posted on September 5, 2008 04:00:00 PM new
An excellent article and perfectly put. That speech was full of feel good rah rah BS and NO substance other than his biography, which we already know by heart whether we want to or not.
McCain's speech was boring and must have been embarrassing to him and his party. His never ending effort to use the misfortune of being a prisoner of war to somehow substantiate or validate anything that needs a credible explanation is ineffective and pitiful.
I guess the "Everyday People" that he and Palin have in their target will lap it up...again.
posted on September 5, 2008 07:21:09 PM new
Come on guys.... God Bless John McCain. He has this longtime, active, Democrat's vote. There are men whose strength comes from their life experiences. I believe that John McCain is one of those men.
Is he perfect? No, he has his flaws just like every one of us on this board. Divorced? Yes. Big deal. Children won't talk to him? Yes, so who cares? Remarried? Yes, good for him.. Can you imagine, he might fit the profile of many, many American men, and also just as many American women. In fact, many of those writers who are linked from this board may be just like him, or perhaps worse.
However, there is a difference, none of us experienced torture as he did. I believe him when he states that he understands the horror of war. As you would expect, he was shaped by that experience.
posted on September 5, 2008 07:46:28 PM new
Yes, Bill - God bless John. Does he have a plan for correcting the economy? Is he going to do anything other than expending our children's lives and our grandchildren's money into this war? One cannot lead on personal fiber alone. His experience as a POW wins our admiration, not the presidency. Edited to add: as a democrat, how can you vote for him, given his advanced age and the ultra-conservative running mate he has chosen to be a heart-beat away from the presidency?
posted on September 6, 2008 05:57:14 AM new
Kozersky, nobody here is critical of McCain's character because he endured some hardships in life such as a failed marriage or that he suffered as a victim of war. Without a doubt there are millions of men and women who fit that profile.
It's unfortunate that people are voting for an image that they can identify with or admire on a personal basis such as a socker mom or a good old boy or someone charismatic and good looking rather than giving much thought to how a candidate thinks about issues and where they will lead the country.
But then maybe I'm being naive to believe that Republican presidents actually play a major part in shaping policy. Maybe they are simply puppets who dance to the music of party handlers. Can you imagine, for example, George Bush, without help, making even the first draft of a decision?
posted on September 6, 2008 06:26:22 AM new
His speech was pathetic. I think it's really sad to say this, but I think America is going to be duped and will fall for it again. It appears that his (McCain's) running mate is more popular in the poles than Obama. I don't hold much stock in the poles, but if it's even a little bit of an indication Obama has an uphill climb.
My opinion of late has been that too many Americans are basically stupid and will fall for just about anything (seems to be the world's view of us as well). I hope they don't prove me right in November. A Yahoo pole shows that most think his speech was excellent. Granted, I'll bet most, if not all, of them were Republicans!
IMHO, Chaney and Palin are even more dangerous than Bush and Chaney.
Cheryl
Whitman said she and McCain share a philosophy of scaling back the role of government. a point of view partly shaped by her EBay experience. "The EBay model is very Republican in its essence -- it's about making a small number of rules and getting out of the way while not overtaxing the community," she said.
[ edited by cblev65252 on Sep 6, 2008 06:26 AM ]
posted on September 6, 2008 08:03:58 AM new
McCain and Palin are simply figureheads for the revolutionary Cheney/American Enterprise Institute/Project for the New American Century....the dudes who engineered the war with Iraq.
A vote for McCain/Palin is simply a vote to continue their evil agenda without interruption.
posted on September 6, 2008 09:25:22 AM new
I could see a case being made to vote for him by some conservative Dems if he had someone even remotely reasonable and centrist on the ballot with him, but I think it's unconscionable that a "lifelong Democrat" could vote for McCain considering the fragility of his health and the wacko he has chosen as a running mate. That woman is diametrically opposed to everything ANYONE who calls himself a Democrat of any stripe stands for, and she has a better than good chance at actually becoming President.
