Posts in the category Ranting and Venting

The Real Costs of Payday Lending

Free Fallin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:31:11 EDT

While disputing the factual 391% APR interest rates of their loans and the existence of the debt trap for hundreds of thousands of Ohioans, the payday lending industry regularly suggests that their prevents economic hardship. There is endless evidence that the majority of payday loan borrowers end up caught in a cycle of debt as a result of the exorbitant interest rates charged and the ease of access to these predatory loans.

Check out the payday lending study by Brian Melzer of the Northwestern Kellog School of Management. The study is called "The Real Costs of Credit Access: Evidence from the Payday Lending Market:".

Here's the abstract:

"I estimate the real effects of credit access among low-income households by exploiting geographic and temporal variation in the availability of payday loans. The empirical design isolates variation in loan access that is uninfluenced by store location decisions and state regulatory decisions, two factors that might otherwise correlate with economic hardship measures. I find no evidence that payday loans alleviate hardship. On the contrary, I find that loan access leads to increased incidence of difficulty paying mortgage, rent and utilities bills; moving out of one's home due to financial troubles; and delaying needed medical care, dental care and prescription drug purchases. Through further analysis of differences in loan access - over time and across income groups - I rule out a number of alternative explanations for the estimated effects."

Here is another great quote from the report: "In the main analysis, I find no evidence that payday loan access mitigates financial distress along the dimensions that I observe. In fact, I find that loan access leads to important real costs, as reflected in increased likelihood of difficulty paying bills, moving out of one's home due to financial difficulties, and delaying needed medical care, dental care and prescription drug purchases. The magnitudes of these effects are considerable. I estimate that among families with $15,000 to $50,000 in annual income, loan access increases the incidence of difficulty paying bills by 25 percent and moving out of one's home by 60 percent. I also find that among adults in these families, loan access increases the delay of needed medical care, dental care and prescription drug purchases by roughly 25 percent."

So, it seems yet again that payday lending only exacerbates financial distress for families and when our economy is in turmoil, a 391% APR payday loan is just about the last thing we need! That's why a YES vote on Issue 5 is so important. We need to ensure that families and individuals who need access to short-term credit aren't burdened with excessive interest rates that make it much more difficult for them to meet other important needs.

You can read the entire report here:
http://home.uchicago.edu/~bmelzer/RealCosts_Melzer.pdf

Vote yes on issue 5!

Black Friday?

Dave Harding, ProgressOhio — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:11:28 EDT

When Black Friday comes
I'll stand down by the door
And catch the grey men when they
Dive from the fourteenth floor

-Steely Dan

Watch It:

Ohio Farm Bureau "Ticked Off" at Payday Lenders!

Free Fallin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:20:37 EDT

The Ohio Farm Bureau is "Ticked Off" at the payday lenders!

In a video made by the Ohio Farm Bureau, called "Ohio Farm & County," spokesman Joe Cornely blasts payday lenders for their "blatant attempt to hijack their good reputation."

Cornely mentioned a recent meeting of the Ohio Farm Bureau, where many members expressed being insulted by the payday lenders' first commercial depicting an Ohio farmer asking voters to protect his "financial freedom," so that he can buy a new $100 belt for his truck. In the video, Cornely says "Spur of the moment, high interest loans aren't part of a farmer's financial strategy." Further, he notes: "Farmers don't even have paydays. Payday comes sporadically for the farmer, throughout the year when crops or livestock or sold."

Finally, Cornely brings it home: "By the way, when someone tries to misuse our good name, we have another official position - we're officially ticked off!"

Watch It:

The Cornely piece starts 5 minutes and 55 seconds in. It's a beautiful thing!

The Ohio Farm Bureau's official position on Issue 5 is "VOTE YES!"

Christian Alliance Endorses Usurious Payday Lending

Free Fallin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:14:28 EDT

Ohio Christian Alliance Apparently "Didn't get that memo!"

According to an article in yesterday's Columbus Dispatch, the Ohio Christian Alliance (OCA) has decided to sell out and endorse the usurious lending practices of Ohio's predatory payday lending industry! Despite the overwhelming support for passage from the Ohio Council of Churches, the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Catholic Conference of Ohio, and the Vineyard Church of Columbus, among others, the OCA is urging their supporters to vote against one of the most pro-consumer lending bills in the country.

