Political Punch

McCain is NO maverick. He is living in the past. He even addressed his followers as "My fellow prisoners". Something is not right with this guy. I would never want him to be our leader in times of crisis. If he was President and we were attacked his first move would probably be to announce he was suspending his campaign forgetting that the campaign was long over with.

OMG...what is up with that stupid ? about how many houses they have??? Like it has anything to do with his politics or the campaign, not to mention that the people asking the ? are soooo hypocritical I could gag...they probably have several houses themselves. I am so sick of this ???, why is it acceptable to ask someone how wealthy they are, but you would never bash someone for being poor...their wealth (as long as it didn't come from ripping off Americans) should have nothing to do with politics!!!

I am convinced that that the activities that we partake in DO say something about us. Neither presidential party is delivering what I would like in the next POTUS...however, I will likely choose the man the is LESS the socialist, LESS the the taxationist, LESS the pro-abortionist, with LESS the history of drug abuse and MORE of the history of serving his country and the MOST experience. McCain is not perfect. There are allegations of his infidelity from his first wife...in those situations, the outsiders never know the full story. In the POW situation, I found the first hand account that was recorded in 1973 and still available on-line very enlightening. It is lengthy and demonstrates that McCain did have a braking point after much unrelenting torture. I would challenge you to read it if you desire to be better informed or you don't believe that this experience says anything about the character of a man.

As far as I can see, Mr. Obama did not choose to serve in the military. At about the same age he was self-admittedly angry and "inhaling" "that was the point"...that is my recollections of his statements.

I read as much as I can about both candidates. In the past, I have voted for either ticket depending on my convictions.

There's a international crisis in the former USSR state of Georgia.
McCain is sending his VP Cindy McCain to evaluate and contain the situation.
Our current Monarchs the Bushes are "out to lunch", heck
after running the country into the ground they've decided to run out for a
long lunch break, maybe until November. Guess they figured, what the heck?
we're out anyway, let's just kick back and steal office supplies.

McCain's got it under control, my people are in his camp and with FOX News
behind the McCains, here we go, 4 more years ! 4 MORE years! FOUR MORE YEARS!

spock you fool

go to FACT CHECK.org
Obams's birth records are beyond dispute
He is an American

don't vote for him if you don't want but don't make things up

gee you all must be doing better than you were four or eight years ago--

if not - and you are like most people- stop the silly posts and get real

this country is in a mess

it is not 1960 0r 1970

Past or Future --
McCain is the son and grandson or admirals - he was a POW - but examine the record - whch he had sealed -- the old Swift Boat people are now forming Swift bost for Viet Nam vets -

There is a reason he had his records sealed - none of this would matter if he wasn't running on his POW record - but that is his answer to everything so now he may need to answer for his own actions during that time

SPOCK-

I know, but what I put in my previous comment were two examples found in other comments to show how ridiculous the discussion often becomes. Another example being your odd claim that Hawaii has no record of Obama. There is no question about either candidates citizenship and to devote any time to the topic avoids discussing truly important topics.

So spock, we have to be careful with what we bring up in these discussions. You should be frustrated by someone questioning McCain's citizenship status as I was and all of us should be. But we should also be equally frustrated by stupid and erroneous questions being raised about Obama's citizenship like you just did. We quickly become puppets of party agendas if we blindly endorse anything as long as it has the backing of the right letter, D or R.

Have to get back to studying. Just wanted to say that I might not convince spock or others to avoid using what they themselves must know are baseless claims, but to feed on this political garbage is not only an indicator of the stagnation of ideas that exists in politics, but also of our own mental stagnation. While I'm trying to figure out a way to pay for med school and I hear lies about Obama or McCain I get angry, because it is a waste of all our time.

I do have a favorite in the race but to know that someone in each of the parties thinks so little of me and all of us to lie about these all too often marginal issues really angers me. I will not continue the chain by disseminating lies about either. Where is the discussion on health care? Where is the discussion on renewable energy resources (and no, sound bites don't count)? We deserve better.

Good luck to whatever candidate you want to win everyone!

riceowl - McCain is a Natural Born Citizen

Now Jake you should do a story on Obama who can not seem to find his Birth Certificate and Hawaii has no record of him!!
So is Obama a Citizen is the question?

