Pajamas Media

158 Comments

1. The Anti Jihadist:

If McCain wins, if the polls prove to be anywhere close to accurate (a big assumption), it seems like it’s going to be a very close margin of victory. Too close for comfort for most in the GOP, but a narrow margin is better than not winning at all.

Then the inevitable calls of “the election was stolen” will begin from the nutroots, about how a racist country/electorate/voters, or a ‘vast conspiracy’, or evil corporations or whoever defrauded the Obamessiah out of his deserved victory. The inevitable election day discrepancies will be magnified, exaggerated, or if need be, invented out of whole cloth and blamed for this latest political setback for the ‘progressive left’.

Obama’s upcoming defeat should prove to be a new cause celebre for the Kos Kidz, the one token leftist writer here at PJ Media (Taylor Marsh), and the rest of the lefties. It should keep the conspiracy theorists hopping mad and writing for years to come.

Sep 3, 2008 - 2:21 am 2. Boris:

“Lack of patriotism”

Anyone not wearing a flag pin should be shot on sight.

And Obama is pulling away right now, but it remains to be seen if the convention bounce will last.

Sep 3, 2008 - 3:22 am 3. Natasha:

And first shot vill be be Moose and Squirrel, right komrad?

Sep 3, 2008 - 3:47 am 4. SK:

I believe Obama has actually been ahead, though by a slight margin, throughout the entire campaign.

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:24 am 5. B Dubya:

American Patriotism is not the jingoist crap you Soviets are familiar with, Boris (I don’t much care who or where you are, or what your nationality is, to me you are one more useful tool in the Soviet inspired culture of treason in America). And, no, I’m not going to either define it or describe it to you, because it’s clear that you do not share enough American values with the rest of us to make the excercise worth while.
The man or woman who leads this nation must, above all things, love this country, the Constitution that defines it, and the ideas that made us who were are. He or she must be willing to sacrifice even their very lives, because once in office, America will test the new President, even to the point of using him or her up. That does not describe Senator Obama; Messiah Light is not it and his decision to pander to the rest of the fringe traitors in this matter is very telling. Ask GHWB and GWB (once he leaves office) just how much fun the Presidency is. (You can’t ask FDR, but all you have to do is look at the effects of 12 years in the White House as he literally deteriorated before the public’s eyes. Not a job I would want.)
The only American Patriot in this election cycle is John McCain. You cannot refute the essential Skipper; be, know, do. And he was a bird farmer, so that makes him crazy in the way we like our warriors and Patriots to be crazy, with passion and elan and absolute resolve. (If you don’t know what a bird farmer is, then we share no common experience, we just make noised in the same language)

Actually, I don’t really believe that executive experience is the central test of a candidate for the office. Lincoln was even less experienced than Obamasan, but he had a love for this Union and this Constitution that enabled him to grow into the office and become one of the most revdered Presidents. Wilson, not so much. FDR, again, not so much. Jack Kennedy, for sure, though he had to grow up fast in ‘62. George Washington had to invent the office because, before him, no human on earth has ever had the experience and he is the model that all who followed at least try to emulate.
The test for the Presidency is character; McCain has already demonstrated his at peril of death, but what has Obama shown us? Not so much; if anything he has shown us that he has very little of the character that Americans value above all things in leaders.

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:39 am 6. mouse:

Obama is not pulling ahead. According to the Gallup three day rolling average he started the convention at 46% support. On Wednesday and Thursday, reflecting the speeches of Hillary and Bill, he had 48 and 49% support. On Friday, reflecting his own grand Thursday night speech… he had 49% support, the same as what had been given him by the Clintons! He did nothing for himself, and has lost the power to inspire.

He is not a positive anymore, he’s just a name at the head of a ticket, hanging on.

It is possible that this is a Democrat year, and that if there’s a generic vote there will be a Democrat president. But I would strongly suggest that if this is to be the case this Barack fellow should be put in a closet. If nobody learns anything more about him than they know already it is possible that in November the Democrats will have the white house. –But he does have to duck Sarah. If she gets ahold of him he’s moose meat.

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:58 am 7. Boris:

“Obama is not pulling ahead.”

Tuesday, September 02

Gallup Tracking Obama 50, McCain 42
Rasmussen Tracking Obama 51, McCain 45
USA Today/Gallup* Obama 50, McCain 43
Hotline/FD Obama 48, McCain 39
CBS News Obama 48, McCain 40

Sep 3, 2008 - 5:15 am 8. Ed Wallis:

…and, to turn the tables : WHEN WILL OBAMA DROP OUT?!

http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/272198.php

heh.

Sep 3, 2008 - 5:19 am 9. jdwill:

mouse,

I saw the ‘Clinton bounce’ 48/42 in Gallup via RCP, too.

It was really a 5 point shift (plus 3, minus 2 negative on McCain). The next two polls which followed Obama’s speech were both 49/41, a 2 point shift (plus 1, minus 1). So much for the messiah, though in fairness, there aren’t many slack points available.

Palin’s pick might have upped the McCain points 1 or 2, but the real story will be if the base gets energized (I think so) and both sends more money and gets out the vote.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/109960/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Hits-50-First-Time.aspx

Sep 3, 2008 - 5:26 am 10. BC:

The real question is why isn’t Obama up on McCain in the double digits. Seriously, if you really care about this country and have made an effort to really be on top of what’s been going on, which means going well beyond lazy, specious TV news casts and hyperbiased blog sites for your info, you would never vote for McCain. He may have been a “maverick” back in 2000, but since then he’s completely embraced the Confederacy of Dunces neocon philosophy that’s done nothing but screw things up, and often in very nasty, blood soaked ways.

I think a little exercise in Googling might be enlightening as far as who the real John McCain is these days — put in these search terms: McCain Whitehouse Bush August 29 2005

The first hit should be a Whitehouse press release. (And yes, August 29, 2005 is when Katrina was banging up New Orleans.)

FYI.

Sep 3, 2008 - 5:34 am 11. Nico Sciscente:

Recheck your statements….if the election were held today….Obama with at least a 6-10 point lead would win a majority. If his name was Barry Smith and he was white the game would already be over…..the republicans are picking at straws…Bush, Cheney and McCain have put your country in the worst condition in decades….that is a fact…the tougher they talk the worse it plays out across the world…the republicans don’t get it and it’s obvious quite a few of you don’t get it…..there are quite a few countries across the world who have or will be implementing new technologies to get away from oil dependance…..while you morons are saying…..drill….drill…drill….which will lead you to nowhere and still leave you dependant on foreign oil!! Another thing is the P.O.W. issue….seems like that’s all McCain has to stand on and is his answer to just about everything…..people seem to forget that it was a very long time ago and let’s not forget that a lot of brave men were killed and never came back to their families….so no I don’t feel sorry for McCain and to run under a platform of COUNTRY FIRST AND P.O.W. is as pathetic as you can get and an insult to all those who lost their lives while he came back and has been living the good life ever since…..if you are stupid enough to fall for all his crap including picking a female he hardly knows as his V.P. then go ahead and vote for McCain….but don’t cry wolf when you have to live with another 4 years of Bush policies and the response to your problems and troubles will be…..P.O.W.??????

Sep 3, 2008 - 5:41 am 12. Nico Sciscente:

and oh…..I forgot one thing….you will “SURGE” into the 21st century problems with 20th century mentality!!!lol

Sep 3, 2008 - 5:44 am 13. mishu:

If his name was Barry Smith and he was white the game would already be over…

Well yeah, because McCain would be running against Hillary and Barry would be watching the DNC from home.

Sep 3, 2008 - 6:06 am 14. AJ:

Obama is just a terrible candidate. In a Dem year, could they not find a candidate with some experience, some leadership abilities, fewer connections to rogue folks and maybe some, patriotism? No, not allowed in the party of Soros. He is also a HORRIBLE speaker w/o a teleprompter.

Sad.

Meanwhile, McCain is who he is — and he’ll win because of it. No wonder so many people move right as they grow older and mature, despite what the media says,

Sep 3, 2008 - 6:22 am 15. aby:

Obama will probably win because there are more educated, intelligent people looking for change in the way things are going in the USA. I rather have someone with not a lot of experience to run the country than to have an old corporate criminal,killer and oil stealer running the show. All the racist and ignorant people will probably vote in his direction but everything is in the hands of God and his people.

Time to CHANGE the game!

Sep 3, 2008 - 6:31 am 16. alwayz:

“If Barack were a white guy, he wouldn’t even be thought of as a good candidate for a cabinet appointment in a Democratic administration.” What kind of comment is this.It’s people like you who further show how desperate the Republicans are. U talk about Obama and his color and his lack of experience. Never talking about the issues that we face as Americans. U can take his past and look at his heart and see that he is sincere when he states he is concerned about the view of Americans from our enemies and allies. He’s truly concerned about the American people. This, not race is why he is in this election. People like you and McCain or not the least bit bothered by what Americans has suffered over the past 8yrs. Those of us that see how vulnerable this misled war has left us; Those of us that has suffered financial lost because of the economy Bush leaves us, We are the people who know
how important it is not to have McCain in office. American is at it’s worse… These are facts. We are in dire need of help. Help I think Mrs. Clinton could have brought to us as well. But U McCain people only want to talk about things that have no relevance. We respect McCain for his past experiences. But the guy does not make smart moral decisions. His first wife divorced him for having several affairs. He graduated 5th from the bottom of a navy league school. Not a bright crayon. He tried to cover up his tracks in the Keaten 5 scandal. He also tried to put a positive spin on the fact that his wife was a drug addict and stole the drugs from her own charity for kids. So if this is the character you guys look for in a president, that’s fine. But don’t insult the rest of the American people who hold our leader to higher standards.

Sep 3, 2008 - 6:41 am 17. NatashaK:

The classic comment that McCain demonstrated character at the perils of death. I want a president that demonstrates character not only when it is forced upon him. But from every day decision making. I did not know all of the facts about McCain that is listed below. But now that I know he is another Bush that will lead by the example of power, and not by the power of example. I will vote for the other guy. I don’t need a warmonger right now, I need a president.

Sep 3, 2008 - 6:50 am 18. DEGUELLO:

To paraphrase Gertrude Stein :There’s no “there,there” Obama is nothing but a slickly packaged ghetto rabblefuhrer in the Al Sharpton mold,a race-baiting poverty pimp who thanks to affirmative action,youth,and teleprompter eloquence,presents himself as clean cut.An Obama presidency would be a re-rerun of Jimmy Carter’s:Appeasement at home,crackpot stagflation socialism at home,and suppression of free speech via the “fairness” doctrine.Americans are realizing this,hence his anemic bounce.

Sep 3, 2008 - 7:15 am 19. Aureliano:

Hey, has anybody been able to trace where the sudden influx of Lefties come from? While an increase in newbie Lefty commentary is to be expected now that we’ve reached the last few months of the campaign, the SUDDEN influx indicates a coordinated effort.

Is it a DNC op, or one of those lame Kossite/IndyMedia attacks? I’d say the latter, except that that Kos is largely identical to the DNC.

Oh, and these new Lefty posters have a terminal case of the galloping dumbs, and not just because they telegraph how young and ignorant they are by using text-message terms and phrasing when posting.

It’s like dropping into a Middle School sloganeer’s convention. What, did Jon Stewart give his audience a bunch of laptops and an internet connection?

Sheesh.

Carry on.

Sep 3, 2008 - 7:17 am 20. HRPKathy:

The trolls have arrived with their phony talking points.

Great piece, Mr. Hawkins, and absolutely correct. In a democrat year, and if you believe the approval ratings of GWB, at least 60% of voters should be on Obama’s bandwagon.

In the end substance over style will be the choice, and some shallow voters (see several of the comments above) are dazzled by choreography. The rest of us are looking at a long record of honor, duty, country. There is no mystery about John McCain, he is a known entity and the press cannot define him as they’ve tried to do with Sarah Palin and conversely Obama himself.

The trouble is that the media’s credibility has taken a huge hit this year. With the Edward’s scandal blackout and the blackout on anything negative about Obama, more than half of Americans consider the bias in media as more problematic than campaign finance (Rasmussen).

Is it safe to put the entire government in the hands of the party than controls most of the public airwaves and has shown no remorse or lack of compunction to abuse the public trust to cover for their ideological thugs? We are headed for fascism if Obama is elected.

What are Obama and his fellow travelers in the media hiding? There’s something bad out there because the Annenberg story has been tamped down like a pressure cooker sealed tight. If there was any story at all about Obama’s ‘community organizing’ or his days in public life in Chicago it would be one thing, but all we hear are 8 x 10 glossies with an air brush.

