Pro Choice Dem for Palin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Of course since generally DCUM leans so far left, its practically falling off the map, you really don't catch many posters who don't always vote the party line.

You really don't understand politics if you think DCUM is "far left"!
I know "far left."
"Far left" is a friend of mine.
And DCUM is no "far left"!

[Anonymous]

Would any woman on this discussion be willing to talk to me who's changed a vote from Obama to McCain because of Palin on the ticket? The Post this morning is reporting that some women have switched. Would anybody on this discussion or who knows anyone be willing to talk to me? I promise we don't begin taping when you call - we're just interested in the viewpoint. My tel is 202-513-2234 or you can e-mail me at [e-mail].

Thank you! Gisele Grayson, Associate Producer, National Public Radio

[Anonymous]

Umm, it absolutely leans far left. Just means your friend is even farther out there.

[Anonymous]

I don't think 'far left' is an accurate characterization of the range of views expressed on DCUM, which 1) does indeed cover a fair arc of the political specturm, and 2) seems to have a mid-point that sits very near 'moderate' to me. If you want to see what extreme looks like (in the US context) look like, try discussions on the San Diego newspaper site (right) or the discussion on Salon (less so the articles themselves). A lot of people really hate 'the other side.' Do you?

[Anonymous]

I do not hate the other side. Almost all of my friends are on the other side and we engage in quite civil and thoughftul discussions of our political differences. You may be right to say the site/forums are not "far left" actually -- I think what I mean is it's weighted very much to the left, which is different. While views from the right are represented as you say, it is rather few and far between. Indeed, as someone on the other side of many on the forum, I feel a lot of hate coming out of here. I have been particulalry horrified by the vitriolic attacks on Palin on this site -- many have been quite hateful and sexist and absolutely irrelevant to serious political debate.

[Anonymous]

OP, you may like Sarah Palin personally, but why are you tossing your Democratic beliefs out the window? Look past the hysteria and controversy being whipped up now and ask yourself if you want Bush 3 and Bush 4--do you want eight more years of today's problems--do you like Sarah Palin enough to outweigh that? Do you want to guarantee a Conservative majority on the Supreme Court that could last for decades?

Think carefully before you vote for McCain because you don't like what pundits say about Sarah Palin . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do not hate the other side. Almost all of my friends are on the other side and we engage in quite civil and thoughftul discussions of our political differences. You may be right to say the site/forums are not "far left" actually -- I think what I mean is it's weighted very much to the left, which is different. While views from the right are represented as you say, it is rather few and far between. Indeed, as someone on the other side of many on the forum, I feel a lot of hate coming out of here. I have been particulalry horrified by the vitriolic attacks on Palin on this site -- many have been quite hateful and sexist and absolutely irrelevant to serious political debate.

11:25 again. This description is more accurate. This "far lefter" thanks you.

[Anonymous]

Umm, it absolutely leans far left.

I am not the PP, but if you think DCUM is far left, you need a refresher course in world politics!

My non-American spouse always says there are two political parties in the US - a right wing party, and one that is to the right of that!

[Anonymous]

"but why are you tossing your Democratic beliefs out the window"

I don't understand this either. Are you truly happy with the war and the economy? The media has not focused on the issues but there is a clear distinction between Obama/Biden and McCain/Palin on these core issues. McCain supported all of the Bush initiatives and has enthusiastically vowed to continue them.

McCain/Palin will be in a clear position to affect abortion, contraception and women's privacy issues through Supreme Court Justice nominations, perhaps with more seating opening than any past administration.

If you are part of the political world in DC then you must realize how polarizing the next four years will be a McCain/Palin choice. Obama/Biden are positioned much better to bring bipartisan movement, McCain/Palin do the exact opposite. Congressional candidates in both parties are being sent a clear message from their districts across the country to turn around from the Bush years. With McCain/Palin promising the exact opposite and only competing on the personality level, a disaster is brewing.

I am frustrated by the constant attention on the fluff issues. I don't care about how many kids she has or what her daughter does. Whenever I engage other women on a discussion of real issues, they keep going down the gossip path but this is coming from Republicans even more so than Dems. I just don't understand the fascination that people have with the People magazine angle. Interestingly though the republicans are fueling the focus on her personal situation more than the Dems. Its a smart move considering that it distracts from any focus on the real issues.

