American Presidency: Vetting Is Fundamental

Kagera

PantsB wrote: »

Kagera wrote: »

Abstinence-only education IS stupid, but that fact is not significantly affected by Palin's personal problems any more than Clinton's womanizing has anything to do with his progressive views on feminism.

And yet, Clinton's womanizing had a major effect on politics in America, didn't it?

The media loves a sex story.

Well yes, people who are by no small means shills loved hearing about his sex scandals.

That didn't make Bush Sr. a better candidate though.

DeShadowC

I'm amazed at the McCain camp admitting they knew all of this from the vetting and that they still felt she was the correct choice.

stilist

If this is all true, it’s interesting that McCain’s campaign was basically ‘oh hey you’re the VP’ while Obama’s went digging way into the past of all their options.

jungleroomx

DeShadowC wrote: »

I'm amazed at the McCain camp admitting they knew all of this from the vetting and that they still felt she was the correct choice.

Not the correct choice, or best choice, but the right choice.

DeShadowC

To throw out support immediately instead of trying to stand back a day and see how things fall before deciding whether you want to change your mind or not seems odd to me.

PantsB

DeShadowC wrote: »

I'm amazed at the McCain camp admitting they knew all of this from the vetting and that they still felt she was the correct choice.

"Admitting" or "claiming"?

Kagera wrote: »

PantsB wrote: »

Kagera wrote: »

Abstinence-only education IS stupid, but that fact is not significantly affected by Palin's personal problems any more than Clinton's womanizing has anything to do with his progressive views on feminism.

And yet, Clinton's womanizing had a major effect on politics in America, didn't it?

The media loves a sex story.

Well yes, people who are by no small means shills loved hearing about his sex scandals.

That didn't make Bush Sr. a better candidate though.

So you don't think its appropriate to discuss politically impactful things?

Fatty McBeardo

enlightenedbum wrote: »

Hahahah Bill Kristol thinks Fred Thompson is going to be an amazing speaker tonight and believes that "liberals and the media" are terrified of Palin. Which I suppose is true in a sense, but not the way he means.

Fred "Cut and Run" Thompson? The guy played footsie with his supporters for months, then he finally announced, and proceeded to run one of the most half-hearted campaigns in history. Why he's even a speaker at the RNC confuses me beyond all measure.

Gosling

Carly Fiorina, who by the way is RNC 'Victory 2008' chair, on the Palin attacks:

“I am appalled by the Obama campaign’s attempts to belittle Governor Sarah Palin’s experience. The facts are that Sarah Palin has made more executive decisions as a Mayor and Governor than Barack Obama has made in his life. Because of Hillary Clinton’s historic run for the Presidency and the treatment she received, American women are more highly tuned than ever to recognize and decry sexism in all its forms. They will not tolerate sexist treatment of Governor Palin.”

Considering that the attacks have been from damn near every demographic on damn near every topic... this is not a winning argument.

sdrawkcaB emaN

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

when the wall street journal is running editorials like this about a Republican, it's time (for them) to start worrying

Is John McCain Stupid?

The Wall Street Fucking Journal wrote:

Is John McCain losing it?

On Sunday, he said on national television that to solve Social Security "everything's on the table," which of course means raising payroll taxes. On July 7 in Denver he said: "Senator Obama will raise your taxes. I won't."

This isn't a flip-flop. It's a sex-change operation.

He got back to the subject Tuesday in Reno, Nev. Reporters asked about the Sunday tax comments. Mr. McCain replied, "The worst thing you could do is raise people's payroll taxes, my God!" Then he was asked about working with Democrats to fix Social Security, and he repeated, "everything has to be on the table." But how can . . .? Oh never mind.

Yesterday he was in Aurora, Colo., to wit: "On Social Security, he [Sen. Obama] wants to raise Social Security taxes. I am opposed to raising taxes on Social Security. I want to fix the system without raising taxes."

What I'm asking is, does John McCain have the mental focus, the intellectual discipline, to avoid being out-slicked by Barack Obama, if he isn't abandoned by his own voters?

