What are the Key Factors for Victory in the 2008 Presidential Election?

[B. Elliott]

Too funny! Obama billboard signs are appearing as background in at least two video games, but only in games distributed in key swing States.

Obamas campaign (and other supporters with big bucks) are paying to have them put in. McCain's has planned on doing the same thing.

 

[Evo]

More good news for Obama.

Obama's 'Diplomacy' Wins a Republican Endorsement

The ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee parted ways with his party's presidential nominee Wednesday by endorsing Democrat Barack Obama's approach to diplomacy.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20081015/pl_cq_politics/politics2975236

 

[turbo]

Obama's selection of Biden was a good move. If he had selected Lugar or Hagel instead, that would have been a GREAT move. Game over. There are a lot of true conservatives who like Obama's ideas, including many who are disgusted with Bush/Cheney's pathetic abdication of realistic foreign policy. Either Lugar or Hagel would be good choices for Sec. of State, though Richardson is my favorite.

 

[B. Elliott]

Found a pretty extensive list of McCain's accomplishments here...

http://eforum.reviewjournal.com/lv/showthread.php?t=22019

Obama's fits nicely on a one-page pdf...

http://www.obama08-wa.com/files/experience.pdf

 

[mathwonk]

thank you to the loyal opposition, but i think (hope) it is in a losing cause.

written vitae do not substitute for how the man presents himself.

as my thesis advisor told me, no one cares what you have done, they care about who you are.

i.e. what do you bring to the table now?

 

[WhoWee]

thank you to the loyal opposition, but i think (hope) it is in a losing cause.

written vitae do not substitute for how the man presents himself.

as my thesis advisor told me, no one cares what you have done, they care about who you are.

i.e. what do you bring to the table now?

Senator Government...(Obama)...brings a clear promise to increase spending and government control.

As for tax cuts to Exxon and other large companies...McCain should have mentioned that Exxon is owned primarily by pension funds and institutional investors...corporate taxes directly affect investment performance...in your 401K.

Also, if 50% of the 95% of the people who will receive a "tax cut" don't currently pay taxes...it should be called entitlement...possibly an extension of the Earned Income Credit.

 

[B. Elliott]

thank you to the loyal opposition, but i think (hope) it is in a losing cause.

written vitae do not substitute for how the man presents himself.

So, how a man presents himself dictates his ability to run entire country?

Nice. I'm sure we all remember this guy...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q-6H4xOUrs

 

[WheelsRCool]

Senator Obama will never be able to enact all of his spending proposals without raising taxes on everyone, which is going to severely harsh business (and thus jobs) in this nation. If you want to see how an Obama economy will be, take a look at the states employing Left-leaning economics, such as Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, California, Massachusettes, New York, etc...the states employing Right-leaning economic policies, such as Florida, Texas, and Arizona, do pretty fine (about a third of all the new job creation in the nation over the last ten years occurred in these states: http://online.wsj.com/public/article_print/SB122126282034130461.html).

Meanwhile, California and Massachusettes have spent themselves into such a hole that they need the Federal government to bail them out, Michigan, since increasing taxes, has gained the worst economy in the nation essentially, with Illinois and Ohio also losing jobs, etc...cities too. Take a look at what Left-leaning policies did to Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago, New York City before Giuliani, etc...you combine:

1) Senator Obama's tax increases on those earning $250K or higher (of which many are small businesses)

2) His lavish spending programs (which makes him more like four years of Bush than McCain, consider President Bush spent so much)

3) His increase of the minimum wage to $9.50 indexed to inflation (which will likely go up under Obama).

4) The fact that to pay for his entitlement promises, he will have to raise taxes on more than the top 5%

5) His plans to create "fair" trade (which will infringe on free trade)

And he is going to destroy the U.S. economy, just as similar policies have destroyed the state economies and city economies that have employed them. I live in Upstate, NY and one of the problems here is businesses fleeing the state because of the oppressive tax and regulatory structure.

He is also going to end up taxing small businesses at a higher tax rate than large corporations, considering large corporations pay a corporate income tax rate of 35%, while C-Corporations earning between $100K and $333K pay at a 39% corporate tax rate, which thus drives many businesses to file as S-Corporations, so they can pay at the current 35% top income tax rate, which will return to 39.6% under Obama.

These small businesses will be far more pressed to make cuts in equipment, salaries, or fire people, they may take full-time jobs with benefits and divide them into two part-time jobs with benefits, or they can raise their prices to pass on the costs to their consumer, whereas big businesses will be able to absorb this better. However you look at it, small businesses and the middle-class employees suffer.

Remember, Wal-Mart supports a higher minimum wage (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13600024/). I highly doubt this is because they "care" about workers; it's because it hurts their smaller business competitors.

