" Thought provoking perspective but in the interest of "fair and balanced", could we not apply the same "disrespect for women" to Obama when he chose to ignore 18 million voters (many of them women)by picking Joe Biden as his running mate instead of a female who was equally qualified in the minds of many? "

" Governor Palin has a lot better set of qualifications than Sen Obama, and Sen Biden, at least she has been in "charge" of something, signed paychecks and is a sitting Governor of a State. I guess that means Bill Clinton wasn't qualified as he was a sitting governor too. Now I csn see why Iowa has turned to into a Blue State.
I understand Senator Obama was once in charge of his yearbook at Harvard? I guess he did a pretty good job as a community activist, as it seems his Chicago style has certainly worked on Iowa voters. "

" Joyce E
wrote on SEP 21, 2008 12:41 PM:

" Thought provoking perspective but in the interest of "fair and balanced", could we not apply the same "disrespect for women" to Obama when he chose to ignore 18 million voters (many of them women)by picking Joe Biden as his running mate instead of a female who was equally qualified in the minds of many? "

I'm no supporter of Hillary Clinton. And I plan to vote for McCain/Palin, anyway. But frankly, I'd be inclined to consider Hillary as more qualified, and certainly less objectionable, than either Obama or Biden.

What the Democrats have done is nominate a neo-Marxist empty suit who's biggest accomplishment, so far, is running for office. And for a running mate he picks Joe Biden which should probably seen as an attempt to pander to those blue collar Democrats.

McCain, too, is a little left-of-center for my taste. I don't think he has much of a grasp of the economy though in that respect he still stands head and shoulders above Obama and Biden. His strongest suit is that I think he'll make a first rate Commander in Chief. If he were to pick Mitt Romney as Commerce Secretary, I think it would be a good choice.

As for Sarah Palin? She's actually had experience cleaning up bureaucratic corruption, seems to be a quick study, and is eminently likable. Anyway, folks seem to be turning out in droves to see her everywhere she goes.

^o^
—Nobody is going to be perfect, but John McCain and Sarah Palin are more perfect that Barack Obama and Joe Biden. "

" Right on Professor! John McMaverick has shamed himself, shamed the GOP and shamed America by choosing Slick Sally Palin as his running mate.

The Palin/McCain ticket will be defeated on November 4th!!! "

" I read the title and the author but stopped at head of economics at UNI. After many years there I got used to the radical liberalism that runs freely in the extremely costly "education". It's quite a shame knowing my grades dropped for not acquiesing to a spoonful yet to hear it again in "media" makes me ill. Personally I think Mrs. Palin is a wonderful choice not because of her gender, race or favorite food but because I believe her when she speaks. Quite like the good Senator McCain and very much contrary to the other two nodding heads. "

" Amazing! Im sure Obama picked Biden out of a hat at random, and not to "use" him to make up for his lack of foreign policy experience.

Fred, I enjoyed your economics classes a few years back, but stick to those. I cant believe how you can say the media has been easy on her, while suggesting it hasnt on Obama.

For example, while on the view, McCain was asked if he was going to reinstate slavery, and grilled to describe every change Sarah Palin was going to make. Next, Obama is on and they tell him he is sexy, and talk about him being related to Brad Pitt, while treating him like loyalty.

Sound like fair treatment? "

" Gov Palin was a great choice because of her history of service to the people. She has stood up to her own party and risked her ENTIRE political career by doing so. This article was not credible at all. "

" Oh, an Obama is better qualified to be president because he was a "community organizer"? Obama is better qualified because he has been an absolute do-nothing senator? Obama is better qualified because he listened and was good friends with a racist & hate spewing preacher for 20 years? "

" Great article - well written with valid points. Much higher quality than the columns written by another UNI professor on a weekly basis. "

" Oh Fred, the pick has you all down as well, huh? So sorry to disrespect a party that has done nothing to earn respect in the first place.

The lefts pick of a friend to terrorists and racists, as barack hussein obama is, is the real disrepect for this nation. BHO cant even stomach to wear a flag pin, as he hates this country so much. His wife is finally proud because her leftist spouse hoodwinked and flip-flopped his way to the nomination.

Palin has done more in her political career than BHO, she has done more in her personal life than BHO and she respects life so much more than BHO and his abortionist party.

If I am not mistaken alaska shares the same number of electoral votes as Bidens state of Delaware. hmmm, so what the left, Phil, and Fred are saying is that Biden isnt qualified for VP either. At least Iowa knew he wasnt qualifed for president by his finish in our caucuses. It's funny that Biden is on record for saying that barack hussein obama is not ready for president either.

Do the math. McCain/Palin is the ticket with the expereince in this election. "

" unigrad- mccain wasn't grilled on EVERY change Palin would make, it was a grilling on ANY change she was going to make. "She's going to bring reform to washington" is not an adequate answer for "what kind of change will Sarah Palin bring?" It's a good question.

And on the "slavery" issue that whoopi goldberg posed. It was a legitimate one. While talking about abortion rights, McCain spoke of wanting judges that were Strict Constitutionalist. Whoopi Goldberg made the point (which John McCain accepted) that parts of our constitution MUST be modernized. She used slavery as an example. Below you'll find a link to the video and everyone judge for themselves if she was actually asking McCain if slavery was a part of his platform. It was used (EFFECTIVELY) to make a point.

http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/k3Zngsk9St5FvpLsDv "

" ...Anybody who basis their vote off of the Veiw is disrespecting their vote. This show is for enterainment, is obviously biased if you put Obama's and McCain's segments together. At least Cindy McCain when she went on didn't have a list of approvved questions, as Michelle Obama did.

Do you ever wonder why, when you see Obama speek he constantly refers to McCains record? I have the answers.

1. He is running as negative of a campaign as McCain.

2. As a part time senator, Missing 45% of your votes during your U.S. Senate career qualifies as part time, he has no record to attack.

3. He is focused on camparing McCain to Bush, because the low approval rating of Bush. It's easier to compare Bush with McCain then it is to tell us how he plans to do things.

5. Obama is just a talking head for the democrats. He has looks and personality. He has a minimal senate record. No executive experience. When he does vote, he votes 96 % of the time with the democratic majority.

5. He doesn't ever explain how he will make his policies work. Taxing anyone making over $250k is easy to say, but passing it will not be easy. What happens if that tax increase fails? Who pays for Universal healthcare, lower tuitions, and all the tax cuts he is proposing? Either they don't go through, or the middle class taxpayers foot the bill.

