104 Comments

• 1. What?  |  August 31st, 2008 at 3:42 am

  Noonan writes:
  “Talking and voting, from time to time, in the Senate.”

  Um Mark,
  This is what McCain has been doing for nearly his entire adult life. Are you saying his tenure as a Senator has not not qualified him to be President?

  Call this pick for what it clearly is, Mark. It is a political move aimed at bringing out the evangelicals and disaffected Clinton voters for McCain, a candidate neither group is enthusiastic about. If McCain wanted experience he would have gone with Pawlenty or Charlie Crist or some other governor with more of a background in politics.

  McCain knew what he had to do and he did it.

• 2. The Arctic Fox  |  August 31st, 2008 at 3:42 am

  As both Obama and McCain are senators, does this mean that you classify McCain’s job over the past 22 months as “Talking and voting, from time to time, in the Senate”?

  If so, why should we take McCain any more seriously, and if not, please explain the difference in job responsibilities between Senator Obama and Senator McCain.

• 3. OpChaosUK  |  August 31st, 2008 at 4:25 am

  Look, kook trolls, we know this pick was political, but the lady is just as qualified to be Veep as as Plugs Biden. And she’s just as qualified, if not more, than Earbama to be President.

  And you should all quit your griping about our questioning Earbama’s lack of experience. If the shoe were on the other foot, you’d be doing the same.

  The fact is, Earbama is an idiot, as evidenced by his use of McCain’s “5 million dollars” joke. Earbama uses the joke at every speech he gives. He clearly lacks integrity, but then again, he is a LIbEral Donkaroach.

  I’ve yet to meet one with any integrity, even on this blog.

  I thought it was very interesting seeing Earbama when he and Plugs commented on McCain’s pick. Earbama looked a bit stressed. It’s a side of him I’ve never seen, and it tells me he’s not really happy with his own choice. Biden is a Washington insider, a person Earbama clams is what is wrong with the government.

  More of the same…

• 4. Danish Artist  |  August 31st, 2008 at 4:36 am

  Obama did serve an executive position on a board of directors with William Ayers.

  That has to count for something. Doesn’t it?

• 5. Timestar  |  August 31st, 2008 at 10:38 am

  One of the Sunday talking heads brought up a good point. When McCain introduced Palin he did not mention one word about her being ready to be President of the United States; interesting. Tom Ridge where are you?

• 6. FmrMarine  |  August 31st, 2008 at 10:53 am

  Danish;

  Our lefties are still sticking to the idiot talking point that Governor Palin is less qualified than Barack Obama - on the strength of Obama’s “community organising” and 150 days of active Senate work, Obama is held to be better prepared for the Presidency than the “former mayor of a town of 9,000 people” is for the Vice Presidency. I find this rather odd - as Obama hasn’t been so much as dog catcher in a town of 900. If Obama had at least run a McDonald’s at some point in his career, he’d have some executive experience.

  I dont think mickey D’s has slots for affirmative action managers or oBOMBa would surely have had one.
  as for his NUTS, that ole je$$e was going to take has any one found them yet?

  well based on the rats one needs NO experience to be potus….
  hillary = 0
  oBOMBa = 0
  dean = 0
  biden = 100 hair plugs, plagiarism.
  Palen = Mayor, council member, soccer mom, Governor…..100%

• 7. Timestar  |  August 31st, 2008 at 10:53 am

  Let us not forget Obama has “lead a national campaign” that started from humble beginings two years ago to Thursday’s convention speech where Obama’s speech, is the most-watched convention speech ever, according to Nielsen Media Research estimates. An estimated 38 million people watched the speech.

• 8. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 10:58 am

  Let us not forget Bono leads an international tour that strted from humble beginnings and is watched by over 100 million people.

  Bono is more qualified to be President than Obama

• 9. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 11:05 am

  “And now let us turn to Obama’s responsibilities over the past 22 months:

  Talking and voting, from time to time, in the Senate.”

  You forgot running a successful presidential campaign.

  Really Mark, when ever you argue that Obama isn’t experienced enough, while claiming Palin is, you are being a complete hypocrite. Anyone who doesn’t drink the Kool-aide can see that.

• 10. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 11:14 am

  Casper,

  Palin has executive experience and has taken on her own party about corruption. She confronted the oil companies and increased the average Alaskans stipend. She sold the executive plane and elminated much of the executive mansion staff to save money and concentrate on the business of the people.

  Please regale me with anything that Obama has done that can even be considered similar. Anything?

  Anything at all?

• 11. Timestar  |  August 31st, 2008 at 11:34 am

  Mark are you sure you captured the entire list of duties written in the Alaskan Constitution. It has to mention the govenor shall also be the lead tour guid for Princess Cruise Line, and can turn away any cruise ship that does not serve fresh salmon.

• 12. Timestar  |  August 31st, 2008 at 11:38 am

  Palin has executive experience and has taken on her own party 10. neocon | August 31st, 2008 at 11:14 am

  Palin took on Republican Ted Stevens who in a short few months will be wearing horizontal stripes as a result of a FEDERAL probe. Kicking and stomping on an old dude at the bottom of his political power Palin gets a Profile in Courage for that, pleeeeeeeeease.

• 13. Sorta Blogless Sunday Pin&hellip  |  August 31st, 2008 at 11:42 am

  [...] Blogs For Naughty Victory tells us what an Alaska governors duties are [...]

• 14. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 11:43 am

  I don’t remember Obama ever confronting a member of his own party at the risk of his career. So I guess you have to denigrate the accomplishment, because you can’t equal it.

  Makes sense.

• 15. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 11:45 am

  Who else thinks that Bono is more qualified considering his qualifications of leading a start up band to ultimately playing in front of hundreds of millions of people.

  Great credentials
  Bono 08

• 16. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 12:07 pm

  Oh paleeese quit talking about The One’s running a national campaign ..

  because you FORGET, quite conveniently, who helped him along the way …

  the MSM, who fawned over him, got tingles down their legs, and practically annointed him every chance they could get.

  Without them, he would have LOST to Hillary.

  And, speaking of Hillary. You talking heads keep brushing aside the Hillary voters but you obviously haven’t gone to any of the hundreds of sites with thousands of posters staing they will NOT vote for president or they will write Hillary’s name in, or they will vote for McCain. They are pissed! It’s not only the PUMAs but feminists and those who are moderate Dems.

  Liberals are scared to death of Palin. Oh sure, you brush her aside with comments about her inexperience … and yet, your buddies are searching for nude pictures on google, claiming she didn’t take care of herself during her pregnancy (Colmes), claiming it’s not her baby but her daughter’s, claiming she named two of her children after witches, and the list goes on.

• 17. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 12:09 pm

  That should be “stating” not “staing” … typing too fast.

• 18. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 12:18 pm

  Neocon: Don’t you remember Obama crossed the isle to work on the Ethics bill with McCain. Oh wait, after working on that bill, he bent over for the Democrat leaders and voted no. Voted NO on a bill he worked on because he was told to do so. Yeah, great leader. LOL!!

• 19. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 12:27 pm

  Great point Kimberly. I had forgotten about that but it’s a great example of how Obama will not confront his own party.

  Yet he wants to bring change.
  What a joke.

• 20. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 12:31 pm

  neocon,
  Obama also has executive experience (19 months of running one of the most successful presidential campaigns in our history) and three and a half years in the U. S. Senate. He has also been a national figure for four years and is well vetted. Claiming Palin has more or better expereince is just silly and hypocridical. I’m not aas concerned about her accomplisments as I am her political philosophy. As far as I can tell, she’s somewhere between President Bush and Pat Buchanan. I’m not ready for another right wing extremest in the White House.

• 21. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 12:33 pm

  Here is an excellent quote from Palin:

  Having kids and serving as governor are entirely compatible, she said.

  “To any critics who say a woman can’t think and work and carry a baby at the same time, I’d just like to escort that Neanderthal back to the cave,” Palin said.

  You go, girl!!

  I think I’ll post that on all of the Clinton supporter sites …

• 22. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 12:35 pm

  Blah, blah, blah, Casper. Big deal. He ran a campaign with the help of the MSM. Without their help, he would have LOST.

• 23. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 12:36 pm

  BTW, Casper … speaking of campaigns … Palin (an unknown) beat not only the incumbent Gov but also the Dem contender. Gotta give her kudos for that, since you believe campaigning makes you a better leader.

• 24. Arguing with signposts  |  August 31st, 2008 at 12:53 pm

  Hey, Palin left her hometown with a $20 million deficit on her biggest claim to fame, a sports rec center, and she supported the bridge to nowhere before going against it, and she knew little about the War in Iraq until 2007.

  Yeah, she’ll fit right in with McCain and Bush.

• 25. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 12:53 pm

  kimberly4victory,
  I’m not saying Palin isn’t qualified. Only that Obama is every bit as qualified, if not more so. That fact that Obama beat a pretty wide field of canidates says something about his executive expertise. Saying that Palin is qualified and Obama isn’t just makes you look silly.

• 26. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 12:59 pm

  But Palin is in the #2 spot and Obama is in the #1 spot. With that being said, McCain is far more qualified than Obama.

  You keep bringing up the national campaign. You can’t keep a straight face and actually believe he would have won WITHOUT the help of the MSM, can you?

  OT: I would like to take this time to ask God to bless all of the people on the Gulf and East Coasts, bless our wonderful National Guard, bless Governor Jindal for his outstanding response to the disaster, and bless America.

  BTW, resident liberals, what do you have to say about former National Chairman of the Democratic National Committee Don Fowler and Congressman John Spratt of South Carolina giggling about the impending disaster?????

• 27. Leslie Nelson  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:00 pm

  If John McCain wanted a woman on the ticket, there were plenty of conservative women to choose from, who have a respectable record as public officials, and who would arguably be ready to be Commander in Chief. That he chose Sarah Palin, who is nothing short of an embarrassment, speaks volumes about the kind of judgment McCain will show as President. For if he’s willing to put a nearly-recalled, under-investigation inept hack one heartbeat away from the Presidency, what kind of judgment will he show when choosing Judges and Justices, Secretaries of top departments, and administrators of lead agencies?

• 28. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:15 pm

  kimberly4victory,

  “You keep bringing up the national campaign. You can’t keep a straight face and actually believe he would have won WITHOUT the help of the MSM, can you?”

