Branding is important. This is a news story - not. Well Chris, which is he? You're all about process. Ideas - not so much. Think Chris, which is he?

Branding is important. boy, this is a news story - not. Well Chris, which is he? All about process. Ideas not so much. Think Chris, which is he?

Branding is important. boy, this is a news story - not. Well Chris, which is he? All about process. Ideas not so much. Think Chris, which is he?

Alex H. wrote:
Country BETRAYAL. Several independent investigators have alleged that AMNESTY-JOHN betrayed both his country and fellow solders while a POW. They concluded that
AMNESTY-JOHN provided military information to his captors in exchange for better food and medical treatment. AMNESTY-JOHN has made sure that such details of his military service will never be known since he used his senator-influence to have his military record PERMANENTLY SEALED FOREVER. Just what is AMNESTY-JOHN trying to hide?

How dare you. You can disagree with, criticize, or hate Senator McCain all you want, but to insinuate that he betrayed his country and fellow POWs is beneath contempt. You should be ashamed of yourself. First of all, what would be the best source of such evidence? That would be his fellow inmates, and not one of them has ever said anything disparaging of Senator McCain in that regard. Second, it is well known that McCain did sign a statement admitting to criminal acts after extensive torture, which was subsequently dismissed by his fellow POWs and the military because they all know that everyone eventually breaks, which is why torture is counterproductive. People will eventually say or do anything if it continues long enough. I doubt you would last 30 seconds, much less over 5 years. Most importantly, I find it hilarious that the people accusing McCain of betraying his country are the same people who displayed so much indignation and contempt for the Swift Boat idiots who went after Senator Kerry in 2004. You are no better than they are now. How does it feel to be considered a Swift Boater? That is how people see you now.

John McCain, in the past, had shown great courage and candor on issues.
No more.
Now, he panders to a group (by tellings lies about Queda and Iran, for example) of Americans who do not live in the real world, in his quest for the presidency. It's sad.
And quite frankly, he simply does not have the temprament to serve in the Oval Office. We cannot have him exploding at diginitaries, be they U.S. or foreign, as he has in the past.
This country's image has already been badly tarnished by Bush, but I'll say this much for him: He doesn't scream at people the way McCain does.
Sadly, Sen. McCain's time has passed. I only hope that enough voters will realize that this November.

This is one of the stark contrasts in a potential McCain Obama matchup. Biography vs. Aspiration.

I think thing will have to look bleaker for the American public to take a roll of the dice with the latter but they have elections for a good reason.

This is one of the stark contrasts in a potential McCain Obama matchup. Biography vs. Aspiration.

I think thing will have to look bleaker for the American public to take a roll of the dice with the latter but they have elections for a good reason.

MarkInAustin:

I was underwhelmed as well. The gas tax holiday is silly, though the guy next to me yesterday that spent $80 filling up his tank might not think so. But if oil prices continue to rise (almost $115/bbl), gas prices will surely keep going up and, gas tax or not, we'll be paying >$4 at the pump by the end of the summer.

I like the idea of simplifying the tax code though.

I caught some of McC on Hardball and he came across very well, I thought. He does well in these back-and-forth Q&A sessions.

Lest I be accused of being too hard on McC, I do agree with him that the top corporate tax rate should be reduced to a "competitive" level. He put it at 25%; I might put it at 29%. Even Charlie Rangel agrees on moving in this direction.

I have read McC's economic address now and I am underwhelmed.

The HOME plan appears to give government the right to rewrite contractual agreements between lenders and borrowers.

The GAS TAX HOLIDAY is the wrong message - the government subsidized INCREASE in the demand for fuel.

All three candidates are so flawed on economics because they are trying to get votes. Every four years... .

Actually, Lylepink ordained the results, when he said that Hillary would win Pennsylvania by 6%. I pointed out that if he's right, Hillary will lose the nomination, because she needs to win a lot of delegates in Pennsylvania if she's going to have any chance to win. If you have a problem with this assessment, take it up with Lylepink; he's the one who thinks your candidate will barely win.

