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John McCain Comes Aboard Joe Biden's Plane
September 07, 2008 11:31 AM
ABC News' Matthew Jaffe Reports: In an unexpected face-to-face encounter, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, Sunday boarded the press plane of Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., leading to a hostile mid-air confrontation between the two rivals.
"Hey John," said Biden when he encountered a life-size cardboard cut-out of the Republican nominee late in his flight from Wilmington, Del., to Kalispell, Mont.
Biden then grabbed the McCain cut-out by the shoulder and threw it down face-first so he could prop his foot up on the previously occupied seat and address reporters onboard the flight. McCain did not fight back.
Earlier, McCain's life-like presence had prompted the Democrat vice-presidential candidate’s campaign to lash out at McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
"I hear a cardboard cut-out of John McCain is seated comfortably in row 16 of Air Biden," said Biden spokesman David Wade before boarding the flight. "You realize you could’ve made history if you’d found a cardboard cut-out of Governor Palin, that’s the closest she would’ve been to taking tough questions from the national media since she was selected."
Since naming Palin as running mate 10 days ago, the McCain campaign has not granted any national news media interviews with her, prompting criticism from Democrats.
"Then again," Wade added. "I guess the Republicans are continuing their recent history of keeping their vice-presidential picks in secure, undisclosed locations. Yet another way that McCain-Palin is more of the same."
The $30 McCain cut-out came aboard the campaign plane courtesy of Biden's national press corps, who purchased the life-size GOP nominee look-alike at a Virginia mall last week, leaving other cut-outs of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, languishing lonely on the store shelves.
Biden loves to joke on the trail that if his "good friend" McCain called him anytime anywhere and asked him to get on a plane to fly somewhere like Montana for an undisclosed reason, Biden would do so immediately. And he hopes that McCain would do the same for him.
No sooner had the McCain cardboard cut-out gotten settled in the press section, then he quickly became the main attraction aboard the plane, with reporters and campaign staff snapping photos with the Republican nominee. McCain, sitting rigidly upright and buckled in for safety, had Biden's book "Promises to Keep" and a couple plates of chips and dip ready to go for the long journey.
"Oh my God, that’s funny," said a stewardess as she walked down the aisle past the VIP guest. "That’s hilarious."
McCain, unflinching, did not respond.
September 7, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (146)
In a related story, a two separate flights were also chartered, one for Senator Biden's hair plugs, and the other for his jumbo jet ego.
Witnesses say a third plane might be chartered for Biden's lobbyist son and the rest of the credit industry, as word was getting out about sweetheart land deals, and Senator Obama funneling 3.4 million dollars to Biden's lobbyist son...
Posted by: hippie_chucker | Sep 7, 2008 11:38:46 AM
I wonder how a man forced to repeat a year in LAW SCHOOL for plagiarism can become senator...who claims to be an average joe, yet owns $4 million in real estate...who spends $200 a DAY taking Amtrak home...who was passed over for president and vp so many many times, only to be picked by a man supposedly representing change, who decided that 36 years in the Senate was the change he needed, (not someone with 18 million votes, duh). Good luck in the fall, idiots!
Posted by: hippie_chucker | Sep 7, 2008 11:45:52 AM
hippie_chucker,
So, you would rather have a 72 year old, 26 year politician, with years of experience who has possbily entrusted the security of this country in future years to a political novice who dodges the press?
Posted by: indy_voter | Sep 7, 2008 11:56:59 AM
If Biden cannot quit this crap, he needs to resign from the ticket! You have Palin on the Repub side, trashing Obama enthusiastically. Then you have Biden on the Demo side, who can't seem to praise McCain enough. The story of McCain and the drinking/dancing with Biden's wife made me sick. What was the point of sharing that?
I think that Biden was a poor choice. It is one thing to say complimentary things about your opponent when you are asked, quite another to keep pulling out these buddy-buddy stories when no-one prompts you to do so...
Posted by: Dan Chapman | Sep 7, 2008 12:00:34 PM
Since McCain is a pilot not unfamiliar with crashes and their aftermath, perhaps he can explain why the 9/11 Commission claims the black boxes from Ground Zero "were not found", when we have Dan Rather announcing that Giuliani is "holding up" one on video:
Posted by: fdr | Sep 7, 2008 12:01:07 PM
=====================================
Indy_voter, when Sarah Palin has been coached enough to stand up to Freakazoid Noberman and Slobber Mouth Matthews, she will.
After all, back 3-4 months ago she was busy with Alaska business, family business, fighting state corruption, and putting a pipeline through.
Why didn't YOU warn her then that she would be picked for the 2nd most important job in the free world.
A quick question for you, since you are so smart.
Quickly now, who is the president of New Jerkistan????
Ya see.
Palin - 08
Posted by: LarryMan | Sep 7, 2008 12:03:55 PM
Giving the media access to Gov. Palin is fine if they then question Sen Obama and Sen Biden equally assiduously.Of course, we know that that won't happen because they've had months and months and...need I go on?... to question BHO about Rezko, Michelle's Hospitalgate, Weathers, Farrakhan, not to mention Biden's five military service exemptions and his phantom asthma.
Listening and reading mainstream material, I now fear that even Fox is in the tank for Obama.
