U.S. Elections 2008: General Elections -- Analysis and Commentary

[Devastatin Dave]

O'course the same applies to the Dem camp.
.

Not really, so far the media has done an excellent job burying all the stories to Obama's dirty little secrets. This is the most biased election coverage in the history of politics. They sure love them some Obama. Has anyone watched MSNBC during this election? Even Bill Mahr said that Chris Matthews and Kieth Olberman want to have sex with Obama.

[CountArach]

Here's a bullet in the theory that women will migrate to McCain/Palin en-masse, at least initially.

Women are 1 point LESS LIKELY to vote for Palin. They also have a far less favourable view of her than men (Though it must be admitted that a +18 Favourability rating is nothing to be sniffed at...

[Crazed Rabbit]

Apparently a former chairman of the DNC thinks that hurricane Gustav pounding New Orleans is a sign God likes the democratic party, by again destroying a city full of democrats. I'd hate to see what He'd do if he disliked the dems.

CR

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Apparently a former chairman of the DNC thinks that hurricane Gustav pounding New Orleans is a sign God likes the democratic party, by again destroying a city full of democrats. I'd hate to see what He'd do if he disliked the dems.

CR

The fact that someone video taped a conversation he overheard on a plane and posted an angry blog about it is way more entertaining than the fact that someone commented on gustav being good for the democratic party.

[Big_John]

Following a tangent if I may, I would interested in US orgahs' analysis of why "executive experience" seems to be such a touchstone for the race.

Looking back over the post-war presidents, pretty much all of them had some sort of executive experience by the definitions referred to in previous posts: vice-president, governor or in one case, general. Only Kennedy came straight from legislature. The current President Bush was a four-year governor of the great state of Texas, yet almost no-one nowadays (even from his own side) would much dispute the notion he has been one of the worst ever occupants of the White House. For balance's sake, President Clinton was two-time governor of Arkansas yet one might be safe in saying that conservatives might feel this did not make him a good president.

To my mind, pretty much half of these made fairly useless presidents: Both Bushes, Clinton, Carter, Ford and maybe Johnson. Only Eisenhower, Reagan, Nixon and Kennedy stand out: and Dickie probably had too much "executive" experience , whilst JFK didn't have long enough to truly blot his copybook, if that was destined.

Now, of course we don't have a control experiment to judge how much more of a disaster "non-experienced" presidents might have been (the pre-war ones had perhaps, significantly different challenges and are clouded by historical distance) but being a governor or veep doesn't seem to help make one a good president necessarily.

My guess is that the office of president is so singular, nothing - not even the vice-presidency - can prepare a person for the burden. That is why - quite rightly - the voters focus on issues of character, fortitude and accurate, timely decision making in candidates.

Both Governor Palin and Senator Obama might surprise us all with their abilities in these areas. Senator McCain has the further interesting quality for a president of being to work effectively across partisan boundaries.

Just a thought from an observer. As noted, I'd be interested on your views as to how wrong my analysis might be.

if i understand you correctly, you think that i should run for president.

point well made. big_john in 2012!

[Tribesman]

Nice link Rabbit thanks for the laugh .
It makes you wonder though , when a site can put something like this......

WARNING -- As is common on leftist sites, some of the language that follows is profane. (Not to mention filled with bad spelling and grammar)

...at the bottom of one of their articles when their own article is filled with bad spelling and grammar just how far they have their heads up their own backsides .
And of course considering that the article I mention moans about people being stupid reading and believing made up stories about Palin just how far up their own backsides they are when they and their readershipdo exactly the same about Obama .
BTW I like the way they moan about "leftist" conspiracy theories and in the same line throw out their own consipracy theory .

[Lemur]

That's pretty foul, CR. Yet another example of people putting party before nation. Still doesn't hold a candle to the wholesale politicization of the GWoT by the Bush Admin, but nasty nonetheless. (Based on evidence, though, can we all agree that God hates Florida?)

Meanwhile, politicos in Alaska are saying, "Was Palin vetted? Nobody called us."

State House Speaker John Harris, a Republican from Valdez, was astonished at the news. He didn't want to get into the issue of her qualifications.

"She's old enough," Harris said. "She's a U.S. citizen."

Former House Speaker Gail Phillips, a Republican political leader who has clashed with Palin in the past, was shocked when she heard the news Friday morning with her husband, Walt.

"I said to Walt, 'This can't be happening, because his advance team didn't come to Alaska to check her out," Phillips said.

Phillips has been active in the Ted Stevens re-election steering committee and remains in close touch with Sen. Lisa Murkowski and other party leaders, and she said nobody had heard anything about McCain's people doing research on his prospective running mate.

"We're not a very big state. People I talk to would have heard something."

[JR-]

apparently the mcain team went to fantastic lengths to keep her selection secret, possibly why the politicos knew nothing about it:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...-a-secret.html

[CountArach]

That could be because he only picked her the night before.

