I'm telling you, WE better wake up!

The Iraqis said they want a time-table on withdrawal but Mccain and Bush are saying no time-table. Please, what do we stand to gain in Iraq when the people dont want us any longer?

Well McCain has himself in a BOX, in the words of Lindsy. The Iraqi Government is calling for a troop pullout, Colin Powel says we can not continue the current commitment to Iraq.

Lets just hold the line John, you have been doing that for 26 years and nothing has been accomplished. The Republican, Bush policies have been a great success, I can't think of any reason to change it.

McFlipFlop ic confusing his own strategery with Obama's.
Just now, he is calling for diplomacy on IRAN. So, forget about "Bomb, Bomb, Bomb, Iran" or sending them killing cigarettes.
This guy is just a disgrace.

perhaps you can ask mccain if he now agrees with barack and the iraq government that the US needs to ahve a time table for withdrawl or leave immediatly

lol

wth

hope someone asks mccain to clarify his point on iraq

seems like hes going to have to be lock in step with obamas plan now instead of the 100 years he wanted to be there

but but the oil!!!

lol sorry buddy

McCain apparently has become clairvoyant, he KNOWS what Maliki means instead of what he says, he KNOWS what Obama means instead of what he says. I wish he KNEW what he means instead of what he says. What day is it, McCains opinions depend more on that than anything else. Ole John'll tell em what they want to hear.

Maybe John was telling a joke, no can't be that, he wasn't talking about killing people.

Dear American Citizens and the Press

As a concerned citizen, I consider it is my duty to bring following message to you all.

"We the citizens of the United States of America have the ultimate responsibility to elect the " Right Candidate" to lead our nation, out of our huge present and future internal and external challenges as well as opportunities. This is to prevent depression and isolation in-spite of being the only superpower in the world morally, democratically, economically, and militarily.

We need to consider the "critical qualities and characteristics" of our presumptive presidential nominees at the time we vote.

In my personal and professional opinion the critical considerations are as under:


1. Calm, cool, and collected " temper " [ Presidential Temperament ].
2. Sound and sustained "Judgment and Caliber".
3. "Thought-fullness and togetherness" of purpose and positions.
4. Minimum "ex-poser and exploitation" around "Washington and Washington insiders".
5. Renewed " Vigor and Vision " for our Greatgrand Nation.
6. Foreign policy based on " American Values, Virtuous, Vastness".

Stay informed, stay involved, and stay engaged. Do not allow some partisan media, pundits, pollsters, and perpetual political opinion makers effect your vote in the wrong direction.

Don't be effected and duped by "Psychological Terrorism" that is afflicted upon you all the time.

Long live U.S.A and its diverse but democratic people.

Col. A.M. Khajawall [Ret] MD., ABFM., ABDA.
Chief Consultant: World Wide Porfessional Consultants[WWPC]
Colonel, USAR/MC Combat Stress Control[Ret], Disabled American Veteran and Freedom team.
Consultant Psychiatrist: CA State, Medical Board of California, and Los Angeles Mental Health Department
Address: 7642 Eaglehelm Court Las Vegas NV 89123

What is McCain saying? That Obama might change his mind based on new information? That he might actually listen to a 4 Star General's expert opinion relating to conditions on the ground, process that information using his brain and his ability to reason, and come up with a better course of action? Horrors! Why can't Obama just be more like McCain, and adopt Bush's failed policies, put blinders on, ignore recent developments, and stay the course for the next 100 years? Wow, McCain is an absolute joke.

So now the King of Flip Flop, John McCain, is a fortune teller. My, my, so many talents this man has. He doesn't know how to use a computer, can't email, but he's able to tell us what Obama will be doing in the future. McCain has flip flopped on so many issues that I doubt the McCain of 2000 would even vote for the McCain of 2008. Completely and totally different positions on the same issues.

