It's Over

McCain has been beaten by the same people that killed him in 2000. The only difference? This time they were working for him! Karma, baby, Karma. Hopefully this is the END of Atwater/Rove dirty, nasty campaigns. Back to the Senate for McCain. Maybe he'll retire since he's lost his dignity, honor and integrity. Say hello to President Barack Hussein Obama!

Part 2 McCain/Palin Interview

In part 2, Palin gives her definition of what constitutes a terrorist. Bill Ayers of course but not abortion clinic bombers according to Sarah. McCain still ragging on about not knowing the extent of relationship of Ayers and Obama. How utterly stupid.

Next they both give their definition of who or what is an elite. My gawd, this woman can't string a coherent sentence together. McCain insults. NYC and DC.

Buwahahaha Palin is asked if she's a feminist! Remember McCain went after the liberal feminists. Oh sheesh, she really thinks she represents American women...I don't think so..also, also, also.

McCain/Palin NBC Interview

Brian Williams interview with McCain and Palin. My heavens that woman is clueless. She never answers a question. She just talks word salad, you betcha, also. Gah! Help save the English language from her. McCain reminds me of, well, just ewwww. That nasty smirk of his is annoying. These 2 people look very uncomfortable with each other. She'll release her medical records she says when all along the campaign said no way. John seems a tad testy in parts. It's a long video---nearly 12 minutes. I think they know they are losing.





EDIT I have now developed an unnatural fear of using the word ALSO! Arghhhhh!

Spreading the Wealth Around

John McCain and Sarah Palin have spent the last few days slamming Barack Obama for his comment to Joe the plumber. Needless to say they have completely left out the context of the entire conversation. McCain has used this as a talking point to press his idea that it means higher taxes on small business and middle class people. This is false. If your net income is $250,000, yes, your taxes would be higher but that is NOT middle class. He's throwing the word "socialism" around a great deal and so are his supporters. I highly doubt many of them know what that word even means but it's a good buzz word. Alas, here's a what socialism really is:

Social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources. According to the socialist view, individuals do not live or work in isolation but live in cooperation with one another. Furthermore, everything that people produce is in some sense a social product, and everyone who contributes to the production of a good is entitled to a share in it. Society as a whole, therefore, should own or at least control property for the benefit of all its members.

Barack Obama, raising taxes on those making $250,000 or more is not socialism. No one has proposed nationalizing anything. In fact, it will only be a 3% raise to 39%---back to where it was during Clinton's Presidency when we ended up with a surplus.

For some reason McCain , this election season, doesn't think the rich should pay higher taxes. But that's NOT what he thought in the year 2000. Watch this video and question from a Doctor's daughter.



Here's a partial transcipt from McCain's remarks to that young lady:

But I believe that when you really look at the tax code today, the very wealthy, because they can afford tax lawyers and all kinds of loopholes, really don't pay nearly as much as you think they do when you just look at the percentages. And I think middle-income Americans, working Americans, when the account and payroll taxes, sales taxes, mortgage pay -- all of the taxes that working Americans pay, I think they -- you would think that they also deserve significant relief, in my view...

I did notice that young lady shaking her head. Guess she doesn't think wealthy Daddy should pay more. Maybe Daddy needs to manage his money better. Our progressive tax code does make those making lots of money pay more as they should. I'll never understand how someone making lots of money has the temerity to whine. My husband and I certainly don't whine about what we pay. We expect to pay more because of the money my husband makes. It is patriotic to pay your taxes.

Interestingly, in 2000, McCain thought wealthy people should pay more. Ah, but now he sings a different tune. I guess John doesn't understand yet that you tube exists and what he says is actually recorded! Just another one of McCain's flip flops, er, changes of mind. Yeah, right.

Even The Daily Show showed a portion of this video from 2000 to call out McCain.




Amazing how eight years have changed his tune. What's also amazing is how utterly ignorant so many of his supporters are of the tax codes and the deductions allowed.

