Political Punch

From Investors Business Daily:

Start with Congress. It must keep Bush's stimulative cuts in place. If not, it risks a recession for which Congress alone — a Democratic Congress — will be blamed.

Then there's the Fed. With consumer prices in July up 5.6%, the highest since 1991, our recent inflation spurt is worrisome. But core inflation rose just 2.5% in July, below its level during President Clinton's waning months in the White House.

And if oil prices keep dropping, overall inflation will fall fast. This means the Fed should be ready to cut rates, not raise them.

Finally, there's oil. Drilling for oil would enhance our national security by denying petrotyrants from Moscow to Tehran to Caracas the funds they need to harass America and its allies.

But it would do even more. Drilling off our coasts, in Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge, below the Arctic seas and in the Far West's massive oil-shale deposits would add hundreds of billions of barrels to our reserves and push oil prices down. This would set off an economic boom and help pull the world out of the recession that falling global markets now seem to be signaling.

By drilling, we can strengthen our economy enough to develop future clean-energy alternatives. By cutting interest rates, we can help heal our financial system. And by keeping tax cuts in place, Americans' purchasing power will be preserved.

Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla called Obama Unpatriotic 24 hours after this pience was written.

First I would like comment on the "70 million acres of leased land". Fist off, in order to even set foot on the land, leases must be purchased for so many years. THEN the energy companies can run seismographs for oil and gas. AFTER the lease has been purchased they find either NO oil, or so little that they would go into the hole extracting it. THIS IS THE 70 MILLION ACRES the democrats have been lambasting about. Cuba and China both are making plans to drill 50 miles of shore of florida in international waters and siphon our oil. (I'm drinking YOUR milkshake). Besides, Coca Colas profits percentage was more than ANY oil company in the world.

It is a PROVEN fact, we have more oil domestically than OPEC. FACT. Yes, it might take ten years, but do you think in 10 years it's going to be any better? By 2015 china will be using as much oil as us, please tell me how it's going to be better in 10 years. THE ONLY we can ever be energy dependent is with nuclear power to create hydrogen. There is no other way.

Back on topic, Obama has run out of race cards. You can only cry wolf so many times before people start ignoring your claims.

Prez:

How do you like the polls being even steven for the two presidential candidates? Are you going to whine, or are your claws going to come out? Or, are you going to act like Annie Oakley with a six shooter? Or, does Obama feel the same way he felt about the alienated Hillary supporters, "They'll get over it!" lolololol I am loving it!

It's been evident for many months that when Obama's political fortunes are under duress, that he and his mentors instinctively resort to playing the victimization of racial bias in the hopes of inoculating him against criticism. However, there is an even greater issue of concern, Obama’s admitted heavy marijuana and cocaine use in high school and college may well have played a decisive role in the development of Obama’s inflated sense of his own importance; and, his pretentious demeanor. Heavy drug use can lead to hallucinations concerning ones status of grandiosity. Another clue is Obama’s frequent confused and unintelligible babblings whenever he is subjected to a public forum where he is devoid of a prepared text by his handlers to read from; which is the reason that Obama's controllers will resist any attempt to have their candidate exposed to town-hall style forums.
Considering the fact that, if elected, Obama would be in proximity to the Nuclear Football 24/7, the American electorate has the right to know if Obama has any residual defect from his admittedly heavy former drug use. Obama's inability to overcome his nicotine dependency suggests that he remains vunerable to such addictions. Obama has the responsibility to submit to an independent medical examination to ascertain the facts concerning his substance abuse.
Until such concerns are put to rest, this man, who has exhibited a profound lack of common-sense, should never be allowed anywhere near the Oval Office. Greg Neubeck

I know how. Get the numb nut, lame brains out of the White House and get out of Iraq. Forget about helping other Countries. You know how to help other countries, you strengthen the US. Their economies suffer when our economy suffers. You know why the Media keeps saying this is a historic election? Because they know if the idiot voters of this country keep voting a Republican in there, we are in huge trouble. I got to give the media a lot of credit, for trying not to be too biased, but it's not bias, it's simple common sense. They know what's going on. They're just not allowed to say much or they'll seem too biased. Then they'll come under attack from the Right. Refuse to give them interviews. Boycott their station. It's all political. They use their power to manipulate what goes out over the TV. That's what makes the internet so great. They can't stop the truth from getting out anymore.

