President Bush's Accomplishments, Part 2

This is part two of our series. Part one was about the strengthening of alliances. This one is:

Avoiding a (Bigger) Financial Crisis

With the tremendous problems in the worldwide economy, this statement may seem almost humorous. However, in truth it could be said that the Bush Administration's policies have prevented an even bigger collapse.

1. Preventing a Depression After 9/11

While I do believe that Bush's tax cuts were too deep, they were a big help in preventing a global depression after September 11th, 2001. With the economy already in a recession and great uncertainty in the future, the tax cuts were able to keep money in the market and not in the government's coffers. While later these cuts and increased spending caused large deficits later, for the two years after the September 11th attacks, they helped keep the economy keep its head above water.

In addition, the bailout of the airline companies prevented that industry's collapse and kept money flowing. Keeping interest rates down and increasing the money supply helped lead to the financial mess, but they did also keep liquidity in a shaky market.

2. Keeping the Oil Flowing

With the Middle East about to explode before Bush even took office, he was able to keep the global economy from collapsing by keeping petroleum running. Even though oil prices have shot up tremendously, there wasn't a shortage, which considering the events of the last eight years, is almost extraordinary.

Bush has strengthened ties with some oil producing nations like Kazakhstan, Nigeria, and Colombia. In addition, he has recently signed an order to allow more domestic drilling. However, his biggest accomplishment is to blunt the power of dictatorships causing oil shortages.

When Bush took office, the governments of the Sudan, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Venezuela, and Russia were annoyed at American influence. These nations, if they acted together, could cut off oil for the West. In addition, a concerted military attack by Iran or Iraq (or both) on Kuwait and Saudi Arabia could have also caused a disruption.

Today, Libya has rejected terrorism and is looking for a closer relationship with the West while Iraq's dictatorship was destroyed. Two of the links of the Axis of Oil were removed. By preventing a sustained oil shortage, Bush may well have saved the economy.

McCain Better win Ohio or Else

With all the talk about McCain focusing on winning Pennsylvania, another state is more important in his fight to win the Presidency: Ohio.
Here are the reasons why this is the case:
1. No Republican presidential candidate has ever won the election without winning Ohio.
2. Winning Ohio is a prerequisite to winning Pennsylvania. Both states have similar demographic profiles, but Ohio is generally a few more points more Republican than Pennsylvania. According to 538, John McCain wins Ohio 92.2% of the time when he wins Pennsylvania.
3. Ohio's 20 electoral votes means that Barack Obama has to only defend states that Kerry won in 2004 to win the election. The only two Kerry states which I think are realistically in play for McCain are Pennsylvania (which is closely related to what Ohio does) and New Hampshire, which only has 4 electoral votes. I can see scenarios of McCain winning the election by winning Ohio and Pennsylvania but losing a state like Florida or Virginia, but I don't see McCain winning without winning Ohio.

Thus, for all of you McCain supporters out there, pray for an Ohio victory on Tuesday. Otherwise he is in deep doodoo.

Also, if you have a chance visit 538.com. It has a treasure trove of electoral data and served as the basis for my analyis.

Also, if you need to search anything on Google, please use the bar below:

EXCLUSIVE-- Transcript of the Khalidi Tape

We don't compromise sources, but we have acquired the official transcript of the Khalidi tape. Some parts were inaudible, but overall we got it.

Setting-- Go-Away Party for Rashid Khalidi, former PLO spokesman, 2003

Starting time 9:59 pm

BARACK OBAMA: Good to see everyone here. I'm so glad that you could all make it. As you all know, I am planning a run for the U.S. Senate next year. And I could not have launched my political career without the help of some very important people.

First is Dr. William Ayres, who has helped me by giving a $100,000 untracable donation to my campaign and has helped train my wife in bomb-building, and who is a private tutor to my children. Everyone give him a round of applause. (applause)

WILLIAM AYRES: Where's the booze?

OBAMA: Next, I'd like to thank Tony Rezko. By screwing over hundreds of poor Chicagoans, we were able to blame corporations for the existence of poverty. He also donated almost a million dollars to my campaign and has given Dr. Ayers over a half a million dollars to plant landmines around orphanages.

Next is my dear friend, Dr. Rashid Khalidi, who is a chief researcher in Middle East studies. We all know that this is a complicated issue, but he knows a lot about it and stuff. Like, he was telling me about these people called the Israel-people and how they're, like, attacking these Palatine people but the Palatines want them to leave them to their Palatine-ness. Dr. Khalidi, any words?

RASHID KHALIDI: I will kill all the Jews if Barack Obama is elected President on November 4, 2008.

OBAMA (confused): What? I don't understand.

KHALIDI: I said I'll give you $50,000.

OBAMA: Oh.... Awesome. Well, that about wraps up this party. I'll be smoking cocaine and legalizing gay marriage.

AYRES: Anyone want in on a flag-burning party? My treat!

REZKO: Twister downstairs!



If someone is still reading that believes this is the real tape, I'm sorry. It's a complete farce, sometimes called "satire."
Bookmark if you like it and send it to everyone. Fool your friends!

Big Surprise as Zombie Theodore Roosevelt Endorses McCain

BREAKING-- Arlington, VA

After almost ninety years of silence, former President and current zombie Theodore Roosevelt has torn the roof off of his casket and has held a press conference.

Speaking in his characteristic higher-pitched voice and using nineteenth-century slang, Roosevelt spoke in no uncertain terms about Senator McCain, "I've been following the newsreels and I must proceed that John McCain is a true bulwark of American patriotism, and will work to defend all 46 states of our great union."

Roosevelt, a cousin of President Franklin Roosevelt, also stated that Senator McCain's war record was also reason to vote for him on Tuesday. "When I charged San Juan Hill and brought the power of freedom to Cuba, people thought I was a hero. Senator McCain flew in an aeroplane and even used it to kill no-good socialist-anarchists." The preceding President to Roosevelt, William McKinley, was assassinated by an anarchist.

Speaking on a podium, Roosevelt wore his trademark glasses and it was noted that most of his skin still was on his body. His burial suit was in surprisingly good shape. "We must stand for a brighter future." Roosevelt said, "It's getting to late to be doing stuff like this often."

When asked about future plans, Roosevelt stated that he would like to record a Victrola album and hop on the trolley one last time. After that, he has a game of billiards against arch-rival Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary.

If McCain Wants to Win, He Better Get Moving

According to the latest Real Clear Politics poll average, Barack Obama leads 50-43.5% nationally. If McCain is going to reach Obama, he better pull something out of his hat.

A few things to remember:
* the RCP averages had Bush up by 1.5% at the end and he won by 2.5%
* Democrats are more likely to talk to exit pollers, thus skewing the results
* exit pollers are more likely to be in cities, skewing results towards the Democrats

So... looking at this, McCain needs to do a couple of things:

* Remind people that he is one of America's most vaunted living war heroes
* Try and discover this Khalidi tape
* Bring up Reverend Wright
* Talk beyond party terms
* Get off the tax talk... Obama has pitted this into class warfare and McCain needs to change the subject
* Reference how Obama ran as the far-left 'troops home even if it causes genocide' candidate.
* Talk about oil drilling
* Steal the spotlight by saying something controverisal... he'll figure it out

I don't think McCain will win, but I sure hope so.