I agree. I only hope that the Republican party will recognize the influence that Southern Democrats who joined them in the 70s and the Evangelicals who joined them in the 80s have had on the party. If the Republicans can cast aside those ideas that truly do not belong on a Republican agenda, then I think the party can return to its more Conservative, Federalist, and Libertarian like ideals, which made it a great party that contrasted well with the Democrat more Liberal and Centralist ideals. The Republican party needs to recognize the separation of Church and State and kick to the curb those individuals who try to thrust the influence of a religion into the realm of politics. I hope the Elephant is not deceased, just diseased, and a cure possibly in preparation. Unfortunately, the nomination for VP does not support that possibility.

Great points Jared

Growing Doubts About McCain's Judgment, Age and Campaign Conduct
Obama's Lead Widens: 52%-38%

Obama’s gains notwithstanding, a widespread loss of confidence in McCain appears to be the most significant factor in the race at this point. Many more voters express doubts about McCain’s judgment than about Obama’s: 41% see McCain as “having poor judgment,” while just 29% say that this trait describes Obama. Fewer voters also view McCain as inspiring than did so in mid-September (37% now, 43% then). By contrast, 71% of voters continue to think of Obama as inspiring.

http://people-press.org/rep...

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With two polls released this morning showing Sen. Barack Obama leading Sen. John McCain in the Garden State by between 17 and 23 points, former Gov. Tom Kean acknowledged that winning this state is a long-shot, and that Vice-Presidential Sarah Palin hasn't helped.

"I think one of the problems is there hasn't been much of a campaign in New Jersey, if any. That's always a problem. It's uphill for any Republican to win in New Jersey, and the ones who have won are those who have spent a great deal of time here," he told PolitickerNJ.com from California in a phone interview.

Kean, who governed as a moderate in the 1980s and developed cross-party appeal, was one of McCain's early New Jersey backers. He endorsed him late last year, when most of the GOP establishment - including his son, Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. -- was on board with Rudy Giuliani. McCain, Kean said, was the most helpful Senator when he chaired the 9/11 commission - the creation of which McCain often cites as a major policy difference between himself and President Bush.

George W. Bush was a pretty good president.  McCain will be better.  I'm proud to be a Republican.  No party is perfect, but the Republican party is our best hope for the next 8 years. 

blogroll, What on earth has even been pretty good about Bush?

Pretty good president? I demand you show me where the entrance to Bizarro world is, now!

Pretty good? Record debt, horrible job creation record, shredded the constitution (illegal wiretaps, torture, free speech zones, etc.), still hasn't found Osama Bin Laden after 7 freakin years, and is bleeding our economy with his expensive and mismanaged war of choice in Iraq. Did I mention the stock market tanking on his watch?

What exactly has he done that makes him "pretty good"?

"pretty good "he is almost history~ sorry but I just *had* to say it.

What's been pretty good?  Well, Shrub has effectively ended the phony "Reagan Revolution."  Future generations will bless him for *THAT*, as they curse him for the economic and environmental damage he presided over.

And he certainly was instrumental in electing the nation's first black president. 

The fake doctor has not only finished his cup of kool-aid, he drank half of the conservative's allotment in Kern County as well.

McSame's doing a great job of firing up his base.  NOT!

Self-identified supporters of Republican presidential nominee John McCain aren’t that excited about the Arizona senator’s candidacy, particularly when compared to supporters of Barack Obama, according to the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.

Just over one-quarter, 26%, of McCain’s supporters said they are “excited” to vote for him this fall, while over one-third, 34%, said they were just “satisfied” to cast their ballot for McCain. Perhaps the most troubling number for McCain is 39% — that’s the number of his supporters who said they were voting for him “as the lesser of two evils.”

Obama’s supporters are doubly as excited with their candidate, with a majority, 52%, stating they are “excited” to vote for the Illinois senator, and just 14% identified him “as the lesser of two evils.” Like McCain voters, however, one-third of Obama’s supporters, 33%, said they were just “satisfied” with casting their ballot for him.
 