It's not just taxes. Recently the subject came up of Al Gore's assertion that the U.S. could get its energy solely from renewables in 10 years. Sen. McCain said: "If the vice president says it's doable, I believe it's doable." What!!?? In a later interview, Mr. McCain said he hadn't read "all the specifics" of the Gore plan and now, "I don't think it's doable without nuclear power." It just sounds loopy.

Then this week in San Francisco, in an interview with the Chronicle, Sen. McCain called Nancy Pelosi an "inspiration to millions of Americans." Notwithstanding his promises to "work with the other side," this is a politically obtuse thing to say in the middle of a campaign. Would Bill Clinton, running for president in 1996 after losing control of the House, have called Newt Gingrich an "inspiration"? House Minority Leader John Boehner, facing a 10-to-20 seat loss in November, must be gagging.

The one thing -- arguably the only thing -- the McCain candidacy has going for it is a sense among voters that they don't know what Barack Obama stands for or believes. Why then would Mr. McCain give voters reason to wonder the same thing about himself? You're supposed to sow doubt about the other guy, not do it to yourself.

Yes, Sen. McCain must somehow appeal to independents and blue-collar Hillary Democrats. A degree of pandering to the center is inevitable. But this stuff isn't pandering; it's simply stupid. Al Gore's own climate allies separated themselves from his preposterous free-of-oil-in-10-years whopper. Sen. McCain saying off-handedly that it's "doable" is, in a word, thoughtless.

Speaker Pelosi heads a House with a 9% approval. To let her off the hook before the election reflects similar loss of thought.

The forces arrayed against Sen. McCain's candidacy are formidable: an unpopular president, the near impossibility of extending Republican White House rule for three terms, the GOP trailing in races at every level, a listless fundraising base, doubtful sentiments about the war, a flailing economy.

The generic Democratic presidential candidate should win handily. Barack Obama, though vulnerable at the margin, is a very strong candidate. This will be a turnout election. To win, Mr. McCain needs every Republican vote he can hold.

Why make it harder than it has to be? Given such statements on Social Security taxes, Al Gore and the "inspirational" Speaker Pelosi, is there a reason why Rush Limbaugh should not spend August teeing off on Mr. McCain?

Why as well shouldn't the Obama camp exploit all of this? If Sen. Obama's "inexperience" is Mr. McCain's ace in the hole, why not trump that by asking, "Does Sen. McCain know his own mind?"
* * *

In this sports-crazed country, everyone has learned a lot about what it takes to win. They've heard and seen it proven repeatedly that to achieve greatness, to win the big one, an athlete has to be ready to "put in the work."

John McCain isn't doing that, yet. He's competing as if he expects the other side to lose it for him. Sen. McCain is a famously undisciplined politician. Someone in the McCain circle had better do some straight talking to the candidate. He's not some 19-year-old tennis player who's going to win the U.S. presidential Open on raw talent and the other guy's errors. He's not that good.

There is a reason the American people the past 100 years elevated only two sitting senators into the White House -- JFK and Warren Harding. It's because they believe most senators, adept at compulsive compromise, have no political compass and will sell them out. Now voters have to do what they prefer not to. Yes, Sen. McCain has honor and country. Another month of illogical, impolitic remarks and Sen. McCain will erase even that. Absent a coherent message for voters, he will be one-on-one with Barack Obama in the fall. He will lose.

Jragghen

Dude, that's from July.

Kagera

PantsB wrote: »

DeShadowC wrote: »

I'm amazed at the McCain camp admitting they knew all of this from the vetting and that they still felt she was the correct choice.

"Admitting" or "claiming"?

Kagera wrote: »

PantsB wrote: »

Kagera wrote: »

Abstinence-only education IS stupid, but that fact is not significantly affected by Palin's personal problems any more than Clinton's womanizing has anything to do with his progressive views on feminism.

And yet, Clinton's womanizing had a major effect on politics in America, didn't it?

The media loves a sex story.

