Politirazzi

By Jeff

The final debate is upon us. If you haven't made up your mind yet, I don't think tonight's debate will sway you one way or another. I expect a lot of “Obama is dangerous” and “McCain is George W. Bush” cross-talk loose on the facts and heavy on the gunpowder.

During the previous debates I've written a few questions for each candidate that I'd like to have answered. There are a few that I'd like answered tonight as well, all of the questions below are ones I’d pose to both. Like Lynne posted, there just isn’t much difference between the two candidates when it comes to domestic policy. They are both going to remain drug warriors. They are both against gay marriage. In order to pander manufacturing workers in the swing states, they speak about protecting “our jobs” from immigrants. Both of their tax policies plan on reducing tax revenues by at least $2T to the debt in the next decade, both project to increase the deficit (already at $455B) by between $364B (Obama) and $428B (McCain) in their first term.

Therefore:
* You have both touted your decisions to enter the public sector in lieu of private sector profit. Do you think choosing careers in government and getting paid by taxpayers is a choice which is inherently more moral than going into the private sector where you would create jobs and wealth?

Continue reading "Questions that should be asked tonight" »

(Reader's Digest)

By Emily

Judging by the overwhelming showing for Barack Obama at his July speech in Berlin, world citizens would likely elect the Democrat if they could. (Some John McCain zealots have even played up negative aspects of Obama’s international fandom, publicizing that Hamas has endorsed him for president.)

Reader’s Digest put numbers behind the more positive side of global Obamania, polling 17 countries on their impressions of the United States. According to the magazine, widespread disapproval of the Bush administration has bolstered interest in Obama.

Interest may be an understatement. They love Obama over there. More than 90 percent of Dutch polled and 85 percent of Germans polled are behind him. “It’s Obama by a landslide — except in the country in which he’s actually running for president,” said John Fredricks, director of polling and research for Reader’s Digest.

Also of note: Australia and South Africa are among those countries paying the most attention to the U.S. election. Russia (yes, Russia) and India are among the least.

How heartbreakingly soon this election has come to an end. Yes, yes, there are three weeks ahead of us -- and one final presidential debate, but what are political junkies to do without their up-to-the-minute political scoops? Come November, what are we going to sneakily read on our work computers?

It's been a two-year process. First came the speculation over who would make a presidential bid. Then came the primary that would never end (how oddly helpless we political junkies felt when it finally did). And now the neck-to-neck race, the rumor-mongering, the polling, the electoral maps, the winking, the economic plans, the revised economic plans -- all set to halt abruptly on Nov. 4.

We'll have the analyses of what happened this election cycle and who went wrong where, but well, we won't have the election itself.

-- Emily

Speaking expert TJ Walker lends his talents:

— Emily

“Walk into the Forbidden Cave of Doom … approach the Dragon of Death … drink a healing potion … draw your sword and … Remember to Vote!”

Apparently, the Obama campaign has decided that one of their key demographics is the one made up solely of prepubescent boys and my ex-boyfriends.

Placing an Obama ad in a NASCAR game? That’s like taking a match to a pile of money.

— Meg

Obama has had his chance to speak to voters on the debate platform; other presidential candidates should as well. (AP)

By Lynne

Recent commentary on CNN claimed that Obama and McCain are not so far apart. The entire piece is worth a read, but here is an excerpt:

Capital punishment: Like Bush, Obama supports capital punishment. He spoke out in opposition to the recent Supreme Court decision that denied the death penalty for child rapists. And in his 2006 memoir, Obama said, "I believe there are some crimes — mass murder, the rape and murder of a child — so heinous that the community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage by meting out the ultimate punishment."

Energy: In signing the $12.3 billion Energy Policy Act of 2005, Bush said it "promotes dependable, affordable, and environmentally sound production and distribution of energy for America's future." Obama voted for the energy plan and called it a "first step toward decreasing America's dependence on foreign oil."

Faith-based initiatives/fatherhood: Bush is well known for his commitment to the faith-based community — with initiatives for the poor and on fatherhood — and he expanded the ability to allow faith-based providers a seat at the funding table. Obama, who has railed against Bush's efforts, has still found a way to embrace them, saying he would "expand" faith-based initiatives. He used his Father's Day speech to echo the president's Fatherhood Initiative.

