First thoughts: today's political ceasefire

Posted: Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:24 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carrie Dann
*** Today’s political ceasefire: A day after the campaigns sparred over whether the innocent phrase “lipstick on a pig” was a smear against Palin, after the McCain camp unveiled a new TV ad resurrecting Bush’s menacing “wolves” from 2004, and after the state chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party said that Palin’s primary qualification is that she hasn’t had an abortion, the candidates take a break from the back-and-forth on the trail to recognize the 7th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The two men, in New York, will make joint appearances at Ground Zero and then at a televised forum on service. Their campaigns even will refrain from airing TV ads today. Before those joint events, McCain visits a ceremony in Shanksville, PA honoring the victims of Flight 93, while Obama meets for lunch with Bill Clinton in Harlem. Today’s break from everyday politics is a welcome one, but after yesterday will anyone actually think the ceasefire is sincere?

VIDEO: As McCain and Obama come together in Manhattan to mark the Sept. 11 attacks, controversy still swirls over the "lipstick on a pig" comment. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.

*** Saddleback II: As mentioned above, McCain and Obama will participate in a forum in New York moderated by Time's Richard Stengel and PBS's Judy Woodruff beginning at 8:00 pm ET and airing on MSNBC and other cable news channels. The two will speak separately for 45 minutes -- McCain goes first and Obama second. (There won't be a “cone of silence,” but the candidates will get different questions.) The discussion will focus on service in the context of 9/11, disaster relief, etc. After some poor reviews Obama received from the previous Saddleback forum, many will be looking for a more direct Obama. Like Saddleback, this should be in McCain's wheelhouse, but Obama can't afford to get outshined as much as he was at the Rick Warren forum. Given today's date, viewers tonight will be looking for both a commander-in-chief and a comforter-in-chief.

*** Electoral watch: In the past 12 hours, we now have new polls for seven battleground states. CNN/Time has Obama up in the blue states of Michigan (49%-45%) and New Hampshire (51%-45%), while McCain is up in the red states of Missouri (50%-45%) and Virginia (50%-46%). And Quinnipiac finds Obama ahead in Ohio (49%-44%) and Pennsylvania (48%-45%), and McCain in front in Florida (50%-43%). Indeed, with the exception of Ohio -- and that is BIG exception -- these polls suggest that the current map looks a lot like it did in 2004. Of course, we’ll be interested to see new polling in the Mountain West states of Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico.

*** “She’s the biggest celebrity in the world…”: There were several stories lost in yesterday’s “lipstick on a pig” faux controversy. But perhaps the biggest one was this piece of good news for the McCain camp: 23,000 people came out yesterday at a McCain-Palin rally in Fairfax, VA, an area of the state Obama is likely to carry in November by a good margin. Would anyone have ever imagined a month ago that McCain would be able to draw a crowd that big? It’s worth pointing out that today is McCain's first day of public appearances without Palin since the pick. Today is also interview day -- and it did not go unnoticed that McCain camp's two main message managers, Steve Schmidt and Nicolle Wallace, are with Palin and not McCain, even though it's McCain who is live on air for an hour tonight in back-to-back appearances with Obama. Clearly, the McCain camp is taking this ABC interview, which will air a bit today and mostly on Friday, very seriously.

VIDEO: For the first time since joining the Republican ticket, Palin returns home to Alaska. NBC's Savannah Guthrie reports.

*** Investigate this: Of course, with those energized crowds and polls suggesting that Palin has been a boon to McCain, it’s worth noting all the potentially damaging stories out there about the Alaska governor. Just glancing at today’s papers, there’s a Wall Street Journal piece on an informal ethics adviser telling Palin -- before she became McCain’s running mate -- to apologize for her firing of the state’s public safety commissioner Walt Monegan; a CNN report of a judge warning Palin 2005 against trying to fire her then brother-in-law; and a Bloomberg article noting that Palin seems to have participated in the kind of business as usual and cronyism that she and McCain now rail against (in Alaska, she approved a state job for a friend and investment partner; she hired a former lobbyist for a pipeline company to oversee a deal involving that very company; and she named a police chief accused of sexual harassment to head the state police). Will any of these stories have legs, though? She appears, for now, to have developed a coat of Teflon. And if the Obama campaign decides it's better off starting to ignore and won't attempt to amplify any of these stories, that Teflon coating may never wash away.

