Over the past 30 years, Americans have been bombarded with sermons evangelizing for the free market religion of the Right. In the course of selling us on buying, the market-worshippers tried to convince us that all concerns about the most vulnerable members of society could be left up to the soulless, self-correcting calculus of supply and demand. Government involvement was an anachronism, regulatory oversight an impediment. The last few weeks have demolished that notion. In the battle over the proper role of government, the high priests of the church of the Free Market -- including Bush, Paulson, and the Masters of Wall Street -- have suffered a monumental defeat. So why are we allowing them to dictate the terms of their surrender?
Friday's national security debate will take on a surreal quality, with the financial crisis preoccupying both campaigns, so I am writing this debate prep checklist of possible McCain lines of attack.
The bailout bill will enable Obama to assume one of his favorites stances -- the progressive who bridges differences. He can claim that the unified Democrats dramatically improved a flawed and self-interested Republican bill.
Debates are won by the candidate who presents the most compelling and persuasive character. If I can convince you I'm an honest, straight talker, you'll believe what else I say. If I can't, you won't.
We need you to be Sarah Palin every Saturday night. From the Friday before the skit on SNL aired to the following Tuesday, Palin's approval rating dropped ten points. Coincidence? I think not.
AIG's financial meltdown this past week was not the result of failed insurance regulation. (Go ahead. Read that one more time, real slow.)
"I am ministry of the treasury of the Republic of America. My country has had crisis that has caused the need for large transfer of funds of 800 billion dollars US."
There are no saviors who are going to look out for us in this crisis -- the only hope of preventing another dose of shock politics is loud, organized grassroots pressure on all political parties.
John McCain was in Scranton claiming to have been a long supporter of U.S. involvement in the Northern Ireland peace process -- which just happens to be completely untrue.
I believe foreign policy is McCain's weak spot, one that has not been exploited, but one that I believe Obama will pounce on on Friday night.
Instead of buying bad debts from financial institutions at a relatively arbitrary price, I suggest we do the following.
Obama needs to do precisely what he has not done thus far in debates -- connect with voters in a way that makes them feel like they know and share his values, and confident that he will keep them and their families safe.
In a political crisis, Team McCain moves to change the subject and stay away from what may be unfriendly issues and instead switches back to a negative focus on Obama's personality and image.
