The Death of Direct Sales

[Archive]

Posted By: Pennsylvania Ted

Does he ?

Have you heard of Bill Ayers and his wife....1970's terrorists, who bombed the Pentagon and a Judge's house ?

And, in public Ayers said that the terrorists who flew the planes into the World Trade Ctr. and the Pentagon didn't do enough damage to
our country.

He picks some very strange people to associate with.

I spare you all the other questional associates.

[Archive]

Posted By: JimCrandell

Nothing wrong with Palin's intelligence. What is at work here is a coordinated attack by the liberal media fed by talking points from moveon.org that are designed to try to make Palin look stupid.

This is an excellent popular Governor who was well liked in her state that the liberal mainstream media decided it was going to go after and bring down. SNL played a big role in this as well.

I have never seen Biden's tape on mainstream media and I watch a lot of these shows. It is just another example of the mainstream liberal media protecting one of their own and ridiculing someone who actually has strong American values. Now maybe if she would have abotrted the last child they would like her....oh thats right--Daily Kos said it was actually her daughters child.

Another hit job on Palin tonight as CBS, NBC, ABc and CNN all lead their broadcasts with a hit piece on Palin(ahead of what is going on in financial markets).

Obama is up to 80% on Intrade--looks like its over--the left can celebrate--you brought Palin down and elected an unqualified man to lead the country.

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

Obama's relationship with Ayers was tangential and has been blown out of proportion.

And what does that have to do with protecting the country? Do you think anyone who becomes president would be so callous as to not care about the safety of the American people? That is of paramount importance to everybody.

No president has ever been subject to a terrorist attack during his administration- except Bush.

[Archive]

Posted By: Pennsylvania Ted

These "radical liberal" idiots in the blog sites are mathematically challenged.....Sarah's baby boy is 4 months old,
while her daughter Bristol is 5 months pregnant....DAAAAH ! ?

So, when that attack didn't work....these same idiots accused Sarah's husband of incest with his daughter.

This is a very SICK-SICK crowd....and, they will eventually bring down the Democrat's party......if the moderate
thinking Democrats do not rid themselves of these extremists.

[Archive]

Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Barry, I know you're not suggesting that it was George Bush's fault that 9/11 occurred -- he was in office only a few months. And I know that you didn't forget about the first World Trade Center attack when Clinton was President. Or domestic terrorism which has occurred in our country. I know it's hard to imagine a world in which you can't blame George Bush for all of society's ills and all of your own problems, but you should honestly try sometime.

[Archive]

Posted By: Pennsylvania Ted

Have you forgotten the burning of 82 American citizens in Waco in 1993 ?

Have you forgotten Somalia in 1993 ?

Have you forgotten the 1st attempt at the WTC in 1993 ?

Have you forgotten Oklahoma City in 1995 ?

Have you forgotten the American Embassy's i Africa ?

Have you forgotten the USS COLE ?


BARRY......

Who was the President during these horrendous events ?

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

Well, those certainly were bad, although most occurred on foreign soil. Your point.

And I'm afraid to say that the new president may very well be tested. So let's hope that the country is on high alert from day one.

[Archive]

Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

George Bush, of course. He was also responsible for Pearl Harbor in case you didn't know.

Life is really going to be tough for a large portion of our country when Bush is gone. Who will they blame for all the world's problems?

[Archive]

Posted By: TFerg

I have no problem with the media following every lead and digging up anything they can, as long as there is strong evidence behind it. These people are running for the highest office in the land, they should be inspected closer than a 206 Wagner. But if anyone believes for a moment that the mainsteam television media(ABC,CBS,NBC,CNN) and print media are not heavily slanted toward the Democrats they lack sound judgement. Likewise for Talk Radio and Foxnews slanting Republican.

[Archive]

Posted By: JimCrandell

Ted,

Absolutely--right out of the playbook of the radical left that has brainwashed good Americans about her.

What happened to the Daily Kos story that the Mongoloid child was really that of her oldest daughter.

