A Reality Check On ‘Change’

Being labeled a 'maverick' sounds good to the public, but it makes it hard to forge bipartisan deals.

By Jonathan Alter | NEWSWEEK
Published Sep 13, 2008
From the magazine issue dated Sep 22, 2008

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  • Posted By: Jim Johnson @ 10/16/2008 8:02:59 PM

    Obama's view of the future of America - Socialism which is the next step to Communism!!


    Under socialism a ruling class of intellectuals, bureaucrats and social planners decide what people want or what is good for society and then use the coercive power of the State to regulate, tax, and redistribute the wealth of those who work for a living. In other words, socialism is a form of legalized theft.

    The morality of socialism can be summed-up in two words: envy and self-sacrifice. Envy is the desire to not only possess another's wealth but also the desire to see another's wealth lowered to the level of one's own. Socialism's teaching on self-sacrifice was nicely summarized by two of its greatest defenders, Hermann Goering and Bennito Mussolini. The highest principle of Nazism (National Socialism), said Goering, is: "Common good comes before private good." Fascism, said
    Mussolini, is "a life in which the individual, through the sacrifice of his own private interests??realizes that completely spiritual existence in which his value as a man lies."

    Socialism is the social system which institutionalizes envy and self-sacrifice: It is the social system which uses compulsion and the organized violence of the State to expropriate wealth from the producer class for its redistribution to the parasitical class.

    Despite the intellectuals' psychotic hatred of capitalism, it is the only moral and just social system.

    Capitalism is the only moral system because it requires human beings to deal with one another as traders--that is, as free moral agents trading and selling goods and services on the basis of mutual consent.

    Capitalism is the only just system because the sole criterion that determines the value of thing exchanged is the free, voluntary, universal judgement of the consumer. Coercion and fraud are anathema to the free-market system.

    It is both moral and just because the degree to which man rises or falls in society is determined by the degree to which he uses his mind. Capitalism is the only social system that rewards merit, ability and achievement, regardless of one's birth or station in life.

    Yes, there are winners and losers in capitalism. The winners are those who are honest, industrious, thoughtful, prudent, frugal, responsible, disciplined, and efficient. The losers are those who are shiftless, lazy, imprudent, extravagant, negligent, impractical, and inefficient. [What about the role of luck­being in the right place at the right time or the wrong place at the wrong time? R. R. Pope}

    Capitalism is the only social system that rewards virtue and punishes vice. This applies to both the business executive and the carpenter, the lawyer and the factory worker.

  • Posted By: billtill @ 10/14/2008 10:08:55 AM

    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: BFid @ 09/18/2008 9:46:57 AM

    Address the issues of Ayers,Wright,Rezko,Kwame Brown,Richard Daley,Stroger. You can tell a man by the company he keeps. My God, how could anyone support this phony.

    • Posted By: sirhc @ 09/18/2008 1:15:30 PM

      EXACTLY!! BESIDES THE FACT THAT JESUS CHRIST, MARTIN LUTHER KING AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN SURROUNDED THEMSLEVES BY PEOPLE WITH ISSUES IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS I SAY........................

      TELL THE GUY YOU VOTED FOR TWICE-BUSH BIN LADEN(AND YES THAT IS HIS REAL NICKNAME IN THE MIDDLE EAST FOR HIS FNDNESS OF THE BIN LADEN FAMILY) TO GET OUT OF THE TAX PAYERS HOUSE.

      • Posted By: thehappyamerican @ 09/22/2008 10:27:31 PM

        Ayer's was all enthused about a plan to bring all of the violence taking place around the world to the streets of the United States! The slogan was "Bring The War Home"...and the movement organized jail breaks from Fedral prison ( including Dr. Timothy Leary) and three of the members blew themselves up making bombs!
        These are domestic terrorists. There are , according to them, Americans they hate! And enough to resort to violence. Obama has been running from them as he runs toward the White house!
        And you're not curious?

  • Posted By: syzito1 @ 09/21/2008 9:04:19 PM

    Anyone that believes there will be any change in Washington politics is an idiot.Neither Obama nor McCain is going to change anything.It is all hype and spin in order to win votes and get elected.