Wal-Mart, at the current tax rates, pays the 35% corporate tax rate, and probably less because of loopholes. Under Obama, many small businesses will end up paying at the 39.6% rate he will yank their taxes to and they will have to deal with a minimum wage (which will increase quite quickly if inflation kicks in).

Even if he says he will delay his tax increases, this still is going to hurt business because they will not hire more workers in anticipation of the increases.

And considering that California, the 7th largest state, couldn't enact its universal healthcare program without bankrupting the state, and Massachusette's program (which was supposed to be affordable) is now over-budget, and both of these states in need of Federal help, I do not see how he is going to enact such a program for the entire nation without bankrupting this country.

If Senator Obama tows the lines of the unions and the Employee Free Choice Act passes, which removes a worker's right to a secret ballot vote, this country is going to allow the unions a lot more power, which will scare businesses away even further.

What is also very ironic is if Senator Obama was applying for a job to work in the Presidential administration, his alliances would disqualify him for the security clearance, yet he is able to run for President.

 

[Astronuc]

Also, if 50% of the 95% of the people who will receive a "tax cut" don't currently pay taxes...it should be called entitlement...possibly an extension of the Earned Income Credit.

This statistic is incorrect. It's more like 25% of households, a number of whom are military dependents.

The total expenditures is about $40 billion, out of ~$3.1 trillion in 2008. Most of the federal budget goes to middle and upper income groups.

It is a subsidy. Maybe if people controlling the purse would pay better wages, the government wouldn't be compelled to subsidize those with lower incomes.

1) Senator Obama's tax increases on those earning $250K or higher (of which many are small businesses)

2) His lavish spending programs (which makes him more like four years of Bush than McCain, consider President Bush spent so much)

3) His increase of the minimum wage to $9.50 indexed to inflation (which will likely go up under Obama).

4) The fact that to pay for his entitlement promises, he will have to raise taxes on more than the top 5%

5) His plans to create "fair" trade (which will infringe on free trade)

Please provide the evidence to support those conjectures. Small businesses that make more than $250K don't necessarily pay taxes (but let's define 'make' - gross or net earnings).

 

[Art]

I see the RNC are pulling out of advertising in Wisconsin and Maine. A vote of no confidence in their candidate?

McCain's team will continue to advertise in both states and in fact Palin is due to visit Maine today. A chance for Turbo to go show his appreciation for her

It does seem McCain has a good chance of winning 1 of Maine's 4 electoral votes in the North of the state.

 

[turbo]

I see the RNC are pulling out of advertising in Wisconsin and Maine. A vote of no confidence in their candidate?

McCain's team will continue to advertise in both states and in fact Palin is due to visit Maine today. A chance for Turbo to go show his appreciation for her

I'd love to go, but I can't afford to waste the eggs (of the gas to drive there).

 

[turbo]

BTW, there is currently a live feed from the hangar where Palin's event will take place. I've seen bigger crowds at a PTA supper.

 

[LowlyPion]

I'd love to go, but I can't afford to waste the eggs (of the gas to drive there).

No rotting veggies in the compost you can spare?

 

[LowlyPion]

New ad out on the "I'm not George Bush" comment.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1185304443/bctid1859660952

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Joe the Plumber was just interviewed on CNN and stated that this whole situation is a hypothetical. He doesn't exceed Obama's 250K limit at this time, but if he ever did, then Obama's plan would cost him.

So this is all nothing but more GOP horsesh't.


The GOP has poor people feeling sorry for rich people! Talk about bleeding hearts!

 

[LowlyPion]

Karl Rove throwing in the towel?

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 11:55 EDT
Rove's map shows big Obama win

These days, even Karl Rove thinks things don't look good for John McCain. Sure, in his latest column for the Wall Street Journal he says that Barack Obama hasn't wrapped up the election yet -- but at the same time, he seems to doubt that McCain can pull off a comeback.

And in the latest electoral college map produced and released by his consulting company, Rove projects Obama as the winner of 313 electors, 43 more than the magic number of 270 needed for victory. He lists only four states -- Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio -- as toss-ups, and in all of those, Obama is slightly ahead. Overall, since Rove's last map, Obama has gained 36 electoral college votes as Rove has moved both Colorado and Florida into his column; both were previously too close to call. (Admittedly, the map is compiled using an average of public polls, not the best or most accurate way to do this.)

Now here's the question of the day: Rove was sorely mistaken when he doggedly predicted, in the face of all available evidence, that Republicans would hold on to their Congressional majorities in 2006. So is he right this time?

http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/index.html

Image of map:
http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/10/16/rove_map/rovemap.jpg

 

[Evo]

Joe the plumber not a plumber (fraud)

It was just on CNN, the guy pretending to be "Joe the Plumber" isn't even a licensed plumber. The whole thing is a fraud. A fraud that McCain made a big part of his debate. OOOOPS. Might want to watch the gullibility there McCain.

