Our values reflected in those of Palin

By Churchill

September 7, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this

Where�s Sarah?

That�s all everyone is asking, as Gov. Sarah Palin has become the hot ticket item for all the news programs, as well as for any TV interview. Despite her electrifying debut at the Republican National Convention, she will not complete her introductory rollout as the vice presidential nominee for the G.O.P. ticket on one of this Sunday�s morning news programs � appearances that were derided by none other than former Senator Fred Thompson in his speech this past week at the gathering in St. Paul. (Even though Mr. Thompson � and Senator John McCain himself � have never been strangers to the Sunday news program circuit.)

The Times�s Monica Davey reported today that McCain campaign aides suggested that she�ll be largely shielded from mega-press interviews � perhaps for a while. She�ll be campaigning and speaking to the �American people.�

To us, that seems topsy-turvy after the G.O.P. boasted all week long that Governor Palin is a force unto herself, independent, dogged, reformist and quite capable of not only being vice president but of taking on big special interests. So what�s the upshot of not booking her? What message does it send that the first G.O.P. woman to land the No. 2 slot � the one who energized the base, who totally kicked up the McCain enthusiasm meter and stepped confidently onto the national stage at the convention with a speech that was well-received and tough on her Democratic opponents � won�t be available for interviews? That she�s not ready for the glare of the national media? (The McCain campaign, throughout the past week, set up the MSM as her nemesis.) Or is this a protective move on the part of Senator John McCain�s advisers?

We�ll let you decide �

Meanwhile, here�s the lineup for Sunday, and it�s chock-full of the other candidates and their surrogates. Senator Barack Obama will appear on ABC News� �This Week.� His opponent, Senator John McCain, will be the guest of Bob Schieffer on CBS� �Face the Nation.� And the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., takes the stage at NBC�s �Meet the Press.�

Fox News Sunday brings out the main campaign thinkers, Rick Davis, campaign manager for the McCain campaign and David Axelrod, chief strategist for the Obama campaign. Fox also plans a documentary tonight on Governor Palin, with interviews of her family. (In case you missed it, the former brother-in-law of Governor Palin and the protagonist of �Troopergate� in Alaska spoke to The Washington Post for an article today, expressing regret for some of his behavior and also seeming to want to put the past behind him in the interest of Ms. Palin�s candidacy.)

CNN�s �Late Edition� has a slate of talkers and senators, including Obama strategist Robert Gibbs

By BoobyD

September 7, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this

Jim Wooten, nice codespeak.

Sarah Palin’s values are not necessarily our values:

No “normal” woman goes back to work 3 days after supposedly giving birth to a child with special needs.
Most regular women do not walk around toting shotguns, and bustin’ caps from fully automatic assault weapons.
- Regular everyday women and families tend to $i a brick when their 17 year old daughter gets knocked up by a loser.
Regular women never really make a big deal about “loving their country”, no matter what size town they come from because its kinda a given. They feel no need to shout it out all the time.

I know hacks like you are doing all they can to prop this broad up so that she looks viable.

“They chose to build their family in accordance with their values. “??? Oh REALLY…..???

Now all of a sudden parents are not responsible for their teen children who live under THEIR roof and they support??

Thanks for taking the heat off of the many urban and minority parents out there because for about 2 decades now they’ve been carrying the GUILT imposed on them by fake “moralists” like you and your people.

By Greg

September 7, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

Jim hit the target with this commentary. “Dead solid perfect” as Dan Jenkins would say.

By Sam

September 7, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

Thanks Jim for some good thoughts and thanks Churchhill for kicking it off right this morning.

I agree with you Jim, there are a lot of similarities between folks who live in small towns across the United States. Still what concerns me in this election is the experience and politic know how of ensuring the United States position in the global economy of today. Which pair of candidates carries the greatest risk?

Churchill points out a valid question - Where’s Sarah? If she is being shielded because she places the ticket at risk, that is a risk to us all.

The maverick spontaneity of McCain in choosing Palin is contrary to the community reflected in Governor Purdue’s story of a farmer not boasting the quality of his crop when it was all too apparent through drive by inspection.

This is quite an interesting election - gonna be close - again.

By Serge

September 7, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

Sarah Palin supports givng rapists the right to father the children of their victims.

As a major of Wasilla Sarah Palin left her city in deep debt.

Sarah Palin “values” include censuring books she does not agree with, from your local library (She may take a clue from Fidel Castro here)

Sarah Palin does’t belive in scientific evidence.

Sarah Palin is not prepared to be VP, it’s not even interested in the war we are fighting.

By chris

September 7, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

At what point do we realize that a two-week or even a two-month cram course is NOT going to make a vice-president? Just the fact that people of this country is willing to consider her is amazing. The fact that John McCain chose her puts our country at risk. If she were a man, there would be no way that he would have chosen her. Her resume is TOO weak.

By chris

September 7, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

At what point do we realize that a two-week or even a two-month cram course is NOT going to make a vice-president? Just the fact that people of this country is willing to consider her is amazing. The fact that John McCain chose her puts our country at risk. If she were a man, there would be no way that he would have chosen her. Her resume is TOO weak.

By p

September 7, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Wooten, you are so wrong. if we have been betrayed, it was by a Republican President that has put us in trillions of dollars in debt to fight his daddy’s war.

We don’t need another SPEND, but don’t tax administration. I’d rather pay more taxes than accumulate more debt that places out economy at the mercy of Arab and Chinese governments’ bond buyers.

Where is a Republican energy policy? Why did you rip Obama’s windfall oil tax when Palin pushed for an increase, and got it, in the Alaska windfall oil tax?

Where is the Republican immigration policy?

Why is it that life is sacred to Republicans- but only until the child is born, then the policy becomes screw the kid, let them fend for themselves?

Where is the Republican education policy?

Where is the Republican infrastructure, roads, bridges, and transit policy?

Where is the republican healthcare policy?

Where is the Republican social security plan policy- other than the one to screw us out of our last remaining safety net?

Where is the Republican environmental policy?

And I was a REPUBLICAN, but I tired of the disgraceful and short-sighted behavior of the Party.

By yesiamworried

September 7, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this

The South’s Value— sure,

Teenage pregnancy High School dropout (future son in law)

Both things that make the South such a great region to live in.

You are kidding me right — I am a moderate centrist who can’t believe McCain just lost my vote. Her politics are way to right wing, especially when it comes to social issues.

By ron

September 7, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this

Good morning Jim,I agree with you.Mrs.Palin is exactly like the women who were around when I grew up.Real women,Jim,not a phoney among them.Small town women,they raised families,went to church,kept the house,worked in the fields.No one told them what to do.They did whatever had to be done to live.Those women are still around today in small town America.One of them became Govenor of Alaska.

There are issues where I don’t agree with Mrs.Palin,serious issues,but I’m willing to give her a pass on these issues for the moment.Should she think for one moment that her far right values are the values of all Americans,she’s wrong,and the voters will tell her so.She is one of us small town people,but she bears watching.

By Ray

September 7, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

Tell me the last time you agreed with everything that a candidate had to say. In almost 55 years of voting, I have never found the perfect candidate. Palin’s opposition to stem cell research and it’s use in turning the corner on some of the most serious of diseases…. NO. Her stand of not aborting the fetus due to instances of rape and incest…. NO. Her evangelical approach to decision making….. NO.
A lot of people are in the same boat, but why has she created such a stir in the electorate? An approval rating of Pelosi and her ilk in the single digits? The sad truth that when asked about the most honorable professions, the American public voted politicians as not much better, if at all, to lawyers and used car salesmen. The electorate views her as not one of the Washington pack, although I don’t know how long she will stay that way. Sort of like a child when he/she grows up. You would like them to be kids as long as they can.
So stay the way you are, Sarah, for just a little while, and maybe the American people will be glad that you arrived on the scene to give them, at least, a temporary breath of fresh air, not being infected with re-electionitis, fraud, corruption and incompetence, at least not yet.

By Beat Up a Repulican Everyday

September 7, 2008 9:38 AM | Link to this

Stinking Republicans don’t have values, they just have the BIG LIES that they all rally around. When you get a republican down, don’t stop, just stomp the living s h i t out of them. Talk about hiding behind women and children, the palin hag and her freak baby and preggers girl toy minor are perfect shields for the coward McCancerFace and his ilk. Hillary can handle old lady palin, but we may have to bring in Chelsea to teach the teenager a lesson. As for the deformed baby, ah think we will give him a pass, he has enough problems on his mind. Just a reminder for the little fella, McCancerFace burned hundreds of babies to death with napalm dropped from his almost invulnerable fighter plane. Maybe the Gods foresaw McCancerFace’s pick for VP, and decided to do a little pay back…..

By Ray

September 7, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

Beat up, You are so typical of the nuts on this blog who hide behind a cutsie name and hurl insults at someone you do not even know. I’ll wager to say that if the “Palin Hag’s” husband were present when you spewed this trash that he would kick your sorry a**. I am surprised, Jim, that you would allow this idiot to post this trash.

By Beat Up a Repulican Everyday

September 7, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

Ray, the hag’s husband can bring it on, he gits the first blow, then I wipe the floor with his ugly a s s. Feel free to join in, I prefer it when the odds are against me….

By Herb Kornfeld

September 7, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

People over the next few weeks will find out palin is every bit as much a phony as obama. If these four up for election are the best we can do, we’re sunk.

By Goose Bumps

September 7, 2008 10:07 AM | Link to this

Goose Bumps or Mother Goose?

There was a cold woman who lived near igloos. She kept having children, (is she red state or blue)? She flashed bright at Right moths then hid from the press, thus the state where she wins is the state of undress.

By Goose Bumps

September 7, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this

So Track joined the army. The only goose bumps that someone might get looking at the flag (the flag that Cheney and Rove hide behind) is the blisters they have from Cheney’s drunken firearm mishaps.

That opens up Iraq as a topic as readily as Mr. Woo, of China, opened up the Mother Goose story he spun, about there being any political justice beyond the constitutional disenfranchisement of the 300 million victims of 911: just us.

Why? Because this war isn’t a war. It’s a hybrid coming-of-age, (nursery-rhyme free), of three different Islamo-Christian sojourns, which themselves are an ever-changing melee of invented national security precautions and misguided nation building.

There’s no need to summarize the 100 year history of the Christian West and the Islamic Hoards sitting on all that oil and how much justice we afforded their own national autonomy.

This war is from people’s everyday lives, with faucets a-drippin’ and lights a-flickerin’ and baby’s a-cryin, but these are ethno-sectarian lives, whose goose-bumps aren’t inspired by any one flag, but rather the tattered rags of past genocide; not so much hand-me-down as hand-me-a-grenade. We are dealing with the history of perpetual ethnic bandages and self-fulfilling sectarian blood.

To ignore history is 2 cause armeggedon. The planet has a self-help book, and it’s the planet’s first self help book (especially the chapter about self-fulfilling prophesies): the Bible which was written by the same folks what brung us M. Goose, oddly enough).

True.

The Bible: Chapter 37. Now we come to the crux of the fruition of the crucifixion: Does God talk to us, literally, so that we can gain counsel from a message we receive from him, as we pray about how to behave concerning the little events in our lives, like fixin the screen door, and plowing up the back forty, and ambushing our neighbor before he ambushes us? Are we all Kings with diplomatic immunity for our acts when we declare them to be acts of God? (as bush did, and Sarah Palin does)?

There was a cold woman who lived near igloos. She kept having children, (is she red state or blue)? She flashed bright at Right moths then hid from the press, thus the state where she wins is the state of undress.

Proof: Chapter 37 of the Kama Sutra is the page where they depict the Missionary Postion. Coincidence? I think not. This is the only place where East meets West. It’s like the bible code, and God is telling us something about Sarah Palin.

I’m Pofo and I’m immune from the consequences of this message so ordained by bush’s entire presidency.

By jim

September 7, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten;

You are right. We Republicans are proud and don’t need no handouts from the govenments. There plenty of educations without no one payin for us to go. I finished 10th grade which plenty enough for anyone and my wifes done got her ged dipoma. Both got us good payin jobs and don’t need no welfare. Couple of paymjents behind on my picku truck but plan to get some part time work when the fair comes to town. Don’t want no one payin for ourn doctors. 10 teeths enough for anyone. Need them commandts put back to schools. You tellm the old librourals that we is right.

By whatacrock

September 7, 2008 10:27 AM | Link to this

See Jim, this is the lie you right wingers want us to believe. Your article reveals the lies and hypocracy of the Republican party and addresses clearly the thin veil that they want us to believe. “No Political calculation”? Really?

The thin veil, is sure pretty isn’t it? The beautiful lace that it is created with, the wonderfully romanticized family, the quaint little small town; the republicans take us all for idiots. They don’t want you to think for yourself because when you do, you will see the light. Behind the thin little veil is a politician beyond politicians. And she and the republican party realizes that by lying to the American public, she will gain what every other self-serving politician seeks to gain; power, money, influence.

People, look underneath it all, look at it for what it is - she is a servant to the rich and powerful. She has left her town in debt, tried to destroy freedom of speech, attempted to pork barrell her state to death, lies, dang it, lies! Change? Really? Whatacrock!!!!

By Goose Bumps

September 7, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

Ray, that was duhng, redneck or glenn who wrote that. It’s an old trick. Rush Limbaugh has callers who talk like lunatics and he claims they’re lefties. It’s all set up. Dont you recognize the retarded synactical choices?

Let them talk. They know they cant win. It’s like how the demon who possessed the little girl acted in the Exorcist when he knew he was being driven out? Remember the histrionics and spewing? Sooner or later, Duhng will get around to describing what Bill Clinton’s mother is doing in hell.

We cant be distracted by the death throes of conservatism. We’ve got a country to save, and the world to convince.

Obama 08: America takes over.

By Charles

September 7, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

The more attacks on Governor Palin by Liberals and the mainstream press the more I feel Senator McCain made a brilliant choice. The Left really don’t have an answer to the magnatism this woman brings to the GOP ticket. Unlike Obama who is an empty suit of slogans Sarah’s resume overshadows the Democrat’s choice for the top job.

I think last week was a turning point. In my neighborhood I was the only person with a McCain yard sign (there was only one Obama sign as well). This weekend I have seen 5 more McCain signs pop-up while the lone Obama yard sign is beginning to fade sitting in the sun.

By DavidEm

September 7, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

The funniest part of McCain’s speach was when he said he would put an end to partisan rancor—-which apparently had been the THEME of Palin’s juvenile, sarcastic address (written by one of BUSH’s speachwriters!) the night before. Oh and when he said he wouldn’t be working for a party in Washington, I noticed the crowd feel into a bewildered silence. Ah, the Republican “base” (appropriately named) is FIRED UP. Who wants to talk about good government? They’re much more interested in demonizing and smearing their opponents. They’re at a loss without the “culture war”…and someone to HATE. Just take a look, one more time, at the FACES in that audience during Palin’s speach. Oh, and I can’t think of a better image of irrational aggression than a pit bull.

By Sitcom Setup

September 7, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this

This is a bad dream. Doddering, addled war-hero gets elected thanks to spunky babe. Then, downed by skin-cancer, the huntress takes the throne. Hijinks ensue. One thing the ‘republicans’ have mastered is cynical manipulation of the media and the people. Sad state of affairs, America.

By getalife "whiners"

September 7, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Values?

Hilarious Jim.

The “barracuda” is more like a minnow scared of the media.

If you value your freedom, no draft, your house, your job and your money, you would vote Dem.

Its the economy stupid not abortion.

By Beat Up a Repulican Everyday

September 7, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

jim: you repukes git your handouts from the guv via the 15% capital gains tax, the ~100k limit on social security and medicare taxes, and from bailouts of financial institutions that you have looted…

By alice

September 7, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this

I am confused. It is ILLEGAL ot have an elective abortion in Alaska after 12 weeks. She found out he had Downs Syndrome in her 4th month, 16+ weeks. As Goverenr sehs should have been well aware that terminating that pregnancy was illegal. Another big lie by Palin to look like a great mom and just like one of us. She had no choice to make, she had to keep him no matter what. Besides the fact she is a liar I wont vote for an uneducated mayor of a town of less than 6,000 who left it 20 million dollars in debt. 20 million? That is like leaving Winder 20 million in debt but Winder is more populated. How bad do you have to screw up to accumulate such debt? Is this the the person we want handling our record national deficit now? Her views on abortion and family values will have little impact on this nation. Bush has the same views and nothing changed. But he got us into 2 wars, ran up a huge deficit, increased spending, ostracised our allies and mismanaged our economy. No way will I vote for another Yokel to hold the financial reigns of this nation or command the troops overseas. McCain lost my vote when he picked a beauty queen with no education or experience.

