Beware the Barracuda

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  • Posted By: neocon @ 09/11/2008 4:21:19 PM

    Obama stuck to the facts, except when he stretched them during his acceptance speech.

    Obama reassured voters that he can pay for all his spending proposals:

    Obama: Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I???ve laid out how I???ll pay for every dime ??? by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don???t help America grow.

    This is misleading. Even by his own campaign???s estimates, closing corporate loopholes and tax havens won???t pay for all of Obama???s new plans. In July, the campaign told the Los Angeles Times that they estimate the yearly cost of their proposed tax cuts at $130 billion. They put revenue from closing tax loopholes at just $80 billion. Obama also proposes to raise taxes to pre-Bush levels for families earning more than $250,000 a year and singles making more than $200,000, yielding additional revenue. But he didn't mention that in his speech.

    According to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, "without substantial cuts in government spending" Obama???s plan ??? "would substantially increase the national debt over the next ten years."
    Obama twisted McCain's words about Afghanistan, incorrectly implying that McCain saw no need for more troops there.

    Obama: When John McCain said we could just ???muddle through??? in Afghanistan, I argued for more resources and more troops to finish the fight against the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11

    Actually, McCain said in 2003 that the U.S. "may" muddle through, not that we could or would. He also said he was very concerned about a rise in al Qaeda activity there. He said then that he was "guardedly optimistic" that the government could handle it.

    • Posted By: neocon @ 09/11/2008 4:22:47 PM

      part II:
      Obama said: ???I will cut taxes ... for 95 percent of all working families.??? And he said McCain proposes ???not one penny of tax relief to more than 100 million Americans,??? a claim his running mate, Joe Biden, made the night before.
      Obama used a clumsy attempt at humor by McCain as evidence of his supposed insensitivity to middle-class economic realities:

      Obama: Now, I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans; I just think he doesn???t know. Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under five million dollars a year?

      What McCain actually said at the Saddleback Church forum on Aug. 16 was that he favors low taxes for all income levels. He drew a laugh, then said, "but seriously" as he struggled to make his point:

      Pastor Rick Warren, Aug. 16: [G]ive me a number, give me a specific number - where do you move from middle class to rich?

      McCain: I don't want to take any money from the rich ??? I want everybody to get rich. ... So, I think if you are just talking about income, how about $5 million? But seriously, I don't think you can - I don't think seriously that - the point is that I'm trying to make here, seriously ??? and I'm sure that comment will be distorted ??? but the point is that we want to keep people's taxes low and increase revenues.

      Obama gave only half the story when he described a feature of McCain's health care plan:

      Obama: How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people???s benefits...

      McCain proposes to grant families up to a $5,000 tax credit to use for health benefits. The flip side of that proposal, which McCain seldom if ever mentions, is that the value of employer-sponsored benefits would also become taxable. Both candidates are trading in half-truths here; McCain talks only about the pleasurable side of his plan, while Obama's speech mentioned only the painful aspect. Neither gives a complete picture.

      Obama painted McCain as a Republican partisan who's supported the unpopular President Bush consistently:

      Obama: And next week, we'll also hear about those occasions when he's broken with his party as evidence that he can deliver the change that we need. But the record's clear: John McCain has voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time.

      Obama also pulled some sleight of hand when he stated that "the average American family" saw its income "go down $2,000" under George Bush. That's not correct. Census figures show average family income went down $348.

      As it turns out, when Obama said "average family income," he didn't mean "average," and he didn't mean "family," either. An Obama aide says he was really referring to median income ??? which is the midpoint ??? and not to the average. And Obama was talking only about "working families," not retired couples.

      For all families, median family income actually inched up under Bush by $272.

  • Posted By: bammer @ 09/09/2008 6:37:02 PM

    TO: NBC, MSNBC, CBS, CNN, NYT, CT, WP, Newsweek, Atlantic Weekly, LAT---

    WHAT MAKES YOU WORTHY OF TELLING US WHAT YOU THINK?

    The Main Stream Media should be ASHAMED AS HELL OF ITSELF; but, we know, it has NO SHAME!!! It NOW thinks it should get involved in the vetting of a VP, while it GAVE A SHAMELESS PASS to OBAMA for the PRESIDENTIAL SLOT.

