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politics today
November 2009 
Politics Today...Sunday August 3rd...VOTE 2008
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By STEVEN R. HURST, Associated Press Writer 28 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Intensified attacks by Republican John McCain on the character of his Democratic opponent have coincided with Barack Obama losing a nine percentage point advantage in a national poll, which showed the candidates running dead even over the weekend.
McCain, who had vowed to avoid the kind of negative tactics that were used against him in the 2000 Republican primary contest with George W. Bush, began attacking Obama during the Illinois senator's trip to Iraq and Afghanistan late last month.
In the course of the McCain offensive, Obama's lead in a Gallup Poll tracking survey slid from nine percentage points on July 26, when he returned from overseas, to nothing by Saturday, when the poll showed the candidates tied at 44 percent.
The four-term Arizona senator, who backed the war and claims experience with security and foreign policy issues, charged that Obama's promise to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq within 16 months of taking office amounted to his having chosen to lose a war to promote his run for the presidency.
McCain has not relented even though he took criticism for the remark. It appeared at the time to be a defensive response to the massive attention paid to the Obama visit to the two U.S. war fronts as well as to the Middle East and Europe.
He subsequently ran a television ad that accused Obama of deciding not to visit wounded U.S. troops because he could not take television cameras - a claim that appeared to be false. Next he issued a commercial that interpose images of Obama with pop culture figures Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, trying to paint Obama as a celebrity without the experience to lead the country.
That was followed by accusations that Obama, who would be the first black U.S. president, had resorted to racial politics by asserting McCain and other Republicans would try to frighten Americans because Obama did not look like past U.S. presidents whose images are on the country's paper money.
And most recently, in an Internet advertisement, the voiceover calls Obama "The One" and features Obama appearing to describe himself and his presidential quest in grandiose terms. It ends with Charlton Heston as Moses parting the Red Sea in the movie, "The Ten Commandments."
Obama may have given McCain more fodder in recent days by announcing a readiness to compromise with Republicans on offshore oil drilling - which he had opposed - and apparently rejecting McCain's challenge to join him in a series of town hall meetings.
On Saturday, Obama said McCain's campaign was cynical and trying to distract voters from real issues but that he did not believe his opponent and his campaign had engaged in racism.
"In no way do I think John McCain's campaign was racist. I think they are cynical," Obama said. "Their team is good at creating distractions and engaging in negative attacks."
Access: Public
Do these polls generally have any 'meat'? Or could this be propaganda-ing? I only ask because I find John McCain so distasteful! It's shocking to see from over here that he has a following whatsoever. But then again, I'm still in shock over GW being voted in for two terms.
Lord save sanity!
I hope I haven't offended anyone, just an outsider looking in again.
Bless you. sherri
it is shocking…and you can say what ever you want on my blog…and i hope it does offend…for all those that voted for bush the first and second times…they need to be offended…they allowed themselves to be duped by politics of fear…and religious control…
i would suggest that they learn how to think for themselves…educate themselves on the issues and wake up…
i'm a little fired up today…can you tell? LOL…it just really gets on my nerves at how the McCain campaign continually is allowed to dodge the issues…get away with ignorance…and lull America back into it's deep ignorant sleep…
the fact that you posted what you posted, shows that you have a lot of sense…America is still asleep…i'm moving out of the country…i sware…if republicans move into the white house…i am ashamed to be an American…
i am watching Buddha Warriors on CNN right now, and i would be willing to bet that most Americans don't have a clue that we are borrowing the money to fuel the Iraqie war…from China…and that is not all that this administration has borrowed from their now best friend…China…they also have been using the torture techniques that were used on Americans in the North Korean war…don't misunderstand…i am not prejudice against China…i have good friends from China…i am just against what their government is doing to Tibetans…and i am against what our government is doing with their government…i don't like where it all seems to be leading…
thnx for gracing my blog with your beauty…always, star…
You are right, of course. It's really really scary how desperately I am finding that Americans are holding onto the old ways, which honestly aren't working!
A really long report I saw today… just the language was incredible, incredibly backward. It was written for and by the guys who have benefitted the most from capitalism, and in truth, the ones who ought to get their acts together fast. There is no further momentum towards this madness!
I actually think this is the greatest challenge that Obama will have to face: the wealthy capitalists of America.
I really couldn't blame anyone with a soul still for wanting to leave if something significant doesn't change.
I'll see what I can arrange for ya ;)
Much love, sherri
hey sherri, thnx for the link…i am not one of those that buy into this idea that Barack is the new saviour, or that he is santa claus and going to make everything hunkie dorey…we face real problems…and what we need are real solutions…
i am a system theorist…everything affects everything else…so you cannot fix the system by focusing on just this or that…it needs an overhaul…from top to bottom…and everything inbetween…and to fix anything, whomever gets elected will need the cooperation of 'we the people'…many of whom are not thinking about giving up any of their 'so-called' freedoms…even thou those freedoms are killing them…and destroying the earth in the process…
it's much like this new age stuff…'just believe and it can happen'…but i don't care how hard or long or what we believe…or how much we pray to a god 'out there' somewhere…we have to get up off our asses and make things happen…
America is in for a rude awakening…and maybe…that is exactly what has to happen, and if that is the case, then there is nothing that will stop it…
the way i see it, is the environment is the foundation that affects everything else…if we focus on what is right…which is to prevent anymore destruction of the very earth that sustains our life…with a lot of cooperation and self-sacrifice…it can be accomplished…the new jobs created, and new products will fuel and boost our economy…the new technology will open up education for our young…we will have a cleaner and healthier environment, which will reduce illness…and we will have no reason to be concerned with oil in the middle east…they can keep it…all this borrowing from China can stop…and America can focus on her own problems…many of which need extreme attention…and then maybe, just maybe, America can be a great leader again…by setting an example for the world to follow…down the path that really leads somewhere…
as far as our well intended government wanting to democratize the middle east (as a reason for war)…even if that were true…it's ridiculous on oh so many levels…but what do i know? LOL…
always, star…
This system doesn't have any place for thinking persons… let's face it. Education isn't supposed to benefit you, it's supposed to keep you believing that the gods of capitalism are the only God. Till now the myth was that the President of the United States was the final authority… EVERYWHERE! It's fairly clear that this is not the case now.
Obama is at best the first voice that stood up for values, I mean really stuck his neck out. I don't see him overriding all of the underlying mess all on his own so it is going to be interesting to see how the 'market' responds…
The resistance will continue for a while longer I expect, but as they say, it is futile. They just will not be a part of the new System. Let us keep looking at the light at the end, somewhere down the road. That's the only way I can manage because the crud is so incredibly thick every place else in the west. I would never have a happy moment if I keep contemplating the present situation…
I'll keep you in touch with any projects in case you can jump on board and give some energy to them. How is that?
Keep the faith.
Best to you, sherri
thnx sherri…
it is much like everything else…first individual awareness and responsibility needs to be realized…then it can spread to families, then communities, and open up from there…
at the very basic levels…one voice can change the world…we just have to be willing to listen…and take action…regardless of what anyone else is or is not doing…FIRE IT UP!
always, star…
… and unless the voters of the USA realise …
hey Michael; thanx for that link…want you to know that i am in awe of all that you put into your blog…and, i read every word, and every comment…very informative…(i didn't connect to every link within the post and comments…i would get no sleep if i did that! LOL)
thnx for dropping in…