They should try it from inside America. This country is like a retarded teenager learning to drive for the first time after drinking an eighth of Jack Daniels.

I can say that when I would read the Sydney Morning Herald each day this summer, I would always go to the "World" section to see what it had to say about the election. It was pathetic how everything else on the World page was about treaties, human rights, trade agreements, and adult stuff, while the article about the US election was invariably a reflection of how stupid our country is.

Politician Obama has toed his party's line more reliably than almost any other Democrat in US politics. He has a near-perfect record of voting with his side. He has the most solidly left-wing voting history in the Senate. He has never challenged his party's line on any issue of substance.

Politician Obama's support for abortion rights is the most extreme of any Democratic senator. In the Illinois legislature he refused to join Democrats and Republicans in supporting a Bill that would require doctors to provide medical care for babies who survived abortions. No one in the Senate - not the arch feminist Hillary Clinton nor the superliberal Edward Kennedy - opposed this same humane measure.

So which is it? Because it clearly can't be both.

It's the playground. Seriously.

And lately, all the boys are in love with their teacher and everyone else is in a group, afraid of and contentious of the other groups.

Politician Obama's support for abortion rights is the most extreme of any Democratic senator. In the Illinois legislature he refused to join Democrats and Republicans in supporting a Bill that would require doctors to provide medical care for babies who survived abortions. No one in the Senate - not the arch feminist Hillary Clinton nor the superliberal Edward Kennedy - opposed this same humane measure.

also worth questioning in this passage are these two statements. Is this a mistake, speculation or by some miracle were Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton allowed to vote on Illinois State legislature issues?

or maybe I am just missing something.

baorao: So which is it? Because it clearly can't be both.

oh, that's just you using critical thinking. no one does that anymore.

baoro:

The author was confused. The Federal Law that Kennedy, Clinton and Obama voted on was almost identical to a proposed Illinois law. Obama voted for the federal law but against the Illinois version because there was wording in the bill which would undermine the state's legal precedents on abortion.

A democrat versus a moderate democrat. And the Republicans are in a twist because they have a Republican as a VP nominee. Sounds like they lose no matter what.

There's not enough Rupert Murdoch GOPaganda here in the States so we gotta import it from Britain, too?

It all started when Jimmy Carter thought it would be a good idea to legalize the wholesale bribery of Congress in order to keep them honest.

Everything else follows from that.

rppp01a: A democrat versus a moderate democrat. And the Republicans are in a twist because they have a Republican as a VP nominee. Sounds like they lose no matter what.

I wouldn't be too sure about that. McCain has gone back against many of his old moderate values and recently has been leaning more and more to the right.

I'm just hoping that he was just doing that to get the nomination and doesn't actually believe most of the bullcrap he's started to spew.

studleystudstutterson: rppp01a: A democrat versus a moderate democrat. And the Republicans are in a twist because they have a Republican as a VP nominee. Sounds like they lose no matter what.

I wouldn't be too sure about that. McCain has gone back against many of his old moderate values and recently has been leaning more and more to the right.

I'm just hoping that he was just doing that to get the nomination and doesn't actually believe most of the bullcrap he's started to spew.

Won't matter either way if he dies it and hands it to a social conservative like Palin.

Dear Britain,

    Grow a set.

Sincerely yours,

America

FTA:
"The fact is that a vote for Mr Obama demands uncritical subservience to the irrational, anti-empirical proposition that the past holds no clues about the future, that promise is wholly detached from experience. The second-greatest story ever told, perhaps."

How the author can possibly use that argument against Obama and not realize how it applies so much more to the McCain/Palin ticket is mind boggling.

I'm trying SOOOO hard not to just lump the majority of Americans (or at least the Republicans that support McCain) at complete fools. I know we're better than this. We have to be. WTF is happening to this country?

El Morro: How the author can possibly use that argument against Obama and not realize how it applies so much more to the McCain/Palin ticket is mind boggling.

He works for Murdoch. He better make that argument.

well you see the world doesn't have the media we do here in the states. they don't see things through the military-industrial-media complex filter. they don't have people like Rush and Hannity telling them what to think dominating the radio airwaves.
they don't have Murdoch ,Moon,Scaife and the rest controlling the narrative. How dare McCain demand the media and we give deference to his pick for v.p.

But there you have it. His campaign (Rove)is running the show right now and the networks are saying exactly what he wants them ot say.

Let's count the lies:

1. "He has the most solidly left-wing voting history in the Senate."

Bernie farking Sanders. End of argument.

