ShoutyBear: Politics. Foreign Affairs. Zarf.

Nevermind the debate tomorrow — will anyone finally explain where that $700 billion figure came from? Probably not until lawmakers push this bill through. I have a baaaaaad feeling about all of this, and the NYT’s Gretchen Morgenson isn’t making me feel better. Not even checking on my investments these days, too scared. And as for my money market accounts…. argh. I always used to joke that my late, great father hid his money in kimchee jars buried in the back yard. That’s looking like a brilliant idea. If only I had a back yard…

It seems the public smells a stunt when it comes to John McCain, which is a relief. I like to believe that American voters are smarter than Washington (or Hollywood or the media) gives them credit for.

Unfortunately, because of McCain adopting the financial crisis as his own personal 9/11 (Giuliani’s a friend — why should WALNUTS! miss out?) and this bailout business, there isn’t oxygen left for much else. The WaPo’s Ruth Marcus and the LAT’s James Rainey took a look at distortions coming from Barack Obama’s campaign, including this particularly unsavory Spanish-language ad he’s released on TV and radio.

First of all, what is with Obama’s face at the beginning? Is he praying? In a car??? Oh, right, because all the Hispanics love Hay-zeus. Panderer.

And then there’s this ad in Michigan criticizing McCain for owning foreign cars. Is it the ’80s again? Democrats are cowards when it comes to Big Labor, and Big Labor is a big reason why U.S. automakers are flailing.

“Buy American” is a good soundbite, but when it comes to cars the Japanese have won. I can’t think of why anyone on the market wouldn’t go with a Honda over a Chevy. To make a political statement? Oh… OK. Bottom line is there are so many better ways to attack McCain on the economy and health care (totally relevant to Detroit).