And McCains VP is Palin

[Shawndiver 0]

Let's see,
President of the free world is suddenly lost. An unknown, untested minor government beaurocrat with little or no experience is suddenly thrust into becoming the leader of the free world...

Hey, it worked in Battlestar Galactica!!

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[steveorino 7]

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>NO (ZERO) experience running ANY office.

You mean other than the Illinois Health and Human Services Committee, the office of US Senator, and the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs?

On the minus side, he never won a beauty contest.

Those jobs do not compare to the experience of running the country -- running a state does.

steveOrino

[marks2065 0]

he has voted over 90 time to raise taxes. thankfully not all that he has voted for has become law. he voted against keeping violent offenders in prison longer. he has not voted on alot of issues that could come back to haunt him in this campaign, he has punched in as present but not voted alot.

I think with some time and experience he might make a good president, but out side of what little we know, there is alot that he hasn't shown to the american public and i think it is important to know alot about the person berfore they should be elected president. I feel that a trac record of what he/she has done speaks volumes about a person and we just don't have that with Obama.

All smart people that follow elections know that getting elected and being president are 2 different things and rarely does a candidate follow thru with all that he promises. saying what you are going to do and what you get done are 2 different things.

Last night in Obama's speach he mentioned cutting the fat from the government by going line by line through the bills and vetoing the fat away. Presidents have been saying they wanted this power for years and saying they wanted this ability but it will never be voted for by congress. getting things done takes alot of patience, knowledge, and persuation on capital hill and Obama doesn't hasn't proven he can do this. Palin has proven in her short terms in Alaska she can get things done and weed out some of the crap that is found in government. this alone i think makes her a better candidate the Obama. Palin's record is better than Obama's.

[steveorino 7]

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I doubt many people in this country have ever heard of Palin or even realized Alaska had people living there. I doubt many people even know where Alaska is.

You must be talking about the democratic voting block.

steveOrino

[billvon 2,396]

>Those jobs do not compare to the experience of running the country --
>running a state does.

I'm thinking experience running the primary US Foreign Relations Committee is going to be more important to a president than dealing with polar bear problems. You may differ, of course.

[kelpdiver 2]

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Those jobs do not compare to the experience of running the country -- running a state does.

Alaska has a population smaller than dozens of US cities, and thanks to oil revenues actually sends money to its citizens, rather than having to tax them. Hardly a challenge to run.

[steveorino 7]

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>Those jobs do not compare to the experience of running the country --
>running a state does.

I'm thinking experience running the primary US Foreign Relations Committee is going to be more important to a president than dealing with polar bear problems. You may differ, of course.

Asa former Alaskan, I do. I lived there 7 years. '82-'89. Sadly, it does not surprise me that so many people think Alaska is a barren waste land full of igloos and polar bears.

steveOrino

[steveorino 7]

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Those jobs do not compare to the experience of running the country -- running a state does.

Alaska has a population smaller than dozens of US cities, and thanks to oil revenues actually sends money to its citizens, rather than having to tax them. Hardly a challenge to run.

"you can't fix stupid" -- Ron White

steveOrino

[SivaGanesha 2]

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I hope most of the posts here are for shock value to get folks riled up and not their real true thoughts. I am really surprised by the VP choice. Of all the VP options, Palin is McCains choice? How can any rational person not think this is an odd decision? ...

I am supporting Obama but I think if McCain wanted to maximize his chances of winning, he made the right choice:

1. She is the first-ever female on a presidential ticket with a chance of winning. Ferraro was a token female on a throwaway ticket in a year Reagan was certain to win in a landslide. It takes the feminist card away from the Dems.

2. She is pro-life but has recently given birth to a child who has Down's Syndrome. It will therefore be harder to attack her pro-life views than with most candidates because she practices what she preaches.

3. Today is her 20th wedding anniversary. From the Republican point of view, this is a nice coincidence in terms of promoting "family values".

4. The experience thing is now mostly a wash. Obama is relatively young so he picked an older, more seasoned, guy to balance out the ticket. McCain knows he could die in office so he picked a much younger VP who is almost certain to survive th term. Both these choices make sense to me.

5. Not that it is a big factor, but this seems to be the year for candidates from outside the continental US--Barack is originally from Hawaii and McCain was born in Panama. Palin, from Alaska, fits that pattern.