By stepehn Seabolt

September 7, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

I’m an old disabled veteran who has read the Bible form the first page to the last and I never saw any referance that GOD would request a task to send our young men and women to fight a war concieved on lies. Gov. Sarah Palin Stated “the United Staes troops in Iraq were sent on a Mission from GOD” Whats next Iran or Russia.
Steve Seabolt, USMC

By Ray

September 7, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

Bumps,

Interesting article in the Phil Inquirer today as to the elephant in the living room. Wouldn’t let me pull up the link. Main point….. with 12% of the Demos in exit polls stating that race would not let them vote for a black candidate, and that’s with Demos, not the general electorate, where does that leave Mr. Wonderful? He is going to have to have at least a 10-15% lead in the polls come Nov 3rd to make up for that. The writing is on the wall, Bumps, sad to say but true.

By they 'chose'

September 7, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

What makes this even more surreal is that the ‘republicans’ are using the ‘choice’ made by Palin and her husband to make the argument for denying the opportunity for ‘choice’ by others. The height of cynical, lying, anti-American manipulation. Shame on you, Jim, for denying what is good and true about America, and siding with the bad guys. Why are the ‘republicans’ always trashing America like this? America is a great country that believes in its people. It is not the evil prison island that Jim Wooten and other ‘republicans’ think it is. It is a once-free country that the ‘republicans’ are trying to keep oppressed and exploited.

By Charlie the Tuna

September 7, 2008 10:46 AM | Link to this

McCain’s speech hacked the “change” mantra from Barrack Obama. America knows that, (and they’re real impressed).

Palin’s speech hacked the “proud of America” mantra from Michele Obama. America knows that (and is real impressed.)

Obama 08: America knows.

By Beat Up a Repulican Everyday

September 7, 2008 10:48 AM | Link to this

Well, ah see’s the price of newsprint is up over 27% so far this year, with another 11% hike in the pipeline by December. Yet advertising dollars are down, circulation is down, so it is my fond hope that the Urinal fold real soon, and put that idiot woodenhead on the welfare line. Papers are folding from coast to coast, so why not also here in Atlanta, the most illiterate city in an increasingly illiterate AmeriKa? Children, work on your lower body strenth, it will serve you well in the world to come….pullin mah plows.

By Just Nasty and Mean

September 7, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

G�Mornin Jim, et al,

With little doubt, Jim�s article speaks to what Sarah Palin says to all conservatives. God~~ I HATE to even say it—-CHANGE. But just any change~~not towards socialism, larger government, or more intervention into our businesses, personal lives and the nanny state. But to change back to the self-sufficient independence of the 40s, 50s and 60s when Americans felt that, even though government screwed up occasionally, we trusted their intent was to do what was right. That was before the confidence crushing events of Watergate, Kennedy assassination, MLK, Vietnam�

That trust no longer exists�Not anymore.

Americans are so fed up by being screwed by their government combined with the partisan bickering in Washington that many have virtually given up on the morass of a government accomplishing ANYTHING worthwhile. Everything in DC turns into a government giveaway based on compromise. But with these jumbo compromises, everybody gets everything they want�all at the taxpayer�s expense�and nobody is held accountable! Americans are simply SICK of pork, earmarks, waste, spending, ineptitude, and government becoming the central repository and owner of everyone�s personal problems.

Palin is not a Washington insider. So far, she is doesn�t appear influenced or even impressed by the powerful and entrenched politicos, going so far as to poke fun at the mainstream media. Judging from her actions (which speak MUCH louder than just words), Palin reflects what we have wanted in Washington for a long, long time�Someone who is going to do what is RIGHT for America, not based upon what party gets the credit.

She is only the VP candidate, but we can hope and pray she is the �real deal� and the 1st step towards cutting off the massive army of 300,000+ lobbyists that influence OUR government�s decisions every single day—-far more than the millions and millions of taxpaying Americans.

Palin is a breath of fresh air not yet contaminated sewage permeating Washington.

So far, she is one of us.

By norman ravitch

September 7, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

Sorry, Jim. Palin’s values are not my own. I like my Chardonnay and cheese. I don’t care for moose stew and don’t know how to dress one, except in an outfit from Ralph Lauren. You rednecks don’t run this country yet.

I know evolution is a fact and that the Bible is bunkum. And I don’t own a gun but if I did it would use it on Christofascists.

By Ray

September 7, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this

Bottom line….

At least 10-12% of the electorate not voting for the Annointed One because of his race. At least 10+% of the Hillaryites going to the dark side. A rejuvenated GOP with something that they can believe in…….. Mr. Wonderful should have not wasted his time for the last 19mos. Wow, he could have been representing all of those people in Chicago that elected him or is that not why we elect our exaulted Senators?

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this

Good morning all. Sarah is a tough one for the democrats to crack. She is the new America’s Sweetheart, and the Obama brand has seemingly lost its luster. The dems know they cannot take her on head-on, as America shares her conservative values, and not those of the leftists. She refuses to play along to script with the media, so the MSM will be unable to keep their ratings AND take her out.

Encouraging to see America making its decision based on the eternal values rather than any particular issues.

The longer perspective has to be that Obama lost this election, not that McCain won it. While the Palin nomination is a master stroke, a move of genius well beyond McCain’s paygrade, it should not have been so meaningful. Obama had eight months to define himself for American, and steadfastly refused to do so. Thus, when Sarah began painting, she had a blank slate to work.

jbmlaw forecast: Obama will now try to sound more conservative than McCain. This election will be won - and lost - on conservative ground.

By TW

September 7, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

Proverbs 6:16-19

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

proud look,

a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,

feet that be swift in running to mischief,

A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Let Sarah Palin continure ‘w’s mission

By r u kidding me

September 7, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

Her values are definitely not MY values. I was going to vote republican until McCain put her on his ticket. Looks like Obama just gained another vote!

By Thespis

September 7, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this

The arrogance of this column astounds me. Do political operatives, and it appears at least to me that Wooten qualifies as a GOP mouthpiece, honestly think the people of America and particularly of the South, are so easily categorized? To say that Palin�s values are our values, or even to say that ANY politician�s values are our values assumes that the writer either writes for one group alone, such as in the trade press or that the writer possesses some omniscient power to know all of our values a nd therefore is able to make such a sweeping pronouncement. I must admit that I do believe that Wooten believes he speaks for all of the GOP readers, but the contention he makes is that Palin�s values are the values of all of us who live in the South. That is ludicrous and arrogant and typical of the current political climate promulgated by the extremists like Wooten on both sides of the question.

Wooten may believe he speaks for us all but nothing could be further from the truth. Not necessarily because he speaks of Palim, but because he makes the statement in the first place. None of the candidates share all of our values. There are aspects of Palin�s values that I do agree with, but there are aspects of Biden�s (to isolate this to VP candidates) values with which I agree as well. Contrary to what Mr. Wooten appears to believe, all Southeners are not sheep and we do not all think alike. The arrogance of his statement to the contrary is amazing.

The other thing that bothers me is that this election is not, nor should it be, about values. It should be about where candidates stand on issues and policies that will move our Country back to prosperity and security. If people know the candidates stands on such issues and choose who they will vote for based on that, then that�s great. But pandering to �values voters� based on such non-issues is what got us eight years down the road to oblivion. I�ll take a competent leader who has clear positions on issues with which I agree but with whom I share not one �value� over one who shares all of my values but lacks the ability to do the job. The fact that this statement describes McCain for some and Obama for others is where the greatness of America resides.

By demsrscared

September 7, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

Wow, you know the dems r scared when all they can do is spew misinformation this hateful kind of stuff: oh wait, that’s what they always do. Guess they shouldn’t have nominated an unqualified candidate for President.

By BS Aplenty

September 7, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this

It’s a beautiful day in Atlanta, Jim, indeed, in America.

Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin remind us that there can be a new day in the country, a day where the political air is once again fresh. A day when far more of the governing policy reflects genuine American values, including that can-do attitude of these two independent-minded ‘Westerners’. They will, indeed, find friends in many Southern homes.

McCain/Palin ‘08 - The Right Kind of Change.

By marko

September 7, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this

Jim, I believe that you’re in love old fella. I thought you might want to know that nude pictures of a famous republican Governor have suffaced on the internet. Before you go running off to fog up your pc screen let me tell you that the of pictures are Arnold not Sarah. Sorry to dissapoint you old guy, but maybe you ought to tell senator Craig. I think he just might be interested.

By W

September 7, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

McBush/Palin is a losing ticket! 1. Palin’s foreign policy experience is limited to negotiating fishing treaties with Russia. 2. Palin would rather grow her career than help her husband raise their disabled child. 3. Palin would rather grow her career than raise her teen daughter responsibly (i.e. to teach her to uphold their Republican, conservative values of keeping her legs closed until marriage).

Give me a freakin break. Palin is trailer trash! McBush made the WRONG CHOICE!!!

By Dave

September 7, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

Wow, it’s AMAZING that McCain is preaching “change” — changed from the failed leadership of his own party for the past eight years.

Although I disagree with Jim Wooten about 90% of the time, I used to at least respect him and his points of view. But his blind loyalty to Palin and dismissive approach to any doubts about her ability to lead have revealed him for what he truly is — a go-along GOP partisan. It has tarnished by view of all of his opinions and it makes me look foolish for defending a few of his positions in the past.

By The SnowWitch

September 7, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

In the land of the Pundits they were choosing a chief. The Black Prince was sure to win. But then suddenly-susan, a witch appeared among them, a mutated genome from the land of gnomes near Nome. She turned polls into trolls, and soldiers into ogres. She appeared and disappeared at will, seemingly into thin air. Her feet never touched the ground when she walked, as it was always covered by a carpet of snow. Her skin was usually covered in fur, but you could see that she was obviously female. It was the SnowWitch. The Pundits knew not what she was, and of her elk they had not seen before. She asked only that they let her inside their great white house. A texas-tea party in a Rose Garden seemed harmless enough, and the Pundits were disarmed, enchanted and engaged. Was this their avocation’s long-awaited advocate? Could the Black Prince ever realize his mandate?

to be continued…..

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

Nasty and Mean @10:54

Very nice post indeed. I like it when bloggers sound sensible and observant as you did.

Sarah suits me just fine. I don’t agree with her on EVERYTHING but she is certainly what is needed in America. Bravery in decisions, faith inspired, honest in her work and decent in her family, topped off with patriotism; sounds very good to me. She will be the perfect backup to a man of similar character and long experience, McCain of course.

For now, the fresh spirit of America IS McCain & Palin. For Obama, he needs to graduate from the school of experience and then he may be ready. There are signs of greatness that slip from beneath the political facade now presented. Let him grow and he may be the NEXT one to offer something America needs. He’s not ready now.

By fearless fosdik

September 7, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten

“Our values reflected in those of Palin.”

Count me out!

An article from Rick Steiner a professor at the Alaska University

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/377955_palinenvir07.html

By Sleepy

September 7, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

Speak for yourself Jimmie. You have repeatedly shown that you have less than no understanding of the values that the majority of people may or may not share with Ms. Palin. You, she and the rest of the extreme Christianists wish to impose views that distort Christianity as wildly as those of the muslim jihads distort Islam. You call yourselves “conservatives”, but every time the courts and legislatures decline to impose your religious views on the rest of us, you demand yet another constitutional amendment. Be honest - that isn’t conservatism, it’s radical, revolutionary theocratism, from which the Constitution (that which is to be “conserved”) gratefully protects us all.

By dirty harry

September 7, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

Yes, Ragnar it is tough to take on Mrs Palin.

It’s tough to take on anyone when they run to their little undisclosed location, while they try to digest all that goes on in this world..that they should be aware of and arn’t.

If you saw Joe Biden on “MEET THE PRESS” this morning? You know what I’m talking about!

Tom Brokaw was left muttering “Let’s move on”!

By Ga Values

September 7, 2008 12:29 PM | Link to this

Obama is not my man, with me it’s McCain or Barr. I am convinced McCain is correct about getting special interest/Lobbyist out of control of government. I do not understand why he picked an unknown like Palin, Coburn or DeMint would great. I could probably read a speech written by W’s main speech writter, I just don’t understand why he picked the Hockey Mom.

By The Way

September 7, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Sarah Palin: Goose bumps, or Mother Goose?

There was a cold woman who lived in snowshoes. She kept having children, (was she red state or blue)? She earmuffed her earmarks, while entitlements grew, so her children had children in a state-compted igloo.

By marko

September 7, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

Jim, I hope you’ll forgive if I withhold judgement as to whether or not Gov. Palin shares my values. You see I’m not Pentecostal so I have never learned to speak in tongues. She was’nt there when The Republican presidential cadidates were asked whether or not they believed in evolution. I hope someone ask her that question I’d really like to know her answer. I know that Obama opposed the war when it was popular to support it, and McCain supported the surge when it was’nt. I also know that Sarah supported the bridge to nowhere before she opposed it. People that read popular opinion polls before they form their values will always be popular. Real men say what they believe and let the chips fall where they may. Then again nobody ever accused Sarah of being a real man.

By AmVet

September 7, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this

In spite of her apparently being a garden variety knuckle dragging, book burning wannabe, bible thumping, science denying neo-con who would be a heartbeat away from being the CIC, the thing that scares many Americans the most I suppose about Sister Sarah and her Two Mules, is that given what the nation has had to endure for the past eight years of deadly, bungling decisions by a man who was CLEARLY unqualified for the job in the first place, who in their right mind would even consider the possibility of seeing the consequences of another horrible choice like that again.

Not this American…

By Nomad

September 7, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

AmVet - It is ok to acknowledge that a successful. intelligent woman scares you. You are seeing the future of the Republican party in Sarah Palin and what is being presented by the Democrats pales in comparison. What amazes me is that you want to replace the man who you say made bungling decisions with one who has no experience except for the 147 days he spent in the Senate. Hopefully, he will be allowed to return and finish out his term.

Try again.

NOMAD

By You make me sad

September 7, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

It makes me so sad to hear the redneck idiots speaking up to spout their stupid nonsense.

Calling Gov. Palin a “hag”, a “broad” and a “snow witch” only makes you look dumb, not cute like you think it does.

Wake up and smell the coffee. Do you want a mosque on every corner? Do you want to learn to speak Farsi instead of English?

Get a life and burn your computer.

By @@

September 7, 2008 12:58 PM | Link to this

Hi’ya Jim! I’m gonna pull one excerpt from your column and tell you why, I’ve found, it hits the mark:

Washington betrays us. Betrays us in the sense that we are made strangers from our government. We can�t make it be responsible. We can�t make it reform. We can�t make it understand � we can�t make them, the celebrities and insiders, the important people, understand.

Like everyone, I’m looking to find out who Sarah Palin is in politics. She knows who she is in her heart….in her home….in her family.

I’ve been scouring the internet looking for Sarah Palin BEFORE she was selected by John McCain to be his running mate. It’s not easy, but I’ve found plenty of on-air discussions, debates, interviews. OUR (and I say that as one of the WEs you mentioned above) Sarah gets it. WE can’t bring about reform from the outside, looking in, but she and John McCain sure can.

It’s no wonder that John McCain chose her. He’s been on the hill trying to reform it for 26 years. He now has Sarah……who’s got his back. During a speech in Colorado, I saw “The Original McCain” — “McCain the Maverick”, a reinvigorated John who, with an angry spark in his eye, was giving Washington fair notice. “We (McCain/Palin) are a force FOR THE PEOPLE!!!!

And you……Washington?

You political partisans?

You insiders and inciters…………?

Be forewarned! You are our intended target!

I yiked it Jim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 1:03 PM | Link to this

Dear harry @ 12:28, I think we hold similar views of reality here, and you will agree that may be a first. In many ways the Palin conundrum for the democrats is comparable to what republicans faced with Obama. I think she smoked-out Obama, such that he has to respond substantively. Thus my forecast that he will sound “right.”

I have a strategy that would allow Obama to retake the momentum. Joe Biden will have to withdraw, perhaps for unspecified “health” reasons (thus to keep a focus on one of the Obama allegations about McCain) and be replaced with a popular moderate. Either Hillary or Colin Powell would be a daring suggestion to re-take the momentum. I think Hillary would decline, but I think Powell would accept.

By Obama Man

September 7, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

I am a African American baby boomer who grew up in America where there was no access to power or influence. One thing is clear to me. We do not live in a world from which we came from the standpoint of nationalism. Just look at the differences in young people and and how they relate to one another. The internet, i-phone, computers, music, My space, You Tube, bloggers, globilization, etc etc. has changed everything. Most of the racism and cultural wars in America today originate from we baby boomers with their varying value systems used to separate us. The young kids of today do not have time for it. My grand kids have grown up in an integrated society of Asians, Latinos, African Americans, Caucasian Americans, Europeans,and others. They feel that most older people are out of touch. If you don’t believe me, strike up a conversation with them. They are very much aware.

