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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>that Bush isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, he's also not stupid. Some people confuse action that doesn't correspond with what they would have chosen as stupid. I'm sure he's not the ethereal thinker that Barack is, but sometimes that type thinking leads to analysis paralysis. Since he is most likely to be our next president, we'll likely get an opportunity to see how he does away from the teleprompter. I love being told that what we need is the elite thinkers out there. It's nice to know that they can lead the flock so much better..........

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Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>"Yet Joe Biden talks about FDR going on the television during the Depression and calming the country; except there was no TV then and Hoover was in the White House. And yet there is barely a mention in the mainstream press about this."<br /><br />So much of this is based on the lenses with which we view the media - I'm pretty sure you know this, Jeff. From my standpoint that Biden clip was EVERYWHERE. They taught my son about it in Social Studies class, for cryin' out loud - really. I read about "Joe Biden the Gaffe Machine" for weeks.<br /><br />The problem with Palin is that she has done precisely THREE interviews since receiving the nomination, and she has bungled each one of them in a massive, sloppy way. Aside from those interviews and her carefully-scripted speeches, the campaign has not permitted her to speak to the media. While Joe Biden the Gaffe Machine spends his weekends and weekday mornings answering questions on TV talk shows, his opponent is nowhere to be found. And despite the fact that she has only given three interviews, she has been completely unable to articulate a single point. One would think that a person of above-average intelligence who was asked to give just three interviews could anticipate some of the questions (most of them had been asked in the media repeatedly before the interview) and come prepared to answer those questions. If you're not, and you're running for PUBLIC office, you should prepare to be skewered by the media you're spurning.<br /><br />I don't know if she's stupid or not - I don't know how anyone could. She's not allowed to talk to us.<br /><br />-Al

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Posted By: <b>Joann</b><p>Jeff,<br /><br />My issue isn't that Palin is or isn't smart or whether the media is portraying one or the other. I'm not really sure how smart she is. (And I will admit with considerable embarassment that I couldn't come up with a 2-second answer on the Supreme Court question either. I did come up with an answer, but if there had been a camera and mike on me I absolutely would have verbally stumbled through the question.)<br /><br />My gripe isn't about the media portrayal. It's that the Republicans - the party that nominated her - are the ones that are so invested in presenting her as your average neighborhood American woman. They are the ones that should be playing up intellect and pointing out skills and qualifications, but they are not. They are focusing on her domestic roles and largely downplaying the professional part. This is a disservice to her and offensive to women in general. <br /><br />It's unfortunate, because regardless of what anyone may think of her competence or intelligence, surely she deserved better than to be put out there as some cynical display of averageness. <br /><br />Joann<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Al, I'm not sure which came first: the dearth of interviews or the liberal media attack machine climbing all over her. First question by Gibson to her: "Do you really think you have the experience to run the country?" She responded yes, he then inquired "Doesn't that take some hubris?" So basically whatever she answered to that first question was the wrong answer. She was then asked about the "Bush Doctrine" -- which of course is an amorphous nothing -- there is no such definite thing. I guess I'm still waiting for someone to ask Obama if it took some hubris to start a campaign for president when he had been elected Senator just days before. <br /><br />As for your recollection as to the media's attacks on Biden v. Palin, Al, you have got to be kidding me. Surely you see the NY Times occasionally -- she's on the cover, getting ripped, EVERY SINGLE DAY. And that's just one outlet. The abuse heaped upon her has been like nothing I have ever seen. I'm not sure why she should agree to be interviewed when she knows full well what is going to happen to her (of course, some of her interviews and comments have been poor so she is part of the problem -- but she is hardly the entire problem). And how come we never hear about Biden's plagarism? Or his lobbyist son? How about those hairplugs and those big fake teeth? Silly crap, right? Not as silly as the liberal media basically turning her into a porn star (oh and repeatedly claiming that her youngest son is really her grandson -- or otherwise claiming that she caused Trig's Down Syndrome). <br /><br />Someone in this thread complained about how conservative talk radio has previously impacted elections. But keep in mind that conservative radio's audience is nearly all Republicans. Somehow I doubt too many Obama voters are tuning into listen to Rush or Sean; however, many many Republicans read the NY Times and many other leading daily newspapers that are clearly in the tank for Obama.<br /><br />Meanwhile, I'm hosting a two hour radio show on the most listened-to talk radio station in the country next week; I'll do my best to impact the vote. <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14>

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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>as GOVERNOR of a state, it should be obvious that she's maybe just a bit above average........also should be clear that as a mayor, she was also a bit above average. The Democrats want to couch Obama as this ethereal (used that one again) thinker that is SO far ahead of any of us that we should bow down to him, accept everything he says, don't investigate his checkered past or associations and roll on. I would also assume that with an 80% approval rating, that puts her just a scosh (sp?) above our other 3 parties who are part of the large 530+ contingent that is garnering an 8-10% overall approval rating.<br /><br />The other funny thing is that Obama keeps saying that McCain is part of the problem and he's been in DC so long but the gaffe machine's been there about the same amount of time.

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Posted By: <b>Richard Simon</b><p>Jeff - you stated the Hoover was in the White House during the Depression and not FDR and that Biden committed a gaffe saying that FDR was Pres. during the Depression. If I remember my American History correctly the Depression did not end in 1932, when Hoover was done (thank goodness for that) but continued into FDR's administration.<br />==<br><br>I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Richard, let me clarify: Biden's gaffe concerned the stock market crash in 1929 not the entire Depression. Specifically, Biden stated "When the stock market crashed, Franklin D. Roosevelt got on the television and didn't just talk about the, you know, the princes of greed. He said, 'Look, here's what happened,'"<br /><br />Wrong and wrong.

