Jack & Jill Politics

WTF?? Who thought this was a good idea??

Obama to Appear on Fox on Thursday Night
By JEFF ZELENY
CHICAGO — Before Senator John McCain delivers his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, Senator Barack Obama will make a marquee appearance of his own.

Call it counter-intuitive. He will appear on “The O’Reilly Factor” on Fox News Channel.

For Mr. Obama, it will be the first time in his presidential candidacy that he’s on Bill O’Reilly’s prime-time program. The appearance is intended to put Mr. Obama before a conservative audience, one week after drawing 40 million TV viewers at his own acceptance speech.

Mr. Obama has had a strained history with the network, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch. Is this a sign of burying the hatchet or simply politically smart programming? Stay tuned.

*clutching my pearls*

Um...this is...yeah...uh...

Well, I'll be watching despite my decision to protest O'Reilly.

Anybody watching the convention? The contest winner had a nice essay on what the American flag means to her. It was well written and thourough, and a tear-jerker. It reminded me something we used to do back in the day.

*ahem* ...way back in the day...

... but, hey, they're trying to continue a formula that has worked for them in the past. I can't knock 'em for that.

It is clever of the convention turn their whole theme into service. Very clever, and it enables them to get all of their talking points covered. I'm amused at how hard they are trying to endear Cindy McCain to everyone. She's even trying to do the fashion thing. It comes off more Nancy Reagan than Jackie O. but she still looks really nice. I doubt White House Black Market will have a McCain Dress (like the Obama Dress, the one Michelle wore on The View. I went to WHBM and they called it the Obama Dress, I just about started dancing. We're moving up, y'all!!), but she's doing fine in her own right.

I'm pro-adoption (I look forward to adopting kids when I settle down), so I like the piece they have on that. Yes, the speech came off a little "Look at the white folks save the world", but the overall message was good.

Ok there, I think I did a positive post. I was watching trying to make sure I said something nice. But I'm getting a little nauseous from the hypocrisy and fake-ness overload. So I'm done for the night, I've done my duty of trying to be a well-informed citizen. I do want to turn back the TV when Bush comes on, I want to see if they actually clap for him, lol! Awk.Ward.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2008/09...

McCain Manager: 'This Election is Not About Issues'
Rick Davis, campaign manager for John McCain's presidential bid, insisted that the presidential race will be decided more over personalities than issues during an interview with Post editors this morning.

"This election is not about issues," said Davis. "This election is about a composite view of what people take away from these candidates."

Obama hit 50% for first time in Gallup daily tracking.

Obama 50%
McCain 42%

Palin seems to be doing just fine.

America's Future: Sarah Palin. Sheesh!! Had to go to the second page to find the “Tuesday Open Thread.” The Front Page is littered with P.D.S. posts, which reflect how worried Obama and his supporters are about Sara.

Oh, I don't think anyone is really worried. I know I'm not. Well, I take that back- I'm worried that they may get rid of her too quickly. I want her to stick around long enough to inflict a really substantial amount of damage on the McCain campaign.

I think you see all those posts on Palin because...well, there's just too much low-hanging fruit there to take advantage of:)).

Plantsmantx: LOL!! :>) :>) Now where is my (-) points button?? :>) :>)

In case you didn't realize it - your P.D.S. is showing...

From Alter Net:

Five Reasons The WORLD Wants Obama

http://www.alternet.org/election08/96838/five_r...

YES WE CAN!! SI SE PUEDE!! :>) :>) :>)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY

Donna Brazile Hit by Pepper Spray
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008...

By Holly Watt
ST. PAUL -- Donna Brazile was hit by pepper spray as she walked to the Xcel Center at the start of the Republican Convention here.

The well-known Democratic pundit and strategist confirmed the incident, but declined to comment further. Protests outside the convention center led to 56 arrests earlier in the day.

Brazile is the Chair of the Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute and was a delegate at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Originally from New Orleans, La., Brazile has worked on several presidential campaigns and was the campaign manager for Al Gore in 2000. She frequently appears on CNN as a political commentator.

VIDEO>> McCain Refuses To Meet With Anti-War Iraq Veterans
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-uptake/mccain...

Repubs want to make this election about abortion, teen pregnancy and choice to invigorate the religious right. Obama wants this to be about the econony. What should Obama do? Should he pound at McCain/Palin for their extreme views, or pound away at the Economy? Can he do both?
------------------------------------
McCain Fought Teen Pregnancy Programs
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/mccain...

WASHINGTON — Republican John McCain, whose running mate disclosed that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, has opposed proposals to spend federal money on teen-pregnancy prevention programs and voted to require poor teen mothers to stay in school or lose their benefits.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's announcement Monday about her daughter Bristol was aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin's youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter's. Palin said her daughter intends to raise her child and marry the baby's father, identified in news reports as Levi Johnston, 18, of Wasilla, a high school hockey player whom Bristol has dated for about one year. The baby is due in late December.</blocquote>

*********VIDEO*************

POW: John McCain, not fit to lead!!!
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=GLWEDMLmjKk

Do you want to go back to the dark ages, America? No other region - besides extreme Muslim countries - have these extreme views on sex education, contraception and choice, women's rights. Do you aspire to be like an ignorant, backward theocracy?
------------------------

Juno From Juneau: A Video Report From The RNC Floor On Palin's Problem
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/max-blumenthal/ju...

Republican abstinence-only policies have been disastrous for teens across the country. A 2007 study by the Government Accountability Office found no evidence that the Bush administration's abstinence education programs, including those that have falsely claimed that AIDS can be transmitted through sweat and tears, have demonstrated any effectiveness. Could Bristol Palin have benefited from the sex education and contraceptives the GOP seeks to deny to public school students?

Riddle me this:

McCain has had SIX months to carefully vet and select a VP. The country knew that it would either be Obama or H. Clinton as the Democratic nominee, so McCain had SIX (6) months to compile a list and determine who would be the best running mate for him under any circumstance. Why is it being reported that McCain had to scramble for a VP running mate after not getting his way with either Lieberman or Ridge?

Shouldn't McCain have known that Lieberman wasn't going to fly with the GOP? Or Ridge?

