‘It’s the Qualifications, Stupid!’
Every political strategist in the country knows that Bill Clinton’s win over George H.W. Bush 16 years ago is usually attributed to the Clinton campaign’s disciplined focus on one central theme. “It’s the economy, Stupid!” read the message Democratic strategist James Carville posted in his office.
That idea was nothing but a rehash of the old advertising industry KISS principal — Keep it simple, Stupid — but it worked.
Republicans would be wise to remember that experience and that lesson. They need to more effectively drive home what should be the McCain-Palin team’s simple central message: It’s the qualifications, Stupid!
The GOP camp is distracting voters from the clear and compelling message that John McCain is up to the challenge of the presidency and Barack Obama is not. This is a big mistake.
Sure, because he was reaping what he had sown, it was fun to watch Barack Obama squirm, whine, and become so discombobulated that he actually echoed Republicans in pointing out that the mainstream news media are mainly dimwitted dupes.
But feigning shock and demanding apologies by claiming that Obama was calling Governor Sarah Palin a pig because he used that old gag line about putting lipstick on a pig? Making so much of such a sideshow strains the right’s credibility and make them sound like Democrats: humorless, whinny, and goofy.
Whether or not Barack Obama had McCain’s pick of Governor Palin in mind when he made that lipstick on a pig crack was really not of importance (and he most likely did not).
But whether or not Barack Obama is qualified to be President of the United States is of enormous importance — and he most certainly is not.
It may be fun, and it sure is poetic justice, to watch Obama and his gang cope with receiving a dose of their own medicine, but let’s not mistake emphasizing such sideshows for a winning strategy.
The main message Republicans need to convincingly convey to the American people is a reminder and reinforcement of what they already know deep inside but from which they are too often distracted: In deciding who we should select for the most important job in the world, what we the people of these United States really need to focus on are the qualifications of the job applicants.
Most Americans understand that qualifications for picking a leader for our country means an appropriate combination of experience, character, and judgment, plus a record of accomplishment.
Mayor Rudy Giuliani did an outstanding job of driving home this critical point in his remarks at the Republican National Convention. “You’re hiring someone to do a job — an important job that involves the safety and security of your family,” said America’s Mayor. Imagine that you have two job applications in your hand.”
Exactly the right message to emphasize.
We live in a troubled time indeed. We live in a time when human mentalities have not transcended beyond fear of the different and unknown. We live in a time where we have not bridge the differences in color, creed, religion, and cultural backgrounds of this world. Mankind wants to co-exist in this world for a peaceful future but have broken every bridge that embraces our differences. God created and brought variety to this world for a reason, a purpose. He could have simply made everything in this world the same. He could have simply made one type of human race; one type of animal on land, sea, and air; one type of flower; one type of plant; one type of tree; and one type of weather season. God had a greater vision for this world and a greater vision for mankind. It is our utmost importance to figure out this Master Plan of God for the sake of future generations to come.
Why has God bestowed such varieties upon this world? What are God’s purpose and His reasons for taking such actions? What has mankind learned in the thousands of years since His Creation? Is He looking down upon His Creation everyday to see if everything that He had created met His reason or purpose? Has mankind’s mentalities been able to achieve what He has hoped for in this world that He had created? Has mankind, in the thousands of years since His Creation, been able to bridge the divides that separate them? Has mankind been able to even tap into the true meaning of God’s Master Plan?
We, as a society, need to ask ourselves these questions everyday. In the thousands of years since God’s Creation, have we even come close to achieving God’s Master Plan for us? While we are great in all of our current physical achievements in this world, has our mentalities transcended above and beyond all of our physical achievements in this world? God gave us His greatest gift of all, “the human mind and heart”. Have we achieved the full potential of this Gift to meet with God’s Master Plan?
We are currently facing one of the most devastating time in Earth’s history with war, famine, natural disasters, economic tragedies, and a huge uncertainty for the whole world. In order for Good to prevail in this troubled time, the Gift that God has bestowed upon us must be put to the test. The human mind and heart must transcend above and beyond to bridge all of the divides of this world to set a turning point for a better future for the generations to come.
A simple consistent message is indeed the right way to go, and I believe politicians ignore this truth because of their axis with the pundits. They’re like children, or anyone with rapidly-firing imaginations; they get bored with the same old thing.
Now, normal people are blessed with busy lives. They get to stay away from the chattering a lot, but when they are tuned in, they’d appreciate being reassured with the best winning consistent message from the potential POTUS. But we’re not blessed with a politician-normal person axis, but with politicians speaking with pundits and journalists (mostly the same thing now), and they want to hear that the politician “hasn’t run out of fresh new ideas.”
In 2004, the DNC nominated a fellow that won over the MSM by exhibiting an inexhaustible capability to spring out ‘fresh new ideas’, not always fully baked, and the GOP’s ‘flip-flop’ mantra should have instructed 2008′s politicians that ‘the folks’ prefer consistency.
Alas, old truths are too dull to absorb.
Mr. Eckert, Your interesting article would have been stronger without the first paragraph, as Ross Perot – and not just the quotation you cite – had considerable influence in GHW Bush’s defeat.
“Jeff” 1:31am – I find your post contradictory at best.
On one hand, you note the God “could have simply made one type of human race; one type of animal on land, sea, and air; one type of flower; one type of plant; one type of tree; and one type of weather season,” yet did not.
On the other hand, you say we “must transcend above and beyond to bridge all of the divides of this world to set a turning point for a better future for the generations to come.”
So, it seems you are either saying that God made a mistake by creating these differences…
…or you are suggesting that Mankind go against the, shall we say, “intent” of having these differences in this world of ours.
HAVING SAID THAT, if you are a different “Jeff” from the person posting nonsense elsewhere on PJM, then please clarify just what you wish to convey with all this “transcendental” talk.
Should you be the same “Jeff” posting “pseudo-Independent-100%-anti-McCain” nonsense elsewhere on PJM, then please tell your Astroturf employer Axelrod that attempting to apply religious jargon in a superficial manner won’t convince anyone to vote for your Holy Thug of Chicago, but IS rather counterproductive.
If Obama wins, it will be the first time in America’s proud history that a U.S. president and Commander in Chief was/is pals with an unrepentant terrorist who planned to blow up the Pentagon and kill military members.
God is a creation of man. Master Plan?? Mother Nature is more like it.
*
McCain has a hot temper. I wouldn’t trust him to make rational decisions. He’s a military man. War is always in his mind. His associates are all Bush people, the Apocalypse crowd. His VP is a clown. 19th Century thinking. Go ahead righties, rip me off!