The left plays dirty in an aggressive strategy to bring down whoever does not support their socialist agenda.

I agree--I somehow hope that small d Democrats reject the policies and politics of the radical left--but then they would have to reject their own nominee.

[Archive]

Posted By: James Feagin

I just wrote a long post, when I got booted! How frustrating! My point is that the media is both liberal AND conservative. It is a crutch to blame the failures of conveying your ideas effectivly on a money-based institution that was never impartial to begin with.

[Archive]

Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Uh James, which part of the mainstream media is conservative? The ultra-liberal part or just the liberal part? Or the part that failed to publicize the above-Biden gaffe made just weeks ago because it was too busy rummaging through Sarah Palin's garbage?

[Archive]

Posted By: James Feagin

Jeff,

The part that you belong to.

[Archive]

Posted By: Pennsylvania Ted

I never thought I'd say this.....but, Hillary would have been a more viable Prez candidate for the Dems !

[Archive]

Posted By: James Feagin

Viable is defined as "capable of success or continuing effectiveness". Seems to me with the election almost in hand, Obama is doing just fine.

[Archive]

Posted By: JimCrandell

Jeff,

Exactly.

All the networks and CNN have their reporters poring over all the details of Palins life, her husbands life, her kids lives and anyone who has ever known her.

Publicize something that is negaive about good old Joe Biden who has never found a far left cause he didn't like? Hey he has an ACLU lifetime voting record of 99.3%--he is one of us.

[Archive]

Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

James, perhaps you should endeavor to learn what the term "mainstream media" means. By any definition, I'm not part of it.

[Archive]

Posted By: Dave

Jim you can't seriously blame the media for sinking Palin can you?

1st of all... she was chosen for 2 reasons and 2 reasons only... because she would GET media coverage away from Obama, and she would attract the angry Clinton supporters, period. It's as plain as day. There were plenty of other candidates with similar values, skills and more experience than her, but she was chosen to take O-BOMB-A off the front page, and in a way it worked (just not in the way they planned).

It was a gamble by McCain because of her experience and she has been exposed. I really really really wanted to vote for him but now find myself in a position of limbo. I thought she was terrible in the debates... absolutely terrible. She doesn't know enough about the issues and is another headstrong "my way or the highway" type of candidate that America needs to steer away from. Its upsetting. Standoff from the beginning "I may not answer all the questions" blah!!!!

For someone that needed to prove herself she has failed miserably in my eyes. If anything she has been coddled on the real issues and been ridiculed on her look more than anything.

To think that anyone bases their vote on an SNL skit a real lack of faith in the people that vote. They have slayed every politician since the mid 70's and we're now calling them a deciding factor in the race? Please show the average American a tad bit more respect.

[Archive]

Posted By: Pennsylvania Ted

You stated......
"Seems to me with the election almost in hand, Obama is doing just fine."

I don't think you are that naive to believe what you just said.

There are 25 days left till Nov 4th....that is a "lifetime" in the world of politics; and, especially when it's a National election.

[Archive]

Posted By: Tom Boblitt

I thought she held her own very admirably in the debate. Even the three democratic pundits on NBC told Brian Williams as much. She hit Biden quite a few times on inconsistencies and used his own words from the primaries to demonstrate even he didn't think Obama was qualified. Rehearsed or not, she held her own.

[Archive]

Posted By: James Feagin

Wow, not a good night for the McCain campaign. Jeff, you're right. Conservative talk show hosts that reach millions of listeners on high frequency stations are not mainstream, I stand corrected.

[Archive]

Posted By: Dan Bretta

Anyone who thinks the MSM leans left is nuts...I don't care who you are. These companies are all owned by huge corporations who have nothing to gain by leaning left.

The media during the Clinton presidency couldn't get enough of the blue dress and the Starr report.

The media during the Bush presidency was cheerleading us into war with Iraq.

They still are not doing their job....there are no Woodward's and Bernstein's left or GWB wouldn't have survived outing a CIA agent for politcal revenge.

