The Anti-Republican Who Is Really a Republican

posted by John Nichols on 09/05/2008 @ 02:15am

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ST. PAUL – In the eighth year of Republican dominance of the executive branch of the federal government, after an extended period in which Republicans also controlled the legislative branch of the same federal government, the party's nominee for president told its convention, "We need to change the way government does almost everything: from the way we protect our security to the way we compete in the world economy; from the way we respond to disasters to the way we fuel our transportation network; from the way we train our workers to the way we educate our children."

Never in recent American history has the candidate of a party seeking to maintain its hold on the presidency seen its candidate so aggressively dismiss the legacy of the incumbent commander-in-chief and his allies.

John McCain, the man George Bush so brutally beat for the Republican nomination in 2000, accepted that nomination in 2008 by declaring himself to be at war with Bush and Bushism.

"I fight to restore the pride and principles of our party," McCain told the Republican National Convention Thursday night. "We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us. We lost the trust of the American people when some Republicans gave in to the temptations of corruption. We lost their trust when rather than reform government, both parties made it bigger. We lost their trust when instead of freeing ourselves from a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, both parties and Senator (Barack) Obama passed another corporate welfare bill for oil companies. We lost their trust, when we valued our power over our principles."

"We're going to change that," McCain promised the delegates and alternates who had just chosen him to lead the fight to keep the White House in the hands of their party. "We're going to recover the people's trust by standing up again for the values Americans admire. The party of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan is going to get back to basics."

Of course, McCain had to say this.

George Bush is a dramatically unpopular president, with an approval rating as low as that attained by Richard Nixon in the depths of the Watergate scandal. And the Republican party has become so riddled with corruption that, at a convention that has been graced with the presence of Newt Gingrich, Tom DeLay and others party leaders who have been forced from office under clouds of scandal, McCain felt required to announce that, "I've fought corruption, and it didn't matter if the culprits were Democrats or Republicans."

To an even greater extent than his newly-minted running-mate, Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin – who introduced herself as a battler against crooked Republicans -- McCain referenced his own record as "a maverick," declaring that, "I don't work for a party. I don't work for a special interest. I don't work for myself. I work for you."

The whole anti-Republican Republican ruse might have succeeded, were it not for the fact that McCain's rhetoric was at odds not merely with his own voting record – 90 percent with Bush – and his own Bush-on-steroids agenda.

Even as he was pledging to "change the way government does almost everything," the senator from Arizona announced his commitment to much, much more of the same.

He pledged to maintain endless occupations of distant lands that empty the U.S. Treasury of precious resources that might pay for infrastructue renewal, housing and job creations initiatives for hurting Americans.

He outlined trade and tax policies that would extend, rather than alter a failed economic status quo.

He reintroduced flawed proposals for health care, education and entitlement reforms that Americans have wisely rejected.

And he threatened to achieve "energy independence" by declaring:

"We will drill…"

"We'll drill…"

"More drilling…"

McCain's rhetoric was that of a liberated man declaring his independence from his party's failed president and corrupt Congresses.

But his platform was that of Republican candidate who, for all of his talk of reform, offers the crudest continuity to a country that is crying out for change.

Comments (83)

"We need to change the way government does almost everything: from the way we protect our security to the way we compete in the world economy; from the way we respond to disasters to the way we fuel our transportation network; from the way we train our workers to the way we educate our children."

good luck, mr. obama.

please do an honest job.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 01:21am
foreign oil

THE ULTIMATE PANDER.

oil's oil.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 01:22am
"energy independence"

OOPS,

BIGGERER PANDERING.

energy independence?!?!??!

every president has said that

and the whole just gets deeper.

FACTS - TRUTH '08

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 01:26am
hole.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 01:27am
Number of sentences in John McCain's acceptance speech about his experience as a POW in Vietnam: 43.

Number of sentences about his 25 years in the House and Senate: 8.

<<<<<>>>>>

thanks, mr. corn.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 01:37am
The green screen represents his tainted legacy. It will always creep into the background.

Posted by tulipan at 09/05/2008 @ 01:42am
I know John McCain WAS considered a 'Maverick'. And at one point maybe he was????? But, every time I hear someone from his campaign talk about it I keep thinking two things.

One, what in the last eight years(and especially the last nine months) proves to us that he is a maverick?

90% voting record with George W. Bush(The least popular President in at least a generation)? No!!

Sponsoring a somewhat practical immigration bill only to declare that he will vote against it after becoming the nominee? No!!

Being Forcefully opposed to any form of Torture and then bowing to Pressure and allowing Bush to 'tweak' the Military Commissions Act so that BUSH Himself Defines torture?(Check it out: www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/04/27/mccain/) AN Definite NOOOO!!!!!

Here's a excerpt from his speech tonight.:

"... We lost their trust when instead of freeing ourselves from a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, both parties and Senator (Barack) Obama passed another corporate welfare bill for oil companies. We lost their trust, when we valued our power over our principles."