The worst thing about all this is the abuse of failsafes of democracy. Our free press has been co-opted and we need to take it back. Go PJM!

Sep 3, 2008 - 7:29 am 21. DEGUELLO:

Nico; the only moron with a 20th centiry mentality is a leftist like yourself, that after the countless debacles caused by belief in government solutions, continue to believe that government is the answer.You begrudge Mcain living the good life, after flying 23 combat missions in Vietnam,and being tortured in captivity for 5 years, partly because he refused early release not wishing to leave his fellow pow’s behind.You are not fit to lick his boots. Tell me, what countries are not drilling for more oil or going nuclear? China?India?Russia?France? If yoou think people are going to eat tofu and granola,while driving pedicabs,then it’s you who you who want to move into the 21st century, with 18th century “solutions”.The USA might be going through a rough patch,but our unemployment rate continues to be lower than any country in Europe,the surge is working,and A McCain presidency will help bring back the nation’s confidence.

Sep 3, 2008 - 7:34 am 22. DEGUELLO:

Aby: Any one who calls John McCain “an old corporate criminal killer” needs to check in to a hospital for rabies shots.

Sep 3, 2008 - 7:38 am 23. DEGUELLO:

Aureliano,these semiliterate lumpens,come from the “rent a mob” rabble so useful to the left.They were probably picked up from various drug rehabilitation treatment centers,and sobered up enough to scribble their idiocies. The left always mobilizes its useful idiots whenever it senses that the right has scored a political coup and outmaneuvered them,IE:Palin’s nomination.

Sep 3, 2008 - 7:43 am 24. No Runny Eggs » Blog Archive » The Morning Scramble - 9/3/2008:

[...] John Hawkins explains why Obama hasn’t pulled ahead. [...]

Sep 3, 2008 - 7:54 am 25. Michael:

One can always tell a Liberal Troll. They make ad homenim attacks with no foundation, just unsupported statements about both candidates. They are not interested in an exchange of ideas.

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:01 am 26. DEGUELLO:

Wow Natasha, what eloquence!The example of power, and not the power of example! Did you stay up all night thinking of that pearl of wisdom,or did the methadone kick in and it came to you in a flash? I should think that MCcain’s documented heroism furnishes a powerful example of leadership,but I forgot that for leftist lumpens.an worthy example would involve “heroic “levels of drug abuse, followed by lifetime welfare dependency,.Sorry!

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:09 am 27. Olivia:

While these are good points we know they will fall on deaf ears. The echo chamber of liberal media will not even acknowledge some of Obama’s most basic and obvious flaws. And I’m particularly outraged that Palin hasn’t even been the VP pick for even a week yet the MSM is mercilessly attacking her and her family. This is the same media that sat on that Jeremiah Wright nonsense for a year! It’s unbelievable.

When Obama loses McGovern style I’m sure they will trot out that UN Diene to tell us how racist and backwards we Americans are. Even black people like myself who voted McCain-Palin. Thank god for alternative news media.

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:14 am 28. Olivia:

You did forget one point. Angry Hillary Clinton voters. There are many moderate and conservative Democrats that voted for her. And not all of them are women.

Obama has been unbelievably discourteous stealing Michigan delegates, not helping relieve her campaign debt, and not even vetting her for VP. Worse, he hasn’t done anything to win over her supporters. He even had the gall to say “they’ll just get over it once they think about abortion.” Uh huh, right.

Many Democrats see a dangerous trend of far left-wing power grabs and the undue influence of liberal and sexist media. Obama is in for a rude awakening. And McCain’s pick of Palin only makes it more obvious.

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:24 am 29. The Republican Convention « The View from Alexandria:

[...] Hawkins lists nine reasons why Obama hasn’t been able to pull ahead. I’ll add a tenth: Obama is the most left-wing [...]

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:26 am 30. Major:

Obama is a looser. What Obama and Biden are good at is to bow to United Stats enemies and have a dialog with terrorists who committed to destroy America and western civilization. Even as a presidential candidate, he doesn’t have any executive experience like Governor Sara palin. His experience is limited to senate legislation.
FACT: Who Al-Qaida likes to see in the White House. Of course OBAMA and his no. 3 liberal Biden.

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:27 am 31. aby:

Dear Deguello,

I am just saying that the world (the US included) needs change, no more war, killings because of oil and all that garbage going on…It’s time for change and I am not even an American, I am a Canadian and I have been following the race since day one…I am just saying MC Cain is just an other Bush version and they make your country look like s%ith!!

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:37 am 32. aby:

And Deguello,

I you are an imbecile, racist SOB …I think Mc Cain is the right vote for you. It is Americans like you that make people talk smack about you guys all over the world! The shame is on you!

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:41 am 33. aby:

Deguello ( déguelasse!)
With a speech like this one :There’s no “there,there” Obama is nothing but a slickly packaged ghetto rabblefuhrer in the Al Sharpton mold,a race-baiting poverty pimp who thanks to affirmative action,youth,and teleprompter eloquence,presents himself as clean cut.An Obama presidency would be a re-rerun of Jimmy Carter’s:Appeasement at home,crackpot stagflation socialism at home,and suppression of free speech via the “fairness” doctrine.Americans are realizing this,hence his anemic bounce.
YOU MIGHT AS WELL JOIN THE KKK! Good luck to you and your ignorance!

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:42 am 34. aby:

Olivia u need to go somewhere else with that stuff!

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:46 am 35. Reg:

Oh please. Anyone at this point who doesn’t know about Obama’s experience is to lazy to do a quick Google search. The man has extensive experience as a senator. First in the state senate of Illinois before moving on to Washington DC. His actions as a community activist and leader are well documented. The guys is also an ivy college-trained intellectual…..which makes him much smarter than McCain. McCain’s ONLY qualifications is being a POW in Vietnam. After 25 years, he hasn’t accomplished much in Washington anyway.

But the “experience cravers” should only look to Dick Cheyney and Donald Rumsfeld to understand that experience ain’t everything. Those two had YEARS of experience working in Washington DC and look at what they did to the country. Give me Obama and his fresh ideas and outlook any day.

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:58 am 36. Joseph Marshall:

One of the things that absolutely astounds me is the inability [or perhaps unwillingness] of conservative heads to wrap themselves around numbers. It is part and parcel, I think, of their inability to deal with plain, but inconvenient, facts–such as that purely coincidental disappearing arctic ice cap.

So I’ll do the numbers for you. George W, Bush won 50.7% of the popular vote in 2004. Because of the small fry noise candidate Ralph Nader, the margin of victory over John Kerry was 2.4%. The electoral totals were 286 Bush 251 Kerry.

This was supposed to be a landslide and a mandate that splashed red paint all over the entire United States.

As someone else has pointed out, in yesterday’s Gallup rolling 3 day poll, Barack Obama was at 50% and John McCain was at 42%, with 8% undecided–an 8% lead.

Now there are polls and there are polls, but Gallup is one of the most useful because the same questions have been asked every day since the first week in March. So the progress of the race can easily be tracked there.

So what do we find when we do that? Back in late April John McCain reached his peak support of 48% and has staggered down and held to a 43% average since July and a low of 42%. He has also never cleanly broken above 45% during the last two months. Obama was up to 49% in July during his foreign trip. He has also never significantly dropped below 45%. And yesterday he was at 50%

Obama’s low numbers have been exactly the same as John McCain’s high numbers, and Obama’s high numbers are a full 5% higher than that.

Moreover, over the last 21 days Obama has led McCain by at least 1% on 16 of those days. McCain led by 1% on only one day in those same 21 days. Remember, GWB’s popular majority was significantly less than 1%, and the noise candidates have largely disappeared.

Is there independent confirmation of this? Over at Pollster.com you can look at a very good regression trendline of all the polls being taken nationally. Obama has never been behind once on this trendline since April. And his lead during this period has never fallen lower than 2% ahead of McCain, and that only once. Also, they list the raw numbers and out of 125 national polls taken since June 1, McCain has led or tied Obama in only nine of them.

Now lets consider the Electoral College votes. The magic number is 270. Based on all state polls taken, Pollster.com calls Obama 260 strong or leaning and McCain 196 strong or leaning, with 102 toss-up. Without separating strong, leaning, or toss-up but using strictly the state poll percentages FiveThirtyEight.com calls Obama 303, McCain 235.

With a full 184,000 simulated election scenarios Election-Projection.com calls Obama 295 McCain 243, with an 81% probability that Obama will win at least the needed 270. IntradeProjectionMarket which measures people putting money down on the results calls 273 Obama and 227 McCain with 38 toss-up, with a 62% probability of an Obama win. And Electoral-vote.com calls Obama 278, McCain 247, with 13 toss-up.

Returning to Gallup, McCain’s low is 42%, Obama’s is 45%. We may take these figures as the rock solid bottom of their support. This leaves 13% still in play. Obama has penetrated as high as 5% into these undecided ranks and has consistently penetrated 2-3% among them. McCain has not penetrated them at all.

This means very clearly that McCain has no traction whatsoever among undecided voters. None. Now I don’t know about you, but I can hardly see how a running mate with even more extreme views than McCain himself is going to help him get that traction, no matter what her gender.

This is unspinable. McCain/Palin is in deep trouble and they have only 60 days to acquire at least 8% out of 13% undecided voters and to accumulate an absolute minimum of 23 more electoral votes, and probably closer to 27.

I think that’s a significant advantage for Obama. Don’t you?

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:58 am 37. HRPKathy:

The polls always say a democrat is winning J. Marshall, right up until the Republican wins, that way the media can cling to the story of stolen elections and further undermine our democracy.

Wasn’t Kerry up by 14 points at this point in 2004?

They are swiftboating themselves in their dismissive attitude toward Sarah Palin’s accomplishments.

But you just go on thinking your bum is ahead. Your premise is based on the popular vote. This election will be won in the Rust Belt and out West where Palin has a greater appeal to those who ‘bitterly cling to religion and guns’. Keep telling Americans how she is from a ‘rural state’ so her accomplishments don’t amount to much. Keep bashing her religion. Keep attacking her family. We see democrat values and virtue in action.

We are a republic, not a democracy. John McCain will be the next President.

Sep 3, 2008 - 9:14 am 38. Aureliano:

Joseph Marshall,

You make some legitimate points, but did you really need 700 words to avoid the following: “The poll results for Obama match the patterns set for all Democrat candidates in all elections — they poll very well in early summer, see a drop by late summer but still lead, then suddenly, underperform on election day. Usually, in the modern era, they lose the election.*”

If past patterns hold, Obama needs a larger lead at this point to win the election. It’s really that simple. I believe this is the point people are trying to make about the polls.

*Except Bill Clinton, who won only 42% of the vote in 1992 and 49% of the vote in 1996. Democrats simply have a hard time gathering enough “I hate my fellow countrymen” votes to win a national election, much less a majority.

Sep 3, 2008 - 9:19 am 39. Dave II:

The polls are notoriously WRONG and Obama has one particular issue nobody is willing to talk about much.

It’s called the “Bradley effect”. Read about the definition here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_effect

“Some” have brought it up. But it’s a nasty little secret democrats (and the media) refuse to acknowledge and it will surely come into play for the first time on a NATIONAL basis this November.

In fact, it’s already bit Obama during the primaries in California.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/10/AR2008021001968.html

Sep 3, 2008 - 9:41 am 40. surf66:

its easy for me….one candidate is a lying, stammering racist.

Sep 3, 2008 - 9:52 am 41. Bill Bradley:

Actually, Obama has pulled ahead.

Sorry to bust the premise and all …

Sep 3, 2008 - 9:57 am 42. Eric:

Conservatives by and large just want to be left alone, especially by the government. Liberals on the other hand want to tell everyone else how to live their lives. So why would any sane person support a Democrat? Ever?

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:00 am 43. DEGUELLO:

Aby: not only does the truth hurt, but it’s reduced you to bilious ranting. May I suggest a rabies shot? BTW calling someone a racist because they disagree with you doesn,t work anymore.When Obamanation looses, I can expect you to call every Mcain voter a racist as well. You are worse than rabid;you are BORING!

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:02 am 44. Eric:

@Joseph Marshall

In spite of what the hysterical Left wants us all to believe there is no man made climate change and the longer the issue gets attention the more once fearful scientists are willing to come forward and say so. Some top scientists now believe that the earth may in fact start cooling. And I’ve never heard a Lib explain just why a few degrees of warming would be a bad thing.

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:03 am 45. Eric:

Obama is a socialist. If the MSM would do thir damn jobs and bring this fact up instead of slobbering all over Obama the man wouldn’t stand a chance. Unelss of course that a majority of Americans are ready to embrace socialism.

