Matthew Dowd

Matthew Dowd has been a campaign strategist in races throughout the country. In 30 years, Dowd has worked for Democrats and Republicans, most recently serving as chief strategist for President George W. Bush in 2004.

November 2008
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30

« Previous | Main | Next »

VP Choice: Another Meaningful '08 Moment

August 20, 2008 7:08 AM

Opinion by Matthew Dowd, ABC News Political Contributor

Well, the two major party candidates are about to make the one of the most important decisions they will make in their political lives…and possibly their lives in total.   Who will Obama and McCain pick for their vice-presidential nominee and why did they pick them and what does this tell us about Obama and McCain?

Many analysts and pundits have focused and will focus on the questions of what does the pick do to shore up a weakness or what does it do to highlight a strength or how does this pick affect a certain demography or geography (meaning does it deliver a constituency or a state that was problematic before).  All of these are very valid discussions.

But I would like to focus on three different questions that we should ask or explore when these picks emerge in the days to come:

First,  did Obama and McCain make a decision that followed their gut or heart, or did they make a decision that followed their head.   Many of us never get a chance to pick a vice-president, but we do make important decisions in our lives – relationships, jobs, how we raise our kids, etc.  And from my vantage point the best decisions are those when we make them from our heart and follow our intuition.  Many times our heads get in the way of what we is best for us.  I believe that when we start doing balance sheet analysis of decisions and weighing pros and cons, then we are already away from our heart and we are going to likely make a decision that doesn’t work.  I think the same is true of the Presidential candidates.   As Americans, the most important aspect of a candidate is their gut values, and so the important pick for vice-president should reflect that.  Lets look at these decisions they make and weigh if they made a heart decision or a head decision. 

Second,  following closely from the first, is did they weigh the political affect more importantly than how the relationship will work over the next four years and whether a trust exists.  Did they go for the short term affect and not give proper weight to the functioning of the office of the Presidency in all the manifestations of policy and communication and leadership.   The complicated nature of the 21st century and the needs and desires of all Americans for a proper functioning federal government, I believe demands that the pick be about a partnership and that four years should matter much more than than next sixty days.   Many of us Americans have dysfunction in our own lives and families, and we don’t need institutionalized dysfunction that we actually have to pay for with our taxes!

Thirdly, did the pick represent a person that will appeal to the President’s best instincts or worst instincts.  All of us have seeds of bad or good embedded in us, and a key is surrounding ourselves with people who water the good and weed the bad.   And the  bubble affect of the White House is so dramatic, that a President will spend the vast majority of his time around only a few people.  So whether a vice-president brings out the best and pushes the President to be his best self I believe is key.  We have seen recent Presidents who have brought people into their administrations who have done the exact opposite and it turned out to be disastrous at many different levels.

So, these are the three I would focus on when the picks are made:  1. was it heart or head; 2. was it about a partnership or just politics; 3. does pick appeal to good or bad in person.

And by the way, examining the political ramifications of a pick can be a dicey proposition anyway.  I remember full well in 1988 when Dukakis made what most considered a brilliant political pick (Bentsen) and Bush made what many regarded as a horrible pick (Quayle), who ran away with that election. 

See ya in Denver. 

August 20, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (83)

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/433071/32570012

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference VP Choice: Another Meaningful '08 Moment:

User Comments

How does McCain justify Ridge, when he said on national TV. Prolife, prolife past, prolife administration.
More like prolife BS!
Like most of his innuendo!

Posted by: DAVID NH | Aug 20, 2008 7:30:04 AM

If Obama doesn't choose Hillary I believe he will not win the election. Hillary's voters will definately not vote for him no matter what she says. Biden, Bayh, Kathleen, Kaine, Nunn, are not qualified to be the VP and never will be. Kathleen especially and I don't know how she got to be governor. Biden's mouth would get Obama in trouble. Kaine, Bayh and Nunn should just stay in their jobs. Obama is making a circus out of his convention and has too many speakers there. Obama wants world wide attention because he never had it as a youngster but it will all end if he is elected. This country will be in a disaster like never before. He lacks the experience in all fazes of politics and needs someone to advise him on all his moves. Bill Clinton, Reagan, Bush,Sr., JFK were all smart president's and well prepared for day one. Obama will not be and will make many wrong moves while he is in office unless he has the right VP who can assist him. McCain doesn't need any to assist him because he is well qualified and experiences in every field of politics.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Aug 20, 2008 7:46:28 AM

tell us who McCain's choice is going to be . He's got some excitement building

Posted by: tellussoon | Aug 20, 2008 7:52:18 AM

Obama is a mess and his VP selection won't matter. During the recent appearances on faith and morality, Obama was asked when a fetus gets rights. He answered that question was "above his pay grade".

Sorry Obama. The job of President is ABOVE YOUR PAY GRADE. Thankfully the American people are starting to figure that out.

Posted by: Jim | Aug 20, 2008 7:54:47 AM

I am so sick and tried of Hillary whiners saying they will not vote for Obama. Go ahead and vote for McBush. Your are mindless repubs anyway and was not going to vote for Obama anyway. She lost fair and square, stop crying. The well oiled machine lost to an upstart and they were stunned.

