CHAPTER 7

The Final Days

Obama was leading in the polls, even in red states like Virginia. But McCain almost seemed to glory in being the underdog.

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  • Posted By: Twister52 @ 11/07/2008 11:35:17 PM

    "Walking-around money"?

    You gotta be freaking kidding me! Obama BOUGHT his votes?!

    And 52% of Americans actually wanted this SOB in the White House?

    I wish you all a quick and painful destruction so the rest of us can rebuild the country the way our founding fathers intended it to be.

    • Posted By: the-commish @ 11/10/2008 7:55:44 PM

      So it's ok when the GOP has more money, and buys it's votes. But let the Dems have more money JUST ONCE, and suddenly it's not OK. You are not freaking to be believed! You obviously failed Logic101.

      • Posted By: Pioneer Grandma @ 03/01/2009 9:18:16 AM

        "Our Founding Fathers"

        As you speak about were brilliant, brave and very cautious patriots.
        They separated "Church and State" for a reason. They were Deists. Their beliefs were simalar to those of theIndigenous Native Americans who Columbus named "Indians" because he thought he was in India. No polatician will ever speak of the book "Thomas Jeffersons Bible"
        It is AMERICA thnks to our Founding Father's inspite of the mangling of the language of the "Constitution".

        Color me neither Red or Blue!
        American mother, grandmother and great grandmother history addict

    • Posted By: hmoo11 @ 11/08/2008 4:42:31 AM

      Sorry man. I didn't get a cent.

      • Posted By: nmpap @ 11/08/2008 2:54:47 PM

        I believe it was your President and party that created the mess that Democrats will now have to clean up. Don't worry, we're used to cleaning up after the uneducated and the vituperative. And we live in hope that one day, education and tolerance will be able to penetrate even those as hateful uninformed and poorly educated as you.

    • Posted By: druggie limbaugh @ 11/08/2008 12:06:32 AM

      Hey Twister! Its America!

      Love it or Leave it!

      (I've waited all my life to say that to these two faced Republican bastards!)

    • Posted By: alienufo @ 11/07/2008 11:50:01 PM

      read the article. It says Obama REFUSED to hand out walking around money. And they didn't.

    • Posted By: alienufo @ 11/07/2008 11:49:04 PM

      did you actually read the article? it said Obama DIDN'T dole out walking around money.

  • Posted By: Hopeisalive08 @ 11/30/2008 1:56:41 AM

    Great series. And you're right -- McCain's concession speech was the tone I had expected from him all fall. Too bad he didn't run a campaign worthy of his professed love of honor and country. Sad to say, I don't feel sorry for him though -- he was the ultimate architect of his downfall, from Palin to "suspensions" to "terrorists" he approved all of the attacks masquerading as message. Maybe this will give pause to desperate candidates in the future.

  • Posted By: londemarco @ 11/29/2008 5:00:48 AM

    For anyone who obsessively followed this magnificent election this incredibly intimate and detailed mega reportage was the icing on the cake. Thanks and congratulations.

  • Posted By: TomMallory @ 11/27/2008 11:32:01 PM

    It really was fabulous. Insightful, amazingly well-sourced and deep and fascinating. NIcely done.

  • Posted By: Bestpet @ 11/25/2008 5:23:08 PM

    Your articles on the election kept me up WAY past bedtime. This was one of the best issues ever. I'll keep it for repeat reading many times through the Obama years.

  • Posted By: guest @ 11/24/2008 7:34:02 PM

    Finally finished this. It's a spectacular piece of journalism. Kudos.

  • Posted By: jstacey @ 11/16/2008 12:04:11 PM

    Katie Connolly
    Oh poor poor Katie Connolly, now misery your way comes.

    Unfortunately for slander spreading Katie Connolly, her 15 minutes of fame are about to crash and burn. She appears here in a video, and has made the rounds on news shows repeating her vicious slanders about Palin and "clothing-gate". But, unfortunately for her reputation, the stylists who purchase the clothes for Sarah Palin have come forward and, imagine this, all the reporting done on this story by Newsweek, and their child journalist, Katie Connolly, are lies. Who would have imagined a liberal rag like this would degenerate to tabloid status?

    See here: http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/11/13/source-the-clothes-werent-palins-fault/

    In the video on this page Katie Connolly reports she had no knowledge of the clothing scandal till late in the campaign. So much for her power of observation, and concern with facts over rumors. Her only info on this subject is rumors spread by McCain aides.

    Lie Number 1: Katie Connolly reports that Palin was instructed to hire a clothing stylist. This is a lie. The stylists, associates of Katie Couric at CBS, where Nicole Wallace worked, were hired by Nicole Wallace.

    Lie number2: Katie Connolly reports the stylists were given a budget of $30k. This is a lie. The stylists report there was no budget. In fact, they were instructed to NOT tell Palin how much things cost.

    Lie number3: "Wassilla hillybillies looting Neiman Markus" coast to coast". The bulk of the expenses were submitted for re-imbrrsment 9/10, 6 days after the convention. The stylists report they purchased the clothes for the convention, most in Minneapolis. And Palin reports she's never been in Nieman Markus.

