McCain ramps up assault, Biden warns of dangerous turn in campaign

Actions speak louder than words. Based on Obama's associations with people that hate America, he must hate it too. I think he is trying to change it to a form of socialism. As good as it sounds, socialism just does not work. It rewards the slackers and takes away incentives for the non-slackers. For example, he said free health care is a right for every person. That means everyone has to chip in and pay the health care cost for an alchoIic, drug addict or a glutton. Think about the staggering cost for this service. I think Obama would lead us down a road to destruction.

The McCain supporters on here are grasping at straws.

Only the crazy and hateful remain to support him and that vile, hateful Sarah Palin.

It's a sad time in our nation when the Republicans don't see how far they've dragged this country down, and actually want to continue doing it.

Sad.

Let Obama answer the questions before you start demanding McCain quit asking questions that the media has attempted to ignore.

I believe that to threaten to kill a presidential candidate is a crime. Where were the police? If Sarah Palin is complicit in this, she has committed a crime.

It seems the world went once through what McCain and Palin are now trying to do to Obama. They did it to whole groups of people. It was Nazi Germany. Attack and belittle anyone who comes in your way..."terrorist", "kill him", "unpatriotic", those words from McCain/Palin supporters at their rallies. That is what McCain and Paln are inciting. Those who sit silent in the face of such anti-American attacks, just like those who sat silent in the 1930's and early 40's, are as complicit as McCain/Palin in what might befall us.

"Barack Hussein Obama." You mean they called him by his legal name? Thats horrible.
Do some research on your boy Hussein!

Nobama!

What is wrong with average americans of today?? So Hussian is Barack's middle name.  So What??  It's just part of his name.The man is what, 47 years old? When he was named, as an infant, that name had no evil connotation.  It's just a little ethnic.  There are many American citizens out there with ethnic names.  Years ago I worked for a man whose first name was Adolf.  No one accused him of beng a natzi sympathizer.  I watched a report, recently, of some tailgaters being interviewed prior to a Philadelphia Eagles football game.  One young man said he would vote for McCain/Palin because Sarah Palin was "hot".    Is this a good reason to vote for the leader of this country?   A woman said she liked Palin becbecause she seemed like someone who would attend a tailgating party rather than say she was "too bujsy in Washington."  o

Invoking the name Hussein in an attempt to link Sen. Obama to Saddam Hussein (who, contrary to what some may think, ran Iraq as a secular dictator and not as religious fundamentalist) is the worst, most base form of fear mongering and pandering to ignorance. What about linking him with King Hussein of Jordan, considered one of the USA’s and Great Britain’s staunchest allies in the Middle East?

The name Hussein is similar to being named Smith, Jones or Jackson. It is so common across so many countries and cultures that assuming because two people share the name that they are somehow related is ridiculous and absurd. Linking Sen. Obama to Saddam Hussein makes as much sense as linking Andrew Jackson, Michael Jackson and Jackson Pollock.

1) His name IS B. H. O. or sometimes "Barry" depending on which personality is in control at the moment.

2) He is dangerous.

3) You'll see.

4) Speaking of fear and hate--why is Obama against gay marriage?

Hey John, do us all a favor and do what you're best at,,,,,,crash another plane. You're as bad at politics as you are at flying.

Obama is all style and no substance. His own words from hyis two books tell us what he is... why is everyone so eager to dismiss his own comments???

I'm sure our fore fathers have been turning over in their graves for a long time now. But if the American people allow the media to be successful in its blatant campaign to get Obama elected, they (fore fathers) will probably flip right out of their graves! Talk about dying in vain! How could we allow this country (that they established) to continue down the road to socialism? Does anyone know and respect the Constitution anymore? Or does it just represent opportunities to be exploited? Sure it was written with provisions for future changes in mind. Changes to be done under the pretense of common sense, moral values, and the overall preservation of our republic. Not changes done out of blame or to calm the hype of "panic now" issues.

McCain's image is being tarnished by the fanatical right wind of the GOP that persist in running a "willie horton" fear mongering campaign. Karl Rove has no shame and he is dragging McCain down into the sewer with the likes of Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and the entire GOP hit squad. These pathetic cockroaches will be running back into their dark holes after November 4.

It is now simply up to the American peoples, especially our youth who are feed-up and the elderly who should be tired of bigotry, racism, and ignorance to send Palin and McCain into retirement from public office. The low grade but virulent evil fanned by Palin and McCain should arouse the citizens of Arizona and Alaska who deserve better to vote them out of office. McCain is an angry dinosaur and Palin in her own words is a pit bull in lipstick. Let those who want human development unit to send them both home after Obama becomes President. Our only hope for fundamental change in this election is Obama who will hopefully start to bring Americans together with a more just democracy and a more just foreign policy

Number 57.

I'll bet that you didn't even read either book. However, you did find a web-page with quotes taken out of context and strung together to resemble something else. How original. Do you really think anyone other than brainwashed fools like yourself will believe that trash ? Millions of people have read those books and know what they really say,in context. Try reading a WHOLE book sometime instead of copied and pasted trash. Your little mind might one day grow.

EVERY TIME SOME ONE SAYES ANYTHING ABOUT OBAMA EVERYONE GETS UPSET WELL THE TRUTH IS OBAMA SCARES THE MESS OUT OF A LOT OF PEOPLE..AND OBAMA HAS ALSO RAN NASTY AIDS ON THE CLINTONS AND MCCAIN HE IS JUST AS GUILTY AS THE NEXT ONE LOOK IT REALY DOES NOT MATTER WHO GETS IN OFFICE BECAUSE THERE NOT GOING TO DO ANY THING THEY SAYE .ANY WAY WE HAVE ALL HEARD THE SONG ABOUT INSURANCE FOR HOW MANY YEARS HAS ANYTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT IT NO .LOOK EVERY ONE GIVES BUSH HELL AND YES I DO AGREE.HOW EVER WE ALL NEED TO START ALL OVER .EVERY OFFICE IN WASHINGTON WE NEED TO CLEAN HOUSE FIRE EVERY PERSON UP THERE AND GET SOME NEW FACES THAT MIGHT CARE. WHAT IS HAPPING IN OUR COUNTRY.WE NEED TO VOTE OUT ALL HOUSE DEM AND REP START ALL OVER.I THINK THATS THE ONLY WAY TO REALY FIX THE PROBLEM WE HAVE,

Islam is not evil, there is racism in the US, and people have passionate feelings and sometimes behave recklessly, especially when they are very young and inexperienced at life. If these out of context quotes from Obama's books support ANY argument, it is FOR him as POTUS and not against. This is not a country of rich, white, Christians. It's about time we recognize that and diversify the view of our leadership.

Emm, find the video. You can hear someone say "Kill Him". It's not a lie or made up.

