The pick of Senator Biden for Barack Obama’s VP candidate I did find to be strange since Obama claims to be a person of change in Washington and then goes on to find the biggest Washington insider to be his VP. McCain’s VP pick on the other hand I found to be surprising and it is impossible now to know how it will turn out, but in the short term it was a great decision considering all the media attention it is currently taking away from Obama.
I did have to chuckle at the Obama campaign’s claims that she is inexperienced when she has at least if not more experience then Obama does. As an Alaska Governor she has been to the Iraq War theater just as many times as Barack Obama has to visit Alaska National Guard troops last year. Here is video of her during her trip and get this they even have a clip of her firing an M4 with the troops:
Could you imagine Barack Obama trying to fire an M4?
I also found it very condescending of the Obama campaign’s mocking of her achievement of being elected governor of a small town in Alaska which only further supports the stereotype of the liberal elitism against small town Americans that Obama has been accused of before.
Since this is a Korea blog, I thought it would interesting to point out that Governor Palin recently proclaimed Korea-Alaska Friendship Day in her home state:
WHEREAS, the state of Alaska honors the commitment of the Republic of Korea to the citizens of Alaska to continue strong international relations with the re-establishment of the Korea Consular Office in Anchorage.
WHEREAS, the Republic of Korea has been an important trading partner with the state of Alaska for almost four decades, accounting for over $700 million of the state’s exports in 2007.
WHEREAS, Korean air carriers, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, provide vital air cargo links between Alaska and Korea and between Asia and North America.
WHEREAS, Alaska celebrates the contributions of over 7,000 Korean citizens and Korean-American citizens who add to our state’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.
WHEREAS, the state of Alaska thanks the Republic of Korea for the excellent public service provided to Alaska by Consul Hee-chul Kim, Consul General Ha-ryong Lee, and Alaska Honorary Consul William Bittner.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sarah Palin, Governor of the state of Alaska, do hereby proclaim June 20, 2008, as:
Korea-Alaska Friendship Day
in Alaska, and encourage Alaska and Korea citizens to celebrate the strong ties of friendship, culture, trade, and education between the state of Alaska and the Republic of Korea. [State of Alaska]
Bottom line though is that Obama picked a Washington insider while McCain picked an outsider for VP. Does any of this really matter? Probably not, because people vote for the President, not the Vice President. What it has done is energize the McCain campaign and conservative voters who were suspicious of McCain and given McCain lots of free media attention for the public to hear his message. This will only increase interest in the Republican National Convention this week where McCain will probably have more viewers interested in hearing what he has to say do to this pick.
What McCain says during the convention to the people of America is what will decide people’s votes for him or not. This pick has just caused more people to be interested to hear what McCain has to say next week which where the real success of this pick lies.
Popularity: 9%
1:37 pm on August 30th, 2008 1
GI Korea, as much as I respect you and your blog, I sometimes feel that if Mccain had chosen a tree stump as his running mate you would praise the choice all the same. This woman out of nowhere would literally be one prostate pollip away from leading the free world if Mccain won and something were to happen to him.
2:53 pm on August 30th, 2008 2
Without all the bio info, Palin just feels right. Visually, she and McCain are good match. Just by looking at her photo, I like her. Being photogenic is a big plus in politics. Let’s look at Bidden — well…he has experience and wisdom and other things that old people are supposedly embued with. But photogenic? Place Joe Biden along side Obama and I don’t get the same feeling of a good match when I look at them side-by-side. They both come across as career politicians with their polished shark teeth gleaming in the sun.
I think McCain made a good choice. He has a photogenic wife and now a photogenic running mate.
Her “feel” as coming from Alaska gives her the “feel” of an outdoor, independent and strong frontier woman. A pioneer image that comes with being from Alaska. (This is the stereo-type that the mind’s eye captures when you mention Alaska — same as all Hawaiians dance the hula nonsense — but none the less true as a very positive image.) Then look at her life-style and you see she does epitomize this image — NRA member, outdoors background, hunting, fishing, etc.
Then we come to her bio info. She is as American as apple-pie — well…sort of in an independent, head-strong, liberal thinking, strong-willed women. She is a person that made some life choices when young and has stuck by them. What’s more in the background you have a family that is apparently non-conventional — again fitting the independent Alaskan image. Unless she has some skeletons hidden in the closet, I immediately like her and her family.
She is a woman of principle — not just talk. As a pro-life advocate, she has just given birth to a child with symptoms of Down’s Syndrome. It is easy to talk the talk, but difficult to walk the walk. This decision for her family must have been one of the most difficult things imaginable, but no one can dare deny her as a woman who will stand by her convictions. As a mother of five children — including Trig, her newest addition — I dare any Democrat to take a pot shot at her.
On the issue of Iraq forget about the photo ops of her in Iraq and NRA stance. Her son 19-year old son Track is heading to Iraq in Sept 2008. Ask any mother who sends their son off to war about the gut-wrenching feeling. There is no greater statement if she comes out and says she supports the troops in Iraq than this. Don’t you think that as Governor, she could have pulled some strings for her eldest son? Some would reflect on Bush Jr. during the Vietnam War period and how she handled this. She didn’t flinch — and stands as a woman who walks the walk. And every mother in America who has/had a son or daughter in Iraq/Afghanistan or any past war will immediately identify with this woman.
Some idiots compare Obama graduating from Harvard while she graduated from a podunk college in Idaho. But so what? My nieces graduated from those podunk colleges in Idaho too. And so did the majority of American college graduates!!! Not everyone is blessed with the brilliance of Obama. But educational excellence does not lead to Presidential brilliance. Clinton graduated from Yale and proceeded to having sexual slurpies in the Oval Office. Bush graduated from Harvard and well…forget this line of thought. Anyway, Palin’s educational record reflects the same experience of most of America — and makes it easy to identify with this woman.
Read her bio. Unless some deep hidden secret comes out, she has a whole group of positives going for her. Yes, there is the claim of lack of experience, but let’s look at the Democratic Presidential candidate who only shows up for 50 percent of the votes as Congressman and simply votes the party line — not his conscience. His VAST experience from 1998-2004 as an Illinois Senator and US Senator from 2005 to present. Obama could compete with Palin on experience levels — only Obama’s running for President. Of course, against Bidden she loses hands down for political acumen. But does she really need all that background as VP? Dan Quail is used as an example as a flunky VP — but seriously, Quail’s political experience/history is closer to Obama’s than Palin. Bottomline: She doesn’t have any national political experience, but this doesn’t necessarily make her a negative.
Sure Palin was only on the small town City Council, elected its mayor and then became governor. Who gives a damn? Abraham Lincoln and a whole group of the frontiersman image — which she projects — came from the same HUMBLE political background. If you don’t think this is a BIG PLUS — think again. Americans eat this stuff up.
