David, you are right on.

I would love to know why some don't see what's clearly visible to almost half of this country, as to the biased reporting done by the msm's.

Why was it so much more important to drag a 17 year old girl thru the mud over being pregnant, than it was to raise an awareness over John Edwards affair?

Why was it so important for a mass of reporters to swoop down on a small town in Alaska digging up dirt on Sarah, when there was , and still is dirt being dug up, yet hidden right there in D.C?

Just amazing! Prejudiced? EVERYONE has theirs. Even Obama! I don't sit in church and listen to black hate. I embrace all in my faithful community, and beyond.

I wouldn't throw my grandmother under the bus, and I wouldn't listen to a reverand if that's all he did was spew racial hate toward others. And he/she certainly wouldn't be marrying me, or baptizing my children.

I find it interesting that Voter in America so succinctly (and correctly in my estimation) stated the case for McCain. It seems to be more typical of McCain supporters to use facts whereas Obama supporters tend to focus on making fun of Republicans as opposed to stating facts on HOW Obama will bring about such dramatic change.

Biased reporting is a matter of perspective, Jeanie. It is by definition. One man's bias is another man's "fair and balanced."

It wasn't important to drag a 17 year old through the mud, it was news. If John Edwards had won the nomination or had been named as the VP candidate, the affair would have been news too. That being said, I agree that it is a sad day when the National Enquirer has to break a story like that but your comparison of the two misses the point. Republicans are certainly no strangers to their own sex scandals and unintended pregnancies.

The reasons that the Bristol Palin thing is otherwise newsworthy are numerous:

1) Palin, as the darling of the Conservative Christian Right, has positioned herself as one of those small-town, folksy people who are "real" Americans - the kind that have morals and values and who don't do drugs or drink too much or have premarital sex like the rest of the hedonistic people who live in big cities and metropolitan areas. The dismissal of anyone who mentions the pregnancy of her daughter is blatantly and patently hypocritical and disingenuous. Imagine if Barak Obama's daughter was 17 and she got pregnant during the campaign. And then she brought her gangsta' (as opposed to "redneck") boyfriend with her to the convention. YOu think the same people who are rushing to Bristol's defense would be rushing to little Ms Obama's?

2) Palin is the poster-person for the Christian right's philosophy on sex education (abstinence only). The unintended out of wedlock pregnancy of one's own daughter is relevant in an unbiased look into the merits and demerits of such a policy.

3) Palin is adamantly pro-life. In her view, there is no choice to be made. A human life is at stake, and the characterization of something like that as a choice is offensive. Then she goes out bragging about how proud she is of her daughter making the right "choice." Again, relevant.

I could go on.

This election has certainly been an eye-opener for me with regards to the reporting and interviews of the candidates by the national media.

Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric have both veered WAY off of neutral territory in their mode of interviewing the candidates.

On GMA, the angst heard and mentioned by a Senator interviewed by Chris Cuomo brought his views to light. I was also disheartened by Diane Sawyer's almost braying when speaking of Sarah Palin in the GMA 7:50 couch chat.

What happened to objectivity in the news?

Voter in America,

Thats a nice story and all, but you're leaving out signficant portions. You're right - it is largely the democrats fault for the Fannie and Freddie mess. But that is only a small part of the overall crisis that exists. Like, for example, the 1999 deregulation of the banking industry spearheaded by Phil Gramm and supported by your boy McCain. That legislation is what most economists look back at as the beginning of the mess that we're all currently in.

Also, what in the last year of the election - or 26 years of his career in washington - gives you the impression that John McCain has even a clue about how the financial systems work or how to lead in the context of the economy. Was it him personally saying that the economy is certainly not his strong suit and he doesnt really understand it? Did that do it for ya'? Or maybe its Palin who has the requisite command and understanding of the largest economy in the history of humankind. "See the bailout is really about healthcare reform...and jobs...and trade...and jobs...and tax cuts...and gotta' cut spending."

Sen. Obama, whether you agree with his political outlook or not, is an undeniably intelligent person who I personally trust more to handle issues as complex as our economy.

There are plenty of those who disagree with me, and to each their own. But to dismiss Obama as having "no clue" is ludicrous, especially when the republican ticket consists of a man who finished 894/899 in his class at the Academy and has professed his lack of understanding of the economy over the years. Oh, and the (R) VP candidate took 6 years at 5 different colleges to get a bachelors degree in journalism. Which would be fine, except that every time she opens her mouth she reminds everyone of how "dangerously unqualified" she really is.