Posted by: Marty | Sep 7, 2008 12:07:03 PM
I heard there was also a cardboard cut out of Obama going to Iraq to find out what was going on - when it was uncovered - he had to go in person even though his mind was already made up we'd failed. Newsflash to Obama and Biden - despite your best efforts the US and US Military did not fail.
Posted by: JMH | Sep 7, 2008 12:07:19 PM
Smart thinking. As long as they keep her under wraps it keeps you guys talking about her, keeps her name out there!!
Posted by: maggie | Sep 7, 2008 12:09:05 PM
Indy voter-
Perhaps, you should worry about the TOP of your ticket, and his lack of experience. In a year when the generic Dem pulls 80% in favor of a win, what's wrong with your candidate, homey?
Perhaps its his 143 WORKING days of "experience" in the senate, where he's pulled in a MILLION dollars a day in pork for his state.
Where his self proclaimed hardest choice was being against the war WHEN HE WASN'T ABLE TO VOTE ON IT. Wow, what courage-definitely beats a man who was tortured and stabbed in the groin, etc.
Has Obama ever run a business. NO
Has Obama ever voted against tax increases? NO
Has Obama ever had to hire, fire, and administer a budget? NO...
Has all he ever has done is vote for entitlements? YES
Posted by: hippie_chucker | Sep 7, 2008 12:10:31 PM
As a progressive Democrat, I don't agree with all of Biden's record, either. But I'll take him any day over John McMansion and his idiot sidekick. Heck, I'd take Michael Palin over Sarah Palin (at least he makes me laugh, not vomit).
The RepubliCrook fascists think schools should stop teaching science and that the country should become a Taliban-style theocracy, where an outlaw president is a dictator who steals from hardworking people. Just like Bush and Cheney already do.
McMansion is so frightened of having to tell the American people he's clueless and senile, he refuses to discuss issues (says the contest should be about personalities) and won't let Gov. Trailertrash give any interviews at all.
Posted by: tunghoy | Sep 7, 2008 12:12:21 PM
Why is it that Joe Biden lies about his wife accident? He says she was killed by a drunk driver when the reports state that the truck driver was not drunk. I think this speaks very pointedly of his honesty.The truck driver's family is very disturbed that he is smearing their father's memory.
Posted by: Gypsy | Sep 7, 2008 12:13:06 PM
Like Rudy said If you were strictly hiring someone for the job you certainly wouldn't hire either Obama or Biden. Neither one has done anything much to speak of except spending a lot of time going to law school and in politics.
Posted by: JMH | Sep 7, 2008 12:14:57 PM
seriously the election 60 days away and this is election coverage? the press should be ashamed.
Posted by: wow | Sep 7, 2008 12:15:43 PM
Senator McCain made a perilous mistake selecting Palin as a running mate. Far too many reasons to reiterate. Laugh
if you like but, he should have chosen Senator Clinton. She would have run
to him like a little puppy dog. She
would sell her soul to be President
after he can no longer serve!!
Posted by: King25 | Sep 7, 2008 12:16:03 PM
This is nonsense. The hype about Sarah Palin is ridiculous. Listening to her surrogates talk about how much experience she has, and then keeping her sequestered from defining herself is transparent. She is not ready; this was an irresponsible choice to win an election.
They accused one candidate of celebrity status he earned through his history, policies, proposals, and ability to organize a huge and successful grassroots organization, as well as his oratory skills. They select a celebrity candidate of their own that is assigned for her personal and sensational life very much on the level of Brittany Spears, et al.
There is no discussion of issues; the Republicans believe they can win this election on "personality" and have said so. Are you insulted yet?
Posted by: tomay | Sep 7, 2008 12:17:55 PM
Yes, now these are the issues we need to be talking about. The Bush/McCain ticket is the another 4 years of the last 8 years. Who needs to talk about the really important stuff.
Posted by: Kent3536 | Sep 7, 2008 12:18:26 PM
I dont think Biden is doing such a good job. O picked the wrong person.
Posted by: rachel | Sep 7, 2008 12:19:35 PM
this is a non-issue except to point out that McCain is not gracious. More importantly, what convinces me that McCain/Palin are wrong for America is their contempt for the voter. We have Cindy and John McCain both saying in live interviews that Palin has foreign policy experience because Alaska is near Russia. Huh?? We have McCain saying he represents change when he voted 90% with Bush, his policies are identical to Bush and he is managed by the same Karl Rove crowd that managed Bush. They have thrown out any attempts at honest politics when Palin says she sold a government plane on eBay for a profit and it turns out it was sold through a broker at a loss. When she says she is against earmarks but fought to get as many as she could. When she says she was against the Bridge to Nowhere but was for it until it was a dead issue. They think we will believe anything they say How stupid do they think we are?
