Is McCain out of his mind? »
Posted By Aidenag 1 year, 2 months ago in NewsFor a man who is 72 years old and has had four bouts with cancer to have chosen someone so completely unqualified to become president is shockingly irresponsible. Suddenly, McCain's age and health become central issues in the campaign, as does his judgment.
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Aidenag
Photographer by day, news junkie by night. My main areas of interest are politics and the environment.
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david_nwpa1 year, 2 months ago
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Begala is absolutely right about Governor Palin's lack of experience and woefully lacking resume of foreign policy credentials. Forget the fact that she is young enough to be McCain's daughter, and that he is old enough to have been Methuselah's grandfather, he picked someone who is not prepared to be the President in the event of his demise.
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raats6662Comment removed: Retracted by user19 Replies
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drpolyphemus1 year, 2 months ago
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"On July 11, 2008, Palin dismissed Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan for not adequately filling state trooper vacancies, and because he "did not turn out to be a team player on budgeting issues."[55] She instead offered him a position as executive director of the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, which he turned down.
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Her power to fire him is not in dispute, but Monegan alleged that his dismissal was a retaliation for his reluctance to fire Palin's former brother-in-law, Alaska State Trooper Mike Wooten, who had been involved in a divorce and child custody battle with Palin's sister, Molly McCann.[58] Palin is currently being investigated by an independent investigator hired by the Alaska Legislature[59] to determine whether she abused her power when she fired Monegan. The investigation is scheduled to end October 30, only days before the November 4 presidential election."- wikipedia entry -
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GLee1 year, 2 months ago
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blablablaComment removed: Retracted by user
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rendale21 year, 2 months ago
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One thing we all need to think about mr obama has had 141 days in the senate.Ask our selves if we worked 141 days at a job would we be ceo.? Yes she is in a small state but was a city council member mayor and a governor. Mr obama refuses to say how he will do things. I am a democrat but he isnt god or a rockstar. Every other canditate accepting a nomination does it in the convention hall. He picks Joe biden limited votes while running for president to hilarys 17 million. First major decesion and he screwed up. Joe Biden was retiring so will he really be in it. He also said mr obama wasnt ready to lead the presidency doesn't warrant on the job training. One voter who by the way was african american said she was for hilary and said the dnc and the media hand picked obama and the people picked hilary not that is a democracy.
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nmbear1 year, 2 months ago
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Let us look at what Bill Clinton said only a few months ago; "Who is really ever prepared to be President?-William J. Clinton." Now lets look at the other three people in the race. Are they not all members of our Federal Legislative Branch already? Do they have any executive exsperience? I do not believe so and now they are going to do more for our country by taking away their vote in our federal legislative process? I do feel that the acusations of pandering are ridiculous. Of course Palin is being brought on to help shore up the Women's vote. But all VP decisions in the last 100 years have been made to help balance the parties ticket. So the leftist press wanting to over emphasis the obivious is a slap in the face of the American public. Where was the leftist press when Obama not four years ago stated that for the Democratic Party to appeal to the American public they must simplify their message. Was he calling the American people stupid? The Press sure left that alone.
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DamonKnight1 year, 2 months ago
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You say that Governor Palin has no experience? She was mayor of her home town, govenor of the state of alaska, has faced the corruption in Alaska's government and fought to cut the overspending there (to the fact of selling the govenors jet on ebay and returning the money to the state's budget). She has worked to increase jobs and the money in Alaska's budget and did so by cutting out waste, cutting out programs that did not work, and at the same time was able to lower taxes while increasing the funds Alaska could spend on essential programs such as conservation of wildlife areas, improved infrastructure, creation of new jobs and industry.
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Now, lets compare that to Obama. Obama was an activist in Chicago... he voted 3 times to turn down a bill that would make it illegal for doctors to continue abortions when the fetus after the abortion attempt, was born live, he has spent a total of 143 active days in the US Senate, his voting record in the Illinois senate includes mostly votes of "Present". He is currently keeping television stations from running a paid for advertisement that show his connections to Bill Ayers... by threatening lawsuits against the stations that air the ad... and yet he speaks of freedom of speech? What foreign policy does Barak Obama have? He has said he would sit down unconditionally with Iran and other enemies... a policy that has failed in the past because Iran's government only responds to, and only if the action is severly detrimental to the government not the people, sanctions... which it and korea have decidedly ignored in the past few years.
