JOhn wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:46 AM:For Richard Crews. Obama was the only senator to speak in favor of partial birth abortion. What humanity! Where were you when we had other examples from your biased party?

To Max Savin wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:48 AM:Sorry, Max, you are 100% wrong.

Bush and McCain have not "lost the stick".

We all know exactly where their sticks are.

All we need someone to do, is pull them out and smack them with them!

Hey Fidel youre playing a broken record wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:54 AM:The oldest cop out in the world is the line like, "...the president doesn't have the authority to spend money, but his do-nothing, Democrat-led Congress does."

Once that do-nothing, democrat-led Congress passed budgets, who signed them into law instead of vetoing them?

Oh yeah, that do-everything wrong, Republican President!

Mainstream Don wrote on Sep 5, 2008 4:11 AM:Today’s paper has a little news item headed "Senator Boxer called Palin an extremist." Governor Sarah Palin is the new Republican Vice President Candidate. Boxer says she is "way outside of the mainstream", and she said Senator McCain showed "a terrible lack of judgment."
Does Senator Boxer think she and her crony senators, Feinstein, Feingold, Kennedy, Kerry, Reid, and Schumer actually think they represent the mainstream? I sure do not think so? They are so far out of the mainstream to the left that they actually think the mainstream center is the far right. So they think Governor Sarah Palin is to the right. Actually tens of millions of us mainstream public are seeing Sarah Palin as better representing us, our interestsm our needs, and our beliefs.

Alf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 4:45 AM:The letter from Max Savin has it right.
Not only did they lose their stick in Iraq, they broke it into little pieces and threw it away in Iraq.
Regards, Alf.

Bills Friend wrote on Sep 5, 2008 4:46 AM:Alf at 7:03 PM Thursday again attacked Bill O’Reilly as rude and inconsiderate while interviewing Obama. I thought they both did very well at conducting a real serious discussion on serious topics. So Alf, did you let your prior prejudice influence your powers of observation? Did you even watch the interview or just assume your conclusion was correct without watching at all? I watched Bill ask many questions and not interrupt at all letting Obama state his positions AND clarify some of his prior statements, such as he would not invade Pakistan with a ground army to capture Bin Laden. Other times Bill let Obama answer at length, but then only interrupted to move on to the next question. There was only a time or two when Bill and Obama both interrupted each other to explain what was meant by a question or answer. Would you want Bill to kneel down on a carpet before the seated Obama and let him give speeches on whatever he wanted? The idea of the interview was to ask some hard questions and allow Obama to state his positions, and clarify some of his previous statements that may have been misunderstood.

Alf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 4:57 AM:The question posed by Phil Epstein in his letter is a good one.
I want something that is not more of the same un-Constitutional, illegal, bull-headed in the wrong country putrescent garbage that has been fed to us for the last 7 and change years.
I want our country to stop hemorrhaging its life-blood where it should not be spilled at the direction of an insane idiot of a president.
And I want someone who will spend money, if it needs to be spent, on our own problems NOT WAGING PERPETUAL WAR.
In other words,
I want NO MORE of the same, that means NO McGWB, NO PALIN.
Regards, Alf.

Bills Friend wrote on Sep 5, 2008 5:08 AM:Bill O’Reilly has become considerably more tactful at interviewing in the last year or two. Part of that is attributable to his weekly body language segment with Tonya Reiman, author of the recent book, "The Power of Body Language". Usually she comments on the body language of well-known persons after seeing the TV clips shown by Bill.
These are usually involving persons in current news events and interviews. Sometimes they involve Bill being interviewed on other programs, or Bill interviewing other persons on his program. So after seeing himself in the clips he has toned down some of his mannerisms. One time he asked Tonya after showing a clip, "Was I rude?" And she shyly nods and says, "Yes". Also Bill reads some emails at the end of each program (except when he is out of town). He says he gets about 4,000 per day. Often one says "you were too easy on John Doe last night", and the next one will say, "you were too hard on John Doe last night."

Alf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 5:18 AM:In his letter, John Cusumano has it backwards.
Switch the genders and you'll see why.
To follow his analogy-
Horton deposits the fertilizer in Daisy,
then Horton goes off and does his thing, while telling Daisy that she must "sit on the egg" and can't go anywhere.
Horton has hijacked Daisy's body and has the gall to tell her what she can and can not do.
Along comes a hunter and shoots Horton dead and Daisy can now choose if she wants the egg to hatch or not.
Daisy lives happily ever after and the next Horton thinks twice, thrice
and then some more,
before figuring out that he has no right to tell Daisy what to do any more.
Being an elephant, the next Horton never forgets what happened to the first Horton.
And he learns and accepts.
Regards, Alf.

Bills Friend wrote on Sep 5, 2008 5:23 AM:I am not a member of Bill's fan club, but I usually watch his program. He also has his own web site "billoreilly" as one word. He also writes a weekly newsletter. This week's column is titled, "Chatting With Obama" You can find it easily on Google by entering the above title or on the web site. It describes the interview and states his opinion of Obama based on what he knows so far. It was written after all four segments were recorded. The other three segments of the interview with Obama are to be broadcast next week.

