It is obvious to some folks what ACEjd93 does his homework. He has obviously been an extremely loyal GM employee... I wonder if his loyalty runs any deeper than his work? I would ask his wife and girlfriend!

Rich people can afford to help out the less welthy people. Time for them to pay their fair share!!

Why raise taxes on anybody right now. Doesn't make sense at all.

It's a refundable tax cloud you moron
!!!

Obama wants to make medicine run by the government. The same government who can't even keep a budget.

Obama wants to give illegal immigrants free health care. What an idiot.

SarahB…this is just to easy, and for the record I will only include items since Obama has been in the Senate.
Sponsor (introduced) legislation to require undocumented immigrant’s receiving legal status to pay owed back taxes; approved by the Senate via unanimous consent. Sponsor (introduced) legislation to calculate back pay for prisoners-of-war during world war II who were promoted while being held and never paid for the promotion until released; approved by the Senate via unanimous consent. Sponsor (introduced) legislation to require a report on medical physical examinations of members of the Armed Forces before their deployment; approved by the Senate via unanimous consent. Sponsor (introduced) legislation to provide for a continuation of transitional health benefits for members of the Armed Forces pending a resolution of their service-related medical conditions; approved by the Senate via unanimous consent.

futurerichguy...I'm assuming you have no grasp of truth. This "story" you are regurgitating has been proven false by all the non-partisan fact-check sites.

RetiredAirForce: You sure like to hand out assignments. Were you ever a teacher? How about filling us in on the Senate accomplishments of Sen. McCain. And, to save all of us time, only list those items that he accomplished alone ("not shared" or "no results" need not be provided to us). Thanks.

RetiredAirForce, I'm assuming you wouldn't throw your lot in with a pilot who dropped bombs on his own air craft carrier and then was shot down on a mission. I bet you know pilots who actually flew successful missions and followed orders. Personally I'm surprised anyone from the Airforce would support a Navy maverick.

So this list is..he traveled to foreign countries (on offical business) to talk [no results]. He "worked" with other democrats to approve measures [shared results]. Introduced legislation on troop movements [no results]. He "worked" with republicans to approve measures [shared results]. He sponsored a bill that was vetoed [no results].

Short list of Obama accomplishments:

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In August 2005, he traveled to Russia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan. The trip focused on strategies to control the world's supply of conventional weapons, biological weapons, and weapons of mass destruction as a first defense against potential terrorist attacks.<61>

Following meetings with U.S. military in Kuwait and Iraq in January 2006, Obama visited Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories.

He left for his third official trip in August 2006, traveling to South Africa, Kenya, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Chad. In a nationally televised speech at the University of Nairobi, he spoke forcefully on the influence of ethnic rivalries and corruption in Kenya.

Obama worked with Russ Feingold (D–WI) to eliminate gifts of travel on corporate jets by lobbyists to members of Congress and require disclosure of bundled campaign contributions under the "Honest Leadership and Open Government Act", which was signed into law in September 2007.

He joined Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in sponsoring S. 453, a bill to criminalize deceptive practices in federal elections, including fraudulent flyers and automated phone calls, as witnessed in the 2006 midterm elections.

Obama also introduced the "Iraq War De-Escalation Act", a bill to cap troop levels in Iraq, begin phased redeployment, and remove all combat brigades from Iraq before April 2008.<68>

Later in 2007, Obama sponsored with Kit Bond (R-MO) an amendment to the 2008 Defense Authorization Act adding safeguards for personality disorder military discharges, and calling for a review by the Government Accountability Office following reports that the procedure had been used inappropriately to reduce government costs.

joined Chuck Hagel (R-NE) in introducing legislation to reduce risks of nuclear terrorism.A provision from the Obama-Hagel bill was passed by Congress in December 2007 as an amendment to the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill.

Obama also sponsored a Senate amendment to the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to provide one year of job protection for family members caring for soldiers with combat-related injuries. After passing both houses of Congress with bipartisan majorities, SCHIP was vetoed by President Bush in early October 2007, a move Obama said "shows a callousness of priorities that is offensive to the ideals we hold as Americans."

Still waiting for any accomplishments that Obama has done in his 144 days in the senate? Anyone? Anyone?

If you guessed Obama, you are WRONG! Sen. McCain takes the award ... last night's vote on the bailout bill was McCain's first vote since April 8 ... that's nearly SIX MONTHS! He has missed 420 votes or about 65 percent total. Just to be fair here, Sen. Obama comes in third having missed a total of 303 votes (about 47 percent). Until Wednesday night, he most recently voted on July 9. I guess McCain is tops at something after all.

Name that candidate! Which one has missed more votes than any other senator in the U.S. Senate during the 110th Congress that opened on Jan. 4, 2007?

Still waiting for any accomplishments that Obama has done in his 144 days in the senate? Anyone? Anyone?

Conservative columnist changes mind and calls for Palin's withdrawal... http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDZ...

Palin is a woman who just about everyone can relate to, but thankfully we're smart enough to realize that not everyone is capable of being an effective President.

Still waiting for any accomplishments that Obama has done in his 144 days in the senate? Anyone? Anyone?

Palin is a woman who just about everyone can relate to. And that scares the hell out of the loony lefties!!!

Obama's plan is a complete joke. It's socialism redistribution of wealth. He's a fraud.

SarahB…There is no argument with who is getting taxes raised. The disagreement is over the miss-information on the tax cuts. You stated “everybody else would get a tax reduction” echoing the campaign of Obama. The reality is the 2 lowest quintiles are in the negative as far as federal income tax---meaning after filling out tax return forms and receiving (if eligible) earned income and child care credits get back more than they paid in. There is NO WAY to lower the tax burden below a zero rate! So the truth is, the lowest two quintiles will not receive a tax break---there is nothing to give a break on. If his plan is to increase earned income and child care tax credits this would result in more money for the lower two quintiles; this is a subside not a tax cut. As stated these are not tax cuts as you and his campaign suggest.

RetiredAirForce: According to the Tax Policy Center, Obama and McCain are both proposing tax plans that would result in cuts for most American families. Obama's plan provides cuts to all but those families in the top 1.1 percent of the income scale. This would be families with annual incomes greater than $603,403. Yes, those people will see very hefty tax increases. Everybody else would get a tax reduction with the biggest cuts to those who make the least. McCain's plan gives tax cuts to all incomes levels with the largest (4.4 percent) going to the families with incomes over $2.87 million yearly. RetiredAirForce, I know Navy "fly boys" are tops in the world, but I still respect the smarts of those in the Air Force. You know darn well what Obama is talking about, so do the right thing and at least be truthful on these forums. Next, I will attack the false claim marketed by the GOP and NRA that Obama is out to ban gun ownership. Talk about BS.

What's a liberal number? Can you do the same math using conservative numbers? Just wondering...

SarahB..you want me to read past the part where Obama and his campaign say that 95% of the population (not taxpayers---they say population) will receive a tax cut. Even using very liberal numbers, only 70% of wage earners pay (after tax returns) federal tax...so how does he give 95% a tax cut? How does one cut from zero? So you keep reading all you want...actions are more telling than words on a website. I am still waiting for "any" action that he has accomplished that helps taxpayers or this country.

RetiredAirForce: I never said one should "decide" whom to vote for based on the information provided on a candidate's web site. The web sites (and note that I am referring to both candidates' sites here) are a great place to get a detailed look at their proposals on how to tackle different issues. They are also a place to see just how both these candidates think and if they are able to develop new ideas that might actually work. I also use several other sources in developing my opinion on these candidates. I also read other sources daily, including those that are truly non-partisan and dissect the candidates' speeches, advertisements and voting records. Believe me, I know how to do my research. So, enough of your slams. Are you always so pleasant in the morning?

No I spend time reading their voting records. They can promise the world to me and and never pull through with their "promises". A website is just advertising for a candidate. The substance in which you should read is the voting records. Obama claims to be a "uniter" with the ability to work with republicans and reach our across the isle. Well then why does he vote 90% of the time along party lines? I like to see WHAT they have done not what they PROMISE to do. Heard that from the democrats in congress when they took over control. Have yet to see any of their PROMISES happen yet.

Yep words on a website...that is the best way to decide....holy crap are we in trouble with voters like this deciding our countries fate.

Whybesad: Spend a few hours reading each candidate's web site. Then try telling us that Obama has no substance. I dare you to get educated on the issues in this election. (Try it, you might like it!)

Obimbo came from the most corrupt political environment in the country. What did he do about it? NOTHING but this is the man who has said he will CHANGE Washington? What a JOKE he's full of promises and NO SUBSTANCE!!!

And sole proprietors would be effected under Obamas tax increases.

What many people don't understand is a lot of small business are run under LLC's in which their taxes are done with their personal taxes so, the money the business makes is lumped into their personal income. And with Obama wanting to tax the "rich" people and raise the capital gains taxes this is going to hurt the small business owner BIG TIME.

Obama is not good for small business he will tax the small business man out of business. Higher taxes on small business will mean that they won't be able to hire employees let alone keep the the ones they have. Just wait and see if you think it's bad now want until Obama gets into office and watch the small business get whacked with huge tax increases.

you should perhaps read the sites platforms. Obamas plan for small business is much better then 1 percent Mc Cain, who now doesn't seem to know the truth from a lie.

Straight talk Mc Cain is no longer telling the truth in his ads. His ads show his lack of moral compass. Mc Cain is lieing, just like Bush lied us into War. Chip off the old block. What a disgrace, his campaign has turn into lies and distortions.

Obama will ruin small business. The engine of this economy. In this economy you can't raise taxes and expect it to work.

Both canidates have issues. Obama seems to play more for his supporters much like John Kerry did saying that he's just a normal guy. At least with MaCain you know what your getting with him. He's a straight talker and will do what he thinks is right for the country. He has done this while in the military and as a Senator. He's taken heat from it from his own party.

Let's see pick a Washington insider for VP. A candidate that is the most liberal Senator in Washington. Votes 96% along party lines. Or a candidate who picks a woman who has executive experience is from outside of Washington politics has bucked his party on several key issues. A VP candidate who took on the good 'ole boys of her own party who were corrupt. A Illinois senator who comes from a state and city that just reeks of corruption but, has done nothing about it EVER. As a community organizer maybe he should have organized the corrupt political atmosphere in Chicago and really brought CHANGE to that city. Now who's the candidate that brings CHANGE to Washington?

Sounds like accorn is up to it's old tricks.

http://current.com/items/89293206_mislea...

Just listening to the substitute host, Lee Rayburn, on the Thom Hartmann show:

"Misleading" absentee ballot applications are being mailed out by the McCain campaign to registered Democratic voters in purple states. The return addresses are inaccurate, as well as other information. "Misleading, lying" mailers are going out in Florida and other purple states. It's a caging tactic.

Calls are coming in verifying that this is happening in small towns, as well as larger ones.

The host is trying to determine the scale of this subversion of our democracy.

Here we go again.

UPDATE: It's happening in Pennsylvania, too. The ballots have included multiple ballots, sender address is a new address while return address is from old city clerk's office... The I'm trying to type this as he says it, and it may not be clear, since I miss some. I apologize for that.

Fraud. Election fraud. Hopefully the local authorities can help, or the local Obama offices. Calling the media could help, too.

A caller: Robocalls asking if you're interested in an absentee ballot. Or, notifying the voter that the ballot will be mailed back postage paid to the National Republican Committee.

Another caller from Detroit. Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida: That's where the absentee ballots are being sent to Obama voters. Add Missouri to that, per one of our commenters.

You can be sure McCain isn't doing this because he wants every vote counted.

UPDATE: A North Carolina caller got THREE of them. In the phone book there's a street address, but on the form, it's a P.O. Box, per the caller.

California caller from registrar's office: McCain should take the application for absentee and submit within 3 days. But the applications will most likely be held for the 3 days and "die". They'll most likely submit the Republican ones, and throw away the Democratic ones.

The return address for the request card goes to the wrong city clerk office address, per Rayburn.

Michigan caller: Wrong home address, and then, wrong city clerk address on the one he got. He donated to Obama, but not a Democrat, so he wonders if that's how they found him.

Hey media? There's a real story here.

I am a researcher at heart and I have had a lot of fun playing "vetter" this past week, but my excessive free time is ending and I have to get back to my real life. Thanks for humoring me everyone. Be an educated voter!!! :)
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By the way, lipstick and lapel pins aside, the foreclosure rate hit the highest EVER level last month. There are REAL ISSUES that should not be ignored.

Yeah, go over to the church sign story and weigh in on that one.

WOW over 400 posts about nothing, but a lady with a down syndrome baby,who also enjoys the outdoors, hunting, etc...my god get a life people, WAY BIGGER ISSUES THEN JUST THESE! Thank goodness I am a skim reader. On to a diffent post, this one is getting old, along with the other political one with over 500 posts. No-one will ever agree on anything, so believe in what you want to believe in and yes follow your heart and do what "YOU" think is right. GOD BLESS YOU ALL ! !

tater, are you a stalker?

I’ve been gone for a few days, so I thought I’d try and catch up on the latest chats. Did the Gazette change their feedback area to the Janesvillemom blog while I was gone? Holy smokes! She has posted an amazing 94 posts in the last 5 days!!! (Yes, I had to count them all, sigh.) Almost all the posts were on just the 2 threads about Sarah Palin! I’m not even going to comment on the substance of these posts, but don’t you think that maybe you should just start your own blog so those who really give a crap about what you think can go there and read instead of having to wade through your left-wing spouting on these pages day after day after day….? Maybe moveon.org could hire you as a witer?

janesvillemom,
When you say "Religious Right", does that mean there's a Religious Left or an Atheistic Left?

Good point Spanky. Most people don't realize that he IS the most Liberal Senator in the Senate. This guy's voting record is never reaching across the isle and being a uniter like he would like us to believe. He's blowing smoke so he can get elected once in office watch out. People need to look at the voting records of both canidates. Obama has voted 96% of the time along party lines. How is that a uniter? How is that change? looks like the same old Washington to me.

Janesvillemom after those comments you still consider yourself an independent? Geez!! Those words are right out of the far left wing of the Democratic party. I guess that's why you like Obama because he is the most Liberal Senator in America.

janesvillemom...even if my sister were running for office and her views were liberal...I would not vote for her. There are somethings that are more important than family. Standing up for what I believe in with my whole heart is one of them.

Seabee, in addition the the Democrats, I also did a lot of research on the Republican field. Guiliani was the worst of the lot and Ron Paul was the best...by my standards. Just to let you know that I don't have some kind of Sarah Palin obsession, it's more like a strong interest in saving this country from the neo-cons and the the Religious Right.

Seabee, I actually did spend a lot of energy looking into Obama, Edwards and Hillary when I found out who was running. Obama came out on top. I like to read and learn about issues so I am an INFORMED voter and citizen. Do I think Obama is perfect or sent by God, no, but I think he is by far the best of the lot.

Her friends said they didn't talk about politics. Her friends wouldn't be in the way of her political agenda, so no need to crush them. She campaigned against her own step-mother-in-law when she ran for mayor so I don't think she values family or friendship above politics.
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If your best friend was running for VP wouldn't you vote for her no matter what your political leanings just because you believed in HER?

80% approval rating in Alaska doesn't hurt either.

His community organizer position was a position in the Daley machine in Chicago's corrupt political arena. He could have stepped up when he was s State senator and put a stop to the corruption but, he didn't. But, he is for change in Washington? It doesn't add up.

Enough…you quote “So if Mc Cain gets elected then he should dismiss the entire Dem Congress cause they didn't support him.”; goes against the constitution of our great land. Your attempted snide comparison of city employees who work for a Mayor and congressional members who are members of the legislative branch of the federal government and do not work for the President who is a member of the executive branch. If you meant this as a joke it, it was very poor. You callously left out the fact our government is based on 3 branches of government to directly keep this from happening. Either way your comments have nothing to do with the facts of the events that happened 11 years ago.

I challenge janesvillemom to put half the effort she has applied to smearing Palin into doing a little research on Obama. Convince me that hope and change really do come from Chicago.

Some of the books in question weren't even in print yet. So what if some of her friends disagree with her politics. I disagree with many members of my family and friends that's just life. They just haven't come around yet :)

Not according to the video that janesvillemom's link leads to. Her closest friends aren't with her on a lot of issues, but they're still close friends.

So if Mc Cain gets elected then he should dismiss the entire Dem Congress cause they didn't support him. What nonsense. Palin just takes a grudge to far. You either with her or your OUT. Kind of Black and white like Bush and Cheney.

Banning books that question or argue or offer as a extension of Creationism Palin believes in Creationism. Science is not something she thinks is relevant. The librarian never published a list. But she maintain her job because the people like her.

I don't agree with a lot of my friends politics. I don't agree with a lot of my families politics. I think it's a good thing to surround yourself with different points of views.

I guess even Sarah's best friends don't agree with her politics. 3 of 4 of "the elite six" (she and her pals seriously call each other "the elite six"), won't say they will vote for her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbxClZXzv...
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Here is an ABC report on Troopergate that is interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOBWZ7Joc...

No, I think the change they were looking for was the fast tracking of a sports complex...duh janesvillemom. I expected more from a varsity letterman.

Was the change they wanted the banning of books? I still don't see how a librarian could get in the way of her plans for the city. Did she even talk with the librarian about any issues other than the banning of books? I just don't see librarians as a big threat.

janesvillemom...as I said previously, the voters of the city wanted things changed. She was hired to do a job and she did it. You might not like the politics behind it.

Even if she fired the librarian simply because she had supported her opponent, or because they didn't share a vision or whatever her reason, what does that tell you about her ability to work across the aisle?

Here is the Wasilla paper's article about the book banning issue:
http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/200...

Make up your own mind why Sarah Palin gave her a letter stating that she intended to terminate her employment.

Janesvillemom…to your question on the article provided by you. After looking further, the article you provided was in fact written/published Sept 4th 2008, after she was chosen to be the VP for McCain’s ticket; written by a person who joined the paper in 2005. Suffice to say, I give more credence the article that was written at the time of the events and not one penned following the announcement of her nomination. If the allegations in the article are true I would sure like to see a story published/written somewhere close to when the events happened and not one put together more than 11 years later.

You posted the link, people can read it and make up their own mind. I still don't see how this has been disproved by FactCheck, I posted what it said. It said she asked a what if and that she stayed on as librarian, but not that she received a letter saying she was being fired. All of that is true. She did TRY to fire the librarian. Where is that proven false?

jansevillemom...your cherry picking of quotes shows your true colors. The librarian as well as the police chief were at the time part of the old establishment of her town. As stated by Councilwomen Judy Patrick in the article, “people voted change when they elected Palin and part of that is changing who is in charge.” The article also stated both of these employees publicly supported her opponent. After the election, as stated in the article the new mayor questioned the loyalty of those employees…again the voters of the city wanted things changed. She was hired to do a job and she did it. You might not like the politics behind it, but providing all the facts surrounding the case allows others to form their own opinion. Again; the true facts of this case have nothing to do with banning books. As previously proven false by factcheck.org this never happened.

retiredairforce: Do you think the earlier article was more flattering of her? You should read it. It talks about her mismanagement of the city and the talk of a recall.

