whynot

Gallup also had Bush by 13 points over Gore in late october in 2000. I'd hesitate using the term "most accurate poll in the country" when discussing them, given thier track record. It's too close to call, that's the most logical reaction to the sea of polling data.

Even if he's not plotting, he still MUST BE THE TARGET. There is a chance that at this point he is operationally marginalized. But what I haven’t heard out of the pundits, the media or the candidates, is any discussion of how much this video HURTS our “war on terror.” Candidates talk about emboldening the enemy, anything we do to question ourselves during political squabbles is a drop in the bucket when compare with this. Here is a man who is on television telling the world the he killed thousands of Americans and he is a free man; flaunting it! What kind of message does it send to the enemy that this person, who orchestrated one of the largest attacks on American soil in our nations history, has eluded our military for 3 years? He butchered thousands, and is walking around a free man; dropping off videos in Pakistani mailboxes? The fact that he is alive is a disgrace, and is encouraging to our enemies everywhere. Like it or not politically, operationally or even militarily: as a symbol to our enemies Osama must be THE target.

Yes, yes, yes. Screw spin, screw left, screw right. Forget about claims of "politicizing this", and "Monday morning QBing that". That man killed 3000 people, three thousand people in the city in which I live. He was 10 minutes away from killing my best friend (who was on foot about to pass between the towers on her way to work) and 2 blocks away from killing my father. I stood on the banks of the east river and watched my city burn, and buildings fall. Why is this man still alive? I don't care whether this man is in a cave, a bunker or a goddamn pizza hut; WHY IS HE STILL ALIVE? Right now he is a free man; and not a free man in a rat hole (see other most wanted figure.) He is a free man broadcasting videos. Where is your outrage at this? Are you so caught up in the spin machines that the fact that a man who murdered thousands of people on American soil, has just released a video bragging that he was behind it all. And despite that fact he is currently walking around a free man? How does that not make your blood boil? Forget the political machines, he killed those people; he IS the target.

Can you provide your source please? Just went on the MSNBC website and their lead story contained: "At the Pentagon, an official who monitors developments in Iraq said U.S.-led coalition troops had searched Al-Qaqaa in the immediate aftermath of the March 2003 invasion and confirmed that the explosives, which had been under IAEA seal since 1991, were intact. The site was not secured by U.S. forces, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity." This directly contradicts the story you are referencing; plainly stating that the pentagon believes that the stockpile was intact when we arrived (and subsequently blundered away.) Do you have a link?

What punishment does a censure carry in the military?

Partisan Dems take a look: http://www.democrats.org/exaggeration/index.html http://www.democrats.org/notfunny/index.html For the rest of the group: The two preceeding ads feature clips from last night's debate, and I was impressed by the speed with which they were produced. They both had appeared on the DNC site when I checked from work this morning (around 9:30ish.) Alot of ink is spilled over the impact the information age is having on the campaign in the form of blogs; but I think the advances in video editing is also playing a large part this cycle. Kerry is at about 3 ads a week, and the DNC is churning things out on an almost daily basis. Are the RNC and the Bush campaign also producing ads and videos at this pace?

I know Pataki likes to think of himself as a possible option in 2008; but I don't really see his national appeal. Anyone think he has a shot?

Actually my point was: I saw an ad on CNN (a national cable buy), and was wondering if he was running spots on local broadcast networks (as regional buys). I take it noone has seen any local ads, even in WNY? Last NY poll: Rassmussen 12 point lead for Kerry.

I just saw my first DNC ad here in NYC (on CNN.) Are the campaigns buying any time on broadcast stations in NY?

What's your source on this?

Why exactly couldn't NE challange it? The Bills challenged based on an incompletion, why couldn't have NE done the same?

From the AFL-CIO website: http://www.aflcio.org/issuespolitics/globaleconomy/ I don't think the security issue is the heart of the union argument; it's more about wages (and to a lesser extent the environment.) I would go to the source of the union argument, and then proceed to either agree or disagree with it...

If you are going to plant yourself as a news item, at least vary it from election cycle to election cycle.

FogHorn beat Bush Sr, and Dole; he must have something going on...

What was the basis of thier questioning the memos?

Explain.

The difference is: the comments about Bush policies are based on observations (biased as they are). Cheney's comments aren't based on observation, it’s entirely conjecture.

The AWOL issue, and the drug abuse talk isn't about changing votes from W to Kerry; it's about suppressing turn-out. If a bad enough picture can be painted of W in a "moral" light the less motivated the Evangelical vote may be. The reason I think the Graham book has the potential to be bigger, is the word "cover-up". The bulk of the anti-Bush books so far have dealt with shortsightedness of planning, and failed policies; stuff that really only sells to the politically motivated (and we already have opinions at this point.) But if you throw "cover-up" into the mix, suddenly the whole country is being addressed; everyone knows what that means, and no one likes it. The difference between yelling "unfunded mandate" into a crowded media cycle and yelling "the government is lying to you” is huge.

The real book to keep an eye on is Graham's book: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/9584265.htm He alleges that the FBI and the Bush administration covered up direct connections between the 9/11 hijackers and the Saudi government. Also this seems to be creeping back into the media, as the AP's FOIA lawsuit has turned up new paperwork on the Bush AWOL issue: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040908/D84V54IG0.html Ugly, ugly, ugly...

You know what's really worrisome: it's only going to get worse from here on out... Wait till this next round of books hit the shelves: -Kitty Kelley is going to make some huge accusations, all of which will be about as credible as the Swift Boat vets (sources in the area, but mostly conjecture.) -Senator Graham's book is going to accuse the administration of covering up reports that tied the funding of the 9/11 terrorists directly to the Saudi government. This is going to get ugly... NOTE: I don't support the claims made by either of these writers, yet (and I doubt I’ll ever put much stock in Kelley.)

You know I'd love to agree with this, as his press conferences were indeed very weak, but the man has never lost a debate. He came out on top against Gore, and must have done something right when dealing with the popular Ann Richards in Texas. Don't misunderestimate our President, he may be a better debater than we think.

Well this may open a whole can of worms about the nature, and purpose of government, but… Isn't it a good thing that candidates are paying attention to an economically depressed area of the nation? Now that both parties are in the business of big government, and entitlement programs, wouldn't you want them to direct their efforts, and their attention, to those types of cities?

Thanks for the full video link, I had only found clips. Do you think this plays well for Miller?

Agreed; I just want to ensure that people take Zell with a grain of salt. Don't put to much stock in the words of a politician who "proudly" speaks on behalf of whomever asks him to do so.

"My job tonight is an easy one: to present to you one of this nation's authentic heroes, one of this party's best-known and greatest leaders...In his 16 years in the Senate...John has worked to strengthen our military" - Zell Miller "For more than twenty years, on every one of the great issues of freedom and security, John Kerry has been more wrong, more weak and more wobbly than any other national figure" -Zell Miller I find that a little contradictory. Indecently if you are looking for transcripts of convention speeches: http://www.gopconvention.com/news/speeches.shtml