John wrote on Sep 3, 2008 1:08 AM:Peggy Hart. a vocal Obama supporter, now seems to know what Hillary supporters will do. Palin must have really gotten to her.

To Dan Shapiro wrote on Sep 3, 2008 2:31 AM:Dan, Dan, Dan, Dan, Dan.

You don't know much about Parlimentary Procedure. A motion was introduced to suspend convention rules. The motion was seconded, and thirded, and it sounds like several thousanded (if there is such a word, but I'm sure you get my point). A voice vote was resounding, and not a single Democratic delegated sounded a nay. So, Obama was nominated by consent of the delegates.

Dan, if since a not a single delegate objected, and I haven't heard of a Democrat who was not a delegate objected, why should you. Its apparent you are hardly a member of the Democratic Party, but just a Republican looking for something to whine about as your party faces certain defeat in November.

Senator Clinton's motion, was a selfless and classy act.

The GOP can only wish they could unify their own party and undo the damage done by the countless "Anybody but McCain" Republicans who were outraged during the primaries, and now would like us to believe are and always have been McCain supporters.

King of Flip Floppers wrote on Sep 3, 2008 2:38 AM:Republicans claim to abhor "flip floppers". How interesting that Joe Lieberman was a highlighted speaker at the GOP convention.

Lieberman has got to be the King of Flip Floppers, changing allegence from Democrat to "independent" simply because his own party dumped him by not offering him a bid at reelection to the U.S. Senate.

But, evidently, Flip Flopping is not only not an issue, but Flip Floppers are a treasured commodity by the GOP, provided they flip and flop in the direction the disire.

And, its interesting that if Lieberman is such an honorable, moral person, the very party that proclaims itself to be the champions of honor and morality rejected him for a VP pick in favor of the Governor of Alaska.

How Come wrote on Sep 3, 2008 2:43 AM:In all the speeches made last night at our GOP convention, McCain was called a lot of things, but one thing he was not called was a "good Republican".

I want a good Republican, not just a good person elected President.

Obama (yeah, this hurts to say as a GOP loyalist) is a good man, just as McCain is, but since neither are good Republicans, I see no reason to vote for the highest office in the land, come November.

So, sadly, I will not cast a vote for a presidential candidate in the first presidential election I have been eligible to vote.

Chuck wrote on Sep 3, 2008 2:54 AM:I would fully expect the liberals go into full attack mode on Palin. First, liberals hate running against women. Next, she is heterosexual. She fished, hunts and skins game, she's an NRA member, she wants to drill for oil and build nuclear plants to save jobs and erase this inflation. All of the above are completely against what the liberals have to offer, so thats why they want to destroy her.

Bill wrote on Sep 3, 2008 3:05 AM:Palin is no Hillary alright.

America knows Hillary......

America rejected Hillary too.

But now stealing Democrat thunder by picking a woman is now "stealing" votes.

I can already hear the drums beating to accuse the GOP of stealing another election.

Get ready because its coming.

What happened to the mantra of change again?

strolling by wrote on Sep 3, 2008 4:47 AM:I was strolling by and read the huge number of comments yesterday. What a bunch of crackpots. I hope on election day you guys are still writing this utter nonsense all day and don't bother to go vote. It would take hours to try to rebute your nutty observations and opinions.

Local voter wrote on Sep 3, 2008 4:59 AM:I'm left hanging in the political winds. I wanted to support McCain but am disappointed in his VP choice. If this is indicative of his thought process, he can no longer count on my support. Independent voters might see a win but at least we won't need to hide our heads in shame after a loss. Yes, independant voters still exist.

Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 6:55 AM:I am.. LOVING THIS!!!
What do we have today? Three letter's today talking about how Palin is not qualified compared to Obama? LOL
I've been warning you on the left, don't do this, everytime you do the comparison it makes our case for us.
This election will be a referendum on Barack Obama, not Sarah Palin.
Palin is in the number 2 slot,
Obama is candidate for President.
They are not supposed to be equal.
I keep going back to George Sr. & Dan Qualye.
It's obvious why Obama needed to choose a Biden, because he needs adult supervision.
Say it with me: Gravitas, Gravitas, Gravitas! LOL

Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 7:08 AM:But you have to agree, Bryan Watkins.
Palin is a strong woman, who scares Democrats, just as Hillary scared Republicans. And in that way, they are similar.
One thing that has been bothering me about all this chatter about Gov. Palin, this side chatter of how she would be a bad mother for accepting the nomination.
I can think of any number of liberal politicians, precisely liberal women politicians. How come nobody ever seemed to be concerned that they wouldn't be able to balance their lives between work & homelife?
All of a sudden, now it's a problem?
Obama has two very young girls, will not they be put into the fishbowl?
JFK's family was, Amy Carter was, we even got into Bush Sr.'s grandchildren, if you'll remember that. The Clintons had a daughter, and GWB had two.
Everyone just assumed they'd manage.
But not this time?
For me, personally.
I'd like to know whether Obama is going to send his girls to public school in Washington D.C., I mean... based on all his hope & change talk about cleaning up the public school system. I think it would be a very good symbolic gesture for him to do, what Jimmy Carter did, and placed them in public school.
Will he? That's the question.