Small town America where those in power were mostly white is coming to an end. We cannot afford to live in the past where this was the prevalent culture and way of life. Did you notice the differences in the conventions. The democrats had more young people and people of various races(mixed and otherwise). The Republicans were predominantly white baby boomers.It was pleasant to see them bring in a young white woman with lots of appeal for what ever reason. It appears that they recognize the need for change.

The focus of the elections should be on issues and policy and not values. Americans have different values and that will not change as we have always had different values. I want to hear about the economy, taxes, social security, healthcare, the environment, energy, foreign policy,special interest impacts, national security(domestic and foreign), education,etc. and how we blend these issues into the global world we live in today and in the future.

By Carbon Footprint

September 7, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

Sarah Palin is now being coached on every possible question the media will fire at her. (like the way dorothy and co. did for the lion when he prepared to be king of the forest)

When she emerges, she’ll shine again.

We’re being beguiled as a nation by a stranger. I dont see what could possibly go wrong, do you?

But sarah, what if you are faced with the choice of going to war and unrest? “I’ll show them who’s king of the forest.”

But sarah, what if you meet a reporter who offers you coffee in a caraffe? “Dont make me laugh”*

Expect very flippant answers to tough questions. With her “lipstick/ pittbull” joke, she obviously doesn’t know Vick about the media.

*I only put that in there to show you where I got my journalism degree.

By getalife "whiners"

September 7, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

Looks like gop values corporate welfare:

“Government Takes Over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac”

Big auto is next for the welfare bail out.

FDIC borrowing to bail out banks.

When will you people say enough with stealing your tax money and borrowing on your children’s debt?

I thought you were against welfare.

By getalife "whiners"

September 7, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

If you really want country first.

“No way, no how, no McCain.”

By ROSS

September 7, 2008 1:12 PM | Link to this

When did getting an �Ivy League� education become a bad thing? Personally, my dream was to attend Princeton and my daughter is looking at several of those �horrible places� to get her Master�s.

Sara took 6-7 years and nearly as many colleges to come up with a bachelor�s degree. I�m sorry, but I want the leaders of this nation to be better educated and smarter than I am. Neither McCain nor Palin fit the bill.

Being able to field dress a moose is great, if you�re planning on being a contestant on Survivor, but not a skill set generally useful inside the Beltway, unless you�re hunting with Dick.

I don�t know what small town, you guys grew up in, but the one that I grew up in, Sara would be considered a �nut case.� End-time beliefs are not main stream small town beliefs, makes a fine Christian novel, but they are not waiting around for the Rapture to spirit them away, any minute.

Her values are somewhere right of Rev. Hagee. Her views, what little we have found out about them, are rigid, puritanical and down right dangerous. I�m sure the non-Christian citizens will be shocked to find out that they will all be going to hell, and that will really play well in foreign relations.

I am insulted that the only women that the Republican�s could find that they feel is qualified to be President (remember McCain�s age) is what my small town would call �white trash.�

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

Ah.. AmVet the Awful.12:43..rising up from the depth of despair to denigrate one and all; a voice crying in the wilderness (of his mind). Cheer up, buddy, tomorrow’s another day and you can gripe some more.

SnowWitch, The Way, PoFo in meltdown….a light touch today, hmmm? So is a feather pillow.Whatever!! Go glue an igloo…

Dave,12:15 Nobody is MAKING you accept anything. Sarah Palin has many assets that will help this country. You don’t have to agree with everything about her but you should realize what whe has to offer. Wooten has analyzed quite happily the uplift she gives this country. Nobody else has given that incentive to America. McCain is the goal. She is the spirit of the team. Get with it!!

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

Dear OM @ 1:06, good argument. I disagree, respectfully. I think Obama yielded an “issues” election when he spent seven months developing his “rock star” brand. It is probably too late for him to establish credentials on any major issues. “Iraq is a loser” is a loser for Obama, and that is the only substantial foreign policy issue he has argued. “Bush tax cuts are bad” is a comparable loser-argument in economics, but that is the only position he has staked out for himself.

The Republicans, in selecting and promoting so-highly Sarah Palin, have made this a “values” election. Obama and Biden have some credibility on values, although that is a two-edge sword for Obama - he also has some conspicuous negatives there. I think Obama does best continuing to avoid issues - as his base is at odds with majority sensibilities on the issues, he must continue the “Jimmy Carter stealth” strategy there. Thus I think he will pusue a “values” position to the right of John McCain. How would it hit you if Obama comes out with “McCain-Feingold was a dumb idea on the fundamentals, and should have been ruled unconstitutional.”?

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Could Obama credibly embrace “vouchers” and “fair tax?” If he really wants to stir the pot….

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this

Dear Ragnar,

Why do you think Colin Powell would accept a second hand position offer from Obama?

First, Powell is a top-0f-the-line man and not one to be a substitute.

Second, Powell is a wise man who can see without a doubt that Obama is inexperienced in matters of government.

Third, Powell is a military man who would not find a man of anti-war philosophy one he could support with honor.

Powell has had greater opportunities offered to him and refused them with a smile.

PS…Biden would not resign if he were dragged from the scene screaming.. R U dreaming????

By Carbon Footprint

September 7, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

So Track joined the army. The only goose bumps that someone might get looking at the flag (the flag that Cheney and Rove hide behind) is the blisters they have from Cheney�s drunken firearm mishaps.

That opens up Iraq as a topic as readily as Mr. Woo, of China, opened up the Mother Goose story he spun, about there being any political justice beyond the constitutional disenfranchisement of the 300 million victims of 911: just us.

Why? Because this war isn�t a war. It�s a hybrid coming-of-age, (nursery-rhyme free), of three different Islamo-Christian sojourns, which themselves are an ever-changing melee of invented national security precautions and misguided nation building.

There�s no need to summarize the 100 year history of the Christian West and the Islamic Hoards sitting on all that oil and how much justice we afforded their own national autonomy.

This war is from people�s everyday lives, with faucets a-drippin� and lights a-flickerin� and baby�s a-cryin, but these are ethno-sectarian lives, whose goose-bumps aren�t inspired by any one flag, but rather the tattered rags of past genocide; not so much hand-me-down as hand-me-a-grenade. We are dealing with the history of perpetual ethnic bandages and self-fulfilling sectarian blood.

To ignore history is 2 cause armeggedon. The planet has a self-help book, and it�s the planet�s first self help book (especially the chapter about self-fulfilling prophesies): the Bible which was written by the same folks what brung us M. Goose, oddly enough).

True.

The Bible: Chapter 37. Now we come to the crux of the fruition of the crucifixion: Does God talk to us, literally, so that we can gain counsel from a message we receive from him, as we pray about how to behave concerning the little events in our lives, like fixin the screen door, and plowing up the back forty, and ambushing our neighbor before he ambushes us? Are we all Kings with diplomatic immunity for our acts when we declare them to be acts of God? (as bush did, and Sarah Palin does)?

There was a cold woman who lived near igloos. She kept having children, (is she red state or blue)? She flashed bright at Right moths then hid from the press, thus the state where she wins is the state of undress.

Proof: Chapter 37 of the Kama Sutra is the page where they depict the Missionary Postion. Coincidence? I think not. This is the only place where East meets West. It�s like the bible code, and God is telling us something about Sarah Palin.

I�m Pofo and I�m immune from the consequences of this message so ordained by bush�s entire presidency.

By Andy

September 7, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

Dusty, thanks 4 the kind words. Thank you.

You keep writing, girlfriend, cause I know that a person could glean more salient comments than yours by reading the skidmarks on 3-day-old BVDs.

bwa haw

By @@

September 7, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

Dusty:

One thing I’ve noticed about Ragnar — Sarah Pales In comparison to how much he likes to stir the pot here.

Take note of how he stirs the liberal masses.

Just like Sarah, his is an endearing quality to be sure.

By Ray

September 7, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Dusty makes a good point. Alma Powell insisted that her husband not run for president because she was afraid for his safety, among other reasons.
He is not the kind of person that would run with a socialist who has no appreciation for the military that Powell spent all of his adult life emulating. When Powell accepted the Doughboy Award at Ft. Benning, GA (past recipients Eisenhouer, Bradley, Marshall), you could tell how much the military means to him and to his heritage. He would not degrade himself by associating with an empty suit like Mr. Wonderful. Never.

By AmVet

September 7, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this

Noman, are you a professional moron or just an amateur?

The fact that she is successful and intelligent is not at issue.

But even the possibility of teenage trailer trash, frozen though it may be, running around the White House is pretty off-setting to most decent American parents, regardless of party affiliation or political beliefs.

Her character, and the seemingly significant problems with it, are being closely examined by an electorate that is absolutely fed up with you non-conservative “conservative” charlatans.

And all these dwindling, impotent uber-hypocrites and non-christian frauds, including our very own oft-derided and pathetic dustball, DO NOT like it. But, of course, are powerless to do more than whine about it.

And threaten us with eternal damnation. So I’m just eternally thankful that the book burning cretins can’t get rid of the first amendment and just start with the second. Like they would just love to do in Cobb County.

Further, Noman, I will never vote for Senator Obama. I have stated so from before he won the nomination. He is IMHO much worse a choice.

That you assume I would, shows just how ill-informed and frankly, willing to look like an idiot and an ostrich, you really are.

By Chuck

September 7, 2008 2:06 PM | Link to this

Sarah has certainly energized the Obama group. This woman is scary and it is clear will only bring four more years of the worst administration our country has had in generations. She may carry the South because of her values, but let us all pray that she won’t carry the Nation. Written by a gay former Atlantan that now fortunately lives in California and is getting married this month. Real family values at work.

By Chuck

September 7, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

Sarah has certainly energized the Obama group. This woman is scary and it is clear will only bring four more years of the worst administration our country has had in generations. She may carry the South because of her values, but let us all pray that she won’t carry the Nation. Written by a gay former Atlantan that now fortunately lives in California and is getting married this month. Real family values at work.

By Chuck

September 7, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

Sarah has certainly energized the Obama group. This woman is scary and it is clear will only bring four more years of the worst administration our country has had in generations. She may carry the South because of her values, but let us all pray that she won’t carry the Nation. Written by a gay former Atlantan that now fortunately lives in California and is getting married this month. Real family values at work.

By Pee'er Pressure

September 7, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this

So Track joined the army. The only goose bumps that someone might get looking at the flag (the flag that Cheney and Rove hide behind) is the blisters they have from Cheney�s drunken firearm mishaps.

That opens up Iraq as a topic as readily as Mr. Woo, of China, opened up the Mother Goose story he spun, about there being any political justice beyond the constitutional disenfranchisement of the 300 million victims of 911: just us.

Why? Because this war isn�t a war. It�s a hybrid coming-of-age, (nursery-rhyme free), of three different Islamo-Christian sojourns, which themselves are an ever-changing melee of invented national security precautions and misguided nation building.

There�s no need to summarize the 100 year history of the Christian West and the Islamic Hoards sitting on all that oil and how much justice we afforded their own national autonomy.

This war is from people�s everyday lives, with faucets a-drippin� and lights a-flickerin� and baby�s a-cryin, but these are ethno-sectarian lives, whose goose-bumps aren�t inspired by any one flag, but rather the tattered rags of past genocide; not so much hand-me-down as hand-me-a-grenade. We are dealing with the history of perpetual ethnic bandages and self-fulfilling sectarian blood.

To ignore history is 2 cause armeggedon. The planet has a self-help book, and it�s the planet�s first self help book (especially the chapter about self-fulfilling prophesies): the Bible which was written by the same folks what brung us M. Goose, oddly enough).

True.

The Bible: Chapter 37. Now we come to the crux of the fruition of the crucifixion: Does God talk to us, literally, so that we can gain counsel from a message we receive from him, as we pray about how to behave concerning the little events in our lives, like fixin the screen door, and plowing up the back forty, and ambushing our neighbor before he ambushes us? Are we all Kings with diplomatic immunity for our acts when we declare them to be acts of God? (as bush did, and Sarah Palin does)?

There was a cold woman who lived near igloos. She kept having children, (is she red state or blue)? She flashed bright at Right moths then hid from the press, thus the state where she wins is the state of undress.

Proof: Chapter 37 of the Kama Sutra is the page where they depict the Missionary Postion. Coincidence? I think not. This is the only place where East meets West. It�s like the bible code, and God is telling us something about Sarah Palin.

I�m Pofo and I�m immune from the consequences of this message so ordained by bush�s entire presidency.

By Andy

September 7, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

Dusty, thanks 4 the kind words. Thank you.

You keep writing, girlfriend, cause I know that a person could glean more salient comments than yours by reading the skidmarks on 3-day-old BVDs.

bwa haw

By Beat Up a Repulican Everyday

September 7, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

How can you tell when Sarah is lying? Her lips are moving.

By Keeping It Real

September 7, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this

Ray,

After how Bush, Cheney and Brumsfield misled Powell on Iraq, you bet he would have nothing to do with the republican party or politics period. Why would he want to run with Obama? Are you implying that he would do so because he is an African American? Why do you label Obama a sociolist? You seem to be mixing a lot of issues to make a point. What is it? You sound like McCain.

By davidg11

September 7, 2008 2:30 PM | Link to this

Both Obama and McCain are keeping us in Iraq. Neither will close bases overseas.

So the question is WHO is going to spend more domestically?

McCain Palin or Obama Biden

Proposed spending by candidate:

McCain $68.517 billion

Obama $286.999 billion

I supported Ron Paul because I’m a FISCAL conservative. Not social. Cutting pork out of bills and cutting unnecessary domestic spending is how I must vote. Hence I support McCain/Palin

By old91A10

September 7, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

@ demsrscared “…you know the dems r scared when all they can do is spew….”

Exactly right, except they’re also calling for their big gun, HRC, to do the heavy lifting again — their favorite whipping and go to grrrl.

Politico: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13193.html Patti Davis makes a plea for Senator Clinton to stop Palin

Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/id/157376 Clinton set to strike McCain, not Palin

Across the board, in both parties, citizens and politicians, media wags and readers agree: zerObama and gliBiden are wusses, and need a grrrl to do their fighting. I can not wait for the few debates that zerObama and gliBiden did not chicken out on.

Governor Palin has more experience and accomplishments than both zerObama and gliBiden, by any measure. How’s that for you? Both, the Republican Number 1 and 2 outrank the Democratic Number 1.

There is much to admire in Senator McCain and Governor Palin. And there is much for me to despise in anything that has to do with the DNC and the DemocRAT party — from impeachment through FISA; primary rigging, racism, and misogyny; holding off on a reasonable energy plan for what will be another year — depressing!

I have no problem voting for Senator McCain and Governor Palin. I am trusting that they, as much as any D or R dream team I can imagine, will be able to work with a receptive Democratic House and Senate to improve our Country while both parties undergo rehabilitation. Of course, I am excepting the demonstrated duplicity, equivocation, and cowardice of OPRah [Obama, Pelosi, Reid a* holes] — you can not shine s**.

For my money, there is nothing better than keeping any one party from holding all the cards, especially under these circumstances where both parties ought to be repairing themselves.

Where my issues and views may differ from McCain’s and Palin’s, I recall that most of them begin and end in The Congress, and there will be solid Democratic majorities in both Houses.

Finally, McCain and Palin are not Bush and Cheny. If you did not notice the mighty struggle that went on during the Republican Primary, it was because your head was up Obama’s a* during the DemocRAT anointment.

I can’t wait to see the next pile of crap from Bookman and Tucker. I hope there will be open comments.

PUMA — I am calling dibs on my single vote being the one that cancels out both Obama’s and Biden’s votes.

By Beat Up a Repulican Everyday

September 7, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this

Do you folks really wanna know which way America is going? Well, I can assure that it is not toward socialism. What do you call it when the government is a full partner with industry? Let me give you a hint: At that time we will spell America with a K…AmeriKa. Fascism is when the government and industry are as one. The guy has now taken over Fannie and Freddie, thus doubling the federal debt. Ford, GM, and that other loser company all have their hands out for some federal partnership money, like 50 billion dollars worth. Lieberswine has already threatened to nationalize the oil industry. Boeing and Lockheed are little more than a subset DOD. Just as well, I always thought the goosestep was cool.

By Van

September 7, 2008 2:42 PM | Link to this

I am going to stop reading Wooten’s column as of today. His rush to jump on the Palin bandwagon is laughable, at best. If she were Obama’s running mate he would be skewering her.

I am thankful that I can perceive the world independent of the filters of one political party.

By AmVet

September 7, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

No matter who wins the White House this November, one fact remains undeniable.

They will be facing the daunting task of fixing the nearly innumerable screw ups either directly caused by this neo-con infested administration or the many more due to their sleeping at the switch/simply not addressing them in any meaningful way.