If you are undecided, listen to the candidates themseves, not their adds, not their VP candidates and not their campaign advisors, and espically don't listen to people who blog here. But; listen to the independent groups, watch the debate on Friday, Look at their records, how they voted and how they got to where they are. The only way you disrespect America is if you are not informed when you vote. "

" The real "genius" of picking Palin as his running mate was not only that it would attract women voters to the ticket. The genius was picking a person who even as a relative new-comer to national politics has more experience and qualifications to be POTUS than the top of the Democrat ticket. Palin's presence has the Democrats comparing Obama to a Vice Presidential candidate on a daily basis which only serves to spotlight Obama's very weak credentials. "

" Please Mr.T, Woopie wouldn't know a point if it stuck her in the backside. She was just putting forth a useless point. McCain would pick judges that would enforce and uphold the Constitution, and last I saw, it contained the 13th ammendment abolishing slavery. "

" The author writes:

"Everybody in America should feel insulted by John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his candidate for vice president."

No Mr. Fred Abraham you are the one who just insulted everyone by your personal beliefs of why McCain selected Palin. "

" Earth to Mr T and Whoopi, the Constitution has been amended to outlaw slavery, so it was a very dumb question.
See 13th amendment. And no president has the power, nor the desire, to allow slavery in this country again. But it sure scares the dimwitted, doesn't it? If McCain gets elected, we'll have slavery again! That and rampant poverty and starvation.
Speaking of poverty, how's Obama's half brother George doing? "

" I'm a right leaning independent and I think even the staunchest republican, in a non-public moment, is upset at McCain choosing Palin. I mean, the whole "no experience card" that they were throwing around at Obama, is now thrown at them. There had to be a better choice of VP out there. Condelezza Rice for one. Or Colin Powell. Or Mitt Romney. Any one of those and I would've gladly voted for McCain. But Palin? And also Obama? Worst tickets ever. I would've preferred these tickets; Romney/Powell vs. Richardson/Clinton. Either side that won I would've been content with. With the two tickets we have, I'm just praying the US makes it the 4 years with whomever gets in office. I don't think there's any way a republican can honestly, and I mean HONESTLY say they are 100% happy with Palin on the ticket. They'll tell everyone they are, but they can't in all honesty. "

" obama spent more time vetting biden, a long-serving senator who has run for president twice, than mccain spent vetting the neophyte to national politics sarah palin.
i prefer a president with sound judgement and it is clear mccain has lost some of his mental faculties and the sound judgement that is required to be president given that he couldn't/wouldn't properly vet the person he expects to be a heartbeat away from the presidency.
much like his poor judgement on iraq.

President Obama displays sound judgement on important matters of state and will have my vote. "

" I don't trust politicians from Chicago. "

" timbrackett stated, "President Obama displays sound judgement on important matters of state and will have my vote."

What sound decision can you state? The same sound decision he showed by having friends like Rev. Wright and Bill Ayers? "

" gkb32
wrote on Sep 22, 2008 12:11 PM:
"....and I mean HONESTLY say they are 100% happy with Palin on the ticket..." Has there ever been a candidate that everybody is 100% happy with? Anybody 100% happy with?
Are you an agente-provocatuer? Governor Palin has more executive experience than Obama and Biden combined. More than McCain. "

" timbrackett
wrote on Sep 22, 2008 12:35 PM:

"..obama spent more time vetting biden, a long-serving senator who has run for president twice..." And was never anywhere near winning. So, it's a matter of how long you take that counts. I'd laugh if Obama dumped Biden.
"...i prefer a president with sound judgement....
Here's some examples of Obama genius:
First up, here's the quotation that became the genesis of the "Obama is an elitist snob" meme.
10) "Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula? I mean, they're charging a lot of money for this stuff."
When the internet is afire with false rumors that you're a Muslim, do you really want to bizarrely reference your "Muslim faith?"
9) "Let's not play games. I was suggesting - you're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith."
I wonder if abortion is above Sarah Palin's pay grade? I think not.
8) “Rick Warren: ...Now, let's deal with abortion; 40 million abortions since Roe v. Wade. As a pastor, I have to deal with this all of the time, all of the pain and all of the conflicts. I know this is a very complex issue. Forty million abortions, at what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?"
Barack Obama: "Well, you know, I think that whether you're looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade."
This part of Obama's speech sounds like it was written for him by one of King Canute's courtiers.
7) "...I am absolutely certain that generations from now, we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal; this was the moment when we ended a war and secured our nation and restored our image as the last, best hope on earth. This was the moment -- this was the time -- when we came together to remake this great nation so that it may always reflect our very best selves and our highest ideals."
Whether this "joke" was about Sarah Palin or not, it was a rather foolish line given that even his own supporters in the audience took it as a sexist jab at her expense.
6) "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig. You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called 'change,' it's still going to stink. After eight years, we've had enough of the same old thing. It's time to bring about real change to Washington and that's the choice you've got in this election."
As he tried to explain why he tossed his grandmother under the bus in a previous speech, Obama actually managed to make it worse by showing that he thinks of white people as a generic group, not as individuals.
5) "The point I was making was not that Grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person..."
Dan Quayle, who was unfairly pilloried as a moron, never said anything half as dumb as this.
4) "Over the last 15 months, we've traveled to every corner of the United States. I've now been in 57 states? I think one left to go."
In his counterproductive race speech, which was mistakenly praised as genius by his supporters in the media, Obama managed to cement his association to the racist, anti-American rantings of Jeremiah Wright while simultaneously coming across as remarkably callous towards his own grandmother.
3) "I can no more disown (Jeremiah Wright) than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother - a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."
It's no secret to people who pay attention that Barack Obama is not a patriotic man and he managed to unwittingly hammer that point home when he rather foolishly made a big deal about refusing to wear a flag pin anymore.
2) "You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a (flag) pin. Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security, I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest..."
If you're from a small town and you're wondering what Barack Obama thinks of you, this quote tells you everything you need to know and then some.
1) "You got into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." "

" Anyone who continues to promote the falsehood that Palin is more "qualified" than Obama either has:

A) Never been in a position to hire people for any type of meaningful, professional job.

Or

B) Put the company they worked for out of business by now as a result of their hires.

They act like she would actually do something or have input should McCain be elected. That's even a bigger joke. The only thing she would be in charge of is moose hunts and oil spills.

I guess it bugs the right wingers that Obama has been on the record about being right about so many things and that he is obviously a lot smarter than McCain and Palin - combined. "

" I've lived in Alaska for the past 30 years (no, I can’t prove it in this forum), but I grew up in Delaware county and check in occasionally on a few Iowa online newspapers.

I didn’t vote for Governor Palin in her bid for governor for our state, but I thought she was doing an okay job. Not nearly the reformer she claims, but she was doing fine.

That being said, I think she is a very bad choice to be so close to becoming the leader of the most powerful country in the world. It’s not just her lack of experience that bothers me, but I believe she shares with George Bush a trait of having a confidence beyond her competence.

