Linda, I have seen the film maker that did the documentary on Fox.  I am looking forward to seeing it.  Is this going to be put on a DVD that we can buy?

Rosemary, I bought Dick Morris and his wife's book, Fleeced.  I realize many people do not like him, but what I have read so far is quite scary.  Morris and his wife tells us how BO plans on raising taxes, and what will happen.  By saying he will be giving the middle class people a tax break is just keeping Bush's tax cut.  Of course there's much, much more.  Reading his Health Care Plan scares me to.

I wish our children could see through Obama.  Heck, not just children but "adults" as well.  The only thing I can do is keep talking and vote. 

I've only spoken to a few friends about BO and McCain, and my friends are definitely against BO.  We'll be going to my bil's on Saturday.  I will somehow try to bring up the subject.  It will be interesting to see what they say.  I really need to have some material printed to hand them in case they leaning toward Obama.  LOL  One of my dh's brothers doesn't have insurance for he nor his wife.  It irks me because we choose what we can/want to pay for.  They chose to build a house in the mountains..a place to vacation.  He's an architect, and she does some bookkeeping.  I know individual plans cost more.  We had wonderful insurance before this year.  I've already talked about how I hate my NOW insurance...large deductible before they'll even kick in to help with prescriptions....$743 for 90 days of Arimidex out of our pockets, plus many other meds.  It's going to send us to the poor house, but I have to accept it's better than NO insurance.  But I'll gripe about it anyway.

Yes, Linda, I'm one of those "whiners." LOL...about my insurance.  But, I know what you mean by what Graham said.  And I believe he stated it poorly.  Hannity tried to defend him by saying that we are whiners..wanting the government to solve all of our problems.  But at this time he certainly shouldn't have made that comment with gas prices so high...people are really hurting from that.  I do believe we, in this country, have had it very good, and now that things are getting really rough we're scared.  And, of course, we blame everything on Bush...I mean "they" blame.....LOL

There was a poll taken on AOL asking who do you trust more on foreign policy...results...McCain 63% and Obama 37%.  How can Obama be ahead or so close to McCain with these results?  I don't get it!

Shirley

Which election stated "It's the economy....!"

 http://blogs.marketwatch.com/election/2008/06/30/economy-needs-huge-jolt-bond-guru-tells-obama/

This is what they should be debating today, but only a few showed up for the debate.  Tomorrow will be the actual voting:

Reauthorization Legislation Threatens Successful PEPFAR Program   While both the House and Senate reauthorization bills more than triple funding from $15 billion over five years to $50 billion, they irresponsibly simultaneously eliminate the critical priority of funding on treatment that characterizes the current program, and expand the focus and scope of this HIV/AIDS program to an unaccountable menagerie of loosely related development and poverty programs.   The current Senate reauthorization bill:

• Eliminates the requirement for providing life-saving treatment.
• Triples the funding, but only increases the treatment target by 50%.
• Diverts funding from the poorest and neediest countries to richer countries with space exploration and nuclear programs, including Russia, China, and India;
• Expands the scope of the bill from HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and care to include every poverty and development program under the sun, such as: agriculture, schools, legal aid, gender empowerment, lobbying, microfinance, sanitation, and community food aid (as opposed to just critical nutritional support for patients on anti-HIV medications)
• Doubles the U.S. contribution to the U.N. affiliated Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria despite the Fund's drug quality problems, administrative corruption, and ability to bypass U.S. laws and policies on abortion, needle exchange, and prostitution/trafficking.

 Senators Coburn, Demint, Burr, Vitter, Chambliss, Bunning and Sessions wrote Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, asking him to protect their rights to object to movement of the House or Senate global AIDS reauthorization bill, which turns the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) from a succesful, $15 billion program to care and treat people with AIDS in the poorest countries into a $50 billion global development slush fund. 

Ladies, I have so much to catch up on ....  I am so far only up to posts on 7/9. 

