By Natalie Gewargis

Oct 2, 2008 9:25am

Debate Tip: Look for Palin to Use Biden’s Own Words to Attack Obama

In an interview with Sean Hannity this week, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin focused on a foreign policy flip-flop by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.: his May 24, 2007 vote against reauthorizing funding for U.S. troops in Iraq because the bill did not include a timetable for troop withdrawal.

“Proposing and voting for cutting off funding for our troops while they’re in a war zone is so reckless and so political,” Palin said. “And Biden had even called Obama on that one. Remember, he said, ‘Obama, your move there was political, and it’s gonna cost lives.’ And yet, Obama, after promising that he would not cut off funding for troops in the war zone, he voted to do so anyway.”

ABC News’ Imtiyaz Delawala, who covers Palin, suggests that she will use this line of attack this evening at the first and only vice presidential debate in St. Louis.

“So reckless, irresponsible — we’re gonna lay that out there and again let Americans judge for themselves who they would like to see as commander in chief: John McCain, who knows how to win a war, or Sen. Obama, who has voted to cut off funding for our troops?” Palin continued, repeating a charge that the McCain-Palin campaign is also making in a TV ad that also uses Sen. Joe Biden’s words against Obama.

"My colleagues voted against the funding to make a political point," Biden said in Des Moines after the vote. "There’s no political point worth my son’s life. There’s no political point worth anyone’s life."

Biden’s son Beau, the attorney general of Delaware, will deploy to Iraq this year as a member of the National Guard.

Among other comments Biden made, hammering that vote, the loquacious Blue Hen told "Meet the Press," "I am not going to fail to protect these kids as long as we have a single, solitary troop in Iraq. This isn’t cutting off the war. This is cutting off support that will save the lives of thousands of American troops."

**

To step back in time to that May 2007 day, Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., were eyeing each other like scorpions in a bottle as they prepared to do battle for the votes of anti-war liberals in Iowa and elsewhere.

Neither candidate would discuss the vote before it was cast. Both were among the last dozen or so to vote; Obama slipped in quietly onto the Senate floor at close to 8:45 p.m., said hi to some colleagues, approached the desk, quietly said "No," and left. Only seconds later, Clinton did the same.

Both Clinton and Obama had said they wouldn’t vote against funding the troops, and both flip-flopped.

In March 2007, Obama had told CNN, "what you don’t want to do is to play chicken to — with the president, and create a situation in which, potentially, you don’t have body armor; you don’t have reinforced Humvees; you don’t have night-vision goggles."

But in May, he was singing a different tune.

"This vote is a choice between validating the same failed policy in Iraq that has cost us so many lives, and demanding a new one," Obama said in a statement. "And I am demanding a new one."

Clinton, in a statement, said she voted against the legislation "because it fails to compel the president to give our troops a new strategy in Iraq."  She said she wished President Bush "had followed the will of the people and signed the original bill we sent, which both funded the troops and set a new course of phased redeployment."

Obama’s vote was out of the mainstream not only for the Senate as a whole — the troop funding bill passed 80-14 — as well as for Democratic senators, it was even out of the mainstream for war opponents in the Senate.

Of the 16 sitting senators who voted against going to war to begin with, 11 voted to provide funds for U.S. troops.

"Though I loathe this decision to fund the war, I will not take out my feelings against the troops in the field," said Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who voted against authorizing use of force in Iraq in October 2002. "Our soldiers should never be bargaining chips in this debate."

Durbin was joined by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chair of the Armed Services Committee, who also voted against going to war six years ago this month.

"I cannot vote to stop funding our troops who are in harm’s way," Levin said. "It is not the proper way that we can bring this war to an end. It is not the proper way that we can put pressure on Iraqi leaders."

**

McCain raised the issue in the first presidential debate.

"Sen. Obama, who, after promising not to vote to cut off funds for the troops, did the incredible thing of voting to cut off the funds for the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan," McCain said.

"Let’s talk about this troop funding issue because John always brings this up," Obama responded. "Sen. McCain opposed funding for troops in legislation that had a timetable, because he didn’t believe in a timetable. I opposed funding a mission that had no timetable, and was open-ended, giving a blank check to George Bush. We had a difference on the timetable. We didn’t have a difference on whether or not we were going to be funding troops."

But it might be more problematic for Biden to defend Obama on the vote, which Palin will assuredly raise in this evening’s debate. Biden has already criticized the vote as pandering that could cost American lives. How do you walk that statement back?

- jpt

User Comments

Barracuda!

Posted by: John | October 2, 2008, 9:31 am 9:31 am

Oh yeah. That “stunning” argument should make us all suddenly decide that if something happens to McCain, she could run the country, manage our economic crisis, oversee the troops and the wars, while she whips up breakfast for First Dude and the kids.

Posted by: sp | October 2, 2008, 9:33 am 9:33 am

SP
you are being sarcastoc but that just might exactly be the argument to use…. the man is questionable at best… there is no grounds to use the “Lesser of two evils” argument for Obama over mccain

Posted by: staniam | October 2, 2008, 9:41 am 9:41 am

“Biden has already criticized [Obama's Iraq war] vote as pandering that could cost American lives. How do you walk that statement back?”

Posted by: Belle Starr | October 2, 2008, 9:41 am 9:41 am

When they call her “barracuda”
is that about how much knowledge of these overwhelming issues we have facing us?
or is it because she swims like one?
if a barracuda bites in the ocean…but all the people in the nation were destroyed by her pressing the button to blow up Putin’s rearing head…
does it make a sound?
ugh
the worst ticket in our nation’s history…
Mccain Palin
dumb and dumbest.

Posted by: dl | October 2, 2008, 9:42 am 9:42 am

Ha, but Biden can hammer her back for McCain not supporting the revised GI bill, which creates incentives to get the best and brightest minds in our armed forces.

