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DEL.ICIO.USPretty rhetoric is not what will win this thing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the dog days of summer draw to a close, the sleeping-dog conservatives have sprung to life — almost spontaneously, it was — but with enough vigor and passion to signal the truth: We can win this thing.
The reality is, as recent weeks have demonstrated, John McCain wears well. Barack Obama doesn’t. Give the American people enough time to assess the character, competence and core of anybody in public life and they’ll end up making the right choice. It’s instinctive, maybe. But People Know. They know what’s best for them and for the country.
Obama die-hards, especially those on the Left, don’t recognize it. They’re mesmerized by him and fixated by their fanatical desire to move George W. Bush to the dustbin of history and to begin the process of dismantling his legacy. It’s a real blind spot. An adversary this cocky, this blinded by the certainty that “we are the ones we have been waiting for” can be defeated.
The rhetoric that charms and soothes when TelePrompTed, the language supporters don’t hear, is the rhetoric that triggers alarm bells in the America that doesn’t share the passions of his committed followers. This week, for example, he responded to a 7-year-old girl who asked why he wanted to be president. His answer: “America is, uh, is no longer, uh, what it could be, what it once was. And I say to myself, I don’t want that future for my children.”
Obama simply cannot stay on the “I love America” script, a threshold requirement. With him, it’s conditions and qualifiers, lawyered-up codicils to define precisely the America he embraces, lest his adoring acolytes on the Left think he includes all that Big Oil, God, guns and bigotry stuff, too. Middle America hears him and it jars. We don’t know what America he’s talking about, whether we and our values are in or out. Middle America will not get comfortable with Barack Obama as president in 90 days — and the Left will never understand why.
But that example of Obama’s tendency to talk himself into losing is not the near-spontaneous spark that invigorates the conservative base.
It is, instead, the spunk demonstrated by two Georgia members of the U.S. House of Representatives, quickly joined by others frustrated by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s refusal to allow a vote on offshore drilling.
The had-enough moment came at 11:23 a.m. on Friday a week ago, when Pelosi gaveled the House to adjournment as U.S. Reps. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Grantville), Tom Price (R-Roswell) and Indiana Republican Mike Pence stood near the well, waiting to deliver the five-minute speeches members are allowed after the day’s business is done. Their speeches were an appeal to allow a vote on expanded drilling offshore.
Four-dollar gas has jolted Americans into reality. While additional exploration is not the sole solution, it is an essential element. Pelosi knows that if she allows a vote, oil exploration wins with a bipartisan majority. Hence the quick gavel.
“I just happened to be standing there in the well,” said Westmoreland. With the gavel, the cameras and microphone were cut off. “It’s one of those ‘do or die’ things,” he continued, “I started addressing the gallery, telling them that we had failed to address the fact that our U.S. domestic production had not been addressed.”
He talked for about eight to 10 minutes before losing his voice. Price spoke too. “It was clear almost immediately to me that the gallery was engaged and people began to line up and say, ‘When can I do mine?’ ” Price recalls. About 50 members spoke and went until 5 a.m. without microphone or cameras.
A week later, it continues. Congressmen appealing for a fair vote, up or down, return to Washington to speak to a House chamber that’s often filled with visitors. Price returns on Monday, Westmoreland on Tuesday.
The dead-microphone protest may be considered a stunt. But it’s a stunt that sends a message: We’ll fight the important battles.
That message is one the base needed to hear.
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By FRANKLEEDARLING
August 11, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this
I can’t wait till all the boomers have left the party
By @@
August 11, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this
Hey Jim? Now you see it, now you don’t — this column, that is.
They’re mesmerized by him and fixated by their fanatical desire to move George W. Bush to the dustbin of history and to begin the process of dismantling his legacy. It’s a real blind spot.
Indeed it is!
Who among us doesn’t know that blind hatred will eat them alive and reject their candidate in the process.
I believe they call it binging and purging.
By ron
August 11, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Obama has come a long way with his rhetoric.It’s up to the voter to determine how far he’s going to go. Word of advice:do not tie McCain to Bush.Voters will not stand for that.There’s a large group in the middle who can vote either way with out having it bother conscience. The Republicans that are in the House,posturing for what,sympathy?,are nothing but school boys.They remind me of Bob Dole.They would have served their cause much better by going home,putting up their feet, and having a mint julep.Preaching to the choir has no effect on the congregation,to put it in a phrase a Republican can understand.
By bdatlanta
August 11, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
Before we fix what Bush did to the Constitution we need to fix what Phil Gramm did to the financial sector of our economy. We can’t have these bankers getting away with raping taxpayers.
When we don’t hold these financial players accountable or make them pay full taxes as they earn profits, but then bail them out when things go sour, what you have is capitalism during the good times but socialism during the bad times. The bankers don’t want to share in the profits by paying taxes (“give us more loopholes, we’re entrepreneurs!”) but when the bill comes due for their party, they expect us to cover their backs with our hard-earned money.
But that’s nothing new. The middle and lower classes always end up with the short end of the stick.
By ButtHead
August 11, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
Pelosi has done every thing in her power to NOT let any votes come to the floor, why is that? She is doing every thing that she said she would NOT do when she got to be speaker, why is that? I guess the people in California must really be zoned out to put that loser in office, and keep her there. Why can’t the dimocrats see that she is a self serving idiot? She is scared of democracy that is why she wants socialism, power to the government, not the people.
