I just want to know why it is "a private family matter" when a politician's 16 year old unwed daughter gets pregnant and announces that she will keep the child, and why it becomes the government's business when pro-choice is the issue.

Lori Buel
Los Angeles

The convention tonight was all about Hermann Goering's tactics. Preach and drive the security issue to scare the electorate. Insist on security of the nation to wage war and jail anyone who voices opposition. Anyone who questions their ideology is a traitor and they will have their Totalitarian state. "Nazism"

please, can we not throw "nazi" around like the tired and almost never applicable cliche is it? if we are indeed the "angry left" (and how stupid do you have to be not to be angry at this point) then calling republicans nazis sounds even sillier.

sounds like the evening pretty much just sucked, which works out well for me, because i'm not about to waste a second of my time watching that crap.

Let's not forget what happened whilst Mr McCain was a POW.
He didn't garner the nickname 'Songbird' for nothing. He got the nickname for being a traitor to the US by passing information to the VC for preferential treatment, not to mention alledgedly helping with over 30 VC propaganda films. This from fellow POW's.
How could anyone consider this traitor as a prospective President.
Usually they turn traitor AFTER they get elected !

引越US by passing information to the VC for preferential treatment, not to mention alledgedly helping with over 30 VC propaganda films. This from fellow POW's.

If I hear one more person utter the word POW, I'm throwing the TV out the window !! This fraud and traitor didn't get the nickname "songbird" for nothing.

And...while we are on the subject, Mr. Corn...Why is it that you and your collegues in the MSM are not demanding that Mr. POW release ALL of his military records as Kerry did in 2004??

There are over 600 pages that are still classified...for a war fought 40 years ago with a nation we now call friendly. The only reason for this is that McCain would be in deep trouble if they were released......But do the American people not need to know his military records?

The left and the media don't like McCain talking about his war heroism because it's a pretty stark contrast between McCain's record of service to this country at the expense of his health, his popularity in his own party and sometimes even his popularity with the nation at large and Obama's years of community organizing, lecturing and jumping up the political ladder as fast as he can to try and reach the top as early as possible for no reason other than his own self aggrandizement.

McCain's campaign has been all about the country, Obama's has been all about his entirely media created psuedo-celebrity preening.

Obama is a POW too...
Pathetic Obnoxious Wuss....

Did you know that Obama worked the streets of the south side of Chicago in the shadows of mill closures?
The democrats do the same thing.

Yes, John McCain frequently brings up that he was a POW, just like John Kerry started every speech with "When I was in Viet Nam....". The difference is that McCain endured years of torture for his fellow soldiers, and Kerry came back to the TV cameras and spit in the faces of his fellow soldiers. Big difference.

We trashed Hillary, we're going to trash Sarah. Obama in '08!

Sarah Palin's daughter is 17 idiots. Why isn't there an article out there asking "Did you know Barry Sotero was a Muslim?" Check the facts he definately was a Muslim as a youth it's clearly written on his enrollement papers.

So what?

Obama wasnt dropping bombs indiscrimately on men, women and children for the glory of the US of A. He wasnt crashing plane after plane in acts of sheerlike bravery.

So what does Obama, this community worker (*sick*), know about helping America? Does helping out a few jobless bums really compare to killing for America?

McCain is a real WAR Hero. He has killed and will kill again. Obama is a weakling, soft, liberal, wuss.

God bless America (unless you are a liberal in which cas may you die of Aids as you are probably a homo anyway).

So many of my fellow Republicans seem so excited by Sarah Palin because "she's just like us!" But why would you want a "president" who's just like everyone else, average. You wouldn;t want your surgeon to be average, why should we expect less from leaders. I know she'll just be VP but McCain is not in the greatest health. This reminds me of Bush, when people could relate to him because he was an "average" (C) student. Is the well so dry? Do we need "average" people representing us?

Mccains POW experience shows what kind of Character he has....Unlike empty suit Obama who really has questionable character...Racist Hate Moner Preacher, Terroist business partner , and Corrupt Fellon which he bennefitted from....Hmmmmm now who would i rather have a s president??

I have the utmost respect for McCain's service record, but being a POW isn't a qualification for president, he has 21 years in the senate, why aren't they talking about that? My uncle was a POW who is still in a wheelchair and I love him dearly, but wouldn't vote for him to be our president. McCain shouldn't be trying to garner votes this way, he has a record in Congress, he should be talking about that. And the convention needs to start talking more about the economy, Americans are suffering- our bad economy is not propaganda conjured up by the left- its real and deserves to be addressed. And enough about Obama's character- I can't believe we're playing this old game again, the Bush campaign attacked McCain's character in 2000 and it was low then and its low now.

Interesting question... the media seems to be throwing out any decency when it comes to vetting GOP candidates and their families. This is very disappointing and only reveals more liberal bias in a media which at best ignores that accusation. So, if the Palin pregnancy is the new standard, I wonder if this same media has looked into whether or not Michelle Obama or Mrs. Biden have had abortions. Surely there is nothing wrong with this in the eyes of the liberal media - abortion is a good thing, right? Wouldn't that make for a great headline - "Mrs. Obama Reveals Herself as Great Champion of Abortion Rights." After all - Mr. Obama himself views unwanted children as punishment - he slipped up and let that one come out of his eloquent mouth.

