What the Next President Can Do

If a war were killing 565,000 Americans a year, you'd hear more than one or two references to it at the party conventions.

By Jonathan Alter | NEWSWEEK
Published Sep 6, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Sep 15, 2008

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  • Posted By: Fisherman144 @ 11/04/2008 7:38:21 AM

    Comment: It's so obvious that cancer and other diseases could be conquered with the stat-of-the-art medical advances that are in the works. But, government has dragged its feet on 'all' medical research. The objection to stem cell research by President Bush and his far Right Christian fundimentalists has been disasterous. The rest of the world has passed us by....we MUST catch up and solve the DNA riddle. We can do it if Washington is behind the funding effort.

  • Posted By: billtill @ 10/14/2008 10:10:57 AM

    Comment: About the time our original thirteen states adopted their new constitution in 1787, Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh , had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years earlier:

    'A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government.'
    'A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.'
    'From that moment on, the majority always vote for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship.'

    'The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years'

    'During those 200 years, those nations always progressed through the following sequence:

    1. from bondage to spiritual faith;
    2. from spiritual faith to great courage;
    3. from courage to liberty;
    4. from liberty to abundance;
    5. from abundance to complacency;
    6. from complacency to apathy;
    7. from apathy to dependence;
    8. from dependence back into bondage'

    Professor Joseph Olson of Hemline University School of Law, St. Paul , Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning the 2000 Presidential election:

    Number of States won by: Democrats: 19 Republicans: 29
    Square miles of land won by: Democrats: 580,000 Republicans: 2,427,000
    Population of counties won by: Democrats: 127 million Republicans: 143 million
    Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Democrats: 13.2 Republicans: 2.1

    Professor Olson adds: 'In aggregate, the map of the territory Republican won was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens of this great country. Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government welfare...' Olson believes the United States is now somewhere between the 'complacency and apathy' phase of Professor Tyler's definition of democracy, with some forty percent of the nation's population already having reached the 'governmental dependency' phase.

    If Congress grants amnesty and citizenship to twenty million criminal invaders called illegal's and they vote, then we can say goodbye to the USA in fewer than five years.

    If you are in favor of this, then by all means, delete this message. If you are not, then pass this along to help everyone realize just how much is at stake, knowing that apathy is the greatest danger to our freedom.

    WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE,
    ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE

    • Posted By: Fisherman144 @ 11/04/2008 7:46:36 AM

      Comment: Your premise that Democratic areas are lower income and higher in crime has changed over the last 10 years. The 'inner city' syndrome is no longer a political force. It has been shifter to the middle class of over-burdened taxpayers. There is a big hole in your theory.....voter turn out. This election cycle will see the largest active voter participation in our history. The overwhelming majority is for the change that a Democratic President and Congress will bring. We are ready for this.

  • Posted By: TruthForward @ 09/15/2008 8:36:41 AM

    Comment: Bush Sr. had the S&L deregulations which led to the buy-outs. Now Bush Jr. is buying out everything around. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have been here before. When will republicans stand up to their own party.

  • Posted By: jwild @ 09/14/2008 10:51:52 AM

    Comment: Early detection is the key in surviving any type of cancer. America needs their own brand of national health system...Why can our pets detect cancer sooner than any medical test we have and with less cost....By the time the cancer is detected especially ovarian and pancreatic cancers its too late...My girlfriend in Canada lost both breasts because some Russian doctor could not make the most obvious diagnosis..she told her that is was an infection and then the radiologists could not read the x-ray properly either...I was informed of this two years later . I wish she would have told me sooner, I would have told her to get a second opinion stat...We should pull out all the stops on this and get the whole process redesigned in the Health and Human Services , the FDA departments to reflect our national health issue goals and use technology to bring these smart research people together. Why spend so much money after the fact...We need to get to the cause of it and detect this disease process much faster...I have worked as an surgical RN for years and am now working as a healthcare information systems consultant and I can tell you that at a national level this can be achieved but it takes leadership which has been sorely lacking in DC....You want to change Washington and how it works....start from the bottom up approach...start with the cancer problem design a system that will meet your goal and then develop your policies . Top down planning does not work to solve this healthcare issue

  • Posted By: jordan c. fan @ 09/14/2008 10:29:17 AM

    Comment: Mr. Alter, you are writing this article simply to mislead the American people. Everyone knows that cancer is basically a disease related to aging because the cause of cancer is the build up of chemical toxins and viruses with time. As a person grow older, more toxins therefore more cancer case. In other words, more than 80% of those 565,000 person you mentioned were simply died of our age and not quite die of cancer. So you are wrong! Jordan C. Fan, Prophet of Environment.

    • Posted By: jwild @ 09/14/2008 10:55:00 AM

      Comment: This is true but then why do children get cancers

  • Posted By: TruthForward @ 09/13/2008 1:47:23 PM

    Comment: Well, here is some information on Obama's tax cuts for the middle class. And the tax code will not be thousands of pages long with Obama.
    http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/18/obama.taxplan/index.html

  • Posted By: TruthForward @ 09/13/2008 1:47:12 PM

    Comment: Palin has disgraced her entire family with all her lies. It's sad.

    By the way, Biden has an excellent family: Very happy and stable: Dispite the enormous tragedy they have had in their past.

  • Posted By: welleducated @ 09/12/2008 10:03:53 PM

    Comment: A free and fair press is required in order to have educated populace, mainstay of a vibrant democracy. All who tuned in expecting to see more of the woman who gave a sharp convention speech hopefully saw some of the problems behind the curtain of spin and deceit. We delude ourself to think strong leadership manifests as snide sarcasm, condescending comments, and tough talk. When we have such huge problems facing this country and world, we have the responsibility to do some honest accessment of what got us in this awful situation where we have 10 tillion plus in debt that is carried by countries that don't like us so much, (Communist China), with the rich not doing their patriotic share to pay our bills, with the middle class making up for the tax cuts given to the rich, despite deeper financial problems and fears of job loss. We have a global warming situation that will be worse if the only thing we do is drill drill drill. The republican party has covered up the problems, obstructed solutions, and even worse, ignored its duty under the Constitition, and used political office for the benefit of their party and not the country.

    With McCain being cancer survivor and elderly, she has potential to step into the top job in this country, and many of you think she shouldn't even be interviewed for the position? There should be a test given to our gov officials before they can run for office, and they should be licensed, subject to renewal qualifications. She clearly had no prior interest in US gov affairs, international conflict or macro economic issues and a week of cramming didn't help much. Charlie actually was easy on her, I would have been tougher. If you think you are better served blocking abc and going back to fox, you're clearly happier being lemmings, and would rather imagine that what's ahead is rainbows and moonbeams and not a cliff. 8 years of republican majority isn't enough of a lesson? Problem is that if there are too many lemmings, we're all over the cliff.

  • Posted By: jjkk @ 09/11/2008 5:34:07 PM

    Comment: You may also want to include the importance of genetic mapping and stem cell research, which will provide the best chance to cure cancer and other degenerative and inherited conditions/diseases. Most notably Type I diabetes.