By FRANKLEEDARLING
August 11, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
Do you really think McCain (who is coddled up with just about every big bussiness lobby in D.C) can really represent the American people.
His world view.like most people who support him is about 30 yrs. out of date
and another thing, how many prescription drugs is he on
Im not saying a person in their seventies can’t be a productive member of society,but in times like these American needs our sharpest and brightest to lead us. I just don’t think a person in their seventies is at the top of their game anymore.
By Peadawg
August 11, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this
FRANKLEEDARLING
I rather have a 70 yr old president w/ years of experience, than a 47 yr old president w/ 2 years of experience as a jr. senator.
By ron
August 11, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
It’s a common misconception that Obama has experience as a Senator.He’s been running for President most of the time.
By FRANKLEEDARLING
August 11, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this
When I look at McCains years of experience I find the man morally bankrupt.
By Peadawg
August 11, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this
FRANKLEEDARLING “When I look at McCains years of experience I find the man morally bankrupt.”
…as are all politicians, duh.
By McSame
August 11, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
Not only is McSame out of date with world views, technology, but worst of all he is far from a representative of the American people. Try as you may to separate him from Bush, you never will. He is, and has said himself that he is basically a continuation (third term) of Bush. Regardless of experience, isn’t it obvious that this has not worked over the last eight years. Why would we want more of the same? More McSame. I am far from being better off now than I was eight years ago, and I don’t see any of that getting better under McSame. Especially if he thinks picking Ridge as VP is a good idea. Just another failed Bush appoinment. What a joke, and actually I do hope he picks Ridge, that will just make it even easier for Obama to win. Jim also loves to talk about offshore drilling, as if this is an idea that will do anything to help the immediate problem. And that’s what it’s about, the immediate problem, not five to ten years from nows problem. If you want to talk about current gas prices, then we must talk about how ruining pristine habitats and waterways is going to help the current situation. It will not. That is typical Replican shortsightedness. It’s also because the Republicans are in bed with big oil. I’d like to see you try to deny or defend that, because you can’t.
NO MORE THIRD TERM!! GO HOME MCSAME!!
By More McSame
August 11, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
Wow, I guess all those years of experience just give McSame more time and issues to flip-flop on.
61 clear 180-degree switches by McCain on the biggest issues of the day.
National Security Policy
McCain thought Bush’s warrantless wiretap program circumvented the law; now he believes the opposite.
McCain insisted that everyone, even “terrible killers,” “the worst kind of scum of humanity,” and detainees at Guantanamo Bay, “deserve to have some adjudication of their cases,” even if that means “releasing some of them.” McCain now believes the opposite.
He opposed indefinite detention of terrorist suspects. When the Supreme Court reached the same conclusion, he called it “one of the worst decisions in the history of this country.”
In February, McCain reversed course on prohibiting waterboarding.
McCain favored closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay before he was against it.
When Barack Obama talked about going after terrorists in Pakistani mountains with Predators, McCain criticized him for it. He’s since come to the opposite conclusion.
Foreign Policy
McCain was for kicking Russia out of the G8 before he was against it.
McCain supported moving “toward normalization of relations” with Cuba. Now he believes the opposite.
McCain believed the United States should engage in diplomacy with Hamas. Now he believes the opposite.
McCain believed the United States should engage in diplomacy with Syria. Now he believes the opposite.
McCain is both for and against a “rogue state rollback” as a focus of his foreign policy vision.
McCain used to champion the Law of the Sea convention, even volunteering to testify on the treaty’s behalf before a Senate committee. Now he opposes it.
McCain was against divestment from South Africa before he was for it.
Military Policy
McCain recently claimed that he was the “greatest critic” of Rumsfeld’s failed Iraq policy. In December 2003, McCain praised the same strategy as “a mission accomplished.” In March 2004, he said, “I’m confident we’re on the right course.” In December 2005, he said, “Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course.”
McCain has changed his mind about a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq on multiple occasions, concluding, on multiple occasions, that a Korea-like presence is both a good idea and a bad idea.
McCain said before the war in Iraq, “We will win this conflict. We will win it easily.” Four years later, McCain said he knew all along that the war in Iraq war was “probably going to be long and hard and tough.”
McCain has repeatedly said it’s a dangerous mistake to tell the “enemy” when U.S. troops would be out of Iraq. In May, McCain announced that most American troops would be home from Iraq by 2013.
McCain was against expanding the GI Bill before he was for it.
Domestic Policy
McCain defended “privatizing” Social Security. Now he says he’s against privatization (though he actually still supports it.)
McCain wanted to change the Republican Party platform to protect abortion rights in cases of rape and incest. Now he doesn’t.
McCain supported storing spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Now he believes the opposite.
He argued that the NRA should not have a role in the Republican Party’s policy making. Now he believes the opposite.
In 1998, he championed raising cigarette taxes to fund programs to cut underage smoking, insisting that it would prevent illnesses and provide resources for public health programs. Now, McCain opposes a $0.61-per-pack tax increase, won’t commit to supporting a regulation bill he’s co-sponsoring, and has hired Philip Morris’ former lobbyist as his senior campaign adviser.
McCain is both for and against earmarks for Arizona.
McCain’s first mortgage plan was premised on the notion that homeowners facing foreclosure shouldn’t be “rewarded” for acting “irresponsibly.” His second mortgage plan took largely the opposite position.
McCain went from saying gay marriage should be allowed, to saying gay marriage shouldn’t be allowed.
