What worries me is the process, not necessarily the outcome. Is it perhaps some lingering 2000 or 2004 election hangover?
The last few weeks have been torture, both literally and figuratively. Not only are we as a nation on the brink of economic disaster, but we must, in the midst of this financial confusion, also select the leader who will hopefully pull us from the edge and in a direction of promise and prosperity.…
Article comments
— go to most recent comments26 - Baritone
First: I am bored to tears with Arch's and others' condescension. Their assumptions about Obama are unfounded and will be proven wrong. Obama is far from being an "empty suit."
In consideration of the two major candidates' executive experience, it is no small feat that Obama has, in fact, run a remarkable campaign starting from the day he announced his candidacy in Springfield. Obama's campaign organization is a wonder to behold. It is organized down to the enth detail.
The same can hardly be said of the McCain effort. We are now less than a week from the election and he hasn't found a consistent message yet. Rather, he has bounced around trying vainly to latch onto some real set of policy positions. Failing that, he has repeatedly resorted to character assassinaton and innuendo. His choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate was emblematic of his desparation. While he enjoyed an initial bounce from people excited about seeing a famale candidate who didn't look like a bus hit her on the dais, Palin's glow has dimmed considerably, most notably because she has herself proven to be, uh, rather dim.
I disagree to some extent with Clavos regarding how the country will remain divided. For some it most certainly will. However, should Obama win, and then prove his detractors wrong, it may be another story. I suppose the same could be said for McCain. Each side has its respective expectations and/or fears of the candidates they support and those they oppose.
It is my opinion that Obama will not disappoint his followers, and he will surprise his opposition. I believe he may well turn out to be an extraordinary leader who will NOT prove to be a socialist or a communist, or a terrorist sympathizer or Jew hater. Sorry Ruvy. I believe you are wrong in your assertions regarding Obama's cultural ties. He will be an "American" president. I truly hope that he does lend a more sympathetic ear to the Palestinians, who are, regardless of your feelings, people worthy of life just as you are. But I sincerely doubt that Obama would in any way forsake Israel - if for no other reason, than to do so would be political suicide.
As an aside, the U.S. presents somewhat of a conundrum as regards its support of Israel. As I'm sure you know well, Ruvy, there is no great love for Jews in the U.S. yet, there is almost rabid support of Israel headed up largely by christian fundamentalists. I believe that particular support is tied in with their view of the coming battle at Armageddon and the role Israel is to play in that scenario. To be saved, all you have to do is accept Christ as your savior. So, get with the program.
No, Clav, the losers will not be happy regardless of who wins. How those feelings either change or just lay (or is it lie) and fester is largely up to the winning candidate, and how he discharges his duties over the next four years.
B
27 - Lisa Solod Warren
I couldn't have said it better myself, Baritone. Beautifully put.
28 - Jet
I find it interesting that Bush and his sara-gates love to brag that there hasn't been a terrorist attack on his watch since 911...
duh?
The terrorist attack on 911 was on HIS watch. There's also the question of what Obama would do in a similar situation...
...one thing he wouldn't do is sit in an elementary classroom for 7 minutes AFTER BEING INFORMED HIS COUNTRY WAS UNDER ATTACK, reading "My Pet Goat" and then plot the military attack of the WRONG country!
29 - Baritone
Thanks Lisa. I guess I could have spelled "female" correctly. Ah, but who's counting? Oh, yeah, Clavos.
B
30 - Baritone
Dave can be proud of his fellow Texans. A recent poll shows that 23% of the Lone Star citizenry still believe that Obama is a muslim. It's clear that a large number of Texans will go to the polls equipped with the "right stuff." These are probably the same people who spend time sniffing around Area 51 in NM and cling to conspiracy theories regarding JFK's assassination and the 9/11 attacks.
B
31 - Jet
Is going negative instead of addressing the issues the only way McCain thinks he can win?
32 - Dave Nalle
Baritone, this is the home state of Ron Paul AND Alex Jones. I'm surprised it's as low as 24$.
And I do agree with your earlier comment. It is indeed truly remarkable that Obama has come as far as he has given his total lack of qualifications, horrifying past associations and repugnant beliefs. Quite an accomplishment.
Dave
33 - Jet
Dave, not only should you know better, I know for a fact that you DO know better.
All of us know that we're not electing the candidate as much as we are his advisors and cabinet which will be very qualified and knowledgeable.
Therefore Obama's lack of qualifications don't matter and it's only your OPINION about his "total" lack.
It's only your OPINION and parroting McCain's negative ads, that Obama has "Horrifying" past associations.