  • Posted By: patmccann @ 09/20/2008 10:23:16 PM

    What about SB 190, which McCain cosponsored and the democrats killed? Had it passed, we may have avoided the recent financial meltdown. By the way, a quick review of senate bills sponsored or cosponsored by McCain numbered more than 250.

  • Posted By: surzJ49l @ 09/20/2008 2:04:50 PM

    It's an opinion article. If you search the author's other articles its pretty clear where he stands, including such riveting insights such as the McCain Zig Zag Express and Obama's No Brainer on Education. Unbiased opinions second only to those of Karl Rove. Facts are boring and don't sell advertising, and don't create media influence/power. A narrow scope of facts with broad opinion-based conclusions draw lots of readership from both sides. Frankly I'm tired of being told what to think by my government, press and community.

    "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."
    - Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), U.S. president. Letter, 23 Sept. 1800.

    The point of the article is that McCain won't forge bipartisan deals, per the subtitle: Being labeled a 'maverick' sounds good to the public, but it makes it hard to forge bipartisan deals. It lists a number of legislative efforts Obama has been involved with at the state level, and three laws "he has his name on" in the Senate. None of these laws were noted as bipartisan. How is that evidence of Obama as a more bipartisan leader compared to McCain? It strikes me more as a response to comments about Obama's limited legislative accomplishments. Fine. And what were those laws? Google for Government was the only specific piece of legislation noted

    As it relates to McCain there is brief, albeit dismissive, mention of MIA/POW work with John Kerry. No mention of the McCain-Feingold Act, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007 with Ted Kennedy, and long-time relationship with Joe Lieberman. When I did a search on sponsored legislation I even came up with a few co-sponsored by Hillary Clinton and McCain in the 108th congress. There are plenty of valid complaints about McCain. Hot headed, limited ability to navigate global economics, etc. Not playing well with others in government isn't one of them.

    I tried to find a list of bills each candidate has been involved with. Not surprisingly there were no summaries available in the media sources search. Even Wikipedia let me down. That's bull$%^t! As usual you have to go to the source to get any useful info. Library of Congress makes a lot of this info available at http://thomas.loc.gov. Searching the list of bills/resolutions in the current congress (111th), Obama is listed as a sponsor or co-sponsor for 130 -- McCain is listed for 38. Search of the 110th congress came up with 660 bills/resolutions that Obama sponsored or co-sponsored, compared to McCain's 252. In the 109th congress Obama sponsored 579 bills/resolution to McCain's 337. In the past three congressional sessions that adds up to 1,369 bills/resolutions sponsored or co-sponsored by Obama compared to McCain's 627 during the same period. Check my math, I didn't get this information from the press. Draw your own conclusions. Obama is over twice as productive in the Senate as McCain -- or he offers 213% more government tha

  • Posted By: mot.stephane @ 09/20/2008 1:40:32 AM

    McCain's contradictions should be exposed. How can he claim at the same time the independent vote, receive the official blessing of Bush, and the full support of the country's most radical theocons and neocons ?

    McCain changed since 1999-2000 : he sold his soul to the very people who disgraced his country, disgraced his party, and humiliated the then-truly-independant-candidate John McCain. "Where Have You Gone, John ?", indeed.

    <a href="http://e-blogules.blogspot.com/2008/09/change-is-coming-and-mac-will-fight-but.html">"Change" for Bush ?</a> Thanks, but no thanks, John McCain.

  • Posted By: 1easylay @ 09/14/2008 12:42:07 PM

    This country is fu_ked.

    Americans are for the most part, morons and the Republinists capitalize on that come election time.

    The stupid, bible thumping sheep will vote for a pre-Alzheimers victim and a beer drinking, gun toting, anti-choice hack governor of an OIL driven state that NOBODY knew about untill she was chosen cause the Republinist field is filled with self serving hippocrates that preach one thing and do another. They will still have sex in bathrooms, start unjust wars, redistribute even MORE wealth from the working class to the elite and further remove our civil rights and liberties in the name of saftey, whereas we are no safer today than we were on Sept 11 2001. Only stupid people believe this to be true. The Earth hasn't been hit by any asteroids, but it will again someday. Just a matter of time, like everything else.

    When the sh_t does hit the fan do you really want Mr. Magoo and Mrs. Robinson running the show? Really...........................

