McCain: Riding the Waves of Hypocrisy and Deceit
58Bailout Agreement Reached without McCain
John McCain Suspends His Campaign
Obama Responds to McCain's Call For Debate Delay
David Letterman Reacts to John McCain Suspending Campaign
McCain Advisor Rick Davis "Paid" by Freddie Mac until Aug 08
As of 1:00 Thursday they had a tentative deal and after the 3:00 pm meeting with the President, all of a sudden, no deal. This was not the original opening for this article. The status is changing moment by moment. Earlier on Thursday it was reported that the Democrats and Republicans had reached an agreement in principle for the bailout. What was left was fleshing out the agreement. Congressional leaders were hopeful that the bill would pass in a few days. Thank God John McCain is on the case. Where would he be if he hadn't suspended his campaign and went to Washington? I think we would have had an agreement.
John McCain has proven time and time again to be reckless in his decision making from choosing Sarah Palin to suspending his campaign so he can charge up to Capitol Hill on his white horse to save the day. Each decision, a political ploy. In choosing Sarah Palin, he put election first over country. He wants to win so badly, he will put up with a candidate who is not ready for prime time. This latest ploy, suspending him campaign to get the bill passed is playing politics while Main Street is burning. What hubris for him to think that he can walk in on the middle of delicate negotiations and add his voice without any idea of the history of what has gone on. And how insulting to the lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to think that they could not get this done without him. And where has he been? This from the Senator who said that the fundamentals of the economy are strong and who has not cast a vote on the hill in the past five months.
He is outright lying on so many levels. He lies on the small provable stuff. Let's take something frivolous....The Letterman Show. He was supposed to appear on Letterman on Wednesday night. He cancelled saying that he had to fly back and save the economy. Well...he didn't fly back until Thursday morning after he appeared on the Wednesday CBS Evening News with Katie Couric and before the Clinton Global Initiative.
Senator Obama called John McCain on the morning of Sept 24th to put partisan politics aside and put out a joint statement. Senator McCain called him back in the afternoon and agreed to the statement and then went a step further. Blindsiding the Obama campaign, McCain appeared on television saying he was going to suspend his campaign so he could go and move these talks along. I think this is too little too late. This from the man who only a few days ago said the fundamentals of the economy are strong. Before you write me, I know....he meant the American workforce. The same American workforce that has record setting unemployment rates. The American workforce that is in tatters with their jobs going overseas and no plan to help them get sustaining good paying jobs for the 21st century.
And then he went a step further. He said he will not show up at the debates. Obama regrouped and came back and said now more than ever America needs to hear from the candidates so they can make an intelligent choice about who they want to handle the economy. McCain is playing fast and loose with the American public's right to make an informed decision by restricting access to the ticket. Why should we debate issues with Senator Obama to see who has the better vision for America. I can understand why he has elected to restrict the media's access to Govenor Palin. Her performance gets worse and worse each time she sits for questions. However, the American public stills has a right to see her readiness to step into the Presidency in case McCain dies in office. Eight Presidents have died in office so it is not out of the realm of possibility.
Several McCain aides have ties to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. The NY Times reported that campaign manager Rick Davis's firm (Davis Manafort. He is still the Treasurer and Corporate Director) has been paid $15,000/month up until last month from Freddie Mac. As an equity holder,he benefits from this. You may remember that McCain on 60 Minutes said that Rick Davis has had no involvement with his company for the past several years. And that's only one staffer!
The truth is that McCain has been riding the wave of hypocrisy and deceit. He has not put country first. Rather he has engaged in one political ploy after another. So the question of the hour is to debate or not to debate? Will John McCain show up? Barack Obama made a very good point when he said that the President has to be able to do more than one thing at a time. How can he say he doesn't have the time to debate when he didn't even show up till the afternoon? What is he doing?John McCain it's time to show you really can put country first. Show up to the debate and tell us what direction you want to take the county.
We have a right to know.
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Comments
The McPalin Meltdown is such a freak show. What planet are we on? I'm in shock and awe over their tricks; what a time to play with political push and pull toys. It's sickening; I can't see America being fooled for long by these two.
Everyday I wake up and think "How much worse can this get??" It's a shame - I still believe we will come out of this with Obama President and Mccain and Palin in trouble... of their own making, so it's hard to be too sympathetic.