But others claim that she may have to sit in the Oval Office seat if McCain bites the bullet over some catastrophy like old age. Look at Cheney with his bypass surgery — and that is one I did NOT support for VP. But the truth is that it is NOT a great determiner. Look at Harry Truman, who people hated at the time, but now is revered as probably one of the greatest Presidents because he made some hellishly tough decisions — which were ultimately right, but at the time political suicide — dropping the nukes and firing MacArthur. From her short performance as Governor, I believe she could grow into the shoes. The difference between she and Obama is that Obama does NOT have time to grow into the shoes. He will be wearing them if elected — and that scares the living bejeezus out of me.
Some say that she will not gain Hillary Clinton’s followers, but I say do you really want them? The second thing I say is that as women they will look at her as an archetypal woman reflecting the modern values. The liberal side will see traits in her that reflect their lifestyles. The conservative side will see in her the life values that they cherish. She has something for everybody.
6:28 pm on August 30th, 2008 3
Palin has just as much experience as Obama in government, but she has a couple year executive experience running a state while Obama has none. She’s also head of the state’s National Guard, again vs. Obama’s zero military leadership. And unlike Obama, she has accomplished a great deal in her two years of governor of Alaksa. You can’t name any significant legislation with Obama’s name on it b/c there just isn’t any. Anyone who complains about Palin’s experience and points to Obama instead is a complete hypocrite.
6:53 pm on August 30th, 2008 4
Can you say history again? SPLIT TICKET!!!! It has happened before (once?) but Obama and a female (true woman not hillary who pees standing up). I said it first…
>.<
John
7:19 pm on August 30th, 2008 5
Sarah Palin and North Korea…
John McCain’s pick for vice-president, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, doesn’t have a clear record on North Korea policy that I can find. However, as GI Korea points out, she is well aware of South Korea-U.S. ties having proclaimed Korea-Alaska Friend…
7:25 pm on August 30th, 2008 6
Richardson since when does VP canidate= Presidential? And it is ironic since NOW the republican canidate after ENDLESS attacks in his ad campaigns of the Obabma camp about “experience” (Hypocrisy?) is now having to answer himself. And to get back on track you should realize that the argument would be a Biden vs. Palin instead when it comes to VP “experience”.
7:57 pm on August 30th, 2008 7
VP does not equal Pres, but you need to read your own pundits; there has been a lot of speculation on the left of the what-if-McCain-dies sort, making Palin’s experience central. That’s why its NOT Palin vs. Biden; the left and media aren’t framing it that way (almost no comparison of those two at all, yet).
Bottom line; Palin has as much govt experience as Obama, but a qualitative advantage (exec/mil leadership, actually has accomplishments to her name rather than inspiring-yet-hollow speeches).
So yes, it’s entirely hypocritical of those who criticize her experience but support Obama. This is sort of a trap for Obama supporters to fall into, and they are.
8:49 pm on August 30th, 2008 8
Obama has already made a claim that he finds automobile trade deficit between South Korea and US unfair and the possibility of FTA is remote, considering how he thinks the US is on the unfair side.
But he does not mention anything in regard to the trade deficit between the US and Japan. Japan sells a heck lot more cars in the US than South Korea. Japanese consumers have no interest in buying American cars (they love them German cars however), while Koreans are indirectly buying American company car called GM-Daewoo.
I am afraid that Obama is one of those typical asia-blind biased politician who knows nothing about what is happening in Asia… and that he will just maintain the good-ole cozy relationship with Japan while occasionally slash at China and completely ruin relationship with South Korea (you anti-Koreans will probably love this then).
That’s my two cents… but I don’t know crap about politics… so I maybe wrong.
8:51 pm on August 30th, 2008 9
The shameless method of argumentation employed by some of of the people on this thread is hilarious. It was the Republicans who kept bringing up the experience issue, and yet Democrats are not allowed to bring the issue up themselves in response when it is perfectly valid?
No doubt, Palin’s defenders would rather engage in circular logic because they prefer to ignore more meaty issues:
1. Troopergate.
2. Palin is a big oil candidate (as is McCain).
3. Palin would have creationism taught in schools and probably doesn’t even believe in evolution (or a woman’s right to choice).
4. She recently refused to classify polar bears as an endangered species and even defended the decision in the New York Times. Is this the kind of person who is going to lead a “green revolution” such as McCain describes?
5. Palin admitted as recently as 2007 that she had not been paying attention to the Iraq war and therefore didn’t know much about it, and yet proud supporters of the US military such as GI Korea think she would actually be a good Commander in Chief?
If people can do nothing but bad-mouth the Dems’ campaign strategies and arguments, rather than actually articulate why Palin is qualified to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency, and why her track record in Alaska shows her policies and positions would be good for the country, then they must think people are stupid not to see that that is just more of the same old hot air. And they say liberals are “elitist” and look down on ordinary voters? Ha!
8:55 pm on August 30th, 2008 10
“I am afraid that Obama is one of those typical asia-blind biased politician”
Did you know that Obama actually lived in Indonesia for several years in his youth? Your statement is absurd.
9:14 pm on August 30th, 2008 11
Indonesia isn’t South Korea…
Look at all the hatred going on between Asian countries of late.
Just because he lived in Indonesia does not make him unbiased toward Asian nations. In fact, biase is probably more so than someone from outside the Asian influence.
9:36 pm on August 30th, 2008 12
IAAFM, when you actually have something of substance to say, rather than uninformed wild speculation, come back and talk to me.
Meanwhile, from the Alaskan political blog “Mudflats”:
“Governor “Squeakyclean”….or not.
“Sarah Palin’s sister Molly married a guy named Mike Wooten who is an Alaska State Trooper. Mike and Molly had a rocky marriage. When the marriage broke up, there was a bitter custody fight that is still ongoing. During the custody investigation, all sorts of things were brought up about Wooten including the fact that he had illegally shot a moose (yes folks this is Alaska), driven drunk, and used a taser (on the test setting, he reminds us) on his 11-year old stepson, who supposedly had asked to see what it felt like. While Wooten has turned out to be a less than stellar figure, the fact that Palin’s father accompanied him on the infamous moose hunt, and that many of the dozens of charges brought up by the Palin family happened long before they were ever reported smacked of desperate custody fight. Wooten’s story is that he was basically stalked by the family.
“After all this, Wooten was investigated and disciplined on two counts and allowed to kept his position with the troopers. Enter Walt Monegan, Palin’s appointed new chief of the Department of Public Safety and head of the troopers. Monegan was beloved by the troopers, did a bang-up job with minimal funding and suddenly got axed. Palin was out of town and Monegan got “offered another job” (aka fired) with no explanation to Alaskans. Pressure was put on the governor to give details, because rumors started to swirl around the fact that the highly respected Monegan was fired because he refused to fire the aforementioned Mike Wooten. Palin vehemently denied ever talking to Monegan or pressuring Monegan in any way to fire Wooten, or that anyone on her staff did. Over the weeks it has come out that not only was pressure applied, there were literally dozens of conversations in which pressure was applied to fire him. Monegan has testified to this fact, spurring an ongoing investigation by the Alaska state legislature. But, before this investigation got underway, Palin sent the Alaska State Attorney General out to do some investigative work of his own so she could find out in advance what the real investigation was going to find. (No, I’m not making this up). The AG interviewed several people, unbeknownst to the actual appointed investigator or the Legislature! Palin’s investigation of herself uncovered a recorded phone call retained by the Alaska State Troopers from Frank Bailey, a Palin underling, putting pressure on a trooper about the Wooten non-firing. Todd Palin (governor’s husband) even talked to Monegan himself in Palin’s office while she was away. Bailey is now on paid administrative leave.
