A surprise phone call for N.H. man

This guy mentioned like thousand's of others, that this economy is worst. We are in a Depression. Anytime, people are deciding about food, gas, energy, phone, and alike. As if we are children. We want our America back.

Get real. With a slower economy, I might cut back on taking the wife out for dinner as often. I might decide to wait till "that movie" is out on DVD to see it. But no way in hell would I not get my AC fixed if it was broken, and I find it hard to believe that enough people would to cause a slump in that business. In fact last week when i had to have mine repaired the company was booked solid, and I had to wait an extra day to get a tech out for service.

Get real. With a slower economy, I might cut back on taking the wife out for dinner as often. I might decide to wait till "that movie" is out on DVD to see it. But no way in hell would I not get my AC fixed if it was broken, and I find it hard to believe that enough people would to cause a slump in that business. In fact last week when i had to have mine repaired the company was booked solid, and I had to wait an extra day to get a tech out for service.

I would suggest that Mr. Prouty examine the facts before making such bold statements against our current President. What type of veiled attempt is it to hide his criticisms under the mask of "the past eight years." Hmm, perhaps that includes the last two terms of President Bush! I wonder what the tax cuts under a Republican congress and Pres Bush did to hurt his business. We're in a war that has never been fought before and he better start thanking President Bush for having the tenacity to bring the fight overseas so that he can go to sleep at home in the US.
And what has the legislative branch done about oil prices which are the biggest player in our economy, and hurting all of us? Surely that must be somebody's fault. I doubt this would be due to the fact the democratic-run congress refuses to approach the issue. It is probably our own President who is the one to blame. I heard he comes from oil money!
I feel sorry for those who believe what others say and promise without checking into their history. Would you go on a road trip without checking the oil level of your car? If citizens would look at actions and track records, they would find a completely different truth. Watch how truthfully President Bush treats his First Lady with love and compassion. That is a man who represents values, integrity, and the best interests of our Great Nation.
Although I feel he is mis-informed, I thank Mr. Prouty for fighting for his American Dream by running his own business and I admire that he stands behind his personal ideals. I wish you all the best in deciding this election. Go USA!

I wish I get a phone call from Obama the President of the United States of America.

I didn't know the messiah made phone calls

To #2, people might fix their AC because it's broke (and i'm sure there are people that can't afford to get it fixed although you think differently) but service calls are not where they make their money. It's in the purchase of a new unit that makes the bigger bucks. I'm sure service calls have increased because people can't afford a new unit, hence not making as much money, not to mention the cost of the unit has risen as well.
To #4, First you denigrate the guy for giving his opinion, because he's in a rough spot and then you say you "thank" him for living the american dream, let's try to be more of a hypocrite. If you actually re-read the reason you got so flustered about his comment in the first place, the "past eight years" is not in his quote, it is a biased wording in the article and it gives no reference as to who said it, whether it was Mr. Prouty, Barack Obama or even the writer of the post. Obviously you don't realize that Copper, Steel, Corn, and other commodities (including oil) have doubled in the last year and Labor cost has risen 50% in that same span, yet Republicans didn't want to increase the minimum wage. Hmm, some American Dream. Rich get Richer and Poor get Poorer. Don't blame it on one group of legislators that have been in power for two years (and are doing the same thing they said wouldn't, creating bipartisan congress, I know), if you don't like it...vote and make a difference.

You're gonna have an even harder time saving money when Obama taxes you to death and some unemployed crackhead get's the needle removed from his arm off your hard earned money that has been taxed to death for Social Heatlhcare.

Getting a call from Obama is nothing to be proud of. Prouty is the kind of guy who isn't smart enough to know that with a communist like Obama, HE WILL BE AMONG THE FIRST TO HAVE HIS TAXES RAISED SO THAT OBAMA CAN SEND THE MONEY OVERSEAS TO FIGHT 'GLOBAL POVERTY'.

Yeah I'd love to get a call from Obama so I could give him a piece of my mind.

Before any goes in too deep with criticizing you might want to take a look around your town and notice how many businesses doors are closed and yes maybe you would get your air conditioner fixed, but what climate do you live in? Also, it seems you still have a house to get an air conditioner fixed. Has anyone noticed how many for sale signs are up in you town? Its not because people want to move, its because they are in pre-forclosure status. Loosing their houses and their businesses. This is reality people. Ask yourself this...what has Bush done for the American people to help us keep our houses and businesses and keep food affordable?

I wish I get a phone call from Obama the President of the United States of America.

i wish you didnt suck at life and hes not gonna win lol hes not the president in case you didnt know hes running btw

Oh, yes..
Let's please start thanking President Bush..Let's start off by thanking him for being clueless that gasoline was going to hit $4/gal ("4 dollars a gallon? I hadn't heard that"). Or perhaps we should thank him for the great rebuilding job he did in New Orleans ("You're doing a heck of a job, Brownie").
I'll sleep better, all right, come November when Mr. Obama returns some semblance of intelligence to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave...

So, Jeff and Glenn, why do you think what's true for you has to be true for others? I can honestly say that these past few years have been the worst economically in my 38 years alive. That may be an opinion, sure, but here are some facts: No one in my entire family has ever been layed off, EVER, until this year. My father, brother and the way it looks, maybe even me. That's over 80 years of employment between the three of us and we live in three different regions of the US and work in different industries so it's not just a coincidence. Also, if my AC were to break, I might wait years before getting it fixed. I live near the coast and it's rare that you would ever use it anyway so it's no big deal. Mr Prouty's statement that business is down for his A/C business is very believable. You discredit him because your personal experience differs? Open your brain to the possibility that everyone else does not share your experiences. The current president is to blame because he is the ultimate captain of this ship. I don't care how he treats his wife, he sucks as a president and is by far the worst I've personally ever experienced. I hope the next one can pull us out of this mess that Bush brought us into.

The belief that "fight the war" over there so we don’t fight it over here is holding on to the last possible defensive in an argument that is already laid out in front of us.
All other standings and propaganda have been met with over whelming evidence that we are in a situation due to negligence and mismanagement.
If you really believe in that statement “which you do”, we are at a quagmire, and we will be there until history proves one of us is right and one of us wrong.
So far history seems to be in my favor.

I own an American small business that is at risk of closure. My revenues are down and virtually all of my expenses are up. This is a deadly combination. In addition, my line of credit was cancelled by American Express recently. Not because of non-payment, but rather because I ran one of my own cards through my own machine. I didn't do this to get money, which would be unethical. I simply ran a pre-authorization check to see if this particular card was active. I was told that this was fraudulent behavior and that "due to the Patriot Act we have to take these matters very seriously". I lost an important business tool in a climate when getting new credit is very difficult for a struggling business. Our local paper just ran an article featuring 15 empty storefronts in our small community. Housing prices have dropped and a local widow crippled with MS is being forced out of her house and into a convelescent home because all of her building loan investments were defaulted on with no chance of recovery. Our manufacturing jobs are in China, too much of our tech is in India or Russia, our science research is moving towards Europe. This is not just a "take the wife out to dinner less often" situation. Blame who you will, but this is an economic crisis and you ingnore it at our peril.

All of you John Mcain/ Bush raving morons should come to your senses and figure out that Obama is the only one to have any political sense what so ever!

