It's fuckin ON, Muthahfuggah!!

*** Ok, this wasn't even what I was going to write about today. I have a fucking TON of other shit to update you on which I'll post as soon as possible, but this needed its own post and it's just going to piss me off until I write it down. ***


Last night R made his weekly call home. And usually I try to leave the room during this time, but for some reason today I just didn't. I don't know why. I sat right next to him on our bed.

Of course, I only hear one side of the conversation. But when I heard R say,

Well, I think she's leaning Obama...

It was clear which question had been asked. And I thought, you have got to be fucking kidding me. R was quiet for a while, then he said,

Well, ummm... I think I'm going with McCain...

FIL is a big fatass Republican, and so the question originally asked of R wasn't really a question at all, it was more "I assume you know how I expect you to vote." And R knows how to answer that because he doesn't want to start shit, but apparently the fact that R is married to someone who thinks for herself is more than FIL can handle.

This morning, I found not one, but FOUR emails from Chez Inlaw in my Inbox. They're all worth your perusal, simply for the entertainment value, but if you don't have time, skip down to the last one and my reaction to it.


NUMBER ONE:

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Any Questions?

Five years ago, Republicans proposed "the most significant regulatory overhaul in the housing finance industry [in a decade]." (Source: New York Times)

Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee blocked efforts at fixing Fannie and Freddie. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) said, "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac... are not facing any kind of financial crisis,"

At least 18 times since 2001 Democrats blocked efforts at overhauling Fannie and Freddie even as accounting scandals and executive rip offs became public.

Why? For starters, the top two recipients of Fannie and Freddie campaign donations were Democrat fat cats Chris Dodd ($165K) and Barack Obama ($126K) (Source: Open Secrets)

And Fannie Mae paid well. Clinton-era Democrats, serving as the CEO, CFO and Vice Chairman, paid themselves $200 million in only six years even while a $10 billion accounting scandal was exposed. (Source: Wall Street Journal)

And Democrats like Chris Dodd also got favorable loans under a "VIP program." Dodd alone saved over $75,000 on his mortgage payments. (Source: Conde Nast Portfolio)

So where are former Fannie Mae CEOs like Franklin Raines ($90 million in salary) and Jim Johnson ($21 million in salary in one year)? As you might expect, they're serving as Barack Obama's key economic advisers. (Source: Washington Post)

Hiring Fannie Mae's two former CEOs as economic advisers? Barack Obama: not ready to lead.


NUMBER TWO:

Please pass this on to ALL your friends.


Our Social Security

Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the Social Security (FICA) Program. He promised:

1.) That participation in the Program would be completely voluntary.

2.) That the participants would only have to pay 1% of the first $1,400 of their annual incomes into the Program,

3.) That the money the participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible from their income for tax purposes each year,

4.) That the money the participants put into the Independent 'Trust Fund' rather than into the General Operating Fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other government program, and,

5.) That the annuity payments to the retirees would never be taxed as income.

Since many of us have paid into FICA for years and are now receiving a Social Security check every month -- and then finding that we are getting taxed on 85% of the money we paid to the federal government to 'put away', you may be interested in the following:

Q: Which political party took Social Security from the Independent 'Trust Fund' and put it in to the General Fund so that Congress could spend it?

A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the Democratically-controlled House and Senate.


Q: Which political party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?

A: The Democratic Party.


Q: Which political party started taxing Social Security annuities?

A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the 'tie-breaking' deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the U.S.


Q: Which political party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants?

A: That's right! Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, they began to receive Social Security payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them even though they never paid a dime into it!


Then, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats turn around and tell you that the Republicans want to take your Social Security away!

And the worst part about it is, uninformed citizens believe it!

If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe changes will evolve. Maybe not, some Democrats are awfully sure of what isn't so.

But it's worth a try. How many people can YOU send this to?

Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.

AND CONGRESS GIVES THEMSELVES 100% RETIREMENT FOR ONLY SERVING ONE TERM!!!

'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.'

-Thomas Jefferson



NUMBER THREE.

Please be sure to read all the way to the end!


Who is Franklin Raines???

Franklin Raines is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Fannie Mae, the government sponsored enterprise started in 1939 to offer mortgages to Americans wishing to become home owners. After serving as budget director under President Bill Clinton, Mr. Raines served as CEO at Fannie Mae from 2000 until 2004. While Mr. Raines was CEO, Fannie Mae went deep into the practice of buying mortgages based on almost no or no money down given to borrowers who could not afford them. During this time he received bonuses and salary over 90 million dollars.

In 2004 he was offered "early retirement" after the accounting practices used at Fannie during his tenure to secure top executive bonuses were shown to be fraudulent. Civil charges were filed against Raines and two other former executives which sought $110 million in penalties and $115 million in returned bonuses from the three accused. On April 18, 2008, the government announced a settlement with Raines together with J. Timothy Howard, Fannie's former chief financial officer, and Leanne G. Spencer, Fannie's former controller.

The three executives agreed to pay fines totaling about $3 million, which will be paid by Fannie's insurance policies.

When pressed by the Bush administration to tighten down regulations on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, members of congress - Republicans and Democrats alike - in positions to pass such regulations, did nothing. Today, Fannie Mae owns or guarantees over half of America's 12 trillion dollar mortgage market, and we are in the middle of a credit crunch and housing slump brought on in large part by government backed Fannie Mae going down this dangerous credit slope under Mr. Raines.

And where is Franklin Raines today? He is a chief economic advisor to the presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama.


