Short answer, Melanie- no.

And Why do people drink and drive?

I keep remembering Reagan's words -

“My optimism comes not just from my strong faith in God, but from my strong and enduring faith in man.”

re: #1 Sharmuta

Man, I hope you're right about that.

Have faith Melanie.............have faith

Great mighty buffalo were killed by simply being herded off a cliff.

I will cast my vote for McCain-Palin and convince all I can to join me. I will not be herded willingly off a cliff

I often like Melanie Phillips, but she sounds like a friggin' nut case in this article. I guess this is the Obama yin to the yang of BDS. It's pathetic.

That's because so many people sleep all day. WAKE UP AMERICA!

re: #1 Sharmuta

Short answer, Melanie- no.

I wish I had your optimism.

re: #3 karmic_inquisitor

We could use a little of Reagan's optimism right about now. Remember "It's morning in America"? I do and I could stand to believe it again. Problem is, with MSM and the ONE, working together I fear it's nearing midnight.

Well, our media certainly does. Right now, on the front page of the Denver Post (website) are these two blurbs...

"Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton says President Bush "has been practicing what John McCain preached," addressing a crowd of about 1,800 in Aurora Friday in support of Democrat Barack Obama"

"John McCain continued his criticism of rival Barack Obama's tax plan in front of a raucous crowd of 4,000 at Denver's National Western Arena"

Notice McCain's crowd is called "raucous." Assholes.

[Link: www.denverpost.com...]

From the article:
"Obama thinks world conflicts are basically the west’s fault, and so it must right the injustices it has inflicted. That’s why he believes in ‘soft power’ — diplomacy, aid, rectifying ‘grievances’ (thus legitimising them, encouraging terror and promoting injustice) and resolving conflict by talking. As a result, he will take an axe to America’s defences at the very time when they need to be built up."

Rewarding bad behavior gets you more bad behavior.

BTW - I already voted absentee in California. Straight Republican ballot and "no" to every bond initiative. First time I have done that. I see it as an act of defiance and negation. I hope others have joined me.

I am staying positive and upbeat. I believe that when in the voting booth, with no one there to see them, people will vote the Right way. We can not survive The Zero as potus.

re: #9 Ringo the Gringo

I wish I had your optimism.

What's in your way from having it?

re: #12 van helsing

"Rewarding bad behavior gets you more bad behavior." Or gets you dead!

Ugh.

If Obama wins, it's Mourning in America

frank luntz, in the tank for The Zero.

...McCain believes in protecting and defending America as it is. Obama tells the world he is ashamed of America and wants to change it into something McCain stands for American exceptionalism, the belief that American values are superior to tyrannies. Obama stands for the expiation of America’s original sin in oppressing black people, the third world and the poor.

Obama thinks world conflicts are basically the west’s fault, and so it must right the injustices it has inflicted. That’s why he believes in ‘soft power’ — diplomacy, aid, rectifying ‘grievances’ (thus legitimising them, encouraging terror and promoting injustice) and resolving conflict by talking. As a result, he will take an axe to America’s defences at the very time when they need to be built up. He has said he will ‘cut investments in unproven missile defense systems’; he will ‘not weaponize space’; he will ‘slow our development of future combat systems’; and he will also ‘not develop nuclear weapons,’ pledging to seek ‘deep cuts’ in America’s arsenal, thus unilaterally disabling its nuclear deterrent as Russia and China engage in massive military buildups.

re: #7 jamie

I often like Melanie Phillips, but she sounds like a friggin' nut case in this article. I guess this is the Obama yin to the yang of BDS. It's pathetic.

Her analysis seems quite astute to me.

I have had many sleepless nights over this. Nothing anyone can say will convince Obama won't be a tragic disaster. And not just for America, but for the entire world.

Every limitation you see is a limitation you impose on yourself.

This election will not end anything.

Wow...a European journalist who doesn't want an Obama presidency! When McCain wins, he should offer her honorary citizenship.

Even if we do, there will be some who will continue to fight. Oppose The One every step of the way.

What we have is too dear, too valuable, bought at such a high price to let a red diaper doper baby and his brain dead minions steal away without a struggle.

This is not directed at Melanie.
But since Europe has done everything possible to diminish America, to stab us in the back, to make deals with our enemies as well as theirs, I want to give them a hearty FU this morning. You did NOTHING to support us, you've mocked us mercilessly, you courted the weak-minded in America with your criticisms for years, nay, decades, now they are on your side. You will reap the nasty seeds you have sown if this commie wins the election. Don't cry now. Revel in what you've achieved, you socialist nitwits.

Is it just me or is linky no worky?

re: #23 karmic_inquisitor

Every limitation you see is a limitation you impose on yourself.

This election will not end anything.

No, but it might very well increase the price we ultimately are going to have to pay for Freedom, Liberty, and the American Way!

re: #15 Bobibutu

What's in your way from having it?

This for starters.

re: #17 Charles

Ugh.

There is a higher correlation between the expansion of toddler television watching and incidents of autism than any other environmental factor. Yet I don't hear about it.

re: #26 jemima

Perhaps the next time they're under threat from a crazed dictator, we should do just as they want us to do and stay on our side of the pond.

re: #26 jemima

Exactly. If Europe thinks they will have an easy time of things while America drowns - they are sadly mistaken.
It needed to be said.

re: #14 newsjunkie_ky
Hey {newsjunkie} I share your optimism but do think we can survive Obama - what the hell will ALL the nations of the world (except possibly China and Russia) do when they realize that there is NO US military to aid them in a crisis? No US ability to help alleviate human suffering from Tsunami's and the like?
And NO US MARKET TO PURCHASE THE GOODS THEY MAKE?
Oh yeah, they'll just LOVE Obama if he (shudder) becomes POTUS - for all of about a year - max.

re: #13 karmic_inquisitor

BTW - I already voted absentee in California. Straight Republican ballot and "no" to every bond initiative. First time I have done that. I see it as an act of defiance and negation. I hope others have joined me.

You voted no on 8?

re: #25 jcm

There's an afternoon radio host on in Boston saying just that. If we can't stop him from being elected we can raise holy hell and work to prevent him from governing. All leading up to his removal from office at the first opportunity. Either by election or impeachment. And, by the way, those are the only two methods of removing Obama from office ANYONE should support. None of that grassy knoll nonsense please.

re: #7 jamie

I often like Melanie Phillips, but she sounds like a friggin' nut case in this article. I guess this is the Obama yin to the yang of BDS. It's pathetic.

.................? Guess you disagree....sad to be you.

re: #29 Ringo the Gringo

This for starters.

I call BS and propaganda. It ain't over till the fat lady sings.

Pay attention to your intention - all else is background noise.

I gotta run. Back late this afternoon.

re: #31 arethusa

Perhaps the next time they're under threat from a crazed dictator, we should do just as they want us to do and stay on our side of the pond.

Part of our National Character is to oppose oppression everywhere.

re: #28 Nevergiveup

No, but it might very well increase the price we ultimately are going to have to pay for Freedom, Liberty, and the American Way!

Blood has always been the price of liberty. We will bleed again, that is for sure.

Insofar as increasing prices is concerned, everyone should be prepared with a hyper inflation strategy for the coming years. If you are prepared you can come out ahead, especially if you have a fixed mortgage because your debt gets virtually eliminated.

Obama - the anti-Ronald Reagan.

btw- when Obama was younger he openly HATED Ronald Reagan. People should know this...

Obama thinks world conflicts are basically the west’s fault, and so it must right the injustices it has inflicted. That’s why he believes in ‘soft power’ — diplomacy, aid, rectifying ‘grievances’ (thus legitimising them, encouraging terror and promoting injustice) and resolving conflict by talking. As a result, he will take an axe to America’s defences at the very time when they need to be built up. He has said he will ‘cut investments in unproven missile defense systems’; he will ‘not weaponize space’; he will ‘slow our development of future combat systems’; and he will also ‘not develop nuclear weapons,’ pledging to seek ‘deep cuts’ in America’s arsenal, thus unilaterally disabling its nuclear deterrent as Russia and China engage in massive military buildups.

re: #34 itellu3times

You voted no on 8?

Not a bond initiative. I was careful to write that.

I keep remembering the last two election cycles, when Gore and Kerry were declared the winners even when election day rolled around; even the exit polls were saying the Democrat was going to win. W won both times. I'm hoping the msm has it wrong again.

re: #30 karmic_inquisitor

There is a higher correlation between the expansion of toddler television watching and incidents of autism than any other environmental factor. Yet I don't hear about it.

As a mother of a child diagnosed with autism I can say without reservation that the 'autism lobby' is big, powerful and ruthless. I don't take anything they say at face value.

Fruit fly research has helped autism? Pardon my skepticism, but I've seen it all at this point.

re: #35 Dave_Da_Kid

There's an afternoon radio host on in Boston saying just that. If we can't stop him from being elected we can raise holy hell and work to prevent him from governing. All leading up to his removal from office at the first opportunity. Either by election or impeachment. And, by the way, those are the only two methods of removing Obama from office ANYONE should support. None of that grassy knoll nonsense please.

Should The One win, with a (D) congress, I plan on making my voice heard loud and clear with the WA delegation.

