McCain booed after trying to calm anti-Obama crowd

It is to laugh, watching McCain/Palin behave as animals being hunted.  Watching their snarling, foamimg, lipsticked mouths barking in fear. As they are hunted by a giant electoral map, being carried by Americans disgusted by their vulgar tactics.

I just can't decide where to display my soon to be stuffed and mounted stolen McCain/Palin yard sign.

Just read on another blog that the news is posting that at one of McCain's rallies today he is "saying Obama is a good man", sounds like he is trying to back track the last past few days but too late the damage is done.

Hey Barack, if he kisses you on the cheek, in a garden at dusk...run!!!

McCain needs to muzzle that @!$%#. Palin.

He won't be able to reign in his supporters. He and Palin have driven them to a frenzy with their talk of Obama associating with terrorists, and now their anger will not be quelled until they taste blood.

The Pubs are just working themselves up to an old-fashioned kristallnacht.

These supporters of McCain, are truly the most uneducated of the american population. I just heard a woman (she looked like the crazy cat lady from the Simpsons) telling john McCain Obama was an Arab. McCain even shook his head in disbelief, and took the microphone from this wacko before she could utter another idiotic grunt.

just saw the video , and hoping some one could find it and post it. 

wow...sometimes i wish i could just push a red button and all the stupid people in the world would just explode.

USA1:

What did you expect when McCain's attack dog, Palin, and their various supporters that introduce them at these rallies (including that cop in uniform in Florida), keep repeating Obama's middle name, and claiming he is "palling around with terrorists"?

There were already issues before because his last name sounded too much like "Osama" - and that is rearing it's head again with "misprinted" absentee ballots that actually say "Barack Osama".   When that played itself out, they switched to his middle name. 

McCain and his little army of attack dogs have incited this kind of hate all over the country - and no amount of "tamping" now is going to erase the fact that they have fed the flames of racial hatred.    I don't know what the hell he was thinking - or IF he was thinking - but McCain has lost far more than an election with these tactics.

He has lost his honor. 

He didn't lose his honor. He traded it in exchange for the nomination.

Once you've brought such a crowd to a fever pitch like that as Sarah has also done in other rallies, it would take John Wayne, Charlton Heston, and Ronald Reagan all rolled into one to get thru to them, and brother, (Sen. McCain) you ain't neither. Do you think with this type of viciousness in the air, some fools won't try what their shouting (kill him or off with his head) or are conspiring right now?

Some woman at a McCain Rally today (??) called Obama an Arab.

Said she's voting for McCain cause she doesn't trust Obama because he's and A-rab.

I just went into shock as McCain took the mic away and said over and over Obama is not. is not. no. he is not. He's a good man etc etc

I think McCain looks his natural self when he gets all flummoxed with "uh oh ugh uhhh oh" you can even see the flip-flop gears turning.

I am Jeremiah Johnson and I was willing to give the Senator from Arizona, John McCain, and his running mate, The Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin the benefit of the doubt because I just refused to believe a Presidential Candidate and his running mate could be involved in any untoward affairs and I was wrong. His Home Town Meetings are the Rallying Points for his brand of 1930's Reichstag's Politicking especially built for the 21st century.

Maureen

 I lost all respect for this incarnation of McCain, Palin I never had any respect for, she is more Ego than substance

Interesting that Palin brings out the "inner sociopath" of many in the crowd.  Sounds like they found their idol of worship. 

I'm not surprised many on the right are responding in this fashion.  Very few are well read, and a great majority of them are reactionary extremists.  For this alone, having a Palin/McCain presidency would be profoundly detrimental to this country,

Pandora's Box has now been opened, they know this red hot fire has been fanned enough to last until election day. That will be the undercurrent from now on. They can ostentatiously pull back now and make a show of being moderate.

Notice how McCain has to lecture these people like children, showing they cannot truly control this now. (Whispering through cupped hands): even if they really wanted to.

Too little too late McCain! You spew hate from your platform and encouraged your supporters to call Obama a terrorist; you use Palin to get all the racists excited and have them come out to your rallies and call for the death or beheading of a black man.. and then all of a sudden you want to change your tune and actually expect them to make a turn around and say "you know he's right, we have to be respectful.. And that Obama guy isn't such a bad man after all." Well it AIN'T GUNNA HAPPEN McCain! This stopped being about you when you aproved their hatred as an acceptable response to your opponent. You validated their hatred and fears, and now if you attempt to take away that validity they'll turn on you too because it's not about you.. it's about them being able to hold onto their decades-old fears and prejudices. They're NOT interested in playing nice.. they just want to beat up somebody. (As is evidenced by the way they attacked that black reporter at one of Palin's rallies and told him to sit down boy!')

This is becoming very sad to watch, because I honestly don't think McCain is a racist. He is a lot of very bad things, but I never believed him for a racist.. not a true one at least. I do think however, that he would use racism in a heartbeat if he thought it would help him win the white house. In fact, I'm sure the ONLY reason for this change of heart is because it isn't working. And therein lies his downfall.. the majority of people in America don't want this kind of reckless division. The past is already shamefull and people want a better more unified future.. somewhere where hate is not accepted as passion, and violence is not an acceptable means of supporting your party. Shame on you Mc/Palin for attempting to use hate to boost your poll numbers. What ever happened to country first?

If anything happens to Barack, it's on McCain and Palin's heads.

Some of us left wingers aren't too happy either.

Pat1987 while a bit overly impassioned I think your onto something there, I don't think this genie is going back in the bottle so easily.

Exactly R.D. Snyder...

Also, what McCain camp was doing was illegal and he and his camp would have been succeptable to being sued for slander, libel and defamation of character.

Reagan types are the ones that were behind  arming and using the Taliban to fight Russia.

Please don't ruin John Wayne's and Hestons name. By Putting them into the same line up  with that moron Reagan.

With all due respect there were several stories on how John McCain tried to curtail the Obama haters but could not . McCain was trying to do the right thing if you saw the CNN newsclip. The people were just livid. He did not try to encourage any negativity from the clip I saw

McCain even shook his head in disbelief, and took the microphone from this wacko before she could utter another idiotic grunt.

Wow, McCain does still have a sense of decency.  He needs to continue to stop those very unfair, lies about Obama.  I'm sure it took a lot of guts in the face of all those unreasonable people.  This is good news - hopefully his subordinates got "the memo". 

Looks like John PTSD McBush and Sarah The Vlad Impalin have woken up the bigots and they have lost all control over the inbred monsters that they have created.

He was liable to be sued....  where was his sence of decency when he was spewing the attack?

look up slander, libel and defamation of character. He HAD to quiet the crowd.