 Shirley, I read about your granddaughter naming the George's as president.....My dad told me a funny story ... he was with my daughter and asked her how many presidents she could name and she said:  George Washington, my dad said, Thats One, ... Abraham Lincoln, That's Two, she said,  George Bush, Three ...Then she said, George Clooney.  

My dad looked at her ... she said, "Geez, I can't believe I remembered George Clooney." 

I thought you might enjoy a little campaign humor...

Jib Jab It's Time for Some Campaignin'

That was a fun video.  I'll have to share it. We can use some humor in this campaign.

Pretty good article  below from Michael Goodwin at the Daily News-------------

Can't help myself ---but I am managing to stay away from the news stations and all political commercials..................

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Barack Obama's plan ignores the facts

Tuesday, July 15th 2008, 7:15 PM

Barack Obama and John McCain had a virtual debate on Iraq and Afghanistan Tuesday and there were two takeaways. The first is that they agree on the need for more troops in Afghanistan. The second is that Obama's vision of Iraq and how it fits into our national security is, to put it kindly, still a work in progress.

Their speeches, Obama's in Washington and McCain's in New Mexico, were carried back to back on the cable networks. It's the closest thing we're likely to get to a debate until September because Obama has rejected McCain's invitation for joint appearances.

After Tuesday, I can see why. Obama is most comfortable reading a prepared speech from a TelePrompTer, while McCain likes to roam a stage, mixing prepared remarks with a question-and-answer format. Each was in his element, but McCain was far more realistic and persuasive on the connection between Iraq and Afghanistan and the need to keep pressing forward in both. "We can succeed in both," he said.

McCain, whose appearances often have a funereal quality, has been ramping up the energy level and it showed. He was animated before an audience that appreciated his determination and earned a standing ovation when he vowed, "I will get Osama Bin Laden and bring him to justice. I will do that."

Obama, in fairness, chose a subdued format with another purpose: to make what his team called a "major policy address" on national security. It was a choice born of necessity, with his recent contradictory remarks on Iraq and other issues creating doubts about his readiness to be commander in chief.

He was only partially successful in dispelling those doubts. While he offered a compelling view of how America should have engaged the world after 9/11 instead of invading Iraq and getting bogged down, the speech suffered from fundamental flaws in logic and fact that Obama refuses to confront.

He can't bring himself to acknowledge how the successful surge of our troops has altered the dynamics in Iraq and that he was wrong to oppose it. He went further than usual in citing "the gains of the surge," but still won't factor those gains into his commitment to withdraw combat troops over 16 months. When he says, "I stand by my pledges to end the war," he might as well add, "The facts be damned."

Meanwhile, he wants to use the surge strategy in Afghanistan, saying, "This is a war we have to win." The contrast he set up suggests he does not believe Iraq is a meaningful struggle and that we have little stake in the outcome. The number of Americans who agree with him is declining because of the success, proving they were not opposed to the war as much as they opposed losing it.

There were other head-scratchers as well. Obama talked tough about forging a new relationship with Pakistan to keep militants from crossing into Afghanistan. But in the next breath, he attacked President Pervez Musharraf, who, despite his flaws, is more committed to rooting out Taliban and Al Qaeda elements than the coalition government now calling the shots.

Obama also talked about stopping Iran's nuclear program in ways I find confusing. While he promised to "use all elements of American power to pressure the Iranian regime," he praised European governments that have been less forceful than our own. His pressure tactics come down to meeting with Iranian leaders and threatening more sanctions, which are not likely to get through the Security Council.

And as bromides go, there was this one: "It's time to reform the United Nations, so that this imperfect institution can become a more perfect forum to share burdens, strengthen our leverage and promote our values."

That'll leave 'em laughing in Tehran, and it begs a question: Is that all there is?

mgoodwin@nydailynews.com

First of all the video has hilarious.  Yep, we certainly can use some humor in this election.  However, Obama always makes me laugh!  NOT!  When I'm watching him I just keep calling him, Stupid!  Does anyone else talk to the television.  I'm starting to lose it!