No McCain wrote on Sep 3, 2008 7:29 AM:McCain's biggest advertisements have tried to paint Obama as a celebrity and Hollywood-like. Yet at their convention they have actor Fred Tompson giving a keynote speech. Hypocrisy at its funniest.

Oceanside resident wrote on Sep 3, 2008 7:33 AM:I do live in Oceanside and have reaped the benefits of Jim Gibson's hard work. I will be voting for him for Oceanside City Council. Jim's integrity, professionalism and strong leadership will be great for Oceanside.

jvc wrote on Sep 3, 2008 7:35 AM:At their convention, the Republicans are now telling us, country matters more
than party!Who are they getting their cues from....Benny Hinn, John Hagee,
Rod Parsley or Pat Robertson and other fakers!Isn't country our government that provides for the greater good?
The same government that the Republicans
said is big and wasteful of our tax dollar and therein lies the birth of our modern brand of Conservatism! Does not the Republican conservative extoll the virtues of paying less to our government in taxes because this tax money would be better spent in our hands rather than as a tax? Republican Conservatism is about the pursuit of self -interest and protecting personal wealth even at the expense of the proper support of our government or country, a country that is supported for the greater good by taxes! So, now the Republicans are telling us that government exists fot the greater good? Since the Republican Party is an exlusionary party of members looking out for their own greater good, how are they claiming that their party now exists for the greater of ALL Americans? To define a Republican is to say one must have compassion for only oneself!

NIck wrote on Sep 3, 2008 7:38 AM:Well "How Come", I to want a "real" Republican, but there aren't many that exist in our political world anymore.
I do know of one, and his name is Dr. Ron Paul. Not voting would be a waste and I urge you to look at your choices and the candidates a little deeper.
You may always use a write in and not vote for Obama or McCain as you so choose.
I suggest you take a look at
The Campaign for Liberty.

Good luck in your quest.
Cheers, Nick.

Now I get it wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:23 AM:I heard an interview last evening of several female delegates in St Paul on the BBC. They are among those ecstatic over Sarah Palin. They were asked why. "I'm an army mom and she's an army mom", one said. "She's just like us, someone we can relate to!" The interviewer asked, "Aren't you concerned about her being a very busy mother and vice president as well?" The interviewees chimed in, "You wouldn't ask that if it were a man!" One said, "We've all been working moms. Working moms know how to multi-task, to juggle jobs and priorities. And she has a good husband to help support her." Then it hit me, though it obviously didn't pass through the conscious minds of these women. For 30 years, Republican/Conservative women have felt like second class citizens. The women's movement made them feel inferior, weak, dumb, and inadequate. Now here was one of them stepping up historically. For these Christian woman, Sarah Palin's appointment was a huge, pentup, flip-off to the women's movement. A gigantic "So There! We TOO are strong women!" Now I get it. This Rovian move by McCain might be brilliant, might not, but it tapped into 30 years of resentment.

Oh Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:26 AM:Partisan fanatic Ron has one-way vision, in case you haven't noticed. He says to not call Palin weak or inexperienced because it makes the Republicans' case for them. I agree. But the reverse is equally true. Republicans took away their ace card, calling Obama inexperienced. When they do it now, it makes the Democrats' case fo them. It's a wash, thanks to McCain. End of story.

Floyd wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:38 AM:Just to be sure I understand the message from the liberal Democrats, here's what I'm hearing: a vote for Obama would be "historic" because he's black; a vote for Hillary would be "historic" because she's a woman; no woman will vote for Palin because she's a woman; and nobody should vote for McCain because he's experienced.

Caro Hussein Cogitatus wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:43 AM:Gee, thanks for the concern trolling, Dan Shapiro. Perhaps you missed the whole Primary Election thingy, where Obama won more votes and Hillary gave a big speech about how much she supports him now. For you to have missed these huge events, I don't even want to think where your head has been all this time.
Make no mistake, the outrage is there and still directed at the Bush administration's corruption and many failures. That's why we're so afraid of a McSame presidency.

PIcture this wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:44 AM:We've seen Obama take the challenge and travel to other nations, friends and foes, and be greeted with full respect. He did so well in his trip that the right resorted to calling him Messiah and McCain fumed over the lack of attention he was getting. Now let's picture, shall we, a similar trip by Ms Palin. Talking international politics and economics one-on-one with Putin and Sarkosy. Hanging with the troops and generals on a chopper over Baghdad. Call me crazy, but I can't see it. I can see photo ops of her taking target practice with the boys at boot camp, yes. But when I try to picture her face to face with a Putin or a Maliki, talking tough, demanding things of them, sorry, the picture doesn't come. I know Republicans will say this makes me anti-woman, but please, be clear: I can, if you like, supply you with a long list of American women, from Hillary to Condi, that fit in that picture for me with ease. No, it's not about the gender, it's about the person. And you know what? I think you know this perfectly well in your heart of hearts. I don't think for a moment that even the most loyal Republican can make that picture, never admitting this is true. Woe is us. Country over politics indeed!

Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:50 AM:That's right..
"Oh Ron" @8:26AM...

You keep on saying Obama is more qualified than Palin.
Because, by acknowledging this, your stating what everyone else, already knows... Biden should be in the number 1 slot, not Obama. Even Hillary would have been an acceptable nominee. But, you Dem's had to make history, you just had to make a statement. And the statement is: Please love us, because we are electing a black president, so WE are not racist. Please, please love us again!
In doing so, you are bottom heavy, well.. even with Hillary on the bottom of your ticket, you'd still be bottom heavy, but you would have secured those 18 million voters, plus.. you also make the history by a woman VP.
You guy's chose inexperience, and you chose to make history instead.
Now, saddled with this, knowing this weak presidential candidate then chose a 36 year VP nominee who has been wrong on more foreign policy than anyone else in the entire Senate.
Wrong on Gulf War 1, wrong {according to you} on Second Gulf War, wrong on nuclear freeze, wrong on bankruptcy, wrong, wrong, wrong.
And that's your experience, which WILL be pointed out, en mass. Believe That!

Caro Hussein Cogitatus wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:52 AM:Well, Ron, there you go again. Let's talk gravitas, shall we? Obama warned that the Iraq invasion would lead to instability in the Middle East, billions of tax dollars wasted, and a distraction from destroying al-Qaeda. McCain (along with Cheney, Rumsfeld, and all the other guys with all the decades of experience) said we would be welcomed as liberators. Obama was right, McCain was wrong on the biggest issue of our time. That's gravitas for ya.
You want more? McCain's completely unvetted hail-mary VP pick shows just how shoot-from-the-hip his decisions would be. Wouldn't it be funny if Perky McHockeyMom can't make it to the VP debate because she's in jail for abuse of power? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

DD Wiz wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:54 AM:The published letter from Dan Shapiro, a confirmed Republican who would never have considered voting for either Hillary or Obama, writes about "insider" Democratic politics as if he actually knows something about it, but proves he does not.
He talks about how Democratic "insiders" were the ones who "stole" the nomination (not a general election) from Hillary. This man is writing from another planet!
As one who, along with Mrs. Wiz, has served on both the County and State Central Committees of the Democratic Party for five years each (my wife, a CPA turned real estate agent, was County Treasurer for two of those years), and active in "insider" Democratic party politics before and after, including speaking appearances and media interviews representing the party, I can assure you that I do know a LOT of "insider" Democrats.
And I can further assure you that it was the Clintons who were the insiders, and the ones who had control of the party machinery. Clinton's campaign chair, Terry McAuliffe, was also Chair of the Democratic NATIONAL Committee for many years, right up to the current year, and guided the creation of rules and structures for the primaries, which clearly favored HILLARY.
Almost ALL of the party insiders I know, INCLUDING MY WIFE, were staunch Hillary supporters, and some among our friends who went to the convention as delegates were delegates for Hillary, not Obama, but who -- after being released -- did cast floor votes for Hillary.
This is just one more example of another conservative taking wild guesses or making things up (or, like Bush and McCain, shooting from the hip and then stubbornly holding to the "gut" selection) and, yet again, getting it wrong!
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

nate wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:55 AM:TO HOW COME

If you do not vote you should keep your opinions to yourself. As an american if you cant relate to any of the issues(not people) you have a problem. America right now has some of the biggest challenges we have faced since the depression. If you do not think this election is important enough to vote or you can not get pass the short comings of the candidate you are a just a complainer who does nothing.

Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 8:56 AM:We all know the daily kook's and the mover over's tried to dothis guy in, and he succeeded...
"King of Flip Floppers" @2:38 AM...

We've been trying to tell you, and your not hearing it, because you reside within the echo chamber of the loony.
The Democrat party is a mere shadow of what once was the party of FDR, Truman, JFK, and LBJ. All pro-defense, all cold warriors, all willing to use American military power when it was needed.
In today's liberal democrat pary, these men would be run out, as was Joe.
As was Zell Miller; A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat. You should read that book.

Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:04 AM:Oh, now.. that's a shame....
P. Diddy can't fly his private jet,
Gas is too high.

That is a pity. p.diddy.

Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:08 AM:This is until, Hillary purposely cut off the delegate vote count, cause we all knew, and she, Obama, and the Super Delegates knew... It would show how truly divided the party was.
And that's why she was told to cut
the voting short. And all this time, I was led to believe that: Every vote counts, every voted should be counted?
Silly me.
Cutting her own base off, will not play well. At all.
Just one man's opinion...

What is going on wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:09 AM:It was surreal – Obama comparing his campaign management expertise to Palin’s former position as a small town Mayor. His campaign budget and his number of campaign volunteers he “manages” certainly overwhelmed that of a small town Mayor.

I am not certain how he managed to overlook Palin’s current position as Governor of the State of Alaska, where her monthly budget ($1 BILLION per month compared to Obama's $21 million per month) and number of employees (25,000 compared to Obama's 2,500) wholly overwhelms his management in just pure numbers.

