Joe the plumber

Here’s the video of “Joe” the plumber that’s causing all the commotion. When he asked Obama about how he will be affected after he buys the plumbing company, Obama replies that …. well, you watch it and see for yourself.

Below is a video describing what the Global Poverty Act is. There is also a post on my site that gives more reference to the Global Poverty Act. I think my post actually describes the Bill a little better.

In my post about the tax legacy Obama has left in Chicago you can see that Chicago also believes in money redistribution. There is a push to DOUBLE the Illinois income tax for the wealthy.  Read more about the Robin Hood tax and the other excise taxes imposed in Chicago here.

Boring Debates

 

Who will benefit the most? Us or them ---> http://obamanigeria.org/

McCain and Obama signed a negotiated 31-page “memorandum of understanding” that has not been made public regarding the debates.

Could that be why they’re not talking about what WE want them to talk about?

In the second debate Brokaw selected questions from written queries submitted prior to the debate, according to the agreement.

 

The “memorandum” included such things as the debate formats, question types, seating arrangements, and even where a candidate can stand. In the second debate, the seats were bar stool type and the candidates, although allowed to stand could not roam outside a certain radius of “their area.”

 

Moderator behavior is kept in check. The camera is not allowed to show shots of the moderators’ reaction to candidates answers. The moderator is not allowed to ask follow up questions or point out inaccuracies or distortions by candidates.

 

The memorandum covers everything from how the candidates are addressed to the permissible camera shots.

 

Now we know why there is no talk of Ayers, Rev. Wright, Cousin Odinga, the birth certificate, ACORN, the Annenberg Challenge or all the other important issues that would decide our vote.

 

There is an overall push from the Open Debate Coalition to change the rules for the final debate. We’ll see tonight what happens.

 

Read more here and here.

 

Index of other posts here.

 

Hot posts:
Videos of indoctrinated Obama children
Video of lawyer detailing why he’s suing Obama for birth certificate information
A look back at the fiscal impact Chicago has had (directly or indirectly) from Obama

Africa intercepts/deports “Obama Nation” author Corsi on “lost paperwork”

2007 W/Cousin Odinga Campaigning in Africa

See  Nigerian website  —>   www.obamanigeria.org

Jerome Corsi was picked up this morning at his hotel in Nairobi by Kenyan officials 15 minutes  prior to a scheduled news conference in which he planned to announce the findings of his investigation into Barack Obama’s connections in the country. One official was quoted as saying, “We still haven’t decided what to do with him.”

Corsi was neither charged nor arrested for any offense although his passport was confiscated by Kenyan officials.

Corsi is reportedly in Kenya to unveil his new book “The Obama Nation” in Africa.

He may be feeling the consequences of being anti-Obama in a country that has an obsession with the US presidential candidate that exceeds even America’s.

The Kenyan government may be valiantly protecting the honor of their beloved future American President Obama.

Immigration officials say, Corsi was detained because the immigration forms his party filled out for customs had been lost.  However, another source says Corsi is being questioned because of references to Raila Odinga, the Kenyan prime minister, and allegations that Obama’s Muslim supporters incited violence after the Kenyan election.

The head of criminal investigations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, says Corsi was briefly detained before being taken to the airport for deportation.

Immigration officials say he failed to get a work permit while in Nairobi to launch his book.

Corsi’s book attacks the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate as seething with “black rage” and unfit for the presidency.

Obama has a long history of connections in Kenya, where his father worked as a government economist. Unfortunately, his father’s downfall was women and alcohol. Obama Sr. lost both his legs while driving drunk only to later lose his life while driving intoxicated again.  (A candid article about his dad the mainstream press never reported here)

Corsi documented this history in his book and went to Kenya to find answers to lingering questions – particularly about the links between the presidential candidate and Kenya Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Corsi had promised a news conference today that would “expose details of deep secret ties between U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and a section of Kenya government leaders, their connection to certain sectoral groups in Kenya and subsequent plot to be executed in Kenya should Senator Obama win the American presidency.”