The U.S. is swirling down the pipes and it is because of the voters, not the potential leaders they have to choose between. Your country is broken in just about every imaginable way and collectively you don't have a clue how to mend it. Think New Orleans writ even larger. Heckuva job, brownies.

If Congress approved development in 2008, it would take 10 years for oil production to commence, EIA said. With production starting, then, in 2018, EIA said the most likely scenario is that oil would peak at 780,000 barrels per day in 2027 and decline to 710,000 barrels per day in 2030. Currently, the United States consumes about 20 million barrels of oil per day.

EIA said its projection is that ANWR oil production would amount to 0.4 percent to 1.2 percent of total world oil consumption in 2030. The figure is low enough that OPEC could neutralize any price impact by decreasing supplies to match the additional production from Alaska, EIA noted

davei n lv,

That's the best you've got? LOL. Of course you are right. I totally agree with you. So explain to me again how drilling in Anwar is going to lower prices again? I just explained to you that we still have plenty of places on land to drill. Why are we not drilling? You say there is no oil. Not true. Hell we even have contracts in Iraq? There's a hell of a lot more Oil there than in Anwar. Are we seeing oil prices drop? No. Oil prices are rising. Republican argument drilling an Anwar will increase world supply. Really? By how much less than 1% or something.

Rupert Murdock (Fox News) predicted $20 a barrell after the Iraq war: look at this chart. You think maybe if we get out of Iraq, oil prices may go back down? Hmmmm

To be continued some other time,

Best wishes to all

oil politics

Can we assume oil companies want to make money? If so, if it cost them $50/bl
to drill and sell it for today's price of say, $120/bl why wouldn't they? Their profit of $70/bl would be a nice chunk of change.

Therefor the oil companies in the US are drilling wherever they can legally do so. The same is true for natural gas companies.

Doesn't that make sense?

I'm not sure if you learned your oil politics in the first grade, UC Berkeley or the Daily Kos. Either way, they are not true.

Hmmm it's gotten kind of quiet all of sudden. Is this starting to make any sense? Are you finally seeing the truth here? Are you going to continue to sell your country out to big corporations that export our jobs overseas? You know why no one is stopping illegal immigration? Corporations. Cheap labor. Were being sold out people and you are buying the BS. Your Republican leadership doesn't give dam about you. They are their to serve their own self interests and you keep buying into their propaganda. Do you think anyone would allow oil companies to drill in Anwar unless the price of gas was so high? Who controls the price of gas? They need some BS reason to get you all to agree to drill there. Same BS reasons they gave you for getting into Iraq? They keep making this stuff up as they go and it's getting ridiculous. We've lost your trust McCain, McCain even said it in his RNC speech. And you think you can trust him? Give me a break.

Do you really think Bush (oil man, Iraq), Cheney (Halliburton), McCain (Bush), and Palin (Alaskan Oil) really want Americans to stop using oil?.

Jewel: "Why does Obama call women 'sweetie'?"

Oh that's a good one. But forces me to ask, why does McCain call women 'trollope' and a four-letter word I won't write?

Oil companies know they will still be able to sell the oil in Awar and offshore to the Chinese or export it overseas. They want to get in their and drill before it's too late and Americans stop using their oil. It has nothing to do with lowering our gas prices. That's not going to happen. If it's going to lower our gas prices, than how come the American oil that is being offered is always more expensive to buy than the Middle Eastern oil at the pump. How come we don't see cheaper oil from those gas stations? This whole Anwar offshore drilling thing has nothing to do with helping the American people.

McCain's handlers whined about "sexist" criticism of Palin, like when it was pointed out that she lied about not supporting the "Bridge to Nowhere" and when her various scandals were exposed.

it's the height of hypocrisy for them to whine about Obama playing the "victim" card just because he takes exception to the smear campaign the Republicons are running.

Dave it's fairly simple to understand. It's the law of supply and demand when it comes to oil. The oil from the Middle East is cheaper. The oil produced here is more expensive. There are more people buying the cheaper oil, than people buying the more expensive oil. The market for US oil in the US is already at max. That's why the oil companies are not drilling more oil in the US. Although it's there they don't need it. So why do we want to allow drilling an Anwar? Just to give oil companies more power. The oil companies are scared to death that we are going to stop using their oil. So scared T Boone Pickens wants to switch to Natural Gas, so we become dependent on that for a while, instead of some other alternative, which would make a hell of lot more sense. The oil companies do not want to lose their investments in oil. Their scared and they should be.