    So you think giving SOFTBALL questions to OBAMA in the debates proves anything. Do you think not tracking down his associations, record, accomplishments or lack thereof proves anything? Do you think that attacking a 17 YEAR OLD GIRL of a candidate AND THE CANDIDATE HERSELF MAKES YOU WORTHY OF TELLING US WHAT YOU THINK?

    It proves that the MSM is trying as hard as we have ever seen to CONTROL an election like a Chicago Party Machine, or a government controled, Banana Repubic press.

    The MSM press has been disgraceful and there has been and will continue to be a decline of the MSM into tabloid, celebrity, and sexism journalism.

    With some MSM outlets like NBC, MSNBC, CBS, CNN, NYT, CT, WP, Newsweek, Atlantic Weekly, LAT, and others becoming tabloids following DailyKos, MoveOn.org, and HuffingtonPost, the vast majority of normal, middle class, independent/moderate WILL BE SICK OF YOU.

    ANSWER THIS QUESTION:

    WHAT MAKES YOU WORTHY OF TELLING US WHAT YOU THINK?

    • Posted By: Wayne Paquette @ 09/11/2008 3:52:50 PM

      Hammer, you must only watch Fox News aka Faux News. Fox has no credibility as a news organization. It is pure propaganda for the extreme right wing and the Christian Taliban. It has no credibility because its owner, rupert Murdoch, is the jerk who bought the phony Hitler diaries back in the 80's without even investigating its legitimacy.

  • Posted By: bill4truth @ 09/07/2008 2:47:42 PM

    George W. Bush had a 90% approval rating after 9/11/2001. Apparently, public approval isn't much of an indicator of leadership, character, integrity, or ability to govern.

    • Posted By: dcznmt @ 09/11/2008 2:55:10 PM

      No, it is the result of a six and one-half year campaign of slash and burn, character assination, blame Bush for anything/everything wrong or negative, giving Bush no credit for anything good and/or positive and not to mention party politics. History will prove you wrong and prove Bush a great President despite failing on deficit spending and sticking with Rummy to long on the war. Time will tell

  • Posted By: liberalguy @ 09/07/2008 3:03:43 PM

    this thing is over mccainis on his way to victory gallup has mccain up by 5 points a 7 poin swing in one day

    • Posted By: perspectives @ 09/08/2008 3:58:21 AM

      Problem is Obama still controls the electorial map. That's the difference between a Harvard Law degree and graduating at the bottom one percent of your class at the Naval Academy. Or like Ms. Palin, taking six years at six different colleges to finally earn a four-year bachelor's degree in communications. She holds nothing but that B.A.

      In a time of crisis the American people are asked to vote dumb and dumber into office. No one internationally will take the McCain/Palin ticket seriously. They're dummies. And no one will take America seriously if McCain is elected. America is about to join Russia as a used to be.

      • Posted By: dcznmt @ 09/11/2008 2:45:17 PM

        If McCain and Palin are dummies, then how far down on the intelectual totum pole you must be. If you were so smart, you would not be so far behind them as Presidental and Vice Presidental nominees.
        Enough said.

  • Posted By: sunoverla @ 09/09/2008 6:05:57 PM

    Howard, i read your column like I do the Sunday funnies. You and the rest of the media have lost your credibilty. How sad and pathetic. I'm sure your journalism professor is so, so proud of you, NOT!
    --gays4palin

    • Posted By: Stac73 @ 09/11/2008 2:44:03 PM

      I'm actually surprised you would choose her if you are gay. Maybe you should do a little research on what she feels about you. I'm not gay and in way am attacking you for that. I have many friends who are gay. But she will NOT support your rights at all. She does NOT believe in benefits between partners. Are you really sure this is who you would want in the office? She will only hurt you and so will McCain. Just food for thought.....

