"New government. Whoever wins, it will be someone new."

If I may quote THE WHO:

"Meet the New Boss. Same as the Old Boss."

--The Who, Won't Get Fooled Again

"Bonds are looking good. "Triple-A-rated tax-free bonds, an extraordinarily safe investment...."

Really? Maybe it's just because I've been reading the articles on this site, Reuters, the NYT...I guess every news source that has been covering the inevitable mortgage/housing collapse that led to the financial crisis that lead to the credit crisis, but I'm pretty sure it was becuase a bunch of SHIT was rated AAA.

Socialism worked so well for Europe, let's give it a try! I don't like working anyway.

Not that I'm a McCain fan, but I read on CNN that some sort of model was run based upon what he's already survived and what not and it found that he is likely to live until he's 84 years old. Part of the model implemented the fact that the older you get, the likelihood of survival goes up, because you're already past the phase where you'd have heart failure, strokes, etc. if those were in your genes. The cancer thing doesn't look too promising though...
Personally, I think it is highly likely that he dies within the next 4 years, probably of heartbreak right after he loses the election to Obama.

I've heard that reindeer is very, very tasty.

@Outrun1986: I get my best ornament bargains at school or church rummage sales - and there may still be time for them before Christmas.

@dakotad555: Yeah, except for all the cancer stuff. And Bush is quickly dismantling consumer rights on his way out the door. McCain isn't likely put them back, and darn sure a President Palin (ick) wouldn't.

@nataku83: Americans by and large don't use the HP they're buying.

I don't disagree. I would love to have a truck that shut down cylinders when I don't need them or had similar gas-saving features. But I do need that horsepower for towing, I can't turn the horsepower down when I'm not towing, and I'm not going to buy another vehicle just to have one for towing and one for other times (although I have thought about it, I can't justify the insurance expense).

I did get a good deal on a truck not long ago, though. You're right, there is a glut of them.

I just found a set of 9 porcelain ornaments for $13 at Target. To me, that's not a terrible price... I know I'm going to have to buy ornaments at some point, and I wasn't planning on being able to find 30 cent ornaments, and I'm still not counting on it.

Thanks for the tip!

yeah, because surviving a Vietnam concentration camp and then serving in the senate for 20+ years isn't stressful at all. Say what you want about the man, he's lived through more than 99.9% of the people in this country, and frankly I would place pretty good odds on him out living most people anywhere close to his age. The man's tough.

That only works if you have 30k sitting in your bank, or you have the equity in your home to lose 20% of your value and still be ok. It also only works if values increase back to pre-meltdown levels. There's a good chance that they might take 7-10 years to regain their 2006 value. In that case you lose double your money if you leave sooner than that.

The truth hurts but its still the truth and you said a painful mouthfull. Be aware, pay your stuff off, save a few bucks, buy some rice and dried beans you never know as I am sure alot of people got caught with high hopes in the 30's

The hate starts with obammy's socialism....he hates to see anyone succeed. Look at all the sheeple licking lollipops along the rivers flowing with chocolate, and marshmallows growing wildly in the fields.

Anyone know where the best deals are based on cost and durability? Even at 90% off, it'd be a pain to have to buy new ornaments every year.

@xwildebeestx: AND neither he nor his employer have plumber licenses. HEYOOOO!

@EyeHeartPie: And she says "nucular" instead of "nuclear" like W. I was hoping to not have to hear that for another 4 years (unless it's Homer Simpson)...

@Sarah Vivelafat McCain Palin:Your 6.37% is still two points lower than my first mortgage in 1993....

@proskills: You're better off just burning the house *

*(for the insurance $$)**

**(as long as your insurance isn't with AIG)

@EyeHeartPie: She's like Bush, but without the Y chromosome.
Every time one of them says 'new-cue-lar', god kills a puppy.

I'm happiest about #1, low oil costs. And I don't even drive. But I can't imagine how much worse the economic state of affairs would be if all this was going on, and gas was $4.25/gal.

@backbroken: Well, that's true, but the point is that it was previously a $400K house. In any case, it's a much better house than a $280K house was a few years ago.

Actually there are others who benefit from falling house prices. I'm one of them. I'm not going to move any time soon, so my current real estate value is irrelevant to me. But, my tax valuation is relevant to me, and it's going down, which means my taxes are going down. And this year I protested my tax valuation and got it reduced further, and I plan to do that again next year.