    Lie number 4: "..one step from stealing.." so CBS stylists hired by Nicole Wallace to outfit the Palin family for the RNC convention, a two month nation wide VP campaign with over a hundred campaign stops, fund raisers, TV commercials, TV interviews etc., are told "Palin has a small town look, she needs to gave a big city look" are given no budget limit are told NOT to tell Palin the cost of the clothing, and have come forward to say that Palin is not to blame in any way, and yet, Katue Connolly and newsweek continue to claim it's "one step from stealing".

    Has jornalism ever been lower?

    Clearly, Katie Connolly, reporting only rumors, with no facts to report other than rumors, has been used and is nothing more than a tabloid rumor-monger.


    • Posted By: Zig Zag @ 11/18/2008 4:57:49 PM

      Assuming you are right - and I don't think you are - even if there was some grand conspiracy to make sure Sarah Palin didn't know how much was being spent one her clothes and hair styling, don't you think she should have figured it out on her own and said something on her own accord? I mean come on, if she is the "maverick" she pretened to be, why didn't she just say her clothes and hair were fine?

      And if you are right, I think it speaks volumes to her unsuitability to be the Vice President of this country. If someone can pull the wool over her eyes when it comes to clothes and hair styling - imagine what seasoned politicians would have done to her on real issues.

      And I guess all of McCain's aides to said essentially the same thing about Palin are also liars.

      Hmmm ... I don't think so.

  • Posted By: wilso127 @ 11/16/2008 10:03:31 AM

    Re Palin and "the next best thing to stealing"...thank God Obama won! This woman is nothing more than just a plain crook from a very crooked state, Unbelievable!

  • Posted By: jstacey @ 11/15/2008 4:57:31 PM

    As for the two videos on this page, regarding "cothing-gate", it looks like the stylists, who did the purchasing are fighting back. They were both hired by Nicole Wallace, they both worked for CBS, and had done work for Katie Couric. They have now come out to say, not only was there no budget limit (newsweek has reported there was a 30k limit) they report they were instructed NOT to tell Palin the cost of the clothes.

    http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/11/13/source-the-clothes-werent-palins-fault/

    Perhaps Katie Connolly is seeking an award. The worst new reporter on the scene 2008. She's a simple-minded conduit for McCain staffer self serving lies.

  • Posted By: jstacey @ 11/11/2008 1:01:44 AM

    On the Obama Berlin speech, are you covering for Obama. Media reports at the time indicated PM Merkel turned down the Obama campaign's request to speak at the Brandenberg gate, not Barack as you report. You can't bring yourselves to report a single negative thing about Obama.

    Also, the embarrassing fact that the Obama Camp spent $700,000, offering a free rock concert, to attract the 200,000 viewers, is not reported; yet the Palin spending spree is covered in detail. At a time when this country needs a stimulus, Obama spends $700,000 for a one day photo op. (Additionally, I met a woman whose son lives in Berlin. He said most of the people who went to the rally, don't carry German Passports. They are immigrant workers.)

    I guess we can hope, someone will document the liberal bias run amuck in this campaign.

    • Posted By: Zig Zag @ 11/14/2008 7:42:43 PM

      It wasn't reported because it wasn't true. Funny how things work that way.

    • Posted By: AskPlus @ 11/12/2008 5:15:34 PM

      He gave everyone five dollars to show up?

      • Posted By: 40YearR @ 11/12/2008 7:22:12 PM



        "AskPlus", What I like most is that she claims to believe that a woman she met has a son who lives in Berlin, who knows that half of that crowd of 200,000 didn't hold German passports. With 'sources' that good, who wouldn't be suspicious of any mainstream news medium...

  • Posted By: jansch @ 11/14/2008 6:46:26 AM

    even from Belgium I can see this star called Obama rising and changing our world. Thank U USA!

  • Posted By: jansch @ 11/14/2008 6:45:12 AM

    Even from Belgium I can see this star called Obama coming and changing our world. Thank U America!

  • Posted By: adp253 @ 11/14/2008 3:54:40 AM

    An amazing read that I will cherish. I've been drawn into the political fray only recently, and I don't plan on exiting anytime soon. Thank you for the wonder piece.
    -22 year old biology major

  • Posted By: adp253 @ 11/14/2008 3:53:55 AM

    An amazing read that I will cherish. I've been drawn into the political fray only recently, and I don't plan on exiting anytime soon. Thank you for the wonder piece.
    -22 year old biology major

  • Posted By: 40YearR @ 11/11/2008 1:13:34 AM



    "jstacey": Since you revealed that most of the 200,000 who attended the Obama rally didn't carry German passports, I can now reveal that you are a KKK member who attends seances to expel witches, according to a man whose daughter lives in Berlin, I'm told....I also regret that another source who must remain anonymous says that the woman you met was an opperative for Fox "News". She has 18 convictions for claiming to have a son....Soon all of this will be documented, and then the liberal bias will be exposed...fear not...repetition aids...repetition....