So, how many delegates do you think Hillary will win in PA next week? And how do you think she can possibly win the nomination, considering how far behind she is in delegates? Show your work.

blarg who cares what numbers that you and Lylipink throw up. OK listen and concentrate. Delegate votes are calculated by formulas based upon which candidate wins a Congressional District, kapish? And superdelegates as I certainly hoped you would have comprehended by now are not bound by your or your campaign's dictate and instructions. Sorry its so hard to communicate with another Obama supporter who always has All of the answers and has a devine line to the minds of all voters and delegates. Hear that Pennsylvanians, W. Va, Indianans, Kys don't bother to vote next week because the Obama campaign and his supporters have already ordained the results. Chutzpah.

Leichtman, pay attention. I know it's hard for you to focus on anything except your all-consuming love of Hillary Clinton, but please try. Lylepink said that he expects Hillary to win Pennsylvania by 6%. That means Hillary will get 53% of the vote to Obama's 47%. Pennsylvania has 158 votes. 53% of 158 is 84. I'm capable of multiplying two numbers. Are you? Don't worry; you don't need to answer that; I already know.

blarg now knows not only the %s in Pa but the delegate breakdown. And I presume blarg you can also tell with precision exactly how the superdelegates will be voting. What chutzpah. You could certainly save your campaign hundreds of thousands in polling costs. Last week several of your supporters were also predicting an Obama win in Pa, have you now changed that projection as well?

Lylepink: You think Hillary's going to win Pennsylvania by about 6%. That means she'll probably get around 84 delegates to Obama's 74, a gain of 10.

Right now, Hillary is behind by 135 delegates. If she only gains 10 in Pennsylvania, how do you expect her to win the nomination? Are you finally admitting that Hillary is going to lose?

"McCain's appeal to voters is McCain; if you watched his come-from-behind primary victory in the GOP primaries, the messaging was almost entirely devoid of issues."

Very sloppy Chris. What campaign were you watching? The Republican primary campaign was very substantive -- far more substantive than the ongoing Democratic one. Remember immigration? The war? Taxes?

Part of McCain's appeal is based on his compelling personal story but only so far as that helps people understand who he really is. A much larger part is his willingness to spit in the administration's eye when he felt it was the right thing to do.

Trying to define McCain as a Bush clone is really a stretch. For almost three years McCain was the only effective opposition Bush's war policies. Period. Remember the torture ammendment? His constant criticism of Rumsfeld? And don't forget his long-running campaign against "borrow and spend" Republicans.

Both HRC and Obama have a case to make as to why they'd be a better president than McCain. But "He's really George Bush" isn't it.

About an hour ago I spoke with a friend about the recent Polls and we agreed there must be quite a bit of "Manipulating" going on by the way they are being conducted and reported as was found a couple weeks ago by over sampling of certain groups in order to get the results they wanted. The recent ones in Pa. are a good example, showing a 15% difference with a MOE of 4 and 5%. I think the actual result will have Hillary winning by about 6% despite the high number of changed Registration in order to stop Hillary.

"Straight Talker or Bush Clone?"

Surely there are more than two options!

Loose Cannon
Renegade
Bush Hugger
The Old Man
Grumps
The Hunchback of Goldwaterville

Clinton and Obama's gaffs? Get real! These people stood before audiences, on national television, and said they were going to modify NAFTA and other free trade agreements. Then, both have turned around and, to different audiences, stated that they would do no such thing, that only small town hicks would oppose free trade. Both claim this deep devotion to God and turn around and, in front of a different audience, disclaim that and denigrate small twon hicks as bitter and clinging to religion out of some misplaced sense of comfort. These, like similar statesments about the Second Amendment, Iraq, etc. are nothing more than a pack of lies. Now, John McCain usually means what he says. If he changes his mind on something, he tells you. I, for one, am sick and tired of being swindled, lied to, and taken for a fool. I will hold my nose, alog with most of America, and vote for the straight talk - McCain '08!