@Canino: I'd like to point out that if the $400K house is on the market for $280K, then it is not a $400K house. It is a $280K house.

The only folks who will benefit from the falling house prices are the first time buyers. And perhaps that is as it should be. If you need to sell a house in order to buy a house, then good luck with that.

Of course, this means I will "lose money" if I try to sell mine in the next year to go bigger, but the overall good is served.

Actually if you can afford it, upgrading to a larger home is almost never a lose right now. If your example you have a starter home you purchased at $150,000 who's value is now $120,000. That extremely nice $300,000 home that's available for $240,000 right now is a steal. You'll lose $30,000 on selling your current home, but you're saving $60,000 on your new nicer home.

@Lucifer_Cat: I agree. Let's keep things related to the consumer and blaming the OP...I mean blaming the company.

/couldn't help myself...either.

Car makers are waking up. They've realized that you want more fuel efficient cars.

Yes, but not at the expense of loss of power, please. Some of us have things to tow, you know.

As far as cheap real estate, it's a yes and no. I have a relative who came into some money, so he's trying to upgrade to a bigger, nicer house. Plenty of great deals from developers with inventory they can't move. New $400K houses on the market for $280K. The problem? He can't get anyone to buy his house. Plenty of lookers, no offers, not even lowballers.

Just go out and vote!!

I'm especially happy about falling home prices to more realistic levels, allowing LEGITIMATE first-time homebuyers to get into their first house much more reasonably than 3 years ago. Of course, this means I will "lose money" if I try to sell mine in the next year to go bigger, but the overall good is served.

@Bladefist: They can sell half-empty glasses and if someone says aloud that the glasses are half-full they are then escorted out.

And now for reality:

Oil! Oil prices have dropped 50% in 3 months. So now Opec is meeting to cut supplies and keep prices above $90 a barrel.

Car makers are waking up. And now they have no money to invest in fuel efficient cars to sell to people who have lost their jobs and don't have money to replace their car to begin with.

Low interest rates. In 2003 I was offered 30 year fixed at 4.9% and stupidly I assumed they would drop to atleast 4.5% and turned down the offer... now I have one at 6.37%.

Real estate is less expensive. Not that anyone has a job to pay for the mortgage.... maybe they will get cheap enough to afford on a wellfare check?

FDIC insurance is now $250,000. Whahoo... good thing my S-Corp accounts are at Wamu.

Stocks are cheap. So far the first real positive not that anyone has the balls to invest in the market right now... why do you think bonds are doing so well.

Technology is awesome and cheap. You can buy a big TV and get into even further debt.

We grew a lot of stuff. But since the Gov buys up the crops to keep prices high it wont mean any cheaper food for the US.

New government. Whoever wins, we loose either way.

Holiday bargains. IF you still have some money, you can expect some crazy deals. Hurry buy stock in the retail section so it no so it can drop 90% when no one buys anything until after the Christmas sales come out... 80% now... 95% after Christmas...

Don't forget to check out monoprice.com for cables if you need them. ;)

I just got a Dynex 42" LCD 1080i HDTV from BestBuy (it's their store brand) and it seems to be working great. $699 - 10% off coupon + tax = $675. Holy moly!

The lie: Joe Plumber is buying his boss's business for $250,000. Joe Plumber will have higher taxes under Obama's tax plan.

The facts: The real Joe Plumber makes about $40,000 per year. J.P. has no plans to buy his boss's business. J.P. will actually SAVE about $500 per year under Obama's plan.

Lies, deceit, falsehoods, bogus plans, fearmongering, anti-terrorist rants. Palin/McCain (nope, that's not a typo) in '08!!!

(I couldn't help myself either)

On a Happier note, things are going to be cheaper this year and I think this will relate to lower earnings for retailers. I think the bad news just keeps on coming despite the 'Hope'.

I have to agree with 'Technology is awesome and cheap'. I'm in the process of building a new computer and the amount of 'deals' available have definately increased since my original survey of equipment three months ago. I'm still holding off on buying the more expensive components in hopes that the holidays will bomb prices even more.

Well, not so much if its John McSame.

(Couldn't help myself).