First thoughts: 72 hours

Gregory Peek, Buirmingham, Alabama — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:05:18 GMT

Barack Obama carries our candle. The darkness will try to put it out.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Gregory Peek, Birmingham, Alabama — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:07:23 GMT

Looking at the Bush-McCain record, we all know that America can do better.

America needs Obama.

First thoughts: 72 hours

katiec Pekin, IL — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:10:02 GMT

Go Democrats.
We need each and every one of you to cast your
votes for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
We will not let anything stop us this time!!

First thoughts: 72 hours

BJ, CA — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:16:48 GMT

General Powell could not have said it more precise..
Their is a real lack of judgment seen in the republican party to seat a person that has no clue or wisdom to move this country forward from war...
Change must be complete and at ever level..
Sarah Palin is not and will never be equiped to hold the office..She has abused her power as Governor and that speaks volumes to what might happen being one heartbeat away from the oval office...

First thoughts: 72 hours

Eric, Salinas, CA — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:21:45 GMT

What Me Worry? I'm Confortably Numb here in California! I'm just enjoying the last days of the desperate McNasty campaign and am savoring the last few days as Obama's large lead stays strong. I'm enjoying how desperate the conservative pundits are becoming.

Hey Carrie Dann thanks very much for being up and at 'em so early this fine Saturday morning. I hope that you'll learn more about AC/DC in that they're not an arena band, they are the world's greatest heavy metal band. I was so disgusted when "Sinister" Sarah trotted out to the groups's great song "Thunderstruck". She should have used "Lawbreaker" because that's what she is.

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

First thoughts: 72 hours

Romeo Delta — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:23:50 GMT

1 poll shows McCain up yesterday. A few more will show him winning today. 4-5 more will show him up tommorrow. It's amazing how the poll numbers change when the pollsters include a few Republicans.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Eric, Salinas, CA — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:26:00 GMT

I so love that Obama is taking the fight to McNasty in the red states. Old McNasty has to keep on defense and that's why he's going to lose. He wasted too much time and money in PA and that's why he's going to lose many red states.

The only sad thing about the election coming to a close is that there's only one more night of the Daily Show and the Colbert Report before the election. They have done a great job of parodying Indecision '08. There doesn't seem to be any indecision this time around and there won't be any problems with a close election where the repugnant ones can cry to their packed Supreme Court to steal away the election.

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

First thoughts: 72 hours

Eric, Salinas, CA — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:29:55 GMT

Only 3 more days until we get get to hear the repugnant ones whine about losing and losing big. I think it's so funny that "Sinister" Sarah is going to a meeting of repugnant ones to plot their future, which is bleak, 2 days after the election. That says it all as far as how they think they'll do Tuesday.

Anyone who thinks that "Sinner" Sarah is the future of their decrepit shrinking party then they have no clue or integrity. Their only hope is to ship that fraud back to the deep freeze and tell her to never come back to the lower 48. "Sinner" Sarah is the biggest reason why McNasty lost this election so badly.

Go Obama/Biden 08/12!

First thoughts: 72 hours

Robert Holland, Stuart, Florida — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:31:52 GMT

Chuck and colleagues - you always have great and insightful updates - keep them rolling the next three days. Thanks for the great work.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Sophia L. Beck Laramie Wy — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:36:36 GMT

History is in the making---barriers are being broken for the first time since Kennedy and of course 1975-

GO VOTE FOR OBAMA-BREAK THE BARRIER AND BE PART
OF HISTORY!!! LETS BREAK THAT GLASS CEILING!!!

I VOTED EARLY FOR OBAMA-

First thoughts: 72 hours

Josh Wagner, Sarasota, FL — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:44:40 GMT

How Low Can It Go? Richardson Pegs Middle Class as Those Making Under $120,000
For the second time in a week, a prominent Democrat has downgraded Barack Obama's definition of the middle class.
"What Barack wants to do is he is basically looking at $120,000 and under among those that are in the middle class, and there is a tax cut for those," Richardson said in the interview, according to a clip posted on YouTube.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Sandy Moore, Toledo, OH — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:45:32 GMT

AP: Obama’s aunt living in U.S. illegally. Barack Obama's aunt, a Kenyan woman who has been quietly living in public housing in Boston, is in the United States illegally after an immigration judge rejected her request for asylum four years ago, The Associated Press has learned.
Zeituni Onyango, 56, referred to as "Aunti Zeituni" in Obama's memoir, was instructed to leave the United States by a U.S. immigration judge who denied her asylum request, a person familiar with the matter told the AP late Friday.
The disclosure about Onyango came just one day after Obama's presidential campaign confirmed to the Times of London that Onyango, who has lived quietly in public housing in South Boston for five years, was Obama's half aunt on his father's side.
It was not immediately clear how Onyango might have qualified for public housing with a standing deportation order.
Onyango is not a relative whom Obama has discussed in campaign appearances and, unlike Obama's father and grandmother, is not someone who has been part of the public discussion about his personal life. Obama has not commented on this matter.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Felix Pinol, Clearwater, Fl. — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 14:49:00 GMT

