1.5 months

[Michael Tee]

The Democrats have 1.5 months left to clinch the advantage which I believe they now enjoy.

Palin scares more people than she energizes, IMHO.  She's basically a man in drag - - abandons a newborn Down syndrome baby to pursue big-time politics, NRA moose hunter, anti-women's rights and some really scary abortion positions.  Sarah Barracuda for sure.  But after 8 years of war-mongering, who really wants a barracuda one heartbeat away from the Presidency, or the Presidency in the hands of a senile old fool whose idea of music is "Bomb bomb Iran?"

Only the politics of fear can drive the electorate into the arms of these two nightmarish figures.  But they're kinda caught in the lies of their own "the surge succeeded" bullshit.  "War's over, we won!" doesn't really do much for the Politics of Fear.

Here's what the Democrats have to do to win this:  hit hard at McCain's age, his impulsiveness, his phony "torture" record.  Obama can say for the record what a great American McCain is, what sacrifices blah blah blah, but SOMEBODY has got to challenge the little weasel's phony credentials.  He was never tortured, can't produce a single credible witness to his torture and his own jailer , who otherwise admires the man, confirms that he was never  tortured.

Secondly:  if his "character," (valiant soldier, etc.) is in issue, because he MADE it an issue, then take a good long look at ALL his character.  We hear a lot about "personal narratives" so let's make sure everybody KNOWS McCain's "personal narrative," especially where he returns to the wife who waited for him while he was in jail, lies to her, cheats on her and divorces her for a multimillionaire addict and former model.  Keep hitting on that - - the "family values" crowd is dumb as shit, so a lot of repetition is needed, but they WILL get the message  Also, as a side-bar to the character issue, highlight the flip-flops, especially in a way that will resonate with the Christian right:  Loathes the Christian ("agents of intolerance") right, then chases after their endorsements like a bitch in heat; pro-amnesty, anti-amnesty; anti-torture, pro-torture; anti-tax cuts, pro-tax cuts.  CHARACTER?  He'll promise anything to anyone to get elected and change on a dime.

Palin - - Sarah Palin is the gift that gives on giving.  Even if no new scandals come out of the woodwork (not very likely) enough are already out to keep Democrats busy till  election day.  Her "heartbeat away" status serves the double function of scaring the bejesus out of every sane, normal voter in the country and highlights McCain's own tenuous purchase on life, hid doddering senility and the fact that SHE, the Mayor of Wassilla, is likely to be the one who finishes up the next Presidential term.   The Troopergate scandal (which has to be backgrounded, particularly so that the circumstances of the stock Republican justification, "He tased his own step-son," are put into context and the abuse of power becomes crystal clear) can be emphasized, but it's probably not likely to be a fatal wound.  Palin's relationship with indicted Senator Ted Stevens and his associates need to be investigated thoroughly, but the limited time available till Election Day make a pay-off from that quarter a long shot.  Highlighting her right-wing extremist views on women's right to choose and the kind of Supreme Court that you're likely to end up with from her and McCain are good, angry fingers on the red button are even better.

[Religious Dick]

[Xavier_Onassis]

I think McCain was married THREE times, wasn't he?

Great family values there.

[sirs]

and, of course if he loses, it's because of American rampant racism and/or the GOP stole another one.....right?

[Michael Tee]

Racism's pretty much of a subterranean force, it's hard to measure its strength.  It's possible if Obama loses, we'll never know how much racism contributed to the loss.

I'd say Obama has already contributed towards a possible loss by diluting his brand.  Picking Biden was the most egregious example of that, and Biden has yet to prove that he can earn his keep on the ticket.

I'd say McCain is vulnerable on the age issue, on "family values" and on his fake "hero" status.  It takes real guts to go after him on the third issue, but the first two should be easy, and yet nothing much is going on in any of the three categories and time is running out.  The problem here is that McCain is pretty much allowed free rein in defining himself and nobody is challenging this.  The "maverick" brand being a case in point.  He's about as much of a "maverick" as any other Republican (only Ron Paul really deserves the name) and yet even that is rarely challenged.

There's a fantastic opportunity here to attack from the bottom of the ticket, Sarah Barracuda's being the finger that nobody should want anywhere near the red button.  Woman is deranged.  She's a hillbilly.  The attempts to justify her qualifications as C-in-C were patently absurd.  Meet the new C - in - C, Miss Almost Alaska, the former Mayor of Walsilla Alaska, mother of five, including one pregnant 17-year-old and one Down syndrome newborn, who apparently won't require a hell of a lot of attention from anyone over the next few years.  This thing is a fucking God-send, yet where is the solid wall of merciless attacks?

