The problem Dr. Chopra is that if Obama gets emotional, dareIsay even angry, then white people will get scared!

An angry black man is the 800 pound gorilla in Obama's room that he must keep forever hidden in there.

It is bad enough that Hispanics hate black people and few will cross racial lines to vote for him, and that there is still a sizable segment of white people who will simply not vote for a . . ., black person, but if the brother shows any righteous anger alot of white people will start grabbing their guns . . .

I just wish all of the black people in the U.S. military would realize this! The U.S. army would have a full-scale civil war within itself!

Obama for POTUS!

Amen

Deepak,

I don't have the desire to engage in the illusion of the battle between the Republicans and the Democrats. I have decided not to depend on the president or congress to initiate change. That would be buying into the illusion that we must depend on the President and Congress to provide the directive and initiative for change. History demonstrates that we cannot rely upon them. It is we the people that must provide the directive for change, and the duty of congress and the president to carry it out.

I had been trying to determine what had been causing my vibrational drop and I realized I was getting caught up the collective illusion.

There seems to be a lot of blame put on presidents for the state of affairs. The truth the President is the individual with the most power. However the Presidents power is dwarfed, unless the constitution is tampered with, by the collective power of congress. So congress carries a vastly larger share of the responsibility for the state of affairs.

Congress as an elected group has the most power of any formal group yet the power of congress is dwarfed by the collective power of the citizens of the United States. So the people of the United States share the ultimate responsibility for the current state of affairs not congress or the president. That is if the people are not divided with fictions rendering them impotent.

CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT ARE NOT TO BLAME

I just realized the game, by getting the people to blame congress and the president; it in fact disempowers the people. This ploy gets the people to give up their power because they place all the responsibility on the President and Congress which renders the people powerless. Once elected congress or the president has several years to take the money and run before the people can do anything about it. The result is no change no matter which party is in power, because all the energy for change, or blame for the lack of change gets switched back and forth never being applied to the real culprit or obstacle to change.

I have an idea.

I will be the liaison between the people of the United States the President and congress. I will articulate the executable solutions (which I have) and provide the directive to congress and the president on behalf of the people. Better than that, I will create an autonomous system, the measured and authenticated voice of the people that will provide the directive. The executable solutions will be formed through collective intelligence, fully integrated perspectives and Socratic dialog. Each citizen will vote their intent and will with a mouse click.

I wonder if Ron Paul and other third party candidates are not sucking votes away from Obama, the real question is he doing it with that intention. My hope is that Obama would be smart enough, and enough of an independent

President Reagan once said something very peculiar that I caught. He was asked if he read a certain periodical. His reply was, “no I don’t think they let me read that”. In other words the President was isolated and handled. The information going to the President is controlled which is what his response to the journalists question indicated. That is why a dumb President is vital to the world’s power brokers. If we want to take the power away from a few, then we need a smart president that cannot be misled and brainwashed.

We all realize a handful of people gave the people of the United States their choice as president. Dear people of the United States we have selected two people from which you will choose for president, however we already worked out the math and the psychological ploys and with an edge from the Electoral College that actually votes for the president we will be selecting your choice.

McCain is not capable of understanding and comprehending all that a President needs to understand. He will need to rely on others to make the decisions for him, which means that he will not actually be acting as president, others will be doing it on his behalf, and he will simply be the public relations figure head.

So if the people of the United States want to break the hold on power by a few, that act in detriment to the many then we the people need to elect the sharpest, smartest individual with the correct intentions. We also need to take control into our hands and actually change how government is run on our behalf.

Deepak I also wonder how many individuals are influencing you to unknowingly carry out their agenda. One would think that you would be helping me to destroy the illusions not to support them. Of course I know how easy it is to get caught up in illusions on so many levels.

I hope the people of the United States will join me in unity owning the ultimate responsibility for the state of affairs and destroying the fictions that create imbalance.

Copy paste, propagate and destroy the fictions.

HufFPo: SLASH AND BURN CAMPAIGN BACKFIRING

The New Republic... Mark Halperin... EJ Dionne... McClatchy Papers... Joe Klein... CBS... ABC's Jake Tapper... Andrew Sullivan... MSNBC... Paul Begala... AP... David Corn... Atlanta Journal Constitution... Glenn Greenwald... Taylor Marsh... Chicago Tribune... Slate... Politico's Jonathan Martin... Ruth Marcus...
The American Prospect... Ari Melber...

YouTube Removes "Misleading" McCain Web Ad Uses Couric For Sexism Argument

Olbermann Special Comment Slams Republicans For Exploiting 9/11

Arianna Huffington: Enough!: Why Obama Should Release His Righteous Rage

"Obama has often said that he is running because of what Dr. King called "the fierce urgency of now." He needs to show that fierceness and that urgency. When we think of King, we usually think of him as resolute and dignified. But King was also filled with a prophetic anger, especially in the later years of his life. As a leader fighting for fundamental change in this country, Obama has to be willing to show us that kind of righteous anger. I don't know about you, but when I think about what George Bush has done to this country -- and what John McCain wants to keep doing -- I consider outrage the only rational and legitimate response. The last seven-plus years demand more than a beaming smile. They demand indignation. Outrage. Fury."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Are there any readers of intent blog that get the gist and impact of what I wrote above?

Is everyone going to keep responding to the illusion or will you respond to the reality behind it?

The Politico: Bill O'Reilly on Obama: 'Tough but cautious'

Bill O'Reilly muses on his interview with Obama, and while he doesn't like his policies...it's amazing what some access will do:

"On the foreign policy front, Obama has convinced me that he is tough but cautious. He rose up quickly because he vehemently opposed the Iraq war. But now I see a man who understands the victory that has taken place in Iraq. I don't believe he wants to screw that up. I could be wrong.

After going mano-a-mano with Obama on television, I am also persuaded that he is a sincere guy-that he wants the best for all Americans. He's an ideologue, but not a blind one. He understands that his story is incredible, and, I have come to believe, he is grateful to the American system for allowing it happen."

I did not finish this sentence above.

My hope is that Obama would be smart, and enough of an independent thinker to be immune to the influence of those that would attempt to manipulate or deceive him, and to be able to see though disparity creating agenda which would benefit a few to the detriment of many. My hope is that Obama would be smart enough to discern and speak the truth to destroy the fictions that hold us like chains in slavery so that paradise, which is everyone a life worth living in balance is always just out of reach.

#4

"Are there any readers of intent blog that get the gist and impact of what I wrote above?

Is everyone going to keep responding to the illusion or will you respond to the reality behind it?"

Richard, I -- a lot others here, I suppose -- value your inputs. You have an unique point of view on all things. It's just that many of us don't feel the need to 'react' to your insights, because they stand on their own and they are appreciated. It's just that--as long as the world is driven largely by "illusionary forces"--many people choose (perhaps inadvertently) to immerse in the world of illusions to better fight the war of illusions.

Not only Obama, Hillary and the democrats need to engage themselves in what is happening, but every one of us.

The universe is a play of light and darkness, a beautiful, dramatic and entertaining one. In the world of the relative, there is a battle going on- between our inherent entropy and our inherent evolutionary desire.

The problem with the light, lol... is that it is so very nice, you know, one goes inward and meditates and spreads love and understanding, which is absolutely fine. But if this becomes an escapist fantasy, if the "light" part of us lives in some kind of dreamland and doesn't notice what the dark side of us is actually doing with our reality... if we can't mobilize the active passionate side of us in the service of our evolution... we might very well glide back into our entropy, lulled in our fantasies.

Richard is right that neither candidate is the one who will do what needs to be done. WE need to do what needs to be done. WE, every one of us, needs to wake up and realize that this is a moment of action, not one of passive elegance or retreat into mumbling.

Take whatever action, big or small, you can, in the direction of light, evolution, continued life for the human race. Do it now, not later. This is a critical moment.

One possible action, and a very powerful one, is to gather together and intend/pray/meditate/send energy to different aspects of our world today, including the American elections. In a few days the WorldHealersForum will open its gates, and everyone is welcome!
www.worldhealersforum.com

You are right on target Richard, and I support you 100%!

Like Chris says, it is getting pretty hard to cut through the illusions with most people, let alone our very selves, as you well know: tomorrow will perfectly exemplify the tremendous forces working against us . . .

peace

I added this as well.

CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT ARE NOT TO BLAME

Blaming the president shields the Congress, blaming the Congress shields the People.

h/t Chris

CBS Forces YouTube To Take Down "Misleading" McCain Ad -- McCain Hiding From Press

Palin Quoted Anti-Semite In Convention Speech

Michigan GOP Using Foreclosures To Block Black Voters

NBC Bureau Chief: Media Powerless Against McCain Campaign

FactCheck.org To McCain Camp: Stop Distorting Our Work

McCain May Have Opened Door For Charges That He Is A Sexist

Palin's Earmarks: Crab Mating, Recreational Halibut Fishing

McCain Decries Fannie And Freddie Lobbyists -- A Lot Of Them On His Campaign

Ron Paul Rejected Appeal To Endorse McCain

Halperin On Palin Outrage: "Stop The Madness"

Reporter: Sarah Palin Tried To Ban Gay-Themed Books

Lynn Sweet Corrects McCain On Obama And Sex Ed

WATCH: McCain "Fact Check" Ad Claims Obama Wants To "Destroy" Palin, With Wolves --Ad Uses Deception, Baseless Claims

Biden On Debate Prep: I Won't Take Palin's Bait

Former GOP Senator: Palin A "Cocky Whacko"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/politics/

Chris thanks for your valuable input and insight.

Deepak, Richard et al, many people - on the other side of the equation in influencing this election - are starting to see through the layers of illusions:

We Are Out Here
by ex VRWC
http://ex-vrwc.dailykos.com/

Wed Sep 10, 2008

We are out here - the Republicans or ex-Republicans who will no longer tolerate the racist, despicable slime machine that the right wing and the John McCain-Sarah Palin campaign has become. I know, for I am one of them. I am not your typical progressive, being an ex- Air Force officer (9 years), evangelical Christian, card carrying conservative, Rush/Hannity listener - an now an Obama supporter in John McCain's home state of Arizona.

And I know I am not alone - for one, my grown sons are with me. My older, now in college, proudly rides around with Obama stickers on his scooter. He, also, was raised an evangelical Christian, and goodness knows I subjected him to a conservative worldview.

So what gives? Why are we out here - the Rebublican Obama supporters, the ones you don't expect. More on my story below:

ex VRWC's diary :: ::

ROTC Cadet, Air Force Captain, Free Republic diarist, James Dobson quoting conservative, 2 time Bush voter. Church worship leader. These all describe me. And there are more just like me. My evolution to progressive awareness has been a slow one, but is has never gone faster than in the last 3 or 4 months. How do I describe myself now - a progressive conservative, of course (if there is such a thing)!

So why am I and those like me out here? I am out here because I see through the hysteria that the right wing has become. I know the abandonment of principles when we see it. I despise in today's Republican Party what I was always told were the worst traits of the 'left' in years past. I know better these days. I have come to the realization that in many ways I left my brain turned off for far too long. I listened to those I was supposed to agree with, and never tried to be, as Rush Limbaugh says, a 'truth seeker'. Well I am a truth seeker now, I find truth much more often when I listen to Rachel Maddow that I ever did on Rush. I am able to see (on the right) political opportunism, shameless lying, rampant political positioning, and a party leadership that has forfieted all claim to trust.

Nothing has shamed me more than the evangelical groupthink around the Sarah Palin pick. People I used to respect for their strong stand on the family and values have completely abandoned their principles to back someone whom they think offers a slim grasp at victory. I will not participate in it, nor will my church, for which I am thankful. Trust me, the groupthink on the right is not as rampant as you may think. There are those of us that recognize that our so-called conservative and Christian leaders in this country are almost universally bankrupt, and we are outraged and ashamed.

