Obama on policy

Presidential candidate Barrack Obama promises at Flint appearance to help auto industry refashion itself [8]

*****
GOOD MORNING FLINT!
9/9/09 By Terry Bankert
http://goodmorningflint.blogspot.com/
Longer article with citations
http://www.flinttalk.com/viewforum.php?f=2

* * * * * REFLECTIONS:

The next President of the United States appeared in Flint MI USA 9/08/08.The next Democratic administration is committed to re-industrialization of American and specifically re-birth of the automobile industry.What Obama demonstrated is ability to advocate positive policies for change. But he cannot help us if he does not win. To win the Palin bump must be addressed. The Democrats will defeat the republican by the strength of policy argument. Our chant to McCain/Palin should be WHERE’S THE BEEF.In Flint, Obama said" that he -- not McCain -- has consistently advocated changes in tax policy, education, the war in Iraq and the U.S. auto industry that will create jobs and help average families who are struggling.""You can't just make stuff up. You can't just reinvent yourself," he said of McCain. "The American people aren't stupid. What they're looking for is someone who has consistently called for change."Polls have shown that voters consistently rate the economy as the top issue facing the nation this election season. Obama/Biden are talking economics, health care, good alternative fuel, national security, and correcting the chaos Bush has caused our national economy and international image. McCain/Palin are talking religious conversion and 4 more years of Bush policies. Its time for a change.[trb]
* * * * *

He cannot help if he does not win.To win the Palin factor must address. Here Obama by talking economics, auto industry. McCain/Pailin will be defeated by the strenght of the democratic arguments on policy.[trb]

AMERICA TO SELECT A VP THAT COULD BECOME PRESIDENT

Eight weeks from Tuesday, Americans choose a president and a vice president. That deputy job matters. Eight times in U.S. history, vice presidents have replaced presidents who died.[6] Gerald Ford stepped up when Richard Nixon resigned. If Bill Clinton hadn't barely escaped conviction by the Senate after he was impeached by the House, Al Gore would have been the 10th veep thrust into the top job on short notice.[6]

WHO THEN ARE THESE CANDIDATES

In Flint, Obama said that he -- not McCain -- has consistently advocated changes in tax policy, education, the war in Iraq and the U.S. auto industry that will create jobs and help average families who are struggling.[6]

"You can't just make stuff up. You can't just reinvent yourself," he said of McCain. "The American people aren't stupid. What they're looking for is someone who has consistently called for change."[6]

Polls have shown that voters consistently rate the economy as the top issue facing the nation this election season.[6]

Obama noted in Flint that the national unemployment rate soared to 6.1 percent last month, the highest jobless mark in five years, even as McCain pronounced the nation's economy fundamentally sound. He added that Michigan's rate is at 8.5 percent and unemployment in Flint is over 12 percent. [7]

"If John McCain thinks the economy is fundamentally sound, he needs to come to Flint," Obama said at a gathering of about 300 at Mott Community College. [7]

"You don't have to tell people in Michigan the economy is not in good shape. But you do need to tell John McCain." [7]

Obama touched on Flint's high unemployment and housing crisis, all the while criticizing McCain's recent claims that the Republican ticket is for change."Government can't be for change when you brag about supporting George Bush," said Obama.[8]

The latest statewide polls have shown Obama leading in Michigan and Genesee County by a small percentage, with 23 percent of voters in the area still undecided and Obama underperforming amongst union workers.[8]

THERE IS NOT JUST ONE AMERICA, THERE IS NOT ONE CORRECT POINT OF VIEW

Palin, with her meat loaf and rifles, reminds us that there are two hopelessly incompatible Americas[1]

McCain through palin is exploiting our division.

With the most recent decision which could impact our great nation; John McCain has once again demonstrated his poor judgment, lack of concern for the American people and his contempt for women's issues. By secretly selecting a running mate whom he had only met once, who was not fully vetted, and who lacks the years of experience governing, which was an issue in his campaign, shows it was designed to appease the evangelical base of the Republican party and to attract disaffected Hillary Clinton women voters.[5]


SOME HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE PALIN THEIR POSTER GIRL

A Photo shopped picture of Sarah Palin has been doing the rounds for the past few days; it shows her in a stars and stripes bikini toting a rifle - patriotism, hunting and cheesecake all combined in one image.[1]

Two minutes of Googling reveals that the rifle has been identified by gun nuts in Republican chatrooms as a Crossman pump pellet gun. Soft porn for rednecks. Expect to see it pinned to the wall in every gas station in Texas and tacked to the dashboard of every long-haul truck. But this cartoon-like depiction of her smothers what we need to understand about why Palin appeals to American voters and why American elections have been so deadlocked for the past decade, as if there were two Americas, doomed to lived on the same landmass under the same government, like hopelessly incompatible spouses.[1]

PALIN DOES HAVE HER CRITICS

While most praise her bold, tough approach, they also point out her lack of follow-through and seeming disinterest in the details of governing, and her inability to work with those who disagree, the Los Angeles Times reports. [2]

Others note that Palin's governing style is to stifle dissent and criticism rather than hear all sides of an issue[2]

Democrats Barrack Obama and Joe Biden went after rising GOP star Sarah Palin Monday, casting the vice presidential nominee as a flip-flopper with "extreme" views.[3]

In fact, Palin at first supported the bridge, numerous records show. As recently as July, she told reporters she pulled her support only after the bridge became a symbol of pork-barrel spending and she saw "the writing on the wall," a video Monday showed.[3]

Earlier, Biden ramped up his rhetoric against Palin, saying the Alaska governor would soon have to defend her "fairly extreme" positions.