McCain opposed a holiday to honor Martin Luther King Jr. before he supported it.
McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he’s pro-ethanol.
McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.
In 2005, McCain endorsed intelligent design creationism, a year later he said the opposite, and a few months after that, he was both for and against creationism at the same time.
Economic Policy
McCain was against Bush’s tax cuts for the very wealthy before he was for them.
John McCain initially argued that economics is not an area of expertise for him, saying, “I’m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues; I still need to be educated,” and “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.” He now falsely denies ever having made these remarks and insists that he has a “very strong” understanding of economics.
McCain vowed, if elected, to balance the federal budget by the end of his first term. Soon after, he decided he would no longer even try to reach that goal. And soon after that, McCain abandoned his second position and went back to his first.
McCain said in 2005 that he opposed the tax cuts because they were “too tilted to the wealthy.” By 2007, he denied ever having said this, and falsely argued that he opposed the cuts because of increased government spending.
McCain thought the estate tax was perfectly fair. Now he believes the opposite.
McCain pledged in February 2008 that he would not, under any circumstances, raise taxes. Specifically, McCain was asked if he is a “‘read my lips’ candidate, no new taxes, no matter what?” referring to George H.W. Bush’s 1988 pledge. “No new taxes,” McCain responded. Two weeks later, McCain said, “I’m not making a ‘read my lips’ statement, in that I will not raise taxes.”
McCain has changed his entire economic worldview on multiple occasions.
McCain believes Americans are both better and worse off economically than they were before Bush took office.
Energy Policy
McCain supported the moratorium on coastal drilling; now he’s against it.
McCain recently announced his strong opposition to a windfall tax on oil company profits. Three weeks earlier, he was perfectly comfortable with the idea.
McCain endorsed a cap-and-trade policy with a mandatory emissions cap. In mid-June, McCain announced he wants the caps to be voluntary.
McCain explained his belief that a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax would provide an immediate economic stimulus. Shortly thereafter, he argued the exact opposite.
McCain supported the Lieberman/Warner legislation to combat global warming. Now he doesn’t.
Immigration Policy
McCain was a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, which would grant legal status to illegal immigrants’ kids who graduate from high school. Now he’s against it.
On immigration policy in general, McCain announced in February 2008 that he would vote against his own bill.
In April, McCain promised voters that he would secure the borders “before proceeding to other reform measures.” Two months later, he abandoned his public pledge, pretended that he’d never made the promise in the first place, and vowed that a comprehensive immigration reform policy has always been, and would always be, his “top priority.”
Judicial Policy and the Rule of Law
McCain said he would “not impose a litmus test on any nominee.” He used to promise the opposite.
McCain believes the telecoms should be forced to explain their role in the administration’s warrantless surveillance program as a condition for retroactive immunity. He used to believe the opposite.
McCain went from saying he would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade to saying the exact opposite.
Campaign, Ethics, and Lobbying Reform
McCain supported his own lobbying-reform legislation from 1997. Now he doesn’t.
In 2006, McCain sponsored legislation to require grassroots lobbying coalitions to reveal their financial donors. In 2007, after receiving “feedback” on the proposal, McCain told far-right activist groups that he opposes his own measure.
McCain supported a campaign-finance bill, which bore his name, on strengthening the public-financing system. In June 2007, he abandoned his own legislation.
Politics and Associations
McCain wanted political support from radical televangelist John Hagee. Now he doesn’t.
McCain wanted political support from radical televangelist Rod Parsley. Now he doesn’t.
McCain says he considered and did not consider joining John Kerry’s Democratic ticket in 2004.
McCain is both for and against attacking Barack Obama over his former pastor at his former church.
McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell as “an agent of intolerance” in 2002, but then decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans “deserved” the 9/11 attacks.
In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending “dirty money” to help finance Bush’s presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support.
McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.
McCain decided in 2000 that he didn’t want anything to do with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, believing he “would taint the image of the ‘Straight Talk Express.’” Kissinger is now the honorary co-chair for his presidential campaign in New York.
McCain believed powerful right-wing activist/lobbyist Grover Norquist was “corrupt, a shill for dictators, and (with just a dose of sarcasm) Jack Abramoff’s gay lover.” McCain now considers Norquist a key political ally.
And while I realize there are some who believe these constant flip-flops are irrelevant, I respectfully disagree.
By FRANKLEEDARLING
August 11, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
That Crass statement means nothing Peadawg then why vote at all .McCain has some serious character flaws.
By Peadawg
August 11, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
FRANKLEEDARLING “McCain has some serious character flaws”
you’re not making any points. all politicians are scumbags w/ character flaws. you just got to pick the one that lies the least.
By Peadawg
August 11, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
I take it FRANKLEEDARLING you’re a Obama fan…your candidate isn’t all peaches and cream either.
By GaLiberal
August 11, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this
Moron Jim says: The reality is, as recent weeks have demonstrated, John McCain wears well. Barack Obama doesn’t. Give the American people enough time to assess the character, competence and core of anybody in public life and they’ll end up making the right choice. It’s instinctive, maybe. But People Know. They know what’s best for them and for the country.