Obama's call is beautiful symbolism of what a president should be- a man for the people, one who geniunly listens to them! As if I could not be more in love- here I am.
And #4, people like you disgust me- Bush has no "tenacity" to fight a war overseas! Its the SOLDIERS with the tenacity! As a Army soldier, it makes me sad that I can no longer be proud of what people once regarded a noble profession. Now some media outlets call us "paid mercaneries". What makes me even sadder is that I am bound by duty to this jolly green idiot of a president. I used to be so proud to be a soldier, but I don't know what we are doing anymore, and why we are doing it- because our president is a selfish liar. People like you say the US is a good country, and I agree, but to hear that of some of my friends losing their lives, leaving behind children, wives, and families is heartbreaking. What makes it even more heartbreaking is that while they are fighting this war, gas is skyrocketing and people are losing their homes and businesses all around me- one of my favorite restaurants just closed last week, and one of my favorite stores just filed bankruptcy. What are they really fighting for, and is it worth it? Is it fair that they are the ones to pay for it? If you think the war, Bush, and these preceding events listed are a concidence, get your hand out of the sand.
I got on a bit of a rant there, but the point is it's time for a change. I want to feel more like a citizen, and less like a victim.

Are people losing their homes because of President Bush? People are losing their homes because they've used them like ATM's and sucking the equity out of them. Some people have the audacity to say things like "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." That's capitalism. If I do better, and make more money, should I be penalized for it? I'm a business owner, just like Mr. Prouty, and my business is doing well, and I provide jobs. But since I make more than 250K a year, I should be taxed more? Like Jeff H said, people cut back on doing "want" things, and still do the "need" things. Cigarette sales probably haven't plummeted...Hybrid cars haven't been flying off of the lots...the American people are not willing to do what is truly necessary...and its to fix our ways of thinking..and even though Obama promotes change, its not the change we need. Stop smoking, saves 30-40 dollars a week = offsets gas price hike. Are people willing to do that? Not really. Kids make a wish-list for Santa Claus every year, and every four, ADULTS make a wish-list for the next presidential hopeful. Disgusting. Its not our President, its mind frames of A LOT of people.

I love how when we lose our business or home its allways the gov't. Grow up !!
and take responibility for your own screw ups, if you can't read a contract to know that the monthly payments will not cover the cost, plus interest of the home you are trying to purchace, then you do not deserve to own a home. I'm tired of hearing people say the goverment should pay us for breathing, People, get a backbone and count on yourself for a change to get out of your mess, the mess you made by being lazy of dumb. I'm tired of the laziness of the American People.

Mr. Obama brings out the best, and has done so here. I'll pay three times the taxes as long as it isn't going into that billion dollar a week sinkhole over in Iraq. Deal with the fact that closet racism and propped=up terrorist boogeymen will not help McSame get into office.

Fans of the Republicans, consider: Your party is so terrible that a biracial 40-something with no military experience and an immigrant father is wooing older suburban white males. You're done, quit now.

What disturbs me about the tone of some of these comments is how derisive they are. If we are to survive as a nation, as citizens in a global village and as a planet, we have to put partisanship behind us and begin to work together without labeling or judging each other. We need to be thankful that we live in a nation that enables us to vote and take advantage of that privilege by educating ourselves and participating in the democratic process. I support Senator Obama because I believe he understands how important it is that we work together at this moment in time historically. And we can learn from history. Remember "United we stand, divided we fall?" And if you don't agree with me, that is your right and I respect that right but please make every attempt to listen to your fellow humans with an open mind and to support us all as we redefine ourselves and our collective future.

Are people losing their homes because of President Bush? People are losing their homes because they've used them like ATM's and sucking the equity out of them. Some people have the audacity to say things like "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer." That's capitalism. If I do better, and make more money, should I be penalized for it? I'm a business owner, just like Mr. Prouty, and my business is doing well, and I provide jobs. But since I make more than 250K a year, I should be taxed more? Like Jeff H said, people cut back on doing "want" things, and still do the "need" things. Cigarette sales probably haven't plummeted...Hybrid cars haven't been flying off of the lots...the American people are not willing to do what is truly necessary...and its to fix our ways of thinking..and even though Obama promotes change, its not the change we need. Stop smoking, saves 30-40 dollars a week = offsets gas price hike. Are people willing to do that? Not really. Kids make a wish-list for Santa Claus every year, and every four, ADULTS make a wish-list for the next presidential hopeful. Disgusting. Its not our President, its mind frames of A LOT of people.

I love how when we lose our business or home its allways the gov't. Grow up !!
and take responibility for your own screw ups, if you can't read a contract to know that the monthly payments will not cover the cost, plus interest of the home you are trying to purchace, then you do not deserve to own a home. I'm tired of hearing people say the goverment should pay us for breathing, People, get a backbone and count on yourself for a change to get out of your mess, the mess you made by being lazy of dumb. I'm tired of the laziness of the American People.

It seems that only a woman has the sense to look around her and see the truth. What are you guys defending? The fact that President Bush (there I said it!) has created the GREATEST deficit this country has ever had, makes him worse than any democrat that we have had. The fact that he and Cheney were more interested in lying their way into a war with no exit strategy doesn't make Bush et al a hero in MY eyes. Take your blinders off!
Wake the heck up and smell the coffee. The real enemies of this country LIVE RIGHT HERE. The greedy corporate stock holders who will give up anything and all integrity for a buck.

I think it's a wonderful gesture. It's nice to be appreciated and even more special that the candidate himself phones with a personal 'Thank You'. And, if you listen closely, you can hear the fatigue in Mr. Obama's voice. If only the cynics would relax for a moment and realize that maybe, just maybe, we finally have a person who genuinely cares. Someone who is like all the rest of us, but who has the courage and fortitude to step forward to try to make a difference. In spite of the nastiness, rudeness and constant demands, he is still giving of himself. We could all learn something from that. #8...Crack addiction is horrible I'm sure. But what about the hundreds of thousands of illegals who get free healthcare (and foodstamps and schooling) when American citizens cannot.? We're already paying for that. #9...Obama is man enough to listen to your rants, but save that piece of your mind. You might need it to reassess the improvement of living in a new America with Mr. Obama as our leader.

And why are people loosing their houses? It isn't Bush's fault. People got into loans they couldn't afford and thats the problem. We were all in our dream land from how good everything was going and a lot of people took a risk in getting a house they couldn't afford in the first place. Don't complain and whine because you made a mistake. Don't demand that the government comes and rescues you. It isn't their job to reward you for being a idiot.

Aww how nice.. Did Obama tell the guy to inflate his tires and get his automobile a tune up?! I hope so, since that is his energy plan.

You go Obama!
Hehe.

Jeff H,
My family is an average middle class family. We can't afford to run our Air conditioner. We live in Southern California and are running on empty from lack of sleep because of the heat, but energy prices are too high, and the AC was the first thing to go. It's a luxury.

I didn't know the messiah made phone calls
Posted by Ethan August 18, 08 04:39 PM

Didn't you know, Ethan? Only true believers get phone calls.

#9 YOU ARE A MISERABLE PERSON AND MISERY LOVES COMPANY BUT YOU WON'T FIND COMPANY HERE gobama

Nancy, ask YOURSELF this what COULD Bush do "to help us keep our houses and businesses and keep food affordable"? What we don't seem to realize is that our government especially the president, who can't introduce legislation, can do very little to improve the economy besides lowering taxes, creating government jobs and raising minimum wages. The only alternative to this is for the government to have a greater control over the economy something I'm pretty sure no one wants. Also I often here people scoff at the idea of raising taxes (#9 for instance), we often want our represenitives to lower them yet we also expect them to lower their debt a figure around 3 trillion. This is relevant because without more income the government cannot help us or the economy without going into more debt. Also we must remember that the recession doesn't hurt only us it hurts other countries as well, countries which buy our imports and whose exports we buy.