See press release regarding Faith Leaders press conference from IS 391% TOO HIGH? VOTE YES ON 5 COMMITTEE: http://www.yesonissue5.com/documents/Faith%20Leaders%20Release.pdf

From the Columbus Dispatch:

"The Christian Alliance has produced a voters guide advocating a "no" vote on the referendum and the continuation of the 391 percent annual interest rate ($15 per $100 on a two-week loan) charged by payday lenders."

The reasoning for their endorsement of predatory lending is puzzling:

"Job loss is not mentioned in the alliance's voter's guide. Instead, it says Issue 5 would eliminate a valued credit choice for Ohioans, infringe on personal privacy by requiring that borrowers' names be put into a database, and limit consumers to four payday loans a year."

It appears the Ohio Christian Alliance hopes to ensure that Ohio consumers and their parishioners are trapped in a never-ending cycle of payday loan debt and has the wonderful "choice" of 391% APR interest. According to the trustworthy Merriam-Webster dictionary, usury is defined as "an unconscionable or exorbitant rate or amount of interest."

The Ohio Christian Alliance apparently believes that 391% APR doesn't fit into that category.

To read more about the Christian Alliance's decision, click here: http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/10/06/payday.html?sid=101

Memo to the Ohio Christian Alliance:

There are over 300,000 Ohioans trapped in payday loan debt EACH year!

Payday lending strains our social services sector and strips wealth from our families and communities.

Payday lenders charge usurious interest rates most often equaling 391% APR.

Payday lending was enabled by a legislative exemption from Ohio's usury laws in 1996.

Over 1,130 of Ohio's 1,600 predatory payday-lending shops have applied with the Ohio Department of Commerce to operate under the new law, suggesting that the "jobs" argument is a con job of its own!

Payday lenders use an UNSECURED database that contains unnecessary and invasive information about their consumers.

Vote YES on Issue 5!

Supreme Court v. Women's Healthcare

OHliz — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 07:05:10 EDT

Gov. Palin's most choke-worthy gaffe so far in my opinion has been her inability to name any Supreme Court decisions besides Roe v. Wade. Why are Republicans so obsessed with female body parts? Do they really think there are legal solutions to personal medical situations? How can they claim to hate big government and at the same time play Big Brother over my gynecologist?

Couple that with the Supreme Court's first day back in session -- two of the Supreme's actions dealt with abortion. Thankfully, the court refused to undo a multi-million dollar verdict against anti-abortion "activists" (more like domestic terrorists) for their use of "wanted" posters to identify abortion clinic doctors.

In another action in Supreme Abortion Court, an anti-abortion group won its long legal fight to force Arizona to issue "choose life" license plates. Really? Can you possibly get more disconnected from the concerns of a pregnant 17-year-old than an extended legal fight over license plate design?

Get a grip, pro-lifers. Somehow I don't think Jesus would pursue his teachings through Supreme Court actions. BTW, if Jesus was against abortion, why didn't he say anything about it?

Early voting underway!

User from Columbus, OH — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:32:38 EDT

It's really heartening to read the reports of so many people voting early down at Veterans Memorial. (Hey, we even had The Boss in town yesterday!)

Hopefully, this will help avoid the huge lines at polling places that plagued this state in both 2000 and 2004. Every Ohio citizen deserves the right to vote without standing in an ten-hour line to do so. (Funny how the shortages of voting equipment always seemed to happen in precincts where there were a lot of minority and/or student voters...)

And I'm much more confident this year, with Jennifer Brunner as our Secretary of State, that voting equipment will be distributed a little more equitably and all our votes will be count as cast.

More later...

Pat Tiberi Just Says NO! But Then Says YES!

Liberty Belle — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:18:47 EDT

Congressman Pat Tiberi and David Robinson square off on the BAilout and Economy

*Note: NO! photo or video is available for this story. Please see “Pat Tiberi Seeks to Silence the Free Press” for details.

On Monday, September 29 Representative Pat Tiberi and Democratic challenger David Robinson faced off in their first debate. This was following at least four previously held events where “Our Congressman” had disappointed the 12th District electorate by being unable to attend while the Democratic challenger David Robinson maintained perfect debate attendance.

The Delaware, Ohio debate was held in a local vocational school. Tiberi flew in from Washington just hours after he went “His Own Way” and said NO! to the $700 Billion bailout package.

That evening, Tiberi confidently addressed the audience of approximately 150 Delawareans saying:

“We had a vote today that I told the President, 'NO!'

"Some say I can't tell the president, 'NO!'

"But I told my party leadership, 'NO!'