You libs are something else, first the McCains are not that wealthy, if you read and correctly he owns mostly condos that they live in 3 of 5, the other properties are investment properties.

At least they bought their own homes, unlike Obama who owes his home to slum lord Rezko, while Rezko watched over the poor live in sub-sub-sub-standard housing, he helped Obama by a mansion , which is problably worth more money then all of McCains homes put together!!

mccain only has about 5 million, Obama no one knows, kerry 100's of millions, Kennedy 100's of millions

Gore making 100's of millions off the fraudualnt global warming fears

Should I go on,

The difference here is Republicans believe in Growth you libs say one thing and live another!!

Tax the poor so the libs can live in mansions!!

I don't care if it's Cindy or John who owns the homes, the fact that they are so wealthy, coupled with Senator McCain's own admission that he doesn't really understand economics, coupled with his economic advisor's comments that we're only in a mental recession and that people need to stop whining, suggests to me that John McCain isn't really the guy who is going to be fixing the economy.

He and his advisors just don't get it.

The people that find Leno funny nowadays are what's wrong with America.

As i read articles,blogs, personal comments etc..I'm amazed at how divided this country is. "Bush" the great divider has suceeded.The middle class is deteriorating by the minute and our prejudices will elect another GW Bush in november.As far as the POW issue. Like Guilliani and 911, he has nothing to really talk about. God bless him for his service but at least he didn't wind up like the 4,000 plus that he helped send to that crime of a war in Iraq

McCain was hilarious last night!

Leno made jokes about houses being flooded in Florida and most of them belonged to McCain.

He said McCain was a war hero in the Civil War.

Then McCain came out and said "you forgot to mention I warned that the British were coming".

I used to support McCain because I can't stand Obama--but now I really like McCain and trust his experience.

Full honesty please!!

This is not a story about the American dream, but instead the use of a powerful story that many have lived but that few use regularly to explain all actions throughout their lives. Whether one chooses to support McCain or Obama, we shouldn't feel good about campaigns that use such a powerful story to explain minor (number of houses) and major (infidelity) mistakes. This is a disservice to the experience that so many faced and lived through, but an even greater disservice to those that perished due to worse conditions.

Rather than coming to a conclusion about McCain or Obama when this type of story is done, blind backers of each try to invoke the other to justify or excuse actions of their favorite. This is not productive at all, and indicative of a rotted system. In this case, it is clear that McCain is only hurting himself by taking a powerful strength to explain something stupid away.

The only relevant question is: Is McCain correct in using his POW story to answer the houses question? For me the answer is a strong NO.

Judge THIS story and don't state lies, it serves no one and discredits your argument. Couldn't go through all the comments but here are two good examples:

McCain is a citizen of Panama. How is he running for president?
Obama who hates America and disrespects our honorable military men/women.

Do we deserve good leadership?

@ Renee: What? Seriously, what does that have to do with anything? Go vote McCain in order to push your bitter brand of faux feminism. I'm sure that will show those sexists!

McCain just doesn't get it. He's out of touch.

"What it has to do with putting Americans in houses and keeping in their homes. And that's what I'm gong to do."

Right. Foreclosures all over the place, telling people to take second jobs, forego a holiday, not having a clue about the price of groceries, taking an entire motorcade to Starbucks so he could pick up a lousy cup of coffee .. what does he know about life as it's lived.

That's the point. But it's an inconvenient point for people who just like to interpret this as an attack upon those with wealth. Because they really couldn't give a damn about their neighbour. Just about themselves and who they can screw to the wall so they can climb on their backs.

Greed is so ugly.

ANOTHER SEXIST ATTACK BY THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN...

They seem to have a problem with successful women like Cindy McCain and Hillary Clinton.

SO OBAMA IS AGAINST THE AMERICAN DREAM NOW EVEN FOR FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR

We get it, that's all he's got

Someone said that Rudy's sentences all contained a noun, a verb and 9/11. Substitute POW for 9/11 and you've got McCain. His attempts to invoke his POW experience into the housing matter are getting more and more embarassing. He needs to knock off irrelevant messages about the past and start telling us what he's going to do about the future.

Wow McCain, it's so sad that all you have to deflect criticism at this point is your tired POW history. How many times can you use this as a response to every issue? The well is dry, so much for honest straight talk...