Words of Wisdom

Should Chris ignore the real problems in our country in exchange for gaffs by Obama or Clinton? Its about time we talk about something else. Obamas remarks are only on every news outlet all day for the last 4 days. You would think he just ordered an attack on Iran. Our country is in real trouble and I want to know who is going to do something to change the course? Im tired of the media talking about Obama's pastor, Hillary's exaggerated stories or McCain's military history. I want to know who will work for peace, help balance a budget, get some control of gas and energy prices, make things affordable so I don't have to be a millionaire just to live happily in my own country. If you want the media spend the next month dwelling on the lastest gaff of the candidates how does that actually help us as a country chose a leader that will make a difference and bring about needed change? Obama just pointed out what the entire GOP already knows and exploits. Poor working class americans beliefs in their rights to guns and belief in GOD which are used to cover up for real problems. Its sad because when Ferraro made her comments Obama was accused of exploiting the situation for even having a response. Now he make a somewhat stereotypical remark regarding social economic class and you want it to remain an open ended issue that comes before what IS important. When the election is over will we care about Obama's remarks or the problems our country faces?

MarkInAustin:

"WoW" can't be svreader -- too much punctuation.

It's true, both D's are pandering to the unions on trade. I'll probably be labeled a "cultist" for saying it, but I think BHO's pander is more nuanced. I guess I feel like he's emphasizing certain aspects on trade agreements to satisfy a powerful constituency, but at heart, he's more of a free trader. HRC's pander feels more like politics -- she's doing it to satisfy a powerful constituency, but she'd say most anything to get their backing.

As bsimon would say, I'm probably projecting my personal view of their candidacies onto my interpretation of their stances on trade.

HRC's new ad had a bunch of people in front of a bunch of rowhouses saying they were outraged by BHO's "bitter" remark. First off, these were clearly people in the city and not the small-town people BHO was talking about. Secondly, as a poster on a different thread pointed out, none of them had a distinctive PA accent (western or eastern). Makes me think that they were actors.

McSame is no more a straight talker than he is a moderate. He's gotten a free ride from the media, being called a "maverick" for occasionally doing the Right Thing on campaign finance reform or torture (at least, he used to). Once people actually look at his positions they'll see somebody who's like Bush but even worse.

Why do you keep calling this man "McCain?" I thought his name is John McBush? Please clarify!

"Immigration, campaign finance reform, the strategy in Iraq: all areas where John McCain has shown himself to be a maverick."

A maverick? His policy in Iraq is EXACTLY the same as Bush's' -- stay forever.

He was into amnesty for illegals because his lobbyists/corporate buddies wanted it for cheap labor.

He has broken his own finance reform law. I guess that's maverick, but sure not in a good way.

ALEX H. said

"The "character" of AMNESTY-JOHN can be summed up in one word: BETRAYAL."

So offensive, he wasnt betraying the United States when he refused to be released from a POW camp, an option that the Viet Cong offered him as the son of a navy admiral. Instead he refused, in order to help the morale of his comrades who were less fortunate and because he didnt want to give the Viet Cong a PR victory. The price he paid: 6 years as a POW, 2 in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT.

We need to know Obama's true feelings on trade. When Obama said people cling to their guns and religion as well as being anti-immigrant and anti-trade. This last part anti-trade deserves some attention and Obama should be questioned. He has promoted himself as anti-trade to people in Ohio, North Carolina and PA in his speeches. Yet, when he is talking behind closed doors in San Fran he criticizes people in PA for being anti-trade. Obama knew what he was saying, so when he critizes someone for being anti-trade it means he is pro-trade.

Thats a great point, someone made that same point in the NY Times (of all places) just yesterday

Repugs are NOT benefiting from the Democratic struggle to nominate a competent candidate who isn't a shallow, arrogant, platitude-spouting, plagiarizing gas-bag with the mantra "God Da'mn America". Rather, the Repugs are currently benefiting from the fact that most voters do not actually understand AMNESTY-JOHN.

The "character" of AMNESTY-JOHN can be summed up in one word: BETRAYAL.

