Scary Stuff

A lady was interviewed after a big Obama rally this week. Her statement wraps up the truth and expectations of President Barack.

"I won't have to work again. He'll take care of us."

What? That didn't make the mainline newspapers and radios and tv reports? Why not?

Folks, I think it's over. Now we can all turn everything over to him and let him take care of us.

I'm a Christian. There is someone I will turn things over to. I will rest in Him for my future.

I will cling to my religion, my guns, and get on my knees.

'til later

Down Down Down

Down 0.5%. The feds cut the rate from 1.5% to 1%. That's a reduction of a third. It's now as low as it was in 2003 and 2004 at the end of the 2000-2001 recession.

Their mandate is to control inflation but I sense they did this to help the economy. So much help and still the reports are that money is tighter than ever, housing is in the dumpster, and the stock market is undergoing a 6.0 earthquake.

Of course the housing mess is painful. The foreclosures are all over the place. In general, so many are so over extended. Houses are not worth what is owed on them.

The economy is like a diet and exercise program. No pain, no gain. All the expensive fixes may soften the pain but it can also lengthen the process.

I think hindsight will show similar effects as back in the 1930s. If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. FDR's programs lengthened the big one and set us on the path to big government and masses dependent upon Uncle Sam for their existence.

I prefer John McCain's promise to get government out of the way of our personal progress.

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Proposed & Nearly Sold

On the radio yesterday I heard excerpts from a Congress woman excited about the proposed new 401K. "It won't cost the government anything." The government will return the balance in your 401K to its August 31, 2008 amount and take it over for you. There's the sales point - return the value to what it was.

Here's an article I found on the internet. Few news sources are reporting this proposal that will likely be on the table January 21, 2009.

By Mark Impomeni

Oct 24th 2008

"Sen. Barack Obama's Democratic allies in Congress are looking into a radical new plan that would fundamentally change the way Americans save for retirement. House Democrats recently heard testimony on the idea and, under a potential Obama administration, would likely move to put it in place.

"Democrats want to seize the money that workers currently invest in their 401(k) plans and replace the popular retirement savings accounts with a one-size-fits-all government sponsored retirement account. Under the scheme, Americans would be forced to transfer all of their hard earned retirement savings from their 401(k) to the government.The government would contribute $600 a year to fund each account and would pay a rate of return of around three percent in interest. The government would also mandate that each worker contribute 5% of their yearly salary to the accounts.

"Under current law, workers with 401(k) plans contribute to their retirement accounts and earn interest tax free. The Democrats' plan would end those tax breaks, amounting to as much as a 15% tax hike on each American worker.Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) said recently that Democrats had better ideas for the $80 billion that Americans contribute to their 401(k) plans each year. "We have to start thinking about whether or not we want to continue to invest that $80 billion for a policy that's not doing what we say it should."

"Sen. Obama would likely sign on to the plan as president.Obama, McDermott, and Congressional Democrats miss the point that under current law, Americans have control over their retirement savings, where and how it is invested, and when and how much they contribute. The idea to nationalize retirement savings is another example of Democrats' socialist proclivities. They want control of Americans' retirement to reside in Washington DC, not on Main St., all in the name of "retirement security."

The Congress woman was excited about making it all fair because with different tax rates (as much as 39.6%) some people were realizing a larger break than others. That wasn't fair. This proposed plan would be fairer and spread the wealth.

My concerns include how wonderfully the government has run Social Security and Medicare plus under the 401K rules now I can bequeath any balance in my IRAs and 401K and I can inherit same. I could not leave a legacy to the next generation or even a charity. It would be sucked into the black hole of government. Is that fair?

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Goes to Base Beliefs

State Senator Obama gave an interview in 2001 that reveals his true feelings and his true goal. Hold on to your wallets. You think taxes are high now. You think the rich exploit us, try working for a poor man.

Obama said the civil rights movement was victorious in some regards, but failed to create a "redistributive change" in its appeals to the Supreme Court, led at the time by Chief Justice Earl Warren. He suggested that such change should occur at the state legislature level, since the courts did not interpret the U.S. Constitution to permit such change.