Desperation or Prank or What: Letter to Russians asking for Money From McCain

OK, this is bizarre. We all know that McCain is hurting for money. As of October 1st he had $47 million cash on hand to use in his campaign. We've also just heard Rick Davis hold a conference call questioning the validity of Obama's small donors. Well, don't they have cojones! Now the McCain campaign has sent a letter to Russia's Permanent mission to the U.N asking for a cash donation of $5000 for his election campaign!

Russian Permanent Mission Gets Request from McCain for election cash:

Russia's permanent mission to the UN has received a letter from U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain asking for financial support of his election campaign, the mission said in a statement on Monday.

"We have received a letter from Senator John McCain with a request for a financial donation to his presidential election campaign. In this respect we have to reiterate that neither Russia's permanent mission to the UN nor the Russian government or its officials finance political activities in foreign countries," the statement said.

Enclosed was a request for a donation of up to $5,000 to McCain's election campaign to be returned with a check or permission to withdraw the money from the donor's credit card until October 24.

Oh.My.God. $5000??!! Knowing that by law campaign contributions are capped at $2300 and can NOT be accepted from foreign nationals.It's just too funny! HA!
Whether this is an error or a prank is irrelevant to me at this point. McCain has destroyed any honor he thought he had before this vile, ugly campaign.

Listening In on McCain Campaign Conference Call

Well, I just wasted 15 minutes of my life. I called in to the conference call given by Rick Davis regarding the McCain campaign's questioning of Obama's fund raising in September. Here's the rundown of what Davis hit on.

1.) Question qualifications of donors.

2.) Not reporting on donors that gave less than $200.

3.) Not enough transparency.

4.) Obama never called McCain about taking public financing. Wants public dialog.

5.) Looking for improprieties now instead of later. People in Gaza bought $30,000 worth of t-shirts. ( that money was donated to charity )

6. )Wants all donations publicly searchable.

7.) Says Obama could get largest FEC fine ever.

8.) ACORN, ACORN ACORN

9.) McCain will be audited because of taking FEC funds but lingering questions as to whether Obama will be audited

End of Davis's whining. Next up were 5 questions.All questions asked by trad media and none allowed by anyone else that called in. That's bull. He should take questions from "regular" people since that's their big mantra in the campaign. I used my business identification but to no avail. Questions were asked by Laura of WSJ, Klein of ABC, Jim of AP, Jill of Chicago Trib and J Martin of Politico.

Questions were about the financial mismatch McCain finds himself in, does Obama's fund raising surprise you, they spent $22 million in Sept and how much of that was in conjunction with the RNC so as to stretch the money, why do your internal poll numbers differ from what's been reported and why are you still campaigning in PA., and what is your cash on hand and do you expect any help from outside third party groups that have been dormant.

Basically I heard massive spin: Yes they'd like more money and there must be something sinister about Obama's fund raising, ie., the donors, all McCain has to do to win is win his base, vast majority of September ads were hybrid ads with RNC, we love PA. and don't believe the naysayers and think we will win PA because Clinton beat Obama there in primaries, and no clue on third party groups and wants to know that every one of Obama's donations came from legitimate U.S. groups.

I think they see the handwriting on the wall. McCain couldn't get the numbers of people to donate that Obama did so , of course, question the source. The average small donor to Obama gave $84. Plus donors of less than $200 do not have to be disclosed. Oooo sour grapes. I hate to tell Davis but you can NOT win with just your base. McCain needs independents which he has lost with his erratic and vulgar campaign. Denial is an ugly thing. They're getting slammed even in traditionally red states. I believe he knows exactly what third party groups are up to. Davis has been in politics a long time and he'd have to be totally stupid and clueless to not know. I assume Davis hasn't heard about that Republican that owns YPM getting arrested for voter registration fraud---his own by putting a false address down so he could legally operate in CA. Tsk, tsk, naughty boy. Plus the guy fraudulently got registrations from people by having them sign a so-called petition regarding child molesters. The people found out their party registration was changed, unknown by them, from Democrat to Republican. Davis talked a mile a minute like a man on meth and kept repeating things over and over. So, I learned nothing really except they are looking for any angle to shore up their flailing campaign and I guess insulting small donors is the ticket for today.

