debate what? we all know whats happening! if obama doesnt go and get involve now what would he do if he wins, he wouldnt have a clue what and how things happened.I think thats the problem we are relying on the appointed people too much! action speaks louder than words.

In 40 days, one of these candidates will be designated the next President. That person will have to deal with whatever bailout is decided on in Washington today. It would seem to be more important that the determination of this bailout, both in size and consequences for the financial entities that take part meet the requirements that the next president can work with.

As laws are passed that indicate that people are not as good as they should be when they think they can multi-task, we should expect our leaders to put priorities on their day to day actions. It seems to me that if this was Bush deciding to continue with a campaign, the media would be out there indicating that he was not engaged in the problem.

It is obvious that neither one of the candidates has a feeling for what the people in this nation are going through. Ask yourself this: If you called in to your employer 40%-70% of the time over the last 1-2 years that you could not make it to work because you were looking for another job, how many of you would still be employed?

This is the time to see these politicians actually doing their job and not looking for their next job. A debate can be rescheduled or maybe we should just put off the financial crisis until after the election.

I am an independent voter and a debate will not be have me decide who is better to lead this nation. Look at where each candidate stands, what are his stated policies, and especially in the case of 2 senators, have they attempted to pass these policies as a senator.

If McCain doesn't want to debate Obama, send in his VP/Palin - he's so confident that she can "fill his shoes" -- let her step in and debate with Biden.

Well, they could postpone the debate until maybe Monday or Tuesday and that should give them the weekend to figure out the mess. Then debate on Tuesday and still have the VP debate on Thursday! No reason to push back all the other debates. Part of this could also be a stalling tactic by the McCain campaign to give his advisors more time to strategize for the debate and hoping to stall the VP debate knowing Palin is ill equipped to handle it! Yes, another Republican spin to make Obama look Unamerican and paint him into a no win situation. As far as the whole McCain Town hall meeting debate concept he wanted Obama to agree to, those were all going to be in small town-red state dominated areas where McCain would have been at home. I don't remeber hearing any of those being held in a big city to give some balance. These debates are placed in different areas to be fair to both parties instead of one prty having an unfair "home field" advantage over the other. I suppose you Republican apologists would want "Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh" to be the moderators asking the questions at the debates also! Yeah, that's fair!!

This morning in Washington DC. Bill Clinton hosted the Clinton Global Initiative Conference. This event was surely planned in advance of the wall street catastrophe. There were many individuals invited to speak....a few to name were T.Boone Pickens, sheran Perez president of Israel, I don't recall her name but a female, head of Danish social democratic , a gentleman who was a principal in the world bank. (sorry I don’t recall all of their names but it was on CSPAN this morning.

John McCain was invited to speak and so was Obama, who was in Clearwater, FL at the time and would be speaking via satellite. McCain spoke first. He was supposed to speak on global issue and was supposed to stay away from politics and campaigning. However McCain did not do what he had agreed to do...he did in fact campaign. He stood there for quite a while and spoke of what he would do if he became president.

McCain would like to trick America into thinking that he is putting country first. But he is stalling because he doesn't have a solution. This senior citizen is not capable of hitting the ground running and take on any problems that arises at the time it occurs. Being president is the most important job in the country, it needs someone who has the grit, fortitude, intelligence and most important integrity to do the right thing for America. McCain set the precedence of changing the conversations to take advantage of this platform for his own gain.

After McCain there were panel discussions with the invited guest and then Bill Clinton took the stage. Clinton described a visit he had with Obama in Clinton's office in Harlem on this past 9-11. Clinton said he wanted to let us in on a recent observation he had made. He said that during this meeting that Obama had come to ask him to advise him as a past president, on what was the right course of action to take to help Americans right now... and he did want a party decision, but the best decision for the people. Which led to Obama meeting with Clintons economic advisors.

Clinton said it stroke him that no one had asked that question of him before ( a la Bush). Then also after that meeting was over Obama did not think that he should go outside in the streets of Harlem (where Clinton’s office is located) to the many people who had gathered to meet him and sign autographs. Or to take advantage of this photo opportunity because it was 9-11, and he didn't think it was the right thing to do on that day.

Bill Clinton told this story this morning. Clinton said these things spoke to the character of this man. I say it speaks of integrity...something we need in the white house now more than ever!

Oh lord! Not only are we looking at a wonderful financial relief program that will cost tax payers 10 grand each...but now, according to the welcome screen of AOL...there is a video of Sarah Palin asking for protection from witchcraft!

How much more ridiculous can this whole thing get? First she "talk in tongues" then she asks for protection against all the witches of the democratic party? This combination of Palin affraid of the "way of the witch" and McCain looking for "any which way"...is it just me or do hear the start of the fall the American Empire?