It's only your OPINION that he has repubnant beliefs. To you KNOW the man personally enough to say that... ABSOLUTELY NOT?
You base you OPINIONS only on what you hear and what you WANT to hear Dave.
You're as much a victim of peer group pressure as anyone is. You're surrounded by neighbors and friends who are staunch republicans, so you're leaning republican.
If your neighbors and freinds only listened to polka music, eventually you'd only play it when they visited your house.
You live in Texas, you've got a texan attitude, which is fine to a point.
I'm influenced by redneck Ohioans (though I'm fighting it.)
You need to admit Dave that you're spouting Opinions and not facts, just like I am and do.
but of course that's only my opinion
34 - Ruvy
Baritone, you do not understand anything I've written here if you think that I'm "against" Obama.
Neither candidate for president can fulfill his respective laundry list for your nation because your nation is a debtor nation, and in order to effectively take care of its own citizens, it must default on its international obligations. That is the cold, hard and bitter truth.
The socializing of the banking system in America was taken by Republicans to attempt to save it and save their own asses, as well. State socialism is the standard (albeit not the best) solution when markets fail, and the markets have failed in America.
What I've said about Obama as a person and as a candidate is that
1. he should be viewed not as a "black" man but as a first generation American with very strong ties to the home country and home tribe, in particular;
2. he is very intelligent;
3. he is a smooth and accomplished liar and is as dishonest as a summer day is long; and
4. he will do what every president who has preceded him has done - attempt to concentrate more power in the presidency and erode the rights of the other branches of the government and the citizens.
However, neither McCain nor Obama are fit to lead, IMHO. But, from a strictly lesser of two evils standpoint, Obama is more fit to lead than McCain because he knows to ask others for advice when he doesn't know what he is doing. McCain doesn't.
As for Israel and America, the bottom line is not what we want from America, but what we Jews are willing to do to man up and enforce the original vision of the Balfour Declaration - a Jewish state that encompasses all of the Land of Israel. In such a state, Arabs have civil and economic rights, but no political rights per se. Those rights can be expressed in the many Arab states that surround us. That is the political side of matters. The spriritual side of the issue is that we Jews need to place our trust in the G-d of Israel, rather than in weapons, money or power alone. It is irrelevant what YOU believe, Baritone. What matters is what WE believe, and what WE do.
35 - pablo
Dave does not have opinions, he is above all of that nonsense.
36 - Ruvy
Neither candidate for president can fulfill his respective laundry list for your nation because your nation is a debtor nation, and in order to effectively take care of its own citizens, it must default on its international obligations. That is the cold, hard and bitter truth.
Let me amplify on this a bit. It is irrelevant what vision the different candidates have for America. They cannot fulfill them unless they first remove the debts from around your neck.. Frankly, I know only one way to do that at this point - going to war against the creditors, and making clear to the American people that this is exactly what is being done, and why.
Of course, if the candidates are being manipulated by money managers, oil men and bankers, either from America or otherwise, they certainly will not do what is good for America. They will do what is good for their sponsors.
37 - Lee Richards
America should elect Obama for one very important reason: John McCain may be in the early stages of a nervous breakdown.
Like Captain Queeg in "The Caine Mutiny", he seems to be losing touch with reality and focusing on the imaginary.
This Joe the Plumber nonsense has taken over his mind. There is no significance to this guy or national importance to his story. Never has been. It was a throwaway moment in a second-rate debate. It's become a parody, a national joke, and McCain is absolutely--and seriously--fixated on it. In his mind, it has become all-important to keep talking about Joe, quoting Joe, even sharing the campaign stage with him.
Today, he thanked Joe the Plumber(that one specific guy)for all he had done for America!
'Ah, yes, the stolen strawberries, that's where I had them, with my geometric logic. And the shirt tails--I can't stand shirt tails flapping. And has anyone seen the little steel balls I like to roll between my fingers while I talk about Joe the Plumber?'
38 - Cindy D
And all that AFTER Joe the Illegal Plumber admits Obama is going to save him money on his taxes.
McCain understands his supporters apparently, he knows just what appeals to the brainless.
39 - Heloise
Congrats Clavos. You published my last pol article in record time, like an hour after it came off the Word. Thanks. I'll try to watch my colons :)
Sorry wrong link on the last post:
”It’s Time” Economist endorse/ Heloise who has been like 10 for 10 in terms of predictions this primary and election cycle"says “It’s time to predict a landslide.” Oops so much for modesty.
But reality-check for the left: Dems only win with when it is “landslide time.”
And with the poll showings, people showing up at the polls, people sleeping at the polls, poor black people too old to walk, too sick to be out of bed, babes in arms and they are coming on canes, walkers, oxygen tents to vote like their life depended on it. And it does.