Posted by: hendu30349 | Aug 20, 2008 7:56:54 AM

Many of the people that make comments about the candidate's do not know the first thing about politics. I don't know where they get some of these statements plus they say whatever comes into their head. The public definately is aware that Obama is not an experienced politician and that he is in this race only to make history like MLK. He got obsessed by reading many books on MLK and now wants to be more popular than him. The reason for his wanting the arena for the convention is because he wanted an overly large crowd like MLK use to get when he was speaking and marching. He wants to make history so bad he can taste it but McCain has a good chance of winning this election. McCain is a polished politician which Obama lacks. I am well aware that PUMA is smarter than the public about Obama and they can see right thru him but it could all come to an end at the convention. No one knows what is going to happen that day.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Aug 20, 2008 7:57:50 AM

Hendu: If Obama is an upstart you better go back to school and get an education of politics. We all know about Obama being a schemer like Nancy Pelosi and Dean. All three of them made deals with the superdelegates not to vote for Hillary because Nancy wanted to be the lady in charge and she would like to be running for president. I am hoping for a backlash at the convention to give Nancy and Dean a shock. There are going to be too many no nothings, do nothings, say nothing speaker's at the convention. Its going to be like a circus. All they need is the elephants to make it real.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Aug 20, 2008 8:04:08 AM

Jim: You are so right. I listened to the forum and Obama couldn't get the answer's out of his mouth fast enough. He had to think what to say. He is a mess and no matter who he picks he will be running the country in name only. His VP will have to advise him on everything he says. Biden, Bayh and Kaine are not qualified for the position of VP only what they are doing now and Biden as a mouth that won't stop. Kathleen should stay as governor and be glad she got that job. She is a pain. If Obama doesn't pick Hillary he has a chance of losing this election and hopefully all her voters will throw their vote to McCain or write her name in.

Posted by: Mariann Pepitone | Aug 20, 2008 8:11:49 AM

"VP Choice: Another Meaningful '08 Moment"

Might be. To me he looks silly waiting for the opportune time to make his choice known.

While Obama might have the media's and public's attention, he doesn't seem to know what to do with it.

He successfully made this Campaign about him, what about policies?

To hell with the "Change" theme, the only change I want, or care about are policy changes. So while he is so careful about his image I am not winning.

Make the announcement and get on with hitting McCain and the Republican Party hard.

Posted by: Thinking | Aug 20, 2008 8:27:17 AM

Wow....ABC have you noticed how obsessed your news is with Obama's vp choice? Your whole headline news offering is dominated by Obama. Do you try to equal out coverage at all or is this a total thing of the past?

Posted by: rafraf | Aug 20, 2008 8:45:59 AM

i was watching lord of the rings two towers and in that movie there was a scene were the ent tree beard says "the filth of saramon is washing away" that is what obama should say when he wins this fall but chnage the name "the filth of bush is washing away" bush and his devil worshiping republican party have created alot of filth.

Posted by: tom | Aug 20, 2008 8:47:49 AM

Without his teleprompter, Obama is just another candidate. People thought Hillary was being unfair when she stated that Obama "is not electable". Take a good look at all the latest polls, his big lead is now gone, and Rasmussenreports.com, probably the best pollster out there has even had McCain ahead a couple times in the last few weeks. For all the negatives that the Clintons bring to the table, they also bring a lot of experience and political wisdom. All you Clinton haters might just be eating your words come November. If Obama blows this election, it will go down in history as the biggest collapse in the modern era of politics.

Posted by: JRS | Aug 20, 2008 8:55:11 AM

jrs---obama will win dont worry.america wont vote for mccain he is just more demonic republican crap.

Posted by: tom | Aug 20, 2008 9:01:03 AM

I see this blog allows only Obama bashing.

Posted by: Ronaldraygun | Aug 20, 2008 9:01:19 AM

John McCain isn't fit for promotion to Admiral so what makes him fit for the Presidency.

Posted by: Ronaldraygun | Aug 20, 2008 9:02:25 AM

To Mariann Pepitone:
Please do NOT vote for Obama. Please vote your heart and vote for McBush. If you are that narrow minded and think the last 8 years have been the greatest in our history, that is your decision. But for the most of us who have experienced 9/11, two UNDECLARED wars, over 4,550 service deaths, Katrina, high energy prices, the housing bubble burst, the banking meltdown, etc., the choice is real simple. If you want to think everything is ok, be my guest and vote for McBush. The rest of us care about the direction of America. Besides, the repubs have their own issue other than an election:
http://www.armchairsubversive.org/

Posted by: hendu30349 | Aug 20, 2008 9:06:05 AM

Obama is dropping like a bolder!!! It was inevitable that this was going to happen. The DNC (Dean & Pelosi) along with Obama and his staff said and did anything to get superdelegate votes thrown Obama's way! The people didn't elect him and those that voted for him are realizing that he is nothing but an empty suit so by November he will lose and lose BIG! The only person that can give him a win is Hillary and he is too arrogant & egotistical to pick her. So when he loses remember to thank Obama, his staff and the liberal media!