1. Wife BETRAYAL. When his wife was injured in an auto accident resulting in a severe limp, AMNESTY-JOHN didn't hesitate to divorce her to marry-up into money. (His current wife is a multi-millionaire beer distributor who has refused to provide a single penny of her money to the AMNESTY-JOHN campaign, but her distribution warehouses reportedly employ dozens of illegals!)

2. Constituent BETRAYAL. AMNESTY-JOHN betrayed his constituents on many, many issues. Most notable is his total support for providing citizenship to illegal immigrants - an issue opposed by more than 70% of his constituents.

3. Party BETRAYAL. AMNESTY-JOHN is one of the few "Republicans" most likely to vote against or oppose the interests of his party. He's done it on taxes, spending, appointments, policy matters, social issues and on and on and on.

4. Country BETRAYAL. Several independent investigators have alleged that AMNESTY-JOHN betrayed both his country and fellow solders while a POW. They concluded that AMNESTY-JOHN provided military information to his captors in exchange for better food and medical treatment. AMNESTY-JOHN has made sure that such details of his military service will never be known since he used his senator-influence to have his military record PERMANENTLY SEALED FOREVER. Just what is AMNESTY-JOHN trying to hide?

If AMNESTY-JOHN is elected, the citizens of American will suffer intense "buyer's remorse" once he sets out on his own agenda - instead of the one American citizens want. Fortunately, once the true, disgusting character of AMNESTY-JOHN is known to the voters, they will run from this profane, senile, ill-tempered, war monger faster than you can say "IMPEACH DICKNBUSH".

The only clone in this race is the John Kerry clone, Barack Obama. Seriously, the only difference between the two is the color of their skin.

Obama will lose much the same way Kerry did in '04. He'll get solid support from the base, but lose the independents 60-40, and lose the national popular vote by 3 or 4 percentage points.

Immigration, campaign finance reform, the strategy in Iraq: all areas where John McCain has shown himself to be a maverick.

Obama was for campaign finance reform before he was against it, back when he thought it would help his image and win some votes.

Seriously can any Dem wing-nut give me one issue where the Kerry Clone Barack Obama differs with John Kerry?

Repugs are NOT benefiting from the Democratic struggle to nominate a competent candidate who isn't a shallow, arrogant, platitude-spouting, plagiarizing gas-bag with the mantra "God Da'mn America". Rather, the Repugs are currently benefiting from the fact that most voters do not actually understand AMNESTY-JOHN.

The "character" of AMNESTY-JOHN can be summed up in one word: BETRAYAL.

1. Wife BETRAYAL. When his wife was injured in an auto accident resulting in a severe limp, AMNESTY-JOHN didn't hesitate to divorce her to marry-up into money. (His current wife is a multi-millionaire beer distributor who has refused to provide a single penny of her money to the AMNESTY-JOHN campaign, but her distribution warehouses reportedly employ dozens of illegals!)

2. Constituent BETRAYAL. AMNESTY-JOHN betrayed his constituents on many, many issues. Most notable is his total support for providing citizenship to illegal immigrants - an issue opposed by more than 70% of his constituents.

3. Party BETRAYAL. AMNESTY-JOHN is one of the few "Republicans" most likely to vote against or oppose the interests of his party. He's done it on taxes, spending, appointments, policy matters, social issues and on and on and on.

4. Country BETRAYAL. Several independent investigators have alleged that AMNESTY-JOHN betrayed both his country and fellow solders while a POW. They concluded that AMNESTY-JOHN provided military information to his captors in exchange for better food and medical treatment. AMNESTY-JOHN has made sure that such details of his military service will never be known since he used his senator-influence to have his military record PERMANENTLY SEALED FOREVER. Just what is AMNESTY-JOHN trying to hide?

