Quote :

"And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness. The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow. When he was twelve years old, they found him in the temple in the City of Chicago, arguing the finer points of community organisation with the Prophet Jeremiah and the Elders. And the Elders were astonished at what they heard and said among themselves: “Verily, who is this Child that he opens our hearts and minds to the audacity of hope?” "

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/gerard_baker/article4392846.ece

7/25/2008 10:55:59 PM

There's a newcomer in the race:

http://withleather.uproxx.com/post.phtml?pk=6458



[Edited on July 26, 2008 at 1:29 AM. Reason : 3]

7/26/2008 1:25:47 AM

Where's the big bounce from Obama's Magical Mystery Tour, Obamacrats?

Where's the bounce? Obama's lead over McCain same as June

Quote :

"Silly old man that he is, Sen. John McCain, in case you hadn't heard, is still acting as if he's in the general election race, traveling around places like Pennsylvania in the United States talking and listening to people who can vote in the American election."

Quote :

"So the new NBC-Wall Street Journal Poll is coming out this evening. And even in this alleged year of the Democrat, with the Obama campaign practically printing money and already running general election ads in Republican strongholds, the new July results will show that the Illinois Democrat's 6-point lead from June has remained exactly the same as in June -- 6 points. (See MSNBC video below.) According to the results, Americans (46%-41%) feel McCain is the 'safer choice' for the White House. McCain leads by a larger margin (58%-46%) as the candidate with the background and set of values they most identify with. A majority (51%-27%) find themselves thinking more about what an Obama administration would be like."

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/07/mccain-obama-po.html

McCain Makes Significant Gains in Key Battleground States
Majority of Voters in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin Favor Keeping Troops in Iraq, According to Quinnipiac-washingtonpost.com-Wall Street Journal Survey

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/07/24/ST2008072401398.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO3pfEVT9CU

7/26/2008 6:45:14 AM

7/27/2008 2:27:57 PM

And just this friday, Rush and Hannity were telling me there was no post-trip bounce.

7/27/2008 2:48:37 PM

fyi

http://tinyurl.com/59dghe

this is the one time in my voting life where i feel we get to pick the best of the two candidates instead of the least worst of the two.

they both seem intelligent, well meaning, and can likely tell the difference between ideas and agendas.

7/28/2008 11:22:16 AM

I thought hillary would be a poison pill but if what i hear from the media is true obama would be slaughtering his campaign by selecting Eric Holder as VP. Not to be "racist" but i just don't think the median population of america would move from 300 years of history to a african american president and african american VP.

I guess it would be good for me since i prefer McCain (solely b.c of policies) but i just can't beleive the reports.

7/29/2008 3:05:52 AM

^ as the comedians have noted, it would minimize the assassination threat though (but )

I don't see him doing it either however.

^^^^ on the RCP poll (they average all the polls together), mcCain has been slowly gaining ground for the past month, there has been no bounce.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/general_election_mccain_vs_obama-225.html

7/29/2008 3:16:54 AM

Wow, McCain actually up in a poll? Haven't seen that in a while. He has been doing better in the polls as of late, although none of it means shit at this point. Only poll numbers that really count are Nov. 6.

So is McCain doing better ore is Obama Slipping?

7/29/2008 3:35:03 AM

^ a little bit of both actually

you realize that hyperlinks are things you can click that take you to other pages, typical containing information reflective of what they are described as containing on the originating page?

7/29/2008 4:02:34 AM

that poll uses 'likely' voters as opposed to other polls, it's results aren't generally reliable unless they continue to be duplicated in the future.


check out http://www.electoral-vote.com if you want a site that smathers tons of polls together on a daily basis.

7/29/2008 8:19:42 AM

^^ Yes I realize this, I was just interested in hearing what people thought. Is that's ok with you?

7/29/2008 9:09:50 AM

good article in the WSJ today.

"History teaches us that high taxes and protectionism are not conducive to a thriving economy, the extreme case being the higher taxes and tariffs that deepened the Great Depression. While such a policy mix would be a real change, as philosophers remind us, change is not always progress."


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121728762442091427.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries

7/29/2008 11:44:23 AM

Obama decides that domestic off-shore drilling might not be such a bad idea.

Quote :

"U.S. Sen. Barack Obama said today he would be willing to open Florida's coast for more oil drilling if it meant winning approval for broad energy changes."

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/state/epaper/2008/08/01/0801obama1.html?cxntlid=inform_artr

Maverick! Hope&Change(c)!!