He Said wrote on Sep 5, 2008 5:45 AM:I didn't see one post mentioning Trace Atkins and his rendition of the national anthem last night. We need to study his singing, check out the internet for negative information, speculate his gender preference because of his long hair, delve into his personal sex life, create cute little names and anagrams for him, investigate the treatment of animals on his ranch, interview his "roadies" for tidbits of data, etc. If he associates himself with the evil Repub's there must be some dark secret of how it will benefit him financially. Oh, wait a minute! It's already become clear. He charges the poor the same price as everyone else for his concerts! Bad, Bad, Man. We must not reveal, however, the amount of money he gives charities for the sake of children stricken with immune deficiency problems.

Billo In Love wrote on Sep 5, 2008 6:20 AM:WOW. Last night Obama controlled that conversation with O'Reilly, and was able to finish every point he wanted to make.

Afterwards Billo said "I looked him right in the eye. This is a tough guy."

Barack Obama = Alpha Dog

jvc wrote on Sep 5, 2008 6:33 AM:As to the union endorsement of Vista's
board members :

No more union endorsement of board members or any political office should be permitted as this would be a conflict of interest and works against the interest of the electorate to properly select board members that work for the interest of the district versus a special interest group! We must elect board members that are working to provide for the well being of the students of the district and not teacher's unions! We must outlaw the political influence of powerful public unions in the electoral process, a public union that exist to serve their self-interest agendas!

No McCain wrote on Sep 5, 2008 7:03 AM:Synopsis of McCain's speech for those who missed it:

"Change, change, change. I'm the candidate of change... did you know I was a P.O.W.?"

I've heard this talk of change somewhere before. I guess he's all out of fresh ideas.

Senator McCain = 10% change, 90% the same.

Something for everyone wrote on Sep 5, 2008 7:11 AM:Wow, McCain is full of promises just like the other guy. In his campaign, he's said that he will increase military AND health care spending, AND balance the budget, making that gazillion dollar deficit go away while spending more and taxing less. Fabulous. Now, in the midst of his convention and cronies insisting that Democrats are vile idiots who would ruin the nation, McCain says he's going to reach across that aisle and work with Democrats like he always has. Which John McCain would you like today? Which would you like as President? I don't think HE cares as long as you vote for him.

Lay off this not that wrote on Sep 5, 2008 7:20 AM:I agree that criticizing Palin for her daughter's dallying is obnoxious and has no place in a discussion about the election. I have been careful to "lay off" those kinds of avenues. On the other hand, I will look microscopically at Palin's public record, at her stated beliefs that would impact her service in office. Just as I do any candidate. In this area, I find her views just plain awful. Pork barrel projects for her town/state. Banning books. Rejecting emergency contraception for a rape victim. Denying women the right to choose. Wanting to give more and more and more public land to the oil companies. Asserting that the Iraq invasion was at God's behest. No, thanks. I won't lay off these parts of the Palin story. These are the views of a fanatic and panderer, someone I'd not want a heartbeat away from the White House. I believe and hope most Americans are as turned off by Palin's political beliefs as I am.

Vista Granny wrote on Sep 5, 2008 7:20 AM:Fidel, like several others in this blog, keep blaming our Democratic Congress for spending us so far into debt. The Democrats have only had the so-called control for two years and they do not have enough of a majority in the Senate to do anything, good or bad. The President may not be able to pass laws to spend money, but he can veto good bills -- and keeps requesting more and more money for his war, which Congress is honor-bound to give him. BTW, we have other obligations which we are honor bound to pay, starting with the horrendous interest on the money we've borrowed, Social Security (which actually takes in more than goes out), Medicare (which is robbed by HMO's and drug companies), military and civil service retirements, infrastructure (which we are neglecting)and on and on.
The tax cuts have hurt us and our children will suffer for it.

OBSERVATION wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:02 AM:AP Top News at 10:27 a.m. EDT

33 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's unemployment rate zoomed to a five-year high of 6.1 percent in August as employers slashed 84,000 jobs, dramatic proof of the mounting damage a deeply troubled economy is inflicting on workers and businesses alike. The Labor Department's report, released Friday, showed the increasing toll the housing, credit and financial crises are taking on the economy.

Alf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:03 AM:Well, "Bills Friend" at 4:46AM,
it's simple -
an interviewer asks a question,
if the interviewer wants to hear the answer,
if he wants the audience to hear the answer, the complete answer,
he SHUTS UP and listens to the answer.
HE DOES NOT talk over the person interviewed, especially if that person is running for President, no matter which party that person belongs to.
In the 5 minutes that I watched, Bill O'Interrupt interrupted well over 4 times and that does not include the NECESSARY changing of subject.
Bill O'RUDE proved to be exactly as rude, arrogant, one-sided and inconsiderate to his guest and to that part of his audience who might actually want to hear the complete answer as he was some time back, that is the biggest reason I stopped watching.
In an official debate situation the people get to speak their piece without interruption, constrained only by the clock, not some rude know-it-all who talks over the person speaking.
At least here, in these comments, we must allow the other person to finish what they are saying.
Regards, Alf.