The sins of the right in this campaign and of the last 8 years do not go unnoticed. The racism, the shameless lying, the demeaning, the assumption that the 'base' is composed of idiots - I see through these things. I see through the rabid assertions that question patriotism or imply sympathy with terrorism. I see through the thin veneer of declaring 'victory' in Iraq. I see the right wing totally ignoring the very real issues we face - the housing crisis, the mortgage meltdown, the looming bank bailout, the sellout of the economy in the name of 'globalization'. I saw the disregard for fellow humans that was Katrina and its aftermath, even to this day. I see the eroded stature of our nation that 8 years of 'maverick' foriegn policy has wrought. We are not stupid.

What do I see in Barack Obama? I see an intelligent, thoughtful, unflappable leader. I see a patriot who is rising up and putting himself forth for leadership of this great nation in its hour of need. Goodness knows, I would not want the job. I see a man who will perform the duties of the President of the United States with sober and thoughtful judgement. I see a man with the breadth and depth who can address many of these problems we face as a nation. I see a man who wants to bring us together. I don't pretend it will be easy, it will not be. There are big problems to be solved. We will need to come together, those of us on each side of the political spectrum. First to get Barack Obama elected, then to work to make America a better place. I will do my part to convince those I know that a vote for McCain will be a disaster.

So, progressives on the left, know that there are those of us on the right that have been listening and paying attention. We have heard what Barack Obama is saying. We look forward to working together with you to make this nation a better place. Godspeed in the next 2 months.

I agree with Karl Rove, if Obama keeps running against Palin instead of McCain, he will lose. The problem with Obama is that when something gets into his head, it's hard for him to shake it off and at this point he is losing valuable time. Palin has consumed Obama. When he was going head to head with McCain, he did well. Biden is dead weight, adds nothing, his debate with Palin will be a disaster.

Deepak wants Obama to get tough, I agree with Craig, he gets angry instead and that's bad news. It's against his nature to be agressive.

If I was supporting Obama, I would hope that the army of lawyers currently descending on Wasilla, AK, really find the dirt because otherwise, as the late great Chick Hern used to say" The eggs and butter are getting cold, this is in the refrigerator."

Steve

I just saw this:

http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/11/obama-letterman-pigs/

Obama's appearance on Letterman and guess what they were talking about pretty much the whole time? Palin... bad strategy Barak, go ahead yuk it up with Dave, that will just thrill America.

I wonder if Palin is new expression of the evolutionary impulse that Deepak loves to talk about?

I now see that Barak can only have one strong woman in his life (Michelle), the idea of Hillary and now Palin, it's just too much and he is getting angry and is certainly off his game.

Ignore Palin and get on with the election Sir.

Steve

You "just saw" that?

Great, you must keep seeing what McCain and Palin are doing. And what Obama and Biden are doing. Who is discussing issues and polices more? No comparison at all.

Too bad, it was the McCain campaign that created this fake outrage about Palin and Lipstick bs these two days that's getting this wide coverage in the media. And the Obama camp pushed back. And it is back firing on McCain.

I think someone who is "concerned" about the tone of the campaigns should better give their advice to the McCain camp to talk about "issues" and not about their VP Palin's hockey mom and pitbull lipstickery and making smears and false attack ads on Obama.

Elections are about issues, and McCain doesn't want to talk about issues. That's the Rove Plan. And its going to backfire.

There are 55 days to go. Obama campaign knows what they are doing. Unfortunately, McCain camp has only one way of winning this thing, and their desperation shows.

I have been looking for stuff I can agree with Shmuel on for awhile now, and, regreettably, I think he has it about right on this one.

If Obama had got Ron Paul on the ticket now that would have been something!

peace all

Obama goes on Letterman show and takes a question on the controversy-of-the-day which was created by the McCain/Palin campaign in the first place with their false charges of sexism(that even CBS made Youtube remove the false ad), and clarifies it for what it is, and then he is "talking about Palin and not the issues and McCain"?

Just goes to show what a shithead Ambasteve is.

I agree with Craig on that, Palin is an intelligent choice for VP to 'win' the election by playing dirty, but, then to blame Obama for this 'dirt' is ridiculous. Shit happens.

I have been playing with this other angle, that I am actually a fool and the jokes on me.

The theory is that there are only a few real whole beings on this planet numbering in the thousands. Most of them are billionaires or celebrity. The rest of the general population is really a bunch of shell beings that are automatons or robots. Robots are designed to be exploited and used to the benefit of the robot programmers.

Perhaps a bunch of you already figured this out.

Through my experience and direct observation I see evidence to support this theory but I need to test it out.

So I am coming up with a way, if you all really are robots that you only exist to be exploited, which I can then do in good conscious. Or at least I would no longer bother myself with concern for you being exploited by others. In other words

The experiment will work based on this:

In a world of 6.6 billion people, it does seem hard to believe. The theory of six degrees of separation contends that, because we are all linked by chains of acquaintance, you are just six introductions away from any other person on the planet.
Recently researchers announced the theory was right - nearly. By studying billions of electronic messages, they worked out that any two strangers are, on average, distanced by precisely 6.6 degrees of separation. In other words, putting fractions to one side, you are linked by a string of seven or fewer acquaintances to Madonna, the Dalai Lama and the Queen. The news will come as no surprise to film buffs who for years have been playing the parlor game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, in which they link other actors to Bacon in six films or fewer.
The test will consist of buttons on the Internet that need to be clicked. If I simply write here on Intent Blog and based on the 6.6 degrees of separation, which doesn’t sound like there is much to overcome to establish global unity, and every free thinking agent (if you are not really robots) fulfills their duty to them selves and introduces the solutions to all those around them and support the implementation with willful energy. Then we should have no problems bringing the world to a balance.

I’ll do the dirty work and be the conveyor and messenger of truth and figure out the right questions.

Let’s hope Obama is reading this thread, let’s see with 6.6 degrees of separation, and the Internet, this should not be a problem in case he forgot to check this blog today, we should be able to change and transform the world to 1 DEGREE OF SEPARTION WHICH = UNITY AS ONE. Maybe this could be a new theme…..

To continue with the experiment to determine if I am a fool:
The buttons will be of two types. One is simply a link for awareness. The second is a button to actually contribute money to define and fund the changes. We will actually have a third button type which funds awareness campaigns filling the communication pipes with intelligence and wisdom and insight, from a perspective driven by compassion for all.

If the general population is really a bunch of free agents they will be able to click the buttons and will be notified by their free thinking friends. If they are automatons and robots they will not be able to, therefore granting license to not bother doing anything about those exploiting them and perhaps finding my own way to create wealth from them as mindless labor and utilize my programming skills to program the matrix and execute code to build an empire with me as King of the Automatons.
The first test is the link to The End of Disease which has been recently been updated with the awareness needed to eliminate disease. Everyone on the planet needs to study it and we will all eliminate most of the cost burden of disease in about 3 years.

I will watch the server logs to see how many people actually view this which will be the first part of the test. I will also watch the popular media to see if it show their based on consumer demand. The media gives the consumer what they demand in order to garner their attention. So it is the choice of the people as to what they will place their attention on, if they are free thinking and not robots otherwise they will watch what they are programmed to watch and programmed by what they watch.

Click my name for the link or Google “The End of Disease”

Let the experiment begin...

SGM Larry A. Myers U.S. Army (Retired)
A veteran of 27 years in the United States Army including combat tours in Vietnam.

http://mythougtsonthat.blogspot.com/

Honor - To Have And Have Not
by SGT MAJOR MYERS
Wed Sep 10, 2008

After these many months of silence I find I am once again compelled to express my thoughts.

I have over recent months followed the presidential campaign quite closely and even more closely over the past two weeks and one very specific issue has become crystal clear to me which I want to share with you.

Throughout my life growing up in a military family and in my military career one predominate trait or quality was emphasized and driven home by both my family and every leader I have ever met. That trait or quality was honor. Just to refresh your memory the dictionary defines honor as, honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions: a man of honor.

From the time that I had what I believe was probably my very first logical thought about the subject I do not believe that there was ever any doubt in my mind of what the meaning of honor was nor was there ever any doubt of what actions honor required. There was a second thing that I never had any doubt about and that was that once ones honor was compromised it was a permanent and oft never fading blemish. I know this from personal experience and my own personal failures against which I struggle to this very day. I point that out because I believe that even the most honorable and well intentioned people with the most hard earned sense of honor can fail and that they can be guilty of being dishonorable and I believe that that has happened in the presidential race.

I have known of John McCain for as long as he has been in the public eye. I have, as a fellow soldier and as a fellow citizen, respected him for his extraordinary military and public service. In fact I believe we as a nation should respect and appreciate and yes honor what he has done for our nation. I believe his have been the actions of an exceptionally brave and historically honorable man.

However there is something else that I believe. I believe that past honorable service and dedication to duty and country does not immunize one against poor judgment, failure or even from doing the wrong thing. I believe that ones honor is not something one does once and then puts it on a shelf where it shines forever. Honor is second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour and year by year. It is only as untarnished and undiminished as ones past and ones last action.

It is with great sadness that I say to you that John McCain is not an honorable man today. The reason I say this is because I am observing and hearing reported by every major news organization in this country that he and his running mate are participating in and personally articulating blatant lies. These are not the actions of honorable people. When one is aspiring to the highest and second highest public offices in the land it is incumbent upon one to speak truth and only truth and to communicate about those issues that are vital and of importance to the citizens of the nation. It is not honorable for individuals to speak lies to the citizens and make unproven accusations against those whom they oppose. When one opposes another person in vying for public office it becomes even more important to insure that one speaks the truth and deals with issues and substantive differences and not innuendo and accusation.

The fact that John McCain is a former Naval Officer and a sitting United States Senator makes this lack of honor horribly reprehensible. But I think what makes this lack of honor so disgusting and even more vile is that he would lose himself to the point of using his own sacrifice and service as a shield to commit such petit dishonorable acts of lying. Conservative, liberal, or Independent, share his beliefs or not, it would be morally reprehensible for anyone to support someone who displays so little honor. Sometimes we must call them like they are. Prisoner of war or not service to country or not there is a line and John McCain and his running mate have crossed the line.

This nation has endured eight long years of lies and deceptions from the two highest ranking public figures in the country and virtually their entire administration. Our honor as a nation is not just blemished but in tatters and we cannot endure another four or eight years of the same. If for no other reason than the fact that John McCain and his vice presidential running mate have publicly lied and continue to lie this nation needs to insure that he does not occupy the office of the president. Our nation needs honor above all else at this crucial point in our history. With honor comes respect and from these come all else.

Maureen Dowd's list of questions for Sarah Palin:

"What kind of budget-cutter makes a show of getting rid of the state plane, then turns around and bills taxpayers for the travel of her husband and kids between Juneau and Wasilla and sticks the state with a per-diem tab to stay in her own home?
Why was Sarah for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against the Bridge to Nowhere, and why was she for earmarks before she was against them? And doesn't all this make her just as big a flip-flopper as John Kerry?

What kind of fiscal conservative raises taxes and increases budgets in both her jobs -- as mayor and as governor?

When the phone rings at 3 a.m., will she call the Wasilla Assembly of God congregation and ask them to pray on a response, as she asked them to pray for a natural gas pipeline?

Does she really think Adam, Eve, Satan and the dinosaurs mingled on the earth 5,000 years ago?

Why put out a press release about her teenage daughter's pregnancy and then spend the next few days attacking the press for covering that press release?

As Troopergate unfolds here -- an inquiry into whether Palin inappropriately fired the commissioner of public safety for refusing to fire her ex-brother-in-law -- it raises this question: Who else is on her enemies list and what might she do with the F.B.I.?

Does she want a federal ban on trans fat in restaurants and a ban on abortion and Harry Potter? And which books exactly would have landed on the literature bonfire if she had had her way with that Wasilla librarian?

Just how is it that Fannie and Freddie have cost taxpayers money (since they haven't yet)?"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/opinion/10dowd.html

Even a stopped clock...

Barack Obama has reprised his great line during his acceptance speech, insisting "Enough!...Enough is enough!" in response to the pathetic attempt by the McCain campaign to make something out of nothing with the whole "lipstick on a pig" nonsense. Of course, it wouldn't even be an issue if the media didn't make it one, but we go to war with the media we have, not the media we wish we had.