I had a great deal of respect for John McCain, once upon a time. That part of me still wants to believe that he was conflicted about this line of attack, and that he now sees the monster he and his twisted little acolyte have released, and is trying to recork the lamp... But after so many lies, I'm not sure I can believe it. Likely he's now trying to play "noble" knowing full well it's like throwing a glass of water on a bonfire... another cynical ploy, that's all <sigh>

One Party - I'd been wondering about lawsuits, but it seems like this just went on and on without consequence during the primaries and now the general election.  Whether for conscience, lawsuits, concern for candidate safety, or an ineffective attack-- either way, I hope McCain gets to slam the door shut on this behavior.

Oh come now lawdoc!  McCain may not have anticipated the magnitude of the crowd's ferocity, but he knew his audience well enough to know that by allowing the insinuations that Senator Obama was linked with terrorism to go unchecked, that he was feeding the prejudices and fears that were already present in many of these people.  These are the same people who beat and degraded Americans of Middle Eastern and Indian decent in the months that followed 9/11.  I think what he miscalculated was how many of those kind of people are out there.  There are many decent and intelligent conservatives who are being repelled by this den of jackals he has worked into a frenzy.  His agenda to pander to this crowd was calculated, though possible not by him...  I believe he was advised, by the same people who got Bush elected, that this was his only chance at winning at this late stage in the election.  He tried to make Obama look too risky and overshot, and now he doesn't know how to reign in the fringe element of his party base.

I've been afraid of this since this spring when I attended an Obama rally.  He leaves you with a sense that anything is possible and that the future will be better.  For a mixed race person to be able to impart this type of message is unacceptable for many who refuse to put their racial prejudices aside because they feel they will be diminished.  I also think most of these people aren't aware that is the reason why they feel the way they do.  I am proud to say that my kids (high school) are truly color blind.

I don't think that McCain was ever really in control of his own campaign. I don't think he even knows who he is anymore. He had to reverse many of his previous stances to gain the nomination. Then once he had the nomination the Republican party wouldn't let him choose his own VP pick. Since the Palin pick his campaign has been a series of choppy shifts from one tactic to another with no semblance of strategy. His campaign shifted to the Ayers/Acorn/etc tactic in desperation. My guess is that his advisors had to twist his arm to a degree to get him to go ugly like that. Then when he had to look Obama in the eye last Thursday he couldn't talk about Ayers/etc. When he saw the hatred spewing from his audience with increased regularity he couldn't bear to look at it and hear it anymore. He's not a racist, but he approved a racist, divisive approach to this campaign. Those embers have been burning throughout America's history. It doesn't take much to stoke those flames. I'm glad that he stood up to begin to dampen them today.

Maureen may be right above. McCain may have lost his honor in the past week. But I'm hoping that he at least tries to regain some sense of dignity before this thing is over. Bush and Cheney will be remembered by their leadership through use of fear and division. I believe that there's still time for McCain to avoid sharing their legacy.

@1.17 Pat1987 - I don't know if you'll see this way down here, but I'm adding you as a favorite quote.  Great statement.

The past is already shamefull and people want a better more unified future.. somewhere where hate is not accepted as passion, and violence is not an acceptable means of supporting your party. Shame on you Mc/Palin for attempting to use hate to boost your poll numbers. What ever happened to country first?

Bec30,  believe it or not its true.  McCain had the intent to label Obama as a terrorist. I'm not talking just name calling. You also have to understand McCain stirred up masses of people who started spewing hatred and premedidated murdersous intent. A crowf full of gun toting, Don Cheney hunting, red necks yelling "kill him".It's not far fetched, looing at the long and unforgotten history of this country. Also, believe it or not, McCain links to White Supremist also would have added to the legal action taken.The fact is what McCain and Palin did was illegal. So I'm not surprised he had it set up for a woman to say "I believe he's an Arab".  C'mon, you mean that's her intelligent issue? That was put there for McCain to denounce the claims he made in order to avoid a lawsuit.Maybe the propaganda fools some people. But believe me, he stepped over the line and only came up with the new found remorse because I believe his butt was told of the legalities involved.To question Obama's judgemtn was o.k. As was linking him to knowing Ayers was a rebel in his past. But to infer and state his is in association with terrorist or is a terrorist himself would have been a big fat lawsuit.I thin that's what made him remorse because he started to see how low he was going and that he was blinded by his ambition.

"I don't trust Obama," a woman said. "I have read about him. He's an Arab."

Is this what America has become? *shakes head*

Well, John, I think 72 is a good time to retire.  Play some golf, take in some swimming and sunshine in one of your seven (or is it eight) homes and just stop trying to make Reaganomics work in the face of the second Great Depression.  Oh, and by the way, rabid attack dogs should be put down.

Kayjay:
Yes, unfortunately, this is what America has become.  But it didn't start with McCain.

It started with Bush claiming "either you're for us, or you're against us". 

Funny thing is, it turned out that the one who was most against US - the American people - was Bush himself. 

The politics of division, fear mongering, and hate have been with us for far too long.

It IS time for change. It is time for HOPE and UNITY. It is time for Obama!

McCain is enjoying the fruits of his labor. He mentioned to the lady Obama is not and Arab and is a good family man that he happens to disagree with. Another man stood up and said we are afraid of Obama becoming president. He told the man That Obama was a good man and he need not be afraid if Obama was elected to the Presidency. The viseo is probably all over the net by now

Now here is the problem. If he believes this he would pull those ads that worked these people up into this frenzy in the first place. his ads along with Palins speeches made these people like this. He was booed as he tried to tell them not to be afraid of Obama. His crowd in effect was turning on him because he had sewed the seed of distrust and they believe what his people told them now they are ready to turn on him. Its like throwing a boomerang and being surprised when it hits you in the forehead.

The man should have stuck to his original issue orientated campaign. He has secured the nuts long ago and this divert to name calling and innuendo only placates the really wierd who love that sort of things and continue to ask when are you going to take the gloves off.

Since this first started Obama has risen in the polls and McCain has sunk.

I guess McCain is learning real fast that it's kinda hard to call off the Lynching Mob after you've riled them up with murderous Hate speech & lies.

I think it says loads about McCain supporters for them to boo him when he's just trying to pull his campaign out of the mud he and Palin put it in.  Considering much of his base is "pro life" the shouting of threats to Obama's person is especially heinous.

Is it too much to ask that a campaign stick to the issues and that people be respectful of one another?

I guess McCain is learning real fast that it's kinda hard to call off the Lynching Mob after you've riled them up with murderous Hate speech & lies.

This is the history of the right since Nixon it's a "Let's see how far we can push this!" decision and followed almost immediately by a " Whoa!  We've pushed way too far!  What are we oing to do now? " reaction.

