Obama campaign must show strength and efficiency now to respond quickly to McCains speech. Correct any misled information about Obama's proposal especially to those non-decided voters. Do not let them swift boat you again.

Sent by J. J. | 1:44 AM ET | 09-05-2008

Is that all the Democrats have to do is run against George Bush? Who in the world came up with that lame game plan. They couldn't beat GW twice before and with much more compelling candidates than the inexperience orator they have now. So maybe they figure the third time is the charm....Well I got a news flash... George isn't running...he is not even on the ballot. And when you lose to McCain this time around then you really will have done something....lost to a candidate that wasn't even in the race.

Sent by Mike Cloghessy | 1:50 AM ET | 09-05-2008

One thing that Senator Obama needs to mention about the "surge" in Irak is that its success in reducing violence has been because the U.S. making deals and outright bribes with former enemies in order to have us in our sides. That emphasizes the point that the solution in Irak is not necessarilly military but political. Even half a million troops wouldn't make a difference in curbing violence without making deals with former enemies.

Sent by Henry Espinosa, SK2 (SW), USN | 2:50 AM ET | 09-05-2008

With all respect to Mike Cloghessy, George W. Bush certainly is on the ballot this year: It is no secret that Bush's last chance for a vindication of his legacy is to see a Republican successor elected and to prove that he has not sabotaged his party for the foreseeable future. Don't be disingenuous. A vote for McCain is essentially a avote of approval for the last eight years.

Sent by George | 7:49 AM ET | 09-05-2008

George has the truth of it. It has long been an accepted maxim of American politics that the election of a candidate of the same party after a two-term president is considered a sign that the voters approve of the policies of the previous administration.

It almost makes me pity McCain - forced to run on the record of a man he loathes. It must suck, but I guess that's the sort of sacrifice you make when you put winning ahead of anything else, including what's best for your country.

Sent by Kasreyn | 10:15 AM ET | 09-05-2008

China, North Korea, and Iran are hoping for a pushover in the White House so they will be voting for Obama. :) Obama is not bipartisan. McCain is. You can say McCain voted 100% with Bush but what I don't hear you saying is that the Democrats have enough of a majority that if they wanted change, they could have pushed some through. Fact is, they haven't. What Democrats require is a majority AND the presidency in order to get anything done. Republicans get things done period. What Democrats aren't admitting is that some of them have voted with Bush and crippled the Democratic majority from accomplishing anything. Democrats need to take care of their party. If you truly want to get anything done, then vote McCain because obviously, a Democrat can't do it and hasn't done it in the last eight years.

Sent by Shawn | 11:06 AM ET | 09-05-2008

It's too bad there can't be some kind of disclaimer or weighting system for the voices that have supported George Bush for the last 8 years and are now saying, "trust us again to improve this country". They shouldn't count as much as the people that saw the disaster that the neo-cons would bring. Guess that's the price of democracy.

Sent by S White | 11:22 AM ET | 09-05-2008

The gambit to have let Sarah do the dirty talk and John play the good, will take the GOP no where. The John and his cohorts are failing to realise that there new generation of voters - and they will decide this election .

Sent by Mike King | 11:27 AM ET | 09-05-2008

This is just name-calling. Let's look at the data: what has each of these men done in the Senate to draft reform legislation? How often have each of them demonstrated independence from their party line? That will give you the answer to who is perpetuating "more of the same" and who isn't. No one is really offering me "change" when he proposes merely to give me one rigid party dogma in place of the other.

Sent by Paige | 11:40 AM ET | 09-05-2008

The Obama campaign needs to keep running on issues and resist McCain's attempts to make it about personalities.

