The press went more than a little nuts for about a week and a half, then realized that they were making fools of themselves and just as abruptly stopped in the past couple of days.

They didn’t get more objective, however, they just stop being hysterical about it. They went back to where they were before it all started, not blatant but subtly slanted to disfavor McCain/Palin. Case in point HERE – a recent AP article about earmarks vis a vis Palin and Obama. The story mentioned the $1 Billion he’s requested, but highlighted last year’s per capita earmarks for each, $295 for Palin, $25 for Obama – something not brought up before. That leaves the reader with the impression she’s disingenuous about the subject. It also somehow doesn’t mention at all the fact that McCain has NEVER requested an earmark in 28 years in elected office, and Obama only stopped (with much fanfare) when he began his campaign last year – and we want to compare apples to apples anyway, right?. It’s all very objective on it’s face, but these articles somehow always leave the impression the GOP is in the wrong. You can almost understand why we feel we have a legitimate beef with the press on the subject of fair and accurate reporting.

McCain congratulated Obama for his nomination. It was a classy thing to do. The video and the response from the Obama campaign can be seen here: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/08/obama-campaig-1.html.

I hadn’t seen Obama’s response on TV. It’s easy to miss, as I record a lot and watch on weekends, so I could have missed it. So I went to Obama’s youtube channel, figuring they’d have it there.

This is what I found searching “mccain congratulations ad” : http://www.youtube.com/profilevideos?user=BarackObamadotcom&searchquery=mccain+congratulations+ad&search=Search

It tried every combination I could think of, even just mccain, congratulations, convention, republican. I browsed through all 1228 videos on the site. Nothing was there, as promised by David Pluffe, Obama’s campaign manager.

I am a Republican. I was probably going to vote for McCain by default. But I’m not THAT strong a Republican. I was looking for a reason to vote for a candidate, Democrat or Republican, not against one, and Obama has many things about him to recommend. I WANTED to like him.

The last two weeks of conventions and speeches and actions have solidified my opinion and position, and these two links are but one stark example of why. It’s not the candidates laundry list of kitchen table positions on everything from unions to abortion to gun control to school reform to just who is going to make you better off and win the war on terror and bring back our standing in the world. It’s the measure of the men and women in this race. The more I have looked into the records, and the history of the people in this race, I have found Obama, Biden, and the people with whom they surround themselves wanting. They do not have integrity and they do not have my vote.

Now, I follow politics like most people follow football. I find it fascinating. But until now, I’ve been an interested, if somewhat partisan observer, but not an activist. I’m not even registered with any party. That has changed. For the first time, I have donated to a political campaign of any type.

McCain/Palin ‘08

For me the choice is now clear. For everyone else across the political spectrum you I suggest you look very closely at all the candidates and the people that have influenced them throughout their lives, and then let your conscience be your guide.

Jeff Weimer

Tom Maguirehas a good point:

Obama was wrong about the surge while McCain was right, but by and large I think the case could be made (but not by me!) that Obama is by far the more thoughtful and reflective of the two candidates and far more disposed to listen to a range of advice. My guess is that he would have a broader and arguably better decision making proess than McCain. It’s only at the moment of decision that he worries me – I don’t know if he was trapped by lefty advisers, lefty instincts, or lefty pandering but he was wrong, wrong, wrong on the surge.

His analysis also contains the seed of an argument that in my opinion is devastating to Obama – even more than being wrong on the surge. His decision making process and personal thoughtfulness may very well be admirable and superior, and it is entirely appropriate for a member of a deliberative body, for that is ideally what they do, collectively hash out issues and legislation by looking at every angle to create (mostly) acceptable product.

It is not, however, the ideal decision making process for a single executive, whether in business or government. It is the ability to quickly analyze a situation, sometimes without all available information or everyone’s opinion, and, most importantly, MAKE A DECISION and stick with it for as long as necessary.

It’s a principle of leadership. The Marines put it succinctly: any decision NOW is better than the right decision later.