“Because at the end of the day, when I look into my daughter's eyes, it's about her.

"It's about the next generation of Americans. It's not about party. It's about doing the right thing.”

Based on his opposition to the bill, The Liberty Voice posted our support on our website saying, “We salute Pat Tiberi on this choice.”

The Delaware Gazette reported, “Tiberi felt the bill didn’t adequately protect consumers and was jammed through Congress.”

According to Tiberi on Monday, his NO! vote represented the will of his constituents. He said,

“Main Street wasn't protected in that bill. That's who I got the phone calls from.

"The phone calls from Central Ohio were AGAINST it!!!

“We've got to deal with the reality of what we can do, cause at the end of the day, guess who's going to pay for it--WE ARE!”

Taxmanblog: If You're A Liar And You Know It Clap Your Hands

Dave Harding, ProgressOhio — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 09:21:57 EDT

taxmanblog

"Quite simply, this blog is the ranting of a Cincinnati CPA"

Long before Enron and WorldCom, the ABO and The Ohio Society of CPAs were discussing the importance of making professional ethics education a part of license renewal. Professional ethics has been a requirement for initial CPA certification in Ohio but there was no ongoing focus once an individual was certified. The new requirement is intended to heighten the awareness and importance of ethics in the accounting profession—a profession whose foundation was built upon objectivity, integrity and trust.
- The Ohio Society Of CPA's

So he got caught in a direct lie.

Here's how our "ranting CPA" takes responsibility for his lie:

Better retake that Ethics Course this year.

Ethical behavior is required by law in Ohio for CPA's.

Platinum Bootstraps, Pat Tiberi and Michael Moore

Liberty Belle — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:22:51 EDT

Economic collapse brings together the strangest bedfellows: Michael Moore and RINO Pat Tiberi.

Despite Pat Tiberi's voting record which has handed taxpayer money over to no-bid contractors and often supported corporate welfare, Pat Tiberi decided to actually "go his own way" (despite a 93% lock-step record with President Bush).

This is ironically the same choice of Michael Moore. We salute Pat Tiberi on this choice. I guess with $830,000 already in the Tiberi's WAR chest from financial and security companies over the past eight years, Tiberi would rather finally side with his voting block (and just in time for the election!) rather than again rewarding bad behavior. It remains to be seen however if the voters of Ohio's 12th Congressional District will have amnesia of the trillions of no-bid appropriations and corporate bailouts Tiberi has already approved.

Here is an excerpt from Michael Moore's proposal:

The richest 400 Americans -- that's right, just four hundred people -- own MORE than the bottom 150 million Americans combined. 400 rich Americans have got more stashed away than half the entire country! Their combined net worth is $1.6 trillion. During the eight years of the Bush Administration, their wealth has increased by nearly $700 billion -- the same amount that they are now demanding we give to them for the "bailout."
Why don't they just spend the money they made under Bush to bail themselves out? They'd still have nearly a trillion dollars left over to spread amongst themselves! Of course, they are not going to do that -- at least not voluntarily.
George W. Bush was handed a $127 billion surplus when Bill Clinton left office. Because that money was OUR money and not his, he did what the rich prefer to do -- spend it and never look back. Now we have a $9.5 trillion debt. Why on earth would we even think of giving these robber barons any more of our money?
I would like to propose my own bailout plan. My suggestions, listed below, are predicated on the singular and simple belief that the rich must pull themselves up by their own platinum bootstraps.
Sorry, fellows, but you drilled it into our heads one too many times: There... is... no... free... lunch. And thank you for encouraging us to hate people on welfare! So, there will be no handouts from us to you.

Read the rest of Michael's proposal here.

Justice for sale

User from Columbus, OH — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:11:57 EDT

Why are the supreme court races getting no meaninful press attention? Of all the races in Ohio these two are going to have the most effect on the people of Ohio.

COLUMBUS -- Supreme Court candidate Judge Joseph D. Russo said that the high court must shake what he believes is a perception that justice can be bought in Ohio and he has a plan to do it.

A Supreme Court justice would have to automatically recuse himself or herself from any case involving an entity -- such as a law firm or business -- whose aggregate contribution to the judge exceeds $10,000 within the past seven years, under Russo's idea.

