Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Trip Photos: Our First Texas BBQ

For weeks (okay, days) all our Chicago friend, Kristi, had been talking about was trying out the famous BBQs scattered throughout Texas. We happened upon our first one on the drive from Ft. Worth to Austin.
The "Worst Bar-B-Q" moniker of Rudy's must be some sort of inside joke because their food was superb! Only later did we learn that they were a chain restaurant but my stomach didn't hold that against them!


This cooler was a glorious site on such a hot day.


Dr. Pepper actually originates from Texas though I remember drinking it as a kid. Kristi said that this version available only in the state of origin is made with cane sugar. It went really well with the BBQ'd meat.
Here's my mom and Kristi enjoying a fine albeit simple meal.

These bags were hanging above our heads throughout the restaurant. We inquired and were told that they keep the flies away. We're not sure how but trust that they do.

Trip Photos: Seattle & Ft. Worth

I'm long behind in posting photos from my trip. I'm going to catch up now!

SeaTac Airport



Fort Worth, Texas
We went to a restaurant called Joe T. Garcia's. From the outside it looks like a simple little place but it has got to be the LARGEST restaurant I've ever been to!

It's like a collection of indoor and outdoor eating venues, each very different in appearance. The food was quite basic but was decent Mexican food. I got the sense that most people go here for the atmosphere, which was grand.
The cutest baby we met on our trip!
After dinner we drove a few blocks over to the Ft. Worth Rodeo. It's held every Friday & Saturday evening and is billed as the largest indoor rodeo in the U.S.



Here's a father & daughter enjoying the show.
The woman on the left was quite the character. She was clearly "under the influence" but was a happy drunk, providing an additional show to the audience nearby!

Latest Video from the Conservative Fun House

These are two well spoken fellows from Houston, Texas. This is actually Part 5 of 5 segments but is arguably the best one:
If you're curious, you can watch the others here.

Incidentally, I am absolutely shocked that ANYONE can defend the [allegedly] illegal actions of ACORN perpetrating voter registration fraud. And I'd be saying so no matter what the political stripes of those doing it! Democracy is a very fragile thing and too many people in the West have been taking it for granted for way too long.

American Politics Hit a New Low

Pornographer Larry Flint hits a new low by making a porno movie that features an actress who is made up to look like Sarah Palin.
I await the outrage from liberal bloggers and self-ascribed liberal feminists. Of course we'll never hear a peep.

Let's see what happens if a gay porno featuring an actor who looks like Obama comes out. If they complain only then, it'll confirm my long held beliefs of the great hypocrisy of the left.

Rob Breakenridge on the recent BCHRT Decision

An important read for everyone who values free speech.

More Serious Medical Care Required

Perhaps next time my mom will refrain from packing the actual kitchen sink in her suitcase!

Poor Brand Name Selection?


How I Know I'm Back in Vancouver: Dim Sum!

Starting as a teenager, Dim Sum (Chinese brunch) has been a favourite staple of mine, especially on the weekends. Returning back home, this pretty much was destined to be my first meal!

Looking for Alice?

Might this be the proverbial rabbit hole?

Voting Day

Just got back from voting. In my Vancouver Centre riding I voted for Lorne Mayencourt of the Conservatives. Right above him was the Marxist-Leninist candidate. Good thing my hand didn't slip!!!

The Incredible Power of MSM Propaganda

I was just talking on the phone with an older Chinese-Canadian lady I've known for several decades. I affectionately refer to her as "Auntie Mary". She has worked hard all of her life to give the very best to her family. She lives on the East side of Vancouver and while her & her husband live in a nice home, she frequently expresses to me her concern about all the crime in her neighbourhood.

So I was a bit surprised to hear that she was planning on voting for the NDP today. She added that she very much hoped the Conservatives did not get a majority. I was not disappointed, just surprised.

I responded as follows: "You do need to go out & vote and you should vote for who you think will be the best candidate and/or party. For me, Law & Order is by far the most important issue in Canada. And that's why I hope that Stephen Harper and the Conservatives get a majority government."

She then said that Law & Order was also her #1 issue. "Then why on earth are you voting for the NDP?", I asked. "I mean, I fully understand why other people vote for other parties. Their issues are different from mine, but if Law & Order is your primary concern then how could you vote for anyone else than the Conservatives?"

It truly is an amazing phenomenon to see how effective MSM brainwashing can be to sway someone away from their core issues through boogeyman propaganda. Joseph Goebbels would be terribly proud of the CBC and other like minded media institutions.


