McCain's VP:

John McCain's presidential campaign has shielded the first-term Alaska governor for weeks from spontaneous questions from voters and reporters, and went to striking lengths Tuesday to maintain that distance as Palin made her diplomatic debut.

The GOP campaign, applying more restrictive rules on access than even President Bush uses in the White House, banned reporters from the start of the meetings, so as not to risk a question being asked of Palin.

McCain aides relented after news organizations objected and CNN, which was supplying TV footage to a variety of networks, decided to pull its TV crew from Palin's meeting with Karzai.

Overheard: small talk.

Palin is studying foreign policy ahead of her one debate with Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden, a senator with deep credentials on that front. More broadly, the Republican ticket is trying to counter questions exploited by Democrats about her qualifications to serve as vice president and step into the presidency at a moment's notice if necessary.

There was no chance of putting such questions to rest with photo opportunities Tuesday.

So if these guys get elected, is Biden supposed to go out there and proclaim policy different than Obama's? He works for Obama. Something I haven't mentioned, Biden has criticized Obama's ads against McCain, and actually the man is right, the ad was a loser and stupid, but does Obama take kindly to that kind of talk?

Fact, ci, Biden is a "piece of work."

The difference is big. Biden is a much bigger loose cannon than Cheney ever was.

Diest TKO wrote:

In simple terms Berger, I don't think you'd approve of any criticism given to her.

You would be wrong.

Diest TKO wrote:

In more complex terms, I think your use of denigrate is impregnated with a suggestion that Obama has participated in some systemic sexist pandering to voters.

And you would be wrong again. I used the term as it is defined to describe the attacks on Palin's fundamental Christian faith and family.

Deist TKO wrote:

Get your attack straight; regroup your thoughts, then try again.

What is it?

Her actions as governor are not off limits: "Troopergate" is fair game.

Of ourse it is but it is nothing more than an attempt to denigrate her. Do you think any respondent in an exit poll will say that he did not vote for McCain because Palin fired a guy whom she had appointed to serve at her pleasure when he gave her reason to no longer be pleased by his actions?

Deist TKO wrote:

She is now a part of a campaign that has largely leveraged the argument that Obama does not have enough experience. Obama has every right to illustrate the double standard.

Yes he does, but the difference in the experience record of Palin as Mayor and Governor is far deeper than Obama's tissue thin one.

Deist TKO wrote:

As for her youngest child, It's not Obama that is promoting this idea. He doesn't need to get involved. It's media created. Just like the media memes against Obama ala "secret Muslim."

Actually it was blogs populated by Dems specializing in denigrating smears.

Deist TKO wrote:

If McCain thinks he can bait the public and then simply cry foul to bargain a sympathy vote into the oval office, he's wrong. Every chance McCain has had to win, he has thrown away for the hope that attack ads would do the job.

Attack ads work because people have become cynical, but after the last 7.5 years, people have become cynical enough to question whether or not they are being manipulated. This is why Obama does so well when he put out a 2minute ad that talks about his plan for the economy and doesn't even have to mention McCain or Bush.

You'll figure it out before McCain does though.

Obama supporters will figure out that this election is going to be Mondale, McGovern, Gore, Kerry redux after the 3 debates the evasive Mr. Obama will have with the straight talking McCain. Ditto for the Palin-Biden debates.

So when Palin mixes religion and politics it's okay,

False premise. It is her critics who are confusing her religion with her politics. Teaching children widely held alternative theories to that of the theory of evolution is education, not mixing religion with politics.

but the press can't question her on it?
Of course they can, on her schedule...not theirs.

If she is going to leverage her beliefs as a selling point, they deserve criticism.

Why do her beliefs deserve criticism?

Who is attacking her family? Names please, and what office they are running for.

You can start with the Daily Kos and Huffington Post to educate yourself in that regard.

Berger wrote:

Deist TKO wrote:

Get your attack straight; regroup your thoughts, then try again.

What is it?