The recession can't be solved simply by electing a new president of the United States of America it requires more.

Ah Nancy shmancy..... it's not about right and left it's about right and wrong, and Obama is clearly WRONG. No one is 'defending' any of the elitists, but this doesn't mean we have to have the worst empty suit we've ever been offered does it? Oh but wait, he's a perfect puppet for Zbigniew Brzezinski!! That's who his handler is..... amazing! People are such dopes. They have IQ's of about 80 to vote for this neer do well.

He is working for the global elitists at the CFR/UN, communists actually, and he will send our money overseas to his friends. Is it any wonder that Goldman-Sachs, the big bankers, are his biggest supporters?

He is not working for the poor people and he wants world government. The middle class will be the first to suffer under his world presidency....

There will be open borders and no more Constitution or rights as we know them.

Down with Obama and the one world government he intends to usher in!
He is the next HItler, working for the Rockefellers.. The Germans loved him didn't they?

NOBAMA NOWAY,

Glad that all you have is ad hominem to rely on. Speaks volumes.

Mr. Prouty gets a phone call and you call him an idiot, for shame.

Would those be the same greedy corporate stockholders who HANDLE AND CONTROL OBAMA?

LOL

And why are people loosing their houses? It isn't Bush's fault. People got into loans they couldn't afford and thats the problem. We were all in our dream land from how good everything was going and a lot of people took a risk in getting a house they really couldn't afford. Then something bad happened. Gas prices went up( a whole other issue). When gas goes up, everything goes up. I don't feel sorry for the people who got into a loan they couldn't afford in the first place.

Sorry John, no one ever says anything CONCRETE about Obama, nothing good about him. They speak in generalities and platitudes but NOT ONE OF you really knows what this scary nutcase stands for do you? What are his positions other than he thinks he's going to stop the seas from 'rising'????

What a joke. What ignorance. What vapidity!

It's breathtaking!

Vote with your American Idol brains.... yeah that's the ticket...

Jordan but this is just the point -- you WILL be paying three times the taxes and it WILL be sent overseas......to some hell hole communist nation while American falls. Obama will be the last tyrant to make it happen...

Good grief the ignorance here is like a feast

You people scare me. You still have not mentioned ONE THING that Obama has done, will do, or makes him worth one cent....other than a great fabrication of the press and a SNAKE OIL SALESMEN FOR YOUR SLAVERY.

MAY YOUR CHAINS REST LIGNTLY UPON YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE ABOUT TO BECOME SLAVES....

Thank God I have no children to suffer under this racist empty suit and his empty headed followers.

My primary concern for this country is the economy. Get people freakin jobs so they can buy stuff, so those businesses can buy stuff, and on and on. It's cool that Obama called someone and talked about that stuff.

The entire Obama side of the conversation sounded like something he would have said in a speech. During the Clinton vs. Obama deal I was strongly pro Obama, but recently, he has proved once more that every and all politicians regardless of how "unique" they are, will always be the same. I used to support him so much as to take a bullet for him, however, recently he's gone back on many of his early promises and has changed some of his views solely for partisan reasons.

The state of political discourse and discussion these days is sad. I've voted Republican for the last 3 elections (since I became voting age). Looking at these comments I wanted to inject some civility, and sanity.

It might be wise to take into consideration that Ed Prouty is not claiming to be some objective commentator on American affairs. The guy is the average Democrat who donated to their nominee and, presumably without prior knowledge, was given a phone call by him. He's not some journalist from the Washington Post or New York times that he should be criticized for expressing his personal opinion -- as is. The day we get riled by the fact that someone might, *gasp* have different views is the day we take a step closer to losing the marketplace of ideas and ideas that has propelled America the heights of accomplishment and democracy it has acheived.

Second, it's absurd to pass judgement on how well a local business is doing (or isn't doing) based on what's going on in *your* local area. No one present here has the statistics required (e.g., of his local economic conditions, those of his industry, how national economic factors are distrubuted amongst population centers, etc.) or the ability to weigh them accurately enough to know whether or not his business should or shouldn't be doing well.

As a matter of fact, it isn't important whether or not one believes anything he stated. Because he was expressing *his own* feelings about the last eight years, not trying to convince you, personally, to vote for anyone by lamenting the sales of AC repair service. His personal views should be taken as exactly that -- One man's opinion.

It is beginning to seem as if alternate points of view in our nation are being deemed as either a) propaganda aimed at knowingly and willfully trying to deceive and hurt the nation (come on..), or b) the match to a can of gasoline for tearing into another's character and intentions simply because he thinks or feels differently.

If you honestly find yourself feeling this way -- stand down. America is far worse when intolerance reigns, when ideas other than ones own are stamped out, and when other law abiding, tax paying American's are cast in a dark light for daring to see and think of things differently.

That isn't the defense of American values. That's the surest cause of their erosion.

--Reagan Republican

As usual vapid empty platitudes from the lefty loonies for Obama..

it's not about right and left it's about right and wrong, and Obama is clearly WRONG.

He is working for the global elitists at the CFR/UN, communists actually, and he will send our money overseas to his friends. Is it any wonder that Goldman-Sachs, the big bankers, are his biggest supporters?

He is not working for the poor people and he wants world government. The middle class will be the first to suffer under his world presidency....this is not about the global village it's about losing our constitution.

There will be open borders and no more Constitution or rights as we know them because this racist quasi-Hitler wannabe does NOT BELIEVE in the Constituion. He is a fabrication of the media and I can't believe anyone with an IQ of over 80 is voting for him. .

Down with Obama and the NWO!
He is the next HItler. The Germans loved him didn't they?

Please, stop voting with your TV emotions. Study the facts.
This guy is REALLY scary and if he is allowed to be the president we are DOOMED. He's the puppet of Brzezinski for cryin' out loud...

I have faith in Senator Obama that he will help take care the environment.

Oh Margaret! You have been watching far too much CNN! You may want to consider seeking information from reliable sources! I'd imagine you are one of those ridiculous "global warming" nuts too. Am I right?

What is perhaps more pertinent than anything is to remember the following:

1. The actual Presidential choice, while important, is no more than the Party's representative, especially in the Republican case. Witness "Bush's Brain".

2. McCain will toe the line with the Republican Party, and as will be seen in the forthcoming debates is only slightly brighter than GWB.

3. Bush has represented the Republicans best and brightest as confirmed by their running him twice. What kind of judgement does that show?

Wow. I didn't know so many people want their taxes raised. Also, Why should I care about people smoking? Heck, I LOVE IT WHEN PEOPLE SMOKE. It's called a SIN TAX. They pay the state, they pay the government, to smoke. Thats less tax dollars for me to spend. All I want from my government is Police, Fire, Roads and National Security. I don't want to support teenage mothers for making dumb mistakes, and I don't want to pay into Social Security, of which money I know I won't see. I don't want to blame it on anybody, but they are just programs that don't benefit me. Why should I pay into the government that doesn't support me?

we are not ready for a Black president.

@ #18 and #19 - But when Bush bails out the major lending companies with a whole bunch of taxpayer's money it's okay?

We are not in a depression you moron.

Seriously...there are way too many stupid people in this country that don't know the first thing about economics or anything else for that matter.