Dave in LV,

At a town hall meeting in Arkansas on August 3, 2004, Vice President Cheney told the community that domestic declines in production were driven by western land use restrictions: "In fact, our production is declining. In part, that's because we made a decision as a country — you and I might not have agreed with it — but, basically, we've taken large chunks of the country and put it off limits to any kind of exploration or development... Large parts of the Rocky Mountain West are off limits." But EWG's analysis of government records shows that the U.S. government has, in fact, given the oil and gas industry broad access to public land for drilling, since 1982 offering for drilling 229 milion acres in 12 western states, an area greater than the combined size of Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.

Of the 229 million acres offered for oil and gas development, only 30 million or 13 percent, have ever produced oil or gas.

13%? You mean over 87% of land offered has no oil?

Dave in LV,

Answer me this. We have plenty of Natural gas here in the US, why aren't we using our own Natural Gas?

Same reason we're not using our own oil, because it's cheaper to import it.

Former Hockey Mom: Had you been doing your homework you would have known at least as far back as May/June 2008 that Sarah Palin was being considered for the Republican VP position. Also, remember that not since JFK has the United States elected anything other than a former governor to the presidency... that being said, any of the Republican Governors in the US would be looked at in a favorable light to be chosen as the VP candidate.

Also ... keep in mind that both Obama and Biden are attorneys. The genesis of the word attorney derives from the french word aturne and latin tornare which put simply means "to turn". The negative impact lawyers have had on our society is enormous. Do we really need two lawyers running the country???
With regards to Lobbyists... as I do not want to be accused of slandering anyone...for those Obama/Biden supporters... kindly explain Hunter Biden's lobbyist activities and whether or not you seen any ethical issues related to same.

Even natural gas has tripled.

Posted by: oil politics | Sep 7, 2008 3:19:26 PM

I believe you have proved my point. We keep relying on others because you won't let us look.

Dave in lv,

Ahh yes, right and wrong Dave. Wrong meaning not like me.

Posted by: oil politics | Sep 7, 2008 2:57:01 PM

Don't misunderstand. I can be wrong and I am open to changing my mind when the facts support it. I hope you can please present them.

I haven't heard of any facts presented yet as to why not look? I have not seen any evidence of any environmental damage?

What's the harm in looking?

Natural gas net imports have increased from 882 billion cubic feet in 1982 to 3.2 trillion cubic feet in 2003. The percentage of natural gas that we consume which comes from foreign sources has tripled from about 4.9 percent in 1982 to 14.7 percent in 2003 (EIA Natural Gas Review 2004). The EIA projects that dependence on foreign oil and gas will continue to grow rapidly over the next 20 years (EIA 2004a).

Even natural gas has tripled.

Dave in LV,

They can't find the oil Huh? Like we can't find Bin Laden either. Keep reading.

our net imports (imports minus exports) of oil have increased from nearly 4.3 million barrels per day in 1982 to 11.2 million barrels of oil per day in 2003. Perhaps more importantly, the percentage of our oil consumed that comes from foreign sources has doubled -- from 28 percent in 1982 to 56 percent in 2003 (EIA Petroleum Review 2004).

4.3 to 11.2 barrels million barrels a day and now there's just none left on land. And now there's none left.

Natural Gas:

Natural gas net imports have increased from 882 billion cubic feet in 1982 to 3.2 trillion cubic feet in 2003. The percentage of natural gas that we consume which comes from foreign sources has tripled from about 4.9 percent in 1982

Are we seeing a trend here?

Former Hockey Mom

If we vote for a total unknown where the people who know her best, both Republicans and Democrats, give her an 86% APPROVAL rating, that's not bad.

When you know she has gone after the head of the Republican Party in her state and forced him to pay a $12,000 fine, not too bad. Not many would do that. Obama hasn't.

When you know she has made more progress in getting a natural gas pipeline down to the US than any other governor in the last 30 years, in less than two years, impressive.

When you know she has turned down free federal money for a bridge to nowhere (Yes, I know she once was for it), it is also unusual and impressive.