What credentials does Biden have? He has as much experience in the senate as McCain... however, when Obama talks about all the failed policies of the past, he mentions that McCain was in the senate at the time... failing to mention that so was Biden. Biden voted against the surge in Iraq.. which we now see is working as incidents of violence and rebellion are down. Biden has voted against off shore drilling and energy independance... which increases the money pouring into Russia, Syria, Iran, and China.
Govenor Pailen doesnt need credentials on Foreign policy when McCain has 10 times the combined experience as Obama and Biden. She does, however, have the experience of running a state and being in an executive position. She has the experience of domestic policy... Something both Biden and Obama lack.
I have followed this campaign and seen the lies and flops presented by Obama... i have seen him put down america overseas and here at home, I have heard his reasons for associating with Rev Wright and Bill Ayers... And he has left a sour taste in my mouth. -
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injest1 year, 2 months ago
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FTA
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“Her personal story is impressive: former fisherman, mother of five.
But that hardly qualifies her to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.”
Actually City council then Mayor, and then Governor, 1992 to present that’s 16 years in elected office.
She actually HAS fought corruption and The oil companies AND won!
Something my 2 Senators from California have NEVER been able to accomplish.
It should also be noted that Mayor’s and Governor’s, when a decision needs to be made, can not exercise that “profile in courage and vote “present”. -
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Klarissa1 year, 2 months ago
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This was written by a democrat party operative.
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Please note that CNN offered the other view at this link:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/29/rollins.pal...
She defeated the longtime senator and Republican governor in a primary and then went on and defeated the former Democratic governor.
She is an experienced politician, leader, and has been through tough campaigns. -
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Natureboy1 year, 2 months ago
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I'll have you know that McCain's foreign policy experience includes the destruction of Carthage and the sacking of Rome.
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Before Cato declared "Carthago delenda est" he first said "McCain. HEY, OLD MAN, what's your opinion on this?"
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PsychoHosebeastComment removed: Spammer, Abusive
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Ciera-Marie1 year, 2 months ago
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Look at this way. She has absolutely no experience, has a large family (which will appeal to Evangelicals and Catholics alike. {i know not everyone in both religions have big families but there is a trend back to big families.} ), is facing ethics charges, one of the Senators from AK is being indicted, is pushing for drilling in ANWAR, keeps passing into law aerial hunting of wolves (including mothers with pups. That is not hunting. That is target practice. Aerial hunting is an insult to true hunters.) and many other things.
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Because of that track record and I suspect doing what the Bush administration wants, she's the perfect candidate. Has to be more of a party player than MN Governor Tim Pawlenty. I'm actually surprised he didn't get the VP nod. OH GOD, I hope they're not grooming him for president. I pray that isn't the case. -
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normallysilent1 year, 2 months ago
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raats6662Comment removed: Retracted by user
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Dionys1 year, 2 months ago
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"I do beleive I hear the sound of Panic coming Barry's direction"
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With all the Repugnant Con comments regarding a nobody with no experience, trying to build her up into FDR, the only panic I see is a Repugnant Con party blindsided by a man fighting the early stages of Alzheimers. -
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splitrch1 year, 2 months ago
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This was actually the most cynical decision of a quite cynical group of people. The only thing I can fathom is that they (RNC) think they can steal away "Hillary Voters" who either don't want the "Black Guy" or will vote for a "Woman Candidate" at any cost.
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Here's a news flash for you - my wife who voted for Hillary in the Primary has been solidly behind Obama since the outcome was known. As a woman she is outraged the the Republicans consider women as being emotional rather than intellectual. Believe me she is not alone in thinking this way. This pick tells us more about the way the Republican movers and shakers think then anything else. I think you need to get a grip on reality.
I have nothing against Mrs. Palin. She is just not qualified to lead and apparently neither is John McCain. -
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Natureboy1 year, 2 months ago
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Hm. Is this what panic sounds like?