Posted by: loving politics | Aug 20, 2008 9:13:43 AM

Yawn. Obama VP pick. Yawn.

Posted by: Kitty | Aug 20, 2008 9:15:30 AM

Each candidate will make the choice based on political expediency, winning. There are no good choices in politics these days and both parties have shown their ability to do nothing in congress.

They have both moved so far center as to lose any identity they started with. McCain must protect his position with the conservatives and that means a pro life VP. Obama can just about select anyone to improve his lot with the voters, because he is lacking in so many areas.

This election will come down to the voters in the booth on election day making the hard decision to go with or without experience and the candidates reinforce this everyday.

Can't wait for the debates to show us voters who can take the heat but, I think I already know the answer.

Posted by: Independent minded | Aug 20, 2008 9:16:49 AM

Marianee
Stop with the melt down already dont vote for obama vote for mccain you seem to have the same mentality as mccain me being an obama supporter we dont need mindless sensless people like you you people can all jump on the mcbush wagon!!!!!!!!! the obama supporters happen to care about our childrens future!! and are SICK OF THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WE DONT WANT ANYMORE OF BUSH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: angie | Aug 20, 2008 9:20:31 AM

Can we all stop the 'NoBama' and 'McBush' crap? It's getting real old & doesn't sound 'clever'. It's childish namecalling that is supposed to stop after grammer school. It also doesn't garner any respect for the poster.
Make a valid point and keep the namecalling on the kid's playground!!!

Posted by: Ed | Aug 20, 2008 9:31:49 AM

Ed, you forgot your question mark. I kinda like the creative names. I use McSane and Obamaramble.

Posted by: Kitty | Aug 20, 2008 10:48:18 AM

How about these things as two that may overlap but I think are the MOST important...

1. did he pick the most effective person in the position...who could make the most positive effect from being in that role.

2. did they pick for themselves or did they pick for the country

Posted by: dl | Aug 20, 2008 11:46:13 AM

:: TRUTHINESS :: things that a person claims to know intuitively or "from the gut" without regard to evidence, logic, intellectual examination, or facts.

Posted by: Stephen Colb. | Aug 20, 2008 12:21:22 PM

average polls by state have mccain winning the electoral college right now

Posted by: chris | Aug 20, 2008 12:28:32 PM

if you truly want the best President who will serve the best interests of our children, our troops and our country, then Senator Clinton is the only choice. she has the experience, intelligence, resources, contacts and capability to know and do what is right and necessary to give our loved ones a better future

Posted by: chris | Aug 20, 2008 12:30:41 PM

We hope they do think about what is best for our country . also question I have been asking about, why are all the moderators picked for this years debates all white 64-74 year olds? Why not a female or a younger man picked? This election is historical and moderators should be not the same gender or age. Don't take me wrong they are good men, but they seem to have been picked in McCain's age group.what do you think?

Posted by: bev | Aug 20, 2008 1:35:06 PM

Barack Obama recently finished a $500,000 total overhaul of his 757. And as part of the new design, he decided to remove the American flag from the tail...
What American running for President of the United States would remove the symbol of his country? And worse, he replaced the flag with it with a symbol of himself...

Posted by: wp | Aug 20, 2008 1:40:51 PM

HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

ALL THE WAY!!!!

Posted by: WP | Aug 20, 2008 1:41:50 PM

You got that Right Bev, I personally was hoping that Paris Hilton would moderate given that we all know she knows more than obama.

Posted by: chattyway | Aug 20, 2008 1:58:49 PM

Hillary was NOT for this Country or her Party. She was for herself. She stayed in the race absolutey TOOOOOO long, and ran a very NEGATIVE campaign. It kills me when I hear her supporters and the media say "Hillary ran a brilliant race." BS!!! She ran a nasty race which brought out the worst in her supporters. If they jump ship and vote McCain it will be HILLARY'S fault this country goes to CRAP!!!

Posted by: 2008TooLate | Aug 20, 2008 5:10:49 PM

P.S. - If Hillary's supporters SHOULD vote for McCain, at least the ones who spout off like the nasty Republican mudslingers -- DON'T FORGET HOW BUSH GOT ELECTED -- mean, nasty and negative campaigning machine. You all sound and behave alot like those arrogant Repubs. Go for it!! IDIOTS!!

Posted by: 2008TooLate | Aug 20, 2008 5:14:12 PM

Obama has no one to blame but himself if he loses-----------he is a complete idiot with alot of ugly views bound to come out.

Posted by: chattyway | Aug 20, 2008 5:24:38 PM

McCain is a moderate........and atleast doesn't have terrorist ties, and has some common sense. Obama is just a fool thinking dressing up and smiling is enough to cover up his ugle views and stupidity.

Posted by: chattyway | Aug 20, 2008 5:26:39 PM

I'm a McCain supporter, but I've got to tell you, Hillary really scared the republican party, because she really does have a chance to beat McCain. Obama... not so much. He has too much baggage, radical and racist associates, inexperience, bad Illinois politics. Obama won't pick Hillary though, for one thing I don't think she wants it, she wants McCain to win so she can run again in 2012, also she would over shadow Obama and he's so arrogant and narcissistic that he has to stay in the spot light, and, lastly Michelle would never allow it.