2. "His one act of bipartisanship, a transparency bill co-sponsored with a Republican senator..."

And the Lugar nonproliferation bill, and the Secure Fence Act, and others

3. "He has never challenged his party's line on any issue of substance."

Secure Fence Act, FISA, transparency bill was opposed by establishment Democrats.

4. "Politician Obama's support for abortion rights is the most extreme of any Democratic senator."

Female senators from places like California and New York would beg to disagree.

5. "In the Illinois legislature he refused to join Democrats and Republicans in supporting a Bill that would require doctors to provide medical care for babies who survived abortions."

Because the bill had OTHER provisions that would have had the de facto effect of outlawing abortion altogether for many citizens.

6. "No one in the Senate - not the arch feminist Hillary Clinton nor the superliberal Edward Kennedy - opposed this same humane measure."

That's because - get this - they're not in the Illinois Senate, genius.


I cal them lies because this guy is educated and informed enough about Obama's record and American politics in general to know these statements he made here are flat-out false. But he says them anyway because he desires an effect.

That is propaganda, not journalism, and that makes him a propagandist.

Congratulations, you've lowered yourself to the same level as Rush Limbaugh just because you can't stand the fact that your fellow Europeans like Barack Obama and you don't. Hope you're proud of yourself.

El Morro: WTF is happening to this country?

It's been divided into camps that think the other side is foolish for not having their views.

soy_bomb: Dear Britain,

Grow a set.

Sincerely yours,

America

Dear America,

Your set isn't bigger than anyone else's.

Sincerely yours,

Britain.

baorao: Politician Obama has toed his party's line more reliably than almost any other Democrat in US politics. He has a near-perfect record of voting with his side. He has the most solidly left-wing voting history in the Senate. He has never challenged his party's line on any issue of substance.

Politician Obama's support for abortion rights is the most extreme of any Democratic senator. In the Illinois legislature he refused to join Democrats and Republicans in supporting a Bill that would require doctors to provide medical care for babies who survived abortions. No one in the Senate - not the arch feminist Hillary Clinton nor the superliberal Edward Kennedy - opposed this same humane measure.

So which is it? Because it clearly can't be both.


And Clinton and Kennedy never served in the Illinois Senate.

El Morro: I'm trying SOOOO hard not to just lump the majority of Americans (or at least the Republicans that support McCain) at complete fools. I know we're better than this. We have to be.

We're not.

McCain is not the McCain of the 90's.

He's no longer the pro-choice, anti-earmark Republican. He's toeing the line to appease the party, chose a staunch social conservative as his running mate, and is doing talking point memo interviews and getting 'outraged' when the opponents use his own little folksy sayings.

I'm aware Obama is a staunch Democrat as opposed to the half-way Republican of McCain. Given the way things have been run under a largely total Republican hand (until 06 at any rate), I'm more than happy to give the GOP a firm kick in the ass on all posts.

Not that the Democrats are likely to do that much better. Neither side is exactly trustworthy. Then again, the GOP promised 'compassionate' conservatism, speaking softly with a big stick, and smaller government.

Fail... fail... and one helluva fail.

Call me elitist, I wear it like a badge. Give me an educated leader, one who doesn't burst into vulgar tirades in Senate Committee meetings, who doesn't call his wife a coont. Give me a seasoned political vet as VP, one who knows what the VP actually does, who isn't going to have to be schooled on all areas of International Relations Theory or how to deal with the major world powers, or use her office as a platform to settle family scores under the guise of protecting the public.

I don't want someone in the white house and #2 spot that's just a regular person. Regular people got us into the f*cking problems because regular people are f*cking idiots who think with their heart and genitals instead of their brains. I'm an elitist.

RemyDuron: studleystudstutterson: rppp01a: A democrat versus a moderate democrat. And the Republicans are in a twist because they have a Republican as a VP nominee. Sounds like they lose no matter what.

I wouldn't be too sure about that. McCain has gone back against many of his old moderate values and recently has been leaning more and more to the right.

I'm just hoping that he was just doing that to get the nomination and doesn't actually believe most of the bullcrap he's started to spew.

Won't matter either way if he dies it and hands it to a social conservative like Palin.

That's all that republicans really have. Their party nominates someone who will betray their cause. Their party betrays its followers by not fielding a candidate they like. I sort of feel badly for rank and file republicans. They have been left without a leader since they decided Bush was no longer theirs. Their party doesn't even want them.

Spanky_McFarksalot: El Morro: WTF is happening to this country?

It's been divided into camps that think the other side is foolish for not having their views.