The bottom line about this choice, though, is that it shows the Republicans are absolutely hard line on their conservative views on abortion and "creationism"--there is, sadly, still no sign of moderation in either of these views on the part of the Republicans. As a Democrat, this disappoints me--I had hoped and expected that the Republicans would have changed and grown with the times.

The Republicans are always able to attract a strong plurality with their conservative views but it has never been a majority view. As such I think they will lose but they have maximized their chances with this choice.

The long-term winner could turn out to be Hillary. Imagine this scenario: McCain unexpectedly squeaks out a narrow victory with the boost from Palin. He dies in office, and Palin takes over. She proves to be a mediocre president, but with the glass ceiling now shattered, it takes a lot of the pressure off of Hillary regarding being the first woman, and Hillary wins easily in 2012 because of her much greater experience.

"It's hard to have fun at 4-way unless your whole team gets down to the ground safely to do it again!"--Northern California Skydiving League re USPA Safety Day, March 8, 2014

[marks2065 0]

2. She is pro-life but has recently given birth to a child who has Down's Syndrome. It will therefore be harder to attack her pro-life views than with most candidates because she practices what she preaches.

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How can you support the democrats with pro choice on abortion and pro life on the death penalty ? sounds kinda hypocritical that you can kill an inocent baby but not a mass murderer. this is just on of the issues i have with some of the politicians, especially the democrats. I am glad that McCain picked someone that is not hypocritical on the subject.

[TypicalFish 0]

'Nuff said...

"I gargle no man's balls..." ussfpa on SOCNET

[Steel 0]

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I live in Illinois and realy think Obama isn't doing a good job.

What is it that you don't like about the job he's doing?

Maybe he a few of these facts below: (read the rest in http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/77500/barack_hussein_obama_jr_defends_partialbirth.html?cat=9 )

In 1999 he was the only Illinois State Senator to vote against a bill barring early release for (criminal) sex offenders.

He voted against filtering pornography on school and library computers and he voted for sex education for kindergarten children through the 5th grade.

Also, in 2001, he voted “present” on a bill to keep pornographic book and video stores and strip clubs from setting up within 1,000 feet of schools and churches.

Just as unsettling is his voting record on abortion.

Twice, Obama voted against bills prohibiting tax funding of abortions.

In February 2004, his wife, Michelle, sent out a fundraising letter, which actually stated her concern over the rise of conservatism in the Country, and that the ‘so-called’ partial-birth abortion was a legitimate medical procedure that should be protected.

If I could make a wish, I think I'd pass.
Can't think of anything I need
No cigarettes, no sleep, no light, no sound.
Nothing to eat, no books to read.

[TheAnvil 0]

The Vice President may very well have to do the President's job - especially in JSM's case.

Running the Subcommittee on European Affairs doesn't really equate to being governor of a state from either a managerial or a power perspective and you know that quite well. Comparing Palin's experience with Obama's is such a nice thing for the Republicans to do. Governor versus Senator...oh what a nice thought. After all, as JCD says, Senators can't accomplish anything, right? Bwaaaaahahahahaaaaaaa! That's absurd. Never mind that. The positions are quite different and the skill sets needed to do both are different, but very complementary and there is a lot of overlap.

From an experience perspective, the Republicans have the experience in the Presidential position. The Dem's have their experience in the #2 position.

Change does happen because people make it happen. What change will Obama/Biden bring to the country? Hmm...socialized health care? That'll solve the deficit issue! Higher taxes? Hot DAMN will that entice corporations to base themselves here in the US! Cut discretionary spending? Not a chance in Hell! Cut entitlement spending? Bwaaaaaahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaa ! Hahahahaha Hahahahahaaaaaa! hahahahahaaaaaaaaaa!!!! No chance. Make it easier for workers to unionize? Absolutely! How 'bout making foreign labor more enticing? That'll bring some jobs back! I could go on...