Thumbs up as always Susan!! Great info and well written; I'm glad you're here on the HUB!!
And if he had done nothing and went about his campaign then he would be unconcerned for the wlfare of the nation. It seems that you put him in a no-win situation. Which ever he decides to do is just wrong no matter what it is.
Remember also that I still have yet to decide who I will vote for in the elction. I am not trying to change your mind, but merely trying to show some points you may have missed.
Thank you all for your comments. All opinions are welcome!
pgrundy: You are so right! This is the Country First candidate who is playing politics with our pocketbooks. It is making me sick.
marisue: I agree with everything you said. When I was writing the article, I had to change my opening...it kept changing throughout the day.
I have lost whatever respect that I have for John McCain. The Republicans are playing games, chiding the Democrats to pass it without them. They don't want to risk making the wrong decision while most of them are up for election. It is disgraceful.
sirdent: The debates are going on tonight. John McCain will appear.
John McCain would have been better off doing nothing than playing politics. Obama asked McCain to join him in a joint statement to send a message to Congress, not to go there and inject themselves in the process. But McCain saw an opportunity to seize the moment and grandstand. This is the man who hadn't even read the 3 page summary of what was on the table. And this is the man who went there and said nothing at the meeting at the White House until the very end and still no one knew where he stood.
He by his own admission does not understand the economy. For that reason alone, he should not have injected himself in what by all admissions was a non political, bipartisan discussion until he showed up in Washington.
By the way, check out my other hub, You Don't Have to Be a Republican to Have a Prosperity Consciousness. There is a video there that showed John McCain's take on the economy last week.
Well put. It amazes me more and more how anyone could be "undecided" in the face of McCain's flailing incompetence and dishonesty the last few weeks.
You are so right. I too am amazed at how many undecided people there are. What more do they need.
Another thing that really irritates me is when they keep referring to Obama as a Community Organizer. The man is an civil rights attorney and a Law Professor specializing in Constitutional Law. Given the hit our Constitution has taken these past 8 years, it would be nice to have a President who has respect for the constitution. He is an accomplished man.
I have said before that I supported McCain in 2000, but I really am concerned that he is playing a dangerous game now. Country first? I don't believe so! winning is first with him, and that is inhis nature.
He came to Washington and made a mess of things. If he had strong doubts about the Paulson Plan, he should have said so clearly and without babbling before tacitly saying that it was necessary. Instead, he played both sides of the fence, then behind the scenes worked to spoil the plan. I have no doubt that he will face the rebuke by the Senate that he IMHO so rightly seems to deserve for his underhanded tactics.
I would be surprised if Palin remains on the ticket. No doubt she will cite some family reason for stepping down, and then McCain will get his surrogate Lieberman to take his place.
Expect a change at the top of his campaign management as well. Romney? Giuliani? Huckabee? It seems Davis has worn his welcome very thin.
I once saw a plane catch fire and crash. This campaign reminds me of that in so many ways.
SirDent - you know I admire your positions on many issues, even if we don't always agree. I am an Independent, and I backed McCain 8 years ago, with good reason. Now, with good reason, I find I can't back him. It's too bad the Republicans didn't select Ron Paul as their candidate, because I truly believe he epitomizes the basis of what the Republican Party stands for, and he does it with dignity, poise and a solid voice.
But the Republicans, like the Democrats, have changed over the past decades. Like the Democrats there are too many one-issue groups making up the mixture that constitutes its base.
Once the leaders of fiscal responsibility, now the Republicans are a mixture of Social Conservatives, Fiscal Conservatives, and even people who are just anti-establishment. It is nearly impossible to please one of these groups without angering another.
That said, McCain has been, it seems, purposely upsetting every group, one after the other. He plays Social Conservative on TV, but like Bush, it is just an appeasement to that portion of his base. He plays Fiscal Conservative in Congress, and now claims he is for deregulation, but, oh, wait a minute, that's not what he meant.
In short, McCain has managed, so far, to be the man behind the curtain, as it were, but even as we speak he is being exposed for the disoriented, disorganized person he has become. In truth, he changes so much I really can't tell just who he wants me to believe he is!
I do not say this with any pleasure, for he was once like a hero to me. But the bronze fascade of his statue has worn thin and we can see the base lead from which his statue is really made.
