The 2008 US Presidential Election Thread

[Blueskies]

Obama

[Jana]

All I can say is what a difference in this debate watching these two men and thinking back to the last debate with Bush and Kerry. How in the world did Bush get elected over Gore? Oops, he didn't. Gore won.

[donnaplease]

Didn't Bush project that don't even fuck with us demeanor? Look where it got us.

For what it's worth, I don't think it was the "demeanor" that caused any harm. I do think if we show weakness, we are all screwed. Not just me...but you and you and you...

Will diplomacy be needed? Heck yes, but not with terrorists and dictators that seek only to destroy our nation.

All I was saying was that I just had a sense that we'd be safer after seeing him behind the podium. Nothing more, nothing less. If you don't feel that way, so be it. We're all entitled to our own feelings and thoughts.

I'd just rather have McCain protecting me than Obama and the Hollywood crowd. They scare me to death. I wish they wouldn't have ever expanded their causes from saving poor little animals. How'd they every get from trying to save minks to discussing international relations?? How did Sean Penn go from stoner (not there's anything wrong with that) to ambassador of the world?

I didn't get to watch the dabates last night (getting rained on at a football game), but I have to say this: if that Iranian ASSHOLE will come to our country and say the things that he has with W in office, I can only imagine what he will do/say with Obama leading the nation, when he knows he will only have to worry about getting 'spoken' to... Do ya think he'd respond well to a lecture?

[Rick]

I guess everybody feels we're better off since Bush has a 28 percent approval rating. I must be missing something. Even lower on economy.

Congress is at 9%.... lula sorry about killing you...truth wins.

And the blame for that rests equally on each party's shoulders and you know it FF. The Dems don't have any more leverage right now than the Republicans.

You right wingers are beat. It's not even going to be close enough that you can cheat.

[whirlwind]

Bush was a total dork in his debates with Kerry and he still got the vote. I don't think that the debates are that important.

I got the feeling that Obama was schooled on how to answer the questions from his party through their experience and that Cain gave his answers from his own experience.

[classicstyxfan]

I'm sure Obama anticipated most of the questions and had thoroughly rehearsed his answers. One important factor in debating is to not SOUND like you are reciting a script, maybe he didnt do that very well.

I found it interesting that neither one would really answer the moderators question about what would have to be cut due to the $ 700,000,000,000 bailout.......Im sure a straight forward answer would have been akin to political suicide/ammunition for the opponent. Both of them demonstrated the ability to deflect and or distract with their answers at various times in the debate.

[conversationpc]

They were constantly at odds. Their relations were nasty, cool at best.

Uh-huh. Yup. Sure.

Yeah, boy, that picture really proves that Bush and McCain agree on everything. McCain rattled off a number of things that he had disagreed with and fought the administration on. This is something that Obama cannot claim...Independent thought from his own party, considering his 97% agreement with his own party.

[conversationpc]

Can't wait for the Biden/Palin debate. Talk about a slaughter? This should be TOO easy for Democrats. Palin does NOT deserve to lead the Pledge of Allegiance ...let alone VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES! Look for an easy one for the DEMS in the next debate.

I love how some of you Dems are so overconfident sometimes, something that has been Biden's downfall on more than one occasion. I'm not saying Palin is going to win this debate but even if she does nothing more than hold her own, I'm going to laugh my ass off.

[conversationpc]

How anyone could watch this debate and not say that it was a draw wasn't watching closely. Both candidates did their scripted duties well.

[The_Noble_Cause]

Yeah, boy, that picture really proves that Bush and McCain agree on everything.

No, but it definately stands in stark contrast to claims that their relationship was "nasty."

McCain rattled off a number of things that he had disagreed with and fought the administration on.

All token gestures.
His stance on global warming is undermined by his 0 rating on his environmental record and his non-believer of a running mater.
He folded on torture when it came to the Intelligence Authorization Bill.
I give him credit for an earnest attempt at campaign finance reform, but he flipped on that as well.

[strangegrey]

McCain was awful. He's an embarassment.

My take on the debate is that McCain lost. He looked like he had a squirty load in his pants the whole time....and couldn't wait to get off stage to have his campaign aides spray him down and give him a sponge bath.

Actually, he looks like that all the time...

But regardless, Obama was the clear winner last night. *clear* winner. McCain's unravelling. Stupid move after stupid move since the convention has left this idiot's campaign in shambles...