“As if this weren’t enough, Monegan’s appointed replacement Chuck Kopp, turns out to have been the center of his own little scandal. He received a letter of reprimand and was reassigned after sexual harrassment allegations by a former coworker who didn’t like all the unwanted kissing and hugging in the office. Was he vetted? Obviously not. When he was questioned about all this, his comment was that no one had asked him and he thought they all knew. Kopp, defiant, still claimed to have done nothing wrong and said to the press that there was no way he was stepping down from his new position. Twenty four hours later, he stepped down. Later it was uncovered that he received a $10,000 severance package for his two weeks on the job from Palin. Monegan got nothing.”
************
Reportedly the results from the official investigation are due on Oct. 31st. Interesting timing that I personally do not think McCain’s advisors paid due attention towards.
In any case, can anyone imagine the same type of shenanigans happening in the White House?
Embarrassing, and downright scary.
10:04 pm on August 30th, 2008 13
“Could you imagine Barack Obama trying to fire an M4?”
Ah yes, no elitism there, I see.
It’s funny that Republicans really see elitism as such a devastating charge, and liking arugula but not Nascar or whatever is supposed to magically make you out of touch. Yet Democratic voters make up half the electorate, and let’s face it, do a lot of Republicans in Congress drink Pabst Blue Ribbon every night?
1:57 am on August 31st, 2008 14
I see GI Korea has seen all the same political talk shows the rest of us have seen, and stole their talking points
. Here’s my question, how is she going to campaign and possibly be second in line to the presidency with an infant? It was obviously a campaign move by McCain and nothing else, which is just desperation on his campaigns part because he has no real platform. The Iraqi government wanting us out annd the “time horizon” for troop withdraw has taken all the air out of his position on Iraq, and that leaves as his supporters… rich white dudes. So pick a woman and see if you can steal Hillary’s support.
2:03 am on August 31st, 2008 15
I believe Obama has talked about trade issues with Japan (beef in particular):
Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/us/politics/15check.html?_r=3&scp=2&sq=korea&st=nyt&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
He probably doesn’t complain about Japan not buying enough American cars because American car makers still lag behind Toyota and Honda in quality car-making, and even if they were sold cheaply in Japan, its unlikely they’d be popular.
2:06 am on August 31st, 2008 16
Oh, and my two cents on Palin:
There’s no way in hell I’d vote for someone who supports teaching “creation science” in schools. If she thinks that BS has the same credibility as real science, she’s far too stupid to be placed within a heartbeat of the presidency.
2:06 am on August 31st, 2008 17
Slightly off-topic and just to bring it down to the non-elitist level…
She’s kinda hot! GOT MILF? She’s got that dirty librarian thing going doesn’t she? I can just imagine the whole whipping off of the eyeglasses and the head swish to let the hair down.
7:34 am on August 31st, 2008 18
Alaska - Gorea friendship treaty???? She just lost my vote.
7:41 am on August 31st, 2008 19
Could you imagine Barack Obama trying to fire an M4?
Depend on how many real Americans are standing in front of him. In the end, Obama, like Kerry and Gore want to destroy America.
Gore wants all Americans eating grubs and living in caves (while liberals lord over the ignorant masses in lavish oppulance)
Kerry and the liberals of his ilk, sold America out during the Vietnam war. He is a Hanoi Jane but just a bony ugly version. A coward and a liar. GWB2 is 1000x times the hero!
And now Obama…. Islomo-facist!
Why do democrats hate America?
7:50 am on August 31st, 2008 20
Looks like McCain’s choice for VP has just won him the election.
9:50 am on August 31st, 2008 21
I have to say that I was slightly impressed by her news conference presenting her as the VP nominee. She came off as exactly what she is…a housewife who became Governor. Politically, she reached out for Hillary’s women voters and presented her family as a counter to Biden’s. Me thinks that the Obama camp is sweating bullets about right now, afterall…what are they going to attack her about that will not blow up in their faces?
IMHO…Obama will do his best to destroy America if he is let into the White House.
1:37 pm on August 31st, 2008 22
#19, been asleep the last 8 years?
1:45 pm on August 31st, 2008 23
Just Kidding. But honestly if she wins Tina Fey will another personality to mock with material.
3:48 pm on August 31st, 2008 24
She actually kind of looks like Tina Fey.
8:03 pm on August 31st, 2008 25
“Looks like McCain’s choice for VP has just won him the election.”
Laughable and so far from the truth. Palin was not vetted and while people might be interested in her now, they have already discovered her “good side”. Now the people get to do what McCain should have done and vet her, but now that vetting will be done in public. It’s already looking pretty bad for her. McCain needed to change the story for the weekend and he did. The problem with that strategy is that she is still around and her numbers aren’t looking too hot.
From USA Today,
“39% say she is ready to serve as president if needed, 33% say she isn’t, and 29% have no opinion.
That’s the lowest vote of confidence in a running mate since the elder George Bush chose then-Indiana senator Dan Quayle to join his ticket in 1988. In comparison, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden was seen as qualified by 57%-18% after Democrat Barack Obama chose him as a running mate last week.”
Palin is going to be a problem. Exciting the far-right anti-science, anti-choice, pro-gun, pro-Big Oil base is not what McCain needed. It was an impulsive reaction to a highly sucessful Dem convention. Again, McCain and Palin might have stolen the headlines from Obama for the weekend, but those headlines will come back to haunt this ticket once we know more about her.
8:14 pm on August 31st, 2008 26
“Could you imagine Barack Obama trying to fire an M4?”
No and I am so thankful for that.
9:25 pm on August 31st, 2008 27
The left should have picked HRC. She could have won. The left fell for a smooth talker. Not the first time that has happened. The last time it was the German People.
As for me, I’m voting for Big Mac and the “hottie” VP. If Mac should crok (God forbid) she can hand the kid to his Daddy and do a better job than B-O. I’m no rich white boy either. However I do own one house. Two shotguns. Two rifles. One car–a Mitsubishi.
There is simply no contest.
10:30 pm on August 31st, 2008 28
Why is the question of her infant being brought up? Billions of women get up every morning and head to the fields, offices, or wherever to do whatever job is needed to survive. The little infant is packed on their backs, left with grandma, put in a preschool, or whatever.
The point is that billions of women go to work — with the infant or not — but the point is that they do their jobs from the most menial to the executive levels.
