John wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:42 AM:Yea, Larry. Voting present 130 times is great preparation. Never had to make a decision till now and now Obama changes his mind on almost every issue.

chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:42 AM:The news is reporting that Palins glasses have started a fashion frenzy. I'm sure glad when Hussein donned that Muslim dress that no fashion frenzy was created then

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:48 AM:>>>>>It is disappointing that a newspaper, no matter how small, fails to use basic spell-checking capability. You are distributed to school children>>>
What would students know about spelling. Todays public school students are only versed in diversity, their civil rights under SB777, and how to properlyfit a condom to a cucumber. Spelling, math, language arts, and the physical and social sciences are left to the junior colleges. (And SAT scores and exit exam scores prove it)

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:16 AM:I'm telling ya folks, the Lib's just can't keep their mouths shut.
But they just can't help themselves, they know sooo much more than you or I, just your average everyday, working, American. The continuing derogatory out bursts from the liberal elite about We the People, is just more of the same, par for the course for those who reside inside the bubble that is Washington D.C.
If they are not telling their favorite liberal audiences those red staters are "clinging to their gun and their religion", they are talking down their nose's about Wal*Mart Mom's, or making off color jokes about Shotgun Marriage's.
Working Mom's are great until she's a conservative who praises Jesus. Balancing a family life alongside your career is wonderful until your a Republican. And having your 17 year old becoming pregnant apparently now show the entire world your parenting skills suck.
Two things long gone unspoken, well, at least in public by the liberal elite.
One, What used to be spoken, almost whispered in polite liberal dinner parties, the real feelings of liberals about those "other's" who reside in the rural sections of the country, is now wide open, and now said without shame.
And two..
If gotten away with, all working Mom's, and Dad's, will be savaged for their homekeeping skills.
But the lib's just can't help themselves, they've been quiet far too long, to tell you what they really think of you rubes. They could never invite one of us to those elitist parties, because.. What would that say about them, to their friends?

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:37 AM:Really, I'm surprised that Joseph Grant is not goning off on one of his usual 2nd Amendment rants. Guess.. Barack Obama say's it's ok now to own em, after he said he liked the D.C. gun ban. One thing I can look forward to with Barack, change. Yes, he will definately change his mind, no matter what he has said before.

Left out of this letter are all the unphathomable flip-flopping done by Barack Obama. I mean... if at first you tell your supporters that you'll fillibuster a bill granting retroactive immunity to Tel-Com's, and then you don't. What does that say? I know what it tells me, he really don't care what you think.
Take Nancy Pelosi on impeachment. The Left, by enlarge, wanted her to impeachment GWB. And she lead you along during the campaign, talked around the edges about how it was possible to do, and left the definate impression that she was inclined to do so, once in office. But.. Once in office, off-the-table. A total slick marketing and packaging campaign. Absolutely brilliant, on her part. Because she know's she can get away with it, and you won't hold her accountable.

Oh, and speaking of Equal Rights...
Were you aware, or do you even care, Joe Grant? That, if your a woman working inside Senator Obama's senate office, chances are your making $6,000 less than your equally qualified male counterpart.

So, Hope & Change: Barack Obama/Nancy Pelosi style equals: Wiretapping is good, no one will be held accountable, and women are not equal.

Alf wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:49 AM:From yesterday, "Freddy" at 8:40PM, nails it!
Regards, Alf.

Alf wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:57 AM:In his letter, Josef Horowitz says that Democrats want to raise taxes while Republicans want to lower them.
He may be right.
He ignores the FACT that GWB has demanded and Congress has provided hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars for GWB's folly in Iraq.
Those HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of dollars ARE BORROWED!
How does he or anyone else propose that we PAY BACK those hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars if we do not raise axes??
I forgot, according to Republicans money does grow on trees!
Just print up some more!
Debt, we don't have no stinking debt!
Regards, Alf.

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:28 AM:Well, well, well... the plot thickens in the Biden home. Maybe, over a bagel, some juice, and a little coffee?
Apparently, Delaware senator Joe Biden’s son, R. Hunter Biden work at Oldaker, Biden & Belair, a D.C. lawyer-lobbyist shop who represented MBNA America Bank, a huge credit card empire.
Hunter, it now seems, headed that effort with the help from a relatively new Senator, the one Barack Hussein Obama. Where now the record shows, he asked for, and received some of the $3.4 million in earmarks specifically for credit card and banking clients of one R. Hunter Biden,
As it turns out, MBNA is Senator Biden’s largest contributor. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Biden raised $147,700 from MBNA.
And it just so happens, that Hunter Biden was pushing it as a paid for lobbyist, the same bill his father was pushing, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.
I'll bet those train rides home on the Amtrak would have been interesting.
Or a beer, a glass of wine, or some dinner. I wonder... who picked up the check? Hunter, or Old Joe?

Gotta Wondr wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:49 AM:Do your homework: As if the school kids would have noticed the misspelling. She must be a retired teacher needing to correct somebody and or anybody.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:51 AM:Palin makes it possible to vote for McCain
Would you still be voting for the ole fella if Palin's daughter had chosen abortion resulting in being disowned by her mother and finding herself on cold Alaskan streets?

Gotta Wondr wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:54 AM:Ethics without attitude: Gotta wonder, Don, why you have the time to listen to Dr. Laura much less time to criticize her program. Get a life. What happened to Rush, Sean or Savage?

Alf wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:58 AM:The earth-shattering news that occupied over 70 percent (over seventy percent!) of the front page of the North County Times edition that I get in Encinitas was about the -
Chargers losing!
These are the same Chargers who were threatening to leave San Diego if they did not get a new stadium!!
How soon many forget their treachery!
How soon many forget their disloyalty!
How soon many forget the greed and tricks of the Chargers and the Spanos family!
Regards, Alf.

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:01 AM:Your actually trying to argue that, Larry Falick? That Bush only had just six years of executive experience?
And that Ronald Reagan only had eight years as the governor of California?

Your serious? Your kidding me, right?

If that is the prerequisite, general government experience; Then answer me this: Why isn't Joe O'Biden on the top of your ticket?

I think America's beginning to get this too! Just in:

McCain/Palin 54, Obama/Biden 44

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:10 AM:Some history....
Fannie Mae was created in 1938 as part of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal. For thirty years, Fannie Mae was a monopoly over the mortgage market. In 1968, due to fiscal pressures LBJ "privatized" {not really, gave special treatment & advantage over other private institutions} Fannie Mae in order to remove it from the national budget.
In addition, due to it's closeness to the government, and given it's history.
Fannie and Freddie are notrequired to hold as much capital like other private financial institutions. Also, they are allowed to sell mortgage-backed securities with only half {1/2} as much capital backing them up as would be required of other financial institutions. And, a carve out in regulations through the FDIC, that govern solvency of all financial institutions, do not apply equally to Fannie and Freddie. Normally, financial institutions are supposed to maintain capital/asset ratio's greater than or equal to 3%. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are exempt from this.
Also, Fannie/Freddie are often refered to as "the Spine" in our mortgage industry, do the the sheer amount of under captialized loans held by them, in comparison to other lending firms.
Also, FNMA is also exempt from state and local taxes. In addition, FNMA and FHLMC are exempt from SEC filing requirements.

My point being, this left-over dinosaur from the FDR days, and semi-released, made semi-private by LBJ is nothing than more of the same, of interjecting artificiality into the marketplace.
Take a look at MediCare, again, with it's introduction, insurance companies no longer insured many seniors, changing the insurance pool. Again, injecting artificiality into the marketplace.
This is much of the long sad history of many, many New Deal programs that can't function, and are failing.
Social Security, broke.
MediCare, broke.
Every level of Government, broke.

Ronald Reagan was right. the worst thing you could hear, was: "I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help."

Alf wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:23 AM:The letter from Josef Horowitz states "Democrats are weak on national security ... opposing the Patriot Act and other measures to keep America safe".
Golly gee, why would any true patriotic American, Democrat or Republican, oppose something that contains parts that are blatantly un-Constitutional?
Secure our borders?
GWB, a Republican, has dragged his feet about as much as he can to keep from securing our borders and championed legislation to give amnesty to illegal aliens.
Go after the perpetrators of 9/11 and their sponsors?
GWB, a Republican, went from Afghanistan, where they were,
to Iraq, where they were not.
Threaten to veto any spending bill that didn't include funding for his folly in Iraq?
GWB, a Republican, did it over and over and over again.
Regards, an unabashed Libertarian, Alf.

Alf wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:26 AM:The letter from Larry Falick makes only one mistake.
He tries to use facts in an arena and to people who are confused by facts and are more concerned with their opinion than facts.
Regards, Alf.

oh raoul wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:28 AM:When you say 911 happened under Bush's watch, raoul knee-jerks the memorized line: the planning was under Clinton's watch and Clinton let Bin Laden get away. Now picture this: let's say Obama wins the Presidency and 9 months later, God forbid, we are hit by an al Qaeda attack once again. Do we hear raoul saying "Not Obama's fault: it was planned with Bush in office and Bush let Bin Laden get away!" ? Somehow, I don't think so. But, raoul, please correct us. Say it here, on this space, loud and clear for all of us to read. If we are attacked under a President Obama, do you promise, hand on the Bible, to blame Bush in exactly the same way you blame Clinton? Ball's in your court, raoul. Looking forward to your answer.

Gotta Woner wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:28 AM:ALASKAN JET: McCain states that Palin sold the Alaskan Governor's jet on E bay for a profit. Turns out it was sold privately at less than the asking price. Did they every correct the misinformation (nice word for lie.)? Doubt it!

Oh Please wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:29 AM:chuck[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:42 AM: Why is Palin against the ocular contact industry? Why does she hat the poor?

DD Wiz wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:34 AM:The published letter from Josef Horowitz claims to show "what it takes to be a Democrat," but since nothing he describes accurately reflects our party, he really shows what it takes to be a Republican: go after the Democrats' strongest positions by simply lying about them. His examples:

National Security: He says Democrats oppose measures (he cites the Patriot Act and working with the U.N.) to keep America safe. The Democrats oppose those measures that do nothing to keep us safe but only weaken the civil liberties that keep us strong and free. Working with other nations, which Dubya's daddy did in the first Gulf War, is the best insurance against forcing us to spread our resources to thin.
And the biggest point that he seems unable to grasp: Democrats have consistently opposed the diversion of our resources away from the real terrorists who invaded us, who are presently along the Pakistan/Afghanistan border, which McCain did not even understand. We do not support the war that cuts and runs and diverts our resources from where the real terrorists are, just for the same of a few wealthy oil investors profiting from defense contracts and oil profiteering.

Tax Increases: Just keep repeating the unqualified mantra "tax increases" without specifying which taxes are being discussed. Bush/McCain want to lower taxes by huge amounts on the very few at the top of the economic food chain who have already benefited the most. Obama and Democrats support a progressive tax rate structure, in which taxes are lowered far more than under the McCain proposals, for 95% of the people. Is Horowitz lying or does he just not grasp how progressive tax rates work? Or maybe everyone he knows is in that top 5%. I see he didn't mention "elitism," as when the spoiled, ne'er do well son and grandson of admirals dumps his first wife to marry a young, wealthy beer heiress and becomes one of the richest men in America, and then calls his opponent "elitist" who has a teensy fraction of that wealth, all of which is handed to him by no one and is completely self-made.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

Alf wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:37 AM:Well, "Ron" at 5:16AM,
you say "Working Mom's are great until she's a conservative who praises Jesus.".
Praising Jesus has less to do with it than hypocrisy (pregnant teenager) and GWB/McGWB rhetoric, the likes of which many of the American People are tired of hearing.
"Stay the course" is not only trite, but staying the current course, espsecially in Iraq is recognized by over 65 percent of the American People as being the wrong way to go.
The way to reduce the National Debt is NOT to keep borrowing money, especially for GWB's folly in Iraq.
Regards, Alf.