 

[WhoWee]

This statistic is incorrect. It's more like 25% of households, a number of whom are military dependents.

The total expenditures is about $40 billion, out of ~$3.1 trillion in 2008. Most of the federal budget goes to middle and upper income groups.

It is a subsidy. Maybe if people controlling the purse would pay better wages, the government wouldn't be compelled to subsidize those with lower incomes. Please provide the evidence to support those conjectures. Small businesses that make more than $250K don't necessarily pay taxes (but let's define 'make' - gross or net earnings).

Astronuc...I didn't post the second item...that was WheelsRCool...I don't have a comment on that post.
The first one is mine...and I'd like to use your numbers to review...let's make sure we're talking apples to apples.

If the real number is 25% of households and our population is approx 300 million, and

http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam.html

3 (?) persons average per family/household = 100 million total persons...or about 1/3 of the population?

$40 billion / 100 million persons = $400 per person and $1,200 per household.

The numbers seem to be correct...is that what you meant?

As a subsidy, the $40 B is a staggering amount but broken down this way it doesn't amount to much of a benefit per person...basically gas money.

On the other hand, if these people are underemployed (or whatever the current term is) in part time (or full time) in the retail or service sector...at or around minimum wage, the employers in many cases can't increase their wages without increasing prices. When you consider these same persons will have to buy goods at these inflated prices...the "raise" in wages doesn't help them.

The WalMarts may be an exception...I believe the big box retailers could pay more.

However, the franchise owned McDonald's (for instance) that have exhausted the labor pool and started hiring senior citizens (and often have to schedule 2 persons to do 1 job because seniors may move a little slower but tend to be more attentive to details and are good for business and do attract other seniors into the facility in the AM) can't be expected to bare an additional 10% plus increase in minimum wage...let alone mandated health care...unless the rates are very low and considered a component of the minimum wage.

For the smallest operators, the threat of an increased minimum wage or mandated insurance coverage looms like a pending storm. There are over 20,000 independent restaurants (members of the Ohio Restaurant Assoc and does include some gas stations/alternative sites that sell food) in Ohio. The majority are small family run operations with a handful of employees. Independents typically have lower revenues than chains because they don't have sufficient advertising budgets.

A well established successful pizza shop (in Ohio) might average $1,000 per day. In order for the owner to earn 10% net, the total labor component (wages, uniforms, meals, taxes and insurance) need to be less than 20%...about $200 per day. The overall margins have shrunk to about 10% from 20% to 30% as the remaining overhead items of occupancy costs (rent, utilities, insurance), COGS (food and packaging) have all increased drastically over the past 3 to 4 years.

If the small pizza shop is open for business from 10 Am until 10 PM and the average cost per employee/hr is $9.30 ($8.00/hr wage on a 5 hour shift, $.50/shift uniform - $.10/hr, the meal is $3.00/shift =$.60/hr, and $.60/hr (matching tax and workers comp)) a $200/day labor budget (200/9.30) = 21.5 man hours per day. This is without paying for any health insurance.

This basically means the owner is never going leave the business and will have to work really hard because he's only going to have 1 or 2 persons to help him per hour from open until close. Even if a family member works...they still need to be paid.

Worst of all, if the owner makes $100 per 12 hours = $8.50 per hour. The employees will make more per hour than the owner.

These are the small businesses that everyone forgets...the real working poor.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

It was just on CNN, the guy pretending to be "Joe the Plumber" isn't even a licensed plumber. The whole thing is a fraud. A fraud that McCain made a big part of his debate. OOOOPS. Might want to watch the gullibility there McCain.

Apparently he doesn't vet his VPs any more carefully than his plumbers.

Btw, BobG, your observation that "party boobytrap" is a palindrome, is a classic!

 

[Astronuc]

Astronuc...I didn't post the second item...that was WheelsRCool...I don't have a comment on that post.

My apology, WhoWee. I fixed the attribution.

These are the small businesses that everyone forgets...the real working poor.

I agree - the working poor are forgotten. Many of the millions of jobs that have been created over the past 8, 12, 20 years pay lower wages/salaries/benefits than the jobs they replace. This I know from people I've encountered - and based on McDonalds, Walmart and other similar companies adding jobs.

IF more people were working and paying taxes, then there would be more tax revenue and lower deficits or perhaps surpluses. The other part is government expenditures like EIC, SS, Medicare, Medicaid, . . . , and interest on the debt. The government must reduce expenses to be in-line with revenue - and the debt must be paid down.

A few years ago, I remember the IRS reporting the $100's billion of taxes were not being collected. I wonder if that is still the case? If some people are not paying taxes, then the burden is on the rest of us who are.