David Brook, a conservative columnist and commentator wrote, “Sarah Palin has many virtues. If you wanted someone to destroy a corrupt establishment, she’d be your woman. But the constructive act of governance is another matter. She has not been engaged in national issues, does not have a repertoire of historic patterns and, like President Bush, she seems to compensate for her lack of experience with brashness and excessive decisiveness.”

We can’t afford another bull (caribou in her case) in a china shop. "

" Phil you are right about Obama being right so many times. It comes from all the experience he has when he stated that he had visited 57 states during his campaign. Brilliant man. "

" There are a lot of things much scarier than Gov. Palin as being one heart beat from being president. Keep in mind that Democrat Nancy Pelosi is just 2 heart beats from being president! Now, that's scary! "

" Phil your post regarding hiring somebody is missing something. Palin HAS hired people. Palin HAS a record of working with democrats and pubs. Palin HAS ran a budget. Palin has CUT taxes.

barack hussein Obama has done none of these things. obama is a freshman senator from a racist, thug-filled, drug induced, characterless chicago slum. he has never hired anyone, never made a decision based on anything but socialism. he has not once vote for anything but liberal stances. he is for aborting any term babies, and would rather a baby died on the table then let doctors help it. he voted for this, indeed.

He hangs out smoking joints with ayers and laughs about bringing down the US.

He will be forgotten in less than two months, praise allah! "

" Hetfield,
It is good to see that you are back on your couch spewing hatred from the cushions, while sipping on Busch Light no doubt. When will you learn that anything you type comes across as narrow-minded, nitwitted and bigoted? You represent the City of Waterloo well. I love emailing your comments to friends of mine for a good laugh. "

" I had Mr. Abraham back in the day at UNI and consider him one of (if not the) best instructor I've ever had. That being said, I do not think he his doing himself any justice with this editorial and is embarrassing himself. Why bother regurgitating everything we've heard on NBC already? We could discuss BHO's experience, credibility, and judgment all day (with many of the points mentioned already). Discussing economic/tax policy substantiated with his experience and research would be much more constructive and credible. "

" Mr. Abraham, I hope you are keeping your liberal opinions out of your classroom. As a student, nothing's worse than having an instructor stuff his/her political beleifs down the throats of his/her students! "

" Xdfred - YOU ARE PLAGIARIZING. Again.

Although it's not nearly as bad on this thread as what you did four days ago:

http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2008/09/15/news/top_story/doc48ce2c2999051084875451.txt

it's still reprehensible and tells us something about your character and also your glaring lack of knowledge about these issues.

You copied someone else's work here..

http://www.chronwatch-america.com/blogs/1048/Barack-Obamas-Top-Ten-Campaign-Gaffes.html

and passed it off as if they were your own thoughts. Even if you had just pasted Obama's quotes, that would be one thing, but you brought over the other guy's commentary as if they were your words.
Dude, that's shameless and gives me a pretty good clue as to why you're fine with these Rovian campaign methods that have all but ruined our national discourse.
This is not anywhere near the first, or second, or third, or fourth time you've done this so don't try to play it off like an innocent mistake.
If you can't get by on the merits of your own words, either give credit, or you should stop posting.
For as much crud as I give him, at least Hetfield writes his own posts.

That stuff is wrong. "

" Crimony Hetfield.
What is wrong with you? Here I throw you a bone in my last post and look at that dump you took on the forum at 7:05. Jeez man...
Throw on the white sheet and go back to your compound. "

" hetfield... gimmie a break. You may say that Chicago is a "thug-filled, drug induced, characterless chicago slum." I happen to disagree. Actually, his senate district is Hyde Park, where the University of Chicago is located. So, maybe its not "thug-filled, drug induced, characterless chicago slum," maybe it's simply an African American area of town, which you, based on a general lack of African American culture, think is filled with nothing but "thug-filled, drug induced, characterless chicago slum."

Sorry to break this to you, but your racial ASSumptions don't count as relevant theory.

BTW, you really think that a presidential candidate thinks terrorism is funny... and is a weed smoker. Gimmie a break. You lack legitimacy sir. You lack credibility sir and you lack any common sense sir. "

" another example of sound v. unsound judgement. mccain labels certain individuals on the right as "agents of intolerance" then flip-flops and befriends those individuals (including choosing one of their pupils as his vp candidate) during this campaign even though some of these "agents of intolerance" have expressed and continue to express sentiments akin to rev. wright's opinions. perhaps mccain and his "agents of intolerance" get a free pass though, because after all they are white! "

" So much for civil discourse. Radicalism either left or right hopefully will keep this great country somewhere in between to allow it to continue to even exist. "

" Alright Hetfield. Maybe not 100% happy with a candidate. But honestly. Are you even 50% happy with Palin on the ticket? You can spin it anyway you want, but there had to be, at least, 20 other candidates more qualified than Palin. I know the right doesn't want to show weakness or discord publicly. That's why they spin her having more experience than Obama. But wasn't his lack of experience what you all were railing against (left and right included) during the primaries? Something a lot of you said was his biggest weakness is now what you are giving credit to the republican VP nominee? So she has a little more experience than someone you say has no/little experience. Is that something to really hang your hat on? It's all spin. And tomanderson, Please leave Busch Light outta this. I haven't seen that it's the preferred beverage of bigots. Non-bigots drink it too....... "

" chester11
wrote on Sep 22, 2008 9:35 PM:

" Xdfred - YOU ARE PLAGIARIZING. Again.

Sorry you're dumb enough to believe everything everyone types here is their own creation. Sure, I grabbed the gaffs from an article and the authors commentary came along. So? No where did I state these were my thoughts. That being said, you are obviously skirting the issue. Big time. Governor Palin hasn't said anything this dumb, yet she's a bad pick, according to the learned professor.
So, what do you have to say about all the times Obama has put both feet in his mouth, and the lack of media coverage compared to governor Palin's life under a micrscope these days? "

" gkb32
wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:46 AM:

" Alright Hetfield. Maybe not 100% happy with a candidate. But honestly. Are you even 50% happy with Palin on the ticket? You can spin it anyway you want, but there had to be, at least, 20 other candidates more qualified than Palin." And there are thousands more qualified than Obama, yet here we aree. What's your point? That since she isn't the best, perfect candidate, we shouldn't vote for her? "

" gkb32...Just for the record, I have voted straight Republican since 1968. And I (and me wife) are 100% thrilled with Palin. Are there some Republicans more quallified?Probably. But there are also many Democrates more qualified than Biden. 60,000 to 70,000 people went to see her in Florida. How many (at one time) have gone to see Biden? "

" chester11
wrote on Sep 22, 2008 9:35 PM:

"..it's still reprehensible and tells us something about your character and also your glaring lack of knowledge about these issues.....

