^ McCain's ad didn't say otherwise. His ad simply quoted the language of the bill without definition. That's why it can best be described as unfair. It was not a lie, as nutsmacker has contended. And it is really no worse than anything Obama is putting out there as this Spanish ad shows.

9/18/2008 2:07:06 PM

9/18/2008 2:08:09 PM

Quote :

"Unemployment is at 6.2% and rising."

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=71&pr.y=16&sy=1980&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=156%2C158%2C132%2C112%2C134%2C111%2C136&s=LUR&grp=0&a=#download

6.2 is pretty low, once you look at the big picture.

Quote :

"As for wages and the employment issue, don't provide tax breaks to companies that outsource jobs. You want to outsource, you don't get extra government bucks to pay for it."

I think you are confusing "tax breaks" with "tax handouts". Tax breaks are when the government is taking your money, but they are taking slightly less. Tax handouts are when the government gives your insurance company $85,000,000,000.

9/18/2008 2:10:49 PM

in ref. to sex-ed bill

no, that is clearly not all it addresses.

[Edited on September 18, 2008 at 2:59 PM. Reason : .]

9/18/2008 2:59:15 PM

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

Obama has regained a slight lead (2.2 points) in the polls.

9/18/2008 3:22:35 PM

Quote :

"6.2 is pretty low, once you look at the big picture."

Yay, the US only sucks a little less than the other countries.

as for tax breaks/handouts, there shouldn't be any tax breaks if they are outsourcing the jobs. they should have to pay their full taxes.

9/18/2008 3:28:44 PM

What is the unemployment is france?

They outsource jobs to help keep their prices down nuts. You have to pay employees here more, esp if they are union, and deal with the second highest coorporate tax rates in the world. THEN, you expect them to compete globally. Cant happen.

9/18/2008 3:31:40 PM

so again, the US doesn't suck as much as other countries.

Again, why should the US government as a form of policy reward companies that outsource american jobs?

9/18/2008 3:34:51 PM

^ 8.3% in 2007.

9/18/2008 3:35:34 PM

I wonder why the dip in the polls--if it was because of the negative ads, the press uproar over the negative ads, or people becoming less enamored with Palin.

9/18/2008 3:42:11 PM

It is because the bounce is over.

9/18/2008 3:43:05 PM

it's because of the negative ads. once he admits he was a dumbass and obama continues going to his celebrity parties, he'll take another lead.

9/18/2008 3:48:17 PM

Quote :

"Palin's transparency proposal already exists in D.C. CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (CNN) – Sarah Palin likes to tell voters around the country about how she “put the government checkbook online” in Alaska. On Thursday, Palin suggested she would take that same proposal to Washington. “We’re going to do a few new things also,” she said at a rally in Cedar Rapids. “For instance, as Alaska’s governor, I put the government’s checkbook online so that people can see where their money’s going. We’ll bring that kind of transparency, that responsibility, and accountability back. We’re going to bring that back to D.C.” There’s just one problem with proposing to put the federal checkbook online – somebody’s already done it. His name is Barack Obama. In 2006 and 2007, Obama teamed up with Republican Sen. Tom Coburn to pass the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, also known as “Google for Government.” The act created a free, searchable web site – USASpending.gov — that discloses to the public all federal grants, contracts, loans and insurance payments."

This typifies the last couple of weeks.

9/18/2008 4:26:45 PM

It's funny to me that they started out mocking Obamas message of change, now they are trying to co-opt it (and doing a poor job).

9/18/2008 4:29:45 PM

^^ I hope this leads to more discussions about how experience really matters to Obama voters. The hypocrisy makes me grin.

[Edited on September 18, 2008 at 4:30 PM. Reason : moron, McCain is the original change candidate. Despite what the Pepsi Candidate tells you.]

9/18/2008 4:29:56 PM

If Obama is the Pepsi Candidate than for the past few months McCain has been New Coke

9/18/2008 4:32:31 PM

^ Actually, I pegged him for RC cola. Underrated and popular among poor whites.

9/18/2008 4:33:48 PM

Here's something I wouldn't have thought:

Quote :

" The CBS poll also showed that despite McCain's attempts to seize the mantle of "change" from Obama, voters were more likely to see the Democratic candidate as an agent of reform -- by 65 to 37 percent. The poll also found that women have returned to Obama after favoring McCain by five points just two weeks ago. Obama now leads McCain by 54 percent to 38 percent among all women. "

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080918/wl_afp/usvote;_ylt=AjpmSOERAkBfX6cUZOglY.Gs0NUE

9/18/2008 5:24:14 PM

^ More evidence that policy doesn't mean jack-squat in an election. Which only re-enforces my lack of confidence in democracy's ability to yield desirable policy results.

Note: I said that when McCain started gaining support too. His policies didn't change, but people started supporting because of who he picked as VP (or visa versa in some cases)? Just fucking crazy.