Seriously, how can a LIBRARIAN be "not supporting her" unless she is referring to the book banning idea. What was the threat that Palin felt from her?

Thanks retiredairforce, now I can put the exact quote.
''I do not feel I have your full support in my efforts to govern the city of Wasilla. Therefore I intend to terminate your employment ...'' the letter said.
Is that not firing her? The police chief got the same letter and he was fired.

Palin gave the librarian a letter stating, "I am terminating your employment", it was the same letter she gave the police chief. If that isn't firing her, then what is it?

janesvillemom...funny how that same paper wrote a different account of the firing a 18 months earlier.
http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/510...

The librarian was never fired that's a lie FYI

Like you would listen anyway your a full fledged liberal anyway. She could say the sky is blue and you wouldn't believe her.

Why listen to her talk when you seem to have all the answers on her.

Has Obama every authored a major bill in the US senate in his 143 days there? I can't seem to find anything on that. He has an awful lot of not presents in his voting record.

whybesad: Please tell me where I "lied". I only found one minor inconsistency (not a lie) in my understanding of Palin's postion on creationism. Maybe if she would answer some questions, we could all get a better understanding of her positions.

factcheck.org sorry

Retiredairforce:
I don't know if I ever mentioned the AIP before the factcheck post because it isn't an issue I am all that interested in. So I was not aware that Mr. Palin had dropped his membership. But I apologize for my misuse of the word "is" when it should have been "was".

Well a guess just a few lies is better than all lies. That makes a lot of sense janesvillemom. It would have been nice if you would have looked up the FACTS before you spew the liberal leftwing talking points that have been nuked by factcheck.com.

Retired airforce:
http://www.adn.com/politics/story/515512...

janesvillemom...your statement on the Alaska Independence party is misleading to those that may not have read about it. You stated Mr. Palin is a member when the truth is he “was” a member. He was registered with their party from 1995-2002. Mrs. Palin did attend their convention in 2006 while she was campaigning as a Republican for the position of Governor of Alaska.

janesvillemom...please provide a source for you statement "but she did fire the librarian after she objected to Palin's "what if" about banning books, but was rehired when the community insisted."

Your statement does not mach published news stories in Alaska from the time of the events or factcheck.org web site.

lovetoscrap:
"janesvillemom...do you forget how college is paid for? It's by credit. So, it would make sense that it would cost less to take 6 credits in one year vs. 12 credits in one year. I am pretty sure this is simple math. Something you should be able to figure out with a master's degree! "
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I DO know how college is paid for and if you are a full-time student, you can take as many credits as you want for the SAME PRICE! You can take 18 credits for the same price as 8! What a bargain!(I even checked one of the Idaho colleges she attended to make sure it wasn't different there than where I went.) She was a full-time student as far as I can tell. If she was really concerned about costs, she would have taken as many credits as possible and gotten done in 3 years!
SO where are you getting your information that it was because of costs? Did you make that up?

Sorry, I double printed the FactCheck list. Either way, MOST of what I have said, has NOT been proven wrong.

Am I missing something? MOST of my posts have NOT been proven false...only a couple of minor points. I may have said she wanted creationism, but she did fire the librarian after she objected to Palin's "what if" about banning books, but was rehired when the community insisted. Not sure if I mentioned the Alaska Independence party, but her husband is a member and she attended their convention.

HERE is what FactCheck says:
* Palin did not cut funding for special needs education in Alaska by 62 percent. She didn’t cut it at all. In fact, she tripled per-pupil funding over just three years.

* She did not demand that books be banned from the Wasilla library. Some of the books on a widely circulated list were not even in print at the time. The librarian has said Palin asked a "What if?" question, but the librarian continued in her job through most of Palin's first term.

* She was never a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a group that wants Alaskans to vote on whether they wish to secede from the United States. She’s been registered as a Republican since May 1982.

* Palin never endorsed or supported Pat Buchanan for president. She once wore a Buchanan button as a "courtesy" when he visited Wasilla, but shortly afterward she was appointed to co-chair of the campaign of Steve Forbes in the state.

* Palin has not pushed for teaching creationism in Alaska's schools. She has said that students should be allowed to "debate both sides" of the evolution question, but she also said creationism "doesn't have to be part of the curriculum."

* Palin did not cut funding for special needs education in Alaska by 62 percent. She didn’t cut it at all. In fact, she tripled per-pupil funding over just three years.

* She did not demand that books be banned from the Wasilla library. Some of the books on a widely circulated list were not even in print at the time. The librarian has said Palin asked a "What if?" question, but the librarian continued in her job through most of Palin's first term.

* She was never a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a group that wants Alaskans to vote on whether they wish to secede from the United States. She’s been registered as a Republican since May 1982.

* Palin never endorsed or supported Pat Buchanan for president. She once wore a Buchanan button as a "courtesy" when he visited Wasilla, but shortly afterward she was appointed to co-chair of the campaign of Steve Forbes in the state.

* Palin has not pushed for teaching creationism in Alaska's schools. She has said that students should be allowed to "debate both sides" of the evolution question, but she also said creationism "doesn't have to be part of the curriculum."

factcheck is an interesting site.

janesvillemom...do you forget how college is paid for? It's by credit. So, it would make sense that it would cost less to take 6 credits in one year vs. 12 credits in one year. I am pretty sure this is simple math. Something you should be able to figure out with a master's degree! Why do you continue to cut her at every angle. I can see you not agreeing with her conservative platform...but criticizing her because she took longer to finish college than you? Come on! Both her parents were elementary school teachers. They couldn't afford to pay for her education. Sheesh! You are really beginning to look desperate.

Janesvillemom most of the posts that you have posted and the statements you have said about Sarah Palin have been false per factcheck.org here's the link.
http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/...

Those may be "talking points", but they are factual and they are things that I researched and found on on my own. I am repeating nothing from a radio show, or TV show or blog. The only one I would have to * is the one about being afraid of the media because she actually has an interview scheduled for later this week.
My point about talking points was that people were just repeating things that they heard and weren't thinking and researching for themselves.

How am I being hypocritical? I had a Master's degree after 6 years of college. She went to 5 FIVE different schools. Why? It costs a lot more to go for 6 years than for 4! So I don't see how expense can be an excuse. My parents were poor, so I got scholarships and financial aid and student loans and I WORKED HARD to get through in the least amount of time necessary so I could get to work and pay back my loans. If I had taken 6 years for a 4 year degree and then criticized her for doing the same thing, THEN I would be a hypocrite.

She took 6 years to complete college because her parents weren't able at afford two children in college and she entered beauty pageants that gave out scholarships to pay for her education. Pretty hypocritical of you to criticize a person for taking a couple extra years to get a college education. I'm sure she's the only one that has ever taken a couple more years to complete their college degree.

No I was also referring to John Edwards who cheated on his wife while she was battling cancer. Ted Kennedy is another one.

janesvillemom, you critize others for talking points (Sep 8, 2008 at 5:21 p.m.) yet your whole post "Sep 8, 2008 at 5:11 p.m." is nothing but talking points????

Hope everyone votes tomorrow.

I'm happy to say my dad is not role playing with the rest of the union workers anymore. He is not voting for Obama. Good for you dad! I'm glad your days of Baaaing are over.

Spank:
"you lefties should have a problem with MaCain if he had extramarital affairs you lefties embrace that stuff"
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Where do you people get this crap? Is it Rush? I need to listen to that idiot to figure out what else he is filling his sheep's heads with. Rush and Coulter (on the right) and Oberman and John Stewart (on the left) are ENTERTAINERS! They are people trying to make money off of selling books and radio ads. They keep their paychecks by saying outlandish things to get people upset and talking. If you listen to this crap as a source of your political information/opinions then you truly are sheep/lemmings/what-ever-Rush is calling us this week. TRY to find some neutral sources, try reading/listening to BOTH sides. How many "righties" watched the Democratic convention? How many "lefties" watched the Repub convention? Think about who the real "sheep" are in this country. They are on BOTH sides, but comments like yours make me think there are a LOT MORE on the right, and I wish they would all take a class on critical thinking and TRY to LEARN about issues rather than talking points.
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There's my rant for the day. :)

whybesad said,I guess it's in the DNA of the democratic party where lying and cheating and being unfaithful to your wife is just acceptable."
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This is over-the-top! I assume you are referring to Clinton? (Not a Clinton fan here) But how hypocritical can you get? McCain...had affairs, dumped his crippled wife for a wealthy beauty queen, KEATING FIVE ANYONE??? As for liars, I'd say Bush/Cheney take that award!
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The Emperess has no clothes:
( yeah, I know you're visualizing that one!)
1) Ethics reformist= currently under investigation for ethics violation.
2) Fiscal conservative=took town with $0 debt and left them with $22 MILLION of debt!
3) Abstinence only advocate was pregnant before wedding and has a pregnant unwed teen daughter.
4) Pitbull/barracuda is scared to answer questions from the media.
5) Said "Thanks but no thanks, if we want a bridge we'll pay for it ourselves" and then KEPT THE MONEY.
6) Doesn't know what a VP does...running anyway.
7) Has "experience" as Commander of Alaska National guard, but NEVER gave a command.
8) Has "foreign policy experience" because Alaska borders Canada and is the closest state to Russia!
9) Was "thoroughly vetted" even though her college records weren't checked, and her hometown newspaper wasn't checked and who knows what else.
10) Is supposed to learn enough to run this country by January, even though it took her 6 years to earn a 4 year degree!
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Once she is forced to answer the hard questions, the reality of her incompetence will come out. The current polls are based on the initial excitement of her nomination, but the new will wear off.

proartist you lefties should have a problem with MaCain if he had extramarital affairs you lefties embrace that stuff. Your article states that happened when he came home from Vietnam. He wasn't in office at that time. Can't you come up with something more recent?

Like Ted Kennedy? He never got investigated for Murder.

Roe vs. Wade is the LAW and will be upheld by conservative judges since conservative judges tend to interpret the law unlike liberal judges who tend to litigate from the bench.

whybesad: You noted "lying and cheating and being unfaithful to your wife is just acceptable." Does that also negate McCain as an unacceptable candidate since he has not shied away from admitting numerous extramarital affairs many times including on last Sunday's CNN 2-hour biography of his life and... http://news.aol.com/elections-blog/2007/...

whybesad - the left does not love doyle

dr. talk - you are correct, just being investigated doesn't mean much. sometimes the guilty are acquited - oj, gw, etc...

Dolyey has been under investigation for a few years now. The left loves him.

Joe Biden is a plagiarist. Seems the media isn't to worried about that. I guess it's in the DNA of the democratic party where lying and cheating and being unfaithful to your wife is just acceptable.

enough says "A govenor who has executive experience is now being investigated for Abuse of Power. Is that exceptable for the possible next President?"
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You missed the key word INVESTIGATED. Actually being convicted is a different story. Just being accused or investigated for something doesn't mean anything.

Spanky John McCain was in his 20s when he was tortured. He is now 72, four bouts of cancer, this campaign has put more stress on a man that age. His Vice President is more popular then he is. He does have angry issues. Yes infact Obama may be the victim of some nut job. God forbid. Biden is very important and thank God he has a knowledge base.

Obama being black gives him a better chance of being assassinated does that mean we have to look at Biden as well as Palin? If John Macain can make it through 51/2 years being tortured every day I don't think you have to worry about his health that's a weak argument from the loony lefties.

During the Pre nomination phase of this election they called Michigan more than a depressed state. The Big three have put more than many out of work. Can you imagine in 2008 we call Michigan a depressed state. Michigan State elected politicians have begun to try to remake their state in new energy, but many of the workers only know car manufacture jobs. And the tax exempt poliicies for new energy will expire this year and Republicians have fillibuster this renewal. Thats why Pickens went to Congress to plead for their extension.

Will we be facing the Great Depression? Millions of people out of work. Wages down to bear minimum. Yes this is possible in America today. Banks have not failed in this number since the Depression. The Stock market is failing. People of wealth have taken their money out and are investing in Foreign markets. Converting to cash. Foreign Countries that based their economy on the dollar have converted to Euros. Watching their Banks closely for any sign of failure. Can we afford four more years of the same policies of trickel down economics. Everyone has a choice to make this Nov. You choice will seal your fate and the fate of your children. This is not a one issue Election.

And after you have used up the unemployment time. You are not counted in that number. So if you don't get a job, you are jobless with no unemployment pay, guess what you can afford to pay your mortgage. We have far more people unemployed then those that are counted. The only unemployed that are counted are the ones on unemployment. How long does it last? Why don't they do a poll of the actual number of people out of work. Then we could see where this country really stands. Are we closer to Depression then we realize?

*IS up, not it up, in my first sentence.

I would guess that 84,000 job cuts in August might be why unemployment it up! They extended the unemployment benefits because there aren't any new jobs for the unemployed people to move to. You can't get off the unemployment list if there are NO JOBS and in the competition for the jobs that are out there you just gained 84,000 competitors.

No one is talking about the weak dollar because it is increasing exports and they are hoping that will salvage the economy. Wishful thinking in my opinion, but that is what I keep hearing from "the economists".

All stories should begin at the beginning. OUTSOURCEING of manufacturing. Effected the economy with the Housing bubble as financials savior. Bubble Busted. Unemployment secondary to all of this. More than 11 Banks have failed. Consumer index down. Gas prices up. Family budgets can only pay for necessities, because of increasing inflation. Dollar worth only 72 cents on the foreign market. Consumers not spending, business suffers people get laid off.

google Mudflats/ Palin......McCain is 72 and has had four bouts of cancer, also has anger issues potential stroke material. Sara could very well become President in 2 years. Are you willing to take that risk for America?

A govenor who has executive experience is now being investigated for Abuse of Power. Is that exceptable for the possible next President?

Good point whybesad. It's a new economy

The Government also signed an emergency unemployment act in July. So, people could receive 13 more weeks of unemployment if they qualified. I'm thinking this has a lot to do with the jump in unemployment.

The 6.1% unemployment all comes down to the weak dollar which has driven up gas, oil, food, and all commodities. These increases cause businesses to cut back, which results in layoffs. Just look at the GM situation here as one small example. That really comes down to fuel prices as the primary reason for the cut backs. This is becoming the case all over the country with many businesses.
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You can talk what candidate will do better for the economy, but I have yet to hear EITHER mention ONE thing about the weak dollar, and how the intend to strengthen it?? If you honestly think this is not the primary problem to the current economic situation, you are totally blinded by your political beliefs. The ONLY candidate who actually got this, and addressed it, was Ron Paul. All you hear now from both candidates is really total pandering NONSENSE. Neither has put out any serious plan to address the current problems which face the economy.

SarahB,
I didn't say all jobs. I was just talking about the recent increase in minimum wage and the recent increase in unemployment.
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Besides, nursing isn't an entry level job.

Shutupandfish: One doesn't take a community organizing job unless they also have a great desire to help people who need the help most. I need to do more homework on Gov. Palin, but for now, she seems to be just a "PTA mom gone wild."

Dr.Talk: You can't blame all of the job losses on increasing the minimum wage. For example, I have been laid off from nursing (RN) positions three times since 2006. In my case, each layoff was directly linked to a shortage in funds.

"unemploment went to 6.1%"
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That's what happens when you raise minimum wage. Blame Democrats and Republicans for that one.

Did you know that Jesus was a "community organizer" and Pontious Pilate was a "governor". How will you hypocritical righties twist this to fit your argument. On an important note, unemploment went to 6.1%, what is McCain's plan? Same as the one we have now. "Change" with the same ideas, maybe it will work this time. Doubt it.

As a community organizer it was his first real job. Being right out of an ivy league school you think with his education he could have landed a very nice job. Instead he went down the community organizer path which in 2008 pays around $31,000 a year. Hardly enough to pay off the school loans to an Ivy League school such as Harvard. Seems Obama was using this "job" for pol•i•tick•ing (activity undertaken for political reasons or ends, as campaigning for votes before an election, making speeches, etc., or otherwise promoting oneself or one's policies.)He was just getting paid for politicking.

But will they keep their sled dogs in half buried barrels in the backyard?

I DO wish Levi Johnston (Bristol's babydaddy) had had the BASIC etiquette to spit out his chaw before he went on stage with the Palin crew last night.

It's too bad that the Republicans think it's funny to ridicule everyday Americans who do grassroots work in an attempt to improve their own communities.

Kind of funny the left thinks the Republicans employ slash and divide politics. While that may be true to some extent, it was the Clinton machine that was the MASTER of this strategy!
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Use a (. or *) to make paragraphs as I just did. My blog tip of the day! :-)

no kidding.

Paragraphs, anyone?

She'a a breath of fresh air. Out with the Washington "lifers".

janesvillemom said "I heard a lot of "Change" in her speech, but no real solutions."
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Sounds just like Obama's speeches.

The bigot label is one that will be thrown around a lot in the coming 2 months. Some will say that it is an act of desperation but, as I surmised in a comment on a different article, I think it is that they are also angry in that the message they preach has not resulted in a huge lead for their candidate. They refer to public opinion polls saying that something like only 20% think that the country is headed in the right direction and they are angry that the polls do not show Obama with and 80% to 20% lead. Do they re-examine their positions for their popularity problem? No, they decide that those who, in their view, should support Obama and do not are either defective or complacent, which angers them, and angry people resort to invective with little consideration for effect or accuracy.

Whatdidyousay - You make me laugh. 1st- It's a great rain, a crop saver. 2nd- It wasn't the rain that kept me in, it was you. 3rd- You answered my question of who would give the republicans four more years after they're dismal performance the last eight. 4th- You a bigot? read your posts ever? You took offense to being called a bigot but not the preachy, fear mongering hypocrite. I guess we agree on a couple things. I can't, and won't call you racist, but you both kind of sound similar with your rants and fears. 5th- Being bigoted toward a bigot isn't a bad thing. 6th- This will have to be good bye because I do have work to do. 7th - I wouldn't assume my education level if I was you. Remember, the higher educated individuals are the ones for Obama. 8th- Ever notice that you always resort to condesending and demeaning comments when you can't debate the issue on it's merits. 9th -I went back and reread your post and I laughed even harder. Sorry, I just wanted to see why people liked McCain. I thought I was missing something, but I'm not. Don't get so mad. An old guy like yourself could stroke out and I would feel bad about that. Wait, your voting for McCain, so NOT! 10 - Did you know McCain was a P.O.W, first I heard of it. peace

I remember how excited I was when I first could vote and foolishly think that it mattered. :) Every election gets worse because it seems as if nothing is about "we the people" anymore. It doesn't matter who wins because ultimately the other party will not work with the winner. I am an independant who generally tries to pick the candidate who I think will do the better job or in some cases, the least damage. I am at this point undecided and sometimes think do I even want to bother? That is a sad thing. Honestly I think we would be better off putting in a person who has never had a tie to politics because maybe then we would get someone who cares about all the people and not just about the "party" and the politicians and what is in it for me? Both sides have their speeches written for them, both sides have things in their past that I am sure they wish weren't. Every person who so quickly points this out should step back and say hey what if someone dug in my past? I am sure that there is something you said or did that in hindsight you wished you could take back! So maybe, just maybe these candidates need to get back to the basics and make it about what the people want and need and when they say it - then MEAN IT!! Don't just make empty promises, don't just say what you need to say to get that vote and then later say oh well maybe not or maybe so... Get some guts and buck the system that obviously isn't working and make a change for the better and really get busy with doing things that get our country back on the right track and fix the long standing issues that we need fixed and for heaven sake STOP WASTING TAXPAYER'S MONEY, make a budget and live on it and lastly LISTEN to the people - you might learn a few things!