I repeat again, McCain had SIX months to evaluate people and figure out who he wanted or acceptable alternatives. Why did he waste SIX months of vetting time and what does that tell us about his judgement and decision making skills?

Town: U R oh so on point!! :>)

You have given CREDIBILITY to the descriptors of "McAncient" - C-O-N-F-U-S-E-D and DAZED!! :>) :>) If it takes THAT LONG to make a decision, what about decisions that may involve MILITARY INVOLVEMENT???

Nawwww! He's doesn't employ his "gray matter" in those decisions. It's all REFLEX!! "Let's fight", says the WAR-MONGER!!! :>) :>) :>)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/02/palins...

McCain campaign trying to stop Palin October Surprise.

The investigation on Troopergate will release its findings on October 31, and the McCain campaign is putting pressure on the Alaska legislature to delay the release.

More of the same.

Even she's George W. Bush. Above the law. Wants her scandals to be investigated by those she appoints.

She's corruption personified.

To vote for the Republican ticket is to commit suicide.

LMAO!!!!
Congrats JJP!!! You have been picked as one of the top ten sites by the GOP Chief Strategist for Blogger Hi-jinks and TomFoolery to spread as many talking points as possible in the wake of Sarahgate!! As a recipient of this honor, you will be infested with trolls galore! But not your average trolls, oh no...they will perpetrate as if they have "facts" and "reason", but they won't have either!! However, the prize isn't in their points, its in their PRESENCE!! Just them being on your site is proof positive that you DO make a difference!!!

Again, congrats and GOD SPEED!!

thanks Miranda. We'll do our best.

welcome, trolls!

Miranda: LOL! :>) :>)

I think that the WORDS in this clip are relevant:

HERE WE COME, walking down the street; YOU NEVER KNOW where/when we're going to show up!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWea5rB7XlY&feat...
Hey! Hey! We're The Monkees

Barack breaks 50% in Rasmussen's daily tracking poll.

Rasmussen. Which oversamples Republicans in all their polling.

Obama 51%
McCain 45%

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/...

Love it.

Excerpt of Obama's Milwaukee speech:

http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/obam...

Guys, The double standard that is being applied to McBush is killing me and I cannot seem to find the right words to express it, so I'll just be quiet. I "de-lurked", however, to ask: What's with the GOP trolls up in here? Jeez, don't they realize by now that this is not fertile ground for their propaganda? Idiots!

T.

I think it has a lot to do with the great press JJP has been getting.

Just ignore them. I am trying to.

Yep, its a compliment to the JJP bloggers!! They are trying to drown them out with these asanine posts defending Gomer John and Sarah Clampett!!

Bill Kristol:

McCain aides whose judgment I trust are impressed by Sarah Palin. One was particularly amused by this exchange: A nervous young McCain staffer took it upon himself to explain to Palin the facts of life in a national campaign, the intense scrutiny she'd be under from the media, the viciousness of the assault that she'd be facing, etc.:

Palin: "Thanks for the warning. By the way, do you know what they say the difference is between a hockey mom and a Pit Bull?"

McCain aide: "No, Governor."

Palin: "A hockey mom wears lipstick."

The surge is working:

http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20080901faessay87...

I tend to trust this analysis because it's (a) from the Brookings Institution and (b) I once worked on a project of Stephen Biddle's and have deep respect for his work (among his key ideas: rejecting Rumsfeld/Cheney's theory of a "Revolution in Military Affairs," as Afghanistan and Iraq have both borne out).

This is not to be a downer, but to point out that "conditions on the ground have changed" and the Iraq war may slowly morph in the next few months. Obama is still right on the big issue -- should we have gone to war in Iraq in the first place -- even if McCain was right on the small one.

Also, with oil prices dropping, gasoline will eventually follow. What that means in terms of how Americans feel about the economy is hard to speculate -- it was the working poor, not the middle class, that was hardest-hit by gas prices, which have been more symbolic of a larger stagnating economy than a direct threat to middle American wallets. But, 3 months is still a long time for things to change, not even counting an October surprise.

(All this means for me is to take nothing for granted and to work as hard as I can. I'll be doorknocking in NH next weekend).

So Obama should take potshots at the Palin family for Bristol's pregnancy?

I disagree. He should take the high road on this, and let the tabloid media chew up Sarah Palin and spit her out. If he or anyone connected to his campaign attempt to, think about or actually dig at Sarah Palin it will backfire on Obama.

Obama's doing the right thing, giving McCain/Palin the rope in which to hang themselves. Obama and his camp don't need to touch this thing at all.

Well, no. That is not what I wrote.

My point is the vexing decision we all have to make as Black professionals everyday.

You want to have broad appeal to get your message through and play the game....but you can't sell yourself short and believe the hype so much that you forget all that was possible to get to that point.

A simple point of:

'Yes, her family is off-limits, but at the crux of my message of family values and the importance of a supportive family, as Palin has done, race has no bounds.'

A simple way to make his point about taking the high road, put the media on blast for blowing out of proportion the 'Black issue' of unwed teenage mothers, AND show his base that he still has some connection to that common ground.

Absolutely take the high road: he was making inroads with the evangelical Christians and it's essential to his success, and the future of our battle to end poverty and other injustices, that we win over as many of the evangelicals as we can. We can't win this alone.

"But what the people heard instead, people of every creed and color, from every walk of life, is that in America, our destiny is inextricably linked. That together, our dreams can be one."

Eugene Robinson nails it:

Has anyone noticed that Sarah Palin's central claim to political fame is a fraud? She represents herself as a fiscal conservative who abhors pork-barrel projects and said no thanks to the "Bridge to Nowhere" -- a $398 million span that would have linked Ketchikan, Alaska, to its airport across the Tongass Narrows. But as mayor of Wasilla (pop. 9,780), she hired a Washington lobbyist to bring home the bacon. And as a candidate for governor just two years ago, she supported both the Ketchikan bridge and the congressional earmark that would have paid most of its cost.

I know, we're not supposed to pay attention to such inconvenient details. We're supposed to be dazzled by how unaffected she is, how plain-spoken, how "genuine."

(...)

