Posted by Peter, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Sep 26, 2008 at 2:53 pm

That is a very interesting article from the Times.

It helps explain why Bill Clinton is campaigning for McCain.

Hillary will be a powerhouse in the Senate for 4 yrs and then a shoe in for POTUS,

she will be much stronger fighting a republican administration.

Posted by OhlonePar, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Sep 26, 2008 at 10:01 pm

Our greatest presidents assumed office in trying times. There's a clean-up job here, but it's clear you can't blame the problem on the incoming president.

Is it possible to be better off than we are four years from now? Yes.

Posted by pam, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Sep 26, 2008 at 11:26 pm

"Is it possible to be better off than we are four years from now? Yes."

how?

Posted by Greg K, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Sep 26, 2008 at 11:42 pm

This is nonsense. The great Presidents are the ones that succeed in difficult times. FDR brought our country through the Great Depression and World War 2. Only an idiot hopes that the next President will screw up worse than George Bush so that their real choice will have a change in 2012.

Posted by OhlonePar, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Sep 27, 2008 at 12:32 am

Pam,

In four years, it's possible that we'll be at peace and not at war. It's possible that our financial markets will have been stabilized. We'll have reestablished some of our standing globally. The Dept. of Justice may have regained some of its freedom from political agendas. We'll be on an upswing from a recession and housing prices will have begun to recover.

There are lots of ways, simply because we're not in good shape now. Quite unlike Bush inheriting a country at peace with a surplus and a solid economy.

Posted by Greg K, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Sep 27, 2008 at 7:45 am

Our economy is in shambles. Energy prices are soaring, as is the national debt. We are spending billions of dollars and thousands of lives searching for non-existent WMDs. Terrorist forces are strengthening because we have neglected the war in Afghanistan. America has lost its reputation as the world's moral and economic super-power.

I think it is hard to imagine the USA being a worse place 4 years from now.

Posted by Sharon, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Sep 27, 2008 at 4:23 pm

Economists say bailout plan is flawed and isn't needed

"It's more hype than real risk," said James K. Galbraith, a University of Texas economist and son of the late economic historian John Kenneth Galbraith.

"A nasty recession is possible, but the bailout will not cure that. So it's mainly relevant to the financial industry."

Another doubter of the Great Depression theme is Kenneth Rogoff, a Harvard University economics professor, who thinks the intervention may prevent or delay the necessary failure of weak financial institutions.Web Link

"It is time to take stock of the crisis and recognize that the financial industry is undergoing fundamental shifts

Posted by pam, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Sep 27, 2008 at 4:33 pm

op, greg, our economy will continue to falter to years; this is not something we fix with a bandaid; it's different this time. energy prices will continue to soar, as will the national debt. we will continue to spend billions of dollars and thousands of lives in the middle east. terrorist forces will continue to strengthen, even as we migrate the war to afghanistanpakistan. america has lost its reputation as the world's moral and economic super-power; it will take a lot longer than four years, or even 10 years, to get that back.

Posted by OhlonePar, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Sep 28, 2008 at 1:35 am

Pam,

One of the fastest ways to start rebuilding our reputation in the Middle East is to elect Barack Obama. He's of the party of Clinton, who's still popular overseas and he has made it clear he'll reach out to rebuild alliances.

The economy, if trust is restored, can turn around. I think it will be years before real-estate comes back, but that's ultimately a good thing, in my view.

I don't expect a boom in four years, but I can definitely see us on an upswing from this nadir.

Posted by pam, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Sep 28, 2008 at 10:59 am

"I don't expect a boom in four years, but I can definitely see us on an upswing from this nadir"

op, you read international affairs like most americans, from the perspective of the 'saving ange'l that everyone admires. you need to get out and travel a bit to realize that the rest of the world doesn't care about america any more. they want to _be_ america...that's as far as it goes...we have seen nothing yet in terms of economic displacement...the current 'fix' will last only as long as the next opportunity by our competitors to hurt us.

Posted by pam, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Sep 28, 2008 at 11:03 am

there will be a new president in 2012...we're on at least a 2 decade ride through hell...sooner or later americans will wake up to the fact that _they_ have to change...the party's over...

Posted by OhlonePar, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Sep 28, 2008 at 2:13 pm

Pam,

I've lived overseas and have visited 30 different countries. So, I get out.

And we're far too large an economic power for other countries not to care about us. Basically, if we tank, a lot of countries go right with us. Such are the glories of the global economy.

You need to get out more.

Posted by Sue, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Sep 28, 2008 at 4:22 pm

I have lived and worked abroad, glad to be back.

I have no desire to give more power and money to the UN nor establish a EU like welfare geriatric state.

The EU is frantically trying to back pedal on their disaster of multiculturalism. We thrive through E Pluribus Unum

The fact is that USA is the center of western Christian Civilization, we have nothing to learn about government or culture from the rest of the world. We just need cheap commodities and science educated immigrants.

Obama and his wife feel ashamed of the USA, that view is shared by a tiny fraction on the left coasts.

Posted by OhlonePar, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Sep 28, 2008 at 4:53 pm

So Sue, none of the 6 billion people on the rest of the planet have nothing to teach us. Never mind that E Pluribus Unum is Latin not a native American language, that we took our common law from the English, our notions about innate human rights from Rousseau and other French philosophes, that Jazz, our native form of music, owes its rhythms to Africa and its notation to the Austrians . . .

I could go on, but, honestly, what a goofy thing to say as an American when the genius of Americans is to absorb both the people and ideas of other cultures.

I'm a mutt and proud of it.

Posted by pam, a resident of the Charleston Gardens neighborhood, on Sep 28, 2008 at 6:04 pm

"And we're far too large an economic power for other countries not to care about us. "

they care about us only insofar as their is mutual advantage. as the balance of that advantage migrates, they care less. that's what's beginning to happen. it appears that your travels have been as a tourist, and not as seeker...

Posted by Alex, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Sep 28, 2008 at 7:07 pm

Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a convicted influence peddler who was once one of Gov. Rod Blagojevich's and Obama's most trusted confidants, has met with federal prosecutors and is considering cooperating in the corruption probe of the governor's administration, sources told the Tribune.Web Link

Posted by but seriously, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Sep 29, 2008 at 6:42 am

Your point? The actual article says there is STILL no link with Obama, just with the governor.