Posted by: make it known | October 2, 2008, 9:43 am 9:43 am

Myself and many others, are not interested
in attacks.
We want to hear her plans and where she
will take the country to.
Attacks is wastage of time and do not
help anyone!

Posted by: FM | October 2, 2008, 9:44 am 9:44 am

It’s pretty shocking, now that we’ve come to know her, that this empty headed bimbo of Governor of an American state.
Even if that state is Alaska, where under Palin’s hood people like to shoot at wolves from airplanes.
Palin will not be able to recover from the devastating Couric interviews, and she’ll stumble on current issues many more times in the weeks ahead.
Country first? Then send her home, in the name of the American interests.

Posted by: kurt | October 2, 2008, 9:45 am 9:45 am

HP Boston
you have been trying to bring up scandals…
as each one has gotten disproven or investigated after all of your distracting non sense for 2 years…
stop
Obama is a good guy who has faced every issue…every problem thrown at him…every question… and given detailed thoughtful answers on almost every single one…for almost 2 years.
Mccain and Palin are the worst ticket we have ever seen in our nation’s history.
when do you realize those tactics from the past 8 years aren’t working anymore.

Posted by: dl | October 2, 2008, 9:45 am 9:45 am

Indeed, she has the brains and the worldly knowledge of a barracuda. Or a goldfish, for that matter.

Posted by: fish | October 2, 2008, 9:49 am 9:49 am

Well, I guess if using past words and some changes on positions determines who wins the debate, Palin will win hands down – since the McCain campaign has hid her from the American voters, she has very little past words or positions for someone to hold her to. This is a ridiculous smoke and mirrors, sound-bite cramming exhibition tonight by Gov Palin that, even should she do well, do nothing to assure the American people that she is qualified for office. Just like any college student or graduate can relate to, all it shows is that her short term memory capabilities are good. Joe Biden has been out, available to the public, in over 90 public interviews, Meet the Press, etc. In the minute number of interviews Palin has held, we have seen her at odds with McCain’s foreign policy in Pakistan, and show a “stunning” lack of in depth understanding of the most basic of foreign policy and economic principles. Surely the American voters are smart enough to know a “debate camp” graduate as opposed to a candidate with extensive, in depth knowledge of the complex, critical issues facing this country and threatening the futures of our children and grandchildren.

Posted by: das2 | October 2, 2008, 9:49 am 9:49 am

Palin has lost all credibility and this debate want help the McCain campaign.
John McCain’s best days are behind him.

Posted by: Lookup | October 2, 2008, 9:51 am 9:51 am

Then let Biden remind her that a few months ago Palin, talking to Charlie Rose, said that she didn’t know yet who she’d be voting for in this election.

Posted by: brent | October 2, 2008, 9:51 am 9:51 am

Hi JT,
This is a relatively easy attack line to defend. First, when McCain made the argument in the debate, it wasn’t effective. Obama emphatically stated the point that he voted to fund with timetables. That’s a view most Americans agree with.
Second, Biden can say that Obama was right and no blank check should have been given to Bush. Just as Congress pushed back on Paulson’s blank check, if members had listened to Obama, we could have come up with a better bill that would’ve saved lives. The problem is that no one can trust Bush because he is incompetent.
Third, Biden can restate the litany of arguments showing that Obama was right and McCain was wrong. That was Obama’s strongest point of the first debate and it moved voters. Contrary to conventional wisdom that people trust McCain more on foreign policy, they actually agree more with Barack on foreign policy issues, especially Iraq. That’s why McCain’s advantages on national security issues ended up being a phyrric lead. Obama beat him on his own turf because people agreed with his positions on the issues and liked his demeanor and leadership style.
This line of argument from Palin gives Biden an opportunity to tie McCain to Bush.

Posted by: Khyber Jones | October 2, 2008, 9:55 am 9:55 am

Interesting reading:
Ann Coulter’s colum, October 1, 2008.

Posted by: s | October 2, 2008, 9:57 am 9:57 am

I think it will be a mistake for Gov Palin to come out as the snarky, sarcastic politician at the debate tonight. It did not work well for John McCain, and it only plays to the base, of which she already has their vote. Undecided voters want to hear clearly hear her views on the issues, not circular answers that only attack Obama without articulating her own position on the subject matter. I think she will seriously damage her political future if she disrespects the voters by refusing to discuss the issues deeply. People have become fatigued to the attack strategy of Steve Schmidt, and further attacks are the victim of the laws of diminishing returns. Now is the time for substance and recognition that the American people deserve to know who their candidates really are.

Posted by: gater23 | October 2, 2008, 9:57 am 9:57 am

Sarah needs to ask Joe about his coal mining days in Scranton – must have been child labor and then have him talk facing death in the helicopter and how he loved FDR’s TV speech in 1929.

Posted by: jamescbuilder | October 2, 2008, 9:58 am 9:58 am

Plus, look for Palin’s use of the words “also” and “too” at the end of her sentences, as far as she’s able to bring a sentence to an end.
The use of these words are a Palic tic. They indicate that she knows that her answers all always insufficient, therefore saying “also” must give an air of inclusiveness and completeness to her empty responses. They create a vacuum, so to say. A full pack with nothing in it.

Posted by: Horror Vacui | October 2, 2008, 9:59 am 9:59 am

She better embrace the posture of humility after having embarrassed herself and America so much in the Couric interviews.
Only humility can save her in this debate.

Posted by: quark | October 2, 2008, 10:02 am 10:02 am

Sara supports drilling in anwar, Mccain dont, Sara opposes aborition in the case of rape and incest,mccain dont Sara opposes birth control and sex education in school mccain dont, and sara will try to find us something and get back to us on mccains records NOW THAT IS ONE MESSED UP TICKET Joe biden knows more things about mccain then sara does, remember mccain talked to her for 15 minutes and then asked her to be vp. THIS IS A COMPLETE JOKE THE WORST TICKET IN HISTORY!

