sDee,

Actually Powell is not a sell-out. Even though he judged that Bush's Iraq policy was rash and hawkish and relentlessly tried behind-the-scenes to convince the Commander-in-Chief to consider prudence, in the end he consented to be, practically, Bush's pawn when the president made the case for invasion. He was the fall guy. This isn't the action of a sell-out but that of a soldier merely following his Commander-in-Chief. In fact, until Bush kicked him out of his administration, we had no idea about Powell's disagreements with other White House insiders. Naturally, before that, many supposed that he colluded with Bush to invade Iraq; after facts became known, we realized he was an outlier, after all. Where were you in all this???

Admittedly, many still lamented that he tainted his name by not being more outspoken about denouncing Bush's policies. But Powell is still one of our most formidable statesmen, having served in FOUR administrations -- Reagan, Clinton and the 2 Bush's. He was a former NSA director, former Joint Chief of Staff, former Sec of State. Bush 43 diminished him, greatly. By finally speaking out against the current Republican party, many people now -- including me -- consider him absolved, if only to put a plug into McCain's myth of "experience". Here is an actual leader with actual and relevant experience -- Powell -- preferring the "rookie" Obama over the pseudo-experienced POW McCain. I don't judge McCain's loyalty and fervent patriotism, but his ability to lead.

AS MARTIN LUTHER KING SAID, YOU SHOULD NOT JUDGE A MAN BY THE COLOR OF HIS SKIN
BUT BY THE CONTENT OF HIS CHARACTER

OBAMA’S TRACK RECORD

FRIENDS – AYERS (terrorist), WRIGHT (anti-white racist), REZKO (convicted felon)

FOREIGH EXPERIENCE - UNCONDITIONAL MEETING WITH AHMADINEJAD

SENATE EXPERIENCE - 100 WEEKS, 100% PARTIZAN VOTE

ECONOMIC MESSAGE -"SPREAD THE WEALTH AROUND"

POLITICAL PLATFORM -"TAXES TO FUND SOCIALISTIC WELFARE"

MIDDLE EAST - "UNDIVIDED JERUSALEM - NEXT DAY CHANGED HIS MIND"

IRAQ -"FORFEIT A VICTORY"

ACORN – “VOTER REGISTRATION FRAUD”

THIS IS NOT A TIME TO TAKE A RISK WITH LIBERAL ROOKIE - MCCAIN IS THE RIGHT CHANGE WE NEED

Obama has been tested for two years in the national spotlight against the heaviest of the heavy weights - and he remained calm and resolute. Where does this come from?. ......................

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/24/the-root-of-obamas-calm-is-humility/

this person says it well:
Don't u think Biden has confidence in Obama's abilities- which is why he brought up the crisis issue?
What I am saying is, why would Biden say that about someone he is campaigning with unless he is absolutley confident that Obama is capable and ready to improve our countries security, (our economy which allows us to have a strong military supply, our reputation in the world i.e. how we treat others and if someone still attacks us, how well we defend ourselves). Their is no way that Obama could do any worse than Bush. (Why are we fighting a war in the wrong place? Why is our economy (a big amount of how well we can defend ourselves) worse now than in 2001?) Oh and again- have you seen the footage of mccain saying he has agreed with bush 90% of the time? how about on meet the press when he said "the fact is that I have agreed with president bush far more than I have disagreed." How about them apples? Do we really want a guy that argues with even other republican senators and curses at them to have the world looking at HIM? And remember, our next president whichever candidate will be ibn charge of the nuclear button.

And exactly how has McCain already been tested? Has he conducted any foreign policy? Has he made any executive decisions? All he has done in the past 8 years is work hard to get Bush re-elected and go along with his incredibly poor decisions on the Iraq war. Oh, and don't forget his "Bomb bomb bomb Iran" remarks. ... Tested???? Please

I would just like to say that all the money Palin is spending would have gone a long way to buying ads that McCain needs. If this is a peep into future spending on her part, can we afford her as VP?? And, as the Kennedys have been brought in, does anyone remember Jackie's long arm reaching into the deep pockets of government funds to "remodel" the White House? She was a lady that liked to spend money also, but she was just our First Lady. Anyone with eyes, let him see; anyone with ears, let him hear. Then vote!!!

Or you can be a good democrat and start the Vietnam war like JFK and LBJ over a trumped up charge that N. Vietnam started it.