Payday lenders engage in more fear mongering

Free Fallin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:46:24 EDT

Payday lenders engage in more fear mongering

Apparently last week's belligerent "Big Brother" ad wasn't enough. In light of the tanking economy and the fears of ordinary Ohioans about their job security and stagnating incomes, the payday lenders have started spewing unintelligible nonsense about Issue 5.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer has given the payday lenders their second "2" out of 10 on the truthfulness scale in just as many weeks. Touting Ohio's high unemployment rate, the lost of jobs in the poor economy, the payday lobby suggests, "Your job could be next."

The Plain Dealer's analysis notes: "This ad, sponsored by the payday loan industry, seeks to piggyback on our fears of a looming economic crisis." " The ad producers never tell us what is covered by Issue 5, a proposal aimed at the statewide ballot on November 4. They just want us to follow their directions and vote no."

What the Astroturf/industry front group Ohioans for Financial Freedom fails to mention yet again is that Issue 5 addresses payday lending and that a 'no' vote means the continuation of payday loans provided at 391% APR. They fail to mention that a 'yes' vote lowers interest rates to 28% APR.

Again, the payday lending industry wants Ohio voters to think that the reforms passed in a bipartisan fashion in the legislature will result in the closure of payday loan storefronts. However, as the Plain Dealer reminds us, "In recent days, Ohio Department of Commerce officials said that 1,130 of the 1,500 stores that held payday lending licenses have applied for small-loan licenses." So, the industry plans to stay open to offer loans under the new law or other service, but is confident that voters will simply buy the message being broadcasted statewide with the millions of dollars in revenue already extracted from hundreds of thousands of those same voters!

To read more of the analysis from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, please click here: http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/09/_the_ad_no_on.html#preview

Don't fall for their lies and deceptions! Keep the reforms of the predatory payday loan industry! Vote yes on issue 5!

Pat Tiberi is endorsed by the Columbus Dispatch Printing Company

Liberty Belle — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:17:59 EDT

ShareThis

Central Ohio residents were treated to yet more of the Columbus Dispatch Printing Company’s (CDPC) ‘fair and balanced’ judgment; Pat Tiberi, a republican currently holding the 12th Congressional seat at the People’s House, has gotten the local daily printing company’s endorsement for Congress.

Hopefully, CDPC readers will remember the past ‘judgment’ of the company’s endorsements–including George W. Bush for president in both 2000 and 2004, when shortly before the 2004 election, even the CDPC seemed to know better. In the midst of this latest fill-in-the-blank-shock-and-awe crisis, that presidential endorsement has shown where the loyalties of the Wolfe family media empire really LIE. Much like Washington serves its lobbyists, the CDPC likewise serves the corporations who pay for thier ads.

The fact that a local printing company’s public informational monopoly would find it within their job description to endorse a candidate before even informing the population of where all candidates stand on the issues that affect them most, is discrediting to not only to the endorsement, but raises questions as to the credibility of the CDPC itself.

The CDPC wrote, “Tiberi [is a] moderate Republican, reasonable in [his] approaches to policy issues and capable of the nitty-gritty legislative work that’s required.”

The most glaring omission in this statement is that Tiberi has never sponsored and passed even one piece of legislation in his nearly eight years of [dis]service.

By this same CDPC standard, Tiberi’s voting record indicates that he is as “moderate” as he is “capable”!

Let’s look at his “moderate” and “reasonable approach” from his congressional voting record, for as even the CDPC noted, “most candidates are fiscal conservatives during the campaign season; the proof is what happens when they get to Capitol Hill.”

Exactly.

The question is, why didn’t the CDPC look at that “proof” and relate that to their readers? The [t]reason is that Tiberi’s record is far from moderate.

Mom sez: Everything is going to be OK

OHliz — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:18:26 EDT

Sen. Obama's new spot about our economic crisis is the only thing I've seen on TV recently that makes me feel reassured about the future. Republicans can only bicker amongst themselves and McCain's attack ads with cheesy piano music seem frighteningly irrelevant.

It's Obama's serious tone, specific talking points and timely message that make me optimistic. His nice baritone voice is soothing. Also, he's the only candidate for any office that I can recall who actually gives a damn about pay equity for women workers. That's a real optimism-builder for me.

In contrast, soon-to-be-grandma, special-needs and hockey mom Gov. Palin scares the crap out of me. Not only is she a Disney movie on Oxycontin, but also a warmonger. In the chosen few words she has offered the press, she has used inflammatory language about "Putin rearing his head." Get a grip, woman!

It's our job as moms to keep calm and say encouraging things to our kids. Maybe because he was raised by women, Obama knows how to give a reassuring pat on the shoulder to the American people. That's what we need now -- more reassurance about our families' future, fewer pitbull fights.

