i would hope that voters choose candidates on the basis of their abilities, as opposed to their gender or the color of their skin. but it seems that isn't the case for some people. the undecided are just going to have to educate themselves about everyones' positions and make the best choice they can based on that information.

Plus, her profile is sooooo appealing to the conservative suburban hockey-moms...

a) mother of 5 (mom? of 5! She's a hard worker!)
b) ex-beauty pageant contestant (and she's a girly-girl!)
c) mother of a soldier in Iraq (she understands the pain of war from a personal level!)
d) mother of a child with down's syndrome (she understands the challenges of the disabled!)
e) highly involved with the church (she's on the Jesus squad!)

I know plenty of soccer moms here in Ohio that will gush over her.

However, I also know plenty of soccer moms here in Ohio who might think she's a great role model, but they also have husbands that are out of work and their home value has gone down because of foreclosures in their neighborhoods and putting gas in their minivans is expensive and their aging parents can't afford medicine. And they will vote for who they think can help alleviate those problems, soccer-mom or no.

Divided we fail, as it were.

She's definitely a smart choice, smarter than Obama's choice. I like Biden - heck, I was pushing for an Edwards/Biden ticket from the beginning - but he's a bit safe for a guy like Obama. He needs someone who's going to give him gravitas and experience, yes, but Biden's pretty inflexible and rather partisan.

I have some questions for the candidates.

1. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost approximately 1 trillion dollars all of it borrowed. How do you plan on paying for it?

2. The war in Afghanistan is currently being lost. Poppy and hashish production provide limitless funding for insurgents now as it did when the Russians were there. Foreign funding and arming of radicals is unabated. Corruption by all accounts is worse now than under Taliban administration. Afghan Army troop and equipment levels are much lower than the level that the Russians produced when they attempted to take over and train an indigenous army. Year on year attacks are increasing by as much as 30%. How do you plan on stopping this trend?

3. 12 million illegals are living in the USA. Are they just to be considered cheap exploitable labour. Would you ignore, deport or offer citizenship opportunities to them?

4. Special interests of international corporations have undue influence on American policy. The revolving door policy of public and then private sector pay offs is highly disturbing. How do you plan on preventing this form of soft corruption?

I'd love to see you submit those questions for one of the upcoming televised debates, Nemo.

Anyone have info on when the first debate will be?

ETA:

I do! Looks like the first will be on 9/26.

*eager for debate juiciness...*

I think Sarah Palin is a fine pick for McCain. The more I read about her, the more I'm impressed and actually hoping to learn more about her.

I believe the hardest job there is, is being a mother or at least being a good mother. I'd like to hear more about that. If she can successfully raise her children, then she's got enough experience enough to deal with the children in congress.

It sounds like McCain picked a VP candidate who's not afraid of being bipartisan. That's another thing I like. I've had it up to here with the We vs Them.

Except who comments on the fathering skills of the male candidates?

Actually, I've heard several comments about Obama's girls. And how they reflect on him.

And as a Dad, I can honestly say that the mom traditionally has a tougher job when it comes to raising the kids.

quote:

Originally posted by Hive:
Except who comments on the fathering skills of the male candidates?

Very good point - it's always taken as a given that the male can handle it.

Actually, for all you older Brits here - when Thatcher was running for government in 1979, did these questions come up?

I know she was dogged by these when she was an MP...

quote:

Originally posted by D M:

quote:

Originally posted by Hive:
Except who comments on the fathering skills of the male candidates?

Very good point - it's always taken as a given that the male can handle it.

Actually, for all you older Brits here - when Thatcher was running for government in 1979, did these questions come up?

I know she was dogged by these when she was an MP...

i think i'm probably the oldest brit here, and i'm old, but i'm not that old.

ohh..psi may be a year older than me, so he is old too...but not that old

edit: actually, is merlin older?...

quote:

Originally posted by Munk, The Wombat Confessor:

quote:

Originally posted by Thirith & His Enormous Tibia:

quote:

Originally posted by Alex Freeman:
I hope all the Hilary supporters go for McCain because of her, it shows they're morons just voting for a woman, for the sake of voting for a woman. :P

So let me get this straight: you hope that people will be morons? What for? The amusement value?

psst, I think that's someone's "game" player profile acting like their "game" player persona. At least I hope that's what it is...

I was just joking around, mostly for amusement. By game player do you mean head games or game games, last comment went over my head. :P

quote:

Originally posted by mudpuppy:

I think it evens the playing field: you are a racist if you don't vote for Obama, and you are a sexist if you don't vote for McCain. Now both parties have a way to cry foul and to call anyone who doesn't agree with them a bigot.

There we go, now everyone'll have something to be wrong/right about.

quote:

Originally posted by Alex Freeman:

quote:

Originally posted by Munk, The Wombat Confessor:

quote:

Originally posted by Thirith & His Enormous Tibia:

quote:

Originally posted by Alex Freeman:
I hope all the Hilary supporters go for McCain because of her, it shows they're morons just voting for a woman, for the sake of voting for a woman. :P

So let me get this straight: you hope that people will be morons? What for? The amusement value?

psst, I think that's someone's "game" player profile acting like their "game" player persona. At least I hope that's what it is...

I was just joking around, mostly for amusement. By game player do you mean head games or game games, last comment went over my head. :P

Hi Alex

The Game

sort of like The Project, but not.

My thoughts: Coulda been worse. He could have picked Condaleeza Rice.

quote:

Originally posted by Smaug:
i think i'm probably the oldest brit here, and i'm old, but i'm not that old.

ohh..psi may be a year older than me, so he is old too...but not that old

edit: actually, is merlin older?...

I'm older than you ALL [/cackling]

quote:

Originally posted by Smaug:

Hi Alex

The Game

sort of like The Project, but not.

Ahh...well now no one knows if I'm someone's alias or not...seems fishy I'd just say I didn't know it.

I had no idea, really though, thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Uqbar:
Schedule says it was Tim Kaine <snip>

Amazingly, he is governor of Virginia, and doing a pretty decent job of it too. Between Kaine and Sen. Jim Webb, looks like there's hope for Virginia yet. Now if Mark Warner can get the 2nd Senate seat in November, we'll be all set.

quote:

Originally posted by Mean Old Man:
I'd immediately thought it was a case of "Well, they may have a black guy, but look! We've got a skirt! We could've picked another balding, pink-faced, sixtyish Yale grad yacht owner named J. Dollar Manhood, but we didn't! See? We're progressive, too!"

quote:

will it then work?

Not of itself. But it certainly gives the undecided white centrist minivan-driving pro-life soccermommy voter something new to think about.

My thoughts exactly.



"Holy shit, Wolf, call off the talking heads strike, we've got the love interest again! Lost is going Down."

This Summer -

John McCain

Sarah Palin

Monica II:

How The Republicans Got Their Groove Back

Coming To A Bullshit Box Near You.

Well, she's got the media busy trying to dig up dirt on her. They're so busy, it's taken away from their Obama worship time and his "it's going to rain money when I'm president" speech.