Political Punch

I don't know what has happened to John McCain. I used to really like him. Now he seems like he has sold his soul for the nomination. I really don't see how anyone can defend these sorts of attacks. What ever happened to debate - to reason?

McCain has really gone off the deep end...frustrated and grasping on the sidelines. He has been as doddering as Obama has been compelling...Pakistan-Iraq borders, Sunnis-Shiites...or is that the other way around? Bob Dole might have to step in to provide a more vital leader for the GOP.

Yeah, John McCain for President! (of Iraq).

I'm on the fence between Obama/McCain...leaning McCain. But, I don't understand the statements of the Obama campaign and other talking heads (including Hagel) regarding the troop hospital visit. The Obama campaign says, "it would be totally inappropriate for him on a campaign trip to go to a military hospital and use those soldiers as props." Isn't the whole point that he could NOT use the soldiers as props because he couldn't bring cameras and he entourage into the hospital?

Some people are skeptical of change because of fear. Jesus said I am always with you, do not be afraid. I am with you lord. I will fear no evil. And, I will vote for change. GO OBAMA-2008

The bottom line is that Obama is the better candidate for president, and I will be voting for him regardless of the slime McCain peddles in the typically amoral, lying, cheating, snivelling, cowardly way Republicans try to win elections these days. 8 years of Bush is enough to convince me the GOP as it stands simply cannot be trusted to lead this country. Anyone see the news today - record deficts, the Justice department illegally screened lawyers for their right-wing 'christian virtues', and the White House opposed a bill to ban the use of poisons in children's toys. That's just today. Haven't we had enough of the GOP? I have.

Mr McCain rightly uses respect for military an issue. But something has been bothering me for weeks now. Why would he change the Pittsburg Steelers for the Green Bay Packers in what is his quintessential story about his time in captivity?

If a man builds his entire resume on a moment in time, the description of that moment must be sacred. It can not be changed to suit the moment. Only someone who was not sincere about the story would even consider changing the details for political purposes. This one really bothers me.

I also see this insincerity when Mr. McCain attacks Senator Obama for not visiting troops. After he finishes his rant, he laughs, check out the footage. If he was really upset, I don't think he would laugh, do you

He doesn't seem sincere about his run, he seems more like someone just trying to wound the other guy so that it is more difficult for him to govern. I think he has given up on anything positive for America...

Mr McCain says Country First, I don't know now if I think that is true.

What has happened to Mr McCain?

We already know Obama would rather lose a war in order to win the presidency.

He has thrown so many friends and family under the bus, what it one more the soldiers in Iraqi and Afghanistan.

Obama has no judgement and no experience. Being Commander-In-Chief for the most powerful country in the world demands a strong leader, a leader of substance, intellect and experience.

And we all know who that true leader is!

The mark of a leader is someone who is able to look at situations objectively, listen to the opinions of others, think things through and make wise decisions based on clear thinking and good judgement.

The leadership of this country has been at best questionable, at times corrupt and definately not in the best interest of all citizens. The right believed Bush and got screwed again.

No matter what your political affiliation is, was or will be, we need a president who is smart, plays well with others, is cool under pressure and makes wise decisions. One who doesn't turn to bullying when he doesn't get his way or resort to belittling others when they do not agree with him. Gives credit where credit is due and is not afraid to change his mind when he learns something new about the situation. A person who shows respect for others and their right to their opinion.

In Management 101, you are not a leader if you are not willing or able to recognize and accept your own shortcomings and take responsibility for your own actions.

This is a democracy people. McC does not look like a level headed man who will be able to deal with the stresses of being president. He has an obvious need to convince you otherwise, that is why he keeps referring to the public as "my friends". It is a con game played frequently by people trying to sell you a bill of goods. You are my friend therefore you must trust me, I would never do anything to harm you.
There is and always has been a doubt in my mind as to how mentally stable he could be after being a POW for so many years. I respect his service to his country. My husband served in Vietnam too and my husband volunteered too. But war does things to people. Things that only soldiers and their families can understand.

Take the time to take your political rose glasses off. Republicans have had a stranglehold on this country for far too long. The middle class, poor, minorities, gays, and students of all ages have never been a priority for Bush or any of his "friends". His "friends" have always been the rich and powerful who he once called his "base". Powerful corporations have been in charge and "we the people" have allowed it. Do some research yourself.

Open your mind to other possibilities.
We can again become the nation that others look up to and respect. We can again have a leader who is able and willing to accomplish something other than pleasing the powerful corporate leaders. We can again become the "do gooders" of the world. But first we need to clean up our own house.