Infant Trig may have significance in discussions of pro-life convictions of Palin and the strength and support of her family, but he doesn’t have a damn thing to do with the job. From the African woman with the baby on her back to the Korean woman who leaves the child with Grandma to the female SSgt who drops her kid off at preschool — they get their jobs done and make provisions for their child while they are working. Palin has been — and will be — no different from the billions of women in this world.
All those Democrats who bring this up are chauvanist pigs — whether they are female or male. Sorry those comments just pissed me off.
10:34 pm on August 31st, 2008 29
“The left should have picked HRC. She could have won. The left fell for a smooth talker. Not the first time that has happened. The last time it was the German People.”
GI, I can’t believe the kind of scum that visit this site. I would keep a tighter leash on them if you want your (sometimes
) thoughtful analysis to be taken seriously.
10:42 pm on August 31st, 2008 30
Kalani…
Trig (her infant son) has Downs and will require more attention. Calling Dems chauvanist pigs is a little much. It’s a vaild concern that GOP strategists have brought up as well. No one is saying that this is a huge problem for her. They’re just highlighting that it could be difficult to balance the needs of a Downs child with her highly unlikely role as VP.
I don’t think that this will be a problem though. In two months she’ll be back in Alaska with her family anyways.
10:53 pm on August 31st, 2008 31
The point is that Trig may need special care — but he doesn’t need his mother there twenty-four hours a day. At this stage in life and for the next three-four years, a nanny or special care provider can give the needed attention for this child — with Mommy coming home after work to provide his daily supplement of motherly love. As a VP, her salary most certainly can afford this care. I’m saying it is NOT a factor at all — and should never have been brought up in the first place to try to score some cheap points.
11:12 pm on August 31st, 2008 32
Scott@12,
I agree with you that Troopergate could get sticky. But I wonder if someone with the qualifications to get into the Governor’s seat would be so petty and stupid — after winning over the incumbent Republican and former Democratic governor on corruption issues — as to jeopardize her position over a feud with the brother-in-law? Yes, one of her staffers did make some calls and she has been suspended. But the investigation is on-going.
But may I bring one thing up for thought — forgetting of the brother-in-law for a moment — but Monegan was in power under the old corrupt administration (now on trial for corruption). Because he was severed WITHOUT A COMPENSATION PACKAGE, could he have been at the center of other embarassing charges (not specified and best kept hidden)? Is it a possibility that formal charges against him could lead to a real bucket of worms dealing with the grass-roots folks who are there to administer “law-and-order”? Yes the timing for investigation results are not a good for the McCain-Palin effort. I say let it play out and let the chips fall where they might.
But if I might make a parallel as to the LMB BKK allegations that ran right through the Korean Presidential election. Perhaps the voters like in Korea can see through — or atleast believe it is a political ploy) — and simply disregard the results even if it is negative.
1:01 am on September 1st, 2008 33
# 27, you are very impressive, and your knowlege on McDonalds menu items is tremendous. You must be from Texas, right?
2:18 am on September 1st, 2008 34
Those of you who are excited to see the McCain/Palin team win this fall should make sure to take care of the two things you can do:
(1) Register to vote, and cast that ballot. Republicans Abroad and Democrats Abroad are both interested and actively signing up voters regardless of party affiliation (or no affiliation at all). Military members can ask their Voting Assistance Officer for help and get hooked up that way.
(2) Donate to the campaign. Taking the fight to the other side costs money, as we know, and Senator McCain also has to compensate for the fact that all the media are deep in the tank for Senator Obama — that means the Republican campaign has to communicate all that much harder. If you’ve never before contributed to a political campaign (I have to admit, I sent John Edwards some money in 2004) now is the time. Anything will help.
4:02 am on September 1st, 2008 35
“Taking the fight to the other side costs money, as we know, and Senator McCain also has to compensate for the fact that all the media are deep in the tank for Senator Obama.”
While some might prefer Obama, they are a lot harder on him. They let McCain get away with everything just like always. He has always been the Media Darling.
I agree though. Everyone needs to make sure to register and vote.
http://www.democratsabroad.org/
5:30 am on September 1st, 2008 36
That Alaska State Trooper thing is based on *rumor* and is still under investigation.
On the other hand, we *know* Obama’s pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr., is a blatant racist and was Obama’s ‘guide’ or whatever for ~20 years. There is no conceivable way that Obama did not know who he was in bed with. Then he lied about it.
Talk about getting away with it and being a media darling; you must blind or stupid to miss that, or of the same ilk so it doesn’t matter to you.
6:35 am on September 1st, 2008 37
I liked the cartoon in today’s International Herald Tribune with John McCain introducing Sarah Palin saying,”An inexperienced,anti-choice,pro-gun,creationist,drilling zealot–isn’t that what women want?”
6:47 am on September 1st, 2008 38
Weak argument as usual. Changing the story to Obama is all the GOP has got. For once, speak with substance and show us why McCain/Palin should be elected. Otherwise, stop dancing around like you have something to say. Wait. Keep dancing and make the election even easier for Obama.
If you can’t see how far the Media has gone NOT to show McCain as the goon he is, then there is no reason to have this discussion.
6:58 am on September 1st, 2008 39
The Clam clams up when a Wright wrong is mentioned!
7:24 am on September 1st, 2008 40
Are you kidding? How did I “clam” up? Comparing illegally firing state employees with a pastor makes no sense.
This thread was about Palin, not Rev. Wright.
7:53 am on September 1st, 2008 41
Actually, while the main topic of the post McCain’s pick, it is also about nominees and VP picks in general. Obvious to most.
As for the questions of moral integrity and character, I agree that comparing unsubstantiated rumors of firing employees does not compare to Obama’s proven ~20 year record of following a racist reverend (as Obama’s personal guide, in fact).
You can’t talk about Palin’s experience w/o highlighting Obama’s, which is quantitatively about the same and qualitatively less.
You can’t bring up ‘troopergate’ w/o calling the Wright skeleton out of Obama’s closet, with is entirely damning.
That leaves you with petty complaints about Palin’s beliefs. Good luck with that, you’ll need it (aside from all the help the mainstream media will offer up, that is).
9:09 am on September 1st, 2008 42
Before I decided to vote for Obama I would want to know why Obama attended schools in a foreign country during the “FORMATIVE YEARS”? What was the school’s curriculum? What is his true religion? Wright’s so called church seems to preach more racial hate than peace and love of fellow man. Why did Obama choose to start attending this type of ritual in the first place?
5:34 pm on September 1st, 2008 43
“…unsubstantiated rumors of firing employees…”
While it does not suggest guilt in the least, she has hired counsel. About 4 months too late in my opinion.
The Wright thing is out of the closet, pal. The GOP blew that chance in the primaries. If they weren’t so intent on disrupting the Dems, then they could have sat on that until now. That would have been a serious game-changer. Now, it’s old news. That was poor management.
“That leaves you with petty complaints about Palin’s beliefs.”
There is nothing petty about my extreme disagreements with her far-right beliefs.