But this new twist, this addition of abject hatred, is something new altogether and is a direct result of the melding of church and state that has been going on over these last 8 years.  What we're seeing is the hatred of people who really believe there's a devil and have been made to think Islam is it and, through Islam, Obama is the door.  Poor ignorant bastards have no clue that they - these so called Palin "Christian" types - are the evil they fear so much.

God help us if the 'Pubs steal the election again this time.

Interestingly, McCain and Palin got what they wanted and now John McCain finds himself in the uncomfortable position of having to disavow the very vitriol that he(and his advisors) have tried so hard to incite.

This is yet another, and perhaps final, sign of John McCain's collapsing campaign.

If there was any doubt that John McCain's campaign was out of control it had to be when a McCain supporter yelled 'kill him' in reference to Senator Obama.

This is beyond civil. If America wants to be respected in the international community it needs to reign in this kind of behavior.

For John McCain to say 'country first' then engage in this kind of character assasination is the thing of banana republics! McCain needs to reign in America's little darling, Sarah Palin, who is doing most of the attacking if he wants to be taken seriously.

Way to go evanglical conservatives, showing your true colors!

all4peace:

Hey Barack, if he kisses you on the cheek, in a garden at dusk...run!!!

- Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:40 PM EDT 

That just says it all doesn't it. He and Palin stoke up the fire and watches it burn, and then as things in their closet starts falling out, he tries to dial it down.... or is he???

You can not spit on a fire and expect to exhaust it.

Is he waiting for something to happen???  Hoping/wanting????

So what is  this sudden words of kindness?

• an epiphany of reason???
• fear of what he / she created???
• or a "kiss in the garden at dusk???

One Party,

You're preaching to the choir here.  McCain's campaign is sinking lower and lower in the mire of dirty politics.  The sad thing is... he wasn't always so dishonorable.  In 2000 (before Bush mopped the floor with him) he really was a maverick... he really did think for himself.  But he has sold his integrity and even his very soul to get the republican nomination.  Then it got worse when the same people who got Bush elected were set to work on McCain's campaign.  These people regularly utilize to hatred, prejudice, and fear mongering to amass votes.  The McCain campaign has even gone so far as to commit voter fraud.  Everyone needs to pass this along to whomever they meet.  The McCain campaign is targeting Obama supporters who have recently moved by sending them unsolicited absentee ballots.  These ballots are sent to the current address, but the return address is sent to their previous county clerks office.  Do not use these ballots, or your vote won't count!  The incident was first reported in Wisconsin to a liberal radio show host, and since then similar cases have been reported throughout Wisconsin, North Carolina, Florida, and Pennsylvania.  If you or someone you know receives one of these unsolicited ballots and you/they have donated to Obama's campaign, report the incident immediately to the local media and your states democratic office, and again... do not use it!  I believe that McCain was once an honorable man, and it saddens me to see him stoop to this level... but he must be stopped!  We can't have another four years of Bush tactics, I truely believe it would be the undoing of our country and our people.

Indeed this situation is turning ugly with many of the darker with more shameful aspects of the Republican party rearing it's nasty head every day.  We simply cannot have an individual such as Palin, a person who belongs to groups who have obvious racist tendencies to be in the White House.
McCain on the other hand is a good man who unfortunately has sold himself to the more radical aspects of the conservative right.  The campaign is falling apart and both Republican and Democrat alike are getting a first hand view of how racist and prejudice many in this nation can become when a person like Palin gets anywhere near the White House.  Shameful, purely shameful.
Shame on John McCain, and shame on the Republican party who condone the disgusting racist and prejudice views of Sarah Palin and her extremist supporters.

Hence the new party the Republicans are allowing to be born: The Racistlucan Party!

Right, And they have a finger on the pulse of every backwater trailer park in the country". McLiar/DiarrheaMouth, dumbing down America one rally at a time.

It's high time, but a day late and a dollar short. One lady said Obama was an "Arab." I currently live in Utah and the fear about Obama is rampant. There's a saying that if you can't get cooperation with love, then use fear. This is the Republican strategy time and again, whether it's about terrorists or a Democrat candidate. Fear, fear, fear. As if there aren't enough things to really be in fear of right now--who wants to instill fear, or live in fear of the propaganda they hear? This is REALLY disgusting and very sad.

TruePatriot,

There's a saying that if you can't get cooperation with love, then use fear.

That's an interesting saying and I have a feeling that, for those who follow it, there was never any love there to begin with.   And I agree with you - I've been seeing the fear card being played since the 2000 election...I'm incredibly fatigued with it.

"The only thing to fear. Is fear itself."

You notice that doesn't ring true with "love."

The only thing that I'm concerned about is that with these crowds worked up as well as they are, the fact that Bush has had the office for 8 years and their propensity for hiring only those they feel are ideologically pure...

Pleasetell me that Obama isn't counting on just the Secret Service or whatever other Federal officers that are supposed to protect the nominees to watch his back. Because 1) you know an attempt is going to happen now (and McCain and Palin should both swing for it as well- since they've instigated it with all of this) and 2) those people who are supposed to be preventing this kind of thing can't be trusted.

If absolutely anything, from this crap, happens to Obama. Believe you me.....Palin and McCain will be held responsible. It is already a violation of Obama's American rights. 

It is starting to become, if it hasn't already, a violation of his Human rights.

I think it is slander and defamation of character. Just for starters!

But decide for yourselves........I'm only high school educated.

their propensity for hiring only those they feel are ideologically pure

Exactly.  Remember that Messiah U "Graduate", Monica Goodling, and her twisted questioning of applicants?

"Why do you want to serve George W. Bush?"

It has nothing to do with American prinicples and the Palin choice is an extension of the theocratic push to take over this country.  It's blatant.  These folks in the mob are the Taliban followers that the "Christians" deny they have.  

If we want to see this country look like Mogadishu or Baghdad in 10 years these bigots will be allowed to carry on...

What a stinking liar! If he really felt that way, he would have stopped that beast-riding B — — — — when she first uttered an inciteful phrase. I personally think he's afraid of her. Why? I think they've all gone crazy because of this woman. How many women in history have you heard of who can incite a crowd to such violence since the Salem witch hunts? I'd be interested to know if womanhood was so wasted on others who claimed to have such a "nurturing spirit and good heart". OMG I'm gaggin!

Funny, I read elsewhere a comment that she seems afraid of him.  Either way, it's a sick relationship and a sick campaign.  Terminal.

They took Palin to Arizona with the campaign planers and layed outn their game plan.  This is not a mistake or run away Palin.  GOP is a farce.  McCain is a sick man remember they said they were going to ramp it up well this is it.  It will still get worse.