    If you believe in McSame/Palin, you should be sterilized and not be allowed to reproduce. But if she gets elected and your daughter, mother, sister, wife or friend gets raped, she wil be forced to carry that baby to term, because the only difference between a soccer mom and a pitbull is lipstick...................and bullsh_t, which is exactly what the whole Republinist/Rove/Marxist party is.....................Bullsh_t.

    I hope anyone who votes for these idiots dies a slow and painfiul death from Panreactic Cancer.......................cause you would still be better off than those of us left alive.

    • Posted By: Nator56 @ 09/19/2008 4:44:29 PM

      Wow. I'm sure your rational, well-reasoned arguments are bound to convince centrist swing voters to overwhelmingly vote Obama. In reality, it just may cause Middle-America to run screaming back to their guns and religion that Mr. Obama said in a moment of candor we all cling to......

    • Posted By: edjones65 @ 09/15/2008 8:41:15 PM

      when was the last time you pulled your head out of your overbearing, narrow- minded dumb a**

    • Posted By: felyasocal @ 09/14/2008 11:26:06 PM

      as rude as all of this sounds, i dont think we should attack these morons personally..... i just think they are blindly misguided and lost in their greed, hatred, and fake religion....... america will be lost if mcbush and psycho lady continue the bush regine..... LETS WELCOME THE 3RD REICH

    • Posted By: mediabiasisfun @ 09/14/2008 3:50:17 PM

      Your visceral hatred and loathing obviously make you highly intelligent and better than everyone else. I'm sure your mother is proud. And if I'm mistaken she's calling right now, telling you its nap time.

    • Posted By: dbdublin @ 09/14/2008 3:40:57 PM

      If you want to know why the Democrats will be 3-8 in the last 11 elections just read this post. No furhter explanation is required.

  • Posted By: PFflyerkid @ 09/19/2008 1:47:22 PM

    More lieing from the oh-so-honorable McCain. Whatever happened to his integrity, honesty and "straight talk". What a pawn.

    "In what has become an ongoing theme, the McCain-Palin campaign has released yet another ad that makes false claims about Barack Obama's tax plan. The ad, which was released on Sept. 18 and which the campaign says will air nationally, claims that Obama will raise income taxes and will tax "life savings, electricity and home heating oil." As we keep saying, Obama says he'll raise income taxes and capital gains taxes only for couples earning more than $250,000 per year or singles making over $200,000. He has proposed no plans to raise taxes on either home heating oil or electricity."

    btw...Obama proposed a rebate of up to $1,000 per family to defray increased heating oil costs. McCain has no solution- just attacks- and leave you in the cold.

  • Posted By: willnotvoteobama @ 09/18/2008 8:07:34 AM

    YEP OBAMA AND ALL HIS HOLLYWOOD FREINDS WERE EATING KOBE BEEF AND LOBSTER WHILE MOST OF AMERICA'S FOOD BUDGET HAS BEEN REDUCED BECAUSE OF HIGH GAS PRICES! WE ARE NOW EATING HAMBURGER HELPER AND HOT DOGS, MAC AND CHEESE... WHILE HOLLY WOOD IS SIPPING FINE WINE AND EATING 28,000-DOLLAR PLATES AND PAYING 2,500 FOR CONCERT TICKETS BUT DON'T FEEL THAT OBAMA IS OUT OF TOUCH WITH YOU Middle America HE FEELS YOUR PAIN! I WONDER IF WE COULD GET HOLLYWOOD TO HOLD A FUNDRAISER TO HELP SOME FAMILIES TO PAY FOR A FUEL BILL OR MAYBE SOME FOOD? WHAT DO YOU THINK AMERICA WILL THE HOLLYWOOD ELITE DO IT? OR DO THEY ONLY PAY THAT KIND OF MONEY TO HELP ELITIST FREIND! I WONDER HOW MUCH WAS THE OBAMA FAMILIES PERSONAL FOOD BILL LAST MONTH? OR HOW MUCH DID THEY HAVE TO SPEND ON GAS?

    • Posted By: PFflyerkid @ 09/18/2008 12:08:43 PM

      Why are you yelling (caps)? You sound desperate.

      McCain isn't immune from all the blather you're spewing...he just never admits to doing the same exact thing. But, w/ his b-grade list of celebs I can see why he's jealous of the bank Obama rakes in!