We learned last week that John McCain is not who he is -- not, at least, who he claims to be. The steady, straight-talking, country-first statesman his campaign has been selling is a fictional character. The real McCain is either alarmingly cynical or dangerously reckless.

(...)

You will also recall that McCain and his supporters have been lecturing us about the grave and urgent dangers our country faces -- Islamic fundamentalism, the resurgence of Russia and other geopolitical threats. In a menacing world, McCain says, he will keep America safe.
So, at 72 and with a history of cancer, how could McCain choose a vice presidential nominee who has, let's face it, zero experience in foreign affairs? Being the nominal commander in chief of the Alaska National Guard doesn't count, unless you think Vladimir Putin is about to order an invasion across the Bering Strait

(...)

I have my doubts about the other objective of McCain's gambit: to win the votes of blue-collar women who supported Hillary Clinton. For one thing, these voters disagree sharply with Palin on most of the issues. For another, initial indications are that many women were insulted at the notion that they would automatically swoon over any candidate who happened to have two "X" chromosomes. Republicans tend to have a comically simplistic view of how "identity politics" works. They should recall how African Americans reacted when Clarence Thomas was named to the Supreme Court.

(...)

The other thing we learned about McCain is that he is willing to take an enormous gamble based on limited information. He only met Palin once before summoning her for a final interview. He realized he needed to shake up the presidential race, and that's what he did. But we are reminded, if we did not realize it before, that the three things not to expect from a McCain presidency are caution, prudence and a willingness to always put the nation's interests above his own.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/ar...

Craig, you make valid points. But if Sarah Palin's past positions qualify her as a fraud, what does that say about Obama and FISA, Public Financing, Iran, Jersualem, and the myriad of statements that are at best described as 'incinsistent,'

What about Palin's other examples where she did fight against her own party to root out corruption? Are those to be dimissed because as mayor she hired a lobbyist?

Then what are we to make of Barack Obama's inability to reform Illinois schools and fight machine politics in Chicago. Why should we believe that he will bring any meaningful reform to Washington whene he has been shown to reward political allies with not only 'pork' but as Emil Jones would desribe it as, 'steak.'

Again, compaing Palin and Obama is a slippery slope that raises more questions about Obama than it does about McCain.

Can you even read?

These are not my points. They belong to the writer of the column.

(And by they way, I know you're the same snake that goes by the name 's' but I responded to you anyway. Just to let you know I see you.)

Also, what about the Washington Post report last week that Sen. Obama pushed for $3.4 million in earmarks for a lobbyist who just happened to be Sen. Biden's son?

One final thought.

Regardless of who the running-mate is, voters eventually focus on the top of the tickets when making their choice. Attacks on Palin will gain Obama nothing, and could cost them significant goodwill among the middle-class voters he needs to woo.

While many harped on about Dan Qualye's inexperience, he did in fact, become the VP of the USA.

Did you know that 40 million people watched the DNC? More than the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, more than the Oscars and more watched than the finale of American Idol. And what are you doing? You're talking to a bunch of Obama supporters and you think we're worried. hahahahahah!

Ture...and Barack Obama is not Michael Dukasis. John McCain is an old man with poor judgement that would rather win this race than put the country and its interest firsts. His first executive decision is Sarah Palin....nuff said.

I am new to this blog. It appears to me the Republlicans are running a game here. They have targeted blogs w trolls to counter the blogs anti Republican point of view. They use them in a rolling fashion so as to keep their point of view "fresh." 99% honest is clearly the newest troll I've seen here.

i generally consider myself rather moderate but to the degree that you've actually read any of the rather limited commentary i've left on the site, i don't think it would fall into "troll" status.

They are storming up on here like soldiers trying to earn their McCain Points and stifling the laughter as they promote the idea that Sarah Palin is remotely qualified to be VP.

I ask this:

Why not pick Condoleezza Rice?


She's black and she's a woman. That quells the "He's black" argument right there as well as appeals to women. She has foreign policy experience, no one can deny that. Secretary of State, National Security Advisor. Poised, polished and well spoken. Yes, she is part of the big Iraq situation but McCain promises to continue the Iraq situation as well as get us into to more situations so that shouldn't have been a problem. And Condoleezza wouldn't have been that hard to vet.

Oh? Say what? She's black?


And unmarried?


And not who the religious right would pick?

Ok.

Condi Rice said repeatedly that she was not interested in the job.

Condi Rice, in the eyes of the left, forever tied to the 'failed policies of the Bush administration?' John McCain pushed for the surge. The surge is working. We are winning in Iraq and we will leave when the conditions on the ground merit withdrawl.

Need I say more.

Yesterday, it was annouced the 500th U.S. servicemember died in Afghanistan, after what has become a resurgence of violence and the Taliban. John McCain, in 2003, said that we could "muddle through" Afghanistan and proclaimed he was more concerned about Iraq----but even still today, there has been no evidence of WMD's, only excuses by Bush and his supporters that there was "faulty intelligence."

By the way, what is the threshold of victory that must be measured in order for the troops to leave? Is it until the Iraqi Oil Law is solidified? Do you even know what that is?

EVERYONE says they're not interested in the job. If he had asked she would have taken it.

Again, why not Condoleezza Rice? John McCain thinks the surge is working, thinks our current foreign policy implemented under President Bush is the correct course of action. Condoleezza Rice is part of that, she has the experience, foreign policy knowledge, is well spoken, would be a loyal trooper for McCain.

Why not Condoleezza Rice?

Why is the fact that Palin gave birth to her son relevant? i didn't realize we gave rewards to people for doing pretty standard things. obviously everyone who finds out they have a child with a disability does not choose to abort it or else we would not have those special and beautiful children in our world. yes some people may make a decision otherwise, but some people also make that decision regardless of disability and more on circumstance. i understand her positions on abortion but i dont see why this decision is constantly invoked by MSM as some badge of honor for her...am i being insensitive? i mean if you dont believe in abortion, how is it significant that you did not choose to have an abortion?

also i love the hypocrisy of the cable news, where they say it is wrong to discuss Palin's daughters pregnancy because children are off limits but they have this discussion while talking about her daughter's pregnancy and running a banner along the bottom that says "Palin's 17 year old daughter is pregnant"

They are trying to put a positive spin on the fact that although her supposed child would be born with Down's Syndrome she STILL chose to have the child. There is very little
positive that can be said about her, so they must STRESS whatever they do have!