You copied someone else's work here..

http://www.chronwatch-america.com/blogs/1048/Barack-Obamas-Top-Ten-Campaign-Gaffes.html..."

Thanks for the web site. I didn't know about it. I posted the gaffs from an email I was sent. As to the glaring lack of knowledge, how does that apply? I posted some gaffs showing what a dunce Obama really is. I really hope I got your blood pressure up, too.

Did someone elect you sheriff around here? Or arbitrer of who is knowledgable and who isn't?

Rememeber this. I couldn't care less what you think about me. There's lot's of people I strive to impress. You're too low on the totem pole. "

" MrT
wrote on Sep 22, 2008 9:43 PM:

" hetfield... gimmie a break. You may say that Chicago is a "thug-filled, drug induced, characterless chicago slum." I happen to disagree. Actually, his senate district is Hyde Park, where the University of Chicago is located. So, maybe its not "thug-filled, drug induced, characterless chicago slum," maybe it's simply an African American area of town, which you, based on a general lack of African American culture,..." T, there are two senators from Illinois. There are no senate districts. Lot's of African Americam culture on 55th and Garfield. "

" Having weighed the comments of many people's views of the candidates, I don't think people are choosing a candidate based on party. I'd say one side is choosing a candidate based on emotions, anger and unfounded enthusiasm for facade and appearance. The other side seems to be choosing a candidate based on intelligence, reason and rational fact-gathering. It'll be interesting to see which side really influences the election. "

" nmerrill, well said. "

" so much garbage being spewed by the right wing these days, I will be so glad to see them finally shamed on a national scale on Novmeber 4th!!! "

" And republicans wonder why this persistent claim of racist seems to follow them everywhere they go? Wow!! "

" xdfred. I don't think either Obama or Palin are ready for this stage. Both are too inexperienced. I don't have the blinders on like some who tow the party line. I would just say, if Palin were the democratic nominee for VP, you don't think you and others on the right would be railing against her inexperience? Same thing if Obama were the republican candidate. You'd be supporting him and ignoring the facts. I'm just tired of party politics. No matter what, the right supports their man/woman. Same with on the left. No matter what shortcomings they have, those will be pushed aside to highlight the supposed positives. On record, I don't like either Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin. Might be the first time in my voting life I write-in a candidate as a protest vote. "

" (return of) joe
wrote on Sep 23, 2008 12:20 PM:

" And republicans wonder why this persistent claim of racist seems to follow them everywhere they go? Wow!! "

You forgot the word bogus. Bogus racist claims. "

" Of course Republicans aren't racist - there had to be at least 3 or 4 black people at the convention in Minneapolis. I think there might have been a Hispanic person there too.

And after LBJ got the civil rights legislation passed that's why all those conservative Democrats became Republicans - cause it is the party with the big (white) tent.

And that is why John McCain voted against the Martin Luther King holiday - cause he is a tolerant, open-minded person.

And that's why Rush Limbaugh now says Sen. Obama isn't black but Arab, cause people are more afraid to vote for an Arab (code: Muslim terrorist) than a black person.

Totally bogus racist claims - no foundation in truth whatsoever. "

" Haven't you guys solved the world's problems yet? Still trying to convince us that BO is good for us?

All I hear is Blah Blah Blah.... "

" uh, racism? the democrats are worried about the 60% of white democratic men who wont vote for barack hussein obama. Two problems with what they are worried about. first they dont know why these liberals wont vote for bho so they naturally claim they are racist. Second, liberals are now trying to insist that these racists vote for BHO by telling them it doesnt matter what they think.

regardless of the real reason that bho doesnt get elected,(which will be because of his background, friends, and policies) liberals are now laying the groundwork for stating the US is racist. I can see it now.

Now I will sit back and read the regular socialists tell me I am racist. "

" xdfred wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:30 AM:
" chester11
wrote on Sep 22, 2008 9:35 PM:

" Xdfred - YOU ARE PLAGIARIZING. Again.

Sorry you're dumb enough to believe everything everyone types here is their own creation. Sure, I grabbed the gaffs from an article and the authors commentary came along. So? No where did I state these were my thoughts. That being said, you are obviously skirting the issue. Big time. Governor Palin hasn't said anything this dumb, yet she's a bad pick, according to the learned professor.
So, what do you have to say about all the times Obama has put both feet in his mouth, and the lack of media coverage compared to governor Palin's life under a micrscope these days? "\

Chump, please. Don't try to change the subject.
This is your post from 9/17:

***1. Almost all of the financial problems we see today are based on bad mortgage lending. That would be lending money to people to buy homes who didn't qualify for a loan.
2. The Democrats, under Clinton, strengthened a government-created monster called the "Community Reinvestment Act." This law was then used by "activists" and "community organizers" (like Obama?) to coerce lending institutions to make these bad loans ... millions of them.
3. Now we see what happens when political "wisdom" supplants good loan underwriting. When private financial institutions are virtually forced to make loans to people with a bad credit and job history .. this is what you get. Enjoy it.***

You lifted that directly from another site and you gave absolutely no indication that it wasn't your words. If we're going back and forth on these boards and I see that, I'm of the impression that it's an argument you conjured up in your thick skull.
It's wrong. You're a plagiarizing thief.
I wonder if my whole post is going to make it through the Courier editors because I'm calling you pathetic. You have harassed certain people daily for several months here and you're not even writing your own words.
Cross nailed you on one example and I just busted you on two more. I knew there was another one but I let it go. I'm positive you've been pulling that for months.
So, your last one was some email forward? I didn't know that. So, should we just assume everything you post is jacked?
How about the one above? Is that some common article on the net? No, it's someone's post at another blog.
Act like a victim all you want, like you're doing in your second post above directed at me. We come out here to exchange opinions and often time, just to argue and beat up on each other.
Well, whether any of that's positive, or effective, or even healthy is up for even more debate but one participates in this process thinking that he or she is battling or agreeing with other people's own thoughts and feelings.
You say that I'm "dumb" for thinking other people aren't plagiarizing. Who? Cross doesn't. (return of) Joe? Jeroze? Hillbillytea? Even Coalplant and Hetfield don't do that.
You want to forward someone's ideas because you can't articulate them yourself? Fine. Paraphrase. Or give credit. But you are stealing other people's stuff and implying that it's your own, thus blowing yourself up as something you're not and trying to win arguments based on those copied posts.
I can see now why you have such resentment for academia and intellect.
If you're not able to understand something, then hate on it. I paid my way through school and people that do that have gotten expelled.