Fidel is wrong wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:11 AM:Fidel Jiron says that people in the military do not get to pick and choose what wars to fight, they just do their duty. I disagree. When we tried the Nazis at Nuremburg, and they defended themselves by saying they were following orders as good soldiers, the world ruled that an inadequate defense. Human individuals, they said, do not turn in their humanity and moral sense when they put on the uniform. When asked to do things that are objectionable or, in their opinion, immoral, they DO have the ability to say no, and accept the consequences. Many military people have done so, though they don't get much of the spotlight despite their admirable courage of putting morality over blind patriotism. If I were in the service, having volunteered to keep my country safe, and was told to go to Iraq, premised on lies, having nothing to do with the national defense, I'd say no.

Caro Hussein Cogitatus wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:29 AM:Hilarious! Didja see the mysterious building with the verdant green lawn behind McCain last night? Wonder what it was? It was Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood, CA. Why a middle school?

Perhaps McCain attended it at some point (I'm sure he'll tell us so if true), but far more likely is that the Very Serious and Responsible adults at the RNC went looking for pictures of Walter Reed Medical Center and didn't know the difference.

I've seen comments on this board referencing Democrats as Keystone Kops. Allow me this reasoned and thoughtful response:

HA HA HA HA HA HA HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!

Karl wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:37 AM:Lay off this not that @ 7:20 AM:

My hope is that "most Americans are as turned off by" partisan political hacks who have more time to post anti the other party crap than to contribute something positive.

Karl wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:43 AM:Good point "Vista Granny @ 7:20 AM:" (The Democrats have only had the so-called control for two years). It kind of reminds me of this blog. Everyone is far too partisan to see the value of the opposing view. Kind of the way the Dems and Reps in Washington think of each other "my way or the highway", at least that is what they present to us lemmings.

TFB wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:54 AM:JOhn at 12:46 a.m. repeats a common LIE from right-wing extremist hate radio.
Obama has NEVER spoken "in favor of partial birth abortion" (showing further ignorance; the correct term is "Dilation and Extraction" or D&X).
The procedure is extremely rare, less than 4 out of every 10,000 births, and used for extreme cases such as deformity or serious maternal trauma, and is only used when it is the least traumatic method of removal. Is it gruesome? Well, have you ever watched an open heart surgery? Have you watched a simple cataract surgery, as the doctor pokes a scalpel into someone's eye? I have. Some of you tough "macho" boys would probably get too squeamish and melt to the floor. Medical procedures are sometimes gruesome.
On the contrary, Obama has expressed his opposition to the D&X for purely elective purposes, but opposes any outright ban that does not take into consideration its legitimate applications.

TFB wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:01 AM:The letter from John Cusumano (whose name suggests the probability HE will never have the most private part of his body invaded by an unwanted intruder) shows the desperation that anti-choice extremists have now sunk to: their position is now based on, what? DR. SEUSS!

Joe wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:06 AM:I'm sorry, but was it just me who took offense to the Republican congregate and Rudy Guiliani who thought that community activism was something to laugh at? Helping people who have lost thier jobs, can't pay the rent, no money for food, have their homes foreclosed on, this is something to ridicule? Don't Republican's get it? One of the reasons that Barack Obama is so popular is that common, ordinary people believe that he honestly cares about them. That he will create real change in their lives. That can't be said about the Republican Bureaucrats who have lost touch with many of the people they serve. Where have these Republican politicians been the past 8 years? Now, in an election year, they want change? They realize that the American public is demanding it and are jumping on the band wagon to keep their party in the Executive Branch. They'll say anything at this point to create a smokescreen of their true purpose of maintaining the status quo. John Mc Cain is a good man but his voting record speaks for itself. If he voted with President Bush 90% of the time then why would we expect anything different if he took office? Barack Obama is a true humanitarian who looks out for the welfare of those who don't have the power or means to do it themselves. He will be a caring, charasmatic leader who loves his country and will serve the people in it!

Lay off this not that wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:08 AM:Thanks, Karl. Seems like we agree. My earlier post was about positions, not party. I share your hope or wish that every American had a strong negative reaction to every statement of malice that was not about, and reasonably about, issues. If a daughter of mine became pregnant, I would not want her to have to even think about a coat hanger in a back alley. If I went to the public library, I'd want to know that books that were offensive to the mayor were not banned. As a taxpayer, I want to see the oil companies drill on the land they have before they are given more at my expense. Issues. It should be about the kind of country we want to live in. Good post.

