Should have read One has to wonder where the hell have the Republicans and Democrats have been for the last 8 years? It is amazing that come election time everyone has ideas. I just wish that more action was done between election years. I agree with that statement 100%, give me the candidate that has the countries interest at heart.
Touche'. From what I have seen over the last 8 years, there hasn't seemed to be an open dialogue between the Executive Branch and any one else. Democrat or Republican. After 9/11 Bush seemed to have been only able to concentrate on one thing over the last 7 years. (which I can appreciate) I hope our new leader is a little more ambidextrous. The fight on terrorism will last for some time, and it may never end. The new President will need to be able to concentrate on more than one thing at a time. We can't allow the nation to crumble from the inside, while we are securing the borders from the outside. If that happens, what would we be protecting ?
When McCain brought a relatively unknown governor aboard the pundits all said he'd just blown his last chance to take the race. http://www.gallup.com/home.aspx The race has 2 months to go and this doesnt end it any more than Obamas earlier lead ended it. The difference is almost the margin of error. Just tells me a move almost universally panned by the conventional wisdom of the chattering class may have been smarter than the pundits thought. A week ago much of the press was busy trying to decide what to wear to the Obama coronation in the wake of the DNC convention. Watching the coverage, the words "homerun" and "hit it outta the park" seemed to be on the lips of everyone. I DO think Obama may have made a strategic error with the image he sent to the public in the acceptance speech. He got great marks from the press, but to their chagrin the rest of us DO get to vote too. An awful lot of non-press types say that the way it was presented they were waiting for a dove to descend from the heavens and rest on his shoulder. Sometimes high theater works, sometimes it backfires. IMO... appears this one backfired.
It seemed like such a silly move to me that I figured that McCain's campaign had to be seeing something that the rest of us weren't. Also, if you look at McCain's announcement as a pure strategic move, it was perfect. To announce that he had picked a relatively unknown woman, the day after the DNC ended, probably did a lot to suppress any bounce the dems would get. Everything that had happened the previous week during the DNC was immediate forgotten and all anyone talked about over the weekend leading up to the RNC was Palin. Now that the RNC is over is looks like they did get their bounce while suppressing the dem's bounce. The pick of Palin was a great strategic move in the short term. The question is will it continue to be good for the McCain campaign? Only time will tell.
PRO-HILLARY CREW TO SCUTTLE BOAT? Slightly off-topic, but we've stated and restated a lot by now, thought I'd explore a related issue - ie: What do you think is going on in the Pro-Hillary diehard camp right now? I realize that publicly Senator Clinton has thrown in with Obama, I also recall she's too politically shrewd to do anything that isnt in her political interest. A;so dont think her fans universally bought her story of unity as genuine, many assumed she did what she must to stay viable for later. Reason I ask... I don't see Hillary voters going for Palin just because shes a woman. Anyone that voted for Palin solely on gender would be about as bright as anyone that voted for OR against Obama based on his skin color. Color and gender mean zip compared to record and policy. I DO however think many of her fans would do anything necessary to further her chances for the next run AND get revenge for a perceived slight by sinking the DNCs chances to take the Whitehouse this year. I've seen them say as much. SEEN ANY EVIDENCE ? MEET THE PISSED OFF PUMAs - HillaryClintonForums.net Ran across the above Pro-Hillary website. It does not toe the unity with Obama line, but then it doesnt have to. It is not technically associated with her campaign but supports it (much like MSNBC's relationship with Obama ) . When I started reading the threads I initially wondered if it was some elaborate GOP plant. It is THAT pro McCain anti Obama. Still a little checking of thge threads shows the site is too old to be a GOP plant and it still includes posters that were seriously pro-clinton anti obama back in March. These guys hate Obama and will support McCain to prove the DNC and Obama were wrong. SNL "MEDIA SUCKS UP" SKIT RE-RUN LAST NITE Given the current furor about media bias I was initially shocked to see SNL re-running the skit where the press openly panders to Obama, refusing to ask hard questions and generally kissing his butt... then treats Hillary like a dog treats a hydrant. SNL likes to lampoon ALL politicians, but their cast is traditionally left leaning... doing anything that'd hurt the liberal candidate would be odd. Why did they re-run something that reinforced this negative image of Obama 2 months before the election... the same skit Hillary used to argue that even the comics recognized Obama was getting special treatment and NOT being vetted to the extent other candidates were. Then it occurred to me... somebody at SNL is a Clinton die-hard. Otherwise I just dont see Hollywood doing anything that'd even POSSIBLY hurt Obama at this time. Anyone else see evidence that the reported unity isnt exactly the paradise thats being reported?
