Comin up wrote on Aug 31, 2008 4:23 AM:After a series of thrilling speeches in Denver, can anyone honestly say they are going to attend to the Republican Convention? Why? To see Bush speak, slated to occur while Monday Night Football starts it season? To hear what the scriptwriters came up with for Sarah Palin to say so that she appears "strong enough"? To watch the stage fill with enough paid African-American "extras" and few Latinos to prove how diverse is the GOP's appeal? To hear speech after speech about how trickle-down economic principles are so wonderful? Or about how, after 8 years of trying to make the federal government a completely incompetent outfit, the federal government is a completely incompetent outfit? Or perhaps to be reminded over and over how frightened I should be of terrorists and homosexuals? Um, no thanks. The Democratic Convention is phony too, but at least they try to appeal to things that are admirable or inspiring or that are not all-out lies. Me: I'm ready for some football!

To M Liles wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:02 AM:To deny a fetus any rights boggles my mind. We agree that a major issue is the availability of birth control. No contest. That aside, WHO gets to decide what is who? Maybe you are smarter than I am, but once something begins, who has the authority to decide when WHO becomes WHAT?

question for juious wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:13 AM:Speaking of karma, as you misunderstand the meaning of the word, what's your opinion of Reagan's Alzheimer's, Thatcher's dementia, McCain's bouts of cancer, Cheney's heart attacks, and the disappearance of Colin Powell? Just curious.

Gustav and Katrina wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:17 AM:Poor Republicans. Just as they are about to begin their fiesta, hurricane Gustav might be gearing up to slam into New Orleans. Makes you wonder how the GOP will handle this living reminder of Katrina. The last thing Republicans want America to be thinking about as they meet is Katrina, I'd guess. Will they attend to Gustav to show they've learned? They can't risk ignoring yet another Big Easy disaster, can they? If there's no damage to life, will the GOP speakers praise the Mayor for his early evacuation? No, he's a Democrat. Stay tuned, folks, this should be good.

In perspective wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:19 AM:I usually don’t make a habit of defending Republicans but this thing about McCain and how many houses he own is ridiculous. As far as I can determine, these “extra” houses are investment rental properties, not primary or secondary residences.
It would be like asking me how many bank CD’s I own at any one time. I’d have to look it up and get back to you. Which was McCain’s answer as well.

Some things to look forward to wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:24 AM:In a few weeks, we'll all be treated to the campaign debates. Obama vs McCain. Biden vs Palin. I assume that each will include important, critical questions about how the US should handle Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, etc. If the questions are tough, we can all agree, it'll be the Democrats in each debate that shine, the Republicans that will appear, accurately, to be clueless or confused. Of course, this being America, Obama/Biden's knowledge of the world will be seen as reasons not to vote for them. Too smart-alecky. We want people like us, people who don't know too much but who have the instincts of character, who have simple spunk and faith. Every time McCain blunders and Palin admits she just doesn't know, the GOP will get a bump. Clinton at least, for all his brains, knew enough to try to sound dumb, and he won twice. Ahhh, makes you proud, don't it?

Instant Karma wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:29 AM:You want to talk about karma? Just look what’s happened to the people of the United States since the election (and I use that term loosely) of GWB in 2000.
9/11, Iraq, Katrina, gas prices, economic meltdown. Now that’s Devine payback of Biblical proportion, Junious.

Fewest strokes wins in any language wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:39 AM:What the LPGA really needs to do is require the foreign players to teach the Americans how to play golf.

Tyranny of the minority wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:59 AM:Kind of ironic really that Jeff Schwilk considers a measure that got 62% of the vote as being soundly defeated. Now he knows what it’s like to be in a minority class and still get your way at the displeasure of the majority. And he heralds it as some sort of victory for the people, most of which don’t see it that way. Too funny!

How soon they forget wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:21 AM:Dilettante, eh? I suppose our current ex cheerleader, ex prep school frat boy, ex alcoholic, ex failed businessman, who kept the skies of Texas safe from the Vietnamese Air Force (when he could actually find the time) is a model statesman of whom we can all be proud.
I’ll bet you voted for that one, twice, didn’t you, Fred?

Live within your means wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:46 AM:The Bush Administration didn’t destroy the middle class, Mr. Eichstaedt.
When we hear folks saying, “I bought a house I can’t afford, and I owe $15,000 on my credit cards and I need help!” Whose fault is that?
When the banks lent money and extended credit to people who couldn’t pay it back, whose fault is that?
It appears to be my fault. If the Democrats are in charge my taxes will bail out the overextended people. If the Republicans are in charge my taxes will bail out the overextended businesses.
Americans are free to make bad decisions. If one does not have to pay for mistakes, one does not learn from them.

Chuck wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:06 AM:>>>Let's leave Iraq, but bill them first>>> That will never fly with liberals. Just as they wont drill, preferring to sends $800 billion of our dollars to the oil criminals, they'd never allow Iraq to repay us in oil. They do best in the polls when America is bankrupt so they can offer you the max amount of freebees

DOBSONS HURRICANE wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:13 AM:Does everyone remember when the [in]famous preacher-man James Dobson exhorted his sheep (and I do mean "sheep") to pray for rain against the outdoor speech by Barack Obama?
Obama was fine, thank you very much, praise the Lord!
But speaking of weather, looks like God's Republicans are going to have their convention in [Larry Craig's favorite community] of the Twin Cities [can't tell twins GWB and McSame apart] competing against a reminder of the single biggest debacle of the Bush/McCain administration [OK, second to Iraq, oh, and the economy, and the corruption thing, and the housing crisis, and the price of gas, and the lack of health care] - a hurricane in New Orleans!
God is a liberal! And he does have a (wry) sense of humor!
Thank you Jesus! Praise the Lord!

The bottom line wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:14 AM:The Constitution of the United States is not a no-fault insurance policy.

What dya know wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:20 AM:I just saw that President Bush will likely "have to miss" his speaking engagement at the Republican convention. He is expecting to "have to attend to" Gustav, don't ya know. The entire Republican party breathes a sigh of relief. Now they can just refer to him distantly as the guy who is on the ball caring for those hurricane victims. LOL Unfortunately, the Monday Night Football production team is furious: Bush's speech had meant big numbers for them. With Bush absent, a few people might actually watch the convention.

Chuck wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:23 AM:>>> the people still soundly defeated this massive tax increase for the third straight time in three years>>> Yes, you brave people defeated it, and you'll continue to listen to your friends who have advanced cancer say: "Yes, I'm going to Loma Linda to get treated" and then when you get cancer you'll have to say "I have to go to Loma Linda to get treated" and you'll pay the massive rate at Loma Linda and your family will pay the $225/night hotel bill for visiting you. How amny hotel stays will it take to cover the increase in property taxes?

Chuck wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:30 AM:>>>John McCain was asked about owning seven houses.>>> Big deal, many people own their home and a few rentals. In fact, you ought to be glad real estate investors are scarfing up properties left behind by liberals who ran to the hills when became upside down on their properties. I have to laugh at the pathetic bureaucrats who are now calling for lawsuits against mortgage lenders, when it was the buyers, obsessed with greed, lied on their applications, closed the loan with money an investor lent them, and then ran to the hills when values dropped--- As is becoming all too common now in America, it's always someone else's fault isnt it. And just to prove my point, how many people who are way upside down on their mortgage will take the government bail-out program to stay in their homes. The answer is NONE.

Paul wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:41 AM:ah junius, how 'bout the kharma that's come to the gop:
jack abramoff, larry graig, ted haggard, tom delay, bob ney. duke cunningham, bob livingstone, mark foley, congressman janklow, ted stevens, don young, sarah palin (investigation ongoing), the bush justice dept,
your selective memory makes attacking your letters fun! ted kennedy (40 yrs ago) and oj (not identified with the party-what are you talking about?)
i could go on with the republican list, by the way, these are just the big swindlers/hypocrite/closet gays of the gop

Paul wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:47 AM:hey arlan brown
bill the iraqis? how 'bout we bill the contractors who took 70% of the money without doing any of the work?
thanks for admitting we invaded for oil
now do your homework on offshore drilling-you've been fooled by the gop
blaming the dems for iraq and high gas prices demonstrates a lack of information and understanding about the world. after all, bush claimed he could 'talk' the middle east countries into producing more oil...
where's the accountability, republicans? as obama said, when will you 'own' your own actions?

Paul wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:49 AM:to george bolton
The taxpayers are being bled white by the corrupt U.N. and globalism.

huh? the un can't tax us citizens and 'globalism' is the name corporations have given as the excuse for their war on the middle class-it's multinational corporations that are the enemy-all the rest are bogeyman meant to distract us

Paul wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:55 AM:Don't turn the country over to a dilettante

fred shuster of vista gets the 'most inane letter award'
okay, so he doesn't like obama, fair enough-his reasons appear to be that he is a freshman? and worked in the hood and...
those two chile peppers act as if they were cool pops?
"Disingenuous" jumps to mind only because I have heard both Obama and Clinton when they were naturally hot and a bit bothersome before the primary election'

what does this even mean? i've yet to read a letter explaining why mccain would make a better prez than obama-instead we get vague smears from people who can't even write down the republican talking points correctly

Paul wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:57 AM:Dear Margaret McCown Liles-bravo!
you got it exactly right!

The way to reduce abortions is to increase the availability of birth control. Outlawing abortions is not the way. The more stringent the rules against abortion, the higher the abortion rate throughout the world. Of course, male chauvinist pro-lifers like McCain (who dumped his first wife for a younger, much-richer model �“�“ and made fun of Janet Reno and Chelsea Clinton because of their looks) aren't so much interested in saving fetuses as they are in punishing women.

Paul wrote on Aug 31, 2008 8:01 AM:continue our march toward a return to government of the people, by the people and for the people!

hey jeff schwilk, i'm not one of your people! and remember that when you take a position like the minutemen do, it's likely to taint your opinion on other subjects-i'm now in favor of the hospital bond, thanks to you! way to persude!

Alf wrote on Aug 31, 2008 8:09 AM:From yesterday -
Well, "Bill" at 9:09PM on the 30th,
it is my considered opinion that McGWB will be as fine a leader as GWB.
Now we must remember that while GWB was leader our National Debt TRIPLED.
And we must remember that while GWB was leader -
our economy has gone down the toilet,
he has involved us in the quagmire of Iraq,
gasoline has tripled in price,
FEMA showed how efficient and responsive they are,
GWB has alienated most, if not all, of our allies,
GWB fought for amnesty of illegal aliens and lost,
GWB has dragged his feet on securing our borders,
(what good is all this Homeland Security BULL if our borders are as porous as a sieve),
he has violated the U.S. Constitution, the Constitutional Rights of American Citizens, the Geneva Conventions and International Law.
AND those ARE his good points.
Gimme more.....when pigs fly!
Regards, Alf.