  • Posted By: jjkk @ 09/11/2008 5:29:00 PM

    Comment: Hello Mr Alter - I do hope all is well with you. As you know, intraabdominal Stage IV Lymphoma isn't even on par with stage IIB noninvasive non-metastatic melanoma without recurrence in eight years. I've noticed the media has been taking more shots of his scar since Gov Palin has come on the scene. I think that is very sad.

    Sen McCain's mother is alive and well with full control of her mental faculties at 96. She has a twin sister. Their parents born in the late 1800's lived to 96 & 87. That is remarkable considering the conditions of those times. His father was 70 when he died. Genes and longevity affect the generic survival rates of any cancer.

    Just a thought. You are aware that positivity has a huge impact on survival rate and general well-being and negativity metastasizes to those around you. Please remember that in your next article. The level and amount of vitriol in your article's comment section was incredible.

  • Posted By: Never Forget091101 @ 09/11/2008 11:50:52 AM

    Comment: I came over from reading the comments that were posted with the article on 911. I cannot believe that anyone would say that McCain and Palin are the ones to get us out of the war in Iraq. Someone else must remember McCain saying that if it took a thousand years to win the war in Iraq that would be fine with him and he would support it. McCain is a scum who ditched his first wife because she no longer fit his idea of beautiful after a car wreck disfigured her. He actively conducted an affair with Cindy while still married. is that really a person we can trust to be in the White. Someone who broke the most fundamental vow of forsaking all others in sickness and in health? I think not.

    • Posted By: Fisherman144 @ 11/04/2008 8:03:07 AM

      Comment: Government must lead. Obama is the leader we need and that makes McCain and his buddies dead set against any progress in a cure for cancer and almost all medical progress.

    • Posted By: rmelone @ 09/11/2008 12:52:57 PM

      Comment: Just think back to when Bill Clinton was in the White House. I believe that you can then find it in your heart to trust McCain in the White House.

  • Posted By: Aditya Mookerjee @ 09/11/2008 9:22:06 AM

    Comment: In my opinion, cancer should not be cured, but prevented. If it is possible, then that would be better than cure. Cancer may be the opposite of normal cell tissue. The cancer cell is not a negative to nature, because the cells do not die like ordinary cells. The cells keep multiplying, but not die. How can cancer be prevented? They are, perhaps, like normal tissue, or identical, to normal tissue. They have the DNA, perhaps, of normal tissue, but later, they change their DNA. I mention the DNA of normal tissue, because cancer cells are formed like ordinary cells, without cancer, when they are formed.

  • Posted By: legume @ 09/11/2008 4:54:43 AM

    Comment: Props to Sen Biden for praising Sen Clinton - but it's not going to cut it. Barry Obama has to do it with his own words and his own actions. And then he has to do the same to Sen Clinton's base - even those who have already crossed over. He has to suck it up and decide what's more important - his pride or those Americans he's always talking about but never to. This election has always been his to lose and he's doing a dam good job of it. And everybody better stop calling on Sen Clinton to do this and that. It shows how spineless and clueless he is. It is not her responsibility to go on camera and cover for Barry Obama. And who in their right mind thinks Sen Clinton is going to come forward and say he's not sexist? Hello. He is, has been and always will be. Is he the head of the Democratic Party or is Sen Clinton?

    He's lost his magazine covers.
    He's lost his "newness".
    He's lost his CHANGE! chant.
    He's lost his mesmerism on the MSM.
    He's lost his lead in the polls.
    He's lost his stranglehold on the Independents.
    He's lost even more respect from women.
    He's lost his dam mind.
    He lost the ratings war on his multi-million dollar styrofoam pillar speech.
    He lost two days on something that would have gone away with a simple apology.
    What's left to lose but the election?

    ps. None of this would be happening if Sen Clinton were the nominee or the VP. And every single person on the planet knows this. How pist are the Clinton delegates? The ones whose jobs are on the line in November?

  • Posted By: legume @ 09/10/2008 2:22:16 PM

    Comment: Jonathan Alter:

    If you survived lymphoma - why would you generate such negative energy in your words, which then set off all the negativity in the posts below? You want to help cancer patients - stop the negativity and stick to facts. It's unusual to come in hear and not hear the shouting before the web page loads. What you need to do is get Lou Dobbs to latch on to it like he has immigration.

    You better get a rein on Barry Obama - he's leaking oil bad. Tell Axelrod et al he's seriously out of his league against the Republicans and needs some serious help. He is no longer on the offensive and going on the defense for the self-named man above the fray displays his elitist side - Barry Obama's body language gives him away.

    Whose race is it to lose? McCain isn't called a maverick for no reason. Forget the convention bump - where was Barry Obama's? In a marathon, the runner who pulls away stays in front and It's clear he doesn't have a sprint. Recall the 11-in-a-row and limp home. The camps need to stop sniping at each other and then saying the American people want this and that - which they still haven't heard. Whining and responding means he's worried. How well did his dusting off his shoulders and wiping his feet work after the ABC debate? How many primaries did he win? How big was Sen Clinton's margin of victory?

    He's been relying on the issues to keep the white woman and working men. Why is this acceptable now when it wasn't when Sen Clinton said it? How many of those women are past their reproductive years? What did NARAL do? Sen Clinton hold outs will determine this election and what has Barry Obama done other than disrespect them and Sen/Pres Clinton? All they want is to be respected and to have Barry Obama respect Sen Clinton with more than 17 words and a reference to a glass ceiling and his daughters. Michelle Obama benefited directly from Sen Clinton's generation and that admission would go a long way. Mentioning the glass ceiling will remind everyone that Gov Palin will breaking through not Sen Clinton.

    How many women Republican voted for him in the primaries? How many of them have gone back because of Gov Palin? It's not about Barry Obama the Messiah - look how well that went over. Same amount of folks watched him from on high as did the unknown Alaskan governor with real life charisma (not mesmerism) in a stuffy convention hall. Whether he wins is up to his pride - if his egomania was a voting block he would win in a landslide. How many folks still wave Hillary signs and chant her name when she shows up? How does that make her feel when she's being "pimped out" to help someone who is still disrespecting her base? And his obvious contempt of women is showing in his minimizing Gov Palin's achievements and allowing his camp to attack her pregnant teenage daughter.

    I've probably run out of words. He's going down and the MSM rescuing him isn't going to fly anymore.

    • Posted By: legume @ 09/10/2008 3:10:12 PM

      Comment: Here's a clue: Instead of CHANGE! and OBAMA! signs - go old school and hand out flyers at his rallies outlining in detail and in non-elitist non-Harvardspeak what he is going to do to help their lives directly. Directing them to his website is absolutely ridiculous after they've been waiting 8 hours to hear him whine about McCain/Palin and say nothing concrete.