But. . . not all opinions are equal. Republicans have had the White House for EIGHT YEARS! They used EXACTLY the kind of tactics they are using now to get in. Democrats predicted exactly what they are predicting now, and had their predictions come true. How could anyone look at these facts and come to the conclusion that Republicans are the best to vote for?

Cinaed: McCain is not the McCain of the 90's.

He's no longer the pro-choice, anti-earmark Republican. He's toeing the line to appease the party, chose a staunch social conservative as his running mate, and is doing talking point memo interviews and getting 'outraged' when the opponents use his own little folksy sayings.

I'm aware Obama is a staunch Democrat as opposed to the half-way Republican of McCain. Given the way things have been run under a largely total Republican hand (until 06 at any rate), I'm more than happy to give the GOP a firm kick in the ass on all posts.

Not that the Democrats are likely to do that much better. Neither side is exactly trustworthy. Then again, the GOP promised 'compassionate' conservatism, speaking softly with a big stick, and smaller government.

Fail... fail... and one helluva fail.

Call me elitist, I wear it like a badge. Give me an educated leader, one who doesn't burst into vulgar tirades in Senate Committee meetings, who doesn't call his wife a coont. Give me a seasoned political vet as VP, one who knows what the VP actually does, who isn't going to have to be schooled on all areas of International Relations Theory or how to deal with the major world powers, or use her office as a platform to settle family scores under the guise of protecting the public.

I don't want someone in the white house and #2 spot that's just a regular person. Regular people got us into the f*cking problems because regular people are f*cking idiots who think with their heart and genitals instead of their brains. I'm an elitist.

Seriously, aren't the politicians supposed to... you know, be elite? Like, the political elite, who know what should be done? I mean... seriously... if someone is so stellar that the best insult one can come up with is "elitist"... that's pretty damned good...

studleystudstutterson: I wouldn't be too sure about that. McCain has gone back against many of his old moderate values and recently has been leaning more and more to the right.

I'm just hoping that he was just doing that to get the nomination and doesn't actually believe most of the bullcrap he's started to spew.

"Be careful what you pretend to be because you are what you pretend to be." -- Kurt Vonnegut

Confabulat:
They should try it from inside America. This country is like a retarded teenager learning to drive for the first time after drinking an eighth of Jack Daniels.



You bring back memories young pup

V. M. Molotov: Dear America,
Your set isn't bigger than anyone else's.
Sincerely yours,
Britain.

Dear Britain,

    Thank you for your quick reply. As to the matter of testicle dimension, I would refer you to the Redcoats.

Yours truly,

America

P.S. Feel free to send over the payment for Lend Lease when you have a chance.

soy_bomb: Dear Britain,

Grow a set.

Sincerely yours,

America

Pssst. The willingness to kill lots of people with your foreign policy doesn't make your balls bigger, or you lil dick larger.

/guns don't work either

soy_bomb: Dear Britain,

    Grow a set.

Sincerely yours,

America

The irony is that this troll doesn't know that he probably agrees with the article.

You can't make this stuff up.

bartink: Pssst. The willingness to kill lots of people with your foreign policy doesn't make your balls bigger, or you lil dick larger.

Then our GDP will suffice.

I'm sorry, but I can't take Gerard Baker seriously.

He's spent a ridiculous amount of time attacking Obama for nothing more than being popular. He's just a loudmouth and in no way a serious journalist.

soy_bomb: Dear Britain,

    Grow a set.

Sincerely yours,

America

Dear Douchebag,

Quit insulting our allies. They are why we are at the top of the pile.

Sincerely yours,

Educated American who doesn't have a two meter length of pure jingoistic bullshiat up his ass.

McCain duped us big time...

...time to plan for 2012, it's over.

Palin rapped this thing up last week. Lets hope president Palin doesn't start WWII. Barack Hessian Obama didn't stand a chance.

RemyDuron: How could anyone look at these facts and come to the conclusion that Republicans are the best to vote for?

They might like what mccain is offering. I think the dems have made the mistake of thinking low approval rating rating equals hate. It's not that way for most people I know.

I'm voting Obama, but I don't buy into the mccain=bush thing and I can't stand bush. I don't buy into the palin-the eval thing. I like some of what mccain has proposed.

I'm voting obama for a few reasons, none of them so overwhelming that I feel the very fate of mankind rides on the outcome.

Cinaed: Quit insulting our allies. They are why we are at the top of the pile.

As soon as they stop insulting us. Thanks!

Obama is no super lefty. He's about as left leaning as Bill Clinton was, which is to say not at all. In a not-totally-farking-insane political world, Obama would probably be running as a Republican.