Thanks, cincyr, but the point there was McCain is going to continue the ideologies currently set by the Bush Administration. He's changed his tune quite a bit since he ran for the GOP ticket in 2000. It's politics. He's gotta say and do what it takes to get him elected. Same goes for Obama, but given the state of affairs now, why would anyone want more of this kind of Government? We need a different direction. I'm not sure it will improve, but of the two, I trust Obama to accomplish more for working families than a Bush wannabe.

Obama's wife still hates America

cindy's money bought his soul.

worse, most of those houses sit empty as investment properties. no one lives in them.

yet his economic advisor phil gramm helped regular americans lose their homes to foreclosure with his lobbying work for the bank UBS.

so maybe johm can put them up for the night.

since they have no house, no kitchen table, and no reason to feel as blessed as he is.

not really being a member of his church and all that.

Many have commented on why can't we have a civil debate.

I agree. I think of someone like William F. Buckley, Jr - conservative, yes. But very intelligent and humorous.

He would argue with the most liberal of liberals and yet - the debate was civil, even friendly. And, if the other person made a good point, he would agree. Gosh, agree with a liberal. Oh my God ;>)

Now, in this day of Rush and Coulter, you just don't see that. I think Ron Paul has that attribute - I've heard him critize other politicians, but he was never mean spirited.

But no, we have to call each other idiots and when we do so, it really closes any room for debate.

McCain is becoming a one-liner, or rather a one-worder: POW!

He's beginning to remind us of the old TV Batman series in the '60s. You all remember Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin when they would get in their fights with The Joker, and The Penguin and The Riddler, and the rest. The cartoon signs would be inserted in big letters on the screen: BANG! BONK! DING! BOINK! POW!....I knew you'd remember....It seems John only remembers POW! and inserts GOP! occasionally...Not enough for a tv show, and certainly not enough for a sequel!

Yelling POW! every time he forgets where a country is, or how many homes he has, or whether Sunni's and Shia's and Kurd's like each other, or why he never learned much about economics other than to marry into it, or why affordable healthcare and the housing and mortgage crisis mean something to middle income Americans and why their taxes should be lowered not the multi-millionaires, simply will not suffice as a convincing argument.

I respect your service; I respect your status; but you are treating it like a joke when you ignore issues and throw out the word POW! like it is your magic wand.

I learned more about military integrity and personal integrity from my WWII Dad who seldom even mentioned or talked about his war days. He kept his medals respectfully in a box. It was only late in life that we learned what his Bronze Star was for. His view as he raised us was he did what his country asked, no explanation or excuses needed, and no special treatment asked for; and then he firmly told all of us to go get an education so we could learn enough to prevent wars, and earn our way with our families, and provide the leadership for our kids when it was the next generation's turn to lead.

I am guided by his words. It is time for the next generation to put that education to work and provide the leadership that will make the world a better place. I will work for Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States. Join in this effort. Make our nation proud!

McCain was excellent on the Jay Leno show... and he only brought up the POW story in response to Jay's question about the number of houses Cindy owns.

The response was 'ON TARGET" and in no way a "suck up" of his POW years.

He was articulate, gave some prophetic insight to some of this country's problems, and, frankly I was proud of him!

He'll be getting my vote!

POW is not a qualification for President of the United States any more than it is an answer for how many houses do you own. And the funny thing is, after the week of being made fun of, he still can't get that answer right. He does not fit my definition of fit for office.

Ster: "THAT'S the American way"

That WAS the American way. The corporate way is to buy you out and do it much cheaper by outsourcing the work to Asia. And when you don't want to sell, to compete you to death with a far more cheaper product from Asia or through selling the same product with a loss. They have the resources to outcompete you, the average American does not.

