State of Change

Obama Defends Community Organizing

posted by John Nichols on 09/04/2008 @ 5:18pm

ST. PAUL -- Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin ridiculed Barack Obama's experience as a community organizer twice in her address to her party's national convention. "Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown," the former local official sneered. "And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involved. I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities."

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani piled on with his own mockery of the Democratic presidential candidate's work with laid-off steelworkers on the south side of Chicago. "You have a resume from a gifted man with an Ivy League education. He worked as a community organizer," Giuliani joked. "Okay. Maybe this is the first problem on the resume. He worked as a community organizer."

What does the senator say?

Speaking of the Republican convention speakers, a clearly riled Obama said, "They haven't talked about the fact that I was a civil rights lawyer; they haven't talked about the fact that I taught constitutional law; they haven't talked about my work in the state legislature, in the United States Senate. They're talking about the three years of work that I did right out of college as if... I'm making the leap from two or three years out of college into the presidency."

Obama acknowledged that his campaign had focused attention on his experience as a community organizer. But he said, "I would argue that doing work in the community to try and create jobs, to bring people together, to rejuvenate communities that have fallen on hard times, to set up job-training programs in areas that have been hard hit when the steel plants closed, that that's relevant only in understanding where I'm coming from, who I believe in, who I'm fighting for and why I'm in this race.

"And the question I have for them is? Why would that kind of work be ridiculous? Who are they fighting for? Who are they advocating for?

"Maybe that's the problem," Obama concluded. "Maybe that's part of why they are out of touch and don't get it because they haven't spent much time working for those kind of folks."

Comments (117)

  1. I posted a civics lesson for Sarah Palin on community organizing at the CA NOW blog: http://www.canow.org/canoworg/2008/09/a-civics-lesson.html

    Posted by canow at 09/04/2008 @ 5:48pm

  2. I've already said my piece about community organizers versus mayors in my comment to John Nichols's weblog titled "Spiro T. Palin."

    Thank God for community organizers - and for mayors who know how to work with them! And God save us from the mayors who disparage them!

    Posted by JakobFabian at 09/04/2008 @ 5:55pm

  3. palin's gratuitous mean-spirited speech, which she did not write, was to cover up the fact that she is not qualified -- but her real job is smokescreen for the republicans so that people forget that they are incompetent and put us in quite a mess during their tenure. in that role, she is a star.

    Posted by ywinchell at 09/04/2008 @ 6:05pm

  4. 37 million people turned in to watch THE FREAK SHOW -- 38 million watched Obama because they know what to expect from him; for Palin it was curiosity, that's all.

    Posted by ywinchell at 09/04/2008 @ 6:07pm

  5. Hey, Palin increased Meth production by 500% in her home town.

    Now that's experience they can use in Afghanistan...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 09/04/2008 @ 6:42pm

  6. wow,

    this election is turning formerly nice-ish people into complete jerks.

    wake me when november ends......

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 6:44pm

  7. Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/04/2008 @ 6:29pm

    You asked for it, HAP!

    1. Palin anti-abortion position is too extreme for America in that she opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest and would FORCE this view on the rest of America.

    2. Palin and her husband flirts with succession from the United States as "affiliates" of AIP party.

    3. Palin attempts to ban library books she doesn't like and fire the city librarian if she doesn't go along.

    4. Palin fires police chief of Wassila because he wants the bars to close at 2am rather than 5am and this upset Palin's bar owner campaign contributors.

    5. Palin fires her chief public safety officer, the former police chief of Anchorage, because he doesn't want to be used in her family feud in firing the ex-husband of her sister.

    6. Palin's car wash was "involuntarily" shut down after she skipped out of paying her taxes and fees, and failed to file required financial statements.

    7. Palin's pastor of 30 years thinks political opponents of Bush won't go to heaven and that Jesus is some kind of war general that kills people that don't believe in him.

    8. Palin stripped funds from Passage House, a group that helps teen moms, LIKE HER DAUGHTER, get skills and lead productive lives after pregnancy.

    9. Palin hired an Abramoff lobbyist to get earmarks that even McCain objected to

    10. Palin SUPPORTED Bridge-to-Nowhere, and only opposed it after public exposure.

    11. Palin inflates her foreign policy experience by claiming a refueling stop as a "visit to Ireland".

    Posted by Metteyya at 09/04/2008 @ 6:44pm

  8. Happy-Why do you believe that because someone is of mixed race and heritage that that makes them a freak?

    Posted by i'm nobody at 09/04/2008 @ 6:45pm

  9. That Obama did not just immediately haunt the shadows of power upon leaving school is a testimony to his character... and shows his inner burning desire to understand 'from the bottom up' how policy effects communities, and how communities can protect and care for its members... especially when and where so many have fallen through the cracks.

    Do you doubt that Obama had the personal criterion necessary for a swift ascension to the halls of power and prestige?

    Therein lies the crux... and the core of this issue.

    Its as is people are saying "beware of anyone who would seek to better understand the complexities of our endemic socio-economic imbalances... because we all know that 'those people' brought it on themselves".

    This assumption... is patently false...

    Obama's chosen path... has helped to create 'this historic moment'... and will inspire many people around the country, and around the world... to broaden their scope beyond the limited shores of personal advancement... and include the stories of millions of struggling fellow citizens who with our collective hardships describe the ways and means to a more satisfying life for ourselves, our childeren... and their children.

    It's not just about who knows how to lead... but who knows how to listen... who knows how to create that composite assessment of today's societal afflictions in order to change this Country's course gently and accordingly... and who knows how to put their ego aside for the acknowledgment that some issues dwell beyond the scope of their interests and understanding and that we must all turn and face them together...

    ...that makes a person a great choice for a leadership role in the establishment of our "more perfect union".

    Posted by ttr at 09/04/2008 @ 6:53pm

  10. Happy-Why do you believe that because someone is of mixed race and heritage that that makes them a freak?

    Posted by i'm nobody at 09/04/2008 @ 6:45pm

    yeah,

    what the fork?

    i remembered one time you threatened to punch me in the mouth because of a comment. (no wonder you'll vote for mr. mccain)

    well, you've just called my son a freak.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 6:53pm

  11. FZ-I think he called lvliberty's wife and family freaks,too.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 09/04/2008 @ 7:01pm

  12. Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 6:53pm

    I think it has something to do with that MONGREL RACE reference in the Christian Bible that right-wingers interpret as "mixing of the races".

    They can't stand the message of love and brotherhood of Jesus so they reach back to ancient times for any support for their racist views!

    Posted by Metteyya at 09/04/2008 @ 7:04pm

  13. K.H.T.

    Keep Her Talking.