  • Posted By: Obama Drama @ 09/10/2008 11:05:48 AM

    The Democratic Myth on Abortion Rights - It has been 35 years since Roe vs Wade was passed by the Supreme Court. Since that time we have had a Republican President in office 23 years and Democratic President for 12. Then there are the judges who passed the law or did not. Here are the names of the judges who voted for Roe and those against and best of all who appointed them.
    For 7
    Burger - Nixon (R)
    Douglas - Roosevelt (D)
    Stewart - Eisenhower (R)
    Brendan - Eisenhower (R)
    Marshall - Johnson (D)
    Blaken - Nixon (R)
    Powers - Nixon (R)
    2 who voted to disssend were: White appointed by Pres Kennedy (D) and Rehnquist (R)
    So will the Democratic Party ever stop playing this card? No - because in every election it just goes by people's head. Gov Palin may be against abortion fine but do you really think that the Republican party is going to make abortion illegal? Come on now - 23 years in power. The abortion issue is a good way to keep women in the Democratic party. But most of us are doing our studing and can figure out that they may acuse the Republican Party of using scare tatics about terrist attacks but they have been playing that Abortion Myth far longer now. Just like the foolishness of Obama saying McCain is 4 more years of Bush. Get real because any educated American knows they hate eachother.

    • Posted By: lzackery @ 09/10/2008 10:26:43 PM

      Obama Drama, you also prove the opposite. Why do your candidates run on the "Pro Life" platform when they will do nothing about it anyway? Why does the Rep. Party make a deal out of this being their value if they appointed the judges who ruled on Roe V. Wade and will never try to overturn this? What does it matter if McCain and Palin are Pro Life if they don't act on their values?

      • Posted By: Stac73 @ 09/11/2008 2:39:54 PM

        They may hate each other, but they have voted the SAME on more than 90% of the time, And you actually think that we will beleive that McCain is any different???? I think you need to take another look at his record. McCain IS more of the same.

    • Posted By: neocon @ 09/10/2008 4:17:17 PM

      Roe v Wade will never be touched. It would be political suicide for any office holder to even try. It has become the new third rail of politics. The dems roll it out every 4 years to try and scare women. Personally I am pro-life, but would not deny my daughter the control of her body even if I think its wrong. I believe most pro-lifers think the same way.

  • Posted By: fabfloyd @ 09/10/2008 6:51:51 PM

    Only someone as liberal as Fineman would attack Gov Palin for her living views on abortion. Most polls now find that the majority of Americans reject the liberal view of abortion on demand. As to the Bridge to Nowhere, it did not get built. Gov Palin has "changed" the political landscape in Alaska, something that Obama (supported the Daley machine candidate in 2006) not the reform candidate has never acomplished. He may talk the talk, but surely has not walked the walk.

    • Posted By: Stac73 @ 09/11/2008 2:33:39 PM

      You need to do more research on your candidate of choice. She has switched her standings a myriad of times to support whatever was policitally correct at the time. That doesn't speak of a great leadership to me. Sounds more like they will continue to say what you want to hear to get your vote and then once in office, will go back to what they want. Our country cannot afford to go through another 4 years of the same crap, different tune.

  • Posted By: execwoman @ 09/10/2008 8:02:28 PM

    Kudos to Fineman for putting some good journalism fact-finding behind the Sarah Palin bio. She inherited a balanced budget in Wasilla and left the town $22 million in debt (but they have a great sports complex they can't afford to maintain). She was for the Bridge to Nowhere boondoggle and then she was against it but she was consistently for grabbing federal funds and she kept them. It doesn't matter whether she built the bridge, she kept the bucks. She's actively hurt education efforts in Alaska. But most important --People close to her -- those that even admire her-- say she's not VP material. Why? Because although she may be great on the stump, she doesn't like to be bothered with too many facts before she makes a decision. She's "disengaged" --that's the term they use. She prefers to make "gut" decisions quickly. She invokes "divine will" when her earthly arguments fail. This sounds disturbingly like the the current President, George W. Bush. The man who didn't get engaged in the details of wrongly directed war, a man who watched a city drown, a man who made some of the most curious appointments in history, a man who let our global leadership tank, and a man who would rather be on his ranch chopping wood -- and a lot of us wish he had been for the past 8 years. These aren't smears. This is called vetting. It's pretty important when it comes to the VP of America. Sarah doesn't make the grade -- not in accomplishments, not in experience, not in apptitude. She's a great mayor (if you forget about those little financial speedbumps she created), a passable governor in a state rich in oil revenues but that's where she should stay. And as for McCain - there's no honor in handing your "makeover" over to Karl Rove and letting him pollute the discourse.