Underdog,
Perhaps you haven't been following between the lines of all the Associated Press liberal run media machine (and yes, FOX get's their news from AP too, so they're screwed as well). The only repeat I see is a constant liberal cowardliness that has crippled the current administration. And what mistakes were made were made on both sides of the isle. Whatever upset's you, there's plenty of blame to go around! Also, half of the bipartisan fact finding mission launched over those mistakes was in fact seated by McCain. And I recall clearly that McCain was quite critical about the handling of Iraq. Remember too that the troop serge has been very successful, and has shown that there's now light at the end of the tunnel. McCain supported the makings of that success, Obama voted against it. Thanks partially to McCain's support, we may be able to soon redirect our attention to Afghanistan where such a focus is really badly needed. McCain can best lead on this issue. Obama hasn't even been stable on his direction on these issues. Let's get this straight, McCain is not Bush! Not an ounce of similarity at all! Bush didn't listen to McCain early on. Had he done so, things would have been much different. Now's a great chance to allow McCain to finally execute a strategy that will quickly and cost effectively bring a swift resolve to the middle east issues, and do so without a quick cowardly all-out pullout that will leave a country and region in devastation. By the way, did you know New York City is by far more dangerous than Baghdad? More people die on the NYC streets than on Baghdad streets on a daily average. NYC citizens are American's, but who's ending the violence there? And I didn't even mention LA, or the other inner city killing fields. AP could care less for NYC or LA. They just sell the news that get's commercial play (liberal lobbyists anyone?). But no, AP paints a different picture and the blind lemming liberals would follow AP off a cliff if led that direction! So don't give me that broken record scenario. It's too easy of an argument to have any bases in reality. The big picture is wider and more complicated than most can muster. And far too many trust AP to fill them in. If you want to look at a stuck loop, just look at the current house who's liberal dominated, and has an approval rating far below that of Bush... Ouch! I'm sorry, but a two-faced ex-drug addict isn't going to help matters. We really need McCain!

"He does not even stand up for what the Democrats want"

When do the Republicans finally settle on one narrative instead of hundreds? We're supposed to believe that BO is *the most liberal senator walking the face on the earth". And you're telling us he's actually a Blue Dog?

Ster: "It's business that CREATES wealth -- sometimes out of thin-air!"

Actually no, it's consumers. The current market has made this abundantly clear.
Without consumers, a business is doomed to fail. Low wage workers and the middle class have so squeezed by this administration that they only can spend on basic necessities. That's why Wal-Mart is doing great but every other business is in deep doodoo.
Without people having money to spend, there's no consumption. Without consumption, there's no business. End of story.

I am so sick of this faux war hero talk. He's a survivor at best. Being a POW is unfortunate. Escaping from a POW camp, and bringing a dozen others out with you is a hero. There's a big difference. Can the guy concentrate on a single issue for 5 minutes?

Ah Ster. You assume much don't you?

Well, yes I did work for a corporation for 15 years and my job was outsourced to India. A very well paying job.

I work for a private company now (which I much prefer, even though I make less money) and yes I know I could start a corporation, I already have a sole proprietorship.

No, I think people who start businesses and employ people do a great job. Small business people that is - not when it grows into this corporate nonsense.

I'm talking about these corporations who have sold the soul of America. That's what we need to stop. Or reign in.

Sorry, it's been 30 years since I've lived with mommy and I probably work more hours than you. Again, you just assume. And as usual, you are wrong.

If you are really conservative, then listen to a real conservative like Ron Paul - he speaks about the evils of corporations. It's not anti-business it's this machine we need to stop.

Unless I'm mistaken in my history from Vietnam, there were approximately 600 POWs brought home, of whom one was John Mccain. They are all entitled to be honored for their service to this great country. None held themselves in higher or lower esteem for office solely on the basis of this aspect of their lives. We owe them respect, and we owe them our empathy for what they endured, but they are not, each and every one or any single one, owed the high office of President of the United States for having POW status. That office must be earned by a leader convincing the entire American public that their lifetime of work and vision and passion will give us an honorable person who will bring economic opportunity at home, and respect in the international community, because we are willing to work with our partners and allies to make the entire world a better place. I am proud to know many veterans and soldiers who join in saying they have much respect for both McCain for what he endured and Obama for what he has accomplished for their entire life's work. The choice now is for the future. That future requires the vision and passion and work and leadership qualities not to threaten and bully the world by the old ways, but with a fresh vision to convince the world to join us because our ideas and our ideals will indeed provide the opportunities that keep this world safe and protected. A comparison of the candidates on their education, training, teaching, working, helping, and the leadership qualities we need in the next President of the United States convinces me that Barack Obama is the right person to lead us as a member of a world community, and who will make us economically strong again at home. I prefer to be FOR someone....and I am for BARACK OBAMA for PRESIDENT! Join us to work for OBAMA/BIDEN '08.