Oh for heaven's sake, MM, don't try to sell that garbage. No, of course there is no law against using a person's actual middle name. I don't use mine in anything but legal documents though, and neither does Sen. Obama. If someone keeps using it anyway, I would have to wonder if they are trying to make some kind of point. In this case, I don't have to wonder, it's obvious. If Sen. McCain's middle name was Adolf and people kept using it, do you think you'd be so glib?

How do we know that mcshame is a real war hero and not self proclaimed? Why did he choose torture over freedom? Was he in cohorts with the enemy? Was him staying in Nam because of a family there? McLiar and the pit bull with lipstick, great combo you got there repukes

If senator McCain really cares about the well being of you, me, and our Country more than winning the presidence, he should show it. He should be stong enough to stop his attack dog from inticing violence, hatred, deciptiion and take the high road. WE are tired of killing, lies, and scum ball politics.
Gun Slinger McCain and his Republican friend President Bush spent BILLIONS of our money, and caused the deaths of thousands of of our citizens to hand Iraq to Iran and Alquida. ENOUGH stupidity, honestly ENOUGH.

The recent attacks and tactics are a new low for the McCain/Palin ticket. It's gotten pretty desperate. It's sad that Palin is being relegated to dishing out this visceral attacks, but perhaps it's the only use she holds for the campaign at the moment.

Nonetheless, I think some clarity in reporting the facts is needed here. The article is a little misleading... since it was notedin previous reporting that the 'KILL HIM!' was the response of an audience member to Palin discussing Ayers and presenting him to the crowd as someone who's blown up several government buildings and hates America. It was not directed at Obama himself.

Please report responsibly.

So ... let me get this straight ...
If ...
1) someone is [in fact] mis-representing you, and mis-characterizing you, actually spreading "falsehoods" (oh ... we cannot call them "lies") about you ...
... and
2) YOU then [correctly] state that they are telling lies about you ...
3) then YOU are the demon ... YOU are "unfit" ... YOU are "NOT PRESIDENTIAL".

McCain an Palin are full of garbage; I would like Obama to call them on it.
How long can this outright smearing of Obama be allowed to continue without the some kind of punitive action?

Barack Hussein Obama (his real name) has some very dangerous connections w/Ayers, Wright, and others. The anti-American rhetoric and criminal actions of his former colleages, tied with his previous disrespect for the US flag and his wife basically saying she was never proud of the USA before her husband's campaign all could lead one to the same conclusion - Barack Obama is not patriotic and has a chip on his shoulder. Some see his "anger" as a catalyst for better human rights or something. I personally think anger is rarely beneficial.

I love the guy's personality, bearing, intellect, and the idea of something new. The Bush years were not good years. But I don't trust Obama (yet) and pointing out these character flaws through association are necessary.

Like many Americans, I once had some respect for McCain, despite differences in opinions. However, given his decisions to have a completely incompetent running mate and his nasty, fear-mongering campaigning strategies, the respect is now gone. I CANNOT WAIT to vote for Obama!

Barack Hussein Obama is his legal name. Why is it wrong to call him by his legal name? How dare they! ha

In the south we have a saying and it goes like this: "A FOX SMELLS HIS OWN HOLE FIRST" So McCain and Palin attempt to draw the attention off their own filthy holes by trying to distract - but they only show us southern folk that their hole is the ho'ie distasteful, classless ramblings of a drunk not a Joe 6-pack who can tell the difference. A Joe 6-pack loves this country and not any of the dirty ho's. Joe 6-pack got more class, although I'm sure like anyother red blooded American male they don't mind being jerked off like McCain and Palin are doing to them - eeew McCain jerking off Joe 6-pack - oh that's right, Palin's the Queen of the jerk-off - ahhhh..

i am neutral in this election so far. i dont like either canidate. if you ask me we would be better off with electing no president this term with the current canidates. not that the house or senate could run things better on their own. its not a matter of who is lying it is who is lying more.

neither one of the canidates last night did well at all. both were only concerned with themselves. Mcain was not the only one having a bash party. i am sick of everyong clinging to there savior and not seeing the flaws of both running canidates.

mcain has said many retarded thing, also i am very upset that obamma continues to claim that we were not recieved as liberators. we should not be there but that aside, i know many troop and missionaries, talk with them monthly. they talk about kids wanting to play with them, and families wanting to feed them. the media is a freeking joke (talk about 1984).

For those that question what was so bad about using his full name...well if you study the English language in school...they do teach you that some times aren’t what you say but in the context that it was used...if the statement made were about terrorist etc...using his full name would have been their way to enhance his Muslim background...even if the record already shows that he is not a Muslim...regardless of his relatives upbringing...so What would you call that...dirty games which it could lead into a dangerous and violence situation since we know that America is not 100% clean from racist propaganda...and when our own officials lend themselves for that type of propaganda...it makes the situation even more sticky...I don’t believe we want this type of people to be our leaders…hope you all are not part of this racist and discriminatory lynch…America stand for the Freedom, for the Diversity, for the Strong…no need for dirty tricks…even thought is almost Halloween.

Come on now, to think that Obama did not know that Bill Ayers was in the weatherman underground terrorist group when there were news paper and magazine articles written about him many times in recent history. What about that magazine cover where Bill Ayers was stomping on the American flag. And what about his old pastor saying things about America in his sermons that were in very poor taste. Even Mr. Obama could not have his head buried that deep in the sand not to be aware of these things. If this is true then he is not qualified to be president by being completely unaware of his surroundings. And if he really knew and said otherwise then he is even less qualified.

Caitlin -
Wise people are doing their own fact checking via independent, non-partisan fact-checking sites. Many of the negative things both campaigns are saying have their basis in some amount of truth, but only the McCain camp is resorting to extreme hate-mongering tactics. The person who shouted, "Kill him" should have immediately been detained and that remark should have been condemned by McCain/Palin. It's one thing to get a crowd going - it's another to condone the inciting of violence. I can't imagine any sane person - no matter who they support - justifying that.

I question your comment regarding the majority of the country. All polls, including Fox Networks', show Obama/Biden ahead. Most of the country seems to be concluding just the opposite of what you write.

Why does Barack try to "hide" his middle name. Why do his supporters think it's negative to say: Barack HUSSEIN Obama ???

Are his "supporters" supporting him because he goes to CHURCH now ???