Corsi was to report Odinga’s 2007 presidential campaign strategy called for exploiting anti-Kikuyu tribal sentiments, claiming victory and charging voter fraud even if the campaign knew the election had been legitimately lost. Odinga, Corsi said, also was willing to fan the flames of ethnic tribal tensions and use violence as a last resort by calling for mass action that led to the destruction of properties, injuries, loss of life and the displacement of over 500,000 Kenyans. The purpose was to compel the Electoral Commission of Kenya to declare him the winner or enable him to declare himself the winner by force.

Meanwhile, the management of the hotel where Corsi was scheduled to hold the press conference has repudiated its plans to provide the facility.

In a press release, the hotel said: “We would like to assure our business partners and the public at large that Laico Regency Hotel is a law-abiding institution and does not condone any smear campaigns. The management cannot allow such activities to take place.”

UPDATE: Corsi is now back home on 10/13/08 and is very ill.

Obama Legislation
http://willnevergiveup.wordpress.com/obamanomics/

Birth Certificate Lawsuit
http://willnevergiveup.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/lawsuit/

Obama’s fundraising formally challenged for legality with FEC

http://www.obamanigeria.org/ is the website advertised on this banner hung in Lagos which is the most populous urban area in Nigeria (pop. over 8 million)

The RNC filed a complaint today alleging that Obama’s presidential campaign has received illegal contributions from foreigners and donations that exceed federal limits.

News accounts suggest that roughly 11,500 donors who gave a total of $34 million to the campaign may be citizens of foreign countries, who are not allowed to contribute to U.S. elections, the RNC said.

Cited in the complaint was a Newsmax.com article that asserted “questionable overseas donations that contains more than 11,500 contributions totaling more than $33.8 million.” in an FEC records database.

According to Newsweek  two donors using the names “Doodad Pro” and “Good Will” gave Obama more than $11,000 in increments of $10 and $25.

Something the press didn’t cover last June were two huge campaign fundraisers in China on his behalf. Interestingly enough the few obscure press releases from last june have been scrubbed. One fundraiser was at the home of a Coca Cola executive in Bejing. The other fundraiser was at the Shanghai home of an executive of a company that manufactures electronic components for cell phones and the like (Richco). There are old blogs still available for view.

There are strict rules that candidates can only receive monies from American citizens. (The FEC  prohibits contributions from corporations and labor unions)

Another press release passed over this last August was the corruption probe in Nigeria for the “Africans for Obama” fundraiser. $630,000 in fundraiser money was seized. The organiser of the August 11 event, Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, chair of the Nigerian stock exchange, was questioned by corruption investigators but was cleared of any wrongdoing because no Nigerian laws were broken.

The press has also overlooked the website supporting Obama in Nigeria. The site address is www.obamanigeria.org

Obama, mentioned in an op-ed by economics professor Jay Mandle in the Washington Post:

The Obama campaign has repeatedly touted their financial gain from small donations. About $200 million has come from small donations.

During a Feb. 26 debate in Cleveland, for example, Obama said that “we have now raised 90 percent of our donations from small donors, $25, $50.”

Mandle’s op-ed notes “Contributions of less than $200 do not have to be itemized in reports to the Federal Election Commission, so we have no idea how many are made.”

That would mean 90 Percent of Obama donors had not been reported to the FEC.

According to the FEC:
$100 in currency (cash) to any political committee. (Anonymous cash contributions may not exceed $50.) Contributions exceeding $100 must be made by check, money order or other written instrument.

According to the FEC:
Contributions made in the name of another are prohibited. For example, an individual who has already contributed up to the limit for a candidate’s election may not give money to another person to make a contribution to the same candidate. Similarly, a corporation is prohibited from using bonuses or other methods of reimbursing employees for their contributions.

According to the FEC:
Foreign nationals, Federal government contractors and, in some instances, minors are prohibited from contributing funds.

According to the FEC:
If you contribute more than $200 to a committee, the committee is required to use its best efforts to collect and publicly disclose on a financial report your name, address, occupation and employer, as well as the date and amount of your contribution.