Well yes, people who are by no small means shills loved hearing about his sex scandals.

That didn't make Bush Sr. a better candidate though.

So you don't think its appropriate to discuss politically impactful things?

I'm not sure how this has any political impact. Is she going to change her mind on abstinence-only education now?

Screamline

McCain/Failin 08
Whoops!

tuxkamen

That article's a month old, which is telling in and of itself.

jungleroomx

Opera Star-Bangled Banner?

Are you fucking serious?

MKR

That was the most awful thing.

I am three planes duller for having heard it.

Cinders

jungleroomx wrote: »

Opera Star-Bangled Banner?

Are you fucking serious?

I wish we had another nations national anthem. Can we steal the U.S.S.R's? I don't think they're using it.

MKR

Cinders wrote: »

jungleroomx wrote: »

Opera Star-Bangled Banner?

Are you fucking serious?

I wish we had another nations national anthem. Can we steal the U.S.S.R's? I don't think they're using it.

The song is fine as long as you don't drag every syllable out for 10 seconds.

Kagera

Cinders wrote: »

jungleroomx wrote: »

Opera Star-Bangled Banner?

Are you fucking serious?

I wish we had another nations national anthem. Can we steal the U.S.S.R's? I don't think they're using it.

Yes they are...just not the lyrics.

Elki

OMG, pictures of old white dudes! Fear the Mighty GOP machine, and its devastating attacks!

Cinders

Kagera wrote: »

Cinders wrote: »

jungleroomx wrote: »

Opera Star-Bangled Banner?

Are you fucking serious?

I wish we had another nations national anthem. Can we steal the U.S.S.R's? I don't think they're using it.

Yes they are...just not the lyrics.

So you don't want to sing of the glory of Lenin's party to the tune of a really old English drinking song?

Couscous

Astraphobia wrote: »

Workin at the car wash yeah.. umm.. until you forget to file your paperwork and get shut down..

Sorta like McCain forgetting he had to pay taxes on one of his sea-side villas.

WHOOOOOPS

Palin's gubernatorial disclosure filings also reveal her involvement in another failed startup -- a marketing business which was to go by the name Rouge Cou, which evidently is a literal French translation of "red neck." On the 2005 form, Palin describes the firm as one for which she secured a license but did not conduct any business.

200fucking6 Democratic document on Palin.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13084.html

* Palin Is Too Socially Conservative for Libertarian Alaska. Palin is a strong conservative — something she repeated throughout her primary campaign but now seems to try to back off from. She is not only pro-life but is involved with — and even steered tax money toward — organizations that give misleading information on abortion. She called herself a “hard-core fiscal conservative” who wanted government to get to the bare bones. The Anchorage Daily News asked whether her “socially conservative positions square with Alaska's generally libertarian approach to those issues.” Palin also supported a flat tax, an idea even Bob Dole thought was absurd.

* Palin’s Management Style is to Bully and Demand Political Loyalty. Palin’s tenure as mayor of Wasilla was marred by tremendous staff turnover, first when she fired most of the top staff — including the city’s librarian — because she questioned their loyalty, and then later when staff quit because of her micromanaging style. Wasilla even lost the opportunity to hire a police chief because he said the job seemed too political.

* Palin’s Not Ready for Primetime. Palin argues that she was the mayor of the fastest growing city in Alaska. While that may be true, Wasilla’s population is still 1 percent of the rest of the state of Alaska. The last budget Palin approved, $12.5 million, is 0.2 percent of the $7.3 billion budget Tony Knowles approved.

