And in today's useless polling:



http://www.politico.com/blogs/anneschroeder/

It's not actually "voting fraud", it's "registration fraud". There's a big difference. The idiots that ACORN hired to register voters decided it was easier to make up phony registrations than actually register real voters, since they get paid based on the number of people that they register. In reality, none of those phony registrants would have been able to vote, unless you believe "Mickey Mouse" and/or the Dallas Cowboys would show up to vote in Ohio.

Yeah, the voting fraud is reserved for Florida Republicans.

If that "food stamp" bill was really posted I find it entirely despicable.

Disgusting; even by redneck standards.

The wheels are coming off, and they just can't handle it. I suspect it'll get a lot uglier in the weeks leading up to President Obama's inauguration.

".....She said she doesn't think in racist terms,"

Give me a break.


In all fairness, just as Senator Obama should not be held directly responsible for what's been done by some democratic organization and what some from the democratic party are being investigated for, the same benefit of the doubt should apply to Senator MaCain in regards to this mailing put out by some members of the republican party.

To what Democratic organization are you referring?

The one that Senator Obama's campaign has payed to canvas voters.

ACORN Responds to Senator McCain's Desperate Attack

Last update: 12:41 a.m. EDT Oct. 16, 2008

WASHINGTON, Oct 16, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Maude Hurd, ACORN's National President, issued the following statement in response to Senator McCain's attack:
"We appreciate that Senator McCain's effort to stir up the Republican base by attacking a community organization working to increase public participation in our democratic process. However, these attacks reflect an increasingly panicked candidate; unfortunately the Senator McCain we saw tonight is very different than the Senator McCain who stood shoulder to shoulder with ACORN at a February 20, 2006 immigration reform event.
It is clear for us to see that John McCain was for ACORN before he was against ACORN; he was for reform before he was against reform; and he was a maverick before he became erratic. What is really going here is that Senator McCain and his allies are part of a coordinated effort to engage in what appears to be an unprecedented effort to suppress voter turnout. Repeating a lie doesn't make it true, and the McCain campaign has resorted to the worst type of deceptions in regards to ACORN.
The Facts:
- ACORN has helped 1.3 million citizens from all parties and all walks of life apply for voter registration.
- In most states, ACORN is required by law to turn in every voter registration card - even in cases where the cards are not valid.
- It is ACORN that has reported almost all of the issues regarding voter registration cards.
- Invalid voter registration cards do NOT constitute voter fraud. Even RNC General Counsel Sean Cairncross has recently acknowledged he is not aware of a single improper vote cast as a result of bad cards submitted in the course of an organized voter registration effort.
- ACORN hired 13,000 field workers to register people to vote. In any endeavor of this size, some people will engaged in inappropriate conduct. ACORN has a zero tolerance policy and terminated any field workers caught engaging in questionable activity. At the end of the day, as ACORN is paying these people to register voters, it is ACORN that is defrauded.
ACORN's Fight Back Thursday:
Tomorrow, at 11:00 am EST, ACORN will be convening a conference call unveiling a pointed critique to Senator McCain's outlandish assertion that ACORN was responsible for the housing crisis:
Thursday, October 16th : ACORN Call on ACORN Critique of McCain on Housing/Financial Crisis:
Call in #: 800-247-5110, pass code 8388
ACORN is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, with over 400,000 member families organized into neighborhood chapters in 100 cities across the country. Since 1970 ACORN has taken action and won victories on issues of concern to our members. Our priorities include: better housing for first time homebuyers and tenants, living wages for low-wage workers, more investment in our communities from banks and governments, and better public schools. ACORN is an acronym, and each letter should be capitalized. ACORN stands for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.
ACORN's website is at http://www.acorn.org.
SOURCE Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN)

Senator Obama hired ACORN? Is that what you're saying, DC???

Well, if he did, and they falsely registered voters, and let's say "Mickey Mouse" shows up to vote, complete with ID and all, and he signs in to vote, and the signatures match, and he goes into the booth and pulls the curtain, what guarantee would Senator Obama have that he would vote on the Democratic ticket?? How would it be to his advantage??

McCain tells Letterman, ‘I screwed up’
After the Republican nominee sat down, Letterman asked, ‘Can you stay?’
The Associated Press
updated 8:35 p.m. ET, Thurs., Oct. 16, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - John McCain told David Letterman that “I screwed up” by canceling a “Late Show” appearance three weeks ago, then faced a sharp round of questioning about Sarah Palin and his campaign tactics.