Posted by: jefflz | Sep 7, 2008 12:20:51 PM
I watched the Sunday news show and noted the general disdain by the ABC Roundtable regarding John McCain statements regarding Governor Sarah Palin foreign policy creditials as a Governor of Alaska. Everyone thought that there was funny and there was no basis. How does ABC news reconcile that position with Governor Rick Perry of Texas standing up to President George Bush and the World Court opposition to the execution of Mexican nationals who did not have an opportunity to see their Mexican consul. Governor Rick Perry and the State of Texas ignored Bush and the World Court and in so doing conducted an amazing foreign policy for a state. States along the Mexican border such as Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California have had to deal with immigration issues and relations with Mexico on a day to day basis. Those Southern governors do have foreign policy experience. ABC news reporters display their ignorance when they do not recognize the intimacy that exists between states that border foreign countries such as Mexico and Russia.
Posted by: politicsandtraditions | Sep 7, 2008 12:21:09 PM
This is way too cute!!
McCain and Palin are not change. Period!! Forget it!! I have seen 8 years of Republicans in control of President and in control of Senate and Congress. America is a disaster!!
PALIN: nOT CHANGE AGENT!!! fbi WAS IN CHARGE AND INVESTIGATING ALMOST THREE YEARS BEFORE SHE TOOK OFFICE. THREE RAIDS OD LEGISLATORS OFFICES aUGUST, 2006. PALIN ELECTED GOVERNOR NOV, 2006. ALASKA GOVERNMENT DID NOT CONDUCT INVESTIGATION. ALASKA ATTORNEY GENRAL NOT INVOLVED. GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN ONLY HAD TO COMPLY. FBI IN CHARGE AND DID ALL.
ALASKA PARTY THAT WAS CORRUPT: REPUBLICANS - TO DATE 5 REPUBLICANS INDICTED. ONE DEMOCRAT OFFICE RAIDED-NO INDICTMENT.
SARAH PALIN IS NOT CHANGE. SHE ONLY RODE WAVE DOING NOTHING, ONLY LEGALLY COMPLIED. SRAH CLAIMED FAME AND THIS WAS LIE. SOME PEOPLE OF ALASKA CHALLENGED THIS LIE, MANY BELIEVED THIS LIE.
NOTE: GO GOOGLE ALASKA POLITICAL CORRUPTION.
REPUBLICANS WERE CORRUPT IN ALASKA!! NO DEMOCRATS TO DATE!!
I SADLY SEE MCCAIN AND PALIN JUST MORE OF SAME!!
Posted by: Sharonklim | Sep 7, 2008 12:22:57 PM
The press and Google have made this front page news! It sounds like a bunch of high school kids with too much time and money on their hands. The American public need some real news reporters. We are less than 60 days from picking a president.
Posted by: Alaska Arlene | Sep 7, 2008 12:23:17 PM
I think the cut out of McCain is funny.
To the issue of experience,McCain lost his arguement when he picked Palin. McCain has admitted to voting with President Bush 90% of the time.Is that a Maverick? No.
Posted by: SWG | Sep 7, 2008 12:23:22 PM
Just read the letter below for a better understanding of who Sara Palin really is.
About Sarah Palin: A Letter From Anne Kilkenny
By admin on Sep 3, 2008 in John McCain
What follows is an open letter written by a resident of Wasilla, Alaska named Anne Kilkenny.
I am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarah since 1992. Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothing special to say we are on a first-name basis. Our children have attended the same schools. Her father was my child’s favorite substitute teacher. I also am on a first name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. I attended more City Council meetings during her administration than about 99% of the residents of the city.
She is enormously popular; in every way she’s like the most popular girl in middle school. Even men who think she is a poor choice and won’t vote for her can’t quit smiling when talking about her because she is a “babe”.
It is astonishing and almost scary how well she can keep a secret. She kept her most recent pregnancy a secret from her children and parents for seven months. She is “pro-life”. She recently gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby. There is no cover-up involved, here; Trig is her baby. She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly worked out at the gym.
She is savvy. She doesn’t take positions; she just “puts things out there” and if they prove to be popular, then she takes credit. Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BP and is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin’s kind of job is highly sought-after because of the schedule and high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he can fish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so in summer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishing their major source of income. Nor has her life-style ever been anything like that of native Alaskans. Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters. She’s smart.
Her experience is as mayor of a city with a population of about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years as governor of a state with about 670,000 residents. During her mayoral administration most of the actual work of running this small city was turned over to an administrator. She had been pushed to hire this administrator by party power-brokers after she had gotten herself into some trouble over precipitous firings which had given rise to a recall campaign.
Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a “fiscal conservative”. During her 6 years as Mayor, she increased general government expenditures by over 33%. During those same 6 years the amount of taxes collected by the City increased by 38%. This was during a period of low inflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive property taxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxed even food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefited large corporate property owners way more than they benefited residents.
The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoral administration weren’t enough to fund everything on her wish list though, borrowed money was needed, too. She inherited a city with zero debt, but left it with indebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Palin encourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it the infrastructure that she said she supported? The sewage treatment plant that the city lacked? or a new library? No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of a multi-use sports complex which she rushed through to build on a piece of property that the City didn’t even have clear title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrs later–to the delight of the lawyers involved! The sports complex itself is a nice addition to the community but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supported bonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have been done in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.
While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled and her office redecorated more than once. These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very small city. As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created a budget surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest this surplus in technology that will make us energy independent and increase efficiency, as Governor she proposed distribution of this surplus to every individual in the state.