100,000 Un-Americans in St. Louis

Yep, 100,000 people showed up today in St. Louis according to the Wall Street Journal. Simply amazing.










I am so tired of Republicans trying to divide this country by calling those of us not supporting McCain/Palin anti-American or un-American. Yesterday we had Palin talking about pro-American parts of the country and Rep. Michele Bachmann(R-MN) asking the media to begin an in depth anti-American McCarthyesque expose on Democratic members of the House and Senate. Bachman's rhetoric may nail her as her opponent, El Tinklenberg, has raised over $177,000 ( at this time of writing and climbing ) from over 4000 donors in the 24 hours since she made her ignorant remark. You can donate to him here if you wish. I did because that woman needs to leave Congress. Then this afternoon we had Nancy Pfotenhauer say that Northern Virginia is not the real Virginia. Sheesh, what the heck is with these people? Desperation is not a pretty sight in the McCain campaign.

Joe the Plumber

In last nights debate Joe the plumber's name was mentioned approximately 27 times. Now, McCain's message was to leave the impression that Obama is a socialist with his "spread the wealth around" remark to Joe and Joe is average Joe-six pack, lowly working stiff. Not so fast. Let's examine who Joe is and what Obama's tax plan would mean to him.

First, here's the video of Obama talking to Joe in Ohio.



As far as I'm concerned the whole "spread the wealth around" comment was taken out of context. Plus if Joe is planning on purchasing a company that makes $250,000 to $280,000, he's not average Joe-six pack.

Yes, his tax rate will increase 3% from 36% to 39%, a marginal hike, but that won't affect his hiring. Plus if his net personal income is over $250,000 then his business is wildly successful. Obviously this guy has no clue about business finance if he thinks this increase would be a deal killer and he either should never buy the business or get a better accountant ( he shouldn't be a schedule C filer if he's making that much money ). Has this man never heard of business tax deductions? Does he understand the difference between gross and net business income?

The other question is who is Joe the plumber? Well, he's Joe Wurzelbacher and says he's from Toledo, Ohio. He also thinks Obama's plan is socialism. Interesting how his interview with Obama went straight to Fox News and the next day he shows up in Neil Cavuto's show. While he says he's surprised his name was mentioned in a presidential debate, I think he's little more than an opportunist or how else would we have a photo of Joe watching the debate in his living room.







In an interview with Katie Couric last night he said:

WURZELBACHER:"I mean I have a pretty good idea who I’m going to vote for but you know that’s my - you know, the nice thing about going into the booth is only me and the lever knows," he said. "I think McCain did a fine job this evening, I think he brought up some good points. I do like his health care and I do like his, where he stands on taxes."

COURIC: Well, he supposedly will raise taxes only on people who make over $250,000 a year. Would you be in that category?

WURZELBACHER: Not right now at presently, but, you know, question, so he's going to do that now for people who make $250,000 a year. When's he going to decide that $100,000 is too much, you know? I mean, you're on a slippery slope here. You vote on somebody who decides that $250,000 and you're rich? And $100,000 and you're rich? I mean, where does it end? You know, that's - people got to ask that question.

That's bit weird because I can't imagine anyone dropping the amount of net pay to see a tax increase. But that's a line Republicans continually use. Basically he's a guy that's supporting McCain.

From the Couric interview he's billed as uncommitted. Baloney.



Here's another thing---how can this guy act surprised when he's already being interviewed as soon as the debate ended? Something smells here with this guy. This guy also gave an interview to the conservative web site Family Security Matters on Oct. 15.

PM: Do you fear this is the possibility of America turning more down the socialist road if Obama does become elected and if he is able to implement these policies?

