41 Comments

• 1. Bigfoot  |  August 19th, 2008 at 10:18 am

  All he had to do was blurt out what he believed. Clearly, this gave him an unfair advantage, and we think the American people will see this for what it is…another Republican smear tactic.

  Having more confidence and poise than your opponent is a smear tactic? ROFL!

• 2. Now What?  |  August 19th, 2008 at 10:21 am

  There should be issues with Musharrha stepping down after the Bush administration was so happy to have as leader.
  He is gone now…will the next person be someone W. can trust?

  We did this in South American with Ronnie…Contra.

• 3. Now What?  |  August 19th, 2008 at 10:25 am

  It should have read: This.

• 4. hermie  |  August 19th, 2008 at 10:37 am

  The definition of ’smear’ changes with each Obama bungle. Criticism of his voting record is a ’smear’…Criticism of his changing positions on the war is a ’smear’…etc.

  To Dems if it isn’t a ’smear’ it’s ‘racism’.

• 5. Kahn  |  August 19th, 2008 at 10:43 am

  My “American Rifleman” came yesterday.

  It points out that both the Republican and Democrat candidates for the Senate are good on guns. Better than John Warner (R) was in fact.

  It also dissects Obamas positions (and actual votes) on 2nd Amendment rights and strongly urges people to vote against him. Strongly urges.

  The NRA was instrumental in defeating John Kerry in several swing states. Lets see if it will make the difference for Ted Baxter Obama.

• 6. Retired Spook  |  August 19th, 2008 at 10:43 am

  This race is finally at the point where I’m beginning to get comfortable making some general predictions.

  IF (and that’s still a big IF, IMHO) Obama succeeds in holding onto the nomination at the convention, he’s going to face something at the polls that no candidate for President has ever faced before. I think the “Bradley effect” will play a major roll in which lever voters pull. It certainly won’t be difficult, between last minute national polls, exit polls and actual vote totals to reverse engineer what transpired on election day. Also, my gut feeling is that a lot of people will make up their mind after they pull the curtain behind them, and decide that McCain, with all his warts, is by far the safer of the two candidates. Which way the undecideds turn at the last minute should also be a relatively easy dynamic to decipher.

• 7. congressive  |  August 19th, 2008 at 10:50 am

  The AP news service gets it right:

  http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gxVW-aUPQsPkU0JKEleSPNCyxSsAD92L2HJ80

  Tenth paragraph, last sentence. Priceless!

• 8. Danish Artist  |  August 19th, 2008 at 12:39 pm

  “He didn’t have to work to recall his talking points. He didn’t have to think, or even try to look like he was thinking. All he had to do was blurt out what he believed. ”

  Vs. obama, who had to recall what he thought people wanted to hear and not what he believed.

  The new smear…saying what you believe, personally and letting someone else make themselves look like an idiot.

  Obama can’t think too quickly on his feet it seems. Damn…where was that teleprompter when he needed one.

• 9. Retired Spook  |  August 19th, 2008 at 1:21 pm

  Obama can’t think too quickly on his feet it seems. Damn…where was that teleprompter when he needed one.

  DA, sooner or later the inability to give heart-felt answers to important questions is going to be Obama’s undoing. Right now the vast majority of voters are busy watching the Olympics and not paying much attention to the campaign. I think those of us who frequent political blogs and read several on-line newspapers daily tend to think that everyone is as interested and tuned in as we are — they’re not. It wouldn’t surprise me if 30-40% of random people on the street couldn’t even tell you who the 2 presumptive nominees are. Those Dems who are paying attention know that, based on historical standards, Obama ought to have a 15 or 20 point lead right now. If they’re not worried, they should be.

• 10. Eric T  |  August 19th, 2008 at 1:29 pm

  http://www.nbcolympics.com/shooting/index.html

  Kahn- Chinese marksmen are winning more Gold medals than our guys.

• 11. Ricorun  |  August 19th, 2008 at 2:21 pm

  DA, sooner or later the inability to give heart-felt answers to important questions is going to be Obama’s undoing.

  Irrespective of how the question impacts on the candidates, what do or should people prefer in a president — heartfelt or thoughtful?

  Personally, I don’t want a president that goes with his gut. I want one that thinks with his head. But maybe that’s just me.

• 12. OhioOrrin  |  August 19th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

  here’s what we’re fighting. and the “believers” defiled their own mosque!

  http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/08/19/iraq.mosque/index.html#cnnSTCPhoto

  oh yea, don’t waste my time talking ’bout naked pyramids, panties on the head, or waterboarding.