In this time of record state revenues and budget surpluses, she recommended that the state borrow/bond for road projects, even while she proposed distribution of surplus state revenues: spend today’s surplus, borrow for needs.
She’s not very tolerant of divergent opinions or open to outside ideasor compromise. As Mayor, she fought ideas that weren’t generated by her or her staff. Ideas weren’t evaluated on their merits, but on the basis of who proposed them.
While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire our highly respected City Librarian because the Librarian refused to consider removing from the library some books that Sarah wanted removed. City residents rallied to the defense of the City Librarian and against Palin’s attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palin backed down and withdrew her termination letter. People who fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on her enemies list to this day.
Sarah complained about the “old boy’s club” when she first ran for Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? A new set of “old boys”. Palin fired most of the experienced staff she inherited. At the City and as Governor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced, obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent on her for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercely loyal–loyal to the point of abusing their power to further her personal agenda, as she has acknowledged happened in the case of pressuring the State’s top cop (see below).
As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla’s Police Chief because he “intimidated” her, she told the press. As Governor, her recent firing of Alaska’s top cop has the ring of familiarity about it. He served at her pleasure and she had every legal right to fire him, but it’s pretty clear that an important factor in her decision to fire him was because he wouldn’t fire her sister’s ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation for abuse of power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozen contacts were made between her staff and family to the person that she later fired, pressuring him to fire her ex-brother-in-law. She tried to replace the man she fired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded for sexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, she withdrew her support.
She has bitten the hand of every person who extended theirs to her in help. The City Council person who personally escorted her around town introducing her to voters when she first ran for Wasilla City Council became one of her first targets when she was later elected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal City Administrator; even people who didn’t like the guy were stunned by this ruthlessness.
Fear of retribution has kept all of these people from saying anything publicly about her.
When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out political plums, Sarah got the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission: one of the few jobs not in Juneau and one of the best paid. She had no background in oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring this great job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complaining in the press about the high salary. I was told that she hated that job: the commute, the structured hours, the work. Sarah became aware that a member of this Commission (who was also the State Chair of the Republican Party) engaged in unethical behavior on the job.
In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly cautioned her could be political suicide, Sarah solved all her problems in one fell swoop: got out of the job she hated and garnered gobs of media attention as the patron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter against the “old boys’ club” when she dramatically quit, exposing this man’s ethics violations (for which he was fined).
As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyone for pork from Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she has castigated his pork-barrel politics and publicly humiliated him. She only opposed the “bridge to nowhere” after it became clear that it would be unwise not to.
As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction and budget guidelines, then made a big grandstand display of line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork. Public outcry and further legislative action restored most of these projects–which had been vetoed simply because she was not aware of their importance–but with the unobservant she had gained a reputation as “anti-pork”.
She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. The State party leaders hate her because she has bit them in the back and humiliated them. Other members of the party object to her self-description as a fiscal conservative.
Around Wasilla there are people who went to high school with Sarah.
They call her “Sarah Barracuda” because of her unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness. Before she became so powerful, very ugly stories circulated around town about shenanigans she pulled to be made point guard on the high school basketball team. When Sarah’s mother-in-law, a highly respected member of the community and experienced manager, ran for Mayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.
As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and put together of package of legislation known as “AGIA” that forced the oil companies to march to the beat of her drum.
Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She has questioned if the loss of sea ice is linked toglobal warming. She campaigned “as a private citizen” against a state initiaitive that would have either a) protected salmon streams from pollution from mines, or b) tied up in the courts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State’s lawsuit against the Dept. of the Interior’s decision to list polar bears as threatened species.
McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President; Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being President. There has to be literally millions of Americans who are more knowledgeable and experienced than she. However, there’s a lot of people who have underestimated her and are regretting it.
CLAIM VS FACT
•“Hockey mom”: true for a few years
•“PTA mom”: true years ago when her first-born was in elementary school, not since
•“NRA supporter”: absolutely true
•social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUT vetoed a bill that would have denied benefits to employees in same-sex relationships (said she did this because it was unconsitutional).
•pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothing as Governor to promote it.
•“Pro-life”: mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down’s syndrome baby BUT declined to call a special legislative session on some pro-life legislation
•“Experienced”: Some high schools have more students than Wasilla has residents. Many cities have more residents than the state of Alaska. No legislative experience other than City Council. Little hands-on supervisory or managerial experience; needed help of a city administrator to run town of about 5,000.
•political maverick: not at all
•gutsy: absolutely!
•open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Not good at explaining actions.
•has a developed philosophy of public policy: no
•”a Greenie”: no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland of big box stores and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.
•fiscal conservative: not by my definition!
•pro-infrastructure: No. Promoted a sports complex and park in a city without a sewage treatment plant or storm drainage system. Built streets to early 20th century standards.
•pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses, increased tax burden on residents
•pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansion of city government in Wasilla’s history.
•pro-labor/pro-union. No. Just because her husband works union doesn’t make her pro-labor. I have seen nothing to support any claim that she is pro-labor/pro-union.
WHY AM I WRITING THIS?
First, I have long believed in the importance of being an informed voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 years I put on student voting programs in the schools. If you google my name (Anne Kilkenny + Alaska), you will find references to my participation in local government, education, and PTA/parent organizations.