And perhaps the largest job of all will be to try and restore the generous goodwill of the 75% or so of American’s who have watched in disbelief the utter lack of basic competence and decency by their president and his “advisers”/henchmen and by proxy those who enabled and supported them.

So, cleaning up after what many contend is the most corrupt and inept administration in American history, is sure to be one arduous endeavor…

By fearless fosdik

September 7, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

By Ray

September 7, 2008 1:57 PM

RAY..Powell did denigrate his position, and in doing so cost 4,000+ american lives…

But, I guess you don’t remember his lying before the U.N. concerning Iraqs “MASSIVE” build up of WMD?

By Pee'er Pressure

September 7, 2008 2:45 PM | Link to this

How can you tell when her lips R moving?

Go Falcons! Fun game 2 watch, folks.

By catlady

September 7, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

Well, the one thing I will agree with from Mr. Wooten’s column is ” The crop speaks for itself.” It sure does. Loud and clear. Mrs. Palin in NO WAY represents me or my family! She is not “of me”, nor is she of most of the other decent, hardworking folks I know. To say that regarding her daughter’s unwed pregnancy, the family is “pawns” is laughable. McCain had no chance before, due to many problems of his own, but with this anchor around his neck he is sunk!

By booo

September 7, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this

Cynthia Tucker is horrible. Fire her!

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 2:56 PM | Link to this

Dear @@ @ 1:43, . I am sorta in earnest about Obama - I think his brand is damaged, and he will have to do something extreme, albeit non-leftist, to reignite his engine. He has no momentum now, and there is nothing on the horizon to get it going again. He does not need to take out Sarah, he needs to change the discussion entirely.

Obama is boxed in, on issues and on values. He can either reinforce the corners of the box and lose nobly - think AuH20 1964 - or he can think outside the box. When der Schlickmeister said he thought abortion should be “safe, legal, and rare,” what did that really mean? In eight years his administration did nothing to change the discussion and/or national discord on abortion. Similarly, Obama has one strength - “words.” Whether he means anything he says is irrelevant to any except conservatives, whose votes he would never get anyway. His party is based on cult, not policies.

Thus Obama should play to his strength - words - and change the national discussion. I suggested “vouchers” and “fair tax” - surely nobody believes a democrat congress would do anything to implement those - but any such distraction would rebrand Obama as the candidate of ideas. Certainly he is not that yet, but that is one he could develop quickly, and without meaningful answer from republicans.

And yes, I suppose I am baiting our leftist friends with a little Socratic argument.

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

Brain misfire, I meant Sophistic, not Socratic. Screwing up my Greeks.

By ron

September 7, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this

When it’s all said and done,it’s actually much better to have a Republican President when there’s a Democratically controlled government.and vice versa.Unless,of course,you’re longing to pay higher taxes after the election.I’m not.My taxes are high enough.Let’s all be sane people and vote in McCain so Obama can go back and be the junior Senator from Illinois.Junior Senator has a nice ring to it,doesn’t it?

By old91A10

September 7, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this

If there were ever to be a political discussion between Micael Reagan and me, I’m pretty sure the riot squad might be called in.

But, this caught me off guard: http://countusout.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/welcome-back-dad-by-michael-reagan/

By Ray

September 7, 2008 3:05 PM | Link to this

Real,

Precisely, my friend, you hit the nail on the head. I don’t think that Powell has any respect for Mr. Wonderful, regardless of his race and maybe because of it. I do not think that he would want to associate with this socialist, and that is exactly what he is. Did you read Powell’s book? He makes it very clear what kind of philosophy that he propounds and it is not socialism or a person like the Annointed One, you can be sure. Powell was probably used and duped, as you have stated. He is no doubt not very happy about that….. the one blight on an otherwise sterling career. Ever made a mistake, Real? Most of us have. And he is not about to make another one. Powell has more class in his big toe than Mr. Wonderful could ever hope to have. It makes little difference, however. Sad as might be, the American electorate will not elect a black president like this guy. Powell? Yeah, a much better chance. You Demos just picked the wrong black guy when you threw Hillary under the bus. You will live to rue the day that happened.

By old91A10

September 7, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this

If there were ever to be a political discussion between Michael Reagan and me, I’m pretty sure the riot squad might be called in.

But, this caught me off guard: http://countusout.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/welcome-back-dad-by-michael-reagan/

By catlady

September 7, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this

BTW, those of you with health insurance by Kaiser: how does it feel to pay increasing premiums, be turned down for needed procedures, subsidize the company through tax breaks, pay incredible salaries to the top officers, AND pay enough extra to fund health care for 1000 worthy uninsured persons!? Your (GOP) government in action!

By Pee'er Pressure

September 7, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this

Let me tell U Y I like these Falcons: it’s not just because they’ve scored 30 points and there’s still 6 minutes left in the 3rd.

It’s because they’re playing like a team. It’s a good team. I’m a watchin’, and I’m a likin’.

Go Falcons!

BTW: ray, there’s a question about how much Powell knew and when he knew it abou the lie. If he told bald faced eyes wide open lies, as we all suspect, then he needed to disappear like he did. Why did he throw his career away like that? Loyalty to a bum, W?

I really loved and respected Powell till I realized how he deceived the world.

By AmVet

September 7, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this

Michael Reagan certainly does write some grade A nonsense. But I read him from time to time, just for his strange viewpoint on things.

And he may be the only person on the planet who I understand as to why he adored the otherwise oft-pitiful Ronnie presidency…

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

1:42

PoFo,is Midori helping you be the fool today or do you find underwear exciting on your own?

Poor fearless fosdick,

I guess the war in Iraq will be over before you get through supporting the terrorists. Just send them a sympathy card. They appreciate your efforts.

By Just Nasty and Mean

September 7, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

OK, let’s sum up Obla-bla-ma’s experience to that of Sarah Palin to be President of the United States of America:

Obama has had decades-long associations with Rev.(G.D America!) Jeremiah Wright, (unrepentant confessed Pentagon and US Capital bomber and NY police precinct cop-killer) Bill Ayers-who got off the charges on an evidence gathering technicality), and (radical racist preacher) Michael Pfleger,

Obama�s time spent as a so-called �community organizer� was primarily served under ACORN, a socialist-left urban organization with ties to the American Communist Party� who recently endorsed him. Nothing of specific significance of Obama�s accomplishments during this extended period has been revealed.

For 7 years while teaching at University of Chicago School of Law, Obama focused on rights, race and sexism. During this extended period, he was never recognized for publishing a single item of law interpretation, position, or thesis. Obama�s teaching career was distinguished by how little he accomplished outside the classroom. His law license expired in 2002 due to inactivity.

Obama won a contract and cash advance to write a book about race relations. The book evolved into a personal memoir. In an effort to recruit him to their faculty, the University of Chicago Law School provided Obama with a fellowship and an office to work on his book He originally planned to finish the book in one year, but it took much longer. In order to work without interruptions, Obama and his wife, Michelle, traveled to Bali where he wrote for several months. The manuscript was finally published as Dreams from My Father in mid-1995. Even though he received a grant for the book, none of the royalty proceeds of the resultant effort was returned to the university.

Obama has had several business dealings with indicted/convicted Chicago slumlord Tony Rezco, for political corruption, who stood to gain millions from several bills Obama introduced in the Illinois legislature intended to benefit �senior housing�, that provided taxpayer-funded grants funneled to Chicago landlords. The Obama�s home was purchased at a significant discount— just coincidentally and simultaneously—on the same day Rezco purchased an adjoining lot from the same owner for an inflated full price.

What do these FACTS reveal?

Obama is a Socialist/Marxist from the Chicago political machine with dealings with the crooks and thieves.

It is beyond belief that ANYONE with his questionable background, mixed credentials and hybrid loyalties could even be considered a part of American politics for DOGCATCHER —-much less President of the USA.

Sarah Palin has an undisputed red-blood All-American background with ELECTED executive experience running a government.

NO COMPARISON

By AmVet

September 7, 2008 3:30 PM | Link to this

Not that it is even in question, but more evidence that the RINO maverick is not the usual arrogant, sycophant seeking neo-con:

WASHINGTON — Republican John McCain pledged if elected president to appoint Democrats to his Cabinet, saying there’s nothing partisan about tackling the nation’s toughest problems.

“I don’t know how many, but I can tell you, with all due respect to previous administrations, it is not going to be a single … ‘Well we have a Democrat now.’ It’s going to be the best people in America,” the GOP presidential nominee told CBS’ “Face the Nation,” in an interview taped Saturday that will be broadcast in full Sunday.

By Pee'er Pressure

September 7, 2008 3:32 PM | Link to this

Catlady, RU suggesting that America should provide healthcare for it’s sick folks? Come on, what planet RU on?

Only the wealthy and healthy have healthcare cause they donts needs it. That’s capitalism and that’s conservatism.

and that’s the evil of Mr. Woo, of China.

By @@

September 7, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this

Dear @@ @ 1:43, . I am sorta in earnest about Obama - I think his brand is damaged, and he will have to do something extreme, albeit non-leftist, to reignite his engine.

I know you are Ragnar, my question is, why bother? Changing who HE appears to be for political gain isn’t going to change who HE really is. OBlahMa is a radical leftist out to promote his socialist agenda. It would be dangerous to assist HIM in portraying HIMSELF as anything but. Colin Powell would have no part in OBlahMa’s deception.

Just as Glenn asked that I back off from pushing Condoleeza for VP, the same applies to Colin Powell. I think they are both beyond politics and seek more noble pursuits. Good for them both.

I was pleased to see The Real John McCain in Colorado. While I may not agree with some of the issues that provoked him to reach across the aisle, I am ready for the change he advocates. In that respect, I will willingly support a candidate that tells me our politics are broken.

I will never assist a candidate who tells me OUR America is broken.

If your effort was to point out that there are more Americans, conservative in their traditional values, than there are Americans liberal in their social values, I tend to agree.

Leftists have pushed too hard for too long. Backlash will reward their efforts. You would think they’d learned their lesson when Reagan democrats showed up on the national stage.

They’re a determined bunch! But let’s not help them or their candidates. They’re in the process of self destructing all by their lonesome.

By Ray

September 7, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this

Fosdick,

Guess Madeline Albright, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Harry Reid, Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton and numerous other liberals will have” denigrated” their positions too. Have you watched the You Tube tape on all of these liberals saying that it was essential that we stop Iraq from developing WMDs, taking out Saddam for the good of the middle east and picturing him as the AntiChrist. Then when no WMDs were found, they jumped off the ship like drowning rats and pointed fingers at every Repub that they could find. You just can’t believe how that sort of thing hurts your re-election chances. What a bunch of flamin’ hypocrites.

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this

Dear Catlady,3:10

I know you like to purr but must you bring your litter box with you?? Just send that SCARLET LETTER to the Palins so they can pin in on their daughter. You could really get your liberal claws into that.

By the way, what does Kaiser have to do with the GOP? Kaiser just gave a $$$gift to Grady. You don’t like support for Grady?

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this

Good argument, @@ @ 3:37, I concede.

By Keeping It Real

September 7, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this

Ray,

Personaaly I like Obama. I do not think that he is any more of a socialist than the rest of us. I do not even know what a socialist is except that if the tag applies to Obama, then it applies to me as well. I will vote for him in November.

I have always been fascnated in the high regards that some people have for Colin Powell. He has the same high standards as Obama. Both are educated in the best of American politics and achievement. Powell is of Jamaican heredity while Obama is of Kenyan and American heredity. I hope you are wrong when you say that America will not elect the right black man. How about electing the right man? That sounds better to me. See you at the polls.

By Ray

September 7, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

Real,

You are probably right about electing the right man but so much has been made of the liberal candidate as the first black candidate. I really don’t think that the Repubs are so caught up in it as the Demos and the media. So much has been made of this that it is hard to ignore. We have all but left race out of this whole process but it is the one thing that is probably going to determine the result than any other. The voting booth is a very private place where “political correctness” is left on the other side of the curtain. I still don’t think that he is the right black candidate. There are so many more that have so much more substance that could have done it better.

By Blain W.

September 7, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this

There is no doubt in my mind that barryO is a socialist. Go to the Communist Party USA website or the Socialist Party USA website. If nothing else barryO’s policies have opened the door for them to step through.

Socialists and Barack Obama

I reject �critical support� to Obama for that reason. But since we don�t yet have the labor or mass left party, and we don�t have mass social movements or a large-scale active antiwar movement, the challenge is to raise the class issues in the context of the electoral arena.

How? It means positively engaging Obama�s supporters and his campaign on the broad agenda issues. It means attending the campaign�s events and talking to the young supporters about upcoming rallies against the war, solidarity with striking workers, and for single payer health care.

Electing the first African-American president, like electing the first Black mayors 40 years ago, is relative progress but not a solution to underlying class and social issues.

By catlady

September 7, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this

PP: I was attempting to point out how current policies fleece the middle class. Check the record on KP’s financial status 8 years ago vs now(profits, dividends, executive compensation). I am NOT against health care. I AM against companies getting massive writeoffs to do it with the money of those paying for insurance! And then bragging about it.

Dusty, re: the Palin’s daughter, or any other matter: Palin should know—don’t talk the talk unless you can get “your folks” to walk the walk.

Don’t cry “leave my child out of it” if you use her to promote yourself.

I think Ms. Palin’s candidacy is an unmitigated disaster for the Republican party. Nothing about her seems to say “limited government” or “family values.” I see “It’s okay when I do it.” and “Gimme, gimme, gimme, it’s all about ME.”

With the right candidate, I would have probably voted Republican. I am not thrilled with Obama for many reasons. But I cannot vote for McCain/Palin at all. I don’t see much of anything about her that resonates with me or the people I am friends with. As a teacher, I know lots of folks like her, with apparently similar values, but I wouldn’t vote for them for anything.

(I really would like to see the VP spreadsheet I speculated about a few days ago, and see who came in second place in “prospective VP points.”)

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

Dear Catladay @ 4:22, “unmitigated” is probably a bad choice of terms.

Pollster John Zogby: “Clearly, Palin is helping the McCain ticket. She has high favorability numbers, and has unified the Republican Party. The striking thing here in this poll is that McCain has pulled ahead among Catholics by double-digits. On the other hand, Palin is not helping with likely voting women who are not aligned with either political party. The undecided independent women voters decreased this week from 15% to 7%, but those women went to Obama. Palin is also helping among men, conservatives, notably with suburban and rural voters, and with frequent Wal-Mart shoppers, who tend to be “values” voters who like a good value for their money.”

McCain’s favorability rating increased from 50% favorable last week to 57% favorable now, a significant jump that indicates the GOP convention was a success. Among independent voters, 61% now have a favorable impression of him, compared to just 49% who said the same a week ago.

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1548

By @@

September 7, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

I concede.

Dang Ragnar! That was too easy…..

Kom p� dagslys!!

J/K, I luv it when a man concedes.

To note: This morning at church services, our new minister asked those who enjoy a conflict to raise their hands. Mine and our former minister (a brit) were the only two hands that went up.

Not the response the new guy was looking for, but he took the opportunity to say…….

“If there were going to be any hands, I knew it would be the two of you. For those who have never witnessed these two in heated debate, you don’t know what your missing — it’s a lovely site to see — a total love fest when it’s not a slug fest, that is.”

Oh well? The new minister and I are off to a great start.

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 4:53 PM | Link to this

Catlady,

I am sorry to hear that you are a teacher. Teachers need open minds to information. Yours is quite evidently closed. And you do not think that teenagers have a mind of their own, even when principles are taught.

There is also an element of forgiveness. Should the Palins evict their daughter? Should they hide obvious information they knew would soon be made public whether they wanted it or not?

The Palins don’t want unmarried teenagers for anybody. I don’t either. But I think they took the only approach that showed love and responsibility. Obviously, you think those are BAD traits. I hope you don’t have any children.

By Carol

September 7, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten needs to go to Alaska and find out the truth behind Palin’s governship and being mayor of a small town. The truth concerning the state jet is Palin did not sell the jet on EBay and there was a loss not a gain as J. McCain stated. She would be the Senate ProTem; some people have forgotten that would be her job.

By Tar and feathered

September 7, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

Troll alert- The way has now changed his name to peer’er pressure and goose bumps. SOOOO transparent.

By @@

September 7, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this

This about this. Every year Democratic Socialists of America hosts the Debs - Thomas - Harrington Dinner, a major event on the Illinois socialist calendar. The dinner honours outstanding “community leaders” activists and unionists. Many if not most of the honorees are DSA members. All have done their bit for the socialist cause.

In 2001 at their annual dinner, now deceased DSA member Carl Marx Shier presented Henry Bayer with the 2001 Debs-Thomas-Harrington Award.

In the ’70s Bayer was organizer for the Chicago Socialist party (a forerunner of DSA) and a member of the Young Peoples Socialist League National Executive Committee. Bayer and the Illinois chapter of the country’s major government-employees union broke with its national organization to endorse Barack Obama for president.