Tom’s first worry about him is the appropriate focus: can he make a decision? Can John McCain? The Russia/Georgia situation and their reaction to it is the ideal situation to examine this, as foreign relations is a sole responsibility of the President.

The answer we tell ourselves should direct our judgement for whom to vote this November.

It’s been said before, and I agree, CINC of any NG is rather thin. It was that way 16 and 8 years ago, it’s thin now. It’s just now it’s a “Gotcha!”. They guy she ran over was clearly over his head in this situation.

My theoretical response (it’s not much – not too much to work with):

Any governor has the same responsibility and authority of any government primary executive to send their fellow citizens in harm’s way. Granted, a Governor does not send her army into battle, but they still send them into very dangerous situations, as we have seen after numerous natural and man-made disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina and the 1992 LA riots. As part of that, these executives have the moral imperative and constitutional authority to ensure their troops are properly led, trained, and equipped, if only to ensure their safety in these dangerous situations. Governor Palin, it’s true, did not have a passport before becoming Governor. However, one of her first actions was to obtain one and visit her fellow Alaskans on the front line in the war on terror. It’s what Presidents and Vice Presidents, and Governors – no, it’s what True Leaders do when they are concerned about the welfare of fellow citizens in their charge. My question to you, Campbell, since this issue is in the air, what has either candidate on the Democrat ticket done that has shown the same concern?

Here’s my rationale for this is so thin (despite the lofty rhetoric):

Any senior ENLISTED Sailor, Marine, Airman, or Soldier, that is E-7 and up, would look at the above paragraph and say “It’s a frickin’ JOB description, just what has she done other than merely show she ‘cares’? Has she made a measurable impact on their fighting ability? Has she done anything to improve their battle-readiness? after all, they’ll fold into the regular Army soon enough for a tour in Iraq or Afghanistan. Has she let them merely drill, or has she sent them on meaningful missions that will have a positive impact on their ability to meet their core missions? If not, this is BS, put her fitrep at the bottom of the pile.”

If she can answer that to the noncoms (who really give a damn about such things on a daily basis), she’ll have no problems with the MSM, sho mostly don’t have any meaningful military experience. Of course, they largely don’t understand the jobs involved, just the prestige, so the job description above will set them on their keister anyway.

Campbell, don’t ask the question if you can’t understand the answer….

This statement is well, typical of Obama. An offhand remark he has to say to show ‘he cares’ but without showing any, you know, action. It simultaneously illustrates his arrogance and lack of true concern. He can let his people know what’s going on, and he’ll make sure that everyone knows “they’re from the Obama campaign.” McCain is willing to stop being Republican and be American. He’s not going to ‘activate’ people, he’s willing to send them there to help. And we’re so worried about Palin. She’s shown herself a ‘woman of the people’. Here

I will digress here, because there is a need to pile on. Of course, that video is also used as ‘proof’ she wasn’t pregnant with Trig – proof to the nutroots that she’s the grandmother, not the mother. Let’s nip that in the bud, shall we? here’s her daughter Bristol.

here’s Sarah Herself at about the same time. Sarah

Get it? and they say the Right Wing Smear Machine has a monopoly on creativity in their assertions. Heh.

BTW, as an American with secondary experience; my wife has borne 5 children (one with special needs), by the time you have the FIFTH child, it almost becomes, well, routine. Having her water break is a big deal to be sure, but she knows how long it will take to have that child even after that, based on experience, and will want to have her doctor there if at all possible. By that time, she can anticipate how long labor will be. I’ve seen it in action.

Thanks to Blip.tv, postchronicle.com, and Ace for the pics and video. (They’re linked ’cause I don’t want to be a bandwidth thief, it’s kinda rude).

Jeff

She can certainly give a speech. I rate it at or above Obama’s acceptance speech last night.

Why is it the Democrats talk about the little guy, but the Republicans live it?