Ubane there were to comments one from an old lady and a man made the afraid comment.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/10/10/bash.mccain.friday.cnn

Has palin got the new memo?  She seems to be the inciter-in-chief.

I saw that clip on CNN. He looked much closer the Sen. McCain I saw campaigning back in the 2000 primaries and admired (even though I voted for G.W. Bush). He looked composed and in control.

For the sake of his post-campaign life as a US Senator, I sincerely hope he makes some earnest attempt at redeeming his dignity. He could certainly start by throwing Gov. Palin under the bus...

In the end, McCain may end up being the maverick he always claimed to be - - detested by the core of his own party.  On the other hand, that may increase his ability to work positively with the Democratic Congress and effectively promote his point of view.

Rob,

One would only hope.  :(

These supporters of McCain, are truly the most uneducated of the american population. I just heard a woman (she looked like the crazy cat lady from the Simpsons) telling john McCain Obama was an Arab. McCain even shook his head in disbelief, and took the microphone from this wacko before she could utter another idiotic grunt.

Maybe he finally realizes that he and Palin are playing with fire. Let's hope they get it under control.

At this point, I don't think you'll find many people on either side of the aisle that'll take McCain seriously. The Secret Service  with the rally-goer who shouted "kill him!" and I think he understands, even if his campaign doesn't, just how dangerous mob rule is.

Marno, I agree with you.  Today was the first time in a long time I saw the old 2000 John McCain....the same guy I was praying would run as in independant in 2000.  To this day, I think he would have won the presidency as an independant.

These rad con loons are not McCain's people.  They never have been.  Most of McCain's career these same loons were breathing fire about McCain!  And McCain knows this.  I more sure now then ever, that McCain is going to tell this group and radio talk radicals to politiely f*ck off and go down in defeat with dignity.

However, now after saying these nice things about McCain, the one thing that only he and he alone is responsible for is his pick of Sarah Palin.  An absolute embarassment to the poltical process and he is soley responsible for the pick.   That alone, in my mind disqualifies him from being president.

I'd dearly love to believe that. It seems we've veered into some parallel universe, or some sort of nightmare. My soul is sickened by this crap. God I can't wait for this election to be over...

Can you imagine what the rest of the world must be thinking about this last week?  How degrading can this election get?  It seems like each election since Nixon successful ran for the presidency gets a little nastier on the Republican side.  Bob Dole pushed the limits big time and its been a race ever since to see how low they can go.  Maybe this time they have finally hit bottom. 

However, now after saying these nice things about McCain, the one thing that only he and he alone is responsible for is his pick of Sarah Palin.  An absolute embarassment to the poltical process and he is soley responsible for the pick.   That alone, in my mind disqualifies him from being president.

In my mind, what would have indeed burnished Sen. McCain's "maverick" credentials would have been choosing Sen. Lieberman as his running mate as he'd wanted to do. In choosing Gov. Palin, he did little more than demonstrate his willingness to become a "win-at-any-cost" tool for the Christian right (now commonly referred to as "the base").

The GOP strategists were wrong: yes, the Base would have been thoroughly pissed off if McCain had chosen Lieberman and there may well have been threats of abandoning the Party in droves, but that Base would have ultimately re-coalesced around his candidacy and moved forward. It's deeply unfortunate that he capitulated to that Base and instead made an unbelievably cynical choice in Gov. Palin whom is by all measures one the the most polarizing figures of this entire campaign. As a result, he's lost the race by losing the centrists.

Mass that is really uncalled for

I am Jeremiah Johnson and I don't see anything wrong with Mass' comment ... the McCain/Palin campaign is, after all, appealing to the Joe/Jill Six Packs and Tailgater's so it is appropriate and a lighthearted attempt at SNL style Humour.

lol @ mass

The October suprise appears to be that the white supremists', KKK and every other low life biggot is supporting the Mcliar/DiarrheaMouth ticket.They are an all time low for the pub party and total bottom feeders.Republicans are nothing more than elitist fascist with nothing to offer but hate for anyone who doesn't goose step to their redneck agenda.

I find this entire column of comments ironic.  Out of one side of your mouths you all are appalled by John McCain and Sarah Palin and their crowds of frustrated, angry Americans.  Out of the other side of your mouths, you call them names that are just as bad as the ones you accuse them of using.  Amusing . . .

I don't find it ironic at all. This is exactly the sort of reaction McCain/Palin is counting on.

I am Jeremiah Johnson and I can recognize a political tactic when I see one.

Nancy-480450

one more thing before i sign off

In order to defend yourself against 
the activities of the sleaze artists, 
you need to know what they do 
and how they do it.

Let's You And Him Fight

Let's You And Him Fight

This technique involves starting or aggravating a conflict between two rival factions in a social group.   Creating a racial or religious conflict is quite simple.    Political divisiveness is also easy to create, aggravate,  and/or amplify.   

For example,  In the Early 1970's, the Watergate investigation disclosed that the Richard Nixon's reelection team planned to send a bunch of hoodlums to accost a rally where Nixon and Billy Graham were appearing together at a public function and then balm the fiasco on "those liberal hippies."

Create Divisiveness:  

A classic technique in the art of confrontation is to polarize one group against another.    This technique has two primary applications.   

The first use is to get the opposition arguing and fighting among them selves.   In military terms, it's called divide and conquer.  It's also a common strategy in politics.   As an example, prior to the 2004, presidential election, some Republicans went to great length to get Ralph Nadar on the ballot.   They did so for the express purpose of taking votes from John Kerry.   

The second divisiveness tool is separating our side from the other guys.   Here's how it works:

We are the good guys,    
They are the bad guys.

Our side is moral, just, and right,   
The other side in immoral and wrong.  

God is on our side,   
The Devil is on their side.   

We wear the white hats,   
They wear black hats, black suites, dark shirts and bright colored ties.   

We are handsome, sexy, and attractive,   
They are grotesque, ugly, and want to violate us sexually.

We are loving God-fearing human beings,   
They are inhuman animals.  

We live by high standards,   
They will do anything to win.   

You can trust us, 
but you can't trust them.

Our side will keep you safe, 
But without our protection, the other side will kill you 
and your family, so you just do as we tell you.

We love apple pie and babies,     
They love liquor and kill babies.

And in my great grandfathers days:

Their women were whores who actually liked sex   
The women on our side, closed their eyes, gritted their teeth, 
and did it for the queen.

And my personal favourite for this month ...