Who needs a former pow when we can get a community organizer....is that code for an up to date member of the corrupt Chicago machine that Obama has sucked up to for his entire political career..if anyone can tell me one useful thing that Obama has done in his career, I'll look at him a little closer..until that time, he has done zip, nothing, nada to help anyone but himself...as far as change, what does going along with his party 100% of the time have to do with courage or change

I'm walking away from this article and comments feeling a little dumber.

And how did YOU serve, Mr. Corn?

The dems need to run a "swift boat style ad...Jonm McCain, the "Canary of the Hanoi Hilton"...

I don't know why people get so defensive. No one is slighting McCain's service (not even Obama and the Democrats), but why is it too much to ask that they address the economy? Is that too much to ask? I think that's a pretty important subject. This is about what the Republican party will do, not what the Democrats will do. They already had their convention. The economy HAS languished under a Republican president, so I don't think it's too much to ask that the party address what will be different this time. Nobody is saying Obama has a great plan, but why is it so horrible that we need answers from our party now.

No, David. I didn't. Did you know that Obama was Black? Bye the way, nice gig ya got here. Mother Jones? What's next? The HIGHLIGHTS magazine that's in the Pediatricians' Office? Pathetic. Like you.

I'm gleefully looking forward to seeing the faces of my left leaning friends the morning after the election. It will be like waking up from a nasty hangover and trying to figure out who you're lying next to. How in the hell did this happen they'll begin to think. Where did we go wrong? I'm sorry you've got a candidate with no backbone let alone credentials. I'm sorry you're all in a state of self loathing and you feel you must propagate your hate towards self and state on one another. You've dropped the ball once again and it feels like we'll be having another republican running things as it should be.

Yes I knew McCain was a POW.Did you know that Obama's mother received food stamps?

"You've dropped the ball once again and it feels like we'll be having another republican running things as it should be."

Even more gleefully I look forward to seeing what little there is left of America's economy go down the pan with McSame, his amazing graps of economics and the same self serving Rovian Acolytes running the show.

Oh and keep telling yourself that lower tax on super rich = prosperity for all.

OK it hasnt worked for the last 8 years, but its bound to anyday now.

Did you know Obama is coward?

Thats right, he wasn't brave enough to serve in the military.

He hasn't been brave enough to make a stand on legislation.

He never published a piece of scholarship while editing the Harvward Law Review.

Keep it up Obamabots.

If you win, you will run corporations right out of America. You think shipping jobs overseas is bad now? Wait till corporations change their home country.

I can't wait to listen to UH-bama in a debate with McCain. He better hope he gets leaked questions because stumblena won't be able to hide his Heroic indecisiveness in front of national TV.

I really can't wait for you nuts to lose this election.

David Corn,

It's funny that you would mock McCain's service. We can assume you have never overcome anything in your life so troubling.If you were a POW how long would it take for you to surrender your fellow soldiers?. I guess
5 minutes or less

Because the argument of the pro-lifers swirls around the phrase contained in the American Constitution it says we should have the right to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
That is why the question of when life begins is so important, so is it at conception? or some other time during pregnancy....you decide
So, if you believe as the Palins do, that life begins at conception, then they should be entitled to their privacy because they believe they are on the right side of the pursuit of "life"
Barack Obama's mother also felt that way even though she was only 17 when she became pregnant with Obama

40,000,000 human babies aborted
since Roe (who by the way recanted her support). That is 40,000,000 liberals not born and not voting for the least qualified democrat in history. Obama,like fred Sanford(period) coordiatin and organizin. Fewer democrat,liberal,progressive,socialist,communist ,all now pretty much the same label for the far left. Another generation and they'll all be gone!

It's appropos that you invoke Reagan.

Landslide ahoy! History will indeed repeat itself: likable American boosters, family values, god and country versus sneering effete elitist downers that only the "in crowd" loves.

See you November 5th! Hee!

Cortez,

The absolute best comment of the bunch. And so so very true. Incredibly sad as well though.

You nutjobs truly are off the deep end. Since when is being a war hero bad? I guess only when you are a knee-jerk anti-war coward. I don't care if you dodged the draft, you should at least be able to recognize courage when you see it. I know you all recognize it whether you admit it or not.

Did you know McCain was a POW beats the hell out of "Did you know Obama was a community organizer?". What the F is a "community organizer" anyway?

SARAH PALIN choice

Amazingly sound and authentic choice.

1. The starting base is that this has galvanized the core Republican conservative base which will ensure massive and enthusiastic turnout for McCain in the elections. Pro life, evangelical, pro gun supporters and conservatives are now solidly behind the McCain/Palin ticket. Even with all the petty liberal elitist media led revelations the support for McCain/Palin is rock solid.
2. The Palin choice in retrospect was a no brainer. Any other choice (e.g. Liebermann) would have just sunk the McCain Presidency bid like a stone unless something scandalous appeared about the Democratic ticket. McCain was holding his own but there was no edge for him to move forward beyond his present base. Without Palin it would have been impossible in spite of his proud and record for McCain to battle the Republican malaise after the neocon denial of conservative principles that placed the country in trouble on so many fronts.