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:05 am 46. NatashaK:

DEGUELLO: Again u talk negatively about drug addiction. Without knowing your facts. U can accuse me of battling a drug habit. When your candidate’s wife confessed twice that she was a drug addict and a theif. What kind of person steals drugs from a charity? We cannot take u serious because you are a hypocrite. And I’m sure you’re the result of a crack addict mother. “A crack baby”. I’m trying to use the terms that so easily run of your fingers, while typing. Excuse me for having to come down to your “hoodish” level.

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:05 am 47. DEGUELLO:

Joseph: Here is one number for you:Thanks to liberals and their affirmative action poverty pimps like Obama, The US spent over 6 trillion dollars to end inner city poverty.It sure worked, did’nt it?

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:10 am 48. Aureliano:

Billy Brad,

You have a bad habit of jumping onto the discussion boards of other authors in Pajamas Media and posting drive-by factoids that are largely irrelevant or uninteresting (always in support ot Democrats, naturally, while simultaneously posturing as a ‘neutral’ observer).

You have your own thread. Why don’t you stay there where you belong. Perhaps you’ll actually take a shot at composing essay-length commentary for once, commentary which you might actually be held to account on your views. Stop being such a weasel.

(Also, your earth-shattering point that Obama has pulled ahead in the polls was already addressed, if you had actually bothered to read the commentary.

Thank you.

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:19 am 49. NatashaK:

So I’m ready for one of you republican robots to defend the man’s wrong doings. Quit with all the bs and let us know why being a p.o.w replaces true character. I love how no one actually took on these attacks. This racist idiot Deguello calls Obama a pimp because of his race, when in reality John McCain was the one having several affairs which his current wife is the result of. He was slapped on the wrist for his involvement in the Keating 5 scandal. And his wife the true crack addict and thief, he fully supports. Why would I want to vote for this type of person? A college graduate but one who graduated 5th from the bottom of his class? The guy only has a hint of my respect because I love American and I love my troops. But this does not make him a good person. But as stated before,I looked at BOTH candidate’s ability to lead this country by courage, intellect, and moral value. Out of these two men, I’ll choose Obama.

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:21 am 50. NatashaK:

DEGUELLO: I see u skipped over my last comment to attack someone else. I’m not even sure why I’m waiting for you to defend McCain… I guess you’re not as dumb as we thought you were. But I must admit you fit in well with the IQ levels of Bush and McCain!

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:25 am 51. gordo:

Typically there is a 10-15% bounce for a candidate after the convention. In some cases, like Mondale and even Carter, it was higher. This is trouble for Obama and the reason is Americans are getting a fuller picture of who and what he is. The plus – he gives a good speech – although his convention speech was pedestrian at best and filled with the normal liberal list of taxing the hell out of people and expanding the government. But thats about it. Once he pleads his case that he has more experience than Palin, you know he is worried. In other words many Americans are now viewing him as a basically empty suit who clings to failed liberal policies. That is not much motivation for the 10% who will determine this election.

McCain’s pick of Palin, notwithstanding the ugly and vicious attacks on her by the MSM and gutter blogs sites (Kos, DU, Huff, NYT etc), was brilliant. And thats why the left is going crazy. Americans will identify with her, men and women.

Assuming Palin and McCain make good speeches the spike in polls will be in their favor. Obama is in trouble and he knows it – he should be at 15 points above McCain.

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:25 am 52. Sandy Salt:

I have said it before and I guess with all our new friends here it bears repeating. You can put forth any argument that you want, but please do so without name calling and personal attacks. It serves no purpose and removes any credibility you might have had. It matters not about your viewpoint as long as you are civil while espousing it.

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:40 am 53. Sandy Salt:

Now for my viewpoint. I seriously believe that Obama has not seriously moved ahead in the polls because he has failed to provide the meat to the bones he is throwing out to the public. The people want change that is a given, but what they want is facts on that change and not the typical empty promises that all politicians make. That is the problem that Obama is having. He says he is going to do a bunch of stuff, but there has yet to be any details and it just sounds like to a lot of people that he is just say whatever it takes to get himself elected and will never come across with any real change. The American public has often seeked change to only be tricked into more of the same by self-serving career politicians that only have their interests in mind. Can I say 1994, 2006, and now 2008? Wake up America and start tossing the blow hards out and bring people that have your interests at heart. If you want real change, how about term limits for everyone or lobbying reform. You won’t hear that from Washington, so pick the lesser of the two evils presented and go back to your crappy life thinking you did the right thing.

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:49 am 54. DEGUELLO:

Natasha:since you are a sucker for punishment,here goes. Yes indeed, Cindy McCain did abuse drugs.However, she never blogged under the influence,nor is she running for president.I called Obama a poverty pimp,because he belongs to that class of black (and white)politician who foments welfare dependency while enriching himself in the process,(Google Reszco).Obama is a more polished Al Sharpton with an affirmative action Harvard degree.Mccain graduated from Annapolis sans affirmative action,and went on to fly fighters,and command a fighter squadron,he must be really dumb! Wait till the debates Natasha dear,when Obamanation has to think on his feet without a teleprompter;we’ll see how smart he is!After that,you’ll need tranquilizers!

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:55 am 55. DEGUELLO:

Gordo:You hit the nail on the head;get ready to be called a racist.

Sep 3, 2008 - 11:06 am 56. USPatriot:

The $7.00 per hour trolls have been dispatched in force by the messiah’s campaign apparatchiks to dispense and disseminate their leftist subterfuge. Sarah Palin will weather this despicable and unprecendented tsunami of sexism, misogyny, lies, rumours and low blows promulgated by the jackals that dwell in the stench filled dumpsters and sewers of the left.

Fear not;there are two more months of campaigning. Rest assured that the facts will be presented to the American people regarding Barack Obama and his nefarious relationships and associations, as well as his total lack of experience and accomplishment; in spite of the efforts of the leftist media.Everything that the dinasour media has continued to ignore and cover up, will be exposed. The American people will not be pleased with what is presented. Obama is nothing more than a media creation. All style and no substance. Alot of bark and no bite. An empty suit. There is no there..there.

At this very moment in time, Governor Sarah Palin is much more experienced and more accomplished that Junior first term US Senator Barack Obama.Period. Any person that attempts to argue to the contrary is delusional or possibly just ignorant.(A leftist)The last time I checked, Sarah Palin was not on the top of the GOP ticket.To the contrary, Barack Obama is at the top of the Democrat ticket. He will not be “a heartbeat away from the Presidency”.Barack Obama’s experience(or lack there of) does indeed count. It is quite obvious that John McCain is infinitely better prepared to take the office of the President of the United States. Just remember; character matters.

Sep 3, 2008 - 11:22 am 57. B Dubya:

aby;
I’m saying that you aren’t an American citizen and what the blinding blue F**k are you doing interfering with the politcal process of the United States? Lefty moonbat trolls of the home grown variety are odious enough, but at least they have a dog in this hunt. You do not and I don’t believe you can appreciate how fast you should shag your ass out of here. Pronto.

Sep 3, 2008 - 11:32 am 58. Sandy Salt:

We like to believe that character matters, but the sad reality is that it doesn’t. We only have to look back a couple of years to see that. Pres. Clinton was a shining example that showmanship is far more important than character. It is okay to lie and cheat on your wife if you can smile and slip your way through things with charisma. If it comes down to character or charisma, charisma wins hands down time and time again (Hitler another great example). A man with character that doesn’t bow to popular opinion is villified (Bush), but a guy that lies under oath is worshipped. Character does not matter in politics!

Sep 3, 2008 - 12:06 pm 59. WJO:

Aby: Turn off the CBC and CNN for awhile. The USA is a really big country that you don’t understand.

Obama is Pierre Trudeau, an ivory tower intellectual whose instinct is to legislate and spend tax dollars on any given problem. Most Americans are not reflexively inclined to think about how the “government” can “fix” something like Canadians. The question before Americans is whether they want to elect Pierre Trudeau. My inclination is to say no.

When any province or territory invokes as its motto “live free or die” (I’m looking at you, Alberta), you’ll understand. It ain’t racism, its statism.

Sep 3, 2008 - 12:06 pm 60. RA:

If Obama were a white guy he wouldn’t be considered for a cabinet post. The Dems are anti-white racists. This is a truefull comment, something lying liberals despise.

There is no alturnative to oil and gas. There will not be for 40-50 years, maybe. For us to not drill our own oil is environmental wacko thinking. Every new barrel we tap means one more barrel we don’t have to import.

The wacko’s want $10 a gal gas. Europe is at $8 /gal. now! That is why they oppose drilling. Let them succeed and we will have a depression, not a fake recession.

World oil demand will increase by 50% in the next 20 years. We better start drilling or we will be flushed down the socialist toilet and have our economy look like Cuba’s.

But that is what the Dems want.

Sep 3, 2008 - 12:18 pm 61. Greg Gilmour:

If I were in the states I’d be voting for Obama based on the difference in health policy. As a medical student (in Canada) I’m familiar with the “put a new name on it and it isn’t a problem anymore” approach to healthcare, which McCain’s campaign advisor advocates for dealing with the pervasive lack of health insurance. The democrats are instead advocating for requiring private insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions. This is the model used for drug coverage here in Alberta, and it works. I encourage everyone to find issues you care about and do RESEARCH on them before voting, rather than concerning yourselves with who is the best public speaker. There may be compelling reasons to vote either way, but this isn’t one of them.

Sep 3, 2008 - 12:26 pm 62. Jo L:

So… If you don’t agree with a liberal hack, you’re a racist. If Natasha can’t defend a shallow candidate black or white, you’re a racist. However…
If you hang out with a guy who planted bombs everywhere without any regrets, that’s just fine.

If you go to a church that refers to our country as USKKK with a set of ear plugs, that’s just great!!!

If you let your friend like Rezko help you buy a house, fantastic!!! Let’s elect him!

If your only argument for your candidate is the color of his skin, I believe you’re a racist yourself.

Sep 3, 2008 - 12:27 pm 63. Jo L:

Greg G, thanks for not voting here. I have to admit, if I wanted a great healthcare system, Canada is the prime example. I mean, people from US wait in line for miles and miles in Buffalo to get that great care.

I’m happy to tell you that we are electing a president of USA. I don’t think a president of France or Quebec.

It’s funny what little campaign money can do for you. All these robots being paid to post after a little article like this. Atleast they aren’t using the “I’m a conservative…” intro template anymore.

Sep 3, 2008 - 12:43 pm 64. Sonny:

“Paper-thin resume”? As opposed to the thick, leather-bound resumes that everyone else turns it? I’m not sure how many resumes this ‘writer’ has written but I thought the common consensus was that they should only be one page.

But do I know? I’m not a ‘journalist’ who writes for a webpage.

Sep 3, 2008 - 12:48 pm 65. Sevon:

So the best you can come up with is old circulated internet rumors?

And if all you say is true, why is Obama – horror of horrors apparently according to you – STILL winning? And why McCain has not pulled significantly into the lead? And, even when he does, for very brief periods of time?

To my knowledge, McCain hasn’t pulled ahead in the electoral college polling even once…and that’s the poll that matters.

Sep 3, 2008 - 12:51 pm 66. Consider:

The entire republican platform this year, along with the candidates that have been selected, are reasons I left the republican party.

How do you propose to change Washington DC when your own party ran everything for a decade?

This author is a joke. Quit writing drivel and start thinking about how we can balance a budget and get rid of government waste.

Sep 3, 2008 - 12:59 pm 67. Sandy Salt:

I agree with Consider, but the Democrats are no better with high taxes and government waste.

Sep 3, 2008 - 1:10 pm 68. WJO:

Greg:

You are not as informed as you might believe.

There are those who lack health insurance in the US.That is true. However, for the truly needy, there is state-funded health insurance in the Medicaid system. What that covers and whom varies from state-to-state, but there is a basic program. For the senior population, they have basic universal coverage in the Medicare program.
That is why 45% of healthcare is paid for by some level of government in the USA. Many folks are “uninsured” because of gaps in employment or personal choice (i.e., young folks not in need of much healthcare).

The essential question in this dual system is how much more “free” government healthcare can we afford. The “free” system is supported by special payroll taxes paid by all who work.

On the other hand, the issue of pre-existing conditions in private policies is a state issue. Each state sets its own laws and regulations on such things.

The medical care industry in the USA is perhaps the most highly regulated field in the country at the federal and state levels. It is an administrative morass. Nonetheless, for innovation, timeliness, quality and accessability it runs rings around the Canadian system.