Isn’t That Blackmail?

Democrats threatened to attack Jewish groups’ tax exempt status over VP nomination invite

“It’s an absolute shame that this has happened,” Hikind said. “To threaten organizations … to threaten the Conference of Presidents that if you don’t withdraw the invitation to Gov. Palin we’re going to look into your tax exempt status … that’s McCarthyism.”

This tactic is straight out of the Saul Alinsky “Rules for Radicals” book. Rule #9 to be specific.

Rule 9: The threat is more terrifying than the thing itself. When Alinsky leaked word that large numbers of poor people were going to tie up the washrooms of O’Hare Airport, Chicago city authorities quickly agreed to act on a longstanding commitment to a ghetto organization. They imagined the mayhem as thousands of passengers poured off airplanes to discover every washroom occupied. Then they imagined the international embarrassment and the damage to the city’s reputation.

Saul Alinsky was a “community organizer” years ago in Chicago. Alinsky isn’t just any organizer. He is generally considered to be the founder of community organizing. Obama’s training in community organizing is based on Saul Alinsky tactics. It’s easier to understand why Obama doesn’t give specifics to his early career in community organizing.

In Saul Alinsky’s 1971 book “Rules for Radicals” he explains: What follows is for those who want to change the world from what it is to what they believe it should be. The Prince was written by Machiavelli for the Haves on how to hold power. Rules for Radicals is written for the Have-Nots on how to take it away.

Rule #1 is being used with the media as I uncovered in yesterdays post.

Today, a high profile anti-Iran rally is being held at the United Nations. The media isn’t telling you what happened last week behind the scenes for the “Stop Iran” rally.

Having been invited to the rally months ago, Senator Clinton agreed and squeezed the event into her schedule.

Last Tuesday, 9/16/2008, a rally organizer publicly announced that Senator Clinton, Governor Palin, and Nobel Laureate Ellie Wiesenthal would appear at the rally.

Within hours Senator Clinton, who had been confirmed for months, promptly withdrew her promise to attend.

Sources said  Sen. Clinton pulled out because she did not want to attend the same event as the Republican vice presidential candidate. Soon, Senator Palin would be disinvited.

The decision to disinvite Sarah Palin came after two days of conference calls with angry event planners.

An invitation was made to Biden to balance the rally. He declined.

In return, the Obama campaign offered to send Robert Wexler (FL) to speak. Wexler has been quoted as calling Palin a “Nazi sympathizer.” Obviously that wouldn’t work.

In the end, democrats threatened to attack Jewish groups’ tax exempt status over VP nomination invite unless she was disinvited.

The McCain campaign released this statement:
“Governor Palin was pleased to accept an invitation to address this rally and show her resolve on this grave national security issue, regrettably that invitation has since been withdrawn under pressure from Democratic partisans,” reads the statement. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with Republicans, Democrats and independents alike to oppose Ahmadinejad’s goal of a nuclear armed Iran. Senator Obama’s campaign had the opportunity to join us. Senator Obama chose politics rather than the national interest.”

More articles …

http://mensnewsdaily.com/2008/09/22/open-letter-to-my-fellow-jews-the-democratic-party-is-not-your-religion-or-anybody%E2%80%99s/

 

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/19/1426996.aspx

 

http://www.examiner.com/x-847-Conservative-Politics-Examiner~y2008m9d20-Whats-the-Truth-About-the-Iranian-Protest-Scandal

 

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/09/disinviting_palin_cowardly_and.html

 

http://frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=97AFC50A-F71F-4AC0-AA23-57F21C2E9705

Isn’t That What A Thug Would Do?

As predicted in an earlier post about Obama collecting a supporter data-base.

Now Obama’s presidential campaign is increasingly using the list to beat back media messages it does not like, calling on supporters to flood radio and television stations when those opposed to him run anti-Obama ads or appear on talk shows.

Last monday night, Obama’s campaign orchestrated a massive stream of complaints on the phone lines of a radio station hosting an author who has written a controversial book about Obama.

