Debates, Kidney Stones & More

This is a great U2 song – from a great U2 moment in their energy sucking Zoo-TV tour. The Fly, contains the line, “it’s no secret that a liar won’t believe anyone else.” I always think of that in an election season. And Barack Obama, if he wants to show a little good faith, should apologize for calling these Right-to-Lifers “liars”.

I’m so sick of politics, aren’t you? Nevertheless…here are some interesting links.

Happily, Bill Whittle is great here with his funny and smart recounting of an incident with a kidney stone, that manages to be analogous to our current financial crisis. I am with him 100% on the idea that the people who put us here need to suffer something for it. I still say we call for the resignations of both banking committees and the heads of each party. But that won’t happen. Go read Whittle’s piece, though. It’s totally worth your time!

“We do not have a crisis at Freddie Mac, or particularly at Fannie Mae…” Uh-huh. That was 2004, and Gateway Pundit has the video And Volokh tells why McCain really did need to get back to DC the other day:

I was mildly in favor of the bailout until I read Dodd’s proposed statute. The way that the statute is drafted is so tricky and its definition of profit is so unsophisticated and nonsensical that the statute smells more of graft than of an honest attempt to solve the financial crisis. We are moving from failed “crony capitalism” to failed “crony community organizing.”

So, how’s the bailout shaping up? If it is to be believed, there might be a deal 100 Republicans can vote on, but I don’t trust any of them at this point. How do we know ACORN will not benefit? How do we prevent sneaky Harry Reid from slipping in another energy ban? How about a little openness? How about the Dems who want cover from the GOP invite them to the process?

The other day I asked if some parts of this bailout frenzy were not big fat illusions, and now Instapundit writes:

You know, it would be easier for me to believe this was a crisis, if the people in charge were acting like it was a crisis, instead of just an opportunity for graft. Then again, to some of these people, everything is just an opportunity for graft.

Kristol is sounding an alarm. I’m increasingly convinced that we need to throw them out! Ace wonders if Paulson created a self-fulfilling prophecy. I wonder if the cat is trustworthy at all.

Speaking of openness? Why is Barack Obama so closed? I mean, door shut; locked up tight.

Thugs in Politics really should not be tolerated by anyone, on any side. If nothing else gets done this election, people need to really send a message that this strong-arm goonery will not be tolerated. Of course, if the press ignores it, as it does, people won’t know to fight it, until it’s too late.

Fact-checking the debate Also, Bookworm recounts notable debate moments. Judith Klinghoffer was unhappy with Obama’s manner. She also notes, as I have in the past, that Obama seems to be as stubborn as George W. Bush. We’ve been told fro 8 years that this is a bad thing, stubbornness.

The inimitable Gerard Baker – who is always so good – on the election you really don’t want to win.

Again with Sarah Palin and the Rape Kits Myth. The NY Times really doesn’t care what it prints anymore, does it – the truth doesn’t matter.

CBS is also not worrying too much about truth were Palin is concerned. I was amused last night to see Couric report on an “instant” poll giving the debate to Obama…it had a 109% total.

David Warren on voting with one’s tribe

John F. Cullinan (a foin Oirish name – you know that F is for Francis) writes interestingly about our two foremost Catholic politicians and how their faith complicates their politics, or vice versa. Read his thoughts on Joe Biden, and Nancy Pelosi. I don’t think it is an easy thing to be a person of faith in the public arena, particularly if you love your church, as I believe both Pelosi and Biden do, and do not particularly wish to give scandal.

Speaking of Abortion and Catholicism etc, Rev. Dwight Longnecker says the abortion issue and the Iraq war are not moral equivalents.

Did Obama muddy the waters of the recent “bi-partisan financial rescue” meeting at the WH? This fellow says he did, and that the Democrats were not working in good faith. Good faith should not be a problem for politicians during a real crisis. These people need to shape up or we need to get rid of them.

Michael Gerson on faith, transcendence and the parietal lobes. The last paragraph is the kicker! But it also reminds me that Ted Kennedy’s tumor is in the parietal lobe. Wouldn’t wish it on anyone.