    She's a ticking time-bomb for a thermonuclear gaffe detonation.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 7:04pm

  14. ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) President Maude Hurd issued the following statement after presumptive Republican V.P nominee Sara Palin and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani made disparaging remarks about community organizing at the Republican National Convention Wednesday night.

    "ACORN members, leaders and staff are extremely disappointed that Republican leaders would make such condescending remarks on the great work community organizers accomplish in cities throughout this country.

    The fact that they marginalize our success in empowering low- and moderate-income people to improve their communities further illustrates their lack of touch with ordinary people. Through community organizing, people are empowered to take action to solve their own problems, develop leadership skills and make decisions that improve their lives and their communities."

    ACORN has been building organizations and developing leadership among low- and moderate- income residents in neighborhoods throughout the United States for 38 years. During that time, ACORN chapters have worked individually and collectively to organize innovative grassroots campaigns on a number of critical issues. As the nation's largest grassroots community organization with more than 400,000 member families, ACORN employs 400 organizers that carry a huge responsibility of helping disenfranchised people in their communities.

    In the past 10 years, ACORN has helped more than 30 million American families through our various organizing campaigns: better schools, financial justice, living wages, community improvement, immigration, healthcare, predatory lending, voter engagement and utilities.

    The total monetary value of recent victorious ACORN campaigns was quantified in a 2006

    Posted by nathanhj at 09/04/2008 @ 8:12pm

  15. Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/04/2008 @ 6:29pm

    I forsee either HAPP abandoning this thread....and pretending it never happened...

    or trying the biggest ACROBATIC act in history trying to explain why he "didn't say what it LOOKED like he said and he didn't call people of mixed heritage 'freaks'"....

    and not being able to pull it off!

    Remember this is the same guy who loves to use "Magic" (as in "M Negro") and "Half & Half".

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 8:15pm

  16. Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 8:15pm...

    That he does so essentially as an anonymous person...

    ...is yucky.

    He's scared...;^)

    Posted by ttr at 09/04/2008 @ 8:47pm

  17. Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/04/2008 @ 6:29

    Happ, it's the 21st century and most of us know/are friends with/have a family member who is either a different race, religion or sexual orientation. You are really outside the mainstream if you don't. In fact I can't think of one place in the 47 states I have visited or lived where there is an entirely white, heterosexual, protestant population.

    So let's break down the three states I've missed.

    It can't be Hawaii if Barack is from there and obviously Florida has a huge Hispanic population including former Gov Bush' wife which leaves...Alaska.

    Lord Happy, you live in Wasilla! That explains a lot.

    Posted by Pogge at 09/04/2008 @ 8:57pm

  18. Palin paraded her down syndrome baby last night like a freak show. It gives me the creeps. We risk reversing Roe v. Wade. Women are not stupid. Go Obama.

    Posted by nursevic at 09/04/2008 @ 8:59pm

  19. First:

    "Before I became governor of the great state of Alaska, I was mayor of my hometown," the former local official sneered."

    As an exercise let's start keeping track of the various adverbs used in describing Palin's statements. Let's then compare them to the adverbs (when provided) to describe the men in the race. I'm not complaining because I know in politics everything's fair game. But let's just remember the juxtaposition the next time a liberal woman runs for office.

    2nd:

    Obama said, "They haven't talked about the fact that I was a civil rights lawyer; they haven't talked about the fact that I taught constitutional law; they haven't talked about my work in the state legislature, in the United States Senate..."

    Even the Obama campaign, themselves, haven't emphasized these highlights. Had the Obama campaign never focused in on "community organizing" as being one of his paver stones to the presidency, we wouldn't be hearing the jokes at the RNC.

    This was an overall very weak retort from Obama.

    Posted by Person at 09/04/2008 @ 9:07pm

  20. Posted by ttr at 09/04/2008 @ 8:47pm

    He enjoys the soft bigotry of Limbaugh....the kind where you HINT at it, with phrases like "Magic" and "Half & Half" ...and when confronted say "Oh, you libs read 'racism' into everything. I don't believe in Political Correctness" or "You guys have no sense of humor. A black guy I know thought that was funny, so there!"

    which is the rationalization they use for saying the things they do. It's not racism...it's US being "too sensitive".

    Oh and of course the old standbys of "HEY! I work with a local rec center...lots of black and Hispanic kids there, can't accuse me of being a racist!" Of course you would probably never see HAPP go out to dinner with their parents, and he'd casually put all the black kids on the basketball team and all the Latino kids on the soccer team and think "That's the sports THEY love!"

    It's a neat trick...but easily seen through, though guys like Rush and HAPP really don't care. They know it's just "political correctness" and "no sense of humor".

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 9:07pm

  21. Posted by nursevic at 09/04/2008 @ 8:59pm

    If you really, trully want to see what an actual Freak looks like up close and personal, look in a mirror.

    Women are definitely not stupid, but you definitely are.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/04/2008 @ 9:09pm

  22. "the various adverbs used in describing Palin's statements. Let's then compare them to the adverbs (when provided) to describe the men in the race"---Posted by Person at 09/04/2008 @ 9:07pm

    So basically Person, you can't criticize Palin without being a sexist, can you?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 9:09pm

  23. nope.

    can't be alaska, either.

    ms. palin lost the 1984 beauty contest to an african-alaskan.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 9:11pm

  24. Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 9:11pm

    Again, got to know....WAS there a swimsuit competition in the 1984 Miss Alaska pageant?

    and, not to get too RESEian, why are there no videos or photos?!?!?!?!?

    heheh

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 9:13pm

  25. Posted by nursevic at 09/04/2008 @ 8:59pm

    I have worked with Down's kids and adults since I was a student helper in Special Ed in seventh grade. Palin kind of ticked down the "Right Wing Candidate Cred" list:

    I'm a woman-check! Hubby is Native American-check! Son is going to Iraq-Check! Family crises w/Bristol being well managed-check! Parents are blue collar-check! I didn't abort the defective baby-check! Look at me, I'm the perfect candidate!

    I want to believe she hasn't used her family for political gain, but Ewwwww!

    Posted by Pogge at 09/04/2008 @ 9:16pm

  26. Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 9:11pm

    Poor 2Happy, the man without a country :)

    Posted by Pogge at 09/04/2008 @ 9:19pm

  27. Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 9:13pm

    the tubes have been well-scrubbed.

    no conspiracy.

    just common sense.

    if nbc can stop all non-nbc olympic stuff,

    the GOP (and/or white house) can dephoto the internets.

    or maybe not.

    a few pics would probably pick up some votes.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 9:19pm

  28. Posted by Pogge at 09/04/2008 @ 9:16pm

    "freak show" and "gives me the creeps" is crossing the line, especially for someone who claims to be a nurse.

    What kind of frickin nurse says that?

    Supposed to be a health care PROFESSIONAL.