Whatdidyousay - It most certainly is the Bush Platform. It is also the republican playbook of slash and burn divisive politics. It is a continuation of this republican agenda that the country is tired of. You didn't make your case of why we should give the republicans four more years. Obviously you are part of the 20% in the country that likes the direction the country is going. There is nothing wrong with being liberal. There is a lot wrong with being a preachy, fear mongering,hypocrital bigot like yourself.

Whatdidyousay and all you other McCain/Palin backers: What is different with this platform than what we have endured for the last eight years? To listen to the republicans and the m/p campaign you can't help but come to the conclusion that they are hypocrites. What they criticize the dems for one day (i.e. rockstar, ability to give a good speech, experience/lack of experience, lack of travel abroad) they find as attributes for their candidate the next. They must think the electorate doesn't pay attention. I guess by the comments on here they don't. Whatdidyousay - You said a few days ago that Obama was an appeaser. I asked you for your reference because I have not seen this in any speeches, opinion papers or in any of the debates. Please provide that if you have it or was that an opinion rather than point of fact? Also you never replied as to why we should give the republicans four more years in the whitehouse after the dismal record of the last eight. Please, no personal attacks, no "well look at the record of the other candidate", and no scare tactics please. I would like to see some hard facts about how McCain is going to change the direction the country is going compared to what Bush/Cheney have done. I'm just trying to make sense of all this. My personal experience tells me that things aren't going in the right direction (i.e. two wars, credit crisis, energy policy, economy, etc.). I don't care for the culture wars that they have decided to have in the last few days. Tell me what the republicans are going to do to unite us, because all I see are wedge issues. These were the same issues in 2000 and 2004. They haven't solved anything, just made everyone more partisan.

coffeeman,
Where is that poll that shows McCain out of touch with 95% of the country? Where is your proof or do you just like making comments based upon stuff you make up? It's pretty sad when someone has to stoop that low, but again that is what democrats do best. They are the ones that are desperate. I wonder who's child the liberals will go after next?

If proper spelling, vocabulary, and grammar is what it takes to get taken seriously, I will be better at it, however it's the points I try to get across that should be important as everyone else on here voices their opinions on. Just above the comment window in here, there is a list of 'rules' to go by. I don't see anything about misspelling or grammar except for in the articles, and then you email the newsroom. Another one which I'm guilty of right now is to Stay Focused, stay on subject. So if the only comeback not to debate a person is they misspell or use bad grammar, then chances are they had a valid point and thats the only way you can answer them, childish!

whatdidyousay: Are you implying that I am not a devoted mother and hardworking person? You know NOTHING about me. Can you tell me ONE SOLUTION that Sarah Palin has for this country? I think the economy was the issue I was asking about mt last post. I heard a lot of "Change" in her speech, but no real solutions. Offering MY solutions for this country isn't really the topic of this article so I'm not sure why you are expecting me to do so. Although my resume is stronger than Sarah Palin's in some areas, I AM NOT RUNNING FOR VP!

In 2008, when introduced as McCain's running mate, Palin told the crowd, "I told Congress, thanks but no thanks on that bridge to nowhere" — a line that garnered big applause but upset political leaders in Ketchikan. Palin's campaign coordinator in the city, Republican Mike Elerding, remarked, "She said 'thanks but no thanks,' but they kept the money."

Spanky, I think your the uninformed one. Must be a republican. Unlike alot of ones on here, I do do my homework and think before speaking. Try it, you'd be amazed

Oh, and as for that energy credit she's offering, The federal government already has that in effect. If you buy energy efficient appliances, insulate your house, buy a hybrid vehicle. etc... they give you credit on your income taxes as a partial reimbursement for that (Form 5695). Ask your tax advisor.

acejd93 you have no idea what you are talking about. Just stop your really making yourself look uninformed and lost. Do some homework and then comeback with a good argument. It would just be unfair to debate you now on what you wrote in your previous posts.

Mabee because Palin is the one creating the corruption within her state? I just remember reading something about her firing 3 workers and is now being investigated for abuse of power? McCain is always looking up in his ads when you hear "this is John McCain and I approved this message", is there a reason why he's always looking up? Palin has a very good chance of taking over office during this 4 year term if you catch my drift and do we really want that? Hillary ran the country once, she would have been a good choice but someone that is already in a whilwind of scandals, McCain might be saying he made the right decision but I bet he's kicking himself now

Here's an issue on the high costs of energy. Here is what she has done.
http://gov.state.ak.us/news-55671.html

Obama is a politician backed by Chicago's Daley machine and never once challenged the political corruption in Chicago and Illinois. Not ever. Palin has in a short amount of time. What's Obama's excuse?

How about the REAL ISSUES? How do you think the MCain/Palin ticket will help the economy?
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Palin-Implemented a 2% sales tax (even on food) in her town of Wasilla. This raised a lot of revenue so she cut property taxes (moved from a progressive to a regressive tax--for the "people" huh?) and then built a huge sports complex/hockey rink which has continued to kill the budget of the town since she left (no debt when she started, to over 20 Million when she left). And since the city didn't own the land the rink was built on, they have been in court ever since trying to figure out that little problem! Her town currently has NO money to buy new books for the library! She left a huge financial mess.
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McCain wants more of the same tax cuts for the rich and corporations with the "trickle down" theory which clearly hasn't worked. That money is trickling over to China/Mexico/Honduras/etc., not to American jobs! Actually if you tax profits (after expenses) at a high rate, the business has an incentive to SPEND their money investing in the business by expanding, creating jobs and paying higher wages. They can build their net worth by investing their profits in their business rather than paying their profits in taxes.

Oh boy, where do I begin. If they get it you can bet R vs. W will be overturned ultimatly costing the country more money in health care and welfare for unwanted pregnancys. Speaking of that, isn't Palin supposed to uphold the laws? Her pregnant daughter is 17 and the father is 18, isn't that staturtory rape? Doesn't matter if it's consentuary or not, it's still against the law. Yes, Clinton didn't have military experience, but he led this country well and has us out of debt with a thriving economy. Oh, remember Bush has no military experience other than using our military as his toy soldiers. In his speach the other night he stated we must be on the offense in the war on terror? Well he obviously doesn't know the best offense is a good defense, and with our troops overseas is leaving us with caught with our pants down with natural disasters and possible other attacks. Didn't Bush Sr. get him out of the draft? Oh yeah, forgot about that didn't we. The other question is how do you determine win or lose in this war? The world has been fighting for thousands of years with no prevail. The money we're spending overseas could be put to use here in our country with healthcare, homes for the homeless. But instead we're pouring money into overthere for rebuilding while they're still gouging us for oil, sounds like their double dipping. We have our own oil here, why aren't we using it? Look back in history, we'll start with Reaganomics, high unemployment, cost of living, bankruptcies, forclosures, etc.. Bush Sr, more of the same. Clinton, it took him 8 years to get things turned around and the country pointed in the path to recovery, sure he got a blow job in the oval office but it's better than screwing the whole country. Bush Jr took less than 2 years to do that and then some. So are Democrats so bad? Look back even farther on the state of the country while democrats were in office. And to those who jump the fence, you're not really a democrat or vise versa. It shouldn't be who's running, it the beliefs of the party. Do you stand up for blue collar workers or companies? war or peace? etc... For those who are on the fence and aren't very political, look up the 2 parties beliefs and see where you fit in. I'll just be glad in 2 months all this mud slinging will be over however this keeps the GM bashers preoccupied!

whatdidyousay: But, since you decided to make an issue of it, did you vote for Kerry in 04 because he did serve on active duty? Or, did you rationalize the service Bush did (working for a senate campaign in Alabama) as military service? Just wondering, since you brought up the topic.

"Who is the only person in this election that has actually fought for this country?"

A good soldier does not automatically make a good President. I had a lot more respect for McCain before he started pandering to the core of the Republican party. He won in New Hampshire by being the "maverick", yet became just another politician by cozying up with Bush, who used to be a foe. Sad.

maxdetail, I respect your opinion. I just have a different one. I keep typing my entire philosophy on life and death, but it gets long and this isn't really the place for it. So I'll just leave it at that.

And where has Cheney been during the Convention? OK, silly question.

Palin did pretty good. She fulfilled the typical role of a VP candidate by attacking the opposition. However, I would hardly call giving a speech overly challenging for a politician. It will be interesting to see how she handles direct questions from the media, or people whom might not agree with her positions. I'm gussing it will be awhile before she is put in those positions.

Palin's speech was awesome. This woman has never spoken to a group this large ever and she nailed it!! She is very comfortable on the political stage and is a fighter. It did just get a whole lot more interesting.

Here's a link that I think serves as an enormous tool during this election:
www.pollster.com
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Right now, Wisconsin is projected to go left. It has been VERY close in the last few elections.

Thanks for that, maxdetail. That really cleared up a lot of issues for me.
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Politically speaking, who else thinks that Sarah Palins speech was phenomenal?
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Whatever side of the isle you or I stand on, this election just got a whole lot more interesting.

Janesvillemom asked - Couldn't you consider that the loving arms of Jesus is a better place for the soul of an unwanted child than a neglectful or abusive home on earth?

Dear Janesvillemom,
I realize it's off topic to the original post but I could not let your question go unanswered. Your question is really an answer to another question - When is it ok to murder a baby? If murder is defined as the unjust taking of a life then abortion is murder. If you hold the worldview that humans are just a higher form of animal and can be harvested and managed as we would cattle then your question makes sense. But you are attempting to justify murder while invoking the name and the arms of Jesus. You may feel that murder is acceptable because of a POTENTIAL rejection and abuse of the baby but neither Jesus, nor the Scriptures, made any allowance for that. Christians who recognize the Bible as God's Word and the ultimate authority don't make allowance for that. Thankfully our culture, both believers and non agree that we ought not kill a dog because it is being abused or could be abused. We rescue the puppy, we rescue the pregnant mother dog.

Jesus, the second person of the Godhead wrote through David:

13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them. Psalm 139:13-16

For that reasoning Christians saved babies in the first century who had been exposed by those who believe babies were killable and they continue to do so in this century. Believe what you will but don't invoke the name of the Lord only to justify the unjust taking of life. Invoke Darwin's name or Margaret Sanger or Barrack and Michelle Obama but not the Author of Life. Blessings to you Janesvillemom.

Kind of like in the last election when Kerrey ran? Because Bush was hiding in daddies pocketbook, and Cheney was pretending to get a PH-D from UW-Madison (which he used as an excuse to hide out, he never actually finished the program)

http://www.usnews.com/

I would suggest before voting for McCain to do more research on Palin since McCain will probably kick the bucket. I know I will be doing a lot of research on Obama and her before I cast my vote.

I really want to see her interviewed or at least asked to answer a few questions. One of the PBS analysts said she is going to have a hard time defending her "Thanks but no thanks, we'll build the bridge ourselves" when she kept the federal money!
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I'm guessing they will keep her under wraps and not let her do any real interviews.

I know not to use Kos or MoveOn, but the other sources at least seem like mainstream newspapers/sources? Is there something I posted that can be proven false by another source?
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I watched her speech and I have to admit, she can read a teleprompter! I wish there had been some actual information about what vision she has for the country and HOW she plans to make the change she admits we need, but we'll see if McCain can give us some "red meat" tomorrow.

Janesvillemom the Newyork times is a very liberal paper along with the Washington post and the Boston Globe.

Spanky said:Janesvillemom everything you post is either opinions or is from left leaning reports. It's all biased. You should really think for yourself it may do you some good.
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I am truly open to constructive criticism. Here are the sources I have used. Please point out the ones with a proven liberal bias and if possible show me a NON-PARTISAN source of similar information.

The New York Times
Text of Jim Leach's speech
Anchorage Daily News
Reuters
The Boston Globe
The Washington Post
National Journal
gravmag.com (a geoscience firm in Montana)
The Innocence Project (used to find numbers of innocent people cleared)
Information clearinghouse
and I'll admit this piece may be biased, but it was written by someone who KNOWS her (mydd.com article)

Thanks!

Reading some of these comments its no wonder that lions eat their young. Unreal what people think. They seem to think that having American hating friends is OK but, if your daughter gets pregnant that some how is a bad thing. Hopefully all these people dragging this woman's child through the mud are squeaky clean.

Janesvillemom, all the martyrs are better off in the loving arms of Jesus as well. Does that mean their murderers are justified for sending them out before the lions? I don't think so. That is not a very convincing argument.

Janesvillemom everything you post is either opinions or is from left leaning reports. It's all biased. You should really think for yourself it may do you some good.

lovetoscrap;
Couldn't you consider that the loving arms of Jesus is a better place for the soul of an unwanted child than a neglectful or abusive home on earth?

Johndoe, there is a difference between punishing a convicted criminal for heinous crimes and murdering innocent babies who have never had the opportunity to breathe outside the womb, let alone commit any crime. Which of course brings up the scary idea that the womb, which should be the most comforting and the safest place a child can rest, has become the most dangerous place for a child to be. Sad.

If Obama had to answer to this type of thing, so should Palin:
So why didn't SHE get up and leave?
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"The Politico's Ben Smith reported that Palin was present for an August 17 sermon in which David Brickner, an activist for the missionary group "Jews for Jesus," considered quite controversial among many American Jews. The Anti-Defamation League of B'nai Brith has criticized Brickner for "targeting Jews for conversion with subterfuge and deception."

Brickner in his sermon described terrorist attacks on Israelis as part of "an ongoing reflection of the fact that there is judgment" by God of those who have no accepted Jesus as their savior."

whatdidyousay: That was intentional. I was giving you a test to see if I had taught you how to recognize personal attacks and you PASSED! Great job!

momof5:
Okay, I'll concede the point about not talking to the media. I was thinking in terms of the feelings of the people in her town and my personal feelings about transparency and small town government and not about the realities of political life, especially when there are "issues" with the job you are doing.
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Next issue:
You said:"Dubya is pro-life....Roe v. Wade hasn't been over-turned despite his appointment of like-minded Supreme Court Justices."
The problem with this thinking is the following:
"All nine justices appear to be in good health. But the two oldest--88-year-old John Paul Stevens and 75-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsburg--are liberals. So is 68-year-old David Souter, who has told friends that he longs to go home to New Hampshire. By contrast, Kennedy and the four conservatives seem reasonable bets to serve another four to eight years or more."
http://www.nationaljournal.com/njmagazin...
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SO if you think keeping balance on the Supreme Court is important, then voting for McCain is a mistake since he would most likely be replacing the liberal judges, tipping the balance to the conservative side.

Mike Sheridan and Steve Sheiffer are big time politicians? I would venture to say if you polled 1000 people in Dane County, 50 of them would know who either of these men are.
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Maybe Sarah Palin had enough sense to know what "damage control" meant and subscribed to that theory despite being in a small town full of busy bodies.
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I see NOTHING wrong with it at all. And, if you want transparency in politics then discounting employers in the private sector doing the same this is absurd!

Momof5, those are "big time" politicians. She was the mayor of a very small town. I'm from a very small town and it would be shocking for an elected official to "lay down the law" and forbid anyone from talking to the press. I think that is what the article is saying, the people of the town were blown away by it.

I would prefer transparency in politics at all levels, but don't think it will happen. But it says a lot that she wouldn't even allow transparency in a town where everyone knows everything about everyone anyway.

janesvillemom: If you called the offices of Gov. Doyle, Sen. Feingold, Sen. Clinton, "Mayor Dave" in Madison, Judy Robson, Mike Sheridan, Condi Rice, Steve Sheiffer (before he left) and presented the person answering the phone with a question as a member of the media in a time of controversey, I can almost guarantee you their answer would (and SHOULD) be: "no comment."
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lakennedy: Fair enough. I too was a big supporter of McCain in 2000 and was much less fond of him during the primaries of this campaign. I guess we're not as different as I thought. PS--I'm going to see ol' #4 this weekend....wanna cram in my suitcase?

Her "speech", well any of the speeches given at the convention for that matter, offer absolutely NO insight into the abilities of these candidates. At best, they show that the speech-giver can read adequately from a teleprompter. A lot of these speeches aren't even written by the speaker:
Check out Jim Doyle's speech. If you think there will be any real honest information conveyed, you're kidding yourself whybesad.
These conventions are nothing more than high-priced pep-rally's.

It may be smart in some situations (not talking to the media), I'll admit that. In her case, the city was considering a recall vote against her and it makes you wonder what she was trying to hide. They agreed to let her hire a city manager to help her so they wouldn't have to go through with the recall. She fired the city manager as she was leaving office.

lovetoscrap...I'm for neither.
But what amazes me is how people can sanctimoniously proclaim to be for one but against the other.

Lakekennedy I suggest you watch her speech tonight and you will see for yourself what kind of person she is.

Alaska was very corrupt when she took office and she took on some very powerful people. To tell her staff to talk to her first before they talk to the media is a wise thing to do. We all know how the media can mislead stories.

momof5: I don't personally care who you vote for, I was just curious about why. CURIOUS. Maybe you're seeing something I'm not. I don't have a personal dislike for Sarah Palin. I don't know much about her. That's the problem. Thus far, I am not particularly fond of McCain's choice in Sarah Palin and would have liked to have seen a VP nominee that addresses the economic issues that McCain has already stated that he has little experience with. I question his choice, which is my right. I think that this decision deserves some attention in that choosing a running mate is the first executive decision both Obama and McCain have made. That's why I look so closely. Biden has a long political history.
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As I've stated, this race is far from over. It's really now just begun. I haven't made any decisions on who I'll be voting for yet, as I need to find out more about Palin.
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As for McCain's military service, it undoubtedly speaks for itself. I would have loved to have seen McCain win the primary in 2000, I was a huge supporter of his in that particular race. I, too, have no military experience, and like to see a vet in the White House.

She was in PUBLIC office and forbid her staff from talking to the press. That is very different than a private employer.

janesvillemom: MANY employers, even in the private sector, forbid employees from speaking to the media. If that makes her officially scary, then I guess 95% of the nation's employers are officially scary as well.