Those of us who were around during the Carter administration know just how bad things canget and we're not even close to that at this point in time. Double digit inflation, double digit interest and a near double digit unemployment rate were Jimmy Carter's gifts to the American people. The terms stagflation and misery index were invented during the Carter years. The fact is that Obama wants to tax spend us

People time and time again leave out the most important fact about Obama: he is very inexperienced. He does not have the qualifications to be the President of the United States.

Some people here still thinks that Bush was right in going to war and people who says every thing is going bad are "whining". What can we say about those people. They should go to Michgan and Ohio and look around, how businesses are closing and how many foreclosre signs are up. Come winter you will see more of those because they cannot even affort the heating bills.
Last 8 years Republican rule screwed up this country's economy. Nobody talks about the big reason for making the oil prices up. Since Bush withdrew the strong dollar policy we had for decades as soon as he got to the office, the value of dollar came down against other currencies. ( His expalantion was to make exports higher ) and he also change the policy on oil trading allowing the specualation on oil markets. The previous policy was to allow only those who use oil to trade on oil. Now huge pension funds in US can buy oil on paper thus artificially creating the demand. Instead of stopping speculation on market, theya re blaming India and China. These 2 policy changes alone made teh oil prices so high and made this economy in such a bad shape.
I challenge anybody here to prove me wrong.
Bush used our tax dollars in Iraq instead of using them to create jobs here.
What more you want from an oil man.
He got his company in Texas ( Hunds ..... ) no bid oil contracts in Iraq and also for other friends in the Oil . He was only looking after himself and his buddies.

Was president bush upholding our values when he was doing blow and driving drunk?

I just want to mention something real quick. While I may just be in high school, I've learned a thing or two about economics. If Obama raises the taxes, that's not a problem. You want to know why? Because the money the government receives from income and such will be RECIRCULATED BACK INTO THE ECONOMY. This makes our economy stronger, thus allowing for higher wages. Basically, the higher taxes make our economy BETTER at no cost of your own. It's just gradual improvement that so many instant-gratified Americans don't like. Tax cuts are exactly what we don't need right now. With an astounding national deficit of nearly 10 trillion dollars, the LAST thing we need is to put less money into the government.

Obama will only raise your taxes if you make over 300,000 dollars. Otherwise, he is planning on LOWERING your taxes. Get your facts straight.

Free Market economy drives this country. We cannot blame sucessful business for the problems that face the lower class of this country. I am tired of people complaining they can't make it or get ahead when the solution is right in front of you. If no one is repairing A/C units then maybe you need to find a different business to run. As far as the oil crisis, why don't we look at the real problem. We have oil, we just don't access it because of enviromentalist lobbying against drilling. Then instead of tapping into our own oil resources, we put such a limit on Car manufacturers and restrictions on Gas Mileage that we do not have the technology to provide. The President cannot fix one dang problem without Congress approving and we know that we all are caught up in being Democrat vs. Republican that we cannot make the right decisions because that may mean agreeing with the enemy and we know we can't do that. To end this long Post, the war is happening. Whether you agree with it or not it is going on and our family members are fighting to protect this country. They need our support!! It is much better for theWar to be fought over seas than in our back yards, when will people realize this. I do not agree with alot of Pres. Bush's decisions but the problems this country faces is far beyond the scope of one man's doings. Look at the underlying problems, and if you really want to fix this country then it starts at home. We vote our officialsinto office, so if you don't like the decisions they make then do something about it. Do not lay it off on others, take a stand and do something about it.

Wow, the McCain compaign's tactic of paying people to support him on the "internets" is working.

Gov't should not have any roll in our success or failures. Yes we should be expected to fail, to lose our home, our job, our friends our family and even our life to preserve the freedom's of our country. What we as citizen are moving toward is a government that provides everything for us. It seams very idealistic and controlling. I'd rather die that see that happen. I say let "Ed Prouty of Atkinson" fail or succeed, but at least he had the freedom to try , fail and try again. Many mention their experience of the economy and effects on them are different that others and so you base your "reality" of the total situation on what you are experiencing. I say forget the current situation and look back farther that you can see. Think about the people that sailed across the sea and settled here. some succeed, some failed - is it the gov't's fault? Think about the people that traveled from the east coast to the west coast, some made it, some died or lost family friends and possessions. Was it the gov't fault. Should the government come and saved them or rebuild their losses? Think about the "great depression" WWI, WWII. Was it the gov't fault? We as Americans have become soft and sour to loss. A simple prick in our lives and we expect the gov't to save or rebuild. What did the American's do to make it through all of these and many other event though the history of our country? If you don't know you should find out for yourself. As for me I rely on God to work through each of us to serve each other in Love rather than greed, I see wonders as those before me saw when calamity comes home. It wast the gov't that got them through. I suggest we stop putting so much trust in a Gov't that want to control us and find a way for gov't to let us live our lives in freedom.

To Majorie Broady: obviously you don't know what a depression is, this is just a recession.

To Glenn: Haha seriously? "veiled attempt?" Why would he have any reason to "veil" it. And yes it would include the last two presidential terms that happened to be under Bush, which have been terrible in more than one way (I'm not speaking morally either).

You might need to examine the facts, we're in a war that's been fought plenty of times before, except a) it wasn't always us doing the fighting b) we never incurred so much debt from it c) it was never fought for this long. I'm sure you're going to go on into the "yeah well he got the job done" really? At what cost? By empowering osama 'that' got the job done at one point. So it's a temporary fix until the next dictator. Looks like someone doesn't know their history here.

you are all morons

OK, so the economy during Bush's reign isn't to blame for businesses and homes being lost. That's what many of you are saying! Then explain why the sudden and insane uprise in foreclosures only happened after bush started his war. Why are people losing their homes? Lay offs, salary cuts, unforeseen problems like that, and all of that has only occurred during Bush's reign and the long Bush has been in office the worse the situation got!

Stop having tunnel vision! Every outcome is based on a process, the result people losing their homes in this economic nightmare is caused by lay offs and salary cuts, which is caused by supply and necessity costs rising which is caused by gas and oils prices rising which is caused by supplying the troops in the war with gas and oil which is caused by Bush's greed trying to get more oil so his family (which owns an oil company) can live comfy and carefree after he gets out of office.

Stop looking at just the end result, look at the process leading up to the result, by following the process you can see that the catalyst is Bush!

A lot of people here sure think they KNOW everything, don't they?

For example, Obama's working for Communists. Just read up on it! Global warming is a sham (even though there's practically no question about it amongst actual scientists). Wake up people! If we weren't in Iraq, there'd be a war here. Come on, you leftie loonies! A country of 300 million people could function just fine with a tiny government that only provided security and infrastructure, because businesses and church charities will provide for all our social needs. It's obvious!

Listen, you can be an ultra-conservative all you like. I'll debate you on the environment and on the social issues you think the government should stay out of (except for when it needs to make things like abortion and gay marriage illegal). I’ll support you on gun rights and eliminating wasteful spending in government. But don’t pretend that you KNOW things that are nothing more than crackpot theories. That’s as bad as the loonies who KNOW that 9-11 was an inside job.