OBAMACAN wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:40 AM:John at 1:42 a.m. is just another conservative doing what conservatives do: spouting off about things he knows nothing abut. Voting "present" is a unique parliamentary procedural move in the Illinois legislator, and Obama (who was in a safe liberal Chicago district and did not need to use it) voted "present" at the request of fellow liberals who were not in safe districts, as a tactical maneuver.
It had nothing to do with "not taking a stand."
But John's comment has everything to do with spouting off about subjects on which he is utterly ignorant.

He Said wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:40 AM:Go get 'em Ron. The Dem's strategy is going no where. Keep seeing all the anti Bush stuff even though he is not running? That's part of the plan to keep his sorry presidency in the lime light and link the Repub's candidate (didn't matter who it was going to be)with a more of the same label. McCain is breaking that stereotype. Next strategy, trash the VP candidate. Even Hillary is smart enough to stay out of that one. The Dem's constant barrage of Palin is backfiring. People relate to her as a real person - not one of those Washington congressional insiders who can't keep an approval rating above 20%. Keep it up Dems. Check out the USA/Gallup polls released today.

Ms M wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:09 AM:He Said
[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:40 AM:...Just how can you say McCain is not Bush who voted over 90% of the time with his president. Just because McCain woke up say about a week ago and decided to throw his party under the bus so he can run on "change". Give me a break. Tell me, just how is McCain different than Bush.

Republican Socialist wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:13 AM:Those Republican Socialists are at it again:

1. Republican nominee selects as his running mate the governor of the only Sociliast economy in the U.S. (Alaska, financed by the commercial oil ventures it owns [and if there was any doubt about that, Ron and Raoul, CSPAN rebroadcast last night a debate from her 2006 gubernatorial campaign in which there was extensive discussion of managing the commercial oil operations THEY OWN - also, I got to actually watch her express support for that "Bridge to Nowhere." The debate obviously occurred while she was still for it before she was against it].

2. The Republican Administration went way beyond financial bailouts and guarantees and SEIZED private corporations yesterday. Shades of Harry Truman and the steel industry!

Send those Commie Republicans back to the USSR:
Union of Subsidized Socialist Republicans!
No wonder they call it the RED STATES!

Got no beefs with Sarah wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:13 AM:So she flip flopped on earmarks.

So her own solution to teen pregnancy didn't even work in her own home.

So she lived 800+ miles from her office, so she could be close to her family, which is more important than the hassles of her job.

So she hides from media interviews and press conferences.

So she goes to Michigan and recites the same funny little quips she entertained us with in her convention speech.

So she has a higher than normal chance of assuming the highest office in the land then other VPs have, because of the age and health issues of her running mate.

What's not to like?

Especially if you are a Democrat!

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:19 AM:>>>The Republican Administration went way beyond financial bailouts and guarantees and SEIZED private corporations yesterday>>> And the next thing we'll hear is that the executives got multi-million dollar buyouts of their employment contracts. What they should get is an orange jumpsuit and a set of chains for the next 20 years

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:22 AM:>>Tell me, just how is McCain different than Bush.>>> McCain is different from Bush to the extent that Hussein is different from Stalin and Lenin- Both about the same with some minor differences

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:27 AM:>>>Republican nominee selects as his running mate the governor of the only Sociliast economy in the U.S. (Alaska,>>>
If so, then why is there so much spewing hate against Palin by the liberals. Socialism is the M O of liberals. The liberals are so desperate for socialism, they want to turn healthcare over to the same morons who have bankrupted SocialSecurity, and they think by hosing the employers in this country with massive new taxes, that employees will have record pay and benefit increases, as they pay $7 for a gallon of gas and $6 for a box of Wheaties or CornFlakes

Nick wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:33 AM:One thing that Geoffrey King leaves out in his letter on the article about incomes in Escondido, is that there are MORE Illegals in Escondido than ever before.
I'm sure the research in the article he speaks of didn't poll those here Illegally working under the table.
I'm willing to bet there are more people working in Escondido, than not working.
The difference is the majority are mostly Illegal.
Cheers, Nick.

SOLON wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:34 AM:Chuck’s vicious anti-Semitic attacks

Chuck continues his vicious anti-Semitic attacks. Yesterday he displayed his hatred with ‘Barack Hussein?? Does that sound like a good Christian name to you, or does sound mid-eastern, maybe Saudi or Yemeni to you??’ (Sep. 7 - 8:33 AM)

Ron conducts his tireless, daily hateful anti-Semitic campaign of prejudice against foreign names. The vast majority of Americans have names derived from foreign lands, from England, Spain, Italy, Germany, Russia, China, Japan, Egypt, Lebanon, India, Hungary, you name it -- and every nation of the world. There are more Wong’s than Smith’s listed in the San Francisco phone book. There are more Juan’s than Chuck’s in North County. Chuck is a minority, not because of his odd name, by because of his small mind. There are many bloggers on this site, some with varying degrees of intelligence, but none is so mean-spirited as he. Ignorance is tolerated; a mean spirit is not.

How twisted that Chuck has such a hate for Jewish, Hebrew and Aramaic names. Many Christians have Biblical names that are Jewish and Aramaic. Some of our presidents have names of Aramaic origin. Chuck’s hateful prejudice exposes his small mind.

SOLON wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:35 AM:Requirements to be a right-wingnut Republican:

Gullibility, a weak mind governed by fear and willingness to follow Darth Cheney or some other dangerous Führer.

Thank you Josef Horowitz.

Ted wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:36 AM:It doesn't matter if anyone has what it takes to be a democrat or republican. We would all be better off if we were independents. If you shed the labels, you can think for yourselves and stop letting the parties and pundits decide who you are for. Being republican is supposed to mean improving our national security (more than democrats do). So tell me how the Iraq war does that? Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld decided to attack Iraq after 9/11 and had nothing to do with WMD. Richard Clark, head of counter intelligence, was astounded when he heard "Iraq" after 9/11. Iraq had nothing to do with the terrorist attack. So a trillion dollars and thousands of lives later, here we are. McCain wants to continue that when even the Iraqi's want us out. Iraq was and is, the wrong war at the wrong time in the wrong place with the wrong enemy.

Nate wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:36 AM:I am surprised and upset the the NCT editors that let Chuck post his dribble EVERYDAY!!! There are intelligent people on this board right and left. He is Not intelligent and his cut and pastes are only here to excite people. He is borderline racist. If you are muslim, gay, black, or any other gender or creed you are offended by his posts daily. He does not care for discussion. My guess is he is a single old man. I feel bad for him. I would like to hear other thoughts on this subject if this get printed

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:38 AM:oh raoul[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:28 AM: No one knows when the planning took place.
No can say with certainly when the planing occurred unless you were present. Planning could have happened under either President or partial during the watches of both Presidents. The actual attack was carried out under Bush's watch.

sdraoul wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:49 AM:The propaganda that McCain voted 90% of the time with President Bush is a lie. President Bush had no votes in the Senate thus McCain couldn’t have voted with Bush 90 percent of the time. Moreover, almost all votes in the Senate are unanimous, thus a review of Obama’s spotty senate record would show that he votes more than 50% of the time with the President’s wishes..

On the other hand, Obama voted 100 percent of the time with Harry Reid and the AFL/CIO labor unions.

Government run by the unions and a true draft dodger, Harry Reid, or by McCain and Palin.

Take your pick. A ticket with a hero and a state Commander-in-Chief or a Man who voted "present" 140 times in the state senate to avoid taking a position on controversial issues. Take your pick.

Now, Obama creates another lie by stating that he had "thought" about joining the military when he graduated from high school in 1979. He didn’t, he says, because the Vietnam War was over, thus he wasn't needed. What bull!

American troops were out of Vietnam by 1972 thus no Americans fought for 7 years before Obama graduated. Notice Obama didn't say in the interview that he thought about joining a specific branch, which most people would state in similar situations. Another Obama fabrication and fantasy!

He never though of joining the military, never. He never mentioned it in the two books he wrote about himself. if he had we might believe him, but he didn't.

He Said wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:50 AM:to Ms M @ 8:09: I'm sorry, I guess you don't realize I don't have to tell you anything. McCain has spoken regarding change and the public is buying it.

SOLON wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:51 AM:Prerequisites to qualify . .

. . for highest offices in the land: (1) For president you must be captured by the enemy and tortured in Guantanamo (2) For vice-president you must be live in a inner city ghetto and have a child out of wedlock.

Thank you Carolyn Dorroh, for your insight (letter today). Now we understand by there are so many qualified leaders created by America.

Ms M wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:51 AM:Nate
[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:36 AM:...He's not borderline - he is racist. Also extremely immature. I believe in freedom of speech, but in an arena were civil conversation should be the norm then Chuck should be censored. He brings literally nothing to the table except having a venue to spew his hateful opinions.

Reardon wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:53 AM:The only advantage to the presidential horserace is that it pushed Global Whatever off this page!

But I would prefer even Global Whatever to discussions of eyeglasses and ponytails!

Alf: Nice catch. You did not refer to the "San Diego Chargers." They aren't -- they are the Alex Spanos Chargers. San Diego has zero say in anything except how much the subsidy.

Chuck to Nate wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:54 AM:>>>> I feel bad for him. I would like to hear other thoughts on this subject if this get printed>>>

It appears you are so intelligent that your intolerance (the same intolerance you accuse me of) leads you to plea for my censorship, like the good little liberal you are.

Abstinence wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:05 AM:Since Sarah Palin has demonstrated so conclusively that "abstinence only" does not work, maybe the best way to prevent unwed teen pregnancy is to encourage same-sex relatonships?

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:06 AM:I really gotta hand it to ya there
"Wizzer" @7:34 AM....

He begins with.."Democrats oppose measures.."
Really? Which one's Like maybe FISA and Immunity for Tele-Com's, like the one, "The One" voted for, aka Barack Obama? He's keeping your civil liberties safe?
Dubya's daddy? LOL
You mean the first Gulf War?
Where Joe Biden, this supposed all-knowing, foreign policy expert who was pulled in to give young Barry his Gravitas?
That same Joe Biden who voted against the 1st Gulf War, when the rest of the world, including.. ALL of our "Friends", where finally on our side? That Gulf War & That Joe Biden?
Your kidding me? Right?
In regards to the Pakistan/Afghanistan border, is that not the same area young Barry said he'd bomb, then invade? Without Pakistani permission? Perhaps, even without UN permission? Or Allied permission? Talk about unilaterial.
Well..
And is this not the same redeployment talked about by that huge military expert John Murtha, who wanted us to redeploy in Okinawa? And got Haditha wrong? I did not know Al-Queda was in Okinawa, did you?
That same military genius?
Who by chance, also is know as ABSCAM Murtha, because during an FBI sting many years ago, he said: Well fellas, let's do business for awhile, and then I'll think about it.
They were offering him a bribe at the time, he didn't take the bribe, but he definately thought about taking it.

Oh Please wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:13 AM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:49 AM:
You are really hung up on alleged draft dodging and the desire not to serve in the American people. Millions of Americans did not want to be drafted. Many fled to Canada. More would of if a lottery system had not been introduced. Millions of American men have not joined the military since the end of the Vietnam War. No shame in it at all. If people want to serve in an all voluntary armed forces fine with me. If they do not wish to serve that is fine with me. Obama does not have to serve in the military to be President. He can be just like Dick Cheney with better things to do.

He Said wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:14 AM:Mr. Falick's letter really doesn't offer much. Unfortunately, Mr. Will did not qualify his quoted statement but probably did not include government service only. Mr. Falick does have a contribution to society though having symbols at least phonetically named after him.

Global Whatever wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:14 AM:Reardon at 8:53 a.m. seems relieved that the "presidential horserace ... has pushed Global Whatever off this page!"
That is because both candidates have acknowledged the reality of climate science.
While one, McSame, is still in the pocket of the oil company lobbyists running his campaign and has not backed up his lip service with actual votes, the reality climate science has now achieved the same political CONSENSUS (at least among actual presidential nominees) that it achieved long ago in peer-reviewed scientific journals, despite all the naysaying from the Flat Earth deniers who still have not explained the source of their special "insider knowledge" that sets them so far up above real scientists.