Posted by: angie | October 2, 2008, 10:04 am 10:04 am

That’s a “debate tip?”
Another “tip” grass is green, water is wet

Posted by: Captain America | October 2, 2008, 10:05 am 10:05 am

Let’s just hope she can remember what candidate she’s talking about.

Posted by: Renee | October 2, 2008, 10:07 am 10:07 am

Guess Dl is assigned this blog today to keep us all informed about all the liberal bs. You may need Ryan C. to give you a hand, he has a quite large play-book and seems to know the answer to anything we throw at him, like it or not. I, like Senator McCain and Sarah Paln are true patriots. I stand and place my hand over my heart when the National Anthem is played. And, if I were not a woman I would wear a flag pin in my lapel.

Posted by: s | October 2, 2008, 10:09 am 10:09 am

Why is FEC Keeping Lid on OBAMA SCANDAL?
It looks as if Senator Obama may have received MORE THAN $200 MILLION in illegal donations including millions overseas campaign donations. Four times during the last three months an FEC Auditor has asked his bosses to start an investigation into Senator Obama’s illegal campaign donations such as this one
Similarly, a donor identified as “Pro, Doodad,” from “Nando, NY,” gave $19,500 in 786 separate donations, most of them for $25. For most of these donations, Mr. Doodad Pro listed his employer as “Loving” and his profession as “You,” etc.

Posted by: HP Boston | October 2, 2008, 10:11 am 10:11 am

Mrs Palin, please elaborate….
Thought so.
Obama 08

Posted by: Jobamatx | October 2, 2008, 10:12 am 10:12 am

Mrs Palin the bill that obama voted against, can you describe in detail what it was asking for?
Thought so…
Obama 08

Posted by: Jobamatx | October 2, 2008, 10:13 am 10:13 am

“Why is FEC Keeping Lid on OBAMA SCANDAL?”
Posted by: HP Boston
—————————————
Adjust the color on your tv set.

Posted by: s | October 2, 2008, 10:14 am 10:14 am

Mrs Palin where is Putins Head?
thought so
obama 08

Posted by: Jobamatx | October 2, 2008, 10:14 am 10:14 am

Mrs Palin name on newspaper you actually read?
Though so
Obama 08

Posted by: Jobamatx | October 2, 2008, 10:15 am 10:15 am

What is up with this $200 million in earmarks attached to our Bailout Bill??? Repubs suck!!!

Posted by: beck | October 2, 2008, 10:16 am 10:16 am

Sarah barracuda? Yeah lets vote her into office based on her high school basketball team nickname.
Really?
Obama 08

Posted by: Jobamatx | October 2, 2008, 10:17 am 10:17 am

Mrs Palin please describe in detail your campaign strategy to help americans with the failing economy?
Thought so
Obama 08

Posted by: Jobamatx | October 2, 2008, 10:19 am 10:19 am

I like Sarah Palin. If she had a few beers in her, I bet that I’d like her even more.
However, no matter how many facts and one-liners the GOP crams into her head, she is not ready to be President of the United States.
McCain/Palin in ’08? Thanks, but no thanks.

Posted by: hamishdad | October 2, 2008, 10:20 am 10:20 am

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows Barack Obama attracting 51% of the vote while John McCain earns 44%. This seven-point advantage is the largest yet enjoyed by Obama during Election 2008 and is consistent with the stable lead he has enjoyed over the past week.

Posted by: Mr. Coffee | October 2, 2008, 10:21 am 10:21 am

“scandals…as each one has gotten disproven or investigated after all of your distracting non sense for 2 years…”
Indictments of ACORN in over 12 states. Fact.
Obama sueing banks to make subprime loans. Fact.
Obama using Annenburg funds to radicalize Illinois schools. Fact.
Obama encouraging intimidation of citizens by his supporters. Fact.
Relentless smearing and fabrications against his opponents in races he has run since his days as an Illinois Senator. Fact.
It isn’t that there aren’t sufficient facts to prove the shady behavior of Barack Obama, it is that his supporters don’t care. So this election in the final days is coming down to the low-information voters versus the low-experience voters such as yourself who haven’t experienced enough of life to know what a term won by intimidation will come to soon after the election.
The way one wins limits what one can achieve. By that measure, an Obama administration will be the greatest failure since…. George W. Bush.
As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.

Posted by: len | October 2, 2008, 10:27 am 10:27 am

No big deal….McCain can use McCain’s own words to attack McCain. McCain is all over the place with his positions.

Posted by: indy_voter | October 2, 2008, 10:28 am 10:28 am

Beck,
“What is up with this $200 million in earmarks attached to our Bailout Bill??? Repubs suck!!!”
Posted by: beck
—————————————-
Didn’t the Dems vote too? Maybe they were the ones that voted to give a tax break to make wooden arrows and a tax break for Hollywood. Dl and Ryan C. will put their liberal spin on this…just watch.

Posted by: s | October 2, 2008, 10:29 am 10:29 am

“s”
no assigning
here I get up
as I work at my computer during the day…I read all the people spinning and buying into the same tactics of the last 8 years and can’t let the bologne coming out of that same team trying to throw another election and national decision…
by those same tactics…
can’t let the bullsh####rs keep throwing out the bull and destroying our nation
I moved to NH just because I cared about this election that much…
I went and saw all the candidates…
as did many of the obama supporters…
that is why we know the facts and don’t like the bull being thrown from Mccain/Palin
“dumb and dumbest”

Posted by: dl | October 2, 2008, 10:30 am 10:30 am

Sarah honey, just be yourself….oh wait….never mind!

Posted by: Trish | October 2, 2008, 10:31 am 10:31 am

len
your “facts”
are funny
…and spin.

