conference call, that the very multiplicity of the records, which they were allowed only impossibly short time to examine thoroughly, made their task also impossible for any realistic result. The statement was cited here, as Sanchez should know.
I'll stick with that Obama first-shot three-pointer I cited,as practical test which McCain could never match now. The plain fact is that McC. is 72, has cancer and other major concerns, may well never make it very far into his first term.
Is that a risk you care to take ?

Percy Sanchez October 10, 2008 8:47 am (Pacific time)

As the below link purports Obama did not release his medical records. I know that it was made out that he did, but as my nearly 100 year old father reminded me he hadn't. To correct the record re: Sen. McCains mother she is now 97.

Obama released a one-page statement from his primary care physician. He did not release any medical records or make his doctors available to the media. By contrast, McCain made more than 1,000 pages of medical documents available to journalists, including CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Four of McCain's doctors held a conference call with reporters after the records were made available. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/29/obama.medical.records/index.html

Henry Ruark October 9, 2008 7:13 pm (Pacific time)

Sanchez: True desperation: When one must use McCain's Mom at 93 for proof of possible Presidential characteristics !! ?? Genes mean something, but Presidential ain't it. At 90, I speak with more familiarity re age-influence than you possibly can, don't you agree?

You wrote re O.:"...he has absolutely no accomplishments that demonstrates that he is qualified to be president."
That's clearly your unsupported personal feeling, not an opinion based on fact and study and research and documentation by others with true authority to speak. Proof of that is the latest polls, showing millions now realizing our necessity for careful cogitation and already doing so...sure to change, too, and most probably in the same direction already demonstrated by recent events.

Obama's records have already been made available; clean bill of health, as you would expect in much younger, more vigorous, even athletic, man. Did you see that first-shot 3-pointer on video weeks ago ?
Where've you been ? Except McCain propaganda camp, that is...

Are you by any chance advocating that Presidential characteristics now demand that each new candidate be captured and tortured by commie radicals ?

SO, again, ID self to Editor, come direct, submit Op Ed. In case you did not catch the gist-here, for me you now stand clearly as paid-shill. I challenge you to disprove that essential assumption.

Henry Ruark October 9, 2008 2:51 pm (Pacific time)

To all: Friendly source reminds me that McCain's imperious decision to lay out another $300 million for "bad paper" makes it seem he believes he has that power as President. Is he not aware that any such further radical action will demand support and full-vote acquiescence from Congress ? Given obvious political status now re Congressional remake underway already, surely this is either atrocious mistake on his part, OR his intentional distortion of reality he must know. He should have taken facts into full account before his misleading "I'll do it myself !" emphasis here. Makes you wonder, does it not, about real capabilities when the "heat is on"? How will he do when the phone rings at 3a.m. and he has 12 minutes to prevent worldwide war again via use of Big Bomb?

Sanchez October 9, 2008 1:50 pm (Pacific time)

Regarding McCains health records, where's Obama's medical records? How about Biden's records, afterall he is just a heartbeat away? Maybe Obama's academic records would also be helpful considering that other than being in campaign mode ad nauseum he has absolutely no accomplishments that demonstrates that he is qualified to be president. I think McCains doing pretty good for someone who was tortured by commie radicals for over 5 years and from a genetic perspective, his 97 year old mother is one sharp lady.

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Op Ed: 'More of Same':
Tax Slashes Fail,
Try Housing Bailout

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