Everyone was always affraid of the comming of the next anti-christ...did anyone ever think of how bad it would be if we elect...Aunte Christ!

Yes, they should debate. Time is a wasting. I do think it's good that they both are going to meet with the President today...but that meeting apparently does not start until what 3:30 or so and I don't believe they will be working through the night. So how much can truly be accomplished in that short time? It just seems to me that something as important and as critical as this should not be rushed. Isn't there an expression that goes something like "For fools rush in where angels fear to tread”. Is taking a couple hours to debate your perspective in front of the nation going to truly tip the balance of our financial future? i just don't get it. Actually, i think do. So I vote gamemanship not statemanship is at play here.

Bravo. Dr Zelinsky!

You are so right!

NO, they don't have to debate now, it won't hurt to wait or postpone a few days. After all, are they not Sen.'s first!! They owe it to the people who elected them for the office to do their job first! Yes, the election is closing in but they need to show some willingness to help get a grip on the economic situation. Come on, OBAMA, put people first and debate later. Personally, I am tired of hearing Obama voting present and not taking much of a stand. This is the chicken man's way out.

Ok, supposedly Congress has just come up with an agreement they think will work.

So game on.

Y'all are kidding yourself if you think McCain is afraid to debate Obama.

Yes, McCain and Obama should debate this Friday! As President of these United States, the leader SHOULD be able to multi-task - can't McCain WALK & CHEW GUM at the same time?! IMO, McCain is trying to avoid the cameras because of that new growth which has appeared on his cheek!

Wow! Nice try TL

Okay let's hear the plan. It better be a good one! Then on with the debates!

BTW Maggie in regard to your earlier post stating that alll the media is liberal...have you ever watched FOX news?

They are dedicated to projecting the most favorable spin that they can for the Republicans!

CNN has a pretty equal division of newscasters...Lou Dobbs touts that he is independant. Ha!! What a joke he is so right wing conservative. He was interiviewing a CNN reporter the other day that was supposed to report on Palin's meet & greet with world leaders..Dobbs just about put words in the reporters mouth in his attempt to lead the reporter to say that Palin did a good job. If it had a been in a court of law...someone would have said ...objection leading the witness!!.

The poor reporter started to say how Obama handled himself in a similar situation ...that appeared to be a slight compliment of Obama,,,, and "Mr Independant" just about cut the guy off and immediately went to a commercial!

There so many conservative news casters...Obama has to stay as neutral as possible just to get coverage. But if you want to hear the Republicans spin ... just turn on Fox News anytime of day and you will get your fill of it.

That's why I do watch FOX. My husband does and complains the whole time he's watching!

____________________________________________________________________________ Oops! Sorry typo! I DO NOT watch fox News! (left out the "Not" by accident!)

I do watch KTLA, however! I have tried to get a feel for the anchors political leanings and for the most part you all do a pretty good job of staying neutral and impartial in your reporting...so Kudos to Frank, Michaela, Eric, the real reporters. No offense to Sam and Mark..but I've already figured out who you two like. but you two have other responsibilities so it's not an issue !

Sorry, I don't have cable so I don't have CNN or Fox news. I'm not kidding. I have a big antenna in my attic. I don't miss all those channels.

As for extreme views from either side, I don't trust them. Either side! Neither should you, you just don't realize how you're only seeing (this will sound very "conspiracy theorist" of me) what "they" want you to see.

Be unique, throw out any one sided info and what you'll be left with is a real choice.

Action vs. Words

Substance vs. Style

Eventually, obama will have to vote on something other than "present" to show his qualifications. So, yes debate AFTER this resolution has been made. Didn't these same democrats in California want to play in Denver instead of solving our budget crises? Of course, obama wants to throw out a few more sound bites of nothing to dazzle his followers.

In the end, 1, 2, 3, or more debates will happen... but its ACCOMPLISHMENTS I want.

-m

Yes Maggie,

I do agree with you on that! I do not allow political pundits to sway my opinion. I look at the facts. I look at the past records of the people that are trying to convince us of changes they will bring.

I look at our country ...the 21st century needs of this world we live in today...and who I feel is best suited to fix the world problems.

I look at the the actions or the lack of them that the candidates and their staff as well as appointed side kicks have said or done.

I am strong woman not easily led...but I will say that earlier for a brief moment I was a young republican...but hey we can all make mistakes when we are young.

I was not in my 40's as Obama is now...because in our 40's we are smarter and mostly at the top of game!

Not the case when someone is in their 70's...more specifically 73...that's when the human body including and most importantly... the human brain... is slowing down and not as sharp as it used to be.

My mother in law is 71, and a very intelligent and aware person...she says to me ...there is no way that in her opinion that a person her age or older than her as McCain is... should be president of the US.