Notice how he blames everyone, "...both parties and Senator Obama...". Definitely maverick like to blame everyone including your own party, but he specifically mentions Senator Obama. Think about that, "...both parties and Senator Obama...". Last time I checked he was in one of those parties. And unless I am mistaken(Which I don't believe I am) Senator McCain voted in favor of this 'corporate welfare bill'. I guess being a "Maverick" isn't what it used to be.

Posted by udtinman at 09/05/2008 @ 02:13am
http://www.maverickman.com/

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 02:25am
It was with a hint of sadness that John McCain gave the most compelling speech of this convention. His delivery was markedly ingenuous... straight and plain talk from an honest patriot... and his remarkable performance succeeded on many levels.

McCain is sincere... and his record of public service is surely painted from the hero's pallet. He represents a stark contrast to GWB... and it occurred to me somewhere in the middle of his speech that he is picking up where he left off in 2000, when he was slanderously swift boated off the scene by GWB's handlers. We talk a lot about Gore's 'disqualification' by questionable means... but McCain was rudely and immorally 'shoved' out of the GOP spotlight just as his time had come.

So now... after most Americans and much of the rest of the world can admit that GWB's 'faction' may not have had this country's best interests at heart... McCain... the undying patriot that he is... has to break it to his base that much has gone wrong during this last seven years, and that his mission of 'change and reform' is one he will dutifully bear.

I, for one, applaud his courage and his wisdom on this... but it brings up such passionate sadness in me to remember that McCain would have done things very differently... but was pushed off of the scene and out of the picture by men of low design and crafty ambition... men for whom 'winning' proved to be more important that the peace and prosperity of the nation they sought to lead.

But we have before us now a world that is rapidly changing... and America must rouse itself from its stupor. The sweeping changes that will bring our Country back into the forefront of moral and economic leadership are formidable and interrelated... and will require a man of rare inter-relational abilities.

Posted by ttr at 09/05/2008 @ 02:52am
That man is unquestionably Obama at this juncture.

Posted by ttr at 09/05/2008 @ 02:54am
John McCain was NEVER a maverick!

He is a typical corrupt politician who was bought by Charles Keating and Cindy McCain's father early in his po;itical career. After getting caught up in Keating 5, he sought out Feingold to save his political career with the McCain-Feingold legislation, which FAILED to get the money out of politics. It failed because McCain fought to establish new loopholes with the 527s, and shift the soft money to political parties.

McCain's current love affair with lobbyists shows his true Keating 5 colors, and proves he really is more of the same corrupt politics-as-usual rather than the change he wished he could be.

Posted by Metteyya at 09/05/2008 @ 03:01am
Posted by Metteyya at 09/05/2008 @ 03:01am...

From Wiki... on the 'Keating 5'

Senators John Glenn and John McCain were cleared of having acted improperly but were criticized for having exercised "poor judgment".

Posted by ttr at 09/05/2008 @ 03:24am
George McCain is confused. Poor guy doesn't know what he is or isn't! Well, except for a former POW. That one is pretty much solid! Apart from that, its anyone's guess. Moderate Republican? Friend of the Independents? Lacky for the religious hyper-conservative right? Maverick (I am not sure what that word means anymore)? Why do you think his speech was so awful and disjointed? He didn't know which John McCain was talking most of the time. I wouldn't be surprised if all of this ends with a split personality disorder (at least finding prescription pills wouldn' t be that hard! (sorry I just had to!))

Posted by lyndonray at 09/05/2008 @ 05:00am
tool/pawn '08

Posted by tskinner at 09/05/2008 @ 05:07am
He is my sentator from Arizona. He has not voted on any bill in 6 months. We have one of the three worst foreclosure states. This man is a fraud and a phony. Nothing will change or get changed if he is elected. The change candidate is Obama.

Posted by mrsanfran at 09/05/2008 @ 05:33am
It comes to this:

Which is the more egregious error -

A plan poorly conceived but brilliantly executed (the historic fault of Republicans)

vs.

A plan brilliantly conceived but poorly executed (the historic fault of Democrats)

IMHO, it would have to be the first, as the failure is strategic, not tactical (and is a summary of the manner in which conservatives fight wars - Iraq and Afghanistan being just 2 prime examples).

Posted by skeletonman at 09/05/2008 @ 06:18am
painting black spots on a pig does NOT make it a dalmatian .... even if you can teach it to bark

Posted by leftofcenter at 09/05/2008 @ 07:50am
Look, the simple fact is, this was McCain's version of the Bush-41 "kinder, gentler" speech of 1988.

He HAD to "admit mistakes were made" with Dubya and the GOP Congress...or look foolish and put no distance between himself and them.

He HAD to SOUND more moderate, after the pandering to the base to get the nomination.

And he HAD to throw out some lines that appeal to independents, even Democrats, and know that "Well, I gave the Hard Righties Palin...that should keep them happy and quiet."

And he knows that Rush and Sean and Glenn and Fox News will lavish tepid to high praise upon his speech and out of fear of "the black Marxist Muslim" toe the line.

The Righties here at "TN" will have to defend it and HOPE (there's that word again, on THEIR side) that "he doesn't mean the moderate stuff"...when he probably does....and HOPE that he can get passed the Hard Right stuff....which he probably won't.