I'm sure this shift has nothing to do with poll results like these.

Quote :

"Fifty-seven percent (57%) favor offshore drilling versus 29% who are opposed."

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/americans_split_on_which_is_more_important_offshore_drilling_or_crackdown_on_speculators

[Edited on August 2, 2008 at 10:52 PM. Reason : ``]

8/2/2008 10:45:17 PM

^ I don't see what's wrong with using compromise as a tactic to help get things done. That's pretty much the definition of being bipartisan, and is a great quality to have in a president.

Quote :

"Obama said on Saturday that it is time to compromise. The proposal by the Senate's [bipartisan] "Gang of 10" has "some of the very aggressive elements that I've outlined in my plan," he said here, including a goal in 20 years of having 85 percent of cars no longer operating on petroleum-based fuels and to provide $7 billion to help the U.S. auto industry retool to build ultra-efficient vehicles. "What I don't want is for the best to be the enemy of the good here, and if we can come up with a genuine, bipartisan compromise in which I have to accept some things I don't like, or the Democrats have to accept some things that they don't like, in exchange for moving us in the direction of energy independence, then that's something I'm open to," Obama said. "I wanted to send a strong signal that we can't allow partisan bickering or the desire to score political points to get in the way of providing some genuine relief to people who are struggling." "

- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/02/AR2008080201538.html?hpid=topnews

[Edited on August 2, 2008 at 11:28 PM. Reason : ]

8/2/2008 11:06:51 PM

moron, you wouldn't understand.

Anyways, for those that do, here's a good story from a only Wednesday (July 30). It's funny how time changes things. Looking over the liberal blogs, I already see heads sagging. Obama and John McCain get closer on policy all the time. If he keeps it up, us centrists may actually have a choice in November. Though I'm still strongly leaning McCain.

Quote :

"Sen. Barack Obama stood his ground Wednesday in opposing what he calls the "scheme" of offshore drilling, during a campaign event in Springfield, Missouri. "The oil companies are shoving this thing down the throats of Congress, because they know everybody wants to try to pretend they're doing something about the energy crisis,” Obama said. “This is not real. I know it's tempting. The polls say its one of the ways that a majority of Americans think we're going to solve this problem, but it's not real." "I understand how desperate folks are. If I thought that I could provide you some immediate relief on gas by drilling off the shores of California and New Jersey… I'd do it.”"

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/30/obama-calls-offshore-drilling-a-scheme/

8/2/2008 11:51:45 PM

Are you even reading what he's saying

8/2/2008 11:58:29 PM

^^ it's obvious I understand better than you. You're clearly blinded by dogma and ideology, instead of thinking about what makes a good leader. I kinda feel sorry for you, but I'm hopeful this time around, thanks to Bush, that too many voters don't suffer this malady.

8/3/2008 12:43:05 AM

^ clearly.

[Edited on August 3, 2008 at 2:07 AM. Reason : ``]

8/3/2008 1:58:41 AM

[Edited on August 3, 2008 at 1:39 PM. Reason : ]

8/3/2008 1:38:53 PM

Obama backs down from debates. LOL

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080803/D92AFT400.html

Different tune from "its a great idea" or "ill meet with mccain anywhere anytime "

8/3/2008 2:14:02 PM

^ he truly is the candidate of "change" (changing his mind anyways).

[Edited on August 3, 2008 at 2:49 PM. Reason : Maverick! Hope&Change(c)!]

8/3/2008 2:49:20 PM

It's a political move and that's about it. Why give McCain the pub and the comfortable settings of his little town halls? He's playing to win not playing to give McCain the extra exposure. If McCain can't make the news it's becuase he's too busy talking about Obama all fucking day like the desperate campaign they are.

Besides, the big 4 major coordinated debates should suffice anyhow and we'll get to hear plenty of them sparring then. Don't know why we need an extra 12 or whatever the hell they wanted. They're (Straight Talk Express lol) just trying to get Obama's campaign in a bear hug where they can paint his character in the gutter and keep him restricted to home turfs of these town halls of his choosing. As Admiral Ackbar once said - "it's a trap"

[Edited on August 3, 2008 at 3:07 PM. Reason : -0]

8/3/2008 3:07:12 PM

http://exile.ru/articles/detail.php?ARTICLE_ID=17922&PAGE=1

*places a bag of popcorn in the microwave, sets timer for two minutes, presses start*

8/3/2008 3:15:42 PM

Why bother posting that?