"The Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth and sort of basic issues of political and economic justice in this society, and to that extent as radical as people try to characterize the Warren Court, it wasn't that radical," Obama said in the interview.

Where in redistribution of wealth is my right to pursue happiness? Just give folks an opportunity. Give people good teachers. Give them the freedom to pursue and get out of their way.

There's Jennifer Hudson who found a wonderful way to use her voice. She earned an Oscar award. How wonderful for her to pursue her happiness. Oops. She forgot to redistribute her wealth and her sister's paycheck was garnished due to failure to make car payments. We will need to assure that the redistribution of wealth becomes part of our new education knowledge.

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Home Ownership

Is home ownership a right or a privilege? It seems folks today expect to buy a house or condo upon completion of college or by age 21. I'd like to share how home ownership has happened for those in my life.

I come from German and Scottish heritages. We are frugal stock and many before my grandparents farmed for a living. There are women in my ancestry who have worked before, after, and during child rearing ages.

In 1949 my parents married. They purchased their first home in 1960. For 11 years they worked and had 4 kids when we moved into that small 1 1/2 story house. Three girls up in the dormer room with the fourth one arriving the next summer. Our brother was the lucky resident of the tiny back bedroom. Seven people and one bath. It was normal for us.

When Bob and I married in 1975, together we had saved $8,000 and put it down on a modest yellow home which cost us $24,000. Sounds like so little but we were making very little. I made about $3.50 per hour and his salary was in the $21,000 range. We were thrilled to have a house.

Our daughter and her husband were married in 2004 and rented for a few years in California and Illinois. They set aside one income and lived off the other saving for their first home. They purchased a beautiful modest house in 2006 with 20% down.

Saving toward a goal is so rewarding. Making those monthly payments are not always easy but taking on less than you can afford sure helps. I'm afraid so many have stretched their $ to the limit just to pay for a house.

Living below our means and finding peace and contentment with the blessings we enjoy are key to really living. Smelling the flowers where we are planted.

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Early Voting

Yesterday Bob and I went down to the city building and stood in line for 1 hour and 20 minutes to vote early. We will be on the road November 4. We have voted early several times over the past 10 years but have never stood in such a crowd. They took our picture IDs (like driver's licenses) and checked our signatures. We heard them challenge one fellow. That has never happened before. I think they should do that at the regular poling places on November 4, don't you?

It is good to have cast my vote and my voice. Now I will be praying for this country every day. The future is unknown. I am not crazy about McCain but I am afraid of the reign of President Obama. We will be much weaker militarily and perceived as a target once again available.

The economy under Obama will be worse and the recession lengthened. Under McCain's plan, at least there would be a slowing to the job losses; however, with the domination by the Dems in both Houses there is no way Bush's tax cuts will be extended or made permanent. We are probably doomed to a prolonged painful decade ahead and our children will pay the price for several decades beyond.

Join me in praying. There's little any of us can do after we vote.

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Home Sweet Home

Bob & I enjoy watching a show on HGTV called What's My Home Worth? I think that's the name. People invite the cameras and a realtor in to find out what realistically their house would sell for.

The homeowner always says when they purchased and for how much and then detail all the improvements they have made. The realtor tells them if their improvements were the right ones and if the $ spent was wise. They also give suggestions they would advise if they were listing the house for sale.

So many suggest replacing all appliances with stainless steel or tumbled marble tiles in the showers or replacing all floors with hardwood. People are told to gut baths and to enlarge closets even if taking space from adjacent rooms. Front doors need to be replaced. Landscaping needs total replacements. Windows need to be all universal throughout. The chainlink fence needs to be removed. The pool is not a selling point or the pool is a big selling point.

Bob and I wonder about people who live always doing things that will be good for resale. Maybe it's because we've lived in the same house for 23 years.

We've made some improvements and changes. We did those for our own comfort. Of course, we have not painted rooms bright colors or put a hot tub in the basement. We have not replaced windows or doors. We have replaced shag carpet in the family room with "tavern" style wood floors. We have redone the screened in porch. We have replaced the shed and have done some landscaping in the front and tree planting in the back yard.