    Take it out on Palin and leave the little kid out of it. He will have enough problems in life without that kind of B.S.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/04/2008 @ 9:24pm

  29. Watched FOX coverage on the net and WOW! they made zero effort to even pretend to pretend to be pretending to be fair and balanced. It was a luuuuv fest right down to the crawls.

    Since we stopped watching TV it's like getting a cement block to the forehead when we do. The difference between FOX and everybody-foreign and domestic-is just incredible. Almost as incredible as people who think that in all the big wide world only FOX is getting it right.

    Posted by Pogge at 09/04/2008 @ 9:29pm

  30. perhaps nursevic was referring to ms. palin's actions and not the baby.

    that's the impression i got.

    because honestly,

    ms. palin is part of a freak show and she gives me the creeps:

    http://www.grizzlybay.org/PalinBear.jpg

    i mean,

    what kind of jerk........

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 9:30pm

  31. Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 9:30pm

    Maybe, but I doubt it.

    If so, I have no problem offering apologies.

    If not, well then....

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/04/2008 @ 9:34pm

  32. http://www.grizzlybay.org/PalinBear.jpg

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 9:30pm

    Alaskan culture is.....different.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/04/2008 @ 9:37pm

  33. Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 9:09pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    That's not what I said. I would expect nothing less than the harshest of criticism. I'm just advising you to take stock of the tenor, to evaluate for yourself if the language of the criticism is loaded. The right is routinely lambasted and skewered by accusations of race-baiting or sexist language. I allow that these debasing traits flourish in the Democratic Party. We have been treated to a nearly inexhaustible reservoir of intolerance from Democrats since the beginning of the Democratic primary season. During this presidential run up, the racist and sexist Democrats are making the Republicans blush.

    Posted by Person at 09/04/2008 @ 9:41pm

  34. Posted by Person at 09/04/2008 @ 9:41pm

    What "adverbs" specifically are "sexist" and "would never be used against a man"?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 9:43pm

  35. Posted by Benchrest at 09/04/2008 @ 9:24pm

    Ben-you got the wrong (wo)man, copper!

    I'm not a nurse, never have been, never claimed to be. I wasn't the "freak show" and "gives me the creeps" poster. I think Down's kids are a blessing, even though a lot of parents don't believe that when they are reeling from the news their tiny new baby is facing a host of challenges.

    But ask anyone who works with these kids-and adults-and they will tell you no one responds better to love and support than a kid with Down's. I hate to make generalizations about any group but as a rule they will try until they can't try anymore and then start all over again. I love the way they look, the way they talk, the way they process the world. so of course I am happy this little guy was born into a family where he will have all the advantages-one hopes-but that doesn't mean I think he should be his mother's anti-abortion bonafides either. It was a mean speech, really nasty and a a bit lowlife for all the breathless girly Speech 101 touches. The little guy should have been introduced and not been further associated with the spew just to please the crowd.

    Posted by Pogge at 09/04/2008 @ 9:53pm

  36. Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/04/2008 @ 9:51pm

    See?

    "...or trying the biggest ACROBATIC act in history trying to explain why he "didn't say what it LOOKED like he said and he didn't call people of mixed heritage 'freaks'"....and not being able to pull it off!"------Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 8:15pm

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 9:54pm

  37. Ever think.....IF a mayor is not the ultimate community organizer, then what is it?

    Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/04/2008 @ 5:36pm

    Well, as a mayor of a town of 5,000 in the "great White North" I believe that's a part-time job in between aerial wolf hunts...(Palin's preffered method of wolf hunting)

    http://tinyurl.com/5medv9

    Posted by leftofcenter at 09/04/2008 @ 9:56pm

  38. BTW, Jon Stewart nailed HAPP, LVLIB, FRANK and the rest to the wall...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1lCMH8rlHE

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 9:59pm

  39. Happy-We were being quite honest,but you aren't.In your list of things that you say makes Obama a freak is the fact that he is of mixed race and heritage.The fact that you do stuff for a charter school is nice,but you make racist references on a regular basis.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 09/04/2008 @ 10:01pm

  40. Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/04/2008 @ 9:56pm

    And when some mixed race child at the charter school asks you, "Mr. HAPP, I read this thing on the computer from this guy calling Senator Obama 'Half & Half"...what does that mean?"

    What do you say?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 10:01pm

  41. BTW, folks this is part of the cheap trick too

    "Maybe you think I am planting bombs or poisoning their cafeteria foods, but you can make accusations all day long."-----Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/04/2008 @ 9:56pm

    See? As long as HAPP isn't lynching anyone or burning crosses in yards....he's "not a racist!"

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 10:03pm

  42. I now think Obama will lose...and lose big.-----Posted by JOMAMMA at 09/04/2008 @ 10:08pm

    Thanks, John. A MAASCH prediction is all I needed to give me some optimism for Obama/Biden winning in November!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 10:11pm

  43. What "adverbs" specifically are "sexist" and "would never be used against a man"?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 9:43pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    First off, it's unnecessary to use so many quotations. The words adverb and sexist are not abstracts. And the phrase "would never be used against a man" was not lifted from one of my posts.

    That aside, the exercise is for you to determine for yourself whether similar adverbs are being used with men and women. The next stage is to assign authorship, liberal or conservative. My thesis is that liberals are the truly intolerant.

    Posted by Person at 09/04/2008 @ 10:17pm

  44. Posted by Person at 09/04/2008 @ 10:17pm

    NO, the exercise is for you to back up your claims....can you? With specific words?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 10:24pm

  45. Posted by JOMAMMA at 09/04/2008 @ 10:17pm

    Loading the question, MAASCH?

    Where did I say I "had faith" that "he was the one"?

    How about he's much better than McCain and four more years of Bush'ism?...alone?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 10:25pm

  46. Here's a perspective and analysis relevant to this thread on Palin and the left-liberal's trojan horse, Obama, from an Aussie woman lawyer:

    http://tinyurl.com/6pzya2

    Posted by lrjones4 at 09/04/2008 @ 10:32pm

  47. I now think Obama will lose...and lose big.

    Posted by JOMAMMA at 09/04/2008 @ 10:08pm

    at your peril.

    you refuse to believe me.

    but the stats are the stats.

    republican administrations:

    create fewer jobs,

    create bigger deficits,

    increase debt,

    fuel inflation,

    and INCREASE THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT.

    you are brainwashed by clichιs.

    if you wish to refute,

    only FACTS (with links) will do.

    you are brainwashed.

    you have no idea what the reality is because either you won't look for it

    or

    you deny it.

    (or maybe you feel comfortable in your greedy little world.)

    if you respond making references to my income you will just prove me right.