      McCain meets GOP Hollywood at fundraiser
      by Mosheh Oinounou
      BEVERLY HILLS, CA ??? McCain attended a fundraiser at the Beverly Hills Hilton Monday night, which included a number of Hollywood Republicans, capping off a $4.7 million, two-event day in the Golden State

      And while Barack Obama has the majority of Hollywood backing his candidacy, McCain had his own small cadre of celebs in attendance tonight. Among those that were spotted:

      Stephen Baldwin
      Pat Boone
      Wilford Brimley
      Dean Cain
      Jon Cryer
      Robert Duvall
      Angie Harmon
      Patricia Heaton
      Lorenzo Lamas
      Craig T. Nelson
      Gail O???Grady
      Jason Sehorn
      Gary Sinise
      Jon Voight

      http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/08/25/mccain-meets-gop-hollywood-at-fundraiser/

      • Posted By: katvan @ 09/18/2008 6:41:15 PM

        Barry's out raised everyone...he outspent Sen Clinton sometimes 5:1...he's "run the best campaign in history". Why then did Sen Clinton get the same amount of votes? And why is Barry deadlocked with Bush 3? Barry's styrofoam pillar speech cost over a million dollars, he had 70K packed in to be mesmerized and 40M people watched. McCain speech in a stuffy convention center was outrated than Barry's and 40M people watched a lipstick wearing unknown ex Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska population ~ 8000. Barry has lost all his covers/coverage and his "newness" looks like molasses next to the refreshingly authentic Gov Palin.

        Money didn't help after he lost 11 in a row and it's not now. How far could half a BILLION DOLLARS go in New Orleans and Texas?

        • Posted By: sinophil49 @ 09/19/2008 5:18:32 AM

          First of all, Barack Obama is his given name. Barack was his father's name. Barry was the nickname given to him by his WHITE grandparents.
          Secondly, this is the first national election in my memory where the Democrats outdid the Republicans in fund-raising. Did you complain in the past when the Republicans got more donations than the Democrats. Also the largest donation base of the Republicans have traditionally been big business and the filthy rich capitalists. Obama's surge in funds has been thru the internet from individual donors.

          • Posted By: edjones65 @ 09/19/2008 12:32:50 PM

            I admit that you have a valid point there. However I wonder who some of those donors are, and could they be considered some what questionable. Just asking in case that somebody has some info on that.

        • Posted By: PFflyerkid @ 09/18/2008 10:06:45 PM

          Why are you asking rhetorical questions? Why don't you just say what you want to say instead of enveloping it in some kind of false mystery. Here, let me help you out. Rhetorically, of course.

          1) b/c people liked what she had to say and she has been a national figure for 15 yrs?
          2) b/c McCain put himself before country by picking a right wing nut job religious fanatic and got the religious right off their collective ass?
          3) see #2 as to why everyone tuned in. you think Lieberman would have pulled those ratings?
          4) Palin's "newness" is fading. She's dropped net 10pts since last Saturday and Obama is destroying McCain overall w/ white woman- supposedly her strong suit.
          5) Are you implying that only Obama has enormous sums of money to spend on political campaigns and only he, not McCain, should cancel his Presidential aspirations and send it all to N.O. and TX? Mixed-messeges like this are pathetic



  • Posted By: Alongwayback @ 09/16/2008 11:39:03 AM

    Republicans are gushing over with glee with the idea that some many people, who even remotely harbor racist thoughts, no matter how trivial, are connecting with them and voting against their own best interest. Another tool of words they utilize is getting people to believe, that if you don't vote for them, you are somehow unpatriotic (i.e., ???Country First" slogan). How anyone even slightly intelligent can buy into these painfully obvious ploys and vote against their own best interests is beyond me. I guess some people would rather be happy with their hate and corporate greed, than to see one nation, undivided, striving for racial harmony, equality, fairness of law and ending disproportionate economics in this country which would truly benefit us all. Sorry for the rant, but this is our future and that of our children these war and hate mongers are screwing with.
    "McCain/Palin 08'--Two bridges to nowhere" "John McCain has been consistent--Consistently for the rich"

    • Posted By: pearsoncrz @ 09/16/2008 6:55:55 PM

      It's all about race with Obama supporters.