IS THIS A MESSAGE FOR CITIZENS WHO ARE MUSLIMS, HINDUS, or BUDDHISTS, that they should CONVERT to CHRISTIANITY before aspiring to "break the glass ceiling"
r

what about Palin first Dud, he is a terrorist himself, he belonged to a terrorist group in Alaska, so that makes this moose a terrorist by association

I find the quotes from Obama's books as posted by "Obamasuxx" to demonstrate that Obama is a thoughtful soul searching man who has exposed himself to many situations to grow and understand the nature of hate and racism in the world. I treasure that in a leader. It tells me that he is capable of empathy and compassion and that he will be a uniter, not a divider. And the quotes from "The Audacity of Hope" are completely accurate. We are diverse nation and it is our creedo that everyone, no matter what religion or race, has rights, has dignity, and is entitled to equality. If his words fill you with fear, it's probably because you think the US should have one religion and one race and one point of view. Our nation is not founded on the premise that there is only one right way to live, only one right god to believe in, or only one right way to conduct your life. It is founded on the principles of acceptance, tolerance, and equality for all. I do not fear anyone who has taken the time to learn and understand. I fear anyone who has chosen instead to immerse themselves in the safe and comforting haven of dogma so they don't have to think for themselves.

what about Palin first Dud, he is a terrorist himself, he belonged to a terrorist group in Alaska, so that makes this moose a terrorist by association

Personally, I'd like to know how someone who aided the enemy for more than three years can even run for president. I want an explanation of THAT one..with documented facts to support it.

I'd like to know how anyone could, in good conscience, even consider voting for someone who consistently lies to everyone about anything and everything, and then lies about his lying. We already went through the "I don't remember" presidential phase (McCain was involved in IranContra as well as the Keating 5 S&L debacle).

I'd like to know how someone could vote for someone who has given up his honor, integrity, and morals just to win...but then, without an explanation of his actions in Vietnam, perhaps he really never had any?

I'd like to know if Sarah is going to be happy with her $160,237 salary instead of the $208,100 that a male VP would receive. (That's 77 cents on the dollar for women doing the same work as men.)

I'm going with Obama for the reasons that his character and conviction has remained steadfast, his message now is the same as it was when all this started, and he has displayed more presidential qualities than McCain has in the last two years. I don't want a "shoot now and ask questions later" president. I don't want a president that has to stoop to vote caging and scaring people in hopes that they will vote for him. (I wonder if we'll see another "perfectly timed" video of Bin Laden the days before the election like we did 4 years ago?)

I want a president that the people will respect...not only in the USA, but around the world. I want a president that wholeheartedly believes in "We, the people"...that's ALL people...not just SOME of the people... I want a president that understands the constitution, will uphold the constitution, and not hold himself above it. We had one once, a long time ago, and the haters killed him. After 40 years, I think it's about time we had another.

What, really, does it take for people to open their eyes to change, close their eyes to color, and open their hearts to the greater good for ALL people?

Seriously, what does it take?

So Obama overcame some sort of racism against white men. He stood up, and moved beyond race.

He studied a new and different religion.

News Flash everyone, being a Muslim does not make you a terrorist.It just doesn't. its sad that all you have to do is call someone a Muslim and immediately they are branded as something bad.

So he studied a new religion, he studied the Koran. good for him. it just gives him a broader view on the world.

And that last quote, I don't know what that is meant to prove. But he is right. He is just simply stating that this country has changed and now encompasses many religions.

Barack Hussein Obama,thats his given name,is he ashamed of it,does he fear it will tie him to terrorist organization's.
Have all the above critics read his book,Dreams of My Father, he denounces the white race ,is that not predjudice ,is his life as young radical and experimenting with drugs to go unoticed,his attendence of twenty years in a church that preaches
hate and God Damm American , is his work with Acorn as an organizer to be overlooked,or maybe the people think that was a good thing,they are still out there working to sign up voter registration for Barack Hussein Obama ,letting these people vote absentee ballots at the same time,is that what our American voting system has come to.
Give me a break,lets not put another big spender in Washinton,instead vote theMcCain/Palin ballot,we need less goverment more.

I am glad to see that the smoke is clearing and people are starting to realize that McCain and Palin are worthless. When Plain was chosen there was a big flurry and alot of people were pro-McCain. When you can't control your temper and refer to a US Senator as "That One" or assume a young African-American lacks knowledge as to who Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are, it just speaks alot about his character. We already gave an average joe a chance at the presidency (twice) and look whats happening. We need a president who graduated at the top of his class from Harvard, not one who graduated at the bottom from his naval academy.There is alot more to being the president than just war expierience. OBAMA/BIDEN 2008

Rolling Stone magazine has a new article about John McCain and it goes back to his youth and shows what a petty, meanspirited and unintelligent man he is. He cheated on his first wife repeatedly and there are numerous rumors that he cheats on this wife as well. McCain only looks out for himself and thinks violence is the answer to every problem. I don't care if this man was imprisoned and tortured for 50 years, not five, he has no business being president of the United States.

By the way, Hussein means "handsome" in Arabic, so it is a compliment.

Confirmed
Barack Hussein Obama's political "coming out" was in the home of terrorist Bill Ayers and his wife Bernardine Dohrn. Ayers' wife has served time in prison involving armed robbery which resulted in the deaths of two guards.
This is what Bernrdine Dorh said about the Charles Manson murders when pregnant Sharan Tate and several other were brutally stabbed: "Dig it! First they killed those pigs, then they ate dinner in the same room with them. They even shoved a fork into the victim's stomach! Wild!"
Obama has LIED about his association with these terrorist. They are indeed friends and neighbors!

To the dimwit Sherriff who abused his uniform by using his office to push his angry political agenda: "Hussein" today. "President Obama" tomorrow. Get used to it.

"Barack Hussein Obama"...........First of all..........it had been proved that he is not MUSLIM...........But even if he is muslim.....................why he doesn't get a chance to stand on presidential election.............why muslim doesn;t get the same civil rights that other does...........does muslim doesn't face the same economic problem that other does..........does muslim doesn't face same health problem that other does................does muslim doesn't face same justice that other does..............
only 1% of muslim population came up with extremeist ideology......people of america start beleive rest of 99% are same as other 1%.................i want next president will change this .....i hope on BARACK OBAMA

What you allow you condone. Management 101. Crazed supporters screaming kill the SOB is being allowed. So McCant must condone it. And Sarah isn't really ready for anything, let alone being a heartbeat away.

This is a country, not a country club. Elected officials are supposed to be looking after all our interests. Sarah must have missed high school civics.

It is embarrassing a true American hero turn himself into a late-night punchline. I truely feel sorry for John. But my sorrow doesn't get him my vote.

Is his name Obama or Osama. Obama has a relationship with Ayers, a radical . When someone has a relationship with a radical for a long time, you can assume that he approves of the behavior. Whatever the argument is, this is merely poor judgment.

Is his name Obama or Osama. Obama has a relationship with Ayers, a radical . When someone has a relationship with a radical for a long time, you can assume that he approves of the behavior. Whatever the argument is, this is merely poor judgment.