Great ! I am glad to see people so happy about a member of the Keating 5, the Savings and Loans crisis of the 80's where American citizens lost millions of dollars and collapsed the whole industry, and a soccer mom who has put a bounty on the lives of wolves in thier natural habitat, leading in the polls. Unfortunately that is the America that I see everyday. The "anybody but him" crowd.
Ya know Harold, for somebody that described himself on a web bio as having a good sense of humor, you sound awful bitter. Lighten up, we arent deciding the matter here, just talking about it. FTR - having had several relatives that supplied the milk America drinks for breakfast I can assure you that a bounty on wolves is not an uncommon thing in rural America where they tend to hurt people's livelihood. When I was on a zoning commission in a well-to-do city rapidly changing from its rural roots to a tony suburb of Dallas and Ft Worth, I used to hear conservation minded new residents come forward to decry the greedy developers that wanted to turn the bucolic pasture across the street from their house into a residential development, thus displacing the cows. "When is enough enough?"... they'd ask. I'd tell them... "Obviously the answer is it was 'enough' just as soon as YOUR house was built... cause only two years ago I watched cows graze where your sofa sits". As you can guess I didnt return for a second round on that commission... the truth is pretty damned unpopular when it conflicts with a good argument. I noticed while serving on that panel that everyone was perfectly willing to pass government restrictions that effectively took control of property from an owner without compensation... effectively turning it into a non-city-owned refuge for wildlife / trees / flowers... but oddly didn't wish to allow the government to tell them what they could do with their own land. I suggested that if they wanted to control the pasture across the street they really should buy it... then they could. I got zero takers and a lotta dirty looks. Never have nbeen impressed with environmentalists who are prepared to make sacrifices right down to the last penny of their neighbors wallet, and that seems to include quite a few of 'em. ALL of America was once the wolf's natural habitat, including where you live. If it affects your livelihood and ability to feed the kids you might favor killing predators too. If you think otherwise, put your actions where your words are... boycott my wolf-killer relatives by ceasing to use the product they produce. Don't drink milk. ==== Now... any opinions on the Clinton crew question?
ok I think many are capable of this. The question is how much of a concerted, organized effort will they make of it, and how big of an impact could they potentially make? I saw that too. I think SNL has historically been pretty good at dishing it out to everyone evenly. I don't think you can read much of a bias into that skit. Take this skit for example: http://video.google.com/videoplay?d...ei=00nESPKzLqK6qAOGjLi4BQ&q=hillary+snl&vt=lf
Yes, all of the Senators involved were cleared, but MCCain still paid back the money, and it doesn't change the fact that he didn't have any more sense than to fly around on a private jet taking gifts from a man that was raping and pillaging the countries Savings and Loan industry, while lobbying for protection from the laws that would put him in jail. That shows lack of judgment in my view, and now you guys want to put him in charge of the whole kit and caboodle when he admits himself that he struggles with math. Just basic math. I'm not bitter, that's just how I express myself when I feel passionate about something. I actually enjoy a vigorous discussion. It's fun for me. So if I sound bitter, I don't mean too. I'm a big M.A.S.H fan, I like snappy one liners Funny that YOU should say that, you gave me a Red rep for "talking" about something a few days ago on my blog, that is now the number one story in America. I, and the other bloggers out there who dared to ask questions should all get a green rep, because the media is painfully slow, and it took the story to go online to get an answer from the candidate. Democracy in action baby
Reality Check: I've never seen your blog, so it seems unlikely. You made an attempt at returning the red (sorry dude, it was gray, maybe you should be nicer to people after all)... which I have no particular plan to apologize for giving, and unlike you I admitted writing one without being asked and told you exactly why you got it. If you have a problem with the system, talk to a mod. Probably time to let that particular bone go... might help avoid that mistaken impression of being "bitter".