*** Say goodbye to 60? We forgot to mention this earlier, but it seems like the Palin pick alone might help the GOP prevent the Democrats from reaching 60 Senate seats. To get to that number, Democrats not only have to win contests in Colorado, Alaska, Minnesota, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Oregon and Virginia -- but also in places like Mississippi, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and or even an Oklahoma. Yet according to the latest NBC/WSJ poll, Palin seems to have especially helped McCain in the South, which could aid Republicans big time in those last five Senate races. Also, a new GOP poll shows embattled Ted Stevens up two points in Alaska (although his fate will more likely be decided in court). In short, Palin -- at least for now -- might have made it more difficult for Dems to net nine seats this fall to gain a filibuster-proof majority. Instead, it looks like the realistic pickup will be in the range of 4-6 seats. By the way, on the House side, Republicans may also be able to keep their losses to single digits just on base enthusiasm for Palin. Much of the battleground is in Republican territory and if the base isn't depressed anymore, it's probably the difference between losing 20 more House seats this cycle and 8-10.

*** Just askin’: Is it eating at Biden that he's not the VP candidate everyone is talking about?

*** On the trail: McCain attends a ceremony for Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA before going to New York to visit Ground Zero and participate in a forum on service. Obama also visits Ground Zero and participates in that forum. Biden holds a discussion with first responders in Parma, OH and will also attend the forum. And Palin, back in Alaska, speaks at a deployment ceremony for soldiers (including her son) heading to Iraq.

Countdown to the first presidential debate: 15 days
Countdown to the vice presidential debate: 21 days
Countdown to the second presidential debate 26 days
Countdown to the third presidential debate: 34 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 54 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 131 days

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Comments

Whoa, hey there little Obama buckaroos! Time to take a deep breath and re-focus. This might be your first rodeo and I know the stakes are high, but name-calling is not a good way to win friends and influence people. This was always going to be a close race, especially after a primary fight where we spent way too much time doing John’s work for him.

Running against a Rove/Schmidt candidate is kind of like going up against a suicide bomber. If you’re trying to get out of the encounter with your life while your opponent is not, it gives your enemy a tactical advantage. In a political contest, if you’re trying to get out with your integrity and credibility intact while your opponent is not, it gives your opponent a tactical advantage. John McCain has apparently decided that he wants to be the president so very badly that he just doesn’t care anymore, and will say whatever his handlers think might work. So much for honor, eh John?

But look, calling Sarah a liar and worse is a bit harsh. You can hardly blame her for going along with the program and saying whatever the spinmeisters tell her to say. She’s been plucked from the hinterland and thrust into the center of the national stage. What, she’s supposed to argue with Karl Rove about truth in advertising? Besides, she’s letting herself off on a technicality. She did say no to the Bridge to Nowhere, even though Congress had already pulled the plug and even though she still took the taxpayer’s money and kept it for other local projects. Yes, the campaign is trying to create an impression that is very much at odds with reality. That’s what they do best. But we can point that out in a civil manner without the name-calling, to much better effect.

Of course you have to forcefully knock down the nonsense stories, but remember that as far as policy issues go the Republicans have nothing to offer. Their strategy now will be to drive the news coverage day by day. It doesn’t matter what they use to accomplish that goal, which is why we’re being treated to the bizarre spectacle of Republicans posing as champions of political correctness. They’ve caught on to an essential truth, which is that you actually can fool some of the people all of the time.

We just need to work that much harder and stay on message. Unlike the Republicans, we do have a very specific set of policy proposals which our candidate clearly outlined in his acceptance speech. Remember what we’re for and don’t let them provoke you into talking only about what we’re against. They’re trying to drag us down into the gutter with them and get all of us so muddy that voters can’t tell us apart. And please be civil when making your case. People will have more respect for your opinion.

jaycee, Ventura, CA (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:30 AM)

McCain will not stop lying unless and until Obama calls him on it directly. McCain has no incentive to stop the distorted attacks unless and until Obama mans up. Lord knows the media won’t actually DO ITS JOB and call McCain on his lies. Obama has got to change the narrative. The ONLY way he can do that is by doing something unexpected and out of character for him, such as calling John McBush out personally and saying, "if you want to lie and call me a sexist (yes, he should use the old-fashioned word LIE), do it yourself and do it in front of cameras. Stop hiding behind your running mate and come out and act like a man." It would send shock waves through the system and MOST IMPORTANTLY, it would send a powerful signal to the only voters that matter now -- the ones in small town America who will NOT vote for a candidate that they perceive as weak. So what if some East-Coast editorial boards got their undergarments in a bunch. It would forever change the dynamic of the race. And to those who say, “oh, everything will work out. He needs to take the high road.” WAKE UP. Keep saying that and in December, you’ll be patting yourselves on the back for having “done the right thing.” And you’ll be crying in your milk and wondering how ANOTHER election was lost.