Offshore drilling: Bush has consistently pushed for drilling offshore, while Obama, who until recently opposed it, now says he's for it. In Nashville, Tennessee, he told an audience: "We're going to have to explore new ways to get more oil, and that includes offshore drilling."

FISA: Of the Senate bill passage that rewrote intelligence laws to grant immunity to telecommunications companies that participated in the Bush administration's wiretapping program, Bush said: "This vital intelligence bill will allow our national security professionals to quickly and effectively monitor the plans of terrorists outside the United States, while respecting the liberties of the American people."

Obama, who supported it, after opposing FISA last year, said: "Given the grave threats that we face, our national security agencies must have the capability to gather intelligence and track down terrorists before they strike, while respecting the rule of law and the privacy and civil liberties of the American people."

Almost identical, huh?

And yet many of my friends wonder why I am not excited about an Obama presidency, and why the Green Party will get my vote this election. It’s very simple: I believe in multi-party democracy where diverse viewpoints can be heard (open the debates!) and represented at the legislative table.

Continue reading "Obama, McCain, Bush and open debates" »

As a former Latin scholar (three years — nerd alert!), Maureen Dowd’s column in Sunday’s New York Times tickled me all sorts of pink. Wanted to share with my fellow Latin discipuli (I know you’re out there).

— Meg

Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., right, kisses Angela Zimmann as he campaigns in Holland, Ohio. (Jae C. Hong/AP / October 12, 2008)

This somewhat awkward photo of Obama greeting a voter in Ohio is either funny or weird, depending on your politics.

Wonder how long until it shows up in a McCain attack ad?!

Many, many, many more photos of Obama on the campaign trail are here.

(AP)

By Meg

I almost feel sorry for John McCain. His campaign, behind in the polls and eager to take the focus off of the economy, changed strategy this week and attempted to get Obama firmly in their crosshairs. The arteries targeted: Character. Trustworthiness. Judgment. Honesty. A lot of people I know got really angry about this; to that, I say: Character is always on the table, kids. To me, though, these new attacks seemed sad.

Call me naïve, but I don’t think this road is the one McCain wanted to travel down. I think he knows what’s really being said when his supporters use Obama’s middle name. He knows what’s really being said when Palin accuses Obama of palling around with terrorists. He knows the subtext of the question “Who is the real Barack Obama?” and, to me, he sure didn’t look comfortable when he was asking that question.

Continue reading "The tipping point for John McCain" »

By Emily Ngo
emily.ngo@am-ny.com

John McCain further pushed his presidential rival’s connection to domestic terrorist Bill Ayers on Thursday, launching an Internet ad that questions Barack Obama’s candor on the matter.

“When their relationship became an issue, Obama responded, ‘This is a guy who lives in my neighborhood,’ ” the ad’s narrator says, asking: “That’s it?”

The 100-second clip supplemented accusations made by Sarah Palin last week that Obama was “palling around” with Ayers, a 63-year-old Vietnam War protester who bombed the Pentagon and the Capitol in the 1970s.

“We need to know the full extent of the relationship," McCain said on Thursday while stumping in Waukesha, Wis.

Some political consultants were quick to point out the irrelevancy of the Obama-Ayers relationship.

“I don’t think voters care about someone who Barack Obama barely knows and who did these things when Barack Obama was 8 years old,” said Kevin Wardally, a strategist at Bill Lynch Associates. “The McCain campaign fundamentally believes the only way they can win this election is if they cast doubt on who Barack Obama is.”

Continue reading "McCain presses Ayers attack with new ad" »

By Meg

Gold Star: "Sen. Obama, it's good to be with you at a town hall meeting.”
Oh, snap!

Demerit: McCain’s New and Completely Original Mortgage Plan
Sen. McCain, let me get this straight: You want the government to get off my back, but you also want the government to buy my mortgage?

Demerit: Tom Brokaw Watching the Clock
I’ve met nuns who are more inclined to bend the rules. Chillax, Tom.

