Positive Obama thread

Good analysis from Klein.  As soon as I heard what the debate format was going to be (at the insistence of the McCain campaign) I knew that she wasn't going to make an obvious ass of herself, that all she would have to do is repeat memorized talking points.  Which is exactly what she did.  Big whoop.

My daughter watched with us as well and was laughing her butt off at Palin's evasiveness and topic changing.  Teenagers can spot a dodge a mile away. 

Maire67, I agree.  Obama/Biden will bring change to Washington if for no other reason than they will restore intelligent discourse to the White House.  I think a majority of the undecideds are going to look at Palin's performance and say, she speaks the same way that Bush speaks, all folksy and "average Joeish" and look where that got us.  Big problems call for big minds, not the guy next door.  Dumb-and-dumber has been the status quo in Washington for 8 years.  It's time for a change.  In that way, Obama/Biden are the true mavericks!  They dare to be smart. 

Meanwhile, back at the financial crisis . . . As Klein says, no one's going to remember, or care about the VP debate a week from now. 

Palin is a perfect example of how part of the American public has been "dumbed-down" in an uncomfortably acceptable way. Biden's understanding of foreign policy and his ability to articulate in complete, coherent sentences made him the certain winner last night.

I have been catching up on the last few days of this thread, and the racism issue really worries me. Check out this link, though, and perhaps there's hope. In fact, send this link to everyone you know:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QIGJTHdH50

We have huge issues to address in this country. McCain and Palin are NOT the ones I want at the helm. No way.

Anne

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Well, I believe Palin said alot of words - that really said nothing.  She danced around questions and couldnt even focus on issues when she was talking.  There were times I looked over at my husband and said "what is she talking about and is this related to the question at all."

I have to agree with what most all of you said.  I can't believe the Republicans would put this country in such a state by nominating her.

Nicki

Serene, great posting of the "fibs" from both sides of the debate. I learned more about both the VP candidates, and I continue to dislike Palin more and more!

LAphoenix, Too funny--I can hardly type I am laughing so hard. Where didja find it? as Palin would ask! Her grammar was positively atrocious. I hate all the dropping of the g's on the ends of the ing's--where did she get that? I never met Alaskans that spoke that way.

Maire67--Of course, Bush does have that "folksy" quality and dumbing down down pat. HA HA!! Don't know where he got it from, he was raised on the East Coast--should have learned to speak refine English with proper grammar. Guess he just likes behaving like a hillbilly! Goes with his grade point average!

I can't believe the Republicans think she did a great job? Didn't we all have to learn the same things in school? Oh yeah, except for posting pictures that are racist in content! Why should I thank Paulette for taking it down? Thank her for undoing what should never have been done in the first place? Excuse me! I think she should thank us for not reporting her to the administrators. She might have been banished from this site for a time. Yep, think we deserve the thank you for asking politely like for her to mosey on down and take down that piece of you know what.

And if anyone's treating Palin with gender discrimination, it's the Republican party themselves. They are protecting her--talk about a double standard! She's a candidate, she should be treated like one, shouldn't matter if someone's male or female--it's an election--face the music!

I'm proud of Biden. I thought he did well, and really well at restraining himself from ripping Palin to shreds. If she goes out in public now, she probably isn't aware of how badly she will be verbally attacked with questions. She is just not ready--and wouldn't be if she had 18 months to prepare. She is a duck out of water and would be a disaster in office.

And for the record, McCain voted to support Bush 95% of the time votes were taken in Congress. He is no maverick!!

Gonna take a nap tomorrow so I can stay up and enjoy the latest from Tina Fey.

I don't hate Palin, I feel really, really sorry for her, because she is clueless and doesn't realize what a putz she was last night. Poor thing! Her kids looked really embarrassed by the whole thing--at least that's what my hubby thought when he saw their faces up on stage. Alaska must be wondering what they will do with her for two more years of her term. Wonder if she will run for another term?

Personally, I think she should stick to beauty pageants--she'd be a cute Mrs. America, doncha think?

Thought the debate was interesting--won't add to the many comments I would have made that others have already expressed--the folksy touch was way overdone; the winks; dumbing down; dropping the g's at the end of words........