To my fellow Cubans in Florida, you too know what to do…vote Obama.
Listening to the Tom Joyner Morning show made it hard to drive to work. I needed wipers for my eyes. This is sobering but not sad, sweet but not cloying, satisfying but not snarky. It is about TIME.
Heloise
40 - Heloise
Ruvy do you mean a "first gen American?" Yes, true. I actually argued that Obama should not be the nominee for that reason. Instead a person should have both grandparents born in the country and parents i.e., a ONLY a minimum THIRD gen person can hold high office. That would be offputting for people like Jhindal and Swarzennegger.
But since Obama's got it we got to go with it. Is he black? He's black.
Heloise
41 - Ruvy
Is he black? He's black.
Heloise, it's after 4 in the morning here. So, so far as I'm concerned, you can call Obama "mother goose" if you want.
You can vote him in out, up, down or on top of the pool table for all I care. Just remember this after you're done sweeping up the victory party and tossing the last bottle of rum in the trash.
Neither candidate for president can fulfill his respective laundry list for your nation because your nation is a debtor nation, and in order to effectively take care of its own citizens, it must default on its international obligations. That is the cold, hard and bitter truth.
Let me amplify on this a bit. It is irrelevant what vision the different candidates have for America. They cannot fulfill them unless they first remove the debts from around your neck.. Frankly, I know only one way to do that at this point - going to war against the creditors, and making clear to the American people that this is exactly what is being done, and why.
42 - Heloise
Thanks for your thoughts Ruvy.
But one for the road a last-weekend-before-the-election zinger gratis Heloise: "George The Bush almost killed America The Beautiful." Now that thought will TAKE your breath away. If anyone uses that give cred where it's due.
Heloise
43 - Heloise
Kudos to Lee. I used "confusion" in my subhead on the election article where I "saw" loser stamped on McCain's head. That opened the floodgates and all the brilliant rights...except for Dave started jumping ship and leaving the sinking Atlantis following the Brothers of the band as they did thousands of years ago. (see Miles Davis' old cover I think it's brilliant)
But I digress: MSM has honed in on that confusion adjective. It is code for "dementia" and "old" so I was being nice when I said confusion. In fact he is NBC, nothing but confusion!
Heloise
44 - Heloise
Ruvy, FYI I am a teetotler (sp)but Cubans do drink rum. I am vegan and elitist.
Heloise
45 - Ruvy
I'm not much of a drinker either, Heloise. But after my heart attack, when the doctor insisted that I drink wine, he didn't have to insist very hard. If I wasn't such a sober and sour guss, I would have made a great wino. Heck, in St. Paul, there were plenty of bridges to sleep under....
I don't eat a lot of meat, but I like my sabbath chicken. I get to crave it after a while.... seeing that it's my wallet that is the vegetarian, and not me.
46 - Ruvy
By the way, Heloise, you can be a teetotaler who pours the drinks. For many years, that is what I was.
47 - Heloise
McCain: "Joe, Joe where are ya?" LMAO Things just keep going from bad to worse for Joe, I mean John.
And check out Obama's latest ad he takes the Heloise driving metaphor to the next level it's brilliant. And his silent ad where Sarah blinks at the end, again brilliant Barack!!
This is off topic but I just mentioned Rachel Maddow's show and wow she gets a one on one interview with Obama. Hell she replaced Buchanan with Barack, not bad Rachel...you go girl!
You know in my recollection of past lives my Jewish lives intrigued me the most. One dream made me waking up saying "pray shabbat" I even saw the spelling correctly! I had never heard that phrase before I dreamt it and then lo and behold found out it was a real Jewish thing!
If Israel were not so dangerous and my health not so fragile I would visit there.
Jon Stewart is funny as hell. If I get famous I hope he has me on his show. We could crack each other up. He said Barack is practicing to be president in his infomercial...priceless.
Heloise
48 - Ruvy
If Israel were not so dangerous and my health not so fragile I would visit there.
Heloise, I can't comment on your health, except to hope that it improves, but I can tell you that wherever you live in the States is more dangerous than almost anywhere in Israel (Gaza, Jenin, Shechem, Ramallah and Hebron excepted). The biggest cause of fatalities here is auto accidents. The real hazards here are not the stupidities you see repeated endlessly on the news stations - it is the lack of elvators and the uneven sidewalks.
49 - Heloise
Well, bingo you got me on that one. I mean I went to the Punjab when it was still having bombs on the train tracks and I had to take the train while there.