CNN reported that our soldiers in Iraq have donated to Obamas campaign at a rate of 5-1 over McCain. What does this say for McCains support to stay in Iraq as long as necessary.

I used to respect McCain. That respect was seriously eroded when he picked Palin to be his running mate. Regardless of whether you have beliefs in common with her or not, her lack of experience makes her a poor choice for the second highest office in the land. Some may argue that the same could be said of Obama, but that just confuses the issue. McCain had the opportuinty to pick a running mate who could be a competent president should he be incapacitated or die while in office. Instead he chose someone who isn't even close to ready for the job. This shows that his judgement is impaired. I don't want another president with impaired judgement. Eight years of that was quite enough, thank you.

Obama is one of the greatest communicators of our time. He is cool under pressure. He has shown good judgement repeatedly, and his intellligence is clearly well above average (another refreshing change). I don't agree with all of his policy positions, but he's an order of magnitude more presidential than McCain will ever be. After 8 years of horrible communication, poor judgement, and questionable intelligence from the executive branch, our nation needs someone like Obama to repair the damage.

These latest campaign tactics have eradicated the last shred of respect I had for John McCain. He is nothing more than a scum bag politician now. It's sad to see such a heroic man destroy his legacy like this. What a shame.

Full disclosure: I am a white male, age 42, from SC.

All the idiot dems can do now is try and put down McCain and Palin, saying there racists etc. Telling the truth about someone is a good thing in this case. Obama has more scumbag associates than Clinton. All I need to know is that Obama sat in a church for over 20 years, and didn't know that Wright was a racist. He presided over his wedding and baptized his daughters. What a liar Obama is. Then there is Resko. Then Ayers etc..

In case you guys havent noticed, she draws bigger crowds than Obama. CNN and MSNBC will never say that. Just like the polls by them are slanted. If you poll 60 democrats and 40 Republicans, of course you have a Democrat advantage.

You guys have a bigger empty suit as your candidate, than the Republicans do. If Clinton where your candidate, this election would be 25 points ahead right now. So who are the idiots. Since McCain/Palin are still within 3 to 4 points, this election is over. On Nov. 4th people will enter the booth and think to themselves who can really change? The answer is McCain/Palin.

All the idiot dems can do now is try and put down McCain and Palin, saying there racists etc. Telling the truth about someone is a good thing in this case. Obama has more scumbag associates than Clinton. All I need to know is that Obama sat in a church for over 20 years, and didn't know that Wright was a racist. He presided over his wedding and baptized his daughters. What a liar Obama is. Then there is Resko. Then Ayers etc..

In case you guys havent noticed, she draws bigger crowds than Obama. CNN and MSNBC will never say that. Just like the polls by them are slanted. If you poll 60 democrats and 40 Republicans, of course you have a Democrat advantage.

You guys have a bigger empty suit as your candidate, than the Republicans do. If Clinton where your candidate, this election would be 25 points ahead right now. So who are the idiots. Since McCain/Palin are still within 3 to 4 points, this election is over. On Nov. 4th people will enter the booth and think to themselves who can really change? The answer is McCain/Palin.

I am surprised the Secret Service did not put the guy who yelled 'kill him" right away. And to hear it played over and over in TV is even dangerous. You just do not know what any sicko out there will take out from it. For the other campaign to be propagating fear and not condemning the incident is even more dangerous.

I think there was a typo in Biden's quote in this article: "You know, the idea here that somehow these guys are once again injecting fear and loathing into this campaign is ... I think it's mildly dangerous".

"Mildly" was probably meant to say "wildly".

-Jay
Austin, TX

John Sydney McCain III, or Trip the Privileged, as I call him, is now and always has been a loose cannon. His claims that “I know how to do that” (a statement he makes after almost every question) are not evinced by his background and actions. If he refers to his gold digging for beauty queens with money and position and his womanizing throughout his life, then he has experience and he knows how to do that; he also knows how to ingratiate himself to those with money and power. Learning the political “insider ropes” from John Tower has served McCain well, but it has not enhanced his analytical or decision making abilities, and certainly not his technical skills. If he has an action plan for the Country he has not articulated it. He is not a Maverick, because he wears the Republican Brand! All Republicans are not as unprincipled as Trip.

Trip the Privileged was a gofer and Dog Robber for John Tower, and as the Bill Joel classic song Piano Man would have phrased the matter, “He (Trip, in this case) was quick with a joke or to light up Tower’s smoke, but there was someplace he’d rather be.” He wanted a senate seat himself, and should he become President, Heaven forbid, he would certainly have outflanked his father and grandfather, both of whom died at ages younger than Trip. At 72 years of age, he has outlived them both and may be closer to Arlington Cemetery than he is to serving out a term as President, if we should be so unlucky (not an appealing thought, given the safety net he selected as a running mate who wants to be President far more than he might have imagined, so he should not turn his back on her while going down the step of the Straight Talk aircraft).

Ayers is a radical, Obama has been associated with him for a long time. It is safe to say that Obama is a radical (?). Voters need to know more about him. The economy is bad but it was democrats' fault too. Theyhave been voting to get the White House!

Senator Obama Live on Sunday states, 'As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides, Obama said. 'There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing.' If that were our anthem, then I might salute it.'We should consider to reinvent our National Anthem as well as to redesign our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we as a Nation of warring people, should conduct ourselves as the nations of Islam, whereas peace prevails. Perhaps a state or period of mutual concord between our governments. When I become President, I will seek a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation have placed upon the nations of Islam an unfair injustice.
My wife disrespects the Flag for many personal reasons. Together she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past, many years ago. She has her views and I have mine'. Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put aside my hatred. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path of hope. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country's First Family.
Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America

When you see the tactics being employed by McCain/Palin in their desparation, there is historical precident, and these tactics, regardless of how lowly, have been shown to work. Let's take their lies about Obama that they tell repeatedly as one example. It was shown by Joe Gobbels (a right wing extremist) that a lie told frequently enough eventually becomes accepted as the truth. Let's look at another of their tactics, divide and conquer. Clearly, the GOP is trying to divide the country into red/blue, (neo)conservative/progressive, Rep/Dem, Fundamentalist Christian/Other, White/Black, etc. This tactic was successfully employed by the AXIS powers back in the 40sa.

Obama = Osama
We never approve od his association with Ayers, it is bad and scary!

Dear Chance (#28),
And we haven't suffered in the mean time because of the current administration? What the heck has bush done for us...?????????? Is your head in the sand? Have you looked at the state of our economy, have you looked at the price of gas, do you see an end to this war? bush deregulated everything, allowing banks and lending company’s prey on people. That's why Americans are loosing their homes and businesses, because of him. AND who ends up with the "golden parachute"...not you and me "my friend".

