Truthful Politics

October 29, 2008 Truthful Politics journalist Cathy von Hassel-Davies went to Raleigh, North Carolina, where she met with fellow blogger Ilina from Dirt and Noise. They headed to a private house located in Raleigh's historical Five Oaks disrict for a meet and greet with Edie Falco, Carmella from The Sopranos. Cathy discovered she had a unique bond with Edie Falco, they both lived in the same small town in upstate NY. Edie Falco was in NC stumping for Obama and making sure that everyone would go out and vote preferably early.

You can click on photo to enlarge.

Afterwards Ilina and Cathy headed downtown for the Obama Rally. We are still gathering, viewing and editing all the videos and pictures, but unfortunately Cathy is an extremely active volunteer with one of the presidential campaigns and these next four days are crazy busy for her.

Cathy overcame her fear of heights and went up on a scissor lift with the lift operator and two other journalists so she can get this amazing picture of the gathering crowd with downtown Raleigh in the background.

As reported by major news stations. An assassination plot by skinheads has been thwarted by ATF. Here are some links.

Breaking News

MSNBC

More information to come later when details are finalized.

for the corporation, business or person whose income is 300,000 on up. I just put out a challenge to my fellow Republican friends and I will put it out here also.

I want links to articles or videos where John McCain or Sarah Palin speak of what they will do for the US as President/Vice President in specifics. When they talk about cutting taxes for Americans I want to hear/read them say what income bracket they are talking about. When they talk about cutting taxes for business, what profit range are they talking about. Things like this, I want specifics. I don't want a speech or snippet of whatever, telling me what they "think" the Obama/Biden ticket will do, I really do not give a rats ass what either party thinks the other wants/will do. I want to know exactly what THEY will do.

I was just listening to Ali Velshi CNN's Business Analyst regarding the stimulus packet of the Democrats vs. the Republicans proposals. He mentioned Ben Bernacke and whether he should be floating into the world of politics or not, some people think that call was a bit political as it seemed to be more identified with Barack Obama's position then John McCain's. 

A Breakdown of what Democrats think:

More cash assistance for infrastructure projects, basically building projects to create new jobs.

Extend jobless benefits

Raise the limits on loans backed by the Government to create more guaranteed home loans.

A Breakdown of what Republicans think:

Cut Capital Gains tax in half for 2 years, those are gains on things that have increased in value, stocks and things like that.

Cut Income Tax for firms buying troubled assets and mortgage loans.

Expand Capital Gain exclusion on home sales - right now a 250,000 dollar exclusion - in other words if you sell a house and you make 250,000 on it you get an exclusion from the capital gain tax, if a couple half a million; that is on your primary residence. The Republicans are suggesting people who buy additional residence over the next five years should be able to claim the same thing. Typcially you can't do that, the idea is if you encourage people through tax breaks to buy more of these homes you might deal with some of these homes that are on the market. In other words people with money will go and buy other homes and make them into rental properties or things like that and therefore buying up these excess homes that are on the market.

Now I am really trying to look at this rationally but it seems to me that the Democratic breakdown seems more prolific and would benefit from the average worker on up; whereas, the Republucan breakdown is for the person actually making a lot more than average Joe Six-pack/Plumber. 

I would like to know what the breakdown is on average home worth of houses in trouble. Are these troubled mortgages on houses that you could sell for profits in excess of 250,000 dollars? or are these houses with actual mortgages in the 100,000 to 300,000 dollar range where you wouldn't see that kind of profit?

I am being serious here, I am totally confused by this. I thought our mortgage crisis were on homes where credit was extended to familes that really could not afford the monthly mortgage payment - either through job loss, increased interest rates, etc. For me that would be average Joe, little-less than average Joe, or someone who was a credit minimum credit risk, not someone who would be buying homes in upwards of half a million dollars, at least, because that is actually a profit, so what priced house would it be if you are making that much of a profit on its sale? For me this seems like trickle down economy but then again I'm no economist just ask Professor Gatabaki ;-)

Who are we bailing out - the banks and those in the upper echelon of society or the banks and average Sue?

October 13, 2008 Sarah Palin and John McCain in Virginia Beach, Virginia

John McCain
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Isn't this a great vice President of the United States, Sarah Palin. My friends I can hardly wait to introduce her to Washington DC and the people who will know that times are gonna be different and change is coming, and change is coming. Thank you. Hank Hank Williams Jr. thank you for the highlight of the program, thank you so much for being here, very grateful. Two of my old dear and good friends George Allen and John Warner are here today, thank you both George and John for your service, my son Doug McCain who lives here at the beach and may I remind you that many years ago as a fresh young pilot out of pilot training I... this was my first duty station and it is almost like coming home and I am so glad to be back here. It is a great honor of my life to serve my country in good times and bad and I will always look back on those on who I knew in my service in the military is those who I knew best and loved most and I'm grateful to be back and thank you for such a huge turnout here today, we are very grateful.