As for his trip to Washington, it was rather cynical I believe to announce that he was "rushing to Washington" when for 10 days he had to have many hits to the head to realize there was a crisis going on, and he did not even start to try to understand the nature of the crisis.
Furthermore he did not "Rush to Washington" but lingered in New York until later the next day. Was that a lie, the rushing part, or was it merely his disorganization? I shudder to think that either might be the case. But why say it if he knew it wasn't to be the case?
Worse yet, when he got there, he did not participate in any of the Senate meetings on the subject. Instead he roamed through the Senate, and then, for much longer a time, in the House, to see where opinion lay. He allied himself, loosely, with a group of Republican House members who were dead set against the Paulson Plan, and he gave them tacit approval, with a wink and a nod, and for what reason? I believe we still don't know!
Chef Jeff, I totally agree with you. Obama knew that the presence of cameras following the candidates would change the process; people would be playing for the sound byte not for what is good for The American People. He was right! And that McCain is taking credit for this is pathetic. We all knew he would but he looks small.
I almost felt sorry for Palin last night watching the second half of the Couric interview. The MCCain campaign knocked her off her game and erroded her confidence. They waited too long to get her out in front of reporters. They should have prepped her, sent her out and refined her through practice.
But I think you are right, especially if they get the results of Troopergate and they are not in favor of Palin. But I have to say, I am not a fan of Joe Lieberman either.
Davis has to go and soon.
All I can say is straight talking express indeed.
Thoroughly well written hub, Susan.
I've been watching the opera unfold over the last several days, and I thought I knew how it would go, but it has confounded me at every turn. I was convinced that the money would appear on the table as if by magic, and that the crazed bankers would seize upon it and devour it in seconds. When everything stalled I was astonished, thrilled and concerned by turns. If not this, then what? We only get snippets on our news here, and I won't know the latest until the news programme comes on in an hour or two. Unless you guys post more info in the meanwhile, I shall just have to sit and wait in anticipation......
I watched a legislative sessions a little while ago. Not something I normally do but what I saw was that it is surely a pissing contest between democrats and republicans.
They all act like little spoiled children and they all need to grwo up real fast. This election season seems to have been going no for years. I am sick and tired of hearing all the rhetoric and propoganda.
I am not calling your hub propoganda or rhetoric Susan. Just had to rant a little. I apologize.
It changes moment by moment. The Republicans have now come to the table and are negotiating in earnest and McCain will debate tonight. I am getting whiplash with the way this is going.
Stay tuned.
None taken Sir Dent. I am not looking to produce proganda. I research my facts. I am definitely an Obama supporter but I know you know that. I usually produce a video or other supportive documentation in my hub.
I understand the need to rant. I agree. It is time to stop posturing and gesturing and come up with a plan. They have to realize we are all scared.
I appreciate your comments.
palin brings to mind "It is better to be silent, and thought ignorant, than to speak, and remove all doubt."
The country would have forgiven her and understood if she had uttered one honest phrase. Saying something like "These are critically important issues. I am currently studying the matter to bring myself up to speed. I don't know the answer to that, but I am committed to learning fast and will discuss it further in the future."
We could have understood that, because we know she's not informed, but no, now we know she's not only uninformed, but unwise and maybe not capable of learning. How very scarey for us, and embarrassing for her.
She could have stayed dumb and silent, in Alaska, now, she's exposed and naked and it's not a pretty sight.
I do feel sorry for her...yet I am more scared for our country. She is one person suffering, if she gets into office, she will cause or contribute to the suffering of too many to count.
She would have been wiser to say "no" to the VP slot. She's getting crushed.
Great comment. I agree. My feeling sorry for her is on a personal level. She is out of her league. But she is one scary chick. And again, her presence on the ticket is another example of John McCain's judgement.
The way you framed it was beautiful. The American public does well with the truth...It's the lies and deceit that we hate. Chef Jeff said he would be surprised if she stays on the ticket. I think he may be on to something. Palin was put in to drive the football down the field for 30 yards and now it's time to bring in the kicker.
Hi Susan
I just caught up with the presidential debate, or at least part of it, posted on Penmanzees hub. McCain was interesting not for what he did say, so much as for what he didn't. I'm impressed by his skills in advertising speak. His sound-bites are short, and easily understood by the wider audience, whilst Obama is clearly smarter, but possibly too smart for many of those listening.
