Couric & Co.
October 8, 2008 5:03 PM

Katie Couric's Notebook: Undecided?

The pundits are spinning like whirling dervishes today to declare their candidate the winner of last night's debate. But no matter who won, the clear losers are the undecided voters.

A CBS News poll found that 72 percent of them still feel the same way today – unsure. Part of the reason may be found in another poll number. Fifty-seven percent said neither candidate did a good job of answering the questions.

Based on the thousands of e-mails to our Webcast last night, the economy is Topic A at the kitchen table. Ellen from Mississippi wrote, "Without the slinging of mud and this one said this and did that, what are you going to do for Americans who work hard for a future that is not too promising?"

401Ks have lost $2 trillion in the past 15 months. The financial mess is already a Main Street problem, but Americans are still just hearing a lot of K Street spin. To the uncommitted voters, here's hoping the third time's a charm – that you'll hear real solutions at the next debate next Wednesday.
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katie couric ,
john mccain ,
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Katie Couric's Notebook
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by jorjalex October 10, 2008 7:58 PM EDT
Dear Americans,

I am appalled and dismayed with our current Government for the Government and by the Government policy.

I ask you what is being done with all of issues occuring and reoccuring in our Nation and the policy makers are not working to safeguard our futures, nor the futures of our children?

Anwwer: Nothing!

Everything from energy to economics to edcuation and security to enviroment to social security to taxes, nothing is being done to help US, the American, the worker, the taxpayer, the Family.

Does anyone remember from American History class what happened to the
British Tax Collectors????

It''s time for tea my fellow American.

God bless you all. God save us and our Country!!!!
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by nicole093 October 10, 2008 12:33 AM EDT
IS IT TRUE THAT SARAH AND TODD ARE RACIST WHO DECIDED TO MOVE TO ALASKA BECAUSE OF THEIR DISDAIN FOR AMERICA AND TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE GROWING MINORITY POPULATIONS? -- TO ME THAT IS UNAMERICAN AND SICKENING.
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by nicole093 October 10, 2008 12:30 AM EDT
I am so upset! I use to think that John McCain was an honorable man, but the clips that I am seeing from his and Sarah Palins rallies remind me of a modern day pre-lynching! HE IS STIRRING UP RACIAL TENSION- because most people associate TERRORISTS as outsiders and non-white. He is so desperate as to stoop to divisiveness and instead of political banter it has turned into "can''t let ''em take over" anger and rage in his rallies. I''m disgusted and saddened that he has used this platform as a platform of hatred for another AMERICAN!!!!
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by nicole093 October 10, 2008 12:27 AM EDT
I am so upset! I use to think that John McCain was an honorable man, but the clips that I am seeing from his and Sarah Palins rallies remind me of a modern day pre-lynching! HE IS STIRRING UP RACIAL TENSION- because most people associate TERRORISTS as outsiders and non-white. He is so desperate as to stoop to divisiveness and instead of political banter it has turned into "can''t let ''em take over" anger and rage in his rallies. I''m disgusted and saddened that he has used this platform as a platform of hatred for another AMERICAN!!!!
Reply to this comment
by seattlesteph October 9, 2008 8:24 PM EDT
Katie,

Please go to this video titled "Palling Around with Secessionists''

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eniG9l_7its

and read this article by David Talbot titled ''The Palins'' un-American activities''


http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/print.html

Thank you.
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by conradblack-2009 October 9, 2008 8:23 PM EDT
The IGNORANT Republicans that post here make me ashamed. I''m a registered Republican, I''ve decided NOT TO VOTE this time, I''m DISGUSTED. Wholesale change of the Republican party is needed before they''ll ever get my vote again.

Get rid of the uneducated lowlifes that pander to the religious extremists in the GOP.

Get rid of the lowlifes that can''t accept that the war in Iraq has been a debacle.

Get rid of the jerks that think we should try imposing democracy all over the world when in reality we haven''t had it here since SHRUB and CHENEY got in.

I want a real Republican party that stands for something besides enriching the boys in Washington and their "friends".

