While waiting for the second presidential debate to begin this evening, I watched Jon Stewart commenting on the recent VP debate. HILARIOUS! I laughed out loud. See: http://tinyurl.com/4ufz8q.
When asked what the VP candidates had to do in order to be successful during the debate (this obviously occurred before the debate took place), media analysts answered that Joe Biden basically had to be a gentleman and avoid appearing sexist.
And Sarah Palin? Well, a CNN senior analyst stated that she had to prove that she can speak in a normal English sentence…(that’s IT???!!!)
And Jon Stewart commented: so to be successful, her standard tonight was the same as a roadside sobriety test. Hehehe!
Okay, the presidential debate is almost on. Less than three minutes to go!
Wasn’t Palin’s old man copped for drunk driving? Perhaps she should be breathalised before going on TV.
Paul
What a circus!!
Hi Margaret,
Isn’t it funny how two people can look at the same picture and see two different things?
When I look at Gov.Sarah Palin, I see a real person. A person who has fought corruption in her own state as govenor and who has even fought corruption in her own party. I see someone who has lived a life similar to most of us in the USA and has faced the same problems and challenges we have. I see someone with more executive experience than Senators McCain, Obama and Biden combined.
When I look at Sen. Obama, I see a person with little experience. A person who, as Senator, voted “present” over 150 times when he should have taken a stand and voted yes or no. I see a person, who counts as his friends, an unrepentant terrorist (William Ayers), a radical preacher (Jeremiah Wright), and a Supreme Member of the Islam Nation (Louis Farrakhan). When he goes down in the polls, he throws them under the bus. I see a person who is associated with the corrupt organization ACORN that is being investigated for voter fraud. His campaign has given over $800,000.00 to this organization.
This all scares me. I don’t know if Sen. McCain and Gov. Palin will do what they say they will, but I can’t vote for someone I don’t trust. And looking back on Senator Obama’s record and associations, I just don’t feel that trust.
Anyway, I hope we can agree to disagree on this subject.
Val
Hi Val,
You are right on one thing – two people can look at the same picture and see two different things.
In Mrs Palin I see someone who is currently being investigated for abuse of power in her own state. I see someone who can hardly fashion a sentance, whereas Mr Obama is an inspirational speaker. In Mrs Palin I see someone who has only recently decided to get a passport and leave Alaska whereas Mr Obama has travelled the World showing that he has the ability to be an impressive statesman wherever he has been. In Mr Obama I see someone who is dedicated to saving the planet, whereas in Mrs Palin I see someone who would continue to rape it and wilfully destroy all its creatures in the process. But most of all, in Mr Obama I see the potential for a fine leader – someone that US citizens can be proud of. Someone who will not leave the rest of the World asking how you Americans could ever have voted for such a clown (as we have been doing for the last 8 years). I don’t know if you have seen the news lately but your country is in very serious trouble and it’s taking the Western World down with it. This is no accident. It’s all due to bad management. Who is the Chief Exec? And who do you think has sufficient intelligence to get us out of the deep mire we are in? Surely not an Alaskan redneck “pitbull with lipstick”?
Paul
Sure we can agree to disagree (and still be friends). 🙂
I would like to add an update to what Paul wrote: just this morning I read in the newspaper that, and I quote, “Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded yesterday.” So much for being a reformer and someone who has fought corruption (she sings a good tune, but if you look at her record as mayor and governor, it isn’t that great…check it out)…after this recent bit of news, perhaps she should stop shrieking about Sen. Obama’s character and focus on bettering her own.
I don’t want to see Joe Six Packs and hockey moms in the White House. I want to see someone with a brain, someone who can actually speak English, someone who doesn’t avoid answering questions, someone who doesn’t attack others on character issues…while living in a glass house, as the saying goes. I want to see someone who can attempt to undo the damage that Pres Bush has done on an international and national level. A diplomat, not a warmonger.