Obama’s website says “Hit ‘em where it hurts,” telling supporters how to complain to advertisers at stations who run anti-Obama ads.

“We’ll provide you with talking points on this maliciously false hit ad to help guide you through the process,” the page said, citing a spot run by a conservative group called the American Issues Project.

Roughly 100,000 e-mails were sent in August to stations that aired  an ad, which criticized Obama for his ties to former 1960s radical William Ayers

Obama has a history of clearing the playing field in past elections.

There are also news stories popping up around the country with complaints of voter registration fraud occurring. Articles here, here and here.

Our Media… Connecting the dots?

Here’s what the media isn’t telling you — and I may have even stumbled onto who’s controlling the media to boot…

While the fingers are being pointed back and forth from one political party to another I’m going to take the opportunity to point out a few things you may not know. I can’t stand by and listen to what’s going on without comment.

Although this is a LONG post  – I’ll be pointing out Obama’s stance on Fannie Mae; Obama’s connection with James Johnson; Johnsons surprising associations with other organizations (including the media); and finally where McCain stood regarding Fannie Mae which may surprise you.

I’ll try to highlight different areas, should you prefer to scan to that area of interest rather than read the post in it’s entirety.

The 47-year-old Senator Obama, who has campaigned with a call to “change”, has vowed to reject all contributions from lobbyists and to rid politics of corruption and self-interest.

In Obama’s short career with the US Senate, he was the 2nd largest recipient of “donations” from Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac. Sen. Clinton is reported to be third.

As an untarnished newcomer who has vowed to clean up Washington politics, Obama secured Mr. James Johnson, a former chief executive of mortgage giant Fannie Mae. Johnson led the hunt for the vice presidential search back in June when “the” scandal broke. Johnson was apparently receiving favourable treatment for his home loan from Countrywide Financial while at Fannie Mae – a bank Senator Obama had sharply criticised for its role in the sub-prime lending crisis.

Obama “called Countrywide Financial Corp., the biggest U.S. mortgage company, an example of what’s wrong in today’s economy and a political culture dominated by corporate lobbyists.”

Senator Obama said in a statement that Mr Johnson had resigned his campaign because he “did not want to distract in any way from the very important task of gathering information about my vice presidential nominee“.

Johnson is a strong Obama supporter who has personally donated the maximum $4,600 to his 2008 Presidential campaign, as well as $1,000 to Obama’s Senate campaign in 2004.

In addition to personal donations, Johnson is a bundler of the Obama campaign, raising between $200,000 and $500,000.

An Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight  (OFHEO) report from September 2004 found that, during Johnson’s tenure as CEO, Fannie Mae had improperly deferred $200 million in expenses. This enabled top executives, including Johnson and his successor, Franklin Raines, to receive substantial bonuses in 1998. (Raines will be addressed on this site soon)

In harsher terms Fannie Mae’s earnings were manipulated, which resulted In “maximum payouts” to executives Including CEO Jim Johnson. In other words – they cooked the books.

A 2006 OFHEO report found that Fannie Mae had substantially under-reported Johnson’s compensation. Originally reported as $6-7 million, Johnson actually received approximately $21 million.

Companies James Johnson is associated with

ZymoGenetics, Inc.,
Biotechnology (ZGEN, NYSE)
Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer, Executive Vice President and Treasurer

BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBERSHIPS:

Forestar Real Estate Group Inc (2007-Present)
Property Management (FOR, NYSE)
Director, Chairman of Management Development & Executive Compensation Committee and Member of Executive Committee

Gannett Co., Inc., 2000-Present *
Leading international news and information company (GCI, NYSE)
Former Director

Temple-Inland Inc., 2000-Present
Manufacture of corrugated packaging and building products (TIN, NYSE)
Former Director, Chairman of Management Development & Executive Compensation Committee and Member of Executive Committee

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., 1999-Present
Global investment banking, securities and investment management firm (GS, NYSE)
Director, Chairman of Compensation Committee, Member of Audit Committee and Member of Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee

Target Corp., 1996-Present
General merchandise and food discount stores (TGT, NYSE)
Lead Director, Chairman of Compensation Committee, Chairman of Corporate Governance Committee, Member of Executive Committee and Member of Corporate Responsibility Committee

Unitedhealth Group, Inc., 1993-Present
Four operating divisions: Health Care Services, OptumHealth, Ingenix and Prescription Solutions (UNH, NYSE)
Former Director, Chairman of Independent Committee, Chairman of Public Policy Strategies & Responsibility Committee and Member of Audit Committee

KB Home, 1992-Present
Builder of single-family homes, townhomes and condominiums (KBH, NYSE)
Former Director

The Brookings Institution, Honorary Trustee

Perseus, L.L.C., Vice Chairman

University of Minnesota Foundation, Trustee

John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts, Chairman Emeriti

KB Home/Shaw Louisiana LLC, Director

OTHER AFFILIATIONS
Cummins Inc., KB Home, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Gannett Co., Inc., The Brookings Institution, Perseus, L.L.C., Temple-Inland Inc., University of Minnesota Foundation, John F. Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts, Fannie Mae, Unitedhealth Group, Inc., Target Corp., Targeted Genetics Corp., University of Washington, Forestar Real Estate Group Inc., KB Home/Shaw Louisiana LLC

What isn’t being publicized is how McCain co-sponsored a bill that was introduced January 26, 2005 called The Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005. (S.190 / 109th session).

It was a bill “to address the regulation of secondary mortgage market enterprises, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.”

The bill wasn’t met with any enthusiasm.

Legislative comments on pages s599 and s600 on record in part said:

(Sen Hagel speaks)…

This is needed regulatory reform at a critical time … . In 2003, Freddie Mac found itself treading through a wave of accounting problems and questionable management actions. That led to an income restatement of $5 billion, a penalty of $125 million and the removal of several members of its executive management. One year later, a similar surge of questionable practices was discovered at Fannie Mae. That led to the retirement and resignation of two of Fannie Mae’s top management officials, as well as last month’s ruling by the Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, that Fannie could face a $9 billion income restatement.

S. 190

I urge everyone to go read the complete records on file.

*The Associated Press (AP) is a not-for-profit cooperative, which means it is owned by its 1,500 U.S. daily newspaper members. They elect a board of directors that direct the cooperative. Of the (roughly) twenty-two board members — Gannett Co., Inc. is one the board of members. Gannett is one of the largest and most influential media companies in the United States.

Nigeria recovers $630,000 from Obama dinner

A banner hung in Lagos which is the most populous urban area in Nigeria (pop. over 8 million)

From Africasia.com website:

31/08/2008 18:08 LAGOS, Aug 31 (AFP)

Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency said Sunday it has recovered about 630,000 dollars raised during a dinner organised in Lagos in aid of US presidential hopeful Barack Obama. read more – read more here — and here

As you can see on the banner — there is a seperate website for Nigerians http://obamanigeria.org/

I’d be curious to know where that IP address tracks back to.

Obama NationCitizen of the world: http://obamanigeria.org/

 

A banner hung in Lagos which is the most populous urban area in Nigeria (pop. over 8 million)

http://obamanigeria.org/

 is an interesting website to scan through.

 

The site makes reference to Obama Nigeria Initiatives, Lego

Source of Smears

There is some disagreement as to the origin of that expression, which used to mean specifically by fair means or foul, that is, legal or illegal (crooked). The term dates  back to the time of the English theologian John Wycliffe, who used it in his Controversial Tracts (c.1380).

Such controversial tracts were pointed out today in an editorial I was reading about a new website that came out today.

The website is called sarahpalingayrights.com

The editorial alleges the IP address was traced back to obamadefense.com

ObamaDefense.com was traced back to FightTheSmears.com

It’s a GREAT read I highly recommend — read the whole article here.

cell phones

Welcome to Obama’s world — you’ve just been Data Mined and put into the Obama database

First Obama asked all his supporters to submit their cell-phone numbers so he could announce his VP choice through text messaging to you first. Didn’t it make you feel special that you’d find out first?

