What constitutes a “win” in Iraq now? Bring some measure of stability to a region they systematically destabilized? More troops to Iraq - what now? They went in to take out Sadam, they did, Bush claimed victory in Iraq years ago - claimed victory again and again and again. Gosh - I’m confused. How would Obama have “lost” the war by bringing the troops home, rather than agreeing to the surge? What has McCain WON for the American people with the longest “surge” in history that Obama would have LOST ? If they’ve really, actually won now - when are they getting out? Why aren’t American’s asking?

I wish we could start this election season over and come up with different alternatives than what we’re currently faced with. I supported Hillary 100% but I’m not one of those Hillary supporters that plan on voting for McCain…especially after listening to Sarah Palin. She scared me. I’m not going to do any name calling because I think that’s counterproductive, but I do think she’s scary. I’ll be honest and say that I couldn’t listen to her for very long but it was long enough to know that my decision to vote for Obama/Biden is better than voting for McCain/Palin…which leads me back to what I said at the beginning…I wish we could start this election season over and come up with different alternatives.

“The McCain campaign has admitted to a ban on most press interviews for Palin. If McCain doesn’t have confidence in her ability to handle the press, how does he expect voters to have confidence in her ability to be a Vice President? By Karen S. on 09/07/2008 12:08 am” They’re making sure she’s thoroughly prepped with all the approved answers and talking points and coached on precisely how to make one or the other the answer to any and every question she’s asked before they let her out in public. As I said before, when we see her again we won’t be seeing or hearing anything about what she really stands for or who she really is. We’ll be seeing how good an actress she is. The results will show us how well the Rovian Republican Spin Cycle can distract the attention of the public from the reality of the last eight years and make a enough of them believe more of the same is what we need. I guess in a way you could say that if the majority of this country is stupid enough to allow this to continue to happen then it’s what we deserve. But then, when you know that this regime has not been elected by a majority in the previous Rovian Republican elections, and absolutely won’t be this time, it’s a bit hard to say that all of us deserve to suffer the stupidity of less than half of us because they are led by corruption.

The problen with “town America” and their “small town values” is that too many people look at the veneer rather than the substance of candidates like McCain and Palin. I live in a small suburb of Birmingham, Alabama…a place which is basically controlled by the town’s First Baptist Church (which my mother—quite rightly—refers to as “The Church that ate Gardendale”). During the last election I was horrified to see church members standing outside the polls handing out flyers which detailed which candidates should be voted for…I don’t know if I was more shocked by these peoples’ presence, or the people who actually took one! I am truly saddened that there are SO many people who put more thought into what football team they root for as opposed to who they should elect as our next commander-in-chief…Whoopie is very right when she says this is a dangerous woman. Both members would readily curtail our rights as Americans (if given the opportunity)with one bold stroke of the pen and without a bat of an eye. The whole platform which they espouse is highly REGRESSIVE. These people are certainly against equality between the genders, among the races, among the various creeds, etc. This country is supposed to be free…when so called “small town values” are FORCED upon everyone, we all suffer through the destruction of the democratic ideals. True American leaders do not have to be devoid of their own values but they must respect the rights of the American people as individuals. This is why curtailing of rights which we already have (a woman’s/couple’s/family’s right to reproductive freedom, for example) don’t need to be changed…Polls have repeatedly shown that the majority of Americans advocate said rights…Also, the republicans need to quit shadow-boxing by talking about emotional, hair-trigger topics like those mentioned, and start mentioning solutions to problems which they can and SHOULD discuss (such as ending the war in Iraq, improving education,etc.)The consideration of real issues rather than pandering to a narrow constituency such as the “religious right” is the difference between a statesman and a mere politician. Sorry to preach, but I DO live in a small town…and I AM a Christian…I AM a mother…I am(also) a feminist, a thinker, and I am gay. So, I’ll just end my little diatribe with the following quote: “When politics and religion go to bed together, someone always gets screwed.” If we fail to see the grandstanding of the G.O.P. for the smoke and mirrors that it really is, then the future of our country is bleak, and democracy as an ideal will be horribly compromised.