Not willing to risk the wrath of Letterman again, the Republican presidential candidate rented a helicopter to fly to New York after a weather delay grounded his campaign airplane in Philadelphia. He had canceled a Sept. 24 appearance during the brief suspension of his campaign because of the economic crisis, and Letterman has been hammering him ever since.

The band played the Who’s “I Can’t Explain” as McCain walked onstage at the Ed Sullivan Theater. After he sat down, Letterman asked, “Can you stay?”

“Depends on how bad it gets,” McCain answered.

Letterman had replaced McCain with the GOP hopeful’s persistent critic, MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann, on Sept. 24. Olbermann was waiting in the wings Thursday — and McCain had a pained expression when he noticed that.

Although Letterman said he was “willing to put this behind us,” he came after McCain hard with questions. He asked whether Palin was his first choice as vice president.

“Absolutely,” McCain answered.

He said he didn’t know her well before choosing her, but that he was impressed by her reputation as a reformer.

Letterman repeatedly pressed McCain on her qualifications, asking if he was confident she could lead the country in a time of crisis.

“In all due respect, one of the people I admired most was an obscure governor of a southern state called Arkansas and he turned out to be a fairly successful president,” McCain said, complimenting Bill Clinton. “Ronald Reagan was a cowboy, no experience in international affairs. I think she has shown leadership.”

As Letterman pressed on, McCain asked, “Have we pretty well exhausted this?”

“No, no,” Letterman said. “I’m just getting started.”

Letterman questioned him about Palin’s claim that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama “palled around with terrorists,” and McCain backed her up, saying his opponent need to better explain his relationship with former Weather Underground activist William Ayers.

Tough questions, joke answers
“Did you not have a relationship with Gordon Liddy?” Letterman asked about Watergate burglar G. Gordon Liddy.

McCain said he knew him. Then, after a commercial break, McCain said, “I know Gordon Liddy. He paid his debt, he went to prison ... I’m not in any way embarrassed to know Gordon Liddy.”

“You understand the same case could be made of your relationship with him as is being made with William Ayers?” Letterman said.

McCain said he has been completely open about his relationship with Liddy.

Letterman appeared to ridicule McCain about the implication that Obama and Ayers had a relationship.

“Are they double-dating, are they going to dinner, what are they doing?” Letterman asked. “Are they driving across country?”

“Maybe going to Denny’s,” McCain said.

Letterman said that Obama was 8 when Ayers was 29, and McCain appeared exasperated. “There’s millions of words said in a campaign. C’mon, Dave,” he said.

McCain said he thought Palin would appear on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” where Tina Fey has been doing a dead-on impersonation of her. “Probably get more of an audience than our debate did,” he said.

Although Letterman had said he felt like an “ugly date” after McCain’s initial cancellation, representatives for the two men never stopped talking about a return date.

While McCain risked a rough appearance — “I haven’t had so much fun since my last interrogation,” he said — it gave him the chance to show courage in the face of fire. Letterman reaches about 4 million people a night, a number sure to increase with McCain as guest. With clips on the Internet and Friday morning news, countless more people will undoubtedly learn about their encounter.

McCain did offer one campaign promise that he was probably more likely to keep after he left the stage.

“It’s not the time to raise anybody’s taxes — except yours,” he said to Letterman. “I guarantee you if I become president, I’ll do it. First executive order.”

Go up a few posts where you will see that I clearly stated that Senator Obama should not be held directly responsible for what's been done by some organization.

Senator Obama's CAMPAIGN hired a firm which is tied in with ACORN, for a get-out-the-vote effort. Not Senator Obama personally.

What guarantee does he have that they will vote for him ONCE they go into the voting booth and pull the curtain closed? Well there are no guarantees in life, but c'mon now, PHULEEESE, let's not be naive about this. ACORN themselves have said that they have registered 1.3 million young people, minorities and poor and working-class voters — most of whom tend to be Democrats.

My post was in no way meant to be an attack on Senator Obama. My intention was only to say that there should be some fairness here for BOTH candidates. What applies to one should apply to the other. Just as Obama should not be held personally responsible for what ACORN has done, Senator McCain should not be held responsible for what that republican woman's party put out. That was my point.

I didn't think that you implied he should be held responsible. I was just clarifying what you were talking about.

Is anyone watching MSMBC? There is a dinner of some kind with McCain, Obama and Congress (I guess). McCain spoke first and cracked all kinds of jokes (I tuned in at the end of McCain). Now Obama is on and is quite funny.

Some tidbits from Obama for those who ask "Who is Obama?"