Obama has an educated, cool mind. His background allows him to deal with national and worldwide situations. He inspires confidence and teamwork. Great organizational and communication skills. Has vision for the problems and solutions that people care about. 21st Century thinking.
By the way, I’m an independent. There are better options than Reds and Blues, but this what we have now.
Realitycheq,
Let’s talk judgement:
Obama’s self described mentors include Reverend “God Damn America” Wright, Father “There’s a black man stealing my show” Pflager and Frank “I’m a commie” Marshall Davis.
Obama’s TWENTY years at a racist, anti-Semitic church.
Obama’s habit of not voting at all and then claiming he supported or didn’t support said bill after it was all done.
Obama’s penchant for stealing Hillary’s policies and calling them his own.
Obama’s frequent sexist and race baiting comments on the trail this year.
Obama’s underpayment of his female employees.
Need I continue?
Well, I’ll add one more thing. For all the liberal pigs have been commenting about how dare Palin run for office with small children questioning who will take care of them, I find that both Obama and his wife were campaigning yesterday, a school day, in different cities.
I question the judgement of ANYONE who believes that two months of a mother campaigning with her entire family in tow is more detrimental than a year or more of a mother and father campaigning (often apart).
I question the judgement of ANYONE who believes that after 16 months in the Senate Obama is ready to be President but that after two years as Governor, Palin is not ready to be Vice President.
Deus, excuse me, but you don’t sound “independent”.
Just sayin’
The mentality of Obama supporters remains a puzzling thing. There is no record of accomplishment in Obama’s past. His one foray turned out to be a complete waste of tax dollars (the Annenberg Challenge). There is a glaring lack of honorable characters in Obama’s list of past and current associations, if fact the list is quite dishonorable: Ayers, Wright, Rezko, Johnson, Daley, Dohrn, Axlerod, etc. Voting ‘present’ 130 times tells me he avoids his responsibilities and shirks accountability. He speaks often of his ability to bring people together, yet has no record of even attempting and has already demonstrated a tremendous talent for divisiveness. His worldview stands in start opposition to traditional American values by subordinating the individual to the state, a state that would dictate how you live, what rights you have, and how much money you should make. And yet there are people who support him. The founding fathers must be spinning their graves.
Perhaps the Age of Reason is completely dead. If that’s the case, we face a very dark future.
WOW,
“Jeff” it’s time to come down from that pot smoking mountaintop that that you’ve “transcended” to ok! We all know you’re a poser so why don’t you go spread your blathering sycophantic drivel on the MSNBC message boards for awhile, they’ll eat it up like candy over there and maybe you’ll get some heartfelt appreciation for all the hours of torturous thought that it takes to come up with that crap!
I sincerely hope that “God’s Master Plan” includes you no longer being able to type.
I agree with you that McCain needs to get back to the experience question because it is a very big one for Obama.
Remember in the primaries how Obama’s lack of experience was brought up and Obama kept saying to trust his judgment? Based on the relationships that he has continually had with questionable people over the years – Ayers, Wright, Rezko, and now relationships with people who are involved in this economic mess – Jim Johnson and Franklin Raines, why would anyone trust this man? He has already shown bad judgment by the company that he keeps.
When you look at Obama’s experience, there’s nothing there. Obama always talks about his time as a community organizer, but he doesn’t talk about his time as head of the Chicago Annenberg Challenge which has him closely associated with terrorist Roy Ayers. Why? Because if people really knew the truth about Obama’s experience and judgment they would run to the polls to vote for McCain/Palin.
I am praying that the real Obama (who is inexperienced, very liberal and radical) gets exposed.
OBAMA HAD NO TIME FOR THE MILITARY AT LANDSTUHL BUT HAD TIME TO STOP OUR MILITARY FROM RETURNING FOR IRAQ. JUST WHAT SIDE OF HIS FACE WILL THE NEXT OPERATION COME FROM? HE HAS NO EXPERIENCE SO HE HAS 300 ADVISORS TO AID HIM BUT WHO PICKS UP THE PHONE AT 2AM, AYERS,REZKO,WRIGHT,MEEKS OR SOME OTHER “FRIEND”?
Obama’s inly qualification to be POTUS, as he and his camp has been touting, is that he’s been running a campaign for 19 months.
yeah, he’s qualified alright.
As Guiliani stated, “he is the most unqualified person to run for President in the alst 100 years, or ever!”
I happen to agree with that.
“Mankind wants to co-exist in this world for a peaceful future but have broken every bridge that embraces our differences.”
Nonsense! Jeff you are projecting. YOU want to co-exist, but there are billions of humans that have no desire to do that. I think they are correct and you are wrong.
Progress comes from strife. From conflict. Without the rough edges of existence, we would still be living in trees.
Part of growing up is facing the facts of life. Struggle, strife, adversity, and defeat are as much a part of life as co-existance, peace, co-operation and victory. You can’t have one without the other. Yin and Yang.
Been that way forever, will never change.
“The chief obstacle to the progress of the human race is the human race.”
Don Marquis
US humorist (1878 – 1937)
I watched the NatGeo examination of President Ronald Reagan last night and thought how difficult it must have been to take the mess that Carter handed him and try to ride out the natural market correction when so many were saying he was hurting more than helping his country. The next POTUS has some similar challenges. What struck me was the insight that it was Reagan’s experience as Governor that gave him the confidence and clarity of mind to face those challenges.
I also watched a clip of former President Clinton as he spoke on The View (shudder) and I have to say, he hit one nail squarely on the head. We do not have to find reasons to hate the candidate we are voting against. We do not have to tear down the other guy to build up our own candidate. It’s a shame, to me anyway, that Obama changed his message of “no more politics as usual” to doing the whole mud-slinging thing. I’d much rather watch this race being run on the issues and judging who would govern best.
Instead, I fear Americans will be deciding which candidate has the catchiest sound-bytes, whether those bits represent the truth or not.
“You want me to consider judgment? Okay, I will. McCain was reprimanded by the Senate Ethics Committee for exercising “poor judgment” in the Keating Five Scandal.”
Point! Now shall we talk about Rev. Wright, unlike Keating, which if you read up on it was mostly about a meeting that McCain attended at the request of the Sr. Senator from his state, The Rev. Wright ‘misjudgment’ went on for 20 years! 1 meeting and about 140 K in ‘contributions’ and a 13,000 Plane Ride vs 20 years of hate and bigotry, not to mention Tony “the Felon” Rezko and the funny house deal.
So that is what? 3 to 1? As long as we are counting things, where should we put the almost 130 present votes?