Palin's decision to give a speech and then board an airliner after her water broke (by her own admission) is proof of errant judgement. No obstetrician in the world would advise it unless the woman was being transported in a life flight helicopter to get to a speciliazed facility in record time. Her water broke and she is so "determined" that she gives the speech, gets on a 9 hour flight, the airline crew is oblivious to ANY of this, she and her husband land in Anchorage and then promptly BYPASS 2 hospitals (both with neonatal intensive care units) so they can drive an hour away to Wasilla for her to give birth to a 6 pound special needs baby at 36 weeks that she proudly takes pictures with when she returns to work 3 days later? What turnip truck did you just fall off of? I'd like to know because turnips are my favorite greens and I could really use a batch to cook up on Sunday.

Miranda,
On 2nd thought, as reckless as Palin was with this child, it almost seems as though she was hoping something would go wrong. As sad as that may be,
that would help to explain why she had to get away and return to work on the 3rd
day. It also explains why no one knew about the baby for 7 months. This may actually be what is going on here and she can NEVER admit that.

i wasn't referring to the circumstances of the birth, i think thats perfectly relevant and as you noted goes to a question of judgment. my musing was more to why one of the republican talking points for gov palin has been "and she gave birth to her son"

Rolling on the floor.

What would the response be if Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and his wife Michelle had a pregnant unmarried teenage daughter?

I’d like to think that most people would leave it alone. Since that’s obviously not happening with Bristol Palin, then the next answer would depend on what the Obamas did about the pregnancy. If the hypothetical daughter chose to keep the baby or put the child up for adoption, they would get lauded for their response. If she had an abortion, it would stir up a hornet’s nest of reactions across the spectrum and turn into a political football.

The fact that a family has an unplanned teen pregnancy really isn’t that significant. What matters is how they handle it. In a way, I’d reject the framing of that question, because unless the Obamas locked their teenagers in dungeons, the pregnancy doesn’t reflect on the parents at all.

Would Sara Palin, given her breadth of experience, history, views and issues, been selected by Sen. John McCain as his running mate if she were a man?

Views and issues? Absolutely, as well as “history”; it was her track record on reform that McCain most wanted on the ticket. On the experience question, allow me to respond with another question, and let’s see if people still want to play the Identity Politics game. Why did the Democrats nominate Barack Obama for the Presidency with only three years in the Senate, seven years in the Illinois legislature, with no executive, military, foreign-policy, or private-sector experience at all, and no legislative track record at any level?

That will never happen. Michelle watches the children closely and the Obamas have taught them well. Michelle surely wouldn't fly and drive around after her water broke she loves her children far too much to risk their lives.

Exactly,

Joe Scarborough and his ditzy side kick have spent the past three hours bemoaning the fact that the MSM and bloggers are "attacking" a 17 year old girl, yet they keep bringing up the fact that this young girl is pregnant, every 15 minutes or so.

Then, they keep alluding to "some other candidates" children having grave problems as well ... as if daring people to try and guess (or find out) who. I simply find the hypocrisy totally hilarious.

Malia and Sasha has been slandered by the press, conservative and liberal bloggers. I've seen it online with my own eyes. During the primaries, Malia and Sasha were targeted as being too dark ... and lacking decorum.

Where was the outrage ... hmm ... of course nowhere to be seen. Where was the outrage when certain elements of the MSM are disrespecting Michelle Obama, by Referring to her on National television as a "baby's Mama"?

Now Joe has argued that Sarah Palin's position is NOT to outlaw abortion *smirks* and now although he's so outraged about the "outing" of children, now he is trying to out somebody else's son, he's such a hypocrite, such a fucken hypocrite.

Where have Malia and Sasha been slandered? If so, it has not made it into the MSM.

If they were slandered, who does this reflect poorly on...the innocent children or the perpetrators of the smears?

The Palin's were compelled to bring a 'family matter' into the public sphere to try and dispel the blatantly FALSE accusations that Trig is Bristol's son. Lies that were( and still are) being pushed and repeated on left-wing blogs.

Sarah Palin favors overturning Roe vs. Wade. If Roe vs, Wade were, in fact, overturned, abortion in this country would not be outlawed. Restrictions on abortions would be controlled by the states. In spite of all your fear-mongering, there is little truth to support the meme that 'abortion would be outlawed' if Roe vs. Wade were overturned.

Perhaps you might want to think about what your comments do to your own credibility?

My credibility is perfectly in tact, yours ... I'm not so sure about. I love the way you cherry pick what you would like to respond to ... checking your Republican talking points list, perhaps?

I will tell you a clear instance of Malia and Sasha being questioned in the MSM and that was during, the birthday party interview. The right (and some dodgy lefties) were having a field day.

I will be happy to dig up that discussion I came across about Malia and Sasha's skin tone and when I do, I'll be sure to send it directly to you.

Now, do you have even an iota of guts to address the other topics I brought up?

Yes, it was Palin's "choice" to disclose her daughter's pregnancy. It surely was not a outing by any news organization or blog. Notice I did not state anything about Sarah's baby ... you did. If it's untrue, then why even bring it up? Why not dismiss it and move forward ... after all, people (on your side) are still calling the Obama's secret Muslims, terrorists and America haters ... hmm.

What can you do when ridiculous charges are leveraged at you? State they are false, set the record straight and move on. Palin outing her daughter, doesn't seem like a very smart answer to internet rumors about the baby.

On her abortion stance ... hmm, looks like you've been really studying those talking points ... well ...

Yes it would become a State by State issue if Roe V Wade is overturned. However, Palin's position is she feels abortion should be outlawed ... period, especially, in her state of Alaska.

Then as a State by State issue, which will leave things in total chaos, those with money can simply go to another state where abortion is legal, but those without, will fall prey to the con artists and black market, back alley abortionists, which will lead to serious health risks which could most definitely include death of both the fetus' and women.