5:51 pm on September 1st, 2008 44
So it doesn’t matter to you, and presumably the rest of his supporters, that for ~20 years Obama followed a blatantly racist reverend? It already said a lot about Obama (who said he could no more denounce the reverend than his own gramdma - and then denounced him!) It says just as much for his supporters. You can just attempt to sweep that unappetizing fact under the rug, say it’s in the past, and hope people just forget about it?
Well, you can hope it goes away in one hand, crap in the other, and see which one fills up first!
Wright is a *huge* issue for Americans that aren’t, you know, racist.
6:22 pm on September 1st, 2008 45
I’m not going to allow you to trap me into this conversation and force me to agree with loons like you. I didn’t say people would forget about it. If you would read the text, you would see that I said it was released at a bad time and that people have already made up their mind about what to think regarding Wright. I’m not comdemning or condoning Wright, but I know that Obama will be a much better President than McCain and that’s why people are looking past Wright. If McCain brings it up again (he will) it’s just going to show everyone that McCain has no platform other than the anti-Obama one. That is not a winner.
So what do you think Obama took away from Wright? Do you think Obama is “racist” like you so callously called me? Or can we move on to a real discussion and quick kicking sand in hopes of distracting people from what a dangerous president McCain would be.
6:50 pm on September 1st, 2008 46
#45
I’m curious as to your views as to what makes McCain “dangerous”. I’ve heard this repeatedly applied to Obama from the Republican side, but I’ve never heard the “dangerous” remark before from the Democrats. Yes, they disagree with all he stands for, but that is different from the “dangerous” appelation with all its implications.
I’m not looking for an argument, just an explanation of this view.
7:55 pm on September 1st, 2008 47
So it’s ok with you that Obama’s personal guide and pastor for ~20 years was a racist? Knowing that isn’t enough of an issue to not vote for him? You don’t wonder what sort of person would keep going back for ~20 years of that? I just want to be real clear about that. And if that’s not enough, one has to wonder what would be? It’s an issue that isn’t going to just quietly go away, no matter how much you wish it.
9:16 pm on September 1st, 2008 48
Simply put, he has displayed his ability time and time again to be rash, impulsive and has the tendency to take things very personally. GOP lawmakers are the ones who have made most of the claims that he would be dangerous.
From Cochran (R) and Santorum (R):
“The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me.”
“John was very rough in the sandbox. Everybody has a McCain story. If you work in the Senate for a while, you have a McCain story. . . . He hasn’t built up a lot of goodwill.”
So, between his cavalier attitude towards Russia (removal from G8), his thoughtless jabs at Iran (”Bomb Iran” and his cigarette comment), his Vietnam-era Domino theory ideas of fighting wars and his public display of anger and hot-headedness, he would be so dangerous to us and our allies.
And that’s just one element of that danger. I have not even mentioned the economy and how he would alienate even more allies. Dem officials won’t say that he’s dangerous because he starts to whine and cry about his time as a POW.
The GOP likes to say that Obama is dangerous because of his New Deal/Great Society ideals. Obama is dangerous to far right-wingers because they disagree with him on gun control, health-care and abortion. McCain is dangerous because he is trigger happy.
9:19 pm on September 1st, 2008 49
Richardson
It might come back briefly, but for now IT IS GONE.
You know how this game works. Most voters have moved on and see other issues as a little more pressing. You know, the issues that effect THEM.
9:19 pm on September 1st, 2008 50
And you avoided my question.
9:28 pm on September 1st, 2008 51
Clam,
Thanks…I’ll check this angle out.
10:00 pm on September 1st, 2008 52
I think the Hitler comment pissed off the Obama youth. Whats wrong with Texas I wonder. It isn’t the only state where you can own guns, cars and homes. I was stationed there for a few years. Left in 2002 bound for 2ID. Learned why they called it the “no smile zone”.
10:33 pm on September 1st, 2008 53
Nothing in any of Obama’s policy positions suggests that he’s been politically influenced by Rev. Wright.
Take a look at McCain, and you’ll find more policy positions that are influenced by radical religious groups.
10:54 pm on September 1st, 2008 54
James…
Dead on! And Palin is a direct influence of that bloc.
Retired…
Yeah, Texas doesn’t have more guns, cars, homes, violence, criminals or murder yet they use the death penalty more than any other state. They have executed more than 400 people since ‘76. That’s just under 1/3 of total executions in the entire country during the same time period.
11:37 pm on September 1st, 2008 55
I would have more respect for the Left if they would not find fault with every last thing their political opponents do. It’s just more of the “gotcha” politics that Obama isn’t supposed to be playing. “Troopergate” is nothing more than speculation at this point. This is not the change we were promised.
12:16 am on September 2nd, 2008 56
What world are you living in? What has every McCain ad been about?
Tell me, Knickerbokcer. Go to their official Youtube sites and tell me.
Obama’s page is full of substance about what he wants to do to help people, why he wants to do it and how he will do it. The most viewed and commented-on videos are the ones that have nothing to do with McCain or “gotcha” politics. They all have to do with issues that people are concerned about. Of the 1195 videos there are less than seven Obama ads directly attacking McCain and the GOP.
McCain’s page is the opposite. His videos are either all attacks on Obama or full of nonsensical and unrelated POW garbage. Of the 255 videos on there, 47 are direct attacks on Obama. So, 1/5 of his internet campaign is devoted only to playing “gotcha” politics.
But you “would have more respect for the Left if they would not find fault with every last thing their political opponents do.”
Want to rephrase?
While Troopergate might be speculation at this point, there still are valid reasons to be slightly concerned of wrongdoing. Pointing that out is not the same as “gotcha” politics. She might have abused her power. That’s not something to start making excuses for.
5:27 am on September 2nd, 2008 57
I think the Clam and James may be the same individual and both (he/she) seem to be a little: (can I use the “R” word on this forum?
6:34 am on September 2nd, 2008 58
Try again, pal.
What is the “R” word? Am I lost?
7:06 am on September 2nd, 2008 59
Palin is a young rising star very much like Obama. The Left should acknowledge her record, without speculation about unconfirmed events, then move on. Instead, they choose to demonize her. The woman is an impressive person by any measure. To deny that is to belittle the achievements of someone who is clearly an accomplished American woman.
8:11 am on September 2nd, 2008 60
clam; Are you saying that you disagree with the execution of the Law? If so, than I see that we have a basic disagreement in our thinking. Therefore your logic can not be trusted. A basic assumption can then be made. If your against it, logical and clear thinking Americans should be for it. Thanks for clearing that up for me. I require no further information from you.
8:23 am on September 2nd, 2008 61
If I may, can I ask just one question? What one thing of note has Obama accomplished in his lifetime? Name just one thing.
Of course you can do the same for Sarah, but she is not running for president.
The great orators of the 20th century do not have a very good track record as far as world affairs go. He is writing a lot of checks with his mouth, does he have the bones to cash them?
