Hurricane Gustav and Ike have come and gone, but the lives of multitudes in the Seventh District will remain affected for years to come. Some estimates place Ike's damage up to $25 Billion dollars, while Gustav damages are estimated to be up to $10 Billion dollars. We have gone through two hurricanes, back to back, with damages running up to $35 Billion Dollars total.

Now we are facing a new disaster. This one isn't a disaster of nature, however, unless you consider greed and avarice to be natural. After years of banks pillaging the poor and working class, the collapse has begun. The time has come for these profiteers to pay the piper, and they want you and I to pay him. $700 Billion dollars is what Bush and Congress are hoping to expropriate from you and I.

Over the last few months, our President and his minions have been desperately trying to convince you and I that they would not bailout these institutions, but now the magnitude of the institutional collapses have become too great to continue the cover up the impending bailout. Now they are going to bailout the banks to the tune of $700 Billion dollars. To justify this atrocity, they are using fear mongering to justify the bailout (that they said wouldn't happen.) Shameless lies are being promulgate by these pirates and thieves. Of course those issuing dire warnings that NO bailout would be disastrous to our nation, is coming from those who have the most to gain from a bailout ... the banking industry.

In an article on CNNMoney.com by Paul R. La Monica, insultingly titled, "Be ticked off - but get over it", the author quotes Chris Probyn, chief economist with State Street Global Advisors in Boston. While acknowledging that the whole mess was caused "by a combination of irresponsible behavior and lax regulation" he goes on to warn, "... by letting those responsible pay the price, there will be a spillover effect and the economy could go into sharp and protracted recession." This is the typical garbage being spewed at us from the Wall Street panderers. We shouldn't make the perpetrators of this collapse pay for it because of an impending recession? You and I should pay instead of them? They mock you and I on a regular basis, pretending that their fortunes have been made by their hard work and genius and trying to convince us that we're just not as good or as smart as they are. My friends, if you and I sit idly by and give them the $700 Billion dollars, then we really aren't as smart as they are.

No one has gone to prison. No one has been indicted. Instead of using the correct term, FRAUD, they have conveniently taken the term "irresponsible" to new heights. A $700 Billion dollar bailout will not just reward bad behavior, it will reward fraud. Bush's proposed bailout makes no demands of the institutions it will give our money to. It demands no change in management. It demands no change in their aberrant practices. It demands NOTHING, except that you and I give them $700 Billion dollars, then "Get Over It!"

I can assure you, this isn't just being foisted on us by the Republicans or Bush. When you witness the passing of the bailout, take notice of it being passed by a majority Democrat House and majority Democrat Senate. You can be assured, it will be the usual political game. The Republican blaming the Democrats for getting us in that shape ... The Democrats blaming the Republicans for getting us in that shape ... and while they are pointing fingers at each other and playing Drama kings and queens, they will be voting YEA on the bill. While both parties will ultimately vote for the $700 Billion dollar bailout, the next day they will blame the other. And you and I will pay dearly for the disaster, the lies and the deceptions.

On November 4th, you and I will have an opportunity to not just express our anger. We will have an opportunity to change the guard. We will have an opportunity to get rid of the foxes guarding the hen houses. If we make the wrong choices on that first Tuesday in November, then we are handing them our wallets and checkbooks for another two years, and we will never "Get Over It." There is hope in all of this, however, any you hold they keys to this hope chest.

Who will you trust with America's future? You can vote for Charles Boustany or Don Cravins and keep the status quo. Or ... you can vote for Peter Vidrine, who is also angry about a federal government that has 20 times more sympathy for bankers than hurricane victims. It's your choice, 2 more years of whining and whimpering misrepresentation, or two years of a new voice in Washington, a voice where YOU will finally be heard. Open the Hope Chest, with your own key ... your vote on November 4th.