Do you want this debate to devolve into shit-slinging? Would you like to read links purporting that Obama is a gay racist muslim?

Nice work, fag.

8/3/2008 3:22:57 PM

"devolve"

8/3/2008 3:24:07 PM

Quote :

"It's a political move and that's about it."

-Kainen

Obama says one thing, then another to advance his political prospects? You don't say.

8/3/2008 4:03:18 PM

And John McCain doesnt? Jesus christ, that guy is so all over the place and back and forth it's ridiculous. I never clamied Obama isn't a politician, and what's what politicans do. Nor did I ever buy the 'breed of new politician thing'. HOWEVER, I do think he's for the most part stuck to his word and ran a clean, positive, and extremely well run campaign. All the while absorbing and/or deflecting the cornucopia of attacks between some of the biggest brands in modern politics this year.

For someone to do that to me is beyond anything McCain has offered or can offer. That's the stuff that I see a sign as to how he'd run the country and handle himself in office...hence why he has my support.

[Edited on August 3, 2008 at 4:47 PM. Reason : d]

8/3/2008 4:47:18 PM

Also here's your daily reminder that John Kerry actually was a war hero and was vilified for it

8/3/2008 5:38:27 PM

riiiiiiight. a war-hero who faked his injuries. good work

Quote :

"If McCain can't make the news it's becuase he's too busy talking about Obama all fucking day like the desperate campaign they are."

Actually, McCain can't make the news because the mainstream media is too busy sucking off Barack HUSSEIN Obama. *ehe, had to throw in HUSSEIN*

[Edited on August 3, 2008 at 6:11 PM. Reason : ]

8/3/2008 6:05:11 PM

How long did you serve?

8/3/2008 6:07:17 PM

longer than you

8/3/2008 6:11:46 PM

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ilwbTsnl1KYN4R3BpjL_nNdelB4AD92B26T00

So now Obama wants Flordia and Michigan delegates to count fully? Why wasn't he saying this a couple of months ago?

Change? yeah right, some political bullshit as usual.

8/3/2008 6:26:32 PM

oh give me a break, its obvious why he's doing that...its just out of being polite. Now it doesn't matter

8/3/2008 6:48:55 PM

^^ Did you even read your own link?

Quote :

"Actually, McCain can't make the news because the mainstream media is too busy sucking off Barack HUSSEIN Obama. *ehe, had to throw in HUSSEIN* "

Most of that attention has been negative though. Look no further than McCain's closing in, in the polls.

[Edited on August 3, 2008 at 8:35 PM. Reason : ]

8/3/2008 8:33:10 PM

eh, cant delete my post

[Edited on August 3, 2008 at 8:56 PM. Reason : eh]

8/3/2008 8:54:59 PM

Quote :

"For someone to do that to me is beyond anything McCain has offered or can offer. That's the stuff that I see a sign as to how he'd run the country and handle himself in office...hence why he has my support."

haha oy.

8/3/2008 9:00:57 PM

page 11: *yawn*

looking forward to #12.

8/3/2008 9:08:00 PM

Quote :

" McCain Defended Opposition Of Federal MLK Holiday By Saying He Supported Arizona’s State Holiday. During a press availability in Panama City, Florida, John McCain said, “I have supported hundreds of pieces of legislation, which would help Americans obtain an equal opportunity in America. I am proud of that record, from fighting for the recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday in my state to sponsoring specific legislation that would prevent discrimination in any shape or form in America today.” [McCain Press Availability In Panama City, Florida, 8/1/08] * FACT: McCain Supported Republican AZ Governor’s Decision To Rescind MLK Holiday. ABC News reported, “In Arizona, a bill to recognize a holiday honoring MLK failed in the legislature, so then-Gov. Bruce Babbitt, a Democrat, declared one through executive order. In January 1987, the first act of Arizona’s new governor, Republican Evan Mecham, was to rescind the executive order by his predecessor to create an MLK holiday. Arizona’s stance became a national controversy. McCain backed the decision at the time.” [ABC News, 4/3/08] * FACT: McCain Supported Gov. Evan Mecham’s Decision In 1987 To Rescind Martin Luther King Jr. Day. As reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, “In a vote likely to haunt him for the rest of his public career, McCain voted against 1983 legislation establishing the third Monday in January as the federal holiday marking King’s birthday. Back home in Arizona, he supported Gov. Evan Mecham’s decision in 1987 to rescind an executive order creating a state holiday for King, but later reversed his position.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/16/08] * FACT: McCain Voted Against Creating Martin Luther King Holiday. In 1983, McCain voted against a motion to suspend the rules and pass a bill to designate the third Monday of every January as a federal holiday in honor of the late civil rights leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The motion passed 89-77. [HR 3706, Vote 289, 8/2/83; CQ 1983]"

http://progressiveaccountability.org/2008/08/02/mlk/

You've got to admire the guy's willingness to straight-up lie about shit like this.