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>This is the first time I heard Biden's gaffe. That is pretty goofy.

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Posted By: <b>Pennsylvania Ted</b><p>To quote Ronald Reagan.....who most of you I'm sure thought he was "stupid", too. As it turns out the three so-called "intelligent"<br />Presidents in this last century were the worst.....<br /><br />Woodrow Wilson<br />Herbert Hoover<br />Jimmy Carter<br /><br />History has shown us that IQ, or so-called intelligent Prez candidates (usually based on their ability to articulate) DO NOT necessarily<br /> make the best Prez.<br />Speaking about IQ....most of you will be surprised to find out that G W Bush's IQ is higher than Gore's.<br /><br />There is a confluence of many factors and events that make for a good (or great) President. Lincoln in his time was scorned by many. <br />Yet history has vindicated him....and, the same goes for Truman.<br /><br />The fact that 7 years after the worst "day of infamy" in our country....we have not been attacked by any form of terrorism (as Britain,<br /> France and Spain have been these past 7 years) will redound to Bush's effectiveness in being a strong Commander-in-Chief. <br />He, too, will be vindicated when the history of the 1st part of the 21st Century is written.<br /><br />So, many of you can continue your myopic, uninformed view of what matters in life with your very subjective mindsets. While others<br /> of us will have the intellectual curiosity to seek a broader perspective of what really matters in our lives. The security of our country<br /> is paramount in our lives. Without a safe United States, everything else is moot.<br /> Jeff L....you are one of the few here that understands this.<br /><br />I have lived long enough to have voted for John F Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter (big mistake), Ronald Reagan,<br /> and both Bush's.<br /><br />So, for those of you who don't like my politics, don't try to tag me as some "right-wing-nut"........that dog don't hunt !<br /><br /><br />JOANN<br /><br />I am really surprised at you....Sarah Palin has achieved, what no other woman has....Mayor to Governor to Vice Presidential candidate.<br />Isn't this the type of achievement that the woman's movement in America strives for ?<br /><br />Oh, excuse me....Sarah is not a "flaming liberal" ! ! <br /><br /><br />T-Rex TED<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>I think everyone understands the United States has to be safe. Even I know that. Obama knows that too.

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Posted By: <b>Pennsylvania Ted</b><p>Does he ?<br /><br />Have you heard of Bill Ayers and his wife....1970's terrorists, who bombed the Pentagon and a Judge's house ?<br /><br />And, in public Ayers said that the terrorists who flew the planes into the World Trade Ctr. and the Pentagon didn't do enough damage to<br /> our country.<br /><br />He picks some very strange people to associate with.<br /><br />I spare you all the other questional associates.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Nothing wrong with Palin's intelligence. What is at work here is a coordinated attack by the liberal media fed by talking points from moveon.org that are designed to try to make Palin look stupid.<br /><br />This is an excellent popular Governor who was well liked in her state that the liberal mainstream media decided it was going to go after and bring down. SNL played a big role in this as well.<br /><br />I have never seen Biden's tape on mainstream media and I watch a lot of these shows. It is just another example of the mainstream liberal media protecting one of their own and ridiculing someone who actually has strong American values. Now maybe if she would have abotrted the last child they would like her....oh thats right--Daily Kos said it was actually her daughters child.<br /><br />Another hit job on Palin tonight as CBS, NBC, ABc and CNN all lead their broadcasts with a hit piece on Palin(ahead of what is going on in financial markets).<br /><br />Obama is up to 80% on Intrade--looks like its over--the left can celebrate--you brought Palin down and elected an unqualified man to lead the country.<br /><br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Obama's relationship with Ayers was tangential and has been blown out of proportion.<br /><br />And what does that have to do with protecting the country? Do you think anyone who becomes president would be so callous as to not care about the safety of the American people? That is of paramount importance to everybody.<br /><br />No president has ever been subject to a terrorist attack during his administration- except Bush.

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Posted By: <b>Pennsylvania Ted</b><p>These "radical liberal" idiots in the blog sites are mathematically challenged.....Sarah's baby boy is 4 months old,<br />while her daughter Bristol is 5 months pregnant....DAAAAH ! ?<br /><br />So, when that attack didn't work....these same idiots accused Sarah's husband of incest with his daughter.<br /><br />This is a very SICK-SICK crowd....and, they will eventually bring down the Democrat's party......if the moderate<br /> thinking Democrats do not rid themselves of these extremists.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Barry, I know you're not suggesting that it was George Bush's fault that 9/11 occurred -- he was in office only a few months. And I know that you didn't forget about the first World Trade Center attack when Clinton was President. Or domestic terrorism which has occurred in our country. I know it's hard to imagine a world in which you can't blame George Bush for all of society's ills and all of your own problems, but you should honestly try sometime.

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Posted By: <b>Pennsylvania Ted</b><p>Have you forgotten the burning of 82 American citizens in Waco in 1993 ?<br /><br />Have you forgotten Somalia in 1993 ? <br /><br />Have you forgotten the 1st attempt at the WTC in 1993 ?<br /><br />Have you forgotten Oklahoma City in 1995 ?<br /><br />Have you forgotten the American Embassy's i Africa ?<br /><br />Have you forgotten the USS COLE ?<br /><br /><br />BARRY......<br /><br />Who was the President during these horrendous events ?<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>barrysloate</b><p>Well, those certainly were bad, although most occurred on foreign soil. Your point.<br /><br />And I'm afraid to say that the new president may very well be tested. So let's hope that the country is on high alert from day one.