• 13. js  |  August 19th, 2008 at 2:53 pm

  ” I don’t want a president that goes with his gut. I want one that thinks with his head”

  some of the best thinkers out there are crack addicts, i hear obama has some experience in that field….is that what you mean?

• 14. Herkimer X. Arbuthnot  |  August 19th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

  “Personally, I don’t want a president that goes with his gut. I want one that thinks with his head. But maybe that’s just me.” ricorun

  We had that; politically calculating rather than morally centered, it was the Clinton years.

  With no central values, no moral compass as it were a person is free to make whatever decision is politically expedient, regardless of the consequences. This “calculation” cannot be predicted nor depended upon; foes and allies are obstacles, impediments rather than facilitators toward an end.

  No thanks.

• 15. Nevada Pundit  |  August 19th, 2008 at 3:15 pm

  “Personally, I don’t want a president that goes with his gut. I want one that thinks with his head. But maybe that’s just me.” ricorun

  Actually I think it is because John McCain knows what he believes and isn’t afraid to say it. Obama is still trying to figure it out. POTUS is just not the place for trial and error and Obama bumbuling his way through the job will only cost Americans.

  It amazes me the even McDonalds managers have more time, experience and qualifications for the their job then Obama does to be POTUS. Well with Obama’s tax plan we may all be flipping burgers soon, which he would probably love because then all of us would be flipping as much as he does.

• 16. Jeremiah  |  August 19th, 2008 at 3:51 pm

  Personally, I don’t want a president that goes with his gut. I want one that thinks with his head. But maybe that’s just me.

  You probably won’t get that from Obama … Thinking is above his paygrade. lol.

• 17. Matt  |  August 19th, 2008 at 5:42 pm

  Congressive, um, for all his faults, Bill Clinton did actually CUT taxes if I’m not mistaken. My economics background tells me that taking money out of the economy (i.e. taxes) when it’s slow doesn’t help (yes, putting government funding into market would help if were the right type of government funding (think WPA, not government “programs” or handouts). You will not see growth under Obama’s tax plan, just simply won’t happen. His energy policy won’t help the economy either. Rising energy costs are one of the things hampering our economy, and Mr. Obama seems content on letting them continue to rise.

• 18. congressive  |  August 19th, 2008 at 5:46 pm

  Uh boy. Just saw Pastor Warren on Fox News admit that he lied to his audience when he said McCain was in the “cone of silence” backstage, while in fact he knew McCain was not even in the building.

  At least he’s come clean and confessed his sin.

• 19. Retired Spook  |  August 19th, 2008 at 6:02 pm

  Congressive, did you have to take a course of study in “nasty and condescending”, or do you just come by it naturally? Also, if you have a local community college, you might consider a continuing education course in economics. Just sayin’.

  Irrespective of how the question impacts on the candidates, what do or should people prefer in a president — heartfelt or thoughtful?

  Rico, since everyone else already took you to the woodshed on your answer, I’ll just add that I concur with js, herkimer, Nevada Pundit and Jeremiah — particularly Jeremiah -ROTFL!

• 20. Kahn  |  August 19th, 2008 at 6:05 pm

  EricT - NBC will not show the shooting events. That may have something to do with us not coming off so well against the Chinese. That’s kind of the point of some of these shooting sports, by the way.

• 21. congressive  |  August 19th, 2008 at 6:11 pm

  What? Democrats never cut taxes, and Republicans never raise them!

  Heresy, I say. Heresy.

  /snark

  Bottom line:

  Eight years of a Democratic president = Dow tripled, unemployment down from 7.8% in 1992 to 3.9% in 2000, poverty level down from 14.8% in 1992 to 11.3% in 2000, budget surplus.
  Eight years of a Republican president = Dow flatlined, unemployment up from 3.9% in 2000 to 5.7% today, poverty level up from 11.3% in 2000 to 12.3% in 2006, including the highest childhood poverty in the industrialized world at 21.9% of all minors living below the poverty threshold, record budget deficit.

  Them are the facts, jack. All the excuses in the world won’t change ‘em.

• 22. Kahn  |  August 19th, 2008 at 6:13 pm

  Congressive - both had foreknowledge of the same handful of questions. BOTH did.

  But why would that even make a difference? I thought Obama was the epitome of poise and wisdom? Its a big hard world out there. Quit whining - it makes our point for us.