Playing the POW card over and over may work during a campaign but I'm not so sure it would work as President.

Um, yo... "Words-VS-Actions"

In case you haven't noticed... I will tell you something VERY important....

Shhhh... it's a secret!

... Here it is!

....
The "current" administration, and yes... "shhhh"... that means the dumb GWBush (I do really hate him),

BUSH ISN'T RUNNING!
HE'LL BE GONE IN A FEW MONTHS!

Secret over... since you didn't seem to realize that. Thought I'd do you a favor.

Shoot, I'm a conservative and a Republican and I'm pretty sure that many large companies are run by corrupt, greedy, polluting, sweat-shop running, bean-counting, selfish, military-industrialist types who often run these companies into the ground and parachute out.

Anyway, though I'd be quite happy to see a qualified Vietnam Veteran be President, I think Sen. McCain needs to scale back on pulling out the "POW card" because it's wearing thin with many people and just gives ammo to his detractors.

Yo, Mike...

McCain STILL GAVE 26% of HIS income to charity.

Obama made $4 million plus (multiple times what McCain made).

Yet somehow, the annointed one who gave 1% of his income is OK in your eyes?

Whateva!

Keep drinking the Kool-Aid. Us adults will be running the world and providing you a job (with benefits) for many years to come.

Blah-Blah-Blah
If you paid close attention to what the current Administration has said --versus what they have actually done,(And I mean looking up actual speeches coming from the White House and Washington-- not listening to some fool's opinion for the sake of listener ratings - they don't even believe half the stuff they themselves spew and laugh all the way to the bank!), then it's fairly easy to see what has happened to the country as a result of the current Government. We all know people that have lost their homes due to foreclosure or disaster. Who got helped? Who's still waiting? Homeowners are near the bottom of the list while these huge financial institutions continue to get propped up with tax dollars from your paychecks. When has the American Family suffered so much at the hands of their own Government? Then there's this war that should never have happened. Afghanistan was necessary. Iraq? We were lied to about that one, just look at the words vs. actions! More of the same? WHY? So it could get worse for us? No way. Let's see if Obama is good to his word. I know this current Pres. isn't and I don't want to see McCain in there - 71 years old - that'll make him 75 or 76 at the end of the term. He should be enjoying retirement - not running the most influential country in the world.

ster said: "I hope so! It's business that CREATES wealth -- sometimes out of thin-air! I mean, did anybody get poor when the CEO of Google got rich? NO!"

Again, I was not the one villifying the making of money and/or corporations. I do not believe that the creation of wealth only comes at the expense of others. You are arguing to yourself. My gripe is about "how" we discuss things. According to your logic, making money is good, people dont get poor when people get rich, McCain is rich, therefore, vote McCain.

The sad thing is, the true econonomic conservative does not exist anymore. Its funny that people still vote republican based on fiscal issues. If I were anti-abortion, I could see the draw, but I dont get you people who cling to the pubs when the true fiscal conservatives are either libertarians, or on the left (seriously, WJC was president the last time we ran a surplus...would you skim off the top of your business and run it into the ground?)

Yo, TripleHaze:

Where do you work? Is it for a Corporation?

Are you too stupid to realize that for $40, you can start your own? No? Go ahead!

Maybe you too can EMPLOY people instead of sucking off the teat of government.

Maybe you'll get rich... if you do... you'll deserve every penny. What's stopping you? The man? No... just $40 for a license.

Get out there, bust your a** and make it happen.

REALLY... what's stopping your *ss other than laziness? I've got three businesses... one doing well... allows me to work from home and read your lazy a**'s posts! I am now employing TWO people ... WITH benefits!

What are you doing? Other than asking your Mom for money and looking for the cheapest dope prices? LOL!

GET UP... WORK YOUR A** OFF, and GET RICH! Then, you too can hire people and make them rich!

Or... you can stay on the couch, watch TV and be mad that all these other people have more money than you. Well, when you put in more than 12 hours per day, 6-days per week like I do... we can talk. Until then, grab your Mom's box of Frosted Flakes, eat up, and SHUT UP!