How many radicals has Obama been associated with beside Ayers? We would like to know! why he is hiding?

I find this kind of stuff not at all mildly dangerous. I find it Extremely Dangerous. I too servered in Vietnam and respect Heros. And Iam no Hero by any shape of the word but to bring oneself to the level that McCain and Palin have is sad indeed. What they are doing is beneath what America stands for. I always told my kids to judge a man not by skin color or beliefs but by actions. Look at the actions of (2) people who profess to be Christian and say they what to lead this country.

The GOP have been trying to scare us for 8 years now and want some more. If Economy is our most critical issue Read ON:

There is the historical precedent that Democrat presidencies have just been better for the economy.

From 1953 to 2006, average real GDP growth was 4.2 percent under Democrats and 2.8 percent under Republicans. Stock prices have also tended to perform better under Democrats. Since 1900, the Dow Industrials have climbed 13.3 percent annually under Democrats versus just 7.1 percent under Republicans.

Disprove this if you can !!

When McMaverick loses he's a shoo in for the starring role in any remake pf PATTON. Gosh he makes George C. Scott look tame, mild and sane!

I don't know if Obama's plans will work, all I know is he is hiding his association. This has to be clear before we talk about his plans. we don't want our president who is also a radical.

Biden is the most boring VP candidate, vote for McCain-Palin!

Obama has been a friend of Ayers? Talking about Obama selling us to terrorists!

Perhaps Senator McCain's reference to Senator Obama last night as "that one" was in reference to "the one" (Mr. Anderson) in the movie The Matrix...Robert Lewis

Is saying, "mildly dangerous" is not a scare tactic? Keith Olbermann, an ESPN reject, is a clown..put his face on your kids' sippy cup and tell them to drink their milkey..You don't like McCaine and Palin? Fine don't vote for them..Who are the real fear mongers here? Most of the dopey bloggers at Boston.com.

Whats the real danger to democracy? The Feds raided the Vegas Acorn office yesterday. Seems the entire Dallas Cowboys offensive line is registered to vote in Nevada...using the same handwriting on the registration cards. So add Nevada to Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Florida to recent Acorn voter fraud. How much cash has the Obama campaign invested in Acorn? The Adenberg Foundation into Acorn? George Soros into Acorn? When does Boston.com post this story? Never. Welcome to the Happy World of Holistic Facism, people.. Red, white and blue Obama symbols on every street corner, lets slip on our crocks and goose step (or skip, whats the official walk in Obamaland?) into Starbucks for our latte...all together now..."Yes..we can...yes...we can...yes...we can..."

.

How hypocritical of McCain to say repeatedly during the debate that he can "fix" America's problems by "reaching across the aisle," being "bipartisan" etc and then he calls Obama "THAT ONE!' Why not just call him boy?
Simultaneously he sends out his attack, dog Pailin to call Obama a terrorist. His TV ads lie blatantly: the bridge to nowhere lie, the Obama sex education lie, too many to list.
These guys are desperate.
As I have often said, no man stoops so low as when he stands for the presidency.

It is a sad and shameful commentary that the McCain/Palin camp has dived into the garbage pit so quickly and with so much gusto. To incite a crowd to hatred as part of a "political" speech is dangerous, stupid and stands in antipathy to the very constitutional basis of our democracy. Governor Palin and her Rovian handlers are moving into quasi-criminal territory now, and while this place is not new to the handlers, I was hoping that McCain had at least some respect for the constitutional process, and would resist. Sadly, I was mistaken. Hatred and Incitement are dangerous things, because once you wind them up, they go where they will and do what ever they want. A line has been crossed, and McCain/Palin are responsible for whatever comes, and they should be held accountable for such stupidity.

'It is ashame that it come to race. Anytime anyone say anything about Obama they call the people racist." Could it be that some if not all is the truth? What is it they fear, the young man who has got the people caught in his chants will not catch on enough to get him in office.
"IT IS NO MY IMAGENATION THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE HE HOLDING A SERMON." LISTEN TO THE "THAT'S RIGHT, OH YEA, AMENS", LISTEN THE THE RYTHMN TO GET PEOPLE CAUGHT UP IN THE CROWD."
I think people should step back and see what this young man is going.
Charlie

People hear about Obama that he has ties with terrorists, that he supports ACORN, that he will raise taxes, that he has no presidential credentials and it is all true. But still people want to deny that he has major problems.

No. 57, you have taken snippets of his book out of context. Seems that you are a right winger using any little bit half truth that you can in hopes that someone/anyone pays attention. Typical!

Anyone that is paying attention read the book for yourself.

Obama fanatics are blind to the fact that he is close to and associates with,
known terrorists and people who undermine our government.
Obama and his mercenary minded wife have no place in our government, haven`t you caught on? They hate caucasians (thats white people, you dummies) .

Go ahead, call me a racist, thats what happens when you criticize Obama.

GOOD NEWS!!!!!
The fear mongerers are at it again, AND IT'S NOT WORKING!!!
I think it was Maureen Dowd (I don't much like her but this was a good quote) who said: Fooled us once, shame on you, fooled us twice, shame on us, fooled us three times, God help us! Well the third time is here and this time we aren't fooled. Let's just keep up the heat all the way to election day.

How many of you use John McCain's middle name? How many know it? Exactly.
The ONLY reason to shout Obama's middle name is to feed right wing hysterics who want to swiftboat Obama as a "terrorist" or to encourage the knuckle draggers who shout "Kill Him!" THE TACTIC WORKS.
Here's the important thing. It was John McCain who said don't stoop to using the middle name to incite racial hatred. Now the McCain team has turned desperate and very ugly.
As for Obama's church...we can discuss that too if you want to get into the casting out of witches and speaking in tongues at the Wasilla church that believes killing in Iraq is a work of God. Bring it on!

October satanic celebrations: launch of Obama impeachment scheduled for ...
Celebration (1) of “OJ Simpson not guilty”, one of the milestones of the final leg, staged 13 years later to the day as reversed (2) repetition, i.e. guilty, October 3.Celebration of launch of “Clinton impeachement to be finally acquited”, another of the milestones of the final leg, staged 10 years later to the day as reversed repetition, i.e. launch of “Obama impeached asks his crowd to elect Clinton”. (3)

Notes
(1) Satanic celebrations ever since the illuminati target date, 1998, short before the battle of Armageddon begun, were explained in advance always by one and the same...

Google as usual knows it.

Let's break this thing down...I have a question for all of you that have an issue with the whole Ayers thing. If you're at work, you are probably working with someone at least 10+ years older than you. Remember, you work with this person every day, probably 5 days a week. Now, do you know what their interests, hobbies, "recreational", and non-work-related activities were 5, 10, 20, 40 years ago??