SarahB: Yeah, sorry about that. After I posted that I realized that ol' Charlton was, how do I word this nicely-- no longer able to register to vote. I should have corrected it last night but was too tired and lazy. And, April of this year isn't really a long time ago unless we're talking dog years. Thanks for keeping me/us on our toes :)
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lakennedy: Why are you so snarky about who I am voting for or why I am voting for them? You think Obama is great, and I don't. I think the McCain/Palin ticket provide the greatest chance of uniting across party lines. What I agree with is that McCain is being more realistic that Obama in terms of what can, should and will be accomplished in the next presidential term. I like that McCain recognizes that Iran IS a threat to the US. I don't like that McCain is willing to stay in Iraq. But, can appreciate that HE, not I, served in the military. I can wear many hats, but a military strategist is not one of them! I like that McCain does not have, nor did he ever have (and try to discount them) sketchy relations with a radical-religious group.
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And, lakennedy: I merely mentioned Roe v. Wade and the NRA because those are shortcomings and stones the Democratic side has been casting at Palin. I never said you had an issue with either her stances on them. You take far too much personal when it comes to this topic. Believe me, I have debated back and forth on who I was going to vote for. Neither candidate are the ideal ones--or even the best ones who have ran in this election, in my opinion. I am wondering though: if Roe v. Wade nor her allegiance to the NRA are of issue to you, why such a dislike of Sarah Palin?

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/9/2/12284...

This is a very honest appraisal of Sarah Palin from a resident of Wasilla, AK. The good, the bad and the ugly. Interesting read.

This keeps getting better. Her mayoral experience is supposed to count, but I guess she wasn't competent enough to run a town of 6,000 without hiring a city manager to help her!

"Ms. Palin, who had campaigned promising to cut her own full-time salary, reduced it from about $68,000 to about $64,000, but she also hired a city administrator, John Cramer, adding a salary to the payroll."

From the same article sourced below:
"Ms. Palin also upended the town’s traditional ways with a surprise edict: No employee was to talk to the news media without her permission."
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Okay, she's officially scary.

Wow! I am seeing a pattern here. "Don't agree with me, get fired!" It's called ABUSE OF POWER!
Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/03/us/pol...
"Shortly after becoming mayor, former city officials and Wasilla residents said, Ms. Palin approached the town librarian about the possibility of banning some books, though she never followed through and it was unclear which books or passages were in question.

The librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, pledged to “resist all efforts at censorship,” Ms. Kilkenny recalled. Ms. Palin fired Ms. Emmons shortly after taking office but changed course after residents made a strong show of support. Ms. Emmons, who left her job and Wasilla a couple of years later, declined to comment for this article."

- 91 countries have abolished the death penalty completely.
- 11 retain it, but only for crimes committed in exceptional circumstances (such as crimes committed in time of war).
- 35 countries maintain laws permitting the use of the death penalty for ordinary crimes, but have allowed the death penalty to fall into disuse for at least 10 years.
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_capi...)
Is the US in "good company" given which other nations of the world allow capital punishment? "Countries and territories still using capital punishment include Afghanistan, the Bahamas, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, North and South Korea, Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Uganda, and Vietnam."

JOHNDOE...I too am for capital punishment. I don't see why it isn't in effect. We sentence our troops to punishment for "war crimes" but allow a disgusting pig (insert your own crime)to sit and play house in the big house for life and pay to feed the creep. Put em down where they belong. In the countries that practice this punishment, the crimes aren't as high as they are here. It should be put forth as well as I believe the government needs to keep their noses out of the abortion choices as well.

I will be the first to admitt that I don't "fully" understand all of this politic stuff, as none of probably do, because there is a rule that they only tell us what they want us to know and what we want to hear, but my first instinct on this choice for McCain is that Alaska has potential oil. And of course with the way the economy is, that will be a huge impact on people, even if it is only a "distant possibility". No one has said that this will even happen, but subconceincely, we are all thinking it might. There are always alterior motives, and that makes me so darn mad.

janesvillemom: I believe that we as a society afford many more opportunities to men than we do women when it comes to working outside the home and having a family. Sarah Palin does have five children, but so does her husband. The days of nanny's raising children have been here for awhile. Ms. Palin shouldn't be looked at any differently than any other male politician with children.

momof5: You posted: "You can have the best intentions in the world, but if you can't turn those intentions into fruition, then it really doesn't matter."
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I'm wondering, exactly, what intentions you are supporting in the McCain camp? What intentions are you supporting/voting against in the Obama camp? How does McCain's plan=change (when his voting record shows that he's prone to staying with the same old same old), and Obama's doesn't?
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I have no idea why you felt it necessary to point out the lack of danger RvW is in, as I never mentioned it as an issue. I also never commented on the fact that Palin is a card carrying member of the NRA as being an issue with me. Neither are.

Johndoe...I guess that means since you are for abortion you are for capitol punishment.

Evansvillemom...you need to reread my posts and repost as you are not making any sense what so ever. My children will go to college if they so choose...I never said they wouldn't and I have never adopted any children. I have no idea where you came up with that one. LOL As far as I am concerned and from what I can tell, you have issues understanding the written word. Please reread :) Then we can discuss as I don't have the time nor the patience to correct all of your mis-statements. Thanks.

Momof5: Details of Obama's proposals can be found on his web site: BarackObama.com. Even though I remain undecided on who to vote for in November, I do find many of his proposals to be enlightening rather than the same-old, same-old that has not worked.

P.S. Mr. Heston died a long time ago. I sure hope he doesn't try to cast his vote.

lovetoscrap..."are you asking me what my postition on capitol punishment is? As it wasn't discussed here nor in any other forum. Youy don['t have to worry because you didn't miss it. For the record, I am for it. And yes, there is a difference between murder and killing, so don't even go there."
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That question was tongue in cheek based on your previous comment..
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But, I guess the difference between murder and killing is whether the state does it or someone else does it?...oops, I went there. Couldn't help myself.

lovetoscrap: That's swell that you think every woman should stay at home with her kids. That would be great. I'd like to have a few and stay home and raise them. Where would you like to send the check?
As far as the lifestyle of the Chinese and Indian children... your reply is a great example of why America is falling face down in the dirt with it's economy and dollars. You're confusing riches and a luxurious lifestyle with economic security.
I'm not advocating that children should be denied affection and safety.
What I am advocating is that you wake up and realize that no matter what YOU think, there ARE millions of children MUCH better educated than yours that are used to no electricity, gas, or regular meals. THOSE children have a MUCH higher motivation to make money than yours, who have lived their life in heating and more food than these competing country's children can ever imagine. While we worry about our kid's self esteem, the Eastern hemisphere children are learning at least two languages.
You can whine about how you want your children to be happy, safe, and have everything in the world, but you better have an answer for them when they are 35 and have lost their 5th job.

Look around. Where are the future for non-college educated children in Janesville? US was smug about low gas prices... bye bye SUVS and Janesville GM. Even college educated adults are moving back home in droves, because their are people who are used to REAL hardships that are willing to work their butts under the table.

I'm thrilled you adopted two kids and they are loved and cared for- that's how every child should be. But being used to a cushy lifestyle is going to be a huge disadvantage when it comes to competing on a global scale.

whatdidyousay:
I admit that I overstepped my bounds in criticizing your comments. I was hoping for an intelligent, civil debate about the topic of the article and the issues it raises. Clearly I was expecting too much of you!

lovetoscrap:
I knew we could find common ground somewhere.:)

"I have found that I do agree with one point that Janesvillemom has and that is regarding Sarah's choice to work outside the home. But, you will have fun with this...I believe every woman if possible, should be in the home with her children. And by "if possible" I don't mean a woman who has to work so there are two new vehicles in drive way or a nice new house. Those are luxuries that can wait til the kids are school. I am going to get murdered for this post...I can just hear it now!"

lakennedy, I know a woman quite high in the Wisconsin's Hillary Campaign, she traveled all over the country to help Hillary. I asked her after Hillary lost, how did she feel. She told me
"I am over it", "We all have to get over it" and support Obama if we are to make a difference.

Local Organizer? What the hell is that exactly? Obama was a local organizer? And spent 143 days in the senate and that pretty much gives you the experience to run a country? I won't let him run a Macdonalds.

Is it possible he meant 47? If that's all it really takes to make up your mind, your reasoning skills leave much to be desired.

"check out this from Mr. Obama. I know now that im definitely not voting for that fool. he oesnt even know how many states we have here in the USA. i would think that would be given knowledge for a presidential candidate but apparently not."

Because nobody has ever mispoke and not realized it?
http://mediamatters.org/items/2008031900...

I wasn't trying to impress you, but maybe next time.

lakennedy didn't quote, but paraphrased. "portray" and "sound like" obviously mean the same thing in this case.

I'd only be impressed if you knew which rhetorical device was used.

Lakennedy:
Maybe you should read your own posts. You wrote “your posts portray you to be an uneducated hick” the first time, not “your posts make you sound like an uneducated hick” as you wrote the second time. Then you wrote the first time “will slant anything to make himself sound more educated than he really is”. How can you expect to be taken seriously when you can’t even quote yourself accurately?
That is amusing though that you called me an uneducated hick twice while denying doing so in the same sentence both times. That’s what is known as a rhetorical device, usually used by politicians who want to say something nasty about an opponent while pretending to be opposed to saying something nasty about an opponent. I guess you wouldn't expect an uneducated hick to recognize that.

lakennedy: Didn't mean to put words in your mouth. I apologize for my apparent misuse of quotation marks.
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And, yes, I will be able to look in the mirror if/when McCain dies in office and Sarah Palin takes over power of ONE of THREE branches of our government. I would have loved to remain a donkey come November instead of metamorphisizing into an elephant. But, come a certain Wednesday morning in November, I would not be able to look in the mirror knowing I had voted for an inferior candidate. And, that, fellow Packer fan, is not arguing for the sake of arguing. It is facing the cold hard truth.
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Besides....Dubya is pro-life....Roe v. Wade hasn't been over-turned despite his appointment of like-minded Supreme Court Justices. He's pro-drilling....and that hasn't occured either. I don't care that Palin preaches abstinece. God works in mysterious ways; maybe Bristol's pregnancy is His way of telling her to open her mind AND eyes. She's a member of the NRA. Ok. She's got Ted Nugent and Charleston Heston's votes for sure then....there are more illegally concealed weapons on the streets today than either of us care to phathom. Any other short comings?
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I may not agree 100% with what McCain is touting in his campaign. But, atleast he is giving the American voters a laundry list of change AND telling us how he is going to get it accomplished. You can have the best intentions in the world, but if you can't turn those intentions into fruition, then it really doesn't matter.

I didn't "call" you anything, billnewbie. Quite the opposite, really. If you'd bother to read the post, you'd read that I wrote that your posts make you sound like an uneducated hick, and that I'd never assume (which is your forte) that you are one.

Lakennedy:
I guess I touched a nerve. You're right that my opinion is based on an assumption, how could it be otherwise, but I really don't think that it's self-serving. I don't have anything to gain. I sure would like to be in that voting booth when you go though. I wonder, will you tell me then if my assumption was right?
Does it make you feel better about yourself to think of me as an uneducated hick? Don’t you remember that I prefer knuckle-dragging Neanderthal? But you can call me what ever you want to, I wouldn’t want to stifle your creativity.
Do I really sound more educated than I am? Can you hear me from there? Have you been peeking in my windows to see what degrees may be hanging there? Didn’t you write something about self-serving assumptions?
Yet another new member of my fan club! If you send your address to the president of my fan club, NVgrf, he'll put you on the mailing list. Then he’ll send you my monthly newsletter as well as an 8” by 10” suitable for framing and a life-size blow-up suitable for hugging, for a miniscule donation, just to cover costs.

People are talking about Palin because she is a darkhorse, and was just chosen to run with McCain. There aren't many questions about Biden's resume, and people have been talking about Obama (and his experience) as a potential or real candidate for about 18 months now.

Oh, and just wondering: Why, exactly, are you putting quotes around this: "Let's pay attention to who McCain picks because he's 71 but not put so much weight on who Obama picks because he's young." Since I never wrote it, and you just paraphrased and slanted a previous post of mine, I'm pretty sure you just quoted yourself, not me. Not necessary, and please do not put words in my mouth.

Actually, no. I guess you're going to suggest that the public should have known/guessed that JFK would be shot. Or that in the final year of his second term, Bush would have a colonoscopy, right? No. It is a very real fact that McCain has a much greater chance of dying in office--of natural causes, that is. Are you seriously denying this? Since you'll be an elephant this election, ask yourself if you feel comfortable having Sarah Palin be President of this country. Be honest with yourself, don't just keep arguing for the sake of arguing.

lakennedy: isn't that a little shortsighted? "Let's pay attention to who McCain picks because he's 71 but not put so much weight on who Obama picks because he's young." Huh. Seems JFK was YOUNG when he was assasinated in office...OR how about in the spring of this year when "Dubya" signed over executive power to Dick Cheney while he underwent a colonoscopy. Huh. He's fairly young too.

rystytrombone writes : "In some pictures I've seen she looks pretty hot. If McCain dies in office, she will become Babe Lincoln!"....OMG! LMAO!

Scratch that...71 years old.

mom05: We started paying attention to the VP a lot more closely when the President she/he is on the ticket with is going to be 72 if/when he takes office.
That's when.

Actually proartist, the best thing we have to celebrate is our freedom, something that the Chinese do not have. I reread my comment to make sure I wasn't generalizing when I said after talking to my two house guests about their culture and I don't see where I switched to talking about all of China. I still stand behind what I said. I don't want any part of a "driven to perfection way of life" versus "loving living life". We are supposed to enjoy life and all of creation.

Bristol Palin being 17 and pregnant and unwed shows NOTHING more than she is part of an everyday American family despite the matriach being a staunch conservative. The Palin's have found themselves in a position that ANY one of us could find ourselves in at any point in time if we have children. No one is immune to making a "mistake"--or learning from it for that matter. Sure her mother preaches an abstinence only form of sex education. But, Bristol has free-will just like every other teenager in the United States.
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It may give Sarah Palin a softer image than the one she is currently getting in the media--whether deserved or not. As for family values? She bore a child KNOWING he had down syndrome. How many would have chosen to terminate the pregnancy or their parental rights knowing that?? That's where her family values speak much more clearly than her 17 year old daughter making a mistake--and STANDING by her--despite being in the very public and critical eye.
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What experience did Condoleezza Rice have re: foreign policy? Ronald Reagan? JFK? "Dubya"? Bill Clinton? How about "Ahhnold" in Cauli-forniia or Jesse Ventura in Minnesota? Sometimes lack of experience is the most objective perspective one can bring forth.
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And, sure, it might be hypocritical of the McCain camp to be chastising the Obama camp for lack of experience and then pick a rookie themselves. But, folks, these are politicians we're talking about. They ALL talk out of both sides of their mouths.
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PS--this is the veep we're debating. When did a vice-president REALLY make the news for something OTHER than spelling potato wrong, saying he invented the internet or shooting their hunting buddy in the face? Exactly.
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I don't agree with many of Palin's ultra-conservative views, but that is why we have checks and balances in our government. And, for the first time I will be an elephant come November.

Wrong again, Billnewbie. Keep trying, though. I'm fine with you assuming all you want, just as long as you admit that that's all you're doing. You don't know what I stand for, what weight I afford each issue, or who I support politically. I sincerely hope you don't base all of your decisions on self-serving assumptions.
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See, your posts portray you to be an uneducated hick who will slant anything to make himself sound more educated than he really is, but I would never assume to think that's really what you are from just reading your posts.

lovetoscrap (off-topic-for-a-moment): I don't think you can overly generalize that Chinese children aren't as visibly loved by their families as American children just because of their educational system (which does have benefits as well as negatives)! I, too, am acquainted with some Chinese adults and students. Unlike your experience, they were very warm (yes, with hugs) and came from/are in very loving families. As in the US, there is variety and diversity within the human family to celebrate just as in our own political parties where we should CELEBRATE a democracy that encourages sharing and debate...and even disagreement at times.

And seriously, how hard could the VP job be? If Dan Quayle can do it, certainly Palin can.

Deciding what is best for someone else and their family is judgmental. The fact is you or I have no idea what type of arrangements they have to care for the child. I fail to see what difference it makes if the child has down syndrome. It is not unusual for a woman to go back to work after a child is born, and the child will be almost a year old by the time she would take office.

The teen pregnancy is a non-story. While getting pregnant at 17 isn't desirable, it also isn't unusual. The fact that Palin's child got pregnant really has nothing to do with Palin as a Vice-Presidential candidate. Her child got pregnant, not Palin.

The more people use these two issues to somehow discredit Palin, the more petty the democrats look. There are plenty of other issues to talk about.

By choosing Palin, McCain basically traded away the "inexperience" issue to try and revive his "maverick" persona, which won him New Hampshire, and started his improbable run for the white house in the first place. I think it's a huge gamble, but it will be fun to watch.

Evansvillemom...I hope and pray our nation never becomes like China in working 16 hour days. Their need to feel superior and better than anyone else at the expense of losing their families love and affection is repulsive to me. I never want my children to feel they have to be so intellectually superior that they are acing chemistry at age 10. Let them have that nonsense. My kids will be kids. I hosted two Chinese girls last year. After talking with them about their culture, I found out what this quest for superior knowlege etc. has cost them. They have no real relationship with their parents. There are no hugs and kisses. Emotion is frowned upon and any feelings of love and affection are very quickly squelched. You may want this type of "progress and advancement" for your family, but I don't. So, please leave me out of this situation. I have found that I do agree with one point that Janesvillemom has and that is regarding Sarah's choice to work outside the home. But, you will have fun with this...I believe every woman if possible, should be in the home with her children. And by "if possible" I don't mean a woman who has to work so there are two new vehicles in drive way or a nice new house. Those are luxuries that can wait til the kids are school. I am going to get murdered for this post...I can just hear it now!

She has taken on the corruption in the republican party in Alaska. She took them on and put them in jail. Obama is from Chicago which is littered with corruption from the democratic party what has he done? Nothing. Who's for change? Macain picks a woman with executive experience. Obama picks a Washington insider in Biden. Washington needs a shake up and Sarah is a very good choice she's not afraid to take on the tough issues.

This article is not about Obama so why are you posting Obama-bashing links?

evansville housewife:
I would be making the same judgments if she were a man in relation to the daughter's pregnancy. If a man was in the same situation and ran for VP with a pregnant teen daughter, I would criticize him for putting his career above the well-being of his daughter. No child deserves to have that type of situation proclaimed to the world.
As for the birth of the child, labor can progress very quickly. Especially when it is your 5th child. She traveled for 11 hours. She did not know that midway through her flight, he wouldn't suddenly be born. He was a month early and she knew that he had special needs and could require oxygen or any number of other things that might not be available on an airplane. She didn't even inform the airline staff that she could go into labor so they could prepare. Can you point out where you read that she was checked out by a doctor in Texas? All I read (on her own website) was that she was in phone contact with her doctor in Alaska.
Also I totally believe in a woman's right to have her child where she wants as long as she does it responsibly.
I don't think babies belong in car seats all day every day. If she is traveling as much as a normal VP candidate, that will be his fate. Unless of course, she doesn't use a car seat? But that's a whole other can of worms. :)
Of course women can work, and women of special needs children are no exception. But the campaign trail is hardly a normal job for anyone, and certainly not the place for an infant, special needs or not.