Posted by: S Adams | Aug 20, 2008 5:27:42 PM

I think they Republicans were welcoming Hillary because she has more dirt they could throw her way with their mudslinging machine she borrowed from them to run her campaign. Furthermore, if McCain or Hillary are calling Obama a racist or a narcissist, they must now own a mirror. . .

OBAMA '08

Posted by: 2008TooLate | Aug 20, 2008 5:41:32 PM

Your correct chattyway Paris knows more than Obama she knows how to do a Lewinsky and have it go world wide.

Posted by: Ronaldraygun | Aug 20, 2008 8:59:36 PM

Cindy McCain has not just 1 Half Sister, she's Denied, but 2 Half Sisters, though Cindy McCain claims Constantly, "She is an Only Child"

Another Cindy McCain LIE, That Mother Teresa Convinced her to Adopt Children from Bagladesh !!!

Source: The Christian Science Monitor

The latest embellishments come from the McCain camp. Cindy McCain has repeatedly referred to herself as an “only child.” This week came news that she actually has two half sisters, although apparently she had very little contact with them.

The McCain campaign had also put out the story that Mother Teresa “convinced” Cindy to bring home two orphans from Bangladesh in 1991.

Mrs. McCain, it turns out, never met Mother Teresa on that trip. (Once contacted by the Monitor, the campaign revised the story on its website.)

Such exaggerations may simply be the product of a faulty memory or a desire to be “better” than one is in a political culture that requires larger-than-life idols. But with the advent of the fact-checking obsessed blogosphere – and a media racing to keep up – such self-aggrandizement doesn’t last as long as it once did.

“It’s all about myth-making,” says Darrell West, the director of governance studies at the Brookings Institution in Washington. “Politicians love to turn their stories into great epics, and sometimes they have to embellish to smooth out the story line.”

“But now there are too many professional and amateur fact-checkers,” he says. “And there are hundreds if not thousands of bloggers who have detailed knowledge on specialized information, so you really can’t get away with stretching the truth anymore.”

The story about Mother Teresa “convincing” Mrs. McCain to bring home two children from an orphanage in Bangladesh has been retold many times. Initially, the “About Cindy McCain” page on the McCain campaign website read: “Mother Teresa convinced Cindy to take two babies in need of medical attention to the United States. One of those babies is now their adopted daughter, 16-year-old Bridget McCain.”

Posted by: o. | Aug 20, 2008 9:18:58 PM

Politico: Nader Predicts Obama to pick Hillary Clinton

Nader says that "Obama has only 75% of Clinton Voters"

Count Ralph Nader as unimpressed by the crop of supposed finalists to be Barack Obama’s running mate.

“I don’t think he’s that dumb,” said Nader, commenting on widespread speculation that Obama’s choices are down to Sens. Joe Biden or Evan Bayh, or Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine.

The smart pick, according to Nader, is Hillary Rodham Clinton. Nader phoned into Politico on Tuesday afternoon to offer his prediction that a surprise nod to Clinton is actually what Obama has in store — never mind the talk of mistrust between the Clintons and Obama.

“He just has to swallow hard and do what JFK did” in picking rival Lyndon Johnson in 1960, said the liberal activist and maverick presidential candidate.

According to Nader’s logic, Obama may dislike Hillary, but will conclude he has no choice but to get over it if he hopes to leave next week’s convention in Denver with a unified party and a decent shot against John McCain in the fall: “The polls show 25 percent of her supporters have not gotten on board.”

“He’s got to be very concerned by the [neck-and-neck] polls and by what happened at Saddleback,” added Nader, referring to the recent candidates forum hosted by evangelist Rick

Nader said his own sources — and, to be blunt, they sound a bit sketchy — lead him to believe that Clinton remains in serious consideration. A friend, he said, recently saw Clinton family intimate Vernon Jordan on Martha’s Vineyard and reported the “usually very effusive” Jordan to be suspiciously “tight-lipped.”

Posted by: o. | Aug 20, 2008 9:21:05 PM

Bwahahahahah O., if you have 1 or 2 or 20 siblings that you barely saw growing up---you are an only child my dear for intents and purposes. And sweetheart, I have never met Obama, but he has CONVINCED me to vote for any running against him. I don't think you need to meet someone in person to have them change your way of thinking. Of course, this is assuming that your story is remotely correct. BTW, hun..is this the best you got against McCain? If it is, you and Obama are in a world of hurt come November.

Posted by: chattyway | Aug 20, 2008 11:35:17 PM

Considering that both Obama and McCain have literally sold out to special interests and foreign powers, it should be evident the only candidates important to American citizens are new Congressional that will unseat the (DEM/GOP) upper hierarchy entrenched in government and selling out common American citizens.

It amazes me how successful the Corp-Media have been in completely censoring out all reports concerning Congressional candidates that today is of greatest importance if we are ever to see a Constitutional-Gov of Law again.

Forget about the Executive Office, this is already in the pockets of the Corp-Gov that now controls America, concentrate 100% on replacing the Pork/Perk/PAC/Payola sell-outs now in Congress, seek candidates that will absolutely promised to return America to the American citizen's.

