Election Day is Here, About to Go Vote

Living in New York, there is not the BUZZ here that you see in many of the swing states, and I doubt there will be any kind of a line at my own voting station. I have to admit a certain relief knowing this election is almost OVER. I feel as if I, and the nation have run a two year marathon, have been rung out to dry in this endurance contest, and now that Election Day is here, there is no elation, but instead a rush to JUST GET IT OVER WITH.

I have reservations, but I am going to vote for Obama as the lesser of two evils. I don't like McCain, and any chance he would have ever had in getting my vote, or at least getting me to stay home vanished when he put Sarah Palin on the ballot. She may have rejuvenated the Republican Base, but she conversely fired up many of us on the Democratic Side, gave many of us that were not happy with Obama (I supported Hillary) reason to plug back in and take a stand...sorry, but the thought of that Alaskan Wacko being a breath away from the presidency is unacceptable.

Let me go vote, and I'll be back on to live blog the election later in the day.

On Eve of Debate it's OFFICIAL...We Are In a Recession

On the eve of the debate tonight, the Federal Reserve has made official what many of us have know now for over a year. America is in a recession! So states the head of the San Francisco branch of the Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen .

This official pronouncement could greatly change the flavor of the debate tonight if the moderator brings it up as a question early on in the debate. This news further makes the point that all other issues including Ayars take at best a second seat to the economy.

Federal Reserve Official: U.S. Economy in Recession

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

NEW YORK — The United States has slipped into recession, the head of the San Francisco branch of the Federal Reserve, the nation's central bank, said Tuesday.

"The recent flow of economic data suggests that the economy was weaker than expected in the third quarter, probably showing essentially no growth at all," said Janet Yellen Tuesday in an address in Palo Alto, California.

"Growth in the fourth quarter appears to be weaker yet, with an outright contraction quite likely," she said. "Indeed, the U.S. economy appears to be in a recession."

Yellen spoke just hours after official data showed the budget deficit tripled in size in the 2007-08 accounting year to $455 billion, or 3.2 percent of gross domestic product.

Her remarks also followed a dramatic period that saw the U.S. government, for the first time since the Great Depression, partially nationalize major banks in its latest move to restore confidence to badly-shaken financial markets.

Economic downturns are a double blow for government budgets because they reduce tax revenue for governments and increase the need for social security spending in the form of unemployment benefits.

Debate GAME CHANGER...Senator Hagel's Wife To Endorse OBAMA

OUCH...on the eve of the debate, Senator Hagel's wife intends to ENDORSE OBAMA! Have not seen this on the airwaves yet, but if she comes through with this endorsement TODAY, hours before the debate, we have a DEBATE GAME CHANGER!

Sen. Chuck Hagel's wife to endorse Obama

By BOB LEWIS • Associated Press • October 6, 2008

RICHMOND, Va. — The wife of Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel plans to endorse Democrat Barack Obama.

Lilibet Hagel has scheduled a 10 a.m. news conference in Alexandria, Va., on Tuesday with Susan Eisenhower, the daughter of Republican President Eisenhower.

Hagel, R-Neb., has made no endorsement. Lilibet Hagel said in an Associated Press interview that her decision was independent of her husband. She said she didn’t know whether he would make an endorsement or whom he would support.

“You’d have to ask him,” Lilibet Hagel said. Rest of Story