The problen with “town America” and their “small town values” is that too many people look at the veneer rather than the substance of candidates like McCain and Palin………………………….. …………………“When politics and religion go to bed together, someone always gets screwed.” If we fail to see the grandstanding of the G.O.P. for the smoke and mirrors that it really is, then the future of our country is bleak, and democracy as an ideal will be horribly compromised.” By Melanie Waldrop on 09/07/2008 2:54 pm I shout AMEN and HALLELUJAH to you sister Melanie. I live in the Falwell area of politically religious dominion being about 45 mi. from the small city he owned and his legacy now owns of Lynchburg, VA.. I know exactly what you’re saying about the influence of the evangelicals. I’m also surrounded by people who will vote republican for no other reason than because the propaganda they receive in the mail from the NRA (some of whom pay their membership fees even if they can’t afford to feed their families anything other than the game meat they kill) tells them the Democrats are “gonna take their guns away”. Add to that the ones who say “My momma and daddy always voted for the republicans and if it was good enough for them it’s good enough for me and that’s all I need to know about it”. I’m serious, I’ve heard that more than people who don’t live in the southeast would ever believe. Now before some Palinesque Huntress jumps on my case about the NRA and hunting, let me explain that I’m not completely ignorant on the subject. I’m sitting here right now surrounded by (at last count) 20 guns. Not one of them was designed or intended for the killing of another human and not one of them has been refitted with an illegal component to make it such. Not one of them has ever been used outside the hunting laws of this state. My husband has been a hunter since he was 12 yrs old. He’s also even less “tactful” than I am. He says “anybody who joins the NRA or votes republican is either rich or stupid”.

Thanks for getting to the real issue Melanie - these are perilous times - and as a Canadian feel we and the rest of the world have only slightly less to lose than the US does if the McCain/Palin ticket is successful. Keep the faith Obama supporters. Stephen Harper and Barack Obama, not Palin, not McCain, will deal responsibly with the Arctic - resources, environment, star-wars, national security, and Putin - and only they will leave democracy intact.

First I find that the title is,”Very Dangerous” and I realize this is just her opinion. So I will try to follow the points. First paragraph the word strident, a nominee trying to be heard over a crowd, I personally didn’t hear that…but the DNC was also loud so were there voices strident?? Maybe!! Maybe not!! It’s all in the opinion. I listened to all but Bidens speech, sorry but sometimes you have to get some sleep…did I miss anything? Oh well, when I get time I’ll try to read the transcript and see how many times he downed McCain. As for dismissive talk to community organizers, the people that go out and take care of the people in there community like the PTA…while introducing herself, she stated, Quote “I was serving as the team mom and coaching some basketball on the side. I got involved in the PTA and then was elected to the City Council and then elected mayor of my hometown, where my agenda was to stop wasteful spending and cut property taxes and put the people first. Does that not qualify? I think that is service to the people of her community and should meet the Whoopi criteria. But, I do think she was also saying she has more qualifications under her belt like Legislative also, can our opponents say that? It was subtle not snide, but that is just my opinion. Whoopi states”I also found it really bizarre when Palin said there was only one person who has fought for your rights, dismissing Joe Biden’s work offhand. No, what Palin said is ” There is only one candidate who has truly fought for America, and that man is John McCain. Neither Obama, nor Biden went to war for there country! As for children completely off limits, she handled that situation the right way in my opinion, while you and the media and others spin on your tails and heels, she quietly told the world of her love for her daughter. And my opinion, her daughter was not a political issue. But some people tried to make it one. Last point because I could continue to tear apart this article, but it would take too long and then who will read what I have to say? Whoopi said, “Maybe there are great qualifications that you have for that, but in the United States of America, if you’re going to be president or vice president you’re supposed to be able to look at these things and say, “What’s best for the country?” Not, “What do I think my religious beliefs are?” Because you can only live with your own religious beliefs; you can’t ask other people to bend to them. Palin said,” The people of America expect us to seek public office and to serve for the right reasons. And the right reason is to challenge the status quo and to serve the common good. This — this is a moment when principles and political independence matter a lot more than just the party line.And this is a moment that requires resolve and toughness and strength of heart in the American president. There were a few more, but nothing mentioned about religious beliefs,or making any person bend to her beliefs. The only mention of God is the final statement, ” And I thank you, and I — God bless you, I say, and God bless America. Thank you. If that is shoving God down our throat, well God Bless you and God Bless America!!!

Palin said exactly what she was scripted to say by professional spindoctors -and even if it were all true - no, “that” doesn’t qualify in today’s world, not by a long shot.

Whoopi — I share your concern, and here’s what worries me most about Palin (and the fact that she was chosen by McCain). Throughout her speech, she was willing to play Americans against each other — directly, expressly, meanly and unapologetically— although she is running to be VP of ALL of us, and potentially our President! Putting aside her positions on individual issues, her lack of experience on foreign affairs and the federal economy, is the way that she knowlingly, and even happily, engaged in dividing Americans. Small town vs. big-city elite. Obviously, she has a chip on her shoulder about that, and she is running amok with it. Well, that’s all part of Rove’s play-book, I’m sure. But when America is at war, No true American should, on national TV, gleefully bait one group of Americans against another. Oh, she had all the GOP buzz words -“elite liberals”, and “big-city people,” etc. —we all know them. She was the GOP pimp, stoking small town views — correct or otherwise — against so-called big-city elite liberals, to herself elected as the V.P. of all of us! It was a new low in politics: as women, we cannot take any pride in the LACK of values that let her engage in such appalling behavior while waving the flag that belongs to ALL of us!

