Mr. McCain Picks a Woman for V.P. Mate

[treelizard]

Here's an article by a non-profit that thinks "the media" bias is slanted in favor of McCain.

Post's Post-Convention 'Balancing' Act

[treelizard]

Sarah Palin on Hilary Clinton:

When I hear a statement like that coming from a woman candidate with any kind of perceived whine about that excess criticism, or maybe a sharper microscope put on her, I think, 'Man, that doesn't do us any good, women in politics, or women in general, trying to progress this country.

...but only when it's a Democrat?

[betall]

No, but I do recognize that they are all suppliers of a similar product, with common practices and goals, methods, means, policies, regulations, and aims. I understand that all media outlets share a common goal of providing news or stories that will bring in readership or viewership and that the way to do that is to "report" on the things people want to see. I get that they are all judged by their investors or shareholders or whatever based on the profits that they return and I get that they're gonna do what they need to do to make those shareholders happy.

By your reasoning, "Big Oil" doesn't exist either.

[darrianation]

Thanks! There are definitely a LOT of areas where I disagree with the Democratic party so didn't mean to gloss over that... I just think it's the best option right now.

The facts are the facts –

Fact- McCain and the Republicans have been complaining about lopsided and biased media coverage before Palin ever can on the seen.

Fact- the W.Post gave positive front page coverage to barrack over McCain 3 to 1.

Fact- Voters Give Media Failing Grades in Objectivity for Election 2008

Media unfair to Palin, poll suggests - 2008 Presidential Campaign Blog - Political Intelligence - Boston.com

Fact- we are at war and Russia and China are working together more and more and both acting out more aggressively towards the US and many of our enemies are seeking nuclear weapons in which to destroy us and Israel and N. Koerea has just upgraded their ballistic missile capabilities. Barrack promises to cut spending for defense. Every democratic president since Carter has cut spending and in each instance decreased our militaries capabilities.

Fact- In the 90’s we had a good economy but the real boom happened in 97 after Clinton lowered capital gains and other corporate taxes.

Fact- Obama wants to raise taxes in an already slow economy at a higher rate than Clinton’s taxes.

Fact: Obama is not a patriot; he has never been a patriot. His whole life has bees spent around mentors, confidants, friends, and colleagues who are ashamed of America and anti-America.

Fact- His foreign policy record has been dangerous and reckless. Obama backed communist Raila Odinga in the Kenya’s elections as a US senator including campaigning for him in Kenya. Odinga lost the elections and the Muslims rioted killing more than 1000 Christians and burning hundreds of Christian churches. The winning president agreed to share power with Odinga and the violence stopped. Later it was found that Odinga had a deal with Muslims clerics to help get him elected. A very BAD decision Obama made to get involved in the Kenya elections.

Tell me again how will Obama be good for this country right now?

[treelizard]

What was that expression about the Devil's greatest trick?

If you go back and reread the editorial, what it asserts is not that the media does not exist but that it does not act as a single unified body. Which I'd be more than happy to debate.

[jubaji]

'The Media'? No Such Thing
By JIMMY BOEGLE
Don't let any talking heads convince you otherwise. To repeat: There is no such thing as "the media."

What was that expression about the Devil's greatest trick?

[treelizard]

This is retarded. I don't like all the political crap on a martial arts forum, but this is just one of the dumbest statements ever made.

"You don't need to see his identification. These aren't the droids you're looking for. Move along."

Fricking Jedi mind trick or something.

So you see no distinction between different types of media or media outlets and think it is one homogenous group that covers everything exactly the same way?

[betall]

Don't let any talking heads convince you otherwise. To repeat: There is no such thing as "the media."

This is retarded. I don't like all the political crap on a martial arts forum, but this is just one of the dumbest statements ever made.

"You don't need to see his identification. These aren't the droids you're looking for. Move along."

Fricking Jedi mind trick or something.

[treelizard]

Thanks! There are definitely a LOT of areas where I disagree with the Democratic party so didn't mean to gloss over that... I just think it's the best option right now.

[Tant01]

LOL

This debate almost reminds me of BJJ/GJJ back in the day...

Ever get the feeling you were fighting from the bottom? Getting thrown around and slammed hard on the deck?

Never tap out girl. I gotta say I admire your convictions. Seeing that it's still a free country (mostly) as long as you have the right to SAY what you want then do IT!!!

More power to you...

And enjoy it while it lasts.

[treelizard]

'The Media'? No Such Thing
By JIMMY BOEGLE

Ever since John McCain announced his running-mate decision--which resulted in a media firestorm that can be summed up with the words, "Palin? Really?!"--Republicans have been running around criticizing "the media," like a bunch of talking-point-injected simpletons.

The media are being unfair to Sarah Palin because she's a woman. The media are being harder on Palin because she's not a "Beltway insider," and therefore, reporters don't know her. The media are too liberal. The media are saying mean things about us, waaah!