As long as the 1st Amend holds, we speak, often loudly, and with purpose.

It is, after all, a represenative republic. If a large enough share of the citizen voters decide that being an informed electorate is too much trouble, so be it.

Kinda wish that I was calm in my mind that they're all citizen voters, though.

I take some small solace in the knowledge that it's taken the enemies of freedom this long to dumb down the electorate. It takes the best indoctrinated group of voters in history to bring down this rough beast called America.

Hope and Change.

Phooey.

re: #17 Charles
Um, "UGH" to what? Palin's speech or fruit fly research?

re: #33 realwest

Hey {newsjunkie} I share your optimism but do think we can survive Obama - what the hell will ALL the nations of the world (except possibly China and Russia) do when they realize that there is NO US military to aid them in a crisis? No US ability to help alleviate human suffering from Tsunami's and the like?
And NO US MARKET TO PURCHASE THE GOODS THEY MAKE?
Oh yeah, they'll just LOVE Obama if he (shudder) becomes POTUS - for all of about a year - max.

That is precisly what China and Russia will wait for, and then run in and take up the slack, beholding nations to them. They are already jockeying themselves to be economic power houses in the future scheme of things.

We can't let that happen.

re: #42 kahn_mann

I keep remembering the last two election cycles, when Gore and Kerry were declared the winners even when election day rolled around; even the exit polls were saying the Democrat was going to win. W won both times. I'm hoping the msm has it wrong again.

Only this time might cause riots with their shoddy reporting.

re: #38 jcm

Part of our National Character is to oppose oppression everywhere.

True.

ive registered to vote for the first time in years and im gonna get out the door and vote for mcain..... ....im not gonna give this to ¢bama he's gonna have to steal it.

that said I think the dems with thier complicit media whores and the 40 years of socialist indoctrination in the schools have finnally realized a tipping point in thier efforts to legitimize bringing socialism as the controling way of doing bussiness to the US and they have enough thiefs out there working to steal this that between stupidity and thievery they have it in the bag

re: #43 kynna

Fruit fly research has helped autism?

Yes, it really has.

re: #44 jcm

Should The One win, with a (D) congress, I plan on making my voice heard loud and clear with the WA delegation.

As long as the 1st Amend holds, we speak, often loudly, and with purpose.

And hope you don't get treated like "Joe the Plumber".

re: #10 Dave_Da_Kid

We could use a little of Reagan's optimism right about now. Remember "It's morning in America"? I do and I could stand to believe it again. Problem is, with MSM and the ONE, working together I fear it's nearing midnight.

"It had no effect upon the cries; no pendulum could be more regular."
- Dickens

They have been delivering a reckoning and will get theirs.

Can anyone give an example where 'soft power' has worked well? Maybe I'm blinded by my expectations but I can't seem to come up with any.

Since it's usually directed at tyrants, and the tyrants are certainly not going to be suffering (Saddam's new palaces come to mind) and they don't seem to care much what happens to their citizens, where's the leverage?

re: #46 realwest

Um, "UGH" to what? Palin's speech or fruit fly research?

The comment about fruit fly research was disturbingly ignorant.

re: #41 karmic_inquisitor

Not a bond initiative. I was careful to write that.

Quite, pardon me, read "ballot" for "bond", still early.

Obama vs. Obama on Ronald Reagan.

Obama desires Reagan's voters - but he hated Reagan and he fought against everything Reagan stood for; Namely - the defense of American and the idea of American exceptionalism.

Obama: "I spent a lifetime fighting against Ronald Reagan's policies."

Well, like most of us, I have already voted. Sent a million emails, and tried to explain our point ad nauseum. Still, more than half of my Jewish friends are going to vote for Obama, some of my NamVet friends are voting for Obama, and my (ex) banker is voting for Obama. They're just blind, I guess. No- I'm not giving up. Where's the Govt. computer that can look into Vera Baker?

re: #55 Charles

I agree, but I think if she was made aware, she probably wouldn't have said that.

re: #29 Ringo the Gringo
Ah well then, according to RealClearPolitics there's no real reason to actually, you know, have an election then, is there?

re: #60 Sharmuta

She has a nephew with autism, too - so if she did know that, it's hard to imagine her criticizing fruit fly research.

re: #49 arethusa

True.

I sway between isolationism, and interventionism.

I look at the dogs breakfast of Africa, and say they made there bed, let 'em lie in it.

The human part says if can help do we have a moral obligation to do so.

It comes down to pragmatic real politick decisions. Which I dislike immensely, because I prefer doing the right thing.

Fellow Passengers, our US elections are being hijacked via voter fraud, fundraising fraud, "truth squads," a corrupt media, and by a lying, secretive Obama.

I say to you: "Let's Roll!"

Just keep the faith my 87 year old grandfather is voting for a republican for the first time in his life. I just hope that there's more people like him and I believe that there are. Just do yourself a favor, watch cartoons with the kids or movies at night and turn off the radio during top and bottom of the hour news breaks on Rush. You'll feel 100% better.

re: #62 taxfreekiller

Speak it, Brother!

Republicans have got to get involved in the party, down to the local level, if anything is going to change. I keep trying to get the point across, but maybe they'll listen to you.

re: #59 leboaz

Well, like most of us, I have already voted. Sent a million emails, and tried to explain our point ad nauseum. Still, more than half of my Jewish friends are going to vote for Obama, some of my NamVet friends are voting for Obama, and my (ex) banker is voting for Obama. They're just blind, I guess. No- I'm not giving up. Where's the Govt. computer that can look into Vera Baker?

Considering the state of the economy right now, as long as Obama is talking about "sharing the wealth," there are a whole lot of Americans that are interested in NOTHING more than that.

Most folks in this country are not going to fight for their supper anymore.

They expect it, it's an entitlement, a right and Obama is promising them that the government will supply it.

Socialism, Marxism, Communism doesn't mean anything to them, they have no historical content in wish to compare it to. Our schools don't teach it, our popular media doesn't show it for what it really is and most folks have lost touch with what this country has had to sacrifice to get to where we are.

Where as I don't like Nationalism that becomes an "ism," in the sense of us against everyone else, but maybe a little dose of Nationalism would do us some good.

In a sense, we don't need a Reichstag fire. The MSM is a virtual Reichstag fire, being about to say this and that, knight jump from one lie to the other, at the speed of light.

In the 30's, the Reichstag fire was a way to reach a multitude of people with a large demonstration that would be covered on the front page of every paper with in days.

Now, we don't need that kind of event in order to have the same impact. A simple 2 paragraph lie, transmitted instantly to media outlets all around the planet, and the ability to appear on air or on a web site in under a minute, that's a virtual Reichstag fire.

It's a done deal.

re: #62 taxfreekiller

F-in' A Bubba

re: #52 musicman

And hope you don't get treated like "Joe the Plumber".

In a way I hope those who speak up do get treated that way. Early enough to wake people up, before the midnight knocks on the door start.

re: #17 Charles

Ugh.

Can't fault her for this. The fundamental problem with all of these earmarks is that they often are supported before the general budget items. No thought is gone into them more then I scratch your back and you scratch mine.

It would be impossible for anyone to know the underlying reasoning behind every grant of money on the part of the US government...and that is because a lot of these are specialized and advocated by only those affected rather then the general populace as a whole.

Maybe earmarks need to be placed in an accessory budget line and when there is extra money, go through the line and evaluate each on its merit, not on who proposed the money for their district.

Those who want America to fail are the biggest losers should that happen. The world will realize that their prosperity is strongly tied to ours, if we go down they go down harder.

Whether through wickedness, ideology, stupidity or derangement, they firmly believe that the ultimate source of conflict in the world derives at root from America and Israel

I actually think it's a much easier explanation than any of those theories.
Simply put, those 'west" nations know they cannot attain the greatness that America has achieved through it's hard work, so they hope to have us brought down to their level instead of them raising to ours

...

Yahoo headline: Sarah Palin injures a hockey player.

oooo - left-wing media are salivating over this one.

re: #64 jcm

We should intervene when there is wrong, but we don't always do so on a consistent basis. We have to preserve our own interests as well as others'. It's hard even for a superpower to fight all the oppression in the world. I wish we could, but if we fall or are diminished, who will take our place in helping the weak and the wronged around the world?

Uh-oh. I down-dinged Charles, and tried to respond to his comment about Palin, and now my comments are coming up blank!

It is a sad fact that in today's America, there is a giant group of people that are woefully ignorant of world affairs, economics and government, in general. Add to that fact, a slick, well spoken con-man and a willing accomplice in the MSM, and you get to where we are today....on the verge of electing a man that just a few short years ago would have never been considered for the highest office in the land.

re: #62 taxfreekiller

Its not that America is going to do any thing,

ITS THAT 70% OF AMERICANS DO NOT DO ONE F'N THING ABOUT IT
JUST SIT ON THEIR ASS'S AND EXPECT REALWEST TO SPEND HIS LIFE
LOOKING OUT FOR THEM.

RIGHT NOW MEN AND WOMEN GIVE THEIR LIVES IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN AND A GOOD 40% OF AMERICA DO NOT EVEN KNOW IT
ANOTHER 20% ARE WILLIAM AYERS AND JOHN F. KERRY'S FAN CLUB.