What Moron Jim doesn’t tell you is that McCain will be using mud slinging and character assassination because that’s all he and the Rethuglicons have. They can’t win on the issues. The ugly facts remain the Rethuglicons ham-fisted handling of the Iraq war and the economy have been disastrous for the country. The Iraq war, which McCain wants to last for 100 years, is sapping over $300 BILLION out of our economy each year. This reckless and unnecessary war will cost the US over $3 TRILLION when you factor in replacing equipment, retraining replacement forces, and caring for maimed soldiers. They Rethuglicons didn’t want to raise taxes so they borrowed money to pay for the Iraq war and their tax cuts for the uberrich. This borrowing lead to the dollar tanking against all other major currencies causing oil prices to skyrocket to over $130/barrel. Then McCain and the Rethuglicons lie that off-shore drilling will solve our energy problem overnight. Of course, Big Oil will need more tax breaks to make off-shore drilling ‘economically justified.’ And no need to raise gas mileage standards as that might cause Big Auto some discomfort. More corporate welfare. Screw the consumer. So what if they pay $5/gal for gas. Let the free market decide. That’s the Rethuglicons answer to everything. I’ll remember in November. Will you?
Another thing Moron Jim doesn’t tell you is that people vote based on the lies and distortions they with which are constantly bombarded. Just look at the swift boating of John Kerry. A trash book and a bunch of liars that never served with Kerry banded together to spread their warped views as truth. Unfortunately, many listened so I have no faith the voter will do what’s best for the country. Having eight years of George Bush is sufficient proof. So the Rethuglicons will continue to use the Karl Rove playbook of political dirty tricks because they know it will work on the weak-minded voter. It’s simply shameful.
When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And Moron Jim’s diatribe is living proof.
By GaLiberal
August 11, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
Moron Jim says: The reality is, as recent weeks have demonstrated, John McCain wears well. Barack Obama doesn’t. Give the American people enough time to assess the character, competence and core of anybody in public life and they’ll end up making the right choice. It’s instinctive, maybe. But People Know. They know what’s best for them and for the country.
What Moron Jim doesn’t tell you is that McCain will be using mud slinging and character assassination because that’s all he and the Rethuglicons have. They can’t win on the issues. The ugly facts remain the Rethuglicons ham-fisted handling of the Iraq war and the economy have been disastrous for the country. The Iraq war, which McCain wants to last for 100 years, is sapping over $300 BILLION out of our economy each year. This reckless and unnecessary war will cost the US over $3 TRILLION when you factor in replacing equipment, retraining replacement forces, and caring for maimed soldiers. They Rethuglicons didn’t want to raise taxes so they borrowed money to pay for the Iraq war and their tax cuts for the uberrich. This borrowing lead to the dollar tanking against all other major currencies causing oil prices to skyrocket to over $130/barrel. Then McCain and the Rethuglicons lie that off-shore drilling will solve our energy problem overnight. Of course, Big Oil will need more tax breaks to make off-shore drilling ‘economically justified.’ And no need to raise gas mileage standards as that might cause Big Auto some discomfort. More corporate welfare. Screw the consumer. So what if they pay $5/gal for gas. Let the free market decide. That’s the Rethuglicons answer to everything. I’ll remember in November. Will you?
Another thing Moron Jim doesn’t tell you is that people vote based on the lies and distortions they with which are constantly bombarded. Just look at the swift boating of John Kerry. A trash book and a bunch of liars that never served with Kerry banded together to spread their warped views as truth. Unfortunately, many listened so I have no faith the voter will do what’s best for the country. Having eight years of George Bush is sufficient proof. So the Rethuglicons will continue to use the Karl Rove playbook of political dirty tricks because they know it will work on the weak-minded voter. It’s simply shameful.
When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And Moron Jim’s diatribe is living proof.
By ButtHead
August 11, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
McSame, I get the point, you can cut and paste from the HuffingtonPuss. I am glad that you found some many things that you find offensive. Where is the one sentence on Osama, I mean Obama? Oh that’s right 143 days in office and the rest of the time running around the world thinking that he is already president, I wish there was an IQ test to vote, oh wait we can’t even get a voter ID card.
By McSame
August 11, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Wow ButtHead, you just showed your own true colors, or should I say ignorance, with the “Osama” comment. You can’t argue on the issues, you have to resort to trying to associate him with a guy Bush actually dropped the ball catching. Good one. And I would certainly rather have a guy with less experience than a guy who is borderline senile, and is a third term of the worst president in the history of the nation.
By Get Real
August 11, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
I’m sorry Wootie, George Bush WILL be moved to the dustbin of history, not because Obama is framing McCain as Bush’s 3rd term, but because Bush deserves to be moved to the dustbin of history. I wonder what you posts would be like if the current President were a democrat. Probably run like this: “Obama will run the 3rd term of Democratic President, George W. Bush. It’s time for a change.”
Where were the Republicans and Bush when gas creeped passed $2, then $3? Nowhere. And now you want to blame democrats for not wanting to drill offshore, what with the potential for oil spills and other catastrophes that are bound to happen because of this? But hey, like you said “Republicans will fight the important issues.”
Forget regulating the financial industries that have run amuck and are a great cause of this economic downturn. Guess like you and Phil Gramm want a free market, until the market turns sour. Then you want corporate socialism to bail these companies out when they fail. How about they use their previous profits, or fail. Isn’t that what a free market system is? The survival of the fittest?
So for all you Republicans that think Democrats will institute a socialist agenda, the Republicans are already doing it with Wall Street. I’m sure none of you care to dispute that.
How about Wootie ask McCain about opposing Bush’s tax cuts, and now in favor of them. Wonder how many times he will hear the word ‘uh’ in that response.