  And are we now attacking every divorced politician? Sooooo, is it better to not get divorced and just screw around? Or to let your husband or wife screw around and not do anything because you don’t want to lose access to power? Would that make you a power whore?

  Don’t throw your misguided view of morality at us when you reject every aspect of it at every other turn. The key to the whole Christianity thing is that we are NOT perfect and we know it. But if we’re sincere, we’re forgiven. Christianity is about trying to be good and to do good. But it’s also about not letting guilt destroy you.

• 23. Ricorun  |  August 19th, 2008 at 6:24 pm

  js: some of the best thinkers out there are crack addicts

  Herkimer X. Arbuthnot: We had that; politically calculating rather than morally centered, it was the Clinton years.

  Nevada Pundit: Actually I think it is because John McCain knows what he believes and isn’t afraid to say it. Obama is still trying to figure it out.

  Jeremiah: You probably won’t get that from Obama … Thinking is above his paygrade. lol.

  Fascinating. I would have thought most people would have countered what I said with… “We want both!” Silly me. Apparently it has to be one or the other. Perhaps more destructively, according to some, reason is a sign of drug use and/or political expedience. How do you square that with the notion that the GOP is supposed to be the party of reason?

  It seems to me you guys are spending too much time attacking “the other side” for being mindless and not enough keeping your own house in order.

  Just a thought.

• 24. Herkimer X. Arbuthnot  |  August 19th, 2008 at 6:36 pm

  Ricorun,
  First, I wouldn’t assume anything about my side, next, you’re the one that stated a preference for intellectual calculation over moral certitude, whereas I stated a fact. The problem with “moderates” is a lack of conviction to principles; you do, however have the ability to accuse all sides.

  Who’s the mindless one?

  Just a thought.

• 25. Ricorun  |  August 19th, 2008 at 6:46 pm

  Arbuthnot, I fed you the bait and you took it. And somehow I was the one taken to the woodshed. Good thing I’m not Putin.

• 26. kmg  |  August 19th, 2008 at 7:27 pm

  Kahn,

  Why did McCain ask Warren if he could go back to the question on Supreme Court justices when that topic had not come up yet? That was not one of the topics that Warren told both candidates beforehand would come up.

• 27. Eric T  |  August 19th, 2008 at 8:34 pm

  Today is a good day to send some money to the John McCain campaign. Look at some of the things that are important to you, it might be your guns or the dividends that your favorite stock pays.

  Imagine in just a few months, democrats win and just start taking and taking. But, at that time, it will be too late.

• 28. congressive  |  August 19th, 2008 at 8:42 pm

  And are we now attacking every divorced politician? Sooooo, is it better to not get divorced and just screw around? Or to let your husband or wife screw around and not do anything because you don’t want to lose access to power?

  WOW! These are the only options that occurred to you? You’re saying that these were McCain’s only options when he dumped the mother of his children for a hot rich chick?

  Wow. Dude. Wow.

• 29. Dave Van Dyke  |  August 19th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

  I found a great eye-opening article about Russia and Georgia.

  http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/JH20Ag01.html

• 30. Jeremiah  |  August 19th, 2008 at 9:26 pm

  It seems to me you guys are spending too much time attacking “the other side” for being mindless

  No, not at all, Ricorun, you didn’t understand what I meant … Obama is smart, probably smarter than a lot of people give him credit for.
  And this is why?

  Obama knows what the right way is, but when he thinks, it’s not a matter of what the right way is, but about Obama’s way and Obama’s way alone. Even though Obama knows to do right, his policies reflect that he is willing to forfeit the democratic process to suit his own ends…and that is what will happen should he become our next President. With two judges due to step down soon, our Supreme Court will probably be the most radical it’s been in history. What the Founding Fathers brought to us, by way of their blood and treasure, preserved centuries old, handed down from generation to generation will be totally and I mean totally LOST!!! We will no longer have a democratically elected government, but a government run by judges …. American soil seeing tyranny as never before in her history.

  God help the U.S. of A.

  WAKE UP!!!

• 31. neocon  |  August 19th, 2008 at 9:33 pm

  congressive,

  You didn’t get it, did you?

• 32. js  |  August 19th, 2008 at 10:26 pm

  29. bongoman

  actually, there isnt any real evidence that the guy is lying…and the characture of people obama surrounded himself with is about par with sinclair…look at rezko, a thief and a liar, auchi, an ex saddam iraq regime escapee busted for illegally pandering crooked politicians already…wright, a wanna be christain whose front hides a black supremacist islamic leaning organization….i mean…just because sinclair was a con doesnt mean obama would not have anything to do with the guy….and we already know obama is a liar…

  dont try to play that BS card….

