I agree that she is looking a lot worse than she is. she can not be that bad. this goes to Mccain's ability to run a campaign. Pailin was a big mistake. It destroyed Mccain. Now the race is Obama's to lose
I saw that Campbell Brown commentary earlier and thought it was retarded. Rob's right that stuff like that sounds more like the spin from a campaign than thoughts of a journalist. This on the other hand and while being on a different subject, carries more weight.
yeh i did post that yesterday , if i remember. thank you Barbara Walters and the ladies of View for starting the avalanche
I think Brown was right on, in the substance of what she is saying: is it not time to quit shielding this VP nominee from any kind of public inquiry whatsoever, to put her in the same vein of transparent responsiveness as any of the other 3, expected to answer questions put to them? Will's comment touches something that has been with me today. Does anyone else - and I don't say this for effect, but for a sincere response - does anyone else see McCain's actions of today as reckless, impulsive, betraying an egregious lack of judgment on one of the most important issues to hit our nation in several generations, possibly?
Kidding about Brown... I've watched her for years. She's just been a little more pro-Obama than disinterested third party journalist than she prefers to admit. Still think she looks like Jane Curtains news character on SNL that would give an opionion after which Dan Akroyd began his counterpoint feature with... "Jane, you ignorant slut...." Added: I dont think McCains action was necessary, or an especially brilliant tactic, but it doesnt strike me as some kind of wild behavior that indicates he's some kind of danger to anyone. People running for office do odd stuff all the time. Biden did 'em all week, it was McCains turn.
I think today for the first time they had a mock debate and he got wooped. they knew that they have no time to bring grandpa up to date. So no chance of doing the debate.
LOL - apologies, Rob, missed the wink. I don't know - has there ever been a suspension of a Presidential campaign on this kind of order, in American history? Obama made the first overture for a joint statement, and McCain popped out with this, two days before the first scheduled debate. Biden's idiotic gaffes look like little league compared to this, and I really feel this just seems pretty "loose cannon." Not nuts, just pretty radically intemperate, and I do feel it raises a sincere question on the man's judgment under crisis. Additionally, even on purely political terms, watching Obama's response, I'd say Obama hit a home run on the "cool and reasoned" front. A serious error from McCain, when he couldn't afford it.
Of course she shouldn't be guarded from the press the way she has been, but the sexist angle is sensational and frankly sounds like something that could be written by one of Obama's campaign strategists. They picked her largely because she's a woman but that's not why they're hiding her away. No. I think it's either politics as usual or maybe McCain is actually being sincere. We know that McCain has the potential to show more character than most people, but because of his recent behavior, it's hard to tell when he actually is putting country first and when he's just making political moves.
OK, I grant that. I'm simply glad someone from the press is issuing a grand "WTF" to this intolerable firewall. 40 days to go, and she wasn't exactly brought in slowly, over the entirety of this campaign. I do find it unconscionable that the McCain ticket has cried "sexism" and "outrage," when it is pretty basic - allow her to stand or die on the merits.
Hmm. Now Obama's headed for DC tomorrow after all. Presumably he thinks theres a looming bipartisan "we all share the credit or blame" measure on the table that both sides think is going to pass. Maybe they know something we dont, but I doubt you could get a bill changing the price of postage by 3 cents thru in that time, much less a funding plan to make a $700 billion investment of taxes while every imaginable interest is grabbing their favorite congressman to try and get their pet project hardwired for a gimme. Three Possible Scenarios * 1 * If that happens and they're all back in Missisippi Friday for a debate then McCain may have scored bigtime ... he's been in this game 30 yrs, theyre discussing foreign policy, and he's tied up Obama during his last day of prep. The odd move then turns to his advantage. * 2 * If both going to DC results in the debate being postponed it is probably gonna piss off a lotta people that wanted a debate, but with both in DC rather than Mississippi it probably doesnt help that Obama comes off as having done the opposite of what he said he'd do. * 3 * If they both go to DC but Obama shows back up in Mississippi and chats solo, and McCain is still in Washington... outcome depends on whether the public thinks McCain is a no-show OR that Obama walked out on what he's called the most important crisis we've faced since WW2. I initially thought McCains action was a tactical error. Then the President called the meeting McCain specifically suggested in todays statement, and Obama reversed tack and is heading for DC in direct contrast to his statement today. That changes the dynamic. This should be interesting. If it comes out to McCains advantage I'm gonna quit opining when I think he's taken a weird turn.
