The Water Cooler

In summary... Obama McCain Research 2000: 52 41 Obama +11 Reuters/Zogby: 48 44 Obama +4 Battleground: 53 40 Obama +13 Rasmussen: 50 45 Obama +5 Diageo/Hotline: 48 42 Obama +6 Gallup: 51 42 Obama +9 IBD/TIPP: 45 42 Obama +3 CBS/NY Times: 53 39 Obama +14 LAT/Bloomberg: 50 41 Obama +9 Ipsos/McClatchy: 51 42 Obama +9 Average: Obama +8

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…

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, 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 IV By Thomas Sowell Barack Obama's supporters often try to sidestep questions about his character and judgment by saying that we should stick to what they arbitrarily define as "the real issues." But Senator Obama's record on specific issues is as bad as his record of repeatedly allying himself over the years with people who make no attempt to hide their hatred of America. Among the so-called "real issues" are earmarks for Senators' pet projects, like the "bridge to nowhere." These are among the most indefensible parts of the inbred Washington political culture, which Obama has so often claimed to be against, as part of his promi…

Check it out. The evidence is clear. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3AvZqYC4mw

OK, so the WSJ isn't known to be a bastion of liberalism... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122463199532056477.html This is a good article.

"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!

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…

http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com...nian-style.html Saturday, December 13, 2008 Hell’s Angels — Lithuanian Style My thanks to "thedweeze" for forwarding this story by Michael Yon, our 21st Century Ernie Pyle who has already tempted fate a hundred times just like Ernie, always too far forward for his own good. Here, http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/on-the-front-...tan-part-two/2/, in the second part of a series on Afghanistan, Yon describes the Lithuanian Special Forces: Hell’s Angels — Lithuanian Style U.S. and Afghan soldiers in Zabul Province give high marks to the Lithuanian Special Forces, who like to ride these captured Taliban motorbikes to …

Everything looks so devistating. I hope and pray for those involved or who have family out there.

A woman pregnant with triplets was walking down the street when a masked robber ran out of a bank and shot her three times in the stomach. Luckily the babies were OK. The surgeon decided to leave the bullets in because it was too risky to operate. She gave birth to two healthy daughters and a healthy son. All was fine for 16 years, and then one daughter walked into the room in tears. 'What's wrong?' asked the mother. 'I was taking a tinkle and this bullet came out,' replied the daughter. The mother told her it was okay and explained what happened 16 years ago. About a week later the second daughter walked into the room in tears. 'Mom, I w…

Anybody planning on going to see it?

Obama outscores McCain in veterans’ group’s report card By Roxana Tiron Posted: 10/07/08 Barack Obama outscored his Republican rival, Vietnam veteran John McCain, in a report card issued by an influential, nonpartisan veterans’ group. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA’s) Action Fund gave the Arizona senator a “D” as part of its congressional report card. Obama received a “B” from the group. McCain is among three senators who scored a “D.” Only one senator, Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), received an “F.” McCain — a former Navy officer and prisoner of war — and Obama, who has not served, have made military and veterans’ issues central t…

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.

I'm gonna spend five days in Chicago during this and next week and need some help on what to do. Most important: I need to find myself a good sports bar for the Bears game Sunday! I'll be staying downtown close to the Millenium Park. Any recommendations? Best way to get downtown from the airport? Taxi or are there any kind of bus or train? I will be buying jerseys! Any recommendation of sports stores that are affordable or having a great selection? Or is the official store the way to go? Good bars and restaurants that are affordable! I need to try polish sausages and pizza, but where? I enjoy music a lot. Indiepop, metal, punkrock, jazz you name …

Pokes fun at politics in general, not a liberal or conservative favorite, a parody, makes me laugh anyway. http://www.peteyandpetunia.com:80/VoteHere/VoteHere.htm

Link here.