I keep hearing reasons...

[unixronin]

I keep hearing people trumpet reasons not to vote for McCain, with the unspoken implication that these constitute reasons to vote for Obama.

Well, OK.  Here's a pretty damned good reason not to vote for Obama.  You know this economic trainwreck that's currently happening right in front of us because Congress passed laws to allow (and even encourage) stupidly risky practices in home mortgage lending?

When the Bush administration tried to rein in Freddie and Fannie from continuing to engage in risky practices, guess who stepped in to block their efforts?  Democratic senators Chris Dodd, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, and -- are you ready? -- Barack Obama.

Meanwhile, guess who were the top four recipients of campaign contributions from Fannie and Freddie between 1988 and 2008?

Senators Chris Dodd, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton, and -- still ready? -- Barack Obama.

A coincidence, I tell you -- just a coincidence.

Further down in the same article,

While Barack Obama was getting campaign contributions from Fannie Mae's Franklin Raines, John McCain was sounding the alarm about the crisis to come and trying to do something about it.  On May 25, 2006, McCain spoke on the floor of the Senate on behalf of his proposed Federal Housing Enterprise Regulatory Reform Act of 2005:

[subquote elided]

However, McCain's bill was killed in the Senate when Democrats threatened a filibuster.

Yeah.  Now tell me with a straight face that I should vote for Obama and the Democratic Party because they're gonna make it all better.

The simple fact is, both parties have become part of the problem.

Comments

[ossuarian.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I'm not sure if the Bush administration will be held accountable if Obama's elected. You make perfectly valid points. On the other side, even the cynical side of me says that prosecuting the previous administration would be a good way to keep your approval rating. "You think I'm bad? The last guy is *in jail*" So Obama might not hold the administration accountable. McCain is supported by many of the same people, so he couldn't.

Obama did not take credit for Allawi's curring pro-pullout position. I'm giving him that credit because of the timing. Obama goes to Iraq (presumptive of a campaigning candidate, but McCain dared him to go, so he can't complain). He talked to Allawi. He tells Allawi, like he's told everyone who'll listen, that he would pull out all troops within eighteen months of taking office. Allawi says to a reporter, "Good idea." Allawi starts telling the Bush administration, "I want you guys out."

I personally find the sequence of events to be a pretty big sign, and I think any measure that ends the occupation a human rights coup and a success any politician could be proud of.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

On the other side, even the cynical side of me says that prosecuting the previous administration would be a good way to keep your approval rating. "You think I'm bad? The last guy is *in jail*"

Heh. You have a point. I wouldn't put it past them. But I have a feeling that once the knives come out, there'd be a lot of blood on the floor before they were put away again.

Obama did not take credit for Allawi's curring pro-pullout position. I'm giving him that credit because of the timing.

Ah, so. [shrug] I don't know. It could be a factor, it could be coincidence that his trip coincided with some existing move. We'll probably never know for sure.

[novel-tharkun.livejournal.com]

Regarding the idea that knives being taken out leads to much blood on the floor, may I quote an overquoted Jeffersonian phrase? "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

What's wrong with starting the flow?

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Did I say I had a problem with it? I just commented on the likelihood. :) If the Congresscritters were busy stabbing each other in the back, maybe it'd keep them too busy to fuck up anything else.