    • Posted By: Stac73 @ 09/11/2008 2:30:45 PM

      Excellent comment and i applaud you for it. I just wish more and more would see the light and do the research. A pretty woman does not make for a great VP when that is all it is based on. Her choices and where she stands on all issues are very guarded right now. And for good reason. Here's hoping there will be a REAL change in the presidency with Obama.

  • Posted By: Wayne Paquette @ 09/11/2008 2:21:45 PM

    "Sarah Barracuda". The nick name is not appropriate for the likes of Palin. A more appropriate nickname, given her personality and physical appearance, is "Half Baked Alaskan Bimbo". Scrape off the makeup and make her face the press and we will see a minnow instead of a barracuda.

    Wayne Paquette Portland, Maine

  • Posted By: raviandsonia @ 09/07/2008 9:43:38 PM

    Dear Mr. Obama & Mr. Biden,

    I have watched Gore & Kerry lose an election that was theirs to lose and they dutifully played by the Nice Guy book of Gentlemen and lost to an unelectable Bush.

    This year, once again, the GOP is employing the same tactics and people as used by Bush in the last 2 elections. Why not? The tactics work. No question about it. The GOP has once again formed a radioactive shield around Sarah Palin. Anyone who attacks her will immediately be subject to ridicule and charges of sexism etc.

    If you play by the GOP play book, your campaign is destined to a 3peat of FAILURE.

    I implore you to WAKE UP and smell the skunk for what it is and stop trying to convince yourself that the American public will see it that way as well.

    You give the American public TOO much credit. A large number of the American public has proven itself to be very gullible and believes McCain's BS. I don't know why. But you absolutely have to stop analyzing the reasons and place your faith (and ours too) in the ability of the American public to see McCain's BS and realize that the skunk is a skunk and that if you are not agressive in fighting back, the smell will not wear off in time and you will LOSE !!!!!!!!!

    Fight Back !!
    Fight Back now, DAMN IT !!!


  • Posted By: BLACKSTONEGANGSTER @ 09/10/2008 8:02:42 PM

    GIVE ME A BREAK. JUST BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE ADDED A PRETTY FACE TO THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE WONT BCHANGWE SQUAT. ALL IT IS IS AN EXTENSION OF THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HAPPENING IN THE WHITE HOUSE. EVEN WITH LIPSTICK A LIE IS A LIE, A STOLEN ELECTION IS A STOLEN ELECTION AND THE STEALING KEEPS ON HAPPENING. AND NOW WE HAVE AN AMERICAN TALIBAN NOMINATED FOR V.P.

    • Posted By: dcznmt @ 09/11/2008 11:16:08 AM

      What kind of pills are you taking or are you just plain crazy?

  • Posted By: emal7717 @ 09/11/2008 10:26:46 AM

    I cant believe how many people here still support the messiah from on high. your deluded by the fact that your man...the socialista Barrak HUSSEIN Obama is going to loose the election. trust me I have every reason in family court to not want a woman as VP or President, but I am also aware that she is actually the best choice for america

  • Posted By: crabkey @ 09/06/2008 6:22:52 PM

    Talk about stage-management! Palin is introduced mere hours before going before the convention with a speech written by Scully (ironically and sadly an animal rights sympathiser!) before he himself knew who the nominee would be - then tailored to Palin's attack -dog personality. Then, lest she be seen as a walking contradiction and less than knowlegeable about national and world affairs, is whisked off to Alaska to avoid
    press interviews on the Sunday circuit. Her ability to galvanize is unquestionable - she gavanized me to contribute to the $8 million that Barack Obama collected following her diatribe.

    • Posted By: emal7717 @ 09/11/2008 10:23:19 AM

      I understand that many in your position feel that a woman cant govern or even should be let out of the house. Obama has shown his hatred for women, a trait he learned from his Muslim father and step father.