If Obama loses, could be he'll have only himself to blame.  Where's the piss?  Where's the vinegar?

[Plane]

Racism's pretty much of a subterranean force, it's hard to measure its strength.  It's possible if Obama loses, we'll never know how much racism contributed to the loss.

I'd say Obama has already contributed towards a possible loss by diluting his brand.  Picking Biden was the most egregious example of that, and Biden has yet to prove that he can earn his keep on the ticket.

I'd say McCain is vulnerable on the age issue, on "family values" and on his fake "hero" status.  It takes real guts to go after him on the third issue, but the first two should be easy, and yet nothing much is going on in any of the three categories and time is running out.  The problem here is that McCain is pretty much allowed free rein in defining himself and nobody is challenging this.  The "maverick" brand being a case in point.  He's about as much of a "maverick" as any other Republican (only Ron Paul really deserves the name) and yet even that is rarely challenged.

There's a fantastic opportunity here to attack from the bottom of the ticket, Sarah Barracuda's being the finger that nobody should want anywhere near the red button.  Woman is deranged.  She's a hillbilly.  The attempts to justify her qualifications as C-in-C were patently absurd.  Meet the new C - in - C, Miss Almost Alaska, the former Mayor of Walsilla Alaska, mother of five, including one pregnant 17-year-old and one Down syndrome newborn, who apparently won't require a hell of a lot of attention from anyone over the next few years.  This thing is a fucking God-send, yet where is the solid wall of merciless attacks?

If Obama loses, could be he'll have only himself to blame.  Where's the piss?  Where's the vinegar?

You do not agree with BHO that the children should be off limits?

The mercyless attacks you propose seem like a great thing to me , so poorly connected to the facts as they are , the sympathy gained would be tremendous.

But attacks on the Kids are supposed to be beyond the pale and intolerable , even for the boomerang effect that would surely crush the BHO canadacy I can't want the kids to become "fair game" for political mudslinging. 

[Amianthus]

mother of five, including one pregnant 17-year-old and one Down syndrome newborn, who apparently won't require a hell of a lot of attention from anyone over the next few years.

Guess Obama's kids are self-sufficient, huh? After all, both of their parents work.

[Michael Tee]

<<You do not agree with BHO that the children should be off limits?>>

One time I really thought the military records of men who had put their lives at risk should be off limits, but if Kerry's three purple hearts aren't off limits, nothing is off limits.  In this case, anyway, it isn't the kids who are under attack but the parents.

<<The mercyless attacks you propose seem like a great thing to me , so poorly connected to the facts as they are , the sympathy gained would be tremendous.>>

Not how it works in real life.  Look at Swift-Boating, the overall effect was negative, even though the charges were bullshit.

<<But attacks on the Kids are supposed to be beyond the pale and intolerable , even for the boomerang effect that would surely crush the BHO canadacy I can't want the kids to become "fair game" for political mudslinging.>>

Palin sacrificed her pregnant daughter's right to privacy for her own political ambition.  PLEASE don't tell me she did it for her country because no one but she was qualified to hold this position.   And it's not the baby who's being criticized, it's the abandoning mother.

[Michael Tee]

<<Guess Obama's kids are self-sufficient, huh? After all, both of their parents work.>>

A good friend of ours is the mother of a Down syndrome child, and through her we met several other parents in the same boat.

You have no idea, as we had none, of the tremendous job it is to be a mother to such a child.  It's a constant battle, especially when there are other kids in the family. 

It's impossible to equate the burdens of parenthood of two normal healthy girls with parenthood of a family of children which includes one Down syndrome child.

Palin is needed at home a lot more than Sen. and Mrs. Obama.

[Amianthus]

You have no idea, as we had none, of the tremendous job it is to be a mother to such a child.  It's a constant battle, especially when there are other kids in the family. 

And her husband is planning on becoming a stay at home dad if she's elected. After all, he's not gonna commute from the Naval Observatory to Alaska anyway.

Or do both parents stay at home in your friend's family?

BTW, I have some friends who are raising 2 children with Down's. One is theirs, another is adopted.

[Plane]

<<You do not agree with BHO that the children should be off limits?>>

One time I really thought the military records of men who had put their lives at risk should be off limits, but if Kerry's three purple hearts aren't off limits, nothing is off limits.  In this case, anyway, it isn't the kids who are under attack but the parents.