  Actually I can, the majority of Obama coverage has been negative (Wright, Aryes, etc.). A recent study showed that while Obama had more stories in the Washington Post 72% were negative while on 45% of the McCain stories were negative. McCain has referred to the press as “my base”. It’s only in the last few months that the press has really started covering McCain.

  As for Palin being on the bottom of the ticket and Obama on the top, it doesn’t matter. Either should be ready to be president. Tell me, would you want to fly on an airplane in which the copilot is learning on the Job?

• 29. Leslie Nelson  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:18 pm

  I just read a great article. See below

  GETTING REAL ABOUT PALIN
  I’ve noticed some people who should know better claiming that bringing up Gov. Palin’s troopergate scandal is tantamount to making a victim of or defending her slimeball ex-brother-in-law who allegedly once used a taser on his stepson.

  That’s awfully foolish. So I thought I’d put together a post explaining why.

  The person in question is state trooper Mike Wooten — Palin’s ex-brother-in-law who’s embroiled in a bitter custody and divorce battle with Palin’s sister. Back in the second week of August, well before Palin became a national political figure, TPMMuckraker was reporting on this story. And as part of the reporting we tried to get a handle on just how bad a guy Wooten was. Most people who are familiar with the ugliness that often spills out of custody and divorce cases know to take accusations arising out of the course of them with a grain of salt unless you know a lot about the people involved. And if you look closely at the case there are numerous reasons to question the picture drawn by the Palin family. Regardless, we proceeded on the assumption that Wooten really was a rotten guy because the truth is that it wasn’t relevant to the investigation of Palin.

  Let’s review what happened.

  The Palin family had a feud with Wooten prior to her becoming governor. They put together a list of 14 accusations which they took to the state police to investigate — a list that ranged from the quite serious to the truly absurd. The state police did an investigation, decided that 5 of the charges had some merit and suspended Wooten for ten days — a suspension later reduced to five days. The Palin’s weren’t satisfied but there wasn’t much they could do.

  When Palin became governor they went for another bite at the apple. Palin, her husband and several members of her staff began pressuring Public Safety Commissioner, Walt Monegan — a respected former Chief of the Anchorage police department — to can Wooten. Monegan resisted, arguing that the official process regarding Wooten was closed. And there was nothing more that could be done. In fact, during one of the conversations in which Palin’s husband Todd was putting on the squeeze, Monegan told Todd Palin, “You can’t head hunt like this. What you need to do is back off, because if the trooper does make a mistake, and it is a terminable offense, it can look like political interference.”

  Eventually, Palin got fed up and fired Monegan from his job. This is an important point. Wooten never got fired. To the best of my knowledge, he’s is still on the job. The central bad act was firing the state’s top police official because he refused to bend to political pressure from the governor and her family to fire a public employee against whom the governor was pursuing a vendetta — whether the vendetta was justified or not.

  Soon after this, questions were raised in the state about Monegan’s firing and he eventually came forward and said he believed he’d been fired for not giving in to pressure to fire Wooten.

  After Monegan made his accusations, Palin insisted there was no truth whatsoever to his claims. Nonetheless, a bipartisan committee of the state legislature approved an investigation. In response, Palin asked the Attorney General to start his own investigation which many in the state interpreted as an effort to either keep tabs on or tamper with the legislature’s investigation. Again, very questionable judgment in someone who aspires to be first in line to the presidency.

  The Attorney General’s investigation quickly turned up evidence that Palin’s initial denials were false. Multiple members of her staff had raised Wooten’s employment with Monegan. Indeed, the state police had a recording of one of her deputies pushing Monegan to fire Wooten. That evidence forced Palin to change her story. Palin said that this was the first she’d heard of it and insisted the deputy wasn’t acting at her behest, even though the trascript of the recorded call clearly suggested that he was. (Hear the audio here.)

  Just yesterday, Monegan gave an interview to the Washington Post in which he said that not only Palin’s aides, but Palin’s husband and Palin herself had repeatedly raised the Wooten issue with him and pressured him to fire him. And now he says he has emails that Palin sent him about the matter. (In an interesting sidelight, that may end up telling us a lot, Monegan says no one from the McCain campaign ever contacted him in the vetting process.)

  The investigator appointed by the state legislature began trying to arrange a time to depose Gov. Palin last week — in other words, in the final days before her selection.

  So let’s put this all together.

  We rely on elected officials not to use the power of their office to pursue personal agendas or vendettas. It’s called an abuse of power. There is ample evidence that Palin used her power as governor to get her ex-brother-in-law fired. When his boss refused to fire him, she fired him. She first denied Monegan’s claims of pressure to fire Wooten and then had to amend her story when evidence proved otherwise. The available evidence now suggests that she 1) tried to have an ex-relative fired from his job for personal reasons, something that was clearly inappropriate, and perhaps illegal, though possibly understandable in human terms, 2) fired a state official for not himself acting inappropriately by firing the relative, 3) lied to the public about what happened and 4) continues to lie about what happened.

  These are, to put it mildly, not the traits or temperament you want in someone who could hold the executive power of the federal government.

  –Josh Marshall

• 30. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:20 pm

  Casper,

  I thought Axlerod ran the campaign? Also, Barack has served less than one full year in the senate, the other two, he has spent full time on the campaign trail. And again, Bono has a more impressive organization than Obama.

  Leslie,

  Your obviously worried about Palin, hence the personal attack. You have offered nothing substantive of why she is unable to govern. It’s also noted that her accomplishments have dwarfed your own.

  Finally, it is noted that Obama lost the last 5 primaries to Hillary and barely eeked out his parties nomination. That suggests a real lack of confidence in his potential.

• 31. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:23 pm

  Leslie,

  Brilliant. You’re really on to something here. Forget about Biden’s plagiarism and Obama’s empty platitudes, of which he has accomplished none of. Let’s concentrate on something that has some real teeth to it.

  Great job

• 32. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:27 pm

  Casper,

  Are you seriously telling us that the MSM has made it difficult for Obama?

  You’re not that stupid are you? I am embarrased that you actually lived in Montana.

• 33. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:28 pm

  There wouldn’t have been ANY negative coverage on Obama if he hadn’t been involved with Wright, Ayers, Rezco, etc. You are judged by the company you keep.

  Media Research Group looked at 1,365 network news stories from the ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscasts through Clinton’s exit from the Democratic race in early June. Here are the key findings:

  The three broadcast networks treated Obama to nearly seven times more good press than bad — 462 positive stories (34% of the total), compared with only 70 stories (just 5%) that were critical.

  NBC Nightly News was the most lopsided, with 179 pro-Obama reports (37%), more than ten times the number of anti-Obama stories (17, or 3%).

  The CBS Evening News was nearly as skewed, with 156 stories spun in favor of Obama (38%), compared to a mere 21 anti-Obama reports (5%).

  ABC’s World News was the least slanted, but still tilted roughly four-to-one in Obama’s favor (127 stories to 32, or 27% to 7%).

  Barack Obama received his best press when it mattered most, as he debuted on the national scene. All of the networks lavished him with praise when he was keynote speaker at the 2004 Democratic Convention, and did not produce a single negative story about Obama (out of 81 total reports) prior to the start of his presidential campaign in early 2007.

  The networks downplayed or ignored major Obama gaffes and scandals. Obama’s relationship with convicted influence peddler Tony Rezko was the subject of only two full reports (one each on ABC and NBC) and mentioned in just 15 other stories.

  CBS and NBC also initially downplayed controversial statements from Obama’s longtime pastor Jeremiah Wright, but heavily praised Obama’s March 18 speech on race relations.

  While Obama’s worst media coverage came during the weeks leading up to the Pennsylvania primary on April 22, even then the networks offered two positive stories for every one that carried a negative spin (21% to 9%).

  Obama’s best press of the year came after he won the North Carolina primary on May 6 — after that, 43 percent of stories were favorable to Obama, compared to just one percent that were critical.

  The networks minimized Obama’s liberal ideology, only referring to him as a “liberal” 14 times in four years. In contrast, reporters found twice as many occasions (29) to refer to Obama as either a “rock star,” “rising star” or “superstar” during the same period.

  In covering the campaign, network reporters highlighted voters who offered favorable opinions about Obama. Of 147 average citizens who expressed an on-camera opinion about Obama, 114 (78%) were pro-Obama, compared to just 28 (19%) that had a negative view, with the remaining five offering a mixed opinion.

  PS How about would you want to fly on an airplaine in which the pilot is learning on the job??

• 34. Conservabot  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:32 pm

  As much as I loathe Obama-Biden, I can’t in good conscience vote for a McCain-Palin ticket. Palin has absolutely no experience in foreign affairs. Considering both McCain’s advanced age and the state of the world today, it is essential that the veep be exceedingly qualified to assume the office of president. I simply don’t have any confidence in Palin’s ability to deal effectively with Iran, Russia, China, etc. I certainly will not cast a vote for Obama-Biden, but nor will I vote for McCain-Palin. Looks like I’ll either sit this one out or vote for Bob Barr. Why, o, why, didn’t McCain listen to Rove and just pick Romney?

• 35. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:37 pm

  neocon,

  “I thought Axlerod ran the campaign? Also, Barack has served less than one full year in the senate, the other two, he has spent full time on the campaign trail. And again, Bono has a more impressive organization than Obama.”

  Wow, first you say he doesn’t run his campaign, then you say he is spending all of his time on his campaign. BTW, if campaign time doesn’t count, shouldn’t we subtract the 2000 campaign and the 2008 campaign time from McCain’s experience.
  It’s also interesting that Obama has still managed to make 54% of his votes this session compared to McCain’s 36%. I guess McCain only shows up when Bush absolutely needs him.

• 36. Blackie  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:37 pm

  The AP’s Ron Fournier wrote at Town Hall.

  If Obama is an empty suit, as McCain has suggested, is Palin suited for the Oval Office herself?

  She is younger and less experienced than the first-term Illinois senator, and brings an ethical shadow to the ticket. Just 20 months ago, she was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, a town of 6,500 where the biggest issue is controlling growth and the biggest annual worry is whether there will be enough snow for the Iditarod dog-mushing race.

• 37. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:38 pm

  Conservabot,

  Please vote for Obama. I don’t want someone of your limited intelligence, obvious susceptability to propaganda, and inability to determine someones ability to vote for McCain/Palin

  You’re the perfect Obama supporter.

