Political miscellany

[nancylebov]

Even if the financial system can only survive with help from the government, how sure are we that the current US plan will work at all well, considering the Bush administration's general record?

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A few days ago, I was talking with some Obama campaigners. I mentioned that I was voting for him, but was concerned that civil liberties and opposition to torture seemed to have dropped off his agenda. They agreed that those issues had in fact dropped off the agenda. In other words, they didn't try to bullshit me, which is something.

On second thought, choosing Biden as a running mate probably means that torture isn't off the agenda.

******

McCain is opposed to requiring retirees to sell the stock from their 401Ks at age 70 1/2. Who thought that requirement was a good idea in the first place, and why?

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Bob Barr made a good point on NPR this morning-- where has the Justice Department been in all this? There's been a tremendous amount of just plain fraud, and I haven't heard about prosecutions for anything specific. Have you?

On the other hand, he doesn't seem to understand religious freedom. Marty Moss-Cowain brought up Barr's support 10 years ago for not allowing Wicca in the US military. Barr said that it wasn't a matter of religious freedom, it was about good order in the military. At first he believed it when he was told that Wicca was a problem, but later arguments (information?) caused him to change his mind. I give him points for mental flexibility, and I'm pleased that principles and facts ended up pointing in the same direction, but it definitely was a matter of religious freedom.

Comments

voter fraud

[malibrarian.livejournal.com]

The Republicans made the same charges of voter fraud in the 2004 elections and almost all of them were found to be without merit. Many of these cases of fraud are being reported by the organizations who sponsored the voting drives, who are required by law to turn in every form they receive, even if it's for Mickey Mouse.

The Republican efforts to block new voters in this election have been notable.

[supergee.livejournal.com]

My guess is that the Obama campaign has so much other Bush legacy to hit McCain with that they see little point in discussing civil liberties and torture.

Re: voter fraud

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

I'm talking about financial fraud, not electoral.

[madfilkentist]

I talked with an Obama shill in Harvard Square just a few days after Obama's infamous reverse on telecom amnesty, and raised that issue. It was clear that he'd been coached to explain why we now need to put "national security" first and that illegal actions are OK as long as they're not for "illegal purposes" (whatever that distinction means). He was clearly uncomfortable with the position he was taking, which is why I think he was coached.

[malibrarian.livejournal.com]

I've read articles that say the various branches of government are looking into such things. These cases normally take forever to put together and probably will be done long after the election is over.

[kugelblitz.livejournal.com]

What, Mukasey actually start something?

[holzman.livejournal.com]

The FBI is investigating possible fraud. That's only been a going on for a few weeks, so it's a bit early for prosecutions.

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

Bob Barr: It would be nice if the Libertarian Party were to nominate libertarians.

Ah, well. The Anti-Masonic Party's first (and only) Presidential nominee was a Mason, I've read.

article on financial fraud

[malibrarian.livejournal.com]

from today's New York Times homepage:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/washington/19fbi.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[landley.livejournal.com]

In the third debate McCain complained that free trade with Columbia was a "no brainer", and Obama replied that Columbia's civil liberties problems (killing union organizers and such) were why he hadn't supported it.

Go to http://www.hulu.com/watch/39435/msnbc-decision-08-mccain-and-obamas-final-debate?e08=1
around 50:20.

[landley.livejournal.com]

The FISA thing is why I haven't given Obama any money. I'll probably still vote for him, but I'm angry at the guy and won't donate a dime.