Perhaps that is why he purposely compared his current management against her previous management.

He simply does not compare. But why he tried to compare his current experience to her previous – not to her current – position is inexplicable, even in political terms.

Oh Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:13 AM:"Experience" has tended often NOT to be an issue in Presidential elections. Think Kennedy-Nixon. Think Clinton-Bush. Think Bush-Gore or Bush-Kerry. "Experience" arose from the Republican party this year because it was one thing their guy had on the Democrat guy. We Democrats, like you Republicans in 2000, were not particularly concerned about it, given the qualities of the guy we liked. Exactly like you in 2000. So McCain made an issue of, in fact tried to make THE issue, "experience". That's where that particular debate came from, you might recall. But now, with Palin, McCain says loud and clear (as we Democrats did all along) that mere experience is absolutely meaningless. OK with us, that's what we always thought. So the peculiar position McCain put you Republicans in is amusing to behold. People like raoul write endlessly trying to show that Palin is MORE experienced than Obama. People like you, Ron, are writing endlessly trying to show that being #2 is COMPLETELY different than being #1 on the ticket. Blame McCain for all this twisting and turning you feel obliged to do. He took the argument he gave you all and then stomped on it. You all seem to not know WHAT to do! Please, Ron, be a man, an adult man. Call it a wash and move on to some other argument. You and raoul really make yourselves look like idiots squirming all over this "experience" thing. Please.

EXPERIENCE wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:18 AM:John McCain - 26 years as House/Senate Insider. No executive experience, nor any experience with state issues. Censured for influence peddling for Charles Keating. Consistently wrong on key issues; keeps flip-flopping on key issues (torture, taxes) except to admit he was wrong on Iraq.

Sarah Palin - 20 months as first term governor of the state ranked 47th in population; 10 years city council and mayorhship of small hamlet of less than 7,000 people, where she fired all department heads (never done before) and sparked unlawful termination lawsuits, and is currently under investigation for abuse of power. At both village and state level, flew repeatedly to Washington (at taxpayer expense) to seek funding for projects that were on John McCain's own pork list!
Has failed in trying to manage small, local jurisdictions.
Has NO experience in nationwide or International issues.

Joe Biden - Has extensive local, national and international experience, both executive and legislative. In the Senate since 1973 but never censured or involved in legislative wrongdoing. Never lived in Washington or part of Washington culture. Has been chair of both Judicial and Foreign Relations Committees in Senate.

Barack Obama - State, national and international experience. Has managed the most successful campaign in history, coming in as an outsider against the "insider" favorite candidate who had locked up all mainstream funding sources. Without insider sources, set all-time records for fundraising, smooth operation, and excellence of organization, working with caucuses, party organizations at state and national level, and toppling a popular and highly-favored insider.
Worked across party lines to deal with international issues such as loose nukes from former Soviet Republics and with ethics reform.
Was right on Iraq from day one.

As for the issues wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:20 AM:While all of you are yammering about which candidate has more experience, managed a bigger budget, is more historic, I'd rather think about the simple facts about the issues. Palin is under investigation for abuse of power. She loved the bridge to nowhere and made sure her town benefitted from pork, before she became a "reformer". She is strongly in favor of giving more of Alaska away to big oil, even though big oil hasn't touched millions of acres of land there that have already been given to them. She is completely rigid on "abstinence only" sex education even though that approach, when studied objectively, has been shown to be a complete failure, never mind the irony of her own and her daughter's premarital pregnancies. She believe that if a young woman is brutally raped, she should not have emergency contraception. I see no evidence in her past that she has given a thought to national, economic, or foreign policy concerns, other than saying in public that God sent us to Iraq. Folks, this is not about her sex. It's not about tallying up "experience points" like little accountants. It's about the issues, plain and simple. I disagree with just about everything that Ms Palin is most strongly for, and I believe most Americans agree with me. We'll see. But please, stop with all the distractions. Focus on what really matters to us, if you dare.

Poor Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:21 AM:"Ron
[-] wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:04 AM:
Oh, now.. that's a shame....
P. Diddy can't fly his private jet,
Gas is too high.

That is a pity. p.diddy."

Go back and research the story again and get back to us. Your conclusion is incorrect. Typical.

Interesting Development wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:25 AM:Word is that Obama will be appearing on Bill O tomorrow night before McSame speaks. Apparently Murdock and Ailes are "fascinated" by Obama and had a behind-the-scenes negotiation recently where Murdock promised the Bill O interview will be "fair and balanced".

A brilliant move on Obama's part, to capture the conservative attention right before McCain speaks. No one can say what Bill O will do, but I give him credit for conducting a professional interview with Hillary Clinton a few months back.

What is most interesting is if Obama can negotiate a relative truce with Fox it will not only be hugely helpful to his campaign, but it will reflect once more the skill that Obama possesses in negotiation.

Murdock is smart in working with Obama rather than against him. Fox ratings are already dropping and should the Democrats succeed in taking over the White House and Congress, Fox, in it's present state, will become completely irrelevant.