Here's a tip: Whenever you hear/read someone blame, criticize or critique "the media" as a whole, 19 times out of 20, that speaker/writer is completely full of shit.

There is no such thing as "the media." Daily newspapers do things differently than weeklies do them; 24-hour cable-news networks do things differently than more focused TV news sources. And even within these media genres--like those 24-hour cable-news networks--there's a hell of a lot of difference. Usually, when people use the phrase "the media" (and let me be clear--it's not just Republicans who do this) they're trying to use "the media" as a distraction, a scapegoat, a campaign tool.

Take all of the claims about the Palin coverage. While some media sources may have indeed been sexist in their coverage, or may dislike Palin because she's not a known quantity, or may lean liberal (like the paper you're reading right now--though it's important to realize there's a difference between "liberal" and "unfair"), most media sources have reported the Palin story rather accurately.

Don't let any talking heads convince you otherwise. To repeat: There is no such thing as "the media."

[darrianation]

That's because she's new to the scene.

CBSNews.com: So you think the media is being uniquely tough on Palin now?

Mark Penn: Well, I think that the media is doing the kinds of stories on Palin that they're not doing on the other candidates. And that's going to subject them to people concluding that they're giving her a tougher time. Now, the media defense would be, "Yeah, we looked at these other candidates who have been in public life at an earlier time."

What happened here very clearly is that the controversy over Palin led to 37 million Americans tuning into a vice-presidential speech, something that is unprecedented, because they wanted to see for themselves. This is an election in which the voters are going to decide for themselves. The media has lost credibility with them.

Matk Penn is a Ex-Clinton Aide.

Ex-Clinton Aide: Media Tougher On Palin, Political Players: Former Clinton Chief Strategist Mark Penn Argues The Press Has Lost Its Credibility - CBS News

[darrianation]

What Obama will do as president?

Now you know who he is what will he do…

I think liberals have their blinders on to the political realities of the real world maintaining their myopic view in spite of the plain truth in front of them.

For instance, a liberal when asked, is big government and high taxes good for this country? Will either go on about how terrible the capitalists are and not answer the question or he’ll admit that it isn’t good for this country but continue arguing why we need bigger government and higher taxes.

Now of course the liberal doesn’t want to pay those higher taxes himself he want’s someone else to pay those taxes while he enjoys paying less taxes. We all want less taxes but unless we are willing to consider the bigger picture--the rob Peter to pay Paul method can actually cause more harm.

But the fact is many liberals refuse to admit that Barrack Obama will increase the size of the government and spending over his opponent John McCain at all, or turn a blind eye to what negative effects of such huge spending will do to our economy.

Barrack is running a campaign that is riding on the wave of current economic woes…Which by the way should hurt his proposals to increase taxes which historically have proven to slow the economy through slowing capital investment.

When Obama mentions the ‘sub prime’ debacle and the current administration’s mishandling of it to score points what you need to remember is Barrack Obama has received almost $10 million in contributions from the finance insurance and real estate industries through October of 2007. Those are the same capitalist pigs the liberals hate so much and helped cause the housing crises through their recklessness.

Barrack Obama’s plan will increase taxes, increase the size of the government to the tune of 800 billion dollars in new government programs, a move that will be stifling in today’s sluggish economy if it doesn’t down right destroy it.

Here is what each candidate will spend annually in billions of dollars:

John McCain $68.5

Barrack Obama $343.6

I think you can see for yourself what the difference is and just how much more money Barrack is going to spend than McCain.

For those folks who have their eyes open to reason and logic one would see how illogical it is that we can maintain those levels of spending without causing grievous harm to our economy. It is apparent to me that the liberal would rather stick it to the rich capitalist pigs than to use common sense and reason to grow and strengthen the economy which will benefit all in this country a great deal-- but you have to be willing to look at the bigger picture.

[darrianation]

A couple of stories:

Obama supports the gun ban in the nation's capital, saying the "DC handgun law is constitutional." And he is opposed to people using guns for self-defense, when those guns are owned in localities like Washington, DC and Chicago where firearms are banned.

From a NRA article-

Illinois resident Hale DeMar was prosecuted by the town of Wilmette for using a handgun in his home to defend his family in 2003. Because Wilmette had imposed a ban on the possession of handguns, several Illinois state legislators introduced SB 2165 to protect the right of self-defense for residents like DeMar.

True to form, Obama voted against the pro-gun legislation.

It is very telling that Obama moved further to the left than most of the liberal legislators in his state. The self-defense bill protecting gun owners like DeMar passed the state senate 41-16 and was later enacted into law over the governor's veto (and over Obama's opposition).

The concealed carry of firearms is another important issue for gun owners, and yet Obama is not only opposed to citizens carrying guns, he supports using federal laws to override those states which currently allow the practice.

