73 Comments

1. Marcia:

Phyllis, Biden,admits that he has not always for a woman’s right to choose a safe and legal abortion and is NOT staunchly pro-abortion. He voted against medicaid funding for abortion for poor women and he voted for the “ban” on PBA or better known as “partial birth abortion,” a medical procedure that is only used in cases where the mother’s life or health are in grave danger. So to me is not staunchly pro-choice. He is only pro-choice for women who can afford it and it is not pro-choice for women if it will save their health or life.

Oct 3, 2008 - 2:00 pm 2. George Jochnowitz:

I share some of your ambiguity, Phyllis. I agree about Obama’s advisers. In addition to the things you mentioned, I am troubled by Palin’s attacks against Washington, necessarily implying America’s government. It’s especially peculiar considering that we have a Republican President. Congress, to be sure, is Democratic, but for 8 of the preceding 10 years we have had Republican majorities in one of both houses.

And then there is the question os science. A surprising percentage of America’s scientists were educated abroad. We have wonderful science departments in our universities, but the same is not true in other parts of the educational system. This is at least in part due to the hostility to science brought about by creationism.

Oct 3, 2008 - 2:00 pm 3. marymcl:

The pros and cons you deliniate here are summed up in headline in The Jerusalem Post last week –

“Your Abortions or Your Lives”

Carolyn Glick was writing in response to the mess arising from Hillary Clinton’s brave stance that she was too good to stand up for Israel with the likes of Sarah Palin. But the point still stands.

The threat to Israel is real and imminent. The threat to American women’s choices in childbearing is minimal and under the circumstances ridiculously overblown. I don’t care who’s in the White House, we have more choices now than ever before (which incidentally alters the landscape of the abortion debate somewhat) and in any case the only way we’re going to lose them is if the jihad is successful.

With all due respect, this is nothing you don’t already know and I wonder how conflicted you are over the relative urgency of all these things. Could it be your dilemma is really about a choice you’ve already made?

Oct 3, 2008 - 6:20 pm 4. ic:

“Weatherman-turned-educational philanthropist, Bill Ayers”

Hey, working in the Bill Gates Foundation does not make me a billionaire, nor a philanthropist. Neither does working in the Annerberg Foundation make the Weatherman a philanthropist. He dishes out someone else’s money for his own causes.

Oct 3, 2008 - 9:15 pm 5. Carol Gold:

Wonderful article as usual. I was on Sky TV in the UK a couple of hours after the debate and have been receiving irate telephone calls from London friends (expat American and native British) because I dared to compliment Palin on her energy and presence. Yes, I meant stage presence: remember how Dan Quayle stood there literally quaking? I come from a long line of Democrats and my late mother, whose blessed Yahrzeit it is today, is revolving in her grave when I say I feel safer with Palin than with Biden, watching them debate in the wee European hours on Thursday night. My irate friends are saying the Alaska Governor is Darth Vader, worse than Rusmfeld and Cheney, a danger to the very survival of the USA and of the world, a crazed Christian Zionist etc etc ..and that I have lost my mental stability saying anything nice about her. Phyllis is spot-on about Obama’s associates. Likewise Phyllis is darned right about McCain’s disgraceful attitude towards the Violence Againat Women Act. November 5th ? My inclination is that McCain is not perfect and in many ways infuriates so many of us, but if God forbid he passed away I truly believe Palin would rise to the occasion as did Harry Truman and Jerry Ford.

Oct 4, 2008 - 5:04 am 6. Louis Santacroce:

Ms. Gold brings up the very point I have been raising with friends. It is quite likely that, if elected, John McCain will not live to serve out his term of office. At 72, he would be the oldest president ever to take office. In addition, despite what doctors have said, he is not in the best of health. How could he be, after enduring five years of captivity and torture during the Vietnam era? The effects of such confinement and abuse must certainly be life-long and life-shortening. So, my argument in this presidential race is that we are not talking about Obama vs. McCain so much as we are talking about Obama vs. Palin.

I believe that the question of whether Obama is fit to lead the country has been more-or-less settled, at least as far as this blog is concerned. In my view, a president does not sit down to talk with the leaders of terrorist nations unless he is willing to talk to them in the way that Kennedy did Kruschev (pardon me if I have spelled his name incorrectly); that is, to state — in no uncertain terms — that his administration will not bow to terrorist threats and demands. This is my biggest fear about Obama — that he is a black Nevile Chamberlin waiting to happen. My question — and I do not ask this in a rhetorical fashion, but as a seeker of information — is, does Sarah Palin have what it takes to be president, for that is surely what she is going to be if the McCain ticket wins in November. Yes, she did well during the debate (even though she didn’t realy answer a number of questions. Well, neither did Biden); but, I’m more concerned with how she’s done when she’s had to fly by the seat of her pants (not well) than when she has been well-prepared. I hated George W., but have to admit that he “rallied the troops” in admirable fashion during the immediate aftermath of 9/11, the biggest shock and surprise to America’s system since Pearl Harbor. Could Palin calm the nation in comparable fashion and lead us forward in the aftermath of another such catastrophe? Yes, my guess, like Ms. Gold’s, is that she probably could; events like 9/11 have a way of focusing a leader’s mind. And I DO love the idea that, as the leader of the most powerful nation on earth, moslem leaders would have to treat her with at least the veneer of respect, rather than as a piece of pig dung.

But, I’ve strayed off the track. My question is, does Sarah Palin have what it takes to lead the country. Of course, at this point, we can always replay, “does anyone?”

Oct 4, 2008 - 7:49 am 7. helena:

To Carol Gold – I am horrified that perhaps more would feel as you do – its almost an attitude of give the kid a chance – give me a break- even the conservative pundits are saying she is in no way qualified to lead this country. So she wasn’t a complete disaster in the debate, but she was still not very bright nor accurate. I for one don’t want to see if she will rise to the occasion – we have very serious problems and they require a very serous person to solve them -Sarah Palin can go and be VP of Alaska, but we should be very worried that she just may be “one 72 year old heartbeat away from the White House”

Oct 4, 2008 - 8:09 am 8. PharmaGuy:

Phyllis C wrote:

“No, I do not think that Palin is really Dick Cheney or that she and McCain will usher in a new Dark Atwoodian Dystopia. And no, I do not think that Obama is a Manchurian candidate who will usher in the Islamic Kingdom of the United States.”

The irony of the Atwood (”A Handmaiden’s Tale”) reference is that in the USA – as already happening in the UK and much of Europe, is the imposition/acceptance of demands for Muslim law and exceptions to the rule of law to accomadate Muslin culture customs. One can be charitable to Ms Atwood and read her book as a warning against the dangers of a theocracy of any stripe, but her anti-christian bias was clear to me when I read the book. But even when AHT was written the world had examples of in place, radical and expansionist theocracies in the Muslim world. How would a book criticizing Islam had been recieved? I suspect much the way Salman Rushdie was treated after “The Satanic Verses” was published.

No, the election of BHO will not “usher in an Islamic Republic…” but will make the slide into Dhimmitude that much more likely.

Vote McCain/Palin 2008

Oct 4, 2008 - 12:22 pm 9. Marion L:

Dear All:

I will vote for Barack Obama with a hopeful spirit and a clear conscience. Barack Obama and Joseph Biden are not perfect, but they offer a far more constructive alternative than the combined bellicosity and inexperience of the McCain/Palin ticket.

McCain’s willingness to associate himself with the theological anti-Semites who permeate the so-called Christian “Zionist” movement is deeply troubling to me as a Jewish feminist. This overrides any concerns that I may have about any of Obama’s past associates; of which way too much has been made.

In addition, I would find it unethical to vote for the Republican ticket as MCain and Palin have done litte or nothing (despite a brief reference to torture made by McCain during his last debate) to ensure that the national disgraces of Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and extraordinary renditions are never repeated again and that the Bush administration be held legally accountable for them. As if this was not enough to deter me from McCain/Palin, as a feminist I will not vote for a woman who made rape victims pay up to one thousand dollars for the rape kits that provide crucial evidence against the criminals who commit this horrible crime.

Finally, as I recently had a wonderful time at the Jazz for Obama concert at the 92nd Street Y, I will close with some musical analogies:

Obama is like jazz – unique, innovative, creative and improvisational enough to think on his feet and meet the complex challenges of our time.