Nationally, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees were backing Hillary Rodham Clinton. But the union’s Illinois leaders decided to make their own endorsement.

Henry Bayer: “It is an unusual step, but we’ve had a long relationship with Senator Obama. We’ve had a better opportunity to observe him up close than people in other parts of the country.”

They liked what they saw, A SOCIALIST ON HIS WAY TO THE WHITEHOUSE.

YeeeeHAHAHAHAHAHA.

By @@

September 7, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this

How liberals are so willing to accept OBlahMa’s socialist leanings is beyond me. This “socialist” business is not to be taken lightly. If in doubt, just check out the impoverished people living under the impending dictatorship of Hugo Chavez. The impoverished people who have been living under Fidel Castro for decades.

You liberals and your party are not to be believed.

By old91A10

September 7, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this

@ Carol 4:55 PM

She declared the jet as an albatross, put it on ebay, there was a (to be discovered) reasonable offer, there was a squabble amongst the sellers (in the meantime, it was costing 70 +/- grand a month), the prospective buyer found another jet, it was then listed with an agent, it was sold at a price slightly higher than the first offer (not considering the $$/month lost).

I believe she kept driving herself to work and flying commercial or bush.

If you would like, I will check into the conditions of the root cellar where she locked up her kids and what kind of beer her husband drank while he played video games all day.

I did some research on ‘troopergate’, but I’m going to have to keep that quiet, because it wasn’t damaging enough. Searches keep leading to ‘tasering stepson’ (maybe the kid needed it), ‘drinking while in uniform and in squad cars’, ‘unprofessionalism’, ‘threats uttered while in uniform’, …..

Don’t worry. If the evidence is slim, you can always fall back on the misogyny and racism tricks. And, if that doesn’t work? Hmmmm. I know! Blame it all on Senator Clinton and demand that she fight zerObama’s battles.

By Ray

September 7, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this

Washington - The McCain camp responded this afternoon to his having attacked a woman in a wheelchair in 1996 by saying, ‘The senator can’t put his hands up over his head, so it was really more like a fair fight.’

Class.

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this

@@.5:15

Very interesting information. Socialist on the way to the White House!!

But you know what? You could say Obama had been running wild with NeoNazis for years (he hasn’t) and six liberals would post here saying no Nazi could make a great speech like Obama does and he will “save” this country.

As my great aunt used to say:”No use pouring water on a duck’s back.”

PS..Glad you like your new minister. We have an “old” one. He’s a character. Just back from W. Va. doing rehab on some needy homes with the teenagers of our church.

I think I will try yoga. One son is out riding his motorcycle with others. Will I ever get happy over motorcycles??? NOOOO…

By Common Sense

September 7, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this

This is amazing reading some of these posts!

Dems forget about Governor Palin this is really a Hollywood pick no substance! Ms. Palin does not have any policy knowledge it will come out!

I need to know why we think Senator McClain is intelligent enough to make good decisions!

Can someone tell me a good decision that John McClain has made. Supporting the surge does not count because he voted to send troops in and they did not have body armor to protect themselves!

By former Republican

September 7, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this

Jim, Republicans like you honestly scare me. I am tired of women being relegated to the notion of “they did what they had to do” and it’s a patriotic duty. Women ALL do what we need to do in this country to survive, glass ceilings, sexism, less-than-equal pay provided.

Let me just start off by saying that if Sarah Paulin’s family chooses to support her 17-year pregnant daughter’s pregnancy . . fine. But, as a legislator, she needs to respect the rights of other families to do what they think is best for their own daughter’s sake. If the only legislation you can support is restrictive to abstinence-only programs, then look in your own yard to see how that is working out. I am so tired of the Republicans supporting the “family values” and then being absolute hypocrites.

Your column scares me. Women are so much more than the body parts we own.

By Common Sense

September 7, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this

To Dusty, @@ and Rags,

Please tell me you believe Senator McClain is intelligent enough to run a country!

Cheating on his first wife wow a real man of GOD!

Acting like a big baby when the Republicans did not agree with his strategies!

Going over to the Democrats when the big baby did not get support for his measures!

Please name me a bill he sponsored that helped the American people!

Was it immigration? Oh that’s right it did not pass thru!

Oh wait Mr. McClain was promoted by John Warner and old friend who John picked-up up all the ladies!

Finish in the bottom 5 of his class, married a wealthy woman and went and ran for the HOUSE of Representatives after not living in the state for one day.

Senator McClain would be an excellent Secretary of State not the president of the United States of America.

By @@

September 7, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this

Dusty:

OBlahMa’s socialist roots go deeper than Bayer. Illinois, specifically the Chicago area, OBlahMa’s district, is riddled with socialist activity.

HIS mentor in “community organizing” was none other than Saul Alinsky who paid tribute in his book “Rules for Radicals” with this opening statement:

The first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom � Lucifer.”

Makes my hair stand on end when I read his crap. A very dangerous man whose only interest was in power for power’s sake. His philosophy has hijacked the once decent Democratic party, and they haven’t yet figured out what hit ‘em.

By Jackie

September 7, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this

The so-called conservatives are trying to extrapolate more. The said the Democratic Socialist Party endorsed Hillary, yet, they try to say the Dems themselves are Socialist.

Wonder what they will say about Gov. Palin and her views about the party so was a member of that advocated Alaska secede from the Union?

Will they fly the Confederate flag for her and the Repubs to further energize their base?

Get in line neo-cons and take your political kicking!

By old91A10

September 7, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this

@ Common Sense 6:06 PM “… Hollywood pick no substance! Ms. Palin does not have any policy knowledge….”

[OK. I’ll try tongue-in-cheek hyperbole.] I’d pay for tickets to see you say that directly to Governor Palin. I suspect that you are just as big a wuss as zerObama or gliBiden.

By Jackie

September 7, 2008 6:39 PM | Link to this

Was John McCain a member of the infamous “Keating 5?”

If so, why are 4 of the 5 in jail?

By catlady

September 7, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this

Dusty, I am glad the Palins are supporting their daughter. Hope it means the rest of us don’t have to support her, too. Let the family and her soon to be hubby support her. Not WIC, not Medicaid, not mama’s state insurance, but let the family (hers and her fiance’s) take responsibility. Seems like she and he really needed more responsible family time a while back.

Glad they are not hiding her pregnancy any more. I just wish they were not “using” it to get votes from the anti-abortion crowd. Or so it seems from the outside.

I wish the family well. They just don’t need to be running for office right now, with the most important thing, their children, in obvious distress. My voting for her would be sinful; it would be encouraging her to continue to be largely absent in her family’s life. (By the way, what kind of a daddy is Mr. Palin?)

Yeah, I do have children. Raised 3 on my own. Spent every cent and every moment on them. The baby is in grad school now. Things I regret? Sure, but I am not running for office on a family values platform.

As a teacher, I see a lot of kids whose parents put their own needs and wants above the raising of their kids. Doesn’t work very well for the kids, nor for society.

I think Mr. McCain could have picked a person who would bring stronger credentials to the table than Ms. Palin. And strength, is what our country needs.

By Jamie

September 7, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this

Her values include lying through her teeth, which she has done every time she has opened her mouth. She lied about the “bridge to nowhere” on the day she was introduced (she was FOR it before she was against it); she liked about her position on lobbyists (she hired one of Abramoff’s to represent her tiny village, an unprecedented move); she lied about her opposition to earmarks (she got $27 million of them in Wasilla, thanks to her Abramoff lobbyist). And that’s just the SHORT LIST.

It’s apparently easy to tell when Palin is lying — it’s whenever her lips are moving.

Those are NOT my values.

And we haven’t even started on the fact that she is wholly and completely unqualified to do the job. There are at least 100 other Republican women who are more qualified than the “hockey mom” — women who actually have relevant experience and gravitas. She has NONE.

As a woman, and as a Republican, I am deeply offended by this woman’s presence on the Republican ticket. I waited for McCain to make this critical choice, because he is 72 and his VP choice matters greatly. He failed utterly. I am disappointed and angry at the depth of his poor judgment. I expected better of him.

By jm

September 7, 2008 7:02 PM | Link to this

Sarah Palin might not be of Washington but she certainly knew who to go to as mayor of Wasilla to get those earmarks. As for Senator McCain, he is definitely of Washington after almost 25 years. Finally, Mr. Wooten, this is no longer the time of “Leave it to Beaver” or “Father Knows Best”. Most Americans now live in large metropolitan areas - not small towns.

By Stone

September 7, 2008 7:09 PM | Link to this

Jamie I very much doubt you are a Republican. More like a Democrat posing as a Republican desperate to give your drivel more credibility. EZ 2 C through U, poser! ….. Next!

By old91A10

September 7, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this

See kids. When you hang around the DemocRATick party too long, you become self-hating, misogynistic crones like catlady and jaimie.

By Stone

September 7, 2008 7:22 PM | Link to this

Jakie you claim 4 of the 5 of the Keating five are in jail- wrong! Please name me one that’s in jail. You claim Sarah Palin is a member of a group that advocated Alaska secede from the union- wrong! Even the NY Times has conceded that this was erroneous information and never should have been printed. Don’t you read the newspaper? Your information seems outdated and false and I pity you. It’s perfectly fine to oppose McCain or Palin as they have many faults, but when you site such BS reasons it calls into question your competence on the subject. A little advice- please do a little homework before you expose your ignorance. It’s better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought of as dumb, than to open it and remove all doubt.

By TW

September 7, 2008 7:24 PM | Link to this

When did Christianity abandon honesty?

By Jackie

September 7, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this

Repubs still speaking long and loud with no substance relating to their pronouncements.

The lips move without uttering anything one can believe.

What will happen to their “hurt and horrors” when Barack wins the the Presidency?

Will they still try to extrapolate regarding the reasons why their campaign of lies and innuendo did not sway those who had enough courage to look beyond their moving lips?

By Common Sense

September 7, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this

Good Point TW,

I would like to know when rumors became the truth!

I ask when has Senator McClain shown intelligence or good judgement?

Did he make good judgements to party all the time during his time in the service?

Why are giving him foreign policy creditials?

If you vote to send our troops in a war and the body armor is not ready for the bombs why do you vote for going to war?

We could have invaded Iraq anytime!

If he is so smart when are we going to catch Bin Laden?

Senator McClain has not gotten many bills thru Congress because he is the Maverick.

Governor Palin is seeking glory! Let me see you have a purpose to become VP while you just had a baby and your 17 teen year daughter is pregnant.

A husband who takes one month off work to snow board and one month off to hunt.

I am sure he is thier taking care of the babies.

Oh by the way Mrs. Palin quit a $100,000 job because it require her to be their from 9 to 5.

By dirty harry

September 7, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this

McCain just basically sold his sole to the evangelicals!

Who he described in 2000 as the “Agents of intolerence”!

His first choice to be VP was Lieberman but, Lieberman happens to be pro-choice as is Tom Ridge so in order to appease the religious right McCain opted for a person he had only met ONCE… Tells you something about McCain’s decision making skills!

I know small companies that require at least 4 interviews before they make their decision to hire mid-level managers!

Sarah Palin is a joke..will be a joke, and when she finally comes out of her hidey hole to actually be scrutinized via the media, and faced with her fabrications of the truth I can only hope that the sane among us will see that for all the HOOPLA she is nothing more than a spokesperson for the right wing spin machine!

By @@

September 7, 2008 7:51 PM | Link to this

Common Sense:

*Palin, Hollywood pick no substance! *

Hollywood chooses Barack OBlahMa’s no substance.

Jackie:

I’ve read where Sarah Palin was never a registered member of the Secessionist Party. Her husband was on and off during his younger years.

Oops! I see where the “Stone” already dropped on your head. Never hurts to reiterate.

Jamie:

Alaska is a vast tundra limited in resources (aside from the naturals that Democrats won’t let them use). Limited job opportunities. Limited tax base. Thus the need for government subsidies (earmarks) to provide the basics.

In one of the interviews with then Governor Palin, she pointed to lack of opportunities in Alaska. Admitted to the government’s assistance. She said…..”This is not the way Alaskans want to exist. Ours is an independent breed of people. Let us use our resources not only for our own sake, but for the sake of all Americans.” Drill baby drill.

That ^^^ one is for you too jm.

By Common Sense

September 7, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this

Stone: they have film footage of McClain on vacation with Charles Keating and they are or were good friends at the time.

So do you think Senator McClain had anything to do with Mr. Keating deals with Mr. McClain wife and her father?

If he did not is really is not an intelligent person!

By @@

September 7, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this

Common Sense:

Todd Palin works the northface. He’s up there one week around the clock. He’s off and at home altering weeks. It sounds to me like he does just fine with the kids. They complain about his cooking ever since Governor Palin let the cook in the governor’s mansion go. Called it an unnecessary expense to the taxpayers.

The kids complain about his elk stew.

Alaskans eat what they hunt. When Governor Palin was in Iraq to visit Alaska’s National Guardsmen there, they expressed concern that they would be unable to hunt for their families. She made arrangements to assure the hunting season would be extended for them, and them only upon their return.

You guys are really grasping at straws here.

You are desperate.

By jm

September 7, 2008 8:02 PM | Link to this

@@ - if I was getting a big fat check from the government every year (as every Alaska resident does), I think I would support drilling also. Maybe instead of cutting checks, Alaska could use that money to meet their needs. Just thinking out loud.

By catlady

September 7, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this

For fun on the descriptive use Mr. Wooten made linking S. Palin to L. Lynn’s song, go to youtube and see Ms. Lynn singing the song with the Muppets. It might remind you of why this song “touches” the American people when they think of Ms. Palin.

By dudley do right

September 7, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this

If your still deciding whom to vote for you might want to take a gander at this!

Is this who you want for PRESIDENT

In a disturbing expose Sunday, the McClatchy papers joined the growing list of press, pundits and politicians raising a red flag about John McCain�s out-of-control temper. Following on the heels of the devastating revelations from the Washington Post in April, McClatchy documents many of the tantrums, outbursts and eruptions that continue to call McCain�s presidential temperament into question. And as Mitt Romney�s campaign revealed in January, those McCain tirades are directed at friend and foe alike.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/09/07/mcclatchy-wapo-and-romney-warn-about-mccains-out-of-control-temper/#comments

By ron

September 7, 2008 8:14 PM | Link to this

The chair of the Alaska Independent Party ,Lynette Clark,has issued a statement that Mrs.Palin has never been a member Of A.I.P. Her husband,however,has been a member and has attented a convention at which nothing of substance was discussed.

By @@

September 7, 2008 8:17 PM | Link to this

jm:

That’s exactly what Governor Palin did once she forced the oil company to pay higher taxes. The money made from Alaska’s resources go right back to Alaskans.

When she was putting pressure on the oil companies to pay more for the use of Alaska’s resources, many Republicans chastised her saying that she would run big oil out of Alaska. “I don’t think so” she said. “We have what they want, and they’re gonna pay Alaskans for the privilege of its use.”

She really is a tough negotiator.

For most Alaskans, work is seasonal. It stands to reason, just like here in the lower 48, that assistance is needed in the off season. Certainly you don’t deny seasonal workers in the lower 48.

No, I didn’t think so. Only in Governor Palin’s 49th.

By catlady

September 7, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this

For fun on the descriptive use Mr. Wooten made linking S. Palin to L. Lynn’s song, go to youtube and see Ms. Lynn singing the song with the Muppets. It might remind you of why this song “touches” the American people when they think of Ms. Palin.

By dirty harry

September 7, 2008 8:27 PM | Link to this

By @@

September 7, 2008 8:02 PM

Oh really @@ “Alaskans eat what they hunt!”

Does that include WOLF MEAT..Didn’t think so!

Also, you state Palin was in Iraq. She has never been to Iraq! She has been to Kuwait which is on the Persian Gulf. A far cry from IRAQ!

By @@

September 7, 2008 8:29 PM | Link to this

Oh Lawdy! Now we’re back to the speculations about McCain’s out-of-control temper?

I direct you to leftist rage directed at Governor Palin for being an independent woman with a 76% approval rating from the voters in her state.

If this wasn’t so sad, it’d be funny.

Boooooorrrring.

By amillay

September 7, 2008 8:30 PM | Link to this

I am a young woman from Atlanta, and I agree that Palin shares the values of the South. I was undecided, but will now vote Palin/McCain! She is a great role model.

By OBAMA

September 7, 2008 8:32 PM | Link to this

Thinking Wrong….MCCain think just is DADDY…DADDY BUSH..WE DON”T NEED NO MORE BUSHES IN THE WHITE HOUSE..IT WILL BE THE BLACK WHEN OBAMA WIN THIS ELECTION.