      • Posted By: Fisherman144 @ 11/04/2008 8:10:00 AM

        Comment: legume - You're out of line. Your women's lib attitude will get us nowhere in the fight for a cancer cure....which, by the way, is the topic of this blog. Regardless of which Democratic winner makes the national scene, they must concnetrate more money and an open mind to a cure for youth-based diseases as well as the geriatric ones. Stick to the topic or go somewhere else to post your 'cancerous' ideas!

  • Posted By: fergleone @ 09/10/2008 12:28:17 AM

    Comment: Thank you for pushing for more funding for cancer research. Forty years ago I lost my father to pancreatic cancer. Three years ago, my mother died of the same disease. The prognosis, treatment plans etc. had not changed in all that intervening time. There has to be more money for research and screening for all types of cancer. Anna B.

  • Posted By: Etta Mae @ 09/09/2008 6:40:49 PM

    Comment: Congratulations, Mr Alter, for giving us some indication that there is indeed a journalist under your sexist and misogynistic words. I am pleased that you have chosen to use your position to do some good rather than attacking strong women.

  • Posted By: Rocky2001 @ 09/09/2008 11:46:47 AM

    Comment: Let me guess....Barry will sprinkle some fairy dust over cancer victims and cure them.....After all he is the Messiah!!

  • Posted By: jon-jon alter @ 09/09/2008 7:54:46 AM

    Comment: yo jonjon. what happened? olbermann and matthews getting tossed freak you out? or was it the absolute disgusting comments under your last blog? or maybe your enlightened "disabled infant"?

  • Posted By: sirhc @ 09/09/2008 7:15:46 AM

    Comment: THIS IS NO MORE THAN A WHITE FEMALE VERSION OF CLAREANCE THOMAS. I AM BLACK AND PLEASE BELIEVE..........CLAREANCE THOMAS WOULD NEED TOP FLIGHT SECURITY TO WALK IN ANY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE DISLIKED HIM FROM THE START AND WERE OFFENDED THAT REPUBS. THOUGHT WE WOULD COME TO HIS DEFENSE BECAUSE OF HIS PHYSICAL FEATURES.
    SARAH PALIN'S VIEWS, THEORIES AND POLICIES ARE SO AGAINST WOMEN'S RIGHTS IT'S DISTURBING. I HAVE ENOUGH FAITH IN THE WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY NOT TO VOTE FOR SOMEONE COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY AGAINST THEIR OWN INTEREST.

  • Posted By: cult followers @ 09/09/2008 6:31:19 AM

    Comment: Alter. One would think someone who faced death would realize the importance of kindness. Since you laid off the misogyny this week, here's a few clues for your friend barry:

    1 Stop whining.

    Does he want to win or be most popular? McCain's speech received higher ratings and 38M people watched Gov Palin's speech. Deal with it. He keeps talking about McCain like a he's been attacked by a bully. People think barry's spineless already. His attempt at humor/sarcasm comes off as disdain and his face reflects it. For someone who has been accused of elitism all it does is remind and reinforce with his tone.

    2 It's about the voters, stupid.

    Remind him he's there to talk to the voters - they're not there to see him and chant change! Those days are over. Does he want to be adored or be president? Does he want a Dem in the WH or does he just want to be put on a pedestal with styrofoam pillars behind him?

    3 Say something.

    Lay out specifically what he will do about the economy. Unemployment record high in 5 yrs, foreclosures in 18 yrs. People in OH/PA don't want to hear about earmarks - they want to hear about paychecks and mortgage payments. And why does he even want to go there? (Crown, U of C, Jones)

    4 Stop relying on Sen Clinton.


    Unless he's finally ready to apologize to Sen/Pres Clinton for his treatment of them, especially at the Convention. You know what I am talking about. Sen Clinton's following are even more incensed that he's using her to do things he cannot/will not. Those 18M voted for her because she spoke to and for them. He hasn't spoken to them and it's very clear he's not interested in speaking for them.

    5 Calling on Sen Clinton reinforces the notion that she should have been picked for VP.

    And the MSM (Quindlen, Kornblut, Crowley) who whine that Sen Clinton should go here and do that only makes him appear weaker than he already is. Why is it Sen Clinton's job? Is her name going to be on the ballot? Did he win the nomination or was he selected? Where's Caroline Kennedy? Pelosi? Dodd? Kerry? Gore? Dean? And all the other pink-faced presidential failures? It appears they just wanted Sen Clinton to lose because they sure aren't doing anything to help barry to win.

    6 Admit defeat.

    Axelrod in all of his own narcissism and hate has no experience against the GOP machine and it's glaringly obvious. Who but axelrod would think playing the race card would work? How much more of the black/white guilt vote did he think he was going to garner from the GOP? All it did was prove conclusively that it was his main strategy in the primaries. There's only one Dem since 1980 who has fought successfully against the GOP. barry's inexperience is glaringly obvious in that he has still not sought the counsel of Pres Clinton. In fact, he's gone out of his way to be cruel. Does he want a Dem in the WH or does he want to destroy the last one who was? It's clear he can't do both.

    • Posted By: legume @ 09/10/2008 2:33:11 PM

      Comment: Haha. I see you got here before me - you of all people trying to help Barry Obama shows how bad it is. Easiest fix would be Sen Clinton as VP - how much more can the Rep base be energized? But they would never admit it and no way Sen Clinton wants to be hooked to a sinking ship - the ship that threw her overboard and then tried to run her over for good. Why don't you post this over there and we can have a discussion there instead of here? They never listen anyway - good or bad. Who else but the unmesmerized masses has a clue? Who else but the unmesmerized saw this coming? Who else but the unmesmerized masses can give objective advice? And winning the unmesmerized vote - which will decide the election - for is up to the Messiah.

      I guess we'll see which wins: Barry Obama's Messiah Complex or those American people he speaks of but never to.

    • Posted By: jon-jon alter @ 09/09/2008 8:15:18 AM

      Comment: yeah here's more of axelrod's genius. he's going after gov palin's church and all his minions at kos and huffington post are writing how what she heard in church is going to affect how she leads. hello. can you say rev wright? 20 years of rev wright? where's he being held captive anyway? barry's falling into every trapdoor the GOP opens and whines like a hockey dad after he does. a winner goes about her business. a loser complains instead of recruiting more customers. money goes a lot farther at walmart...the place non elite barry will never shop. and if axelrod doesn't wake up he'll be ringing the salvation army bell outside of one come christmas.

      • Posted By: Etta Mae @ 09/09/2008 6:51:58 PM

        Comment: Hello jon-jon alter.

        I always enjoy reading your posts. This one is truly funny. And when are you going to open your blog to the public? If you're not going public, can you extend me an invite to read and comment? The posters here have gone over the edge into unbridled venom and hate. Can you imagine someone saying "POW card"? Or accusing a mother of lying about giving birth? Is the CHANGE! we are to believe in? Hope to hear from you.