We could do a lot worse.

Dave in lv,

Why don't you read the rest of the article. We have plenty of land right here in the US we can drill on, Oil companies just aren't using it. Check out this map.

Posted by: oil politics | Sep 7, 2008 2:51:59 PM

I'm sorry. Have they found any large oil reserves there yet? No? But you want them to drill anyway?

China received permission to drill for oil 60 miles off the coast of Florida by Cuba. We can't go there because of artificial constraints by people like you. They can drill there. We can't.
They'll get any oil they find there. We won't.

Why can't drilling be done over the horizon? The amount of oil seepage due to oil rigs is very close to zero, zip, nada.

The environmental damage caused in the Gulf by oil rigs is what? Close to zero, zip, nada.

Looking at the title of this article - if we vote for a complete unknown to be Vice President of the United States, then our country will be the victim. Shame on the Republicans for setting up such a cynical ploy to keep people from talking about the real issues facing our country. I will NOT vote for a BLIND DATE for the White House. Our country deserves better - even from the Republican party.

Dave in lv,

Ahh yes, right and wrong Dave. Wrong meaning not like me.

Eight weeks is not long enough for the American people to get to know a complete stranger. (All the people who choose to believe the lies about Obama, my prayers are with you that the Lord opens your eyes. This is for those whose hearts are still open.) American Voters cannot in good conscience elect a BLIND DATE into the White House. This has nothing to do with gender, religion, motherhood, or even party. We've all known people who we thought were wonderful who turned out not to be. The only responsible vote is for Obama/Biden because the 8 weeks the Republicans gave the American people is their idea of a great joke on all of us. In 8 weeks, we'll still be looking at Sarah Palin's wrapping and have no idea what sort of 'gift' she is to us. Responsible Americans have only one choice now - Obama/Biden - real people you know.

Dave in LV,

A recent study by three federal agencies indicated that access is not a problem for the remaining available energy; in the five western basins that contain "most of the onshore natural gas and much of the oil under public ownership within the 48 contiguous states," the study found that 88 percent of the natural gas and 85 percent of the oil is on land open to leasing (Energy Inventory 2003).

I may be wrong in this but I believe kids should be taught the difference between right and wrong.

And I believe this should be taught and reinforced in schools. This should be taught as well as compassion, self- sacrifice, helping others, the value of keeping an open mind and tolerence for others.

The teaching of moral equivalency where right and wrong don't exist and only shades of grey do, is a bad influence upon our kids.

Obama is a stealth Marxist/socialist. Obama is following his early mentor Saul Alinsky, who instructed his acolytes who included Hillary Rodham that the way to achieve power is by becoming 'establishment.' In other words, don't follow buddy William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn and bomb American political and business targets. Instead, don a business suit and tie and act bourgeois. When power and trust is secured, you will be in a much better position to implement our ideas.

On Obama's agenda if be becomes president is to implement a massive re-education program costing hundreds of billions. Called Universal Voluntary Youth Service (an oxymoron?), this massive program is right from the Alinsky textbook. It will cost as much as funding the US military (whose budgets Obama will decimate to pay for UVYS) with the goal to re-program the minds of impressionable youth, teaching them that the US is a racist, imperialistic, evil country bent on empire building.

The US voter is gradually awakening to this stealth Marxist posing as a benign middle of the road change advocate. Absent any resume, voters can only judge Obama by his associates and friends. Names like Louis Farrakhan, William Ayers, Reverends Wright and Pfleger and Chicago fraudster Tony Rezko and the Communist ACORN organization are the names most intimately associated with Obama.

US voters will not allow this radical black power advocate, Islam sympathizer and closet Marxist who despises all the US stands for near the White House.

Why does Obama call women 'sweetie'?

Why does Obama pay women less than men?

The women working for McCain get equal pay.

It's simple... all the school has to say is some believe in creationism and some believe in darwinism.... define each... and then move on. What point does it serve a child to dwell on either philosophy?
The school is not the place for teaching values aside from being polite and following the rules. Half the reason our schools are behind in education is the focus on forming the moral thread of society rather than educating our children. If indeed the democrats are in favor of acceptance of all viewpoints as they say they are.. then why are they so against school vouchers?