Chuck wrote on Aug 31, 2008 8:15 AM:Can you just imagine the hate spew toward Bush that will come from Nagin if the hurricane misses New Orleans to the west. No doubt he'll want to shake down Bush to pay for the evacuation of New Orleans and he'll call a press conference to inform the world that Bush cant read a hurricane map.

And the normal people will just reminisce Katrina, when Washingtom told Nagin 36 hours in advance that a disaster was headed his way, and he told Bush to shove it because he's in charge of New Orleans. Nagin managed to sink 1600 busses that could have been used for evacuation had he acted as Washington told him

Alf wrote on Aug 31, 2008 8:25 AM:The letter from Arlan Brown reminds me that,
not that long ago the warmongers and some not-so-warmongers were justifying our continued occupation of Iraq because "we broke it and we must fix it".
What happened to that BS excuse??
The REAL intelligence showed that Saddam had NO WMDs, no delivery systems and not only had NO connection to 9/11 but that Saddam was openly hostile to the perpetrators of 9/11, Al Qaeda and the Taliban.
Mrs. Alf had a wonderful suggestion with which I agree, let GWB, his cronies, the neoCONs, Blackwater, certain oil companies (also his cronies) and all who have made a
PROFIT
from this invasion and occupation of Iraq
PAY FOR IT.
Sometimes Mrs. Alf is truly inspired.
If I wreck YOUR house and then say
"Hey, you have some money, YOU fix the damage that I did",
what would YOU say to me?
I don't believe that YOUR response would be printable here, would it?
Regards, Alf.

Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 9:23 AM:Yesterday, I noticed a comment by a poster, I did not know much about it, so before commenting, did some research. Now...
"Ms M" {Aug 30} @2:42 PM, I'm ready to respond to your post regarding these alleged anarchist protesters, Food not Bombs, who were raided on Friday night and Saturday.
The internet is a wonderful thing, a very useful tool to do some research on sbjects, people, and events.
Anyways...
"Ms M" said: "What's up with the cons raiding homes of protestor's. What happened to free speech?"
Now I think when most people think of protestors they often think of people marching, holding signs, maybe chanting, sometimes shouting, but always done legally, staying within boundaries, on sidewalks, and basically getting their voices heard, while not causing trouble.
This does NOT describe the "The RNC Welcoming Committee", which is a self-described "anarchist/anti-authoritarian organizing body preparing for the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota." That comes from their own website, and they are: self-described anarchists. Under "What we want (the goals)" they post this: "We need folks with an alternative vision to come to the Twin Cities and turn their dreams into reality. Start something new, be creative..." and they post that they encourage free-lancing, apart from other known & posted NORNC activities.
Of the arrested, we have one who is the child of an anarchist, and a member of both United for Peace & Justice, and American Friends Service Committee. How the RNC welcoming committee and these other two groups figuire in together, I'll never know.

Greenergy wrote on Aug 31, 2008 9:34 AM:Joseph Eichstaedt's letter hits a home run, but I did catch one spelling error.
In the case of the current administration, the correct term is not "oligarchy" but "OILigarchy."

SOLON wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:00 AM:Missspellled

Letter writer Joseph Eichstaedt point in absolutely correct … but he missspellled one word, central to failure of the Bush-McCain policy. The word is correctly spelled as OILigarchy</B.

For the record wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:02 AM:Football starts on Thursday when McCain speaks, not Monday when Bush speaks.

he is kidding right wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:04 AM:Please tell me Arlan Brown is joking with his little tasteless letter about the Iraqi people paying us for invading and destroying their country. The American taxpayer is already paying all the American arms dealers and weapons makers who make money off of war. Our children and grandchildren will also be paying for this for decades. As for taking their oil, our for-profit oil companies will get their oil, not the American or Iraqi people.

SOLON wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:06 AM:Wrong word

Letter writer George Bolton’s last sentence is very worthy of concerning: “ It is always American money and troops in the van rescuing areas in which we have no intrinsic interest. The taxpayers are being bled white by the corrupt U.N. and globalism.”

One minor correction, however. The correct term is Hegemony, not globalism.

Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:12 AM:You know...
sometimes the absolute lunacy is just too funny a thing, to not notice. LOL

Take a look at Joseph Eichstaedt's letter today.

He claims the Bush oligarchy is destroying the middle-class. What oligarchy? We have a divided government since 2006. And not to get side-tracked here, but... I keep hearing this mindless mantra of "the last 8 years." Not 8, 6 years.. dem's have controlled congress since 2006. so when they say 8, ask em if they are part of the oligarchy.

And then he really get's nutty.
"..economy..based on spending?..
Who really profits.. the wealthy merchants?

I could go on, but .. really?? What's the point? For a Lib, it's never about evidence, it's about how they feel about the evidence.
Example, he says: "The Bush administration has all but destroyed the middle class."
Not true, the middle-class has actually slightly expanded under Bush, and the numbers show most of the movement has been upward, from middle-class to upper middle.

And again, he claims: "Tax relief for the wealthy..."
What he really wanted to say is, only "the Rich", but that's not accurate, and they know that's not accurate. Bush cut taxes all the way down, including the previous lowest bracket on the lowest incomes, Clinton had it at 15%, Bush lowered it to 10%.
You want to talk about who loves poor people more, Bush does.

He then says: "We need fair trade, not free trade."
I hear this a lot from liberals. They are absolutely fixated on the past. When only Daddy worked, Mommy stayed home, Unions flourished, and taxes were skyhigh. You knw, the good ole days.
In virtually every liberal statement, they are attempting to recreate a time that will never exist again.
This is not progressive, folks. This is Status Quo thinking. And they have the nerve to talk about conservatives living in the past.
This is why I say, they need to be held accountable for their failing legacy programs, Social Security, MediCare.
We will never go back to those days, because the world has changed. Liberals fail to see this.

And then he complains about a 6% home loan? Or a 3% return on his money?
Or an inflation rate?
Joe, in all sincerity. You've gone off the deep end, friend. Home loans are at historical lows, yet he thinks he's being oppressed? Hey Joe, you want to go back to the Carter misery index?
And regarding rates of return... I need to have a sit down with him, and show him some of my investments. 3% my eye.

Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:20 AM:You know another thing I am just struck by? This insistance that John McCain know how many houses he owns.
It is an attempt to make a comparison about McCain and his knowledge of everyday, regular, hourly, one home owning, grocery buying, driving to work, and cutting their own lawn, Americans.

I don't know about you, but I don't want a President who cuts his own lawn. I need him to focus on bigger things, like nuclear bombs in Iran, which may wipe out my lawn. You see what I'm saying?

I can't have my President out shopping for groceries, choosing between skim milk or 2%, I need him focused on the things that matter. Like Russian aggression on a fellow democratic country.

Apparently, Mary Sias thinks John or barack needs to help her write a shopping list?

Learn wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:21 AM:Learn the truth about Mccain's pick for VP. She is so pro-fetus/anti-child. She returned to work only 3 days after having her baby...and especially a special needs child. Wow! She voted to cancel the bridge to nowhere after it was defeated in Congress...Wow! She doesn't believe climate change is man-made. Wow! There is so much dirt on her, she could fill in a glacier or two up in Alaska. Thanks McCain for pushing me stronger to vote for Obama/Biden and bring back America. By the way, are you better off now than you were 8 years ago or 4 years ago? NO. Thanks to the Bush/McCain politics. More job layoffs coming, housing slump and rising fuel bills. Wake up Americans, and vote for a change because we don't need another 4 more years of this hell.

Going Going Gone wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:23 AM:Now the NY Times reports that, indeed, Bush and Cheney will miss the Republican Convention. How many times in history has the sitting President and the sitting VP missed the convention of their party? So with their absence, no one will notice that McCain, who voted Bush's wishes more than 90% of the time, has anything to do with Bush policies, right? You never lose betting against Americans' intelligence.

Food wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:23 AM:Funny how an article made it in this paper about a church having to put together a food bank, yet Bush says the economy is great and other republicans say to quit whining. Oh wait those are the republicans that own so many houses they can't remember how many and are rich (5 million plus in the bank). The republicans are so far removed from reality.

Alf wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:30 AM:Thank you for asking, "To M Liles" at 5:02AM.
The decision rests solely with the PERSON whose body the fetus occupies, given the constraints of the CURRENT LAW.
Our history as a nation and as a people has been one of continued PROGRESS.
To re-ban abortion is absolute REGRESS.
I still wonder how many of the sanctimonious, pontificating "pro-lifers" would ABUSE their teenage daughter by FORCING her to carry a fetus to term?
Make no mistake about it, FORCING a teenager to carry a fetus to term against her will is, in fact, CHILD ABUSE!
Regards, Alf.

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:38 AM:O’ Lordy! John McCain’s got so many houses, nobody knows what door do knock at. But Mary Sias’s letter brought back an old childhood memory. We had this kid back in the eight grade who wore leg braces, result of polio. That was the most spoiled brat kid I ever knew. His mama spoiled that kid so bad he did whatever he wanted. He slammed his books down, kicked the chairs around him, interrupted the teacher incessantly to go to the bathroom or just to walk around, and was disrespectful of the teacher. Now Ms. Price was a good teacher. We all respected her and obeyed her.

Finally Ms. Price had enough of that little maverick Mike. One day, after a particularly disruptive outburst, Ms Price walked over with her ruler and gave Mike a whack upside the head and gave him a preaching to. We knew Ms. Price was right on this. There was dead silence except for the little maverick’s fake wailing. You would have thought she had hit him with a billy club.

But that was the little maverick’s modus operandi - If he was corrected or reproached he always made himself the victim, and made his critics look like unsympathetic attackers.

Well, Mike’s parents made a big stink. The principal called us kids in and asked one question: Did Ms. Price hit Mike? We all said yes... but ... but ...

There were no buts about it. Ms. Price was fired. That was over sixty years ago, but I will never forget that little maverick. And Mama don’t have much respect for maverick McCain, who always falls back on his POW stint as cover for his wrongdoing and his maverick mistakes. If McCain can’t grow up, we need a mature man running this country. We got tens of thousands of veterans who suffered and were tortured during war. And they certainly deserve more respect than the GOP showed toward triple amputee Senator Max Cleland. At least McCain has all four of his limbs and doesn’t yet have to use a wheelchair.

The malady effects of polio are a terrible lifetime burden. So are the effects of being a tortured POW. But the way Mama sees it, life if full of adversity. I have seen lots of it. That is just the way the mop flops, honey. Get over it. You, too, John McCain.

Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:40 AM:I think Fred Schuster is onto something here, let's explore this further, shall we?
Foreign Relations experience:
P: Governor of state that borders two foreign countries (Canada and Russia)

O: Chaired Senate subcommittee on Europe but never called it into session.

Military Affairs experience:
P: Commander in Chief of Alaska National Guard.

O: None

And personally...
I think it says volumes about this question of experience, when the Democrats are comparing their #1, to our #2 on the tickets.