McCain is like a reluctant schoolboy forced to take piano lessons from his parents. He rebels by woodenly playing the same old outmoded tunes again and again without spirit and without insight. And when the boredom becomes unbearable, he composes reckless tunes about staying in Iraq for 100 years and attacking Iran.

And then we have Sarah Palin – the Miss America contestant voted Miss Congeniality because her hasitly composed rendition of
patriotic tunes really did charm the judges, but was just not good enough to win second prize in the talent competition.

Please get them off the national recital stage before they do real damage to this country. Please vote for Obama and Biden in November.

Oct 4, 2008 - 1:06 pm 10. 11B40:

Greetings:

Today’s Questions: what’s Black & White and Red all over?

Oct 4, 2008 - 3:48 pm 11. Feminist for Obama:

I read your books in my women’s studies classes.

I never imagined you’d write anything like this. Something that accepts so many right wing talking points,
the same kind of tactics they’ve used to attack feminists.

Yes, if McCain & Palin are elected Roe v. Wade will almost certainly be overturned.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-scotus5-2008oct05,0,1222389.story

There is much more, but she does a much better job
than I can at this hour

http://sflovestory.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/phyllis-chesler-woman-of-fear/

Oct 5, 2008 - 3:16 am 12. Pajamas Media » Who To Vote For: Genial Warrior or Ivy League Messiah?:

[...] Read the entire piece here. [...]

Oct 5, 2008 - 5:58 am 13. Lauren:

Phyllis, I am going to put a link to THIS article with excerpts of it on my site. It’s SUPER POWERFUL! They are calling me the “make you think blogger” and privately telling me how thankful they are for the sources I bring them to that they didn’t know existed. I was told yesterday that “I never got into politics before reading your blog and now I go to you as the first source.” I must get them to read you more! While I am toning it down for the next day or so, I will put this up in the next few days.

Oct 5, 2008 - 6:43 am 14. Barry Dauphin:

Of course, let’s remember that extraordinary renditions did not begin after 9/11 with the “evil” Bush, but that Clinton ramped this up as a response to terrorism. From Richard Clarke’s own book: “Clinton recapped the arguments on both sides for Gore: “Lloyd says this. Dick says that. Gore laughed and said, ‘That’s a no-brainer. Of course it’s a violation of international law, that’s why it’s a covert action. The guy is a terrorist. Go grab his ass.’” And from the author of the rendition program under the Clinton Administration, Michael Scheuer: “He further acknowledged that treatment of prisoners may not have been “up to U.S. standards.” However, he stated,
This is a matter of no concern as the Rendition Program’s goal was to protect America, and the rendered fighters delivered to Middle Eastern governments are now either dead or in places from which they cannot harm America. Mission accomplished, as the saying goes.”

Becoming dewey eyed over politicians is ultimately a waste of energy and misplaced religious sentiment. Vote we should. We can be proud of our imperfect human institutions. But we Americans inject much religious sentiment into voting. We look for saints and sinners. And it’s always the other party which has the sinners.

Oct 5, 2008 - 6:50 am 15. Chery:

Phyllis,

I read no further than your deep despair over Republican’s opposition to abortion. I need read no further.

If you and all other “pro-infant death” wanters pretend to be so much for a woman’s right to choose, why not be roundly for a woman’s right to choose not to engage in sexual intercourse if she is not protected?

You, sadly, eliminate the choice from the action of making a baby and attach it to the consequence. Actions do have consequnces. Very sad for you and your kind that you skip the first part of a woman’s right to choose.

Oct 5, 2008 - 7:11 am 16. Self-hating boomer:

Who gives a rat’s patood about abortion? You don’t seem to grasp the stakes, do you?

Oct 5, 2008 - 7:36 am 17. Lisa:

I, for one, am tired of being held hostage by Roe.

Oct 5, 2008 - 8:11 am 18. fred:

I try to scan the horizon and look at things in a wide angle lens, instead of focusing on my narrow interests, when voting for candidates. I was a registered Democrat all my life until 2002, when I went over to the other side. But sometimes I have voted across party lines.

So… I try to look beyond what may be a narrow focus on personal issues and self-interest. What are the the events, currents, and conflicts here and abroad which affect the lives of the most people? Look at things from some historical depth.

I think the #1 issue of our time is the recrudescence of traditional Islam and jihad. After being relatively somnolent after the Turks were stopped at the gates of Vienna in 1683 and more than a hundred years later Thomas Jefferson’s courageous confrontation with the Muslim pirates of North Africa, once again the injunctions of Surah 9, verse 5 is animating the Ummah. The most exposed outpost and the most under assault from the Ummah is the tiny state of Israel. Against the West, their actions are all over the map but the most sophisticated and concerted strategy comes from The Muslim Brotherhood. Their aim is to subjugate the kafir world through infiltration, immigration, procreation, and the erosion of our intellectual defenses by means of intimidation and co-option. And I’ve seen this happening.

Thus, the candidate who is likely to be more accommodating or more appeasement oriented is a candidate I won’t be voting for.

The second most urgent issue of our times is the ongoing erosion of our culture by post-modernist intellectual currents. This is mainly driven by the adherents of cultural Marxism. Gradually, we are losing a sense of independence and individual responsibility, and we now look to government to provide us with financial security.

To Ms. Chesler, who expresses her concerns about abortion, I would counsel some perspective. It is not likely that Roe v. Wade is going to be overturned. Also, I am presuming that Barack Obama is going to win the election and while it is not likely that any of the conservative judges are going to retire during the next four years, President Obama will stack the federal courts with liberal/Left judges.

One has to also take into account Barack Obama’s likely assaults on the 1st and 2nd Amendments, via the federal courts and his party’s likely efforts in that direction via legislation.

Lastly, I would issue this challenge to all voters of all persuasions: would you truly put your very narrow interests so high a priority that the things that would most affect ALL of us, here and abroad, would be swept aside?

Let me remind women and feminists of what they stand to lose in a world where The Muslim Brotherhood’s long term strategy succeeds. You people need to think outside of the box on that one.

Oct 5, 2008 - 8:25 am 19. cfbleachers:

Phyllis, I am very much aligned with you on numerous issues. Our differences are probably more semantic than fundamental. I have a few quirky ways of describing my positions, but we probably share basic agreement on most of them. For instance, I am pro-choice/anti-abortion.

I believe the greatest gift we have in this country, is the right to be spectacularly wrong, even stupid, in our personal behaviors. What separates us from totalitarian regimes and jackbooted compliance with “correct” behavior…is the individual freedom to make wrong choices.

I believe that God gave us the free will to do the same things…and it is up to us to find the right pathway…not be forced down it by the tip of a bayonet.

However, I think that abortion is a pathway littered with bad choices. Eliminating a life, snuffing out a fetus…when done for reasons that are cavalier about life itself…for leisure time convenience, when repeatedly performed as a form of irresponsible contraception, when done in late stages as the lifeform becomes recognizable…gives me great pause. I still see it as an issue between that individual and their deity…not so much a judgment call, but rather, a Judgment Day call.

And I don’t believe that I am a grain of sand in the ocean compared to the judgment of God. I wouldn’t arrogate to myself the position of separating the saints from the sinners. Nor would I judge the free will pathways of choice.

The government has a role to play in protecting its citizens. It is a poor replacement vehicle for playing God. In matters of free will, unless the government can show a federal question and not a God question…we have to allow people to make bad choices. It is the greatest gift to us from God and it ought to be preserved as an equally great gift to Americans. The right to be spectacularly wrong on personal issues and spiritual ones.

I think the government spending a lot of time and psychic energy on those types of issues, distracts us from the things we need to concentrate on and we lose focus. I completely, respect and admire those faith-based folks who see abortion as a crime. I simply don’t see a legal way to articulate it prior to a more full term pregnancy.

I think the faith-based folks have the higher moral ground. I think their instincts toward pro-life sentiments are more appealing to the conscience. But I think that God’s gift to us of free will was intentional and that HE should make the judgment, not me or my government.

