My response from Florida Senator Martinez

Dear Mr. Kayser:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the financial crisis facing our country. I appreciate you contacting me regarding this important issue.

I have heard from thousands of Floridians in recent days who are worried about this financial crisis and are concerned about the actions that Congress and the Administration may take in addressing it. I believe that our country is facing a very serious situation, and I share many Floridians’ concerns about the economic consequences to our country if we fail to act appropriately. We need to enact legislation that enables our economy to continue functioning while imposing new regulations and safeguards to ensure that this situation never occurs again.

The exact form that this legislation will take is not yet decided, but I assure you that I am working hard to ensure that your tax dollars will not be wasted on any plan that rewards irresponsible or illegal activities by investment bankers on Wall Street. There must be accountability in any plan approved, and those who have given rise to this crisis need to be investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law for any wrong-doing that occurred.

I am enclosing a copy of remarks I made on the floor of the Senate regarding the current crisis and its origins in the housing market. I believe that this problem is far too complex and serious to be handled in the same ultra-partisan fashion that has unfortunately characterized much of the 110th Congress. I assure you that I am committed to working with all of my colleagues to address this crisis and enact meaningful reforms to protect homeowners and ensure the long-term economic prosperity of our country. 

Again, thank you for contacting me regarding this important issue. If I may be of assistance to you in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me. 

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Mel Martinez
United States Senator

Sorry Son, Wait for the Fed

Stick with this for a moment...

Sunday:

Son: Dad, thanks for the allowance.  I'm going to the movies next weekend and maybe buy some comics and baseball cards.  I might even have a bit left over from my $5.

Dad: Sure son, thanks for cutting the grass.

Monday at school: 

Billy: Hey buddy, can you lend me some money?  I really need just a few dollars to buy some stuff.

Son: Sure, but uh, I need the money back by this weekend.  Can you get it back to me?

Billy: Of course, and to show you I mean it I'll write this note.  It says, "You can have my bike if I don't pay you back by Friday."

Son: Great!

Monday night:

Son to himself: Hmmm.  Billy's bike must be worth more than $5.  Maybe I can sell his note to somebody and make a few extra dollars.

Tuesday at school:

Son: Hey Sam, you're always complaining that you need a new bike.  Wanna get one real cheap?

Sam: Sure.  But I'm broke today.

Son: That's ok.  Pay me by Friday.  Here's the note.

Wednesday night:

Sam to himself: Wow, this bike must be worth more than the money I paid...

Thursday at school: 

Sam: Hey Billy, I have a great deal for you...

Friday at school: 

Son: Hey Sam, got the money?

Sam: I'm going to get it soon.

Son: Hey, Billy, got the money?

Billy: Uh, no.

Son: So, I get to keep your bike?

Billy: Well, actually never really had the bike...

Billy: Hey Sam, where's the bike?  I gotta give it to Son!

Sam: But I never had the bike.

Saturday morning:

Son: Dad, can I borrow $5 on next week's allowance?

Dad: Sorry Son, you have to wait for the Fed to bail you out!!!

I think most of us would agree that it would be irresponsible for Dad to give Son another $5.  Son made a bad deal and lost his money.  Period.  That's free enterprise.  If Dad continually bailed out Son when would Son learn to be responsible.  If every time Son makes a bad deal and he knows Dad will bail him out, one might assume that Son will continue to make bad deals.

Sorry Son, you'll have to live with your mistakes.

Will America be worse off if the "bailout" is voted down, or worse off if it goes through.  Congress will at some point vote it into effect.  But they will probably load it down with earmarks instead of oversight.  

The American taxpayer will pay the bill.  But just try doing this yourself, like not paying YOUR bills and see what the Fed does for you.

Oppose the bailout NOW!!!

In case you missed it, here is the transcript of Bush convincing Americans that there are WMDs in Iraq...oh, sorry, that we need a Wall Street bailout.  I just wonder why Americans aren't screaming and yelling at this plan.  Many Americans don't have health insurance.  Mom and Pop businesses fail every day.  Folks from the aftermath of New Orleans still are waiting for the new and improved city that Bush promised.  And on and on.  Yet taxpayers are expected to bail out the theives on Wall Street that ran their companies into the ground. So they made bad investments.  If Mr. and Mrs. Average American invest poorly does the Fed come along and bail them out?  If Mr. and Mrs. Average American can't pay their credit car bills or car payments does the Fed bail them out?  

WHAT ARE THE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES IN WASHINGTON THINKING ABOUT?  WHAT IS BUSH THINKING ABOUT?

The answer is simple.  They are thinking about their buddies on Wall Street. They are thinking about the lobbyists who control them.  Or they are just plain not thinking at all.

Why does Dennis Kucinich ask for 5 minutes on the floor of Congress, speak for 1 minute and thirty seconds against the bailout, then get gaveled off the floor? And where are all the senators and congressmen that should be working? Kucinich was speaking to an empty chamber.  Can you not show up to work any time you please?

Read Kucinich here:http://kucinich.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2442&Itemid=1

Why are Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich NOT the presidential nominees? Clearly they think outside the Washington box. They make too much sense. They are interested in protecting our rights. They see the mistaken thinking of the present administration.  

