Speaking of which, Obama will be on tonight's THE O'REILLY FACTOR, which surprises me.
Why? I mean just this week, McCain cancelled an appearance on softball interviewer Larry King's program, and now Obama will go into the Lion's Den of perhaps the one media personality many of them despise more than any other (Sorry Rush, you're so 1994).
Will it work or backfire? Who knows.
I can't believe he's on tonight, but for the opposite reason. Why would O'Reilly give Obama free prime time airtime on the night McCain is giving his acceptance speech?
New polling data, and I highlighted perhaps the more interesting points:
Women not impressed with Palin
Washington - Most US women are unimpressed by Republican John McCain's choice of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, and have thrown their weight behind the Democratic ticket in the race for the White House, a national poll showed on Wednesday.
Six in 10 women voters see McCain's choice of a female running mate as a calculated political decision rather than one based on Palin's experience and qualities, the poll conducted by the Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group showed.
"Women voters see the choice of Governor Palin as being driven by politics rather than by any sense of conviction on Senator McCain's part that she has the experience and qualities to make a good vice-president," the research group said in a statement.
A majority of the 800 women polled - 56% - said they were put off by Palin's legislative record and her position on moral issues, such as abortion.
"When women voters learn that Palin opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest, opposes stem cell research and, as governor, opposed funding for state pre-kindergarten programmes... a majority say... [they] feel less favourable toward her," the poll showed.
Palin's scant experience as an elected official - she was mayor of a small town for six years and has been governor of Alaska for less than two - "squanders" McCain's advantage over Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in terms of experience in office and readiness to lead, the women voters said.
And even though the choice of Palin was a historic move for the Republican Party, marking the first time a woman has featured on a Republican presidential ticket, it has pushed many women voters over to the side of the Democrats.
Fifty-two per cent of women voters polled said they would vote for the all-male Democratic ticket of Obama and Joe Biden, while just 41% said they would back McCain and Palin in the November election.
I also didn't like the term "community organizer" to describe what Obama did. How about the fact that, despite graduating at the top of his class from Harvard, he decided to give back to the community instead of joining a powerful Chicago law firm for a huge salary. They don't mention that. Instead, they mock that commitment to public service, unless it's their own.
I'm with you. When Rudy then Palin attacked his service to his community and the crowd roared I about threw up. How messed up is the GOP that they would seriously denigrate the work of someone who sacrificed a comfy job in a high paying law firm to help the underprivileged?
"Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it"
I also didn't like the term "community organizer" to describe what Obama did. How about the fact that, despite graduating at the top of his class from Harvard, he decided to give back to the community instead of joining a powerful Chicago law firm for a huge salary. They don't mention that. Instead, they mock that commitment to public service, unless it's their own.
I'm with you. When Rudy then Palin attacked his service to his community and the crowd roared I about threw up. How messed up is the GOP that they would seriously denigrate the work of someone who sacrificed a comfy job in a high paying law firm to help the underprivileged?
The Detroit Free Press invited a panel of Michigan voters to weigh in on Gov. Sarah Palin's speech last night. Their reactions run the gamut, but the independents didn't seem to care for her very much.
Ilene Beninson, 52, Berkley independent: "Her speech contained few statements about policy or the party platform. … I am not convinced that Palin's experience as a mayor or governor in Alaska meet the qualifications to be vice president much less one stroke or heart attack away from being commander in chief.”
Mike Kosh, 38, West Bloomfield independent: “The way it looks to me, she's the Republican vice presidential nominee for one reason: Because Hillary wasn't selected.”
George Lentz, 66, Southfield independent: “I was completely underwhelmed. She was a Republican novelty act with a sophomoric script. It was not even a speech I would expect for someone running for the local PTA, much less for vice president.”
Diane Murphy, 42, Sterling Heights independent: “It appears that once she makes up her mind, that is the end of it. We live in a gray world, not every answer is black and white.”
Jan Wheelock, 58, Royal Oak independent: “Nothing worked for me. I found her barrage of snide remarks and distortions to be a major turnoff. She is not a class act. The most important point she made is that she will be an effective attack dog.”