But the problem is that if I fly really long distances I could lose the hearing in my other ear. I could take a slow boat...hmmm. Seriously I want to go back to Cote D'Azur, Greece and like I said Israel.
Thanks I'll see.
Heloise
50 - Baritone
Dave,
Your characterizations of Obama are ludicrous. During the 21 months since announcing his candidacy, Obama has displayed wide ranging and in-depth knowledge of virtually every issue that he would likely be confronted with as president.
Obama is thoughtful and unflappable - hardly traits that one could apply to McCain. At his best McCain is mercurial, over-wrought and inconsistent. He lives in a fantasy world - one in which Joe the Plumber is the saviour of mankind.
Obama's former associations are not "horrific," and have no significant relevance as regards his doctrinal positions which are not in the least repugnant. You keep hammering away at all this crap in the vain hope that it will stick. It hasn't so far, and likely won't over the next 5 days.
That you don't agree with Obama's positions hardly renders them repugnant. Yours and McCain's constant character assassinations of Obama are what are repugnant.
I'd say Obama has accomplished rather a lot in his life. Just look at where you are, and then look at where he is. Hmmm.
Ruvy calls him a liar. Obama is no more a liar than anyone else including present company. You all make these various charges against him as if you have some special knowledge or insight that the rest of us lack. It is your attitudes that are presumptive, condescending and without substance or merit.
Obama will prove to be far more of a centrist than any of you imagine. It will be the only way in which he can govern. If he chose to camp out in left field, he would find himself isolated and cut off, not only from the right, but much of the moderate left as well. Those of you who believe that he will prove to be our first socialist president are deluded, revealing your lack of political acumen. The far left hasn't enough numbers or clout to force much, if any, of their agenda through Congress or anywhere else.
My guess is that if McCain does manage to win, he will quickly lose interest and will become no more than a bellicose, short tempered, nasty little figurehead of a president.
Should McCain die in office, then we will be saddled with President Palin. If you think about that for more than a couple of seconds, you should become very afraid. Shivers should run up and down your spine. How long do you suppose it would be before she got "tested?"
The blind obduracy with which you support McCain/Palin will, should they somehow prevail, come back to haunt you, as it becomes clear that they haven't a clue as to how to run a country. Your repeated mantra will be "What was I thinking.? What the hell was I thinking?"
B
51 - Dave Nalle
Your characterizations of Obama are ludicrous.
Are you referring to my very brief comment in #32 here?
During the 21 months since announcing his candidacy, Obama has displayed wide ranging and in-depth knowledge of virtually every issue that he would likely be confronted with as president.
So his main qualification for the presidency is his ability to run a strong campaign? Sorry, that doesn't inspire me with confidence.
Obama is thoughtful and unflappable - hardly traits that one could apply to McCain. At his best McCain is mercurial, over-wrought and inconsistent. He lives in a fantasy world - one in which Joe the Plumber is the saviour of mankind.
Ridiculous hyperbole, once again. McCain decided to take the Joe the Plumber theme and run with it. Why shouldn't he? It's a connection his campaign has been trying to make to working people all along and Joe Wurzleburzlewhatever gave him an easy way to do that.
Obama's former associations are not "horrific,"
Many, many people disagree with you on this. You can excuse the racism of Rev. Wright and the terrorism of Bill Ayers and the blatant criminality of ACORN, but many of the rest of us cannot.
and have no significant relevance as regards his doctrinal positions which are not in the least repugnant. You keep hammering away at all this crap in the vain hope that it will stick. It hasn't so far, and likely won't over the next 5 days.
Look. It's the truth whether it sways you or not. All I can do is point it out and hope it influences people. Then I at least get to sit back and say "I told you so" in a couple of years - or maybe I get to be pleasantly surprised. Either way, I've done what I can.
That you don't agree with Obama's positions hardly renders them repugnant. Yours and McCain's constant character assassinations of Obama are what are repugnant.
Obama gets away with a lot because he has the whole Soros-funded hate machine to do his dirty work for him. Sorry, I'm not willing to excuse him for benefitting from their dirty tricks.
I'd say Obama has accomplished rather a lot in his life. Just look at where you are, and then look at where he is. Hmmm.
So everyone in America who is not a leading contender for president is a failure? Give me a break.
Do I look like I'm trying to be president here? I have a good family, I earn a decent living and I keep myself well entertained. That makes me a success by any reasonable standard.
If I run for office at some point in the future it won't be because I feel it's my due or because it's a good career move, it will be because I feel a duty to serve my community in a different capacity than I do now.