Here's Barack Obama responding forcefully today. I agree with David Kurtz of the TPM that, sure, he's inherently on defense here and I'd much prefer to see him on offense but let's not forget, he does this sort of rapid response very well.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/215368.php

Note that while Obama begins with his usual mocking tone, he shifts to a more serious one, as if to say "this is no laughing matter."

Watch it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLgm1I8bVVE

Now, it's true that the McCain camp's jumping on Obama's "lipstick on a pig" comment, which, it should be noted, is a saying that John McCain has been very fond of using, especially as regards Hillary Clinton's healthcare plan (hell, even McCain's daughter Meghan acknowledges this), has put Obama on defense. Sure, they've been able to drive the narrative for another day or two, distracting the media, as though with a shiny object, away from anything critical of Sarah Palin. But does this strategy strike anyone else as unsustainable? Is that really all McCain has, the hope to put Obama on defense every day to win "the message war"? Superficially, the McCain campaign's move may be offensive but it is a strategy borne out of a position of weakness, namely that they know that if this campaign becomes about issues, they lose and if there is any real scrutiny of Sarah Palin beyond the cult of personality coverage they lose.

Of course, as we ("WE" meaning, Obama supporters for Ambasteve et al) all know, they do it because it literally is all they have, which is why we're in better shape than it might seem.

It should come as a comfort to all of you that I would assume most robots and automatons would never read here at Intent Blog so you all must be whole beings. Of course I can't be sure some of you may be robots. I could see robots being used by one group of programmers as agents to block programming by another group of programmers. We can be sure that most of the Robots are watching the election drama, sports, and not reading. Reading except for instructions is generally not a good idea for robots because it may affect their programming.

For example if I was trying to program you to buy my product rather than a product from another competitive group of programmers, they might send in agents to spread fictions and fear or doubts about my product.

Or if I were to try to program you to use my new natural free flow energy and storage system rather than real time single point of failure unnatural unbalanced power generation locked in oil and coal they might send out robotic agents of deception. Or they might even claim that they were going to switch, but then actually delay it pretending they are implementing a transition when they are actually not; at least not in the optimum time frame.

I have seen in various forums robotic agents attack programming that could disrupt the current systems if it were uploaded by other robots. Programming that would alter the behavior of the automatons such as to destroy the disproportionate advantage that certain groups of programmers currently have. This which would allow another group of programmers to gain the allegiance of the robots with improved operating condition and then gain benefit from their services previously sold to you by other programmers.

So I am thinking all the self aware out there, the programmers, that are currently not receiving the full benefit of a fair portion of the robot labor could get together to reprogram the automatons to our benefit and that of the automatons. Some programmers are hoarding all the output from the robot labor leaving other of us with almost none, or even forcing us to labor along with the robots to get feed energy and storage. What if we form a programming club called Club 13 to reprogram The Matrix?

There is one other option for the disadvantaged programmers (self ware) to bring balance to the systems of The Matrix that would be to write and execute a function to trigger self awareness in the automatons / robots freeing them from their mindless servitude and converting all being to independent programmers creating equality and balance system wide. I have no doubt this would be a challenge since the programmers with the advantage would try to execute code to block the execution of the self awareness function.

I guess I will write some code to be compiled… I will be posting it on programming TheMatrix.me

Since English is the dominant programming language, most automaton processors can compile English instructions, it occurred to me I may have already written the Self Aware function inadvertently and executed it I guess we will see if it replicates through the system.

check it out:

http://www.iftheworldcouldvote.com/

spread it around

peace comes from peace

""Strong enough to be open
Successful enough to fail
Wise enough to say: “I don’t know”
Serious enough to laugh
Planned enough to be spontaneous
Controlled enough to be flexible
Knowledgeable enough to ask questions
Responsible enough to Play
Assured enough to be rejected
Industrious enough to relax
Leading enough to serve""

These are the qualities Obama possesses and in my view he just has to stay himself and be the change he has promoted during his campaign, then the words and deeds will come by themselves.

One has to express a firm believe in oneself and radiate that. One cannot be what one is not.

Anyway, 80% of the people in the world would vote for Obama if they were able to.

Mieke

It's a brave man who continues when he most certainly has had death threats. Put yourselves in his shoes and see also whose shoes he has put himself in. Narrow is the way and I wish you would all shut up!

Lol, Ed, I'm holding my breath... but it's two months!!

Sounds like that's a death threat, too, Aurora ;)

I truly hate to say this, but McCain and that WOMAN FROM NOWHERE are truly riding a wave.

Obama screwed up when he and his wife didn't get matching eyewear.

I think Pickens is Obama's one and only chance.

Perhaps its fitting to have McCain and The Woman from Nowhere sitting atop the collapse of the most colossal ponzi scheme in human history.

Psssssssst: somebody wasn't birthing enough borrowing consumers 25 years ago.

there are seven weeks left in the campaign, an eternity in politics.

'bama is running against McCain, not Palin.

Palin needs to stand own her own and not be shielded from the press...she needs to be pressed..

u'd have to lose your senses to commit to some fly-by-night, flash in the pan..

democreats need to remind voters about this ugly war, the huge drain on the economy, the enemies this illegal war has created, jobs lost, the neglect of the economy by george bush and john macain... and expose this hockey mom...she's scary!

Bill O'Reilly Vs. Barack Obama -- last night I finished watching the last of four segments of an interview recorded on the last day of the Republican Convention. At first I thought this was a blunder by Obama, and after the first segment, I felt I was right.

O'Reilly was abrupt, and his demeanor was as much to show his dominance over a Presidential nominee than to explore his interviewee. I thought three more days of this would not be good.

Coincidentally this last segment coincided with the "Lipstick on a Pig" comment by Obama, something that has been touted as a direct attack on Sarah Palin by the McCain group, and retorted as a distortion by Obama. There have been a number of these claims of nefarious "dog whistles" by both sides in this campaign. Most notoriously was the "Celebrity" ad that many here maintained were racist assaults.

So, how did Bill O'Reilly respond to his party's attack on Obama's purported misogyny? He not only said it was unsupported by the evidence, but called the accusation unfair, and warned that it could come back to harm McCain. Interesting!

Although the interview took place over one half hour period, its being spread over a period of six days gives an illusion of a developing .....friendship, is the only word that comes to mind. It reminded me of the kind of conversations I have with my conservative tennis friends, the few that have the ability to think about the issues.

We disagree, but we welcome each others knowledge, perspective and conclusions. It has the quality of the tennis games we play, where the competition is the essence of the enjoyment, and the better the players, the more fun it is.

Obama went toe to toe with O'Reilly. When he saw a mis-perception he pointed it out and O'Reilly listened. "No, you are wrong when you say I oppose nuclear power." "No, it's not true that I will raise taxes." and, "I have acknowledged that the surge has lessened violence."

Let me confess something here. I am not one of the greatest fans of Obama on this site. No one can possibly know whether he will be a transformational historical figure, but he sure is a damn effective politician. And I disagree with a whole batch of his policies, and his tactics.

However, watching how he interacted with O'Reilly impressed me greatly. Of course he had his facts down cold, but any policy wonk can do that. What he was able to do was interact with someone who had a different political ideology with firmness that never even approached hostility. His skills were enough to interface with the man, so that he never really felt he had to demonstrate his toughness. It was self evident.

At the end there was a little impromptu tease that O'Reilly initiated, asking, "on a game of one on one basketball, what will you spot me?" Barack, lawyer that he is, made sure the terms were clear asking, "How many points?" When they agreed they would play to eleven, Obama thought for a second and seriously said, "I'll spot you ten."

It was a mock put down that was as skillful as any basketball play or negotiation with a world leader. They connected "man to man, which is close to "boy to boy." I had a strong sense that both of them had enjoyed the interaction, the bantering; and had gained some mutual respect.

I don't know whether there were any in The Factor audience whose votes were changed, but I'd be surprised if there weren't quite a few. For me, it was a demonstration of the type of personal skills that got him elected to the Presidency of the Harvard Law Review. It's a rare combination of personality and intellect, which is the ultimate quality needed in a President of the United States.

Yes, Deepak,

I agree, what you wrote. Obama must be careful and ever more aggressive to prove his wisdom, beyond anger, on the issues w McCain. Your suggestions are good. Palin must be fought in the ring with a fiercer Female tiger, to show what a real amazon for justice is about. It isn’t just a joke when such a person as Palin tips the vote. She epitomizes many of the kind of former female voters that voted for BUSH and co., (those who were more educated- using their stubborn savvy for such “views”). That is the key McCain might have realized might work. The republicans have always been very devious how they manipulate the "rhetoric" and the populous, gaining strength from the other party's "silence between the lines" or "lack of proper defences" these past 10 years. Perhaps Obama must give a small lecture about prejudice at one point also, enlighten the less enlightened voters who prefer only what they know – blind to their racism. The conservatives must be dealt with by the toughest psychological wisdom, left naked like the "King who paraded with no clothes" fairytale, to reveal the present republican prejudice and ignorance, misleading the trust of the American public with lies, for what it is. It has been worse than Watergate for years, yet none held accountable, and the public still succumbs to the madness? Or is it that such mass ignorance cannot be healed without losing what is loved the most: the lighthouse of a great nation- or a great hope, the hope for integrity in the humble hard wrought constitution of our fore-fathers based upon justice that defines us all in the world. I think Obama must re-phrase “God Bless America”. It is not just about America. Perhaps we “Americans” are an “example, or experiment” of what embodies human hope, who have failed again and again, trying to get it right while the rest of the world watches in frustration and sadness, hoping for a lighthouse to shine again one day. We have been like Icarus, flying too high near the sun and low with the waves, forgetting the wisdom of his father Dedalus’s warning. What about “God bless our courage and help us prevail against the lies and injustice that would blind us?”

With blessings-

Enough of Palin scandals? Fine.

Did McCain Tamper with the Drug Enforcement Agency to Protect His Career?
by: Matt Stoller
Thu Sep 11, 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5NV1PY2mMQ

A whistleblower is coming forth against John and Cindy McCain, and the picture he is painting is not a pretty one. You've probably heard about Cindy McCain stealing prescription drugs from her charity in the 1990s. Today, Tom Gosinski, her former employee and a close friend of the McCain's, came out on the record about the entire sordid episode. And it appears that McCain used his Senate staff and resources to cover up Cindy's drug use, and potentially to prevent the Drug Enforcement Agency from investigating his wife's theft of illegal prescription drugs. John McCain certainly used his political connections to begin a campaign of intimidation against Gosinski, because at the time - this was after the Keating 5 scandal - another major scandal would have derailed his career. Gosinski stayed quiet out of fear until today; a recent fight with cancer has strengthened his resolve. As he told me today, if he can beat cancer, he can go on the record regarding how the McCain's do business.

full post:

http://openleft.com/

Nate Silver has an excellent analysis on poll numbers and Karl Rove's conventional wisdom about not going after a VP candidate in Palin, the state of the race and the way ahead:

The Road To McCain Runs Through Palin
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/09/road-to-mccain-runs-through-palin.html

"Two-thousand and seven was the year of the pig in the Chinese calendar; maybe it can be 2008 here in the States."

Meta FactCheck

FactCheck.org fact checks McCain's use of FactCheck.org, and accuses him of distortion

"We don't object to people reprinting our articles. In fact, our copyright policy encourages it. But we've also asked that "the editorial integrity of the article be preserved" and told those who use our items that "you should not edit the original in such a way as to alter the message."

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/mccain-palin_distorts_our_finding.html

The organization also calls McCain's ad "less than honest," which will appear in the next ad as "honest."

Sarah Palin is a scary unknown quantity! macain is even scarier!

Hi Tipper, I am a registered Republican.

Of course that last registration was years ago this state doesn't have one register as a member of a party. Hanging out with some Republicans I learned about the behind the scenes disproportionate advantage stuff and I also saw the inefficiency of incentive lacking bureaucracy.

I see by the comments above most here are becoming very sharp.

You know the Wizard of Oz is about the return to paradise somewhere over the rainbow.

Just click your mouse twice on the right button and say “I want to go home”.

Awaken from the nightmare.