Jan Wheelock, 58, Royal Oak independent: “Nothing worked for me. I found her barrage of snide remarks and distortions to be a major turnoff. She is not a class act. The most important point she made is that she will be an effective attack dog.”
..."According to Nicole Wallace of the McCain campaign, the American people don't care whether Sarah Palin can answer specific questions about foreign and domestic policy. According to Wallace -- in an appearance I did with her this morning on Joe Scarborough's show -- the American people will learn all they need to know (and all they deserve to know) from Palin's scripted speeches and choreographed appearances on the campaign trail and in campaign ads."
Long as I remember The rain been coming down. Clouds of Mystery pouring Confusion on the ground. Good men through the ages, Trying to find the sun; And I wonder, Still I wonder, Who'll stop the rain.
Salad, excellent point!! Why doesn't she?? Poor Obama had to justify that one to the point of being utterly ridiculous.
What did disturb me, and I don't know if it's been mentioned here, but until two years ago, Governor Palin never had a passport. This woman, for at least 42 of her 44 years on earth, was not able to leave the country, yet 4 months from now, she will be expected to represent the USA at meetings with the heads of state from all over the world.
As for Habitat for Humanity, what would be the bigger slap in the face - making fun of community organizers or McCain taking photos with those having their first homes built while he tries to remember how many homes he owns???
Palin's Convention Speech Brings in Cash for Obama
Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin is bringing in campaign cash for the Democrats as well as her own party.
Barack Obama, 47, reported raising at least $10 million from more than 130,000 donors today after Palin, the Alaska governor, addressed the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, and criticized the Democratic presidential nominee.
``Sarah Palin's attacks have rallied our supporters in ways we never expected,'' Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said. ``And we fully expect John McCain's attacks tonight to help us make our grassroots organization even stronger.''
The money followed an e-mail solicitation campaign manager David Plouffe sent out right after Palin's speech.
``You know that despite what John McCain and his attack squad say, every day people have the power to build something extraordinary when we come together,'' he wrote.
McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, raised $10 million after Palin was selected as his running mate Aug. 29, part of his record $47 million haul last month.
``She's energized the base,'' said former New York Senator Alfonse D'Amato, who has raised at least $250,000 for McCain, 72. ``Money will not be a problem.''
Palin Appeal
The McCain campaign sent out an e-mail from Palin, 44, today seeking additional donations. ``We must have the finances to respond to the latest attacks the Democrats have launched at us,'' she wrote.
Now that McCain is the nominee, he will receive $84.1 million for his fall campaign and cannot raise any private money except to cover legal and accounting costs. His fundraisers can continue to bring in money for the Republican National Committee, which, in turn, can spend it on McCain's behalf.
McCain also can contribute any unspent money from his primary campaign to the RNC, Federal Election Commission spokesman Bob Biersack said.
First of all his name is Senator Obama. Secondly, that was exactly Saladbar's point. If Senator Obama doesn't wear one and gets roasted slowly over a low flame for it, why is it not even brought up when Governor Palin doesn't have a flag in her lapel? And, by the way, I'm trying to stay awake right now during Senator McCain's speech, and he's not wearing one either.
And could you please expand on your opinion of Michelle Obama? I'm really curious as to how and why you decided that she was unpatriotic.
Edit: I've never seen Mrs. McCain before. My goodness, she looks amazing for 96!!
(CNN) -- Aides to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin improperly obtained her former brother-in-law's state police personnel files and cited information from those records to raise complaints about the officer, the head of Alaska's state police union said Thursday.
"It's apparent to us that the governor or someone on her staff had direct access to his personnel file, as well as his workers' comp file, and those are protected," said John Cyr, executive director of the Alaska Public Safety Employees Association.
Palin, now the Republican candidate for vice president, is battling allegations that she sacked her public safety commissioner in July because he refused to fire Trooper Mike Wooten, her sister's ex-husband.
The governor has denied any wrongdoing.
