Obama/Biden vs. McCain/Palin

[GatewaySnayke]

I don't think the debates carry that much weight. Even as a Bush supporter in '04, I thought John Kerry beat him in the two that I watched.

[sighyoung]

Nevada is in play (close, with a slight McCain lead), but Colorado is leaning Democratic, New Mexico is leaning Democratic, and New Hampshire is leaning Democratic. Virginia is a possibility in the South, although leaning toward McCain in the polls right now.

But the Prairie states (the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Kansas) are all solidly Republican in presidential elections--both historically, and in this race.

I firmly believe the debates will decide this election, possibly more-so than any in the past. Thus it really doesn't matter who is leaning where right now.

True, it's far too early. We'll have a better sense in October.

But it is an interesting demographic exercise--watching Virginia and New Hampshire become more Democratic (over a period of years), and the growing Latino vote in Nevada. My only point is that the Prairie states aren't competitive in the presidential race--these other are states are right now, and ad money is headed their way.

[GatewaySnayke]

http://www.newshounds.us/2008/08/13/a_f ... dwards.php

Big props to Alan Colmes for pointing out the similarities between John Edwards' infidelity and John McCain's and asking why Edwards is unfit for public office as a result but McCain is not. After soundly denouncing Edwards as unworthy of the presidency because he broke his marriage vows to an ailing wife, none of the conservatives could come up with a decent explanation about why McCain’s similar behavior was any less despicable. Sean Hannity was so flustered that he repeatedly tried to interrupt Colmes and carried the argument over to the next segment. More props to Colmes for refusing to back down. With video.

In an unbalanced panel, the three conservatives (two guests plus Hannity) worked themselves into a self-righteous lather of sanctimony against John Edwards that included attacks on the so-called liberal media for not going after him harder. It was obvious they were completely unprepared for Colmes' very apt comparison of Edwards to McCain.

Chris Wilson, Republican pollster, said, “(Edwards is) running for president on moral values. His wife has been diagnosed with cancer and yet this is a man that we’re going to trust of leading the free world? ...That’s why this is an issue.”

Hannity smacked his hands together as he said, “If you can’t keep a promise to your family, can’t keep a promise to your wife, you’re having an affair, you’re lying about the affair repeatedly. Why should the American people trust you when you say you’re not gonna lie to them? Why should we trust you?”

“That’s a great question Sean asked,” Colmes said as he began his turn. To conservative Amanda Carpenter, Colmes asked, “Amanda, if that’s true, you can’t trust somebody who had an affair, how can we trust John McCain to be president of the United States since he cheated, by his own admission, on his first wife? He didn’t keep his marital vows. He didn’t keep his pledge to his first family.”

That’s when the fireworks started. Carpenter dodged the question by saying it's an issue that has been thoroughly vetted. Wilson made the laughable claim that Edwards had attacked Clinton for cheating on his wife. Hannity had a major hissy fit (most likely because he had been caught red-handed with his own hypocrisy) and insisted that McCain’s behavior should be viewed through the lens of having returned home from being a POW.

The producers clanged a bell to stop the argument at the end of the show.

So what’s Hannity's excuse for Rudy Giuliani's infidelity? Please consider writing Hannity and asking him. I already have. His email address is hannity@foxnews.com.

Please also consider sending props to Colmes. He’s gotten some serious flack from some viewers. He deserves the support. You can reach him at colmes@foxnews.com.

Last week, after an entire show devoted to Edwards' extramarital affair, I complained that nobody had brought up John McCain. I hereby eat my words.

I can't believe Colmes would think they are one and the same. John Edwards cheated on his wife who had cancer. Bad. John McCain cheated on his wife and married someone hotter. Big, big, big difference.

[heyzeus]

"John McCain cheated on his wife and married someone hotter. Big, big, big difference."

And don't forget richer. Much, much richer. Enough so to bankroll his early political career.

I'm not going to get all moral relativist here, but if you were to do a roll call of all of the politicians with unseemly divorces and affairs on their resume, it would be longer than the ones without. And any pundit or campaign hack who is trying to make the tired point, "(insert party) claims to be about moral values, but look at (insert cheating candidate's name)! He had an affair! That means that all (insert party)'s are immoral!" is an idiot. There are many republicans on that list. There are many democrats on that list.

Hopefully we can eventually focus on the real issues in electing our next leader. Like whether or not they tried pot in college.

[clevername]

but the country needs to know how many boobies a candidate has seen and/or touched before we can decide what he'll do in a war!

[GatewaySnayke]

As true as that is, Zeus, nobody likes to make a bigger stink about how holy they are than Republicans. That's why trashing Edwards and claiming that's why he was unfit to be president while their guy was guilty of it is a bit ridiculous.

[GatewaySnayke]

So I guess tonight is the first ever "Saddleback Showdown." I like Rick Warren and it's good to see a Christian that cares about stuff like global warming, but this seems really weird to me. Maverick is not going to play a convincing Christian, but it's Barack that I'm worried about. I can't put my finger on why.

This is definitely something that both candidates need to do though, even if shouldn't be necessary.

[Fat Strat]

So I guess tonight is the first ever "Saddleback Showdown." I like Rick Warren and it's good to see a Christian that cares about stuff like global warming, but this seems really weird to me. Maverick is not going to play a convincing Christian, but it's Barack that I'm worried about. I can't put my finger on why.

This is definitely something that both candidates need to do though, even if shouldn't be necessary.

I was just at Saddleback a few weeks ago... Wish I would have been there for this. Beautiful place.

I'm DVR'ing this forum so it doesn't get in the way of the Chiefs/Cards/Olympics, but the little bit I've caught while flipping has been really interesting. Barack is doing well for himself, imo.

[PujolJunkie]

Barack is hitting homerun after homerun. It's outstanding to watch.

[MrSaigon]

I dare snayke to pick a liberal d-bag of the week. Otherwise the left side of the aisle is going to feel not-so-fresh.