[Tribesman]

St. Paul is just soooo gay .
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/oliv...08.johnmccain1

[Sasaki Kojiro]

I have to laugh at the democratic party that concerns itself with the plight of the poor and then want to take away the one economic advantage the poor in third world countries have. So I'm supposed to tell a poor person making clothing I"m not going to buy what they make for their own good, until their costs to make it are so high there's no reason to buy it from them anymore?

Eh, don't you think we should look out for our own? I mean, would you support a bill that provided health care for countries overseas?

And I don't think trade workers are stupid or need to go to college; I think they could get new jobs based on their skills, instead of democrats who seem to think they'll never find work again.

Ah yes, the "just get a job" school of economics.

Take a look at China; for decades they made the junk of the world.

Pretty soon their toys won't contain toxic paint anymore.

Finally, I don't see you talking about how Obama wants to dramatically increase the capital gains tax and seriously hurt the economy. That would be increasing the tax on every American who owns stocks, and take a good deal of reward for risky investment away.
Oh, not to mention, Bush's rate cut for the capital gains tax drastically increased revenue collected from that tax.
A bigger look at how harmful it would be:
http://www.nysun.com/business/obama-...ew-york/81902/

Your last statement indicates that you don't quite understand the issue. Of course cutting the rate increases revenue collected from the tax. It's simple. Let's say you make over 250k and have a tax rate of 35%, with the capital gains tax being at 15%. You sure as hell aren't going to cash out an investment and pay the huge markup. You'll hold onto it for a year, and pay the capital gains tax. But if the tax is at 28%, you're much more likely to cash it out early and pay income tax on it instead.

I love how you think increasing the tax on people who own stocks is a bad thing--"just leave warren buffet alone"!

[discovery1]

I love how you think increasing the tax on people who own stocks is a bad thing--"just leave warren buffet alone"!

You know that slightly more then a majority of people own stocks right?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

You know that slightly more then a majority of people own stocks right?

You do know that a small minority of people make over 250k, right?

[KukriKhan]

So, Gee-Dub and Shotgun Dick will be no-shows at the Repub convention. Reports also indicate that about a third of scheduled speakers have sent in "regrets", due to Hurricane Gustav or other pressing business.

The RNC has the XCel Center booked for 2 weeks +.

Monday the gavel opens the convention. At 0600, the mainstream media should be on-hand in New Orleans (not Minneapolis) to photograph Johnny Mac and Sarah Barracuda, with hardhats and shovels, filling sandbags - and McCain suggesting that storm refugees are welcome to stay at the convention site (or any of his 7, 8, 9 homes), with a smile.

Got lemons? Make lemonade; and furniture polish, and airfreshener, and...

Gustav is not a "problem", it's an opportunity.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

So, Gee-Dub and Shotgun Dick will be no-shows at the Repub convention. Reports also indicate that about a third of scheduled speakers have sent in "regrets", due to Hurricane Gustav or other pressing business.

The RNC has the XCel Center booked for 2 weeks +.

Monday the gavel opens the convention. At 0600, the mainstream media should be on-hand in New Orleans (not Minneapolis) to photograph Johnny Mac and Sarah Barracuda, with hardhats and shovels, filling sandbags - and McCain suggesting that storm refugees are welcome to stay at the convention site (or any of his 7, 8, 9 homes), with a smile.

Got lemons? Make lemonade; and furniture polish, and airfreshener, and...

Gustav is not a "problem", it's an opportunity.

I'm sure all the secret service, extra security requirements, and press photographers won't interfere with the preparation efforts at all...

[ICantSpellDawg]

I'm sure all the secret service, extra security requirements, and press photographers won't interfere with the preparation efforts at all...

They are staying in Mississippi because they won't be as distracting there. Louisiana will most likely be much harder hit.

[KukriKhan]

I'm sure all the secret service, extra security requirements, and press photographers won't interfere with the preparation efforts at all...

Hehe. I guess that's why I'm merely a humble public servant, and not a political strategist.

But you gotta admit: It would score big PR points. Then he and she show up in Minn dirty, sweaty, and late for the hoopla, and give their acceptance speeches in shirtsleeves.

-edit-
woo-hoo, 1400 posts.

[Xiahou]

I'm sure all the secret service, extra security requirements, and press photographers won't interfere with the preparation efforts at all...

And if they don't go, they're uncaring snobs. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Lemur, she got the state party chairman and the AG thrown out of office over corruption and you're surprised that the good ole boys in the state party don't like her? I'm surprised you give so much credence to what the Alaskan Republican party thinks of her. I think an 80+% approval rating might be more telling than the grumblings of the party bosses who's cages she's spent her time in government rattling. Gail Phillips is busy trying to get Ted Stevens elected- we know she has good judgement.