Posted by: DeWayne | Aug 20, 2008 11:44:38 PM

I've got an idea. Why doesn't Barack just have users text their choice to HIM, and the highest votegetter wins. That seems to be his method of making decisions, since he has no real principles or decisiveness.

Posted by: HawkTheSlayer | Aug 20, 2008 11:48:47 PM

POTUS - I know know what is stands for.

POT-US, Barrack had to much POT, and
has no good answers for US.

Obama smoked so much POT, it damaged his memory. POT is not good for human intake, Scientifically proven at the forum this weekend through Obama. It may never leave his system.

Posted by: LJ bkman | Aug 21, 2008 12:22:13 AM

Obama hasn't announced his VP yet because he's still waiting for his puppetmasters to text him of who his VP will be.

Posted by: S Adams | Aug 21, 2008 12:23:49 AM

We DONT CARE ONE BIT who Obama's VP is ...

To the undecided, WHEN IN DOUBT, ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION ... VOTE MCCAIN ... !!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: WhenInDoubtErrOnTheSideOfCaution_VOTEMCCAIN | Aug 21, 2008 12:41:58 AM

I heard that Obama is having his wife and sister speak for him in the convention ...

I thought that is what criminals do in court. They bring in their mother, sister, brother and wife to tell us all what a wonderful guy he really is ...

Posted by: ForALaugh | Aug 21, 2008 12:52:19 AM

WHAT HAS OBAMA DONE TO PREPARE HIMSELF TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ????

NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING ...

Obama thinks he does not need to work to prepare himself for the top job in the world ...

Obama thinks he can TALK himself into the OVAL OFFICE ...

People wake up - THINK ....
For every job interview you go to, you get to answer that question?
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO PREPARE FOR THE JOB"

WHAT HAS OBAMA DONE TO PREPARE HIMSELF TO BE THE PRESDIENT OF THE UNITED STATES?????

NOTHING ... HE DOESN'T EVEN THINK HE NEEDS TO FINISH A TERM AS U.S.SENATOR ... GOOD GRIEF ...

ARE WE REALLY THAT STUPID, AMERICA????

Posted by: ThinkPeopleThink | Aug 21, 2008 1:00:43 AM

Chat For Nothing..

Your Predjudice - Bias & racist Ass was NEVER going to VOTE for obama...

Who are You trying to Fool !!!

Hahhahaha !!!!

You Continue to Convince Yourself that You Ever Considered Obama and The Free World of that ...LIE !!

------

Cindy McCain is a LIAR...

Cindy Lou in Fact Knew of these 2 Half Sisters...

So that in an of itself, is a BLATANT LIE and Her Original Recipes, until they were DISPROVEN an taken Down form her Website....
-------------------
If Cindy KNEW NOTHING of these 2 Half Sisters, that still would'nt make it RIGHT and she STILL is'nt an ONLY CHILD...

She sure as Hell Cut Off the Money after Her Father DIED...

It tells Me, She Knew of the Sisters.

As well as Cindy Lou McCain LIED about Mother Teresa Convincing Her to Adopt Bangladesh Children !!!

-------

Posted by: o. | Aug 21, 2008 1:11:29 AM

o,
Since you brought up siblings, how about Obama's poor half-brother, George Hussein Obama, living in squalor in Kenya on $1 a month. You would think that since Barack has made millions on his books that he could send $5 a month to his brother and maybe some of those other poor relations of his. Of course, we know how hard it is to make ends meet when you have to pay off student loans and piano lessons for your kids gets pretty expensive.

Posted by: S Adams | Aug 21, 2008 1:28:47 AM

John "Semi-Senile" McCain is Following Obama and waiting on Obama's LEAD, Before he makes his VP Decision.

Its McCain who cannot Read a Teleprompter.

Oh Yeah, John McCain.... DOES IT ALL

He Writes his Own Speeches.

He Creates his own Military Strategies.

He knows how to WIN WARS...DELUSIONAL.

He is the Most Educated and Articulate Candidate EVER.

Note: McCain is the Least Educated Candidate for the Presidency...Period...

His Supposed Adavantage, He's White.
-----------------------------


Obama: Alma mater Occidental College,
Columbia University, Harvard Law School

Profession Attorney, Senator,

He graduated with a J.D. Magna Cum Laude from Harvard in 1991

----------------------

Michelle Obama: A.B. in Sociology, Cum Laude; J.D.

Alma Mater Princeton University & Harvard Law School

She Graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in 1985

She obtained her J.D. degree from Harvard Law School in 1988


Occupation Vice President for Community and External Affairs at University of Chicago Hospitals
-----------------------

Bill Clinton: Georgetown University
University College, Oxford
Yale Law School

Occupation: Lawyer
------------------

Hillary Clinton: Alma Mater Wellesley College

Yale Law School

Profession Lawyer-Senator

Posted by: o. | Aug 21, 2008 1:31:30 AM

o,
Let's not put down Cindy and John MCain for their compassion and charity works in other countries. Michelle likes to talk about how "mean" America is but I haven't seen her big butt traveling to Cambodia, Rwanda or even Kenya to take care of her poor in-laws.