McCain brings an absolute hatred of earmarks and government waste to the table that hasn't been seen in years in the Presidency. Dick Morris put together a nice list of things McCain has broken with the GWB White House on:

- McCain fought for campaign finance reform — McCain-Feingold — that Bush resisted and ultimately signed because he had no choice.
- McCain led the battle to restrict interrogation techniques of terror suspects and to ban torture.
- McCain went with Joe Lieberman on a tough measure to curb climate change, something Bush denies is going on.
- McCain opposed the Bush tax cuts when they passed.
- McCain urged the Iraq surge, a posture Bush rejected for years before conceding its wisdom.
- McCain favors FDA regulation of tobacco and sponsored legislation to that effect, a position all but a handful of Republican senators oppose.
- McCain's energy bill, also with Lieberman, is a virtual blueprint for energy independence and development of alternate sources.
- After the Enron scandal, McCain introduced sweeping reforms in corporate governance and legislation to guarantee pensions and prohibit golden parachutes for executives. Bush opposed McCain's changes and the watered-down Sarbanes-Oxley bill eventuated.
- McCain has been harshly critical of earmarks for years - unlike his opponents and GWB until recently.

The next 'McSame' posting fellow might address the above - I won't hold my breath. Since many Senate votes are unanimous, it would be interesting to see how often Sen. Obama has voted with his opponent by the standard he set.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[Sebazz1 2]

I thought the republicans went with McCain because all the repubs wanted someone more moderate that was more appealing than the right extreme they had to endure the past 8 years with GWB. We can all agree GWB is not popular right? So by choosing Palin the repubs still get that ultra right influence to appease those that think the past 8 years have been good? The lack of experience thing is killing me too. I think Illinois is a far more diverse and complicated state to represent than Arizona and Alaska combined. Compare the population and politics in all these states and I think Obama comes out on top in experience and representing a more diverse population, right? Of all the candidates I think Biden and Obama come out on top as being life long civil servants with dreams and aspirations of a better america and less worried about special interests. I really respected McCain over the years as a moderate repub but now he's not being himself anymore to my opinion and letting the party dictate his decisions and stances.

meh, other people's opinions are very interesting. I respect those opinions and beliefs too and who am I to tell anyone they are wrong. The McCain/Palin ticket has got to be one of the more unique our country has ever seen for good or bad.

[billvon 2,396]

>Running the Subcommittee on European Affairs doesn't really
>equate to being governor of a state from either a managerial or a power
>perspective and you know that quite well.

Definitely. And from a foreign policy perspective, I am sure you will agree that being governor of Alaska is poor preparation compared to leading our government's primary foreign policy committee. They both have strengths and weaknesses.

>Dick Morris put together a nice list of things McCain has broken
>with the GWB White House on:

No doubt. Still, to vote with someone 95% of the time indicates that they are far more similar than they are different.

Ah, to think about the grand rhetoric 8 years ago concerning how much better Bush was than Gore - and now republican candidates are trying desperately to "prove" that they are nothing like Bush. It is ironic indeed that some republicans are, at the same time, denigrating Obama and trying to claim that they are _like_ Obama.

One can only imagine future elections, where the next GOP candidate claims he is nothing like McCain. (And I have no doubt that McCain's supporters here will, at that point, be claiming "well, I don't support McCain of course - but he's not running, is he?")

>What change will Obama/Biden bring to the country?

Energy policy change (greater emphasis on alternatives.) Foreign policy change (exit from Iraq.) Constitutionality change (end of secret prisons, torture and rendition.) To name a few.

>Higher taxes? Hot DAMN will that entice corporations to
>base themselves here in the US!

Lower taxes actually.

[kelpdiver 2]

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Those jobs do not compare to the experience of running the country -- running a state does.

Alaska has a population smaller than dozens of US cities, and thanks to oil revenues actually sends money to its citizens, rather than having to tax them. Hardly a challenge to run.

"you can't fix stupid" -- Ron White

do enlighten us! Because it's pretty clear to me that the mayor of San Francisco has more proven experience than the governor of Alaska.

[Ron 7]

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The experience thing is now pretty much a wash between the two tickets.

Not really. One camp you have an experienced person who selected a lesser experienced running mate for VP.

The other camp you have the primary candidate as the lesser experienced person who claims that McCain is to much inside the beltway...Yet picks a VP that has been there longer.

For those that want to claim Palin does not have enough experience to be VP....How can you justify Obama as President?

Palin has run (well IMO, if short) a government. Obama has not.

McCain says Obama does not have enough experience to be President, he never made the claim that Obama was not experienced enough to be VICE-President.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[TheAnvil 0]

And how was being Governor of Arkansas for preparing EJC to lead the country as President? Was he ill prepared? Note that's PRESIDENT and not VP. And foreign policy isn't the only area in which a President or VP need focus.