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I'm thinking when Obama heard this, he said something like
"He picked who? WHO? OMFG, He picked HER? Does he have a death wish? Holy crap. order the dom perignion, baby, I'm gonna be president for sure! I could be caught doing a campfire girl and STILL win by a landslide." -
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mackiemesserComment removed: Retracted by user
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ningyo1 year, 2 months ago
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while true that her being a woman will add some interest .. the main reason for her pick was a long record of REAL conservative actions and she is also a very articulate speaker..just as good as osamabama without all the platitudes..she has has REAL people who can talk about her history and life..unlike barry who has to hide all of his life-long dealings..as for experience i would say thats a laugh...two years governing a huge complex state and years of political infighting against corruption and govt pork..thats a real record...what has barry done..oh right..he sat in some church for 20 years and organized a community into decrepit slum housing...and his management experience seems to be 5 years on the board running some group...but he cant seem to remember who he worked with (ayers) or what they did...for 5 years...palin will turn this campaign on its ear...then she and hillary can square off in 2012
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corl641 year, 2 months ago
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What I think is funny about this article is all these names the writer is rattleing off here, if any of these others were picked, they would have been "McCains worst pick" instead. I think the Obamamaniacs are starting to get worried about losing.
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mesodude1 year, 2 months ago
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"as for experience i would say thats a laugh...two years governing a huge complex state and years of political infighting against corruption and govt pork.."
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---It's good to know you're laughing because you can't be serious. First, I think it's been only 18 months she's had the job and what has she had to govern? Bears, wolves, reindeer, and moose? Alaska is the largest state but with a "whopping" population of a little under 700,000 people (only 100,000 more people than in the relatively microscopic Washington DC where I live and where Palin aspires to live come January) it is the third least populous state in the union. It's only *been* a state just under 50 years. -
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hefaa1Comment removed: Hard Banned
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mesodude1 year, 2 months ago
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Who cares what you people think qualifies as experience anyway? Look what cons put in the White House for 8 years and look at the toilet your judgement turned our country into? What's funny is that cons are lying again and behaving as if they think anyone believes they actually have some meaningful criteria for decision making.
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somecommonsense1 year, 2 months ago
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oldgringo...what r you talking about?!?!?! be rational here if Obama made this pick you would be saying exactly what most Republicans and Dems are saying...SHE IS NOT FIT TO LEAD...there is no comparison to Obama here, he is a US Senator, before that a state senator, he is a Harvard and Columbia Grad he is a lawyer, specializing in constitutional law...she HAS A BA IN JOURNALISM< SHE WANTED TO WORK FOR ESPN!!!!! I need a drink I can't believe what is happening, thank GOD they are going to lose.
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pcknowledge1 year, 2 months ago
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Well with all this talk about experience, let's do a comparison. Obama said the Iraqis need to govern their own country, and we need to bring our troops home. Bush/McCain said it after Obama said it. Obama said we need to hold diplomatic talks with Iran, and tell Ahmedinejad what's not acceptable. Bush/McCain laughed at the idea of "diplomatic talks" with Iran, then Bush/McCain/Rice said they would hold talks with Iran and Ahmedinejad.
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Palin hasn't said anything, but in all fairness her candidacy has just been announced. Looking at Palin's professional backgound, listening to her speeches and watching her demeanor on TV, I know leaders like Putin and Ahmedinejad in foreign countries would never take her seriously. I would have voted for Hillary, I will vote for Obama. McCain/Palin together would be a third Bush term and our country can't handle that!-
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somecommonsense1 year, 2 months ago
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PCKNOWLEDGE great points...ALSO what Palin does is re-energizes the left to vote because she seems to be an ideologue and the one thing McCain had going with Independents was theat they, not me, thought he was different and not so neocon-ish, she confirms his shift to the right and "do anything to get elected " strategy...I think he made a really bad pick, I mean he met her once...the Obama VP pick was a process steeped in thought and research and a team of people who really looked at the choice as one beyond political calculations...with Ridge he might have won, Romney would have been laughed off the world stage, Palin is a joke, I mean think about her meeting with Putin, or well anyone...
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SonOfTheMask1 year, 2 months ago
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mntnman444Comment removed: Spammer, Hard Banned18 Replies
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bubba21 year, 2 months ago
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Here is Palin's resume --
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* Palin was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience and NO experience at the national level.
* Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest. Women will really 'love' that ... NOT!
* She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000 (and didn't support McCain!).
* Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.
* Palin doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.
* Palin is solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewable energy won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska. (Her husband works for BP!)
How closely did McCain analyze and study this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position. How's that for real in-depth analysis, contemplation, and planning?
I think Palin will turn out to be a disaster for McCain - heckuva job, Johnny ....-
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Klarissa1 year, 2 months ago
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Here is just part of Obama's resume:
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Organizer
Obama Meets Acorn
What has Barack Obama got to do with all this? Plenty. Let’s begin with Obama’s pre-law school days as a community organizer in Chicago.