We have lived here as our home and not primarily an investment. If (or when) we make changes to our kitchen, we probably will not add granite counter tops. We'd rather live here and not worry about staining. We would likely pick a quartz or solid composite counter for cleanliness and ease of living.

We live in a home which is a house made for our comfort and living.

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Scary Prophesy

Joe Biden has spoken prophetically about our future under President Obama. It is quite disturbing considering his pronouncements came days after highest level briefing on security and foreign affairs.

I have not heard the entire prophesy on the major networks; although, they are sure to run the quote regarding President Obama's spine.

Here's a few lines from Joe's big speech that have been overlooked, buried if you will.

"Mark my words. It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy."

"Remember I said it standing here, if you don't remember anything else I said. Watch, we're gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy."

"I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate," Biden said mentioning the Middle East and Russia as possibilities. "And he's gonna need help. And the kind of help he's gonna need is, he's gonna need you - not financially to help him - we're gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it's gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right."

If you cry fire in a crowded room, don't be surprised when no one wants to stay to roast marshmallows. AP's latest poll shows them at a dead heat as we round the last big bend toward the finish line.

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Tax Changes 2008

The value for each of our personal and dependent exemptions has been raised $100 each to $3,500. So my friend and her husband who had their baby in July will have exemptions totaling $10,500.

The standard deduction is now $10,900 for married filing jointly returns an $5,450 for singles and marrieds filing separately.

The IRS says nearly 2/3 of taxpayers take the standard deduction rather than itemizing things like mortgage interest, real estate taxes, state taxes, and charitable donations.

There are phase out income restrictions on both the exemption and deductions (itemized and standard) amounts. The more income, the less allowable subtractions.

For married couples filing jointly the line between the 15% and the 25% federal brackets is not $65,100.

Other limits have changed regarding Roth IRAs and deductible traditional IRAs. A quick trip to irs.gov can be helpful with decisions.

The bottom line is the more one makes the less the subtractions allowed and the higher the tax bracket. Also the less one can save under the umbrellas of deductible and Roth IRAs.

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Tax Chat

Yesterday I got caught up with an old friend who lives in western New York. Her cat who was 19 years old was put down and she was still hurting weeks after.

Our conversation drifted to the economy. A close friend of hers works in management at a regional bank in Buffalo. Then I mentioned the new stimulus package that may be presented to Bush to sign yet this year.

I told her another check would be saved and not spent. We purchased two chairs for the family room last spring but any more $ would go into the bank.

She went on about how her stimulus check went for taxes. The economy in her area is closely tied to the automobile industry and has been depressed for years.

She went on about the whole state is no where to be due to the economy and mostly due to the heavy taxes. She pays the school tax bill and then 3 months later gets the county tax bill and 3 months following that the city tax bill.

Plus, her small pension is taxed. So the first stimulus check gave her a little breathing room and went to one of those tax bills. If there's another "gift" from the government it will go toward the local government.

Will there be another stimulus check? Or is this a political promise?

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Money Gifts to Minors

I found new rules on the irs.gov site regarding minors and income.

"Beginning in 2008, the age of children whose unearned income is taxed at their parent’s rate increased. For children under age 18 and certain older children, unearned income over $1,800 is taxed at the parent’s rate. These special tax rules apply to children who meet all of the following conditions:

1. The child had more than $1,800 of unearned income.
2. The child is required to file a tax return.
3. The child either:
a. Was under age 18 at the end of 2008,
b. Was age 18 at the end of 2008 and did not have earned income
that was more than half of the child’s support
c. Was over age 18 and under age 24 at the end of 2008 and was a full-time student who did not have earned income that was more than half of the child’s support.
4. At least one of the child’s parents was alive at the end of 2008.5. The child does not file a joint return for 2008."

There is more information available on their site. As a grandmother who is thinking of gifting a little $, I wanted to review the tax rules. These rules can vary year to year but my desire to provide for future education and needs feels important.