Secondly, I’ve always operated in the belief that “Bad things happen when good people stay silent”. Few people know as much as I do because few have gone to as many City Council meetings.
Third, I am just a housewife. I don’t have a job she can bump me out of. I don’t belong to any organization that she can hurt. But, I am no fool; she is immensely popular here, and it is likely that this will cost me somehow in the future: that’s life.
Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I was one of the 100 or so people who rallied to support the City Librarian against Sarah’s attempt at censorship.
Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody else was afraid to say anything because they were somehow vulnerable.
CAVEATS
I am not a statistician. I developed the numbers for the increase in spending & taxation 2 years ago (when Palin was running for Governor) from information supplied to me by the Finance Director of the City of Wasilla, and I can’t recall exactly what I adjusted for: did I adjust for inflation? for population increases? Right now, it is impossible for a private person to get any info out of City Hall–they are swamped. So I can’t verify my numbers.
You may have noticed that there are various numbers circulating for the population of Wasilla, ranging from my “about 5,000″, up to 9,000. The day Palin’s selection was announced a city official told me that the current population is about 7,000. The official 2000 census count was 5,460. I have used about 5,000 because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002, and the city was growing rapidly in the mid-90’s.
Comment by Erika
September 6th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Posted by: D. Littrell | Sep 7, 2008 12:26:34 PM
This is getting funny.
Obama 'dispatching' Hillary, and she telling him that "she will put it on the top of her agenda" when she gets time.
Biden playing with cardboard dolls.
Well, I guess they gotta do something to occupy their time.
The B & B ticket has less than two months to waste, and then they can go back to doing whatever they do, although Obama has been running for office for almost 15 years now and he may not know what to do.
I would like to be the first to call for a complete audit of all Obama's campaign fund sources AS WELL AS his expeditures.
I betcha there are some big checks written to some people whom one might not expect to be on the Obama payroll.
Perhaps even a few single mothers...
Posted by: gxb | Sep 7, 2008 12:26:39 PM
wow, sounds like this really touched a nerve with all the kneed jerk repubs.
i for one am so happy that turncoat mccain picked palin. the biggest pre-election decision he had to make and he botched it.
the repub party is so out of touch with everything it is laughable. you stupid saps have had the white house for 28 of the last 40 years and been running congress for most of the last 14. party of change? what a f'ing joke.
Posted by: rob | Sep 7, 2008 12:26:44 PM
NotHip_Chuck -
You obviously haven't taken Amtrak lately - doesn't cost $200 a day yet, even under the Bush Administration. I know because I used to enjoy the trip from New Orleans to Chicago before the city was ruined by Republican incompetance. Good thing the trains are affordable, because folks will be escaping again since your gang hasn't done much to protect the city's levees . And by the way, hair plugs are healthier than skin grafts.
Posted by: aurum79 | Sep 7, 2008 12:27:24 PM
tunghoy:
Progressive - does that mean Michael Moore Dem? Sure sounds like it. You people sure are bitter. You hate President Bush so much that you'd have us lose a war by electing a completely unqualified ticket and drag our country into a malaise worse than the Carter years.
Why is it that you people all come across as hating people who've actually done something in their lives other than make movies and talk a good game.
As far as being old - Newsflash - someday you're going to be him (meaning old). Take a look at your father and grandfather - are they incapable because their old?
Posted by: JMH | Sep 7, 2008 12:27:37 PM
Here's a "Progressive Democrat" for you, tunghoy. Obama believes in 'Black Liberation Theology' and the way to give reparations to blacks is by playing Robin Hood with tax and social programs instead of outright cash reparations. Throw in a little ‘ Marxism ‘ and class warfare, and you've got him nailed.
Why would any thinking American vote for him?
He was in Jeremiah Wright's church for 20yrs, friends with home-grown terrorist and SDS member William Ayers and a convicted felon, Tony Rezko.
Why would any thinking American vote for him?
Obama doesn't say he wants to change Washington politics, etc. He says "I want to change America". That is scary. He must not really like this country the way it is. I want to change his ass right out of here.
Why would any thinking American vote for him?
The other guy is a son and grandson of four- star admirals, graduate of the Naval Academy, a retired Lt Commander USN, congressman, senator and Hero. Does that make sense? To me it's that simple.
Posted by: TF | Sep 7, 2008 12:27:54 PM
hippie_chucker, you and your ilk, Republican die-hards all, are nothing but single-celled lifeforms incapable of going beyond simple breathing and feeding.
As such, pathetic primitive organisms like you cannot - and will NEVER - go beyond the rigors of critical thinking which requires more than the one cell you're made of.
Must be from all that inbreeding in your family tree.
Posted by: TheCentrist | Sep 7, 2008 12:27:56 PM
Today:
Rasmussen: The candidates are now tied.
Zogby: McCain/Palin are up four.
Looks like music isn't too important after all! Looks like more people believe substance is more significant than rhetoric.
Posted by: rodney | Sep 7, 2008 12:29:55 PM
This is just another example of the dems wrecklessness. After the DNC, the dems tossed out thousands of American flags. Of course, the "elitist media" didn't pick that up. No big deal, the dems count on you obamacrats pouring in donations so who cares if he couldn't recycle during his "oh-so-green" convention...He can't even spend your $5 donations honestly and you want to entrust him with our national economy...Idiots...