Alf wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:43 AM:It really is too bad that there isn't a "[-]" on the letters themselves.
That way I could filter out anything by Schwilk.
His diatribes, hate and antics have caused him much ill repute.
Regards, Alf.

Yokozuna to Alf wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:46 AM:Do you only agree with Mrs. Alf to start earning your next six month token? :)

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:56 AM:McCain’s moment of MIS-conception is a better title for the excellent letter today by Margaret McGowen Liles. Thank you, Margaret. Love you well grounded, common sense writing.

To accord holy status to a mass of unviable fetal matter is like primitives who offered up goat entrails on their altars to their gods. So many religious people believe God honors our stinking offerings.

Life ain’t sacred until it is viable. And when the fetus becomes viable, it is sacred, and we should not be bombing pregnant women in Iraq and Afghanistan. Jesus said "whatever you do unto the least of these, my bretheren, you do it unto me."

Whatever you feelings for fetuses, absolute respect must be accorded to babies when they come into this world. And that included providing them with nourishing food, shelter, clothing, and HEALTH CARE. But most of, we must provide them with love. There is a gay couple in my church, and they provide ALL of these things to their little baby girl. That is sure a lot better than the government does. This Bush-McCain bunch don't respect babies and children.

Reader R wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:03 AM:AP news By LARA JAKES JORDAN, 8-31-08

QUOTE: It's unusual for the spouse of a presidential candidate to go on a Sunday talk show, but Cindy McCain used her 10 minutes to defend her husband from charges of elitism.

She also signaled she'd want to focus on humanitarian crises as first lady, talking about her meetings in Georgia last week with refugees of the recent Russian invasion.

Georgia "is a wonderful, young democracy," [Mrs.] McCain said. "We can't let it go. We can't let a country come back in and take it back down to a Soviet-style government. This is democracy, and that's what we're all about."

She added: "The United States is the best at what we do. We're the ones that give the most and give the earliest, every time something happens. And I'd like to continue that, and also encourage others to get involved. You don't have to cross an ocean to be of help." ENDQUOTE

Sounds like Mrs. McCain is suggesting we fight for Georgia, allow those from Georgia to enter USA, etc.

We need to take care of our own US American challenges, concerns, and business (finances, education, health, maintaining the Constitution, etc.) first, before we help a foreign country.

Am certain we have some level of 'humanitarian crises' in the USA. We need to be involved in improving the USA.

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:10 AM:Karma is coming, for sure. And his name is Guatav. I only know about three people named Gustav -- Gustav Flaubert, Gustav Eiffel, the engineer architect of the Eiffel, and a Confederate general from my hometown in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. That was Gen. Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard. Ain’t got no respect for him.

But I bet the whole world got respect for Hurricane Gustave. He is the bad karma for the Bush failure to respond three years ago. MAMA believes and see the bad karma of Katrina coming back.

Sunday Morning News Shows wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:12 AM:One thing appears certain – the advantage Biden has on foreign affairs, he loses to Palin on energy. In an interview Palin remarked that Biden had been wrong in voting against the Trans-Alaskan pipeline 30 years ago – the pipeline that has brought 15 BILLION gallons of fuel to the lower 48 – and he is wrong on that subject today.

No one is a perfect match – I think Palin’s pro-life and creationism positions are stupid, but may (like Reagan’s) be more philosophical than political – but at least the inexperience on the Republican ticket is at the bottom end of the ticket, not the top!

Style points to Palin – when she took over as Governor, she ended the use of the Governor’s plane, and fired the Governor’s chefs.

There are many positive points – and negative points – to be made for and against all four candidates. All but Kool-Aid drinkers on both sides will have lots to consider before election day.

My vote is still against Obama, because as Brian Williams quoted an observer of the Obama speech said, in essence: The guy is a spell-binder, but he is going to give us everything!

“A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have,” – Gerald Ford

SOLON wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:16 AM:Missspellled

Letter writer Joseph Eichstaedt point in absolutely correct … but he missspellled one word, central to failure of the Bush-McCain policy. The word is correctly spelled as OILigarchy</B.
10:02am

Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:18 AM:Simply amazing....

You know.. between the comments of "Gustav and Katrina" @5:17 AM,
"Instant Karma" @5:29 AM,
and "DOBSONS HURRICANE" @7:13 AM...

I think we are getting a glimpse into the soul of the liberal wing of the democrat party. You know the one's I'm talking about, right?
They are the one's who say "they care", "I feel your pain", "We're looking out for the little guy", and all that other malarkey.
Do you know, How I know it's malarkey?
Cause, these are the same people who said: "Good news in Iraq, would be bad news for Democrats."
Always.. ALWAYS politics first.
Look at Barack Obama's hardest choice in life: Coming out against the Iraq War, a political choice.
About being "in touch" with these little people, he said about high gas prices: I just wished they wouldn't have risen so quickly. So high gas prices on blue collar working class people aren't the problem, the gas price just rose up too quickly?

I'm telling ya folks, these people are so depraved, they are secretly joyous about this event, this hurricane.. for political reasons. Some have voiced as much today, their glee over how Republicans are being squeezed between a potential disaster and their convention. For me, personally. I think a scaled down convention would be the right thing to do, and focus on those who need to be helped to evade this thing.
But it is just astonishing, the callousness shown by these so-called loving, open-minded, tolerant, and collectively motivated people. I hope that each and everyone of you are finding out right now what you, as an individual can do to help. Are you?
Or are you just more of the same?
I see that Ray "Schoolbus" Nagin has learned, and thank God Louisiana now has a take charge Republican Govenor who does not wait on Washington to act.
I'm guessing he learned that from Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, who also didn't wait on help. Come to think of it, did California wait for Washington, when the fires were raging?
I don't think we did?

SOLON wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:18 AM:Wrong word

Letter writer George Bolton’s last sentence is very worthy of concerning: “ It is always American money and troops in the van rescuing areas in which we have no intrinsic interest. The taxpayers are being bled white by the corrupt U.N. and globalism.”

One minor correction, however. The correct term is Hegemony, not globalism.
Submitted 10:07am / Resubmitted 11:18am

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:25 AM:O’ Lordy! John McCain’s got so many houses, nobody knows what door do knock at. But Mary Sias’s letter brought back an old childhood memory. We had this kid back in the eight grade who wore leg braces, result of polio. That was the most spoiled brat kid I ever knew. His mama spoiled that kid so bad he did whatever he wanted. He slammed his books down, kicked the chairs around him, interrupted the teacher incessantly to go to the bathroom or just to walk around, and was disrespectful of the teacher. Now Ms. Price was a good teacher. We all respected her and obeyed her.

Finally Ms. Price had enough of that little maverick Mike. One day, after a particularly disruptive outburst, Ms Price walked over with her ruler and gave Mike a whack upside the head and gave him a preaching to. We knew Ms. Price was right on this. There was dead silence except for the little maverick’s fake wailing. You would have thought she had hit him with a billy club.

But that was the little maverick’s modus operandi - If he was corrected or reproached he always made himself the victim, and made his critics look like unsympathetic attackers.

Well, Mike’s parents made a big stink. The principal called us kids in and asked one question: Did Ms. Price hit Mike? We all said yes … but … but …

There were no buts about it. Ms. Price was fired. That was over sixty years ago, but I will never forget that little maverick. And Mama don’t have much respect for maverick McCain, who always falls back on his POW stint as cover for his wrongdoing and his maverick mistakes. If McCain can’t grow up, we need a mature man running this country. We got tens of thousands of veterans who suffered and were tortured during war. And they certainly deserve more respect than the GOP showed toward triple amputee Senator Max Cleland. At least McCain has all four of his limbs and doesn’t yet have to use a wheelchair.

The malady effects of polio are a terrible lifetime burden. So are the effects of being a tortured POW. But the way Mama sees it, life if full of adversity. I have seen lots of it. That is just the way the mop flops, honey. Get over it. You too, John McCain.

Alf wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:38 AM:Well, "Yokozuna to Alf" at 10:46AM,
nope.
I only agree with her when she is inspired and/or right.
At one year, assuming I make it, I'll get a medallion and I will wear my naked lady tie (tastefully drawn, of course). (Tokens are for under 1 year.)
Regards, Alf.

snerd wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:38 AM:As the parent of a handicapped child I can't believe Ms. Pallin would have a special needs child and then leave him just to be in politics. If ever a child needed a mother at home it is a special needs child. The work and love involved is overwhelming. This seems to me to be one more example of the religious right and their idea of family values, which is to worry more about the fetus and less about the children once they are born. She should have resigned as governor and stayed at home where her special needs child needs her way more than her career.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:39 AM:Candidates: Registered citizens of the Democratic and the Republican parties have made up their minds. The undecided independents are not being fooled by all this hype of personality and who is on the tickets. It is going to be issues. the economy. the war and health coverage. The media is listeningt to the pundits and the campaign propaganda and feeding to the public. I am turning off the tv and going to the beach.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:41 AM:In perspective[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:19 AM: 'Keep your mind on the money and the money on your mind." Snoop Dog knows reality. John McCain does not.

SOLON wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:43 AM:On our border ??

Ron makes the claim that Sarah Palin has foreign relations experience because Alaska borders Russia (10:40 AM).

Hmm-m-m-m-m-m. If Alaska borders Russia, then so does Hawaii, I suppose. What’s a little bit of water.

SOLON wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:52 AM:Bad Perspective

As far as "In perspective" could figure out in his blog 5:19 AM, McCain’s seven plus residences are "investment rental properties."

NOT SO. You did not do your research. You merely made a rash assumption. The public records are available online. Check again. Also, check McCain income tax statements: he declared no rental income from his houses.

to Debbie Shidler wrote on Aug 31, 2008 11:55 AM:Debbie you indicate that you would not allow 3 generations in the house, nor 2 generations and a friend.

Does that also mean no nannies, no cooks, no visitors can live in the house.

Or are visitors allowed only during daytime, i.e. cannot sleep over.

Many cultures still honor the old and care for them at the younger generations' home.

Many younger families are able to have 'young' grandparents to watch their child(ren) while they are at work
and these 'young grandparents' live / eat / sleep there.

How about 2 very old people not wishing to leave home and have a live-in.

Live-ins come in many shapes.

We have water police, yard police, and now house police.

Thought Republicans want less government interference with our personal lives.

Ms M wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:01 PM:This morning, on ABC in an interview with George Stephanopoulos, Cindy McCain ......
When asked about Palin's national security experience, Cindy McCain could not come up with anything beyond the fact that, after all, her state is right next to Russia. "You know, the experience that she comes from is, what she has done in government -- and remember that Alaska is the closest part of our continent to Russia." ....WOW - I'M SPEECHLESS! What a profound statement from a possible future first lady about a possible vp of the USA. DUH!

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:05 PM:“Just send the Iraqis a bill” wrote Arlan Brown.