Posted by: dl | October 2, 2008, 10:32 am 10:32 am

Palin can attack Biden and Obama all she wants…in fact, she has to attack because she has no experience of her own. Unlike Obama and Biden, she has no track record. She never really commanded the AK National Guard to do anything. Her stint as mayor of Wasilla resulted in a 30% increase in taxes and allowed her to get exemptions for snowmbilers (her husband races them) and plane owners (her father-in-law owns one). She flip-flopped on the Bridge to Nowhere, and spend $27 million on a three mile road on an island with 50 people and no cars. She claims to have passed a pipeline bill, but the bill she supported doesn’t authorize building of a pipeline. She vetoed money for the AK Special Olympics and made women who were raped in Wasilla pay for the own rape kits, detering many from even reporting the assaults. She fired a respected police officer for taking a trip her office approved. She promotes family values, but wasn’t around her family enough to keep her daughter from getting pregnant by a self-avowed redneck, and her preacher started his career by declaring a woman in his Kenyan village a witch and responsible for a rash of auto accidents, then drove her from her home. He prayed for Palin to be governor and drive the witches and non-Christians from Juneau.
She can say what she wants about Obama and Biden, but the facts are Palin is a freak and not worthy of the office of Vice President.

Posted by: algwriter | October 2, 2008, 10:36 am 10:36 am

len,
Good post,
Let’s not forget what is happening in Ohio this week with the early voting.
Isn’t ACORN a big backer of this voting fraud. News tell us here in Texas that they are using fake electricity bills as identification. How many times this week can they vote? With no one checkin..who knows.

Posted by: s | October 2, 2008, 10:37 am 10:37 am

Anyone who reads a column by Ann Coulter has no credibility! That woman is disgusting!
Barack Obama said he wanted to choose people for his cabinet who wouldn’t necessarily have the same view on issues as himself so that they would challenge his own thinking. His first pick, Joe Biden, is the beginning of that idea.
Read the book about Abe Lincoln, “Team of Rivals” and you will get the idea, as Lincoln appointed his rivals for the presidential nomination as his cabinet members!

Posted by: Donna Hughes | October 2, 2008, 10:38 am 10:38 am

“that is why we know the facts and don’t like the bull being thrown from Mccain/Palin”
But you are very selective about the facts, dl. You quickly skirt the ones that don’t suit your candidate and Obama has a very long history of disturbing behavior. You can call Palin “dumb” or McCain “old”, but your man is one who uses the tactics of thuggery to win where his ideas are insufficient, and you and yours have called people ‘racist’ simply for pointing it out. The payback for that after the election will be ugly.
As Dryden says in Lawrence of Arabia,
“A man who tells lies, like me, merely hides the truth. But a man who tells half-lies has forgotten where he put it.”

Posted by: len | October 2, 2008, 10:39 am 10:39 am

Mr. Coffee: Believe me, no one is impressed with your pompass attitude so get over your self. Now that being said, as far as any poll goes do you remember Truman, Duey?

Posted by: bombem | October 2, 2008, 10:39 am 10:39 am

If Ifill thinks questioning her conflict of interest (she stands to make millions if Obama wins) is racial or racist then that alone is a red flag for me. If she says she doesn’t understand why that would concern people, she is either a liar and unethical or foolish and out of touch. Since she played the race card, I think she is all of the above.
Ifill didn’t tell the commision about her pro-Obama book (book also touts Axelrod’s other protege, Deval Patrick), and so the commision should remove her or Ifill should announce a full disclosure statement at beginning of debate so that the viewers know.
Hopefully we can apply enough pressure that she will not be biased or she will overcompensate by being truly fair and calling Biden out if he tries to pull a fast one.

Posted by: HP Boston | October 2, 2008, 10:40 am 10:40 am

“Let’s not forget what is happening in Ohio this week with the early voting.”
I haven’t but the outcomes of those tactics concern me more. As pointed out before, ACORN and Obama’s long association with the organization will be the cause to challenge votes in many states, and that will make a bad situation of temperament fueled by the inevitable economic pain much worse.
Even if Obama wins, the first year will be a nightmare and the second will be worse. The elements of racism that have been used so freely by Obama and his supporters to divide the citizens will come roaring out in bumper stickers, etc. This will feed the fire.
If Alinsky wanted chaos, this will do it.
The means make the difference in the outcome.

Posted by: len | October 2, 2008, 10:44 am 10:44 am

It’s the economy stupid.
Seriously, going off on an Iraq tangent s just going to annoy people.

Posted by: johnTX | October 2, 2008, 10:45 am 10:45 am

Let’s not forget what is happening in Ohio this week with the early voting.”
I haven’t but the outcomes of those tactics concern me more. As pointed out before, ACORN and Obama’s long association with the organization will be the cause to challenge votes in many states, and that will make a bad situation of temperament fueled by the inevitable economic pain much worse.
Even if Obama wins, the first year will be a nightmare and the second will be worse. The elements of racism that have been used so freely by Obama and his supporters to divide the citizens will come roaring out in bumper stickers, etc. This will feed the fire.
If Alinsky wanted chaos, this will do it.
The means make the difference in the outcome.
Posted by: len | Oct 2, 2008 10:44:17 AM
——————————–
GD scary huh Len……………it is the PLAN!

Posted by: HP Boston | October 2, 2008, 10:46 am 10:46 am

I do not support Palin’s claim that she can see Russia so she has foreign policy experience. But I do have problem with MSM ridiculing her when the same MSM was gloating about the fact that Obama grew up in Indonesia(when he was 6 for god’s sake) qualifies him better than Hillary Clinton.

Posted by: sri | October 2, 2008, 10:47 am 10:47 am

A little off the subject, but has anyone seen Obama’s channel on Dish network? I can’t believe this is allowed. Channel 73, I won’t post a link to the story because it would just be deleted.

Posted by: bamboozled | October 2, 2008, 10:49 am 10:49 am

is obama’s growing up in indonesia better foreign policy experience than alaska’s proximity to russia?

