THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SEEMS TO BE IMPLODING

• McCain calls Santorum dumb after hearing him say that McCain doesn't understand enhanced methods of torture.
• Gingrich denies Ryan's fiscal plan and comments critically about the Right Wing's Social Engineering
• It is discovered that there are many more than just the two Koch brothers.  In fact there has been a group, probably more than 300 in it) who have been planning and executing plans that circumvent elected governmental officials in charge.  Further discovered is that lobbyists have been writing legislation for some time now.  They are more effective than Karl Rove.
• The above 'group' is behind the mid-West Republican governors  strange actions so in conflict with the wishes of their constituents.
• Paul Ryan, Newt Gingrich, Donald Trump, Mike Huckabee, join others who have shot themselves in the political foot, so to speak.
• TeaPartiers sneak as Republicans when they really see themselves as a fourth party, adding themselves to Democrats, Republicans, Independents and no TeaPartiers.
• Rating awards for their 'Family Values'  (actually now the lack of family values) along with Vitter, Ensign, Edwards, Sanford, Spitzer, and, oh so many others, Schwartenegger adds himself to receive an award for hypocrisy.
• Saki Knafo writes a brief summary of the long history of horny politicos.
• While the sex scandals offer a minor diversion, the real problems facing us are 'Just who is running our country?'

THE COUNTY FAIR OF 1910 IN 2008

Listening today to McCain and Palin at a rally, I want to buy a bottle of what they are selling because it will cure all my ills, prevent cancer, wipe my brow and all for $1.00 a bottle! What I have not heard is where the money is to come from if they raise noone's taxes, since they do not share their plan for how they plan to make a silk purse out of the Bush sow's ear. Palin smilingly says it is not negative campaigning to point out what the opponent is and does, neglecting to say that she is, of course, lying about him most of the time.

It is disgusting , the low these two have reached in trying to gain entrance to the most powerful positions in the country. That there are people who hear only their promises and enthusiasm and lack the ability to ask the questions of them as to exactly how they plan to fund it all, saddens me. So many people are non-thinkers. I guess that is why Barnum is credited to have said there is a sucker born every minute. Apparently, even that is a misquote. That he trafficked in freaks only adds to the comparison.

It is further frightening that, somehow, everything that is said can be twisted so that all positives from the Democrats become negatives to the Republican candidates. What very evil people McCain and Palin really are; how lacking in veracity and integrity; how they will forsake the good of their country in every way to further their own stretch to the goal of running the country their way! Apparently our country once had the wisdom to head in a better direction. Watching the TV ads, we see that the snake oil salesman have never been outed for what they are, they simply have infiltrated the government as well.

MORE MCCAIN-OBAMA

This picture appeared on the front page of the BBC News online. Had I not seen an article with it, I would have concluded the obvious; Obama, the more youthful and vigorous, kinder man, helping the old, tired and unwell McCain who can't look him in the eye. It seems far more representative of reality than one would hear from the Republican-biased pundits.

Having read many reviews of the debate on 9/26/08, I am left with the impression that everyone on TV and the Internet had a criticism of both. However, it seems that more people thought Obama was the winner, while a slightly smaller number vacillated, unable to give the win to either. Still fewer thought McCain was the winner.

My sense was that, while everyone had their grievances and suggestions about Obama missing opportunities to to nail McCain on things, I felt Obama was far more Presidential, took the high road without using condescenion of the other candidate, had more content to offer, and seemed more relaxed. He didn't resort to the Middle School mentality of repeated insults that McCain used on him such as inexperience, naive, and 'just doesn't get it' stuff. McCain never looked directly at Obama. He was whiny an repeated himself with snide remarks as though he were dueling with feathers instead of swords. I cannot see the damage done that so many pundits thought he inflicted on Obama.

To me, this picture says it all!