Barack Obama Elected President!

[Jess]

Hey Wost, I suspect the majority of voters and citizens do think the media is out to get Palin. I also think the majority of voters are always going to be pretty negative on the media. Most days if you asked me, I'd say that I think the media is giving Palin preferential treatment. I think the media is a pretty easy whipping boy.

I think people don't like the media.

On a philosophical note, I hope the broadcast media probably does confuse entertainment, news and commentary too much. I really do believe the print media does a pretty good job. I don't agree wit much on the WSJ editorial page, but I think it's news coverage is first rate. I think the NYT does a great job reporting. I think it's easier to accept opinion in a newspaper because it's over there in its own little section. I never know when TV is supposed to be news or opinion.

I also think Charlie Gibson is a first-rate reporter. I think he's fair and I think he works very hard to be fair. I use a textbook in undergraduate public policy classes that refer to the Bush Doctrine on pre-emption as the Bush Doctrine. I think it's a pretty common definition. Then again, I'm not bothered that Palin didn't know what the Bush Doctrine meant. I would have preferred that she just say I'm not clear on what you mean rather than trying to bluff it, but I guess saying please clarify is dangerous in politics. I would have found it refreshing. I also really didn't like her answer much.

On a positive note, I felt she did pretty well on her second day of interviews. That shows a good learning curve. I still will not vote for her, but I will give her credit for doing pretty well the second day.

[Wales2004]

I think it's positively awful that Obama was successful in getting money for a university....it seems like such a wasteful thing to do....helping a school and all.

I think the conversation about breaking the glass ceiling is more of a Clinton placing 18 million cracks in it.....of course I don't know why anyone would want to talk about a woman running for president and achieving such a feat. I also don't know why anyone would want to interview Obama on achieving such a feat either since we live in a society where that sort of thing happens on a regular basis....oh wait I'm mistaken.....we haven't gotten to that point yet, we're still at the stage where we're looking for the first one to get through the door. But it would be nice if it weren't an issue at all.

It would be nice if the next generation of children grew up oblivious to these sorts of things but they won't get there until society is able to move past stupid things like putting Obama on a waffle box and mocking other cultures on the back of it.

[GoldenDogs]

I guess it's about as awful as fixing roads in Alaska, etc. But in Obama's case, it is definitely positively awful Obama helped further line the pockets of his vice-presidential candidate's son. But on a broader note... it is quite hypocritical of the good Illinois Senator to blast earmarks when he has dipped his hand in the government piggy bank as much as anyone else... and in a shockingly short amount of time.

What earmarks has Senator McCain requested in his dozens of years in Washington?

I may not agree with all you said, Jess... but it was well-stated and I can't argue with your points.

[Tishy]

I think that the media is not "out to get" Palin, I think that they are trying to find out the most that they can about her. She is the Governor of a state that to be honest, the only reason I remember that it is part of the United States is when I watch Deadliest Catch. Every journalist wants to get the big scoop. If Obama had chosen Jeanne Shaheen, the former Governor for NH, the media would be in NH trying to find out everything they could about her.

Does it suck? Yeah it does. Especially since McCain has known that he was the Republican nominee for months now whereas Obama and Hillary were still neck and neck in June. That was a decision that McCain made. Was it the correct decision? We'll find out on November 5th when the last vote has been counted.

And I have this to say, to anyone who claims that Hillary should be the VP, I completely disagree. Hillary will be most effective to Obama as a cabinet member, which I believe Obama has already printed up business cards for her and her new job.

[GoldenDogs]

Hi Tishy!!

I disagree, too... Hillary should NOT be the VP -- she SHOULD have been the Presidential Nominee!

[cct]

Where is everybody getting this idea that Hillary will be in Obama's Cabinet or Obama will name her as Supreme Court Justice? I've heard this over and over from people on message boards, but have never seen anything in print.

You know what? I'm glad Hillary is not the Democratic candidate nor the VP candidate. Why? Because I need the Democrats to WIN. Pure and simple. There is a deep hate for Hill around this country. Personally, I would've voted for Hillary had she been the candidate in the general election, but there is a lot of anger for Hillary. 18 million isn't much in a country of close to 400 million.

