Thread: US Presidential Campaign 2008

Originally Posted by Bugs

The 90% number is a bit high, especially right now for Obama (see recent pew poll results). But I think both will lock up that 90% number when it counts - in the voting booth.

This is not good news for McCain. Sure are a lot more Dems than Reps heading for the voting booths. Still believe the winner will need the independent vote. McCain will need a much higher independent percentage to overcome the number of Dems.

^ Norts, very few Americans even know or give a flying fek about Russia/Georgia (lest they think it's Georgia State). Sure, oil pipelines, sure, if war breaks out they take their troops out of Iraq, but really, do Americans care about that? No US GIs over there and they don't get no oil from there either.

Hasn't Obama gone quiet? Sunning himself in Hawaii, staying out of the limelight, next step the DNC.

I daresay theres some strategy about this. Apart from giving him time to prepare for his debates, his DNC appearances, and presumably decide his VP nominee, no doubt his campaign people are using the vacuum to sit back, look at the numbers and demographics in the various states, and see what the McCain campaign is blustering about. It also somewhat takes the wind out of the 'celebrity Obama' gripes.

Smart or not? We'll see. He certainly wouldn't want to stay in the Aloha state for too long, but I suspect they are being pretty canny here. Keep the opposition guessing for a while, and study their moves. There will be plenty of Press and publicity at the DNC.

Powell? The same guy who told the BIG LIE to the United Nations and the world?

Now he's a good guy?

Did he spend some time at the temple or monestary or sumthin?

Geez, dogs kissing cats, oil mixing with water -- Moscow invades Georgia and that's OK, nasty Republican thieving murderous liars are decent folks -- if they're black ...

Originally Posted by Texpat

Now he's a good guy?

I always liked Powell actually, and he's basically a pragmatist. It's a shame the Bush admin didn't listen to the State Department more, and the Cheney hawks less.

His would be a valuable endorsement- but just rumour at this stage.

The latest-

As the emergency over Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia played out, a new Gallup poll today said Obama was holding on to a five-point lead over McCain - 47 per cent to 42.

And while McCain was fighting on national security, the Obama campaign vied to steal the Republican's thunder in Pennsylvania with an assault over the economy, which polls show is by far the top concern of US voters.

McCain takes on Russia - US Election - smh.com.au

It's all a Rovien Plot!!!

"Russians were told over breakfast yesterday what really happened in Georgia: the conflict in South Ossetia was part of a plot by Dick Cheney, the Vice-President, to stop Barak Obama being elected president of the United States."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article4535173.ece

^ I think he just fluffed hs way through that answer. Agrees with Roe-v-Wade for the lefties and then says he wants to limit abortion as a cookie toss to the rights. I am a woman, and outside of the instance of being raped, I take care of my body and contraceptives. Still, I think government has no place in the rules over what a woman decides. It's a personal moral and ethical issue. But, if an educated western woman is stupid enough to have unprotected sex, especially in this day and age of STDs and AIDS, then she deserves what she gets. I would never trust a man to make my decisions.

^I liked McCains answers. YES. NO and "You're god dam right I ordered the code red"
Barry really came off as a powderpuff.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

^ I think he just fluffed hs way through that answer. Agrees with Roe-v-Wade for the lefties and then says he wants to limit abortion as a cookie toss to the rights. I am a woman, and outside of the instance of being raped, I take care of my body and contraceptives. Still, I think government has no place in the rules over what a woman decides. It's a personal moral and ethical issue. But, if an educated western woman is stupid enough to have unprotected sex, especially in this day and age of STDs and AIDS, then she deserves what she gets. I would never trust a man to make my decisions.

Agree with your points on it being a personal issue. In the US it's a judicial issue and the US President can appoint USSC justices and appoint federal judges.

One point: Roe v. Wade is not about right or left, as noted in the first sentence.

I do give Obama credit for actually agreeing to be part of the whole thing. It was pretty clear McCain was more at home during his bit than Obama was, but generally speaking the questions were such that it was easier for McCain, while Obama had to do a lot of tip-toeing around to try and answer the actual question without stepping on too many toes.

Actually both candidates have done a reasonable job of going out and meeting with groups that they know are not going to support them come Nov. In most elections candidates simply ignore those that won't vote for them - refreshing to see them both willing to have some form of dialog with everyone.

The worst of the lot during the warren interview for McCain was his response in regard to the SC judges. His list in response was a bit long. I think he could have made his point without listing half of the court as folks he would not have nominated.

Originally Posted by Bugs

One thing that struck me was Obama commenting during his reply about abortion and that answering the "question with specifity, you know, is above my pay grade".

How about if he becomes president will it still be above his pay grade?

A damaging comment. His mention of drug use (in answer to "your biggest moral failure" question) was not so bright either.

McCain's gaining momentum.

Originally Posted by raycarey

ABBA.

Hey. Them don't look like Americans!