P.S. If the Conservatives do win a majority and do not dramatically tighten up the laws involving criminals then I have a LOT of yard work to do for Auntie Mary!

New Flag for America 2.0?

Yesterday, while waiting for the plane in Seattle, I noticed something very curious on the TVs there. They were broadcasting a speech from Barack Obama and behind him were some very different American-like flags. I can't find a photograph of them but here's a video:

If anyone can find a photograph of this new flag, please send me the link. I'm most curious to know how many stars are pictured on it.

Frontier Airlines: The Shape of Things to Come?

On the flight to Texas and then to Chicago, we went on Southwest Airlines. They're a great airline with the friendliest staff and brag in their advertising about no hidden (or less than obvious) fees.
On the way back though we got a good deal on Frontier Airlines, which took us all the way back into YVR in Vancouver. At least it *seemed* like a good deal. I should have more carefully read the fine print. Their rules are in transition and we were almost charged $25 for each of our first bags and $50 for each of our second bags. The lady in Chicago was kind though and charged us only $25 x 2 for our second bags.
Additionally, on the flights, additional surcharges included:

  • $3 for each snack item
  • $6 for 24 channels of Live TV
I'm not complaining, just observing. As a long time aficionado of the aviation industry, I'll be interested to see which business model more flyers flock to.

An Interesting Coincidence

I leave the U.S. yesterday and the DOW goes up by 936.42 pts. Hmmmm, a strange coincidence or a direct connection?! :-)

Back in Vancouver, Safe & [Reasonably] Sound

My mom and I arrived home last night after 2.5 weeks traveling through the U.S. It was a fun trip, though an exhausting one. We were both sick with a cold (or flu?) during much of it and only got about 35% of the things accomplished that we had originally intended. Yesterday was the worst of all. We flew back from Chicago, via Denver and Seattle, and I had a splitting headache most of the day. Not fun. But with the help of 2 hot showers and an Excedrin last night, I'm feeling a LOT better this morning!

The other thing aching is my right wrist. I can only conclude that this is from constantly having to lift my mom's 800 lb. large suitcase. If you think I'm exaggerating, feel free to volunteer as her porter on her next trip!!

Still on Chicago time (2 hours ahead), I woke up before 6am this morning. With no food (or milk) in my home, I walked over to my local Starbucks and got a MUCH NEEDED large dark coffee! It was still pitch black and crisp & cold like a traditional fall day. Quite a contrast to Chicago where it felt like balmy August. On the way over I walked past a local little church that serves as my polling station. One little old lady was entering a few minutes after 7am. She was probably their first customer of the day!

So all is well, though I have soooo much to catch up on. I want to send a big thanks to all the friends we met on the trip. You treated us royally and then some! But it's also very nice to be home.

Mark Twain Quotations

If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.


Suppose you were an idiot.
And suppose you were a member of Congress . . .
But then I repeat myself.


No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session.


The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.


There is no distinctly Native American criminal class . . . save Congress.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

The Tolerant Left

Watch the reaction to this march in New York City:

It could have taken place in Seattle, Washington or Portland, Oregon or San Francisco, California or Chicago, Illinois, the reaction would have been very similar.

This is proof positive of liberal hypocrisy and a deep denial of walking their own talk. "Open Mindedness" to a liberal means that they will agree with you only if your views are precisely in lockstep with their own. Welcome to the New America of 2009 - 2012, which historians may very well call the Obamanation Thugocracy.

Mark Steyn: How Non O'Kool-Aid Drinkers View Obama

While devout Obamanation supporters will never change their minds, perhaps the more curious amongst them (0.0001% ?) might be interested to learn how the rest of us feel. Mark Steyn shares his brilliant thoughts on the subject.

MSM = OGPC

I'm laughing louder & louder these days whenever I hear any of our "friends" on the Left assert that most of the media is relatively neutral. Such folks are in DEEP DENIAL about any semblance of reality.

I could easily build that list up to 1,001 but have to go photograph the Chicago Marathon. Suffice to say, in 2008 the Mainstream Media truly has become the Obamanation Gestapo-like Press Corps!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

John Kass on the Radicals in Chicago

The Chicago Tribune's John Kass offers a preview of how the corruption in Chicago politics will serve as the perfect template for the Obama presidency running the United States. Think it won't happen? Why not?

The Upcoming Obama Thugocracy

Mark Steyn shares his thoughts on how an Obama presidency may very well affect free speech in America. I will be discussing this further closer to the election.

Dennis Miller on Jay Leno

Here are a few hilarious clips of Dennis Miller on a recent Jay Leno show:



Personal note: Proof positive of why a certain M.D. in Seattle should take his comedy on the road!