When YOU provide someone with a job and experience, THEN you can post your drivel. Otherwise, go to sleep and let the rest of us make America. We do it one job at a time! YOU do it NO JOB at a time. Lo-hoo-hoo-ser!

sammie, those bombs didn't kill anybody; Marley's bomb did.

JL said: "The media tends to prop up this kind of dialogue, but we can stop it."

I hope so! It's business that CREATES wealth -- sometimes out of thin-air! I mean, did anybody get poor when the CEO of Google got rich? NO!

So tired of treating business like cr*p. THAT's why businesses leave America. High taxes and they're vilified. So, they split!

You're right... ANYONE in America can pay a $25-$50 fee and start their own Corporation -- (AND HIRE PEOPLE) -- and get rich! Try and Try again!

You can't do that anywhere else!

Ster said: "Funny, McCain gave 26% of his income to charity and Obama gave 1% in 2007.

And yet Obama, who made $4 million last year and lives in a mansion has the gall to criticise McCain?"

Um, McCain's wealth comes primarily from his second wife. You should recalculate this adding in her $6M+ annual income since she mostly funds the lavish lifestyle Johnny boy enjoys. When done so, you'll see the charitable contributions from their personal own household is pretty tiny as well.

How can Johnny ever be qualified to be president when he's collecting 100% disability from the VA? Why should our military be burdened following someone who has been rated as so severely disabled? He's not fit to be their CINC!!

Guy said: "and even connections to Marley, the 1976 car-bomber of Arizona Republic investigative reporter Don Bolles."

Is Marley related to Bill Ayers who bombed the Pentagon, the NYPD and the Capitol who is a "friend" of Obama? Hosted his first fundraiser and was on the FBI's 10 most wanted list?

Oh... sorry to bring THAT up!

Ster,

There are lots of people who vote Dem who do not believe that corporations are evil...I agree it is a stupid generalization. But that's the problem with our dicourse today, it is not grounded in fact, logic or reason, instead we throw around catch phrases hoping to incite the other side. The media tends to prop up this kind of dialogue, but we can stop it.

I can make a corporation tomorrow if I wanted to...it would neither do good nor evil...it would be a shell, a void. Kind of like the comments posted here (mine included).

Why do the Dems, ever since 1959, present Whos from Whoville? Jimmy Who? Michael Who? Bill Who? Barack Who? Maybe it's because they have slim resumes, tons of "Great Ideas", totally despise anyone who questions their "Truly Superior Wisdom", and, oh yeah, were born in a log cabin. JFK's wisdom brought us to within minutes of nuclear armageddon, LBJ - who personally ran the Vietnam War, Carter - one of the least effective Presidents since the USA's formation, Honest Bill announced to all, on national TV, that he had problems with the truth. And now we are supposed to throw our unconditional support behind someone with a one paragraph resume? But, then again, he's got "Great Ideas"! Ok, right.

Oh, those evil greedy corporations! Why, they're just not fair! They aren't listening to The One Who knows that the the sky is falling --oops, that there is global warming. It's just not sustainable!

OK, enough of the NPR pablum. Can't you lefties think some original thought?

I read the often repeated line, "McBush", or "Four more years of the same policy". Take a look at The One. Who does he most resemble in politics? I say, "Not another four years of O'Carter". Can anyone remember Iran? What are the odds??

The reason that the rich Obama ($4 million in income last year ... more than John McCain, actually) brings up and makes fun of the # of houses is...

he has nothing else! no issues, no nothing.

he was preaching over and over that he was going to take the high road and talk only about the issues that Americans feel are important...

yet... he is biatching about the # of houses ANOTHER RICH guy has, and is not talking about any real issues.

funny how that happens.
and then says that his opposition will talk about his race -- Obama's quote: "Did I mention, he's black?"

plays victim politics.

and when mccain does some ads about him being a celebrity -- with a tone of humor -- they WERE funny, he attacks mccain about his houses.

i thought obama was a 'different kind of politician'! Nope.... he's just like all the rest...
THAT's why he is neck and neck with McCain and not waaaay ahead. People are figuring out he's just like all the rest. (ALL of them... BOTH sides...) a SCAM ARTIST!