Me? I'm taking a shot every time Biden says he takes the train back from DC every night and I'm swigging from my beer every time Palin dodges a question with a "well, ya' know.."

I'm gonna be drunk.

Are you serious, Mike? Charlie Gibson asked Palin her stance on the Bush Doctrine...why was that mean? Bush is the current Republican she's hoping to replace. She is for ridding the world of Islamic terrorists...and she doesn't know what the Bush Doctrine is. That's bad. That makes her look really bad. Katie Couric asked her to name a newspaper - ANY NEWSPAPER!!! And Palin couldn't name one? Palin chose to make fun of Biden - "I've been hearin' his speeches since I was, like, in second grade!" THAT'S rude and grammatically lazy. Why do we want "an average Joe six-pack" in office? I want someone who is brilliant. And I really want someone who's had a passport for more than a year! Anyone who has traveled outside of the US has learned from it, has been humbled by differences and similarities across humanity. Mike, the reason the media is focusing so intently on Palin is that she came out of NOWHERE and we have a month left to decide who she is...and she is not making a very good impression on most of us. She is sarcastic, and we are sarcastic right back.

I'll be taking a drink every time Palin says a complete sentence that you can properly diagram.

I expect to be completely sober by the end of the debate.

Oh, and I will be at a drinking game, as well. Thanks for the many suggestions of phrases to watch for. This is gonna be huge! Barack Obama will not lose supporters tonight - no way. But McCain is on the line to lose a lot of support. I am not taking my eyes off this train wreck no matter how double-visioned I get!

The loser of this debate will be the local restaurant and the winner will be Orville Redenbacher.

http://www.wilytrax.com

HEY REPUBLICANS!!

In just a few hours McCain's campaign is over!!

McCain's incredibly stupid pick of PALIN is going to come back and bite him in the A** just like a pittbull with lipstick tonight!!

We saw a glimpse on Katie Couric and ABC why McCain has been trying to hide this woman from the press for the last month...

Well McBadJudgment, it is over for you old fool... For today is Judgment day for you pal!!

After the debate:

Palin = LAUGHINGSTOCK! Next Saturday Night Live skit!!

McCain = LAUGHINGSTOCK for picking Palin!!!

The American people just can't wait to see Palin out "Tina Fey" Tina Fey!!!

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!!!!!!!!!

Go Biden!! Tear her up!!!!! Or just stand back and let her destroy herself!!!

We still dont know who Obama realy is. We dont even know for sure if he is an American citizen. And he is telling his supporters to get into the faces of people who is not supporting him, and terrorize them. How can the American people trust this guy to be a commender in cheif?

Jack, take a deep breath. Barack Obama cannot run for the office of President unless he is an American citizen. Who told you that he is telling people to "terrorize" non-supporters? That's just stupid. I would gently suggest you not vote unless you have educated yourself. Try reading newspapers...I'm sure Sarah Palin can recommend one or two!

Anyone else think Biden is coming off as smug and dismissive? I think he underestimates Palin. She's very prepared. She's doing way better than I expected... winning so far.

I don't think Biden is being smug at all. In fact, I see him being on his best behavior. He could take her out if he wanted to.

Thank God we didn't choose Maverick as our drinking word or we'd all have to be rushed to the hospital for alcohol poisoning!

We were ALL DRUNK after the 15th Maverick.
Then we HURLED!!! all over the POWER HUNGRY, hasn't read and doesn't understand the constitutional role of the VP candidate with the librarian glasses.

Anyone drinking a shot every time Gov. Palin actually answered a question, would be stone cold sober at the end of the debate.

Palin didn't answer the questions at all, she gave set speeches, frequently completely unrelated to the subject under discussion.

Of course, that was Palin's intention. She said as much herself "I'll answer the question the moderator puts to me or not, however I please". !!!

So, we now know about Sarah Palin after the debate what we already knew going into it:

1. Sarah Palin can give great speeches
2. Sarah Palin cannot or will not answer direct questions.

Drink every time Palin says "Americans" as in "Americans want this" or "I'm telling Americans that." Drink every time she says "Darn right!" or "Heck yeah!" And drink every time she mentions a team sport like hockey or soccer.

For Biden, a shot each time he says "excuse me" and corrects himself to say the exact opposite of whatever word just left his mouth...

johntx said this earlier in the day - I'll be taking a drink every time Palin says a complete sentence that you can properly diagram.

I expect to be completely sober by the end of the debate.
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He's right and sober.