"Contrary to gossip, I was not born in a manger" (McCain had a good joke to that affect before O got up to speak)

"Barack means "That One" and (per Obama) "I got my middle name obviously from someone who never thought I'd run for President."

I wish I could remember more and I just heard it. I wish I could have seen it from the beginning, even McCain was funny.


TIS

Note: It's the Afred E. Smith Memorial dinner, A Catholic gathering evidently.(I guess he is the first Catholic to run for an office or something)They are playing McCain again, if anyone wants to see it.

A great line from McCain, "I call him 'The One', but he has a pet name for me too.....George Bush.

I saw most of it on MSNBC. Both candidates were very funny. I'll see if I can find some highlights on YouTube.

Obama roasts McCain:




McCain roasts Obama:

Some funny stuff...! But kinda surreal to me. Are these presidential candidates or hosts of SNL? I'm really not sure what to think of all this comedy right now... but on the other hand, it is kind of a breath of fresh air!

BTW, not surprisingly, it didn't seem like McCain knew who Alfred E. Neuman was...

This is a tradition that the candidates do every 4 years. (Except last year because the Catholic Church has a problem with John Kerry)

I never really noticed it... but it is pretty cool!

Obama and McCain trade wisecracks, not attacks

Smith was the governor of New York in the 1920's. He ran for president in 1928 and lost to Herbert Hoover. Franklin Roosevelt replaced Smith as governor, and the rest is history.

It's an annual affair (in which politicians roast each other).

Is it just me or is all the men dressed alike?

I have to admit that "No"bama even made me laugh. Hillary gave him all his gray hair.

Obama Slaying Joke Sent By GOP Fundraiser

By WILLIAM MARCH

TAMPA - Al Austin, a high-level Republican fundraiser from Tampa, sent an e-mail to his list of his political contacts Wednesday containing a joke that refers to the assassination of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

In an interview, Austin said it was a mistake and apologized, that he hadn't fully read the e-mail and wouldn't knowingly have circulated it.

Later in the day, Austin sent a follow-up e-mail saying it was "a serious mistake on my part" and that the joke "was entirely wrong and certainly does not represent my feelings."

The punch line says that if an airplane carrying Obama and his wife were blown up "it certainly wouldn't be a great loss, and it probably wouldn't be an accident either."

Austin acknowledged sending the e-mail to his list of political contacts, but said he did so while distracted by a conversation with his doctor and didn't know what it said. That list included at least two reporters.

According to the forwarding history on the e-mail, it had gone through at least two other individuals before being sent to Austin on Tuesday. Those two individuals didn't immediately respond to e-mails seeking comment.

Austin, a prominent real estate developer long known as one of the state's leading Republican campaign fundraisers, has served in recent years as finance chairman for both the national and state Republican parties.

Controversy has arisen in the presidential race concerning virulent anti-Obama outbursts among the crowds at some rallies for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

On Wednesday, the Secret Service was looking into a second allegation that a Palin rallygoer shouted, "Kill him!" after mention of Obama's name, according to The Associated Press.

The Scranton Times-Tribune reported the shout.

A similar incident occurred at a Palin rally in Clearwater last week, according to a news report and some witnesses, when Palin talked about Obama's relationship with former anti-Vietnam War radical William Ayers.

The Secret Service investigated that allegation and found no proof that "Kill him!" was said, or if it was said, that the remark was directed at Obama, according to the agency's spokesman, Eric Zahren.

"We would ask that anyone overhearing threatening language bring it to the attention of the Secret Service or other law enforcement at the event immediately," Zahren said.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/oct/16/na-obama-slaying-joke-sent/news-politics/

That is so scary and so hateful. Just plain WRONG!!!! I do hope the authorities that be follow up on all these things. How sad that some are so hateful.


TIS

TIS, there will always be hatred. It's unfortunate, but I believe that it is part of the human condition.

What bothers me is that I believe that Governor Palin's rhetoric at these rallies is what is whipping these people into such frenzy.

Absolutely, Babe. Palin has proven herself to be both narrow minded and hateful.

The race is tightening a little, but I get the sense that the Palin phenomenon has run its course. I think she becomes a serious drag on the ticket in the next few days.

Interesting that you mention that, DT. I saw a focus group of six being interviewed after the debate. Two were Obama supporters, two were McCain supporters and two were undecided. They were asked to raise their hands if they believed that Governor Palin has hurt McCains campaign. All six raised their hands.

The Washington Times op-ed piece endorsed Obama, which is not altogether surprising. To tie into DT's comment, the Times had this interesting comment:

"The choice is made easy in part by Mr. McCain's disappointing campaign, above all his irresponsible selection of a running mate who is not ready to be president."