By Chicago
August 11, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this
Hey Butthead, how about Bush and Co. actually capture Osama before Republicans substitute his name for Obama’s. Real hypocritical.
By Nice
August 11, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
Hey ButtHead, facts that are cut and pasted are still facts. Thanks for playing though.
By Matthew Hooper
August 11, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
Can’t you just smell the desperation coming off of this article? The futile attempts to convince oneself that up is down?
Let’s leave aside the fact that just about every benchmark you can name points to a Democratic victory this year. Or that McCain has yet to lead in the polls at any point. Let’s just address this limp “rhetoric doesn’t count” argument.
I know it’s been eight years since we’ve had a president who can speak coherently in public, but believe it or not, the use of “rhetoric” - the power to persuade the American public on a course of action - is actually one of the stronger points of the executive branch. Remember the term “bully pulpit”? A president who can actually lead people - inspire them, convince them of the right course of action - is a Good Thing.
Can you seriously think of McCain inspiring anyone to do anything through a speech? Granted, the man’s personal story up to this point is heroic, but what’s he going to do to get Congress to pass an energy bill? Re-torture himself? It sure isn’t going to come through a speech. The poor man is awful at the podium - or on the pulpit.
By Copyleft
August 11, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
The desperation on the right is understandable; the party leaders and campaign managers already know this year is a write-off for the Republicans.
McCain is a sacrificial candidate, nothing more. Hoping to run a negative enough campaign to turn out people voting AGAINST Obama is a desperation tactic that always fails, especially if you don’t have anything positive to offer about your own candidate.
And they don’t. The liberals are taking back America, and Wooten & Co. are just sick about it.
By Just Nasty and Mean
August 11, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this
Let’s look at Obama:
1) His mother, whom he calls “ the dominate figure in his formative years, was a long-term cultural Marxist, a member of the Communist Party USA, and radical leftist, and met Barack Obama Sr. studying Russian in Hawaii. . The values she taught me continue to be my touchstone when it comes to how I go about the world of politics.”
2) Kenyan Barack Obama Sr. converted from Christianity to Muslim, He studied at University of Hawaii where as part of a program supported by leftist Harry Belafonte, Jackie Robinson and Sydny Poitier. He married Barack Jr’s mother in spite of the fact he had not divorced his wife (Kezia) in Kenya with whom he had 4 children he abandoned. He left his second wife, Ann Dunham and Barack Obama Jr. when he was 2 years old and only saw him one more time when he was 10 years old.
3) Combine these with Obama’s associations with Rev.(hate America) Jeremiah Wright, (confessed Pentagon bomber and NY police precinct murderer) Ayers, (radical racist) Michael Pfleger,
4) Consider his wife, Michelle, who studied African-American Studies at Princeton. At Harvard, she protested for the hiring of minority professors. On the campaign trail, Michelle blurted :“For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country.
That’s just Obama’s close associates. It doesn’t include his radical positions to nationalize the world’s best healthcare system, his naive notions on the war, on meeting foreign America-hater dictators, tax and spend positions during a weak economy.
Combine them, and the picture of who Obama REALLY IS emerges. His campaign is based on Change. The real question is Change to what?
This junior senator, after his 143 days in the Senate before declaring for President, is just too unknown to be the leader of the free world.
By Ga Values
August 11, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Lovefest, Saxby Chambliss, Lindsey Graham & Teddy Kennedy.. Who said Saxby wasn’t exciting, he loves those ILLEGALS ops meant UNDOCUMENTS..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK5TprmkgRw&feature=related
By Nice try
August 11, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
Nice try Just Nasty and Mean. You can’t argue the issues as always, so you try to make people believe Obama is going to turn the US into some type of Communist state. Just more fear mongering from a sad party. If Obama is “just too unknown”, then McSame is too well known. We know he was still married to his first wife when he got with his current wife. We know he is a continuation of failed policy. We know he has no idea about economics, based on his own admission. We know he has flip-flopped on more issues than JK ever could, and we all know that the republican party is a party of the wealthy and big oil.
By GaLiberal
August 11, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
Moron Jim and his bobble-head bootlicker Rethuglicons please explain the following:
McCain released three new ads with multiple false and misleading claims about Obama’s tax proposals.
A TV spot claims Obama once voted for a tax increase “on people making just $42,000 a year.” That’s true for a single taxpayer, who would have seen a tax increase of $15 for the year – if the measure had been enacted. But the ad shows a woman with two children, and as a single mother, she would not have been affected unless she made more than $62,150. The increase that Obama once supported as part of a Democratic budget bill is not part of his current tax plan anyway.
A Spanish-language radio ad claims the measure Obama supported would have raised taxes on “families” making $42,000, which is simply false. Even a single mother with one child would have been able to make $58,650 without being affected. A family of four with income up to $90,000 would not have been affected.
The TV ad claims in a graphic that Obama would “raise taxes on middle class.” In fact, Obama’s plan promises cuts for middle-income taxpayers and would increase rates only for persons with family incomes above $250,000 or with individual incomes above $200,000.
The radio ad claims Obama would increase taxes “on the sale of your home.” In fact, home-sale profits of up to $500,000 per couple would continue to be exempt from capital gains taxes. Very few sales would see an increase under Obama’s proposal to raise the capital gains rate.
A second radio ad, in English, says, “Obama has a history of raising taxes” on middle-class Americans. But that’s false. It refers to a vote that did not actually result in a tax increase and could not have done so.
These ads continue what’s become a pattern of misrepresentation by the McCain campaign about his opponent’s tax proposals.