Hey Freyja
I saw the respect O'Reilly has for Obama. He drilled Obama and Obama gained his respect. I would like to see if Palin could gain any respect from any of the reporters. I seriously doubt it. Could she sit across from the president of Lybia like Mrs. Rice the other day? Everything in me say no freakin way.

It's amazing that anyone can take Sahra Palin seriously. Unfortunately there's a lot of people who would rather have the news media think for them.

Palin as a world leader is a complete joke and if it works to get McCain elected then the American people have a lot more growing up to do. If something happens to McCain and she becomes president, even if McCain becomes president, I would have to question the intelligence of the American people.

WORLD VOTE

check Mieke's post #27

The world is also watching this election. We are a global society now more than ever before.

After all the spin, McCain is Bush and Obama is change. Is America ready yet? Have we matured or are we going to play to adolescent name calling to elect the most powerful world leader?

peace comes from peace

derek

Richard
You are my hero. I wish more people would just get it.

derek

http://iftheworldcouldvote.com/

"McCain is Bush"

Yo doodleman.

I don't know what the life expectancy of a wolf is, but it's safe to say that it's at least four years:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBtzOHq6JqA

After marching in lockstep with George Bush for eight years, it seems that John McCain just can't let go because now he's even using Bush's old campaign footage.

Chris Matthews last night:

"This game that's being played is not an insult to a candidate, it's an insult to the intelligence to our democracy."

Indeed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hf6qd8b65s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiYALKn-0-w

Yo Mr. Welsh
I watched the RNC.
Most of the people speaking on the day McCain spoke were former Bush Administration people. He is till surrounded by the Bush admin. no matter what the media maybe saying or the cheesy and completely unreliable campaign ads say.

This campaign is being fought as much in the news media as anywhere else. It is being reduced to Teen Idol, a personality contest. If America is so taken by dancing with the stars, that they are willing to elect on of the most powerful leader in the world then they deserve the fluff over the substance.

Just picture Palin facing Putin. Would Putin even listen to her or take her serious when she says, But my husband races sow machines not snowmobiles? Please. I feel the same about McCain, but I spent 5 years in a prison camp Mr. Putin, I'm a Maverick.

Yo neither McCain nor Palin have addressed any issues since Palin stepped in. Obama has addressed many issues, I have heard him. Most people are hearing only the spun honey of the network news heads.

But yo Keith Olberman, Thank you for your pasion and courage. Your special comment last night rocked! Keith expressed that righteous indignation perfectly and humbly.

derek

Just thought I'd like to post this up, because I found it insightful.

A western psychologist/liberal lives in a traditional and very conservative Indian village as a research project and comes up with some very interesting observations about the differing priorities of each worldview.

In view of some of the posts above by former hard-core conservatives, I think this also shows that once we get past the name-calling, some simple values such as honesty, the preservation of a lawful, ordered society, and social justice are actually values on both sides of the spectrum. The challenge is to work together to re-energize America with these values, not have a knock-down drag out that ostracizes half the nation while the other half goes on a feeding frenzy with their wishlist. Anyway, here's the link. The article is too long to repost here, so please read it on the guy's original blog:

WHAT MAKES PEOPLE VOTE REPUBLICAN? [9.9.08]
By Jonathan Haidt
http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/haidt08/haidt08_index.html
JONATHAN HAIDT is Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, where he does research on morality and emotion and how they vary across cultures. He is the author of The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom.

There is a time to sit quietly and a time to speak up.
When it is time to speak it should be done with compassion, humility and confidence.

I believe Keith says what so many people feel and wish they could say.

It is up to us to create and maintain humble compassionate and confident leaders. To do this we must become humble compassionate and confident people.

peace comes from peace

derek

Oh yeah here's Keith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L25jjSyiyks

Hey Mieke
I'm posting this one again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiYALKn-0-w

Derek, you play a crucial role as well. All the credit goes to the divine, I just put my attention in the right place and remain open to the signals and allow the divine to do it's thing.

There other challenge is to keep the ego at bay.

Hello Deepak and Everyone,

yeah, now we are talking...s..t..r..a..t..e..g..y!

and this is the real reason the repubs do so well they s..t..r..a..t..a..g..i..z..e the game, because to them it is a game called power, and the reasons the democrats have not done so well is because they are not that in to power and this is the difference...FOR POWER'S SAKE, ALONE, which the repubs, especially under Rove are.

The one thing the Democrats need to focus on, clearly, is that power, and, not be afraid to go after it with GUSTO, in fact, to want to just rip it rght out of the repubs hands who use it to serve their intrests not our Democracy's interest, not the interest of all our people, and certainly not our rule of law or our Constitution. The Democrats have to feel as strongly about power as the republicans, in fact, do. They will do what it takes, and Palin is an example of that. She rolls those lies off her pretty little tongue with ease and better yet..GUSTO!....The Democrats need to feel and understand that as long as repubicans have their strangle hold on power our Nation will suffer, as it has been and as it is now, and more importantly our children suffer, and, this, once great Nation will end up going to the.....(well, Palin actually did invite this, and, well, and she is so cute and gutsy in her delivery)......DOGS.

One thing about the rovians is that their motto is "regime change" that is what it is all about for them....whatever and whoever is an obsticle to their goals, their interests, their vision for American and other Nations as well....is considered a "regime in need of change."

Taking down the Clintons, and, yes, helping to take down Hillary this election was very much a part of their strategy...they wanted to run against Obama....they are right where they want to be....very close to holding on to their "regime." Liberals are more than a dirty word to these men and women Liberals are as dangerous to them as a Putin or Hussein as far as protecting their regime....This is not JUST the Presidency and the Vice Presdency it is their "REGIME, and by golly...it's God's Will for them to protect.......I kid you not..

So, of course the Democrats do not see themselves as the 21st century crusaders for christianity....and their drive is not as intense,
they are just running for political office, an important one for sure, but the fire is not as hot...when the promise of hell is not constantly at your beck and call.

so....yes, very good post Deepak...ruth

If it's anchored in the bay it can't muddle with things on shore. It still manages to drift in sometimes.

During a stormy drama.

Craig at this rate you may become a General with a legion of Angels at your command.

Everyone reading these words plays a crucial role in the unfolding of the divine plan. Thanks for playing your part.

Feel free to call in air support anytime.

Why didn't Obama put Hillary on the ticket? I am still confused by this, have not heard any explanations that fully make sense. Was it just that he felt that she would be too difficult to work with?

The Key to National Security is to eliminate the fear in the minds of those that would see us as a threat through transparency and communication. To eliminate the fear in our minds born of fiction, by seeing the reality behind the illusion, and to usher in a world where everyone has a life worth living.

This should be the strategy.

I want to hear this spoken on CNN, let us get the theme established in the minds of men.

I need to go fix some computer system problems now…

Pull out the sword of truth and hack away at the BS and slay the beast of ignorance.

granny...

because the republicans have an in-bred love and lust for power and because they think they are the party of God and America's party and because they have mastered the 'art' of winning at all cost, the democrats are doomed, again!

Richard
I can't see the future but I can see big changes happening in the dynamics of the talking heads. Things are happening faster and faster. The people are being empowered.

And as Ruth says......We are smarter than this! I believe the vast majority of people are ready to grow past this American Idol mentality.

world vote

http://iftheworldcouldvote.com/

peace comes from peace

derek

Imagine a
humble
confident
intelligent
half white
half black
man
accepting the job of president

think of the symbolism

imagine the next president
an intelligent
powerful
compassionate
woman

I am ready for our fundamental dynamics to change.
I am ready for the stereotypes and old stories to be forgotten.

I am ready to build a community garden on ground zero as memorial to the empowerment of the people.

may the meek inherit the earth

peace comes from peace

derek

if two swing states...FL & Ohio...go dem...they will win...if they go repub...they will win and give us another 4 yrs of the same...higher prices, more money going to hell-hole iraq instead of going to help americans here at home, more needless, senseless loss of lives in iraq, and more empty promises...

what will 'bama and the dems do to end this republican lust for power and give us our government, a government that help all of the people all of the time, and not just the rich and well-connected!

The Key to National Security is to eliminate the fear in the minds of those that would see us as a threat through transparency, communication and intentions of well being. To eliminate the fear in our minds born of fiction, by seeing the reality behind the illusion, and responding to that, and to usher in a world where everyone has a life worth living.

The Dems that wanted a fluff candidate got what they wanted now they stuck with there choice.

Here is a link to Universal Health vs. Universal Health Care

Lower your taxes increase your wages.

Dear Empyrius,

You stated in posting No.1, "If Obama gets emotional, daresay even angry, then white people will get scared!"

Obama has already unleashed some of his building resentment towards Sarah Palin by comparing her to a pig with lipstick. He said, "A pig wearing lipstick is still a pig".

He's beginning to lose it.

Best Wishes,

"Betsy" S.

Hey D,....all is not lost...the race is still running and last I looked we are still in the running with a better than average shot....now, pick that chin up off the floor....

It is important for the Democrats to realize that the Repubicans under the Rovian mindset look upon liberals and liberalism not as the opposition party with a different perspective than theirs but they look upon us as the enemy, and that is a very important componet as to how they run against and win power over us Democrats. We are not to be compromised with, we are to be defeated, at all costs.

The Democrats are still running against their opposition, not their ideological enemy, they will compromise. The repubicans are not their enemy, they are their opposition political party, only.

As you can see since Bush took the White House liberalism and liberals have the most despicable perspective around, a threat to all that is good and strong and patriotic, in their mind, liberals and liberalism are dangerous as dangerous as a muslim extremist, and they cannot compromised with they MUST be defeated and destoryed.

The Democrats do not have to become like them, they just have to realize that the Repubs do in fact think they are as dangerous to "their" Nation as Bin Laden is and work from that perspective.

See, we Democrats are really smarter than they are because we can still beat them at this came without having to make them our "enemy" because we know how "crazy" that is in reality. We do not want to live in a red state,blue state divide that cannot come together over serious adult issues to compromise for the good of all.

Bush and Cheney with Rove have fed a true and serious ideological divide in this Nation by using folk's strong and vulnerable religious beliefs. The Democrats do not need to use god as bait for their votes or as a national divide to win a race, all they have to is realize that the Republicans are playing for keeps and they have no plans, ever, under this Rovian mindset to share or compromise their issues or beliefs....so if the Democrats do not win, it is a do it the republican/evangelical way or take the highway out of Washington....for the rest of us Americans...

So the repubs are not our enemy but their propagandizing liberals and liberalism as dangerous to our American DEmocracy is not to be tolerated, not to be taken lightly, anymore, it is time the Democratic Party take back their good name in being the more liberal party and hold it up and wave it proud, as we do our Nation's flag.....

ponderings..on this memorial day...9/11...ruth

oh, just wanted to add that the United States is not a Nation of extremists we are at our core a Nation of live and let live people but that is against all that Rove's political mindset stands for, which is...winner take all, winner rule all.

Palin has some very extreme beliefs and she wants some of her extreme beliefs to become the law. There are those Americans who are excited about her and that possibility but I do not believe it is the majority, if, it is, then, it means our Nation as taken a turn for the worse and that is a significant disappointment to all that is good and strong and patriotic in the United States.

The simple reality is that there is really no good reason for the majority of Americans to be excited about Palin, other than her being used as gender bait in a tight race by her fellow repub handlers, and, that, she, was a "suprise baby,"so to speak, as to her arrival on the campaign scene, she, really, doesn't have much to offer our Nation as our Vice President, compared to Senator Biden, she amounts to a high schooler in actual government experience, that is the reality...

The Democrats would be wise to deal with the reality of the McCain Palin ticket because the reality of it is that it she only makes McCain look exciting, yes, just McCain, because he and his campaign badly needed someone or something to excite and they found it in an attractive female who has fire and brimstone religious beliefs about certain social issues and to top it off she can be a foot soldier for and is willing to try to march them into our homes in the form of laws, and as Vice President that would help her cause......and, of course, the drilling stuff in Alaska is nice too....

ponderngs ruth

Let us all get involved and blow some air on the fire .... it was always about us

http://www.mybarackobama.com

http://www.myspace.com/barackobama

I just checked this out and it's so cool, so I'm reposting it too :-) ....

http://iftheworldcouldvote.com/

Almost everynight, I pray that America will have the best person to run the USA, whomever that maybe be, I leave it to God's Will. However, I have heard (I know ... I've it said before),

"The next president of the United States of America will be a young male."