Just to be non-partisan and non-sexist in my judgments, John Edwards should not have run either. I was okay with it before the affair came out because his wife, who is old enough to make decisions for herself, wanted him to (even though she had cancer). But when you combine the cancer, young children and an affair that he had to know would come out eventually, he was very selfish in deciding to run also, putting his career above the welfare of his family.

janesvillemom-
Judging parenting choices, unless it's downright abuse, is also a mysogynistic no-no. 1)You can have a broken water with no contractions and no dilation. If the baby was not in distress (and she was checked out and cleared to board by TX doctors) why not go home? THis was her fifth baby, she probably could have birthed the little guy by herself on the plane. Women deserve the right to give birth where they want, no apologies.
2) Palin didn't drag her daughter into the spotlight, the media did by circulating the rumor that Trig was the daughters'. They came forward with the news of her pregnancy because let's be honest, it would announce itself soon, and to dispel the rumors.
3) Trig is FOUR MONTHS. As long as he has a good caretaker, his mama will make sure he's OK. Babies are wonderful travelers. He has Down's syndrome, but is otherwise healthy. He's not campaigning, his mama is.
Do you think that all women with special needs babies should not work?

Bill-
I am also in favor of abortion rights.
That said, McCain had my vote until Palin was chosen as VP candidate. His economic plans were of the bent that I, personally, feel pave the way to economic stability as a whole for our GDP.
Palin, on the other hand, has not proven a voting record that stands for anything but biblical based morality.

That's nice for a church bulletin, but our nation must compete on a global scale. Our Hannah-Montana loving, obese, dumbed-down kids are going to have to compete with millions of hungry Chinese and Indian students who learned physics and chemistry at age 10. When our society (who is used to 40 hour workweeks and holidays off) goes up against a billion people who will work 16 hours a day... well.. we have to advance.
Being stuck on an issue like abortion will get us nowhere fast. We need to concentrate on economy and being globally competive, not on investigating miscarriages (which, many women remember, happens when abortion is illegal.. a miscarriage is suspect and the woman investigated)

billnewbie,
One other point about his choice is that because she was a complete unknown, people like me, are very interested in finding out all about her. If he had picked Romney or Lieberman, I'd have said, "oh" and that would have been it. Now Pawlenty would have given me reason to do a few google searches, but I doubt they would have been as intriguing as Palin's! I'm sure any other candidate and I would not have wasted all this time researching and posting here! :)
So maybe she will energize the Right for McCain, but she has also energized the Left to fight against her.

opinionsforfree,
You mean like inserting Van into the baby's name because she thought it was funny to make it sound like Van Halen (the rock band)? (Van Palin)

evansvillemom, maybe you missed this post. I have no problems with her having a career, even a busy one, but:
"I was not judging Palin for having a career, but rather for putting her career and self-interests above the well-being of her kids. (Flying with amniotic fluid leaking, thrusting her pregnant teen-aged daughter into the spotlight, and dragging a special needs infant onto a grueling campaign schedule.)"

I am not going to vote for them just due to the fact she named her kids the names she did.

I only hope that a strong majority of people that are voting know WHY they are voting the way the are. So much misinformation is being spewed out from every outlet (these blogs included) that a person needs to spend a month straight trying to verify facts just to figure out where the candidates stand on the issues and just how, exactly, budgets will be met, taxes will be lowered, and troops will be withdrawn, etc.
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It scares me to death when I read some of these blog posts about what people are believing.
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Seriously people, if you ARE going to vote, do your best to get the facts, understand the candidates and the issues, and determine what exactly you care about most. Don't believe the blogs, the media, or the attack ads. It's simply too hard to filter the accurate from the inaccurate from the half-truths. Go to the candidates web sites, see where they stand on the issues that matter the most to you and make an intelligent decision based on that.

Lakennedy:
Sure I do. You are an avid supporter of abortion rights. The fact that McCain is not and Obama is will be the deciding factor for you even if everything else were equal. Isn't that true?

For those unknowing:
Levi Johnston is the fine guy that stands in line to be the First Son-In-Law.

http://gawker.com/5044198/teen-dad-levi-...

Truly, myspace will be the downfall of our nation.

I don't think anyone who was voting for Hillary (based on any other issue than a uterus) would vote for Palin.
That said, choosing a running mate based on vaginal ownership was McCain's downfall. He claims he chose her because of her governorship of the least populated state and her time on the PTA. (honestly....McCain quoted this as "elected experience")
THe thought of her being pres is quite terrifying... can you imagine Levi Johnston playing ice hockey on the Washington Memorial reflecting pool? Although, having a rapidly populating White House family might be fun again... look how much fun the Kennedys were.

McCain chose her to get the pro-life vote. I think he also thought that choosing a woman would get some pro-choice female votes. WRONGO. There are too many women who remember the path of a woman pre Roe-Vs Wade, or even Griswold vs. Connecticut.

And janesvillemom, leave off the whole " who will watch her children?" unless you're offering babysitting. It's 2008, not 1950.Some moms work, and some moms have to have others care for their children WHILE they work. I have yet to hear anyone worry about the status of a child whose DAD works 60 hour weeks.

billienewbie:
I don't support McCain, but my very first reaction to Governor Palin was WoW! I thought she was an amazing woman who would help McCain give Obama/Biden a run for their money. But then I started researching her and lost all respect. Abuse of power is my main concern as there are two instances of it in only 20 months as governor (the trooper ex-bil, and the state-run dairy).

billnewbie: You have NO IDEA who I support and who I don't. I opened up my blog with a question trying to engage people in political dialog...not more of the same old blasting that we've had posted all through this thread.

Please, show me a post where it says that I don't approve or support McCain? Show me a post that says that I do.

Lakennedy, Janesvillemom and Proartist, you weren’t going to approve of anyone who McCain may have chosen anyway, were you? After all, you don’t approve of McCain.
That aside, with the caustic political atmosphere that we have now, it’s difficult to find anyone who will take the V.P. candidacy, considering all that happens to a candidate. Within hours of the announcement of Palin, some democrats speculated that either she is a poor mother who neglects her child or a poor Governor who neglects her job, throwing out the feminist axiom that a woman is capable of balancing family and career. Then there was speculation that her baby was actually her grandchild and that the Palin’s were guilty of subterfuge. And now that speculation has been dropped without apology as this new revelation about her daughter has appeared and all those who said that McCain’s campaign should leave family matters out of the campaign gleefully have disparaged Gov. Palin for her daughter’s condition. We drive away the best and the brightest with this kind of discourse.
Some speculate that Palin’s daughter is proof that abstinence programs don’t work. Yet schools that embrace safe sex programs are loaded with pregnant and STD infected children. Neither program can expect perfect results due to the influence of the popular culture. It would be great if we could focus our efforts on what causes this blight of teen aged promiscuity instead of trying to treat its symptoms.

Just wondering: what about Sarah Palin might make someone who was "in the middle" sway their vote to the McCain/Palin ticket?

Mrs. Palin was also quoted as saying, 'I don't know what the VP does.'

I heard that on the radio this morning and if true, YIKES!

McCain met with her once, apparently his judgement of character, qualifications, ability to be a credible VP candidate, etc... needs more than one meeting.

I think most women who supported Hillary did so not just because she was a woman, but because she was an experienced woman who cares about the issues that they care about. Many of them are insulted by the obvious pandering of the Sarah Palin pick and the blatant glass-ceiling reference in her speech.

Palin is McCain's "Harriet Miers". Only Harriet Miers was smart enough to withdraw. I think Palin is too power-hungry to do that.

whynot5462: Do you know other Clinton supporters who feel this way? I wonder how many women who might have voted Democratic will now vote Republican because a woman is on the ticket? What do you think?

I supported Hillary 100% not because she was a woman, but because of her ideas and experiences. There is no way no how will I vote Republican this year, my vote can't not be bought with a woman who don't have the experience or even the knowledge of what the vice president does. I really thought the GOP would put Condy Rice on the ticket, she is smart,experience, and she could of divide the African-American and Woman Vote. Ms. Rice must of seen something with McCain that she didn't like. If McCain can't not circle himself with the best and the brightest. Why should I vote for him. It will be Obama

lakennedy,
I think that Palin was a decision made with short-term vision (impulsively). It has been very effective at detracting from the Democratic convention and stirring up the Evangelical base, but in the long-term, I think it will hurt him.

McCain admits that he is an impulsive decision maker who makes mistakes, but sticks with them.
McCain in his book: “I make them as quickly as I can, quicker than the other fellow, if I can,” Mr. McCain wrote, with his top adviser Mark Salter, in his 2002 book, Worth the Fighting For. “Often my haste is a mistake, but I live with the consequences without complaint.”

Proartist: good points, but I think we all need to remember that we have a lot of time before the polls open. Mrs. Palin's nomination was announced on Friday. Within four days we have found out:
1. Her daughter is unwed/a minor/pregnant.
2. Mrs. Palin has hired a private lawyer to aid her in the legislative ethics investigation regarding her firing of the state's public safety commissioner.
3. She was a card carrying member of the Alaskan Independent Party for two years (which has sought a vote on whether Alaska should secede).
4. Mr. Palin was arrested on drunk driving charges (22 years ago, but still a huge issue to a lot of people MADD, etc.)

I think we'll find more skeletons in Mrs. Palins closet. We'll see how they effect the ticket.

From a political strategist viewpoint, the nomination of Palin is brilliant. She has the pedigree to bring into-line the blind support of people who are members/supporters of the NRA, the Right to Life, the energy quick-fix folks, the "love it or leave it" crowd, and other analogous groups who are guaranteed to turn out at the polls in November. As comes with inclusion and diversity, the Dems tend to have more disparate groups working together "in the fold", more unpredictable youth turn-out at the polls, and fewer incumbents. Yet, in the end, the choice of Palin does nothing to "heal" the nation. Her selection clarifies the divisions in the nation but does nothing to bring us all to a united purpose and hopeful future.

I also don't think his campaign researched her effectively. I understand the appeal of having announcing a candidate that is a woman. I also understand the appeal of announcing a candidate that no one would even considered was an option. But at what cost?
+
Lieberman, Ridge, Tim Pawlenty, and Mitt Romney just seem to be more logical choices. I doubt anyone would have been surprised by any of these four. Pawlenty, Romney, and Ridge share the experience of being Governors.

Oops, spelled lakennedy wrong too. Sorry about that.

lakekennedy, with my political views totally aside, I agree with parts of your comment. I think it was an interesting decision on McCains part to pick such an unknown. If he was going to pick a woman, he should have looked for one with a lot more political experience, possibly K. Bailey Hutchinson. (spelled that wrong I think)!

However, even though she has only been Govenor for two years, she does have more executive experience than any of the the other three people in this race. Obama, Biden, and McCain have all only been lawmakers in the Senate. I would have liked to have seen McCain pick someone with experience in both the law-making process and in the executive side of things. That would have made that candidate more rounded and more ready to take the helm if need be.

If you leave your personal views out of this and look at it as a political move, what are the advantages/disadvantages of adding Mrs. Palin to the ticket?
+
From what I've studied, and putting all of my personal political feelings aside, I have to say that this was a phenomenally stupid move.
+
For starters, her lack of experience takes away the ability to play the strongest trump card McCain had: Obama's lack of experience.
+
I may be wrong, but I could think of about five candidates better suited off of the top of my head.
+
What do you guys think, regardless of your personal feelings and from a political standpoint (for those of you who are interested in commenting...)

Mrs. Palin should have her abstinence only sex education policy questioned. Leave the daughter alone.

This choice is looking more and more POOR.
From the pending investigation to the 17 year old being pregnant, to the unqualified qualifications of Mrs. Palin...John McCain screwed up!

Women are not so stupid as to blindly vote for McCain just because of Mrs. Palin - McCain assumed differently and we all know what happens to those who assume.

This is all typical of the media. No matter what side you support, the media will try to dig up anything about you or your family that can be held against you. Sometimes rightfully so, ie. John Edwards lately. Obama said that family and children are off limits for him. Therefore, the liberal media should drop it now. Watching hurricane coverage on CNN yesterday, they broke in to that coverage with this story, like it was life or death. Get over yourselves. She is not the first teen to get pregnant.

Just to be clear...I'm not attacking Bristol Palin. I was a kid once. Kids make mistakes. I don't think she should've been pushed into the spotlight by her mother. I think that's the last thing she needs right now. But I suppose there wasn't much choice there. I'm just pointing out the hypocrisy here.

Sorry NVgrf. LOL. Guess I missed your post that basically said the same thing as my last. Eh, what the hell. It's worth saying twice huh?

I wonder how Obama would've been treated had it been his unwed teenage daughter that got knocked up. I haven't heard one Republican speak out against Governor Palin for this. But I'm guessin' if Malia was 17, unwed, and pregnant, the Republicans would condemn the Obama family and their lack of morals.

Senator Obama has said that attacks on family members, particularly daughters, are off limits. Apparently, his minions haven't gotten the message, or was he winking at his minions when he said it? We’ll see how forceful he is when the attacks continue.
NVgrf writes “Can you imagine if it were Obama's or Biden's daughter who was pregnant and unmarried? These sanctimonious right wing pedagogs would be on it like rabid attack dogs.” But since it’s Gov. Palin’s daughter. He has no problem with these sanctimonious left wing pedagogs being on it like rabid attack dogs.
NVgrf, are you still researching my archive? I noticed that when I challenged your sexism, all you have to write is that I am one, too. A non-denial denial? How very Nixonian of you. Next time you might try this Pee Wee Hermanesque retort “I know you are but what am I?”. I’ll understand what you mean.

For active demonstration of real morality and personal ethics on these and a myriad of other personal and social issues that impact our daily lives, "Just say KNOW!"

This sounds like abstinence ONLY to me:
"Sen. McCain believes the correct policy for educating young children on this subject is to promote abstinence as the only safe and responsible alternative. To do otherwise is to send a mixed signal to children that, on the one hand they should not be sexually active, but on the other here is the way to go about it."

In a survey for the 2006 Governor's race:
Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?

Palin: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.

And now it comes out that she was a member of the Alaska Independence Party (its founder remarked "I'm and Alaskan, not an American") and gave a web speech supporting the AIP just this year. They want secession for Alaska from the United States and have discussed 'infiltrating' both parties to get their goals. More proof she had absolutely no vetting. Oh well I guess if Alaska does try to seceed we could alway let them I mean Alaska is a Welfare Queen among states as far as taking federal money and not sending as much back to the federal government.

One question: Are you better off now than you were 8 years ago? When there's a political party who would like to know every intimate detail of your reproductive life for regulation (and even to halt medical research, i.e. stem cell research) but then objects to the press revealing a candidate's (upon whom the entire nation's future may rest) "private" family history, it's very clear just who should NOT be elected.

Spunkmeyer,
First of all, it's teaching abstinence and not "abstinence only." The abstinence programs do teach kids about the consequences of their actions. So it recommends abstinence until marriage as the best choice.

It's fun watching all you people contort to make your case about what a great time the last eight years have been. -9/11 attack - G. Bush is president, his job as leader is to defend and protect the U.S. He knew they were coming and did nothing about it, yet you want to say it's Clinton's fault. "Republican spin" Don't buy it and you would not have that position if a democrat had been president. You say that nothing is Bush's fault, that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If a Democrat is in charge that they're the cause, that makes you blind to the reality of our present situation and a hypocrite. I'll use your logic, The problems that occured during Carter's term were caused by the Nixon/Ford mess. That sounds just as hollow as blaming Clinton for 9/11 because the planning was done during his term not when the attack was executed. How convenient for you. As for the credit problems, this was caused because the republicans wanted less regulation of the markets and passed lax laws that they (Wall St) liked (thank Phil Gramm). They also tightened up the bankrupcy laws to the liking of the banking/credit card industry. None of this was done for the people, but for the well connected corporate America. The energy problem, you have two oil men in the whitehouse, there policies, both foriegn and domestic have caused this and I will not elaborate anymore about that. So in closing you think that we should have four more years of the same policies that haven't worked because the republicans were just in the wrong place at the wrong time not that they were bad policies. Interesting. You aren't convincing me. Try again and tell me why after the last eight years we should reward this party with four more. Saying it's not they're fault isn't cutting it. John McCain - Senile Old Man

She is a solid conservative and that's what Macain needed.

http://cnparm.home.texas.net/911/Intro.h...

rockcofarmer; George Bush did not allow an attack. This was planned long before he took office. Read the 911 commission report. If that s to hard watch the road to 9-11, even though that was edited to protect slick willie

JohnDoe, are you asking me what my postition on capitol punishment is? As it wasn't discussed here nor in any other forum. Youy don['t have to worry because you didn't miss it. For the record, I am for it. And yes, there is a difference between murder and killing, so don't even go there.

Don't forget Obama's mother had him unwed at 18 years of age. He admitted that to his merit and said leave her alone.

Actually if you look at history, U.S Grant was probably the most failed President. His administration was extremely corrupt and engaged in genocide. Jimmy Carter and his 18 percent interest rates and failed deregulation policies did not help either. He DID put us in recession. "W" had kept us from being attacked again, kept the battlefield off our soil and has kept our economy intact. He did not create the mortgage mess or high oil. All that was created by greed on Wall Street.

I guess the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree...Track was born 8 months after Sarah and Todd eloped. So if she can't wait until marriage and her daughter can't wait until marriage, how hypocritical is it for her to push an abstinence only policy on everyone else?

I wonder what the age of consent is in Alaska? Isn't she only 17? Just wondering...

If it was Obama's Daughter or Biden's daughter they would want her to have an abortion. Even in the third trimester. You don't wanna go there NGVF.

Can you imagine if it were Obama's or Biden's daughter who was pregnant and unmarried? These sanctimonious right wing pedagogs would be on it like rabid attack dogs.

Now that we find out Sarah Palin's 17 year old daughter is five months pregnant;
I am waiting now for right wing to bring the family values
platform to the forefront. Maybe the abstinence agenda. But god fordid we teach sex education in the school or talk about birth control.

What are the accomplishments of the last eight years. You say that you are satisfied with allowing another four years of the Bush agenda. I'm just asking what it is that they should be proud of? What have they done? Squandered away a budget surplus to now record deficits. Allowed us to be attacked and then didn't get the mastermind. Started a war on trumped up evidence to get at oil. Ran the economy into the ground, International diplomacy is a joke. Need I continue, I'm sure you have an excuse for all of these. John McCain : The Wrong Choice for the Wrong Reasons at the Wrong Time. Vote for change - No Bush III. Attack me if you must but I'm not running for office. I'm just pointing out what an abject failure that they are.

Whatdidyousay:
Just so you don't call me a liar again, I'll pull the actual quotes rather than summarizing from memory.
"I think you had better stick with farming because politics is not your forte."
"You sound like the typical liberal democrat."
"I can see that logic is not one of your strong points."
"You really don't have a clue do you."
"I must say, you must think you are a legend in your own mind."

Enough said? These are comments directed at the person with an intent to insult.

Whatdidyou say, just to clarify, telling rocountyfarmer to "look into education" and that he should "stay in the fields" and telling me that I must be a "ledgend in my own mind" are personal attacks, they attack the person, not the issues we are discussing.

Off topic but where has Obama said something about appeasement. With whom??? Right wing scare tactic. Educate yourself before you vote or you'll get four more years, same as the last eight.