The Rethuglicons always want to talk about a person’s character as a litmus test to be President. To me, lying about another person is not the proper character trait. But to you Rethuglicons, it’s ok to lie as long as you get elected. Then it’s ok to lie about the need for going to war as long as you get the approval. Then it’s ok to lie about how well that war is going as long as it gets continued funding. It seems to me all the Rethuglicons have is lies. Lies that can damage a country and throw the economy into a tail spin. The Rethuglicon are pathological liars and they have nothing else to offer. I’ll remember in November. Will you?
When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And John McCain’s lies are living proof.
By GaLiberal
August 11, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
Moron Jim and his bobble-head bootlicker Rethuglicons please explain the following:
McCain released three new ads with multiple false and misleading claims about Obama’s tax proposals.
A TV spot claims Obama once voted for a tax increase “on people making just $42,000 a year.” That’s true for a single taxpayer, who would have seen a tax increase of $15 for the year – if the measure had been enacted. But the ad shows a woman with two children, and as a single mother, she would not have been affected unless she made more than $62,150. The increase that Obama once supported as part of a Democratic budget bill is not part of his current tax plan anyway.
A Spanish-language radio ad claims the measure Obama supported would have raised taxes on “families” making $42,000, which is simply false. Even a single mother with one child would have been able to make $58,650 without being affected. A family of four with income up to $90,000 would not have been affected.
The TV ad claims in a graphic that Obama would “raise taxes on middle class.” In fact, Obama’s plan promises cuts for middle-income taxpayers and would increase rates only for persons with family incomes above $250,000 or with individual incomes above $200,000.
The radio ad claims Obama would increase taxes “on the sale of your home.” In fact, home-sale profits of up to $500,000 per couple would continue to be exempt from capital gains taxes. Very few sales would see an increase under Obama’s proposal to raise the capital gains rate.
A second radio ad, in English, says, “Obama has a history of raising taxes” on middle-class Americans. But that’s false. It refers to a vote that did not actually result in a tax increase and could not have done so.
These ads continue what’s become a pattern of misrepresentation by the McCain campaign about his opponent’s tax proposals.
The Rethuglicons always want to talk about a person’s character as a litmus test to be President. To me, lying about another person is not the proper character trait. But to you Rethuglicons, it’s ok to lie as long as you get elected. Then it’s ok to lie about the need for going to war as long as you get the approval. Then it’s ok to lie about how well that war is going as long as it gets continued funding. It seems to me all the Rethuglicons have is lies. Lies that can damage a country and throw the economy into a tail spin. The Rethuglicon are pathological liars and they have nothing else to offer. I’ll remember in November. Will you?
When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And John McCain’s lies are living proof.
By Peadawg
August 11, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
Nice try and Just Nasty and Mean:
both of ya’ll make valid points about the character flaws of each candidate. pick your poison, but obama scares me a whole lot more than mccain.
McCain ‘08
By Just Nasty and Mean
August 11, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
Nice Try @ 12:36
Sorry, Nice Try, but you cannot dispute a single fact in my post.
What it says is Obama is an enigma and his celebrity is based on grandiose speeches of broad generalities about bold ideas based on smoke and mirrors. After listening to his teleprompter speeches, it begs the question,.Where’s the beef?
When he gets backed into a corner on your so-called “issues”, like drilling for oil off the continental shelf, the left wing radical that is his family stock and his associations—comes out. His position on this issue is DIRECTLY CONTRARY to the wishes of 70%+ of the American people, he waffles to and fro like a dishrag in the washing machine.
McCain is not my 1st pick for the Republican nomination. He’s not even my second. But given the option, I’ll pick a lifelong military man and family with a known track record over anyone with the shallow stock of Obama, his socialist/communist upbringing, his radical and violent hate-filled friends, and his documented far left-wing tax and spend voting record.
That you cannot dispute.
By Disgruntled Republican
August 11, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
Republicans scream about their taxes being raised, but that won’t matter if you don’t have a job. McCain is more of the same. Yes he used to stand alone from the Republican party, but since 2005 he’s nothing more than a neoconservative. Hypocritical at that; telling Congress they should come back and vote on oil drilling and he’d come back to vote for that. But he hasn’t casted a vote in Congress in over 100 days, and DIDN’T come back to vote for the new GI Bill and tried to take credit for its passage. I can’t put up with another 8 years of lying. I’m disgruntled and its time for a change.
By GaLiberal
August 11, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
Sorry for the multiple posts, but the AJCs crappy servers keep timing out.
By Nice try
August 11, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Thanks Peadawg. Politics is always about picking poison, when you vote repugnant. Try the antidote, vote Democrat.
By Chicago
August 11, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this
Peadawg, I thought you Georiga boys weren’t scared of anything? All I can say is ‘wow’ if thats how you decide whom to vote for. Your statement just proves that Republican fear machine is doing its job.
By Peadawg
August 11, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
Chicago:
Yes I usually vote republican. But, if Hillary would have won the dem nomination, I would vote for her without hesitation. She would have been WAAAAY better than Obama or McCain.
But if obama and mccain is what we have to choose from, i’ll take the lesser of the 2 evils and vote mccain.
By Nice try
August 11, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
Just Nasty and Mean, there is nothing to dispute. Your comment is meant to bring fear based on a families history, like saying every German descendant of a Nazi is a Nazi, or every descendant of a Confederate soldier is a racist. You continue to show you and your parties ignorance. You should stop while your behind.