Reminds me of a story about my scrappy little cousin, Diddy. He was tough but little. One day he met up with this big bully, who wanted his lunch money. This bully tried to shake down. He knew my cousin had lunch money, cause he saw him eating in the lunch room every day. Long time ago. He grabbed Diddy around the neck, but Diddy bloodied his nose and broke his tooth. The bully got Diddy’s lunch money, but he paid a price for it -- and he still has a broken tooth the last time I saw him some time back. He never bothered Diddy again.

So Arlan Brown raises the question: If the Bully sends him a bill, should Diddy pay?

Not so sure wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:07 PM:Of course the yahoos have had a couple of days to invent spins to make Sarah appear wildly ready to lead. Raoul says she has military experience from signing the budget on the Alaska Guard. Ron has her in deep tete-a-tetes with her neighbors, Canada and Russia. Pretty comical. We can hear what raoul and Ron would say if Sarah were a Democrat. Nevertheless, the crude facts remain: Obama has been on the national stage, voicing public and sometimes risky opinions. And his opinions have tended to be correct. He called the Iraq invasion perfectly. McCain botched it royally. He called the Iraq pullout perfectly. McCain is clueless, still refusing to surrender to the North Vietnamese. Obama promises too much? Hey, it's the season. McCain has promised to beef up military spending, increase health spending, and balance the budget. Everyone promises everything, didn't you notice? Or do you believe McCain? LOL

Who decides wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:08 PM:QUOTE: To M Liles[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:02 AM:To deny a fetus any rights boggles my mind. We agree that a major issue is the availability of birth control. No contest. That aside, WHO gets to decide what is who? ... ENDQUOTE

Medicine - most of the Professional Doctors - have accurate medical truth.

Politicians are not medical experts. Their expertise (if any) is somewhere else.

Using a bible, will not give accurate medical truth.

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:16 PM:Heaven sent excuse!

McCain having Bush and Cheney show up at his convention presented a real big problem. Kind of like having your jailbird ex-husband show up at your wedding.

Well, Gusav just dis-invited Bush and Cheney. What a blessing!
Now McCain can claim he no longer a McBush.

Question for Ron and Cindy McCain wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:20 PM:Which US state is closest to Ireland? Spain? Venezuela? Is Arnie ready to deal with our foreign policy matters with China, California being just a boat ride from Beijing. How comically desperate can these folks get? Look, Obama is relatively inexperienced. That's obvious. But the democratic voters have confidence in him and chose him. Palin is also inexperienced. She'd obviously never have been picked by Republican voters. As a liberal, I have not screamed "inexperienced" at Palin. What I've screamed is, "Republicans cannot claim inexperience is a liability any longer" I stand by that. McCain's judgment comes through again: in that one appointment he mocked most of his own criticisms of Obama.

Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:25 PM:I knew this would happen, sooner or later....
"Learn" @10:21 AM does exactly as I suspected, QUOTE: "Learn the truth about Mccain's pick for VP. She is so pro-fetus/anti-child. She returned to work only 3 days after having her baby...and especially a special needs child." END Quote

So, here we have a working Mother, a Govenor, who went back to work shortly after her child was born. So what?
Now, here's the action line folks:
means.. she's a bad mother.

Now, any other women, well.. to general, Any other LIBERAL woman would have been given a pass. Afterall, she's doing it all, the proto-typical feminist as preached by the nags.

This woman comes along without the "blessing" of the nags, and she's a bad mother.
I'm telling ya folks, it's ALL about the politics of this, and nothing whatsoever about who she is, how hard she has worked, or how well she care's for her family. IT"S ALL ABOUT THE POLITICS with Liberals.

Look at Clarence Thomas, second balcj judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Historic, right?
WRONG, he did not get the "blessing" of the race traffickers.
And please note... Obama had his own "problems" with this same crowd, questioning his blackness, his slave blood, but deciding later that he was "done for the struggle", and Michele's blood would do.
Just predictable nonsense from Liberals,
Who.. are always liberals first, everything else, second.
And it shows.

hardtack wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:29 PM:“Live within your means” nails it @ 6:46. The middle class destroyed itself with a lot of help from both Parties. What used to be a vast small-investor class became no more than a consumer class when the IRS started punishing interest income and capital gains; and federal deficit spending started sucking the value out of our currency.

I hear a lot of political rhetoric pandering to the middle class vote – and they will probably get it, like they have for the past 60 years. And, for precisely that reason, I don’t expect to see any good come to the working middle class from the present election cycle, no matter who occupies the White House next year.

TFB wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:36 PM:Second try at submitting this

The post from "To M Liles" at 5:02 a.m. asks the questions, regarding control of who or what occupies the most private part of a woman's anatomy, "WHO gets to decide?"
How about the woman who actually owns the body.
The one who is an ACTUAL, not POTENTIAL human person.
Once the uterine contents has achieved measurable EEG brain waves (the standard for human life), which occurs late in the second trimester, as well as biological autonomy (not inside someone else's body), it is entitled to full human rights.
But not a moment before.

SOLON wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:39 PM:Palin is oil drilling expert

Sarah Palin know more about oil drilling than Barack Obama and Joe Biden put together. She has been governor of the most oil-drillingest state in the nation for over 16 months. The Alaska National Wildlife Preserve has so much oil, that when it goes on the world market about ten years from now, it will sate China and the rest of the world for at least six weeks -- that is, if we can get it all extracted in six weeks. This will help drive the price of oil back down to under $500 bbl, and gas to $12.00 a gallon.

We need a charming frontier woman like her to provide direction on our energy future, and to free us of our Middle Eastern oil addition. Oh, by the way, Alaska is also home of the sperm whale. We must utilize every possible source to satisfy our future energy needs. She is a woman with answers to future energy solutions.

Oh Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:41 PM:You won't give it up, will you? You insist that we should play by race or gender rather than issues. Liberals should be pro-Clarence Thomas and Sarah Palin just because they are Black/Women. Because if liberals disagree with these people, they are all about politics. Well, as has been said, and said, and said: D'oy. Ron: liberal and conservative, beliefs about various issues, are nothing BUT politics. Race and gender are NOT politics. You know this, because you are only too happy to be about the issues and the philosophy, but you take this bizarre stance that liberals should not be permitted to vote issues, that it's somehow hypocritical of them to criticize a Black person or a woman for his/her beliefs. Please, Ron, defend this nonsense of yours. Oh, never mind.

Sayonara wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:47 PM:There was a time on this Blog when information was shared and positions were taken from data.

Today, it s a trading of catty comments from the Tuesday Morning Girls Luncheon group, and the Dead=End Boy’s Night Out Never Give an Inch Group.

I’m sorry, nothing in this world is either all good, or all bad and most of life is determined on the margins – but you would not know that here.

This is Feet-in-Concreteville.

Perhaps after November, sanity will return and so will I.

One answer wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:49 PM:Sarah Palin doesn't have the answers to our energy problems, she has one answer: more land giveaways to big oil. Why isn't she talking about the oil giants drilling the land they have already? Because this is a golden moment for corporate welfare, and she wants to join Bush and McCain in their big giveaway to Exxon the welfare queen. What does she know about renewables? Haven't heard much. You?

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:55 PM:It must have been a premature birth. Seven months after Sarah Palin took her wedding vows, she gave birth to the first of her five children. I do believe Sarah is a good mother -- in fact a great loving mother. We lots just like her in my church. And anyone of them would make a better president than George W. Bush.

But that premature birth reminds me of the old joke back in Lousiana, when Ella Mae announced she was getting married, and one of her girl friends exclaimed excitedly: “Getting married!! I didn’t know she was even pregnant!”

God bless the mothers, and God bless the children, even if conceived out of wedlock. Loving care is what matters. A good loving mother would make a heck of better leader for our nation and Bush or Cheney. They would properly tend to our nation’s future.

Alf wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:56 PM:The comment by "to Debbie Shidler" at 11:55AM reminded me of the time that I spent building our house.
We lived with three (3) generations in one house until my mother-in-law died.
After another 2.5 years, our house passed its final inspection and we moved into the house that "The One Man Crew" aka Alf aka (my real first name) Ken built.
I had many a heated debate with my mother-in-law,
many a game of anagrams,
many a camping trip and
many hours seeing her unedited footage from her field trips that were often better than anything National Geographic EVER did.
Would I do it over again?
In a heartbeat.
Although I would like to skip the last 2 years of her physical decline, even that tought me much about love, living and the process of dying.
Fortunately, with our several acres, parking was not ever an issue.
Regards, Alf.

FOREIGN POLICY wrote on Aug 31, 2008 1:12 PM:Wow! I am so excited to hear about the extensive foreign policy experience Sarah Palin got from all those high-level diplomatic exchanges with Russia and Canada.
I can't wait for all my silly liberal friends, who think they are so smart, to eat their words when I show them the lengthy list of specific foreign policy decisions, military achievements, and, especially, complex international treaties that Palin single-handedly negotiated.
Myself, I'm not too good with research, so I'm hoping Ron and Raoul can assist in helping me compile this extensive list.
Thank you in advance.

Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 1:15 PM:You know? I'm actually glad you asked that question... "Who decides" @12:08 PM, and, please... Let me, as I always do, help you out with that thought, ok?

Now, the two safest answers could have been; McCain; at conception, and Obama: at birth. But Barack did not say this, he got all muddled down into the mire of, what is, the abortion culture.
{oh, Yes! It's a culture, within our culture. More like a sub-culture, really} But I.. digress...
Anyways....

I've been doing some thinking about this, that I believe would be helpful to the young Senator. Now, follow me on this, because this can get very convoluted if your not paying attention, so pay attention...
I'm educating you now.

The easiest way to be pro-abortion, and yet allow all views to be equal, is to follow the democrat primary. For example, we all know that gestation is 9 months, using the example of a 3/5's
compromise, in thirds.
You know, one-third, two-thirds, & three-thirds, a person.
Now, the Father of the child can be a delegate, a regular one. But, the Mother retains the title of Super Delegate, thus squashing all other delegates votes, bringing us back to Super Delegates rule.
Still haven't kind figuired out if you abort to early, as did Michigan & Florida, but this is only a work in progress, any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Aliens Love Hospital Bond wrote on Aug 31, 2008 1:16 PM:Alf and the other animals are showing their spite again for the "mean" American citizens refusing to pay for their slave labor illegal aliens. You guys are a riot! Reconquista is over, get over yourselves!

TFB wrote on Aug 31, 2008 1:24 PM:Another big ooopsie from Ron at 1:15 p.m.
He uses the term "pro-abortion."
Actually, the correct term is "pro-choice."
No one that I know of who supports abortion rights (and I know a LOT), supports or promotes abortion itself. We support the right of a woman to CHOOSE -
-to carry a pregnancy to term and keep a baby
-to carry a pregnancy to term and give it up for adoption
-to terminate a pregnancy

The only ones who are "pro abortion" are the ones like the Chinese Communists (Olympics or not) who support forced abortion.
They are the same as the anti-choice extremists here - they want to force their "choice" on others.