We have to get the RINO's out of the Republican party, and get good
men and women to get off their ass's and fight for America.

like that,
12 years
[Link: www.blowoutcongress.com...]

John F. Kerry belongs in a Federal Prison cell with a bunk mate named Bubba...

re: #77 Cast Iron Magnolia

Uh-oh. I down-dinged Charles, and tried to respond to his comment about Palin, and now my comments are coming up blank!

Young upstart! You'd better go back and upding him.

re: #77 Cast Iron Magnolia

Uh-oh. I down-dinged Charles, and tried to respond to his comment about Palin, and now my comments are coming up blank!

I see ya

re: #77 Cast Iron Magnolia

Uh-oh. I down-dinged Charles, and tried to respond to his comment about Palin, and now my comments are coming up blank!

You can reverse your down-ding. Recently added feature.

Was Palin's sarcasm directed at fruit fly research in general (it's possible, and yes, that would be ignorance) or at the funding of a specific program IN PARIS, FRANCE?

WTF are we doing funding European research projects? I understand that scientific research is intertwined across national boundaries, but it's not like we haven't a lot of fruit fly research projects of our own.

My guess is that some academic is laying sideways in the trough, lapping up that grant like there's no tomorrow.

re: #77 Cast Iron Magnolia

Uh-oh. I down-dinged Charles, and tried to respond to his comment about Palin, and now my comments are coming up blank!

I know you down-dinged my comment, but Palin's statement about fruit fly research WAS ignorant and wrong, whether you like me saying it or not.

Research in the past has given us:
eggs good for you
eggs bad for you
eggs good for you
eggs bad for you
eggs good for you
eggs bad for you

Not sure where it stands today.
I take most research with a grain of salt just like I take my eggs.

re: #81 arethusa

Young upstart! You'd better go back and upding him.

I just knew everyone was looking to see how long I'd been on here, and betting on how long I'd last!

Caroline Glick has a similar theme.

She also has a warning some of us recognize.

With this election, I have a sense of deja vu. I remember some of us warning what would happen if Israelis ignored the obvious and choose Olmert.

Among what has happened is that Israel would go on to lose a war to terrorists.

It will be worse for America if it votes in our own very own Olmert type.

In 2006 Olmert's electoral platform included a naïve and defeatist pledge to unilaterally withdraw Israeli civilians and military forces from Judea and Samaria. As for Iran, Olmert's policy was to abdicate Israel's responsibility to prevent its own destruction by relying on the Americans and the Europeans to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Olmert was tested and found wanting when in July 2006 Iran's Hizbullah proxy went to war against Israel. Just as Olmert's political opponents warned, and Israel's enemies expected, Olmert's naïve perception of international affairs, his strategic incompetence and his exaggerated view of his own importance caused him to fail abjectly when his country needed him.

[Link: www.jpost.com...]

If the polls are correct, we're all impotent Cassandras now.

re: #75 FrogMarch

Yahoo headline: Sarah Palin injures a hockey player.

oooo - left-wing media are salivating over this one.

Legace is a dipshit anyway, the Blues are better off without him.

re: #77 Cast Iron Magnolia

Uh-oh. I down-dinged Charles, ... and now my comments are coming up blank!

That will teach you!

No comments for you!

re: #51 Charles
Hmm, don't want to get into a dispute with you over anything as serious as fruit flies and autism, but I note two quotes from your link:

Autism is a hot topic for scientists engaged in brain research. If you can link your research to autism it may help you to access additional funding that is available in the USA.

and

Neurexin is a basic prerequisite for neuronal connectivity. Without it the fruit flies barely survived. Movement was severely impaired. These are primitive creatures compared to us. I would anticipate that a similar lack in humans would have far more devastating results. Autism would be the least of our worries. Never mind. The putative autism connection cannot have done any harm in obtaining funding from

the National Institute of General Medical Sciences,
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
the National Institute of Mental Health
the state of North Carolina.

That would seem to indicate while additonal funding may be available for autism research, fruit fly research hasn't really yielded anything worth while as of yet.
However, as I am sorely lacking in scientific knowledge, I will bow to your judgement but don't really see how that YouTube clip has much to do with McCain's chances of winning this election.

re: #76 arethusa

We should intervene when there is wrong, but we don't always do so on a consistent basis. We have to preserve our own interests as well as others'. It's hard even for a superpower to fight all the oppression in the world. I wish we could, but if we fall or are diminished, who will take our place in helping the weak and the wronged around the world?

All true. Despite all that, we are still the greatest force for good in the world.

re: #86 newsjunkie_ky

Research in the past has given us:
eggs good for you
eggs bad for you
eggs good for you
eggs bad for you
eggs good for you
eggs bad for you

Not sure where it stands today.
I take most research with a grain of salt just like I take my eggs.

And let's not even go near the coffee issue!

re: #86 newsjunkie_ky

Hold the salt. Salt bad. Salt evil. Salt? Salt necessary. Pass the salt.

re: #60 Sharmuta

I agree, but I think if she was made aware, she probably wouldn't have said that.

I would have to concur. She may have no clue about this area, as autism may have not been a high concern for her before. It may take her a while to get up to speed if she does want to help the disabled.

I think they're just drooling ... period.

I'm afraid the coming chapter of American history is going to read a little like "Lord of the Flies" when these guys get in charge.

I want everyone to pray for freezing rain on Nov 4th. I want to see BHO in Grant Park with all the fair-haired liberals (maybe a hundred) standing there when he is forced to announce that he's conceding that he lost the presidency to McCain!

And after that, I can't wait for the indictments on Vote Fraud and Campaign Finance violations to begin.

One thing that's becoming increasingly clear is that BHO is betting his personal freedom and liberty on winning. He stands to lose EVERYTHING of he does not win on Nov 4. Perhaps that's why his campaign is running a pretty concentrated TV and radio ad campaign in Illinois? Illinois, his home state!

No matter what the outcome of the Presidential election, BHO travails are just beginning! Remember the adage - "Be careful what you wish for, it may come true!"

re: #85 Charles

I know you down-dinged my comment, but Palin's statement about fruit fly research WAS ignorant and wrong, whether you like me saying it or not.

I am not worthy!
I down-dinged you because I'm especially sensitve today about anti-Palin comments. I am not challenging your knowledge, just think there's been so much negative stuff written about Palin, that I was disappointed to see someone (who's opinion I value) doing it.

re: #51 Charles

Yes, it really has.

It is not the research, but the method the money was appropriated. If Congress wants to fund that let it be properly appropriated instead of by earmarks.

re: #70 jcm

Amen. Like most people, I have a few marks on my report card. I don;t give a damn who knows about them either. It shouldn't stop anyone from trying. But I have done a little public service, and I'm too old to fight the crap anymore. What's scary is fewer young people any more have the benefit of knowing the truth. And even fewer have the inclination to fight for it.

re: #92 jcm

All true. Despite all that, we are still the greatest force for good in the world.

We are the only force for good with the ability to project power far beyond our borders.

re: #90 Rancher

That will teach you!

No comments for you!

He said with a soup nazi accent.

re: #88 opinionated

The polls are NOT correct. Go back and reweigh them for a +2 D or +3 D and McCain actually win.

This is a reasonable prediction based on historical party ID.

Democrats have convinced themselves that Obama has so altered the political landscape that Dems now have anywhere from a +5 to a +14 advantage in Party ID.

No way.

re: #93 musicman

I'll stick with the wine issue (resvesterol is good for you). Pass the bottle.

re: #83 Josephine

You can reverse your down-ding. Recently added feature.

Nah, I'm already in trouble, I'll just stand by my down-dinger.

Fruit fly research and autism: Specific Brain Protein Required For Nerve Cell Connections To Form And Function.

re: #51 Charles

Yes, it really has.

I like this comment from your link:

Animal models are incredibly useful but because of the apparent genetic complexity of autism, the real power of an organism like drosophila cannot be realized when studying autism. Scientists can either induce a plethora of mutations and challenge the population somehow thus screening for a phenotype and backsolving for the genotype (identifying the gene of interest). Or a specific gene can be knocked down or knocked out and a behavior can be observed (mating rituals in flies or eye blinking in mice as examples). The latter method is especially useful when testing drugs.

I find it troublesome that the diagnostic criteria for autism is so broad yet many researchers jump at the chance to explain autism with their favorite gene. It would be cool if these guys are right but my money is that they’re only be focusing on 1/100th of the genetic system.

There are other comments of interest by people more learned than myself.

I am always skeptical about how much the government puts into certain projects and the focus they place on fund recipients. From my own experience I'm also disgusted with the huge umbrella of the diagnosis and the extreme pressure to explore government programs rather than similar private venues.

I do know the people who work with my son are not 'excited' by these kinds of conclusions and I've also learned not to jump at every 'good news!' report about research that demands 'good news!' to get more $$.

Maybe it's personal, but I can't blame her for questioning government funded research.

re: #105 lawhawk

I'll stick with the wine issue (resvesterol is good for you). Pass the bottle.

And I'll take the chocolate for the endorphins. :D

re: #93 musicman

And let's not even go near the coffee issue!

I just finished my eggs and I am on my 3rd cup O coffee...am I doomed today, or am I in good shape?

re: #110 Desert Dog

I just finished my eggs and I am on my 3rd cup O coffee...am I doomed today, or am I in good shape?