I can't believe that all the people who are supporting McCain are not worried about his age...and his lack of energy, and quick decision making ability.

I still believe that votes for McCain will be cast for other reasons than believing in him. But that's a discussion we've already had here on the blog and I won't go into that discussion again.

Debate who cares? These are not true debates, the there's no interaction between the two, we have reporter who ask questions that have no follow-up no one calls anyone on the carpet for any statement that's made, so who cares if they debate.

These things are huge phot ops with surregates (sp?) in the "spin room" that will tell you that their guy won. The campaigns will lower expectations so that we can all feel good about the poor performance of both candidates.

If we truly want to have a debate, let the voting public ask the questions and not people who are hand picked by each side.

Pick a location (say 1,000 seat place), invite the public, and then draw say 30 names from this goup to ask questions of the candidates, give no seats to either party, have one moderator present to call people up to ask their questions and allow each person a follow-up question. Now this is how we would all know who's the right person for the job.

Jim-

Great idea...

Sort of like a town hall meeting? That is certainly what McCain wanted. But Mr. "Words" did not like that format.

-m

Mike - Yes, except they could be in big cities or small towns as opposed to just rural towns in red states that McCain wanted Obama to agree to. He wanted home court advantage for any debate. McCain is now running out of excuses so he disrupts the bailout agreement Congress had worked out primarily without him. Another stalling tactic to avoid a debate, running scared, Old Man?!

Craig,

Damn right McCain is running scared. You can see it in his face. It won't surprise me he pulls a medical excuse out of his bag of tricks to avoid the debate.

Reports reveal that Sen. McCain brought nothing to the Bailout negotiation yesterday. Didn't he say he was rushing back to Washington to take leadership of the bill? Why then did he sit silent, never uttering a word until directly asked for his input, which was not helpful.

Will be interesting to see if he shows up for tonight's debate. As I recall from last night's news he said he'll be there. Was it a dream or wishful thinking? Because to me, if he doesn't show up at Ole Miss tonight, he's kissed his campaign goodbye.

Obama/Biden '08

Yes, the debate should go on as planned. If McCain doesn't want to show up, so be it.

Mr. Town Hall gets his chance to debate Obama and then he pulls a ridiculous stunt. McCain and his supporters must think he's the Messiah. Only he can solve the bailout issue.
McCain himself has said that he is not very knowledgable about the economy. What did he think he was going to contribute at the negotiations? The Washington meeting on Thursday was nothing more than a photo op.

I'm looking forward to seeing Obama mop up the floor with Exxon John. Then next week we part II of the mop up with Biden and the Soccer mom from nowhere.

Pay attention to McCain/Palin and how they will repeat the good points Obama and Biden bring up.

To: the many people I know who are on my email lists, I don't know who this guy is. But it kind of makes you think......

The Birk Economic Recovery Plan

Hi Pals,

I'm against the $85,000,000,000 bailout of AIG.

Instead, I'm in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in a 'We Deserve It Dividend'.

To make the math simple, let's assume there are 200,000,000 bon-a-fide U.S. Citizens 18+.

Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..

So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals $425,000.00.

My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a 'We Deserve It Dividend'.

Of course, it would NOT be tax free. So let's assume a tax rate of 30%.

Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes. That sends $25,500,000,000 right back to Uncle Sam.

But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket. A husband and wife has $595,000.00.

What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?

Pay off your mortgage - housing crisis solved.

Repay college loans - what a great boost to new grads

Put away money for college - it'll be there

Save in a bank - create money to loan to entrepreneurs.

Buy a new car - create jobs

Invest in the market - capital drives growth

Pay for your parent's medical insurance - health care improves

Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean - or else

Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed Forces.

If we're going to re-distribute wealth let's really do it...instead of trickling out a puny $1000.00 ( "vote buy" ) economic incentive that is being proposed by one of our candidates for President.

If we're going to do an $85 billion bailout, let's bail out every adult U S Citizen 18+!

As for AIG - liquidate it.

Sell off its parts.

Let American General go back to being American General.

Sell off the real estate.

Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.

Here's my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn't.

Sure it's a crazy idea that can "never work."

But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!

How do you spell Economic Boom?

I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion 'We Deserve It Dividend' more than I do the geniuses at AIG or in Washington DC.

And remember, The Birk plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because $25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.

Ahhh...I feel so much better getting that off my chest.

Kindest personal regards,

Birk

T. J. Birkenmeier, A Creative Guy & Citizen of the Republic

PS: Feel free to pass this along to your pals as it's either good for a laugh or a tear or a very sobering thought on how to best use $85 Billion!!

Wow, I vote for Fed Up....Well put