As for Joe the plumber - whether or not he is a licensed plumber, registered voter, business owner - he likely wouldn't pay more taxes. If he's or his business is earning $250K, why is he complaining.

Fact check: Plumber Joe's taxes
McCain has entrepreneurs spooked about tax hikes, but fewer than 2% of small business owners would pay more under Obama's plan.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/15/smallbusiness/small_biz_taxes_factcheck.smb/index.htm



Meanwhile - Foreign investors hit the road
Overseas investors are unloading everything but U.S. Treasurys. Just one problem: We need the money.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/16/markets/thebuzz/index.htm

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Foreign investors are still showing a voracious appetite for U.S. Treasury bonds...but they're selling everything else the United States has to offer.

According to the Treasury Department's latest report -- released Thursday -- overseas investors bought a total of nearly $35 billion in Treasury bonds in August.

But they dumped other securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. stocks and government-agency bonds, such as those from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The Treasury report showed that foreign investors - mostly private investors, not central banks - sold a net $29.4 billion in agency debt and $13.1 billion in corporate bonds. The outflow from equities was less pronounced with overseas investors selling only about $1 billion in stocks.
. . . .

 

[turbo]

I just got a Robo-call from the McCain campaign "informing" me that Barak Obama has been "working closely with domestic terrorists". He was on an education-reform board with William Ayers and several other Republicans and Democrats. Ayers is one man, not multiple "terrorists" and he is a respected member of the Chicago community and was when Obama met him. McCain is pure slime. All the respect that I have had for him over the years has disappeared.

 

[WhoWee]

My apology, WhoWee. I fixed the attribution.

I agree - the working poor are forgotten. Many of the millions of jobs that have been created over the past 8, 12, 20 years pay lower wages/salaries/benefits than the jobs they replace. This I know from people I've encountered - and based on McDonalds, Walmart and other similar companies adding jobs.

IF more people were working and paying taxes, then there would be more tax revenue and lower deficits or perhaps surpluses. The other part is government expenditures like EIC, SS, Medicare, Medicaid, . . . , and interest on the debt. The government must reduce expenses to be in-line with revenue - and the debt must be paid down.

A few years ago, I remember the IRS reporting the $100's billion of taxes were not being collected. I wonder if that is still the case? If some people are not paying taxes, then the burden is on the rest of us who are.


As for Joe the plumber - whether or not he is a licensed plumber, registered voter, business owner - he likely wouldn't pay more taxes. If he's or his business is earning $250K, why is he complaining.

Fact check: Plumber Joe's taxes
McCain has entrepreneurs spooked about tax hikes, but fewer than 2% of small business owners would pay more under Obama's plan.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/15/smallbusiness/small_biz_taxes_factcheck.smb/index.htm



Meanwhile - Foreign investors hit the road
Overseas investors are unloading everything but U.S. Treasurys. Just one problem: We need the money.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/16/markets/thebuzz/index.htm

Have you uncovered any indicator of WHO bought the mortgage based paper they dumped?

 

[LowlyPion]

Gallup Poll shows tightening - before the last night's debate however.

Gallup Daily: Obama 49%, McCain 43% NEW
October 16, 2008
The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking report from Monday through Wednesday shows Barack Obama with a 49%to 43% lead over John McCain among registered voters.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

The CNN poll of polls, which includes Gallup, has been steady at 50-42, and 49-41 before that, going back a week.
http://edition.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/map/polling/index.html

Obama took big jumps in Va and Co in the last few days, and now lays claim to those States on the Electoral map.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I keep hearing Republicans talking about how great McCain was in 2000 and 2004.

If he was so great, why didn't they vote for him?

 

[karenlau]

New ad out on the "I'm not George Bush" comment.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1185304443/bctid1859660952

Check out this one... LOL.

 

[Astronuc]

Have you uncovered any indicator of WHO bought the mortgage based paper they dumped?

No. I would hope the Fed/Treasury are collecting the data. I'd like to know who made what mortgages (particularly sub-prime), when, and so on.


Meanwhile I posted this elsewhere on the EITC.

According to the IRS - http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=178071,00.html

More than 22.4 million taxpayers received more than $43.7 billion in EITC on their 2006 federal income tax returns (an average of $1950). The IRS estimates that approximately one in four eligible taxpayers fails to claim EITC. Eligibility requirements for the credit can be complex. Also, people who have earned income but may not have a filing requirement, non-English speakers, non-traditional families, the homeless, childless workers and rural residents are among those who may not realize they qualify.

Non-farm employment is about 137 million. - http://www.nemw.org/employ.htm
The civilian labor force is about 154 million - http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

So the fraction of those receiving EITC = 16.5% of non-farm employment and 14.5% of total civilian labor.