<<The mercyless attacks you propose seem like a great thing to me , so poorly connected to the facts as they are , the sympathy gained would be tremendous.>>

Not how it works in real life.  Look at Swift-Boating, the overall effect was negative, even though the charges were bullshit.

<<But attacks on the Kids are supposed to be beyond the pale and intolerable , even for the boomerang effect that would surely crush the BHO canadacy I can't want the kids to become "fair game" for political mudslinging.>>

Palin sacrificed her pregnant daughter's right to privacy for her own political ambition.  PLEASE don't tell me she did it for her country because no one but she was qualified to hold this position.  And it's not the baby who's being criticized, it's the abandoning mother.

No .

"Ole Hickory" General Andrew Jackson ran for president and his opponents thouroughly examined his war record , including the incident in which he hung deserters. A Canadates military record has never been "off limits" I do not know where you got that idea.

You are as free as anyone to question John McCain's history including his military record , but if the accusations seem ridiculous I will be very happy to see them appled in a ham fisted way.

John Kerry successfully proved that SOME of the things he was accused of were not necessarily so , but some of the things he was accused of were proven , including that he was making some of his experiences up from his imagination , it doesnot take much of that to spoil credibility.

  I have been reading John McCain's memoir "Faith of my Fathers" in which he quite frankly admits that not everyone in the Navy was pleased with him , there is plenty of money for this project ,so,,... good hunting to you, it will not be unprecedented to examine a candidates service record as you suppose , but unlike you I suppose that there is already a frantic effort to find something useable as slime.


If there is so little slime available on the candidates that the slime slingers must resort to public ridicule of Children , there must be very little slime indeed on the candidates.


I abjure you from attacks on children , it isn't worthwile for either side.

[Michael Tee]

<<[Jackson's] opponents thouroughly examined his war record . . .  A Canadates military record has never been "off limits" I do not know where you got that idea.>>

Probably from the fact that it hasn't been done for 150 years.

<<John Kerry successfully proved that SOME of the things he was accused of were not necessarily so , but some of the things he was accused of were proven , including that he was making some of his experiences up from his imagination , it doesnot take much of that to spoil credibility.>>

They attacked his entitlement to his medals and they proved nothing.

<<I have been reading John McCain's memoir "Faith of my Fathers" in which he quite frankly admits that not everyone in the Navy was pleased with him , there is plenty of money for this project , good hunting it will not be unprecedented to examine a candidates service record as you suppose , but unlike you I suppose that there is already a frantic effort to find something useable as slime.>>

You're wrong, they already know he broadcast for the Vietnamese and none of this has ever been shown in this campaign.  They've got the guy's jailer who denies his phony "torture" claims, and this is pretty much dead and buried.

<<I abjure you from attacks on children , it isn't worthwile for either side.>>

The attacks are on the parent, she's just hiding behind the children she obviously doesn't give a shit about.  Her daughter, Bristol, apparently got zero guidance, direction or discipline from this woman and her newborn Down syndrome baby, Trig, is gonna have to grow up largely without the sustaining presence of a mother in his life.  I think it's legitimate criticism of the candidate - - if she's gonna preach the "Family Values" talk, she damn well better walk the "Family Values" walk.

[sirs]

LOL   Priceless

[Plane]

They attacked his entitlement to his medals and they proved nothing.

All right I suppose , though I do not know what the three wounds were , I don't realy want to take his purple hearts from him.

But the Story he told of being on Cambodian waters on Christmas , of haveing a hat given him by a CIA agent , these tales turned out to be fables he made up.

What were the three wounds by the way , not that it matters , but if it did matter John McCain had several wounds so if it matters it matters the same for John as John.

[Michael Tee]

<<But the Story he told of being on Cambodian waters on Christmas , of haveing a hat given him by a CIA agent , these tales turned out to be fables he made up.>>

BFD.  The purple hearts were the real deal.  Three times he put himself in a position where a few inches of trajectory would have made the difference between him living and dying and he gets called a liar over it?  Shame on the whole fucking bunch of you.  And don't tell me he was a war criminal, YOU don't call him that , and YOU don't think he was - - this is how YOU treat a guy who put his life on the line for what you considered a worthy cause.

<<What were the three wounds by the way , not that it matters , but if it did matter John McCain had several wounds so if it matters it matters the same for John as John.>>

McCain's wounds aren't in issue, his phony "torture" claims are.