I have a similar but not exact reasoning, about gay rights. I really don’t care what any consenting adults do in the privacy of their bedrooms. That may or may not be a God issue, but it certainly is not a government issue. Free will and the right to make choices about lifestyle do not become government issues, unless and until the government can clearly articulate a non-God issue reason for doing so.

I completely respect the folks who say that “marriage” is a sacrament and should remain intact as a holy bond between a man and a woman. I understand the reluctance toward watering down that holy ritual.

But, in working through the issue…it seems to me that most folks are willing to concede that committed gay couples deserve equal protections and rights to access of our national services, privileges and goods.

So, in essence… we are fighting…over…a word. Marriage. If one looks at the issue at its core, a gay couple are folks, who, for whatever reason..have a deep abiding, physical and emotional love for someone of the same gender. Who knows why this comes about, if it is a biological, chemical, chromosome, genetic imprint or other “root” reason.

For many gay persons and couples, they could no more change that trait than they could change their eye color or their height. The “choice” aspect made by most of them, is not related to BEING gay…but rather, acting upon their homosexual (rather than the more common and “accepted as normal” heterosexual) genetic characteristics.

To say it another way, they aren’t “acting gay”…they are BEING gay and choosing not to hide or secrete their “gay human condition”.

Are we to punish them for doing this? What, precisely…are we punishing them for? I think we fall away from the moral high ground if we punish them for being born with genetically gay traits. That, to me…is picking on people for who they are, and bullying them for reasons of birth, the absolute lowest form of human behavior.

Slavery of blacks, Holocausts and genocides reside in this dark side of human behavior.

We clearly cannot, MUST not legislate indefensible second class citizenship based upon a discomfort with non-heterosexual norms of behavior by consenting adults. There is no legitimate governmental interest that can be articulated for doing so. NOBODY of substance or character agrees with denial of rights for people who live a gay human condition lifestyle.

Then, what are we fighting over? A word? Marriage as a word? It is up to each religion to decide, not the government…whether they wish to allow their sacraments and rituals to include people who are born with and choose to act upon, the gay human condition.

I can’t think of another human trait or characteristic in which we would attempt to legislate a denial of entrance into society’s formalized bonding of couples. If one was born with blue eyes or brown hair? And chose not to conceal it by colored contact lenses or hair dye? How about six fingers or toes? Juvenile diabetes?

I wholly respect those folks who try hard to be open and tolerant of a broad array of melting pot cultures different from their “norms” and still have difficulty coming to a comfort level with homosexual lifestyles. It is hard for them to get comfortable with it, even though they don’t openly seek to disrespect anyone. Good people have difficulty with acceptance on this issue. It is an emotional hot button issue for many good and decent folks. I’m sure I disappoint many of the readers here on my views on abortion and on gays. I don’t apologize for working through these issues as I have, I only regret that otherwise good people might think me unwise and unworthy of their friendship because I have.

I’m neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I’m certainly not a leftist, but I’m obviously not on the far right. I sit in the center field bleacheers and watch each parry of foil and saber thrust back and forth, to and fro…and wonder why it is so lonely in these seats.

My view is that the government must LEAD on these issues, not follow. If we cannot articulate any sound reason for creating second class citizenry for folks born into the gay human condition, then we can’t in good conscience allow that sexual slavery to persist…or exist. If you believe, as I do…that BEING gay…is not where the “choice” comes in, but rather, allowing oneself to act upon their inherited human condition…then you can’t in good conscience deny them ANY access to ANY portion of our American life, liberty or pursuit of happiness. And we don’t own the word “marriage”. Certainly not enough to deny them access to it. WE need to stop picking on these folks. Today, not tomorrow.

If you believe that God has a judgment to make on their behaviors, again…I don’t see myself as a grain of sand in the ocean in capablility of replacing HIS judgment. HE gave us free will. If you believe that the exercising of behaviors in one’s gay human condition is a choice of free will, then you will come to a conclusion on how that judgment might come down. But, it’s not our place to try to replace HIS judgment…with ours. I happen to believe that God loves all HIS children. We are all born with traits and characteristics. We all have free will. Man can’t take that away. And governments shouldn’t try.

As you can see, I recoil from “one lever thinking”, in which any and all of my beliefs must first be filtered through a party line. I don’t need my food, nor my opinions, pre-masticated and regurgitated back to me like a baby bird.

But, Phyllis …I have grave concerns about the direction of this land of ours and of the fate of our alliance with Israel.

I believe that our information stream is now polluted and broken. Therefore, we not only cannot rely upon it to give us facts and news…but that it is toxic, fraudulent, and necrotic. How can we self-govern, through representative government…when those chosen to referee the matchups… are agents of deceit? When the public trust we place in them is shattered by intentional and glaring acts of shilling for one side and “gotcha” theater against the other.

If the refs are crooked, one team is not only the underdog and the other “championed”…but the loser, every single time…is the truth. And when the truth is “owned” and bent with predictable regularity to fit a “message”…I come to distrust that message.

The truth is a rock. It just stands there. It needs no construction and deconstruction. When agents of deceit chip away at it, the resulting shards cut deep into our body politic. Sen. Obama has been given a free pass. He has not been vetted properly and he has been given political cover.

Gov. Palin has been lampooned, ridiculed and “gotcha grilled”. Not once…ever…have I seen Sen. Obama presented with “gotcha grilling” type of question by Katie Couric or anyone else in the Democratic Party Media. I have tried more cases in state and federal court than Sen. Obama, Katie Couric, …and virtually any other newsperson or politician…I have written more appellate briefs and argued before higher courts more than they have.

And…if I was asked to name, on the spot…Supreme Court cases, by name…that I DISAGREED WITH…I couldn’t do it. It is a question designed to elicit humiliation, not elucidation.

When Charlie Gibson asked about the “Bush Doctrine”…I didn’t know to what, particularly…he was referring. I didn’t know it by that name. I certainly never called it that.

Yet, when Sen. Biden was asked about “intervention”…he said that he AND Sen. Obama agreed that when “we can do something about it”, and when there is “genocide”, and when someone has “a history of harboring terrorists”…then BOTH of them would be comfortable with intervention. Is that the “Obama-Biden Doctrine”?

Didn’t Saddam Hussein gas Kurds into a mass graveyard of sorrow? Didn’t he have woodchippers for political dissenters and his son have rape rooms for innocent women to be tortured and maimed for life? Didn’t he have a long history of harboring terrorists and congratulating them? Given the parameters of the “Obama-Biden Doctrine” it seems that Iraq was a primary choice. Has anyone asked them a “gotcha grill” question about it?

Has SNL done a skit repeatedly on FDR going on TV in 1929? Or on the price of arugula? A presidential seal? Where does Nancy Pelosi stand on the “fairness doctrine” when one side gets vetted and gotcha grilled and the other side gets a free pass and rigged debate questions?

I have an inclination to write a series of comments titled “I want to believe in your position, Sen. Obama on”: (Israel, taxes, foreign affairs, Iraq, mortgage meltdown/bailout, Middle America)and then go through the vetting process based upon research and information I can find. I don’t know where to place those articles, but I suspect I would put them in the comments section at Pajamas Media articles from time to time as I finish them. I believe it is necessary, because Sen. Obama has not been vetted by the DPM, in fact,…they have been shilling for him.

As it stands now, I couldn’t in good conscience recommend that anyone vote for an unvetted candidate. And, since I believe the refs are crooked, I couldn’t in good conscience root for the team that benefits from their moral bankruptcy.

I believe EVERY non-committed voter should vote AGAINST the crooked refs. Unfortunately for Sen. Obama…since they are attempting to benefit him by their acts…he should obtain no such benefit. He should lose, because the larger issue of how we govern this land of ours is at stake. And we can’t do it…if our information stream is corrupted.

EVERY thinking person of moral fiber…should demonstrate an act of will upon this fraud. McCain/Palin is the only way to make the statement. THAT is the largest issue before us and THAT is the most important one of our lifetimes. We must not reward the destruction of our information stream…because NO election from this day until eternity would be a product of informed consent. We cannot self-govern on a mountain of lies and deceit. No matter how I view any other issue…this one trumps them all.

Oct 5, 2008 - 8:34 am 20. Ditto:

Thank you, CFBleachers. Had you included the repression of the freedom of speech whenever it doesn’t agree with the leftist ideology, you would have enumerated every one of my primary concerns about the Democratic ticket.