Asked to elaborate, aides to Biden later cited Palin's past statements expressing doubt that manmade pollution contributed to global warming as well as her opposition to stem-cell research and abortion, even in cases of rape.[3]

The Democratic duo got an assist from former primary rival Hillary Clinton, who stumped through Florida for Obama.[3]

Clinton argued that returning Republicans to the White House "is like asking the iceberg to save the Titanic." With News Wire Services[3]

BUT WHO IS OR WHAT IS PALIN?

Dan Hardy, a 60-year-old business owner from West Bloomfield, thinks Palin's appeal is fleeting. Once she submits to interviews, he said, people will realize "how shallow she is." [7]

PALIN HAS CHANGED THE POLITICAL PICTURE, WHAT WILL IT DO TO THE DEBATE.

Governing a state with fewer people than San Francisco, and just two years ago a small-town mayor, Palin has already sucked the air from both parties' nominees and has scrambled the debate between feminists and cultural conservatives.[3]

But Palin owes Americans much more opportunity to scrutinize her—and many more answers to questions: How did a mayor who secured congressional earmarks for her community convert to McCain's belief that earmarking is irresponsible? What positions does she hold on Iraq, Afghanistan, national security and the U.S.-led war against global terrorism? What are her thoughts on economic policy—and do they square with her record as governor? [6]These aren't trick questions. And we're not here to shill for "those reporters and commentators" Palin mocked in her speech to the Republican National Convention. On a personal level, sure, she has a right to be miffed: The disdain of PBS' Gwen Ifill and some other TV journalists after Palin's speech was visible to millions. But the issue here isn't anybody's personal peeve. It's about giving all Americans time to absorb and approve, or disapprove, of a candidate's record in office and her stance on key issues.[6]

SO..WE ARE MORE THAN ONE AMERICA

It's true. One America is the envy of the world-filled with intellectual and artistic achievement, culture, and filled with thoughtful, intelligent people. The other US loves guns, believes God controls everything, and have little or no culture. (There is also a third America, which is the poor black/Latino America that is so disenfranchised it doesn't, or can't, vote.)[freemtspeech comment at 1]

WE SAY WE RESPECT PLURALISM...BUT WE REALLY DO NOT,.ITS OUR WAY OR THE HIGHWAY

A new novel, American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld, published in the US this week, tells a fictionalised and thinly veiled story of Laura Bush, from small-town girl in the 1950s midwest to school librarian to Republican bride to President's wife. What you learn from the novel is that, like it or not, the American heartland is not so much a political ideology but an actual place with people living in it. Small-town Americans have values and a lot of those values are good ones: neighbourliness, family life, a knowledge of the land and what grows in it. The other America they see on TV seems without ethics - crime, violence, drug addiction, pornography and prostitution - and they don't want any part of it.[1]

ULTRA RELIGIOUS NON HISPANIC WHITE REPUBLICANS OR FOR SHORT WHITEBRED REPUBLICANS

So clear is the divide between big-city and small-town America that one American friend said to me: "These whitebread Republicans are like children - someone has to tell them what to do and what to think, they're incapable of independent ideas." [1]

ULTRA RELIGIOUS RIGHT

All countries have different socio economic groups. I do not know how widespread the ultra religious right is despite that fact the Republicans courted and won them.

A SMALL FANATICAL SECT USED BY BIG MONEY TO DOMINATE AMERICA

I suspect they are really a small subset but a vocal one and one that has put itself on school and library boards, is active in state and local government and in the US Congress. As an American who was raised in NYC area and has lived in most of the regions, I think most people are moderately conservative, but not radical.[comment elsafromlndy at 1]

REPUBLICAN PARTY ..JUST A MOUTH PIECE FOR A RELIGIOUS SECT

I think the Republican party has become the mouthpiece of the religious right so this small group has amassed an inordinate amount of power. I always think Washington is more ultra conservative than my conservative midwest neighbors and friends.[comment elsafromlndy at 1]

JUST WHERE IS THE FREE SPEECH WE SAY IS SO IMPORTANT TO US

Because the Republican party is controlled by this faction, the US has been deprived of a responsible sober conservative voice. It is a pity because I feel the US is being destroyed by the lack of civil discourse due to the right wing's control of the Republican party.[comment elsafromlndy at 1]

LIBERALS

The conviction by the left that the right is stupid is one of the defining and least attractive characteristics of contemporary politics. Assuming that anyone who disagrees with you is too dim to get your point is not itself a particularly brainy way to win others over to the essential correctness of your views. But it is true that to small-town Republicans the world is not a complicated place, because they have seen so little of it. [1]

LIBERALS ARE AS FULL OF THEMSELVES AS THE ULTRA CONSERVATIVES ARE OF THEIR NARROW INTERPRETATION OF THE BIBLE...LETS BROADEN THE DISCUSSION

Liberals are the overly touchy-feely group that want to help everyone as the right wingers like to derisively point out, we do not discriminate based on IQ. Personally I do not think the right are a bunch of dimwits. I think the right seems like the party of the angry and fearful who like to define a clear enemy so they can unite behind a clearer goal. Standard Machiavellian strategy 101, and this strategy is getting old.[comment of photoelastic at 1]