• 38. FactCheck  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:40 pm

  Having kids and serving as governor are entirely compatible, she said.

  Oddly enough, that’s not Mark Noonan’s line, though I’m quite positive he’ll formulate some exception here because, well, he needs to support a fellow wingnut. But Mark has repeatedly insisted that a woman’s place is in the home, pumping out and then raising babies. On the flip side, he has denigrated women who pursue careers, claiming that they are neglecting their real duty, which is staying home to pump out and take care of babies.

  Sarah Palin has 5 children, one of them with Down’s Syndrome. Now she wants to leave all that behind to go on the campaign trail and, if successful, become VP of the country. That doesn’t sound at all conducive to doing the household duties Mark Noonan insists women must do.

  And as far as Palin’s “executive experience,” nobody wants to talk about how she plunged her very small town into a $20 million long-term debt? There’s a bang-up job for ya! But then again, that’s sort of what makes her a Republican–she runs up a big debt, then leave the mess for somebody else to clean up.

• 39. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:42 pm

  Casper,

  Sure. Let’s subtract McCains time and he still dwarfs Obamas tenure.

  Spending time ON the campaign is much different from running the campaign. Just FYI.

  And this session Obama attended more votes? That’s great. What happened the previous 20 years? Care to enlighten us?

  Blackie,

  You’ve convinced us all. One moronic, empty headed AP reporter is critical of Palin. I think that should convince everyone right?

  Heckuva job blackie?

• 40. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:46 pm

  Factcheck: Do a google search on towns/cities in debt because they made improvements and see how many are Democrat controlled … some are in the red for billions (yes, that’s billions).

  Palin also brought in billions (yes, that’s billions) to the State of Alaska for taxing oil companies. But let’s ignore that fact because it doesn’t fit into your agenda.

  So, Casper, would you want to fly on an airplaine in which the pilot is learning on the job?

• 41. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:46 pm

  But Mark has repeatedly insisted that a woman’s place is in the home, pumping out and then raising babies. - check

  Quote please. Or is this just your factually challenged deluded opinion.

  And again, you’re the perfect Obamabot. Please vote for him. He’ll tuck you in at night and make all things better for you, since you seem to be dependent on someone other than yourself. Must be hell.

• 42. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:48 pm

  Palin confronted the oil companies and won. You’d think the liberals would love that, but then again, they don’t care about facts, they just need someone to pour milk on their cereal in the morning.

• 43. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:49 pm

  Crickets about the two Democrats laughing about the hurricane? Are they serving Americans or just their party? What a bunch of lowlife scum!

  Since the video is now on Drudge, the MSM has no choice but to report on it.

• 44. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:51 pm

  BREAKING: Statement from SCGOP Chairman Katon Dawson

  “The outrageous behavior of two of the Obama campaign’s highest profile supporters in the south is despicable, a cynical politization of life and death. I call on Barack Obama to immediately denounce Fowler and Spratt and demand sincere apologies from these members of the Democratic leadership.”

• 45. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:57 pm

  Damn liberals are slow. Can you not keep up? Would you like us to type slower?

  Is this debate too advanced for you?

• 46. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:57 pm

  Neocon … that came out yesterday and still NO WORD from The One.

• 47. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 1:58 pm

  They are too busy scrambling around the lefty sites for their talking points.

• 48. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 2:00 pm

  Kimberly,

  They uh….um…..type like…..uh……um…..Obama…..uh…..talks….um.

• 49. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 2:04 pm

  LOL! So, neocon, would you want to fly on an airplane in which the pilot is learning on the job? I mean, really?!?!

• 50. FactCheck  |  August 31st, 2008 at 2:05 pm

  Quote please. Or is this just your factually challenged deluded opinion.

  Well, it took me a whole 10 seconds on Google, but here’s one just for starters:

  A woman can be a wife and mother and mistress of her household and create in her kitchen whatever she pleases…she can also decorate as she wants, instruct her children as she wishes and, in short, pretty much do anything she wants…along comes feminism to say, “you don’t want that! You want to leave your home, have Stouffers cook for you, a nanny instruct your children and instead of creating and doing what you want, you’ll be shackled to a desk and do precisely what someone else tells you to do”. One of the biggest frauds of modern times is that, somehow, outside the home is superior to inside the home…that an aggolomeration of wage earners at a corporation is superior to a family as far as self-fulfillment goes.

  According to Mark Noonan, a woman should stay home and decorate her kitchen. He sneers at feminism for encourage women to “leave the home” and “have a nanny take care of the children” (Sarah Palin has done the former, and I would bet that she’s done the latter). Then he tops it off by claiming that the idea that being outside the home is superior to being inside the home is one of “the biggest frauds of modern times.”

  Well, that was easy. And fun. Having facts on your side usually is. On the flip side, there’s you, neocon. I look forward to your accusatory, dodging reply and the bon mots of your childlike intellect. Enjoy you fact-free delusions. Just try not to let your paranoia overtake you, m’kay?

• 51. Jeremiah  |  August 31st, 2008 at 2:11 pm

  She works, raises a family, she cherishes life, and she serves the Lord.

  She’s a good woman!

  As soon as the announcement came out of her candidacy, I started getting good news all over the place…

  “She is a hunter, I like that”, “She is one of us”,

  I was very pleased to hear all the good news.

  She has all the right ideals and credentials for America.

• 52. Jeremiah  |  August 31st, 2008 at 2:17 pm

  Factcheck,

  In this case, Gov. Palin comes to represent those ideals, she comes to represent what a true woman should be, and all the credentials Mark mentioned in your quote.

  She was a excellent choice pick by McCain, excellent!!!

• 53. Mark Noonan  |  August 31st, 2008 at 2:18 pm

  Casper,

  You gotta know that I love and respect your comments, but you’re grasping at straws when you insist that belief in Palin’s qualifications for VP means one must also believe in Obama’s qualifications for President. There’s just no real comparison here - she’s more ready to be President at this moment in time than Obama. Period. End of story.

• 54. Mark Noonan  |  August 31st, 2008 at 2:20 pm

  what,

  McCain has been shot at, shot down, held as a prisoner, behaved heroically under pressure and then has continually led the fight for clean, responsible government even when he had to go in direct opposition to his own party’s position…furthermore, while gearing up to run for President, McCain took the most dangerous path possible - backing the troop surge when the polls were all against it, and almost to the complete destruction of his Presidential ambitions.

  Meanwhile, Obama talks and, some times, votes…

• 55. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 2:24 pm

  FactCheck,

  Thank you for the quote, and exposing yourself as a LIAR.

  You claimed that Mark had “repeatedly said that women are best at home pumping out babies”, and that quote does not speak at all towards your assertion.

  Aren’t you embarrassed? You should be. But then again, you are an ignorant immature liberal.

• 56. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 2:26 pm

  FactCheck,

  By the way, I have archived your post about Mark and your follow up quote to destroy your credibility at every opportunity.

  have a nice day
  neocon

• 57. FactCheck  |  August 31st, 2008 at 2:33 pm

  I look forward to your accusatory, dodging reply and the bon mots of your childlike intellect.

  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  Proven 100% correct. Not that I’m surprised. You only seem to have one post style: Aggressive stupidity.

  I will admit, though, that I didn’t see the “I’m archiving your post to destroy your credibility” angle. Sure, it’s childish, so it’s in fitting with your style, but destroying my credibility by pointing out that I was right and you were wrong? Well…it’s creative, I’ll give you that much.

  Sorry you’re so upset, dear. But don’t be mad at me because I embarrassed you; you embarrassed yourself, really. I just provided what you asked for. But the good news is that if you try real hard to learn instead of flying off the handle all the time, you can avoid embarrassing yourself in the future.

  But until you’ve done that learning, your best bet to avoid embarrassment is to walk away, son. Just walk away.

• 58. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 2:46 pm

  FactCheck,

  Please provide the quote from Mark that you attributed to him; “Mark has repeatedly insisted that a woman’s place is in the home, pumping out and then raising babies..

  It was non-existent in the quote you provided.

  I will be waiting. Reasonable people would be embarrassed and it speaks volumes about your lack of character that you came back to defend your own asinine assertion.

  LMAO.

• 59. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 2:55 pm

  Oh btw, Factcheck

  That quote you italicized, was not mine.

  Another thing you’re wrong about.

  This just gets better and better.

• 60. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 3:07 pm

  Mark,
  “There’s just no real comparison here - she’s more ready to be President at this moment in time than Obama. Period. End of story.”

  Now that is funny. If Palin were a democrat and Obama had picked her you would screaming about her lack of experience. I hate to break this to you, but just having an R after ones name doesn’t automatically make a person’s experience better than someone who has a D after theirs. Keep making the argument. the more you do it, the more hypocritical you sound.

  kimberly4victory,
  “So, Casper, would you want to fly on an airplaine in which the pilot is learning on the job?”

  No, that’s why I’m voting for Obama.

• 61. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 3:19 pm

  Uh, wouldn’t Obama be the pilot? I mean, Biden, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and many other Democrat leaders have stated that Obama was unqualified … so wouldn’t Obama be the pilot learning on the job? But I guess since he has a “D” after his name, it doesn’t matter that he’s unqualified for the job. Hope you’ve packed your parachute …

• 62. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 3:32 pm

  Casper,

  You have obviously not done any homework on Palin, which does not speak well of you.

  Palin has confronted her own party at the risk of her own carrer, is resolute, intelligent, compassionate, grounded in reality, determined and has made her career a success on her own.

  Her accomplishments at such a young age dwarf anything you have done or Obama has done. The fact that you will continue to denigrate her without actually knowing her, suggests an immature and unconfident sexist.

  Pity.

• 63. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 3:33 pm

  Last I heard, in fact just last week, Bill, Hillary, and Biden have stated Obama is more than ready. Of course if we want to go back in time, we can probably find some choice quotes by Republicans about McCain. As for the D after his name, that doesn’t mean much to me. I’ve voted for more Republicans during my lifetime than a have Democrats. I was a Republican for over twenty years before I switched for the primary. I don’t vote for a party I vote for the person. It’s called thinking for yourself.

• 64. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 3:39 pm

  And you chose Obama. Doesn’t say much for your thinking.