Create A Problem then offer your solution
http://www.pro-truth.net/62-con-artist-tricks.html#CreateA%20Problem

And of course, put yourself in charge of the solution and then pay yourself handsomely for your services.   This is a variation on the technique of getting the people to demand what you want to impose upon them.  (See the next section below)

Chaos, confusion, grief, misery and all the other negative emotions, conditions, and circumstances are the breading ground for con artists.   The most sophisticate of them exploit and/or intentionally create problems and then set themselves up as the hero who solves the problems.

Why?   Because when people get desperate, they will make choices that under other circumstances they would never consider.    This technique combined with selling of the Con Artist's Solution is a master's tool to generate political and religious conversions and in doing so, make money and get workers for manifesting the con artist's Goals.    

Jeremiah, I am confused.  Your list of "create divisiveness" is interesting, but which party were you painting as the "good" guys and which one was the "bad" guys?  Each set of comments could really apply to either party depending upon the source of the comments. 

Nancy;

What RIGHT do crowds of Republicans have to be angry and frustrated?  They had the entire government in their hands for six years and got exactly what they asked for.  The Pelosi-led Congress has done almost nothing for two years, even though THEIR base has been screaming for the heads of Bush and Cheney on a charger.  Paulsen worked out a deal to bail out the wealthiest Americans on the backs of the taxpayers and the world's economy is tanking.  We're STILL trying to build stable democracies in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the former seems to be slipping out of our hands, and the latter, though safer, is still a long way from reconciliation.  The Bill of Rights has been raped and told by the support staff that it's her fault. 

I'm a lifelong independent and hoped that a McCain vs Obama race would bring the country back into a state of centrist reason and rationale, but it seems that there are a lot of people, mostly poorly educated, support-service employed working-class stiffs, who don't realize that a vote for the Republican party, as it is now, is a vote AGAINST their economic well being.

Well put!  

I vote for Libertarian for Truth.

What RIGHT do crowds of Republicans have to be angry and frustrated? 

Libertarian, you answered your own question...

They had the entire government in their hands for six years and got exactly what they asked for....

Paulsen worked out a deal to bail out the wealthiest Americans on the backs of the taxpayers and the world's economy is tanking.  We're STILL trying to build stable democracies in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the former seems to be slipping out of our hands, and the latter, though safer, is still a long way from reconciliation.  The Bill of Rights has been raped and told by the support staff that it's her fault.

That is, in a nutshell (along with the tanking economy and the fact that a lot of these folks have less money now than they had when Bush stole the White House) what they are really angry about.    But they cannot admit that - so they target their anger at the other side, because that is what their leaders tell them to do.

How many times in the last couple of weeks have we heard the Republicans try to blame the economic mess on the Democrats?   I'm not saying the Dems have no responsibility for any of it, but the truth is, they are ALL responsible, no matter which party they belong to.   Every time a deregulation bill came up - regardless of who sponsored it - it got votes from both sides of the aisle.

But no Republican campaign stomper will ever admit that their side had any fault in all this.   After all, they want to win an election.  So they just blame the other guy and hope their constituents have short memories. 

Of course, when that didn't work for them, they decided to call the other guy a terrorist so that they could redirect the anger of their constituents through fear-mongering. 

The whole damn thing is a game of psychological manipulation, intended primarily to lead the ignorant and uninformed down whatever road they choose.  And it works!   For instance, even after McCain's backstroke re Obama being an "Arab" - that woman still believes it's true.   Check out my column for an article about that. 

Libertarian,  I think that many Republicans have the right to be frustrated and angry because their party is no longer representing them.  The views of the party have become right-wing Christian views, yet those of the Democratic party are those of big government and a welfare state.  Fiscally conservative Republicans are angry and frustrated that they have nowhere to turn in this election.  John McCain could have resonated with them, but he changed the game when he selected Sarah Palin.   

Nancy,  I don't dispute you on most of the points you've made here, but to accuse the Democrats of being "big government" after the HUGE expansion of government under Reagan, Bush I and Bush II, seems a bit disingenuous.   Also, where the Dems do want more government services for the poor and disenfranchised, it's the Bush Republicans that have taken the step down the slippery slope towards Socialism with the Paulson bail out.  Socialism, please remember, is only partially defined by the welfare state.  More to the point, it's "government ownership of the means of production."  When the feds buy into the financial services industry, that's "top-down" imposition of a Socialist state.

Libertarian, you make a good point.  The Republican administration (and Congress) have "taken the step down the slippery slope towards Socialism with the Paulson bailout." 

Nancy-480450

Jeremiah, I am confused.  Your list of "create divisiveness" is interesting, but which party were you painting as the "good" guys and which one was the "bad" guys?

 Each set of comments could really apply to either party depending upon the source of the comments.

BINGO

America, through no fault of their own and led there by the republican propaganda machine as illustrated above and in countless tens of thousands of other posts...

... is confusing the messenger with the message.

One day we will have to stand before the God of history and we will talk in terms of things we’ve done. Yes, we will be able to say we built gargantuan bridges to span the seas, we built gigantic buildings to kiss the skies. Yes, we made our submarines to penetrate oceanic depths. We brought into being many other things with our scientific and technological power.  It seems that I can hear the God of history saying, "That was not enough! But I was hungry, and ye fed me not. I was naked, and ye clothed me not. I was devoid of a decent sanitary house to live in, and ye provided no shelter for me. And consequently, you cannot enter the kingdom of greatness. If ye do it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye do it unto me." That’s the question facing America today."

(The full text of Dr. King’s sermon entitled “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution” containing the above quotes can be read here:  http://tinyurl.com/82npj .  Dr. King delivered it at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., on March 31, 1968, and you can listen to two audio excerpts of the sermon at that same link.)

I may not get there with you

 "Although it could be a good thing actually if it attracts the attention of the sane majority, and the main sources of the sewage are brought more fully into view" -scoog

You're so right, Scoog.

McCain would do anything to anybody to become president.  If you think he has any concern for anyone but himself you are wrong.  He had no concern in Hanoi he was a songbird he received favors and he continued giving names places all Hanoi Hanna used to use in radio and tv broadcasts.   Years latercCain  went back to Hanoi and said North Vietnam was his country as well.  Go to veterans for common sense.com no spaces look at his voting record he votes against veterans he blames the military and veterans for not  rescueing him the Admirals son.  He is vindictive and nasty mean who else do you know who would attack a man in a wheel chair?

    Hey these people at the McCain rallys are moderates if you read some of the blogs and listen to their talk radio guys. These people come acroos like they are whackos in training not the real hardcore nuts that frequent these other venues. Now that is downright scary

[...]