Payday Lobby Out with New Ad to Deceive Voters

Free Fallin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:43:26 EDT

The payday lobby, Ohioans for Financial Freedom, is out with a new ad to scare Ohio voters. The ad is entitled "Big Brother."

The Columbus Dispatch has their analysis of the new ad and again critiques the accuracy and truthfulness of the piece. Here's what the Dispatch has to say:

Script: (Narrator): "He's from the government, and he's watching you. Tracking your personal financial information. Seeing how many loans you've applied for and limiting how many loans you can take out each year. He's from the government and he controls your financial options. If you need private emergency loans for your family, he'll be in charge, not you. Protect your financial options, defend your right to privacy by voting 'no' on Issue 5. Because you should be in charge, not him. Vote 'no' on Issue 5."

Analysis: This is the latest ad from the payday-lending coalition that wants to stop new payday regulations from taking effect. The ad's major accuracy problem is not what is said, but rather what is omitted. The ad never mentions that Issue 5 deals only with small, short-term payday loans. It includes one vague reference to "private emergency loans." The video of the man leafing through loan applications makes it appear as if the government is suddenly going to start tracking and limiting everything from auto financing to home-equity loans. That is not the case.

To read the article in its entirety, click here:

It's no surprise that the payday lending industry is continuing to produce misleading ads and deceive Ohio voters into believing that Issue 5 will in some way impact their privacy. The database, actually supported by some members of the industry during legislative deliberations, is meant to ensure that the payday lenders comply with the law. As it now stands, payday lenders don't care whether or not borrowers have the ability to repay. Issue 5 will change that and limit the debt trap for Ohio consumers at 4 per year.

Vote yes on issue 5 for fair lending and lower interest rates!

The FDIC & Payday Lending

Free Fallin — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:41:36 EDT

FDIC Report Suggests Banks can Offer Alternatives to Payday Loans at a Profit

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation will soon be releasing a report that suggests that banks can provide consumers with affordable small loans and still make a profit. The "Small-Dollar Loan Pilot Program," includes 31 FDIC selected banks from all across the United States, and is intended to demonstrate that banks can offer small loans to consumers at reasonable rates. The pilot program included banks with pre-existing programs and banks with newly developed programs. According to the report about the pilot program, "Eighty percent of small-dollar pilot program banks offer interest rates of 18 percent or less."

Many of the parameters set in the pilot program are similar to those included in Ohio's House Bill 545. These parameters include: annual percent rates below 36% APR, low or no origination fees, no prepayment penalties, access to financial education, and extended prepayment periods.

First quarter reporting by the banks in the pilot program suggests that banks are able to offer alternative products to payday loans and other high-cost products and still make a profit. Initial reports from a majority of the banks in the program also suggest that customers utilizing their small-loan products transition to more tradition loan products after complying with the terms of the small-loan agreement.

"Although the Small-Dollar Loan Pilot Program is still in its initial stages, participating banks are already demonstrating innovative strategies in areas such as advertising and linked savings that may prove to be replicable for other banks. Banks in the pilot are well within the 36 percent maximum APR established in the FDIC's Small-Dollar Loan Guidelines, and five banks thus far have reported using the small-dollar product as a cornerstone for profitable relationship."

You can view the preliminary FDIC report, here: http://www.fdic.gov/bank/analytical/quarterly/2008_vol2_3/smalldollar.pdf

This is a positive development and bodes well for Ohio. Much has been made of the 28% interest rate cap on payday loans in our state and it's potential impact on the industry. The U.S. Congress, at the behest of the Pentagon, sought to cap interest rates on payday loans at 36% APR, seeking to mitigate the negative impact payday lending was having on troop readiness and moral. Alternatives to payday loans do exist in the form of small loans offered by credit unions, banks and other more traditional lenders. Given that several of the banks are being profitable or are seeing no negative impact on their profit margins from the development of small-loan programs and that a majority of customers are avoiding a cycle of debt and entering into more traditional loan products, there is little question that this is a model that should be replicated in Ohio and across the United States.

Is Palin Qualified To Be Columbus Librarian?

NationOfGandhis — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:46:44 EDT

Thanks Jane, I couldn't resist :D

15 Days, One Interviewer

OHliz — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:05:12 EDT

It's been over two weeks since McCain picked unknown Gov. Palin as his running soulmate for the presidency. The Republican Party deemed ABC News as the only media outlet worthy enough to ask her questions.