By dirty harry
August 11, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
Bush and Cheney leading our country into the most abysmal period in history
“Iraq to revive oil deal with China.”
Iraq and China are set to revive a $1.2 billion oil deal that was canceled after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, the Iraq’s oil ministry said Sunday.
When do we the American people reap the rewards of all the money spent, the lives lost?
Once again being led by the most inept administration in history we are told to bend over and give me another!
And, where is the idiot in charge…China!
By fearless fosdik
August 11, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this
Republicans the fiscal conservatives…
Saint Ronnie left office with a defecit of around 200 billion +
George the elder left office with a defecit of over 300 billion!
That crazy liberal spending president Clinton left office with a SURPLUS of 200 Billion +
George the moron is at close to a 500 billion defecit.
And, McCain says he is a fiscal conservative.
Guess who I’m voting for?
By Randall
August 11, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this
Hey did anyone see or hear reports about how the conservative media (i.e. Fox) were getting “talking points” from the White House. Folk like Sean Hannity and the like were actively spreading and promoting the Bush’s agenda. Jim were you involoved as well?
By political maelstrom
August 11, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
Anyone pining for Mrs. Godzilla (as if) can find that stank stuff she posts over at Bookman’s blog.
By Just Nasty and Mean
August 11, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this
Nice Try @ 1:45
The purpose of my post is to inform, and now that you agree there is nothing to dispute, I have accomplished my goal.
The problem with your party and your statement shows you have consumed the Obama (please swoon for me please) Kool-Aid and don’t want to hear facts. You and your party don’t want discuss the mud-puddle shallowness of your candidates experience.
With such a thin resume of accomplishment (oh yea, a neighborhood organizer. I forgot!), one HAS to go to Obama’s family and friends to try to figure out WHO in Hell this guy is and where he came from.
I hate to wake you from your Messiah induced haze, but Obama’s background—- It “Ain’t pretty”.
Matter of fact, you’d have to be a complete lightweight dolt to not admit IT IS SCARY!
Go ahead and continue your case of reverse anal insertion inversion syndrome. You can faint like all the other swooners listening to Obama’s teleprompter speeches, but when you wake up—-Obama is a socialist (tax the rich-redistribute to the non-producers), fascist (take the oil profits and GIVE it to others), naive (invade Pakistan), pacifist (let’s talk to Ahmadinejad) without the knowledge or experience to run our country..
You can’t defend against the facts without using your democratic hate speech words (Nazi, racist, ignorance). So pathetic and weak minded.
By Rick
August 11, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
Has anyone figured out that no matter what anyone says, we are all going to vote for what we think is best. Nothing anyone says will sway my vote. I read, learn the candidates and make my decision. Nothing that any of you say will change my or anyone else s mind. Why bother with all the dribble and name calling. We all know that it takes a real loser to vote for Barrak Hussain Obama. He is a sleeper muslim terrorist. The fact that he is part muslim is bad enough, that is not even a real religion. There is but one true God, and he does not have a pedophile named Mohammad talking for him. All those muslims are going to burn in hell anyway, who wants a president who is bound for hell? Now, Bush is a God fearin, good man. He actually made a stand against Iraq and stood firm. All the dems were all for going into Iraq, as soon as the warm and fuzzy feelin came of it so did they, GW stood firm. That is what great men do, they stay the course when it becomes the unpopular thing to do.
By political mail storm
August 11, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this
Write your Congressman, Senators and the Russian president about your displeasure and let them know this, uh, agression … will not stand, dude. Bury them in a mail storm.
By dirty harry
August 11, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
Georgia has begun a full withdrawal of the 2,000 troops it had stationed in Iraq. The implications of that withdrawal don’t bode well for the situation in Iraq!
I guess wars were meant to be fought ONLY by our G.I’s!
John McCain has ceded any moral authority to even weigh in on the issue as long as his top foreign policy adviser with lobbying ties to the Georgian government, Randy Scheunemann, remains with his campaign. U.S. “diplomats have conceded that there are few options for dealing what President George W Bush has branded a ‘dangerous escalation’” but of course that didn’t stop warhawk Cheney from talking tough:
Is it November yet ???
It’s Time for a democrat President, Senate and house.
Remember Clinton…
I think it is referred to as the 8 years of peace and prosperity!
By Common Sense
August 11, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
Fear that is an excellent post!
It is amazing to think we even have a Republican president they always leave us with a huge debt. Nixon spent 600 billion dollars on the Vietnam War for what!
To keep out communism which cannot flourish with-out a capitolistic society.
Mean and Nasty are you saying we should except a man who campaign who ran out of money or his vice-president Romney who spent $42 million dollars and lost to a man who ran out of money for his campaign.
Just because they cannot run a fiscal campaign I am voting for the other guy.
I want someone who knows how to run a business. I see AJC/Ron/Paul/Wooten and RW do not really care about people who cannot run thier own campaign with fiscal responsibility.
McClain did not even campaign in Iowa during the primay because he does not believe in ethonal subsides but don’t you think people in that part of the country should hear your plan for them. Is Mr.McClain above the people of Iowa?
By doctor do right
August 11, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
By Rick
August 11, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this
Rick, I would say this!
No one can change an insane person from jumping off of a bridge either.
So, I won’t try to change your little uneducated brain!