Posted by: sri | October 2, 2008, 10:52 am 10:52 am

Biden could say,
“Of course in the great history of America there have been rulings that there’s never gonna be absolute consensus by every American.”

Posted by: Danny | October 2, 2008, 10:53 am 10:53 am

can the mccain camp make up its mind
yesterday mccain said he thought ifill would be a good moderator and didnt seem to care about her book
today hes outraged about
the funny thing about this besides it being a flip flop
is that the book was announced well before she was picked as a moderator
both campaigns have to agree to the moderator
so this leaves you with one of two choices
1. the mccain camp is inept and cant do even the most elementary of research
2. the mccain camp never cared about hte book and instead figured they could at a later date play politics and if the debate was horrible they had some fingers they could point
mccain/palin
pathetic before country

Posted by: Bhrandon | October 2, 2008, 10:54 am 10:54 am

S WHY DOES MCCAIN NOT WEAR HIS FLAG PIN?

Posted by: angie | October 2, 2008, 10:55 am 10:55 am

Dl, got to agree with you on some things. Gosh, this GOOD OLD USA needs someone strong, patriotic and doesn’t take bribes and put the money in the freezer. Can you honestly believe that Obama can and will deliver the things he says. Where is he going to get the money. We are taxed to the limit now. Didn’t they just vote to bailout heavens knows what? Where is Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson, Faracan(sp)
they are not speaking out..maybe even they do not like what is happening. In our town folks like these guys have been ‘caught with their hands in the cookie jar’ and school districts and towns fail and dry up. Wonder why?

Posted by: s | October 2, 2008, 10:57 am 10:57 am

“I do not support Palin’s claim that she can see Russia so she has foreign policy experience. But I do have problem with MSM ridiculing her when the same MSM was gloating about the fact that Obama grew up in Indonesia(when he was 6 for god’s sake) qualifies him better than Hillary Clinton.”
It probably doesn’t qualify for foreign policy experience, but don’t you think Alaska has to keep a particular eye on Russia, especially now, since they just invaded Georgia? But someone who needs 300 foreign policy advisors probably didn’t have much experience in that area either.

Posted by: Maria | October 2, 2008, 10:57 am 10:57 am

Isn’t it only fair to ask how Palin will respond when asked why John McCain himself voted to cut off funding for the troops? His vote was “out of the mainstream” of public opinion at the time. Or are we giving McCain a pass on his hypocrisy here? Do as I say, not as I do?

Posted by: TruthSeekr | October 2, 2008, 10:58 am 10:58 am

More needs to be known about Obama’s role in ACORN. Not just the voter fraud portion, but his role in ACORN Housing and its contribution to the financial meltdown. A website called the mouth peace has a great video out there.
Jake, do a story on this…I won’t hold my breath.

Posted by: Casey | October 2, 2008, 10:59 am 10:59 am

len,
Dryden was a character who didn’t even exist, except for in the LOA movie, and the LOA movie has as little to do with a factual representation of EITHER Lawrence OR factual history as George W. Bush has a reputation of being a beloved president!
But one thing that TE Lawrence DID say was that “Everyone thinks his own ticks are gazelles.” And I can see that ACORN is one of your “gazelles”, and apparently so are McCain/Palin. How nice for you!
My gazelle is Joe Biden. I am trying to learn to appreciate Obama. To me McCain and Palin are just ticks. And even if I didn’t like like McCain, Palin would have been enough to drive me in the opposite direction! That woman has a screw loose!

Posted by: Donna Hughes | October 2, 2008, 11:03 am 11:03 am

Donna Hughes – it’s amazing that people actually buy into the constant spin of these campaigns. You hold Biden up as an example of Obama’s promise of a contrarian cabinet? Are you serious? This is the same guy who claimed to be the ultimate DC outsider. Yet Biden is about as comfortably inside the beltway as you can get. And his contrarian views?? I haven’t heard a peep of disagreement since he was chosen to run with BO.
Here’s the thing – all the ‘contrarians’ are simply pandering to a different group of constituents than Obama. Their views will magically ‘change’ if chosen for the cabinet. Why? 2 words – political expediency. Today’s politicians are slaves to the polls. Their not leaders, but simply well-informed puppets. You can’t compare to Lincoln’s world – news and opinion traveled through physical routes, not virtual networks. Hence, leaders used their judgment first and answered to their constituents later…

Posted by: FishMonger | October 2, 2008, 11:04 am 11:04 am

s
Did ya notice McCain wasn’t wear a flag on his lapel in the first debate??

Posted by: chelle | October 2, 2008, 11:08 am 11:08 am

Palin comes to this debate to attack Biden and Obama armed with the dullest sword ever imagined by humanity. Biden’s only task tonight is to not laugh in her face. Can you imagine how hard it was for Couric not to laugh during their interviews. And the amazing thing is Palin kept coming back for more. It was like watching Homer Simpson…how many times is he going to try lick the frozen flagpole in one episode. Republicans should really be ashamed for trying to jam this ticket down the throats of Americans.

Posted by: Angoose | October 2, 2008, 11:12 am 11:12 am

“That woman has a screw loose!”
Posted by: Donna Hughes | Oct 2, 2008 11:03:11 AM
—————————————-
When this is all over…we are all going to be asking where to find the loose screw. None of these candidates are stellar, but who will keep us safe..don’t think it will be Obama. If we aren’t safe we won’t have to worry about the entitlement programs..I think this is the main argument in this election; what can I get from the government.