The text message was delivered late after a “media leak” and the rest of the world found out before you did.

How’d THAT work for you?

BO just wanted your cell phone number for a huge database he’s gathering.

Congratulations - you bought into BO’s assertions that “you’re special” by giving out your cell phone numbers to get Obama  news first – well – you just fed into the huge cell phone database he’s keeping on YOU.

It’s all about Obama — not you.

“Change” I’ve come to depend on

I wrote a post today and made a decision at the time not to mention a piece of information that weighed heavily on my mind.

I’ve reconsidered, I’ve decided to share my thoughts.

Early on, as I’ve expressed before, I was enchanted with Obama’s speeches. In my quest to eagerly learn more about him I initially went to his Senate sight to read more.  It was at that point in time, that I read on his senate website that he was a proud member of the Trinity United Church of Christ (TUCC). I read both of BO’s books as well. Any piece of information I could grasp about him or the people around him – I read.

As coincidence would have it, I had downloaded Obama’s family tree prior to the infamous speech he made on Memorial Day in May while in New Mexico about his “uncle” who was in WWII.

The reason I downloaded it was because the name “Wright” was listed in his ancestry. At the time, Obama had been referring to Rev. Wright as an Uncle figure in his life — I wanted to follow up on that lead later — wondering, if perhaps, Rev. Wright was indeed an extended family member from generations back (which I have yet to do).

At the time, Obama cited that his uncle had helped liberate Auschwitz during WWII.

After it was pointed out that Obama’s mother was an only child, he later revised his statement to say that it wasn’t an uncle, but rather a great uncle.

After it was pointed out that the US didn’t liberate Auschwitch, he later revised his statement to say that his great uncle liberated Ohrduf camp, a sub-camp of Buchenwald and added that his uncle was a member of the 89th Infantry Division.

With these “changes” came great debate on the internet forums. Unknown to most people, the “great uncle” in question still seemed to have some discrepancies.

You see, there was a Charles W. Payne who was on his family tree who was born approximately 1924. When researched, Charles W. Payne did not serve the 89th infantry, but rather was enlisted in the NAVY.

After it was pointed out that his uncle Charles W. Payne couldn’t have liberated the sub-camp of Buchenwald because he wasn’t even in the Army, Obama later revised his statement to say that his great uncles name was Charles T. Payne.

There WAS a Charles T. Payne listed as serving in the 89th Infantry Division.

But here’s what most people don’t know about that discrepancy.

I downloaded his family tree off the internet shortly before the great uncle debacle. The family tree I downloaded said:

15. Leona MCCURRY was born about May 1897 in Kansas.

Rolla Charles PAYNE and Leona MCCURRY married in Kansas about 1922 and had the following children:

1. i. Madelyn PAYNE

ii. Charles W. PAYNE born about 1924.

iii. Arlene PAYNE born about 1926.

Later, when I revisited the SAME website after the argument began, the information had changed to:

15. Leona MCCURRY was born about May 1897 in Kansas.

Rolla Charles PAYNE and Leona MCCURRY married in Kansas about 1922 and had the following children:

1. i. Madelyn PAYNE

ii. Charles Thomas PAYNE born in 1925.

iii. Arlene PAYNE born about 1926.

His geneology had been changed on the internet after researchers pointed out the additional inconsistencies in his story.

Another point that should be made is an earily similar 2002 speech Obama made:

My grandfather signed up for a war the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, fought in Patton’s army. He saw the dead and dying across the fields of Europe; he heard the stories of fellow troops who first entered Auschwitz and Treblinka. He fought in the name of a larger freedom, part of that arsenal of democracy that triumphed over evil, and he did not fight in vain. I don’t oppose all wars.

Is it possible both his granddad and granddads’ brother both fought in the war? Or had the war story evolved from 2002 to 2008?

I can’t substantiate the family tree that I had downloaded on my hard drive. After all, who would believe me? Eventually the whole incident was forgotten.