Oct 5, 2008 - 8:57 am 21. Sandra M:

Ms. Chesler if you are having trouble making up your mind who to vote for you need to sit down with pen and paper and PRIORITIZE your values.

Abortion is not at risk. The nation’s future is. Obama is a Marxist and admired by all our enemies. Doesn’t that tell you enough?

I could go on but arguing with mush-headed women has always given me a migraine.

Oct 5, 2008 - 9:09 am 22. Janice Martorano:

Has anyone seen the “Obama youth” video? Has anyone seen the “Obama youth” chorus. Don’t we have enough indoctrination in our schools thanks to Jimmy Carter and Saul Alinsky? Now we can look forward to the Obama youth camp graduates intimidating voters in the inner cities. The exact wording is “get in their faces”. I think Obama, George Soros and the ghost of Saul Alinsky would make any voter frightened. The Democratic party of our fathers and grandfathers is dead. If Obama is elected you will not recognize this country and I don’t think that change will be good for us or the rest of the world. “It’s the ideology stupid”.

Oct 5, 2008 - 9:12 am 23. RE:

It astounds me that anyone can even consider supporting a candidate with an Ayers, Dorhn, or Wright figuring so prominently in their background. No good can come from such a person.

That Ms. Chesler is willing to let race trump sound judgment is very disturbing.

Oct 5, 2008 - 9:45 am 24. Self-hating boomer:

It astounds me that anyone can even consider supporting a candidate with an Ayers, Dorhn, or Wright figuring so prominently in their background. No good can come from such a person.

Gedankenexperiment: Imagine an alternative universe where McCain recently served on the board of a charity that was supposed to help school children with Timothy McVeigh. Imagine that the money all disappeared, and no measurable benefit accrued to the kids. Imagine that much of the money founds its way into the treasuries of Stormfront, Ayrian Nations, and the Klan. Imagine that the kids were indoctrinated into the dangers of black peril.

Now imagine that McVeigh failed at blowing up the OKC federal building, and that prosecutors failed to convict him, and he ended up a cranky talk-radio host, who laments that he didn’t succeed, and blow other things up, as well.

No big deal, right?

Oct 5, 2008 - 10:39 am 25. cfbleachers:

Ditto:

Thank you, CFBleachers. Had you included the repression of the freedom of speech whenever it doesn’t agree with the leftist ideology, you would have enumerated every one of my primary concerns about the Democratic ticket.

You are quite welcome, Ditto. I did indeed include that issue of the repression of freddom of speech in one of my comments yesterday to Kyle Anne’s article. Canoneer kindly gave it a link of its own.

I wish I had a better way to articulate my thoughts rather than feeling, at times, as if I am hijacking a thread…and if my comments are a bit longer, I tend to think they may be skipped due to length… by many readers.

However, I fully intend to try to get a series of “vetting comments” on key issues related to Sen. Obama’s positions, associations, history and policies in the coming days.

I have conerns about how many of these things are being provided political cover by the Democratic Party Media and by leftist organizations and their cronies. I will wait for an article on point by one the contributors and place my thoughts in the comments section. I don’t have time or the capacity to open my own blog. So, for those who like what I write, thank you for your kind words.

For those who don’t…thank you for our ability to disagree and voice our opinions in an open forum.

And for the bloggers and article writers, thank you for creating the venue where such things might otherwise be trampled by the jackboots of silencers of principled dissent.

Oct 5, 2008 - 10:54 am 26. Chris in Toronto:

CFBleechers:

Thank you for a great comment. I, for one, look forward to seeing your “Senator, I want to believe…” comments.

I thought the “name one supreme court decision” question was bogus, but I’m not a lawyer. I’m gratified to hear that a lawyer couldn’t really answer the question either. My thought, though, was the proper answer would have been “Katie, I’m not a lawyer”.

Thanks again. And, btw, I love your thinking on gay “marriage”. Perfect. Should be required reading. Maybe PJM should have you as a regular contributor outside of the comments sections. I’d read you!

Oct 5, 2008 - 11:00 am 27. Judy, NYC:

janice and carol: i agree with you both, and my horror began at the outset of the primaries with the ranting of barry obama and his tactics of racial separateness to further his own ambitions. the bottom line for me, a life long democratic voter, is that yes, the democratic party is dead, and that barry is a bad man. that is not as simplistic as it sounds. bad people do bad things. even old line democrats appreciated eisenhower, a republican, as being worthy of the presidency because he was a good and decent man. nixon, was felled by his disabling paranoia. it made him a bad president. whether or not he was a bad man, is still conjecture. lyndon johnson redeemed himself, by the agony etched on his face over vietnam and his devotion to the great society. and robert kennedy, who sat on joe mccarthy’s huac and its bizarre place in our history, showed his essential goodness becoming someone who arguably would have been one of our great presidents. good and bad, right and wrong, truth and lies, transparency, the essential character of a person had great weight in our decision to elect. from character flowed policy and leadership, but that was another time, as it is said, in another country.

Oct 5, 2008 - 11:04 am 28. jann:

cfbleachers, thank you, thank you, thank you. I couldn’t agree with you more. The deceit and lies are amazing. I thought I was living in a different country. The ugly, disgusting comments about Gov. Palin’s baby, and now they are stating that John McCain is going to die if he is president. The Nurses Assoc. spoke person from CA said Senator McCain was deceiving the American public for not telling them he was going to die of cancer. The man is only 72 and he is in remission. I take that as somewhat of an insult to aging Americans. We are living longer, stronger, healthier lives more than every before. What strikes me odd is, Obama has not really moved ahead in the polls for the amount of time he’s been in this race. Why isn’t he at 80%? Why is the media helping him, what are they going to gain by not vetting this person? Why do they hate, I can’t believe I’m saying that, they actually truly hate Gov. Palin. I was told it’s because she didn’t go to Harvard. If that is one of many reasons, Harvard did not teach them manners and compassion.

Oct 5, 2008 - 11:07 am 29. zeppenwolf:

>…[Sarah's] lack of experience on the national and international stage.

But you are not bothered by Obama’s lack of experience? Or does getting a few thousand Germans worked up into a lather count as foreign policy experience in your book?

Sarah has run a small business, mayored a town, governed a large state, taken on and won against corporations which have larger budgets than most nations, et cetera.

Meanwhile, Obama has written books, (about himself!), and gotten himself elected, (and not always by virtue of popular vote either! That’s so old-fashioned, n’est-ce pas?)

While a senator, his acheivements have added up to almost but not quite absolutely nothing. His greatest accomplishment in the state senate was to vote “present”, and in the US senate he’s managed to run for president.

Whoopee!!

And Biden’s “experience”– where to start?!? He’s gotten himself elected over and over, that’s great. But what good is his experience when he’s wrong about almost every major question in his history?

But I guess we all should just vote for Obama anyway– after all, he’s BLACK! Yay! Who CARES where the man is coming from, who he’s associated with for most of life, what he believes, what credibility he has– he’s BLACK!

I would say something about “judging a man by the content of his character….” but y’all probably wouldn’t get the reference. It’s an old idea that’s apparently been discredited by our new “post-racial” era.

Electing Obama will elevate all of us into a new era of politics: race-hustlers like Sharpton will vanish in a puff of magic Obama dust, the world will love America again, and Jeremiah Wright will come out and say “Gosh, maybe I was wrong about everything!”

And Barney the Dinosaur will preside over the senate.

Oh, how to vote, how to vote?!?

Oct 5, 2008 - 11:37 am 30. LeighB:

If you can’t figure out who to vote for by now, then please don’t. The choice seems clear to me.

What is less certain to me are two things: a) where does the MSM go from here? and b) when will the left stop spewing hate?

Oct 5, 2008 - 11:43 am 31. Marc Malone:

To ne fair, I couldn’t name the exact case, but the answer that came to my mind when I heard the Supreme Court question from Couric was the stupid, nay, insidious meme “Separation of Church and State”. That one phrase written into an opinion has done more harm to this country than anything else, period. Perhaps she should have been able to come up with something, but the other side of the coin is that that was a question for political junkies.