For the 2007 tax year, the maximum credit is $4,716 for a family with two or more children; $2,853 for a family with one child and $428 if the taxpayer does not reside with children.

The maximum amount of earned income allowed is higher for tax year 2007 than it was for 2006. Please see Fact Sheet 2008-11 for all eligibility requirements.

Generally, a taxpayer may be able to take the credit for tax year 2007 if the taxpayer:

• has more than one qualifying child and earns less than $37,783 ($39,783 if married filing jointly),
• has one qualifying child and earns less than $33,241 ($35,241 if married filing jointly), or
• does not have a qualifying child and earns less than $12,590 ($14,590 if married filing jointly).

This population also includes many people in the armed forces (e.g. privates, corporals, and perhaps sargeants).

Now many in this population are elligible for Medicaid. I'm trying to figure out where to find the data on this. Here's part of the picture - Work-Support Spending Varies Widely Across Nation
http://www.urban.org/publications/901096.html

$43.7 billion in EITC on their 2006 is less than 10% of the $481 billion of Defense (FY2008, which excludes supplemental spending of ~$100 billion for the war on terror), and is also ~10% of the interest paid ($431 billion - http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm ) paid on the national debt, or about 1.6% of the FY2008 federal budget of about $2.65 trillion (not including a deficit of $400 billion).
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2008/pdf/08msr.pdf


Most people in this population cannot afford to buy a home, so they rent, and the landlords are likely middle income, so the EITC passes through low income to middle income population. Very likely, many in this population do not have bank accounts, so they cash checks at check-cashing places (owners are middle income folks) and they pay fees of several percent. One such store sits across the street from my office, and they pull in a lot of money.


Now compare the EITC to $200 billion to support Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, or $80 billion for AIG, or $700 billion for the proposed intervention for the financial industry, or ~$100-150 billion/yr for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. These amounts go mainly to middle and upper classes - not to those earning EITC.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

One personal theory about the Ayers business. I suggest this because I have seen it before.

The other day on CNN, Bill Bennett suggested that if elected, Obama might appoint Ayers as Secretary of Education. Of course he was nearly laughed off the stage by liberals and conservatives alike, but it does speak to something at play here.

Guys like McCain, and Bennett, and many people who feel that they lost the culture war of the sixties, have never gotten over it. I have seen it many times, and it was true of my best friend, who passed last year. Until the day he died, he would get angry if he thought about a few students from that time. I don't know exactly what happened, but the emotional wounds never really healed.

I think that's why they [McCain, Bennett et al] try to make something like this an issue today. They see this as a way to link Obama to that era in the eyes of people their age. It is yet another way to say: He is one of "them". It's not just that Ayers has a record, what gets them allatwitter is that Ayers comes from the 60's.

 

[WhoWee]

No. I would hope the Fed/Treasury are collecting the data. I'd like to know who made what mortgages (particularly sub-prime), when, and so on.


Meanwhile I posted this elsewhere on the EITC.

According to the IRS - http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=178071,00.html


Non-farm employment is about 137 million. - http://www.nemw.org/employ.htm
The civilian labor force is about 154 million - http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm

So the fraction of those receiving EITC = 16.5% of non-farm employment and 14.5% of total civilian labor.

This population also includes many people in the armed forces (e.g. privates, corporals, and perhaps sargeants).

Now many in this population are elligible for Medicaid. I'm trying to figure out where to find the data on this. Here's part of the picture - Work-Support Spending Varies Widely Across Nation
http://www.urban.org/publications/901096.html

$43.7 billion in EITC on their 2006 is less than 10% of the $481 billion of Defense (FY2008, which excludes supplemental spending of ~$100 billion for the war on terror), and is also ~10% of the interest paid ($431 billion - http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/ir/ir_expense.htm ) paid on the national debt, or about 1.6% of the FY2008 federal budget of about $2.65 trillion (not including a deficit of $400 billion).
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2008/pdf/08msr.pdf


Most people in this population cannot afford to buy a home, so they rent, and the landlords are likely middle income, so the EITC passes through low income to middle income population. Very likely, many in this population do not have bank accounts, so they cash checks at check-cashing places (owners are middle income folks) and they pay fees of several percent. One such store sits across the street from my office, and they pull in a lot of money.


Now compare the EITC to $200 billion to support Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, or $80 billion for AIG, or $700 billion for the proposed intervention for the financial industry, or ~$100-150 billion/yr for the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. These amounts go mainly to middle and upper classes - not to those earning EITC.

One of the biggest problems with all of the entitlement programs is they never end in that they never offer permanent solutions to multi-generational problems.

An example is Section 8 housing. Yes, we help people afford housing...but they don't have a chance to build equity. Home owner equity is a proven way to achieve leverage to ultimately buy a business or secure an education for your children...that is control one's own destiny. It could be argued that some middle class property owners might benefit and build equity, but there are many large property owners involved.