      • Posted By: icstars @ 09/18/2008 3:28:42 PM

        Hello, you must be new around here...in America, that is, where we have racial issues lingering in many ares of our country, but I'm sure you'll like it here, we're a really nice people overall....

        Ah, and try not to equate a comment here or there about race to everyone and an entire campaign's supporters. I'm going to vote for Obama and it has nothing to do with race.

    • Posted By: neocon @ 09/16/2008 12:36:14 PM

      Democrats point the finger of racist at conservatives, but with each of your posts you display your bigotry. With the posts for the left we see your age discrimination, your desire for class warfare and the democrats??? sexism. Liberals attack McCain for being too old; you need to be careful there. Senior citizens vote in far greater numbers than any demographic group. Class warfare, tax the rich, rich are bad let???s bring them down they make too much money anyways. Gee that sounds soo much like Lenin circa 1915. And my favorite from the left, your sexism. Hillary supports just get over it and vote for me, what a lovely sentiment from the Obama camp. And now the sexist attacks on Palin, gee how can she run for office with 5 kids? She has a special needs child she should be at home with that baby. The democrats claim to be the ???big tent??? party but I guess you are only allow in if your young, poor and male. No wonder Obama???s numbers are dropping like a rock.

      • Posted By: RO in Reno @ 09/17/2008 1:36:27 AM

        Yes as a matter of fact there are 7 million seniors making less than $50,000 a year and Obama has promised no tax, not even a requirement to file a return for these folks.
        Sure hope they figure that out in the next 45 days.

  • Posted By: neocon @ 09/16/2008 7:57:59 PM

    Who does better for women?
    A watchdog group called LegiStorm posts online the salaries for Capitol Hill staffers. "We have no political affiliations and no political purpose except to make the workings of Congress as transparent as possible," its website explains. Parsing LegiStorm's official data, gleaned from the Secretary of the Senate, offers a fascinating glimpse at pay equity in the World's Greatest Deliberative Body.
    The most recent statistics are for the half-year from October 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008, excluding interns and focusing on full-time personnel. For someone who worked only until, say, last February 29, extrapolating up to six months' service simplifies this analysis. Doubling these half-year figures illustrates how a year's worth of Senate employees' paychecks should look.
    Based on these calculations, Obama's 28 male staffers divided among themselves total payroll expenditures of $1,523,120. Thus, Obama's average male employee earned $54,397.
    Obama's 30 female employees split $1,354,580 among themselves, or $45,152, on average.
    Why this disparity? One reason may be the under-representation of women in Obama's highest-compensated ranks. Among Obama's five best-paid advisors, only one was a woman. Among his top 20, seven were women.
    Again, on average, Obama's female staffers earn just 83 cents for every dollar his male staffers make. This figure certainly exceeds the 77-cent threshold that Obama's campaign website condemns. However, 83 cents do not equal $1.00. In spite of this 17-cent gap between Obama's rhetoric and reality, he chose to chide GOP presidential contender John McCain's 17 male staffers split $916,914, thus averaging $53,936. His 25 female employees divided $1,396,958 and averaged $55,878.
    On average, according to these data, women in John McCain's office make $1.04 for every dollar a man makes. In fact, all other things being equal, a typical female staffer could earn 21 cents more per dollar paid to her male counterpart -- while adding $10,726 to her annual income -- by leaving Barack Obama's office and going to work for John McCain.
    How could this be?
    One explanation could be that women compose a majority of McCain's highest-paid aides. Among his top-five best-compensated staffers, three are women. Of his 20-highest-salaried employees, 13 are women. The Republican presidential nominee relies on women -- much more than men -- for advice at the highest, and thus, best-paid levels.

    • Posted By: PFflyerkid @ 09/16/2008 9:36:51 PM

      Oh please, your going to use the capitol hill payroll as an example for the citizenry of the united states? the fact of the matter is that mccain has voted against the equal pay legislation (obama voted for it) and has failed to propose anything better.