Bob and I will speak with the parents and ask if there are college funds established. That might be the place for our Christmas and birthday gifts. Some day our granddaughter and our grandson will appreciate the $ rather than the Barbie Doll or big wheel.

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A Deal is A Deal or Not

When our daughter was in junior high, she found an outfit she really wanted. It was a cute skirt with a large belt and a tight fitting bright pink top. Bob and I agreed that we did not care for it and refused to purchase it. Marney said she wanted it bad enough she would pay for it herself. So, we purposed a deal. If she would agree to a 50% reduction in her weekly allowance for the next 4 months, the clothes would be hers. Of course, in her 12 year old mind that was a deal.

Four weeks later, Marney started to complain about not having any $. She was sure she could not survive the next few months with our arrangement. It didn't seem fair.

Of course, as parents we realized the lesson is best learned that feels real. The pain would be her gain. She would remember the difficulties of those few months and possibly link it with wanting what she could not afford.

Senator Obama swears openly and loudly that he is for change. He promised to take federal funding and made a big deal of pointing fingers at everyone else demanding that they take the same deal. He was the maverick for change.

As pointed out last week, he changed his mind. Maybe he saw the light. Possibly he did not have the strength of conviction to resist but he quietly was lured by the glory of more bucks outside the federal funding. He broke his promise he made with Senator McCain and did not have the courage to say so to his face.

It's a matter of character. Cut a deal and stick with the deal.

Obama's character has always been a question. His association with Rev. Wright was dismissed as not that important although Rev. Wright was part of his campaign announcement and served on his advisory board.

His association with Bill Ayers was just a living room large enough for a campaign announcement.

His association with the bill that denies medical assistance to aborted babies born alive was just a "present" vote. Although he is quoted as saying it was the wishes of the mother and sounds like he voted for it.

Defer, deflect, deny, promise, gloss over. He's a good actor but no one points out that he's a liar. Would that be a racist comment? No. It goes to character.

He'll cut a deal with you and me and then he'll lie, denounce, shun, dismiss, and abandon. What will he do on the world stage? His ties with Syria, Iran, and Pakistan are strong. Will he not denounce Israel?

He was most candid with Joe the Plumber. It's for those behind him. Redistribution of wealth. What a deal!

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Flu Shot

Bob and I got our flu shots this afternoon. The line was not long. The nurse said it had been a steady flow of people all day.

The local Visiting Nurse Association posts their shot schedule on line by suburb. We were in Aurora IL last year but today worked well for both of us and the pharmacy hosting the event is not far from our house.

The shots cost $25 each. Neither Bob nor I qualify for Part B Medicare coverage so we wrote a check for $50 to cover both. I will keep our receipts in a file folder marked Medical 2008. To qualify for medical deductions on Schedule A of our 1040 we would need many more expenses than we normally incur so the exercise of maintaining these records all year long is usually worthless.

However, I am in the habit of stuffing the folder which I keep near the phone in the kitchen next to the green plastic envelope. We stick charitable receipts, real estate tax bills, and safe deposit box receipts in there.

We use a green envelope because those expenses are deductible or may be deductible on our taxes. I keep an exact envelope there that is red for receipts from Visa charges so I can reconcile the monthly credit card statement.

It's a very simply system that works for us. Red for monthly outflows via Visa. Green for deductible expenses and a file folder to house medical receipts and reconcile insurance claims with medical invoices.

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Leaving It Behind

I had a recent conversation with my friend Judy about her grandfather's estate. He passed away in his late 90s about 2 years ago. He lived on his farm. He shared the place with one of his sons and his family.

Grandpa had 11 of his 12 children survive him. His will was a simple one leaving fair shares to his surviving children.

The dilemma is the farm. The resident son wants to buy the property and continue to live there and work the land. Nine of the other siblings are fine with the price this son has offered.

It's a sad story so far, isn't it? I asked how large Grandpa's estate was worth thinking that the land might have great value.

The truth is the difference between "fair market value" and the offered price would break down to less than $1,200 difference per child.

