American 2008 Election

[TV-VCR 15]

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes If hes been officialy nominated why is the convention still ongoing?

quote>

Quote from wikipedia: The 2008 Democratic National Convention is scheduled for August 25-August 28 in Denver, Colorado. The official presidential nominee is Barack Obama.

Today he gives his speech.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: TV-VCR

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes If hes been officialy nominated why is the convention still ongoing?

quote>

Quote from wikipedia: The 2008 Democratic National Convention is scheduled for August 25-August 28 in Denver, Colorado. The official presidential nominee is Barack Obama.

Today he gives his speech. quote>

 

I see no reason for the conventions at all. with up to the second coverage of the primarys

We know the outcome with out all of the  hopey changey speaches.

The republican candidate has been know for months now. Why do 100s of people need meet to 

"officialy"  announce it?

[JanYpe 17]

Why do 100s of people need meet to "officialy" announce it? quote>

Because it's a great way of getting loads and loads of free press. The party delegates get to look nice and democratic, while the candidates get to really jump start their campaigns with some rousing speeches that will get broadcast in airtime that doesn't cost them a dime.

[Aontan 0]

Alaska governor to be McCain running mate

Friday, 29 August 2008 16:05

Republican US presidential candidate John McCain has chosen Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate.

Ms Palin, 44, is considered to be a surprise choice and one aimed at appealing to women voters who might have been disillusioned by Barack Obama's decision to pick Joe Biden as his number two instead of Hillary Clinton.

Mr McCain is preparing to accept his party's nomination for president at the Republican convention in St Paul, Minnesota, next week.

He and his campaign have worked hard to remain in the public eye during the Democratic convention.

Mr McCain and Ms Palin face Democratic candidate Barack Obama and veteran senator Joe Biden in the election on 4 November.

'She will be his partner in reforming Washington,' a senior McCain official told reporters.

By announcing his pick today, John McCain is hoping to divert attention from the Democratic convention in Denver, which concluded last night with a speech by Barack Obama.

The Democratic candidate opened a broad assault on Mr McCain, accusing him of following the policies of unpopular President George W Bush.

'This is a bold choice of a strong conservative who is a reformer and will be greeted by the delegates in St. Paul with enthusiasm,' said Republican strategist Scott Reed.

McCain is preparing to accept his party's nomination for president at the Republican convention in St Paul, Minnesota, next week.

Story from RTÉ News:
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0829/uselection1.html 

quote>

Interesting choice... wonder if it will win over disenfranchised Clinton supporters.

[confused04 14]

They say it won't necessarily appeal to Clinton supporters because a) she's young (oops, killed that argument) b ) good looking (this is according to some political analysts as a drawback for getting woman to vote for McCain cause it appears rather shallow) and c) she's under investigation for firing the safety commissioner who refused to fire a state trooper that was embroiled in a custody battle with her sister. She's a tough sell and quite honestly, I always thought that the McCain brand would have a harder time picking a running mate than Obama because of how McCain set himself up. This is probably his best choice.

Last night my state was abuzz, as was CNN, that Pawlenty had been picked cause he suddenly cancelled all his events in Denver and flew home. His two homes in Minnesota (one he bought, one thats provided by the state i.e. governor's mansion) were staked out by the Media. It was quite fun. Then I woke up to the WONDERFUL news that he hadn't gotten picked. Although to be honest, if they were gonna pick an absolute nobody, they should have picked someone NOT under investigation. I honestly thought he was gonna pick Pawlenty because polls had shown that upwards of 10% of Minnesotans would have switched to vote for the Republicans with Pawlenty on the ticket. At the very least he's "clean" and has "emergency" experience with the 35 W collapse. His liability was a lack of experience that McCain is trying to paint Obama with.... way to go McCain, pick Palin who is even LESS experienced. The more I think about it,.... the less I understand his choice.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 7, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: confused04

 Although to be honest, if they were gonna pick an absolute nobody, they should have picked someone NOT under investigation. quote>

An excellent point.  I know very little of the investigation so who knows if it has any merit or not.

One issue with any Vice President is that the VP is "one heartbeat away from the Presidency".    Given McCain's age and health, it is a non-trivial concern.

I honestly thought he was gonna pick Pawlenty because polls had shown that upwards of 10% of Minnesotans would have switched to vote for the Republicans with Pawlenty on the ticket. At the very least he's "clean" and has "emergency" experience with the 35 W collapse. His liability was a lack of experience that McCain is trying to paint Obama with.... way to go McCain, pick Palin who is even LESS experienced. The more I think about it,.... the less I understand his choice.quote>

I suspect he is trying to attract the Hillary loyalists.  I suppose there are people who believe that a woman, any woman, should be President.   But I imagine there are more people who believe the opposite.    He could easily drive away as many, or more, people than he is attracting.   