DD Wiz wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:14 AM:The published letter from Mark Ruhm, with the threat that "Obama will rob Peter to pay Paul," is just another distortion of the Obama platform. What Obama wants to do is to make "Peter" STOP robbing "Paul," and make "Peter" carry his fair share of the load.
For far too long, elitist investors have been living off the productive labor of working people who create wealth for them. They pay a lower tax rate for their UNEARNED income than hard-working, salt-of-the-earth working people who actually generate a bit of sweat (from the brow or wherever -- the people sho shower after work. How long do you think that free ride will continue when all the jobs are shipped out of the country, or consumer confidence is so depleted by underimining consumer protection, that there is no one left to produce the goods that sustain their elitist lifestyle, or no one to buy the products they're trying to sell?
Oh, and by the way, nothing in Obama's proposals, or in progressive tax rates in general, ever discriminates AGAINST those who are well off. They pay exactly the same rates on the portions of their income in equivalent layers -- not factoring in the regressive payroll tax structures or reduced investor tax rates which actually give "Peter" a free ride to keep stealing from "Paul."
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

Alf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:17 AM:Well, "Karl" at 8:43AM,
when legislators vote along party lines
like they have especially in the last 2 years,
they put party before what's good and right for country (or state).
They fail to realize that their petty party-line crap costs lives, money and may cause the downfall of this country in our lifetime.
That's why I'm so anti-GWB and anti-McGWB and anti-Palin, they all willfully, wantonly and purposely put their personal and/or financial and/or egotistical goals ahead of the welfare of this nation, its people and its Constitution.
Regards, Alf.

Reardon wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:26 AM:The Conventions are over. I listened to exactly zero minutes of those two celebrations of lying and puffery.

The buzz about Palin is a bit disconcerting. She has generated more buzz in six days than Obama did in his 18 month media blitz.

I am caught between voting for a couple of soft socialists, one of whom belongs to the Religious Left of Black Liberation Theology, or a couple of Born-Again’s from the religious right.

Having been educated in Catholic and Baptist military schools, I have found that I can avoid religious nuts more easily than I can people with guns who want my money through higher taxes.

In Catholic schools, I was marched to Mass DAILY for three years, and in Baptist schools I was forced to take an hour of Bible-study daily for a year plus Church weekly. At Annapolis, I was marched to Chapel every Sunday.

I had just one run-in with the IRS, and that was more difficult than all of the religious problems I ever had.

Given the problems with dealing with government or religious nuts, I’ll accept religious nuts every day. Yes, I hear that Palin fired the town Librarian because that Librarian would not ban certain books – but I don’t think that is ever going to get much traction nationally.

But raising taxes and redistributing the wealth of the Black Liberation Theology is something that gets enough traction for me to fear. The difference between “You are your Brother’s keeper” as a religious admonition, and “You ARE your Brother’s keeper” as a government command, is the difference between religion and government.

Yes, there are third-party alternatives, but they simply are side-shows.

As usual I am forced into a defensive position where I vote against the worst of the two candidates. I am, once again, selecting the lesser of two evils. How the political system provides us with such candidates is beyond stupid.

But it is what it is.

But the real kicker is two lawyers (and a potential lawyer First Lady) running against two non-lawyers!

That makes my selection easier, if not easy.

Strange Brew wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:27 AM:It was quite surreal last night watching McCain deny his own party and take the Maverick stand once again. He spoke about change like he was on the outside looking in. The crowd went wild cheering his courage at leaving the party, THEIR PARTY, and continued to cheer as he separated himself from his own party leaders, many of whom were in the audience cheering along with him.

So he is saying it's all George, Dick and Condi and everyone else was not to blame for the tradegy of the last eight years?

He is saying I know THEY screwed up but I will do better? Who is this new party he is speaking of? He is going to change the Republican party by being the Republican party?

Ya! Those darn Republicans, let's throw them out of office!

Signed,

The Republicans

Advice for BillO wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:28 AM:I never catch BillO. I have an aversion to indulgent expressions of anger, to rudeness. I hear enough people talk about him to have a sense of his style. I also don't listen to air america for that reason. When I want to watch sports, I don't watch professional wrestling for the same reason. Anyhow, my advice for BillO and his ilk is to listen to Bob Edwards, formerly of NPR, currently on XMPR. In an hour interview, I'd guess that Edwards' voice is heard less than 5% of the time. It's all about prompting the guest to speak at length. Amazingly informative. BillO could learn something from Edwards, the master, but I suspect his ratings and income would take a big hit. It's the only money vs ethics dilemma.

jvc wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:38 AM:Wow, McCain has transformed himself
into an FDR Democrat! With our
dysfunctional broken economy, we will need another FDR!

Alf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:39 AM:The letter from Mark Ruhm has it almost right.
If we are given a choice of ONLY two things -
Paying Paul (who is alive today)
by robbing Peter (who is alive today),
OR
Paying Paul AND Peter (who are alive today) by borrowing money that Mary (who is not alive today but will be 4 or so generations from now), will have to pay.
Compulsive spending is common to BOTH major political parties, the main difference is where the money comes from to pay for this spree.
Borrow and spend has no immediate hurt,
Tax and spend does have an immediate hurt.
Which one would you choose?
Regards, Alf.

Dear Mr. Crews wrote on Sep 5, 2008 9:58 AM:Your comments "Some righties are praising Palin's continuing her pregnancy knowing of her child having Downs Syndrome. I call it callous and/or cruel to force a child to a lifetime of estrangement to life. Call me callous and cruel, but I can't elevate a Down patient to the better part of living." are so off base, they are not even on the map.