3. Women and particularly the HRC supporters who are not behind Obama now have no reason to even think about the Democratic ticket and this goes for many women now sitting on the fence. Those that are lost in the abortion camp will never come down from their selfish 1970’s mindset that sees the destruction of a viable life as just a choice like fries with your hamburger.

4. McCain can now concentrate on swing voters and independents.

5. This crucial Palin choice will attract a significant target: blue-collar, white men. In some swing states (Ohio) in the Democratic primaries they went for Clinton 2-1. Whereas Sarah Palin has been touted as a sop to HRC women , this group will actually just be the gravy on the top if they come over.

6. The distrust by key voters for Obama is magnified by the choice of a woman who represents what a lot of America is about. Palin with her speech tonight has now to make that connection. She should not get diverted by trying to get to or simply respond to the worst attacks by the nervous liberal elitist Democratic mainstream.

7. Palin has to careful of the neo-cons. These are the same persons who ignored core conservative beliefs and have diverted the true course of conservative by bankrupting the Treasury, and showing a complete lack of prudence in the handling of the nation’s affairs.

8. The attacks on Palin are gleeful and reek of self-righteous but this will backfire over the next month if Palin can connect with core target markets.

9. It is said that Ms. Palin is a quick study and her record proves that. It will now depend upon her ability to deal with the issues starting from tonight that will determine the course of this elections. This is now the Palin show – not McCain, not Obama. She is all about what is right about America and wrong about American politics, which is the opposite of what can be said about Barrack Obama.

McCain crash-landed 5 military planes. One of those was while flying back from a recreational Army-Navy game. The other was because he was flying too low in the Mediterranean and flew into power lines. Reckless. Have you ever wondered how a guy who graduated 5 from the bottom of his class managed to get flight school when those slots normally go to the top % of the class? Family name. He was unqualified to be flying those planes and while his service to country deserves recognition it does not warrant our blindly electing him to lead this country the way he flew planes. Reckless.

Oh, by the way, did you B.O. was a community organizer?

Ben_M,
Were you one of the mask wearing anarchists enjoying a Labor Day stroll? Next you'll be calling all the McCain supporters racists because we don't see the virtue in an Obama presidency. I'm not putting anyone in the white house that is okay with late term abortions or decides to pass up tough questions that are above his pay grade.

Have you ever wondered how a guy who graduated 5 from the bottom of his class managed to get flight school when those slots normally go to the top % of the class?

Well, there was a war on, they needed pilots, and class rank goes (later) to the prospective pilot's choice of aircraft. The "top" people want fighters. He flew light attack. And not all people in a class go into naval aviation - they go surface, sub, USMC, intel, and aviation, to name a few.

Of course the repugnics have to look back at the POW past! You see someone might just actually question why is it that he has been in Congress for 30 years and still doesn't have a clue about the "economy"! I mean being in Congress working on bills that need to be passed (involving $$$) what's not to understand!

Tex (and other Tex-like posters),
Firstly, I'd like for you, or anyone to explain what is cowardly about being diplomatic or as you would have it "anti-war"? You must be "off the deep end" if you somehow think that there are no unjust wars and that somehow opposing self-defeating wars that make no sense is somehow a sign of cowardice. Are you serious? How old are you? It doesn't take much elucubration to come to the conclusion that you can't just blow everyone up that you have a problem with! How many people would have blown you up by now? Seriously I can't believe there are people out there that believe this. Being diplomatic doesn't mean that you just bend over for everyone, it means you exhaust non-violent actions and you THINK before you blow something up! But I guess that's a foreign concept huh?

Secondly, there's nothing wrong with being a war hero. The question is how do you define the word hero. It is really sad and regrettable that John McCain was a POW, I wouldn't wish that on anyone, but the fact that it happened does not make him a hero. That will probably upset a lot of people, but that is because thinking has apparently gone out of style. No one signs up to be a POW, and no one signs up for military service expecting to be a POW (especially when your Dad is an Admiral). A horrible thing happened to John McCain, but I don't call people who live through horrible car accidents heroes. The fact of the matter is that John McCain's status as a former POW serves as a political shield, so much so that even a well reasoned and balanced assessment of his experience is out of bounds. I do not know whether or not there is any truth to claims that McCain gave up a lot of information as a POW, but I do know that to even suggest so or question any part of that experience as a qualification of some sort will entreat upon you a hailstorm of vituperation and critique simply because people have been conditioned to respond in a certain way. It really is absurd. My heroes would open their military records to the public, and would not be ashamed to do so because those records would support their heroism. My heroes would remember the wrongs done to them and would not pay them forward. My heroes would be modest and appeal to the reason in people, not their visceral reactions.

The funny thing is that there is a silver lining for the "angry left". They are about to get a 4-year renewal on their anger subscription, and they secretly love it. It's a happy anger. It fills them up. I'm serious. I've known these folks all my life. They wake up in the morning on their futons spitting like cobras, dose up on coffee and ciggies, and then read something about Bush that really gets their blood (merrily) boiling. They're never happier than at that moment. Nov. 5 will be quite a banner day for them. They are going to be mad as hell.... and loving it!

Mike Freehold New Jersey
One usually must go to a dog fight to hear such insight.

McCain claims that he was tortured while in custody. There were no other American witnesses to this torture and some former POWs doubt that it happened at all. In fact, McCain himself admitted in a 1973 interview with the magazine US News and World Report that he volunteered to give military information in return for medical treatment, even before being subjected to any torture.