        • Posted By: legume @ 09/10/2008 2:57:13 PM

          Comment: Hi Mrs Etta Mae Jenkins. We wondered what happened to you. Mattie had to work on the Olympics - but she just opened it up. None of the original posts made it over - but she's going to try to repost them somehow. This blog picks up at the conventions. Once you get in there, she can make you an author at the seven other blogs she runs, where all the old posts are. Are any of your grandchildren computer geeks? Do you know what happened to KellyB? There's too much on Palin to even follow. See you soon!

          • Posted By: legume @ 09/10/2008 3:16:33 PM

            Comment: http://citizensagainstproobamamediabias.blogspot.com/

  • Posted By: Monetfan @ 09/08/2008 10:07:20 PM

    Comment: Just read Mike Allen's piece (on Politico.com) about Charlie Gibson's upcoming "interview" with Sarah Palin. Good grief! Instead of an honest-to-goodness SUBSTANTIVE hard-hitting INTERVIEW it sounds more like Charlie will be doing a PUFF CELEBRITY PIECE EXTRAORDINAIRE ala Barbara Walters!! This is really pathetic. No hard-hitting Q&A. Disgraceful. Is the rest of the MSM going to let Rick Davis & Co. get away with this? Can you imagine if this were "STEVE PALIN" - a total newcomer to the national political scene - who had not uttered ONE SINGLE UNSCRIPTED WORD IN 11 DAYS since being chosen??? Would the MSM be so meek and frankly, cowardly? Or would they create such a hew and cry about "Steve's" avoidance of answering TOUGH ISSUES questions that "Steve" would feel compelled to hold a press conference, do the Sunday political shows, etc.??? ONLY the WONDERFUL ROGER SIMON of POLITICO has had the GUTS to say that if Palin cannot answer the really TOUGH ISSUES questions from the MSM RIGHT NOW she has no business running to be VP! How about it MSM??? Are you as BRAVE as ROGER SIMON??? Or are you COWARDS who are SHIRKING your journalistic duties?


  • Posted By: sirhc @ 09/08/2008 6:33:28 PM

    Comment: THE MOST IRONIC THING ABOUT CALLING THE MEDIA SEXIST AGAINST PALIN IS THAT NOTHING IS MORE SEXIST AGAINST WOMEN THAN PALIN'S POLICIES.

  • Posted By: Yes! We ALL Can @ 09/08/2008 2:49:16 PM

    Comment: Hopefully it won't be Sarah Palin in the event of 72 year old McCain (god forbid) passes away!!

    Since all Americans are questioning McCain's judgment about picking Sarah Palin and at the core of everyone's concern is her inexperience and utter lack of foreign or national policy understanding - I think it's important that the American people know about this mistake as soon as Sarah was not around one of Bush's speech writers and did not have a teleprompter in front of her!!

    By the way - hopefully "Softball" Gibson will ask Sarah Palin the tough questions that the American voters need to know and understand about her qualifications to be VP - which being a gritty mother of 5 is not one of them - respectful and demanding in it's own right - but certainly not a qualification to be VP of the United States!! Let's hope you write about this first mistake - I'm sure of many more to come - about how inexperienced and unqualified Sarah Palin really is. See below...

    McCain's judgment should be seriously questioned! He made a terrible mistake in picking Plain. Obvious fact: in the wake of the government taking over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - here's what Sarah Palin had to say below. Sarah Palin is seriously under-qualified for a job that McCain (should he win - which I don't see it happening) that she has ABSOLUTELY NO KNOWLEDGE of national or foreign policy and lacks the understanding for a wide array of issues right now!! Palin is not ready to be VP for anybody!!

    Gov. Sarah Palin made her first potentially major gaffe during her time on the national scene while discussing the developments of the perilous housing market this past weekend.

    Speaking before voters in Colorado Springs, the Republican vice presidential nominee claimed that lending giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had "gotten too big and too expensive to the taxpayers." The companies, as McClatchy reported, "aren't taxpayer funded but operate as private companies. The takeover may result in a taxpayer bailout during reorganization."

    Economists and analysts pounced on the misstatement, saying it demonstrated a lack of understanding about one of the key economic issues likely to face the next administration.

    "You would like to think that someone who is going to be vice president and conceivable president would know what Fannie and Freddie do," said Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. "These are huge institutions and they are absolutely central to our country's mortgage debt. To not have a clue what they do doesn't speak well for her, I'd say."

    Even conservative analysts acknowledged that the statement simply did not hold true.

    Thank you.

    • Posted By: sirhc @ 09/08/2008 6:40:18 PM

      Comment: WORSE-CAN YOU IMAGINE IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN TO MCCAIN (HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER DIED IN THEIR LATE 60'S AND EARLY 70'S) AND YOU HAVE SARAH PALIN DEALING WITH AHMADIDIJAD, IRAQ, AFGHANISTAN, RUSSIA, GEORGIA, CHINA, NORTH KOREA...............ETC?!!!! THAT WOULD BE LOOKING TO EAT HER ALIVE. ADD THE FACT THAT ARE MILITARY IS STRETCHED SO THEN RUSSIA FELT COMFORTABLE INVADING A NEARBY SOVEIRGN NATION THAT IS ONE OF OUR ALLIES AND THIS ENTIRE COUNTRY SEEMS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO GO BANKRUPT? COME THE "F"" ON-SHE WOULD LOOK LIKE PREY OR DESSERT TO THOSE MONSTERS..........PEOPLE CAN'T BE SERIOUS.

      • Posted By: cult followers @ 09/09/2008 5:48:24 AM

        Comment: Barry's dad died at 46 - his mom at 53.

        Sen McCain's mother is alive and well at 96! Did you see her at the convention? She's absolutely beautiful.

        • Posted By: sirhc @ 09/09/2008 11:20:34 PM

          Comment: BUT IF BARRY DIED - A VERY KNOWEDGEGBLE, EXPERIENCED AND RESPECTED PERSON WOULD BE PRESIDENT-JOE BIDEN. IF MCCAIN DIES WE HAVE A MOOSE HUNTER FROM ALASKA STARING AT KIM JONG III

          • Posted By: rmelone @ 09/11/2008 12:56:05 PM

            Comment: Do some research and look into Teddy Roosevelt. You might find out that he was Governor from 1899 to 1900 and then Vice President from Jan. 1901 to Dec. 1901 and then became President after McKinley's assassination...

  • Posted By: mcals77 @ 09/08/2008 2:18:12 PM

    Comment: I am an AF Veteran widow and I feel frustrated about the fact that Americans are treating this Presidential Election as a popularity contest rather than the issues. The fact even take manage his/her own family how the heck is h/she going to manage the Country? How could McCain, a 72 year old man, who has had 3 bouts with malignant cancer, responsibly appoint an inexperienced, yet vocally strident woman as the possible future president of the United States? Just to put it into prospective, my husband, a USAF Veteran, died of bladder cancer at age 68! This is clearly a political move from McCain and an irresponsible one. So much for his rhetoric???s of "Country First" and "I would rather lose a campaign than lose a war." Heck no! He doesn't give a hoot about us. He just wants to win. That's his ultimate ambition. And apart from those 5 POW years, does he really deserve it? Come on! He was a rogue. He graduated from the Naval Academy 5th from the last. If it hadn't been for his Father, who as an Admiral, he'd be running an employment agency right now. I don't see how he excelled in anything except marrying a very wealthy woman and dumping his faithful wife and Mother of his children. I used to write to the guys in Nam, back in the early seventies, before I got married. I had 40 pen-pals I supported with my letters of encouragement and hope. Some of them got killed, some liked to kill, some got caught and I don't know what happened to them. McCain is just one of them, as far as I am concerned. and how about all the young people he sent to their death in Iraq by co-signing with Bush on the war? What would they say to him, if they could? What would their families say to him? The man has no integrity. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. All I can say to you people out there who are considering voting for McCain is BEWARE!