Also dude, I've laid down thousands and thousands of words over the past couple months telling you why I take the positions I take. I load my posts with examples, I'm clear, I give point by point responses to you and your neocon buddies' sorry posts.
So, I'm not taking anymore time and telling you why Sarah Palin is a complete and utter moron, unfit to run a yard sale.
Instead, why don't you enlighten us on the economy, Xdfred? Give us your high end theories on U.S. fiscal policy.
Go ahead, we'll wait for you to Google something predetermined to bash Democrats so you won't even need to bother reading it. "

" As a true independent I was leaning toward Mc Cain, and when I first heard he had picked a woman I was pleasently surprised. After learning more about her and her lack of experiance I am UNpleasently surprised. I didn't know anything about her and was willing to go research her record to find out what I liked or disliked about her. 2 years of governing a small population state...No not enough...Not in these times of finaicail and social drama. As gkb32 stated...there are alot better choices out there.

I do not want to vote for Obama for alot of the same reason I dislike Mc Cain and Palin...So once again " None of the above" is the choice I really want to make.

I do agree with alot of the points the prof made in his article. "

" If Gov. Palin is so well qualified why won't the McCain people allow her to have a news conference and answer questions from the press? ALL the other canidates are doing so.

It has gotten to the point that FEMALE news anchors and producers, one of them from FOX are calling the McCain camp sexist in their treatment of Gov. Palin, not allowing reporters to have access to her.

But I thought is was Sen. Obama that could only give speeches off a teleprompter? Did I miss something here? Why did this inexperienced candidate give a press conference yesterday - with real reporters asking real questions?

And why did it take reporters badgering Sen. McCain, asking him if his campaign was the "No-Talk Express" before he would finally give a press conference? "

" chester11
wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:31 PM:

"...Chump, please. Don't try to change the subject....." You're the one changing the subject. Instead of focusing on the matter at hand, you decide to enforce your on little rules on me. And name calling? Tsk tsk.

"...You're a plagiarizing thief...." Doesn't a thief steal for personal gain? Am I selling any of this for profit? No, people send me stuff or I find stuff on the web and post it here because I agree with it and it helps make a point. And I do try to cite the source, not that I have to justify anything I do to you. But I will try to do better as to where I get stuff that isn't mine, just so you and Cross can use that as an excuse to knock the source and ignore the substance.

"....Also dude, I've laid down thousands and thousands of words over the past couple months telling you why I take the positions I take...." Whoopee! Are you going for the Courier medal of honor?

"...So, I'm not taking anymore time and telling you why Sarah Palin is a complete and utter moron, unfit to run a yard sale....." Your left wing bias is showing. Amazing that she has more executive experience then Obama/Biden. How does a complete and utter moron accomplish all that? Jealous? But call names. Belittle your betters. It's good for you self esteem.

"...Instead, why don't you enlighten us on the economy, Xdfred? Give us your high end theories on U.S. fiscal policy...." Too bad I don't dance to your tune.

Obama wants to raise capital gains taxes and income taxes out of a sense of fairness and neighborliness (those are his words, OK) and Biden does too, out of a sense of patriotism, or so he says. Who isn't unfit to run a yard sale?

Plus, Obama/Biden want to take my guns away. Us peons shouldn't be allowed to have any, according to their Marxist doctrine. McCain has been wishy washy on this issue, but GOVERNOR Palin is a staunch supporter of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. "

" Phil
wrote on Sep 24, 2008 8:00 AM:

" If Gov. Palin is so well qualified why won't the McCain people allow her to have a news conference and answer questions from the press? ALL the other canidates are doing so...."
Well, ask him. but she has done quite a few interviews with reporters, in case you haven't noticed.

"....But I thought is was Sen. Obama that could only give speeches off a teleprompter? Did I miss something here? Why did this inexperienced candidate give a press conference yesterday - with real reporters asking real questions?..." Real questions? They don't ask him real questions. They wouldn't dare. He's the chosen one. "

" I am glad that I am not the only one who can see through the politics here! "

" I had one of the Abraham professors in college and thought he was great.
I also thought this article was great.
McCain is hoping to get women votings simply by picking a female candidate---and it's working. Some women are going to vote for him b/c of Palin.
I am also shocked by the people who say that Palin's record doens't matter since she's not running for President. Um, in a round about way she is--if something were to happen to McCain, if God forbid he becomes the next president, then SHE WILL BE THE PRESIDENT. That is VERY, VERY , VERY scary to me. Not only that, but as President she would not have to choose a VP to be approved by the Senate.

OBAMA on the other hand, while he may be inexperienced in some realms, is smart enough of a man to surround himself by people who know the things that he doesn't--that's the sign of a good boss. Also, If something were to happen to Obama were he to be elected, then Biden would make a very good president since he has so much world experience.
Lastly, Obama's brother IS living in poverty in Africa and he does NOT want help from Obama (yes, I heard an interview of the brother on CNN) because he wants to rise above poverty on his own. Good thinking if you were in a country where there were so many people living in poverty--would you want to be cast out for being different and being given a helping hand, or would you want to be kept with the people you know and try to rise above what's been dealt to you?
My apologies for any spelling errors. No spell check on this message board:-( "

" Well I see once again that Biden can't keep his idiotic mouth shut. Contradicted your running mate is usually not a good thing. Biden says neither he or Obama supports clean coal technology. I could swear Obama said he was for clean coal technology. Way to go Joe. Biden might want to also refresh himself on Presidential history. Point of fact, Roosevelt was not President in 1929. Way to go Joe. He also thinks it is the patriotic duty of Americans to pay more taxes. Hey Joe maybe on the voting ballot we can have a payroll deduction form for all the people who vote for you and Obama. "

" Xdfred, you wrote, "Obama wants to raise capital gains taxes and income taxes out of a sense of fairness and neighborliness (those are his words, OK) and Biden does too, out of a sense of patriotism, or so he says. Who isn't unfit to run a yard sale?"

An observation: There will be very few capitals gains to tax after the last eight years. "

" It is humorous to read the fear within the messages posted by the various right-wingers. They know Palin/McMaverick will be defeated on November 4th, they are only trying to hide their fear by blathering on with the same tired right-wing talking points. Shameful behavior, but not toally unexpected............ "

" jeroze
wrote on Sep 24, 2008 11:37 AM:

" Xdfred, you wrote, "Obama wants to raise capital gains taxes and income taxes out of a sense of fairness and neighborliness (those are his words, OK) and Biden does too, out of a sense of patriotism, or so he says. Who isn't unfit to run a yard sale?"