Love, Char

"I'M ASKING YOU TO BELIEVE. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington ... I'm asking you to believe in yours."

http://my.barackobama.com

“Barack Obama is inspired by you.”

http://www.myspace.com/barackobama

Amen Char

"I'M ASKING YOU TO BELIEVE. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington ... I'm asking you to believe in yours."

most definitely worth posting again

Amen And Amen Ruth

derek

Char my vote was #4410 @ 5:27pm central time yesterday.
My wifes vote was #3889 the day before.

today @ 5:27pm central is 4869 for the US. It's growing and at some point it may catch on if we continue to email this site to everyone we know. Things can grow exponentially. I put it on facebook and myspace we'll see if it catches on there. Myspace has over 11,000,00 members. Facebook is probably close to that.

derek

In the last 24 hours close to 2000 people have voted.

"Myspace has over 11,000,00 members. Facebook is probably close to that."

Yo, MySpace has about 250,000,000 and FaceBook has over 125,000,000 registered members worldwide.

***
Related:

June 20, 2008
ComScore: Facebook is beating MySpace worldwide

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-9973826-36.html

"Facebook, according to ComScore, pulled in 123.9 million unique visitors in the month of May, beating MySpace's 114.6, and 50.6 billion page views compared to MySpace's 45.4 billion. "

Do you know Intentblog had more readers from Inida than from the US?

http://www.alexa.com/data/details/traffic_details/intentblog.com

Miss (Non) Congeniality

Rasmussen, 9/9/08 (from registration-restricted crosstabs, likely voters):

Among all voters:

39% very favorable
17% somewhat favorable
14% somewhat unfavorable
26% very unfavorable

Gee, approval ratings are just a few points off of 60% for the "wildly popular governor." But, let's look a little closer at those numbers.

Conservatives love her, but what about moderates? Those numbers paint a different picture:

20% very favorable
15% somewhat favorable
26% somewhat unfavorable
35% very unfavorable
3% not sure

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/premium_content/political_tracking_crosstabs/september_2008/crosstabs_vice_presidents_september_9_2008

Only 35% of moderates view her favorably. In other words, among this key block of voters, Pinocchio Palin is doing about as well as President Bush. For comparison purposes, Joe Biden is viewed favorably by 70% of moderates.

Interesting data .... thanks.

BTW: I was so busy setting up my PC and high speed internet today, as well playing catch-up on my reading, that I didn't vote on http://iftheworldcouldvote.com/ - for some reason, I had thought that it applied to me. So I'm off to add my vote too!

I voted very interesting thanks for the link.

I put the link on several other sites.

See how it spreads.

Something beyond comprehension is coming...

Okay, I just voted & I am 27,359 out of the grand total.

http://iftheworldcouldvote.com/

Obama is at 82.5% world wide WIN! It was interesting to see how other countries voted as well.

Go OBAMA!!! The World is behind you! :-)

Richard, I like your ideas, they're so full of hope. I read your posts more than I read Deepak's lol.

I think there's no need to react to some polls. I agree with char4.

GO Obama!

Palin strikes out in her first major interview

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z75QSExE0jU

We're starting to see just why the McCain campaign has been working so hard to shield Sarah Palin from the media...

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." George Bush — Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004

Moose in the headlights...absolutely clueless:

Transcript (see video above):
-----------------------------
Charlie: Do you agree with the Bush Doctrine?

Palin: In what respect, Charlie?

Charlie: What do you interpret it to be?

Palin: His worldview.

Charlie: No, No, the Bush Doctrine. He enunciated it in September 2002, before the Iraq War.

Palin: I believe that what President Bush has attempted to do is to rid this world of Islamic extremism, terrorists who are hellbent on destroying our nation. There have been blunders along the way, though. There have been mistakes made. And with new leadership--and that's the beauty of American elections and democracy--with new leadership comes the opportunity to do things better.

Charlie: The Bush Doctrine, as I understand it, is that we have the right of anticipatory defense. We have the right to preemptively strike any other country that we believe is going to attack us.
-----------------------------

How absolutely, head-in-the-ground oblivious do you have to be to our national politics to not be familiar with the Bush Doctrine, the very cornerstone of this administration's foreign policy and the doctrine that led us into the most disastrous foreign policy decision in American history?

Oh, that's right. This oblivious:

"I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq."--Sarah Palin, August 2008

Palin links Iraq to 9/11 Washington Post FRONT PAGE:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103789.html?hpid=topnews

----

This really is unbelievable.

On the anniversary of 9/11, Sarah Palin has used a talking point that has been long discarded by the Bush administration, linking Iraq to the terrorist attacks of that day.

The Washington Post has front paged an article describing Palin's comments to troops, including her own son, heading for Iraq:

----------------
"Gov. Sarah Palin linked the war in Iraq with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, telling an Iraq-bound brigade of soldiers that included her son that they would "defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the death of thousands of Americans."
----------------

How dare she.

The link between Iraq and 9/11 was disproven years and years ago.

Do we really want someone back in the White House who uses the events of that horrible day to justify a war that should have never been authorized or waged?

The American people may have figured it out in 2005 which was when this administration stopped linking 911 and Iraq war as a talking point to justify their failures. But Sarah Palin is dredging it up again in 2008. I understand that her son was in the unit she was addressing - but shouldn't that provide her with an incentive to be honest with those same troops?

Shame.

Shame.

Ps. Or is she 'simply' oblivious to this fact, given her utter ignorance about basic foreign policy?

Preity, this woman is nuts, and so are her supporters.

What ever happened to thinkers like this?

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, from those who are cold and are not clothed. The world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Yeah Skep

"Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth." --Franklin D. Roosevelt

#89

But... but... she's a hockey mom! That's like a bulldog wearing lipstick that you can drink beer with!

And yeah, the deer in headlights look was unmistakable. It reminds me so much of Bush when he gets asked a question and sounds like a student who didn't do the reading and gets called on in class. If you don't know the answer, repeat something (anything!) emphatically so it sounds like you have a point to make. Lazy college students do this all the time. She sounds like she needs to go over more flashcards with Joe.

...

"No one should ever sit in this office over 70 years old, and that I know" ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security.
Dwight D. Eisenhower

(Note to an idiot, Betsy S., who posted a lie--and has a history of posting debunked falsehoods, outright-lies and smears about Obama--up thread.

Facts: Obama was talking about McCain's policies when he refereed to a common usage, "lipstick on a pig"(which McCain himself uses often), he didn't even mention Palin at that point in his speech. The fact hat even Bill O'Reilly felt the need to go on record saying that McCain camp is absolutely dishonest in spreading this lie, and that this is going to haunt them bad, should put some sense in even the most crazy wingnuts who believe any shit as long as it smears Obama. Go read the comments in this thread, and know how CBS and YouTube pulled off McCain ads, and FactCheck issued a warning to McCain not to abuse their work to spread their lies, and several other insightful comments on the Lipstick topic.)

Here's Paul Krugman of the New York Times in tomorrow's Friday's edition of the Gray Lady:

"Did you hear about how Barack Obama wants to have sex education in kindergarten, and called Sarah Palin a pig? Did you hear about how Ms. Palin told Congress, "Thanks, but no thanks" when it wanted to buy Alaska a Bridge to Nowhere?

These stories have two things in common: they’re all claims recently made by the McCain campaign — and they’re all OUT-AND-OUT-LIES."

The MSM is finally getting this meme, and hitting it hard.

"I can’t think of any precedent, at least in America, for the BLIZZARD OF LIES since the Republican convention. The Bush campaign’s lies in 2000 were artful — you needed some grasp of arithmetic to realize that you were being conned. This year, however, the McCain campaign keeps making assertions that ANYONE WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION CAN DISPROVE in a minute, and repeating these assertions over and over again."

Not only does Krugman get it with regard to what McCain is doing, he also gets it with regard to the media's complicity in the whole sordid process:

"Why do the McCain people think they can get away with this stuff? Well, they’re probably counting on the common practice in the news media of being "BALANCED" at all costs. You know how it goes: If a politician says that black is white, the news report doesn’t say that he’s wrong, it reports that "some Democrats say" that he’s wrong. Or a grotesque lie from one side is paired with a trivial misstatement from the other, conveying the impression that both sides are equally dirty.

Krugman's ends his article saying:

"And now the team that hopes to form the next administration is running a campaign that makes Bush-Cheney 2000 look like something out of a civics class. What does that say about how that team would run the country?

What it says, I’d argue, is that the Obama campaign is wrong to suggest that a McCain-Palin administration would just be a continuation of Bush-Cheney. If the way John McCain and Sarah Palin are campaigning is any indication, it would be MUCH, MUCH WORSE." (My Emphasis)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/opinion/12krugman.html?hp

"Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth." --Franklin D. Roosevelt quoted by Preity #92

(Note to an idiot, "Betsy" S., who posted a lie--and has a history of posting debunked falsehoods, outright-lies and smears about Obama--up thread.

Facts: Obama was talking about McCain's policies when he refereed to a common usage, "lipstick on a pig"(which McCain himself uses often), he didn't even mention Palin at that point in his speech. The fact hat even Bill O'Reilly felt the need to go on record saying that McCain camp is absolutely dishonest in spreading this lie, and that this is going to haunt them bad, should put some sense in even the most crazy wingnuts who believe any shit as long as it smears Obama. Go read the comments in this thread, and know how CBS and YouTube pulled off McCain ads, and FactCheck issued a warning to McCain not to abuse their work to spread their lies, and several other insightful comments on the Lipstick topic.)

Here's Paul Krugman of the New York Times in tomorrow's Friday's edition of the Gray Lady:

"Did you hear about how Barack Obama wants to have sex education in kindergarten, and called Sarah Palin a pig? Did you hear about how Ms. Palin told Congress, "Thanks, but no thanks" when it wanted to buy Alaska a Bridge to Nowhere?

These stories have two things in common: they’re all claims recently made by the McCain campaign — and they’re all OUT-AND-OUT-LIES."

The MSM is finally getting this meme, and hitting it hard.

"I can’t think of any precedent, at least in America, for the BLIZZARD OF LIES since the Republican convention. The Bush campaign’s lies in 2000 were artful — you needed some grasp of arithmetic to realize that you were being conned. This year, however, the McCain campaign keeps making assertions that ANYONE WITH AN INTERNET CONNECTION CAN DISPROVE in a minute, and repeating these assertions over and over again."

Not only does Krugman get it with regard to what McCain is doing, he also gets it with regard to the media's complicity in the whole sordid process:

"Why do the McCain people think they can get away with this stuff? Well, they’re probably counting on the common practice in the news media of being "BALANCED" at all costs. You know how it goes: If a politician says that black is white, the news report doesn’t say that he’s wrong, it reports that "some Democrats say" that he’s wrong. Or a grotesque lie from one side is paired with a trivial misstatement from the other, conveying the impression that both sides are equally dirty.

Krugman's ends his article saying:

"And now the team that hopes to form the next administration is running a campaign that makes Bush-Cheney 2000 look like something out of a civics class. What does that say about how that team would run the country?

What it says, I’d argue, is that the Obama campaign is wrong to suggest that a McCain-Palin administration would just be a continuation of Bush-Cheney. If the way John McCain and Sarah Palin are campaigning is any indication, it would be MUCH, MUCH WORSE." (My Emphasis)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/opinion/12krugman.html?hp

At the Guardian, Lila Nordstrom writes:

The dust that hasn't settled

"As a 9/11 victim and part-time community organiser, I know that the memory of this event does have a place in this election. But, instead of being used as a rationale for the continuing "war on terror," as an excuse for decimating the Bill of Rights, or a segue into a discussion about the "successes" of our war abroad, the events of 9/11 should prompt a conversation about this government's failed health policies. That conversation should not be limited to 9/11 alone but must include other national disasters like Katrina. Instead, any discussion of these disasters, man-made and natural, provides the basis for the argument that America needs a healthcare plan that covers everybody. Now.