CA Voter and former Republican (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:30 AM)

Sudden thoughts and second thoughts

Let’s face it. If all the angels in Heaven came down and swore that Obama is the right choice, it wouldn’t make any difference.

We have racism and some sexism in this election; now we have dumbism. Any country whose citizens lives by American Idol and reality shows, has relentless stories on celebrities, and countless devotees to Limbaugh and Fox News must be the dumbest nation on earth.

Speaking of dumb, how dumb does it look having McGrouch and Barbie side-by-side all the time?

Speaking of dumb, when is the MSM going to do its job and blast McGrouch & Barbie for all their lies?

Speaking of dumb, why will HRC supporters sit on the sidelines or vote for McGrouch?

Speaking of dumb, why are we DEMs not fighting are hearts out to get Obama elected?

Who do I complain to on November 5 if Obama loses?

Who do I complain to when the United States is in the toilet 4 years from now, is the laughing stock of the world, and has no standing left if McGrouch & Barbie win?

Obama please drop the gloves and come out swinging!!! Or at least get out of the way so others can.

Chuck, NY (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:31 AM)

Obama was spot on with lipstick on a pig quip the other day. He was just calling a spade a spade.

Sawbuck, Nj (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:32 AM)

Obama should slug that coward McCain in the head and tell him that more is coming if he doesn't stop lying.

Just a Thought (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:32 AM)

The 7th anniversary of 9/11 and Osama bin Laden is still celebrating his handiwork. We've had 7 years of an incompetent administration bent on fighting the wrong war in the wrong place rather than getting Osama bin Laden. The incompetent 3 sided box at Tora Bora allowed bin Laden to escape as "Warmonger" Bush didn't want his family pal to get axed too soon. Bin Laden has been much more valuable to this crooked administration as a boogeyman to scare voters into voting for an incompetent political party who has done nothing but take advantage of the worst attack on American soil for political advantage.

"Bush Hugger" McCain claims he has a plan to find and eliminate bin Laden yet he doesn't want to share it with us. He's either a traitor to America or he's just blowharding another big lie and he has no plan to get bin Laden. Just more propaganda for his spin machine.

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:33 AM)

Let no one be fooled Gov. Palin makes "DEALS" with the oil companies..She is lying to everyone about standing up to the oil companies..She is a puppet to get the Alaskan Natural Pipeline built and funded by the government..

This kind to tactics to insure the energy cancer of this country must be exposed and stopped.

Energy is and should not be the prevailing decision choice of this election..

Many times politicians have skirted the attention of the voters wallets...

If you want to control the oil companies why don't we nationalize them for this so called emergency or energy crises ..
The crises is a fake ...how long did the oil companies in Alaska fight the new law that Governor Palin mandated the oil companies to pay the boosted $1200.00
They rolled over and died because now there was a production clause in the Alaskan Resources Act.
If production went down..because of accidents i.e. spills, bullet holes in the pipeline from moose hunters, dry holes and high maintenance cost the oil companies now had a way the skirt payment to the citizens of Alaska..
Remember the amount money the citizens of Alaska get from the oil resources of Alaska is geared to production of barrels.
The Oil companies have been pumping more oil because the price of oil is at a record high...
BIG PROFITS..
This insurance policy that was underwritten by Gov. Palin guarantees oil companies can pass those higher cost on to the consumer when ever there is a shortage.
Now let's get back to the Natural Gas Pipeline issue...
Since the “energy cancer” is consuming America for more (which doesn't mean cheaper) the backup plan, that sounds really good is hype. Hype to get lower 48 dollars to build the gas pipeline too. . Well help us build the “The Gas Pipeline” is crap...we don't benefit from it....
It's like there's huge hypo needle saying we need it...That case has never been argued at all..
But this is for sure, Alaskans will get resource money for that natural gas too not you..

We might need cheaper oil and how do we do that? Drill drill drill just feeds the addiction.
Use less, use different forms, get wall streeters out of the loop, nationalize the oil companies or regulate the their business....Government has this ability..We also have the ability to strike “carrot” deals with the oil companies. But, in the long run that ends up being a shot in our own foot..
Tell Gov. Palin her decision to pander to Big Oil in Alaska was not he correct answer for America as a whole and expose this lipstick as cover up politics... She's just not our cover girl...