Dave
52 - Mark Saleski
Why shouldn't he? It's a connection his campaign has been trying to make to working people all along and Joe Wurzleburzlewhatever gave him an easy way to do that.
because it wasn't based in fact? because obama's statement had more to do with (****shudder****) progressive taxation. adam smith, SOCIALIST!!!!!!
because the ayers and acorn things have been debunked from many angles?
because it's all he's got?
i feel sorry for mccain. i had more respect for him a few years ago, even taking it upside the head from gw bush trickery. but he's run a surprisingly nasty campaign.
as far as this socialist/marxist hooey, i think i'll take warren buffet and colin powell's opinion's first, thanks.
53 - Jet
Bull-etin: McCain Foiled on election day by GOP voters entering Joe Plumber as write-in candidate!
54 - Heloise
Morning Joe (Registered republican)--has some Halloween skeletons in his closet
And as his sidekick, the other gay guy, walks around upper west side with a McClone-Pain Tshirt, he not only has no takers but a woman asks him if he is dressed for Halloween because he's "scary".
New Yorkers ain't going for it. He said when he went outside of the city he saw the McClone/Pain.
One woman said she "hates Palin."
He got lots of "HATERS" from his neighbors. The greatest response 'YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING!"
Now MSM is backtracking and trying to defend Palin as some kind of wronged Joan of Arc. But most of the country is not buying it, nor her.
Here's his bio. Morning Joe Wiki bio This guy went to Catholic schools like myself, born and raised Catholic too, he's probably Irish. But he is the most conservative, white, right wing. But he is not a wingnut like some of the folks on his show.
He does ramble on. I am getting tired of the sound of his voice. However he is a little more unbiased when speaking of Obama and "recognizes" as the brothers say that Obama's race to loose and that McCain is making some sort of late comeback.
Here's my take...fuck all the polls now. By Sunday most people will have voted for Obama. This is what we did when we defeated Hillary...voted early...and voted everybody.
Just like Levin said of Michelle Obama, and called her talking some ugly word. You know he sounded just like Dave in talking of Michelle Obama. Like the kinda comments Dave has made about Heloise: nonsense.
Well, I am not running for office. I have no poll numbers but Pain does: 59% either hate her or think she is not ready for political primetime.
Heloise
55 - Ruvy
Baritone,
Obama's former associations are not "horrific," and have no significant relevance as regards his doctrinal positions which are not in the least repugnant.
Ruvy calls him a liar..... You all make these various charges against him as if you have some special knowledge or insight that the rest of us lack. It is your attitudes that are presumptive, condescending and without substance or merit.
Your blindness to reality (surprising for a man older than me, and who should, from his own profession, have a firm grasp on the issues strangling America) is tragic.
Jews on this site who have sung Obama's praises - I'll not name names even though it NOT lashón hará the denigration of someone's honor in their absence - they all have the opportunity to read this comment - have closed their eyes to Obama's close links to enemies of the Jewish people, and have chosen to ignore that reality. But, Baritone, Jews in exile commonly live in denial - which is why they so often die so easily at the hands so their enemies. So, these Jewish Obama supporters are only doing what Jews have done all along - closing their eyes to mortal dangers facing them. Hopefully they will not suffer the fate of German, Polish, Hungarian and Slovakian Jews. American Jews are insufferably arrogant and refuse to honestly recognise the real dangers surrounding them.
Speaking for myself, I would have liked to raised the banner for Ron Paul - he advocated pulling your troops out of Israel as well as pulling your interfering noses out of policy here. But Ron Paul hates the Jewish people and Israel, and believes all the Christian shit about Jews being the soruce of evil in the world. I will not be assiociated with such an individual.
I would like to support someone like Barack Obama; he is highly intelligent, well spoken, articulate, has a great knowledge of the world outside of America as well as the potential to be a great leader - unlike McCain, whose last realistic opportunity to be president disappeared years ago.
But the facts of his support of my enemies again gets in the way. There is Rashid Khalidi, for example. The anti-Israel Los Angeles Times refuses to release its tape of an Obama appearance with him just recently. And here in Israel Insider, we see why. According to those who have managed to view the tape, he accuses Israel of genocide and asserts that they have no "G-d-given right to occupy Palestine".
So, to put it bluntly, he is a liar. He has been associating with Khalidi and various Pakistanis and Arabs for years. They have been instrumental in promoting his campaign - natural for friends to do for friends, as you've pointed out in the past. Obama takes an anti-Israel stance that he lies about in his campaign material, surrounds himself with anti-Israel advisors who would preside over the American decountrification of the Jewish entity here and substitute an Arab terror state that would oppress Arabs, murder Jews and be sufficiently subservient to its American masters and funders.