    • Posted By: jwild @ 09/14/2008 10:22:49 AM

      Comment: Well said...Mcals77 This ticket is an empty shell

    • Posted By: jwild @ 09/14/2008 10:06:33 AM

      Comment: Well said...Mcals77 This ticket is an empty shell

  • Posted By: mcals77 @ 09/08/2008 2:13:06 PM

    Comment: I am an AF Veteran widow and I feel frustrated about the fact that Americans are treating this Presidential Election as a popularity contest rather than the issues. The fact even take manage his/her own family how the heck is h/she going to manage the Country? How could McCain, a 72 year old man, who has had 3 bouts with malignant cancer, responsibly appoint an inexperienced, yet vocally strident woman as the possible future president of the United States? Just to put it into prospective, my husband, a USAF Veteran, died of bladder cancer at age 68! This is clearly a political move from McCain and an irresponsible one. So much for his rhetoric???s of "Country First" and "I would rather lose a campaign than lose a war." Heck no! He doesn't give a hoot about us. He just wants to win. That's his ultimate ambition. And apart from those 5 POW years, does he really deserve it? Come on! He was a rogue. He graduated from the Naval Academy 5th from the last. If it hadn't been for his Father, who as an Admiral, he'd be running an employment agency right now. I don't see how he excelled in anything except marrying a very wealthy woman and dumping his faithful wife and Mother of his children. I used to write to the guys in Nam, back in the early seventies, before I got married. I had 40 pen-pals I supported with my letters of encouragement and hope. Some of them got killed, some liked to kill, some got caught and I don't know what happened to them. McCain is just one of them, as far as I am concerned. and how about all the young people he sent to their death in Iraq by co-signing with Bush on the war? What would they say to him, if they could? What would their families say to him? The man has no integrity. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing. All I can say to you people out there who are considering voting for McCain is BEWARE!

  • Posted By: c87brown @ 09/08/2008 11:34:13 AM

    Comment: I am 39 yrs. of age and African American. I have never been poll on a political race, not ever. Not for a local race or national. How do I get my opion (on a poll) out there like everyone else? I know that most polls have to be consider with care, but I'd still like participate along with everyone else. In over 20 yrs. of voting you would think someone would ask my opion?

    In other words you can't trust the polls, and with the last two elections it has been proven that you really can't trust the vote count.

  • Posted By: emmarcee @ 09/08/2008 8:55:20 AM

    Comment: Hey Nasty Alter, I saw a toning down on your attitude!! It has nothing to do with sacking of your likes Keith Olbermann et al, I guess!!

  • Posted By: supermom007 @ 09/07/2008 11:48:02 PM

    Comment: As a mother of a 8 year old who is battling cancer at St. Jude in Memphis, Amen. No child should ever be put on end of life treatment because of cancer nor have to endure chemo and radiation to rid their body of the deadly disease only to have to fight it again years later. Is Cancer todays Black Plague?

  • Posted By: johnsonsond @ 09/07/2008 10:42:47 PM

    Comment: This is a great article. Our family is dealing with Alzheimers and we see so little new research and when you consider how long they have been doing cancer research, it seems so little. Yes they can detect cancer better and if found early can do treatment. But the treatment is almost as horrible as the disease. John McCain is too old to undertake the Presidency. Choosing Sarah Palin is a slap in the face to Americans showing his contempt for the entire political process. That he thinks she is qualified to be President shows how demented he is.

  • Posted By: vinman @ 09/07/2008 8:52:55 PM

    Comment: http://www.gallup.com/poll/110050/Gallup-Daily-McCain-Moves-Ahead-48-45.aspx

    McCain moves AHEAD! Worry libs.........Worry!

    MCCAIN / PALIN08!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Posted By: tc125231 @ 09/08/2008 2:02:09 PM

      Comment: Look at Pollster.com, fool. What matters is state by state, and electoral votes. There Obama is far ahead. Unlike his predecessor, he won't have to steal any states to win.

  • Posted By: McCain's Lie-abilities @ 09/07/2008 6:15:33 PM

    Comment: Excellent article and one I will share with friends. It upsets me greatly that Bush cut funding for research on diseases like cancer, altheizmers, etc. We have lost far too many to these insidious diseases. This is especially close to my heart as we lost a 5-year-old in my family to pediatric cancer. Pediatric cancer gets so little attention. Families with children facing this deadly disease end up conducting their own fundraisers to pay for research at hospitals like Sloan in NYC. see bandofparents.org -- it is mind boggling. I will vote for Obama and hope.

  • Posted By: MAZees @ 09/07/2008 5:55:42 PM

    Comment: This is absolutely true about the NIH. One world-renown researcher in the field of deadly metabolic disorders in newborns related to me personally that funds coming out of NIH have virtually dried up over the past 8 years. He has contacted senators and representatives, and asked us to do the same, to restore funding for NIH and medical research. The biological and genetic leaps and bounds that have been made in the past 20 years are coming to a screeching halt, with comparatively little improvement in life span.
    I don't see any evidence that McCain will steer away from the current policies.

  • Posted By: scuba47 @ 09/07/2008 5:36:36 PM

    Comment: Great article. My husband has prostate cancer. Surgically removed prostate last year, but tumours are still there and growing. He is otherwise very healthy and extremely active. We are fighting it and hope for new lines of research down the road that will be available if the cancer doesn't stay under control. I agree with you completely, Mr. Altar, that research is the key and the hope for cancer victims and their families who love them -- along with a good health insurance system, which we don't presently have. And our president DOES have the power to fight to make federal research grants available for cancer -- instead of cutting research funding to fund wars overseas and giving available funding to entrentched interests who are not innovative or driven to help humanity -- as well as fighting to overhaul our health insurance system at the same time. Americans are known for their fighting spirit of not giving up or giving in to adversity -- and for their optimisim and ingenuity to make things better. My husband and I think Barack Obama will be the president to use his power to help fund cancer research and overhaul the health insurance system quickly. Not the only reason we???re 200%++ for him, but one of the reasons. (FYI: We???re both lifelong Republicans turned Non-Partisan ??? voted for Bush twice ??? wrong decision) Thank you for your article and best of luck to you.

