Thank you for such an intellectual response.  I'll bet your parents are very proud of you.

That's true, but still this far out from the election, what do they matter?  Everyone in politics knows this and talks about it.  When Obama is up in the polls, the Dems chatter about it while the Republicans say "these polls mean nothing."  When McCain is up the parties take the opposite stands.  The truth is that until you get within a couple of weeks of the election, polls mean nothing.  So why spend so much time yacking about them?

McCain had several poor performances in the GOP primary debates and has never been known as a good speaker. It's true that he did well with Rick Warren, but one good night does not a pattern make.

You are correct about Obama doing poorly in live debates though. My gut feeling is that moderators will use tricks to confuse McCain (talking fast, using big words, etc) and most debates will end in a draw.

My point exactly.

Is anyone labeling Rush, Condi, McCain, Buckley, etc, as so well-spoken, so articulate, etc?

No. With Obama, it's a requirement. His speaking abilities are practically legendary.

And to equate McCain's "my friend" with Obama's uh, uh,uh, er, uh, is, well, uh, uh, uh...reaching. Though he uses it too much, he isn't using it as a buffer while he thinks of something to say because he's afraid to tell people what he really thinks.

Which is probably why they are now talking about McCain's lead in the polling numbers.  The Clintonites are meticulously laying the foundation of the August Surprise at the Dem Convention.  By the time the first ballot is cast, it will be perfectly obvious that Obama can not win the general election and therefore the Dems must have a more effective challenger to McCain, namely the tag team called the Clintons. 

Let's face it, even with the typical bounce one expects in the polls immediately after the Nominating Convention, with the GOP convention hot on it's heels McCain will still be ahead.  That makes the Dem leadership very nervous.  The time to fish or cut bait has come, it's go with a sure loser in Obama but not upset your base (Blacks and ultralibs) but losing the Clinton supporters OR have the Clintons be the nominee and lose the Black vote and some of the ultralibs but pick up most of the RINOs.  That's the calculation the Dem leadership is agonizing about. 

IMO, in the short term with the Clintons they at least have a shot at the POTUS for 2008, on the other hand they can let Obama go down in flames and set up the Clintons for 2012.  The upside for the Dems in losing 2008 will be forever convincing the Black vote that they must stay on the Dem plantation in order to have their so called issue (group identity) to even be considered.  Blacks in general have been so brainwashed by the Dems to believe their pandering to Black's group identity of victimization is actually better for them than going with the GOP and assimilating.  That's the real issue here, Blacks fear as a group to lose their identity rather than benefit individually by assimilation as understood by embracing the GOP.

 Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, starving the poor one gallon of ethanol at a time. Fill your tank with E85 and cull a village.  

...eight years of either Obama or Hillary.

If that happens, you can kiss this country good-bye.

-Dave.

Vote None of the Above in '08!

While I clearly disagree with his endorsement, I think we should take a step back to judge this before banning him and all he touches.

If he, indeed, has always been a Democrat, and yet he put his country before his party, and called out those who acted unpatriotically... why would we be disappointed by that? I actually see that as somewhat admirable. Perhaps even more impressive than if he were a Republican.

From what I've seen, he's couched his endorsement as a positive for Obama, not a slam against McCain. Were he to start down that path, then I might be more inclined to stop buying his products. Well, I guess I'd have to start buying them before I could stop buying them...

My mom is a lifelong Democrat and most likely will be voting for the Democratic in November. Should I ban her apple pie?

*****

"People only insist that a debate stop when they are afraid of what might be learned if it continues." - George Will 

Noel...

I think once you get these folks on the same stage, Obama will shrink even further. ns

I agree with you here...and unfortuanately the rhetoric he is using to pounce on McCain with now makes him look plain foolish and immature...the msm cannot cover that up for him.

As to Hill, I think there was a lot of reason she didn't make it, one she already thought she was anointed and messed up big time with her schemes and dreams in upcoming primaries, she also got better on the campaign as time went by, but the msm was already in the bag big time for Obama and hanging on like a biting sow...a heck of a lot of them are going to have buyers remorse now...especially Nov. in my opinion...plus the behind the scenes big-wigs who didn't want the Clintons in power anymore...blah blah blah... 

With everything that is happening worldwide now with this link, plus today Russia and their bluster over the shield response warning to us, where they are saying this goes beyond diplomacy...you can be sure this is going to help McCain.

You know how I feel about McCain on certain issues, but when it comes to national security ect....Obama can't hold a candle to him...and it is going to show.

As an aside....I watched Celinda Lake she's a dem. pollster who I have always liked listening to on C-SPAN this morning, I only caught part of it, Ed Goez (her repub partner) wasn't there with her today...nevertheless she was saying that Obama has lost tons of the Independents...by a big margin. I looked for a recent link of hers when I had the time earlier, couldn't find one ...just thought I would throw that in here.

As long as he picks someone with some get-up-and-go that is not pro-abortion he has it made in my opinion...plus keep up the steady drill here, drill now issue ect, we may not lose as many seats as I thought, it would be a miracle if we held on or gained if the repubs are smart on how to handle all of this.

I keep getting interrupted here with business calls...sorry it may seem to be in a jumble and took me so long to get back to you. 

 "America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

HS and others...

You know the audicity of the msm to report something like that before it is confirmed is outrageous....I feel sorry for any family members or close friends who may have heard that she died before they even knew anything for sure themselves.

I despise the msm..

Plus to top that off, I had two email alerts also....one saying she died, then later...different.

I had the sound off when I read she died on Fox and they must of repeated that for quite awhile...

Striving to always being first to break news is atrocious and they should be embarrassed and ashamed.

Not the msm, no accountability....ever.

"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh

I'm sure he'll be happy to thwack you on the head, too, as you tread water there, fella. 

David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive

The love of Lieberman is one of the weirdest things I've seen in recent years.

I, myself, have trouble trusting a guy that puts his own personal motivations consistently above those of his principles.

Any Jewish person that's willing to buddy up to a Holocaust apologist like Hagee for the sole purpose of garnering political support is a snake.

McCain would be wise to heed the old American story of the little boy who helped the old snake up & down the mountain, befriended the snake, only to be bitten by the snake when it was on its deathbed. 

"Mr. Snake, why did you do that? Now I will surely die!" The
rattlesnake looked up at him and grinned, "You knew what I was when
you picked me up."

He should just stay independent and leave both parties alone. Zero value added.