Well looks like there is nothing the American People can do about the bailout bill now. It just crossed the wires that President Bush has officially signed the bill after both houses of Congress passed it.

The Bailout bill gives the Treasury Department $700,000,000,000 of monopoly money to use in hopes of buying up bad credit loans and freeing up the financial markets of all this bad credit. Our financial system just lost it’s ability to fail. In my opinion not having the option of failing will mean more bad decisions in the future. Five , ten, or twenty years from now we will look back at this day and realize that it was a HUGE MISTAKE.

HOTAIR: Breaking: Bailout vote underway; Update: 218; Update: 263-171

Update: Sugary Senate pork made the medicine go down: 263-171 as the gavel comes down, with some 90 Republicans voting yes. The Dow has suddenly dropped by 80 points or so, but I think I know why – it’s pessimists like me unloading their portfolios to capitalize on the post-bailout spike ahead of what they expect will be another downturn next week. (I didn’t unload, but thought about it.)

The Dow is bouncing. It has gone negative, now it’s back in the positive.

You can read the entire text of the H.R. 1424, which is U.S. Senate’s version of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, and Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008. The 451-page bill is a part of a proposed bailout of United States financial system

Update: Now that economic bailout plan has been finally passed in both houses, and sign into law what kind of impact will this have on the Presidential election and the many congressional contests around the country. One of the reasons congressmen voted No on a similar bill on Monday was because they feared that they would lose the support of their constituents. Is one month long enough time for the voters to forget about this debacle of a bill?

Gov. Sarah Palin will be a Grandma!

Earlier today Alaskian Governor and Republican Vice Presidential Candidate, Sarah Palin announced that her 17-year-old Daughter Bristol Palin is 5 months pregnant. The news of the pregnancy comes after several smear attempts by leftist bloggers who tried to prove that Sarah Palin’s youngest son was actually her grand-son. The leftist bloggers used outdated photos and unconfirmed accounts that seemed to show Sarah Palin not pregnant in the months before Trig was born.

With the news that Bristol Palin is indeed pregnant it puts to rest this ridiculous smear.

ST. PAUL (Reuters) – The 17-year-old daughter of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is pregnant, Palin said on Monday in an announcement intended to knock down rumors by liberal bloggers that Palin faked her own pregnancy to cover up for her child.

Bristol Palin, one of Alaska Gov. Palin’s five children with her husband, Todd, is about five months pregnant and is going to keep the child and marry the father, the Palins said in a statement released by the campaign of Republican presidential candidate John McCain.

Bristol Palin made the decision on her own to keep the baby, McCain aides said.

“We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us,” the Palins’ statement said.

“Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support,” the Palins said.

The Palins asked the news media to respect the young couple’s privacy.

“Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media, respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates,” the statement concluded.

MCCAIN KNEW

Senior McCain campaign officials said McCain knew of the daughter’s pregnancy when he selected Palin last week as his vice presidential running mate, deciding that it did not disqualify the 44-year-old governor in any way.

She was for the “Bridge to nowhere”

In Sarah Palin’s introduction speech she said that she told congress “Thanks, but not thanks for that ‘Bridge to nowhere.” USAToday has uncovered quotes from 2006 when Sarah Palin was still Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.

“We need to come to the defense of Southeast Alaska when proposals are on the table like the bridge, and not allow the spinmeisters to turn this project or any other into something that’s so negative,” Palin said in August 2006, according to the Ketchikan Daily News.

The Anchorage Daily News quoted her in October 2006 as saying she would continue state funding for the bridge. “The window is now, while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist,” she said.

Asked why she supported the bridge, Palin’s communications director Bill McAlister said, “It was never at the top of her priority list, and in fact the project isn’t necessarily dead … there’s still the potential for improved ferry service or even a bridge of a less costly design.”

She changed her mind, he said, when “she saw that Alaska was being perceived as taking from the country and not giving, and that impression bothered her and she wants to change it. … I think that Sarah Palin is someone who has the courage to reevaluate situations as they developed.”

Wasilla, which in 2007 had 9,780 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, hired a lobbyist in 2000, public records show, paying him about $36,000 per year. In 2001, Palin was quoted in a local newspaper crediting Silver with helping secure federal funding for Wasilla.

Yes, Sarah Palin was for the Bridge before she was against it. However, in the end she made the correct decision. I think it’s very important for community and government leaders to constantly re-evaluate their positions. Sarah Palin was able to step back from her personal beliefs and see the country-wide impact of the legislation that would have built that bridge. She sided with the position that pork barrel projects should be handled by the states – not the federal government.

She’s Dan Quayle!

