This past week has been historic for all the right and wrong reasons. A $700 billion economic bailout has been passed but appears to be a band-aid on a gushing carotid artery, the markets set records for how far they could plunge in a day, the vice presidential nominees went toe to toe and Arnold asked the Feds for a loan to cover state expenses.
Is the sky falling? No, really is it falling? I can’t really tell because I’m in my self sustaining bunker.
It’s the economy, stupid!
“I just saved a bunch of money. by screwing over the American people.” This should be the slogan for the recent economic bailout. It is a flawed deal and we are regretting it already.
Many have asked how we got to where we are. Frankly, I am getting tired of hearing who is to blame for the current mess. I don’t care if it was the Republicans pushing for less regulation or Clinton passing reforms. The bottom line is that our compassion got the better of us in the welfare state we now live in. Fanny and Freddie made bad loans. When the applicant can’t pay for a loan, it shouldn’t be issued. But the mortgage companies knew the Feds would bail them out, taking risk out of the equation.
As companies invested in the bad loans they spread the problem worse than a hooker on a three day bender. And because these loans have been sold in millions of little pieces there is no way of tracking down where the separation is between good and bad loans. In turn, the American people have been left holding the bag of steaming diapers. I just hope we just don’t have to bend over and ask “please sir, may I have another?”
Hope and change – empty rhetoric?
This week Sen. McCain promised to take the gloves off when dealing with to Sen. Obama. I welcome this change; it’s about time.
For too long Obama’s extended campaign – the media – has hidden or omitted the truth about him. What is that truth?
For one, one of Obama’s economic advisers is Franklin Raines, former CEO of Fannie Mae. During his tenure at Fannie, he collected millions from bonuses and early retirement.
Obama also has ties to William Ayres, a terrorist. Ayers was involved in terrorist bombings of the New York City police headquarters, the U.S. capitol building, and the Pentagon in the early 1970s. When Obama was running for Illinois state senate, Ayers donated money to Obama’s campaign and hosted a event for him.
In a fundraiser in San Francisco in April, Obama said, “They get bitter, they cling to guns or religion” in reference to the frustration of the political process by small town Americans. Yet this is the same man who champions his support of the common man.
These are among the many issues that raise questions to me about Obama’s “hope and change” rhetoric. Is Obama actually capable of what he claims? Or is he really just a good speaker who makes people feel good? I contend the latter is the case. Obama’s leadership is nonexistent. During his time in the Illinois state senate, he took no stances on the big issues. Rather than voting yes or no on an issue he voted “present.” How is this leadership?
On Sarah Palin
Stephanie England’s guest column in the Mustang Daily on Oct. 7 continues to illustrate the genius in Palin’s nomination. She has energized the conservative base – something McCain failed to do in the primary season. She is a down-to-earth, sensible person and someone almost anyone can relate to. She is actually in the middle class, something neither Obama, Biden or McCain can claim.
England’s column purported to analyze the vice presidential debates, but went wrong in the analysis.
Does it matter that Palin is casual? Not really. Frankly, if anything it is refreshing. You don’t honestly believe that she would be as casual to world leaders as she is in a televised debate, do you? England, you say you are tired of the “closed-minded, theocratic, elitist politicians,” but you fail to realize is that you are supporting two of them in your support of Obama. Neither Obama nor Biden work for consensus, both are members of the Washington elite and Obama spent years in a radical, “theocratic” church.
I frequently disagree with McCain and his policies. However out of our options, McCain is the most open-minded choice we have. In May I contended that I was a man without a party or a candidate with the nomination of John McCain. I argued that unless something changed, I would not vote for president.
Now, many things have changed. McCain grew a conservative back-bone and chose a conservative running mate. If Obama wins, I’d rather douse myself in gasoline then see this shining beacon on a hill plowed under.
With that said, it is good to be back writing for the Daily. With everything that is happening, I’m was almost at a loss as to where to start things off this year. There are many issues pressing that should to be presented before the election, if only time permitted. I hope to cover as many as possible.
Ian Nachreiner is an agricultural sciences senior and Mustang Daily columnist.