Should we be forgetting these “changing” stories that keep cropping up or are they red flags we should be tucking away in the back of our mind and make note of?

UPDATE: During the Denver Convention Michelle stood up in the audience (on the last day?) along with an old Uncle Willie as he was introduced on national TV as the uncle who was in the war. I about had a cow when I heard his name announced. I wish I had that clip to verify what I thought I heard.

Town Hall Meetings

Remember when Senator Obama was invited by Senator McCain to ten town hall meetings with him before the National Convention?

Obama, at the time, replied, “I think that’s a great idea.”

On May 16, 2008, Obama said, he was willing to debate foreign affairs with McCain “Any time. Any place.”

Then it never happened.

Here’s what few journalists are telling you…

McCain wanted to conduct ten informal (unmoderated) town hall meetings where the public could stand and ask impromptu questions of each of the candidate without any guidelines.

Obama refused to attend the unmoderated town meetings but was willing to attend if McCain changed the format of the meetings to moderated Lincoln-Douglas style debates. McCain declined to change the format.

In turn Obama invited McCain to two of his town hall LD debates. Still declining to debate with scripted questions and answers, McCain declined the counter offer of moderated town hall meetings.

For those of you who don’t know what Lincoln/Douglas debate format is…

An “LD” debate is structured. When Lincoln/Douglas debated, one spoke for an hour, the other for an hour and a half, and the first was allowed a half-hour rebuttal. They are staged much like prepared speeches.

In effect, Obama didn’t want to stand in front of a crowd without a prepared speech. McCain didn’t want to stand in front of a crowd with a prepared speech.

Today, in an AP release, Obama’s campaign manager said the three commission-sponsored debates would most likely be the only debates the two candidates will have.

A campaign spokeswoman went on to say Senator Obama had invited Senator McCain to two town hall meetings and they didn’t materialize because, “the McCain campaign had rejected Obama’s proposal for two joint town hall meetings.” Yes. McCain declined. Now you know WHY they both declined each others invitations.

The three commission-sponsored debates will be Sept. 26, Oct. 7 and Oct. 15. The VP debate will be held Oct. 2.

The Obama Prayer

“What initially seemed to be a journalistic scoop of dubious moral propriety now seems to be a case of an Israeli paper being played by the Barack Obama campaign,” reported the Israel Insider.

On July 24th, on an early Thursday morning, Senator Obama visited Jerusalem’s holiest place. The 2,000 year old Western Prayer Wall. He solemly placed a prayer between the stones at the wall. It’s considered a direct communication to the Creator.

Dozens of people were waiting for Obama as he arrived for the pre-dawn visit that was not announced to the public.

The second most popular newspaper in Israel, the Ma’Ariv, got hold of his piece of paper and published the very private prayer.

“Lord – Protect my family and me. Forgive me my sins, and help me guard against pride and despair. Give me the wisdom to do what is right and just. And make me an instrument of your will.”

Across America headlines like Student apologizes for taking Obama prayer; Yeshiva Student Who Dug Obama’s Prayer Note from Western Wall Feels Guilty, Atones; What Did Obama Learn on His Overseas Trip?; Rabbi condemns release of purported Obama prayer note;

But when a Jerusalem lawyer petitioned the attorney general to order a police investigation regarding the incident the truth came out.

A statement from a spokesperson from Ma’ariv, the newspaper that published the private note said:

“Barack Obama’s note was approved for publication in the international media even before he put in the Kotel, a short time after he wrote it at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. In any case, since Obama is not a Jew, publishing the note does not constitute an infringement on his right to privacy.”

It appears that the religious note was intentionally “leaked.”

UPDATE 7/30/08 — A new editorial has been released this morning from the Israel Insider explaining the mixed messages which includes a VIDEO  showing the person who took the prayer.

A “…video appeared on YouTube that blended Obama’s Western Wall prayer with various church scenes, crosses, a dove of peace, and a soundtrack based on Amazing Grace. The video closes with a “vote” button and an invitation to visit the official campaign website.”