I’m confused about those, since if you have no judgment, it”s hard to say it’s bad judgment. Unless you are getting paid by the taxpayers to make judgments.
On the McCain side, we have the Surge, which shows excellent judgment on a critical issue, so I think it should be worth more then 1. What do you think?
Then there is this;
“If Congress does not act, American taxpayers will continue to be exposed to the enormous risk that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pose to the housing market, the overall financial system, and the economy as a whole.”
– John McCain, May 25, 2006
Talk about judgment! If McCain had been listened to back in ’05, there would be no Financial crisis today. How many points is that worth? I should think more then enough to offset almost 130 ‘present’ votes, even if you could make a valid claim to those ‘present’ votes.
I rest my case. Even giving only one point for the two ‘biggies’, I get a final score of McCain 132 Obama 1.
NEXT!
“It is no good to try to stop knowledge from going forward. Ignorance is never better than knowledge.”
Enrico Fermi
US (Italian-born) physicist (1901 – 1954)
Mr Eckert, I would quibble on one point: Obama did mean the remarks about Palin and McCain (“Lipstick” and “Old Fish” respectively). A review of your link shows the pacing and expression of some callow juvenile boy who has just told an inappropriate naughty joke or broken wind amongst his peers. One only need listen to the jocund laughter of his audience.
..I do heartily agree with your essay, however. McCain should have mentioned it, decried it, and moved on just as he should move on now and convince the voting public that he is worthy of the office and his 47-year-old pubescent opponent is not.
McCain/Palin needs to run a simple ad. Show the clip of Lt.McCain running thru flying bullets and exploding bombs to jump up on the wing of a burning airplane to rescue his buddy. At the bottom ask;
“Can you imagine Obama doing this?”
AS a point of fact, Many times in his life McCain has been called on to make life or death decisions. Every time he has made the right choice, as proven by the fact that he is still alive. Obama voted present almost 130 times.
Who do you want making an important decision for your family?
Let’s also point out that Bush brought legislation before Congress 12 TIMES to restrict the broad scope of power that Freddie and Fannie were acquiring and Congress “tied up” the legislation EVERY SINGLE TIME!
B.O. was #2 on the list of candidates that received THE MOST MONEY in campaign contributions from Freddie and he was #1 on the list for having received that amount of money in THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME!
B.O. is nothing but the good looking wooden puppet that is “speaking” for everything and everyone that needs to be eradicated from Washington, the Democrats have been caught with their fat fingers in the pie of Americans money and those fingers need to be CUT OFF!
They are now bickering over who is going to be able to get the most money out of the bailout plan that is being passed under the guise of “concern” for those of us that live on “main street.” You can bet your last dollar that they’ll be pocketing as much of it as they can on the sly and those of us that actually live on “main street” will be living in cardboard boxes and walking to work since we won’t be able to afford their energy plans for our oil and our through the roof mortgage payments. All this, while they float off into the wild blue yonder on their golden parachutes never to be held accountable for their actions.
I can’t wait for Sarah Palin to live up to her reputation! We’ve needed someone to wade into that herd of jackasses and start whipping them (literally if need be) into shape for way too long. God forbid they actually start doing what they’re paid for and that is WORKING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!
John McCain is more qualified by far on everything from the economy to national sercurity. John Mccain has a proven track record of getting things done as obama has never written a bill, decided not to even vote 130 times on bills as the record shows. He answers questions with that is above my pay grade and lies about his own voting record on abortion. now how can you lie about something that is is writing and on public record. no one should believ his lies and i hope no one falls for his deception.
Ex-fetus, So is that what you think should qualify someone to be president? An Action hero?
McCain’s reputation as a war hero rests on the sum total of 20 hours in combat. That’s right. McCain spent only 20 hours in combat in the entire war. He flew 23 missions. He got 28 medals. In other words, he got more medals than he had missions. Not bad. It should be noted that none of McCain’s medals related to anything he did in combat. They were given for the supposed bravery he displayed after he had been shot down and captured.
20 hours of combat, 5.5 years as a POW. While his service and commitment to his country are without question, he is no war hero.
Obama can’t even answer a simple question on live TV — rather than lose the liberal, left-wing vote, he said it was above his “pay grade” to define when life begins for an infant. Totally spineless. And, in the state senate, his claim to fame is notoriously supporting a bill that would allow a baby that miraculously survives an abortion and is OUTSIDE the womb, to die. Pro-abortion senators from even his own party went against him on this. Read the following excerpt from the Jerusalem Post:
“Reasonable people may differ in their opinions regarding abortion and thorny questions of precisely when life begins. Jewish doctrine, with its focus on the health of the mother, may differ from Christian or other religious positions over the circumstances under which abortion may be permitted. But once a baby is born, even prematurely, there is across-the-board agreement that a new human life exists. Certainly, there is no longer any threat to the health of the mother. Abortion is no longer an option, as there is no longer a pregnancy to terminate.
So, what are we to make of Obama’s votes against protecting the right to life for living babies who have survived attempted abortions? Such babies are sometimes born alive as a result of late-term induced labor abortions, often sought when babies are believed (sometimes in error) to have genetic defects such as Down syndrome.
Earlier this decade, such living, breathing, babies who survived labor were “shelved” – left to die and disposed of with other medical waste, or were “aborted” – killed outside the womb. The practice was ultimately banned by unanimous Congressional votes, as even the most pro-abortion Senate Democrats – including every defender of partial-birth abortion – recognized that killing these breathing babies is no longer abortion in any real sense. It crosses the line; it is infanticide. Yet, incredibly, Obama repeatedly worked to deny these living babies any right to life.
Jill Stanek, an Illinois nurse, testified in the US Congress in 2000 and 2001 – and before Obama’s Illinois Senate Judiciary Committee – about how induced labor abortions were handled at her hospital, relating this story: “One night, a nursing co-worker was taking an aborted Down syndrome baby who was born alive to our Soiled Utility Room because his parents did not want to hold him, and she did not have the time to hold him. I couldn’t bear the thought of this suffering child lying alone in a Soiled Utility Room, so I cradled and rocked him for the 45 minutes that he lived.” Powerful stuff. Obama, however, was reportedly “unfazed” by her testimony.
Various state and federal attempts ensued to curb the gruesome practice, including the federal Born-Alive Infants Protection Act, passed unanimously by both the House and Senate in 2002 (It did not immediately become law.)
In essence, these acts state that, whether wanted or not, once a baby is fully born, it is recognized as fully human and is entitled to equal protection of the law under the 14th Amendment. Even pro-abortion Democrats supported the BAIPA because it contained explicit language that it would not infringe on any abortion rights. Democrat Barbara Boxer, arguably the Senate’s most zealous pro-choice advocate, agreed that, with this language, the “amendment certainly does not attack Roe v. Wade.”