Neat fact: Both McCain and Palin have sons who ENLISTED in the military (Marine Corps and army respectively). Does that show elitism? They have a personal stake in the outcome of Iraq and Afghanistan. Can the other team say the same thing?

Can she debate? We’ll see. I think she’ll wipe the floor with ‘ramblin’ Joe Biden. She certainly can fight. Alaska is strewn with the bodies that crossed The Sarah.

I really think McCain hit a home run with this. Obama has judgement to lead? As David Brooks said, his accomplishments are in the future. McCain’s accomplishments are there for all to see. They say McCain voted with Bush 90% of the time. When he hasn’t, he’s put his name on it by sponsoring the legislation. Can Obama say the same? McCain has shown, and continues to show he CAN MAKE A DECISION, and with a few exceptions, his JUDGEMENT can not be assailed.

I’ve been a Palin fan since her name was first tentatively floated (and largely dismissed). I dared not hope, but McCain has come through. My vote was assured. Will get my lifelong Democrat parents (and Hillary fans) to vote GOP? I’ll work on them. We’re all Scoop Jackson Democrats (quite conservative), staying with the party because they are staunchly pro-union (Dad is retired railroad). Like it or not, McCain is, really, a Scoop Jackson Democrat, it’s just the party left them behind when they went, well, left. I migrated to the GOP, they remain Dem out of loyalty, but reserve the right to vote for whomever they please. Will this tip the scales? Look at it this way – no other VP nominee would have me even entertain the idea.

Heck, Alaska has always been considered Seattle’s own pet state – that goes back to the Yukon Gold Rush. She might even bring Washington to the Red. Okay, that’s probably a stretch – but not too much of one! Eastern WA leans GOP, but is usually overwhelmed by the large population centers in the Seattle-Bellevue area, who are almost always a solid progressive vote. This just may soften it enough for the state to tip barely into the GOP column – it’s 11 electors after all, and every little bit counts.

Kudos to the McCain campaign, they have been extremely shrewd scheduling the VP announcement for today. It was designed to steal the thunder from Obama no matter who he picked, if only for the simple fact everyone would be wondering just WHO he will pick and not analyzing and promoting the Obama platform.

But this, this is made of pure, unvarnished, 200 proof AWESOME.

The One and his party will not be able to get a word in edgewise for the next WEEK for want of oxygen. Now no one will analyze the DNCC. Well, except for MSNBC anyway. This was such an outside the box decision, nobody’s really looked into her, even the Democrats didn’t have a clue.

The McCain campaign has been hitting on all cylinders for the past few months. The Obama campaign staffers now have a huge headache, and it’s not a hangover from Denver.

Final point. In this election year, where everything favors the Democrats to take the White House, McCain needs to run a perfect campaign to to even have a chance. Until the recent shake-up, there were serious worries that we couldn’t overcome this built-in disadvantage. Since then, every move has been nearly pitch-perfect by the GOP nominee. This selection of Palin as VP nominee is doubly so. He has been especially effective since Obama seems well, tone-deaf to the 60-70% of the electorate that either doesn’t agree with his proposed policies or is unsure about him.

H/T to Hotair for the link to “The Next Cheney”.

Found this on HotAir Headlines, had to post here with Commentary.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/beijing2008/chinese-red-tape-redefines-freedom-for-the-press/2008/07/11/1215658131357.html

Go figure. China doesn’t want Journalists roaming around, they just might find something embarrassing. I like the part about the “live” tv feed – it has a 10 second delay, the better to not let the masses know just how illegitimate the totalitarian government really is.

When will we in the West quit mollycoddling these brutal regimes? They say the Games are nonpolitical, but everyone, especially China, know better. It serves to legitimize an illegitimate government that brutally represses its people, restricts their knowledge, and now seeks to restrict ours. Why did anyone with half a brain think we would have no problems of this nature, that they’d keep their word?

The sad fact of the matter is that these games will serve as a “Potemkin Event” designed to only show how wonderful Communist China is. Wait, all this sounds a little familiar.

Jeff Weimer