  Tell me, what experience has Obama gained in the few short months that followed after Clinton and Biden deemed him too inexperienced?

  I am very curious to know.

• 65. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 3:41 pm

  Oh Casper, you can say that you were a Republican but from your comments (before the primary), you have shown you are indeed a typical liberal. It’s okay, really. I’d be embarrassed to admit it too. :-)

  The ONLY reason Biden, Bill, and Hillary said Obama was more than ready JUST LAST WEEK was because they would be tarred and feathered if they didn’t and Biden is the VP pick.

  Sure you can find some “choice” quotes, but I challenge you to find ONE statement from a Republican leader (someone who is currently in Congress) that says McCain is not ready to lead or is unqualified for the job.

• 66. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 3:53 pm

  Best post of the day:

  Obama wants to raise taxes and kill babies.

  Palin wants to raise babies and kill taxes.

  neocon: I haven’t been on this blog for some time (job, raising child, lack of enthusiasm) … has almiranta posted lately? If not, I wish she would come back.

• 67. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 3:56 pm

  neocon,
  You might want to go back and read my comments before calling me names. The worst thing I’ve said about her is that she’s somewhere between President Bush and Pat Buchanan politically. If you disagree with that, show me where she really stands. I haven’t said Palin isn’t qualified. Only that Obama is every bit as qualified, if not more so. That’s hardly an attack and certainly isn’t sexist. Frankly, I admire her. I know a lot of women like her and I get along with all of them.

  “Her accomplishments at such a young age dwarf anything you have done or Obama has done.”

  Considering you have no idea what I’ve accomplished in life, that’s a interesting statement. As for Obama, going from growing up in a single parent family, to being the Democratic Presidential Nominee is a pretty good record,

• 68. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 3:59 pm

  Why is Obama qualified? Give me ten reasons. Oh wait … I know that would be a difficult, if not unattainable, task, so I’ll let you give me five reasons. (Do not put the national campaign on the list, please, because it does not qualify)

• 69. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 4:02 pm

  Casper,

  Palin actually reminds me of Reagan and liberal comments about her are also similar to what they said about Reagan.

  Kimberly is right, you are died in the wool liberal and your efforts to suggest your past conservatism are laughable.

  Obama is the nominee because of the MSM. He lost the last five primaries to Clinton and if it wasn’t for the MSM backing him, Hillary would be your nominee.

  Aside from that, everything that he has done has been calculated to advance him. He pandered to whoever he had to to get in this position and lap dogs such as yourself continue to buy into the empty promise.

  Sad.

• 70. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 4:11 pm

  How about someone who served with McCain.

  From the Washington post,

  “Former senator Bob Smith, a New Hampshire Republican, expresses worries about McCain: “His temper would place this country at risk in international affairs, and the world perhaps in danger. In my mind, it should disqualify him.”

• 71. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 4:26 pm

  I asked for current, but that’s okay.

  McCain’s run-ins with other Republican senators are legendary. Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa said in an interview that he was so upset by a McCain tirade that he didn’t speak to him for two years. Grassley, who said he will make no endorsement, nonetheless says McCain is the most qualified among the five GOP candidates to be president.

  Two other senators, both of them backing McCain, said that McCain’s anger is directed at trying to change Washington, and that they had no concerns about his temperament.

  McCain is the first to admit that he has been unpopular with some senators, saying, “I didn’t win Miss Congeniality.” From McCain’s perspective, however, the disdain for him is a result of his determination to eliminate billions in farm and ethanol subsidies and ending what he calls “pork barrel” spending.

  I’d rather have someone who has a temper and is his own man than someone who will bend over at a moment’s notice.

• 72. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 4:26 pm

  Well that does it. One former Senator who is critical of McCain opposes his candidacy.

  Let’s call the whole thing off. Thanks Casper.

• 73. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 4:29 pm

  I say it’s about time we had a President with a temper. I am tired of the politcally correct, mealy mouthed, weak sucks that currently occupy, and previously occupied the residence, and I include Bush and Bush 1.

  Reagan being the exception.

• 74. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 4:31 pm

  kimberly4victory ,
  The reasons I want Obama to be President are because I agree with him on many issues. I like his energy plan, his foreign policy ideas, the fact that he listens to people, parts of his health plan, and that he wants to give a tax break to the middle class rather than the rich. I don’t agree with all of his education proposals. There are probably another half a dozen issues I agree with him on and the same number i disagree with him on.

  neocon,
  “Obama is the nominee because of the MSM. He lost the last five primaries to Clinton and if it wasn’t for the MSM backing him, Hillary would be your nominee.”

  That’s funny because I’m on the record several times saying I would vote for McCain over Hillary.
  Obama is the nominee because he’s worked his tail end off campaigning and because he been able to connect with a lot of voters. McCain is the Republican nominee for the same reasons.

• 75. Retired Spook  |  August 31st, 2008 at 4:33 pm

  has almiranta posted lately? If not, I wish she would come back.

  Kimberly, I miss her too. What an increddibly neat lady, and, in many ways, not unlike Sarah Palin. I participated in an off-blog, email discussion group with Almiranta and AAR for close to a year until this past April when she abruptly stopped communicating with no explanation. If I had to guess, I’d say she sold her horse ranch in Colorado and is in the process of moving the entire operation to Wyoming. Some of her final comments alluded to the fact that that was the plan and might finally be coming to fruition. Anyway, she’s too much of a political junkie like me to stay away for long.

  Casper, you keep citing Obama’s having run a successful campaign for 19 months as evidence of executive ability. Perhaps you know more about the inner workings of the Obama campaign that I do, and, if so, could you share with us the extent to which Obama has run his campaign. I know he has a core staff of about 15 individuals, that do most of the heavy lifting. Does he micro-manage their activities and responsibilities or do they coordinate his activities?

  This is not a trick question. You’ve made this same point several times over several threads, and as far as I can tell, you’re the only one making it. If he has indeed been the primary manager of his own campaign, then it’s a point well taken. If, as I suspect, he just does and says what his campaign manager and staff tell him to do and say, then it’s an argument that’s worth about as much as a bucket of warm spit.

  One final, related question (to Casper): do you believe that Obama is really his own man, or, deep down, do you suspect, as many political analysts do, that someone very rich and powerful is standing behind the curtain pulling his strings?

• 76. FactCheck  |  August 31st, 2008 at 4:50 pm

  That quote you italicized, was not mine.

  Uhhh…yes, I know. It was mine. I was pointing out that my prediction as to how you would react was completely fulfilled. I thought that was a pretty simple thing–I even pointed arrows to connect my statement with my earlier quote just to make it even more blatant–but obviously, it went flying way over your head. And here I thought I was sufficiently dumbing it down for you.

  Walk away, son. You just keep making yourself look worse.

• 77. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 5:03 pm

  RS: Thanks so much for the update. Almiranta definitely is in a class all her own - and you’re right - similar to Palin. She’s bright, articulate, and funny. I hope you’re right and she does come back. I wish her all the luck in whatever she does and wherever she goes.

  I’m still waiting for the five reasons why Casper believes Obama is qualified. I did hear something somewhere (wish I could remember where) that Obama said he gives his assistant all his paperwork, otherwise he might lose it. Now that’s leadership!! “Take this Top Secret document and keep it for me, will ya? I might lose it.”

  I’m surprised Casper said he would vote for McCain over Hillary since Obama and Hillary’s platforms were nearly identical. Interesting.

• 78. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 5:06 pm

  neocon,
  Perhaps this article will help.
  http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7508.html

  He put together the organization, he writes his own speeches, he has a ton of advisors, but the final decisions are his. After reading Scott McClellan’s description about how Bush’s campaigns were run, I see a lot of similarities (tight message control, top down management). If he was just doing what he was told, I suspect he wouldn’t be writing his own speeches. Do you think McCain runs his own campaign or does he just do what he’s told to do?

  As for Obama being controlled by someone rich and powerful, I don’t think so. Where’s the evidence? The only ones that have his number are his wife and daughters.

• 79. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 5:08 pm

  Politico? Tee hee hee.

  Weren’t they the same ones who put out the article on 5 scholars stating Palin wasn’t qualified, only to find out the 5 scholars were all Obama supporters?

  Yeah, they’re not bias.

• 80. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 5:24 pm

  kimberly4victory,
  Obama is qualified because he is an natural born citizen and he is over 35. Those are the only qualifications listed in the Constitution. Isn’t it grteat to live in a country where anyone can grow up to be president. One of our least experienced (as far as government) presidents, Lincoln, was one of our best. One of our most experienced (as far as government) James Buchanan was one of our worst. I listed my reasons for voting for Obama in post 74.

  As for not voting for McCain over Hillary, it’s because I think she would be a bad president, than over the issues. I don’t think this country needs four more years of a Clinton White House. Too much drama.

• 81. searp  |  August 31st, 2008 at 5:29 pm

  Palin will be descending to earth over the next week or so:

  “But what McCain and his cohorts are claiming is simply untrue. Palin supported the funding for the project, and kept the federal funds after the bridge deal fell through. Indeed, she ran for governor on a “build-the-bridge platform,” and ended up directing federal funds to other wasteful pork projects, for fear of having to return unused tax dollars funds to the federal government.”

  I make it 50-50 she is still on the ticket in a month. If she is on the ticket Obama wins.

• 82. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 5:29 pm

  “Weren’t they the same ones who put out the article on 5 scholars stating Palin wasn’t qualified, only to find out the 5 scholars were all Obama supporters?

  Yeah, they’re not bias.”
  And that comes after you use Media Research Group, known for their selective use of data. Every source has some bias. Some just a lot more than others.

• 83. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 5:32 pm

  FactCheck,

  I realize my quote mistake but that doesn’t diminish the fact that you have yet to provide us all with a quote from Mark that backs your assertion.

  Don’t run from your dishonesty, embrace it!

• 84. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 5:33 pm

  Casper, you keep stating that Obama is more than qualified to be POTUS, and yet, you come up with one lame qualification.

  Thanks for proving my point.

• 85. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 5:38 pm

  Opps sorry. I just realized my answer at #78 should have been addressed to Retired Spook.

• 86. Retired Spook  |  August 31st, 2008 at 5:43 pm

  he writes his own speeches,

  Well, not quite all of them.

  Do you think McCain runs his own campaign or does he just do what he’s told to do?