But not Obama. In March of 2001, Obama’s Illinois Judiciary Committee considered a law substantially identical to the BAIPA. It passed the Committee, with Obama voting against. In front of the full Illinois Senate, Obama was the only senator to speak against the bill, arguing that life protection extended to any (!) preterm babies (ponder that) could jeopardize abortion rights. He voted “present,” tantamount to a “no” vote. In March of 2002, Obama’s Committee passed the Induced Birth Liability Act, requiring medical care for babies who survive induced labor abortions – Obama again voting “present,” arguing that the Act would “create one more burden on women, and I can’t support that.”
In 2003, the Democrats took control of the Illinois Senate, and Obama became Chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. A Committee member sponsored an Amendment that would adopt the exact same language in Illinois’s proposed BAIPA that Senator Boxer was satisfied did not curtail any abortion rights in the federal BAIPA. But as Chairman, Obama unilaterally killed the bill by never allowing a Committee vote, thereby preventing it from being voted on by the full Senate and becoming law.
Obama’s position essentially boils down to this: a woman who contracts for an abortion is entitled, one way or another, to a dead baby. A dead baby must result, even if that baby had already been a distinct living being. The killing of some live babies is just part of the price we must pay in order to keep the sacred right to an abortion supreme and absolute, beyond any shadow of a doubt.
What kind of principle is this? What core value is Obama expressing? What extremist doctrine or interest is he defending? And how doctrinaire must one be to defend actual infanticide? This goes well beyond any reasonable advocacy of a woman’s “right to choose;” it attacks a living baby’s right to life. His position is not simply “pro-choice;” it is radically anti-life. It is, in fact, pro-death. Whatever one may make of the doctrines of his America-bashing, anti-Israel, Farrakhan-honoring pastor (or why a “uniter” would belong to his church for over 20 years), Obama professes to be a practicing Christian; so, what in the life-affirming Judeo-Christian value system could possibly give license to kill live babies?”
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1207159750412&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
tomw, you should be ashamed of yourself. You’re absolutely disgusting. The man was tortured, beaten, had bones broken, kept in a tiny cell for over 5 years and fought for your right to say sick things like that (in a war started by a Democrat and ended by a Republican). And what can you say about Obama’s “service” to America? He registered? He organized a community, which is still miserably disorganized, poor and crime-ridden? He voted Present 130 times? Tell the world what Obama has done for you lately??
Has any one of you read George Will column today?
tomw writes:
“..McCain’s reputation as a war hero rests on the sum total of 20 hours in combat..”
..and that compares to how many hours of combat by Obama? Oh, wait, I seem to remember him dragging his WWII uncle around to his speeches and desperately trying to imbue himself with credibility in the eyes of those who have served their country’s military.
888 is right, you are a sleaze and your candidate is a huge chunk of primordial slime.
888: Sorry I offended you. What did I say that was sick? I simply don’t see how being a POW for 5.5 years makes you more qualified for the office of president, or makes you a “War Hero.” When I hear the term “War Hero” it usually refers to some remarkable act of bravery during combat. John McCain is a great American and served his country, but just because you fought and got captured in the war doesn’t mean you’re a war hero.
“Ex-fetus, So is that what you think should qualify someone to be president? An Action hero?”
No, but it is one of the fundamental requirements. Look at history and see just how many Presidents have been “action Heros” as you call them.
Most of the better ones, although to be fair the definition of better is debatable.
POTUS is a tough job. The ability to make hard choices under pressure is an essential quality for POTUS to have. An action hero demonstrates the quality, voting present almost 130 times demonstrates a different thing altogether.
When you get into that booth and pull the curtain shut, will you vote for vague promises and general platitudes delivered by a man who has trouble making up his mind, or will you vote for proven competence at making the hard calls?
You don’t seem very open minded to me so I doubt that you will give up hope for experience, hot air for substance, but there are millions of Americans that want more from their President then promises. After all POTUS CANNOT vote ‘present’. I know how they will vote when the curtain is closed.
No question Obama meant the lipstick on a pig smear. It’s a double entendre, the classic stuff of jokes. He appears to say one thing, but the audience, look at their faces during the pause, get the second “humorous” message. Later he can feign innocence. That’s called duplicity and it sums his entire flawed character. The guy is actually claiming that his campaigning gives him the experience that qualifies him to be president. But the Democrats always win the women and the Republicans win the men. There are more women than men. He had the election won, a slam dunk, by naming Hillary as veep, but he passed off. That gave McCain the opening for Palin meaning he can cut into their lead among women. That has to be the stupidest move in the history of presidential elections and again this is one thing in his life he claims he has done right.
I am an atheist, but i accept as valid most religious principals. One of which is the concept of saving.
Tomw, like any of the Obamabots can be saved. Not on;ly can be but will be. Remember the Obamabots have a very bad day in their near future. They will find out up close and personal that Gracie was correct;
“When the “truth”
turns out to be lies
And all the joy within you dies.
You will want somebody to love
You will need somebody to love.
Wouldn’t you love somebody to love?
You better find somebody to love.
Deep down inside, past the yuckie parts, the Obamabots are still people. On November 5th, they will need our love and understanding. Don’t let the bitterness take root, which is what happened in 2000. We ARE all in this together and we need to remember that we do this every 4 years, so it’s NOT the end of the world.
The bitterness from 2000 has poisoned this country for the last 8 years. Let it stop on November 05.
If you fought in a war and got captured, you’re pretty much a war hero. You fought for your country and paid a price for it.
Ex-fetus: Thanks, but I don’t need to be saved.
I’m sorry, but I’m very tired of the government we have now. Bush is the worst leader this country has ever seen and this country needs a change in direction and attitude. I want a leader who will speak open and honestly about the state of the country, and not try to tell me that things are fundamentally sound when they’re not. McCain is now trying to pass himself off as a reformer, but it just doesn’t work. What reforms has he made in his 26 years? Campaign reform? that’s a good idea, but since nobody is using it you can flush that down the toilet.
I know everybody on this site loves America, as do I. We may disagree on many things, but I do know our passion stems for our love of country and the desire to make it great once again.
Chris in Toronto 5:00 am:
Independents have choices.