Posted by Maskdelta at 09/05/2008 @ 08:44am
With unemployment jumping from 5.7% to 6.1% this past month, and the Dow Jones down 15.65% over the past year, no wonder McCain is desperately trying to distance himself from Bush. A lot of money has been lost in 401Ks and IRAs, and people are not happy.

McCain is best when being himself; talking about his personal story and criticizing government waste and corruption. That part of his speech was very good. However the rest of it where he acted like it was 1994 or 2000 all over again; pro-life, charter schools, smaller government, was a complete waste.

Posted by Zeddmen at 09/05/2008 @ 09:09am
What we have is a pandering "maverick" and a pork loving "reformer".Politics is about PR and not reality.

Posted by i'm nobody at 09/05/2008 @ 09:10am
Uh, Darin....first you MIGHT want to fix this-

"Newt resigned after the Republicans lost control of Congress in 1994."----Posted by Darin_the_Troll at 09/05/2008 @ 08:45am

Huh?!??!?!?! Pretty sure the GOP GAINED control of Congress in 1994 (and held it to 2006) and Newt resigned as Speaker in 1998 after the GOP lost 5 seats, but not control of Congress.

Also....Gingrich WAS sanctioned $300K for his tax-exempt "college course".

But the thing you forget (as you are wont to do, when something conflicts with the Right Wing Talking point from Rush, Sean, or Fox...or Newt himself)....

it was REPUBLICANS who wanted to get rid of Newt....Dick Armey, Tom DeLay!!!!!!, John Boehner and Bill Paxon....who all plotted to force Gingrich to resign....

not "the Media" nor actually "Democrats".

And when the 1998 elections were a bust (mostly due to the Clinton impeachment moves...mostly pushed by Gingrich)....he didn't have enough support among HIS OWN CAUCUS.

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

Heard a polling analyst on POTUS '08 on XM this morning....most of that stuff...

"flat" with Independents, negative with Democrats.

Posted by Maskdelta at 09/05/2008 @ 09:13am
Posted by skeletonman at 09/05/2008 @ 06:18am

nicely thunk, doc.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 09:14am
We need to change the way in which we punish people for being more successful than others.

Posted by Darin_the_Troll at 09/05/2008

perhaps the successful need to be less selfish.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 09:15am
O'Reilly and others on Fox noise have been disrespecting our troops by ignoring recent troop deaths in order to do pre election propaganda.They're claiming that we have defeated terrorists in Iraq and must ignore terrorists act,in Iraq,so they can make the claim.They,also,don't mention that many of those terrorist have not been defeated,but went to Pakistan which is the place that they've wanted all along.

Posted by i'm nobody at 09/05/2008 @ 09:16am
Posted by Darin_the_Troll at 09/05/2008

you defend mr. delay?

and mr. gingrich?

darin, that's just dumb.

both men are extra slimy.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 09:17am
These aren't the typical people the Democrats usually try to get us to feel sorry for.

Posted by Darin_the_Troll at 09/05/2008

so, tell me.

who are those people?

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 09:19am
Darin-It's quite sad that we only view success in terms of money.When we think of a successful doctor we don't think of ones who has saved the most lives.We think about the ones who have made the most money something that even an average doctor can do.

Posted by i'm nobody at 09/05/2008 @ 09:19am
"Newt resigned after the Republicans lost control of Congress in 1994."

The Republican Revolution or Revolution of '94 is what the Republican Party of the United States dubbed their success in the 1994 U.S. midterm elections, which resulted in a net gain of 54 seats in the House of Representatives, and a pickup of eight seats in the Senate.

Mr. Darin the Troll,

If you're going to spout your b.s. here, make sure it's correct...

Posted by chinesebandit at 09/05/2008 @ 09:21am
Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 09:17am

Actually what's ironic is ....a right-winger really CAN'T defend BOTH Tom Delay and Newt Gingrich because (as I noted above)....DELAY was trying to OUST Gingrich in 1997 with Boehner and Armey.

Posted by Maskdelta at 09/05/2008 @ 09:29am
The choice of Sarah Palin as a VP, in a move to pander to women, is no different as the choice of Joe Biden, in a move to pander to heavily pro-military independents.

Get over it. That's what disingenuous candidates do. They choose based on the way the winds blow. Obama is no different.

Avoid this garbage by voting OTHER, and telling the two parties that their time is up.

Posted by DJGoody at 09/05/2008 @ 09:50am
"painting black spots on a pig does NOT make it a dalmatian .... even if you can teach it to bark"

Very nice. Call Bartlett's on this one.

Does the person supporting Gingrich and Delay have any idea about historical facts or the meaning of "clouds of scandal"? Or is Humpty-Dumpty writing in, words meaning no more and no less than what he wants them to.

Posted by onthehelm at 09/05/2008 @ 09:57am
Avoid this garbage by voting OTHER, and telling the two parties that their time is up.

Posted by DJGoody at 09/05/2008 @ 09:50am

huh?