* Palin Signed Ordinance to Issue $15 Million in General Obligation Bonds and Increase the Sales Tax From 2 to 2.5 percent. In 2001, Palin signed an ordinance authorizing the city to issue general obligation bonds in the principal amount of $14,700,000 to finance the acquisition and construction of park and recreation capital improvements. The ordinance also increased the sales tax from 2 to 2.5 percent and put the issue on the ballot. After it was adopted by voters, Palin signed an ordinance issuing the bonds. In 2002, Palin signed an ordinance putting the higher sales tax into effect. [Ordinance 01-55 (am),12/10/2001; Ordinance 02-14 (sub), 4/8/2002; Ordinance 02-49, 8/12/02]

* Palin Called Herself “Such a Weasel” for Not Having a Firm Stand on the Property Tax Cap.
“Does that mean she’d vote for it? ‘I still have five more weeks to make up my mind, like everybody’s trying to do,’ Palin said. ‘I wish it were not a statewide issue.’ Palin said she has declined requests by Tax Cap Yes to speak in favor of the initiative. Yet, she said, she doesn’t object to her name’s continuing to be listed on the group’s Web site among 10 current or former government officials — half from Mat-Su — in support of the initiative. Palin acknowledged that she was sounding quite the politician. ‘I am so sorry I’m such a weasel,’ she said.” [Anchorage Daily News, 10/8/00]

* Palin Asked City Librarian About Censoring Books, Insisted It Was ‘Rhetorical.’ In 1996, according to the Frontiersman, Wasilla’s library director Mary Ellen Emmons said Palin asked her outright if she could live with censorship of library books. Emmons said, “This is different than a normal book-selection procedure or a book-challenge policy. … She was asking me how I would deal with her saying a book can’t be in the library.” Palin said in response, “Many issues were discussed, both rhetorical and realistic in nature.” [Frontiersman, 12/18/96]

* Wasilla’s Pension Was Only Funded at 73 Percent When Palin Left, as Opposed to Almost Completely When She Became Mayor. In fiscal 2002, Wasilla funded 73 percent of its defined benefit pension plan obligation and had 52 percent unfunded liability as a percentage of its covered payroll. In fiscal 1995, Wasilla funded 97.5 percent of its obligation and had 4.3 percent unfunded liability as a percentage of payroll. [Wasilla Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 2003, page 29; Wasilla Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 1996, page 45]

* Palin Supported Penalties for Using Skateboards on Public or Private Property in Wasilla.
“Beginning Oct. 15 — after the expected opening of the $233,000 Wasilla Skate Park — skaters will be breaking the law if they use their skateboards, in-line skates, bicycles, scooters (or any other recreational, non-motorized wheeled device) on public or private property where signs are posted forbidding their use.”

The Frontiersman added, “In the ordinance approved Monday, the penalty for first-time violators of the ordinance is a written warning and the skate device may be confiscated for 10 calendar days. For a second offense, a $50 fine shall be paid and the skate device may be confiscated for 30 calendar days. A third-time offender will have to pay a $100 fine and will lose his or her skate device permanently.” [Frontiersman, 9/18/98]

* Palin Went to See Ivana Trump at Costco, Saying Alaska was So Desperate for “Any Semblance of Glamour and Culture.” “Sarah Palin, a commercial fisherman from Wasilla, told her husband on Tuesday she was driving to Anchorage to shop at Costco. Instead, she headed straight for Ivana. And there, at J.C. Penney’s cosmetic department, was Ivana, the former Mrs. Donald Trump, sitting at a table next to a photograph of herself. She wore a light-colored pantsuit and pink fingernail polish. Her blonde hair was coiffed in a bouffant French twist. ‘We want to see Ivana,’ said Palin, who admittedly smells like salmon for a large part of the summer, ‘because we are so desperate in Alaska for any semblance of glamour and culture.’" [Anchorage Daily News, 4/3/96]

* Documents Show While Mayor Palin Had Thank You Notes to Campaign Donors Printed by Her Assistant on City Time and Arranged Campaign Travel from Her Office. “The Voice of the Times, a separate editorial section within the opinion pages of the Daily News, made the original public records request that produced many of the documents that Murkowski’s campaign handed out Thursday, including a stack of telephone records, e-mails — such as a campaign note from her mayor e-mail address to Ruedrich — and invoices from Wasilla City Hall. The documents appear to show, for example, that on one occasion Palin arranged campaign travel from the mayor’s office. On another, her city administrative assistant printed thank-you notes to campaign donors. The administrative assistant, Mary Bixby, said in brief interview with the Daily News in late July that she was directed to perform those tasks while on the clock for the city.” For any mistakes she did make, Palin said, “I apologize.” [Anchorage Daily News, 8/18/06]

