This past week was a doozy, including lots of fireworks from each presidential campaign, a 20% drop in the Dow and other markets, accusations of voter fraud, a boring debate, and an OJ Simpson conviction.
“Nuts” to ACORN
As I discuss at length in my post, Something’s Rotten at ACORN, there are accusations of voter fraud by the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now, or ACORN, in at least 12 states across the country. Barack Obama is doing his best to distance himself from the group, even though his campaign paid one of their proxy groups more than $800,000 to help register voters on behalf of the Obama campaign. Obama has…sort of…condemned any illegal actions ACORN may be involved with, but when asked about the group and their links to Senator Obama, his campaign tries to change the subject to Republican “voter suppression.”
The reality is that voter fraud and suppression, by either side or by neutral groups, is completely unacceptable. Actions such as those of ACORN, should they prove true as the many, many investigations shake out, amount to stealing the election from the American people. The Bloviator does not quite understand why such actions would be necessary from the left as their candidate is supposed to be the second coming and should not need any help from us mere mortals.
North Korea Tests Missiles, Removed from US Terrorism List
North Korea tested medium to long range missiles earlier this week after moving several missile launchers to the coast at the beginning of the week. We are told the tests were successful, however in today’s day and age we must take everything North Korea claims with a grain of salt. Remember their “successful” underground test of a nuclear weapon in 2007 that turned out to be, at least according to US officials, a failed test? I have also heard reports that Kim Jong Il has resurfaced at a sports event after he was presumed to have a severe stroke, although no pictures of the Korean leader have been circulated.
In a classic example of bad timing on the part of the US State Department, North Korea was removed from the State Department’s list of terrorist-sponsoring nations this Saturday. This move the the US government was actually our part of a deal reached between the US and N. Korea months ago in return for their destruction of key nuclear facilities and allowing UN weapons inspectors to return to the nation. Recently, though, in a series of saber-rattling moves by N. Korea, they have begun to reassemble some of these dismantled facilities, have kicked-out the UN inspectors, and have requested the IAEA remove the seals placed on their reactors.
So…while the removal of N. Korea from the terrorism list was our part of the deal we have now given the appearance that we are soft on this issue and will give in to foreign dictator’s demands if pushed enough. The Bloviator thinks this was a bad call, or at least bad timing, on the part of the State Department.
Dow goes down, down, down…is it Obama’s fault?
The roller-coaster ride in US and world markets continued this week as the Dow and other key indexes were down another 20% in the first 8 days of trading in October. It now seems that every day either President Bush or Secretary Paulson will make a “don’t panic” speech timed with the daily opening of the markets, which is promptly followed by a several hundred point loss during the course of the day’s trading. Given the track record of the past week The Bloviator wishes that the President and the Treasury Secretary would just shut the hell up. Telling American’s not to panic is a recipe for disaster, and we need to stop the panic selling before there are no markets left.
On top of the daily “don’t panic” speeches from Bush & Paulson, I wonder how much of the recent selling has to do with the recent polling in the Presidential election. With just 23 days remaining before the election time is short, and as the economy continues to dive into the tank it looks more and more like Barack Obama is going to be the next President of the United States. Obama makes no secret of the fact he intends to double capital gains taxes. If I had a large market portfolio I might be tempted to sell off now too, before the taxes on whatever income I might receive double while market value continues to fall.
It does not take a graduate economist to figure out it is a bad idea to raise taxes in an economic downturn or recession, but that is precisely what Barack Obama promises to do. He has had many chances, including in both recent debates, to back down from that position but he continues to boldly champion his plan to raise taxes on the very class of citizens that create the precious jobs we will need to recover from the current situation. Our society is on a dangerous crossroads between capitalism and socialism, and The Bloviator fears we are already headed down the wrong road.
OJ Simpson Convicted…Karma or Racism?
Thirteen years – to the exact day – O.J. Simpson was found guilty in Nevada of a host of felonies, including kidnapping, armed robbery, and ten other counts related to his self-described “sting” operation involving sports memorabilia. Sentencing is scheduled for December 5th, and Simpson will be held without bond until then. As soon as the ‘Juice’ had been taken from the courtroom after the jury’s verdict was read his attorneys began to claim that racism and vengeance were the primary factors in the conviction, however the jury members say that the recordings made during the crime were the most compelling evidence.