McCain flip-flopped on Iraq

No one asked the US to invade Iraq

McCain Spokesman: U.S. Should Leave If Iraq Wants Us Out
July 9, 2008 02:11 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/09/mccain-spokesman-us-shoul_n_111691.html

http://www.examiner.com/x-243-Progressive-Politics-Examiner~y2008m7d8-The-McCain-Flip-Flop-List

http://flipfloptracker.blogspot.com/2008/07/breaking-will-mccain-flip-flop-in-iraq.html

What the Iraqi people have also said, if you care to read more about this subject, was possibly a timeline of three to five years. McCain has already mentioned a possible withdrawal by 2013. It certainly won't be Obama's firm stance of "16 months-max". If you look at the current trouble with Iran testing missiles that could reach Israel, out troops, out ships, or our shipping in the region, think a little deeper. There is a bigger picture that McCain is fully experienced to understand and be able to make sensible decisions. Obama is so inexperienced. This is no time for a learning curve. Obama is the "change" artist. He doesn't know enough to make solid decisions. That is why he is always changing his mind.

McCain apparently is now clairvoyant, he KNOWS what Maliki means instead of what he says, he KNOWS what Obama means instead of what he says. I wish he KNEW what McCain means instead of what he says.

Wait I think I'm becoming clairvoyant, I predict that McCain will be saying the opposite by tommorrow.

Then again, maybe John was telling a joke, but that can't be it, he wasn't laughing about killing people.

Of course he'll change his position. Thats what he does. Change that can make your head spin.

The trouble with McCain and the Republicans is that they can't find any reason to get out of Iraq. They are painting it as a catch 22. See the Surge is working, so now we have to stay there at elevated troop levels, because if we don't the surge won't work. I thought the surge was to stabilize the country so we could get out, and a surge denoted a short term increased level of personel.

So what is it? 4 years of war then a surge or 4 years of war and ????? years of surge.

If this surge worked why can't we get out?

The fact remains that we are cought in a Civil War in Iraq, and we can't possibly support the right side. Didn't we back bin Laden, and the shaw of Iran, at one point?

Wake up people, we are so narrow to 5000 years of reality...stand fast, win in Iraq and send these terrroist thugs back 20 years. The only reason this is even an issue is because the liberal WEAK left is placating to the terrorists. Destroy the evil base and let the sensible moderate muslim community take hold, they will do fine if given the chance!!

I agree TNT, destroy the evil republican base, send them packing back under the rocks from which they came. Stop the destruction of the US, take the political power from their traitorous hands.

My husband is currently in Iraq...most people commenting on this issue have no idea what is going on over there...so shut it. The Iraqi people are so grateful for us being there and they don't want us out...they cannot say it publicly or there families will suffer at the hands of extremists. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. So while you are sitting around drinking your Starbucks, taking long hot showers, sleeping in a comfy bed...my husband is risking his life for democracy. What have you done worthwhile today? What have you done today that will change the world for someone? If you haven't had the courage to do anything...you shouldn't have the audacity to speak. Stay silent. Democracy is not a pill...it is a process. We are part of that process. Accept it and grow up.

I marvel at the stupidity of the O'bama supporters.

You all will have egg on your face come Wed. Nov. 5th.

The America people in large are much too smart to fall for the rhetoric of this empty suit fraud.

Let's vote

PUMA

People under mental arrest.

or

Poor upset mini-americans

or

Playing up my a... no too easy

or

PUMA is that like acougar...?

or PUMA...

isn't that the name of that adult Swedish film star...it is.

A recent poster just told some of us to 'shut it' because apparently we are not there and do not know what we are talking about. To that I say, I am a Viet Nam vet and know very well what war is about, more so than this AF wife who has nothing better to do than sit home and make posts on forums. For those of us who have already fought for our country we know the horrors of war and are doing our best to bring our brave men and women home from the mistake of this Iraq war caused by the oil greed of men like Bush and Cheney. The fight belongs in Afghanistan where Bin Laden ran to, not Iraq.