Who are you to determine what a "life" should entail. Have you ever met or knew someone with DS? If you had, you would NOT be making these kinds of remarks. These are some of the best people on the face of this planet. They have an innocence that you obviously have either forgotten about or never knew.

Your remarks are shameful, and those sentiments are coming from one who isn't a "righty."

Richard wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:00 AM:I agree with Joe.
And by the way, the McCain statements denigrating the "do-nothing" Congress that "spends" because of "serving themselves rather than the country" is that very same Congress that has funded the Bush/McCain billions to Iraq that have been demanded by lying that we're in a declared war for the salvation of our nation from terrorists that might get a safe haven in Iraq, so we had to invade, remove Baathists and rebuild their army so it's now pro-Iran Shia instead of the anti-Iran Sunni style it was before we entered. Do nothing Congress? 800 billion spent on Iraq. Serving themselves rather than their country? Most Democrats denounced this nonsense in Iraq long ago but yet of course obligated to support our men there because indeed they are not serving themselves, but are trying to serve the country? Doesn't Navy man McCain understand even at his age that loose lips sink ships?

Obvious wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:06 AM:The Republicans had 6 years to deliver the goods. Now it's time to give the other party a chance.

Ron wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:07 AM:Interesting that you deflect from what Obama actually did in the hard back streets of Chicago...
"For Ron and sdraoul" {Sep. 4} @5:00 PM...

And I want everyone to please pay attention to the strawman setup by this blogger in mentioning Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., amid other's, in his response, as if by osmosis Barack can make some type of claim to these men.
It does not work that way.

Community organizing is when people are brought together in common self-interest and attempt to compel others to join them.
In Chicago, community organizers are foot soldiers for the local political machine.
Obama followed in {Frank} Davis' footsteps, becoming a community organizer in Chicago.
Gerald Kellman, who first recruited Obama, taught him the basics, and he also learned from organizing trainers associated with the Gamaliel Foundation.
Gerald Kellman, whose identity Obama also tries to hide in his book,
is a disciple of Saul "The Red" Alinsky.
The Woods Fund provided Kellman with his original $25,000 to hire Obama.
Obama served on the Woods board with terrorist Bill Ayers of the Weather Underground. And Ayers was one of Obama's early political supporters.

So you see how all this is beginnging to tie together? Not like you tried to do, by giving us all of the other names, MLK, John Lewis, Ralph Nader, or Paul Wellstone. Obama NEVER worked with any of these men, he worked with Ayers, he was hired by Kellman. He was mentored into his community organizer role by Frank Marshall Davis.

But do you see how you must skirt the truth about how Obama came to be an organizer, in order to prop him up?

And speaking of Wade Rathke of ACORN.
Their particular brand of community organizing, relies the homeless and ex-cons to register dead people,
shaking down corporations, and using the race card. Sounds like Jesse Jackson, or Al Sharpton style, to me.

OBAMACAN wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:15 AM:Has anyone been watching the Daily Show's excellent "coverage" of the Republican National Convention?
My favorites are when, instead of making up their own jokes or skits, they juxtapose actual back-to-back doubletalk from politicians.
The best was broadcast late Wednesday at 11:00 p.m., and rebroadcast yesterday at 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. It was hilarious, showing the rank hypocrisy of the Republicans regarding Sarah Palin.
First, it showed a clip of Karl Rove lambasting the media for criticizing Palin's paper-thin history of "experience," as he puffed up how important it was to have a mayor of (what he called) the "second largest city in Alaska (Wasilla, with 7,000 people is nowhere near the size of Anchorage, Fairbanks or Juneau, and the whole state has about the population of North County). Then, it showed a clip of Rove discussing the possibility that Obama might pick Virginia governor Tim Kaine. Rove says that with Kaine's ridiculously limited experience, only THREE years governor of a (major) state, plus being Lieutenant Governor, and having been mayor of a city of only 200,000 people (Richmond), it would be an insult to Americans and show he was selected for purely political reasons and not to get the best qualified person. Double talk!
Then it showed Bill O'Reilley lambasting the criticism of Palin's hypocrisy for promoting abstinence only as her unwed teen daughter gets knocked up - that these things happen in any family and it is no reflection of the mother. Followed by, of course, a recent clip of O'Reilley lambasting unwed teen Jamie Lynn Spears and saying the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the MOTHER.
Then there is Fox "analyst" Dick Morris and McCampaign Senior Policy Advisor Nancy Pfotenhauer, both in Fox news clips, lambasting the media for picking on a woman (Palin), followed by, of course, clips of each of them viciously criticizing Hillary Clinton for raising the same complaints.
But the best was of Sarah Palin herself, in a March 2008 clip, unleashing her pit bull anger (with a lipsticky smile, of course) against Hillary for being a "whiner" about not being able to take the kind of scrutiny that a presidential campaign has to expect.
I don't know if it is on YouTube yet. My McCain-like Internet skills being somewhat limited, I wasn't able to find it (though I did copy from my DVR disk to my computer and download to my iPhone).
If someone can find it and suggest better search terms than I was using, please help.
Ron and Raoul would be inspired by the amazing, incredible ability to spin demonstrate by these Republican masters of doubletalk.

gordon wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:17 AM:to: Strange Brew- did you notice there were no GOP signs or Republican logos at "their" Party convention, except a small one allowed atop each sign, a logo not recognizable on tv? What does this say about the "inclusiveness" that is the "Grand"? 'ol Party? They are following the divide and conquer, in secrecy Rove formula, trying to seperate McCain from Bush while having their radical Republican Platform at the same time. News today that Palin's handlers will censor her from the media and "give you the answers you need" surprise anyone?