This stalemate will likely force the estate to liquidate or sell the farm either at auction or through a realtor. By the time commissions are paid, the realized difference could be less than $100 per child.

Through their pain of loss and their need to be equal, they (the children) may lose much more than $. They may lose each other. So far no one is budging and the estate may stay open for years. That all adds to more feeling of loss and discontent.

The moral of the story, be very specific about how your estate will be passed on. Have a proper will with complete directions and a named Executor so there is little miscommunication. Get help with any questions like taxes and especially if there are dependents that may be misplaced. Consider naming guardians who care for the person, care for you, and have agreed to the responsibilities entailed should you pass.

I hurt for my friend who is hurting for her mother. In her pain, she is the one hold out sibling. Constance is just wanting to do what's right by her father and can not see beyond to the families held in limbo who are also suffering.

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No Lap Dog

My bulldog is no lap dog. His beady eyes squint and his forced smile appears a smirk when he's restrained.

John's forced smile is so that he appears friendly and not mad. Last night he should have shown more anger. He should have put on the gloves and looked set for a battle.

McCain has a long history of temper and endurance. He is the right dog for the job but he won't win. We will lose out on having that bulldog in our corner. He'll remain in the Senate representing Arizona and he will serve out his term fighting.

Obama is tall (most presidents have been over the past 2 decades). He's good looking while John's broken arms suffered when his helicopter was shot down in VietNam are awkward. Obama has the art of charismatic lying nailed while John is uncomfortable calling his opponent the liar that he is.

Obama was quick to point out comments made during a Palin rally last week. However, it is unfair for us to question his associations with Wright, Ayers, Rezko, and ACORN. Sarah Palin did not know the person who called out "kill him" but Barack has known and there has documented ties with these questionable people and attitudes.

Obama will get us out of Iraq and into negotiations with Iran. He will always be a friend of Pakistan - always. He has strong ties there and spent most of one summer between there and Africa while he was struggling in college. That's when he stopped using Barry and embraced Barack as his name and background.

Obama will redistribute our wealth. He will rob us of our motivation to get ahead because we will not be allowed to.

'til later

ps - The Secret Service men at that Palin rally are now out saying no comment was heard. They would know as they are planted in the crowds. Good thing their reports were not leaked until after the debate last night.

Was Plumber a McCain Plant?

As reported by Fox News, this is the exchange over the weekend:




"Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?" the plumber asked, complaining that he was being taxed "more and more for fulfilling the American dream."


"It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance for success too," Obama responded. "My attitude is that if the economy's good for folks from the bottom up, it's gonna be good for everybody ... I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody."



If the economy is good from the bottom up, won't small business owners and self-employed be robbed of their motivation? Kind of like the free gifts to the lower income people has robbed them of their motivation to work and get their piece of the American dream.

Through good intentions, the government developed many programs to help the down and out. The most damage to that level of society was done by AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) which was first introduced in the 1930s.

Then I remember those food stamps redeemable for food so folks could afford their alcohol and tobacco. I recall watching cart fulls of groceries ahead of me while I clung to my coupons setting some items intentionally last on the counter. I would ask for a subtotal and then decide if I could afford any or all of those things that week.

We got "government" cheese back in the 1970s and were grateful for it. Others refused it as tasteless. How was it easy to complain about a free gift?

Are we following the same path? The government giving a hand out when people just need a hand up so they can pursue happiness. Back in the Great Depression the government threw more and more $ rather then letting us traverse the valley. Government grew bigger and bigger.

Can we even dream of the day when Big Brother will get out of the way and let everyone pursue as our Declaration of Independence worded as our unalienable rights as endowed by our Creator as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"?

President Obama has revealed his intentions. Socialism. No more capitalism. Have you been robbed of your motivation? How would you like to work for a poor man?

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Hind Sight

Yesterday I had a case of what-if. If we had had the courage and $, we should have purchased last Friday. If we had bought the ETF which contains only the Dow Jones stocks and sold it yesterday, we would have realized 10% gain in one day!