Dave in LV,

Between 2000 and 2004, the oil and gas industry poured more than $75 million into political campaigns, with 79 percent going to Republicans, money that may have influenced administration decisions opening protected public lands to drilling (CRP 2004).

Posted by: oil politics | Sep 7, 2008 2:29:14 PM

So what? How much have teachers and other unions given and to whom? How much has the ACLU given and to whom?

Given the oil companies have been blocked from finding and developing vast oil reserves, billions of gallons of oil and trillions of cubic feet of gas, evidently they should have done more.

It would have meant lower prices for you and me.

theTruth

What happened to Sarah?

Would you say she might have been attacked?

Virtually all the rumors have now been proven false.

So many have said women such at her should stay at home with 5 kids.

She (women) should stay at home with her Down child.

She has been unfaithful to her husband. No proof presented.

Who is creating these false rumors?

Where is the truth?

As an Independent I think that the definitions of liberal vs. conservative have been distorted over the years. Liberalism used to mean ""do your own thing" and acceptance of all viewpoints. Today liberalism has taken on a different tone... particularly in the public school arena. I don't care a bit what one family chooses to teach their own children with regards to morals, religion, sex, etc. that is their rights as parents. But to promote teaching moral values in the school is wrong. That is not the proper forum. It is the schools' job to educate our youth. Teach them reading, writing, grammar, math, history and spelling. When they are adults ... age 18... they can attend college and then have discourse about society's mores. It is rather elitist for OBAMA to be so against school vouchers when he, himself did not attend public school because he was fortunate enough to have grandparents who could afford to send him to one of the most elite private schools in Hawaii. Today, liberal means "you better agree with me or else you are bad" and we need all of your money to have more government programs because the average american is too stupid to stand on their own two feet. How condescending. Wake up people... the more government programs they institute the worse the problem gets.... all these programs do is provide more government jobs for their supporters. in th

Dave in LV,

Between 2000 and 2004, the oil and gas industry poured more than $75 million into political campaigns, with 79 percent going to Republicans, money that may have influenced administration decisions opening protected public lands to drilling (CRP 2004).

Barack Obama is full of anger and resentment against white amerca. He says that certain whites cling to their religion and their guns. Sounds like stereotyping, doesn't it? Americans will not elect this man.

The liberal Obama believes in partial birth abortion.

The liberal Obama believes viable babies born through an abortion procedure should not be kept alive.

The liberal Obama sponsors a bill REQUIRING the US to reduce poverty by 25% not only in the US but for the ENTIRE WORLD !!!!

AND to accomplish this WITHIN 5 years!!!

But what the heck, you've got the money, right?

Young Atheart

Please note China as well as most other countries of the world have a lower corporate tax rate than the US. US companies pay among the highest taxes in the world.

One company alone pays more than 50% of all US citizens!! And yes, it is an "evil" oil company that Dems are saying is not paying enough.

In these terrible last 8 years the amount of growth of the US economy exceeds the TOTAL economy of China.

And if you missed it our bad economy is still the best in the industrial world.

The Dem plan proposed by Obama is to tax the living daylights out of corporations and small businesses to create massive new government programs.

Do you really think this will work? Don't you think companies will respond with layoffs and higher prices? That is if they don't go out of business?

XRAYeye,

Are you serious? If it was up to conservatives we'd be studying Creationism instead of Evolution. If it was up to conservatives we'd still believe the world is flat and the sun revolves around us, instead of the Earth revolving around the sun. Don't make me laugh.

There are so many lies about Obama supposedly hiding things. It's a crock. Yes, Barack Hussein Obama is the son of a protestant Christian mother and a muslim economist from Kenya from whom he was estranged. He was born in Hawaii and, after living with his mom and a muslim stepfather in Jakarta, Indonesia for a time attending the Basuki school from 1969 to 1971."This is a public school. We don't focus on religion," Hardi Priyono, deputy headmaster of the Basuki school, told Vause of CNN. "In our daily lives, we try to respect religion, but we don't give preferential treatment." Vause reported he saw boys and girls dressed in neat school uniforms playing outside the school, while teachers were dressed in Western-style clothes. One of Obama's Basuki classmates, Bandug Winadijanto, claims that not a lot has changed at the school since the two men were pupils.
"It's not (an) Islamic school. It's general," Winadijanto said. "There is a lot of Christians, Buddhists, also Confucian. ... So that's a mixed school." After his mother's death from cancer, Barack was raised by his protestant, white grandparents in Hawaii.

