OT: 2008 Elections/Politics thread, Part 2

[RobVarak]

It might not be fair and accurate for Obama to pin McCain as a third Bush term, but it's a good soft spot for Obama to punch.

It's a valid strategy and fair. My beef was with the staggering hypocrisy of accusing McCain of scare-mongering when it was Obama who lacks the record, Obama who has been warning of Karl Rove mask-wearing operatives behind every bush and Obama who just painted what could charitably be called a skewed portrait of McCain's politics for the purpose of frightening his base.

It was an unnecessary line that only called attention to a fact which Obama should do his best to avoid.

On an unrelated note, this is funny. I do not, incidentally, have an opinion on the extent of BO's obligations, if any, to his half-brother. A friend of mine just sent me this text:

If he's his brother's keeper, why is his brother living in a refrigerator box?

I figure that he must've told his brother, "You're on your own."

[greggsand]

It was awesome. The last 5 mins rules. I wonder if McCain's speech will give people 'goose bumps'?

And that McCain video is neato, but pleeeze... When & where did it air? I didn't see it on cbs.

[Inuyasha]

It's funny how some of these self important people talk about Obama's experience but Bush had less experience on foreign policy in 2000 but it was ok back them to vote for Bush? If experience is what counts, why didn't they vote for Gore when he had tons more experience than Bush did.

[Inuyasha]

It was awesome. The last 5 mins rules. I wonder if McCain's speech will give people 'goose bumps'?

And that McCain video is neato, but pleeeze... When & where did it air? I didn't see it on cbs.

it aired on CBN

[matthewk]

It's funny how some of these self important people talk about Obama's experience but Bush had less experience on foreign policy in 2000 but it was ok back them to vote for Bush? If experience is what counts, why didn't they vote for Gore when he had tons more experience than Bush did.

Bush had experience running a state as governer. It's not just the foreign policy experience Obama is lacking, it's experience running anything.

[greggsand]

It was awesome. The last 5 mins rules. I wonder if McCain's speech will give people 'goose bumps'?

And that McCain video is neato, but pleeeze... When & where did it air? I didn't see it on cbs.

it aired on CBN

The Christian Broadcasting Network?

[Teal]

Agreed. Brittany Spears' set designer obviously knows what he's doing.

Brittney Spears...oh, that's rich...

I wasn't name-calling LOL He actually used Spears' set designer

I know... that's the part that's so rich...

[Teal]

It was awesome. The last 5 mins rules. I wonder if McCain's speech will give people 'goose bumps'?

And that McCain video is neato, but pleeeze... When & where did it air? I didn't see it on cbs.

it aired on CBN

The Christian Broadcasting Network?

That's just bullshit cutesy crap. It aired on the major cable networks, the ones that weren't afraid of an olive branch.

[TheHiddenTrack]

I can't wait until next week. I'd bet that Dick Cheney accuses Obama of being Osama's half brother, or at least that he will allow the next major terrorist attack. I really can't wait.

I'm going to take a drink every time I hear 9-11 and P.O.W. I may not wake up.

I was pleased with the DNC convention (the obama's speeches, the clinton's, biden, and gore) now it's about to get dirty.

One complaint I had was the coverage by all the networks. I know they probably don't need to show every single speaker but it's amazing how much power they have, deciding what everyone gets to see. I had to watch C-Span to actually follow the convention.

[Jackdog]

I can't wait until next week. I'd bet that Dick Cheney accuses Obama of being Osama's half brother, or at least that he will allow the next major terrorist attack.

I'll take that bet. 100 bucks.

[Jackdog]

Look's like McCain is going with Sarah Palin. Nice pick if it's true.

[pk500]

That's just bullshit cutesy crap. It aired on the major cable networks, the ones that weren't afraid of an olive branch.

You honestly believe that was an olive branch from McCain? Come on. It was part of a elaborate PR strategy by the GOP, which is taking on an adversary that has an equally coy PR strategy.

It was a different twist, and a decent twist, but it was PR nonetheless.

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

It was a solid speech. It wasn't extraordinary; it wasn't "I Have a Dream II." But it was the speech that Obama had to give, the one in which he finally attacked and gave the perception of toughness to his disciples and to those on the fence.

I thought it was more of a reactionary speech than an uplifting speech. It was almost as if Obama took on every GOP message point and parried it. He did that very well, but I thought the speech's message bogged down -- even if the rhetoric was magnificent -- when he tried to dispel every GOP myth about him. He's a celebrity, he's not tough enough to fight terror, this campaign is all about him, etc.

The laundry list of accomplishments also was too rapid-fire, with too few specifics. The only proposed program in which he attached a dollar amount was energy, $150 billion. The rest were all pie-in-the-sky promises, which every politician does. But the style in which Obama delivered them made me wonder if he was going to add curing cancer and walking on water to the end of the list.