An ETF (exchanged traded fund) is a bundle of stocks or bonds that are sold at a price through a brokerage firm. Vanguard has a selection of 38 of these bundled funds which include sector stocks or varying terms of bonds.

Even with brokerage fees to purchase on Friday and sell yesterday, we would have walked with 10%.

Can't live my life on what-ifs. We will just hang in there for the long ride.

Beyond our own investing, I am concerned about the socialism of banking. In fact, the socialism of debt as well. I have heard "we the people" have helped bail out the automakers and are taking some administrative control over banks.

I am a capitalist and abhor impediments to the free market. I keep hearing how there wasn't enough regulation and that's why we are in the crunch. I would suggest banks and lending institutions as well as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were pressured, yes demanded, to make bad deals on mortgages. For years, well over 15, there has been a concerted push and watch dogging to assure the unqualified had debt available.

In helping those who had not yet saved 20% down, "we the people" have broken many hearts and families. Once banks were forced to lower their expectations, greed set in across the board, and people borrowed heavily through adjustable rate mortgages and interest only against first homes. Others upgraded to mega mortgages to get a larger house or took out the equity (borrowing the difference between amount owed and market value) through second and third mortgages to pay down consumer debt, make large purchases and make house improvements.

With the basic supply and demand in place, house prices soared. Equities increased. Construction companies, developers, realtors, and home improvement businesses boomed.

Then the clouds began to gather. The horizon showed gloom. Several voices pointed and demanded change. Some demanded regulating Fannie and Freddie including the Senator from Arizona. No one likes a nay-sayer.

The clouds have engulfed us. Where is the sun? Who will lead the way out? Many quieted voices are declaring throwing more money at it will not solve the valley we must pass through. However, Congress continues to print $ beyond the $700 billion. Loud voices are promising rebates and tax credits and stimulus checks. Even louder are demanding regulation, regulation, regulation.

What have we learned from the 1930s? More and more government or get out of the way and let America's free markets suffer through.

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Sale Time

I predict there are huge buying opportunities in the stock market. Folks will be placing their bets that we are at or near the bottom. They know that you buy low and sell high.

Those who have been bailing out of the market these past 2 weeks sold low or on the way down. Only their own history will show if they realized gains or losses with those sales.

We are not feeling brave enough to move safe $ out of our money market into the market but we should. Maybe we are not gamblers.

How about you? Time to make your move?

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Where's Your Heart?

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus is quoted as saying: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal."

These past few weeks we have watched our earthly treasures dwindle, especially if they are invested in stocks. Even our fixed income instruments like GNMA, corporate bonds, and inflation protected securities have lost ground.

Should we convert to gold and hide it in our mattress? Should we purchase real estate at the lowest prices we've seen in years? Where can money be safe these days?

Jesus goes on to say: "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal..." Heaven is safe.

I think he was speaking of good works, helping others, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, witnessing, and spending our time and talents to promote God's presence. I'd like to focus on these things because focusing on the markets and the worldwide concerns is unsettling.

My prayer is to be lead to the work of faith and peace.

Jesus concluded with: "... for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

These words are found in Matthew 6. Jesus talks about not being anxious. Read it. Together we will focus on things out of this world of corruption, greed, and worry.

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Tree Branch

We found a large maple tree branch (about 6 inch diameter and 14 feet long) laying across our patio yesterday. We can not determine the cause. The branch looks healthy and is full of leaves.

We are grateful it fell west enough to miss the porch. Yesterday was a mild day with little wind. We did not have rain the night before that may have burdened the branch.

It's a puzzle to us but we're so glad it did no damage. I wonder if the tree will miss that piece or if the balance or stability is effected by its loss. Let's hope not.

Bob will get out the old hand saw later and render it into 2 foot lengths.

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Illinois Blue?

Living in Illinois, which has not voted Republican in the electoral college since 1988 (elder Bush), I am surprised the amount of tv and radio ads Obama is running. He must have a lot of money. I know he's not concerned about carrying this state.

Maybe it's a wide scatter shot thinking folks in southern Wisconsin, western Michigan, and northwestern Indiana might see and/or hear his slams against John McCain.