Back to Palin... Some info on Sarah Palin that is worth reading. A Letter About Sarah Palin From Anne Kilkenny Vetting document from 2006, when Sarah Palin ran for Governor of Alaska
I am all for protecting our nation from terrorism and I thought Bush did an excellent job post 9/11. My major problem with Bush is his failure to handle Katrina and the economy post Katrina. At least the economy is one of the leading issues with MR. Obama and Mr. McCain and with the economy being at the forefront, the Dems and Republicans will have to make improvements and hopefully a change will occur.
You still misused the forum checks and balances for you own personal opinion. I don't forget things like that, it goes to character and your inability to separate personal feelings from a discussion about the issues. That's what people who lack the wit and intelligence to defend an issue do..they lash out with something completely unrelated. It's O.K., many people of inferior intelligence do it, so don't feel bad. I don't need your apologies , never asked for it. In this particular instance you were dead wrong. Seeing how people react in situations like this goes to credibility and it helps me when i make business decisions. Actions speak louder than words and you still don't even see how what the reps are for, and what you did, are not related. It just lets others know that if they disagree with you, you will be repping their forum profile. I don't see where I haven't been nice to people on this forum..I come here particularly to help new bloggers in that section...I only stop by this part to have a little fun. So I am sorry that you are so thin skinned, I suspect that bravery only comes on forums like so many that act superior under the protection of location anonymity. I'll let it go when I get bored of it, sorry I have to disagree with you again, so feel free to red rep all you want...what does it actually do anyway. I don't do any business here...it just says some guy repped me for having a differing opinion, unless you lied abut the reason too...then that would just make you pathetic. So reality check for you. It's not the red rep, I don't get paychecks for here , or you...it's your arrogance in feeling justified in giving it when I did nothing to you, other than participate in the political discussion of a forum that you just happen to be a member of, yet are not a mod. That false sense of chivalry that you claim to have....how many magazines and news stations did you call and complain about the same thing? Huh ? Oh I know...none....so you are a complete hypocrite. It didn't bother you that much, you just felt like raising a little arrogant rage, and boasting about how moral you are. If you really had any kind of balls, and really believed in all that BS that you spout on the forum, you would use your own blog and your voice to do something about it...not lurk around a forum passing out reps under anonymity. At least have the balls to leave a comment on my blog, that is where I originally posted the story. I will approve it don't worry. All differing opinions are welcome. You are So worried about a political candidates daughter when it is the candidate herself parading it around like some kind of story of accomplishment. Funny thing is, form the stories coming out about her, i am sure she has a few choice slurs for you, as I have seen your picture, and she likes to call people sambo, and has a few choice words for native Alaskan Eskimos as well. You really need to get out more.
I feel the same way, but it does make me uncomfortable when Security is the only issue. That is what we are doing now, and some thing were allowed to get out of control, while some made tons of money.
Speaking of Obsessive I hear a university research group advertised for folks to participate in a study of obsessive-compulsive disorder. They needed therapy clients that'd been diagnosed with the disorder. They got an amazing response... 1247 responses in the first hour alone. Unfortunately... all from the same guy. So how many more long self-aggrandizing posts can we look forward to about that one red? As for the "sambo" comment you just made with reference to my picture, actually it's a helluva tan (taken on annual canoe trip), but if you want a little advice... tread carefully on racial comments in here, we'd miss you if you were gone.
And this is the temperament we can expect from someone who posts that they are running for President ? Not exactly the self control that the country is looking for Mr. Jones. I am bored with you now, this will just be an agonizing circle of who has the most wit. Unfortunately you are not that entertaining, and obviously unarmed.