So, since you are assuming Obama is a terrorist, then it is safe for me to assume that you are a member of the KKK, right? Good. I can't wait for the day that ignorant primates like you are hunted down, hog-tied, and displayed for future generations to laugh at. You are what is wrong with this country, and I really wish you would leave. If anyone deserves the hatred that these ignorant, old, white folks spew at McCain rallies, it is you. I hope all of the bad things in life happen to you, and nobody but you.

Mars, I and several of my friends are undecided but if I do not vote for Obama it will have ZERO to do with Obama being bi-racial. I am only concerned with who will protect our country and who will make the economy better not who is a woman , a black  old or etc and all of my friends feel the same way

Well, first off, my brother and people in his line of work will protect this country.

On the other hand, I want the man that will be sitting in the Oval Office on January 21st concerning himself with "Preserving, Protecting and Defending the Constitution of the USA"

We, The People, will do the rest.

Won't it be great to have a President who actually does "Preserve, Protect and Defend the Constitution of the USA" for a change? Of course, if McCain/Palin win/gets appointed by SCOTUS, the Constitution will lose again only this time around the USA may not survive as a nation either.

How in the world are McCain and Palin pushing a "message of hate and violence?"  All they are doing is pointing out the long list of questionable associations of Obama and suggesting that we do not have the whole truth and nothing but the truth when it comes to Obama's history.  Since he has no public record to stand on, we are forced to rely on his own autobiographies as our source of information.  Doesn't this seem odd to anyone?  

If an applicant for a job in the CIA or FBI had the long list of questionable affiliations that Obama has, (s)he would not be hired.  If a parent wanted to volunteer in the public schools and had these associations, (s)he would not be allowed around the children.  Yet, we are supposed to "hire" Obama without question.  

Anyone who wants more information is accused of being racist.  It has NOTHING to do with race.  It is all about a candidate who has such arrogant ambition that he didn't think he even needed to serve a single term as a Senator before running for the presidency.  Well, as it turns out, he was right.  People are perfectly willing to accept his lack of experience, his youthful enthusiasm, and his eye for celebrity on face value.

I am sorry you are having so much trouble finding information!  Perhaps you are looking in the wrong places.  Try somewhere other than FOX.  McCain/Palin have been stiring up lies and we are supposed to just "believe" them?  Why is it so easy to believe those "statements" and not believe the "statements" from Obama?  Is it really that easy to swing your vote?  McCain has his own "skeletons" and today shows that Palin does as well!  But we should rush out and vote for McCain because he was a POW?  Being a POW does not make you a good person.  It is sad & terrible that he had to endure those things, however that does not make me believe that he should be president of our country.  I don't accuse McCain or Palin of racism, but I think they are playing on the fears and hatred of the uneducated, fearfull and hatefilled in this country.  They are using them!  I hope that even more Americans will come to recognize that truth.  I am from Arizona, and Arizonians know what a angry bitter man John McCain is. Some Republican politicians here are not even voting for him because of it.  I pray that Obama and his family will be safe from the hatred that is growing and was perpetuated by the McCain/Palin duo.

Well I guess McCain answered the question he's been asking for weeks now:

McCain: "Who is the real Barack Obama?"

McCain: He's a decent, family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with (him) on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about."

McCain: "I have to tell you, he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States."

Thanks John, for answering your own question and letting people know who the real Obama is. (LOL, his whole campaign is a joke)

@12.1 If people want more information, I don't think they should be looking to Palin for it.  Don't you think there are better sources than the McCain camp?

"...Senator Obama palling around with terrorists and people who want to bomb America."  OK, so what kind of information does that provide, exactly?  It doesn't - it incites anger amongst ultra-conservatives.

You complain about hate and yet you seem to hate them.

ComSen

You complain about hate and yet you seem to hate them.

I must be blind as I don't see the word or a synonym of the word 'hate' in chris' comment.  He just calls the hatemongers idiots...

these bible-thumping idiots . . "  -Chris596643

They may thump the Bible, but they haven't read it.  Nothing in the Bible encourages anything like this.

I dunno, Not by might. That whole first part of the Bible is pretty damn violent and attributes all sorts of atrocities to God. The latter half is pretty mellow, though.

calthea- dont you see he was trying to do the right thing. i saw the tv clip . why are you people crucifying McCain for being sincere and not letting his supporters say Obama is a radical socialist terrorist like they were saying, even if you dont vote for the guy give him a break if you are truly not racist or unfairly bias

I'm very happy to hear that McCain did this.  Good for him.  I was getting pretty freaked out by the negativity, the rage, the mob...and McCain did the right and honorable thing.  He'll likely lose.  I just hope he's remembered as a man who ran not a negative, horrible campaign, but an honorable one.

McCain should have stomped on this when it first reared its ugly head.  I think John is too late and the damage has been done to both the McCain camp and Senator Obama.  The genie is NOT going back into the bottle.  McCain will now reap the whirlwind and should take care that the whirlwind doesn't take him down as well.

Oh come on!  This is the man who was asking people just last week "who is the real Obama?"  He has been running negative campaigns for months... or maybe likening Senator Obama to Paris Hilton and when that didn't work, linking him in peoples' minds to terrorism is your idea of an honorable campaign.  He and his running mate Sarah Palin have been encouraging that sort of prejudice for a while now, and he's going to try and act surprised that these are the type of people he's attracting to his town hall meetings?  The moderate conservatives have been pushed away by these biggots and hate-mongers until the only people who are attending are the frighteningly unstable.  In 2000 I had respect for McCain, but in light of the increasingly ugly campaign he has been waging, I have lost all respect for him.  McCain is not a uniting force, his message is not one of hope for the future... it is all about instilling the proper amount of fear in the American people.  McCain sold his soul to get the nomination.  He has become everything I ever disliked about Bush and Cheney.

Well I guess McCain answered the question he's been asking for weeks now:

McCain: "Who is the real Barack Obama?"

McCain: He's a decent, family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with (him) on fundamental issues and that's what this campaign is all about."

McCain: "I have to tell you, he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States."

Thanks John, for answering your own question and letting people know who the real Obama is. (LOL, his whole campaign is a joke)

John McCain is not a maverick he is a total rogue.  If he makes a pretense to stop the violent talk that is just what it is a pretense.  he would walk back to his cell in Hanoi and give the other prisoners a thumbs us he would curse the captors but when away from the other prisoners he gave the information to the enemy just like John McCain said he did.  He got to eat fresh fruit treated as a VIP by his prisoners because of his father.  Well songbird was known by his father for what he was a broken little man, A scum bucket one of his code names.  Admiral McCain had his sons records sealed as a favor to him to protect the McCain reputation of John McCains grand father a true hero.  John McCain was barely cvonsidered a military member.  John McCain's father died of a heart attack the second day he was back.  I truly believe of a broken heart.