      "John McCain claimed today that he is determined to ensure "equal pay for equal work." But women's groups were quick to point out that the presumptive Republican nominee has announced his opposition to the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which seeks to do exactly that. The Arizona senator believes that the measure would "only serve to fatten the pockets of trial lawyers."

      what a bunch of crap. the bottom line w/ mccain is woman get paid less.

      http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/07/mccain_on_equal_pay.html

      and if you're looking to get a boost on the minimum wage under johnny mac...think again. he voted AGAINST THE MINIMUM WAGE 17x as a stand alone issue, 2 more for a total of 19x when it was attached to other legislation.

      here's the Fox NEws transscript!
      http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/31/mccain-minimum-wage/

      • Posted By: mtgmother@comcast.net @ 09/17/2008 10:17:34 AM

        I think that it is important to vote for Equal Pay, but FAR more important is to actually practise that pay equity. What you have done is support that Obama is a "do as I say, not as I do" person. No friend of women's issues would be like that.

        • Posted By: icstars @ 09/18/2008 3:13:09 PM

          This example of McCain's and Obama's staffs doesn't prove or disprove anything. Everyone on the staff doesn't have the same job, so everyone is not going to make the same amount. It seems obvious to me that new/inexperience staff of course they make less than the senior people. Besides, this has nothing to do with where I work or you work.

        • Posted By: PFflyerkid @ 09/17/2008 10:36:25 AM

          Obama DID vote for equal pay. McCain did NOT and offers no new legislation. I think that says a lot. As I said earlier, a snapshot of a payroll is hardly the standard for the entire country.

      • Posted By: edjones65 @ 09/19/2008 2:36:46 AM

        ouch

  • Posted By: linda in cincinnati @ 09/13/2008 3:47:02 PM

    America does NOT NEED CHANGE. America does need some tuck pointing. The candidates should focus on explaining what they will do to reinforce our strengths and work toward eliminating our weaknesses. When you vote REMEMBER you are bestowing absolute power over your finances and your personal safety into another human beings' hands.

    • Posted By: icstars @ 09/18/2008 5:33:14 PM

      Well isn't that new mortar a change? That's the change Obama is talking about--bring back the best of America by shoring up those parts that make us great but have eroded in the last 8 years of republicans in charge. Correcting errors, like deregulation of the banks, which McCain supported and is pretty obviously exposed as a big mistake this week. Putting more of the tax burden on the grossly wealthy; rich democrats have been saying "duh, we can afford more taxes" for years. Getting the hell out of Iraq as quickly and safely as possible then rebuilding our military. Actually improving public education instead of coming up with a catchy-sounding program that is poorly conceived ("No Child..."). Etc. These are changes for the good that I think we really need.

      • Posted By: edjones65 @ 09/19/2008 2:31:18 AM

        I work for a school system, I know what kind of hell that program is causing, it's a nice idea just not a realistic one. Say what you will about whoever, but you act like Obama shoudn't be questioned or doubted. Look around there is plenty of things that should be making you say "Oh crap" but instead you just say "O Bama". I am more interested in hearing what anybody has to say it doesn't hurt to listen I have learned a lot , so if you want to make a point I will listen.

  • Posted By: sherrybb @ 09/13/2008 2:57:24 PM

    Too bad most people will not be aware of the importance of this report. Furthermore, the Republicans in general have showed us the truth does not really matter in this election...they simply do not care.

    • Posted By: edjones65 @ 09/15/2008 9:50:17 PM

      Yeah, I never heard a democrat lie before.

      • Posted By: icstars @ 09/18/2008 4:18:32 PM

        Oy. For such a short statement, it's got a high BS factor. Obivously, Obama is not all democrats. But my word! If McCain represented all Republicans, he's have an approval rating near the single digits! Who is that McCain is trying to separate himself from? It's a recent big name in Republican politics....starts with "W" or is "W" something, "W" sounds familiar....

        • Posted By: edjones65 @ 09/19/2008 2:11:52 AM

          Everybody is throwing around so much bull its hard to believe anybody involved in politics. I do not mean to generalize all democrats, I apologize for that. Everybody is so busy playing he said, she said, it just seems so pointess to me. I am more interested in a candidate that can pull it all together, I don't see it happening any other way. On one side you have somebody with little or no experience but can talk a good talk. The other side has a wealth of experience, but experience in what . Sounds like a gamble either way, Personally i think both choices are questionable.

  • Posted By: davidgergen @ 09/17/2008 12:02:41 AM

    Jonathan, my dear friend and colleague, surely you jest. Barack didn't have anything to do with:

    "The best example of his leadership style was bipartisan legislation to require the videotaping of police interrogations, which is now a national model. Obama brought together police, prosecutors and the ACLU on a win-win bill that simultaneously increased conviction rates and all but ended jailhouse beatings."