Anyone who watches CBS regularly saw Joe Biden make his gaffe right on the CBS news with Katie Couric. Is CBS not the MSM??? They didn't cover it up and they ran it more than one time. If the MSM leans left why did they pull Olbermann and Matthews off of the RNC coverage? How come FOX news didn't pull Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly off of the coverage?

Anyone here watch 20/20? John Stossel regularly has segments that clearly are taken straight from the GOP playbook...all of them unquestioned and run as clear commentary on a supposed news show.

CBS fired Dan Rather over the Bush National Guard story...he was held accountable..Has anyone at Fox News EVER been held accountable?

And one last note for Ted...we did have a second terrorist attack in the US during Bush's presidency. Anthrax. But still Bush does deserve some credit for not having anything catastrophic occur on his watcha fter 9/11, but we should also look at the tactics of terror and say that you it is hard to pin blame on anyone when you live in a free society like we do. All it takes in one or two nutcases to cause a terror event. How in the world could anyone know what Timothy McVeigh was going to do? How do you stop one lone crazed individual? Some kid shot up a shopping center in Omaha last year and killed a bunch of people...how do you stop something like that from happening?

[Archive]

Posted By: Wayne Kemper

You know what though....most people with lots and lots of moooola have it all wraped up in paper anyway....what if the economy (i'm talking the WORLD economy crashes. MONEY IN GENERAL will cease to exist. Consider what might happen at that point. I would feel comfortable saying it wouldnt be pretty.

[Archive]

Posted By: JimCrandell

Wow--in all my days I have never seen anyone who did not believe that the mainstream media was way left of center.

Dave--I disagree with some of your points.

1)I think Palin was chosen primarily to fire up the base. As an economic and social conservative, I was very lukewarm on McCain. I would have voted for him but without much enthusiasm.

2)I thought Palin was fine in the debates. She handled herself well and the fair and balanced station I watch thought she won.

3)The average American voter is not very bright or informed and is becoming less so all the time giving the changing demographics of the country. I think the Tina Fey skits have had a substantial effect on the polling in recent weeks--second only to the economic/market issues. They reinforce all the stereotypes put out by the liberal mainstream media that she is stupid and unquaified to be vp.

[Archive]

Posted By: Dave

To each their own on the debate. That's just my opinion on her performance but I still think blaming the media for this is incorrect.

The media does EVERYTHING for ratings. Everything. 99.9% of all decisions made in the business are done on that sole issue, because the better your ratings are, the better your chances are of making more dough.

Taking this into account, the media covers Palin with such a frenzy because she is someone people are curious about, someone people will stay in front of the TV set to learn about and gossip about. She's a star. She's got some skeletons in the closet. She's the Britney Spears of politics if you will (ouch I know).

Biden is not. Nobody cares what he says to be quite honest. If you looked up "Washington Politician" in the dictionary you'd see a picture of a guy that looked a lot like him... boring. Same with McCain. Forgive my language but if people cared about his wrinkly old ball bag... you's see his nuts plastered on every newspaper and media outlet across America.

Now is the media liberal in every sense of the word? Absolutely. Do they take liberties on what they report? Definitely. But if people weren't interested in her... there would be no coverage. It's not like they can talk about her record...

[Archive]

Posted By: Joel

well it looks like 1/2 of Team Maverick got caught in the Troopergate Scandel...and several Republicans were part of the decision. For being mayor of a small town and governor of a less populated state, Palin sure seems to have more than her share of controversy. For someone claiming to be a Washington outsider...she's had lots of practice abusing her power in Alaska.

Questioning Obama's ties with various people is justified. But it's not like Palin's husband was not heavily involved in a group wanting to succeed from the US. The leader of this group is ready for the next Ruby Ridge...on moment's notice. Palin herself has attended these meetings. So they don't want to be part of the US and then she wants to be VP of the US. Hopefully by now Palin has seen a job description for the VP position and is aware of what the job entails.

