When Atheists Attack

Finally someone is talking sense about this absurd choice. If all of the issues of concern in our world are preordained, then there is no point in trying to solve any of the world's problems. She believes global warming is not caused by human activity, it is God's will. Poor Polar Bears... and all future generations of all species, even Homo Sapiens (that'd be human beings for all you ignorant Palin supporters). She is not qualified for the job, and as a woman I am mortified that women are supporting her. Republicans have found the true antidote to hope - shame on them. -AM in LI

It appears the "Obama supports infantacide" meme has made its way back into the thread. This distorted claim arises from Obama's opposition to Illinois legislation in 2001, 2002 and 2003 that would have defined any aborted fetus that showed signs of life as a "born alive infant" entitled to legal protection, even if doctors believe it could not survive.

Obama opposed the "born alive" bills as backdoor attacks on a woman's legal right to abortion These bills sought to define the term "born-alive infant" as any infant, even one born as the result of an unsuccessful abortion, that shows vital signs separate from its mother. The bill would have established that infants thus defined were humans with legal rights. It never made it to the floor; it was voted down by the Health and Human Services Committee, which Obama chaired.

Illinois law already provides that physicians must protect the life of a fetus when there is "a reasonable likelihood of sustained survival of the fetus outside the womb, with or without artificial support."Illinois compiled statute 720 ILCS 510/6 states that physicians performing abortions when the fetus is viable must use the procedure most likely to preserve the fetus' life; must be attended by another physician who can care for a born-alive infant; and must "exercise the same degree of professional skill, care and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as would be required of a physician providing immediate medical care to a child born alive in the course of a pregnancy termination which was not an abortion." Failure to do any of the above is considered a felony.

a view from outside US: stop speaking about experience or elitism, this is not so important... only understanding and vision is important. Moreover, stop bringing religion in this campaign: God doesn't care at all about McCain or Obama and even more about Palin or Biden as he doesn't care about this small child dying of hunger somewhere in Africa. The question is: what do you want for your country NOW and after that, for the entire world? If you prefer keeping in the current politic, economic, strategic and climatological way with same people, vote McCain and assume your choice because you will go on other petrol, financial, subprime crisis and other terrorists, wars and more and more climate problems that will destroy bits per bits the values of your country. Lots of people will suffer, around the world but also in your country. When I was young, I dreamt of your country, now I consider you as a danger for peace, for balance, for climate... for me... because you make people hate you everywhere by becoming fundamentalist crusaders against ghost enemies with biased values where peace and security is only a curtain in front of far less respectable ideas. I don't know much Obama but he seems not being a fundamentalist (or he hides it very well) and he is not a creature of current politics. I don't ask him to change everything but just to stop current way of thinking. Maybe he will fail as a president: this is not important as far as you, americans, just take a breathe and look around you for a bit of time re-considering your country in itself and with respect to the rest of the planet. Breathe again America ;)

Hey - Mike L - nice to see you can copy and paste, thats great. Try comparing presidential nominee to presidential nominee next time. Dont hear anyone talking about the great democratic VP Joe Biden. But I guess that makes things easier for you to sound smarter.

You are such a great writer and were very thorough in your assessment. While not being too flippant, this article is a true reflection of the state of American common thought. I say common thought because most of us never get our voices or opinions heard, we are not part of the media and have never taken part in any polls. All the same, we are intelligent, thinking and dedicated Americans and, I'm glad, not the only ones able to see right through this election debaucle. This is not some kool "Apprentice" reality tv show this is deciding the fate of America and all of us who dwell within. It is much more serious than electing someone you wish you could meet on myspace - this is about making the best decisions for the country, our economy and schools, our environment and our security. There is no way the Palin/McCain ticket is even close - in fact, if there were another candidate running, let's say NOT a black man, I wonder if even the few supporting Republicans wouldn't choose other candidates to represent them - to me, it's as if they're daring the Americans to vote against the tradition, the whiteness, and what we're "used to". They employ fear tactics and worst of all tell flat out lies in their speeches and commercials - their confidence stems from a long tradition of racism - they just KNOW we wouldn't vote in a Black man, even if they are setting the stage to continue to ruin our country! Most of us are past that but then they come out with a poll further emphasizing what divide remains between the races. However, most of us consider ourselves Americans first, and whether we like each other or not, we want to be able to work and afford gas and energy, we want to be able to drive our cars without ruining the environment, we want security in place to protect us from threats, we want children to go to schools and truly learn and excel as they will be next up to contribute to our society. Most importantly, we as Americans are tired of lies and political processes that are too complex to understand or so complex that we think we have a handle on it only to find there were loopholes and we are damn sure tired of people who think they can play us based on what we don't know. I think what Obama offers more than everything else, is transparency and dedication - what we all want and what we need.