Oct 5, 2008 - 12:32 pm 32. Susan:

Phyllis,
As a denizen of the seventies bra-burning brigade, I understand your viewpoint about freedom of choice very well. However, it is obvious that you see, as I do, that this one issue cannot override the myriad concerns which any aware voter should have regarding Obama and his campaign. His soaring rhetoric notwithstanding, we have no idea who this man truly is and he refuses to be honest about it. McCain, warts and all, is an honest man. His life is an open book.

One other issue of great concern to me is that of a monopoly in the Federal Government. Having both houses and the presidency – all of the same party – is very dangerous for our well-being as a democracy. And should that Democratic majority in Congress be large enough, it could be filibuster-proof. That is a scary thought.

Oct 5, 2008 - 12:33 pm 33. Brian:

Where is your article lacks is a weighing of the issues you raise. For instance a president’s stance on Al-Qaeda, jihadic-terrorist-nuclear threats and ability to fool and/or deceive would outweigh a presidents race, parental education, parental nationality and cuteness.

I took time to build a scale, weigh and score all the issues you raised in this article. 1 (low) and 10 (high).

On my tally sheet, the democratic ticket won on presidential cuteness and race and the republications winning on jihadic-terrorist-nuclear threats and (in) ability to fool or deceive. The Republican won 112-40

Here is the scale and my weights, try it.
Issue Weight
Tickets support for “Violence Against Women Act” 10
Tickets support for abortion. 10
Vice Presient being bright, zesty, charming 1
Tickets support for other equality-for-women issues 10
President prior association/connections 5
President denying prior association/connections 10
President’s lack if experience on the national and international stage. 10
Vice Presidents lack if experience on the national and international stage. 5
President’s race 5
Vice President Gender 5
Presidents parents religion 1
President’s parents nationality 1
Presidents parents education 1
Tickets base being scary 1
President being cute as hell 1
President’s anti-sexist, anti-racist language 1
President’s ability for soaring rhetoric and dreams which can never put into practice, 1
VP choice, 5
President as warrior. 5
President comes across as likable, experienced, heroic. 1
Presidents stance on Israel 5
Presidents stance on Iran 5
President’s stance on Al-Qaeda. 5
President’s stand against Jihadic-terrorist-nuclear threat 10
Presidents stand on sitting down, lie down, get down with intractable enemies 10
President’s stand on use traditional diplomacy with terrorists groups (Hezbollah, Hamas, or Al-Qaeda) 5
President’s stand on the mainstream media turning more and more people against their own country, 10
President’s stand against being taken over by “soft jihad.” 10
Palin is the living embodiment of what some feminists once yearned for, (”Having it All”) 7
Likely hood that president is a Manchurian Candidate 1
President’s ability to fool deceives 10
Vice President’s ability to fool deceives 10

Oct 5, 2008 - 12:45 pm 34. Ed Wallis:

Ms. Chesler, You write, “I think we’re running out of time. And I don’t think that we can use traditional diplomacy with groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, or Al-Qaeda. It won’t work. And, just as Europe has been Islamified, (and in a bad way), so, too, does civilian America stand at risk of being attacked again….and again; seeing its intelligentsia and its mainstream media turn more and more people against their own country, so much so that they don’t notice being taken over by ’soft jihad.’ “

Yes, time is indeed running out. Please PRIORITIZE.

As feminist (among other) issues seem to be of concern to you (based on your words here), please note that you yourself admit that “being attacked” is not the only real danger, but also the “soft jihad” – for lack of better words – of cozying up to muslim extremists bit by bit…including losing the “Western” outlook on women’s rights.

NOW ASK YOURSELF THIS: Is THIS danger to America and American women more likely to come from “McCain and Co.” or “Obama and Co.”?

*** McCAIN / PALIN ‘08 !!! ***

Oct 5, 2008 - 12:49 pm 35. Marc Malone:

My snese is that the writer has made up her mind, but is trying to be fair. But, let’s say she is being honest. I cannot understand how there can still be an undecided by this time in this historic race. Have these people been living in a cave? Have they no strong principles upon which to base their lives? It’s just unfathomable to me. You’d have to be every bit as clueless as the media have made Palin out to be.

I’d bet that people are in a position where they know for whom they wish to vote, but are uncomfortable with the decision. They may be looking for an EXCUSE to change their minds. It’s like the old saw, “Women need an excuse to have sex. Men just need a place.”

Change the narrative on Obama. Let’s say Ayers were, instead, an unrepentant militant KKK member. Suppose 9/11 were, instead, a massive arson of one of those black megachurches. Say that 3,000 black men, women, and children had died. Suppose, the day after, Ayers had said this (just altering his real words to fit the narrative), “We strung up hundreds of darkies back in the day. I don’t regret what I did. I feel we didn’t do enough.” Would Obama have associated with this guy? If he had, would you EVER consider voting for him?

Now ask yourselves these questions on the actual situation:

Now, picturing the places he bombed, the soldiers and police he killed, how do you view domestic terrorism? Ayers and Dohrn are simply serial cop-killers. How heinous is this picture to you?;

Would McCain EVER have had a “friendly relationship with Ayers”?

Would you have?

Finally, how important is this association after asking yourself these questions?

The same line of questioning goes to every one of Obama’s associations. Would you have had Wright as your pastor? Would you have done a land deal with that Arab, Rezco. Is Farrakhan your childhood hero? The list goes on and on and on.

I think the undecideds want to vote for Obama, but they don’t know exactly how they feel about him, because they don’t really know how they feel about these things. They like his message. They want all this free stuff.

Well, the difference between the Pubs and the Dems boils down to this: the Pubs believe in the notion that there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Everything else comes from that. They’ve strayed from that concept, and their message is tarnished.

Obama’s message is powerful if you don’t adhere to the no free lunches concept with deep conviction. I promise you this: if Obama wins, we’ll return to a Jimmy Carter administration and economy! Remember stagflation, anyone? Oh, that’s right, you have to be mid-40’s and above to remember that. It’s 1976 all over again. Don’t make the same mistake again.

Oct 5, 2008 - 1:07 pm 36. iammefrommiami:

Who should I vote for: Ishmael OR Esau? Which is the lesser evil, radical Islam or fundamental xianity? DO I vote for the people who hate feminazi’s OR the people who hate zionazi’s? Who do I sell out, Jews or women? Democrat, Republican politicians all- do I really believe that either party will not sell me out completely? I say vote for Hashem, say the Shema and be the best Jew you can be. We need Torah feminism.

Oct 5, 2008 - 1:16 pm 37. Battlecat:

Phyllis, I share many of your concerns.

However, what has pushed me over the edge is not the candidates themselves, but media bias. The media are in the tank for Obama, and if he wins, they will be able to lie to us, conceal information from us, and inform our opinions according to their bidding without reprimand or restraint.

Obama has been waging a nasty campaign via media thug proxies, first against Clinton, and now against Palin. When I refute any of the smears spewed as gospel by Obamabots, the usual subtle accusation of racism and not-so-subtle hostile reaction is similarly hurled at me. I will not run with this pack of wolves.

McCain/Palin 2008, Clinton 2012

Oct 5, 2008 - 2:07 pm 38. C Kidman:

I wondered what happened to P. Chesler. Now that I found out, I am disappointed. Perhaps Phyllis C. is so afraid she will be branded a racist – anyone who doesn’t swallow 100% of the Obama Kool-Aid is called a racist (e.g. Dems attack on Palin today).
I personally am immune to the Charisma of B.O. (& he’s truly nothing like actor Denzel Washington!). His associations with those who hate whites, & with anti-Semites and the Chigago political machine leave me cold toward him. And the truth is that Phyllis C. knows that abortion will never be illegal in the USA – an false concern -(although I am not familiar with Sharia law on abortion….so who knows about the future). And who wouldn’t want less abortions (there is a higher % of non-white abortions – so isn’t that racism? Oops! – not a leftist talking point!). Considering national security concerns, I have to say that the fence poor Phyllis is sitting on cannot hold her substantial intellectual weight! Get down, dear! You look ridiculous up there.

Oct 5, 2008 - 2:42 pm 39. Battlecat:

Something else I have considered is that a McCain presidency is likely to come with a ‘G.I. Joe’ cabinet: Giuliani, Powell, and Lieberman. They are all solidly pro-American and moderate on social issues.