    FACTS, JOHN, FACTS.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 10:37pm

  48. I never figured you for a sycophant, but you do defend him with vigor...

    Posted by JOMAMMA at 09/04/2008 @ 10:16pm

    more likely he's knows who will be worserest.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 10:38pm

  49. MASK,

    i'm going nuts.

    i keep pointing out to these mccain supporters the historical precedent set in economic policy as set by republican administrations.

    and they ALL ignore me.

    not even ponti will fire back.

    it's pathetic.

    they are all in denial.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 10:40pm

  50. My thesis is that liberals are the truly intolerant.

    Posted by Person at 09/04/2008 @ 10:17pm

    certainly.

    who wants the earth run by greedy, racists lunatics?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 10:43pm

  51. Posted by Pogge at 09/04/2008 @ 9:53pm

    no no no.

    I was commenting on what nursevic puked out.

    I know you aren't like that, but you also commented on what it posted, so I was offering my unsolicited addition.

    You're cool.

    I would really like to see those tapes from Sturgis you talked about.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/04/2008 @ 10:43pm

  52. Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 10:40pm

    Cool out, my hoser friend...

    Realize that these guys were decided 20 years ago...and that the GOP could nominate Archie Bunker with an Uruk-hai as Veep...and the Dems nominate George Washington with Lincoln as Veep and they'd say "What's with that faggy white wig on George? Why is Abe so skinny, is he sick? And what's this stuff about him doubting faith in God?"

    Plus of course "You damn libs are attacking a WW-2 vet....Archie served with honor in the Air Corps! And why are you racist against Mok'dar? Something against Man/Ork hybrids? You guys are supposed to be so open-minded?!?!? So what if he wants to kill hobbits, they are sneaksy and probably align with terrorists like Aragorn!"

    There is a BIG chunk in the Middle....sorry, not Left as you want, but not Right as those guys want either.

    That's who needs to be appealed to....plus poking a stick at the Nutty Righties is fun too!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 10:53pm

  53. Posted by JOMAMMA at 09/04/2008 @ 10:16pm

    Yes, he's just as qualified as Lincoln....and by KARL ROVE's standard (see the You Tube video from The Daily Show) more qualified than the "Heartbeat Away" Miss Congeniality.

    As far as "best we can get"?...sure, compared to McSame and Sarah Buchanan.

    And why do YOU attack Obama with such vigor?

    If mine is "sychophanty"...what does that make yours?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 10:56pm

  54. BTW, MAASCH....here it is...

    you can TRY to spin it if you like-

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_vMVmAxLDs

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 10:59pm

  55. lrjones-Why do we care what an Aussie thinks? how many votes will you bring to McCain?

    Posted by i'm nobody at 09/04/2008 @ 11:01pm

  56. NO, the exercise is for you to back up your claims....can you? With specific words?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 10:24pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    First off, this is my exercise. It's improper of you to suggest I don't know the parameters of my own exercise. It would have been much cooler of you to suggest your own exercise to counter mine. Or perhaps to dispute the premise of my thesis.

    Crude as it may be, I believe I understand the nut of your post. To that end consider the following preliminary examples:

    1) In this very article, the word "sneered". 2) Harry Reid last night called her "shrill"

    These are only the ones from memory, but countless other could be produced. The point is that liberals are cunningly quick to the draw with loaded language, all the while crying foul play from conservatives.

    Posted by Person at 09/04/2008 @ 11:02pm

  57. and they ALL ignore me.

    not even ponti will fire back.

    it's pathetic.

    they are all in denial.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 10:40pm

    I think the problem FZ is that maybe you are a bit incoherent at times.

    The basic economic premise in 2008 is that we are all economic rationalists and "free marketers" in a global economy , left , right or centre and it makes little difference in terms of how the world economy is doing which type of government is in power. It is the "global market" that determines the particular level of prosperity that each national economy enjoys.

    That is why your stats have more to do with what phase the economic cycle is at than which party is running the country. Our conservative government was lucky to enjoy a prolonged phase (11 years) of exceptionally prosperous economic conditions. The new centre-left government is losing support as we move , in the normal cycle, to less prosperous times.

    If we were being fairdinkum and not party political about this we would recognise that in our new economic world, governments can do little, short of totally wrecking the economy, to make much difference.

    Posted by lrjones4 at 09/04/2008 @ 11:10pm

  58. If we were being fairdinkum and not party political about this we would recognise that in our new economic world, governments can do little, short of totally wrecking the economy, to make much difference. Posted by lrjones4 at 09/04/2008 @ 11:10pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    yes, you have described the last eight years' administration, the word no repub dare utter: BUSH

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/04/2008 @ 11:14pm

  59. and they ALL ignore me.

    not even ponti will fire back.

    it's pathetic.

    they are all in denial.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 10:40pm

    Yesterday, when you said "I mean WTF?!?!?!?!?!"

    I MEANT face to face with people in the Red Land, not on a blog where all political positions are set in stone.

    Hence, the "lose a tooth" comment.

    Here it is folly to expect a mind to change.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/04/2008 @ 11:14pm

  60. and they ALL ignore me.

    why don't you do what Darin does, say something truly asinine and offensive to reason and watch the posts roll in.

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/04/2008 @ 11:18pm

  61. Posted by emile duBois at 09/04/2008 @ 11:14pm

    And just where have you been?

    The occasional post, and not the usual engagement I are familiar with?

    What gives? You that busy?

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/04/2008 @ 11:20pm

  62. oops.

    I AM familiar with.

    That looks bad, doesn't it?

    Wait, don't tell me.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/04/2008 @ 11:22pm

  63. PREVIEW PLEASE!!!!!!!!

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/04/2008 @ 11:23pm

  64. Maasch, blah blah blah, Obama, blah blah blah blah

    the guy has won the nomination of his party and will be the next pres.

    it's unbecoming for one with as thin a resume as yours to constantly run down the achievements of your betters, be they Obama, Katrina, or any other person with a conscience, you know the kind you know as liberals.

    Katrina, incidentally, is way more accomplished than the latest GOP sensation. you Whigs are so comical fawning over this baggage.

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/04/2008 @ 11:24pm

  65. That is why your stats have more to do with what phase the economic cycle is at than which party is running the country.

    Posted by lrjones4 at 09/04/2008 @ 11:10pm

    wrong-o!