Effectively, a political party has said "screw you" to the American people, and media people -- afraid of reprisals down the road -- wimped out and went along with the Republican gatekeepers.

Seeing that "exclusive" tag on the ABC News interviews with Palin makes my blood boil. Get me out of this bizarre alternative American universe!

I cannot recall a more blatant incidence of abridging the freedom of the press. If anyone should be made available to the press 24/7, it's Gov. Palin. We have to make up for lost time -- she was absolutely unknown to us two weeks ago.

With her bachelor's degree in Journalism, Gov. Palin probably is aware that our American Fourth Estate has been taking on Soviet characteristics lately. Heck, you can see the Russian press corp from Alaska!

SONG--9/11 was an "Inside Job" for sure !

General Bruce — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:19:15 EDT

9/11 was an "Inside Job" for sure !
(To the tune of :If Your Happy and Ya Know it)

9/11 was for sure an Inside Job for sure, ( Yes for sure )
Facing down the truth and acting is the cure. (Truths the cure)
It's the Neo-Cons who did it,
The Illuminati hid it,
Speaking out the Truth in Love will keep us Pure. (Keep us Pure)

So how could those jets be lost an hour plus, (an hour plus?)
It's the War Games going on that made the muss, (such a muss)
First they said the War Games hurt them,
Then they said the War Games helped them,
I'm so mad at them there liars i could cuss. (Please don't cuss)

There were people in two towers as they fell, (When they fell)
They were planted with explosive I can tell, (I can tell)
They exploded down so swiftly,
That an Inside Job it must be,
It's the only day that fire did so well.(Only Day)

We were horrified to see the towers fall, (See them fall)
A grand snuff film that the networks gave us all, (Gave us all)
In our shock, they said Osama,
Save your home and save your Momma,
We have Military might to save us all. (Save us All)

It's called Traumatic Hypnosis one and all, (One and All)
I was traumatized two weeks as I recall, (Like Us All)
I was so mad at Osama,
That I even told my Momma,
I am so glad that Bush was in charge after all. (What a call)

I was sure Osama did it from the start, (From the start)
Now I see the way they fooled us was an art, (It's an Art)
Six years later there's no charges,
As the Iraq War enlarges,
Those who led us here have really got no Heart. (Got no Heart)

With the Patriot Act they took away our Rights, (Got no rights)
And the politicians hardly put up fights, (Hardly Fights)
Then the Military Commissions Act,
Habius Corpus now is not a fact,
When will this madness end, I think it bites. (Yes it bites)

So let's get the truths out quickly, loud and strong, (Loud and Strong)
When your on the side of right you can't go wrong, (Can't go wrong)
First they mock you, then they hate you,
But you just do, what you must do,
Then they say they should have seen it all along! (All along)

First they mock you, then they hate you,
But you just do, what you must do,
Then they say they should have seen it all along! (For sure)

BY: PG Bruce and The Radical 360s 2-19-08

Boycott Gibson's Palin Interview

OHliz — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:43:51 EDT

I can hardly believe my ears lately. Since when did we allow the Republican Party to dictate when, how and by whom our leaders can be questioned?

ABC News' Charlie Gibson was chosen by party leaders to interview Gov. Palin, but only after she could campaign and study up with flash-card answers. Backdropping their interview will be beautiful Alaska. The rest of you pesky journalists can just stay home.

In recent memory, I can think of no more blatant a violation of the First Amendment as this "abridging the freedom of the press." It is truly un-American the way the R's have shielded her. And it's pathetic the way the mainstream media has allowed the party to take control of the information stream.

I'm an adult. I don't like it when people tell me only what I'm "allowed" to know.

Gibson probably won't be asking Palin the kind of questions I want answered anyway, so I won't be watching this staged propaganda.

Where is Sidney McCain?

OHliz — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:42:55 EDT

Evidently absent from the Republican national convention was John S. McCain's eldest daughter with Carol Shepp. Sidney McCain carries her father's middle name, but we scarcely know anything about her except that she's a music executive.

Turns out, Sidney McCain has lived in Canada since 2005. Before that, she lived in NYC. She likes baseball. That's about all we know. I can't find any pictures of her online. Strange, really.

With the information embargo currently going on in the GOP, this citizen-journalist would like to ask Sidney McCain directly:

How did it feel when you were 12 years old and your dad cheated on your disabled mom with a woman who was 17 years younger?