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I actually agree that abuse of power by the executive branch is a serious concern for the republic. But the problem has been the aggressive attacks by the Bush administration on defenses against executive overreach like judicial review, habeas corpus, congressional control of starting wars, and...

The Palin rumors were running wild in Alaska before she was ever nominated for VP. The day it was announced Republican State Senate leader Lyda Green made a snide comment about how she was "remarkably well-disguised." And if Palin's story is actually true - and she took a high-risk delivery...

Yet another skeleton: <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/la-na-earmarks3-2008sep03,0,5932587.story">Mayor Palin 3-time dishonoree on McCain's "objectionable pork list"</a> That's not even counting the bridge to nowhere! McCain didn't even vet her in his OWN records!

In terms of experience and qualifications, there's no comparison between Obama and Palin. Obama has 12 years of legislative experience at the state and national level, a stellar legislative record, top academic qualifications, and was already a leading political orator and writer before his...

Bush started the policy that protests could be limited to "free speech zones". I am very disappointed that the Democrats seemed to have picked up on that.

I was very impressed - and I normally hate political speeches, even ones I agree with. I have never seen a better acceptance speech. He connected strong and extensive policy proposals and sharp but not vicious attacks on McCain to a base of common American values. He talked about every...

Feel free to post anything by McCain objecting to the most aggressive politicization of Justice in my lifetime. Good luck looking! Especially since the guy hired to politicize the Arkansas office, Tim Griffin, is <a...

Oh, and on McCain and the attorney scandal where Bush fired US district attorneys who didn't go along with politically motivated prosecutions of Democrats or who prosecuted guilty Republicans: His campaign manager <a...

Obama's just asking the Justice department to enforce the law of the land, a law which has been confirmed *not* to violate First Amendment rights. Do you have a problem with the Justice Department enforcing constitutional laws?

Obama has made it clear that he opposes end-runs around campaign finance laws on *both* sides. He has essentially shut down 527s on the *Democratic* side by telling contributors not to contribute to them, and they have almost had to shut down as a result. It's basically unprecedented for any...

I'm sorry you have a problem with campaign contribution limits but the Supreme Court has ruled them constitutional. I'm quite content with campaign contribution limitations because otherwise you risk monopoly power over media being used to take over politically (think Berlusconi, Thaksin, or...

Incidentally, McCain, was *not* asked how many houses he had lived in *over his lifetime*. Nobody would be shocked if a 72 year old man couldn't remember all the houses he'd lived in over his lifetime OTTOHH. The question was how many he owned now - and he didn't know.

I have never known anybody - including 2 people worth over 100 million dollars - who didn't know how many houses they owned. You have to really not *care* to not know. It's very bad for McCain because it shows he's so rich he doesn't care about a million-dollar house and that's very alien to...

I fifteenth the rental suggestion. Buy now, lose 20% of the house (about $120,000, right?) Well, spend *half* of that adding to your rent and you can rent a place for $3300 a month for 4 years and still be $60,000 ahead. Or rent a place that's your target size and spend a summer on a trip around...

awgee, the bank's solution is to be arbitrary. Rework some loans and foreclose on other based on criteria nobody else can figure out (flipping coins would work great). Be extra mean, though, if it's a voluntary default. As long as people are unsure of how the bank will treat them they'll only...

The problem with the CDS is complexity and unevenness. The situation (oversimplified) is that A paid B for insurance, then C bought insurance from A, then B bought it from C. If A's insurance wipes out B, then B goes into bankruptcy court, probably putting A into bankruptcy court, in turn...

Sweet potato pizza, Sunday dinner the 10th. But any of those possibilities are fine with me.