So once again, the Conservative movement will prove itself to be the party for the rich, because the RICH will still be getting abortions while poor women (which some studies show are sometimes more likely to be in a situation where they can be victimized) will not have access to them.

In my opinion, no one should have the right to make that kind of decision over another person's body and reproductive choices. My daughter and I, should not be told by the government that if a man rapes us, we have no choice but to deliver that fetus.

Where the conservative movement is flawed on this issue, is that, they love to dictate to women what they should do with their bodies, but when a baby comes in the world, it's, "you're on your own."

No health care to deal with the emotional trauma of carrying a rapists child ... too bad, so sad.

No money to provide properly for a baby ... too bad, so sad.

Working a low wage job with no benefits, so you can't improve your quality of life ... too bad, so sad.

Give the baby up to the foster care system (or lord forbid, lose the baby to the foster care system), once again ... too bad, so sad.

Can't do anything for you.

That is YOUR party's idea of compassionate conservatism and when all else fails just invoke that good ole double standard ...

White kids ... make mistakes and deserve understanding and support.
Black kids ... are irresponsible degenerates that have kids to sponges off the welfare system.

I got cha, you don't even have to say it.

Hypocrisy at it's best.

"White kids ... make mistakes and deserve understanding and support.
Black kids ... are irresponsible degenerates that have kids to sponges off the welfare system."

That is exactly what this Bristol Palin thing is about.

rock it!!!

You're on fire.

What does Bristol Palin's current pregnancy have to do with Trig Palin being Sarah Palin's son?

Sarah Palin would have had numerous medical documents being the expectant mother of a special needs child. Why not release those to quell the "Sarah is not Trig's mom" rumors?


And since when does the right listen to "liberal bloggers?"


Bristol Palin's pregnancy had nothing to do with Sarah Palin being/not being Trig's mom. All she had to do was release her medical records relating to her pregnancy with Trig.

Instead, she threw her 17 year old daughter under the bus to save her sinking political career.

Nice.

Your desire to continue to promote this lie destroys your credibility and I will not respond to you further.

Really? Do you promise?

The McCain campaign has gone to great lengths to present the selection of Sarah Palin as one made after a careful, meticulous vetting process. But evidence continues to suggest that the Arizona Republican made his VP choice with surprising haste.

On Saturday, a Democrat tasked with opposition research contacted the Huffington Post with this piece of information: as of this weekend, the McCain campaign had not gone through old newspaper articles from the Valley Frontiersman, Palin's hometown newspaper.

How does he know? The paper's (massive) archives are not online. And when he went to research past content, he was told he was the first to inquire.

"No one else had requested access before," said the source. "It's unbelievable. We were the only people to do that, which means the McCain camp didn't."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/31/mccain...

This is why this and other 'progressive' blogs have lost all credibility.

From Democratic Underground.

"What many here don't understand. It doesn't matter if it's true or not. RUMOR IS TRUTH.

The modern laws of media hype and political warfare have a useful tenet:

Repeat ANYTHING or raise false concern over ANYTHING and it is likely to be planted in the conscious/subconscious of many voters.

If people start to think that there might be something fishy with Palin's last kid (if hers), then that's FINE. One more doubt (whether tied to reality or not) is another hesitation at the ballot box.

GET WITH THE PROGRAM PEOPLE. The "rising above it" bullshit has served us so well in the past, hasn't it?

If you have problems with the story, then STFU and get out of the way of Dems who are engaged in MODERN POLITICAL WARFARE. Go tend your garden or some other pedestrian task, because the "concern trolls" are not helping shape the message."

"Progressive blogs have lost all credibility" because a COMMENTER on DU thinks that Democrats should play the game the same way the Republicans do? It's to be expected that someone whould say that, and you're playing the game the way the Republicans do when you extend what this one person said to all Democrats or Obama supporters or liberals.

Tell that to John Kerry,

I remember, quite well, as a former member of the Army and former military spouse, watching and reading the coverage for election 04 and feeling disgusted ... that the Republican party sent surrogates like Michelle Malkin on National Television saying a decorated Veteran purposefully shot himself to get his purple heart and get out of the Vietnam war.

I also remember, conservative and Republican bloggers and publications fueling that horrid "rumor". I also remember a 527 ad that ran repeatedly on television, also fueling this horrible accusation ... I believe it's now referred to as Swift boating.

Of course, we don't need to be bothered by little things like that ... I believe they call those, the facts. And the facts are that the Republican party and it's surrogates have engaged in many instances , according to you, of discredited and deplorable tactics,

Let's bring it forward to 2008.

Although the conservative movement has it's share of crackpot, bigoted, over the top religious leaders, that preach all sorts of hate, fire and brimstone, there has been a almost non-existent instance of targeted attack campaigns on their churches as they are allowed to go on and preach their hatred in peace.

However, the false accusations that were leveraged at Rev. Wright and his church as being fundamentalist zealots, terrorists and American haters, was continuously fueled by the right as well as some liberal Clinton supporters, which resulted in the church being, not only hounded by rabid members of the media but most despicably, receiving numerous death and bomb threats.

Children go to that church, teenagers and the elderly ... where were you then, when that was taking place? Oh yeah ... that's right ... you don't care about black children being "attacked" for something they have nothing to do with ... once again, your hypocrisy is showing.

or when your candidate, John McCain, called a 12 year old Chelsea Clinton Ugly and the result of a lesbian affair.

and I quote:
"Why is Chelsea Clinton so ugly ... because Janet Reno is her father."

Finally, I have read quite a few posts and perspectives on the Palin situation and thus far, I have seen NO ONE, that is attacking her daughter or her daughter's character.

What they are doing, is pointing to Mrs. Palin and the Republican Party's hypocrisy. No one gives a fuck about who is having what baby ... but people do care if a platform is being presented to the American people ... that says ... "I am free to make choices for my family, and luckily I am in a position to make choice A, but YOU (women) should not have the right to make the choice that's best for you ... because I (we) say so."

I feel that the Republicans should keep their mouth shut in the future about whose being irresponsible in their reproductive choices, because in the history of me following politics, I've never seen them support, teenage sex and out of wedlock pregnancy with such praise and passion, as they have during the past two days.

but of course you already know all of this and I only bothered to write this, not for your benefit, but for those that may scan Jack and Jill and not have the full context of what's happening.

