BIDEN BOTTLED UP...
After some questionable performances, such as engaging in an interview that finally asked some straight questions about Obama and campaign, and after well, talking without a script, again, VP candidate Joe Biden has been leashed.

I think if I knew Biden personally, politics aside, I would like him. As a politician, though, he's a bit clueless.

IS OBAMA AN AMERICAN CITIZEN?
Quite a few folks say, well, no:



Summary: Philip J. Berg has brought a lawsuit in Philadelphia has not proven his American citizenship and is therefore disqualified from running for office.

Now, Mr. Berg has his own issues, and I'm kind of in the crowd that might be willing to give Obama the shadow of the doubt, but there are lingering questions. However, the case was dismissed on Friday.

The reason: Because Mr. Berg "lacked standing", and any harm that would come from an ineligible candidate was "too vague and its effects too attenuated to confer standing on any and all voters."

Lacked standing? Other than being an American citizen, how can one not have standing to demand that a candidate prove their citizenship as required by the Constitution???

Also, that judge (who was appointed by Clinton, BTW), indicated that any potential harm from an ineligible candidate was "too vague"? So, the natural born requirement is unenforceable?

This stuff is just bizarre - all around.

UPDATE: Even Michelle Malkin isn't touching this one, considering the evidence (see this link). I'm willing to move on, too.

NEAL HEFTI HAS DIED....

Who is Neal Hefti, you ask? Why, none other than the composer of the most memorable song of my childhood: The Batman Theme!

In the LA Times' Obituary (linked above), he says it took him a month to write the theme. Must have been one hell of a case of writer's cramp. Let's go over the lyrics of that unforgettable classic:

(dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum -- dum dum dum dum dum dum dum)
BATMAN! (dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum)
BATMAN! (dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum)
BATMAN! (dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum)
BATMAN! (dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum dum-dum)
BATMAN...BATMAN...BATMAN! (well, you get the dum-dum part)
BATMAN...BATMAN...BATMAN!
DAH-DAH DAH-DAH DAH-DAH DAH-DAH DAH - BATMAAANNNNN!!!!

Interestingly, he also scored the Odd Couple theme. Passed away, age 85.

SO SIMPLE A CAVEMAN CAN DO IT...
A great piece from Jim Manzi on how Wall Street works, and what's going on today.

BUSH'S SPEECH THIS MORNING...
Yeah, I caught it, while waiting on a new battery for my car. The most inspiring words since Jimmy Carter told us to turn down our thermostats from his fireside chats.

I don't know, I guess I'm still just MASSIVELY ticked off about this bailout. "The Federal Reserve has injected hundreds of billions of dollars into the system...?" And if this is such a great idea, why did we wait for a crisis to do it? I'll tell you why: to prevent inflation.

The REAL question is, are the credit markets reticent because there is TOO much money in the economy, or not enough? Too much means inflation is on the way, enabling banks to be repaid with dollars worth less than what was lent out. Not enough means that the economy is contracting - and banks don't want to put money into business or ventures that won't pan out or repay them. You know, like the real estate market. Either way, Wall Street is now on shaky ground.

I know if you took all the economists in the world, and laid them end-to-end, you will never reach a conclusion. But fiddling with the marketplace with this bailout just messes up the financial cues that the market relies on to prosper.

A GREAT AD FROM THE NRCC:
Check this out!

HOW A FINANCIAL DISASTER BEGINS....
A New York Times article from 1999 sets the stage.

WALL STREET BURNS WHILE CONGRESS CONGRATS ITSELF...
Thanks for nothing, Congress (and Mr. President). In spite of Rep. Linder's efforts, a pork-laden bailout plan passes Congress - and President Bush signs the bill quickly. Totally ignoring my warnings (see below). Wall Street, knowing that bending the rules of the Free Market and Economics 101 doesn't do them any good in the long run, reacted accordingly.

Meanwhile, AIG has a little celebration.

THE VICE-PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES:
No, I didn't watch them - I'll review excerpts later. But the reviews are coming in.

A USA Today editorial calls the debate a draw. In MSM-speak, that means it was a TKO for Palin.

SAY NO! TO PORK-LADEN BAILOUTS!
This article got me mad. So I wrote my Congressman:

Dear Representative Linder,

It is a rare moment when I am moved enough to write Congress, so please understand the sincerity of my words when I say that the Bailout bill, as passed by the Senate yesterday, is far worse than the original bill that you voted NO on earlier this week. (Thank you, by the way.)

I completely agree with you that some form of relief must be passed. However, the Senate bill, laden with projects and spending that are not germane to our financial crisis, does not approach addressing the problem.

I am not naive enough to believe that the final cost to taxpayers will be $700 billion. In addition, the infusion of cash from the US Treasury will distort the financial markets, increase the risk of inflation, and does nothing to prevent this fiasco from happening again.

I have every confidence that you agree with me on these points. Please communicate to your fellow Congressmen (and our Senators) that any solution must include a fresh look at the government relationship with our financial institutions, the current regulations that facilitate graft and market distortions, and hold those who caused this mess accountable.

ALL I CAN SAY IS, "WOW..."
The I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, which collapsed last year, has already reopened. Months ahead of the planned Christmas Eve date, which detractors said couldn't be done. Read the article to see how it was done. Anyone who has responsibility for heavy-lifting projects like this one should pay attention.