True, it may be difficult to find anyone in this country that does not know about the 1995 double-murders and the following trial in which OJ was acquitted. Memorable one-liners like “if the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit” come to mind immediately. It is insulting to think that the jurors, all of whom where interviewed and approved by both the prosecution and the defense, are somehow incapable of separating their opinions about the 1995 murders and the 2007 armed robbery.
Regardless of which side of the argument you happen to be on, one thing is almost certain – the ‘Juice’ is going to do time this time around. His legal team promises to appeal, but there does not appear to be much chance of success…although OJ has proven to be a modern-day Houdini when it comes to the legal system.
Supports to McCain: ”Take it to him”
If you happened to see the second Presidential debate you might not think John McCain has much passion and fight left in him. That debate was an exercise in dullness, with both candidates reading from their campaign’s talking points and neither getting fired up about anything. Senator McCain and Governor Palin have been traveling the country this week holding town hall style rallies, and several citizens have stood up and literally begged McCain to take the fight to Senator Obama.
McCain was asked in Wisconsin why he is allowing “socialist to take over our country” from a citizen upset about the potential of Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama controlling our country. The gentleman went on to say he was “mad” and that “it’s time for you two [McCain and Palin] to start fighting for us.”
Similarly, McCain was literally begged to attack Obama when a supporter said ”We have the good Reverend Wright. We have [the Rev.] Pfleger. We have all of these shady characters that have surrounded him. We have corruption here in Wisconsin and voting across the nation. I am begging you, sir. I am begging you. Take it to him.”
On Friday McCain had to step back and tell his crown not to “fear” an Obama presidency, which was received by silence and boos from the crowd.
Perhaps McCain will get the message…voters are upset and many are fearful that an Obama administration will be the straw that breaks the fragile camel’s back. At this point, though, The Bloviator is less than optimistic. I’ve said many times recently that this is no longer McCain’s race to win, but Obama’s to lose. We’ll see on November 4th.
Alaska “TrooperGate” Report Released
The so-called “TrooperGate” report surrounding Gov. Sarah Palin’s potential abuse of her powers was released on Friday evening…with mixed results.
The report claims that Governor Palin abused her powers in that she did not stop her husband, Todd, from his attempts to get trooper Wooten fired for his alleged misconducts and threats against the Palin family, however there was no wrong-doing cited on the part of the governor and no sanctions or disciplinary actions were imposed. Apparently the governor abused her powers by not preventing her husband from following up and pressing the issue.
The Bloviator fails to understand how not preventing a private citizen from asking questions within their rights is an abuse of power. Is this Democratic senator French’s “October surprise” that he promised earlier this year? The McCain campaign calls this report the result of a politically motivated “kangaroo court” and dismisses the findings as a $100,000 waste of Alaskan taxpayer dollars. At best this report is based on speculation and here-say, at worst it is a politically motivated attack on the popular governor.
Georgia Congressman Injects (more) Race into campaign:
Democratic Congressman John Lewis from Georgia attempted to inject race into the campaign by comparing the atmosphere of some recent McCain rallies to former Gov. George Wallace’s racially inflammatory statements in the 1960’s. Lewis’ comments are a little surprising as McCain cited the Congressman as someone he would consult if he became president earlier this year at Pastor Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church forum.
Lewis, speaking of segregationist and former Gov. George Wallace, saying Wallace “never threw a bomb. He never fired a gun, but he created the climate and the conditions that encouraged vicious attacks against innocent Americans who were simply trying to exercise their constitutional rights. Because of this atmosphere of hate, four little girls were killed on Sunday morning when a church was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama.”
Lewis concluded that “Senator McCain and Governor Palin are playing with fire, and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all. They are playing a very dangerous game that disregards the value of the political process and cheapens our entire democracy.”
Senator McCain took great offense to the Congressman’s statement, commenting that ”Congressman John Lewis’ comments represent a character attack against Governor Sarah Palin and me that is shocking and beyond the pale. The notion that legitimate criticism of Senator Obama’s record and positions could be compared to Governor George Wallace, his segregationist policies and the violence he provoked is unacceptable and has no place in this campaign.”
McCain called on Obama to “immediately and personally repudiate these outrageous and divisive comments.” The Obama campaign released a statement over the weekend distancing themselves from Lewis’ comments, and even Lewis himself has since changed his tune a bit, however when directly questioned about Lewis’ comments on the campaign trail Sunday Senator Obama effectively ignored the question and offered no comment.
TheBloviator 
29, May