John McCains running mate >

[50cal]

then those of us living on the rez, don't have to worry since we're already self-sustaingin as it is.....we'll just point and laugh at everyone else trying to survive.....LOL!!!

[NorthofAda]

Yep, the bailout was a total joke.....I had cashed in my 401K last week, took a big hit on taxes and bought into Gold....and as you can see Gold shot up when the market dropped......now I'm just going to have to play it a little cooler.....LOL!!!....

We have a fairly well diversified 401(k) and assuming that the market recovers sometime in the next 30 years, we should be okay. Lower prices just means you can buy more shares which will hopefully be worth more in the long run.

Course if the gov't goes bankrupt we're all in trouble...

[NorthofAda]

I didn't like the bailout idea in the first place as I don't think they had really anything in the bill that would have helped homeowners with higher mortgage rates and threats of foreclosure. That was something that Obama did talk about (see, I can give credit where credit is due), but that apparently didn't make it into the bill.

I think if they cut mortgage rates to a reasonable level - say market +1% that would stimulate the economy. We had a nearly 14% rate last year (ARM ...and leg Loan) and our mortgage company dropped it to 9% (still too dang high) finally. I think if the banks fail it's what they deserve for ripping us off for too long. Transaction fees, ATM fees, jacked up overdrafts, etc.... The gravy train done run off the tracks.

[50cal]

Yep, the bailout was a total joke.....I had cashed in my 401K last week, took a big hit on taxes and bought into Gold....and as you can see Gold shot up when the market dropped......now I'm just going to have to play it a little cooler.....LOL!!!....

[CandaePrincess]

Good points made TT. I know you aren't specifically asking me, but now I have to answer. ROFL. One of the Acts I liked that passed was drafted by him and Sen. Coburn (R-Oklahoma) was the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. Basically.....the Gov't needs to let us as a nation know what and how they're spending gov't money. We as citizens are able to use the internet to seach all govt' contracts, grants, loans, etc. This was signed into measure in Sept. of 2006. Now...what would we know about the $700 billion bailout bill if that Act hadn't been passed? Probably not too much!


Here are a few more things he worked on while in the Senate.

In the 109th and 110th Congress, he joined with Senator Lugar to introduce the American Fuels Act to increase domestic production, distribution, and end uses of biofuels. Among other improvements, the American Fuels Act would expand the manufacture of ethanol-capable vehicles, offer tax credits to spur cellulosic fuel production, require clean-fueled transit buses bought with federal dollars, and provide incentives to ethanol plants to invest in E-85 blending equipment on their premises.

In January 2007, Senator Obama joined Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa in reintroducing the Biofuels Security Act, which calls for 60 billion gallons of renewable biofuels in the nation’s vehicle fuel supply by the year 2030. Senator Obama also authored legislation with Senator Cochran, the Alternative Diesel Standard, to require 2 billion gallons of alternative diesels - - including agriculture feedstocks such as biodiesel - - as part of the 40 billion gallon national diesel pool.


Given that major supermarket chains are expected to comprise 15% of the vehicle fuels market in the coming years, Senator Obama has also called upon the 14 largest supermarket and discount stores that sell gas to also install alternative fuel pumps.

Fuel Efficiency
As the author of the Fuel Economy Reform Act, Senator Obama has worked to gain bipartisan support for an innovative approach to raising automobile fuel efficiency standards (also known as “CAFE” standards) and break two decades of inaction and deadlock on reforming fuel economy laws. This proposal has attracted cosponsors from both parties – maintaining support from long-time champions of improving fuel economy standards while attracting support from traditional opponents. The bill would establish regular, continual, and incremental progress in miles per gallon fuel efficiency by an increase of four percent annually, and preserve flexibility by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to vary the rate of improvement and how best to technologically achieve those fuel economy targets. President Bush endorsed a similar approach in his State of the Union speech in January 2007.

Investing in New Technologies
Senator Obama introduced the “Health Care for Hybrids Act” to provide health care assistance to domestic automakers in exchange for their investing 50% of the savings into technology to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. His proposal has been praised by President Bill Clinton, the University of Michigan’s auto research center, and numerous newspapers.