Posted by: S Adams | Aug 21, 2008 1:33:50 AM

Barack Obama, acknowledged his Half Brothers in Kenya....

Unlike Cindy Lou McCain.

Obama Mentioned his Brothers in one of his Books...

Nice Try, Thanks for Playing the Game...

You LOSE !!!

Posted by: o. | Aug 21, 2008 1:34:56 AM

o, George W. Bush graduated from Yale 1968 and Harvard Business in 1975. Where did that get us? Bill Clinton was educated but he did nothing once he got in office but do the nasty with interns.

Posted by: S Adams | Aug 21, 2008 1:40:09 AM

Oh I guess mentioning his family in his books is like charity? Did they get a cut from the book deal? Then why are they living in squalor in huts on $1 a month?

Posted by: S Adams | Aug 21, 2008 1:42:06 AM

Wikipedia....

Cindy Lou McCain does Photo Ops, with her Pasty, pale, Drugged Out Ass !!!

She just like Rush Limbaugh are Viacontin DRUG FIENDS...

The Rich set up these Not For Profits 501 C-3's for Tax Shelters, Not for Humanity...

Get Real

Mother Teresa Convinced Cindy, My Eye, She's is Flipping in her Coffin.

Thank God for the Christian Monitor and real fact Finding Bloggers..unlike YOU

Like Her Broken Fragile Hand...Please !!

McCain had a Flashback and Swiped her one and she Blocked it and her hand was Slightly hurt, is all that was !!

Posted by: o. | Aug 21, 2008 1:43:25 AM

Oh mentioning his poor relations in his book? Is that like charity? Did they get a cut from the book deal? Then why are they living in squalor in huts on $1 a month? I didn't know we were playing a game.

Posted by: S Adams | Aug 21, 2008 1:45:20 AM

o, George W. Bush graduated from Yale 1968 and Harvard Business in 1975. Where did that get us ?
--------

Bush Jrs. Degree was GIVEN to him...Simple and Plain


Following in his father's footsteps, Bush attended Yale University, where he Received a (Bachelor's Degree) in HISTORY in 1968.

As a college senior, Bush became a member of the Secretive Skull and Bones Society. By his own Characterization, he was an ...."AVERAGE STUDENT"

Texas Air National Guard

Lt. George W. Bush while in the Texas Air National GuardIn May 1968, Bush was accepted into the Texas Air National Guard, afterSCORING THE LOWEST ACCEPTABLE PASSING GRDAE ON THE PILOTS WRITTEN TEST.

NOTE: JOHN MCCAIN AND GEORGE W. BUSH JR. HAVE A LOT IN COMMON.

Although NOT ACCEPTED to the University of (Texas School of Law) in 1970, he accepted a transfer to the Alabama Air National Guard in 1972 to work on a Republican senate campaign, and in October 1973 he was discharged from the Texas Air National Guard.

Bush Familiy Connections: Bush then attended Harvard University, where he earned his MBA, and completed his six-year service obligation in the INACTIVE RESERVE


Posted by: o. | Aug 21, 2008 1:57:34 AM

O,
You DO understand that Wikipedia is a compilation of private entries, it is NOT always a reliable source.
I have read your other comments and you are a really an immature, ignorant person. Obama is an inexperienced, racist, radical, former Muslim, from a corrupt Chicago political machine. Barry Hussein Obama will be one of the biggest losers in American history. GAME OVER YOU are a LOSER ( BTW, dont bother replying to me, I won't read it. I don't argue with fools.

Posted by: JAX | Aug 21, 2008 1:57:37 AM

o,
You are delusional, good night.

Posted by: S Adams | Aug 21, 2008 2:00:36 AM

Well said, Jax.

Posted by: S Adams | Aug 21, 2008 2:08:30 AM

In a sharp turnaround, Republican John McCain has opened a 5-point lead on Democrat Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential race and is seen as a stronger manager of the economy, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

McCain leads Obama among likely U.S. voters by 46 percent to 41 percent, wiping out Obama's solid 7-point advantage in July and taking his first lead in the monthly Reuters/Zogby poll.

The reversal follows a month of attacks by McCain, who has questioned Obama's experience, criticized his opposition to most new offshore oil drilling and mocked his overseas trip.

Reuters, August 20 2008

It is about time that a reputable news organization reflected the truth. Obama is an empty suit. Obama is a fraud. After close to nine months about that fraud talking about change, voters still have yet to hear any thing of substance from that fraud Obama.

Posted by: janephilip | Aug 21, 2008 2:32:08 AM

Bwahahahahah...are you sure you wanna call McCain "semi-senile"? I mean if true, it means that Obama the messiah of Bs just got his butt handed to him by someone who is semi-senile. Obama who supposedly is an mouth piece aka attorney (but refuses to release his school records.) To be honest, given all of Obama's lies about everything, I am not even sure he is an attorney....I want proof.


Face it, Obama is an idiot and stupid attacks and name calling about McCain's age isn't going to cover up the facts.

Posted by: chattyway | Aug 21, 2008 4:16:05 AM

For a candidate that is in the tank for most of the media, why is he so low in the polls at this time?