Someone needs to be accountable, now is the time to force the Republican party to get back to it''s core values, not this crazy pandering to the myopic extremists.

If my one son breaks a window and his brother covers it up or remains silent I punish both. I don''t reward loyalty, I reward honesty, integrity and a committment to doing the best for the good of my family. My family are Americans, wish my party could say the same.
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by randywood3 October 9, 2008 8:19 PM EDT
Katie,

We (I think I can speak for the average American) are as mad as hell and I don''t think we should take it anymore!

Let''s face it the real problem is a crisis of confidence. I made the mistake of voting for George Bush twice. I apologize to America for my bad judgement. It is time he actually took some responsibility for running this great country of ours into the ground. He needs to do something good for this country in our time of need. George Bush needs to resign and he needs to do so now! He isn''t capable of leading us out of this crisis.

You are in a unique position to help us (the American people) survive this crisis and get things back on track. Use your power and get this message out there. Start the ball rolling in the right direction.

Best Regards,

Randy Wood






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by bebesvin October 9, 2008 6:42 PM EDT
The mud is indeed being slung, by Palin.. associating Obama with a terrorist (because that is the accepted proxy ad hominem rather than calling him the obvious word they really want to say, is "foreigner, *****, guy with Hussein in his last name" or any other racist remark... Are Undecided fighting the conflict within, wanting to go beyond racism, but having a hard time due to fear of the terrorists? Sounds like McCarthism all over again. McCainPalin McCarthism. Is Obama a terrorist? Hardly. Obama who helped with a food program in his early days in Chicago worked with some guy who helped the poor.. the guy happened to be an ex-activist in the 60s trying to get out the war in Vietnam, protesting by bombing. Obama was 8 years old when this guy was an activist.. when the guy was aquitted due to a technicality, he changed his ways and started helping the poor, teaching like his dad... Calling Obama a terrorist is like saying Reagan is a terrorist for funding Saddam Hussein''s military before Saddam went crazy. Can you not help the poor is anyone contributing to the food fund was an ex-con? Are you considered a criminal if you work with people who used to be jailed and are repenting by working with the hungry poor? Obama is a good guy for helping the Chicago poor and hungry.
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by cbs300 October 9, 2008 6:42 PM EDT
What about Obama using US tax dollars to campaign for Obama''s cousin Odinga
http://www.stoptheaclu.com/archives/2008/10/06/barack-obama-raila-odinga/
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by notsocialism October 9, 2008 5:26 PM EDT
CBS should report why there''s resistance from Obama to disclose/verify Obama''s transcript of records in Columbia & Harvard?

Why aren''t any of Obama''s classmates or professors come forward to vouch for Obama''s intellectual prowess as a student in Columbia & Harvard?

Is there risk of revelation that solidify Obama''s ties with radical extremists in columbia?

Where is the quest for truth?

How could anyone believe that Obama will deliver transparency during his presidency when he cannot even show transparency on his academic achievement in Columbia and in Harvard.

Common sense dictates that such person''s political doctrines will help shape his decision-making in governing the most powerful nation across the globe.

Could CBS cite who among the past U.S. presidents have had entrenched radical associations. Is Obama exempted for scrutiny? SCARY!!!!

Let our conscience guide us for the future of America!

One with questionable character and integrity or one with proven honorable track record?
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by notsocialism October 9, 2008 5:18 PM EDT
Are you going to publish this or not? Where was the previous one?

CBS should report the anomalies that ACORN have been engaging on voters fraud during this election.

Report also on Obama''s ties with ACORN when he was a community organizer and when he represents ACORN as their lawyer for 3 years.
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by notsocialism October 9, 2008 5:16 PM EDT
CBS should report the anomalies that ACORN have been engaging on voters fraud during this election.