Obama can promise me all the rainbows and ponys I want, it doesn’t mean he can deliver.

Sep 3, 2008 - 1:14 pm 69. Smitty:

Sandy
Excellent point. So far I have heard Obama’s promises. They remind me of a High School election for student body presidents. he is the candidate who would campaign for longer lunch and more days off, with no plan to implement the promises when called upon.

Sep 3, 2008 - 1:17 pm 70. Jo L:

Of course you’re right. (or left) Sevon is right! Obama is ahead in polls (Bradley effect or not), therefore the “old circulated internet rumors” is wrong and “horror or horrors” in not a horror.

If you guys are so insightful and brilliant, how in the world did Bush win twice? (He was behind in polls, btw in Sept both times)

Sep 3, 2008 - 1:21 pm 71. Douglas Bogle:

My thought is simple. I am in the middle. I make to much money to get any help with my kids college ed, so refinance the house. Work harder and more hours. Won’t loose my health insurance, work harder and more hours. Heating oil goes up, work harder more hours. MY POINT, I will not work harder and more hours to give it to Obama.

I am an American and I will work harder and more hours for my family. I have pride and i don’t want handouts.

Sep 3, 2008 - 1:21 pm 72. Cletus:

“I rather have someone with not a lot of experience to run the country than to have an old corporate criminal,killer and oil stealer running the show. All the racist and ignorant people will probably vote in his direction but everything is in the hands of God and his people.”

I’m amazed that people actually think like that.

Sep 3, 2008 - 1:35 pm 73. christopher:

If obama isn’t experienced, how bout that rube, Sarah Palin?

Sep 3, 2008 - 1:40 pm 74. Sandy Salt:

Douglas,
Well said. I hope that we don’t have to put up with two more years of gridlock when McCain is elected, but I am sure we will. Gridlock maybe a good thing because if they do nothing that means they aren’t raising my taxes or enacting some off the wall entitlement program.

Sep 3, 2008 - 1:45 pm 75. Anonymous:

Well, Aureliano, I used 700 words to make it unequivocally plain that, so far, McCain/Palin have gone absolutely nowhere. The numerical evidence of this is overwhelming and I wanted to show just how
overwhelming it really was to people who are not really used to looking at primary evidence instead of quoting conclusions from secondary sources.

So lets take a look at corresponding figures for Bush vs. Kerry 60 days from the election, the same distance we are right now, using the same primary sources as I used above. Two are available, one for popular votes and one for electoral votes.

The same compiled regression trendline of all national polls now available at Pollster.com for 2008 can be found at Political Arithmatick for 2004. Sixty days from the election George W. Bush was polling 3 points ahead of John Kerry and one week later Bush was polling 4 points ahead of John Kerry. This was GWB’s largest lead of the election on this measure and it occurred barely a week from now. GWB still won.

Obama’s current lead on the same regression trendline is precisely double GWB’s lead at 60 days from the election. The lowest John Kerry fell on this trendline was 46%, about the same as Obama. The lowest GWB fell was 48%, so Kerry’s largest lead was 2% [not 14% as someone speculated above] and was the equivalent of six full weeks before today.

The lowest John McCain has fallen is 41%, almost double the distance Kerry fell at his worst, and 3 times the distance GWB fell at his worst. And McCain is still down there.

Most important of all, for the last 300 days on this same measure, John McCain has only led Obama once, for a bare four weeks, more than 150 days ago. John Kerry led GWB for 12 full weeks, three times as much as McCain, and Kerry lost that lead a bare 85 days before the election.

In 2004, the magic number was also 270. On September 3,2004 Electoral-vote.com predicted GWB at 280 electoral votes and John Kerry at 241 with 16 toss-up–quite close to the final figures of 286 GWB & 251 Kerry.

In 2008 on the same measure and the same date it is Obama 278, McCain 247, and 13 toss-up. So in 60 days McCain has to gain, again, no fewer than 23 electoral votes

In other words, at 60 days, the Bush/Kerry numbers are almost exactly the reverse of the Obama/McCain.

So I reiterate, so far McCain/Palin has gone absolutely nowhere. Now maybe they will take off like a rocket in the next 8 weeks and make up all this lost ground.

But I’m not betting any of my money on it, given what I’ve seen of them so far.

By the way, since I’m 56, my dumbs no longer gallop, but must plod; my English is lengthy, rather antique, and full of fusty old things such as real vocabulary, complete sentences, and fully developed arguments; and I am far too contrary to coordinate with anybody, let alone any wet behind the ears text messagers from Kos or the DNC.

Sep 3, 2008 - 1:56 pm 76. Canadian Neighbour:

Racism: My foot. It’s more like affirmative action is what it really is.

As former Vice-Presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro so candidly and accurately stated: “If Obama were not black, there is no way he would have defeated Hillary Clinton in the Democratic Primaries”.

The liberal American left is so guilt-ridden about perceived past racism as well as so threatened and fearful of a violent Black back-lash had Hillary defeated Obama, that the Democratic Party movers and shakers could not risk Obama’s defeat. So Obama was selected primarily because of his race.

Obama owes great thanks to his Black father for the unique enviable position in which he presently finds himself.

Sep 3, 2008 - 1:58 pm 77. Joseph Marshall:

Well, Aureliano, I used 700 words to make it unequivocally plain that, so far, McCain/Palin have gone absolutely nowhere. The numerical evidence of this is overwhelming and I wanted to show just how
overwhelming it really was to people who are not really used to looking at primary evidence instead of quoting conclusions from secondary sources.

So lets take a look at corresponding figures for Bush vs. Kerry 60 days from the election, the same distance we are right now, using the same primary sources as I used above. Two are available, one for popular votes and one for electoral votes.

The same compiled regression trendline of all national polls now available at Pollster.com for 2008 can be found at Political Arithmatick for 2004. Sixty days from the election George W. Bush was polling 3 points ahead of John Kerry and one week later Bush was polling 4 points ahead of John Kerry. This was GWB’s largest lead of the election on this measure and it occurred barely a week from now. Despite being in the lead, GWB still won.

Obama’s current lead on the same regression trendline is precisely double GWB’s lead at 60 days from the election. The lowest John Kerry fell on this trendline was 46%, about the same as Obama. The lowest GWB fell was 48%, so Kerry’s largest lead was 2% [not 14% as someone speculated above] and was the equivalent of six full weeks before today.

The lowest John McCain has fallen is 41%, almost double the distance Kerry fell at his worst, and 3 times the distance GWB fell at his worst. And McCain is still down there.

Most important of all, for the last 300 days on this same measure, John McCain has only led Obama once, for a bare four weeks, more than 150 days ago. John Kerry led GWB for 12 full weeks, three times as much as McCain, and Kerry lost that lead a bare 85 days before the election.

In 2004, the magic number was also 270. On September 3,2004 Electoral-vote.com predicted GWB at 280 electoral votes and John Kerry at 241 with 16 toss-up–quite close to the final figures of 286 GWB & 251 Kerry.

In 2008 on the same measure and the same date it is Obama 278, McCain 247, and 13 toss-up. So in 60 days McCain has to gain, once again, no fewer than 23 electoral votes

In other words, at 60 days, the Bush/Kerry numbers are almost exactly the reverse of the Obama/McCain.

So I reiterate, so far McCain/Palin has gone absolutely nowhere. Now maybe they will take off like a rocket in the next 8 weeks and make up all this lost ground.

But I’m not betting any of my money on it, given what I’ve seen of them so far.

By the way, since I’m 56, my dumbs no longer gallop, but must plod; my English is lengthy, rather antique, and full of fusty old things such as real vocabulary, complete sentences, and fully developed arguments; and I am far too contrary to coordinate with anybody, let alone any wet behind the ears text messagers from Kos or the DNC.

Sep 3, 2008 - 2:01 pm 78. IanY77:

Obama’s paper-thin resume.

Yeah, I put my resume on slabs of granite. Really gets the attention of the HR people

Sep 3, 2008 - 2:12 pm 79. TufGirl:

Dude, do YOU even believe the crap you write? Just quit yammering and show up to vote in Novemeber. Thanks!

Sep 3, 2008 - 2:28 pm 80. Ms Political:

The only reason that Obama is not pulling ahead is because America is still a very Racist Country. Simple.

Sep 3, 2008 - 2:30 pm 81. charlie Westerlund:

Great Job!
Yours is one of many articles that are finally seeing through the “paper thin” resume and slick thin words of Obama, he is not an America, we all need to work at getting back to what we once were when we were proud to be American and would sacrifice anything to keep our country 1st. Remember Rosie the riveter? How many us citizens would do that work if needed today, live on food stamps, and deal with the shortages of nylons, tires etc. Today it would be cell phones, microwaves, and all our expensive toys. But WHO would sacrifice for it all today? Are there really any proud Americans out there anymore. I know there are alot that want to be. Lets get government out of it all and treat mankind with respect, love and work together like we did once before. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE but Obama cannot deliver that if he has never worked at it before.

Sep 3, 2008 - 2:34 pm 82. Sandy Salt:

Ms. Political,
Where are you from? I have to wonder because race has absolutely nothing to do with the fact Obama is not running away with this election. It has something to do with the fact that he hasn’t done anything to convince a majority of the people that he is worth their vote. Even members of his own party and his VP questioned his experience and ability to lead, so why shouldn’t the public be any different. It would be racist to just vote for him because he is black and for no other reason, so maybe you are right and America is a very racist country. My apologies!

Sep 3, 2008 - 2:36 pm 83. USPatriot:

Joseph Marshall:

I follow your numbers and logic on the election comparisons. One problem; I believe you are sighting the wrong election to draw your comparison. I believe a more reasonable comparison may be the first G W Bush election against Al Gore. It would be interesting to look at those numbers. There are some similarities. The fact that Al Gore was seen by many as an extension of Bill Clinton, the Democrat, incumbent, lame duck president; just as Senator John McCain is seen by many as four more years of G W Bush. Obama is seen by many as an outsider with new ideas. In 2000 G W Bush was seen by many the same way with his “compassionate conservatism and being not from Washington, but a governor from Texas. Wondering if your can dig up those numbers from the 2000 election for a quick comparison of trends and percentages.

Sep 3, 2008 - 2:49 pm 84. Kobold:

What an idiotic diatribe.

Sep 3, 2008 - 2:50 pm 85. How Do I Fail Thee? Let Me Count The Ways… | sassafrassin.com:

[...] Pajamas Media: Top 9 Reasons Obama Hasn’t Pulled Ahead [...]

Sep 3, 2008 - 2:52 pm 86. Henry Junior:

You all talking about Obama and Biden negatively are seriously sick in the BRAIN…. is better you all sleep and think of your children Lives, Don’t you know that Bush and McCain are the same and you are all here talking Nonsense. Obama is Ameican nevertheles with african background but an American.. so what about that.. American dieing in Iraq is it the best choice or what?

Sep 3, 2008 - 2:53 pm 87. roger:

i don’t want to get into all the psycho banter going on here. I just have one question. When did McCain become the Republican hero? 4 years ago, McCain was still a “maverick” and a P.O.W. He still supposedly put “country first” and what did that get him? Republicans, especially the evangelical right questioned his age and temperment to be president. They even spread the “black baby” rumors knowing that America would not support someone that had black offspring (racist?) But NOW McCain is a hero? Come on, we can do better than McCain. The best scenario for the true Republican base would be for Obama to win and then 4 years later Romney or even Jeb could make a run for president. I don’t care who you support, McCain is not the one to push the Republican agenda. Don’t forget, McCain was prochoice for awhile. he also used to oppose off shore drilling. Now he seems to be swtiching positions to make sure the base will support him.

Also, being a POW doesn’t make you ready to be president. Nor does it make you a better person. I served in Iraq. I don’t think many people would think that I am now qualified to be president or that I am a better person than those did not serve. If service was the qualification, then George and Dick should be hated as draft dodgers. John Kerry served his country, but did that make him more qualified to be president than George? Let’s focus on the issues and not the talking points. McCain’s voting record speaks for itself.

Sep 3, 2008 - 2:56 pm 88. jack:

obama sounds like osama wants to raise taxes!!! when our economy is struggling and our dollar is going down in value lets just give more money to the government under the leadership of someone with the name Barrack Hussein Obama who says he’s a christian and maybe he is but the church he was of part of was not very christian like, Seeing some of the services on tv from that church it seemed like a church of HATE!!!!!! And osama i mean obama supported that church. MCCAIN & ROMNEY ALL THE WAY with them we got the foreign policy, military, economy and no on the job training!!!! And judgment that comes from REAL EXPERIENCE!!!