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:15 AM:>>>maybe the best way to prevent unwed teen pregnancy is to encourage same-sex relatonships?>>> Thats exactly what the gay racketeers have been doing. And then Ahnuld of Callyforneeya got into the act by promoting SB777

esteban wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:17 AM:Oh Linda...I'm sure OPD has more important thing sto do than ticket lil johnnie for his skateboard. Priorities Linda, priorities.

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:19 AM:Oops!

Just in...

Biden's draft deferments equal Cheney's during Vietnam War.

DD Wiz wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:21 AM:The post from "Ron" (9:06am) confirms yet again that he does not actually read or understand the posts he purports to respond to.
The ultimate non-sequitur -- he disagrees with my statement denying Democratic opposition to national security legislation by citing examples of Democrats voting FOR national security legislation, even when compromises required going along with imperfect bills that included details they opposed.
And, of course, he was completely unable to respond to my points about the Democrats' support for war against the real terrorists, instead of the Republican diversion to wars for oil, and he still "clings to" his support for borrow-and-spend deficit spending while failing completely to understand the progressive tax structures to end the war against the middle class, restore broad-based general prosperity, and return to budget surprluses.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

gracchus wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:21 AM:chuck, at 8:22 a.m. you make an incredibly ignortant and vituperative remark. you claim that there are minor differences between obama and lenin and stalin. i suppose your foolish and infantile observations titillate obama's opponents. but indicate a complete lack of decency.

someone compares mccain to bush. and then you compare obama to lenin and stalin. might i conclude, then, that bush is the same negative character as lenin and stalin?

more to the point, chuck, just what similarities do obama, lenin, and stalin share? tell us, so that we can know that you actually put some thought into your inane snipes.

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:22 AM:Hussein promises you change. He's right, after the massive new taxes, the commodity inflation, the price of gas, price of food, and the medical delivery system takeover, CHANGE IS ALL THAT WILL BE LEFT IN YOUR PAYCHECK. And change is all that your 401-K will be worth as the markets will plummet and the global warming racketeers will have more money than the industrial risk takers of America

Draft Dodger wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:22 AM:No problem with Biden's deferments.
Big problem with Cheney's deferments.
Biden was not supporting sending other parents' kids into battle.
Cheney was.

Great News Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:38 AM:If, as you claim, "Biden's draft deferments equal Cheney's during Vietnam War," it doesn't matter if the Republican or Democratic ticket wins...

If the GOP wins, McCain will be a carbon copy of Bush.

If the Dems win, Biden will be a mirror image of Cheney.

Seems everyone is a winner!

Marlowe wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:38 AM:I don't get Ron's point about how liberals don't like Palin because of her political views. Of course we don't. Has nothing to do with her being a woman, a working mom, or anything else. As for anyone, she is 100% entitled to her beliefs, way of life, right to speak out. But she is running for vice president, so her views could have enormous impact on my life and the lives of my countrymen. So I criticize her for her views. What's Ron's issue with this? Is he trying to say that because liberals are feminists that it's somehow hypocritical of us to criticize Palin's views because she's a woman and working mom? Is that Ron's understanding of feminism? That anything a woman utters is automatically correct to feminists? No, that would be an idiotic thing to believe. Lot's of criticism was aimed at Hillary this primary season by liberals for her war votes, etc. Ron, what the heck are you talking about? You are making no sense at all. Is this yet another episode of the ongoing battle between Ron and his imaginary, straw "liberal"? "Liberals say they support working moms...until they are Christian!" Well, duh. Did anyone say we didn't support Sarah's right to be a working mom? Not that I recall. We just, to repeat, DISAGREE WITH HER. Oh, never mind, Ron. You aren't interested in actual debate, only defeating your imaginary, straw friend. You go, dude!

Goofy Libs wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:46 AM:Abstinence
[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:05 AM: Are you trying to be the libbos poster child for defining the "Goofy" lib platform?

Puzzling Polls wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:55 AM:Read an article by Zogby that says the polls this year are not accurating reflecting the minds of the American People. He says he has not gotten poll results from anyone under 29 in the last three months. It seems strange that in a country where 23% of the people do not want more Bush that they would go crazy for a female Bush? Are the American people that dumb, really?

More likely the polls this year are unbalanced because they do not reflect cell phone users. Who are the majority of people under 29. Who prefer Obama over McCain by 20 points.

Contrary to what anyone says, this race isn't over yet.

nate wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:14 AM:I am not going to turn this int o a who is smarter contest. Everyone should have a right to post if they contribute something of value. Your points can not be heard or considered because of the way you say them. Maybe you an I can meet for some coffe and have a civil converation on issues, instead of name calling and personalities. And for your info i am not a liberal but independent. You know one of those voters McCain needs to win.

Alf wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:16 AM:Well, "sdraoul" at 8:49AM,
what's with the word game??
McGWB voted for the same things that GWB wanted 90 percent of the time.
Therefore, McGWB voted "with" GWB 90 percent of the time.
Did you ever here of the phrase "I'm with you" (meaning "I agree with you")?
Regards, Alf.

Oh raoul wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:19 AM:Tell me about how much thought Sarah Palin gave to enlisting when she was 18. And Ron says Biden was Cheney-like in deferments. Like Obama's lack of experience, the presence of a Republican in the same boat nullifies this as an attack point. Repubs don't holler about Palin's inexperience. Repubs never hollered about Cheney's deferrments. End of story.

According to raoul wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:22 AM:Let's think for a moment of every person that has been elected to be Governor and has served for at least a year and a half. Many hundreds of people. According to raoul, each and every one of them, just for having served in that office, are fully ready to command the armed forces of the USA. Interesting.

Ms M wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:27 AM:So Palin is ready to be CIC. The following is an excerpt from and article on the net:

Gov. Sarah Palin made her first potentially major gaffe during her time on the national scene while discussing the developments of the perilous housing market this past weekend.

Speaking before voters in Colorado Springs, the Republican vice presidential nominee claimed that lending giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had "gotten too big and too expensive to the taxpayers." The companies, as McClatchy reported, "aren't taxpayer funded but operate as private companies. The takeover may result in a taxpayer bailout during reorganization."

Economists and analysts pounced on the misstatement, saying it demonstrated a lack of understanding about one of the key economic issues likely to face the next administration.

"You would like to think that someone who is going to be vice president and conceivable president would know what Fannie and Freddie do," said Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. "These are huge institutions and they are absolutely central to our country's mortgage debt. To not have a clue what they do doesn't speak well for her, I'd say."

Unfortunately for Palin she will need more than a couple of months to learn all that is needed in our very complicated/complex times. Fortunately for Americans a couple of months is enough time to show us just how unready she is to be CIC.

Alf wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:32 AM:Well, "Reardon" at 8:53AM,
I don't know about Global Whatever, but
even if the Chargers hadn't lost the Superbowl some time back while playing like high school third-stringers, that threat of leaving unless they get a new stadium sealed the deal.
I will never go to a Padres or a Chargers game, EVER.
Petco Park, my tush!
Regards, Alf.

Alf wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:43 AM:The letter from Robert Strimple shows that he does not understand that, while there is a similarity between the two, Christian morality and the law are completely separate issues.
He also fails to specify how expanding the traditional definition of marriage damages it at all.
Now that "gays" have married in California, I'm sure that his and/or all other heterosexual marriages are damaged beyond repair.
Regards, Alf.

Bill wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:53 AM:Larry Falick doesnt comprehend the difference between EXECUTIVE experience and just plain old experience.

Voting with a group of others isnt leading.

Oh Please wrote on Sep 8, 2008 10:57 AM:Ron[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:19 AM: Glad to hear it. Glad to hear that there was one Senator who had brains not to go to the 'Nam." Biden probably had better things to do. So what!

Oh Please wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:01 AM:OVER, Del. (AP) | Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, received five student draft deferments during the Vietnam War, the same number of deferments received by Vice President Dick Cheney, and later was disqualified from service because of asthma as a teenager.
Did Cheney have asthma as well? You left that little tid bit out. Got to watch Ron. He only copy and paste's what supports his viewpoint.

John wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:16 AM:No sooner had the Labor Day speeches extolling American workers ceased than the leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives decided to bring up a bill this week to inflict 550,000 stab wounds onto those American workers.

That's right: A week after we hear that official unemployment is at a 5-year high, House leaders are going to try to move a bill to offer 550,000 MORE permanent green cards, above the 1 million immigrants already planned!
Way to go Democrats!

Freddy wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:18 AM:And I actually always thought of the military as an ennobling and, you know, honorable option. But keep in mind that I graduated in 1979. The Vietnam War had come to an end. We weren't engaged in an active military conflict at that point. And so, it's not an option that I ever decided to pursue.” Obama was not asked what branch which he considered if he considered one at all. Obama merely stated that he had considered the military. I did too after high school. Just proves that Obama and me got some smarts. We went to college.

You over due this POW hero thing. How long ago was that Vietnam War anyway? Is McCain can use it to slide into every political office? I have never seen any real hero flatter himself with publicity. Got one from the Batan march and survivor of the Japanese prison camp. Big time decorations. He never says a word. As for Palin, being CIC of the Alaskan National Guard is no big deal. How many Moose or Bears in that unit? Couold cut you some slack if she was CIC Texas National Guard or California National Guard. You are talking about Alaska. And whats the big deal about being a mayor of a 9,000 town. You people really have been perfuming that manure that is being slung around/ But, sooner or later, it just smells.

gracchus wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:13 PM:sdraoul, i shall quote from your diatribe of 8:49 a.m.:

"The propaganda that McCain voted 90% of the time with President Bush is a lie. President Bush had no votes in the Senate thus McCain couldn't have voted with Bush 90 percent of the time. Moreover, almost all votes in the Senate are unanimous, thus a review of Obama's spotty record would show that he votes more than 50% of the time with The President's wishes.."

sdraoul, it makes no sense. if, as you write, mccain can't vote with bush, how can obama? you are wrong when you assert that almost all senate votes are unanimous. perhaps much legislation in the senate is passed by acclamation. controversial legislation is not passed unanimously.

i thought that the last u.s. troops departed from viet nam in 1975, not 1972. perhaps you use a different calendar.

the issue of obama's military service is irrelevant to his qualification to serve as president of the united states. past military service is not a requirement for holding office.

it might surprise you, but wearing a military uniform is not the only manner by which a citizen of this country might serve its people. the draft had ended when obama was still a child. after he reached majority, the united states was engaged in no conflict which demanded that its citizens don a uniform en mass. if people want to serve the country by wearing the uniform, that's fine. but it certainly doesn't confer on them any civic superiority to those who haven't served the country in that capacity.

no one disputes that john mccain is a war hero. the question is whether that experience is sufficient reason to consider him presidential material. i don't think so. most of the presidents of the united states during the last quarter of the 19th century were civil war veterans. but none of them stands out notably.

mccain wants to maintain gw bush's tax cuts for the wealthy. he proposes that we might be in iraq a hundred years. he pandered to jerry falwell after this divine attacked him viciously. his choice of sarah palin as vice-presidential running mate is clearly a bone thrown to the extreme right of his party. despite the respect that i hold for him as a former naval officer and a productive u.s. senator, i don't think that his vision for the country is a good one.

i suppose that you do like mccain's vision for the united states, sdraoul. so why don't you make a case for maccain's proposals, rather than throwing out erroneous claims and irrelelvant information about obama?

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:15 PM:The news is reporting that scientists find odd gender differences in how people walk. It's certainly true on how people walk in San Francisco on a Friday night, and how people walk on Wall Street in NY. I didnt need a study for that

jvc wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:21 PM:A country with a free-market economy?
The only thing free about our economy is to bail out the rich!