Weekend Reflections

This is an abridged version of an e-mail I sent to a blog reader of mine.

Yesterday was one of reflection for me. My mom & I spent the day with Sandy, the mother of a longtime friend of mine. She is the realtor I described here. The three of us drove up to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, though first stopping off in Racine to visit the magnificent S.C. Johnson headquarters, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. No pictures were allowed, but here's one from their website:

Sandy is a Democrat through & through. She has never voted otherwise and never will. But she is bright, reads a lot, and keeps herself informed - albeit from the extremely liberal arms of the Democrat Party: The NY Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Time, NPR, ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, and CNN. All of these "news" sources continuously reinforce her predetermined belief system, which essentially boils down to this:

  • Republicans - Are completely corrupt, are fully of dummies, and only support the ultra-rich.

  • Democrats - Are less corrupt, are filled with and supported by brilliant people, and at least leave a little something more for the vast majority of Americans.
Of course, none of this narrative in her head is true but it's what gets her and tens of millions of other Americans through each day. She mixed up statements & facts, all of which I corrected, but she didn't want to hear. Oh, she "heard" me, but she wasn't listening. She's oblivious to the fact that Obama will raise taxes on her own business, perhaps substantially. Mayor Daley here in Chicago (aka "the most politically corrupt city in America") has dramatically raised the costs for all realtors yet she'll keep on voting for him too.

She hates Sarah Palin with a fiery passion. She thinks that Palin is an absolute hick with an IQ less than 50. She can't stand her accent, even though it's not a whole lot different than those of the people of Illinois. On the experience issue she can't see the irony of tarring Palin with one hand and then simultaneously excusing Obama on every single similar point. "But Obama has run the largest presidential campaign in history so clearly he's suitable to be president." It's said with absolute sincerity and conviction. It's also absolutely NUTS!

She ignored everything I had to say about ACORN, excusing it with "voter fraud happens everywhere". She ignored everything I said about William Ayers, excusing him with "was he ever actually convicted" and "even if he was guilty, hasn't he paid the price already". I'm convinced that even if it was revealed that Barack Obama had been associating with Jew hating pedophiles, she would still vote for him. And so would hundreds of millions of other Americans.

So facts alone mean nothing to these people. Instead of listening and thinking about even one fact, instead they want to focus on the fact that I just used the term "these people" . . . and somehow twist that to imply that I'm a racist! Calling someone a racist is very "nouveau" for liberals in 2008.


Now let's look at McCain. He signed that $700 Billion bailout, even though people were pleading with him not to, in the order of 50 to 1. And notice that it did nothing to stop the free fall on Wall Street! In the 2nd Pres. debate he offered up $300 Billion more. Yesterday he told everyone that Obama wouldn't be scary as president. On the surface, is he really all that different from Obama? Not to Democrat leaning voters, he isn't.

To use a sports analogy, John McCain is like the coach of a football team at the Superbowl. Before the game, instead of doing everything he can to rally his players, instead he wants to focus first & foremost on Good Sportsmanship, even though the other team clearly is playing some very dirty tricks ... and has paid off most of the referees (the media). This is why Obama will win.


Then from back home, I learn that Stephen Harper's majority prospects are slipping and he may now get even less of a minority government than before. Even when a story like this comes to the public attention, even when Stephane Dion makes a complete fool of himself, it still doesn't seem to sway the majority of voters away from voting for the short-sighted, destructive policies of the left. I've long since been convinced that the majority of people around the world are sheep but Canada seems to have the honour of having the highest percentage of closed minds anywhere. Makes one so proud to be from Canuckistan, doesn't it?!

To top it off, I've received some especially hateful personal comments on my blog. One even came from a guy who started off by saying that he was exceedingly drunk! Full moderation is on now though and I will not publish anything that more clearly resembles graffiti than any intelligible, factual thought.

I'm not defeated but am just realistic in the appraisal that I'm a duck, like you're a duck, in the very wrong pond. Like many so-called conservative voters (I'm really only conservative on a few key issues), perhaps it's time for me to give up focusing on politics altogether and instead just focus on making money in my businesses. In my case, family concerns aside, I have the ability and flexibility to move pretty much wherever I want. Maybe there is a place in the world where the majority of people believe in truth, facts, justice, and a real sense of right & wrong. It would sure be better than living in North America right now, where the politics are completely consumed with B.S., corruption, political correctness, permanent victimhood, and absolutely no sense of right & wrong and personal responsibility.

One disillusioned voter.