    Finally, there is the claim that the Federal Reserve is apolitical. We examine the hypothesis of a presidential election cycle in the term structure of interest rates. We find compelling evidence that such a cycle existed in both sub-periods. Specifically, we find that in the year before presidential elections, the term structure deviates sharply from otherwise-normal values. When a Republican administration is in office, the term structure in the pre-election year tends to be steeper, by values estimated at up to 150 basis points, and monetary policy is accordingly more permissive. When a Democratic administration is in office, the term structure tends to be flatter, by values also estimated at up to 150 basis points--and monetary policy is more restrictive. These findings are robust across model specifications and across time, though the anti-Democrat effect is smaller after 1983. Taken together, they suggest the presence of a serious partisan bias, at the heart of the Federal Reserve's policymaking process.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 11:29pm

  66. What gives? You that busy? Posted by Benchrest at 09/04/2008 @ 11:20pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    I thank you for your kind interest. I thought you'd never ask.

    on July 2nd, at ten Pm I was vacated from my huge pre war apartment by the fire department and the dept of buildings due to structural damage to my building and imminent danger to me.

    I fled with kin, cats and computers to my friend's apartment across the hall who was unaffected.

    the red cross provided lodging for a few days and I was able to secure a sublet, and another until now, that I am in a long term sublet.

    my building is sinking slowly and huge cracks began to appear in the outer and inner wall of my bedroom. only my apartment line was affected by the vacate order. I live on the top, the sixth floor, the aprtments on the first and second floor a really a mess.

    I put some stuff in storage, had to shut down my editing service for over a month, but my clients have been understanding. my friend lent me her studio so that we eventually could return to work.

    when my complaints to the building department finally forced the landlord to address the sinking of the wall, he sent three guys with a shovel and one of those manual cement mixers. they proceeded to dig next to the wall. duh, the sinking accelerated, the cracks spread, top city engineers from the city were consulted, and the rest is, well, history.

    so, I've been a little busy. my new digs are wonderful, on one of the highest points in Manhattan, I can see the empire state building. I am on 190th street and that edifice is on 34th street.

    I truly do not know if or when I will get back into my apartment. be well, my attentive friend

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/04/2008 @ 11:38pm

  67. That is why your stats have more to do with what phase the economic cycle is at than which party is running the country.

    Posted by lrjones4 at 09/04/2008 @ 11:10pm

    just cause your kinda nice.

    ONE MORE TIME:

    Here's the rate of job growth for the administrations since 1960:

    Kennedy-Johnson 3.27%

    Nixon-Ford 4.93%

    Carter 3.06%

    Reagan 2.06%

    Bush I 0.60%

    Clinton 2.38%

    Bush II 0.59%

    <<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>

    by average annual GDP growth:

    Kennedy-Johnson -- 5.2%

    Clinton -- 3.6%

    Reagan -- 3.4%

    Carter -- 3.4%

    Nixon-Ford -- 2.7%

    Bush II -- 2.6%

    Bush I -- 1.9%

    <<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>

    damn, i don't feel like redoing the bureaucracy numbers.

    suffice to say that republicans mean bigger government

    http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2005/pdf/hist.pdf

    <<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>

    see next post

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 11:40pm

  68. so, I've been a little busy. my new digs are wonderful, on one of the highest points in Manhattan, I can see the empire state building. I am on 190th street and that edifice is on 34th street.

    I truly do not know if or when I will get back into my apartment.

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/04/2008 @ 11:38pm

    If the new place is that nice, I hope you get to stay there.

    Nice to have you back!

    I miss your back and forth with Brunowe.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/04/2008 @ 11:46pm

  69. SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS, OUTLAYS, AND SURPLUSES OR DEFICITS(–) AS PERCENTAGES OF GDP

    1970 –0.3 r

    1971 –2.1 r

    1972 –2.0 r

    1973 –1.1 r

    1974 –0.4 r

    1975 –3.4 r

    1976 –4.2 r

    1977 –2.7 d

    1978 –2.7 d

    1979 –1.6 d

    1980 –2.7 d

    1981 –2.6 r

    1982 –4.0 r

    1983 –6.0 r

    1984 –4.8 r

    1985 –5.1 r

    1986 –5.0 r

    1987 –3.2 r

    1988 –3.1 r

    1989 –2.8 r

    1990 –3.9 r

    1991 –4.5 r

    1992 –4.7 r

    1993 –3.9 d

    1994 –2.9 d

    1995 –2.2 d

    1996 –1.4 d

    1997 –0.3 d

    1998 0.8 d

    1999 1.4 d

    2000 2.4 d

    2001 1.3 r

    2002 –1.5 r

    2003 –3.5 r

    2004 estimate –4.5 r

    2005 estimate –3.0 r

    2006 estimate –2.1 r

    2007 estimate –1.8 r

    2008 estimate –1.7 r

    2009 estimate* –1.6 r

    *as you know these estimates turned out to be b.s.

    SEE ANY PATTERNS?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 11:55pm

  70. and no, maasch, that is not spam.

    that is inflation and your grandkids money.

    but you just don't understand.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 11:56pm

  71. I miss your back and forth with Brunowe. Posted by Benchrest

    thanks. there is a bit of that on the Sarah smokescreen thread.

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/05/2008 @ 12:01am

  72. I am not denigrating Obama, I just wouldn't hire him with the resume he has to work in McDonalds as a manager after no time on the job.

    says he, denigratingly.

    you are a buffoon. and a liar.

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/05/2008 @ 12:04am

  73. Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/05/2008 @ 12:00am

    happy,

    you called my son a "freak".

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 12:12am

  74. you are a buffoon. and a liar.

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/05/2008 @ 12:04am

    and a dolt.

    (that's what brannigan would say)

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 12:14am

  75. Despicable! You're in my 4' x 6' damp, jail for a while......taking too much of my time for nonsense! Remind someone to ask me to let you out in a week!

    Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/05/2008 @ 12:00a

    Oh good grief.

    What a pussy!

    I didn't know you were so delicate.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/05/2008 @ 12:15am

  76. Why did you move? Posted by JOMAMMA at 09/05/2008 @ 12:13am | ignore this person | warn this person

    see above. I was moved

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/05/2008 @ 12:17am

  77. Hell, don't get carried away, you're more fun now

    Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/05/2008 @ 12:21am

    I'm not even in the same universe.

    The reading is much more interesting when you two are crossing blades.

    When the blades fall silent, the spectators walk away.

    It takes a village to make a blog. Some are not expendable.

    Posted by Benchrest at 09/05/2008 @ 12:49am

  78. Wow, A liar..where did that come from?

    The point of the Mcdonalds is quite clear..you can not be a manager if you only work there for 143 days....

    same for the big jonb ot the President..with no experience running or leading anyon anywhere...

    Posted by JOMAMMA at 09/05/2008 @ 12:52am | ignore this person | warn this person

    Buffoon and liar are very apt labels for people who say Obama couldn't be hired as a manager at McDonald's and has "with no experience running or leading anyon anywhere."