An observation: There will be very few capitals gains to tax after the last eight years. "

Yeah yeah yeah....gloom and doom, and only Democrats can save us. Remember the Carter years? "

" cheerleader
wrote on Sep 24, 2008 9:21 AM:

"....then SHE WILL BE THE PRESIDENT. That is VERY, VERY , VERY scary to me...." Why is that? Because you know something, or are told to be scared?

cf1981
wrote on Sep 24, 2008 12:17 PM:

" It is humorous to read the fear within the messages...." It is funny, but the ones who claim to be scared are the left wingers. See above. "

" I'm a UNI student and I have had this professor. Don't get upset over his article. He is clearly for OBAMA and much like the OBAMA/BIDEN ticket is looking for any way possible to dig out of the hole they are in now that Palin was selected. McCain/Palin 2008! "

" Rumor has it that Biden will drop out due to a 'falsely serious' health problem and Obama will slide Hillary into the VP slot.
They know they gaffed, Biden has admitted it to everyone.
Watch and see.
What a bunch of clowns. "

" let's face it lefties! the liberals are the scared bunch out there, not the right.

I have asked this question many, many times and not recieved one answer. What one piece of legislation did barack hussein obama write alone, got passed and has now benefited anyone in this country?

please answer. but I know the answer already. "

" Hetfield and Xdfred:

I believe in a balanced budget so I guess that makes me a liberal. I said to a conservative soon after the 2000 election, "This guy (President Bush) scares me".

You bet I have been living scared for 8 years not knowing what was going to happen next.. Now do you or any one else understand why? "

" Obama has had a very powerful impact on this nation's economy! Remember back in the 1980's when he intervene on behalf Lincoln Savings & Loan to let regulatory actions slide, which later cost millions of elderly Americans their life savings? And the ensuing Senate Ethics Committee investigation into improper relations with Charles Keating?

Oh, wait, I'm thinking of McCain. Nevermind......... "

" A random, important fact: Did you know that Obama voted to raise your taxable income if it's more than $32,500 per year?
That doesn't sound rich to me! "

" LOL! This election is over. It was over before but McCain's is the most bizarre campaign in modern American political history.

All you suckas talking smack about how scared we are...another LOL! I LOVE PALIN. She is the gift that keeps on giving. Keep her coming.
How about that new video of her with that radical witch hunting preacher? You guys went down that shallow road this spring, expect to get it back in full.
Wait till you see that thing.

Anyhow, it doesn't matter. The GOP campaign is an utter disgrace. Talk about hiding. What is that?? Someone tell me. Hetfield? Our friendly neighborhood bigot. What's that all about, buddy? Backing out of a debate. Spin it however you want, the public is not going to fall for it. I mean McCain had no problem missing important sessions before:
http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/110/senate/vote-missers/
McCain - #1 Senator with the most missed votes.
So, why now? He's scared. He won't let Palin out of her box. This is embarrassing and you guys know it and you're so bummed right now, because you can't admit it.

Xdfred - get out of my face you plagiarizing lightweight. I have owned you SOOOO many times. You parrot slogans and never once dig deep and give a rational assessment of anything. There are things I like about McCain. There are things I like about Republicans. And I have posted about those things. They are ignored. 90% of the people here are hardwired partisans. Why am I going to bother doing anything anymore but making you look foolish which I do time and time again? However, tonight, I don't have time.

I can't wait though to reconvene with all my conservative bros here in November. I absolutely cannot wait. Liberals are scared... HAHAAA!! How is that exactly? "

" hetfield wrote on Sep 24, 2008 5:34 PM:
I have asked this question many, many times and not recieved one answer. What one piece of legislation did barack hussein obama write alone, got passed and has now benefited anyone in this country?
"

How can you not yet realize what a tool you are?
That's a stupid, leading, subjective question. But nonetheless, let's apply it to George W. Bush. Ok? Go! "

" "cheerleader wrote on Sep 24, 2008 9:21 AM:

OBAMA on the other hand, while he may be inexperienced in some realms, is smart enough of a man to surround himself by people who know the things that he doesn't--that's the sign of a good boss. "

Exactly. Very well said.
Instead of surrounding himself with a bunch of itchy rubber stamping yes men who all believe Christ talks to them in the shower. "

" How can you not yet realize what a tool you are?
That's a stupid, leading, subjective question. But nonetheless, let's apply it to George W. Bush. Ok? Go! "

chester, your namecalling is getting ridiculous. Why is the question stupid? because barack hussein obama has done NOTHING. oh, and btw, bush doesnt create legislation. that is what congress is supposed to do. not the courts, not the executive branch. CONGRESS. bho is a do nothing and is unprepared for the presidency.

thanks for not answering the question again. "

" hetfield wrote on Sep 25, 2008 6:59 AM:
" How can you not yet realize what a tool you are?
That's a stupid, leading, subjective question. But nonetheless, let's apply it to George W. Bush. Ok? Go! "

chester, your namecalling is getting ridiculous.

*You gotta be kidding me? From the files of someone who can dish is out (poorly) but can't take it. You're extremely mocking and disrespectful to several folks here and you use repeated ethnic slurs. Save it.

Why is the question stupid? because barack hussein obama has done NOTHING. oh, and btw, bush doesnt create legislation. that is what congress is supposed to do. not the courts, not the executive branch. CONGRESS. bho is a do nothing and is unprepared for the presidency.

*You're right. I should have worded that differently. I'd ask which bills have passed Bush's desk that have passed your dubious test.
You're also right about Obama's inexperience. Which would make him one of a handful of successful would-be Presidents who came in with a slim record but statesman qualities, intelligence, and knowledge about the global community - something sorely lacking in the past several years.
Obama has coauthored a lot of bills on issues I personally believe in.
He also stood in front of a hoodwinked country, while I've mentioned before that three nice country singers were receiving death threats from guys like you, and said that the Iraq War was a terrible mistake. He was in the clear, dangerous minority on that. Unless you're blindly partisan in every walk of life, like yourself, that's impossible not to respect.

The stupid part of your question is this part:
"...benefited anyone in this country?"
That's ridiculously subjective and no answer would be correct in your world and you know it.

Answer the same question now for me regarding the 109th Congress. Thanks! "

" Now, someone's conservative, right wing bias is showing. "

" jeroze
wrote on Sep 24, 2008 6:06 PM:

" Hetfield and Xdfred:

I believe in a balanced budget so I guess that makes me a liberal. I said to a conservative soon after the 2000 election, "This guy (President Bush) scares me".

You bet I have been living scared for 8 years not knowing what was going to happen next.. Now do you or any one else understand why? "

Sorry you've been living scared. I haven't been. I believe in a balanced budget, too. We need to cut spending to achieve it. I know you want to cut defence, but remember what happened when Clinton cut defence by %25? Terrorist attacks. Embassies, WTC1, 9/11, Cole..... "

" i think a lot of the fascist right-wingers are missing the point. many/most obama supporters are for obama because of his inexperience!
he wasn't "experienced" enough to go against his conscience and support the unnecessary war in iraq. he doesn't have the "experience" of being one of the keating 5 and fighting for de-regulation of the financial industry for decades. His lack of "experience" means he wasn't there to sign on for the Patriot Act and set our civil liberties back a couple of centuries.
In this election, I prefer a president with a lack of "experience".
Now, some will respond by saying gov. palin has no experience. i agree, she is an "outsider" to washington as well. however, she is also an outsider in her political/religious beliefs as well. she is a female bush/fallwell pupil who i hope and pray never even visits the white house on a public tour--much less actually is allowed to hold public office that involves the white house. "

" Mac, amazing how you think "stating facts" is showing bias. Quite a telling statement. So far the only disrespect I have seen is here in the blog. This has gotten way out of hand. "

" Watch Gov Palin's latest CBS news interview excerpt about how being close to Alaska gives her foreign policy experience.