8/3/2008 10:27:37 PM

McCain leading Obama in recent Rasmussen Reports poll.

Quote :

"A week ago today, Obama had a three-percentage point lead and the candidates were even among unaffiliated voters. Today, McCain leads 52% to 37% among unaffiliateds. McCain is currently viewed favorably by 55% of the nation’s voters, Obama by 51%. That is the lowest rating for Obama since he wrapped up the nomination. Obama is viewed favorably by 83% of Democrats, 22% of Republicans, and 47% of unaffiliated voters."

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/daily_presidential_tracking_poll

Pundits find poll results like this "strange" because it seems so crazy that people could disagree over what direction we should take this country. After all, who ever heard of an honest disagreement in Presidential politics? Clearly, Americans must just be a load of sheeple that are responding to McCain's recent negative ads (well, unless poll results start turning in favor of Obama again, then they've seen the light).

PS* Did you hear that Gwen Paltrow is now doing ads for Obama!?!?!? Thank goodness!!! This really help him shake off that hollywood-elitist smell that's been following him around!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2497142/Paltrow-stars-in-Obama-ad.html

PPS* Somewhere Kathy Griffin is registering Republican, RIGHT NOW.

[Edited on August 4, 2008 at 4:10 PM. Reason : ``]

8/4/2008 3:49:41 PM

Im liking where the trend has been going lately with the polls, but its still very very early.

THe michigan and florida thing is SO transparent and pathetic.

Now he says he supports tapping into the oil reserve, when he was opposed to it earlier. Tell me, if he thought the gas tax holliday was a joke bc it wasnt a long term solution(which i agree with), then what the hell is his tapping the reserve and sending a 500-1000 check to some in the states? I know... pandering.

[Edited on August 4, 2008 at 4:03 PM. Reason : .]

8/4/2008 4:00:19 PM

Quote :

"sheeple"

quality word.

8/4/2008 4:03:25 PM

Not worried about the polls, it's a short bump yes...but costly expenditure for McCain's ridiculous smears. He dished out temporary damage but it cost him his reputation and talking points later when it matters.

Once Grumps McGramps gets more in the spotlight in the conventions and debates this sucker should swing. If it doesn't, and Obama can't be him then he doesn't deserve the nod.

8/4/2008 4:15:10 PM

if obama can steer clear of his actual policies or have people vote on performance he will win. McCain should nail him on policy though, but look terrible doing it.

McCain is clearly the lesser of two evils. Its ashame its come down to these morons.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080804/ap_on_el_pr/obama

"Obama's new proposal, though, includes two significant reversals of positions he has taken in the past" More change you can count on. LOL

[Edited on August 4, 2008 at 4:24 PM. Reason : .]

8/4/2008 4:18:00 PM

Kainen, I thought you said that Obama did poorly in unscripted formats and that's why he was playing it smart by avoiding McCain's "little townhalls". But now you think he can win a debate? haha wow. Whatever excuse the moment requires, right?

Anyways.

Obama and McCain both have the misfortune of previously trying to cast themselves as "new" or clean politicians. That attracts a lot of media attn, but it won't win you an election. Eventually you have to throw away the nerf bat, take off the dress, and start drawing real contrasts with your opponent.

Obama knows that. That's why he's been attack McCain for weeks with this "Bush-McCain" garbage (distorting your opponent's policies isn't what I call "substantive" debate). Eventually, McCain fired back. And now we're really in the general election. It isn't pretty or sweet, but this isn't Sunday school so get over it.

The sooner we get to a debate, the better IMO. But Obama has made it clear he wants the media to his fighting for him as long as he can. So far, the MSM is obliging.

[Edited on August 4, 2008 at 4:38 PM. Reason : ``]

8/4/2008 4:29:32 PM

you did it soap box posters

you convinced me not to vote for b. hussein obama

cause there aint no doubt i love this land and i gladly stand up... next to u and defend her still today

8/4/2008 4:43:18 PM

You just sling shit out there don't you? I never flopped on what I was saying about the debates, I just said at this stage in the game agreeing to a huge volley of town halls that restricts Obama and gives mccain a confident environment is a stupid tactical decision. I said nothing that would suggest that Obama wouldn't be strong at the moderated debates in the months where things really matter.