Sep 3, 2008 - 3:01 pm 89. Saucy:

Ya know, after reading these comments both positive and negative it is certainly clear of one thing, the American public is not unified in any respect what so ever. In the end it will not matter who gets elected if this kind of division continues. Every single forum I go to responding to an opinion of a newspaper or an editor proves the same thing time and time again. We cannot disagree logically without adding in some kind of personal nonsense that not only clouds the importance of any issue but kills the point of the exercise. Some people have ideals to just be left alone in a “country” that consists of more than just them. And would probably allow it to burn down around them in defense of this ideal. Others would like a bigger government to “handle” every single issue for us without giving us the confidence or chance to do it ourselves. Both very extreme views speak out on the varying differences in beliefs about what is good for this country. But in this country that has been practiced for ages, we condemn the differences rather than celebrate them. Everything from immigration to white only establishments amplify these differences as well. But that was more in the past when unification of our country was greater in some parts but not so much in others. Today many of us really should have no excuse not to understand the simple truth, that no matter how conservative you are or how liberal you may stand, we all live in the same country. We all champion under the same flag. When it was clear that this election was going to be between McCain and Obama I was excited that this time around maybe the American public, with all the issues that are crying out for solutions, would function would an objective and open mind about both candidates. And vote on that candidate not based on the rantings of the obviously biased media, nor the close mindedness of an elder adult, but on the merits and simple belief that there is more to being a president than a speech or extensive experience. And that portion along with the differences between the two candidates would be celebrated. Instead there is more of the same kind of bickering between the public that is pretty much a mirror image of what we see in our government today.

But alas that is not the case, for the bickering and nonsense seems to stem from us to them and back again. I do not intend to even offer a solution to this issue, nor do I claim an extremely high ground for reactions I have had that were in the negative. All I say is that how can we expect anything of our government, limited or otherwise, if we expect so degrading behavior from ourselves? It often does not work and if it continues will only prove to us and the world that although this may appear to be the land of the free, we imprison ourselves with our bickering and seperation everyday. We all better really think and consider that when you go and vote this November, regardless of who it is, it will not matter if we are not together as a country.

Sep 3, 2008 - 3:02 pm 90. Willie Williamham:

TtttttII

Sep 3, 2008 - 3:09 pm 91. Todd:

Frankly, I read the man’s book and liked a lot of what i read.
Then…. I read his tax proposals and realized in short order that barack doesn’t have clue one about basic economics, let alone tax policy. His plan is very simple, if you vote for me, you’re going to get a tax break or free health insurance, more days off,something…the “other guy” is going to pay for it. By saying the “middle class’ deserves a break, he might as well say “everyone”, because most people believe they’re part of the middle class, the guy making 50K in Des Moine as well as the guy making 250k in Manhatten. Want to read some impartial tax analysis of both candidates’ tax plans…try this http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/

Sep 3, 2008 - 3:27 pm 92. Willie Williamham:

I have to agree with you Ms.Political.. Race is still & always will be a part of the USA Make Up.. I Have to admit there has been great strides made since the I Have A Dream Speech was Made In 1963 I was there.. But its hard for me to see how anyone is better off today than they were 8 years ago when bush took office with a 120 billion dollar surplus & now we are 9 trillion dollars in debt..I won’t even spell his name in capital letters,and here mccain wants to continue own with his same failed policies,he says he his own man but he has voted with GW over 90% of the time since 2003.. He & Bush are the Reason that almost 4,200 AMERICANS have lost there lives in just the Iraq War with several thousands more waiting there demise if mccain wins this election… They both ought to be lock up for selling the American People on this Weapon of Mass Destruction,When it really turn out to be Weapons of Mass Deception.. My Thoughts & Prayers go out to all of those Military families who have lost love ones,(Sons,Daughters,Fathers,Mothers,Neices & Nephews,Even a Few GrandFathers & GrandMothers) NO MORE!! TIME FOR A Change… GOD BLESS AMERICA

Sep 3, 2008 - 3:27 pm 93. ROBERT:

The republicans are so out of touch that people are willing to take a chance on Obama: “Its the economy, stupid.” John McCain just doesn’t get it. However, the election is close because of the shallow mentlity of the American people. All around the world other countries look at us and shake their heads, wondering can the Americans really be that dumb? Thank you, Mr. President.

As a Veteran of the United States Armed Forces, I can tell you that health care, and the benefits that we were promised, is more far more important to us than a lapel pin. We have been ignored by the republican administration, and been given a lot of empty rhetoric.

I hope that you are polling us (vets), and the millions of others that will be first-time voters in November. Then, maybe, the election is not as close as you think.

Sep 3, 2008 - 3:42 pm 94. urwrong:

Mccain, All those old republicans in the convention, Lou Dobbs, Lumbaugh, Lars Larsen,Glen Beck, US Patriots, Deguello and all those against Obama are part of the KKK “Racist” May God forgive you all…

Sep 3, 2008 - 3:52 pm 95. Smitty:

People saying that other countries look down at the US, WHO CARES???

I certainly don’t. If it hurts your feelings that some frenchies don’t like our policies, the MOVE.

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:03 pm 96. steve krause:

cant understand where u people come from cowardsville.lemmings guit your bitching and do something. all i here are your stupid dislikes shut up and do something

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:10 pm 97. Big will:

This is how it goes,anyone running for the President of the United States Of America for the 1st Time all have this @ the Top Of There Resume List…(Presidental Experience!! NONE) so where is this mccain getting all this presidental experience from??? Prisoner of war does not qualify a person to have the Judgement or Experience to be come President.. I think he’s really showing early signs of Dimmuntive or Alzheimer’s

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:16 pm 98. Brian H:

Even without the Bradley effect, a 12-15% DNC bounce has been insufficient to elect a Donk POTUS in recent history. +8% might as well be -8% for all the good it will do Ayers’ Little Disciple.

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:16 pm 99. Muhammad Abdool Ali ;-):

B Dubya,
are you for real?
If you really believe in what you are saying, then GW Bush is a patriot’s patriot. Do you really like what he has done to our country? If yes, then you also think that Rumsfield, Rove, Bremer, Dick, Browny, Alberto Gonsalez and all the other characters are also patriots. Several more years of such “patriotism” and the country will collapse, like Enron or Freddy Mac.

It is a common mistake to associate a country with its head-of-state. The Republicans are just playing this instrument called patriotism very well. Naive people like you fall for it, out of love for the country. And you are not alone. Germans fell for Hitler, their democratically elected leader, as did the French for Napoleon, most recently the Georgians – for Saakashvilli, the list goes on.

If McCain is elected, some war is guaranteed. If you work in a weapons factory – good for you. If not – make another hole in your belt.

As far as John McCain’s own sacrifice: there were thousands POWs in Vietnam. John was at the bottom of his class in the Academy, and thence a lousy pilot and then he got shot down while trying to bomb a power plant. Yes, he did not betray his comrades by using his Daddy’s connections. I don’t see this is an act of heroism. This is what every decent man – I hope like you – MUST do, this is NORMAL, particularly for a professional officer. If he would accepted the offer, he should have been stripped of his rank and perhaps sent to (an American) prison. Thousands of Forrest Gumps went to that war and did some heroic things that were not required. I see a lot of them in the VA Hospital where I works. Some of them beg on the streets. I agree with General Wesley Clark that McCain’s record in the military (see above) does not qualify him to be a President. I’d rather have an educated person who can understand the current economy and the current world, not another chest-pounding patriot. If your patriotism calls you to vote for McCain, go ahead, vote for McCain, this is your right. This right was given to you by some people who defied their legitimate government in London.

However, if your patriotism makes you shout at other people at this forum, please do not do this. Besides, people from other countries have the right to be interested in the question which US president will bomb and invade their country next time. And you represent America to them. Like G. Dubya Bush.

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:36 pm 100. AdrianS:

Correction: Obama attended Wright’s hate-filled “Christian” church for over TWO (2) decades, not one. Besides, BOTH Obama and Wright have previously been Muslim.

As a matter of fact, if you can see the period at the end of this sentence. You have just experienced all of Hussein Obama’s EXPERIENCE.

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:42 pm 101. joan:

You sound like a little, insignificant schoolboy who would do anything, includng write such BS, to become someone, nay, anyone, within the confines of the Republican Party. What an insignificant troglodite you are…but I bet you think you’re a real pundit.

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:43 pm 102. Taylor:

So far, things are going about the way the McCain camp expected, only maybe a little better. They anticipated that Obama would jump to a double-digit lead after the Dem convention, and he didn’t make it that far.

Now it boils down, probably, into the typical “tortoise vs. hare” pattern — in which the dem candidate tries to cling to whatever lead he managed to build up during the summer as the Republican gradually closes the gap in September and October.

Wait for the debates. If Obama does as poorly as he did in his last debate vs. Hillary — after which he refused to participate in any more debates — then he probably won’t make it to the White House.

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:43 pm 103. Bizz:

I just can’t stop wondering why people are such sheep! Obama is ahead in the polls because he promised everyone what they wanted to hear: I’m going to get the rich guy! I’m going to make him pay for everything that’s wrong in this country. Greed is rampant in this country & it is a serious problem that must be dealt with, but not an issue on which to elect a President. I also seem to remember that the Dems control the Congress & who I might add FORWARD all bills to the President, he doesn’t have any control, even when he sponsors a bill on what will get through Congress. I know Obama’s World Poverty plan & Windfall profits on big oil play very well when it comes to class envy. Please consider this before you vote for Obama, will Big Oil just eat this tax or will they pass it right on to you? Will the money for poverty stricken nations in Africa materialize from thin air or will we all have to foot the bill? Three seperate NON-partisan economists have said that Obama’s plans are NOT viable to cover costs that he has represented. Will the employers who have to pay for his Universal Health plan just eat the cost or will it result in lower wages, higher unemployment & increased cost for their products? He has not promised one thing he can actually produce or at the very least even a reasonable plan for producing it.

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:53 pm 104. Grindi:

I think the reason that Obama and McCain seem so close in the polls is that pollsters only call landlines. Most young people have cell phones, so none of them would get called by pollsters, now would they? It’s time for political pundits to wake up and learn some new technology and figure out how to reach the MTV generation. I think they will be a powerful force at the polls come November.

Sep 3, 2008 - 4:53 pm 105. Black Apollo:

I refuse to accept the premise that the economic state of our nation has declined under the Bush Administration as a consequence of his policies.

In 2001, upon his inauguration, we were in an economic decline within the traditional business cycle, and federal revenues exceeded expenditures. Seeing as the Treasury should not call in bonds early, the wisest option during a recessionary period is to rebate the surplus–governments should not run surpluses as they attract legislative greasy thumbs. Hence the tax cut/rebate of 2001, followed by the tax cuts of 2003 to stimulate growth. The economy grew at a strong pace from 2003 to 2007, while we were at virtually full employment. We entered into trade agreements with neighbors that are beneficiary. By 2007, (not coincidentally with the ascencancy of the Democratic Congress), we hit a slowdown fueled by the housing crisis, which was stimulated in large part by government mandated relaxing of lending rules. And if you’re looking at notable bank failures, take note of Chuck Schumer’s imitation of Mr Potter from Its a Wonderful Life.

As much as I really like Palin, I think Obama will take this election. These are poisonous times, and the leftist loons feel they’ve been cheated in previous elections, and they will be out for revenge. For those of you in the investor class, I’d advise you to take heed of his policies and prepare a very defensive portfolio.

Sep 3, 2008 - 5:23 pm 106. Stacy Michaels:

You guys are the most intolerant, ignorant morons I’ve had the displeasure reading. You are the same people who brought up Bush. The word moron doesn’t even do you justice. God help this country and save us all from people like you.

Sep 3, 2008 - 6:10 pm 107. Stacy Michaels:

You guys are the most intolerant, ignorant morons I’ve had the displeasure of reading. You are the same people who brought up Bush. The word moron doesn’t even do you justice. God help this country and save us all from people like you.

Sep 3, 2008 - 6:12 pm 108. Mike Boyce:

Great article, and well thought out. Mr. Obama is not a good candidate first and foremost for his more than questionable charachter, secondly for his associates and those factors are amplified and underlined by his complete lack of any kind of leadership experience whatsoever. He is not unity and change. He is devisiveness and more of the same old shift to the left (way left) politics and policies that have made the Democratics the choice of all hammer and sickle fans from coast to coast.