Please stop demonizing people with different analyses of the situation. Imagine what would happen if the country suddenly elected only people who shared your views. Do you really, truly think that magically the country’s issues would get solved because finally those meddling Democrats are out of the way? Any problem or issue affecting a country of 300 million souls is by definition a hugely complex one with no simple answers that will benefit everyone equally. Anybody—liberal or conservative—spouting sad, simplistic rantings about what they think they KNOW about how to fix the country can be safely ignored. It’s about time we took the opinions of experts seriously, listened respectfully and with an open mind, and presented our own cases with more humility and less vitriol. If anything positive is to get done, it will start with a national discourse favoring unity over partisan tongue-lashing.

AMEN #56!!!!!!

Not that I want to break the scope of this thread, but I suggest that Americans dust off their Bibles and turn to Revelation (the very last book) and get an idea of what is truly at hand. I will not support Mr. Obama because I have the fear of the Lord Jesus Christ in my heart!!! Any man who will make a stand against the life of an unborn child surely cannot bring favor to this nation. How can a moral wrong be a civil right?

Please remember, President Bush is NOT running in this election. Quit fighting about whether or not his actions were in the nation's best interest, they are over and done with. Focus on:
Which candidate will be the moral head of this country.
Each candidate's process for success, rather than empty promises.

The root of America's problems is we have turned away from the foundation on which this country was built, God. (you know, Jesus, the one who created us in his image and wants to have a loving relationship with us).
Everyone says "God bless America"
Why should God bless us if we have no moral backbone any longer, and we morally flip flop daily in order to please each other?
Take a stand and make your vote count .

For the record, my A/C blew out a month ago and I'm not getting it replaced until I can save up the $2500 it's gonna take. I live in San Diego and just don't need it all that urgently. If I weren't worried about losing my job/ass, I would just pay cash out of my emergency fund.

BUT - my emergency fund is there for times like now, where working on the fringe of the Mortgage industry is making us all crap our pants. If this had happened three years ago, it would've been the reason for my emergency fund. Not now. E-Fund is for food if/when the worst happens.

Funny how the current manufactuerer of evidence who happen's to be president,is the son of Carter's CIA chief.I wonder if Sr. manufatured evidence and passed it up rather than down.Let's not forget the savings/loan scandal he had.

Funny how the republicans talk about Obama's lack of experience,when thier golden boy Reagan was a actor with how many degree's?

I wonder why so many sheep have a problem with the rich paying a higher percentage,when they are the ones who can afford it....as I recall, the Soviet Union collasped due to bankruptcy , not do to Reagan shaking his fist at the wall...and here we are in the new millenium borrowing from China...Do I want someone in office with no fiscal responsibility? Heh let's see drill offshore and continue to milf that deadhorse dry or start converting every car in america over to natural gas , where there is a 2000 year supply under Lousiana......hmmm tough one....

Most republicans speak from thier hip pocket,I wonder where they will be when thier money aint there to bail thier hind ends out of the fire....

To Pete with the blown air conditioner in San Diego...I thought you didn't need air conditioning in San Diego.

we are not ready for a Black president.

I hope McCain calls me. I think he and I would get along great. I wonder what sort of beer he likes? Pale, amber or dark.

I am a republican but agree with the first five lines of Mary's post today about both parties working together united. This is a great point and can go a long way to eliminate pork barrel politics. The problem is Obama is not the answer to a "United America". How American can a president be who refuses to wear a flag on his suit, or cover his chest for the pledge of allegence and removes the American Flag from the tail of his 757! Unfortunately Obama is a Marxist and his statements about redistribution of wealth and guaranteed healthcare for illegal immigrants are extremely disturbing to hard working, tax paying citizens and not to mention the road to bankrupting this country.

I love it when someone named "Your Stupid" tells other people how dumb they are. Priceless.

i love u OBAMA!!

WOW.... I got the smarts real good today sir....

IF YOU HAVENT FIGURED OUT THAT BOTH Obama and McSame suck to the same level than you need help.

Also you cry baby war critics, EVERYONE wanted to "teach 'em a leson" right about September something.....what year was that again..... IDIOTS

Re: #11 "i wish you didnt suck at life and hes not gonna win lol hes not the president in case you didnt know hes running btw
Posted by Your Stupid"

That's adorable. Where's my stupid?

Perhaps the next president will do away with proper grammar and spelling. Here's my 2 cents. Our country has been poisoned by greed, fear and fascism. Argue all you want about who "sucks at life" and who doesn't...at the end of the day you're not changing minds, you're just wasting your time. At the center of your divided opinions are cold, hard, irrefutable facts. Start focusing on helping each other get on the same page when it comes to the truth instead of continuing all this petty bickering.

To No. 61 -- Not everyone shares your views on religon and morality. Religon, faith and morality are private matters. The best part of the United States is that every individual has the right to practice their religon or not practice religon at all without intrusion by the state. If you want to live in a country where the government is bound by the rules of one religon, then you are living in the wrong country.

It's a pity Nobama Noway is so loud but also so uninformed. Doesn't (s)he know that our attacking Iraq in response to Al Queda's unrelated 9/11 attacks and the non-existent Iraqi atomic weapons was the equivalent of our having gone to war against Canada after we had been attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor? Thousands of American young men and women were killed as a result of Bush's personal greed in getting at Iraq's oil for his family and for Cheney's family - all in the guise of attacking the 'enemy'. The solution for Nobama Noway and other like-minded folks is to now fully back Senator Obama in his quest for the Presidency - and to do the switch swiftly and gracefully.

It is very true. Gino says so. Gino and Dan go to lunch together, sometimes picnics. On occassion Chris will tag along.

My husband is a contractor. And I can tell you that BUSINESS IS SUPER BAD!!! Do not listen to the person who does not know about any business in building. Untill you have been in business and you know the difference just a few years ago from now is like. Please don't make rash comments about business being good. No we are struggling to survive now due to the slowing of housing almost to a STOP! We are not sure how we are going to pay our bills much longer. We have to do work for almost no profit just to get it because there are so many others out there looking for the work they are having to do the same. Lower prices to find work. With higher gas prices and higher material prices ---- DO THE MATH!!!

Reading through the blogs, I hope other countries are not viewing this blog; it seems that there is alot of criticism and backbiting. 9-11 would of never occurred if the intelligence reports were taken seriously and acted upon. If I recall correctly I think an intelliegence officer state that 'they're not smart enough to do that''. Now were in a war that has nothing to do with 9-11. If you look at the facts, the taxpayer pays for big business through our tax money bailing out, subsidizes, and corporate tax breaks, then what do we do, we go and spend money in their businesses. My tax dollar shoud fund the things that are important to me not big business. America is run by coporations and not the people. 90 percent of our food is genetically altered in some for or fashion, the chemicals they put in our food to make it cheaper is causing the diseases that the pharmecuetical companies make the drugs to relieve our syptoms. Do your research, why is high fructose corn syrup in practically every the we eat? Our body is not able to digest it, why is corn the most highly government subsidized farm product (our tax payer dollar). Most of it subsidizes the corn to feed the cows and pigs whose bodies are design to cornfeed, so they pump the up with anitibiotics and steroids to keep the alive to get to market so we can buy and eat it. Why are most Americans overweight? It's big money for big business. Why is healthier food so expensive? It doesn't need to be. Think. The government is suppose to be for the people and by the people. Why is big business driving out the small farmer, the organic food companys, and lobby the government to introduce genetically altered food products into organic foods? Big money for big business. The people are just pawns as long at the pawns are fighting amongst each other the big business can run the government and poision our food so we can have a ailment that the pharmecuitical companies can make a pill for and they all make big money. Why doesn't the pharmecuitical companies find cures? It isn't profitable. Why don't we know everything about our food, the Europeans do, they can make informed choices if about their food, how come America is the only country with genitically modified food? Other countries don't tolerate this and have laws that inform the consumers about every item in the food products they purchase. This country need to go back to for the people and by the people. We need to elect a president and congress members who will listen us and not big business.