But then, this is Ron. We know he has a problem with terminology. He is the one who calls everyone "socialists" except the real Republican socialists in Alaska.
(Oh, but those are the GOOD socialists.)

Pathetic wrote on Aug 31, 2008 1:25 PM:OBAMA MAMA
[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:55 PM: Pathetic, Very much in character for you, but pathetic all the same. It must be saaaaad to be you.

Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 1:31 PM:Well, Yes.. actually.. you are,
"Question for Ron and Cindy McCain"
@12:20 PM. You are promulgatng the idea that since Obama is inexperienced, and Palin is inexperienced, that this negates the argument. It does not.

Follow my logic here...

Your inexperience comes in the number 1 slot, Barack Obama for president.

Our lesser experienced, not inexperienced, candidate is running for the second slot. It's a totally respectable position to have her grow in office.

And as Joe Biden said: On the Job training for the President, is not a good idea.
See, even Joe agree's with me!!!
And Hillary, and Bill Clinton:
This is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen. Plus, the Obama camp, according to Bill, played the race card on him. And we know that's true, because Obama tried to play it on McCain.
i.e. he don't look like the money.
Judgement, remember.. it's all about judgement.
wrong Rev. "GD Amerika, US of KKK-A" Wright
Bil "unrepentant terrorist" Ayers
Frank Davis "commie" Marshall
Carl "SDS" Davidson gave obama his "community organizer" job
Quoting Saul Alinky: "the world as it should be"
If it's all about judgement, he ain't showing any.

jvc wrote on Aug 31, 2008 1:54 PM:The Republican Party is truly a corporate based party!When defense contractor based state of California
needed a president to push their agenda
of selling defense, they put Reagan in power and now with big oil interests,
they want to put oil rich Alaska's
governor Palin in power!

Well said Mr. Schwilk... wrote on Aug 31, 2008 2:17 PM:Perception is reality and you've succinctly unmasked the misperception and 'con' promoted by the advocates of this wasteful use of our tax dollars. The reality is most Americans don't want illegal aliens usurping our rights and benefits.

Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 2:27 PM:Yes, indeed.. "How soon they forget"
@6:21 AM!!!

Indeed, they do....
That this: ex cheerleader, ex prep school frat boy, ex alcoholic, ex failed businessman, who kept the skies of Texas safe from the Vietnamese Air Force.. pulled the wool over the eye's of Joe Biden.
Man! Do you guy's know how to step in it.

But, been some more thinking... critical thinking, that is....
I'm still waiting for the Mainstream Press, when they get done with all the tingles running up & down their legs, to start talking about "GRAVITAS."
Where is ALL THE TALK about Obama's need for Gravitas?
I mean.. after GWB selected cheney, that's all we heard, gravitas, gravitas, gravitas. Where is it?

And another thing...
I want to see a few sketches from Saturday Night Live about the foreign policy discussion between Barack & Joe.
I can picture it now, in my mind's eye...
The two are sitting in the Oval office, and Joe's trying to talk Obama out of a trip to visit the Mullahs in Iran on Day One.
Or bombing Pakistan on Day Two.

And one more thing...
If he's elected, I hope the Press will wake up from their self-imposed sleep on this guy's background, and start really listening to his speeches.
The guy's is snitching people's words all over the place. Maybe between him & Joe, for once, they can put together a speech of their own?
Just words...

snerd to Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 2:41 PM:Hey let me educate YOU a little. This is really simple so I think you'll get it. Since there is no societal decision as to when life begins each individual gets to choose for themselves. Not your guy the Pope, or all those celebate priets who never have to deal with real life issues. Not government. Not even men. Each woman gets to choose for herself. Individual choice. Something you seem to be big on.

Oh Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 2:52 PM:Yes, "inexperienced" Obama is in the number one slot. Why? Because the people who decided this gathered, after hearing Obama and his opponents, and after hearing every kind of challenge and innuendo about him, for more than a year, that he was ready, that he was impressive. He got a thorough trial by fire and won. Now let's look at what Ms Palin went through. Comprende? Big, big difference. Just like you, during the 2000 race, saw and heard W and decided that there were things more important than counting years in this or that office, the people who voted in the primiaries decided on Obama. I'd be more impressed with Ms Palin if she went through a similar process.

Oh Ron PS wrote on Aug 31, 2008 3:00 PM:Let me finish the though. You throw out every quote from your idols like Biden and Clinton when they indicate Obama is not "ready". Well, that's typical. But democrats heard all of this and more, and decided that Obama was their guy, despite his youth. So now let's take the same Biden and Clinton quotes and apply them to Ms Palin. What does she have going for her to overcome these charges? Well, nothing, of course. McCain and the GOP power-brokers, in whatever process they chose, simply decided that even though the words of Biden and Clinton were so wonderful to them a few hours earlier, Sarah was the best person for the job. Had she been tested in any competition with others vying for the position? Nope. Did the nation of Republicans get to hear her respond to challenges? Nope. Comprende? Two points I'm making: One, Obama's record includes his being road-tested in fierce public forums against formidable opponents, in which he won his prize; Two, McCain invalidated most of his own criticisms of Obama by picking Palin. It was McCain who claimed that experience was everything, that being ready for the Commander in Chief job was not something for the novice. Then he made a mockery of his own principles. If Palin is ok with McCain, he cannot have meant all the things he said about Obama. Another example of very poor judgment by your candidate.

Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 3:01 PM:If you go to Utube, you will see in depth this callousness I've been speaking to this morning. Apparently, On a plane, National Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Don Fowler and Congressman John Spratt of South Carolina had a small minded, but revealing conversation about New Orleans, and this hurricane. And the kicker on this is: That's funny because it is due to hit when President Bush is scheduled to speak. Isn't that cool?

Also, never left out of the discussion, a few nights ago Michael Moore echo'd similar thoughts with: "This hurricane is proof that there is a god in heaven."
Even Olberman knew he stepped in deep do-do with this off the wall comment.

But... this IS the modern day democrat party.

Partisanship wrote on Aug 31, 2008 3:06 PM:I can see it now, the debates between Palin and Biden. There'll be a question about foreign policy expertise, and Ms Palin will echo Cindy McCain and Ron and say, "Well, I WAS governor of a state near Russia AND Canada!" Cindy and Ron will be watching, cheering this answer. Everyone else in America will be in hysterics. Once you decide someone is "your" candidate, sometimes you just lose all rationality! As an Obama supporter, I truly hope Sarah answers such questions in just that way. It'd be like when Obama and McCain are asked about their military experience. Obama would say, "Hey, have you met my uncle?" No. Obama wouldn't say this, of course, nor would any Democrat. But if you're a desperate Republican...

To Alf wrote on Aug 31, 2008 3:10 PM:Everything reminds you of building your home...

Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 3:26 PM:Opps, I think I just hook'd a snerd, eh? "snerd to Ron" @2:41 PM...
Ok, I'm ready to be educated...
Mmmhmmm, yep, that's right, ok, unhuh, well, if you.. ah..ok, got ya now!

QUOTE: "Hey let me educate YOU a little. This is really simple so I think you'll get it. Since there is no societal decision as to when life begins each individual gets to choose for themselves." END Quote

I think your stretching there, just a bit, let me reel you back, just a bit, K?
I think I see your problem, and as it just so happens, the obamaman has the exact same problem. Now, YOU say:
"Since there is no societal decision as to when life begins..."

STOP THE BUS!!!

Your telling me that we can not agree that LIFE begins at birth? I know Obamaman wouldn't say it. That's because, in his opinion, if you start the partial birth abortion, and it fails, yet the child survives the attempt, that kid is still marked for death, even though it survived the death sentence.
HEY!!! We don't even do that to death row inmates. If we try to kill em, and they live, we let them go.
Are you trying to tell me that if the kid is OUTSIDE for 2 minutes, he still dies? Is that what I hear you saying, because "each individual {mother} gets to choose for themselves?"
That's pretty tough, sister.

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Aug 31, 2008 3:27 PM:It is so sad to read the mean responses of people like “Pathetic” at 1:25pm. Pathetic has so little compassion for the children of this land or for their mothers. He reflects the attitude of the Bush gang. The little children are the future of this great country.

Good one Junious wrote on Aug 31, 2008 3:29 PM:Junious writes about political karma, and the first day of the Republican Convention is shut down by a Louisiana hurricane. LOL

ItsHusseinsChoice wrote on Aug 31, 2008 3:30 PM:The election is in the hands of Hussein. He can get behind all out drilling, and bankrupt the speculators which wins him the election. Or, he can leave his middle finger up to 80% of Americans who want drilling for lower gas prices and no commodity inflation, and get crushed in a Dukakis-like landslide. Which will he choose?

GRAVITAS wrote on Aug 31, 2008 3:32 PM:Ron at 2:27 p.m. says that when Cheney was selected, all we heard about was gravitas and wonders why it isn't the same thing this time around.
Well, duh, look how well that turned out last time around!

The point is that "gravitas" and experience have their place. But between Rumsfeld and Cheney we had more combined experience in history, yet they made bungle after incompetent bungle (or intentional, evil profiteering off defense contracts and military adventures for oil).

And earlier, at 1:31 p.m., I had to laugh out loud when Ron asked us to "follow my logic."
Ron, THERE IS NO LOGIC!
You, like Raoul, remind me of the guy banging on my door trying to sell me encyclopedias. He knows his product is inferior and overpriced, but he is convinced he can find a way to explain to so stupid li'l ol' me will think it's the best thing since sliced bread.
I can just imagine Ron and Raoul's first reactions when they heard that McCain had selected a totally unknown, inexperienced person from a small, remote state.
The wheels started spinning (and that is the best word) as they tried to figure out how on god's green earth they could possibly spin without contradicting everything they've ever said.
Well, they couldn't, but that didn't stop them from trying.
Boy, they sure must think we are awfully gullible!

Made my day wrote on Aug 31, 2008 3:40 PM:Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 1:31 PM: Follow my logic here...

The single most funniest thing I've ever read.

Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 3:48 PM:But, your still having to size up the two between the Democrat's #1 pick, and our #2 pick, the VP. Your ticket is top light, or bottom heavy, whatever.
Your still losing this argument, and here's a little free advise, no charge... STOP. Cause every time you do the comparison, your openly saying he's not qualified. You with me?
"Oh Ron" @2:52 PM. So, part of arguing FOR Obama, is to say less about obama, when you need to. Less is more, with him. Cause the more you have to discuss this issue, he's further exposed as being less qualified, than Joe.
So, you guy's do what you want. You go right ahead and say, we chose him, that speaks for itself, if you think that's a good stratedy. OK?

As to the second part of your post, the.. ah.. every kind of challenge?