OTHER is the reason Mr. Bush was given florida.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 10:00am
John, I guess Obama's list is much, much shorter: We need to change the way in which we punish people for being more successful than others. Posted by Darin_the_Troll at 09/05/2008 @ 08:39am

Once again. Darin can't say anything positive about his party so instead he launches an attack. Jesus considering Republicans are so proud of their Republicanism you would think they could actually say something positive about their party.

Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/05/2008 @ 10:02am
<i>Posted by DJGoody at 09/05/2008 @ 09:50am</i>

I'm pretty sure the Biden pick is more about having someone on the ticket who has a solid national security background, i.e. he understands it. It has nothing to do with being "gung ho about using the military" or any such nonsense. Will he use it? Probably. Just because he wants to, and because we can? Nope.

Posted by Thrawn at 09/05/2008 @ 10:16am
Don't forget the phony Reform Institute that McCain created to burnish his image after Keating 5. It was supposed to fight against illegal campaign financing but morphed in a few years into a secret bank to fund McCain's bid for presidency. It reformed nothing. It managed to bypass all the campaign financing laws like McCain-Feingold which was a phony bill anyway that atempted to shore up McCain's image for pandering to the felon junk-bond racketeer, Charles Keating. MyCain is just a phony hypocrite who has gamed the system for the past 25 years. Remember, the S&L debacle of the keating 5 cost the taxpayers $600 million in '90s dollars. Now we have the foreclosure mess which may cost the country trillions. Banks are failing. The stock market suffered a 300 point loss, America's values are in the sewer along with the economy. We should reward McCain with 4 more years of the last insane 8 years. What madness. Wake up America!

Posted by cobwab at 09/05/2008 @ 10:18am
Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 10:00am

Again, at this point a "Naderite purist" and a GOP posing as a "Naderite purist"....

same net effect: President McSame and Vice President Miss Congeniality!

Posted by Maskdelta at 09/05/2008 @ 10:28am
Will he use it? Probably. Just because he wants to, and because we can? Nope.

Posted by Thrawn at 09/05/2008 @ 10:16am

actually,

i know ten trillion reasons why he can't.

(well shouldn't. i'm sure the chinese and saudis and russians will be pleased to "lend" the money.

and if not the u.s. government can just continue lending the money to ITSELF)

but alas,

if american "interests" (i.e. brown people's resources) are at stake,

the gears shall grind forth...

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/05/2008 @ 10:30am
"We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us. We lost the trust of the American people when some Republicans gave in to the temptations of corruption. We lost their trust when rather than reform government, both parties made it bigger. We lost their trust when instead of freeing ourselves from a dangerous dependence on foreign oil, both parties and Senator (Barack) Obama passed another corporate welfare bill for oil companies. We lost their trust, when we valued our power over our principles."

McCain: If you are so concerned about corruption, then why did you get involved with Keating? If you are so concerned about dependence on foreign oil, then why did Reagan, yourself, Bush, and the whole Republican cabal relish in the wave after wave of corporate handouts to big oil way before Obama came on the scene? Why did you and Reagan kill Carter's plan to end dependence on foreign oil?

What a liar! What a hypocrite!

Posted by Batbird at 09/05/2008 @ 11:04am
If there is to be "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 @ 11:26am
t has nothing to do with being "gung ho about using the military" or any such nonsense. Will he use it? Probably. Just because he wants to, and because we can? Nope. Posted by Thrawn at 09/05/2008 @ 10:16am

You are one of the most sensible people on here.

Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/05/2008 @ 11:49am
Anti-republican,my***.

You will never hear a word from John McCain's mouth on the role of government in protecting its citizens from the worst excesses of greedy, unfettered business.

You will never hear John McCain own one bit of responsibility for the deregulation frenzy that he's participated in.

All you have to do is look at the list of economic advisors to his campaign to know that his economic policy can be summed up as "You're on your own."

Once again, those who are running his campaign are playing every card they can find (Palin, culture wars, oil drilling) hoping to distract voters from what their policies will continue to do to our economy. McCain is Republican to the core.

Posted by bmikkel at 09/05/2008 @ 11:55am
Posted by Darin_the_Troll at 09/05/2008 @ 12:00pm

Well, it was MORE than just the year, Darin....you also said "fter the Republicans lost control of Congress in 1994"....while in point of fact they lost 5 seats, but not control...since Newt was to be immediately replaced by Bob Livingston but his sex scandal gave it to the easily manipulated Denny Hastert.

Nor was the 5 seat loss ALL that Gingrich had going against him, as noted ...Tom Delay, Dick Armey, John Boener and Bill Paxon were all "gunning" for Newt in 1997, because Gingrich had one of the worst ratings for a Speaker upto that point.

As for Gingrich's ethical woes, it was a REPUBLICAN-controlled Ethics Committee that determined that "the inaccurate information supplied to investigators represented "intentional or ... reckless" disregard of House rules."

Despite revisionist history from Newt and allies like Rush and Sean, it was NOT "the Media" or "Democrats" trying to smear or "railroad" him out of office...

primarily it was his own ego....the public relations defeat at the hands of Clinton on the "Government shutdown", the move for impeachment, AND the ambitions of his fellow Republicans (like Delay) who saw him get weak and went for the jugular.