Last I heard there is still no solution agreed to the financial melt-down. If it doesn't happen, I wonder what exactly the financial repurcussions will be. We're led to believe that they will be cataclysmic, but short-term pain might mean long-term gain. I'm undecided and I'm not schooled enough in the Law of Unintended Consequences to make an educated guess.
Susan,
The financial meltdown is being used by both sides to advance themselves politically. I see little difference between McCain or Obama. Both are very tentative about making any specific commitments to anything. Everything is generalities and posturing. As for McCain and his trip to Washington, I don't see it as any better or worse than any other political maneovering done by either side. In the end I believe tha Obama has a huge advantage in the election. In an depressed economic climate (regardless who you chose to blame), the party of the current president will always have an uphill battle. I admire you passion and tanacity, but at the same time feel that the charges you make of hypocrisy and deceit can be made concerning the Democratic ticket.
In the end I believe that the electorate must assume a large part of the responsibility for the financial meltdown. Candidates rarely tell us the truth because the hard reality is, if they did, they would be voted out. America's financial problems start at the grass roots, not at Wall Street. We are addicted to consumption and spending. Most personaly balance sheets in this country are laden with debt and mismanagement. The real hypocrisy in this economy comes for the American people themselves. Everyone wants a bail out. I long for a day when a politician stands up and has the courage to chastize not only wallstreet and Washington (for they deserve a good trip to the woodshed), but also the electorate, for gross negligence and lack of financial discipline. Our financial footing will never regain firm ground till the people of this country discipline themselves to re order their financial houses.
Thanks for the hub, I enjoyed it.
sschilke
This is a good hub and I do believe that McCain sees himself as the knight in shining armor in numerous situations, but I don't think that America needs someone to play the hero role. We need someone that can put aside his/her own agenda for the betterment of the entire nation, and I don't see McCain planning to "put off" the debate as a sign of his concern...especially since he still went. I also don't want a president that will berate the next person just because he doesn't like or doesn't agree with what they say. To me, it's just simple respect to be able to disagree with someone in a tactful manner.
amanda: Thanks for your comments. McCain is a terrible speaker but last night was the most disciplined I have seen him in a long time.According to the news, they are still talking at this. They are saying they are close but no deal yet. I know...after Washington Mutual folded...I am afraid the banks will go down like domino's. However, I am keeping a good thought.
sschilke: I understand your feeling about the generalities but I am wondering if it has more to do with not knowing the true state of economy. I don't trust George Bush. The next President will come in and will finally get to see the true state of the nation. If it were me, I'd want to paint a broad stroke but I would also say why.Thanks for your comments about my passion and I understand why you feel the way you do. I don't think Obama is as jaded as John McCain has become. I used to respect John McCain but I don't recognize this John McCain. His desire to win has superseded his "maverickness."Our government cannot lecture the American people about their fiscal mismanagement until they clean up their own budget. Yes, many people have lived beyond their means. But it is a multi prong issue and all bear the blame. The banks made loans to people who could not pay for them. Many of the people really did not understand what they were signing so where is the informed consent. And let's talk about the credit industry who has pushed credit upon people who they know can't pay it back, only to put them into financial servitude.Thanks for such thoughtful comments.
talented_ink: I couldn't have said it better. Thanks.
I'm really getting sick of McCain telling us constantly what a hero he is as he continues to be the only one his tone says...that sacrifices for his country. He has such obvious disdain for his opponent....he's not even professional enough to be respectful...it's quite sad to see a presidential candidate behave that way with such grave problems facing our nation.
Hi marisue;
I have no respect for John McCain. He is an angry, deceitful man. Did you see his interview with the Des Moines Iowa? He was all the things you said, angry, disdainful and untruthful.
I can't wait for the veep debates.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com Click on McCain video.
Thaks for your comments. Always good to see you here.