  I didn’t make the claim that his running his campaign was an example of leadership and executive experience, a claim you made, I suspect, because without it Obama’s resume is reeeeeeeally thin! That said, I’ll answer it anyway. I don’t think anyone tells John McCain what to do (and this coming from someone who doesn’t particularly like McCain). I think he truly IS his own man; I really don’t think Obama is, and, if Obama is elected, I think you’re going to have a rude and unpleasant awakening. Just my opinion, though; I could be wrong. Actually, if Obama is elected, I HOPE I’m wrong.

  My biggest problem with Obama, other than he’s a radical Leftist, is that his political career has shown almost ZERO evidence of working to achieve common ground with his political adversaries. The 2 or 3 pieces of legislation that he’s attached his name to have been overwhelmingly popular with both parties. The “The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006″, co-sponsored by John McCain, nonetheless, passed the Senate unanimously, as did the loose nuke legislation on which he worked with Senator Lugar.

  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t believe Senator Obama has EVER gone up against his party or the over-riding sentiment of the Senate on bi-partisan legislation over a matter of principle. He has never staked out an unpopular position on ANYTHING. His 130+ “present” votes in the Illinois Senate are additional proof that, on tough issues, he lacks any sense of leadership. I’ll grant you he talks a good talk (with the aid of a teleprompter), but I have yet to see ANY evidence that he can or will walk the walk. What’s he gonna do when Iran threatens to use their first nuke to vaporize Israel — Vote present?

• 87. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 5:57 pm

  What I stated was that Obama is as qualified if not more so than Palin.

  The Constitutions states “No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.”

  Obama meets all of those qualifications as do the others running. Are there some other secrete qualifications I don’t know about?

  The truth is Kimberly, I could list a thousand reasons why Obama should be president and you and neocon would just dismiss them. You don’t want to admit that there is anything positive about the guy. Sadly both of you would rather spend most of your time attacking Obama than coming up with good reasons to vote for McCain and Palin.

• 88. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 6:04 pm

  Casper,

  I have posted many times why I am voting for McCain and now Palin. I want a chadidate that has been through the private or public fires long enough to know how to predict their future reactions when in those fires.

  McCain has a very long track record that I am confortable with and Palin has demonstrated that as an executive Governor of the nations largest state, she is up to the task.

  Obama has done nothing but pander to special interests.

  Sadly, despite your desire to elect the best candidate, you instead continue to choose Obama.

• 89. neocon  |  August 31st, 2008 at 6:06 pm

  Are there some other secrete qualifications I don’t know about? - Casper

  And playing stupid is not very becoming of you.

• 90. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 6:12 pm

  Obama also has executive experience (19 months of running one of the most successful presidential campaigns in our history). and three and a half years in the U. S. Senate.

  Sorry, you can’t have it both ways. Three and a half years minus 19 months is more like it.

  Let’s look at Obama’s past history, shall we … against Palin’s:

  From 1992-1996 when Palin served on the City Council of Wasilla, Obama was teaching part time at the University of Chicago Law School and working in private practice part time.

  In 1996 when Obama was elected to the Illinois State Senate, Palin was elected Mayor of Wasilla, AK. Obama worked for legislation that would provide tax credits and subsidies to private developers of affordable housing. Tony Rezko received over $87 million in government funds to renovate and maintain affordable housing units, many of them in Obama’s disctrict. Many of these units lacked heat, had leaking roofs and were infested by rodents. Palin ran her small but growing city with a budget just under six million dollars and about 50 employees, and was reelected in 1999.

  In 2003, Palin was appointed to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. When she uncovered corruption in the organization, and was unable to get Governor Murkowski to take action, she resigned in protest and filed charges again the offenders, taking on entrenched corruption in Alaskan politics, This fight led her to run against Gov. Murkowski in the primary, and then go on to become Alaska’s first female governor in 2006.

  In 2004, Obama was elected to the US Senate. The developers who had received government funding as a result of legislation sponsored by Obama served on his campaign finance committee. Many of the buildings they had purchased with government funding were seized for code violations, or foreclosed, and the low-income residents were forced to find housing elsewhere.

  In 2008, Governor Palin worked with the legislature to provide Alaskans a $1200 rebate from state revenues, and successfully arranged for the development of the Transcanada Pipeline to transport natural gas from Alaska to the lower 48 states.

• 91. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 6:25 pm

  Retired Spook,
  Thank you for a well thought out reply. I appreciate that you give reasons for your positions rather than just call Obama names. I really do think Obama is his own man. Could you direct me towards some information that proves otherwise?

  Since you were kind enough to give your reasons for not voting for Obama, let me tell you why I won’t vote for McCain. First, he has flip flopped on almost every issue that I use to agree with him on. He has pandered to the people he once fought against. He has gone from voting with Bush 75% of the time four years ago to voting with him 100% this year. I would have gladly voted for McCain over Bush or Gore in 2000, or over Bush or Kerry in 2004. Heck I would have voted for him a year ago. Sadly he isn’t the same person he was then.

• 92. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 6:35 pm

  kimberly4victory,
  Let’s see what has Obama Accomplished.
  How about
  * Senator Obama’s fight for universal children’s health care in Illinois.
  * His success bringing Republicans and Democrats together on bills such as the one in Illinois requiring police interrogations and confessions to be videotaped.
  * His leadership on ethics reform in Washington (the bill that lobbyists and special interests are complaining about right now has his name on it).
  * His bill to make the federal budget far more transparent and accessible to Americans via the Internet .
  * And his vital work with Republicans to lock down nuclear weapons around the world.

  That’s a few, and I didn’t even have to come up with any negatives about Palin (and believe me there are some) to list them.

• 93. Retired Spook  |  August 31st, 2008 at 6:46 pm

  I could list a thousand reasons why Obama should be president

  Betcha can’t.

  You don’t want to admit that there is anything positive about the guy.

  I’m POSITIVE I don’t want him to be President.

  And playing stupid is not very becoming of you.

  Neocon, but he does it well, don’t you think? (just kidding, Casper, just kidding.)

  I really do think Obama is his own man. Could you direct me towards some information that proves otherwise?

  I just wrote a long, and, as you note, “well thought out reply” to that question. Other than, as you also note, he writes his own speeches (those that aren’t plagiarized) and runs his own campaign, which I still think is questionable, there is absolutely nothing since he was elected to the U.S. Senate that would lead one to believe that he’s his own man. If you look at his tenure in the Illinois Senate, he looks even worse. Maybe he was his own man at Harvard or as a “community organizer”.

  What has he accomplished in, say the last 4 years, that leads you to believe he’d be a good president?

• 94. Retired Spook  |  August 31st, 2008 at 6:56 pm

  let me tell you why I won’t vote for McCain. First, he has flip flopped on almost every issue that I use to agree with him on.

  Sorry, Casper, I meant to include this in the previous post. I guess you and I are just at completely opposite ends of the political spectrum, then, because one of the main reasons I can EVEN vote for McCain is that he’s reversed some positions that I didn’t agree with before — tax cuts and immigration, for example.

  On tax cuts, I think he’s seen that they resulted in dramatically increased revenues as well as (supported by the majority of economists) making the recession Bush inherited from Clinton shorter and less severe than it otherwise might have been. I don’t see that as a flip-flop, just recognizing reality. On immigration, I have to take him at his word when he says he misjudged the public reaction to comprehensive reform where the primary, up-front ingredient was not border enforcement. Again, not a flip-flop — just adjusting to reality.

  What else did McCain flip-flop on that you don’t like?

• 95. Casper  |  August 31st, 2008 at 7:03 pm

  Thanks for the interesting discussion. My daughter just came over and I’m going to spend some time with her and my wife. i would be more than happy to pick this up at a different time.

• 96. What?  |  August 31st, 2008 at 9:50 pm

  Mark writes,

  “McCain has been shot at, shot down, held as a prisoner.”

  So any POW is qualified? I never really understand why McCain time as a POW makes him a prime candidate for the Presidency. This is hardly a qualification. Lots of people were shot down and held as POWs.

  “Behaved heroically under pressure and then has continually led the fight for clean, responsible government even when he had to go in direct opposition to his own party’s position…furthermore, while gearing up to run for President, McCain took the most dangerous path possible - backing the troop surge when the polls were all against it, and almost to the complete destruction of his Presidential ambitions.”

  Okay. Obama took an equally unpopular positon when he came out against the war early on. Obama has also taken the unpopular postion against drilling.
  Also, McCain has changed his postions on important legislation to accomodate his Republican base. Immigration for example.

  There is a reason Hillary failed to convince throughly convince Democrats that Obama was not ready to be President.

  The reason is many Americans feel no career politician is ready to be President at this moment. Americans had eight years of a President with a resume filled with “expereince.” He has done an awful job. thus Americans are looking to someone who has worked outside the politcal arena.

  Your problem, Mark, is you adhere to an old definiton of experience.

• 97. FactCheck  |  August 31st, 2008 at 10:47 pm

  that doesn’t diminish the fact that you have yet to provide us all with a quote from Mark that backs your assertion.

  Well, except for that quote that backed my assertion. Christ, man, you’re moving from embarrassing to just plain sad. I’m starting feel guilty about beating up on you, but you keep offering yourself up for it again. You’re like the hanging curveball of this blog.

• 98. Retired Spook  |  August 31st, 2008 at 10:47 pm

  Your problem, Mark, is you adhere to an old definiton of experience.

  Yeah, Mark; geez, get with the program. Doncha know experience today means running a 19 month political campaign. I mean, come on, that’s like hard work. And all those millions of federal dollars that Obama secured for Rezko to build all that substandard public housing — that’s gotta count as experience, right? And being a community agitator, er, I mean activist, er, I mean organizer (yeah, that sounds better) — that’s right up there at the very top of the experience ladder, for sure.

  See, the guy’s got lots of experience. Now don’t you feel a whole lot better about him being the leader of the free world? I know I do.

• 99. Cavalor Epthith, Esquire, D.S.V.J.  |  August 31st, 2008 at 11:39 pm

  Now I understand the “nation of whiners” comment that Gramm made. It applies to people like Kim4Victory. She and those like her who gleefully spread smears about Obama are now reeling that anyone would do the same to Sarah Palin. This will be a long 5 fortnights.