So take your talking points back to that rock you crawled from under, because no one is buying what you are selling here.

As John Stossell would say, "Gimme a break."

Standing ovation. Thunderous applause.

More misinformation and lies being spread to push the meme that McCain has bad judgement.

The HuffPo and other left wing blogs are no longer credible sources of information.

Obama’s answer on experience: But I’m such a great campaigner!

Anderson Cooper asked Barack Obama last night to answer the claim that Sarah Palin has more applicable experience than he does. In response, he completely ignores Palin’s status as governor, and then makes the claim that a campaign counts as executive experience.

Obama's response is weak:

BO: Well, you know, my understanding is that, uh, Governor Palin’s town of Wasilly [sic] has, uh, 50 employees, uh, uh, we’ve got 2500, uh, in this campaign. I think their budget is maybe $12 million a year. Uh, uh, we have a budget of about three times that just for the month. Uh, so I think that, uh, our ability to manage large systems, uh, and to, uh, execute, uh, I think has been made clear over the last couple of years. Uh, and certainly, in terms of, uh, the legislation that I’ve passed just dealing with this issue post-Katrina, uh, of how we handle emergency management. The fact that, uh, many of my recommendations were adopted and are being put in place, uh, as we speak indicates to extent to which we can provide the kinds of support and good service that the American people expect.

Obama didn’t really answer the question, and he set up a straw man argument in response to Cooper. Governor Palin is, well, governor, and not currently the mayor of Wasila. As Governor, Palin operates a $9 billion budget, and manages $13 billion in revenue. Furthermore, she runs a government that employs 25,000 people.

Obama blithely pretends that she’s still the mayor of “Wasilly” in order to boost himself. However, running for office isn’t executive experience, for one good reason: Obama isn’t the campaign manager. He has a CEO actually running the campaign, handling the budget, and managing the people while Obama makes the speeches.

If this is Obama’s best response on the experience question, the attacks on Palin’s experience will have to stop, unless the campaign wants Obama to keep embarrassing himself while making it.

"More misinformation and lies being spread to push the meme that McCain has bad judgement."

What misinformation and lies, Mr. Bell and Howell?

Now the sock puppets are having a conversation.
Heh

Tell me why you are interested in a site that is of and aimed at people who want to read what the black bourgeoisie populace thinks? Do you even care about black people and their opinions or are you here to just spew your own?

You know the answer to this.

so would you say it's fair to say that obama didn't really answer the question, sort of in the same way that no repbulican directly answers the question as to whether sarah palin is qualified in the area of foreign policy experience considering the issues of the day?

All politicians should be held accountable for their answers and actions.

"Republicans do it too so it's OK" is not a valid argument.

Truth be told, Obama nor Palin have experience in foreign policy. But it is important to note that he is running at the top of the ticket, she is at the bottom.

This is not Obama v. Palin, it's Obama v. McCain.

If Obama is qualified to be C-in-C, so is Palin.

If that undercuts McCain's main line of attack, so be it. In the end McCain will offer a message of reform, prosperity and peace. The election going forward will be framed along these lines:

Obama is offering a 'change' that is nothing more than a 'power grab' for liberal machine politicians and Democrat party insiders.

Voters will have to decide if they want 'change' for the sake of 'change' or true 'reform.' GOP 'mavericks' with reform, bi-partisan bona fides or "Status quo, liberal Dems' who put power and party before the people.

So four years as a U.S. senator doesn't count? This whole Veep pick by McCain further exposes the GOP as the party of hypocrisy.

It counts just AS MUCH as Palin's gubernatorial experience.

There is no hypocrisy here. Barack Obama and Sarah Palin are equally qualified in issues of national security.

Perhaps the Dems should consider flipping their ticket so they can stop twisting themselves in knots.

Has Sarah Palin studied international relations. I don't think so.

Has Sarah Palin studied international relations. I don't think so.

4 years as a US Senator

vs.

20 months of a state nobody really cares about, at least 12 of those months were consumed by personal and family problems (Troopergate, Bristol out of school, special needs pregnancy, special needs birth, Bristol getting pregnant, etc.)

Yeah, you keep smoking that Ooh Wee.

He sat on the Foreign Relations committee. Do not tell me that Palin has the same experience as Obama.

Sitting on the Foreign Relations Committee and doing what, exactly? Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard seems comparable enough to me.

That has been discredited, Ace and you know that. She was not Commander in Chief of the Alaskan National Guard, in regards to any National Defense activities. She wasn't even briefed on situations that required the mobilization of the Alaskan Guard in regards to federal matters.

Hence, she only oversaw the guard's domestic functions. That, does not equate in any form or fashion to having Foreign relations and National defense experience.

exactly, a governor is only responsible for the instate response of the national guard--this is usually related to natural disaster/state of emergency response (not military oriented). the federal government coordinates any relevant "foreign services" commanding that is being attributed to Palin.

and yes it is Obama vs McCain but that doesn't mean that McCain does not have to explain to me why Palin is qualified to be the President. And that explanation should not include any references to Sen. Obama-thanks.

Don't you just love how dipsy do, below, doesn't directly respond to the specific points you make ...

when they don't match up with his Republican talking points? *laughs*

Let's face it Obama can't hold a candle to McCain on foreign policy (just ask Campbell Brown). The surge is working. Obama adopted McCain's position re: Georgia, and doubts remain about his ability to support Israel in the face of existential threats from Iran.

No matter how hard you try to scare the electorate into thinking that John McCain could drop dead any second, Obama is still a weaker choice in the area of national security than McCain. IMO he is no MORE qualified than Palin, McCain's VP pick and many would agree.

Go ahead and try and make the case for Obama by comparing his credentials to the Republican VP, get it VP pick, but it will only highlight McCain's strength at the top of the ticket.

McCain is also a true reformer. Obama's record on reform (The Chicago Annenburg Challenge) was a failure and he has brought home 'pork" to his political allies where McCain has taken 0, yes, ZERO, earmarks. He also pledges to veto any legislation containing earmarks and I would love to see him take on Reid and Pelosi!

