The Water Cooler

The Real Obama, Part III By Thomas Sowell What about those "real issues" that Barack Obama's supporters in the media say we should get back to, whenever some new unsavory fact about his past comes out? Surely education is a real issue, with American school children consistently scoring below those in other countries, and children in minority communities faring worst of all. What about Senator Obama's position on this real issue? As with other issues, he has talked one way and acted the opposite way. The education situation in Obama's home base of Chicago is one of the worst in the nation for the children — and one of the best for t…

The Real Obama, Part II By Thomas Sowell A recent Republican campaign ad sarcastically described as Barack Obama's "one accomplishment" his supporting a bill to promote sex education in kindergarten. During an interview of a Republican spokesman, Tom Brokaw of NBC News replayed that ad and asked if that was something serious to be discussed in a presidential election campaign. It was a variation on an old theme about getting back to "the real issues," just as Brokaw's question was a variation on an increasingly widespread tendency among journalists to become a squad of Obama avengers, instead of reporters. Does it matter if …

The Real Obama By Thomas Sowell Critics of Senator Barack Obama make a strategic mistake when they talk about his "past associations." That just gives his many defenders in the media an opportunity to counter-attack against "guilt by association." We all have associations, whether at the office, in our neighborhood or in various recreational activities. Most of us neither know nor care what our associates believe or say about politics. Associations are very different from alliances. Allies are not just people who happen to be where you are or who happen to be doing the same things you do. You choose allies deliberately for a reason. The kind…

Do Facts Matter? By Thomas Sowell Abraham Lincoln said, "You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you can't fool all the people all the time." Unfortunately, the future of this country, as well as the fate of the Western world, depends on how many people can be fooled on election day, just a few weeks from now. Right now, the polls indicate that a whole lot of the people are being fooled a whole lot of the time. The current financial bailout crisis has propelled Barack Obama back into a substantial lead over John McCain— which is astonishing in view of which man and which party has had …

From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/14/m...a_n_134595.html I can't wait to hear them explain this one! Here they're making such a big deal out of Obama's middle name when all this time, right there on the Straight Talk Express... A Saddam Hussein sympathizer! Here's the story:

http://www.mdc.edu/Home/Press/rally.htm LOL! This tells you all you need to know about this ACORN flap. It's pure political scapegoating. Boogyman stuff! And on the Ayers deal... The Chicago Tribune, a conservative newspaper... More bullshit from the McCain camp. They can't argue about the economy they and the Republicans BROKE so... may as well go 100% sleaze, all the time. Even Christopher Hitchens, a ultra-conservative, Clinton hater of the highest order, today endorsed.... WAIT FOR IT..... Obama! LOL! You Republicans have a lot to apologize to the nation for. Your day came and went and we now know what giving you contr…

Wow... 8 years ago my Republican friends said "Don't worry man, trust us, things are going to be OK." They said the economy would be strong and they'd bring back ethics in government. George W. Bush was on record as opposing "Nation Building" and as being a guy who supported the troops. We already had a surplus and the cold war was over... Everyone was talking about how to spend the "Peace Dividend". Hard to believe that was only 8 years ago. About 9 months into George W. Bush's term we were hit by the worst terrorist attack in our history. The country rallied behind him. The Republicans used the surge in fear and support to strengthen their control of Congres…

Second verse... same as the first! A little bit louder and a little bit worse! (for McCain) I thought McCain would be a man and have the balls to bring up some of the shit he's been saying about Obama on the trail. Face to face. But no, instead Gramps stuck with his whole "tax and spend" talk while hiding behind Sarah's skirts. Pathetic. Apparently the American People felt the same way.

Maybe his immature antics costs the US Navy over 100 lives on that fateful day? Do I believe it? I don't know... But it's a question I want answered. Right Ashkum? "I want the truth!" "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!" Lot's of things out there to wonder about with these candidates. Seems bringing up the whole "Obama is a Muslim" thing at this point might open a can of worms for McCain. If they can ask questions, is it OK for us to do the same? Can we ask about the Forrestal? The Keating 5? His graduating at the bottom of his class at Annapolis? His being shot down while flying below his ordered altitude? His crashing of 3 other jets but…

"Are you better off today than you were 8 years ago?" If so, congrats. If, however, you're in the 99.999% who aren't... Join the club!

Sorry, but how can you trust someone with such a mysterous back ground? Birth Name: Barry Soetoro, changed to Barack Hussein Obama Citizenship: Indonesian, USA, also lived in Kenya Religion: Islam -former member of an anti-white church which concentrated more on hate than love for Christ -denies muslim background, then why the name change? -looks to raise taxes to record levels to support UN and poverty in Africa -supported by our enemy -has many conspiricy's tied to him -abortion I don't mind change, change is good. But please tell me why Obama was the best candidate on the Dem. side. I don't trust him one bit. McCain may not be exciting a…

Neither candidate really did a a thing. Biden kept his cool and only attacked McCain. Palin, rarely answered the question and instead read prepared little speaches on every subject making her look better than in interviews with Katie Couric. Overall, I think Biden did kind of win...but he didn't blow her out the water. Personally, I felt about zero sincerity from Palin...but I'm sure those that were already fans, liked the preformance. Overall...a draw.

No matter what your personal politics are, I think it's very iportant to stay informed and see how these 2 major candidates handle some non-softball questions. I encourage everyone to watch and be part of the process.

http://www.ltdays.com/ Good ethnic food, tasty ethnic beer, etc...! If you're interested...it's a good alternative to Octoberfest! Or in addition to! Ask me, and I'm happy to tell you more about it as I go virtually every year...

This is since WWII. Hardly a small sample size. Take a look at the graphs and make your own call. Seems obvious to me. From http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2008/09/notes-to-self-f.html

Okay well I have a myspace, and I'm tired of having this same Hester one up here since 2006. So, if you guys can go here, then type in any name, scroll to "request design", then request a Forte layout. Switch it up occasionally- don't type in the same manner as you usually do: sometimes use all caps, sometimes type normal, and sometimes with all lower case with a bunch of !!!!!!!!!!!'s. Thanks for your help! 1 a day if you can sneak it in would be nice.

I told Mad Lith some time back that I would write this so here up to this point is what I have. I have been a resident of Wasilla (the town she was Mayor of) for about 3 years now. All told I have lived up here for just over 30 years. I lived in Anchorage for awhile but when my wife and I went to buy a house things were too expensive so we looked to the "Valley" as an alternative. Wasilla is in that area and is and was growing. See my reason above for why that is. Wasilla does provide more of the large box stores and other well known commercial shopping alternatives so you don't have to drive into Anchorage as much. I might add that the drive from Wasilla to Anchor…

Hey Drunk Bomber... Just thought it was a lot more fun arguing with you than dwelling on the game. McCain is old. Later.

Anyone else digging the new Metallica album? This is everything St. Anger was supposed to be which failed miserably. I think of Anger as the potential good album that never was. Finally Metallica is sounding like their old selves again. Just wondered if there were any other fans on this site. I'm working on an acoustic cover/interpretation of The Day That Never Comes that I intend to record in Garage Band. Some this stuff would make nice background music for some Bears highlight footage.