Of course since McCain announced he was surrendering Michigan, the targets must be Wisconsin and Indiana.

Obama is smarter than John. He has surrendered the likes of North Dakota but did not announce his move. McCain will not announce a date for withdrawal from Iraq but he announces his withdrawal from Michigan.

Obama who will set a date in stone for our withdrawal from Iraq (like a white flag), he has kept many things secret in this campaign. Like the one board he served on with Ayers that granted $ to Trinity Church. Remember Reverend Wright? He has kept secret that he voted for no medical assistance for fetal matter that is aborted breathing. That's called - just put "it" in the sink.

How many more secrets will come out later? Remember Clinton's herd of women claiming abuse and harassment? We overlooked those. How could we be surprised he was having sexual encounters in the Oval Office? When Obama "regulates" commerce, will we see his socialist roots then? It will be too late.

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On Line Diapers

The large box was delivered right to her door. A box of 268 diapers plus two containers of wet wipes arrived via UPS. I thought how lazy, how expensive.

She told me she found a site on line. It's cheaper than purchasing at Target. She saves on the price, her time, and fuel for the family car to and from.

I hope the word gets out to those living far from a large discount store. I need to email our friends in western New York. How convenient and smart.

I just ordered a refill of my meds. I might pay less at WalMart by about $3 but these will be delivered to my door in a few days.

What can you purchase on line cheaper than a trip to go shopping? Don't forget to include the cost of shipping/handling when you figure the total cost.

Some of the savings is sales tax. Ours is 7.5%. Chicago's is 10.25%. Rarely on line will you need to include sales tax.

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Rate Cut Again

The rate has been cut again. A 0.5% cut. It is now 1.5%. Using the Rule of 72, it will take 48 years at that rate to double an investment! I certainly won't live long enough to see that.

According to some talking heads, the Fed is doing just the opposite of what was done in the 1930s as we entered the Great Depression. They are loosening money. We are in a recession and it may last years but $ will be cheap.

Once again, these economics are above my head. We will tighten our belts and spend less. This won't help the economy but will help us pay for groceries and gas and electricity - the necessities. It will help us stretch our savings as it's obvious we won't be growing our savings.

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Holding On

We are holding on. We are not making moves with our $ at this time. We are putting off a car purchase until next year, at least. Our 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue will have to do again this winter.

There are talking heads predicting an up swing in the Dow today. I think things are way too complicated. Some of those same heads were pushing for the big rescue bill like that would stabilize things and the Dow would return to a steady climb.

I know many short sales have been removed and those would have eased the down dips. I know there's more talk about loosening credit qualifications for now.

I have to ask. Aren't loosened credit qualifications at the bottom of all this? Everyone was pushing home ownership like it was an entitlement. Housing prices rose with the demand. Companies got greedy and loans were made with zero down and even interest only.

I'm wanting an investigation into the crooks at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I want investigations into banks that have failed. I think fingers will be pointed back at Congress who just spent over $800 billion (with all those add-ons) to fix the problem that was Bush's fault. Not.

So, for now we are holding on.

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Indiana Blue?

The Hoosiers I have spoken to are surprised that their state could be a deciding one in this presidential election. For the past 20 years Indiana has voted Republican but their voter turn out has not been outstanding.

Obama is from a neighboring state plus Indiana's blue-collar regions are struggling with the northwest corner considered collar communities of Chicago. Also, McCain has invested less of his campaign in this one Midwest state currently running in the black and rebating real estate taxes to residence.

Obama will probably carry Marion County (Indianapolis) by 25 points. He must hold his own in the northeast staying within 5 points and the southern part of the state within 20 to make the numbers needed. It's unlikely he will carry these regions but if the margins are close, they will count toward the turning blue.

If he is able to accomplish substantially all of those things, the math will be there for him.

I'm not sure Indiana understands how important their votes are. Let's get the word out. Living in the ever stained blue state of Illinois, I would enjoy seeing my neighbor remain in the red column.