Posted by: Star Struck | October 2, 2008, 11:13 am 11:13 am

I’ve read Seven Pillars of Wisdom, Donna. I don’t recommend it because about three quarters of the way through it, it becomes cloying and full of self-pity and self-loathing. Deadly boring.
Most have seen the movie and few have read the book, so it is better to use a common reference than an obscure one. It avoids alienation through smugness.
Biden may be your gazelle, but it is Obama who will be the herd leader. So a bit of humor for you to point out why you might want to consider a common approach the people can get behind over the ivy leaguer we-own-america approach:
The fastest gazelle rises early to outrun the slowest gazelle.
The fastest lion rises early to chase the slowest gazelle.
The lazy hunter rises at noon, loads a gun, and shoots the fastest lion before shooting the slowest gazelle.
The slowest lion waits in the bush for the hunter to reload.
The crafty vulture patiently waits to feed on the slowest gazelle, the fastest lion, or the lazy hunter.
Be the middle gazelle.

Posted by: len | October 2, 2008, 11:18 am 11:18 am

Will SOMEONE ask Mr. McCain exactly what evidence he can offer as proof that HE KNOWS HOW TO WIN WARS? He is the only person in the world who calls the situation in Iraq a war won. He loves the way it sounds “I know how to win wars!!!” flailing his arm and that glassy watery stare–and everyone smiles? The man is suffering delusions of grandeur.

Posted by: Mew | October 2, 2008, 11:19 am 11:19 am

Palin just by showing up at the Debate wins, when the moderator is more in the bed (figurely) then her opponent with the top of the ticket then Palin wins for showing the courage for still debating.
sp What makes you think Obama can handle any of that you say since he has far less experience then Palin who has the same if not more then Bill Clinton had when he took office!!
What does a Community Organizer do other then set up parades for the town!!

Posted by: spock | October 2, 2008, 11:22 am 11:22 am

Star wrote: who will keep us safe..don’t think it will be Obama.
**********
After eight years of “shock and awe”, “bring it on” and other macho bravado, do you really feel safer? Our forces are stretched so thin in an unnecessary war that we’re unable to respond in places that might actually matter to our national security. Terrorist threats are as high or higher than ever. Russia and Iran are flexing their strength in our faces. We’re oil addicts, dependent on foreign dealers. Our economy is on it’s knees, which China holding our debt. More Republican leadership is not the answer.

Posted by: Ben | October 2, 2008, 11:23 am 11:23 am

Why did the Des put on earmarks totaling over 200 Billion dollars in the bailout bill. Thank God Republicans stood up to it and stop the majority of the earmarks!!

Posted by: spock | October 2, 2008, 11:24 am 11:24 am

Chelle:
———————————–
s
Did ya notice McCain wasn’t wear a flag on his lapel in the first debate??
Posted by: chelle |
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chelle, I did notice that, but I could give you all the excuses in the world and you would have your own spin. However, he doesn’t have to be asked or even begged to do it because it is patriotic; he knows it is. Maybe he was just seeing if you were paying attention.

Posted by: s | October 2, 2008, 11:25 am 11:25 am

Will Someone get a true answer from Obama other then ‘Change’
What does Obama know about executive problems, he cant even take a stand on anything other then allowing babies to die!!

Posted by: spock | October 2, 2008, 11:26 am 11:26 am

Despite all of the noise made about Palin’s experience, it appears to be the case that she is unable to deal with a simple press conference.
How can we reasonably expect this person to preside over the US Senate?

Posted by: Chris | October 2, 2008, 11:30 am 11:30 am

Mew: From MEW:
———————————
Will SOMEONE ask Mr. McCain exactly what evidence he can offer as proof that HE KNOWS HOW TO WIN WARS? He is the only person in the world who calls the situation in Iraq a war won. He loves the way it sounds “I know how to win wars!!!” flailing his arm and that glassy watery stare–and everyone smiles? The man is suffering delusions of grandeur.
Posted by: Mew | Oct 2, 2008 11:19:02 AM
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Mew, This is MEW, don’t get us confused.
I am on the other side. Just wait for another attack and see what your anoited one will do.

Posted by: MEW | October 2, 2008, 11:32 am 11:32 am

I prefer Palin, who comes out as who she is and what she is. She doesn’t need “fight the smears” website to convince the people. In our election history, there never was that kind of “fight the smears” web because all the candidates came out real and not hiding anything. When the attorney is PA said, Obama used to hold multiple citizenships, that website immediately went and posted “Obama never renewed his Kenya citizenship and it has expired”. Whey didn’t they tell this before? I have a bad feeling with this Obama guy, who knows he can be a al-quida’s sleeper cell in American to destroy Americans. He went to Parkistan in 1981 with Indonesian passport. What was he doing there? studying Islam and meeting with Al-Quida?

Posted by: noobama | October 2, 2008, 11:32 am 11:32 am

Spock Wrote
“Spsp What makes you think Obama can handle any of that you say since he has far less experience then Palin who has the same if not more then Bill Clinton had when he took office!!”
This statement is beyond laughable! It’s my favorite current neocon attack/defense. We don’t want your “everywoman” who duped her way into the Alaska governor’s mansion potentially running our executive branch. Your simple understanding of “experience” is frightening. The recent comparisons of the experience of Truman and Clinton to Palin are shameful. Both men were/are great minds with intense intellectual curiosity, well versed in classical educational experience, translated into a comprehensive worldview, similar to Obama. Palin’s experience (and intellectual capacity) are much more in line with that of Dubya, and look where that’s gotten us?

Posted by: Angoose | October 2, 2008, 11:32 am 11:32 am

O’s assault on the first amendment
You would think with all this damning evidence against this guy that his #’s would be in the tank, instead, he’s being worshipped like Kim Jong Il was.

Posted by: HP Boston | October 2, 2008, 11:33 am 11:33 am

This is such an easy argument to throw back at Gov. Palin. Obama explained the timetable and “blank check concerns to Bush” in the last debate, and people will either agree or disagree with the troop funding issue.
But as someone mentioned in an earlier post…how does McCain defend his vote AGAINST the expansion of benefits and assistance to veterans by Sen. Webb?
Biden should simply state that he disagreed with Obama back then, but that he understood Obama’s point and his previous votes in favor of troop funds demonstrates that. What is Mccain’s record on assisting veterans? Shouldn’t we take as much care of our soldiers in the battlefield as those who came home from the battlefield?