 The fake doctor has not only finished his cup of kool-aid, he drank half of the conservative's allotment in Kern County as well.

When folks are at a loss for finding intelligent arguments, they resort to personal attacks. If I'm a fake doctor, that must be fake money I'm putting in the bank every month.  That's okay though, because, fake or not, it pays the bills and supports my music habit.  Besides, I don't drink cool-aid.  Since the company generously contributed 100, 000 dollars to support traditional marriage, in the form of prop 8, I've been drinking Bolthouse Farms. 

You all want to blame Bush for everything.  Who will you have to blame when he's no longer in a place you can conveniently kick him around?  There will still be big problems in the world.  How many more years will you blame future problems on Bush? 

Are you forgetting that he's not the only one in Washington that's been getting record low ratings.  The Democrats have been in control of the House for the past 4 years and they've never had a lower rating.  There's a reason why there hasn't been a major attack on American soil since 9/11 and Bush has had more than just something to do with it.  Also, thanks to Bush, there's no longer a Saddam to worry about and there's one more Democracy in the world.  Also, it's been a safer world for the unborn since Bush has been in power.  Pretty good?  Heck, once the dust has settled, he may even go down in history as one of the great ones!  Let's look at the glass as half full, not all empty. 

Did you read about how Bolthouse  farms distanced itself from what the founder did,that contribution? They also made other changes.

BLT, I keep wondering how Bush continues to get a 20 percent approval rating. Now I know: they ask you and four other people. That's got to be the only fathomable answer.

This 'all' doesn't blame Bush for everything. I do think he has run a terrible administration, and no, I don't give him any credit for preventing a major attack on U.S. soil since 9/11, though I do have to wonder about the attacks on a couple of embassies. Are those not American soil? You say Bush has kept us safer. At what cost? I mean, other than Constitutional liberties, the bankrupting of a nation's treasury and economy, and so on....was it worth it? I'd say, no. I don't think most of the world worried a helluva lot about Saddam Hussein, either. Let's see...first it was WMD, then it was Saddam, then it was making Iraq safe for democracy. A safer world for the unborn? Whoop-ti-do. What about the half a million dead Iraqis and Afghanis....thanks to Mr. Bush and his policies.

That glass was never half full. And you can try to blame the Democratic party for problems (though a majority was reached in Congress only two years ago, not four), but the problem has been it's not a veto-proof majority. So he's been able to block legislation, which admittedly hasn't been submitted a number of times since it was a waste of time. Pass it...veto it...can't pass it again. Why bother?

McCain is down by ten points in the latest WSJ poll. Thankfully. It's time to start rebuilding America. Hopefully we're not too late. I fear, once the dust has settled, we'll discover there isn't much left to save, thanks to the Bush administration and the ridiculous policies of the neocon right.

I disagree, and BTW, don't count the chickens before they're hatched.  If you watch football, or basketball, you'll understand how quickly the team appearing to be losing can come back and snatch victory from the hands of the presumptiously haughty presumed winners. 

To make it simple, Bush is one of the three worst presidents in history.  No other president, Republican nor Democrat, has turned a massive surplus into a massive deficit of $4 trillion.  Not to mention, Bush has fascist leanings that include pre-emptive strike on Iraq which did nothing but start chaos in Iraq, screw up the economy with his "give tax cuts to the rich and oil companies" while they all make record breaking profits and charge us up the ass at the gas pump, and not to mention destroying our constitution by allowing unlimited warrentless spying.  You conservatives wonder why your party is literally about to go down the drain (Democrats have a shot at getting 60 seats in the senate and 250 in the House, as well as Obama who is going to win easily), it starts with Bush.  And the nail in the coughin is immigration, which has inspired many Republican-leaning hispanics to now vote Democrat.

In short, it ain't over 'till the fat lady sings.  Now I do hear her clearing her throat (rather abnoxiously loudly, I might add), but, beyond that, I haven't heard one single note come from her mouth. 

Nobody's perfect, Shsrello10.  Look for the good in people, and you will find it. 

The fat lady is already singing, Obama is up by 7 points in the national polls and by 150+ in the electoral college.  On top of that, every swiftboat smear attack ad that McCain and Palin has tried has failed.