[Zelgadis 638]

Considering Palin's credentials, I think it's pretty clear that McCain's choice is no more than an effort to win the female votes. And just like confused said: he should have chosen somebody not under investigation! I mean... Huh?

Other problem, she's young and cute. It's the same problem if he had chosen Romney. Both of them make McCain look even more old and grizzled.

ISF

[TV-VCR 15]

Every day the chances that Obama will win just climb and climb...

[Micah 16]

Given McCain's age and healthquote>

McCain's age is a concern but his health is excellent.

I think Obama made a wonderful VP candidate, but McCain's pick just confuses the hell out of me. First of all, the experience issue with her has no foundation because she's been in government longer than Obama since she has been mayor from 1996 to 2002 and then governor onward, so that argument against her seems unbased for me. But I must say, it troubles me that he picked her because it just seems so unlike him to pick a candidate like her. It was a very political move. Of course Biden was a political move too, but this one was clear as day.

Haha... you know what. I just thought about why he probably picked her. Besides the investigation, it will be extremely difficult to attack her because if the Dems attack her for age, McCain can throw it right back at Obama. If the Dems attack her for experience, McCain can throw it right back at Obama. If the Dems attack her for gender, they'll piss off the Clinton supporters.

Personally, I think it was too risky for McCain to do and it can bite him in the ass later. We'll just have to see.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Is she truely in support of drilling in the Alaska wilderness reserve?

Then its probably a good thing she wount be Gov of Alaska anymore.

[Zelgadis 638]

The more I think about it and the more I read about Palin, the more puzzled I get about McCain's VP selection.

Obama has experience as a community organizer, in Constitutional law, as a professor, as a state senator, and as a US senator. That's the kind of experience I want in a President.

Palin has been governor of a tiny (population) state for two years and before that was mayor of a podunk little town (less than 10,000 people). Seriously, this was the most qualified Republican woman he could find? This is looking more and more like a baldface pander by the minute.

McCain has experience in Washington. Not the kind of experience I prefer, but I admit, he's experienced. Obama has the grassroots experience that I prefer. But Palin is not qualified to be President or Vice-President.

ISF

[belfastuniguy 18]

McCains selection was a shameless ploy to get the disenfranchised female vote.

He may get some, but I still think Obama will get the majority. I was never a fan of Obama, but have warmed to him recently and think he could really re-invigorate America. That will remain to be seen. Though my support is now fully with the Democrats. Also love that McCain shot himself in the shot by practically taking a hammer to his 'experience' rant.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: belfastuniguy

McCains selection was a shameless ploy to get the disenfranchised female vote.

quote>

That, plus appealing to the hard right conservatives who aren't happy with McCain.  Palin is pro-life, pro-NRA, pro-oil.   and pro-reform, so McCain can say he does "get it" about people wanting change.

As they say, this choice is rolling the dice, going for double or nothing.

Reminds me of Jonathan Horton, who was on the USA men's gymnastics team.    On the high bar, he knew he wasn't likely to win a medal so decided to string together some moves he had practiced but hadn't used in competition.   He figured he would either fall on his butt or put himself in medal contention.    He took the silver.

Sometimes gambles pay off.  Sometimes they don't.

I like how this article sums it up: 

Ms. Palin is a bold pick, and probably a shrewd one. It's not nearly so clear that she is a responsible pick, or a wise one.quote>

[hym 358]

Does anyone other than me have reservations about both McCain and Obama?

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: hym Does anyone other than me have reservations about both McCain and Obama?quote>

 

You mean the fact that for most of us it realy dosnt matter who the president is?

That  who sits in that office  effects the averages americans life is so insignificantly the it cant be measured.

Politics so bores me becuase we never learn from past mistakes, we keep repeating history,

making the same stupid mistakes each and every time and electing the same old politicos because they lead us to belive that This guy is the one who  going to take contol,make the changes, not have the same old politics as before. But its never true, they all play the same games for thier own personal egotistical or financial goals.

No I dont have any ideas to make it better.

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: hym

Does anyone other than me have reservations about both McCain and Obama?quote>

I can't remember a time when I didn't have reservations about who was running.

But, as the saying goes, you may not find someone you want to vote for but you can usually find someone to vote against.     Many of the useless ones count on the fact that you won't bother to vote.