Obama impressed me. The speech was quite eloquent, which we expected. But I need to see McCain's speech next week before trying to make heads or tails of these guys.

It was uplifting to see a black dude nominated for the presidency of the United States. No question about that. And there's absolutely no question that the crowd that is attracted to Democrats definitely represents a greater cross-section of modern America than that attracted to the GOP. That also resonates with me.

But let's see what McCain has to say. On to St. Paul ... JackDog, stay the f*ck out of trouble, brother!

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Look's like McCain is going with Sarah Palin. Nice pick if it's true.

The back of the campaign bus could get kinky: McCain in the loft with Cindy and Sarah, which will give McCain a new nickname -- Oscar Mayer. He will be the meat in a very tasty MILF sandwich.

Take care,
PK

[Brando70]

I am a little nervous about watching the Republican National Convention next week. I'm afraid all that white might cause burn-in on my plasma.

[Jackdog]

Look's like McCain is going with Sarah Palin. Nice pick if it's true.

The back of the campaign bus could get kinky: McCain in the loft with Cindy and Sarah, which will give McCain a new nickname -- Oscar Mayer. He will be the meat in a very tasty MILF sandwich.

Take care,
PK

YUM YUM!

Palin has 5 kids and at 44 still smoking hot.

[Jackdog]

But let's see what McCain has to say. On to St. Paul ... JackDog, stay the f*ck out of trouble, brother!

Take care,
PK

Man we live right across the street from Mears Park. It's Code Pinks meeting point.

[RobVarak]

I am a little nervous about watching the Republican National Convention next week. I'm afraid all that white might cause burn-in on my plasma.

The Obama campaign did not approve this message. Racist!

David Brooks summarizes every speech from the Democratic Convention:

We stand at a crossroads at a pivot point, near a fork in the road on the edge of a precipice in the midst of the most consequential election since last year’s “American Idol.”

One path before us leads to the past, and the extinction of the human race. The other path leads to the future, when we will all be dead. We must choose wisely.

We must close the book on the bleeding wounds of the old politics of division and sail our ship up a mountain of hope and plant our flag on the sunrise of a thousand tomorrows with an American promise that will never die! For this election isn’t about the past or the present, or even the pluperfect conditional. It’s about the future, and Barack Obama loves the future because that’s where all his accomplishments are.

[XXXIV]

I am a little nervous about watching the Republican National Convention next week. I'm afraid all that white might cause burn-in on my plasma.

LCD baby...LCD.

[RobVarak]

Look's like McCain is going with Sarah Palin. Nice pick if it's true.

Confirmed! Excellent!! Best pick for a GOP VP in a dog's age. She's an incredibly personable consevative (yes, it is possible) with the requisite impressive family background, executive experience and a great reputation from having cleaned out a bunch of old-boy deadwood in Alaskan politics. She's to the right of McCain on several key issues which would pacify the base. I'm skeptical about those who suggest that she will bring disgruntled Clinton backers, but if she happened to do so it would be gravy.

[SPTO]

Re: Obama's speech, one of the better ones i've seen in a while from him especially the last 5 minutes.

McCain's Veep pick....I think he kinda dropped the ball here. He should've picked someone of color (it'd have made for an interesting mirror image on the campaign trail) I don't know much about Pallin but from what some of you are saying she seems like a great pick but I dunno. Something tells me it'll be Geraldine Ferraro all over again.

[JRod]

Well I attended the circus at Invesco.

The crowd loved it but I didn't think it was on the level of a Bobby Kennedy. It was a good speech but certainly not great.

Like Rob pointed out, it was hypocrital to bash McCain and then say that people are tired of those type of politics. I had to laugh at that. I don't think the crowd picked up that hypocrisy.

As for the big ideas, he's short on them. He's not really proposing any big ideas, certainly nothing like the New Deal or the Great Society. I was hoping for some more ideas because you don't talk specifics in a nomination speech but I didn't hear them. It was mostly tax cuts, tax credits or lofty ideas that there's no possible way the Federal government can address those ideas.

After hearing Biden on Thursday, I thought to myself, now he should be the party's nominee. Biden's mom for VP,


I'm interested in hearing from McCain. He's too inline with Bush policies even if he did get the surge right, but I'm interested in hearing his retort.

As for McCain's VP, the other day, I thought he was going to pick a women or something like the ex-congressman from OK, I think he was Rep. Watts.

[RobVarak]

After hearing Biden on Thursday, I thought to myself, now he should be the party's nominee. Biden's mom for VP,

Agree. As someone pointed out, at least she knows how to handle bullies. You bloody their nose, none of this mulilateral negotiation

[SPTO]

HOO-WAH!

Wow I just saw some pics of Pallin....Well she'd get the MILF vote at least

[XXXIV]

McCain now has a lock the Eskimo vote.

Seriously the guy is 72...How is she qualified to be president? Whats her foreign policy experience?