[Archive]

Posted By: Dan Bretta

How do you explain the MSM's fascination with the Clinton/Lewinsky affair and the subsequent impeachment proceedings? How do you explain the lack of investigation into the reasons for going to war in Iraq? The MSM leans left meme was started by Rush Limbaugh and his ilk many years ago as a political tactic. If your guy does something wrong then blame the media. Bush screws up, blame the media...what did Larry "Wide Stance" Craig do when caught in a Minnesota restroom doing unseemly things? Blamed the media.

How do you explain the 2004 election when the Swiftboat veterans were in the news every single night? Why would the MSM if it leans left give them a platform?

Why does the NYT employ one of the craziest Neoconservatives in this country? Has Bill Kristol EVER been right in the last 8 years? On anything? The New York Times evidently thought he'd be great for their editorial section. Why would they employ a neocon if they lean left?

[Archive]

Posted By: Pennsylvania Ted

You said....
"there are no Woodward's and Bernstein's left or GWB wouldn't have survived outing a CIA agent for politcal revenge."

I guess you were AWOL when Richard Armitage admitted to being the one who exposed Valerie Plame. And, all the myriad
number of hearings confirmed this fact....so, get over it ! !

FYI......Woodward and Bernstein did a disservice to this country by bringing down Nixon....they purposely concealed their
notorious source, "deep throat", because if they revealed him, the nation would have not accepted this farce. It turned
out that "deep throat" was Martin Felt, a disgruntled FBI employee who had a vendetta against Nixon for not making him
the FBI chief.

The people of this country would not have stood for this journalistic malpractice by these two Washington Post reporters.
Nixon had his problems....but, remember that in 1972 Nixon was re-elected by a huge landslide.

TED Z

[Archive]

Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

James, I'm not part of a syndicated radio show, therefore I don't reach millions of people across the country -- therefore, I'm not part of the mainstream media. Get your facts straight.

And Dan, are you suggesting with a straight face that the New York Times does not have a wildly liberal slant? Have you ever read the paper?

[Archive]

Posted By: James Feagin

"Uh James, which part of the mainstream media is conservative?"

I answered...

"The part that you belong to" which I meant as the media of radio. Talk radio is dominated by the "right-wing" conservative/pseudo-Libertarian talk show hosts. These hosts have probably done more to influence national elections than supposed "liberal" television talk show hosts. By the way Jeff, I apologize as I can get testy at times. It shouldn't be so, especially since today is my birthday. Perhaps I'm feeling negative toward turning 33

James

[Archive]

Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

James, 33 rocks -- consider yourself lucky. 43? Not so great. Happy Birthday!

[Archive]

Posted By: Bob

Alaska panel finds Palin abused power in firing
By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer
7 minutes ago

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain's Republican ticket.

Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report to a bipartisan panel that looked into the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.

The inquiry looked into her dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce and custody battle with the governor's sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.

Monegan's firing was lawful, the report found, but Palin let the family grudge influence her decision-making — even if it was not the sole reason Monegan was dismissed.

"I feel vindicated," Monegan said. "It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I'm not totally out in left field."

Branchflower said Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Lawmakers don't have the authority to sanction her for such a violation, and they gave no indication they would take any action against her.

Under Alaska law, it is up to the state's Personnel Board — which is conducting its own investigation into the matter — to decide whether Palin violated state law and, if so, must refer it to the Senate president for disciplinary action. Violations also carry a possible fine of up to $5,000.






___

[Archive]

Posted By: Jim VB

James,

Happy Birthday! Sheesh. 33? I've got shoes that old.


Jeff, Joanne,


Not quite precise on the Supreme Court thing. She was asked if there were other decisions she had disagreed with. She said "Yes." Then she was asked to name one and she coulnd't.

Not knowing one doesn't make her dumb. Saying there is one, AND THEN not being able to name one makes her questionable. If you can't outthink Katie Couric, you're in trouble.