I don't know if Obama has really changed on anything. He said in his speech today that if he is called upon at anytime he will not hesitate to fly somewhere and do what he can. I think he also said there's no reason why you have to do one or the other(go to Washington or do the debate). Like he said they both have jets with their names on them.
Already agreed with that part. Not in favor of stopping the debate personally. I do think if it comes off Friday it favors the guy with gray hair. Pulling Obama back to DC beforehand may have been a helluva gambit if the debate goes forward.
For Mccain to think that he can walk into this negotiations in the final hour and have any effect is ridiculous. He was not there from the beginning, nor did he think there was an issue just 4 days ago. There has always been a debate...during D-Day, and even during the Civil War. If this was a political move, it was a bad one, especially being behind in the polls. To show that he can't do 2 things at a time, shows that he cannot handle a crisis and perform as President simultaneously. McCain just showed his age, and his hand. And he has no back up plan with his chosen running mate...she can't even answer questions. So what does she do now...sit in a hotel room and wait for McCain to start campaigning again 14 days before the election? Curious move, but not the one to make now. He should have showed leadership and ability, instead he just showed confusion and inability.
Exactly ! It has been evident since the convention. No Questions. 2 interviews, and pre-written answers to everything. There is no doubt, that now, in the mist of a crisis, the McCain campaign is in the good light, and the Red White and Blue does not look as bright as it did a week ago. I think America just woke up and realized who they were about to put in office and just sit back and hope. This is not a western...the Regan years are over. We don't need a "Maverick", we need intelligence, sound judgment, and someone who is cool enough under pressure not to make snap decisions. With so much at stake right now, I want someone who will blink 4 or 5 times before they pull the switch. Unfortunately a candidate who struggles with basic math, can't send email, graduated at the bottom of his class, and a back up that is doing a cram session in foreign policy with a new passport , is not what we need right now. No matter your personal opinions and issues...it is about what we need right now, now what we want or hope. McCain cannot win this with waving flags and cowboy hats. Those days ended with Regan. Been screaming for weeks that McCains people are all lobbyist, now in the light we see that his top guy is a huge lobbyist and his company go to over #30k a month for 5 years from a failing Fannie and Freddie to lobby for more deregulation of the mortgage industry ? The industry that has destroyed the American economy ? It rings true...It's not change, it's more of the same. I'm tired of getting screwed. Obama leads by more and more everyday. Education does matter. Thank god we see this before the election and not after. We may actually get it right this time.
OK, a lot of people have dismissed Palin's comments about "God's will" and Iraq, etc., saying the "leftist media" has twisted her comments to say she believes it is God's will that we're in Iraq, when what she said, was "pray our leaders are following God's Will" in invading Iraq. As to the comments on Irag and God's will, fair enough. I agree she didn't say it was God's will we invaded Iraq. Now, please view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k84m2orSOaM&feature=related Please note her comments on Pastor Muthee, between 0:43-1:04 in the video. She specifically says: Does anyone else see the problem? This is exactly what people have said in expressing alarm over her fundamentalist views. She is expressly distinguishing between "pray to God, let his will be done," and saying "Pray to God that X is done, and as X was done, this is evidence of the special "power" of our Church." This is utterly psychotic! It is precisely the kind of thing that those who have criticized her on this line have been saying - that any political action to be taken has the imprimatur of God's will, and because of her, and her Church's 'special power' in relationship with God, it will be manifested. I couldn't care less if she wishes to believe this - I was an Assembly of God, in my youth, and whatever brings you peace, fine. But to carry this over into the reins of power - manifestly, psychotically dangerous. Now, keep in mind, the pastor she lauds, Pastor Muthee also "laid on hands" to drive the influence of witchcraft from Palin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj-on3kfWuE&feature=related Along with prayers that God drive money to Palin's campaign. Now, keep in mind, this