AFWife

I appreciate your husbands service...but did you know the reason soldiers are not getting killed as much is because the insurgents who joined up with the sons of Iraq have been promised things that don't exist? How long do you think it will take before those insurgents realize those positions and money does not exist?

I am sure there are many Iraqiis that don't want us to leave because their country is in the middle of a civil war...a civil war that has been going on for centuries minus the times a despot held the cork in the bottle.

The reason Maliki is saying we want you to leave is because many will lose patience with us if we are occupying them...not only in Iraq...but everywhere al quaeda is recruiting.

I respect what soldiers see but I also know that sometimes soldiers unfortunately do not see the bigger picture because unfortunately they have been put in a situation that calls for them not to.

The split of soldiers as Webb has said and Hagel has said...for those who want us to stay and those who want to get out is about the same as the general American population.

which would mean that most of them want us to leave.

McCain is a total pandering fool, and a horrible choice for President.

Since Republicans took total control of all 3 branches of Government in 2000, their policy (McCain included) has resulted in::

*Our debt has tripled to 9.4 trillion dollars, due to Republicans (largest increase in history). We owe interest on it

*a deeply damaging trade deficit due to Republican trade policy

*All of this is causing our currency to drop in value (at least 25% of the reason why gas is so expensive

*We are stuck in a war that we didn't have to go into - and it appears we were lied to about it

*No investments in alternative energy. No warning of oil crises

*Due to Republican insistence of removal of regulation & oversight, we have now suffered a housing crises, a mutual fund near-disaster

*100's of thousands of jobs outsourced

McCain has a record of voting in-line with the Bush Agenda/Congressional Republicans 87.3% of the time. Keeping this fact in mind, how on earth do people expect a single thing to change at all under him?

Please folks, vote Dem/vote Obama!

and Will

lol Obama is not losing big...he's winning...and on a state by state basis he is starting to win big.

do a little research.

@AFWife

I am also a vet served in Vietnam, Thank you for your very kind words and support. Knowing that I served so you can tell me that I know nothing, and shut up, reminds of the kind sentiments the public showed me when I returned from my tour of duty.

Just maybe some of us have your husband in mine when we think we need to get out. But I guess you wouldn't understand that.

I'm sure Obama will 'reevaluate' his position on Iraq. He just voted for FISA after all. His die hard supporters will find some excuse why whatever the new position is was really his position all along or that whatever he says or does shows how he will deliver us all from the abyss. Blah blah blah

@AFWife

I am also a vet served in Vietnam, Thank you for your very kind words and support. Knowing that I served so you can tell me that I know nothing, and shut up, reminds of the kind sentiments the public showed me when I returned from my tour of duty.

Just maybe some of us have your husband in mind when we think we need to get out. But I guess you wouldn't understand that.

(corrected copy)

Of course Obama will change his position. Why is that such a bad thing, you might ask? Well, seeing as how his entire freaking campaign is based on his apparent judgment relating to opposing the war, I'd say being hopelessly wrong about the surge and only admitting it years later would undermine that just a smidgen.

Also, let's see if he actually ADMITS that he's shifted. To this point, he's tried to pretend that his position has been consistent, when it has demonstrably shifted.

The fact that people are slinging such personal insults at McCain is extremely telling. I guess when you don't have an argument, you attack the man, eh? It's as sad as it is predictable.

It's amazing how many people who know nothing about the economy talk about it anyway. Ann, for one:

"a deeply damaging trade deficit due to Republican trade policy"

GDP and the trade deficit tend to go in opposite directions. I'm assuming you haven't looked at historical trade deficits at all, right? You just declare it "deeply damaging" based on, well, either nothing, or something you think you heard somewhere.

"Due to Republican insistence of removal of regulation & oversight, we have now suffered a housing crises, a mutual fund near-disaster"

I'd love to see some actual evidence that it was the removal of regulation that caused the housing issues. I'm guessing there's none. The reality is that a housing bill some time back (a couple decades, I believe) essentially forced banks to loan to low-income families. Gee, I wonder if that might have had something to do with it...