You're in great shape. Now stop drinking coffee and get outside with your wife and kids (if you have any). Gorgeous day. Its a great day to hike!

I call bullshit.

America has shown the knack for having the right person for the right time, in any given situation. Even a cursory look back through our history will bear this out. The stumbles (Carter) merely point out the correct path to take. I see no reason for this election to defy that tradition.

McCain will prevail.

re: #106 Cast Iron Magnolia

Nah, I'm already in trouble, I'll just stand by my down-dinger.

Courage
LOL

Fruit flies are good.

When I see them in a restaurant, I eat somewhere else

re: #100 Dasher

It is not the research, but the method the money was appropriated. If Congress wants to fund that let it be properly appropriated instead of by earmarks.

Bingo, and hadn't thought about that. Research grants are vetted. Earmarks aren't. Why did someone toss in an earmark for fruit fly research, wherever it was to take place? Was it a program that couldn't be justified through scientific channels?

re: #107 Charles

Fruit fly research and autism: Specific Brain Protein Required For Nerve Cell Connections To Form And Function.

Why can't private industry finance this research. The profit motive is what drives innovation.

re: #95 vxbush

Trig is still very young. I'm sure she'll be learning more as time goes by. I think it was an ignorant comment, but it's more problematic if she doesn't learn about the incredible advancements made in genetic research mainly due to fruit flies. I wouldn't have been able to tell you about this a year ago, but I took the time to learn. I hope Sarah does too.

re: #94 lawhawk

Hold the salt. Salt bad. Salt evil. Salt? Salt necessary. Pass the salt.

A former Arkansas pol who lost well over 100 pounds made the comment that if your great-grandparents didn't recognize it as food, you probably shouldn't either.

re: #100 Dasher

It is not the research, but the method the money was appropriated. If Congress wants to fund that let it be properly appropriated instead of by earmarks.

This is a very good point.

Why is it that so many people can see right through the BS that is BHO and so many others cannot? I know part of it is the way people look at the world. There are many nimrods on the left that are lapping up everything BHO says, because they believe in the same crap. But, what is scary is the sheer number of people that are taking the bait - hook, line and sinker without even knowing (or caring) what BHO stands for. All they hear is HOPE and CHANGE, and that is enough for them.....UGH....heaven help us.

re: #114 Shug

Fruit flies are good.

When I see them in a restaurant, I eat somewhere else

Right on

I work in frothing, raving, moonbat central. Yesterday I was cornered and basically told that anyone who doesn't vote for The One is an idiot.

Why, you might ask?
1. He is the most popular man in the WORLD
2. He is giving us all MONEY
3. If our enemies like him, they will no longer be our enemies.
4. BHO is not a socialist, in fact, Palin is the socialist because residents in Alaska already get checks from the government

BTW, statements two and three were said by a NRA member.

re: #110 Desert Dog

I just finished my eggs and I am on my 3rd cup O coffee...am I doomed today, or am I in good shape?

Have a glass of red wine to top it off, and today you'll be in good shape.
Who knows if tomorrow you'll be doomed ... just to be in good shape again on Monday ...

Its not the scientists who are blameworthy - its the half-educated journalists who use every bit of new research findings to ring the doom/all is well- bells.

re: #61 realwest

Ah well then, according to RealClearPolitics there's no real reason to actually, you know, have an election then, is there?

Don't worry, I'll vote.

I'm just not optimistic, that's all.

re: #110 Desert Dog

I just finished my eggs and I am on my 3rd cup O coffee...am I doomed today, or am I in good shape?

Depends on the latest research....

I think most folks were expecting a Hillary vs. Rudy presidential fight.
I know I was. Instead we got McCain and Obama.
McCain and Obama. WFT?

re: #107 Charles

Fruit fly research and autism: Specific Brain Protein Required For Nerve Cell Connections To Form And Function.

This speech was most certainly written for her by her handlers to some extend. And she has to rely on them for accuracy alot since she is always out campaigning. She has only had to come to grips with her own special needs child for about a year now. Yes perhaps in a perfect world, she should have know that Fruit Fly research has many important genetic uses since the little buggers multiply so fast. But I think we might cut her a break here.

re: #93 musicman

And let's not even go near the coffee issue!

All things in moderation......

re: #95 vxbush

Palin has an autistic nephew.

She seems to know quite a bit about the disabled (at least under the law) and she certainly has plans to help them. I don't know if she has drawn her own conclusions about fruit-fly research, or whether she just doesn't know about it.

Frankly, speaking from my own family experiences with disability, she's the strongest politician to advocate for the disabled that I can remember.

re: #126 FrogMarch

I think most folks were expecting a Hillary vs. Rudy presidential fight.
I know I was. Instead we got McCain and Obama.
McCain and Obama. WFT?

Kind of like Expecting Dodgers- Red Sox and getting Philly and Tampa Bay

re: #122 shibumi

I work in frothing, raving, moonbat central. Yesterday I was cornered and basically told that anyone who doesn't vote for The One is an idiot.

Why, you might ask?
1. He is the most popular man in the WORLD
2. He is giving us all MONEY
3. If our enemies like him, they will no longer be our enemies.
4. BHO is not a socialist, in fact, Palin is the socialist because residents in Alaska already get checks from the government

BTW, statements two and three were said by a NRA member.

I'm an idiot.

re: #86 newsjunkie_ky

Research in the past has given us:
eggs good for you
eggs bad for you
eggs good for you
eggs bad for you
eggs good for you
eggs bad for you

Not sure where it stands today.
I take most research with a grain of salt just like I take my eggs.

My father-in-law is in charge of keeping track of "what will kill you this week"--I'll give you his phone number. ;)

You could argue that we shouldn't be earmarking money to fund Drosophila research in France - rather funding American research through standard channels like NIH - but that's kind of beside the point.

Yes, her statement was ignorant. But one difference, to me, between Palin and Obama is that I trust Palin to choose reasonable advisors and listen to them on issues like this. "What? You mean the fruit fly is one of the single most important models in genetic research? I had no idea!" I see Obama as wedded to his ideology. During one of the debates with Hillary, after proposing to raise capital gains taxes, he was confronted by the moderator (Charlie Gibson?) with the fact that reductions in capital gains taxes consistently results in an increase in revenues. Obama's response: "That may be true, BUT..." followed by some spread-the-wealth-around/fairness schtick. The facts didn't matter, it was the ideology that drove everything. How do you trust THAT?

re: #17 Charles

Glass half full dept.:
That kind of ignorance about the value of research is curable where there is a motive to learn. It's preferable to the cock-sure economic wrongheadedness of the other side.

I believe Americans won't be bullied into voting for the wrong man just to prove they aren't racists.

I believe Americans know that giving a man the Presidency just because he is black won't do anything to "heal the nation's wounds": all it will do is create the post of affirmative-action-Commander-in-Chief.

I believe Americans who care the most about their country and their world will be informed about the real issues facing us and will vote accordingly.

I believe the number of white people who will vote against Obama because of his skin colour is small.

I believe the number of people of any skin colour who will vote against Obama because of his politics and associates is large.

I believe there will be a backlash: many people won't vote for Obama because they've been called ignorant, Bible-toting, gun-wielding bigots for having honest questions about the man's politics. How insulting is that?

I believe in America: the greatest country on earth. That means I believe in Americans.

Get out there and vote, Americans!

As a pre-teen, I experimented with fruit flies (Drosophilidae) for months ... perhaps more than a year. My goal was a "pure" apricot eyes and short wings. With a life span of a couple of weeks, my short attention span was satisfied.

Until I left my twenty or more big test tubes in my locker and the CA sun cooked my lil' bables. I shouldn't have brought them to school!

re: #128 jcm

All things in moderation......

*whack*

/stalking off to pour another cup

re: #129 arethusa

Palin has an autistic nephew.

She seems to know quite a bit about the disabled (at least under the law) and she certainly has plans to help them. I don't know if she has drawn her own conclusions about fruit-fly research, or whether she just doesn't know about it.

Frankly, speaking from my own family experiences with disability, she's the strongest politician to advocate for the disabled that I can remember.

Ah, thank you. I did not know about the nephew. At this point, I would err on the side of assuming she just doesn't know about the research. And I agree, she seems like she would be a good person to advocate for the disabled.

re: #122 shibumi

I work in frothing, raving, moonbat central. Yesterday I was cornered and basically told that anyone who doesn't vote for The One is an idiot.

Why, you might ask?
1. He is the most popular man in the WORLD
2. He is giving us all MONEY
3. If our enemies like him, they will no longer be our enemies.
4. BHO is not a socialist, in fact, Palin is the socialist because residents in Alaska already get checks from the government

My responses:
1. Are we in high school?
2. Are we that susceptible to bribery?
3. That's not even logical.
4. I've heard this one - the people of Alaska OWN their oil. Palin's checks are in effect giving the people profit from the resources they OWN. They are not taxing the rich to give to the poor.

re:

re: #120 Desert Dog

Why is it that so many people can see right through the BS that is BHO and so many others cannot? I know part of it is the way people look at the world. There are many nimrods on the left that are lapping up everything BHO says, because they believe in the same crap. But, what is scary is the sheer number of people that are taking the bait - hook, line and sinker without even knowing (or caring) what BHO stands for. All they hear is HOPE and CHANGE, and that is enough for them.....UGH....heaven help us.