If you compare Section 8 to an educational program, the educational program (in it's current state) is a better investment...because the recipient of the grant/loan will become a MORE productive citizen in the future (qualified to have a better job with better wages, pay taxes and achieve home ownership). The Section 8 recipient can't earn too much, doesn't build equity and is basically stuck in place.

I recently looked at some stats for cities in Ohio. The City of Youngstown has a new Mayor, named Jay Williams. He just happens to be the first black mayor and the former development director.

Accordingly, he developed a good bit of working experience trying to rehab homes in depressed neighborhoods and found the program to be a failure. He summed it up as the city plan was to select an $8,000 property between 2 other $8,000 properties, spend $40,000 to rehab, materials were often stolen, projects were often vandalized and when the job was done...the property was still only worth $10,000. It didn't work and he stopped making the same mistake over and over.

Instead, he's specified a different type of renewal. The first thing to go were the (original US housing) projects. They were replaced with a new planned neighborhood, about 4 to 5 blocks square. The homes are about 1,600 sq ft and priced well under $100k. Financing is subsidized with special attention to 2 income families. Then he made "fix-up money" available to people in the surrounding area and it's been transformed from an inner-city war zone into a very nice neighborhood.

But the real work is just beginning. The city demolished about 500 properties total over the past few years, many had served as crack houses and hideouts for local gangs. Now these improved city properties can be purchased for less than $1,000 each by anyone willing to build a home and live there.

I've seen similar programs in PA and NJ that also yielded positive results. Sometimes the answer is to think small and make something work, then duplicate and expand.

 

[Astronuc]

Fact Check: GOP vitriol rages over community group
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/acorn_fact_check

Republican John McCain took his criticism of community activist group ACORN to new heights, claiming in the final presidential debate that the organization "is now on the verge of maybe perpetrating one of the greatest frauds in voter history in this country, maybe destroying the fabric of democracy."

He kept up the attack on Thursday, saying ACORN is being investigated for voter fraud "in every single battleground state" and demanding that Democrat Barack Obama detail his ties to the group.

McCain is correct that at least a handful of ACORN canvassers are currently being investigated across the country by local officials on suspicion of submitting false registration cards, some with names like "Mickey Mouse" or "Donald Duck."

But in alleging voter fraud, McCain goes too far. To commit fraud, a person would have to show up on Election Day with identification bearing the fake name.
. . .
ACORN hires canvassers from disadvantaged communities, pays them $8 an hour and provides them with a day of training, according to the group's spokesman, Brian Kettenring. He said those who forged registration cards were lazy employees trying to earn money for doing no work, and were fired.
. . .

Once again McCain is bearing false witness.

 

[Astronuc]

With respect to the Health Care issue.

Here are some statistics on Children who are Insured/on Medicaid/Uninsured care of the Kaiser Family Foundation
http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparecat.jsp?cat=3
http://www.statehealthfacts.kff.org/comparetable.jsp?ind=127&cat=3&sub=39&yr=85&typ=2&o=d&sort=162

Texas leads the nation in % of children on Medicaid or uinsured.