• 100. kimberly4victory  |  August 31st, 2008 at 11:52 pm

  Name one smear I made about Obama. Everything I’ve said about him is well-documented and true.

• 101. What?  |  September 1st, 2008 at 12:09 am

  Retired Spook,
  A mere 30% of this country approves of the job our current President is doing. That number is even lower for Cheney, a man who has spent his entire life in politics.

  Simply put, many no longer value the experience you are asking for in a President. They believe Washington is broken due to corruption and partisanship and that those who have spent long periods of time there are unable to govern.
  Hillary’s defeat was a result of this rejection of Washington politcs. McCain is even a reflection of that feeling. He was chosen because he was seen as a maverick of the party. The extent to which he is a maverick is debatable.

  Also, had you watched the DNC you would have heard that Obama’s journey resembles Lincoln’s journey to the White House.
  Before his election as President, Lincoln was a lawyer, an Illinois state legislator, a member of the United States House of Representatives, and an unsuccessful candidate for election to the Senate.
  Obama is was a lawyer, an Illinois state legislator, and a member of the U.S. Senate. What makes Obama different from Lincoln?

  Retired Spook, please try to think independently here. You appear somewhat brighter than Danish Artist, Neocon, and K4V.

  That said, I am a little disappointed seeing you resort to tired attacks on experience. Let’s follow both McCain’s and Obama’s suggestion and discuss the issues instead of yammering over the vague attacks on Obama made by Noonan.

• 102. What?  |  September 1st, 2008 at 3:53 am

  Spook writes:
  “I don’t think anyone tells John McCain what to do (and this coming from someone who doesn’t particularly like McCain). I think he truly IS his own man; I really don’t think Obama is, and, if Obama is elected, I think you’re going to have a rude and unpleasant awakening.”

  Spook, you go on to praise how McCain came back into the party fold with regard to immigration and tax cuts. Apparently you don’t really like it too much when a person thinks on his own.

  Also, you say Obama doesn’t think on his own and follows lock step with his party. You then call him a radical leftist. Are you saying the Democrat party and all its large following are radical leftists? If you are, you are paranoid.

  You also say he has never sided with any unpopular issue.

  First, this is simply false. He sided against drilling and a gas tax holiday. Meanwhile McCain flip-flopped on drilling. Obama also supported McCain’s immigration bill. A bill McCain now opposes because it was unpopular.

  Besides being false, it is a bit bizarre. You are opposed to most of what Obama stands for because he is a radical leftist, right. You are also opposed to him because he supports popular positions.

  So help me out here:

  Are you saying you support only unpopular positions? If this is true and assuming we still live in a democracy, shouldn’t your positions lose?

  Also, are you saying radical leftist ideas are popular? I thought tax cuts were popular.

  Spook, stop regurgitating the narrative fed to you by whatever bias news source to which you subscribe. Think through what you say prior to speaking and you will realize you are making incompatible statements.

• 103. Brent Earlewine  |  September 2nd, 2008 at 8:51 pm

  * The three broadcast networks treated Obama to nearly seven times more good press than bad ? 462 positive stories (34% of the total), compared with only 70 stories (just 5%) that were critical.

  * NBC Nightly News was the most lopsided, with 179 pro-Obama reports (37%), more than ten times the number of anti-Obama stories (17, or 3%). The CBS Evening News was nearly as skewed, with 156 stories spun in favor of Obama (38%), compared to a mere 21 anti-Obama reports (5%). ABC’s World News was the least slanted, but still tilted roughly four-to-one in Obama’s favor (127 stories to 32, or 27% to 7%).

  * Barack Obama received his best press when it mattered most, as he debuted on the national scene. All of the networks lavished him with praise when he was keynote speaker at the 2004 Democratic Convention, and did not produce a single negative story about Obama (out of 81 total reports) prior to the start of his presidential campaign in early 2007.

  * The networks downplayed or ignored major Obama gaffes and scandals. Obama’s relationship with convicted influence peddler Tony Rezko was the subject of only two full reports (one each on ABC and NBC) and mentioned in just 15 other stories. CBS and NBC also initially downplayed controversial statements from Obama’s longtime pastor Jeremiah Wright, but heavily praised Obama’s March 18 speech on race relations.

  * While Obama’s worst media coverage came during the weeks leading up to the Pennsylvania primary on April 22, even then the networks offered two positive stories for every one that carried a negative spin (21% to 9%). Obama’s best press of the year came after he won the North Carolina primary on May 6 ? after that, 43 percent of stories were favorable to Obama, compared to just one percent that were critical.

  * The networks minimized Obama’s liberal ideology, only referring to him as a “liberal” 14 times in four years. In contrast, reporters found twice as many occasions (29) to refer to Obama as either a “rock star,” “rising star” or “superstar” during the same period.

  * In covering the campaign, network reporters highlighted voters who offered favorable opinions about Obama. Of 147 average citizens who expressed an on-camera opinion about Obama, 114 (78%) were pro-Obama, compared to just 28 (19%) that had a negative view, with the remaining five offering a mixed opinion.

• 104. Brent Earlewine  |  September 2nd, 2008 at 8:53 pm

  If you are looking for experience, then you might want to ensure you are thoroughly vetting all candidates for some good comparison to how much effort each one has put forth on behalf of their constituents. For your reference:
  Please note the LENGTHY amount of time and lack of attendance or any vote of record during Barak’s Time as a US Senator. So if you don’t actually show up in Congress, debate the issues and log an actual vote, does this qualify as experience?
  Barack Obama missed 301 of 1282 roll call votes (23%) since Jan 6, 2005. The graph below shows the percent of roll call votes Barack Obama was absent for during the member’s time in Congress.

