The Campaign? Back to where it started ...

  In a sign that the race for president has returned to about where it was before the first presidential debate, the Obama-Biden ticket leads the McCain-Palin ticket 47 percent to 43 percent among registered voters in a new CBS News poll.

  The Obama-Biden ticket led by a wider margin, nine percentage points, in a CBS News poll released last Wednesday, before Joe Biden and Sarah Palin faced off in the vice presidential debate. Obama-Biden led by five percentage points on Sept. 25.

  In the new poll, the Democratic ticket leads by 3 percentage points, 48 percent to 45 percent, among likely voters.

  Barack Obama holds a 20 point lead in terms of enthusiasm. Fifty-eight percent of Obama voters say they are very enthusiastic about their candidate, while only 38 percent of John McCain voters say the same about the Arizona senator.

  Roughly one in five registered voters have yet to commit to a candidate, though they may lean towards one or the other.Blink

   Seems like nothin' but bad news and worse news these days. It affects everyone - people are afraid, depressed and with good reason. If you watch any news all you see is the world is coming to an end and Barack Obama might be leading the way. The Pied Piper of Doom. The economy is starting to hurt people I know and love and the media has convinced just about anyone who'll listen that we're fixin' to get ourselves a new Messiah. It can't help but bum out even the most optomistic - me included.

   I have a few things I try to keep the depression at bay. BBQ, prolonged periods of sleep or messin' around with images. I haven't gotten to do my monthly shopping so BBQ is out till this weekend. I slept the better part of the last three days and that left images. That is my therapy when all else fails. I am finally teaching myself Photoshop - that'll be fun - I've had it on my computer for years and used GIMP instead. GIMP is like Photoshop for dummies and I sure qualify there, but it's time to graduate. That should keep me 'therapized' through the winter.

   Now, about this economic mess. It looks bad, but there are several silver linings in all those storm clouds. First and foremost - the price of oil. Demand is falling like a rock all around the world. This is a very good thing, but for reasons that may have escaped you. See, the price of gas will go down here, but more importantly, those nations who are competing with us for that next tank full are hurting much worse. China, India and Malaysia etc are going to start shutting down whole segments of their economies. If we ain't buyin' their crap - they won't make it.

   The price of oil will eventually get down to where it kicks our domestic economy in the butt and fairly soon - right after Christmas is my guess. All those folks who can no longer buy what they could not afford in the first place are going to need a place to live. Rentals. There is a major shortage of rentals in this country - and they just happen to be in those place most affected by the mortgage meltdown. SoCal, NoCal, Las Vegas, Florida and the NYC/Boston metro area.

   There will be a boom in rental construction next spring. The builders will stop building new homes, fancy condos and swank hotel rooms. Plus, there are a whole lotta folks in areas that have been flooded or got blown away who need a place to live. This 'economic downturn' won't last but a few months - by next spring, we'll be chuggin' our way back just fine and through the summer and fall - things will get back to normal. Not so with the rest of the world.

   There is a long lag time between when we are willing to buy extra crap and their ability to make and ship that crap. At least a year. That means they won't be competing with us so aggressively for oil. The price will stay fairly low through most of next year. The dollar is gaining strength right now that it hasn't seen in years. Against all currencies, too. That makes our stuff cost more. And 'our stuff' is food. They do not have the luxury of foregoing food like we can put off that new car or flat screen TV. So the rest of the world is going to be sending us a lot more of their money.

   Since we've been so sorely bitten by this fiasco - it's certain that some changes are going to be made to our economy. Mortgages will revert back to being something you save a down payment for instead of pick and choose between. That's a good thing. People with decent jobs will be okay - not so with illegal aliens. They work under the table, their wages are less AND you can bank on there being some new laws made about the entire issue - we simply cannot afford to carry 20 million extra mouths to feed. The do-gooders are going to be less likely to want Juan and his fifteen kids here competing with Americans for wages, housing, medical care and education dollars.