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:27 PM:>>>even if the Chargers hadn't lost the Superbowl some time back while playing like high school third-stringers, that threat of leaving unless they get a new stadium sealed the deal.>>> It's called the process of negotiation. How many times in your life did you negotiate a pay raise, or negotiate deals with your kids?? That is no reason not to go to a game. Now, if they are playing like third stringers or doing tribal dances after each play and you're tired of the antics, thats a reason not to go

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:34 PM:The news is reporting that 3 Britons Abdulla Ahmed Ali, Assad Sarwar and Tanvir Hussain guilty of conspiracy ob bomb plots. Of course the headline only says Three Britons. You have to dig into the story to understand they are about as British as Tojo was an American

Alf wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:49 PM:Well, "John" at 11:16AM,
to what party does GWB belong?
Wasn't GWB pushing for amnesty for illegal aliens not that long ago?
Hasn't GWB been dragging his heels about securing our borders?
Remind me again, to what party does GWB belong?
I don't believe that he's a Democrat.
Regards, Alf.

Gotta Wonder wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:51 PM:John[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:16 AM:
American workers can get those available jobs. All they do is go get them. Oh that is right. Americans will not do hard physical labor in the sun. Americans can not qualify for the available computer jobs. American companies have to recruit from India. So, get it right. There is American unemployment growing because our economy is not growing. All segments are being affected. It is just your Republican conservative free market economy adjusting itself. Isn't it? I mean that is all I hear on this blog anyway.

Focal Point wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:55 PM:John[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 11:16 AM:
Engineering jobs and computer jobs. Skills that Americans now lack. Those 550,000 jobs are the ones that American business have pressured the American government to provide.

Ms M wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:00 PM:Oh yes - Is Palin really ready for CIC. The following from yesterday's AP:

WASILLA, Alaska -- The biggest project that Sarah Palin undertook as mayor of this small town was an indoor sports complex, where locals played hockey, soccer, and basketball, especially during the long, dark Alaskan winters.

The only catch was that the city began building roads and installing utilities for the project before it had unchallenged title to the land. The misstep led to years of litigation and at least $1.3 million in extra costs for a small municipality with a small budget. What was to be Ms. Palin's legacy has turned into a financial mess that continues to plague Wasilla.

"It's too bad that the city of Wasilla didn't do their homework and secure the land before they began construction," said Kathy Wells, a longtime activist here. "She was not your ceremonial mayor; she was in charge of running the city. So it was her job to make sure things were done correctly."

Ms. Palin, now Alaska's governor and Republican Sen. John McCain's running mate, has pointed to her two terms as Wasilla's mayor, from 1996 to 2002, as evidence that she has enough executive experience to take on the presidency, should the need arise....No tell me if this is evidence of her readiness....

Abstinence wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:21 PM:The aptly self-named Goofy at 9:46 a.m. doesn't quite get the point of my 9:05 a.m. blog.
Actually, I was not advocating more same-sex relationships. I'm not even gay myself. Just let people be who they are, the way they were born.
So you think my comment that promoting more same-sex relationships to reduce the incidence of unwed teen pregnancy was "Goofy"?
Exactly what part of that statement was not technically accurate?
If everyone had only same-sex relationships, there would be no unwed teen pregnancy.
You say that's not "realistic"?
But you support "abstinence only"?
Yes, "Goofy" was a perfect handle to pick for yourself.

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:21 PM:Liberals get all lathered up about oil company profits, yet are unaware that not one US Company is among the top 15 biggest oil companies in the world. Obama & Maxine Waters are proposing to tax #16 out of existence, and still send $750 billion of our treasury to the top 15 oil companies, but they'll get that thrill out of screwing #16, because #16 is one of those evil American corporations that only employs and provides pensions and healthcare benefits to hundreds of thousands of American workers

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:25 PM:>>Engineering jobs and computer jobs. Skills that Americans now lack.>>> But they dont lack the legal training as to where the best slip and fall places are, or how to sue under SB777. I suggest you all go to your yellow pages and compare the number of pages dedicated to attorneys as opposed to those dedicated to engineers.

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:28 PM:>>>Oh yes - Is Palin really ready for CIC.>>>
and oh yes, what scrap of experience does Hussein have that makes him ready to be CIC of other than his local community dog pound? At least Palin was a governor and a mayor

Pension Grab wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:34 PM:Does anyone have any knowledge of the details of a Democraic party proposal for a one-time 15% tax on all pension accounts? Would it also be considered and early withdrawal if you are under 59.5 years of age?

Bill wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:42 PM:Alf gives himself away again.

Just who did we borrow that money from Alf?

The government never dies and the debt is borrowed from ourselves. Alf thinks of it in terms of his own debt for which there is no upside. However, government debt drives the bond and treasury markets and provides retirement and additional income for those for whom we borrowed it from.

Regular ole' folks like you and I.

Paying off the national debt would be an economic disaster.

Paying off personal debt is wise.

Apples and oranges Alf.

Congress could have pulled the plug on the war funding any time they wanted to Alf. They didnt though because of the effects at the ballot box. GW has plenty of friends in the blame game since the public and Congress had a huge say in whether that money was spent or not.

Alf thinks we elected a King when we didnt. GWB had to stay within the restraints of Congress. Congress and the American people were culpable too but Alf didnt mention that did he?

Are you saying that Congress was guilty of direlection of duty Alf?

Take it up with Pelosi then.

Ms M wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:10 PM:Chuck
[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:28 PM:...so Chuck just what you are saying - because a person is a mayor or governor that makes them qualified to pres/vp not what you actually do in office just your job title? Geez!

sdraoul wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:11 PM:"Grachus" needs to learn how to read and understand what he reads.

I said that it was impossible for McCain to vote like Bush because Bush can't vote. I said that Obama's votign record would parallel -- at least by 50% -- Bushes "wishes." And, wrong, Grachus almost every vote in the senate is "without objection." Only a handful of senate votes are partisan.

So, if McCain votes ten times along with Bush's wishes out of 12 votes while Obama votes 6 out of the 12 with Bush is that a problem.

What is a problem is that Obama has voted 100% of the time with Harry Reid's dictates. he has never voted against Reids's wishes, never, nor has he voted once against the wishes and desires of the AFL/CIO.

"Grachus" the last American combat troops left Vietnam in 1972. The last Embassy Marines left in 1975.

Obama's fantasy lie that he thought about joining the military is bogus and a huge lie especially when eh says the Vietnam war had ended thus there was no need for him to join. On the other hand, we were fighting in Vietnam when Harry Reid was exempted because as a good Mormon boy he was married and had children and he was going to law school.

hardtack wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:14 PM:I haven’t voted for any Democrat in 54 years; and I haven’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate in 44 years. With respects to Carolyn Dorroh, if I should decide to vote for the Republican this time, Sen Obama will have motivated that decision – not McCain or Palin.

sdraoul wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:16 PM:"Freddy" continues to post like an Obama fan, not an objective person. I said that Obama is lying that he in fact never considered military service. In the interview he didn't mention a branch of the military that he thought about joining. Every kid who thinks about joining states the branch he was thinking about.

Obama lied.

As for Sarah Palin's Commander-in-Chief constitutional role -- she commands an Alaskan National Guard that numbers 4,000 soldiers, Freddy. Its not, as you suggest from ignorance, chopped liver.

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:19 PM:>>The only thing free about our economy is to bail out the rich>>> Thats because the liars and cheats already got bailed out. They lied to the mortgage company by telling them they could afford the monthly payments. But, when they got upside down on their mortgage, instead of keeping their word, they left the people who gave them the money to buy the house high and dry, and headed for the hills. And your type has the gaul to say banks were bailed out, when it was really those who left that are being bailed out

sdraoul wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:21 PM:Ms M ought to understand words, for they mean something.

Sarah Palin referred to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as too big and too expensive to the taxpayers. She didn't say they have cost us anything in the past but they have cost us now, up to a possible $200 billion dollars, maybe. That's taxpayer dollars.

Only Ms M and the biased commentators who hate Sarah Palin don't understand that those two quasi governmental agencies just robbed us of billions of dollars.

Ms M wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:34 PM:sdraoul
[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:21 PM:...why do you cons throw the "hate" word out. Did I say that I "hated" Palin? Just what in my post suggest "hate".

Nate wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:41 PM:TO HARDTRACK:

Have you been voting independent? If so I am curious to here your unbiased opion on each candidate. and if you just dont vote, then your political opinion is meaningless.

Focal Point wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:41 PM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:16 PM:
You are assuming. You do not know that every kid entertains a service. In fact, I have seen them up at LA and asked. They replied does not matter to me. Except, don't put me in the Marines.

Freddy wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:43 PM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:16 PM:
There isn't any objective person on this blog. You do not think that you are objective-do you?

Ole Folks wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:45 PM:Bill[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:42 PM: And regular folks are paying the interest.

San Francisco Values wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:46 PM:(From the SF Chronicle)

School Board President, Mark Sanchez said of Gerald Courtney: "He's a wonderful guy. I've known him for many years. He's extremely highly regarded."

Courtney was arrested on charges of felony pimping and pandering, apparently for leasing apartments used for brothels.

Courtney is also charged with Internet advertising for prostitutes.

(Hey, schools are for teaching...one thing or another!)

Focal Point wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:46 PM:gracchus[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:13 PM:
Combat troops were out in 1972. The only ones left were the embassy guard who with the ambassador were flown out by helicopter in 1975.

National Debtor wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:51 PM:Bill at 1:42 p.m. shows himself to be living in the distant past!
Once upon a time, when the debt was much smaller, like under Kennedy and LBJ and Carter (and it was the Republicans howling against "Democratic fiscal irresponsibility" because we even had any debt at all - just before Reagan/Bush/Bush came along and multiplied it exponentially), there was some merit to the claim that we were "borrowing from ourselves."
But guess what, Billy Boy, thanks to the profligate borrow and spend shopaholics under the Republican administrations, we ran out of Americans!
Now we are in hoc mostly to the Chinese. So it is not just fiscally irresponsibility, but also a national security issue.
Pretty soon when they talk about bilingual education in the schools, they'll mean Mandarin!

Nate wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:52 PM:To SDraoul

you say Palin is in charge of 4000 national guard troops so that makes her ready to run the strongest army in the world. She has hardly any control BTW. Yeah there are a lot of problems in Alaska where she would need to dispense her army.lolMaybe a moose riot. You republicans amaze me. She was chosen for VOTES!!! Why cant someone please just admit that. She is hardly the most qualified. People will say Obama's lack experiance as well. That could be true, but he went through the process we are all supposed to belive in and he won the nomination. Imagine is the dems did the same thing picking a individual for the sole purpose of votes. Obama could have picked Hilliary for that reason. instead Obama went with someone that would help him and our country deal with foreign affairs. What will palin help McCain do??

snerd wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:54 PM:I just think it is interesting that both of the major newspapers in Alaska think Ms. Palin is unprepared to be President, and that the governorship of a small state for only 1 1/2 years also makes her unprepared. Can't you just hear Ron and raoul laughing if she was picked by Obama to be VP. Also, the Republican Party which for some bizarre reason likes to paint itself as the "family values" party, you know, the moral high ground picks a mother with an unwed pregnant daughter whose boyfriend says on his blog that he would never want to have kids. Just some random thoughts.