JW: Very much so. You start giving people stuff, and then they start expecting it – and that scares me. A lot of people expect it now. They get upset when their check’s late, they get upset when they don’t get as many benefits as they used to, or when different government agencies are cut or spending is cut here and there for whatever reason – people get upset at that. And that’s because they’re used to getting it and they want more. I mean, everyone’s always gonna want more. People work the system left and right to get more out of welfare, to get more out of state assistance, federal assistance. And if government’s there for them, they’re gonna keep on trying to manipulate it to get more out of it. You got people that come along and say, “Hey, I wanna help you people,” I mean, they’re all ears! They’re like, “Hey, you can help me more, I don’t have to work as hard, I don’t have to do as much, and you’re gonna give me this? Man, that’s great, you’re a good guy.”

Good grief, what horse puckey! Again with the poor people or struggling are going to get hand outs. Tell me, Joe, that it wouldn't be "working the system" for you to find every way to legally reduce your taxes. Sheesh!

Today Joe is making the rounds on teevee shows. He said on Good Morning America that he's registered to vote. Yet when looking through the Ohio voters registration his name doesn't show up at all. Now some have said his first name is Samuel but I couldn't find anything under that name either. He also said on GMA that McCain had called him before all this and asked him to come to rallies. Interestingly his name doesn't show up in the Ohio License lookup as a licensed/registered plumber and you must be licensed/registered as a plumber to buy this plumbing business he talked about in Ohio. Some blogs are also reporting that he already owns some businesses but I haven't seen that substantiated yet, so who knows. I am puzzled as to who this guy is really.

Whomever this guy is there's something just not right about him so conveniently coming on the scene. I have news for this guy. He's about to be investigated by every news organization out there and if there's anything fishy going on it won't end well for Joe the plumber.

UPDATE: I just heard Joe on MSNBC say he was registered in the Natural Law Party. WTF? He also did repeat that McCain called and asked him to come to rallies. He's not a small business owner either; he's a worker bee like many others. He sounds like an advocate of the flat tax...Ron Paul anyone? I don't like this guy and his 15 minutes of fame needs to end. He doesn't speak for everyman. He certainly doesn't speak for the blue-collar workers in my family.

SECOND UPDATE: Gah, now it appears Joe is a registered Republican.

Linda Howe, executive director of the Lucas County Board of Elections, said a Samuel Joseph Worzelbacher, whose address and age match Joe the Plumber’s, registered in Lucas County on Sept. 10, 1992. He voted in his first primary on March 4, 2008, registering as a Republican.

So, a name misspelling. Another reason NOT to purge voting rolls until things check out.

THIRD UPDATE:No wonder Joe aka Sam doesn't like taxes. He doesn't bother paying them

LUCAS COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
J. BERNIE QUILTER, CLERK
700 ADAMS STREET
TOLEDO, OHIO

MONETARY AMOUNT: $1,182.98

DEPT OF TAXATION STATE OF OHIO

Defendant 1:
WURZELBACHER SAMUEL J
30 DERBYSHIRE RD
TOLEDO, OH 43615

Tsk , tsk dude, you should know better. Plus there's all kinds of stuff in public records.

FOURTH UPDATE: Joe works for A. W. Newell Inc. It was incorporated in 1996 and has a grand total of 2 employees...Joe and the owner. Last year the company listed $130,000 in sales. So, according to that if Joe bought the business he WOULD get a tax break under Obama. Oh, this just makes this guy a liar since he told Obama the company made between $250,000 to $280,000. Joe also says he has no business plan ready to purchase the business. What a jerk McCain needs to stop portraying this dude as a business owner...he's not.Sheesh, I really don't like this guy. I still say this all sounds fishy.

Rebooting His Campaign

Once again, John McCain will reboot his campaign.









Not much to say except: FAIL.

Republican Supporters of Hate

Even though today McCain asked the people at his rallies to be respectful he still told them he wanted to fight. Now, seriously, you think the people in these videos will listen to him? The utter ignorance and anger of these people is appalling. What's worse is that they are PROUD of displaying it.
I don't think these people could define socialist if you asked them.







Those the real McCain supporters and they make me ashamed that they call themselves Americans. I've never heard this kind of ugliness at an Obama rally.

UPDATE Per Mark Halperin :

After days of watching in silence, McCain calms the crowd at his Minnesota town meeting.