In May 2007, Senator Obama, along with Senator Harkin, authored the National Low Carbon Fuel Standard Act (S. 1324), which requires a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the national transportation fuel pool by 2020, a reduction of about 180 million metric tons of emissions in 2020 – the equivalent of taking over 30 million cars off the road. The Obama-Harkin fuel standard embraces the growth of the renewable fuels market, including corn-based ethanol, cellulosic ethanol, and biodiesel as a key component of fighting climate change, while creating incentives for lower carbon emissions in their production.


Working to Lower High Gas Prices

Oil companies are enjoying record profits while consumers are suffering from record high gas prices. In the 110th Congress, Senator Obama has introduced the Oil SENSE Act to eliminate unnecessary tax breaks to the oil industry. A version of the bill was passed by House of Representatives in January 2007.

In the 109th Congress, Senator Obama sponsored legislation, the FILL UP Act, requiring oil companies that made at least $1 billion in profits in the first quarter of 2006 to invest at least 1% of the their total reported first quarter 2006 profits into installing E-85 pumps.

Senator Obama also worked with Congressman Rahm Emanuel to obtain several million dollars to establish the first ethanol-to-hydrogen refueling station for refueling Chicago natural gas bus fleets.


He hasn't had a lot of time to work on various native issues, but one I'm always complaining about *L* it how IHS is such a joke due to lack of funding.

The Indian Health Service estimates that it receives only 55 percent of the federal funding it requires. Federal per-capita funding for Indian health care amounts to about half of the federal per capita health funding for federal prisoners. Indians are the most at-risk minority group for health problems like diabetes, which they suffer from at a rate 249 percent higher than the national average. Moreover, Indians have the nation’s highest death rates for tuberculosis and suicide. After Haiti, men on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations in South Dakota have the lowest life expectancy in the Western Hemisphere.
Barack Obama voted in the Senate to provide an additional $1 billion for IHS to address these disparities. Additionally, he was an original cosponsor of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 2007 which mandates modernization of the Indian health care system and strengthens urban Indian health facilities. Obama has fought against the Bush Administration’s attempt to eliminate urban health care for Indians not living in reservation communities. Obama opposed a federal land acquisition program that would
have diverted funds from the Special Diabetes Program for Indians and the Alcohol and Substance Abuse program. Obama supports sufficient funding for IHS and proper staffing and maintenance for IHS facilities.

Anyways, I could go on but I digress. *L* If anyone is interested in what projects he's worked on as Senator of Illinois, you can go to his website.

I guess the point of the matter is this. You're not going to feel strongly about certain issues, unless they directly affect you. I am directly affected by the cutting of gov't programs for natives. I know what in impact it has on us as natives as a whole.

I guess if you don't have to rely on those programs to help out, it's not a big deal. But to those that use them to make ends meet. It's harder to see how the group who keeps trying to cut these programs, are better to be in office.

Okay. That's it. *L*


The BUSH BAILOUT BILL FAILED BTW. The Dow has dropped 600 points.

Yeah, my 401K is on life support. ROFL.

[50cal]

And you thought it was all about singing....

I know, ennit???....LOL!!!!

[kiyaanii mom]

I knew it!!!!!........that's why we get along!!!!.....LOL!!!!

And you thought it was all about singing....

[timmy tiger]

*L* I'll tell you what got to me. Is hearing thoes azz backward peeps who kept saying he was Muslim b/c he's from there....I"m like....SERIOUSLY?? You know Muslim is a religion...not an ethnicity...ROFL And then some dude was saying he wasn't voting for Obama b/c he wasn't even born here, and I'm like....SERIOUSLY???? You know you can't run for president if you weren't born in the US. You do know that right??? WTF??? I'm like...Americans don't even know the requirements to run for a political office. Effin stupid. And these are the people that go and vote. ROFL. I don't care who you vote for...just be INFORMED!!!! *L*

Normally I don't like to get into polictics all that much 'cause of the fighting that goes on. However, CP you are right and I have asked many many times on many of these threads the same question and gotten no answer so far.

I grew up in a family that is primarily democrat, but I've had some problems over the years with some, so I go with who I believe to be the best and many times that means who has actually done what they claim.