"100's of thousands of jobs outsourced"

Good. We have 100 million, and the idea that work shouldn't be done outside the country doesn't make a lick of sense. I suppose you think we shouldn't buy or sell things across our borders, either? You should, because economically speaking, it's the same thing.

God forbid people learn a thing or two about economics before spouting off about it.

You can be sure that Senator Obama will change his direction/position again after his trip to Iraq. He has changed it four times so far, why not again. He is pandering but has no idea what really needs to be done. It is scary such a man might be elected. No experience and no judgment whatsoever.
And does America really know what Maliki and Iran might be thinking?????

Slight correction: it wasn't low-income, so much as high-risk (subprime). It was determined that banks were being greedy by not loaning out to people often enough. So, they were made to. Now, surprise surprise, high-risk loans have a high rate of default, and banks are being accused of being greedy again...a technical contradiction that doesn't have the slightest basis in reality.

But that's the Democratic party's MO these days: assign blame on faceless, nebulous business entities (or entire industries). Nevermind if they've actually done anything or wrong, or were made to do it in the first place via government interference. The hubris is stunning...

NOBODY flip-flops more than flip-floppy McCain.

McCain flip-flops

1. The Death Tax
2. Gay Marriage
3. Jerry Falwell
4. Free Speech
5. Abortion:
6. Bush Tax Cuts:
7. Personality conflicts:
8. Charles Wyly:
9. Grover Norquist:
10. Bob Jones University:
11. Torture:
12. Kyoto Accord:
13. Gay Marriage:
14. Ethanol:
15. Confederate flag:
16. Immigration Reform:
17. Ethics Reform / Transparency of 527 donations:
18. Iraq War

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS276&=&q=mccain+flip-flops&btnG=Google+Search

"It's amazing how many people who know nothing about the economy talk about it anyway. Ann, for one:"

Your are perhaps the most full-of-it person I have ever seen. You don't know a thing about economics, and are apparently stuck in some outdated libertarian Austrian economics viewpoint, which has been long tossed-aside as a failure.

"GDP and the trade deficit tend to go in opposite directions. I'm assuming you haven't looked at historical trade deficits at all, right? You just declare it "deeply damaging" based on, well, either nothing, or something you think you heard somewhere."

You need to learn a thing or two about economics if you think running a trade deficit for years is a good thing. Do you even know what it is, or are you just spouting off nonsense?

Attempts to paint McCain as a flip-flopper are flat-out goofy. Changing your mind is one thing, and no candidate should be really criticized for it. But when a candidate changes their mind for no reason, and even insists they haven't changed their mind, THAT'S when it becomes a flip-flop.

McCain's positions on immigration and Iraq have evolved with legislative events (his immigration bill failed...what's he supposed to do, send it up again and again?) and the facts on the ground. Obama's position has changed from day to day, or even hour to hour, as public opinion has changed.

That's the difference. All these goofy attempts to find points in the past where a candidate might have felt differently completely miss the point -- and that goes for people who do it with Obama, too.

"Your are perhaps the most full-of-it person I have ever seen. You don't know a thing about economics, and are apparently stuck in some outdated libertarian Austrian economics viewpoint, which has been long tossed-aside as a failure."

While I'm impressed that you've formed such a comprehensive opinion of me based on a couple scattered comments on a website, you still haven't addressed any of my points.

"You need to learn a thing or two about economics if you think running a trade deficit for years is a good thing. Do you even know what it is, or are you just spouting off nonsense?"

Sure. It's the difference between imports and exports. Whether or not it's a bad thing entirely depends on how much we spend, and how much we HAVE to spend. As I said before, GDP and the trade deficit tend to go in opposite directions. For example: it went up during the boom years of the 90s under Clinton.