Which is how you get poeple like these Harlem voters.

re: #137 pre-Boomer Marine brat

*whack*

/stalking off to pour another cup

Bring me one while your at it!

*rubs lump on head*

re: #140 Dasher

That was weird where did my message go.

re: #141 musicman

Which is how you get poeple like these Harlem voters.

Obama / Palin '08!

re: #118 razorbacker

A former Arkansas pol who lost well over 100 pounds made the comment that if your great-grandparents didn't recognize it as food, you probably shouldn't either.

And, if it comes through your car window, it isn't food.
My friend and I were talking about this yesterday. How groceries have become so high and realizing it is the KIND of groceries we buy as well. Pre-packaged food 'products'.
I'm going back to the old way.

re: #142 jcm

Bring me one while your at it!

*rubs lump on head*

Are y' ready?
I'm pouring it into my modem nBZZRRKKT!

re: #55 Charles

The comment about fruit fly research was disturbingly ignorant.

Charles,
What were Obama and Biden's position on this?

Interesting that we are talking about drosophila melanogaster on a thread about Obama.

Most of his supporters have fly sized brains

re: #145 newsjunkie_ky

And, if it comes through your car window, it isn't food.
My friend and I were talking about this yesterday. How groceries have become so high and realizing it is the KIND of groceries we buy as well. Pre-packaged food 'products'.
I'm going back to the old way.

Been that way for a while, we've got food sensitivities and allergies around my house. To control what goes in, everything from scratch.

Shug

Here's the link. Take a look. Think it's legit?

re: #150 ciaospirit

Shug

Here's the link. Take a look. Think it's legit?

Pretty sure I saw that was a fake.

re: #135 Josephine

I believe Americans won't be bullied into voting for the wrong man just to prove they aren't racists.

I believe Americans know that giving a man the Presidency just because he is black won't do anything to "heal the nation's wounds": all it will do is create the post of affirmative-action-Commander-in-Chief.

I believe Americans who care the most about their country and their world will be informed about the real issues facing us and will vote accordingly.

I believe the number of white people who will vote against Obama because of his skin colour is small.

I believe the number of people of any skin colour who will vote against Obama because of his politics and associates is large.

I believe there will be a backlash: many people won't vote for Obama because they've been called ignorant, Bible-toting, gun-wielding bigots for having honest questions about the man's politics. How insulting is that?

I believe in America: the greatest country on earth. That means I believe in Americans.

Get out there and vote, Americans!

But will Americans out of some ill thought out sophomoric peeve decide that because the entire World economy is in temporary dire straights they should throw out those who support the system that has made America great and turn to the Socialist and appeasing systems that have decayed and weakened Europe?

In re: my (perhaps) over-sensitivity to Palin comments

I received the November issue of "MORE" magazine yesterday. Cover was JANE FONDA (for God's sake), Sharon Stone, Tea Leoni. Last month it was Michelle Obamanator.

Inside, an unrelated political article "Sex, Lies and Trousergate" about public's expectations of political figures. Example: John Edwards, Bill Clinton, David Vitter, Larry Craig, et al.

Near the very end of the article, Section entitled "Of Moose and Men", the author Katha Pollitt brings up Sarah Palin! Why? She has nothing to do with "Sex, Lies and Trousergate"! But, in a negative manner the author drug Gov. Palin into the middle of it.

I immediately went on the website and criticized them loudly. Am calling Monday and cancelling my subscription!

re: #133 Rage - Goddess,

μῆνιν, ἀείδε, θεά, Πηληιαδέ&o mega; Ἀχιλῆος ...

Like your nic!

I'm wondering if B0 has made comparable remarks about research fundings. I'd guess he has - but the chances of them being published on youtube are infinitesimal!
Thus its again Palin, whose every utterance is put under the microscope, with gasps of disbelief and heavy criticism by experts, while B0's teflon coat remains unscratched.

Lets also not forget that she is not addressing a conference of genetic scientists here, she is speaking to a crowd of Joe-the-plumbers, who want to know what happens to their hard-earned money, once the government has it in its claws.

I'd rather vote for Palin than for anyone who thinks that fruit flies are probably more important than human beings.

re: #150 ciaospirit

The Post retracted that story:
[Link: www.nypost.com...]

re: #106 Cast Iron Magnolia

Yes, I thought you had down-dinged in error, but your subsequent comments explained why you did it.

By the way, I'm not sure if I'm reading you correctly, but we are allowed to disagree with Charles.

Although I dislike baseless criticism of Sarah Palin, I do not consider her to be above criticism or disagreement.

re: #145 newsjunkie_ky

And, if it comes through your car window, it isn't food.
My friend and I were talking about this yesterday. How groceries have become so high and realizing it is the KIND of groceries we buy as well. Pre-packaged food 'products'.
I'm going back to the old way.

I did that. No fast food, no processed food. Fresh produce grown in the U.S. - preferably locally. I have no land and can't grow my own but my sister had a good sized garden and we lived well off of that. Can't raise and slaughter my own chickens and no longer have easy ability to catch my own fish, but did the best I could in that department.
Lost 25 pounds.
:)

re: #141 musicman

Which is how you get poeple like these Harlem voters.

That's great. Unreal and funny too.

re: #143 Dasher

That was weird where did my message go.

Did you down-ding Charles?

re: #151 kansas

Pretty sure I saw that was a fake.

Thanks. Never can be sure if email info is legit even if it's from someone you know (many times they don't check).

re: #58 FrogMarch

Obama: "I spent a lifetime fighting against Ronald Reagan's policies."

I hope he doesn't mean the ones that led to the eventual destruction of the Soviet Empire. But then again, he just may be honest for once.

re: #134 jaunte

Some of the endorsements of Obama - like Powell - talk about teachable he is. Why do the Democrats assume their Presidential candidate is teachable but not our Vice-Presidential candidate? Drives me nuts.

It Has Begun... Dem Leaders Call for 25% Slash in Military Spending-- Nationalizing 401K's

Good morning, Lizards! Hope to see some of you at Bobitu's Lizard meet up, today.
Later!

re: #159 Josephine

Yes, I thought you had down-dinged in error, but your subsequent comments explained why you did it.

By the way, I'm not sure if I'm reading you correctly, but we are allowed to disagree with Charles.

Although I dislike baseless criticism of Sarah Palin, I do not consider her to be above criticism or disagreement.

Your dam right you can disagree with Charles, the banned list is full of them!
Credit for the above quote to Ed Norton.

re: #155 arethusa

Thanks! Sadly, I only read in translation. Given the chance to do it over, maybe I'd have done Classics instead of science!

Michelle Obama was not even staying at the Waldorf.

I don't believe how much of this disinformation is being pushed out there.

Forget fruit flies please - this thread is on the Phillips article that hits top dead center.

Taken as a whole the positions/relationships/prospective policies (anti-military) and the overarching world view of Barry Hussein is exactly as Phillips reports: America is evil, America is wrong and I am going to change it with my plan called Hope.

America really is suffering from what began as a cute take on the dislike of Bush - BDS - but has now morphed into a serious and dangerous ignorance.

Just look at the answers from Biden to the interviewer in the link viewer. When asked what he meant by the statement that Americans might not like the responses from an Obama presidency to the expected international crisis "Test" he simply ignored the question and diverted the listener/viewers attention to the (incorrect) historical analysis that all new presidents are tested early.

BHO supporters will get exactly what they deserve.

re: #159 Josephine

Yes, I thought you had down-dinged in error, but your subsequent comments explained why you did it.

By the way, I'm not sure if I'm reading you correctly, but we are allowed to disagree with Charles.

Although I dislike baseless criticism of Sarah Palin, I do not consider her to be above criticism or disagreement.

Just more of the same piling on, IMO.

re: #150 ciaospirit

Shug

Here's the link. Take a look. Think it's legit?

I think it's a fake. But I will qualify my statement that Ihave no training in document ananalysis.

The receipt is too perfect. Usually mine are faded and there is a non-uniform quality to the ink.
Also a receipt is usually wrinkled somewhat. If somebody took that and scanned it, I would expect some wrinkles, or a mark where it was folded.
Dunno if that's her signature or not. Who signs their name in two places? I don't . I would have just signed it and printed my name if I thought I needed to

somebody needs to check the prices at the hotel and see if they really have a bottle of Bollinger for 44 dollars.
I would expect it to be more than that.

Just my thoughts.
Doesn't change the fact that I agree with everything the flyer says though!

re: #162 Cast Iron Magnolia HEY - Charles does allow us to disagree with him - if you do it politely and don't violate the rules set forth above each comments section.

Uh, your comments don't disappear because you disagree with me. They disappear because you mess up the HTML tags.

re: #135 Josephine

I believe the number of white people who will vote against Obama because of his skin colour is small.

I believe the number of people of any skin colour who will vote against Obama because of his politics and associates is large.