LOL.. I don't think so!
Just because you democrats want to go with an unqualified candidate, does not mean the rest of the country does.
And, as you know, just prior to the dem convention, did you notice how his polling dropped?
Yep, it's gonna be like that.
We are going to make this election about him. And he would be able to stand the heat inside the kitchen, to use a little Hillary lingo there.
Ya see.. what I'm saying?

President and VP FlipFlop wrote on Aug 31, 2008 4:03 PM:I see that Sarah Palin's strong opposition to such pork barrel spending as the infamous "bridge to nowhere" was not always so. When running for Governor, she was all for the bridge, seeing that moment as an opportunity to get such projects out of the feds. When she became a national political possibility, she, like her running mate, did a 180. Good grief, isn't there anyone in town with any principles?

Oh Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 4:41 PM:I refer you to the letter today by Junious Montgomery, a compadre of yours, I believe. (To Ron, there's nothing as morally dispicable as a Democrat who behaves like your run of the mill Republican. Only we on the right are allowed to slime...when you Democrats do it, it's wrong. You Democrats are supposed to be the ones with morals, whereas we conservatives are proud of our take-no-prisoners "morality" and bestiality.) Also, Michael Moore has a fuller account of his feelings regarding hurricanes and Republicans on the Common Dreams website. It's quite funny! Check it out!

Chuck wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:06 PM:>>>is shut down by a Louisiana hurricane. LOL>>> I'm glad the liberals are taking great joy in a massive hurricane. Only liberals and the Weather Channel can get this jazzed about the prospects of this storm

Oh Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:13 PM:You demonstrate the folly of continuing to attack Obama's "unqualified" status after McCain appointed Sarah as his heartbeat-away. What challenges in politics has Ms Palin had to fight through, compared to Obama? Absurd comparison, of course. Obama might lose, of course. You never bet on Americans to do what even they say is the intelligent thing (80% say wrong track, but might pick stay the course McCain). But after you're done celebrating and you return, even for a brief moment, to being an American again (as opposed to a conservative, or whatever you think of yourself as), you'll be looking at an old, botoxed man with a cancer history in office. And Sarah Palin in the wings, "ready" to take over the course of this most complex time. Your admiration for her caring for all those kids AND being a career person might dim a little (though you'd never admit it) should another 911 occur. I know, you can say the same about Obama. Well, if it's true of Obama, then you just have to feel mighty shaky about Palin too, right?

Gotta Wonder wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:17 PM:Ron[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:40 AM: Commander in Chief of the Alaskan National Guard. Can you document that is an actual title in their state? Do you believe that all governors are Commander in Chief? I forgot which one it was. Well read them both, Federalist papers 3 and 4. Palin has absolutely no military experience. Having a son in the Guard or the Army is not her military experience. It is. Face it. Its McCains moronic way of attempting to obtain Hilary's female supporters. I rather doubt that the Republicans will be able to get their support. The difference between the Democratic women and Republican women is that the Democrats have brains and do use them.

Pathetic wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:18 PM:OBAMA MAMA
[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 3:27 PM: I'm not the mean one. We all know you just wanted to take a blind stab at Palin, So even your attempt to twist my words directed at you, and your gross "out of wedlock" attack at Palin are pathotic. Try again, no one is buying it. When did I say I was a male?

Life wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:18 PM:I thought we had very thorough discussions of when life starts last week. I don't think we reached a consensus, LOL. I recall good arguments for sperm and eggs being alive. So "life" doesn't start at fertilization. Is the death of a fertilized egg a tragedy? Well, put on your funereal garb, because, as has been pointed out, those little fellas die by the gazillions every day. This is difficult and confusing and ambiguous territory, as any mature person would admit. Not something to leave to the government, to politicians. (I think there might BE consensus on a national distrust of politicians, right? I even think there is consensus on suspicion of the workings and motivation of the federal government. You want to give THEM the power over your privates, but not your schools, taxes, roads, or anything else? Huh?)

Gotta Wonder wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:23 PM:Alaska is the first line of defense in our missile interceptor defense system. The 49th Missile Defense Battalion of the Alaska National Guard is the unit that protects the entire nation from ballistic missile attacks. It's on permanent active duty, unlike other Guard units. Now this is supposed to be some of Palin's military experience. The key word here is that the unit is on permanent active duty. All military units that are on active duty are subject to the President of the United States, Commander in Chief. Palin does not command or even direct this unit.
And, the first line of defense for mainland USA is the entire NORAD system commanded and directed by the terms of an international treaty.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:30 PM:Russia/Alaska: LOL how these Repubs are now saying that Palin has experience with Russia as Russia borders Alaska. Firstly, Alaska is separated by the Bering Sea from Russia. What agreement or treaty did she negotiate with the Russians and is the federal government aware of it?

Goodfellow wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:33 PM:I read the writings of Mr. Junious Montgomery, Ron and others, and see a deviation from Biblical teaching. Karma is heathen belief. Natural disasters are "acts of God." God is visiting his wrath upon Pharoah Bush.
We better heed his message, or more plagues are sure to fall upon this land.
We have evil rulers who have defied God, and He will not abide such defiance.

News Flash wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:35 PM:We learn tomorrow afternoon that Gustav has changed course and petered out at sea. The Republicans are all over Mayor Nagin for the premature, unnecessary, expensive evacuation of N'awlins. Democrats strike back, pointing out that most of the Republicans' own convention, and especially it's scheduled appearance by the President, were also called off due to Gustav. McCain, interviewed about this, said, "We were wrong. But we only believed Mayor Nagin, who said this was the 'storm of the century'. Who could blame us for believing the Mayor of New Orleans? His forcasters were wrong, that's all, and he shouldn't have mislead us." Nagin, in a subsequent interview, said, "I just went by the forecasts that I was given. The Republicans had access to the same forecasts."

SOLON wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:53 PM:Hurricane Gustav is both a weird blessing and a terrible curse for the Republican Party. It is a curse for it revives the horrible incompetence of the Bush Administration and the specter of its failure to act in the crisis of Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. But at the same time it is a strange blessing for politicos who don’t want to be associated with the GOP in this election year. It was a burdensome obligation for Bush and Darth Cheney to make at least a token appearance at their convention. Now they have the perfect excuse not to go -- a national emergency. They can trot on down to Alabama and sit on the sideline as cheerleaders for the Red Cross and do-nothing Homeland Insecurity, pretending to be working for Americans in distress. Say, Bush, why don’t you just go on ahead and retire early. You will do more good chopping brush at the Crawford ranch. At least you will be out of the way.

Seems lots of GOP senators had already decided not to go: Chuck Hagel, who is about to retire, is in Europe. Richard Lugar refused invitation, and has praised Barack Obama. Ted Stevens is hiding under a rock where he is under indictment for corruption. Lizzy Dole is in the fight of her life to retain her senate seat in NC, and refuses to be associated with GOP hoopla. The same is true of John Sununu of NH. And Larry Craig does not have the courage to go back to the Minneapolis Airport, where he was arrested.

Well, now. Ain’t this a Grand Old Party.

Alf wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:56 PM:You're right, "To Alf" at 3:10PM,
much transpired during the three years planning and ten years building it.
Regards, Alf.

Too Old wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:10 PM:Ms M[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:01 PM: The North American contenient is not our continent. All nations are part of it. It is the closest state or part of the United States to Russia. Cindy, dearest needs lessons in geography as much as ole John.

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:12 PM:To Pathetic (5:18pm):

You really are stooping low trying to make a big deal out of Sarah Palin’s out of wedlock first child. Honey, nobody cares. This happens to millions of women in America. It does not matter except when the man deserts the woman and fails to provide support. Palin is married to a good, responsible and loving man. And even when a single woman decides to have a child that is just fine by MAMA. Like MAMA said, it ain’t nobody’s business. What MAMA objects to is that Sarah Palin wants to impose her views on other women.

I do not blame Palin for accepting McCain’s offer as VP. What I object to most is the cynical pandering of John McCain using this nice woman.

Why is this a pander? Because Palin is not a woman who has a record of representing women's interests. She is adored by extremely right-wing conservatives for her anti-choice record (she's a member of the faux-feminist anti-choice group Feminists for Life). Palin supports federal anti-gay marriage legislation. She believes schools should teach creationism. Alaska is currently considering spending more on abstinence-only sex education. And when it comes to a slew of other issues of importance to women, such as equal pay, she's not on the record.

Of course, I'm of the belief that more women in politics -- across the ideological spectrum -- is always a good thing. On a superficial level, nominating a woman to the Republican presidential ticket is indeed a milestone. But the real reason many women were excited about Hillary Clinton's candidacy is that she was the whole package -- a politician with a solid record on issues like choice and fair pay, and with a lot of experience, who was also a woman. Even feminists I disagreed with during the primary made the compelling point that it wasn't just about Hillary's gender. It was about her record, too.

McCain is just using this poor woman.

Chuck wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:13 PM:If the Weather Channels hypes this storm anymore, they'll have me boarding up soon.

Wonder no more wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:14 PM:Gotta Wonder
[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 5:30 PM: What ever it was, you can guarantee it was at least one more then Obama.

LOL Pathetic wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:28 PM:Pathetic[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 1:25 PM: What a joke. LOL. This is all Pathetic can say about Obama Mamma? I rather doubt that you or the content of your blog has any value. PATHETIC!

Tell Us OBAMA MAMA wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:29 PM:What Church do you go to where you feel it's ok to point your finger at others and mock them? "But that premature birth reminds me of the old joke back in Lousiana, when Ella Mae announced she was getting married, and one of her girl friends exclaimed excitedly: “Getting married!! I didn’t know she was even pregnant!” Just what are you trying to imply about her?

SOLON wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:30 PM:Palin pulling the levers of power

So Sara Palin, who would be but a heartbeat from the presidency, could be left alone in the missile silo bunkers, expected to know which button to push. She does not even know where the levers of governmental power are. All this mindless chatter about her being the governor in the NORAD state of Alaska, which “borders” Russia, is pure idiocy.

Sarah Palin is the victim of McCain’s cynical, weak mind. We cannot permit on-the-job training, no matter how nice and how smart she is. The new president will have to hit the ground running like the Olympian Bolt. It is insane to elect a person who has barely 18 months in office of governor of Alaska, as lieutenant Commander in Chief for the United States.

DOBSONS HURRICANE wrote on Aug 31, 2008 6:53 PM:This sets a new low mark for rank hypocrisy, EVEN FOR RON!
After I noted the ironic twist of Rev. James Dobson's call for prayers to have bad weather drown out the Democratic convention (Dobson's request being entirely serious), Ron at 11:18 a.m. has the nerve to criticize my criticism of Dobson, with nary a negative word about the cruelty and hatred coming from Dobson that masquerades as Christianity.
As 3D so often reminds us, today's cruel "Christians" - today's religious estiablishment - would be the first ones to string that radical, long-haired hippie Jesus guy up on the cross.

sdraoul wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:09 PM:I have stated that Sarah Palin has had more exposure to the military than Obama, not military experience.