This attack has to be the most idiotic. Mort Kondrake, executive editor of “Roll Call” likens Sarah Palin’s “inexperience” to that of Vice Presidential Dan Quayle.

Look, I think that this selection was a testament on John McCain’s part to his belief and his own longevity. You know, he plans to fill out his term.

This woman is utterly unqualified to be president of the United States. She is the Dan Quayle of—she’s worse than Dan Quayle. Dan Quayle at least had served as a senator and was, you know, and was conversant with national issues.

Barack Obama has been running for president for years and years now, and has been thinking about national issues. He has an agenda and all of that.

Look, she has positives, political positives. She seems like a very nice woman, a very strong woman. And, you know, she is a reformer, and she is doing great work in Alaska for two years.

But, you know, she is going to be a heartbeat away from the presidency. John McCain is a 72-year-old man who has had two bouts with melanoma. Her chances of being president are fairly significant. You don’t appoint somebody with so little experience to that kind of job. It’s irresponsible, it seems to me.

Sure, he may have had troubles spelling. In the age of spell check I’m sure everyone spelling abilities have dwindled. Even after serving four years as Vice President of the United States, the democrats still harped on Quayle’s inexperience. At the time of being electing VP in 1988 Dan Quayle had the same amount of experience in Washington as Obama has today.

Even so, I thought the whole point of the Obama campaign was to “change” the “hope” of Washington by electing an “outsider.” Why all the sudden did Obama become of Washington? Sarah Palin is the only person for both parties who has had an ounce of executive experience. In the time span of 16 years she has gone from city council member, to mayor, to governor. She knows the people.

Palin was vetted!

Another one of the major points of argument against the selection of Sarah Palin as Vice President has been the assumption that the McCain team didn’t properly vet the governor. It has since come out that this assumption is not true. McCain’s team did vet her.

ST. PAUL, MINN. (AP) – Sarah Palin’s path to the Republican ticket started with her name on a list _ and a team of some 25 people poring through public records searching for trouble spots without her knowledge. Then came the 70-question survey and a nearly three-hour interview.

The review officially ended Thursday, when John McCain asked the Alaska governor to be his running mate.

In the days since, Republicans and Democrats have privately questioned whether the Arizona senator chose the first-term governor without fully looking into her background. McCain’s campaign has vehemently defended the review.

Arthur B. Culvahouse Jr., the lawyer who conducted the review, told The Associated Press in an interview Monday that Palin underwent a “full and complete” examination before McCain chose her. Asked whether everything that came up as a possible red flag during the review already has been made public, Culvahouse said: “I think so. Yeah, I think so. Correct.”

Fox News, CNN, among other various news agencies are reporting that my previously endorsed Fred Thompson has dropped out of the race. Fred was the best conservative candidate besides Duncan Hunter running for President on the Republican side of things. now that Fred is out of the race I have to endorse someone else.

As if this really means anything. I endorse Mitt Romney. Sure he may have changed his stances on issues, but at least now he’s on the right side of those issues. I believe America’s “Hope” is now possible with only Mitt Romney as president.

The Last Fred Says?

Fred08.com:

“Today I have withdrawn my candidacy for President of the United States. I hope that my country and my party have benefited from our having made this effort. Jeri and I will always be grateful for the encouragement and friendship of so many wonderful people.”

I woke up for an hour to watch the speech. I wanted less teleprompter and more from the heart spontaneous reflections about his religion and what it means to him. What we got was fine, but I was hoping for more.

From the Associated Press:

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) – Republican Mitt Romney, confronting voters’ skepticism about his Mormon faith, declared Thursday that as president he would “serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause,” and said calls for him to explain and justify his religious beliefs go against the profound wishes of the nation’s founders.

At the same time, he decried those who would remove from public life “any acknowledgment of God,” and he said that “during the holiday season, nativity scenes and menorahs should be welcome in our public places.”

In a speech less than a month before the first nomination contests, Romney said he shares “moral convictions” with Americans of all faiths, though surveys suggest up to half of likely voters have qualms about electing the first Mormon president.

“I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it,” Romney said. “My faith is the faith of my fathers. I will be true to them and to my beliefs.”

Nonetheless, he strove to clarify his personal line between church and state, recalling a similar speech delivered by John F. Kennedy in 1960 as Kennedy sought to become the first Catholic elected president.

“Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions,” Romney said at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, 90 miles from Kennedy’s speaking site in Houston. “Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.”

He added: “If I am fortunate to become your president, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause and no one interest. A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.”

Romney’s speech lasted about 20 minutes and was interrupted a dozen times by applause from the invited audience. He said the word “Mormon” only once, otherwise referring to “my religion,” “my faith” and “my church.”