[ICantSpellDawg]

And if they don't go, they're uncaring snobs. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Lemur, she got the state party chairman and the AG thrown out of office over corruption and you're surprised that the good ole boys in the state party don't like her? I'm surprised you give so much credence to what the Alaskan Republican party thinks of her. I think an 80+% approval rating might be more telling than the grumblings of the party bosses who's cages she's spent her time in government rattling. Gail Phillips is busy trying to get Ted Stevens elected- we know she has good judgement.

Unless they are wearing the blue tie, they are the bad guy.

[JR-]

Palin on Polar:
http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com...ge-in-the-nyt/

[ICantSpellDawg]

Palin on Polar:
http://wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com...ge-in-the-nyt/

Eminently reasonable argument.

[Lemur]

Lemur, she got the state party chairman and the AG thrown out of office over corruption and you're surprised that the good ole boys in the state party don't like her? I'm surprised you give so much credence to what the Alaskan Republican party thinks of her. I think an 80+% approval rating might be more telling than the grumblings of the party bosses who's cages she's spent her time in government rattling.

I'm terribly sorry if I'm not jumping straight into the lovefest. Nor do I mean to rain on your besotment. Reading some quotes, she certainly sounds like less of a rabid partisan that I had feared:

But she said she recognized that “the Democrats also preach individual freedoms and individual rights, capitalism, free market, let-it-do-its-thing-best, let people keep as much of their money that they earn as possible. And when it comes to, like, the Party machine, no one will accuse me of being partisan.”

So the possibility that Obama might win Alaska did not worry Palin: “Turning maybe purple in the state means, to me, it’s more independent, it’s not the obsessive partisanship that gets in the way of doing what’s right for this state, and I think on a national level that’s what we’re gonna see.”

TuffStuff, what's with the "ties"? If you're going to take a swing, at least let us know what you're aiming at.

[ICantSpellDawg]

TuffStuff, what's with the "ties"? If you're going to take a swing, at least let us know what you're aiming at.

really?



I'll save you a space on the "Palin Lovefest express" for whenever it gets too crowded up Obama's bus for you.. I'm just kidding - I know that you are perfectly unbiased.

[Crazed Rabbit]

I love how you think increasing the tax on people who own stocks is a bad thing--"just leave warren buffet alone"!

As disco said, over half of people own stocks. Decreasing the possible reward while the risk stays the same will discourage people from investing in the stock market, which would have a ripple effect on the whole economy.

If Warren Buffet and other limousine liberals are bothered that the rate they pay is too low, nothing is stopping them from paying more taxes.

CR

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Some leftist websites are accussing Palin of not actually having her last child. Apparently they think it was her daughter's...

[Crazed Rabbit]

Wow, those people are freakish.

I mean, seriously, who thinks of that? The child has down's syndrome; much, much more common in children of women over 40.

CR

[ICantSpellDawg]

Some leftist websites are accussing Palin of not actually having her last child. Apparently they think it was her daughter's...

I hope that one gets out big time.



Lets let voters decide. She was probably just wearing a fat suit and lying to an entire state for 9 months as the governor.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

As disco said, over half of people own stocks. Decreasing the possible reward while the risk stays the same will discourage people from investing in the stock market, which would have a ripple effect on the whole economy.

If Warren Buffet and other limousine liberals are bothered that the rate they pay is too low, nothing is stopping them from paying more taxes.

CR

So, neither you nor EMFM have read obama's plan. Same reply to you as I gave to him.

Btw, what else are people going to do with their money? Put it in a savings account? As long as stocks are still a better investment.

[Devastatin Dave]

And if they don't go, they're uncaring snobs. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Lemur, she got the state party chairman and the AG thrown out of office over corruption and you're surprised that the good ole boys in the state party don't like her? I'm surprised you give so much credence to what the Alaskan Republican party thinks of her. I think an 80+% approval rating might be more telling than the grumblings of the party bosses who's cages she's spent her time in government rattling. Gail Phillips is busy trying to get Ted Stevens elected- we know she has good judgement.

Face it Xiahou, the only way the lefties in our backroom would respect her is if she had gutted her Baby a few second before he was born like she would an Alaskan salmon. I guess I would be upset too if the top guy on my ticket that I was supporting had less experience than the bottom ticket of the opposition!!!

[Devastatin Dave]

So, neither you nor EMFM have read obama's plan. Same reply to you as I gave to him.

Btw, what else are people going to do with their money? Put it in a savings account? As long as stocks are still a better investment.

Sasaki, you do realise that a LOT of 401 K's, thrift savings, and other pension funds come from stock inested in those evil oil companies and such right? You are aware that those "rich" evil bastards that make over 250K are often small business owners that hire people, right? You should consider an economics class instead of getting you economic lessons from Marxists like Obama and his buddy Biden.