Here's to all parties working together for a better future. Go Obama!

Feminism Republican style wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:49 AM:Can you believe the outpouring of anger by McCain and his troops? They are saying, loudly and in unison, that it's not fair or right for Democrats or the media to ask questions about the VP pick. I've never seen anything like this, have you? These are the same people who went after any molecule of a bone that Obama had left for their vulture-like appetites to grandstand. Someone Obama met when he was a kid. His church. People that people in his church liked. Every word his wife said, in or out of context. The photo of him in African garb. The rumors of his being Muslim. But along comes Snow White, the Conservative damsel, and, Oh dear! She is in distress! We must protect her from these mean, mean men! She is, after all, a defenseless young damsel. We he-men must not allow this to happen. McCain tells CNN he will punish them by cancelling an interview because they were TOO MEAN to little Sarah, too NOSY about her life. NO FAIR! Good grief, are you people for real?

Media Blackout wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:55 AM:The news is reporting that the McCain campaign has instituted a media blackout on all questions pertaining to their Vice Presidential pick. Slick move.

Bucky wrote on Sep 3, 2008 9:56 AM:Jim Gibson is the right person for Oceanside City Council. A proven leader. Vote for Jim !

sdraoul wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:00 AM:Change the subject, no. I just pointed out that we turned Anbar over to the Iraqi Army. It is the whiners and weepers who ask what my point was. Only non-intelligent people ask such questions. John McCain was way out in front of the curve on Iraq.

He was 100 percent right on how many troops it would take to win the war, which we did in three weeks. He was right that we needed more “boots on the ground” for the occupation. He was right to champion the surge before anyone else did. One blogger wrote he was one of many – OK, name one Democrat Senator who championed the surge, one.

Of course the surge is a success. During its success, the Iraqi government has met 16 of 18 benchmarks Congress insisted on and has taken control of 10 of the 18 provinces and smashed the Mahdi Army in the process.

While “doofus” Joe Biden was suggesting that Iraq be broken up into three countries, allowing Iran to
step right in to control almost all of Iraqi territory and oil, McCain pointed out the folly of such a stupid notion, the Biden Plan.

Then there is the Obama directed smear campaign against Governor Palin. His minions in the MSM are even trying to prove that Governor Palin never had a passport until she went to visit Alaska National Guard troops in Kuwait and Germany.

What poppycock! Barack Obama has never even visited Mexico, not even Tijuana, even as Mexican citizens are covering themselves with glory in Iraq and Afghanistan in our Marines and Army while no German nationals are wearinn our uniform and fighting with us.

In fact, Germans serving in afghanistan as NATO troops are not even permitted to fight, thus while Americans die, German soldiers sniff their scnapps behind the lines and sing songs.

But, what does he care? Does he even know that between our NAFTA partners, Canada and Mexico, we get more oil than we do from Saudi Arabia?

He might know that if he spent more time in Mexico than in Germany, a country that buys less from us than Northern Mexico and is far more unimportant to our security than a country whith which we share almost 2000 miles of common border.

As for Governor Palin, Commander-in-Chief of the Alaskan Armed Forces, the National Guard, exactly what did that moron General say, the General she appointed? Oh, that she hasn't anything to do with the Guard WHEN IT IS ON FEDERAL DUTY...except, of course, to appoint that very General to his job and to promote him or fire him.

Governor Palin has more experience in five minutes as governor on the military than Obama has had in all 46 of his years.

He Said wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:02 AM:King of Flipfloppers said "Lieberman has got to be the King of Flip Floppers, changing allegence from Democrat to "independent" simply because his own party dumped him by not offering him a bid at reelection to the U.S. Senate." Amazing, the Demo's machine dumped him and he won anyway. Who was out of touch?

He Said wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:13 AM:No McCain wrote on Sep 3, 2008 7:29 AM: "McCain's biggest advertisements have tried to paint Obama as a celebrity and Hollywood-like. Yet at their convention they have actor Fred Tompson giving a keynote speech. Hypocrisy at its funniest." Do your arms get longer as you try to reach for something important to contribute herein? What a silly statement!

