A Pol Shows Her "Stripes"

Gotta love those Blue State pols. At least she'll always have Europe. Given the state, maybe she's over there to avoid being asked anything about Biden. She probably knows how dumb he actually is.

Less than three months from the end of her tenure, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner left the country unannounced Saturday on an economy-boosting mission to Europe.

The trip comes weeks after announcements of further declines in state revenue, with some calling it her final effort to boost business in the state. Others say it is a waste of taxpayer money.

I'm not ignoring the national scene. The fact is we are either going to see a turning point shortly or we aren't. There are signs that McCain/Palin has stopped the bleeding. It's also important to realize that Obama still has serious problems closing the deal with voters. There are real concerns about him in the minds of enough voters for McCain to pull it out.

Whether his campaign can exploit that or not remains to be seen. This election is going to break late and possibly big. It's simply impossible to predict which way for now.

Comments

[hdtv]

Obama closing the deal? Is that why he's increasing in battleground states?

From the numbers, I'd say the only concerns about Obama are in the minds of core republican voters.

[mary]

I don't trust the numbers. I don't trust any of the numbers.

From the polls and from Wall Street.

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

Finally, the loony right is showing its true colors thanks to the reprehensible scum-baggery of Sarah Palin:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/06/AR2008100602935.html

"McCain had said that racially explosive attacks related to Obama's former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, are off limits. But Palin told New York Times columnist Bill Kristol in an interview published Monday: "I don't know why that association isn't discussed more."

Worse, Palin's routine attacks on the media have begun to spill into ugliness. In Clearwater, arriving reporters were greeted with shouts and taunts by the crowd of about 3,000. Palin then went on to blame Katie Couric's questions for her "less-than-successful interview with kinda mainstream media." At that, Palin supporters turned on reporters in the press area, waving thunder sticks and shouting abuse. Others hurled obscenities at a camera crew. One Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down, boy.""

How soon until you guys start openly refer to Obama with the "n"-word? I'm betting Oct. 15.

[seekeronos]

Pray.

Pray that the Lord's will be done, as it shall... and pray for God's grace to stand up for Him in the day of adversity.

[seekeronos]

On another slightly more humorous note, here is Bob Hope going on about zombies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFUdBzS--J0

[chris]

"It's simply impossible to predict which way for now.'

Yeah, the S&P's only down 30% ytd. It'll take at least a 50% drop for America to get in the tank for the Muslim.

[Totally Heterosexual Conservative]

But, chris, didn't you hear that the economy isn't important to the McCain camp any more - and therefore not important to anyone? The fact that Obama is a scary black Muslim terrorist is plainly the central point of this campaign.

[chris]

The question is what exactly IS important to the McCain camp these days?? Smears? Lies? That silly woman?

[hdtv]

Palin was defined by the Couric interviews. What made it even worse was later having McCain chaperone. Not only did Palin prove herself to be incompetent and out of her depth, McCain, by moderating, also awknowledged the fact. And while McCain reinforced Palin as being green and out of her league, Palin's youth contrasted and made McCain look really old and out of touch. It was just another bad choice. He should have just sent Palin to boot camp and had her do a different interview alone. Let her redefine herself.

The attention that Palin was supposed to bring backfired. She did in fact get attention, but she confused McCain's platform and weakened the ticket. Her performance in the debate did nothing and now Biden and Palin might as well as disappear for the next month because neither of them will have any influence over the outcome.

McCain should have chosen a much more experienced running mate who would have strengthened the McCain experience platform and argument going into the VP debate.

[seekeronos]

Attention Liberals:

Who do you think would have made the best running mate for McCain, and why?

Just for the sake of discussion.

Let me toss out a few possibilities (of course, you are not limited to these).

Tim Pawlenty?

Mitt Romney?

Charlie Crist?

Rudy Giuliani?

Mike Huckabee?

...I am curious as to who you think would have been the strongest partner to McCain.

[Anon]

Tom Ridge would have been the best VP choice, but the base would not have accepted him. He could have virtually guaranteed PA and helped hugely in the Democratic leaning swing states.

McCain can't win on the economy because the media have decided to cover the story in a way that blames only the Republicans, the ACORN/Freddie/Fannie Mae/CRA/Barney Frank Democratic side is'nt getting reported. His best hope would be to saturated key states with advertising that sets the record straight and by passes the media.

[Worst President Ever]

Look at the economic numbers when Clinton left office vs today, after eight years of Bush and six of Republican Rule.

[sand_dollar]

From the responses above, the defenders of the obamanation fallacy are running scared. McCain/Palin!

[seekeronos]

C'mon, WPE... tell us what you think: who would have been the best choice for McCain instead of Palin?

[mary]

Worst President Ever, you can look at the numbers all you want. Clinton overtaxed everyone and the foundation was laid during his administration for the crisis you are now experiencing.