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>George Bush, of course. He was also responsible for Pearl Harbor in case you didn't know.<br /><br />Life is really going to be tough for a large portion of our country when Bush is gone. Who will they blame for all the world's problems?

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Posted By: <b>TFerg</b><p>I have no problem with the media following every lead and digging up anything they can, as long as there is strong evidence behind it. These people are running for the highest office in the land, they should be inspected closer than a 206 Wagner. But if anyone believes for a moment that the mainsteam television media(ABC,CBS,NBC,CNN) and print media are not heavily slanted toward the Democrats they lack sound judgement. Likewise for Talk Radio and Foxnews slanting Republican.

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Ted,<br /><br />Absolutely--right out of the playbook of the radical left that has brainwashed good Americans about her.<br /><br />What happened to the Daily Kos story that the Mongoloid child was really that of her oldest daughter. <br /><br />The left plays dirty in an aggressive strategy to bring down whoever does not support their socialist agenda.<br /><br />I agree--I somehow hope that small d Democrats reject the policies and politics of the radical left--but then they would have to reject their own nominee.

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>I just wrote a long post, when I got booted! How frustrating! My point is that the media is both liberal AND conservative. It is a crutch to blame the failures of conveying your ideas effectivly on a money-based institution that was never impartial to begin with.

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Uh James, which part of the mainstream media is conservative? The ultra-liberal part or just the liberal part? Or the part that failed to publicize the above-Biden gaffe made just weeks ago because it was too busy rummaging through Sarah Palin's garbage?<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Jeff,<br /><br />The part that you belong to.

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Posted By: <b>Pennsylvania Ted</b><p>I never thought I'd say this.....but, Hillary would have been a more viable Prez candidate for the Dems !

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Viable is defined as "capable of success or continuing effectiveness". Seems to me with the election almost in hand, Obama is doing just fine.

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Jeff,<br /><br />Exactly.<br /><br />All the networks and CNN have their reporters poring over all the details of Palins life, her husbands life, her kids lives and anyone who has ever known her.<br /><br />Publicize something that is negaive about good old Joe Biden who has never found a far left cause he didn't like? Hey he has an ACLU lifetime voting record of 99.3%--he is one of us.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>James, perhaps you should endeavor to learn what the term "mainstream media" means. By any definition, I'm not part of it. <br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Dave</b><p>Jim you can't seriously blame the media for sinking Palin can you?<br /><br />1st of all... she was chosen for 2 reasons and 2 reasons only... because she would GET media coverage away from Obama, and she would attract the angry Clinton supporters, period. It's as plain as day. There were plenty of other candidates with similar values, skills and more experience than her, but she was chosen to take O-BOMB-A off the front page, and in a way it worked (just not in the way they planned).<br /><br />It was a gamble by McCain because of her experience and she has been exposed. I really really really wanted to vote for him but now find myself in a position of limbo. I thought she was terrible in the debates... absolutely terrible. She doesn't know enough about the issues and is another headstrong "my way or the highway" type of candidate that America needs to steer away from. Its upsetting. Standoff from the beginning "I may not answer all the questions" blah!!!!<br /><br />For someone that needed to prove herself she has failed miserably in my eyes. If anything she has been coddled on the real issues and been ridiculed on her look more than anything. <br /><br />To think that anyone bases their vote on an SNL skit a real lack of faith in the people that vote. They have slayed every politician since the mid 70's and we're now calling them a deciding factor in the race? Please show the average American a tad bit more respect.<br /><br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Pennsylvania Ted</b><p>You stated......<br />"Seems to me with the election almost in hand, Obama is doing just fine."<br /><br />I don't think you are that naive to believe what you just said.<br /><br />There are 25 days left till Nov 4th....that is a "lifetime" in the world of politics; and, especially when it's a National election.<br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Tom Boblitt</b><p>I thought she held her own very admirably in the debate. Even the three democratic pundits on NBC told Brian Williams as much. She hit Biden quite a few times on inconsistencies and used his own words from the primaries to demonstrate even he didn't think Obama was qualified. Rehearsed or not, she held her own.

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Wow, not a good night for the McCain campaign. Jeff, you're right. Conservative talk show hosts that reach millions of listeners on high frequency stations are not mainstream, I stand corrected.

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Anyone who thinks the MSM leans left is nuts...I don't care who you are. These companies are all owned by huge corporations who have nothing to gain by leaning left.<br /><br />The media during the Clinton presidency couldn't get enough of the blue dress and the Starr report.<br /><br />The media during the Bush presidency was cheerleading us into war with Iraq.<br /><br />They still are not doing their job....there are no Woodward's and Bernstein's left or GWB wouldn't have survived outing a CIA agent for politcal revenge.<br /><br />Anyone who watches CBS regularly saw Joe Biden make his gaffe right on the CBS news with Katie Couric. Is CBS not the MSM??? They didn't cover it up and they ran it more than one time. If the MSM leans left why did they pull Olbermann and Matthews off of the RNC coverage? How come FOX news didn't pull Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly off of the coverage?<br /><br />Anyone here watch 20/20? John Stossel regularly has segments that clearly are taken straight from the GOP playbook...all of them unquestioned and run as clear commentary on a supposed news show.<br /><br />CBS fired Dan Rather over the Bush National Guard story...he was held accountable..Has anyone at Fox News EVER been held accountable?<br /><br />And one last note for Ted...we did have a second terrorist attack in the US during Bush's presidency. Anthrax. But still Bush does deserve some credit for not having anything catastrophic occur on his watcha fter 9/11, but we should also look at the tactics of terror and say that you it is hard to pin blame on anyone when you live in a free society like we do. All it takes in one or two nutcases to cause a terror event. How in the world could anyone know what Timothy McVeigh was going to do? How do you stop one lone crazed individual? Some kid shot up a shopping center in Omaha last year and killed a bunch of people...how do you stop something like that from happening?