Posted by: Mperez | Sep 7, 2008 12:31:03 PM
Palin is a flippin' hype. She can't even talk to reporters... but we are supposed to believe she's some kind of bulldog.
She reminds me of the chihuahua, Jean Schmidt from Ohio. Yip! yip! yip! yip! She barks from the comfort of John McCain's lap. But if she were by herself, and a cat walked up to her, she'd cower and shake.
To quote another trash-talking lap-dog: "Bring em on."
Posted by: blip | Sep 7, 2008 12:31:38 PM
Biden: Obama's nightmare!
Posted by: Soetoro NO! | Sep 7, 2008 12:31:46 PM
McCain and Palin are both flying high after the convention. Unfortunately they are no different from a hot air balloon. Both are flying on empty with hot air as fuel. Proof that McCain's judgment is impaired was his selection of Palin. Proof that Palin is totally unsuited for the job was her declaration that sending the troops to Iraq was a task from God. I guess she believes that Bush and Cheney are the Gods of Lies. It is an obvious fact that the lies created by the Dumb Duo (Bush/Cheney) got us into Iraq. It is an insult to the American people to say that God sent the troops to Iraq on a task. Just shows her understanding of world is totally mess up and shows total naivete and ignorance. With resume thin as a gruel, God help the country if she and McCain get elected. If, they get elected, it is another proof that we have truly an very ill-informed and gullible voters.
Posted by: Mel | Sep 7, 2008 12:35:26 PM
Nine story lines that begin with Obama. They are pushin it a little hard this morning aren't they? Even more weird, it's all about the ONE interview.
Posted by: Yourgameletsplay | Sep 7, 2008 12:36:44 PM
To NotHip_Chuck,
About New Orleans during Katrina...
Democrat Mayor, Democrat Governor...nuff said.
Posted by: Derek | Sep 7, 2008 12:38:27 PM
IF Biden placing a cardboard of Mcaine on his plane and putting out Mccain came anoard to talk Is an example of what I knew all along Biden talk is all about cardboard so much he now beleived it himself and so dose the liberal press.
Posted by: Jet | Sep 7, 2008 12:38:56 PM
Are you serious? This is election coverage. It is that difficult to ready legitimate news these days. What a crock? I am still undecided but every time I try to read more there are just jokes like this and slander from both sides. I am so disappointed.
Posted by: Aimee | Sep 7, 2008 12:39:24 PM
It is always fun to read the back and forth between democrats and republicans, whatever happen to Americans? I think "We the people" get lost in the shuffle of who doesn't know this and who lied about that. Just once I wish there were candidates that actually were Americans that stood for the constitution of this greatest country in the world. What is so wrong with saying what you mean and meaning what you say? It just doesn't happen anymore, it is all lies, finger pointing, etc. I am a true Independent that will be forced to vote this year for one of two people that in my humble opinion neither one deserve to be President. Enough said for said, forgive me this moment. Look at the Constitution, read the Constitution and then vote for the one that follows it the closest. May God Bless America for all of its days.
Posted by: Orpheus | Sep 7, 2008 12:41:53 PM
This is considered news?
This is how Biden's team spends their time while running in the presidential election?
Pitiful and pathetic, especially considering the state of our economy.
Posted by: mcarroll | Sep 7, 2008 12:43:29 PM
Blip-- I couldn't have put it better myself. Palin is scared to face the media ONE-on-ONE. She's not even allowed to campaign without her master McSAME beside her. It's like she's learning (being lectured) as she goes on. SCARY... VERY SCARY!
Posted by: LawrenceNY | Sep 7, 2008 12:43:36 PM
The press is reduced to making a story out of their own little McCain cutout jokes while saying the Democrats are complaining that the McCain campaign isn't making Palin available for any questions or interviews. At one time in this country, the press would have the guts to speak on behalf on the public and say how absurd it is that a candidate who might be president of the US in 6 months if something happened to McCain is not permitted to be properly vetted for the benefit of all Americans. Or they would cover - in depth - the information that is now coming available about her record in Alaska. A sad day for journalism as they keep their heads so far down, and drift toward tabloid, fluff, personality comments like the insubstantial Palin fest on ABC This Week. It could be a proud career, you know - great journalism is vitally needed these days, but it requires caring and sticking your neck out a little bit.
Posted by: Kelly | Sep 7, 2008 12:43:57 PM
Biden is a famous plagiarist. He lies without any dint of shame on the face. Only once I heard him say the truth and that is during the democratic debate. "Obama is not ready for the job". I am with him on that.
Obama winnes about the issues that we are facing today but where is the solution obama?
That is the problem besides his character, Shady past, anti-american sentiments and above all 20 years in racist church and radical pastor wright, convicted criminal rezko, jailed fraud mayor kilpatrick and other anti-social elements
Posted by: jon | Sep 7, 2008 12:46:21 PM
When Democrats get afraid of the qualifications of an opponent, they can only resort to name calling like children. Give us some real facts on why anyone should vote for Oboma. Facts are what count not race or gender. But remember Hillary had much more experience than O. did and you all turned her down as your candidate. So, you want inexperience, huh? Well you got him and I wish you good luck.