    Obama has a law degree from Harvard, one of the most prestigious schools in the United States. He was the editor of the Harvard Law Review, again one of the most prestigious journals of legal scholarship. While in school he worked as a civil rights attorney. He graduated magna cum laude in 1991. According to Wikipedia, "Obama directed Illinois Project Vote! from April to October 1992, a voter registration drive, officially nonpartisan, that helped Carol Moseley Braun become the first black woman ever elected to the Senate. He headed up a staff of 10 and 700 volunteers that achieved its goal of registering 150,000 of 400,000 unregistered African Americans in the state." He then "taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years, as a Lecturer for four years (1992–1996), and as a Senior Lecturer for eight years (1996–2004)."

    etc. etc.

    You repugs really know how to lay the ignorance on thick.

    Posted by lgstarn at 09/05/2008 @ 04:13am

  79. Wow, A liar..where did that come from?

    The point of the Mcdonalds is quite clear..you can not be a manager if you only work there for 143 days....

    same for the big jonb ot the President..with no experience running or leading anyon anywhere...

    Posted by JOMAMMA at 09/05/2008 @ 12:52am | ignore this person | warn this person

    Buffoon and liar are very apt labels for people who say Obama couldn't be hired as a manager at McDonald's and has "with no experience running or leading anyon anywhere."

    Obama has a law degree from Harvard, one of the most prestigious schools in the United States. He was the editor of the Harvard Law Review, again one of the most prestigious journals of legal scholarship. While in school he worked as a civil rights attorney. He graduated magna cum laude in 1991. According to Wikipedia, "Obama directed Illinois Project Vote! from April to October 1992, a voter registration drive, officially nonpartisan, that helped Carol Moseley Braun become the first black woman ever elected to the Senate. He headed up a staff of 10 and 700 volunteers that achieved its goal of registering 150,000 of 400,000 unregistered African Americans in the state." He then "taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years, as a Lecturer for four years (1992–1996), and as a Senior Lecturer for eight years (1996–2004)."

    etc. etc.

    You repugs really know how to lay the ignorance on thick.

    Posted by lgstarn at 09/05/2008 @ 04:13am

  80. Posted by JOMAMMA at 09/04/2008 @ 11:44pm

    MAASCH, if given a choice between somebody with "tons of experience"...who's going to implement the SAME disasterous policies of the last 8 years...

    or somebody with a "light resume'" who's going to NOT implement the same disasterous policies of the last 8 years....

    I'll take the "McDonald's manager".

    And before you start into "He'll be MORE disasterous"....sorry, but Dubya has set the bar SO low now (from everything from the deficit to Iraq to New Orleans to Abramoff to Plame-gate)....

    that that's impossible!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/05/2008 @ 08:56am

  81. You repugs really know how to lay the ignorance on thick.

    Posted by lgstarn at 09/05/2008 @ 04:13am

    the key to success!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 09:23am

  82. Despicable! You're in my 4' x 6' damp, jail for a while......taking too much of my time for nonsense! Remind someone to ask me to let you out in a week!

    Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/05/2008 @ 12:00am | ignore this person | warn this person

    .

    You lock yourself in a self-imposed closet...then claim it's everyone else who is "in jail"?!?!?!

    How childish.

    Posted by Lillian at 09/05/2008 @ 09:55am

  83. Excuse me but is was the Obama campaign that immediately disparaged Palin as a small town mayor right after her selection. Now Obama is wetting his pants at these community organizer digs? World leaders the likes of Putin would eat his lunch were he to be elected.

    BTW: Dems. The 2008 election is McCain/Palin v. Obama/Biden. Bush is not on the ballot. So why doesn't Obama try to run against McCain? Gutless wonder.

    Posted by NickinVA at 09/05/2008 @ 10:00am

  84. "Obama said, "They haven't talked about the fact that I was a civil rights lawyer; they haven't talked about the fact that I taught constitutional law;"

    Perhaps that is because Obama and his campaign have not talked about it. There was no mention by him during his "Temple of Doom" speech or during the convention. Just like there has been no mention of his chairmanship of the Annenburg Challenge which is certainly part of his resume.

    There has also been no mention of all of Obama's long term friends, associates and mentors that have gone missing over the course of the campaign like:

    Reverend Jeremy Wright

    Toney Rezko

    William Ayers

    Rashid Khalidi

    Emil Jones

    Father Michael Pfleger

    Emil Jones

    Jesse Jackson

    Obama is a manufactured candidate and Palin is the real thing. As Palin continues to get known she will become the measure of artificial versus real. And with that light shining voters will know the difference between Barrack Hussein Obama and John McCain.

    Posted by sailcovershot at 09/05/2008 @ 10:02am

  85. "with an Uruk-hai as Veep"

    Well be fair, the Uruk-hai were the class of the Orc community.

    Posted by brunowe at 09/05/2008 @ 10:14am

  86. I really don't understand why the Demo's are bringing this whole issue of Community Organizing back to the forefront. Senator Obama only did it for a very short period of time. He obviously did it very well because he was able to become a member of the Illinios Legislature based on that experience. I just think it should be a footnote to his larger resume. It just doesn't seem to serve him very well to have everybody talk about his time as a community organizer. I think your playing into the Repub's game plan.

    Posted by jimobr at 09/05/2008 @ 10:34am

  87. Posted by NickinVA at 09/05/2008 @ 10:00am

    No, actually the disparaging of a "governor for only a few years" and "small town mayor"...

    came from KARL ROVE ...on Fox News...talking about Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia (when considered as Obama's Veep). Rove basically CONTRADICTED everything he (and you guys) now say about Palin.

    Check it out-

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1lCMH8rlHE&feature=related

    "There has also been no mention of all of Obama's long term friends, associates and mentors that have gone missing over the course of the campaign like"----Posted by sailcovershot at 09/05/2008 @ 10:02am

    "NO mention"?!??!?! Really, so Reverand Wright and Bill Ayers have gone TOTALLY un-mentioned?!?!?!?

    BTW, can we mention Rev. Ed Kalinin and the Alaska Independence Party???

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/05/2008 @ 10:35am

  88. Funny how the GOP rails against big government and talks big about local communities needing to have control over local issues, but NOW seemingly local community control and community organizers trying the improve their communities are bad. Typical of the GOP bizzaro world.

    Posted by Dash_Sliprock at 09/05/2008 @ 10:35am

  89. and Palin is the real thing.

    Posted by sailcovershot at 09/05/2008

    bong hits for jesus!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 10:38am

  90. Add Kwame Kilpatrick to the list. Obama called him a "great mayor" who will do "astounding things for many years to come." Not sure if he meant plead guilty to perjury.

    Obama won his IL senate seat by suing to have many of his democratic primary rivals' names struck from the ballot. Very inspiring.