Cliff G.:
OBAMA HAD NO TIME FOR THE MILITARY AT LANDSTUHL BUT HAD TIME TO STOP OUR MILITARY FROM RETURNING FOR IRAQ. JUST WHAT SIDE OF HIS FACE WILL THE NEXT OPERATION COME FROM? HE HAS NO EXPERIENCE SO HE HAS 300 ADVISORS TO AID HIM BUT WHO PICKS UP THE PHONE AT 2AM, AYERS,REZKO,WRIGHT,MEEKS OR SOME OTHER “FRIEND”?
A cheapshot charge. Just moral blackmail, of the sort whackos from the Left and Right make when they visit NYC but fail to go the the Cathedral of the Heroes and pay homage. Or visit Texas and fail to detour to visit 8 military bases and go to Brooks burn center and 7-8 rehab centers because they were focused on a major energy meeting in Dallas..
tomw – McCain’s reputation as a war hero rests on the sum total of 20 hours in combat. That’s right. McCain spent only 20 hours in combat in the entire war. He flew 23 missions. He got 28 medals. In other words, he got more medals than he had missions. Not bad. It should be noted that none of McCain’s medals related to anything he did in combat.
Quite a crock of bullshit.
You know nothing about the military. If you had bothered to look at what medals McCain got in 28 years of national service, you will find few associated with his sorties, a cluster associated with POW time, and the rest associated with an above average to superb record of performance.
It is also something quite stupid Lefties do to count up minutes or hours of combat and think you have a valid measurement, a metric, of service in time of war.
If you count up “combat time” it isn’t hours flying or spent in a tank in Injun country, it is time spent in a war zone drawing combat pay. Which in McCain’s case was two years as an aviator and 5 1/2 years as prisoner of the enemy.
If you think “time in combat” is limited to only sorties when a pilot blasts at someone, or is being actively shot at, in any war – its only minutes to a few hours. Period. Same with ground troops. Kerry appears to have had about 15 seconds time actually engaging the enemy.
Yet somehow, those short periods of “actual combat” should not be minimized because to a Lefty civilian, they may sound like a trivial bit of time spent….but combat vets say they are moments of eternity….and of adequate duration, it seems, to have lost us 58,000 in Vietnam while taking out 700,000 enemy soldiers and enemy civilians.
“Bush is the worst leader this country has ever seen”
In your opinion. 100 million or so humans AND history will disagree with you.
“and this country needs a change in direction and attitude.”
That depends on exactly what that change is. Hitting the lottery is change. So is getting run over by a bus. When change is mentioned, most people think “lottery” NOT “Bus”. It is a simple but effective sales tool. It works best when what you are selling as no intrinsic value.
“I want a leader who will speak open and honestly about the state of the country,”
That means one who’s opinion you share. Or can trick you into thinking you share. The state of this country (3rd largest in area in the world with over 300 million citizens)depends on POV. If you are a 21st century snake OIL salesman, trying to sell a dream, the fact that America isn’t a Utopia is important. The FACT that we are #1 in everything that counts isn’t the sort of thing that helps sell snake OIL, so it isn’t brought up.
“and not try to tell me that things are fundamentally sound when they’re not.”
But they are. You have absolutely no idea what the fundamental economic indicators are, do you? Google it.
The current economic crisis was created by greed, and it is being manipulated by someone who saw an opportunity to steal a TRILLION Dollars.
That is what this is all about. That is why the person behind this scam wants the cash up front. If it was a legit bailout, term payments would be acceptable,
I suspect Soros, but it could be any of the Billionaire Shieks or even the Chinese Government.
It doesn’t matter anyway. No matter what happens on Wall and Broad, there will be winners and losers. Just like life. If some crook has figured out a way to con the US Government out of a TRILLION dollars, more power to him.
NONE of it is my money. I went to tax free bonds after the Democrats took over Congress. Remember Clinton got elected on the slogan, “It’s the economy, stupid”. So in order for the Demonrats to reclaim the White House, they had to trash the economy. Which they did. Look up those indicators about which you know nothing and put them in a spreadsheet and graph them starting in Jan 2000 and going up to the latest. You will find that after the 9-11 dip the numbers start to pick up and stay good thru the summer of ’07, which is when the Democratic Congress actions start to show up.
“What reforms has he made in his 26 years? Campaign reform?”
You are really young. A sure sign of youth is the search for perfection. One reform is better then no reforms. Remember Ohhhh…..BAMA just talks about doing things. When it’s time to deliver, he votes ‘present’.
“The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it.”
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, Meditations
Roman Emperor, A.D. 161-180 (121 AD – 180 AD)
See, there is nothing new about the change thingie. Politicians have been doing it as long as there have been politicians. Think of it as a learning experience and use it in the next election, which will be in 4 years and 30 something days.
ex-fetus,
I agree with your response to tomw except that the current crisis is not the result of capitalistic greed at all. It’s caused by the government compelling banks to make loans and mortgages to those unable to pay them – something a sound banker would never do in his right mind.
It’s socialism acting in under the guise the leftist notions of “fairness”. Remember the ‘social injustice’ of ‘redlining’? The root cause of the problem is a socialistic government intervention in the marketplace. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were enables, the greed of its execs (Raines, Johnson, Gorelick) and it’s overseers (Dodd, Frank) and Democrat refusal to enact reforms in 2003 and 2005 were all contributing factors, yes. But the root cause is government distortion of the free marketplace. Unfettered capitalism would never have permitted so many bad loans to be made. It takes government coercion to make such a thing happen.
More government involvement in the free market is definitely not the answer, yet Obama thinks t is the solution. This lack of economic understanding disqualifies the lawyer Obama from the presidency. Unfortunately, McCain is only slightly better than Obama in this area and it’s a shame he doesn’t have more experience in the private sector.
It seems you are totally missing the point Mr. Eckert, and why your recomended strategy will utterly fail – those of us who want CHANGE do not want somebody with experience, depth of character and understanding, hard-gained wisdom, or hard-nosed realism. The whole idea of CHANGE is antithetical to the “experience” motif. The CHANGE we demand necessitates electing a novice who is big on myriad, enormous ideas while short on even the most minimal ability to carry through with them, for the idea tends to get lost in the “carrying through” part, and the CHANGE comes up short every time. We want complete CHANGE, not cheap nickle and diming it with pragmatic micro-adjustments and adaptations.
Like Barry said, “Words have meanings.” And we intend to CHANGE the world, not with reliance any supposed “tried and true” method or truth, but with ideas and people, along with many, many words, that are entirely and completely alien from anything that resembles such stuff.
Ex-fetus:
That’s some conspiracy theory. WOW. Just wow. “If some crook has figured out a way to con the US Government out of a TRILLION dollars, more power to him.” eff that, hang ‘em.