Have a good day
By Rick
August 11, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
Hey common sense, yeah Nixon spent 600 millon on a war that kennedy the coke head got us into
By Rick
August 11, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
Hey common sense, yeah Nixon spent 600 millon on a war that kennedy the coke head got us into
By Rick
August 11, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
the only good thing about JFK is that he liked to ride with top down…..
By doctor do right
August 11, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
By Rick
August 11, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this
Ricky..May I call you Ricky?
Like I said with my previous post. Oh, uneducated one.
Perhaps a course in civics would do you well.
Kennedy did not get the U.S. involved in Vietnam anymore then Ike did.
Nothing more than advisors were there…
Johnson turned it into a full tilt boogie!
Look it up…it’s not that hard!
By Midori
August 11, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
and the only thing good about Rick is
.
.
.
.
……somebody help me out here…………
By Yo mama
August 11, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this
He’s not yo Daddy?
… best I can do Midori.
By ButtHead
August 11, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
McSame, you are correct I would rather elect a person that hangs out with know terrorist, and also identifies with know communist. Boy that shows your true colors. I guess that is a FACT you liberal idiots.
By ButtHead
August 11, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this
No increase in taxes is acceptable. If these people can’t balance a check book, especially one that has an average intake of almost 49 Billion a day, then vote them OUT.
By Original Rick
August 11, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
For those who would like a inkling of the truth, I will recommend a click to FactCheck.org. There is no bias, no opinion, nothing but well researched articles, about what is being said today.
You will learn, for some of you, several unsettling facts. Might give you something to think about, not just provide foolish fodder for silly and indefensible rants.
I also recommend MediaMatters.
(My god, please do not confuse me with this other Rick! I am the intelligent one.)
By Original Rick
August 11, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
Oh, back to the subject: “Pretty rhetoric is not what will win this thing.”
Neither will unsubstantiated lies.
By @@
August 11, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
Just wanted to drop off a little somethin’ for the leftist OBlahMa headbangers here.
Hilton’s mom called it “frivolous” and a waste of money, but Obama adviser Tom Daschle, the former Democratic Senate majority leader, says the celebrity ads contributed to a dip in Obama’s poll numbers.
So what does the “innovative thinker” do in retaliation?
The Democratic presidential candidate, vacationing in Hawaii, released an ad, titled “Embrace,” that paints McCain as both a regular on the TV talk show circuit and a consummate political insider, chummy with President Bush and lobbyists alike.
The ad shows McCain on ABC’s “The View” and NBC’s “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno. And it shows Bush - hugging McCain, being hugged by McCain and kissing McCain on the forehead.
“As Washington embraced him, John McCain hugged right back,” the spot says. “The lobbyists - running his low road campaign. The money - billions in tax breaks for oil and drug companies, but almost nothing for families like yours. Lurching to the right, then the left, the old Washington dance, whatever it takes. John McCain. A Washington celebrity playing the same old Washington games.”
In his attempt to retaliate against McCain, he just painted a self-portrait except for the kissing Bush part. OBlahMa’s too busy kissing himself in the mirror to realize how self-incriminating this ad was.
Go sit in the corner Senator OBlahMa.
Paris Hilton has grasped the opportunity to profit from McCain’s ads. Paris……..a burgeoning enterprise unto herself.
By Frederick Douglass
August 11, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
More McSame, you’ve laid out a convincing track record of Mccain’s flip flops, but it’ll all go for naught. I’ve done the fuzzy math, there are more people in America that vote along the hatred line, than there are those that defer to common sense.
By Demigod33
August 11, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
While I am not in favor of any tax increase, the war for oil…err…Iraq’s liberation, has left little or no choices for our next president. Our country is broke, we owe billions of dollars to the Chinese government, we’ve over stepped our boundaries as the world’s leader, we feel it is ok to be lied to repeatedly, our congressmen and women feels it is ok to fatten their wallet with our tax dollars and it is okay for our young kids to fight in a senseless and childish war.
Our nation is hurting and we need to do something about it…all this dems and repubs talk is sounding a bit like the Pubs and Grays from the “The Waste Lands”. I wish I could take some of our so called leaders and make them ride Blaine.
By ParisIsDaBom
August 11, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
I’m voting for Paris. Anybody that hot has to know more about energy than Ebony or Ivory.
By Blind Homer
August 11, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
Flip-flopping is not a valid criticism and even if it were it applies to both candidates. Obama was pulling out troops the day after he was nominated, then it was 16 months, now it’s just re-deploy them to Afghanastan. He said no to offshore, now he’ll consider it, etc. 90%+ of the bollgers still argue about the dog and pony show never realizing the world will be pretty much the same a year from now no matter who wins! Enjoy your petty name calling you sheeple.
By @@
August 11, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
Actually PoliFore, Paris’ energy policy is more in line with Ivory’s than Ebony’s. The ivories are the natural notes. The ebony keys are the flats.
By Clint
August 11, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
After 8 freaking years of cringing every time the leader of my nation opened is mouth and mangled the language, it will be a breath of fresh air to have a leader with a command of the English language. And as far as flip-flopping… show me a politician on either side of the aisle who sticks to their word. I would NOT TRUST a person who is not willing to change their stance on issues as those issues change.
By Gerhard
August 11, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
Paris raises my energy level.
By Dex
August 11, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this
Fact…liberals will vote for Obama…Conservatives will vote for McCain…those of us in the middle will elect the president…and no matter how much you hate Bush or love rhetoric it won’t be a man that sits in a congregation for 10 years and has no idea how much his pastor hates white people.