  • Posted By: scuba47 @ 09/07/2008 5:35:04 PM

    Comment: Great article. My husband has prostate cancer. Surgically removed prostate last year, but tumours are still there in other areas and growing. He is otherwise very healthy and extremely active. We are fighting it and hope for new lines of research down the road that will be available if the cancer doesn't stay under control. I agree with you completely, Mr. Altar, that research is the key and the hope for cancer victims and their families who love them -- along with a good health insurance system, which we don't presently have. And our president DOES have the power to fight to make federal research grants available for cancer -- instead of cutting research funding to fund wars overseas and giving available funding to entrentched interests who are not innovative or driven to help humanity -- as well as fighting to overhaul our health insurance system at the same time. Americans are known for their fighting spirit of not giving up or giving in to adversity -- and for their optimisim and ingenuity to make things better. My husband and I think Barack Obama will be the president to use his power to help fund cancer research and overhaul the health insurance system quickly. Not the only reason we???re 200%++ for him, but one of the reasons. (FYI: We???re both lifelong Republicans turned Non-Partisan ??? voted for Bush twice ??? wrong decision) Thank you for your article.

  • Posted By: lmasure @ 09/07/2008 5:34:57 PM

    Comment: Neos, I've no idea what your post has to do with this article - but it's nice to see I'm not the only one who thinks the way you do. Bush has gone above and beyond what we even thought to be a big deficit with our budget. Clinton did so much in finally balancing it, only to have it pissed away by yet another republican who can surely be called "the worst one (republican, or politician) EVER!!

    Typically speaking, in each white house era there is usually at least one thing each president has done that can be considered a good thing - (regardless of the stupid things they did as well)... but I can not think of ONE tiny, itty bitty, little thing that Bush has done in his 8 years of running our country that had a positive affect on any of us. That man has completely and utterly ruined this country, and left our next president with a huge mess to clean up. They'll basically be spending their first 4 yrs in office just fixing things!

    Here's hoping for 8 future years of Democratic rule... Go Obama!

  • Posted By: neos @ 09/07/2008 5:08:54 PM

    Comment: OK, Boys and girls. It's quiz time!!
    Of the last 5 Republican presidents - name which one(s) had budget deficits throughout their terms? (Even when Republicans held congress as well...
    And for the bonus round, which one(s) actually left the federal government larger than he/they found it?

    Jeopardy theme music......

    Actually the answer to both questions is all of them. So much for Republican promises of small government and fiscal responsibility. Instead of tax and spend we got borrow and spend. Expect more of the same with McCain.
    And so,how did we get the money to cover the deficits and increased spending for the ever-larger government? Did we increase revenues and responsibly pay our way? No, we did not. We put it all on the ol' VISA card. Yep, we borrowed a ton of money from our bestest buddies: China and Saudi Arabia, etc. and plan to leave this enormous tab to our kids. And now we get to divert hundreds of billions of dollars a year to our bestest buddies to service the debt. Money that could have spent at home repairing our crumbling transportation infrastructure, for example. Remember the Clinton surpluses???

  • Posted By: lmasure @ 09/07/2008 3:55:51 PM

    Comment: Mr. Alter, you are wrong on so many levels. I don't recall cancer ever being a national problem that we expect our government to fix. We have too many more problems the govt CAN fix rather than worry about a disease in which the medical community is responsible for. What about U.S. poverty, is that not as important ??? or say, more so than cancer to those who live in a car?

    My mother had breast cancer. She had the tumor removed, went thru radiation & is now supposed to take a certain medication for the next 5 yrs - but, with the side effects of that med, she has decided NOT to continue taking it. I am against this, however, I do not believe that complaining to my Senator is the answer here, and I fail to understand what the govt has to do with eradicating cancer aside from the designation of research funds.

    If we do someday eradicate some types of cancer, a new type will eventually pop up that we can do nothing about, (that???s evolution), yet you're implying that the government is responsible for and should fix ???cancer???. There's nothing to fix here! It's a medical disease! This is not something anyone should expect the politicians to fix.

    It's not just my mother that has had cancer either, I've lost 2 uncles, (one at age 33) my maternal grandmother had breast & uterine cancer, & I've lost 3 great-aunts to breast cancer. I understand what people go through, I've seen it, but again this is a MEDICAL problem, not a political one.

    The best thing our politicians can do is work towards getting healthcare for everyone. You're basically implying that our government should solve our medical problems, rather than the medical community. That???s an outrageously obscure statement - it just doesn???t make sense.

    I suffer from daily severe chronic pain (I'm a USAF Vet too), so should I expect Obama or McCain to have an answer to this medical issue? (Which by the way, affects MORE people than cancer & has a HIGHER rate of missed work than cancer does). Expecting that is wrong in so many ways. As a Vet, yes, I expect our politicians to work to get the VA to better help out all Veterans, but as an American, I in no way expect them to fix this particular medical issue. In my opinion, it???s absurd to think that way.

    I asked my mother how she feels about this issue and I'm sorry to tell you that aside from agreeing that the govt needs to better fund research, cancer, nor any one specific disease, is NOT an issue that the candidates need to make any statements or promises for. As I said before, there is so much more at stake here, things our government CAN do something about, that's at risk in this election.

    I'm glad to hear that you are a survivor of cancer, and I hope you continue on that road, but I just don't understand how you can make such a statement about cancer, when so many things on so many different levels are going on. Our economy, healthcare, the war, etc??? THESE are the issues that are at stake. NOT cancer.

  • Posted By: Jose Calvo @ 09/07/2008 9:05:21 AM

    Comment: Your gift of writing is a great one for us to enjoy all the time. Even more so with this piece, so well written and SO important for us to read. Maybe someday "Glad you beat it!" will be "Glad we are succeeding in our fight against it!". May you, may we, live so long!

  • Posted By: jordan c. fan @ 09/07/2008 5:21:02 AM

    Comment: Cancer will continue to be incurable. In fact there will be many more new types of cancers emerging. In other words, the cancer situation will get worse and no president in the U. S. A. can do anything to stop it.

  • Posted By: wildlifeusa @ 09/07/2008 12:05:07 AM

    Comment: 9/11 and religion.... What is the connection??? there are the answers.
    http://propagandameatgrinder.magnify.net/video/Zeitgeist-s-hrvatskim-titlom/theater#theater_title

  • Posted By: dotc13stars @ 09/06/2008 11:49:28 PM

    Comment: Cease and Desist...

    Military Generals have asked that Senator McCain stop using his experience as a P.O.W. in defense of his qualifications to be President.

    Military Generals know there are controversial aspects to having been a P.O.W. during the Viet Nam era.

    Many P.O.W.s never made it home. They're credo, "Death Before Dishonor!" ...and their lives were extinguished.

    The Viet Cong didn't sit P.O.W.s at a table, asked a few questions, the P.O.W. refused to answer them, so the Viet Cong sent them back to their cell fully conscious without having divulged a bit of useful information.

    The Viet Cong "tortured" them until they either talked as a result of being seriously injured or disfigured, passed out from being seriously injured or disfigured, ...or died.