"I want everyone to be respectful. And let’s make sure we are, because that’s the way politics is done in America."

Tells one supporter who says he’s scared of an Obama presidency: "I have to tell you, he is a decent person, a person that you do not have to be scared [of] as president of the United States."

After a woman calls Obama "an Arab," McCain interrupts to say: "No, ma’am. He is a decent family man, citizen."

During his stop in Minnesota when he expressed to the crowd that Obama was a decent man, he was promptly booed. So much for getting the salivaters under control now that you've spent 5 days whipping them into a froth, John. Well, we'll see what happens next. As far as I'm concerned the damage has already been done. His followers are still rabid to me.

McCain Campaign Defends the Hate

Talk about hubris! These people disgust me. Brian Rogers, a McCain spokesman, is now defending the ugly, angry, petulant rantings heard at the recent McCain/Palin campaigns:

Barack Obama’s attacks on Americans who support John McCain reveal far more about him than they do about John McCain. It is clear that Barack Obama just doesn’t understand regular people and the issues they care about. He dismisses hardworking middle class Americans as clinging to guns and religion, while at the same time attacking average Americans at McCain rallies who are angry at Washington, Wall Street and the status quo.

Even worse, he attacks anyone who dares to question his readiness to serve as their commander in chief in chief. Raising legitimate questions about record, character and judgment are a vital part of the Democratic process, and Barack Obama’s effort to silence and shame those who seek answers should make everyone wonder exactly what he is hiding.

So Barack doesn't understand regular working people? I call bullshit. I want him to say that to my Dad's face. My Dad has voted Republican his entire life but not this time. He'll now be voting for Obama. He is disgusted as are many clear thinking moderate Republicans.

Today former Republican Michigan Governor William Milliken stated he's had second thoughts. He endorsed McCain during the primaries but has had it with the tone of the campaign.

"He is not the McCain I endorsed," said Milliken, reached at his Traverse City home Thursday. "He keeps saying, 'Who is Barack Obama?' I would ask the question, 'Who is John McCain?' because his campaign has become rather disappointing to me.

"I'm disappointed in the tenor and the personal attacks on the part of the McCain campaign, when he ought to be talking about the issues."

Milliken, a lifelong Republican, is among some past leaders from the party's moderate wing voicing reservations and, in some cases, opposition to McCain's candidacy.

Then there's former Republican, now Independent, Lincoln Chafee who had this to say:

"That's not my kind of Republicanism," said Chafee, who now calls himself an independent. "I saw what Bush and Cheney did. They came in with a (budget) surplus and a stable world, and look what's happened now. In eight short years they've taken one peaceful and prosperous world, and they've torn it into tatters."

As for McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for his running mate, "there's no question she's totally unqualified," Chafee said.

He had similar reservations about Obama's lack of experience, but said the Democrat's handling of the campaign convinced him he's ready to lead.

Chafee said he has spoken with several other moderate Republican leaders, and "there are a whole lot of us deserting."

Add to that Republican Ray LaHood from here in Illinois. He's retiring this year and is still supporting the McCain ticket as of now but he's not pleased at all.

LaHood supports the McCain ticket, but doesn't like what he sees at some of the McCain-Palin rallies: When Barack Obama's name has been mentioned by Sarah Palin, there are shouts of "terrorist," and LaHood says Palin should put a stop to it.

"Look it," LaHood said. "This doesn't befit the office that she's running for. And frankly, people don't like it."

LaHood says it could backfire on the Republican ticket.

He says the names that Obama is being called, "Certainly don't reflect the character of the man."

Is it any wonder that so many moderate Republicans are fleeing from the McCain/Palin ticket? They certainly don't want to be associated with the kind of garbage that's been going on. It's one thing to disagree with your opponents policies. It's quite another to tolerate and tacitly approve of the hate that's being yelled at rallies. McCain/Palin are playing with fire and it seems they just don't care. Some of those people are truly unhinged and all it takes is one of them to do something foolish. This is what 20 years of hate radio/tv from the likes of Limbaugh, Hewitt, Hannity and Savage have produced. How proud will they be if someone gets killed?