Susan
Well, the vp debates are over, I think she improved herself simply because she didn't throw up, she did however almost make me throw up. LOL
I have so much to write about her, I hardly know where to begin, the wink? the planned "Can I call you Joe" so she could say her rehearsed disrespectful corny sayings throughout the debate? Her cold ignoring of Biden's sacrifice and emotional moment about losing his family? Her "there ya go, Joe's" that were so rude, not folksy? How dare she try to correct a veteran senator and disrespect him by saying "Joe" every other minute? He always referred to her as Governor...so respectful...her incorrect statistics -- did she write that part or were the Republicans asleep? Getting McKiernan's name wrong, how much time do we have?
sigh. I think their party is over now. Should we write another hub? Not sure I have the typing strength. LOL
marisue
I cannot agree with you more. There is so much to write but I haven't because I am suffering from Palin fatigue. Did you see McCain speaking to the crowd, "did you see Sarah last night huh, huh?' He sounded like a barking seal.
I think she did well because the bar was set so low. You were right! I almost did throw up.....I did not watch the debate with any food or drink, lest I get sick to my stomach. I did take several tums when it was done.
I was proud of Biden. While I wish he had called her out more (she can dish but can't take it), he did not gaffe nor could any one from McCain-Palin say he was not respectful. They have gotten away with such dirty campaigning, it makes me sick.
It is time to get back to writing.
Susan, I've put this on stumbleupon, you are so right!! I can't believe anyone, truly supports this ticket. McCain did sound like he was in the bathroom or something, it was so unprofessional. He lies, she lies, what a perfect pair, after all.
Thanks so much marisue. I appreciate it.
I watched the talk shows this morning and just found myself getting angry. Palin can dish it out but if Joe Biden had given it back to her, he would have been accused of beating up on a woman. How outrageous. She can give it but not take it. She is no Hillary Clinton.
I am tired of the McCain-Palin lies. I have a feeling it's going to get uglier the closer it gets to the election.
You're right, and Palin has really begun the smear tactics - she knows that he doesn't associate with terrorists, but she has no hesitation to lie. I'm so sick of it, yet we have to speak out against it to keep the truth circulating. Fear Fear is all they can preach.
She's vicious, and no Christian in my book, and that's not being judgemental...we are supposed to be able to know truth from deceit, if one does not use judgement, then we are feathers in the wind.
But, like you, I am on McCain Palin Fatigue, I can imagine how Obama must feel. How do they keep going - I guess because they know they must. He has such fear mongers out there hell bent on distorting the facts. Some fear him because of his name, his race, all the while saying it's neither of those things. They're not just against him, they are victims of fear. sigh. keep going, Susan, you have a great political voice, and don't forget to write on An American Day....I value your opinion....(when you have time...you are very welcome there...) =))
Thanks marisue. I took a few days off to give myself some time to absorb all of this. I cannot believe she is doing well again.
Jonathan Turley (Constitutional Scholar and Law Professor at George Wasington University) was on Rachel Maddow last week discussing the expansion of the Vice President's powers. The only duty of the VP is to break ties in the Senate. He said what disturbs him is that she is refusing to comply with a legitmately issued subpoena. He says that he knows of no candidate who has sought the office while refusing to comply with a subpoena. She is Dick Cheney in a skirt.
Did you see John McCain's interview with the DesMoines Register? Check the segment on Sarah Palin. He seems so angry. He actually said that she is qualified to be VP because she has been a Mayor, a Governor, and a member of the PTA! The PTA! Are you kidding me?
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art/20080930/NEWS09/80930049
Hey check out this song about Sarah Palin
Vote for McCain!
Thanks Misha for your comment! Though I don't agree with you, I value your right to say it.
Are you talking to yourself Susan? I don't see it :)
Sorry Misha. I thought I had approved the comment. Here it is.
No sweat :) I have a plenty of them on other hubs, too. Vote for Obama on McCain hubs, and vice versa :P
Hi Susan! I'm just tuning into this amazingly comprehensive hub and the comment thread that's now lasted for what -- 10 days? Would love to hear your thoughts post-Veep debate. I think it's going to be a nailbiter whether they send Palin back to Alaska to handle her "family matters" or if they continue to see her as the wind (and she sure is a windbag, isn't she!) beneath McCain's soon-to-be-clipped wings.
I really would have respected McCain a whole lot more if he had accepted John Kerry's invitation to run as HIS veep in 2004. Now THAT would have made him a true maverick.
Can't wait for this week's debate. Burn, baby, burn!