Sent by Gary Cooper | 12:02 PM ET | 09-05-2008

God help us all if the Republicans get another chance to tell their lies, look out for the rich, stir up fear, ruin the environment, and keep the war going. They have no agenda or solution on how to fix the mess THEY created, and all they can do is mock Obama and regular working people (who the Republicans care nothing about). They proclaim "pro-life" but want to shoot innocent animals and cause and sustain war. I see them as hypocrites and we need a REAL change in America. The Republicans cannot offer change, because they NEVER change...the same old, "good ol' boy" system that excludes anyone who isn't like them and tries to smear anyone who wants to help the poor and oppressed. I'm sure Abe Lincoln is turning over in his grave due to the way his party's image is portrayed currently.

Obama-Biden '08

Sent by Big D | 12:18 PM ET | 09-05-2008

I am undecided in this election, and remain so after both conventions. Obama speaks in platitudes, using flowery language to inoculate us with hope, regardless of his ability to deliver on that hope. McCain speaks in the language of a patriot but is unable to connect his patriotism with a sense of change for the better.
As I read George's post above, his logic is that a vote for McCain is simply a vote of approval for Bush. This is as ridiculous as supposing that a vote for Al Gore in 2000 was essentially a vote in support of Bill Clinton's character and philandering. Gore was a different kind of Democrat just as McCain is a different kind of Republican. The Bush legacy will stand on it's own, whether McCain or Obama is the next president.
The disingenuous argument is the one perpetuated by each campaign that the other candidate occupies the polar extremes.

Sent by Scott | 1:00 PM ET | 09-05-2008

Who wants to be a POTUS?

These two clown camps are using each other to deflect from the fact that neither has said clearly and concisely how to solve the economic woes.

Because they do not know and to add that economist themselves are not sure. Economists, which is what both camp will hire in their cabinets, look into history for answers and are still not sure. Everyone is hoping for the best. The hell with 'hope'.

What's wrong with letting the nation's people forgiven for their debts (mortgages, car loans, school loans, personal bank loans, etc.) and start all over again. That's a welcome change for all. Don't you think.

Sent by hiason | 1:23 PM ET | 09-05-2008

Obama speech was full of old dixiecrat political rhetoric. McCain speech was full of Good Old smoke Pipe political rhetoric.

I really thought I was participating in a real good honest election. Both candidates are disappointing to me.

Historic my foot, history will be made with or without me. Anyway, there is a suffering from mad moose disease in the country.

All to see partisan fisticuffs; and purporting reckless fiscal policies on both sides.

It's a clarion call for renewal and the people must help galvanize in perilous moments, push these two apotheoses off the stage of real life.

Another failed nation!

Sent by Hyacinth London | 1:41 PM ET | 09-05-2008

Kill the Buddha. And if your think that statement is off topic then you aren't thinking hard enough.

Sent by Jody Sol | 1:51 PM ET | 09-05-2008

While I concede George's and Kasreyn's point as far as reelection of incumbent parties, nevertheless, a campaign cornerstone of the current GOP ticket is in fact reform. Now the task for the current GOP ticket is to specify exactly what they will reform of what was done in the last 8 years. A hint of which, was layed out in detail in Sen. McCain's speech last night. And the task of the American people is to decide on whether the country needs 'reform' or a complete 'reworking'.

Either way, it is clear from both sides that partisanship is the evil that accomplishes nothing.

That will be the key ideological battleground that will lead the party narratives into the Nov. Election.

Sent by platonicform | 2:34 PM ET | 09-05-2008

As a response to a previous comment regarding Republicans getting things done, let's review the last eight years of Republican accomplishmnents- more people in poverty and without healthcare, the further destruction of the environment, more conservative judges and executive power, the eroding of our basic civil liberties that our brave soldiers are fighting to defend, a resistance to alternative energy due to the blindness that comes from Big Oil bribes, an unfunded mandate that leaves most children behind and no teacher left standing, and the promise of more to come should McCain and his pit bull in lipstick win this election. This is not an America I am proud of, and have been teaching my children how to fix. Obama has re-energized the political landscape of this country, where more people vote for an American Idol than for a President. I think the excitement he has generated overseas is the world celebrating America emerging from the dark ages of Bush and company.