All I have to say is that a nation divided cannot stand. This political party bullshit is way out of hand. Enough said.

As for #63, why should the wealthy be condemmed for their sucess. Isn't that what we all are trying to achieve. I am in the lower middle class and do not have much spending money, but I am going to school to try and provide a brighter future for my family. Should I be pentalized for my sucess. I am not about to look for the gov't for a hand out. It is my responsibility to provide for my family and not take money out of the pockets of others who have achieved more. We are getting very close to becoming a communist country and where will that leave our children. The sucess of our lives should be determined by our own drive and determination and not dictated by those who want to sit on their ass wanting something for nothing.

This country will make a big mistake voting for Obama. Think about it, are you really going to vote for someone based on their skin color versus the credintials and policies. This is obserd. I am white and would have no problem voting for Obama if I believed in what he stood for. If McClain could not even salute the flag of this GREAT country like Obama did I would denounce him. This is the Fate of our country and not a Civil Rights Movement!

i think its pretty obvious that it doesnt matter what happens cause in 150 years, id say 99% chance humans wont exist anymore, humans as a race consume to many resources and at the same time ignore, or just dont care about replacing what was taken or used. soon hummanity will collapse under its own greed, stupidity, and ignorance. perhaps im just a lil to emo but i think steven hawking is right, i came to the same conclusion before i even heard him say it. lots of religious leaders think an awaking or judgement is coming soon, i think that ther right judgment is coming but not for our souls but for the fate of our human existance.

besides why would we let a bafoon that lied to the faces of all Americans, sent thousands of Americans to there unjustful death in the name of fighting terriosim, money n oil, to be elected twice.... id say somone who starts a war of this scale with a lie is a terrorist, warlord, hate mongering fool that cant even read a pre writen speach, because for some reason memorizing wut your going to say in front of the world, showing everyone our American image, is not wirth the time or effort. perhaps i wouldnt care if i was rich. i think margaret is right, but then again how do we go about fixing that problem along with a planet that is on a certain track for complete extinction. HA i say let the riteous rape n the gready monger we all gotta die at some point eh? by the way my brother wnet to iraq for 2 years, and his second year he was stoplossed, and 3 of my other good friends left on the 18th for a year to Iraq. Im not complaining im one of those Americans who dont give a !@#$ i just feel bad for the people who where picked to go live ina !@#$hole for 12+ months, being shot at n !@#$ on, but then agian whos fault is it for getting a free ride to colledge, and a shinny new car at the price of your life. then again this doesnt make any sence. ;p hope u enjoyed or didnt...

Obama doesn't seem to do so well unscripted.

Thank you Margaret Shirer, but also remember, the President only submits the budget. Congress votes to spend the money. nat lewis

I love how people tend to make arguments and bash rants without backing up their opinion. Seeing post such as "All of you John Mcain/ Bush raving morons should come to your senses and figure out that Obama is the only one to have any political sense what so ever!" shows the stupidity of the poster. No, im not a Bush is perfect person. However, if you had any sense of history and how politics and government actually works, you would not be able to bash him for certain things. He has made many mistakes, but HE alone did not put us into the *terrible* situation we are in today. Go to town on a saturday night around 8 pm and notice that every major restaurant parking lot is full...yeah, what terrible economy. Obviously no know one knows what a depression really is. No one here must have researched the 1930's. The actual great drepression and what they had to go through makes us look like a bunch of spoiled babies. And thats just what we are....spoiled Americans.

I find it incredible that people think that Bush is a hero for "bringing the fight to them". Before Bush's presidency, when did we ever fight the terrorists here? The only terrorist attacks weren't even Jihad fighters, so can someone please explain to me what the hell the person on post #4 is talking about.

Bush lovers, let me see. With the exception of the insignificant few, McCain attracts the same type; deep red staters. You know those people that they refuse to teach evolution to out in the woods in just about every state that doesn't border the oceans (with the exception of some blue states), those fools sadly hold the USA back. We need the big cities (which we all know are blue support) to just grow and grow until we can outweigh the hics and hillbillies (no offense to the people who aren't hic/hillbillies, your just blind).

I just want to mention something real quick. While I may just be in high school, I've learned a thing or two about economics. If Obama raises the taxes, that's not a problem. You want to know why? Because the money the government receives from income and such will be RECIRCULATED BACK INTO THE ECONOMY. This makes our economy stronger, thus allowing for higher wages. Basically, the higher taxes make our economy BETTER at no cost of your own. It's just gradual improvement that so many instant-gratified Americans don't like. Tax cuts are exactly what we don't need right now. With an astounding national deficit of nearly 10 trillion dollars, the LAST thing we need is to put less money into the government.

It seems that the only people that are against Obama are terribly misinformed. Or ignorant. There is a huge difference between Communist and Socialist. Both are considered slander in this country, but try living without the social programs we have: fire and police service, medicare, social security, roads and highways, schools. Still, Obama is not as socialist as I'd like. He is not considering social healthcare, which I think we desperately need. He is only interested in rolling back the Bush tax cuts on those making over $250K, which I think should be rolled back completely. He also is talking about taking 18 months to 4 years to bring back the troops from Iraq, and he should just cut and run immediately before our country implodes.

Funny, most who want McCain (or like Bush) are those making under $50K and who would benefit most by Obama's policies. I guess if you aren't smart enough to make over $50K, then you aren't smart enough to recognize what's good for you. Perhaps we should have a test to see if you are smart enough to vote.

OK, so the economy during Bush's reign isn't to blame for businesses and homes being lost. That's what many of you are saying! Then explain why the sudden and insane uprise in foreclosures only happened after bush started his war. Why are people losing their homes? Lay offs, salary cuts, unforeseen problems like that, and all of that has only occurred during Bush's reign and the long Bush has been in office the worse the situation got!

Stop having tunnel vision! Every outcome is based on a process, the result people losing their homes in this economic nightmare is caused by lay offs and salary cuts, which is caused by supply and necessity costs rising which is caused by gas and oils prices rising which is caused by supplying the troops in the war with gas and oil which is caused by Bush's greed trying to get more oil so his family (which owns an oil company) can live comfy and carefree after he gets out of office.

Stop looking at just the end result, look at the process leading up to the result, by following the process you can see that the catalyst is Bush!