8:26 am on September 2nd, 2008 62
Clam@48,
Checked out the “hot-headed” and “dangerous” angle:
Comment by Sen Thad Cochran (R — Miss) based on an event one year after McCain came in office in 1987 during a meeting with Sandinistas. But he also said that he’d observed McCain engaging in a physical tussle with a Sandinista while on a diplomatic mission led by Sen. Bob Dole and others in the fall of 1987. “McCain was down at the end of the table and we were talking to the head of the guerrilla group here at this end of the table, and I don’t know what attracted my attention,” Cochran said. “But I saw some kind of quick movement at the bottom of the table and I looked down there and John had reached over and grabbed this guy by the shirt collar and had snatched him up like he was throwing him up out of the chair to tell him what he thought about him or whatever. I don’t know what he was telling him but I thought, good grief everybody around here has got guns and we were there on a diplomatic mission. I don’t know what had happened to provoke John, but he obviously got mad at the guy and he just reached over there and snatched him.”
Diplomatic? Definitely not. But I’d sure like to know what would make a US Senator grab a Sandinista by the shirt. Must have been good…and I’d like to know the rest of the story which Cochran knows nothing about. Sounds very flaky story as Cochran was on the same “diplomatic” mission and he didn’t know what caused this “diplomatic flap”? Give me a break. This whole story comes off sounding like political back-stabbing during the Republican nomination process. Cochran doesn’t get many points — and McCain certainly comes out looking like someone who doesn’t take crap from anyone. But maybe he’s mellowed in 21 years.
But fast-forward to after McCain’s nomination and we see that they supposedly buried the hatchet. Cochran said McCain had included him on a recent campaign visit to Mississippi. He told the Sun Herald that McCain is the best man for the job. Big change in the story, huh? As I said, this whole thing was simply politics.
As to the remarks by former Sen from Penn and arch-conservative Rick Santorum, supporter of Mitt Romney, it shows that there is a real bone of contention with McCain from the far-right. Santorum has said he would support whoever wins the Republican nomination for president in 2008, with the exception of John McCain. “I don’t agree with him on hardly any issues. I don’t think he has the temperament and leadership ability to move the country in the right direction.” He criticized McCain for voting against the Bush Tax cuts — he was one of only two Republicans to do so. Santorum pointed to McCain’s opposition to conservative positions on drug re-importation, federally funded embryonic stem cell research, immigration, the questioning of terror detainees and other issues, and said he has a “big fear” of a McCain presidency.
BUT…fast forward to after McCain achieved the nomination. The same Rick Santorum on 21 Aug 2008 stated in the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Of all the issues confronting the United States today, none is more important than our nation’s security. Although these issues don’t dominate our news as they once did, we cannot forget that without a safe and secure country, all other issues don’t matter.
McCain is clearly the candidate with the capacity, judgment, experience and will to confront America’s enemies. He’s served our country honorably - heroically - in war. I served eight years with him on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and I can assure you he knows our military. Importantly, he also knows our enemies. He understands their capabilities and their aims. He will not sugarcoat the human or financial commitment and cost needed to defeat this enemy.
The most important social issue is life. Yes, I often wished McCain would have joined me on the Senate floor in debating Barbara Boxer on issues like the partial-birth-abortion ban. In the end, with the exception of embryonic stem-cell funding, he always voted for life and stood for the culture of life. In short, he’s been a reliable vote on life issues, which are critical to conservatives.
Many conservatives have given McCain poor marks for his involvement in the Gang of 14. I was in leadership pushing hard for a showdown with the Democrats on using the “Constitutional Option” to end their filibuster of judicial nominations. The Gang of 14 broke the impasse, and it probably was for the best. I was the one counting votes on that issue, and I was much less certain of success than others. In the end, the Gang deal resulted in numerous confirmations of qualified conservative jurists.
On judges, McCain has repeatedly made clear that he will, as his Web site states, “only nominate judges who understand that their role is to faithfully apply the law as written, not impose their opinions through judicial fiat.” Sounds good to me.
Yes, I disagreed with McCain’s opposition to President Bush’s tax cuts in 2001 and 2003. But I give him credit that he now thinks we must make those tax cuts permanent to boost our now-struggling economy.
And, yes, McCain has been a thorn in the side of many of us who supported important appropriations earmarks for our states. But he’s always objected with principled consistency.
This is but one example of McCain’s character - the kind of character I want in the person who answers 3 a.m. phone calls at the White House.
9:08 am on September 2nd, 2008 63
Pete:
“R” word? If you mean “Republican,” you’re right in my case. I’m a registered Republican voter. I supported McCain back in 2000, but since then he’s embraced the religious nutcases he once criticized and his straight-talk express has derailed. If I vote at all this year, it will be for a third party candidate, not Obama.
Having said that, I still find that most of the attacks on Obama are ridiculous BS that has nothing to do with his policy positions. The liberal attacks on Palin you now denounce are the same kind of mudslinging crap McCain’s campaign has been engaging in for a while now.
Ancient Soldier:
Obama hasn’t spent his whole life doing nothing. He studied and earned a law degree from a respectable school, working as at lawyer for a firm that specialized civil rights litigation and neighborhood economic development. He spent years as an Illinois state senator, sponsoring more than 800 bills. He also served as a U.S. senator since 2005, with a place on the Foreign Relations Committee. That’s more political and foreign policy experience than some past presidents have had.
I don’t agree with most of his policy views, but I don’t see how one could make the ludicrous claim that he has done nothing in his career or that he is somehow less qualified than Mrs. Palin.
9:39 am on September 2nd, 2008 64
James,
I too am a Republican but I’m also undecided as to what I’m going to do on November 4th. Vietnam made me a Republican.
As far as Obama goes, I don’t know that going to Harvard and being active in Civil rights would make him a good president. What bugs me about Obama is he sounds like someone that is making a lot of promises that he won’t be able to keep. He can’t do any of the things he promised without a lot of help that might not be there for him. However he is a great, probably one of the best orators I’ve had the opportunity to listen to in my lifetime, which spans a good bit of the last century. When I hear him speak, no matter the substance of his words, I’m ready to go right out and carry his banner…then common sense sets in and I return to rationality.
With McCain, I don’t know if someone with the reputation as a hothead would make a good president either. However, on the world stage, one would have to argue that McCain has the better experience. Still, I’d hate to be the country that pissed him off if he was president. And what would he do for our economy and the price of a gallon of gas? I see no answer to these questions.
To sum it up, I wish we had some better choices from both parties. For me, the jury is still out on Palin, but she is not the presidential candidate. My questions were serious, not slanderous. Like you, and for the first time in my adult life, I may not vote either. I’m wondering if the Green Party has a candidate this time around. Guess I’ll have to check.
10:17 am on September 2nd, 2008 65
PS: to my last post. I just visited the Green Party web site and ran, did not walk away from it. UGH
8:16 pm on September 2nd, 2008 66
Been to Iraq? Says who? In July 2007, she had to get a passport before she visited members of the Alaska National Guard stationed in Kuwait, according to her deputy communications director, Sharon Leighow. She also visited wounded troops in Germany during that trip AND had a stopover in Ireland’s Shannon Airport!.
9:32 pm on September 2nd, 2008 67
Can any of the military experts on this site answer this question:
Where is Palin’s spider hole?