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Posted By: <b>Wayne Kemper</b><p>You know what though....most people with lots and lots of moooola have it all wraped up in paper anyway....what if the economy (i'm talking the WORLD economy crashes. MONEY IN GENERAL will cease to exist. Consider what might happen at that point. I would feel comfortable saying it wouldnt be pretty.

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Wow--in all my days I have never seen anyone who did not believe that the mainstream media was way left of center.<br /><br />Dave--I disagree with some of your points.<br /><br />1)I think Palin was chosen primarily to fire up the base. As an economic and social conservative, I was very lukewarm on McCain. I would have voted for him but without much enthusiasm.<br /><br />2)I thought Palin was fine in the debates. She handled herself well and the fair and balanced station I watch thought she won.<br /><br />3)The average American voter is not very bright or informed and is becoming less so all the time giving the changing demographics of the country. I think the Tina Fey skits have had a substantial effect on the polling in recent weeks--second only to the economic/market issues. They reinforce all the stereotypes put out by the liberal mainstream media that she is stupid and unquaified to be vp.

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Posted By: <b>Dave</b><p>To each their own on the debate. That's just my opinion on her performance but I still think blaming the media for this is incorrect.<br /><br />The media does EVERYTHING for ratings. Everything. 99.9% of all decisions made in the business are done on that sole issue, because the better your ratings are, the better your chances are of making more dough.<br /><br />Taking this into account, the media covers Palin with such a frenzy because she is someone people are curious about, someone people will stay in front of the TV set to learn about and gossip about. She's a star. She's got some skeletons in the closet. She's the Britney Spears of politics if you will (ouch I know).<br /><br />Biden is not. Nobody cares what he says to be quite honest. If you looked up "Washington Politician" in the dictionary you'd see a picture of a guy that looked a lot like him... boring. Same with McCain. Forgive my language but if people cared about his wrinkly old ball bag... you's see his nuts plastered on every newspaper and media outlet across America.<br /><br />Now is the media liberal in every sense of the word? Absolutely. Do they take liberties on what they report? Definitely. But if people weren't interested in her... there would be no coverage. It's not like they can talk about her record... <br /><br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Joel</b><p>well it looks like 1/2 of Team Maverick got caught in the Troopergate Scandel...and several Republicans were part of the decision. For being mayor of a small town and governor of a less populated state, Palin sure seems to have more than her share of controversy. For someone claiming to be a Washington outsider...she's had lots of practice abusing her power in Alaska.<br /><br />Questioning Obama's ties with various people is justified. But it's not like Palin's husband was not heavily involved in a group wanting to succeed from the US. The leader of this group is ready for the next Ruby Ridge...on moment's notice. Palin herself has attended these meetings. So they don't want to be part of the US and then she wants to be VP of the US. Hopefully by now Palin has seen a job description for the VP position and is aware of what the job entails.<br />

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>How do you explain the MSM's fascination with the Clinton/Lewinsky affair and the subsequent impeachment proceedings? How do you explain the lack of investigation into the reasons for going to war in Iraq? The MSM leans left meme was started by Rush Limbaugh and his ilk many years ago as a political tactic. If your guy does something wrong then blame the media. Bush screws up, blame the media...what did Larry "Wide Stance" Craig do when caught in a Minnesota restroom doing unseemly things? Blamed the media. <br /><br />How do you explain the 2004 election when the Swiftboat veterans were in the news every single night? Why would the MSM if it leans left give them a platform?<br /><br />Why does the NYT employ one of the craziest Neoconservatives in this country? Has Bill Kristol EVER been right in the last 8 years? On anything? The New York Times evidently thought he'd be great for their editorial section. Why would they employ a neocon if they lean left?

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Posted By: <b>Pennsylvania Ted</b><p>You said....<br />"there are no Woodward's and Bernstein's left or GWB wouldn't have survived outing a CIA agent for politcal revenge."<br /><br />I guess you were AWOL when Richard Armitage admitted to being the one who exposed Valerie Plame. And, all the myriad<br /> number of hearings confirmed this fact....so, get over it ! !<br /><br />FYI......Woodward and Bernstein did a disservice to this country by bringing down Nixon....they purposely concealed their<br /> notorious source, "deep throat", because if they revealed him, the nation would have not accepted this farce. It turned<br /> out that "deep throat" was Martin Felt, a disgruntled FBI employee who had a vendetta against Nixon for not making him<br /> the FBI chief.<br /><br />The people of this country would not have stood for this journalistic malpractice by these two Washington Post reporters.<br />Nixon had his problems....but, remember that in 1972 Nixon was re-elected by a huge landslide.<br /><br />TED Z<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>James, I'm not part of a syndicated radio show, therefore I don't reach millions of people across the country -- therefore, I'm not part of the mainstream media. Get your facts straight.<br /><br />And Dan, are you suggesting with a straight face that the New York Times does not have a wildly liberal slant? Have you ever read the paper?