RNoel,

Its scary that the race is as close as it is.  Just goes to show that racism and ignorance is rampant in this country.

I agree psmitty, there's just no other explanation.  I admit that I'm currently living in the insulated world of a college campus, where you would be hard-pressed to find ANYONE willing to admit that they're voting for McCain.  Even so, it seems ludicrous that a campaign which seems to be solely based on smears, lies, filth, and unfounded claims designed to stoke the fears of an ignorant populace can gain as much traction as it has.  If we can't come together as a nation against a campaign like that, is there any hope for us?

RNoel,

There's always hope.  It's what drove the abolitionists in the 1800's... It's what drove the equal rights movement of the 1960's...  and it's what will drive Senator Obama's campaign to victory.  I am in the United States Navy and my ship is more devided than the military usually is.  I have found that most of the moderate conservatives have become disgusted with what McCain has become and even if they wouldn't vote for Senator Obama, they won't give their vote to McCain.  The group Vetrans of the Iraq and Afghanistan War gave McCain a D grade and gave Senator Obama and Senator Biden each a B grade.  For the military, who normally votes majority republican, to be so divided... I'd say there is definitely hope!  The most important thing is to keep that hope alive by showing up at the poles and casting your vote on election day.

I agree!  I was expecting to see the crowd produce pitch forks and torches and start waving them around.  There is something horribly wrong with those people.

I agree. Palin ruined it for me... I might have voted for McCain but I'll never vote for Palin.

no kris just what i could see on the news clip these people truly detest everything Obama stands for

No, they detest everything they've been TOLD Obama stands for.  They have NO CLUE about the real Obama because they would have to ignore his race and they are not prepared to do that.

You said a mouthful:  "They have NO CLUE about the real Obama."  That is precisely the problem.  This is a man who has promised the moon, said what everyone wants to hear, is attractive, well dressed, and has Ivy League credentials.  He's written a couple of autobiographies (odd for a man so young).  And the masses are following him as their new messiah.  Logic is a messy thing.  It forces people to actually think about what someone says and analyze it, do a little independent research, and have a mind of his or her own.  It's a lot easier to just sling slurs at people who disagree for social, political, or economic reasons.  It's a lot easier to just assume that anyone who does not agree with Obama must be a racist.  

O Nancy go to Fox  News with that, you are the one saying the mouthful. Obama can attract crowds of people, don't get jealous because McCain can't without his puppy Palin following down behind him. Obama is no messiah and you are ignorant for even suggesting that or thinking that people are putting him on that level.

Nancy,
I do not doubt that there are supporters of McCain who are intelligent, non-racist, moderate, well educated, etc... However looking at that video, I can not believe many were in that crowd.  By bringing Obama's heritage and associations into the picture and insinuating his ties to terrorists instead of focussing on the issues that are plaguing our country today, McCain drew a crowd that was comprised primarily of people who are bigoted, hateful, and yes even flat out racist.  a majority of the people at this rally did not want to hear what McCain wanted to do for the country, they wanted to tear down Obama.  They wanted an excuse to belittle him on national television (i.e. the woman who thinks "Obama is an A-rab").  When McCain tried to steer the topic away from that hate they got more agressive... this is not the act of a highly intellectual, well read, knowledgable group of people.  I'm sorry but that scene was like watching a KKK rally, these people were worked into a hating frenzy that went far beyond any normal disagreement of social, political, or economic views.  I don't agree on any of those issues with McCain, that doesn't mean I hate or wish harm upon him. Oh and one more thing Nancy, some of us have actually read and done research on the candidates plans... and those of us who are realistic know that it is going to take time to impliment those goals no matter who the candidate. Anyone who thinks that the changes are going to just happen *poof* like that are sadly mistaken. However having said that I believe that Senator Obama has shown a willingness to try to make positive changes.

Renee, ignorance has nothing to do with it.  Hitler attracted crowds, too, but that didn't make him right.  MLK, Jr. attracted crowds, too, and it wasn't the crowds that made him right.  

As for the term "messiah," Obama literally placed himself on a pedestal at Mount Olympus at the end of the Democratic convention.  If that doesn't subliminally suggest that he thinks of himself as a messiah of the Democratic party (by the way, messiah simply means "the chosen one"), I don't know what does.  It was actually comical.

Bec, in the interest of intelligent discourse, I respect your opinion.  I disagree with your decision, but I respect it.  I can't object to anyone who has actually looked at the issues and makes an informed choice -- whether or not it is the same choice I make.  What I have little tolerance for is the person who just follows the crowd.   As for the rally in Minnesota, I happen to live in Minnesota now just 20 minutes from where the rally was held.  This land of "Minnesota Nice" where no one wants to make any waves is the place that elected Jesse Ventura governor.  He could make enough waves for everyone.  It is a pity, though, that a few hecklers in a crowd are assumed to be the typical McCain supporter.  They are not.  That's why they're making news.  The quiet, unassuming, intelligent supporters don't make good headlines.
Since you seem to have done some research, perhaps you can answer the nagging questions about Obama's associates.  How did he sit in a church for decades and not EVER hear hatred preached until the media heard it?  How can he say that he didn't know William Ayers when Ayers' wife and Michele Obama were associates in the same law firm 20 years earlier than he claims to have met Ayers.  Why hasn't he taken a stand against ACORN?  Why have no real friends emerged from college days or law school days to sing his praises?  I am not asking these questions to be obnoxious, but because I truly wish I had the answers from someone other than Obama.  I would like to hear from people who have know him for years, not from his autobiographies.
By the way, I am not a blind supporter of McCain.  He won the Republican nomination by attrition.  He was simply the one left standing at the finish line.  But I do respect his knowledge of Washington, of what it takes to get the job done, of how government works. I do respect his experience in foreign affairs, his knowledge of foreign leaders. And I do respect his years of life on this earth. In time we gain wisdom.  A neophyte who has never really even worked in Washington stands little chance of getting anything done no matter how well intentioned he may be.  And I think we all agree that a lot needs to be done.

No you are comical...you right-wingers are so radical in your thinking, too me you sound like alls those other radicals that go to those McCain/Palin rallies.

Obama is going to be our next president and whoever has a problem with that (because some people can't seem to take the blinders off)has every right to leave the country.

Nancy,

First off I lived in Minnesota for a couple years while going to college, and there were things about Governor Venture that I really liked and respected.  His 'Lunch with the Governor' radio show for instance, where he would answer questions from normal citizens once a week... or keeping the state legislature in session until they finished the state budget that they had been procrastinating on for weeks... but that is beside the point.