Please, take Mr. Obama off the stage before he has the opportunity to initiate the beginning of the end of America and usher in the final phase of “let’s destroy freedom.” We don’t want the anti-conservative/anti-Christian Fairness Doctrine, we want to drill for and produce our own domestic oil, we want a strong, well-equipped and well-prepared military, a Supreme Court that understands the Constitution as it was written by our God fearing forefathers and patriots and an end to the MSM lending an air of credibility to a far left conglomerate of anti-Patriots who really need to pack up and move to N Korea, China, Iran or whoever else will take them. I hear the Russian Army may be in need of folks to spearhead their assault these days. Any volunteers from the unhappy and dissatisfied folks of the leftist mentality? What? You don’t want to fight or die for the legacy of Uncle Joe either? I’m shocked.

Sep 3, 2008 - 6:25 pm 109. Jay Walker:

Smitty and those who think similarly. It is very important what other countries think of us. First and foremost, this is important for the value of american brands. Second, this is the value of the dollar and our creditworthiness. Third, the attractiveness of the US for immigration, particularly the educated – engineers, doctors, scientists and managers – whom our education system cannot produce in sufficient quantity and quality; this is a sad fact. Even iPhone was designed by a Brit. Forth, we may not get (as much of) support in a military conflict. The difference between the 1st and 2nd Gulf Wars made it quite clear. The list goes on. So, it is very important what our friends and our enemies think about us. If an empire pisses everyone off, it eventually collapses. I hope McCain understands all this and just pretends to be a simple “nuke-the-bastards” guy to get the republican base. If he does not, he is, indeed, a 1970s man. It will be much harder to get out of the hole W got us.

Sep 3, 2008 - 6:27 pm 110. Big will:

The Country has went to HEll since bush took over 8 years along,This is with a Republican Congress in Control for 6 out of 8 years…There was a 120 billion Dollar surplus when he took over the country and now 8 years later the country has a 9 Trillion$ debt.. You Republicans Can Go to HELL with Bush!!!!

Sep 3, 2008 - 6:36 pm 111. Joseph Marshall:

I must apologize. I did not intend to come up as Anonymous. When the comment was being moderated, it had Joseph Marshall at the top of it, just like it should.

US Patriot has a very good point, and the data is available. Political Arithmatick shows that, unlike Obama, Gore started the race a full 10% behind GWB. Obama started 1% ahead of McCain. By day 250 Gore had crept up to -5% and he stayed 5% down for the next 21 weeks. Through this fallow period for Gore, Obama varied between 2-8% ahead of McCain.

Gore started to rise sharply 100 days before the election and peaked at +3% at 60 days. So GWB’s lowest number was 47% at 60 days. This is the highest “lowball” score of any candidate in 2000, 2004, or 2008 up to now.

Obama is +8 again at the same juncture now.

Gore’s edge lasted a mere 5 weeks before plummeting as sharply as he had risen, bottoming out at -3% a mere three weeks before the election and then bounced up to a very slight edge in the final popular vote, +0.5%.
This result was complicated by the fact that 3.74% of the popular vote went to fringe candidates.

Unfortunately, there is no direct way to track the electoral vote prediction at 60 days. The magic number was 269, there were several more EV’s in the consitently blue states than today, and the final totals were 271 Bush, 266 Gore.

What can be said, however, is that 2000 clearly changed from being a GWB blowout to a truly close election 75 days from the voting booth. Al Gore didn’t nearly win, GWB nearly lost. This bears no resemblance to the Democrats ahead first, Republicans clobber them later scenarios kited out above.

And, in fact, 2004 was also far closer than the EV totals suggest. Kerry’s highest poll score was +2%, GWB’s victory margin was only +2.4% and without Nader is likely to have been closer to +1.5%, though I think he still would have been the clear winner.

Overall, neither 2000 nor 2004 bear that much resemblance to the results we have seen so far. Nobody in the previous two elections has had an 8% lead this late in the game. Obama got ahead in May, stayed ahead all summer and is now farther ahead than he has ever been before. Not only that, he is farther ahead than any other 21st century candidate has been at 60 days away–a full 4% further ahead!

There are also no “10 to 15 point” convention bounces anywhere in this data, despite those numbers being thrown out so cavalierly above. Obama’s 5% jump above his own prior numbers in a single week is as good as it’s been in the last three elections.

I will repeat what I said in the first post: the McCain/Palin ticket is in trouble, and as far as I can interpret the data it is because McCain has made no inroads as yet on the undecided block of voters. Now maybe they can still pull the chestnuts out of the fire, but, like it or not, the chestnuts are clearly in the fire.

Sep 3, 2008 - 6:44 pm 112. Jay Walker:

I am glad to see that some people understand that McCain’s heroism in Nam is overrated. I guess John Kerry should have gotten himself captured for the Reps to acknowledge that he was a hero.

I think that the similarity between Bush and McCain is a simple propaganda message, they are obviously different. Perhaps McCain is better… it is simply hard to be worse than Bush (Robert Mugabe maybe?). McCain went to Vietnam, Bush stayed in Texas. Yet, there are similarities between them. Both were born to wealth. No matter what they say about understanding simple folk, this is obviously BS. Both didn’t do well in school. Both like to simplify things and piss on the rest of the world. Therefore, I doubt that John McCain can understand, let alone solve, the complicated problems we face. Particularly at 3 am in the 21st Century.
But he can sure win, because his base likes his simplicity: lower taxes = mas dinero para mis cervesa. This is nonsense. But to understand why this is nonsense, one need to think and many people don’t like it. Just one example: in Somalia, there is no taxes at all.

It is not whether or not there are taxes, it is where they go. Bush, for example, spent it in Iraq, where we can’t even win. “Surge is working”. In what sense, let me ask? The country is calmer than last year. It was even calmer and sure more prosperous and happy under Hussein. We are replacing one dictator with another. Where is the “democracy in Iraq”? We leave, there will be another, likely Shia dictatorship. It might be even friendly for a while, like Saddam was, when we were arming him against Iran… Well, this is too complicated even for diplomats, what can one expect from simple folk going to vote in November?

Sep 3, 2008 - 7:05 pm 113. Jenna:

….It appears to be a similar story in Minnesota, where the Republicans are holding their national convention this week.

The poll indicates that Obama has a 12-point lead over McCain, 53 percent to 41 percent

Stupid reporter.

Sep 3, 2008 - 7:11 pm 114. Shawna:

Ummm, We are voting for president how can vote for someone with 3 years of experience? We are talking about the next president, not a bartender….Obama has no track record and no leadership experience. Maybe after he gets some experience he could do the job but not now….He was elected in 2005 and missed 23% of the votes. He needs more time and to improve his record

Sep 3, 2008 - 7:27 pm 115. Big will:

This Palin has 21 months of experience!! Huh Did I miss something.. She was mayor in a very very small town, population 65 and 7 were from her family.. Shes needs to go back to The Ice country and leave the real politics to the real people and concentrate on rasing her 5 kids..it to late for one she lost control of her @ 16 now she 5 months pregnant

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:08 pm 116. Smitty:

Jay says “what can one expect from simple folk going to vote in November?”. Thats the elitism shown by the democrats, especially Biden and Obama. Jay will you please tell me how to vote??

As far as your comments on opinion abroad, point taken to a certain extent. But you vastly overstate the effects.

Sep 3, 2008 - 8:27 pm 117. Dr. Ted Baehr:

McCain is an old man with the mumps and Palin is a terrible choice for VP. Pot calling the kettle black, saying Obama has “no experience”.

Would be nice to have a President who isn’t a military man. This country is far too militarized as it is.

Sep 3, 2008 - 9:24 pm 118. WJO:

Stacey: There is not a meaner, nastier, self-satisfied, whiny, and narcissistic clown on this earth than the American liberal. The reason you all can’t hold on to the presidency is that you are for the people (in theory), but you really hate the rubes who just can’t follow your enlightened ways. Pull the beam out of your own eye.

If Andrew Jackson were alive today and could see what had happened to his party, he’d never stop retching.

Sep 3, 2008 - 9:25 pm 119. Jay Walker:

Smitty is right about the elitism, sorry about that. It is not as much elitism, it is concern and bitterness. When Bush was debating with Gore – remember that – loooooong time ago, my neighbor Karl told me: “I’m voting for Bush. Gore, I don’t even UNDERSTAND him”. And Karl is not stupid, he is just a simple man. He never heard of “environment” – seriously. Another conversation I had with a chick in bar: I’m voting for Bush, not Kerry. Why? – “Bush is strong!!” That was it. “Strong!!” no further discussion. Another friend of mine, who used to run a bait shop – now out of business as gas prices depress fishing – “ANYBODY but Obama, he is not a patriot”. These are some of my experiences with… with simple messages that I heard back from simple folk. I hope I am wrong.

No Smitty, I am not telling anybody how to vote, I am undecided myself, waiting for the debates. As long as one knows the facts and follows their mind rather than emotion, I will respect their choice. I also think that one should look at the problem from their point of view. For some, lower taxes are great. For some, say with four kids, a little tax increase is OK as long as free college education is available…. (I am willing to pay for someone’s kid education, this socialism is fine with me. I am not willing to pay for someone’s new aircraft carrier. I think an old one will do just fine to DEFEND us). For someone who works for the government, say a cop, lower taxes mean no raises, which means less good cops. Everyone has their perspective on what is important. global warming, abortion, AIDS, or dollar value, gays, schools…. We think, we vote. I am just against brainwash and slogans. I don’t like Obama for too many slogans, believe you or not.

I am glad you consider the thoughts about the opinion abroad. You may be right in that people will still buy Coke and iPhones no matter what we do at Guantanamo. But it seems they would buy more (Jack Daniels? Coors? we have a lot to offer! ) if they think America is COOL. I’d like my country to be cool, not just “strong”. Strongly cool.

Sep 3, 2008 - 10:05 pm 120. Louis Birk:

I have seen Hillary Clinton talk about the “glass ceiling” and the “18 million cracks” and now I have seen Sarah Palin talk about the “18 million cracks”. But no-one, elite, leftist, media, right wing neo-con, or moderate, has talked about the “concrete ceiling” that Senator Obama cracked, and how it came tumbling down, brick after brick.

Senator Obama, what an amazing character, to see through all the rubble, to chart a course as no other navigator could have done, a feat perhaps greater than Columbus or Magellan.

And then to land squarely on both feet, strong and unbeatable. Declaring that we shall march forward, together, despite the misguiding rhetoric that has led this country into its current nationalistic fortitude.

Think change, take a little risk, vote for Mr. Obama

Think about how patriotic and heroic it is to face this bigoted nation and say “enough”.

Don’t be a nation of

Sep 3, 2008 - 11:03 pm 121. Mster:

Look… As much as you’re tempted to deride the polls. I’m a market researcher. Basically, a Statistician. I work with quite a bit of Research Surveys (for Business Consulting mostly).

In 2004, the pre-election polls correctly predicted a Bush victory. The weighted average prediction had Bush winning 50.0% to Kerry at 48.5%. The actual proportions were Bush 50.7% to Kerry 48.3%.

Also in 2004, the pre-election polls correctly predicted the winner in 49 out of the 50 state votes (Wisconsin, a complete tie in the polls, being the only one that wasn’t predicted), therefore demonstrating a 98% reliable electoral college forecast. Considering most of these polls operate at 95% confidence, I’d say that’s pretty darn accurate and precise.

Moreover, again in 2004 at the end of the day, the exit polls correctly predicted the winners in 50 out of 50 states.

Turn to 2006, same result. Near 98% of the results were correctly predicted by the polls.

Turn to 2008, same result 104 out of the 106 some-odd primaries were correctly (sorry if you live in Guam, no polling data exists, haha).

So you can dwell on the 1-5% of polls that may be off once in awhile, or may make an inaccurate prediction – but keep in mind you’re ignoring the other 95-99% which are dead on accurate. You can ignore them to your own peril.

Granted, there is a lot of bad survey research out there. It’s just like any other research field in social sciences, life sciences, etc. You’re going to have to pick through and analyze a variety of studies and methodologies, and generally, the answer is somewhere in the middle. That’s the first thing any Statistician learns, the analysis and interpretation of the MEAN.

Another thing I can tell you. I have some contact with a few Sampling companies, we call them ‘Fielding.’ (Survey Sampling International is a good one). There are literally thousands of dedicated professionals at these companies who devote their careers to constantly improving methodology, sampling techniques, and sample gathering. Their whole prerogative is to improve the field, and obtain accurate and reliable sample.