Sent by molly | 5:05 PM ET | 09-05-2008

Some have none and some have too much. It's never enough to satisfy one man's greed.

Rethugs(republicans) greed are lies and deceptions to hold on to power in which they are failing miserably. Demostatics(democrats) are moving on the notion that 'it's my turn' and recyclable misleading selling points. No can do.

Parties should be dismissed when the nation is on the brink of destruction.

Divide and rule tears us apart, hmmm, maybe that's what we want for the beloved nation.

One thing the DNC & RNC proven that the supporters of both are divided by race, clearly. Revealing, that there will never be an honest dialogue about race. Simple because white people will not and
choose not to accept the responsibility for feeling superior or accept that they are the problem. Accepting any other explanation is supporting a mythical view and dodging a painful truth.

This nation is comfortable with its myth since the candidates for President can freely capitalized on the country's denial.

Sent by Madison | 5:48 PM ET | 09-05-2008

Dear Scott and other undecided voters:
Consider this: I believe that it would be appropriate to vote based on one issue; shining the light on and cleaning up the executive branch from the abuse of power and unecessary secrecy of the last 8 years. The founding fathers have, I'm sure, turned over in their graves. An essential point of our Constitution was to limit executive authority after the experience of monarchical abuse of power. That is why the American revolution happened. The cheney-addington campaign for unchecked executive power has threatened our system of checks and balances and has reduced our stature among free people in the world. My gut tells me that there will be too much pressure on McCain to do what is right on this question. Even if Obama is elected, his feet will need to be held to the fire to do what is right and expose the bushcheney abuses of executive power. Any new president will be tempted to use the precedent of these ill-gotten powers for their own use.

Sent by Mike Fleissner | 10:56 PM ET | 09-05-2008

SENATOR OBAMA,PLEASE GIVE AMERICA A DOSE OF REALITY CONCERNING THIS US HORROR ???

LETS ALL HOPE OUR MEDIA FRIENDS CONTINUE TO ALSO SHOW AN INTEREST IN REPORTING ON THIS AMERICAN HORROR FACING THESE (TENS OF THOUSANDS) FORGOTTEN AND TRAPPED POORER AMERICANS, AND HOW THIS PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER HANDLES THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE FACING AMERICA?S LATINO AND BLACK AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ????

WITH 80% OF THE BLACK AMERICAN VOTERS SAYING THEY SUPPORT SENATOR OBAMA IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IT IS ONLY FAIR FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW PRIOR BEING ELECTED OUR NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HOW THIS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TRULY FEELS ABOUT THIS AMERICAN JUDICIAL HORROR CONTINUING TO INFLICT GRAVE HARM ON THE BLACK AMERICAN FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE ??????

*** WHEN GOD?S FACE BECAME VERY RED ***
THE US SUPREME COURT GAVE ENEMY COMBATANTS FEDERAL APPEAL HC RIGHTS LAWYERS AND PROPER ACCESS TO US FEDERAL COURTS,AND POORER AMERICANS (MANY EVEN ON DEATH ROW) ARE DENIED PROPER FEDERAL APPEAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO OUR US FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEAL, AND ROTTING IN AMERICAN PRISONS NATIONWIDE ?????????

***THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE $LOWLY FINDING OUT HOW EA$Y IT I$ FOR MIDDLE CLA$$ AND WORKING POOR AMERICAN$ TO FALL VICTIM TO OUR U$ MONETARY JUDICIAL $Y$TEM.

****WHEN THE US INNOCENT WERE ABANDONED BY THE GUILTY ****
The prison experts have reported that there are 100,000 innocent Americans currently being falsely imprisoned along with the 2,300,000 total US prison population nationwide.
Since our US Congress has never afforded poor prison inmates federal appeal legal counsel for their federal retrials,they have effectively closed the doors on these tens of thousands of innocent citizens ever being capable of possibly exonerating themselves to regain their freedom through being granted new retrials.