And by the way..

no way, no how, no McCain/Palin

BJ, CA (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:33 AM)

*** Just askin’: Is it eating at Biden that he's not the VP candidate everyone is talking about?

Talking about????
has anyone seen him?
I think he is in Cheneys "Undisclosed location"

GDI in Michigan (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:35 AM)

Does anyone remember the coniptions Obama and his team had when Bill Clinton called Obama's campaign 'Pure fantasy'? Somehow or another Obama twisted that into a racial slur on him. Obama is trying to do the same with the Community Organizer label being pinned on him. But when Obama calls Palin a pig, then no, thats not any type of slur on her.

Cut and Run (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:35 AM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
What is it with the Republicans and wolves? Why not rats or snakes? Enough of the wolves already! Don't they know that most Americans are dog lovers?

twocanpete (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:36 AM)

Figuring out how to prevent terrorism is above Obama's pay grade.

Chester Tymes, NY (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:36 AM)

9/11 couldn't have come fast enough for Obama. He's been taking a beating since the Republican convention. Nice to see there's something to distract people from him for a day.

Hedge Roe (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:38 AM)

Thank goodness a break from all the rhetoric!! It's become exhausting to watch TV. I hope people see thru the crap and vote for who's best to lead our country. It's like Obama has said "Enough". We are hurting here in America, need to change our direction.
Obama/Biden 08' (Now that's change!!!!)

cindy, Las Vegas, Nv (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:38 AM)

I don't think Joe minds quietly working behind the scenes. Let's face it, the less the spot light is on you - the less likely you flub up. I liked his line yesterday that Hillary would have been a better VP candidate. I don't personally agree with that assessment. Because we 'picked' first - I feel certain the Repubs would have denigrated her and gone with the 'strong, white bread man'. It's a zero sum 'game'.

I am glad there will be no advertising today; but after the last couple of days, it is just as fake and insincere as McCain has become.

Did LOVE the conciliatory tone Joe S seemed to show Bob Schieffer this morning. Of course, they are both Repubs, so it was easier for Joe to act respectful.

Clara Kansas City, MO (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:39 AM)

How long did Democrats (and they do STILL) distort and take out of context the 100 years in Iraq comment? Obama does it on a nearly daily basis. Lipstick on a pig is no different.

Democrats, Keepers of the Double Standard (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:40 AM)

"Sinner" Sarah is just the Britney Spears - Paris Hilton of the repugnant ones decrepit party. She has proven she's just another pork barrel politician that she now rails against. Her constant lyying to overinflate her record is just more typical politics of the repugnant ones. They haven't been reborn, that's just another lie from the same old party of liars and thieves.

Yep the Dumb and Dumber ticket is just practicing the old saying of HL Mencken that "no one ever lost money underestimating the taste of the American public". The Dumb and Dumber ticket is counting on small minded bigotted Americans making the stupid decision to elect them to power so they can have more irresponsible tax cuts for the rich and greedy.

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:40 AM)

Why is it that both Democratic and Republican “strategists” and media pundits are constantly offering the Obama campaign condescending “advice” on their every move, while the McCain campaign is not only allowed to LIE with impunity, but is then PRAISED for it as great political strategy?

Why does the media ALWAYS run with McCain campaign talking points FIRST, and then fact check LATER? This disturbing pattern from the media has been repeated again and again.

Remember the media running with the McCain campaign accusations against Senator Obama about:
- Not taking public financing for his campaign (Based on a CONDITIONAL statement on a questionnaire?)

- Flip flopping on his Iraq timetable? (Based on a willingness to modify plans as needed based on conditions on the ground)

- Playing the Race card? (Based on a benign comment about not looking like previous Presidents?)

- Not visiting injured troops in Germany? (Based on a cynical Republican ploy to criticize Senator Obama for whether he went to the base or not!)

- The latest “lipstick” debacle? (Taking a commonly used phrase and implying that it refers to something that it CLEARLY does not!)

Each and every time, the media runs with the McCain spin, ignores all evidence to the contrary, and then decides it was much ado about nothing 4 days later. Each time the analysis follows a predictable pattern:

- The McCain campaign is declared the winner for providing another distraction from the issues.

- If the Obama campaign doesn’t address the phony scandal immediately, they are accused of being “flat footed” and “losing control” of the news cycle.

- If the Obama campaign addresses the phony scandal of the day, the talk immediately turns to Senator Obama being “off his game” and needing to “focus on the issues”.

- The McCain campaign is never held accountable for all the lies and contradictions, the media just buries a watery “fact check” at the end of the newscast.

Is this the best we can expect for the next 2 months?

WHY are John McCain and Sarah Palin allowed to tell LIES?