So why do I support this s.o.b. at all? Because McCain's stand on Israel is not substantially different, even though he packages himself as a friend also. OUR problems here stem from the subservience to American non-support of Israel by the puppets on Government Hill in Jerusalem. I can blame your government for its unwelcome interference in our internal affairs, but the primary blame must fall not on you but upon your puppets in Jerusalem. In the effort to get rid of these puppets and replace it with a government of proud, believing Jews who will give you and the rest of the world the middle finger you all richly deserve, a clear enemy in the White House is far superior to a false friend.
The time has now arrived where your interests and ours are totally against each other, Baritone. The American government is an enemy of Israel - the most dangerous foreign enemy we face - because so many Americans think of your government as a friend.
56 - Lisa Solod Warren
Ruvy
Let me ask you something. Seriously. If every Jew in the world were to make aliyah, what on earth would Israel do with all of us? It would be impossible.
Get real. We can't all live in Israel. It just isn't possible.
57 - Cindy D
B,
The blind obduracy with which you support McCain/Palin will, should they somehow prevail, come back to haunt you, as it becomes clear that they haven't a clue as to how to run a country. Your repeated mantra will be "What was I thinking.? What the hell was I thinking?"
If only that were true. Because, these are likely the same folks who voted for Bush twice.
They're not wondering what went wrong with their thinking. They're doing the same thing all over again.
I don't understand how Republicans can have any credibility with anyone. They have subjected everyone via their last presidential choice (whom they were even more confident in) to an 8 year ride of ruination. They're not even apologetic and they should be. They got everyone what they wanted.
When do we say, "Look, you people clearly have no idea what you're doing. Why not sit this election out. Or at least stop trying to convince anyone you know what you're talking about."
58 - Dan(Miller)
re Comment #57,
I should like to offer a translation:
There are none so blind as those who will not see it my way.
Dan(Miller)
59 - Cindy D
Dan,
So, what you're saying is Bush's presidency was successful or is it that Republicans didn't vote for him?
Let me know which part of that is seeing it "my way".
60 - Christopher Rose
You're such a level-headed and reasonable person, Ruvy.
"a government of proud, believing Jews who will give you and the rest of the world the middle finger you all richly deserve" - sure, a nation of 5.5 million Jews and 1.5 million Arabs will do a Japan or China and turn its back on the world. I can really see that happening. Oh, wait, no, I can't!
61 - bliffle
The 8 year Bush/republican reign is a clear failure.
They demanded and grabbed, sometimes illegally, every kind of power, and made a mess out of everything.
Their economic policies destroyed the biggest surplus in US history and turned it into the biggest deficit, and resulted in redistributing income from the poor and middleclass to the wealthiest, and now threatens the future financial health of the whole nation, and perhaps the world.
Their belligerent foreign policies have alienated our allies and caused our enemies to rejoice as we are bogged down in a never ending war which we had no cause to fight.
They had every opportunity to do well for the USA and they blew it. They should at least quietly sneak out of town, but no, now they want to sustain these dreadful policies and put the federal government in the hands of a bitter 72 year old and a frivolous bubble head.
Do they have no shame?
62 - Dan(Miller)
Cindy D,
There seems to be a common misconception that President Bush is running for a third term. He isn't. Senator McCain has done as decent a job as he can of throwing President Bush under the bus, just as Senator Obama has attempted to throw the Reverend Mr. Wright, Professor Ayers and a lot of other unsavory associates under the bus. Unfortunately, we don't know as much about the Obama - Ayers - Wright - ACORN et al connection as we know about the McCain - Bush connection, and I think we should. These things are, at least to some of us blind* folks, important because they might reveal substantially more than is presently known about Senator Obama's intentions should he become our President.
I have no idea how history will treat the Bush presidency, and won't know for quite a few years. Although there are copious records illuminating the subject, historians tend to be timid folks who would prefer to wait a while. It would probably have been unprofessional for an historian to attempt a definitive treatment of the Truman presidency while President Truman was in office, and while his approval ratings were about the same as President Bush's are now.
The nexus between Senator Obama and others, particularly Professor Ayers, is worrisome, perhaps more so than might otherwise be the case, since Senator Obama has yet to tell us much about it. The characterization of Professor Ayers as "just a guy in the neighborhood" who did some bad stuff when Senator Obama was very young simply does not wash. Neither does his claim that he didn't know much about what the Reverend Mr. Wright was preaching during his twenty year membership in, and while making substantial contributions to, the church where the Reverend Mr. Wright preached. I doubt that he was asleep.
