Campaign Alert: People Shooting People Over Yard Signs? Wow!

Good Morning Bloggers - I've been expecting episodes of violence before election day, especially after the negative campaigning by the McCain campaign, and unfortunately it's happening - shots were actually fired last night.

It's easy to dismiss the two right-wing nuts arrested in Tennessee as crazy neo-nazis, but it's possible they might have gotten away with some of their planned carnage. They might have killed a few innocent African-Americans in their quest to kill Obama. They seem like the tip of a very scary iceberg if you ask me. I'm just glad they caught them.

We also have that nutter in Ohio/Pennsylvania who scratched her own face with a nail file claiming to be the victim of "a large black man." She's scary too. What else was she capable of when you think about it? She worked for the campaign for two months in OH and PA, so I wonder what else she did before she finally pulled that stunt.

Finally, a teenager was wounded in the arm last night in Leavittsburg, Ohio by a man who said he wanted to stop two boys from taking his John McCain yard sign. Fifty-year-old Kenneth Rowles told officers he only planned to fire warning shots, but unfortunately he wounded a 17-year old boy.

There are too many other events to list here, so let's just admit things could get uglier. I hope I'm wrong, but I was a boy scout so I do believe in being prepared. I suggest we all try to keep calm, vote early, and stay safe!

Tuesday's Political Alert #1 - Michael

Political Rant: Republicans Need to Think This Time, Before They Act

Hello Bloggers - I need to ask a simple question of my Republican friends. Don't you need to know more about John McCain's health before you vote for him? His running mate is Sarah - the mystery woman - Palin for God's sake!

The New York Times is reporting, like so many journals and doctors before it, that "serious gaps remain in the public's knowledge about the health of the presidential and vice-presidential nominees." He singles out McCain most of all. You know, the only cancer survivor running for office. Historically, it was common for candidates and their doctors to be very forthcoming, so why aren't you demanding to know more about the health of your 72-year old candidate?

Times Reporter Lawrence Altman, a medical doctor himself, says that not only would McCain be the oldest man sworn in as president, he would be the first cancer survivor to win the office. "The scars on his puffy left cheek are cosmetic reminders of the extensive surgery he underwent in 2000 to remove a malignant melanoma." People like McCain often have recurring episodes. There is every possibility we may wind-up with a President Palin. My God that scares the hell out of me.

Last May, McCain and his doctors allowed a handful of reporters only 3 hours to review nearly 1,200 pages of medical information. The experience left more questions, even confusion, about his cancer. The worst part was how they were disorganized, preventing reporters from learning any conclusions. No offense bloggers, but that is just BS! If you're a responsible voter, than you should be more curious about your candidate's health. He should be disqualified unless you learn more.

Thousands of doctors are doing just that by calling for more complete and accurate information about McCain's cancer, a very severe form of melanoma. Statistically, McCain has an extreme likelihood of death from a recurrence of the cancer. That fact alone should have us all quaking in our boots if you consider a Palin ascendency. The idea scares the hell out of me, and it should for Republicans too.

Both Barack Obama and Joe Biden released recent medical records to the Times showing that they were healthy, though Altman notes that Biden's documents "did not indicate whether he had had a test in recent years to detect any new aneurysm," and Obama's most recent check-up was in January 2007.

"Nothing is known publicly about Ms. Palin's medical history," Altman reports. As usual, the woman is a mystery wrapped in a crap package. The only thing we know about Palin medically is that her water broke while she was at a conference in Dallas and that she flew to Anchorage to give birth. Wow, that's a good reason to be scared right there. The woman is CRAZY!

Personally, I don't trust you Republicans. You voted for George Bush TWICE! You should all be disqualified after that crap fest. Unfortunately, the majority of us who voted for Gore and Kerry lost anyway, because your peeps in power succeeded in stealing both elections. I guess your votes counted more than ours. Even though you should be ashamed and disgraced, the good news is that you now have a chance to make things right. You can vote for Obama this time.

This time you can vote for intelligence over stupidity, brains over brawn, and competence over incompetence. So, stop listening to the the dumb little demon on your shoulder and go and vote for Barack Obama. Don't make another stupid mistake and risk a President Sarah Palin. Please God NO!!!!