Posted by: Pat234 | Sep 7, 2008 12:46:24 PM
Obama study law at Havard but when was asked by Pastor Rick Warren that when a baby gets human right. Obama replied that the question is "above my pay grade"
What did this guy studied guys? Black Rights only?
Posted by: tctran | Sep 7, 2008 12:53:21 PM
Sounds like Anne Kilkenny, has very little to do.Could it be she wants to be a headliner?
Posted by: weezer | Sep 7, 2008 12:55:58 PM
I am already sick and tired of Obama/Biden and their mantra "more of the same".
If their entire campaign is going to be based on associating McCain with George Bush, then Obama is not the change I am looking for after all.
I expected better of Obama/Biden, more along the lines of clearly making their case and discussing issues. More along the lines of distancing themselves from the partisan politics that has strangles Washington.
Partisanship is not a Republican malady or a Democrat malady, it is an infection that needs to be eradicated in Washington from BOTH PARTIES.
Eevry time I hear Obama/Biden make that "more of the same" remark, all I hear is Status Quo O.
I am becoming less sold on Obama/Biden as they only want to blame Republicans for stagnation in Washington. It's a two party system, and it's a two party problem.
I am beginning to like McCain more as he seems inclined to lay the blame where it belongs, with both parties.
Posted by: RicRoe | Sep 7, 2008 12:59:35 PM
Obama: A bigger crook than Nixon could ever be!
Posted by: Soetoro NO! | Sep 7, 2008 1:04:31 PM
If Palin is not ready to face the "DRIVE BY MEDIA" she is not ready to be the V.P., This independant just decided
Posted by: Independant | Sep 7, 2008 1:13:24 PM
LOL - How fun to know that we all still have a sense of humor!
On a more serious note - This is a very interesting article from a surprising and unusual religious perspective. I highly recommend checking it out:
http://www.newsflavor.com/Opinions/McCain-Hijacks-Christianity-Via-Palin.240929
Posted by: LaRae | Sep 7, 2008 1:22:39 PM
Its an insult to Bush to compare Palin with Bush. It is appropriate to compare Palin to lame duck Cheney. It surely answers Palins question of what do VP does in office - just look at Cheney.
Obama08
Posted by: tony | Sep 7, 2008 1:22:50 PM
Just a reminder from the press corps who follow Biden and know him well that, no matter where he goes, Biden still needs to keep a McCain blanky close by...
Posted by: GM | Sep 7, 2008 1:23:50 PM
Is this a news source or what? If McCain's name had been in quote marks, I would understand the parody, but to devote an entire "news article" to this kind of useless trite is why the American public is fed up with the media.
It's like when I watched Saturday Night Live as a teen and wondered by everyone was acting so silly. Took me a while to figure it out. Now we have to watch the "real news" and sort out the "legitimate" from the newsworthy all on our own. Where are the editors, producers and publishers?
Who cares?
Posted by: Tired of Trite | Sep 7, 2008 1:24:17 PM
It is still nonsense and insulting to think that critical thinking voters who are informed on the issues and who are aware of their needs in their families, in their communities, in the nation, and in the world, would even consider the John and Sarah Show as an option. I did not come to support Obama lightly; I was and remain a strong Hillary supporter. I now believe that everything happens for a reason and I believe it is a good thing that we have Biden as the VP candidate. Hillary is formidable and will be a voice and a force for years to come. I cannot see headlines to the effect, "Palin Goes To Pakistan", or anywhere else on the world stage. I cannot see Sarah In The Senate, or, shudder, a Palin Presidency. Recently retired, I am able to follow campaign appearances on TV and I can tell you she is 40% effective in her addresses at their rallies. She reads, word for word, page by page, basically the same speech she gave at convention, stumbling, and sounding like a robot since the teleprompter is not in front of her so she cannot emote. McCain stands to the side and smiles like a child being praised when she tells us over and over again how wonderful he is. Then he takes the podium and says the same stuff over and over again, talking about himself and about her after she has talked about herself and him. People, we are nowhere on their radar except for our votes. She is being sequestered for a reason; she is not informed; she is not prepared; she has no real record of accomplishment; she has a questionable record of integrity and ability, as noted in that email by that very brave woman from Alaska. I have read much of the same from news articles of local Alaskan newspapers.
I don't think even John McCain realizes what has been done to him, frankly, by his party. I think there may be a larger plan to eventually minimize him, one way or another, should this ticket "win" this election. Already, she is the highlight of the ticket; he is "tolerated" by his convention crowd and by the people who show up at his rallies.
But, the bottom line needs to be The Issues. They are well known and do not need me to list them here. If people use their heads, they will have no credible choice. If they are voting for other agendas, whatever they may be, they will vote accordingly. The campaign rhetoric that they do employ is ridiculous: reform Washington, their own party, their very own lobbyists. They should do that on their own dime and own their own time. We cannot afford to take 4 years out to rehab the Republican Party.
Posted by: tomay | Sep 7, 2008 1:27:07 PM
Actions speak louder than words and Palin's NOT accepting questions is screaming COWARD, plain and simple.