I'm not insulted by this. I don't let spin bother me. It's too bad that these distorted viewpoints exist but that is what it is. Jimmy Carter??? Did he start a war on false pretenses? NO. Bush has been a failure his entire life, if not for daddies money he would just be another born again dry drunk. Unfortunately we have veered way off topic. Now back to Gov Palin, I feel that she will be the gift that keeps on giving. Feel free to keep promoting her family values. You know career over family.

And, whatdidyousay, QUIT with the personal attacks! You have insulted rockcofarmer and me and it does not help your cause.

I was not judging Palin for having a career, but rather for putting her career and self-interests above the well-being of her kids. (Flying with amniotic fluid leaking, thrusting her pregnant teen-aged daughter into the spotlight, and dragging a special needs infant onto a grueling campaign schedule.)

I didn't decide that Bush is violating the constitution, the American Bar Association did! I admit, I am no expert on the Constitution.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info...

Um, skin cells can grow into human babies too. So if I scratch my skin, I'm committing murder?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

It isn't the number of executive orders, some of them are very mundane, it's the magnitude and scope of them. Bush's executive orders give him unchecked power and violate the constitution. That's the point.

Zoom, do you really think her commercial fisherman/oil company employee/sled racing champion husband has time for the kids?

DrTalk -
Kids are not perfect. Some are going to choose to have sex, even if you've taught them abstinence only. How did that work out for Sarah Palin's daughter? Hmm. Interesting. Maybe Ms. Palin should've taught her to protect herself...ya know...just in case. Pregnancy isn't the worst thing that could've happened here. Now a 17-year-old girl is forced to grow up too soon and pushed into a marriage that probably won't last, all because her mom wanted to believe in this fantasy of "abstinence only." What if instead of getting pregnant, she contracted AIDS? Do you really think kids should have to die because they made a mistake?

Whatdidyousay -
I'm just curious. Do you attend church? And if so, what denomination?

janesvillemom,
Let's say the human embryo in its early stages does actually look similar to embryo of other species in early stages. Has there ever been any evidence the human embryo would become anything other than human? No. Humans give birth to humuns, canines give birth to canines, etc...
So using the term baby IS CORRECT. It is a baby human.

janesvillemom said "

Just to get the terminology right, no one aborts babies. They are embryos for the first 2 months after conception and are fetuses from 2 months until birth. During the embryonic stage, the human embryo is almost identical to the embryo of any other species of animal. Using the term baby is incorrect."
.
First, then why use the term fetus which means baby?
.
Second, the human embryo is not similar to other species.I have to reiterate the point I made earlier: Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny was proven wrong over 150 years ago. Ernst Haeckel admitted to faking his drawings of embryos of different species.

janesvillemom,
"her abstinence only position which has increased the rate of teen pregnancy in this country."
.
So tell me, how many teen girls got pregnant by not having sex?

Whatdidyousay quoted:"Maybe Bush should have just bypassed congress like clinton did and governed by executive orders.".....
Haven't you been paying attention???
How could anyone forget BUSH'S executive order of July 17, 2007 which granted him full authority over all American citizens WITHOUT oversight from the legislature or judiciary:
"...I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, find that, due to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States posed by acts of violence threatening the peace and stability of Iraq and undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq and to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, it is in the interests of the United States to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, and expanded in Executive Order 13315 of August 28, 2003, and relied upon for additional steps taken in Executive Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, and Executive Order 13364 of November 29, 2004"....( complete text at http://whitehouser.com/politics/impeach-...) Bush's executive orders have included faith-based funding melding government with religion; approving torture, wiretapping and other actions violating the Constitution; and much more:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/orders/
Who can forget the standard Bush Administration strategy of always finalizing questionable appointees during legislative holidays? Bush did more harm to this nation and democracy everywhere than the bulk of all ELECTED Presidents together who came before.

By the way, Bush has been an utter failure. WORST PRESIDENT EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's done quite well you say. You republicans have set such low standards for your leaders.

By your account the last eight years have been a success. I seem to see it differently. You have accomplished the ability to parrot the talking points of the right but the facts remain that we are a country headed in the wrong direction. Again voting for four more years of the same policy is not going to get a different result. Especially with a dumb old man like McCain as president. Best of luck in the fantasyland that you reside in. Don't believe the scare tactics....look around, open your eyes.

Well, she does have a husband, and now the Secret Service, to help out.

I am really questioning Palin's family values!
1) She risks her son's life by waiting to give a speech and then travel 11 hours while leaking amniotic fluid.
2) She accepts the VP nomination knowing that her pregnant teenage daughter will be thrown into the national spotlight.
3) She accepts the VP nomination knowing that her 4 month old, special needs baby will have to go on the grueling campaign trail with her.

She seems to put her own self-interests above the needs of her children. I feel very sorry for those children.

Congress couldn't get legislation passed in the last session because the republicans tied everything up with useless ammendments, tedious role call votes on simple measures and needing super majorities to more bills to the floor and let's not forget a president that vetoed bills that the majority of americans wanted passed. Why do you think that congress didn't get priority legislation passed? Will you be parroting republican talking points? probably

Setting the record straight: Not since the 95th Congress of 1977-79, when Democrats had 61 seats, has either party had a veto-proof majority. Thus, it's the White House which can sometimes literally cast the deciding vote and let's not forget the power to veto anything. Oddly, in his first 7 years in power, Bush is the only president in history to never veto any spending bill presented by Congress. His veto pen finally began to see some action when Democrats began to stand up to his abuses of power. But, as with the issue of impeachment, Dems are smart enough to understand such action would ever succeed for exactly the same reasons stated above.

So your choice is four more years of failed policies. So much for educating yourself. Be a true citizen and vote for the candidate that best represents your views. Not the lesser of two evils as you say. Make a stand don't be a mindless lemming like the party in power wants you to be. Vote for change not more of the same.

I did not attack Bristol, just her mother's abstinence only position which has increased the rate of teen pregnancy in this country.

All you have are scare tactics. As for proof, we live it everyday, all you have to do is open your eyes. What about the last eight years that the repubicans have been in charge? You can spin it however you want but the republicans have been a failure for the last eight years. I just hope that we don't get caught up in these wedge issues that keep us from solving the real problems in this country. I for one don't want four more of the last eight. Vote for change.

Oh my! 17 year old Bristol Palin is 5 months pregnant. So much for abstinence only education!

Where did you go? Are you on google trying find the difference between the current administration and the McCain platform? There aren't any. Thats why his nickname is McSame.

janesvillemom said "...are fetuses from 2 months until birth"
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FYI: Fetus is a Latin word that means baby.

"During the embryonic stage, the human embryo is almost identical to the embryo of any other species of animal."
.
Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny was proven wrong over 150 years ago. Ernst Haeckel admitted to faking his drawings of embryos of different species.

I follow it daily. It's called more of the same from the party of hypocrites.

What changes does McCain propose that is different from the current administration?

Just to get the terminology right, no one aborts babies. They are embryos for the first 2 months after conception and are fetuses from 2 months until birth. During the embryonic stage, the human embryo is almost identical to the embryo of any other species of animal. Using the term baby is incorrect.

I don't make jokes about my country. It will always be a serious subject for me. It is your positions on matters that affect this country that I take issue with. Again, if you don't think that we have been going backwards as a country for the last eight years you have not been paying attention and have no credibility with me.

Those numbers (220/17) were just for the Innocence Project. In all, 110 people have been exonerated from Death Row in the US.

janesvillemom,
"According you YOUR definition, abortion is NOT murder because it is not against the law."
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No because abortion is not capital punishment. What did the baby do to deserve the abortion? Nothing.
.
Technically abortion is not legal because it was legislated from the judicial department. Only the legislature can make laws.

janesvillemom,
"If one church gets too much power in government then it will interfere with other churches beliefs."
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The one dimensional wall designed to keep government out of religion simply means that the government can't declare an official religion of the United States. Unlike Iraq which wants to make Islam the official religion in that country.

A person with a life sentence is also not going to be killing any more innocent people. Records are sealed after an execution making it impossible to prove a wrongful execution. How many CONVICTIONS have been overturned with DNA evidence? 220! 17 of them were on DEATH ROW.
http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/...

What did reagan die of? I lived through those years, yes I have proof. I suppose you have proof that he didn't have the disease? Watch McCain, if you don't think he looks and acts like an old man your in denile. His choice for vp is a great example of how bad he would be for this country!

So you guys want four more years of the same policies as the last eight. What will be different if we elect another republican administration? NOTHING!!! We will get the same bad policies from the same ineffective uncaring people. John McCain is an old man that is either becoming senile or early stage alzheimers. He will be just as pathetic as Reagan was in his last term. The people around him ran the government not him. After 18+ months of campaigning, primaries and countless debates for both sides the two major parties have each chosen a candidate that they feel has a good grasp of the problems that confront our country and can best lead us into the future. Obama picked as a running mate a person that is competent, well versed in the problems that face this country , both at home and abround, and will be an asset in a democratic administration. John McCain picked a nobody, the reason for the choice was to satisfy his right wing base and nothing more. She brings nothing to the debate that will help us in solving these problems. For once I want someone who is smart, competent and stable. McCain is old, out of touch with the problems that confront real americans, he's erratic and lets not forget a hypocrite. Palin is just another pretty face and that's all. She is definitely not ready to be a 72 year old heart beat away from being president. If you think that she is you are not putting your country first!

I don't think Palin is unqualified because of her religious beliefs. I think she is unqualified for numerous other reasons...see below if you can find them! :)
But, if (as implied by some) she intends to use her religious beliefs to change policies and laws, then she doesn't belong in government. She is free to believe anything she wants, but laws should be made for the benefit of all of society, not just one type of religion.

The separation of church and state was intended by the authors and ratifiers of the constitution to protect the free exercise of religion, any religion (even atheism), from the power and authority of government as had been exercised in Europe with state established churches and government sponsored persecutions aimed at Protestants and Jews as well as others. It was never intended to insulate government from religious philosophy as some would have us believe. Religious philosophy permeates both the declaration of independence and the constitution. One of the guiding principles of our founding documents is the free exchange of ideas, including the religious and the secular, favoring neither.
We are all the products of our experiences. Nearly every American has had exposure to, and adopted some, religious philosophy. Has not Senator Obama claimed as much for himself? Why wouldn’t those who claim that Gov. Palin is unqualified due to her religious philosophy also question Senator Obama’s qualifications on the same grounds?

There are three places where religion runs the government, Iran, Saudi Arabia and The Vatican. There used to be Afghanistan, remember the Taliban.

As for capital punishment, it doesn't deter crime and there is always the risk of executing an innocent person which would make us all (as members of the state) murderers. What's the point? Let them sit and think about what they did for the rest of their lives. Death is an easy way out.

Dr. Talk: According you YOUR definition, abortion is NOT murder because it is not against the law.

We could all debate abortion all day and no one is going to change anyone else's mind so let's keep it civil by curtailing that debate. I had typed a long response to the abortion issue in my previous post, but I deleted it because I didn't think it would be a fruitful discussion here.

Dr. Talk, I realize that he was reassuring a pastor that the government wouldn't interfere with the church. But how can you have a one-way wall? If one church gets too much power in government then it will interfere with other churches beliefs. The wall has to go both ways for it to work.
And Thomas Jefferson is the source the idea/phrase "separation of church and state" which is what I was pointing out in response to a previous comment.

Lovetoscrap:You and I can respectfully agree to disagree and both go on believing what we want. That is America. But don't go forcing beliefs onto others through use of the power of government. That is my point.

JohnDoe,

Murder is murder, capitol punishment is capitol punishment.
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Murder: the crime of UNLAWFULLY killing a person especially with malice aforethought
.
Capital punishment: the execution of a person by the state as punishment for a crime.
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Abortion is the murder of an INNOCENT human being. Capitol punishment punishes GUILTY people. But those on the left have no problem killing innocent babies while protecting guilty criminals.

janesvillemom said "no one is pro-abortion"
.
Well no one is anti-abortion either. Abortion in the case where a mother's life is in danger has always been legal. And those cases are rare. The majority of abortions are done for what's euphemistically called "social reasons."

janesvillemom said "I happen to agree with the founding principles of this nation and don't think that religion belongs in our government."
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If you read Jefferson correctly, the "wall of separation of church and state" is a one-dimensional wall designed to keep government out of religion, not religion out of government as you incorrectly stated.

NVgrf:
How things seem to you doesn't mean anything to me. My criticisms of Hillary had nothing to do with her gender, which you would know if you weren’t too lazy to search the archive. Or maybe you did search the archive and couldn’t find anything you could quote. Libel is just another tool of the dishonorable like you. Apparently people like you think that Americans are stupid enough to accept your libel unchallenged, and then when you are challenged, you resort to obscenities and more libel, adopting the old propaganda theories of Dr. Goebbles that the more often people hear a lie the more likely they’ll believe it.

Interesting thing I noticed was two days before the announcement of Palin was that she was around 80/1 on Intrade to be McCain's pick. I don't think anyone in McCain's camp cashed in; as there was no suspicious volume placed the days before. With Biden there was TONS of volume the two days prior to the announcement. No doubt all the insiders in Obama's camp were cashing in the information they had. Most who follow the exchanges knew that it was going to be Biden just by looking at the heavy trading volume on him two days prior.The Palin pick really came as a shocker to everyone. Know one in any circles that I know was proclaiming she would be McCain's choice. Truly was a surprise pick in every sense.
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Just my side note...Please carry on with all the off topic subjects!

"Murder is murder"
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lovetoscrap....I may have missed it, but what is your position on capital punishment?

I'm against all you stand for so that makes me a 4 issue voter-no abortion, no embryonic stem cell research, no gay rights and no big bangs. And Yes, if you aren't against abortion you are for it. You are just trying to justify it in your eyes to help you sleep at night. If you are willing to kill a baby...then you should be willing to die by hanger in a back alley. Harsh? Too bad. Murder is murder.

Lovetoscrap, I wasn't saying that all Republicans or evangelicals were one-issue voters, but too many are.
In response to your "Hollywood elite" argument.
I looked up a bunch of polls of Americans and the majority of Americans think abortion should be legal (over 75% if you include "illegal MOST of the time" as legal), about 50% believe in evolution over creationism, and about 30% believe in recognizing gay partnerships through marriage or civil unions (personally, I'm in the civil union camp). So unless 30% and more of the population are "Hollywood elites", your argument doesn't work. I'm not going to get into the details of the abortion issue except to say that no one likes abortions, no one is pro-abortion, but abortion is a necessary evil in an evil world. Back alleys and coat hangers are not the answer.

McCain was brilliant in his pick of Sara Palin. Have you noticed that Obama has no new ads? LOL Because he probably spent millions on ads set up for Liberman or Romney. Sara Palin has Executive Experience approving a budget, use of a veto pen, and ethics reform. She'll be a great V.P. I bet Liberman gets Sec of State.

janesvillemom said-"The only thing that makes me stop laughing and actually fear Sarah Palin is how much the Evangelicals will love her creationism, anti-abortion, anti-gay, anti-stem cell stances......"
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Very well put...I couldn't have said it any better. And to whoever commented on this just before me, I don't believe she is grouping ALL evangelicals into the "one issue voting" rather than saying that there certainly are Americans who will hear that she is Evangelical/Assemblies of God, pro-life, or anti-gay and automatically vote for her, reguardless of her stance on other issues.
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One thing that I am starting to have a slight issue with is the fact that she has a 4 month old special needs child; how does she plan on being VP (huge 24/7 job) and give her son the full attention and care that he needs? She preaches family values yet she is willing to put her job before this very important family issue? Just doesn't sit well with me.

Janesvillemom...in response to your "evangelical party" nonsense and how we are a bunch of one issue voters I would say to you, maybe if the democratic party weren't catering to the hollywood elite, such a tiny, miniscule portion of America and actually representing the whole of America, many of us would vote differently. So, if protecting life, standing up for what a real marriage means and giving credit where credit is due in regards to creation and the Creator, lends itself to "Evangelical party" talk, then by your own standards, killing babies, both for convenience and in the name of "embryonic stem cell research", actually promoting and applauding the homosexual agenda (hollywood is especially good at this one with all the nonsense on tv and in the movies), and purposefully and willingly removing all positive influence of a Godly nation by claiming theories of big bangs, then your party is hereby known as the elitist "hollywood party". This is also backed by the fact that the "Hollywood party" puts its money where it's mouth is. Yes, all of these "special, one-issue" groups support the democratic party with lots and lots of money, so don't give me the "one issue crap". If you are so against it, then quit taking their money!

Way to bum us out, villajanesville.

Ooops! I wasn't going to respond to whatdidyousay anymore, but unless Thomas Jefferson is considered an "activist judge" and not a founding father, then I win again! :)

It is not specified in the Constitution, but it was the intent of our founders as stated by
Thomas Jefferson:
"Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God; that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship; that the legislative powers of government reach actions only and not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should "make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," thus building a wall of separation between Church and State. "

From Republican strategist Karl Rove's own mouth on how to choose a running mate based on political calculations, not the person's readiness for the job:
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archive...
individual/2008_08/014472.php

billy......You might want to reread janesvillemoms entries. She has pretty much hit the nail on the head. Americans are certainly not stupid enough to buy that right wing Evangelical bs. And it seems to me you bashed Hillary, a female, pretty heavily and regularly.....you sexist dog you!

Here`s my perspective on both Veep picks. McCain picked Palin because she`s tough, not from Washington, a woman ,and finally because she`s hot. Obama was told to select Biden because he`s just a puppet for the Democrat puppet masters; Biden`s task is to pull the strings.

Hey Don Corleone, my answers are for earnest questioners.
So, Palin’s husband works for one of the evil oil companies and must therefore an evil influence on his wife, figuratively speaking as I am sure you don’t really accept the constraints of morality, particularly personal morality. Your sexism is showing since you imply that a wife must be assumed to be unable to resist the control of her husband. Tsk Tsk.

The only thing that makes me stop laughing and actually fear Sarah Palin is how much the Evangelicals will love her creationism, anti-abortion, anti-gay, anti-stem cell stances. Sadly, we seem to have forgotten about the separation of church and state in recent years and the Republican party has somehow adopted the Evangelical party and it's getting hard to tell them apart. Now that James Dobson is on board, there will be a lot of evangelical, single issue voters going to the polls. I happen to agree with the founding principles of this nation and don't think that religion belongs in our government. The beauty of this nation is that everyone has the right to believe what they want, teach their children what they want and practice their religion freely (as long as they don't marry underage girls). If we start electing people because of their religious beliefs, these freedoms will disappear. As Jim Leach, a 30-year Republican congressman from Iowa said at the Democratic convention
"The party that once emphasized individual rights has gravitated in recent years toward regulating values. "
http://www.clipsandcomment.com/2008/08/2...

She fights against libraries and museums, but got a hockey sports complex built? I guess she is a "hockey-mom".
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"Part of that reputation comes from her political rhetoric, beginning with her years as mayor of Wasilla. But while Palin made controversial cuts at the local museum in Wasilla and battled library expansion, she oversaw a fast-growing town with a fast-growing budget to match.

As with much of Palin's sun-kissed career, her timing was ideal: She was able to cut property taxes by three-fourths because sales tax revenues from the city's new big-box stores were soaring. She even pushed for a sales tax increase to build a pet project, a new sports complex for ice hockey."
Source: (the rest of the article is pretty interesting too)
http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/5114...