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>"Uh James, which part of the mainstream media is conservative?"<br /><br />I answered...<br /><br />"The part that you belong to" which I meant as the media of radio. Talk radio is dominated by the "right-wing" conservative/pseudo-Libertarian talk show hosts. These hosts have probably done more to influence national elections than supposed "liberal" television talk show hosts. By the way Jeff, I apologize as I can get testy at times. It shouldn't be so, especially since today is my birthday. Perhaps I'm feeling negative toward turning 33 <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />James

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>James, 33 rocks -- consider yourself lucky. 43? Not so great. Happy Birthday!

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Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p> Alaska panel finds Palin abused power in firing <br />By MATT APUZZO, Associated Press Writer <br />7 minutes ago<br /> <br />ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain's Republican ticket. <br /> <br />Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report to a bipartisan panel that looked into the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.<br /><br />The inquiry looked into her dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce and custody battle with the governor's sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.<br /><br />Monegan's firing was lawful, the report found, but Palin let the family grudge influence her decision-making — even if it was not the sole reason Monegan was dismissed.<br /><br />"I feel vindicated," Monegan said. "It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I'm not totally out in left field."<br /><br />Branchflower said Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Lawmakers don't have the authority to sanction her for such a violation, and they gave no indication they would take any action against her.<br /><br />Under Alaska law, it is up to the state's Personnel Board — which is conducting its own investigation into the matter — to decide whether Palin violated state law and, if so, must refer it to the Senate president for disciplinary action. Violations also carry a possible fine of up to $5,000.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />___ <br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>James, <br /><br />Happy Birthday! Sheesh. 33? I've got shoes that old. <br /><br /><br />Jeff, Joanne, <br /><br /><br />Not quite precise on the Supreme Court thing. She was asked if there were other decisions she had disagreed with. She said "Yes." Then she was asked to name one and she coulnd't. <br /><br />Not knowing one doesn't make her dumb. Saying there is one, AND THEN not being able to name one makes her questionable. If you can't outthink Katie Couric, you're in trouble.

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Posted By: <b>Bob</b><p>Tom- you voted for Brother Bill in '92 and '96? I knew you were a heckuva nice guy but didn't know you also had such political acumen <img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br /><br />Comparing Palin to Truman, Roosevelt, Reagan and Jackson is kind of silly. Truman was not only very intelligent but a war hero commanding his troops during WW 1. Not sure if you meant FDR or Teddy Roosevelt but both were very educated and intelligent men. Both exhibited incredible courage in their lives whether it be Teddy dedicating his life to busting trusts (the monoplists were shaking in their boots), preserving the environment or courage in war, or FDR and his fight against polio, etc. Reagan? Well maybe she could be compared to a poor man's Reagan. <br /><br />The party that scripted the Watergate coverup, that let its dirty tricks people loose on Edmund Muskie, that spread the lies about Kerry and smeared a true war hero is busy again. They have found in Palin a Stepford Wife who takes orders and espouses the party line. Maverick? Ha. If you wanted an intelligent woman who was a true conservative why not someone like Elizabeth Dole? Palin is a joke. If she were a Democrat the Royal Rooters of the Conservative Right would have a field day with her, so don't give me the b.s. that it is the leftist media that is causing her her problems. What is causing her problems is that America is waking up and realizing that she could be just one heartbeat away.....<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>"What is at work here is a coordinated attack by the liberal media fed by talking points from moveon.org that are designed to try to make Palin look stupid."<br /><br />Jim, I'm sorry, but I disagree.<br /><br />The question was something about the Federal bailout, and what it involved.<br /><br />The answer was this:<br /><br />"So healthcare reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions, and tax relief for Americans, and trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, um, scary thing, but 1 in 5 jobs being created in the trade sector today. We've got to look at that as more opportunity. All of those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that."<br /><br />Damn liberal media has some nerve, asking a vice presidential candidate QUESTIONS.<br /><br />And I'll disagree with you too, Jeff - the Bush Doctrine was a very clear term that has a very clear meaning involving the idea of a preemptive attack. US military policy was actually rewritten post 9/11, from a "no first strike" policy to a policy that claims the right to attack preemptively - even using nukes, I believe. That has always been called the "Bush Doctrine" and is a central issue with respect to the war in Iraq - which, at the time of the Gibson interview, was the central issue of this campaign.<br /><br />-Al

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Posted By: <b>Fred C</b><p>I only have ONE fundamental question.<br /><br />How much money does the US Govt take in each year (amount includes all taxes collected and includes all sources of income)?<br /><br />Can McCain or Obama answer that question? Seems fairly basic to me.

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Posted By: <b>davidcycleback</b><p>"Many people complain that a news organization holds a bias. Most of these people are not looking for unbiased reporting, but reporting with a different bias (theirs)."

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Jeff, I don't read the New York Times, but I do know that Judith Miller who used to write for them before she got fired was anything but a lefty...How do you explain Bill Kristol on their editorial staff if they are such a leftist paper? I will admit that if they lean in any direction it would be left, but do you consider the Wall Street Journal as part of the MSM? Which way do they lean? how about the Washington Times? New York Post? are they part of the MSM?<br /><br />I would guess that every news outlet leans a little one way or the other some lean a little farther than others (Fox news of course and perhaps MSNBC) But to paint the MSM as totally leaning left without answering any of my questions about Clinton/Lewinsky, Bush/Plame, Lead up to Iraq war, et cetera is avoiding the truth.