You guys are nitpicking about troop visits, and flipflops, when we know that Obama voluntarily chose to make his place of worship a black liberation theology congregation? That he has chosen to befriend people who want to do our country harm? That his wife has made her disdain for whites, and this country, public record? That Obama refers to his own grandmother as a typical white person??? Whether he chose to visit troops or not is irrelevant.

Ricky - I dont know What McCains story is on that, BUT, would you happen to know if Obama has that uncle, great uncle,concentration camp thing straightened out yet? Or, is he now clear that Canada doesnt have a President, and this country doesnt have 57 states, or that the official language in Afghanistan in not Arabic?And,,,,Is Obama still trying to tell us that the civil rights march of 1965 in Selma Alabama, got him born in 1961? Shall I go on?

The great grand father McCain is too old to be president of the United States. The man can't even speak well let alone remembering what is talking about. As a Republican I am very disappointed at McCain. Did he really graduated from college?. I saw president Bush resume, he is just ("C" student) average. Can someone post McCain resume for all to see. I voted for Bush and I am not making that mistake again.

Republican for Obama

UNDERWHELMED-
Au contraire! It was reported by media that on his CODEL (Congressional delegation) portion of his trip that Obama visited wounded soldiers in Iraq without cameras or publicity; They also stated that his visit with the wounded troops in Germany was to be conducted without media or cameras. The Obama campaign had been pre-approved by the Pentagon to visit the troops in Germany but at the last minute, the Pentagon reversed themselves and denied Obama access unless it was as a CODEL with his Congressional staff who had already departed; As this leg of the trip was paid for with Obama funds, the Pentagon informed the Obama campaign that if he visited the troops in Germany it would be construed as campaign related. The Obama campaign was wise to avoid allow- ing Obama's vist to wounded soldiers to be used as political fodder by McCain etal.

Keep making excuses for Obama. The Pentagon didn't tell him he couldn't visit the wounded troops. They told him he couldn't have media coverage of the event; therefore, it was useless to Obama.

McCain is throwing sand in our eyes. Please see clearly!

Obama has visited troops many times, but only in his official role as senator. These so-called "congressional delegations" are taxpayer funded and bi-partisan.

For example, Senators Chuck Hagel(R) and Jack Reed(D) were with Obama last week in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Instead, the German hospital visit would have been campaign financed and not bi-partisan.

The visit was canceled because the Pentagon and Obama wanted our military to remain non-partisan and not political. The issue had nothing to do with camera's or his exercising.

The McCain camp is depending on your ignorance about this and so many issues. We are all in this as American's and we need you to see this for what it is.

Obama is a weak little wimp who has to rely on others to do his fighting for him so he can stick his nose in the air and claim to be "above it all". Unfortunately for him, this fiasco reveals without a doubt that he thinks he's above our troops when, in fact, he isn't fit to clean their boots.

I believe both candidates are frustrated; I would be.

No matter what Obama does, or does not do, it is criticized by McCain. Don't go to Iraq; go to Iraq. Use discretion in Europe about using troops as props because it is a campaign trip, get criticized; if he had seen the troops they would have criticized that.

Thousands of Europeans show up to see him with American flags waving, criticize that; if few people had shown up, they would have made that the issue.

Obama is in a damned if you do; damned if you don't situation at every turn.

McCain is obviously frustrated; the evidence is that he gets very uptight and makes mis-statements at every turn, and is conducting a negative ad campaign rather than a positive campaign about himself.

If I had my way, any debates in the fall would be handled by the League of Women Voters. Each candidate would get the same questions, have x minutes to respond, and then the other candidate would have time to rebut. There would be no "sucker" or "baiting" questions for either candidate. The people of the US would have an objective platform to evaluate each candidate

McCain has flip flopped on every maverick ethic he ever held in order to collect republican support.

He's been all together too cavalier about the Iraq war and I'm sick of hearing the surge was a success - without defining the terms of success. Since we are no nearer to any details or turnover of how the US will no longer be in Iraq I have to agree with Obama that all - ALL - the surge did was reduce violence by putting more armed troops in place.

If having MORE armed troops in Iraq is McCain's definition of success - we are going to be there 100 years - or until we run out of money / citizens revolt.

Hagel, has a short memory, Obama ran and was betting on the surge not working, just as Hillary did. The problem is the surge worked and McCain has every right to call Obama out on it. One has to ask the question, would Obama rather win the election and loose the was? This is a fair question that not only McCain is asking, the American public is asking.

So Badger, which one of these McCain statements is true: John McCain gave his Vietnamese captors the names of the Grren Bay Pakers offensive line when tortured (Faith of My Fathers) or John McCain gave the names of the future Pittsburgh Steeler's defensive line to his Vietnamese captors (2008 Pittsburgh TV interview).