That man is not Sen. McCain, with his unreasonable and angry outbursts (you can find videos on YouTube documenting this), with his talk of winning wars and whatnot. I find him scary, truth be told. I have seen reports about his rage. We don’t want rage in the White House, do we?
Of course we can all vote for whomever we please. I am simply saying: before casting your vote in November, do some homework. As for Sen. Obama’s past associations, this really is ridiculous (for the record: Obama was not, as far as I know, a friend of Farrakhan). I myself did some really dumb things when I was younger. Thing is, people change. And, if we are looking at people’s past mistakes, what about Sen McCain having an affair and then leaving his disfigured wife for a rich heiress (Cindy)? That doesn’t say much for his character, does it?
The experience (or lack thereof) card is equally ridiculous. Look at the records.
Anyway, we must move forward, not backward.
Margaret
(and I approve this message ;-))
Yes, we must move forward. And I hope you are both right about Sen. Obama because it looks as if he will most likely be our next president. (Let’s keep this conversation in mind no matter who wins) Remember, the Bush administration is not up for re-election, no matter how much the pundits try to spin it that way. I believe the Bush administration has failed the American people. As for McCain being angry, Americans are angry! The crisis we are facing right now comes from the corruption of both parties and I want someone who is angry enough to make those responsible pay. I don’t want someone who just makes a great speach about it. I don’t think Sen. Obama has ever voted against his own party. I know McCain has, even when it hurt him politically.
I have to say, though, I have to respectfully disagree with you both as to who has the “better” characher. This whole investigation into Gov. Palin started when her State Trouper brother in law tasered an 11 year old child. I really don’t care what she did to get him fired. This man is a monster in my opinion and deserved it!
Senator Obama’s vote against the Child Protection Act (which says that a child born alive after a botched abortion will be able to receive medical care) says it all. It shows what his character is. He was the only one in the senate to vote against this. The only one! Even Sen. Clinton voted for the Child Protection Act. And as for his past associations, these weren’t made when he was young and dumb. These are people who helped launch his political career! These are people who have a profound hatred for America. He describes these people as his friends and mentors!
Just because Govenor Palin professes to be a “pit bull with lipstick” and speaks plainly to the American people, doesn’t mean she’s a dummy.(Although I don’t like the wink, winks either) She didn’t get to be Govenor of Alaska by being stupid. Just because she didn’t attend an Ivy league school doesn’t mean she isn’t intelligent. There were a lot of Vice Presidents (and Presidents, for that matter) who had no foreign policy experience. What she lacks in this area, she makes up for in other areas.
As I said, I hope I’m wrong about Sen. Obama and I will be the first one to admit it to you. I’m not trying to offend anyone, really. I just have very strong opinions about this election and I’m afraid for our country.
Still friends, I hope?
Val
Sure we are. Still friends, I mean.
I wrote a rebuttal but decided to delete it. Not constructive.
I just hope that the next U.S. President manages to break away from the policies and actions that have led us on the path toward disaster. As I wrote earlier, let’s move forward, not backward.
I am sure we can all agree on that.
Margaret
I agree with Val! Our two votes cancel out yours, so we all may as well stay home! : ) Just kidding!! Actually, sounds like Paul may not be an American citizen so his vote doesn’t count…we win!
Seriously, Obama promises everything to everybody. No one person or one government can possibly deliver all that he promises. It appears to me that he preaches to “itching ears!” It may just work this time. We shall see.
Winston Churchill once said, “If you are not a liberal at twenty, you have no heart. If you are not a conservative at forty, you have no brain.”
wow
All I have to say is: Thank You once again, Margaret and Paul for so much support and advice and information throughout all of this blog. You have reduced my stress level so many times with your level headed common sense. And that is healthy as we all know. Margaret: You are a jewel, a diamond in my sky. You put a lot of energy into helping people you don’t even know and I can’t thank you enough.
a note of clarification…I included Winston Churchhill’s quote in my comment above because I thought it was cute. I wasn’t directing it at anyone…I promise! I need to be more careful! : )
Dear Donna,
I think Churchchill was referring to the British, not the Americans – where the reverse seems to apply: e.g. Ronald Regan, George Bush 1, George Bush 2, Dan Qayle (remember him) and now Mrs Palin. No towering Conservative intellects there as far as I can see. Not like Mrs Thatcher.