FACTCHECK.ORG-------
We checked the accuracy of Obama's speech accepting the Democratic nomination, and noted the following:

Obama said he could “pay for every dime” of his spending and tax cut proposals “by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens.” That’s wrong – his proposed tax increases on upper-income individuals are key components of paying for his program, as well. And his plan, like McCain’s, would leave the U.S. facing big budget deficits, according to independent experts.
He twisted McCain’s words about Afghanistan, saying, “When John McCain said we could just 'muddle through' in Afghanistan, I argued for more resources.” Actually, McCain said in 2003 we “may” muddle through, and he recently also called for more troops there.

He said McCain would fail to lower taxes for 100 million Americans while his own plan would cut taxes for 95 percent of “working” families. But an independent analysis puts the number who would see no benefit from McCain’s plan at 66 million and finds that Obama’s plan would benefit 81 percent of all households when retirees and those without children are figured in.
Obama asked why McCain would "define middle-class as someone making under five million dollars a year"? Actually, McCain meant that comment as a joke, getting a laugh and following up by saying, "But seriously ..."
Obama noted that McCain’s health care plan would "tax people’s benefits" but didn’t say that it also would provide up to a $5,000 tax credit for families.

He said McCain, far from being a maverick who’s "broken with his party," has voted to support Bush policies 90 percent of the time. True enough, but by the same measure Obama has voted with fellow Democrats in the Senate 97 percent of the time.

Obama said "average family income" went down $2,000 under Bush, which isn't correct. An aide said he was really talking only about "working" families and not retired couples. And – math teachers, please note – he meant median (or midpoint) and not really the mean or average. Median family income actually has inched up slightly under Bush.

Analysis
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama accepted his party's nomination Aug. 28, speaking before more than 84,000 people in Denver's Mile High football stadium. Some of his comments were worthy of a ref's yellow flag.

Compliments of Factcheck org----

We checked the accuracy of Obama's speech accepting the Democratic nomination, and noted the following:

Obama said he could “pay for every dime” of his spending and tax cut proposals “by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens.” That’s wrong – his proposed tax increases on upper-income individuals are key components of paying for his program, as well. And his plan, like McCain’s, would leave the U.S. facing big budget deficits, according to independent experts.
He twisted McCain’s words about Afghanistan, saying, “When John McCain said we could just 'muddle through' in Afghanistan, I argued for more resources.” Actually, McCain said in 2003 we “may” muddle through, and he recently also called for more troops there.

He said McCain would fail to lower taxes for 100 million Americans while his own plan would cut taxes for 95 percent of “working” families. But an independent analysis puts the number who would see no benefit from McCain’s plan at 66 million and finds that Obama’s plan would benefit 81 percent of all households when retirees and those without children are figured in.
Obama asked why McCain would "define middle-class as someone making under five million dollars a year"? Actually, McCain meant that comment as a joke, getting a laugh and following up by saying, "But seriously ..."
Obama noted that McCain’s health care plan would "tax people’s benefits" but didn’t say that it also would provide up to a $5,000 tax credit for families.

He said McCain, far from being a maverick who’s "broken with his party," has voted to support Bush policies 90 percent of the time. True enough, but by the same measure Obama has voted with fellow Democrats in the Senate 97 percent of the time.

Obama said "average family income" went down $2,000 under Bush, which isn't correct. An aide said he was really talking only about "working" families and not retired couples. And – math teachers, please note – he meant median (or midpoint) and not really the mean or average. Median family income actually has inched up slightly under Bush.

Analysis
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama accepted his party's nomination Aug. 28, speaking before more than 84,000 people in Denver's Mile High football stadium. Some of his comments were worthy of a ref's yellow flag.

"please, can we not throw "nazi" around like the tired and almost never applicable cliche is it?"

But the Nazis knew how to put on a big show.

Last night was horrible. It was like a dark and grimy film lay over the whole thing. Negative, sullen, bitter...that's what the country needs. I'm not sure when people are losing their homes, losing their jobs, losing their healthcare insurance that many will be in the mood to feel John McCain's decades ago pain.

