Political Punch

OK LETS SEE OBAMA HAS TIES TO REV. WRIGHT OH THATS RIGHT HE DISOWNED HIM. (REALLY) UH! LETS SEE HOW ABOUT WEATHERMEN RADICAL BILL AYERS,OH HOW ABOUT HIS DEEP ASSO. WITH ACORN TIES TO VOTER FRAUD. OBAMA IS A LIER AND FLIPFLOPS ALL THE TIME.AND HOW ABOUT HIM SAYING BLUE COLLAR WORKERS NEED TO TAKE THEIR GUNS AND GO WATCH TV. HE THINKS HE IS BETTER THAN EVERYONE. SANDRA

you have not reported todds response to mr obamas political posturing you quote here.

the unthankugram i heard about from todd to barack told him to mind his own business since he had aleady shown off his girls on oprah and other national media where they indicated their father was a whiner? you will have access to this exact info where i do not

thanks sincerely for reporting the exact quote.

sincerely, raymond

Dear Ruth:

Obviously you are uninformed on how often McCain has changed his feeble old mind. He flip flops on everything from his policies to his wives. Right now there are 70 issues on which McCain has supported both sides. UNBELIEVABLE. He changes his stance on any given issue based solely on how much mileage his career will gain. He will do anything to get elected. Before posting another argument for this fraud, please bring yourself up to speed by reserching his diabolical record. Start here.

doubletalkexpress.wordpress.com/2008/07/28/updated-mccains-70-flip-flops-and-counting/

So if Johnny McSame is so concerned about the sexism (after having started it with Hillary Clinton) why does this faux concern not translate to supporting equal pay for equal work laws? Let's go to actual issues.

Great, this is really good. Now put an end the to sexist overtones too.

For the last time: The context in which Obama used the "lipstick on a pig" figure of speech was purely about McCain's policies. Palin wasn't mentioned in the sentences before or after.

Her telling the lipstick and pit bull joke did not get her first right of refusal on all further uses of the word "lipstick" in the campaign.

To answer the question about why is what Palin saying about the Bridge to Nowhere a lie and not a flip flop is that a flip flop is question of taking a position on something... "I voted for something then changed my mind."

I politicians "change their minds" all the time. Both Obama and McCain have done this. They are Senators and people change their opinions over time, so that is too be expected.

What Palin did was flat out claim that she was against the bridge to nowhere then continue to repeat that claim even when it was shown that she actively supported it when she ran for Governor. So there is a difference in changing your position as opposed to falsely claiming that you did something you did not in fact do.

Unfortunately for Gov. Palin, she did one thing worse than just lie about the bridge. She kept the $230MM that the Federal government gave her for the bridge. So that moves her claim that she was against the bridge and has fought earmarks into the category of a whopper.

As a swing voter who has given money to the Obama campaign twice, I am now sorry that I gave money to Obama. He is wasting valuable time spinning stories about pigs with lipstick and what he really meant. Please, we all know exactly what he meant.

He should talk about his plans and not address such banal garbage thrown about by the media.
As for sexism? The media fried Hillary and now they are doing it to Palin.

It's really a shame to see the double standard that still exists for women in the work force, even if it's in politics.

Early this year, I continually urged fellow Republicans to consider voting for Obama, that was prior to the Rev. Wright scandal and the revelation regarding his many seedy associations.

It is so ironic, that Obama's supporters are so critical of Palin's lack of experience, when she in fact has far more executive decision making experience then he has had.

The other concern that i have for obama is the fact that despite his very rare appearances in the Senate, he voted present over 132 times. This is unacceptable. Either he is extremely indecisive, or he refused to take a position because he didn't want to have to later defend an unpopular position.

In either case, it's more than troubling and very revealing as to his nature of character and integrity.

Between the outrageous comments of his "mentor" Rev. Wright, and his former terrorist bomber friends, many Americans have been drunk on Obama Koolaide.

I am off the Koolaide and will NOT be supporting Obama. I want a first lady who has been proud to be an American at least more than once in her life.

At this point I am leaning toward voting for Ralph Nader. I like Sara Palin and I don't like waht the media is doing to her. it's like watching a witch hunt from the dark ages.

Obama's speech this morning even said "it's a game we play...it's a sport."

Time to play a different sport Obama.

YOU HAVE LOST MY VOTE!!!!