Just to straighten out those who comment on Kerry always sayign he wasin Vietnam, he basically only pushed it once, at his speech at the convention. It was the whole swift boat issue that kept him talking about his service in Vietnam. You can thank the Republicans if that bugged you then and now. The Democrats realized very early how stupid it was to say anything about Vietnam, especially when Kerry flapped his mouth when he came back. So Kerry's Vietnam issue was pushed by Republicans, not Democrats or Kerry. And W was elected on it.

CJ Thank you for getting to the real issues. I wish Jay Leno would have done so, but his own liberal leanings, and those behind him, obviously felt his question would cause the biggest response, and lead those less informed, to join in the attack. It worked.

I agree that his five houses are not the issue. We have different economic classes in America. We are not a communistic state,

I say vote for whom you will, but vote for the issues, and vote for the one who has the best approach toward meeting those things. Remember that we are a country based on the freedom to strive toward our own personal goals. Let's not undermine what America stands for, and if you don't like what America stands for, then you are in the wrong country.
darlene

STILL HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW MANY HOUSES HE HAS. I THINK IT IS BECAUSE OF HIS AGE.
AGAIN:Mecane steels people heart by telling his captivitu in vetnam and when he talks about it he thinks makes his listeners to belive he is the only vetran from that wrongly started war and finished shmefully.
He uses it like a currency to buy peoples heart, ear and now their vote AMERICA WAKE UP BEFORE CRYING FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.

MACANE STOP USING YOUR EXPERIANCE IN VETNAM AS ACURRENCY TO BY PEOPLS HEART BECAUSE YOU ARE FROM RICH FAMILY AND GOT A CHANCE TO BE ON NATIONAL STAGE DONT MAKE MONY AND STATUS WITH THAT EXPERIANCE. THERE ARE MANY VETRACE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE LIKE YOU AND CANNOT CASH IN TELLING THEIR STORY. WE ARE TIRED OF LISTING YOUR BLABLA BLA .....VETNAM......BLABLA.... TALK REALITY NOW.

Again? Is McCain serious?

2 weeks ago Sean Hannity claimed it was okay for McCain to cheat on his first wife because he was a POW. wow

Ster,

Let's be clear here. Neither McCain nor his wife are "successful" in the entrepreneurial sense. She earned her fortune by inheritance. McCain earned his by marriage, after cheating on the wife who waited on him when he was a POW.

There is nothing wrong with being wealthy. But there is something wrong with supporting the Republican WAR ON THE MIDDLE CLASS.

The GDP of America has doubled since 1980. Where is the growth in middle class wages? Nowhere, that's where!

The Republican write the rules to benefit their base. The wealthy DOUBLE their wealth and the middle class struggle to keep a decent life and to send their kids to college.

I would argue that Jay Leno is more important to this country than some people in the military, Boots. (Consequently giving him my consent and acceptance to talk down to whoever the hell he wants to). Hollywood is more cut-throat than the military. Did you ever wonder why Humphrey Bogart got roles in so many classics and little HS kid down the street who enlisted in the military didn't? Do you ever think that JUST ANYONE could say movie lines like "I'm a Drunkard" in response to Major Strasser asking him, "What is your nationality?" JAY LENO is irreplaceable. Well, less irreplaceable than say, CRAIGGERS. But to each his own. My cousin is in the military and he feels the same way I do, but he says it in a much more aggressive way. Hollywood, Sunset Blvds, Late Nights, Good Times, Humphrey Bogart and Dames out on the Town. Who's with me?

JUST A SIMPLE MAN, WILL NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE OVER AND OVER AND OVER..

THE LAST PAST YEARS HAVE BEEN A FAILURE

WHO NEEDS ANOTHER FOUR WITH McCAIN AT THE WHEEL.

ONLY A FOOL REPEATS THE SAME MISTAKE OVER AND OVER AND OVER ANDV OVER AND OVER ..........

Erik I'll take that bet Dogface,I most likly was in Korea before you were born and have more purple hearts than you have ribbons.

Waa waa wah. John McCain has houses. Waa waa wah. Name me A US senator or governor that doesn't have lots of expensive real estate. Democrat or Republican.

This latest political distraction does not address my real issues. Affordable healthcare, affordable housing, affordable transportation and next on the list of things I have trouble affording: food. There is no change I can believe in, only more of the same old mud fest slinging campaigning. All I hear is distractions, empty promises and lies.