  • Posted By: kgenos @ 09/11/2008 2:16:13 AM

    Just think, if McCain won and something happened to him, Palin would be come our President. This would be the worst situation for our country.
    I have 2 daughters who are now in there 20's. Since they were young teen agers, I stated to them i would have them have a aboration instead of bringing a unwanted child into this world that would have a hard life with a young mother. I put them on the pill and educated them myself and they also learned other things at school. As parents we have to help our kids. No one should tell us what to do with our bodies. Palin is just saving face with her problem of a teenager being pregnant. I really shows how she takes care of her family and not being open enough to teach her child about protection or maybe her daughter couldnt talk to her to busy running a state instead of family. If you cant take care of your family how can you take care of a country.
    My daughters and 1 son are enjoying life to their fullest and are voting for obama as I am.

    • Posted By: emal7717 @ 09/11/2008 10:19:29 AM

      Why cant dems understand that Sarah is the first proponent of choice...she chose not to abort her 5th child. She chose to be a mom just like the anointed ones mother. Fact is the Anointed ones mother didnt give birth to him in Hawaii...it was in Kenya - look at the proof

  • Posted By: kgenos @ 09/11/2008 2:06:03 AM

    A couple of things: #1 Do all of you know that Obama is half white, and grew up in my great state of
    Hawaii. # 2 Gov Lingle (also a woman) was asked by McCain to be VP and she refused. She must
    have known it was just to be used by him and his lies and cheating. McCain is only using Palin to hopefully
    win the womens vote of our great country. But if us women really are smart , we wont fall for this BS and I as a 51 year old woman I will never fall for this BS. And if anything would happen to McCain, oh may god Palin would become Pres, that would really be the biggest mistake voters would have made in this country.

  • Posted By: rube @ 09/08/2008 8:09:25 PM

    Sarah Palin has liberalism to thank for her rise!

    The womens liberal movement means...

    women could vote...

    women could come out of the closet...

    women could attain better jobs...

    women could get decent pay...

    women could run for office...

    these and more issues are all from the liberal movement !

    Whats Palin take- she is an pro war oilwomen possibly replacing two failed oilemen in the Whitehouse

    that will do her best to put other pregnant women back in the closet and back in the alleys!

    She is futher to the right then Bush and Cheney!

    Her policy represents...

    education vs. abstinence

    evolution vs. creationism

    diplomacy vs. arbitrary war

    intelligence vs. narcissism

    liberty and science vs. right-wing self righteousness

    sustainability vs. monopoly

    democracy vs. plutocracy

    Sarah Palin is a progessive step up for women? No way!

    • Posted By: vinman @ 09/08/2008 10:10:59 PM

      stop hatin'

      • Posted By: kgenos @ 09/11/2008 1:53:32 AM

        Palin was only chosen for the VP position because she is a woman and nothing else. McCain is
        using her like everyone else. McCain asked Gov. Lingle (also a woman)of Hawaii first and she refused.
        Lingle was smart and didnot want to be used by a Liar and cheat.

  • Posted By: lexi97701 @ 09/10/2008 9:11:20 PM

    Why should Biden have to be careful with Sarah the Barracuda? She can be a Barracuda, a pitbull with lipstick. This is all self-proclaimed! Isn't it more sexist to treat her like a girl? And I'm a girl asking this! I say give it right back! They want to claim sexism at every turn but turn her lose when it suits them. This is too ridiulous for words!

  • Posted By: lexi97701 @ 09/10/2008 9:09:54 PM

    Why should Biden have to be careful with Sarah tehh Barracuda? She can be a Barracuda, a pitbull with lipstick. This is all self-proclaimed! Isn't it more sexist to treat her like a girl? And I'm a girl asking this! I say give it right back!

  • Posted By: trazer @ 09/10/2008 8:28:01 PM

    Howard Fineman - You have no idea how to write.

  • Posted By: BLACKSTONEGANGSTER @ 09/10/2008 8:06:33 PM

    ALL HAIL THE SARAH PALIN AMERICAN TALIBAN

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