    Of the 3, dying gave the most reprieve.

    The movie "The Deer Hunter" illustrates how indifferent the Viet Cong were to a Prisoner of War's human life.

    So, respectfully, Senator McCain...

    In memory of all the P.O.W.s that never made it home...

    In memory of those Missing In Action (M.I.A) whose remains lie scattered throughout a foreign land...

    In memory of those who later died from diseases contracted during the war...

    In memory of the "Walking Wounded"...

    In memory America's fallen heros...

    In memory of those "Homeless Veterans" who served this country honorably but have no home to lay their head, no one who understands their demons, but continue to make it because of the fire that burns within...Cease and Desist...

    ...at least you made it home, have at least 7 homes, a beautiful family, and a Republican Party that lauds over you.

    • Posted By: lmasure @ 09/07/2008 7:51:14 PM

      Comment: AMEN!! I've got to say, not only did you hit the nail on the head, but, it has been consistently uplifting to me to read these blogs (here and everywhere) and see just how many people are against McCain.

      I believe that a good majority of people who tuned into the convention for McPalin tuned in only to hear what her speach was going to be - unfortunately all we got was Obama bashing, but hey, what can anyone expect from her anyway? She's only a patsy for republicans, and hopefully she knows this. God help her if she thought she was chosen for her leadership. (yeah, keep teaching abstinence in school - we all know what a good idea that is)

  • Posted By: Yes! We ALL Can @ 09/06/2008 9:12:32 PM

    Comment: McCain has acknowledged voting with President Bush 90 percent of the time in Congress, Obama said.

    "And suddenly he's the change agent? Ha. He says, 'I'm going to tell those lobbyists that their days of running Washington are over.' Who is he going to tell? Is he going to tell his campaign chairman, who's one of the biggest corporate lobbyists in Washington? Is he going to tell his campaign manager, who was one of the biggest corporate lobbyists in Washington?"

    "I mean, come on, they must think you're stupid," Obama said as the crowd laughed and cheered

  • Posted By: Yes! We ALL Can @ 09/06/2008 6:41:55 PM

    Comment: Question for McCain: "Mr. McCain, the argument of your campaign is that the McCain-Palin ticket should be elected because it has more executive experience than the Obama-Biden ticket. But you have no executive experience, while Sarah Palin does. So what executive role will Sarah Palin play in your administration? Will she be in charge of energy policy? Of social policy with regard to abortion and gay rights? Of foreign policy?"

    And if McCain suggests that he will put Palin in charge of a task force or a study group, the follow-up must be: "But that's just writing a report. Your campaign is pinning the argument for your election on the executive advantage that Sarah Palin brings to the ticket. So, again, what job will this essential executive have in your administration?"

    Make McCain DECLARE what Palin's SPECIFIC role as Veep will be...and then see where she stands on that issue or policy.

    Energy?...and then bring up how she cancelled wind farm projects.

    Social policy?...and then point out her exteme views on abortion or on creationism or ...even better..."abstinence-only sex education"?

    Foreign policy?....

    uh...

    Earmarks?....and then ask which "Bridge to Nowhere" she opposed...and which she supported?

    Garbage collection and parks and playgrounds?....sure. That'll work, that's the kind of executive experience she had as Mayor of Wasilla.

    SARAH PALIN IS A COWARD AND SMOKESCREEN/DISTRACTION FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO TALK ABOUT ANY ISSUES!!!

  • Posted By: jordan c. fan @ 09/06/2008 5:29:18 PM

    Comment: What The Next President Do?

    My Answer is: The next U. S. President John McCain can declare Maryland his home state.

    An important presidential election record will be broken this year, it is not the first time that a woman or Black person will be elected to the Executive office. We will be seeing the greatest American tragedy unfolding right before our eyes. It is one the very few time when a native son will not be elected by his own state. To make it worse, such native son is the greatest hero in an area which has always been the pride and joy of that state. Correct me if I am wrong. I have hardly heard any one at the Republican Convention or during their campaign mentioned the Annapolis Naval Academy, not even McCain himself. Being born in Panama to a naval family and travel all over this country and the world, McCain really does not have a true home. Arizona is a states he used for election to Congress which he has not visited frequently. The Navy Academy, which is only ten miles from Baltimore, is the only place McCain can really call his home in which he had spent the happiest time of his college life with his navy friends. Maryland should welcome her naval son with open arms and elect him as president.

    But, no! Maryland have 1.6 million Black or approximately 30 % of the state???s population or making it the ???Black Capital??? near of the U. S Capital. It was 36 % to 61% (almost double) in favor of Obama over Hillary during the primary here. All media and people here have expressed the sad fact that little or no Marylanders will vote for McCain. I personally don???t like McCain very much but my conscience forced me to campaign for him. This episode is not only the greatest disgrace of all Americans but also of that of the human race. It is an unforgivable sin committed by all Marylanders especially her Black racists, I am ashamed to live in the state of Maryland. I suggest the Government relocate its Naval Academy out of Maryland. This time, the true and only battle ground states are not Ohio, Florida or Michigan but Maryland. The decision is not who is going to become president? But whether God had made a mistake in creating man?

    With this letter I, as prophet, have ended this election right here and now!

  • Posted By: jordan c. fan @ 09/06/2008 5:01:06 PM

    Comment: What the next president can do?

    My answer is: The next president John McCain can make Maryland his home state.

    An important presidential election record will be broken this year, it is not the first time that a woman or Black person will be elected to the Executive office. We will be seeing the greatest American tragedy unfolding right before our eyes. It is one the very few time when a native son will not be elected by his own state. To make it worse, such native son is the greatest hero in an area which has always been the pride and joy of that state. Correct me if I am wrong. I have hardly heard any one at the Democratic Convention or during their campaign mentioned the Annapolis Naval Academy, not even McCain himself. Being born in Panama to a naval family and travel all over this country and the world, McCain really does not have a true home. Arizona is a states he used for election to Congress which he has not visited frequently. The Navy Academy is the only place McCain can really call his home in which he had spent the happiest time of his college life with his navy friends. Maryland should welcome her naval son with open arms and elect him as president.
    But, no! Maryland have 1.6 million Black or approximately 30 % of the state???s population or making her the ???Black Capital??? near the Capital of the U. S. It was 36 % to 61% (almost double) in favor of Obama over Hillary during the primary here. All media and people here have expressed the sad fact that little or no Marylanders will vote for McCain. I personally don???t like McCain very much but my conscience forced me to campaign for him. This episode is not only the greatest disgrace of all Americans but also of that of the human race. It is an unforgivable sin committed by all Marylanders, I am now ashamed to live in the state of Maryland. I suggest the Government relocates its Naval Academy out of Maryland. This time, the true and only battle ground states are not Ohio, Florida or Michigan but Maryland. The decision is not who is going to become president? But whether God had made a mistake in creating man?

    With this letter I, as prophet, have ended this election right here and now!