[Lula]

the debate was a draw. i expected more from mccain and less from obama.

with regards to the congress, the dems do not have the voting edge, not yet. a few more seats and maybe something will get done. you cannot blame a democratic congress for the last 8 years, the gop had complete power for 6 years.

[Jana]

You go, Lula. And still nobody really has responded to the Sarah Palin article you posted. Hmmmm. . . I think maybe a lot of Republicans are realizing Sarah Palin is a huge mistake.

[The_Noble_Cause]

I love how some of you Dems are so overconfident sometimes, something that has been Biden's downfall on more than one occasion.

And Biden would be the first guy to own up to it.
I would think Biden's straight from the hip style would appeal to some Conservatives who like Bush-brand cowboy diplomacy.
Try as one may, Biden doesn't fall prey to the usual arugula-eating liberal stereotypes.

It's now come out that Palin wasn't permitted to make post-debate TV appearances last nite - what are they afraid of?
Come Thursday, Palin will be the laughing stock of the free world.

[AJ]

[quote="strangegrey"]McCain was awful. He's an embarassment.

My take on the debate is that McCain lost. He looked like he had a squirty load in his pants the whole time....and couldn't wait to get off stage to have his campaign aides spray him down and give him a sponge bath.

Actually, he looks like that all the time...

But regardless, Obama was the clear winner last night. *clear* winner. McCain's unravelling. Stupid move after stupid move since the convention has left this idiot's campaign in shambles...[/quote]

I have no idea what you're talking about. I watched the entire thing and thought at best was a draw, if not McCain totally kicking Obama's ass on the war front. NOT EVEN CLOSE! Obama...it may have been wrong to go to Iraq...but that ship has sailed. What will the next president do to fix it? We must win in Iraq AND Afghanistan and I heard that CLEARLY from McCain. You can't quit one and hope to win the other. They are linked! Do I wish we would've finished the job in Afghanistan first? You betcha. But it's too late for that now. I much prefer McCain's experience on these issues!

That being said, my first priority for choosing a president is who is going to help ME? I need a job and health care for my family DESPERATELY. The only one that seems to care about that is Obama.

Bottom line is I was an undecided before the debate and am still that way.

[strangegrey]

Come Thursday, Palin will be the laughing stock of the free world.

As much as I agree with you, as she's gone from bad to worse to rock bottom in a matter of weeks....the sad, cold, hard truth of this VP debate is that Joe Biden is 1 or 2 stupid "FDR was president in '29" statements from appearing just as embarassing....

Both VP candidates have tremendous potential of completely derailing the campaigns for their presidential running mates.

[The_Noble_Cause]

As much as I agree with you, as she's gone from bad to worse to rock bottom in a matter of weeks....the sad, cold, hard truth of this VP debate is that Joe Biden is 1 or 2 stupid "FDR was president in '29" statements from appearing just as embarassing....

Both VP candidates have tremendous potential of completely derailing the campaigns for their presidential running mates.

Biden's only fallibillity is being a gasbag.
When he's on, he's on.
Great debater.

[Lula]

i like joe biden, always have. he may have a big mouth, not think before speaking, but the man is straight forward and i like that. i don't always agree with him, but i can say that about everyone!

[strangegrey]

I have no idea what you're talking about. I watched the entire thing and thought at best was a draw......

First, learn to quote. Second...it just goes to show politics is definitely a subjective thing. McCain was not prepared with facts and specific retorts, Obama was. McCain dropped names and anecdotes in extremely uncomfortable spots in an effort to garner support from certain demographics...an example is his completely out of place and uncalled-for well-wishes for Ted Kennedy. It wasn't an apropriate use of Kennedy in his statement...and it showed a desperate effort to make people think "Oh, what a kind and sensitive man"....instead, I said to myself "Stick to the question, dickhead, don't change the subject"

Sorry....from this end, McCain was an embarassment...

[strangegrey]

Biden's only fallibillity is being a gasbag.
When he's on, he's on.
Great debater.

i like joe biden, always have. he may have a big mouth, not think before speaking, but the man is straight forward and i like that. i don't always agree with him, but i can say that about everyone!

To both of you...

The fact of the matter is that if you're going to ride Palin's ass for her responses, Biden's responses are fair game as well. I think both VP candidates are *scary* choices for VP....I don't want a woman who thinks her street address makes her qualified for foreign policy discussions...nor do I want a man who does not know his history.