[Wales2004]

If I were complaining about earmarks then this might all mean something to me but since I'm not then I'm not going to feign outrage over it either.

I am sure if I want to play the scandal game that Biden would be lower on the list than McCain but I'm not going to do that either.

I don't idealize politicians or anyone for that matter and I'm not under the mistaken impression that they are all saintly and good nor do I think they're all above hypocritical. What I consider bad and the what the next person considers bad may be two entirely different things.

I don't agree with either candidate on some things that I would consider important to me but I'm not looking for someone to match me either. Right now I'm looking at the type of campaign they've been running and I'm looking at which is a more all encompassing candidate because it's a waste for me to say that children are our future if I don't like the direction we're heading in.

I don't think running a campaign based on making people fearful of another candidate is good for children or good for the country. I don't think having them hope and dream that they can do bigger and better things is a terrible thing. I'm glad that a lot of young people found inspiration in a candidate to the point where they've been moved to participate in the process and I hope seeing all the sleaze doesn't discourage them.

I can read a thousand negatives about Obama and a thousand about McCain and it's not going to change what I need to know unless it really is something new under the sun.

[Wales2004]

It is depending on how many people actually turn out to vote but it's not as if she or anyone else really has those votes sitting in their back pocket and that's why I am not taken in by it.

People are speculating on the cabinet position since it seems like a logical move and at first I thought no but it depends on the position. It would be the right thing for Obama to do if he'd offer her a cabinet position. I think he understands that.

[Soapsuds]

I agree Brian.

[Tishy]

I would have loved it if Hilary was the Presidential nominee but for once in like ever, I am very happy with the candidate who is the nominee. I have stated that I think Hilary has a cabinet post because she is actively campaigning for Obama now and has very publicaly endorsed him. Can I link anything in print, no I can't. However, in 1980 Ronald Reagan had narrowed down his VP choices to Gerald Ford and Alexander Haig. Within two days, Senior Bush was announced, and Haig was Secretary of State. Lloyd Bentson, who unsuccessfully ran with Dukakis in 1988 was one of many that had feelers out to run for President in 92. Bentson declined, eventually endorsed Clinton and was rewarded with the Dept of Treasury.

[Jess]

I think Hillary will be in the cabinet. Personally, I'd rather she stay in the Senate. I think she would become a real voice for a lot of folks who don't have one. I think she will become a leader now if she stays in the Senate.

As far as ear marks, Palin said on the interview with Charlie Gibson that all she thought was that people should have to put their names on earmarks. Obama always puts his name on earmarks so I guess what he is doing is OK with McCain/Palin.

I don't have a problem with earmarks. Roads, bridges, and university research is largely done with earmarks. McCain for instance talks about great wind research projects at universities and research into electric cars. How much of that is earmarks? The defense department does its research appropriations through earmarks. From what I've read, the so-called Bridge to Nowhere wasn't that bad an idea. It connected a part of a state to another part with an airport. Well, I just watched CNN and edit this to say, the Bridge to Nowhere did seem to benefit very few. LOL. I still do not believe all ear marks are bad though. Aren't there highways in Kentucky that connect Eastern Ky with Lexington, or highways in Texas that connect rural areas with hospitals? That is why you have the federal government, to provide services that could not provided otherwise. Businesses subsidized telephone service to rural areas for decades.

If someone objects to specific projects, then go for it. But personally, I think talk of doing away with earmarks is a bit silly.

I agree with Obama/Biden and I guess McCain/Palin too, that earmarks should be transparent.

[Toups]

Tina Fey as SP.

Tina

[Sylph]

After her comments about Sorkin, I've lost any respect I might have had for the woman. Not that Sorkin is an angel, but...

[Dr. Jay S.W.]

My mom called me trying to convince me that that was really Shrilla. Tina Fey mastered the look, the Alaskan twang. Perfectly!!

[David_Vickers]

I agree. I do wish Hillary was the nominee, but I'm very,very happy with Barack Obama.