It's kind of funny that, when I asked you what you actually knew about the trade deficit, and accused you or not really knowing anything about it, you pretty much just repeated the accusation back at me. Sorry, but it takes more than "I know you are but what am I?" to actually have an argument.

"I'd love to see some actual evidence that it was the removal of regulation that caused the housing issues. I'm guessing there's none. The reality is that a housing bill some time back (a couple decades, I believe) essentially forced banks to loan to low-income families. Gee, I wonder if that might have had something to do with it..."

Sigh. Learn to use google, moron. This has been gone over 1000's of times, and "stated asset/stated income" loans were the cause of this, and acts like HOEPA (REPUBLICAN CREATED) ushered in the deregulation of the entire lending industry. Aren't you even aware that discussion is underway in Government right now to bring oversight & regulation back to the lending industry?

"Sure. It's the difference between imports and exports. Whether or not it's a bad thing entirely depends on how much we spend, and how much we HAVE to spend."

Correct. Next, explain what happens as we keep running trade deficits year after year, even with a 14 trillion dollar GDP?

So, Ann, we are supposed to believe what google puts out? One of the most Liberal websites on the internet?

Enjoying your gas & food prices with that weak dollar policy, Punditish?

"So, Ann, we are supposed to believe what google puts out? One of the most Liberal websites on the internet?"

That is the funniest thing I have ever seen posted on this site, hee-hee!

You can be sure that Senator Obama will change his direction/position again after his trip to Iraq. He has changed it four times so far, why not again.
________________________________________

That's bold-faced LIE!!! He's never changed his position on Iraq!! He's been telling the same position on Iraq since he started campaigning for president.

On two debates he's argued his stance on Iraq and in multiple interviews (TV and newspaper) he's maintained his stance. Stop making crap up that isn't true!!

And for those who say Obama has no accomplishments/history, the facts say otherwise:

Obama:
After first graduating Columbia University, then graduating with a Juris Doctor Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law School, he worked as a community organizer and practiced as a civil rights attorney before serving in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004. From 1992 to 2004, he also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School, and upon being elected to the US Senate in 2004, his record stands as:

*Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.

*Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.

*Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.

*Is a highly active member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Even older traditional Republicans wont defend their Party anymore, because when you look at their original, most upfront & simple principle that they base their ideology on - fiscal conservatism - they are an utter and miserable failure at it as well.
*Reagan nearly tripled the National Debt, and in fact, put the country into more debt than all of the previous presidents before him combined.
*Bush Senior added 1.6 trillion more to it
*George W. Bush has also nearly tripled the national debt yet again.

For every $1 a Democratic president has raised the national debt by in the past 59 years, Republican presidents have raised by $2.99.

source: 1. Bureau of the Public Debt. 2. U.S. Department of the Treasury 3. US Office of the Clerk

It would be a great mistake for Obama to agree with the propaganda of the administration through the guise of the serge is working from the lips of the General Patreyus.

They lied before to press a point across, why should they not obfuscate now, what have they got to loose.

Thedy will do anything possible to gain posession of that black gold in Iraq, regardless how they program the General.

Folks, in the end, we've seen what Republicans have done with things from 2000-2006, and it's not pretty. They HAD their chance - power over all 3 branches of Government, and they just cannot admit, they screwed up things horribly.

In the end, if you want to see our country eventually bankrupted like Russia did to itself, if you like getting paid less than a living wage, if you like seeing your job outsourced or given to illegal aliens for less-than-minimum wage, if you think its right that you should lay down and die when YOU get too old or sick to work, then go ahead and continue to vote Republican.

Otherwise, wise up and vote Democrat.

Till later...

"Sigh. Learn to use google, moron."

Namecalling? What is this, fifth grade?

"This has been gone over 1000's of times, and "stated asset/stated income" loans were the cause of this, and acts like HOEPA (REPUBLICAN CREATED) ushered in the deregulation of the entire lending industry."