On a semi-related note:   I went to election judge training again last week.  For the past several elections, I've been working as a unit judge, which is a fancy way of saying I acted as a traffic cop, seeing that people got in the right line, got to a voting machine, and so forth.  I am now a check-in judge, which means I sit there and poke a computer screen with a stylus while the people in line wonder why it takes so long.

[Wrightguy0 40]

I think that this wouldn't have happened had it been Obama/Clinton, McCain would not have picked a woman. McCain is desperate, and I think this is just another nail in the coffin. Yes she's a woman, but Palin is just more of the same in a different wrapper. She's pretty green and hasn't had much time in state politics and no time in national politics. Her international political experiences are with russia and canada, canada is usually helpfull and agreeable, and the russia she knows is far different from Moscow.

I don't think McCain can win against Obama, the crowd fave is pretty much been decided

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: Wrightguy0

I think that this wouldn't have happened had it been Obama/Clinton, McCain would not have picked a woman. McCain is desperate, and I think this is just another nail in the coffin. quote>

It did achieve one goal:  "controlling the news cycle".   What did you see on the news yesterday?  Replays of the Democratic convention or talk about Palin?   This announcement was timed so that replays of the Democratic convention were minimal.

I don't think McCain can win against Obama, the crowd fave is pretty much been decidedquote>

I don't know about that.   Last I heard, neither of them had polled above 50% in weeks.

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: hym Does anyone other than me have reservations about both McCain and Obama?quote>

Yes.

Barr/Root '08!

[confused04 14]

To not have reservations is to blindly follow. Every election everyone has reservations about their candidates or at the very least should. But to be honest, I do prefer Obama over McCain quite readily, mainly cause I'm very socially liberal (ha... Welcome to Minnesota, haven't gone Republican since 1972, longest blue streak for a STATE in the nation). But I like to have reservations on policies than over personality quirks and "experience" and basically things that have no merit on governance. I don't care who I can sit down with and have a beer, although THAT would be hilarious. I don't care who's old or young as history has NEVER shown experience or lack there of is a predictor of presidential excellence. I personally don't like Obama's move to the center, but I excuse it because its better than having the country stay in right field by the foul post for another four years. The thing that sickens me are how people STILL think he's a muslim or how "elitist" Obama is. McCain is also elitist.... very few people in the government are NOT elitist. Biden was one of them (I've always liked that guy, even if he cant' shut up). But I'd rather have the two sides fight on legitimate policy issues than yell "old yeller" and "young snob".

At least you guys don't have the highest profile most expensive Senate Race of the year (for that matter EVER) plaguing your TV and even the State Fair. I wish I had the ignorance to just vote on the candidate with the fewer ads, but I could never bring myself to it (although it would happen to be the same person I'm voting for anyway). But really I'm hoping the Democratic Candidate, Al Franken, is removed during the primaries cause I don't like him. Having reservations is normal, its just an extension of our political philosophy that government sucks. Personally I don't think that, I just think people suck period.

Edit: And Obama has more experience than Palin, even Republicans admit that and a few have shaken there heads at the decisions. I was at the State Fair yesterday and there were two booths to note, right next to each other....

WCCO Radio 830 AM was discussing the passing over Pawlenty (which got his own Breaking News Story on CNN for NOT being picked...) and the choosing of Palin. The talkshow radio host who I believe is very independent was in an absolute UPROAR over the choice. He yelled something along the lines of "I think this choice is demeaning to woman. The Republicans made a choice that can only be one of two things. McCain wanted someone who was young and beautiful and it really didn't matter about her credentials, she's just eye candy. Or that women would be SO gullible that it doesn't matter who you pick. There were far more qualified female candidates that were passed over". He basically said that yes, this was a ploy for Hillary voters and that they really don't think much of them. In a way I agree, if women choose to vote for him SIMPLY because there's a woman on the ticket, then this guy is right. Btw, this booth was directly next to....

The Republican Party Booth

EDIT II: To second the "she has more experience" argument... HA! Palin has 6 years as mayor of a village with 5400 people and 21 months as governor vs. Obama's 8 years in the Illinois state senate and 3 1/2 years in the U.S. Senate. Executive experience is not created equally. McCain really might have shot himself in the foot with this one because moderates are totally going to call him out on the "experience" argument should he use it again on Obama. Conservative bloggers and strategists have admitted that this is no longer a good tactic. However, Palin comes off as "down to Earth" kinda gal that rides motorcycles and shoots guns.... Ironically, a new poll out today says that women are far more skeptical about Palin then men. I think her Pro-Life stance has alienated the Hillary Clinton voters....

[ShortStraw 1]

I wonder how many of my countrymen will vote Obama just because he's a "Racial minority"?

How many will vote McCain just because his vp candidate is female?