Ahhh...I do remember the rhetoric about GWB and ALGORE. And I don't regret my vote one bit.

Perhaps the fact that GWB doesn't vote in the Senate is eluding all leftists. How ARE you coming by that 90-95% #? And if you've a methodology, why not enlighten us as to how Obama's votes line up with John McCain's?

Lower taxes? From a Democrat administration? Bwaaaaahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! For corporations OR people that actually pay taxes? Bwaaaaahahahahahahaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[billvon 2,396]

>For those that want to claim Palin does not have enough experience to
>be VP....How can you justify Obama as President?

He has twice her experience in government.

>Palin has run (well IMO, if short) a government. Obama has not.

And Obama has extensive experience in US foreign policy. Palin does not.

>McCain says Obama does not have enough experience to be
>President, he never made the claim that Obama was not experienced
>enough to be VICE-President.

While I commend you on your ability to redefine the GOP's position, it's a distinction I don't think anyone outside of political blogs will make. (And attempts to make it will make the claimant look like a bit like a partisan hack.)

[billvon 2,396]

>Ahhh...I do remember the rhetoric about GWB and ALGORE. And I
>don't regret my vote one bit.

So you think GWB has done a good job? Cool. I think there are still maybe a dozen people who agree with you in the US.

> How ARE you coming by that 90-95%

====================
From Factcheck.org:


Q: Is it true John McCain voted with George Bush 95 percent of the time?

The Obama campaign keeps claiming McCain has voted with President Bush 95 percent of the time. Is this true? Is this significant?

A:Yes, it's true, according to Congressional Quarterly's assessment of McCain's voting record.

. . .

The claim is true. According to Congressional Quarterly's Voting Studies, in 2007 McCain voted in line with the president's position 95 percent of the time – the highest percentage rate for McCain since Bush took office – and voted in line with his party 90 percent of the time.
=====================

>Bwaaaaahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! . . . Bwaaaaahahahahahahaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!

I fear this is what the right has been reduced to.

[marks2065 0]

>Higher taxes? Hot DAMN will that entice corporations to
>base themselves here in the US!

Lower taxes actually.
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Obama said last night higher taxes for large companies. exp those that send jobs overseas. he said he was going to cut out the loop holes that protect larger companies from taxes. now that means to me, since a company must have profit, they will need cheaper labor, higher prices or less employees to make a profit. sounds dismal to me.

I know that everytime springfield, Il has raised my buisiness taxes i have passed that on to the consumer. sure they paid less on taxes but more on goods and services. either way the average joe pays the increase. evertime the democrats increase tax to the companies the consumer pays the increase or someone gets laid off to offset the increase. the reason the republicans lower taxes to the companies is so they retain employees and grow the buisiness. This policy wirked great for Reagan and clinton looked good because of it.

[steveorino 7]

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do enlighten us! Because it's pretty clear to me that the mayor of San Francisco has more proven experience than the governor of Alaska.

I didn't realize the mayor of SF was running for Pres or Vice Prez?

GOP VICE president candidate, Palin: no foreign policy experience, but has experience of governing a state and being a mayor of a small town.

DEM President candidate, Obama: no foreign policy experience and NO executive experience whatsoever.

steveOrino

[Ron 7]

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He has twice her experience in government.

None of it *running* a Govt.

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And Obama has extensive experience in US foreign policy. Palin does not.

McCain has tons more than Obama. Both are running for President. Your argument would be correct if you compared VP's.

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While I commend you on your ability to redefine the GOP's position

I commend you on trying to redefine what I wrote. You are incorrect however.

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And attempts to make it will make the claimant look like a bit like a partisan hack

As will the claims of Obama's people saying that exp does not matter for President, but it does matter for VP.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[billvon 2,396]

>None of it *running* a Govt.

And she has none in foreign policy. Sounds like they both have their strengths and weaknesses, eh?

>Your argument would be correct if you compared VP's.

OK, let's do that. Which VP candidate asked "what is it exactly that the VP does every day?" a month ago?

[Andy9o8 0]

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The MILF factor is huge.

She is kinda MILFY. For being 44 with 5 kids she looks very attractive. Hell of a lot better lookin than Hillary.

Agreed!

If elected one can only hope we'll get to see her and Cindy McCain kissing.

OMG, that is so fucking hot.

I'm switching parties.