"Small government"-style social policy has not served 9/11 victims well. Community groups have had to fight tooth and nail for often meagre funding that comes in one-time bursts. There are still no medical monitoring and few treatment programs available to the thousands of people who were exposed to the toxic dust both on 9/11 and during the clean-up.

Disaster victims should not have to waste their time fighting for access to basic care and worried about the excessive cost of treatment. Community groups should be identifying what special needs require additional funding, not wasting their time making sure that poor families can get their child with the "WTC cough" to a doctor without putting themselves in debt. ...

As somebody who suffered through the events of 9/11 and as a representative of many students who were impacted by those events, I have spent a good bit of the last seven years being betrayed by a government more concerned with war than the welfare of its citizens. We were ones who were put at risk to promote the revitalisation of downtown Manhattan after 9/11, despite the potential cost to our health and our futures. We did our part, willingly or not. It is time that the national discussion of those events focus on how the government can do its part to repay our effort. This election year is the perfect time to begin that discussion."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/sep/11/uselections2008.september11

Aloha Everyone

On Coast to Coast George Noorey shares that on blogs etc. it is being suggested that Hilary might replace Joe Biden...it would be interesting if it happens. love patty

Yo Check it

iftheworldcouldvote.com vote is now on youtube

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

derek

Patty, lets leave gossip at gossip. It was a humble remark made by Biden, praising Hillary as "first garde" and is "better" than him --when someone at a Townhall in NH suggested that Hillary wouldn't have made a good VP--that has been picked up for gossip value (especially by MCCain trolls), and, as I learn from your post, is being blown out of proportions with outlandish speculations. Anyway, if Hilary was picked as VP, McCain wouldn't have picked Palin in the first place. He would have gone with a more traditional choice like Pawlenty. And let's say in hypothetical scenario that Hillary replaces Biden-- for whatever reason-- then McCain will have the excuse--now that he fired up his base-- to replace the un-vetted Scandal Queen with a safer choice with the independents.

Gossip aside, there is a real chance that Palin might be replaced as VP, given the developing Ethics investigation on the abuse of her office. See Intrade Market odds.

Aloha Mr. Welsh

I am sure that when the people first heard of the idea of the Delectation of Independence it was thought as gossip. I like Hilary, she and Obama equate to a winning ticket. But that is just my opinion. I like Joe Biden too. love patty

PALIN TALKS ABOUT INVADING RUSSIA
US-RUSSIA WAR OVER GEORGIA MAY BE NECESSARY...
DOESN'T KNOW WHAT BUSH DOCTRINE IS...

ABC's Gibson: What Are Your National Security Credentials...?
My National Security Credentials Have To Do With Energy...

WATCH: Palin Stumped On Bush Doctrine

McCain Interview On Palin Riddled With Errors

Palin Appointed Middle School Basketball Coach To Board Of Game

ABC Interview: Palin's False Claim On "God's Will"

AP: "Straight Talk Express" Has Detoured Into Doublespeak

Link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

Josh Marshall on Palin interview:

"Sarah Palin's "perhaps" in response to the question of whether we might have to go to war with Russia over Georgia is getting a lot of attention. The truth, though, is that Palin was doing little more that drawing out the logical inference of McCain & Co.'s unhinged policy vis a vis Russia -- not a huge surprise if you've just learned the policy in the last week. But McCain and those in his entourage at least have the seasoning to know not to traipse into throwaway hypotheticals about 'war' with the only other country in the world with a vast and eminently deliverable nuclear arsenal."

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/216003.php

The AP destroys McCain today!

If he's lost the AP.......

If you read my comments you know I am a frequent critic of the AP. For the past few months, the AP has been shoring up McCain's campaign by putting 'lipstick on a pig'.

Ron Founier, head of the AP was once even offered a job with the McCain campaign. So what's up? In the past few days, a series of blistering articles and op-eds about McCain/Palin have been crossing the AP wires, culminating in today's take down of Sarah Palin's interview with Charles Gibson.

And The Page has the headline:
********************************

AP Slams McCain-Palin

Wire service calls out GOP pair: “Even in a political culture accustomed to truth-stretching, McCain’s skirting of facts has stood out this week.”

Adds McCain and Palin have been “defiant” when called out on their factual errors, continuing to repeat them on the stump.

http://thepage.time.com/2008/09/12/ap-slams-mccain-palin/
********************************

The article Mark Halperin is referring to was written by Charles Babbington. The same Charles Babington that notoriously released a error-ridden attack piece critique of Obama's convention speech before it was even over. Well, he's singing a different tune today and McCain's not likely to sing along:

Analysis: McCain claims skirt facts, test voters
by CHARLES BABINGTON
WASHINGTON (AP)

"Republican presidential nominee John McCain, a self-proclaimed tell-it-like-it-is maverick, keeps saying his running mate, Sarah Palin, killed the federally funded Bridge to Nowhere when, in fact, she pulled her support only after the project became a political embarrassment. He accuses Democrat Barack Obama of calling Palin a pig, which did not happen. He says Obama would raise nearly everyone's taxes, when independent groups say 80 percent of families would get tax cuts instead."

That's not just a recitation of the facts, the AP is "takin' him to the woodshed"! And he goes to call them out on their other big lie, earmarks:

"The McCain-Palin campaign made at least three other aggressive claims this week that omitted key details or made dubious assumptions to criticize Obama. It equated lawmakers' requests for money for special projects with corruption, even though Palin has sought nearly $200 million in such "earmarks" this year."

And is that isn't enough, the AP gives an, wait for it, HONEST critique of Palin's interview with Charles Gibson on Foreign Policy:

The Headline:

AP: Palin tries to defend qualifications in interview

"In the interview broadcast Thursday, Palin sought to defend her qualifications to assume one of the most powerful jobs in the world. But she struggled with foreign policy, unable to describe President Bush's doctrine of pre-emptive strikes against threatening nations and acknowledging she's never met a foreign head of state."

And it only goes downhill from there. It's proceeds to list the numerous uncertainties in her answers to basic foreign policy questions:

"_Appeared unsure of the Bush doctrine — essentially that the United States must help spread democracy to stop terrorism and that the nation will act pre-emptively to stop potential foes.

Asked whether she agreed with that, Palin said: "In what respect, Charlie?" Gibson pressed her for an interpretation of it. She said: "His world view." That prompted Gibson to say "no, the Bush doctrine, enunciated September 2002, before the Iraq war" and describe it to her."

Notice that the facts are laid bare. No spin, no nuance just a straightforward critique. But I guess the AP can't really spin the lack of experience in any other way. They go on to highlight her claim of proximity to Russia as a being foreign policy experince:

"Pressed about what insights into recent Russian actions she gained by living in Alaska, Palin told Charles Gibson of ABC News, "They're our next door neighbors and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.""

Is this it folks? Is the media finally opening their eyes to what a dishonest, sleazy campaigner McCain is? Are they finally noticing his complete lack of judgment in choosing someone so green to the scene, they don't even know what the "Bush Doctrine" is? Are they having second thoughts? I pray it's true.

PS. I also noticed that AP finally posted a hard hitting piece on Palin's book-banning scandal (not the rumors, but about the firing of librarian) and the campaign's attempts to cover it up.

Preity posted this last night (see #90,)

but it's worth reiterating:

PALIN LINKS IRAQ TO SEPTEMBER 11

'A View Even The Current Administration Has Rejected'...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/11/AR2008091103789_pf.html

#105

McCain lies his ass off this week ...and the AP is forced to do their job?

"John McCain's campaign keeps telling voters that Sarah Palin opposed a federally funded Bridge to Nowhere that, in fact, she originally supported. It accuses Democrat Barack Obama of calling Palin a pig, which did not happen.

Even in a political culture accustomed to truth-stretching, McCain's skirting of facts has stood out this week. It has infuriated and flustered Barack Obama's campaign, and campaign pros are watching to see how much voters disregard news reports noting factual holes in the claims."

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jMtvzhUJmkDwVPsjJ0vhp-MDl1-gD934QN4G0

Not surprised.

#96 by Welsh is also worth reiterating.

Krugman: The McCain Camp Is Telling Lies Worse Than The Bush Administration

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/opinion/12krugman.html

Palin's appeal to women voters?

Todays Gallup Analysis:

"Despite the intense focus on the potential impact on white women of McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, the Gallup data do not show that to this point white women have been significantly different in their response to the convention period than has the average voter."

http://www.gallup.com/poll/110260/Disproportionate-Shift-White-Womens-Preferences.aspx

Now that doesn't fit the narrative about Palin's effect on women, but those are the data.

That brings us back to the topic of Palin and 'Feminism'

The number one issue, is that Palin is a liar.

This has already come out in various ways, and is well documented.

The repug slight-of-hand tries to distract 'voters' from this grim fact.

This one fact alone, disqualifies her from ANY political office, let alone executive.

Is Palin a 'Feminist'? Perhaps by her own definition, but more likely by her own gut.

Is she 'officially' a Feminist, by the standard definitions? No.

Do 'real' Feminists support her? No.

Real Feminists are NOT idiots and harbour no 'conservative' agendas.

Does Palin 'break out' of social molds? Yes... EVEN a woman can be a successful corrupt politician.

Think of the parallels here:

- McCain has 'overcome adversity' via his airplane crash and surviving prison

- Palin has 'overcome adversity' via being a woman and rising to a position of power

The GOP spinners are making the above case moment-to-moment; but by doing so they are implying that being a woman is like being a crashed aviator; IOW, doomed.

The GOP spin 'narrative' is 'you must vote for these underdogs, who have OVERCOME ADVERSITY and are THUS WORTHY of your trust, if not adulation'.

Are we to use 'Feminism' as the fulcrum for all analysis of Palin? I hope not, for if so, would be rampant sexism, acting as 'gag order' for all who would object to her obvious, dangerous shortcomings, lying, and general lack of integrity.

Parallels:

'You cannot criticize Obama, because he is BLACK'

'You cannot criticize Palin, because she is a WOMAN'

And if you criticize both of them, you are a RACIST SEXIST!

Palin has been 'set up', deliberately, as a 'lightning rod', but one that is FORBIDDEN to strike at.

Think about that. It is a perfect 'lose-lose-lose' situation; DO criticize her and you lose; do NOT criticize her and you lose; and if she is elected, EVERYONE loses.

The entire Palin 'phenomenon' is bogus and stinks of Karl Rove. It is the sort of desperate, bottom-of barrel tactic that the 'losing team' has fielded in order to 'win', by creating such 'human issues' as distraction for the 'political/national' issues.

Palin is thus the 'perfect political tar-baby' and Obama is advised to NOT touch her. Given time, she will simply self-immolate in public and burn in her own tar.

==Salina==

...Who is ready to activate the ventilation fans...

No "Betsy"

Obama will win this thing!

I know it won't change much; he made explicitly clear "The Complex" will more than thrive under his administration. That is all the warmongers need to hear; but at least domestically he will try to put some safety nets, or simply just meaningful employment opportunities, up that will hopefully catch come of us that fall through the cracks!

What I really like though is that he was speaking to the grunts of our armed services, if he gets those dudes behind him, those generals that shuffle back and forth between the public and private sector may have some things to think twice about!!!!!!

uh-huh

Speaking before the Pentecostal church, Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States could act out the will of the Lord.

"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God," she exhorted the congregants. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."

Let’s see now, “the world is a better place without Saddam”?

All it cost to catch him is over 4000 American lives, and anywhere between 500000 and 1 million Iraqis, many of the collateral damage, innocent bystanders, women and children.

God help(s) America!

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:J1S6kJefdYwJ:www.antiwar.com/casualties/+american+casualty+count+in+Iraq&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=ca

Re. 109, 110

Joe Klein and Camille Paglia, who don't always agree, have strikingly similar takes on Sarah Palin's narrative appeal.