Roctobermom, loved your story about you dd.  George Clooney!  Cute. Our children are so innocent.  I sure hate it when they lose that innocence.

Yes, I too and getting sick and tired of this very mean country sending billions to people who probably never see a dime of it.  This rich country that's in so much debt could certainly use the billions sent away to people in our very on country.  I don't mean to give them a free ride, but many people hit hard times and they need help getting out.

My gypsy children told me that while they were in Africa there was a "team" (or whatever you call them) who came over to teach protection.  The women giggled, and I don't know what the men did.  I doubt it worked.  The women would giggle when shown how to use a condom.

With all the bad that we have going on here, I'm still glad I'm an American.  And I'm not ashamed that I can't speak another language.  I will never be able to visit another country.  I don't know anyone who speaks a different language.  So, I really don't need a lesson in Spanish, French, German.  Shoot, I'll be lucky to leave North Carolina to visit my home in Texas.  It's been almost seven years since I was there.

Linda, I am determined to get the book "While Europe Slept."  Found it used on Amazon.  Right now I'm reading "Fleeced" by Dick Morris.  I heard it's number 2 on the N. Y. Times.  It's kinda scary to see what would happen if Obama wins this election.  Perhaps I'll order the book tonight.  It looks very interesting.

BTW, Obama did go to a Muslim school while in Africa.  He also went to a Catholic school, if my facts are right.  I don't know how many years he attended in each school.  You can buy his book and find out.  LOL

Why Congress can't do anything about our oil problems except talk about it is because Pelosi and Reid won't schedule any legislation to come to the floor for a vote. 

 http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=300927847223162&kw=Pelosi

As long as the Dems stay in the majority in both houses, we stay at the mercy of  whatever price they can get out there.  I don't see how the Legislators can get around that problem of scheduling a floor vote. The democrats hold all the cards.

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/CartoonPopUp.aspx?id=300997630243820

And one from Gov. Palin, hopefully our next vice president:

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=300668510518137

Linda,

I'm going to the cubs game Sunday.  It's sold out, so my tickets are in the nose bleed section.  I'm actually cheering for the cubs.  Their time has come.

What I don't understand is how can the Reps get past Pelosi with their own legislation?  She's been sitting on quite a few already and they never come up for debate.  I had such high hopes for Pelosi, what a disappointment she turned out to be.  Another thing that annoys me, IBD did an editorial on her, but what about Reid in the Senate?  He's doing the same thing, sitting on legislation, but they don't ask HIM to step down, do they?  Maybe he hasn't said as many stupid things as Pelosi has.

I hope there is some kind of parliamentary maneuver they can use to bypass her.  But there are so many dems in House.  What a mess they've created in their partisan bull. 

I signed Newt's petition:

http://www.americansolutions.com/actioncenter/petitions/?Guid=54ec6e43-75a8-445b-aa7b-346a1e096659

Linda,

I wish I could be a fly on the wall listening to your family argue over baseball and politics.  Sounds like you'll have a great time.  I use to watch a lot of cubs games because they were on during the day.  I still think baseball should be outside and in the sunlight with the shade coming in over the plate.  Those were the days.  Here, they close the dome, but at 95 degrees, they pretty much have to.   I still only go to day games here. 

I do hope there is a way of getting around Pelosi.  She's pretty darn smug today,  She called Bush a total failure.. without credibility. Is there any way to impeach a Speaker of the House?  These dems are getting awfully big for their britches lately.  I hope it turns on them.  She also announced there will be no energy legislation coming to the floor during this year.  How special of her to put our nation at such risk.  Chavez, should be jumping with joy.  The Saudi's ordered another building to be built in Dubai in her honor

The 3 networks are following Obama on his tour.  What can I say?  McCain's been there how many times?  We hardly get a report.    This truly is a media contest with only one candidate running.

Glad I've been banned from watching the network news.  I need to stay away from the upcoming circus.