Richard wrote on Sep 8, 2008 3:00 PM:It's well known that Bush ordered the 101st airborne to invade Iraq from where they had surrounded Bin Laden. He also canceled the tracking group to find Bin Laden, and Bush is friends with the relativies of Bin Laden in Saudi Arabia. I'm sick and tired of hearing that Clinton 'let Bin Laden go'. Bin Laden was not even the known perpetrator of the WTC garage bomb. The entire world was with us to get Bin Laden after 9/11, and yet Bush allowed him to go. I'm also sick and tired of this idea that Obama is a friend of some terrorist somewhere by virtue of living in the same town or meeting him. Is Rumsfeld a friend of terrorists because he met with Saddam Hussein to sell him chemical weapons? Is Bush a friend of terrorists because he is friends of the Bin Laden family and he let Bin Laden go? If Clinton and Obama are friends of terrorists, then so too are Bush [and McCain who supports his views on Iraq] because they let Bin Laden go on purpose and didn't neutralize him over these past 7 years. At least Clinton tried to get Bin Laden in one of his camps with a missile. And it didn't cause the deaths of thousands of uninvolved people. Just who are the friends of terror here?

snerd wrote on Sep 8, 2008 3:02 PM:Another thought: How does electing a Republican and a jesus freak represent change? Haven't we already had 8 years of that? Do you think the country could survive 8 more years?

hardtack wrote on Sep 8, 2008 3:04 PM:Alf, 5:57 AM, asks: “How does [Josef Horowitz] or anyone else propose that we PAY BACK those hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars [spent in Iraq] if we do not raise taxes??”

Maybe the following quote will help Alf and most Democrats grasp the economics of tax cuts:

"A tax cut means higher family income and higher business profits and a balanced federal budget. Every taxpayer and his family will have more money left over after taxes for a new car, a new home, new conveniences, education and investment. Every businessman can keep a higher percentage of his profits in his cash register or put it to work expanding or improving his business, and as the national income grows, the federal government will ultimately end up with more revenues." . . . John F. Kennedy.

Perhaps Kennedy was being over-optimistic about “a balanced federal budget.” Whereas, tax cuts have historically increased revenue, they may fail to balance the budget if Congress continues to outspend the revenue increase derived from the tax cuts.

Regards, hardtack.

Chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 3:15 PM:>>>There isn't any objective person on this blog. You do not think that you are objective-do you?>>>

You'll get no arguement from me on that. Its a freaking political board, who cares about objectivity

Richard wrote on Sep 8, 2008 3:32 PM:Which means that Obama's claim that the Vietnam War was over in 1979 is a true, factual statement, and he did not a 'lie' as many here choose to claim. You lose, Obama wins, case closed. You should realize you can't read another persons's mind. Obama I'm sure had thought about military service, if that is what he said he did. Republican partisans think they can read minds, but when they're disproven, oh well, they then move on and invent the next story.
For example, McCain lied when he claimed Obama doesn't support the troops because he couldn't visit them in Germany after the Pentagon complained. McCain lied that Obama dishonors the holocaust, while he was visiting the memorila in Israel! McCain has not, nor ever will, apologize because he is a Republican partisan who believes his ability to mind read.
Now I read where Bush is complaining that Iraqi citizens should more appreciate their being liberated. As though killing some Iraqis to liberate other Iraqis is something Bush has a right to insist deserves 'thanks'. Sorry, but neither Iraqis nor Americans need to say 'thanks' for the trillion spent on converting anti-Iran Iraq into pro-Iran Iraq, all while millions are refugees and scores of thousands have been killed even though they never attacked us like Cheney claimed and for which neither McCain nor Pailin have apologized for. In fact these two crooks think God ordered us to let Bin Laden go so as to invade Iraq. And people cheer this stuff; downright nauseous.

hardtack wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:03 PM:Nate, re your 14:41 : Yes, I vote in every election. Yes, my political opinion is “meaningless,” in that my vote will never decide a major election. No, I can’t give you an unbiased opinion of the candidates, because I am biased – not to be confused with “partisan.” My political bias comes from reading quite a bit about economics, news and history. It is not determined by who has a “( D )” or “( R )” following their name.
Regards, hardtack.

Quoted Without Comment wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:10 PM:Today's New York Post: (Quote)A Yeshiva University professor left two years ago as a man - and returned last week as a woman.

Literature Professor Joy Ladin, formerly known as Jay Ladin, 47, showed up for her first day of school sporting pink lipstick, a tight purple shirt and a flirty black skirt. She cheerfully strutted through the doors of the Midtown campus' main building, where she oversees the writing center.

Many at the Jewish university are horrified by the presence of the transgender professor. Some fear the news could cut alumni donations.
Ladin and the school won't comment on the situation, but some rabbis are shocked that she's still a member of the faculty

DD Wiz wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:15 PM:The post from "hardtack" (3:04pm) makes me suspect that maybe "Apollo" is right about short-term memory problems of conservatives, since this point has repeatedly been addressed in response to him in the past!
Kennedy's proposal (enacted by LBJ in Feb 1964 after his death) was to reduce the top marginal rate (the top layer out of 13 layers then in effect only for millionaires, in 1960's dollars) from 91% to 70%.
So if I understand "hardtack" correctly, he wants to return to the days of the prosperity that followed the Kennedy top marginal rate (13 progressive brackets, top bracket of 70%)? Is this right?
If not, then why do you keep invoking Kennedy's proposal when you have no intention of supporting it?
The prosperity that followed LBJ's enactment of the Kennedy tax plan (13 brackets, top marginal rate of 70%) led to LBJ being able to achieve a budge surplus, despite the enormous costs of the Apollo moonshot program, the Vietnam War, and the attempts to implement a "War on Poverty" that the subsequent Republican administrations quickly nipped in the bud.
Please join with "hardtack" and me in supporting the JFK/LBJ tax policy: 13 brackets; top marginal rate of 70%.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

snerd wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:23 PM:You know I feel really bad for Ron these days. I mean who is he going to vote for. Not Obama, of course, he's made that clear. But not McCain either. After all he has slavishly supported everything Bush has done for the last eight years. Anyone who has dared to point out any mistake that Bush has made is immediately rebuked by Ron. Bush is always right, everyone else wrong. So along come McCain and he wants to CHANGE everything Bush has done. That's his new mantra: Change. So Ron, if McCain totally and vocally rejects Bushes policies and you have supported Bushes policies, who do you vote for? Quite a conundrum for you old friend.

Nick wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:24 PM:I am seriously falling out of my chair laughing......LOLOLOLOLOL.
Has anyone else noticed how much trash the lonnie, lefty Liberal Dems are spewing these days????
Talk about running scared....lmao.

Aren't these the same whiney Dems who are always complaining on these blogs that Cons and Repubs are always talking trash and that Democrats take a higher moral ground?

Every day it gets worse and worse and I laugh harder and harder....LOL

Notice how the 3-4 points Obama had on McCain have now slipped to 3-4 points behind McCain.....Hmmmmm.
Yeppers, the Dems aren't running scared...rightttttt.

Let's take a look at the Polls. According to Real Clear Politics who averaged all the polls, they give McCain a +2.9 lead.

Here are the ones they Averaged:
ABC News/Wash Post----------McCain +2.0
CBS News--------------------McCain +2.0
USA Today/Gallup------------McCain +10.0
CNN-------------------------Tie
Rasmussen Tracking----------McCain +1.0
Hotline/FD Tracking---------Tie
Gallup Tracking-------------McCain +5.0

Apparently I'm not the only American who isn't buying into all of Obamas hot air.....lol.
I just want to thank you Dems for keeping me laughing....lol.
Cheers, Nick.

Marlowe wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:28 PM:All this nonsense about percentages of votes by McCain or Obama miss the essential point. McCain has, in much of his behavior, been a very enthusiastic supporter and promoter of Bush's policies (but not all of them). McCain was vocal against the Bush "tax cuts", for example, but changed his mind about this. McCain was against offshore drilling, but changed his mind as gas prices went through the roof. He was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of switching our military concentration to Iraq, influenced heavily by the theories of Chalabi. McCain was among those who insisted loud and clear that taking care of Iraq would be easy and that a small force was all that was needed. To his credit, he changed his mind about this AFTER the small force idea had turned Iraq into a total disaster. He has always been strongly against the right of a woman to choose. He, unlike Bush, has genuinely opposed the use of torture, regardless of his voting for it, no doubt in despair. He has claimed to be "green" but does not show up to vote for important environmental measures, even when he is in DC. He is a saber-rattler like the current President. So in most critical policy issues he not only casts votes, but speaks loudly for Bush's ideas. There can be complex reasons to vote this way or that, for example because bills have elements or riders that may be worth it or which kill the deal. But when making speeches and doing political deals, you can tell what a candidate is enthused about or opposes. That's why I could care less how people like raoul toy with numbers to favor their side. How these two candidates stand on many issues is blaringly obvious in much of their past and present behavior. I'm going to vote for Obama based on this. If you think the Bush years have been great, you should definitely vote for McCain.

He Said wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:29 PM:At least Palin has been in charge of something. Obama's major executive decisions are how to spend his campaign money. If he wins then he can extend that to how to spend our money.

snerd to chuck wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:30 PM:Since you are always making silly comments about what kids take in school and since you are old enough to maybe not even remember school, I thought I would list for you the classes my daughter is taking in her senior year at a public high school: Physics, Trig., English Lit from Chaucer to Shakespeare, History of the Middle Ages, Cinema as Literature. Quite a load. And not at all untypical. Now your senior year might've been quite different depending on your ability and desire to work and learn. But I can assure you if you are smart and hard-working, public high school will give you all you can handle. And if you can't handle it, well, there is always the military.

OBAMACAN wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:32 PM:To Nate at 2:52 p.m.:
SDRaoul doesn't really believe that nonsense about Palin being qualified or having "executive experience."
I won't believe his sincerity for a moment, unless he repudiates the statements by Karl Rove in which Rove ridiculed the idea that Obama might pick Virginia governor Tim Kaine, from a very historic state many times larger than Alaska, ridiculing that he "only" had "three years" experience (compare Palin's 18 months), and dismissing his experience through a term as Lt. Gov and his mayorship of a city of 250,000 people.
Also, I still remember how the Republicans ridiculed Jimmy Carter as "only" being governor of a small southern state. Oh yeah, I know how happy they are with how that turned out.
Executive experience of a small hamlet means NOTHING! There is no more relevance comparing a stint as mayor of a small town with the possible presidency of the United States, than the owner/operator of a shoestore thinking he can take over as CEO of a huge international corporate conglomerate.
In contrast, Obama and Biden have actual EXPERIENCE working with international and nationwide issues.
You know darn well that if it was the Democrats who had selected someone whose qualifications are such a joke, Raoul and Ron would be the ones screaming the loudest.

Reardon wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:41 PM:Obama is all for the “Employee Free Choice Act” – mis-named because it takes the secret ballot away from those voting on joining a union.

George McGovern is quoted in the Wall Street Journal (August 8) as saying, “"We cannot be a party that strips working Americans of the right to a secret-ballot election."

WoW! Obama is to the left of George McGovern?

Nick wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:46 PM:Apparently "Gracchus" is offended by "Chuck's" comparison of Obama to some Communists. "Gracchus" asks the question, "What similarities do obama, lenin, and stalin share?"

I would love to answer this question for you "Gracchus". Have you taken a good look at the posters and flyers used for his campaign?
Take a good hard look at the ones designed by Los Angeles-based street artist Shepard Fairey. You might know them as the "Hope", "Progress", and "Change" posters the Obama campaign has used.
Notice how they mimic posters of Communist Dictators?

What else...Hmmmmmmm....How about Obamas pictures on the covers of Newsweek and Time, that were made to portray him as some sort of religious icon.
The same thing was done for Fidel Castro in a magazine called "Bohemia" back in 1959.

I'm not the one copying Communist Dictators, Obama is......you don't like it "Gracchus", take it up with your messiah Obama.
Cheers, Nick.

objective subjective wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:49 PM:You folks talk as if this were a simple, either-or matter. That's absurd. I agree that everyone has his/her point of view, but that doesn't make everyone equally "biased" or "subjective". Compare, say, an Alf or a DD with, say, a Chuck. The former, though their leanings are clear, give us a lot of information, usually fairly expressed, sometimes with an expresion of self-doubt or a willingness to learn. You'll never see this from Chuck. His biases are also clear, but you rarely get any actual information, only name-calling, exaggeration, and juvenile efforts, as he admits, to "push people's buttons". To say that Chuck, like DD, are simply "biased" misses everything important about their posts. You see my bias by the examples I've chosen, of course, but I can say that I read many conservative posts here of the DD-style and enjoy them, learn from them, and, on occasion, change my views because of them. On the other hand, I cannot imagine a reason in the world to read Chuck-style posts. Can you? What in the world could that reason be? I'm stumped!

bogie wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:00 PM:Did anyone hear Barack's interview with George Stephanopoulos? They were discussing the myth that Barack's detractors are spreading about his religion and Barack slipped and said "my Muslim faith" and was corrected by George who said "you mean Christian".