[Worst President Ever]

Probably Ridge, because it would have given McCain a real shot at Pennsylvania. But he's pro-choice and can't pass the fringe-right anti-abortion litmus test. If McCain was set on picking a woman, he could have picked one of Maine senators or Kay Bailey Hutchinson. But again, I think they're also all pro-choice.

********
REAL Fiscal Conservatives pay for what they buy. They don't run up huge deficits to pass off to their kids.

[seekeronos]

"--- REAL Fiscal Conservatives pay for what they buy. They don't run up huge deficits to pass off to their kids. ---"

I agree 100%. And *both* parties have a painful lack of members in Congress who have a deep understanding of this.

I believe 2012 may yet bring us to truly regret having rejected the wisdom of Dr. Ron Paul and the late Sen. Robert Alphonso Taft (1889-1953, may he rest in peace)... and hopefully field a candidate with like mind and principles.

- * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - * - *

Tom Ridge... he would have likely sealed up PA. I would have had a hard time getting behind him though, as you say - he has no sympathy for the rights of the unborn. I remember the uproar when McCain "floated a trial balloon" with Ridge's name on it.

As for the abortion thing, I hate to say this, but the Christians are a very small minority in this country now; given the political climate and the difficulty of getting a certiorari for anything to challenge Roe v. Wade, much less a federal ban, federally sanctioned infanticide (abortion) will be the law of the land for the next several generations (barring some dire population crisis such as hyper-virulent strain of the flu or a widespread series of radiological attacks).

It makes for good politics for rallying the religious, but is as much as a dead-ender of an issue for the Great Wide Middle as is trying to pass uniform federal legislation to completely private ban gun ownership (i.e. re-interpret the 2nd Amendment to mean that only the state can own and/or issue firearms to LEO organisations).

[hdtv]

I'm not sure the fringe-right anti-abortion litmus test matters in this election. Or perhaps I should say matters as much as the independent/swing voter litmus test.

[seekeronos]

Unless there is a serious move toward aggressive, getting-back-to-our-roots paleoconservatism - with a wholesale adoption of non-interventionism as espoused by the old, great conservative thinkers of the early-mid 20th century...

... I think that 2012 will also find those of us characterised as "the Christian Right" even more increasingly marginalised by the GOP, being viewed as causing McCain to toss the election for Gov. Palin (who has her own connections with the Evangelicals.

Sadly, with the rule of "Bread and Circuses" increasingly shouted out as the panacea for all of out societal ills, both parties will increasingly drift inexorably to the left - the Democrats ever markedly more so than the GOP.

Yet the GOP - unless the younger set of Republicans who have heard Dr. Paul's message of Liberty can take back control of their party from the neoconservative elders who have wickedly squandered our good name and principles... will become completely unrecognisable in the in the next few election cycles from the party of Barry Goldwater, or that which was grown to greatness in American political thinking by such inestimable men of learning and wisdom as the late Sen. R.A. Taft, Thomas Fleming, Robert Nesbit, Charles Hughes or "Silent" Cal Coolidge.

[seekeronos]

"--- Or perhaps I should say matters as much as the independent/swing voter litmus test. ---"

This then, is the challenge for the Right: to persuade the independents/swing voters that defending the sanctity of human life is important, in all of its stages.

And by providing easement to the adoption process, along with tax breaks and support to adoptive families, as well as mothers who choose to give their children to parents better able to look out for their interests.

[Worst President Ever]

It mattered to McCain when he picked a VP. But overall, it's a losing issue once the Republicans get past the convention. Allowing it to essentially disqualify a number of his best VP options is really going to hurt McCain in the general.

[HRPKathy]

The fact that liberals hate Sarah Palin so much is proof she WAS the best VP choice. JM is talking about the economy, and how the democrats tanked it. Ayers the unrepentant terrorist speaks to the kind of judgment the Obama One would put in his cabinet. Sec of Education Bill Ayers anyone?

It's not the crime it's the cover up. Why is Obama lying about his relationship with Ayers?

As to the n word - the left is always bringing that up - guilty conscience probably.

[HRPKathy]

BTW WPE - the CBS polls indicate a six point drop in O'Biden's numbers after the Palin/Biden debate. Sure she lost it.... keep spinning.

When is Biden going to be dropped - talk about a liability. He brings nothing but lying skills, of which Obama is already proficient.

[Worst President Ever]

If you're living in some sort of Never-Never land where Conservatives Do No Wrong - then yeah, you probably think Palin was a great pick. But for moderate Republicans, Independents, and Conservative Democrats - which are the people McCain needs to convince to vote for him - she'll probably hurt the ticket because they won't see her as a serious choice or a viable President.

This poll? http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/10/02/politics/horserace/entry4497035.shtml

Forty-six percent of the uncommitted voters surveyed say Democrat Joe Biden won the debate, compared to 21 percent for Republican Sarah Palin. Thirty-three percent said it was a tie.