While I applaud Obama for trying to take the high road, he has got to start attacking more. The dems have been too silent and waiting for the media to intercede.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP, you may like Sarah Palin personally, but why are you tossing your Democratic beliefs out the window? Look past the hysteria and controversy being whipped up now and ask yourself if you want Bush 3 and Bush 4--do you want eight more years of today's problems--do you like Sarah Palin enough to outweigh that? Do you want to guarantee a Conservative majority on the Supreme Court that could last for decades?

Think carefully before you vote for McCain because you don't like what pundits say about Sarah Palin . . .

Can you please explain how that will happen given the projected very solid Democratic majority in the Senate following this election? I know a PP in another thread mentioned potential justices lying in order to be confirmed, but that was with a bare minimum of Democratic senators. It won't fly after this election. There are many reasons to vote for Obama rather than McCain, but I see this as a scare tactic.

[Anonymous]

How often will even a Democratic majority Senate get it together to vote against the President's nominee? These things are not done lightly. Plus, they may worry that if they vote this one down, then a worse one will be nominated. No, there's no reason to assume a Democratic Senate will be able to control the make up of the Supreme Court.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am frustrated by the constant attention on the fluff issues. I don't care about how many kids she has or what her daughter does. Whenever I engage other women on a discussion of real issues, they keep going down the gossip path but this is coming from Republicans even more so than Dems. I just don't understand the fascination that people have with the People magazine angle. Interestingly though the republicans are fueling the focus on her personal situation more than the Dems. Its a smart move considering that it distracts from any focus on the real issues.

While I applaud Obama for trying to take the high road, he has got to start attacking more. The dems have been too silent and waiting for the media to intercede.

Because the fluff pieces are so much more interesting than actual policy and we (the average citizen) can easily understand the fluff pieces. We can't easily understand the policy.

Obama needs to start fighting back now - and hard. Was it EJ Dionne in today's paper who said he was being swift-boated? I forget who said it, but they are right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would any woman on this discussion be willing to talk to me who's changed a vote from Obama to McCain because of Palin on the ticket? The Post this morning is reporting that some women have switched. Would anybody on this discussion or who knows anyone be willing to talk to me? I promise we don't begin taping when you call - we're just interested in the viewpoint. My tel is 202-513-2234 or you can e-mail me at [e-mail].

Thank you! Gisele Grayson, Associate Producer, National Public Radio

How about a man who switched from undecided to pro-Obama because of Palin? I've got a great back story--two kids, fur trapper (damn mice!), uncertain how to pronounce French words on menus--and in spite of having rims on my glasses, I'm quite pretty in a Homer Simpson way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I am frustrated by the constant attention on the fluff issues. I don't care about how many kids she has or what her daughter does. Whenever I engage other women on a discussion of real issues, they keep going down the gossip path but this is coming from Republicans even more so than Dems. I just don't understand the fascination that people have with the People magazine angle. Interestingly though the republicans are fueling the focus on her personal situation more than the Dems. Its a smart move considering that it distracts from any focus on the real issues.

While I applaud Obama for trying to take the high road, he has got to start attacking more. The dems have been too silent and waiting for the media to intercede.

Because the fluff pieces are so much more interesting than actual policy and we (the average citizen) can easily understand the fluff pieces. We can't easily understand the policy.

Obama needs to start fighting back now - and hard. Was it EJ Dionne in today's paper who said he was being swift-boated? I forget who said it, but they are right.

No, it was the yucky Richard Cohen. Obama and Biden are slamming Palin and McCain left and right at appearances. He just didn't want to do it on video so it could be endlessly replayed. He's leaving that to Biden. They're doing it all over the place: Both attack in appearances but Biden does the heavy lifting on the news shows.

[Anonymous]

"Can you please explain how that will happen given the projected very solid Democratic majority in the Senate following this election? I know a PP in another thread mentioned potential justices lying in order to be confirmed, but that was with a bare minimum of Democratic senators. It won't fly after this election. There are many reasons to vote for Obama rather than McCain, but I see this as a scare tactic."

It's scary, but it's not a scare tactic! McCain and Palin are scarcely going to nominate liberal or moderate pro-choice justices, and Congress can't reject all of them. . .and what happens if Congress turns over and rubber stamps all of McCain-Palin's picks?

And it's not just laws on abortion that OP should be concerned about . . .it's all the other laws that she might support that are now a slim 5-4 majority away from being declared unconstitutional by the Scalia-led minority.

And it's not just the Supreme Court that OP should consider ---- it's all the other Bush issues that would comprise Bush 3-4.