I am a life long Republican, but I am utterly appalled at what the party has become. I am voting for Obama. John McCain should be ashamed of himself. He has totally squandered the deep respect I used to hold for him. He has dishonored himself and the party. Straight talk?!?!?!

I will be registering as an Independent in the future.

Actually, I have listened to those tapes, and low and behold, Biden NEVER called Palin a pig. Of course, if someone wants to make something out of nothing, they can do it, but never expect me, a Republican to think dissembling is as good thing to do. This sort of statement about Biden calling Palin a Pig is just silly. Palin brought up the lipstick and pig analogy so try to understand Palin IS responsible for her statements and distorting his statement about her statment about a pig is truly nothing more than a lie.

Umm maybe because changing of minds and outright bald faced lies are two entirely different things. We don't want to start on all the things that McBush has "changed his mind on" or do we?

Why is it when Obama changes his mind/opinion on an issue the liberally bias media calls it a flip-flop but when the republicans flip-flop, like with the bridge to nowhere, they call it a lie?

Are these Obama Flip-Flops or Lies:

Rev Wright - I can no more disown him than I can the black community. Then a month later he disowned both Rev Wright and his church.

Illegal immigration - First he opposed cracking down on businesses that hire illegal immigrants, now he supports it.

Marijuana - First he supported the decriminalization of marijuana now he opposes it.

Cuba Embargo - First he said "to end the embargo with Cuba" now he wants to continue it.

Public Financing - Obama became the first candidate to reject public financing for the general election after earlier promises to accept it.

Gun Control - First Obama endorsed a handgun ban now he supports "an individual right to bear arms".

Smoking – Obama promised his wife he would quit smoking when she negotiated an agreement in which he would give up smoking in exchange for her support as a Presidential aspirant. Obama broke that promise and was still smoking through his own admission as of Aug. and probably still is. This not only demonstrates a lack of character for not keeping his word and lying to the media about it, but also shows a lack of will power, self discipline, self-control, self-regard, dignity and intelligence.

I find it humorous how the GOP spin machine is trying to turn Palin's lemon into lemonade.

Biden and Obama voted for the "Bridge to Nowhere!"

Here's the difference, geniuses: Biden and Obama aren't on the stump telling you every day they voted against it.

I know you GOPers count on the stupidity of the average American to get elected but this is way too stupid, even by your standards.

It is an unholy union between the evangelical groups and the republicans that is anything but Christian.

why is Obama being apologetic on anything, if anything its the Mccain's who is smearing all lies all the time in his ads. Obama needs to hit'em hard stop being soft and don't stop others hitting on Mccain.

As a lifelong Dem and current Obama supporter, I can state unequivocally that I am pro-life. I believe that's EXACTLY how long Karl Rove's sentence should be.

Palin's church does matter. It supports anti-Semitism.

As an ex-republican, I'm not surprised by the arrogant dishonesty of the RNC, but I'm disappointed to see John McCain follow in the Carl Rove mold. I used to believe (Year 2000) that he was better than that style of dis-honest political discourse. It's amazing to me that winning the presidency for McCain has cost him his sole. I did precinct work for Barry Golwater (an honest man), who McCain has said in the past...Goldwater was one of his heroes. I no longer believe McCain to be an honest man! And, I now believe that George Bush's criticism of McCain's temperment was a valid reason to vote against McCain. I will vote for Barack Obama!

I like Obama's continued ability to stay on the polite/nice side of politics and sticking to facts but Americans need to read THE FAMILY by Jeff Sharlet to understand that with many right wing power seekers, these beliefs are potentially quite bad for this country. Dominionists should be challenged and folks who think they are ordained by God should be excluded from office. Fortunately the Constitution seems to contain the tools we need to maintain this divide but let us at least distinguish between spirituality and religion. Palin sounds more zealous than spiritual so far. Following a religion does not a good person make necessarily.

I can't wait for the debates to begin. I hope Obama raises one point or makes one true statement about John McCain that would just send him into orbit! Then people will see how "quick on the trigger" he is and what a hothead he can be. Then maybe they'll think twice about voting for a man who is out of control!

Strategy: The issue of "The Issues"

Obama has been citing this over and over: If you've got "John McCain voting 90 percent of the time in agreement with George Bush then you probably don’t want to talk about the issues..." We've heard this over and over. Then he rattles off the laundry list of the issues that, according to any polling source, we, as Americans, really do care about: the economy, jobs, health care, global warming, etc., etc...