If AMNESTY-JOHN is elected, the citizens of American will suffer intense "buyer's remorse" once he sets out on his own agenda - instead of the one American citizens want. Fortunately, once the true, disgusting character of AMNESTY-JOHN is known to the voters, they will run from this profane, senile, ill-tempered, war monger faster than you can say "IMPEACH DICKNBUSH".

mnteng, Whatever HRC is doing, it satisfies "Words of Wisdom", who in the post immediately above yours, at 2:20P, chastised CC for not posting his eighth consecutive thread about BHO's faux pas. I suppose we will not be able to be certain that "WoW" is "svreader" but that uncertainty is one I can live with.

HRC appears to be pandering to labor unions on trade, as does BHO. But you are there. Is there a difference in their "panders"?

Gotta go, but I look forward to your insights and will check in later.

Dumb & Dumber is the only way to see Bush and McCain.

Incredibly, McCain is actually dumber than W! McCain has said nothing about Iraq, the economy, Afganistan, Pakistan or al-Qaeda that makes any more sense than what W has said.

How could the Repubs choose someone with less intelligence than W?

McCain: Straight Talker or Bush Clone?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=2112

.

MarkInAustin:

I'm with you. All this rhetoric and silliness is starting to get to me too.

HRC is up with a new ad here in PA with a bunch of people denouncing BHO for his "bitter" remark. The rich kid running for the R nomination to replace our Rep. is continuing on his anti-immigration ads (how big a problem can it be in a CD with 96% white people?).

McC's pandering to the right is as troublesome for me as BHO's pandering to the left. Can't quite figure out who HRC's pandering to ...

Chris:

What are you doing now? Attempting to take the subject off of Obama's stupid remarks by rehashing DNC talking points????

Are you seriously going to try this???

Are you that desperate to change the subject?????

Why don't you write about the impact of the Pope's trip on Pennsylvania Catholics ??

Or how about the Catholic colleges in Pennsylvania

DNC talking points???? !!!????

Seriously shame on you Chris.

Cutting the gasoline tax is no way to encourage conservation. The current price of a barrel of oil will make the tax holiday seem miniscule by Labor Day. Better to bite the bitter pill and drive less.

"Straight Talker or Bush Clone?"

Calling him a Bush Clone is a touch on the hyperbolic side, but McCain no longer wears the mantle of 'straight talker' either. This recent proposal for a 'gas tax holiday' over the summer is a horrible idea that smacks of appeasing voters with an unaffordable handout that sticks future taxpayers with feel-good policies today. Much like the irresponsible stimulus package, it amounts to continuing to kick the can down the road, which is closer to Bush Clone than McCain's former reputation as Straight Talker.

When it counted, McCain failed.
After the Bushies smeared him in a Southern State primary for allegedly fathering a mixed race child, he embraced him for the next 8 years.
After correctly calling the extreme right-wing Christian Fundamentalists dangerous fear-mongers and unAmerican cads, he embraces them for political expediency.
And worst of all, when the Bush/neocon/Crime family blatantly bullied the House and Senate with exaggerated claims of imminent danger, claims that many Senators knew full well were totally bogus, His judgment failed and he support the idiot chimp and chief.

When it counted, he quit the fight.
Sorry, my friend, you can stay in the Senate but you're not qualified to be commander in chief.

John McCain is great American. A war hero. He used to be a pragmatic politician.

But the questions the undecided voters must ask themselves are:

1) What kind of selections do you think McCain will make to the Court? Centrist? No. Far right wing choices.

2) What do you think additional tax cuts will do to the US budget deficit? Will deeper tax cuts help the US get out of debt?

3) With the US sinking even deeper into debt, how much stronger will China grow by continuing to loan the US billions?

4) What will "staying the course" in Iraq and continuing the occupation do to the American Economy? We are currently sinking about $10,000,000,000 PER MONTH into Iraq. How long can we sustain this before we seriously damage our Economy?

5) With staying in Iraq for decades (or a century) how does this hinder our efforts to fight the REAL Enemy (which is Islamic Extremism and the Real Enemy is not in Iraq but rather in Pakistan and Afghanistan and the Sudan and is financed by Saudi Arabia)?

Exactly what are the ramifications of continuing the Iraq catastrophe? What does it do to us "geo-politically" (i.e., with our allies). Does it strengthen Iran? Does it strengthen recruitment efforts for al-Qaeda? And be clear on this -- McCain wants to continue it. He does not see it as the horrific Strategic Error is it.