Talk about MIA!
10:18 pm on September 2nd, 2008 68
Until the vetting process is complete about three months too late, she’ll be temporarily sprucing up Cheney’s old hiding place and studying FP so she’ll be able to reach the absurdly low bar set for her in the debates.
The GOP has realy turned this whole thing into a joke.
10:55 pm on September 2nd, 2008 69
#66 I didn’t say she went to Iraq. Read again closely and click the link.
King Baeksu she doesn’t need a spider hole. She is speaking tomorrow at the convention.
I am curious if you all now believe the children of candidates are now fair game? I personally find attacking the Palin’s family quite disgusting which even Obama agrees with.
Ancient Soldier, of course Obama is making a bunch of promises he can’t keep, that is what politicians do, he is just particularly skilled at sounding good doing it.
11:00 pm on September 2nd, 2008 70
“I personally find attacking the Palin’s family quite disgusting which even Obama agrees with.”
That, my friend, is a bald-faced lie.
Obama and Biden have both made public statements in the past few days that candidates children are off-limits during political campaigns.
11:19 pm on September 2nd, 2008 71
That is what I am referring too. Obama agrees that the attacks on Palin’s family are disgusting. So why is the left continuing to do so?
11:35 pm on September 2nd, 2008 72
The Democratic Party is a big tent. It’s called democracy.
Anyway, why has Bristol Palin’s self-desribed “f**kin’ redneck” fiance been invited to the GOP convention, if children are supposed to be off limits?
Use your kids as PR props, and expect to take some hits.
I do have to say that I am pleased and proud that Obama and Biden are taking the high road here, and are behaving in such a restrained and classy manner.
11:50 pm on September 2nd, 2008 73
I have seen Obama’s young kids on the campaign trail so does that mean you endorse slanderous attacks against his kids then in the name of democracy? Chelsea Clinton appeared plenty while Bill and Hillary were both running for office and no one was launching slurs against her.
You have been complaining about the lies and distortions for the past two months from the Korean left in regards to the US beef protests but since now the slurs are against someone you politically disagree with you consider it democracy in action. I guess the beef protesters can claim their slurs are democracy in action as well.
11:59 pm on September 2nd, 2008 74
GI, fundie Republicans like Sarah Palin want to impose their “family values” on all Americans, including denying women their right to choice. Democrats, on the other hand, are not trying to impose their values on other conservative women’s bodies at all.
Thus, when the staggering hypocrisy of Palin’s “family values” is paraded before the whole world, because no one can deny that she has been a negligent mother here in her pursuit of power, I’d say that’s going to offend a lot of people and bring out the sharks.
On the other hand, I really don’t think Obama can be accused of preaching hypocritical “family values,” so that’s why no one’s really tried to make an issue of his two daughters, even if they were used to some extent for PR purposes at the recent Dem convention.
If you can’t see the difference here, then I’m afraid we’ll just have to disagree.
12:05 am on September 3rd, 2008 75
“King Baeksu she doesn’t need a spider hole. She is speaking tomorrow at the convention.”
Then I can assume you will explain why she hasn’t made any appearances then? The GOP is hiding her.
Also, let’s flash back and remember what McCain said about the Clinton’s and Janet Reno. Short memory, huh GI?
12:08 am on September 3rd, 2008 76
Anyway, this is all academic because Palin is already toast. There must be 12 different Palingates on the go right now. McCain is merely trying to think of the best way to let her go without seeming too mean or cynical.
Personally, I hope she stays in the race, because Obama’s polling numbers have been going up and up all week.
Yes, we can!
2:25 am on September 3rd, 2008 77
@72
Really, that “f_ckin’ redneck” remark is just an image. Some of the best people I’ve known have referred to themselves as “f_ckin’ rednecks”. These folks didn’t have a prejudiced bone in their bodies and were solid, church-going folks that I’m proud to have called “friends.”
Just because they say so doesn’t mean that they accept the traditional images associated with “rednecks” — uneducated, beer guzzling and living in filthy cramped mobile homes. Come on, guy.
Admit it…even you have a little “redneck” in you too. It’s just a fun-loving image.
I roll in the aisles listening to Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Ron White — though Larry the Cable guy’s slapstick humor escapes me. Because I spent so much of my life wearing cowboy boots and have a love of country music, I’d say I might also be a bit of a “f_ckin’ redneck” too.
BUT THE KEY POINT IS THAT THE KIDS OF THE POLITICIANS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED OFF-LIMITS. Even Obama said that if someone on his staff brought this stuff up, they’d be fired. Chelsea and the Bush twins drunk-driving escapades were human interest stories, but never taken as political.
2:38 am on September 3rd, 2008 78
Kalani, I’m not against rednecks and I have an uncle from Colorado who’s a repo man and certfiably maroon around the collar (he breeds doberman pinchers in his backyard and keeps a rifle in the cab of his pickup truck).
However, I would humbly suggest that this Levi chap would probably best be kept out of the national spotlight for now, considering that he knocked up a 16-year-old girl and it is still not clear if that was or was not statutory you-know-what at the time of conception.
From a strictly marketing POV, it doesn’t really help sell the GOP brand of “family values” and all that, does it?
Just my two won.
2:42 am on September 3rd, 2008 79
Source: http://www.adn.com/palin/story/513880.html
4:00 am on September 3rd, 2008 80
“BUT THE KEY POINT IS THAT THE KIDS OF THE POLITICIANS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CONSIDERED OFF-LIMITS”
Will you address the Clinton-Reno remark then?
4:24 am on September 3rd, 2008 81
Being a non-political type, please bring me up to speed on this “Clinton-Reno” remark? Did somebody say that Clinton secretly have children with Reno?
4:39 am on September 3rd, 2008 82
John McCain cracking wise a decade ago:
“Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly?
Because her father is Janet Reno.”
Look, GOP hypocrisy and “having it both ways” is too obvious to even have to address.
So let’s just look at the basic fact of recent events:
In choosing Palin, McCain decided that good marketing was more important than good governance.
Is this the type of man we really want leading our proud nation? Heck, even the marketing folks he hired didn’t do a very good job, did they?
6:18 am on September 3rd, 2008 83
You can’t seriously believe that McCain’s remark is anyway equivocal to the current bashing of Palin.
Also to claim she is a negligent mother is especially bad taste. How do you know she is a negligent mother? I have known many people who were good parents but for whatever reason one of their kids made a poor choice and got into trouble. Palin’s daughter made a poor choice and the family is dealing with it the best way they can.
Good marketing instead of good governance is the same argument that critics of Obama are making. So if you believe she is not qualified for VP then Obama is definitely not qualified for President.
Your best argument is the abortion issue, because it is at least an issue and I can respect someone who disagrees with her over it.
6:41 am on September 3rd, 2008 84
On checking that “joke” it appears that McCain SUPPOSEDLY told this remark to a gathering of Republicans in June 1998 — not the public in general — and it seems that the media hasn’t reported this in print.