THE HARD WORKING CONTRIBUTORS VS THE LAZY CONSUMERS

I asked a sophisticated and well-travelled Republican why he voted the way he did. He described growing up "dirt poor" in a small town in Northern California where joining the military was your sole ticket out; where the people in his family who depended on welfare stayed where they were and the ones who worked their fingers to the bone managed to make a better life for themselves. For him, joining the army led directly to an education. In fact, it led all the way to Princeton. But how, I asked him, baffled, could someone as intelligent as he is believe that George W Bush was anything but a cretin? [1]

WE CANNOT BREAK THIS COALITION BY CALLING THEM STUPID

Because, he explained, people in small towns don't like or trust intellectuals, particularly ones who appear to be sneering at them for their supposed stupidity. They admire a plain-speaking man; it's what they know and what they are used to. [1]

They always assumed Bush was a regular guy who could keep his thoughts concise. [1]

WHY NOT PICK ONE THING YOU BELIEVE IN AND STICK WITH IT?

I grew up in a state that has since become about as Red as any. There are plenty of people of conscience and intellect there. What distinguishes those states is a fairly slight preponderance of people who feel free to invent the world the way they want it to be -- or more likely, to embrace the world handed to them by some shamanistic personality -- and to simply disregard all contrary evidence. Sadly, they have been holding the balance of power on which the fate of the whole planet may depend. If that does not change this year, I'd start saying my prayers, wherever I lived.
[comments of druid at 1]

OUR MULTIPLE AMERICAS ONLY COLLIDE DURING ELECTIONS

So America is stuck. Two countries, mutually irreconcilable, who never meet each other and don't want to, either. Who distrust each other at best, despise each other at worst. And who have absolutely no understanding of the other. [1]

Reading Sittenfeld's thinly disguised account of Laura Bush and her upbringing, it was possible to see that the modest lives of her midwestern characters both had dignity and made sense. But I only have to meet them in a novel, which I can snap shut as soon as I've finished it. Were I an East Coast Democrat, which is the only kind of American I can ever imagine being, I would have no objection to small-town Republicans - to their church-going and their hunting rifles and their flag-decked porches and their meatloaf with gravy, and their lemon chiffon cake. I could admire their intimacy with the wide prairie and the vast sky. [1]

MCCAIN HOPED TO SELL HIS VP WITHOUT QUESTIONING TO SMALL TOWN AMERICA

McCain's decision to select a one-term governor in office less than two years, from one of the smallest states in the nation; a two-term mayor of a town with less than 6,500 residents; with no foreign policy experience; who has ties with the Alaskan Independence Party (who advocates secession from the United States); a hockey mom who opposes woman's right to choose; supports drilling for oil in ANWR; and is currently under investigation for abuse of power and lying; is a pathetic example of what poor judgment John McCain actually has.[5]

CAN SMALL TOWN VALUES RUN A COUNTRY...YES THEY CAN AND BUSH IS THE RESULT..BUT THEY GIVE THEM SELVES OVER TO BIG MONEY, BIG OIL AND BIG MILITARY.

The problem is that when they're running the whole country, they want to take away abortion rights, drill for oil in Alaska (a Palin policy), ignore climate change, and start unwinnable wars. With the small-town Republican mindset in charge, the rest of America and the rest of the world is forced to live by small-town values, which aren't much help when you're trying to decide what, if anything, can be done about Iranian nuclear ambitions or more humbly, workplace date rape. [1]

ONE MANS SAINT IS ANOTHER MANS BUMPKIN, THIS DOES NOT HELP THE DEBATE

Growing up dirt poor and living in a small town is no excuse for thinking like a bumpkin, I come from a working class family and live in small town I have no delusions about Jesuss, the end of the world or the age of it, guns, sex-ed or contraception.[comment karmapolice1 at 1]

STOP TAKING THE BIBLE SO SERIOUSLY, ITS OVER A THOUSAND YEARS OLD

How does this nonsense stop? Perhaps it can be as simple as getting people to stop taking the bible so seriously. Easier said than done, but it’s a cause worth fighting for. The way things are going with the Dems sucking up to Religion now it looks abysmal.[comment karmapolice1 at 1]

LIBERAL MUST SIMPLIFY POSITIONS FOCUS IDENTIFY A CLEAR ENEMY BUILD A BROADER COALITION AND STICK TOGETHER

This is, I'm afraid, hopelessly simplistic and uninformed. America is infinitely more complex than this. One of the reasons the Republicans keep winning is that the Democrats keep abandoning the Left in a hopeless attempt to win over this imaginary and homogeneous heartland.[comment attw at 1]

AFTER THIS ELECTION WILL AMERICA BE MORE DIVIDED?