So... ask yourself these questions before considering a vote for McCain. I have no issue with McCain "the man". He is an honorable American.

But his views are horribly misguided. And yes... he would be 4 more years of Bush -- only worse.

After reading Chris Cilliza pandering to Republicans for 7 days straight, I just sent a check to Obama.

It's not a question of being 'pro' or 'anti' trade. it's about the nature of the agreements. Doesn't anyone have the maturity to talk with a little sophistication and nuance anymore?

We need to know Obama's true feelings on trade. When Obama said people cling to their guns and religion as well as being anti-immigrant and anti-trade. This last part anti-trade deserves some attention and Obama should be questioned. He has promoted himself as anti-trade to people in Ohio, North Carolina and PA in his speeches. Yet, when he is talking behind closed doors in San Fran he criticizes people in PA for being anti-trade. Obama knew what he was saying, so when he critizes someone for being anti-trade it means he is pro-trade.

Early in this political season, I concluded that McC, JB, and Dodd were the three candidates with the strongest history of working across the aisle, and the most likely to raise the level of discourse to respectable debate. I gradually came to prefer JB and then McC over Dodd, but I did not discount Dodd. The Rs gave me McC. That was good.

The Ds gave me "qualified" candidates, but sacrificed their best in the process. Between the remaining Ds, I had more hope for BHO. He preaches post-partisanship and has the trip to Moscow and resulting bill with Lugar and the bill to post info in the net with Coburn. We know he is not averse to cooperation with Rs. There just is not much history there.

HRC certainly has proven to be tough and a fighter, as well as smart but disorganized. Has she given me cause to think she will compromise on her positions and at least get us to a bipartisan foreign policy? Not so much. Lindsay Graham has praised her work in the Senate, but there is not much history there, either, and her political work as First Lady was of the hyperpartisan school.

So as they all pander now, and make huge mistakes or tell lies [e.g.; McC: Iran=AQI, Petraeus decides Afghanistan; HRC: sniper in Bosnia, Colombia payroll; BHO: bitter = religion+guns, Rev. Wright is my crazy uncle] I have to struggle to remember who they were. I now rank them McC, BHO, HRC, but I do so from my long term memory. If I relied on my short term memory I would lose a bit of my mind every day I read this stuff.

I suggested in jest to bsimon that he tune out everything until the GE nominees were known. Might be a serious option for me, now.

McCain is GWB, just 10 years older. There's really not a dime's worth of difference between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.

"Given the extended state of the Democratic primary process, the perception battle is for now focused on solely on presumptive GOP nominee John McCain."

I completely disagree. The perception battleground right now is centered around Obama. Up until now, most of America really didn't know who he was - just an "up and coming" fresh-face. The most we knew was that he was that he was for 'change', for a positive perspective, and that he was kicking Hillary's tail.

Most people already have an idea and perception of who both Hillary and McCain are. We've all seen and heard about both of them for the past decade or two. The media and general public is fixated on the horse race and Obama's vetting. McCain's efforts at grabbing attention are completely eclipsed.

The last few weeks have been devastating to Obama because of this crystalizing perspective of him. Wright, bitter-gate, Million-Man March, faint Farrakhan links, etc. all frame him into something he may or may not be, but that is the PERCEPTION being formed.

Nice job fawning, CC. What do McCain's boots taste like, anyway?

BUSH CLONE -- ONLY WORSE.

He is, like Bush, determined to destroy the middle class... he will stop the health care deduction so employers will stop offering health care -- then you will have to buy it yourself. God help you if you aren't young and healthy!

'The Democrats wouldn't allow insurers to charge lower rates for young workers who cost far less than older Americans. McCain favors allowing insurers to charge rates based on actual cost.'

It's EUGENICS in action. The Nazis themselves couldn't have thought of a better way to get rid of the sick, poor, disabled and elderly.

Brilliant! It's the audacity of market-driven murder.

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