Starting Gate: Five Fall Questions
Monday marks the first official day of autumn and there's no getting around it now – this campaign is nearing the end. With just over six weeks left, here are five starting questions for fall:
1). How Low Will They Go? We're not talking about the mudslinging here (although that's gotten pretty low already), we're talking about the polls. The surge John McCain got from his selection of Sarah Palin has mostly evaporated. And while Palin remains a net-positive for the Republican candidate because of the way she's invigorated the party's base, her poll numbers have to be a concern for the campaign.
The scrutiny given Palin over the past few weeks and the attacks on her from the opposition appear to have eroded her support. In the latest CBS News/New York Times poll, the number of those who believe she is prepared to be vice president fell five points in just over a week and those who said she is not went up ten. More strikingly, McCain went from a five point lead among women after the GOP convention to a 16-point deficit this week.
Polls will go up and down but you can't underestimate the psychological impact they have on voters and the campaigns themselves. Has the race come back to balance or is there a real shift toward Barack Obama?
2). Which Wins, Change Or Experience? Overall this is a "change" election, even John McCain, the "experienced" candidate, has acknowledged that. Assuming that McCain/Palin has been able to at least open the way to being accepted as part of that change, will it be enough? Nowhere will the contrast between the dynamic that has driven this be more evident that the debates, which kick off next Friday. When Obama and McCain (or Palin-Biden) finally share the same stage in front of what should be an enormous audience, will "change" or "experience" sell best?
3). What Will The "October Surprise" Be? It doesn't have to be October – doesn't even have to be a real surprise – but chances are that some unforeseen event or development will shake this race up. Already we've seen international events (Russia and Georgia) and developments at home (Wall Street meltdown) make a dent in the way the campaign is viewed. What will be the "big" thing? Some new development in "troopergate?" The capture or death of bin Laden?
4). Who Will Break Through On The Air? This campaign has been conducted in a media environment unlike any other. New ads, both real and concocted for publicity, cycle through the system on a daily basis. That's great for pushing a message but when those messages are changing constantly, do any of them stick? Outside of the "3 a.m." ad in the primaries and maybe the "celebrity" ad using Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, there aren't any memorable ads. Is it all about micro-targeting these days or will one of these campaigns break through on the airwaves in a big way?
5). What Role Will Race Play? It's the elephant in the room and despite the enormous amounts of time spent trying to figure out the answer, race remains a real unknown in the campaign. No matter how many times the media or Obama point out his Christian faith, the idea that the candidate is Muslim persists among not a few voters. And no matter what voters tell pollsters, we won't know whether there's a "Bradley effect" in the electorate until after Election Day – if even then. Will we ever really know what role race played in this election?
© 2008 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved. 1). How Low Will They Go? We're not talking about the mudslinging here (although that's gotten pretty low already), we're talking about the polls. The surge John McCain got from his selection of Sarah Palin has mostly evaporated. And while Palin remains a net-positive for the Republican candidate because of the way she's invigorated the party's base, her poll numbers have to be a concern for the campaign.
The scrutiny given Palin over the past few weeks and the attacks on her from the opposition appear to have eroded her support. In the latest CBS News/New York Times poll, the number of those who believe she is prepared to be vice president fell five points in just over a week and those who said she is not went up ten. More strikingly, McCain went from a five point lead among women after the GOP convention to a 16-point deficit this week.
Polls will go up and down but you can't underestimate the psychological impact they have on voters and the campaigns themselves. Has the race come back to balance or is there a real shift toward Barack Obama?
2). Which Wins, Change Or Experience? Overall this is a "change" election, even John McCain, the "experienced" candidate, has acknowledged that. Assuming that McCain/Palin has been able to at least open the way to being accepted as part of that change, will it be enough? Nowhere will the contrast between the dynamic that has driven this be more evident that the debates, which kick off next Friday. When Obama and McCain (or Palin-Biden) finally share the same stage in front of what should be an enormous audience, will "change" or "experience" sell best?
3). What Will The "October Surprise" Be? It doesn't have to be October – doesn't even have to be a real surprise – but chances are that some unforeseen event or development will shake this race up. Already we've seen international events (Russia and Georgia) and developments at home (Wall Street meltdown) make a dent in the way the campaign is viewed. What will be the "big" thing? Some new development in "troopergate?" The capture or death of bin Laden?
4). Who Will Break Through On The Air? This campaign has been conducted in a media environment unlike any other. New ads, both real and concocted for publicity, cycle through the system on a daily basis. That's great for pushing a message but when those messages are changing constantly, do any of them stick? Outside of the "3 a.m." ad in the primaries and maybe the "celebrity" ad using Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, there aren't any memorable ads. Is it all about micro-targeting these days or will one of these campaigns break through on the airwaves in a big way?