But I am talking about "The Issues" [tm], here, collectively, and not the individual components. Obama has spoken until he's been blue in the face every day for months about his desire (and a genuine one, at that) to talk about "The Issues" [tm], but McCain's camp said "Nay." Campaign Rick Davis declared, bluntly, to the Washington Post, "This election is not about issues."

What??? What self-respecting American of either political party could possibly let that proclamation go unnoticed? What would any forefather of this country have to say about any runner for office even hinting at such a direct perversion of the principles we were founded upon? It would not be pretty, I can assert with confidence.

Obama, take on the issue of "The Issues!" [tm] You own it, they've forfeited it. Show Americans that you're serious about this "issue" - what you've been talking about since day one... your simple desire to clear away the daily ball of slime politics, be it lipsticked pigs or depraved exaggerations of child protection law, or whatever will come up tomorrow or the next day or the next as the distraction machine rolls onward... your simple desire to discuss "The Issues!" [tm] without wasting precious time with the constant, intentional distractions from the other team.

Keep calling them out on it - and strongly! Make it clear they've made a decision to abandon "The Issues" [tm] from their strategy and to rely on who-looks-better and cultural, novelty politics. They don't want time spent on "The Issues." [tm]

"The Issues" [tm] have not won elections for the past eight years and I think this time, finally, we have a chance. And if he can pull it off, he'd be doing the greatest service to our future political discourse - to win back the debate and prove, once and for all, that "Yes, we can" WIN on the issues and put the Rovian trash politics to rest somewhere in a dark spot in the annals of history.

Ditto, Matt from L.A. I want to hear the Constitutional scholar who's running for President reaffirming the establishment clause, not asking us to play nice with his opponent's theocrat running mate.

McCain-Palin - disingenuous dispensers of distractions and despair.

Like churlish children they squeal and point their fingers. And they feel they are capable of leading our beloved country out of where we are after 8 long years of he whose name shall not be uttered (Bush)?

Newsflash - McCain represents a continuation of the same. And Palin? Who knows what she believes in other than fundamental creationist Christianity, the rapture, and Alaska as the gathering point for those to be saved.

That's interesting. It's not appropriate for the leader or second in line to lead the free world, but perhaps for one of the least populated states of the union it's fine. Please wake up America.

I support Obama, and will vote for him, but I hate it when he says things like "This is a nation of believers, and I’m one of them, and we may not agree on every single aspect of our faith, but what we can agree to is that faith is important in our lives and it shapes our values, and we should be respectful of each other’s faiths."

I love my fellow man, my wife, and the earth. But I am an atheist, and I do NOT agree that "faith is important in our lives." I mean, I agree that it is important in SOME people's lives, and that is fine. But it is not important in MY life.

How about "We may not always agree when it comes to matters of faith, but what we can agree to is that we should be respectful of each other’s personal beliefs." That would be more inclusive.

MK, give me a break. That was a bit totalitarian, care to sensor me?

All day long I've been watching MSNBC and CNN about this lipstick remark. The McCain apologists are outraged at Obama's use of a saying that McCain himself used about Hilary's healthcare plan. Outraged and calling him sexist and his supporters sexists also, bringing up the "sweety" remark. Obama apologized for that remark. An apology here is uncalled for.

Should the Obama people be outraged when Westmoreland of Georgia called Barrack and Michelle "uppity"? How did HE think those words would be interpreted coming from a southern white man? What about when King of Iowa said because Obama's middle name is Hussein that if he were elected the terrorists around the world would be dancing in the streets? Did he mean that Obama was their leader, that Obama is a terrorist? Then Geoff Davis of Kentucky (like the name) said that he couldn't sleep at night if he knew that "boy's" finger was on the trigger. "Boy"? What does that connotate when referred to a man of color? The Obama campaign could charge the McCain campaign with racism, but they haven't. When Republicans refer to Obama as elitist, that's their code word for "uppity". No code book is necessary to explain the use of the term "boy" referring to an African-American.

Karl Rove Republicans are heathens, not deserving of redemption. What they deserve is 25 to life!

