If you haven't had time to watch the Republican National Convention, it is encapsulated in 60 seconds. My favorite is the Giuliani speech. (Okay, I'm sure the same can be done for the Democrats. ;))

http://www.236.com/video/2008/watch_the_rnc_in_a_minute_8773.php

Found one for the Democrats.

http://www.236.com/video/2008/the_democratic_primary_in_a_mi_7230.php

Can't blame Hillary. You never know where Bill's mouth have been.

I wonder if that piece of paper on Obama's back say's "kick me"?

Why would you ban me when you've finally vanquished me, DT? Honestly, I am a liberal now, it's dead serious. I even argued that America was a terrorist nation in my class tonight. So can I get my ACLU card now?

Incidentally, I'm really excited for Obama's speech tonight. I'm having some friends of mine come over to watch.

Dude, fuck off.

If you're gonna be sarcastic, be funny about it at least.

No idea if this report is true, but its out there:

Misleading absentee ballot forms being sent by McCain campaign

http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2008/09/misleading-absentee-ballot-forms-being.html

A scan of the alleged fake ballots:

Anyone catch Palin's first interview with Charles Gibson? Wow. Just wow.
Talk about a deer in the headlights. She can't answer one question with a straight answer.

Hey, its what DJ and Appleonya wants.

We now know why the McCain camp keeps her on a short leash.

That was my original thought on McCain's picking her as his v.p. running mate - she doesn't have enough experience in handling the press, and the final weeks of the campaign is not the time to train her.

Big mistake on his part.

She's a real dog, isn't she?

No. She's a "pig". Remember?

If I were DT - and I wish to emulate his liberalism - I think I'd be saying something about "zero tolerance" at this point. Right?

Only if you take things grossly out of context.

I prefer to discuss ISSUES in this campaign, and not play little games, or respond to those who do. I would suggest those that are truly interested in politics do the same.

JL, I didn't see the interview. I know that the McCain camp has limited her exposure to question, which begs the question, If she's not ready for a tough interview, how can she be one heartbeat away from the presidency??

I did see the McCain ad which declares that Obama funded sex education for kindergarten children. That his legislation funded a program that teaches children about sex before they can read.

The actual program teaches children about stranger danger and the difference between a "good touch" and a "bad touch".

Yeah, that's like the same thing.

The interview consisted of Palin rattling off memorized talking points, not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is, and trying to bluff her way through questions about it, saying Israel should be allowed to do "whatever it wants," and arguing the cae for the U.S. to go to war with Russia.
Earlier in the day she said Saddam Hussein took part in the planning of the Iraq war.

So what is the media doing? Navel gazing about whether or not Charlie Gibson was too tough on her.

That's exactly what I thought. When asked if she agreed with the Bush Doctrine and she paused and said, "In what respect, Charlie?", I actually felt uncomfortable for her as she had no idea what it was. Her reply was a vague, rambling, general hodgepodge of platitudes and phrases, designed to mask her ignorance. I expected her to be more prepared and more direct.

I'm sure there is some internal fingerpointing within the McCain camp as to whose job it was to instruct her on this point.

I heard someone today defending her and saying that Gibson's question was an unfair "gotcha" question, like Bush 8 years ago being ambushed with questions about the names of world leaders. But the Bush Doctrine has been a cornerstone of our foreign policy since before the war, and knowledge of this is a more important foreign policy credential than being able to see a remote part of Russia from a remote island off the coast of Alaska.

Okay, I'll stick with it then.



Interestingly, regarding Obama's education record, the schools in Obama's area in Chicago are some of the poorest in the nation (Read, for example, Kozol's Savage Inequalities) so I'm always intrigued to hear his position on education issues.

Considering the absenteeism in urban schools, I'm wondering whether anyone will be there to hear about this touching.

Well, since my brother taught in some of the poorest schools in the nation for over 35 years, I know that the rate of absenteeism that you are referring to tends to grow as the children get older. It would not relate as much to children of kindergarten age. Secondly, that has nothing to do with the fact that the McCain camp completely distorted the program that the funding was used for. If the McCain camp thought that the money could have been better used for something else rather than a program that taught young children about the potential dangers of pedophiles, then that's what the ad should have said. It should not have said that the legislation funded a program about sex education, because that's a complete and total lie.

And, lastly, I'm still curious as to why the phrase "lipstick on a pig" was "offensive and disgraceful" when it was used by Obama to describe McCain's economic policies, but not "offensive and disgraceful" when McCain used it to describe Clinton's healthcare plan.

Suffice it to say if they lie like this to get elected think hw much they'll lie if they are elected.

She really looked bad on that issue.

In all fairness to her, though, I didn't hold it against her about her vagueness in answering if we (the U.S.) could cross Afghanistan's borders to pursue terrorists. I think she gave a politician's answer of "vagueness" and that same type of response could be expected from the Democrats as well.

She didn't appear comfortable and giver her "appearance" at other functions (when she had McCain at her side), I found that a little troubling.

By nominating her as a vp candidate now is like bringing up a Class A minor league pitcher to pitch in the World Series. She's just not prepared and her inexperience is showing.

It's all going to be a moot point once we launch into the presidential candidate debates.

But, again, keep a close watch on the electoral map. That's where the beef is.

I have no beef with that.

Agreed, SC. How do you account for what appears to be her turning around the MCain campaign?

I read a letter to the editor of my local paper today. It said that Governor Palin is the same old, same old with a younger and prettier exterior. I can't say that I disagree. However, people are influenced by appearances, DT, so I think that has a lot to do with it. She nailed that speech at the convention, and I think many people were impressed by her. That would also have a lot to do with it.

Hell, I'll say it. The people who will be swayed are the "fringe" white voters who were just looking for an excuse not to vote for a black man.

There, I said it. You don't have to agree with it, but that's how I feel. There is more than a little something to the "Bradley Effect." How else do you explain Obama leading handily in both the California and Massacheusetts polls on Primary Day, then losing BOTH? It's the fringe, phony, white voters, who tell the pollsters, "Yay . . goodie for him . . . he's got my vote," until it's actually time to get in the voting booth. Then they look for an excuse.

I've been on the Obama train since the beginning, as everyone here knows. But I'm not delusional. This is going to be a VERY close election. And a very tough one for Obama to pull out.

Post convention reactions always make changes in the polls (whether good or bad).

Palin is a master (mistress?) of double talk when she doesn't have a good answer. She'll revert back to whatever SHE wants to talk about and I'm sure her supporters thought she did well in the ABC interviews (saying that she spoke about her platforms, never mind that she didn't answer the questions).

I think her choice as running mate was a purely cosmetic one (that apparently went over well). Once she starts speaking on her own she'll start bringing down the "approval ratings" and the advantage of a surprise pick will disappear.

It's actually quite bad in Chicago. Do kids need books and safe classrooms or to fear Ronald McDonald?



I told you, I'm a democrat. I'm not physically able to answer a direct question with a faithful response.