With an electorate that is enraged with the last 7 years of Bush and republicans, why is he so low in the polls?

With a speech in Berlin with over 200,000 in attendance, meeting foreign leaders in 7 countries, meeting with Gen. Petraeus in Iraq, why is he so low in the polls?

With an education level that the Obama supporters think is far superior than McCain, why is he so low in the polls?

With all this wisdom, experience, education and speeches, why is he so low in the polls?

Do any of you know why? I can't explain it either.

Posted by: Independent minded | Aug 21, 2008 9:09:19 AM

When all the truth comes out on Obama even Hillary wont be able to help. This country will turn on the Democrats so fast their heads will spin.

Once the people find out that Obama is not a legal American citizen, has no birth certificate and the Democrats have withheld this information, there will be hell to pay.

When it becomes known that the Democrats will do ANYTHING to get back in the White house, well it will be the death of the Democratic Party as we know it today.

I say to all Democrats, you better get your house in order because the truth on Obama is pouring out at an ever increasing rate.

Posted by: Bing | Aug 21, 2008 9:20:27 AM

When the people find out the Democratic party has withheld the information about Obama not being a legal American citizen, having no birth certificate, they will pay a heavy price.

It may be the death of the Democratic party.

Posted by: Bing | Aug 21, 2008 9:23:31 AM

Polls in August before the conventions or debates don't mean a thing. I agree that Obama did not do well at the Saddelback Church, but he tried to speak from the heart, whereas McCain used his stump speech to turn every questions into "I'm a war hero" and I'm the real American, and the real patriot. It is hard to see that Americans can't see through McCain's flag waving long enough to see that he is another low intellect (graduated 894 out of 899 in college) Bush wannabe. The worst part of John McCain is that he is a hypocrite and a cheater. He cheated on his disabled first wife with numerous women before maryying a younger, richer, heiress to advance his politcal career and it was obvious that he cheated at the Saddelback Church. What was the reason McCain wasn't on time so that we could ensure that he was indeed in the "cone of silence" instead of in a motorcade where he obviously heard the questions. How else could McCain have answered the teacher question before it was even asked? McCain was a cheater 30 years ago when he cheated on his wife, and he is a cheater today!

Posted by: kateg1349 | Aug 21, 2008 10:46:53 AM

Obama is dropping in the polls because McCain has run a bunch of negative ads that got the attention of the media and gave him lots of free air time. Americans claim that they don't want dirty political tricks and negative advertising - but that is a lie. The positive stuff goes over the heads of the average under-educated, low information voters, and the negative, nasty ads make a stronger impact. Many people don't take the time to familiarize themselves with the issues or candidates positions, they just go with what the pundits say. I don't think for one minute that we should forget that older voters are still prejudiced against blacks and other minorities, and don't trust anyone who isn't just like them. But John McCain is not just like them - he is dishonest (Keating scandal) a cheater (wife - Saddelback Church) and is a clone of Bush. (Read Jack Cafferty - CNN Article)

Posted by: Kateg1349 | Aug 21, 2008 11:35:06 AM

BTW

REAGON AND CLINTON WAS THE BEST TWO PRESIDENTS SO FAR. IF WE CAN GET ANOTHER LIKE THE TWO OF THEM PUT TOGETHER THAN THE USA WOULD HAVE IT MADE!!!!

LETS NOT VOTE FOR ANOTHER LOSER PRESIDENT FOR OUR U.S.A. THAT MEANS OUR ECONOMY WILL GO DOWN AGAIN EVEN QUICKER AND A PRESIDENT THAT WILL DO NOTHING FOR US.

VOTE FOR THE BEST NOT THE WORST.

DO NOT VOTE OBAMA HE DOES NOT HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND ALSO HE IS BLACK. NEVER HAD ONE SO LETS NOT START IT.

Posted by: WHITE POWER | Aug 21, 2008 3:06:19 PM

Mariann Pepitone: So Obama has too many speakers at the convention - maybe he should get rid of a few, like Hillary and her main sleaze, Bill. Obama would be nuts to pick Hillary as his VP, he'd be dead within the first year. And with some of the comments we've heard from Hillary and Bill lately, I wouldn't pick her if you paid me. The Clintons are finished; Hillary will NEVER be POTUS. Never.

Posted by: Debbie, Columbia, SC | Aug 21, 2008 7:27:29 PM

chattyway - Mccain doesn't have terrorist connections because he's too busy with his MAFIA CONNECTIONS. Ever heard of Bonano?

Posted by: Debbie, Columbia, SC | Aug 21, 2008 7:38:56 PM

Sources say the international bankers and financiers will install Al Gore as the Prez (bumping Obama out) and billionaire NYC Mayor Bloomberg the VP for either party. Both will continue the agenda to privatize the US government, programs, infrastructure and jobs for big $$$ profits as the economy tanks and currency goes down. Gore has about 100 superdelegates in his back pocket to prevent anyone candidate to get the number needed to be nominated. That is the plan for him to step in and appear above the fray and take advantage of popular discontent, confusion and chaos at the convention.....