  Members of Congress / Barack Obama / Missed Votes
  Date Vote Position GOP opinion DEM opinion
  7/31/08 Vote 196: H CON RES 398: H. Con. Res. 398; A concurrent resolution providing for an adjournment or recess of the two Houses. Not Voting No Yes
  7/31/08 Vote 195: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 3001; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 Not Voting No Yes
  7/31/08 Vote 194: H R 4137: H.R. 4137 Conference Report; College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  7/31/08 Vote 193: H R 4040: H.R. 4040 Conference Report; CPSC Reform Act
  Not Voting Yes Yes
  7/30/08 Vote 192: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S.3335; Jobs, Energy, Families, and Disaster Relief Act of 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  7/30/08 Vote 191: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 2035; Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 Not Voting No Yes
  7/29/08 Vote 190: On the Cloture Motion: Upon Reconsideration Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider H.R.6049; Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  7/28/08 Vote 189: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S.3297; Advancing America’s Priorities Act Not Voting No Yes
  7/28/08 Vote 188: On the Motion: Motion to Instruct Sgt. At Arms; Advancing America’s Priorities Act Not Voting Yes Yes
  7/26/08 Vote 187: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to the Consideration of S. 3186; Warm in Winter and Cool in Summer Act Not Voting No Yes
  7/26/08 Vote 186: On the Motion: Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to Senate Amendment to the House Amendments to the Senate Amendment to HR 3221; Housing Tax Credit Coordination Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  7/25/08 Vote 185: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to the House Amendments to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3221; Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  7/25/08 Vote 184: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on S. 3268; Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act of 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  7/22/08 Vote 183: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S. 3268; Stop Excessive Energy Speculation Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  7/16/08 Vote 182: H R 5501: H.R. 5501 As Amended; Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  7/16/08 Vote 181: S 2731: DeMint Amdt. No. 5077; To reduce to $35,000,000,000 the amount authorized to be appropriated to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in developing countries during the next 5 years. Not Voting Yes No
  7/16/08 Vote 180: S 2731: Kyl Amdt. No. 5082; To limit the period during which appropriations may be made to carry out this Act and to create a point of order in the Senate against any appropriation to carry out this Act that exceeds the amount authorized for fiscal year 2013. Not Voting Yes No
  7/16/08 Vote 179: S 2731: Gregg Amdt. No. 5081; To strike the provision requiring the development of coordinated oversight plans and to establish an independent Inspector General at the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. Not Voting Yes No
  7/16/08 Vote 178: S 2731: Cornyn Amdt. No. 5083; To establish a bipartisan commission for the purpose of improving oversight and eliminating wasteful government spending under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Not Voting Yes No
  7/15/08 Vote 177: H R 6331: Shall H.R. 6331 Pass, the objections of the President of the United States to the contrary notwithstanding?; Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  7/15/08 Vote 176: S 2731: Bunning Amdt. No. 5073; In the nature of a substitute. Not Voting No No
  7/15/08 Vote 175: S 2731: Motion to Table DeMint Amdt. No. 5068; To limit the countries to which Federal financial assistance may be targeted under this Act. Not Voting No Yes
  7/11/08 Vote 174: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 2731; Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  7/11/08 Vote 173: On the Motion: Motion to Disagree to the Amdts. of the House, Adding a New Title and Inserting a New Section, to the Amdt. of the Senate to H.R. 3221; Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  7/10/08 Vote 172: On the Nomination: Confirmation Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, USA, to be General Not Voting Yes Yes
  7/10/08 Vote 171: On the Nomination: Confirmation Gen. David H. Petraeus, USA, to be General Not Voting Yes Yes
  7/10/08 Vote 170: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Disagree to the Amdts. of the House, Adding a New Title and Inserting a New Section, to the Amdt. of the Senate to H.R. 3221; Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  7/7/08 Vote 163: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Concur in the Amendments of the House, Striking Title VI through XI, To the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3221; Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  6/26/08 Vote 159: On the Nomination: Confirmation William T. Lawrence, of Indiana, To Be US District Judge Not Voting Yes Yes
  6/25/08 Vote 158: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 6304; Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Not Voting Yes Yes
  6/25/08 Vote 157: On the Motion: Motion to Concur in the Amdt. of the House, Striking Section 1 through Title V and Inserting Certain Language, to the Senate Amdt. to H.R. 3221, with an Amdt No. 4983, as Amended; Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  6/24/08 Vote 156: On the Nomination: Confirmation Helene N. White, of Michigan, to be US Circuit Judge Not Voting No Yes
  6/24/08 Vote 155: On the Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment striking sec. 1 through Title V and Inserting Language to the Senate Amdt. to H.R. 3221, with an Amdt.; Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  6/19/08 Vote 154: On the Motion: Bunning Motion to Refer the House Message on H.R. 3221 to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 Not Voting No No
  6/19/08 Vote 153: On the Motion: Motion to Waive CBA Re: Bond Amdt. No. 4985; To strike provisions relating to the HOPE for Homeowners Program. Not Voting No No
  6/19/08 Vote 152: H R 3221: Bond Amdt. No. 4986 As Modified; To clarify that GSEs have no responsibility for funding housing entities under the Affordable Housing program. Not Voting No No
  6/18/08 Vote 151: H R 6124: Upon Reconsideration Shall H.R. 6124 Pass, the Objections of the President to the Contrary Notwithstanding?; Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  6/17/08 Vote 150: On the Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H. R. 6049; Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  6/12/08 Vote 149: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 3101; Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  6/10/08 Vote 148: On the Nomination: Confirmation Mark S. Davis of Virginia, to be US District Judge Not Voting Yes Yes
  6/10/08 Vote 147: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider H.R. 6049; Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  6/10/08 Vote 146: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 3044; Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  6/6/08 Vote 145: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Boxer Amdt. No. 4825; In the nature of a substitute. Not Voting No Yes
  6/5/08 Vote 144: H R 6124: H.R. 6124; Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  6/4/08 Vote 143: On the Motion: Motion to Instruct Sgt-At-Arms; Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  6/2/08 Vote 141: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S.3036; Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  5/22/08 Vote 139: On the Motion: Motion to Concur to the House Amendment No. 1 to the Senate Amdt. with Amdt. No. 4818; In the nature of a substitute. Not Voting Yes No
  5/22/08 Vote 140: H R 2419: Upon Reconsideration Shall the Bill H.R. 2419 Pass, the Objections of the President of the United States to the Contrary Not Withstanding?; Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  5/20/08 Vote 136: On the Nomination: Confirmation G. Steven Agee, of Virginia to be US Circuit Judge Not Voting Yes Yes
  5/15/08 Vote 135: On the Motion: Gregg Motion to Instruct Conferees (Discretionary Spending) re: S. Con. Res. 70; An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 and 2010 through 2013. Not Voting Yes No
  5/15/08 Vote 134: On the Motion: Vitter Motion to Instruct Conferees (OCS) re: S. Con. Res. 70; An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 and 2010 through 2013. Not Voting Yes No
  5/15/08 Vote 133: On the Motion: DeMint Motion to Instruct Conferees (China - India) re: S. Con. Res. 70; An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 and 2010 through 2013. Not Voting Yes No
  5/15/08 Vote 132: On the Motion: Boxer Motion to Instruct Conferees (China - India) re: S. Con. Res. 70; An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 and 2010 through 2013. Not Voting No Yes
  5/15/08 Vote 131: On the Motion: Gregg Motion to Instruct Conferees (Tax Increase) re: S. Con. Res. 70; An original concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 and 2010 through 2013. Not Voting Yes No
  5/15/08 Vote 130: H R 2419: Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 2419; Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  5/15/08 Vote 129: On the Motion: Motion to Waive Rule XLIV, 8(a) re: H.R. 2419 Conference Report; Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 Not Voting No Yes
  5/15/08 Vote 128: On the Motion: Motion to Waive S. Con. Res. 21, 110th Congress, sect. 203 re: Conference Report to accompany H.R. 2419; Food and Energy Security Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  5/14/08 Vote 127: H R 980: Motion to Table Graham Amdt. No. 4763; To improve educational assistance for members of the Armed Forces and veterans in order to enhance recruitment and retention for the Armed Forces. Not Voting No Yes
  5/8/08 Vote 122: S 2284: Durbin Amdt. No. 4715 as Modified; To provide that no changes in flood insurance status for any areas located in the St. Louis District of the Corps of Engineers can go into effect until the remapping process is completed for that entire District. Not Voting Yes Yes
  5/8/08 Vote 121: On the Motion: Motion to Waive S. Con. Res. 21, 110th, Sect. 201, re: Dodd Amdt. No. 4707; In the nature of a substitute. Not Voting Yes Yes
  5/7/08 Vote 120: S 2284: Landrieu Amdt. No. 4705 As Further Modified; To require the Comptroller General to conduct a study regarding mandatory purchasing requirements. Not Voting No No
  5/7/08 Vote 119: S 2284: Vitter Amdt. No. 4723; To allow for a reasonable 5-year phase-in period for adjusted premiums. Not Voting No No
  5/7/08 Vote 118: S 2284: Vitter Amdt. No. 4722; To increase maximum coverage limits. Not Voting No No
  5/7/08 Vote 117: S 2284: Wicker Amdt. No. 4719; To provide for the optional purchase of insurance against loss resulting from physical damage to or loss of real property or personal property related thereto located in the United States arising from any flood or windstorm. Not Voting No No
  5/6/08 Vote 116: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S.2284; Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  5/6/08 Vote 115: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Rockefeller Amdt. No. 4627 (Subst.) to H.R. 2881; In the nature of a substitute. Not Voting No Yes
  4/28/08 Vote 114: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider H.R.2881; FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/24/08 Vote 113: H R 493: H.R.493 as Amended; Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/24/08 Vote 112: S 1315: S.1315 as Amended; Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/24/08 Vote 111: S 1315: Burr Amdt. No. 4572; To increase benefits for disabled U.S. veterans and provide a fair benefit to World War II Filipino veterans for their service to the United States. Not Voting Yes No
  4/22/08 Vote 109: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to S.1315; Veterans’ Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/17/08 Vote 108: H R 1195: H.R. 1195 As Amended; A bill to amend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to make technical corrections, and for other purposes. Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/17/08 Vote 107: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Boxer Amdt. No. 4146 (Subst.); In the nature of a substitute. Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/17/08 Vote 106: H R 1195: Coburn Amdt. No. 4538; To create a bipartisan, bicameral special committee to investigate the improper insertion of an earmark for Coconut Road into the conference report of the 2005 highway bill after both chambers of Congress had approved identical versions of the conference report. Not Voting Yes No
  4/17/08 Vote 105: H R 1195: Boxer Amdt. No. 4539, as Modified; To call for a review by the Department of Justice of allegations of violations of Federal criminal law. Not Voting No Yes
  4/16/08 Vote 104: On the Motion to Table the Motion to Recommit: Motion to Table DeMint Motion to Recommit H.R. 1195, with Instructions; A bill to amend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to make technical corrections, and for other purposes. Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/14/08 Vote 103: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider H.R. 1195; A bill to amend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to make technical corrections, and for other purposes. Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/10/08 Vote 102: On the Nomination: Confirmation Brian Stacy Miller, of Arkansas, to be US District Judge Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/10/08 Vote 101: S 2739: S.2739; Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/10/08 Vote 100: S 2739: Coburn Amdt. 4519; To require the transfer of certain funds to be used by the Director of the National Park Service to dispose of assets described in the candidate asset disposition list of the National Park Service. Not Voting No No
  4/10/08 Vote 99: S 2739: Coburn Amdt. No. 4520; To ensure that all individuals who reside, or own property that is located, in a proposed National Heritage Area are informed of the designation of the National Heritage Area. Not Voting Yes No
  4/10/08 Vote 98: S 2739: Coburn Amdt. No. 4521; To require approval prior to the assumption of control by the Federal Government of State property. Not Voting No No
  4/10/08 Vote 97: S 2739: Coburn Amdt. No. 4522; To require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to determine on an annual basis the quantity of land that is owned by the Federal Government and the cost to taxpayers of the ownership of the land. Not Voting Yes No