Even one of the McCain-condemning blogs said: “Also, why were journalists so reluctant to report the content of the joke?” (Tommy Christopher)
Thus it appears that this is just “hearsay” hullaballoo that even if said, was NOT said during a political campaign where the children comments are off-limits.
A “joke” (even if in bad taste) at a political dinner ten years ago is not what we are talking about. The bottomline is that (1) this “joke” was NOT made DURING A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN when one’s children are off-limits and (2) this “joke” can’t be verified as being said in the first place.
To be truthful, once I read that this was allegedly said at a political dinner and not in a political campaign, I simply stopped looking.
7:21 am on September 3rd, 2008 85
Kalani, the joke was reported in Salon (it was at a Republican fundraiser), and the story explains why the media didn’t quote it generally — they thought it was too nasty. I’d give the link here but this post might not get through. Anyway, I personally don’t care, was just clarifying what it was.
GI, are you aware of how Palin gave birth to her newest-born son? Find out the story, tell it to your wife and then watch her face drop in shock.
Obama has experience and qualifactions up the yingyang. He had more people in his State Senate district (over 200,000) than the number of people who voted for Palin for Governor (130,000). He was the head of Harvard Law Review — that’s executive experience. He ran a national campaign with over 2,000 staffers, a multimillion dollar budget and got 18 million votes. That’s executive experience, and a whole lot more impressive than running a town of 6,000 or 7,000 people and trying to ban books at the local library.
There are literally a dozen different Palingates and I’m too lazy to go through them all. She’s toast, dude. Marks my words.
I look forward to seeing Obama debate McCain, and Biden debate Palin. We don’t need to talk about experience. When people see Obama and Biden crush their opponents through sheer force of reason and argument, that’ll be all she wrote. Game over.
Bring it on y’all. Professor Obama is more than ready.
7:37 am on September 3rd, 2008 86
Obama was never a Governor and has had no elected executive experience. You have to go back to his college days to find executive experience. It is also absurd to claim that running for president qualifies you to be president. Your argument is unconvincing. Palin is every bit as qualified to be VP as Obama is to be President.
McCain picked her knowing the issues with her which leads me to believe he is going to stick with her regardless. It is a gamble which he probably calculated he had to do to be able to beat Obama.
For someone so eager for debates then please explain why Obama has been avoiding debating John McCain if he is so intellectually superior?
7:53 am on September 3rd, 2008 87
“McCain picked her knowing the issues.” Not according to the Washington Post.
“It is also absurd to claim that running for president qualifies you to be president.” Well, he won, and knocked out some pretty tough competition, so clearly he knows how to execute decisions that work. Meanwhile, Palin left Wasilla in debt and is mired in controversies as Governor. Does the name Jack Abramoff ring any bells to you?
“please explain why Obama has been avoiding debating John McCain…” Because he hasn’t had to, he’s leading in the polls and has nothing to gain by doing so until the time is ready. It’s called choosing your battles wisely — something Bush and McCain could stand to study about it bit more, I’m afraid.
Meanwhile, Obama is going on Fox on Thursday night to take on O’Reilly, while McCain just jumped into the whambulance and ran away from Larry King because he was too afraid of a few softball questions about Palin. Who’s the tough guy now, eh?
8:11 am on September 3rd, 2008 88
BTW, the last thing I want to say about McCain and his team is that last Thursday night was an incredibly important historical event in US history, and seeing Obama up on stage at the Democratic Convention in Denver is the kind of thing that should make all Americans feel proud — to see that we’ve come this far after our troubled history of racial intolerance and everyting else. Meawhile, all McCain was interested in doing was cancelling out that profound historical moment with his cheap marketing gimmick literally the next day. And he was in such a hurry to do it that we can see very clearly where his priorities lie. I thought it was a smart marketing move, but a pretty cheap and tacky character move. I was not impressed at all, and I’m quite happy to see that he’s paying the consequences for his rashness now. Thank god we’re seeing how he handles pressure now, before it’s too late.
8:29 am on September 3rd, 2008 89
My, reading through here I am now convinced that Obama is the anti-christ and McCain is the devil incarnate. Personally I don’t like either of them, so for me, if I vote at all, it will come down to the issues and stance of the parties.
As far as Palin’s daughter being pregnant at 17 goes, so what? My daughter was pregnant at 17, married the father who was a year older, went on and worked herself through college with a dual major and now is the head of HR for a major corporation. Her being pregnant means nothing to me. I hate to say it, and I wish it wasn’t so, but teen pregnancy is more common in “modern” America these days. I do not agree with it. What does mean something is that her mother and father stood with her on this just as my wife and I stood with our daughter. It is a non-issue. How can anyone expect to get political gain from ranting about raging teenage lust? Some kids control it, and some do not. At least she did not choose abortion.
Someone talked about choice. We all have choice. We can choose between murdering someone we don’t like or choosing not to. Thank goodness most of us choose not to. Those that choose to do so go to jail and/or are executed. What is the difference between that and killing a conceived baby? There are tens of thousands American families that would love to adopt a baby. Stop abortion and push adoption. It is the only real answer. However I differ with Palin’s view. I do believe abortion should be legal for rape, incest and the health of the mother. I take this stand because if a woman becomes pregnant from rape or incest, it is her mental health that is in question. But it should definitely never be used as birth control.
A note about Rednecks: I are be one and I are be living in a small town in the Texas Hill Country. And I be proud of it. And I be a’flyin’ my flag every chance I get. And I done finished with spending 22 years serving my country so all us folks can sit around and rag about the politicians. We can rag but it won’t do no one no good. Whatever gonna happen gonna happen and it matter little much what any of us have to rant about. However, I must admit I like to help folks that be knocked down and then get kicked around with a bunch of exaggerated non-truths. So even though I don’t like him, I am leaning toward my Republican roots. Not so much for the man, but for the ideals of the party.
8:03 pm on September 3rd, 2008 90
“Stop abortion and push adoption. It is the only real answer.”
Not really. Effective s.e.x education and contraception would obviate the need for either abortion or adoption.
Anyway, we don’t need an “anti-government” party pushing government onto people’s bodies or into their bedrooms.
Thanks, but no thanks!
10:25 pm on September 3rd, 2008 91
Mr King Baeksu
Seems to me that you can educate till your blue in the face, but sometimes when young juices get to flowing, all the education in the world goes out the window. Are our kids somehow smarter today and more receptive to education than they have been since the beginning of time? Sure, the kids that are preinclined to do the right thing will go on and do the right thing, but for sure, no matter what you do, they arn’t all going to toe the policical or recommended line. Kid, and adults, are going to have unprotected sex for as long as there are human beings on this planet. Nothing will change that. And young girls from 14 to 40 are going to continue to get “accidently” pregnant.
When that happens, and you know it will, what do we do? Kill the baby before it’s born?
I don’t know where the anti-government comment came from. But as a taxpayer, I sure do get tired of funding projects caused by a government that has outgrown itself.
As you said…”Thanks, but not thanks!”