Rank  State           Employer   Indiv    Medicaid   Other    Uninsured
                                                     Public  
      United States    55.30%    4.40%     27.60%    1.40%     11.30%
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1     Texas            45.10%    3.80%     27.30%    2.00%     21.80%
2     Florida          50.70%    5.20%     23.30%    1.30%     19.50%
3     Nevada           63.30%    4.70%     14.50%    NSD       16.80%
4     New Mexico       40.60%    NSD       36.70%    NSD       16.60%
5     Mississippi      41.20%    4.50%     36.70%    NSD       16.20%
6     Arizona          48.90%    3.30%     31.10%    NSD       15.90%
7     Louisiana        45.20%    5.10%     34.80%    NSD       14.50%
8     Montana          49.50%    7.20%     28.10%    NSD       13.80%
9     Colorado         61.50%    6.70%     15.50%    2.50%     13.80%
10    New Jersey       66.40%    3.50%     16.40%    NSD       13.30%
11    Oklahoma         46.50%    4.20%     32.40%    3.60%     13.30%
12    North Carolina   49.60%    5.00%     29.70%    2.40%     13.30%
13    South Carolina   52.70%    3.90%     28.90%    NSD       13.10%
14    Utah             61.20%    7.10%     18.00%    NSD       13.10%
15    Oregon           55.40%    7.60%     23.30%    NSD       12.80%
16    Georgia          52.60%    2.70%     29.30%    2.90%     12.50%
17    California       49.70%    6.10%     30.70%    1.20%     12.30%
18    Idaho            56.40%    6.20%     23.70%    NSD       12.20%
19    Alaska           54.10%    3.50%     23.60%    7.60%     11.20%
20    Virginia         61.10%    3.60%     19.10%    5.50%     10.70%
21    Nebraska         62.50%    5.90%     19.30%    NSD       10.40%
22    Maryland         65.40%    4.10%     19.00%    NSD       10.40%
23    Delaware         63.70%    2.70%     22.00%    NSD       10.00%
24    Missouri         53.80%    6.00%     29.70%    NSD        9.80%
25    Kentucky         53.60%    4.40%     31.30%    NSD        9.40%
26    Wyoming          59.00%    6.70%     22.30%    NSD        9.20%
27    North Dakota     60.10%    8.00%     20.70%    NSD        9.10%
28    New York         55.90%    2.70%     32.30%    NSD        9.00%
29    South Dakota     57.20%    7.40%     24.20%    2.50%      8.80%
30    Vermont          51.60%    NSD       36.00%    NSD        8.50%
31    Arkansas         42.60%    4.20%     43.80%    NSD        8.40%
32    Illinois         61.80%    3.60%     25.50%    NSD        8.30%
33    Tennessee        51.80%    5.00%     31.70%    3.40%      8.10%
34    Pennsylvania     62.40%    4.40%     25.30%    NSD        7.70%
35    Alabama          60.50%    NSD       28.00%    NSD        7.70%
36    Kansas           55.90%    6.30%     28.00%    NSD        7.70%
37    WashingtonDC     45.60%    NSD       44.00%    NSD        7.60%
38    Ohio             60.30%    3.80%     27.90%    NSD        7.50%
39    Minnesota        67.20%    5.20%     20.00%    NSD        7.20%
40    New Hampshire    71.50%    4.20%     16.60%    NSD        7.10%
41    Washington       60.90%    4.40%     24.80%    2.70%      7.10%
42    Indiana          64.00%    3.50%     25.50%    NSD        6.70%
43    West Virginia    52.70%    NSD       38.20%    NSD        6.60%
44    Rhode Island     60.10%    2.90%     29.10%    NSD        6.60%
45    Connecticut      66.80%    3.20%     23.00%    NSD        6.30%
46    Michigan         61.60%    4.20%     27.70%    NSD        5.90%
47    Hawaii           62.50%    2.60%     23.30%    5.70%      5.80%
48    Maine            57.20%    4.40%     31.40%    NSD        5.60%
49    Iowa             62.10%    5.90%     26.00%    NSD        5.50%
50    Wisconsin        64.60%    4.10%     25.30%    NSD        5.20%
51    Massachusetts    67.30%    3.30%     24.10%    NSD        5.10%

Texas leads the nation on the number of children uninsured and second (behind California) on children covered by Medicaid. So much for prosperity.

                Employer   Individual   Medicaid  Other Pub  Uninsured    Total   
                                              
United States  43,504,800  3,457,590  21,711,120  1,099,620  8,872,090  78,645,220
                                              