I do think the 'Bradley Effect' will be biggest amongst voters 'of color'. The pressure on them to unconditionally support Obama is huge. I wouldn't give a straight answer to a pollster either.

re: #165 arethusa

Part of the overall slant pattern. Still I'd rather have the job of teaching science to someone who didn't know science, than economics to someone who was convinced they were here to bring economic 'change.'

re: #139 arethusa

My responses:
1. Are we in high school?
2. Are we that susceptible to bribery?
3. That's not even logical.
4. I've heard this one - the people of Alaska OWN their oil. Palin's checks are in effect giving the people profit from the resources they OWN. They are not taxing the rich to give to the poor.

Wow, you're good. I was only involved directly in questions two and three- and they came from a very loud, very large, very angry co-worker. As for the other questions, they came from individuals who both make well over $250,000. If I wasn't afraid of getting fired (management is also pro-Obama) I would have told both of them that I looked forward to the day that Obama redistributed the wealth and gave me their income.

re: #159 Josephine

Although I dislike baseless criticism of Sarah Palin, I do not consider her to be above criticism or disagreement.

I have no intention of being such a blind partisan that I can't see when our own side is doing or saying the wrong things.

re: #170 Charles

Michelle Obama was not even staying at the Waldorf.

I don't believe how much of this disinformation is being pushed out there.

It is annoying when our side engages in this stupidity. Leave the lies to the Liberals.
Reagan never needed to lie and he changed the world and left the nation much more prosperous than it was when he came into office.

re: #163 ciaospirit

Thanks. Never can be sure if email info is legit even if it's from someone you know (many times they don't check).

My brother in law, who hates Obama, sent me that to make me upset about her, then didn't read the actual article which debunked it. Anytime you see anything with a picture of a candidate that makes them look scary its probably crap. Both sides do that, and I mute the sound when that starts.

re: #30 karmic_inquisitor

There is a higher correlation between the expansion of toddler television watching and incidents of autism than any other environmental factor. Yet I don't hear about it.

I teach Special Ed. And, I wouldn't doubt for a moment you are correct. Also seems to be a correlation between early TV watching and ADD/ADHD. Tons of stimulation absorbed through the eyes and ears and no outlet.

----------

And for the thread topic.........

Very sobering assessment of the big picture. McCain may not be Reagan, but he's light years closer than Barry.

M. Gipson

re: #153 Opinionated

But will Americans out of some ill thought out sophomoric peeve decide that because the entire World economy is in temporary dire straights they should throw out those who support the system that has made America great and turn to the Socialist and appeasing systems that have decayed and weakened Europe?

Hmmm, not hard-working, tax-paying Americans, surely.

re: #176 kynna

I do think the 'Bradley Effect' will be biggest amongst voters 'of color'. The pressure on them to unconditionally support Obama is huge. I wouldn't give a straight answer to a pollster either.

I read that the effect will be greatest among older Democrats--who have learned to keep their mouths shut about some things but in the privacy of the voting booth won't pull for Obama.

re: #179 Charles

I have no intention of being such a blind partisan that I can't see when our own side is doing or saying the wrong things.

Couldn't agree more.
Disagreeing with your own candidate and or party gives one credibility.

I have to say I see too much blind allegiance on both sides, but more on the democrat side.

The rest of us can’t sleep at night.

I'm taking November 5 off as a vacation day. Am sleepless already and anticipate being up all night on November 4.

We MUST WIN FOLKS!

re: #159 Josephine

Yes, I thought you had down-dinged in error, but your subsequent comments explained why you did it.

By the way, I'm not sure if I'm reading you correctly, but we are allowed to disagree with Charles.

Although I dislike baseless criticism of Sarah Palin, I do not consider her to be above criticism or disagreement.

Of course, I know that we can disagree with Charles, he's made that abundantly clear! (Unless we start spouting ignorant stuff, of course.)
And, I did it respectfully and cheerfully. I don't think Charles would develope a dislike for someone because they disagree with him.

As for Palin being above criticism - no, she's not. But, right now, there's been enough criticism from the other side!

Spain's America Hater is counting on Obama to Invite Him...SPain Has a Lot it Wants to Say to Big Bad Bush's Policies...It's time for WORLD Policies!

Spain's Obama, liberal Pres. Zapatero isn't invited to the Big Boys' Financial Summit on Nov. 15 (yet), nonetheless says come Nov. 15, Spain will be in Washington "making change" to world's financial situation, not just voting "present."

Remember during the Veep debate Joe Biden smarmily harped on John McCain's refusal to make nice with Chavez bud Zapatero; I'll bet anything Obama's folks have promised America-hating Zapatero a seat at the table.

Not unrelatedly, Zapatero's going to Cuba next year to make nice with Fidel Castro, and yesterday the EU forgave Cuba it's debts and promised their foreign minister Pedro Roque more money to deal with Bush-sent Katrina hurricanes.

[Link: www.larazon.es...]

(Today's [Link: www.larazon.es)...]

Gonna go home now. Bye all.
Don't care what Sarah Palin knows about fruit flies, its more than Joe Biden. And if Michelle Obama had an expensive snack at a hotel, good. I hope she enjoyed, cause I would have joined her had she asked.

At one time we all believed with all our hearts in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. As we grew up, (no offense to those not of this belief), we believed in God. Some of us have children, and we promoted the same childish beliefs that Santa would come along with Rudolph and deliver goodies for good little boys and girls. We took our children to Church and taught them about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In these cases we have gone to great lengths, and been very active in promoting these ideas and beliefs. We have spent small fortunes on pictures with Santa, made Rudolph prints in the ground, and for my kids, (who were particularly bad one year), were out at midnight clipping branches and placed switches in their stockings! We have spent small fortunes on Sunday clothes and shoes, tithing, building funds, and missionary needs. Why oh why do we not invest the same energies in our nation?

We live in America every day and drive down her roads, and not very often do we stop to think of the roads in Russia or Bangladesh. We have elections, and I wonder if it was not for some reminding us of the purple fingers in Iraq; would we pause to think of those fingers? We have history books galore to remind us of nations utterly destroyed by socialism, and yet we have at least 45% of each state planning on casting their votes for Obama. Are they ignorant or just lazy these Obama voters? Do they hate America, or is it they do not KNOW and BELIEVE in her?

America is more than a country, 50 states, (not 57), and more than an idea. She is a living breathing entity that I believe goes largely ignored by far too many of us. As you cast your votes on November 4th please remember there are many a man and woman that not only believed in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and God. They believed in America with all they had, and they died for her in the jungles of Vietnam, the beaches of Normandy, Korea, Beirut, Oklahoma City, New York City, a field in PA, the Pentagon, and in the beginning all over America. Believe we will win with the same belief in whatever you cherish. Believe we will be champions for America and win on November 4th! BELIEVE!

re: #178 shibumi

With dedicated Obama supporters I have learned it is best to just shut up and pretend to agree, without being vocal about it. They won't change their minds. Only with waverers from either side or undecided voters do I actually try to engage in a dialogue.

re: #149 jcm

Been that way for a while, we've got food sensitivities and allergies around my house. To control what goes in, everything from scratch.

Here I go, Back when I was a kid, everything was from scratch, at least at my house. We ate tons and nobody was overweight. Well, we also played outside.
A friend is a literacy specialist with Head Start. One thing she has told me is that the reason there are so many kids with speech impediments today is the amount of TV they watch. According to my friend, you do not hear the last sound of words. Like instead of word, you hear wor. But we do not notice this because we learned to speak talking directly to someone and watched the way our mouths formed words. (seeing my 4 month old granddaughter doing this now). Kids that do not have enough face to face interaction do not learn to pronounce the ends of words. She also told me that about 90% of the kids that come to Head Start have no concept of sitting at at table and using eating utensils. The McDonald's generation.

re: #165 arethusa

Some of the endorsements of Obama - like Powell - talk about teachable he is. Why do the Democrats assume their Presidential candidate is teachable but not our Vice-Presidential candidate? Drives me nuts.

Oh, that one is easy. Because being a person of color trumps being a woman, or even being a gay. I've seen it in my workplace.

re: #181 kansas

My brother in law, who hates Obama, sent me that to make me upset about her, then didn't read the actual article which debunked it. Anytime you see anything with a picture of a candidate that makes them look scary its probably crap. Both sides do that, and I mute the sound when that starts.

I keep telling my mom that. I tell her, 'if you read something that sounds crazy, learn more about it'. She still jumps at every one of those e-mails. There are so many fakes out there I just delete them without even looking at them anymore. I'm probably missing something true, but I figure I'll find out about it here or on instapundit.

re: #170 Charles

Michelle Obama was not even staying at the Waldorf.

I don't believe how much of this disinformation is being pushed out there.

Yep. I get a bit angry when someone I know sends this stuff before they check it out. I know the person who sent this and I have already sent an email to him asking if he checked it out (obviously didn't) and what was the source. I went to that PUMA website and didn't see anything about it there.

re: #175 Charles

Uh, your comments don't disappear because you disagree with me. They disappear because you mess up the HTML tags.

Oh, pooh! Charles, I was starting a legend....you know, disagree with Charles and "Poof" your messages are writ in invisible type!

re: #162 Cast Iron Magnolia

Did you down-ding Charles?

Without a sarc tag, I can't tell if you're joking.

re: #183 Josephine

Hmmm, not hard-working, tax-paying Americans, surely.