Gold Star: Tom Brokaw’s Tough and Thoughtful Follow-Up Questions
Establishing a McCain/Obama Doctrine, Manhattan Project vs. Silicon Valley redux, reforming Social Security and Medicare within two years. ... I half expected Brokaw to ask the candidates to phrase their responses in Latin.

Continue reading "Grading the second debate" »

(AP)

By Jeff

The main thing that struck me during last night’s debate was how physically uncomfortable McCain looked while walking around. I guess his handlers told him to walk around the stage while Obama was talking in order to distract the viewers, but what I noticed was just how unstable McCain looked. I realize his shoulders were seriously injured during his time in Hanoi, so I’m absolutely not mocking him, but walking around the stage made him look very old. Not only did his shoulders look awkward, but his knees/hips also seemed injured so he walked with a gait that resembled Danny DeVito’s Penguin in "Batman Returns." It’s odd because this was supposed to be right in McCain’s wheelhouse. He did seem more comfortable, passionate and personable in the town hall than the previous debate, but his seemingly aimless roaming around the stage was very disconcerting.

Those audience meters on CNN can become very distracting. More importantly, if I were a right-wing conspiracy theorist, I’d be very upset that CNN was showing the audience reactions of 25 “randomly” selected people throughout the debate. The needles for Obama were perpetually pinned as highly favorable as possible, while McCain’s were barely above par — even during his populist messages. It saddened me that the audience meters were there highest when both candidates spoke of some new government giveaway.

Continue reading "Random observations from last night" »

(AP)

By Emily

And they brought their A game. Tonight's debate had little of the courtesy that Joe Biden and Sarah Palin so carefully exhibited last week. Both Barack Obama and John McCain attacked readily and with more substance than in their first debate.

They dodged questions, but they also established distinctly separate foreign policy doctrines. It was their chance to test out their views on the United States' fragile friendships with Pakistan and Russia, and they seized it.

Both men were also completely unafraid to be themselves tonight. McCain was generous in doling out the "my friends," and Obama with the sardonic smiles.

Tonight's winner (barely, as McCain wisely resisted personal attacks in linking Obama to William Ayers) was Barack Obama, in my opinion. Playing offense, attacking McCain -- even talking his way out of questions -- made him seem a presidential figure.

Showing off his knowledge on Middle Eastern affairs, particularly criticizing our country's coddling of the Pakistani government, effectively painted him as the level-headed commander in chief many Americans were afraid he could never be.

Our friend, speaking consultant TJ Walker, breaks down expectations at tonight's town hall meeting in Nashville:

More at The Speaking Channel.

— Emily

Dear John and Barack,

You had a good thing going there for a while. We were all talking about things that mattered, such as health care and the meltdown on Wall Street but apparently it was too good to last. Shall I paraphrase the turn the conversation has taken since yesterday?

McCain: Hi, America. You guys don’t seem to like me when we talk about the economy, so I’m going to talk about something else: Barack Obama can’t be trusted.

Obama: Oh yeah, John? Well, America loves me when we talk about the economy (Keating Five) so I’m going to keep talking about the economy (seriously, America, look up the Keating Five). See? I can fight! How do you like me now?

Really, guys? Do we have to do this? John, this reeks of desperation. Your timing, as usual, sucks. Barack, if you take the bait and descend into the mud with John and Sarah, you will look like a tool.

In short, boys, get your damn acts together. Preferably before 9 p.m. this evening.

Kisses,
Meg

Who will your dog chew?

Do you have a politically-minded pooch at home who's just, like, so over rope tugs and Nylabones and would much prefer a more intellectual chew toy? Well, you're in luck - now they can gnaw on John McCain or Barack Obama.

These campaign dog toys come to you from the creators of the Michael Vick chew toy, Headline Pet Toys. The stuffed toys measure 11 inches tall and are made of cotton canvas and stuffed with polyester, and of course a squeaker for maximum chew satisfaction.

Maybe you want to get them the candidate they (you) support, or let them take a bite out of the White House hopeful they (you) just wanna sock every time you see them on TV.

It's probably too late to get these toys for tonight's town hall-style debate but you could get them in plenty of time [purchase here] for the third and final debate.

No word yet on whether the company will put out Joe Biden and Sarah Palin dolls. But as we told you last week, you can always dress your dog up like Sarah Palin -- either for the debate or Halloween.