Three weeks from now you will choose a new President, choose well, there is much at stake my friends. I've gotta give you some straight talk, whatcha you know, these are hard times, these are hard times my friends, our economy is in crisis, financial markets are collapsing, credit is drying up, your savings are in danger, and your retirement is at risk, jobs are disappearing, the cost of health care, your children's college, gasoline and groceries are rising all the time with no end in sight, while your most important asset, your home, is losing value every day. Americans are fighting in two wars, we face many enemies in this dangerous world and they're waiting to see if our current troubles will permanently weaken us. The next President won't have time to get use to the office, he won't have, he won't have the luxury of studying up on the issues before he acts. He will have to act immediately, and to do that he will need experience, courage, judgment and a bold plan of action to take this county in a new direction. We, we cannot spend the next four years as we have spent much of the last eight waiting for our luck to change. The hour is late, our troubles are getting worse, our enemies watch. We have to act immediately, we have to change direction NOW and we have to fight and you and I know how to do that. I've been, I've been fighting for this country since I was 17 years old and I have the scars to prove it, if I, if you elect me President I will fight to take America in a new direction from my first day in office until my last. I am not afraid of the fight, I'm ready for it.

I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna spend 700 billion dollars of your money just bailing out the Wall Street bankers and brokers who got us into this mess. I'm gonna make sure we take care of the people who are devastated by the excesses of Wall Street and Washington. My friends, I'm gonna spend a lot of that money to bring relief to you and I'm not gonna wait 60 days to start doing it. I have a plan to protect the value of your home and get it rising again by buying up bad mortgages and refinancing them, so if your neighbor defaults he doesn't bring down the value of your house with him. I have a plan to let retirees and people nearing retirement keep their money in their retirement accounts longer so they can rebuild their savings. I have a plan to rebuild the retirement savings of every worker. I have a plan to hold the line on taxes and cut them, to make America more competitive, and create jobs here at home, raising taxes makes a bad economy much worse, keeping taxes low creates jobs, keeps money in your hands, and strengthens our economy. My friends, the explosion of government spending over the last eight years has put us deeper in debt to foreign countries that don't have our best interest at heart, it weaken the dollar, and made everything you buy more expensive. If I'm elected President I won't spend nearly a trillion dollars more of your money on top of the 700 billion we just gave the Treasury Secretary as Senator. Obama proposes, because, he can't, he can't spend that much without raising your taxes, or digging us further into debt. I'm gonna make government live on a budget just like you do. I'll freeze government spending on all but the most important programs, like defense, veterans care, social security, and health care, until we scrub every single government program and get rid of the ones that aren't working for the American people. I will veto every single pork barrel bill Congress passes, I will make them famous to know that (unheard).

If I'm elected President I won't fine small business and family with children as Senator Obama proposes, to force them into a new huge government run health care program. I won't keep the cost of the fine a secret until I hit you with it. I'll bring down skyrocketing cost of health care with competition and choice to lower your premiums, make it more available to more Americans. I'll make sure you can keep the same health care plan if you change jobs or leave a job to stay home. I will provide every single American family with a 5,000 dollar refundable tax credit to help them purchase insurance. Workers who already have health care insurance from their employers will keep it and have more money to cover costs. Workers who don't have health insurance can use it to find a policy any where in this country to meet their basic needs. My friends, if I'm elected President, I won't raise taxes on small business as Senator Obama proposes and force them to cut jobs. I'll keep small business taxeses, taxes where they are, help them keep their cost low and let them to spend their earnings to create more jobs in America. If I'm, if I'm elected president I won't make it harder to sell our goods overseas and KILL more jobs as Senator Obama proposes. I'll open new markets to goods made in America and make sure our trade is free and fair. And I'll make sure we help workers who've lost their job that won't come back to find a new one that won't go away. You know the last President to do what osenator, Senator Obama wants to do, raise taxes, and restrict trade in a bad economy, was Herbert Hoover, that didn't, that didn't turn out to well. They say those who don't learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them, well my friends, I know my history lessons, and I sure won't make the mistakes that Senator Obama will. If I'm elected President we're gonna stop sending 700 billion dollars to countries that don't like us very much. I won't argue to delay drilling for more oil and gas and building new nuclear power plants in America as Senator Obama does, we'll start new drilling now. And we'll invest, we'll invest in all energy alternatives, nuclear, wind, side t-tide, solar, and we will encourage the manufacture of hybrid flex fuel and electric automobiles, we will invest in clean coal technology, we will lower the cost of energy within months, we will create millions of new jobs. By the way, next time Senator Obama tells you that nuclear power has gotta be made safe and environmental... take him over to see one of our navy ships with nuclear power plants on them. And ask, ask the men and women who serve proudly on those nuclear powered ships defending freedom all over the world.