Why does Barack Obama require 20 months of “vetting”, but John McCain and Sarah Palin are given a free pass?

Why are John McCain and Sarah Palin never called on their contradictions with THEMSELVES?

Why are so many Americans willing to put their trust in LIARS?

P.S. The Republican Party has used 9/11 as a bludgeon and a shield long enough - time to take our country back.

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:41 AM)

Dear Firstread,

You all, and other MSM keep asking, "What does Obama Biden need to do to" get the MSM off the lipstick & other untruths? HA HA HA .... What does Obama Biden need to do, YOU ASK?

Let me ask YOU, who decides what YOU ALL report? Is it Obama or Biden?

Here is what the MSM is ALLOWING, through THEIR silence and THEIR inability to hold lying politicians accountable: - The Karl Rove Coup.... Yes, that is what the MSM is allowing ... NOT Obama and NOT Biden.... TIS YOU ALL in the MSM.

It is simple really, Karl Rove is conjuring the biggest political coup in the history of the world...... Seriously, Rove/Schmidt REFUSE to allow Palin to answer any questions from the press ...... Rove/Schmidt REFUSE to let Palin answer questions from the press during the 10 hour plane ride to Alaska..... Rove/Schmidt gave the one and only interview to the lamest journalist they could find......At the end of the day, come Nov 4 - if McCain wins ..... This will be the FIRST TIME in, not only American history, but the history of civilized society where the 2nd in Command - a heartbeat away from No. 1 - is a complete UNKNOWN except for scripted speeches which were written by George Bush's speech writer, one interview, one debate has won..... THAT, America, will be the BIGGEST COUP one could imagine .... And, as was the case with the Iraq War, the MSM, MSNBC, CNN et all, just SIT BACK AND LET IT HAPPEN....

I know, I know, you guys in the media are so egotistical YOU certainly know that spending 3 days on a lie from the McCain camp - pigs & lipstick - is much more newsworthy than pointing out, for the public, for the VOTERS each candidates policies, the fact that GOP in Michigan are setting the stage so people whose homes have been foreclosed will be REFUSED their rights to vote.

America, as MSM sit on their hands and spend days on end talking DRIVEL .... Karl Rove is pulling off the biggest political COUP in the history of ALL civilized societies known to man.

Ben, Etown, Kentucky (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:41 AM)

FR: There were several stories lost in yesterday’s “lipstick on a pig” faux controversy.

What's 'faux' about it? Obama looks for any slight aginst him to call it racisim. Don't see you, or any one else for that matter, calling that 'faux'. Obama is the one engaging in Playground Rhetoric. He's the one leading the charge to slander Palin's gender, her family, and anything else he can dig dirt up on. This is not a 'faux' issue. What it does display is Obama's very poor judgement.

Kyan H., Manchester NH (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:43 AM)

The campaign protection of Palin is stunning. It must be tough have a running mate who might say God knows what to an interviewer.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:46 AM)

first read do you really trust john mccain and the rest of the republican tribe to really follow through with this, i bet you a 20.00 donation to the barack obama campaign that john mccain will air a ad saying that obama said something and caused his to break this day of silence. do you want any of this, does any body want any of this action.

jeff D Evanston IL. (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:47 AM)

So now Biden even knows that Hillary was a better choice for VP. Everyone in American knew Hillary was a better choice, except Barack Obama. With Hillary on the ticket, there would not have been a Sarah Palin on the ticket with McCain, and the election would have been a wrap for Obama. Poor judgement Obama. Poor judgement. You left your hate for Hillary get in the way of winning.

FTH - NE (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:47 AM)

Hey First Read: Isn't it YOUR SACRED RESPONSIBILITY (and your colleagues' jobs at other news organizations) to amplify stories about corruption in a woman running for Vice President? Or can you only print what the Obama campaign sends you press releases about? I'm amazed at the TOTAL LACK of a sense of responsibility that journalists have anymore. You all seem to be much more interested in getting on TV than in doing the job that the fourth estate should be doing.

Amazed American (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:48 AM)

Prayers go out to all the victims families.

MIA in Miami (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:48 AM)

halted smearing for a day DONT YOU BELIEVE IT

mike ca (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:50 AM)

So now if this country elects McCain, a republican president, and the congress stays virtually the same without filibuster proof majority, we will be virtually in the exact same position as we have always been! I am soooo disgusted with the gullible Americans who really think McCain/Palin are for change!! Give me a break! If the republicans win again, this country is truly lost. P.S. The only reason why no one is talking about Biden is because, you, the media, don't give him the same coverage! All I hear about is what Obama should or should not do, what he has done wrong, how he's handled things wrong, oh, and then there's a little blurb about Palin and you don't hear about it again! Why is the media not harping on the fact that we may possibly have a V.P. or even a President who is AFRAID to talk to the press? Don't the republicans and John McCain OWE it to the American public to let us (through the media) ask her questions that have no rehearsed answers or speeches written for her? I can't believe the media is letting them get away with this! The election is only 60 or so days away! DO YOUR JOBS!