How many still vote strictly along party lines regardless of who the candidates are or what the issues are?

Election years never fail to disappoint me.   The single party "republicrat" machine treats us as if we are all blindly naive and gullible beyond reason and we always prove them right.

How am I not supposed to be ashamed of my country?

[sam_sgs 0]

I don't particularly "like" Obama, nor agree with some of his policies. However, if there is anyone unfit to rule this country, it is McCain - a man who thinks "Al-Qaeda train in Iran", and that "The neighbourhoods are completely safe in Iraq".

I also don't know whether his consistent u-turns on almost every issue are due to his old age or just because he can't make his mind up. His constant attempts to smear Obama are just pathetic and, needless to say, without honour.

It is also clear how a reactionary fool he is by choosing someone more inexperienced than Obama to be his running mate. It's clear he chose her simply because she was a woman, and perhaps to woo Hillary supporters. Just shows what he thinks of the intelligence of the female voter. Nice to know if he dies, then America will be run by a hot soccer-mom.

It's quite sad, we do this every four years. They woo us with cheesy speeches and parade their families around and talk about gay marriage. We buy into their crap, elect them, and then wonder why the rest of the world hates us.

Please, America: The last thing we need is yet another senile, warmongering nutjob in bed with oil companies and in control of the world's most powerful nation.

I fear he will be elected, just like America TWICE elected into office a man with an IQ of a goldfish.

[balkair 6]

i may not be American, but i support Obama. He is by far the best. Under the Bush administration, America was not a true ally. With greece for example: never has the Bush administration supported greece. They just asked us to do things (send more troops to afghanistan, recognise Kosovo, etc) and then on top of that they support FYROM (the so-called Republic of "Macedonia") in the name dispute. America REALLY needs a change of governance... Anf if there is someone who can do that, it is Obama (he also has a very friendly policy towards greece, inlcuding the name dispute with FYROM).

So i'm definately going with Obama

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: confused04 To not have reservations is to blindly follow. Every election everyone has reservations about their candidates or at the very least should. But to be honest, I do prefer Obama over McCain quite readily, mainly cause I'm very socially liberal (ha... Welcome to Minnesota, haven't gone Republican since 1972, longest blue streak for a STATE in the nation). But I like to have reservations on policies than over personality quirks and "experience" and basically things that have no merit on governance. I don't care who I can sit down with and have a beer, although THAT would be hilarious. I don't care who's old or young as history has NEVER shown experience or lack there of is a predictor of presidential excellence. I personally don't like Obama's move to the center, but I excuse it because its better than having the country stay in right field by the foul post for another four years. The thing that sickens me are how people STILL think he's a muslim or how "elitist" Obama is. McCain is also elitist.... very few people in the government are NOT elitist. Biden was one of them (I've always liked that guy, even if he cant' shut up). But I'd rather have the two sides fight on legitimate policy issues than yell "old yeller" and "young snob".

At least you guys don't have the highest profile most expensive Senate Race of the year (for that matter EVER) plaguing your TV and even the State Fair. I wish I had the ignorance to just vote on the candidate with the fewer ads, but I could never bring myself to it (although it would happen to be the same person I'm voting for anyway). But really I'm hoping the Democratic Candidate, Al Franken, is removed during the primaries cause I don't like him. Having reservations is normal, its just an extension of our political philosophy that government sucks. Personally I don't think that, I just think people suck period.

Edit: And Obama has more experience than Palin, even Republicans admit that and a few have shaken there heads at the decisions. I was at the State Fair yesterday and there were two booths to note, right next to each other....

WCCO Radio 830 AM was discussing the passing over Pawlenty (which got his own Breaking News Story on CNN for NOT being picked...) and the choosing of Palin. The talkshow radio host who I believe is very independent was in an absolute UPROAR over the choice. He yelled something along the lines of "I think this choice is demeaning to woman. The Republicans made a choice that can only be one of two things. McCain wanted someone who was young and beautiful and it really didn't matter about her credentials, she's just eye candy. Or that women would be SO gullible that it doesn't matter who you pick. There were far more qualified female candidates that were passed over". He basically said that yes, this was a ploy for Hillary voters and that they really don't think much of them. In a way I agree, if women choose to vote for him SIMPLY because there's a woman on the ticket, then this guy is right. Btw, this booth was directly next to....