Eighteen percent of previously uncommitted percent say they are now committed to the Obama-Biden ticket. Ten percent say they are now committed to McCain-Palin. Seventy-one percent are still uncommitted.

[mary]

Why do I think this debate will either be a total sleeper or so explosive we will be discussing it into the wee hours? In other words, no middle ground, one or the other.

[tally]

come on, all those online polls are a farce. all you have to do is delete your cookies and vote over and over again.

[Worst President Ever]

If you'd bothered to click the link before posting about it, you'd know it wasn't an online poll.

Duh.

"CBS News and Knowledge Networks have conducted a nationally representative poll of 473 uncommitted voters to get their immediate reaction to tonight's vice presidential debate."

[Anon]

The Republican Party is going to have to move beyond abortion as the number one litmus test. It is self defeating and pointless. Nobody changes their mind on abortion, either you believe its wrong for the government to force a woman to have a child or you believe abortion is murder, there isn't much room for common ground.

A federal ban on abortion is not going to happen in this country. Roe might get overturned, and that would be better for national politics because people on both sides could go back to picking senators and presidents based on their overall policy positions instead of rejecting solid Republicans like Tom Ridge.

Tom DeLay and George Bush have destroyed the Republican Party, I knew it was all over when they called a special session for Terrie Schiavo and it has been downhill since then.

Fiscal responsibility, traditional [not religious] values, state's rights, meritocracy....that is much more useful for the country and palatable for independents than gay marriage and abortion.

[BobinStamford]

Heavens, patriots! Another tough, tough day on Wall St. Thankfully John McCain has declared that the "fundamentals of the economy are STRONG". If not, I'd say that he's in a bit of trouble. But since the American people believe in John McCain I'm sure that they want to hear even more about that 'domestic terrorist'.

Congratulations on picking another WINNER!!!

[mary]

The fundamentals of the economy are strong. Ask all the guests on CNBC who they have had on for two days who start by saying that phrase. Then they say the dollar is strong. Then they say it will probably be contained in the financials. Then they say they are buying.

Tell obama it is time to change the talking points.

[jaime]

"come on, all those online polls are a farce"

This was a scientific poll, moron. And it was perfectly in line with what every single other poll, including FOX NEWS, had to say.

"The fundamentals of the economy are strong."

WOW! If McCain told you Poop tasted like Chicken, you'd be walking around with a brown chin, wouldn't you? Get help. Seriously. GET. HELP.

[mary]

McCain isn't telling me anything jaime. I get emails from both camps. I am undecided. I have advanced financial degrees and can develop my own view of the markets and the economy.

[templar knight]

Yeah, it was so tough a day Boob that I bought my middle son a brand new Toyota Tacoma. Didn't have any trouble getting 0% financing, either. What credit crunch? I wanted him to go to Washington, D.C. in style. He will soon be heading to his new digs at Ft. McNair.

[mary]

ooo thank you to your son, Knight Templar.

[BobinStamford]

It is truly IMPRESSIVE that you can buy your own grown child a truck! The bigger question may be why he couldn't buy one himself? This is a bit shocking from the party of Larry Craig and self-reliance.

Does he still get an allowance??

[mary]

Out of six million questions, six million questions, those were the best ones?

And watch, on Faux news the Obama biotch and I say that because it is the only description that fit, immediately jumped on the "McCain said he wants to buy back all the mortgages and her obviously rich republican friend said she should have bought a bigger house". She may be wealthy but she is most certainly stupid. She did not understand what McCain said at all.

Obama to me was still a disappointment. I'm still undecided.

[templar knight]

"Does he still get an allowance?"

No, but I wanted to reward him for his hard work. Frankly, he deserves it. He's been a great kid, and I'm proud of him. And to answer your other question, he could have bought a truck for himself, but I bought my other son a new car when he went off to college, so to be fair, I felt I should buy this son one, also, even though he never asked for it. You see, he worked part time, went to school, and bought his first truck on his own. Did that clear it all up for you, Bobby?

[Fred Beloit]

Temp: "Didn't have any trouble getting 0% financing, either. What credit crunch? I wanted him to go to Washington, D.C. in style."
That's interesting, Temp. Yesterday on my car radio was an ad from a mortgage broker offering 100% mortgages at 6%. And "Call us; we will qualify you." About half a tick higher than the market, but still. Where is this crisis I've heard so much about? Down here all the usual businesses are open, all the paychecks are being issued and cashed. What's going on?
Incidentally, we just had a tornado go through. Nobody in the immediate neighborhood hurt. Lots of trees down. Lots of debris on the roads. Power went out. We lost a few roof tiles. Other than that...whah, whah whah, I need a bailout Congressman Boyd, you lefty, you.