Richard wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:21 AM:Fred Thompson announced to the world on television that McCain's opponent doesn't have the "pay grade" to protect children and thus is so evil he will simply allow people to let kids die. This bald faced lie reveals the RNC for what it actually is, a partisan unAmerican force that puts a false party belief ahead of the country, and all while touting that they do just the opposite, that they are here for the good of the country. Obama answered the question correctly, where the question was "when does life (not something simply alive like a plant or an isolated egg, but a human being with a soul)first come to be in the process of gestation? Obama admitted he didn't know, nor does anyone know. Posts submitted here have been reasonable guesses, that a sould appears when the fetus develops a brain and has detectable brain waves, but we don't actually know when. McCain's partisan, GOP simplistic false answer was, 'at conception' of the egg by thes sperm. There is no soul in a sperm or an egg nor in an egg after the sperm DNA first enters the egg before implantation in the uterus.
For being honest [not like McCain playing the crowd who is simplisically zero abortion under all conditions] Obamas is accused of being a baby killer who refuses to defend rights of newborn kids. It's a wonder Obama's girls are still living and like him. The GOP does not belong in government service of the citizens of our country. Date rape is a serious crime that should be prosecuted and with a womb cleaning because some biological egg fertilizations are immoral and never destined to happen in the first place. Advocating zero abortion even in cases of violent rape, as does the society to which Plain also apparently belongs, in my view advocates the action s of the rapist, fathering offspring as though their actions are not actually the heinous crimes they are. There is no such zero-abortion-no-matter-what requirement from God. When Germany mandated zero abortion, it re-supplied their Army in their militaristic state, but I don't think it did anything in the way of securing divine support. Thompson denigrates Obama and then on top of that exalts Pailin, an extremist on this very issue, and in my opinion is thus another GOP partisan anti Democrat lie inventor. I have no bones to picak with Pailin except her zero aboriton stance. Who doesn't want good, charitable, honorable people, as Christians are supposed to be, in public office? But since she also supports McCain's foreign policy, I am opposed to her for that also. I cannot vote for a ticket that advocates slaughtering people in a foreign country who have no intention of attacking the U.S. Sorry.

Poor McCain wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:24 AM:Poor old John McCain. His handlers convinced him not to appoint his own choice, Joe Lieberman, but to go for the Christian radicals instead. And to announce it almost as Obama was finishing his speech. Well, it certainly did grab the headlines and the spotlight away from Barack. Mission accomplished. But, hey!, what's this? The spotlight is remaining on her and on McCain as a decision-maker. What? They're asking about her life and career and judgment! Well THAT wasn't in the script! Hey! Lay off! LOL I read today that in Vegas, it's even money that McCain dumps Palin.

Nick wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:29 AM:Yesterday, "Gracchus" dimisses Ron Paul with this quote,
"i do not see ron paul as a man who has offered any serious solution to our problems. if he thinks that abraham lincoln started the civil war, wants to abolish the income tax, and proposes that we unilaterally end our foreign policy commitments which we have maintained for more than 60 years, how can anyone take him seriously?"

I ask, how a can you NOT take him seriously?
First of all, I agree with your point on his statement about Abraham Lincoln starting the Civil War, but I think you take his comment out of context.
Ron Paul's statement had to do with the fact that he believes there were other, more peaceful solutions to abolishing slavery, than a Civil War that claimed over 600,000 American lives and maimed and dismembered many more, and had brothers fighting brothers, and cousins fighting cousins.

The Southern States had every right to Secede from The Union and that is the part Licoln couldn't stomach.
People make Lincoln out to be some great Abolishonist, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
There are many quotes from Lincoln that he "would rather save The Union, than save one slave".

Lincoln and the Union decided to go to war against the South. Lincoln then put the whole country under marshal law and took away habeas corpus and many civil liberties to fight his war.
The Civil War was fought to save The Union, NOT free the slaves, as so many have been led to believe.

The 10th Amendment clearly states that "The powers not expressly delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States, or to the people."

Any state can withdraw from the United States, because the Constitution doesn’t say they can’t.
Lincoln had no Constitutional jurisdiction with which to prevent the lawful secession of the Southern States.

I find it very easy to understand why Ron Paul and others believe that Licoln started the Civil War, but others will argue the point that The Southern States started it by seceding from The Union, which they had every leagal right to do so.

Lincoln's actions are another reason, why myself and others, believe The 14th Amendment to be illegal, for it was NEVER ratified in accordance with the rules layed out in The Constitution and was done so under Military Duress, which is in DIRECT violation of The Constitution.

Cheers, Nick.

gracchus wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:31 AM:in your communique of 8:50 a.m., ron, you suggest that we democrats who support obama do so principally because he is black. do you really know of any democratic voter who has stated that he supports obama because he wants to make history by making obama the first african-american president?
from my readings the only people who make an issue of obama's racial background are those who oppose him. i won't speculate into their motives for doing so. but i would like to know why those who dislike obama assert that his supporters want to make history by electing the first black president feel the need to disclaim any racial animosity toward him.

you, ron, and others who dislike obama are constantly raising the issue of his racial background. his supporters are not. can you explain this paradox to us?

Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:31 AM:And your helping to make our case...
"Oh Ron" @9:13 AM...

>>>People like raoul write endlessly trying to show that Palin is MORE experienced than Obama.>>>

She is, as was Bush, as was Clinton.
All Govenors. Gore never held executive office, lost. You have to go back to JFK to find an upset. But, this present party is NOT the party of JFK, it's the party of McGovern. Another loser.

>>>People like you, Ron, are writing endlessly trying to show that being #2 is COMPLETELY different than being #1 on the ticket.>>>

It is different. As Hillary said "On Day One", and who will it be who'll get the 3a.m. phone call?
Obabble, or real leadership.
Again, as Biden said, and Hillary said..
He gave one speech, and being President is not the time for On the Job training. Maybe VP, but not the President.

esteban wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:32 AM:I actually tend to agree with the libs about Palin's inexperience. It is true, she is inexperienced, but then again, who really HAS experience to run the country other than someone who's already been there? No one. But at least she's hot.

Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:40 AM:And I hear...
We got more newreporters up in Alaska now, than we ever had in Chicago.
Resko,
Wright,
Ayers,
Davidson,
Father Pfleger...
the list in endless.

For me, personally. I want to know why The Chicago Annenberg records have not been released showing how Obama worked with Bill "The Terrorist" Ayers.

Stanley Kurtz has tried to look into
the true nature of the relationship between Barack Obama and Weather Underground terrorist-turned-academic William Ayers. It’s not the crime, it’s the cover-up.
As Nixon learned.

Nick wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:57 AM:On another note about Ron Paul "Gracchus", what is wrond with wanting to abolish the IRS? I am all for it. The IRS code book is an over bloated joke that almost no one can make since of.
Liberal Democrats in this Country want to Socialize all sorts of things, so what is wrong with Socializing the way we pay taxes?
Dems rant about health care in this Country and boast how great Europeans health care systems are, why not use a tax structure similar to them?

As for ending our Foreign Policy committments, I assume you are talking about Ron Paul's vision to close our overseas bases and bring ALL our troops home, not just the ones in Iraq.
Accofding to the DOD, we have 702 bases in 130 Countries with 253,288 uniformed personnel, plus an equal number of dependents and Department of Defense civilian officials and employees, plus an additional 44,446 locally hired foreigners.
I say we close them all and bring our troops home and let them man our borders(especially our southern one) will they will do far more good for this Country.

I also see you failed to comment on Ron Paul predicting the housing & loan crisis we are now in 5 YEARS AGO, and the fact that the House Financial Services Committee failed to listen and heed his warning.

Another thing Ron Paul addresses is the abolishment of The Federal Reserve, which I completely agree with.
Funny how JFK spoke out on the Illegality of The Federal Reserve and wanting to disband it and was soon after assassinated.
I ask you this "Gracchus", who stands to lose the most if The Federal Reserve is eliminated and the production of our money turned over to "We The people" and not a tax free private enterprise?
Who holds the highest stakes in The Federal Reserve and profits the most from the printing of OUR money?

The Federal Reserve System, although created by Congress, is answerable not to the public but to itself. The system is nominally controlled by member banks, i.e., all national banks plus some state banks, but real power rests with the board of governors in Washington.
The Fed's chairman (Alan Greenspan) and board of governors are appointed for long terms by the president but can't be removed by him and don't report to him or anybody else.

Just some food for thought.
I am starting to enjoy these discussions "Gracchus" for you make me think and dg deep.
Cheers, Nick.

DD Wiz wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:02 AM:The published letter from Andy Pino asks if it doesn't "make sense" that climate change, with long-term trends toward higher mean global temperatures, would incorporate a combination of mulitple causes, both natural and human.
Yes, Andy, that does "make sense" but, more important, as repeatedly noted in this forum, it is backed up by extensive unanimity of consensus by real scientists, as published in legitimate peer-reviewed scientific and academic research journals, which agree that there are both natural and human contributing causes.
Environmentalists focus on the human contributing factors because, as humans, those are the ones we can actually do something about.
With the development of technologies to enhance CO2 removal from the atmosphere, it may also be possible to give attention to excesses created by nature, but for now the emphasis remains on doing something about our role in contributing to this problem.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

OBSERVATION wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:07 AM:Gonzales 'Couldn't Remember' Combo For His Safe

Former Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales failed to keep classified documents in a secure location in his Alexandria home, claiming that he simply "couldn't remember the combination" on a in-home safe three years ago.

Shes No Hillary wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:10 AM:You're right! Sarah is no Hillary. Hillary rose to power on her husband's coat tails. Sarah Palin did it on her own. Sarah is half the man that the Obama is!

Alf wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:12 AM:The letter from Barbara Vickroy inspires this question -
Wouldn't it be fascinating if, in 2008, 61 percent of the voters who voted, voted AGAINST Prop. 8?
Regards, Alf.

Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:14 AM:Exactly!!!
"What is going on" @9:09 AM...

Now, before all you lib's get all whooped up about Barack's experience, let's compare apples to apples.
Not apples to grapefruit, as did the Obamaman.

It's true, Wasilla, Alaska has only 50 employees, and has a budget of about $12 million a year.
All true, absolute facts.

Also true, Obama's campaign has about 2500 employees, and is about $21 million a month, or $252 million a year.

The problem with those comparisons is this: That ain't her current job.
She's the Governor of Alaska, not the mayor of Wasilla.

Another flub by Obama, because he knows he's weak, and most of his messiah-ites really don't care about details, anyways.

The fact of the matter is, As Govenor of Alaska, Palin supervises 15,000 state employees. Her annual budget?
Alaska’s FY2008 operating budget is $11.2 billion.

I've skimmed through the FY2009, and found this little goodie...

"SB4004 Motor Fuel Tax Suspension Bill"

On top of that, she's a tax cutter!
I like this woman!!!!

