I just spoke with Granny J. on the phone to verify that she'll be here for our weekly Scrabble game, (I need time to prepare for the humiliating experience) and I told her I've been trying to collect my thoughts preparatory to yet another political blog..
My problem? There is so much information surfacing daily regarding Barack Obama's carefully guarded past and policies that I don't quite know where to start!
I don't know how other Americans feel, but I'm insulted as hardworking Americans lose their jobs, see the equity in our homes decrease, watch 401Ks, melt away, and plan a different future for their children than the college they'd hoped for, Barack Obama thinks nothing of spending millions on self-glorification and lengthy TV spots, while he preaches to taxpayers bout spreading the wealth around. 
What if he had sacrificed that grandiose Greek Temple stage set at the Democratic Convention and accepted a simple American Flag as a backdrop as his opponent did? Wouldn't that $5,000,000,000 yup, that's five million dollars spent and gone..wouldn't that have done wonders for some of his pet projects?
I don't think that Senator Obama intends to spread any of his own wealth around, after all only those making $250,000 a year will be taxed ..um $200,000..a year...um today I believe that middle class income has slipped to $140,000. And dropping....
By the by, as Mainstream America tightens it's belt and prepares for the worst time in our memory, here's a peek at The Reverend Wright's new home.
You remember Rev. Wright as Barack Obama's twenty year long Pastor, friend, and advisor until the Senator discovered that many potential voters disapproved of Wright. Upon finding that out, Senator Obama seemed to have no problem casting his old friend aside. No loyalty there..............or will that change after the election?
As Rev. Wright continues to curse the inequalities rampant in America, he unveils his 10,000 square foot mansion. Video on Michelle
I have a busy day ahead, taking my mom to the Doctor and running errands, but I took time out to lurk about on a few blogs.
I urge everyone to take the time to read my friend, The Old Sourdough 's wonderful essay that speaks to all thoughtful Americans. Nobody cares more for her country than this crusty, independent woman who manages to write with thoughtful intelligence and always, straight from from the heart..
I hope to meet Liz someday, and if I'm given that opportunity, I won't be a bit surprised if she turns out to be red white and blue.
The other day, I was talking to a friend who's a Realtor. She asked if I knew anyone looking to purchase a home, and I replied that I might. I said I'd ask my acquaintance if he had a Realtor yet.
She replied, "Tell him I can get a 99% loan to value!" She said this as though it was a good thing!
Don't tell me the banks are still making those irresponsible loans!" I exploded.
Taken aback, she said that yes, there were still "some good deals" out there.
How can this be? It was the millions of irresponsible loans that got us into this National debt. The spread-the-fairness-everyone-should-own-a-home-even-if they-can't-make-the-payment policies of government supported groups like ACORN pressuring banks into faulty lending practices, started it. But when banks figured out that they could pass the bad loans off on Freddy and Fanny as well as overseas investors, they became totally irresponsible They made millions of loans to illegals as well as others, with no social security numbers, proof of employment, or down payment. With millions of those homes in forclosure, how can the banks afford to continue a practice that can only end with the American taxpayer repeatedly footing the bill until we all go bankrupt!
Exaggeration? It was Margaret Thatcher who led Great Britain out of socialism and into a prospering economy who said,
"Socialism is fine until you run out of other people's money."
Now we may ask why the banks can continue this harmful practice. Could it be because they were not held accountable? They were bailed out? They didn't have to take the responsibility for the devastation their practices have wrought on the American economy! Why do they think they can come out slick as a whistle again even if they make faulty loans and thousands more go into bankruptcy? Is the fact that Barny Frank is calling for $150,000,000 more targeted to stimulate the economy making them feel bullet proof? Have they come to believe that there will always be government funds available to cover for their irresponsible policies?
So how did we get into this mess in the first place? Well................
Yes Bush (the evil one), did try to warn us and so did John McCain. They were thwarted by..
you guessed it..Barney Frank and friends....
This is long and the music is a bit dramatic, and it's definitely political but here it is in their own words as they attack the regulators and refer to the bill signed in in 1992 .....
So how about those banks..is it:
Lessons learned? Bad practices thrown out? Or business as usual expecting unlimited bailouts? Well, isn't that like.... ummmm...socialism in action..
who has donated a staggering 150.000,000 to Senator Obama's political campaign. After all, The One should never be held accountable for one red cent!
and this!
This Summer E converted an old bird bath to a mister. The birds have loved it, especially the hummers, but I guess it's time to turn it off!
Okay, I'll admit it! I'm obsessed with this election. I think it's the most important election ever to confront the American people, and I'm a little embarrassed that I never saw it coming.
We've all taken it for granted that there was graft and corruption in politics , but coming face to face with the extent of the ACORN intervention in voter registration is mind boggling.
Jan's addressed this issue in her usual thorough, thoughtful, and well documented way.
I'm urging everyone to read her post.
I'll offer these:
Watch this Albany news video
Then there's this:
With that verbal promise of power over any other citizen or group in the United States, it's easy to see why ACORN is willing to go to any lengths to see that Obama wins this election.