Posted by: hippie_chucker | Sep 7, 2008 1:28:34 PM
Just look at some of the facts about Biden’s environmental record that earned him a lifetime score of 84 from the League of Conservation Voters (Obama’s score was 96; McCain’s, a pitiful 26):
Best of all, he’s got the voting record to back all of this up: Biden has said his primary concern has been energy independence, but he’s not willing to cut corners to get there. *cough*drilling*cough*.
McCain has shot down every piece of legislation proposed in favor of alternative energy. Now he claims he will pursue every option for energy independence... No, sorry, if this election is about change, then Obama and Biden are clearly our best hope.
Posted by: TruthHurts | Sep 7, 2008 1:30:35 PM
Jon - "Obama winnes about the issues that we are facing today but where is the solution obama?
That is the problem besides his character, Shady past, anti-american sentiments and above all 20 years in racist church and radical pastor wright, convicted criminal rezko, jailed fraud mayor kilpatrick and other anti-social elements"
Let me put you in your place real quick, since you are another misinformed and uneducated Republican soul in this sad ignorant country.
When has Obama whined about the issues? Are you kidding me? All the Republicans can do is talk about Obama, but where are their policy points? The economy was mentioned how many times by McCain in his speech? None. Isn't this the most important issue facing Americans today? If so, then why don't the Republicans talk about this, why doesn't McCain make this a focal point in his daily discussions? Oh yeah, that's because he thinks "there's been great progress economically". I guess we're just in a "mental recession".
Obama made 29 policy points during his speech, you know, he spelled them out for people like yourself. You just chose not to listen. You could always go to his website to find out what his policy platform looks like, but I'm sure you'll continue to resort to fear and smear blogging, instead of actually educating yourself on the issues.
In regards to Rezko, why don't you actually read and educate yourself on the issue. Let me help you: http://www.newsweek.com/id/154782/page/1. Oh, and why you're at it, check out this brilliant interview McCain gave: http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1836909,00.html.
You sure do have diarrhea of the mouth. You talk a lot of crap, but don't have much to back it up. What the hell does Obama have to do with Mayor Kilpatrick? Oh, Reverend Wright, Obama's former pastor. Have you ever heard any of the Reverend Wright's sermons, or just the 15 second clips played over, and over, and over again? I'm sure it's the later, go figure. It's easy to be ignorant and assuming when you don't have the whole picture.
The bottom line is that you have no idea what you're talking about, and you don't know how to spell. I feel sorry for people like you. Unaccountable, pessimistic, close-minded, uneducated, assuming, neo-con, inbred, etc. More of the same.
Posted by: PaulMo | Sep 7, 2008 1:36:48 PM
No I think Bush/Cheaney takes the title of crook from Nixon.
Posted by: mjt | Sep 7, 2008 1:37:06 PM
No I think Bush/Cheaney takes the title of crook from Nixon.
Posted by: mjt | Sep 7, 2008 1:37:32 PM
Obama is here not for a change of America but himself, a change of his career, his social status, and a change of his racial image. He is an arrogant self egoistic inferior ignorant man. He will be an incompetent leader if elected. He has the same kind of smooth talk that you see in a drug dealer, criminals, and pimps in ghettos in Chicago, Illinois.
Posted by: youngBlood | Sep 7, 2008 1:38:39 PM
I have a question, Obama Binladen, Osama-Biden...Are they related?
Posted by: unanimous | Sep 7, 2008 1:42:28 PM
Poor Plugs is getting plumb wacky, trying to try to get some media focus.
Posted by: Dave | Sep 7, 2008 1:44:39 PM
haha, How is Obama Ignorant?
The man went to Harvard Law and graduated with honors. He was professor of constitutional law for 12 years, he obviously understands the both the foundations and nuances of our constitution.
If Obama is ignorant, then what about McCain/Palin?
one graduated nearly last of his naval academy, the other only has a bachelor's in journalism.
Not that these things matter mcuh, but calling Obama ignorant is just retarded.
Posted by: Correction | Sep 7, 2008 1:45:14 PM
As that last great Republican VP, Spiro Agnew said to the "radic-libs": "Love it or leave it."
I did, but I'm back to help get rid of the right wing once and for all. If they win again, bye bye again.
Obama better strap on a backbone and call out the left. He won't win without them, and America is finished if the stupid middle lets itself be brainwashed once again.
Posted by: madman | Sep 7, 2008 1:47:14 PM
youngBlood - "Obama is here not for a change of America but himself, a change of his career, his social status, and a change of his racial image. He is an arrogant self egoistic inferior ignorant man. He will be an incompetent leader if elected. He has the same kind of smooth talk that you see in a drug dealer, criminals, and pimps in ghettos in Chicago, Illinois."
I think you know how inaccurate and ignorant your comments are. Let me introduce you to Barack Obama, a true American hero who wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth: http://www.demconwatchblog.com/2008/08/obama-tribute-video.html. He is our last hope, trust me.
Posted by: PaulMo | Sep 7, 2008 1:48:19 PM
Obama Tribute Video - http://www.my-political-blog.com/index.php?page=videos§ion=view&vid_id=101470
Posted by: PaulMo | Sep 7, 2008 1:50:48 PM