XRAYeye,

That pretty much sums up the Republican party. Complain about the liberal media, the liberal educational system, the liberal this the liberal that. Who knows the most? Don't you think maybe the liberal universities? And what do you call blow hards like Limbaugh, Hannity, and O'reilly? Making a whole lot of noise, and not saying nothing. Since I've been on this blog I've seen nothing but smears left and right by Republicans. Give me a break. The difference between Democratic arguments and Republican arguments, Democrats back them up. Republicans have nothing to back up their attacks.

Ever heard of the phrase empty vessels
make the most noise? The vessel's of the
democratic party are howling with that
singular one-noted sound. I also suspect
that there is a gnashing of teeth that
so represents the party of tolerance.

Yes, he scratches his face with his middle finger. So what? Only a warped little mind would obsess over that.

Yes he misspoke when he said 57 states; most of us realize he meant 57 primaries, but Republicans simply cannot grasp that folks make mistakes and misspeak--unless, of course, it is the master of gaffes himself, John S McCain. So how come you don't obsess on all the great McCain's mistakes and misspeaks? Because on any day of the week I would pile up all the mistakes McCain has made against those Obama has. Oh, but that wouldn't be fair. That would be whining. That would be something terrible. Obama is supposes to take all the crap coming his way but if he raises his voice against it, he is whining or playing the victim or something.

And as for the bit about the Muslim--well, deal with it. I would rather have someone in the WH who has taken the time to learn something about other cultures and religions rather than someone who can parrot back one phrase whenever something bad happens "But I was a POW"

There is NO indication that Obama was raised in a radical home--that is another of the dirty rotten Republican scandolous lies. Other than the fact that his mother married no-whites (yes, I understand that probably does make her a radical in your eyes) AND her husbands did not practice Christianity, that DOES NOT make her a radical.

What is does make her, from everything I have read, is a devoted mother who got up before dawn to study with her son, her worked hard to send him to the best of schools regardless of whether they had Republican stamps of approval on them, and when she could no longer provide for her son in the way she thought best, she asked her parents to look after him.

Now, are you saying any of this is radical?

And are you saying that these two Kansas city stalwarts who worked for the US government in WWII (one as a soldier, one on an assembly line) were radical? Because that is as much Obama's background as anything else.

Oh, I forgot, you Republicans can spin anything into a web of lies. Disgusting. Positively disgusting.

Obama "accidentally" uses his middle finger.

Obama "accidentally" says there are 57 states.

Today, he "accidentally" said he was a Muslim.

Could America afford his "accidents" if he became president?

after all Obama is the most Liberal of anyone in Congress right?

How do Republians on here define Liberal? What does liberal mean?

Deb,
As you stated, your children internalized what they were taught in the home. I am sure Barrak Obama did as well... and THAT is my point. He was raised by radical extremists. This is the country of acceptance of different viewpoints. I accept that his viewpoint is different from mine. I just do not happen to agree with it. I have travelled to Europe, housed countless foreign exchange students (without any compensation) and attended one of the most culturally diverse campuses in the nation.. where despite my caucasian skin I was nominated to be the class president. There are good and bad among every sector of society. What I oppose most with Obama is that he is not forthright about his opinions and views. There is not now nor will there likely ever be anyone running for office who has not made a mistake or two in the past... that is part of the human condition. But... to not own up for mistakes and attempt to sweep them under the rug is wrong. Obama wants a socialist country.. period... that is his choice... as well as the choice of his followers. There are many in the world who apparently prefer that form of government. Why is he not forthright in his speeches and stating precisely what his goal is.
As for the commentor who praised China as being both socialism and capitalism. ... According to Marxist theory.. socialism is the bridge between capitalism and communism... therefore there will always be a time when both exist simultaneously as the change is gradual.
The average Chinese person lives in squalor. They cannot even breathe the air without a mask.. Personally I don't think that is all that Grand!

Re the finger:

This is how the Republicans work:

Barack Obama uses the middle finger of his hand to scratch his face. He is not the only person in the world to do so, but the Republicans would like to make you think he is.

So during a speech he gave, he had an itch and he scratched--guess what?--with his middle finger.

