Obama has talent!

[Embar Angylwrath]

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch ... -mc-1.html

Man... this is the antithesis of what I respected most about Obama... his ability to remain above the mudslinging. He seemed to be above the petty politics. Guess not. Now he's just one of the rest of them, but without substantial experience, and a naive view of the world, little substantive policy, and even lower connections.

Before today, I thought that Obama would chart a new course in politics... but he's just shown he's just another seat at the political poker table, all in, and bluffing all the way.

I had a discussion with a neighbor this morning... we were talking about how we wanted change in Washington, how we wanted an outsider. She is a Boston Dem, I'm a Midwest Libertarian. I remarked to her that Palin, an outsider, is being shunned by those that profess to want change. As is Obama. All for lack of "experience", even though the "experience" is what those of us who profess to want want change, shun. She replied that partisan politics has become so entrenched in the electorate that we should expect no less.

And that those who profess to want change are afraid to embrace it.

She is correct.

[Ddrak]

If Palin were running for President then your comparison would be valid.

Dd

[Lurker]

Embar,

I'm not sure what your complaint against Obama is here. He correctly pointed out that McCain and Palin are lying when they say they are change agents and reformers. Does it bother you at all that Palin claims she was against the Bridge to Nowhere when she was really for it, or that she claims she is against earmarks when in reality she hires lobbyists to obtain pork at a higher rate than anyone else in the country? Does her abuse of power bother you at all? Do her stances on book bannings and missions from God give you pause at all?

Palin isn't change. She's a more extreme version of Bush with lipstick.

And you... you are one shallow, sick, transparent puppy, Embar.

[Harlowe]

I was embarrassed for you reading that Embar.

[Freecare Spiritwise]

I thought Obama's comment was a poor choice of metaphors, but I don't think he intentionally meant it to come across as an insult to Palin, at least not in that sense. I've always liked what I call "Farm Wisdom", and my own version of the metaphor is "You can put frilly sweaters on a Chihuahua, but he still eats his own poop."

I'm just not seeing Obama jump in the mud here. Maybe it will happen - who knows. But if he doesn't continue to take the high road then he won't have my vote.

[Klast Brell]

The McCain campaign has been gaining in the polls by going way negative. Did you think the Obama campaign was just going to play Rope-a-dope till November 4?

[Arkaron]

She replied that partisan politics has become so entrenched in the electorate that we should expect no less.

And that those who profess to want change are afraid to embrace it.

She is correct.

Polarization of the electorate is largely the fault of politicians pandering to overly vocal ideologues.

McCain will have to watch exactly how negative he goes--right now it's hurting potential voter turnout in Oregon for the Smith/Merkley race. Both have gone so negative that nobody wants to vote for either of them.

[Harlowe]

That doesn't make a lot of sense Freecare, you are voting based on an election fight? We already have McCain/Palin fighting dirty, worse than Bush actually if you look at one of his recent sex-ed ads. I think Time magazine called it the sleaziest political ad to date.

I honestly do not think Obama can win by just taking the high road. A good majority of our fellow citizens are too impressionable and dense to "get it". They are very easily manipulated by the media.

I think he's going to have to get in the mud with these guys or he's going to lose. If you aren't going to vote for him based on something like this, that's just foolish.

The lipstick remark? Come the fuck on, McCain just used that remark about something connected to Hillary so spaaare me the diversionary tactics.

I fucking hate this stupid "OMG FAUX OUTRAGE". Stick to the fucking issues and stop being little nancy boys for the media.

[Klast Brell]

McCain made pig remarks about Romney as well.
But then again Obama compared McCain to a fish. I hear McCain's feelings were hurt by that as well.

[Freecare Spiritwise]

I'm not saying Obama should be a pussy, and I don't think he should just let his opponents steamroll over him. But what I've always liked about him is that he seems above the petty, devisive politics. He seems different. He's selling himself as a unifying force. That's a big draw for me - the move away from business as usual.

And while I disagree with Embar that Obama is diminishing himself, I'm still keeping a close eye on him. My vote isn't something that sways with every political breeze, but I do have high expectations of the man. I don't think it's an act. I don't think he's faking it. But I'm keeping my eyes open. And like the family dog, I like to "sniff" people just to make sure.

Certainly I think Obama has a great opportunity to show the world that he's above the petty politics. Clearly he's being baited - I just hope he doesn't take the bait.

[Ariannda Kusanagi]

McCain said he was "going to beat Hillary like a drum" and lets not forget one of his aides calling Hillary a bitch, both direct remarks about Hillary.

I don't believe Obama's comment was directed towards Palin, however when she says things like "Whats the difference between a soccer mom and a pit bull... lipstick" then I think she might deserve having a stick tossed in her general direction.

[Lurker]

Obama's original lipstick comment where he very clearly did not call Sarah Palin a pig.

Let's just list this for a second. John McCain says he's about change, too. Except -- and so I guess his whole angle is, "Watch out, George Bush, except for economic policy, health-care policy, tax policy, education policy, foreign policy, and Karl Rove-style politics. We're really gonna shake things up in Washington." That's not change. That's just calling some -- the same thing, something different. But you know, you can -- you know, you can put lipstick on a pig; it's still a pig.

And Obama's response to the latest fake controversy manufactured by the sleazy liars John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Some of you may have -- I'm assuming you guys have heard this, watching the news. I'm talking about John McCain's economic politics, I say, "This is more of the same, you can put lipstick on a pig but it's still a pig."
And suddenly they say, "Oh, you must be talking about the governor of Alaska."

[Laughter from audience]

See it would be funny, it would be funny except -- of course the news media all decided that that was the lead story yesterday. They'd much rather have the story -- this is the McCain campaign -- would much rather have the story about phony and foolish diversions than about the future.

This happens every election cycle. Every four years. This is what we do. We've got an energy crisis. We have an education system that is not working for too many of our children and making us less competitive. We have an economy that is creating hardship for families all across America. We've got two wars going on, veterans coming home not being cared for -- and this is what they want to talk about! this is what they want to spend two of the last 55 days talking about.

You know who ends up losing at the end of the day? It's not the Democratic candidate, It's not the republican candidate. It's you, the American people. because then we go another year or another four years or another eight years without addressing the issues that matter to you. Enough.

I don't care what they say about me, but I love this country too much to let them take over another election with lies and phony outrage and swift-boat politics. Enough is enough.

I feel sorry for Embar's neighbor, living next to someone as stupid and shallow as him.

[Harlowe]

Embar's not stupid, but hell if I know why he's buying into this kind of hackery. This has that shittastic feeling of becoming another 2004 election season.

Swiftboat vets to Religious Knights of Freedom and Truth for Palin. I'm going to vomit.

[Lurker]

Embar's not stupid

All evidence to the contrary.

Embar, care to do something you've never done on these boards before and reevaluate your views when presented with facts?

[Embar Angylwrath]

Yeah. I was wrong.

[Fallakin Kuvari]

HOF just for the history aspect of Embar saying he was wrong, imo.

[Ariannda Kusanagi]

HOF just for the history aspect of Embar saying he was wrong, imo.

Second !

[Select]

Third.

[Kulaf]

Personally I think it was a harmless metaphor.......however it was REALLY a bad choice for a metaphor.

[Lurker]

Yeah. I was wrong.

Thanks for that and credit where credit is due, but I think it's more accurate to say you were lied to by the McCain campaign.