It also didn't help that he was lecturing Clinton on adultery...given the "hazy timeline" of his relationship to his staffer, now his wife, and his formal separation from his 2nd wife.

Posted by Maskdelta at 09/05/2008 @ 12:15pm
If we are addicted to oil isn't McCain merely a pusher with his "drill," "drill," "drill?" Guess he feels we cure the addict by giving them more of the same drug. What we need is a solid detox.

Posted by lmunoz at 09/05/2008 @ 12:25pm
This is one of the most intelligent reviews of the Republican convention I've read. John has pretty well figured out the entire strategy and revealed it for what it is: a clumsy attempt to delude the American people into thinking that something different will happen if we elect McCain.

McCain is actually a pretty good fellow, but he works for a corrupt and self-serving party. The Repulican Party doesn't give a damn about Americans; they just want to assure that their money will stay in their pockets. This "Country First" slogan is all about maintaining the status quo. How about "People First" for a change!

It's over for them -- I think they knew it the instant they nominated a lightweight like Sarah Palin for VP. She's a nice lady, too, but she needs to stay home with her kids and grandkids in Alaska. They'll have to wait until Nov. 5, then it will be over for them.

Posted by NickB at 09/05/2008 @ 12:26pm
Mccain did vote 90% of the time with Bush, and you say Bush has the worst approval rating of any president in a generation. Well at least Mccain went voted against the lowest approval rating of Congress ever.

If Obama gets in nothing will be done, it will be Clinton's era all over again. But Mccain can really make a difference unfortunately all you one tracked minded liberals will never see that. Bush wasnt the problem it was Congress and the severely left sided media.

Posted by stlguy08 at 09/05/2008 @ 12:26pm
It must be gaulling for a journalist to have to ditch his profession becuase his employer demands that he act like a dishonest cheerleader. Posted by Darin_the_Troll at

Gaul was divided in three parts.

god Darin are you dumb.

Posted by emile duBois at 09/05/2008 @ 12:26pm
my.. my... such anger and hostility.. me thinks the Repubs have a dog in this hunt... MCCAIN / PALIN

Posted by movoter at 09/05/2008 @ 12:29pm
I think Obamas own affiliations are much scarier and way more dangerous than a so called 90 percent bush voting record. After all we don't know how Obama percentages match up since when it is a difficult vote he doesn't take a position. What most of you people pretending to be educated in politics are failing to understand is that a president DOES NOT VOTE! They sign laws once passed by congress. So inevitably if a bill is signed into law the majority of congress has voted for it including McCain. What is important is how many bills reached Bush's desk for a signature without the vote of McCain. Bush's big problem is he failed to Veto bills passed by a democratic run congress. McCain has vowed to use the power of veto given a president.

Give me a man who fought for his country and almost died for it any day over a man whose own memoirs talk hatred of white people and his own embarrassment of being half white, a man who is affiliated with known terrorist ( Ayers) and cant even deny that fact, a man who thinks those who worked hard their entire lives to earn money owe some of it to those who sit on their rears and do nothing. We don't need a Robin Hood we need a leader!!!

Posted by andreanna at 09/05/2008 @ 12:32pm
for every reference of mccain, substitute Obomber, and you get the real meaning of the comment.

Posted by movoter at 09/05/2008 @ 12:33pm
my.. my... such anger and hostility.. me thinks the Repubs have a dog in this hunt... MCCAIN / PALIN Posted by movoter at 09/05/2008 @ 12:29pm

Nah there is always anger and hostility on this site.

Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/05/2008 @ 12:33pm
Movoter-The GOP has had a dog in the hunt since Lincoln.Not a new party.

Posted by i'm nobody at 09/05/2008 @ 12:38pm
I have been around for almost 70 years and NEVER have I seen anyone use a sick baby for their own advantage. God forgive her. And if anyone besides myself has ever raised one, they know it is a FULL TIME JOB. What will this woman do next to get a vote. And maybe Cindy McCain could help with the fund raising by selling some of her $300,000.00 outfit she wore last night. Here she is talking to people poor as church mice trying to look important. What next from her??

Posted by azgreatgram at 09/05/2008 @ 12:42pm
azgreatgram-It is rather disgusting that they endanger that child in order to score political points.

Posted by i'm nobody at 09/05/2008 @ 12:46pm
To the tune of "The Love Boat" theme:

It's the Guv Exciting and new Come aboard She's been tempting you

The Luv Guv Soon she'll be making another run The Luv Guv Promises something for everyone Set a course for disaster While your mind's on your new romance . . .

Posted by guanabana at 09/05/2008 @ 12:51pm
If Obama gets in nothing will be done, it will be Clinton's era all over again. But Mccain can really make a difference unfortunately all you one tracked minded liberals will never see that. Bush wasnt the problem it was Congress and the severely left sided media.

Posted by stlguy08 at 09/05/2008 @ 12:26pm

I don't know where you were during the Clinton era but it was was one of the most economically productive times in recent history. We had a balanced budget, the stock market was up, home ownership was up, and he left office will a treasury surplus.