As some of you might know, John McCain is a long-time acquaintance of mine that goes way back to our time together at the U.S. Naval Academy and as Prisoners of War in Vietnam. He is a man I respect and admire in some ways. But there are a number of reasons why I will not vote for him for President of the United States.
When I was a Plebe (4th classman, or freshman) at the Naval Academy in 1957-58, I was assigned to the 17th Company for my four years there. In those days we had about 3,600 midshipmen spread among 24 companies, thus about 150 midshipmen to a company. As fortune would have it, John, a First Classman (senior) and his roommate lived directly across the hall from me and my two roommates. Believe me when I say that back then I would never in a million or more years have dreamed that the crazy guy across the hall would someday be a Senator and candidate for President!
John was a wild man. He was funny, with a quick wit and he was intelligent. But he was intent on breaking every USNA regulation in our 4-inch thick USNA Regulations book. And I believe he must have come as close to his goal as any midshipman who ever attended the Academy. John had me "coming around" to his room frequently during my plebe year. And on one occasion he took me with him to escape "over the wall" in the dead of night. He had a taxicab waiting for us that took us to a bar some 7 miles away. John had a few beers, but forbid me to drink (watching out for me I guess) and made me drink cokes. I could tell many other midshipman stories about John that year and he unbelievably managed to graduate though he spent the majority of his first class year on restriction for the stuff he did get caught doing. In fact, he barely managed to graduate, standing 5th from the bottom of his 800 man graduating class. I and many others have speculated that the main reason he did graduate was because his father was an Admiral, and also his grandfather, both U.S. Naval Academy graduates.
People often ask if I was a Prisoner of War with John McCain. My answer is always "No - John McCain was a POW with me.” The reason is I was there for 8 years and John got there 2 ½ years later, so he was a POW for 5 ½ years. And we have our own seniority system, based on time as a POW.
John's treatment as a POW:
1) Was he tortured for 5 years? No. He was subjected to torture and maltreatment during his first 2 years, from September of 1967 to September of 1969. After September of 1969, the Vietnamese stopped the torture and gave us increased food and rudimentary health care. Several hundred of us were captured much earlier. I got there April 20, 1965 so my bad treatment period lasted 4 1/2 years. President Ho Chi Minh died on September 9, 1969, and the new regime that replaced him and his policies was more pragmatic. They realized we were worth a lot as bargaining chips if we were alive. And they were right because eventually Americans gave up on the war and agreed to trade our POW's for their country. A damn good trade in my opinion! But my point here is that John allows the media to make him out to be THE hero POW, which he knows is absolutely not true, to further his political goals.

2) John was badly injured when he was shot down. Both arms were broken and he had other wounds from his ejection. Unfortunately, this was often the case - new POW's arriving with broken bones and serious combat injuries. Many died from their wounds. Medical care was non-existent to rudimentary. Relief from pain was almost never given and often the wounds were used as an available way to torture the POW. Because John's father was the Naval Commander in the Pacific theater, he was exploited with TV interviews while wounded. These film clips have now been widely seen. But it must be known that many POW's suffered similarly, not just John. And many were similarly exploited for political propaganda.
3) John was offered, and refused, "early release.” Many of us were given this offer. It meant speaking out against your country and lying about your treatment to the press. You had to "admit" that the U.S. was criminal and that our treatment was "lenient and humane.” So I, like numerous others, refused the offer. This was obviously something none of us could accept. Besides, we were bound by our service regulations, Geneva Conventions, and loyalties to refuse early release until all the POW's were released, with the sick and wounded going first.
4) John was awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart for heroism and wounds in combat. This heroism has been played up in the press and in his various political campaigns. But it should be known that there were approximately 600 military POW's in Vietnam. Among all of us, decorations awarded have recently been totaled to the following: Medals of Honor - 8, Service Crosses - 42, Silver Stars - 590, Bronze Stars - 958 and Purple Hearts - 1,249. John certainly performed courageously and well. But it must be remembered that he was one hero among many - not uniquely, so as his campaigns would have people believe.
John McCain served his time as a POW with great courage, loyalty, and tenacity. More that 600 of us did the same. After our repatriation, a census showed that 95% of us had been tortured at least once. The Vietnamese were quite democratic about it. There were many heroes in North Vietnam. I saw heroism every day there. And we motivated each other to endure and succeed far beyond what any of us thought we had in ourselves. Succeeding as a POW is a group sport, not an individual one. We all supported and encouraged each other to survive and succeed. John knows that. He was not an individual POW hero. He was a POW who surmounted the odds with the help of many comrades, as all of us did.
I furthermore believe that having been a POW is no special qualification for being President of the United States. The two jobs are not the same, and POW experience is not, in my opinion, something I would look for in a presidential candidate.
Most of us who survived that experience are now in our late 60's and 70's. Sadly, we have died and are dying off at a greater rate than our non-POW contemporaries. We experienced injuries and malnutrition that are coming home to roost. So I believe John's age (73) and survival expectation are not good for being elected to serve as our President for 4 or more years.
I can verify that John has an infamous reputation for being a hot head. He has a quick and explosive temper that many have experienced first hand. Folks, quite honestly that is not the finger I want next to that red button.
It is also disappointing to see him take on and support Bush's war in Iraq, even stating we might be there for another 100 years. For me John represents the entrenched and bankrupt policies of Washington-as-usual. The past 7 years have proven to be disastrous for our country. And I believe John's views on war, foreign policy, economics, environment, health care, education, national infrastructure, and other important areas are much the same as those of the Bush administration.

I am disappointed to see John represent himself politically in ways that are not accurate. He is not a moderate Republican. On some issues, he is a maverick. But his voting record is far to the right. I fear for his nominations to our Supreme Court, and the consequent continuing loss of individual freedoms, especially regarding moral and religious issues. John is not a religious person, but he has taken every opportunity to ally himself with some really obnoxious and crazy fundamentalist ministers lately. I was also disappointed to see him cozy up to Bush because I know he hates that man. He disingenuously and famously put his arm around the guy, even after Bush had intensely disrespected him with lies and slander. So on these and many other instances, I don't see that John is the "straight talk express" he markets himself to be.
Senator John Sidney McCain, III is a remarkable man who has made enormous personal achievements. And he is a man that I am proud to call a fellow POW who "Returned With Honor.” That's our POW motto. But since many of you keep asking what I think of him, I've decided to write it out. In short, I think John Sidney McCain, III is a good man, but not someone I will vote for in the upcoming election to be our President of the United States.