Her actions as governor are not off limits: "Troopergate" is fair game.

Of ourse it is but it is nothing more than an attempt to denigrate her. Do you think any respondent in an exit poll will say that he did not vote for McCain because Palin fired a guy whom she had appointed to serve at her pleasure when he gave her reason to no longer be pleased by his actions?

"Of [c]ourse it is but..."

Basically it's fair but you just don't like it.

Berger wrote:

Deist TKO wrote:

She is now a part of a campaign that has largely leveraged the argument that Obama does not have enough experience. Obama has every right to illustrate the double standard.

Yes he does, but the difference in the experience record of Palin as Mayor and Governor is far deeper than Obama's tissue thin one.

"yes he does, but..."

Basically it's fair, but you just don't like it.

Berger wrote:

Deist TKO wrote:

As for her youngest child, It's not Obama that is promoting this idea. He doesn't need to get involved. It's media created. Just like the media memes against Obama ala "secret Muslim."

Actually it was blogs populated by Dems specializing in denigrating smears.

I don't know where to begin with ignorance like this...

Pass.

1) Blogs? How is this even relevant?
2) What the hell does populated mean? That democrats read it, but nobody knows who writes it?
3) You state but provide zero proof that this idea was founded by democrats.
4) Even if it was true, and you could prove that a democrat came up with the idea, it still wouldn't have come from the Obama campaign so once again, how is this relevant?
5) The use of "Actually" is in response to my claim that it is media created. If you are putting the blame on blogs, the blogs are part of the media. Your point is null.

Berger wrote:

Deist TKO wrote:

If McCain thinks he can bait the public and then simply cry foul to bargain a sympathy vote into the oval office, he's wrong. Every chance McCain has had to win, he has thrown away for the hope that attack ads would do the job.

Attack ads work because people have become cynical, but after the last 7.5 years, people have become cynical enough to question whether or not they are being manipulated. This is why Obama does so well when he put out a 2minute ad that talks about his plan for the economy and doesn't even have to mention McCain or Bush.

You'll figure it out before McCain does though.

Obama supporters will figure out that this election is going to be Mondale, McGovern, Gore, Kerry redux after the 3 debates the evasive Mr. Obama will have with the straight talking McCain. Ditto for the Palin-Biden debates.

Evasive Mr. Obama? You've got another thing coming... in two days at that. As for VP debates, there is only one, so I'm not sure what you are talking about. I'll assume you misspoke.

I thought there were 2 VP debates but I may be mistaken about that.

In all honesty what Friday's debate will be about is who can make the other play their game. Neither Obama nor McCain are great debaters. However, based on Obama's performance lately with say a large interview with someone grilling him (O'Reilly), I think he's been polishing his skills.

I think once America sees that the straight talk about policies comes from Obama,

Our opinions differ on that.

and McCain doesn't have anything new to offer,

I hope not. I like the maverick we know and don't want him to change.

Obama wins.

Perhaps he will. We shall see how he does against the straight talker on ISSUES without the personal negative references directed at McCain.

T
K
O

False premise. It is her critics who are confusing her religion with her politics. Teaching children widely held alternative theories to that of the theory of evolution is education, not mixing religion with politics.

Just heard Biden giving a foreign policy speech. He says Obama is prepared to be President and McCain isn't. Wonder if he thinks that is because of Obama's:

1. Vast foreign policy experience

2. Extensive military training and service.

3. His anit-war stance.

4. His vote against funding the troops in Iraq.

5. Associations over the past 20 years with the Chicago political machine, Bill Ayres, Rev. Wright...?

Just heard Biden giving a foreign policy speech. He says Obama is prepared to be President and McCain isn't. Wonder if he thinks that is because of Obama's:

1. Vast foreign policy experience

2. Extensive military training and service.

3. His anit-war stance.

4. His vote against funding the troops in Iraq.

5. Associations over the past 20 years with the Chicago political machine, Bill Ayres, Rev. Wright...?