Republican's have controlled the Congress for 12 of the last 14 years. The majority of the Supreme Court is "conservative" and we've had a Republican President for 8 years.

stlguy08 - What EXACTLY will McCain do? He has only recycled the same mantra that Republicans have been feeding us for 30 years. WAKE UP.

Posted by swat68 at 09/05/2008 @ 12:55pm
Mr. Maverick, the Texan who refused top brand his cows, would really be upset at having his name used by a dilettante like Senator McCain. McCain hasn't refused to brand his cows, he just hides the brand under their tale. He hasn't separated himself from Bush, in fact he has just promised, out loud, to accelerate the bush plan for education, economics, supreme court judges, and increase the power of the executive, as well as start a few new wars, give the rest of our swea equity to the top ten percent and ship the rest to China. In case he shouldn't make it through his first term he has nominated a clone from Alaska. Separated from Bush? Hell he is Bush on steroids.

Posted by lachatte at 09/05/2008 @ 12:55pm
If Obama gets in nothing will be done, it will be Clinton's era all over again. But Mccain can really make a difference unfortunately all you one tracked minded liberals will never see that. Bush wasnt the problem it was Congress and the severely left sided media.

Posted by stlguy08 at 09/05/2008 @ 12:26pm

I don't know where you were during the Clinton era but it was was one of the most economically productive times in recent history. We had a balanced budget, the stock market was up, home ownership was up, and he left office will a treasury surplus.

Republican's have controlled the Congress for 12 of the last 14 years. The majority of the Supreme Court is "conservative" and we've had a Republican President for 8 years.

stlguy08 - What EXACTLY will McCain do? He has only recycled the same mantra that Republicans have been feeding us for 30 years. WAKE UP.

Posted by swat68 at 09/05/2008 @ 12:55pm
StLguy-I see that the party of personal responsibility is blaming congress and the media for Bush screw ups.

Posted by i'm nobody at 09/05/2008 @ 12:57pm
McCain running as a liberal! Okay we are stupid but not that stupid. We noticed the fake fight put on by Rush Limbaugh distancing Mccain from the GW Bush far right and the outrage staged by the far right evangelical church groups against McCain as they pushed him into the presidential contest. Unfortunately for him we also noticed how he had to run back and kiss their bottoms every so often just to make sure that he was still their boy. Occasionally his constant 'diversionary tactics' make you for get his record of unrelenting support for radical right wing policies. After his litany of populist jargon such as peace and 'reaching across the aisle'we should soon be hearing calls of "bottoms up" from his real crowd.

Posted by linwood at 09/05/2008 @ 1:09pm
Delay hasn't been convicted of anything. He was simply the victim of a corrupt partisian Democrat prosecutor. If that is inaccurate, please educate me as to the crimes or ethical lapses Delay has been convicted of.Posted by Darin_the_Troll at 09/05/2008 @ 08:45am

Actually, you are correct so far. Mr. Delay has not yet been convicted on the indictments handed down and is currently free on bail. The indictment for conspiracy to violate election law was dismissed on what I believe was a technicality. There are 2 more serious felony indictments that were not dismissed and Mr. Delay has to answer. Those are money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Posted by sfgiantsfanNLA at 09/05/2008 @ 1:16pm
Delay hasn't been convicted of anything. He was simply the victim of a corrupt partisian Democrat prosecutor. If that is inaccurate, please educate me as to the crimes or ethical lapses Delay has been convicted of.Posted by Darin_the_Troll at 09/05/2008 @ 08:45am

Actually, you are correct so far. Mr. Delay has not yet been convicted on the indictments handed down and is currently free on bail. The indictment for conspiracy to violate election law was dismissed on what I believe was a technicality. There are 2 more serious felony indictments that were not dismissed and Mr. Delay has to answer. Those are money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Posted by sfgiantsfanNLA at 09/05/2008 @ 1:17pm
Truth: John McCain is Beholden to the Same People as George W. Bush & Now For Some More Truth

John MCCain is Beholden to the GOP Agenda

I think John McCain gave one of the best speeches of his life tonight. He was able to walk that thin line between playing to the Republican base in the room and presenting a case for change in the United States. I respect his service and am inspired by his story. But when it comes down to it, he was selected by the people in that room tonight and is obliged to promote their agenda. Sarah Palin is going to be the Mouth of McCain because she is much easier to look at, and he does not whole-heartedly believe in the same policies put on the party platform by the delegates at his own speech. He is an honest man and does not want to lie. But McCain is still beholden to the agenda he knows we have to accept.

What the Republican Party wants you to forget is that the very same people applauding Bush's speeches, are telling us McCain is the right man to clean up after the mess they made. They didn't just admire the ones Bush gave 8 years ago when he was seen as everybody's buddy, but the ones 4 years ago as well when many of us knew he was corrupt. They were the ones screaming, "FOUR MORE YEARS, FOUR MORE YEARS!"

Thanks, but no thanks.