I'm a registered Republican but a McCain presidency scares me. I'd much rather have a thoughtful, intelligent advice seeker siting in the oval office than a "maverick" with a Napoleon complex who thinks he "knows how to do that", siting there with his finger on a nuclear button.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Felix Pinol — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Yesterday, Gov. Schwarzenegger and Sen. McCain rallied against the contributions from Americans raised by Sen. Obama and predicted a "back-lash". They wish. These contributions pale in comparison to the Billions of tax deductible payments given to Washington lobbyist to influence legislation in their favor, some at the detriment of the middle class, the American people and our National interests. I believe the American people have exercised their "free speech" rights. Unfortunately, McCain and the Republican campaign would like to stifle that right along with the Constitutional the Bush Administration has trampled.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Kevin St Pete FL — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:01:02 GMT

This is going to get nastier and nastier by the second. To ALL Obama Supporters, keep hanging in there, keep getting the word out to vote. No one promised you that this would be easy, and I share in your stripe that you have received from the RNC, the Right Wing Media, and the McCain Campaign. TO ALL MINORITY VOTERS: STOP AT NOTHING!!! GO FOR BROKE!!! WE HAVE COME TOO FAR TO LET UP NOW, SO KEEP THE PRESSURE UP, AND THAT GOES TRIPPLE FOR FLORIDIANS LIKE ME!!!

GOBAMA
GO BO/JOE
OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12

First thoughts: 72 hours

Kevin St Pete FL — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:01:42 GMT

This is going to get nastier and nastier by the second. To ALL Obama Supporters, keep hanging in there, keep getting the word out to vote. No one promised you that this would be easy, and I share in your stripes that you have received from the RNC, the Right Wing Media, and the McCain Campaign. TO ALL MINORITY VOTERS: STOP AT NOTHING!!! GO FOR BROKE!!! WE HAVE COME TOO FAR TO LET UP NOW, SO KEEP THE PRESSURE UP, AND THAT GOES TRIPPLE FOR FLORIDIANS LIKE ME!!!

GOBAMA
GO BO/JOE
OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12

First thoughts: 72 hours

katiec Pekin, IL — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:04:58 GMT

Hey MSNBC, are you going to post our comments???

First thoughts: 72 hours

Aretha, Tuscaloosa, Alabama — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:05:43 GMT

Has anyone not recognized that the problem with voting is complicated by all the additional items on the ballots...The Presidential Election should not mixed with all the other state elections. People recognize the names "OBAMA" or "MCCAIN"! We are consumed with and trying to pay attention the TOP and need to pay just as much attention to the local...we believe they should be seperate!

First thoughts: 72 hours

Mary SMith — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:08:12 GMT

One more countdown.

The good part: Bush has only 80 days left in office.

The bad part: With the distraction of the elections, he is trying to do the most damage possible before he leaves! WAKE UP!

First thoughts: 72 hours

Cindi in Louisiana — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:10:26 GMT

As an Obama supporter, I think he needs to make a trip back to Pennsylvania!I've been playing Chuck Todd and the way I see it, if he holds serve in this state, things are looking good, ( even if he loses NC, Florida, and Ohio) but if he somehow loses here, then we might be in for a long night!

First thoughts: 72 hours

BWS WILKESBORO,N.C. — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:12:39 GMT

WISH JUST ONCE JOHN WOULD TELL US OLD VETS WHAT WINNING IN IRAQ IS, WHAT IS VICTORY PLEASE TELL US QUIT LYING AND TELL US WHERE OSAMA BEN LADEN IS YOU SAY YOU KNOW HOW TO GET HIM PLEASE TELL YOUR HERO GENERAL PETRAUS WHERE HEIS AND IM SURE HE WILL SEND TROOPS TO KILL HIM.GIVE US SOME STRAIGHT TALK FOR ONSE IF YOU HAVENT FORGOT HOW.

First thoughts: 72 hours

REV. WRIGHT'S "BLACK WELFARE THEOLOGY" ??? — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:13:41 GMT

OBAMA SAID --- YOU ARE "SELFISH" IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO GIVE "TAX REBATES" TO THOSE

WHO DO NOT PAY ANY INCOME TAXES!

(IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO EXPAND "WELFARE" ... YOU ARE SELFISH?)

OBAMA HAS A PERVERTED SENSE OF FAIRNESS & JUSTICE ...

AND IT IS BASED ON REV. WRIGHT'S SERMONS ON "BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY."