Weather Underground Prosecutor Speaks Out

In a letter to the editor in today's New York Times, the lead federal prosecutor of the Weathermen, William C. Ibershof, is not impressed with John McCain's attempt to link Barack Obama to Bill Ayers's acts of 40 years ago.

As the lead federal prosecutor of the Weathermen in the 1970s (I was then chief of the criminal division in the Eastern District of Michigan and took over the Weathermen prosecution in 1972), I am amazed and outraged that Senator Barack Obama is being linked to William Ayers’s terrorist activities 40 years ago when Mr. Obama was, as he has noted, just a child.

Because Senator Obama recently served on a board of a charitable organization with Mr. Ayers cannot possibly link the senator to acts perpetrated by Mr. Ayers so many years ago.

I'm pleased to see this letter but I doubt it will have any effect on the more rabid McCain/Palin crowds. Some of those people are irreparably damaged with hate.

I remember Bill Ayers because I was one of those "dirty effing hippies" at the time. However, no one I knew approved of the tactics taken by the Weather Underground. They actually did more damage to the get-out-of Nam-now and peace movement than the government infiltrators---yes, Nixon had people infiltrating the peace movement. Violence was not the answer. I'll never defend their despicable actions.

Regardless, Bill Ayers has done a great deal of good work in the fields of child education and juvenile justice since he and his wife emerged from hiding. Yet Ayers still remains unapologetic and has chosen to go on with life. In some small ways he has redeemed himself by positive contributions to society in the intervening years. But even that small amount is not acceptable to some. It amazes me to see that there is no room for any amount of redemption from certain Americans. Worse yet is that these ugly sentiments often times are coming from those identifying themselves as Christians and patriots. I'm not a fan of organized religion but their hypocrisy is astounding.

The whole truth about Obama kicking off his political career in Ayers's living room is never told by Republicans and unfortunately even by some unknowing Democrats. The truth is that Barack did not seek out Ayers and his wife. What happened was that in 1995 State Senator Alice Palmer was retiring and wanted to introduce her chosen successor to a group of people. It so happened that she chose the Ayers's home in which to do it. Both Ayers' were well known for opening their doors for political and academic discussions. In other words, nothing nefarious. That both Bill and Barack ended up serving on 2 charitable boards together and happen to live in the same neighborhood is of no consequence except in the minds of the terminally angry right. But the kicker is that if you had mentioned the name Bill Ayers to these same people over a year ago they wouldn't have had a clue who he was for the most part.

I can only hope that some rational people will read Ibershof's letter and think a little more clearly. This guilt-by-very loose association attack line is a sad condemnation of the state of our political discourse. John McCain would do well to examine some of his own very close associations with the likes of Charles Keating, G. Gordon Liddy ( both convicted felons and supporters ), and others before throwing accusation stones in OBama's direction.

Alaskan Court Has Spoken

The Alaskan Supreme Court made it's ruling today in the Troopergate investigation. In a short 2 page ruling they had this to say to the 6 Appellants :

IT IS ORDERED: The order of the superior court issued on October 2, 2008 granting the Motion to Dismiss is AFFIRMED. An opinion will follow.

Entered at the direction of the full court.

Excellent. Short and swift. This upheld a lower court ruling that stated that McCain and crew couldn't block the investigation and that it is lawful. I get the feeling they don't like those Texas lawyers the McCain team sent in to mess with their political system. Say what you want about Alaska producing the likes of Sarah Palin, but they are proud and independent and not about to take any guff from outsiders.

From the Anchorage Daily News:

The Alaska Supreme Court today rejected an attempt by a group of six Republican legislators to shut down the Legislature's investigation of Gov. Sarah Palin.

The ruling means that Steve Branchflower, the investigator hired by the Legislative Council, will release his report as scheduled on Friday. Branchflower is looking into Palin's dismissal of her public safety commissioner, Walt Monegan, and whether she improperly pressured him to fire a state trooper divorced from her sister.