Posted by: RS NC | October 2, 2008, 11:34 am 11:34 am

Palin is just dumb……
Can you imagine her being a leader of the greatest nation in the world. What kind of citizen will vote for a dumb leader.

Posted by: SARAH | October 2, 2008, 11:34 am 11:34 am

len,
The fact that you didn’t have the gumption to read all of SPOW, says a lot. I’m sorry you didn’t find it a very good read. There are, however, a number of people out here who would disagree with you. Many of Lawrence’s observations in the Arab Revolt in WW1 are still pretty applicable today in Iraq. General Petraeus is a reader of Lawrence and it is Lawrence’s principles of paying and working with the local sheiks that have been one of the three reasons why things are calmer in Iraq. Joe Biden’s plan for Iraq was also one that took history into account, and though it was never officially used, Iraq has pretty much settled into three states along sectarian lines with local control being encouraged, and a federal government overseeing the national concerns (perhaps some day).
All in all, I’d say that TE Lawrence is still more relevant than you are! And refering to popular movie, which was the version of events that was filtered through David Lean’s own particular baggage, rather than the actual material is misleading.

Posted by: Donna Hughes | October 2, 2008, 11:36 am 11:36 am

Thanks Sarah. You’re are a big help to Elect Obama/Biden. Go Sarah go….

Posted by: SP | October 2, 2008, 11:38 am 11:38 am

Did ya notice McCain wasn’t wear a flag on his lapel in the first debate??
Posted by: chelle
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Does he really need to wear that after all the years he has served for this country? Not only he is patriotic but also his father and grandfather. All (3) of them served this country and I want to see him at the white house. Call me narrow minded or childish, I don’t want to see someone whose father ccame to American, took all the best (education at University of Hawaii and Harvard and two beautiful white American women)and didn’t even served this country and didn’t even pay tax to tthis country. Also left his two wives with no child support.

Posted by: no flag pin needed for McCain | October 2, 2008, 11:41 am 11:41 am

“…because all the candidates came out real and not hiding anything.”
Your argument is ironic, considering McCain’s refusal to release his medical records. With his four malignant skin cancer relapses, statistically there’s only a 38% chance he’ll survive through 2010. And that’s only one of his conditions that we know about.
I for one, do not think our country would be safe in the hands of “President Palin.”

Posted by: mary.jane | October 2, 2008, 11:43 am 11:43 am

‘General Petraeus is a reader of Lawrence and it is Lawrence’s principles of paying and working with the local sheiks that have been one of the three reasons why things are calmer in Iraq. Joe Biden’s plan for Iraq was also one that took history into account, and though it was never officially used,……’
Posted by: Donna Hughes | Oct 2, 2008 11:36:12 AM
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Donna, Joe is a master on history, hum… don’t think I would be quoting him so readily. Remmber FDR being on TV?

Posted by: MEW | October 2, 2008, 11:46 am 11:46 am

Your argument is ironic, considering McCain’s refusal to release his medical records. With his four malignant skin cancer relapses, statistically there’s only a 38% chance he’ll survive through 2010. And that’s only one of his conditions that we know about.
I for one, do not think our country would be safe in the hands of “President Palin.”
Posted by: mary.jane
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Did Obama release his medical records?
If so they would be fake, just like his birthcertificate. Melanoma has been around for years…and a person can survive for 45 years with it if caught in time, and I believe all records say that his was. 45 years is a fact…I know.
Remember Truman..think he did a good job. Palin is much like him.

Posted by: MEW | October 2, 2008, 11:56 am 11:56 am

mary.jane : Your argument is ironic, considering McCain’s refusal to release his medical records. With his four malignant skin cancer relapses, statistically there’s only a 38% chance he’ll survive through 2010. And that’s only one of his conditions that we know about. I for one, do not think our country would be safe in the hands of “President Palin.”
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At least skin cancer is not as scary as hiding facts about Obama…. No one can say 100% sure that he’ll die while he’s in the office if he wins. I’m sure there can even be his second term. Look at his mother, who is 96 but looks like 76. I’m glad to say that McCain’s team didn’t come out with “fight McCain’s health rumors” website.
If McCain wins, Palin will have (4) yers of VP experience and if he wins the second term, Palin will have (8) years of experience. Then, she’ll be ready to run for President. She is still alot better than Obama, who talks bbig with little experience. Consider that, he loves himself too much that he wrote (2) memoirs about him at the age of 44. Writing memoirs and book signign tours and this campaign took (3) years of his senate term.

Posted by: No Obama for this Election | October 2, 2008, 11:57 am 11:57 am

No Flag Pin wrote: I don’t want to see someone whose father ccame to American, took all the best (education at University of Hawaii and Harvard and two beautiful white American women)and didn’t even served this country
*************
Barak Obama seems to me to be the quintessential American success story — mixed-race son of a single mother uses his intelligence and work ethic to get a superlative education. Instead of turning his talents into a high income job in business, he works to improve his country at the local community level. His talents are recognized and he rises through politics to be a candidate for president of the nation.
Isn’t that the fabled American dream we’re all supposed to share and admire, Flag Pin?

Posted by: Ben | October 2, 2008, 11:58 am 11:58 am

Ben wrote: Barak Obama seems to me to be the quintessential American success story — mixed-race son of a single mother uses his intelligence and work ethic to get a superlative education. Instead of turning his talents into a high income job in business, he works to improve his country at the local community level. His talents are recognized and he rises through politics to be a candidate for president of the nation.
Isn’t that the fabled American dream we’re all supposed to share and admire, Flag Pin?
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Ooop….are you talking about his father Barak Obama Sr? I was talking about Obama Sr. not Jr.