McCain and Co. have used the same set of words before. By making it an issue now, they are simply playing politics by other means--i.e., by manufacturing a crisis for their own political end. Don't forget who is running McCain's campaign--Lobbyists (seven of them), Karl Rove, Rove proteges, and other Bush operatives. They even wrote Palin's acceptance speach! They are giving us more of the same type of politics that in the past created much division in the country. They don't want to talk about issues nor are they willing to consider your real concerns.AMERICA, WAKE UP FROM YOUR SLUMBER. MCCAIN WILL TAKE US TO WW III--unless we act now to stop his politics of deceipt. Be warned. Don't say later you didn't know this would happen. Older suburban women, think about the future of your children. Young people, think about the kind of future you would like to live in. Do it now! If we play dumb this time, we will again elect the wrong people.

Obama's statement was either stupid/sexist/brutal, if deliberate, or just stupid, if not deliberate. Stupid because he should have expected a backlash given Gov Palin's speech comments about lipstick. Neither stupid nor stupid/sexist/brutal are traits I want to see in my president.

Why is Obama constantly being so magnanimous with those people? He turns the other cheek and they hit him with the other fist. Enough already.
Don't defend Palin OR her kids. Do as they do, stay silent when other people are attacking your enemy. The American voting public has shown its too stupid to appreciate magnaminity and only mistakes nobility for weakness.

Can anyone imagine McCain or Palin or any Republican coming to his defense over a perceived or manufactured slight or inaccuracy?
The stakes in this election are WAY to high to let this thing slip away - again!

As I know it, McCain himself and one of his surrogates have used the same set of words before. For them to be making this an issue here is simply politics by other means--i.e., by manufacturing a crisis for their own political end. Don't forget who is running McCain's campaign--Lobbyists (seven of the, Karl Rove, Rove proteges, and other Bush operatives. They even wrote Palin acceptance speach! Just more of the same, or worse! AMERICA, WAKE UP FROM YOUR SLUMBER. MCCAIN WILL TAKE US TO WW III--unless we act nowto stop his politics of deceipt. Be warned. Don't say later you didn't know this would happen. Older suburban women, think about the future of your children. Young people, think about the kind of future you would like to live in. Do it now!

Reasonable pigs everywhere are insulted....

Karl Rove is pretty smart, no? He's doing a step-by-step ratchet up of the pressure on the Dems. He's the brains behind this. Just like 2000 and 2004. Yep, we know precisely what's going on here. The oligarchs rule and they're pulling the strings. They have the Republicans where they want them - and in most cases, ARE Republicans. They have the money, the media, know how to FRAME EVERY ISSUE, and they KNOW without a doubt that the vast majority of Americans are illiterate, medicated and out of touch with reality. How many fundies jumped right on board once Palin was picked. TENS OF MILLIONS of fundies ready to be led to slaughter.

They are depending on that. Our country finally got large enough to have a critical mass of overfed airheads pulling levers against their very own interests because of the appalling public school system and people's inability to finish college. They won! The oligarchs are in power to stay!

And they will stay in power as our standard of living continues to dwindle until we're just like the Chinese or a banana republic: worked to death, no political rights, figureheads at the helm, dismal healthcare, etc. You name it. We're headed right in that direction. And YOU helped do it. Yes, YOU! You voted against yourself because you were too stupid to bother to think. Rational thought is far too 'elitist', thus YOU f*cked yourself. BWAHAHA. You get precisely what you deserve. You wanted a nation of 'tards. Well, you got it. And you put them in positions to put knives right into your backs. Good for you!

Guess what? The American experiment is OVER. 100% over. The so-called American Dream is a exactly that. A dream.

Unfortunately, he's expecting the McCain campaign to appreciate his remarks and concur. Instead, they will take them out of context and somehow, try to use them against him and his campaign.

I think it's awful that the McCain campaign doesn't think in this economic state of the country that we deserve to know everything about him and his running mate, Sarah Palin; their religious and any other potentially social impacting beliefs; and their specific plans for the country as to our safety and getting out of this mess. It's also terribly disappointing and scary that his supporters, my fellow citizens, - who mostly are experiencing some sort of hardship in this economy like the rest of Americans - are not demanding the same. Are you truly ok w/his selection being more of a political move to win an election than choosing someone who could get us out of this situation?

I am in that income and tax bracket that usually votes Republican. However, I have never voted party line. I truly try to do my research to evaluate each candidate on their potential to do what's best for the country as a whole. In fact, that research and my experience have proven to me that when the higher income people are paying an adequate share of taxes, the country as a whole does great.