Now my friends, let me give you the state of the race today and some straight talk, we have 22 days to go, we are six points down, the national media has written us off. Senator Obama, Senator Obama is measuring the drapes and, and planning with Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reed to raise taxes, increase spending, take away your, your right to vote by secret ballot in labor elections, and concede deveat, defeat in Iraq, and concede defeat in Iraq, our troops, my friends, I won't concede defeat, I'll bring our troops home with victory and honor. My friends, but you know, you know what they forgot, they forgot to let you decide. My friends, we've got them just where we want them. What America needs in this hour is a fighter, someone who puts, who puts all his cards on the table and trusts the judgment of the American people. I come, I come, I come proudly from a long line of McCains who believe that to love America is to fight for her. I have, I have, I have fought for you most of my life, there are other ways to love this country, but I have never been the kind to do it from the sidelines. I know you're worried, America is a great country, but we're in a moment of national crisis that will determine our future, will we continue to lead the worlds economies? or will we be overtaken? will the world become safer or more dangerous? will our military remain the strongest in the world? will our children and grand-children's future be brighter than ours? My answer to you is yes, yes we will lead, yes we will prosper, yes we will be safer, yes we will pass on to our children, we, we will pass on to our children a better, stronger country but we must be prepared to act swiftly, boldly, with courage, with wisdom. I know, I know what fear feels like, it's a thief in the night who robs your strength, I know what hopelessness feels like, it's an enemy who defeats your will, I felt those things once before, I will NEVER let them in again. I'm an American and I choose to fight, don't give up hope, be strong, have courage and FIGHT. Fight for a new direction for our country, fight for what's right for America, fight to clean up the mess of corruption, infighting and selfishness in Washington, fight to get our economy out of the ditch and back in the lead, fight for the ideals and character of a free people, FIGHT for our children's future, fight for justice and opportunity for all, stand up to defend our country from it's enemies stand up, stand up and fight, America is worth fighting for, nothing is inevitable here, we never give up, we never quit, we never hide from history, we make history, now let's go win this election and get this country moving again. Thank you, and God bless you and God bless America.

Cathy von Hassel-Davies

A huge typographical errors has been made on Rensselaer County NY absentee ballots sent out to at least 300 voters. On row 1A it lists Senator Barack Obama as Barack Osama. Is this really a mistake or was it intentional? As a typist and someone who has typed many books for publishing firms I have confused neighborhing letters, I have transposed letters, but I have never confused the letter B with the letter S or any other letter keystrokes away from each other.

What happens to those ballots sent in with the Osama name on it - will they be discarded as inaccurate? Will the vote actually go for Obama? or will it perhaps count as a vote for Osama? I called the Rensselaer County Board of Elections and spoke to a women who refused to give her name, she said that "they are typograpical errors and because of the errors they will be counted as votes for Obama."

My question would be to those receiving the ballots - absentee voters in Schodack, Nassau, Brunswick, Schaghticoke and Sand lake - Will this raise a question in your mind before you mark your ballot and send it in? Will you automatically assume the vote will go for Barack Obama or think otherwise and either not send it in or vote for someone else?

Cathy von Hassel-Davies

I am seriously beginning to worry about the McCain/Palin strategy; it is as if they are trying to incite riots by inflaming their audience. To the extent that one man even shouted out, "Kill Him," and at another point the audience turned around and started jeering at the media section.

Queen of Spain aka Erin Kotecki Vest wrote a wonderful blog post titled Enough is Enough where she describes how Palin rallied up her audience in Florida and how she plans on counterattacking.

Another article that also describes how Palin inflamed her audience in Florida is by Washington Post writer Dana Milbank entitled Unleashed, Palin Makes a Pit Bull Look Tame.

Please everyone THINK about what is being told to you. Don't just take the word of whomever you are listening to. In this day and age there is no excuse for this. Instead of that half-hour sitcom you want to watch, go to Google, go to ASK, go to your library, research what you heard or read and check on it. Then take the time to look at their references, are they referencing an article they wrote? if so, find another source. Are they referencing the original source, GREAT then you know they are on the right track.