On a serious note, the scariest thing for me in this election is Sarah Palin’s selection as VP for several reasons: (1) This is an attempt to pander to women and garner their vote. (2) Also an attempt to garner the religious right’s vote. (3) She was selected not for her abilities to run the government, but her ability to bring votes for the campaign. What does this mean? That the Republican party has stooped to a new low that has nothing to do with running a government. They simply want to win the election without regard for the country’s needs. McCain has a 33% chance of dying at any time this year, leaving Palin in office (http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/STATS/table4c6.html). Is that going to be good for the country? Do you think Palin has the necessary training to be president of the United States? Palin’s experience in government comes from the cash rich state of Alaska and she has no experience running an economy like the other 49 states have. Alaska has so much money that they actually pay their citizens a dividend every year. I am certainly not against religion, but Palin was an Assembly of God member for many years and is now “non denominational”. Both of these sects want to tell you how to run your lives. I would never vote for a participant in a religion that doesn’t respect other religions, and I can tell you that both the AG and many “non denominational” churches will tell you that unless you believe like them you are going to hell. I should know, I grew up in church like that. I was taught that all Jews, Catholics, Methodists and pretty much everyone else was going to hell. Do you want a president that believes virtually everyone else in the country is an infidel? Trust me you don’t. The constitution is truly non denominational. It allows for freedom of religion, but the right to swing your arm ends where the other fellow’s nose begins. How about stem cell research, probably the most important medical breakthroughs of our time will be made this way. The religious fundamentalists are completely against using stem cells to treat diseases. I do not want to die of an otherwise curable disease to uphold someone elses religious convictions. I hear a lot of discussions about church and state in which people try to make the point that the constitution allows for religious overtones in the government, and I say this to you: “The constitution was about forming a government for the people and by the people. Everyone, no matter what. Government is about providing laws and infrastructure on a general level to protect the country’s interests. The country is everyone, not just the majority. Don’t hate me because I don’t think like you, don’t try to legislate morality and NEVER let government become more than it was intended to be.”

I have been trying to figure out what it is about her that makes her not right for the position and I think I have it - Honestly - I don’t care about her family situation - that’s her choice, those are her problems and I don’t think they reflect on her ability to lead (or not) - in government offices and corporations in this country it’s illegal for us to ask such things so it should be off limits to her (but again I say don’t make her marry that loser, please!!!) anyways, I also am not bothered by lack of experience - we have said that about Obama so I think we have to be consistent I am also not bothered by her college “experience” - none of us, gratefully, are not the same as we were in our youth I think this is what bugged me, but I am still not sure - her use of humor in her opening speech to the voting world was odd - this was the first time most people in this country even saw her - did I laugh at her joke, did I think her spunkiness was cool, perhaps - but even those of us that laugh and joke around at work, know that there is a time where we have to pull it off and take things seriously - I may not take myself seriously, but I take the work I do seriously - this was her time to show us what she knows, that she has what it takes to run the country, that she’s intelligent and instead she appealed to Mommies everywhere (but wants hands off on family issues) - I just can’t see her sitting down with world leaders who really hate us - I think it’s sad that the marketing of politicians has to be to dumb them down, then we all wonder why our best and brightest don’t run for higher office, why would they if the marketing says you need to be all down home - wtf - I don’t think it’s too much to ask that a VP is smarter than I am and maybe she is, but she didn’t show me that I didn’t vote or Hillary but at least I know she can kick my butt in the intelligence department - I will not vote for McCain, but not because I think he’s not smart, he is, I just don’t agree with his smarts, as it were just because you may not want to have a barbecue with a candidate doesn’t mean they can’t have the office