Money Buys Everything: Will the Homeless or Snubbed Wounded Soldiers Bite?

Newly Painted 757

As we all know, BO is spending a week overseas. Presumably to add foreign policy credentials to his resume. With him hiring 300 (THREE HUNDRED) foreign policy advisors how could he do wrong? How much did that cost I wonder.

I heard bits and pieces of his speeches while he was away. I found it disingenuous that he told our foreign friends that he was not there to campaign but rather there as an American citizen. He went on to say “he looked different” – I take offense to him throwing out the race card – yet again. I don’t believe Condilisa Rice or Colan Powell say that when they visit our foreign friends. Shame on you Obama.

Then, while in Germany, two different military base visits to wounded soldiers were cancelled. The story varies-depending on who’s telling it.

The Pentagon issued a statement that regulations prohibit a candidate for office from being accompanied by campaign staff when visiting a military base.” Senate staff would have been OK, but, as it turns out, campaign staff is all he had in tow. Clearance for his plane to land on the base was authorized. Could he have left his campaign staff on board the plane for awhile or was visiting the soldiers becoming too much of an inconvenience?

The Obama campaign has indicated the Pentagon interfered with its decision to visit U.S. troops at the Ramstein and Landstuhl U.S. military bases in Germany. Well… in BO legal speak that’s technically true.

So… If Mr. Obama was not overseas to “campaign” to foreign countries-as he stated in his speeches–why is it that the only staff he had on board his newly painted plane were campaign staff?

I’ve also heard rumblings that while in Afghanistan, Obama snubbed the soldiers – although I can’t verify the validity to that rumor.

And while I’m on the subject of Obamas’ behavior. Is it just me or does he seem to be trying to demonstrate all the suggestions printed in the book titled “The Secret”?  (Didn’t his good friend 0prah have a show about it?) He’s ACTING like he’s already President — just like the book would suggest. He’s calling his plane “O Force One.” His staff was overheard referring to him as “President Obama.” Isn’t this behavior a bit too much make believe? Or is it arrogance?

Today while BO is in London I can’t help but reflect how much money he’s been spending. He raised $52 million in June and will NEED every penny because his campaign has 1,400 workers on the payroll and is still hiring more. If you’re with the “change” machine — money is no object. Is there anything that leads you to believe there will be a “change” of spending habits once he has access to your tax dollars?

Here, back in the states, whispers of how Denver plans on hiding the 4,000 homeless people who call downtown Denver “home” has started erupting in the news.

Is the Democratic National Convention trying to sanitize the streets of Denver for the big event? Denver states “They will not ’sweep’ homeless people away or try to hide them, but will seek to engage them in the process.” That process is to offer free movie tickets and free bus tokens to the homeless. Others will stroll around the Denver Zoo or Museum of Nature and Science. And others will play bingo.

“This isn’t unusual … The whole homeless provider community routinely offers access to public events for people experiencing homelessness,” a spokesperson said.

Wouldn’t it be a gas if a reporter went undercover as a homeless person to see if they sign them up for the vote like rumours allege?

Why don’t they invite the homeless to the DNC events for the community experience? Everyone else seems to be going.

It’s not just the Denver homeless. Advocacy groups and shelters across the country have stepped up efforts to register the 3.5 million  homeless for this years’ vote.

Has anyone stopped to consider the vast amounts of money being spent?

Has a single voter – in a lucid moment – stopped to consider a single thing that BO has done that indicated a reigning in of our tax dollars? What makes you believe he will treat your tax money any differently than his campaign money? It’s all “free” money, right?

Every time I turn around I see more money being poured out. His campaign promises will all cost not only more tax dollars but will include hiring of more government employees.

Has anyone stopped to think who’s going to pay? Those will be YOUR tax dollars.

Do you really believe that after he’s squeezed every cent out of “them” he isn’t going to come after YOU through added EXCISE taxes?

My question remains the same…

Do you believe the government has enough of your tax money to accomplish what they need to do?