Now, think about it. The interaction between Obama and Ayers was purely work-related and on few occasions...definitely not a daily basis. Think about how unrealistic it is to know the entire history of every person you are acquainted with...especially those you rarely see or with whom you communicate.

Unless you search the internet for all the dirt you can find about every person you meet or work with, the likelihood of you knowing a person's distant past is pretty nil.

THINK about it.

Ok, so McCain and Palin are racists because they call him Barack Hussein Obama??? which BTW is the name Obama chose, because HIS mother named him Barry Soetoro.

And Obama is NOT dangerous when he says he is willing to talk to dictators???

And the Media lets him fli-flop and wash out his radicalism by him changing his mind and saying that now he is willing to talk but with certain conditions???

And Joe Bidden saying that it is "patriotic" to raise taxes on those who make more money anually and are more prosperous is NOT DISCRIMINATION and invoking hatred among classes???

And Bidden ignoring our Constitution and the idea of equal rights for everyone, with this idea of Patriotism= pay the government more taxes, is not dangerous and is not fascist and discriminatory????

WOW, some people need to read the dictionary, and do some research on Candidate Barack Hussein Obama and Joe Bidden.
Or maybe they should just take out the detergent out of their brains and WAKE UP to reality. Ask for RESULTS and EFFICIENCY, not for IDEAS and PROMISES. So far, there is only ONE Presidential Candidate who has records to show results, and it is NOT Barack Hussein Obama.

Who is not Presidential?
Barack Obama
Barry Obama
Barry Soetoro
Barack Dunham
Barry Dunham
Which name will he use next? What will his next change be? Who he is anyhow?

From these entries, it is enheartening to read the number of Republican and independent voters that are going to vote NO!!!! to the vile tactics and failed campaign of MCCain. It is equally disheartening to read the entries from bigots that attack Obama based on his name. Is this decade the new 60's? Instead of attacking on the basis of his race, the attacks are now based on innuendo involving a Muslim middle name. Have we learned nothing in the last century? Bigotry and fear-mongering based on religion makes these individuals no better than Nazi Germany. What would they say if Obama was a Jew, I shudder to think. Are these the kinds of people that the Republican party represents? If so, I am happy to be affiliated with the Democratic Party!

#389, there is not nearly enough peace, love, or talent around for this decade to be the new '60s. So far this decade has been a lot more like the new '30's. In Germany.

I can guarantee, that if the people had been heard in 2000 and 2004, the USA and Europe would not be in this economic mess! REMEMBER people, that the Delegates chose our President not the PEOPLE!!! It doesn’t matter who you vote for it matters who the Delegates vote for. Remember, in each of the 2000 and 2004 elections, the Democrats won the Peoples vote, not the Republicans.

Who is a terrorist? A vice presidential candidate says in her speach that the presidential candidate of the opposit party is a terrorist or at least pallying with terrorist. That results in a supporter from among the croud ( most probably a citizen who truly love America who got convinced of her speech and wants to perform a patriotic act) to shout "Kill Him". Yet the VP candidate does,nt warn him that he should not think or act of killing the presidential candidate. Is her action different from what Bin Laden has been doing?. He instigates young Muslims around the world to hate America and cry "Death to America" . Many of them have decided to sacrify their own life and fight a "Holywar" against America, Some blew themselves up to kill Americans. I pray that Sarah Paline will not be able to succeed as Bin Laden and , Americans are intelligent enough to stop her from inciting her followers to indulge in violent acts. I would request McCain and Palin to request FBI to investigate any connection OBAMA may have with terrorists but stop instigating public. Thank you
. Instigating violence is equivalent to committing violence.

The Real SHAME here is that a person who has NO experience whatsoever, is even considered as a Candidate for the MOST IMPORTANT POSITION in our Country. Barack Hussein Obama (formerly known as Barry Soetoro: the name his mother gaven him when he was born) can TALK the WALK but he has never showed he can WALK anything.
His ideas in itself are socialist, and that is ALL he has to show for, his IDEAS, because he has NO actions to prove his worth. On top of that, WE the people that have read history, and I who have lived it in the socialist dictatorship in Cuba until very recently, KNOW that socialism doesn't work.

When is the LEFT going to show dignity and face the Truth. When are they going to face the facts that history has shoved in their faces.
And most importantly, WHEN is Obama going to stop hiding behind the Slogan of CHANGE, and spell out what his plans for Change will cost us and how much more power is he asking for us to give to the Federal Government.

I've seen dictators such as Castro and Chavez manipulate the masses into their own benefit, and I see those same tactics in Obama.

I'm voting for the BEST Presidential Candidate and that is John McCain. If any of you care to change my mind, show me what Obama has, what Obama is, and what he has done. Because from knowing Obama's own biography, I feel ashamed he is even a Senator of this great nation.

Frankly, poster #83, I would encourage you to check your facts as well. I am a Republican but took the time to listen to the entire segment of the sermon by Jeremiah Wright in which he supposedly made "vile" and "spiteful" remarks. If you would have bothered to listen to a more informative source than just the snippet heard on your local news broadcast, you would have heard that Mr. Wright was quoting another individual that made those comments after the 9/11 nightmare. In reading many of these postings, it is unfortunate that so many of us are so angry -- even Senator McCain and Gov. Palin. Isn't it time we let go of a little of the anger and go about selecting whichever candidate we feel most comfortable with being able to work with us to work our way through the crisis situations we are facing today?

Barry Sotero (aka Barack Obama) registered for an Indonesian college with ISLAM identified as his religion on application. He is also known as Barry Durham. . .

Hello, folks - JUST WHO IS HE???

How long will the poll numbers go down before the McCain-Palin campaign realizes it's self-inflicting its own wounds?

Palin's coming across more as a load of bull than as a pit bull.

You've probably heard it, but in case you hadn't:
What's the difference between Sarah Palin and a pit bull?

One's a mindless animal that's been trained to attack opponents.
The other's a canine.

How many of you use John McCain's middle name? How many know it? I thought you didn't
The ONLY reason to shout Obama's middle name is to feed right wing hysterics who want to swiftboat Obama as a "terrorist" or to encourage the knuckle draggers who shout "Kill Him!" THE TACTIC WORKS.
Here's the important thing. It was John McCain who said don't stoop to using the middle name to incite racial hatred. Now the McCain team has turned desperate and very ugly.
As for Obama's church...we can discuss that too if you want to get into the casting out of witches and speaking in tongues at the Wasilla church that believes killing in Iraq is a work of God. Bring it on!

what we witnessed at last night debate was another old asinine pathetic performance by this erratic old man, especially when he referred Obama as "That one". As an independent voter and a war veteran at one time I respected McCain now when i hear him talk spewing diarrhea from his mouth I vomit

By the pricking in my thumbs something wicked this way comes;
Where the place ?
The white house lawn.
There to meet with MacPalin.