He has also crossed party lines, drawing the ire of his own party to tackle tough issues?

Obama weakly cited at the Saddleback Forum that his major 'bipartsan' effort involved working on Ethics reform with John McCain! This is a joke because his support lasted about 2 weeks before he caved, and joined the purely partisan Democrat proposal. McCain publically rebuked him in a letter.

Obama did nothing to challenge the status quo regarding the corrupt 'Daley machine' here in Chicago, and in fact, he used the system to his advantage.

Regarding energy independence, Sarah Palin is an energy expert who will focus on the domestic drilling debate.

American's favor, by a wide majority, exploring all options to increase our domestic supply, and Palin will bring voters to McCain with her impressive, common sense arguments.

Focusing on social issues is something Obama does at his peril because it will fire up the Republican base to no end. Obama was betting on a depressed Republican turn out this election but Palin has been a game changer there.

Foreign Policy - McCain wins.

Reform - McCain wins.

Energy Independence - McCain wins.

Those will be the themes of McCain's campaign and Obama had better figure out how he can get on the right side of those issues or he will surely lose in Nov.

Barack Obama is beginning a walk back on his preposterously untrue former claims that Ayers was just a guy in his neighborhood. Using Linda Lenz, a close ally of both men to do so, the Chicago Sun Times quotes her as admitting that Ayers and Obama closely collaborated on the failed Chicago Annenberg Challenge fiasco.

http://globallabor.blogspot.com/2008/08/obama-c...

Could you trolls get colorful avatars like karmi so we can automatically scroll through your passages? Thanks.

From HuffPost:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/01/ap-cir... Circles The Wagons Around Embattled Fournier

This article mentions about the influence of BLOGGERS!! Whoo! Hoo! :>) :>)

Youtube with some interesting commentary in the about box. Has lots of pics with Bristol holding Trig.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-Es5aIJl1g

Like this:

she was named 2002 Family Physician of the year after the then mayor of Wasilla, GUESS WHO?
ANOTHER INTERESTING TID-BIT. BRISTOL WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN FEB,8TH AT A MEDICAL CLINIC. (THAT MEANS SHE WAS 1.5 MONTHS AWAY FROM GIVING BIRTH, AND IN THE REPORT THE OTHER SIDE OF AND ACCIDENT IS NAMED: Joshua Moffet, age 19, of Wasilla . She had three traffic violations during that time. That accident was one of three. There had been a two other separate pull overs during her mono adventure.

And for those of you who didn't see Campbell Brown finally remember what she learned in journalism school, here's the clip with Tucker

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYYiw_y2qDI

I have a relatively low opinion of Campbell Brown--or whatever her real name is--but she was impressive in this interview. Not that she did anything extraordinary; impressive that, for once, she did a journalist's job.

Yeah. What she did wasn't that hard....just ask a question.

They set Tucker up, and went for the jugular. Why can't they do that ALL the time?

I was SHOCKED that Campbell even went there! It's about time!

I know you all think that Cambell Brown did a super job of trying to box in tucker bounds, but shouting down a guest and hyperventilating because you are not getting the answer you want does not look 'impressive.' She did not get the tacit admission that Gov. Palin is not qualified to be C-in-C.

My question to Campbell is, how can you hold Barack Obama to a different standard than the one you set for Sarah Palin, considering he is running for President and not VP.

If Campbell has doubts about Palin, surely those same doubts must apply to Obama, if she is in fact, doing a 'journalist's job."

Trying to turn this into a 'standard set by the McCain campaign' and not one of legitimate concern to all voters, betrays her underlying motive to get a 'gotcha' moment out of Tucker bounds. She, like so many other MSM 'journalists' are having a difficult time hiding their bias as the campaign heats up.

I miss Tim Russert now more than ever.

"I miss Tim Russert now more than ever."

-I know what you mean.
Pumpkinhead would have fluffed her, too.
No hard-hitting questions, no follow-up questions, either.
'Cause remember...she's a Republican!

Campbell didn't get an answer at all.

Also, Cambell Brown admitted that there is 'no doubt' that McCain has more foreign policy experience than Barack Obama.

Watch it again.

I hope that shows up in a McCain ad. Campbell Brown, during a 'hissy fit' jumps out of the tank and flops around on the floor, gasping for air! Priceless!

A big time MF'er:

http://www.slate.com/id/2198660/?from=rss

This is the History of why "McAncient" uses "MY Friend"

Please try to stay awake! :>) :>) Zzzzzzzzzzz

Rev. Wright speaks in Houston, TX and Toledo, OH.

- http://tiny.cc/gCVtS
- http://tiny.cc/QyBf5

This comes under the heading - "NAME THAT "GATE":

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008...

Palin Was Director of Embattled Senator Steven's 527 Group

Seems as if this little "tidbit" was "SCRUBBED" from the Gov's campaign materials!!

Whole lotta scrubbin' goin' on!!! :>) :>)

http://starmediapublication.blogspot.com/

Published 8/29/08
By: SMP

THE DARKSIDE OF INTERACIAL RELATIONSHIPS

Interracial relationships has been on the rise for years and years now, which most logically minded people would agree that it’s a good thing, it shows that as a society we’ve manage to grow and see beyond skin pigmentation like the other lower species on the animal kingdom hierarchy. Unfortunately, it is not the case.

Great deals of people who are involved in interracial relationships are themselves racist, who suffers from internalized racism, similar to a hate mongering separatist. Often, A lot of people in interracial relationship have an infatuation for the other races and perceive the other races as being some how better or even superior to their own, they don’t like the person that their with for the individual that he/she is but rather for the race to which the partner belongs to. For example a white woman who’s involved in such a relationship with a black men, she’s not with “Jerome” for who he is but likes him for his race and vice versa, which is no different from a Neo Nazi who hates a person not for the individual he is but simply for his race. In both circumstances, no one sees the person for who they are but rather their race. As we’ve all learned, there’s a thin line between love and hate.