Grassroots Campaign in Canada

There are less than three weeks until the election, an election that will decide the next Prime Minister of Canada.

The person elected will be the Prime Minister of 'all' Canadians, not just the Liberals or the Conservatives. It's time that we all came together, Liberals and Conservatives alike.

If you support the policies and character of Stephen Harper, please drive with your headlights on during the day.

If you support Stephane Dion, please drive with your headlights off at night.

Together, we can make it happen!

Sadly, McCain Will Lose

I woke up this morning and saw John McCain say this:

I want to be President of the United States and obviously I do not want Senator Obama to be, but I have to tell you . . . he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared as President of the United States.

That may be true but it is the very last thing a politician should ever say to his supporters.



In The Untouchables, Sean Connery's character said this:

You wanna know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. *That's* the *Chicago* way! And that's how you get Capone. Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that? I'm offering you a deal. Do you want this deal?

Through his endless supporters in the MSM, ACORN, and a host of other highly partisan organizations, Barack Obama has brought a machine gun to the fight. They will say & do anything to win, no matter how vile and despicable. John McCain refuses to bring anything to the fight other than his bare knuckles. McCain is an honorable man who has given his life to his country. But his country will not elect him president on November 4th.

Friday, October 10, 2008

The BCHRT Folds, In Order To Keep Their Jobs

Never has there been a more pathetic & ludicrous organization in British Columbia than the BC "Human Rights" Tribunal. They proved that yesterday by declaring Maclean's magazine and Mark Steyn innocent, flying in the face of their previous verdicts.

You can read about the entire kangaroo court decision here and here.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

A Texas Conservative Analyzes the 2nd Pres. Debate

One Cannot Help But Feel Pity for Stephane Dion

From the beginning I have felt that Stephane Dion is a well meaning man who believes strongly in his world view. I just don't happen to share his politics and think that his plans would be disastrous for Western Canada. With that in mind, watch this clip:


One thing that is ironic is that earlier today I was told by someone that we must all respect political elites such as Dion. She gave that as one of the reasons she detests Sarah Palin.

Contrast the Dion interview with this recent one of Palin and John McCain:

A Question All Americans Should Be Asking

John Kass works for the Chicago Tribune newspaper and has been writing about politics there for the past 15 years. In a recent column he referred to Chicago as "the most politically corrupt city in America".

Barack Obama aspired to his current situation as presidential candidate through his political connections in Chicago.

Bill Ayers is a domestic terrorist who has never apologized for the bombings he carried out in the 1960's, supposedly to protest the Vietnam War. Lots of people protested the Vietnam War. Ayers and his comrades in the "Weather Underground" set off bombs which killed people. He was born & raised and still lives in the Chicagoland area.

The paths of Barack Obama and Bill Ayers appear to have crossed several times. One of the most prominent of these times involved the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, which ran between 1995 - 2001. This was a $98.2 Million project spearheaded by Ayers and two others.

A group of five decided that Obama would be the Chairman on the Board of Directors of the organization that oversaw this project. Bill Ayers was one of these five.

Obama had no previous experience running a company. He had no previous experience dealing with a budget remotely close to one hundred million dollars. So an important question has to be asked: What is it about 34 year old Barack Obama that Bill Ayers found so compelling to put in charge of a hundred million dollar project?

Concerned Americans need to know.

Letter to Bill O'Reilly

After watching a segment on The O'Reilly Factor where it was discussed whether John McCain's use of "that one" and Sarah Palin's use of "hockey mom" and "Joe Six Pack" were racist terms, I just had to send a letter to Bill O'Reilly:

I'm from Vancouver, BC but have spent the past 2 weeks in the U.S., visiting Texas and now Chicago. Most every weekday evening I've had the great pleasure to watch your show.

Having spent muchof the past 44 years of my life in Canuckistan, I've watched political correctness severely damage my country. Day to day discourse has been greatly hampered for fear of offending each other. It has gotten so bad that anyone can be hauled in front of quasi-legal bodies known as "Human Rights Commissions" for simply hurting someone else's feelings. If you think I'm exaggerating, you'd be incorrect. Mark Steyn and Ezra Levant have spent oodles of money and time defending themselves from these Kangaroo Courts. A Toronto comedian is current facing the same fate.

I had naively thought that the United States of America was very much free from such PC nonsense. Oh how naive I was! The piece de resistance had to be the Ph.D. from Temple University who should be the 2008 poster child for Permanent Victim Syndrome. Please note that I deliberately didn't say "poster boy" for fear of offending him.