New Independent (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:50 AM)

There are some low information voters out there willing to vote on emotion and faux issues...

Palin-Mccain represents the status quo with a coat of lipstick on it....the very people they appeal to are the ones who have lost the most economically the past 8 years...but

They still cling to their guns and religion while blaming first affirmative action and now immigrants for their sorry lives...

Vote Palin-Mccain for more of the same

Ralph Malph (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:51 AM)

The lipstick thing: The Democrats have proven feckless in such galactic fashion, buyer's remorse would be a useful term if not for the insult to those actually buying products and feeling remorse for having done so. The pandering racist and socialist from Illinois personifies disingenuinity -- poorly prepared to act as a stump speaker, even less prepared to assume a civil service job above animal shelter janitor.

Anticipate more of the poison and vitriol uniquely possessed by the left wing and liberal factions -- I refer to them as "illegitimate Americans" -- qualified to do nothing but demonstrate the strength of our nation can be found by our tolerance for imbeciles masquerading as freedom loving human beings.

Spider Dan (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:51 AM)

First Read,

Sarah Palin has been the nominee for two weeks, hasn't done an interview, hasn't had a debate, has lied every day, and just on the strength of her nic nice glasses, you are reporting that the Republican party is back?

This is the kind of "journalism" that makes my blood boil!

You ask if the NUMEROUS ETHICAL PROBLEMS surrounding Sarah Palin will "stick" - don't YOU decide what you report? Or this an admission that you get your marching orders from the corporate office?

It is interesting to watch celebrity reporters who's idea of a hard day's work is retyping the McCain press release as a "news story" are so cavalier with MY FUTURE!

Where is the beef?

Where is John McCain's economic plan? Health care plan? What are the SPECIFICS?

When are you going to DO YOUR DAMN JOBS?

Stop wasting time on all this random, irrelevent BS!

DEMAND that John McCain and Sarah Palin ANSWER QUESTIONS! You are following them around ALL DAY - you CAN ask a question - you don't need their PERMISSION!

You are supposed to be the FREE PRESS! WTF is going on here?

This is not a game - this is my kids FUTURE!

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:52 AM)

Kudos to Keith Olbermann regarding his special comments on the GOP perversive use of 9/11. Also credit goes to Richard Wolffe who does understand the journalistic ethics involved when the media reports a story of half-truths WHEN THE MEDIA KNOWS THEY ARE HALF-TRUTHS. McCain and the media should be figuring out that when you lose your credibility, you have nothing. Just ask Fox noise. Last thought on the media: Every day that passes that issues are not front and center is a day in which the media did not serve the American People. Teasing out both sides of an issue is more important than lipstick on a pig.

That being said, a comment about Palin. Investigative reporting will show that Palin is just another politician. Troopergate, those 1100 emails lying about the Bridge-to-Nowhere will sink-in and moderate Americans will take a second look.

Chuck Todd commented we are in a slow period before the first debate. That may be true, but is not an excuse to avoid staying focused on what both parties are saying about the issues.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:52 AM)

IN HARM’S WAY
McBush has conspired to put the American people IN HARM’S WAY --- both in terns of the Iraq war and the dismal economy. McSame has neither the intellect, temperament, or inclination to get us out of either quagmire. Why anyone would vote to prolong the misery of the last eight years is quite beyond this independent.

Carrie in TX (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:53 AM)

Mark! How dare you raise any questions about Sarah Palin's record? Don't you know that asking questions about her record is SEXIST? That you are a blood thirsty wolf trying to SAVAGE our poor defenseless Sarah? Don't you know that you should accept whatever the McCain campaign says about Palin without question? As a member of the McCain "base", when will you learn your place?

Forget all that stuff you learned in Journalism school, stick with the program or lose your place at the BBQ.