Can America survive another photo-finish election which the Republicans win, or will it be out and out war between the red and the blue states? Perhaps only small-town America itself can prevent it, such as the dental nurse who asked how the mother of five kids, one with Down's syndrome, could hold down a full-time job, one step from running the United States[1]

Today, some Democratic women question whether Palin is putting career ahead of family.[3]
"You have women in particular looking at this situation with her daughter and saying, 'How could you put her through this, you knew she was pregnant, you accept this nomination and you know what's coming for her,' " said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics.[3]

The Obama campaign will have to limit itself strictly to issues, said Maria Elena Durazo, a Los Angeles labor leader working with the Obama campaign. "If anybody says she can't do her job because she has a 6-month-old child, I would say that's sexist," Durazo said. "What I think voters want to hear about is what have you done every single day to help the cause of women. ... I don't think there is any other credible way of dealing with her."[3]

Sarah Palin, bad mom. That might finish her.[1]

Posted here 9/7/08 by Terry Bankert
http://attorneybankert.com/

-
[1]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/sep/04/sarahpalin.johnmccain

[2]
http://www.newser.com/story/36881/palin-swings-hard-lacks-follow-through.html

[3]
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/03/MNIU12MMIH.DTL

[4]
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/09/08/2008-09-08_barack_obama_joe_biden_bite_back_at_sara-2.html

[5]
http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080909/OPINION03/809090313

[6]
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0909edit1sep09,0,3791866.story

[7]
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080909/NEWS15/809090358

[8]
http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/


[TRB]
Comments of Terry Bankert to include unattributed cap headlines
http://attorneybankert.com/


SEE ALSO
http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/index.ssf/2008/09/presidential_candidate_barack_1.html

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TIME TO TAKE THE GLOVES OFF WITH THE BIBLE THUMPERS

BIBLE THUMPERS REJUVENATE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY,CAN WE TAKE 4 MORE YEARS OF BUSH POLICIES AND THUMPER LOVE?
***** GOOD MORNING FLINT! 9/8/09 By Terry Bankert http://goodmorningflint.blogspot.com/ Longer article with citations or http://flinttalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=35564http://flinttalk.com/viewtopic.php?p=35647#35647
* * * * * REFLECTIONS:
Bible thumpers are fair game in this election. They put themselves forward politically. They are an identifiable constituency that intends to elect a president that will promote their position on national issues. That is their right. It is our right to defeat them. We should take the gloves off. They are not involved in a political debate. They are in a war to impose their view of the world on us. Palin ,a self described agent of GOD, intends to make her theological conservatism your new law when she is elected. What are you going to do today to defend Democratic values and our countries founding principals of the Separation of Church and State. Take one action today to support the Obama/Biden ticket.
* * * * *
As the remarkable two-week stretch of back-to-back presidential nomination conventions ends, a weekend USA Today/Gallup Poll finds that the John McCain-Sarah Palin ticket has more than matched the Barack Obama-Joe Biden ticket's convention bounce of last week with a "rebound" bounce, and in the immediate aftermath of the GOP convention McCain and Palin now have a slight edge over their opponents.[1]
HIGHLY RELIGIOUS WHITE VOTERS, BIBLE THUMPERS ,ARE ON A MISSION FROM AND INTEND TO WIN A WAR FOR THEIR GUY TO IMPOSE THEIR VERSION OF A BOOK ON YOU.
John McCain has led Barack Obama all summer among highly religious white voters and continues to do so in the first three days of September, with no sign of change coincident with the selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate[1]

THE RACE WAS DEAD EVEN BEFORE THE CONVENTIONS
The presidential race was dead even at 45% to 45% among registered voters in Gallup tracking conducted prior to the Democratic convention. Then, by the USA Today/Gallup Poll conducted in the first few days after the Democratic convention (and also after McCain had made his announcement of Sarah Palin as his running mate), Obama had moved ahead by a 47% to 43% margin. (In Gallup Poll Daily tracking extending into the beginning of last week, Obama reached a point where he had 50% of the vote and an eight percentage point lead.) Obama's lead has now disappeared totally, and McCain sits on a 4-point advantage among registered voters in the Friday through Sunday poll. That's the largest advantage for McCain in either USA Today/Gallup Polls or Gallup Poll Daily tracking since May.[1]
MCCAIN LOSES ON THE SECULAR ISSUES BUT IS AHEAD WITH THE HELP OF SINGLE ISSUE , PROLIFE, TAKE NO PRISONERS, ACCEPT NO COMPROMISE NARROWLY FOCUSED THUMPERS.
Obama ridiculed McCain's promise of change and hammered the Arizona senator on the limping US economy, saying the Republican represented no change from Bush.[4]
"John McCain, who is a good man and has a compelling biography, has embraced and adopted the George Bush economic platform," Obama said on ABC television.[4]

GODS AGENT ON EARTH, PALIN, INTENDS TO MAKE HER THEOLOGICAL CONSERVATISM YOUR NEW LAWS.
The convention and/or McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate not only had the effect of moving the horse-race needle in McCain's direction, but also increased several measures of enthusiasm for the GOP.[1]
EVEN AFTER THE GLASS CEILING IS BROKEN, SHE IS DEFENDED BY THE GENTLEMENS CODE.( Not to Criticize a woman) HER CORE CONSTITUENCY IS FAIR GAME.
The Democrats have had a hard time targeting Palin, who is popular among conservatives and has garnered public sympathy in the wake of the media's response to news that her 17-year-old daughter was pregnant and planned to keep the baby.[4]