God Bless America but also God Help America. For you all need such help as much as us in Trudeaupia do!

Hug Your [Canadian] Banker Day

Huggggggg!!!!

Here's why



Update: I just learned something interesting from a Canadian banker friend of mine:

  • In Canada banks are restricted to lending no more than 10 times their assets.
  • In Europe banks lend up to 20 times their assets.
  • In the United States banks lend up to 33 times their assets.

Republicans Are Finally Getting Mad!

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Heather Mallick: Now the Permanent Victim

The CBC's Heather Mallick is out with the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of her vicious, hateful attacks on Sarah Palin. This time though, she's feeling verrrrrrry sorry for herself.

Here's what Jonathan Kay had to say about it.

And here's the comment I left on the CBC site:

I am a Canadian living in Vancouver, Ms. Mallick. I also have a university degree. Being an educated urban Canadian, does that mean I have the right to comment on your writing without receiving ad hominem attacks from you?

You, madam, are a vulgar twit with the arrogance the height of an oak tree but the wisdom the size of an acorn. You've clearly spent most of your life with the "Yes" crowd or else were in complete denial about those chastising you ... probably most often for your own good. But you chose to listen to no one.

Now my tax dollars have gone to paying you to write a sob-ridden "I'm The Victim" missive. About the only positive thing this latest piece accomplished was to justify bringing back the violin section of the CBC orchestra. That's what most readers will be hearing in their heads, reading your truly pathetic pity piece.

A Reflection on Obama's Promise to End America's Dependency on Oil in 10 Years

I admire Barack Obama's determination to remove America's dependency on oil, and in just 10 years no less. It's a noble goal but is it remotely possible? Is it based on hopes & dreams or on solid practical facts?

Peter Tertzakian, a business analyst in Calgary, provides a detailed analysis of America's great dependence on oil. It's an important read.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

The Forbidden SNL Skit

Very interesting things going on behind the scenes at NBC. It appears that a certain Saturday Night Live skit hit a little too close to the heart of the Democrat Party and the Gestapo ... I mean the Obama Campaign demanded it be pulled from the NBC website. You can read the full transcript here though.

If Obama gets elected, I fully expect that free speech will get clamped down on, not directly but in very insidious ways.

The Obama Doctrine

America should help out all oppressed people in the world . . . except Iraqis.

How peculiar.

Neel Kashkari

This is Neel Kashkari, the 35 year-old financial whiz who was handpicked by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to manage the distribution of the $700 Billion bailout package.

Billions of people around the world are counting on this gentleman to fix the economy. I wish him the very best.

On a humorous note though, I wish they'd distribute a different photo of him. This one, with his eyes so large, keeps making me think of Mike Myers Dr. Evil character. Let's hope that Kashkari has a more successful tenure!

ACORN's Fraudulent Campaign to Elect Barack Obama

This is absolutely disgusting. Of course, our friends on the left will find some convoluted way to justify ACORN's actions but let's face facts, this is part of a concerted effort to get him elected, no matter how many laws stand in their way.

Stephen Harper and the Mysterious $86 Billion

Our friends on the Left in Canada are getting desperate. They know that most voters aren't buying their nonsense so this last week in the election campaign they're going to paint Prime Minister with any combination of the following:

  • Scary
  • Neo-con
  • Bush-lite
And you may also hear about Harper cutting "$86 Billion in Arts Funding". When you do, require that the speaker or writer provide you a careful tally of how they arrived at this number. Then read this and this. You may very well come to the same conclusion I did: Artistic talent and basic math skills can't seem to fit into the same brain.

Another Obamanation Protester, But Palin Ain't Gonna Take It!

It's become very clear throughout this election that some Obama supporters don't believe in free speech, at least not from their opponents. Sarah Palin encountered one today.

Monday, October 06, 2008

Do Facts Matter?

Thomas Sowell thinks they do. This is a must read for every American voter.

Canada's Very Own Hatemonger Continues Spewing Her Venom

In this very telling article in the NY Times, the CBC's venom-spewing Heather Mallick continues to be unapologetic and, in fact, expresses more of her hatred toward many Americans:

In an e-mail message, Ms. Mallick said she believed that the complaints had been “orchestrated” by Fox News and came largely from Americans. “My problem is that I have to write with a certain kind of reader in mind, and that person is always going to be my vision of an intelligent Canadian,” Ms. Mallick said. “I don’t write for Fox viewers.”