Perhaps, in their yet to be released new book, Race Course Against White Supremacy, Professor Ayers and Ms. Dohrn will shed some light on some of these matters. By then, the election will be over and it will be too late to matter.
I think I have a reasonably good understanding of what Senator McCain would do should be become President, and a far lesser understanding of what Senator Obama would do. Although I have problems with Senator McCain becoming President, I have substantially more problems with Senator Obama becoming President. Senator Obama could possibly have resolved those problems, but he has not made a realistic attempt to do so.
Dan(Miller)
*Lurches around looking for white cane and then disappears stage right.
63 - Baritone
Dan,
What do you suspect of Obama's relationship with Ayers, Wright and the others? Since you feel Obama has not been adequately forthcoming, why not just lay out your suspicions and fears. Give us a laundry list.
It is my belief that if there were anything substantive and nefarious regarding these relationships someone would have stepped forward and spilled the beans. As far as I know, no one has done so. There are no hints of any meetings or communications between any of these people and Obama that would indicate that anything untoward occured. There are no video or audio tapes, no photos, no emails, no letters, nothing that I have seen or heard about revealing anything that would be damaging to Obama.
In the current political climate it's difficult to believe that if anyone had such information in their possession or knew of such information, they would not hesitate to come forward to get their fifteen minutes.
That Obama has been reticent to recount any further details regarding any of those relationships may be troubling to many, but his reasons are at this point, his own. It may be owing to a sense of personal loyalty or ethics.
Should we be demanding that McCain detail his relationship with G. Gordon Liddy? How about an accounting of his relationship with his Vietnamese captors over those 5 plus years? He admits that he finally broke down before his release. What did he tell them? How deeply did they delve into his mind? Don't we have a right to know? Mightn't McCain be the real Manchurian Candidate?
Perhaps we should take a much closer look at McCain's role in the Keating Five scandal. Whose ass did he kiss to wind up with a mere knuckle slap? Did he spill the beans himself behind closed doors to dodge a bullet?
Apparently, none of this matters. McCain gets a pass. He's an American hero!
I can't even begin to imagine how anyone could be comfortable with McCain in the WH. He is erratic. He has become a loose cannon. He is neither the man, nor is he the candidate who ran in 2000. He has sold out to the Rovians. He has flip-flopped on a number of issues since 2000. He has pulled out all the stops, and abandoned most of his ethics solely to win this election. He is not a man who I want as my president.
Obama has proven to be steadfast and unflappable. He has a fairly clear vision of what he wants to accomplish as president. No doubt a large portion of his proposals will meet opposition or will otherwise have to be altered or at best put on the back burner for some time as the realities of the economy and other relative conditions in the country and the wider world step up and smack him in the face. The same would be true for McCain whose proposals are no less pie in the sky than are Obama's.
It would be good, though, to see a modicum of intelligence coming out of the Oval Office for a change. George W. Bush is a dullard. McCain is much more intelligent than GWB, but lacks wisdom and grace.
I am willing to take what is perhaps a somewhat larger leap of faith in my support of Obama. I don't believe in any god. I can only put what faith I can muster in my fellow man. Obama may disappoint, but at this juncture, I like what I see in the man. I voted for him two days ago.
B
64 - Jet
...these are likely the same folks who voted for Bush twice.
Who is more of a fool; the Fool, or the ones who follow him?
65 - Jet
When Bush 1st picked Dan Quayle we weren't scared because George looked healthy enough to last through his term which left ole Dan to make a fool of himself without consternation. (remember how he rose all kinds of hell because a fictious TV character was going to raise her baby in a sincle parent household?)
McCain doesn't look like he'll last 4 years and that's the whole point... No one with an ounce of sanity wants to see President Palin... first dude or not.
66 - Jet
Whom is more desparate here, the candidate trying to get free publicity because he can't compete with Obama's infomercial...
...or until recently the most unfunny show of all time in television history?
67 - Mark Saleski
that's it! i'm now voting for mccain
68 - Dr Dreadful
B-tone: I can't even begin to imagine how anyone could be comfortable with McCain in the WH. He is erratic. He has become a loose cannon. He is neither the man, nor is he the candidate who ran in 2000. He has sold out to the Rovians. He has flip-flopped on a number of issues since 2000. He has pulled out all the stops, and abandoned most of his ethics solely to win this election.
I respectfully disagree. McCain is troubling, to be sure, but I have grave doubts as to how much control he actually has over his own campaign. There's the bizarre selection of Palin as his running-mate - a person whom, I suspect, he barely even knew existed prior to the announcement. The persistent smears and attack ads just don't jive with his public refusal to 'go there'. He seems to be struggling to retain some degree of personal honor - such as with his stiff-backed rebuttal of the supporter who claimed that Obama was an Arab.
