Obama/Biden vs. McCain/Palin

[clement]

cards2468, I think you're underestimating how much the rest of the world knows about what is going on in our election. Which makes sense, because generally we don't know much at all about elections happening in other countries. But because of the U.S.'s status as the major world power, and because our election cycle is so ridiculously long and dramatic and entertaining (and absurd), and because of networks like CNN and Fox being broadcast globally, and because foreign networks are covering the election's every detail nearly as much as it is being covered within the U.S., people all over the world know a great deal about the issues and differences between these candidates.

I have nearly daily conversations with people from dozens of different countries who not only have an opinion, but it's a very educated and informed opinion. In my experience there really isn't much difference between what the typical American knows about the election and the issues and the candidates and what the typical non-American knows. That doesn't mean that they should have a vote (though a lot of people I speak to wish they did have a vote because they feel that the policies especially of our current administration have affected them), but when there is such a huge conversion of consensus, it's worth at least trying to figure out the reasons for it. After all, the last time there was such a huge global consensus on something that the U.S. decided to ignore, we invaded Iraq.

----

Sarah Palin's $150,000 shopping spree doesn't look good and it's a useful little meaningless thing to score some cheap political points, but it's the RNC's money and they can choose to spend that money however they want.

I think far more significant is the recent revelation that Sarah Palin as governor of Alaska was bringing her children along on trips and using state money to pay for them. She even put her young daughters as "participants" and "invitees" to conferences and meetings in order to justify getting reimbursed for these expenses (the organizers of some of these conferences have refuted her claims that the children were invited). This isn't just something that looks bad, it's a corrupt abuse of power and a fraud, and not only is it unethical, it is probably also illegal. In fact, her buddy Senator Ted Stevens is currently awaiting the verdict on his own criminal trial for corruption. This discovery about Palin warrants a similar investigation to see if any laws were broken, and if so, she should be held accountable.

The money the RNC spent on her wardrobe is money that their donors gave, so if the donors have a problem they can complain to the RNC. But the money that Sarah Palin spent on herself and her 3 daughters to go watch their dad compete in a snowmobile race, or spend 5 nights in 2 rooms in a Manhattan hotel while Palin was attending a 5-hour conference is taxpayers' money. And not only did she receive all this money on behalf of providing fun holidays for her children, she didn't pay any taxes on it either.

And on top of all that, there is this:

On Aug. 6, three weeks before Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain chose Palin his running mate, and after Alaska reporters asked for the records, Palin ordered changes to previously filed expense reports for her daughters' travel.

And this is a person who has already been found guilty of violating ethics laws in one abuse of power investigation.

And all of this is aside from the investigations into the thousands of dollars in per diem expenses that she has claimed for working at her home in Wasila, which is 40 miles from where her official office is in Anchorage.

But you know... Bill Ayers and Reverend Wright and blah blah blah...

[Freed Roger]

Granted, I think Palin was a bad choice, but I don't understand the hatred towards her. She does have limited experience, but I would argue she has more executive experience than the other 3 put together.

I get a kick on how GOP are experts on all that Palin experience. All that experience that nobody ever heard of, including McCain's campaign, up until 3 days before he went for this gimmick.

The mayor of East St. Louis or 100,000 other small towns probably have more qualifications versus Palin's mayoral term. Gov of Alaska for a year and a half-a state with less population than most major cities. A state where solving the budget problems consist of how much oil royalty to tap, or whether to cut back on payments to Alaskans? I wonder if handling Alaska's budget is actually a counter-productive experience, because the Fed doesn't have the cush situation that Alaska has, and never will.

Its no wonder many Alaskan's like her, toy with the idea of seceding, so they can become a cold version of Saudi Arabia. Oh yes, we need someone with oil/energy experience at a time like this, thats the ticket - as if she could do better than the thriving energy policy from the last 8 years where we've had two oilmen in the White House.

As Clem points out, it appears Palin learned at least one thing from her political experience - how to abuse the power of the office. Sounds like another Cheney.

I do wish Obama had more experience. Yet, he's shown good sense through this campaign, and seems mature enough to keep a cool head. He's a natural leader -at least that is the hope. But if he waited 4 or 8 more years, just think of all the BS the Roviean GOP would have created by then.

I do worry though, that too much hope is being vested in one guy, Obama. He's inheriting a mess. god forbid he have an affair or something like that Yet, he will be a better choice than the same power structure that's created the mess.

[Jocephus]

you can see what the mayor of wasilla's job entails

http://www.hulu.com/watch/40115/the-dai ... s-p1-st-i1

[PujolJunkie]

Chuck Todd on the Palin/McCain interview with Brian Williams:

Chuck Todd: Well, Chris, I wouldn’t blame Brian for wanting to say this. There was a tenseness between, first of all, between the two. There’s no chemistry. I couldn’t see chemistry between John McCain and Sarah Palin. It was.....I felt as if we grabbed two people and said ‘here sit next to each other, we’re going to conduct an interview.’ There wasn’t, they’re not, uuugh, not comfortable with each other yet.