Alf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:17 AM:About the letter from Fidel "Jay" Jiron -
I wonder if Fidel "Jay" Jiron realizes that the president does have the power and authority to veto any bill before him unless his previous veto has been overridden.
I wonder if Fidel "Jay" Jiron realizes that the Congress does not have enough Democrats to over-ride a presidential veto -
IF the Republicans vote along party lines like they did on all but one or two vetoes.
While Fidel "Jay" Jiron has the right to vote any way he wants to, or not to vote, there is no wisdom AT ALL in voting along party lines when doing so is not in the best interest of this country.
It is NOT in the best interest of this country to "stay the course" that GWB has set unless you think that we are better off than we were in January 2003.
Regards, Alf.

Alf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:26 AM:I may have gone to school with Daniel Smiechowski.
No matter, I'm not interested in Palin's daughter.
I AM interested, disgusted and appalled that Palin, a "pro-lifer" who would deny abortion to everyone else for any reason, gave her daughter that option.
That is hypocrisy.
Hypocrisy is something that I will not tolerate, nor should anyone else tolerate, especially in someone who might be vice president.
Do you want a blatant hypocrite as an elected official anywhere?
Regards, Alf.

So SOLON wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:31 AM:Just a simple answer to a simple question from last night.

So SOLON
[-] wrote on Sep 4, 2008 2:43 PM:Obama says, "It is unacceptable for Iran to posses nuclear weapons". So SOLON, If your friend Iran is so misunderstood and no threat to anyone, Then why did he say that?

SOLON
[-] wrote on Sep 4, 2008 4:08 PM:Statement is a lie
Senator Obama has never made the statement claimed by blogger @ 2:43 PM.

So Solon
[-] wrote on Sep 4, 2008 4:31 PM:Check it out your self in Obama's interview tonight on the factor.

So SOLON, Now that we ALL know Obama did make that statement, I ask again, If your friend Iran is so misunderstood and no threat to anyone, Then why did Obama say that?
????

One simple answer, That is all I'm asking. Or is it that a peon like me is just not worth your elitist time? It's not like I'm asking you to part the water in my driveway so I can get my car out on dry land.

Your alter's are in a good mood today, Guess you went AWOL.

A Lefty wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:33 AM:I have to agree that Crews comments are out of line regarding Down's Syndrome children. I will also say, if it were me, I would not bring my 4 month old baby to a loud, late crowded event like the convention, Down Syndrome or not.

Alf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:36 AM:Well, "Dear Mr. Crews" at 9:58AM,
the decision that Palin made about her DS child is hers alone and I do not stand in judgement of it.
If Palin had aborted it, my only objection would have been her hypocrisy based on her stance on abortion, not whichever way she chose to go.
Choice is better than tyranny any day of the week.
Regards, Alf.

hardtack wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:38 AM:I hope Betty Reich and others will read, and assimilate, Mario Minervini’s letter today.

When Ms Reich says McCain “could, on impulse, make too quick a decision to go to war,” is her concern about the presidential candidate with an “( R )” following his name; or is her concern about a Congress that predominantly has “( D )” following their names?

As an independent voter, I would say that McCain’s VP choice was brilliant, judging by the hysteria it has created among Democrat partisans.

jvc wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:42 AM:Wow, California is now requiring that
eight graders be tested in algebra!
Does this mean that California teachers will now have to learn algebra?
And, eight graders must know how to read before they can learn algebra because algebra text require reading to learn math!All knowledge requires the ability to read, even to learn math!
Try defining what defines proper literacy before setting-up standards of core subjects!

Alf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:45 AM:Well, "Reardon" at 9:26AM,
among other criteria,
I must include
Respect for and adherence to the Law and the Constitution.
I wonder how many times and in how many ways GWB has violated his Oath of Office, which reads -
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.".
Regards, Alf.

esteban wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:48 AM:Uh Max, Not sure if you noticed, but we walked into Iraq, desimated their army, toppled their gov't, and started elections...all in a few years. And even without our strongest weapons. Not too shabby if you ask me. Say what you want about why we are there, but we still have a big stick. The biggest. It's how we use the stick that is the problem.

hypocrites wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:03 AM:Can't criticize the failed parenting of Palin as exhibited by a teen pregnancy of her 17 year old daughter? If this was a democratic VP nominee, the moral morass of the republicans would have been all over this like white on rice. Once again, it's okay for the republicans to preach "do as I say, not as I do." Who is going to support this child? How is her daughter going to finish her education? Oh -- that's right -- they have money to soothe the raw consequences of teen pregnancy. Palin is an arrogant ignorant mouthpiece for "family values."