[Archive]

Posted By: Bob

Tom- you voted for Brother Bill in '92 and '96? I knew you were a heckuva nice guy but didn't know you also had such political acumen

Comparing Palin to Truman, Roosevelt, Reagan and Jackson is kind of silly. Truman was not only very intelligent but a war hero commanding his troops during WW 1. Not sure if you meant FDR or Teddy Roosevelt but both were very educated and intelligent men. Both exhibited incredible courage in their lives whether it be Teddy dedicating his life to busting trusts (the monoplists were shaking in their boots), preserving the environment or courage in war, or FDR and his fight against polio, etc. Reagan? Well maybe she could be compared to a poor man's Reagan.

The party that scripted the Watergate coverup, that let its dirty tricks people loose on Edmund Muskie, that spread the lies about Kerry and smeared a true war hero is busy again. They have found in Palin a Stepford Wife who takes orders and espouses the party line. Maverick? Ha. If you wanted an intelligent woman who was a true conservative why not someone like Elizabeth Dole? Palin is a joke. If she were a Democrat the Royal Rooters of the Conservative Right would have a field day with her, so don't give me the b.s. that it is the leftist media that is causing her her problems. What is causing her problems is that America is waking up and realizing that she could be just one heartbeat away.....

[Archive]

Posted By: Al C.risafulli

"What is at work here is a coordinated attack by the liberal media fed by talking points from moveon.org that are designed to try to make Palin look stupid."

Jim, I'm sorry, but I disagree.

The question was something about the Federal bailout, and what it involved.

The answer was this:

"So healthcare reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans, and trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, um, scary thing, but 1 in 5 jobs being created in the trade sector today. We've got to look at that as more opportunity. All of those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that."

Damn liberal media has some nerve, asking a vice presidential candidate QUESTIONS.

And I'll disagree with you too, Jeff - the Bush Doctrine was a very clear term that has a very clear meaning involving the idea of a preemptive attack. US military policy was actually rewritten post 9/11, from a "no first strike" policy to a policy that claims the right to attack preemptively - even using nukes, I believe. That has always been called the "Bush Doctrine" and is a central issue with respect to the war in Iraq - which, at the time of the Gibson interview, was the central issue of this campaign.

-Al

[Archive]

Posted By: Fred C

I only have ONE fundamental question.

How much money does the US Govt take in each year (amount includes all taxes collected and includes all sources of income)?

Can McCain or Obama answer that question? Seems fairly basic to me.

[Archive]

Posted By: davidcycleback

"Many people complain that a news organization holds a bias. Most of these people are not looking for unbiased reporting, but reporting with a different bias (theirs)."

[Archive]

Posted By: Dan Bretta

Jeff, I don't read the New York Times, but I do know that Judith Miller who used to write for them before she got fired was anything but a lefty...How do you explain Bill Kristol on their editorial staff if they are such a leftist paper? I will admit that if they lean in any direction it would be left, but do you consider the Wall Street Journal as part of the MSM? Which way do they lean? how about the Washington Times? New York Post? are they part of the MSM?

I would guess that every news outlet leans a little one way or the other some lean a little farther than others (Fox news of course and perhaps MSNBC) But to paint the MSM as totally leaning left without answering any of my questions about Clinton/Lewinsky, Bush/Plame, Lead up to Iraq war, et cetera is avoiding the truth.

[Archive]

Posted By: David Atkatz

Watching your 180,000 shares of $88/share Lehman stock collapse to $.07/share while working for the company "shows an incredible naivety and a lack of understanding of the financial markets. Makes one dismiss everything [you] think."

(BTW, it's occurences like that that make me think there just might be a God after all.)

[Archive]

Posted By: Cat

The fact that Clinton inserted that cigar into Monica Lewisky and then smoked it while meeting with Arafat is simply priceless. How can that story die? I don't care what party you are that's great stuff!

[Archive]

Posted By: Glenn

"The average American voter is not very bright or informed and is becoming less so all the time giving [sic] the changing demographics of the country."

Uh, Jim, any particular ethnicity you'd like to specify, or should we just leave that one hanging there?