Posted by: francine223 | Aug 21, 2008 10:01:21 PM

Sources say the international bankers and financiers will install Al Gore as the Prez (bumping Obama out) and billionaire NYC Mayor Bloomberg the VP for either party. Both will continue the agenda to privatize the US government, programs, infrastructure and jobs for big $$$ profits as the economy tanks and currency goes down. Gore has about 100 superdelegates in his back pocket to prevent anyone candidate to get the number needed to be nominated. That is the plan for him to step in and appear above the fray and take advantage of popular discontent, confusion and chaos at the convention.....

Posted by: francine223 | Aug 21, 2008 10:04:42 PM

This whole moment of VP anticipation is kind of like bad sex. When it drags out too long, you just can't help but get bored.

Posted by: BoneheadedObama | Aug 22, 2008 11:14:04 PM

John "Hassan Nasrallah" McCain now has to pick a young running mate to help him with his memory losses...
cecestrong 10:08 AMGoing through baic training is not a requirement of the Presidential and or VP candidacy.......Becoming the President of the U.S.A. is not just to oversee the military.....There are a lot of other issues at hand....John McCain served this country in the armed forces just like millions of other soldiers, but that does not automatically make them Presidential material....They could become revengeful just like the Bush's and want to continue sending troops to fight their own personal vendettas....Don't be fooled by John "Hassan Nasrallah" McCain.......McCain will be the next Ronald Reagan in office: CRS Can't Remember S*it! He had better pick a running mate with youth and vitality to assist with his memory loss and or alzheimer.....oh, my bad, he may forget he is running for office by November 1, 2008...
cecestrong 10:06 AM

Posted by: CeCe | Aug 23, 2008 10:15:39 AM

Obama based his entire campaign on the Iraq War and attacked Hillary as being unfit to lead and having poor judgment for voting to authorize the war. Now Obama selects Biden who voted with Hillary for the Iraq War????? Obama has just proven himself to be nothing more than a dirty politician who will say or do anything to win the election. He has just spit in the face of Clinton and 18 million voters.

Posted by: TheoNash | Aug 23, 2008 11:10:13 AM

OB (Obama/Biden)or BO (Biden/Obama) campaign, depending on who you believe is going to be in charge, just opened up for themselves a pandora box of contradiction ...

the media archives is full of the opposites between O and B ... how silly can BO get ?

August Curse it is !

...but wait, BO is going to say "it is JUST WORDS"


Posted by: Contradiction Galore | Aug 23, 2008 2:52:30 PM

MorE IFS! More SHOULDS! Obama is an intelligent, thinking man. He is using his head. The hard fact that you naysayers just cannot take is that the man is winning. He is winning because he is using his head. There are far more reasons that Obama would not choose Hillary than to choose her. YOU ALL GO FIGURE!! DO YOU REALLY THINK HILLARY HAS OBAMA'S BACK? go figure again.

Posted by: exatlantic | Aug 24, 2008 1:54:48 AM

AND SEE THAT IS WHO YOU ALL DUMB ASSES ARE VOTING FOR OBAMA, YOU ALL WILL SEE HOW THE BLACK MAN WILL RUN THE USA IF HE DEFINATELY GETS ELECTED. AND I COULD ACTUALLY GO AROUND AND KICK EVERYONES ASSES THAT ACTUALLY VOTED FOR THE FOOL.

Posted by: U/R/ALL/DUMBASSES | Aug 26, 2008 10:28:09 AM

O, Cindys not running for President, man are you Lib's reaching for straws. Get it over it. Mr & Mrs McWinner are going to live in the "WHITE HOUSE." House # 8 if I haven't lost count. Oh well, who cares?

Posted by: bombem | Aug 26, 2008 4:39:24 PM

YEAH 3 GUYS ARE IN JAIL RIGHT NOW FOR TRYING TO ASSASSINATE OBAMA A COUPLE DAYS AGO. THAT IS WHY HE SHOULD NOT RUN, BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY WHITE PEOPLE THAT DONT WANT A N IGGER TO RUN THE USA. IT HAS NEVER BEEN THAT WAY BEFORE SO LETS NOT START IT UP NOW. YOU THINK THAT THE ECONOMY AND GAS IS BAD NOW WAIT UNTIL HE MIGHT BECOME THE PRESIDENT AND WATCH THE USA HIT ROCK BOTTOM WHILE THE N IGGERS ARE SITTING PRETTY AND RICH WITH ALL OF OUR MONEY.

Posted by: WP | Aug 29, 2008 4:15:17 PM

Barack Obama recently finished a $500,000 total overhaul of his 757. And as part of the new design, he decided to remove the American flag from the tail...
What American running for President of the United States would remove the symbol of his country? And worse, he replaced the flag with it with a symbol of himself...

Posted by: WHITE POWER | Aug 29, 2008 4:16:42 PM

HEY GL:

FIRST OFF AMY DID NOT STATE ANYTHING IN HER REMARK THAT WAS RACIST. YOUR THE RACIST FOOL. YOU NEED TO BACK OFF FROM HERE WHILE YOUR AHEAD. I AM ONE THAT WILL FACE ANY N IGGER AND TELL THEM TO THERE FACE YOUR A N IGGER. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE IN THIS WO