*************************************************************
Hey, it's PK again - if you read nothing else, read this next one.
*************************************************************

AND FINALLY:


This is scary!!!!!!!!! (that's in the email, that's not PK talking)



According to Snopes.com , Princeton was requested to put a 'restriction' on distribution of any copies of the thesis of Michelle Obama (a/k/a/ Michelle laVaughn Robinson) saying it could not be made available until November 5, 2008 but when it was published on a political website they decided they would lift the restriction.


http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/thesis.asp


Subj: Thesis - Michele Obama aka Michelle LaVaughn Robinson
OBAMA'S MILITANT RACISM REVEALED

In her senior thesis at Princeton, Michele Obama, the wife of Barack Obama stated that America was a nation founded on 'crime and hatred'. Moreover, she stated that whites in America were 'ineradicably racist'. The 1985 thesis, titled 'Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community' was written under her maiden name, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson.

Michelle Obama stated in her thesis that to 'Whites at Princeton , it often seems as if, to them, she will always be Black first...' However, it was reported by a fellow black classmate, 'If those 'Whites at Princeton ' really saw Michelle as one who always would 'be Black first,' it seems that she gave them that impression'.

Most alarming is Michele Obama's use of the terms 'separationist' and 'integrationist' when describing the views of black people. Mrs. Obama clearly identifies herself with a 'separationist' view of race. 'By actually working with the Black lower class or within their communities as a result of their ideologies, a separationist may better understand the desperation of their situation and feel more hopeless about a resolution as opposed to an integrationist who is ignorant to their plight.'

Obama writes that the path she chose by attending Princeton would likely lead to her 'further integration and/or assimilation into a white cultural and social structure that will only allow me to remain on the periphery of society; never becoming a full participant.'

Michele Obama clearly has a chip on her shoulder. Not only does she see separate black and white societies in America, but she elevates black over white in her world.

Here is another passage that is uncomfortable and ominous in meaning:

'There was no doubt in my mind that as a member of the black community, I am obligated to this community and will utilize all of my present and future resources to benefit the black community first and foremost.'

What is Michelle Obama planning to do with her future resources if she's first lady that will elevate black over white in America? The following passage appears to be a call to arms for affirmative action policies that could be the hallmark of an Obama administration.

'Predominately white universities like Princeton are socially and academically designed to cater to the needs of the white students comprising the bulk of their enrollments.'

The conclusion of her thesis is alarming. Michelle Obama's poll of black alumni concludes that other black students at Princeton do not share her obsession with blackness. But rather than celebrate, she is horrified that black alumni identify with our common American culture more than they value the color of their skin. 'I hoped that these findings would help me conclude that despite the high degree of identification with whites as a result of the educational and occupational path that black Princeton alumni follow, the alumni would still maintain a certain level of identification with the black community. However, these findings do not support this possibility.'

Is it no wonder that most black alumni ignored her racist questionnaire?

Only 89 students responded out of 400 who were asked for input. Michelle Obama does not look into a crowd of Obama supporters and see Americans. She sees black people and white people eternally conflicted with one another.

The thesis provides a trove of Mrs. Obama's thoughts and world view seen through a race-based prism. This is a very divisive view for a potential first lady that would do untold damage to race relations in this country in a Barack Obama
administration.

Michelle Obama's intellectually refined racism should give all Americans pause for deep concern. Now maybe she's changed, but she sure sounds like someone with an axe to grind with America . Will the press let Michelle get a free pass over her obviously racist comment about American whites? I am sure that it will.

PS: We paid for her scholarship.


Ok, first of all, who is meant to be represented by the word WE?

I don't even want to entertain this bullshit other than to say this - how is this reaction to Michele Obama's thesis - written over twenty years ago - not JUST AS RACIST as they're making her out to be? Oooh, she's Angry Black Woman out to get Us, even though We paid for her scholarship!! She's so bitter and ungrateful!

And, honestly, how are these four emails not meant to be directed RIGHT AT ME, in an attempt to show me the error of my ignorant ways? R's already told them what his vote's going to be. This is personal. This is about ME, R's far too free-spirited loose cannon of a wife needing to see the light.

It's not even about the fact that I disagree with FIL. It's the fact that my opinion is not his fucking business, and as such, he has NO RIGHT WHATSOEVER to try to talk me out of it. I am incredibly insulted and offended by the fact that he emailed all this partisan crap, knowing full well what side I'm leaning toward.

Ok, maybe it's everyone's right as Americans to try to "educate" others within the rights of Free Speech and whatever. I'm not saying it's morally wrong, if you feel that strongly about something, to enlighten others if you genuinely believe there's something they don't understand. And maybe that's what he was trying to do, but to me that says, Your opinion could only be based on your obvious ignorance. If you knew The Truth - which I'm about to impart to you, based on the emails that have been forwarded to me through a network of conspiracy-theory crackpots - you'd see that I'm right and you're wrong.

I don't care what side you're on, it's just totally fucking inappropriate to do that. I'm not sending them anything trying to get them to vote my way, even though now that he's opened the door I certainly wouldn't feel the least bit bad about doing that, but that's just not me. I personally think it's arrogant to tell someone their opinion is invalid, especially if all you're doing is forwarding a "send this to all of your friends!!" lemming email. My parents are (less fervent) McCainers too, but they know I'm not, and they respect me enough not to try to talk me out of it, even if they disagree.

I just don't understand how FIL is so unable to respect other people's right to their own opinions. I just think it's fucking rude to ask someone - even your own child - how they plan to vote. I have ABSOLUTELY no intention of discussing my political opinions with FIL or anyone else. If I am forced to defend my opinion against someone who's trying to pick it apart and telling me I'm wrong, then I feel like I have no right to think what I want to think. And that's not cool. You can't do that to me.

I know it's hard for you to believe, FIL, but your vote doesn't count any more than anybody else's does. And while up to this point, I really didn't care who won, now I see that a vote for Obama is a vote AGAINST FIL.

So now I'm waiving my own no-political talk policy and actually taking a stand. Won't you join me?

VOTE OBAMA!