Hi Susan:
Thoroughly enjoyed this hub and like Mighty Mom, I'm just getting to it. YouTube has an interesting 13-minute video online now that also explains McCain's role in the Keating Savings and Loan scandal. It was put on there by the Obama campaign, which is just fine with me. BTW: Obama is ahead right now and it will be tough for McCain to catch up. Keep your fingers crossed.
Here's the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsI_0bV2CZo
If the fella would not have attempted to suspend the campaign to help with the "crises" it would have looked bad as well, or Obama may have tried it. Choosing Sarah Palin is reckless is most of the Democrats opinions but is a good choice to most conservative Republicans, so that is your opinion. "Not ready for prime time" who cares, is that a qualifier for V.P.? He is a liar because he cancelled Letterman? Wow!! the guy is running for president, I think if he wanted to look over the "crises" before he went to Capitol hill, to do his job by the way, then that is probably not that big of a deal. And "main street is burning"? Well things look fine from here, maybe it is because I have been to many other countries and fail to see a comparison that makes me think I live in anything but a superior country whee you can still achieve goals and dreams even without the help of the government, I do not need the govt. teet to sustain my family.. "The same American workforce that has record setting unemployment rates. The American workforce that is in tatters with their jobs going overseas and no plan to help them get sustaining good paying jobs for the 21st century" Lets see some stats on this. the last I heard the ur was at about 7 percent and we all know that 3.5 is the accepted zero percent for America, because 3.5 percent are just too lazy to work. That does not make America bad it just means we have some peole that would rather do nothing and let th rest of us do it for them. This idea of some Eutopean society are ridiculous and just feeds the "We need a change" crap. "Several McCain aides have ties to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae" Well there is always the seven degrees to Kevin Bacon theory as well.
I liked your hub a lot and may have wrote a different comment had the responses not been so one sided in agreeing with you, I like a bit of controversy and politicing myself...... Now everybody!!! rip me apart!!! Have a great day and may your favorite candidate win!!!!
And "learn to spell" is not the best insult that has been thrown at me.
mortimas
Thank you for contributing to this hub. I appreciate it.
Yes, you are right, this is my opinion. I am one voice as is yours and that is why it is so good that you and I can discuss things and at the end of the day feel free to agree or disagree.
She is not ready for prime time. You should care. I was watching her this morning and I am frightened. She is no Hillary Clinton. I could not imagine her as the head of the military. John McCain is 72 years old and has a history of skin cancer. She may very well be asked to assume the presidency in his first term. So experience counts.
He is not a liar because he cancelled Letterman. He is a liar because he told Letterman he had to rush back to Washington to handle the crisis. And that was not true. What he did was instead of going to Letterman, he went to the CBS Evening News and then he went to the Clinton Global Iniative and back to Washington the next day. Had he said to Letterman, given what is going on, I feel the need to go on the CBS Evening News and discuss the economy and will appear on your show another time, that would have been honest.
How can you say things look fine to you? We have record unemployment rates. In Sept there were 159,000 jobs lost. We are at 6/1% unemployment. The number of unemployed has increased by 2.2 million over the past 12 months. This is the worst it's been since 1994 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
You say that we all know that 3.5% unemployment is the accepted zero percent for America. Where do you get that standard? The last time the unemployment rate was at 3.5 was in 1969 (Bureau of Labor Statistics), so how can that be the standard.
I don't accept your premise that Americans are too lazy to work. Obama isn't promising a Utopian Society, he is running to restore the damage done by the last 8 years of Bush-Cheney. McCain-Palin promises more of the same.
Regarding the ties to Freddie and Fannie, that is significant because McCain said that Rick Davis had no ties to the company for years. And that turned out not to be true.Thank you for your comments about my hub and for your comments on the hub. I think these kind of discussions are important. I would never insult you or comment on your spelling (not my strong suit either). People should not "rip" you apart, but rather explain why they think the way they do. That is a civil discourse.
Thank you Mighty Mom
I had thought that Biden won the debate on substance and that Palin won the debate on style.
I am tired Palin being able to punch everyone with her nasty comments disguised as cutesy. Biden had his hands tied behind his back lest he be accused of hitting a women. When he debated Hillary, he was able to really debate her,no holes barred. She can throw a punch but she can't take a punch.