By OBAMA

September 7, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this

Thinking Wrong….MCCain think just like his DADDY…DADDY BUSH..WE DON”T NEED NO MORE BUSHES IN THE WHITE HOUSE..IT WILL BE THE BLACK HOUSE WHEN OBAMA WIN THIS ELECTION.

By OBAMA

September 7, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this

Thinking Wrong….MCCain think just like his DADDY…DADDY BUSH..WE DON”T NEED NO MORE BUSHES IN THE WHITE HOUSE..IT WILL BE THE BLACK HOUSE WHEN OBAMA WIN THIS ELECTION.

By dudley do right

September 7, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this

@@ @ 8:29 PM

@@…Get a Clue…McCains temper is not a matter of speculation it’s the truth! These are not leftist that are recounting their encounters with McCain they happen to be republicans…

As for your second paragraph .. I thought it was 80% approval rating?

And, anyone who has half a brain knows why! It’s called Wind fall taxes on oil….When you receive a check for $3,200 or if you have seven in your family which Palin does, then that check multiplies to $22,400 not a bad payday!

Why do you think she supports drilling in the ANWR?

MONEY..MONEY..MONEY!

By Common Sense

September 7, 2008 8:53 PM | Link to this

To: @@

So it is o.k. for Mrs. Palin to tax the oil companies but when Mr. Obama suggest taxing the oil companies he will ruin the economy.

Mrs. Palin is limited in her experience when it comes to policy. Also I want women to grow in their occupation as much as the next person but I do not think I would make a choice when it comes to spending time with my children.

GOD first Wife Family Church Job

That is the real life deal!

By jm

September 7, 2008 8:54 PM | Link to this

@@ - sorry but the Alaska Permanent Fund has been in place since 1976 (Governor Palin was 12 at the time) and has been paying dividends since 1982.

By KELLY EDMOND

September 7, 2008 9:01 PM | Link to this

Palin?? Are you for real????

If that had been one of Obama’s daughters who got knocked up the Republican party would have torn them to pieces, but now they want to say, SHE HAS FAMILY VALUES..yeah right.

Now the republicans are rallying behind this woman who can run her house..and definitely can run this country!

obama 08!!!

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this

Dear Common @ 6:24, fox and hedgehog theory says McCain is smart enough to be a good CEO of the country, and that Obama would not. Suggest you read up on the theory. There are 1000 different reasons for the “why” therein.

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this

Dear Dudley @ 8:48, your theory is flawed for several reasons. (1) If the check is all that is needed to make people happy, how did Palin defeat Murkowiecz? Why was Murkowiecz’s popularity not 80%? (2) You seemingly suggest Palin’s popularity in the lower 48 is derivative of her unquestioned popularity within Alaska. Most of us formed our favorable opinions without benefit of polls. (3) Taking down Palin will not restore the luster to Obama. He is a flawed brand now, and will have to do something more than throw mud to re-ignite his candidacy.

By lee

September 7, 2008 9:13 PM | Link to this

these 4 candidates or not all of our optioons. you want change, or the status quo in washington that will go on until we split the parties and elect a 3rd party candidate. let’s vote real change >>>>www.bobbarr2008

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 9:18 PM | Link to this

Dear jm @ 8:02 and subsequent, you usually do your homework and your post puzzles me. You seemingly are unaware of the pipeline negotations that are the entire source of Palin’s popularity within Alaska, how she rode that into the governor’s office. Based on your history of posts here I expected her jiujitsu on the negotiations to warm the cockles of your heart?

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this

Dear Dudley @ 8:48, how does McCain’s notorious temper differ substantively from that of John Kennedy?

By lee

September 7, 2008 9:25 PM | Link to this

these 4 candidates are not all of our options. you want change, or the status quo in washington that will go on until we split the parties and elect a 3rd party candidate. let�s vote real change >>>>www.bobbarr2008 VOTE BOB BARR 2008

By dudley do right

September 7, 2008 9:32 PM | Link to this

Dear Ragnar.. First of all “Murkowiecz” is not his name it’s Murkowski! When he ran for re-election he actually came in THIRD in the republican primaries! He was a crook…

I have no idea what you mean when you say “You seemingly suggest Palin�s popularity in the lower 48 is derivative of her unquestioned popularity within Alaska.”

I never said anything of the sort..I said her popularity IN ALASKA is the result of the windfall tax profit that is realized by every Alaskan every year!

Good enough reason to maintain that high popularity rating … Don’t ya think?

By jm

September 7, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this

Ragnar - what annoys me is that the state is collecting revenue from the oil companies to distribute to the citizens of the state as rebates (not really a bad thing) but then cries poverty in Washington to get more funds to meet their needs. In my eyes, the state of Alaska is using my tax dollars to pay those dividends. Kind of like that billion dollars of aid that W promised Georgia (the country). The US is going to borrow that money to give to give to Georgia.

I am aware of the gas pipeline issue (in fact, I was in Anchorage for a few weeks a couple of years ago and heard quite a bit about it).

By @@

September 7, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this

Dirty:

You’re correct. It was Kuwait, but the point was……..?

Dudley:

@@�Get a Clue�McCains temper is not a matter of speculation it�s the truth! These are not leftist that are recounting their encounters with McCain they happen to be republicans�

I didn’t read your link Dudley.

McCain himself has admitted to his passion when pursuing what he believes to be right.

Did you see all the videos of the dem candidates supporting McCain during the primaries. Heavens! Joe Biden even said he would be honored to serve on a ticket with McCain.

Palin’s rating did drop to 76%. Have no idea why.

Common:

So it is o.k. for Mrs. Palin to tax the oil companies but when Mr. Obama suggest taxing the oil companies he will ruin the economy.

It’s great when Palin goes ahead and does what OBlahMa only talks about. Do you know how much Alaskans have to pay for their gas? A lot more per gallon than we do.

Local economy vs national economy.

GOD first Wife Family Church Job

That is the real life deal!

I tend to agree with you, but I wouldn’t ask ALL women to comply.

Two lesbians bring children from previous marriages into a relationship. Which woman gives up her independence in the interest of children? The manly woman or the womanly woman? J/K

having a little fun here.

jm:

@@ - sorry but the Alaska Permanent Fund has been in place since 1976

Not much has changed in Alaska since then except maybe the number of people living there. Same limited opportunities with a growing population in need of services.

First oil moved through the pipeline on June 20, 1977, and only with Governor Palin’s aggressive pursuit of the oil industry, have the people’s lives been enhanced.

Off to ready myself for tomorrow’s workday.

By dudley do right

September 7, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 9:21 PM

Gee RAGNAR now how would I know the answer to one of your stupid rejoinders..I was only sixteen at the time!!!!

By dirty harry

September 7, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this

By @@

September 7, 2008 9:37 PM

@@ you write

“Dirty:

You�re correct. It was Kuwait, but the point was��..?

The point was @@ You are either lying or have no clue to what you are talking about!

CAPICE?

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 9:55 PM | Link to this

Dear Dudley @ 9:32, you err in your dismissive attitude toward Alaskan sensibilities - “her popularity IN ALASKA is the result of the windfall tax profit that is realized by every Alaskan every year!” The same windfall, as accurately protrayed by our friend jm, has existed since 1982. Her predecessor Murskolovitzkynsk had the same annual distribution, yet did not enjoy 80% popularity. As jm and I are discussing, it was her jiujitsu on the last pipeline negotiations that made her so popular.

And, in any event, her popularity in Alaska has nothing to do with her popularity in the lower 48 - perhaps you will agree. It is the ideology, only.

By lee

September 7, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this

these 4 candidates are not all of our options. you want change, or the status quo in washington that will go on until hell freezes over Elect someone that is for smaller government and more personal freedom, less gov’t intrusion — let�s vote real change >>>>www.bobbarr2008 VOTE BOB BARR 2008

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this

Dear Dudley @ 9:37, if you don’t have sufficient historical perspective to comment, maybe you ought to hold your tongue.

By akobyli

September 7, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this

Is this a joke? my values couldnt be more different than this freak show’s values. This article couldnt be further from the truth, at least for me…maybe mr wooten should move to alaska and share her values there.

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this

Dear jm @ 9:36, I agree with your perspective of Congressional spending. Perhaps you and I would agree that in every election we should elect the one who promises to spend the least.

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 10:07 PM | Link to this

Hmmm…Dudley is definitely related to DebbieDoRight. Same attitude problem.

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this

Dear akobyli @ 10:03, Zogby says Jim Wooten is on target with his analysis. I posted the link @ 4:48.

By lee

September 7, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this

You all must be hiding with your heads in the sand to even be thinking about voting for either of these two candidates and their veep choice. We are all looking for change. Lower taxes, smaller gov’t, less intrusion into our personal lives. You’re not going to get that from either GOP or Dem party. Out dated, owned by the PACs and big corp. Vote for REAL CHANGE Vote BobBarr2008.com

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this

akobyti

Mr. Wooten is right at home where he is. Perhaps it is you who should move to ..how about Timbuktu??

By dudley do right

September 7, 2008 10:13 PM | Link to this

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 7, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this

Dear Dudley @ 9:37, “if you don�t have sufficient historical perspective to comment, maybe you ought to hold your tongue.”

Do you bother to read anything? I’m not the one who brought up JFK you did…I simply presented the facts concerning McCain’s temper!

Now if you are sooooooo old you remember something about JFK which doesn’t mean a thing in today’s election then perhaps a cup of tea, and your nightly medication will do wonders…now off to bed OLD MAN!

Come to think of it…you do sound a little senile!

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this

dear darling Dudley,@10:13

Come to think of it…you do sound a lot like a juvenile delinquent? Is “rude” taught in your home or did you get it at reform school?

By Jackie

September 7, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this

@@@

You indicate that you read “somewhere” that Gov. Palin was not a member of the Independent Party.

Care to share your souce?

Or, do we have another case of extrapolation?

By @@

September 7, 2008 10:31 PM | Link to this

The point was @@ You are either lying or have no clue to what you are talking about!

Well now that’s not very nice of you. Then again, you’re name is Dirty. What more could I expect?

So was I lying about you being correct or was I clueless about what Governor Palin promised her National Guardsmen…..and women who can shoot to kill, and field dress a moose?

I’ll be happy to find either the video or the article. Can’t remember which it was. I’ve been doing a lot of research on Governor Palin. Unlike leftists, I wouldn’t wanna cast my vote on HOPE alone. Gotta get to the guts of the matter. OBlahMa doesn’t appear to have much of those these days.

Let me know if you want me to find the Kuwait visit info. It’ll have to be tomorrow, cause I’m off to watch The History Channel tonight.

jm:

When I pointed to a difference in local economy vs national economy, I want you to think in terms of restrictions brought about by lack of competition in refining the message. Then ship your answer to me on the cheap and see where it gets ‘ya.

Dorma su esso ed abbia buona notte.

By monte norwood

September 7, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this

you nor palin speak for me nor most americans…

your arrogance & ignorance of life & the world outside your ideological bubble shows that you want more of the same last 8 years that have left this nation is so big a hole it may take the next 4 generations to dig out of…

no healthcare for 40 million
the majority under-insurance w/ healthcare broken
no bid contracts to haliburton
no serious policy for clean renewable energy
saber rattling, lies and war-mongering
intentionally lying to go to war
mass murder & maiming of innocent iraqi & afgan civilians
refusing to tell the truth about the status of the war
spending trillions to blow up, destroy & rebuild other nations—while the infrastructure in the u.s. crumbles
majority of americans for choice and the majority don’t eat mooseburgers or hypocritically advocate one policy (abstinence) while practice something else
tax cuts for the rich
greed & averice amist
housing debacle
katrina debacle still unsolved
treason (veep intentionally outing a covert spy)

and on and on…

what planet are you on?

By dudley do right

September 7, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this

By Dusty

September 7, 2008

DARLING??? Since when have I become your darling…

By Rude do you mean I pointed out some unambiguous facts concerning McCain and Palin?

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this

Jackie@10:27

Since @@ indicated she was leaving the blog for tonight, maybe I can help answer your question.

At 8:14 this morning, ron explained in full detail that Gov. Palin was not a member of the Independent Party. Check back and read for yourself.

By Jackie

September 7, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this

@@@

Can’t wait for you to find the requested information.

Seems the neo-cons have this problem of trying to promulgate their beliefs with the thought in mind we should all acquiesce to their thought process, without ever questioning the voracity of their statements.

Care to dispute those words?

By dirty harry

September 7, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this

By @@ @ 10:31 PM

@@ What is this GIBBERISH you are spouting? You were called out on the fact you said Palin was in Iraq. Now you’ve gone to….

“So was I lying about you being correct or was I clueless about what Governor Palin promised her National Guardsmen�..and women who can shoot to kill, and field dress a moose?”

ARE YOU SERIOUS “FIELD DRESS A MOOSE?”

Contact me tomorrow I may be able to put you in touch with a Good Doctor!

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

Well, if you cross an antiwar protestor with a virulent lib, what do you get???

NO, not a moose. Not a mule. It’s monte norwood @10:34.

Bookman, would you come on here and get this one? He’s one of yours, wandering loose on this planet.

By GOPs got to go

September 7, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

Jim,

The only thing I have in common with that woman is a vagina. That does not dictate that I vote for her. Although she is probably a very nice woman, that alone does not warrant a VP nod in her direction.

McCain has MELANOMA. This is no ordinary run of the mill little Basal cell or Squamous cell skin cancer. It is highly deadly and tends to reoccur. Stress may likely bring it back.

Although I plan to vote for Obama I found comfort in the fact that, in my opinion, the Republican ticket had McCain on it. He is the less offensive to me of the people running on the GOP ticket. Now I have to worry about a Gun Crazy Annie Oakley wannabe becoming President. Someone who thinks Creationism is a science and tries to bans books SHE does not like. And she does not even have the common sense to practice birth control at 44 for God’s sake!

She does not represent my beliefs nor those of my daughters.

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 11:03 PM | Link to this

dirty harry,10:44

What kind of GIBBERISH are you spouting? First you say that Kuwait is no where close to Iraq when they have a long common border. I call that “close”.

Why shouldn’t a woman be able to FIELD DRESS A MOOSE? Some woman probably dressed a jackass like you at one time. The capabilities of women are unlimited.

Still the old MCP. (male chauvinist pig…in case you forgot your other title, dirty).

By @@

September 7, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this

Jackie:

Here ‘ya go………

Alaska Party Official Says Palin Was Not a Member

I suppose you could get written confirmation from the party official so we can put this “critical” issue to bed.

The thing I find most amusing about this ridiculous claim, is that YOUR Senator OBlahMa DID, in fact, support the Aka ka ka ka? Bill allowing Hawaiian tribes (no such thing) to secede from Hawaii.

The Hawaii Reporter:

*The only advocate who was comprehensive and charismatic was Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, D-IL, who shared personal insights as a former resident of Hawaii on how the bill will help Hawaii.

Dirty:

It’s GIBBERISH that I promised to find the article/video confirming Governor Palin’s promise to Alaska’s National Guardsmen?

There’s just no making you happy, is there? I guess it’s a leftist thingy.

Powering down now.

By GOPs got to go

September 7, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this

I guess she is a member of the Independent Party if Obama is a Muslim and Socialist, Dusty.

Good Lord you sound like a country song. It can’t be a country song with out Mamma, and trains, and a truck, and rain, and getting drunk. I guess it can’t be a Dusty blog with out a Bush love fest, the flag, patriotism, POW years, more Bush love fest, socialists liberals, Jesus, and the Bible.

By me again

September 7, 2008 11:19 PM | Link to this

Pictures. You have to give libs pictures.

Field dressing moose.

Guardsmen AND women who can.

By dirty harry

September 7, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this

The point being DUSTY is that @@ said Sarah Palin had been to Iraq..When in fact she hasn’t! Close doesn’t count!

The second point was then @@ said this �So was I lying about you being correct or was I clueless about what Governor Palin promised her National Guardsmen�..and women who can shoot to kill, and field dress a moose?�

If that’s not gibberish … Well, you tell me!

I’M outta here…

By lee

September 7, 2008 11:28 PM | Link to this

these 4 candidates are not all of our options. you want change, or the status quo in washington that will go on until hell freezes over Elect someone that is for smaller government and more personal freedom, less gov�t intrusion � let�s vote real change >>>>www.bobbarr2008 VOTE BOB BARR 2008

By Dusty

September 7, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this

GOP’s Gotta Go sounds like SHE is a liberal already gone.

Your equations are not very good but you tried.

Palin was not a member of the Independent Party. check

Obama went to a muslim school in Indonesia. check

Obama followed socialist organizations and socialist friends…..check

My “song” is a country song about the country I love. Yep, it includes Bush appreciation, patriotism, POW and military sacrifice. Being a Christian is the melody.

Now, you go talk about vaginas with Jane Fonda if that is what interests you. I like politics better. Yes, MAM. McCain Palin 2008

G’nite.