Thanks to William Shakespeare excerpt from MacBush err MacBeth.

here is no doubt in my estimation that there is a clear difference between these 2 tickets as regards surface-level appearances and even as regards some much-needed reform. Obama/Biden is a far more humane alternative than the fear-inspiring McCain/Palin choice. However, for those naive, uninformed, unread,ill-educated, platitude-driven, misguided,historically ignorant, easily manipulated people who think there is any substantive difference between and among the “candidates” and the “parties” they represent……here’s a news flash: you’re all going to see the same program of
(a)continued corruption
(b)domination of American life by the Pentagon
(c)unspeakable corporate greed and rapacity at the expense of the American citizen
(d)the use of divisive “wedge” issues to distract the public from meaningful public discourse
(e)wholesale theft and embezzlement of the wealth and property of the middle class by the wealthy elite
(f)continued erosion of the social contract and destruction of government oversight over corporations
(g)continued destruction of America’s infrastructure
(h) continued employment marginalization of the masses of our citizenry
(i) ever more limited access to higher education for the masses of our citizenry
(j) continued denial of access to health care for ever increasing numbers of our citizenry
The list is almost inexhaustable. The truly stupid among us who misguidedly identify with the wealthy elite and vote for the Republican agenda of “deregulation”, “privatization”, “faith-based initiatives”, “compassionate conservatism”, “no child left behind”, and all the other transparently cynical platitudes devised by people like Richard Perle and Karl Rove ….THOSE citizens are aiding and abetting this program of societal disintegration.
However, all the well-meaning “liberals” who have voted for Johnson, Humphrey, McGovern, Carter, Mondale, Dukakis, and Clinton are also aiding and abetting the same process precisely because the military-industrial corporate alliance which has a stranglehold on all of our lives remains unchallenged and unscathed regardless of whom we elect!
Anyone who reads American 20th Century history knows that JFK was very resistant to any escalation of military presence in Vietnam; knows that JFK was in fact ordering a draw-down of troops to begin in December of 1963, with an eventual total withdrawal by 1965. Well, JFK was gone by November of 1963, and LBJ (the PEACE candidate)was pushed relentlessly by Maxwell Taylor, Robert McNamara, McGeorge Bundy, Dean Rusk and the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff to massively ESCALATE troop involvement in Vietnam. Score 1 massive victory for the
military-industrial corporate alliance…score 1 massive defeat for the American people (the costs of which are STILL being paid today!)
LBJ’s War on Poverty never got off the ground once the military got its hooks into him! By 1968, he had realized what an abysmal failure he had made of his presidency, what a total betrayal of JFK’s visions for the nation,a betrayal for which he had become the instrument! Thus he announced that he would not seek re-election! Unprecedented for a sitting President!
All the RAND corporation, “brain-trust”, “think-tank”, servile intelligentsia who have aided and abetted this historical process of military-industrial-corporate domination of American life are an integral part of the massive deterioration that we see all around us today. McNamara wrote a book: In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam by Brian VanDeMark and Robert S. McNamara . In that book he tried to paint himself as a well-meaning public servant. The fact is that he was one of a cadre of arrogant, self-righteous hawks who badgered JFK and LBJ relentlessly to INCREASE troop commitments to South Vietnam! At any rate, McNamara left the Pentagon to begin a successul ten-year term as president of the World Bank.This is the clientelism between the busness elite and the Pentagon. This is what Eisenhower tried to warn the public about in his farewell address.
Liberal or Conservative? These labels have no meaning, and the people who fall for that paradigm have no historical understanding of who owns, operates, controls and derives enormous profits from the American economy.
Vietnam robbed the American people of the fruits of an upturn in our economy that should have made LBJ’s Great Society a reality. Instead, the military-industrial-corporate alliance produced a horriific, senseless, meaningless war that robbed our citizens of the benefits of that robust economic upturn. The military-industrial-corporate alliance produced chaos and discord at home, and unspeakable misery and suffering for the Vietnamese peasantry.Yes, Vietnamese are humans, too.
Fast-forward to our time. When Clinton left office, we had the largest budget surplus in the nation’s history. He was the 1st President in 28 years to balance the national budget (a mantra that the “right-wing Republicans love to chant, but never actually PRACTICE). Bush comes in and immediately exploits the tragedy of 9-11 to mire the nation in a horrifically wasteful miitary “investment” in Iraq. Let’s not belabor all the corporate media complicity in selling this war to the public. The fact is that we are once again STUCK with this disgracefully WASTEFUL (on every level) drain on our economy. To say nothing of the fact that it has cost thousands upon thousands of human lives (American and, yes, Arabs are humans, too).
In BOTH of these “wars”, American citizens have borne the burdens of the fighting and dying, the killing, the paying of the taxes to fund the carnage. At home, we further pay the costs and bear even greater burdens of home foreclosures, loss of jobs and income, and there will be much GREATER pain yet to come when all the bleeding plays itself out in the massive deterioration of our society that will result from this horrific “mismanagement” by our illustrious “leadership”…..both Liberals as well as Conservatives!

WOW, some of the people here keep calling names and slandering McCain and Palin, it makes me wonder if they are not as inmature and hateful as those they criticize.

Common, stick to the facts, McCain has experience, Obama doesn't. McCain has ideas about how to solve the problems and a record of trying to implement several of his propositions; Obama has ideas, some of them socialist ideas, and no record of trying to implement any of his propositions. McCain won't soften our foreign policy to dictators unless they submitt to certain conditions; Obama said he is willing to talk to dictators, then he changed his mind and said he wouldn't talk to them unless they submitt to certain conditions.

Is it that difficult to see who is qualified to be your President, or have you guys been sweet talked so much with the Slogan of Change and Promises of Obama that the sugar is stuck in your eyelids???

To those disingenuously claiming "but his name IS Barack Hussein Obama," you're being intentionally dense. You know darn well that the point of people focusing on his middle name is because it sounds "foreign" and "different" and "scary" (gosh, didn't we just kill a guy named "Hussein?" better not vote for him!)

It's xenophobia and racism. It's pandering to the basest, worst part of us, and you know it. So it's not enough to note that that is his name -- if that's all it was, why would so many Republicans make a point of saying "Barack Obama... Barack HUSSEIN Obama?" They're clearly not just noting his middle name, but focusing on it.