I think if John McCain was a Democrat, he would not be labeled a Maverick, but just one of the pack. He would most likely already been nominated for Presidency because the Democrats don't pick their candidates based on their name(Bush Jr.), but their ideals. Too bad he has had the chain of the Republican Party around his neck and the burden of convincing rural America that the agenda of the wealthiest Republicans is their own. John McCain is wrong in two major areas. The War in Iraq,

Posted by gouko787 at 09/05/2008 @ 1:30pm
azgreatgram, how exactly has she "used" the baby for her own advantage? Is she supposed to conceal it from the world?

The baby has Down's syndrome and will need special attention no doubt. I am sure that position of Vice President comes with many accomodations that the average person does not have at their job. Don't forget this child also has a father and a family.

If the VP candidate were instead the FATHER of a special needs child, he would not get nearly the same scrutiny.

Posted by DLo at 09/05/2008 @ 1:31pm
Now that McCain followed Obama in using "change" as his motto as well. The choice is clear. We have Obama's "change you can believe in" vs."change you can't believe in"

Posted by linwood at 09/05/2008 @ 1:43pm
the dems need one slogan only:

THROW THE BUMS OUT

Posted by emile duBois at 09/05/2008 @ 1:45pm
mcsame/tool '08

Posted by tskinner at 09/05/2008 @ 1:49pm
Dlo-A Downs baby is far more prone to diseases than a normal baby and should not be paraded around just so that one can score political points and it does not matter whether it is the mom or dad that is doing it.

Posted by i'm nobody at 09/05/2008 @ 1:52pm
azgreatgram:

I didn't realize the child was sick...I thought the baby had Downs. I know there are a number of complications and health risks that often accompany the diagnosis of Downs, but I didn't realize Mrs. Palin was putting the health of the child at risk by having the baby share the stage with the rest of her family! Maybe she should hide the poor thing away to keep it safe from the world... /end sarcasm.

As the mother of a child with Williams Syndrome (no not Downs, but it is a genetic anomaly that affects approx 1 in 5000 births), I can assure you that I would have had my daughter on stage with the rest of my family as well. Had she kept the child hidden, she would no doubt have been accused of being embarrassed of the child's handicap.

I can also assure you that while motherhood has always been a fulltime job, regardless of the health and/or special needs of ones children, many, many women have managed to successfully hold down a second full-time job. I'm one of those women. My children are always my number one priority, but with the help of a supportive husband and extended family (which Palin seems to have as well), we've been successful so far.

IMO, the "modern father" is as much a full-time parent as the "modern mother" as so any "slack" is picked up by the him as the mother's partner.

In conclusion, we have no need to worry about whether Palin can be both a mother and VP. To do so only teaches our sons and daughters that one must choose to forego raising a family in order to lead our country...but only if one is a woman!

Posted by jayneslilsis at 09/05/2008 @ 1:56pm
<i>Dlo-A Downs baby is far more prone to diseases than a normal baby and should not be paraded around just so that one can score political points and it does not matter whether it is the mom or dad that is doing it.

Posted by i'm nobody at 09/05/2008 @ 1:52pm </i>

Anyone who knows much about Downs also knows that there are extremes of the condition. There are some infants that are fighting for life when they're born and have to be protected from germs. There are also others who have a much milder form of the syndrome and so don't have to be kept in a completely sanitized environment.

Currently, only Mrs. Palin, her family and the child's doctors know which is the case here. To presume you know more and care more about the child's welfare than the child's mother is rather arrogant IMO.

BTW, I'm much more inclined to believe that Mrs. Palin is a proud mother than that she is angling for political points for having a Downs Syndrome child. And no, I'm not naive. I'm simply a person who chooses not to judge others on presumptions about their character.

Posted by jayneslilsis at 09/05/2008 @ 2:26pm
jayne-All Downs babies are more prone to diseases.I worked with special needs kids and adults for years.I'm more inclined to distrust the motives of politicians because they have more than proven that they do things for political reasons more than for any other reason.It's hardly unusual for them to use their children and families in order to score political points.Palin showed that she was more than willing to put her pregnant daughter through media attention in order to advance her political ambitions.

Posted by i'm nobody at 09/05/2008 @ 3:42pm
We need to change the way in which we punish people for being more successful than others.

Posted by Darin_the_Troll

HUH? Was that even supposed to make sense? Then again what could I expect from someone proud to be a troll

Posted by solonaz at 09/05/2008 @ 6:11pm
Darin you really ARE a troll. Gingrich PAID a 300,000$ fine for ethics violations and you just calling Earle partisan doesnt make it so. That is what you have been instructed to believe and say. I am sure you have appologies for Cunningham and Ney also.

Posted by solonaz at 09/05/2008 @ 6:19pm
Happy-I know that you diitoheads are supposed to lie and claim that her family was attacked,but it wasn't.As you know,it was Palin's beliefs that were attacked and it was Palin who knew that that would happen and she is responsible for it.If your poor little candidate is too sensitive for politics then she needs to get out of politics because it is a rough game.The private life of a 17 year becomes fair game when her mom invites people to look at her family by running as a family values candidate and stating that they have better values and morals than others..Time for you people to learn about personal responsibility.