Do you have any concept how much money that is? The wealthiest man in the world is at about 60 Billion. None of it is your money? Of course it is. It’s our money today and our children’s debt tomorrow. We’re going to be feeling this for years to come.
As for economic indicators, “it’s the housing prices, stupid” – The 20-30% drop in equity across the nation is killing our economy, no butts about it.
BTW, I turned 40 last week.
RE: Subprime loans are sub, because the borrower is less than fully qualified for the ammount borrowed. The lenders and realtors gamed the system. What do they care? They get their 1% loan initialization fee or 3% commission, then sell the mortgage on the open market. It was easy money, with none of the risks.
tomw, how about a leader who will “speak open and honestly” about himself? We still don’t know who Obama is. All anyone knows is the rhetoric from his mouth. He hid his relatives from view — we never saw the African side of him, nor the Hawaiian American side onstage at his convention. He won’t let anyone know the truth about his Kenyan alcoholic, polygamist father, so he changes the subject and talks about his white grandfather every chance he gets. He won’t let anyone see his school transcripts unlike all the other candidates of both parties for the past 2 decades. He hides his involvement and relationship with terrorist Ayers. He hides his relationship with gangster Rezko. He doesn’t want to talk about his 20 years in the racist-filled Trinity Church, except we know that the racist reverend married him and his wife and baptized his kids. He doesn’t (can’t) tell us what he did as a community organizer for the community of southside Chicago. I mean, we can go on and on about this man. There are just TOO MANY questions and doubts about Obama. Whereas, with McCain and now Palin, it’s an open book. That’s because they have nothing to hide.
“schnarg” 3:09pm –
WHAT YOU WRITE* sounds TO ME more like the way some Germans felt in 1931-1932 about the leader who inspired them.
THAT’S NOT WHAT I WISH FOR AMERICA.
_________________________________
* “those of us who want CHANGE do not want somebody with experience, depth of character and understanding, hard-gained wisdom, or hard-nosed realism. The whole idea of CHANGE is antithetical to the “experience” motif. The CHANGE we demand necessitates electing a novice who is big on myriad, enormous ideas while short on even the most minimal ability to carry through with them, for the idea tends to get lost in the “carrying through” part, and the CHANGE comes up short every time. We want complete CHANGE, not cheap nickle and diming it with pragmatic micro-adjustments and adaptations.
Like Barry said, “Words have meanings.” And we intend to CHANGE the world, not with reliance any supposed “tried and true” method or truth, but with ideas and people, along with many, many words, that are entirely and completely alien from anything that resembles such stuff.”
tomw,
Those were just small fry middlemen opportunists selling products that would not have existed were it not for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the policies of their corrupt execs (Raines, Johnson, Gorelick) pushing more loans and inflating numbers to qualify for bonuses. You also might want to follow Fannie Mae an Freddie Mac money back to politicians. It seems some pols (Dodd, Frank, Obama) had some incentive to look the other way and block reform.
The government created, enabled, and condoned the mess. A free market never would have tolerated that nonsense. Bad loans would have put them out of business.
You’re talking symptoms.
For someone to be qualified to be president, they should demand far greater accountability and positive results. Given Obama’s record with housing in Chicago (Rezko), he clearly is not that that person. He’s more a part of the problem than part of the solution.
It’ll be much easier to make this argument post-debates… assuming that Obama appears unprepared in the debates.
Making the argument the McCain campaign’s focus for this week would be a huge mistake. It would be lowering expectations, and allow Obama to win the debates simply by appearing to know what the various issues are, while offering his usual vague platitudes and irrational slanders.
on these criteria a Hitler is more qualifed!
but I dont think voters want such a qualifed person nor do they want aseniel Mccain and a corrupt Palin
really, Obama planned to build bombs?
wow
really, Obama sired kids by Dohrn?
wow
The one issue the public is not talking about and the candidates are not publicly talking about is an issue of incredible import. When Obama has talked about it, it has been to limited groups of like-minded Leftists who naturally approve of the idea. Obama and Biden are of similar mind in this matter, and Biden has made it one of his signature issues in the Senate since the 1980′s to oppose it: ballistic missile defense. I rather suspect that this was an important consideration when his selection committee and George Soros were vetting candidates for VP. Obama and all his paymasters, and perhaps their foreign friends, want this program killed.
As you probably know – even Obama supporters on this thread – Obama wants a host of other weapons/defense programs either ended or drastically cut. I rather suspect that his supporters are in favor of this, because it fits in with their worldview.
A man who wants to lay bare his country and its allies open to nuclear ballistic missile attack from a nation that is not at all deterred by the logic of Mutually Assured Destruction is not a man fit to be Commander in Chief. As of this very moment as I type these words, it seems not likely that Poland and the Czech Republic will have the defense pact/missile defense treaties ratified any time soon. Furthermore, if Obama is elected those agreements are dead on arrival.
If Obama wins, there are going to be some big celebrations inside the Kremlin, in Tehran, in Beijing, and in Pyongyang.
There is much at stake riding on this election, but it appears that a lot of people seem unaware of those critical things. One thing is for certain, since I believe Obama is going to win: we will get the government we deserve. The Left has been working for this day FOR DECADES. The Left is lapping at its high water mark, but I believe they will so badly reap crisis and catastrophe that in four years they will be finished as a viable political entity for a very, very long time. My hope is that those four years will not be as sanguinary as I fear they will be.
How exactly did Obama pay for Harvard? His wife’s statements were proven incorrect, and the school won’t release any details on transcripts or financial aid, if any. So what are they covering up now?? The questions about this man just never ends.
http://www.newsmax.com/timmerman/obama_harvard_/2008/09/23/133199.html
I’m so tired of the people who get on these blogs and repeat the attempts to denigrate McCain’s War Hero status, or link him to the Keating 5.
First, the War Hero. Pilots actually spend much of their flight time under fire. Remember that they’re in a plane! Imagine yourself in a plane, you know, actually up in the air, and someone’s trying to shoot you out of the sky. Not at all a pleasnat thought! That’s why pilots get rotated out sooner than grunts. McCain didn’t have to go on those last missions. He could have gone back to port with his injuries, but the other carrier was short on pilots, so he volunteered! Further, the war doesn’t stop for you just because you’re captured. On the contrary, you are everafter in combat until released. You are still expected to fight any way you can. Resist, resist, resist! For 5.5 years, he was put upon in the most brutal way. He did not sell out. Many guys sell out for something as little as better work assignments, or smokes, or more food. Thing is, Libs simply have no idea when it comes to this subject. They try to just dismiss it, when they should be standing in absolute awe! But then, Dems always cut the military… as Obama has promised to do.