And for your little requisite toss of LIBERAL MEDIA out there (by the way socks, you registered repub yet?) The freaking media has been giving McCain's ads free turns endlessly and just because they are Obama-focused doesn't mean they are in love with him. Quite the contrary, Obama and his surrogates have to answer to a litany of charges, inadequacies, "is he ______ enough?", or 'is he too ______?" charges against him. Not to mention the mountains of other scurillious bullshit you can't open your email client without getting. Regardless how dishonest you want to be or how biased you want to be, being relatively young, unknown, black, and having a middle name Hussein running for presidency does not help anyone's chances in this world againt an all american war hero whose age as an excuse and service to his country gives him free pass to act and gaffe his ass off. That's not playing a freaking race card, that's just realism. This whole LIBERAL MEDIA thing is a fat crock of shit, just turn on the tube sans MSNBC from 6-9pm EST and see for yourself. Constant coverage can be an awful thing and right now just about everyone is a little tired of Obama on TV, including me and I'm one of his big supporters!

To your charge of who threw the first stone - Associating Bush-McCain is no different than when Obama was in the primaries and he was throwing shit out there about him being Jimmy Carter v2.0. Among other things we were smelling their shit a mile out. Only thing I agree with you is that that doesn't win you elections - being the honest politician and all....but dont be thinking McCain is waging any type of substantive advertising warfare....he's throwing shit out there that's as Rovian as they come. All he did was talk about how much of a decent campaign he was going to run, quoted as saying such, and he's not even trying. The not trying part is the most important.

We can continue to piss streams on each other but you're as hardheaded as they come and I don't imagine I'm any different. Difference is perhaps I don't have to resolve the differences I've made in myself turning tail and full 180 over the course of a political season going from staunch democrat and self proclaimed anti-war rally man to one of the right wing's biggest chattering heads on TWW.

[Edited on August 4, 2008 at 4:49 PM. Reason : -]

8/4/2008 4:47:24 PM

Quote :

" I don't have to resolve the differences I've made in myself turning tail and full 180 over the course of a political season going from staunch democrat and self proclaimed anti-war rally man to one of the right wing's biggest chattering heads on TWW. "

Sounds like someone on here saw the light.

Socks used to be a liberal? What happened socks? Did you graduate and enter the real world?

8/4/2008 4:52:53 PM

i was sipping a black coffee (no latte for me) and thinkin about how great the last seven years have been for our great land and a single tear of joy rolled down my cheek

8/4/2008 5:00:07 PM

Kainen,

You have your time-line messed up, friend.
Obama was talking about "the McCain-Bush policy" way back into the primaries. Here he is making the argument during his victory speech in St Paul on June 3rd, 2008.

Quote :

"So I'll say this - there are many words to describe John McCain's attempt to pass off his embrace of George Bush's policies as bipartisan and new. But change is not one of them."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/03/obamas-nomination-victory_n_105028.html

McCain didn't make the Carter comment until days after just this particular example (June 9, 2008). Indeed, Brian Williams quoted Obama's remarks in the follow up to the question where McCain answered with the Carter line, which actually makes total sense. Obama was trying to connect McCain with a failed predecessor, McCain responded in kind. You can watch here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/vp/25066280#25066280

And I am not the only way that sees it this way. Try Slate's political correspondent John Dickerson, who also believes that Obama landed the first blows. And I don't need to remind you that Slate is not an unbiased mag and is openly in the tank for Obama.

Quote :

"You've got a very good point. [McCain's negative ads] might work again (though Obama's offbase charge about racism dilutes his more reasonable claims that McCain has been making a series of baseless claims recently). But I wrote last week why this is a problem for McCain: 1. His brand was supposed to be more high-minded. Let's see if independents bolt because of this new harsher attack. 2. People are sick of this kind of campaigning. McCain will be seen as the slasher and people will forget Obama took the first swings (which he did)."

http://www.slate.com/id/2196431/

But you're right that I don't want to get a quote bomb war with you about who started what and when. So I won't. The point is that neither is guiltless. I personally don't have a problem with it. I just hope McCain moves on from attacking Obama's celeb-candidate image (a legit subject if you ask me) and starts attack Obama's nutty policy ideas.

[Edited on August 4, 2008 at 5:07 PM. Reason : ``]

8/4/2008 5:06:26 PM