Call the Commission on Presidential Debates - here's the #

Karen Ann - for the record yes I have complained both to the administration and to my legislators when I have a difference of opinion. I am a legislative liaison in my Association and am active in federal issues as well and have never been shy about taking on Republicans or Democrats who do not serve our best interest, which, as you might imagine, is nearly a full time job.

Having said that, I don't completely blame the Democrats for the past 1 1/2 years, nor do I blame the Republicans for the previous 6 1/2 years. You might refer to my 9/29 post on the Trillion Dollar Shakedown that threatens Cities. This traces the inception of many of our current problems to expansion of the Community Reinvestment Act, signed by Carter in 1977 and expanded under Clinton in 1995. This, together with lack of effective oversight has brought us to where we are today. It is provable that Republicans, including John McCain, were sounding alarms back in 2004 about Fannie & Freddie and the dangers we might encounter while Democrats like Barney Frank was claiming he saw no evidence of problems, Maxine Waters was praising Franklin Raines, and other Democrats were more intent on blaming regulators who were cautioning not to extend further credit to unqualified borrowers and particularly minority borrowers, whom, as we have seen, have been especially hard hit by the current housing crisis. The blame is bi-partisan and the solution will need to be as well. But my post was not about that, it was aimed at the travesty masquerading as a moderator for tonights debate. Democrats & Republicans should both be upset about this. Republicans because it is patently unfair, baised and downright inflamatory. Democrats because even if Biden wins the debate hands down, the public will be sidetracked from this by the appearance of impropriety and bias. It's a lose/lose having Gwen Ifill moderate.

The flowers are our California State flower the California Poppy. They grow wild on the hillsides out here and are a brilliant orange for only about 2 weeks in the spring. They are almost impossible (as well as illegal) to try to transplant and they are difficult to cultivate from seed or domesticate. I snagged this photo this spring and it caprtures their delicate & vibrant beauty pretty well if I do say so myself.

Jeff - thanks for the email address. The phone has been steady busy again all morning. Must be all the readers of this blog.

Lenn - I agree. The Republicans have so many talking points and so much background on Obama. If nothing else his ties to some of the key figures in the current debacle should make people question his motives and integrity but nobody brings it up. Certainly his fawning media won't mention it but it should be addressed in future debates - if not by the moderator, then by 'honest' John. By trying to appear above the fray and not waging an all-out campaign, McCain is throwing the rest of us to the lions. How did we ever end up here?

I've heard it said the only difference between Obama & Osama is a little b s. My bad.

You are absolutely correct Lenn, as usual. If this were a white Republican with the backgroiund this man has, he would never have made it this far and actually be in contention for the top job. It's also interesting that the only people playing the race card is the Obama camp and now the Gwen Ifill supporters. If we question her ability to moderate a fair and impartial debate it's because we're against a black woman and our first black Presidential candidate. What crap. When I first heard about her conflicts of interest I didn't even know her race - and it doean't matter. I also didn't initially know Franklin Raines was black - but again a crook is a crook regardless of color. There's plenty of crooks of both political persuasions and all colors to go around. These liberals need to get over themselves. It will be a tough few years I'm afraid.