Posted by i'm nobody at 09/05/2008 @ 7:05pm
Wow at last someone has spoken with honesty a lot of so called reporters fall short of doing I congraduate you.

If people would do some honest research and take a close look at McCain's policies any person with common sense can see they're a duplicate of President Bush. Now I understand why McCain didn't go into great detail about them, in his speech. McCain is using Sarah Palin as a reformer and change which will backfire because she has skeltons in her closet that going to be exposed.(when the media finishes vetting her).

It's really sad that McCain is copying Senator Obama because he has no fresh ideas that the American people can grasp and connect too. So he keeps throwing bones out for people to bite but sooner or later same old politics will fade and the people will realize that McCain's is still the same.

They won't work not this time not this year.

If people fallinto McCain's traps then like the saying goes fool me once same on you;fool me twice same on you;fool me three times shame on the voters.

McBush is fooling you people wake up....

Eight years is Enough.......

Obama/Biden

Posted by Jacie at 09/05/2008 @ 7:18pm
Why is every one still calling McCain a Maverick. He isn't anything like Mr. Maverick who refused to brand his cattle, he is just hiding the brand under the cows tale. I listened to Mr. McCain's acceptance speech and he is a Bush Republican on steroids. 1. overturn Roe v. Wade. 2. Give more tax breaks to off shore corp0rations. 3. More tax breaks to the top ten percent. 4. More wars. 5. privatize education. 6. more power to the executive. 7. increase and speed up globalization. 8. increase oil use. 9. build more nuclear power plants. 10 he nominated a Republican clone. 11. BP party.

Posted by lachatte at 09/05/2008 @ 7:32pm
This video says it all - republicans are fear-mongering, hate-spewing hypocrites who'll say anything to win an election, http://tinyurl.com/65d7wv

Posted by working_mom at 09/05/2008 @ 8:01pm
We need to change the way in which we punish people for being more successful than others.

Posted by Darin_the_Tool at 09/05/2008 @ 08:39am

Either you are very wealthy, in which case your extremely selfish and myopic ideology at least works for you(not commendable, but at least fathomable). Or you're just a gigantic tool...My money's on gigantic tool. If you aren't raking in some serious boatloads of cash every year, the self-deprecating ideology you've adopted is exploiting your shortsightedness for the gain of people who are. Your place in politics is not so different from that of a shovel, a rake, a screwdriver, or a wrench. Except you have the cognitive ability to think yourself out of the toolbox…

"And they were not only wrong; they were, and remain, proud of being wrong."

Posted by Eric Alterman, September 3, 2008; "The Times They Have A-Changed" The Liberal Media By Eric Alterman

Posted by ADHD at 09/05/2008 @ 8:39pm
Actually, workingmom.....THIS video says it all-

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

Posted by Maskdelta at 09/05/2008 @ 9:00pm
Posted by movoter at 09/05/2008 @ 12:29pm

we're working on their campaign buttons! http://home.avenuebroadband.com/~dvaughn58/GOP2008.html

onethehelm ... thanks. Get a good one every now and then.

Posted by leftofcenter at 09/05/2008 @ 10:09pm
McCain, Pallin, right wing conservatives, and christian fundamentalists join forces and if elected will destroy democracy and freedom of: choice, speech, and religion all in the name of god. How the heck did these zealots get so powerful? I truly hope Americans are smart enough to see through the election propaganda the republicans will roll out. Then again, didn't they reelect the criminal Bush.

Posted by drkenne at 09/06/2008 @ 09:17am
rio,

"fungible"

it's in the dictionary.

Posted by frosty zoom at 09/06/2008 @ 10:40pm
Posted by i'm nobody at 09/05/2008 @ 7:05pm "I know that you diitoheads are supposed to lie and claim that her family was attacked,but it wasn't.As you know,it was Palin's beliefs that were attacked."

So, by your logic, if Mrs. Palin was a democratic, pro-choice candidate and her 17-year-old daughter had recently had an abortion, the press has the right to invade that 17-year-old's privacy. Democrats would be up in arms about how wrong that is, and rightfully so. It's just bad taste to use children to attack their politician parents. Period.

"If your poor little candidate is too sensitive for politics then she needs to get out of politics because it is a rough game."

I believe Palin has proven she's strong enough to handle the scrutiny of the press. That shouldn't have to extend to her children, however.

"The private life of a 17 year becomes fair game when her mom invites people to look at her family by running as a family values candidate and stating that they have better values and morals than others..Time for you people to learn about personal responsibility."

Wrong again. The private life of a minor child is NEVER "fair game". Palin has a right to her beliefs. Beliefs that she shares with many other Americans who also deserve to have thier beliefs represented by those in government. Apparently, you believe your values are better than Palin's by the way you appprove of attacks by the press on her family. Shame on you ;)

BTW, "All Downs babies are more prone to diseases" even if I give you that...what disease is the child likely to contract by standing on stage with her family for a few minutes. They weren't passing the child around the auditorium for strangers to breath on. As I said before, Palin is proud of ALL her children.

Posted by jayneslilsis at 09/08/2008 @ 08:08am