* Palin Made a Bet With Her Husband About Whether Murkowski Would Get Into the Race — the Loser Had to Get a Tattoo. “Palin told The Associated Press that she and her husband, Todd, made a bet on whether Murkowski would run. If the governor says he’ll enter the race, Palin has to get the Big Dipper tattooed on her ankle. If Murkowski says no, Todd gets a wedding ring inked on his finger.” [Anchorage Daily News, 5/26/06]

* Palin Obtained a Business License for Marketing and Consulting, Saying that She Wanted To Line Up Her Ducks if She Chose to Pursue It. “Asked about the business registered under her name, Palin said, ‘Rouge Cou, it’s a classy way of saying redneck. It’s a French word, rouge is red, cou is neck. It’s for marketing and consulting, in case I wanted to go that route, I’d have my ducks all lined up and have a business license. I just was granted that business license. … I would like to, with some of the endeavors that I have going on right now, there comes a time when one desires to be paid for them!’” [Anchorage Daily News, 6/8/05]

This is so fucking hilarious.

enlightenedbum

Let's just take over Canada, call ourselves Canada, and keep their anthem.

Gosling

Cinders wrote: »

jungleroomx wrote: »

Opera Star-Bangled Banner?

Are you fucking serious?

I wish we had another nations national anthem. Can we steal the U.S.S.R's? I don't think they're using it.

You're not going to believe it-- well, you might, because it's me we're talking about- but I have the national anthems of every country I could get my hands on saved to a folder on my desktop.

Italy's stands out pretty nicely.

wwtMask

This has probably been posted, but it's still worth watching again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIVFraQwm3c

Nartwak

Palin used her line-item veto to slash funding for a state program benefiting teen mothers in need of a place to live. *

jungleroomx

"John McCain is a shitty politician, but he's got an awesome story."

tuxkamen

Elki wrote: »

OMG, pictures of old white dudes! Fear the Mighty GOP machine, and its devastating attacks!

In all seriousness, that is the absolute worst political ad I've seen this year. That includes the Obama smear commercials, because at least those have a Goddamn message.

Look out! Floating heads! It's "Daisy" 2008! Abandon hope, all ye who enter here!

Do they truly think, even for a moment, that Joe Swingvoter is looking at that TV and actually recognizing anyone in that commercial by their face except Obama?

Quid

Has yesterday's hilarity continued on in to today?

Couscous

Quid wrote: »

Has yesterday's hilarity continued on in to today?

Which hilarity? If you are talking about general scandals,
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/02/1327574.aspx

The video, first reported by the liberal blog HuffingtonPost.com, is from a June Palin speech to the graduating class of commission students at Palin's former church in Wasilla, Alaska. While describing her family, Palin told students about her oldest son, 19-year-old Track, who is set to be deployed to Iraq this month with the U.S. Army. She urged students to pray “that our leaders -- that our national leaders -- are sending [soldiers] out on a task that is from God.”

She added, “That's what we have to make sure that we are praying for: that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan.”

“It's pretty uncomfortable stuff,” said the political operative, after watching the video online. “It's bad. It's really bad. … It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.”

In addition to talking about Iraq, Palin also referred to God's role in her work as governor.

“I can do my part in working really, really hard to get a natural gas pipeline, about a $30 billion project that's going to create a lot of jobs for Alaska. … [but] I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that,” she said. “I can do my job there in developing our natural resources, in doing things like getting the roads paved and making sure our troopers have their cop cars and their uniforms and their guns, and making sure our public schools are funded. But really that stuff doesn't do any good if the people of Alaska's hearts aren't right with God.”

God wants a pipeline.

jungleroomx

Quid wrote: »

Has yesterday's hilarity continued on in to today?