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Posted By: <b>David Atkatz</b><p>Watching your 180,000 shares of $88/share Lehman stock collapse to $.07/share <i>while working for the company</i> "shows an incredible naivety and a lack of understanding of the financial markets. Makes one dismiss everything [you] think."<br /><br />(BTW, it's occurences like that that make me think there just might be a God after all.)<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Cat</b><p>The fact that Clinton inserted that cigar into Monica Lewisky and then smoked it while meeting with Arafat is simply priceless. How can that story die? I don't care what party you are that's great stuff!

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Posted By: <b>Glenn</b><p>"The average American voter is not very bright or informed and is becoming less so all the time giving [sic] the changing demographics of the country."<br /><br />Uh, Jim, any particular ethnicity you'd like to specify, or should we just leave that one hanging there?<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Dan Bretta</b><p>Can it get any more embarrassing for McCain...I almost feel sorry for the guy, but he made his own bed and now is he really paying for it.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf6YKOkfFsE" target="_new">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf6YKOkfFsE</a><br />

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Posted By: <b>Richard Simon</b><p>Nixon had his problems was a statement earlier from Ted Z.<br />Problems? Paranoid, delusional, anti-Semite, racist, violator of the Constitution, illegally bombing a foreign country, covering up the biggest political scandal in history, and a few more choice things I cannot think of now. And Woodward and Bernstein were heroes for exposing that man and I believe that most Americans would agree with that. <br />==<br><br>I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss

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Posted By: <b>Patrick McHugh</b><p>Here are my thoughts. Everyone blames the president for everything bad no matter who is in office. The entire congress is bought and paid for. The economic situation is in a major tailspin. Although not a mass killing of lives it is on par in urgency to a terrorist attact. Your congress is now on vacation as the stock market is crashing think 1929, major businesses are going bust and this is or will affect everyone. Instead of wasting time this is what could be done. 1. Buy every forclosed home and burn them down. This will take 2 million homes off the market. Less supply = more demand. Home price will not fall anymore. Government will be landowner will always have some value. Total cost 800 billion. 2. Buy 1 trillion dollars of s+p 500 futures market regains 20 percent confidence is restored. There are many other things that can be done the problems are very complex. Thus far we are in over 1 trillion and you see the results. The government has the power right now to do these 2 things. I guess they think a vacation is more important .

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Dan,<br /><br />You must have never seen the NY Times or you would never make a statement like that. Kristol is the only one of about 15 or so editorial writers who could remotely be considered right of center.<br /><br />But its not the editorial pages which make the NY Times one of thge bastions of liberalism, its in their reporting of news stories and what the focus. Basically they run news stories slanted to a left/liberal point of view and they are written in a way to make it seem that liberals are pure and all things good and people like Palin are nut jobs.<br /><br />David,<br /><br />You sound like a peach of a guy--there is nsuch a thing as unvested stock you know.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Richard Simon</b><p>"The average American voter is not very bright or informed and is becoming less so all the time giving [sic] the changing demographics of the country."<br /><br />Geez,,,the award for most racist statement in this thread has just been won.<br><br>I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>I would take away the link from those two statements.The average voter is much less informed than in the past. Also the demographics in the country are changing significantly. Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado are now considered to be toss-upo or in this election leaning democratic states because of the influx of Hispanics.

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Posted By: <b>Richard Simon</b><p>Guess the past he is talking about is when you had to be a property owner in order to vote. <br />==<br><br>I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent.<br />Unknown author <br />--<br />We made a promise. We swore we'd always remember.<br />No retreat baby, no surrender.<br />The Boss

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Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>"Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado are now considered to be toss-upo or in this election leaning democratic states because of the influx of Hispanics.'<br /><br />Sorry, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado - along with Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Michigan - are battleground states that are leaning blue because of the influx of STUPIDITY on the part of the Republican candidate. If things stand the way they are right now - which I do not expect them to, by the way - Obama will win in a landslide of electoral votes that have absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with Hispanics. <br /><br />McCain has made misstep after misstep for four solid weeks now - so many they're impossible to remember - throwing hail mary after hail mary, and has sunk in the polls in EVERY state. Demographics have nothing to do with it. At all.<br /><br />There's still plenty of time to come back, but make no mistake - the dramatic and historic shift in polling numbers has nothing to do with the changing demographics in this country.<br /><br />-Al

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>Al, blame it on McCain's missteps all you want or The One's sheer brilliance but the fact remains that the recent economic catastrophe in our country is what has pushed Obama from behind in the polls to significantly ahead. The Wall Street meltdown is the economic equivalent of a 9/11 attack on our country in terms of effect on our collective national psyche. Had it not occurred, The One would begin work on his third memoir come November instead of making a date with Jeremiah Wright to spend the night in the Lincoln Bedroom in January.

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Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>Disagree, Jeff.<br /><br />It was a neck-and-neck race before the economic crisis started influencing things. Obama had pulled ahead with his DNC bounce, McCain erased Obama's lead with his RNC bounce, and things had begun to even out again - as everyone expected - when Lehman tanked. Absent any economic crisis, I think the election would have focused on Iraq, Palin, and taxes. Obama still would have outspent McCain 3-1 in battleground states, he still would have had a much more robust ground game, and he still would have had a message that appeals to a greater percentage of Americans. <br /><br />And if McCain had decided to make Jeremiah Wright an issue, Obama would have done the same with Rod Parsley.<br /><br />I'm not saying he would have amassed 340 electoral votes, but 270 was, at the time, very realistic.<br /><br />-Al

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p><br /><br />That is a pretty ignorant statement. Obama targeted all these states because of the changing demographic makeup of them. After being toss ups for most of the election, they are all moving to Obama. Statistics show that if the white/black/hispanic makeup of the voting electorate was the same as 2004 that McCain would be ahead.<br /><br />Despite this, until the recent crash in the market these states were all toss-ups as was the general election. The plunge in the market and the deteriorating global credit crisis has hurt McCain significantly and will make Obama thge winner. Also contributing to this of course is the mainstream media who is going after Palin and McCain with a vengeance. <br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>David Atkatz</b><p>Deal with it.<br /><br />(You, too, Jim. You racist.)