Every chance he's had to really put the boot into the Obama campaign personally, he hasn't taken. Palin has publicly dissented with him more than once on the campaign trail. It's as if his heart isn't really in this: except for the third debate, when he showed some fire, he's been consistently lacklustre.
I think John McCain is an honorable man and I like him a great deal. I just think he's out of his political depth here.
The big question is this: if he has this little control over his campaign, how much control will he have over his administration if he gets elected?
69 - Baritone
Doc,
The times I have seen McCain perform over the past several weeks, I have found him to be smug and condescending both at his stump speeches and during all 3 of the debates. The entire tenor of his campaign has been spiteful and aggressive in its efforts toward character assassination.
Whichever way you look at it, though, whether McCain is holding the reigns or has been usurped by others in the campaign, it hardly bodes well for a McCain presidency.
B
70 - Cindy D
Dan,
First, McCain IS essentially George Bush. He only threw him under a bus as a defensive move.
John McCain's words June 2005 on Meet the Press
The fact is that I'm different. But, the fact is that I have agreed with President Bush far more than I've disagreed. And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I have been totally in agreement and support of President Bush. So, I strongly disagree with any assertion that I've been more at odds with the President of the United States more than I've been in agreement with him.
[March 5, 2008] Well, I am very honored and humbled to have the opportunity to receive the endorsement of the President of the United States....I intend to have as much campaigning events and as much as in sort of keeping with the President's heavy schedule.
Second, how can you possibly know what John McCain will do if he is elected? I mean other than putting Bush's failed policies into overdrive. Tax cuts for the wealthy didn't work...okay how about even bigger tax cuts.
McCain was consistently against Bush's tax cuts, this one minute video montage shows 7 instances from 2000-2004 where McCain was saying approximately the same thing Obama is saying about who should and who should not get tax cuts.
So now, when he's trying to distance himself from Bush, his tax policy sounds exactly like Bush's? How did that happen? It's the Republican party line. Above everything else the wealthy (who are represented by the Republican party) want everyone to believe that whatever happens cutting their taxes and giving them handouts (loopholes and incentives) is some kind of panacea for whatever ails us.
Third, I am sure you do have doubts about Obama. But, I wonder why your your apparent quest for knowledge has exclusively led you to the door of the rabble-rousers instead of focusing any attention on what more thoughtful conservatives have to say.
Forth, I don't think we can trust the doubts of Republicans and/or right-wingers any more than we can trust that which they have no doubt about. These doubts sound like the same sort of doubts they had when they were trying to get Bush elected twice. In other words, the right-wing has demonstrated its inability to discern what should even warrant doubt and what should scream out "danger Will Robinson".
71 - Lisa Solod Warren
#67 OH, Mark. That is so effing funny..... Thanks for pointing it out.
72 - Condor
"hoard salt and pepper" - troll
Troll, come on.... salt and pepper. Remember the 2000 and all the Y2K hype (BS). Listen, hoarding takes up a lot of room, wastes space and you have to eat all that crap even when the shelf life expires.
If you're hoarding, think.... Dried peas taste like crap. Hoard bourbon, coffee and smokes. Why? Bartering. Those commodities take up little room, and going to be in short supply and appeal to the vice and victimhood that will occupy the minds of all the dopes who are stuck eating powdered eggs, powdered milk and dried peas. Want some fresh meat, trade bourbon for a cow...
Oh and don't forget the bullets because some have-not is going to want your stash but was probably unwilling to put forth the effort to secure one for him/her self.
73 - troll
Condor...I'm more worried about the haves who want more
as for hoarding bourbon: give a man a bottle and you've made a friend for an evening...teach him how to build a still and he can stay drunk indefinitely
74 - Clavos
3 words:
Los. Angeles. Times.
75 - Baronius
It'll be interesting to see the articles on BC in January, with each side reviewing the Bush presidency. Bliffle and Cindy see it as a complete failure. I see several years of broad economic prosperity, lower unemployment rates (even during a recession) than European countries can manage during a boom, the liberation of two oppressed countries, a broader campaign against terrorists, two great Supreme Court nominees, lower tax rates, and the first steps toward education and legal reform. I also see continued increases in governmental spending (including an expansion of Medicare), disasterous policies from the Fed and Treasury, one lousy Supreme Court nominee withdrawn, and very little effort in building up his party. A solid B.
Neither Bush nor McCain have conservative instincts. Bush has respect for conservatives, and that has helped steer him in the right direction. McCain doesn't. Whoever wins this election, I'm going to miss Bush.