I'm not actually, necessarily, asking you specifically--but your statement is totally accurate. So with that, what has Obama done over the past few years in office for the state that he represents that he is promising to do for the rest of the country? Has he done any of it, actually?

life under the clintons was pretty prosperous. IHS was in its heyday as was most tribal programs. all around life was sure on the up and up. but that was then and theres no reason now to hang unto those years. just think of them as hoop dreams or pipe dreams. no matter how you vote, jump up and down, blog, talk etc, its always gonna be outta reach. haha sorry to burst your bubble folks..

so whats the reality?

obama has the media in the palm of his hands. people who dont know better hear what he says and take it face value. he sounds intelligent and it sounds great. so lets vote for him..!! thats the part that sucks cause he hasnt accomplished anything or did anything. wow.

but im a democrat for life and i love hillary. haha the best thing obama could have done was pick hillary. damm what a quandry.. what do i do..? so now i see sarah palin as fearless and upstanding. now i see mccains platform and holy hell im interested.

i believe mccain as president is less dangerous than obama. so for now i switched but im not a total believer.

Thank you, I guess here's my answer on this one.LOL

I've asked and gotten all kinds of political advertisments and a bunch of crap, but no actual answer.

.........and we wonder how Bush was elected for two terms.
Speaking well and having a good hair DOO (not due btw) does not really justify voting for a person as next in line as a leader of the free world. Those qualifications could make her a good "spokesperson"; not VP. Everyone is talking about her as a person. Who gives a chit? I'm sure she's nice person who has personal issues just like everyone else in politics and in the general population. This doesn't make her fit to handle certain political positions. I would THINK being a NATIVE that some would look at how she treats NATIVES and NATIVE ISSUES. But no one has said anything. I guess it's beyond me. Know about the candidates people!

Exactly. Again, here's another point that I've had about Obama from the beginning.

Most of the people that I have talked to who are in the Native communities and are voting for Obama are doing so mainly (not all the way--but it's a big issue to them as too many of us) because of his talk of Natives and promising changes.

Okay, so again (and not directed at you personally, but at your statement) what has Obama done for the Native community in the state that he represents? Anything? Promises are one thing, but has he actually done anything for Native people up to this point?

'Cause my point here is that if he can't make "Changes and Hope" in one state, what makes anyone think that he can do it for the whole country?

I'm just wondering about this stuff.

I'm still on the fence right now as to who I'm gonna vote for. I will decide, but it won't be by flipping a coin.LOL

I, for one, am glad that Hillary is out. My mom is a big Hillary fan--but I'm not.

[50cal]

I sometimes feel that way about tribal politics... But this year with the massive economy problems and wars in Iraq and Afganastan....... It's important. Just be sure you don't vote for McCain...

NEways.... My sole purpose for voting is to cancel my husbands vote. He's republican!

I knew it!!!!!........that's why we get along!!!!.....LOL!!!!

[50cal]

we've been going through forever E...I'm not falling for your tactics. *L* But no one can deny your persistance.

at least you acknowledge it....LOL!!!.....

[CandaePrincess]

I was going to serenade you too......I had the best song picked out "If I whisper into your ear, and drop your clothes, vote for the other guy".....LOL!!!!

we've been going through forever E...I'm not falling for your tactics. *L* But no one can deny your persistance.

[NorthofAda]

I sometimes feel that way about tribal politics... But this year with the massive economy problems and wars in Iraq and Afganastan....... It's important. Just be sure you don't vote for McCain...

NEways.... My sole purpose for voting is to cancel my husbands vote. He's republican!

That must make for some interesting dinner time discussions....

[kiyaanii mom]

hahaha 50 is all i gotta say but I still aint voting for either ..cuz I don't know....its the same speech n same ol pres every year..so why vote...

I sometimes feel that way about tribal politics... But this year with the massive economy problems and wars in Iraq and Afganastan....... It's important. Just be sure you don't vote for McCain...

NEways.... My sole purpose for voting is to cancel my husbands vote. He's republican!

[Lakota_winyan]

hahaha 50 is all i gotta say but I still aint voting for either ..cuz I don't know....its the same speech n same ol pres every year..so why vote...

[50cal]

This is the absolute reason why I am NOT VOTING FOR IDIOTS.. JK

see, LW was serenaded earlier......LOL!!!!