    Posted by NickinVA at 09/05/2008 @ 10:38am

  91. I move to ignore 2happyin future blogs. His racist "freak" comments aren't worth printing.

    Posted by pmarlier at 09/05/2008 @ 10:42am

  92. Maasch, what I meant was a liar in this instance. saying you're not denigrating while denigrating, thass all.

    thanks for the offer of help. I'm in pretty good shape right now. the difficult part was to keep coming up with suitable sublets.

    I won't take up more of the public space now, and will contact you later.

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/05/2008 @ 10:42am

  93. when Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard he could have taken any number of very big bucks jobs. he did not. he worked in his community for peanuts. THAT is the relevant part, and that we are right to bring forward.

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/05/2008 @ 10:47am

  94. so he worked for one of the most radical leftist organizations in the country.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 09/05/2008 @ 11:12am

    "Obama's community work was part of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, a project sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Campaign for Human Development has been the church's main anti-poverty and social justice program in America since 1969."

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 11:23am

  95. Being a "community organizer is what leftists do when they cannot or won't get a job.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 09/05/2008 @ 11:14am

    what???????????

    isn't that what YOU do?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 11:24am

  96. "Obama's community work was part of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, a project sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Campaign for Human Development has been the church's main anti-poverty and social justice program in America since 1969."

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008

    This doesn't absolve him from working for ACORN.

    Posted by NickinVA at 09/05/2008 @ 11:26am

  97. with 6.1% unemployment most since 91 recession, looming hurricanes to remind voters about GOP incompetence, GOP is trying hard to make this "about character, NOT issues"....

    However, if there is ever to be any "straight talk" then let's tell it now:

    Sen Obama, despite GOP lies, has proposed a permanent $500 per worker/$1000 per two worker family tax credit to offset payroll taxes; bottom line being more $$$ in our pockets.

    Under sen mccain, despite GOP lies, there is a new tax on employer-provided health insurance plans together with a new tax credit that does not rise with the cost of health insurance.

    Health insurance expenditures have been rising much more rapidly than overall inflation; therefore the tax increase to consumers under mccain, as health costs gets passed on to consumers, will rise much faster than proposed tax credits---resulting in a net loss for tens of millions of middle class workers in this country...

    bottom line: GOP and mccain "do not get it"...it is all smoke and mirrors.....

    any questions????

    btw: there are 20,000 anti-war peace activists marching on GOP convention, despite the commie news network only talking about a hundred or so "violent" protesters arrested...NEUTRAL media please.....

    Posted by jrs112 at 09/05/2008 @ 11:29am

  98. "Being a "community organizer is what leftists do when they cannot or won't get a job.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 09/05/2008 @ 11:14am "

    Right, because we all know that Harvard Law graduates who made law review have so few opportunities!

    "This doesn't absolve him from working for ACORN.

    Posted by NickinVA at 09/05/2008 @ 11:26am | ignore this person | warn this person"

    He doesn't need to be absolved. I hardly think that advocacy for a living wage and against predatory lending requires an apologyl

    "One that has been convicted of voter registration fraud. One, like Obama with plenty of ties to communists, maoists, and other anti-Americans."

    Simply incorrect. Individual employees have been indicted and convicted, in one case after being turned in by the organization. ACORN itself has never even been charged.

    Which leaders of ACORN, exactly, are the communists, etc.?

    Posted by brunowe at 09/05/2008 @ 11:56am

  99. Posted by lvliberty1 at 09/05/2008 @ 12:02pm

    LOL....FROSTY nailed you, LL.

    You don't think Obama was helping people on their "physical needs"? Like...paying their rent, so they didn't get kicked out of their apartments? Or finding a job, so they could eat?

    Same job, different politics.

    You just attacked Obama for doing the same thing you do!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/05/2008 @ 12:27pm

  100. AN e-mail to the Diane Rehm show this a.m. said it best: "Jesus was a community organizer, Pontius Pilate was a Governor."

    Posted by POV1 at 09/05/2008 @ 12:43pm

  101. But in the minds of so many evangelical Christians Jesus=Good and Obama=Bad. POV1, you've just opened the door to the slippery slope of "shades of gray" and rational thought. And remember, Jesus is only to be cited when his teachings support conservative ideology!

    Posted by Be Good at 09/05/2008 @ 1:01pm

  102. " "New Party," an electoral vehicle formed in the 1990s to elect extreme left-wing candidates to office:"

    First, left candidates of the Jesse Jackson stripe aren't even close to being Marxists. You'll have to do better than the unsubstantiated assertion of a right-wing blogger that the New Party was a Marxist party.

    The Working Families Party, a spin-off from the NP, advocates liberal positions but there is nothing Marxist about advocating for a "living wage", paid family leave or a single-payer system.

    Your argument is nothing more than your usual theme of calling anyone to the left of Ronald Reagan a Marxist.

    "Obama was trained by marxists in the use of the Saul Alinsky method of stirring up dissatisfaction in communities in order to bring about a marxist/socialist revolution. this is well documented and not subject to dispute.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 09/05/2008 @ 1:10pm | ignore this person | warn this person"

    The idea that the Alinsky method is a plan to bring about a "marxist/socialist revolution" is a McCarthyite sliming. Alinsky was about organizing the poor to sucessfully use the political system, not to overthrow it. Goals such as low-income housing and union organizaing aren't even close to revolutionary.

    Posted by brunowe at 09/05/2008 @ 2:04pm

  103. Being a "community organizer is what leftists do when they cannot or won't get a job.

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 09/05/2008 @ 11:14am "

    Right, because we all know that Harvard Law graduates who made law review have so few opportunities!

    My chronology was off. Obama did his work as a community organizer after he graduated from Columbia but before he went to Harvard Law. However, Ivy-League bachelor degree holders aren't generally left begging in the job market either.

    Posted by brunowe at 09/05/2008 @ 2:17pm

  104. Looks, McSame and Plain have only one strategy; attack! They will lie, cheat, and basically do anything to get elected. McSame admitted that ambition drives him. It is clear that Plain feels the same way.

    This is right out of the Rove playbook. Avoid facts at any cost, spread lies, tell them enough and all will believe.

    The fact is, all told, McSame/ Plain are Bush III, and it was clear in speech content that they are proud of it.

    What they cannot do is express a compelling vision for America. They cannot inspire anything other than petty politics.

    Once ALL the facts about Plain are out, she will be a disgrace. We already saw the preparation for that, with The Retropublicans attacking the press for asking Plain the same questions they asked all democrats! In some ways this is the classic Hitler strategy; pick a target group and attack so all will rally against them.

    McSame/ Plain are out of ideas, out of unique thoughts, and the campaign is now out of gas. Drill, Drill, Drill is too late for this motley crew!