Thus, in one fell swoop, she states that:
  1. Anyone who disagrees with her is unintelligent.
  2. Americans who watch Fox news are idiots.
Let's make a quick tally of how hard-earned Canadian tax dollars are being used in 2008:
  • To prosecute the free speech rights of Ezra Levant and Mark Steyn.
  • To keep Heather Mallick employed at the CBC.
What's wrong with this picture?!?

John Kass: Obama and the Chicago Way

The Chicago Tribune's John Kass has been reporting on corruption in The Windy City for some time. In this interesting article he takes a much more realistic look at Barack Obama and points out that the national media refuses to do so.

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Barack Obama and Bill Ayers

After you read the NY Times article on Bill Ayers, be sure to read this one on the same subject by Stanley Kurtz, an academic researcher who has devoted much time to the subject.

The contrast is a perfect example of how a MSM organization like the NY Times can spin a story any way they wish. And anyone who doesn't realize that the 'Times is not a de facto PR rep for the Obama campaign has flooded their brain with too much O'Kool-Aid.

Don't Agree With Someone? Use the Race Card!

If you'd like to see how truly pathetic journalism has become, read this article by one Douglass K. Daniel of the Associated Press. He accuses Sarah Palin of being a racist, yet provides absolutely no evidence of this charge.

IMHO there is nothing more despicable than playing the race card, especially in America at this time. Mr. Daniel is a perfect example of a Post-Modern Liberal Bigot. Be sure to read the comments on the article - priceless!

Non-Partisan Thoughts on the Final Month of the Presidential Campaign

Yesterday I had brunch with a longtime friend of mine here in Chicago. In case her particulars matter, she is:

  • In her early 60's
  • The mother of 3 grown children
  • A non-orthodox though practicing Jew
  • A widow
  • Well read
  • A successful residential realtor
  • A life-long Democrat (hey it's Chicago, most people are!)
We talked for a long time about the current financial situation in the U.S. Because much of it is directly connected with bad mortgages, she has a special insight into the situation. I asked her to think back several years and see if she could pinpoint precisely when she felt things were beyond the proverbial tipping point and eventually would go awry.

She couldn't exactly but did share some interesting historical points:
  • Traditionally people often paid 10% or 20% down to buy a home. The rest was paid for via a long term mortgage. Looking at these numbers in reverse, they were considered to be 90% or 80% mortgages respectively.
  • When 95% mortgages were allowed, realtors welcomed them because it enlarged their potential customer base.
  • When 100% mortgages (ie. no money down) were allowed, some realtors raised their eyebrows but still accepted the increased business.
  • When 105% mortgages were allowed (the extra 5% was to cover lawyers costs and fees) then many more realtors thought something very odd was occurring. They still accepted the extra business though.
As long as the price of real estate kept going up then all was fine. But of course, nothing keeps on going up forever, at least not at the same rate. Much like a long row of dominoes, when one falls backward, it's inevitable than many others will fall as well. That's what's happening now.



In talking with my friend and many more Americans on this trip, it's clear that most everyone is looking for someone to blame. Completely understandable. I've come to the conclusion that what will ultimately decide the presidential race, is where the average undecided voter places the blame for the situation. Will it be the Republicans and the notion that they are generally in favor of less restrictions on financial institutions? Or will it be the Democrats and their close ties with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae?

In just under a month we'll know.

Mark Steyn reflects on the Palin-Biden Debate

Mark Steyn has some interesting things to say about the recent VP Debate. As always, his words are biting and endlessly humorous!

Friday, October 03, 2008

[Near] Sighting of Sarah Palin in Dallas

With a few hours before my flight to Chicago, I decided to head to downtown Dallas to view the location where John F. Kennedy was shot. On the way back to the hotel I came across a huge crowd outside of a downtown hotel. Within seconds I realized what it was: A pro-Palin rally. There were hundreds & hundreds of schoolchildren as well. Many people proudly displayed McCain-Palin signs.

Returning here to the hotel I read more about the event. I had to laugh at the closing line about the protesters. There were about half a dozen Obama supporters walking in a small circle with their heads down and an even smaller number of Code Pink wingnuts. It's not clear what the schoolchildren thought of these party poopers.

Sorry, but I wasn't able to get any photos. :-(

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Just how many Billions of $$$ is Barney Frank responsible for?

Likely more than a few!
The big question now is will the truth about the Democrats' mismanagement of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac become clear before November 4th? Let's hope so!

The Strange Marriage of the NDP with Islamic Radicals

This article by Barbara Kay should be a must read for all Canadian voters. One of the key paragraphs is this one:

It soon became apparent that the particular political focus of all three of the speakers is the NDP, which has shamelessly courted and integrated into its inner circles Islamist Muslims with views that are antithetical and even dangerous to the continued health of Canadian values. Fatah has watched in frustration as Islamists in the NDP pursue a relentless campaign to instill a sense of victimhood in Muslim youth.

