Obama/Biden 08

[nacho]

Which is why we need McCain to win.  Because then we'll get into a larger war.  And, the more war, then the more the ignorant right wingers will be killed.  Eventually, all the draft dodging liberals will rule.  Then you all will get your Jimmy Carter.

Blood will buy you what you want.  But only blood.

[Cassander]

another sloe gin fizz and a bowl of pretzels for mr. nacho, please! 

[fajwat]

http://wonkette.com/402743/typical-florida-person-creates-years-best-campaign-sign

[nacho]

So the Post finally endorses a candidate..."without ambivalence"...at the last possible moment.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/16/AR2008101603436.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

    “There are few public figures we have respected more over the years than Sen. John McCain. Yet it is without ambivalence that we endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president.

    The choice is made easy in part by Mr. McCain’s disappointing campaign, above all his irresponsible selection of a running mate who is not ready to be president. It is made easy in larger part, though, because of our admiration for Mr. Obama and the impressive qualities he has shown during this long race. Yes, we have reservations and concerns, almost inevitably, given Mr. Obama’s relatively brief experience in national politics. But we also have enormous hopes.”

    “Mr. Obama is a man of supple intelligence, with a nuanced grasp of complex issues and evident skill at conciliation and consensus-building. At home, we believe, he would respond to the economic crisis with a healthy respect for markets tempered by justified dismay over rising inequality and an understanding of the need for focused regulation. Abroad, the best evidence suggests that he would seek to maintain U.S. leadership and engagement, continue the fight against terrorists, and wage vigorous diplomacy on behalf of U.S. values and interests. Mr. Obama has the potential to become a great president….”

[nacho]

Powell endorses Obama:

Saying about Obama, "I think he is a transformational figure." and "Obama displayed a steadiness. Showed intellectual vigor. He has a definitive way of doing business that will do us well", Powell also expressed his disappointment in McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate and cited McCain's use of Bill Ayers as "disappointing".

Powell also indicated that he was dismayed by the McCain campaign and others in the Republican party hinting that Obama was Muslim.

No surprise.

[Matt]

Coming out against the claims of Obama being a Muslim is pretty important in the public discourse, though.

[nacho]

Joe Biden, forgetting about a live mic, said the following at a fundraiser in Seattle:

It will not be six months before the world tests Barack Obama like they did John Kennedy. The world is looking…Watch, we’re gonna have an international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy. I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate… And he’s gonna need help. And the kind of help he’s gonna need is, he’s gonna need you - not financially to help him - we’re gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it’s not gonna be apparent initially, it’s not gonna be apparent that we’re right.

A little bit scary.

[RottingCorpse]

What does he mean, "generated crisis?"

[nacho]

The vodka's making him paranoid.

[RottingCorpse]

I think whoever wins the election will have no time to adjust to anything. To use the most cliched 24 hour news term possible, the next president will have to "hit the ground running."

[Matt]

It's scary but look at all the words that are being thrown against him and Michele Bachmann's call for media investigation of "anti-American activities".

[nacho]

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2008/10/21/26-papers-that-endorsed-bush-go-to-obama/

Via Editor & Publisher comes word of a trend in terms of newspaper endorsements:


    Taking a look at our daily endorsement tally so far, the Obama-Biden ticket has a hefty lead in both total newspapers and total circulation. But another figure that favors the Democratic candidates is the number of newspapers that have endorsed Sen. Obama despite supporting President Bush's reelection in 2004.


I know, I know. If you're a McCain fan, your eyes are bulging right about now, and you're fuming something about more evidence of how "in the tank" the media is for Obama. Of course, four years ago, you probably weren't complaining much when the same editorial boards gave George W. Bush the thumbs up.

[Matt]

Republicans are deserting ship, man.

[Cassander]

newspaper endorsements are made so the editorial board can feel good about having a big think and then sell some extra copies.  if i had to rank effectiveness of newspaper endorsements as far as influencing how people vote, it would come right above "bumpersticker placed haphazardly on the mirror over the urinal in a bar" and right below "a precocious teenager's eager support for candidate written into a prime time family sitcom".

[fajwat]

I've factored them into my local elections & especially ballot initiatives decision making process.  They're useful when there hasn't been much exposure.  not so useful for the president race, for me at least.  But then, not much would be able to sway my presidential vote.