THE REPUBLICANS ARE NOW AS ENTHUSIASTIC AS A TENT FULL OF COUNTRY EVANGELICALS, Hightly Motivated White Non-Hispanics (hwwnhv), THUMPING THEIR WAY BACK TO THE WHITE HOUSE FOR ANOTHER 16YEARS(8 McCain, 8 Palin)
There has been a very substantial jump in the percentage of Republicans saying they are more enthusiastic about voting in this election, from 42% a week ago (after the Democratic convention, but before the Republican convention) to 60% today. Democrats still retain a slight lead on this measure, having increased their enthusiasm slightly this last week as well. But the enthusiasm gap, which has been so much a part of the story of the presidential election so far this year, has dwindled from 19 points in the Democrats' favor a week ago to only seven points today.[1]
WHO ARE THE THUMPERS,(hmwnh)
About 33% of non-Hispanic white registered voters are weekly church attenders, and the data make it clear that this group forms one of Republican McCain's key constituencies.[2]
The more than 2-to-1 support levels for McCain among this group have been remarkably consistent all summer. Much attention was paid to the possibility that the choice of Palin would help boost McCain's support even further among this group. That may happen in the days to come, but interviewing conducted during the first three days of the Republican National Convention -- Monday through Wednesday -- suggests little change in support patterns among highly religious white voters compared to previous weeks. These religious voters remain about as supportive of McCain as they have been. (These data were mostly collected before Pain's speech on Wednesday night; any impact from that speech will not be apparent for several days.)[2]
A BREECH IN THE WALL TO BE EXPLOITED
McCain also has the support of the smaller group of about 19% of white registered voters who attend church nearly weekly or monthly, but by a somewhat smaller margin. There has been a little more variation in support levels among this group as the summer has progressed, including a slight shift toward Obama in the Sept. 1-3 data.[2]
DEM ID/GOTV: THOSE WHO ARE HOME ON SUNDAY

Finally, there is a distinctly different pattern of candidate support evident among white voters who report seldom or never attending church[2]

This large group -- about 47% of the white registered voter population -- skews toward Obama by a 12-point margin in the last week of August and in the first three days of September. Again, there has been little substantive change in these voter support patterns all summer.[2]

BEFORE THE PAIN BOUNCE HERE IS WHAT THE NUMBERS SAID
Overall, in the first three days of September, McCain is winning over Obama among all non-Hispanic white registered voters by a 49% to 41% margin. This lead is based on the fact that his margin among the slightly more than half of all whites who attend church at least monthly is more than enough to compensate for his deficit among those who seldom or never attend church.[2]
From a larger perspective, Obama has an overall lead of 7 points over McCain for Sept. 1-3. The Democratic nominee's support among nonwhites (including blacks, Hispanics, and Asians) is so strong that when averaged in with white voters, he comes out on top.[2]
McCain has seen no immediate increase in support among highly religious white voters after his selection of Pain as his vice-presidential running mate. McCain has been ahead of Obama by better than a 2-to-1 margin among this group all summer, and that margin continues more or less unchanged in the first three days of September through Wednesday night. Meanwhile, Obama continues to dominate McCain among white voters who seldom or never attend church.[2]
THE THUMPER BOUNCE HAS PUT MCCAIN AHEAD. TOO EARLY TO TELL IF THIS IS PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY
Also, the selection of Pain may serve the function of manifesting a change in enthusiasm and turnout propensity among various subgroups of voters. That is, highly religious white voters could now become more motivated than they have been in their support for the GOP ticket, and could therefore increase McCain's overall total vote count on Election Day. By the same token, the selection of Pain may generate increased enthusiasm among Obama's less religious supporters who likely disagree with her conservative views on social issues. All of this will be sorted out as Gallup continues to analyze data over the next several days.[2]
The new poll, taken Friday though Sunday, shows McCain leading Obama by 54 percent to 44 percent among people most likely to vote and was conducted among 1,022 adults, including 959 registered voters, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 points for both samples, the newspaper said. [3]

News that the Gallup daily tracking poll shows John McCain with a 3-point lead over Barack Obama nationally may make Obama supporters panic. Relax, folks. This is almost entirely meaningless at this point for two primary reasons:First, because it’s a national poll and national polls just don’t matter much. Our elections are decided by the electoral college, not by national referendum. It is the state-by-state polls that matter as an indicator of what will happen on election day.[5]
Second, because even if national polls did matter, this is a normal post-convention bounce that won’t last. Obama got his bounce last week, when the same Gallup tracking poll showed him with a 7-point lead. That should tell you how shallow such a swing is and why it is entirely transient.[5]


Obama's running mate Senator Joseph Biden called McCain's commitment to change "malarkey."[4]
"Tell me one single thing they're going to do on the economy, foreign policy, taxes, that is going to be change," Biden said on NBC.[4]


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[1]
http://www.gallup.com/poll/110107/Republicans-Enthusiasm-Jumps-After-Convention.aspx

[2]
http://www.gallup.com/poll/110053/Religion-Remains-Major-Dividing-Factor-Among-White-Voters.aspx

[3]
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHBx.Y8FBBoc&refer=home

[4]
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hGnT3eaGxBfZmomXn79E2tdvisoA

[5]
http://www.michiganmessenger.com/3950/mccain-gets-bounce-no-one-should-panic-or-party

Posted here 9/6/08 by Terry Bankert http://attorneybankert.com/ 90884/17779

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Palin;two views

From my email, you know the forwarded stuff that the sender tries to make it look spontaneous but its really orchestrate strategy to sway you opinion.
http://goodmorningflint.blogspot.com/2008/09/pailntwo-views.html

Recently I received two. I ask here what if the following is true.