In 2004, Obama said he supports a national ban on concealed carry because the states that allow it are "threatening the safety of Illinois residents." Never mind the fact that concealed carry laws have improved the safety of citizens in the states that have enacted such laws.

Obama has also taken a strong position in favor of the Clinton semi-auto ban which sunset in 2004. "I believe we need to renew -- not roll back -- this common sense gun law," Obama said.

Well, there's nothing that's "common sense" about the Clinton ban. Not only did it outlaw almost 200 types of firearms, legislators like Senator Chuck Schumer of New York tried to amend the law (before it sunset) to include additional types of semi-autos -- even banning classic (wood-stock) long guns such as the Remington shotgun which Senator John Kerry received as a gift during his 2004 presidential bid.


And:

Live birth abortions:

One form of abortion that even many “pro choice” supports find particularly heinous is a form of abortion known as ‘induced labor abortion’ (AKA “live birth abortion”). In this particular procedure a doctor does not attempt to kill the baby in the uterus. The goal is simply to deliver the baby prematurely who then dies during the birth process or soon afterward, sometimes taking hours and in at least one case it took 8 hours for the baby to die.

Jill Stanek was a registered nurse in the Labor and Delivery Department at a hospital in Oak Lawn, Illinois. She testified in front of the Illinois state senate stating:

One night, a nursing co-worker was taking a Down’s syndrome baby who was aborted alive to our Soiled Utility Room because his parents did not want to hold him, and she did not have time to hold him. I could not bear the thought of this suffering child dying alone in a Soiled Utility Room, so I cradled and rocked him for the 45 minutes that he lived--After he was pronounced dead, we folded his little arms across his chest, wrapped him in a tiny shroud, and carried him to the hospital morgue where all of our dead patients are taken.

Another nurse from the same hospital also testified with Stanek in Washington. She described walking into the Soiled Utility Room on two separate occasions to find live aborted babies left naked on a scale and the metal counter. She testified about a staff worker who accidentally threw a live aborted baby in the garbage. The baby had been left on the counter of the Soiled Utility Room wrapped in a disposable towel. When a coworker realized what she had done, she started going through the trash to find the baby, and the baby fell out of the towel and onto the floor.

It is Ironic that in the state of Illinois by law requires that if an aborted baby is born alive, both birth and death certificates must be issued- an aborted baby given a birth certificate and then allowed to die intentionally?

Barrack Obama was in attendance as a senator when Jill Stanek testified and yet he remained unfazed and on three separate occasions he voted against a bill that would stop this practice of killing living babies.

When Obama was asked at what point a baby is deserving of human rights, Obama responded, “Well, I think that whether you’re looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade.”

Maybe the presidency is above his pay grade too.

[darrianation]

What about Obama's voting record?

Voting:

Senator Obama voted the most liberal senator in the US senate 2007:

See story: NATIONAL JOURNAL: Obama: Most Liberal Senator in 2007 (01/31/2008)

Voting recode in the US Senate:

NATIONAL JOURNAL: Key Votes Used to Calculate the Ratings (01/31/2008)

Other Key votes:

Obama’s state senate votes on some key issues:

• Voted against concealed carry for citizens
• Supports banning many common semi-automatic firearms
• Voted for disallowing self-defense in towns where guns are banned
• Voted for imposing one handgun a month restrictions
• Voted against protecting gun dealers from frivolous lawsuits
• Supprots squelching the free speech rights of gun owners
• Voted for restricting the interstate sales of firearms
• Voted against letting people argue self-defense in court if charged with violating local weapons bans by using a gun in their home.
• Successfully sponsored law enforcement study of the race of people pulled over for traffic tickets.)
• Unsuccessfully sponsored measure to expunge some criminal records and create an employment grant program for ex-criminals.
• Unsuccessfully sponsored limit of one handgun purchase per month.
• Voted against making gang members eligible for the death penalty if they kill someone to help their gang.
• Voted against restrictions on public funding of abortion.)
• He voted against requiring medical care for aborted fetuses who survive
• Unsuccessfully co-sponsored ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation. The measure became law after Obama was elected to the U.S. Senate.
• Successfully sponsored move to shield Illinois workers from federal rules that threatened overtime pay for some employees.
• Voted against giving tax credits to parents who send their children to private school.


One vote that especially riled abortion opponents involved restrictions on a type of abortion where the fetus sometimes survives, occasionally for hours. The restrictions, which never became law, included requiring the presence of a second doctor to care for the fetus.

He voted for raising taxes over 50 times. Just to name a few:

• Voted NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax.
• Voted NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts.
• Voted NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`.
• Voted YES on $47 billion for military by repealing capital gains tax cut.
• Voted NO on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends.
• Voted NO on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends.
• Voted NO on income tax credits for all full-time K-12 pupils in an amount equal to 25% of qualified education expenses up to a maximum of $500 per family.