In an ethics complaint filed Wednesday, the union names the governor and three aides, one of whom cited Wooten's records in a tape-recorded call to a state police lieutenant in February. And the former commissioner, Walt Monegan, said he believes his refusal to fire Wooten led to his firing.
Monegan said no one directly demanded Wooten's dismissal, but the trooper was the subject of "constant" questions or comments "either verbally or in e-mail saying, 'Is this the kind of trooper that should be representing the troopers?' or 'This is not the kind that we want to have as a poster child.' "
"In the center of all of the controversy is Trooper Wooten's continued employment," he said. "Trooper Wooten was an irritant to her."
Palin said Monegan was sacked because of disagreements over the state budget. His firing is under investigation by the Alaska Legislature, but Palin's attorneys filed papers this week to request Alaska's Personnel Board take over the probe.
In August, Palin admitted members of her administration had contacted people in Monegan's department more than 20 times regarding Wooten since she took office in December 2006.
"The individual inquiries taken by themselves are one thing. Many of these inquiries were completely appropriate; however, the serial nature of the contacts understandably could be perceived as some kind of pressure, presumably at my direction," she said.
But in papers requesting the probe be transferred to the personnel board, Palin's lawyer called Wooten a "rogue trooper" who threatened the governor's family during a bitter divorce and custody battle. Thomas Van Flein, the governor's attorney, said it was appropriate to complain to the head of the department about a trooper the Palins believed posed a threat to their security.
Van Flein had no immediate response to the union complaint.
Palin had been complaining to state police officials about Wooten since before she became governor. In March 2006, he received a five-day suspension for drinking beer in his patrol car, illegally shooting a moose under his wife's hunting permit and using a Taser on his 10-year-old stepson "in a training capacity."
Van Flein said Wednesday the Palins were unaware any action had been taken against Wooten until after Monegan's firing.
In the February 29 call by Frank Bailey, Palin's boards and commissions director, to state police Lt. Rodney Dial, Bailey complained there had been "absolutely no action for a year on this issue." During the call, he said there was some "really funny business" about a worker's compensation claim Wooten had filed and suggested he lied about a health condition on his state police job application.
"That's extraordinary for them to reference that," Cyr said. Police application files contain results of background checks and reference letters, "and those are sealed. Even Trooper Wooten doesn't have access to those."
And during the February conversation, Dial questioned how Bailey had obtained information that was "extremely confidential."
"I'm trying to find out how it was determined by anybody that he had indicated something on his application that later was found to be not true," he said.
Bailey replied, "I'm a little bit reluctant to say." But he added, "Over in admin is where, you know, we hold workers' comp right in there."
Efforts to contact either Bailey or his attorney on Thursday were unsuccessful.
When she turned over the recording to the Legislature, Palin said she was "truly disappointed and disturbed to learn that a member of this administration contacted the Department of Public Safety regarding Trooper Wooten. At no time did I authorize any member of my staff to do so."
Palin placed Bailey on paid leave until the investigation is over.
Cyr said the union's complaint has been in the works since August 13, when the Bailey-Dial conversation was disclosed. "Of course, we had no way of knowing that Gov. Palin was tapped to be the vice president," he said.
It was touching to hear him speak about his time in Vietnam, but his "I will do my best" is something best left for a 2nd grade election. Of course he'll do his best (as will his opponent) but tell us HOW you'll do that; tell us what your platform is.
By owing up to the fact that the Republicans fell down on the job (also blaming the Democrats in part of that) in the recent past, did he expect to win over converts? It's him saying, "We fucked up, but we'll try harder".
Hell, Palin spoke better than he just did, and that's not saying much.
You can say whatever you want about Senator Obama. Personally, I think that the little nicknames that opposing parties pin on the competition are demeaning and mean-spirited. That's why I don't use them, but feel free.
As for Michelle Obama, perhaps she's sick of the political system. Perhaps she's sick of how women and minorities are treated in this country, so she's finally proud. Perhaps she's exercising her right to free speech. Perhaps she's had thousands of words quoted and is being held to task for four of them. Perhaps there are things that she isn't proud of in this country (God knows there's plenty I'm not proud of) and is looking forward to being First Lady so that she can change that things she doesn't like.