This election is too important to vote for someone just because you admire him.
posted on September 6, 2008 12:29:35 PM new
Profe wrote, "I could see a case being made to vote for him by some conservative Dems if he had someone even remotely reasonable and centrist on the ballot with him, but I think it's unconscionable that a "lifelong Democrat" could vote for McCain considering the fragility of his health and the wacko he has chosen as a running mate. That woman is diametrically opposed to everything ANYONE who calls himself a Democrat of any stripe stands for, and she has a better than good chance at actually becoming President." "This election is too important to vote for someone just because you admire him."
If elected, Palin may assume power over McCain while he is still alive just as Cheney leads Bush.
When Bush won the election in 2000, many Americans consoled themselves by believing that this frat boy would at least be advised by experienced government hands. Ultimately, however, many of these advisers ended up controlling the strings of the administration, often without the knowledge of the president. The most infamous figure, of course, has become Vice President Cheney, who has repeatedly taken advantage of Bush's cluelessness to grab increased power.
The problem is not just that Bush has allowed a hard-line conservative to do much of his governing. By taking advantage of the fact that he's not the president -- making it easier to escape public scrutiny -- Cheney has arguably been much more destructive than Bush ever could have been. Uncontrolled conservatives in a McCain administration could be more dangerous than just a conservative president.
Even McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin, is showing some of these tendencies. Palin has refused to release e-mails from her administration by citing executive privilege, even though media reports have cast doubt on whether they are actually related to official business. As mayor, Palin came under fire for requiring that all city department chiefs get her approval before talking to reporters. An editorial in the Wasilla Frontiersman labeled it a "gag order."
McCain has bragged about the wise advisers he'd rely upon in the White House. But many of these powerful figures may leave McCain behind. In fact, the senator has even expressed enthusiasm at having Cheney serve in his administration. "Hell, yeah," he said in 2007 about the prospect. Karl Rove is an informal adviser to the McCain campaign and may be itching at the opportunity to get back into government. The so-called "architect" is certainly no stranger to manipulation and control. There are people like Holtz-Eakin, senior campaign adviser Carly Fiorina, and even Mitt Romney who are far-better versed in certain policy areas than the senator and may have their own agenda. There's also chief of staff Mark Salter, who has literally put words into the senator's mouth as speechwriter and author of McCain's biography.
Bush had to beware of advisers older and more experienced than he was taking control of his administration. McCain will have to watch out for advisers who are younger, sharper, and more energetic. The first scenario created eight years of disastrous policies. The second scenario may be no different.
[ edited by Helenjw on Sep 6, 2008 01:18 PM ]
posted on September 6, 2008 02:09:44 PM new
Helen, do you spend all day scouring for this stuff? I guess if you need your beliefs reinforced, then you might never ask for factual points rather than another's opinion.
I guess I should assume that the Democrat will not be influenced by anyone in his cabinet.
I would like to read something here that was not Democratic "talking points."
posted on September 6, 2008 04:24:26 PM newI would like to read something here that was not Democratic "talking points."
I didn't post a talking point, I posted a personal opinion. How can you possibly vote for McCain when you know good and well who's waiting in the wings? In addition to being a liar and a fraud, this woman's beliefs are anathema to anyone who believes in Democratic principles. McCain isn't even the issue anymore. You'll get far WORSE than 4 more years of Bush if Palin makes it to the White House.
posted on September 6, 2008 05:45:35 PM new
Profe--You are aptly named. When I agree with you, I know I am usually on the right track. It is unbelievable how many people think Palin is great or Palin gave a great speech. Huh!? Anyone can say the snarky, nasty neener-neener type remarks she did. Where's the beef? I am not an atheist,nor a religious fanatic;however, remarks like God wants us to be in Iraq scare the bejesus out of me (no pun intended.)
posted on September 6, 2008 06:28:54 PM new
Coach, she also said that the troops should know that they were being sent on a task from God...a war plan was God's plan.
A good question for McCain that I just read.
"Mr. McCain, the argument of your campaign is that the McCain-Palin ticket should be elected because it has more executive experience than the Obama-Biden ticket. But you have no executive experience, while Sarah Palin does. So what executive role will Sarah Palin play in your administration? Will she be in charge of energy policy? Of social policy with regard to abortion and gay rights? Of foreign policy?"