If I were McCain my theme for the final week would be a simple question.

You're mad, you're upset, your portfolio is down, you may lose your job, you're frightened: America has suffered before. Do you believe in America or do you want to risk it all on false hope and mirage promises of Socialist change?

re: #148 Shug

Interesting that we are talking about drosophila melanogaster on a thread about Obama.

Most of his supporters have fly sized brains

* * *
NOT TRUE. Many supposed "intelligentsia" are taught what Obama preaches. So our Harvard Trained lawyers are signing up to do "Election Protection" for Obama, so their will will be done.

Let's not misunderestimate anyone--these folks are intelligent and run our media and our government agencies, colleges & think tanks.

re: #191 arethusa

With dedicated Obama supporters I have learned it is best to just shut up and pretend to agree, without being vocal about it. They won't change their minds. Only with waverers from either side or undecided voters do I actually try to engage in a dialogue.

You are 100% correct.

I actually think I converted a Hillary supported though!

re: #160 Killer Tomato

I did that. No fast food, no processed food. Fresh produce grown in the U.S. - preferably locally. I have no land and can't grow my own but my sister had a good sized garden and we lived well off of that. Can't raise and slaughter my own chickens and no longer have easy ability to catch my own fish, but did the best I could in that department.
Lost 25 pounds.
:)

Good for you, you've inspired me.
In the last 4 weeks I've eaten more junk than I want to even think about. Been in a major depression. I'm breaking that cycle NOW. The junk just adds to the depression which then makes me want more junk (chocolate).

re: #187 Cast Iron Magnolia

As for Palin being above criticism - no, she's not. But, right now, there's been enough criticism from the other side!

That's no reason to withhold legitimate criticism- especially on an issue that involves research that helps children Sarah is now championing.

re: #179 Charles

re: #185 Shug

Couldn't agree more.
Disagreeing with your own candidate and or party gives one credibility.

I have to say I see too much blind allegiance on both sides, but more on the democrat side.

Thats why i'm amazed at the 'conservatives" that say they are sitting this one out, because McCain doesn't agree with them on 100% of the issues
My response, ,,, "So you're willing to have someone in office that you are 100% diametrically opposed to instead of someone you disagree with, what, 20%,,, 30% ?!?!?!?"

re: #168 Nevergiveup

Your dam right you can disagree with Charles, the banned list is full of them!
Credit for the above quote to Ed Norton.

Huh?

re: #122 shibumi

I work in frothing, raving, moonbat central. Yesterday I was cornered and basically told that anyone who doesn't vote for The One is an idiot.

Why, you might ask?
1. He is the most popular man in the WORLD
2. He is giving us all MONEY
3. If our enemies like him, they will no longer be our enemies.
4. BHO is not a socialist, in fact, Palin is the socialist because residents in Alaska already get checks from the government

BTW, statements two and three were said by a NRA member.

You need to refer that NRA member to www.gunbanobama.com

re: #196 Cast Iron Magnolia

Oh, pooh! Charles, I was starting a legend....you know, disagree with Charles and "Poof" your messages are writ in invisible type!

If you've learned anything from this election, CIM, it should be that you can start a legend about anyone - like the mayor of Wasilla banning books - and no matter how often it gets rebutted by the facts, it lives on.

re: #195 ciaospirit

I know Hillbuzz had it briefly, then yanked it.

re: #172 kansas

Just more of the same piling on, IMO.

Who is piling on and how?

re: #197 Josephine

Without a sarc tag, I can't tell if you're joking.

/////////////////

re: #199 alegrias

* * *
NOT TRUE. Many supposed "intelligentsia" are taught what Obama preaches. So our Harvard Trained lawyers are signing up to do "Election Protection" for Obama, so their will will be done.

Let's not misunderestimate anyone--these folks are intelligent and run our media and our government agencies, colleges & think tanks.

A fruit fly has the complex brain power to avoid my flying fist. A fruit fly can navigate and flap his wings hundreds of times a second.

I don't misunderestimate the fly I am trying to swat.
But he still gets splattered. Make no mistake about that

re: #200 shibumi

You are 100% correct.

I actually think I converted a Hillary supported though!

Great! Actually, my mom just told me her best friend - for whom she named me - is a PUMA who just early-voted for McCain. I'm very proud.

re: #93 musicman

And let's not even go near the coffee issue!

Thou shalt not speak against coffee -

re: #209 Cast Iron Magnolia

/////////////////

Did you just sarc tag a sarc tag?/

re: #176 kynna

I do think the 'Bradley Effect' will be biggest amongst voters 'of color'. The pressure on them to unconditionally support Obama is huge. I wouldn't give a straight answer to a pollster either.

Good point.

Someone recently told me that I shouldn't have told campaigners that I wasn't voting for their candidate because then, if elected, that candidate wouldn't help me out if I ever needed his/her assistance for anything. (I'm in Canada.) Sad to say, this type of thing does go on here.

They tell us exactly what we are in for.

After the November election, Democrats will push for a second economic stimulus package that includes money for the states' stalled infrastructure projects, along with help paying for healthcare expenses, food stamps and extended unemployment benefits, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank said Thursday.

In a meeting with the editorial board of The Standard-Times, Rep. Frank, D-Mass., also called for a 25 percent cut in military spending, saying the Pentagon has to start choosing from its many weapons programs, and that upper-income taxpayers are going to see an increase in what they are asked to pay.

The military cuts also mean getting out of Iraq sooner, he said.

I pray for the Iraqi Kurds. Should we pull out early and cut funding the region will go the way of Southeast Asia after Nam.

"The people of Iraq want us out, and we want to stay over their objection," he said. "It's extraordinary."

Isn't it only Sadr's thugs that want us out?

re: #186 rightymouse

I'm taking November 5 off as a vacation day. Am sleepless already and anticipate being up all night on November 4.

We MUST WIN FOLKS!

* * *
Liberal black lawyers I know who are managing partners & lawschool classmates of Fannie Mae's crooked CEO Franklin Raines will take company time to assist Obama before & on election day as part of their "Election Protection" racket.

I understand the need for some people to make note of Sarah Pailin's, and John McCain's, deficiencies. Fair and balanced. I get that.

But do us all a favor - save that for after the election. Unless you are REALLY trying to get people to consider not voting for McCain.

Because those on the left do not even consider acknowledging Obama's deficiencies. They want him elected at all costs and have openly admitted they are willing to lie, cheat and steal to get it done.

The stakes are high.

re: #204 Josephine

Huh?

In a episode of the Honeymooners, Ralph kramden forgot to sign his IRS form and he thinks he is going to be audited. Ed Norton tells him not to worry alot of people get letters from the IRS, The jail is full of them!

re: #186 rightymouse

I'm taking November 5 off as a vacation day. Am sleepless already and anticipate being up all night on November 4.

We MUST WIN FOLKS!

I am preparing for the worst (the calamity of an Obama administration), I expect that they will attempt to undermine the Constitution by introducing foreign social policies. I plan to fight them with my voice, my pen and by supporting legislators who will stand against them and their efforts to change our nation into a weak apologetic shadow of the Shining City on the Hill that President Reagan talked about so eloquently.

re: #205 Colonel Panik

You need to refer that NRA member to www.gunbanobama.com

It's already been done. Doesn't matter. He wants Obama money.

And an aside- the "discussion" diverted into what has Bush ever done that's good- I mentioned no terror attacks, the response was (get ready for this) 'they haven't even tried.' I mentioned several terror plots, and that was immediately discounted and then morphed into 'nothing was as good as when Clinton was President.'

Short story? I am an idiot for engaging this particular co-worker.

Don't think anybody else has mentioned this:

BAM STAFFERS PULL THEIR BOGUS OHIO BALLOTS.

re: #213 arethusa

Did you just sarc tag a sarc tag?/

I don't know....LOL

I was trying for emphasis. I didn't realize my humor was so bad, until others began questioning whether I was serious when I said my message had come up blank after I down-dinged Charles.

re: #203 sattv4u2

re: #185 Shug

Thats why i'm amazed at the 'conservatives" that say they are sitting this one out, because McCain doesn't agree with them on 100% of the issues
My response, ,,, "So you're willing to have someone in office that you are 100% diametrically opposed to instead of someone you disagree with, what, 20%,,, 30% ?!?!?!?"

I don't agree with McCain on probably 25% of issues, most notably the pro-choice/life debate. But here's the thing, I know he's not going to overturn Roe V. Wade, no one EVER would, and I disagree even more with Obama's extremely lax and reprehensible views on almost encouraging abortions.

I know McCain will defend America and our allies, most importantly Israel, as long as there's a breath in his body. Obama will sell all of us out in the interests of 'reconciliation' and 'addressing grievances' with our enemies.

Even Joe Biden knows our enemies will test Obama's weakness in the first 6 months. Can we really afford that right now, what with our current economic dire straits? Best case is that the international incident occurs outside the homeland or Israel, but what if it doesn't? Another 9-11, a massive attack on Israel from Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah? There's no way we can afford something like that with a pansy commander in chief that is not guaranteed to respond in the correct manner.

No, no, I disagree with McCain on certain issues, but when it comes to the safety and security of us and our allies, the choice is a no-brainer.

