I think it is pretty simple, and I was just discussing this with a friend. The conservative agenda is all for regulating the individual - gay marriage, abortion, etc. but when it comes to regulating business - they expect hands off. I have never looked at it from the other angle where liberals expect hands off for the people but seek regulation for businesses. Some how, those bridges need to meet in the middle.

Business are tools of people and need the operating room to be productive while having regulations to prevent them from running amuck.

People need to be free enough to pursue their own happiness, but there should be enough laws to prevent them from mucking up other people's freedoms.

Couple of thoughts here:

I would like to find a quote where Obama claimed some great accomplishment that is attributable to others? Community organizing is inherently a group effort, and I have never heard him or his campaign claim sole responsibility for that work. Only that it was a part of his life path.

Indeed the Rezko situation stands out as a bad judgement call. Fortunately for all of us, we have something built into our justice system: Innocent until Proven Guilty.

Obama knew over the two decades of his relationship that Rezko's housing developments were constructed on land that should have been declared brownfields, because they were toxic wastelands. The construction was lousy. The developments had deficiencies that prevented residents from having heat and power for long periods of time.
It is not always clear that someone is up to something bad - unless the Minoity Report is more real than I realized. I would like to see evidence where "Obama Knew"; if his name doe snot show up on any indictments then you are presenting speculation (hind sight being 20-20 does not prove anything). As of now, we are looking at someone who is clearly starting to be painted as guilty. At the same time, we have Obama returning a majority of the funds donated by said individual now that the picture is clear.

When Rezko was indicted, Obama pretended he hadn't known Rezko for a long period of time, then when it was exposed that he had repeatedly used his influence as a state senator to get Rezko deals, by writing him letters of recomendation, throughout a twenty year period of time.
Mares, you are rather liberal in how long this relationship lasted (16 years does indeed round up to two decades) and at which point certain decisions were made. As Rezko was under investigation in 2006, Obama bought land at a declared value (not hidden or denied). Investigation does not make a person guilty. Again - bad judgement on Obama's part. I cannot find evidence of these letters you claim Obama wrote - link?

while Rezko's wife paid full value for their house, Obama's McMansion cost him roughly 300 thousand dollars less than the recorded value... we've also learned of various side deals regarding the property since Rezko stopped having access to land deals, Obama buying part of Rezko's property and then paying for property maintenance for Rezko's property.

If you had looked into the empty lot and sold a strip of tha land to Obama - not that unusual for a developer - and prior to any indictment. Bad judgement for Obama to participate with Rezko and crew? Yes. Was Rezko verifiably guilty? Not yet. As for the Doctor selling the house under the listed price - Unusual? No. Wrong? No. Often the list price of a houe is part of the real estate game. And if anyone has noticed -lots of houses are currently selling under their "listed price" due to the magnificent Sub Prime Game (manufactured by your detested Corporate Dictatorship).

I suppose then, bad judgement is a disqualification for president. Looks like no one is qualified then. The key to my judgement is that Obama has acknowledged bad judgement and works to move on. Admitting we are wrong and moving on is human nature.

I am glad, Mares, that you buy into the Edwards line so well. A good man, and a good canidate, but all of his talk about helping poor people and fighting the Man seem to have come about just prior to the current election cycle, so I am not sure how pure he is. And if we are comparing houses - how big is Edward's McMansion, and how did he pay for it? Chasing the misery of children?

Mares, If you are so concerned about the power of the establishment, voting for one of the two major parties demonstrates that you are not looking into the issues very clearly. The system is built for two party control and it is the financial system that calls the shots. Don't kid your self, and perhaps you should find a new party.

Or even better yet - do something about it. I wish you luck.