    You know it, as does every Chicagoan. Emil wanted to make hisself a senator - wanting steak, not pork - and he did. This law was Ricky Hendon's all the way. He was the one who took the grief and Emil handed it to Barack. You know that too. Why not explain to your not-so-rapt audience why Barack's legislation came in his last year in the Illinois senate. Curious, no? What's your opinion of Emil Jones' son taking over? He's gonna work "digitally" (diligently) with his cronies. Seems Magnet and Ivy league schools aren't all they're cracked up to be when good old-fashioned Mayor Daley nepotism works. Explains Todd Stroger taking over for his dad.

    That reminds me - we really must get together and discuss our boy Barack's connection with U of Chicago and Cook County Hospital (I mean Stroger hospital) through his felonious friend and soon to be imprisoned, Syrian-born Tony that-was-not-the-man-I-knew-"boneheaded mistake" Rezko. I heard he was complaining about having to wear other men's underwear in lock up. A sure fire cure is the federal witness protection program. Why was Rezko's sentencing delayed till a week before the election? Oh, so very curious. There's a very good story there, don't you think, dear friend? Now that Muhammad has gone to the great mecca in the desert beyond - it doesn't look like Rezko has to worry about that lawsuit. Rezko sure has a way of getting into trouble with houses, doesn't he? The dilapidated buildings - eleven right? - in Barack's senate district still haven't been given much attention - not that Barack cared - neither did just-a-man-in-the-neighborhood Ayers or Barack's old boss Allison Davis. Did Barack make it to Jabir's funeral? What about Rev Wright and his Nation of Islam captors? Louis Farrakhan was there.

    Have to go...time to bash that pretty young thing with great legs and glossy red lipstick...fires up the good old boy misogyny in me! Join me?

    • Posted By: edjones65 @ 09/18/2008 10:25:13 AM

      Why isn't this common knowledge? How do you hide from facts like that? I knew he was a smooth talker but damn. Can anyone dispute it in a civilized manner, ok so maybe that I could understand how you could see it any other way. I am not sure if I said that right but what the hell, you won't know unless you ask.

      • Posted By: katvan @ 09/18/2008 6:56:22 PM

        It is common knowledge to the unmesmerized masses and to anyone who lives in Chicago like I do. The fact that the MSM hasn't explored and exposed it says it all. Alter knows what's going on because he grew up and lives there. That's what makes his articles so reprehensible. If you're interested go to the Chicago papers and read the facts. Jabir Muhammad was son of the Nation of Islam founder and managed Muhammad Ali...which Rezko was also involved with. The lawsuit about the house is still pending.

        • Posted By: edjones65 @ 09/19/2008 1:48:27 AM

          Thank you I will check it out

    • Posted By: mtgmother@comcast.net @ 09/17/2008 10:09:12 AM

      OMG, someone who actually knows what is going on in Chicago with Obama. Only the blind avoid looking at the various and nefarious goings on in "Crook" County. My biggest concern is tht the Stroger, Daley and Resko "families" will be running this country through Barack. Too bad you didn't touch on the fact that ot only is nepotism alive and well, but the State of Illinois is a crumbled, shattered mess with major financial problems. Obama was an unispiring Senator in Illinois Government, he was just best buddies with Emil Jones.

  • Posted By: bruce5149 @ 09/14/2008 4:36:59 PM

    What would we do without the holly rollers and by the way there has been quite a bit of study about you good people. John Haggee, are you listening. I guess our liberalism has to be why the suicide rate for psychiatrists is at the top of the charts for identified professions. That pile of garbage just sent in by holy roller might be viewed a psychiatrist and many I'm sure have already diagnosed you with few words of wisdom and a bigger pile of ??it! I think the medical term may be optharectalitis (severe). That's when the Optic and Rectal never crosses and you develop a sh??tty outlook on life and begin phrophesizing. Get some help.

    • Posted By: HolyRoller @ 09/14/2008 4:51:23 PM

      poor poor little victimcrat. Does that make you feel better?

      NOBAMA!!!