Sep 3, 2008 - 11:31 pm 122. Jeff:

I agree with most Americans that are apprehensive about Barack Obama’s believed lack of experiences, solely based on the GOP’s assumptions and from the majority of right wing critics out there. But to make my point very clear, do we want to take a chance on a candidate that is perceived to have lack of experiences or do we want to take a chance on a candidate that is perceived to have ALL of the experiences but voted on alot of issues that agrees with the Bush Administration 90% of the time? Are we willing to take that 10% chance that this candidate will make a dramatic change from the previous administration’s horrendous 8 years? To clarify my point even further, Bush says to stay the course in the biggest mistake of the 21st century that we called,”The Iraq War”. Guess who else agrees to stay the course? You guessed it, it’s our very own John McCain. Bush pushed for offshore drilling over alternative renewable energy. You can now guess who else also agreed with this idea, right? If you guessed John McCain, you are on the right track and the list goes on and on. So my last question to all Americans out there is that, does McCain bring anything to the table that truly sets himself apart from Bush? If anyone out there can define something significant that even remotely sets McCain apart from Bush, then you are truly on to something because a lot of us have really missed it. So to end this on a good note for the rest of America to really think about, we are voting for the next candidate to take office not for a day, a week, a month, or even a year, we are responsible for our own actions to bring the next candidate into our everyday lives for the next 4 years. So for all Americans out there, would a candidate who is perceived to have lack of experiences but disagrees with a lot of the Bush Administration’s ideas be that bad for our country? Think about this one and think about it carefully.

Sep 4, 2008 - 12:07 am 123. URANIDIOT:

urwrong,
Of all the ignorant garbage posted on here by both sides, you win the prize for the most ridiculous. To you idiots that don’t even live in this country, shut up and take your bulls**t somewhere else. You are pathetic and would have been overrun by now if you weren’t neighboring our country. I do not care what color the candidate is. I will vote for the candidate who’s beliefs and character align with my own the most. The fact that the candidate I will vote for this year is not black, or half black for that matter, does not make me a racist, a bigot, or a member of the KKK. However, your post would certainly appear to identify you as one….minus the Klan membership of course. Why is it that a Democrat is welcome to their opinion, but when a white Republican man offers his, he is a racist, warmonger, baby killer, elitist, hellbent on world domination? URWRONG, you are a racist f***ing a$$h##e…..and may God forgive you too. There, now we can be hypocrites together.

Sep 4, 2008 - 1:07 am 124. Anonymous:

I would like to address my point one step even further on the similarities between Bush and McCain—
1) Bush will NOT acknowledge that we are in a
recession, so does McCain. The fact is that
we have the highest rate of mortgage
foreclosures and unemployment today than any
other time in history since the Great
Depression of 1929.
2) Bush feels that the right war on terrorism
is in Iraq, so does McCain. The fact is that
Osama Bin Laden attacked us on 9/11/01 from
Afghanistan, NOT Iraq, so the right war on
terrorism is in Afghanistan, NOT Iraq. Osama
Bin Laden is still hiding in the comforts of
his cave somewhere up in the mountains on the
border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He
is still unscathed and untouchable by our
troops to this very day.
3) Bush feels that we should win this needless
war in Iraq, so does McCain. The fact is
clear now that the war in Afghanistan IS the
war on terrorism that we should win. But
they both still put more emphasis on Iraq
than Afghanistan and the troop deployment in
Iraq speaks for itself since it far
outweighs that of Afghanistan in terms of the
volume of troops on the ground.
4) Bush feels that we are at our safest state
now since 9/11/01, so does McCain. The fact
is that we have less alliances now in the
world’s communities than we did with the
Reagan and Clinton Administrations. True
national securities are the ties that binds
us to our world’s communities and the ties
that binds them to us.
5) Bush feels that the solution to independence
of foreign oil is to push for offshore
drilling here at home, so does McCain. True
independence of foreign oil is to promote
alternative renewable energy sources so that
we will not be dependent on foreign oil, ONCE
AND FOR ALL! Oil will be yesterday’s news.
Only one candidate disagrees with all of the Bush Administration’s views and truly sees all of the facts stated above and his name is Barack Obama. Does this make things alot more clearer, America?

Sep 4, 2008 - 3:22 am 125. Jeff:

I would like to address my point one step even further on the similarities between Bush and McCain—
1) Bush will NOT acknowledge that we are in a
recession, so does McCain. The fact is that
we have the highest rate of mortgage
foreclosures and unemployment today than any
other time in history since the Great
Depression of 1929.
2) Bush feels that the right war on terrorism
is in Iraq, so does McCain. The fact is that
Osama Bin Laden attacked us on 9/11/01 from
Afghanistan, NOT Iraq, so the right war on
terrorism is in Afghanistan, NOT Iraq. Osama
Bin Laden is still hiding in the comforts of
his cave somewhere up in the mountains on the
border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. He
is still unscathed and untouchable by our
troops to this very day.
3) Bush feels that we should win this needless
war in Iraq, so does McCain. The fact is
clear now that the war in Afghanistan IS the
war on terrorism that we should win. But
they both still put more emphasis on Iraq
than Afghanistan and the troop deployment in
Iraq speaks for itself since it far
outweighs that of Afghanistan in terms of the
volume of troops on the ground.
4) Bush feels that we are at our safest state
now since 9/11/01, so does McCain. The fact
is that we have less alliances now in the
world’s communities than we did with the
Reagan and Clinton Administrations. True
national securities are the ties that binds
us to our world’s communities and the ties
that binds them to us.
5) Bush feels that the solution to independence
of foreign oil is to push for offshore
drilling here at home, so does McCain. True
independence of foreign oil is to promote
alternative renewable energy sources so that
we will not be dependent on foreign oil, ONCE
AND FOR ALL! Oil will be yesterday’s news.
Only one candidate disagrees with all of the Bush Administration’s views and truly sees all of the facts stated above and his name is Barack Obama. Does this make things alot more clearer, America?

Sep 4, 2008 - 3:27 am 126. WJO:

Jeff:

A response:

1. We, as a nation, are not in recession. Certain states are in recession, but the USA as a whole is not. Those states in recession are ones where housing is upside down. You are absolutely wrong about foreclosure rates and unemployment. The worst period of unemployment since the Great Depression (1981-83) saw nationwide unemployment at over 8%, we are nowhere near that. As for foreclosures, I cry no tears for speculators who gambled with cheap money; that’s why its called a gamble, you can go bust. Another point, you can’t have a recession when your economy is growing.

2. The War on Terror is a global war. The war in Iraq is but a theater in that war. So too is the war in Afghanistan. Since 2003 Iraq was the central front of the war because that is what the jihadis wanted and where they went. Now that our magnificent armed forces in Iraq have killed or captured and defeated these barbarians, they are bugging out, not us. As for the “comforts of his cave”, please ask Mr. bin Laden how many times he’s been able to hit us since 2001? Also ask him if he would please step outside for a few minutes.
3. We should and are winning the “needless” war. Can it never penetrate a liberal’s alleged open mind that there are consequences to defeat? For instance, it took a generation to reform the US armed forces after the loss of Vietnam. I, for one, do not wish to cavalierly throw away the sacrifices and victories of our armed forces. Afghanistan is heating up because the moronic jihadis who tried to foment civil war and defeat us in Iraq are dead or running for their lives. Now that the situation in the Iraq theater is stabilizing, we can shift troops to maul and kill the jihadis in Afghanistan if that is what General Petraeus thinks is the right strategy. We may not need 100,000+ troops in Afghanistan but that is a call for those facing the enemy and crafting the strategy to defeat him.

4. What alliances do we now not have? Believe it or not, there are peoples and countries that HATE the USA. Believe it or not, their hatred predated the Bush Administration. I for one welcome their hate. I am glad to be hated by bin Laden. I am also glad and desire to have a president who does not apologize for being an American. I am not a citizen of the world, I am a citizen of this Republic.

5.Dependence from foreign oil means drilling now and also working on renewable sources of energy. What will kill oil will not be government grants for research,or subsidies, but pricing. When ethanol and biodiesel costs less than petroleum, then we’ll see the back end of oil. Until then, relatively cheap and plentiful oil will rule the day. Obama won’t make the price of alternatives any lower and c’mon, do you really think that government involvement in anything makes it cheaper?

Face it, your new emporer has no clothes and your arguments are as empty as his “I like rainbows and ponys” speeches.

Does that make it clearer?

Sep 4, 2008 - 7:04 am 127. nick:

But he did so your whole premise is another Lie by gop operatives

Sep 4, 2008 - 7:14 am 128. nick:

i forgot

did you notice

HE’S BLACK!!

if he was white it would be won already

the majority that picekd Gore might pick Obmama

Sep 4, 2008 - 7:15 am 129. nick:

1. We have a bad economy whatever the term.

only reason GDP increased was imports dropped due to cost of oil.

2. jihadis did not start the war in IRAQ

war is won? wh osurrendered? NOONE!

Bin Laden has hit the world many times from a CAVE

3. This is a war that is being lost in Afhganistan

5.Dependence from foreign oil deos NOT means drilling now – GDFL

face it you are a racist trying to defend Bush

Sep 4, 2008 - 7:37 am 130. Joseph Marshall:

Just for everybody’s information:

“PRINCETON, N.J., Sept. 4 (UPI) — A Gallup poll released Thursday indicates the percentage of “swing” voters in the U.S. presidential election has declined from 30 percent to 21 percent.

Of previously uncommitted voters interviewed for the poll, 42 percent said they now are certain to vote for Democratic Party nominee Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, up from 36 percent just before that party’s national convention in Denver last month, USA Today reported.

Thirty-seven percent of those polled said they now are committed to presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain of Arizona, up from 34 percent.”

Obama +6

McCain +3

Sep 4, 2008 - 8:05 am 131. Maybe The Democrats Could Propose Real Change « Tai-Chi Policy:

[...] nominating lawyers, who are the political epitome of stasis. That’s perhaps the reason behind the reasons Obama hasn’t pulled ahead – he’s just the same old, with a fresh [...]

Sep 4, 2008 - 10:23 am 132. Jeff:

WJO,
I only have one major question for you that I believe most Americans have on their minds right this very moment. With 7 days left, we are closing on our 7th anniversary of 9/11. Have we, as the strongest nation of this God’s green Earth, been able to bring Osama Bin Laden to justice 7 years after the fact? We all know the answer to this and the answer is NO. That is why Afghanistan should had been the main focal point of the war on terrorism, NOT Iraq.

Sep 4, 2008 - 2:51 pm 133. rspar:

Jay Walker — Reagan proved lower taxes does not mean less income. Economics is not simple math. And your basic poll of friends doesn’t mean much, most people who are voting for Obama don’t have a real reason other than he’s a smooth talker and a minority. I’ve had black people tell me they know nothing of him but “it’s just time for a black President”.

Sep 4, 2008 - 4:32 pm 134. Leo:

What I find amazing is how the Republicans keep talking about McCant’s judgment and character. He was one of the “Keating Five” trying to stop an investigation into the Lincoln S&L. He received $112K from Mr. Keating for his help. McCain was forced to return the money 2 years later to try to save face. He was rebuked for exercising “poor judgment” by the Senate Ethics Committee.

Now he’s selected a VP candidate with 1 year experience running a town of 7K and 2 years exp running a state with the population of Long Beach Calif. She cut aid to teen mothers, and to families with special needs kids. That really shows she cares for families. Her policy of abstinence only sex ed was a complete failure to the point her own daughter is pregnant. She wasn’t able to sell the plane on eBay and had to have a rep sell it half price, losing money on the sale. She is under investigation for abuse of power. She is a disaster, great choice McCan’t.

He made a speech in Virginia Beach that criticized Christian leaders, including Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, as divisive conservatives, declaring “we embrace the fine members of the religious conservative community. But that does not mean that we will pander to their self-appointed leaders.” of course now he bows to them and has even hired their lackeys to help his campaign.

In May 2001, McCain was one of only two Senate Republicans to vote against the Bush tax cuts. Now he thinks there great and wants to make them permanent.

McCain was pro Choice now he’s anti-choice.

What is his policy on Healthcare? He’s against it He’s rich he doesn’t need it. Eat more apples he suggest.

Help for the poor? He feels for them but no movement help! His plan marry a rich girl.

The McCan’t of 2008 is a sad shadow of what he was. He is so desperate to be President he’s reversed himself on all his major “Maverick” points. A vote for McCain is a vote for more of the same!

Sep 4, 2008 - 5:46 pm 135. nick:

I say 10 points due to racism.

Sep 4, 2008 - 8:31 pm 136. constitution first:

The trend I see in here and other blogs for that matter is as follows. The Libs that come in and attack who all claim to be the educated ones rant and use nothing but emotion as their argument. I’m not sure how someone that claims to be educated can go on like that? I’m not sure how an educated person can honostly think Obama can do anything to promote american economics. Everyone thinks they are going to get a tax break and free this and free that… HOW ON EARTH does one expect this to paif for?