Posted by: no flag pin needed for McCain | October 2, 2008, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm

I realize you were talking about his father, Flag Pin. And I agree with you that his father was not an admirable person. But given that, I’m wondering why you wouldn’t have all the more admiration for the son, who turned his low beginnings into so much success.

Posted by: Ben | October 2, 2008, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm

Donna sez: “The fact that you didn’t have the gumption to read all of SPOW, says a lot.”
I know when to put down a text when the author strays into self-pitying irrelevancies. Everything you say about Petraeus is true. He is a fine general and his surge tactics snatched victory from the certain defeat that Obama was satisified with for his own deeply flawed agenda.
Every serious military man reads SPoW but they understand that Lawrence was a deeply flawed man who used the Arabs for his own deeply flawed purposes. The lessons you mention are all covered in the first quarter of the book.
Anyone who would imitate TE’s character would be a self-sadistic soul. He was talented but a fool’s fool. Providence saw to it Petraeus was cut from different cloth.

Posted by: len | October 2, 2008, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm

Len,
You have your opinions, and you are entitled to them. I have mine, to which I am entitled. Neither of them are graven into stone as absolute truths.

Posted by: Donna Hughes | October 2, 2008, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm

“You have your opinions, and you are entitled to them. I have mine, to which I am entitled. Neither of them are graven into stone as absolute truths.”
On that, we have consensus, Ms. Hughes. Thanks for the exchange. It’s rewarding to do this with someone who does read the harder texts.

Posted by: len | October 2, 2008, 12:37 pm 12:37 pm

I look forward to Joe telling about that great night in 1929 when President FDR addressed the nation on Televison.

Posted by: geevill | October 2, 2008, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm

Donna Hughes:
‘General Petraeus is a reader of Lawrence and it is Lawrence’s principles of paying and working with the local sheiks that have been one of the three reasons why things are calmer in Iraq. Joe Biden’s plan for Iraq was also one that took history into account, and though it was never officially used,……’
Posted by: Donna Hughes | Oct 2, 2008 11:36:12 AM
- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -
Donna, Joe is a master on history, hum… don’t think I would be quoting him so readily. Remmber FDR being on TV?

Posted by: MEW | October 2, 2008, 1:03 pm 1:03 pm

or his war escapades. or his football playing and coal mining days despite the severe asthma which miraculusly disappeared almost as fast as it appeared when Biden was disqualified from the draft.

Posted by: geevill | October 2, 2008, 1:05 pm 1:05 pm

Ah, good ol’ Geevill back again to malign Joe Biden. Same old, same old.
MEW makes much of small things.

Posted by: Donna Hughes | October 2, 2008, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm

THE TOP OF THE TICKET IS WHACKED, EVEN IF SARAH PALIN SOUNDS LIKE EINSTEIN, WE STILL HAVE JOHN MCCAIN… THE DEBATE IS NO SHOW CHANGER !ALSO, SHAME ON THE MEDIA, THEY KEEP CHANGING THE STATE POLL RESULTS TO KEEP THE GAME APPEARING TO BE CLOSER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS… THIS IS A SICK EXAMPLE OF FALSE SUSPENSE. – SELL MORE AIRTIME, OR SINISTERLY, MAYBE THIS IS ABOUT “CHADSMASHIP”. mAYBE SOMEBODY WANTS IT TO BE WITHIN STEALING DISTANCE AGAIN….

Posted by: Curtis | October 2, 2008, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm

“If Ifill thinks questioning her conflict of interest (she stands to make millions if Obama wins) is racial or racist then that alone is a red flag for me. If she says she doesn’t understand why that would concern people, she is either a liar and unethical or foolish and out of touch. Since she played the race card, I think she is all of the above.
Ifill didn’t tell the commision about her pro-Obama book (book also touts Axelrod’s other protege, Deval Patrick), and so the commision should remove her or Ifill should announce a full disclosure statement at beginning of debate so that the viewers know.”

Posted by: Belle Starr | October 2, 2008, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm

Why are the McCain campaign such a bunch of whiners?
Interviews are too tough
Reality making issues the central focus of the campaign vs their preference for personality.
The moderator is biased.
Is that going to be his strategy as President?
Just complaining about problems and assigning blame?

Posted by: Ryan C | October 2, 2008, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm

Staged “debate” dance now ready for 24/7 consumption.
Bailout Barack Obama w/partner Bailout John McCain.
Full-spectrum media suppression/distortion
target Ralph Nader and Ron Paul.
Your vote is your power,
they fear it, use it.

Posted by: Paul & Nader v Bailout! | October 2, 2008, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm

Enough of the war…How can you win democracy at gun point…When Bush bullied his way into office..the United States of America was sound and secure fiancially.. Instead of Bush just having a few friends over and continuing a sound a responsible plan he decides on funding a war….EnOuGh with the foolishness my childern’s future is at stake and my sanity as well..

Posted by: Lakisha | October 2, 2008, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm

Ben writes: “Barak Obama seems to me to be the quintessential American success story”
You gotta be kidding me!
A guy who uses his college education to become a “community organizer,” and from there goes right into politics, is the “quintessential American success story”???
Since when?
“Community Organizer” is just a euphemism for “political agitator”.
And politicians produce NOTHING. They generate no wealth. They make no scientific discoveries. All they do is run for office.
The “quintessential American success story” is a guy who CREATES something: A car (Henry Ford). A Polaroid camera (Edwin Land). Or a guy who SOLVES something: How to make liquid-fueled rockets (Robert Goddard).
“Community organizers” and politicians are drones. They organize and redistribute the wealth produced by the productive in our society.

Posted by: sinz52 | October 2, 2008, 8:39 pm 8:39 pm

As she said herself:
“I have been at this only 5 weeks!”
The presence of Joe Biden over shadowed hers and his experience was an impenetrable fortress.

Posted by: The Raz | October 2, 2008, 11:43 pm 11:43 pm

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