Jesus Christ, when is there going to be someone that actually delivers solutions to the real issues that keep "We the People..." from actually achieving the promise of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness?

Please God, get this election campaign back to what it is suppose to be about, politicians serving the public for the public's good and not themselves or their party.

I'm glad Karl is also tried of the "My Friend" comment all the time. It is so stupid to keep saying it.

"Can McCain make any public remarks without bringing up that he was a prisoner of war?!"

Um... yeah.
Could Kerry? No.
I bet you voted for him, didn't you?

Case closed.

After all the mud-slinging, all the name-calling, all the finger pointing...America will still need a strong leader. Yet we vote for politicians. WE Americans want leaders who can be pointed in the direction we want- yet we do not get involved with the process- with congress...the real decision makers. So bring on the puppet show- it is still pre-season and I have completed my football fantasy roster.

Someone please explain to me how you can be an elitist and a radical, a muslim and a Christian under Jeremiah Wright for 20 years AT THE SAME TIME? Bottom line... if your doing well in this economy, if you don't mind people dying in a war that was created based on a lie, if you don't mind well educated people loosing their jobs with little hope of finding another equivalent paying job, then vote for McCain. It's your vote, use it to support the candidate you feel will help you most. Just remember, we live in a society and if you consider yourself to be a "moral" person, what's occuring in this country to others should keep you up at night. I ask any Republican willing to have a civil conversation... where is your compassion for your fellow man? I'm serious... I don't see that in the Republicans portrayed on t.v.

Not that McCain should not know how many houses.... but....

NONE of the houses are in his name. They are either in his wife's name (she's the rich one), or in Trusts for their children (one adopted) and one is even used for an Aunt of McCain that is an invalid and the place was purchased for her to live in -- AND they pay for her care, 100%.

Now... about Barack's half-brother... what's he got?

How many houses? What's up with this question? I know people with lots of houses too. So what? It's really nobody's business, and the tally of one's property is not related to the execution of policies or of one's philosophy.

Making an issue of this is petty, does not define anyone as being out of touch, and proves nothing. Actually it proves one thing, that the liberals don't have anything earth-moving to dish on the Republican candidate.

Obama has a mansion! And he's wealthy! He is well removed from the average middle class America too! He's in effect enjoying the same American dream that McCain is enjoying, and yet the Liberals attack McCain for it and put Obama on some pedestal for it. Typical Liberal double standard!

And what about Biden's overstated education issue? And with Obama's past, I know a person of Obama's past would easily be considered a security risk! So it makes me wonder how he got as far as he did. Easy answer... hippie ex-drug addict liberal votes! We only need to look at our own past to see where we stand on that one!

Can McCain make any public remarks without bringing up that he was a prisoner of war?!

For some reason he plays this sympathy card for everything, like being captured and held as a POW gives him better credentials to run a nation than the next guy.

Buddy, thousands of people have been POWs, and I thank you for your service, and am sorry for your pain; but I am also sick and tired of you dragging it out.

Drop the woe is me already.

Keaton 5

McCain statement: "American economy is doing GREAT" (while millions go homeless)

Drill Oil on American soil (when he knows that the oil will go to the WORLD MARKET FIRST, NOT TO AMERICANS) OPEC CONTROLLED.

ANOTHER TRILLION DOLLARS TO THE FAKE FRONT OF IRAQ (GIVEN TO HALIBURTON)

You belittle Mccain for not knowing how many homes he owns, yet say nothing about the deal Obama made with Antoin “Tony” Rezko.
==========================================

You belittle Obama for his one house, but say nothing about the money that McCain took from Charles Keating, a convicted felon, in order to keep the Feds from investigating his Savings and Loan business.

Does McCain have anything, anything at all to give us except POW, surge, and a near obsession with Barack Obama?

Mr Jake Tapper, thanks for the reporting. I'm glad you summarized it for me so I didn't have to see the slime live on TV. (And have him call me "friend")

Mr. McCain, a.k.a "My Friend", sends me letters every week asking for donations. The letters are rather boring, they talk a heck a lot more about Obama than himself or his voting record (which you're usually hard pressed to find any mention of). I send him back Ron Paul flyers instead.

We have become to stupid to rule ourselves.