  4/10/08 Vote 96: H R 3221: H.R. 3221 As Amended; Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/10/08 Vote 95: H R 3221: Ensign Amdt. No. 4419; To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for the limited continuation of clean energy production incentives and incentives to improve energy efficiency in order to prevent a downturn in these sectors that would result from a lapse in the tax law. Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/10/08 Vote 94: H R 3221: Alexander Amdt. No. 4429; To provide a longer extension of the renewable energy production tax credit and to encourage all emerging renewable sources of electricity, and for other purposes. Not Voting No No
  4/4/08 Vote 92: On the Motion: Motion to Waive S. Con. Res. 21, sec. 204. Re: Landrieu Amdt. No. 4389, As Further Modified; To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow use of amended income tax returns to take into account receipt of certain hurricane-related casualty loss grants by disallowing previously taken casualty loss deductions and to waive the deadline on the construction of GO Zone property which is eligible for bonus depreciation. Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/4/08 Vote 91: H R 3221: Voinovich Amdt. No. 4406 As Modified; To protect families most vulnerable to foreclosure due to a sudden loss of income by extending the depreciation incentive to loss companies that have accumulated alternative minimum tax and research and development tax credits. Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/3/08 Vote 90: On the Motion: Motion to Waive CBA Kyl Amdt. No. 4407; No Statement of Purpose on File. Not Voting Yes No
  4/3/08 Vote 89: On the Motion: Motion to Waive CBA Murray Amdt. No. 4397; To increase funding for housing counseling resources. Not Voting No Yes
  4/3/08 Vote 88: H R 3221: Motion to Table Durbin Amdt. No. 4388; To address the treatment of primary mortgages in bankruptcy, and for other purposes. Not Voting Yes No
  4/3/08 Vote 87: S RES 501: S. Res. 501; A resolution honoring the sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not Voting Yes Yes
  4/1/08 Vote 86: On the Cloture Motion: Upon Reconsideration Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 3221; Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  3/13/08 Vote 57: S CON RES 70: Kennedy Amdt. No. 4350; To increase funding for the Department of Education’s English Literacy-Civics Education State Grant program, with an offset. Not Voting Yes Yes
  3/6/08 Vote 41: H R 4040: H.R. 4040 As Amended ; Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act Not Voting Yes Yes
  3/6/08 Vote 40: S 2663: Motion To Table Vitter Amdt. No. 4097; To allow the prevailing party in certain civil actions related to consumer product safety rules to recover attorney fees. Not Voting No Yes
  3/5/08 Vote 39: S 2663: Motion To Table Cornyn Amdt. No. 4094 As Modified Further; To prohibit State attorneys general from entering into contingency fee agreements for legal or expert witness services in certain civil actions relating to Federal consumer product safety rules, regulations, standards, certification or labeling requirements, or orders. Not Voting No Yes
  3/5/08 Vote 38: S 2663: Klobuchar Amdt. No. 4105 As Modified; To authorize appropriations for necessary or appropriate travel, subsistence, and related expenses, and for other purposes. Not Voting Yes Yes
  3/4/08 Vote 37: S 2663: Motion To Table DeMint Amdt. No. 4095; In the nature of a substitute. Not Voting No Yes
  3/3/08 Vote 36: On the Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 2663; A bill to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission to provide greater protection for children’s products, to improve the screening of noncompliant consumer products, to improve the effectiveness of consumer product recall programs, and for other purposes. Not Voting Yes Yes
  Members of Congress / Barack Obama / Missed Votes
  Date Vote Position GOP opinion DEM opinion
  2/28/08 Vote 35: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R.3221; New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act and the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007 Not Voting No Yes
  2/27/08 Vote 34: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 2634; A bill to require a report setting forth the global strategy of the United States to combat and defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates. Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/26/08 Vote 33: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 2633; A bill to provide for the safe redeployment of United States troops from Iraq. Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/26/08 Vote 32: S 1200: S.1200 as Amended; Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/26/08 Vote 31: S 1200: Smith Amdt. No. 3897; To modify a provision relating to development of innovative approaches. Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/26/08 Vote 30: S 1200: Vitter Amdt. No. 3896; To modify a section relating to limitation on use of funds appropriated to the Service. Not Voting Yes No
  2/25/08 Vote 29: S 1200: DeMint Amdt. No. 4070; Of a perfecting nature.
  Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/25/08 Vote 28: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Dorgan Amdt. No. 3899; In the nature of a substitute. Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/14/08 Vote 27: S 1200: Coburn Amdt. No. 4032; To protect rape and sexual assault victims from HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/14/08 Vote 26: S 1200: Coburn Amdt. No. 4036; To prioritize scarce resources to basic medical services for Indians. Not Voting No No
  2/14/08 Vote 25: S 1200: Coburn Amdt. No. 4034; To allow tribal members to make their own health care choices. Not Voting Yes No
  2/14/08 Vote 24: S 1200: Dorgan Amdt. No. 4082; Of a perfecting nature.
  Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/13/08 Vote 23: S 1200: Tester Amdt. No. 4020; To express the sense of Congress regarding law enforcement and methamphetamine issues in Indian country. Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/13/08 Vote 22: H R 2082: HR 2082 Conference Report ; Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  2/13/08 Vote 21: On the Cloture Motion: Motion To Invoke Cloture On The Conference Report To Accompany H.R. 2082; Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/12/08 Vote 20: S 2248: S.2248 as Amended; FISA Amendments Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes No
  2/7/08 Vote 12: S 2248: Feingold Amdt. No. 3913; To prohibit reverse targeting and protect the rights of Americans who are communicating with people abroad. Not Voting No Yes
  2/7/08 Vote 11: S 2248: Feingold Amdt. No. 3915 ; To place flexible limits on the use of information obtained using unlawful procedures. Not Voting No Yes
  2/7/08 Vote 10: H R 5140: H.R. 5140 As Amended; Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/7/08 Vote 9: H R 5140: Reid Amdt. No. 4010; To revise the eligibility criteria for the 2008 recovery rebates for individuals. Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/5/08 Vote 6: On the Motion: Motion to Instruct Sgt. At Arms; Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  2/4/08 Vote 5: On the Cloture Motion: Motion To Invoke Cloture On The Motion To Proceed To Consider H.R. 5140; Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  1/24/08 Vote 2: S 2248: Motion to Table Committee on the Judiciary Reported Substitute Amendment, as Modified, to S.2248; FISA Amendments Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes No
  1/22/08 Vote 1: H R 4986: H.R.4986; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  12/18/07 Vote 442: On the Nomination: Confirmation John Daniel Tinder, of Indiana, to be U.S. Circuit Judge Not Voting Yes Yes
  12/18/07 Vote 441: On the Motion: Reid Motion to Concur in House Amdt. No. 1 to Senate Amdt. to H.R. 2764; Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  12/18/07 Vote 440: On the Motion: Reid Motion to Concur in House Amdt. No. 1 to Senate Amdt. To H.R. 2764, with an Amdt. No. 3877; Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  12/18/07 Vote 439: On the Motion: McConnell Motion to Concur in House Amdt. No. 2 to the Senate Amdt. to H.R. 2764, with an Amdt. No. 3874; Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting Yes No
  12/18/07 Vote 438: H R 2764: Levin Amdt. No. 3876; To express the sense of Congress on the transition of the missions of United States Forces in Iraq to a more limited set of missions as specified by the President on September 13, 2007. Not Voting No Yes
  12/18/07 Vote 437: H R 2764: Feingold Amdt. No. 3875; To provide for the safe redeployment of United States troops from Iraq. Not Voting No Yes
  12/18/07 Vote 436: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Reid motion to Concur in the House Amdts. to the Senate Amdt. to H.R. 2764; Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  12/17/07 Vote 435: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 2248; FISA Amendments Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  12/14/07 Vote 434: H R 2419: H.R. 2419 as Amended; Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  12/14/07 Vote 433: H R 1585: H.R. 1585 Conference Report; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  12/14/07 Vote 432: S 2338: S. 2338 as Amended; FHA Modernization Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  12/13/07 Vote 431: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Harkin Amdt. No. 3500 to H.R. 2419; In the nature of a substitute. Not Voting Yes Yes
  12/13/07 Vote 430: On the Motion: Motion to Concur in the Amendment of the House to the Amendment of the Senate to the Text of H.R. 6, with an Amendment; Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  12/13/07 Vote 429: H R 2419: Craig Amdt. No. 3640; To prohibit the involuntary acquisition of farmland and grazing land by Federal, State, and local governments for parks, open space, or similar purposes. Not Voting Yes No
  12/13/07 Vote 428: H R 2419: Brown Amdt. No. 3819; To increase funding for critical Farm Bill programs and improve crop insurance. Not Voting No Yes
  12/13/07 Vote 427: H R 2419: Tester Amdt. No. 3666; To modify the provisions relating to unlawful practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act. Not Voting No Yes
  12/13/07 Vote 426: H R 2419: Klobuchar Amdt. No. 3810; To improve the adjusted gross income limitation and use the savings to provide additional funding for certain programs and reduce the Federal deficit. Not Voting No Yes
  12/12/07 Vote 423: H R 2419: Sessions Amdt. No. 3596 As Modified; To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a pilot program under which agricultural producers may establish and contribute to tax-exempt farm savings accounts in lieu of obtaining federally subsidized crop insurance or noninsured crop assistance, to provide for contributions to such accounts by the Secretary of Agriculture, to specify the situations in which amounts may be paid to producers from such accounts, and to limit the total amount of such distributions to a producer during a taxable year, and for other purposes. Not Voting Yes No
  12/12/07 Vote 422: H R 2419: Gregg Amdt. No. 3673; To improve women’s access to heath care services in rural areas and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of obstetrical and gynecological services. Not Voting Yes No
  12/12/07 Vote 421: H R 2419: Alexander Amdt.; No. 3553; To limit the tax credit for small wind energy property expenditures to property placed in service in connection with a farm or rural small business. Not Voting No No
  12/12/07 Vote 420: H R 2419: Alexander Amdt. No. 3551; To increase funding for the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems, with an offset. Not Voting No No
  12/12/07 Vote 419: H R 2419: Gregg Amdt. No. 3672; To strike a provision relating to market loss assistance for asparagus producers. Not Voting Yes No
  12/12/07 Vote 418: H R 2419: Gregg Amdt. No. 3671; To strike the section requiring the establishment of a Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. Not Voting Yes No
  12/11/07 Vote 417: H R 2419: Lugar Amdt. No. 3711; Relative to traditional payments and loans. Not Voting No No
  12/6/07 Vote 415: H R 3996: H.R. 3996 as Amended; Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  12/6/07 Vote 414: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 3996; Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007 Not Voting No Yes
  12/4/07 Vote 413: H R 3688: H.R. 3688; United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act Not Voting Yes Yes
  11/14/07 Vote 409: H R 1429: H.R.1429 Conference Report; Head Start for School Readiness Act Not Voting Yes Yes
  11/13/07 Vote 408: On the Nomination: Confirmation Robert M. Dow Jr., of Illinois, to be U.S. District Judge Not Voting Yes Yes
  11/8/07 Vote 407: On the Nomination: Confirmation Michael B. Mukasey of New York, to be Attorney General Not Voting Yes No
  11/8/07 Vote 406: H R 1495: Shall H.R. 1495 Pass, the Objections of the President of the United States to the Contrary Notwithstanding?; Water Resources Development Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  11/7/07 Vote 405: On the Motion: Motion to Recede and Amend the Bill; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  11/7/07 Vote 404: On the Motion: Motion to Waive Rule XXVIII, Paragraph 3, Re: H.R. 3043 Conference Report; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting No Yes
  11/1/07 Vote 403: H R 3963: H.R.3963; Support for Injured Servicemembers Act Not Voting No Yes
  11/1/07 Vote 402: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on H.R.3963; Support for Injured Servicemembers Act Not Voting No Yes
  10/31/07 Vote 401: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider H.R.3963; Support for Injured Servicemembers Act Not Voting No Yes
  10/30/07 Vote 400: S 294: S.294 as Amended; Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  10/30/07 Vote 399: S 294: DeMint Amdt. No.3467; To require Amtrak to disclose the Federal subsidy of every ticket sold for transportation on Amtrak. Not Voting Yes No
  10/30/07 Vote 398: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on S.294; Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007 Not Voting Yes Yes
  10/30/07 Vote 397: S 294: Coburn Amdt. No.3474; To require Amtrak to regularly report to Congress on the profits or losses relating to the provision of food and beverage service and to limit such service on Amtrak rail lines that incur losses. Not Voting No No
  10/25/07 Vote 396: S 294: Sununu Amdt. No. 3456 as Modified; To remove the limitation on the number of Amtrak routes available for competitive bid. Not Voting Yes No
  10/25/07 Vote 395: S 294: Sununu Amdt. No. 3453; To prohibit Federal subsidies in excess of specified amounts on any Amtrak train route. Not Voting Yes No
  10/23/07 Vote 391: H R 3043: H.R. 3043 as Amended; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting Yes Yes
  10/23/07 Vote 390: On the Motion: McConnell Motion to Commit H.R. 3043 to the Committee on Appropriations, with Instructions; Departments of Labor, He