Few people have a clear idea of just what a “community organizer” does. A Los Angeles Times piece on Obama’s early Chicago days opens with the touching story of his efforts to build a partnership with Chicago’s “Friends of the Parks,” so that parents in a blighted neighborhood could have an inviting spot for their kids to play.
This is the image of Obama’s organizing we’re supposed to hold. It’s far from the whole story, however. As the L. A. Times puts it, “Obama’s task was to help far South Side residents press for improvement” in their communities.
Part of Obama’s work, it would appear, was to organize demonstrations, much in the mold of radical groups like Acorn. -
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Historylover1 year, 2 months ago
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Everything you point out about Palin, I agree with, that is what makes America great--diversity. Palin seems to share the beliefs of many people, including this woman. All of these blog posts are actually making me like her more and more... I hope you are right about her "resume"
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most_reasonable1 year, 2 months ago
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Ms. Pain will fortify the right wing base with her stance on abortion, guns, home schooling, preference for "intelligent design" over intelligent biological theory, the push for raping the Alaskan wilderness, taking the Polar Bear off the endangered list and put it on the extinction list, and calling Hillary Clinton a "whiner".
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Of course she will also fortify the democratic, Hillary supporters, and middle America against more of McSame. I can't believe she says I can't believe that she says NUK-U-LAR. Of course that never bothered the GOP "faithful" who thought that G. W. Bush was "brilliant". -
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jaern1 year, 2 months ago
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I am thrilled for McCain's choice in a running mate. Not because she is a woman but because of her inexperience. He can't very well run ads pointing out his opinions that Barak Obama is too inexperienced to be president without casting a shadow of doubt upon his own choice of Sarah Palin- and him being the oldest candidate with a history of melanoma recurrence 4 times. Its perfect and I couldn't be happier! Thank you, John!!!!
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Klarissa1 year, 2 months ago
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When was Obama mayor? When was Obama Governor?
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How many days has Obama spent being in charge of anything but the failed Annenberg Project?
"The cloak of media invisibility is slowly beginning to lift from Barack Obama's most important administrative leadership experience, helming an expensive educational reform effort in Chicago that failed to produce any measurable academic gains, according to the project's own final report.
A compliant media has averted its eyes so far. A timeline of Obama's career from George Washington University omits it.
But the fact that Obama was in charge of a massive expensive project makes it indisputably a matter of proper vetting to examine his track record at delivering on promises of hope and change." -
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protoham1 year, 2 months ago
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The difference will be she will not be president and gets to learn on the Job, BO will be learning and making mistakes on the job which will affect you and me.
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But all in all, it really does not matter, the job is president, not King. And all a president can do is stop or approve a law written by congress.
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fliksrus1 year, 2 months ago
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No, McCain is not out of his mind. He's a crafty professional politician who has made his career taking unexpected paths. But now we can add a new description: cynical. The level of cynicism in this decision takes one's breath away.
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Palin, who I am sure is a nice person, good mother and dedicated civil servant, is breathtakingly unqualified to be a heart-beat away from the leadership of the free world. McCain chose her to shore up his conservative credentials, to appease the religious right, and to try to appeal to disaffected Clinton supporters. Period. Not because of experience, knowledge, capability, credibility, judgment, wisdom, expertise; none of the criteria that should be rightfully expected in a vice president. If McCain is elected and later becomes incapacited (not an inconceivable possibility by any stretch, given his age and prior health problems), could anyone, ANYONE, think that Palin is prepared to step in, manage the nation's economy, deal with the most dangerous and difficult foreign policy decisions in decades, be commander-in-chief of our nation's soldiers now in a state of war? The thought would be laughable if it were not so terrifying. This decision brings the politics of "do anything to get elected" to a new low. And what does it say of McCain's respect for women when he thinks that millions of women who supported Clinton will now back a McCain/Palin ticket simply because they share the same anatomical parts as Palin, even when her policies and beliefs are the polar opposite of Clinton.
I have been a Republican for 45 years. I have never voted for a Democrat for national office. But I admit I have been teetering this election year. John McCain has just pushed me over the edge.-
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most_reasonable1 year, 2 months ago
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Ms. Pain will fortify the right wing base with her stance on abortion, guns, home schooling, preference for "intelligent design" over intelligent biological theory, the push for raping the Alaskan wilderness, taking the Polar Bear off the endangered list and put it on the extinction list, and calling Hillary Clinton a "whiner".
