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the campaign's ugly turn
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Anonymous
PP here -- yes, that was my point. He was for the surge long before Bush saw the need for it. And it's working. And as for Obama opposing the war, yes, that was a more "liberal" position than most of the Democrats. What I'm asking is whether Obama has ever joined forces with Republicans --or moderates-- against a position taken by the Democratic party. Just curious. That's what appeals to me about McCain; he has tended to forge his own path, whether it's popular or not. |
Anonymous
| But is McCain's voting record relevant to this particular discussion? The point is that neither he nor Palin have condemned this disgusting type of slander and name-calling during this campaign. The whole problem with McCain is not his record in the Senate, but his behavior during this campaign, which seems to undermine all of his accomplishments because it suggests that he will do absolutely anything to win -- including going back on his principles. (Remember how he condemned Jerry Falwell as an "agent of intolerance" in 2000?) |
Anonymous
I think McCain is more independent, and sometimes unpredictable than Obama. Obama has worked with Dick Lugar, so he is willing to cross party lines, but I don't think he disagrees with Democratic positions the way McCain has frequently disagreed with Republican positions. There is an understanding, when you join a party, that you will usually play by the party rules. It's not a perfect form of government, but 100 McCains in the Senate might prove rather anarchic. A maverick can also be viewed as erratic and disloyal. I don't think Obama, in saying he can work with Republicans, implied that he has to anger his own party when he does it. |
Anonymous
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I've posted before that I am actually quite worried about where all this is going. I was the poster who talked about the boiling pot that RNC keeps stirring and someone getting badly burned. I was the first poster that remarked about the lack of action re: "Kill him!" Jeff may disagree with me, but I do not think that is speech for purposes of the First Amendment.
I think the political atmosphere has become extremely racially and culturally charged. I mean, we all say that sheriff talking about "Barack Hussein Obama". This is the stuff that incites people. I also saw a rally at which a McCain supporter was begging McCain to bring up the Reverend Wright stuff -- saying that the world has to know who this terrible man really is. That he cannot believe this is happening. Nothing that is said is outright racist. But I think when you keep taking pictures of Barack Obama and linking those pictures to the word "terrorist", the message is clear. Calling him risky, calling him dangerous, saying that we don't know who he really is -- I read all of that as code for: he's really a radical Islam sympathizer at best -- at worst a black Muslim terrorist. I think when Cindy McCain got up there and started talking about a chill going up her spine because Obama voted against a certain bill that would have authorized certain monies for the troops, she was also inciting people. I think she should be ashamed of herself, especially since McCain voted against the very same bill. I don't know. I'm not a shrink or a sociologist. It just seems to me that these are time where everyone is worrying about their 401K and how much more the stock market is going to drop and will they be able to retire and send their children to college and how did this happen and who is to blame -- you've got a lot of angst and worry out there. Add to that a whole bunch of subtle and not-s0-subtle calls for a cultural and/or racial war, and I think someone could get hurt. |
Anonymous
| I agree, pp. If Obama is assassinated, I will hold Sarah Palin and John McCain responsible for whipping people into a frenzy with their "Who is Obama?" rhetoric. |
Anonymous
Two things are germane here: 1) It's generally recognized by most observers (except McCain) that the surge was only one of several factors in reducing the violence. The other two were the realization by the Sunni community that the extremists were destroying the country and the Bush Administration's decision to co-op the Sunni community by forming Sunni militias. 2) Right now we need a leader who can unify people and mobilize them to help rebuild our economy. John McCain seems lurch from idea to idea with no clear direction. First he was against cutting taxes (remember that?). Now he's for cutting taxes. First he wants Lieberman, a moderate independent, for his v.p. Now he picks an extreme conservative to satisfy his evangelical base. First there's not a problem with economy. Then there is and he is going to fix it. First he takes credit for getting the bailout passed and then he finds out that it failed. While McCain is "forging his own path," the country is falling apart. I'd rather have someone lead the country who has shown evidence of planning ahead, looking at the bigger picture, and who has run a disciplined and smart campaign. |
Anonymous
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This sort of reminds me of Yugoslavia, of how neighbors of different ethnicities lived side-by-side for decades and/or centuries and then the peace quickly degenerated into war, almost overnight. I'm pretty sure the politicians had a strong hand in stirring up the volatile feelings that had successfully laid dormant for awhile.
I hate hate hate Palin for doing this. I'm sure she has a reserved place in hell for fueling this hatred and racism. |
Anonymous
| Please, someone list an issue on which Obama opposes the party line. So far I have not seen one. |
jsteele
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Why is this important? On which issue do you think that Obama should have opposed the party line? Should he have taken a position in which he didn't believe just so that we could answer you? McCain opposed his party's line regarding Bush's tax cuts. Now, continuing those tax cuts are one of McCain's most prominent positions. McCain supported immigration reform in opposition to his party's line. Now, McCain says he wouldn't support his own bill. As McCain himself says, he voted with President Bush over 90% of the time. The other 10% were either not important or issues on which McCain has now reversed himself. Should Obama have opposed his party line only to flip flop during the campaign? This is the weakest argument against Obama I've heard yet. But, getting back on topic, as a conservative, do you condemn the Klan rallies being held by McCain/Palin? |
Anonymous
Hi, OP here. Yes, you captured how I'm feeling. Someone upthread commented that going negative in this way will backfire against McCain. That's not what I'm worried about (though I agree on that point and think Obama will win). I'm worried that this hate can't be turned off come November 5th and saddened that McCain and Palin are going down such a dangerous path. Man of honor, indeed! I'm also feeling a need to do something. Beyond writing to McCain, which I've already done, I'm frustrated by the idea that there's not much I can do. Ideas most welcome. |
Anonymous
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One more thought. I am heartened that more and more Republicans are speaking out against this.
Here's a piece from Frank Schaeffer: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.mccain10oct10,0,7557571.story |
Anonymous
Senator FlipFlop! 
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Anonymous
Thanks for sharing. I'm glad at least one journalist realizes the hate-filled consequences of McCain's political rallies and is speaking out about it. I do see potential racial incidences following these rallies; it only take a couple of white guys to take out their angst and frustration on a person of color before all hell breaks loose all across the nation. |
Anonymous
Please-yes, McCain/Palin are encouraging hateful bursts of anger from their supporters. By saying Obama's full name, Barack Hussein Obama, the're trying to get a rise from the crowd. Let's face it-McCain sucks, both in policy and personality. McCain/Palin are promoting racism. |
Anonymous
John Sidney McCain. Isn't Sydney in Australia? And he was born in Panama. So what kind of American is John McCain? 
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