Regardless of your party or candidate choice, WE DESERVE TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THEM AND THEIR PLANS FOR THE COUNTRY. After all, they will not be the Pres and Vice Pres for the Repubs or Dems, but for all of us.

Let's join together and demand that both sides stop the dirty politics that only benefit the MSM ratings and stick to the issues.

Smoke and Mirrors. All of this is great entertainment and, admittedly, a bit addictive. But it does indeed distract us from the real issues.

My hope is that all of us in swing states can put as much energy into getting out the vote and debating the issues as we are tempted to put into this gossip and Carl Rove/Jerry Springer style political carnival act. If we don't, the far right wing of the Republican party will win the day and the rest of us will get what we deserve- four more years of this nonsense!!

Please note: Obama DID "have a talk" with Moveon and the other left-wing 527's and told them not to run negative ads. Moveon, at least, has stopped and is totally focused on organizing grass-roots canvassing and registration.

ENOUGH ALREADY - Palin is being used by McCain to gain votes and nothing more - he knows no more about her than the rest of us does that's why she's not allowed to talk to the Media - she's being schooled and preped on what answers to give to the Media when eventually questioned and people in Alaska are being threatened in regards to speaking with the Media - this is such policital bull crap - this country will continue to suffer economically and healthwise if they allow this crap to be shoved down their throats and elect McCain/Palin.

What a great candidate.

I know in 4 years I won't be telling everyone I am sorry about my vote.

I am sorry that I was a Bush backer in 2000.

All that the word "maverick" means to Republicans is "risky". John McCain, like George W. Bush, takes risks which are the result of untreated PTSD. Anyone who knows a dysfunctional person understands that they bring chaos and tumult into their own lives and everyone else's around them, because it recreates the conditions whereby they've learned to find a sense of comfort.

It's a paradox, and something that you'll see in all kinds of addictive personalities, too.

Also, it's the people who tried to flip the "lipstick on a pig" remark into a reference to Sarah Palin who needed to apologize to her, not Sen. Obama. My grandmother used to say that, and all it means is that B.S. is B.S., no matter how you try to disguise it. Only a complete moron or drooling political opportunist (not that the two are mutually exclusive) would think that use of the word "lipstick" in that downhome saying makes it a sexist attack. And the media actually bothered to give that airtime is just another example (and we had enough, thanks) of how the Fourth Estate has officially thrown their responsibilities out the window in favor of ratings -- the big networks have no more journalistic integrity than the National Enquirer at this point.

Go to this web address and tell John McCain to fire Steve Schmidt. he is the one responsible for destroying a true patriot, John McCain.

Schmidt is one of Rove's henchmen and will do anything to get someone into office. He has a satanic ability to rile up the perpetually pissed off right.

I'm sick of this notion that all of our officeholders have to swear up and down that they're totally devout Christians. There was a reason that the separation of Church and State was built into the constitution -- have we thrown that down the toilet with the rest of that poor old document? Sarah Palin's religious beliefs obviously DO influence her political behavior, so they do need to be part of any halfway rigorous political dialogue surrounding her nomination and campaign.

JohnTX---I'm sorry. What interviews of Sarah Palin are you talking about? All I have seen are stump speeches where she is using telepromters.

What I see over and over again in comments about this article are OBVIOUS McCain supporters that are saying Obama is hiding something by saying family should be off limits. These are the same people the screamed and whined when the media frenzy was about Palen throwing her pregnant, unwed, teenage daughter under the campaign bus. The same people that screamed and whined about every other personal detail that's come out about McCain or Palin each time it's made the rounds. So Family is off limits when it's their candidates family, but when it's the dems candidate it a question about what are they hiding.

More of the same. Republican double standards. Until you people can suck it up and play an adult game, as if you're adults instead of whining children, nobody will take you seriously.

Why aren't they talking about Palin billing her state a per diem charge for staying at her own home? And flying her family all over the place and billing the state for it? If we did this we would be FIRED from our jobs. When this subject was brought up on Morning Joe this a.m. Pat Buchanan dismissed it because the truth was boring! It was funner to go after this stupid lipstick story ad nauseam.

So, Jake, here is how responsible news media do it. Why don't you send this list of questions from the Anchorage Daily News to your bud, Charlie?