Ed, Watertown MA (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:54 AM)

After reading the many post and watching the media I have come to the conclusion that U.S. congress should pass a law changing the right to vote to a privilage.
That every four years a voter if he wishs to vote must take a litmus or responsibilty test,they could keep it rather simple oh say five questions,this years
Do you know the issues facing the country.
Do you care about the issues facing the country or even care about the country.
Do you think lipstick on animals or sexiam is more important than the issues.
Do you believe that the candidates should have some knowledge of the issues.
Do you believe that an election should be based on issues or should be a popularity contest.
Now to pas the test you would have to get four out of five correct if not you would be required to take a course in civics and American history,now I know we would have to set up many more schools to qualify the populance but at least the fellow across the pond wouldn't be able to say "America is a land of bright lights and a lot of dim blubs".I think it would be worth it...

Robert N.Y. (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:55 AM)

I swear, I think the Dems are honestly wondering what the heck they are going to do now that their top-ticket candidate is proving daily he's not even close to being ready for the job and their second-ticket candidate actively went out and admitted he's not qualified in front of an audience with cameras present.

Kimberly Townson, Jackson MS (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:56 AM)

Obama just does not get. DNC liberals just do not get it. It is not about lipstick on pig. It is about the following

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In “The Hunt for Sarah October,” the Wall Street Journal’s John Fund writes about a 30-lawyer S.W.A.T. team of Obama Democrats descending on Alaska in search of dirt related to “Palin’s troopergate.” They found nothing that hasn’t already aired about Palin’s alcoholic ex-brother-in-law who tasered his stepson.
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No doubt most Americans want to see change.

Have you seen tiny bit of change by Chicago political poker players?

But People do breathe some fresh air from Alaska and they hope more.

And now Obama and DNC liberals are trying to kill the fresh source.

It is the time and opportunity to push real change in this country.

Do not just sit in church. Come out and join the force.

jy2008 (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:56 AM)

On this sad day in American history, we're reminded of the Fact that our President at that time ( Cowboy George) chose Revenge at Sadamm Hussein for a socalled attempt to asassinate his dad, instead of aggresively Pursueing Osama Bin laden for the American people.

George Bush chose to " Cut & Run" from a fight that every American willfully wanted!

Never forget that, America !

I have'nt !

Rick,Ky (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:57 AM)

From the Bloomberg Press . Com 9/10/2008..'Reduces Production'
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aYdZoyTvFrTc&refer=home

BJ, CA (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:58 AM)

jaycee,

Good to see you posting again, but I'm sorry. I have to disagree. I will hold Sarah Palin and John McCain RESPONSIBLE for EACH AND EVERY LIE THEY TELL. And I will call them LIARS because THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE.

Now that's some STRAIGHT TALK for you.

Sarah Palin does not get to be ATTACK DOG when it is convenient for her and PAMPERED POODLE when she is called on her BS.

The double standards must stop. Time to FORCE the media to do their jobs - and if they won'd do it, then we will do it for them.

John McCain and Sarah Palin are surrounded by people every day. Somebody needs to break up these dog and pony shows they are running and ASK A QUESTION!

THIS IS STILL AMERICA last time I checked - they don't get to make up their own facts and they are not ABOVE being QUESTIONED!

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:58 AM)

My rant of the day:

We are Americans first and foremost. Though some of us equate ourselves as Democrats, Republicans and Independents, please keep in mind that the one unifying quality in all of us is that we are Americans.

In this 2008 Presidential election year, the media and the campaigns have all but forgotten that this is OUR country. This is OUR government. And, more importantly, this is OUR Presidential election. I seem to remember a speech called the Gettysburg Address, given by President Lincoln, the founding father of the current Republican Party. In it he states “and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

What strikes me most about this is in the context of what we are seeing today. A relatively unknown Vice-Presidential nominee that WE, THE PEOPLE, deserve to learn anything and everything about. Yet, the McCain campaign continues to hide her from the media, and consequently, from us. They will not allow any reporters to be “on the record” when traveling with her. WE, as Americans, deserve to know and hear and see everything. WE are the ones who will decide if she becomes VP. We are the ones who will elect her.

We have 8 weeks until an election that will choose the next President and Vice President of these United States of America. The thought that a campaign would openly and contritely mock the American people, and yet have us believe that they have OUR best interest in mind, goes beyond all human and rational thought.

WE, the American people, demand answers. WE demand to know the truths. We demand to hear from the nominees themselves. We demand that the media, be it television, radio or print, do their respective jobs as journalists and find the truth. We demand an election that is about the issues facing us. We demand that the campaigns stay away from and out of our polling stations.

These are our demands, and we have every plausible right to ask them, because, in the end, we are Americans first, and this is OUR government.

Blade, SC (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:59 AM)

Palin is no reformer. The more stories that come out of Alaska only go to show that she's just another corrupt Alaskan politician.