An Obama cabinet is a wildcard. Judging by his plentiful past associations (domestic terrorist, fire-spitting hate-preacher, convicted fraudster, anti-Israel foreign policy team, etc.), I don’t want to take that chance.

Oct 5, 2008 - 2:50 pm 40. Self-hating boomer:

Battlecat, that’s the entire issue right there. Nothing else matters. The crooks don’t concern me anywhere near as much as the zealots. You can reason with crooks. But Obama is likely to appoint someone like this as Secretary of State:

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/05/video-former-obama-adviser-on-invading-israel/

Oct 5, 2008 - 3:28 pm 41. geokstr:

Marcia:

“…“partial birth abortion,” a medical procedure that is only used in cases where the mother’s life or health are in grave danger.”

It never ceases to amaze me how some people can state falsehoods with such certainty, especially given how easy it is to actually look things up on the internet and not spout the talking points of their favorite advocacy group.

From Wikipedia on “intact dilation and contraction:
“There is also controversy about why this procedure is used. Although prominent defenders of the method asserted during 1995 and 1996 that it was used only or mostly in acute medical circumstances, Ron Fitzsimmons, executive director of the National Coalition of Abortion Providers (a trade association of abortion providers), told the New York Times (February 26, 1997): “In the vast majority of cases, the procedure is performed on a healthy mother with a healthy fetus that is 20 weeks or more along.Some prominent self-described pro-choice advocates quickly defended the accuracy of Fitzsimmons’ statements.[36]”

THis is the same type of abortion myth as the one that says the majority of abortions are due to rape, incest and/or health of the mother. In truth, all the surveys seem to indicate that those make up less than 8% of the total 50 million or so abortions since Roe. The rest are totally for convenience purposes of one kind or another.

I am not an anti-abortion fanatic, but I do believe that there should be some reasonable restrictions on them. There is an old saying about taxes that is applicable here – if you want to encourage more of something, subsidize it. Likewise, having no negative consequence for a lack of responsibility or self-control is nothing more than a guarantee for lots more irresponsibly behavior. Thus we went from a few thousand abortions a year to over a million in less than one year.

And regardless of the moral implications of the practice, the demographic results have been absolutely horrendous. That is 50 million more American taxpayers we could have had when we are currently reproducing at barely replacement level. Half of those would already be taxpayers contributing to the Social Security/Medicare pot that is about to go belly-up for lack of revenue. And the lack of home-grown new workers is why the country has gradually accepted importing tens on millions from Mexico instead.

Oct 5, 2008 - 3:41 pm 42. Marc Malone:

Battlecat – really good point on appointments!

C. Kidman – 52% of abortions are black babies. It’s clearly the Pubs’ fault. We’re such racists.

Oct 5, 2008 - 4:05 pm 43. Ritchie Emmons:

“Obama is like jazz – unique, innovative, creative and improvisational enough to think on his feet and meet the complex challenges of our time.”

This comment from above is the perfect reflection of the vapidity of so many Obama supporters. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, in Obama’s record – legislative or otherwise – that indicates that he is “unique, innovative, creative and improvisational enough to think on his feet and meet the complex challenges of our time.” His record is that of a down the line boring far left liberal. Think on his feet? Without a teleprompter, he’s a poor speaker. He is not good at “thinking on his feet.” This commenter and others like her display an intellectual shallowness that so concerns many of us on the right. They’ll vote for Obama for reasons more closely affiliated with the heart than with the head.

“But who will I vote for? Who will you vote for? In this most important election, we cannot afford to throw our votes away. Whatever will we do?”

I will be voting for McCain. For one, I’m a Republican (with a good dose of libertarian in there). Perhaps more importantly, McCain is running against Obama. That alone is reason enough to vote for him. As for how we cannot “throw our votes away,” I disagree. I live in Boston. As a Republican, my vote for President is useless. Massachusetts is most certainly going to give its electoral votes to the Democrat. If by chance that MA goes Republican, that means, in all likelihood, 49 other states will do the same. I would love to see the obsolete electoral college eliminated and a straight popular vote system be instituted. It’s time.

Oct 5, 2008 - 4:07 pm 44. geokstr:

George Jochnowitz:

“I am troubled by Palin’s attacks against Washington, necessarily implying America’s government. It’s especially peculiar considering that we have a Republican President. Congress, to be sure, is Democratic, but for 8 of the preceding 10 years we have had Republican majorities in one of both houses.”

This is irrelevant to Palin, and to me as well. Haven’t you actually been reading anything about her? She has taken on the corrupt republican party in Alaska in a big way. What makes you think that everyone against corruption, if they have honor and integrity, is going to be partisan about cleaning it up? The truth is that a solid majority of the people in congress and the administration are political whores. Palin has not yet been tainted by Washington, and hopefully could make a difference before she herself was absorbed into it. At least there is a better chance for that to happen if an outsider takes it on than someone already bought, don’t you think?

While Palin had to fight her way through the glass ceiling, Obama has had his path greased by the most corrupt political machine in the US, Chicago. Do you really think that he will be non-partisan in his predictable witchhunts when he gets into office? Pelosi has already assured Dodd, Frank and other who bear a great deal of responsibility for the “crisis” that any hearings will NOT look into their roles in this. Look for kangaroo trials of anyone on the right they can manufacture blame about.

“And then there is the question os science. A surprising percentage of America’s scientists were educated abroad. We have wonderful science departments in our universities, but the same is not true in other parts of the educational system. This is at least in part due to the hostility to science brought about by creationism.”

That makes no semse whatsoever. I am an atheist, have had a life-long interest in science, and have followed the creationism controvery for many years. Now Young Earth Creationists do indeed believe the earth is 10,000 years old or less. Science, and only the disciplines that disagree with their book, is the ONLY area they care about. So how could “creationists” affect all the non-science areas?

And Palin has already stated that, as her father was a science teacher, she believes that evolution should be taught as scientific “fact”, which would have her burned at the stake (figuratively) by any Young Earth Creationists.

Much of the problem with our universities today is that, outside the sciences, they are hotbeds of the only support remaining for Marxism and Radical Feminism and other leftwing -isms, including Ayers. They have become nothing more than indoctrination centers for Political Correctness.

Like Marcia’s post just before yours, you should really know what you are talking about instead of accepting blindly the smears from the media and the left.

Oct 5, 2008 - 4:09 pm 45. momof3:

I voted democrat for 12 years, even though I’m pro-life, because on the whole I agreed with their other points. Now, I don’t even recognize them. They are a cult. No reason, no thought, just blind following of the Messiah. They can’t even tell you why they like him, except Roe. Ladies, get a brain, pop your no-baby-pill, and vote for something a little more important, shall we? Oh, wait, but he’s “cute”. That matters. Right.

As much as I would LOVE to see abortion outlawed, I know it WILL NEVER HAPPEN. America being attacked HAS HAPPENED AND CAN HAPPEN AGAIN!!! Muslims ARE trying to take the world over softly. Can you imagine what would happen if Christians asked for the right to ignore US law in favor of their own? Yet it’s reasonable for the muslims? The left has gone completely loco, there is no other explanation.

People in my family live well into their 90’s. I’m sure they’d find it amusing, while planning their century birthday party, to know that 72 year olds can expect to die in months. And we don’t have top-of-the-line healthcare like the President gets.

But really, even setting all that aside, I’d still vote McCain. He fought for his country, suffered more than any of us can ever concieve because of it, and he still loves America and knows we are the best country in the world. Obama just doesn’t like the US. He’s made it clear. He’s made it clear by who he has spent his life associating with. He’s slimy. I can’t put it more succinctly.

Oct 5, 2008 - 6:58 pm 46. Marc Malone:

Regarding abortion, I jsut wish there was one LEGAL standard for life and death. When your heart stops, and it can’t be re-started, they declare you dead. So, let’s have life legally start when the baby’s heart starts beating. No abortions after roughly the tenth week.

I agree with Creationism. I just don’t see a conflict with Evolution. I don’t think the world is new. I just don’t think Adam was the first man, but rather the first Jew. Everything kinda falls into place after that.