I know the US is the land of opportunity but surely it isn’t compulsory to give the top job to the village idiot. Most outsiders have been asking “is that the best you can do?” for years. What on Earth is happening? Are you voting for the person you would prefer to live next to, or the person with the nicest spectacles, rather than the person with the best leadership qualities and greatest intelligence (surely the most important qualities for a leader of the free World). Can’t you see how scary it would be to have Mrs. Palin a heartbeat away from the President’s job. My advice is that you keep the pitbull tied up in the back yard where she’s safe. Can you seriously believe that a Governor of a State with 683,478 people has sufficient experience to be a potential leader of the free World? We wouldn’t trust the Mayor of London (pop 7,512,400) to do that job – even though he’s a Conservative and a lot smarter than Mrs Palin. And yes, foreign policy experience is important – if you want to avoid another Vietnam or Iraq.
You are right, I don’t have a vote, but, I’m praying that that common sense finally prevails in the US. Otherwise I am absolutely certain that capitalism and democracy will fail in a very short time. This election is that serious. I’m not bluffing or joking. The last time Western economies were in such a crisis, and major banks were failing, was in the 30’s, and Hitler was the direct result. Have you even heard of him Mrs Palin?
I have met plenty of Americans who are adamant they didn’t vote for George Bush but none who admit that they did and that they were wrong. If you voted for Bush, please, please, please, think more carefully this time. What’s the point of having a universal franchise if people won’t use it wisely?
The Brits have supported the US through thick and thin. We have even supported the illegal war in Iraq. George Bush has wasted all the support and sympathy the US received after 9/11 and you now have very few friends. If you put another idiot in the White House you will almost certainly be on your own.
Regards,
Paul
Hi Paul,
Yes, I’m sure Churchill was referring to the British but I feel his statement is applicable no matter where one lives. I personally have a great regard for Ronald Reagan and George Bush I. Great leadership doesn’t mean that one knows all the answers personally, but that one is wise enough to select those who do, then, get out of their way and let them do the jobs they were assigned to do! Outsiders aren’t the only ones asking, “Is this the best we can do?” Absolutely not, but these are the cards we’ve been dealt and a choice must be made. I actually had two other candidates I would rather have been in the running but unfortunatly, they are not. I could send you literature as to why Obama should not be selected as president but you wouldn’t believe it. I’m sure you could send me literature as to why I should vote for him. I disagree that Sarah Palin is the “village idiot”. Intelligence is relative. I’ve known many “so called” intelligent people who have little common sense and barely have sense to come in from a shower of rain! I feel Sarah Palin is bright and hard working and has many attributes that I admire, and a pretty face is not one of them. Some men and even some women can’t seem to get past that. We agree that she lacks the experience to be President of the US, and neither does Obama. He admitted that personally a couple of years ago. So where does that leave us? We weigh out the pros and cons in our own minds, make our selections and pray fervently that our decisions are what’s best for our country and ultimately, the world. Hold onto your hat, it looks as though we’re in for a bumpy ride!
Hi Donna,
You’ve hit the nail on the head. If you’re not smart, it’s best to recognise it and pick smart people who can help you out. That was Regan’s greatest skill – bless him. However, GB1 picked Dan Quayle and now McCain has picked Palin. Not much help there then. It does mean you have to question their ability to make good decisions when they can’t even pick the best running mate available. You also need to ask whether they will be prepard to step out of the way and let the smart guys do their jobs.
So Donna, here’s the bottom line: Did you vote for GB2, and do you now admit you make an awful mistake that has brought your country to the brink of disaster? If so, how are you going to ensure that you don’t make that same mistake again? If you put another idiot in the White House it won’t just be a bumpy ride, the country will be totalled. It’s your call.
Paul