Overall, the electoral looks pretty good for the time being.

http://www.rodneyhopper.com

Rodney Hopper, Waxahachie, TX (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:59 AM)

Has anyone noticed that the ticket of mccain/palin have both candidates with ethics investigations into their abuse of political power?

Obama/Biden do not. This is a major issue.

It would appear that in order to have 'values' in America all you have to do is 'say' you are pro-choice and then you get to tell bald face lies, slander the reputations of others, cheat, use deciet, steal and distort the truth with no consequences for said behavior!

G-d is giving us a choice, and if we choose liars we will get the consequences (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:59 AM)

I just wish Bill and Hillary would put all they have in to beating the GOP. Get off the side lines and fight for a country we all want.Go all in.

Joe Jarolim Hatboro,PA (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:00 AM)

Message to Obama:

Attack Attack Attack.

Pick a simple theme, just like they did ("not ready to lead"). And repeat it over and over again. Don't be scared of the blow back, you will be attacked no matter what you do. So hit first.

Here are some good story lines that are actually true:

McPalin can't be trusted not to turn over our government to their cronies.

Call on McCain to his fire senior adviser Charlie Black, a big time K street lobbyist whose clients have included the governments of Zaire and Angola. Make McCain defend Black.

McCain has a history of temper control problems. He is too volatile to be trusted with the country's nuclear launch codes.

Sarah Palin has violated the public trust by using her office to advance her personal agendat.

Rapps (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:01 AM)

I just can't imagine this protective shield they have over Palin can continue. This will backfire at some point. The American people are not that dumb....are they????

Battleground polls still look good for Obama. OH is a biggie, and Obama's lead is out of the range of error. If this turns into 2004 all over again, and OH is the exception, hello President Obama!

Rob, Warwick, NY (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:02 AM)

Today's ceasefire has nothing to do with sincerity. It is about respect for the families and victims.

DUH!

Barack My World (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:03 AM)

Obama is right when he states that the GOP is all about lies, fake outrage and swiftboat politics. Lets face it America it's all about DIVERSIONS inorder not to defend the pathetic 8 years of the Shrub. For you still disgruntled Hillery supportors who are still bitter and voting for McSHAME do not come crying to others when Roe v Wade is slowly but surely overturned and your future daughters, sisters, nieces have no other choice but back alley abortions, when future generations are stuck with billion dollar deficits, when inflation is worst do not complain, when your sons are shipped off to another corporate/neocon fascist induced war in Iran do not complain, when secret wire taps are the norm w/o warrents in the name of security keep quiet, when are so called independent media are soley enablers, and when a complete nobody becomes a heart beat away from the presidency WITHOUT BEING VETTED and anyone who dares to question her is labeled a sexist is beyound belief. America it's a sad day when Palin can get away with regurgitating someone else's talking points i.e., "Thanks but no thanks to the bridge to nowhere...." and allow her to not be interviewed by independent media is beyound belief. Are we that gullible as people?Regardless of political affiliation if we allow ourselves to be taken as fools WE THE PEOPLE do not as Ben Franklin stated if we forgo liberty for security we deserve neither. What do you think the gop as been so successful?

Juan, Ft. Lauderdale,Fl (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:05 AM)

"*** Investigate this: Of course, with those energized crowds and polls suggesting that Palin has been a boon to McCain, it’s worth noting all the potentially damaging stories out there about the Alaska governor . . . Will any of these stories have legs, though?"

So give the stories legs media. Or rather, stop focusing on the fake controversies and whining of the McCain campaign and investgate real issues regarding Sarah Palin. Or would that be somehow "sexist"?

Josh, NY (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:05 AM)

I remember Donna in NJ admonishing the Obama supporters because we were FEELING and not THINKING in regards to our candidate.

However, I hear on Morning Joe today that this is why Sarah is winning for the GOP - people FEEL they know her - never mind thinking, people. She FEELS good.

They found "their Obama".

Wow. I guess imitation really IS the sincerest form of flattery.

According to the GOP, we are a nation of whiners who needs a mommy.

Newsflash - I am a mommy. That does NOT qualify me to be VP. How asinine would it sound if Obama said - "vote for me, I'm a daddy"? You cons would be screaming on this blog!

Please explain the difference - if you can.

MI Chick (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:06 AM)

The campaign protection of Palin is stunning. It must be tough have a running mate who might say God knows what to an interviewer.

Paul Miller, Woodbridge, VA

Think Palin will dodge a question with the 'It's above my pay grade' excuse?

HR Salomon, SF CA (Sent Thursday, September 11, 2008 10:06 AM)

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