9/18/2008 5:46:15 PM

I do not think that is true. The people I have spoken to are taking policy extremely seriously. I think the majority of the switching involves people changing their minds on which issue is more important to their lives.

9/18/2008 5:52:15 PM

FUCK YOU!!!!!

[Edited on September 18, 2008 at 5:55 PM. Reason : ``]

9/18/2008 5:54:26 PM

They might want to keep this woman away from a microphone

Quote :

"UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Governor Palin, there has been quite a bit of discussion about your perceived lack of foreign policy experience. And I want to give you your chance. If you could please respond to that criticism and give us specific skills that you think you have to bring to the White House to rebut that or mitigate that concern. PALIN: Well, I think because I’m a Washington outsider that opponents are going to be looking for a whole lot of things that they can criticize and they can kind of try to beat the candidates here, who chose me as his partner, to kind of tear down the ticket. But as for foreign policy, you know, I think that I am prepared and I know that on January 20th, if we are so blessed as to be sworn into office as your president and vice president, certainly we’ll be ready. I’ll be ready. I have that confidence. I have that readiness.[/b] And if you want specifics with specific policy or countries, go ahead and you can ask me. You can even play stump the candidate if you want to. But we are ready to serve."

I AM SPECIFICALLY PREPARED FOR FOREIGN POLICY, FOR PROOF PLEASE CHECK MY READINESS

9/18/2008 6:08:48 PM

Funny thing is at those 'townhalls' the only people that can go are checked and approved by the RNC before they get tix.

Who the fuck is going to challenge or stump her there? lol

9/18/2008 6:14:49 PM

Quote :

" Sarah Palin likes to tell voters around the country about how she "put the government checkbook online" in Alaska. On Thursday, Palin suggested she would take that same proposal to Washington. "We're going to do a few new things also," she said at a rally in Cedar Rapids. "For instance, as Alaska's governor, I put the government's checkbook online so that people can see where their money's going. We'll bring that kind of transparency, that responsibility, and accountability back. We're going to bring that back to D.C." There's just one problem with proposing to put the federal checkbook online - somebody's already done it. His name is Barack Obama."

lol

9/18/2008 6:16:15 PM

Quote :

"I AM SPECIFICALLY PREPARED FOR FOREIGN POLICY, FOR PROOF PLEASE CHECK MY READINESS"

I WILL SPECIFICALLY CHANGE AMERICA BECAUSE WE NEED HOPE AND CHANGE

i thought i was hearing an echo

9/18/2008 6:39:19 PM

Hope and Change motherfucka.

9/18/2008 6:46:35 PM

Quote :

"More evidence that policy doesn't mean jack-squat in an election. Which only re-enforces my lack of confidence in democracy's ability to yield desirable policy results. Note: I said that when McCain started gaining support too. His policies didn't change, but people started supporting because of who he picked as VP (or visa versa in some cases)? Just fucking crazy."

I don't see how what I quoted shows that... i was more particularly noting that Palin didn't seem to help with women, which shows more that women at least care more about the issues than the superficial shes-a-woman-i-must-voter-for-her.

On a side note, who would have ever thought that Republicans would run a campaign painting "hope" as a bad thing?

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”
- Einstein

[Edited on September 18, 2008 at 7:11 PM. Reason : ]

9/18/2008 7:09:23 PM

LOL! Go get him Ron Paul! Too bad he wasn't elected.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOb3cC2FVIg

9/18/2008 7:32:23 PM

^ That looks slightly bad for McCain but Paul wouldn't endorse Obama either.

9/18/2008 7:38:09 PM

Oh I don't expect he would, that's not why I posted it hoping to get Ron Paul die hards or anything...

9/18/2008 7:50:00 PM

moron, It illustrates that policy doesn't mean jack because McCain surged in the women vote last week and it sounds like he's losing it this week. However, none of his policy positions have changed in the time frame.

9/18/2008 8:36:17 PM

i think it would be cool if ron paul endorsed obama...imagine the media after that one

9/18/2008 8:57:27 PM

You say we need to drill for oil? Sure.. I'll drill. Your fat wallets!!!1111

9/18/2008 9:02:19 PM

i'm going to write in rick flair for governor

9/18/2008 9:10:52 PM

lol at biden saying it was patriotic for rich people to pay more taxes


dude is reading my old wolfweb posts

9/18/2008 9:12:56 PM

csharp, you are the most pathetic partisan hack Ive ever come across

9/18/2008 9:13:11 PM

donald trump endorsed mccain

9/18/2008 10:18:14 PM

Obama's lack of economic knowledge continues to scare me.

He has yet to decide whether he supports or opposes the AIG bailout. Yet def knows that he opposes McCain's position. Huh??

From Politico.