I was just watching Palin's Ohio rally. In the the middle of it, she makes the disclaimer that what she's about to say isn't negative or an attack. Then she proceeds to attack Obama for the next 10-15 minutes.

McCain must have spent less time vetting "Sam the non-Plumber", than he did for Governor Palin.



Is 'Joe the Plumber' a plumber? That's debatable

HOLLAND, Ohio (AP) — Joe the Plumber's story sprang a few leaks Thursday. Turns out that the man who was held up by John McCain as the typical, hard-working American taxpayer isn't really a licensed plumber. And court documents show he owes nearly $1,200 in back taxes.

"Joe," whose name is Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, was cited repeatedly in Wednesday night's final presidential debate by McCain for questioning Barack Obama's tax policy.

Wurzelbacher instantly became a media celebrity, fielding calls during the debate and facing reporters outside his home near Toledo on Thursday morning for an impromptu nationally televised news conference.

The burly, bald man acknowledged he doesn't have a plumber's license, but said he didn't need one because he works for someone else at a company that does residential work.

But Wurzelbacher still would need to be a licensed apprentice or journeyman to work in Toledo, and he's not, said David Golis, manager and residential building official for the Toledo Division of Building Inspection.

State and local records show Wurzelbacher has no license, although his employer does. Golis said there are no records of inspectors citing Wurzelbacher for unlicensed work in Toledo.

And then there was the matter of his taxes.

Wurzelbacher owes the state of Ohio $1,182.98 in personal income tax, according to Lucas County Court of Common Pleas records.

In January 2007, Ohio's Department of Taxation filed a claim on his property until he pays the debt, according to the records. The lien remains active.

At the debate, McCain cited Wurzelbacher as an example of someone who wants to buy a plumbing business but would be hurt by Obama's tax plans.

Wurzelbacher, a self-described conservative, had spoken to Obama at a rally Sunday near his home and asked him whether his tax plan would keep him from buying the business that currently employs him, which earns more than $250,000 a year.

"Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?" Wurzelbacher asked.

Obama said that under his proposal taxes on any revenue from $250,000 on down would stay the same, but that amounts above that level would be subject to a 39 percent tax, instead of the current 36 percent rate.

McCain said Obama's plan would stop entrepreneurs such as Wurzelbacher from investing in new small businesses and keep existing ones from growing.

The McCain campaign posted a Web ad featuring the exchange between Wurzelbacher and Obama.

During an afternoon taping of "Late Show with David Letterman," McCain said he had not yet spoken to Wurzelbacher, and apologized for the press attention he had received.

"Joe, if you're watching, I'm sorry," McCain said.

Wurzelbacher had to deal with a clog of two dozen reporters outside his home on a narrow street lined with ranch- and split-level homes Thursday morning. No detail about the divorced father of a 13-year-old boy was too small: Was he a registered voter? Did he have a plumbing license? Whom will he vote for?

Leaning against his black Dodge Durango SUV, Wurzelbacher at first was amused by it all, then overwhelmed and finally a little annoyed.

"I don't have a lot of pull. It's not like I'm Matt Damon," he said "I just hope I'm not making too much of a fool of myself."

He indicated he was a fan of the military and McCain but wouldn't say who will get his vote. He is registered as a Republican, the county elections board said, because he voted in the GOP primary in March.

Wurzelbacher said a McCain campaign official contacted him several days before the debate to ask him to appear with the candidate at a Toledo rally scheduled for Sunday.

He told reporters he's unsure if he'll attend, since he's now scheduled to be in New York for TV interviews.

On Thursday in New Hampshire, Obama said McCain was misleading voters by proposing tax plans that favor the rich while criticizing an Obama tax plan that would raise taxes only on people making more than $250,000 a year, just 5 percent of all taxpayers.

"He's trying to suggest that a plumber is the guy he's fighting for," Obama said. "How many plumbers you know that are making a quarter-million dollars a year?"

Wurzelbacher said he felt a bit overwhelmed by all the attention.

"I'm kind of like Britney Spears having a headache. Everybody wants to know about it," he joked.

You know, political campaigns have been and will continue to include an element of attack. There are different versions of attack and some are inappropriate, but some are not. Nevertheless, such attacks are inevitable.

Our country's 24/7 news coverage probably provides us with too much information, some of which does not lend itself to our intelligent perception, discussion, and absorption of issues, questions, proposals, etc. While we may inveigh against those attacks that are nothing less than pejorative, we need to preclude them from distracting us from the quality of candidates' proposals by which they would, if elected, govern us.