I’m a true conservative. Not a social conservative using the republican party as a platform for their social issues that have no place in federal legislation. I care about small govt., less taxation, and less regulation to promote economic growth. The only choice americans would have would be the republican party If the conservative party would just seperate themselves from the social conservative crowd.

Obama is so out of touch with the average american and our beliefs that alone explains his lack of “pulling away” in the polls. I Honstly feel sorry for anyone who lives in the demographic areas of the country that will riot the day after the election when Obama has lost. The left has a cantidate who has the same at best and honstly less experiance than the second person on the republican ticket. The Liberals will claim racism is the reason why Obama lost and will not look at their own party and see that it’s OUT OF TOUCH with the average american.

The liberal media along with the libs in here fail to mention that congress’s aproval rating makes Bush look downright popular. Do they think that the average voting american is so stupid that they don’t see how badly congress has been since 06? The dems have dropped the ball on american economic issues since the mid 90’s. One could easly go back to the Carter years on forth.

Sep 4, 2008 - 9:48 pm 137. constitution first:

Nick:

How am I racist or any other educated person who understands Obama’s total lack of understanding of economics racist? Do me a favor. Why don’t you list the reasons he should be president. Don’t use emotion. Use rational thought and explain WHY you support him.

Sep 4, 2008 - 9:51 pm 138. john from cinncinati:

Obama is an infomercial. i will be a better person for buying it,except i fell asleep. i woke up with a burning desire to buy it. i knew it would make me a better person and make my life better. only i didn’t know what it was, i didn’t know what it was called, i didn’t know how much it would cost, but i did know that i had to have one.
i am tired of people telling me that i need them to make my life better. i screwed it up,let me fix it, its mine, please get the hell out of my life so that i can attend to it. i have a burning desire to mind my own business without the government interfering. can’t we all be self sufficient? how much did the Amish pay for a gallon of gas?

Sep 4, 2008 - 10:28 pm 139. tanarg:

Obama needs to be resoundingly returned to the well-deserved obscurity he detests.

McCain-Palin 2008!

Sep 4, 2008 - 10:56 pm 140. jtoad:

Why do so many posters here seem to believe that ill-prepared attacks in uneducated English are likely to persuade conservatives to change their opinions? I find it tiresome to skip over so many silly posts.

If I were a young cool liberal wanting to get old fogy conservatives to look at my idea, I would at least try to avoid offending conservatives, and couch my idea in terms attractive to them. Kindergarten sales technique: try not to alienate the customer.

From an old fogy conservative, just a hint to you young cool libs. Most of us old fogies stop reading illiterate attacks after the second or third line. So you may accomplish more if you put a little more thought into your pitch. Otherwise, why not save all of us time, and just go emote with those who already agree with you?

Sep 5, 2008 - 12:56 pm 141. nick:

Hint to old fogy – you dont know how to change

we dont post for your edification
we post for fun

Sep 5, 2008 - 6:43 pm 142. AdrianS:

New info:

In our form of government we have a Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branch. Obama claims his “executive” experience was as a “community organizer.”

To expand on the definition of executive experience, please note that:

Executive experience, in part, means holding a position subject to responsibilities as prescribed by law, managing human resources, managing budgets and making decisions, which have the potential of affecting several to many people, or the public in general.

The Honorable Governor of the Great State of Alaska, Sarah Palin, has been a council person, a mayor, and now a governor. All of these are positions of intense responsibility.

Obama has NO executive experience.

Please view the article listed below, “Obama’s Community Roots,” which reads, “In 1985, freshly graduated from Columbia University and working for a New York business consultant, Barack Obama decided to become a community organizer. Though he liked the idea, he didn’t understand what the job involved, and his inquiries turned up few opportunities.”

The article continues elsewhere, “He discovered the importance of personal storytelling in politics …” And, “Despite some meaningful victories, the work of Obama–and hundreds of other organizers–did not transform the South Side or restore lost industries.”

The same article says, “A recent Los Angeles Times report contended that Obama overstated his own importance …”

Not really much to Obama’s “experience”; no definition of responsibilities, no results.

ARTICLE: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20070416/moberg.

I just learned that Mr. Obama was head of the Harvard Law Review. However, the ONLY article he appears to have written was on abortion. Wouldn’t you know it.

Barack Obama’s Sole Article in Harvard Law Review Promotes Abortion
http://www.lifenews.com/nat4184.html

Add to Obama’s lack of experience, a severe lack of judgment.

Sep 5, 2008 - 7:23 pm 143. nick:

he was the Editor of the writers!

DUH!

Sep 5, 2008 - 10:17 pm 144. nick:

thread is why he didnt pull ahead

not what GOP racists dont know about economics.

Sep 5, 2008 - 10:18 pm 145. nick:

Reagans lower taxes put deficit into the TRILLIONS!!

Sep 5, 2008 - 10:19 pm 146. Jeff:

The right wingers tends to over emphasize on Obama’s lack of experience. But let me ask America this one simple question. Wasn’t Clinton also considered too young and inexperienced during his run for presidency? But throughout his 2 terms as President, wasn’t our economy at it’s best since Reagan’s 2 terms? How is our economy now under Bush for his 2 terms? Has our country moved forward economically under Bush? Now let me take this to another level – who does Bush think is the right candidate to lead this country now? You’ve guessed it, he thinks John McCain is right for this country now. Does anyone in this country with a sound mind and body think Bush is right? If America truly feels that Bush is right, then good luck to us all for another 4 more years.

Sep 5, 2008 - 10:50 pm 147. Jeff:

I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat but a true Independent who believes in facts and really believes in learning the lessons of our history.

So here is a simple fact for America –
1) During Ronald Reagan’s Presidency of 2 terms, between 1981-1989, we were at our economic best in a quarter of a century. We made the right choice in these 8 years as a country.
2) During George H. W. Bush Sr.’s Presidency of 1 term, between 1989-1993, we were at our economic worst in a quarter of a century. We made a huge mistake as a country but corrected it by keeping him in office for only 1 term.
3) During Bill Clinton’s Presidency of 2 terms, between 1993-2001, we were again at our economic best in a quarter of a century, even better than Reagan’s era. We made the right choice again in these 8 years as a country, despite his personal scandals.
4) Now, during George W. Bush Jr.’s Presidency of 2 terms, between 2001-this coming January 20, 2009; we have been at our economic worst in a quarter of a century, even worst than Bush Sr.’s era. We really made a huge mistake as a country on this one by not realizing that the apple really doesn’t fall very far from the tree. Yet we chose this apple again the second time around.

Now, really let this simple fact sink in America and take your time to think carefully this time around about how you want the direction of this country to go.

We made history with Reagan. We then made a mistake with Bush Sr. but corrected history by allowing him to only serve 1 term. We then made history again with Clinton, despite his personal scandals. Now, we have made 2 mistakes with Bush Jr. by allowing him to serve not once, but twice. So my last question to America is, guess which candidate shares the interests of both, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr.? I will let America answer this one. We are much, much smarter as a country to want to make history rather than make mistakes and to suffer yet again from our own mistakes by not using objectivity as our first and foremost agenda.

Sep 6, 2008 - 12:43 am 148. gldnldy:

Race is definitely influencing this election. I have black male and female friends who are voting for Obama only because he is black. They do not agree with his proposals or vision for America’s future. They are generally conservative, are well-off and are definitely not about raising taxes on anyone. They are even strong on defense because they are either in the military now or have retired from the military. But they are voting for Obama because they are proud that this African-American has made it this far. I guess that’s where I differ from my African-American friends. I’m Asian, but if an Asian is running for president, but I don’t agree with his positions, his proposals or where he or she is taking America, I will not vote for the Asian. I can still be proud of where the Asian has ascended to, but I’m not going to vote for him or her just because our descendants hailed from the same continent. Voting simply because of someone’s race IS racism.

Sep 6, 2008 - 3:40 am 149. god:

This is the essence of J McCain: he couldn’t stand up to Karl Rove and Bush smears in 2000 and lost, he swallows that “incident” and joins them again (!!!), now he distances from them because of their failures, but the Republicans are so desperate that they forgive this lapse of character for his ambition to be President. I guess some Americans love power-hungry people. Somebody said Palin is Bush with skirts . . .

Sep 6, 2008 - 4:28 am 150. nick:

if every black gop and dem voted for Obama
it would still be less thatn the Racist Dems who will vote McCain.

Sep 6, 2008 - 11:17 am 151. Judy, NYC:

the essence of john mccain, “god” wrote. how funny. at least mccain has an essence. chicago pol, barry obama, is vacant of everything including a a brain that works or any ideas worth listening to. good luck with that.

Sep 6, 2008 - 3:22 pm 152. Jeff:

I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat but a true Independent who believes in facts and really believes in learning the lessons of our history.

So here is a simple fact for America -
1) During Ronald Reagan’s Presidency of 2 terms, between 1981-1989, we were at our economic best in a quarter of a century. We made the right choice in these 8 years as a country.
2) During George H. W. Bush Sr.’s Presidency of 1 term, between 1989-1993, we were at our economic worst in a quarter of a century. We made a huge mistake as a country but corrected it by keeping him in office for only 1 term.
3) During Bill Clinton’s Presidency of 2 terms, between 1993-2001, we were again at our economic best in a quarter of a century, even better than Reagan’s era. We made the right choice again in these 8 years as a country, despite his personal scandals.
4) Now, during George W. Bush Jr.’s Presidency of 2 terms, between 2001-this coming January 20, 2009; we have been at our economic worst in a quarter of a century, even worst than Bush Sr.’s era. We really made a huge mistake as a country on this one by not realizing that the apple really doesn’t fall very far from the tree. Yet we chose this apple again the second time around.

Now, really let this simple fact sink in America and take your time to think carefully this time around about how you want the direction of this country to go.

We made history with Reagan. We then made a mistake with Bush Sr. but corrected history by allowing him to only serve 1 term. We then made history again with Clinton, despite his personal scandals. Now, we have made 2 mistakes with Bush Jr. by allowing him to serve not once, but twice. So my last question to America is, guess which candidate shares the interests of both, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr.? I will let America answer this one. We are much, much smarter as a country to want to make history rather than make mistakes and to suffer yet again from our own mistakes by not using objectivity as our first and foremost agenda.

Sep 6, 2008 - 8:37 pm 153. nick:

TOp of class at harvard law school

Mccain bottom of his class

Judy from NYC failed kindergarden

Sep 6, 2008 - 10:37 pm 154. Anonymous:

As a follow-up: Now we have seen the real McCain breakthrough into the undecideds in Gallup Daily. Apparently Palin was the right choice and McCain hit the right notes in his speech. Next question: where do the new undecided voters live? If they live in Texas or Utah, they are not going to do him that much good. If they live in Ohio and Virginia, then we have a real contest.

Let the horserace begin.

Sep 8, 2008 - 9:50 am 155. Joseph Marshall:

As a follow-up: Now we have seen the real McCain breakthrough into the undecideds in Gallup Daily. Apparently Palin was the right choice and McCain hit the right notes in his speech. Next question: where do the new undecided voters live? If they live in Texas or Utah, they are not going to do him that much good. If they live in Ohio and Virginia, then we have a real contest.

Let the horserace begin.

Sep 8, 2008 - 9:51 am 156. lisa:

What everyone seems to omit, is that although Mccain has experience, his experience has not proven any sucess. It is his judgment and those in washington who think like him (bush) in the crisis we are in today.

People with bad credit get denied, but those with no credit are given a chance to prove themselves.

Yes, its is racism and fear that the white race will some how evaporate into thin air if they are not seen as the focal point of the nation. White people have inherent fear of thier own evil comming back to get them—-karma. While other ethnicities just want to move on and live a good life. They dont get that. They’re too busy being scared.

Sep 8, 2008 - 3:46 pm 157. momof3:

Well whoohooo!!!!!! McCain’s ahead in the polls now-HA! I have voted democrat since I turned 18 13 years ago, and I am voting for McCain/palin this year. Obama turned me unwillingly to McCain, then Palin made me excited to vote, then McCain himself won me heart and soul with his speech. The Messiah is in for a rude awakening. I already have a saviour, thanks!

Sep 8, 2008 - 6:08 pm 158. Tim:

I love watching all the truly vicious liberals self-destruct! The funny thing is they’re to stupid to see it! The Republicans could never impose so much damage to the Democratic party as that which is self-imposed. Keep tearing Sarah down libs and the rest of America will sit back and enjoy the show! McCain/Palin all the way baby!

Sep 9, 2008 - 6:56 pm

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