Could it be that some (or most) americans want somebody just like themselves at the top of their country because themselves lack education and opening on world affairs? Isn't the fundamental issue a question of education of the american people?

There are two types of Republicans, evil and ignorant??? but then again maybe there are three since Palin is both. I???m so tired of these low-brow, holier-than-thou loud mouths. The truth is that none of the Republicans are fit to hold office. They seem to hate American and American???s. Yes, Republicans hate America, they want to kill American and turn into some sicko warped theocracy. They have no respect for the words of our founding fathers. They also hate Americans, they think no one deserves public services (except if they are getting them). They want to send everyone else???s kid to fight for oil or profits. Palin is no exception. She is an ignorant and evil America hating religious wacko theonazi. It???s time American stands up to these thugs.

Lastly, this article sounds like it was written by a college freshman. What great logic! I suppose the idea that our Founding Fathers had faith in God makes you cringe? I suppose you must really have nightmares thinking about the Carter years... a President that actually taught Sunday School nearly every Sunday while he was in office. Conservatives have nightmares about Carter, but for different reasons... double digit inflation and "malaise""

Aaror - You are completely mistaken. Palin NEVER insisted a woman should pay $1200 for a rape kit. Don't believe lies started by the powerful, lying liberal press!

When ever you glitz up, put on the face, or discuss an event, you should do so with non-bias and let the reader and the public make up their own minds. Equality to both sides and both issues should be viewed by the common public. The writer speaks of intellectual qualifications of Palin but makes no point on Obama and his running mate. I have a question for the writer ??? How many days in Obama???s now political carrier (less than what 2 years) has he made a significant deceive decision that can be counted. If you speak of intellectual qualifications then get all the facts. Just like the whores in Hollywood using their own fame to raise a platform to their GOD for their personal agenda the media awaits for them beneath the sheets. Get real people if the media where to have their way today Obama would be heralded as king and savior as he rode his black stallion to the Whitehouse. (Stallion - is not a reference to his wife but to scripture)

Obama was or is: magna *** laude graduate of Harvard Law School; of the board of directors for several philanthropic/social improvement organizations; professor of constitutional law for 12 years at the U. of Chicago; civil rights attorney for many years; two-term state senator in Illinois, representing heavily populated areas of a major metropolis (in contrast to, say, Wasilla, AK); U.S. senator for nearly 4 years. Here is Wikipedia???s summary of his involvement w/various Senate Committees: ???Obama held assignments on the Senate Committees for Foreign Relations, Environment and Public Works and Veterans??? Affairs through December 2006. In January 2007, he left the Environment and Public Works committee and took additional assignments with Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He also became Chairman of the Senate's subcommittee on European Affairs. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama has made official trips to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa.??? Some highlights of his legislative career: "In the Illinois state Senate, he authored about a half-dozen major laws on issues ranging from ethics to education. 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. In Washington he has his name on three important laws: the first major ethics reform since Watergate; a much-needed cleanup of conventional weapons in the former Soviet Union, and the "Google for Government" bill, an accountability tool that requires notice of all federal contracts to be posted online." [Jonathan Alter, Newsweek, 9/13/08] Also, Obama???s unique background has endowed him with unparalleled gifts of diplomacy toward people of all types -- a background which includes firsthand familiarity with all of the various cultures, religions, and languages he was exposed to growing up (anthropologist mom, white grandparents from Kansas, black dad from Kenya, Indonesian step-dad, and foreign residence and travel). And Obama has undergone an intense vetting for nearly two years now while running for president defeating the Clinton political machine. To compare Sarah Palin???s qualifications to Obama???s the way some Republicans have done is a joke. And the Republicans are, of course, overplaying the ???executive experience??? card regarding Palin. After all, BUSH had ???executive experience??? before he became president, for god???s sake. If anyone doubts that Obama is far better prepared than Palin, I challenge them to watch any interview with Obama and compare it to Palin???s interview with Charlie Gibson. Obama is clearly more knowledgeable, more articulate, more reasoned, a deeper thinker, more able and comfortable t