      • Posted By: icstars @ 09/18/2008 7:22:13 PM

        Well, look at the clever name-calling. Reminds me of elementary school. You work for the McCain campaign, don't you?

  • Posted By: katvan @ 09/18/2008 6:58:15 PM

    ALTERED REALITY:

    "Besides that, Obama hasn't been around long enough to get much done."

    You said it all.

  • Posted By: mtgmother@comcast.net @ 09/17/2008 9:48:06 AM

    I noticed that your article was carefully worded when it came to Obama "authorship" experience. Yes, he "signed on" to major legislation, but he has NOT authored anything important. And, his Illinois Legislature experience was just as unremarkable. I still voted for him for Senator, as I felt he had a great deal of potential, and his opponent was Alan Keyes, a nut case carpet bagger. However, Obama tenure as Senator of my state has been a major disappointment. His record shows that over 45% of the time he didn't even vote on the bills and issues on hand. He seems to be particularly unavailable when it comes to voting for Federal Judges.
    I don't know who I am voting for this November, as I feel that both Partys have presented us with VERY flawed candidates. In addition, I am turned off by the "Kingmaker" attitudes of Newsweek. Stop slanting the news, present it straight forward, and allow the American Public to make their own decisions.

    • Posted By: PFflyerkid @ 09/17/2008 10:42:22 AM

      Enter Your CComment:

      THE FACTS: Compared to McCain and his two decades in the Senate, Obama does have a more meager record. But he has worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year. To demean that accomplishment would be to also demean the work of Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana, a respected foreign policy voice in the Senate. In Illinois, he was the leader on two big, contentious measures in Illinois: studying racial profiling by police and requiring recordings of interrogations in potential death penalty cases. He also successfully co-sponsored major ethics reform legislation.

      http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check
      omment

      • Posted By: katvan @ 09/18/2008 6:47:49 PM

        That racial profiling bill was all Ricky Hendon's and Jones gave it to barry.

      • Posted By: mtgmother@comcast.net @ 09/17/2008 10:59:20 AM

        I do not demean the involvement he has had in passing other bills, but I do emphasize his lack of productivity. The Illinois Legislature is a PART TIME position, and although he was wise to make good connections, he did not translate that into any exceptional efforts to improve the state. In Washington, he has deserted his own state, as 45% of the time he has not been there to vote (and this started before he became a candidate). As a citizen of Illinois, I voted for him, and he has let the state down. Since Illinois is in worse economic condition than the Country, I don't see how he can be the "Hope" for our economy, much less our country. If he is elected, I envision a lack luster, one term President.
        As for McCain, I have no love lost for his policies or politics. I believe that this year I may vote "None of the Above"

  • Posted By: SeekingTruth @ 09/17/2008 8:48:13 PM

    You failed to do your homework which allowed your bias to bleed like field dressed Moose. Obama said in his book he didn't take a high priced legal job so he could prepare for politics. He's planned it all along. You also didn't mention that his mentor in the Illnois Senate handed him bills so he could have a record.

    Obama's temperment or lack of is evident in his speeches. Early on he claimed to be a uniter. He did pretty well staying on message until the primaries ended. Now he has reverted to the same tactics as every other politician, where's the change?

    When will good journalism return and all the opinionators retire. I might as well be reading dailykos

    • Posted By: katvan @ 09/18/2008 6:46:35 PM

      racism's back - his most reliable tactic. Gov Paterson "community organizer" is racist. Who put those racial banners out there? Who hacked into Gov Palin's email? Who made the unbelievable disgusting attack that Trig was Gov Palin's grandson? Barry's official attack dog: KOS. Did Alter call out ARC XIX (a most vile human? being) like he did KellyB? Nope. This whole election is a joke.

  • Posted By: rexowner @ 09/14/2008 10:54:26 PM

    "Nothing big on ... other major issues."

    Love it or hate it (I'm not a fan), McCain-Feingold, dealt with "a major issue" and
    was genuinely bipartisan. (Obama has absolutely zero bipartisan accomplishments, but
    Alter is enamored with his disingenuous message.)

    By not even mentioning this well-known and impactful piece of legislation, Alter continues
    to prove he is a joke.

    • Posted By: icstars @ 09/18/2008 4:12:33 PM

      Obama does too have bipartisan accomplishments. Stop lying!

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