Reading through the blogs, I hope other countries are not viewing this blog; it seems that there is alot of criticism and backbiting. 9-11 would of never occurred if the intelligence reports were taken seriously and acted upon. If I recall correctly I think an intelliegence officer state that 'they're not smart enough to do that''. Now we're in a war that has nothing to do with 9-11. If you look at the facts, the taxpayer pays for big business through our tax money bailing out, subsidizes, and corporate tax breaks, then what do we do, we go and spend money in their businesses. My tax dollar should fund the things that are important to me not big business. America is run by coporations and not the people. 90 percent of our food is genetically altered in some form or fashion, the chemicals they put in our food to make it cheaper is causing the diseases that the pharmecuetical companies make the drugs to relieve our syptoms. Do your research, why is high fructose corn syrup in practically every the we eat? Our body is not able to digest it, why is corn the most highly government subsidized farm product (our tax payer dollar). Most of it subsidizes the corn to feed the cows and pigs whose bodies are not designed to eat cornfeed, so they pump the up with anitibiotics and steroids to keep them alive to get them to market so we can buy and eat it. Why are most Americans overweight? It's big money for big business. Why is healthier food so expensive? It doesn't need to be. Think. The government is suppose to be for the people and by the people. Why is big business driving out the small farmer, the organic food companys, and lobby the government to introduce genetically altered food products into organic foods? Big money for big business. The people are just pawns as long at the pawns are fighting amongst each other the big business can run the government and poision our food so we can have a ailment that the pharmecuitical companies can make a pill for and they all make big money. Why doesn't the pharmecuitical companies find cures? It isn't profitable. Why don't we know everything about our food, the Europeans do, they can make informed choices about their food, how come America is the only country with 90% genitically modified food? Other countries don't tolerate this and have laws that inform the consumers about every item in the food products they purchase. This country needs to get back to for the people and by the people. We need to elect a president and congress members who will listen us and not big business.

AMEN #56!!!!!!

Not that I want to break the scope of this thread, but I suggest that Americans dust off their Bibles and turn to Revelation (the very last book) and get an idea of what is truly at hand. I will not support Mr. Obama because I have the fear of the Lord Jesus Christ in my heart!!! Any man who will make a stand against the life of an unborn child surely cannot bring favor to this nation. How can a moral wrong be a civil right?

Please remember, President Bush is NOT running in this election. Quit fighting about whether or not his actions were in the nation's best interest, they are over and done with. Focus on:
Which candidate will be the moral head of this country.
Each candidate's process for success, rather than empty promises.

The root of America's problems is we have turned away from the foundation on which this country was built, God. (you know, Jesus, the one who created us in his image and wants to have a loving relationship with us).
Everyone says "God bless America"
Why should God bless us if we have no moral backbone any longer, and we morally flip flop daily in order to please each other?
Take a stand and make your vote count .

Why does everyone have to get so defensive about these issues? i love when people say "here are the facts..." You don't have any facts! You don't know what goes on in each person's home, in the white house, in each industry...no one does so chill out. We need to come together as a people, identify problems, and solve them, not fight each other. The fact that Obama called this man was a nice gesture. The Rep's would call it propaganda, the Dem's would say "see, he is a man of the people"...shut up all of you and open your mind for a second. It was a nice gesture, and if McCain started calling people, great, it is a nice gesture as well.

Someone in this mess of criticism, said Bush is the captain of this ship. That is true, but a captain can't do anything without his people. A lot of the messes in our country are there because WE let them happen. If you really feel so passionately then get off your behind and make a difference. I am so tired of people complaining but not trying to make a difference. No matter what party you follow, we are ALL in this ship together, so get along and stop complaining.

Americans have the best of everything and we still complain. Maybe we should all travel to a small village in South America and live there for a while. I bet you all would stop your bitching then. I have an idea, how about the next time you are stuck in an elevator with a stranger, or sitting next to one on a bus/subway/whatever, instead of ignoring them, talk to them, smile at someone, thank someone for a kind gesture. I bet you have a better day...you might even have a great one.

Why are people losing their homes ? Because they overextended themselves with a house that was too large and too expensive.Credit was too easy ..no money down,arms,etc. Created a huge bubble.
Meanwhile I sold my house in 2004 and rented for almost 3yrs. I just recently bought a new home at a nice 35% -40 discount over what it was previously selling for.All the while my principal was earning returns via my investments.
I keep forgetting that if you Obama supporters were economically savvy you wouldn't be whining and you wouldn't be in financial trouble.
The top 15% cannot pay for a bunch of retards and illegal immigrants.

#63

Republicans WANT to tap our own resources. Its the environmentalists (who are largly libral democrats) that will not allow us to do so.

I would rather speak from my hip pocket than from my sphincter, JTH.

Why does everyone think that Obama is going to lower taxes and McCaine raise them? They BOTH have spoken about lowering taxes. Obama gives a few dollars more(like $50) than McCaine does to the general working class. The difference is, If Obama lowers the middle class taxes but raises the upper class taxes, where do you think they are going to offset that loss? DING DING DING!!!! by taking it back from the middle and lower class!

McCaine might not be the PERFECT candidate, but at least he has the skills needed to effectively change this country for the better. Obama is a GREAT PR guy, awesome speaker, but he is empty. I could get on stage and say that we need change, need to boost the economy, protect the environment, bring our troops home, but if I have NO PLAN TO DO IT, they are just empty words! Did you know that Obama is actually going to mobilize somewhere in the range of 90,000 more troops/marines ? How is that bringin our people home?

For all you liberals out there, please, PLEASE PLEEEAAAAASE! L2THINK!

Are you people serious, can we in all Honesty be any worst off than we are right now, or have been the last eight years. i am so sick of the Republican party.
I don't understand how John McPain can run on a national security platform. I don't
feel ANY SAFER. And if he has all this so called experience why are we in IRAQI.
WHERE ARE THE SO CALLED WOMD. Where's Bin Laden? Is there still a war
in Afganistan? CAN WE START ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS?

BEFORE BUSH LEAVES OFFICE!

Desensitized humanity. Trickle down economic effect is as simple as it gets. Here is an example.

If:
You buy a home, someone provides a mortagage, title, and insurance. Now you schedule to move in to your new home. you call uhual, phone, cable, water, power, gas, cleaning, bug spray, pool cleaning, landscape maintenance, trash pick up, buy groceries, order bottled water, order new refrigerator, washer and dryer, paint inside of your home, gutter cleaning service, put shelving or cabinets in your garage, seal your garage floor, set up new bank accounts, register at new local elemantary school, set up new after school activities for kids, gym membership. And the list goes on but I will stop there.....

So here you have a simple econonic impact example of how one activity "buying a home" effects 30 industry organizations. I am not a fan of Bush, I am not a fan of McCain, I am not a fan of Obama, this is a reality vs. perception issue that no one can solve.

No one could have stopped what happened because the signs are on a 12 month delay. I have been in the business for 15 years and yes we could say we knew things were getting bad with construction but people and greed are the real motivating factor behing the current status of the U.S along with demorolizing daily reinforcements of the oh poor us generation.

We were not going to stop people from buying houses even if they wanted to buy 7 of them. Simply put if they wanted the supply, they would find someone to provide them with the demand. The only way to reduce the impact 3 years ago would have been to set growth limits in development in coordination with local city permit authorities. But that would have caused "hell" with the independent housing organizations out there that stand on the door step of every politician and high up city official in every state and province.

So in short - We are are own worst enemy. But we never learn from them. It is funny how there was a saying around before all of us were born. Yes all of us!!

History repeats itself - "because we never learn"

I am suprised at how ignorant most of the rebublicans are about the problems facing our country.

Nothing stays the same forever, life is always changing, business as usual is a going out of business strategy. Even if you drill for more oil in our reserves, the extra oil capacity wont get materialised until about three or four years from now, by that time the demad for oil will be ten times higher than it is now or thereabouts. You cant drill your way out of oil dependence, you will never satisfy the demand you have to look at alternatives in energy, its common sense, thats what Obama suggests Mcain does not.

The world is changing, america is still #1, but we cannot pretend that we are all alone in this world, thats what got us into the problems we are in now. Nothing is wrong with being strong and proud americans, but we have to respect other cultures and peoples as well, we all share the world. If we lead by example the world will look up to us.

