Stock Market and political outlook for today for the 3rd debate

Stock Market Outlook today: Today the markets should pull back. How much is anyones guess. But there isn't any good news out there in reality. Expect about a 300 point drop today on the Dow and for it to go below the 9,000 level, but with Options Expiring this week for October on Friday, it could get very erratic, both to the upside and downside. It will feel like you are in a boat and riding the waves. I am expecting the moves in the market, over the next week or so, to make a double bottom and that means another test of the 8000 level. I have a sell order in for my TWM Short on the market at $140 if it should get there while I am away most of the day. I don't believe it will trade at that level but it is good to get an order in for the day, in the event that it does.

Those with exceptional skills can make money trading frequently on the swings but they must be watching the market continuously. I can't today, and that's a good thing. I need a break from these swings too.

Politics: We still will have 2 days left this week for Options to expire on Friday, and tonight the last debate will be held. From all expectations it sounds as though Senator McCain is going to focus on Obama's "character issues". I can hear the politics of the past going full force tonight from McCain, but I am hoping Obama will make short work of them and point out most Americans want them to talk about the economy and what they are going to do to get it back on track. It is the politic of deregulation that got us into this mess and that has been McCain's mantra most of his political career.

Americans don't need divisiveness now, they need someone who can heal this country and who can also gain respect from other world powers. As the son of William F. Buckley said yesterday, Barack, he believes, is that man. Buckley, a Republican and owner/writer of the National Review, tendered his resignation yesterday, as many Republicans were offended he switched to Obama, and they wanted him out of the National Review, as they felt they were betrayed. His father always allowed others to express their views openly as long as they were logical and had an explanation. He is probably turning in his grave over how the Republican Party lost its way and in the process destroyed the financial system in this country. He was one of the best type of Republicans, tolerant of others views, smart and articulate and wouldn't stoop to inflame crowds with racial slurs or innuendoes. He was like many of my fine Republican friends, who now lament over what has happened to their Party.

There was a scene in the Godfather, where Clamenza said, and I paraphrase, "every few years there has to be a cleaning of the bad blood between the Families and it was time now to do that." Same is true for the Republican Party.

Who won this 2nd Presidential debate?

The quick answer is Barack Obama. But my data point isn't my own view. I called my Mom, who likes John McCain and is biased and prejudice against people of color. I asked her who won the debate. Mom said that Obama seemed to use the time. I said what do you mean by that? She answered he answered the questions very well. I then asked her, Who won the debate then? She said Obama if she were voting today.

Mom would never have said that unless Barack Obama had really won. I must admit I was very surprised that she actually said that, but she did. It made me very proud of my 90 year old Mom.

McCain's self-importance view is so archaic

A few minutes ago John McCain said he was suspending his campaign to go work on the financial crisis in Washington and said he wanted to cancel the debate schedules for Friday night. This from the man who said he really wasn't up on economics. The American people deserve to have the debate held as scheduled on Foreign policy this Friday night. It isn't like McCain can really add anything to the debate.

My advice to John McCain: Let the debate go forward and learn to multitask. THIS IS ABOUT YOUR JUDGEMENT SENATOR!

Who won the final Democratic debate before Super Tuesday? We did!

This was by far the best debate of any Democratic or Republican debates. The American people were treated, FINALLY, to a conversational debate on the issues. It was educational, to say the least, regarding topics of Healthcare, Iraq and Immigration. The differences between the candidates were explored in the kind of detail, where we all could learn which one seemed to address any concerns we had, or help each of us formulate a position for ourselves on the topics. I think any Democrats should feel proud of both candidates in this debate. It showed the kind of politic we are all craving for as Americans.

After the debate was over, I realized that it was Barrack who really helped create this tone. He did it by choosing not to find holes in Hillary's explanations but instead to allow her own words to stand for us to examine. One exchange where this was particularly evident, was around the Iraq war position that both candidates took. Obama went first and said he is the best-positioned candidate for the general Election because he did not support the war from the outset. Wolf Blitzer then asked Hillary, why she can't just admit her vote then was a mistake. She didn't take Wolfe's invitation, but instead rambled on as to why she made the vote she did and how she had entrusted Bush not to go to war, but to just allow the inspectors to get back in. It rambled on and on and proved Barack's point, that it is a difficult position to articulate and to defend. He could have taken a shot at Hillary, by saying in rebuttal. "You heard her response and I ask you to judge whether the response will work in the General Election against the Republicans or will they say she flip flopped on the issue. I don't think that will work but you judge for yourselves. That is the point of these debates"

Well Barack didn't have to comment, as it was obvious, he was right and wise for not rubbing her nose in it. He truly is here to change the politics of the past. We are lucky as a country to witness this bright and wise young man help us become more conscious in our voting deliberations. Thank you Senator Obama. We are indebted to you for this rare experience. God watch over you and keep you safe and healthy.

Who won the debate? The Statesman

CNN's Wolf Blitzer last night "moderated" the Democratic Presidential debate, or so he was suppose to. He apparently lost control in the first 12 minutes as it appeared to be a free for all between the Presidential hopefuls. Much of the focus of attention was on Hillary Clinton and whether she would do better this time over her last performance. She did. Was Barack Obama more present and engaged? He was. Was John Edwards making his case to voters on the difference between the candidates (Hillary) and himself? No, he did himself a disservice last night and if anything, was one of the losers in the debate. He got booed, as they didn't like him attacking Hillary.

But there was more to summarize in this debate than in previous debates. For example, Senator Joe Biden, the Statesman, seemed to have the best answers to solve most of the issues brought up in the debate. He was down to earth, used plain language and was not trying to slam any of the other candidates. He was definitely the most stately candidate and was at his best in this debate.

Also a surprise was Congressman Dennis Kucinich. He was direct, made the differences more apparent between himself and most of the other candidates and in one particular exchange, he noted that most of the candidates had voted for NAFTA, War in Iraq, passed China's admittance into the WTO without restrictions and were responsible for most of the problems facing us today, including passing funding for the War in Iraq and not pursuing Impeachment for Cheney and Bush.

I was surprised how well this debate went and the questions were good. Most candidates were at their best and one thing for sure, any could make a good President, but only one will be. The media seems to influence voters by just speaking of the front 3 candidates and I think the others are short changed. Senator Biden for one and Senator Dodd and Congressman Kucinich as well.