Northern Exposure

Here’s a story that’s been floating around in various versions for at least a couple of years. It describes a possible scenario if Sarah Palin exceeds everybody’s low expectations of her in the debate tonight.

From the MANITOBA HERALD

A flood of American liberals sneaking across the border into Canada has intensified in the past week, sparking calls for increased patrols to stop the illegal immigration. The possibility of a McCain/Palin election is prompting the exodus among left-leaning citizens who fear they’ll soon be required to hunt, pray, and agree with Bill O’Reilly. Canadian border farmers say it’s not uncommon to see dozens of sociology professors, animal rights activists and Unitarians crossing their fields at night.

“I went out to milk the cows the other day, and there was a Hollywood producer huddled in the barn,” said Manitoba farmer Red Greenfield, whose acreage borders North Dakota. The producer was cold, exhausted and hungry. “He asked me if I could spare a latte and some free-range chicken.”

Officials are particularly concerned about smugglers who meet liberals near the Canadian border, pack them into Volvo station wagons, drive them across the border and leave them to fend for themselves. “A lot of these people are not prepared for rugged conditions,” an Ontario border patrolman said. “I found one carload without a drop of drinking water. They did have a nice little Napa Valley Cabernet, though.”

When liberals are caught, they’re sent back across the border, often wailing loudly that they fear retribution from conservatives. Rumors have been circulating about the McCain administration establishing re-education camps in which liberals will be forced to shoot wolves from airplanes, deny evolution, and act out drills preparing them for the Rapture.

In recent days, liberals have turned to sometimes-ingenious ways of crossing the border. Some have taken to posing as senior citizens on bus trips to buy cheap Canadian prescription drugs. After catching a half-dozen young vegans disguised in powdered wigs, Canadian immigration authorities began stopping buses and quizzing the supposed senior-citizen passengers. “If they can’t identify the accordion player on The Lawrence Welk Show, we get suspicious about their age,” an official said.

Canadian citizens have complained that the illegal immigrants are creating an organic-broccoli shortage and renting all the good Susan Sarandon movies.

“I feel sorry for American liberals, but the Canadian economy just can’t support them,” an Ottawa resident said. “How many art-history and English majors does one country need?”

Neighborly Advice to Washington

Our neighbor across the street sent this tidbit. I won’t give his name, because he doesn’t know I’m posting this.

I’m not usually into this politics crap but I happened to see this interesting editorial from the Chairman of the FDIC that was written back on 10/19/2007:

“A government bailout is not the answer. Bailouts erode market discipline, raising the likelihood of repeat episodes. And efforts to expand refinancing options will help only those borrowers who have enough equity to refinance.”

http://www.fdic.gov/news/letters/lte_10192007.html

Interesting article from a year ago. Seems like Georgie and friends decided to make as much money as they could before they decided to go for the bailout plan. Maybe no one in the banking industry or in Georgie’s administration ever looks at the FDIC website….

There it is. The FDIC, the agency in charge of insuring bank deposits, saw what was coming and proposed a solution a year ago.

Confidence Game

I’m concerned, listening to talk about the bailout bill, that even if approved it won’t help “the confidence of the markets.” These markets aren’t things, they’re people. The very same people who got themselves — and us — into trouble, are apparently looking for an iron-clad guarantee that everything will be all right. “Protect us from ourselves!” is what they’re really saying. These are the risk-taking masters of the universe? If Phil Gramm is looking for a bunch of whiners, I suggest he look to his buddies on Wall Street.

I don’t get why these debt-holding outfits can’t provide an accounting of exactly what percentage of the mortgages on their books is any good? We’re not getting any specifics. This is a huge gamble, and the big boys absolutely refuse to assume any of the risk, yet they demand their huge payouts. This story, for example, is beyond ridiculous.

WaMu CEO could get $13.65 million for 18 days work

How about just telling Alan Fishman no? Sorry, but no. You don’t get this money.

Obama with one hand tied behind his back

My impression is that McCain gave it everything he had. He needed an opening round knockout, and didn’t get it. He had to resort to calling Obama naive. All Obama had to do in response was prove he knows his stuff, and he did that.

I think Obama held back and he gave McCain nothing that can be used against him in the next debate, but McCain provided plenty of ammo to his opponent. I predict Obama will hit harder next time and he will KO McCain.

The war for the White House

This came in a second ago…

From: “CNN Breaking News”
To: textbreakingnews@ema3lsv06.turner.com
Subject: CNN Breaking News

— Lawmakers from both parties in House, Senate say they have bailout deal; will take it to Treasury Secretary Paulson.

The battle is on! John McCain and Barack Obama debate face-to-face
for the first time. Watch the debate live tomorrow night on CNN
and CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/LIVE

OK, so the debate is on again. They should switch the topic to the economy and save international politics for next time.