Hey everyone, has anyone posted this piece written by Gloria Steinem? I’m going to now as it’s the type of article that should be distributed far and wide. It really states the situation in a very matter-of-fact kind of way. Please read it if you haven’t already. Palin: wrong woman, wrong message Sarah Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Hillary Clinton. She is Phyllis Schlafly, only younger. By Gloria Steinem September 4, 2008 Here’s the good news: Women have become so politically powerful that even the anti-feminist right wing — the folks with a headlock on the Republican Party — are trying to appease the gender gap with a first-ever female vice president. We owe this to women — and to many men too — who have picketed, gone on hunger strikes or confronted violence at the polls so women can vote. We owe it to Shirley Chisholm, who first took the “white-male-only” sign off the White House, and to Hillary Rodham Clinton, who hung in there through ridicule and misogyny to win 18 million votes. But here is even better news: It won’t work. This isn’t the first time a boss has picked an unqualified woman just because she agrees with him and opposes everything most other women want and need. Feminism has never been about getting a job for one woman. It’s about making life more fair for women everywhere. It’s not about a piece of the existing pie; there are too many of us for that. It’s about baking a new pie. Selecting Sarah Palin, who was touted all summer by Rush Limbaugh, is no way to attract most women, including die-hard Clinton supporters. Palin shares nothing but a chromosome with Clinton. Her down-home, divisive and deceptive speech did nothing to cosmeticize a Republican convention that has more than twice as many male delegates as female, a presidential candidate who is owned and operated by the right wing and a platform that opposes pretty much everything Clinton’s candidacy stood for — and that Barack Obama’s still does. To vote in protest for McCain/Palin would be like saying, “Somebody stole my shoes, so I’ll amputate my legs.” This is not to beat up on Palin. I defend her right to be wrong, even on issues that matter most to me. I regret that people say she can’t do the job because she has children in need of care, especially if they wouldn’t say the same about a father. I get no pleasure from imagining her in the spotlight on national and foreign policy issues about which she has zero background, with one month to learn to compete with Sen. Joe Biden’s 37 years’ experience. Palin has been honest about what she doesn’t know. When asked last month about the vice presidency, she said, “I still can’t answer that question until someone answers for me: What is it exactly that the VP does every day?” When asked about Iraq, she said, “I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq.” She was elected governor largely because the incumbent was unpopular, and she’s won over Alaskans mostly by using unprecedented oil wealth to give a $1,200 rebate to every resident. Now she is being praised by McCain’s campaign as a tax cutter, despite the fact that Alaska has no state income or sales tax. Perhaps McCain has opposed affirmative action for so long that he doesn’t know it’s about inviting more people to meet standards, not lowering them. Or perhaps McCain is following the Bush administration habit, as in the Justice Department, of putting a job candidate’s views on “God, guns and gays” ahead of competence. The difference is that McCain is filling a job one 72-year-old heartbeat away from the presidency. So let’s be clear: The culprit is John McCain. He may have chosen Palin out of change-envy, or a belief that women can’t tell the difference between form and content, but the main motive was to please right-wing ideologues; the same ones who nixed anyone who is now or ever has been a supporter of reproductive freedom. If that were not the case, McCain could have chosen a woman who knows what a vice president does and who has thought about Iraq; someone like Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison or Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine. McCain could have taken a baby step away from right-wing patriarchs who determine his actions, right down to opposing the Violence Against Women Act. Palin’s value to those patriarchs is clear: She opposes just about every issue that women support by a majority or plurality. She believes that creationism should be taught in public schools but disbelieves global warming; she opposes gun control but supports government control of women’s wombs; she opposes stem cell research but approves “abstinence-only” programs, which increase unwanted births, sexually transmitted diseases and abortions; she tried to use taxpayers’ millions for a state program to shoot wolves from the air but didn’t spend enough money to fix a state school system with the lowest high-school graduation rate in the nation; she runs with a candidate who opposes the Fair Pay Act but supports $500 million in subsidies for a natural gas pipeline across Alaska; she supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, though even McCain has opted for the lesser evil of offshore drilling. She is Phyllis Schlafly, only younger. I don’t doubt her sincerity. As a lifetime member of the National Rifle Assn., she doesn’t just support killing animals from helicopters, she does it herself. She doesn’t just talk about increasing the use of fossil fuels but puts a coal-burning power plant in her own small town. She doesn’t just echo McCain’s pledge to criminalize abortion by overturning Roe vs. Wade, she says that if one of her daughters were impregnated by rape or incest, she should bear the child. She not only opposes reproductive freedom as a human right but implies that it dictates abortion, without saying that it also protects the right to have a child. So far, the major new McCain supporter that Palin has attracted is James Dobson of Focus on the Family. Of course, for Dobson, “women are merely waiting for their husbands to assume leadership,” so he may be voting for Palin’s husband. Being a hope-a-holic, however, I can see two long-term bipartisan gains from this contest. Republicans may learn they can’t appeal to right-wing patriarchs and most women at the same time. A loss in November could cause the centrist majority of Republicans to take back their party, which was the first to support the Equal Rights Amendment and should be the last to want to invite government into the wombs of women. And American women, who suffer more because of having two full-time jobs than from any other single injustice, finally have support on a national stage from male leaders who know that women can’t be equal outside the home until men are equal in it. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are campaigning on their belief that men should be, can be and want to be at home for their children. This could be huge. ————————————————— Gloria Steinem is an author, feminist organizer and co-founder of the Women’s Media Center. She supported Hillary Clinton and is now supporting Barack Obama.