I'm not really seeing anything new. I think we've blown our load, so to speak.

McCain DID cancel an interview with Larry King because Campbell at CNN refused to let Tucker dodge the question about Palin's experience. And criticizing Palin's qualifications is sexist, which is coming from the same douchebags who say that Joe Biden can do all-out at Palin during the debates and she's more than ready.

jungleroomx

Couscous wrote: »

Quid wrote: »

Has yesterday's hilarity continued on in to today?

Which hilarity? If you are talking about general scandals,
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/09/02/1327574.aspx

The video, first reported by the liberal blog HuffingtonPost.com, is from a June Palin speech to the graduating class of commission students at Palin's former church in Wasilla, Alaska. While describing her family, Palin told students about her oldest son, 19-year-old Track, who is set to be deployed to Iraq this month with the U.S. Army. She urged students to pray “that our leaders -- that our national leaders -- are sending [soldiers] out on a task that is from God.”

She added, “That's what we have to make sure that we are praying for: that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan.”

“It's pretty uncomfortable stuff,” said the political operative, after watching the video online. “It's bad. It's really bad. … It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.”

In addition to talking about Iraq, Palin also referred to God's role in her work as governor.

“I can do my part in working really, really hard to get a natural gas pipeline, about a $30 billion project that's going to create a lot of jobs for Alaska. … [but] I think God's will has to be done in unifying people and companies to get that gas line built, so pray for that,” she said. “I can do my job there in developing our natural resources, in doing things like getting the roads paved and making sure our troopers have their cop cars and their uniforms and their guns, and making sure our public schools are funded. But really that stuff doesn't do any good if the people of Alaska's hearts aren't right with God.”

God wants a pipeline.

Hoooo WEE she's out of her everfucking mind.

David_T

It's still looking pretty empty, the Xcel center. I mean, compared to...

Couscous

Hoooo WEE she's out of her everfucking mind.

You just said we blew our load.

jungleroomx

Couscous wrote: »

Hoooo WEE she's out of her everfucking mind.

You just said we blew our load.

I was wrong. I was SO wrong.

Taramoor

jungleroomx wrote: »

I didn't read the last 30 pages of the other thread, but is everyone aware of McCain cancelling an interview due to Campbell grilling the fuck out of Tucker last night?

If this has been brought up I apologize.

I wouldn't call what she did "grilling"

She asked him ONE question.

She just had to ask it over and over before he could come up with something to say that almost sounded like a response.

jungleroomx

Taramoor wrote: »

jungleroomx wrote: »

I didn't read the last 30 pages of the other thread, but is everyone aware of McCain cancelling an interview due to Campbell grilling the fuck out of Tucker last night?

If this has been brought up I apologize.

I wouldn't call what she did "grilling"

She asked him ONE question.

She just had to ask it over and over before he could come up with something to say that almost sounded like a response.

Well, it's the closest these people seem to be getting towards a grilling of the politicians.

It's all relative.

Gosling

tuxkamen wrote: »

Elki wrote: »

OMG, pictures of old white dudes! Fear the Mighty GOP machine, and its devastating attacks!

In all seriousness, that is the absolute worst political ad I've seen this year. That includes the Obama smear commercials, because at least those have a Goddamn message.

Look out! Floating heads! It's "Daisy" 2008! Abandon hope, all ye who enter here!

Do they truly think, even for a moment, that Joe Swingvoter is looking at that TV and actually recognizing anyone in that commercial by their face except Obama?

The thing I pick up from it is that they gave Obama a better headshot than McCain. Obama is his usual grinning self, McCain looks like he's stuck on the toilet.

SyphonBrue

If I hear one more person refer to Palin as a "maverick" I'm going to throw up.

Thanatos

Does anyone have video of that Campbell Brown interview?

Æthelred

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTbsbeY5k5k

I love that the guy on the left in that video (from before the VP pick) is all like "It's hard to see Sarah Palin as Commander in Chief within the next say.. year." Really? You only need a year?