It's just time for change.  8 years of anyone is enough.  It was for Clinton, now it will be for Bush.  Change is a good thing.  Regardless of who wins, it will be nice to have a different perspective.   I would prefer an Obama perspective, but at this point I don't think it really matters. 

Blognroll wrote: "I disagree"

Well, color me surprised. Not.

McBush could still pull this out, if there's a terrorist act (bin Laden might oblige his favorite candidate) or similar worldshaking event.   I don't have that much faith in most voters to see through such an act.

Or a particularly nasty smear at the last minute which is only proven wrong after the election.  If that happened, I would pledge, and hope most Democrats would, to throw every possible monkey-wrench into the McBush presidency unless and until he accepted Palin's resignation, appointed Obama in her place, and then resigned himself.

BLT, I keep wondering how Bush continues to get a 20 percent approval rating.

Leftmost fringe of the IQ bell-curve. 

Another effect of the Shrub presidency:  Suicides are up

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEA...

Republican politicianss are toxic to your health *AND* your wealth.

Send Bush a little love today.  A card, some flowers.  You decide the best expression of your love and devotion to one of the great ones.

If you've been watching the news you'd see that if an election could be bought, obama is doing it.  Has anyone looked at howmuch money obama has spent in comparison to  Mc Cain?

Now they're bitching about the money spent on Palins clothes out of campaign money while  obama buys a 30 minute infomercial with a small part of his

One thing about it, obama is pumping money back into the economy through his lavish campaign spending.  I guess that's a good thing.  Sorta.

If you want to understand the desperation, the mindset, the lack of tolerance of the local conservatives, read today's editorial page. 

Chad Vegas whined and made a mountain out of a molehill when his Vote for Vegas signs were stolen from several yards.  It was a lame joke perpetrated by a local DJ and Chad knew it but garnered as much mileage out of it as he could.

I made the observation the other day to Random that I was fearful of putting a Obama for president and a  NO on 8 sign in my yard for fear of retaliation.  There must be a dozen or more YES on 8 signs along my street.   Those people are safe and confident that they can express themselves because neither I (or any other liberal) would dream of stealing or vandalizing their signs.

Getting back to today's editorial;  two people wrote letters to the editor saying that their NO on 8 and Obama signs were stolen.  I believe these people are the tip of the iceberg.  How many of these signs have been stolen where nobody wrote a letter to TBC.

This is still a conservative town.  As evidenced by TBC endorsements.  The ONLY place you'll hear the liberal side is on these blogs.  So, conservatives, suck it up and let us at least have this venue.

I agree about the yard signs.  I got a "No on Prop 8" yard sign at the fair, but still haven't put it in my yard.  My neighborhood is peppered with "Yes on Prop 8" signs, including the house of the little elderly lady across the street.  No one in this neighborhood would have a problem with a "defense of  marriage" sign in someone's yard, but anything perceived as "pro-gay?"  Forget it.  I'm still tempted to put it out there though since my husband's a cop, and I think it would be humorously ironic for a cop to have a "No On Prop 8" sign in his front yard, right next to his patrol car.

Probably an even greater irony is that my big, burly, Christian Conservative Republican Army vet cop husband is voting against Prop 8.  He says Prop 8 is discriminatory and against the Constitution of the US.  He believes in a strict interpretation of the Constitution, and he says the Constitution affords the same rights to everyone, regardless of religion, color, creed, etc.  Interesting, huh?  Don't worry--he's still voting for McCain because he's a Republican and he thinks Obama's a phony, but he's also not afraid of gays (or much of anything except spiders) and he doesn't really care what gay people do, but believes they should have the same rights as everyone else.  Being a lover of the law and the Constitution, though, it's not really that surprising.

Cat

I'm sorry to say I'm surprised.  But knowing him and how fair he always is, I shouldn't be surprised.  Proud, yeah!

Yeah, I'm pretty proud too, Mom.  Above and beyond anything else about my husband, he's a super-intelligent guy.  I'm not surprised that he ignores all the slippery-slope rhetoric and gets right to the crux of the issue--human rights as provided by the Constitution.