[Archive]

Posted By: Dan Bretta

Can it get any more embarrassing for McCain...I almost feel sorry for the guy, but he made his own bed and now is he really paying for it.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf6YKOkfFsE

[Archive]

Posted By: Richard Simon

Nixon had his problems was a statement earlier from Ted Z.
Problems? Paranoid, delusional, anti-Semite, racist, violator of the Constitution, illegally bombing a foreign country, covering up the biggest political scandal in history, and a few more choice things I cannot think of now. And Woodward and Bernstein were heroes for exposing that man and I believe that most Americans would agree with that.
==

I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.
Unknown author
--
We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.
No retreat baby, no surrender.
The Boss

[Archive]

Posted By: Patrick McHugh

Here are my thoughts. Everyone blames the president for everything bad no matter who is in office. The entire congress is bought and paid for. The economic situation is in a major tailspin. Although not a mass killing of lives it is on par in urgency to a terrorist attact. Your congress is now on vacation as the stock market is crashing think 1929, major businesses are going bust and this is or will affect everyone. Instead of wasting time this is what could be done. 1. Buy every forclosed home and burn them down. This will take 2 million homes off the market. Less supply = more demand. Home price will not fall anymore. Government will be landowner will always have some value. Total cost 800 billion. 2. Buy 1 trillion dollars of s+p 500 futures market regains 20 percent confidence is restored. There are many other things that can be done the problems are very complex. Thus far we are in over 1 trillion and you see the results. The government has the power right now to do these 2 things. I guess they think a vacation is more important .

[Archive]

Posted By: JimCrandell

Dan,

You must have never seen the NY Times or you would never make a statement like that. Kristol is the only one of about 15 or so editorial writers who could remotely be considered right of center.

But its not the editorial pages which make the NY Times one of thge bastions of liberalism, its in their reporting of news stories and what the focus. Basically they run news stories slanted to a left/liberal point of view and they are written in a way to make it seem that liberals are pure and all things good and people like Palin are nut jobs.

David,

You sound like a peach of a guy--there is nsuch a thing as unvested stock you know.

[Archive]

Posted By: Richard Simon

"The average American voter is not very bright or informed and is becoming less so all the time giving [sic] the changing demographics of the country."

Geez,,,the award for most racist statement in this thread has just been won.

I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.
Unknown author
--
We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.
No retreat baby, no surrender.
The Boss

[Archive]

Posted By: JimCrandell

I would take away the link from those two statements.The average voter is much less informed than in the past. Also the demographics in the country are changing significantly. Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado are now considered to be toss-upo or in this election leaning democratic states because of the influx of Hispanics.

[Archive]

Posted By: Richard Simon

Guess the past he is talking about is when you had to be a property owner in order to vote.
==

I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.
Unknown author
--
We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.
No retreat baby, no surrender.
The Boss

[Archive]

Posted By: Al C.risafulli

"Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado are now considered to be toss-upo or in this election leaning democratic states because of the influx of Hispanics.'

Sorry, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado - along with Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Michigan - are battleground states that are leaning blue because of the influx of STUPIDITY on the part of the Republican candidate. If things stand the way they are right now - which I do not expect them to, by the way - Obama will win in a landslide of electoral votes that have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Hispanics.

McCain has made misstep after misstep for four solid weeks now - so many they're impossible to remember - throwing hail mary after hail mary, and has sunk in the polls in EVERY state. Demographics have nothing to do with it. At all.

There's still plenty of time to come back, but make no mistake - the dramatic and historic shift in polling numbers has nothing to do with the changing demographics in this country.

-Al

[Archive]

Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Al, blame it on McCain's missteps all you want or The One's sheer brilliance but the fact remains that the recent economic catastrophe in our country is what has pushed Obama from behind in the polls to significantly ahead. The Wall Street meltdown is the economic equivalent of a 9/11 attack on our country in terms of effect on our collective national psyche. Had it not occurred, The One would begin work on his third memoir come November instead of making a date with Jeremiah Wright to spend the night in the Lincoln Bedroom in January.