Huh? HOEPA is designed to bring suprime loans to light by forcing various forms of disclosure. It attaches a stigma to lenders who loan at excessive rates to people who can't afford it, and forces loans requiring more than a certain rate to notify the lendee, and gives the lendee time to opt-out without penalty. This makes it HARDER to give out these loans, not easier.

You have it backwards. Google's great, but not if you only use it to copy and paste things you don't actually take the time to understand.

The actual cause is the Community Reinvestment Act three years later, which forced banks to make home owner loans more available -- even to high-risk loans. A high degree of high-risk loans means an increased rate of default, which is manifestly the cause of the housing crisis. It was all in a misguided effort to make homeowning affordable to more people.

"Aren't you even aware that discussion is underway in Government right now to bring oversight & regulation back to the lending industry?"

Yes. So? Are you implying that, because people are talking about introducing regulation, it is therefore a good thing to do? Strange logic...

"Correct. Next, explain what happens as we keep running trade deficits year after year, even with a 14 trillion dollar GDP?"

Eh? Since when did I say that we could do that? You said the trade deficit was "deeply damaging." I'm saying it's not: that we can run trade deficits at various times, and indeed have in times of substantial economic growth. The onus, then, is on you to substantiate the "deeply damaging" remark, not on me to defend a viewpoint I never espoused. This isn't complicated.

"Enjoying your gas & food prices with that weak dollar policy, Punditish?"

No. I strongly dislike the way the way the Bush administration has handled the dollar. But I guess you only think in terms of parties; I disagree with some of your economic comments and don't like Obama's positions, so naturally I must defend everything Bush does, right?

Pfft. Take your tired assumptions somewhere else, please.

Punitish

McCain has changed comments stances and the fights he chooses

go back and watch the snippets from cable news from 2000 through 2005

outside of him pushing us to go to war...he is a different person ...

Obama has let us down on FISA

the other things are entirely in sync what he has been saying all along and more importantly his very smart reasoning.

I have seen both of these men speak in person many times over the last couple of years...

McCain doesn't really know who he is besides "Iran is dangerous" and "but I have nothing to say about Pakistan and Afghanistan...al quaeda'a front is in Iraq" the last of which is absolutely not true but he's old so maybe we can give him that.

His answers on economics were ...nothing... they were three word answers that he looked uncomfortable even mentioning for the 10% of the speeches and q & a's that he did

would I like to have a beer with him...yeah

did I think he was funny ...yeah

did I admire his fortitude as a hero POW...overwhelmingly

do I think he is smart enough and logical enough and most of all different enough from the last 8 years...

absolutely not...and his q&a's proved that to me over and over

Just why does McCain bother to speak of an upcoming trip that hasn't even taken place yet? I at least have to give credit to Senator Obama as well as the many other political leaders who had the good sense to stay away from the conflict while those charged with the task, (our troops and their leaders) performed their duties without external distraction and influence. John McCain, on the other hand, spent thousands of taxpayers dollars to simply visit Iraq for the express purpose of grandstanding and furthering his political agenda. For those who might disagree, explain just what else was the purpose of McCain's sterilized sojourns to the Iraq protected green zone?

"And for those who say Obama has no accomplishments/history, the facts say otherwise:"

Heh. He was a law professor, has a dozen bills put into law, and has made a few dozen amendments. Clearly, he has demonstrated that he is prepared to become the most powerful man in the world.

The problem with your argument is that it misunderstands the accusation. No one is saying he LITERALLY has no accomplishments; the phrase "no accomplishments" is shorthand for "no accomplishments of significance." The idea that you can demonstrate achievement through number of bills, rather than scope, effect, and the political skill and personal fortitude each of them took to pass, is absurd on its face.

He has a staggeringly small amount of experience and number of accomplishments for a Presidential candidate, historially. That's a demonstrable fact. He may be a good President in spite of this, but it IS a fact.

we are done with the "beer guy" in the white house.

this time when we are offered the smart guy...or the "beer buddy" who stands up and threatens other countries with our "strength"

the smart guy who is complicated in his answers ...or the guy who makes a joke out of bombing other countries...

we pick the smart guy.

cowboy diplomacy and the weight of rich tax cuts on the rest of the country during a financial downturn is done.