APPARENTLY --- REV. WRIGHT'S "BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY" IS A WELFARE THEOLOGY.
======================================================
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First thoughts: 72 hours

Jim Patrck, Buffalo, NY — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:28:24 GMT

"With Senator John McCain lagging behind in the polls and many other Republicans fighting for their political lives, the nation’s top Republican — President Bush — is intentionally lying low this week, and is likely to do so until after Americans cast their ballots to pick his successor.”

But this Bush isn't idle. Characteristically, he is using power, and the power to maintain power, to smear Obama. His precedent is the Nixon administration'a guideline, with homage to Lee Atwater and of course to Karl Rove: use the levers of governance to cling to power.

The most recent example is Bush's use of his administration to leak to AP that Barack Obama has an aunt (or half-aunt) who has defied the ruling that she has been denied refugee status and must return to Kenya.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Cindi in Louisiana — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:31:09 GMT

First thoughts: 72 hours

mrspeel, Bristol RI — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:33:38 GMT

I'm amazed that all the candidates aren't in emotional meltdown with the schedules they keep during these campaigns. I just can't comprehend how they all just keep going and going and still manage to look like it's the first day of the campaigns and even look like they're enjoying themselves.

No matter who we're backing to win this election, we have to give them all props for their wholehearted dedication to getting the job done!

First thoughts: 72 hours

Cindi in Louisiana — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:33:42 GMT

God, how many elections have the "repugnant ones" stolen?? Of course, we all know about 2000, but I have just heard pundits saying that Kerry was poling higher than Bush before Election Day and was doing better in the exit polling too, but yet George W. again emerged as the winner??? This is getting real smelly!

First thoughts: 72 hours

Teddy Ballgame — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:35:40 GMT

The candidates' travel schedule is certainly telling. The Palin/ McCain ticket (reversed order intentional) completes their final day of campaigning seperated and in their home states. I highly doubt Biden will be seeking the cozy confines of Delaware. I can't speak for anyone else, but if I'm feeling rejected, the sanctuary of "home" is certainly comforting.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Mishka Mehrens Queen Creek Az — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:37:49 GMT

I never voted for George Bush either time and I was devestated when he won. My husband voted for him which arroused some very heated discussions but I was always taught to have a mind of my own and to stand up for what I believe in. When I read that the GOP is practically hiding from George Bush it makes me sad y for Bush but for all those who cannot come out and say I voted for him he is our president but WE as the entire government screwed up. It was not just Bush. So Mr President I as a democrat and an Obama fan am going to reach across the isle to you and wish you well.
I also have to say I would never vote for a trader which is what I think McCain is for ditching Bush instead of owning up to the mistakes of his own (like voting for the war) and along wih Bush 90% of the time Shame on you McCain
Irish Catholic Democrat who will stand behind my decicion on Obama/Biden vote forever

First thoughts: 72 hours

indpendent for Obama — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:43:15 GMT

Here's McCain surprise. Obama's aunt. Although they can't verify it. Whatever. won't cahnge my vote.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Benny, SFBayArea, California — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:44:26 GMT

McCain heads to NY for one last comedic turn on Saturday Night Live. This is the future he has been working on since he and his running mate have become the butt of so many jokes this year. How a man of such integrity and honor could stoop so low is disturbing but at least we WILL have John and Sarah to laugh at for a few more years. The grist they have provided has everyone saying

"You can't make this stuff up"

Exit... Stage right Johnny

First thoughts: 72 hours

kathy, charlotte — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:45:29 GMT

That October surprise came a little late, but the Bush/McCain administration finally got to it. Turns out they have JUST discovered that BHO has an aunt living here in US illegally. I'm sure they will find a way to link it to Obama.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Paul LI, NY — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:48:44 GMT

I'm still worried about Pa. drove through Port Jervis last thursday night and all I saw was McCain Palin signs. Why isn't Joe Biden and Hillary out and about in Pa to make certain. If McCain is blocked in Pa he's done.Technically Rove is right you don't need a landslide just 270 to win.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Ro — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:50:38 GMT

I cannot wait until Tuesday. I'm looking forward to celebrating President-elect Obama. After the last eight years, this will be a relief.

First thoughts: 72 hours

Emil NYNY — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:50:44 GMT

What worries me, as well as other Dems, is that the big talkers from Generation Y (Why?) will take the day off to go shopping.

First thoughts: 72 hours

sotiredofignorance — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:55:22 GMT

Don't know how interested you are at First Read in the MN Senate Race, but Coleman got very testy with a voter in Moorhead, MN who asked him about the funds he is getting that may be illicit. The Fargo Forum is running an article on it and there is a tape at WDAY of when Coleman walks out of the conference.

Let me also add that he represents all of MN but never lets anyone know when he is going to sleaze into our area and face the voters. I don't know why he thinks he can just speak to supporters, but he is responsible to all of us. I would have gone to that presser if I had known about it.