A pro Palin family member sent me #1.[1]

We just got this forward from our former pastor from MS...a friend sent it to him. And I'm sending it on to you folks.
.................................
Hi,
I have a good friend from Boulder who now lives in Wasilla, AK (sound familiar?). Jeff was in a Tuesday morning Bible study here in the Boulder area. He was formally a bull rider and now a United pilot (not connection I trust) flying out of AK. I wrote him for what he might know about the RNC’s new VP pick from Wasilla. I think you will value this information. Feel free to pass it on..[1]
......................
Good to hear from you!
Sat in front of Sara and Todd a church two weeks ago. That day we dedicated their new Baby, just the way you would have liked it. They are solid, sold out for the Lord , Bible thumpers like you and me..[1]

Cheryl and I have voted for Sara three times already. This Will be the 4th. We first met them when Cheryl and I were asked to host a table at an Interact Ministries conference (missionaries to the northern countries ie:Alaska Canada and I believe parts of Russia)..[1]

Sara and Todd sat next to us there and we got to know them a bit there. .[1]

Their children of which they are Both great parents are involved in our youth ministries. I can hardly picture Todd without him having one of his kids hanging on him or in his arms - he is a very involved and Loving father. And yet (this is comming from a 20 year Bull rider) he is one of the toughest guys I know. A four (4) time champion of the 'Iron Dog' you've heard of the Iditarod dog sled race,Wasilla to Nome, more than 1200 miles - this race follows the same trail on snow-machines average speed 100 mph! parts of it over open ocean. that's right OPEN ocean. that's why they keep the speed up..[1]

Sara: Integrity is the best word. doing the right thing when no one is looking. Has taken pay cuts instead of the offered raises. Has Cleaned house in the state, you will read about that. Believes in Pro life, In Jesus Christ as Lord and savior, Thinks we should give equal time to creationism in public schools. is skeptical about global warming, and know we can and should drill in ANWAR without environmental hazards..[1]

I have not been encouraged about John McCain until now. He has proven to have very sound judgement..[1]

Your friend J
.........................
Subject: Wasilla in the news
Hi
How about your former mayor? Know her? Like her? Believe in her leadership?
The second one was from Jack Minore a political professional democrat. He feigned a casual manner when he sent this.#2 [2]

I often take these kind of things "with a grain of salt" and (unless they're jokes) don't usually pass them on. This one has a ring of truth, at least, since it is signed and the individual who originally wrote it is identified and has included an e-mail address. [2]

That it was published -- albeit in a less than well-known paper -- seems to add to its credibility. And, many of the items included in this "letter" have been reported and (apparently) confirmed by the mainstream press. [2]

Finally: informed local citizens often have insights that the press may overlook -- or simply not possess. The writer, Anne Kilkenny, seems to have been involved with Palin and her public life (to some minimal extent, her private life, too -- as a neighbor and fellow citizen of a small town) for many years so may possess those insights -- and certainly seems to. [2]

Finally: I confess that Palin "scares me". She has grabbed the spotlight and, seemingly, the public heartstrings. As a Democrat, I certainly do no want to see McCain elected -- and Palin being a heartbeat away from the presidency is - for me, at least - VERY ALARMING! Add to that the fact recently put forward that a man of 73 has only a 1 in 3 chance of living to the age of 80 -- the end of two presidential terms. [2]

Take it for what it's worth, but please take the time to read this.
Jack Minore
http://www.blogger.com/mc/compose?to=jacksonmin@aol.com
About Sarah Palin from a resident of Wasilla, AK whohas known her since 1992by Anne KilkennyThe Washington Independent - August 31, 2008http://www.washingtonindependent.com/3671/the-reform-candidate<http://www.washingtonindependent.com/3671/the-reform-candidate&g t;

A note to all by Anne KilkennyDear friends,[2]

So many people have asked me about what I know aboutSarah Palin in the last 2 days that I decided to writesomething up . . .[2]

Basically, Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton have only 2things in common: their gender and their good looks. :)[2]

You have my permission to forward this to yourfriends/email contacts with my name and email addressattached, but please do not post it on any websites, asthere are too many kooks out there . [2]

[This was already posted on Washington Independentcomments area, with a controllable ho tmail account, andwas obviously meant by the author to be read.][2]

Thanks,Anne==========

ABOUT SARAH PALINI am a resident of Wasilla, Alaska. I have known Sarahsince 1992. Everyone here knows Sarah, so it is nothingspecial to say we are on a first-name basis. Ourchildren have attended the same schools. Her father wasmy child's favorite substitute teacher. I also am on afirst name basis with her parents and mother-in-law. Iattended more City Council meetings during heradministration than about 99% of the residents of thecity.[2]

She is enormously popular; in every way she's like themost popular girl in middle school. Even men who thinkshe is a poor choice and won't vote for her can't quitsmiling when talking about her because she is a 'babe'.[2]

It is astonishing and almost scary how well she cankeep a secret. She kept her most recent pregnancy asecret from her children and parents for seven months.[2]

She is 'pro-life'. She recently gave birth to a Down'ssyndrome baby. There is no cover-up involved, here;Trig is her baby.[2]She is energetic and hardworking. She regularly workedout at the gym.[2]

Sh e is savvy. She doesn't take positions; she just'puts things out there' and if they prove to bepopular, then she takes credit.[2]

Her husband works a union job on the North Slope for BPand is a champion snowmobile racer. Todd Palin's kindof job is highly sought-after because of the scheduleand high pay. He arranges his work schedule so he canfish for salmon in Bristol Bay for a month or so insummer, but by no stretch of the imagination is fishingtheir major source of income. Nor has her life-styleever been anything like that of native Alaskans.[2]

Sarah and her whole family are avid hunters.[2]