I am concerned that the rhetoric on the McCain-Palin team is getting out of control. Yesterday at a McCain rally when he was calling Obama a mystery man and said who is he, someone in the crowd yelled "a terrorist". And at Palin's rally someone yelled, "kill him."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvXf9AUHTqM
This is getting dangerous. Neither McCain nor Palin told the crowd that this is unacceptable.
I don't think they are going to send her packing. The debate restored her as an asset to the ticket.
Hey check out this Sarah Palin song. I think it is well done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OClkx5pUx80YouTube - Don't Know Palin (Sarah Debate Song)
Thanks for your comments.
NYLadyThanks so much for the video and for your comments. Let me know what you think of the debate tonight.
Susan, did you catch Olbermann Monday night? He ripped into her like a pit bull, she deserved everybit of it. Anyone who calls this lying woman a Christian and then decides to vote for her because of that is going to be sorely disappointed and can't be truly listening to her or understand her past life.
Obama has pulled ahead, tho' anything can happen. For her to allow someone in the crowd to scream "Kill Him!" is totally un-American and I don't want anything to do with that ticket. No, she may not be totally responsible for the comment, though I think it's provoked by her own words, however, she can and should speak out against such things just saying "We're all Americans, here...including our opposing candidates."
She lacks character. =( hugely disappointing, but not unexpected.
I am very upset about the escalation their rhetoric is causing. That has to stop. This is going way beyond the bounds of decency. People can disagree. I have tried in my hubs to be respectful of all opinions.
I have a hub I am working on but haven't had too much time to put it on paper. I take care of my dad 24/7 and it has been a little hairy.
I love Olbermans special comments. They are right on. I also like Rachel Maddow, she is very bright and also respectful of other's opinions. That is why I find the extreme right Republicans as a large group (not all) to be very angry and hateful. I am wondering if McCain can keep his anger in check. He has been looking very angry lately. And I hope Obama can display his connectedness, as this is not his best forum.
It's a race to see who can become the more popular creator of political fiction, and its a tight race so far. Both sides make judicious use of untruth.
Unsavory political ties in the campaign workforce? Both sides have ties to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Reckless?? The choice of Palin was made months earlier.
It's good to remember the words of FDR who presided over more change in the history of the Presidency, "If it happens in politics, it was planned that way."
Hi Ben
Thank you for your comments. I use two sites to verify the statements of both candidates.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/
These sites are very good. Both sides do have ties to Fannie and Freddie, however no one held a position in the Obama campaign. So no one had a position of influence over him.
While McCain misrepresented the facts much more. I have addressed this in my article and in the comments regarding Rick Davis and I have included here some other resources for you to check. I don't know if you are like me but I check the facts with these great sites that I have listed here.
Rick Davis' company was taking money from Freddie up until August.Snopes investigated and found the claims regarding Obama's ties to Freddie Mac to be false.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/fanniemae.asp You can read more about McCain's campaign manager's ties to Fannie Mae in:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/160713
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/22/us/politics/22mc
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic
McCains choice of Palin was a reckless decision. He made it without proper vetting after only meeting her once. It was a move to try and get the disgruntled Hillary voters, not based on who can step in if McCain dies while in office. That in my opinion is not country first, that is McCain first.
Thanks again for sharing your opinion.
SusanBonfiglio
You stated, "Both sides do have ties to Fannie and Freddie, however no one held a position in the Obama campaign. So no one had a position of influence over him. "
With political types appearance is, many times, the ultimate arbiter of votes. So, some make official moves, some don't. But to say that somone doesn't have influence over Obama or any other politician simply because they aren't "officially" on the campaign payroll is?????.........???????????
It could be inferred that Obama is a craftier politician. It could be inferred that McCain doesn't care about appearances. Either way, it's politics as usual.
As far as Palin, I heard that Palin was mentioned as a possible VP candidate in March on FOX. I forget who made the mention. But the mention was made in a rather assertive insider fashion.
Plus the fact that he chose her after meeting her one time doesn't speak volumes by itself. Please tell me what politicial, especially a war veteran, wants to go into poltical combat with somone he or she doesn't know or is unfamiliar with? Does this smack of higher ups calling the shots?
"Country First?" Who says politics is about country first? Political speech is about country first, but political reality?