Here is a great example for you. I was on the GOP.com page reading their article Obama Tax Backgrounder and started reading and researching their citations. The first quote they give is an article in the USnews.com; however, that journalist does not mention where he received his information. Now scroll down to the heading Obama Has Repeatedly Voted for Higher Taxes in the U.S. Senate, and see what they have in the brackets?! RNC Research. Now why would I believe what they are writing when they cite their own research department; it would have even more helpful if they would have linked to the bill, the vote, and/or the resolution. They do link to thomas.loc.gov; however, if you follow the link it takes you to the Days in Session page?!? Why in the world would they link there? I can only guess, is it that they automatically assume you will not click on the link and research it yourself and just take them at face value? Now thomas.loc.gov is a great site, but it would of been helpful if the GOP linked directly to the actual referenced page as Factcheck.org does. Also, just because they quote a news source does not make it factual, which would be like quoting Barack Obama or Sarah Palin on a statement they gave, it just doesn't work, you need to follow through.

So please do not take someone's word, or believe every commercial or every news story, go and do the research yourself.

Become an informed citizen and voter!

Cathy von Hassel-Davies

The clip that I found (I am still looking for the full video on this) from MSNBC starts out with Senator McCain talking about the 10 trillion debt and he looks very angry; however, he does wink at the camera when a specator shouts something out (we cannot hear what the shoutout was). John McCain claims 'there are essential things we do not know about Obama or the record that he brings to this campaign.' This is funny because Senator McCain has no problem misstating Sen. Obama's record of congressional votes, especially in regards to taxing the middle class (see factcheck.org). Senator McCain states, 'that we have all heard what he (Obama) said, but it is less clear what he has done or what he will do. What Sen. Obama says today, and what he has done in the past, are often two different things. He has often changed position in this campaign, and the best way to determine where he really will take this country is to examine where he has tried to take it in the past.' I really wish Senator McCain would state which positions Barack Obama has changed positions on. I have listend to many of Barack Obama's speeches and he seems to say the same thing each time. Please if I'm wrong do correct me.

John McCain says that whenever he has questioned Obama's policies or record, Obama has called him a liar. I did watch the debate and when John McCain would state something about Senator Obama's issues, Obama would say that is a lie. Should Barack Obama agree with John McCain's false statements? Reading through factcheck.org there are many instances where John McCain and Sarah Palin have lied, why not call the kettle black when it is true? Now please do not get me wrong, there are instances where Senator Barack Obama has stretched the truth about McCain's record and I will get to those posts in the next week.

Senator McCain states that 'Obama never answers a serious or legitimate question he is asked.' Again, I really wish these politicans would give instances, as I know of many instances where Sarah Palin has not answered questions. She even came right out during the debate and said she wouldn't answer some of the questions. I guess what is good for the goose is not good for the gander or vice versa in this matter. 

Senator John McCain goes on to say that he 'doesn't need lessons in telling the truth to the American people and were I ever to need any improvement in that regard I probably wouldn't seek advice from a Chicago politician,' with this said, Senator McCain gives the biggest grin, like he has just said the best thing. Sorry, but I know what he was referring to, and I think if I was a politician from Chicago I would be highly insulted by his comment. 

After listening to the small talk Obama did this afternoon in Asheville NC and this small video clip (about 3 1/2 minutes) I must say, Obama talked more about the economy than he did about McCain; whereas, McCain sent out some very insulting zingers to his opponent and not a whole heck of a lot on the issues. I would much rather have heard McCain speak on issues, why doesn't he? I am looking forward to tomorrow nights debate.

Cathy von Hassel-Davies

Senator Obama speaks about current economy conditions from Asheville NC.

He says, what we did last week is not the end but just the beginning. He asked for swift action by Paulson to do the things that Congress had authorized him to do, to help our economy and restore confidence in our economy. Very important for us to move forward on an economic stimulus package to provide people with relief from high food prices and gas prices and help state and local governments to maintain payrolls. We have to extend unemployment insurance after statistics showed that we have lost 159,000 additional jobs last month. Move on an aggressive plan to deal with some of the underlying structural problems in our economy including the continuing decline in the housing market.

Obama mentioned that he was surprised to hear Senator McCain's campaign say that we want to turn the page on discussions on the economy, and if we keep talking about the economy we lose. Senator Obama said he has news for the McCain campaign, the American people are losing right now; they are losing their jobs, they are losing their healthcare, they are losing their homes and their savings. Barack Obama exclaimed, that he cannot believe that they want to brush that aside and engage in the usual political shenanigans and scare tactics that has come to charactierize too may political campaigns. He thinks that is not what the American people are looking for. He said he will keep talking about the economy and keep on talking about what we need to do to strengthen the middle class and get our credit markets settled down. He has confidence we can solve this problem, but not with business as usual, we need (news reporter spoke over him) change.

As a side it would have been nice if MSNB spelled Ashville (sic) correctly in their caption.

Cathy von Hassel-Davies

I have been registered to vote since 1978 and take pride in my right to do so. Many women led this fight, many were seriously mistreated and hurt during this fight for our right.

I do not take my right lightly.

Here is why I am telling you not to vote!