The Keating 5 was investigated by a Dem Senate. There were 5 Senators investigated: 3 Dems and 2 Repubs. The 3 Dems were the actual crooks. They got tarred. But politics required that they tag some Repubs, too. After all, a Dem Senate can’t have the only bad guys be other Dems! So, despite no evidence of any wrongdoing by the two Repubs, they were slapped for the least possible thing: poor judgment. Make no mistake in this: the Dems were the crooks then, just like this time! An investigation will play out the same way, with a couple token Repubs getting wrists slapped, while a couple Dems really get charged.
So, realitycheq, just lay off those areas, especially the war hero stuff. That is absolutely taboo. His nation saw fit to give him all kinds of medals for a reason. You don’t get to criticize them, or try to diminish his heroism! Just say thank you and move on. Damned America-hating Libs.
you try to make light of mccain Browbeating Regulators? that is what got us into to days mess!!
what did he do heroic?
i did my time just as much,
his was harder but not heroic
its called student loans you MORON 888
I read several posters droning on about “McCain’s state of mind” and their lack of trust in him. I have actually heard other (I am one) mental health professionals make a similar arguments (they are 90% liberals)related to his potential for PTSD as a result of his Vietnam experience. What we also seem to forget is Obama’s developmental history:abandoned by father, frequent moves, inconsistent parenting…all the prerequisites for personality features that might lead a nation to significantly more ruin than a tough old fighter pilot would.
“fred” rightly says, “A man who wants to lay bare his country and its allies open to nuclear ballistic missile attack from a nation that is not at all deterred by the logic of Mutually Assured Destruction is not a man fit to be Commander in Chief.”
That’s like a man who doesn’t lock the doors of his house at night to protect his family knowing there are criminals roaming the neighborhood.
Or, like a man who puts his children in the pews of one who promotes divisiveness and spews hateful lies on a regular basis thinking no damage will be done.
He might as well say, “Honey, let’s nuke the kids!”
And, from time to time, I see our Mark Samford is still with us. God love him.
What people don’t understand is why some of us are so against the current Republican ticket, but we have an obligation to fight against history of ever being repeated again. Many of us out here are not fighting for the Democratic campaign but are fighting against an ideology.
1) An ideology that completely mirrors the ideology of this past 8 years.
2) An ideology that recognizes the few while completely disregarding the masses.
3) An ideology that believes in taking military action against Iraq, an incident that is completely unrelated to 9/11, without solidifying our claims beforehand. In the present, we have found no evidence of weapons of mass destructions or a tie to Osama Bin Laden. The devastation of this war has cost us over 4,000 of our brave troops and counting, over 1/2 trillion dollars of taxpayer’s money and counting, and over 1 million Iraqi lives unrelated to the terrorists or insurgency.
Cost of the Iraq War — http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home
4) An ideology that still believes that the Iraq War is the right war on terrorism when the Afghanistan War should had been the right war on terrorism, where Osama Bin Laden actually was until he slipped into the mountains and into Pakistan’s territory now. The Iraq War also diverted our attention away from the Afghanistan War. We now have extended our resources in two separate places and have heightened our risk to our troops, our expenses, and creating another dilemma that will take quite some time to finalize. The Iraq War will not go away overnight and it is now our obligation to see it all the way through for God knows how many more years. This has also been the most unpopular war in the eyes of the world’s communities.
5) An ideology that believes that we are at our safest state since 9/11, when a recent terrorist plot was still trying to enter Great Britain’s airports with liquid explosives heading directly to us, but thankfully the plot was foiled. While in Afghanistan, the terrorists are regrouping and strengthening and we have recently suffered another high casualty to our troops yet again within this past month. We currently have the least amount of alliances in the world’s communities due to this unpopular Iraq War. True national securities are the ties that bind us to our world’s communities and the ties that bind them to us.
6) An ideology that vetted one of the most inexperience VP ticket in history, from foreign policies to national defense. If God forbids that anything happens to this President if elected and is stricken with illness, this VP will be running the country. For a more compelling look at Sarah Palin’s VP readiness, please look at this link below —
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loUHRv3ipLE
7) An ideology that believes in “the fundamentals of our economy are strong” while we are facing the highest mortgage foreclosure crisis, high unemployment rate, and the largest collapse of our financial infrastructures since The Great Depression of 1929.
This is an ideology that many of us in America are against. Whether this ideology is in the Republican or Democratic ticket is not the main issue but the fact is that America does not want to fall into another 4 more years of devastation. We cannot afford this anymore.
Jeff, we do know why you are against the Repub ticket, we just disagree with your “facts”. But before I address them, I’d like to ask, “Have you ever voted against the Dem ticket?” If you haven’t, then all your protestations are partisan mouthings.
But let’s say you’re sincere.
1) Too vague a statement about an ideology. Can’t address that concern.
2) Being for the few, while ignoring the masses? Marxist drivel. “The masses” is a clue.
3) Actually, I guess you weren’t paying attention when they announced that we pulled 550 tons of yellowcake uranium from Iraq. Bush didn’t announce it in earlier years, because he wanted to make sure we got it all, so that the stuff didn’t become an Islamist treasure hunt. That cost him lots of popularity, but it was the responsible thing to do.
4) The Iraq war killed lots of the bad guys, too. It cost us money and blood, but it cost them, too. Don’t lose sight of the fact that the other guys suffer, too. There’s no guarantee that we can ever win in Afghanistan. To accomplish that requires better allies. Highly unlikely. We were fortunate that AQ decided to fight us in Iraq so we could kill and bleed them. There are lots of long-term strategic benefits from winning in Iraq, too.
5) The fact that there was a plot intercepted is proof that we’re safer, not proof that we’re more at risk. In fact, over the years, we’ve stopped many attempts that previously would have gotten through. History will show this as Bush’s greatest accomplishment, in addition to PEPFARS. He’s so successful at this, that only 4% of our people put terrorism near the top of their concerns list.
6) Gov. Palin is indeed weak on foreign policy, but she’s aces in many other ways. No one’s perfect. But, so what? Biden’s dreadful! After 36 years in the Senate, he has one thing to show for his time: solid rape laws. It’s no mean thing. It’s a great law. Other than that, he’s a real doofus, and proves it every day. No one’s getting all riled up about his qualifications. The important thing is that one have solid grounding in right and wrong, the ability to learn, and a record of effectiveness. Some of our best presidents would be considered unqualified today, while some of our worst are like the ones the Dems have been trotting out for decades.