   Now, about the prospects of Obama becoming President. I know it doesn't look good. But you must remember, he cannot win unless he has at least a 7% margin - that is the Bradley Effect. Despite what you are being subjected to by a media hellbent on his ascension - he cannot win unless he has a solid 55-57% lead on election day morning. And despite all his glowing rhetoric and fuzzy math, even the dumbest sonofabitch on the planet knows that his policies will only make matters worse. When Joe Sixpack pulls that lever on November 4th, he is not going to commit suicide no matter how lofty his intentions or how much pressure to do so is being applied from all quarters.

   An overwhelming majority of voters are so fed up with the current Congress that I would not be surprised to see the Democratic majority reduced significantly - enough so that they will be unable to push through all the give-aways and entitlements they have promised. So even if Barack Obama does manage to get elected - he will not be able to do any of what he wants. The money won't be there - we already spent it on the 'bailout'. And trying to raise taxes in this environment will be impossible. His hands will be tied. And Congress is no more likely to commit suicide than the voter.

   So, to make a long story short - our economy will rebound faster and more robustly than the rest of the world's - mostly because of the price of oil. And lest you worry about increasing our domestic exploration and production - perish the thought. All but the most delusional in Washington has finally realized that the American voter has been awakened to their deceit and subtrefuge. Barack Obama still has a hell of climb and he ain't there yet - close - but every election for the last few cycles has been razor close. Even if he does win - he'll be unable to do much damage. There's a good chance that Congress will be reined in and some of the problems that have been festering will finally get solved - or at least addressed.

   Best thing to do is hunker down for the winter. Buy American made. Vote incumbents out. Reach out and help folks you know. And if you need help - ask them. Be patient. Keep the freezer full. Try and have a month's worth of cash in reserve - even if you have to eat beans a couple of days a week. All this too shall pass. Find things to occupy yourself. Little things that you enjoy. Put up some pickled peaches. Hit the thrift stores - that's always fun. Maybe help the neighbor fix a fence or do some babysitting for a family who needs to work a second job. Me? I have writing and messin' around with images. Whatever you do - don't get depressed ...

... gettin' down only makes gettin' up take longer. Spread the word! 

Comments

[Oldcatman]

Excellent post, my friend!

(I have a 5 pound pork roast to play with today!)

[Carl]

Steel,

Don't know where u get ur info.

It is more like 51 to 42 in Polls of polls. All R strategists are in panic.

9>7

Do you know how to make african peanut sauce? Have been told it is very good. But you being a man of the World might know firsthand what it is.

[Jim]

Thanks for the encouragement.

You have uncommonly common sense and I would be happy to throw out my representatives but they are unapposed in their primaries and oppose Commiecrats in the general elections.

[Steel]

OCM ...

Jaysus! You'll be tired of it by the time that's gone.

Carl ...

No. The Bradley Effect demands he lead by 7%. Gallup, CBS and Zogby have the spread at 3% as of this afternoon.

I've had that, but it doesn't compare to Thai peanut sauce.

Put a cup or or two of peanut butter - I like to use chunky, but traditionally it should be creamy - in a saute pan on very low heat and let it turn a few shades of darker brown - not too dark - just roasted - it needs watching and stirring.

Then add a good amount of cayenne, some brown sugar and lots of garlic. I use garlic from a jar because it takes so much and since that is 'wet' it should go in last.

If it all gets too thick - thin with butter.

A TINY bit of ginger if you want.

The trick is to do it real slow.

You can adjust as you go with the sugar and cayenne.

Do it to your taste.

I made it for my mother, the absolute gourmet, once on a visit and she wouldn't let me leave until I made her some more to save.

Might as well use a whole jar of peanut butter because it will keep forever in the frisge and it goes on most everything - especially green vegetables.

On sauteed brocolli it is to die for.

If you have some grilled chicken, some 'hot & sweet & sour cabbage', some red pepper sauce - Korean works - and the peanut sauce - they all combine to make one of the best sandwiches in the world.

Use buttered grilled onion rolls.

Easy on the pepper sauce and lots of the cabbage.

Spread the sauces on the bread halves and pile the chicken and cabbage on.

Jim ...

Things are going to pick up much sooner than you realize.