• 33. congressive  |  August 19th, 2008 at 11:55 pm

  both had foreknowledge of the same handful of questions. BOTH did.

  But that’s not the point, now is it. The point is that Warren lied on camera and, importantly, to his church, then confessed his false witness on Fox News, but only after he was found out.

  Id’ say that was really un-Christian behavior, but THAT would be a lie. Don’t worry, God will forgive him, right?

• 34. Kahn  |  August 20th, 2008 at 12:25 am

  congressive, I think you’ve got the facts screwed up. But whatever.
  Wow man. Wow.

• 35. Kahn  |  August 20th, 2008 at 12:53 am

  You know, I don’t go for cut-n-paste work. I read and research and try to give an honest opinion. But I see a lot of unsubstantiated crap posted here and elsewhere. And on the liberal side, I don’t see a lot of independent thought. Sorry, I just don’t.

  For example, above I discussed the attacks on McCains divorce and my views of religion. Now, I’ve seen those views subsequently attacked….. but have I? Attacked how? No logical argument was offered. No reasoning. No alternative position. Just derision. And that is not an argument at all. And the thing is, that’s the typical crap I see the left post here.

  Now lets talk about the “debate”. According to Warren. Both candidates had access to the same questions. But Obama even had access to one more than McCain.

  But why is this even an issue? You know, McCain is the one asking for more debates. For more town hall meetings. For more TRUTH. But Obama’s writers don’t think it’s necessary. Well more likely they think it’s not a good idea. They don’t want Ted Baxter on the air without a script.

  So you didn’t like this debate? Have another one. Have an honest one. One where they have to answer without teleprompters. Have ten of them. Twenty. It is the liberal side that resists this. It is the liberal side that does not want the people to know who they really are.

  I ask - why? If you are so certain of the brilliance and moral surety of your positions, why hide them?

  Obama wants to insure all the illegal aliens and make us working people pay for them. The numbers he’s quoted as saying will fall under his plan don’t add up without them being included.

  If you make more than $42K a year, Obama wants to raise your taxes. Does it really matter to you that some of the increase will be capital gains on your investments or retirement accounts (at payout)? That some will be good old income tax and some will be social security? There is no lock box you know. It’s all just one big pile of money once the government gets it.

  And how about the way he pulled out of public funding? If public funding means one candidate has rules imposed and the other doesn’t, shouldn’t it be abolished? Isn’t that the FAIR thing to do? Aren’t you lefties all about “fair” outcomes?

  And as I said previously, Obama has multiple proven points about gun control that will keep ME from voting for him. Now, a very few of you will argue the truth, that you want gun control. Most of the rest of you will just lie about it to get people to vote for your side.

  And he was wrong about the surge and is positively naive on foreign affairs. Deal with it.

• 36. extramedium  |  August 20th, 2008 at 3:26 am

  I hope we’re going to get a post from Mark about the “more women are childless” story making the headlines yesterday. It has all the makings of a B4V barn burner - declining morality, breakdown of the family, hispanic ascendancy, consumerism. What could be be better?

  My take - it’s the triumph of career ambition and consumerism over the civic and religious duty to procreate. Nobody wants to start a family until they can do it in “style”, just like they see on TV.

• 37. Drew Moore  |  August 20th, 2008 at 7:45 am

  According to President Bush, McCain was not tortured in VN.

  Take a look at the article.

  http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/08/was-mccain-tort.html

• 38. js  |  August 20th, 2008 at 9:09 am

  you drew a conclusion based on andrew sullivan, not bush ….

  why would anyone take you seriously if you pander stupidity like that drew?

• 39. js  |  August 20th, 2008 at 9:11 am

  OMGosh!! im under emotional distress!! liberals all around claim i am being tortured!! HELP ME UN HELP ME!!

  and as soon as i can get to the bathroom, it will all be over…..

• 40. Herkimer X. Arbuthnot  |  August 20th, 2008 at 3:13 pm

  Ricorun,
  I see I have you right where you want me. Clever … very clever.

  “See how he represses the masses; Help help, I’m being repressed.” Dennis

• 41. corsarsoul  |  September 3rd, 2008 at 11:14 pm

  i say fuck the gop you motha fuckas had your chance and look what the fuck we got high gas prices a war thats never going to end i say stand down and let real leadership take hold