A recent interracial phenomenon is black women with white men, who is really nothing new, such pairing dates back since the cotton picking plantation days, but more recently it’s received a lot of attention curtsey of Oprah and Tyra Banks shows that did a segment on that topic. More and more black women are with white men, especially the “professional” black women who cries that there’s no good eligible black men, spitting out the same rhetoric that a Grand Dragon of the KKK would that “they’re in jail, most are homosexuals and most prefers white women” which is all a pile of horse manure, there’s good men and bad men in every race, such claims is used to justified their own racist sentiment and negative perception that they have toward black men and due to that they’re with other men, not because they love that individual but because they despise his black counterpart, these women are white supremacist in dark skin, they hold the same negative stereotype toward black men as that of a imperial wizard of the Klan and utters the same vile comments.

Often these flaccid relationships are base purely on a sick fetish, although some will claim its a perference but the reality it is a fetish, what determines a fetish and perference, same thing with a nicer term. For example like lust like the Spike Lee film states it’s “Jungle Fever”, evidence of that is the racist comment that we all are familiar with that both blacks and whites say “I’ll go out with a person of another race, but I’ll never marry a person of another race”, such comments can simply be stated as being fucked up. Basically, that familiar comment means that “I can satisfy my animalistic urges with a person of another race, but I can never have a person of another race be the mother/father of my children.” One has to be a racist to hold such feelings or say such thing and too often we’ve all heard that comment being uttered and that notion has been the starting point for a lot of relationships, which is purely sick.

The worst thing is that people that are involved in interracial relationships for race sakes gives a bad name to all the good people that are with someone that they truly love and it comes out that person is of another race. The problem is not interracial relationships, it’s intra-racial racism”, because anyone who dates any race exclusively needs a shrink.

Gustav Update:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/01/hurric...
Hurricane Gustav Slams La

Praying for the people!

From The Jed Report:

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/09/anatomy-of-a-v...
Anatomy of a Vetting Disaster

Update on Mayor "Hip Hop":

http://blackpoliticsontheweb.com/2008/09/01/det...
Detroit Mayor Seeks Arbitrator on Jail Time

If he can use a "get out of jail card", he will resign.

According to my sister, all of these actions are costing the city/citizens! !! They MAD!! :>(

He should have resigned months ago. Now that the governor has thrown the book at him he wants to work out a deal.

H&F: YEP!! He's the picture that you see in the Dictionary under N for narcissistic! PITIFUL!!! :>(

Sorry, but the astounding hypocrisy for the sake of partisonship around Palingate is just amazing to me.

The NY Daily News has this story about the father of Bristol's baby, her new fiance. They quote his MySpace page where, on the part where it asks about children, he wrote, "I don't want kids."

And now he wants to be a married father?

Bristol Palin's pregnancy was an open secret back home

http://tinyurl.com/63lgnp

On his MySpace page, Johnston proudly declares: "I'm a f---in' redneck."

"I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing," he says on the site.

He also warns that if anyone messes with him, "I'll kick ass."

The Web site, before it was removed, appeared not to have been accessed for a year.

On it, he admits to having a girlfriend.

On the part where it asks about children, he wrote, "I don't want kids."

Gee....where's S?

I think he is going by "ace" today.

And about to have a stroke over Sarah Clampett...LOL

HAHA!

I was wondering the same thing!

Anovelista: Just sharing! :>) :>) :>)

http://www.geocities.com/redneck_jokes/
Red Neck Jokes. :>) :>) :>)

rikyrah: found a picture showing "Travesty Smile -n- Stab" in the article regarding Malveaux/West: He looks in his "evil-gotcha" element. Hope it works!! U know me & pics. :>) NOT! :>)

http://thedailyvoice.com/voice/2008/09/two-lead...

Well, I can't get it!! Maybe the video will play. AND the "comments" really put ALL 'em on BLAST!!! :>) :>) :>) The VIDEO WORKED & showed TS! UGGGG! :>(

Disclosures on Palin Raise Questions on Vetting Process

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/02/us/politics/0...

At the least, Republicans close to the campaign said it was increasingly apparent that Ms. Palin had been selected as Mr. McCain’s running mate with more haste than McCain advisers initially described.

Up until midweek last week, some 48 to 72 hours before Mr. McCain introduced Ms. Palin at a Friday rally in Dayton, Ohio, Mr. McCain was still holding out the hope that he could choose a good friend, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, a Republican close to the campaign said. Mr. McCain had also been interested in another favorite, former Gov. Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania.

But both men favor abortion rights, anathema to the Christian conservatives who make up a crucial base of the Republican Party. As word leaked out that Mr. McCain was seriously considering the men, the campaign was bombarded by outrage from influential conservatives who predicted an explosive floor fight at the convention and vowed rejection of Mr. Ridge or Mr. Lieberman by the delegates.

Perhaps more important, several Republicans said, Mr. McCain was getting advice that if he did not do something to shake up the race, his campaign would be stuck on a potentially losing trajectory.

With time running out — and as Mr. McCain discarded two safer choices, Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, as too predictable — he turned to Ms. Palin. He had his first face-to-face interview with her on Thursday and offered her the job moments later. Advisers to Mr. Pawlenty and another of the finalists on Mr. McCain’s list described an intensive vetting process for those candidates that lasted one to two months.

“They didn’t seriously consider her until four or five days from the time she was picked, before she was asked, maybe the Thursday or Friday before,” said a Republican close to the campaign. “This was really kind of rushed at the end, because John didn’t get what he wanted. He wanted to do Joe or Ridge.”

here's the DailyKos diary

click on the links to the video

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/9/1/21286/24...

this darn link won't work

sorry.

rikyrah, I came over here to link to that exact article.

Senator Obama gets it.

But that spirit can’t just be restricted to moments of great catastrophe. Because as I stand here today and look out at the thousands of folks who have gathered here today, I know that there’s some folks that are going through their own quiet storms.

This illustrates for me why my gut has said all along that Senator Obama is the very best that this society has to offer for someone in the role he is seeking. It is limited, yes, but -- it is a true embodiment of the very best that is possible for this role at this time.

Is this country too gone, too fundamentally lost, to recognize what is offered here? Or will it choose its best possible path at this time?

I guess we'll see.

This is a crux point for this country. Pray we choose wisely.