Both candidates are dumber than stumps...and they are both embarassing choices for their running mates. At first, Palin's choice appeared to be the better choice. Then they let her do interviews and you saw her for what she really was....Biden was a piss-poor, shitty choice from the very second it was announced.

[Lula]

You go, Lula. And still nobody really has responded to the Sarah Palin article you posted. Hmmmm. . . I think maybe a lot of Republicans are realizing Sarah Palin is a huge mistake.

i'll post the link for ya, guys and gals. (said in my best sarah voice)

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MD ... TUxZDkwNTE

[Lula]

gotta disagree with you strange. i will admit missteps by any side. i have liked biden for sometime now, just have. he is not anything spectacular, but there is something there that appeals to me.

sarah palin annoyed me from the get go. her voice is piercing, which i could tolerate if what she says wasn't just a lot of bs hot air.... lacks substance, etc....

[treetopovskaya]

bullshit. that pic means nothing. there's a pic of neal & sp hugging (i even think neal is kissing steve on the cheek) at the walk of fame... and we all know how much those two get along. yeah... right.

Yeah, boy, that picture really proves that Bush and McCain agree on everything.

No, but it definately stands in stark contrast to claims that their relationship was "nasty."

McCain rattled off a number of things that he had disagreed with and fought the administration on.

All token gestures.
His stance on global warming is undermined by his 0 rating on his environmental record and his non-believer of a running mater.
He folded on torture when it came to the Intelligence Authorization Bill.
I give him credit for an earnest attempt at campaign finance reform, but he flipped on that as well.

[treetopovskaya]

sorry lula but you expected less from the man you want running our country? that makes no sense.

the debate was a draw. i expected more from mccain and less from obama.

with regards to the congress, the dems do not have the voting edge, not yet. a few more seats and maybe something will get done. you cannot blame a democratic congress for the last 8 years, the gop had complete power for 6 years.

[Lula]

i'll try and explain what i mean. mccain's strong point is foriegn policy, i expected him to dance circles around obama. obama held his own quite well. he made his points all while being respectful of maccain and not backing down. mccain never even looked at obama which i found odd. all in all, i say a draw.

[The_Noble_Cause]

bullshit. that pic means nothing. there's a pic of neal & sp hugging (i even think neal is kissing steve on the cheek) at the walk of fame... and we all know how much those two get along. yeah... right.

Neal's affection and respect for Perry is 100% real - they also hadn't seen each other in ages.
Not the best example to italicize McCain's supposed differences with Bush.
And I never said the photo was proof positive of McCain marching in lockstep, but it does put the lie to the idea that their relationship is nothing but a series of policy head butts.
The fact that McCain campaigned for Bush, after Bush's team besmirched his family in the primaries, tells you all you need to know about McCain's character.

[treetopovskaya]

i was laughing so hard at some of the looks obama was giving mccain. oh man... if looks could kill. }:C)

i dunno if mccain can turn his head without turning his whole body. he is very stiff. war injuries.

they both did very well. }:C)

i'll try and explain what i mean. mccain's strong point is foriegn policy, i expected him to dance circles around obama. obama held his own quite well. he made his points all while being respectful of maccain and not backing down. mccain never even looked at obama which i found odd. all in all, i say a draw.

[sadie65]

I think it was a draw and for those who watched, it will, as it always does, come down to what a person values individually. Both had aspects that were better than expected, and both had areas where they were lacking.

Peace to all

[treetopovskaya]

oh.. do enlighten us all on mccain's character.

i think mccain showed his character back when he was a pow.

bullshit. that pic means nothing. there's a pic of neal & sp hugging (i even think neal is kissing steve on the cheek) at the walk of fame... and we all know how much those two get along. yeah... right.

Neal's affection and respect for Perry is 100% real - they also hadn't seen each other in ages.
Not the best example to italicize McCain's supposed differences with Bush.
And I never said the photo was proof positive of McCain marching in lockstep, but it does put the lie to the idea that their relationship is nothing but a series of policy head butts.
The fact that McCain campaigned for Bush, after Bush's team besmirched his family in the primaries, tells you all you need to know about McCain's character.

[The_Noble_Cause]

oh.. do enlighten us all on mccain's character.

I just told you...after Rove and Co. slimed him with "black baby" rumors, he turned around and campaigned for them.
I wouldn't bear hug a guy who attacked my family, but hey, that's just me.

i think mccain showed his character back when he was a pow.

Duhhhhhhhhhhh