------------------------

A little from Commentary about Obama's foreign policy advisors:

Three Hundred??

Posted By Jennifer Rubin On July 18, 2008 @ 8:10 AM In Contentions

Barack Obama has [1] 300 advisors on foreign policy. What?? That includes the [2] Winnie-the Pooh fellow and 299 other “experts” who, we are led to believe, didn’t catch Obama’s “[3] syntax” error on “undivided Jerusalem.” Did not one of the 300 know about the history of [4] presidential summitry? And none of them thought it might have saved a heap of trouble for Obama if once during his primary campaign he had a briefing with General Petraeus or trip to Iraq?

One of several things is going on. One possibility: this unwieldy and bloated operation is utterly ineffective and doesn’t prevent or catch errors. There are lots of them, but they aren’t very good, even according to [5] other Democrats. Or: they are there for window dressing to provide the patina of national security expertise when, in fact, the major foreign policy objectives are really driven by domestic ideology (e.g. we can’t admit Iraq has anything to do with Al Qaeda or the netroot will go nuts).

[6] Morton Kondracke seems to favor the second as a working hypothesis. In a must-read column he writes:

    Every voter understands the simple principle that you don’t make up your mind about something until you have checked the facts — but this week Obama declared he will stick to his predetermined troop- withdrawal schedule no matter what he might learn on his forthcoming trip to Iraq. The only reasonable explanation for his rigidity is that he’s hemmed in by the overwhelming demand of the Democratic base — and left-wing bloggers above all — that he not backtrack on the central promise of his campaign: to end the war. . . .But he couldn’t bring himself to admit that he was wrong about the surge, which has manifestly reduced violence and has opened the way for significant Iraqi political and military progress. As the State Department reported this month, the Iraqi government is making progress on 15 of the 18 political benchmarks set for it by Congress. A majority of Iraqi provinces are now the military responsibility of Iraqi forces. Obama, while tipping his hat to the performance of the U.S. military, continued to dismiss any evidence of political progress. He and aides act as though the Sunni turn against al-Qaida in Iraq and the government’s suppression of Shiite militias just happened — neglecting the security provided by the surge. Obama’s tack, if persisted in after his trip, opens him up to devastating McCain commercials using Obama on videotape predicting that the surge would fail alongside Iraqi testimonials that it was essential to free their country from al-Qaida atrocities. Obama was wrong to say that Iraq “is not and never was the central front in the war on terrorism.” It certainly was, for awhile, when Osama bin Laden was urging Islamicists to go there to achieve martyrdom killing Americans.

Most troubling is the possibility that the performance of the campaign’s foreign policy apparatus is a preview of the Obama administration’s foreign policy apparatus. There are apparently hundreds (if not thousands) of folks waiting to join the State and Defense Departments who hold beliefs that defy evidence and logic. They honestly believe that Iraq is unimportant, unconditional direct talks with Iran will unlock the promise of world peace, we can talk up protectionism at home without scaring our trading partners, and the less input from military commanders in war zones the better.

Take your pick as to which theory makes the most sense. But 300? I guess it takes a lot of people to script a foreign trip [7] so tightly that there is no room for a gaffe.

"For the first few months of the campaign, the question about Obama was: Who is he? The question now is: Who does he think he is?"

Susie, that's just one quote I had to chuckle at.  Good opinion piece.

Rosemary, I sent the video of Newt to my children.  One of my dds said he's have to do some research into the drilling suggestions (demands).  But she was educated by a short little piece on Speculators.  She wanted me to sign the petition.  I needed to do more research. LOL

I too heard that Obama had 300 foreign policy advisors.  May I say....TOO FUNNY!

So, even Fox isn't traveling with Obama.  I wonder why?  After the Vanity Fair (was that the one?) magazine article...well...all I can say is HE'S SCARED THE TRUTH WILL FIND HIM OUT!He certainly doesn't like Sean Hannity.  I loved Hannity's invitation to Obama last night.

Shirley