Woulda thought, the Oak Ridge Boys or Alabama a much better choice.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

I am a woman, and outside of the instance of being raped, I take care of my body and contraceptives. Still, I think government has no place in the rules over what a woman decides.

Supportive of murder, heh?

^ read and try to comprehend.

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by raycarey

ABBA.

Hey. Them don't look like Americans!

Woulda thought, the Oak Ridge Boys or Alabama a much better choice.

it seems a mod deleted my post about mccain being a huge abba fan.

why? it was supported by a link to a reputable source.

Originally Posted by raycarey

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by raycarey

ABBA.

Hey. Them don't look like Americans!

Woulda thought, the Oak Ridge Boys or Alabama a much better choice.

it seems a mod deleted my post about mccain being a huge abba fan.

why? it was supported by a link to a reputable source.

Maybe they don't know the difference between Yaba and abba?

mods?

^ take a look at your trash posts of personal attacks, rc. Mods are finally getting tired of you, perhaps.

Heh... Campaign Admits Obama Lied About Abortion Vote, Media Asleep

"the media pretty much ignored the great work by Jill Stanek in uncovering the truth that contradicted nearly 6 years of claims that Obama made concerning his vote on the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act when he was in the Illinois State Senate. Obama claimed that the Federal "neutrality clause" wasn't in the Illinois bill and that if it were he would have voted for the bill instead of against it. Stanek proved that the exact same clause Obama said wasn't in the bill was actually placed in the bill by the very committee Obama chaired. Yet he still voted against it."

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/warner-todd-huston/2008/08/18/campaign-admits-obama-lied-about-abortion-vote-media-asleep

Seems McCain polls well with those in the military:

Military favors McCain, poll finds - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com

According to Gallup, McCain leads Obama 56 percent to 34 percent, with 11 percent expressing no opinion or picking someone else.

And it seems all is not well with Clinton supporters still:
ABC News: Some Clinton Donors Are Contributing to McCain

Some of Hillary Clinton's most fervent supporters are taking their enthusiasm – and their campaign contributions – to John McCain.

More than 85 of Clinton's fundraisers, including Donald Trump, Univision chief executive Joseph Uva, cable mogul Charles Dolan, philanthropist Norma Hess and one of Florida's biggest lobbyists appear to be skipping Barack Obama when it comes to writing checks for the general election, according to an ABCNews.com review of campaign finance records.

These Clinton donors have contributed at least $200,000 to McCain's campaign in the last few months, an amount which doesn't include larger contributions to the Republican joint fundraising committees.

Trump wanted to give so much to McCain, that McCain had to return some:

Trump, the New York realtor and reality show host, has long been a bipartisan campaign contributor and gave $2,000 to John Kerry's campaign in 2004.

This time around, he contributed $600 to Clinton. But when it was clear in May that her campaign was over, The Donald gave the legal maximum individual contribution of $2,300 to McCain's primary fund and another $2,300 to his general election fund. He even tried to give an extra $1,000, but the McCain campaign returned it because it was over the legal limit.

And some interesting points about the basic flat line (in the polls) for Obama even though he has announced his VP, and is in the middle of his convention:

Barack Obama’s ‘flat line’ in polls spells trouble - BostonHerald.com

Barack Obama’s divided and poorly timed convention has given him no boost in tracking polls, leaving him in danger of trailing Republican John McCain by the time the GOP conclave ends next week.

The danger that the GOP convention - starting next week in an unprecedented back-to-back schedule for the party conclaves - will immediately steal any Democratic thunder.

“McCain could come out of the convention with a five-point lead, and if it sticks around through October, that’s hard to shake. Then McCain is the leader and people are wondering why Obama’s losing,” Smith said.

Complaints from pundits and party operatives that the DNC was focused more on infighting with the Clintons than taking on McCain.

“More Republicans support McCain than Democrats support Obama,” said national pollster Scott Rasmussen, saying the Dems haven’t hit McCain hard enough in convention speeches. “I think it is possible that McCain people will start out (at the convention) drawing contrasts with Obama.”

Polls showing McCain holding down Obama in the polls despite the nationally televised convention, and no bounce from Obama’s long-awaited running mate pick - an event that pollsters say ususally draws at least a two-percentage point gain.

“There was zero, nothing, a flat line,” said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, referring to Obama’s selection of Deleware Sen. Joe Biden. “It was a bland choice because nobody knows who he is.”

Obama and McCain are neck and neck in the national polls despite three days of glowing speeches about the Illinois senator during a highly publicized convention viewed by 22 million people.

“It’s a big concern,” said Suffolk University pollster David Paleologos. “You’ve got poor job approval for (President George W.) Bush, you’ve got the Iraq war and the economy. When you take the sum of all of these issues it suggests a larger lead (for Obama).”

There is indeed reason for concern in the blue camp, but I don't think they'll really start to worry unless McCain gets a bump when he announces his VP choice, or more importantly during the red team convention. If indeed McCain comes out of the convention with more than a 5 point lead it could be a down hill ride for the blue team once again.