Quote :

"Obama, on the trail in New Mexico, had this to say of McCain: "And today he accused me of not supporting what the Treasury and the Federal Reserve Bank did with AIG despite no evidence whatsoever that that’s what I had said." To recap, when I wrote earlier today that Obama supported the bailout, I quickly was instructed by his staff that this was not the case. He just didn't oppose it, I was told. Now he's so adamant about not opposing the Fed's move that he's complaining about McCain's portrayal. Where, I wonder, is the line between not opposing and, ya know, supporting. "

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0908/Obama_outraged_at_being_accused_of_not_supporting_something_he_doesnt_support.html?showall

9/18/2008 10:19:38 PM

(It's funny that he has a graph showing gas prices under the Bush administration, but then has a picture of Obama. As if to pin it on him.)

9/18/2008 10:21:26 PM

"as if to pin it on him"

no, more like showing gas prices, and then pinning on obama that he doesnt want to support legislation for drilling to help gas prices

9/18/2008 10:23:00 PM

Bush has been in power for eight years, with a six year majority in both houses. Don't go pretending he's all "brand new" ...

(How long can you blame the Democrats for everything?) ....

[Edited on September 18, 2008 at 10:29 PM. Reason : *~<]Bo]

9/18/2008 10:26:47 PM

Quote :

"he's complaining about McCain's portrayal"

links to this part?

9/18/2008 10:26:59 PM

^^brand new? what are you talking about?

9/18/2008 10:28:01 PM

Economist Steven Landsburg on McCain's Health Care Plan. I think he gets it right because he says the same thing I've seen saying for months.

Quote :

"4. McCain gets health care right. The reason poor Americans get too little health care is that rich Americans get too much. The reason rich Americans get too much is that they're overinsured, and therefore run to the doctor for minor problems. The reason they're overinsured is that employer-provided health benefits aren't taxed, so employers overprovide them."

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200809u/mccain-economics/2

9/18/2008 10:30:26 PM

google is reporting sarah palin is more fake than hillary

9/19/2008 1:06:10 AM

Quote :

"Economist Steven Landsburg on McCain's Health Care Plan. I think he gets it right because he says the same thing I've seen saying for months. "

Well no shit he does, that guy is a wingnut freak. He used to write for Slate, said we had a moral imperative to vote for Bush over Kerry, continued to support Bush's policies despite them running in the gutter, and has been in support of GOP candidates since. Give me a fucking break, I'd cherry pick an economist that isn't such a radical and in the tank next time. He actually wrote this aritcle:

Quote :

"Do the Poor Deserve Life Support? A woman who couldn't pay her bills is unplugged from her ventilator and dies. Is this wrong? -Steven Landsburg"

9/19/2008 8:01:29 AM

Kainen,

Talk about attacking a source and not the argument.

I know who he is. I read slate often and have read Landsburg's "Armchair economist". None of that makes his argument wrong. I have advanced the same argument myself several times and no one has yet to even respond. I take that to assume it's air tight.

And just for the record. Plenty of big name and nobel winning economists support John McCain.

Here Marty Feldstein and John Taylor arguing for his support (particuarly on his tax plan).
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122031215585888783.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

And here's a petition signed by economists like Gary Becker, Ken Rogoff, and others that support John McCain in general. Even Barry Goodwin of NCSU.
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/PressReleases/Read.aspx?guid=c90681b9-5dfe-4de4-8057-ceedb30c228d

[Edited on September 19, 2008 at 8:30 AM. Reason : ``]

9/19/2008 8:27:36 AM

I want to know what are considered "minor problems." w woman could go to the doctor for an ache under her arm and have it turn out to be breast cancer. And I think it's safe to say that the preventative approach ends up being cheaper there than waiting until you're literally about to die and going to the ER.

9/19/2008 8:53:47 AM

^^

Don't make yourself look foolish socks. Economists have biases as well. There are many issues influencing their judgment. Let's take a look at what the lion's share think shall we? CNN.com had a commentary by Scott Adams (who writes Dilbert) at http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/16/dilbert.economy/index.html

---------
He commissioned a survey of 500 economists from the AEA to find who they thought was the better candidate for the economy:

Quote :

"-Not surprisingly, 88 percent of Democratic economists think Democratic Sen. Barack Obama would be best, while 80 percent of Republican economists pick Republican Sen. John McCain." -HOWEVER Independent economists, who in our sample are largely from the academic world, lean toward Obama by 46 percent compared to 39 percent for McCain. -Overall, [59] percent of economists say Obama would be best for the economy long term, with 31 percent picking McCain, and 8 percent saying there would be no difference."

So you can get your little one-off's outta here. You'll lose this argument.

9/19/2008 9:28:33 AM

ActionPants not according to Jonathan Gruber of MIT.

Quote :

"“It’s a nice thing to think, and it seems like it should be true, but I don’t know of any evidence that preventive care actually saves money,” said Jonathan Gruber, an M.I.T. economist who helped design the universal-coverage plan in Massachusetts. "

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/08/business/08leonhardt.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

And before you start attacking the source, ala Kainen, allow me to remind you that he worked with the Obama campaign to develop their current health care package.

[Edited on September 19, 2008 at 9:30 AM. Reason : ``]

9/19/2008 9:29:28 AM