For Immediate Release from Fred08.com:

Fred Thompson Statement on the National Intelligence Estimate

McLean, VA – Fred Thompson released the following statement today on the latest National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) regarding Iran:

“The accuracy of the latest NIE on Iran should be received with a good deal of skepticism. Our intelligence community has often underestimated the intentions of adversaries, including Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and North Korea. And are all of the CIA detractors now going to take intelligence pronouncements at face value? It’s awfully convenient for a lot of people: the administration gets to say its policies worked; the Democrats get to claim we should have eased up on Iran a long time ago: and Russia and China can claim sanctions on Iran are not necessary. Who benefits from all this? Iran.

“And what if the NIE estimate is accurate? It’s essentially an analysis of Iran’s intentions at a point in time. Meanwhile, Iran continues to enrich uranium for allegedly peaceful purposes, but which would allow them to easily transition to a nuclear weapons program at any point in the future. Maybe even now–now that so many seem willing to forget Iran’s past deceptions and ongoing intransigence. After all, a nuclear weapons program is simply an extension of the process by why uranium is enriched for civilian nuclear fuel. To this day Iran has yet to comply with international demands and its Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty requirements for open inspections and other safeguard measures.

“The bottom line is that the United States must continue to improve its human intelligence capabilities and intelligence analysis. We must hope for the best, but not let our guard down for a moment. If something appears to be too good to be true, it very well may be.“

Huckabee: 20%
Giuliani: 17%
Romney: 13%
McCain: 13%
Thompson: 10%
Paul: 7%

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows a new national leader in the race for the Republican Presidential Nomination. While enjoying an amazing surge, Mike Huckabee has earned support from 20% of Likely Republican Primary Voters nationwide. Three points back, at 17%, is Rudy Giuliani. That’s the lowest level of support ever recorded for Giuliani in the tracking poll and represents a seven-point decline over the past week. Huckabee has gained eight points during the same time frame (see recent daily numbers).

After the attack War against Huckabee he still has managed to overtake Rudy in the national daily polls. Will this lead continue into the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary?

Mitt Romney is set to share his “Faith in America” speech tommorow.

From Reuters:

BOSTON (Reuters) – From baptism of the dead to a ban on coffee, Mormonism’s doctrines are alien to many Americans and that is unlikely to change when Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney gives a long-awaited speech on his faith this week, religious scholars say.

Thursday’s address by the former Massachusetts governor, who would be the first Mormon president of the United States, could fuel more questions than answers about a faith many powerful evangelical Christian voters dismiss as a cult.

“I can’t see him really making a kind of passionate defense of Mormonism. That’s not going to win votes. On the other hand, to pretend he is an evangelical is not going to win. He is in a very awkward position,” said Alan Wolfe, director of Boston College’s Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life.

During the Democratic NPR radio debate held here in Des Moines the candidates were asked one question they don’t have the answer to.

John Edwards answer revealed all I need to know from him…

“Who I would chose as my vice president and whether to consider any of these people sitting at the table,” he joked. “But seriously, restoring democracy and giving it back to the American people.”(From Cameron’s Corner FoxNews Blog)

Senator Edwards, of course you don’t have the answer to “Restoring Democracy.” But you do use some shiny keywords that I’m sure resonates with your voter base, regardless of the substance. So good for you! Thanks for stopping by in Des Moines.

Remember during the CNN/Youtube debate when Rudy Guiliani took instant jabs against Mitt Romney for hiring a landscaping firm that had Illegals on the work roster. Romney disputed the claim by saying he didn’t ask the company about the status of its works.

Here is the update from Reuters:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Tuesday fired a landscaping company for using illegal immigrants to work on his lawn, a week after a tussle with rival Rudy Giuliani over the issue.

Romney said in a statement released by his campaign that he had given the company, Community Lawn Service of Chelsea, Massachusetts, a second chance last year to get rid of its undocumented workers, but it had failed to do so.

“Today I fired a landscaping company that I learned was employing people who are not permitted to work here in the United States,” the former governor of Massachusetts said.

Honest Questions: If its known that this company hires ‘undocumented workers’ shouldn’t there be some sort of investigation, fines, and possible deportation of the workers? Isn’t that how the current law works?

Update I:
Boston Globe has the full story. In short, a day after Rudy made his claims the illegals continued their yard work.

Standing on stage at a Republican debate on the Gulf Coast of Florida last week, Mitt Romney repeatedly lashed out at rival Rudy Giuliani for providing sanctuary to illegal immigrants in New York City.

Yet, the very next morning, on Thursday, at least two illegal immigrants stepped out of a hulking maroon pickup truck in the driveway of Romney’s Belmont house, then proceeded to spend several hours raking leaves, clearing debris from Romney’s tennis court, and loading the refuse back on to the truck.