Write to your Senator and oppose the bailout.  Write to your Congressperson and oppose the bailout.

https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml

Too funny!!!

POEHLER AS COURIC: "And how do you do that exactly?"

FEY AS PALIN: "Every morning, when Alaskans wake up, one of the first things they do, is look outside to see if there are any Russians hanging around. And if there are, you gotta go up to them and ask, 'What are you doing here?' and if they can't give you a good reason, it's our responsibility to say, you know, 'Shoo! Get back over there!'

POEHLER AS COURIC: "Senator McCain attempted to shut down his political campaign this week in order to deal with the economic crisis. What's your opinion of this potential 700 billion dollar bailout?"

FEY AS PALIN: "Like every American I'm speaking with, we're ill about this. We're saying, 'Hey, why bail out Fanny and Freddie and not me?' But ultimately what the bailout does is, help those that are concerned about the healthcare reform that is needed to help shore up our economy to help...uh...it's gotta be all about job creation, too. Also, too, shoring up our economy and putting Fannie and Freddy back on the right track and so healthcare reform and reducing taxes and reigning in spending...'cause Barack Obama, y'know...has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans, also, having a dollar value meal at restaurants. That's gonna help. But one in five jobs being created today under the umbrella of job creation. That, you know...Also..."

POEHLER AS COURIC: "What lessons have you learned from Iraq and how specifically, would you spread democracy abroad?"

FEY AS PALIN: "Specifically, we would make every effort possible to spread democracy abroad to those who want it."

POEHLER AS COURIC: "Yes, but specifically what would you do?"

FEY AS PALIN: "We're gonna promote freedom. Usher in democratic values and ideals. And fight terror-loving terrorists."

POEHLER AS COURIC: "But again, and not to belabor the point. One specific thing."

(several seconds of FEY and POEHLER staring at each other)

FEY AS PALIN: "Katie, I'd like to use one of my lifelines."

POEHLER AS COURIC: "I'm sorry?"

FEY AS PALIN: "I want to phone a friend."

POEHLER AS COURIC: "You don't have any lifelines."

FEY AS PALIN: "Well in that case I'm gonna just have to get back to you!"

Underwhelming and bumbling

Were you as underwhelmed by Obama and McCain as I was last night? McCain came off as an old uncle telling war stories to his nephew.  "I was there when we landed at..."  Obama was very stiff and seemed quite uncomfortable. Almost unfriendly, if that word applies here.  And he kept on trying to interrupt McCain in mid-sentence, which I found annoying.  I may not have agreed with McCain's position, but I think Obama made a mistake by not letting him finish. He was argumentative and seemed primed for a fight.  McCain didn't take the bait. As for the content of what they said, it would be quite easy to put Obama's words into McCain's mouth and you wouldn't know who said what.  But it's not about what you say, on TV it's how you look when you say it. Clearly neither candidate was very impressive, IMHO.

Then there's the continuing saga of "Sarah puts her foot in her mouth."  She told Katy Couric that she is qualified on foreign affair issues because Russia can be seen from her house.  So if I live near the ocean does that make me a marine biologist?  Is that the best she can come up with?  She told Couric that she didn't have a passport until 2006 because she wasn't a rich kid who could travel through Europe with a backpack.  

"It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our state."

And Mrs. Palin, exactly what role does the governor of Alaska have in making that decision?  

None, as in ZERO!

McCain would do himself and his chances of election a favor by dumping Mrs. Palin and replacing her with someone much more capable.  

Sarah Palin: You Couldn't Make This Stuff Up

COURIC: Why isn’t it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries? Allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy? Instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?

PALIN: That’s why I say, I like every American I’m speaking with were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the tax payers looking to bailout.

But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health care reform that is needed to help shore up the economy– Helping the — Oh, it’s got to be about job creation too. Shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americas. 

And trade we’ve got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive scary thing. But 1 in 5 jobs being created in the trade sector today. We’ve got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation.

This bailout is a part of that.

HUH???

Nothing to FEAR but FEAR itself. And Bush.

Perhaps I am cynical, or maybe it's that some of us are smart enough to see through the FUD that Washington is throwing at us.  Fear. FEAR!  We have nothing to fear but fear itself.  Bush is saying that if we don't throw $700 billion at the bad money, that things will get worse.  Why?  Uh, dunno.  

And could it be, just maybe, that McCain pulling out of the debate could be a lead in to postponing the November election?  After all, we are in a crisis.  Or so they tell us.  We need to postpone the election until things calm down.  Right? Do you think this could never happen? Well, the last few years, at least since 9/11, have brought us to the brink of the destruction of the Bill of Rights.  After all, anyone entering or leaving the US is subject to search and seizure without due cause.  Check Article 4 of the Bill of Rights.  Prisoners declared terrorists by the US government can and are being held without access to representation and without charges.  Check the fifth amendment to the Bill of Rights.  Never thought that could happen but it has.  Never thought Lehman Brothers could go under. Never thought about Morgan Stanley.  Never thought government insiders like Rove could just ignore subpenas.  You try doing that...