This same exact unjust situation was happening in our Southern States when poor and mostly uneducated Black Americans were being falsely imprisoned for endless decades without the needed educational skills to properly submit their own written federal trial appeals.

**INNOCENT AMERICANS ARE DENIED REAL HC RIGHTS WITH THEIR FEDERAL APPEALS !!
This devious and deceptive judicial process of making our poor and innocent prison inmates formulate and write their own federal appeal legal cases for possible retrials on their state criminal cases,is still in effect today even though everyone in our US judicial system knows that without proper legal representation, these tens of thousands of innocent prison inmates will be denied their rightful opportunities of ever being granted new trials from our federal appeal judges!!

Sadly, the true US *legal* Federal Appeal situation that occurs when any of our uneducated American prison inmates are forced to attempt to submit their own written Federal Appeals (from our prisons nationwide) without the assistance of proper legal counsel, is that they all are in reality being denied their legitimate rights for Habeas Corpus and will win any future Supreme Court Case concerning this injustice!

For our judicial system and our US Congressional Leaders Of The Free World to continue to pretend that this is a real and fair opportunity for our American Middle Class and Working Poor Citizens, only delays the very needed future change of Federal Financing of all these Federal appeals becoming a normal formula of Our American judicial system.

It was not so very long ago that Public Defenders became a Reality in this country.Prior that legal reality taking place, their were also some who thought giving anyone charged with a crime a free lawyer was a waste of taxpayers $$.

This FACADE and HORROR of our Federal Appeal proce$$ is not worthy of the Greatest Country In The World!

***GREAT SOCIETIES THAT DO NOT PROTECT EVEN THEIR INNOCENT, BECOME THE GUILTY!

A MUST READ ABOUT AMERICAN INJUSTICE:
1) YAHOO AND 2) GOOGLE
MANNY GONZALES THE KID THAT EVERYONE FORGOT IN THE CA PRISON SYSTEM.
** A JUDICIAL RIDE OF ONES LIFE !

lawyersforpooramericans@yahoo.com
(424-247-2013)

Sent by DOUGLAS FIELD | 3:39 PM ET | 09-06-2008

China, North Korea, and Iran are hoping for a pushover in the White House so they will be voting for Obama.

That'd be a point if they had a vote. But they don't.

Intelligent thinking points to the lesser of two evils, Obama.

Sent by Wolf | 6:18 PM ET | 09-06-2008

Thee is a language barrier in the United Ststes. We've had a guy in the White House appointed by the Supreme Court that can't pronounce the word "nuclear", such that when someone comes along that can actually speak the King's English, the language is deemed "too flowery", and eloquence has become a pejorative. Now, THAT'S the end result of the dumbing-down of America, and it's not good.

Sent by Iris M. Gross | 12:25 PM ET | 09-07-2008

There are many things I would like to say about where our Nation has gone wrong but in the purpose for brevity I propose two thoughts.

1. Our President if the embodiment of our National identity...a representative of ourselves to the World.

2. Bush, quite unfortunately, has aptly represented a very dark side of our National identity. The side that is fearful of anyone different, associates intelligence with elitism instead of the cronyism that is pervasive in our political system. It is not all Bush or the Republican parties fault for where our Nation finds itself currently. We the people, with all our rights and liberties forget that it is not an easy ride to be a free nation. Our forefathers did not fight and die in the names of liberty and independence so we can become lazy and fat off our riches.

The government can not solve all our problems as a nation and the President isn't all powerful (even though the Bush-Cheney camp has been chipping away at that important part of our government's blueprint). One ticket represents old elitism wearing a different mask; the other represents high ideals and an old fashioned work ethic. I know the version I want the World to see of America -- and it doesn't involve a pit-pull with lipstick. We already have a mascot, we need a real leader.

Sent by LR Rose | 1:20 PM ET | 09-08-2008