About Phillip Butler:

Doctor Phillip Butler is a 1961 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and a former light-attack carrier pilot. In 1965, he was shot down over North Vietnam where he spent eight years as a prisoner of war. He is a highly decorated combat veteran who was awarded two Silver Stars, two Legion of Merits, two Bronze Stars, and two Purple Heart medals.
After his repatriation in 1973, he earned a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at San Diego and became a Navy Organizational Effectiveness consultant. He completed his Navy career in 1981 as a professor of management at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He is now a peace and justice activist with Veterans for Peace.

Thank you for your honest artical, I really enjoyed it.

Most no all my republican friends did not like McCain nor his pick for V.P but will vote for him just because he is republican. I asked them if the devil was running as republican pres would you vote for him. More then likly they would say yes. I am proud of McCain for his time as a power. Thank you. But what are you going to do for us today. Make carzy choices like pick some crazy women that could be are next pres if the old man dies.

I could only read about 20 of these comments before I got depressed. So much vitriol. Hey, folks, we're all Americans, and we are all in this together, whether you like it or not. A little civility might help this country stay afloat.

Did you not listen to former Senator Thompson? He stated that he would not talk about McCain's congressional history...that would be left to Senator McCain when he spoke.
AND...Ain't America a GREAT place to live!!!
Theo

Transitions

Since the year Seventeen eighty-nine
When George Washington was sworn in
There was the promise of America
That was finally, about to begin.

Wise men wrote our Constitution
And declared, our Independence
They said, all people were equal
With those words, not given license.

We were a young, fledgling Nation
Trying to figure the right way
To control our new Democracy
Which, we still struggle with, today.

We opened wide, freedom’s door
And asked all oppressed to come
But still, we had so many things
Which were unfinished, left undone.

The Women, who were our backbone
Were not allowed a say, to vote
Relegated to the home and kids
With no rights, a sad, historic note.

Not until, Nineteen and twenty
Did they finally win the fight
To that promise from America
Where we claimed, all, had that right.

We allowed people to own people
And turned a blind eye, to that blight
And it took our terrible, Civil War
To make us, finally, see the light.

Those freed by Lincoln’s Proclamations
In Eighteen sixty-two and sixty-three
Soon learned, freedom was a state of mind
And found, they still weren’t, truly, free.

The States still had their own laws
And many said, there was no way
To allow Blacks in the voting booth
To register, or to have their say.

Forty-five years after the Women
There was finally Federal legislation
That guaranteed all would have a voice
As to who, and how we ran our Nation.

Equal Rights for all Americans
Is still an imperfect, process
Sometimes, it seems we backtrack
As the rich get more, the poor get less.

We now have a Black Man running
A Woman, for the other number two
Some said, it would never happen
But, change, is what Americans do.

This Great Experiment of Democracy
Has surely come, a long, long, way
But, if we don’t protect those Freedoms
We can’t afford the price, we’ll pay.

Our Country is at a crossroads
And only History books, will tell
If we had the will, up to the task
And, if we really, did it, well!

It’s an honor and our solemn duty
To cast our vote for our belief
And party lines aren’t always true
And may cause us pain and grief.

Our two party system worked awhile
But, has caused so much division
Not always, the best for the People
And, it’s time for some, revision.

Vote, for what, you know is right
Even, if some say you’re wrong
Like it was, in our beginning
When we were young, proud, and strong.

Either way, we will make, history
With the election, in November
Let’s hope we make the right choice
On a day, we will, want, to remember.

Del "Abe" Jones
08.31.2008

Hmmmm. What country can I move to when the wealthy repubs steal another election?

The fact you have no idea what a community organizer is says alot about you.

The way Palin was "vetted" is the Republican message "I, John McCain, don't need pre-selection feedback on a VP because I don't care what you think America. This is about me not you America. It's our way not your way, just the way George Bush does it.

So Joe Lieberman is Michael Moore's favorite Democrat! Who would've thunk it?

Liberal Media???? What decade are you in? A few media moguls own most of the television and radio stations and the newspapers, and they are beholden to the conservatives and Republicans. Bet on it! Meanwhile, innocent and peaceful protestors, their families, and the honest reporters who are trying to cover them are being arrested at gun point or having their property taken from them or their vehicles impounded for no good reason at all. Some protestors are violent, yes, and they deserve to be arrested, but, I'm sorry, not little children. However, the so-called "liberal" media makes very little, if any, mention of the unfair and over-the-top arrests of peaceful citizens and good reporters. "Liberal" Media? Get your head out your a**!

I don't know about McCain being known as "Songbird" among other POWs, but I do believe that he was held captive by the North Vietnamese, not the "VC" (or Viet Cong, although the term does mean "Vietnamese Communist.").

As far as Fred Thompson claiming that McCain's experiences as a POW are some indication of his "character" and regardless of whether or not he was a "Songbird," I also think another indicator of "character" is the willingness to go along with a policy of aggression---then in Vietnam and now in Iraq. One might claim that McCain was merely doing his "duty" or his "job" by bombing the North Vietnamese, but I sure don't remember the North Vietnamese or the Viet Cong bombing U.S. territory.