5). What Role Will Race Play? It's the elephant in the room and despite the enormous amounts of time spent trying to figure out the answer, race remains a real unknown in the campaign. No matter how many times the media or Obama point out his Christian faith, the idea that the candidate is Muslim persists among not a few voters. And no matter what voters tell pollsters, we won't know whether there's a "Bradley effect" in the electorate until after Election Day – if even then. Will we ever really know what role race played in this election?
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Race? If somebody is polled why say they support Obama if they dont because of race. . Just say you support mccain, you dont need to give your reason.Obama transends race. He is not the black candidate for President he is the best candidate for president.
THEN THE NEXT DAY:
"Well... I... err... ummm, what I meant was the fundamentals of the economy are the working men and women, and anyone who disagrees with me is against the American worker."
The question is:
ARE YOU STUPID ENOUGH TO VOTE FOR McCAIN/PALIN???
I''m speaking specifically of Dr. Condoleeza Rice.
She''s a superpower candidate for VP, totally loyal, intelligent (if misguided).
So yes, the Republican party remains the party of hate. I''ll have nothing to do with it.
To this end, LaRouche specified four necessary steps:
Step #1: Put the present international monetary system into bankruptcy reorganization. Step #2: Create a new system, a credit system, rather than a monetary system, in the form of an appropriately modern version of President Franklin Roosevelt%u2019s intention for a Bretton Woods system. Step #3: Organize the new system on the basis of an extended form of the 1648 Peace of Westphalia system, rather than a conflict-system. The IMF must be replaced by a treaty organization among participating sovereign nation-states with complementary long-term economic missions of scientific and related progress per-capita and per-square kilometer of territory. Step #4: Define a common, long-term mission-orientation of two or more generations%u2019 span for increase of the productive powers of labor among nations generally.
To this end, LaRouche specified four necessary steps:
Step #1: Put the present international monetary system into bankruptcy reorganization. Step #2: Create a new system, a credit system, rather than a monetary system, in the form of an appropriately modern version of President Franklin Roosevelt%u2019s intention for a Bretton Woods system. Step #3: Organize the new system on the basis of an extended form of the 1648 Peace of Westphalia system, rather than a conflict-system. The IMF must be replaced by a treaty organization among participating sovereign nation-states with complementary long-term economic missions of scientific and related progress per-capita and per-square kilometer of territory. Step #4: Define a common, long-term mission-orientation of two or more generations%u2019 span for increase of the productive powers of labor among nations generally.
http://dailysource.org/palin
It has in-depth research, audio clips, videos, excerpts, and links to hundreds of articles, including many from newspapers and TV stations in Alaska. It has rare footage footage you won%u2019t find anywhere else, including her telling the %u201808 convention of the Alaskan Independence Party, whose aim is to give Alaska a vote on seceding from the U.S., to %u201Ckeep up the good work.%u201D The level of research is unparalleled.
Americans have the right to know more about anyone who might be a heartbeat away from being president.
http://dailysource.org/palin
It has in-depth research, audio clips, videos, excerpts, and links to hundreds of articles, including many from newspapers and TV stations in Alaska. It has rare footage footage you won%u2019t find anywhere else, including her telling the %u201808 convention of the Alaskan Independence Party, whose aim is to give Alaska a vote on seceding from the U.S., to %u201Ckeep up the good work.%u201D The level of research is unparalleled.
Americans have the right to know more about anyone who might be a heartbeat away from being president.
Posted by john43218
Let''''s just go over the numbers one more time:
Senate:
49 republicans
49 democrats
2 independents (one is lieberman - republican)
tiebreaking vote: republican vice president.
House:
200 Republicans
235 Democrats
288 amount of votes needed for republican presidential veto override.
Who is in control of the congress?
Posted by jh6379 at 02:34 PM : Sep 19, 2008
Apparently no one is in charge in Washington. The Demo''s say that they are in power, but they sure have not done anything. All we hear is Harry Reid in the senate talking about what they are GOING TO DO. But so far nothing. The same in the House. Nancy PELOSI does a lot of talking but nothing gets done. They whine about the Repub''s not letting them do anything. Maybe is they would come up with worth while the Repub''s would vote for it.
osted by john43218
Blimey, it wouldn%u2019t took%u2019n a genius to done figure out to throw the bad fish overboard!
8 years and a pence along with them buckos in Congress has run this ship ashore!
Change will be to cat o%u2019nine tail them scurvy dogs Republicaneers that scuttled the ship!!
arrrrrr