The state Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Texas-based Liberty Legal Institute and Anchorage attorney Kevin Clarkson, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Alaska Republican state legislators opposed to their colleagues' investigation.

Branchflower's report is due out tomorrow. Maybe that's why the McCain campaign has been flinging so much poo in recent days. I'm sure they're not happy with this development. Tough.

Some of Todd Palin's responses to the subpoena he received have already been released. Basically he's trying to take all the blame for firing the trooper saying Sarah didn't know what he was up to. Well, that's just so much horse puckey because it was Sarah that had him fired, not Todd. Todd has no elected power in the Governor's office. Gee, maybe Sarah shouldn't have been cc'ing Alaska government business to old Todd.

Stay tuned for tomorrow's Friday news dump.

Some Fun

Ah, well, leave it those on the Internet to start with the pictures and re-playing some McCainisms.

This drove me nuts when I heard it. Gave me a very creepy feeling. As though some lecherous grandpa was talking and might "touch" me. Ewwwwwww




The no handshake before the McCains fled the place. How rude!



People latched on to the "That One" comment and came up with a good spin.

















But one of my old favs reflects the state of McCain's Republican party.

Observations about the Townhall style debate

First let me say this: Tom Brokaw needs to go back into retirement! So many times I wanted to reach through the teevee and slap him. I yelled SHUT UP TOM so many times my cats fled the room. Needless to say, he was annoying.

According to many polls, people felt that Obama won the debate. It wasn't a knock out punch debate. It was simply that Obama came across as calmer, more rational and more Presidential. Seriously,McCain wandered around the stage looking like an old man that lost his way. The difference, visually,between the two was stark. It became even more stark listening to them.

Unfortunately for John, he needed a huge game changer...he failed. His ideas sounded so last century...tired and worn. McCain has a problem in that when he speaks he comes across as condescending. I found it particularly weird that when he spoke to white members in the audience he was nearly in their lap. Much different was his approach to the AA man...kept his distance. He also does this tongue flicking thingy which annoyed me. The worst though is his incessant blinking!


Gah, it's like telegraphing HEY I'M LYING!


When John made his remark about buying up all the bad loans and re-doing them I think he lost 3/4 of freeper world. I wandered over to some conservative blogs and they were losing their minds over that remark. It should also be obvious that John has NOT read the $700 billion bail out bill. It has a provision in it for lenders to work with their borrowers in renegotiating their loans already. Can we say clueless? Ah, yep. However, all the freepers saw from that remark was OMG he's a socialist and wants to spend another $300 billion! Sweet! By the way, John never mentioned the word middle class once last night. Not. Once. McCain is clearly out of his league when it comes to the economy. Hence the reason you hear all the guilt-by-association ugliness coming from him and Palin.

Many people made reference to McCain referring to Obama as "That one." I found that quite condescending. As though Obama was an object and not a person. You see, I've usually heard that term used by my grandparents when they were being nasty or sarcastic towards someone. It was used dismissively; to objectify rather than humanize. It gives McCain the appearance of being annoyed that he has to even be in the same room as Obama---that young whippersnapper.

McCain's military position failed him because he still insists on that "victory in Iraq, don't bring them home in defeat" position. Geezez, this is not Iwo Jima where we plant a flag and scream yahoo, we won. I don't think McCain has a diplomatic bone in his body. Military might is not the sole answer to dealing with the problems in the world. Poor John is still fighting the Vietnam war. If he "knows" how to catch Bin Laden then why the hell hasn't he told anyone else for all these years? What nonsense.

Obama did himself proud. He was clear in his message and related well to the audience. I do believe he got the message across that he truly understands what people are dealing with these days. He came across as calm, pragmatic, thoughtful and Presidential. He wasn't afraid to tackle foreign policy and point out that Iraq was a mistake in judgment for McCain.

