The problem with this argument for me is that people refuse to give a chance to other schools of thought other then the militaristic way.

I have a problem with that as well. I feel intelligence and international cooperation are more important than military force. Not that military force doesn't have its place, but so often candidates make it out that we just need to invade the United Republic of Terrorism to take care of the problem.

so often candidates make it out that we just need to invade the United Republic of Terrorism to take care of the problem.

That's because they hate freedom.

I'm not sure why our taking out their leaders and collaterally killing a bunch of civillians will change their minds, but apparently it does.

This is less concerning when it's people who aren't actually voting in the US election, but of course we have plenty of those people here, too.

People who support McCain, or people who aren't voting?

From what I could see on the CNN percepto-thingy, the most positive audience responses were from whichever candidate answered the question more directly. McCain's "Everything is important and priorities are for pussies!" response got no traction compared to Obama's "Energy, healthcare, entitlements in that order." And I suspect he could have put them in any order as long as he was answering the question instead of evading it. I don't know what that says in terms of actual votes, but I hope somebody from both campaigns was watching.

Yeah. I wonder if McCain may have been at least partly motivated by Obama's response to his "I'm suspending the campaign to go save the world", i.e. A president may at times be expected to do more than one thing at a time.

The problem with this argument, which people also make here, particularly in terms of which candidate would deal better with terrorism, is that McCain has typewriter military experience in an internet world.

I figure it goes back at least in part to your revolutionary roots. Your first President was a victorious general. As were Grant and Eisenhower. Seems when you guys really like a war, someone gets moved into the Oval Office. Incidentally, Washington surrendered a grand total of once in his military career, and it was to the French. Wuss.

Does the "That one" bother people?

From what I'm reading in the media, yes, possibly a lot. It's not good. He's getting a reputation in this election for being unable to control his temper. It doesn't look Presidential, it gives credence to Obama's "erratic in a crisis" charge. He's going to lose. The electorate believes what Obama says about McCain; they don't believe what McCain says about Obama.

You know, this is th first time in twelve years that I won't be in America for the Presidential election. This is weirding me out a little.

I'm not sure why our taking out their leaders and collaterally killing a bunch of civillians will change their minds, but apparently it does.

Because, according to Toby, they'll like us when we win. (I've been watching a lot of West Wing of late. I am such a political tragic. Oh, this just in: Apparently Jed Bartlet's won a second term.)

I thought the debate was a draw in terms of substance, but a win for Obama in terms of style. While McCain had the momentum, Obama was criticized for not getting angry, not having enough passion. Now with the financial crisis, his unflappable manner seems to be playing really well.

McCain was doing some stuff that made me uncomfortable. The constant "my friends" and puttering around in the background. As a public service announcement I think people need to be warned not to make a drinking game out of "my friends", people could lose a liver.

That's because they hate freedom.

I'm not sure why our taking out their leaders and collaterally killing a bunch of civillians will change their minds, but apparently it does.

Well, if I cornered you in a dark alley, put a loaded gun to your head and commanded "LOVE FREEDOM! LOVE IT! LOVE IT NOW!" you would promise to fellate a soldier and salute the flag, or vice versa, every day.

Until I went away. And then you'd do whatever you were doing before. Except you'd probably hate me more than you did before the alley thing happened.

Richard Fuld punched in face in Lehman Brothers gym

Richard Fuld, the disgraced head of Lehman Brothers, was punched in the face in the office gym amid the bank's collapse.

Richard Fuld, the disgraced head of Lehman Brothers, was punched in the face in the office gym amid the bank's collapse.

The Consumerist followed up on that this morning

Until I went away. And then you'd do whatever you were doing before. Except you'd probably hate me more than you did before the alley thing happened.

See, that's why you'd have to come back every day to repeat the freedom, flag and fellatio demands, and after a while people would begin to suspect you weren't just doing it for Old Glory.

Incidentally, this was exactly my guiding principle when I was a tenancy officer for public housing. Ok, there's a statement that needs explanation. I mean that there was no way to build a long-term tenant-landlord relationship by putting a gun to their head, figuratively speaking, though one of our tenancy officers did once get shot at. The American flag was in no way involved with my tenancy officer mojo.

McCain was doing some stuff that made me uncomfortable. The constant "my friends" and puttering around in the background. As a public service announcement I think people need to be warned not to make a drinking game out of "my friends", people could lose a liver.

It made me feel for him. He's so lonely! That's why he likes town hall meetings! It's the only time these days that anyone lets him tell his old war stories and reminisce about the day he bought his third house with the proceeds from his second marriage.

I figure it goes back at least in part to your revolutionary roots. Your first President was a victorious general. As were Grant and Eisenhower. Seems when you guys really like a war, someone gets moved into the Oval Office.

All generals though. I don't think military service at lower ranks helps a lot. It didn't help Kerry, I don't think it helped Gore much, Bob Dole never had a chance so it's hard to figure out there, Bush Sr. was defeated soundly by Clinton. I believe the more hawkish party benefits when terrorism is an issue. Another problem for McCain is that terrorism is way down the list of concerns right now.