Mcain is just an old timer looking for his last shot into glory, he does not have a clue the complexity of our nations problems, its beyond his time. I just think he is going to send us into another war and then what. You dont have to get into wars or fight wars to prove that you are strong, look at china, they dont have to prove that they could beat us, they are silent and strong. We need to build america up internally before we go out there fighting more wars. Obama is the right president for our time.

I am suprised at how ignorant most of the rebublicans are about the problems facing our country.

Nothing stays the same forever, life is always changing, business as usual is a going out of business strategy. Even if you drill for more oil in our reserves, the extra oil capacity wont get materialised until about three or four years from now, by that time the demad for oil will be ten times higher than it is now or thereabouts. You cant drill your way out of oil dependence, you will never satisfy the demand you have to look at alternatives in energy, its common sense, thats what Obama suggests Mcain does not.

The world is changing, america is still #1, but we cannot pretend that we are all alone in this world, thats what got us into the problems we are in now. Nothing is wrong with being strong and proud americans, but we have to respect other cultures and peoples as well, we all share the world. If we lead by example the world will look up to us.

Mcain is just an old timer looking for his last shot into glory, he does not have a clue the complexity of our nations problems, its beyond his time. I just think he is going to send us into another war and then what. You dont have to get into wars or fight wars to prove that you are strong, look at china, they dont have to prove that they could beat us, they are silent and strong. We need to build america up internally before we go out there fighting more wars. Obama is the right president for our time.

Voting for "Obama BinLaden" is insane. I hope this country is smart enough to vote based on facts and policy and not make this an affirmative action Vote. Black or White should have nothing to do with it. Look people the man is a part of the most racist "CHURCH" in America. Why don't we just send our money over seas, pull our troops home, and kiss them goodbye. This is what things are leading up to. I mean I don't understand where people come up with blaming the economy for everything. I mean come on, it takes money to finance a war. Always has always will. Obama has not come up with one good plan on how he is going to stimulate the economy. What give us another $1000, yeah so that there can be a big screen in every home.????? The money goes out but goes right back as quick as it came. I mean how many people do you know that actually put the stimulus check to good use. I bet it is alot fewer than who actually accomplished something with it. If you want to boost the economy, go to school, get a good paying job, and start spending the hard earned money that you get. Trust me it feels a whole lot better than sitting around waiting for a handout.

Jessica of post #89, I applaud you.

It is ONLY when we see past the often polarizing, angry, and often uninformed sentiments thrown around by each side that we are open to ideas and solutions that stand a chance of moving us all forward as Americans.

From the tone of most of these posts, it seems that many regard the other side as "the enemy", as people destroying our country from within; when in truth, most of us are simply distressed Americans that believe in the greatness of our ideals and values, and only disagree about what the solution should be to the enormous challenges we ALL face.

If we cannot stop for a moment to recognize our common interests and humanity, and refrain from bashing each other at the first mention of an alternative that isn't exactly what we think will solve the problem -- we are are going to drag the nation down in the process dragging one another down, because the other side of the aisle is just as American as yours.

Either McCain or Obama will inherit the worst set of circumstances in recent history. The real question is whether or not the people who lose this election are ready to RISE to the occasion, supporting and driving the nation's leadership in the right direction -- or whether it will be more important to them to undermine, and cripple the new leadership out of spite and animosity.

Tomorrow is getting harder people, we need each other to overcome our challenges --

Europe is becoming destabilized;

Our economy is in a downward spiral;

America is the object of (often violent) hate and scorn in numerous places around the globe;

and the Middle East goes without saying, etc., etc.

We need to dislike bad ideas - not the people who offer them, and to realize that our success hinges on our unity, our creativity, and our determination.

--- Robert, A.K.A. Reagan Republican

Just a quick comment for all you bible thumper's ..... you speak out of turn and without your eye's having been opened......

(1) You act like the bible is the end all to End All's.....even though if you read the last verse in your beloved book it would tell you to WATCH OUT! If anyone change these word's ......yada yada yada , which would seem to mean they can be changed!

(2) Abortion....do you really care so much about unborn heathen children?Too me if all the heathen babies were aborted your cult could thrive in VICTORY!God gave the heathen a choice did he tell you to take it away?

(3) Why do so many religious zeolots preach about prosperity when if it's harder for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven?

Why do so many so called christians rely on revelations and condemn this world to be destroyed,when it could quite possibly be saved!Call me a idealist for having hope that someday we could build that tower to babel and thus enter into heaven...

but then again just like the republicans preach to your itching ear , this human race thrives on conflict and so it promotes it through various way's, but think how dissillusioned you may find yourself ,to oneday hear that in fact the apocalypse was ficticious, only having been added to deceive the masses,seems to me that the whole bible tends to warn about heresy on these epic proportion's....

so please leave religion out of politic's, because there are way to many loopholes in it just like the tax codes that cater to the rich...........and if you remember Jesus said take 1 pair of shoe's ........and let my people feed you.Which tends for me to believe that Jesus was a socialist!

Desensitized humanity. Trickle down economic effect is as simple as it gets. Here is an example.

If:
You buy a home, someone provides a mortagage, title, and insurance. Now you schedule to move in to your new home. you call uhual, phone, cable, water, power, gas, cleaning, bug spray, pool cleaning, landscape maintenance, trash pick up, buy groceries, order bottled water, order new refrigerator, washer and dryer, paint inside of your home, gutter cleaning service, put shelving or cabinets in your garage, seal your garage floor, set up new bank accounts, register at new local elemantary school, set up new after school activities for kids, gym membership. And the list goes on but I will stop there.....

So here you have a simple econonic impact example of how one activity "buying a home" effects 30 industry organizations. I am not a fan of Bush, I am not a fan of McCain, I am not a fan of Obama, this is a reality vs. perception issue that no one can solve.

No one could have stopped what happened because the signs are on a 12 month delay. I have been in the business for 15 years and yes we could say we knew things were getting bad with construction but people and greed are the real motivating factor behing the current status of the U.S along with demorolizing daily reinforcements of the oh poor us generation.

We were not going to stop people from buying houses even if they wanted to buy 7 of them. Simply put if they wanted the supply, they would find someone to provide them with the demand. The only way to reduce the impact 3 years ago would have been to set growth limits in development in coordination with local city permit authorities. But that would have caused "hell" with the independent housing organizations out there that stand on the door step of every politician and high up city official in every state and province.

So in short - We are are own worst enemy. But we never learn from them. It is funny how there was a saying around before all of us were born. Yes all of us!!

History repeats itself - "because we never learn"

Voting for "Obama BinLaden" is insane. I hope this country is smart enough to vote based on facts and policy and not make this an affirmative action Vote. Black or White should have nothing to do with it. Look people the man is a part of the most racist "CHURCH" in America. Why don't we just send our money over seas, pull our troops home, and kiss them goodbye. This is what things are leading up to. I mean I don't understand where people come up with blaming the economy for everything. I mean coe on, it takes money to finance a war. Always has always will. Obama has not come up with one good plan on how he is going to stimulate the economy. What give us another $1000, yeah so that there can be a big screen in every home.????? The money goes out but goes right back as quick as it came. I mean how many people do you know that actually put the stimulus check to good use. I bet it is alot fewer than who actually accomplished something with it. If you want to boost the economy, go to school, get a good paying job, and start spending then hard earned money that you get. Trust me it feels a whole lot better than sitting around waiting for a handout.