Leave it to the insane, inane Republicans to take an innocent act and try to layer it with all sorts of diabolical meaning.

These people are morally corrupt. They are liars. They are fear-mongerers.

Defeating John McCain will do little to silence their hatred, but it will do much to advance the US.

Colleen,

Nonsense about internalizing. I have two daughters; both went to various parochial school. Neither of them internalized anything about the church; they did get an excellent education.

They are now adults and guess what? They haven't turned (horrors!) into Catholics or into evengelicals. They are who they are, who the family made them, and they have incorporated their various experienced to become OPEN MINDED, FAIR, SENSITIVE individuals who won't succumb to fear-mongering like you are attempting to do.

The root of economic downturn is not tied to either the Congress or the President. The root of our economic issues is the direct result of the Federal Reserve printing more paper money without the Gold to back it up. The more money they print.. the less the value. Now they are going to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.. that will add Billions if not Trillions to our deficit. We can thank Both Alan Greenspan who served as the head of the federal reserve for more than 18 years under four U.S. presidents and Ben Bernanke who has served for two years.
Someone here chastised Sarah Palin as not having enough "political" experience. Political experience is not the same as leadership experience. Leadership and decision making skills are transferrable to any arena.
I am curious to know how many people here are employed by the Public sector... teachers, police, township/city workers, etc. who all have a vested interest in bigger government.
Just for the record.. personally, neither myself nor my family has ever been employed by any government entity... just curious is all.

A communist country just put on the best Olympics ever AND won the most gold medals. There were just too few Moms and Dads like Michael Phelp’s or Shawn Johnson’s who’s sacrifice was enough to propel their kids to the top. The rest were too distracted by mortgage failures, medical expenses, gas prices and educational budget-cuts, all problems that grew during two-plus decades of rising corporate profits and tax-cuts. (3/4th of Fortune 500 companies pay ZERO taxes today through loopholes, while consumers and small businesses make up for them) Yet big companies and large shareholders continue to divert most re-investment to foreign shores.

China is also growing twice as fast as the US and is the new operations center for some of America's biggest companies. They did it by greatly expanding their middle-class with sustained investments in education, healthcare and housing and energy...all things that that have been draining our middle-class since the two Bush Presidents piled on the debt, sold it to other countries and blindly deregulated everything. Wake up America. It was NEVER about Socialism vs. Capitalism...China has both. Its about government policies that help us help ourselves AND channeling the private sector's natural profit incentive to actually help the country instead of legally stealing from it.

McCain/Palin want to double down on big corporate tax cuts and further deregulate big oil, healthcare, education. No matter their good home-town intentions, they cannot drive good policy when it is written for them by hundreds of big-corporate lobbyists. This election is possibly the last chance to save the working middle-class and everything it does for this country, otherwise many of us will be applying for jobs in China in a few years. It is unbelievable that many voters are still voting based on identity politics..."my vote will only go to a 'woman' or 'war vet' or "someone more like me."

Colleen,

That's easy. Every good bill the Democrats introduce gets blocked by Republicans or vetoed by Bush. For example, when the housing relief bill was introduced, almost all Republicans voted against it, the President threatened to veto it. Why because they don't want Democrats taking credit for fixing the economy. That's really doing alot of good for Americans. Then we have to tack on some more garbage on the bill so the lobbyists and corporations that control the Republican party get something out of it, in order to finally pass it.

I am a Registered Nurse in the State of New Jersey. People complain left and right about the high cost of health care. Let me be the first to tell you that it is not the lack of dollars being put into health care in the United States... but rather, it is the incessant increase in regulation that is crippling the system. A major problem is also the litigious society in which we live. Doctors are constantly ordering unnecessary tests and consults just to cover their arse. Do you realize that any addict, convicted felon or sociopath who has used up their government assistance just has to go to the nearest emergency room and say "I think I want to kill myself" and they can come in for 3 hots and a cot, hang around a few days or as is often the case, weeks, on our dime and then be placed in some type of government assisted living...
This goes on daily. Government regulations also stipulate that there be a highly paid, masters prepared "movement therapist" or "music therapist" to entertain them while they are camping out. No one says that music isn't good for the soul... but why not turn on the radio? More government regulation will cripple the healthcare system and any other entity it gets involved in. As it is now nurses are forced to spend far more time satisfying regulations and policies than they are providing direct patient care. It's all about the paperwork.. not about the patient.... more money will not fix this problem.