None of that matters any more than the cost of Palin's wardrobe. Obama, McCain and Biden are all millionaires, Palin isn't. Did you expect her to campaign in a fur trimmed parka? No one complained about Hillary's custom designer outfits.

Get real.

"What do folks make of Biden's "steel in his spine" comment, or the fact that he was telling a group of liberals in Seattle that they wouldn't much like Obama's response to the "international crisis" he was promising? Could it be that Obama might have the sort of cowboyish response Bush has been accused of?"

The "steel in his spine" comment was added only after Biden made the original epic gaffe during an earlier speaking engagement.

The comment actually means the opposite of your understanding of it IMHO. I really think Joe is asking Obama supporters to stand up for him because his response to the crisis may be unconventional, and as a result Obama may begin to immediately lose support among the American people.

An example might be a military conflict, perhaps an attack on Israel by Iran, or something else out there where conventional wisdom might dictate a military response but where Obama takes a different approach that's then looked upon as weak by our enemies and by many Americans.

"...and go along with his incredibly poor decisions on the Iraq war."

Do you mean MCain calling for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld and advocating on behalf of a surge strategy that's working at a time when Harry Reid was saying "this war is lost?

Yeah, that was a poor decision alright, if you're hoping for the US to lose.

"The Root of Obama's Calm is His Humility"

In marketing, that's what we call accentuating your greatest weakness and turning it into a perceived strength.

the $5M Obamapolis in Denver was for The People. The $2M inauguration party is for The People. His promise to accept public financing and then backing out so he could raise hundreds of millions of dollars in private donations is for The People.

With Obama, it really is all about the "O" so I'm not buyin' what your sellin'.

Heh, with Biden, silence really is golden...

Isn't is good to know that a Senator can tell the truth? Biden did just that. He knows the facts and was trying to say how Obama is ready. He wasn't scaring folks, but the McCain campaign is with scare ads, and robotol calls saying untruths about Obama. Are you forgetting that if Congress listened to Obama we would not be in a war today. He has foresight, intelligence, calmness and extreme intelligence to lead this country. Why can't you all see the qualities of a family man, who loves his family as well as his country. Then you will see the real man and not see "color or creed".

RE: None of that matters any more than the cost of Palin's wardrobe. Obama, McCain and Biden are all millionaires, Palin isn't. Did you expect her to campaign in a fur trimmed parka? No one complained about Hillary's custom designer outfits.

Excuse me, please. I never heard about Hillary's wardrobe spending. As to Palin not being a millionier, she has been in the public eye for some time. One would think she would already have a wardrobe of sorts to go with the parka, which she won't need here in the lower 48 States. PS: I am real

One other thing and then I'll be quiet about Palin's spending. If it's all OK to be spending money like this, then why does she need to enter it under false headings?? I quote: Palin's traveling hair stylist Angela Lew, the fourth highest paid individual during that time, was paid $10,000 over two weeks in October for what the campaign called "communications consulting."
It's not about spending; it's about personal spending from the wrong funds.

Biden's only mistake was to speak openly what he was thinking and at length. The Lying with a Straight Face Express just uses his words out of context. Everyone knows he meant that either man would be tested as President and Obama would be the one that would be the winner in any tests, not McCain.

If McCain's team thinks that anyone is going to believe and ad from them that suggests Biden is against his own Mste on the ticket, well, good luck.

When the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee talks like that (Biden), I know he's speaking from the heart. I don't think Obama is ready yet (maybe after he finishes out his first term in the senate). Hillary would have made a better candidate. I think I've finally decided to vote for McCain.

McCain was tested ..sure..and was caught by the Viets!

http://therealmccain.com/

McCain ready to lead ? NO

Obama 08

John McCain’s Top 10 ‘Temper Tantrums’ of All Time
http://hyerstandard.com/john-mccains-top-10-temper-tantrums-of-all-time/

McCain Transition Chief Aided Saddam In Lobbying Effort
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/14/mccain-transition-chief-a_n_134595.html

I guess it makes everyone feel better to express their opinions whether based on research or talking points for the uneducated. None of it matters. What matters is that white america, still at present a majority, will not elect a black person president, no matter what they tell others. You people here make up a very, very, very small percentage of the totla population. Race is the issue. Period.

Attention McCain supporters: Thanks to George Bush, 50% of your 401K plan has vanished. If McCain wins, you can kiss the other half of your 401K goodbye.