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Posted By: <b>David Atkatz</b><p>Surprised the economy has melted down? You shouldn't be.<br /><br />This is a country that produces nothing, absolutely nothing, of value. No manufacturing to speak of.<br /><br />The only things we produce are "financial products."<br /><br />And the last "product," mortgages to people who were guaranteed to default, repackaged as "securities,"<br />seems to have had a little problem.<br /><br />I'm sorry that decent, hardworking people are suffering.<br /><br />But you, Jim?<br /><br />You reap what you sow.

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Posted By: <b>Joann</b><p>Heerrreeee we go. Now it's going to be on. I needed something to do while I sit here in FedAdmin class. lol<br /><br />Joann<br /><br />(Although, I actually do like this class.)

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>David, the thought that you actually have exposure to young, impressionable people is a scary one. Jealousy, anger and hatred are three qualities I wouldn't want near my children.

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>David,<br /><br />You will be sorry to hear that I am doing well.<br /><br />Other than that. I am not engaging in a debate with someone who is happy over anothers misfortune.<br /><br />Good luck and God bless.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Joe D.</b><p>"This is a country that produces nothing, absolutely nothing, of value. No manufacturing to speak of."<br /><br />reverend wright is that you?<br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>Tim Sanders</b><p>I keep checking back to see if a new thread will pop up on cards (that would be a novelty), and I have been reading this trainwreck since yesterday. Mostly I let my blood boil but DAVID think before you spew!!!!<br /><br />"This is a country that produces nothing, absolutely nothing, of value. No manufacturing to speak of."<br /><br />If this is true how do you explain the decent harworking people??<br /><br />As a matter of fact America does produce a lot. We are one of the leading exporters in the world. Financial products are just a part of what is made here. GE,GM,Coca-Cola ring a bell? <br /><br /><br /><br />-For full disclosure I am a hardcore republican but I refuse to pick a candidate to vote for until they actually answer one question they are asked during the debates.

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>"....but I refuse to pick a candidate to vote for until they actually answer one question they are asked during the debates."<br /><br />Um, you may be waiting until at least 2012 to vote. What a disappointing process, huh?

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Posted By: <b>JimCrandell</b><p>Jeff,<br /><br />That guy has exposure to young, impressionable people??<br /><br />Please don't tell me he is a teacher.

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Posted By: <b>sagard</b><p>Mocking a person as forthright as Jim about his misfortune doesn't help. Knowing how that could happen to Jim, tells me it could happen to anyone. Mock his views and demonstrate how wildly inaccurate they are all you want.<br /><br />The USA is still the greatest country to live in and there is no other place I would even consider wanting my son to grow up. <br />

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Posted By: <b>Anonymous</b><p>Perhaps we could save the personal attacts.<br />----------------------------------------------<br /><br />Regarding the statements about Truman. If Truman had run for office today I believe he'd been treated exactly like Palin.<br /><br />Truman never attended college. He didn't attend formal schooling until he was 8 years old (attended a religious scholl prior to that). He worked for 11 years on a farm. He was an artillery commander in WWI. Truman was then a failed small business owner (though admirably continued to pay off his debt over many years - but less admirably let a political supporter pay of the final part of the debt.)<br /><br />Truman once gave a friend money for KKK membership though he never actively attended nor participated in the group. He was the equivalent of a county commissioner and held other administrative positions in Missouri. He was then elected to the Senate basically through back room decisions and the support of the largest Dem political "boss" (Democrats controlled Missouri at that point in time). He won a close re-election after the Missouri political boss was thrown in jail. He had a pretty non-descript time in the Senate before becoming the VP nominee. He was known for his "plain spokenness".<br /><br />So if you looked at Truman's record through the media lense today.... he'd be an uneducated, military grunt, failed business man, with ties to the most extreme and corrupt parts of society.<br /><br />Now I'm a huge Truman fan, but when one looks at Sarah Palin today, and Harry Truman prior to becoming President......well there are a lot of similarities. In no way am I stating she is of his quality, but the nonsense in the media has been way over the top IMO. I'd much prefer an in depth analysis of her record as governor to date and her record as mayor. Just because someone has been a politician longer doesn't make them more effective IMO. And if the focus was on her positions, actions, etc I'd bet we might actually get to know whether or not she is up to the task of being president.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>sagard</b><p>If you are at all fiscally conservative you won't like Palin's stewardship as mayor or governer. She acted like a typical republican as mayor, forcing Wasilla into mountainous debt. I don't share her socially conservative views, but I respect them. They are probably the most consistant attribute possessed by any of the group of four.<br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>LetsGoBucs</b><p>Surprised the economy has melted down? You shouldn't be.<br /><br />This is a country that produces nothing, absolutely nothing, of value. No manufacturing to speak of.<br /><br />The only things we produce are "financial products."<br /><br />And the last "product," mortgages to people who were guaranteed to default, repackaged as "securities,"<br />seems to have had a little problem.<br /><br />I'm sorry that decent, hardworking people are suffering.<br /><br />But you, Jim?<br /><br />You reap what you sow.<br />-----------------------------<br /><br />1. Financial products are an important part of a free market economy. I'd prefer to be producing them here rather than in London or Singapore or Tokyo.<br /><br />2. We manufacture quite a lot still....but admittedly we could/should be making more in the USA. There have been corporations putting themselves before the country and their workers.<br /><br />3. Why bask in other's misfortune? Since you have absolutely no evidence that the person you attack did anything other than work hard, it just makes you seem small.<br /><br />4. There is plenty of blame to go around on the mortgage situation. The banks and investment firms deserve a big chunk of blame for knowingly ignoring the fundamentals. The government regulations proved to be a joke and deserve some blame. The people that signed up for something "too good to be true" deserve blame. And the Congress deserves a little blame for trying to engineer social outcomes through our mortgage providers. <br /><br />5. We have a lot of work to do to correct our messes (mortgages, Social Security, Medicare, Deficit)....and the sooner we get to it, the sooner we will return to a sound and vibrant economic situation.