In his book, Obama staes....
"When the political winds shift, I will stand with my Muslim brothers"

READ HIS BOOK, SEE WHAT HE WROTE!

OK ... Obamanites...... as you hopefully already know, it is not the President who legislates, it is our Congress. Kindly explain why the present Democratic Congress has such a low approval rating. Rasmussen reports a 9% approval rating of Congress. Gallup is more generous with a 20% approval rating. If you truly stand behind your selections then why is the approval so low?

Strange about that letter from someone from Wasilla, Alaska.

Alaska doesn't have a sales tax.

The book banning has been bebunked as a smear.

There are about 4 letters from Wasilla that have smears and lies. What a joke.

Too many wrongs shows how the liberals are smearing Gov Palin.

I think Obama made a massive critical error by choosing Biden for VP. If only he had the wisdom and foresight of our hero John McCain maybe Obama could have picked one damn good ex-PTA President with absolutely no political experience and -- unlike Palin -- no big-time political connections. That would undoubtedly trump the Palin effect. If McCain wins come November, I'll be the first to say "God Bless America the Mediocre!"

To the talking point repeaters who obsess over "present" votes - get your facts straight. The 130 votes you refer to were Illinois state senate votes, not during his time as US Senator.

It is a common technique in that Senate, often part of a team strategy or a means of protesting certain parts of bills.

It may mean what you're trying too imply, but it also may not, there's plenty of room for interpretation.

The Republican campaign: "Elect us, and we'll throw ourselves out of office and clean up the mess we've made by continuing our current policy! Now THAT's change!."

Really. At some point you're going to over estimate the gullibility of the public.

It's official. These comment forums provide no constructive value at all...only a venue for ignorant, proud Americans to further cement their bigotry, and closed-mindedness iton their own world view. This goes for both parties.

If you don't have anything constructive to contribute, stay out of the forum.

McCain has truly sold his soul to the devil. Not only has he bent over backwards for his ex-arch rival King George, but he picks a VP with a similiar abysmal ethical record. But, sadly, this isn't so shocking after the last crappy eight years of Republican rule. Obama is the better alternative by far.

-Independent voter

hey Obama voted preasent 130 times.
Ask Obama when life begins and he well tell you that it is above his pay grade.
I would say thast Obama is the racis
person in this race.

Country first, indeed.

Let's fix the mess that eight years of Republican policy has made of it.

Country first!
Obama/Biden 08

FACT: It has been proven and Obama does not deny that he has surrounded himserlf with racists and terrorists yet the Dems think this is OK. This is a very blatant example of hypocrisy!!!!!!!! STOP RACISM WHEREVER IT EXISTS! NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!

Even before the full effect of RNC Convention Bounce is kicking in, the average of all polls (CNN, CBS, Gallup, Ramussen, Hotline) is showing Obama leading by a wafer thin margin of 1.8%. McCain is now 44.6% snapping away at Obama 46.4%

I know a lot of Obama supporters are going to say they do not believe in polls....they are afterall .... JUST POLLS !!!

How many times he voted present ?? 114 times.
And the button to mark "Present" in the senate is "Yellow".
Now with such a record it will be tough on Obama-- even to vote for himself. He might vote McCain.
Mccain/Palin 08

Deb,

You speak with such authority about the upbringing and soul of Barack Obama.
Black and white thinking is rigid and, frankly, boring. Not to mention dangerous
and self-defeating.

As a progressive, I like democracy and free will. I believe that as we help others, we help ourselves. Free will and personal responsiblity are compatible with government intervention that seeks to protect its citizens and ensure fair distribution of resources.

I don't want the government making my shoes. That's socialism.

If you like democracy, then you'll understand why a strong middle class is essential to its well-being. The middle class protects the very poor from the very wealthy. It prevents an oligarchy, which (as you know) precludes
democratic institutions.

Over the past 8 years the US has slid quickly toward oligarchy, and some would argue that we are now a budding fascist state. (China certainly is.)

Our economy, our intellectual progress, our inventiveness, our standard of living always thrive under Democratic presidents. And somehow, with all that progress, we remained a strong democracy with civil liberties largely intact, and an international leader.

Go figure.