While I don't believe that Barack is a Muslim, this was an interesting slip and one that the right wing will be all over tomorrow. What happened to the days when all the press had to pick on was the spelling of "potato"?

Oops

Freddy wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:11 PM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:16 PM:
LOL. I don't care what the title infers. She directs the Alaskan Guard, 4000 troops,320 Moose and 450 polar bears. She has never even a led a squad, platoon or company level unit. In fact, Palin has never been to staff school. You see, all this CIC is all based on the civilian office to which they are elected. Facts are facts. Real facts are real facts.

Nick wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:26 PM:I think I'll do a little mud slinging of my own. Here are plenty of reasons NOT to vote for Obama.

+Pledged to dismantle our national defense systems, including development of future defense technologies, effectively disarming America and leaving us vulnerable to attack.

+Health care proposal will NOT create universal health care, and thus will only be more wasteful government spending accomplishing nothing.

+Claims to have no lobbyist ties, but changed his nuclear regulation bill to favor nuclear companies under pressure from his money men at Exelon.

+Claims to not accept oil money, but in fact has major money bundlers who are oil executives.

+Claims to have no lobbyist ties, but several registered lobbyists have raised over a million dollars for his campaign, sometimes having their wives write the check to conceal his ties to them.

+Voted against his own economic package
Of McCain, Clinton, and Obama, only Obama backed the Bush-Cheney energy bill that put taxpayer money in oil companies’ pockets and helped gas prices skyrocket, yet he calls Clinton “Bush-lite” and McCain “a third Bush term”?

+Claimed he would not run for President until he had the requisite experience.

+Threatened to bomb our crucial ally Pakistan without permission.

+In 2002, voted to defund a Chicago social work office, when criticized by the public, he claimed he pushed the wrong button.

+In 1997, voted against an election reform bill, later claimed he pushed the wrong button once again.

+In 2000, voted against a ban on human cloning, later claimed he pushed the wrong button.

+In 2000, voted for a gambling measure opposed by church groups, when criticized claimed he pushed the wrong button. (Starting to see a patern here?)

+Lies, claiming to be anti-war because he gave a speech in 2002 when he was not yet a Senator, but once in the Senate voted to extend the war more than five times.

+Lies, claims he will withdraw troops, when in fact he has no plans to really do so as his campaign has indicated conditions on the ground will dictate troop levels.

+Claims to be against NAFTA, caught telling Canada he was for NAFTA, when he was caught, he lied about it too.

+Said age-appropriate sex-ed was okay for kindergarten

Oh yeah, this is one fine upstanding guy....seriously lmao.

Bill wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:30 PM:Billy boy?

Nobody told me how raising taxes was going to reduce the debt.

Thats faulty economic reasoning no matter how big or small the debt figure is. Raising taxes will reduce economic growth and inhibit spending and investment. You pay down the national debt with the taxes that are generated from expanded economic growth. More capital available for investment keeps interest rates low and inhibits inflation.

Some of you need to go back to school and take an econ class.

Either that, or stay out of economics discussions in which you have nothing but drivel to contribute.

This is ultra basic stuff.

gracchus wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:37 PM:i want to thank sdraoul at 2:11 p.m. and focal point at 2:46 p.m. for their clarification about the withdrawal of u.s. combat troops. i believe that did not occur until 1973, the same year as the last recorded u.s. combat death.

i offer the following quote from sdraoul's diatribe at 8:49 a.m.:

"american troops were out of vietnam by 1972 thus no americans fought for 7 years before obama graduated."

u.s. embassy marines were troops in viet nam, sdraoul. in response to my criticism you conveniently add "combat" which you failed to do in your earlier claims.

before sd raoul criticiszes my reading comprehension skills, i think that we should consider his writing skills. let's compare two of his statements. the first he wrote at 8:49 a.m.:

"the propaganda that McCain voted 90% of the time with President Bush is a lie. Presient Bush had no votes in the Senate thus couldn't have voted with Bush 90 percent of the time. Moreover almost all votes in the Senate are unanimous, thus a review of Obama's spotty senate record would show that he votes more than 50% of the time with the President's wishes.."

then at 2:11 p.m. sdraul writes:

"i said that it was impossible for McCain to vote like Bush because Bush can't vote. i said that obama's voting would parallel--at least by 50%-- Bush's 'wishes.'"

at 8:49 a.m. sd raoul you assert that obama does what mccain can't do. then at 2:11 p.m. you change the terms and declare that obama parallel's bush's wishes.

i would think that if obama can compromise and reach an accord with bush on certain issues this would speak well for his ability as a political negotiater, would it not?

i fail to see what harry reid's lack of military service has to do with obama, sdraoul. perhaps as much as gw bush's faiulure to fulfil his responsibilities with texas air national guard has to do with john mccain?

i still don't understand why you think that obama has neglected to serve his country because he didn't don a military uniform. i would like you to explain that position if you would be so kind.

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:39 PM:McCain is bringing CHANGE!

We’ve always known that sex sells. Well, now it’s being used to sell both God and the Republicans in one extremely seductive package. And in dressing up the old repressive values in fishnet stockings and flouncy lingerie, the forces of conservatism have beaten the liberals at their own game.

Choose almost any sex-related issue. From pornography and sex education to reproductive rights and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, Americans have allowed a conservative religious movement not only to dictate the terms of conversation but also to change the nation’s laws and public health policies. And meanwhile American liberals have remained defensive and tongue-tied.

MAMA predicts that Palin’s rockstar status will cause an explosion in pre-marital pregnancies. And her golden tongue will supersede the oratory of Sen. Obama and the harangues of Rush Limbelly.

SOLON wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:45 PM:Irony or hypocrisy?

Ron wrote "I’M telling ya folks, the Lib’s just can’t keep their mouths shut." 5:16 AM

Then Ron proceeds with his usual palaver of endless verbal diarrhea, blog after blog after blog.

Mmm-m-m-m-m-m-m-m.

SOLON wrote on Sep 8, 2008 5:57 PM:Palin is a socialist.
Palin had been in the governor’s seat only a few months when she raised taxes on the oil corporations in Alaska and distributed the new found wealth to the citizens of Alaska. He popularity soared to over 60%. The oil corporations do not like her, but the populace did.

Palin raised taxes on oil companies after deposed Gov. Murkowski’s previous tax regime produced falling revenues in 2007, despite skyrocketing oil prices. Alaska now has some of the highest resource taxes in the world. Alaska’s oil tax revenues are expected to be about $10 billion in 2008, twice those of previous year. BP says about half its oil revenues now go to taxes, when royalty payments to the state are included. Earlier this week, Palin approved gas tax relief for Alaskans, and paid every resident $1,200 to help ease their fuel-price burden.

Well, folks, Palin is not as bad as we liberals thought. Maybe Palin should dump her running partner, the old man.

Alf wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:02 PM:Well, "Bill" at 1:42PM,
think again!
We are in hock to CHINA up to our ears as well as many other countries.
Currently, China is indirectly funding the folly of GWB in Iraq.
Look it up!
Regards, Alf.

Alf wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:06 PM:Well, "hardtack" at 3:04PM,
"trickle down" economics works in ONLY the short run.
Inflation catches up, then recession, which is where we are now.
Nice try!
Regards, Alf.

SOLON wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:09 PM:Ignorant of the legislative process . .

. . sdraoul displayed his glaring ignorance of the legislative process with his blob "President Bush had no votes in the Senate thus McCain couldn’t have voted with Bush 90 percent of the time."

Raoul seems oblivious that the Corporate Fascist Lobbyist Cabal writes the legislation, which Bush introduces on the floor through his senate syndicate. Because the Democrats lack a working majority, the Bush cabal ramrods his program through, providing enough honey glazed pork to feed the hungry wolves. The root of all political evil is money.

Freddy wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:10 PM:Nate[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:52 PM:
Palin will sell the Air Force on E bay.

SOLON wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:26 PM:National Debtor got it right . . (2:51 PM)

. . When he wrote "thanks to the profligate borrow and spend shopaholics under the Republican administrations, we ran out of Americans!
Now we are in hoc mostly to the Chinese. So it is not just fiscally irresponsibility, but also a national security issue."

The reason the Treasury and the Fed went into state of shocking alarm is because the Chinese, who hold mega billions of the paper debt of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, threatened to call in their T-Bill debt and suspend further funding of the Bush-McCain wars and other profligacy. When the accounting report came out last week and it became certain that Freddie and Fannie were on the verge of bankruptcy, the Chinese knew we had been selling them investments filled with lead paint laced with plutonium poison. Worthless paper.

If the Chinese, Indians and Saudis stop loaning to Bush, our entire economy would crash, destroying every bank and most corporations. So the Fed and Treasury had to promise these foreign lenders that we taxpayers would make good on Bush’s debt to the foreigners.

Oh Please wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:28 PM:Gov Palin. Please march this platoon down the street and back? Duh. Which way did they go? But, I am the CIC of the Alaskan National Guard.

Focal Point wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:31 PM:Nate[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:36 AM: I argue with Chuck every other day if not more. But, this blog would be so boring without him. I look forward to his daily silliness. But, sometimes, just sometimes, Chuck makes sense. But, do not have any pity for Chuck. He certainly will have none for you.

Focal Point wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:33 PM:Chuck[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:48 AM: I passed the cucumber with flying colors. I mastered the technique in the expected time. Receiving an "A" in this course has qualified me for the higher degree of education. I could not have passed this course without the encouragement of our beloved Chuck.

President Mooseburger wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:36 PM:If sdraoul thinks that Mooseburger would make a fine CIC, one can only wonder what kind of a goofy outfit he served in?

By the way, I don't normally call people names, but Chuck has so much fun doing it I think I will take a page from his book. Weeeeeeee!

Freddy wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:38 PM:Chuck[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:28 PM: She was the mayor of a hamlet, a population of 9,000 of which 2500 are polar bears and the remainder Mooses on the run. The only thing that she really did as Governor is dress up and play soldier and sell the Gov Plane at a loss to a private buyer. Palin was picked by an ole man who can not even remember how many houses. Obama was picked by over 20 million people.

SOLON wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:40 PM:Holy osmosis !

Sarah Palin just got her first U.S. passport 6 months ago. That puts her way ahead of GW Bush, who, prior to being sworn into office, had traveled only to Mexico (for drinking partying) and Canada. But that was back in the days when you did not need a passport for Mexico and Canada.

But why does Palin need a passport in the first place to acquire her foreign policy expertise? She lives so close to Russia that she just levitates heavenward, and with arms outreached, absorbs all she needs to know through the process of Holy Osmosis.

By The Numbers wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:41 PM:From the AP:

Percentage of students who can handle rigorous material at their grade level, 2007 (Nationally):

_Fourth-grade math: 39 percent

_Eighth-grade math: 32 percent

_Fourth-grade reading: 33 percent

_Eighth-grade reading: 31 percent

How people say the U.S. is doing in education against other countries:

_Getting ahead: 4 percent

_Just keeping up: 44 percent

_Falling behind: 50 percent

Goofy Libs wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:44 PM:Abstinence
[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 1:21 PM:

Sounds like you did not have a good day at band camp Abstinence, Oh well, Better luck tomarrow. And the name is Libs, Goofy Libs. Typical of lib nonsense (hence the name), slice and dice words to try and make a point. tisk, tisk, tisk. and, oh ya, your original post was dumb!