Answer to villajanesville: "In 2006, the Anchorage Daily News reported that Palin opposes stem cell research." ( http://www.bostonherald.com/news/nationa... ) As well as:"Federal Election Commission data shows the 44-year-old Republican Alaskan governor has never opened her wallet to a GOP national candidate."

Hehe, the lefties are nervous with the choice of Pallin for VP. Very funny. In a weird sort of way, they are sort of cute when they get agitated.

Moveon.org -- now there's an unbiased source of information. ;-)

EXECUTIVE EXPERIENCE: Check out the link and see beautiful Wasilla, Alaska.

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/2008/08/29...

sarah palin--real executive experience, she was mayor of a town the size of milton and is the govenor of a state with the population of dane county. big deal. god forbid if mccain gets elected and something happens to him and she is in charge. the secretary of defense called and putin's going to fire a missle at the us.
Palin: ah, ah, ah, go shoot a moose! join the nra. ah, ah, ah, well hell i don't know what to do.
Game Over

hey coffeeman----the vice president seems to run this country.

>>>Perhaps I missed this in civics. How does the President enforce laws?<<<<<

Well after the oath of office when he swears to uphold the Constitution - he has the US Attorney General, Special Prosecutors,and the FBI, for starters, and if things get really rough the US Armed Forces.

Yeah, guess you missed something.

janesvillean,
Your cat has the same amount of executive experience as Obama and Biden put together.

I won't criticize Palin here. I can, however, reveal that the McCain campaign has been vetting my cat for a cabinet post.

Yeah....Palin....good choice...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loUHRv3ip...
Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKkydrUnB...

janesvillemom,
John McCain was not involved in any pork barrel spending. Obama on the other hand was involved in millions of dollars of pork barrel spending.
http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?page...

janesvillemom,
I don't completely disagree with you. Yes, the Republican congress spending got out of hand, but the second highest level of pork barrel spending occured this past year during the Democratic congress.
http://www.heritage.org/research/feature...

MoveOn.org is more left-wing than Pat Buchanan is right-wing. I trust what moveon says as much as I trust Iran's president on his nuclear ambitions. Palin helped tax oil company profits in Alaska...isn't that EXACTLY what Obama wants to do? She is TAKING ON big oil, not supporting them the way moveon makes it appear.

yeah.... "moveon.org" is a REAL balanced website to get information from, considering they've endorsed Obama and are a fundraising vehicle for the democrats!

Dr. Talk, Democrats like to tax and spend, but the the Republicans just spend. The biggest, most pork-filled budgets came under Bush and the Republican congress in 2003-2004. I'd rather pay taxes to get things paid for than to spend more money on interest on the debt. At least 11% of the federal budget goes to service our debt. Interest payments give us NOTHING...no schools, no roads, nothing for our money. It is making China quite rich though and now they have the money to get the oil deal with Iraq!

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editori...

http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews...

Her husband works for BP.......perfect.

And I want to say that anyone, be it the McCain team or anyone else for that matter, thinks that women or previous H. Clinton supporters will vote McCain/Palin JUST because there is a woman on the ticket is insane. I am a woman and I would love to see a woman in office someday, but I certainly will NOT vote for Palin just because she's a woman...how stupid!

Way too many comments for me to read through right now- just wanted to post a little something about Sarah Palin.
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(copied from moveon.org)
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Yesterday was John McCain's 72nd birthday. If elected, he'd be the oldest president ever inaugurated. And after months of slamming Barack Obama for "inexperience," here's who John McCain has chosen to be one heartbeat away from the presidency: a right-wing religious conservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of a town of 9,000 people.
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Huh?
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Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:
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She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.1
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Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.2
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She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. 3
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Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.4
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She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.5
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She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.6
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How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position.7
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Sources:

1. "Sarah Palin," Wikipedia, Accessed August 29, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin...

2. "McCain Selects Anti-Choice Sarah Palin as Running Mate," NARAL Pro-Choice America, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17515&id=1...

3. "Sarah Palin, Buchananite," The Nation, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17736&id=1...

4. "'Creation science' enters the race," Anchorage Daily News, October 27, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17737&id=1...

5. "Palin buys climate denial PR spin—ignores science," Huffington Post, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17517&id=1...

6. "McCain VP Pick Completes Shift to Bush Energy Policy," Sierra Club, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17518&id=1...

"Choice of Palin Promises Failed Energy Policies of the Past," League of Conservation Voters, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17519&id=1...

"Protecting polar bears gets in way of drilling for oil, says governor," The Times of London, May 23, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17520&id=1...

7 "McCain met Palin once before yesterday," MSNBC, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=21119&id=1...

As everyone continues to debate whether Palin was a (a)saintly decision, (b)so-so choice, or (c) an outrageous pandering insult to any thinking adult, I hope voters will remember that it has been the GOP's lock on Congress these past 8 years that has shackled progress and dramatically impacted all our lives just as much as those in the White House who can't read the Constitution. Criticize the Dems for not doing more? Then STOP voting GOP "yes-men" into Congress who block every positive thing the Dems attempt to return the nation to a more humble, honorable and respected course!

janesvillemom,
You're exactly right. There's no reason for the Democrats to "harp" on her about not returning the taxes. Democrats like to take money and they have no intention of ever returning it to tax payers.

They keep harping on how Palin cancelled the "bridge to nowhere" and said they could pay for it themselves if they wanted a bridge. Did she return that money to the tax payers? No, it was used for OTHER projects in Alaska. Nice.

billy........but you still didn't answer my question. But I am flattered that you keep tabs on my entries here. And I will be watching the entire RNC. Remember, "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."

I guess I win when you resort to name calling. Bye.

My last three posts were directed at Whatdidyousay in response to his outdated article about some oil reserves in the Dakotas. Just to be clear and not confuse anyone with my seemingly off topic comments. :)

So Bakken actually has 1% of the estimates once it was explored. Who is the say that ANWAR and the coastal plains won't be the same? They have not been explored and are based on the same type of ESTIMATES that the Bakken formation estimates were made.

The numbers are NOT opinions! Yes, his answers to the Q&A are his opinions, based on the numbers.

I guess you didn't hear the update:
As it happens, in April the USGS did publish an official estimate of Bakken’s potential. Based on recent exploratory efforts and current recovery technology, the current USGS mean estimate of recoverable oil from the Bakken Formation is 3.65 billion barrels, less than 1% of Mr. Price’s estimate from nearly a decade ago.

If you don't like her, don't vote for her -- it's as simple as that.

Q: I think the U.S. should produce more oil, such as from ANWAR and elsewhere so that we can achieve energy independence and not import oil from the Middle East. How do you think we should go about this?

A: Sorry to say this, but I think the idea of "energy independence" for the United States is a completely fictional concept, at least in terms of petroleum independence. We currently (2007) import around 63% of our requirements — and we do not do that because there is a bazillion barrels of oil hidden somewhere in the US just waiting to be produced. The US is probably the most thoroughly explored large nation on Earth, and all the ANWRs and other possibles out there are tiny drops in the bucket of our gas-guzzling habits. It MIGHT be possible to achieve a modicum of "independence" through rigorous conservation, but that cannot happen in any short time frame (like a few years). To do so, EVERY person in the US would have to reduce their consumption by 60%. Are you willing to refrain from heating your home on 4 out of 7 days per week, all year long? Or not drive at all on 4 out of 7 days per week, forever more? Or cease buying products whose manufacture, packaging, and distribution are gasoline-intensive — such as all imported foods, or vegetables from California in winter that are hauled further than a few hundred miles, or a thousand other things. It's simply not gonna happen.
Source:
http://www.gravmag.com/oil3.html#ak

Whatdidyousay-- if we have discovered so much oil, then why haven't we tapped it?
The US EXPORTS 20,000 barrels of oil each day (mostly to Canada for refining).
The US has 510,000 oil wells (ave. 10.5 barrels/well/day).
Saudi Arabia has 1,500 oil wells (ave. 5000 barrels/well/day). This is why they can recover oil so much cheaper than the US can.
We don't need MORE OIL WELLS! We just don't have the huge oil wells that the Middle East has and no amount of drilling will solve that problem.
Source:
http://www.gravmag.com/oil.html

billienewbie-of course not. We're all bleeding hearts, aren't we. I honestly have great compassion for the residents of the Gulf Coast who have spent three years rebuilding and now have to face the possibility of yet another disaster. But the headlines on the news sites all changed from Palin to Gustav...and that was my only point.

The fact that McCain believes women will vote for him in lock-step because of Palin is an insult to intelligent women everywhere. She DOES have one thing attractive to the GOP. She DOES have an advantage that Obama lacks - the very active and vocal support of people who never think beyond what is demanded by the NRA, the Right to Life, the "love it or leave it" crowd, and other analogous groups when they issue decrees arousing and inciting, and triggering single-issue voters to the polls in November. Only THAT is what makes her nomination incredibly dangerous for the welfare of the nation and future of the Constitution.

Sorry NVgrf, I won't buy that bridge. You have proven you close-mindedness on many occasions, and now you prove yet again your sanctimony. Don’t you think that statements you’ve made such as “Smokin' Joe is loose now. He will be a pitbull on McBush's pants leg”, “Johnny McHomeowner has no chance in an America that is fed up with watching the Rebooblicans destroy the middle class”, “McCain commenting on the economy, huh? Should be a series of very short answers”, “the reality is that the fat lady started singing when McBush and Obama became the candidates” and “Gotta love the Rebooblican babble” prove you’ve made up your mind before any facts hit the pavement?

Are Democrats actually hoping, in public, that thousands die and New Orleans be destroyed again for their political advantage? Now that's compassion!

Looks like Mother Nature is a Democrat. Perfect weather in Denver and now Gustav is going to steal the limelight from the Republicans. ;)

And Russ, would you like to compare Obama and McCain's academic records? Didn't think so.

Russ, we are comparing them because the Republicans used the "experience" argument over and over and then picked a VP with NO experience. Also McCain is 72 and has a history of cancer, his VP has a LOT higher chance of being President than your average VP.

You can drill all you want but it isn't going to make us energy independent. Even if we drilled all the coasts and ANWAR, it would only be a drop in the bucket compared to the daily requirements of this nation. To become energy independent, we need to get OFF OIL. It is cheaper for the oil companies to import oil than it is for them to drill. They care about the bottom line, not about America. They have a lot of oil leases, that they don't use because it is cheaper to buy from overseas. They don't care if they buy from terrorists, it's only about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

I do find it kind of funny that we are comparing your No 1 to our No 2.... just sayin' :)
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Sorry but your not going to convince me to vote for Obama, experience aside. I am not for infanticide, I don't think the USA is the source of all the evil in the world, and I don't believe a big, bloated government solves anything.

last I checked the race was for president, not the supreme court. Palin is the only one who has legit executive experience. All though I admit, it's pretty small, being from such a small obscure state. McCain, Obama, and Biden have NO executive experience AT ALL in government. They are all legislators. At least McCain has some military executive experience when he was a commander in the service, and led people into battle.

And he has a Harvard Law degree, compared to Palin's BA in Communications from Idaho.

Obama also taught Constitutional Law for 12 years (a course the Bush administration needs to take!) and he served for 8 years in the Illinois senate.

"I would hardly call being a Governor for twenty months, in a state with a population of less than 700,000 people, a qualification.
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I wouldn't call 140 days in the Senate or being a community organizer a qualification either...

Here is the video from Palin on her accepting the nomination as VP. Click the u-tube picture 2nd from the top.
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http://news.ionlinephilippines.com/2008/...
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The music is the theme song from the movie "Rudy" . Very appropriate consider the story of palin beating all odds, and just being an everyday working Mother who made it all the way to the big stage.
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Say what you will about this pick, but it's strategic art work. I frequent a few blog sites, and I have never seen so much buzz (both positive and negative) about this choice. It was a stroke of genius by the McCain camp to shake things up like this and divert ALL the attention away from the Obama speech that just took place. The majority of all news the next day was about this VP pick, and the Obama speech just fell to the way side. The tracking polls will be very interesting the coming week!

Since I was pretty negative yesterday, I'll say what I admire about Palin today.
1) Takes her baby to work so she can breastfeed him.
2) Takes money from big oil and gives it to the people.
3)Is a whistleblower who exposed corruption in her own party.
4) Seems to be more about the working people than about the corporations.
5) Washington outsider who has the potential to bring change to Washington.

Why I will vote for McCain? In my view he will do the least amount of damage. I can't vote for a man that won't denounce a self proclaimed terrorists whom he has a personal relationship with or a preacher who openly encourages hate for his fellow man, until it becomes obvious that he has to for political gains. I don't want the government to decide my health care, or how much of my child support payment goes to my kids or does it go to a fund to pay out to other kids who have dead beat dads. Taxes for projects that do nothing. Welfare for illegal aliens. Windfall taxes on businesses ( their not guilty of being greedy their guilty of doing what a business in a capitalist society does MAKING money). I make less than $30,000 a year and I pay less in Federal Tax under the current administration than I did under the Clinton administration.
Until you give me a candidate that doesn't lie, cheat or steal their way. Then I will vote for the one that lies the least.
Palin she has her faults but so do the rest.
By the way half of the things you point out about her can also be said about Obama.
I fear for this country there is a rift I don't think can be repaired. I ask of my fellow country men take a gut check show some personal responsibility. Don't complain about your life get up off your rump and try harder. Vote for who you must but respect your fellow country men or woman.

It's what Washington needs a person who isn't a Washington insider and is a fresh new face. Governors do have foreign policy experience in dealings with other countries relating to trade. Doyle is always over seas trying (heavy on the trying) to get other countries to buy Wisconsin products. Governors also have to govern something the other three candidates for President and VP have never done. She has small business experience so she knows how hard it is in the real world to keep a business a float. Obama is going to ruin small businesses with his increased taxes.

I had been a Hillary supporter and not a fan of Obama or McCain. With the Palin pick, a staunch pro-life woman (abortions only in case of the danger of the mother's life and not (I believe) even in cases of rape or incest), my choice just began to be swayed over to Obama. Also, as someone stated earlier, I'm sure she's a great person - they probably all are on the "personal" level - the typical "hockey mom/PTA mom" is not my role model for my government candidates.

The choice of Palin is purely symbolic, as are most if not all VP picks. In an ideal world the Vice President is of very little importance, meaning McCain - who is still not conservative enough for the conservatives will be making all the choices - will be the one calling all the shots, not the conservative Palin. A possible practical concern is that in a less than ideal world someone whose leadership experience is as a small town mayor and 20 months as governor of one of the country's smallest states becomes President. If a Democrat made a similar pick conservatives would decry it as naive pandering. In this case McCain is pandering to women and the real conservatives he's afraid will cost him the election by not voting. Nothing too 'maverick' about a pandering politician.

To all the Republicans on here, tell me why? Is it the International relationships Bush has created? Is it the flourishing economy? Is it because of all the new jobs he has created? Does everyone person on here receive a tax break because they make at least 250000 a year? Why on earth with the state of this nation would anyone one vote Republican during this election? Palin although beautiful and probably a wonderful mother and person does not deserve to be on the ticket. Once again political rhetoric on behalf of Republicans.

I like the pick it's the way Macain is a maverick. She pretty much covers all the bases.

Anchorage Daily News:
http://www.adn.com/politics/story/510520...

"And yet, she still has more Executive branch experience than Obama. She is more qualified than Obama to be President."

I would hardly call being a Govenor for twenty months, in a state with a population of less than 700,000 people, a qualification.

I meant that during the election she admitted to reporters that she had smoked pot sometime in the past. I did not mean that she was smoking pot while she was running for governor.

I think that "thekid3477" would be happy to know that it is legal to possess 1 ounce of marijuana in Alaska. But that law was already in place before Sarah Palin became governor. She did admit to smoking pot during the election.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packag...

Sarah - the US has committed to withdraw combat troops by 2011 in an agreement with the Iraqi government. This occurred within the last few weeks.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

Spanky: Smart and responsible would have been to either A.) Admit she already knows she is a high-risk pregnancy and not be on any plane that late in her pregnancy (eighth or ninth month) OR B.) Skip the darn speech and get her butt back to Alaska NOW!

Spanky: Please provide Bush's timeline for getting out of Iraq. I must have missed that somewhere along the way.

The left wing blog sites will dig up all the mud they can, but the reality is none of it is going to have any effect. This is a woman Americans get behind. Raising 5 kids is alone more experience then half the philandering clowns in Washington will ever have. She brings an American story that average everyday people can get behind. A mother, an avid out doorsmen, a star basketball player in high school, public life started off in PTA. People love this sort of stuff. And anytime experience about her is brought up, it just falls into the trap; as Obama is the one who lacks any experience. All you lefties are going to vote Obama anyway, and you'd attack ANYONE that McCain choose. From a strategic standpoint this was brilliant; as it plays perfect to the independents who are the ones that will decide this thing.
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It was utterly AMAZING that McCain kept this a secret. Palons own parents and staff did not even know she flew out of Alaska! VP's ALWAYS get leaked well before the announcement. The press is very shroud in finding this stuff out; as everyone wants to be the 1st to break the story. This really came as a shock to everyone; and right off the bat the Obama camp really blundered by attacking her. Attacking a woman with a story like that, and the 1st female in 24 years to be put on a VP ticket is really a bad play. Many Americans were simply proud of the fact that a woman was given an opportunity of this magnitude.
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Someone below mentioned the setting. I always pay very close attention to this sort of stuff, as there is often TONS of calculation put into every little detail (back round, lighting, clothing, make-up, ext) of public appearances. Did anyone else notice the music that was played after the announcement? NO ONE has mentioned this in any media that I have seen. The music was the theme song in a movie that really fits the choice of Palin to a tee! When I heard it, it took me a few minutes to remember what movie it was from, and then it came to me, and I was like..."Ohhh yeah, that's from ????? (the movie)". And then after I heard her whole story, I was like..."Oh was that ever perfect!".
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Anyone else hear the music, or know what theme song I am talking about? No one I have seen in any of the media outlets have even mentioned it.

I will watch the entire RNC, bill. Did you watch the DNC? I would seriously doubt it! You right wing types have your minds made up before any facts hit the pavement.

And yet, she still has more Executive branch experience than Obama. She is more qualified than Obama to be President.

janesvillemom,
Barak Obama wants to do the same thing: give every one money from oil company profits.
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaco...

Okay, one more thing and then I'll quit...promise.
Alaska has had a 5.4% increase in median income (while most other states have dropped) because of HIGH OIL prices! Palin was able to give each Alaskan about $1200 in a rebate last year out of OIL revenues. So her first year in office, she gives everyone a huge check...wonder why those approval ratings are so high? Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

Alaska's population is comparable to the CITIES of:
Memphis, TN
or
Austin, TX
or
Balitmore, MD
or
about 100,000 more than Milwaukee.
Just FYI.

But what if he had been born on the plane with NO doctors to care for his special needs?

Her baby has down syndrome and she probably wanted to deliver with her own doctors with her in case of problems. Smart and responsible.