Cain slew Able, but was fearful of being cast out with no tribe to protect him from other people. Um, what other people? Oh, the ones who were here before the Jews.

Recent discoveries show that Intelligent Design may actually be observed. Apparently, changes in life forms happen suddenly (in a generation), and across a species.

If you examine the Ovoid Theory (aka, Big Bang), it bears a remarkable resemblance to Genesis. There’s no sound in space, so it didn’t go bang. It went flash, as in “Let there be Light!” Some stupid journalist had to call it the Big Bang, instead of the Big Flash, and confused everyone. I honestly can’t see primitive people making such a good guess as to the origins of the universe. I think Someone told them.

Agree with me or not, it is arguable, and so should be taught as a viable theory, not as one disproven by science.

Oct 5, 2008 - 7:48 pm 47. zeppenwolf:

Emmons:>I would love to see the obsolete electoral college eliminated and a straight popular vote system be instituted.

No, you wouldn’t, not if you’re even remotely honest about being a Republican with “a good dose of libertarian”.

Eliminate the EC and all of our presidents would be elected by NY, LA, and Chicago. The Founders knew what they were doing– look into it.

Oct 5, 2008 - 7:50 pm 48. Eric:

The choice is simple. Allow me to distill it for you. Obama represents everything the Founders fought against, increased taxes, bigger government, increased regulation, and a level of meddling and interference that borders on Soviet five year plans. Obama and the Democrat leadership are socialists pure and simple. To them every problem has a government solution. It doesn’t matter that government is at the root of so many of our problems from immigration to the current mortgage meltdown, they believe the only cure is more government. I will fight against socialism to remain free and to keep what is mine, especially my earnings. If you want to be a slave to your fellow man via the tax code then move to Europe.

McCain, although no Conservative, is no radical and more likely to be a decent steward of the status quo in tems of not expanding government.

Why is this a hard choice? Socialism should be easy to turn away from.

Oct 5, 2008 - 9:26 pm 49. Someone75:

Eric: “a level of meddling and interference that borders on Soviet five year plans”

Really? You think Obama wants to make us into some sort of socialist/communist hybrid? I see nothing wrong with adding some regulation to the economy. Didn’t BOTH parties just agree on that?

You seem to see it as a slippery slope, which I don’t think it is. Obama hasn’t said anything to support what you’re claiming. I wonder if you’ve ever stopped to listen (actually “listen”) to what he has to say. You are, of course, entitled to your opinion, but I would urge you to look at the specifics of Obama’s plan, because you will probably be surprised.

Oct 5, 2008 - 9:47 pm 50. Obama-Ayers-Dohrn-Mama- and Qaddafi « The Sassy Tn’T PoLITicallY InCorrect:

[...] excerpt:from Chesler Chronicles -The Genial Warrior versus the Ivy League Messiah [...]

Oct 5, 2008 - 10:33 pm 51. nlcatter:

Palin thinks the bible is inerrant, that Earth was formed 6000 years ago and dinosaurs walked with men – that is the sign of how stupid she is.

Obama is for decreasing taxes on all but the top 1% – how is that increasing taxes?

Oct 5, 2008 - 11:09 pm 52. Cham:

In addition to what others have said, the reason I am voting against Obama is because of what he will do to our already hurting economy. When asked what he would cut, even after he said himself that this was an economic crisis, he couldn’t come up with a single item on his trillion dollar list! Not one.

Meanwhile, he managed to add a million dollars a day of earmarks while he was voting present in the senate. He has given nearly $1 million to the voter fraud specialists, ACORN. His hands are dirty with contributions (the 2nd highest in Congress) from Fannie & Freddie. Some of his financial advisors were former CEOs of Fannie & Freddie.

And as for his socialist agenda, you can see it all over his website or on youtube. His health care plan, the forced “volunteerism,” his idea of a civilian army (!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igDoHZ0hVUY

I can’t believe ANY Jew would vote for this guy. He already has the press covering his tracks, he has “brownshirts/truth squads” intimidating anyone brave enough to speak out against him, he is indoctrinating children to his (completely empty) promises of hope and change. Even his campaign posters are designed with the same style as old Russian/communist posters.

Oct 6, 2008 - 12:08 am 53. chicago:

Here’s the real narrative on Obama:

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_HZMD97nMw
Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1TAnDcQyjA
Part 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y3U383Ffuk
Part 4:
http://wwwoutube.com/watch?v=h7g__–BJ9I
Part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxCZzxEfUAs
Part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxfQD4If7kk

No way I could support Obama.

Oct 6, 2008 - 1:30 am 54. chicago:

nlcatter:

Palin thinks the bible is inerrant, that Earth was formed 6000 years ago and dinosaurs walked with men – that is the sign of how stupid she is.

Obama is for decreasing taxes on all but the top 1% – how is that increasing taxes?

Obama also want to increase business taxes, increase taxes on coal and Natural gas…since you are a liberal and can’t connect the dots, who do you think will end up paying for those tax increases, and how many jobs would be lost after business downsize in order to make up for the increase in taxes?

get a clue will ya.

Oct 6, 2008 - 1:36 am 55. Ed Wallis:

Which candidate has been “endorsed” by Hezbollah and other Middle East terrorist bodies which work towards the destruction of Israel?

This is a tough one. Yah. Uh huh. …and “socialism” in America wouldn’t be any different than Kibbutz life…. (/ sarcasm )

Why does ANY Jew even think of voting for Obama, considering this?

Oct 6, 2008 - 2:22 am 56. Ed Wallis:

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxCZzxEfUAs&feature=iv&annotation_id=event_461147

Part 1 of the 6-part program is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_HZMD97nMw

Oct 6, 2008 - 3:17 am 57. Christine:

When you consider what I believe the two most important factors of this race, I think you will see the choice is clear!

1. Having a divided government. Just imagine the liberal dems having full control of everything!

2. Appointments to the Supreme Court. Goes along with #1, but I shudder to think of the nominees BO would put up given his “circle of friends”. Downright scary!

For these very reasons, it’s important to vote McCain/Palin *08!

Oct 6, 2008 - 4:15 am 58. canuck:

McCain is not a super star and Palin gives him some cover.

But….Senator Zero is so far out to the left, it is difficult for anyone with a two digit IQ to imagine that a thinking individual would have a problem making the appropriate choice. Zero is just another sleazy Chicago politician suppressing opposition in any possible way…from brownshirts to a perpetual race card. Read the book Obama Nation….the guy is a communist with no accomplishments other than to hide his past.

Oct 6, 2008 - 4:30 am 59. sheep:

nlcatter, this site is full of rapid, foaming at the mouth right wing wackjobs. You cannot use logic. Try a biblical quote or something about a faith based initiative for corporate welfare…This is not America and thankfully most people are catching on to their idiocy. Watch Religulous. It’s the same people making similarly inane arguments. Now we could have a discussion on $5,000 tax credits for insurers versus an optional health care program proposed by Obama or the value of a New Deal like infrastructure program or the merits of a transparent government or any of a dozen actual topics, but it inevitably goes back to Ayers or Maverick or “gosh nabbit” the culture of life.

If you wanted a doctor, you’re not going for Ms. Congeniality, but for VP, that’s the high water mark. Laughable.

Oct 6, 2008 - 4:47 am 60. TomP:

Hey NL, keep drinking the kool-aid. You must not remember Clinton’s 1992 promise to cut taxes. Some never learn.

Oct 6, 2008 - 5:24 am 61. Ritchie Emmons:

“Emmons:>I would love to see the obsolete electoral college eliminated and a straight popular vote system be instituted.

No, you wouldn’t, not if you’re even remotely honest about being a Republican with “a good dose of libertarian”.

Eliminate the EC and all of our presidents would be elected by NY, LA, and Chicago. The Founders knew what they were doing– look into it.”

zeppenwolf, I have looked into it. I don’t see how all our Presidents would be elceted by NY, LA and Chicago if the EC was eliminated. Can you explain that please? As a matter of fact, I see the elimination of the EC more likely as a way of REDUCING the impact of such cities. And how many times has the EC had a different outcome than the popular vote? It’s extremely rare.