Greenergy wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:17 AM:Phil Acosta's letter is correct that Sarah Palin is "in bed with Big Oil."
However, comparing it to Bush and Cheney is close, but not quite on target.
Bush and Cheney were corporate profiteers from Big Oil.
Palin, who has no broad experience with a variety of energy sources including renewables, but only with oil, was not part of the Big Oil corporate structure (her husband was, but only as a hired laborer).
Instead, her experience is to preside over a SOCIALIST economy in which, in lieu of being funded by sales or income taxes (Alaska is the only state with neither), her state is funded by a for-profit oil business that owns and operates oil resources that are so profitable they return divideds (called royalties) to each resident of Alaska.
She has NO EXPERIENCE managing a state run by a FREE-MARKET, private-sector economy.
Do we really want a socialist a heartbeat away from the presidency? A woman who only six months ago, as governor, also spoke to a convention of the secessionist Alaska Independence Party - showing her support for treasonous anti-Americans?

Question for Ron wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:29 AM:So if you are so interested in the details of Obama's life, why aren't you equally interested in McCain's life, and, even more, why do you tell us to "back off" Sarah Palin? Only Democrats' skeletons allowed?

Ms M wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:31 AM:Ron
[-] wrote on Sep 3, 2008 10:40 AM:..oh Ron, you get it. Just as you have questions about Obama (that all ready have been answered) folks have questions about Palin. Do the libs not have the right to question the cons?

Why experience wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:41 AM:Everyone is yacking about "experience" but no one says anything about WHY experience might be important. I know lots of people who spent many, many years in college, for example, getting lousy grades, changing majors. They sure did have a lot of "educational experience". We value experience because we believe that experience helps teach you about making decisions, about commanding, about having an enormous amount of information in your head, ready to use, about choosing advisors that are great, about thinking on your feet. It's certainly not about counting how many days you spent in which kind of office with how many employees distantly under you. We know that in 2002, Obama gave a long, detailed speech about the coming invasion of Iraq. In that speech and others, he demonstrated an excellent grasp of that situation and of the situation we faced in Afghanistan. In speeches ever since, Obama has shown again and again a command of facts, of complex situations, an ability to think on his feet without getting confused or ruffled. Visiting other countries, he was Presidential in his manner and in how he was received. Whatever his "experience", as counted any way you like, he shows us that he has reaped what we want people to reap from their life's work. Palin (and McCain for that matter) might be Obama's equal in all these crucial traits. We have, so far, just about zero evidence on Palin one way or the other. Saying, "She was Governor!" means just about nothing as a fact in itself. I would think there are and have been hundreds of Governors whom we would agree couldn't stand within a mile of the White House. And plenty that could. Which is she? So far, we have absolutely no idea. In the coming weeks and months, we'll learn a lot about her actual character traits, beliefs, strenghts, intelligence. We shall see. But "debating" the matter in the absence of real information is nothing but partisan yammering, totally useless and empty of substance. We know a lot about Obama. We know nothing about Palin. But we will be learning a lot about her. Ball's in her court.

Nick wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:51 AM:I am afraid I must diagree with you "Gracchus".
There are many who disline Obama and it has NOTHING to do with his color or racial background.
I have expressed my dislike for Obama many times on these blogs and have cited many reasons, but they have never been because of his color or race.
How about the fact that he really doesn't have a clue how to turn this Country around?
Sure, he's a great speaker, and as well he should be, but all he does is regugitate the things his writers put on paper for him.
In non-prompted debates all he can do is talk around in cirlces and I have yet to hear in real solutions come out of his mouth, just a lot of hot air and empty promises.
Notice I didn't even call him a slimey weasel on this one....lol.
Just kidding "Gracchus".
Cheers, Nick.

Take Jim please wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:52 AM:As a resident of the Vista Unified School System, I implore all Oceanside residents to vote for Jim Gibson for city council. Then he can be your problem instead of ours. We in VUSD would be so glad to be rid of him. Thanks.

Poor Dems wrote on Sep 3, 2008 11:59 AM:The selection of Sarah Palin by John McCain has obviously really upset the Dems. Hillary wanted the job something fierce and lost out to Barack Obama. The Dems did it to her. Now McCain comes along and essentially gives the job to Palin in 2012. Sorry Dems... A woman just might be president after all.

Aint it funny how life works sometimes?

Chris wrote on Sep 3, 2008 12:21 PM:A billion of our tax dollars for Georgia. Let's see. Georgia's president decided to grab south ossetia by force and then got his just rewards from Russia, so now we taxpayers have to antee up. Great.

snerd wrote on Sep 3, 2008 12:28 PM:Last year I was privilaged to spend two months in Alaska, which I can assure you is no where near enough time to see this magnificent state. Ironically enough I spent some time in Wasilla. Now Wasilla is so small I really didn't know I was in a town because there isn't much there, and what is there is very spread out. Mostly just people's homes amid acres of forest. I recall there was a gas station and that some of the roads were paved, but most weren't and this was great for us because we were interested in off-roading. The next few weeks will be interesting as we get to see what Sarah Pallin is all about. Alaska is a very different kind of place with a very different type of outcast personality. My impressio