I'm learning more and more interesting stuff!
Palin was in Texas last April when her water broke (a month early). She gave her speech and then hopped a plane back to Alaska! 11 hours! She says she consulted her doctors and got approval, but wow. I'm not sure if that is brave? irresponsible? crazy?

Unidentified: Those are quotes from an Alaskan newspaper, not my words. Like everyone else I had never heard of her before today. I did read about this state-run dairy issue and thought it showed a big error in judgment on her part. I thought it was particularly brazen that she replaced the entire board so that she could bring in people who agreed with her! Then after losing more money for the state, they had to shut down the dairy anyway.
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Personally, I think she is a very interesting woman and if this campaign doesn't crush her, I think she will be a force to contend with in the future, but ready to be President??? No WAY!
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Her approval ratings dropped from 90% at the beginning of her term to about 79% most recently. Still very impressive though.
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Here is an interesting interview (it says her approval rating is 65% now?)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/con...

That link has to do with a milk brand. Not sure how that affects me here is Wisconsin and how that affects her to be a good vice president. Good try though. Keep grabbing straws.

janesvillemom: So are you suggesting in a strangely sexist manner that her 90% (highest among governors) approval rating is based solely on her good looks and friendliness? I personally don't know much about her other than what I've read today. However, she is known as a reformer and is extremely popular among Alaskan's. On the other hand, that doesn’t necessarily make her a good choice overall. I think she was a smart choice for McCain, but only if she can withstand the newly found media scrutiny. If I were advising McCain I would suggest he preps her for some heavy handed media questions. If I were advising Obama I would tread this water lightly, because sexism either from him or supporters won’t help his cause at all.

Here is what Alaskan's think of her! :)
This is a comment section from an Alaskan newspaper from last fall.
"Palin didn’t like how she was treated by the board. She showed up unannounced along with 15 other people to tour the facility while the C.E.O. was at a meeting, she pouted, flexed her muscle without using logic, appoints an entire new board without giving notice that the positions were open, appoints her friend (along with several others) and campaign contributor to oversee the board (giving her a raise) and in the end the State loses more money while postponing the inevitable. Could all of this been avoided if the Governor was given her unannounced tour?

Palin’s popularity must be based off her good looks and happy go lucky PR antics, because her “business” decisions thus far have been terrible.

Read all her fan mail here:
http://community.adn.com/?q=adn/node/108...

As if NVgrf is going to watch McCain's acceptance speech, let alone keep an open mind. What a snake oil peddler!

Looking at this from an objective political standpoint, Palin is an absolutely brilliant choice for McCain. Despite the obvious political attempt at gaining disgruntled Hillary supporters it was still a smart choice. Palin is a governor, which either vice presidents or governors are a majority of our past presidents. In addition, she’s pro life, a gun supporter, yet she’s stood up to big oil. As a result, she’ll fit the key points republicans look for, but appear flexible enough to be considered a maverick much like McCain, which might help with independents. In addition, she’s young and energetic, which helps to counter McCain’s age problem a bit. Moreover, she’s not riddled with anti McCain comments or baggage. I chuckle at those who feel she is inexperienced, because she’s done more actual governing in Alaska in two years then Obama has during his time in the senate. Obama has spent most of his short time in the Senate campaigning to be president. Obama had a solid opportunity to hit a home run during his convention speech, but instead chose to talk more about McCain and Bush rather than how he was going to govern. In addition, I thought the setting for his speech was extraordinarily over done. All politicians use smoke and mirrors, or in Obama’s case Greek columned backdrops, but there has to be more. It was still a good speech, but for all the hype the DNC had leading up to the speech it wasn’t spectacular. It also really appeared as if he was placing himself on a pedestal and his thoughts were absolute. There wasn’t much reaching out in that speech. At some point if Obama wants to win this election, which is essentially his to lose, he’ll have to open himself up for more in-depth town hall style questioning and what his change is actually going to amount to. Obama is brilliant when he’s reading or remembering a speech, but hasn’t fared well with open questions or depth. In addition, I’ve found that his speeches are getting redundant. I used to really get drawn into his speeches, but I’m finding them less appealing. The problem for Obama is that his campaign staff is telling him to stay on message. However, what worked for Bush in 2000, and 2004, probably won’t for Obama in 08. As a result, he needs to mix it up a bit and add some depth. I still think this is Obama’s campaign to lose, but the race is too close for him to assume anything or take anything for granted. It should prove to be an interesting spectacle as the election draws closer.

A woman who hunts moose, is pro-life her husband is a union member a member of the NRA. She was a great choice. I was concerned that Macain might screw this up as well. But, he made a wise choice her a maverick choice. Biden is going to get beat up by this chick!!!

And I was all jacked up for the Obama - Mccain debates? Biden - Palin should be even more entertaining. I'll bet Joe Biden is shaking in his boots as I type. Are you kidding me? Can't wait. The transparency of the choice is incredible. All five disgruntled Hillary women won't turn the tide for Johnny McSame. And the righties on this site can't possibly really be happy with the choice. What a hoot! They sure try to put a good face on it though. Ernest T. Bass could have been the choice, and they would have said, "But he's got a good throwing arm!" (I know that will mean absolutely nothing to anyone younger than bill, but he'll know what I mean.) By the way, I asked five of my loyal Republican fellow employees what they thought of the DNC, and each one said he/she had not watched it. Now there's a bunch of open minded Americans for you.....always trying to seek new information for a more intelligent voting choice.

This is an excellent tactical choice. Much more shroud then the awful blunder Obama made by taking Biden, which brought nothing to help him. McCain could have totally blown this by taking Leiberman, Ridge, or Rommney. All those would have been huge tactical mistakes..This choice is BRILLIANT because it really plays well to disgruntled woman who were Hillary supporters. The move also makes many in the conservative base of the party happy. MOST Hillary supporters will still go to Obama, of course, but you have to realize that it takes a very small %age to peel away to change an election result. Especially a close one, which this one is currently showing in all the tracking polls. Keep in mind that for every 1% that switch, its actually a 2 point turn in the polls (ie: if the polls were 50-50, and 1% of Hillary supporters changed to McCain, it would make it 51-49, a 2 point gap)
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The only real downside to the pick is the demographics. Alaska offers no electoral votes (all 3 that go Rep no matter what). Paulwenty of MN would have at least put a battle ground state into play. Putting a strong woman with a great story and family behind her really is a brilliant tactical move though, especially with many woman upset that Hillary never got ANY serious consideration for VP despite getting 18 million people to support her.
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McCain still remains a great value to wager on all the major exchanges. He's still sitting at a juicy price of around +175. My only concern was he'd screw up his VP pick. Now that he's made a sound choice there, this has to be considered one of the best trades you can make, IMHO. At worse you can hedge out profit McCain pulls ahead in the polls, and people panic sell on Obama.

Obama should know better than to post his plans on a website. According to him people can't afford computers and the internet. According to Barrack Hussein Obama you can only have one home. He has put a cap on the American dream and what to strive for. According to Barrack Hussein Obama and smoking Joe Biden the war in Iraq could not be won. Now Barrack Hussein Obama wants to pull out of Iraq responsibly. A change of heart for Mr. Obama. It was just a few short months ago he was looking to pull out immediately but, now that we are winning the war and President George W. Bush and his administration have figured out a time line with the Iraqi government it seems he now thinks it's ok to be in Iraq. He flips and he flops and he can't stop. That's what a 100 days in the senate will get you.

Wow, proartist, when does your paycheck from the DNC arrive?

And then there's "I have to question her effectiveness as governor when I have read the following:
Palin is under investigation for for abuse of power"

Reagan fired every air traffic controller in the country. Clinton fired the White House travel office. Bush fired some federal judges. Obama bought his house via a convicted felon. Biden is a plagiarist who somehow became a multi-multi-multi millionaire on a Senator's salary.

No one is clean.

Diddo ryno66nmu

I sure am glad that at least Palin has a big flag pin, cuz the campaign jet doesn't have the red, white & blue combination anywhere that I've seen.
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Did you guys get that same email bashing the Obama campaign jet? Apparently, on the jet Obama currently has, the previous artwork on the plane included the American flag. When Obama redid the artwork, the flag was replaced with his campaign logo & there was a big to-do about it.

ryno66nmu Bingo

cozat. I see your point, and I really didn't mean to call you out specifically other than the fact that it was your post that I was responding to. But really I think you could make that criticism - doesn't say how- about any plan. You can always ask how to infinity, and Obama has not made any attempts to the hide the fact that he'll raise taxes for some. Unless there is some major change in the way we organize our country the next president will almost certainly have to raise taxes (especially in the new Republican lexicon where not cutting taxes = raising taxes). Just like the senior Bush did after 8 years of Reagan's tax and military spend policies (even Reagan had to raise taxes multiple times). If you vote for either of the major party candidates then there are going to be taxes because it's the current system that gives them their power. Obama has also talked about cutting government programs and reducing the size of the government bureaucracy. I believe he has given us an idea of what he'll do, I believe he's just as forthright and detailed as any presidential candidate can be expected to be.

Everybody's getting bent out of shape because the Republicans picked someone prettier than Barry. ;-)

I like this woman. This is gonna be good. Try to imaging Biden trying to bully her around.

No previous Hillary-for-President supporter could ever seriously consider voting for the McCain/Palin ticket. People are concerned about nepotism in Janesville government but not what went on in Alaska's Governor's office??? Palin's positions are far too extreme, and against the best interests of women - and men - everywhere. Like the GOP, she may spout government out of people lives in areas where the government could truly help but INTO their bedrooms where it will never belong. On the other hand, women who would squander their so-hard-fought-for rights and vote mindlessly by gender only will always continue to be their own worst enemy. Does McCain really think women are THAT stupid!?!?

Hi billnewbie. The comment was meant as a criticism of people who make baseless claims, and in this case cozat was criticizing the left with something I hear primarily from people who things like, 'I won't vote for Obama because he has no plans.' It's not true. Both candidates have a lot of plans, and thanks to the internet it's easy to hear and read what they have to say without the media getting in the way to confuse you. By the way, I haven't decided who I'll vote for, but I have decided I'm very bothered by lazy voters on both ends of the spectrum.

The only thing I know is I am sick and tired of the candidates telling me how wrong the other one is for the job. Instead try telling me why and how they are right for the job. Also it wouldn't hurt to tell me what they are planning to do to fix this country, instead of what the other one isn't going to do.

fmrjvlres just read what you suggested and it proves my point it doesn't offer a solution example absolutely no mention of how he pays for it. Tax the rich I guess I mean come on they only pay 92% of all income tax revenue the federal and state governments collect any way. Source IRS incomes of $200,000 or more. By the way not republican an independent.

Back to the subject though Palin still has more executive experience than any of them and defiantly more foreign policy experience than Obama.

I think that their (Obama's) policy issues/solutions are fairly complex and so are difficult to explain in a speech to an American public with the attention span of a fly. If you want to know the specifics, his web site is prominently displayed on every campaign sign.

fmrjvlres thank you glad someone finally helped and I stand corrected. What I was getting at though ( i should have been more specific so I apologize for that) and happy points this out is that during speeches the Obama camp don't get into the specifics of their solutions and that was my point. So thanks again fmrjvlres.

“I won't try to encourage you one way or the other”, Fmrjvlres writes. Then what could possibly be the purpose of this sentence, “The unthinking right makes me sick” I wonder?

At least she wears a really BIG flag pin! Now there's an issue of importance! ;)

Cozat5 - The unthinking right makes me sick. Have you made any effort to find out what Obama's policies and plans are, or do you just want the media to tell you? They won't because they know talking about plans won't sell add time. So, you want a specific plan from "the Obama camp," here you go, from http://www.barackobama.com/issues/econom...
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Provide a Tax Cut for Working Families: Obama will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 150 million workers the tax relief they need. Obama will create a new "Making Work Pay" tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family. The "Making Work Pay" tax credit will completely eliminate income taxes for 10 million Americans.
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There is just as much specificity here as there is on McCain's page,http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/
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Read what their campaigns have said and make a choice. I won't try to encourage you one way or the other, but this claim that Democrats offer no solutions is simply false. It's an easy way out, don't take it.

One other thing they may, or may not have taught in civics is that Presidents don't just enforce the law, they also administer (manage) the government which is something that Senators (U.S. and Illinois state Senators included) do not have experience doing, but Governors do. So, of the 4 running on the 2 tickets, 2 Senators on the Democrat side and 1 Senator and a Governor on the republican side, only one has real experience doing what a President does.

cozat5 - "Democrats they point out the problems...tell you they will fix it...but wait they forget to mention how."
You're right. I am a lefty, and when listening to him talk last night, I kept asking HOW?

In 1984 Palin won the Miss Wasilla contest. This means that she has the "I would like to have global peace, and end hunger" speech just about down pat!

DOUBLE STANDARDS god the left makes me sick.

The Republican candidates outline their plans for the problems they point out meanwhile Democrats they point out the problems, tell you about the wrongs, tell you they will fix it. Oh but wait they forget to mention how. If I'm wrong then please point out a specific example from the Obama camp. He doesn't give solutions he only points out the problems.

By the way if you look at tax rates for incomes of $22,000 or less during the republican leadership you will find they are lower than the rates during Democratic leadership.

Vote for who you want its a free country . Please feel free to bash know I respect your right to do so.

TCB, I can concede on the Georgia/Russian conflict, but I did not say we WERE BK, but getting BK with the largest deficit in history. I know we each have our opinions and that is what is great about America, we can express our opinion. Differences of opinion is the reason we have two candidates running for President. (Bryan, if you are reading this at work, get back to work, hee hee)

Shes been to Iraq more than Obama has. HA HA

She has foreign policy experience dealing with Russia in the fishing waters of Alaska. Pretty good choice would have liked to see Condi Rice there but, I guess she has her eye on being the commissioner of baseball.

Sorry Obama, you might as well go back to Chicago and continue your community organizing... this is going to be fun :)

So it is possible to get a few good years out of McCain before Alzheimers, or another medical condition sets in. That's good to know!

Aside from her lacking experiance, I could never willingly vote for her with her pro-life stance, I hate the idea that some people want to take away the ablity to have control over a person's own body. I think someone can be anti-abortion and pro-choice at the same time.

TCB:
We live in a much more globally active world than when Clinton was elected. We are currently involved in 2 wars and there is a lot of political unrest in many other hotspots of the world.
I have to question her effectiveness as governor when I have read the following:
Palin is under investigation for for abuse of power for allegedly firing someone because they would not fire her sister's ex-husband. She passed the largest spending bill in Alaska history. Alaska budgeting is easy because they have a surplus because of OIL and very few people. Two years ago she was a mayor of 6,500 people? I think the people of Alaska will be sharing more about her "readiness to lead" as time goes on.
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The surge has reduced violence and helped make some progress on the benchmarks, BUT Iraq is still a tinderbox which could reignite at any time. They haven't decided the fate of Kirkuk which could be the catalyst to set off a real civil war in Iraq.
Iraq is a very wealthy country and we are in a phenomenal amount of debt...the Bush admin told us that after our "brief" war, Iraq would pay for their own reconstruction...remember? I don't know enough about Georgia/Russia to comment.
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A VP may be of no consequence in many administrations, but we are talking about a 72 year old candidate with a history of cancer. THIS VP pick does matter.

The oldest president sworn into office was Ronald Regan at 69y 11m 14d on January 20, 1981. He was 73 when he was sworn into office for his second term.

Notice the double standards of the left anyone? McCain's not perfect and he sure isn't my first choice but he doesn't represent the socialist agenda. Before you say it think. Go McCain good choice a real down to earth person that started at the bottom and worked their way to the top.

coffeeman:

OUr country is not BK. I will concede your point on Iraq-time to payback.

Will you concede my point on the Russian Georgian conflict? (which the US had NOTHING to do with)....

I also agree with you on polls, in general.

So John McCain turns 72 today. Happy birthday you old stick in the mud.
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Does anyone know how old the oldest acting president was?

Polls are just that, Polls. Depends on time of day, etc. CNN posted a poll from last night that said Obama moved ahead by 6 percentage points and before the announcement of VP for McCain, Obama was actually ahead by 10 points in others. Why should we pay for all the damage in Iraq? They agreed to help and yet are pocketing over 79% of profits from their oil sales and Bush is bankrupting our country at the tune of $10 billion per month. NOT the type of foreign policy I want. The announcement is a temporarily shakeup. Shake up a gallon of whole milk and when things settle down, the cream always comes to the top..

BillyClydePuckett- yep, you must have been asleep, legislative(congress) makes laws through the house or reps and senate, executive(president) enforces such laws through governmnet agencies, and judical(supreme court) rules wether or not laws abide by the Constitution.

Thank you Advanced Placement Government and Politics last symester

"Only choice McCain could make since he was losing big time"

I can't seem to find the polls that support this even with the post convention "bounce" that every candidate gets. What is your definition of "big time" and what polls are you sighting?

Janesville Mom:

Think of all that foreign policy experience Bill Clinton had-I think he was elected twice, despite no foreign policy experience-How did that happen?

Palin is considered by many to be the most effective governor in the United States. Unlike Senators, Governors must work with reps from the other side of the aisle.

As for foreign policy experience, Obama and Biden both said the surge would not work. What happened to their cogent Iraqi analysis. Its worked.

Obama wants the US to pay for the damage the Russians caused in Georgia Why? But he does not want to pay for damage that the US caused in Iraq? This is type of foreign policy experience you want?

Obama has said that Iran is a tiny country and poses no threat to Israel or the US. Iran has consistently supported terrorist organizations since Jimmy Carters abject failure in the region. This is the type of experience 100 days in the US senate gives you.

Besides, the VP selection is over rated. Look at the Gore and Quayle-neither were good selections. Biden nor Palin will make any significant difference in the electoral vote.

"Obama has more experiance as a law maker, and I belive that to enforce laws, you must first have experince knowing what goes into them."

Perhaps I missed this in civics. How does the President enforce laws?

I think he is just pandering to the Hillary supporters who feel dissed. Yes, she has more experince in an executive role, but she has been in politics for only two years. Obama has more experiance as a law maker, and I belive that to enforce laws, you must first have experince knowing what goes into them.

Only choice McCain could make since he was losing big time. Unfortunately, a VP does not run the country. He only chose her to steal those Clinton votes away from Obama. Less than two years of experience and NO foreign policy experience. How can one say she has more experience than Obama???? Once people really get to know her lack of experience, Obama will reign again. Just goes to show you that one will do anything to win even though you are out of touch with 95% of America.

"Looks like McSame is Pandering to Hillary supporters. I guess Condi was unavailable"

Palin is Pro Life, Pro Drilling, a lifetime member of the NRA but because she is a woman you lump her in to a category of "all women", compare her to Hillary and call in pandering? Ah yes, the open mindedness of the left.

I guess experience doesn't matter now?

I think she is an amazing woman, but with less than 2 years in state politics and NO foreign policy experience, she could be President??? Now that's scary!

Looks like McSame is Pandering to Hillary supporters. I guess Condi was unavailable

Brilliant choice!...And, she has more executive experience than Obama

Wonder how Hillary feels now??

YES YES YES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!