Reardon wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:04 AM:Alf: Your 10:45 post is incongruous, but obsessive.

Bush is not running, and while I fully understand your obsessive need to bash Bush on Constitutional matters even when discussing today's weather, I know no way of judging how either current candidate will actually behave in office re the Constitution.

Bush swore his oath, and then ignored it. Any candidate can do the same.

Predicting fidelity to the Constitution is called "FAITH."

Focal Point wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:09 AM:Fidel is wrong[-] wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:11 AM: You are both wrong. If you were a German soldier during WWII, you would find you and possibly your family shot dead. The people tried in Germany were Nazi leaders and members of the General Staff. I do not know of any German field grade office, NCO or enlisted soldier tried for anything at the conclusion of WWII. I do know that a few of the guards at the camps are wanted for trial to this day. Being guard at a camp and being in a combat unit just isn't the thing.
Our armed forces to not have the liberty of disobeying orders unless the order is unlawful. The order to deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan is a legal order. A direct order to torture or degrade prisoners of war is an illegal order.
I do disagaree with Jiron about the people in our armed forces in the enlisted rank. Granted many of them are patriots. But, he fails to recognize that the military is user for upward mobility. Some are there for a job. Others are there for benefits such as pay, health care and education. Still others use it as a vechile to get out of the barrio or the ghetto. I have met some who were running away from home. Still others are on some macho trip. Whatever the reason, the recruits are not the same people after Boot and ITR.

Focal Point wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:13 AM:Alf[-] wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:45 AM: I do not know how many times that GWB has violated his oath. I do know that the first time was when he took it on Inauguration Day.

abortion is murder plain and simple wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:14 AM:After onemonth a baby breathes and has a heartbeat. Abortion after 1 month is murder. The woman made the choice for sex too. For rape or incest, she shouldhave a choice.

Karl wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:39 AM:Alf @ 9:17 AM:

I think I have thoroughly explained my position. Your 3 musketeers are are not alone.

Karl wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:42 AM:Reardon @ 9:26 AM:

Darn Reardon, I thought I was the lone ranger. I guess that you had much better things to do with your time also.

Peace in our lifetime (the oldest one here hopefully)

Oh Please wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:42 AM:esteban[-] wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:48 AM:
You gotta be kidding. There army did not stand and fight at all. I don't care if we walked,ran,crawled or blitzed them. The USA should not have invaded. Defeating them is not an excuse for invading a country that had not attacked us. Yes it is shabby. It is very shabby that our armed forces have suffered 4300 dead over 30,000 wounded and over 70,000 civilians killed so we be the big bully winner of uneven fight to satisfy the ego of GWB. You need to wake up. This country is imperialistic. Its main goal is oil and a staging area for the hit on Iran.

richard wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:42 AM:It depends on what you mean by "Iran". The corrupt government of Iran would be a threat to us if it had a nuclear weapon. Since it doesn't, it isn't. The country of Iran, the majority of its pople who love the U.S., is not a threat either way. But I suspect most people there would become a threat if we invaded or bombed Tehran. Clear enough?

Bill One wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:47 AM:I am not attempting to defend the Republicans but I would like to know something. While most libs are really concerned about Sarah Palin I am equally concerned about Barak Obamah. When you look at his life, years and years in a black liberation theology church and his association with a know terrorist to his admiration of Rev. Wright, I get really concerend. And it wasn't until all this came out that he denounced all this. The man he said he love, admired and was his mentor he threw out all because Obamah wants to be president. I don't buy the answer that he didn't know Rev. Wright. How many years do you have to sit and listen to him before you "Know" him. Can anyone explain to me why I should trust a man that will turn his back on the man he said he loves, admires and mentored him and the church he was married in and attended for years just so he can be president? Please don't avoid the question by saying "well the Republicans bla bla bla. Just answer it directly.

Alf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:49 AM:I submitted a comment at around 7:30 to 7:45AM that was never posted.
Mrs. Alf saw all sorts of emergency crews, hazmat crews and even the Coast Guard just north of La Costa Ave on I-5 this morning at about 7:25AM.
NOW, there is an article in the Local Breaking section about that entitled
"CARLSBAD: Asphalt spills into Batiquitos Lagoon in crash".
It made her 25 minutes late for work.
Fortunately no one was severely injured.
Regards, Alf.

esteban wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:55 AM:To "oh please". YOu need to wake up. Yes 4300 dead is terrible...but compare the dead for 4 years of WW2. No comparison. Now we don't have to worry about Iraq launching weapons at us or anyone else. So it's a war for oil? Good, hopefully my gas prices will go down, but I'm not seeing it. You are a typical left loon. Cuckoo!!! Cuckoo!!

Ms M wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:56 AM:Bill One
[-] wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:47 AM:...Bill, I have been a Catholic all my life. I have not left them even after the problems came out about the priests messing around with children or some of their positions on things such as birth control. No religion is perfect.

esteban wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:58 AM:Bill One, don't waste your time. These lefty loons will never answer the tough questions. All you're gonna get is the "Bush...war..blah blah blah". You can't reason with someone who has no brain!