SOLON wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:57 PM:That Libyan lunch . . B>

The LA Times ran a story last Saturday about Condi Rice a Roni dropping in to visit with Moammar Kadafi in Libya, and having dinner with the dictator. The LAT headline read "Rice has dinner with Kaddafi."

A more descriptive headline would have been "Kadafi had Rice for lunch" Seems the Republican foreign policy is to favor dictators over democratically elected leaders, a policy which eventually backfires, resulting in the dictator eating our lunch.

The worst example is the Reagan-Rumsfeld love affair with Saddam Hussein. That folly has cost us our lunch, breakfast, dinner, and national treasury. How much are the U.S. taxpayers going to have to pay for that Libyan lunch?

Budget Surplus wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:58 PM:Ah yes, He Said at 4:29 p.m. -
and how did Obama manage that huge budget of his presidential campaign?
Oh yes, he raised more money than anyone else, without Pac'S or lobbyists that had been sewed up by Hillary, and has always been running in the black, without depending on "government bailouts" (campaign welfare) or his own wealth. Self made man.
And, his campaign has had to deal extensively with nationwide and international issues.
Unlike the governor of Alaska, who depends on earmarks and supports the "Bridge to Nowhere " (before she was against it).
So she lies, rips off taxpayers for other states, and covers it up.
This is supposed to attrack CONSERVATIVES?
Oh, but she's cute as a button.

hardtack wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:39 PM:Alf, re your 18:06 : No matter how your wish to label it, economics works when politicians allow it to work.
Have a good evening. Hardtack has left the building.

Nick wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:42 PM:To "Budget Surplus":
You obviously have NO idea what your talking about.
To quote you "Oh yes, he raised more money than anyone else, without Pac'S or lobbyists that had been sewed up by Hillary, and has always been running in the black, without depending on "government bailouts" (campaign welfare) or his own wealth. Self made man."

Ummmmmmm......maybe you should actually do a little research on Obama.
Obama is a LIAR and has been taking money from PAC's and Lobbyists for a longgggggg time.
He flip-flopped(change of tactics as "Gracchus" calls it) on taking the campaign welfare, and he hasn't rasied more money than anyone else.
He has done the same thing as McIdiot and still hasn't raised as much as his oponent.

You need a reality check amigo!
Cheers, Nick.

Richard wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:47 PM:What garbage. Obama didn't want to bomb Pakistan. He's not stupid like George W.
Bush who bombed Iraq, when they never attacked us or held Al Qaeda there who did. What Obama wanted was to bomb a specific target that happened to be in the remote mountains where the Pakistan border line is, to hit Bin Laden; you know, the guy who actually attacked New York City, the guy who GWB let go in Tora Bora because he waned to invade Iraq instead, the guy who Bush said repeatedly he was 'not interested in', the guy whose tracking group Bush dibanded, the guy who is now organizing terror attacks on our soil while hiding in the mountains that Obama wants to bomb. And saying that Obama 'wants to bomb' is itself in one sense a lie. No person in his right mind 'wants' to bomb anyone. Everyone wishes Bin Laden would just die, but unfortunately he refuses. So what do you expect Obama to say?
As far as sex ed in kindergarten, of course Obama is right again, as usual. Talking about mom and dad getting married and having a baby is age appropriate kindergarten sex ed, rather than lying about storks or cabbage leaves. What of it?
And Obama is against the bad effects of belonging to NAFTA and he is in favor of the good effects for the county for belonging to NAFTA. Again, so what?
He's for universal health care, as would anyone be if it could be done without negative impacts. How to finance it is what should be argued, not the goal of having such a thing. Wouldn't if be great if doctors wanted to donate free time to help out with such a thing for example? If it can't be worked out, then it can't, but what is so wrong with wanting such a thing?
Almost everything on anti Obama mudslingings usually turn out to be exaggerations or downright lies, like those Karl Rove loves twist. Ask what a guy's name is, write down his answer, then ask him in a different way, like what's your nickname, get a different answer and use that to 'prove' how unqualifed a candidate he is to lead. Nice try, but it's still false.

Ms M wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:57 PM:I think the media just might be doing a better job this time around. The cable news this evening is focusing on Palin and asking questions. There has been a lot a fact checking going on and it looks like the half truths and out right lies that Palin have been making are in the news and being discussed.

On various shows I have seen segments on:

Her church with it's radical beliefs and just what effect it coluld have on Palin.

Her previous Iraq statements including it was the will of God.

Her support of the bridge to no where.

Her stance on earmarks.

Hopefully the media will continue to question the statements (from both sides), I just hope that people listen and take off the shades.

Oh, I did not watch Faux News!

Apollo wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:58 PM:Re: Robert Strimple (letter)
Another person who simply does not grasp at all what the California Supreme Court did.
GENDER is a protected class enshrined in multiple places in the California Supreme Court.
NUMBER has no such protection.
The California Supreme Court rendered their decision based on the Constitutional prohibition against requiring someone to make a selection based on gender.
Since the Constitution is silent as to number, it would be up to the legislature or the general public through the initiative process, not the courts, to evaluate the evidence and decide if there is some reason to change the definition of marriage based on number.
If the religious conservatives want to return to the Bible-based standard of one man and multiple underaged women, they will have to do so through the legislative process.

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:01 PM:The "real terrorists?
"Wizzer" @9:21 AM....

I know this is the common mantra by the extremists on the Left: "Democrats' support for war against the real terrorists..."
And where are these "real" terrorists, Wizzer? Only in Afganistan? There only in Afganistan? Right? Or so the liberal theory goes...
I know this is hard to phathom beyond the talking points, but..
We have troops in a lot more places than just Iraq & Afganistan. In case you were not aware, Operation Enduring Freedom is a multi-front war.
Currently, these are where we are operating, along with our NATO allies:
Afghanistan, Philippines, Horn of Africa, Trans Sahara, Kyrgyzstan,
and Pankisi Gorge.

It's funny? I don't see Okinawa anywhere on that list? Do you?

gracchus wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:06 PM:your assertions at 4:46 p.m.make no sense to me, nick. "hope," "progress," and "change" are universal concepts which have different intepretations. christians hope that they will be present with god after death; communists hope that they can achieve paradise on earth. for workers progress means improved wages and benefits; for businessmen it means more markets for their goods and services. pre-socratic philosophers observed that the universe is in flux and that change is inevitable; the question is how we accomodate change so that it benefits us.

i don't know of a communist dictator who used these words to advance his agenda. if you could tell me of one, nick, and in what propaganda campaign he used them, i would be most appreciative.

you have not proved your claim that obama mimics communist dictators. how has he.

finally, nick, i have never referred to obama as my messiah. i have too much respect for those of jewish and christian faith to use one of their sacred titles in such a blasphemous manner.

Supreme Nick wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:07 PM:You have to take Nick's litany of anti-Obama nonsense at 5:26 p.m. with a huge block of salt.
This is from the same guy who rejects scientific consensus out of hand while still not explaining to us how he got his special insider knowledge that sets him up above real scientists.
This is also the same guy who does not believe that the 14th and 16th Amendments are valid parts of the Constitution, but does not explain why his crackpot opinion weighs more than a 100% agreement among real Constitutional scholars, including every justice of every Supreme Court that has ever sat since they were RATIFIED. Now that's consensus you can believe in!
Can I borrow that tin hat when you're through with it?

Anti Terrorist wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:13 PM:To Ronnie Boy at 8:01 a.m.:
Have you been living in a cave?
The real terrorists are THE ONES WHO ATTACKED US ON 9/11!
Fifteen out of 19 of them were from Bush's great Saudi Arabian allies.
ALL OF THEM were based in Afghanistan, trained in Afghanistan and executed their invasion of this country from AFGHANISTAN.
THAT IS WHO ATTACKED US.
Democrats want to go after the ones who attacked us.
Republicans wanted to, and still do, divert our resources from those who attacked us to those who did not, but who have scads of oil.
Oh, you claim to have oil stocks (which no one can verify, of course).
I get it.
My kid's life isn't worth your dividend.
Comprende?

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:13 PM:Better do some hurry up research then.. "Draft Dodger" @9:22 AM.
Cause Biden voted for this current Iraq War. Yes, he voted to send other people's children off the war.
While he never served. Now, from everything I've read, within the Liberal dictionary, this is a prime definition of a ChickenHawk.

Of course, he was wrong to vote No on teh 1st Gulf War, especially when the entire world was with us, and even the UN!!
But, now I can see why Obama picked O'Biden.

Bill Too wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:16 PM:(Not to be confused with Bill One or just plain “Bill”)

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 7:10 AM: Take a look at MediCare, again, with it’s introduction, insurance companies no longer insured many seniors, changing the insurance pool. Again, injecting artificiality into the marketplace.
This is much of the long sad history of many, many New Deal programs that can't function, and are failing.
Social Security, broke.
MediCare, broke.
Every level of Government, broke.

OK Ron – lets tell it like it is. The reason that these programs are broke is that the politicians took the money that was taken from the TAXPAYERS who (unlike the politicians) were REQUIRED BY LAW to pay into these programs to provide for their future needs and used it to pay for all their favorite pork-barrel projects and replaced the money with IOU’s. If we ever do decide to replace the money for these projects we will probably need to borrow the money from China – if they are willing to loan us any more. How do you say “Pretty please” in Chinese?

People keep harping on 911. Incidentally the World Trade buildings were struck just months after the "Operation Northwoods" documents were declassified – I’m not suggesting conspiracy but it is a VERY interesting coincidence that if the names were changed…? Look up the full text for more details.

“These shocking, declassified 15 page Pentagon documents show how in Operation Northwoods the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the U.S. military leaders proposed in 1962 a secret plan to commit terrorist acts against Americans and blame Cuba to create a pretext for invasion and the ousting of Communist leader Fidel Castro.
"We could develop a Communist Cuban terror campaign in the Miami area, in other Florida cities and even in Washington," said one document reportedly prepared by the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "We could blow up a U.S. ship in Guantanamo Bay and blame Cuba," the document says. "Casualty lists in U.S. newspapers would cause a helpful wave of indignation."
“They called for hijacking jet airliners, attacking US military bases, blowing up US ships and wounding civilians in Miami, Florida and Washington, DC using paramilitary sniper teams.”

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:18 PM:"Marlowe" @9:38 AM
>>>I don't get Ron's point about how liberals don't like Palin because of her political views. Of course we don't. Has nothing to do with her being a woman, a working mom, or anything else.>>>

Dude, you truly are an ostrich.

Chickenhawk wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:29 PM:No, Ronnie Boy at 8:13 p.m., Biden did not vote to send other people's children to war.
Hey, I am and was an Obama supporter, but I never bought the line that Hillary did, either.
While I agree that their vote was a mistake, you are false mischaracterizing it with your very dishonest statement.
It was not a vote to invade Iraq.
It was a vote to authorize the use of force ONLY AS A LAST RESORT (and there are many uses of military force, such as embargoes, targeted strikes and no-fly zones) short of a full-scale invasion (aka, "shock and awe" which, by the way, we never saw in Afghanistan, where the REAL TERRORISTS CAME FROM, and where the total troops never equalled even 1/6 the number in the place that did not invade us but which had oil.
President Bush assured them that
a. there was absolute proof of WMD and we knew exactly where they were
b. that he would only use the authorization as a last resort, to strengthen his bargaining position.
Yes, the vote was a mistake.
The MISTAKE was not that they intended to send troops into battle, but that they trusted the lying oil profiteer in the White House.

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:30 PM:Now.. "Ms M" @10:27 AM,

I've tried desperately to try and educate you on a daily basis. Why are you missing, what is so clearly staring you in the face?

I alredy talked about this:
Fannie & Freddie are government institutions, they do not have to play by the same rules as all other financial institutions, they have exemptions. they don't file with the SEC, they don't pay taxes, and they are exempt from credit/asset ratio's required on all other privately held financial institutions. And yet...
It's called the "Spine" of our mortgage industry, cause's it's so huge.
It used to be a government owned monopoly, can you say? Socialism?
Now, they are a Quasi-government operation, but word on the street is, if loans in Fannie or Freddie go belly-up, Uncle Sam steps in.
You even say it in your post:
"These are huge institutions and they are absolutely central to our country's mortgage debt."