By now I guess everyone in the country knows that it's the activities of community organizers working with and for ACORN that led greedy banks into the financial morass and that it is us, our children and Great Grandchildren who will pay, but I have to point it out one more time. Think about this group dictating Presidential policy...............
Everyone should read the letter sent to Jan at Vinegar and Honey by an old friend, a member of the Board of Regents at a university. The last paragraph describes exactly the way I feel much more articulately than I could ever do.
When all the objectives of government include the achievement of equality - other than equality before the law - that government poses a threat to liberty."
Margaret Tatcher
What happened? Well, four children, work, school or all of us, life....over the years we paid less and less attention....then retirement..and who wants to think about politics when they have seven grandchildren and one and a half great grandchildren to play with? We have places to go and things to do. But wait!
Who's responsible for the financial mess we're in? Yes, the Government, that huge entity where we can certainly point the finger of blame for a failing economy. But wasn't it We The People who voted these people into office and then allowed them cart blanche with our welfare? They were supposedly working for us, yet we paid little to no attention to what our elected officials were doing with our tax dollars. We kept re-electing the same people to represent us in Congress over and over again without bothering to review any legislation they'd introduced or the way they voted on other's legislative bills.
We stood by as our elected representatives awarded themselves higher and higher salaries and larger and larger retirement benefits. After serving two terms, a Congress person can retire with a lifetime benefit package that anyone could envy.
We faithfully watched the evening news and allow the excitable talking heads to influence us because we clung to the outmoded belief that there is some integrity left in journalism. Sometimes we do get upset with some Congressional shenanigans, but by election day, we've forgotten about that and vote for same old familiar name , or along partisan lines, or for somebody new without bothering to questions their qualifications.
Now we find ourselves between the proverbial rock and hard place. This election, like no past election, will determine the future of our Nation.
The Half-baked Sourdough points out this election determines whether we choose to try to dig ourselve out of this financial crater or pick the slippery slide into socialism.
If it were just E. and me, I don't think I'd bother taking the time and energy to express my thoughts on where this election is taking us. But I feel I must speak out. I am the one in our family who says, "better wear a sweater...are you taking your vitamins?.....wouldn't you rather eat this nice veggie casserole than some old fast food burger?.. you are planning to vote aren't you?"
E. and I have enjoyed the best economic and safest years in our country's history, and we have a reason to care about the future. Well, eight and a half reasons, really!
Did this financial crisis originate yesterday? Last week? While we were asleep at the switch, government was legislating equality..
Unless something amazing happens this will be my final peacock post. Raja, the perennially dissatisfied peacock left us for what he hoped would be greener pastures. One fine spring day, I sent Roo out with the camera giving her instructions to try to take his picture with tail fanned out. I could never seem to get one with the sun illuminating his brilliant colors. He soon grew nervous at being closely followed by a girl with a camera and decided to hide under the silver lace vine. Still denuded from winter, the vine covered Raja well enough , except......oh, the trials of having a long, glowing-green tail!
If you look closely, that sunlit picture was zoomed at the same time this was taken and you can barely make him out as a light spot against a dark spot on the right side of the tree fairly close to the trunk and beneath the furriest topmost branches. 
When my cousin, Stephen was about three, his father was on his way to the kitchen to make the morning coffee when he encountered his little son coming down the hall. Stephen thrusting both hands behind his back, met his Daddy's eyes head on. his cheeks were bulging and as he spoke, chocolate dribbled down his chin.
"I'm not eating the candy, Daddy," he said. Well, my uncle didn't quite know what to say to that chubby, endearing, jammy clad little fellow who was lying through his chocolate covered teeth. He must have gotten on it, because Stephen turned out just fine. But it raises some questions about how we deal with someone who looks us straight in the eye and lies to us. In this oh, so politically correct and sophisticated society, we have a hard time calling people on those lies.
OK, I'm going to get political here, because I believe that the President of the United States, the Commander in Chief of our Military Services, must, above all else, have a loyalty and commitment to The United States of America. And frankly, I have serious doubts as to Senator Obama's commitment to our Country, and especially as to his knowledge of and concern for the Men and Women in uniform who stand between us and those who would harm us.
Here are a couple of videos. I hope you'll watch them.
#1.
I'm a little worried about that one. Do all those yellow letters mean I shouldn't have copied or posted it? Let me know. I can take it of and just reference it on youTube.
#2.
I listen to Obama and have these questions. If the Senator feels his long term association with Ayers is truly not worth considering, why gloss it over? Why not welcome getting it out into the open? Is he lying? Are those sweets dripping down his chin or is he truly, despite his obviously high IQ, so disingenuous he didn't recognize Ayers unrepentant terrorist mentality? Should the American people consider this relationship unimportant in their President? Most importantly, one has to ask ones's self would he recognize another terrorist if he encountered one?
I will welcome any comments on these points as long as they're serious and have meaning.