I don't know Michelle Obama, so I wouldn't speak for her. I've never heard of the quote that you mentioned, so I wouldn't know where to begin.
SC, as for McCain's speech, he came across as a sincere man who would like to serve his country. Did he need to do more than that? I don't know.
In politics, there's a "daddy" and a "mommy" that get elected, one to comfort and aid, the other to be the tough leader. Perhaps on their ticket, it's McCain's rule to be the "mommy". I'm not trying to demean him. It might be a very smart move.
I don't know Michelle Obama, so I wouldn't speak for her. I've never heard of the quote that you mentioned, so I wouldn't know where to begin.
She said it, but it was taken mostly out of context. Here's the story. It happened a while ago during the primaries.
Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle, is under fire for leaving the impression that she hasn’t been proud of her country until now, when Democrats are beginning to rally around her husband’s campaign.
Speaking in Milwaukee, Wis., on Monday, she said, “People in this country are ready for change and hungry for a different kind of politics and … for the first time in my adult life I am proud of my country because it feels like hope is finally making a comeback.”
Greeted with rousing applause after making the comment in Milwaukee, Obama delivered an amended version of the speech later that day in Madison, Wis.
“For the first time in my adult lifetime, I’m really proud of my country … not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change,” she said. “I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment.”
Obama was born in 1964, meaning her adult life began in 1982. Critics quickly seized on the newfound national pride.
“I am proud of my country,” John McCain’s wife, Cindy, said at a campaign stop in Brookfield, Wis., Tuesday. “I don’t know if you heard those words earlier … but I am very proud of my country.”
During a follow up press conference, the Arizona senator was asked if they were responding to Michelle Obama and he deferred to his wife.
McCain responded: “I just wanted to make the statement that I have and always will be proud of my country.”
Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the candidate’s wife wasn’t trying to knock her country, only underscore the meaning behind her husband’s campaign.
“The point is that of course Michelle is proud of her country, which is why she and Barack talk constantly about how their story wouldn’t be possible in any other nation on Earth,” she said. “What she meant is that she’s really proud at this moment because for the first time in a long time, thousands of Americans who’ve never participated in politics before are coming out in record numbers to build a grassroots movement for change.”
But conservative outlets aren’t so ready to let her off the hook.
“Can it really be there has not been a moment during that time when she felt proud of her country?” reads an article in Commentary magazine. “Forget matters like the victory in the Cold War; how about only things that have made liberals proud — all the accomplishments of inclusion? How about the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1991? Or Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s elevation to the Supreme Court?”
The article then says Michelle Obama’s comments suggest “the pseudo-messianic nature of the Obama candidacy is very much a part of the way the Obamas themselves are feeling.”
Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol said the comment “was sort of revealing.”
“She was an adult when we won the Cold War without firing a shot. She was an adult for the last 25 years of economic progress, social progress,” he told FOX News. “I think the Democrats have to be careful … they’re running against the status quo … You have to be careful not to let that slide into a kind of indictment of America. Because I don’t think the American people think on the whole that the last 25 years of American history is a narrative of despair and nothing to be proud of.”
Democratic strategist Bob Beckel said Obama “shouldn’t have said it the way she said it” but she gets the benefit of his doubt. He added that she most likely was just referring to the grassroots movement that’s swelled to support her husband, but she needs to be more careful.
“The Obama’s have to recognize they are now front-runners, and everything they say, it’s now open hunting season for people,” he said.
SC, as for McCain's speech, he came across as a sincere man who would like to serve his country. Did he need to do more than that? I don't know.
IMO, yes. He needed to speak of ideals and specifics for what he wants to get done as president. Don't you think Obama is sincere, and don't you think he would like to serve his country as well?
It was a bit lackluster, yes. But that's who he is. He's not a charismatic, animated kind of guy. I'm sure that's part of the reason that he brought Palin onto the ticket. They complement one another.
Just to clarify, are you commenting on the content or on the delivery???