How did he sit in a church for decades and not EVER hear hatred preached until the media heard it?

Obama didn't say that Rev. Wright had never before said anything inflamatory, what he said was that there was far more good in the man than there was bad.  If you want to know more about Rev. Wright why don't you go to Wikipedia and look up his name?  His accomplishments are listed there.  I believe Rev. Wright has been made into a side show and is getting far more attention than he should.  Senator Obama doesn't agree with him on every aspect of his preaching, just like I don't agree with everything my minister says... so it really is not that relevant to the election in my oppinion.

How can he say that he didn't know William Ayers when Ayers' wife and Michele Obama were associates in the same law firm 20 years earlier than he claims to have met Ayers.

Where on earth did you hear Senator Obama say he didn't know William Ayers?  He never said he didn't know Bill Ayers...  He said that he met Bill Ayers and worked with him on educational reform.  This conservative hype about Senator's connection with Bill Ayer's is ridiculous, and it is distracting from the relevant issues of this election!  Bill Ayers was a radical among many of his time during the 1960's and 70's, he never hurt or killed anyone in those bombings, and he was pardoned by the U.S. government in 1980, and has been active in his community in promoting educational reform for the under funded educational system in Chicago.  When he said he "didn't do enough", he was not talking about bombings.  He was saying that "we" as in all Americans of that time, didn't do enough to stop the war.  I don't agree with what he did 40 years ago, and neither does Obama, but it is irrelevant in this current day and age and I wish you conservatives would stop changing the subject from the current issues we as Americans are facing.  Unless you are somehow saying that Bill Ayers is going to start bombing again then you have no case... let it go!

Why hasn't he taken a stand against ACORN?

He has addressed the accusations made against him on his website under Fight the Smears... which states:

• Fact: Barack was never an ACORN community organizer.
• Fact: ACORN never hired Obama as a trainer, organizer, or any type of employee.
• Fact: ACORN was not part of Project Vote, the successful voter registration drive Barack ran in 1992.

 In his capacity as an attorney, Barack represented ACORN in a successful lawsuit alongside the U.S. Department of Justice against the state of Illinois to force state compliance with a federal voting access law. For his work helping enforce the law, called “Motor Voter,” Barack received the IVI-IPO Legal Eagle Award in 1995

Also, I think it is pretty flimsy to try to link Senator Obama with voter fraud when voters in Florida, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania who have recently moved, have received unsolicited absentee ballot appllications sent to their new address from the McCain campaign.  These FRAUDULENT applications have the return address marked to the county clerk of their former address.  Many of these people, though they are not registered democrats have made campaign contributions to Senator Obama.  So it appears that the McCain campaign is getting the list of these people straight from Obama's public donor list which was then cross checked with change of address info.  This duplicitous act of voter fraud will do two things.  First and foremost these votes won't be counted!  Secondly, but equally as worrysome, the incorrect returned ballots will be used by republicans to claim fraud by democrats, and to push through laws with harsh voter ID provisions with which it is hard for poorer registrants to comply. This will suppress the vote in future elections..  anyone receiving these ballots should not use them, and should report the incident immediately to the media and their state democratic party.

As for supporters from his college years... I'm sure there are some.. but again I think this is irrelevant to the issue at hand, which is can he help make this country better.  I feel the answer to that question is yes.

 And I do respect his years of life on this earth. In time we gain wisdom.  A neophyte who has never really even worked in Washington stands little chance of getting anything done no matter how well intentioned he may be.  And I think we all agree that a lot needs to be done.

The saying 'with age comes wisdom' is not always an accurate one... unless you think that even all the old, racist, bigots out there are wise.  Instead of saying that, I would say that with age comes experience that if applied correctly has the opportunity to tranlate into wisdom, and vice versa, just because a person is young doesn't mean they can't be wise.  I think that Senator Obama is wise enough to realize he won't have all the answers immediately and therefor is surrounding himself with more experienced people than he who can advise him.

Bec, again I disagree with your conclusions but I respect the way you arrived at them.  You have put a lot of thought into defining how you will determine the better candidate -- as have I.  We can agree to disagree.  I wish more people could do that.  This country is going to be in difficult straits if ardent supporters will not be able to let go when the election is over.

We can agree to disagree

Of course.  I have never tried to force my viewpoint on anyone, I simply debate the facts and let them come to their own conclusions.  Where I take offense is when people just assume that we who support Obama are simply doing so to be part of a historic event, or because he's black, or because we've been brainwashed by the liberal media.  That is just as bad as saying that all McCain supporters are just like the snarling, drooling, pack of wolverines that have spoken out at the last couple of McCain rallies.  Neither one is true, and I wish people would stop using these stereotypes... all they do is divide us!

This country is going to be in difficult straits if ardent supporters will not be able to let go when the election is over.

This is also true, and while I believe that Bush stole the election in 2000 certainly and played dirty again in 2004.... I still did my part as an American citizen for the past 8 years.  Once an election is done, it's done.  There's no use in crying over the shoulda's and coulda's.  I'm in the U.S. military and have been deployed to the gulf.  I will serve whoever gets elected President whether I like them or not.  What I can't and won't abide is votes not counting... which is the reason I have been diligently registering voters to comply with voting restrictions such as being registered at their current address etc....  At this point it will either take a miracle or some really dirty tricks to get McCain elected president... but regardless of who takes the oath to office come January, I will continue to do my job.

Bec, I hear you.  As you are working to register voters legally, I volunteered to serve as an election judge to do my small part in ensuring an honest voting process (at least in my precinct).  We have been warned of many things to expect on election day.

heres the story

 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081011/ap_on_el_ge/palin_troopergate_36

Yeah, I'm watching a story about that now and I can't be surprised by the finding...

I've been waiting for this, since Palin 'cleared' herself.

executive privilege, reminds me of that line in the Lethal weapon movie diplomatic immunity. Think Cheney , Palin, and Bush saw that movie also

Here's a link to the Branchflower Report. Be aware, it's about 300 pages, in .pdf and takes some patience to get to.

wait, i thought there was a press release by the mccain/palin exonerating her of this....

They didn't exonerate her... her lawyers simply said that she was innocent based on the fact that the deliberation was "made prematurely", before she had had a chance to testify.  She refused to testify so they continued the investigation and found her guilty.  She was arrogant enough to believe that they would just halt the investigation if she refused to co-operate, but that is not how it works.  If a person on trial pleads the 5th and refuses to testify, the trial still goes on to deliberation with or with-out that testimony.

executive privilege, reminds me of that line in the Lethal weapon movie diplomatic immunity

"Diplomatic Immunity!"

[Blam! Blam! Blam!..]

"...Has just been revoked."