The Republican Party Booth

EDIT II: To second the "she has more experience" argument... HA! Palin has 6 years as mayor of a village with 5400 people and 21 months as governor vs. Obama's 8 years in the Illinois state senate and 3 1/2 years in the U.S. Senate. Executive experience is not created equally. McCain really might have shot himself in the foot with this one because moderates are totally going to call him out on the "experience" argument should he use it again on Obama. Conservative bloggers and strategists have admitted that this is no longer a good tactic. However, Palin comes off as "down to Earth" kinda gal that rides motorcycles and shoots guns.... Ironically, a new poll out today says that women are far more skeptical about Palin then men. I think her Pro-Life stance has alienated the Hillary Clinton voters....quote>

 

Al Franken? The Comedian?

[IDS2 3,368]

Easy Bakes: yeah, he's running against Norm Coleman for Minnesota senate.

Palin was probably the worst pick McCain could make...this woman knows more about skinning moose than co-running a country! So, let's say that, if McCain could actually win and did, he's in office a year and BAM he passes away in his sleep of natural causes. We have a ditzy hunter/hockey mom/mayor of 6,000 people running our country! It's like suicide for McCain, if he goes down, America goes down with him. Then he'll go down in history as worst VP picker.

Joe Bide, on the other hand, was an EXCELLENT choice for Obama. However obnoxious he can be, he has tons of experience that he can wing at McCain if he criticizes Obama for not having enough. He also fills the racial gap so Obama can say "I can be friends with the white man, while McCain can't even always do that."

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: IDS2 Easy Bakes: yeah, he's running against Norm Coleman for Minnesota senate.

Palin was probably the worst pick McCain could make...this woman knows more about skinning moose than co-running a country! So, let's say that, if McCain could actually win and did, he's in office a year and BAM he passes away in his sleep of natural causes. We have a ditzy hunter/hockey mom/mayor of 6,000 people running our country! It's like suicide for McCain, if he goes down, America goes down with him. Then he'll go down in history as worst VP picker.

Joe Bide, on the other hand, was an EXCELLENT choice for Obama. However obnoxious he can be, he has tons of experience that he can wing at McCain if he criticizes Obama for not having enough. He also fills the racial gap so Obama can say "I can be friends with the white man, while McCain can't even always do that."

quote>

 

It would be funnier if he was runing against Norm MacDonald.

[Yoman3 5]

Originally posted by: balkair i may not be American, but i support Obama. He is by far the best. Under the Bush administration, America was not a true ally. With greece for example: never has the Bush administration supported greece. They just asked us to do things (send more troops to afghanistan, recognise Kosovo, etc) and then on top of that they support FYROM (the so-called Republic of "Macedonia") in the name dispute. America REALLY needs a change of governance... Anf if there is someone who can do that, it is Obama (he also has a very friendly policy towards greece, inlcuding the name dispute with FYROM).

So i'm definately going with Obama quote>

That name dispute, to me, sounds like the dumbest relations problem in the world. Whats the problem of another country having the name of one of your provinces in its name? Mexico doesn't complain that we have New Mexico or England that we name the northeast area New England

Anyone catch Bill Maher's comments about MSNBC's coverage of Obama btw? I normally don't agree with him but it sounded just right to me MSNBC is really imploding atm.

[balkair 6]

yes, but Mexico is not implying that the USA are OCCUPYING their territory. We have no problem with Northern Macedonia, New Macedonia, or something like it. The problem is not in the name: its in their attitude. Do you know how many "athens" there are in the USA? Did greek say anything? No. A few weeks ago, their Prime Minister went on TV and said: "Thessaloniki is our true Capital". Do you know what thessaloniki is? It is the second largest city in Greece, capital of the province of Greek Macedonia. If that is not implying territorial claim, then my grandmother is a hippo. Greece is not willing to Veto their entrance in the European Union but we will. We have done our part of the story, now its up to them to do the other half. I mean - hello?! Who in here doughts that Alexander the Great was greek? He has a greek name, he took part in the Olympic Games where ONLY greeks could take part, he spoce Attic Greek (Greek from Athens), he believed in the Greek gods, he set out to defeat the Persians for the "Glory of Greece", like duh!! On top of that, they make posters that replace the Cross on the Greek flag with a swastika, they dress our Prime Minister in an S.S. uniform and so on.

And yes, you named it NEW england and NEW mexico. Not England and Mexico

And how would you feel if Canada renamed itself in Republic of Pennsylvania, and did all those things i just told u?

[krbe 193]

Originally posted by: balkairAnd how would you feel if Canada renamed itself in Republic of Pennsylvania, and did all those things i just told u?quote>

You do know that the term "American" today refers to one from the US, and not from the actual continent, unlike European, African, and Asian? They still manage to get along, in case you wondered where the problem lies. (Also, Alexander was the king of Macedon.)

Anyway, a little Palin roundup for those that aren't too familiar with Alaskan politics.