The other thing about it is that you can tell they know that they’re losing. There’s an intensity there, they’re drained, the entire campaign staff is drained. The two candidates seem guarded, they seem on edge. It’s not as if they were rude or anything. It’s not as if they weren’t trying to be forthcoming. It’s just, they just seemed, it’s a negative intensity. I don’t know how else to describe it. But you’ll see that when you see the two of them together, the chemistry is not all there.....you do wonder "is John McCain starting to blame her for things, blaming himself, is she blaming him?" You just wonder what’s going on inside their heads are they upset with how the other has treated them and is that why her the numbers low? It’s just a negative vibe that you get in that room.

I can't emphasize enough. The odd body language. I know Obama and Biden don't have the great chemistry yet, but there seems to be some chemistry. I didn't see ANY chemistry here. It is, very much feels forced and you almost wonder, "Now, maybe it's the intensity of the moment, they know they're down. You have no sleep at night you need that idea that you might win to probably keep you going and maybe they don't feel that they can win right now and so they're missing that intensity.... but that was the thing that struck me more than anything...the lack of....you almost wonder why they wanted them sitting next to each other.

[/youtube]

[cardsfansince82]

Chuck Todd on the Palin/McCain interview with Brian Williams:

Chuck Todd: Well, Chris, I wouldn’t blame Brian for wanting to say this. There was a tenseness between, first of all, between the two. There’s no chemistry. I couldn’t see chemistry between John McCain and Sarah Palin. It was.....I felt as if we grabbed two people and said ‘here sit next to each other, we’re going to conduct an interview.’ There wasn’t, they’re not, uuugh, not comfortable with each other yet.

The other thing about it is that you can tell they know that they’re losing. There’s an intensity there, they’re drained, the entire campaign staff is drained. The two candidates seem guarded, they seem on edge. It’s not as if they were rude or anything. It’s not as if they weren’t trying to be forthcoming. It’s just, they just seemed, it’s a negative intensity. I don’t know how else to describe it. But you’ll see that when you see the two of them together, the chemistry is not all there.....you do wonder "is John McCain starting to blame her for things, blaming himself, is she blaming him?" You just wonder what’s going on inside their heads are they upset with how the other has treated them and is that why her the numbers low? It’s just a negative vibe that you get in that room.

I can't emphasize enough. The odd body language. I know Obama and Biden don't have the great chemistry yet, but there seems to be some chemistry. I didn't see ANY chemistry here. It is, very much feels forced and you almost wonder, "Now, maybe it's the intensity of the moment, they know they're down. You have no sleep at night you need that idea that you might win to probably keep you going and maybe they don't feel that they can win right now and so they're missing that intensity.... but that was the thing that struck me more than anything...the lack of....you almost wonder why they wanted them sitting next to each other.

[/youtube]

You can watch the first segment of the actual interview here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#27328627

[JCShutout]

I'm going to start calling anyone who supports the military, or building roads (etc.) a socialist because that's socialist wealth re-distribution.

[jim]

cards2468, I think you're underestimating how much the rest of the world knows about what is going on in our election. Which makes sense, because generally we don't know much at all about elections happening in other countries. But because of the U.S.'s status as the major world power, and because our election cycle is so ridiculously long and dramatic and entertaining (and absurd), and because of networks like CNN and Fox being broadcast globally, and because foreign networks are covering the election's every detail nearly as much as it is being covered within the U.S., people all over the world know a great deal about the issues and differences between these candidates. .

+++++

I skim Le Monde(Paris newspaper) and try to listen to the BBC(British Broadcasting Corp) almost daily now just because I was so embarrassed by my lack of knowledge of world events compared to my European colleagues. Actually, on more than one occasion, I've learned something about our election first reading an article in Le Monde before I heard about it from one of our publications.

[heyzeus]

you can see what the mayor of wasilla's job entails

http://www.hulu.com/watch/40115/the-dai ... s-p1-st-i1

Thanks for posting this - I watched it the other night and wanted to comment.

The mayor of Wasilla doesn't oversee a fire department, doesn't oversee a school system, and in fact doesn't apparently oversee any social services. But they do sign the checks to city employees.

[jim]

Chuck Todd on the Palin/McCain interview with Brian Williams:

Chuck Todd: Well, Chris, I wouldn’t blame Brian for wanting to say this. There was a tenseness between, first of all, between the two. There’s no chemistry. I couldn’t see chemistry between John McCain and Sarah Palin.

They call it "chemistry", but I think it's really "respect".

[clevername]

the rest of the world has to pay attention to our elections. Our country has a funny way of affecting everyone with our actions abroad. Of course they're interested in who's going to be making the decisions for the next four years, especially when one of the possibilities seems a whole lot like the guy who's been affecting them for the past 8 years.