Ms M wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:58 AM:Bill One
[-] wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:47 AM:...his association with a know terrorist...Bill, which "known" terrorist are you speaking of?

gracchus wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:00 PM:in your declaration of 9:26 .am., reardon, you suggest that black liberation theology advocates a government redistribution of personal finances from the richer to the poorer. can you tell me what advocate of black liberation theology has supported such a position, aside from cranks who expect a massive transfer of money to the black community.

black liberation theology uses jesus as its model for the black community to address racial injustice in the u.s.a. what's wrong with addressing racial injustice?

you wrote that you had a problem with the irs once. apparently it thought that you broke a law regarding taxes. i'm sure that it wasn't pleasant resolving the issue. similarly it's not pleasant for a motorist whom a chp officer has cited to resolve his legal issue. at least you had a procedure in dealing with the irs and not the caprice of a tax collector which citizens of other countries endure.

you imply that you studied at annapolis. i will infer that you studied at the naval academy and succesfully graduated and became either a naval or marine corps officer. that is a highly admirable accomplishment. and you received one of the finest educations in the world. and the u.s taxpayers and the u.s. government say "your welcome!"

Alf wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:05 PM:Well, "Reardon" at 11:04AM,
my concern is two-fold
that which is - GWB
and that which may be - McGWB.
I call McCain McGWB because he has indicated pretty much all along his candidacy trail that he intends to "stay the course" set by GWB.
Unfortunately for the United States and its People, that course is perpetual war, provocation to war, threats to war and treating the Constitution as toilet paper.
McGWB says he will "stay the course" and we need to stay THAT course like we need a mass brain-ectomy (sometimes it seems that it has already happened, judging by the more conservative comments and commenters here, you know who they are).
Regards, Alf.

Media Watcher wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:09 PM:From The BBC: (Quote)The Environment Minister Sammy Wilson has angered green campaigners by describing their view on climate change as a "hysterical psuedo-religion".

In an article in the News Letter, Mr Wilson said he believed it occurred naturally and was not man-made.

"Resources should be used to adapt to the consequences of climate change, rather than King Canute-style vainly trying to stop it," said the minister.

Peter Doran of the Green Party said it was a "deeply irresponsible message."

Mr Wilson said he refused to "blindly accept" the need to make significant changes to the economy to stop climate change.

"The tactic used by the "green gang" is to label anyone who dares disagree with their view of climate change as some kind of nutcase who denies scientific fact," he said.

The minister said he accepted climate change can occur, but does not believe the cause has been identified.

"Reasoned debate must replace the scaremongering of the green climate alarmists." (Unquote)

Ms M wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:10 PM:esteban
[-] wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:58 AM:...please see my post @ 11:56AM. It would be nice to see postings from the con side without the name calling.

Richard wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:11 PM:There's a big difference between obeying orders in the military so that your unit can function and protect each other in a fight. But it's a cometely different matter to be lied into doing it. Donald Rumsfeld's rallying cry speech given to a large number of soldiers before invading Iraq announced that they were going to write history, they were defending the United States by attacking those who hit us on our soil." Many men believed those false statements that Cheney first uttered. This has everything to do with firing up motivation. Few people knew the truth, that these statement swere false, and thus few followed the military code of justice by disobeying and facing courtmartial. The patriot soldier is not ever supposed to relinquish citizenship rights to think at any time. This is carved on pillars at the tomb of the unknown soldier. No one should go into battle without thinking about it ahead of time, simply because they were told to. I visited the tomb, and I know what it says.

esteban wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:13 PM:To "Ms M at 11:58"...you mean there's more than one?!!?

Ms M wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:15 PM:Alf
[-] wrote on Sep 5, 2008 8:03 AM:...Alf, I just saw the clip from the interview and Bill does need to work on his interviewing techniques. Nothing is worse than asking a question and cutting the person off before he can give the answer. I used to have the same problem with Mathews on Hardball. He'd ask a question and boom before the guest could complete his answer Chris was asking another. They think it's hardball - I think it's rude.

Bill One wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:17 PM:To Ms M, I admire your wiiliness to stick with your church, Barak didn't do that. The terrorist is Bill Ayers.

TFB wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:21 PM:The post at 11:14 a.m. shows how one person can be so simplistic and wrong at the same time.
Heartbeat? Each time Sarah Palin MURDERS a sentient, autuomonous moose that is NOT occupying the most private part of her female anatomy, she is also stopping a beating heart.
All the unnecessary MEAT you kill and eat to satisfy your lust for artery-logging animal fat stops a beating heart? Is that murder? Every vertebrate from fish to lizards to rats has a heartbeat. Is that what makes a human person?
Guess what, the cessation of EEG brain waves defines the END OF LIFE, even if there is STILL A HEARTBEAT.
There are no EEG brainwaves until late in the second trimester, at about 5 months.
If EEG brain waves is the definition of huma