WuzzaDem is back up and running.

re: #217 Racer X

Are you suggesting relevant information about the candidates should be hidden if it doesn't advance the Republican agenda?

re: #215 Rancher

The Democrats aren't hiding their contempt for our current political and economic system and our national security and foreign policy positions. They want wholesale changes, and this is not merely some minor small portion of the party's presence in Congress. It's a significant portion of the party, and should the Democrats win, they will get a chance to push that agenda, much to the detriment of the nation.

re: #212 legalpad

Thou shalt not speak against coffee -

I heard a story the other day that three cups of coffee a day can reduce a women's breast size.

re: #217 Racer X

Freakin' BINGO.

re: #217 Racer X

I wouldn't worry about it, RacerX. Anyone who is undecided at this point will not be choosing sides over fruit flies. They will be looking at the big issues, like hair styles and stuff.

re: #216 alegrias

* * *
Liberal black lawyers I know who are managing partners & lawschool classmates of Fannie Mae's crooked CEO Franklin Raines will take company time to assist Obama before & on election day as part of their "Election Protection" racket.

Really? Is that legal?

A New (Fighter) Jet for Google’s Founders?

[Link: bits.blogs.nytimes.com...]

Another liberal going green?

re: #211 arethusa

Great! Actually, my mom just told me her best friend - for whom she named me - is a PUMA who just early-voted for McCain. I'm very proud.

I know about 5 PUMAs. First time they will ever vote Republican. They didn't even vote for Reagan.

re: #225 Killgore Trout

Are you suggesting relevant information about the candidates should be hidden if it doesn't advance the Republican agenda?

* * *
IS there any relevant "negative" information about McCain/Palin that hasn't already been vetted & regurgitated 300% times more often than anything about Obama/Biden?

re: #171 Colin Nelson
"BHO supporters will get exactly what they deserve."
Indeed, but if Obama should win POTUS, so will the rest of us who DON'T get what we deserve.
It's awfully hard to try to reach voters in the first place, which is why I've always opposed the stupid birth certificate story, the story about what WAB did or didn't order for lunch wherever the hell she stayed (iirc, HER salary is over $325,000 a year alone) and the like.
McCain and we who support him have to try to stay on message: the economy is much more the fault of the Dems and the CRA (which created the stupid Sub-Prime mortgage MARKET in the first place); that by letting the Bush Tax Cuts lapse, then indeed Americans with income above $45,000 WILL be paying higher taxes (even if Obama doesn't accomplish this from a "new tax hike" POV) and raising taxes in a down economy is STUPID. Moreover, folks will lose their jobs under Obama's STATED tax plan - there are thousands of small businesses that make over $250,000 who will lay off some employee's.
And in World Affairs, we've let the Dems promote the lie that we went into Iraq "unilaterally" because of that "cowboy" Bush, when the reality is that Bush had a congressional vote and UN approval to enforce UN Sanctions. And as I said in #33 above "what the hell will ALL the nations of the world (except possibly China and Russia) do when they realize that there is NO US military to aid them in a crisis? No US ability to help alleviate human suffering from Tsunami's and the like?
And NO US MARKET TO PURCHASE THE GOODS THEY MAKE? "
We have to hammer away at the fact that Obama has tried to BUY this election by reneging on a written promise to accept Public Funding, by taking probably fraudulent credit card donations and by enabling ACORN to fraudulently register non-voters.
We have to STAY ON MESSAGE and stop tying Ayers and Obama together and all of the rest of the issues that bother those of us out here and on other blogs, because, like it or not, the American Voters don't seem to care about those issues as passionately as we do.

re: #229 Meremortal

I wouldn't worry about it, RacerX. Anyone who is undecided at this point will not be choosing sides over fruit flies. They will be looking at the big issues, like hair styles and stuff.

LOL. One up-ding for you!

re: #218 Nevergiveup

In a episode of the Honeymooners, Ralph kramden forgot to sign his IRS form and he thinks he is going to be audited. Ed Norton tells him not to worry alot of people get letters from the IRS, The jail is full of them!

Oh, thanks. ; )

I didn't know if you were quoting The Honeymooners or The Fight Club.

re: #227 shibumi

I heard a story the other day that three cups of coffee a day can reduce a women's breast size.

That does it. I'm for banning coffee...for women.

re: #224 FrogMarch

The Colin Powell bit from the future is great.

re: #192 newsjunkie_ky

Here I go, Back when I was a kid, everything was from scratch, at least at my house. We ate tons and nobody was overweight. Well, we also played outside.
A friend is a literacy specialist with Head Start. One thing she has told me is that the reason there are so many kids with speech impediments today is the amount of TV they watch. According to my friend, you do not hear the last sound of words. Like instead of word, you hear wor. But we do not notice this because we learned to speak talking directly to someone and watched the way our mouths formed words. (seeing my 4 month old granddaughter doing this now). Kids that do not have enough face to face interaction do not learn to pronounce the ends of words. She also told me that about 90% of the kids that come to Head Start have no concept of sitting at at table and using eating utensils. The McDonald's generation.

But that only partially explains Barney Frank

re: #227 shibumi

I heard a story the other day that three cups of coffee a day can reduce a women's breast size.

How long do you have to soak them?

re: #227 shibumi

I heard a story the other day that three cups of coffee a day can reduce a women's breast size.

On days off, I stand outside of Starbucks and tell well endowed ladies " Sorry ,, they're closed"

re: #221 jwpaine

Don't think anybody else has mentioned this:

BAM STAFFERS PULL THEIR BOGUS OHIO BALLOTS.

Good! Ohio is in deep doo-doo right now as it is with voter registration fraud let alone actual voting.

re: #231 Nevergiveup

A New (Fighter) Jet for Google’s Founders?

[Link: bits.blogs.nytimes.com...]

Another liberal going green?

ok - that creeps me out. Rich powerful left-wingers with capitalist military machinery.

re: #13 karmic_inquisitor

BTW - I already voted absentee in California. Straight Republican ballot and "no" to every bond initiative. First time I have done that. I see it as an act of defiance and negation. I hope others have joined me.

Did the same here in Colorado. Two days ago.

re: #233 alegrias

I hadn't hear the fruit fly thing before. She came out in favor of constitutional bans on gay marriage and abortions recently. That was new.

re: #241 sattv4u2

On days off, I stand outside of Starbucks and tell well endowed ladies " Sorry ,, they're closed"

And those with less G-D given assets? What do you tell them?

re: #159 Josephine

Although I dislike baseless criticism of Sarah Palin, I do not consider her to be above criticism or disagreement.

I agree. She strikes me as the type who will look at evidence fairly and make a good call. Imagine the sheer volume of issues she's being briefed on these days. She'll be fine.

She'll be a whole lot better than Biden once she gets hooked into bigger sources of information than her campaign staff.

Point to ponder, re early voters--Democrats seem to have the numerical edge here. The only question I have is, are they all voting Obama?

re: #237 Meremortal

That does it. I'm for banning coffee...for women.

Ever seen the bags from code pink? Yes I agree, ban coffee for liberal women who bare their saggy bags in public.

re: #246 Nevergiveup

And those with less G-D given assets? What do you tell them?

I'm buying

re: #235 Cast Iron Magnolia

LOL. One up-ding for you!

Thank yew, thank yew, I'll be here all week.

re: #227 shibumi

I heard a story the other day that three cups of coffee a day can reduce a women's breast size.

By a strange coincidence, none of the women I know drink much coffee.
Coffee, does however- seriously - dramatically cut the incidence of liver cancer. Lot's of good anti-oxidants in the coffee bean.

re: #238 lawhawk

The Colin Powell bit from the future is great.

Yes! I read that the other day. I like wuzzadem's perspective.

re: #225 Killgore Trout

Are you suggesting relevant information about the candidates should be hidden if it doesn't advance the Republican agenda?

I'm saying keep the focus on that lying asshole who intends to convert America into a Communist country. Discussing an off-hand comment about fruit flies, or dodging a loaded question on one freaking abortion clinic bomber is counter-productive. Put things in perspective.

Unless you're secretly in love with The One™.

re: #219 shanec99

I am preparing for the worst (the calamity of an Obama administration), I expect that they will attempt to undermine the Constitution by introducing foreign social policies. I plan to fight them with my voice, my pen and by supporting legislators who will stand against them and their efforts to change our nation into a weak apologetic shadow of the Shining City on the Hill that President Reagan talked about so eloquently.

Look forward to your freedom to use your voice and pen to be severely curtailed if not eliminated under an Obama administration.

I feel the same way about the McCain/Palin ticket. Not so much about McCain though, as he's just another member of the boys club. My concern is with Palin, should something happen to befall McCain, health-wise. I've watched the interviews, read numerous articles and even if she's what Bush should have been but isn't (self-made, staunchly opinionated despite how loony she sounds, etc.), it's as if the GOP has settled for mediocrity with its support for Sarah Palin. I view her as the new and improved Dan Quayle for the upcoming election and to be honest, I'm rather stunned at how some rather intelligent and astute lizards hold her so high. President Bush was a poor choice for president but this new GOP ticket sinks to a new low. Yet there's part of me that cringes to think that Obama wants to build a larger bureaucracy and sap more of our hard-earned $ out of us. Just wanted to share, FWIW.