guy - the guy Palin credits with somehow getting God to say, "sure," and voila, Palin is the Guv - had an earlier career as a Kenyan witch hunter. Not a far stretch to know what "witch" means in many cultures, including our own, during the sad time of the Salem Trials. In parts of the world today, a "witch" is someone who causes a man to want to sleep with her, and she is stoned to death. In Muthee's world, it is a fortune teller, apparently: More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch-hunt#Africa Now, many here have asked why there is a media shut-out of Biden's stupid mouthings - I know Rob has asked why no one has picked up on his stupid 1929 crash, FDR T.V. address thing. This insanity by Palin makes Biden look like the exemplar of reasoned oration. I'm sorry - this is just nuts. The more I come to know about Palin, the more I wish more was brought out on her, as she is utterly dangerous to this Republic. Behind a smiling, pleasant demeanour, a cipher who doesn't give a damn about anything she should, as the VP nominee, know at least something about; doesn't give a damn beyond how cool the job would be, how she gets to have her picture taken shaking hands with heads of state just prior to the election, and is perfectly content to ascribe everything under the sun to a third party - probably disinterested third party, if the Old Fella actually exists. Unbelievable, to me.
I'd explain again why Palins Christian beliefs shouldnt be an issue but since you didnt catch it the first time I'll just say my opinions already been stated. How you can worry about Muthee and have no problems that Obama spent years listening to Walkers rants (the clips were briefly available before the press forgot Obama is incapable of bad associations) while spending his free hours working with Ayres ( an unrepentant terrorist who says he doesnt regret bombing government buildings) and doing shady real estate deals with Rezko (now a convicted felon for fraud), or remembering as a state legislator Obama helped direct money to the place his wife works and she suddenly gets a doubled bump in pay... only says you and I get excited about totally separate things.
I don't know how else to say it, and I really don't want to fight with you, Rob; I enjoy many of your posts, and generally find it rewarding to exchange with someone whose views are very far from mine. But you've again missed what I said, misstated what I actually have said, and that gets old. It isn't her Christian belief that I find troubling. Or, It is that she seems to honestly believe it was her pastor's prayer that ushered her into the governorship, that I find troubling. It is her conflating her Christian beliefs with policies to be taken, and haven taken policies, to believing they were blessed by God almighty, that I find dangerous as hell. Or, Haven't seen the clips you say are no longer available. To my knowledge, he didn't "spend his free time working with Ayres," but served on the same board with him - whether they worked together, or not, isn't clear. Here is what I recall: http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/02/obamas_weatherman_connection.html And I consider this a far cry from the smear attempted on this association. The "shady real estate deals" with Rezko are a "deal," to my knowledge, where Obama bought the strip of land adjoining his house from Rezko, knowing Rezko was under investigation at the time. The Tribune noted at the time: Did you have something else, that I'm not seeing? Don't have knowledge of Obama's funneling money to his wife's work, and she received a bump in pay as a result. Did you have a source? On the other hand, Palin credited her witch-hunting pastor with having the special ear of God, and that special relationship won her the Governorship. Yes, we do get excited about different things.
RE: Ayres See previous posts about the probability of someone throwing a kickoff fundraiser for a casual aquaintance. http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showpost.php?p=9218021&postcount=736 Documentation provided. Unless you know a lot of people who had their unborn political careers by near strangers, read the documentation referenced. How Muthees past can be an issue but being on the FBI most wanted list and having to hide out for 10 years is a boyhood pecadillo is just weird. ========== MICHELLE OBAMA - Pay Boost and Earmarks from Hubby to Employer - ONE SOURCE HERE Dont expect to find a ton of people discussing it on the news. If Todd Palin worked somewhere in "external relations" and his salary more than doubled about the same time his wife took office and sent an earmark for $1 million to his employer... it might be more newsworthy.
It is the same f----KING logic that counts being close to Russia makes one an expert in foreign policy. Pleeeeeeeeeeesse