By Hannah

September 8, 2008 1:42 AM | Link to this

To Ragnar Danneskj�ld: I was unable to post my reply in a previous discussion, but thank you for the welcome and for the handy guide map to Thinking Right Land (proven 100% accurate so far and greatly appreciated).

Dirty Harry, perhaps the following excerpt from a press archive will satisfy your demand of @@:

**Governor Palin Highlights Hunting Opportunities to Returning Alaska Troops

September 6, 2007, Juneau, Alaska � **

*Governor Sarah Palin today informed Alaska National Guardsmen and women serving in combat that big game hunting opportunities will be available when they return from combat zones this fall.

�I heard from many Alaskans serving overseas during my trip to Kuwait in July,� said Governor Palin. �One of the most frequent questions was about the status of hunting seasons upon their return. While I can�t grant our troops the chance to hunt in closed areas or in places with species restrictions, I do want to recognize them and help them hunt this late fall or winter when they get home.�

Regulations adopted by the Board of Game affect hunters with Tier II subsistence permits and Alaska�s drawing hunt permits. In a letter to the commanders of the Alaska Army and Air National Guard, the Governor also explained that service members unable to participate in hunts themselves may transfer Tier II subsistence permits to substitute Alaska hunters. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will also re-issue permits for service members who were successful in obtaining lottery permit hunts but were unable to use them.*

Source: http://www1.gov.state.ak.us/archive-40316.html

By Stone

September 8, 2008 5:52 AM | Link to this

Jackie and co.-Those looking for proof that Sarah Palin didn’t belong to any independent party hoping to secede from the union need not look any farther than the gray lady herself- NT Times yesterday Sept. 7th- Week In Review- editors note- Hoyt.

By Stone

September 8, 2008 5:58 AM | Link to this

“My Muslim Faith” by Barack Hussein Obama.

By alan

September 8, 2008 6:19 AM | Link to this

* This Sarah Palin is way overrated. Why isn’t she talking without scripts ? I AM UNCOMFORTABLE WITH the fact that someone with a mere bachelors degree in journalism stands to become president if McCain wins. Mitt Romney (with an MBA) was more qualified. Thanks, McCain for throwing this election away.*

alan

By gop tired

September 8, 2008 6:31 AM | Link to this

True, Sarah Palin is just like you. She lies just like the Republicans, therefore she will fit right in with You.

Don’t you think it is odd that no one knew she was pregnant, and the hospital where she said she delivered her baby does not have a record of her delivering the baby there.

Also, she don’t belive in pork projects, but she hired a lobbyist, went to Washington, and Alaska have the largest pork projects funds in the U.S. She also said that she was against the wasteful spending, but as Mayor she took the town from a balance budget to a $22 million deficit.

Let’s not forget ethics reform, while she is being investigated for ethics violations.

True, she is just like You.

I have come to realize, being a Republican is following the leader even if the leader is dumb, stupid, criminal, but he/she is a Republican.

A president nominee who went to college his father got him in and paid for, then graduating 4th from the bottom. Now we a vice president nominee with a bachelor degree in journalism. I guess it will come in handy for all the fiction that the Republican party generates.

By bearcasey

September 8, 2008 7:05 AM | Link to this

I might buy it if the insufferable “religious right” will shut-up about the evils of pre-marital sex. It’s not just a ghetto problem anymore.

By @@

September 8, 2008 7:50 AM | Link to this

Dirty:

You should thank Hannah for the link regarding hunting licenses for Alaska’s guardsmen AND women who (see link w/pictures).

Heck, I couldn’t figure out what you wanted unless it was to see me type “I stand corrected, you were right! Governor Palin visited guardsmen in Kuwait, not Iraq.” You’re correct should have sufficed, but noooooooooo…..you had to go and “lose it” in front of everyone.

I’ll bet you’re a big fan of these two guys, aren’t ya?

New York (AP) - MSNBC said Sunday it is replacing Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews as co-anchors of political night coverage with David Gregory, and will use the two newsmen as commentators.

The change reflects tensions between the freewheeling, opinionated MSNBC and the impartial newsgatherers at NBC News. Throughout the primaries and summer, MSNBC argued that Olbermann and Matthews could serve as dispassionate anchors on political news nights and that viewers would accept them in that role, but things fell apart during the conventions.

Things fell apart? Looks like Olbermann and Matthews fell apart.

Well, the two of them AND Dirty.

Thank you Hannah. One less on my list of things to do today.

By hotlanta

September 8, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this

Wooten,I want to thank Palin for showing the world that white girls in high school get pregnant while they are in high school and has a father at home. Boy she blew those stats straight out the window when she bought her family on stage. If she won a beauty contest it wasn’t hard when your competition is a moose and a carrabue. I was ROTFLMAO while the media was trying to describe that Value City suit she was wearing. Let’s not talk about the nasty moment when her child took spit and rub the baby hair down with it. Meredith Viera was saying it was an incredible journalist moment. Please!!!! You can also forget getting your USA flag tingle because she was wearing the flag of Alaska that night not the American flag. Does that still make her patriotic. I saw her 1/2 page, 2 paragraph resume. Where is PETA is all of this. Michael Vick is in jail for dog fighting and she shots moose for sport. It is just amazing how they are asking Biden to change his tone when they have the debate because she is a women.

By hotlanta

September 8, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this

Wooten,I want to thank Palin for showing the world that white girls in high school get pregnant while they are in high school and has a father at home. Boy she blew those stats straight out the window when she bought her family on stage. If she won a beauty contest it wasn’t hard when your competition is a moose and a carrabue. I was ROTFLMAO while the media was trying to describe that Value City suit she was wearing. Let’s not talk about the nasty moment when her child took spit and rub the baby hair down with it. Meredith Viera was saying it was an incredible journalist moment. Please!!!! You can also forget getting your USA flag tingle because she was wearing the flag of Alaska that night not the American flag. Does that still make her patriotic. I saw her 1/2 page, 2 paragraph resume. Where is PETA is all of this. Michael Vick is in jail for dog fighting and she shots moose for sport. It is just amazing how they are asking Biden to change his tone when they have the debate because she is a women.

By Ga Values

September 8, 2008 8:03 AM | Link to this

McCain’s Convenient Untruth

When it comes to fighting wars, John McCain stands up and calls for sacrifice. “We never hide from history; we make history,” he declared in his convention speech. But when it comes to taxes, McCain is unwilling to demand even a teensy bit of sacrifice. In a McCain administration, Americans would not have to surrender a dime more of their money to a cause larger than themselves.

Why this bipolar attitude toward sacrifice? Start with the answer that McCain himself provides. “My tax cuts will create jobs. His tax increases will eliminate them,” he said at the convention, offering one of the speech’s few policy contrasts between Obama’s platform and his own. In other words, McCain is not calling for tax sacrifice because he believes it would be counterproductive. On taxes, he is saying, you can selfishly avoid sacrifice — and serve the public good.

This, unfortunately, is a convenient untruth. Tax hikes taken to an extreme can indeed backfire, harming growth and job creation. But it’s a stretch to assert that Barack Obama’s tax plan would do that. And it’s downright scandalous to pretend that the economy can be strengthened in anything other than the short run by unaffordable tax cuts.

Obama is not proposing to raise taxes for most Americans. To the contrary, he would triple the earned-income tax credit for low-wage earners, increasing work incentives at the bottom. He would cut taxes on people in the middle — indeed, he would do so more aggressively than McCain would. It is only the wealthiest Americans who would face higher tax bills under Obama. According to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, Obama’s plan would require the richest 1 percent of Americans to sacrifice a modest 1.5 percent of their after-tax income in 2012. By contrast, no-sacrifice McCain would award America’s elite a 9.5 percent increase.

How might this impact jobs and the economy? Under Obama’s plan, top earners would pay a marginal federal tax rate of maybe 46.5 percent (that includes the Medicare tax and Obama’s proposed hike in Social Security taxes), considerably more than the 37.9 percent they would pay under McCain. There’s no doubt that Obama’s higher tax rates would mean weaker incentives to work, take risks and innovate; and stronger incentives to waste time and effort on avoiding the tax man.

But those bad effects must be weighed against a good one: Higher tax rates mean a lower budget deficit. According to the Tax Policy Center, over the course of a decade Obama’s plan would result in a national debt $1.2 trillion smaller than you would get under McCain’s plan. Less government borrowing ultimately means lower interest rates and more private investment. This positive effect may well outweigh the blow to growth and jobs from weaker work incentives.

Tax hikes, in other words, are not automatic job destroyers. Joel Slemrod of the University of Michigan, a top expert on this subject, says bluntly, “There is no compelling evidence that a low-tax strategy is better for the economy over the medium or long run.” Just look at the Clinton era. In 1993, the top marginal rate (income tax plus Medicare) was raised to 42.5 percent — the same rate that Obama proposes but minus the candidate’s proposed increase in the payroll tax. During the rest of the Clinton period, the economy generated millions of new jobs, and careful academic postmortems find that the 1993 tax hike caused little to no damage to the incentives of top earners.

So McCain’s swipe at Obama’s tax plan was something other than straight talk. As a share of the economy, Obama’s plan would create an overall tax burden similar to the one that existed in Ronald Reagan’s time. It would not choke off job creation; rather, it would slow the growth of the deficit and soften inequality. But the really depressing thing is that McCain himself once knew that. He opposed the Bush tax cuts before he supported them, saying that they would deepen inequality. But now he touts a tax reduction that is larger and more radical than even President Bush proposed, and he slams his opponent for holding the view that he himself held until recently.

McCain used to be a real straight talker. On campaign finance, spending earmarks, Iraq and immigration, he has fought bravely for his principles; and that record might have been a trump against an opponent who has taken almost no such risks. But we are now witnessing what might be called McCain’s Palinization. McCain once criticized Christian conservatives as agents of intolerance, but he has caved in to their intolerance of a pro-choice running mate. McCain claims to be devoted to his country, yet he would saddle it with a vice president who is unprepared to serve as commander in chief. In the same sad way, McCain has caved in to his party’s anti-tax fanatics. The man of principle has become a panderer. The straight talker flip-flops.

By Ragnar Danneskj�ld

September 8, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

A quote I steal from the WSJ:

From a New York Times editorial on July 3, 1984, on Geraldine Ferraro’s nomination for vice president:

Where is it written that only senators are qualified to become President? … Or where is it written that mere representatives aren’t qualified, like Geraldine Ferraro of Queens? … Where is it written that governors and mayors, like Dianne Feinstein of San Francisco, are too local, too provincial? … Presidential candidates have always chosen their running mates for reasons of practical demography, not idealized democracy… . What a splendid system, we say to ourselves, that takes little-known men, tests them in high office and permits them to grow into statesmen… . Why shouldn’t a little-known woman have the same opportunity to grow?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122066155282605897.html?mod=djemEditorialPage

By Eli Jones

September 8, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this

Obama is currently sponsoring US Senate bill S2433. If Obama’s S2433 is passed, it will commit American’s to pay 845 Billion dollars in “ADDITIONAL” taxes over the next few years. This additional tax levied on American citizens will consume 0.7 percent of the US gross nation product. Your hard earned tax money will be given to the corrupt United Nations specifically for “The UN Global Poverty Act”. Your money will then be redistributed to third world dictators, mostly in Africa. Google “Obama’s S2433” and read how Barack Obama plans to use the UN to redistribute your hard earned money. I don’t owe the world’s tyrants a dime, do you? Obama also has promised to double the capital gains tax thus plunging the housing market into deeper depression. Obama has vowed to eliminate the reduction in the death inheritance tax that President Bush implemented, so if your love ones leave you something in their wills, Obama’s sticky fingered Marxist government will take most of it from you and give it to the unproductive losers of the world. Barack Obama is not about hope, Barack Obama is about pessimism and sky high taxes. The ghost of Karl Marx loves Barack Obama. Oh, did I mention that in Michelle Obama’s racist 1985 Princeton senior thesis, she calls white people, “The White Oppressor” on page 59.

By Kevin

September 8, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

Excellant article. Nice to see that Loretta Lynn is remebered by some of us.

I sort of looked at some of the comments in scrolling down. There is no doubt that George Bush did not bring traditional conservative values of small government and fiscal discipline to bear. But I am still amazed at the number of people including many of the above repsondents who do not understand that McCain is his own man and will not be a third Bush term.

With Gov Palin, admittedly a rookie on the national stage, perhaps we can begin reducing the amount of government. I think we need to take a zero based budgeting approach to several federal agencies. For example, if we totally did away with the Agriculture or Education departments, what would be the effect on the American people?

By Mrs. Godzilla

September 8, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

Sarah Palin will self destruct.

By Debora

September 8, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

OUR First Amendment reads: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It does NOT read or at least not yet: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech (unless it is personally offensive or against my personal values or the values of the heads of government), or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Banning books..good grief.

By Debora

September 8, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this

OUR First Amendment reads: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It does NOT read or at least not yet: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech (unless it is personally offensive or against my personal values or the values of the heads of government), or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

SHE BELIEVES IN BANNINB BOOKS - GET REAL PEOPLE

By Common Sense

September 8, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

Hello Everyone!

Rags made a statement that Senator McClain would be selected as a CEO before Senator Obama!

Since when in the United States Capitolistic corporate American that a navy graduate at the who graduates almost last would get chosen over a Harvard graduate.

Most of the CEO that run companies are from the IVY league schools!

Sometimes I get a hint of jealousy because Mr. Obama graduate from a Ivy league school.!

Governor Palin is fine! But John McClain a person who has not accomplish much in life is really not the person for this country.

Maybe Senator McClain can be the Sec. of State since he will appoint Dems and Rep.

By Do the Math

September 8, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

I agree with many of the posters here. So far so good but don’t try to hide Palin because she has lots of explaining to do.

Troopergate needs to be resolved before Nov. election not after.

She attended six colleges in six years and ended up with a degree in jounalism from Idaho.

Palin has a real shot at being the president in the next couple of years and you all think you know her well enough.

Insanity!

By What Family Values?

September 8, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this

John McCain may have been a hero in Vietnam, but when he came home and saw his first wife — who had suffered a horrible car crash while he was imprisoned — he very dishonorably cheated on her and then walked out on his family to marry the lovely, younger and rich Cindy — one month after his divorce was final.

Now he picks as his running mate a woman who has young children and yet chooses to take on a high profile job which will not only tear those children away from their home and the rest of their family, but also keep their mother away from them for much of the time.

I’m from a small town in Georgia and I don’t know whose values Mr. Wooten is espousing, but they’re not those of anyone I know. These two candidates are a sad representation of true family values.

By Leigh

September 8, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

Sarah Palin and I do not share the same values. Our government wants to go either to far right or left. What about those of us in the middle? The truth of the matter is that all politicans usually say what they mean but they don’t mean what they say. In the end actions speak louder than words. Both the McCain/Palin and Obama/Bidden tickets unsettle me. The choice I have to make is which ticket promises the least damage to this country.

By James

September 8, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

I love this pick! Every day is a new Palin scandal. Thank you John McCain for your wise judgement (wink). She is a gift to the Democrats that keeps on giving.

By Hannah

September 8, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

My pleasure, @@.

By Donkey Kong

September 8, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this

I am a card carrying democrat, and one who voted for John Kerry last round. That said, I remember many of my fellow constituents who openly touted that they would have voted for John McCain in the last election only if only afforded the opportunity. Well now you have the opportunity and the country will be moving forward no matter who wins the election. I do believe many H.C. supporters will take an open look at the moderate republican ticket this year and I am one of them.

By Noella peterson Sanford

September 8, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten, Sarah Palin does not reflect my values or those of anybody I know. Is that code word for redneck? Must be… You republicans lie and what amazes me is that u obviously think people are not well read. we know which group u mean; Mccain lied in his biography about his divorce; the paper trail proves otherwise; he says sarah sold the plane on ebay and made a profit, facts prove otherwise; she was for bridge to nowhere, engaged a lobbyist for earmarks, she mocked obama about being a community organizer, he also was a state senator for 12 years; any thing to get a rise from her base; the well educated know better. we read,unfortunately, the idiots who are swilling beer and going fishing, hunting and watching dumb tv shows are the ones u repubs target. Re your article praising sarah’s values being ours, not…I’m west indian, went to schoool both back home and here, my friend are both professionals and regular working folk;;;not one of us share those values.. last time i looked america is a diverse nation;;;not looking at your convention a sea of old, white, people;;could be the kkk reunion…let’s see, all the people who hosed and had dogs attack people would be around the ages of the convention… If mc cain wins, america would simply prove once again how stuoid theyv are;; chose bush who was a c student, now elects a student five removed from the bottom. sarah changed schools six times before graduating. Obama, on the other is brilliant, I am so proud of him and the world knows that he is the better candidate;;;;Is it not ironic, the black family are both brilliant, professionals, and beautiful;;;your ticket is dumb, ugly, mc cain looks like death warmed over; stick to the facts—— you cant fool everybody.