I seriously thought her closing comment would be something along the lines of..."Y'all elect me and John; put us in the White House....and, WE'LL  GET 'ER DONE!!!"

Still, a very exciting, interesting political time in our history....

junie

My brother made a comment about Palin from day one that I can't get out of my mind.  He said she has that librarian look with the hair up and glasses and then he said all she has to do is take off the glasses and drop the hair and she has the stripper look!  I laughed so hard, maybe that is what McCain is up to, guess Bill Clinton wasn't the only one fond of extraciricular activities..... hehe  Sorry that wasn't nice.

I went into those debates with an open mind and really wanted to see if I would hear anything from either side to really light a fire for me on one side or the other.  The first debate Obama showed he was a good public speaker and McCain looked like an angry old man.  The VP debate, well, she just showed how unprepared she is for such a responsibility.

I am all for equal rights but I guess when it comes to young children I am old fashioned.  I really believe women are naturally the nurturer and young children need their mother in their lives on a consistent regular basis.   I know women have great careers and work with families now but I just think VP of the country is too much to take away from your children as a woman.  Men have traditionally been the bread winners and if they have to travel or be away from the family to achieve that then so be it and children do fine, but I just really think a mom needs to be there.  Top that off with a special needs child, I really think she needs to put her efforts into her family and stick to her little political career in Alaska for the time being.  When her children get older then move onto Washington if that is what she wants.  Guess I am just flat out sexist, can't help it.

Denisa....this is a great comment that you made "it is an insult that the republican party would endanger our country's future (and that of the world) by putting someone so unqualified up as a candidate."  I whole heartedly agree with you!  It is a huge insult!  We have so many enormous issues that need to be resolved and they throw someone like her at us.  Really??  Isn't everyone stressed enough, and now we have to think about some bimbo and an angry little man getting in the white house and trying to run a country??  This is beyond insane, and it has honestly stressed me out all week!!  I can't wait for Obama/Biden to kick their ass so we can move along with some real business!!  It will happen, but why must we endure this in the mean while?  And why dosn't everyone see she is so under qualified, and that we are discussing running a country, not a soccer team???  Aye..I am going to have a glass of wine and sit down.  I've had enough this week!

g

Linda...if somewhere in bizzaro land McCain/Palin happens, the south pole would not be to cold!  :-)

I like to think that Obama wants to be the president that Marthin Luther King would have been if he had lived.  King wasn't a saint and either is Obama, but he's starting from a much better place than McCain or any of the Republicans.  As we've seen with Bush, administrations start from a basic philosophy and personality and go from there.  The Obama ethos is what the country, and world, needs right now. 

Understandably, diehard Repubs want to believe that McCain is going to be much better than Bush because they are diehard Repubs.  I'd probably be saying the same thing if I were a diehard Repub.  Alec Baldwin said on Real Time last night that if McCain had won in 2000 we'd be in a much better place today.  Maybe in some ways.  But McCain is a neocon and was pushing for war in Iraq immediately after 9/11, making the same stupid arguments that the Bushies were.  If he had been president I know we would have gone to war in Iraq.  He might have run the war better than Bush, but all that would mean is that he could then declare war on Iran.  Or maybe Russia.    

All you have to do to get some idea of how the two candidates' administrations might operate is to look at how their campaigns have operated.  From day one, McCain's has been lurching and pivoting, making rash decisions (Palin) and tactical mistakes and trying to recover.  His staff is constantly scrambling around doing damage control.  Obama's has been calm, deliberate and brilliant.  He beat the Clintons after all.  And we know who went dirty first.  McCain is not cut out to be president, never has been, never will be.  He's just too impulsive and angry, and too bent on war.  His obsession is foreign relations and the military.  He doesn't get and doesn't care about domestic issues. 

I think the Repubs have to accept that 2008 is a rebuilding year.  They need to take a hard look at what they've become and clean house.  Maybe return to their Eisenhower roots.  The country needs them to stop supporting these fundamentalist neocons.  That era is over.  Stick a fork in it. 

Ann, thanks for the radio link.