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Of course she will also fortify the democratic, Hillary supporters, and middle America against more of McSame. I can't believe she says I can't believe that she says NUK-U-LAR. Of course that never bothered the GOP "faithful" who thought that G. W. Bush was "brilliant".
And NO she is not a nice person. -
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most_reasonable1 year, 2 months ago
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McSame is simply putting out a straw dog to attract the lightning bolts that justifiably should be directed toward him and his incompetent leader GWB.
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Ms PAIN is Pat Buchananin drag.
I wonder if she will single handedly bring Florida back into the Democratic rolls. -
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NoWayMan1 year, 2 months ago
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right. he chose her in order to win an election, not to fill the very important and very real job of Vice President of the United States. its a clear illustration of McCain's short-term thinking on questions that need long-term answers.
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its also obvious that Palin was not McCain's first choice. How could she be if he's only spoken to her once in person? so, something must have gone wrong during the VP selection process. -
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waltculver1 year, 2 months ago
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fliksrus, you're right on. I would, however, shift the emphasis of the debate from "experience" to demonstrated "judgment." In this Obama has proved to have superior judgment on the matter of the timetable for Iraq and talking to Iran, among the more obvious cases. McCain/Palin have just added an example of very dubious judgment in repeatedly referring to Palin as a down-to-earth soccer mom.
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Whoa! How's that going to play if she has to stand up to Putin or the crazy who's president of Iran?? Golda Meir or Margaret Thatcher never characterized themselves that way! And at 72, McCain is facing bad odds of being there always to do that, in that men in this country have an average life expectancy of only the mid-70s, and he's got those 4 incidents of a most dangerous form of cancer.
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Tcaros1 year, 2 months ago
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McCain was a good soldier. His father was an admiral. He was being groomed from a young age. He crashed his plane 5 times before getting his wings. He was persistant not talented- didn't want to dissappoint. Then he crashed in Veitnam (not shot down). He bravely endured the struggle.
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This makes him a good soldier, but not a good leader. His choices, including being indicted as part of the Keating 5, make him appear corrupt and always seeking approval from wealthy and powerful people.
I don't trust McCain will help any average citizen. Your fooling yourself if you think he can. -
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ConsAreNonGrata1 year, 2 months ago
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One thing I will give credit to McLame for is the festering sexism that is still alive in America.
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I have seen opinions from more than one pundit that points out Biden's debate style is very aggressive and he will have to keep that in check because he will be seen as coming on to strong against Palin.
Well, there your have it - the belief that women need to be "protected" is still rampant in this nation. Will it be enough to swing the vote?
And if it does, taken to its logical extent -
If Palin cannot stand up to big bad Biden's onslaught, then how is she going to handle Putin? You think Putin is going to pull his punches? -
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NoWayMan1 year, 2 months ago
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palin was a poor choice for many reasons.
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she undermines McCain's arguement about experience.
McCain has only spoken to her once, so we're not even sure that he thinks she's a great choice.
contrary to con fantasies, she won't pull Hillary supporters across the aisle, since she's pretty much against everything that Hillary has fought long and hard for. and its shows the GOP's inherent sexism to think women are so stupid that they would simply flock to Mccain just because palin and hillary are both female.
she was only chosen to help McCain win the presidency. she wasn't chosen for the very real job of vice president. big difference. and it shows McCain's short-term thinking.
and next week, when they are standing together, she will make McCain look very old by comparison. not the visual the GOP is going for.
Palin as a choice also shows that there were a few people who turned down the job before her cause there's no way in hell you can convince me she was his first and only choice.
again, poor choice. poor judgement on McCain's part. and the cons can say all they want about palin's "executive experience" being the gov of a state that has fewer people than san francisco, but we've all seen from the past eight years that "executive experience" simply doesn't add up to squat. -
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MollieM1 year, 2 months ago
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This just further shows McCain's 'old fart' thinking.
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I doubt Palin will bother Cindy too much, I doubt she's even aware
what's going on around her.
Palin was put there for the female vote.
How insulting!!
Any Hillary fence sitter is no true Democrat if they even
think about voting for this woman.
This guy os too old and too stuck in his ways!
Just wait til the first time he uses profanity on this chick.
Hypocrisy reigns supreme. -
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Spadecaller1 year, 2 months ago
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Palin is already becoming McCain's latest blunder. Independents and the last few Hillary holdouts are even more upset now that McCain has chosen a VP that is to the right of Pat Buchanan. This is turning out to be another boost for Obama. Keep up the good work, John.
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