Obama never was a Cub or Boy Scout, served in high school or college ROTC, nor did he serve in the military after graduation when he could have been an officer (if, of course, he could pass a background investigation, which I doubt). Nor did he serve in any Reserve unit.

Obama has absolutely no exposure to the military -- NONE.

Palin is Commander-in-Chief of the Alaska National Guard and as Commander she visited her troops in the Middle East who are serving in theater. Her son is on army active duty and is on the way to Iraq. These two tiny little elements of her over-all experience are 1000 times more exposure to the military than Obama has.

OBAMACAN wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:15 PM:News Flash at 5:35 p.m. offers a hypothetical scenario in which everyone is found to be wrong in predicting a major disaster, all with "access to the same forecasts."
Kind of reminds me of invading Iraq, except that the comparison is so opposite.
Mobilizing against a forecasted hurricane does divert resources from the "real storm" as Bush did in cutting and running and diverting resources away from the real terrorists who invaded us.
And it fails to note that no one EVER has the same access to the same forecasts, I mean intelligence, as the president. And there is a difference between information that changes, like weather, and known fabrications of data that was wholly manufactured to justify an invasion to enrich oil interests and defense contractor cronies.
Nor does it reflect the fact that, even with the information that was available, the forecasts, I mean National Intelligence Estimate, clearly stated that there were no WMD, and anyone, including half the Democrats in Congress, who read the report knew better - including only one of the candidates on a major ticket.
Judgment. When it counted, Obama was right.
He has been vetted by 18 months of a flawlessly-managed campaign that defeated a massive political machine, not chosen on the spur of the moment with no input from the American public.

Marie wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:24 PM:Fine, let's leave Iraq, but not before presenting them with the bill for all the blood we spent getting them their freedom and for the billions spent fighting their war.

Did they ask us to come in and "Free" them? How many of them are now dead and how many don't have a home anymore?
The ones that should be repaying the American taxpayer are the Contractors who make a killing from the War.

Karl wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:28 PM:Right on Focal Point @ 11:39 AM: I'm with you.

sdraoul wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:32 PM:"Gotta Wonder" is at it again. He wants documentation that Governor Palin is the Commander-in-Chief of the Alaska National Guard. Ok.

The Constitution of the United States -- "Article 2, section 2 -- The President shall be the Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states , when called intothe actual service of the United States;"

Well if he commands them when in federal service, who does command the Guard when they are not in federal service, Gotta Wonder?

The Alaska Constituion states: "Section 3.19 - Military Authority.

The governor is commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the State. He may call out these forces to execute the laws, suppress or prevent insurrection or lawless violence, or repel invasion. The governor, as provided by law, shall appoint all general and flag officers of the armed forces of the State, subject to confirmation by a majority of the members of the legislature in joint session. He shall appoint and commission all other officers."

Still have questions, Gotta Wonder?

Karl wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:34 PM:Easy does it Ms M. Cindy McCain is not running for President nor is Michelle Obama. Let's leave the potential First Lady's out of this. A lot of mud can be slung at both with no problem by rabble rousers.

Take the high road, it is more your style.

bogie wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:41 PM:Race and gender are NOT politics Oh Ron
@ 12:41 PM:? Riiiiight. Just how naive an audience do you think you are preaching to?

soaring eagle wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:46 PM:Sayonara @ 12:47 PM: calls em' as he sees em'. "This is Feet-in-Concreteville.". Couldn't have said it any better if I was a Rhodes Scholar.

Definitely the "term of the day", maybe week, month or year.

Poor raoul wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:55 PM:So poor raoul has given up on his absurd claims of military experience for Ms Palin. Now he wants to redraw the rules and make it "military exposure", whatever in the world that means. OK, who knows more people who've served, Sarah or Barry? This is fruitful, isn't it, raoul? And poor raoul is so desperate he's even willing to say that the cub scouts are military exposure. This is getting funnier by the minute. What next, raoul? Which, Obama or Palin, watched more war movies as a kid? Which knows more about the life and times of John Wayne? This is your test for fitness to lead?

Oh Ron wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:58 PM:I thought it might have been obvious that I was comparing one's views on actual issues (which I called "political") to ones color or gender. Comprende? I will vote for someone based on their views on the issues. I will not vote for someone just because of their skin color or genitalia. Can you understand the difference? Oh, never mind. This is America. This is where Bush is elected twice. We get exactly (and exactly the number of body bags) that we deserve.

Karl wrote on Aug 31, 2008 8:07 PM:Get with the program Chuck @ 6:13 PM:. I had storm windows installed after Katrina and am typing this from my bomb shelter. Is it okay to come out yet?

Gotta Wonder wrote on Aug 31, 2008 8:08 PM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:09 PM:
No way. Military experience is not a requisite for the office of the President of the United States. The little to none experience of both candidates does not matter. John McCain being a POW does not matter. What matter is the issues and which Presidential candidate can get the job done. I was exposed to the military for a few decades. No one in their right mind would think me or sdraoul to be Presidential candidate material.

Floyd wrote on Aug 31, 2008 8:13 PM:Actually, "pro abortion" is correct. If the woman makes the choice for life, she is automatically "pro life".

Oh Please wrote on Aug 31, 2008 8:19 PM:As to whether or not Sarah Pallin is qualified to be Commander-in-Chief, may I remind you that she is the Commander-in-Chief of the Alaska National Guard, in that she shares that experience with Bill Clinton, remember? You did not say ezposure. You said experience. sdraoul is as bad as McCain. He does not recall what he actualy said or wrote. Just perhapas, Raoul is advanced in years as well.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Aug 31, 2008 8:25 PM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:32 PM:
A simple yes with notation of the source would have been a okey. But, again, raoul is out for his comedic routine and embarrassment factor. You can make a very substantial wager that there will be many more questions. I am your unofficial monitor. SAG wants to make sure that you do not steal jokes from other comedians.

DOBSONS HURRICANE wrote on Aug 31, 2008 9:04 PM:The further irony of Rev James Dobson's cruel remarks calling on Christians to actually pray for weather damage to political rivals backfiring as weather is what scuttles the Republicans, is that the embarassment to Republicans is multiplied by being a repeat of their greatest domestic policy failure.
Sure, Republicans like to blame local officials, but that just shows that they just don't get it.
Katrina was not a local disaster. It was a national disaster. And it needed a national response.
And while no specific weather event can be tied to long-range climate patterns, the pattern of more and stronger hurricanes is consistent with climate patterns that the Republicans have done nothing to address.
The real reason McCain wants to make sure there are no more pictures of Reublicans partying while New Orleans drowns is that he wants people to forget that three years ago, on the day Katrina hit, Pres Bush was at John McCain's Arizona ranch eating birthday cake while New Orleans drowned.
McCain wants that "let them eat cake" moment to be forgotten, but it is the reminder of what happens when you run on a philosophy that government - the administration of public policy issues - is the problem instead of the solution.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Aug 31, 2008 9:30 PM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:09 PM:
Clever way of saying that Gov Palin visited Alaskan troops in Kuwait. I suppose that is considered in theater. But note, I can find no documentation that she was in Iraq. So, as not to mislead the bloggers and the greater American people, Gov Palin has not be in Iraq?

Gotta Wonder wrote on Aug 31, 2008 9:33 PM:hardtack[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 12:29 PM: The middle class should be pandered.
Its next to impossible as they have not been found for the last eight years.

bogie wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:35 PM:Well Alf @ 5:56 PM: being in the building business I am in awe of the effort. Did you do the plumbing? I am fairly adept at most trades but have struggled with plumbing. Before my father-in-law passed last year I had it whipped on the home plumbing projects. Dennis was a career union plumber and did a lot of service work (fixing other plumbers screw ups). Now I'm back to making leaks for myself. When I lived in Oregon I used to frame custom homes by my lonesome. When it came down to the heavy lifting I'd go down to one of the local taverns and hire 3 or 4 lounge lizards for $20 and all the pitchers they could drink.

One of my duties when I was rolling with the big construction companies was to punch out (i.e. find mistakes) on projects. When would you like me to stop over to your place to see if I still have the touch that earned me the nickname "ah crap, Karl's here".

double bogie wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:44 PM:OBAMA MAMA @ 6:12 PM: Have you given any thought to the idea that just maybe Sarah Palin is using John McCain?

double eagle wrote on Aug 31, 2008 10:50 PM:Oh Ron @ 7:58 PM: comments that "We get exactly (and exactly the number of body bags) that we deserve. Uh, is that what you really meant? WE got the body bags that WE deserve? Ouch, that ones hurts to the core.

Ms M wrote on Sep 1, 2008 12:29 AM:Karl
[-] wrote on Aug 31, 2008 7:34 PM:...No Karl they aren't. I just don't like the double standard. When Michelle opened her mouth - it was on 24/7. Now Cindy sits on national TV campaigning for and defending her husband and makes a beyond stupid statement she should be critized just as Michelle was and will be. If Cindy shouldn't be critized she should stay home.

Ms M wrote on Sep 1, 2008 12:45 AM:Hey SDRaoul, there is an article about Palin's inexperience. The following excerpt is about her experience for commander in chief:

....Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, considers Palin "extremely responsive and smart" and says she is in charge when it comes to in-state services, such as emergencies and natural disasters where the National Guard is the first responder.

But, in an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, he said he and Palin play no role in national defense activities, even when they involve the Alaska National Guard. The entire operation is under federal control, and the governor is not briefed on situations.....

Enough said - what more do you need!!!

Alf wrote on Sep 1, 2008 4:59 AM:Well, "bogie" at 10:35PM on the 31st,
although it may offend some ("To Alf" at 3:10PM springs to mind) and at the risk of tooting my own horn, I was the -
co-designer, carpenter, rough plumber (got all the stubs where they had to be), roofer and electrician (lots of copper in this house, the kitchen has 5 circuits plus a 220/50 spare if I ever go to an electric oven. Is that massive overkill or what?).
That's why I dubbed myself "The One Man Crew".
No leaks yet.
Except when the fire sprinkler contractor did a pressure test of their CPVC joints and found a joint that they had not glued. (I'm not a certified contractor for fire sprinklers.)
I'm not a certified contractor for anything, "just" a journeyman carpenter who has done a few other things over the years. Inspectors can be a wealth of knowledge, if you are "dumb like a fox".
Regards, Alf.

He Said wrote on Sep 1, 2008 6:59 AM:Obama reminds me of those cheap chocolate (don't read anything into the chocolate reference as racism - maybe think white chocolate) Easter bunnies. You unwrap them, notice how smooth they look, but, bite into them, and they taste waxy and are hollow inside.

