The Thailand expat forum for Travel, Lifestyle and Fun.

sabang

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

__________________
To err is human. To blame someone else is politics.

Boon Mee

A PEW POLL: "With less than two weeks to go before the start of the presidential nominating conventions, Barack Obama’s lead over John McCain has disappeared. Pew’s latest survey finds 46% of registered voters saying they favor or lean to the putative Democratic candidate, while 43% back his likely Republican rival. In late June, Obama held a comfortable 48%-to-40% margin over McCain, which narrowed in mid-July to 47% to 42%."

Heh...and now that Putin has given McCain a 'present' like, who would trust BO with that 3am phone call, eh?

__________________
ผมเป็นคนบ้านนอก

Boon Mee

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

Bugs

The little Warren show was kind of interesting. Lots of pandering going on, but seems necessary based upon some of the polls I've seen related to US voters views as they relate to wanting the guy in charge to have religious ties.

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?



Obama, McCain talking religion with Rev. Warren -- chicagotribune.com
Generally speaking I am in favor of womens rights as they relate to the abortion issue, and therefor would fall more in the Obama court than the McCain court on this issue. The Obama response would have been fine had he not included the bit about it being above his "pay grade".

__________________
"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, it takes religion" - Steven Weinberg

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.

Mr Earl

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

Milkman

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.

Bugs

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.

Norton

IMO both candidates did a pretty good job. The real winners were the audience. I was struck by their good behavior even when it would be expected the majority disagreed with a given response. No boos and no OTT reaction pro or con.

Very refreshing given the polarized nonsense we have been seeing over most of the campaign!

__________________
There is such a thing as a nation being so right that it does not need to convince others by force that it is right.

Woodrow Wilson

Bexar County Stud

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.

Norton

Hey. Them don't look like Americans!

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

pai nai ma

Supportive of murder, heh?

Jet Gorgon

^ read and try to comprehend.

raycarey

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.

Bugs

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

raycarey

mods?

Jet Gorgon

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

Boon Mee

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

Bugs

Seems McCain polls well with those in the military:

Military favors McCain, poll finds - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com
And it seems all is not well with Clinton supporters still:
ABC News: Some Clinton Donors Are Contributing to McCain

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

Bugs

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
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.