No wonder they don't let her hold a press conference.

If you can watch that and think she is qualified....well let's just say she is the female version of George W. Bush. English appears to be her 2nd language. Pathetic, truly pathetic. "

" Phil
wrote on Sep 25, 2008 4:57 PM:

" Watch Gov Palin's latest CBS news interview excerpt about how being close to Alaska gives her foreign policy experience.

No wonder they don't let her hold a press conference.

If you can watch that and think she is qualified....well let's just say she is the female version of George W. Bush. English appears to be her 2nd language. Pathetic, truly pathetic. "

So don't vote for her. She has had to deal with the Russians and Canadians. Who has Obama dealt with? Biden? "

" I watch barack hussein obama and his rain of uhs, ers, uh, er , i , er uh, cant remember, but uh. i er , was, uh er, hope, er uh...

hard to watch and listen to. as far as palin, she was being led by katie who was trying to pin her down on a liberal point; a point that palin avoided.

now as far as chester, he states i rant racism...hmm..not so much. anyways, he knows barack hussein obama has done nothing to merir a senatorship let alone the presidency. i wouldnt hire this guy to work for me, let alone the head of the country. I would not hire anyone who had ties to terrorists, who hated our country, who thinks of himself as GOD and who cant speak a lick without a speechwriter.

BHO will go down as the least significant politician of the times! even less so than james carter.

anyways Phil I have heard you speak in person as well. this is a subject that i know you should not be so judgemental on. "

" George Bush has been in office for 7 1/2 years.
The first six the economy was fine.
A little over one year ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) the unemployment rate was 4.5%.
4) the DOW JONES hit a record high--14,000 +
5) American's were buying new cars,taking cruises,
vacations overseas, living large!...

But American's wanted 'CHANGE'! So, in 2006 they voted in a Democratic Congress and yes--
we got 'CHANGE' all right. In the PAST YEAR:
1) Consumer confidence has plummeted ;
2) Gasoline is now over $4 a gallon & climbing!;
3) Unemployment is up to 5.5% (a 10% increase);
4) Americans have seen their home equity drop
by $12 TRILLION DOLLARS and prices still dropping;
5) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
6) as I write, THE DOW is probing another low~~
$2.5 TRILLION DOLLARS HAS EVAPORATED FROM THEIR STOCKS, BONDS & MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS!

YES, IN 2006 AMERICA VOTED FOR CHANGE...AND WE SURE GOT IT! ....
REMEMBER THE PRESIDENT HAS NO CONTROL OVER ANY OF THESE ISSUES, ONLY CONGRESS.
AND WHAT HAS CONGRESS DONE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
NOW THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT CLAIMS HE IS GOING TO REALLY GIVE US CHANGE ALONG WITH A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS!!!!
JUST HOW MUCH MORE 'CHANGE' DO YOU THINK YOU CAN STAND? "

" Maybe too many economics profs like Fred Abraham has something to do with the current growing crisis in the economy?

^o^
—If this is what we get for our eduction tax dollars, we need to reinvest those dollars. "

" Phil
wrote on SEP 23, 2008 4:26 PM:

" Of course Republicans aren't racist - there had to be at least 3 or 4 black people at the convention in Minneapolis. I think there might have been a Hispanic person there too.

And after LBJ got the civil rights legislation passed that's why all those conservative Democrats became Republicans - cause it is the party with the big (white) tent." ...snip snip snip, the rest.

This is so typically ignorant it almost leaves me speechless. Without the Republicans, Johnson NEVER would have gotten that 60's era civil rights legislation passed. His own party fought him tooth and nail. I know this because I was growing up during that period. AND I was paying attention. And, as a young man, I took in some of those civil rights demonstrations.

Where Johnson blew it all up was when he came along with his War On Poverty and Great Society programs. Structured as those were, they did little but turn countless numbers of blacks and poor whites into wards of the state.

To this day, the Democratic party is the only one with an admitted and avowed former Ku Klux Klan member sitting in the Senate. And that is Robert Byrd of West Virginia.

^o^
—No wonder the Democrats end up with the candidates they do. "

" timbrackett
wrote on SEP 25, 2008 11:36 AM:

" i think a lot of the fascist right-wingers are missing the point." <---snip the rest

It never fails to amuse me how those on the left continue trying to equate the right with fascism. Historically fascism was and is a leftist ideology.

Probably, Hitler's Third Reich epitomizes what we commonly would think of as a fascist state. Nazi stood for the "National Socialist German Workers' Party" and they essentially advocated a system of government/industrial partnership to create what was envisioned as a "people's utopia." Since then, the word has been twisted by leftist propagandists to imply conservative positions/ideology which are essentially an antithesis, in direct opposition to this kind of total state control. Ultimately, fascism is a variant form or socialism that bears a far stronger resemblance to the positions and agenda being pushed by the modern day Democratic Party.

But, of course, those who want to equate contemporary conservative thinking with fascism care little about the truth. Go read Hitler's "Mein Kampf" and then read Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations" and then come back and maybe we can talk about it then.

^o^
—But, with some of these teachers we have, no wonder they're so messed up. "

" Good ol' Foxnews:

www.newshounds.us

"FOX News Is Ignoring Reports About Palin's Extramarital Affair
September 26, 2008

When the National Enquirer broke the news a few months ago about John Edwards' extramarital affair with Rielle Hunter, there was a steady stream of stories and discussions about it on FOX News although Edwards was no longer a candidate by then. Yet FOX News has been ignoring the same tabloid's report about an extramarital affair between current vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her husband's former business partner, Brad Hanson.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, the McCain campaign has threatened legal action against the Enquirer. But the Enquirer says it has three sources from Hanson's family, including one who signed a sworn affidavit, and has published the story.

Pretty juicy stuff, eh? Just the kind of thing that FOX News couldn't get enough of when it involved Democrat John Edwards. Hannity & Colmes even devoted a full show to his scandal (plus more segments in other shows). On August 8, 2008, Sean Hannity said, “I applaud the Enquirer” for investigating Edwards because “He's running for president... He's a contender for vice president or was.” But here we have an actual vice presidential candidate and... silence.