By Amara

John McCain has to take advice from his running mate and take the gloves off. Barack Obama is going to win this election and the American people don’t even know what they are getting.

The McCain campaign must not be afraid to expose Barack Obama’s ties, Barack Obama’s friends, and Barack Obama’s admirers — the ones he knows, and those working on his behalf, and those who won’t vouch for him.

On the issue of the friends he knows, we have to discuss businessman and convict, Tony Rezko; domestic terrorist and radical Leftist, Bill Ayers; and YES, the white man-hating, anti-American, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. These people are at best slimy, at worst America-hating domestic terrorists.

Obama has broken bread with, shared a stage with and practiced his faith with all three of these men in their respective roles in Obama-land. And it’s John McCain going “sleazy.” Yeah, right …

Where is the outrage? This is insanity! Can you imagine if McCain was EVER seen with a right-wing, white man who was speaking in tongues or something of the like. The Left and the media (if you can even separate the two anymore) would go crazy and yet, BHO gets a free pass. Let me be clear, Barack Obama WAS “palling around with terrorists.”

Continue reading "Double-checking Obama's radical ties" »

By Meg

Demerit: Lies, All Lies!
It’s not like we need the VP candidates to be concerned with telling the truth or anything. Whoppers and exaggerations included “budget-neutral” vs. "government run" health care; records on taxes; Spain; funding the troops; sounding the bell on Fannie and Freddie; the surplus in Iraq; shall I go on?

Gold Star: “Hey, Can I Call You Joe?”
Whoever told her to ask that is a genius. Palin knew that Biden would not risk being labeled sexist by returning the favor and calling her Sarah. It was a power play, and it was brilliant.

Demerit: Screwing Gays (Not Literally)
Both candidates showed about as much warmth towards our homosexual brethren as Cardinal Egan would at a drag show. Same-sex benefits fall stunningly short, period. I was so pleasantly surprised to hear that Sarah Palin “tolerates” homosexuals, though. That’s really, really big of her. I think we found the next Grand Marshall of the Pride Parade!

Gold Star: Gwen Ifill
Any question of partiality left my mind after she uttered the words that every viewer wanted to hear: “Neither of you really answered that last question.”

Demerit: Doggone It, You Betcha, Darn Right, Golly Gee, Aw Heck, Say-It-Ain’t-So, God Love Ya!

Continue reading "Grading the VP debate" »

(AP)

By Adrian

She wins by default! Sarah Palin did not win last night’s debate, let’s be clear about that. What she did was speak to the core base of the Republican party. She looked like “a good ol' girl” as we’d say back in Texas.

She was “one of us” and a true “red, white and blue American” like our beloved Ronnie. Still, I think most people will view her rambling, obviously rehearsed answers, and her complete lack of skill in handling issues on an in depth level as a death knell to the idea of her being the president of the United States.

Let’s be realistic, John McCain is as old as Methuselah! If he has a heart attack guess who would be in charge? Who would you trust more with nuclear weapons, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or Sarah Palin? Back on issue, the expectations of Gov. Palin were so low that she did remarkably well.

For my part, I think the highest political position she should hold is president of the PTA. Oh, I forgot, she likes to ban books. Never mind ...

(AP)

Lynne: all in all, i think they both did well. i do wish to have heard a little more about each of them, and less about their respective presidential candidates

Dontre: Overall, I think Sarah stepped up to the bar and held her own. What's unfair is that she'll be judged favorably for being competent, when she should have done that from the outset. Biden is not only an experienced debater, he is a Senate speaker and that sometimes can be long-winded and circuitous. However, he made great points. They both were cheerleaders!

Bragg: final thoughts (somewhat reiterative): biden was good. made those who don't support obama (like me) feel reassured that he would be there with obama if they win. palin was good as well -- not as strong as biden, but she probably wasn't expected to be. she also made no major gaffes, and likely even one would have been the nail in the mccain campaign's coffin. BUT...i don't think she was good ENOUGH to resuscitate what is clearly a declining mccain campaign. i would expect no major shift in the polls -- no major news either. the focus will return to the two men at the top of the tickets and the final two debates. again, obama's election to lose.