Preaching victimhood has ALWAYS been my major problem with the NDP and other like-minded socialist parties. The danger here is that they are actually helping to push a visible minority in Canada further to the fringes. Cynics say this is to achieve more power via the voting booth. I tend to think it's just blind ignorance on the part of those in the NDP.

And Back in Canada . . .

I was just reading this analysis of the English language debate that occurred in Canada tonight when I came across one comment that said that the NDP's Jack Layton should go back to his Video Professor job. The resemblance is startling:



Do we know for a fact that Taliban Jack and the Video Professor have ever been seen in the same place at the same time?!?

The VP Debate - Realtime Blogging from Dallas

I'm 650 miles southwest of the debate in St. Louis but am actively tuned into it, like tens of millions of others!

8:01pm - And so it begins . . . like many people who don't trust the MSM, I'm paying special attention to everything that the moderator, Gwen Ifill, says.

8:03pm - The candidates came out. Sarah Palin asked Joe Biden if she could call him "Joe". He said "Yes".

8:04pm - Biden started talking about the current financial situation. I would have too. Though if one were to dig below the surface, it's clear that the Democrat Party and their buddies in Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, are at the very heart of the problem. That's hard to explain in a 30 second soundbite though, and Obama & Biden are counting on that.

8:06pm - Palin is reminding America that two years ago John McCain tried sounding the warning bell about the forthcoming economic crisis but that Biden & his colleagues weren't willing to listen.

8:09pm - Gwen Ifill just made a joke at Palin's expense about her not answering a question. I wonder if she'll extend the same discourtesy to Biden?!

8:11pm - Biden is lying (or stretching the truth) about Barack Obama warning 2 years ago about the sub-prime crisis whereas McCain was apparently mystified by the same. I'd LOVE to see the facts on that!

8:12pm - The crux of the divide between the two parties has just come out. Biden has insisted that middle-class people don't have enough money. Palin agreed but then pointed out how many times Obama increased taxes.

8:14pm - Palin just let both Biden and Ifill have it by saying, "I might not answer the questions that you [Biden] or the moderator want me to, but I will answer them."

8:16pm - Another split has arisen: Under Obama's tax plan, will families over $42,000 per year or $250,000 per year be effected? Palin says it's the former, Biden says it's the latter.

8:17pm - Palin is chastising Biden for his stupid statement that paying more taxes is patriotic. Bravo!!!

8:18pm - Palin has just outlined McCain's health care plan of giving every family a $5,000 tax credit and then contrasted it with Obama's plan of a federalized health care plan ... welcome to Canada's mess - egad!

8:19pm - Biden is smiling a lot less :-)

8:20pm - Biden just tried to spin McCain's plan in a negative light and added a little joke about the Bridge to Nowhere. Facts?!?

8:22pm - Biden just promised that he & Obama will cut lots of spending. Surrrrreeeee!!!

8:23pm - Palin is sharing her history about breaking up the monopoly of the oil companies in Alaska.

8:25pm - Biden is once again painting McCain as part of Big Oil. Effective rhetoric.

8:30pm - Palin is addressing the issue of Global Warming. She's talking about McCain's "All of the Above" approach of Energy Independence.

8:32pm - Biden believes that Global Warming is all man-made. Too bad he's wrong. But facts never stopped Al Gore so why should they stop Biden & Obama. This guy sounds like an American version of Stephane Dion.

8:34pm - Palin is talking about the importance of energy independence. God Help Americans if Obama & Biden get elected and actually follow through with their energy policies!

8:39pm - They're now talking about Iraq. Palin used Biden's own words of condemnation against Obama's initial refusal to fund the soldiers in Iraq & Afghanistan.

8:41pm - Biden is now talking about the Obama timeline for drawing down the troops in Iraq. I know this greatly appeals to the Daily Kos Kooks but it makes no sense. Whenever in history was there such a timeline way ahead of time during an active military operation? Not in Germany, not in Japan, not in Korea.

8:44pm - Biden is now trying to painting himself and Obama as being right about what has occurred in Iraq. What a pile of B.S. Does 2 + 2 now equal 7?

8:49pm - The whole issue of how to deal with countries like Iran is now being discussed. Obama-Biden wants to sit down with the leaders of Iran ... much like Neville Chamberlain sat down with Adolf Hitler. It didn't work then and it won't work now. But I fear that many on the left simply won't accept that there are some people with whom you can't break bread, sing Kumbaya, and resolve all problems.