7) The fundamentals of our economy are strong. Just because the Dems say otherwise in a presidential campaign doesn’t make it so. High unemployment? Actually, 6.1% is not that high, historically speaking. Europeans would love to have that rate. Throughout the 80′s and 90′s, typical unemployment was between 5.5% and 6%. Under Bush, it hovered around 4% most of the time. Mortgage foreclosures now are about the same as 1985. Most of these are the fault of the unqualified consumers who had no business trying to buy a home in the first place. Still, the solid home ownership rate is about as high as any time in history. The marketplace collapse is the fault of Congress, specifically all the Dems in charge of the banking committees. Bush and McCain both tried to fix the problem before it led to a crisis. They were both rebuffed by Congress. But all you hear is, “Blame Bush!” No, blame the Dems.
As an aside, Bush’s approval rating in Africa is 80%! He could be King, there! Rwanda intervention; AIDS assistance; Malaria assistance, etc…. They love him. What’s that about ignoring the masses?
To the writer, I disagree. Dangling Palin as bait highlights the issue of experience. It doesn’t diminish it. That issue has been front and center, until the financial crisis came along. The more the Dems and media flailed at her, the worse they looked. The more McCain responded with ads that got into Obama’s head, the more the Dems flailed. If the crisis hadn’t happened, McCain could’ve ridden that game all the way into the Whitehouse.
In a way, you’re right, but one can’t go at it directly. The truth is too simple compared to slick propaganda. If we had an honest media, then sure, that would work. As it is, it won’t, thus, the Palin lightning rod gambit.
The gambit today of “suspending the campaign to help solve the crisis” will be doing more of the same. The media can’t fail to show his actions. Even if it’s a push with Obama, it stops the bleeding and shows the experience. Again, indirect. It’s Jiu-Jitsu, not Karate.
The two things McCain has to learn is: that he doesn’t have to answer every question, nor respond to every attack; And to end his ads on a positive note (Obama’s a so-and-so, and I’m gonna do X.)
“It’s caused by the government compelling banks to make loans and mortgages to those unable to pay them”
One of the problems. The other problem is the market roller coaster. They have separate causes. The market jitters are being caused by manipulation of the market. Exquisitely timed transactions that make traders panic. The market ALWAYS goes in cycles. What traders DO is figure out those cycles and take advantage of them. When the changes are both abrupt and excessive, traders panic because they can’t figure them out.
When you hear the term ‘panic’ used about wall street, that is what is meant. The normal flow of trades has been disrupted, which is a classic manipulation scenario.
The SEC was created to track down those that manipulate the market. They are 100% successful, it just takes time.
NO conspiracy here, just one criminal genius with access to a few billion dollars and the opportunity. That opportunity was created by the meltdown in the financial sector. I assume the manipulation is being done to make money, since that is the traditional purpose. Anybody shorting could make Billions off this. Remember, in ANY market there are winners and loser. That is why the traders panic when they can’t figure out the pattern. They are worried about being losers. Like Los Vagas, the traders don’t care about the score, they just worry about the spread.
I might be wrong and this could be an attack on our stock market by any one of a number of Foreign powers. Not sure if that is an act of war or not. Depends on who is President. Which brings me back on topic.
“Nervos belli, pecuniam inifinitam (The sinews of war, unlimited money)
-Cicero
The USA is by far and away the most powerful nation on the planet from a military POV. WE are close to being stronger then ALL the other nations combined. A big part of the reason behind our military power is our economy, which is about 25% of the world GDP. Combined with a tech base that cranks out Nobel prizes like Phelps cranks out gold medals, it is impossible for any other nation to catch us if things stay the same.
Socialism has had our educational establishment under attack for decades. It didn’t make any difference. Attacking our military is suicide. So that leaves our economy as our weak spot,
“The way to avoid what is strong is to attack what is weak” is an OLD Chinese saying.
So I would put Soros and the Chinese at the top of the list, just because they both have motive, resources and opportunity.
1) Terrorist Ayers hosted fundraisers for him
2) He and Ayers served together on Woods Fund board for 3 years
3) Described Ayers and Dohrn as “mainstream”
4) Racist Wright married him and wife
5) Racist Wright baptized each of his kids
6) Convicted slumlord Rezko raised funds for him
7) Convicted Rezko helped get him a $1.4 million mansion while the slumlord refused heating for his tenants in Obama’s own southside Chicago
8) Will not release transcripts
9) 130 ‘Present’ votes
10) Will not release birth certificate
11) Attended party for Israel basher & Arafat apologist, Rashid Khalid
12) Israel basher, Khalid Rashid, hosted fundraiser for Obama’s 1st congressional campaign
13) Contributed $13,107 to Congressional Black Caucus then classified it as charitable donation on tax return
14) Sought $860 million in earmarks
15) Received $1 million earmark for wife’s company
16) Southside Chicago still cesspool of crime & poverty after he received $160 million for his Chicago Annenberg Challenge to improve southside Chicago
17) Voted against making English the US official language on 4 separate roll calls
18) Voted most liberal senator in Washington
19) Has not written one piece of legislation since becoming US senator but wrote 2 memoirs about himself
20) Compared Reverend Wright to his white grandmother
21) Angry wife “first time” proud of country
22) Refused to wear US flag on lapel
23) Refused to put hand over heart during National Anthem
24) Said gay rights is like civil rights
25) Tells Americans to speak Spanish when he himself doesn’t know Spanish
26) 1st term senator 19 months campaigning
27) Cancelled meeting with war-injured soldiers to go work out at gym
28) Said small towns’ bitterness made them “cling to guns and religion”
29) Will not say when life begins – above his “paygrade”
30) Promises universal health care but won’t say how he will pay for it
31) Supported and pressed for killing of live birth infants
32) Criticized America in Berlin during world tour
33) Would not admit surge success
34) Opposes oil drilling
35) Says he’s more qualified than Palin because of his campaigning experience
36) Wants to increase taxes on middle class and small business owners
37) Wants to increase corporate taxes so jobs resulting in jobs going abroad
38) 2nd highest recipient of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac donations
39) Fannie Mae’s Franklin Raines advises him on housing issues
40) Fannie Mae chair, Jim Johnson, who received millions in bonuses is currently working for his campaign
41) Injected race into campaign – “funny face, funny name on dollar bill”
42) Shops at expensive organic store for arugula
43) Created his own presidential seal
44) Refused McCain’s over 20 calls for townhall meetings
45) No foreign policy experience except world tour
46) No executive experience except sham Chicago Annenberg Challenge
47) Attended Hollywood and New York fundraisers hosted by prominent Jews but skipped anti-Ahmedinijad rally
This is a matter of judgment, character and leadership.