We should not all be forced to suffer because you people have a serial-studity problem. Do the right thing. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT THIS TIME!

Monday's Political Rant #2 - Michael

Political Rant: Cable Network Lies Keep Presidential Race in Artificial Dead Heat

Good Morning Bloggers - I would like to slam the corporate media for the manipulative "infotainment" they call news during this election, and how they're reporting a "tight race" at this time when all indications are that the race has already tightened and is favoring Obama by double digits.

From what I can observe, CNN and MSNBC are lying about the election at this moment. Yes, they're lying scum. Each continues to call Nevada, Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida "swing states" despite the fact that the majority of polls in each of those states is now showing Barack Obama ahead of McCain beyond the margin of error - many by double digits. I won't bother to report on FOX. I don't even consider that to be "infotainment." I just consider it pure propaganda, or crap, whichever you prefer.

I know the networks have a job to keep their ratings up, but they also have a duty to the American people and the airwaves we allow them to use to tell us the truth. It used to be required by law, but since those regulations were gutted by Clinton and the Congress in the 90's I believe it's more of a pledge now. No matter, it's still a pledge.

They should not be allowed to lie, and they are lying to us, their customers. We don't allow package goods companies to lie on their labels (at least the regulated ones), so why should we allow media companies to lie in their news. Sure, Republicans can defend them by saying that if even one poll suggests otherwise then it proves they're not lying, but that's not the standard they use for their statistical analysis. I read through their standards and it is clear that those states should be moved into "leaning-Obama" based on their own criteria.

We all know the only reason they're not doing it is because they need to lie about a close race to keep their ratings up. Those "swing states" remain their only bread and butter. They need to keep those residents frothing at the mouth, creating controversy, and angry. That's the way to keep the rating's up and the money train flowing I guess. It also helps them to keep pumping the candidates for more campaign ad revenues. I think it's despicable, unfair to the campaign donors, unfair to the voters who seek the truth, and shouldn't be allowed to continue after this election.

The networks should have a public obligation to report honest facts during elections. If people knew that the race was going a certain way they might turn their attention to other problems. Keeping us continually in the grip of a fast and furious horse race is dishonest and distracting. It's also completely unfair to the candidate who is actually ahead. They should be able to see the fruits of their labor, and focus on sealing the deal. I hope we make some changes after this is all over.

Tuesday's Political Rant #1 - Michael

Political News/Rant: Palin Forced to Apologize to British Embassy in DC

Good Morning Bloggers - I spotted a new Sarah Palin gaff perusing London's Daily Mail this morning that hasn't even appeared in the American media I've reviewed so far. Incredibly, Sarah Palin has been forced to apologise to the British Embassy in Washington after claiming she had held talks with the ambassador Sir Nigel Sheinwald.

In an answer to questions about her foreign policy experience ahead of tonight's make-or-break vice presidential TV debate, her aides listed numerous contacts with foreign officials - including Sir Nigel. However the meeting never occurred. It was a BOLDFACE LIE!

Officials at the embassy swiftly contacted the McCain-Palin campaign to inform them of the discrepancy - or LIE! A British Embassy spokesman said the error arose after Sir Nigel's name was listed among guests attending a US Governor's meeting in July. The problem was that he wasn't actually there, but the campaign listed him anyway - they didn't even confirm it. It blows me away how the McCain campaign are such SCREW UPS and yet they're still getting decent support from the American people. McCain and Palin aren't qualified to run an embassy, much less a nation.

(Read the whole story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1066426/Red-faced-Palin-forced-apologise-blunder-talks-British-ambassador-ahead-crucial-TV-debate.html)

My Republican friends keep saying that the media is "beating up" on Palin, but the way I see it she's following John McCain's example of incompetence, stretching the truth and outright lying. If anything the media is not doing enough.

Considering her lightweight interviews with Gibson, Hannity and Couric so far, I think the Republicans are getting a free ride when it comes to Palin. She has lied about her positions and many other events like the one with the ambassador, so why should any of us take this campaign seriously. I hope tonight's debate shuts the door on the campaign and we never have to look back at its ugly face again.

Thursday's Political News/Rant #1 - Michael