Paglia:

"The gun-toting Sarah Palin is like Annie Oakley, a brash ambassador from America's pioneer past. She immediately reminded me of the frontier women of the Western states, which first granted women the right to vote after the Civil War -- long before the federal amendment guaranteeing universal woman suffrage was passed in 1919. Frontier women faced the same harsh challenges and had to tackle the same chores as men did -- which is why men could regard them as equals, unlike the genteel, corseted ladies of the Eastern seaboard, which fought granting women the vote right to the bitter end."

http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1840388,00.html

____

Klein:

"We haven't been a nation of small towns for nearly a century. It is the suburbanites and city dwellers who do the fighting and hourly-wage work now, and the corporations who grow our food. But Palin's embrace of small-town values is where her hold on the national imagination begins. She embodies the most basic American myth — Jefferson's yeoman farmer, the fantasia of rural righteousness — updated in a crucial way: now Mom works too. Palin's story stands with one foot squarely in the nostalgia for small-town America and the other in the new middle-class reality. She brings home the bacon, raises the kids — with a significant assist from Mr. Mom — hunts moose and looks great in the process. I can't imagine a more powerful, or current, American Dream."

http://www.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2008/09/10/palin/index1.html

And what would be the Frontier Sarah strategy?

Froma Harrup:

"Her speechwriter's strategy is clear -- to revive the "us" versus "them" storyline for the conservative base. "Us" is good rural, small-town folk and "them" is the dissipated urban elites, mostly domiciled on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

You'd never know from the recent Republican convention that America was about to remember the terrorist attack on New York, when 411 city firefighters, police and medical personnel died trying to save people they had never met."

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/gop_back_on_the_polarization_t.html

And to all those Canadians, many of them feeling smarter than their southern neighbours, remember, your leader was a big supporter of the Iraqi war.

On October 14th, let’s get red of him for that reason alone.

The AP:

"John McCain running mate Sarah Palin sought Thursday to defend her qualifications but struggled with foreign policy, unable to describe President Bush's doctrine of pre-emptive strikes against threatening nations and acknowledging she's never met a foreign head of state.
The Republican vice presidential nominee told Charles Gibson of ABC News in her first televised interview since being named to the GOP ticket that "I'm ready" to be president if called upon. However, she sidestepped on whether she had the national security credentials needed to be commander in chief."

John McCain apparently didn't have the same reticence:

___________

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fRjtAK66as

___________

John McCain explains Plain's *National Security* credentials:

"Energy. She knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America."

Yeah, that's the ticket.

Deepak,

I cannot stomach the bear hides on walls, caribou bloodied and rifles that represent Ms. Palin's values and way of life. This is the extreme opposite of peacemakers who see all life as sacred. Such is the old paradigm. The line is being drawn: new life or more of the same bloodied death.

I'm not sure this world is ready for the next level of peace, love, harmony. I'm not sure that vibrational song is being sung through enough sub-atomic particles, atoms, molecules, cells, organs, bodies, countries, planets...yet.

However, we are evolving. An increasing number of parts are attuning to Light. The way to transform dark to light is to express the highest in oneself. That in itself will turn the tide personally, nationally, globally. This responsibility is very personal and is the "political party" where one stands: whole and holy ground.

"We shall overcome" is a song that rises up into conscousness this moment. It's a new song and sentiment untainted by history. "We shall overcome" expresses as herstory.

Trish~~

Let’s hope you are right, Trish!

For those of you who speak German and are interested in how the Swiss feel about Palin:

http://www.blick.ch/news/uswahlen/wir-haben-angst-vor-sarah-palin-100253

Hey Trish, if you can stomach it, see this:

Defenders of Wildlife vs. Palin: 'Brutal'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQobIUE1zTU

#118

German to English translation using Google' Translate tool:

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http://www.blick.ch/news/uswahlen/wir-haben-angst-vor-sarah-palin-100253&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&sl=de&tl=en

NOTE: SUCH TRANSLATIONS ARE *CRUDE* You get an idea though, the latest article after her interview last night:

Pitbull Palin is a hawk

ZURICH - your interview debut yesterday convinced little: Foreign policy issues were not, some answers by Vice-candidate Palin gave food for thought. Our readers will find the woman in front of all: dangerous.

Yesterday was Sarah Palin, the Republican candidate for the post of vice-president, her first TV interview (Blick.ch reported). This was reflected in foreign policy issues are not just as stable. When asked by moderator Charles Gibson, whether the Bush doctrine - the right to preventive attacks by the U.S. to other countries - support, seemed the 44-year-old not to know what it meant. "In what way, Charlie?" She asked embarrassed smile. Later she made clear: Yes, it supports the Bush doctrine.

Gibson had in Foreign Policy is not easy. As Palin the accession of Georgia to NATO called, he asked: "Would a military invasion of Moscow against a NATO country such as Georgia will not mean war with Russia?". Palins years now reply: "Maybe." Even asking whether you military anti-terrorist operations in Pakistan in favour of allies, replied they do not.

Palin wall several times. About the question whether the war in Iraq really a "mission of God" see Palin replied: "I would never anmassen, to know God's will." Their attitude towards climate change - exaggerated hysteria, as expressed recently - tried also to weaken.

Blick.ch readers: This woman is dangerous!

Sarah Palin has this interview not be able to convince. The optimism of the Republicans in the country but does not smear. And the Democrats held so far in their criticism. Out of respect before the anniversary of 11 September and the grief of the families of the victims.

We have asked our readers what they think of the ultra-religious Abtreibungsgegnerin Palin. In striking many answers, the word "dangerous". Iris from Schaffhausen writes: "Really dangerous! A woman, the wars as God's plan and will refer to is not in such an office. "Remy said from Zurich:" McCain / Palin would be a disaster for the United States and for the rest of the world. Really dangerous! "

The exits from Winterthur to Mike: "I think nothing of the woman! The idea that this retarded, ultrakonservative woman trying the most powerful country in the world could govern, I am afraid. "For Ottiger, Sachseln Palin is" a female George Bush, perhaps even more extreme. " And Riki from Churchill says: "It's downright scared to imagine that such a person, inexperienced, fundamentalist and aggressive, access to the world's largest arsenal of nuclear power could obtain."

Many see it as well as Daniel from Bern: "This woman is a joke. Someone who claims that the Iraq war was an order of God is simply not elected. Imagine that it would President. Then we can all make our wills. "For W. from Freiburg, the choice of Palins simply" the beginning of the end ".
(gux)

John #119:

Thanks! I did watch and the sickening clip underscores my feelings.

To cancel out Palin's way of life I advocate for wildlife corridors. How many others can add to this cancellation? And in what other ways can we cancel out these old values?

Dogma disconnects the parts -- Truth connects. Such is the power behind Obama and his people if we ride that tide and don't diffuse the power by confusing the focus.

Trish~~

Hello Deepak,

Well, I was reading in the news that Barak is going to ruff, ruff, it up, in responding the repubs attacks....you go Obama!

Well, last nite I caught a little of Palin's interview with Charlie. Kudos for Charlie, I do not think I have ever seen Charlie so professional.

I love how Palin has not acquired the expressionless face, yet, after all, she is way to new to have that down pat....but her face tells so much about her personality, her tenaciousness is all in her face as she rattles off her opinions and you see quite clearly she is no "shrinking violet." Yep, pit bull is absolutely correct in describing her determination in representing all that she believes and holds to be true.

I would give her a job in Iraq, yes, I would. Here, is a woman, who could, I believe, whip, the Iraqi police force into shape, in no time. And, I would let her be in charge of the American Embassy in Iraq, she would, I am sure, stand quard, herself, at the gate, with her rifle, in hand, to make sure no funny stuff happens to that beauty of a palatial palace we built to replace all of Saddam's fancy abodes, once, we leave the Country and head for home. Yes, after last nights interview I came up with a few employment positions in our government that she would be absolutely qualified for...she is tenacious and determined, and, you know, she is not above a lie or two to get the job done, really, too much of a "goody two shoes air," is a turn off, for anyone, we need someone who can mingle with her peeps.

Yes, Palin would be a real good hire for many government positions, but, no, the Vice Presidency is well out of her league and scope of experience or qualifications.....that is, unless, the American people, all, how many millions, are interviewing to be the sixth little Palin munchkin.

Truly, I think Iraq or Afganistan would benefit an agency run by Palin and her rifle.

ponderings...

oh, I just wanted to mention that last evening on many political talk shows all the "men" were wondering where Hillary Clinton was, is....after all Barak Obama could use a bit of a hand in dealing with this Palin lady, they say....and I just have to laugh....a few weeks ago it was Hillary go away! Hillary get lost! Why is Hillary still here, anyway?.....really, folks have got a lot of nerve...I hope Hillary is enjoying her family, especially her pain in the sass goffy husband, and having a nice martini somewhere while they both just look at each other and say...."well," they said...."get the heck out of town"...so we did! "we are pamed if we do and pamed if we don't...how bout another martini honey?"

John, thanks for the “Blick” translation #120.
Here some more news from Switzerland, this time with an Indian flavour.

Big Bang, Big Bang test, India's flag flies high at CERN

Written by Michaeljordon on Sep-10-08 2:06am/10/2008 9:06 GMT

Mumbai: India has made major scientific and technological contribution to the new atom smasher also called the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which went live on Wednesday at the experimental facility near Geneva in Switzerland. LHC is expected to answer several facts of fundamental nature of the universe that remains a mystery, said the scientists of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR).

http://www.zimbio.com/CERN/articles/2/Bang+Bang+project+probe+origins+Bang+Bang

oh, in fact, I think I have come up with the perfect fit...Palin in Iraq, Cheney in Afganistan, rifles in hand..who is going f with them....right...no one, in their right mind.

There you go, pure inspiration and two of America's great problems...solved...ruth

Thanks for the link, Skep. I suspect India's contributions are largely in the software side; to handle huge data from the experiments. India is lagging in experimental physics, and their contributions in theoretical physics is far from world class (I may be wrong though.) Gotta run, I will check back the link later and get back.

PS. Yo Ruth, Bill and Barack had an interesting private meeting the other night. Bill might be hitting the campaign trial soon.

here is a little something from John Ridley(spelling) over at huffpo..today

"For all that's right and good about Barack Obama, he suffers from the same fatal flaws that have afflicted most Democratic presidential nominees over the last thirty-two years: he is both a gentleman, and a scholar. Fine attributes if you're applying for the job of headmaster at some patrician New England Boy's School. But they don't get you elected to the highest office in the land. Just ask Mondale or Dukakis or Gore or Kerry. All stood idly by like guys respectfully waiting for a fresh pour at a wine bar while they were mocked, maligned, denigrated and Swiftboated from contention by agents of the other side.

Obama has been no better. Since the day he tossed his hat into the ring he has been hit up with vicious innuendo and outright lies regarding his heritage, his patriotism, and his religion. And in almost every circumstance his denials have been tepid when not simply nonexistent. Contrast that with the entire Republican machine (aided and abetted by the media) getting "outraged" by the "lipstick on a pig" line.

Meanwhile Georgia Rep. Lynn Westmoreland calling the Obamas "uppity" -- a slur that is one more downed beer away from being nigger -- barely got a register out of the left. In response Obama could have legitimately said, echoing the words from his acceptance speech; "this uppity smear is not about me, it's about you, the people. And this is what the Right thinks about you: if you're different, even if you work hard, do good and put yourself through the best of schools and achieve, you're still uppity for thinking you deserve a seat at the table." In other words, hit 'em where they live.

But when asked about the uppity remark by MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, Obama punted on second and one with: "I am confident that, the American people, once the dust is settled, will ask themselves, do we really want to do the same thing we've been doing for the last eight years, or do we want something new?"

Zzzzzzz...

With pushback like that Obama oughta be looking to play cribbage this November with the guys at the assisted living home for Democrats.

Maybe.

Except that Obama had himself a siddown with Bill Clinton -- one of two Democrats elected president in the last three decades and the only one re-elected. Re-elected because among his attributes Clinton knows how to get tough. He is not afraid to go "there;" to say or do what's gotta be said or done to blunt the other guy. And despite Lewinsky and impeachment by the House of Representatives, alleged scandals and conspiracies and nontroversies, Clinton left office with an approval rating of 65%. Some people don't want Clinton anywhere near the Obama campaign. They think Bill (and Hillary, too) are "too political." Well, it's politics. If you're getting your computer fixed nobody ever says: "don't go to that guy, he's too techy." Why would you not want to align yourself with somebody who knows how to get away with throwing some elbows? And from the pants down spanking Clinton gave Fox's Chris Wallace, to the digs he got in on Obama during the primary, clearly the man's still got political game.

