Republican National Convention (Sept. 1-4)

[BreakABone]

I rather enjoyed the Palin speech. Helps that she is a looker.

I think the whole idea of patriotism and fighting for one's country have all died down because well let's face it war is glamourized in this day and age. No longer does being a war vet really mean much in this day and age when we have tv shows, movies, games, books and whatever else have you that details the lives of soldiers. Not a lot shocks or surprises us anymore so it is a lot harder to become legends and stuff.

But maybe just talking out of the wrong side of my head.

[The Germanator]

Originally Posted by Professor S

No, just the opposite. I think she nailed that speech. Even Chris Matthews raved about her performance. The McCain Palin ticket has done a pretty amazing job of re-establishing themselves as the "mavericks" and painting Obama as a presumptuous child. Plus, they managed to turn the media against itself and now even major news sources are on the defensive after their dizzying reporting of the Palin nomination.

Hmm..I admit to it being a good speech, but where was the content? Isn't this what the Republicans lambasted Obama for? Giving good speeches but not backing it up. I watched most of both conventions, and the Democrats stated many clear policies while the Republicans just decided to attack. That's fine, they can do whatever they want with their convention, but they were less clear on their policies recently than Obama has been by far.

And I just love the "Maverick" lines from these people. You CAN'T have a "party of mavericks" as Palin said. That's an oxymoron! It doesn't even make sense especially when McCain is as "good 'ole boy" as you get. Her reformer status is laughable as well. This woman admonishes congressional earmarks but took millions of dollars worth of them during her executive experience and left her town of 9,000 in debt. Oh, but she sold a plane on Ebay. Go hockey mom! She also praises her daughter's choice to keep her baby, and this is a decision she endorses taking away if she became VP. The hypocrisy of the "family values" Christians astounds me. If this was Obama's pregnant daughter, you know all the fundies would be out in arms, but now that it's a Republican baby, it's asinine that Liberal bloggers even mention it.

A good rhetorical speech, but light on content. My favorite statistic from the Palin speech. Since the announcement of the Palin VP pick, the McCain camp raised about $11 million. Just the night after Palin's acceptance speech, the Obama camp raised $8 million. Palin is a better fundraiser for Obama than McCain.

[Professor S]

Germ, you make good points, but I think Palin's hand was forced by the media that went into overdrive digging up dirt on her. Quite honestly, Obama and Co. don't need to sling mud, CNN and MSNBC will do it for them. They dug up more on Palin and her FAMILY who are not pulic figures in 3 days then they did on Obama in a year. I never want to hear that media bias is a myth ever again. It looks like the media's coverage is backfiring on Obama, though, lookig at the latest polls. They're dead even again according to Rasmussen.

For content, I really liked Fred Thompson's speech when he discussed the economy in simple terms and I think McCain's was spot on.

EDIT: Sorry, those weren't good points. Palin has a tax surplus as Governor of Alaska and has been a great reformer of that state. And you make a big deal of $9,000 of debt? Seriously? Shit, I'll lend it to them. That affects your opinion of her ability to lead a city?

As for earmarks, Mayor and Governor are very different. When your a mayor, you're silly not to take them when they are offered, and she did come around on the bridge to nowhere well before her national career goals came about.

As for John McCain, you can say what you like about him being a "ggod ol' boy", but fortunately for him he has a record that states otherwise. He has rebutted his fellow republicans MANY times, but her does agree more often then not because philosophically he is a conservative when it comes to finances and many social issues. Just because he voted like e republican more times than not doesn't disqualify him as a independent thinker.

[manasecret]

Regarding the polls that put Obama/McCain at dead even, do they include factors like how many people are actually planning to go out and vote for Obama vs. how many are planning to go out and vote for McCain? Or is it just a simple poll of who would you vote for? It seems to me the number of people actually planning on voting would make a big difference.

[Professor S]

Originally Posted by manasecret

Regarding the polls that put Obama/McCain at dead even, do they include factors like how many people are actually planning to go out and vote for Obama vs. how many are planning to go out and vote for McCain? Or is it just a simple poll of who would you vote for? It seems to me the number of people actually planning on voting would make a big difference.

I believe the Rasmussen poll is always a poll of likely voters. In any case, polls of likely voters always seem to skew Republican. Per capita, Republicans just vote more.

I normally don't like polls, but I always like to follow them after the conventions, and the numbers don't look favorable for Obama right now. His bounce seems to have disappeared and gone the other way a little. They're in a statistical dead-heat.

[The Germanator]

Originally Posted by Professor S

I believe the Rasmussen poll is always a poll of likely voters. In any case, polls of likely voters always seem to skew Republican. Per capita, Republicans just vote more.

I normally don't like polls, but I always like to follow them after the conventions, and the numbers don't look favorable for Obama right now. His bounce seems to have disappeared and gone the other way a little. They're in a statistical dead-heat.

It's not exactly that way if you look at the electoral map of the following...

http://www.pollster.com

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/...map/index.html

http://www.zogby.com/50state/

According to these, Obama just has to flip a few of the toss-ups and he's got it. Of course, it's early so I don't know how seriously I take these.

By the way, Gallup has it at 48% to 44% for Obama. Closer than it has been. It's definitely close, but I like the look of the electoral map in Obama's favor.

[Bond]

The amazing thing is that we're even talking about this being a close election.

[TheGame]

I just like how they tried to drop the relevance of bush by not mentioning his name.

[The Germanator]

This chart is kind of fun to look at...My only issue is with the "opponent's name" bubble. Here it says Palin only said "Obama" once, but she must have said "our opponent" way more than that.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...S_GRAPHIC.html

[KillerGremlin]

Originally Posted by Bond

The amazing thing is that we're even talking about this being a close election.

amazing, or surprisingly unexpected?

[Bond]

I'd say amazing. It just goes to show how poorly the Democratic Party is run. We should be looking at a Reagan/Nixon-esque blowout, but instead we're looking at a statistical tie. It's kind of pathetic.

That being said, I still don't see how McCain wins, it's going to be nearly impossible.

[KillerGremlin]

Originally Posted by Bond

I'd say amazing. It just goes to show how poorly the Democratic Party is run. We should be looking at a Reagan/Nixon-esque blowout, but instead we're looking at a statistical tie. It's kind of pathetic.

That being said, I still don't see how McCain wins, it's going to be nearly impossible.

Americans are conservatives...and the Dems picked a really lousy candidate last time (Kerry). Do you think the polls would be more favorable for the Dems right now had Hillary won the primary?

[The Germanator]

Originally Posted by KillerGremlin

Americans are conservatives...and the Dems picked a really lousy candidate last time (Kerry). Do you think the polls would be more favorable for the Dems right now had Hillary won the primary?

Of these, about 55 million are registered Republicans. About 72 million registered Democrats.

About 42 million are registered as independents, under some other minor party or with a "No Party" designation.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion...neuharth_x.htm

So, technically there are more people who actually call themselves Democrats rather than the Republicans, but the Indies really decide.

I agree though, I'm really surprised that I'm even worried that McCain might win. I don't know what it is, the Republicans are just good at rallying their base who will vote for them no matter what the circumstances. Obama should win and it should be a blowout, but it won't be.

[Jason1]

OH MY YES!!!!!

[Professor S]

Sorry Jason, but I don't count those as resources for your "blood for oil" claims. Please try again.