By Noella peterson Sanford

September 8, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten, Sarah Palin does not reflect my values or those of anybody I know. Is that code word for redneck? Must be… You republicans lie and what amazes me is that u obviously think people are not well read. we know which group u mean; Mccain lied in his biography about his divorce; the paper trail proves otherwise; he says sarah sold the plane on ebay and made a profit, facts prove otherwise; she was for bridge to nowhere, engaged a lobbyist for earmarks, she mocked obama about being a community organizer, he also was a state senator for 12 years; any thing to get a rise from her base; the well educated know better. we read,unfortunately, the idiots who are swilling beer and going fishing, hunting and watching dumb tv shows are the ones u repubs target. Re your article praising sarah’s values being ours, not…I’m west indian, went to schoool both back home and here, my friend are both professionals and regular working folk;;;not one of us share those values.. last time i looked america is a diverse nation;;;not looking at your convention a sea of old, white, people;;could be the kkk reunion…let’s see, all the people who hosed and had dogs attack people would be around the ages of the convention… If mc cain wins, america would simply prove once again how stuoid theyv are;; chose bush who was a c student, now elects a student five removed from the bottom. sarah changed schools six times before graduating. Obama, on the other is brilliant, I am so proud of him and the world knows that he is the better candidate;;;;Is it not ironic, the black family are both brilliant, professionals, and beautiful;;;your ticket is dumb, ugly, mc cain looks like death warmed over; stick to the facts—— you cant fool everybody.

By Noella peterson Sanford

September 8, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten, Sarah Palin does not reflect my values or those of anybody I know. Is that code word for redneck? Must be… You republicans lie and what amazes me is that u obviously think people are not well read. we know which group u mean; Mccain lied in his biography about his divorce; the paper trail proves otherwise; he says sarah sold the plane on ebay and made a profit, facts prove otherwise; she was for bridge to nowhere, engaged a lobbyist for earmarks, she mocked obama about being a community organizer, he also was a state senator for 12 years; any thing to get a rise from her base; the well educated know better. we read,unfortunately, the idiots who are swilling beer and going fishing, hunting and watching dumb tv shows are the ones u repubs target. Re your article praising sarah’s values being ours, not…I’m west indian, went to schoool both back home and here, my friend are both professionals and regular working folk;;;not one of us share those values.. last time i looked america is a diverse nation;;;not looking at your convention a sea of old, white, people;;could be the kkk reunion…let’s see, all the people who hosed and had dogs attack people would be around the ages of the convention… If mc cain wins, america would simply prove once again how stuoid theyv are;; chose bush who was a c student, now elects a student five removed from the bottom. sarah changed schools six times before graduating. Obama, on the other is brilliant, I am so proud of him and the world knows that he is the better candidate;;;;Is it not ironic, the black family are both brilliant, professionals, and beautiful;;;your ticket is dumb, ugly, mc cain looks like death warmed over; stick to the facts—— you cant fool everybody.

By Noella peterson Sanford

September 8, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten, Sarah Palin does not reflect my values or those of anybody I know. Is that code word for redneck? Must be… You republicans lie and what amazes me is that u obviously think people are not well read. we know which group u mean; Mccain lied in his biography about his divorce; the paper trail proves otherwise; he says sarah sold the plane on ebay and made a profit, facts prove otherwise; she was for bridge to nowhere, engaged a lobbyist for earmarks, she mocked obama about being a community organizer, he also was a state senator for 12 years; any thing to get a rise from her base; the well educated know better. we read,unfortunately, the idiots who are swilling beer and going fishing, hunting and watching dumb tv shows are the ones u repubs target. Re your article praising sarah’s values being ours, not…I’m west indian, went to schoool both back home and here, my friend are both professionals and regular working folk;;;not one of us share those values.. last time i looked america is a diverse nation;;;not looking at your convention a sea of old, white, people;;could be the kkk reunion…let’s see, all the people who hosed and had dogs attack people would be around the ages of the convention… If mc cain wins, america would simply prove once again how stuoid theyv are;; chose bush who was a c student, now elects a student five removed from the bottom. sarah changed schools six times before graduating. Obama, on the other is brilliant, I am so proud of him and the world knows that he is the better candidate;;;;Is it not ironic, the black family are both brilliant, professionals, and beautiful;;;your ticket is dumb, ugly, mc cain looks like death warmed over; stick to the facts—— you cant fool everybody.

By Noella peterson Sanford

September 8, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten, Sarah Palin does not reflect my values or those of anybody I know. Is that code word for redneck? Must be… You republicans lie and what amazes me is that u obviously think people are not well read. we know which group u mean; Mccain lied in his biography about his divorce; the paper trail proves otherwise; he says sarah sold the plane on ebay and made a profit, facts prove otherwise; she was for bridge to nowhere, engaged a lobbyist for earmarks, she mocked obama about being a community organizer, he also was a state senator for 12 years; any thing to get a rise from her base; the well educated know better. we read,unfortunately, the idiots who are swilling beer and going fishing, hunting and watching dumb tv shows are the ones u repubs target. Re your article praising sarah’s values being ours, not…I’m west indian, went to schoool both back home and here, my friend are both professionals and regular working folk;;;not one of us share those values.. last time i looked america is a diverse nation;;;not looking at your convention a sea of old, white, people;;could be the kkk reunion…let’s see, all the people who hosed and had dogs attack people would be around the ages of the convention… If mc cain wins, america would simply prove once again how stuoid theyv are;; chose bush who was a c student, now elects a student five removed from the bottom. sarah changed schools six times before graduating. Obama, on the other is brilliant, I am so proud of him and the world knows that he is the better candidate;;;;Is it not ironic, the black family are both brilliant, professionals, and beautiful;;;your ticket is dumb, ugly, mc cain looks like death warmed over; stick to the facts—— you cant fool everybody.

By Hannah

September 8, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

For James @ 10:30 AM, lover of daily scandals (still mourning the passing of the Clinton era?) :

Governor Palin is a gift, yes — to the entire nation; however, on this day, it would seem that the gift of Palin is SPECTACULARLY beneficial to McCain!

This is not just my opinion; copy & paste this search into Google:

september+mccain+ahead+of+obama+in+polls

Then keep whistling past the graveyard.

By Pat Nap Marietta. Ga.

September 8, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this

My values are not the same as Palin’s. I believe that everyone has a right to worship in their own church. I don’t believe religion should be taught in schools unless it is a religious school not like you Sarah trying to bring your style of religion (talking in tongues) to any school. I also believe that when you decide to have a family that your first priority is your family, church and government last …in that order. I think you need to go to church and re-evaluate your priorities. You can come back when your children are raised..Your priorities seem to be Sarah Palin.

By LindaD

September 8, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this

About the only reason - I follow AJC - is Wooten’s column and common sense approach to life and the REAL world. Yes, she - Palin is real and like us!

By Trish Butler

September 8, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this

May You(Mr.Wooten}, Rush Limbaugh, Rep. Westmoreland, AND EVERYONE at Fox News, be lifted up by the “rapture” etc. espoused by Ms.Palin’s church- according to her pastor- taken into wherever this rapture takes you- AND NEVER BE SEEN OR HEARD FROM AGAIN!!!!!

By Joey

September 8, 2008 10:18 PM | Link to this

I love you Trish!

By TC

September 8, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this

All this nonsense from GA voters but we all know GA is going the McCain/Palin ticket. What we have to worry about are the other states. I just hope McCain can win Ohio and FL and if he does, we will have the right President.

By Citymom

September 8, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this

My values are very different from Sarah Palin’s. Number 1: I don’t lie. I don’t understand how one states that she has strong Christian convictions and just lie. It’s absolutely puzzling! Number two: I put my family first. I make sure that my children are taken care of. She’s still breastfeeding. Being VP is a 24 hr job. Her 17 yr old is pregnant. Sometimes, the greatest sacrifice is to put your own aspirations aside and make sure that your family is stable. Sorry, this mom’s values is not like Palin’s. I value and love my family.

By Elrey Jones

September 8, 2008 11:30 PM | Link to this

Barrack Hussein Obama’s past is his own worst enemy. Let’s face it, he has ties to extremists like American terrorists, Jeremiah Wright and the racist minded followers of Louis Farrakhan. The last time I went to the historic black district of Atlanta to find the MLK legacy, all I saw was a mural of the racial black supremacist Elijah Muhammed. What a discrace that is. What a phony situation i.e. to call MLK some kind of Civil Rights hero from Atlanta and then put up a mural of a black racist who would have exterminated whites if given the chance.

By Tar and feathered

September 9, 2008 4:07 AM | Link to this

Yeah citymom she should just stay barefoot and in the kitchen. How dare she have kids and a job.

By gA vALUES

September 9, 2008 6:26 AM | Link to this

Surprise Me Most By DAVID BROOKS Published: September 8, 2008 None of us have ever lived through an election at a time when 80 percent of voters think the country is headed in the wrong direction. But now that we�re in the thick of it, a few things are clear. From voters, the demand is: Surprise Me Most. For candidates, the lesson is: Weirdness Wins.

Last winter, Barack Obama succeeded by running a weird campaign. He wasn�t just a normal politician aiming for office, he was going to cleanse the country of the baby-boom culture war mentality. In his soaring speeches, he denounced the mores of both the Clinton and Bush eras and made an argument for unity and hope over endless partisan warfare.

But over the course of the spring, Obama�s campaign got less weird. The crucial pivot came when he failed to seize on McCain�s offer to do a series of joint town-hall meetings across the country. Those meetings would have elevated the race and shown that Obama is willing to take risks in order to truly change the way things are done.

Instead, Obama�s speeches became more conventional, more policy-specific and more orthodox. His Denver acceptance speech was different from his Iowa speeches. It was more traditionally anti-Republican and pro-Democratic. In the speech�s crucial contrast Obama declared: �It�s time for them to own their failure. It�s time for us to change America. You see, we Democrats have a very different measure of what constitutes progress in this country.�

As David Broder noted, Obama�s speech �subordinated any talk of fundamental systemic change to a checklist of traditional Democratic programs.�

It is easy to see why Obama might tack this way. Democrats have a huge advantage in a straight-up issue contest. McCain is vulnerable on health care and the economy.

But by campaigning in this traditional way, Obama ceded the weirdness edge to McCain.

The old warrior jumped right in. Think about how weird last week was. The Republican convention was one long protest against the way the Republicans themselves have run Washington. McCain�s convention speech barely mentioned his own party. His vice-presidential nominee came out of the blue and seems totally unlike the regular crowd of former eighth-grade class presidents who normally dominate public life. McCain�s campaign ideology, exemplified in a new ad released on Monday, is not familiar conservatism. It�s maverickism � against the entrenched powers and party orthodoxies.

And it all worked. McCain got a huge postconvention bounce in the polls.

Now the campaign has become a battle between two different definitions of change. The Obama camp has become the champion of policy change � after eight years of failed Bush-McCain policies, it is time for different, Democratic ones. The McCain campaign is the champion of systemic change � after two decades of bickering and self-dealing, its time to shake up the whole system in order to get things done.

The Obama change is more responsible and specific, but it has all the weirdness of a Brookings Institution report. (Not that there�s anything wrong with that.) The McCain promise of change is comprehensive and vehement, though it�s hard to know how it would actually work in office.

It will still be hard for McCain to win in this environment, but his emphasis on broad systemic change may appeal to swing voters. Independent voters do not believe the country�s problems can be solved merely by replacing Republicans with Democrats. They cast a pox on both houses. That�s why they�re independents.

Furthermore, the maverick theme allows McCain to talk directly about character. Obama can hint at his values when he describes his tax cuts and health care plans, but he is indirect. Most voters, especially ones who decide late, vote on character over policies.

If I were advising the candidates, I�d tell them to double down on weirdness. Obama needs to occasionally criticize his own side. If he can�t take on his own party hacks, he�ll never reclaim the mantle of systemic change. Specifically, he needs to attack the snobs who are savaging Sarah Palin�s faith and family. Many liberals claim to love working-class families, but the moment they glimpse a hunter with an uneven college record, they hop on chairs and call for disinfectant. Obama needs to attack Bill Maher for calling her a stewardess and the rest of the coastal condescenders.

If I were McCain, I�d make the divided government argument explicit. The Republicans are intellectually unfit to govern right now, but balancing with Democrats, they might be able to do some good. I�d have McCain tell the country that he looks forward to working with Congressional Democrats, that he is confident they can achieve great things together.

The candidates probably won�t take this kind of advice. But remember: Weirdness wins. Surprise me most.

By Chris

September 9, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

Great article. Nice contrast to what has become a very liberal newspaper. Finally, an article free of liberal bias. Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air that this country desperately needs. Just look at some of the hate that has come out in some of the responses to this article. It’s amazing how the further left you go, the more hate-filled the person is. They can’t stand truth and decency. Maybe people now will actually look at the records of the two candidates for once. It’s amazing how people have had blinders over their eyes and ears and just didn’t want to hear the fact that Obama is not even remotely qualified to be in Congress much less the Presidency. Not to mention his hate for Whites and Jews that has been ingrained in him from his church of 20 years. Has anyone actually looked up the history of Black Liberation Theology? His Christianity is a cult and doesn’t have anything to do with Jesus Christ.

By Confederado

September 9, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this

Give me a break! I’m a Southerner and her values do not reflect mine. Who appointed Jim Wooten the arbiter of Southern values?

By anonymous

September 9, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

TC, this election is not going to be decided by Ohio and Florida. Check out some electoral maps online and you’ll see that the Electoral College currently favors Obama. Although, there is a very plausible scenario where the EC ends up tied.

By citymom

September 9, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this

Tar and Feathered, it’s funny that you are sarcastic like Palin. You do have her values. I am not saying that women should stay at home and not work because I do have a full time job. What I am saying is that there is a time and a place when a mother can work 24 hrs and her children will not feel like their mother is MIA. Hilary Clinton is an example. Chelsea has a job and her education. She is no longer fully dependent on her mother. When you become a mother and know what it feels like, then you’ll be able to empathize.

By Frederick Douglass

September 9, 2008 11:06 PM | Link to this

So much has been made of the fact that Obama has never served this country in uniform, and I realize that Todd Palin is not running for anything, but which branch did he serve in? Given that these men are only separated by 4 years,surely the husband of one of America’s premier patriots (Palin) has answered the call of Uncle Sam, or why not? As Dick Cheney once said when the question was posed to him about military service, he replied that he had “better things to do”, so did Todd have better things to do?

By Frederick Douglass

September 9, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this

To Chris @ 8:18 AM, you do realize that christianity began as a cult, and has just spread over the last 2,000 years or so? I’d like to know how your disdain of people of color( which is evident) jibes with christianity? The only difference in Black Liberation Theology, and what you’ve been steeped in, is that these people aren’t hiding their feelings like you’ve been conditioned to do. Remember, Martin Luther King espoused non-violence, and still wound up taking a bullet.

By Churchill

September 10, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

As mayor she fired her town’s police chief, as governor she fired a respected career law enforcement officer. It looks like the GOP ticket has its own Victor Hill.

By Archer

September 13, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this

Could you please tell me how being “one of us” translates into the policy positions she will favor and pursue as VP or President, and how those policy initiatives will address the concerns that Americans face. What is her idea of governments role in the lives of Americans? And in what way will her values and reported authenticity change Washington… Read More? How does she manage to be without pretense and political calculation, while she’s being educated by McCain’s beltway campaign staff, in the midst of a national campaign for the American Presidency? Just curious. I am sure all her supporter have thought about these questions instead of stopping with her image. We should all endeavor to ask supremely relevant questions like these to all of our candidates.

By Tar and Feathered

September 13, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this

Citymom I have a job and three young wonderful daughters (one with special needs like Mr. Palin), who am I supposed to empathise with, you? Please. How much empathy have you shown Mrs. Palin? How dare you insinuate that she doesn’t value and love her children you pompous snob. How dare you act like the only mother around telling others how to behave. Get your head out of your a* and realize that people make decisions about what is best for their children everyday without your help and they do just fine. You don’t like the woman politically so you are going after her family and the job she is doing raising her kids. How dare you presume to know what it’s like for her or me raising our families. Taking care of a family is hard enough without someone sticking their nose in, for political purposes, and telling us how we should do it. I wish you all the best with your family, too bad you lack the empathy to do the same for Mrs. Palin. Shame on you.

By Palin

September 16, 2008 4:52 PM | Link to this

Is this a joke? Palins preachings are nothing close to the reality of her life. She was Governer of a po-dunk, meth lab capital state for less than 2 years. How in the world could she be remotely prepared for anything at a Federal level. She couldn’t even get a second term in Alaska.

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