Next, to the folks (one person trolling?) who are saying "you'll be SORRRY when Obama is elected..." Well, I got news for you: there's nothing Obama could do... NOTHING... that would hold a candle to the absolute evil that Bush has committed. He has started not one, but two wars (one based entirely on a lie), and, incidentally, completely failed to get the guy responsible for 9/11. He's killed more Americans than died in 9/11 (and let's not even TALK about Iraqis and Afghanis). He has shredded and desecrated the Constitution -- to CORE of America -- at every turn. He has turned a huge budget surplus into the biggest deficit EVER (and quite possibly created a second Great Depression -- stay tuned). He's squandered the immense international goodwill after 9/11 and turned America into a pariah state. He's lied, tortured, imprisoned without charges, and killed -- all in my name. Barack Obama -- Barack HUSSEIN Obama -- would have to be Satan himself to even hold a candle to the evil that has been George Bush.

So you can keep your "you'll be sorries" to yourself. ANYTHING Obama does or could possibly do will be light years better than what we've just been through.

January 20, 2009 can't get here soon enough...

People, do you expect me to vote for a guy for president of the U.S. who supposedly graduated from Columbia and Harvard and knows nothing about his own country's history? He didn't know about Bill Ayers and his history of terrorism and anarchy. He didn't know that Ayers is quoted as saying that he wishes he had done more killing and bombing? I am not a hatemonger, Bill Ayers, Wright, and Pfllager are hatemongers. Obama didn't distance himself from them until he was running for president. Obama is either insincere or the consummate Machiavellian Prince of Darkness. I'm not voting for him because evidence shows me that he represents the latter.

TrueFan1947 – You are absolutely right. It doesn’t matter, Blue or Red, the President doesn’t actually run this county. MONEY runs this country and MONEY is the root to ALL EVIL.
From the founding Fathers:
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.

I am a Republican and I have to honestly say that the McCain-Palin ticket has to have been the worst ever. I am truly disgusted. His pick of Palin was bad enough, but to play dirty politics is extremely disappointing.

When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in a flag and wearing a crucifix. Our fellow American citizens have a history of anti-intellectualism, xenophobia, racism, and authoritarianism. These traits are a dangerous and stifling countervailing influence against those OTHER American values of fair play, democratic rule, freedom of thought and expression, Call the first set of characteristics the illness of our society and call the second set of characteristics the wellness of our society. These two sets have been in play against one another throughout our nation's history.

The first set, illness, is exemplified by such sordid chapters of our national life as slavery, the mass slaughter perpetrated against native Amerind populations, Jim Crow and the end of Reconstruction, the KKK, the reprehensible Red Scare and Palmer Raids, Joseph McCarthy and the HUAC crusade, racial segregation in the deep south, the senseless 15-plus years of bloodbath against the peasantry of Vietnam, the assassinations of Lincoln & Malcolm X & JFK & MLK & RFK,the Watergate and Iran-Contra scandals, and many other shameful and embarrassing national nightmares.

On the more positive side of American life, we have the Emancipation Proclamation, universal suffrage, universal education, the Civil Rights Act, mass protest and redress of grievances, recognition of the rights of working people to collective bargaining, legalization of unions, periodic Federal support for the Bill of Rights as regards the common citizen, and many more examples of enlightened and civilized public life throughout our nation's history.

These two threads are in constant battle with one another in our society, and this struggle permeates every sector of our economy and our military and political and cultural life. There can be no doubt that corporate greed prefers and actually practices authoritarian principles as opposed to democratic ones. There can be no doubt that concentrated wealth hates regulation or oversight or obligation to the "greater public good".

There can be no doubt that Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush 1, and Bush 2 and their administrations generally:

*have reflected the monied interests of the very wealthiest of our citizens
*have tended to function as a force for authoritarian and anti-democratic control of the society
*have tended to exercise little restraint in supporting corporate objectives with public tax dollars

There can be no doubt that Truman, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter and Clinton and their administrations generally:
*have tended to use the power of the Federal Government to protect and defend the common citizenry in matters of racial inequality and violations of individual civil rights
*have tended to use the power of the Federal Government to place SOME restraints upon unbridled corporate greed and rapacity
*have supported a much broader distribution of wealth than have their Republican counterparts

When it comes to foreign policy, on the other hand, both parties seem to leave any commitment to democratic principle at home. The right of self-determination applies to America but not to others. Both parties engaged wholeheartedly in the anti-communist jingoism of the Cold War.

Generally speaking, I think it's safe to say that McCain/Palin are tried and true representatives of the first trend, illness, and that Obama/Biden represent the second trend, health and wellness. Since 1968, the American electorate have voted for illness 7 times in the last 10 presidential elections. Will they do so again? Do they REALLY want McCain/Palin? If yes, then we are ALL in a very SERIOUS world of hurt! We shall see. The record thus far is not conducive to an optimistic outlook for advocates of democracy and literacy.
t

Here is something that should cause a lot of introspection by every voter in America.

*"545 People By Charlie Reese"*

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, The Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president and nine Supreme Court justices - 545 human beings out of the 300 million - are directly, legally, morally and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered but private central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman or a president to do one cotton-picking thing.

I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.

What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.

The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes.

Who is the speaker of the House? She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want.

If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts - of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people.

When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ.

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power.

Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like 'the economy,' 'inflation' or 'politics' that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses - provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel.

And keep in mind this Congress only worked 93 days last year! The shortest season in history and at a time when we are at war and the economy is tumbling!

GOP= Grossly Overated Propaganda, Palin has shown her true colors and they are not red, white, and blue. McCain has gotten so desperate he can't even run an honest campaign. Shame on the both of them, and some Americans actually want these hate mongering people to have the "button" close at hand, God help us all if that happens.

I am cautiously optimistic that Obama-Biden will win, and I am ecstatic that on "Meet The Press," no less a Republican than Colin Powell has endorsed Barack Obama. The ugliness of the McCain-Palin campaign, as well as the unsuitable pick of Sarah Palin as the Republican VP nominee, played huge roles in his final decision.

He has been a long-time friend of John McCain, but he could not in good conscience endorse this friend, who is only the latest symbol of what is wrong with the Republican Party with its base appeals to racism, xenophobia, and the "unworthy" people that Obama is supposed to want to "spread the wealth to" at our expense.

This is one year that I hope people don't fall for the smear tactics and character assassination. The focus on Obama's past associations has proven to be pointless and counter-productive. Ayers' actions occurred when Obama was a child, and Obama has denounced the actions. If he is to be condemned for this tenuous association, then all Chicago politicians--Republicans included--should be painted with the same brush. If Rev. Wright is fair game, then so is the Kenyan minister who prayed over Sarah Palin to ward off witches, not to mention the Troopergate investigation or the First Dude's affiliation with the secessionist
Alaska Independence Party. We could also go on and on with McCain's Keating Five episode and his association with Watergate criminal G. Gordon Liddy.

Obama-Biden have offered many substantial policies ad nauseum, but all McCain-Palin seem to do is attack, attack , attack. They talk a lot more about Obama than what they plan to do for the country other than play on divisions.