The EC was created because in the 1700’s things were such that communication and transportation were difficult and it was unreasonable to expect citizens to be able to easily travel and easily acquire information. Therefore, a handful of more informed “electors” were chosen to represent the people of each state. This is of course, now obsolete. We have cars and the Internet and TV’s. “Electors” are no longer necessary. The fact that Presidential candidates need only to focus on a few “swing” states like Ohio and Florida, while states like MA and AK they need not bother with, is a flaw in the system.

You’re right, the Founders did know what they were doing. I think your preception of what they intended is incorrect.

“Palin thinks the bible is inerrant, that Earth was formed 6000 years ago and dinosaurs walked with men – that is the sign of how stupid she is.

Obama is for decreasing taxes on all but the top 1% – how is that increasing taxes?”

nlcatter, if you think that taxes are only going to increase on the top 1%, who’s the stupid one? Do you actually think that the far left liberal Obama is going to have a net decrease in taxes? Utterly absurd.

Oct 6, 2008 - 7:12 am 62. momof3:

Babies hearts actually start beating around week 6. I just had my second ultrasound, it dated me 6 weeks to the day, and sure enough, there was a tiny rhythmic flutter. Many women don’t even know they are pregnant by week 6, so there is my whole problem with abortion. It stops a beating heart. Honestly, with birth control as easy to get, and use, as it is now, there is just no reason for abortion. We have, what, 12 different kinds of BC now?

I also have no problem reconciling science (evolution) with religion. It makes a lot of sense. I mean, can anyone really believe that all thr trillions upon trillions upon trillions of things that all had to happen, exactly insequence, for us to evolve, really just happened? To me, that’s nonsensical.

Anyway, back to Obama: I work hard, so does my husband. We don’t do that so that other people can sit around on their butts popping out tons of babies they can’t support without the government giving them my money. Welfare has got to change. It will sink America otherwise. And making it bigger is not the change I mean.

Oct 6, 2008 - 7:55 am 63. myth buster:

Cain feared being killed by his as yet unborn younger siblings and their descendants. He knew that his parents weren’t done having kids, so he feared that one of his younger siblings would grow up, track him down and kill him.

Oct 6, 2008 - 7:57 am 64. Dr. Mark:

Obama..”he struts his stuff like Denzel Washington and has excited a scary base of True Believers”.
Hmmm, the Germans got very excited about a fellow (who promised to save their economy and regain world recognition)in the 1930’s too.

Oct 6, 2008 - 8:28 am 65. Sioux Lady:

Marion L. – Jewish Feminist. After having studied and read about the history of Nazism, I could never understand how Jews could not see what was going to happen and get the heck (a little Palinism there . . .) out of Germany in time. Now, I understand . . .

If you still believe the “rape kit” story, you’ll believe anything.

Oct 6, 2008 - 8:47 am 66. Joanna:

You know, this is kind of out there and totally not on-topic, but I’ve never felt like I couldn’t do whatever I wanted. No one’s ever told me I couldn’t do something because I was a girl. I know there are physical limitations — I don’t pretend to be as strong as the average, healthy male — but I’ve never seen that as an obstacle, no more than I would consider having brown hair an obstacle. Isn’t that what the feminists were going for all this time?

Oct 6, 2008 - 8:53 am 67. Charles:

From the National Review

Open this link to see a brilliant diagram of all of ACORN’s work, and the Senators and presidential candidates who make it happen. Dodd, Frank, Schumer, and of course Barack Obama are stuck in the swamp of self-dealing, corruption, and politicial machinations, all masquerading as social justice and cheap real estate for the poor, at quite large taxpayer expense. This is a savvy Democrat web site. Follow the link for a really astonishing set of Democratic web sites which compete with each other in their exposition of Obama’s perfidies, corruptions, and non-messianic attributes. Remember — former libs are much better at political knife fighting than those whose first instincts are, and remain, conservative.

Oct 6, 2008 - 11:49 am 68. Gloria:

“…[Palin's] anti-abortion stance and deep silence, at least so far, about other equality-for-women issues pains me…”

Phyllis, there’s a woman in California who doesn’t have any doubts about Palin’s full support of women’s rights. She is Shelley Mandel, president of the LA chapter of NOW (she has Tammy Bruce’s old job) and yesterday she made her support publicly known to the world by introducing Sarah at a rally:

http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/05/video-palin-introduced-by-president-of-la-chapter-of-now/

What about you? If not now, when?

Oct 6, 2008 - 12:03 pm 69. Marc Malone:

Regarding the EC, I don’t think it is an outdated system. Remember, the States apportion the delegates. They don’t even have to let you vote. Of course, they set up their State’s system via referendum. Most states choose to give all their Electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote in their State. A couple spread out their votes. Each sets it up in the way thought to give them the most influence possible. It’s not set in stone.

As far as the great population centers doing all the electing, there’s something to that. I call it Mexico City Syndrome. Electricity rates, for example, in Mexico City are heavily subsidized. The rural people pay a LOT more. A VERY large portion of the populace live in Mexico City. So, they have an enormous say in the apportionment of taxes and such. It’s not just the concentration of the people. It’s the concentration of the communications. The rural people stand no chance.

If we had a simple popular vote for Prez, small towns and States with low population, unless they have a big city, would never see a candidate. As it is, McCain is opening a campaign in Maine.

Oct 6, 2008 - 11:31 pm 70. Marion L:

Dear Barry of Oct 5 – 6:50 am:

Thank you for reminding me that the horrific practice of extraordinary renditions started under the Clinton administration, if not before.

My understanding is that the Bush administration greatly expanded the use of this practice after 9/11.

However, it was just as inexcusable for the Clinton administration to do have done this as it is for the Bush administration. Clinton set a terrible precedent in this case and it highlights the fact that no politician is perfect and none should be given blind faith or blind trust. Accountablility to citizens is a key component of democracy and the patriotic adage, “Eternal vigilence is the price of freedom” is so relevant and timely in this case. To me, this is one example of why citizen watchdog groups such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Center for Constitutional Rights play such an important role in our democracy. These organizations support universal human rights and speak truth to power. And Thank God for Eleanor Roosevelt who worked so hard to create the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN is a very flawed institution, but this document will live in history as one of humanity’s greatest accomplishments. If only all the governments in the world were to finally decide to takes its precepts seriously . . .

Oct 8, 2008 - 9:01 am 71. Ed Wallis:

Thank you “Marion L” for once again showing everyone your socialist leanings…this time bowing to the “almighty” U.N. – your beloved international clan of authoritarians.

Socialism is NOT an American value.

Oct 8, 2008 - 5:36 pm 72. kabud:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbb3PxYrMcs

very nice slide show of Palin pretty photos

i realy appreciate this nice extra in politics

she is good looking because she is a good person: thats a very interesting law of nature if you know what i mean

anyway enjoy the link

SARAH will win

Oct 9, 2008 - 5:56 pm 73. Judith Antonelli:

The bottom line in this election is the following: Do you want another eight years of Republican “trickle-down” economics–the belief that we should give tax cuts to the richest 1% of Americans and to corporations like Exxon? That has run our country into the ground.

Did you hear John McCain say twice now that he would FREEZE ALL DOMESTIC SPENDING EXCEPT FOR THE DEFENSE BUDGET? That means goodbye to every other program. Forget education, forget any kind of social services. “You’re On Your Own, kid!”–the YO-YO society, as Hillary so charmingly put it.

I don’t see how anyone who supported Hillary could support McCain instead of Obama. Hillary and Barack share nearly the same positions on everything; McCain does not. (Don’t believe me; just listen to what Hillary is saying NOW.)

The thought of Sarah Palin becoming president scares the hell out of me. She is frighteningly uninformed. Do we really need another person in the White House who is anti-science and says ‘nucular’? God help us! It is certainly not “feminist” to support her just because she’s a feisty, spunky woman. What are her values? What are her positions on various issues? Whom will she help?

McCain and Palin mean more deregulation, more privatization, more tax cuts and breaks for the rich while the poor get poorer and the middle class loses its jobs and its homes.

Obama is just as pro-Israel and anti-jihadist as McCain. The difference is that Obama is thoughtful and cautious in making decisions, whereas McCain, by his own admission, makes quick decisions from his gut and “just lives with the consequences” if he’s wrong. We do NOT need any more of that!

Oct 13, 2008 - 12:47 am

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