Yokozuna to Alf wrote on Sep 1, 2008 8:15 AM:Yours @4:59 I heard along time ago: If you don't toot your own horn, someone else will use it for a spittoon. In the past some of the younger crowd didn't know what a spittoon is.

gracchus wrote on Sep 1, 2008 8:42 AM:as i have read today's exchanges questioning whether either obama or palin has sufficient experience to serve as our nation's first magistrate, i only think that the issue is irrelevant. when the authors of the constitution designed the presidency, they created it in such a way that any average citizen could assume responsibility of office and the republic would muddle along; indeed, they wanted a limited chief executive, so that even an extraordinarily ambitious and gifted politician like oliver cromwell could capriously impose his will on the republic.

some of our ablest presidents had minimal experience in civil governemnt before assuming the presidency. washington had little experience in civil affairs; yet, his presidency set the standard for all that have followed. he was able to persuade two politicians of opposing views, jefferson and hamilton, to work in his cabinet for the good of the republic. and for me his greatest accomplishment was becoming our very own cincinnatus.

lincoln also had minimal experience in civil government. early in his presidency washington insiders, william seward and salmon chase presumed that they would wield presidential power while lincoln acted as their front. lincoln disabused them of this notion, and through his character and intellect transformed some of his antagonists into admiring collaborators.

the idea that either of the candidates and their running mates have or do not have foreign policy experience is laugable. does any of them know a foreign language fluently? i don't think so. has any of them studied the history--cultural, economic, poltical, and social--of a foreign country or region? i don't think so. foreign policy is not sharing a cup of tea with a world leader and exchanging pleasantries in a palatial government building. foreign policy means studying issues, consulting experts who do know foreign languages and history, and presenting the nation's case to foreign governments on any particular problem.

if we want this site to be a serious forum for discussing the merits of the candidates let's first knock off the silly mud-slinging on all sides. john mccain--not mcsame or mclame--has served our country honorably in the navy and in the congress. but are his vision of our place in the world and the way to handle our domestic problems good? barack obama is an intelligent and extremely well-educated man with an unusual background who has proven his leadership skills by winning the democratic nomination.

mccain and obama represent two very different views for the future of our country. we should be discussing those views rather than ignorantly and pointlessly raising the specter of a manchurian candidate or the ghosts of lenin and stalin.

Alf wrote on Sep 1, 2008 9:44 AM:Well, "Yokozuna to Alf" at 8:15AM on the 1st, I'd rather have to clean 100 ashtrays than 1 spittoon (yuck!!).
Regards, Alf.

Best idea yet... wrote on Sep 1, 2008 1:19 PM:ALF FOR PRESIDENT!!! He is always right on!!

Nick wrote on Sep 1, 2008 1:41 PM:You know what I always seem to find laughable "Gracchus"? You.
Your always whining and complaining about peoples posts....get over yourself!
You whine and complain about bloggers bringing up candidates lack of experience and try and dismiss it with your nonsense about past Presidents who also lacked it, give me a break.
America is a far different Country today than it was back then and the World is a much different and dangerous place than long ago.
Contrary to what you think "Gracchus", experience does go a long way.

Then you complain that bloggers shouldn't call the candidates names and make fun of them...lmao. Since when were you appointed the head of the NC Times Politeness Blog Police?
Again, get over yourself!

Obama is a bold faced liar and a slimey weasel of a politician and I have pointed that fact out many times WITH THE PROOF.
McCain is lucky he can actually remember his own name when he wakes up and NEITHER candidate actually has a clue on what it take to turn this Country around.

Shoot, we speak 4 languages fluently in my home, English, Spanish, French and Cherokee(you see "Gracchus" some of us injuns are actually educated and still speak our Native tongue), so that must make me a better candidate than the 2 idiots we have now.

And the fact that you would consider The NC Times Blogs to be a forumn for serious discussion is pretty funny as well...lol.

In the years I have been blogging here, I have seen many come and go and also read some pretty funny stuff, but I don't think I have EVER encountered a blogger as pompous as you, even "The Whizzer", and that's one heck of a stretch.

You really want to be serious, try The Christian Science Monitor!

LMAO wrote on Sep 1, 2008 1:44 PM:As the mayor of Wasilla and the governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin has more executive experience than Senators Obama and Biden combined. As commander of the Alaskan National Guard and Air National Guard, she has more military experience than Senators Obama and Biden combined. The feminazis of NOW, the baby killers of NARAL and Planned non-Parenthood, as well as the anti-Second Amendment and secular repressive activists hold her in utter contempt - all positive attributes for the next Vice President of the United States of America. Oo-rah!

Amused wrote on Sep 1, 2008 3:02 PM:Gracchus ignores the catalyst for Barak Hussein Obama's meteoric rise to fame: a fawning, doting, incompetent, dishonest, colluding media. Were it not for the fair and balanced FOX News channel and conservative radio talk shows, Americans who use their cranial mass for purposes other than cultivating their hair would not know of Senator Obama's tremendous lack of experience, his penchant for Marxist government, and the machinations of Chicago politics that got him elected in the first instance. Ignorance is bliss.

Richard wrote on Sep 1, 2008 3:41 PM:Except it is not correct to claim that Palin has experience associating with the military by visiting a foreign theater of war [Iraq is a police action, not a theater of war]. That talking point is a claim always made by Duncan Hunter at all defense appropriations hearings. We are not at war against the country of Iraq. Even many Republicans understand that it's a police action. Some understand it was a blunder that we should exit. Issa routinely makes the claim we are not in a war against Iraq when he's sitting in on torture hearings, because if it's not a war then POW status does not need to be given to any detainees, and thus Bush's torture orders can be allowed to violate Geneva. Europe and the Pacific were theaters of war, not Iraq. And by the way Obama indeed understands as well, and I support his understanding more than either his or anyone else's 'experience' anyway.
And again, he was told by the Pentagon that they feared it might be viewed as a political stunt to visit our soldiers on friendly soil, so he didn't, so what? McCain made a huge deal of the fact that he wouldn't let the Pentagon keep him from visiting soldiers on friendly soil. Well, to that I also say, so what? To McCain this 'proves' that only McCain is a patriot and Obama thus "isn't". To me it proves that Obama listens to others and wouldn't pick a fight over such an issue. Fox News picked upon McCain and decided to announce that the country has now been "destroyed by Obama's lack of visiting", as though the Pentagon lied and Obama should have corrected them. Right, how could Obama get access to their intelligence that led them to request Obama stay away? Ridiculous, and for what purpose would Obama start such an argument?

My Peeps All Love me wrote on Sep 1, 2008 3:49 PM:Best idea(te) yet...
[-] wrote on Sep 1, 2008 1:19 PM:ALF FOR PRESIDENT!!! He is always right on!!

I'm Alf, and I approved this message.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 1, 2008 4:01 PM:My Peeps All Love me[-] wrote on Sep 1, 2008 3:49 PM: You just gotta love the guy.

Alf wrote on Sep 1, 2008 4:37 PM:Well, "Best idea yet..." at 1:19PM and "My Peeps All Love me" at 3:49PM,
I respectfully decline.
My name is Alf and I approved this post.
Regards, Alf.

Amused might not be amused wrote on Sep 1, 2008 6:35 PM:A study by George Mason University's communications and political science departments found that in the last year, while coverage of Obama was greater than coverage of McCain, the Obama coverage was 72% negative, a much higher percentage negative than McCain's. Once again, the facts show that the mainstream media is hardly "liberal". "Fawning"? Quite the opposite, according to the facts. Of course, "Amused", being a good little ditto-head, will dismiss this as propaganda by the liberals in academia. But try to remember, Amused, how much press Obama got with Rev Wright, Farrakhan, the "terrorist" fist-bump, the breathless reporters waiting for a "gaffe", any "gaffe" they could pass on to adoring conservatives, the thousand stories of his inexperience (now defunct thanks to the Palin appointment). The trouble with you guys on the right is that you consider the stories that you agree with background stories, or "fair and balanced" counter-stories to the presumed "liberal" deluge. But it's all fabricated by the right. There IS no liberal deluge, and one study after another confirms this. But when you see even ONE story that is positive about a Democrat, you reflexively (think Pavlov) say, "See? There's that fawning liberal media again!" Never mind that it's one of three stories. You won't be satisfied that it's not a liberal media until the so-called liberal voice is completely silenced, which is really your goal. Wake up!

gracchus wrote on Sep 1, 2008 7:29 PM:nick, you consider me pompous. you certainly have the right to this opinion. i won't argue with you about it.

commentators on this site are anonymous. if indeed members of your household are fluent in four languages, ihave the greatest esteem for their linguistic accomplishment. unfortunately i have no way of verifying your claim.

nick, you have called obama a "slimey weasel." you have the right to call him this, although i disagree with your assessment. what you do not have the right to call him is a "bold [sic] liar." you have never cited a substantive lie which obama has told and provided proof of that lie. and by proof i mean a reliable news source and not some off-the-wall web site.

finally nick, i commend you for reading THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR. it's one of the nation's finest newspapers.

Nick wrote on Sep 1, 2008 8:41 PM:I must say "Gracchus", your post at 7:29pm actually has me thinking of changing my opinion of you.

I grew up with Mexican friends and learned to speak Spanish at a very young age and continued in High School. I was taught Cherokee as well by my Father, as his father & mother taught him and so on. We have vowed NEVER to let our language or our heritage disappear. My wife lived in France for over 6 years and is fluent in French as well as Spanish, and with her urging I learned French which wasn't to difficult after speaking 3 others.
Our nanny is French as well and our toddlers are now spoken to in 4 languages and do quite well in all.

As for Obamas bold faced lie, I have stated it MANY times and it's NOT from some "off-the-wall" website as you put.
Obama has stood in front of tv cameras and stated he WILL NOT take money from lobbyists and larger corporate donors and that he will raise his money from all the small donations of people.
THAY IS THE LIE....he has taken in MILLIONS from the loop-hole know as "Joint Committees".
Obama has taken in Millions from large Corporate donors as well as individuals.
Take a gander at Schedule A of Obama's Victory Fund like I did and you will see numerous donations of $28,500.00 and more.

You see "Gracchus" unlike McCain who has never had any qualms about who he takes his money from, Obama has made a point that he will not stoop to that level, all the while doing THE VERY thing he says he won't.

That amigo, makes him a bold faced liar.

As for the Christian Science Monitor, I was turned on to it by my Poli Sci Prof in college, which is also what I hold my degree in and the only use that piece of paper seems to have is to banter politics with the politcally challenged on these blogs and picking on Liberal Dems which I rather enjoy.

You and I may just find some middle ground yet.
Cheers, Nick.

gracchus wrote on Sep 1, 2008 9:32 PM:nick, i don't consider obama's taking of corporate or lobbyist money to fund his political campaign, despite his initial refusal to do so a lie. this is a change of political tactics. by your own admission anyone can look at his list of contributers and learn who they are. if he had ever denied the source of his funding, this would have constituted a substantive lie. if you cannot perceive the difference between a change in tactics and a substantive lie, i will not argue the point.