Texas           3,150,660    264,380   1,905,180    142,120  1,526,180   6,988,520 
California      4,990,690    607,900   3,085,040    119,840  1,232,220  10,035,690
Florida         2,197,740    225,130   1,007,970     57,660    843,010   4,331,500 
New York        2,651,390    129,030   1,530,560        NSD    424,800   4,744,490 
Georgia         1,369,940     69,970     761,880     75,750    326,060   2,603,590 
North Carolina  1,161,560    116,680     694,590     56,840    310,670   2,340,350 
New Jersey      1,466,590     76,970     361,890        NSD    293,790   2,208,700 
Arizona           866,050     58,620     550,500        NSD    282,000   1,769,470 
Illinois        2,078,220    120,980     858,650        NSD    279,570   3,362,350 
Pennsylvania    1,819,800    129,300     737,860        NSD    223,590   2,916,950 
Ohio            1,776,470    110,640     823,740        NSD    220,040   2,947,690 
Virginia        1,184,710     69,730     370,100    107,070    207,780   1,939,390 
Colorado          774,640     84,610     195,240     31,840    173,980   1,260,310 
Louisiana         519,320     58,550     400,200        NSD    166,340   1,148,860 
Maryland          953,240     60,310     277,270        NSD    152,080   1,456,790 
Michigan        1,588,150    108,420     713,650        NSD    150,970   2,579,250 
Missouri          801,450     89,700     443,400        NSD    146,150   1,490,980 
South Carolina    583,770     43,350     320,770        NSD    144,640   1,108,200 
Mississippi       339,610     37,120     302,150        NSD    133,780     823,490 
Oklahoma          451,480     40,440     315,060     34,930    129,420     971,330 
Tennessee         804,090     77,590     492,130     53,160    126,190   1,553,150 
Oregon            507,350     69,420     213,000        NSD    117,430     915,920 
Washington        987,500     72,120     402,550     44,600    115,960   1,622,730 
Nevada            436,080     32,090     100,070        NSD    115,620     689,420 
Utah              526,250     61,270     154,650        NSD    113,150     860,570 
Indiana         1,078,600     58,890     430,050        NSD    113,580   1,685,900 
Kentucky          572,330     46,880     334,010        NSD     99,970   1,067,920 
Minnesota         891,730     69,230     266,000        NSD     95,850   1,327,490 
Alabama           717,610        NSD     332,060        NSD     90,870   1,186,630 
New Mexico        218,600        NSD     197,720        NSD     89,670     538,570 
Massachusetts   1,042,620     51,500     372,930        NSD     78,260   1,549,310 
Wisconsin         899,410     57,020     352,960        NSD     72,670   1,392,630 
Arkansas          315,970     31,230     325,010        NSD     62,650     742,180 
Kansas            415,210     46,780     208,080        NSD     57,510     742,380 
Connecticut       582,920     27,500     200,430        NSD     54,610     872,310 
Idaho             244,160     26,770     102,410        NSD     52,760     432,970 
Nebraska          295,050     27,600      91,160        NSD     48,980     471,690 
Iowa              465,660     44,030     195,030        NSD     41,360     749,660 
Montana           114,140     16,580      64,760        NSD     31,870     230,790 
West Virginia     222,510        NSD     161,320        NSD     28,090     422,470 
New Hampshire     226,790     13,230      52,680        NSD     22,670     317,320 
Alaska            104,050      6,670      45,340     14,690     21,500     192,250 
Delaware          140,280      5,920      48,430        NSD     21,950     220,110 
South Dakota      118,270     15,210      49,920      5,190     18,100     206,690 
Hawaii            192,140      7,920      71,780     17,580     17,980     307,390 
Maine             172,080     13,280      94,490        NSD     16,770     300,960 
Rhode Island      151,550      7,350      73,250        NSD     16,750     252,000 
North Dakota       93,990     12,570      32,350        NSD     14,310     156,460 
Wyoming            78,060      8,910      29,470        NSD     12,180     132,360 
Vermont            71,130        NSD      49,650        NSD     11,700     137,750 
Washington DC      54,270        NSD      52,400        NSD      9,090     119,070

 

[WhoWee]

Fact Check: GOP vitriol rages over community group
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/acorn_fact_check
Once again McCain is bearing false witness.

I live in Ohio...everyone is angry at the situation with Acorn last week. The people that testified in Cuyahoga County were fairly honest about why they filled out so many registrations (so the Acorn workers wouldn't lose their jobs mostly) and one said he didn't know it was wrong...so he filled out about 70 forms.

This is what started the whole issue...

"Ohio elections officials say they are working out potential kinks, such as questions about whether a vote counts when it is cast or when it's counted. They also are trying to address potential fears of massive voting fraud, and what effect this influx is going to mean on vote security."

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/08/13/Ohio_voting.html

...and this didn't help to ease tensions...

Vote Early for Obama
Ohio.VoteForChange.com What Are You Waiting For? Find Your Early Vote Location Now!

 

[LowlyPion]

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/08/13/Ohio_voting.html

...and this didn't help to ease tensions...

Vote Early for Obama
Ohio.VoteForChange.com What Are You Waiting For? Find Your Early Vote Location Now!

What stopped McCain from organizing and stumping in Ohio at that time?

What's wrong in wanting to capture as much of the will of the electorate as possible? Why should there be barriers to voting? Isn't it to be a country of Laws expressing the will of All the People?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

So some punks making near minimum wage are cheating on their voter registration forms. Okay, it needs to stop and the perps punished, but it is only registration.

Ohio is still using voting machines that don't allow the vote to be verified. That is a secret count and by a far the greater offense - esp given the Diebold fiasco. This threatens the very foundation of democracy.

 

[Astronuc]

I live in Ohio...everyone is angry at the situation with Acorn last week. The people that testified in Cuyahoga County were fairly honest about why they filled out so many registrations (so the Acorn workers wouldn't lose their jobs mostly) and one said he didn't know it was wrong...so he filled out about 70 forms.

This is what started the whole issue...

"Ohio elections officials say they are working out potential kinks, such as questions about whether a vote counts when it is cast or when it's counted. They also are trying to address potential fears of massive voting fraud, and what effect this influx is going to mean on vote security."

On the one side, we have a group or groups trying to register voters, and on the other side, we have a group or groups trying to eliminate voters, which apparently includes legitimate voters. (One approach is inclusive, the other exclusive. One approach guarantees rights, the other denies rights.) Which would be worse or more of a threat to democracy?

The voter fraud can only occur when someone, who is ineligible to vote, votes. Presumably the poll workers check the registration roles and government issue identification.