Thanks for allowing me to speak.:)
BenYou have a point about the official position but I am not as cynical when it comes to Obama. Obviously, I am supporting Obama and I have not hid that fact. I believe Obama when he says that he wants to change the discourse in Washington. Even though I did not support George Bush, I would have been happy if he were able to make a positive contribution to changing the discourse in Washington but he made it worse.
Yes, I read that Palin was mentioned but not seriously. They were focusing mostly on the frontrunners. In my humble opinon, Lieberman is the person that McCain really wanted. It is my feeling that Palin was seriously considered only after Hillary conceded the nomination.
The fact that he chose her after only meeting her once does speak volumes. This is for the slot of someone who can step into the Presidency. If not then he picked a candidate with an active ethics probe? What does that say about him. This is the first time in the history of the Republic that a VP candidate has an active, legal subpoena that she is refusing to comply with. That to me sounds more like the Bush-Cheney team. That is not the kind of start I want for the Vice President who is a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
Country First is what McCain keeps saying. He keeps telling everyone he is putting country first but as far as I can see he is putting his desire to win the presidency ahead of country.
Thank you again for your thoughtful comments.
Hi Susan, Great Hub! Thumbs up to you! McCain is grasping at straws at this point, the only people that will vote for him are the backwoods "Joe six packs" that can't pay their electric bill because it was more important to buy that 6 pack, than pay their bill, and they probably don't have t.v. either, and they are riding around on with their hoods on, still acting like it's the 60's!
Thanks so much for your comment. McCain is grasping at straws and I think being ill served by his campaign staff and Sarah Palin. Today he had to walk back the ugly hatred being spewed at Obama. It is getting very scary. The 60's had assasinations. I pray that McCain-Palin stop the hatred they have stirred up while they still can.
Thanks for this hub, Susan. I only now hav found it, hope it's not too late to add my comment. I like your level headed approach to this problem we all face. From my perspective, the McCain-Palin-Republican campaign has been another example of blatant irrationality playing to reptillian fear-based people in the grand tradition of Nixon, Bush, Cheney et al. When I hear and see them speak, I feel I am living in an insane world. I pin my hopes on Obama because he speaks and looks sane. He doesn't speak down to me, he doesn't offend me with McCain's type of repeated "Trust me's" Everyone I've ever known who fed me that line proved to be unstrustworthy. McCain, I believe is no different. I sense that Obama's aims come from a noble idealism combined with intelligent pragmatism. He is not a perfect being. Who is? I feel Obama will surround himself with sound advisors and experts. Yes, they will have egoic agendas to push. But I do believe they will have a basic desire to work in behalf of the people as a whole more so than just for the elite. McCain has for his counsel people who play dirty pool, forcing him to accept Palin for example. His campaign managers have been and still are lobbiest representing the money interests who see us humans as nothing more than resources from them to exploit. Why in the world would anyone but the elite want to see McCain and Palin in charge of our destiny? I could go on and on, but will stop here. Thanks for the chance to say my say.
Well Vitaeb, I couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you so much for your comments. McCain is a shell of his former self. In a political ploy, he thought he would steal Obama's thunder and talk to Joe Plumber, and again it backfired. His name is not Joe, he is not a plumber and he is not buying a business. Doesn't anyone on his team vet these things? To me this speaks volumes of how he will run his administation.
I am tired of listening to him tell people, I know how to solve this and I know how to find Bin Laden. In the interest of our national security, he should share that information.
Thanks again for your comments.
pgrundy says:
15 months ago
Great hub, Susan! The last thing McCain wants is to debate Obama on economics, which will be the topic tonight even though formally it is supposed to be foreign policy. McCain's war stories aren't going to cut it when the economy is tanking before our eyes. Not only that, he appears to have completely screwed up any progress that had been made on the rescue package, and I think he is doing this on purpose for political reasons. If the plan gets passed it will be over the loud objections of House Republicans and McCain can blame the Democrats for anything that goes wrong or if the plan doesn't work. If the plan doesn't pass and the stock market dives (today should be interesting to say the least since credit markets are now completely frozen and WAMU was seized last night) he can go to the debates and present his own alternate plan and play the hero.
I think he's lost a few screws. I think this ploy, Palin, and his own voting record will bite him in the butt. I hope so anyway.