'til later

Stanley Kurtz

Mr. Kurtz writes for the Wall Street Journal. His is a voice that will be stifled and gagged. He is trying to share what he has learned about the younger Obama. The community agitator and thorn in the side of banking/lending institutions. Obama who is very close to William Ayers. Obama who oversaw $100 million of grant money used to influence educators through Ayers.

You'll have to dig very deep to find Mr. Kurtz' work. You certainly will not find it in Gwen Ifill's new book about Obama.

I am more convinced than ever that Obama is a socialist, the most liberal Dem in Washington, a racist, and a perpetrator of the victim mentality that Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers have built their work upon.

I am convinced Obama sees himself as the savior of the down trodden, those without opportunity, those who join him in spitting on the flag, despising the military, demanding burden free life, and hating people of wealth.

The election of Obama will ruin independent thinking entrepreneurs and redistribute money.

The defeat of Obama will cause race riots beyond any of the 1960s. Blood will be shed and hatred between races will be refueled as never before. All progress made to colorblind us will be destroyed.

Either evil scares me. How much colder can it be in Canada?

'til later

Gwen Ifill's Book

Gwen Ifill asked the questions last night in the VP debate. It came out yesterday or the day before that she has a book coming out in early '09 about the era of Obama. She failed to mention that fact when she was invited to host the debate. No true journalist would have overlooked that little thing.

The head of the committee which brings these debates to the public said it was OK since she had not finished the chapters on Obama's election.

What? Of course not. She was busy last night doing her darndest to influence the outcome so those chapters will sell the book. She had a huge financial interest in the outcome of the debate and the election.

She will benefit from the election of Obama personally. She was not the right person to moderate last night. I'm sure the authority was afraid to ask her to step down because of race. The entire white population is afraid to do the right thing due to race. Let's get over it. It would have been the right thing for her to step down on her own and if not, someone should have replaced her with someone less prejudice.

'til later

New Rescue

The new and improved rescue bill has passed through the Senate and will be presented to the House for vote tomorrow. They no longer call it a bailout bill. That's a PR thing. Hard for Joe Six Pack to swallow bailing out too many times!

One of the sweeteners was something that was due to expire: the credit that allows individuals to deduct state and local sales taxes on their federal returns. I had no idea this little itemized line on Schedule A of our 1040 was due to expire. More and more people in my neck of the woods will be using that deduction. Chicago's sales tax is over 10%.

The new bill will provide a congressional oversight panel, to which the Financial Stability Board would report, would have five members appointed by House and Senate leadership from both parties. I liked the one suggestion that the oversight body would consist of business people outside the Congress. People with experience running commerce. At least there will be oversight. I do not believe they have authority, just reporting duties.

With this rescue in place, we should see the Dow back above 14,000 by the end of the year, right? Stop laughing.

'til later

See Saw

I can not figure out all the politics of the rescue bill voting. So many fingers are pointed. It's like a hot potato that no one wants to risk re-election on or even reputations for that matter. The Dems control both houses. They could walk this through and onto Bush's desk in a few days.

Maybe taking time to do this thing correctly is important. The Jewish holiday provided time for deep breaths. Time to rest and read/listen from constituents. Time for new and better ideas.

Meanwhile, this binds up the economy too. No bank is out there lending $ and taking on more risk because they are waiting for $ that may come their way relieving them of their trash mortgages.

Mortgage companies are holding off as well. We hear that money is not available but possibly money is being withheld awaiting resolution of this bill.

The market marches on. Time may allow weak banks to offer themselves up to bigger richer banks. Our own bank, new to us since the first of the year, is on the short list of banks on shaky ground. If the bill is not resolved soon, maybe larger wealthier institutions will go shopping for bargains.

Of course, that would be open market moves. That would be the market left to its own cleaning. If that would work and the government stopped the forced mortgages, maybe the bail out amount would be less. It's a thought.

The neighbor across the street told us over the weekend that to get his mortgage 4 years ago, he filled out one page and was not asked for W2 income proof. They had some money out of the sale of their condo but not near 20% down. It was a "traditional" application process.

'til later