She's smar t.Her experience is as mayor of a city with a populationof about 5,000 (at the time), and less than 2 years asgovernor of a state with about 670,000 residents.[2]During her mayoral administration most of the actualwork of running this small city was turned over to anadministrator. She had been pushed to hire thisadministrator by party power-brokers after she hadgotten herself into some trouble over precipitousfirings which had given rise to a recall campaign.[2]

Sarah campaigned in Wasilla as a 'fiscal conservative'.During her 6 years as Mayor, she increased generalgovernment expenditures by over 33% . During those same6 years the amount of taxes collected by the Cityincreased by 38%. This was during a period of lowinflation (1996-2002). She reduced progressive propertytaxes and increased a regressive sales tax which taxedeven food. The tax cuts that she promoted benefitedlarge corporate property owners way more than theybenefited residents.[2]

The huge increases in tax revenues during her mayoraladministration weren't enough to fund everything on herwish list though, borrowed money was needed, too. Sheinherited a city with zero debt, but left it withindebtedness of over $22 million. What did Mayor Pa linencourage the voters to borrow money for? Was it theinfrastructure that she said she supported? The sewagetreatment plant that the city lacked? or a new library?No. $1m for a park. $15m-plus for construction of amulti-use sports complex which she rushed through tobuild on a piece of property that the City didn't evenhave clear title to, that was still in litigation 7 yrslater--to the delight of the lawyers involved! Thesports complex itself is a nice addition to thecommunity but a huge money pit, not the profit-generator she claimed it would be. She also supportedbonds for $5.5m for road projects that could have beendone in 5-7 yrs without any borrowing.[2]

While Mayor, City Hall was extensively remodeled andher office redecorated more than once.[2]These are small numbers, but Wasilla is a very smallcity.[2]

As an oil producer, the high price of oil has created abudget surplus in Alaska. Rather than invest thissurplus in technology that will make us energyindependent and increase efficiency, as Governor sheproposed distribution of this surplus to everyindividual in the state.[2]

In this time of record state revenues and budgetsurpluses, she recommended that the state bo rrow/bondfor road projects, even while she proposed distributionof surplus state revenues: spend today's surplus,borrow for needs.[2]

She's not very tolerant of divergent opinions or opento outside ideas or compromise. As Mayor, she foughtideas that weren't generated by her or her staff. Ideasweren't evaluated on their merits, but on the basis ofwho proposed them.[2]

While Sarah was Mayor of Wasilla she tried to fire ourhighly respected City Librarian because the Librarianrefused to consider removing from the library somebooks that Sarah wanted removed. City residents ralliedto the defense of the City Librarian and againstPalin's attempt at out-and-out censorship, so Palinbacked down and withdrew her termination letter. Peoplewho fought her attempt to oust the Librarian are on herenemies list to this day.[2]

Sarah complained about the 'old boy's club' when shefirst ran for Mayor, so what did she bring Wasilla? Anew set of 'old boys'. Palin fired most of theexperienced staff she inherited. At the City and asGovernor she hired or elevated new, inexperienced,obscure people, creating a staff totally dependent onher for their jobs and eternally grateful and fiercelyloyal--loyal to the point of abusing their power tofurther her personal agenda, as she has acknowledgedhappened in the case of pressuring the State's top cop(see below).[2]

As Mayor, Sarah fired Wasilla's Police Chief because he'intimidated' her, she told the press. As Governor, herrecent firing of Alaska's top cop has the ring offamiliarity about it. He served at her pleasure and shehad every legal right to fire him, but it's prettyclear that an important factor in her decision to firehim was because he wouldn't fire her sister's ex-husband, a State Trooper. Under investigation for abuseof power, she has had to admit that more than 2 dozencontacts were made between her staff and family to theperson that she later fired, pressuring him to fire herex-brother-in- law. She tried to replace the man shefired with a man who she knew had been reprimanded forsexual harassment; when this caused a public furor, shewithdrew her support.[2]

She has bitten the hand of every person who extendedtheirs to her in help. The City Council person whopersonally escorted her around town introducing her tovoters when she first ran for Wasilla City Councilbecame one of her first targets when she was laterelected Mayor. She abruptly fired her loyal CityAdministrator; even people who didn't like the guy werestunned by this ruthlessness.[2]

Fear of retribution has kept all of these people fromsaying anything publicly about her.[2]

When then-Governor Murkowski was handing out politicalplums, Sarah got the best, Chair of the Alaska Oil andGas Conservation Commission: one of the few jobs not inJuneau and one of the best paid. She had no backgroundin oil & gas issues. Within months of scoring thisgreat job which paid $122,400/yr, she was complainingin the press about the high salary. I was told that shehated that job: the commute, the structured hours, thework. Sarah became aware that a member of thisCommission (who was also the State Chair of theRepublican Party) engaged in unethical behavior on thejob. In a gutsy move which some undoubtedly cautionedher could be political suicide, Sarah solved all herproblems in one fell swoop: got out of the job shehated and garnered gobs of media attention as thepatron saint of ethics and as a gutsy fighter againstthe 'old boys' club' when she dramatically quit,exposing this man's ethics violations (for which he wasfined).[2]

As Mayor, she had her hand stuck out as far as anyonefor pork from Senator Ted Stevens. Lately, she hascastigated his pork-barrel politics and publiclyhumiliated him. She only opposed the 'bridge tonowhere' after it became clear that it would be unwisenot to.[2]