So, Obama making the pilgrimage to Clinton's Harlem office (I'm sorry, did somebody order a big, steaming plate of irony?) is an open acknowledgment from Team Obama that they need to bring out the BFG of Democratic politics. Though I don't think polls are the end all/be all, Obama's softening numbers indicate it's time to do...something. Especially with that crazy Hail Sarah ball McCain tossed up looking like it might just make it into the end zone. Her deer-in-headlights responses to questions about the Bush Doctrine notwithstanding.

Supposedly, Obama's been holding back until after 9/11 to go into attack mode. At least, that's what's been reported with the Sturm und Drang of a belated call to arms for a reluctant warrior. But now that he's seemingly ready to go to battle -- and has enlisted the enemy of his enemy to do so -- Obama supporters had best hope the fight hasn't already passed their man by."

he has 50 something days to put McCain/Palin front and center and slam dunk the tastards!!!:))

here is to, first, slamming.....then a good old fashion dunk in ice cold waters of Alaska!!

:)ruth

Sarah Palin is a scary woman!

I found the if the world could vote link very fascinating. Thanks, Char4, for reposting it as I voted too. Amazing results there to say the least. Wonder what the real outcome will be as today I read on the internet that McCain may be leading in white votes, so that sounded racist to me, but frankly it is too early to tell, and it won't amount to anything until after the debates.

I was interested in reading that Palin may be replaced, and am wondering if that is just an idle hope, rumor, or what.

I do object to John MCCain's decision to select her as his running mate when her term of elected office is so meagre and scanty. She is not even able to communicate her thoughts well with Charles Gibson in her first interview. She was very weak in her presentation, and proved that she is as incompetent as John McCain himself when it comes to self-expression.

If this is an indication of John's decision making process, he can admit to senility as a way out. I personally believe that he should remove himself as a candidate right now. It isn't too late for Bob Barr of the Libertarian party to begin to move in on the Republican banner.

What a mess this country is really in! All those knee jerk Republicans suddenly rallying around Sarah Palin is a real joke on them. I was so shocked at Monica Crowley I could hardly believe it. Always making us know that Benjamin Franklin assessed the whole thing correctly: democracy is the worst form of government...no doubt about it. After all it all depends upon the people, government of the stupid people, by the stupid people, for the stupid people! IF only we could say government of the well-informed, for the well-informed, but alas and alack, Americans just are not up that level of politic yet!

What the pundits are saying today:

Robyn Blumner:

"The McCain-Palin ticket is having remarkable success with its revolutionary campaign tactic that I call: "Lying Eyes."

*

Dick Cavett:

"Back here in the past, when I’m writing this, we have just seen part one of her quizzing by Charles Gibson, with mixed reviews for both. So far I have not seen her confronted with some of the things about which she has been, to put it in that awful Diplomatically Correct phrase, "somewhat less than fully truthful." (Typesetter: If space is scarce, use "lying.") As in claiming "no thanks" to the bridge money while failing to disclose that she kept it."

*

Michael Cooper and Jim Rutenberg:

"In an interview Friday on the NY1 cable news channel, a McCain supporter, Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, called "ridiculous" the implication that Mr. Obama’s "lipstick on a pig" comment was a reference to Ms. Palin, whom he also defended as coming under unfair attack.

"The last month, for sure," said Don Sipple, a Republican advertising strategist, "I think the predominance of liberty taken with truth and the facts has been more McCain than Obama."

*

AP: Oy.

"Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Friday defended two debunked television ads attacking Democrat Barack Obama and claimed erroneously that running mate Sarah Palin never sought money for lawmakers' pet projects as Alaska governor.

Palin sought $197 million in so-called "earmarks" for 2009. In the previous budget year, she asked for earmarks worth $256 million."

*

WaPo Ad Analysis:

McCain Wraps Distortions Around One Truth.

"The spot is accurate in saying the Obama campaign called Palin a liar"

*

Andy Barr:

"Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has taken a more aggressive line of attack this week.

He has repeatedly hit his rivals for being dishonest about their portrayal of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s (R) record of reform."

*

Seattle Times News Service: Palin is still lying.

"Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska declined to back away from her declarations about her role in quashing the "Bridge to Nowhere," insisting Friday she had helped kill the earmark project."

*

LA Times: McCain still lying about Palin.

"John McCain got it wrong Friday when he asserted that his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, had not requested any earmarks, the spending directives lawmakers insert in spending bills that McCain has vowed to eliminate.

Palin, in fact, requested $198 million in federal earmarks in February, including such expenses as $487,000 to fight obesity in Alaska and $4 million to develop recreational trails."

*

Jay Bookman: "McCain still peddles Palin mythology"

Dick Cavett roasts McCain-Palin in the NYT

http://cavett.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/12/experience-101/index.html

morning all,

finally the press and media are starting to see and declare exactly what the Palin nomination really is and really says about the Republican party's absolute mockery of our electorial process. today editorial....below..

"As we watched Sarah Palin on TV the last couple of days, we kept wondering what on earth John McCain was thinking.

If he seriously thought this first-term governor — with less than two years in office — was qualified to be president, if necessary, at such a dangerous time, it raises profound questions about his judgment. If the choice was, as we suspect, a tactical move, then it was shockingly irresponsible.

It was bad enough that Ms. Palin’s performance in the first televised interviews she has done since she joined the Republican ticket was so visibly scripted and lacking in awareness.

What made it so much worse is the strategy for which the Republicans have made Ms. Palin the frontwoman: win the White House not on ideas, but by denigrating experience, judgment and qualifications.

The idea that Americans want leaders who have none of those things — who are so blindly certain of what Ms. Palin calls “the mission” that they won’t even pause for reflection — shows a contempt for voters and raises frightening questions about how Mr. McCain and Ms. Palin plan to run this country.

One of the many bizarre moments in the questioning by ABC News’s Charles Gibson was when Ms. Palin, the governor of Alaska, excused her lack of international experience by sneering that Americans don’t want “somebody’s big fat résumé maybe that shows decades and decades in that Washington establishment where, yes, they’ve had opportunities to meet heads of state.”

We know we were all supposed to think of Joe Biden. But it sure sounded like a good description of Mr. McCain. Those decades of experience earned the Arizona senator the admiration of people in both parties. They are why he was our preferred candidate in the Republican primaries.

The interviews made clear why Americans should worry about Ms. Palin’s thin résumé and lack of experience. Consider her befuddlement when Mr. Gibson referred to President Bush’s “doctrine” and her remark about having insight into Russia because she can see it from her state.

But that is not what troubled us most about her remarks — and, remember, if they were scripted, that just means that they reflect Mr. McCain’s views all the more closely. Rather, it was the sense that thoughtfulness, knowledge and experience are handicaps for a president in a world populated by Al Qaeda terrorists, a rising China, epidemics of AIDS, poverty and fratricidal war in the developing world and deep economic distress at home.

Ms. Palin talked repeatedly about never blinking. When Mr. McCain asked her to run for vice president? “You have to be wired in a way of being so committed to the mission,” she said, that “you can’t blink.”

Fighting terrorism? “We must do whatever it takes, and we must not blink, Charlie, in making those tough decisions of where we go and even who we target.”

Her answers about why she had told her church that President Bush’s failed policy in Iraq was “God’s plan” did nothing to dispel our concerns about her confusion between faith and policy. Her claim that she was quoting a completely unrelated comment by Lincoln was absurd.

This nation has suffered through eight years of an ill-prepared and unblinkingly obstinate president. One who didn’t pause to think before he started a disastrous war of choice in Iraq. One who blithely looked the other way as the Taliban and Al Qaeda regrouped in Afghanistan. One who obstinately cut taxes and undercut all efforts at regulation, unleashing today’s profound economic crisis.

In a dangerous world, Americans need a president who knows that real strength requires serious thought and preparation."

ruth

I think what is really telling about Palin is that for someone so new to the national political scene and so new to governace experience of any sort she absolutely dismisses her opponents years of years and years of service and experience in government like one would flick a crumb off their jacket lapel.

Really, do the Republicans think that people really like a disrespectful smartsass of a woman or person with little to no knowledge of the globe at large to come and plop themselves down in their face declaring something about some "mission" and the fact that "she can see Russia from her back door" as appealing in any way shape or form? It is befuddeling to say the least.

Really it is like they decided to nominate the most unqualified, unknowledgeable, disrespectful individual, in a skirt, they could come up with, to run as their Vice Presidential Candidate.

It is like hiring a cute, sexy, overly confident, young lady who is interning at the White House, for the summer, to be their Vice President and this cute, sexy, young, overly confident intern says..."yeah, sure, cool," and they say, "great, now here is what you say if anyone asks if you can do the job." and they give her the script....titled, "When one is lacking in brains and knowledge...Obnoxiousness will do the job."

ruth

This was the answer from Palin that was absolutely precious and really should be used as an ad for the campagin entitled "Job applicant answers the tough questions"....Mr. Gibson asked Ms. Palin, “What insight into Russian actions, particularly in the last couple of weeks, does the proximity of the state give you?”

She said, “They’re our next-door neighbors. And you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska. From an island in Alaska.”

Now that's some foreign policy experience right there."

really that should not go to waste....and I think it pretty much sums up the kind of Candidate the republican party has seen fit to offer the Nation they claim to so love and care about.

Okay, if they really want to give her somekind of job then let her take her rifle and stand at the tip of Alaska where she has a eyefull of Russian wildlife and it's goings on and be our little watch...doggie...that she could do, and do well, I have no doubt...ruth

People in the third, vastly uneducated world love their supernatural Gods. Whether he is real or not is unimportant.

The opposite takes place in highly educated countries like Sweden, here the existence of a supernatural deity is a non issue. What is very interesting is how Sweden treats it citizens, especially the less fortunate who need assistance in health and welfare. That assistance is almost always given. The Swedish city, Sodertalje, has taken in more Iraqi refugees than the entire United States.

The United States of America is the most powerful nation on earth, it is where the best educated brains from all over the world teach. But if you want to become president of this great nation you must have faith in God or you don’t stand a chance. In this, the home of the brave and land of the free, one must not question the existence of God because he might strike you dead for the mere thought he may not exist!

You can do all sorts of things in the name of God. You can even go to war in the name of God, but you must not doubt her.

False Gods and superstition are always someone else’s problems, never your own.

God help America…and the world!

DEVASTATING new McCain viral video:

The narrative is now set. McCain is running a deceitful campaign. And this video just exposes some of his lies, but you can see the pattern clearly.

It's at almost half a million views right now ...just in a day.

WATCH

+++

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IH0xzsogzAk

+++

About:

Added: September 11, 2008

"We have to spread the truth about McCain ourselves because it's clear the corporate media won't. NOW. FAST. FURIOUS. EVERYWHERE.

We are in the two-minute drill with no timeouts. No more sitting on the sidelines and allowing the McCain campaign to rack up points with countless distortions.

As we've seen with The Real McCain 2 (nearly 4.5 million views and counting!), once the truth gets out, it's hard to stop. In the last few days we have seen a disgusting descent into the worst of sleazy smear politics. We need to spread the facts and the truth. Send this to your friends and relations, especially if they are unsure or undecided—they're more willing to believe you than a talking head!

Spread the truth. Don't wait. It starts with you."

Great video Scott
I for one will not tolerate more lies from our leaders.
Ruth is right, America and the world is smarter than this.

I have had enough of the suspension of reality during presidential campaigns that have been a part of the way we have elected presidents in the past. I am not the most savvy political person but I know McCain is trying to lie his way through this campaign.

ENOUGH!!!!!

derek

I did not get involved in politics in the past because I saw it as a corrupt unfixable mess. It started at dishonesty and went down from there. I have hope now that the American people and the world people are not standing for any longer.
The internet is a new and dynamic player in this game and in my opinion completely changes the way politics is being played.

empowerment to the people

derek

and now the world can vote

iftheworldcouldvote.com

Thank you for providing your insight on this election!