That's right, their HUGE! Government is HUGE. Debt in social security is HUGE!
MediCare debt is HUGE!
California is in the red HUGE!
You catching the drift now?
All government, all HUGE debt's.
I say, let them fall, so the market can correct itself. Otherwise, your enabling an addict. I suggest a 12 step program, not more money.

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:35 PM:Yeah, I'm sure he did...
"Oh Please" @10:57 AM,
So, what could these better things be, I wonder? Hmmmmmm.. let me think?

Could it be, spending more time with 'Frank' smoking cigarettes and talking about communism?
But seriously, he lives in Hawaii, and he don't even know how to surf?

bogie wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:35 PM:Richard @ 7:47 PM:

You have got to love it. The partisan hacks are down to "He's not stupid", duh. Excuse me Richard, with all the support, money (and I mean big money), analyst's, talking heads, speech writers, community organizers, left/right leaning media etc. none of the politians are "stupid". The "stupid" are the ones that believe all the fables coming from the great oratering politicians and all their advisors.

Grow some watermelons and challenge the slop that your party would have you dine on.

Peace soon please

Marlowe wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:46 PM:Hey Ron (at 818), that was some great response, guy. Uh, what the heck are you talking about? Ron, c'mon, be a man, an adult man. What is it that you are accusing liberals (real ones, not straw ones) of? What, that we support working women except when they want to ban books and tell us wars are missions from God? Huh? Ron: what are you talking about? Say it! If you can...

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:49 PM:Oh Please, is right...
"Oh Please @ 11:01 AM.
"...and later was disqualified from service because of asthma as a teenager."
I really like the "and later" part, that's funny, oh pluse.
Did you know, or were you aware, that
Joe Biden's yearbook is on display at Archmere Academy in Claymont, where Biden played sports and was president of his class at the private catholic school.?
Played sports in high school, then "later" after the sports, he came down with asthma?
Your kidding me, right?

If you go to the Archmere Academy website, under Alumni, they write this:
"ALUMNI IN THE NEWS

Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., from the class of 1961, was named the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee by Sen. Barack Obama on Saturday, August 23, 2008. Sen. Biden attended Archmere from 1957 through 1961. As a student, he played football and basketball; served as president of his class junior and senior years; and was a member of the varsity Club, whose purpose was to promote school spirit. As an alumnus, he maintained strong ties with Archmere and was an active member of the community. He was elected to his first of six Senate terms in 1972. In February 1973, he arranged to bring astronauts from Apollo XVII to speak at Archmere."

Asthma, huh?

Nick wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:50 PM:I wasn't speaking of the words themselves "Gracchus", I was speaking of the actual posters themselves.
Take a look at some of them and you will see what I mean.
If you Google "What's with That Obama Poster?", you can see one and the artist on NPR's website with a short story on Obamas endorsement of his work.
Again, it was the words I was refering to.

True, messiah was my word and not yours, but you must admit that the followers of Obama act like one.
As for respect of those of faith, that is your choice. I have no respect or use for organzied religions of any kind.
Together they have caused the deaths of more human beings on this planet than any other cause in history.
Cheers, Nick.

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:02 PM:Hey, eh.. sometimes "Anti Terrorist"
@8:13 PM, just one word for you.
Volunteer. No, I take that back, two words for you. Volunteer military.

And, unlike you, I understand what happens when you squeeze down militarily on a country, the rats run to other places. And that's why NATO thinks it's a good idea to pursue, and defend several hot locations.
Or, perhaps those escaped you?

As to the Saud's, if your a 24%er,
then I sure hope your riding your bike, taking the bus, or walking.
Cause I sure could use a price break.

Comprende?

To Snerd wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:06 PM:"if you can't handle high school there is always the military". Sorry, dude, you can't get into the military without a high school diploma, at least not into the Marine Corps. Your comment is a slap in the face to every U.S. service member.

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:08 PM:My completely serious take on this?
"Bill Too" @8:16 PM,

Demo it.
I'm in the John Bolton school of thought on this, always have been.
"We could lose 4 complete stories off the buildings, and never miss em.

I especially like what my buddy Alf wrote, right after I posted that.
He said: Off a two-story building.
Yes, I think it's time.

Ron wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:13 PM:Hey, "Chickenhawk" @8:29 PM,
Loosen the tin foil hat, turn off the Kos, and google Iraq War resolution.
That answer is such a dodge.
Do you know how I know it was a dodge, go right now and re-read Pete Stark's speech on the floor of the Congress just prior to the iraq War resolution vote. He say's it all.
Denial is not just a river in Eygpt.

Nick wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:20 PM:Kind of funny "Supreme Nick", you actually don't show me where I'm wrong on my points about Obama BECAUSE YOU CAN'T!
They are straight honest facts. Anyone may highlight one and Google and see for themselves. Like they say, "the proof is in the pudding".

There are PLENTY of scientists who DO NOT agree with the consensus of the alarmist crowd spewing the hype called Global Warming or the IPCC Report used for Al Gore's propaganda piece. I have posted MANY pieces on it in the past, where were you, under a rock?

You are correct, I do believe that the 14th Amendment is Illegal for it was NEVER ratified in accordance with the steps laid out in The Constitution.
You are COMPLETELY WRONG when you claim that 100% of Constitutional Scholars agree with it as well as every S.C. Justice who has ever sat.
The Supreme Court has never touched the subject of the Illegality of The 14th Amendment.
Every branch of The Federal Government have gone on record declaring that they have no jurisdictional authority to investigate or make judgments into the question of the ratification of The 14th Amendment.
What few Federal Courts addressed the ratification question went on record stating that as the Federal Judiciary and the U.S. Congress have used the 14th Amendment for so many years, that the use of the Amendment validates the Amendment as being legitimate.

That in itself makes absolutely no sense.
I'll take the tim foil hat joke any day of the week, for when it comes down to it, you actually can't debate my facts because I am right.
Cheers, Nick.

Nick wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:22 PM:And a little bit more for you "Supreme Nick":
In 1968, the Utah Supreme Court diverged from the habeas corpus issue in a case to express its resentment against recent decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court under the Fourteenth Amendment, and to attack the Amendment itself:

In order to have 27 states ratify the Fourteenth Amendment, it was necessary to count those states which had first rejected and then under the duress of military occupation had ratified, and then also to count those states which initially ratified but subsequently rejected the proposal. To leave such dishonest counting to a fractional part of Congress is dangerous in the extreme. What is to prevent any political party having control of both houses of the Congress from refusing to seat the opposition and then without more passing a joint resolution to the effect that the Constitution is amended and that it is the duty of the Administrator of the General Services Administration to proclaim the adoption? Would the Supreme Court of the United States still say the problem was political and refuse to determine whether constitutional standards had been met? How can it be conceived in the minds of anyone that a combination of powerful states can by force of arms deny another state a right to have representation in the Congress until it has ratified an amendment which its people oppose? The Fourteenth Amendment was adopted by means almost as bad as that suggested above.

Seems as I'm not the only one who seems to have noticed the problems with The 14th Amendment.
Cheers, Nick.

Chris wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:50 PM:I see that Nick doesn't like Obama and that is fine but I have got to say that I respect Obama because he does his best to keep the discorse civil. All the adds from McCain are nasty and meanspirited and they keep telling the lie about how Palin din't support the bridge to nowhere. Obama is a class act and McCain who has no ideas is just a mud slinger. Now I sent in a blog yeserday talking about Palins record and the blogeditor wouldn't post it but I find it interesting that when bloggers out here say the same thing in bits and pieces they get posted. I was told that the blog was libelous. If so why did the Anchorage Dailly News print it? You know the Nctimes is just a small reginal newspaper and here are some blogs that very few people read but the blogeditors make such a big deal out of these blogs that don't amount to anything.

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:51 PM:Palin has changed the equation.

We once were told that every time Obama spoke, an angel had an orgasm. Now we are told that every time Palin speaks a holy child is conceived. A new superstar has arisen, whose golden tongue sends shivering ecstasy through the quaking bodies of the believers.

My! My! My! She is the spirit of evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson incarnated with the guts of Maggie Thatcher into the body of Dolly Partin.
The elements of tragedy and hysteria are there. They flare occasionally as some woman breaks under the vigil and sobs. Others in the crowd remains speechless and spellbound. And others catch the spirit and speak in tongues, consumed by the holy spirit of Republican ecstasy.

I went once as a child to a hellfire and brimstone tent revival in New Awlins. There were so many souls saved that night, freed from the power of Satan. You just had to be there to catch that awesome spirit. So I know full well what transpired in St. Paul. Yeah, in Sa-a-a-aint PAUL, Mini-Soto. PRAISE McCAIN! My Republican soul is FREE AT LAST! Believe it, Sister!

Reardon wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:52 PM:I just saw an interview with the Mayor of El Paso, Texas, who said his County hospital had treated 34 victims of the Mexican drug wars this year alone, shot in Mexico.

He said he asked the federal authorities if there was some agreement between US and Mexican authorities, because it takes the Mayor two hours to get across the border from Ciudad Juarez, but one gunshot victim made it quickly enough to successfully get treatment of 21 gunshot wounds!

Apparently most of the gunshot victims have been US citizens, shot in Mexico – but how do they get across so quickly? *The answer is they know to call 911 instantly upon crossing the border and saying they are a “Trauma One” patient – which activates instant response.)

Yes, I wonder too, how US citizens get shot in drug wars, but that is for another day.

The Mayor said that 6% of his County hospital budget was for treating illegal aliens – an interesting figure since I have yet to see ANY percentage listed by a local hospital – all of whom declare they do not track such things, although Hedgecock did say one day last week that Tr-City was writing off $1 million a month on illegal aliens. I have no idea where he came up with the number.

MorallyRight wrote on Sep 9, 2008 5:58 AM:To John @1:42am 9-8-08.....boy, you hit that nail right one the head. And, yet some think the cloaked Muslim will become President? Come, come....get real.

Oh Please wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:46 AM:Ron[-] wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:49 PM: Sure do. Having an asthma attack on the sport field or in training with medical assistance available is one thing. Having an asthma attack during combat is quite different. It not only threatens the suffer's life but the rest of the unit as well. Did you also every think that a coughing spasm might give your position away to the enemy. Hey, Ron have you ever been in the service?

Oh Please wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:54 AM:Ron: Many Hawains do not know how to surf.
So what? Thousands of them do not live near a cost despite being island dwellers.
Who cares if Obama never surfed. Palin did not sell the plane on e bay. So what. This country is going down the toilet and you give me and others this manure?

The truth wrote on Sep 9, 2008 7:28 AM:...of the matter is that this as well as any other American election is so predictable. Americans can yap about it all they want but no one really cares about the issues. Americans are focused on familiarity and comfort and do not like change. It comes down to the demographics of voters and it is so predictable. The majority of white voters both male and female will vote for McCain, black voters for Obama. Hispanics typically do not support blacks and will also vote for McCain. Why bother wasting time and money with this circus that the rest of the world enjoys watching and laughing at.

gracchus wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:57 AM:inasmuch as nick at 8:50 p.m. recommended that i look at the npr article on obama's poster, i did. there is not mention of communist influence or any association with communist dictators.

he can show no association between the words "hope," "progress," and "change" to communist dictators and any of their propaganda campaigns and how those campaigns are tied to obama.

he acknowledges that i have neer referred to obama as the messiah, but asserts that "obama's supporters act like one." how do they? i have only heard and read the application of the title "messiah" to obama from those who dislike him.

finally, to excuse his blasphemous use of a title sacred to jews and christians, he digresses to the atrocities of organized religion.

in the end nick still has not shown communist influence on obama. but he asserts that influence without any evidence.