Here are some of the questions Palin should be answering, for Alaskans and the rest of the country:
• You present yourself as a Republican maverick who took on your own party's corrupt political establishment. In November's election, your party is running an indicted U.S. Senator, Ted Stevens, who is awaiting trial on charges he accepted more than $250,000 of unreported gifts from the state's most powerful lobbyist. Will you vote for his opponent? Will you urge Alaskans to help you change Washington and vote him out of office? If not, why not?
• Sen. Ted Stevens' trial is still pending; he has declined to say whether he would accept a pardon from President Bush before Bush leaves office in January. Do Alaska voters deserve an answer to that question before they cast their vote for or against Stevens in November? What is your position on a president pardoning a public official before a jury has ruled on guilt or innocence?
• Alaska Congressman Don Young appears to have won his Republican primary, even though you endorsed his opponent. Will you vote for your fellow Republican Don Young, who has spent over $1 million on legal fees without telling his constituents what sort of legal trouble he is in?
• Why have you reneged on your earlier pledge to cooperate with the Alaska Legislature's investigation into Troopergate?
• In spring of 2004, the Daily News reported that you cited family considerations in deciding not to try for the U.S. Senate: "How could I be the team mom if I was a U.S. senator?" What was different this time as you decided to run for vice president?
• As governor of Alaska, you have not pushed for laws or regulations that put your personal views on abortion, same-sex marriage and creationism into public policy. As vice president, will you push to outlaw abortion, restrict same-sex marriage and require the teaching of creationism?
• If you were a fully qualified vice-presidential candidate from the get-go, why did you wait more than 10 days to face reporters?
• McCain spokesman Rick Davis told Fox News the media didn't show you enough "deference." How much deference do you expect to get from Vladimir Putin or Hugo Chavez?
• You have said victory is in sight in Iraq. In July 2007, when you visited Kuwait, you said, "I'm not going to judge the surge." In the March 2007 issue of Alaska Business Monthly, you were asked about the surge and quoted saying:
"I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq. . . . While I support our president, Condoleezza Rice and the administration, I want to know that we have an exit plan in place."
Define "victory" in Iraq? What is the exit plan?
BOTTOM LINE: The nation deserves to hear Palin's unfiltered answers to serious questions.

Palin is the one who started the lipstick thing, Obama made a sarcastic reference to her incompetance as a possible VP, that is different from saying that Palin is a pig. If you want to talk about sexism, I think it is pretty sexist of McCain to parade her around and use her as a prop to distract us from his near-empty campaign. Thats just my opinion, though...

Folks you are witnessing the inside destruction of thought in the Unites States. Intelligence is no longer important. America should be ashamed of itself. John McCain has run a subtley racist campaign, I'm white and I see it. I'm sick and tired of people skating around this issue. John McCain's campaign has called him the Mesiah, different, it's DISGUSTING. But hey, America deserves what it get when it votes. You were told Bush is like us. The multi-millionaire oil man is like us? And you believe it. You were told he was conservative. (Sound familiar) Conservative? We have the largest debt in the HISTORY of the entire world. You were told gay marriage was SCAREY. Guess what? More states have gay marriage after Bush than before Bush. Did abortions decrease under Republicans? NAW! We wouldn't wanna protect! Idiots. Wake up or our days as a world power are over. Billions of cracks in the US ceiling. If you can't see this, you deserve what's coming.

back to issues i will not read another report about lies and eception unless it is un coverning the truth.
the news is scared of the RNC, they are afraid because they think they will be fired like Tom Brokay or Phil donahue....
the media is afraid of the RNC..it is clear if they are not afraid why are they complicit in bad/horiffic reporting of the issues

Typical--the media coverage is skewing everything to Obama's disadvantage. There was that recent study that showed that the media coverage of Obama has been 76% negative, whereas their coverage of McCain has been 47% negative. When we end up with another four years of ruin, we will know who to blame--the media. So, since Sarah refuses to talk to the press, why aren't they making hay out of her mistaken remarks this weekend about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Talk about a really PERTINENT gaffe! Here is solid proof that she hasn't a clue about any topics other than drilling and moose!

See what I mean about the media spin, Obama hs always said kids and families are off limits, but the media mis construes this to the public as if Obama has run the negative campaign that the Mcsam/rove alliance has...
i am so sick of the lies from the RNC and the distraction fomt he issues, they cannot win on issues..they have no clue or really do not care

Well, normally I'd agree with Obama about this, except that there are reports of a witness who says that in 1997 Palin was "filled with the spirit of the Lord" and began to speak in tongues. Now, she can practice any religion she wants. But I have real doubts about putting in the White House any person who is periodically overcome with the spirit and starts talking in tongues. Does she play with snakes, too? I know that's a Pentacostal tradition as well. I think in view of her church activities that this is a legitimate debate.