    • Posted By: jstacey @ 11/11/2008 1:33:53 AM

      You're fun. Do you agree the Obama campaign spent $700,000 to attract the crowd?

      • Posted By: 40YearR @ 11/11/2008 1:57:12 AM



        "jstacey": I agree that the crowd was big and they seemed happy to be there and that he was there, and that he had the courage to tell them, in their glee, that Europe must bear its share of the burden.

        I also agree that there have been few, if any, who could have attracted such a crowd so favorably disposed and willing to waive American flags....

        How are we agreein' so far?....

        • Posted By: jstacey @ 11/11/2008 2:07:32 AM

          Did they seem happy to get a free rock concert and low cost beer and knackwurst? You know, the rock group has made Barack an honorary member of the band. $700,000 for a one day photo-op ego trip and propaganda stunt, unexamined by the MSM.

          This fact, the $700,000, was reported by the Washington Times only AFTER the Obama campaign kicked them off the campaign plane. What other negative stories are being hidden by the MSM, since we got this story from a right wing rag ONLY AFTER they got the boot.

          The Messiah loves freedom and democracy. He won his first election for state senator by hiring an expert to invalidate his 3 opponents signature lists, so he could run unopposed. He must really love democracy. Then he stages these kind of laughable staged rallies, right out of the Saul Allinsky play book.

          • Posted By: AskPlus @ 11/12/2008 5:15:00 PM

            I'm so glad your guy lost. You must be terribly sad because you make up stuff just like the GOP. And calling Obama the Messiah? - I think the rest of us know what you are. Might as well call him "That one". But hey, it's guys like you that got Obama the votes. So who can complain about your being bitter, sarcastic and mean.

            • Posted By: indueseason @ 11/13/2008 5:12:45 PM

              It always amazes me that somehow the one's that seem to be wicked in their efforts by scorning someone else God in his infinite wisdom turns it around and uses it to validate someone for the good. So keep on with your shrewdness and God will keep using you as a conduit to validate someone that is due for the validation!

              Reminds me of what the Psalmist David said, "God will cause my enemies to fall on their own sword and into their own traps that they set for others."

            • Posted By: nuby@this @ 11/13/2008 2:20:16 AM

              You are very wise. Never be afraid to speak out against attributes that have the basis of being hurtful to others; today you validated me and you don't even know the impact your truth that you spoke has had in my life. Thank you, tonight my tears will be from joyfulness and not sorrow.

  • Posted By: redbaron29 @ 11/07/2008 8:25:13 PM

    I have very little to say except to shame on the pople that try to tear down one of our governors. They are to be held in high reguards but this dishonist media will try anything to full fill therE on agenda, At any bodies cost and the public eates it up. And have no respect for anyone including them selfs to fill there credirs and pocket book. And, we ask why the United States is going to hell in a had basket. Palin was one of those people. Palin was one of the most honost people in this election procwss. GCD.

    • Posted By: hmoo11 @ 11/08/2008 4:47:09 AM

      Palin lied about the character of another human being for political gain. Palin worked to divide the citizens of this country. She should stay in Alaska.

      • Posted By: jstacey @ 11/11/2008 1:24:01 AM

        Obama brought the lunatic Jeremiah Wright to the presidential campaign, along with his other associates, Ayers and Resko. Ayers, in a speech on education in Venezuala, said in 2006 he's humbled to speak before Hugo Chavez. Obama lied and lied about these guys and got a free-pass from the media.

  • Posted By: elnsahlai @ 11/13/2008 3:16:35 PM

    This country is all the better because Obama won. McCain's campaign represented the America of the confederate era--an all white party--Obama's represented the future. Republicans need to broaden their base; it is sad to look into a Republican rally and count only 5 colored persons (Asians, Hispanics, and Blacks included). Obama is smart and shrewd--attributes needed in these tough times--McCain, like it or not, is not book smart, just a lucky guy born with a golden spoon in his mouth: BARACK HAD TO HUSTLE, I CAN RELATE THAT.

    Elnsahlai

    • Posted By: luv2bloved @ 11/13/2008 4:25:13 PM

      Give it a rest will you! You are so full of judgemental characteristics that it comes through even when you are trying to speak in general terms. You are either a very bitter person or someone that is full of angry which you spew at everyone that crosses your path that doesn't agree with you.

  • Posted By: elnsahlai @ 11/13/2008 3:17:42 PM

    This country is all the better because Obama won. McCain's campaign represented the America of the confederate era--an all white party--Obama's represented the future. Republicans need to broaden their base; it is sad to look into a Republican rally and count only 5 colored persons (Asians, Hispanics, and Blacks included). Obama is smart and shrewd--attributes needed in these tough times--McCain, like it or not, is not book smart, just a lucky guy born with a golden spoon in his mouth: BARACK HAD TO HUSTLE, I CAN RELATE THAT.

    Elnsahlai

  • Posted By: celeste47 @ 11/12/2008 9:10:15 PM

    I really enjoyed reading this series word for word. It took me days to complete, but I must say that the reporting was very respectful of both camps. This series was really a job well done.

    Thank you so much for letting us know what went on behind the scenes,

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