Report also on Obama''s ties with ACORN when he was a community organizer and when he represents ACORN as their lawyer for 3 years.
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by mkzornes October 9, 2008 3:58 PM EDT
Obgyn33 are you aware that Obama is a millionaire? He''s not poor. Also, where is the news reports on all the voter registration fraud going on in Ohio, Nevada, PA, New Mexico through ACORN. People need to wake up and not watch the liberal media only. ACORN has had their employees go out and register people that are dead, using the same names multiple times just changing the addresses and ss #''s. It is fraudulent and CBS,CNN,MSNBC,and NBC, ABC are NOT even mentioning it. The FBI has gone into the ACORN offices and taken boxes of fraudulent registration cards. Some ACORN employees even used Dallas Cowboys names in Nevada. WHERE IS THE NEWS REPORTS on this. That is a crime in itself!!! Watch FOX NEWS to get the scoop.
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by geog138 October 9, 2008 2:31 PM EDT
Katie ,I just don''t know where this country is heading.Ihave a bad feeling.
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by obgyn33 October 9, 2008 2:16 PM EDT
As a Jewish person who listen to many stories from my grand-mother age 91, who went through so much in Germany years ago before she got out. I know the face of Hate and it comes in the form of McCain/Palin. Todd Palin was in a group that wanted to become separate from the United States of America. They held no allegiance to this country. Sarah is with a church that feels Jewish people need Jesus and our souls are doomed. My grand-mother said some of the best traitors of Jewish people in the 30s and 40s were people who had beautiful smiles and wonderful personalities like Palin. McCain who hides behind being a POW has done nothing to really help veterans yet he claims to understand them. Most veterans are not rich and most do not have 7 houses and 13 cars. The group IAVA, veterans report card website says, Obama has done more than McCain, look it up.
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by bensoben October 9, 2008 2:11 PM EDT
Katie: I''ve been a solid supporter of CBS for many years as my Father before me. But you have made me draw the line your your pronounced tilt to the Obama campaign. I was under the impression that the media was to be fair, impartial, balanced and to not express opinions one way or another, ''just to report fair and reasonably'' both ways! You have demonstrated the opposite with your ''comments'' like the voters want to know; the voters are saying; and on and on! Quite frankly, you do not represent the way I think or what I want to know and I resent the fact that you can sit there and tell me what I need to think about! I''m not the only person who has this feeling! It is resounding the same everywhere I go! I truly think the job has gone to your ''head'', respectively said! I doubt very seriously my comment will be posted but had to say it anyhow!
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by gilliandmax October 9, 2008 12:58 PM EDT
Katie, thanks so much for being a real journalist. I enjoy the professionalism you bring to the news and to your interviews. In my mind you have always been the female Tim Russert. You have that same captivating way of getting to the point and not letting someone write blue books of nonsense to try to make a point. So, thanks again and keep up the great woek.
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by pearl891 October 9, 2008 8:46 AM EDT
Katie, I like your news show and I don''t think your coverage is slanted...just because you don''t yell and scream at your quests like Hannity and O''Reilly doesn''t make you biased.

I, too, would like a little honesty. I would like for a candidate to say something like..."these are my plans, but before we can get there we will have to make some sacrifices and yes, things probably will get worse before they get better".

I really don''t like McCain''s bailout plan or Obama''s it leaves those of us who bought a house we could afford and who played by the rules picking up the tab for the others. Think I''ll get my credit card debt paid off and money for the repairs my home needs...doubt it.
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by pearl891 October 9, 2008 8:46 AM EDT
Katie, I like your news show and I don''t think your coverage is slanted...just because you don''t yell and scream at your quests like Hannity and O''Reilly doesn''t make you biased.

I, too, would like a little honesty. I would like for a candidate to say something like..."these are my plans, but before we can get there we will have to make some sacrifices and yes, things probably will get worse before they get better".

I really don''t like McCain''s bailout plan or Obama''s it leaves those of us who bought a house we could afford and who played by the rules picking up the tab for the others. Think I''ll get my credit card debt paid off and money for the repairs my home needs...doubt it.
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by JamesMorehead October 9, 2008 5:02 AM EDT
McCain was the primary attack dog at the debate and diminished the value of the event. Palin has been appalling - and has nothing to provide but smear. But thanks to you Ms. Couric you exposed Palin and inspired my personal act of political activism: http://www.palinomaly.com.
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