Just be patient and hunker down, amigo.

[Uncle Fester]

Well, can't we go and have us at least a little war before the upswing?

[Moze]

Steel--I lean toward your conclusions in a wanton way, but there are too many undefined variables in the mix. I don't think we've seen the worst of this yet. I'd be more specific, but I think I'd best keep that close to my chest and hope the Hell I'm wrong.

I'm going to try that Thai peanut sauce on Chinese noodles. My girls will love it.

Cheers,

[Phoenix]

Oh... yummy recipe for the peanut sauce. I only question the garlic. Does the counter some of the other taste like the brown sugar?

I cut 'n pasted it. Going to try it. :)

I'm keeping the faith of optimism. Watched the debate tonight. Tom Brokaw was a good pick because he made McCain look young. Obama looked like he was going to a prom with a new date and he talked the 'ME' 'ME' talk all night. Good grief.

[Steel]

Uncle Fester ...

World peace could break out tomorrow and last a thousand years and I'd still invade Mexico.

Maybe Canada if I'm in a bad mood.

How's that?

[Steel]

Moze ...

That sauce tossed with bits of leftover veggies and little pieces of meat served over Ramen noodles is as close to pad Thai as you can get and not get all domestically involved.

Real fast too. And cheap.

Kids will love it.

Just make the sauce to their taste - mine is searingly hot.

[Steel]

Phoenix ...

Ya know how ya like my apricot pepper jam?

Ya know how ya said you'd have never thought to use those flavors together?

Although, in your case, I'd say use powdered garlic - easier to control and has much less garlic bite.

The trick to the sauce is to constantly taste and adjust. Just dip the very end of a metal spoon in and taste it.

It will never come out the same twice - like many of my recipes.

My tastes change - everyone's does.

Sometimes I want HOT - sometimes SWEET and sometimes both.

So I always start with a clean pallette when it comes to spicing my food.

The three flavors all compliment each other, but each needs to be added slowly so as to build up to where you want it.

You can't just add a tbsp of this and a tsp of that and call it good - at least I can't.

Chef Paul Prudhome popularized a method of spicing that I've been using since I learned to cook ...

Add spice in the intial 'fire up' stage', add some in the middle 'simmer' or 'cook' stage and then add some more at the end - just before serving.

Spices have characteristics that change with time and heat.

To get the most from aromatics and herbs, they need to be added in stages to get all those different flavors.

AND salt should not be added to most things until AFTER most of the cooking is done - it makes other spices taste differently - leads to false flavors.

Food should be spiced completely in stages before adding salt and black pepper, for that matter.

There's a reason those two are set on the table.

[Oldcatman]

Part of the pork roast went in the freezer cooked to be sauced up at a later date---the 'bone in' goes to my dog with her share!

Peanuts in entrees drive me NUTS (no pun intended)--the Chinese and their cashew this and cashew that!

Nuts are for snacks & PB & J---and to spoon dip with fresh cherries or vanila ice cream!

[Steel]

Dentures, huh?

[Uncle Fester]

Works for me, we're gonna absorb both of them eventually, might as well have some fun while we're at it. Mind if I borrow the 1st Marine Division and it's Air Wing for a while?

Take 'em on a hike, don'tcha know...

[Uncle Fester]

Hey, put together a cookbook - I'd pay good cash for one.

[Steel]

My 'way' of cooking does not lend itself to recipes, Uncle Fester.

But I do have an unused 'forum' all set up that I could switch to food and cooking.

I could put it in the sidebar.

We all could exchange thoughts on food and I could 'expound' there.

Interested?

Might be kinda fun :)

[Uncle Fester]

Well, I don't have a wide repertoire myself but the Food Channel is my favorite...

[Steel]

Everybody has special tricks and recipes.

I'll start reworking that forum tonight.

We'll have food related stuff and a place to post real news and images and such.

I tried that a couple of years ago but we didn't have enough participants to keep it moving and I was getting hit with huge amounts of spam.

I have since figured out how to counter the spam and we have a good crew around here now.

It'll be up and running this weekend.

Stay tuned.