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Posted By: <b>Jim VB</b><p>David, <br /><br />The seeming pleasure you get from someone else's financial misfortune is very ugly. Jim didn't cause the crisis. He could not have prevented it. And he could not avoid it. How does that give you joy?<br /><br />Disagreeing about who to vote for is one thing. This is something far different. <br /><br />There are many of us on this board who are far poorer today, through stocks and options, than we were a year ago.

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>Jim,<br /><br />As a person who studies demographics as a hobby (I'm still a nerd), you are flat-out incorrect about Nevada and Colorado. I also know this from first hand experience because I lived in Nevada. The reason both Nevada and Colorado have changing demographics is 1.) tax break advantages for small and medium-sized business and 2.) in Colorado's case cheap real estate. Las Vegas, Nevada at one point was increasing in population to the tune of 7,000 per week. Most of those people were folks from the Northern U.S. and those from democrat California who wanted cheaper real estate. In the case of Colorado it was low business taxes--also attractive people from red states. As far as Jeff, I believe Al answered him very effectively and was spot on. In any regards, to blame failure on some sort of multi-layered media conspiracy is a crutch for not conveying your ideas effectively. Finally, while I do not agree with Jim most of the time, to cheer his huge financial loss is flat-out classless. <br /><br />James

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Posted By: <b>Al C.risafulli</b><p>First of all, it's not fair - or cool - to celebrate the misfortune of others, and I want to make sure everyone understands I'm putting distance between myself and anyone who might do that in this thread. I'm really sorry that things broke the way they did, particularly with Lehman, and I'm glad to know that anyone on this board who may have worked for that company is talented enough - and secure enough financially - to quickly land on their feet. I'm really sorry that we're all taking a beating financially, and feel that nobody who's talented at what they do deserves to lose their job as a result of someone else's mistakes.<br /><br />Second of all...<br /><br />Jim, you can call my statement ignorant all you want, but that doesn't make you right.<br /><br />Obama targeted those states because his goal was to keep all the Kerry states and swing enough Bush battleground states to get to 270. <br /><br />You can say that it's the dramatic increase in Latino population in North Carolina that has swung the state blue over the last three weeks, but that doesn't make you right. I just spent about a half hour on the US Census website - which I encourage you to do - and their figures would actually indicate that you're entirely wrong and that my statement is not ignorant at all.<br /><br />Using the national average and looking at Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina, only two of those states - Nevada and Florida - have experienced growth in the Latino population that's higher than the rest of the country with any statistically significant margin between 2000 and today. Those same two states have also experienced growth in the black population that are higher than the national average.<br /><br />All the rest of the states are either right on track with the national average, or they're growing more SLOWLY among the black and Latino population in the rest of the country.<br /><br />Conversely, all three of the states you mentioned - Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada - have experienced growth among the population that would characterize itself as "white" that is significantly greater than the national average of 5%. In Nevada, there are 6.5% more white people than there were in 2000. In Colorado, that number is 7.3%. In New Mexico, it's an astounding 17.8%.<br /><br />So if people were voting purely along racial lines, McCain would be blowing Obama's doors off in all three of those states. Looks like white people like Obama too, I'm sorry to say. <br /><br />So maybe it's the declining Samoan population that's working in Obama's favor. Either that, or that rascally liberal media has gotten its claws into the Census bureau.<br /><br />-Al <br /><br /><br />

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Posted By: <b>James Feagin</b><p>A lot of democrat Northerners have also flocked, and I mean flocked to North Carolina for dirt cheap real estate in cities like Charlotte, and also on the coast.<br /><br />James

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Posted By: <b>Jeff Lichtman</b><p>"In any regards, to blame failure on some sort of multi-layered media conspiracy is a crutch for not conveying your ideas effectively." <br /><br />Hilarious. I'm guessing you're the same guy who's been claiming for years <br />that the Republicans "stole" the last two elections through some right-wing conspiracy. <br /><br />To suggest that the liberal media is part of a 'conspiracy' suggests that the publishers of all the various newspapers, networks, etc. had some meeting of the minds on how to best screw McCain. No one is suggesting that. And no one is suggesting that the media alone is responsible for McCain's failures. But to turn a blind eye to the mainstream media's unfair treatment of Palin compared to how they have gone after Obama and other liberals is just disingenuous. If I recall, the mainstream media wanted nothing to do with the John Edwards girlfriend story despite constantly being provided strong evidence supporting the story -- it took the freaking National Enquirer to break the story for crying out loud. But the same mainstream media has no problem suggesting all sorts of repulsive and unsubstantiated innuendo about Sarah Palin and her child.