    Posted by pcarman at 09/05/2008 @ 3:58pm

  105. Happy

    That's because Obama has put it out there on the record. The information had to be dug out of Clinton and Bush never fessed up.

    Posted by brunowe at 09/05/2008 @ 7:04pm

  106. Posted by lvliberty1 at 09/05/2008 @ 1:07pm

    NO...the difference is he was trying to help people in a way you POLITICALLY object to...

    other than that...same job.

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/05/2008 @ 8:48pm

  107. Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/05/2008 @ 5:19pm

    I'm glad to see Linda Chavez joining the chorus of Republican hypocrisy in defending Sarah Palin....i.e.

    "Chavez sits on the Boards of several non profit organizations, including the Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy."---from her wikipedia bio

    For more...watch this-

    http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=184086

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/05/2008 @ 8:57pm

  108. Those of you who want his voting record and what he has intro-duced:

    Before I got tired of counting: He voted: 135 ayes; 127 nayes. He introduced: 1. Mortgage Fraud act 2. Truth in Regulator act 3. Act to track SIDS 4. Act to redeploy 30,000 troops from Iraq to Afghanistan (Bush opposed/now for) 5. Act to Protect the Great Lakes 6. The Anti-Lynching Act 7. The Voter Intimidation & Fraud Act 8. College Cost Reduction Act 9. Prevention through affordable access Act 10. Senate Pork Barrel Act (Senator Stevens (Alaska opposed; now under investi-gation for taking bribes) 11. Tax Credit for Lead Mitigation Act 12. Housing Aid Bill (McCain didn't vote) 13. Fair Share Act 2008 (Close Tax Loop holes) 14. American Fuels Act 15. Biofuels Security Act 16. Alternative Diesel Standards Act 17. Keep Americans Warm Act 18. Prevent Veterans Homeless-ness Act 19. Lobbying & Ethics Reform Act 20. Shareholder vote on Execu-tive Act 21 Honest Leadership and Open Government Act 22. Legislative Transparency & Accountability Act 23. Congressional Ethics Enforce-ment Commissions Act 24. Transparency & Integrity in Earmarks Act 25. Curtailing Lobbyist Effect-iveness through Advance Notifica-tion, Updates and Posting Act 26. Act to Strengthen Teaching of Science, Technology, Engineer-ing & Math in Schools 27. Equal Pay for Equal Work 28. Reduce Teen Pregnancy Act (wonder who would have bene-fitted if this Act would have passed?) 29. Diginigty for Wounded Warr-ior's Act (deplorable conditions at Waltger Reed Army Hospital and others and charging wounded out patient soldiers for their meals.) AND FINALLY 30: VETERANS' BENEFITS ENHANCEMANT ACT (JOHN MCCAIN VOTED NAE) HE TALKS A GOOD GAME

    Posted by ademo at 09/05/2008 @ 9:09pm

  109. Isn't sex by an 18 year old male with a 17 year old female considered statutory rape?

    Wonder if this guy has the biggest shot gun in Alaska shoved up his you know where!

    So Mrs. Palin is glad that her daughter made the "right" choice. At least she could choose! Mrs. Palin would take that right away from her daughter and yours.

    Posted by ademo at 09/05/2008 @ 9:20pm

  110. Isn't sex by an 18 year old male with a 17 year old female considered statutory rape?

    Posted by ademo at 09/05/2008 @ 9:20pm | ignore this person | warn this person

    why not find out BEFORE you post. in Alaska the age of consent is 16. so no statutory rape.

    it took me like 15 seconds to check, don't be so lazy, and you won't look the fool.

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/05/2008 @ 10:20pm

  111. Does anyone know where by 2HAPPY works?

    It would be kind of interesting to point his supervisors and cohorts to his comments on The Nation.

    Posted by Samms at 09/06/2008 @ 01:14am

  112. SEE ANY PATTERNS? Posted by frosty zoom at 09/04/2008 @ 11:55pm

    I applaud your strategy of trying to get the lovely Sarah off the front pages but The Nation and all these nervous liberal bloggers are doing their best to keep her there.

    Because she seems to be the obsession of every Nation journalist its been a bit hard to keep up with every thread so I missed your "evidence" that governments have a significant influence on economic conditions in the countries they govern.

    Do I see any patterns in your listing of various data? Not really because the data is not related to what is happening concurrently in other important economies. The other thing to check out is what the actual number employed in the US for a given year is. For example a decade or so ago it was about 138 million. I noticed somewhere that it was about 155 million in 2005. As you would understand the more important figure is the percentage employment levels that soon tell one if the economy is contracting or expanding.

    The US against say each G8 country would let us know if any administration was ahead of the rest. I noticed on Deutsche Welle the other day that the German economy was heading for a period of zero growth and the latest I heard on the US was about 3% growth.

    I wonder if you've heard this one: What do you get when you ask 10 different economists the same question? Ten different answers. Bet you're glad that economists don't build bridges.

    An anecdote. Was at one of our factories last week and saw a new supply of forged steel for manufactured parts marked made in USA. Used to come from Spain and China. That's how the Aus/US FTA makes jobs in the USA and why O is a fool.

    In case you're still a little unhappy with incoherence, how does all over the place like a mad dog's shit sound?

    Posted by lrjones4 at 09/06/2008 @ 04:33am

  113. Johamma hates Obama because he's black and that is very easy to detect.

    Or ... Johamma is just plain old stupid (which could be the case) for thinking that the nomination of Palin was anything but a political move by mccrap with little regard to the country. It's win at all costs and the same that we have been fed for the past 8 years.

    Oh yeah, how are we doing today Johamma? You believe the country is doing alright?

    You and those who would attempt to try and sell Palin's experience for anything other than it is are disgusting.

    Posted by Hoot at 09/06/2008 @ 08:31am

  114. Does anyone know where by 2HAPPY works? It would be kind of interesting to point his supervisors and cohorts to his comments on The Nation. Posted by Samms at 09/06/2008 @ 01:14am | ignore this person | warn this person

    this kind of shit has no place here. get lost.

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/06/2008 @ 09:52am

  115. Posted by Samms at 09/06/2008 @ 01:14am |

    once more, that is a stalinist sentiment on your part, and has no place in these pages.

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/06/2008 @ 11:20am

  116. once more, that is a stalinist sentiment on your part, and has no place in these pages.

    Posted by emile duBois at 09/06/2008 @ 11:20am

    I was thinking when I first read it "Gestapo" but I'm sure you are correct.

    Posted by lrjones4 at 09/06/2008 @ 9:47pm

  117. JOMMA is unctuously hypocritical in his assault on Mr. Obama and should be ignored in the way the ignores the Republicans errors.

    I bet you JOmma thinks the "fundamentals of the economy are strong"....

    Posted by pmarquie at 09/07/2008 @ 08:21am

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