This election is quickly turning into a debate about trivia. And with the help of the media!
The media need to examine the candidates' positions on economy, war, education, taxes, etc.

this pig in lipstick thing is just another example of the republican party playing dirty. I remember when i was little and my brother would kick me under the table and get me upset, then i would get in trouble for being upset, he never did it face to face or for others to see. they play like bullies that are 5 years old.
they lie over and over on tv and people are up in arms about the lipstick comment. wtf.
she will not even candidly interview to her own supporters, what does that tell you, she cannot think on her feet. how is she going to negotiate foreign policy???? what are you guys thinking , if you want to shop at walmart with her and go out for coffee fine, but do NOT ELECT HER>

To David Serra Sr who writes: "biden needs to explain hows hes conected to the bankruptcy bill of 2005 his son who is a bank lobbist and this bail out this is costing us billions and it started with the bill biden sponsered"

Better watch your step here. Shades of Charles Keating, McCain's son's bank just failed.

Here's the AP newsflash:
Nevada State Bank of Las Vegas will take over the insured deposits of Silver State -- which had $2 billion in assets and $1.7 billion in deposits at the end of June...

John McCain's son, Andrew, who is also CFO of his mom's beer distributorship, "sat on the boards of Silver State Bank and of its parent, Silver State Bancorp... Andrew McCain also was a member of the bank's audit committee, responsible for oversight of the company's accounting."

The failure -- which was caused by "poor-quality loans primarily related to real estate development" -- will cost the FDIC deposit insurance fund between "$450 million [and] $550 million," according to AP. Silver State's motto was "When the casinos treat you poorly, let Silver State treat you like a valued customer," according to its website.

People do not trust Obama, bottom line, this country is still racist. It sucks. Wake up everyone in doubt. please he is brilliant and actually has a plan to pull us out of this mess. If he were white it would be 80% Barack.
We are in deep crap if mccain gets elected goodbye womens rights, goodbye environment, goodbye endangered species list, goodbye middle class, goodbye civility, forget what will happen with us in foreign relations, perhaps more wars. it is really sad that people are falling for this. I actually cannot believe it at all. It is sickness, this country has a sickness of trusting people who play dirty and lie. Because she is white and pretty and is like a school principle. that is why they trust her. Obama is smarter than they are and darker, wait, that scares them.

Exactly and all this blabber about polls. It is about the electoral college delegate count and ole Johnny McBush is wayyy behind in that.

You people who are voting for McCain and Palin are idiots. It i clear, I am sorry- someone has to tell you, you are making a huge mistake. Wait and see, but i do not want to. You elected Bush but this time it is even worse you cannot even learn a lesson, so yes you make absolutely no common sense. FOR the decency of mankind vote smart.

Bitterindependent asks: when is palin going to get interviewed without karl rove pulling her string?

Certainly not when Charlie Gibson's interviewing her. I expect Karl's already handed him his questions -- with the answers filled in by Steve Schmidt.

Obama has to find a way to counter those who are worried that he will merely support "minority" interests. Of course, it's crazy that Obama has to reassure in this way (he couldn't win the election, if he were running as the minority candidate) but many Palin supporters feel a connection.

I saw an article in the letter from two female supporters of McCain/Palin. One woman was in her 50s; the other in her 60s. They said that they were lukewarm to McCain until he picked Palin. One went so far to say that she wouldn't vote for Obama because she didn't trust him. Of course, this raises the question: How can you trust Palin when you've only known her for 10 days? Obviously, they like her because they can identify with her.

The only way that Obama can win in such an election is to keep hammering away at Palin's record. He has to keep making it clear that her positions and policies do not address the concerns of poor whites. He also has to keep reminding them that they did not fair well under Bush -- another politician whom they can identify with.

Finally, in the debates, Obama has to destroy McCain. He cannot afford to be nice. If McCain is left standing after these series of debates, then older white voters will find reason to vote for him.