Anyway, I'm outta here. Email me if you want to have a real debate, Ann -- I'd welcome it. But don't bother unless you're going to increase your word-to-argument ratio, because right now, a staggering percentage of your sentences are unmitigated rhetoric, and make no case, nor cite any evidence. That's a pretty telling thing.

Punditish

the stunning thing is how inept Mccain is on economic issues and he has been in the Senate for how long?

and don't tell me he understands economics...I was there when he couldn't answer questions back in NH

He fundamentally falls back to the last 8 years...on everything outside the environment...oh wait he's even falling back there.

McCain is not smart enough.

Obama hands down on every topic outside of how to survive in a POW camp...

Obama answers deftly...obviously you have never seen the two of them try to answer questions outside a debate .

and punditish (whether you left or not)

by your standards Clinton, Lincoln, Wilson and a few others would not have had enough "experience"

you are a joke.

and your logic is not logic it is sentences without the numbers to back it up.

I'll issue a quick reply to dl, because he's asking perfectly sane questions and being polite:

"Punditish

the stunning thing is how inept Mccain is on economic issues and he has been in the Senate for how long?

and don't tell me he understands economics...I was there when he couldn't answer questions back in NH"

I'm not sure that's a reasonable basis, and I don't think the way he SOUNDS when he talks about economics should be the basis for opposition; it should be whether or not his policies are good, or bad. Someone can argue very eloquently that we should be adopt more protectionist policies (in fact, someone has...), but it wouldn't make it anything other than a terrible idea. McCain does not speak with confidence on many economic issues, but that is not the same thing as having poor economic policies.

I would encourage you to seek out a few videos of him talking about these issues. It has been my experience that he does a decent job articulating his positions economically some times, and does a very poor job on others.

"McCain is not smart enough."

That's a low-blow, and simply false. I believe McCain's IQ tested at around 133. That's very smart. But I don't think we should be electing Presidents based on raw intelligence, either. Policy is more important.

"Obama answers deftly...obviously you have never seen the two of them try to answer questions outside a debate ."

I've seen many of Obama's debates...but they were with other Democrats. I do not think he will fare as well when he's challenged on issues on which there is a more fundamental difference between him and his opponent.

For all his gifts as a public speaker, he's far less impressive on his feet (press conferences and the like). I will be interested to see how he performs in the debates. But, regardless, I don't vote for the candidate with the most "deftness." I like my leaders to be inspiring and eloquent, but it's not more important than their positions.

"by your standards Clinton, Lincoln, Wilson and a few others would not have had enough "experience""

I didn't say Obama didn't have enough experience. I said he's inexperienced. It's a mark against him. It's silly to pretend that means he's automatically disqualified from the Presidency, but it's also silly to pretend it doesn't matter.

"you are a joke."

Guess I was wrong about you being polite and reasonable, then. Oh well.

"and your logic is not logic it is sentences without the numbers to back it up."

You mean like this sentence?

I've cited evidence to support my claims, and I've pointed out the flaws in other arguments. I'm not sure what great unsubstantiated argument you think I've made. Gotta say, though: it's pretty ironic that you'd try to accuse me of not having statistics to back up my positions, when so far your posts have focused on which candidate is mort "deft."

Okay, now I'm definitely leaving. If there were a respectful discussion to be had here, I think it would have emerged by now. Email me if you want, but I've made my case, and I've done it without resorting to the kind of childishness namecalling that you guys can't seem to stop yourselves from engaging in.

If you ask me, that shows a level of emotional investment -- rather than logical deduction -- that is the hallmark of poorly-formed opinions. But that's just me.

