“Over all, the poll found that if the election were held today, 53 percent of those determined to be probable voters said that they would vote for Mr. Obama and 39 percent said they would vote for Mr. McCain.”
Day: October 14, 2008
2 percent fewer morons
“[A] record 89 percent of Americans now say the country has pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track while just 7 percent of Americans say the country is going in the right direction, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.”
Just seven percent of the country clueless. It was nine percent in the Gallup Poll last week.
Bulls, Bears, Donkeys and Elephants
“As of Friday, a $10,000 investment in the S.& P. stock market index* [in 1929] would have grown to $11,733 if invested under Republican presidents only, although that would be $51,211 if we exclude Herbert Hoover’s presidency during the Great Depression. Invested under Democratic presidents only, $10,000 would have grown to $300,671 at a compound rate of 8.9 percent over nearly 40 years.”
Several graphics comprise this article from The New York Times. Since the 1929 Crash, Republicans and Democrats have each been in the White House almost 40 years.
No wonder the economy is screwed. The Republicans can’t even do the math to figure out how much better off they are under Democrats.
- 15% (the Bush capital gains tax) of $51,211 (the Republican return) is $7,682 for a net of $43,529
- 20% (the pre-Bush capital gains tax) of $300,671 (the Democratic return) is $60,134 for a net of $240,537
Bet he’s fun at a party
Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) — Nouriel Roubini, the professor who predicted the financial crisis in 2006, said the U.S. will suffer its worst recession in 40 years, causing the rally in the stock market to “sputter.”
“There are significant downside risks still to the market and the economy,” Roubini, 50, a New York University professor of economics, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. “We’re going to be surprised by the severity of the recession and the severity of the financial losses.”
The economist said the recession will last 18 to 24 months, driving unemployment to 9 percent, and already depressed home prices will fall another 15 percent.
. . .
“The stock market is going to stop rallying soon enough when they see the economy is really tanking,” Roubini added.
McCain should have used The Google more
Oct. 14, 2008 — Googling is good for Grandpa and Grandma, says a new study by researchers at UCLA.
The study, which looked at brain activity during web searches, resulted in a fascinating finding: Middle-aged to older adults who know their way around the Internet had more stimulation of decision-making and complex reasoning areas of the brain than peers who were new to web surfing.
What’s more, reading didn’t stimulate the same number of brain areas as Internet searching.
Bull Moose
While campaigning for the presidency as the Bull Moose Party candidate, former president Theodore Roosevelt was shot in the chest in Milwaukee on this date in 1912. He went ahead with his scheduled speech.
Milwaukee, Wis., October 14 — A desperate attempt to kill Col. Theodore Roosevelt tonight failed when a 32 caliber bullet aimed directly at the heart of the former president and fired at short range by the crazed assailant, spent part of its force in a bundle of manuscript containing the address which Co. Roosevelt was to deliver tonight, and wounded the Progressive candidate for President.
Col. Roosevelt delivered part of his scheduled address with the bullet in his body, his blood staining his white vest as he spoke to a huge throng at the auditorium. Later, he collapsed, weakened by the wound, and was rushed to Emergency hospital.
HistoryBuff.com had the above from a contemporary newspaper account. There’s more.
Roosevelt survived the wound. He died in January 1919, age 60. The Bull Moose Party was officially the Progressive Party.
Saguaro National Monument
… became Saguaro National Park on this date in 1994.
This unique desert is home to the most recognizable cactus in the world, the majestic saguaro. Visitors of all ages are fascinated and enchanted by these desert giants, especially their many interesting and complex interrelationships with other desert life. Saguaro cacti provide their sweet fruits to hungry desert animals. They also provide homes to a variety of birds, such as the Harris’ hawk, Gila woodpecker and the tiny elf owl. Yet, the saguaro requires other desert plants for its very survival. During the first few years of a very long life, a young saguaro needs the shade and protection of a nurse plant such as the palo verde tree. With an average life span of 150 years, a mature saguaro may grow to a height of 50 feet and weigh over 10 tons.
Redux line of the day
“Now when I try to watch there is so much scrolling and popping up that I can’t see the play on my television. I don’t care that LaDainian Tomlinson has two receptions for 8 yards in the first quarter of another game that I am not even watching.
“There’s a reason why people watch TV — because they don’t want to read.”
Comedian Lewis Black on “Inside the NFL” on HBO quoted via Sideline Chatter.
First posted here three years ago today.
October 14th
Today is the birthday
… of John Wooden. The Wizard of Westwood is 98.
… of former surgeon general C. Everett Koop. Guess he knew what he was talking about because he’s 92 today.
… of Roger Moore. The oldest of the James Bonds in 81.
… of former Nixon White House Counsel and convicted multiple felon John Dean, 70 today.
… of Ralph Lauren. The founder of Polo is 69.
… of the judge of Night Court, Harry Anderson, who is 56 today.
… of Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks. She’s 34.
… of Usher. He’s 30.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe during World War II and the 34th president of the United States, was born in Denison, Texas, on this date in 1890.
NewMexiKen is the third in a line of four Kenneths. The first Kenneth, my eponymous grandfather, was born on this date in 1899.
From little ACORNs wingnuts grow
The list of conservative conspiracy theories is long and ever-growing. Conservatism, as currently constructed, is utterly dependent on the existence of nefarious, dark forces working secretly against Real Americans. ACORN is the bogeyman of the moment.
Functional Ambivalent explains — In Which We Intrude On the Conservative Pity Party By Injecting a Little Reality.
Bank shot
The Bank of Burque Babble (BBB) formally announces that it is foundering, and in need of significant government assistance. We’re not proud of it, but BBB has made a series of imprudent financial decisions in recent years that have left it in a precarious position. We are, of course, referring to our sizable investments in the purchase of foreign and U.S. microbrewery beer, not to mention our Netflix, XM Radio and Broadband cable entertainment holdings.
A Formal Request For Emergency Funds From the Bank of Burque Babble continues. Fun stuff.