Cindyp, Joe Biden did *not* call Palin a pig. He used a metaphor, "putting lipstick on a pig," to describe how the campaign was trying to make attractive those facts which were unattractive. That's what the expression *means*. (if you had read my comment you would have understood that I said Johnny MCSAME did that more than once) You never heard him call her a pig. Please stop listening to second- and third-hand sources and please pay attention to what people actually say and the context. ( I pay very close attention to the actual facts not repuke spin. Johnny MCBUSH has been disrespectful to Hillary and did it first. Can we get back to actual issues instead of this fake outrage over nonsense?)This is an important skill if one is to be a useful citizen. (I am a very useful citizen. Learn to read and pay attention to what was actually said not repuke spin)

Cindyp, Joe Biden did *not* call Palin a pig. He used a metaphor, "putting lipstick on a pig," to describe how the campaign was trying to make attractive those facts which were unattractive. That's what the expression *means*. You never heard him call her a pig. Please stop listening to second- and third-hand sources and please pay attention to what people actually say and the context. This is an important skill if one is to be a useful citizen.

If McCain's gutter politics in his campaign reveal his true deceitful personality, what will stop him from lying to us throughout his Presidency?

As we found with Bush, campaign lies and mistruths quickly led to lies and mistruths in office.

Mark Halperin said on CNN last night and Ted Koppel repeated this morning on Diane Rheam that the media is asleep at the wheel during this campaign. This story is proof of that. Instead of reporting on real issues, like the fact that Iraq is not going so well and that the Shiite government has begun arresting the Sunni militias that the US pays to keep the peace, or that much of John McCain's stump speech or campaign rhetoric consists of lies that have been proven to be lies by independent groups (for example that he will cut taxes and Obama raise them--which has been disproven by independent review) we have this kind of nonsense. The only difference between this story and most of what has been "reported" lately is that this is not a McCain talking point. Clearly, Halperin and Koppel's criticisms have fallen on deaf ears.

SuzyQ_TX, Ann Richards would have proudly backed Barack Obama. Speaking of great Texas women, I do wish Molly Ivins was still here to slice through to the truth.

WHY DO THE MEDIA CONTINUE TO TRANSCRIBE OBAMA IN THE VERNACULAR?

"Gonna" = "going to"

Have the decency to transcribe accurately. This isn't a Faulkner novel. This is journalism. You are making Obama out to look thuggish and YOU KNOW IT.

The important question is...do you uphold the separation between church and state. It would seem to me that Palin's wish to teach creationism in schools is crossing that line.

Bravo to Barack for trying to rise above the pettiness and Rove tactics...But hear this loud and clear - we will not fault you for fighting back HARD. Distortions (read the exact quote that Obama used regarding the old adage about putting lipstick on a pig), manipulations and outright lies that swiftboat a candidate are insulting to our intelligence.

Just as the Republican party delights in making the term "Liberal" a dirty word, we (the voters) need to start using their playbook and calling the "new" Republican platform (which no longer resembles the party of my grandparents) for what it truly is...RADICAL!

"Contrary to what Karl Rove would have you believe, repeating lies over and over again does not make them true."

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That, my friend, happens to be a rational statement. This campaign is not about reason...or issues. The lunatics will see to that, and don't you forget it.

This campaign is about tricking and triggering millions of irrational and deeply ignorant people to vote against their own best interests so that the self-anointed 'elite' can continue to exercise an increasingly repressive power over the rest of us...who don't happen to be as willing to play the game of lying, cheating and stealing in order to destroy the lives of others.

In short, it's a clear campaign to enshrine fascism as the basic ruling principle of American society. Installing another bumbling moron in the White House is just a by-product of that effort.

If we're very lucky, the Rovian plan for the destruction and recreation of American society as a fascist oligarchy won't succeed (this time) but it will certainly be a close call until the end.

"we are a nation of believers" - I beg to differ! I am not a believer, and I've got values and morals and am just as American as Obama or McCain.

The point is not that we are or are not believers, but it is not the governments business to be our moral police.

And if McCain/Palin will use religiosity as qualification for office (moral uprightness) then they might as well walk and stamp their feet on the constitution which has not a single mention of the word God in it!

Sarah Palin is not a champion of Republican values. Records show how counter-intuitive her beliefs are to the established Republican tenets. She is vehemently anti-choice on abortion. Republican doctrine promotes individual choice over government intervention; ‘…we believe in Limited Government always subservient to the electorate…’ Palin is a proponent of the creationism curriculum in public schools, while the tenets iterate the danger of injecting personal belief into public policy; ‘We eschew the hypocrisy of imposing personal doctrines or dogma as bounden for political conv