Not to mention, being a cop, he's seen everything.  Any and every disgusting and horrific scene you can think of, he's seen.  He's seen (and interviewed and taken into protective custody) abused and neglected children.  He's seen (and interviewed and taken to the hospital) victims of rape and domestic violence.  He's seen mangled accident victims, long-dead bodies, unrepentant crazy psychopaths, and children in living conditions not fit for cockroaches, and the only thing he can count on every working day of his life is that he will be lied to--repeatedly (that's not my drugs, I didn't do it, etc.) 

All of that taken into consideration, I guess it's not surprising that my husband has a firm grip on reality and comprehends what's really important in life, and understands what a non-issue gay marriage is.  If gay marriage were the chief of his concerns, his life would be much simpler indeed.

 Chad Vegas whined and made a mountain out of a molehill when his YES on 8 signs were stolen from several yards.  It was a lame joke perpetrated by a local DJ and Chad knew it but garnered as much mileage out of it as he could.

These were not Yes on 8 signs that were stolen, they were Chad Vegas signs for his re-election.  And he wasn't "whining," somebody violated him and his campaign by stealing someone else's signs. 

Yes on 8....Vote for Chad Vegas.   Isn't it the same thing?

No, it's quite different, and you know it.  You're spreading misinformation about him.  That's how news so quickly turns into gossip.  But as a separate hypothetical, let's just say that the signs were Yes on 8 signs.  Do you support freedom of speech, or would you have people intimidated by those who would resort to vandalism and theft to make a point? 

Also, if you were running for a position on the Kern County High School board of trustees, would you be okay with somebody stealing signs that you and your campaign paid for? 

So, you saying that Chad Vegas will vote NO on 8? 

Interesting......

The point is, if you're going to express your opinion about somebody, make sure it's accurate information, not just something you may have heard second-hand.  Otherwise, you end up discrediting yourself. 

BnR

The point is, if you're going to express your opinion about somebody, make sure it's accurate

That's hilarious,  coming from you!

My post contained a MISTAKE.  Nothing more, just a mistake.  But I changed it anyway, just for you.  See for yourself how much difference it made.

Chad Vegas whined and made a mountain out of a molehill when his Vote for Vegas signs were stolen from several yards.  It was a lame joke perpetrated by a local DJ and Chad knew it but garnered as much mileage out of it as he could.

Nancy, if you can't understand campaign finance laws, don't be suprised if bloggers keep ignoring you when you whine about how much Obama has spent. He's raised it for campaigning, so he has to spend it on direct campaigning costs (staff, advertisements, infomercials, etc). The law is quite clear on this. You might find it ridiculous that he's spending it on an infomercial, but that is a direct campaigning cost, so he's legally able to do so as long as he has the funds for it. As for how much he's spent, that's also legally allowed since he refused public money and therefore is not bound to any spending limits. So basically, he can legally spend as much as he can raise on whatever direct campaign cost he wants to. That's what the law says.

Your whole blog the other day about why Obama doesn't spend some of that campaign money on the poor was pointless because legally he *can't* spend it on the poor (unless he hires them as campaign workers). And people are complaining about Palin because the law is also quite clear that you are NOT to use funds raised for campaigning to cover "normal living expenses" like rent/mortgage, food or clothing. I wish those who were complaining about the dollar amount Palin spent would stop so that the focus could return to the question of whether the money was legally spent or not.

Nancy. There is one thing and one thing only that I respect about the Democrat party. They are tough and vicious when it come to winning an election.  They will lie, cheat and steal to win.  There is nothing they will not do or say.  I sometimes wish the Republicans would get down and dirty too and fight fire with fire.

"There's a reason why there hasn't been a major attack on American soil since 9/11 and Bush has had more than just something to do with it."

Inductive reasoning? Hmmm

The real reason there hasn't been an attack is because I found a magic stone that prevents attacks on the USA.

It must really work, because I keep the magic stone with me always, it's never left the USA, and there's been no further attacks! :)