Such "character." What a nifty little Nuremberg defense.

Mother Jones would thrive in Russia. In all walks of life, it will never cease to amaze me by putting one's competitor down somehow elevates you or the candidate of your choice in this case. It's about ideas, and the battle is played by debating and voting. See all you angry people there. Likewise, please take this opportunity to stop whining and SHUT UP!

GEESH...a trip through these posts is nausea-inducing. DC makes a good point...that the Republicans have managed to turn everyone's attention away from the NUMBER ONE ISSUE, the economy...how clever. now it's all circuses. Instead of talking about McCain's POW experience, we should be talking about the American experience right now. Instead of obsessing about whose bed Palin's daughter was in, we should be asking, what neocons, Cheneyites and oil companies Palin is in bed with.

I just learned that Kerry served in Vietnam! How did I miss that in 2004?

You're right Lori,you have very good point ! but when it comes to some people,it's "Do what I say NOT what I do" policy.in Mrs. Polin's case,it
will be a green light message
to the young generations to go
ahead & have babies and there's no reason to be married & it's all for the sake of electing a Republican
president.

Blah! Blah! Blah! Who's she in bed with? Get your mind out of the gutter; it is the economy, STUPID. I have an idea; let's say we set up an infinite number of windmills in Oklahoma. Nobody wants to live there anyway. And, let's say we need something to lube those massive spinning tines that generate us that precious renewable energy. What do we lube them with? Two guesses....did you say oil? It's the economy, it will always be the economy adn the economy is based on OIL. Does every liberal generalize that all Republicans are in the back pocket of oil? Does BO live in a mud hut? Drive a Flintstone type car?; and so on. Oh, yes, back to Palin. It's the media making the fuss that's getting your, Lori & massimo's panties in a ruff. As for the pregnant kid, it's cold in Alaska! Do you really think she endorses that behavior? remember it was BO who voted down saving babies from failed abortions. Oh, man, I'm rambling.

Like I have always said, "The American People...when they give in to fear and ignorance...deserve exactly what they get...". And they have gotten plenty in the last 8 years.

Why should the Republicans worry---they still own the vote counting machines!

We poor Democrats should be doing the worry waltz-------still haven't found a way to weed out the "jake the fake" members.

"Why should the Republicans worry---they still own the vote counting machines!"

Hey Kenny, I don't know what state you live in but Gore won here in NM, 2004, after mysteriously finding 500 votes in a voting machine that had not been counted.

Smart, inciting comment. PHD are you?

No, McCain married a POW [person of wealth]

Uncle! Ok we get it, McCain was a POW!!! Enough already! If you want to talk policies and ideas then do it. For crying out loud, if we have to hear about what McCain had to go through one more time, Cindy McCain's face is going to crack! Let's get down to how we are going to create financial and racial equity. Reduce our dependence on a finite resource. Educate our children. Improve the economic opportunities for everyone. Reduce our waste and emissions. Can we skip the next two months and just vote already?

We were all hosed in 1964 (vets and non-vets alike) and we have all been hosed again in 2003.

Consider ... JCS Sigma I and II war games in April and August of 1964 concluded that after bombing all NV military targets, mining NV harbours, interdicting infiltration routes, committing 10 divisions to SV and loosing the support of the US public, the US would be left considering invading NV to stop the insurgency.

The suits knew they couldn't win in August of 1964 and they did it anyway and following administrations continued the insanity. You can look it up, DERELICTION OF DUTY, pps. 155-158, by Lt. Col. H.R. McMaster, Active. Also see LBJ Presidential Library, search "Sigma I" and "Sigma II".

Yes, yes I know, now another gang of liars are commiteed to fighting to the bitter end with the last of your sons and daughters.

Makes you want to bust your hump for them, doesn't it?

Jimmy, why do all republicans seem to forget that economics is based on supply and demand. Every year the republicans constantly yell about increasing production of oil. Sorry to break the sad news to you but increasing oil production to levels the world we need will violate natural laws. It can't be done. Instead of focussing all the attention on production, we should start looking at demand. The citizens of the US proved that less demand works. If gas and other oil products become too expensive, they are not purchased. Supply and demand. A few hundred gallons of oil to grease electrical generating motors is a far cry from billions of gallons to power cars and generate electricity using 19th century technology. I still have, after 3 years, a small container of oil and grease I use for my bicycle. Together they're volume is equal to less than 1 cup. At least a gallon of oil is used for every oil change for a car. No energy policy will be successful unless it includes the two basic components of economics - supply and demand.

Two points-

1) Whose judgment and abilities would you prefer in matters of international tension and conflict: community organizer or bomber pilot.

2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KjsEs46C70

kimc, Supply and demand works, period. Yes conservation works to some extent as well as alternative energy. But the brand of S&D you describe is finite. No amount of conservation will rid the U.S. of our troubles. This economy is based on o-i-l. An economy based on other than oil has to be evolutionary as was our economy now. The fight between oil and alternative is futile, while the American people suffer. As technology steps forward so does energy. The device tht allows us to communicate these posts burns somewhere around 500 watts. That energy doesn't come from the wind (as of now).