In fact, their work was part of a regular pattern. Despite a Globe story in Dec. 2006 that highlighted Romney’s use of illegal immigrants to tend to his lawn, Romney continued to employ the same landscaping company – until today. The landscaping company, in turn, continued to employ illegal immigrants.

Two of the workers confirmed in separate interviews with Globe reporters last week that they were in the country without documents. One said he had paid $7,000 to a smuggler to escort him across the desert into Arizona; the other said he had come to the country with a student visa that was now expired. Both were seen on the lawn by either Globe reporters or photographers over the last two months.

Oops. This isn’t good.

Update II:

From Romney’s campaign website on Illegal Immigration:

Improve Interior Enforcement. Provide resources to enforce immigration laws throughout the nation, and crackdown on employers who continue to hire illegals with stiffer fines and penalties.

Implement An Enforceable Employer Verification System. Issue a biometrically-enabled and tamperproof card to non-citizens and create a national database for non-citizens so employers can easily verify their legal status in this country.

So, would he have caught this sooner if the verification system was in place? OR would that be up to the employer to implement fully and verify?

“And you have to say to employers that hire people illegally, ‘That’s also going to be sanctioned.’ This is the way we’re going to have to finally end it.” (Fox News, Republican Presidential Candidate Debate, Durham, NH, 9/5/07)

I think Romney should slap himself on the wrist and donate a million dollars to some Border-related organization. Whether its the minute men or the border patrol.

Fred Thompson’s staff is on the attack against Mike Huckabee. Apparently, the Huckster was on Don Imus in the morning on 77WABC. When asked about his foreign policy he reverted to a joke. I don’t watch/listen to Don Imus – but from what I’ve gathered his show is supposed to be a typical morning ‘shock jock’ spectacular without the bare asses and boobs you’d find on Stern. Not really the place for foreign policy debate or serious conversation.

Fred Thompson Press Release:

Huckabee on Foreign Policy

Consider these events in the last three days:

· A new NIE on Iran

· Major referendum in Venezuela

· Russian Elections

· A bombing this morning in Afghanistan near to Sec. Gates

How does Mike Huckabee respond to these? He makes a joke.

When asked by Don Imus this morning about his lack of foreign policy credentials, Mike Huckabee joked: “And the ultimate thing is, you know, I may not be the expert as some people on foreign policy – but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.” (WABC Radio, 12/04/07)

“When confronted with a serious question about his lack of foreign policy experience, Mike Huckabee makes a joke. The security of Americans and our allies is no laughing matter. What Americans are looking for in their next president is a commander in chief, not a Court Jester,” added Bob Haus, Executive Director of Iowa Friends of Fred Thompson.

I dislike when these groups attack each other. Yea, I known it’s’ part of the process. If you can’t hold up to scrutiny from your own party then how can you handle criticisms from the enemies or the democrats. I get that. I just don’t think it’s really needed. So far Fred Thompson has been a disappointment to me. Instead of focusing on himself he’s resorted to attacking the others.

I want a “Hi, I’m Fred” speech.

Mother Says Huck is to Blame

ABC Blotter continues the War on Mike Huckabee:

A Missouri mother says she will do “whatever it takes” to stop former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee from becoming president, because he freed the man who went on to rape and murder her daughter, Carol Sue Shields (pictured).

“I can’t imagine anybody wanting somebody like that running the country,” Lois Davidson of Adrian, Mo., told the Blotter on ABCNews.com.

Wayne Dumond was initially sentenced to life plus 25 years for raping a 17-year-old Arkansas high school cheerleader. In 1999, a parole board voted to free Dumond, after then-Gov. Mike Huckabee announced his desire to see him released.

This one is hard to gage. If this were to happen to my family I would be outrage at a failed government. The jury system convicted Wayne Dumond and he was sentenced to not only life, but life+25 more years. That’s a pretty hefty sentence. For each story where the government has failed in making the right decision – there are other stories where the government has succeeded. I’m not sure, but have all the former inmates Huckabee let free committed crimes post-prison too? Or was this just a bad lemon out of the bunch. I feel for the mother and she has every right to be mad. The ultimate blame belongs on Wayne Dumond.

Romney on Huck’s Surge

From the CNN Political Ticker:

“We started off with the McCain surge, the inevitable candidate, then it became the Giuliani surge, and then it was the Thompson surge, and now we have the Huckabee surge,” the Republican candidate said.

“There is an initial infatuation and people take a close look on a person’s issues and decide whether they want to support them or not,” the former Massachusetts governor told CNN.

How come he didn’t mention the Romney surge!