    • Posted By: lmasure @ 09/07/2008 7:40:18 PM

      Comment: "With this letter I, as prophet, have ended this election right here and now!"

      Tell me Prophet Jordan, what ARE you talking about? Your post made no sense, except to prove you're just another one of "those people" who will vote for McCain (and sorry to say, see him lose as well).

      I see you failed to mention that after coming home from his POW status, he cheated on his wife - ahem - more than once... he has no idea how many homes he owns, and all he can say when asked about it is how he "didn't own a table" when he was a POW!" You know what McCain?? No one cares about your previous POW status.... get over it! Personally, I'm more concerned about those POW's who didn't make it home, MIA somewhere still over there, and their families with no closure.

      As for Jordan the prophet - you may want to try making another pass at posting something that makes sense. It's very hard to understand what point you're attempting to make here. Apparently you're more obsessed with how many "black" people are voting for Obama and how many control your state. Get over it - we WILL have a black president - this election, and yes, we will continue to elect both blacks and women into office. Regardless, their color or gender should not matter - it's what they can do for us as commander in cheif that matters.

      This is something that you racists don't seem to understand. We have a strong Democratic contender this election, and he just happens to be black. So what? Because MD will also vote him in office, they need to, for some reason, adopt McIdiot?

      Oy.

  • Posted By: akhajawall @ 09/06/2008 3:05:17 PM

    Comment: Dear concerned citizens of America and mass media of the U.S.A.

    As a concerned disabled American Veteran and American citizen, I consider it my duty and responsibility to address the following critical issues facing the voters of our Greatgrand nation, the United States of America [USA].

    The citizens of the United States of America [USA] have the ultimate power and responsibility to elect the Right Ticket with the right joint "temperament, judgment, and statesmanship" to lead our nation as well as change our nation's present and future moral, political, economic, educational, health care, energy, military, and foundational soul.
    In my firm professional, personal, and political opinion, the media should help the common voter to explore and discuss the following attributes of the present Republican and Democratic presidential slates:
    1. Does the joint ticket have a calm, cool, and collected " temper and impulse" [Presidential Temperament]?
    2. Does each ticket have sound and sustained "Judgment and Caliber"?
    3. Does each ticket have a "presidential depth and degree" in regard to their purpose, policies, and positions?
    4. Does each ticket have adequate, "understanding and knowledge" of workings around Washington"?
    5. Does each ticket have enough "vigor, wisdom and Vision" for the future of our beloved Great-grand Nation?
    6. Does each ticket possess enough joint foreign policy experience and ex-poser based on "American Values, Virtues, Vastness, and strong soul"?
    7. Are their campaign talk, slogans, ads, plans, and programs based on facts and are they free of fear, fiction, frivolous labels, unfair attacks, negativity, and impulsivity? [Danger to country and countries mission[s].
    8. Ultimate irony is he stool change message and uses Palin to kill the messenger. Maverick McCain not good for USA and White House.


    As a Independent registered voter I have decided to vote for Obama-Biden ticket. I am sure they will protect our national security, Strong's, stamina and strong soul. Rebuild our nation from bottom up in all areas of need, OBAMA-BIDEN ticket will once again restore and rebuild our global standing with the use of maximum international firm diplomacy and minimal force if and when indicated.


    Yours sincerely,

    COL. A.M. Khajawall [Ret] MD., Forensic psychiatrist, Colonel, US-AR / MC Combat Stress Control[Ret], Disabled American Veteran and Iraq Freedom team.

    PS: This nation will not buy into kitchen sink strategy. We are getting deeper into internal and external holes thru these attacks and world is laughing on us and enjoying our partisan Pitt Bull wounds. I am sure GOP.RC, FOX, RUSH, ROVE.And McCain's his surrogates will fail to dupe, deceive, and deprive USA its deserved leadership.

    • Posted By: jwild @ 09/14/2008 10:21:16 AM

      Comment: Well said Col. A.M. Khajawall You outlined all the qualities that make an excellent president . Could we have this in a job description for the presidency? Then we could hold them accountable.. might want to thrown in someone who has constitutional and international law experience as well...This top job should go to the most qualified candidate that exudes these qualities not which "doctrine" you enspouse to, which idealogue....

    • Posted By: jarcher1 @ 09/06/2008 11:58:01 PM

      Comment: Related to your points and your profession - take a look at this:

      http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/19/AR2008041902224.html?hpid=topnews

  • Posted By: akhajawall @ 09/06/2008 3:04:58 PM

    Comment: Dear concerned citizens of America and mass media of the U.S.A.

    As a concerned disabled American Veteran and American citizen, I consider it my duty and responsibility to address the following critical issues facing the voters of our Greatgrand nation, the United States of America [USA].

    The citizens of the United States of America [USA] have the ultimate power and responsibility to elect the Right Ticket with the right joint "temperament, judgment, and statesmanship" to lead our nation as well as change our nation's present and future moral, political, economic, educational, health care, energy, military, and foundational soul.
    In my firm professional, personal, and political opinion, the media should help the common voter to explore and discuss the following attributes of the present Republican and Democratic presidential slates:
    1. Does the joint ticket have a calm, cool, and collected " temper and impulse" [Presidential Temperament]?
    2. Does each ticket have sound and sustained "Judgment and Caliber"?
    3. Does each ticket have a "presidential depth and degree" in regard to their purpose, policies, and positions?
    4. Does each ticket have adequate, "understanding and knowledge" of workings around Washington"?
    5. Does each ticket have enough "vigor, wisdom and Vision" for the future of our beloved Great-grand Nation?
    6. Does each ticket possess enough joint foreign policy experience and ex-poser based on "American Values, Virtues, Vastness, and strong soul"?
    7. Are their campaign talk, slogans, ads, plans, and programs based on facts and are they free of fear, fiction, frivolous labels, unfair attacks, negativity, and impulsivity? [Danger to country and countries mission[s].
    8. Ultimate irony is he stool change message and uses Palin to kill the messenger. Maverick McCain not good for USA and White House.


    As a Independent registered voter I have decided to vote for Obama-Biden ticket. I am sure they will protect our national security, Strong's, stamina and strong soul. Rebuild our nation from bottom up in all areas of need, OBAMA-BIDEN ticket will once again restore and rebuild our global standing with the use of maximum international firm diplomacy and minimal force if and when indicated.


    Yours sincerely,

    COL. A.M. Khajawall [Ret] MD., Forensic psychiatrist, Colonel, US-AR / MC Combat Stress Control[Ret], Disabled American Veteran and Iraq Freedom team.

    PS: This nation will not buy into kitchen sink strategy. We are getting deeper into internal and external holes thru these attacks and world is laughing on us and enjoying our partisan Pitt Bull wounds. I am sure GOP.RC, FOX, RUSH, ROVE.And McCain's his surrogates will fail to dupe, deceive, and deprive USA its deserved leadership.

 
 
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Daniel Lyons

Isn't it ironic: Xerox is hoping it can profit by teaching companies how to reduce their printing.

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JUSTICE
Michael Isikoff

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