It's not just Hannity. A search just now of “Palin Hanson” on FOXNews.com turned up no stories. But a search of "Edwards Hunter" turned up “about” 205. There are 44 more entries when you search video."

Is the process of being fair and balanced now utilizing some new math system?

Oh, and how about that crazy, witch-hunting preacher VIP at Palin's church? Y'all neocons decided to go all superficial and tabloid months ago, so now you got everyone following your lead. Funny though, how this isn't in that liberal mainstream media like Mr. Wright and the poignant lapel pin files. "

" I forgot...only conservatives state facts, and only liberals express biased views.

What a crock. This is from a centrist independent. Anyone with a viewpoint is biased, my friends. And if you do not see that, then you are not much better than sheep. "

" the_bat--once again you are factually and historically incorrect. fascism has never been equated with socialism and in fact has been offered as an alternative to socialism (the period between the two world wars is an example).

robert paxton defines fascism as "A form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion."
that definition sounds like the bush/mccain republican party to me. "

" Mac, if you re-read my last post, I was standing up for facts on the right side. Not once did I disparage the left for the use/non-use of facts. Yes, each side of an issue shows bias toward that side, but any person (not just independent centrists) can view both side and still form an informed opinion. Politics has always been about spin, the sad part is that journalism didn't used to be. "

" chester11
wrote on Sep 26, 2008 2:18 AM:

" Good ol' Foxnews:


If the story has any merit, it'll come out. Don't you think the New York left wing Times and the alphabet networks would jump all over this if it were true? Why wait for Fox news? Where's ABC? CBS? NBC? Or even where's MSNBC and it's 7 viewers? "

" Now even the conservatives who once supported Palin are jumping ship.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MDZiMDhjYTU1NmI5Y2MwZjg2MWNiMWMyYTUxZDkwNTE= "

" palin is the republican version of geraldine ferraro. and her career in politics will follow a similar arc. "

" Have you folks watched Palin's recent interviews with Couric, etc. An absolute idiot! How can she manage a state, let alone the United States, when she cannot even manage her own family? Going to church and supporting Abstinence instead of sex education did Sarah and her daughter no good. The daughter still got knocked up. Witchcraft exorcism does NOT work just as praying the gay out of homosexuals does not work. Palin's true salient hallmarks - limited experience and limited intelligence. "

" chester i guess when palin, her husband and the so called adulterer she is claimed to have slept with, when all three of these folks openly admit said affair took place, i guess then the national enquirer will get their man.

now, the enquirer also reported this week that; the feds are probing jamie spears porno video and that johnny depp cant sleep.

I actually had to rush to clear my cache as I couldnt stand bringing up this liberal trash on my puter. "

" Katie Couric's interview of Sarah Palin shows that he's got his eye on the ball. When you get a chance, take a look at what arch-conservative Kathleen Parker has to say about the Palin-McCain ticket.

Cheers. "

" timbrackett
wrote on SEP 26, 2008 9:15 AM:

" the_bat--once again you are factually and historically incorrect. fascism has never been equated with socialism and in fact has been offered as an alternative to socialism (the period between the two world wars is an example).

robert paxton defines fascism as "A form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation or victimhood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion."
that definition sounds like the bush/mccain republican party to me. "

No, actually it sounds more like the current Democratic hegemony.

Besides that, who is Robert Paxton? The name rings, at best, a vague bell.

If you mean the guy who published the book "Vichy France, Old Guard and New Order, 1940-1944," back in 1972, Wikopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_O._Paxton) refers to his definition of fascism as "non-traditional" and I think I'd agree with that.

Contrary to the thinking of some "knee-jerk liberals" (there's a term we haven't used in a while, but maybe we should revive it?), non-traditional does not necessarily mean bigger, better, brighter, or shinier.

Paxton's is one opinion. However there are those of us who look at history and arrive at other conclusions. One of the hallmarks of fascism is that, like socialism (which fascism traditionally professes to oppose), a key aspect of fascist states in modern history is that they always nationalize key industries. This is an inherent cornerstone of socialism and seems to be the direction the Democratic party wants to go. So historically fascists profess to oppose socialism, yet they are socialists.

I don't even care if the Left typically seeks to miss-characterize the Right with lies, *darn* lies, and more lies, the fundamental issue is that socialism is a failed ideology. It has failed every time it's been tried. What's more, it tends to kill huge numbers of people. Other aspects of historical fascist states that remind so much of the current Democratic party are it's absolute lack of tolerance for divergent views and it's tendency to go after those views with what usually amounts to little more than what we would call ad hominem (attacking an opponent’s motives or character rather than the policy or position they maintain) attacks. While this happens on both sides, it seems to be tactic employed far more by the Left.

To steer away from flogging dead dogs any more that we have already, how would you defend Paxton's definition and on what basis? I say it ignores the key component of socialism. That socializing the national economy is an inherent aspect of any fascist state.

Even if we were to consider Paxton's definition as being a good one, the part about "...obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation, or victim-hood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy, and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion," seems to me to more describe the current state of the Democratic party.

^o^
—It's all a matter of perspective. "

" betterthings2do
wrote on Sep 27, 2008 8:25 AM:

" Have you folks watched Palin's recent interviews with Couric, etc. An absolute idiot! How can she manage a state, let alone the United States, when she cannot even manage her own family? Going to church and supporting Abstinence instead of sex education did Sarah and her daughter no good. The daughter still got knocked up. Witchcraft exorcism does NOT work just as praying the gay out of homosexuals does not work. Palin's true salient hallmarks - limited experience and limited intelligence. "

extremely good post for a tyical liberal. one thing showing the true hypocrisy of leftists(there are several) is your unwitting denial to accept someones beliefs when they differ with your own. this is what all liberals claim to be why they are superior, unless of course the person is a conservative.

regardless of your dislike of palin, she is more experienced and capable than your presidential candidate. barack hussein obama has done NOTHING as a senator, as a state senator, as a liberal selflove teacher, as a two book author(how can he fill up two books when he has doen nothing?, liberals will support any piece of trash that oprah tells them too). some liberal will come on and post the resume padded trivial doohickey that bho occupied, wow he ran a college paper. in reality this guy who counts on ayers, a terrorist, and wright, a racist, to tell him how to act, has no qualities or knowledge to befit the presidency.

one other point, for a partially black man to have risen to the first candidacy for president he should be applauded. however, to use racism(again) as the reason he will be so easily defeated this fall(i cant wait, as this will be the reason), is hypocritical. man, the left sure does look silly all the time. "

" the_bat--much like bush, etc. are now "nationalizing" the mortgage/banking industry?
i do appreciate your research and respect your opinions. but i still respectfully disagree.
at least i have found one conservative here who is willing to discuss facts in a civil manner. "