As Governor, she gave the Legislature no direction andbudget guidelines, then made a big grandstand displayof line-item vetoing projects, calling them pork.Public outcry and further legislative action restoredmost of these projects--which had been vetoed simplybecause she was not aware of their importance-- butwith the unobservant she had gained a reputation as'anti-pork'.[2]

She is solidly Republican: no political maverick. TheState party leaders hate her because she has bit themin the back and humiliated them. Other members of theparty object to her self-description as a fiscalconservative.[2]

Around Wasilla there are people who went to high schoolwith Sarah. They call her 'Sarah Barracuda' because ofher unbridled ambition and predatory ruthlessness.Before she became so powerful, very ugly storiescirculated around town about shenanigans she pulled tobe made point guard on the high school basketball team.When Sarah's mother-in-law, a highly respected memberof the c ommunity and experienced manager, ran forMayor, Sarah refused to endorse her.[2]

As Governor, she stepped outside of the box and puttogether of package of legislation known as 'AGIA' thatforced the oil companies to march to the beat of herdrum.[2]Like most Alaskans, she favors drilling in the ArcticNational Wildlife Refuge. She has questioned if theloss of sea ice is linked to global warming. Shecampaigned 'as a private citizen' against a stateinitiative that would have either a) protected salmonstreams from pollution from mines, or b) tied up in thecourts all mining in the state (depending on who you listen to). She has pushed the State's lawsuit againstthe Dept. of the Interior's decision to list polarbears as threatened species.[2]

McCain is the oldest person to ever run for President;Sarah will be a heartbeat away from being President.[2]

There has to be literally millions of Americans who aremore knowledgeable and experienced than she.[2]

However, there's a lot of people who haveunderestimated her and are regretting it.[2]


CLAIM VS FACT

*'Hockey mom': true for a few years [2]

*'PTA mom': true years ago when her first-born was inelementary school, not since [2]

*'NRA supporter': absolutely true [2]

*social conservative: mixed. Opposes gay marriage, BUTvetoed a bill that would have denied benefits toemployees in same-sex relationships (said she did thisbecause it was unconstitutional)[2]

*pro-creationism: mixed. Supports it, BUT did nothingas Governor to promote it.[2]

*'Pro-life': mixed. Knowingly gave birth to a Down'ssyndrome baby BUT declined to call a speciallegislative session on some pro-life legislation [2]

*'Experienced': Some high schools have more studentsthan Wasilla has residents. Many cities have moreresidents than the state o f Alaska. No legislativeexperience other than City Council. Little hands-onsupervisory or managerial experience; needed help of acity administrator to run town of about 5,000.[2]

*political maverick: not at all [2]

*gutsy: absolutely![2]

*open & transparent: ??? Good at keeping secrets. Notgood at explaining actions.[2]

*has a developed philosophy of public policy: no [2]

*'a Greenie': no. Turned Wasilla into a wasteland ofbig box stores and disconnected parking lots. Is pro-drilling off-shore and in ANWR.[2]

*fiscal conservative: not by my definition![2]

*pro-infrastruct ure: No. Promoted a sports complex andpark in a city without a sewage treatment plant orstorm drainage system. Built streets to early 20thcentury standards.[2]

*pro-tax relief: Lowered taxes for businesses,increased tax burden on residents [2]

*pro-small government: No. Oversaw greatest expansionof city government in Wasilla's history.[2]

*pro-labor/pro- union. No. Just because her husbandworks union doesn't make her pro-labor. I have seennothing to support any claim that she is pro-labor/pro-union.[2]

WHY AM I WRITING THIS?First, I have long believed in the importance o f beingan informed voter. I am a voter registrar. For 10 yearsI put on student voting programs in the schools. If yougoogle my name (Anne Kilkenny + Alaska), you will findreferences to my participation in local government,education, and PTA/parent organizations.[2]

Secondly, I've always operated in the belief that 'Badthings happen when good people stay silent'. Few peopleknow as much as I do because few have gone to as manyCity Council meetings.[2]

Third, I am just a housewife. I don't have a job shecan bump me out of. I don't belong to any organizationthat she can hurt. But, I am no fool; she is immense lypopular here, and it is likely that this will cost mesomehow in the future: that's life.[2]

Fourth, she has hated me since back in 1996, when I wasone of the 100 or so people who rallied to support theCity Librarian against Sarah's attempt at censorship.[2]

Fifth, I looked around and realized that everybody elsewas afraid to say anything because they were somehowvulnerable.[2]

CAVEATSI am not a statistician. I developed the numbers forthe increase in spending & taxation 2 years ago (whenPalin was running for Governor) from informationsupplied to me by the Finance Director of the City ofWasilla, and I can't recall exactly what I adjustedfor: did I adjust for inflation? for populationincreases? Right now, it is impossible for a privateperson to get any info out of City Hall--they areswamped. So I can't verify my numbers.[2]


You may have noticed that there are various numberscirculating for the population of Wasilla, ranging frommy 'about 5,000', up to 9,000. The day Palin'sselection was announced a city official told me thatthe current population is about 7,000. The official2000 census count was 5,460. I have used about 5,000because Palin was Mayor from 1996 to 2002 , and the citywas growing rapidly in the mid-90's.[2]

Anne Kilkennyannekilkenny@ hotmail.comAugust 31, 2008
Jack Minore610 Commonwealth AveFlint, MI 48503810 - 235-1490jacksonmin@aol.com

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