GREENSPAN: I thought Bill Clinton was the best Republican president we've had in a while.

Let's count the lies:

1. "He has the most solidly left-wing voting history in the Senate."

Bernie farking Sanders. End of argument.

2. "His one act of bipartisanship, a transparency bill co-sponsored with a Republican senator..."

And the Lugar nonproliferation bill, and the Secure Fence Act, and others

3. "He has never challenged his party's line on any issue of substance."

Secure Fence Act, FISA, transparency bill was opposed by establishment Democrats.

4. "Politician Obama's support for abortion rights is the most extreme of any Democratic senator."

Female senators from places like California and New York would beg to disagree.

5. "In the Illinois legislature he refused to join Democrats and Republicans in supporting a Bill that would require doctors to provide medical care for babies who survived abortions."

Because the bill had OTHER provisions that would have had the de facto effect of outlawing abortion altogether for many citizens.

6. "No one in the Senate - not the arch feminist Hillary Clinton nor the superliberal Edward Kennedy - opposed this same humane measure."

That's because - get this - they're not in the Illinois Senate, genius.


I cal them lies because this guy is educated and informed enough about Obama's record and American politics in general to know these statements he made here are flat-out false. But he says them anyway because he desires an effect.

That is propaganda, not journalism, and that makes him a propagandist.

Congratulations, you've lowered yourself to the same level as Rush Limbaugh just because you can't stand the fact that your fellow Europeans like Barack Obama and you don't. Hope you're proud of yourself.


This

Last time we (the general public) allowed the media to be played like fiddles. After the fact there was a lot of recrimination and "Oh-My' we sure dropped the ball on that one" from much of the self proclaimed media". Now we're getting a do-over with complete manipulation of the message being the norm again.

Until some sane voices get control of the communicatons tools in a more effective manner (real journalism) there will be no future for this countries current lifestyle. We're running a television (satirical sitcom)election with real bullets.

Pitiful, embarrassing and alarming.

I can't move, I don't know where the comedy team of McCain and Paln will be bombing next.

I can't recall a US presidential election that has attracted more attention. But neither can there have been a time when the world has watched what goes on in America with the horrified incomprehension it has now"

That's what they said last time...

V. M. Molotov: Seriously, aren't the politicians supposed to... you know, be elite? Like, the political elite, who know what should be done? I mean... seriously... if someone is so stellar that the best insult one can come up with is "elitist"... that's pretty damned good...

Can I call them hypocritical liars instead?

Cinaed: Educated American who doesn't have a two meter length of pure jingoistic bullshiat up his ass.

Meter?! You're obviously not an American if you use the socialist, atheist, Axisofweasalist metric system!!!!!1111!!!


/Seriously though, good point.

HighOnCraic: Cinaed: Educated American who doesn't have a two meter length of pure jingoistic bullshiat up his ass.

Meter?! You're obviously not an American if you use the socialist, atheist, Axisofweasalist metric system!!!!!1111!!!


/Seriously though, good point.

Was an Army Brat for a long while.
Even the military isn't foolish enough to spurn the metric system.

Wow, I never would have guessed Rupert Murdoch owns the Times... Between this and the Finkelstein abortion posted earlier, it seems that Times writers have been uncritically swallowing rightwing hitjobs whole.

I'm glad to see that he used such a great source of unbiased information on Obama for his column.

Cinaed: Even the military isn't foolish enough to spurn the metric system.

You mean, they're in on it too? Then all hope is lost!

Prospero424: I cal them lies because this guy is educated and informed enough about Obama's record and American politics in general to know these statements he made here are flat-out false. But he says them anyway because he desires an effect.

Excellent post.

I'm a little disappointed to see how far the Times has fallen. Yeah I know this is an opinion piece, but still; they never would have published this kinda crap ten or twenty years ago.

I agree with his assessment of Obama. I have been saying that since December. Obama is not a liberal. He has liberal policies, but his basic psychological approach to life is conservative. Michelle's speech at the Convention was the perfect example of that. Whatever his words, Obama deeds are always conventional. They always will be. If liberals are voting for Obama thinking they will get liberal policies, they are fooling themselves.

Prospero424: 3. "He has never challenged his party's line on any issue of substance."

Secure Fence Act, FISA, transparency bill was opposed by establishment Democrats.

Yeah, but if the FISA bill was of substance, then McCain would've voted on it, rather than just sitting it out. Right?

Yes, the world is baffled by why we haven't yet gone to the dark side of Socialism like they have.

Hence the support of Obama.