It disgusts me that when you go into a public restroom even the paper towel dispenser has become energy dependent. To your windmills, your theory of finite amounts only works if T. Boone Pickens builds a finite amount of windmills. Look beyond the windmill. look to the energy needed to build that windmill, to deliver it, to erect it, and then to maintain it. It again is another industry based on oil; all before that windmill can generate a single watt of power.

Lest you think I am a whack job conservative, I supplement green conservative principals wherever I can. I reuse my grocery bags, grow a few of my own veggies, supplement my hot water w/solar, use a pellet stove to heat my house; I even traded my truck for a motorcycle, 70 mpg, to commute back and forth to work. I advise you and all to do the same. However as the debate rages, energy production suffers at a standstill. No oil, no wind, no nuclear, yes nuclear needs to be part of the solution.

Last thought; if South America is strong on oil exploration in th eopen oceans and elsewhere in the world up for grabs, whom will we as a nation ultimately be beholden to...? I do not know about you, but I do not live in debt other than my house. Nor do I like seeing my gov't in debt year after year, decade after...and so on. Right now it IS about oil. I will be the first to stand in line when I can have an electric family car that is powered by my own means and does not rely on a common socialized electric grid.

pjames, McCain is no saint, I give you that. Does your bible, youtube, give you any videos on the relationship Obama has with a known domestic terrorist, William Ayers of the Weather Underground.

The American people on the whole are the arbiter of whom is to become the president, not one man's opinion. It is sad to see that one youtube video can be so persuasive. If this is your only basis for voting, please stay home, don't vote.

PS. I am not a McCain fan. He has his flaws as well. None of which are on youtube.

John proclaims: Let's not forget what happened whilst Mr McCain was a POW.
He didn't garner the nickname 'Songbird' for nothing. He got the nickname for being a traitor to the US by passing information to the VC for preferential treatment, not to mention alledgedly helping with over 30 VC propaganda films. This from fellow POW's.
How could anyone consider this traitor as a prospective President.
Usually they turn traitor AFTER they get elected !

Are we quoting that Dr. Jack Wheeler claim about McCain there, John Boy?

Why not quote the rest of the Dr. Jack Wheeler stuff while we're at it?

Barack Hussein Obama, is an eloquently tailored empty suit. No résumé, no accomplishments, no experience, no original ideas, no understanding of how the economy works, no understanding of how the world works, no balls, nothing but abstract empty rhetoric devoid of real substance.

He has no real identity. He is half-white, which he rejects. The rest of him is mostly Arab, which he hides but is disclosed by his non-African Arabic surname and his Arabic first and middle names as a way to triply proclaim his Arabic parentage to people in Kenya. Only a small part of him is African Black from his Luo grandmother, which he pretends he is exclusively.

What he isn't, not a genetic drop of, is "African-American," the descendant of enslaved Africans brought to America chained in slave ships. He hasn't a single ancestor who was a slave. Instead, his Arab ancestors were slave owners. Slave-trading was the main Arab business in East Africa for centuries until the British ended it.

RE: The Rest of the Story

No, I am answering the title of the article.
I don't care about Obama or McCain, I'm not even an American and I don't live in America. As far as I am concerned, America will continue to be F@#KED wichever one gets in.

Fancy that, the internet is a GLOBAL thing, boy-oh.

let the kids and grandkids pay for it

it is the american way

fascism is here get over it

http://www.ellensplace.net/fascism.html

now everyone go shopping that will fix the economy

Thanks John "As far as I am concerned, America will continue to be F@#KED wichever one gets in."

This is what the angry left really thinks. I'm not saying you are left John. I'm left. I'm angry. So very angry. At the idiots who post about how McCain and Bush are good guys. How people dismiss the fascist policies in our country. About people arguing that Obama's the savior or ruin of America. You don't have to be 'angry left' to be against McCain, you just need to have a conscience, be intelligent and believe in the Constitution. Obama is not the answer. But he's a better choice than McCain. And if you're "angry left" you're not for either. Our presidential election system is rigged, as well as bought and paid for. Why else would we have to vote for two people who will perform their office in nearly the exact same manner. Our Democrats have brought us equally draconiam laws and have furthered the gap between the poor and wealthy. Democrats have as much death on their hands as do Republicans. Arguing for or against the Republican or the Democrat is just spinning your wheels in the mud. It supports the status quo. Obama is the better choice but he's a poor choice as well. And not for the reasons the various obvious righties state here.

Gee, Jimmy -- your response is just stock full of rational ideas on so many levels!

The same guy behind the swift-boating of John Kerry, is now swift-boating John McCain (Ted Lane Sampley, Vietnam green beret vet with four Bronze Stars, the Army Commendation Medal and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry). He says that not only is John McCain lying about being tortured but he spilled his guts the minute he was taken prisoner, (costing many American lives), and then campaigned to end the search for POWs that might have remained in Vietnam to ensure noone outted him. Samply is either lying about both or he is telling the truth about both. So either Kerry was aggregiously harmed with malicious lies that probably cost him the presidency (and that you righties were suckered into believing), or McCain committed treason. Pick one. You can't have it both ways. Also, you don't see this "savage liberal press" picking up the "songbird McCain" stories as they did similar stories about Kerry in 2004, do you? Let us know when you quit scratching your head. I know it is tough to think when you are not in the habit of it.