Obama's answer that health care was a right was awesome. It played well with those scoring the debate. Frankly, there's really no excuse that we don't have guaranteed health care in this nation. If we can waste $10 billion a month in Iraq, we can pay for health care. McCain thinks it's solely your own responsibility. Well, yes, it is a responsibility to stay healthy but there are things that happen that no one has control over...accidents, genetic disease, disease that comes with age, cancer, etc. I'd like John McCain to explain to me how one avoids getting a cold. I guess you need to lock yourself in your home. Being able to get good preventative health care actually saves money in the long run. Far too many never seek care until a health situation is terrible solely because they can't afford it. Plus, too many that have insurance now spend too much time arguing with the company over what gets paid. While I'd love to see Universal health care enacted, I'll settle for everyone being covered with good insurance that doesn't discriminate and is affordable for now.

Overall, the debate was sort of boring but Obama did well. He emphasized the "we" as opposed to McCain who told us that only "he" can solve things for us. It will take all of us working together to get this nation back on track. One man/woman can not do everything all at once. That's why Obama's talk of priorities rings truer than McCain's we'll do it all at the same time.

There will be pain over the next few years but I believe America will be better off in the long run under a President Obama. Change is coming and we'll all be a part of it.







QUICK EDIT: I forgot to mention the nauseating number of times McCain said "My Friends"...but only because I lost count after about 15! Gah, insane.

Ugliness

The ugliness is now on full display at McCain and Palin rallies. Yesterday's actions by some in the crowd were appalling. I was listening to Palin's rally when I heard that fool yell "KILL HIM." I assumed it was in reference to Palin yammering on about Bill Ayers but that's not really the point. The point is someone must be seriously disturbed to yell that kind of ugly garbage at a rally for a VP candidate. And it wasn't nastiness leveled only towards Ayers and Obama. It was also hurled towards the media covering the event. As Dana Milbank wrote in the Washington Post a sound man was treated to racially tinged remarks:

Worse, Palin's routine attacks on the media have begun to spill into ugliness. In Clearwater, arriving reporters were greeted with shouts and taunts by the crowd of about 3,000. Palin then went on to blame Katie Couric's questions for her "less-than-successful interview with kinda mainstream media." At that, Palin supporters turned on reporters in the press area, waving thunder sticks and shouting abuse. Others hurled obscenities at a camera crew. One Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down, boy."

It made me ask myself what kind of people are attending the rallies. Is violent rhetoric really what the Republicans want to foment? Unfortunately I now do believe that's exactly the kind of ugly words they want to hear.

Now, McCain's rally wasn't much better. I also listened to him and heard someone yell TERRORIST after McCain questioned who Sen. Obama really is. Some people have said McCain looked surprised at that remark. I didn't see it that way. I thought he looked pleased with himself that he had elicited such a comment. It reminded me of the question asked of McCain during the primaries in reference to Hillary Clinton: How do we beat the bitch?

What I see playing out is the McCain/Palin team attempting to scare Americans by framing Barack Obama as "the other". As some kind of scary black guy with suspicious connections. Frankly, I find it disturbing. Disturbing that the party that behaves as though it owns Christianity can so freely hurl disgusting invectives. It's not a matter of simply disagreeing with political stances between the parties. It's the wholesale hatred that seems to embody a frenzied crowd. It's the hatred on display that some Republican supporters have for fellow Americans.

I've attended Obama rallies and you never hear the kind of garbage that was yelled at the McCain/Palin rallies expressed there. You'll hear boos when differing policies are mentioned but never the violent rhetoric. Obama's rallies are much more positive. And why shouldn't they be? After 8 years of Bush and crew we need to hope for a better future. We need to understand that it's going to take all of us, as Americans, pulling together to straighten out the mess we're in now.

It will not be easy to deal with what we have on our hands...2 wars, a financial nightmare, an outrageous lack of vision for America, no real plan for energy independence and a thousand other things that must be addressed. However, I'm not willing to succumb to the peddling of fear. I believe we can fix our problems and am ready and willing to do my part. I believe that with Obama as President we can all, once again, believe in what we can accomplish.

Ugliness will not help America recover from her ills. It only serves to drive us further apart. If this is all the McCain/Palin ticket has to say then it tells me they know they are losing and have no message to take America forward.