Questions to ask the General :1)how many permanent bases have been built in Iraq?, 2)What has been the cost of all of these bases?, 3)Why is a 1 billion dollar embasy required in Iraq?, 4)How many personel will be required to man all of these bases and embasey? 5) How much of the oil will be controled by the military? 6) How many more military deaths are required before the truce is declared? 7)Who has
the legal power to engage in a war, congress or the president? 8) If the prsesident asked you to lie about a subject of national importance would you do it.

I feel another Obamaspiration speech coming on...

"Let me be crystal clear about this, what I really meant to say was, you haven't been listening carefully, please allow me to clarify, I need to better explain...."

Yawn--tell me when it's over.

The possible election of Obama as pres has forced me into long overdue decisions: TO GET MYSELF INTO TOP PHYSICAL CONDITION, AND LEARNING THE SKILLS OF HUNTING, FISHING AND TRAPPING....UNFURTUNATELY - THIS IS NOT MEANT TO BE FUNNY.

So what's new? If Obama becomes Pres, he is going to have to rethink just about everything he has said that people wanted to hear. Like that bull about taxing the top 10 percent income group and pass it around to the "underclass." It he tried to do that, can you possibly think that those affected would invest their money here? NO,they would take their big bucks overseas or into tax free munis - like they have done before with other class conscious presidents. THEN WHO WOULD PAY THE BILLS FOR ALL THE EXTRA ENTITLEMENT PROPGAMS? THE REST OF US POOR SLOBS! DUH!! GREAT WAY TO HELP KICKSTART THE ECONOMY - CREATE A RECESSION AND POSSIBLE DEPRESSION (WE AREN'T EVEN IN A RECESSION NOW - YET).

I have been reading these comments. I am not going to get into any kind of debate tonight as I have lots of things I still need to do. But I just have one question

"Is anybody else concerned about electing someone to the Highest Office in this country who makes sick jokes about Killing People"? He said Iranians. Is that correct spelling? My concern is that he doesn't seem to make a distinction between militant, women, children, etc. Sounds like he would not mind killing everyone in that country. That is so scary!!!

McCain may have a High IQ, but if he did how come he finished near last in is class? He is the one that said economics we not his strength. He thought the #1 issue would be Iraq. And why is Iraq such a debatable issue when the Iraqess want a timetable to get us out of their country. We never did do what we set out to do. Where is Bin Laden. Have we killed or captured him yet? And if we need to stay in Iraq why does not the UN extend the Mandate?

Jimbo.

You forgot one "MINOR" detail. It is for the most part those with the bucks who take the risk to start and maintain businesses and.... CREATE JOBS!! BUSINESS CREATES ECONOMIC WEALTH - GOVERNMENT, PARTICULRLY BIG GOVERNMENT, SUCKS IT UP!! OBAMA - NOT A CLUE.

Does anybody notice than when Obama is believed to have done something it is all over the news? But not really Much on McCain. It must be because they have to be respectful because of his age!!! Why is it that when McCain flip-flops it is because he has reviewed new info to make him change his mind. But Obama changes (which most of he doesn't) for no reason.

I have a friend who's son started a business. He is rolling in dough. The only problem I have with his business is that all his factories are overseas. His office staff is the American held jobs!!!

Anybody care to discuss the REAL ISSUES with any depth of thought - I know there are a few Obama bloggers who can do that - I've talked with them. BUT WHERE ARE THEY?? If not - I'm outta here.

Jimbo: Most of the top 10% were heavely taxes originally. Most of them have so much money they don't seem to mine. I just cannnot see why a wealthy AMERICAN would mind being taxes more than a poor AMERICAN if it ment that it would help people get better educated so they could get better jobs. We are not talking about handout but a help up. I am sure that most AMERICANS would not mind paying a little more in taxes if it ment people would not end up dying in hospital waiting rooms. if you went to most any other country that you would find that they pay way more taxes than we do. We are AMERICANS we should quit sniffling.

Correction. I ment to send that last one to Temagami: Sorry Jimbo

Maybe it should have ben Jimbo!!! I am going home!!!