Oh my gosh Denisa,

That's the first thing that went through my mind when I saw Palin's family on the state--that baby shouldn't be there at all!! Can't they afford some childcare during this campaign? After all, if she's governor of Alaska, she certainly isn't middle-class anymore.LOL 

Amy:  I read one of your posts earlier where you said you were a little nervous about this trip, and it sounds like your having a wonderful time.  I've been watching the news channels all day, thank goodness for my remote.  Most everything has been boring.  Repeats of what has already been said.  I did see a speech that Obama gave in Virginia about health care.  It was heartfelt and really good.  I felt like he was talking right to me - as he talked about how hard it is for people with cancer to get insurance or get the treatment they need.

Making my own version of Minestrone soup.  Dont know how it will come out, cause Im not using a recipe.  Time to get back to my soup.

Nicki

Nicki,

I love a good minestrone soup. I cook like you do--just a little of this and that--except that I forget to write down what I put in as I go, so hard to duplicate the next time around. But I have cooked enough recipes enough times that I can duplicate them even away from home--like on vacation or at a relative's home. Nice to have that repertoire.

When I cut outrecipes from a magazine, I use a photograph album and put them in there. I have one for Savory and one for Sweet. After I try the recipe, I write down comments I receive or what I might change. If we didn't like it the first time, I either make it again, or if my hubby really didn't like it (and he will eat just about anything and not complain--so if he gives thumbsdown, I don't bother making it again). If it's a "keeper" I put it on a recipe card and back in the slot it goes.

I probably won't live long enough to get through all the recipes I have cut out. LOL I do have 4 albums of them--some tried and true--and a lot not even tried yet! 

Deep in my heart I don't think it will come to this, but just in case.....

 From the MANITOBA HERALD, Canada

A flood of American liberals sneaking across the border into Canada has
intensified in the past week, sparking calls for increased patrols to
stop the illegal immigration.

The possibility of a McCain/Palin election is prompting the exodus among
left-leaning citizens who fear they'll soon be required to hunt, pray, and agree with Bill O'Reilly.

Canadian border farmers say it's not uncommon to see dozens of sociology
professors, animal rights activists and Unitarians crossing their fields at night.

"I went out to milk the cows the other day, and there was a Hollywood
producer huddled in the barn," said Manitoba farmer Red Greenfield, whose acreage borders North Dakota .

"The producer was cold, exhausted and hungry. He asked me if I could spare a latte and some free-range chicken. When I said I didn't have any, he left. Didn't even get a chance to show him my screenplay, eh?"

In an effort to stop the illegal aliens, Greenfield erected higher fences, but the liberals scaled them. So he tried installing speakers that blare Rush Limbaugh across the fields. "Not real effective," he said. "The liberals still got through, and Rush annoyed the cows so much they wouldn't give milk."

Officials are particularly concerned about smugglers who meet liberals near
the Canadian border, pack them into Volvo station wagons, drive them across
the border and leave them to fend for themselves.

"A lot of these people are not prepared for rugged conditions," an Ontario
border patrolman said. "I found one carload without a drop of drinking water. They did have a nice little Napa Valley cabernet, though."

When liberals are caught, they're sent back across the border, often wailing loudly that they fear retribution from conservatives. Rumors have
been circulating about the McCain administration establishing re-education
camps in which liberals will be forced to shoot wolves from airplanes, deny
evolution, and act out drills preparing them for the Rapture.

In recent days, liberals have turned to sometimes ingenious ways of crossing
the border. Some have taken to posing as senior citizens on bus trips to buy
cheap Canadian prescription drugs. After catching a half-dozen young vegans
disguised in powdered wigs, Canadian immigration authorities began stopping
buses and quizzing the supposed senior citizen passengers on Perry Como
and Rosemary Clooney hits to prove they were alive in the '50s. "If they can't identify the accordion player on The Lawrence Welk Show, we get suspicious about their age," an official said.

Canadian citizens have complained that the illegal immigrants are creating
an organic broccoli shortage and renting all the good Susan Sarandon movies.

"I feel sorry for American liberals, but the Canadian economy just can't support them," an Ottawa resident said. "How many art history and English majors does one country need?"

Cherryl, that was just too, too funny for words!

LadySuz, one of the nicest things about my country is that "Liberal" is a highly respected (not dirty) word!  We all welcome you with open arms!

Cheers!

Linda