8:53pm - Palin has just chastised Biden for keeping on trying to connect her & McCain to the Bush Administration.

8:57pm - She just quoted Obama's horrendous quote about American troops aerating villages and killing civilians in Afghanistan. Such quotes the Far Left love because of their hate toward the American military but I doubt that the average American appreciates such words.

9:00pm - Palin is talking with great detail about military policy in Afghanistan. It's going to be hard for Obama's MSM buds to HONESTLY paint her as some kind of dopey hick. Sure, some still will, but I doubt that the average voter will buy it anymore.

9:03pm - Palin just took a great shot at Biden about For It Before Being Against It Or Vice Versa and relating how Americans are fed up with Washington Insiders not talking straight about any issue.

9:07pm - Biden made a comment that he would carry out all of the same policies as Obama.

9:09pm - Palin made an interesting contrast, stating that she doesn't agree with every policy of McCain but that a healthy debate is a good thing.

9:10pm - Palin: "There you go again, Joe, pointing fingers back again!"

9:13pm - Ifill just opened the door for Palin & Biden to explain their past comments about the role of a vice-president. Palin explained that her earlier rhetorical question about not knowing what a VP actually did was a lame attempt at a joke. We all knew she was joking, of course, though the pathetic dregs on the left tried to tar her with it. Perhaps that'll end now. Nahhh, I shouldn't get so optimistic that hate-filled liberals can ever rise above their patheticness.

9:16pm - Biden just stated his belief that Dick Cheney was the worse vice-president ever in the history of the U.S.

9:18pm - Palin just made a beautiful speech about her view of America and how she connects with Americans. I need to get a copy of that video clip!!

9:20pm - Biden just stated that his & Obama's record should be compared side-by-side with that of John McCain. I sincerely would be interested to see that. I bet many Americans would too.

9:21pm - Biden just spoke about his children and almost broke out into tears. It was a very touching moment. I sincerely mean that. In fact, I think he's a very good speaker. I just don't happen to agree with his world view.

9:22pm - Palin came back that her & McCain are not "more of the same" but are true reformers.

9:23pm - Biden is directly attacking McCain's record, saying that he is not really a maverick on "the important issues that effect people around the kitchen table".

9:27pm - Biden just spoke about his track record of bi-partisanship. This may very well be true but it is NOT TRUE for Obama. He is an leftist ideologue who is not willing to work with those on the other side of the aisle in any substantial way.

9:30pm - Closing arguments. Both were rock solid. Only on November 4th will we learn how the American people decided.



Post Debate Analysis:

Peggy Noonan:


Michelle Malkin

Andy McCarthy

Mark Levin



The Reality of Today's American Journalism

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Upcoming Radio Appearance

As I was traveling this past weekend, I wasn't able to join in on the political panel on Roy Green's show. You can listen to it here though. Just move the slider to 0:35.

This Sunday, October 5th I will be in Chicago but will be back on Roy's show. You can listen to it here at 1:05pm PDT / 4:05pm EDT.

Back on the Grid!

For a variety of reasons, I've not had Internet access since last Friday. This has been mostly bliss but it's nice to be able to catch up again.

I immediately went to Jonathan Kay's excellent blog to get updated on the Canadian Zeitgeist. It was beyond shock that I discovered what finally happened to Heather Mallick at the CBC News site. I paid particular attention to how CBC News head, John Cruickshank finished his commentary: "CBCNews.ca will soon expand the diversity of voices and opinions and be home to a diverse group of writers with many perspectives. In this, we will better reflect the depth and texture of this country. We erred in our editorial judgment. You told us in no uncertain terms. And we have learned from it."

I am taking him at his word and have applied to become a blogger at CBCNews.ca. Quite frankly, I am confident that I can add a great diversity to the voices there, plus a bunch of superb photographs! I'll let you know when I hear back from them.

Incidentally, down here in the U.S. there is a dirth of news about Canada but the Mallick story even made the news down here!


Kay had a number of interesting new posts as well. One of them was about an ultra-hypocritical group of students at York University. Hmmm, where have we heard about strange views of York University students before? Oh yes, that's the same school that educated law students into wanting to muzzle Maclean's Magazine and Mark Steyn.

The piece de resistance on Kay's blog though was this summary of how bloggers are making a difference on the Canadian political scene. It lead me to Robert Jago's blog. He is being attacked by the Green Party of Canada for their peculiar views about Jewish people and Israel in general. Even more on this subject can be found on this other blog.